Tampa’s ‘King of the B Movies’ screens ‘Beast Mode’ at Sun-Ray Cinema this month

The only kind of movie Joel D. Wynkoop hasn’t done is probably porn.

by Ray Roa August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

A photograph showing attendees viewing art inside a brightly lit gallery during the Ybor Arts Tour in Ybor City, Florida, on February 19, 2026. Captured in a wide shot against white gallery walls and polished grey concrete floors, two visitors chat near the center on a beige faux-fur area rug: a person on the left wearing black-framed glasses, a dark sleeveless dress, and black boots smiles, while a person on the right in a black t-shirt and dark trousers talks beside framed paintings, including a landscape artwork on the far right wall. A third guest in a long black lace dress views artwork further back in the gallery under track lighting

Arts & Entertainment

The Ybor Arts Tour returns this fall

The self-guided, no-cover tour was founded in 2022.

by Leif Helland August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Friday talk brings together Tampa authors with vastly different books about infamous Ybor City gangster Charlie Wall

Paul Wilborn and Scott Deitche will discuss after dinner at Centro Asturiano.

by Ray Roa August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

MFA St. Pete’s new exhibit brings the masks of four African artists to Beach Drive

‘New African Masquerades’ on display through Jan. 3 and opens this week with special engagements.

by Ray Roa August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Joke Wrld Comedy Festival founders explain why they’re rolling the dice in St. Pete

The two-day festival takes over five venues from Aug. 14-15.

by Ray Roa August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

A screengrab from “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver."

Arts & Entertainment

Live Nation, which John Oliver once accused of having a ‘chokehold’ on live entertainment, brings John Oliver to St. Pete this winter

Tickets, which of course are available through Ticketmaster, go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 12.

by Colin Wolf August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

A photograph showing Monster High dolls displayed on a store shelf in Lviv, Ukraine, on February 16, 2025. Positioned center-right, a black coffin-shaped box from the "MONSTER HIGH NEON FRIGHTS" series features neon green, pink, and blue secret compartment doors with keyhole slots, alongside Ukrainian-language promotional stickers. To its left, boxed Monster High fashion dolls with colorful hair and outfits sit packaged in clear plastic window boxes, lined up under retail store lighting.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this weekend including ‘Sunshine City Scare’ and more [August 13-20]

Plus all the best theater, arts, comedy, markets and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley August 10, 2026August 11, 2026

A promotional group photograph of the musical ensemble Old Time Sailors posing outdoors in front of a historic, ornate wooden sailing ship. Captured in a wide shot, over a dozen band members stand and kneel together in traditional 19th-century maritime attire, including newsboy caps, brown jackets, waistcoats, and trousers. The musicians hold and display various acoustic instruments, including double bass, accordions, guitars, violins, a tuba, a trumpet, washboards, and hand drums. The stern of the black and gold decorated ship towers behind them under a bright, partly cloudy sky in natural daylight.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa’s ‘813 Day’ celebrations include a concert from giant sea shanty ensemble

UPDATE: Promoters said they were swashbuckled and that Old Time Sailors is no longer appearing.

by Leif Helland August 5, 2026August 7, 2026

A portrait photograph of fantasy romance author H.M. Wolfe posing indoors in a medium close-up shot. Wolfe looks directly at the camera with a calm expression, featuring long dark wavy hair resting over her shoulder.

Arts & Entertainment

Interview: Florida author of BookTok hit ‘Daggermouth’ finds hope in dark dystopia

H.M. Wolfe is at Tampa’s Oxford Exchange on Aug. 12.

by Chelsea Zukowski August 5, 2026August 5, 2026

A photograph of comedian and author Sam Tallent posing outdoors in western-style formal wedding attire. Positioned center frame in a medium close-up shot, Tallent looks upward and to the right with a wide, joyful smile. He wears a light beige cowboy hat, thin gold-framed eyeglasses, a black suit jacket, a white collared dress shirt, a floral boutonnière pinned to his lapel, and a black string bolo tie. In the background, soft outdoor daylight illuminates a lush green pine tree forest beneath floral wedding arrangements of white and lavender flowers.

Arts & Entertainment

Gig from stand-up comic and novelist Sam Tallent tops list of best things to do in Tampa Bay this week [August 6-13]

Plus bookish happenings, theater, movies, public affairs and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley August 5, 2026August 5, 2026

A photograph by Keir Magoulas showing a group of eight cosplayers dressed as characters from the Devil May Cry video game series gathered inside the Tampa Convention Center during Metrocon in Tampa, Florida, on July 31, 2026. The cosplayers pose together in striking action stances on a patterned teal-and-green carpeted hallway, wearing variants of red leather trench coats, white spiky wigs, black trousers, and carrying prop swords and handguns. In the background, convention hall signage reading "Partner Services" hangs above a wooden-paneled doorway, with other attendees walking past in natural indoor lighting.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: All the walking masterpieces we saw at Tampa Metrocon 2026

Comic books and video games, IRL.

by Ray Roa and Keir Magoulas August 3, 2026August 3, 2026

A press portrait photograph of stand-up comedian Nick Mullen leaning against a light-colored wall indoors. Captured in a medium three-quarter shot, Mullen stands centered while wearing a light grey bucket hat, clear wire-rimmed glasses, a dark zip-up hoodie over a dark t-shirt, and dark pants. He features dark shoulder-length hair and a full mustache, standing in a relaxed pose against a minimalist interior backdrop with soft overhead lighting.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best comedy shows coming in August: ‘Cum Town’ host Nick Mullen, Joke Wrld, and more

Sam Tallent, former ‘Chappelle’s Show’ writer Kurt Metzger, and others round it out.

by Michael Murillo July 31, 2026July 31, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

An air-conditioned Monster Jam returns to Tampa this summer

Three days of racing and stunts come to Benchmark International Arena in August.

by Leif Helland July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Metrocon kicks off Friday at Tampa Convention Center

Nerdvana takes over downtown this weekend.

by Ray Roa July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

The 10th annual Countdown Improv Festival is happening in Ybor City from August 5-9

Nearly 120 acts from 20 states will be on stage.

by Ray Roa July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

A photograph of two attendees posing with fan-made props at Brick Fan Fest. In the center, two individuals smile together—one wearing a Captain America suit and holding Thor’s hammer (Mjölnir), and another standing behind a large, circular Captain America shield constructed entirely out of red, white, and blue LEGO bricks. To the left, a black wall display holds various glowing and non-glowing toy lightsabers with colorful hilts. In the background, other convention attendees move through an open event hall set up with display tables and black curtains.

Arts & Entertainment

LEGO Brick Fan Expo comes back to Tampa in August

Diehard fans of the toys can build castles and more at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

by Leif Helland July 29, 2026July 29, 2026

WMNF's Big Gay Radio Show hosts holding up their 'Best of the Bay 2025' award certificates at Creative Loafing's annual event.

Arts & Entertainment

Voting for Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of the Bay is now open

Winners will be revealed at Creative Loafing’s big Best of the Bay party on Oct. 7.

by Colin Wolf July 23, 2026July 23, 2026

A sunny, wide landscape photograph taken from the waters surrounding the St. Pete Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida, capturing a scenic coastal view. In the midground, a long, low breakwater made of light-colored, jagged rocks juts out into the calm, deep blue water, with two figures sitting together on the rocks near the center. To the right, a bright red buoy labeled "2WR" floats on the water's surface. In the background, green palm trees and coastal buildings line the shore under a clear, pale blue sky, with a long pedestrian pier structure extending horizontally across the right side.

Arts & Entertainment

MFA St. Pete and Tampa Bay Watch host monthly art and nature tours

The voyage happens on the last Sunday of every month.

by Leif Helland July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

A portrait photo of two individuals at the front desk of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) in Ybor City, Florida. Positioned in the foreground on the right, a person with dark, chin-length hair with bangs, silver drop earrings, and a dark dress with sheer black tulle straps smiles warmly at the camera while wearing a small square pin reading "FM PA." To their left, standing behind the light-colored wooden reception desk, a person with long dark hair smiles as well, dressed in a black sleeveless top with a blue name tag pinned to the strap. The modern, brightly lit interior features high white walls, hanging black cylinder pendant lights, and display shelves with photography equipment and materials in the background.

Arts & Entertainment

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts turns 25 years old and offers free admission on Saturday

FMoPA is showing off never-seen-before works from photographers like Sally Mann, Nan Goldin and Martin Parr, as well as local artists like the late Bud Lee, Selina Roman and David Hall.

by Leif Helland July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Author Hayley Fleming brings ‘healing’ debut romcom ‘Thighs Wide Shut’ to St. Pete next month

Tombolo Books hosts her discussion with bestselling romance author Alicia Thompson.

by Selene San Felice July 21, 2026July 21, 2026

Best of the bay 2026 is here. Check out the Winners And FinalistS!

Events & Film

Tampa’s ‘King of the B Movies’ screens ‘Beast Mode’ at Sun-Ray Cinema this month

The Ybor Arts Tour returns this fall

Friday talk brings together Tampa authors with vastly different books about infamous Ybor City gangster Charlie Wall

MFA St. Pete’s new exhibit brings the masks of four African artists to Beach Drive

Joke Wrld Comedy Festival founders explain why they’re rolling the dice in St. Pete

Live Nation, which John Oliver once accused of having a ‘chokehold’ on live entertainment, brings John Oliver to St. Pete this winter

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this weekend including ‘Sunshine City Scare’ and more [August 13-20]

Tampa’s ‘813 Day’ celebrations include a concert from giant sea shanty ensemble

Interview: Florida author of BookTok hit ‘Daggermouth’ finds hope in dark dystopia

Gig from stand-up comic and novelist Sam Tallent tops list of best things to do in Tampa Bay this week [August 6-13]

Photos: All the walking masterpieces we saw at Tampa Metrocon 2026

Tampa Bay’s best comedy shows coming in August: ‘Cum Town’ host Nick Mullen, Joke Wrld, and more

An air-conditioned Monster Jam returns to Tampa this summer

Metrocon kicks off Friday at Tampa Convention Center

The 10th annual Countdown Improv Festival is happening in Ybor City from August 5-9

LEGO Brick Fan Expo comes back to Tampa in August

Voting for Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of the Bay is now open

MFA St. Pete and Tampa Bay Watch host monthly art and nature tours

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts turns 25 years old and offers free admission on Saturday

Author Hayley Fleming brings ‘healing’ debut romcom ‘Thighs Wide Shut’ to St. Pete next month

Photos: Tampa Theatre brings time travel to Franklin Street in grand finale for centennial restoration

[Photos] Everyone who stepped into Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2026 photo booth

[Photos] Everyone we saw at Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of The Bay party

New photography exhibit frames University of Tampa in stunning new light

Do you have the best burger in Tampa Bay?