Tampa filmmakers release ‘Sacred Space’ a vertical documentary about Crowbar
There aren’t a lot of people who don’t know that Ybor City’s beloved music venue, Crowbar, is closing its doors this weekend. The writing has more-or-less been on the wall since the now 20-year-old venue signed a lease extension in 2021, but Tampa filmmakers Tyler Riggs and Aaron Hurley wanted to look beyond the final…
Scientology’s role in Clearwater’s future shapes the race for City Council’s Seat 5
The City of Clearwater holds its City Council elections next month with two of five seats up for election. The Seat 5 race in particular has had candidates debating one issue that has shaped Clearwater politics for decades: The growing influence of the Church of Scientology in the city’s downtown. Candidates in Clearwater City Council…
TECO says it will end storm surcharge a month early
Tampa Electric Company intends to remove a storm restoration surcharge from its billing a month earlier than planned, the company notified the Florida Public Service Commission on Wednesday. TECO indicated the storm restoration costs, approved after the series of storms in 2023 and 2024, will be fully recovered by the end of July, allowing the…
Byron Donalds says he wants to ax ultra-processed foods in Florida schools
Gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is advocating for a plan similar to one the Florida Legislature has declined to advance — removing ultra-processed foods from school lunchrooms. Donalds, a Republican and former member of the Florida House, wants ultra-processed food, artificial dyes, and “harmful additives” removed from school meals. “When a kid sits down…
Tampa Bay’s annual hot sauce festival ‘I Like it Hot!’ returns this September
September will be hotter than normal, because spice heads and pepper connoisseurs can feel the burn at the I Like it Hot! Festival in Pinellas Park. Florida’s longest-running hot sauce festival returns for its 26th year bringing a sizable selection of hot sauces, seasonings, salsas, specialty products and unique retail vendors. The scorching hot sauce…
LEGO Brick Fan Expo comes back to Tampa in August
It’s time to get bricked. Lego fans’ Super Bowl weekend returns to Tampa this summer, giving builders a chance to make Lego (stylized “LEGO®”) masterpieces, hear talks from winners of the hit TV show “LEGO® Masters” and purchase merch. There’ll also be life-size replicas of Thor’s hammer, Captain America Shield, lightsabers and more. Fans of…
SeaWorld Orlando ordered to post ‘We violated federal labor law’ notice at park
In a victory for divers at Orlando’s Discovery Cove who voted to unionize last year, The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that SeaWorld has violated federal labor law by failing to recognize the divers’ union. The board ruled last week that SeaWorld of Florida — doing business as Discovery Cove — unlawfully refused to recognize workers’…
This summer, progressive church MCC Tampa celebrates over 55 years of LGBTQ advocacy
Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa is celebrating 55 years of ministry next month. Founded in 1971, MCC Tampa is the oldest formal LGBTQ+ organization in Hillsborough County. Over the years, the church has served as a spiritual home and community meeting space for everyone who has felt unwelcome elsewhere. For Rev. Mark A. Ferreira, MCC…
Tampa Bay’s first Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks will open next month near USF
A popular West Philadelphia-style cheese steak chain is coming to Tampa this summer. Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks plans to open a new location in late August in the former Little Greek space at 2548 E Fowler Ave., which is the same plaza as Dave’s Hot Chicken, Chipotle and Mojo Books & Records. So yes, the plaza…
Charlie Crist to skip St. Pete mayoral candidate forum known for hardball questions
A day after taking heat over a since-deleted social media post by supporter and Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch, St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Charlie Crist announced he will skip tonight’s Suncoast Tiger Bay Club candidate forum. Crist cited affordability, saying the $35 non-member ticket price made the event inaccessible. “We believe staying informed and participating…
Tampa’s Boozy Pig will be featured on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’
Tampa is apparently the new Flavortown. This summer, Food Network star and celebrity chef Guy Fieri has popped up at a number of local restaurants, and now we can add West Tampa’s Boozy Pig Butchery & Kitchen to the list. The popular butcher shop and sandwich-focused cafe (technically in the Midtown neighborhood) will be featured…
Florida is now advising against drugs for depression, anxiety for kids
Florida’s newest guidelines warn against prescribing psychotropic medications for children, echoing the Make America Healthy Again movement’s push to impose changes on childhood health care. On Friday the Florida Department of Health issued guidance for psychotropic pharmacotherapy in children 5 to 17, recommending against the use of drugs to treat mental health conditions like depression,…
Florida judge refuses to boot Fishback from the ballot, won’t ‘decide the race’
A Leon County judge refused Monday to kick Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback off the ballot, agreeing that he hadn’t meant to establish residency in D.C. and pointing out that it’s not the court’s job to decide who becomes Florida’s next governor. “This Court will not be deciding the race between the Lieutenant Governor and…
Tampa’s Streetlight Taco, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, is expanding to Clearwater
Streetlight Taco, the award-winning Mexican restaurant from the folks at Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality, will open a new location in Clearwater. The Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized concept will move into the ground floor of downtown’s newly restored Peoples Bank Building, located at 432 Cleveland St., according to a press release. The new location is planning to…
Former Times columnist says the change to election recommendations isn’t about transparency, but pawning off a civic duty
In a column published July 16, Tampa Bay Times Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty announced the paper was “changing the way we make election recommendations.” I’m glad the paper finally came clean about this monumental retreat, coming days after early ballots for the August primary hit our mailboxes. But the column was as misleading as…
‘Condemn the lie’: Ken Welch slams Charlie Crist after Florida Politics publisher spreads affair rumors
The upcoming St. Petersburg mayoral race is getting dirty, personal and expensive. This morning, incumbent St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch asked former governor and opponent Charlie Crist to condemn a recent post from Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch, who spread rumors that Welch had an affair with a former staffer, something Welch denies. Welch shared…
Florida Democrats urge Trump administration to rethink Endangered Species Act rollback
Florida manatees and panthers are suddenly much more vulnerable, environmentalists say, thanks to the Trump administration’s recently announced rollback of Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. Now Florida Democrats are calling on Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to immediately withdraw their agencies’ final “blanket rule,” which they say would eliminate…
Measles cases have reached a 35-year high, with Florida among the worst states
Measles cases this year have surpassed all of 2025 to become the worst since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, with cases now in 44 states and the District of Columbia, according to a federal report released Friday. There were 2,318 confirmed cases as of July 23, compared with 2,289 in all of 2025, with 93%…
Florida Surgeon General suggests high measles counts could be tied to abortion opposition
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo suggested Friday that opposition to abortion could have helped fuel a measles outbreak in Florida since many cases are tied to a private Roman Catholic college. Federal data show Florida had 141 confirmed measles cases as of July 23, ranking the state fifth in the nation for most infections. During a…
Photos: Every cool person we saw at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Bolts Brew Fest last Saturday
Sweaty armpits quickly dried up last Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning opened Benchmark International Arena to fans looking to throw one back inside downtown’s extremely air-conditioned hockey palace. At the ninth annual Bolts Brew Fest, brewers both local and beyond took over not just the floor of Benchmark, but the concourse, too, for what…
A 77-year-old Republican man is staging a solo protest against St. Pete’s Flock cameras
Carl Gunn, 77, was concerned for his privacy when he spotted a camera outside his St. Petersburg neighborhood of Coquina Key, mounted on a 12-foot tall black pole. Gunn later learned that the device was operated by a private, for-profit company, and that it automatically loads license plates and AI-generated profiles of each passing car…
Oracle of Ybor: It’s time to be strong for your friend that seems unhappy with life
Dear Oracle, I’ve been friends with “Jane” since high school. While life happened, we kept in touch all these years and catch up on the phone a couple of times a year. Lately though, I feel like she might be struggling. She seems very unhappy with something in her life, but when I ask more…
Wrights expands to the ‘burbs, Old Heights Bistro moving to South Tampa, and more in local food news
OPENINGS/CLOSINGS Old Heights Bistro in Seminole Heights will close this weekend, moving to South Tampa Old Heights Bistro is leaving Seminole Heights. After more than a decade at 4703 N Nebraska Ave., the popular neighborhood spot will serve its final guests this Saturday, July 25. The new South Tampa location plans to open by late-August or early-September…
Chalawaan Thai Delish just opened inside a gas station on Tampa’s N Armenia Avenue
In Tampa, the stretch of N Armenia Avenue between Interstate-275 and Waters Avenue is known for international cuisine, be it Filipino (Lucky Tigre), South American (La Pequena Colombia, L.P.C.X, Antojito’s) or even Italian (Cacciatore & Sons). Add Thai to the flavor profile, too. Chef Sirikullaya “Layla” Martinez opened Chalawaan Thai Delish inside the Citgo gas…
Tampa’s favorite weatherman, Denis Phillips, is coming to meet fans at Bolts Brew Fest
Over the summer, Denis Philips was in Safety Harbor to share the latest batch of his signature Crooked Thumb Brewery beer. He’s bringing more of that “Rule #7” citrus IPA to the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning this weekend for the 9th annual Bolts Brew Fest, a beer festival co-hosted by the greatest team…
Old Heights Bistro in Seminole Heights will close this weekend, moving to South Tampa
Old Heights Bistro is leaving Seminole Heights. After more than a decade at 4703 N Nebraska Ave., the popular neighborhood spot will serve its final guests this Saturday, July 25. “First and foremost, thank you! Serving you here in Seminole Heights has been an absolute joy, and we are incredibly grateful for the love, laughter, and…
Florida Democrats Annette Taddeo and Earle Ford compete to face CFO Blaise Ingoglia in November
An interesting point in discussing the Democratic primary election for chief financial officer (CFO), one of the most powerful positions in Florida government, is that there almost wasn’t one. For months, it appeared the Florida Democratic Party would strike out in fielding a candidate to oppose GOP incumbent Blaise Ingoglia, appointed to the position a…
Florida’s deportation orders surged in June
Since March, deportations ordered by immigration judges in Florida have increased 18 percent, according to recently released data. In June, judges issued 5,415 removal orders, a 17.6 percent increase compared to March’s 4,605 removal orders, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a nonprofit that tracks immigration data. Florida follows a national trend of…
Tampa Theatre organist will soundtrack a special screening of silent film ‘The Black Pirate’
Land ho, and listen up. The Tampa Theatre’s summer renovation is almost complete, but the venue is still showing movies. Not just in its own Taylor Screening Room, but on screens around the Bay area. One special showing happens next month just down the street. The no-cover presentation of the silent film “The Black Pirate”…
Voting for Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of the Bay is now open
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s 2026 Best of The Bay is finally here, which means the nominations are in and the polls are now open! It’s time to show some love to your favorite local bars, food trucks, musicians, artists, and everything and anything you think makes Tampa Bay exceptional. Voting is open between Thursday, July…
Florida leads the country in death row exonerations—but still kills more prisoners than any other state
With ten executions already carried out this year, Florida is on pace to surpass its own record from last year for most prisoners executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Last year, Florida executed 19 people, more than any other state—and is on pace to top that list again in 2026. On July…
Former Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett puts Beach Park home on the market
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer edge rusher and two-time Super Bowl champ Shaquil Barrett is currently selling his South Tampa home. Located in the Beach Park neighborhood, the home was purchased by Shaq and his partner Jordana for $2,295,000 in May of 2021, just a few months after signing a four-year, $72 million contract extension with…
Three Tampa Bay restaurants proving that vegan eateries are staying alive
When vegan restaurant Good Intentions opened in 2022, Tampa Bay’s vegan and vegetarian dining scene looked very different. “There were a lot of vegans here; There were a lot of vegan businesses,” Good Intentions co-owner Jenny Howe told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “And that trend kind of took a step back.” In the mid-2010s, and…
WeVegan Eats celebrates fifth anniversary of Tampa cafe
WeVegan Eats owner Sandra Carson is proud to have celebrated the cafe’s fifth anniversary this summer. “I’m still here right now,” Carson told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “And I’m just continuing to keep my blinders on and keep going and keep pushing… making sure I’m providing something to our customers that I know that they…
Tampa’s Vegan International found success by breaking rules
Vegan restaurants face an uphill battle, but the challenges aren’t exclusive to the meatless crowd. Nick Alami, owner of Vegan International Co. in Tampa, also sees plant-based restaurant closures as an indicator of a broader issue. “People forget that this is not a vegan problem; this is a restaurant problem in general,” Alami told CL.…
Co-owner of St. Pete’s Nah Dogs believes meatless lifestyles will make a comeback
While closing Good Intentions, co-founder Jenny Howe is doubling down on her beloved vegan hots with a Nah Dogs brick-and-mortar opening this summer. Why? “Everyone loves a hot dog.” In response to a lack of late-night vegan options in St. Petersburg and at Tropicana Field stadium during Rays’ games, Howe and her husband, Jeff, opened…
Tampa Bay’s best live music happening July 23-30
Tampa Bay’s live music weekend is here, and it’s coming to grips with the fact that this is the last full week of live music at Crowbar. The last phase of the funeral kicks off Friday with Florist and steamrolls its way towards the Talib Kweli-headlined finale, with help from Surfer Blood, Com Truise, Leon…
Leon Majcen, a St. Pete country star in the making, comes home to help close Crowbar
As far as capacity goes, Crowbar is one of many small indie venues across the U.S. where homegrown acts can cut their teeth as openers and headliners on local bills—and then pack the room on sold-out national tours. Leon Majcen (say it, “might-zin”) is the perfect example of that arc. After finding his sound as…
Synthwave giant Com Truise among artists playing final week of concerts at Ybor City venue Crowbar
Tom Cruise was cringey this weekend during his cameo at the FIFA World Cup Final. The electro producer with a spooneristic moniker should be much, much smoother. In the run up to the venue’s finale with Talib Kweli, Brokenmold Entertainment booked a longtime favorite to help send Crowbar off properly. Com Truise, aka Seth Haley,…
The Black Keys bring ‘Peaches’ cover LP to Clearwater on Tuesday
The Black Keys had to postpone concerts in the Midwest last week due to Canadian wildfires. That kind of smoke won’t be an issue at The BayCare Sound in Clearwater. The band built around guitarist-singer Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney is touring in support of a new album, Peaches, a collection of covers that…
Florida Americana giants come to Crowbar for ‘One Last Hootenanny’
There’ve been a handful of worthy “Last Waltz” recreations and tributes in the Bay area over the years, and the musicians who played a part in them will be together onstage at Crowbar one last time. Every slice of the scene is getting its final licks in at the famed venue closing this week, and…
St. Pete rock and roll trio Deadborns plays two hometown shows this weekend
Deadborns is going on a long weekender Florida tour, and the band’s hometown gets two chances to check in (and another in Sarasota if they really want it). One is a taped performance and the other happens at St. Petersburg’s Lighthouse DIY space (you’ll need to ask a punk, aka DM someone, for addresses on…
MFA St. Pete and Tampa Bay Watch host monthly art and nature tours
Art and nature collide every month in St. Pete, thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA St. Pete) and Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, (TBWDC). The collaborative guided tours connect nature-themed artwork and sea-guided tours, displaying the influence the natural world has over artists’ creativity. For the rest of 2026, on the last Sunday…
St. Pete punk band Permanent Makeup releases new LP, ‘Gormless,’ on Friday
Over the last five years, Permanent Makeup has played many of the songs from its new album in the live setting, but they finally come together in one place on Gormless. Self-released on frontman Chris Nadeau’s No Clear Records (with a cassette coming from Ft. Myers’ XTRO Records imprint), the 11 tracks find the trio—which…
