Tampa City Council and the mayor chose who reviewed the city charter this year—but residents shaped the debate, too
Tampa City Council will debate which charter changes to bring to voters in March 2026, but residents like Brittney Llewellyn shaped the debate and even pushed for an independent inspector general.
Tampa voters could change the city’s constitution in March, here’s how the process works
After 15 meetings, Tampa’s Charter Review Advisory Commission (CRC) has finished its work. On Oct. 15, 2026, Tampa City Council is deciding which of its recommendations Tampa voters should see on their ballots next spring—for a municipal election that will also decide a new mayor and city councilmembers.
‘Coraline’ filmmaker Brad Schiff headlines Tampa Animation Festival coming to downtown in November
Over two million animated frames are headed to Tampa this fall, including some from one of the country’s foremost creators of stop-motion films. Founded at the University of Tampa (now known as UTampa), Tampa Animation Festival has brought talent from around the world to the school since 2018. Festival director and UT professor Gregg Perkins…
Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band brings a family affair to downtown Clearwater (w/ photos)
Tedeschi Trucks Band showcased its inimitable familial connection in a Oct. 13, 2026 set in Clearwater, Florida.
Hillsborough police departments got $700k for immigration enforcement, but reported no immigration arrests
Tampa and Plant City’s police departments got a combined $700,000 in state funds to conduct arrests on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So far, neither agency has reported any immigration arrests to the state.
Tampa Bay’s food & drink events happening October 15-22, including Wines of Spain and more
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s weekly rundown of the best food & drink events happening across the Bay area, this week covering Oct. 15-22.
Tampa’s Honey Gallery invites guests to ‘Microdose’ at exhibition opening for Thursday’s Ybor Arts Tour
‘Microdose,’ a new Honey Gallery show featuring work from Eito Ohashi and select Tampa artists, opens in Ybor City, Florida on Oct. 14, 2026.
Donald Trump will reportedly be in Tampa for the Bucs-Steelers game this weekend
UPDATE: White House officials and CNN have since reported that Trump’s trip to Tampa has been called off. President Donald Trump, who recently stated the NFL should change its name so that soccer is the only sport that uses a “football,” is headed to Raymond James Stadium for this Sunday’s matchup between the Tampa Bay…
While DeSantis called Hope Florida scandal a ‘hoax,’ state officials were spending thousands to keep it quiet, records show
For months, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has dismissed the Hope Florida scandal as a “hoax,” maintaining that “nobody did anything wrong.” Yet at the same time, state agencies have quietly shelled out thousands of dollars to high-powered law firms that were hired to keep an investigation of the saga out of public view. State purchasing…
Uhuru Movement says it will investigate hanging death of Black St. Pete woman as a homicide
The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement announced today that it is investigating a local death as a homicide. Syriah Henderson, a 29-year-old Black woman and mother of three, was found hanging from a tree behind a St. Petersburg Dollar Tree on July 1, 2026. The St. Petersburg Police Department and medical examiner said the death…
David Jolly: Governor’s race likely comes down to undecided Black Floridians
Undecided Black voters, David Jolly says, may decide who becomes Florida’s next governor. Appearing in Tallahassee Monday, Jolly and running mate Gwen Graham were flanked by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson of Tallahassee, both prominent Black political figures. About 10% of Black voters are undecided,…
Opening Thursday, Art Fair Tampa finds organizers taking a chance, and cover, with the city’s first large scale indoor art fair
Tampa Art Fair, the city’s first large scale indoor art fair, takes over Tampa Convention Center Oct. 15-18. Founder Tyler Sirota explains why he’s taking the chance.
Op-ed: Vote ‘No’ on retaining Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muñiz
On Nov. 3, Florida voters will find a question near the bottom of the ballot that most will skip: “Shall Justice Carlos G. Muñiz of the Supreme Court be retained in office?” Don’t skip it. We do not make this recommendation lightly, but vote “No.” Merit retention is not a referendum on whether voters like…
Photos: In downtown Tampa, Late Start Brewing and Mighty Fine celebrate two years of beers and burgers
Mighty Fine restaurant and Late Start Brewing celebrated two years in downtown Tampa on Oct. 12, 2026 with one hell of an anniversary party.
Review: In Tampa, Kyle Gordon lives a million fictional lives during satirical music history concert (w/ photos)
Contrary to one of the very first characters he played, Kyle Gordon is far from a kid that’s no fun. After spending some time doing very niche imitations on TikTok near the end of the pandemic, Gordon, a New York native, started interspersing music into his sketches, which led to his 2024 debut album Kyle…
Best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay include Newport Jazz Festival alumni Dana and Alden, Samantha Fish and more
Fresh off its Newport Jazz Festival debut, easy listening duo Dana and Alden is setting sail for the Tampa Bay area next month. Built around tenor sax player Dana McWayne drummer Alden McWayne (pictured above L-R), the Brooklyn sibling band arrives supporting Papa’s Boat, a 51-minute collection of smooth jazz and indie-pop that dips into…
Sacred Heart Catholic Church acquires downtown Tampa’s Madison building, will hold community meetings to discuss development
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is looking to expand its downtown Tampa footprint—and explore new ways to serve the community—on land with a familiar history. The parish says it has secured the Madison Building at 412 E Madison St., immediately south of its church, and is inviting parishioners to help imagine what comes next for the…
DeSantis withdraws death warrant for Florida inmate with dementia and heart failure
Gov. Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, who was scheduled to be one of two inmates executed on Tuesday. DeSantis didn’t state a reason for the change in his Thursday afternoon letter to Florida State Prison Warden Randall Polk, but it comes as Thompson’s counsel and opponents of the death…
Oracle of Ybor: I’m about to be a mom and need help figuring out what new parts of life to embrace
Dear Oracle, I am on the precipice of a great change: I am about to become a mother in just a few short weeks. My pregnancy has been a wild journey, and I’ve found myself turning inward and reflecting. I know my life is changing completely. It’s been hard to do all the things I…
Health professionals urge Florida to reconsider repealing vaccine requirements for school children
The Florida Department of Health heard hours of public comment from parents’ rights advocates and health care professionals on Thursday about the agency’s move to repeal four vaccines required to enroll in state schools. The hearing, held Thursday morning in Lake Mary, saw activists praise DOH for the proposal, while doctors and other health care…
Florida passed a bill allowing college staff to carry guns — but not a single school has implemented the program
No Florida college or university has yet to opt in on a new law that allows staff to act as armed guards, a coalition of gun safety groups assert — leading them to question whether state lawmakers are out of touch on the issue. The Legislature passed HB 757 during the 2026 regular legislative session. It…
Bernie Sanders is coming to Ybor City to boost Angie Nixon’s US Senate campaign
The Tampa Bay area is going to feel the Bern this month, when Vermont’s Independent Senator comes to Florida for a couple days of campaign rallies, including a Tampa stop alongside Florida lawmaker Angie Nixon. On Saturday, Nixon’s campaign and Florida Young Democrats announced the Oct. 17 rally happening at the Cuban Club, calling Sanders’…
V Modern Italian debuts in North Hyde Park, Dr. BBQ heads to Clearwater Beach and more in Tampa Bay food news
OPENINGS/CLOSINGS V Modern Italian, led by Michelin-starred chef, opens in North Hyde Park NoHo will finally got a glimpse of Michelin-starred Chef Stefano Ciotti’s latest concept, V Modern Italian. Located at 1701 W North A St. in a 7,400 square-foot space within the new Rome Collective development, V Modern Italian officially started taking reservations on…
Tampa City Ballet’s ‘La Septima’ is a huge accomplishment, and it takes over the Cuban Club this weekend
Tampa City Ballet takes over Ybor City’s Cuban Club Oct. 9-10 and present ‘La Septima.’
Tampa Bay’s best live music happening October 9-15 including Karol G, Clearwater Jazz Holiday and more
“Music Week” is Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s weekly roundup of the best concerts happening in Tampa Bay, this time between Oct. 9-15.
Is it time for Jalon Daniels? Or did the Bucs just play good for once?
With the Bucs’ first victory of this quickly-moving 2026 season, there have been plenty of overreactions. “Jalon Daniels is the future!” “Zac Robinson is actually a good offensive coordinator!” “Todd Bowles should keep his job!” Ok, maybe that last one is a phrase no one has uttered all season, and the second is just as…
![[Photos] Everyone who stepped into Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2026 photo booth](https://i0.wp.com/www.cltampa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/BOTB_Step-N-Repeat-2026-150-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
[Photos] Everyone who stepped into Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2026 photo booth
Tampa Bay showcased its very best Wednesday night at Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of the Bay celebration. Thank you to the Coliseum and the City of St. Pete, as well as all the local restaurants, bars, performers and artists that it made it a truly special night. If you haven’t checked out the new issue, read…
TikTok satirist and style parody master Kyle Gordon plays Tampa on Sunday
Satirist and style parody master Kyle Gordon makes rare Tampa appearance on Oct. 11, 2026.
Op-ed: No matter what happens with Amendment 3, Florida needs to turn its attention to fixing property insurance
For more than a decade as Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, I have had the privilege of serving the homeowners, families and businesses that make our community home. That experience has given me a front-row seat to the robust discussion now taking place across Florida related to Property Tax reform. As Property Appraiser, my responsibility is…
Rick Scott says a vote for Donalds, who is currently tied with Jolly in the polls, will end spam texts from Florida GOP
When it comes to winning close statewide elections, no one has been more successful in Florida than Rick Scott. The senior Republican U.S. senator won three straight contests for governor and senator in the 2010s by a single percentage point before enjoying a rare blow-out reelection victory by 13 points two years ago. Scott appeared…
St. Pete’s Open House Conspiracy marks 15th anniversary with set from Chicago house DJ Vick Lavender
Chicago house DJ Vick Lavender headlines a big anniversary for St. Petersburg-based EDM dance curator Open House Conspiracy, for a party happening Oct. 10, 2026.
CareerSource Polk CEO fired after DeSantis picks allege mismanagement and ‘woke ideologies’
CareerSource Polk CEO Stacy Campbell-Domineck was terminated by the Polk County Commission last Tuesday, Oct. 6 after 20 years in the role. The commission voted 3–2 to fire her with cause, before also terminating CareerSource Polk’s entire board.
Column: Stepmother of Brian Pepal remembers her stepson, who was killed by St. Pete police
Brian was so much more than the circumstances of his death or a mental health diagnosis. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, and someone who was deeply loved by his family. I came into Brian’s life when he and his brother Mark were teenagers, and over the years he became simply…
Seven things Tampa residents should probably know about ‘Princess Ulele’
Ahead of Indigenous Peoples Day is on Oct. 12, 2026, Tom Pluckhahn, Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Florida, shares seven things that we can never know for certain about Tampa Bay’s most famous Indigenous woman.
![[Photos] Everyone we saw at Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of The Bay party](https://i0.wp.com/www.cltampa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261007-0437-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
[Photos] Everyone we saw at Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of The Bay party
It’s been a long time since Creative Loafing Tampa Bay held its annual Best of the Bay party in the 727, but readers came out in force last night to celebrate winners and finalists in the 2026 edition. Held at the Coliseum, as our latest home at the Hard Rock Event Center is under renovation,…
Isaias strengthens to Category 1 hurricane, expected to hit Florida this Friday
Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane late Wednesday night and has officially become the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. According to the 11 a.m. advisory report from the National Hurricane Center, the Isaias is located about 170 miles north of Progreso, Mexico and 380 miles south of the mouth of the…
With Isaias on the way, Oktoberfest Tampa’s big downtown party has been rescheduled for Halloween weekend
Oktoberfest Tampa has rescheduled its 2026 celebration—originally set for Oct. 9-11—to Halloween weekend (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) in response to Hurricane Isaias, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Tampa Bay area.
USF English professor to discuss William Bartram’s Florida travels, and more, this Sunday
Thomas Hallock, Ph. D. has studied William Bartram’s papers for eight yers and will discuss them in Largo on Oct. 11.
Court erases Hope Florida grand jury report, after an appeal that had no one on the other side to defend it
The grand jury report that put Attorney General James Uthmeier at the center of a “sophisticated scheme” to move $10 million from a Medicaid settlement into his political committee was erased Wednesday by a state appeals court, in an appeal in which no one was allowed to argue in defense of the report, the court’s…
