Leif Helland, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa

Double Six is Tampa Heights’ new daytime café, and there’s free parking

It’s open inside La Sétima Club Thursday-Sunday.

by Leif Helland June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

There’s a whole ass new cafe in Tampa Heights, and there’s free parking, too. Double Six opened inside La Sétima Club—located at 815 E 7th Ave. on the literal edge of Ybor City—this month. From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, the concept serves cafe staples, a trio of specialties (go for the coquito latte), and a […]

Someone holds the Juneteenth flag, featuring a blue upper half, a red lower half, and a downward-curved arc with a centered, white five-pointed star surrounded by a starburst. the bottom of the flag includes the text "June 19, 1865."

Arts & Entertainment

How to celebrate Juneteenth in Tampa Bay

The creator of the national Juneteenth flag comes to Tampa tomorrow for the first of 20+ emancipation events

by Leif Helland and Liam Oliver June 11, 2026June 17, 2026

Popular Tampa sandwich spot Cousin Vinny’s will be on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’

“Secrets out. The one and only [Guy Fieri] swung by for some cutlets!” wrote Cousin Vinny’s.

by Leif Helland June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

A rowdies fan waves a rainbow Rowdies scarf on Pride night

Arts & Entertainment

Undefeated Rowdies celebrate Pride night in St. Pete next week

Tickets for the June 13 match against Hartford Athletic include a rainbow accordion fan.

by Leif Helland June 5, 2026June 5, 2026

A wide-shot, stage-performance photograph of the touring production of 'Beetlejuice.' From left to right, David Wilson as Adam and Kaitlin Feely as Barbara are seated on the left, looking toward the center. In the center, Leianna Weaver as Lydia stands wearing a black dress, and to their right, Ryan Stajmiger as Beetlejuice stands atop a dining table wearing their iconic striped suit, gesturing with both arms outstretched. The scene is illuminated in high-contrast blue and lime-green theatrical lighting, with atmospheric smoke filling the space of the stylized, dark-toned interior set.

Arts & Entertainment

Broadway’s ‘Beetlejuice’ musical returns to Tampa this month

The Eight-time Tony Award nominated musical makes its comeback featuring a unique take of the 1980’s cult classic film.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

An eye-level exterior photograph of a multi-story, modern mixed-use apartment building in downtown Tampa, Florida, located at 105 W Tyler Street. The ground floor features large, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a storefront entrance currently under construction, with dark-framed panes and visible interior framing. The building's exterior is light-colored concrete with industrial-style balconies above. A black trash receptacle stands on the sidewalk in the foreground, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

New Mexican restaurant La Victoria opening in downtown Tampa this fall

It’s a block away from another forthcoming Mexican restaurant, Matilde.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 9, 2026

An architectural, low-angle shot of the iconic, bright blue sign of the Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The vertical portion of the sign prominently displays the word 'THEATRE' in bold, white, capital letters. Beneath it, a horizontal marquee reads 'BEACH' in similar white, block lettering. The sign is set against a soft, pale, overcast sky, with the top of a palm tree visible in the upper-left corner and a dark, traditional-style street lamp visible on the left side of the frame.

Arts & Entertainment

Pulitzer-nominated play about the US Constitution comes to St. Pete Beach this summer

‘What The Constitution Means To Me’ opens just in time for America’s 250th birthday.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

An architectural rendering of the proposed Live Nation music venue in Ybor City at twilight. The multi-story building features a classic red-brick exterior with industrial-style windows. A long, illuminated marquee sign projects horizontally from the center of the facade, casting light onto the glass-walled entrance lobby below. Vertical LED light strips are integrated into the brickwork along the left side of the structure. The building is situated on a street corner with wet, reflective pavement, and the text 'MUSIC VENUE' is subtly overlaid in the upper left corner against a cloudy, dusk-colored sky.

Music

Citing grand oak, Tampa officials delay development of controversial Live Nation venue in Ybor City

The Barrio Latino Commission will return on July 28 to discuss the tree and other issues.

by Leif Helland and Ray Roa May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

St. Pete beer staple Green Bench opens new location in downtown Tampa

The new outpost debuted in the former Pint and Brew spot next to Hotel Bar.

by Leif Helland May 21, 2026May 21, 2026

Sign for a Bitcoin ATM in a store window next to Visa and ADT security decals.

Florida among nation’s worst for crypto ATM fraud

Nationally, there have been over 13,000 complaints over the last year involving crypto ATMs, with losses reaching $388 million dollars.

by Leif Helland May 20, 2026May 20, 2026