Tampa lawyer and songwriter James Shaw will talk about the meaning of existence this weekend

His talk comes after an extended period of study, meditation and fasting—which means if you listen you might not have to do all that nonsense.

by Ray Roa May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

An indoor portrait photograph of Tampa artist and Tempus Projects founder Tracy Midulla. They have shoulder-length, curly reddish-brown hair with bangs and are wearing a solid black, long-sleeve boat-neck top. They are leaning casually against a white wall on the right and looking directly at the camera with a gentle, neutral expression. The softly blurred background features a bright, naturally lit hallway and a section of an exposed brick or wood pillar.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa art scene lifer, leader, Tracy Midulla, will speak to Creative Mornings on Friday

by Ray Roa May 19, 2026May 20, 2026

An indoor portrait photograph of author Vanessa Frances standing and leaning casually against a large white pillar. They have long reddish-brown hair with bangs and are wearing a white, sleeveless button-down v-neck top and light-colored pants with thin vertical stripes. They are holding a dark-colored book with both hands in front of them and looking directly at the camera with a gentle expression. Small tattoos are visible on their right arm. The background features the interior of a grand building with white walls, a dark wood handrail, and decorative geometric black metal railings bordering an open balcony area.

Arts & Entertainment

Interview: Before St. Pete talk, ‘Orange Island’ author Vanessa Frances talks about being a professional yearner, love for Florida and more

She’s at Tombolo Books on May 21.

by Arielle Stevenson May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

screenprint of a house on stilts above a wavy blue-green sea and a bright pink sky

Arts & Entertainment

USF’s printmaking studio sells rare art at big discounts in Tampa this weekend

Graphicstudio’s open house and benefit sale is slop free.

by Selene San Felice May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

Three people smiling and posing at an outdoor market

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete’s New Moon Makers’ Market is an accidental queer bastion

Sunday is the last spring market before a four-month hiatus.

by Valerie Smith and The Sapphic Sun May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

Lucky Starzzz in her All Stars S11 premiere look as a yellow star with boobs.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ watch party, New Moon Makers’ Market and more

Plus, the Tampa Bay Toy and Comic Expo, Dalí In America, Palm Harbor Craft Festival and more.

by CL Staff May 14, 2026May 15, 2026

A shot from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17 of Lucky Starzzz in a purple soapy sponge costume with dishes and utensils.

Events & Film

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ competetor Lucky Starzzz comes to St. Pete this Friday

She’s the lucky guest at The Wet Spot’s watch party.

by Selene San Felice May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A daytime photograph taken from behind of Tampa artist Jay Giroux standing outdoors in front of a white corrugated metal roll-up door. They are holding a large, yellow rectangular screen-printing frame with both hands, facing away from the camera. Giroux is wearing a backward gray baseball cap and a bright, multi-colored tie-dye t-shirt with the phrase 'JUST HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS' printed in large, stacked black letters on the back. Tattoos are visible on their left forearm. To the right of the metal door is a gray painted cinderblock wall.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa art scene staples open new ‘General Admission’ gallery on Thursday

General Admission opens holds a stacked collaborative show for its Ybor City opening.

by Ray Roa May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A bright daytime exterior photograph of the historic Mirror Lake Community Library in St. Petersburg, Florida. The classic Beaux-Arts style building features a prominent light-colored masonry facade adorned with grand arched windows, decorative columns, and intricate classical molding. Wide concrete steps lead up to the main entrance in the center. The building is framed by lush green palm trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete ‘Restoration & Design Expo’ includes free guided tours of the Mirror Lake neighborhood

by Ray Roa May 11, 2026May 11, 2026

A collage of comedian headshots for Mark Gregory, Rahn Hortman, Johnny B and Jenn Weeks

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best comedy gigs this week, including Healing with Humor fundraiser, Kill Tony and more

Plus, big name shows like Kill Tony and Nene Leakes & Carlos King.

by Michael Murillo May 7, 2026May 13, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

The best events in Tampa Bay this week, including WWE, ‘Heated Rivalry’ and more

Plus, an East Coast documentary premiere, a hurricane expo and more of the best events May 7-13.

by CL Staff May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

Shane and Ilya embrace in a scene from 'Heated Rivalry'

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay has two viral ‘Heated Rivalry’ dance parties this month

The St. Pete and Tampa parties are a week apart, Hollander.

by Selene San Felice May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Sunflower season is back at Tampa Bay’s Sweetfield Farms

The farm celebrates moms this Mother’s Day weekend.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

A hardback and a paperback of "Liberating Abortion" posed against a lush green background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund hosts book talk in Tampa next week

The co-author of ‘Liberating Abortion’ will be at Black English Bookstore on Monday.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Cast of "Until Love Makes Us" wearing modern Mexican fashion.

Arts & Entertainment

USF professor tells queer migration stories in new Tampa play

“Que el amor nos haga (Until Love Makes Us)” opens Friday, May 16 at Stageworks Theatre.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

A horizontal, behind-the-scenes photograph of four individuals wearing dark green hard hats standing beneath metal scaffolding during a tour of the Tampa Theatre. In the foreground, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay co-owner James Howard, wearing a black t-shirt, glasses, and a beard, smiles at the camera. Behind them stand co-owner Anthony Carbone in a white button-down shirt, and spring 2026 interns Kailey Aiken and Jasmin Parrado. The group is standing on an elevated platform surrounded by grey metal construction poles. In the background, the theatre's historic, ornate gold-and-red painted walls are visible to the left, alongside a uniquely textured ceiling structure to the right.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Theatre hard hat tours allow members to touch the sky inside the historic venue

May tours are sold-out, with June dates to be announced soon.

by Ray Roa May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A daytime portrait photograph of former professional soccer player Clyde Best standing in the stands of a stadium. Best is wearing a black baseball cap, a dark zip-up sweater, and a green, yellow, and white Tampa Bay Rowdies scarf draped around his neck. He is looking directly at the camera with a relaxed expression. In the background, rows of empty green and yellow stadium seats rise beneath a shaded concrete overhang, characteristic of Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.

Arts & Entertainment

Documentary celebrating Rowdies and West Ham legend Clyde Best makes East Coast debut in St. Pete

The Bermudian who brought a Soccer Bowl championship to the Bay will be in attendance on May 7.

by Ray Roa May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A low-lit, wide-angle photograph of three individuals smiling and posing together on an outdoor patio during a Dyke Night event. The scene is heavily tinted by moody red ambient lighting and overhead string lights. In the foreground, a person with bright orange hair wearing a dark red top sits next to an individual with long dark hair wearing a sheer, patterned black top. Behind them, a third person playfully poses while holding up an open, black-and-white patterned folding fan. In the background, other attendees mingle near a textured red stucco wall covered in framed posters, capturing the lively, alternative nightlife atmosphere of Crowbar in Ybor City.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Dyke Night St. Pete’s goth party sells out at Crowbar

Yes, there were clams.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Three teammates holding red dodgeballs and looking focused during an outdoor tournament game.

Arts & Entertainment

The best Tampa Bay events happening this week, including Cinco de Dodgeball, romance lit fest and more [April 30-May 6]

Plus, Mamapalooza: Family and Music Festival in St. Pete, Tampa Record & CD Show and more.

by CL Staff April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa’s Riverfest brings Sixpence None the Richer, a water ski show and more this weekend

The eclectic two day celebration marks 10 years of Tampa’s modern Riverwalk.

by Kailey Aiken April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

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

Events & Film

Tampa lawyer and songwriter James Shaw will talk about the meaning of existence this weekend

Tampa art scene lifer, leader, Tracy Midulla, will speak to Creative Mornings on Friday

Interview: Before St. Pete talk, ‘Orange Island’ author Vanessa Frances talks about being a professional yearner, love for Florida and more

USF’s printmaking studio sells rare art at big discounts in Tampa this weekend

St. Pete’s New Moon Makers’ Market is an accidental queer bastion

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ watch party, New Moon Makers’ Market and more

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ competetor Lucky Starzzz comes to St. Pete this Friday

Tampa art scene staples open new ‘General Admission’ gallery on Thursday

St. Pete ‘Restoration & Design Expo’ includes free guided tours of the Mirror Lake neighborhood

Tampa Bay’s best comedy gigs this week, including Healing with Humor fundraiser, Kill Tony and more

The best events in Tampa Bay this week, including WWE, ‘Heated Rivalry’ and more

Tampa Bay has two viral ‘Heated Rivalry’ dance parties this month

Sunflower season is back at Tampa Bay’s Sweetfield Farms

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund hosts book talk in Tampa next week

USF professor tells queer migration stories in new Tampa play

Tampa Theatre hard hat tours allow members to touch the sky inside the historic venue

Documentary celebrating Rowdies and West Ham legend Clyde Best makes East Coast debut in St. Pete

Photos: Dyke Night St. Pete’s goth party sells out at Crowbar

The best Tampa Bay events happening this week, including Cinco de Dodgeball, romance lit fest and more [April 30-May 6]

Tampa’s Riverfest brings Sixpence None the Richer, a water ski show and more this weekend

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?