The Hip Hop ABCs: The Winner of Letter R, vote on Letter S
The alphabetical rap battles continue in earnest… vote now on your fave.
Way Back Wednesday: The Neptunes
A weekly video spotlight on influential artists who came up pre-’00s
Guide to Gulfport’s Gecko Season
This is it. The year you get your Gecko on. You don't get it. You don't even pretend to get it. Geckos dressed in Mardi Gras fashion? A gecko parade? A Gecko Queen? Gecko art auctions? Fun fact about geckos: Nary a gecko is native to any part of Florida. But then, neither are we,…
Get Pop-Cultured at Barnes & Noble this month
Harper Lee’s sequel, Throwback Thursdays, Star Wars, Doctor Who events and more.
Sh*t happened 7/2/15: Katie Golden, Rick Scott’s millions, bad shoplifters/worse parents
Have you gotten your hot dogs? Your fireworks? Your alcohol to make the former palatable and the latter potentially lethal? "Nope," you say. "I like to put things off until doing them is actually a form of psychic torture." Good for you! Builds character, it does. It can wait a few more minutes while you…
Talking Points: How to discuss issues with conservative relatives over the holiday
With a major holiday this weekend, many of us will attend family or social gatherings where the guests will include people — or to be more specific, relatives — with whom we might not agree on everything (or anything). Typically, confrontations over politics can be avoided with a little polite sidestepping or changing of the…
Hot pursuit: Where to find Tampa Bay’s top dogs
As you journey throughout the Bay area, this list will help you chow down hot doggie-style.
Four Stacks Brewing to open in Apollo Beach with West Coast style
Apollo Beach’s first brewery, Four Stacks, will premiere in its 2,500-square-foot digs next month.
Eye on the Florida Prize
Impressive Florida contemporary artists, including two from Tampa, can be seen in a juried show at the Orlando Museum of Art.
Occupying force: Chris Holcom
The director and actor talks about being a Florida boy and Jobsite’s Occupation.
Go Fourth and celebrate!
The CL Independence Day Weekend Guide.
A beloved area drummer is remembered at “The” Jeff Wood 50th Birthday Celebration
Friends, former bandmates, family and fans gather on what would have been Wood’s 50th birthday.
Kahwa’s first St. Pete drive-through debuts next month
In August, Kahwa Coffee’s first St. Pete drive-through will open to the Northeast neighborhood.
Transforming Tampa Bay: Preserving Grand Central Avenue
Sometimes a funny thing happens on the way to an architectural mishap. Questions are raised, plans are reconsidered, and eureka! Better design happens. That’s the apparent outcome (so far) of a project that threatened to spoil one of the most distinctive streetscapes in Tampa: the three brief blocks of Grand Central Avenue. When you enter…
The dog days of summer
What is it about the Fourth that goes so well with wieners?
Restaurant review: Both sides of The Hyde Out
Hyde Park’s Hyde Out has an enjoyably eclectic mix of cuisine and cocktails, restaurant and bar.
Five Courses: Holy hot doggeries! edition with Portillo’s & more
Franks from Portillo’s and Detroit Coney Island, Asian fusion and other juicy food and drink news.
It’s legal!: Breweries toast to 64-oz. growlers around the region
Celebrate 64-ounce Growler Day by supporting your favorite local beer purveyors Wednesday.
Sh*t happened 7/1/15: Tampa homicide, abortion wait blocked, veggie truck
Happy Growler Day! Before you run off to get your new 64-ounce bottle full of sweet, sweet coping juice, let's have a quick look back at yesterday. You're gonna need that coping juice, wethinks. Tampa has a homicide problem. The police are reportedly investigating twice the number of killings at this point than they were…
Tonight in live music: Black Tusk
The Savannah, Ga., swamp-stoner metal outfit brings the loud to New World this Wed., July 1
Fast-casual Fabrica Woodfired Pizza hosts Tampa grand opening July 17
Free tastings, live music and more to be featured at Fabrica’s official launch in the Channel District.
Chris Christie Climbs Into Clown Car of Presidential Nominees
"I don't do something great every day. I'm human," the newest 2016 presidential hopeful, Chris Christie, said to an enthusiastic high school gymnasium Tuesday, June 30. Because what better qualifies someone to lead the nation than admitting they don't do great things? Christie, whose reputation suffered under Bridgegate 2013 (although, oddly, his mafia ties haven't seemed…
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
Ryan Hamilton's clever brand of clean comedy hits Tampa Improv this weekend. You can still get your laughs while celebrating Independence day. It's just a little more challenging than most weeks. Some clubs have limited schedules this weekend, and there aren't as many touring headliners on the road. But a few are in town, and…
Sh*t happened 6/30/15: Recycling, meth in Pinellas, Uber driver shoots customer
How was your Monday? Still prideful, one hopes. Curbside recycling truly, finally kicked off in St. Pete, as Mayor Rick Kriseman was on hand for the first pickup in Old Southeast. He did not finish the display by recycling the big blue bin itself, or the truck that came to get it. Had the photo op…
New Music Tuesday! (June 30): Neil Young, The Velvet Teen, Bassnectar, Miguel & more
The last batch of new albums to drop on Tuesday (audio/video included). The global release date shifts to Fridays beginning July 10.
International Plaza lands new American brasserie concept from Taps
Downtown Tampa’s Taps will bring its latest location, and new concept, to International Plaza in July.
Photos from St Pete Pride 2015
Fresh from the marriage victory, this year’s Pride weekend felt more joyous than ever.
Page Turners: Tampa Bay’s Literary Happenings
Wordy whirls for the bookishly inclined.
A Movable Fest: St. Pete next stop for Shelton Brothers festival
The Festival will draw 80-plus worldly cider, beer and mead makers to St. Pete’s Coliseum in fall.
This Sunday in live music: Betty Who, Juicy J, The Nace Brothers
Concerts happening this Sun., June 28
St. Pete ranks in Top 10 of best cities to celebrate the Fourth
WalletHub’s list of Top 100 Best and Worst Cities places the Burg 10th for its balance of affordability and options.
Tonight in live music: Turbo Fruits, Ottmar Liebert, Breakdown & more
Live music happening this Sat., June 27
Reactions to the SCOTUS marriage equality ruling
As you might imagine, there's no shortage of reactions to today's landmark ruling on same-sex marriage. Everyone from presidential candidates to activists to local lawmakers has weighed in. Some celebrate the decision while others still somehow cling to the religious liberty defense. Here are some highlights; some happy, some sad (we've annotated where we deemed…
Hotel Zamora rooftop makes public debut next month
360° Rooftop at Hotel Zamora will open to the public with waterfront views, 180 seats and two bars.
Looking to toast marriage equality? Head to one of these Decision Day events
Needless to say, festivities abound this weekend, given the U.S. Supreme Court's historic 5-4 decision allowing gays to marry in every state. LGBT rights nonprofit Equality Florida has several Decision Day events planned this evening throughout Florida. Hey, we were hoping to do a little pre-gaming ahead of St. Pete Pride, anyway. These events were…
Weekend Tune-Up: Tunes for your weekend by Cayucas, Atlas Genius, Tyga, Thundercat & more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the weekend, Spotify playlist included.
Publisher’s Note: Why the Supreme Court decision made me cry
It's strange. When the Florida decision happened, I was amazed. But somehow the Supreme Court decision today has affected me in such a way that I'm experiencing what I can only explain as an emotional breakdown. Only fitting that David Warner, CL Editor in Chief, broke the news to me — as my work partner…
Seminole Heights’ Chop Chop Shop launches Saturday
On Saturday, the latest Asian-inspired food joint, Chop Chop Shop, will hold its grand opening.
U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage
In my intro to Creative Loafing's 2015 Pride Issue, which hit the streets yesterday, I had to do some hemming and hawing when it came to the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, which had not been issued at the time we published. Today I had the distinct pleasure of adding the following update to…
Billy Gardell: Big laughs, more than Mike Biggs
Billy Gardell is Mike from Mike and Molly. … But really, he's not. What we mean is, Gardell is a lot more than his popular television character. Mike Biggs isn't known for tight premises and layered comedy. He's not the kind of experienced communicator the 45-year-old pro is on a comedy stage. And he's not able…
Sh*t happened 6/26/15: Supreme Court, Bass Pro Shops, idiots
The weekend's almost here. And I just realized what a terrible word "almost" can be. The U.S. Supreme Court voted in favor of maintaining federal health care subsidies, meaning millions of Americans in states without exchanges will get to keep their coverage. Socialism! Erosion of our nation's moral fiber! Big government interference! Or, you know,…
Tonight in live music: Alex Newell, Faces of Hip Hop 8, Steepwater Band & more
Concerts happening this Fri., June 26.
Life as we blow it: Straight man’s party
It’s hot. It’s humid. There’s an 80 percent chance of weekend thunderstorms, and a 100 percent chance of uninhibited weekend revelry. St. Pete Pride must be upon us. Longtime CL readers might recognize this as the time and space in which I traditionally wax rhapsodic about how fun, exciting and inspiring is the ’Burg’s LGBT pride…
Kriseman hoists rainbow flag over St. Pete City Hall to herald Pride
For the second year in a row, St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman raised the rainbow flag above City hall to mark the start of the city's Gay Pride festivities. Compared with last year's flag ceremony, this one was short and sweet, and carried out with a little less fanfare. But in his few remarks to…
Theater Review: Reborning
Urbanite Theatre’s sophomore effort is intriguingly offbeat.
Hope floats: Aithan Shapira’s prints, paintings and sculptures
Inspiration and survival at the Florida Holocaust Museum.
Poet’s Notebook: A literal laureate
The poet laureate of the United States — PLOTUS, in the lingo — tends to be busy, Howard Nemerov once said, because he or she spends so much time explaining what the job entails. —The New York Times, p. C3, 6/10/2015 I don’t know if Senator Dorothy Hukill, a Republican from Port Orange, drinks or…
Supremes rule in favor of federal health care subsidies
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, are celebrating in the wake of news that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 in favor of maintaining federal health insurance subsidies for people in states that don't have their own health exchanges in King v. Burwell. The news broke late Thursday morning of the…
Breaking breadstick news: The Olive Garden food truck is coming
Olive Garden’s mobile kitchen will roll into the area Friday with breadstick sandwiches. Tell everyone.
Tonight in live music: Soulive, Da Terra Meiga
Live music happening this Thurs., June 25
The Pride Issue 2015: It’s About Time
Past, present and future intersect at a crucial moment in LGBT history.
Steve Connelly gets a little help from his friends
More than a dozen acts perform at Skipper’s Smokehouse in support of the local scene linchpin
