A bodycam screenshot showing A still from bodycam footage showing St. Petersburg Police officer Daniel Poveda and Brian Pepal in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 22, 2026. Captured in a wide-angle perspective on a concrete driveway outside a residential home, a uniformed police officer in dark attire stands with a yellow conductive energy device (Taser) pointed toward a man lying on his back on the pavement wearing a grey t-shirt and dark shorts. A white sedan is parked along the left side of the driveway, and timestamp text reading "2026-08-22 11:09:20" appears in the upper right corner of the frame under bright daylight.

‘Keep popping him’: Before killing schizophrenic St. Pete man, officers repeatedly tased him as he appeared to comply

Brian Pepal, 48, had a history of mental health issues and initially attacked officers before they subdued him with tasers last August. A state attorney called his death an ‘excusable homicide.’

by Valerie Smith September 29, 2026September 29, 2026

Music

Tampa Bay’s best new concerts include spring 2027 gig from Dinosaur Jr.

21 Savage, Tauk, and The Lemon Twigs are headed to the Bay area, too.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley September 29, 2026September 29, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

‘What a dream come true’: Cuban-born, former Tampa City Ballet dancer, Jhon Destrade is part of ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ national tour

The acclaimed Broadway show opens Oct. 6 at Straz Center, and runs for one week only.

by Marty Clear September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

A wide exterior architectural photograph showing The Princess Martha building in St. Petersburg, Florida c. 2017. Captured from street level across the road, the U-shaped, multi-story historic red brick building features classical archways, decorative stone detailing along the facade, and large ground-floor storefront windows beneath a street-level awning. A white police cruiser is parked along the curb on the right, with green leafy trees framing both sides of the building under a clear blue sky with light white clouds.

Arts & Entertainment

Sunshine Comedy Cafe plans to to open in downtown St. Pete

It’s from the owners of St. Pete Beach’s Sunshine City Comedy Club and Clearwater Comedy Club.

by Michael Murillo September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

A close-up graphic illustration showing the central detail of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot card number Ⅱ The High Priestess. Seated between two pillars—a dark pillar on the left marked with a white letter "B" and a white pillar on the right marked with a dark letter "J"—the High Priestess wears blue flowing robes with a large solar cross across her chest, a horned crown featuring a central full moon sphere on her head, and holds a partially exposed scroll bearing the text "TORA" in her lap. Behind her, a veil decorated with yellow crescent moons, green palm leaves, and red pomegranates spans the space between the pillars.

News & Views

Oracle of Ybor: My friend just had a devastating loss, and I need to get her through it

And what do I do about this affair I want to have?

by Caroline DeBruhl September 24, 2026September 25, 2026

An indoor event photograph showing participants during A Queer Expressions arm wrestling fundraiser in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 21, 2024. Captured from a medium shot at table height under cool-toned party lighting, a person on the left wearing glasses and a white button-down shirt with vertical red and blue stripes smiles while arm wrestling an opponent on the right in a dark green t-shirt. A crowd of onlookers watches from behind the table, including a person in a black patterned long-sleeve top, a spectator in a black tank top and baseball cap, and a person on the right wearing glasses and a dark headband watching intently with a hand near their chin. Warm string lights and floral garlands hang along the wall in the background.

News & Views

Queer Expression, Tampa Bay’s only active, trans-led grassroots LGBTQ+ community center, needs donations

Monthly contributions go to expenses for Queer Expression St. Pete’s in-person community center

by Valerie Smith September 24, 2026September 24, 2026

An indoor, medium close-up photograph showing founder and Artistic Director Paula Nuñez at Palma Ceia Country Club in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 18, 2026 during the Tampa City Ballet Gala & Auction. Captured from a slightly low three-quarter angle, Nuñez stands holding papers and a microphone in her hands, smiling as she looks upward and off-camera to the left. She wears a sleeveless dark brown satin top with a wide cowl neck, styled with short layered brown hair. In the softly blurred background, ambient purple and blue stage lights illuminate an event space backdrop.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: After powerful city council presentation, Tampa City Ballet raises funds at black-tie gala

Up next for TCB: ‘La Septima’ takes over four stories of the Cuban Club.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker September 24, 2026September 24, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete’s Friends of Strays closes ‘Love Unleashed’ fundraiser with flurry of events this weekend

The shelter has been serving St. Pete for nearly half-a-century, and is in the final push of a fundraiser that ends Sept. 30.

by Ray Roa September 24, 2026September 24, 2026

An outdoor promotional portrait photograph showing jazz trio (L-R) John O'Leary III, Alejandro Arenas, and Mark Feinman of La Lucha. Seated together on the concrete steps of a purple exterior doorway against a pale green building wall, the three musicians dress in suits while holding ice cream popsicles and laughing together. On the left, John O'Leary III wears a grey suit jacket, blue trousers, and brown shoes while holding a white popsicle. In the center, seated a step lower, Alejandro Arenas wears a white dress shirt, dark tie, blue trousers, and black dress shoes while holding a yellow popsicle and resting his suit jacket on his knee. On the right, Mark Feinman sits wearing a dark black suit, dark tie, and black shoes while holding a red popsicle under bright daylight.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening September 24-October 1

Including Beats on the Street, the return of Streetcar Live, Forest Sounds, The Format, a Jazz Surge anniversary, and so much more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley September 23, 2026September 24, 2026

Music

Tampa’s no-cover TECO Streetcar concert returns on Friday—here’s the full fall 2026-27 schedule

The shows happen every fourth Friday through May 2027.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Music

Peli Gene will build ‘Dream Estate’ during October’s no-cover Rock the Park Tampa concert

Sundé supports at The Curt on Oct. 1.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Music

Once again, Absolution Fest is bringing some of the world’s favorite EBM acts to Tampa

The three-day festival kicks off at Orpheum on Oct. 1.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Music

Oakland hardcore band brings ‘Fire Is Beautiful’ LP to Tampa concert on Tuesday

Starsdontmeananything headlines Deviant Libation.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

An indoor portrait photograph by Dave Kasnic showing singer-songwriter Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Seated at a large wooden dining table in a brightly lit room next to double windows, he wears a light-colored undershirt beneath an unzipped navy blue hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head, resting his left arm across the back of a wooden chair. On the table before him sits an antique manual typewriter alongside papers and small objects, set against a background featuring a bookshelf filled with books and natural window light.

Music

With new live album in tow, Bonnie Prince Billy plays St. Pete on Sunday

Tampa’s own Piper Harrow opens supporting her own a 2025 live release of tenor uke songs.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

A performance screenshot from the YouTube video FOREST SOUNDS: "Genesis", Biishop the Artist [Live at The Far Forest]. Captured in a medium close-up, Biishop the Artist stands centrally wearing a green headscarf, a yellow button-down short-sleeved shirt with black and orange geometric patterns over a white undershirt, and a necklace while singing into a microphone held in his right hand. In the background, a bassist with long dark hair plays an electric bass guitar on the left, while audience members and another performer stand nearby against a wall adorned with hanging decor under warm, intimate indoor lighting.

Music

Seminole Heights’ Far Forest hosts another intimate Tampa concert this weekend

Biishop The Artist, Soulship, and Dylan Methot are coming to the living room.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Music, Show Previews, Tampa Bay Journalism Project

Fresh off new ‘Uncut’ album, Afro-Cuban jazz legend Chucho Valdés plays Tampa this weekend

Valdés’ Royal Quartet is at Straz Center on Saturday.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Music

Chuck Owen, Tampa jazz composer nominated for seven Grammys, celebrates 30 years of Jazz Surge big band this weekend

New music will be at the heart of four shows, including two in New Tampa.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Music

Australian house DJ Anthony Pappa comes to St. Pete on Friday

He won a DMC Championship at the ripe old age of 15.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

A historic black-and-white landscape photograph by the Burgert Brothers showing cars parked at Shop-Rite Supermarket in Brandon, Florida on March 31, 1958. Courtesy of the Burgert Brothers Collection at Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, the wide shot captures a single-story commercial building featuring a large sign reading "SHOP-RITE" on its roof overhang above glass storefront windows. A line of vintage 1950s automobiles is parked facing the building across an expansive asphalt parking lot, framed by trees under a bright daytime sky.

Arts & Entertainment

Preserving Brandon to hold archive workshop on Sunday

It’s the organization’s last meeting before 2027.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

A stage performance photograph by Carl Beust showing Dolly Parton plays Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island on July 27, 2019. Captured in a medium shot from a low angle under bright daylight, Parton stands on stage with styled, volumetric blonde hair, wearing a vibrant yellow long-sleeved jacket heavily embellished with red floral rose embroidery and rhinestones over a bright red corseted bodice. She sings into a dark microphone mounted on a stand in front of her while gesturing expressive, open-handed poses with both hands adorned with rings and red manicured nails.

Food & Drink

Tampa Shuffle hosts Dolly Parton day on Friday

There’ll be a costume contest, DJ playing Dolly, Dolly on the TV, specials, and a Dolly open mic.

by Ray Roa September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Celebrate the best!