Creative Loafing Tampa — November 2, 2023 by Chava Communications

NOVEMBER 02-08, 2023 (VOL.36, NO.44) • $FREE CREATIVE LOAFING - CLTAMPABAY.COM

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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

RAY ROA

Editorial DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Jourdan Ducat, Jennifer Ring, Eric Snider PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker, Phil DeSimone, Ash Dudney FALL INTERN Inquire by emailing rroa@cltampa.com Creative Services CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore Advertising SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda Events and Marketing MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Leigh Wilson MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING MANAGER Corrie Miserendino

The Retreat is damn old.

Beloved Tampa dive turns 85, and is here to stay, p. 31.

Circulation CIRCULATION MANAGER Ted Modesta

chavagroup.com cltampabay.com cldeals.com EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Creative Loafing Tampa is published by Tampa Events & Media, LLC, 633 N Franklin St., Suite 735. Tampa, Florida, 33602.

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Chava Communications Group FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Michael Wagner CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Cassandra Yardeni Wagner OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Hollie Mahadeo DIRECTOR OF AGENCY SERVICES Mindi Overman SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Meradith Garcia DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY Colin Wolf ART DIRECTOR David Loyola DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Jaime Monzon

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We have got to say as a country that enough is enough.

Tampa mayor calls for better gun legislation after Ybor shooting, p. 19.

The newspaper is produced and printed on Indigenous land belonging to Tampa Bay’s Tocobaga and Seminole tribes.

ON THE COVER: Photo by Dave Decker. Design by Joe Frontel.

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do this

Tampa Bay's best things to do from November 02-08

It’s lit

Oh shat!

St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest 2023 • Saturday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. No cover. The Woodson African American Museum of Florida. 2240 9th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. culturedbooks.org—Ray Roa

JASON SHOOK

Saturday marks St. Pete Reads! Literacy Day, and as it approaches its 10th anniversary, St. Petersburg’s Cultured Books Literacy Foundation has established itself a pillar of life in the Sunshine City where it works tirelessly to build strong literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading. After welcoming close to 400 people to its first-ever St. Pete Reads! LitFest last year, the group is expanding programming with teen-focused workshops, self-portrait sessions and an art walk. Participants in this year’s festival include the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association (Jazz in the Garden), hosts of national and local authors reading on different stages, literacy panelists, and more. The afternoon closes with a teen open mic hosted by esteemed St. Pete poet and Author Miesha Brundridge.

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

From historic bungalows and ranch-style homes to mid-century abodes and modern builds, St. Pete’s annual BungalowFest features the most unique homes in the city’s beloved Historic Kenwood District. This year’s tour “explores architectural diversity and showcases 10 homes spotlighting our urban rebirth and the phenomenon of living large in small spaces,” even highlighting a four-unit complex that was built out of a former grocery store. While the tour starts at the historic St. Petersburg High School—where guests can learn about the nation’s first million-dollar high school and all of its recent renovations—the hike will continue throughout the Historic Kenwood neighborhood. Numerous public artworks and installations will also be highlighted on this year’s home tour route. When the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association isn’t organizing the annual BungalowFest event, it invests time in other local initiatives like its tree planting project, community garden, yard sales and family-friendly Halloween parties. 25th Annual BungalowFest • Saturday, Nov. 4. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $25-$30. St. Pete High School, 2501 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Historickenwood.org—Kyla Fields

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CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

Get ‘low

William Shatner is on the road to revisit his role opposite Ricardo Montalbán in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” with plans to screen the film and then do a Q&A with fans. The 92-year-old Canadian actor, spoken word artist and all around pop icon will also take the stage to share anecdotes from the making of “Khan” and throughout his career, according to a press release. “If that doesn’t make you want to boldly go where no man has gone before, or at least boldly go out for the evening,” the Straz Center wrote the Straz Center, “nothing will.” William Shatner: Live On Stage • Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. $44.50. Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. strazcenter.org—RR

See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Pass the grass

There’s tons of barbecue restaurants, steak houses and charcuterie spots throughout Tampa and beyond, so it makes sense that the Bay area’s plant-based folks would want one day to celebrate their meat and dairy-free lifestyle. Over 100 plantbased businesses take part in this gathering of like-minded vegans, businesses, animal sanctuaries, environmental activists, health-conscious folks, plant-based chefs and lovers of tasty food in general (yes, meat-eaters can enjoy vegan fare, too.) In addition to its impressive spread of vendors and local businesses, this free-to-attend festival will also host yoga classes, vegan cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and familyfriendly activities. Just a few local restaurants that vend at next month’s festival include Vine Vegan, The Vegan Halal Cart, Squeeze Juice Works, Seasoned Green, Nah Dogs, House of Vegano and Cafe Hey, alongside dozens of other Florida-based pop-ups, animal-friendly organizations and small businesses slinging plant-based vegan wares. Florida Voices for Animals, a Tampa Bay-based animal rights nonprofit, has been organizing the festival for the past 10 or so years, so its philanthropic roots are a vital aspect of the annual Veg Fest celebration. Tampa Bay Veg Fest • Saturday, Nov. 4. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. Perry Harvey Sr. Park,1000 E Harrison St., Tampa. tampabayvegfest.com—KF

Tribal voices

DAVE DECKER

With Thanksgiving approaching, there’s no better time to tune your mind to Indigenous perspectives. This forum moderated by University of South Florida Curator of Social Practice Sarah Howard explores ways of restoring and expanding Indigenous cultural agency and honoring tribal heritage and ecological knowledge. Panelists include Reverend Houston Cypress from the Otter Clan of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Betty Osceola of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida from the Panther clan; Dr. Thomas Pluckhahn, USF Professor of Anthropology; and Robert Rosa, chairman of the Florida Indigenous Alliance (pictured). Following the forum, Curator of Education Leslie Elsasser will lead a 1 p.m. tour of Native America: In Translation at the Contemporary Art Museum. This listing was adapted from CL’s user-submitted events calendar. What Remains: Listening to Indigenous Perspectives Forum • Saturday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. Barness Hall at University of South Florida School of Music. 3755 USF Holly Dr., Tampa. No cover. usfcam. usf.edu

Party like it’s 1938

One of the oldest bars in Tampa Bay is celebrating another rotation around the sun. South Tampa’s Retreat hosts its 85th birthday party this weekend, full of pool-playing, tasty eats, DJs, festivities and of course the stiff drinks that it’s known for. Whether your go-to order is a shot and PBR or a craft cocktail made with top shelf spirits, The Retreat caters to all walks of life. “Join us today and be transported to an era filled with nostalgia, where the drinks are poured strong and camaraderie flows freely,” the bar writes on social media. The Retreat opened its doors back in 1938 and proudly boasts the title of “the oldest operating bar in Tampa,” and is still a popular spot to watch college and NFL games, enjoy a rotating schedule of food trucks, play a game of pool or just relax with your friends. The Retreat hosts a hospitality night on Monday, music bingo on Tuesdays and offers $5 shots of Rumple Minze liqueur on Wednesdays. When it’s not celebrating its 85th birthday, this classic Tampa dive is open daily from 3 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information about this weekend’s birthday party, turn to p. 31. The Retreat’s 85th birthday party • Saturday, Nov. 4. 8 p.m.-midnight. No cover. The Retreat, 123 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa. retreattampa.com—KF

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TICKETS & MORE INFO:

smokeshopfestival.com OR 813-533-3798 WATER WORKS PARK • 1710 N HIGHLAND AVE, TAMPA, FL 33602 10 | NOVEMBER 02-08, 2023 | cltampabay.com

POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

Good grief

November is the darkest time of the year. By Caroline DeBruhl

ORACLE OF YBOR

“I’ll still try, with the tools I have, to bring some light.”

DAVE DECKER

t might surprise some that, as a professional for the dark half of the year, a time to honor the witch, I used to hate October, especially dead, disguise yourself from malicious spirits by Halloween. I grew up in New Orleans, a donning costumes, carving frightful faces into turcity where even atheists believe in ghosts, and nips and gourds, and play pranks and tell fortunes. For many witches today, Samhain is the October always felt thick with fright. I’d spend the whole month filled with dread about dying highest of holy days. It’s the Witches’ New Year, and with the cosmic portal open, a potent time and scared shitless of spirits. It didn’t help that my first real brush with to do all sorts of workings. In Wicca, it’s when death (my dog, Bootsy) happened the October I The God dies and goes into the underworld to was eight years old, or that my first witch ritual return with the sun on Solstice. Some Wiccans at age 10 was on a Friday, Oct. 13, and involved won’t practice any magick during November, trying to raise a dead man buried beneath my considering it a “dead time.” friend’s banana tree under the But some of us, myself full moon’s light. (I didn’t ask included, feel that November why she thought a body was is when magic is most a’foot, there. It was her sleepover, her precisely because it’s a time suggested activity.) of the dead and the liminal. Send your questions to Occultists talk about While I’ve made passing oracle@cltampa.com or DM October as a time when “the comments about being a witch, @theyboracle on Instagram. veil things,” meaning things I’ve never actually said in this from The Other, can cross into our world, with column what I believe and how Tarot fits in. So, the door swung open completely on Halloween for the record: I follow The Dark Mother, Hekate, and the two days that follow. a primordial goddess of many things, including This death association makes sense when crossroads, ghosts, liminal spaces, as well as being looking at the natural world. In places that the bringer of light. She’s an enigmatic figure, experience winter, October is a time of dying, equally a dread-goddess and savior, who aids in when nature curls up, while November is the baneful magick but also guides souls through the darkest time of the year, with sunlight slip- underworld with her two torches. ping away each day until the As Queen of the Liminal, Winter Solstice. many modern witches invoke But it is interesting that her on Samhain and honor these days, Oct. 31 and Nov. her throughout November. 1-2, are kept as a time for It’s a month not only of death ghosts and grief across culbut the journey to rebirth, a tures. In Catholicism, the dates are for the Bardo-state for the world, and liminal times are solemn holidays of All Hallow’s Eve, All Saint’s when The Other is most active. Day, and All Souls Day. In Mexico, it’s Día De Divination is an act that tries to bridge the Los Muertos, a far more celebratory holiday liminal, and the practice is a large part of my where favorite dishes are left out for departed faith. This is how I use Tarot—not as a tool of family members, and graves are cleaned and self-reflection (which it can be) but more as a dressed with flowers. Slavic countries have cosmic game of telephone. While Tarot can be the autumn Dziady, where extra plates are read any day of the year, I pay close attention laid for ancestors to dine, and to the north, in November, when more nuanced messages the Norse begin to see The Wild Hunt, with can come through. ghosts and Gods riding in on storms. It’s a powerful month to read for others—an And, of course, there is the Celtic holiday act that’s important to how I practice my faith. I’m not just supposed to hoard scraps of secret, of Samhain. Most American Halloween is cribbed from celestial knowledge for myself; I’m supposed Samhain, which traditionally runs from sundown to work as a Pythia, an oracle, and interpret on Oct. 31 to sundown on Nov. 1. It was a marker for others.

THERE IS A LIGHT: Here’s what I believe and how Tarot fits in. I know that might sound silly, especially with how often I use “fuck” in this column, but I do take your questions very seriously. I genuinely want to help and hope to provide some relief, especially since so many questions deal with grief. Grief is a complex emotion, one that crops up when we not only mourn literal death but metaphorical losses, too. We may mourn the loss of a partner, the loss of a road not taken, the past we didn’t have, or the feeling of a door slamming on a future we so desperately wanted but could not have. It’s not a benign emotion. Grief can kill you, spiritual or bodily. At some point, grief will send each of us to the underworld. I know that this column or even Tarot in general cannot be the torch that guides people out. Grief is too massive.

But I try to be a match. I might fail—and often worry that I do—but I’ll still try, with the tools I have, to bring some light. I’m not afraid of ghosts anymore. Working with a chthonic goddess helps, as does having friends who’ve died, who are now welcomed guests when they visit in dreams. All of this leads me to believe in an afterlife, though I’m not sure about semantics. Why do some souls stick around their earthly homes while others get reborn and others still go to a place beyond? Is there a choice in the matter? A determination by heavenly hosts? Are eternal paradises separated by the faiths of the living or is it all one all-inclusive resort? I don’t know. But I hope whenever I go out into the black, that inky swim, there is a light on the shore to guide me through. continued on page 13

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DAVE DECKER

CALLING CARDS: The Oracle of Ybor pays closer attention to the cards in November continued from page 11 Send me your questions about anything to oracle@cltampa.com or by DM-ing @theyboracle on Instagram. See a special November submission below Dear Oracle, my father passed away almost 10 years ago, and I’m still struggling so hard to make a new, normal, fulfilling life for myself. I feel like I’ve been hollowed out, and no amount of new friends, good experiences, or hobbies have helped me to feel like more of a whole person since. I just feel like a shadow of myself. Will this ever get better?—Sincerely, GriefStricken Gemini Cards: King of Cups, Queen of Cups, Nine of Wands (reversed), Knight of Swords, Ten of Wands

funeral planning and bureaucratic bullshit of settling an estate. You probably also formed a shell around everything you associated with your dad as a way to keep his memory fresh. All of that was a protective act, one that let you survive. But after 10 years, that wall may need to come down—and with it, a deeper processing of your grief. You asked if this could ever get better, and the answer, honestly, is “it depends.” The Ten of Wands is a burden of a card, one that exhausts and stretches the carrier thin. But it’s a burden that can be shared, or halved, tackled in a variety of ways. You can’t whiteknuckle this alone. With the Knight of Swords, honesty and determination are the driving force. You need to be honest about the depth of your grief and if you’ve worked through areas of it. I highly, highly, highly suggest speaking with a grief counselor/therapist (someone your dad would have liked) about this. Even if you’ve tried therapy before, other types might help. Maybe you need a Jungian or a Buddhist. Intellectualizing it might help—with all this emotional-water, the airy-heady perspective might appeal to your old Gemini self and give a new perspective. With that help, you might also find yourself able to be the emotional parent to yourself that you needed a decade ago. It’ll be hard work, at times overwhelming and lengthy. But you can be guided out of the underworld, back to the land of the sun, where a King of Cups would want his daughter to be. Caroline DeBruhl is a writer, tarot-reader, and wedding officiant living in Tampa. Find out more of her and book services at carolinedebruhl.com.

ORACLE OF YBOR

My Dearest Gemini, your father loved you so much. I’m so sorry he’s gone. As King of Cups, he was giving and nurturing, probably a wonderful playmate when you were younger, and someone you could trust and talk to as you grew. He was someone who matched your emotional depth and influenced who you’ve become today. As the Queen of Cups, you are undoubtedly your father’s daughter. But you probably had to become that Queen—the emotionally giving parent—to yourself before you were ready. While you have certainly been the diplomate, forging new friendships and “getting out there,” you may have been too young to tend to the deeper wound. The Nine of Wands is a wind-worn boundary, a wobbly fence of a card. You probably had to erect something around your heart and mind after your father died to get through the initial mourning: the initial shock followed by the

THE C.G. JUNG LIBRARY O F TA M PA B AY P R E S E N T S

The Day of the Dead: Red Book Enactments Nov 2nd | 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Saint Leo University, 2nd Floor 1403 N. Howard Ave, Tampa 33607

We invite you to join the Library for our first Fundraising Event, an occasion centered around a theatrical presentation of several dialogic passages from Jung’s Red Book. The evening will open and close with musical selections performed by two Florida Orchestra musicians. There will be commentary, reflections, raffles, and opportunities to bid on some wonderful auction items, including a folio edition of the Red Book, a complete set of Jung’s Collected Works, artwork donated to the occasion, and “spirits,” including but not limited to wine…red wine! Learn more about raffle items, silent auction items, and ofrendas/book drawings at jungtampa.org. Or contact info@jungtampa.org

w w w. j u n g t a m p a . o r g

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Better than that

Mayor calls for stricter gun regulations after Ybor City shooting. By Colin Wolf

ampa Mayor Jane Castor is calling for stricter gun regulations following a deadly mass shooting in Ybor City early last Sunday morning that resulted in two dead and at least 18 injured. Flanked by Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw and State Attorney Susan Lopez during a Sunday press conference, the mayor said that the historic nightlife district of Ybor City is not to blame, and that the focus should instead be on irresponsible gun ownership. “Unfortunately this morning we’re on the national news about yet another shooting in our country, a shooting where individuals have a dispute and decided to end that dispute with firearms. Now we have lives that have been lost and other lives that have been permanently altered,” said Castor, who is also a former Tampa police chief. “We have got to say as a country that enough is enough,” continued Castor. “We can’t just come back to the microphones day after day and give our sincere heartfelt condolences to the victims of firearm violence. We as a country

have got to make decisions. The vast majority of Americans support responsible firearm ownership they also support reasonable regulations. We’ve got to have those difficult decisions. And we’re going to come back to this position each and every day. And we’re better than that as a country. And we’re better than that as a community here in the City of Tampa.” Over the weekend, a score of critics on social media blamed the shooting on the late-night party atmosphere in Ybor City. However, during the press conference, Castor dismissed those claims. “Ybor City is one of our historical landmarks. It’s known for culture, education, great restaurants, entertainment. I don’t know that the entertainment venues are an issue in that particular area,” said Castor. “I know that a lot of the business owners have stepped forward to do what they can to make Ybor safer. It is just these particular incidents. If you look at the overall crime rate anywhere city, it is very, very low.”

Before last Sunday’s press conference, Castor also expressed her concern over irresponsible gun ownership on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Yet again, a senseless loss of life by those choosing to settle a dispute with firearms. Lives lost and others forever changed. To what end? The Tampa Police Department had 50 officers deployed in the area at the time, so this is not a law enforcement issue,” wrote Castor. “Bad decisions made in a split second and the proliferation of readily available guns are responsible for these almost daily incidents. We can affect one half of this equation.” Tampa Bay Democratic congresswoman Kathy Castor, who is not related to the mayor, also echoed the mayor’s call for further gun regulations. “Tampa is a safe city, but guns are too easily available to people who shouldn’t have them,” wrote Kathy Castor on X. “Let’s work together to prevent this from happening again, build a safer community and ensure justice is done for the victims of this senseless mass shooting. To do so, Gov DeSantis, the legislature & Republican politicians must stop cowering to gun manufacturers and their lobbyists.” During the press conference, Chief Barcaw announced that TPD had arrested a suspect

LOCAL NEWS

PROCEED WITH CAUTION: Caution tape in Ybor City, Florida on Oct. 29.

in the shooting—22-year-old Tyrell Stephens Phillips, who was charged with second degree homicide with a firearm. Bercaw said both handguns from the shooting have been recovered, and one of them was stolen. TPD says the shooting started at around 3 a.m. Sunday, when two groups had an altercation group near the 1600 block of E Seventh Avenue. Multiple social media posts show a stampede of people running for cover as shots are heard in the background. The shooting resulted in two deceased victims, a 14-year-old Black male and a 22-year-old white male, said Barcaw. The chief also shared that 18 people were injured during the shooting, and 15 of those were shot. Phillips was booked in Hillsborough County jail and was expected to make his first appearance in court last Monday as this issue went to press. The Saturday before Halloween is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year in the district, with folks in costume taking over Seventh Avenue. While some venues were already closed well before 3 a.m., the ones that stayed open had to react as the incident unfolded, with at least one bar reportedly sheltering their patrons in place until the all clear was given.

ASH DUDNEY

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GOVRONDESANTIS/TWITTER

MAY DAY: In May, Gov. DeSantis told the nation that Florida’s crime rate in 2021 had reached a 50-year low.

Oh, really

Politicians love to cite crime data. It’s often wrong. By Amanda Hernández/Florida Phoenix

hen Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his presidential campaign in May, he proudly told the nation that Florida’s crime rate in 2021 had reached a 50-year low. But really, DeSantis couldn’t say for sure. That’s because fewer than 1 in 10 law enforcement agencies in his state had reported their crime statistics to the FBI. In fact, more than 40% of the Sunshine State’s population was unaccounted for in the data used by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in its 2021 statewide crime report. In Wichita, Kansas, Democratic Mayor Brandon Whipple claimed in May that violent crime had decreased by half during his term. But Whipple’s source, the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, missed half the violent crimes recorded by the Wichita Police Department, possibly because the agency couldn’t mesh its system with the FBI’s recently revamped system. Across the country, law enforcement agencies’ inability — or refusal — to send their annual crime data to the FBI has resulted in a distorted picture of the United States’ crime trends, according to a new Stateline analysis of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program participation data. “We have policymakers making policy based on completely incomplete data. We have political elections being determined based on vibes

rather than actual data. It’s a mess,” said Jeff Asher, a data analyst and co-founder of AH Datalytics, a data consulting firm. Experts warn that some policymakers, knowingly or unknowingly, use those flawed statistics to tout promising crime trends — misleading voters. The inaccurate data also can affect efforts to improve public safety and criminal justice, potentially leading policymakers to miss the mark in addressing real community issues. “The problem for voters is that they don’t have very good information about what levels of safety actually are,” said Anna Harvey, a politics, data science and law professor at New York University. Harvey also is the director of the university’s Public Safety Lab and the president of the Social Science Research Council. “They’re a little bit vulnerable to politicians who are kind of throwing around allegations and claims about crime that may or may not be accurate,” she told Stateline. DeSantis faced criticism for repeating the incomplete numbers, and NBC News this summer reported that law enforcement rank-and-file had warned that the statistics weren’t correct. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement defended the numbers to NBC News, saying, in part, that “criticism about FDLE’s robust data collection methods is unfounded.”

FLORIDA NEWS

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FBI’s switch to a new system A year ago, when the FBI initially released its 2021 national crime data, there wasn’t enough information to tell whether crime went up, went down or stayed the same. The FBI had estimated results for areas that declined to submit data or were unable to do so. That’s partly because the FBI had rolled out a new reporting system. The data collection system, called the National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, gathered more detail on individual incidents but also required training and tech upgrades by state and local policing agencies. For the first time in two decades, the national law enforcement reporting rate fell below 70% in 2021, primarily due to the FBI’s transition. In 2022, many law enforcement agencies across the country were not NIBRS-certified in time to submit their 2021 crime data, which contributed to lower reporting rates. Even before the new system launched, there was a gap in reporting nationwide. Prior to 2021, 23% of U.S. law enforcement agencies on average did not report any crime data to the FBI. In 2020, 24% of agencies did not report, and in 2021, it surged to 40%. Inconsistent reporting not only hampers the ability to draw comparisons over time and across state lines, but also injects uncertainty into discussions about crime, said Ames Grawert, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice’s justice program. The Brennan Center is a left-leaning law and policy group. “Issues like that are invariably going to lead to some people having a misunderstanding of crime data — makes it harder to talk about crime in some states, especially given the low participation rate in Florida, for example,” Grawert said in an interview with Stateline. The FBI’s latest crime report, released earlier this month, offers a glimmer of progress toward transparency: Seventy-one percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide submitted data through NIBRS or the FBI’s previous reporting system, up 11 percentage points from last year. About 60% of participating law enforcement agencies submitted their data exclusively through NIBRS this year. The FBI accepted data through both NIBRS and the older system this year, a change from last year’s NIBRS-only approach. According to the incomplete numbers, violent crime in the U.S. dropped last year, returning to pre-pandemic levels, while property crimes saw a significant increase. While crime data reporting to the FBI is optional, some states, such as Illinois and Minnesota, have laws requiring their local law enforcement agencies to report crime data to

their state law enforcement agencies. State law enforcement agencies often serve as clearinghouses for local crime data, and in some states, they are responsible for sharing this data with the feds. Some local agencies also may send their data directly to the FBI. But some states lag. Florida, Illinois, Louisiana and West Virginia, for example, all remain below the 50% reporting mark, which means less than half of the police departments in their states submitted 2022 crime data to the FBI. Despite these reporting rates, the data shows that greater shares of these state’s populations were represented in last year’s data than in 2021. Florida has had the lowest reporting rate two years in a row — 6% in 2021 and 44% in 2022 — partly because of the state’s ongoing transition to NIBRS. For 2021, the FBI did not accept Florida’s data through the previous data collection system, which would have represented about 58% of the state’s population, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Public Information Office. “It’s a problem in both red and blue states, it’s also a local issue,” Kylie Murdock, a policy adviser with Third Way, a left-leaning national think tank, said in an interview with Stateline. “When people use this data to back up tough-oncrime approaches, and say, ‘Our approach in this state is working’ — when in reality, that’s not necessarily the truth because you don’t know the full scope of the problem,” said Murdock. Roughly a quarter of the U.S. population was not represented in the 2022 federal crime data, according to a Stateline analysis. More than 6,000 of 22,116 law enforcement agencies did not submit data. Major police departments, including those in big cities such as Los Angeles and New York, did not submit any data in 2021. NYPD said it couldn’t submit summary statistics in 2021 as it had previously because of the FBI’s change in requirements, but was NIBRS-certified this year. Both cities’ departments did submit summary data to the FBI in 2022 through the old reporting system. The FBI’s 2021 agency participation data shows that the 10 states with the lowest reporting rates included a balanced mix of both blue and red states, while last year’s data shows more red states among the 10 states with the lowest reporting rates.

“More than 40% of Florida’s population was unaccounted for in the data used by the FDLE in its 2021 statewide crime report.”

Political and social consequences The gaps in the FBI’s crime data create significant challenges for researchers and continued on page 25

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FEELING LOW: Florida has had the lowest reporting rate two years in a row. continued from page 22 policymakers attempting to make sense of crime trends. As elections draw near and crime has reclaimed the spotlight, these challenges become increasingly pressing. During last year’s congressional elections, 61% of registered voters said violent crime would be very important when making their decision about whom to vote for, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. While the overall violent crime rate has steadily declined on average over the past 20 years, the Pew Research Center suggested that voters might be reacting to specific types of violent crime, such as homicide, which saw a 30% increase between 2019 and 2020 — one of the largest year-over-year increases on record. A lack of accurate, real-time crime data leaves voters vulnerable to political manipulation, said Harvey, the New York University professor. “Voters tend to not have that kind of access. Politicians then try to play on voters’ concerns about

crime, but without giving voters the information that will actually be useful for them,” Harvey said. Experts expect that the challenge of incomplete national crime data — and the incomplete picture it presents — will persist for years because many law enforcement agencies still are working to adopt the new reporting system. That could affect how policymakers allocate money for law enforcement, crime prevention programs and other public safety initiatives. With crime data, it’s important to know what types of crimes are included and to avoid narrow timeframes when describing trends, said Ernesto Lopez, a research specialist for the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan research think tank. “Oftentimes relying on the FBI data, which tends to be outdated, really allows politicians to sensationalize a few news stories. Without having more up-to-date data, it may not be accurate,” Lopez told Stateline.

“Politician or otherwise, when we talk about crime, it’s really important to have a larger context.” Federal assistance Law enforcement agencies nationwide have received over $180 million in federal funding to help with the transition since the FBI’s switch to its new NIBRS reporting system was announced in 2015. Many law enforcement agencies are still working to fully transition to the new system. For example, in Louisiana, the agencies serving some of the state’s most populous cities, including Lafayette, New Orleans and Shreveport, did not report any data to the FBI last year because they were implementing new records management systems, according to Jim Craft, executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. Louisiana’s low reporting rate may be due to smaller law enforcement agencies reporting

FLORIDA NEWS

crime statistics through their local sheriff’s office, which makes it look like fewer agencies are reporting, Craft wrote in an email. In Hawaii, the police departments serving Maui and Hawaii counties were not certified in time to submit data through NIBRS to the FBI last year, according to Paul Perrone, the director of the Hawaii Uniform Crime Reporting program. Last month, Hawaii became one of the few states where all law enforcement agencies are NIBRS-certified, Perrone wrote in an email. Meanwhile, even as more law enforcement agencies submit data in coming years, experts warn that the FBI’s database accounts only for crimes reported to the police. And according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 50% of violent crimes and about 70% of property crimes are never reported. This story was published earlier by Stateline, a partner of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix.

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FOOD NEWS The Retreat Tampa 85th anniversary

Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. No cover 123 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa @retreattampa on Facebook

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Here to stay

A revered Tampa dive celebrates 85 years on the block. By Jourdan Ducat

he debate over which bar in Tampa is actually the oldest is one that will likely outlive us all, but one thing is certain, The Retreat is damn old. The bar was established in 1938 and is the longest running bar that has stayed in its original location, for those keeping score. To celebrate the upcoming 85th anniversary of this iconic watering hole, staff and management are throwing one hell of a party on Saturday, complete with drink specials, food and music. “Join us today and be transported to an era filled with nostalgia, where the drinks are poured strong and camaraderie flows freely,” the bar—located at 123 S Hyde Park Ave.—wrote on social media. What does it take for a bar to outlast decades of growth, construction, and changing demographics? Cheap drink specials, attentive bartenders and proximity to work and home don’t hurt, but there’s an intangible element to long-running establishments. One thing that sets The Retreat apart is its unique ability to cater to a diverse crowd, from dive bar aficionados to craft beer enthusiasts and everyone in between. Notable examples of this include the

Narragansett tap that’s sandwiched between a proper nitro Guinness and Cigar City’s Jai Alai IPA, as well as a hearty spirits selection that ranges from standard crowd favorites all the way to the pricey Clase Azul tequila. Although the bar is located within close proximity to the University of Tampa’s campus, management, which refers to the bar as The Retreat Tampa, insists they don’t want to be labeled as a college bar, and the happy hour crowd is anything but academic. The bar stools at that time are likely to be filled with service industry members and jovial regulars who hold court at the end of the bar and smoke cigars while bullshitting with the bartenders. Locals also know The Retreat is an unofficial pre and post Gasparilla hangout. On parade day, the bar hosts an all-day affair that would make Jose Gaspar proud. The vintage cigarette machine is no longer around, but management has no intention of eliminating indoor smoking, welcome sentiment for

those who have seen their favorite dives eschew the habit in favor of a new generation that prefers a vape pen over a Marlboro. It should be mentioned, though, that the high ceilings and efficient smoke eaters inside help negate the issue, but non-smokers are welcome to enjoy their beverages on the outdoor patio if they prefer. The room adjacent to the main bar hosts a plethora of gaming options, from basketball and darts to Golden Tee and three pool tables. There’s also a large projection screen that shows all of the big games as well as the latest addition to the space, a photobooth. The TouchTunes machine on any given day plays a range of typical bar anthems and current top hits. Since reopening post-pandemic, The Retreat began offering limited food options like hot dogs and chips and queso. Patrons looking for something a little more substantial can order from Izzy’s Tacos food truck outside on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and are

“The Retreat’s rich history actually saved the liquor license.”

I’M FEELING 85: The Retreat has held down Hyde Park Avenue since 1938.

welcome to bring the selection of tacos, nachos and quesadillas into the bar. The iconic painting opposite The Retreat bartop was uncovered from wood paneling in 2008, which is when the current group of investors stepped in to breathe new life into the bar. Although The Retreat opened as a bar in 1938, the address has been home to a host of concepts, according to the Tampa Tribune. Milano’s a restaurant with a bottle of chianti in a straw baskets, once resided there, along with Dave’s Grill, The Peanut Gallery, and The Mousetrap.` In 2009, according to the Tribune, the bar actually had to fight to keep its permit, after neighbors at First Baptist opposed plans to expand alcohol sales. The Retreat’s rich history— including city maps, old photos and customer affidavidts—actually saved the liquor license. Although G I Entertainment & Restaurant Group (which also runs Green Iguana and Hula Bay) doesn’t own the building, longtime manager Jeremy Lane assured Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that The Retreat is here to stay.

RAY ROA

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Lottes of love

FOOD NEWS

Popular Korean grocer Lotte Plaza Market opens in New Tampa, and more local foodie news By Kyla Fields

LOTTEPLAZAMARKET/FACEBOOK

fter many months of anticipation, a pop- expansion. Halelife Bakery, a Pinellas-based focaccia bread, cupcakes and unique mocktails website. “We focus on safe ingredients first and ular Asian grocery store is finally ready business, just announced that its new bistro will courtesy of N/A bottle shop Herban Flow. then phenomenal taste and texture.” Halelife’s full-service bistro location was Alongside St. Pete’s new bistro location, to make its Tampa debut—news that we soon open at 11270 4th St. N in St. Pete. Halelife learned from the Lotte Plaza Market watchers owner Laura McCutcheon tells Creative Loafing originally planned for St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts there are Halelife bakeries in South Tampa, on the ultra-popular Tampa Bay Asian Foodies Tampa Bay that an official grand opening will District, but eventually encountered develop- Carollwood and downtown St. Pete. For the latFacebook group. While the grocery store is take place on Saturday, Nov. 4. ment-related issues, according to social media. est news on Halelife Bakery’s new bistro, head still listed as “coming soon” on its website, “We will have a very soft opening start- In addition to celebrating the launch of the to its Instagram at @halelifebakery. Google has Lotte Plaza Market opening on ing Monday (Oct. 30) to continue to offer our new Halelife headquarters, the bakery also Friday, Nov. 3 at 17605 Bruce B Downs Blvd. Clearwater customers a storefront to access our celebrates its seventh anniversary next week. St. Pete opens its first Fresh Pace Healthy baked goods while we finish our front of house,” McCutcheon first launched her business Neighborhood Store in New Tampa. In addition to its wide spread of produce, sea- McCutcheon explains. “Our new location has lots in 2016 with a mission to provide sweet and St. Petersburg just debuted its newest projfood, meat, baked goods and other Asian staples of seating in a warm homey atmosphere and a savory goods to Tampa Bay’s food restricted ect to help battle food insecurity in the city’s like noodles, sauces and marinades, lower-income neighborhoods. The the grocery store also features a city’s first Fresh Pace Healthy food court space called the “Sijang Neighborhood Store (stylized Eatery.” According to its website, “FRESH”) is located inside Rajax Sijang is a traditional Korean Food Mart and Meat Market at market where people spend time 2327 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. St. together and eat; the grocery store S, adjacent to Boyd Hill Nature “strives to provide different cultural Preserve and Bartlett Park. experiences and exposure.” And if The new health-conscious you’re planning a Korean barbemarket will offer nutritious food cue or hot pot night at home, Lotte including fresh fruits and vegPlaza Market also sells a variety etables, low-fat proteins, whole of thinly-sliced pork belly, boneless grain items, and low-fat dairy ribeye and brisket for the occasion. products or dairy alternatives. Lotte Plaza Market has been The city of St. Petersburg opened around since 1976, with most this new market with the goal of its stores located on the East of “incentivizing neighborhood Coast in states like Maryland and stores in low-income, low-access Virginia. areas to expand their healthy food The only other Florida-based options at an affordable cost to location of Lotte Plaza Market their customers.” resides in Orlando, although the This new market opens in company plans to rapidly expand collaboration with the St. Pete across the country over the next Free Clinic, which also “assists decade. For the latest information on in subsidizing food costs for the Tampa’s newest grocery store, head stores and helps business owners to its Facebook at @lotteplazamarnavigate the process of acceptket, where you can find more details ing EBT and WIC if they do not about next week’s grand opening as already do so.” In an effort to open well as its weekly sale items. The more of these healthy markets, operating hours for New Tampa’s SPFC is continuing to collaboupcoming Lotte Plaza Market are rate with existing corner stores to “establish infrastructure, marnot listed online just yet. When Lotte Plaza Market keting plans, and sustainable makes its Tampa Bay debut this SEOUL FOOD: Lotte Plaza Market sells sliced pork belly and boneless ribeye, perfect for Korean barbecue. business models” to help them week, it will join the ranks of support a FRESH Pace Healthy other large-scale Asian grocers in the area like large patio filled with comfy furniture to lounge community. She and her son both have Celiac Neighborhood Store within their businesses. Oceanic Supermarket and MD Oriental Market, and relax in.” With the opening of its new St. disease and are unable to consume ingrediIt’s no secret that south St. Pete is considered alongside a variety of mom and pop stores like Pete bistro comes the immediate closure of its ents like dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, peanuts and a USDA-designated food desert, with no major tree nuts, and make sure their products are grocery stores after the closure of Tangerine Kim Bros, Lien Hoa and Tan Phat, in addition flagship Clearwater bakery. If you’ve never stopped into one of Halelife’s extremely safe for both themselves and their Plaza’s Walmart Neighborhood Market in 2017. to Cho Lon and Dong A over in St. Pete. many locations throughout Tampa Bay, the customers. Alongside this new city-sponsored neighborhood Gluten-free bakery Halelife closes Clearwater bakery specializes in a variety of gluten and “Our sole mission is to be an oasis of delicious store—which was made possible through funds location and announces new St. Pete bistro allergen-free baked goods, sweet treats, break- food that allows for you to safely enjoy things from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)— One of the leading local vegan and glu- fast sandwiches and grab-n-go bites. Popular you thought you’d have to give up forever,” the there are several other local efforts to provide ten-free businesses is continuing its Bay area items include seasonal doughnuts, avocado toast, Best of the Bay-winning bakery writes on its continued on page 35

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St. Pete with fresh and healthy foods, like the community-ran S.T.O.R.Y. 727 organization, Reach St. Pete, the Southside Fresh Market and the St. Pete Youth Farm. While this is the first Fresh Pace Healthy Neighborhood Store to debut in St. Pete, there are hopefully several more on the way. The city has allocated $1.179 million dollars of its ARPA funds towards Food Security, which includes the neighborhood store initiative alongside other projects like the Summer Food Program. Largo’s Arkane Aleworks releases ‘frightfully fun’, candy-inspired beers for Halloween Adults that like beer but yearn for the nostalgia of trick-or-treating might be the target audience for this exclusive candy-inspired beer release. Although last weekend was Arkane Aleworks’ last “Hauntoberfest” party—an event that featured its candy-inspired craft beer, food trucks and other holiday festivities—the Pinellas-based brewery may have some leftover specialty beers on tap this month (Although we recommend calling ahead to make sure.) Arkane Aleworks, located at 2480 E Bay Dr. no. 23 in Largo, released almost two dozen candy-inspired beers this Halloween season—from a variety of fruity sours to a few chocolatey stouts—to help local craft beer lovers get in the Halloween spirit. Just a few of the brewery’s Halloween-themed releases include: the green apple-flavored Jolly Green Goose, Sour Batch Kids, Schweetharts, Taste the Rainbow and spread of chocolate stouts infused with coconut, peanut butter, malted milk balls, caramel and shortbread. Select beers like the bubblegum-inspired Watermelon Broomstick and its pumpkin cheesecake-flavored Grandma Fingers may still be available in to-go cans, too. And if you don’t have a sweet tooth, don’t fret, because Arkane Aleworks also pours “hoppy stuff and beer flavored beer” year-round. For the latest news on this year’s Hauntoberfest beer drop, head to the brewery’s Facebook at @arkanealeworks or Instagram at @arkane_aleworks. Tasting room at Tampa’s Gamblers Bay Distillery is a welcome addition to the local distillery scene There’s something special happening at Gamblers Bay Distillery. The award-winning Tampa based distillery, located near the International Airport just off of the Veterans Expressway, was founded by Mark and Kerri Paun in 2019 and has since gained both national and global recognition. And it’s a welcome addition to Tampa Bay’s emergent distillery scene. The husband and wife team prides itself on using local ingredients and giving special attention to details that many large distillers eschew

in the name of profitability. For example, the Pauns never use pre-blends to start any of their small batch liquors, opting instead to create the entire product themselves from beginning to end on-site. Gamblers Bay Distillery—located at 6101 Johns Rd. in Tampa—also uses only around the best 50% of what it collects from the still, leaving behind the extra 30% that major distillers often use to once again increase profitability and lessen quality. Mark’s family has been distilling for over a century, starting in its native Romania before eventually moving to Canada and then setting roots down in Tampa. A practicing emergency room physician, he decided to put his degree in chemistry to use in his passion for distilling, first as a hobby and eventually as a full-fledged business with the support of Kerri. There’s no doubt his scientific nature plays a major role in the fine-tuning and unique smoothness of every spirit that Gamblers Bay produces. The Paun’s commitment to supporting Florida’s agriculture cannot be overlooked, either, and permeates the founding principles that the distillery was established on. The Florapina Rum products are all made using Sunshine State molasses, and the strawberry rum derives its flavor from local strawberries. The coffee rum, which tastes like a craft espresso martini straight from the bottle, is made with local Cuban style coffee. The Citrus Tree Floridian Gin uses Florida citrus and has an extremely smooth flavor with just the right amount of juniper presence. The award-winning Florida Farm Vodka uses corn from Florida farmers and beat out competitors to win Double Gold at 2023’s World Spirits Competition in San Francisco, which is largely considered to be the most respected and influential spirits competition in the world. The vodka is distilled 22 times, a number arrived at by no coincidence, as Mark felt the product he tried after distilling 21 times simply didn’t hit his mark of liquid perfection. The Navy One Navy Strength Spiced Rum belongs in a category of its own. This high proof rum drinks more like a bourbon and is incredibly smooth. The Pauns craft this spirit from one of Mark’s family recipes that dates back 80 years, another nod to their commitment to time-tested quality and tradition. For drinkers not into straight spirits, Navy One works great in a rum oldfashioned, which you can order alongside other housemade craft cocktails in the tasting room on weekends. While there are no set plans for a grand opening, the tasting room is open to the public for limited hours on Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 4 p.m. on Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and wrapping up around 8:30 p.m. both nights. Most of Gamblers Bay Distillery’s spirits retail between $20-$30, with the exception of the boozy Navy One Spiced Rum, which retails for closer to $50.—Jourdan Ducat

FOOD NEWS

GAMBLERSBAYDISTILLERY/FACEBOOK

continued from page 33

TAMPA’S TOP SHELF: Gamblers Bay Distillery specializes in white rum and Floridian gin.

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SOW GOOD: Lechon is the mark of any good Filipino gathering

Masarap

20 Filipino restaurants and eateries everyone should try at least once. By Ky Silog

ilipino American History Month (stylized as “FAHM”) just wrapped, and we’d like to highlight businesses throughout Tampa Bay that specialize in Filipino cuisine— whether they’re brick and mortar restaurants, food trucks, popups, commercial caterers or cottage kitchens. Food is an integral part of the Filipino experience— whether a 23-hour flight separates you from the motherland or not—and these 20 Filipino-owned businesses bring a taste of home right to the Tampa Bay area.

pancit alongside other Asian-inspired dishes like Mongolian beef, sweet and sour chicken and roasted pork fried rice. On the sweeter side of things, this food truck also offers turon, although the menu description reads “sweet plantain wraps.” Various Locations throughout Tampa Bay. facebook.com/Asian-Variety-105442964191451 Calamansi Company New Port Richey-based Calamansi Company is a recentlylaunched catering business and food truck that offers Filipino flavors with a Southern twist. Filipino-inspired Cuban sandwiches, pesto pancit, vegan “crab” rangoons and venison bacon lumpia are just a few dishes on its catering menu, although the business offers a variety of unique dishes that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences. 5745 Main St. Suite 203, New Port Richey. calamansicompany.com

DINING GUIDE

Abuhan sa America Abuhan sa America opened in late 2021, and has set itself apart from other restaurants in the area with its Cebu-inspired menu that highlights cuisines from southern regions of the Philippines. Fried milkfish, sinigang—a popular sour stew—and the infamous dinuguan all occupy this menu—to be served alongside steaming piles of white rice, of course. 1258 Highland Ave. S, Clearwater. @abuhansausa on Facebook Asian Variety Food Truck Although you can’t tell from its name, this food truck offers Filipino fare like lumpia and

Catering by Almira If you’re looking for a whole, roasted pig to be the star of your next event, look no further. Marinated for an entire day and then slow roasted over a charcoal pit for 8 hours, lechon is

the mark of any good Filipino gathering—and Catering by Almira provides it for $15 a pound, plus shipping. Although this catering business is based about an hour away from Tampa, it delivers all over the state. Citrus County-based catering. cateringbyalmira.com Filipiniana Philippine Cafe Strip mall neighbors with fellow popular Southeast Asian eatery Saigon Deli, Filipiniana Philippine Cafe offers a balanced menu that highlights both the savory and sweet side of Filipino cuisine. Sweet treats include the beloved halo-halo, shaved ice desserts, ube cakes and freshly-baked pandesal, while traditional dishes like adobo, lumpia and BBQ skewers occupy the entree portion of the menu. The longsilog (sweet pork sausage, served with fried egg and garlic fried rice) is worth the wait, too. 3848 W Waters Ave., Tampa. @filipiniana. philippinecafe on Facebook Flip’n Tasty food truck This aggressively-adorned truck slings unconventional takes on Filipino classics all throughout Tampa Bay. You probably won’t find options like pork adobo tacos, mini ube cannolis or longanisa mac and cheese on any other Pinoy menu in the area. Flip’n Tasty is always on the move so make sure you check Facebook for its current locations. Various locations throughout Tampa Bay. @FlipnTasty on Facebook

Hungry Zee’s Available for pick-up or delivery within a 20 mile radius of Riverview, Zee’s provides large Filipino catering sprawls, providing steaming hot metal pans piled high with stews, pork BBQ skewers and lumpia. Alongside these made-toorder meals, this catering business also sells homemade lumpia and dumplings that you can fry up at home—message them on Facebook to place your order. Riverview-based catering. facebook.com/Hungry-Zees-110807237962483 Jollibee Not your typical mom-and-pop shop, this global fast food chain occupies a special place in the hearts of Filipinos—especially those who love Jolly Spaghetti. Jollibee’s menu is also stacked with all sorts of fried chicken and burgers. And if sweet spaghetti sauce with hot dogs isn’t your thing, try your hand at another noodle dish called palabok, which is smothered garlic sauce, sauteed pork, shrimp, and hard boiled eggs. 4057 Park Blvd. N, No. 120, Pinellas Park. jollibeeusa.com Lucky Tigre This sari sari-inspired walk-up concept has occupied its little SoHo parcel for about a year now, and it’s definitely South Tampa’s go-to spot for Filipino-American dumplings, bao buns, milk tea and lumpia. It’s also probably the only place in all of Tampa Bay where you’ll be able to find continued on page 40

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continued from page 39 vegan and dairy-free halo halo, complete with homemade ube ice cream. Owner and Tampa native Julie Michelle Sainte Feliciano plans to open a larger, full-service version of Lucky Tigre in West Tampa. 1101 S Howard Ave. Suite B, Tampa. @theluckytigre on Instagram

Masarap Bowls food truck Online Tampa foodie groups have been gushing about this new food truck since it opened a few years ago. Masarap serves all of the classic Filipino entrees, from sisig (sizzling pork cheek) to BBQ skewers, in a build-your-ownbowl style that lets you choose your base, protein, and sauces inspired by different regions of the country. It posts daily about where it’s parked, specialty dishes of the day, or if the truck is soldout of something—so keep an eye on Facebook for updates. Various locations throughout Tampa. @masarapbowls on Facebook

Mercel’s Bake Shop By its name you would assume this Filipino spot focuses on the sweeter side of things, but Mercel’s offers a full range of hot entrees—alongside its drystock of Filipino groceries, goods and desserts. Just make sure you’re nice to the lola that works the front, or she might rub you the wrong way, as she has with some unsavory Yelp reviewers. 8500 49th St.N, Pinellas Park. mercelsbakeshop.com

In the meantime try and catch Boyd bringing Filipino flavor to the kitchen at Ponte (he recently served Tony Hawk his own take on kinilaw), and follow @chef boyrd86 on Instagram to keep up. Pinay Appetit Available for both delivery and pick-up throughout the Land-O-Lakes area, Pinay Appetit offers both catering trays for your celebrations, as well as individual entrees. Popular catering items include chicken fried rice, adobo and Asian-style spare ribs while dinner options include sinigang and pork belly—alongside many more choices. (And no one will know if you order an entire tray of pancit for yourself.) Land O’Lakes-based catering. pinay-appetit.business.site

DINING GUIDE

Mumu Kitchen Mumu Kitchen is no longer taking orders, but we thought it still deserved to be on this

Mata’s Philippine Cuisine After decades of operating a stand at Tampa’s annual PhilFest, Delio and Ellen Mata decided to open their own brickand-mortar in early 2020. After trying Mata’s pinakbet—an indigenous Illocano dish from northern Philippines—Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s ’s food reviewer, John Palmer Claridge, stated “it exhibits layers of satisfying flavor; you really can’t go wrong.” Adorned with statues of baby Jesus, money trees, and the sound of a Filipino soap opera faintly playing in the background, Mata’s is the

what this week’s specials are. Tampa-based catering. @sallysfilipinocuisine on Facebook Tampa Philippine Grocery Although this Tampa spot doesn’t serve any hot or prepared food, it’s aptly stocked with all types of specialty goods and groceries so you can make your own Filipino dishes at home. You can also grab fresh baked goods like pandesal or Sans Rival cake, or send a balikbayan box back home to the Philippines. 13934 Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. @mytampaphilippinegrocery om Facebook TBD @ 301 Although this small cafe focuses on teas, specialty drinks and desserts—it also has a small hot menu with Filipino bites like shrimp baos, beef caldereta (basically a Filipino beef stew), lumpia and chicken adobo. There’s countless opinions of handcrafted teas to choose from—with sweets like ube sticky rice with mango, flan and halo-halo to accompany your artisan beverage. 3840 U.S.Hwy 301 S, Riverview. @ TBDcafe on Facebook Tindahang Pinoy If you want food that’s going to remind you of something your tita cooks, then head to the very back of this tiny Filipino grocery store and take a seat at one of the two tables at Tindahang. Classics like lechon kawali, kare-kare, lumpia, dinuguan and various breakfast “silog” options are featured on the limited menu. And if you need to send a balikbayan box back home, this all-purpose store has got you covered. 9150 49th St. N, Pinellas Park. 727-544-8020

MDV EDWARDS/ADOBE

Manila Eats Last month, Manila Eats relocated from its outdoor, food trailer space in Riverview to a full-service restaurant just south of Palmetto Beach. In addition to making its wide spread of popular Pinoy dishes like chicken inasal, crispy pata and pork sinigang, owner and chef Veronica Meneses—who was born and raised in the Pampanga province right outside of Manila—also hosts karaoke on the weekends. Make sure to check Manila Eats’ Facebook page for its menu of the day. 1601 S 22nd St., Tampa. manila-eats.com

type of place where you leave feeling like family. 4350 W Waters Ave. No. 102, Tampa. matas-philippine-cuisine.business.site

JUST LIKE LOLA’S: Caldereta, basically a Filipino stew, is a Pinoy standard. roundup due to its modern, innovative twists on conventional Filipino flavors—and the fact that the man behind this ghost kitchen has yet another exciting culinary concept up his sleeve. Tampa-based chef Dion Jumapao told Creative Loafing he has a new project in the works which “highlights Filipino culture and the Hispanic influence tied to Filipino roots”— although there is no projected debut date yet.

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Sally’s Pinoy Kitchen With a menu stacked with everything from pork BBQ skewers, fried fish and palabok, to fresh baked desserts like puto, cassava cake, biko and ube cream cheese pandesal—it seems like there’s nothing that Tita Sally can’t make. Sally makes everything with love out of her own kitchen, so orders are only available for pick up in Tampa— head to her Facebook to place your orders and see

Trash Panda Provisions This Filipino-owned food truck pops up at breweries, festivals and events throughout Tampa Bay and dishes out Asian-inspired street food like bulgogi beefstuffed burritos, turon rangoons, and “anything in between.” And when local pop-up Chismis & Co. hosts its next kamayan dinner, just know the Trash Panda team will be helping pump out lumpia, chicken inasal and other hand-eaten goodies. Tampa-based food truck. @trash_panda_provisions on Facebook

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REMEMBERING VILNA The Holocaust and the Art of Samuel Bak July 29, 2023 to Januar y 7, 2024

TA M PA C I T Y B A L L E T P R E S E N T S

INTERSTICES A BREAK IN CONTINUITY

FRI, NOV 3 RD & SAT, NOV 4 TH • 07:30 PM AT T H E H I STO R I C C U B A N C LU B I N Y B O R C I T Y 42 | NOVEMBER 02-08, 2023 | cltampabay.com

MOVIES

THEATER

ART

CULTURE

Take a hike

SOMETHING AFOOT: Hillsborough County is home to more than 300 miles of marked hiking trails.

Hillsborough County’s five-month ‘hiking spree’ kicks off this month. By Ray Roa

illsborough County is home to more than 300 miles of marked hiking trails, and local officials want residents to spend the cooler calendar months walking on them. “For those who have never experienced one of these sites, just try it one time and see if you like it, and I guarantee you’ll be hooked,” Forest Turbiville, told WMNF-Tampa 88.5-FM public affairs program “The Skinny.” For extra motivation, the county has organized a formal “hiking spree,” which runs from Nov. 1-March 31. The trail list for the Hillsborough County Hiking Spree, which is in its eighth year, includes 25 trails at 22 of the county’s parks and preserves. Anyone who completes eight of the hikes on the spree agenda can earn either a limited-edition patch, walking stick medallion, or pet bandana. Turbiville, Director of Conservation & Environmental Lands Management for Hillsborough County, said that approximately 2,000 people participated in the hiking spree’s 2022-2023 edition.

Hikers can set up their spree via hillsboroughcounty.org, and completion of the trails happens via the honor system. An official Hillsborough County Hiking Spree kickoff party happens on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Edward Medard Conservation Park in Plant City. There’s an additional guided, Pokemon Go-centric, hike on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the J.C. Handly Vita Trail in Brandon. There’s no cover for either event, but registration is required. Turbiville told WMNF that he’s partial to the Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve, which covers 1,800 acres near Plant City. Blackwater Creek cuts directly through the pine flatwood at the preserve. There’s plenty of non-paved trails at Blackwater, and over almost 30 years visiting the preserve, Turbiville has experienced countless moments of actually getting to find quiet and hear nature. He always takes a few minutes to just sit on the ground and look up and around. “It’s almost like you’re transported into another world while you’re out there,” Turbiville

A&E NEWS

added. “And that’s one of the things I love about our program is that we’ve been able to protect some of the best remaining natural sites in Hillsborough County. And you can find this experience at really any one of our conservation parks or preserves.” Tampa Bay artist Eric Hornsby completes new mural at Gasparilla Music Foundation headquarters Graffiti artist and Tampa Bay Fresh Fest cofounder Eric “Esh” Hornsby wrapped on a new mural on the side of Gasparilla Music Foundation (GMF) headquarters in Tampa last summer, just as Creative Loafing Tampa Bay shipped a list of Tampa Bay’s must-see murals slideshow. GMF Executive Director David Cox commissioned Hornsby to complete the mural after seeing Hornsby’s alligator on the side of Muay Thai in Tampa Heights. “He got my number somehow and just gave me a call,” Hornsby told CL. In terms of creative direction, Hornsby says it was “all pretty fast and loose.” They kicked around a few ideas—a hurricane, an alligator, musical instruments. From these suggestions, Hornsby proposed a Florida swamp full of Florida critters doing Florida things, but with musical instruments. From there, Hornsby had 15 days to complete the project, painting from the top down over corrugated metal and around windows.

RAY ROA

“It was a challenging wall,” Hornsby told CL. “And it was 100 million degrees out. So I would get up super early. I’d drive over there and paint until it got unbearably hot, usually around 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. Then I’d go back home. And when I’d go home, I would draw the studies of each animal. I would design at home and come back for a night shift around five or six and work ‘til dark.” Hornsby’s GMF mural features a red-winged blackbird perched on the neck of a guitar, a Florida panther on keys, a tree frog latched onto a microphone, an owl on sax, a fox on drums, and an alligator working the turntables. Hornsby’s Florida swamp band plays under a Tampa skyline at sunset. This isn’t the first music-themed mural Hornsby’s created in Tampa. He cites work at Showbar in Ybor City, the Straz Center, and a music studio in Lakeland. For artists like Hornsby, graffiti and music are linked through hip-hop culture. “The four elements of hip-hop are the rapper, the DJ, the break dance or B-boying, and graffiti,” Hornsby told CL. It all originated in New York City’s Black and Latino neighborhoods in the late 1960s. Through his Florida swamp band, Hornsby brings that history to life locally at GMF headquarters, which is at 1723 W Cypress St in, Tampa. —Jennifer Ring

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ON VIEW NOW THROUGH APRIL 14, 2024 The Nature of Art looks at the disparate ways humans have engaged in artistic expression to understand our environment, mediate our relationship with nature, and attain a more profound comprehension of our role within the world. Without Water, Nothing examines the vital human relationship with water and how artists from diverse cultures have explored this crucial, life-giving, and yet threatening resource.

HAPPY HOUR IN THE BAR AREA: MONDAY-FRIDAY 5-7PM Henry Koehler, Lake George, Florida, 1881, Oil on canvas, Gift of Spanierman Gallery

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THU 02

C Austin Lucas w/Matt Woods/Have Gun, Will Travel Lucas was supposed to play some Against Me! Songs at Floridian Social last summer, but canceled last minute. Here’s to hoping that the Americana songwriter with a clarion call vocal is feeling better and up for doing a few AM! tunes at this gig alongside Tennessee songwriter Matt Woods and Bay area Americana hero Have Gun, Will Travel. (Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg) KennyHoopla w/Groupthink After a killer opening set at blink-182’s reunion concert at Amalie Arena last summer, the 26-yearold Cleveland boy—fresh off a set from the weekend-long When We Were Young in Las Vegas—is set to bring the second to last show of his “Raised By Wolves” tour to Tampatown. The setlist features every track from his debut mixtape Survivor’s Guilt: The Mixtape, but don’t be too shocked if Ric Flair makes a surprise appearance, or if you see Hoopla do a few backflips mid-song. (Orpheum, Tampa) C The Florida Orchestra: Tchaikovsky x Drake No you silly goose, Drake isn’t actually going to be at the Mahaffey Theater. But The Florida Orchestra—under the direction of Steve Hackman—along with rapper Jecorey Arthur, three vocalists, a bassist, and a drummer, will blend 22 of Champagne Papi’s songs

in with Tchaikovsky’s fifth symphony. There’s no intermission, so if you’ll be poppin’ bottles before the show, hit the John before curtain, OK? (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

FRI 03

C Cindy Lee w/Freak Heat Waves/ mtvh1n1Hypnotic synth, ‘60s pop and blistering bass come together under the Cindy Lee moniker, all at the hands of Pat Plegel, leader of Canadian indie-rock band Women, which imploded in 2010. Inspired by artists like The Supremes and Patsy Cline, Flegel deploys Cindy Lee in an exploration of melody and loneliness on albums like 2020’s What’s Tonight To Eternity, which should get plenty of play at this show originally set for Tampa’s recently-shuttered, and hoping-to-relocate Born Free Pub & Grill. Lo-fi, multi-hyphenate Canadian duo Freak Heat Waves plays a DJ Set to open this huge show for the DIY scene, where local art-pop favorite Mtvh1n1 releases a new EP and says goodbye to its current lineup. Under 18s are allowed with a guardian. (American Legion Post 111, Tampa) C Daikaiju w/Black Valley Moon If Dick Dale ever went punk, he’d push to collaborate with Daikaiju. The Alabama-based quartet remains as enigmatic as possible onstage— rocking kabuki masks and not saying a word every night—but will also light its instruments on fire, drum kit included. Its latest album Phase 3 is loaded with heavy licks and countless drum beats that make every drummer want to practice a little faster for an extra hour or so. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Jazz and Politics: Harmony & Discourse ‘Instrument of Hope’ w/Al Downing Jazz Association In the hours after last weekend’s Ybor City shooting that killed two, St. Petersburgbased State Rep. Lindsay Cross wrote that she was “disgusted, mad & heartbroken” by the lives lost and called for more common sense gun laws. Cross, together with St. Pete City Councilman Brother John Muhammed and others will be part of a discussion about gun violence at this event, which is bookended by an Al Downing Jazz Association ensemble led by trumpeter Dwayne White. (ArtsXChange at Warehouse Arts District, St. Petersburg) C Liquid Pennies w/The Tilt/Offerings/ Gorewizzard Zoë Turtle is still off on her own, but Liquid Pennies—one of Tampa Bay’s most beloved psych-rock bands—has taken the King Crimson route, having recently hired two drummers. “Pierson Whicker and Casey Jones have cut their teeth drumming in countless amazing bands, and we’re honored to have them bring their paired prowess to the Pennies and drive our new sound,” the band wrote in a Facebook post. One of our first chances to see this latest lineup—with a new single, no less—comes this Friday, with The Tilt and more on the bill as well. (The Bends, St. Petersburg) Little Stranger w/Jarv/Damn Skippy Ahead of its second consecutive year with a slot at Reggae Rise Up, the Charlestonbased melodic hip-hop duo—made up of the unrelated John and Kevin Shields—plays a sold-out gig in downtown St. Pete, loaded with its Gorillaz and Odelay-era Beck-inspired jams. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) Sammie Despite his mother being charged for murder in January, the 36-year-old R&B singer—born Sammie Lee Bush Jr.—has been riding high with both the release of his latest album L.A.W (an acronym for “love always wins”), as well as the news that him and his partner Teanna Reid are expecting a baby in the coming months. Bush has also acknowledged how heavily hip-hop has completely changed R&B music mainly because of autotune. “R&B works best, truthfully, when you’re able to tap into your sensitive side, but still be masculine,” he said during a recent appearance on “The Gauds Show.” (Crowbar, Ybor City) Zac Brown Band w/King Calloway/ Yesterday’s Wine Brown’s “Out in the Middle Tour” supports a deluxe version of the 45-year-old’s seventh studio album, last year’s The Comeback. The run marks the band’s 10th North American tour. In October 2021, Brown and his band played, “an unorthodox three-part show that featured a pair of brief intermissions was what Brown called his favorite format to date.” (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

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C Alfred Banks Cities need artists like Alfred Banks, who unabashedly flies at 110 mph in support of the streets that he calls home.

continued on page 48

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continued from page 47 The New Orleans rapper is back in Tampa (he played in January 2022) in support of hip-hop that bucks the mainstream and has earned him slots of New Orleans Jazz Fest, and outof-the-box collaborations with the likes ofTank and the Bangas, Volkswagen, and even the X Games. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) Belmont w/Can’t Swim/House Parties The Chicago-based punk-rock trio and its latest album Aftermath would have fit perfectly into a Vans Warped Tour lineup. An instrumental version of the record—which features settings such as Bowser’s Castle and even a subtle nod to country music (“Country Girl”)—is also available for your karaoke nights to cope with your depression. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

The Interrupters w/The Slackers/Big D and the Kids Table/Radkey The band behind “She’s Kerosine” hasn’t been to Tampa since before the 2021 Hella Mega Tour with Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer—which it opened every date of—was announced. Aimee Allen and company’s latest album In the Wild—which features guest spots from The Skints and Tim Armstrong of Operation Ivy—is described as “a story of survival and resilience from a band that boldly rejects the easy impulses of simply repeating what’s worked before.” (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) C Rise Up St. Pete: The Revivalists Earlier this year, David Shaw and Zack Feinberg of The Revivalists played two back-to-back gigs in Tampa Bay. The first was with the band at what turned out to be the second and final version of Tampa’s Innings Festival, and two days later, a duo show happened at St. Pete’s Floridian Social. But now, with a new album (Pour It Out Into The Night) out, a lot of freedom to play album tracks without worrying about leaks or anything will open up when the boys play the first show of a new Rise Up series in the ‘Burg. (St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg) C WMNF presents A Rolling Stones Tribute to ‘Some Girls’: Talk To Mark w/ more This summer not only marked Mick Jagger’s 80th birthday, but also 45 years

SUN 05

C Albert Cummings Though he started as a banjo player as a preteen, a gig from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble was the gateway drug to Cummings picking up a six-string and eventually playing alongside the likes of B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Vaughan’s band itself, following the death of its fearless leader.

Calloway tribute album, respective appearances in “Swingers” and “Phineas and Ferb,” and a Super Bowl XXXIII gig all under its belt. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

C Steep Canyon Rangers Steve Martin’s go-to backing bluegrass band is back in town for the second time this year, now promoting its new album, Morning Shift, the Grammy award-winning outfit’s first with new lead singer Aaron Burdett. During the release process, the boys had the chance to head to Citizen Vinyl—a pressing plant in the band’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina—and both watch and contribute to the creation of the record’s live show-exclusive lilac pressing. While the album is definitely quintessential Steep Canyon Rangers, we still think that group—which gets compared to The Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the modern Zac Brown Band—would have been the perfect orchestra for Martin’s Tony Award-nominated Broadway collaboration with Edie Brickell, “Bright Star.” (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Jessie Murph w/Henry Verus Having grown up in a very conservative Alabama town, it’s no shock that 19-year-old Jessie Murph was heavily exposed to country music. According to an interview with Women In Pop, a handful of angry parents on TikTok—where some of her less countryesque tunes blew up—told her that her lyrics were unladylike, and she needed to be the opposite. In short, Murph told them to suck rope, and now she’s collaborating with the likes of Jelly Roll and Polo G. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) Sauce Boss St. Pete’s historic Palladium Theater just announced a $10 million renovation campaign, which includes plans to renovate the venue’s intimate Side Door cabaret. That’s where Bill Wharton will play—and cook gumbo—as part of his Sauce Boss boss blues project. (Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Marcus King

THU 09

ALYSSE GAFKJEN

C Clang! w/Charlie/Afterworld One of Tampa’s toughest rock bands is calling it quits indefinitely, but not before putting out a new album and playing what’s sure to be a wild release show at a local VFW hall. Clang!’s had a grip on Bay area fans of krauty, hard-hitting, headbang-ready experimental art-pop for five years, and it continues that tradition on New Feel Now. The 12-track outing showcases how far the band has come since its 2019 debut Whac - A - Mole, and it finds Clang! once again under the watchful ear of engineer Patrick Brady, who’s mixed Emily Jones’ punishing bass, Shellac-and Jesus Lizard-loving riffs from Brian Shields, plus manic drumming from Andrew Goding into what’s possibly the best 25-minutes of rock and roll to come out of Tampa this year. The mix hits especially hard on “Same Dreams,” an early-album highlight where Clang! squeezes all the best things about the band into a four-minute collage that ends with the freaky, unruly saxophone of Zachary Hickerson. Emo band Charlie opens the show along with Afterworld, the goth-metal electro project of longtime Tampeño Carson Cox and former Creative Loafing Tampa Bay staffer Justin Garcia. (American Legion Post 111, Tampa)

since the greatest rock and roll band in the world released its critically-acclaimed album Some Girls, loaded with New York City jazz and blues influence. This weekend, Bay area community radio station WMNF Tampa 88.5-FM hosts a tribute show in which six unannounced local bands will perform a handful of the Stones’ greatest hits, followed by six-piece rock outfit Talk To Mark playing the entire record cover-to-cover. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

Cummings’ latest album Ten has plenty of ‘50s guitar licks, modern blues influence, and even a few acoustic tracks, many of which will probably be showcased at this intimate gig at the cozy Safety Harbor spot. (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor) C The Dollyrots w/Pohgoh/City Mouse Nearly a quarter-century after inception, punkrock duo The Dollyrots is still making new music and out on the road, this time in support of Night Owls, released last month. Wife and husband Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas said the LP represents the fruits of the shows Dollyrots did after Covid. “We put out a B sides and rarities album called Down the Rabbit Hole,” the band told Hollywood Soapbox about its touring hiatus, “but once we got back out touring and felt inspired again, we looked at all those bits and pieces that we wrote and were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve got at least an album here.’” Tampa emo pioneer Pohgoh— supporting its own new album Du und ich—plus now-Tampa Bay based City Mouse open the show. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

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TUE 07

C Marcus King w/Joshua Ray Walker After spending bits and pieces of his summer opening for Kid Rock, the up-andcoming bluesman brings his new album Young Blood—produced by Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach—to St. Pete’s First Block. The 27-year-old’s setlist also currently includes covers of John Fogerty, Marshall Tucker Band, and Jeff Beck, so any parents taking their kids might end up walking out on Tuesday night having known at least one song. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

WED 08

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy While this is no Christmas show, is it even the holidays if Big Bad Voodoo Daddy hasn’t played a gig in town? The swing revival-era outfit—still equipped with plenty of horns—is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, with a Cab

C Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening The son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham might be the most in-demand drummer in classic rock. Jason—who was literally just in Clearwater drumming for Sammy Hagar and the Circle last weekend—used to play for Heart, and has been leading (from the back, anyway) his own, four-piece Zeppelin tribute for close to 15 years now, with John Paul Jones-endorsed singer James Dylan at the helm. Led Zeppelin Evening has opened for the likes of Foreigner and Peter Frampton. Knowing how seldom Jones and Jimmy Page perform, this show at the Hard Rock is probably the closest we’re going to get to a wholly Zeppelin centered gig these days, assuming Robert Plant stays country for the rest of his days. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa) C Michael J. Ross and Company w/Fred Johnson Bassist Michael Ross has been a fixture on the Florida West Coast jazz scene since the early 1980s. That’s some serious longevity, made possible by Ross’s impressive technique and feel—he plays exclusively acoustic—his composing skills and an abundance of hard work. The bassist has released several albums as a leader, most recently Giraffe, a worthy set of straight-ahead jazz (with elements of Latin and funk), which he’ll feature on this two-set show. Ross will be in good Company (the same personnel as the album): drummer Walt Hubbard and saxophonist/flutist Danny Jordan—both longtime collaborators—and youngblood Anthony Aldissi, a Gibbs High alum (currently at Temple University), who doubles on piano and Fender Rhodes. Singer Fred Johnson, a Bay area jazz stalwart who came on the scene about the same time as Ross, will make a guest appearance, performing the tunes he sings on Giraffe, plus a few other favorites. The Side Door, with its nightclub-style seating, intimate vibe and excellent sound quality, provides the ideal setting for what is sure to be a stellar evening of jazz.—Eric Snider

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50 | NOVEMBER 02-08, 2023 | cltampabay.com

PHIL DESIMONE

The boy band, which pioneered the trend of bringing current acts to the Super Bowl halftime show—right here in Tampa, no less—plans to recreate its storied, sold-out 1990 Magic Summer tour, just in smaller Dailey & Vincent Thursday, Nov. 16. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg Kyle Schroeder and Andy Snitzer Saturday, Nov. 18. 7:30 p.m. $45 & up. Side Door at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg The Venus w/Spoiled Rat/Brother Cephus Saturday, Nov. 18. 7 p.m. No cover. Fairgrounds, St. Petersburg Cardiel w/Prescribed Fire Friday, Nov. 24. 9 p.m. No cover. The Bends, St. Petersburg The Motowners Tuesday, Nov. 28. 7:30 p.m. $30 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg Lil Lotus w/Makeout Friday, Dec. 8. 7 p.m. $20. Hooch and Hive, Tampa Ericka Dunlap Wednesday, Dec. 20. 7 p.m. $38.50 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Marshmello w/Tay James Sunday, Dec. 31. 8 p.m. $100 & up. Pier at Armature Works, Tampa

settings. A re-recorded version of its 2008 comeback album The Block Revisited is also releasing this week. As for Paula Abdul—whose first tour in two and a half decades rolled into Tampa with NKOTB the last time it was here six odd years ago—the Laker Girl legend hasn’t been on tour since before COVID-19 was a thing, and has periodically made guest appearances on the likes of “American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent,” and *shudders* “The Masked Dancer.” See my weekly rundown of new concert announcements below.—Josh Bradley Rockabilly Battle Royale Round 9: Deke Dickerson w/The Centuries/Reverend Billy C. Wirtz/Shaun Young/Abby Girl & The Real Deal/more Friday, Jan. 19. 6:30 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa Aaron Lewis Tuesday-Wednesday, Feb. 6-7. 8 p.m. $80 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa Beartooth w/The Plot in You/Invent Animate/Sleep Theory Sunday, Feb. 11. 6:30 p.m. $34.50 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg Rod Stewart Friday, Feb. 16. 8 p.m. $275 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa Kidsgonemad Saturday, Feb. 24. 10 p.m. $35 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City William Black Saturday, March 2. 10 p.m. $15-$20. The Ritz, Ybor City Colin Hay Friday, March 15. 8 p.m. $39.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

The Connie Han Trio Thursday, Jan. 11. 7:30 p.m. $29.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Cole Swindell Saturday, March 23. 6:30 p.m. Free with Valspar admission. Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor

Moon Hooch w/Honeycomb Friday, Jan. 19. 9 p.m. $19. Crowbar, Ybor City

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Wednesday, March 27. 7 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

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A New dom By Dan Savage

I am a 36-year-old reader, a recent subscriber to your column, and a gay man from Europe. I had a late coming out a few years ago, due to some financial and social constraints. I lived with my family well into my 20s, and then later with flatmates, and as a consequence I have never had a proper relationship—or even sexual intercourse—with a man. I have had strong Dom/sub fantasies, always with me as the Dom, mainly featuring role-play and power-exchange situations with restraints and collars and chains. Ideally, I would like to have a sub—for a weekend at first, and then perhaps a relationship with Dom/sub dynamics. I have only tried it briefly with a friend a while ago, and just two times, but my being a complete beginner ruined the encounter for him, as the cuffs broke, and we had only a bit of oral. I have posted a personal ad up on Recon and bought some materials (better cuffs, an orange jumpsuit). I have engaged in conversations with a couple of guys that are interested in meeting me. Both are slightly older, hunky, and successful guys who have never been subs before. One is a 43-year-old man who has only been active and wants to switch for the first time. This man could also be up for something long-term. The other is a straight guy who has been with dominant Mistresses and is looking to submit to a male for the first time. Complicating matters: I’m still very much a “twink.” I’ve built some muscles since taking up swimming, but I look no older than 28, and I have some insecurities about engaging with guys who are older and hunkier than I am, given the way I look and my lack of experience. How can I prepare to be a Dom? I once read about incorporating insecurities in the encounter, but I guess I still need tips, or I risk ruining everything. Please sign me… —“Memento Audere”

scratch, just as W/we organically felt worked the best for U/us,” said Spot. “But there are lots of ways of getting practical experience. MA can someone with similar ideas and levels of experience and experiment together or reach out to someone with more experience and learn from them. Note that the latter can also be a submissive partner. Respectful ‘topping from the bottom’ can be a great tool for skill-sharing.” Whichever approach you decide to take— seeking inexperienced partners or experienced ones, getting started as a sub before moving into the dominant role (as Spot did)—don’t try to pass yourself off as more knowledgeable or experienced than you actually are. “Being honest about what he’s looking for and what level of experience he has will help set the bar right for his first play dates,” said Spot. “Find common interests and negotiate time frames, main activities, limits, safe words/signals, and what kind of headspace or feeling he wishes to reach. This is really one of the most important aspects of a negotiation because how we feel about what we do to one another is equally important, if not more important, than the acts themselves.” You’re no doubt impatient to act on some of your more elaborate fantasies, MA, but you will want to keep things simple at the start. Doubleblack-diamond kinks—like holding someone prisoner for an entire weekend—require the kind of instruction you can only get from a knowledgeable and experienced educator and/ or after years of actual play with trusted partners. (Watching kink porn ≠ getting a kink education; watching kink porn ≠ kink play with trusted partners.) “No one is an expert the first time they try something,” said Spot. “Not even the second or third time—and cuffs sometimes break. Anything from small mistakes to complete fuck ups can happen no matter how long you’ve been doing this. Remember, it’s how you deal with small mistakes or fuck ups that shows your confidence and experience.” Now for some practical tips… You’ve been chatting with two older, hunkier guys who would like to submit to you—but you’re feeling self-conscious and insecure. After you’ve told them you’re less experienced, which will instantly make you less self-conscious about being inexperienced, and after you’ve discussed how long the scene will be and what you both like to do, how do you actually get started? “A submissive always wants to feel smaller than you,” said Spot. “Kneeling is the most powerful position I use, because where the body goes,

SAVAGE LOVE

“The coolest things about power exchange fantasies and relationships are that they’re based on nothing but mental satisfaction,” said Sir Spot. “It’s the feeling and idea of power and control—a lot or a little, or none at all—that is the primary engine, not your age, volume of muscles, or even gender. There is no rule book that says what a Dominant or submissive should look or act like.” A Swedish BDSM practitioner and educator, Spot regularly hosts BDSM nights in SLM Stockholm. But fifteen years ago, MA, Spot was where you are now: anxious to explore his BDSM fantasies but without much actual experience. At first Spot sought out guys who were “on the same level,” experience-wise, and explored simple D/s scenarios and played with them before meeting the man who would become his first Master. “W/we built O/our universe together all from

the mind follows. Even if this person kneeling in front of me could overpower me physically, they don’t. Which proves that the mind actually creates the strongest bondage. So, MA should establish a basic D/s dynamic as soon as possible—order his sub to kneel—and voila, half his job is done. Also keep in mind that having a good time is a shared responsibility. Expecting the Dominant to come up with the entire scenario, run the show, and read minds is a classic misconception.” Another misconception: Doms can’t be skinnier, younger, and less experienced than their subs. “Fuck the mainstream idea of what a power exchange dynamic ‘should’ look like,” said Spot. “Being younger, physically smaller, and perhaps not as strong as his submissive partner yet still be the one in charge, holding the keys, and calling the shots—all of that can very hot. It certainly is to me.” Spot suggests you read as much as you can and seek out workshops in person and online and get involved in your local BDSM and fetish community. He recommended two books to get you started: “The Ritual of Dominance and Submission” by David English and “The Leather and BDSM Handbook” by Vincent L Andrews. “Last but not least: welcome to the dark side, MA,” said Spot, “where

t h e forbidden fruit is consensual and the grass is always greener! And the grass isn’t actually greener, well, then someone has been bad and deserves to be punished.” Follow @house_of_spot and on Instagram, and learn more about the programming at SLM Stockholm at slmstockholm.se. It’s Locktober and I’ve been keeping a man locked up! I got him a t-shirt that has a chastity lock on it and reads, “Life Is Hard. I Shouldn’t

Be.” I want to support his kink, you know? I saw another shirt by the same designer with a kind of a “Superman of Chastity” design. I’m going to get that one for him, too! He’s that sweet! Shined the light of his kindness and service upon me in a moment of great need. I was recovering from shoulder surgery and he took care of my libido. I don’t mind having tender feelings for him. I can handle that. But what I can’t figure out is this: What do I call him? He calls me “Boss,” which is great because I am a top outside of my primary relationship and I like how “Boss” sounds. But what’s the counterpart? Daddy, son. Sir, boy. Master, slave. Boss… what? I tried calling him “Buddy” but that sounded so dumb. So what is the sub called when the Dom is called Boss? Does it even matter? He wants me to call the shots. But I am at a creative loss for this one. —Newly Promoted Boss It does not matter. I mean, it matters to you — and it should—and it may matter to him. But it’s not like the dirty talk police are gonna kick down your door if you use the “wrong” sub counterpart to the Dom honorific “Boss.” Thinking this through…You’re not this man’s actual boss, NPB, and unless this wonderful guy has a fetish for office politics—which no one does—he doesn’t mean “Boss” in any literal sense. He’s invoking a general authority figure, someone with power over him, which you currently possess because he’s granted that power to you. So, you’re not the literal boss of him, NPB, you’re merely the boss of his dick. And seeing as boys, sons, slaves, and subs also get bossed around, it seems to me that one or all of those terms would serve as counterparts. But if you wanted to call him something related to “boss” in the workplace sense of the term—and I don’t know why you would wanna do that—you could go with “intern,” “trainee,” and, “Employee of the Month.” But terms for actual subordinates in our actual workplaces aren’t very sexy… and that’s probably for the best… which brings us back to the usual suspects: boy, son, slave. You could also ask him what he prefers. You said you like the sound of “Boss.” What does he like the sound of? But if he wants you calling the shots, he will probably prefer (read: get harder hearing) a term you picked for him than one he picked for himself. Which means whatever term you ultimately pick, NPB, you can’t possibly go wrong. P.S. Recovering from shoulder surgery here myself here—it’s a long and painful slog. And if this boy really helped you get through it, I don’t think Locktober is reward enough. So why not keep his cock caged through until after “No Nut November” and “Don’t Touch Your Member December” are over? Send your question to mailbox@savage.love. Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

cltampabay.com | NOVEMBER 02-08, 2023 | 53

Q: Who is having thoughts of suicide? a.

A: It’s not clear, is it? People of every income level, race, gender, sexuality, and religion think about suicide. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is the community’s gateway to help, hope and healing. Last year alone, we assisted over 5,000 callers struggling with thoughts of suicide.

CALL 2•1•1 Be Heard.

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