Proposed law would require Florida voters to show proof of citizenship
HB 991 reportedly has the backing of the Florida supervisors of election and is sponsored by state Reps. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and Dana Trabulsy, R- Fort Pierce.
Venues across Tampa Bay host a series of ukulele concerts this spring
The festivities begin on Friday, Jan. 30 at the weekend-long World Ukulele Day celebration in Bonita Springs. The gathering—happening at Riverside Park—will bring in the likes of Pittsburgh uke maestro Ray Cygrymus and self-described “Jewish Pete Seeger” Lil’ Rev
St. Petersburg fish camp and raw bar Cheeky’s now offers lunch
Cheeky’s is already a good reason to skip a trip to the beach, and now the St. Petersburg seafood spot wants you to ditch a pack lunch, too. This afternoon, Nate Siegel’s Best of the Bay-winning fish and raw bar at 2823 Central Ave. announced plans to serve lunch Wednesday-Friday from noon-3 p.m. and noon-5…
St. Pete’s only Krispy Kreme is being replaced by Chipotle
Enjoy the glow of that “hot now” light while you can St. Petersburg, because the only Krispy Kreme in town is closing soon. Located at 9100 4th St. S as part of a Village Inn, Taco Bell and Culver’s quadrumvirate, the shop will soon be replaced by a Chipotle “Chipotlane” drive-thru, according to St. Pete…
St. Paul & the Broken Bones brings high-intensity soul back to Tampa Bay this spring
Get ready to go back to church because St. Paul & the Broken Bones is on its way back to the Tampa Bay area. Known for its orchestral arrangements, emotional arcs, and intense performances that often feel like a cinematic sermon, the Birmingham-based band is returning to Jannus Live this spring. Frontman Paul Janeway &…
Tampa Bay’s best live music happening January 8-15
Tampa Bay’s live music calendar is packed to kick off 2026, with nearly two dozen of the best concerts happening Jan. 8-15 featured here, with even more listed below that. Leading the charge, as the venue might through the summer, is Crowbar show—which has a show headlined by Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry (latter, pictured)…
Proposed Florida bill would make carrying an open package of medical marijuana in a car illegal
Carrying an open package of medical marijuana, hemp, or THC products, including beverages, in a car, would be illegal and could lead to suspension or possible revocation of a patient’s access to medical marijuana under a bill that’s been filed in the Senate. Fort Myers Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin filed SB 1056 Monday, eight days before the…
Florida Democrat files bill that could make speech therapy for stuttering a guaranteed benefit
A new bill in the Florida Legislature would guarantee coverage for stuttering treatment in Medicaid, private insurance, group health plans, and HMOs. The sponsor of the bill says that if passed, it would help remove the stigma associated with the condition. HB 785 would require coverage for speech therapy for children and adults who stutter, whether…
Pinellas Republican wants to ban congressional stock trading
CLEARWATER — Pinellas County Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s push for a congressional stock trading ban received an endorsement Tuesday from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Saying members from both major parties have unfairly boosted their personal financial fortunes based on information they learn while serving in Congress, the governor added that every member of…
Florida Republican wants to ban public colleges from admitting undocumented students
Undocumented immigrants in Florida won’t be able to attend public universities if a sweeping new education bill passes the state Legislature. The 32-page SB 1052, filed Monday by Vero Beach Republican Sen. Erin Grall, instructs public colleges and universities to exclusively admit students who are “citizen[s] of the United States” or “lawfully present therein.” It also…
New Florida bill would ban drivers from holding their phones on the road
A Florida bill banning drivers from holding their phones on the road was re-filed Tuesday, one week before the start of the 2026 legislative session. Republican Sen. Erin Grall’s bill, revived from last session, would expand the Sunshine State’s ban on texting while driving to cover holding or “supporting” a handheld device while on the…
Tampa Union Station’s $6 million renovation should be mostly done by this time in 2027
Tampa’s 113-year-old train station is getting a facelift. Union Station is set to begin a six-million-dollar renovation this year. The renovation comes as the building, last renovated in the ’90s, was seeing signs of wear and tear from termite damage, water leaks, and more. The renovation will include new windows, bathrooms, and more—all designed historically…
Early-2000s indie-rock hero Matt Pond PA plays St. Pete this month
St. Petersburg’s beloved Craftsman House bungalow may be closed, but its spirit is already proliferating. Jeff Schorr, who ran the shop and venue for more than 20 years, is working on this gig headlined by Matt Pond PA, a stalwart of the early-2000s indie-rock scene. Entering his 50s like the rest of us, Pond brings…
Mac McAnally brings the Coral Reefer Band to St. Pete this month
Last August, roughly 700 days after the death of its leader, The Coral Reefer Band embarked on its first national tour without Jimmy Buffett. Led by Mac McAnally, a Reefer since 1994, the 13-member band including Will Kimbrough, Scotty Emerick and Nadirah Shakoor brings the party and family reunion for a night of songs by…
Opera soprano Renée Fleming, who left the Kennedy Center after Trump’s takeover, comes to Tampa this month
Renée Fleming is among the artists who resigned after Trump’s takeover of Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center where she was an Artistic Advisor at Large. “I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation’s capital and across the country,” she wrote on social media. The soprano arrives…
Tampa Bay movie theaters screen Rob Reiner classics in memoriam
Green Light Cinema, The Beach Theatre, Tampa Theatre and Sun-Ray Cinema screen Reiner’s classic films this month, including several opportunities to weep through “The Princess Bride.”
Chuck Ragan brings Tim Barry and Cory Branan for one last Crowbar singalong
Cory Branan is back in town next month for a headlining gig, but he could not resist being the prettiest crooner on this classic Tampa bill. Hot Water Music leader Chuck Ragan has done some of his most epic shows alongside Avail frontman Tim Barry, and the duo—which played the same room together in 2016—anchors…
Clearwater’s beautiful Peace Memorial Church hosts a Duke Ellington tribute on Sunday
Fans never have to go far to see trumpeter James Suggs or bandleader Bryan Hughes in action. They very rarely get to see them in venues as sanctimonious as Peace Memorial Church, a downtown Clearwater landmark where the jazz scene staples will play tunes by the Duke. A $5-$10 donation will be accepted when James…
Whippersnap festival is still a month away, but this weekend’s St. Pete superjam features three scene giants
There’s still a month before Brooksville’s Florida Sand Music Ranch hosts one of Central Florida’s biggest music festivals, but Whippersnap vibes arrives in St. Petersburg for this warm up of sorts. It’s no surprise to see Joe Marcinek at the heart of the action either. The guitarist’s band is on the lineup in February, but…
Mason Jennings brings 20th studio LP to St. Pete on Friday
Mason Jennings has been no stranger to the Bay area, playing everywhere from long-shuttered Seminole clubs (Boomerz Boiler Room, anyone?) to pristine listening rooms like the also-shuttered Attic in Ybor City, and even the, um, also-shuttered State Theatre. Don’t worry, however; many of the venues the 50-year-old songwriter has played locally are still open, and…
Tampa rappers Tom G and Sam E Hues release ‘Cuban Links’ at midnight on Thursday
A godfather of the Tampa rap scene links up with one leader of the new school on a tough new track, “Cuban Links.” The track features Tom G, who brought Tampa’s jook sound to the BET Awards in 2019, and Sam E Hues, another gruff-voiced emcee, four years removed from his last full-length, When Tigers…
Tampa’s shucked up Oyster Fest returns this weekend
Tampa Oyster Fest is back for its seventh year, with hundreds of raw, steamed and chargrilled oysters, along with a low country boil, Make Mmm Squeal BBQ, an open bar with specialty cocktail tastings and games.
Sans Market hosts quarterly swap to save clothes from landfill
Sans Market, run by St. Pete’s patron saints of zero-waste, hosts a quarterly clothing swap. For a $5 entry fee and approximately five to 10 gently used clothing items or accessories, swappers can sip a free drink while browsing for something new.
British novelist debuts historical mystery in St. Pete next week
Praised as “The Night Circus” meets “Water for Elephants,” this novel set in 1920s Chicago and Paris follows an orphan as she acquires a sinister antique carousel that makes people disappear. A French detective investigates the carousel’s connection to a decade-old Parisian mystery.
Harlem Globetrotters celebrate 100 years of ballin’ in Tampa this weekend
“Marty Supreme” taught the nation not to underestimate the Harlem Globetrotters. Timothée Chalamet won’t be ping ponging in the halftime show, but the Globetrotters promise a jaw-dropping show for their 100th anniversary.
The Body Electric Yoga sets intentions for 2026 with 108 sun salutations
What’s more Florida than saying hi to the sun over 100 times in a row and then drinking some beers?
Former Muppets puppeteer among stars at Lakeland con next weekend
For its seventh year, the con features several voice actors from the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon, as well as voices from shows like “Digimon,” “Naruto,” and “Bleach.”
Florida Supreme Court ruling could allow children to have three parents
A divided Florida Supreme Court ruling this week on assisted reproduction methods raises the prospect of children having three parents—or at least raises a new complication for couples seeking to have kids with outside help.
Photos: All the wet and wild WLW we saw at St. Pete’s first ‘Disco Tits Queer Women’s Night’
The 21-and-up, no cover night is open to queer women, sapphic folks and their allies (not straight unicorn hunters).
