Tampa’s Jay Collins finally decides to run for governor
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced his long-awaited bid for governor Monday, hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis wavered on whether he’ll get involved in the Republican race to succeed him. Collins, a 49-year-old former Green Beret and state senator, told FOX News that his commitment to DeSantis’ agenda and willingness to partner with President Donald Trump would…
‘Triumph’ documentary about Tampa’s 1960 Woolworth sit-in will screen again on MLK Day
Last November at Tampa Theatre, surviving members of the group that staged the city’s 1960 Woolworth sit-in got a standing ovation. The audience had just watched the premiere of “Triumph” (stylized in all-caps) a WEDU documentary telling not just the stories of the student protestors through their eyes, but of the theatrical production that brought…
K-pop supergroup BTS is coming to Tampa this spring
Jin must really like the fishing in Tampa. After visiting downtown for a two-night stand last year, the K-pop star is bringing his supergroup BTS to Tampa as part of a world tour with just 10 stops in the United States. Today, BTS—featuring the 33-year-old and his bandmates RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—shared…
Owners of downtown Tampa Chinese food staple move and rebrand in new location just blocks away
For 18 years, Oriental Express was downtown Tampa’s go-to for quick Chinese food and sushi. That was until the shop, located at 510 E Jackson St. near the county building, shuttered last Halloween. Wife and husband owners Xue Yun and Chao Lin, from Fujian in southeastern China, quickly found a new home and are back…
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St. Pete faith leaders call for SPPD to pull out of ICE agreement [PHOTOS]
Pastor and activist Andy Oliver reiterated statements from an open letter he posted on social media that day, once again demanding SPPD drop the agreement. He also called on City Council to pass a resolution asking SPPD Chief Anthony Holloway to terminate the agreement.
Printmaking, AI criticism art shows open next week in Ybor City
Ybor City arts nonprofit Tempus Projects has two new exhibits: one celebrating manmade handiwork and another questioning and challenging artificial intelligence.
Photos: Everyone we saw at the St. Pete art show celebrating 40 years of No Clubs! Presents
A new art exhibit celebrates 40 years of concerts by St. Petersburg-based promoter No Clubs! Presents, and the opening went down at The Factory on Saturday, Jan. 3 at The Factory. The show—”Live Since ‘85”—is on display through February, and a sold-out book collecting the first 10 years of No Clubs! concert posters is taking…
Border Patrol to hold recruiting event at St. Pete Hilton, despite activist pressure
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will host a recruitment event this week at St. Petersburg’s Carillon Park Hilton Hotel. Liberal groups like Activists with Voices are calling on the Hilton to cancel the event, saying in one Facebook post that it encourages “kidnapping” of neighbors by federal enforcement agents. The same post says that protests…
Bills filed to get horse racing out of Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park
In a concept known as “decoupling,” the bills would erase a requirement that Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs hold live races to be able to operate cardrooms and, in the case of Gulfstream, slot machines.
Roe v. Wade anniversary protest planned in St. Pete this month
Activists with Pinellas NOW (National Organization for Women) commemorate the ruling’s anniversary and protest Florida’s six-week abortion ban and other laws attacking reproductive freedom throughout downtown St. Pete.
New Tampa Bay arts production company premieres with in-home shows
“The Pink Unicorn” is a one-woman show, which first opened Off-Broadway in 2019. And it’s now the first show put on by Story Keepers, a new, queer-focused, arts and events nonprofit in the Sunshine City.
Photos: Tampa protests ICE killing Minneapolis woman
Good was fatally shot last Wednesday by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Media outlets have identified that agent as Jonathan Ross.
Tampa Rep. Susan Valdés sponsors bill to create Corrections accountabilty position
The bill says the legislation is necessary “to create an independent entity as a unit of the legislative branch of state government in order to restore public trust in the department.”
Massive immigration package targets employers hiring undocumented immigrants
It’s the most wide-ranging immigration bundle proposed so far ahead of the 2026 session, and would extend a 2025 crackdown that removed in-state tuition for undocumented students, imposed state-level penalties for illegally entering Florida, and required all counties to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
New York City duo Acute Inflections bringing Harlem Renaissance celebration to Tampa this month
This gig promises to capture the essence of the 1920s and the Harlem Renaissance, which helped lay the foundation for the Civil Rights movement. According to a press release, the show will include “dynamic duets, clever comedy, and captivating freestyles” between vocalist Elasea Douglas and upright bassist Sadiki Pierre.
Mise en Place’s new Ybor City location is now open
It’s officially time to check out Mise en Place’s new, um, place. The Tampa restaurant, founded 40 years ago on Platt Street, said goodbye to its last address on Halloween and quietly reopened a much-anticipated Ybor City location late last year. “We just didn’t really announce it, we just let people find out,” Maryann Ferenc,…
Visa issues force cancellation of ‘Tango After Dark’ in Sarasota
On Sunday, Sarasota was supposed to dance. Instead, the curtain won’t go up. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has canceled “Tango After Dark,” originally scheduled for Jan. 11, after international artists were unable to secure U.S. visas in time to begin their North American tour. The delay, according to the venue, stemmed from extended administrative processing…
