A studio portrait of a person with short, curly dark hair and a beard, looking toward the camera with a wide smile. They are wearing a dark olive-green button-down shirt with a subtle grid pattern, posed against a solid grey background.

Tampa actor Max Carley turned his life around and rediscovered theater

He just won a full scholarship to the Atlantic Acting Program, an affiliate of the renowned Atlantic Theater Company.

by David Warner January 29, 2026January 29, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with short dark hair and a mustache, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. They are wearing a grey blazer over a black and grey plaid button-down shirt, accented with a long wooden bead necklace featuring a circular gold pendant, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa actor Lance Markeith Felton is incapable of making a false move—on stage, at the mic, or in the classroom

You just saw him as the fierce young civil rights warrior Dasher in ‘When the Righteous Triumph.’

by David Warner January 29, 2026January 29, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with long, flowing strawberry-blonde hair and a friendly smile. They are wearing a sleeveless white top and large gold hoop earrings, posed against a solid dark grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Pinellas actor Aoifa Maki been hailed as ‘pure magic’ onstage

From her studies at Perkins, John Hopkins and PCCA, she has grown into the realization that the arts can be a career.

by David Warner January 29, 2026March 11, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with long, curly brown hair and a bright smile. They are wearing an olive green sleeveless top and a delicate gold necklace, posed against a solid dark grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Alaina Rahaim’s nickname in school was ‘Sparkles’–and that’s exactly what she does

The Tampa actor took ballet as a child, but found her true home in an improv class.

by David Warner January 29, 2026January 29, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

From local stages to TV ads to Tammi Terrell, Tampa Bay actor Jai Shanae can do it all

You may have seen her playing the tomboy-ish Opal in ‘Fat Ham’ at American Stage.

by David Warner January 29, 2026January 29, 2026

Customers browsing the 'Book Ends' mobile bookstore trailer, which is illuminated by festive string lights at a night market.

Arts & Entertainment

Bookends hosts fantasy book fair at Corner Club Tampa this weekend

Plus, two weeks of Tampa Bay bookish events.

by Maroon Stranger January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Printmaking, AI criticism art shows open next week in Ybor City

The exhibitions run at Tempus Projects through March 19.

by Selene San Felice January 12, 2026January 12, 2026

A woman sitting contemplatively on a chair in a sunlit living room with vintage decor.

Arts & Entertainment

New Tampa Bay arts production company premieres with in-home shows

Story Keepers stages ‘The Pink Unicorn’ in homes and backyards around St. Pete.

by Selene San Felice January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

British novelist debuts historical mystery in St. Pete next week

Fiza Saeed McLynn will discuss ‘The Midnight Carousel’ with Tampa bestselling author Sarah Penner.

by Selene San Felice January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

A large, metallic starburst sculpture stands in the foreground of a bright art gallery while visitors view paintings in the background.

Arts & Entertainment

Creative Pinellas’ last exhibit at Largo gallery ends next weekend

The publicly defunded arts nonprofit must vacate its office and gallery by Feb. 1.

by Selene San Felice December 29, 2025December 30, 2025

A display of small, colorful ceramic bowls mounted on a black wall, arranged in a diagonal, wave-like formation from the top left to the bottom right. Each bowl features unique hand-painted designs, including floral patterns, geometric shapes, and fruit motifs.

Arts & Entertainment

Puerto Rican, Palestinian, Midwest ceramic show closes in St. Pete next week

Yanes is part of Morean’s Fresh Squeezed 8: Emerging Artists in Florida.

by Selene San Felice December 17, 2025December 17, 2025

A performer with elaborate red hair and dramatic makeup plays a black electric guitar on an outdoor stage in the rain. They are wearing a red, crystal-encrusted bodysuit with gold detailing and a black harness featuring a lightning bolt strap. Raindrops are visible against the background of trees and a building, where a "POOL RULES" sign can be seen in the lower right corner.

Arts & Entertainment

How St. Pete’s Discord Addams riffed her way to ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

After a decade of auditioning for the megahit show, Addams is finally a ‘Ru girl.’

By Evelyn Long/The Sapphic SunDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025

Two people stand in an art gallery between two large, colorful abstract paintings. One person wears a striped shirt and shorts with white spikey hair; the other wears a dark blazer, jeans, and sunglasses.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Pinellas arts community celebrates final Arts Annual at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo

Creative Pinellas, which organizes the popular annual showcase of Pinellas County artists, must vacate the county-owned space in February 2026.

by Jennifer Ring November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

A portrait of an older woman with short white hair leaning against a textured stone wall. She wears a light grey scarf over a black top and looks off to the side with a calm, contemplative expression. The background is softly blurred, showing vibrant yellow and orange autumn foliage.

Arts & Entertainment

Poet Lennie Hay comes to Jack Kerouac’s St. Pete house this weekend

Join the Caffeinated Poets Society.

by Alisha Durosier November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

Abstract painting dominated by a vibrant red color, overlaid with densely scribbled, illegible black, orange, and blue handwriting.

Arts & Entertainment

‘It forced me to paint from the deepest parts of myself’: St. Pete art show seeks to end stigma associated with suicide

Vevie Dimmitt’s paintings are covered in messages to her late son.

by Jennifer Ring November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

Two young actors sit on a black and white checkered floor during a rehearsal, with the man speaking while holding a script and the woman looking at him with a quizzical expression.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa’s ThinkTank Theatre puts some sunscreen on Shakespeare

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ runs Nov. 5-16.

by Avery Anderson and Tampa Bay Arts Passport November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

A man in a green shirt and hat, and a woman in a long, brightly colored striped dress, stand smiling in front of the red facade of "The Studio @ 620" venue.

Arts & Entertainment

Erica Sutherlin details her three-phase plan for St. Pete’s Studio@620.

Community support will continue to be crucial.

by David Warner October 31, 2025October 31, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa artist connects businesses to real-world whimsy with Little Door Club

Gabriel Tao is making Tampa Bay “Cozy AF” one little door at at time.

by Sophia Lowrie October 30, 2025October 30, 2025

The Grinch, dressed in a red Santa suit, stands in the center smiling with his mouth open, interacting with three young women who are all smiling at him. They are surrounded by heavily decorated and brightly lit Christmas trees.

Arts & Entertainment

The Grinch will be at Clearwater’s Countryside Mall for a book fair this weekend

But what would I wear??

by Selene San Felice October 28, 2025October 28, 2025

A composite image featuring the book cover of "Fuzz" by Mary Roach on the left and a portrait of the author on the right. The bright yellow cover shows the title "FUZZ" and an embroidered patch of animals, including a bear in a trash can, with the words "WHEN NATURE BREAKS THE LAW." To the right, Mary Roach smiles while standing against a dark background with her hand on her hip.

Arts & Entertainment

Mary Roach fans can see her sold-out Tampa book talk at free Hillsborough library watch parties this weekend

Her new book just dropped last month.

by Selene San Felice October 27, 2025October 27, 2025

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

Local Arts

Tampa actor Max Carley turned his life around and rediscovered theater

Tampa actor Lance Markeith Felton is incapable of making a false move—on stage, at the mic, or in the classroom

Pinellas actor Aoifa Maki been hailed as ‘pure magic’ onstage

Alaina Rahaim’s nickname in school was ‘Sparkles’–and that’s exactly what she does

From local stages to TV ads to Tammi Terrell, Tampa Bay actor Jai Shanae can do it all

Bookends hosts fantasy book fair at Corner Club Tampa this weekend

Printmaking, AI criticism art shows open next week in Ybor City

New Tampa Bay arts production company premieres with in-home shows

British novelist debuts historical mystery in St. Pete next week

Creative Pinellas’ last exhibit at Largo gallery ends next weekend

Puerto Rican, Palestinian, Midwest ceramic show closes in St. Pete next week

How St. Pete’s Discord Addams riffed her way to ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

Photos: Pinellas arts community celebrates final Arts Annual at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo

Poet Lennie Hay comes to Jack Kerouac’s St. Pete house this weekend

‘It forced me to paint from the deepest parts of myself’: St. Pete art show seeks to end stigma associated with suicide

Tampa’s ThinkTank Theatre puts some sunscreen on Shakespeare

Erica Sutherlin details her three-phase plan for St. Pete’s Studio@620.

Tampa artist connects businesses to real-world whimsy with Little Door Club

The Grinch will be at Clearwater’s Countryside Mall for a book fair this weekend

Mary Roach fans can see her sold-out Tampa book talk at free Hillsborough library watch parties 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?