Garrett Greco, grandson of a four-time mayor, files to run for Tampa City Council
Tampa voters will see a very familiar name on next year’s city council ballot. Yesterday, Garrett Greco filed paperwork to be the next District 3 councilman. The 34-year-old joins Candice Cowen, who filed in May, and Quinton F. Robinson, who filed this month, in a race to fill a citywide seat being vacated by Tampa…
Lawsuit filed to create protected habitat for threatened queen conch off Florida coast
A lawsuit was filed Wednesday over the need for the federal government to designate critical habitat for the threatened queen conch off the coast of Florida, along with the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Center for Biological Diversity contends in its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia the National…
Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including Chippendales, Drunk Tampa History and more
Have a look at what’s going down the week of July 9-16, and don’t forget, you can always submit to CL’s calendar.
Appeals court crushes Florida’s ‘Stop Woke’ law championed by DeSantis
Instead of the state determining what will be taught in university classrooms, students must be free to hear and consider even officially disfavored ideas presented to them by professors, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. More than two years after oral arguments in a case challenging the 2022 law dubbed the Stop WOKE Act, two…
Cheeky’s and Bar Terroir collab for Bastille Day celebration
Cheeky’s Executive Chef Philip Cleary and Bar Terroir’s Chef de Cuisine Max McKee blend French bistro classics with Gulf Coast seafood and raw bar favorites for an à la carte menu including a chicken liver mousse on a Leidenheimer baguette, niçoise salad, moules frites a foie gras burger and escargot bourguignon.
Ghost hunters host investigation of historic Dunedin chapel this weekend
Haunting rumors stem from reported sightings of ghost construction workers and floating pews are among the reasons many think the chapel is haunted.
Bi-partisan group of former Florida politicians file lawsuit against property tax amendment
Florida’s bid to dramatically change its property tax system is being hit with another legal challenge, this one from a bipartisan duo of former elected officials who maintain a proposed constitutional amendment is full of “political platitudes” and not factual statements informing the public what it would do. Former state Sen. Jeff Brandes and former…
Federal appeals court rejects DeSantis’ suit against ‘woke’ college accreditation process, again
A federal appeals court affirmed Monday dismissal of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2023 challenge to the college accrediting process, which he believes enforces diversity and related interests he considers “woke.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected the state’s argument that existing accrediting agencies wield unchecked power to overrule Florida’s political decisions about…
Florida restaurants and hotels ask Trump administration for leeway, after migrant employees lose TPS protections
A Florida hospitality organization is asking the federal government for leeway for Haitian and Syrian workers in the industry after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively ended their legal status to remain in the country. Following the ruling that allowed the federal government’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants,…
LoveShackFancy will open first ever Tampa store in Hyde Park this week
Popular clothing brand LoveShackFancy will open its first Tampa outpost in Hyde Park Village this week. Located at 1619 W Snow Ave, the new and extremely pink and flowery store will debut Friday, July 10, at 10 a.m., and will mark the occasion with a two-day grand opening celebration featuring DJs, “signature pink juices,” limited…
Tampa Bay cops say their ICE agreements are a formality. Pinellas’ sheriff says that’s not enough
Police chiefs around Tampa Bay signed voluntary agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in February of last year, and have since been reassuring concerned community members that their involvement with ICE is limited. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri wants to end that, demanding the state go after local departments he says aren’t putting enough…
Photos: Tampa’s Hot Dog Party 20 – ‘The Final Footlong’
Last weekend, Crowbar ‘s last ever “Hot Dog Party” went down, appropriatly named “The Final Footlong.” Besides seeing who could shove down the most shaboing-boings, Ybor City guests also enjoyed music from bands like Hofwegen, Cannibal Kids, Geri X, Wolf-Face, Bad Cameo and Jeremy Gloff, aka the Doggfather and creator of the Hot Dog Party…
Everyone we saw partying at St. Pete Pride 2026
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in downtown St. Petersburg on the last weekend of June for St. Pete Pride. The organization succeeded in throwing its Friday Night Concert, Saturday parade—the largest of its kind in the Southeast U.S.—and Sunday street market. But the nonprofit says pulling it all off again next year may be…
Talib Kweli will headline the final concert at famed Ybor City venue Crowbar
Since its opening 20 years ago, Crowbar has been a haven for hip-hop, so it makes sense to see the famed Ybor City venue close its doors with a show headlined by one of the greatest to ever do it. Talib Kweli—who once did an impromptu Black Star set with Mos Def on Crowbar’s patio…
Interview: Before homecoming show, Parrotfish talks identity, personality, and more
Ask four different Parrotfish fans to describe the band’s sound, and chances are you’ll hear four different genres. The Tampa-born, Nashville-based quartet has built a catalog that comfortably slips between alternative rock, pop-punk, reggae, and funk, often within the span of a song or two. Despite the band’s stylistic range, the music never feels like…
Shuffle’s infamous Drunk Tampa History talk returns on July 15
There’s a lot to love, and a few things to loathe, about Tampa. Manny Leto expects to help history lovers through all of those emotions and more when his now infamous Drunk Tampa History Talk returns to Shuffle this month. After launching to much fanfare in 2024, the show was forced into a ticketed format…
Tampa’s 139th birthday is this month—tell us what you love (and loathe) about the city
Tampa turns 139 years old this month, and there are celebrations happening across the city, from Archives Awareness Week (kicking off Sunday, July 12) to the third annual Drunk Tampa History happening Wednesday, July 15. To mark the occasion, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay wants to hear from Tampeños (even if you call yourself Tampans!) about…
St. Pete Pride cancels delayed Juneteenth event amid funding crisis
St. Pete Pride previously caught heat from community organizers for discontinuing its partnership with Tampa Bay Black Lesbians and their Get Nude event.
St. Pete is getting a new multi-concept taco hub, GameTime says goodbye to Ybor, and more Tampa Bay food news
OPENINGS/CLOSINGS Group behind Tampa’s Michelin-starred Rocca will open new Spanish concept in NoHo this month Lumbre, a modern Spanish concept, will soon debut in the North Hyde Park area. Located in the Rome Collective development, at 220 N Rome Ave, Lumbre will officially open its doors Wednesday, July 15, says restaurant group Tastes Pretty Good,…
Tampa Bay’s best live music happening July 3-9
Tampa Bay’s live music weekend has arrived, all patriotic and shit. There’s a heavy slate of shows on the Fourth of July—including Crowbar’s final, always infamous Hot Dog Parties—with many more slotted around the holiday. This listing of the best live music happening across Tampa Bay from July 3-9 is compiled by Creative Loafing Tampa…
‘Likely illegal’: Florida’s pro-immigration groups respond to new rule banning undocumented students from state colleges
Florida’s pro-immigration groups on Thursday blasted a new rule banning undocumented students from state colleges as “cruel” and potentially illegal. On a Zoom meeting, the coalition of legal entities and advocacy organizations called on the DeSantis administration to reconsider this week’s education change, which outright outlawed state colleges from enrolling undocumented students. The state Board…
Tame Impala’s Tampa arena show is sold-out
After a summer run through Europe, Kevin Parker is set to make his Tampa debut with Tame Impala. The 40-year-old Australian producer and multi-instrumentalist songwriter—accompanied by an in-the-round set featuring a B-stage—has been playing about two dozen songs each night on the tour supporting last year’s Deadbeat, the project’s first full-length since 2020. The outing…
‘I can’t get a job’: Florida teacher fired after Charlie Kirk post fights for professional survival
A Clay County public school teacher fired for social media posts about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk will get her day in administrative court in August. Kelly Brock-Sanchez was an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher at Ridgeview Elementary in Orange Park when her career and life were upended following an intensely negative reaction…
Post Malone and Jelly Roll’s rescheduled Tampa concert happens on Wednesday
Last month, Post Malone rescheduled his Tampa concert originally set for May, saying that promised new music just wasn’t going to be ready, adding, “”We ain’t ready for tour just yet…” Three weeks was apparently all the hyper-posi rapper-turned country songwriter needed. Malone, 30, presumably brings tracks from a forthcoming, 40-track, double album, The Eternal…
Mega Night Market throws a Summer Asian Food & Music Festival in Tampa this month
Mega Night Market brings another taste of Asia’s cultural dishes and dances to The Hard Rock Tampa Event Center on July 12. The festival features “authentic Asian street food, specialty drinks and desserts, cultural arts and crafts, live performances and much more,” according to its website. Live performances are advertised to include a variety of…
Florida Gov. DeSantis is poised to leave office considerably wealthier than he started
Gov. Ron DeSantis posted a slight change in his net worth as he entered his final year as Florida’s top executive. DeSantis on Tuesday filed an annual financial disclosure report putting his net worth at $2,073,549 as of Dec. 31, down from $2,087,550 at the end of 2024. The report filed with the state Commission…
Photos: Mayor Ken Welch confirms ‘Burg Bid’ for St. Pete’s Gas Plant proposal, with plans to tear down Tropicana Field
The long-awaited decision for redeveloping the Historic Gas Plant District has been made, and it once again includes tearing down Tropicana Field. At a press conference this morning , St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch confirmed that The Burg Bid proposal—which was leaked by Florida Politics editor Peter Schorch on Tuesday—will lead the district’s redevelopment. Initial…
Sunrise Sale, St. Pete’s ‘largest pajama party,’ returns this month
Usually it’s taboo to go out in public in your pajamas, but one day a year it could get you some nice discounts in downtown St. Petersburg. The 53rd annual Sunrise Sale returns Thursday, July 16, turning downtown into what organizers call St. Pete’s largest pajama party. More than 40 participating stores span from the…
Civil rights groups sue Florida officials after DeSantis designated CAIR a terrorist organization
Hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that the state would soon designate the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) a domestic terrorist organization, the Muslim civil rights advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging that designation as unconstitutional and are calling for an injunction to halt its enforcement. DeSantis made the announced on the…
GameTime arcade will close its Ybor City location this summer
Yet another Ybor City staple is closing its doors. After 16 years of birthday parties, school fundraisers, date nights and more, it’s apparently game over for GameTime arcade. Located at 1600 E 8th Ave, in the Centro Ybor complex, GameTime’s last full day of business will be August 9, says owner Michael Abecassis, who cited…
Group behind Tampa’s Michelin-starred Rocca will open new Spanish concept in NoHo this month
Lumbre, a modern Spanish concept, will soon debut in the North Hyde Park area. Located in the Rome Collective development, at 220 N Rome Ave, Lumbre will officially open its doors Wednesday, July 15, says restaurant group Tastes Pretty Good, which also operates Michelin-starred Rocca, Michelin-recognized Bar Terroir, and Michelin Bib Gourmand Streetlight Taco. Details…
Train, Barenaked Ladies bring summer tour to Tampa next week
Let it roll, because Train is celebrating Drops of Jupiter’s silver anniversary with a summer tour, and its second stop at Tampa’s Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre.
DeSantis labels antifa, CAIR Florida as a domestic terrorist groups under new law
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that he has received a recommendation to designate the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida, the Muslim Brotherhood, and antifa as domestic terrorist organizations. He cited authority given to state officials through legislation that had gone into effect just hours earlier. The law (HB 1471) passed by the Legislature…
Tampa metal bands are playing a Mexican grocery store on the Fourth of July
Erik Alonzo’s Mexican food store, Brothers Food and Grocery in Drew Park, closes this weekend, but not before hosting a hardcore concert that will literally be lit (no in-air fireworks allowed, though, according to a social media post). Bands traversing deathcore (Million), ICP-face-painted metal (Bad Future), and thrash (Ramtha) join homegrown lord of the genre…
