Florida Gun Rights group upset over Byron Donalds’ pick for running mate because he voted for firearm safety after Parkland massacre
Byron Donalds’ selection of state Sen. Bryan Avila as his running mate was received with strong enthusiasm by the Florida Republican establishment, but one group expressed concern. That would be the group Florida Gun Rights, which noted that while serving in the Florida House in 2018, Avila voted for gun-safety legislation following the mass shooting…
The City of Tampa hosts a hurricane prep event on Saturday
It’s true that forecasters agree Florida can now expect a “well below-normal” hurricane season (it lasts through Nov. 30). That shouldn’t keep you from being ready, especially since all it takes is one hurricane to upend your life (ask the New Yorkers who left after 2024, or the folks who stuck around and are still…
The ‘Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest’ celebrates 15th anniversary this weekend
Sometimes, you need to spend a few hours pounding mini-cupcakes, for art’s sake of course. The Morean Center for Clay gives Tampa Bay a chance to do just that when it welcomes bakers—from youth, to newbies, pros and specialty cupcake makers—for a bake off that hopes to crown St. Petersburg’s most artistic cupcakes. It all…
‘I don’t want to have this become a surveillance state’: DeSantis says police officers should issue tickets
Amid the growing public and political backlash against Flock cameras, add Gov. Ron DeSantis to the list of skeptics about their use. The governor said Wednesday that roadside cameras that use artificial intelligence to photograph and log vehicle data are useful tools for law enforcement agencies and that the Florida Highway Patrol uses automated license…
As the new Bucs season begins, let’s get caught up on all the offseason drama
The NFL preseason is in full swing (as much as it can be, at least), which means the regular season is just around the corner. That means Sundays (and a Monday and Thursday and maybe sometimes Saturdays?) will soon be occupied with cannons being fired, unhealthy food being eaten, and ugly football jerseys getting worn…
Taste of Pinellas to return in 2027, following 13-year hiatus
It’s been 12 years since Taste of Pinellas last brought thousands to downtown St. Petersburg. But now the beloved food festival is back, sort of. Taste, as it’s often referred to, was a multi-day event with roots in Straub Park. It was last held at Albert Whitted Park in 2014. It had been held for…
Donalds chooses ‘Stop Woke Act’ lawmaker as his running mate for Florida governor
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds named Miami-Dade County Sen. Bryan Avila to serve as his running mate Tuesday. The son of Cuban exiles, Avila, of Miami Springs, has served in the Florida Legislature since 2014, when he was first elected to the House of Representatives. He won a seat in the Senate while running unopposed…
Rocky Point is getting a Yard House
Yard-long beers are coming to Tampa’s Rocky Point neighborhood. According to building plans filed with the City of Tampa on Aug. 24, Darden Restaurants Inc. will convert the existing Bahama Breeze in Rocky Point into a Yard House. The plans, which call for a complete remodel of the current 12,200-square-foot space (located at 3045 N…
DeSantis uncertain Florida’s new GOP-favored congressional map can save Republicans this fall
Although Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Florida Legislature have always insisted constitutional obligations compelled their mid-decade congressional redistricting, the map was designed to add as many as four Florida Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. But with Donald Trump’s approval ratings tanking, DeSantis acknowledged Monday that the GOP may not net all four seats.…
Federal judge says FIU violated first amendment rights of anti-ICE student protesters
A federal judge says Florida International University’s protest policy likely won’t withstand judicial scrutiny in a lawsuit filed by students punished after protesting ICE. The ruling came Sunday, less than two weeks before a university-imposed deadline for the students to make a “video reflection” on the policy that prohibited their protest, and less than two weeks…
‘Flavors of Ybor’ at Sky Puppy Brewing among Tampa Bay’s best food & drink events happening August 27-September 3
Some of the best things about Tampa come together at one table this weekend in Ybor City—all for a good cause. That’s when the historic district’s beloved cave bar, Sky Puppy Brewing, hosts John LoScalzo’s Loko Cuisine (stylized “LOKO”), BeyLoved Pairings founder Joanne Mumbey, a certified cicerone (think beer sommelier), and Tampa tour guide Max…
Read ‘Lightning Capital of the World’ from Arielle Hebert’s new book of poetry, ‘Bottom Feeders’
As detailed in a new interview with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Arielle Hebert’s “Bottom Feeders,” published in June by Black Lawrence Press, summons a kind of wild Florida girlhood poem by poem, each one popping like the pills that flowed so freely through the state in the late-2000s. In advance of an appearance at St.…
Florida wants to remove school vaccine requirements for chicken pox, Hepatitis B and more
The state of Florida wants to remove four immunizations from entry requirements for PreK-12 public and private schools. The Florida Department of Health is proposing a rule to remove Hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for public school attendance, a move that has been in play for…
Before St. Pete appearance, poet Arielle Hebert talks queer girlhood, addiction and growing up inside Florida’s fantasy
It’s the kind of poetry that reads like late night trips across the Skyway in a shitty car with an empty gas tank, blasting the radio en route to the next party somewhere too far away. Or like finishing a shift at the restaurant, walking to the bar down the road and taking too many…
Florida tourism keeps dropping amid concerns over inflation and Trump’s Canada tariffs
Tourism numbers in Florida dipped for a second consecutive quarter amid lingering inflationary conditions and a backlash from Canadian visitors over President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and trade policies. An estimated 34.01 million second quarter visitors, bringing the number of tourists over the first half of the year to 73.5 million, according to numbers posted online…
‘They don’t have a leg to stand on’: Angie Nixon shrugs off the Florida GOP attacks that are just beginning
Although Florida Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon’s ties with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) appear limited, the Republican Party of Florida appears determined to use that association to paint her as unelectable. Nixon is a member of the “I hate America DSA Party,” Sen. Ashley Moody told reporters in Tampa Thursday night. She…
For two years, Florida Juvenile Justice department ducked records request
Nearly two years since the Department of Juvenile Justice received a records request from the Florida Phoenix, it remains unfulfilled. Despite fulfilling a nearly identical request in 2024 within three months, the department has not provided a reason for the nearly two-year delay on the follow-up request, or an estimated time it may be completed.…
In win for union, Tampa International Airport will not move forward with privatized TSA Gold+ program
Tampa International Airport has decided to drop its interest in the TSA Gold+ program—a controversial security program that would have put a private contractor in charge of passenger screening and screening equipment. The news, announced in a press release this morning, comes after the airport faced immense public pushback. The Transportation Security Administration also faced…
The St. Pete artist who wants to reopen Haslam’s Books is throwing a parking lot concert this weekend
Four months and more than a thousand T-shirts into his unlikely campaign to reopen Haslam’s Book Store, St. Petersburg artist Filipe Bergson still hasn’t heard from the family that owns it. So naturally, he’s throwing a concert in their parking lot. On Saturday, Aug. 29, Bergson will bring local musicians, costumes, and what he’s calling…
Photos: Every platinum look we saw at Dunedin Fine Art Center’s sold-out ‘Wearable Art’ 20th anniversary
Once again, a ticket to Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Wearable Art show was hard to find. For the last 20 years, the Pinellas institution has totally blurred the lines between fashion and art, leaning hard into the latter to push the boundaries of what the human body can achieve when it becomes a canvas. At…
La Gaceta: Luis Salazar upsets Mike Suarez in ‘good ole West Tampa brawl’ for state house nomination
The local election was a rejection of candidates who were trying to restart their political careers. Cindy Stuart, Mike Suarez, Wengay Newton and Sally Harris Williamson were all trying to come back after previous election losses. All failed. Stuart, who lost the clerk of court race in 2024, lost to Aileen Rodriguez in a big…
Oracle of Ybor: I’m a musician, and a perfectionist, so I have anxiety about experimenting with my ‘sound’
Dear Oracle, I’m a musician. I’ve been writing songs and recording on my own for years, and I definitely have a “sound.” But I’m thinking about branching out and experimenting. My problem is that I’m a perfectionist, so the idea of making something that’s bad and not knowing how to fix it seems daunting. Any…
Florida’s new education commissioner wants to block undocumented students from paying for career programs
In one of his first moves as education commissioner, Henry Mack has advanced a rule that would block undocumented students from attending the state’s postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. The programs train students in a wide variety of career fields and industries, including for entry level and management positions in agriculture, health care,…
Bernie Sanders endorses Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate in Florida
Vermont independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Democrat Angie Nixon in her battle for the U.S. Senate versus Republican Ashley Moody in November. “Angie’s campaign is proof that Florida voters are looking for candidates who will fight for them and who will take on the greed of the billionaire class,” he said Tuesday in…
Tampa Bay’s best live music happening August 21-27
Tampa Bay’s live music weekend is here, and it’s got its head in a magazine (hi, Small Talks), then headed out for some blues (Buddy Guy, Roosevelt Collier), art-pop (Devo), jazz (Miles-Coltrane centennial), and more. This listing of the best live music and concerts happening across Tampa Bay Aug. 21-27 is compiled by Creative Loafing…
Tampa’s ‘Welcome to KNXVLL’ party returns with set from R&B singer MaKenzie
There was a moment in time when DJ Knox’s WLCM2KNXVLL party was the place to be. A lot’s changed since the party’s founding a decade ago, and the revival finds Knox & co. heading to Orpheum in north Tampa for a throwdown where a lineup of heavy hitters starts spinning well before the sun goes…
Tampa Jazz Club celebrates Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s 100th birthdays this weekend
If they were still alive, Miles Davis and John Coltrane would’ve both turned 100 years old this year (May, and September, respectively). The jazz icons actually only lived for a combined 105 years, but left behind a world-changing body of work. Drummer Jean Balduc, bassist Alejandro Arenas, and pianist John O’Leary will play alongside trumpeter…
As it wraps centennial renovations, Tampa Theatre shares details on its fall reopening
Tampa’s iconic movie palace turns 100 years old this fall and will mark the occasion with an ambitious week-long party. The celebrations happen in October, just eight months after Tampa Theatre’s Duncan Auditorium closed for a centennial renovation and restoration. The attached, recently-opened, Taylor Screening Room has been in operation throughout the facelift. Jill Witecki,…
‘They want a progressive top of the ticket’: What Florida Democrats could learn from Angie Nixon
When Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, was arrested for trespassing at the Florida Capitol earlier this year while protesting the new congressional district maps passed by the Legislature, she wasn’t the only one. Matthew Grocholske, president of the Progressive Caucus of Florida, was there with her. Grocholske, who has been working to put progressive Democrats on…
Tampa Beat Weekend includes a set from Lil’ Fancy
There aren’t many more curators tuned into the local scene better than Hmtwn. This weekend, his Tampa Beat Weekend returns to The Bricks in Ybor City for one-day-only where Jersey-born, Tampa-based emcee D.I.O. (“Cold Hearted”) is on the bill alongside homegrown rappers Lil’ Fancy and Reily Ilo. Because this is Beatsnchill, there’s a producer battle…
Slide guitar wizard Roosevelt Collier returns to Dunedin this weekend
Dunedin Brewery has long been a place to see big names of the jam scene up-close and personal. The latest chance comes courtesy of a bonafide sacred steel demigod Roosevelt Collier who’ll bring a power trio featuring bassist Matt Lapham and drummer/vocalist Anthony Cole to the ticketed venue next door. The longtime Lee Boy recently…
Byron Donalds won, but he also lost 16 counties in North Florida to Jay Collins. Why?
Byron Donalds enjoyed a relatively stress-free night Tuesday in defeating 10 opponents to capture the Republican nomination for governor and goes into November’s general election as the favorite against Democrat David Jolly. Donalds defeated Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, 48%-25%. Investment firm CEO James Fishback came in third place at 10% and former Florida House Speaker…
Small Talks Mag to release 70-page tribute to Crowbar in Ybor City on Friday
It’s not hyperbolic to say that an entire generation of music fans were brought to adulthood inside Crowbar. Tampa Bay area live music lovers of all ages can see just how much the now-shuttered Ybor City venue meant to Gen Z by picking up the latest issue of Small Talks music magazine. Launched a year…
‘The next generation is fed up’: The James Fishback campaign has ended. What about the movement behind it?
Investment firm CEO James Fishback’s time in the Florida political spotlight ended Tuesday night when he finished a distant third with 10% of the vote in the race for the Republican nomination for governor. “He didn’t do great, but as someone who was considered somewhat of a fringe candidate, and sort of dismissed by the…
Sunday is National Cuban Sandwich Day, and people are bound to argue about this South Tampa French restaurant’s take on the classic
To some, Tampa is the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich, which must have salami by the way. Sunday is National Cuban Sandwich Day, an occasion probably still celebrated internationally. There are staple Cuban sandwiches across the city, from the big ass offering at Brocato’s, to Columbia restaurant’s, La Segunda’s, and the lunchmeat-stuffed special at Florida…
Land O’ Lakes’ Rosebud Continuum hosts seed, plant, and book swap this weekend
Located 22 miles north of downtown Tampa, Rosebud Continuum in Land O’Lakes is a slice of natural Florida and a welcome break from the concrete that dominates city living. Sharing seeds is one of the nonprofit’s love languages, and it’ll be on display for this swap and market where books and plants will get passed…
St. Pete’s Great Explorations kid’s museum hosts free science festival on Saturday
Put the tablet down for a few hours and watch your kid play (no, seriously, dad, look at this!). St. Petersburg’s Great Explorations Children’s Museum waives admission for the morning and invites families to take part in STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) happening throughout the venue. Meant to raise funds and awareness…
Tampa Tiger Bay Club hosts Hillsborough County Commission forum on Friday
Byron Donalds and his wife Erika Donalds are now one step closer to the governor’s mansion. As the state of Florida continues to expand its pre-emption of local governments, leadership will be key at the local level. Will Hillsborough County elect commissioners ready to roll over for Tallahassee, or folks with spine ready to stand…
Tampa mayoral candidate Gary Hartfield hosts campaign launch event on Thursday
Mayoral candidate Bill Carlson is in the spotlight lately thanks to his taking the reins on the Rays stadium fiasco, but the Tampa City Councilman isn’t the only person running to lead the City of Tampa. Gary Hartfield, author and founder of Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting, filed his paperwork last March telling Creative Loafing…
