Meet the four people who have signed up to be Tampa’s next mayor—so far
Tampeños will elect a new mayor in 2027, and so far less than a handful of candidates have officially registered to succeed Mayor Jane Castor, who is term-limited after being re-elected in 2023. Some big names are rumored to be running—including Bob Buckhorn, who’s already served two terms and District 4 City Councilman Bill Carlson—but…
Photos: Protestors picket Border Patrol recruitment at St. Pete Carillon Hilton
A protest was held outside of the St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hilton hotel on Tuesday, Jan. 13 in response to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection recruitment event being held within. Around 100 protestors showed up blaring sirens from bullhorns, chanting, and holding signs criticizing the hotel and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Nearly as…
At St. Pete recruitment event, Border Patrol rep touts qualified immunity and early retirement
Dubbed “The Green Monster” by some DHS officials, Border Patrol has a reputation as more aggressive and unpredictable than ICE. Its recruiting experience reflected the militaristic culture of the green-suited agency. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) held a two-day recruitment expo this week at the St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hilton hotel. Creative Loafing Tampa…
Florida House passes bill to lower long gun age limit
The measure under debate also would allow a person 18 or older to purchase a handgun from a private seller, although a federal ban prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing a handgun from a federal firearms licensee.
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay has been sold, and is locally-owned for the first time since 2009
For the first time in 18 years, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is locally-owned. On Thursday afternoon, a group of current employees and two new partners completed the purchase of Tampa Bay’s 39-year-old alt-weekly from San Antonio-based Chava Communications, which has owned the publication since 2023. The publication’s previous owners—Euclid Media Group (2018-2023), SouthComm Inc. (2011-2018),…
Where to find cold weather shelters across Hillsborough and Pinellas tonight
With lows between 28°F and 32°F and wind chills between 22°F and 35°F, the state is soon to experience its coldest air this winter. So, shelters are opening up across Hillsborough and Pinellas County to provide refuge for folks across the Bay area between Thursday and Friday.
St. Pete celebrates MLK’s legacy for 45 days
Under the leadership of the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival, St. Petersburg is in the middle of its first-ever 45 Days of Excellence: a season that begins Jan. 1 and culminates on Valentine’s Day with the ninth annual Collard Green Festival.
Photos: All the cool mother shuckers we saw at Tampa Oysterfest 2026
Organizers shipped 20,000 oysters from Chesapeake Bay into Tampa last Saturday for the eighth annual Oyster Fest. With origins in the backyard of Frameworks’ Tampa Heights headquarters, the wintertime rite of passage has evolved into a flawless day party where lucky ticket holders kick back inside south county’s Tabellas at Delaney Creek to feast on…
Meet the cyclists building Pinellas’ first mountain bike trail
SWAMP (the Southwest Association of Mountain Bike Pedalers) wholly maintains 130 miles of trails in parks around the Tampa Bay area. For many local riders who enjoy them without getting their hands dirty, there’s still one drawback: The Bay’s nearest mountain bike trails are all a one-to-two-hour drive away from Tampa and St. Petersburg’s downtowns.
Tampa Bay resale boutiques combat fast fashion
These homegrown heroes set up shop for clothing rental, upscale resale and rare vintage finds right here in Tampa Bay.
‘The Pink Unicorn’ tops list of Tampa Bay’s best things to do Jan. 15-22
Tampa Bay’s arts scene flourishes this week with a new theater company’s intimate first shows, multi-media exhibitions opening in Ybor City, film and pop culture events. Plus, a Roe v. Wade protest.
John Mellencamp brings greatest hits tour to Tampa this summer
While there’s no telling if we’ll get a taste of Johnny’s next era, the “Dancing Words” tour, which was announced with a little help from Sean Penn and *squints at notes* Joe Rogan, promises to see him showcase a number of songs that haven’t been performed live in over a decade, along with his standard…
