

The Raptors keep losing, and I’m kind of losing my mind
Half of Toronto’s two wins are against the Knicks.
In Sunday’s matchup between two old men, Tom Brady should prevail
Who’s buying after Tampa Bay’s 31-27 victory?
KKK leader’s speech was also protected, says Florida Rep. Greg Steube while defending Trump
“You have created a mockery out of the impeachment process,” he concluded.
Reggae staple Tribal Style plays ‘Future Roots’ tracks this weekend at South Pasadena’s JahVa Studio
Masks required at the temperatures-checked Saturday gig.
Gloria West & the Gents bring swinging jazz to Ybor City’s just-opened Copper Shaker cocktail bar
James Suggs is on piano and Mark Moultrup handles keys on Saturday.
Clearwater’s P.M. Tiger revives early aughts indie-dance rock for free Friday concert at Hooch and Hive
Bad Cameo opens at the West River venue.
Fleetwood Mac is having a moment, and a ‘Tusk’ tribute plays all the hits in Clearwater
Shoutout to @420doggface208.
Nearly a third of Florida teachers are still waiting on their promised raises
“Let’s be honest, the strings attached to Teacher Salary Allocation funds resulted in unfair distribution which pitted educators against one another.”
‘You’re painting the whole scene in a bad light’: Tampa’s DJ Ku to local DJs who flout local mask mandates
“We’re a special breed of stupid here. Zero attempt to move responsibly and then complain about when venues are targeted and get shut down.”
Florida lawmaker calls on Gov. DeSantis to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for educators
Currently in Florida, only front line health care workers, seniors 65-and-up years of age, and some long-term care residents and staff are eligible for vaccinations.
Spending tax dollars on Visit Florida is a good idea, says new state report
The return over three fiscal years that started July 1, 2016, was more than in the three preceding fiscal years, the economic research staff determined.
Florida lawmaker will once again attempt to ban fracking
Because fracking is bad, actually.
Florida doubles Publix pharmacy vaccination sites
26 sites were added, while 22 sites in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties were already available.
Florida Gov. DeSantis warns ‘he will act very quickly’ if violence erupts at state Capitol
Back in November, DeSantis urged Trump to “fight on” as the president challenged election results.
People are now calling for the Trump robot to be removed from Disney World’s Hall of Presidents
Disney was already rumored to be looking at how to properly close the unpopular attraction without it being viewed as a political statement.
Florida will once again try to limit cities from regulating short term rental properties
The bill (SB 522), filed by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, would largely give the state control of regulation of vacation rentals, preventing local restrictions.
Florida Rep. Cord Byrd says wife’s ‘coming civil wars’ comment was a ‘figure of speech’
Byrd said his wife’s statement was metaphorical.
Florida judge will consider whether property seized from ex-analyst Rebekah Jones should be returned
Jones has drawn national attention because of her accusations that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has manipulated data about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tampa Bay law enforcement say they don’t yet know if officers were involved with Capitol insurrection
Four major local agencies says there are no investigations open.
Owner of Ichicoro Ramen opening new Korean fried chicken restaurant in Seminole Heights
7venth Sun has even brewed up a special IPA for its arrival.
Hot chicken joint King of the Coop opens Wesley Chapel location next week at The Grove
The Grove location will host a menu similar to the original in Seminole Heights.
Federal authorities seek info after Florida manatee found with ‘Trump’ scraped on its back
According to the FWC, manatees are considered “threatened” in the state of Florida.
Florida GOP Chair Joe Gruters and Rep. Sabatini will speak at an anti-vax rally this month
As state struggles with COVID-19 vaccine rollout, two Florida Republicans will join far-right fringe groups that oppose the vaccine.
Florida Sen. Joe Gruters once again files bill to allow guns in religious schools
Gruters, R-Sarasota, filed the proposal for consideration during the 2021 legisaltive session that begins March 2.
U.S. Reps ask Florida Gov. DeSantis for details on vaccine rollout, following jammed phone lines and overwhelmed websites
The state didn’t provide a blueprint for hospitals to distribute the vaccinations, and hospital policies across the state have differed.
Flower Crown Kombucha shoots to open next week in Tampa Heights
Serving up craft kombucha, coffee and baked goods.
Orlando band Leisure Chief goes disco on ‘Saturday’ and looks forward to playing Tampa Bay sometime in 2021
A new album, ‘Cosmic Comics,’ is out now.
New North Hyde Park eatery Willa’s opening soon
Alongside sister coffee shop Willa’s Provisions.
Swan City Jazz Trio plays Lakeland’s Downtown Farmber’s Curb Market this weekend
A pared-down version of the ensemble plays the outdoor gig.
Fingers crossed, Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Bucs ready for their first playoff game in over a decade.
The Raptors are struggling, but there’s a couple big trades that aren’t out of reach
The Toronto/Tampa Bay Raptors are now 1-6.
State launches investigation after Florida company reportedly funnels vaccines to rich donors
DeSantis said Thursday the state started the investigation “as soon as we found out about it.”
Florida adds nearly 20K coronavirus cases, a new record
Officials declared 170 people dead.
Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy calls to invoke 25th Amendment and remove Trump
“The 25th Amendment should be invoked & the President removed to ensure a peaceful transition of power,” said Murphy.
A 40-foot loaf of Mazzaro’s bread will help St. Pete’s Dalí museum celebrate 10-years at its new home
The bread procession is a tribute to the 2011 opening day parade.
The Florida Orchestra plays it safe with socially-distanced and virtual performances at Mahaffey Theater
Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony and A Noble Pairing are on tap.
Straz Center’s ‘Live & Local’ series kickstarts 2021 run this weekend on downtown Tampa Riverwalk
Straz’s Riverwalk stage will host free live music every Friday and Saturday through at least Feb. 6.
Mr. Bungle-loving Bradenton rock band In Transit plays free Friday show at Tampa’s Hooch and Hive
There’s a smidgen of ‘90s influence in there, but not that Wallflowers-sounding crap.
Eight safe live music concerts happening in Tampa Bay this weekend
You know, because 2021 is off to a great start.
Adam Randall Band plays ‘Two Man Con’ songs at free Friday concert in Seminole Heights
The Clearwater songwriter released the EP in July.
360 Eats will serve re-imagined food donations at Green Bench in St. Petersburg
The nonprofit takes food donations and then turns them into gourmet meals.
Following thousands of nursing homes deaths, Florida Legislature will fast-track COVID-19 business protections
“We now know nursing homes are murder factories. Half of the deaths are there because they are filthy,” Morgan said.
Florida’s Black community leaders seek to enhance COVID vaccination efforts
“We understand the Tuskegee experiment. We understand the medical community — how bad it has been back in the day. We get this.”
Pointing to lasting harm, new Florida bill would limit ability to post mugshots online
The bill would allow the release of booking photos in certain circumstances, such as if a person poses an immediate threat to the public.
That must-cop Tampa Raptors jersey is now for sale
Remember when you couldn’t put that Raptors jersey Tampa deserves on your holiday wish list because it simply didn’t exist in real life? Not anymore. Over the weekend, we started noticing ads for the Tampa Raptors jersey being sold by Wade + Williamson. The threads—with a sublimated design on moisture-wicking micromesh polyester—are a flip on…
Over the last three months, Florida witnessed more than a 50 percent spike in coronavirus deaths
The death toll increased rapidly in recent months to 22,090 on Monday.
Gov. DeSantis says Florida teachers, school staff will not be prioritized for coronavirus vaccine
For now, DeSantis said Monday, vaccinations need to be targeted to older Floridians.
Florida hospitals that don’t distribute coronavirus vaccines fast enough will lose their shots, says DeSantis
DeSantis also contended there has “never been a hitch in the giddy-up.”
City of Tampa cites six bars in first round of 2021 COVID-19 code enforcement
Four were in Ybor City and two were in Soho.
Parents don’t have to stop having sex just because their teenage kids are home
Seriously, hear us out.
New Black-owned cafe Rise Koffee + Kulture opening soon in Ybor City
With a mission to “connect the Tampa community by brewing koffee with kulture.”
To ring in 2021, the Bucs broke records and earned a no. 5 seed in the playoffs
Let’s hope Mike Evans is OK.
New coronavirus variant detected in Florida
The emergence of the strain comes as Florida has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
New sushi in St. Pete, Rawk Star closes, Ceviche gets a new home and more in local foodie news
Oh, and South St. Petersburg Marketplace is doing good for the community.
Hillsborough arrested more juveniles than any other Florida county in 2020
Pinellas was third in juvenile arrests behind Orange County.
The Dunedin International Film Festival returns to Fenway Hotel this month
You can also catch screenings at Soggy Bottom Brewing Co. on Sat., Jan. 16.
Tampa’s Nicolaas and Greg Bryon launched Pasta Packs to give people good food that travels well
Nicolaas was laid off from Oak & Ola due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Manhattan Casino, South St. Petersburg Marketplace provides fresh foods to underserved neighborhoods
The market is every Tuesday from 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Tampa Bay’s live music scene poised for federal bailout that will allow venues to stay in business
The bill expressly excludes businesses that operate in more than 10 states and employ more than 500 people.
From ass kicking ‘Army of One’ to head scratching ‘Tenet’, a bevy of new movies are available now to stream at home
Beware the lumps of coal, but savor in the cheesy goodness of several little-known titles below
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ is the perfect holiday gift, but it’s still not an all-time classic
Gal Gadot’s second solo adventure is better, benefits from nostalgia and two memorable villains, and features some of the best
Seminole Heights’ King of the Coop switches to gluten-friendly fried chicken recipe
The new tenders rolled out last week and have been in development throughout the pandemic.
Here’s the trailer for Katherine Heigl’s new horror movie shot in Tampa Bay
Jessica Steinbrenner, daughter of baseball mogul George Steinbrenner, is listed as one of the film’s executive producers on IMDB.
New documentary ‘Killing a State’ looks at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 response
“I never wanted to do a documentary,” Malott said. “But someone had to do it.”
St. Petersburg creates Food Policy Council to fight food insecurity
Before the pandemic, over 150,000 already struggled with food insecurity in Pinellas County.






