

Florida Republican files Texas-style ‘heartbeat’ abortion bill
The “Florida Heartbeat Act,” would require doctors to test for fetal heartbeats, which can occur six weeks into pregnancy.
Florida Gov. DeSantis gives unintelligible response to question on ‘heartbeat’ abortion bill
DeSantis touted his ‘100% pro-life record.’
Alt-J and Portugal, The Man are coming to Tampa next spring
Garage pop band Sir Chloe is also on the bill.
After meeting with Tampa mayor, civil rights coalition renews call to end city’s crime-free housing program
“The misnamed ‘Crime-Free’ program could more properly be called an ‘African American Relocation Program.’”
Tampa Bay artists Bekky Beukes and Sandra Dohnert team up for ‘Beukes Atelier’ opening this weekend
Beukes’ new work is on display alongside photos by Dohnert.
Citrus Park favorite Ballyhoo Grill is closing this weekend
Everything’s for sale, too.
Tampa Bay expat Camille Trust comes home to release new album at Floridian Social Club
The two-hour show happens on Friday in St. Petersburg.
‘Honky Tonk Badonkadonk’ writer Randy Houser plays Tampa’s Dallas Bull on Friday
And you don’t have to worry about masking up either.
Rebranded, expanded and improved Harvey Milk Festival relaunches this week in Sarasota
The two week-long FabAF-IFF Music & Arts Festival runs from Sep. 23-Oct. 2.
The Black Keys play loose and dangerous during St. Pete stop of the band’s ‘World Tour of America’
Can we call the band The Florida Keys from now on?
Following 51,000 COVID-19 deaths in Florida, state’s new surgeon general says ‘we are done with fear’
“The state should be promoting good health,” Ladapo said. “Vaccination is not the only path to that. It has been treated almost as a religion. That is just senseless.
Calling it politically motivated, judge blocks Florida’s ‘sanctuary city’ law
“The described ‘immigrant threat narrative’ further aggravates racially discriminatory law enforcement practices.”
Tampa’s Cass Street Deli will open a new location in St. Petersburg
Torres, who also owns Blind Tiger Cafe, purchased the original 1331 W. Cass St location in June of 2019.
Central Florida police officer resigns after being pulled over drunk and pantsless
Deputies report that Ruiz was pantsless when he was pulled over and asked to put on shorts before getting out of his truck.
Florida’s new surgeon general opposes masks, vaccines mandates, other COVID-19 measures
“Florida will completely reject fear as a way of making policies in public health.”
State asks appeals court to block school board challenges to DeSantis’ mask mandate ban
Earlier Monday, Administrative Law Judge Brian Newman issued an 11-page order refusing to dismiss the school board challenges.
South St. Pete’s 22 South Food Hall officially reopens next month
Last month saw a closure and re-opening announcement within one week.
UK Asian restaurant chain Wagamama opening first Florida location at Water Street Tampa
It expects to be open early next year.
Tampa Bay’s 48-25 win against Atlanta was just another day at the office for the GOAT
The Bucs continue to have amazing offense, below-average pass defense, elite rush defense.
Orlando Museum of Art’s downtown location will have a rooftop Chihuly garden
It’ll be Chihuly’s first rooftop garden.
St. Pete theater company Off-Central Players has four more productions through 2021
‘Rasheeda Speaking’ closes this weekend.
Tampa Bay’s beloved Pop Goes the Waffle is opening a physical location in Gulfport
And owner Sara Fludd just earned a $10,000 female founders grant.
There’s a tiny ATM-turned-taco stand in Dunedin, and it’s aptly named Taco Baby
And it’s been around since 2019.
Straz Center’s Club Jaeb series brings Mary Gauthier, Alex Cuba and more to downtown Tampa
It kicks off on Oct. 25 with Christie Lenée.
New poll finds 73% of likely Florida voters think school districts should be allowed to require masks
And 10% said mask usage should not be encouraged by the government.
St. Pete’s Shine Mural Festival announces lineup, and special Bayboro Brewing Co. ‘Spraycation’ beer
The festival happens Oct. 15-24, and there’s a beer launch on Oct. 16.
I’ll be damned, Ybor City’s ‘canna-gar’ hemp cigar actually got me high
‘Pretty quickly the munchies came on, along with red eyes.’
Tampa’s Ashley Moody joins GOP attorneys general in legal threat to Biden over vaccine mandates
The attorneys general called the president’s plan ‘disastrous and counterproductive.’
Two lawmakers want to make Florida’s school board races partisan
Two Republicans—Sen. Joe Gruters and Sen. Spencer Roach—filed similar proposals.
AP, New York Times among news orgs seeking to join Rep. Carlos Smith’s lawsuit to get state COVID data
The lawsuit against the state Department of Health is over the agency’s refusal to release previously public COVID-19 information.
New polling data shows that even Florida’s Trump voters are opposed to ‘gerrymandering’
The majority of voters polled have concerns about lawmakers getting to draw new political lines for their own districts.
Before Lapêche plays Tampa, watch the Brooklyn band’s new video for ‘Cool Job’
Signed to New Granada, the outfit opens for Unwed Sailor on Saturday.
‘Police Academy’ comedian Michael Winslow part of packed 25th season at Largo’s Central Park Performing Arts Center
Make some noises for all the comedy, music and theater headed to CPAC.
Louisiana blues legend Tab Benoit brings ‘Swampland Jam’ to Tampa Theatre this winter
Samantha Fish, plus heavy hitters in the Louisiana roots music scene, are also on the bill.
Tampa Bay Ukulele Society’s ‘Ukulele Getaway’ plans mix of virtual and in-person events this fall
Log on and go to the Sirata Beach Resort, too.
St. Pete’s Green Light Cinema adds Saturday screening of David Byrne’s ‘American Utopia’
Tickets still available for Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Pete’s freeFall Theatre announces 2021-22 season, including in-person shows
It opens on Oct. 22 with ‘Dames at Sea.’
Tampa Jobsite’s ‘Dr. Ride’s American Beach House’ opens soon, and you’ll need a negative COVID test to get in
Proof of vaccination works, too.
Watch St. Petersburg candidates for mayor and city council speak at a virtual town hall focused on Latinx voters
Angelina Salcedo of WTSP moderated the event.
Indie-rock favorite Snail Mail announces Tampa concert in support of new album ‘Valentine’
UPDATE: This show was postponed to Aug. 24, 2022.
Tampa’s Angry Chair Brewing is moving into the old Brew Bus in Seminole Heights
Brew Bus moved out over the summer.
In May, Guy Harvey told Florida wildlife officials that ‘The shark is not an invasive species. We cannot treat it as the enemy’
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has an Oct. 6 presentation about shark fishing.
Federal judge won’t block DeSantis mask order in lawsuit involving parents of disabled children
Pointing to potential effects on students with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has said it is investigating Florida and other states that have sought to prevent schools from requiring student masks.
19 live music concerts and events happening in Tampa Bay this week
But stay home if you’re feeling sick, OK?
Dessert outshined the dinner at Ybor City’s Flor Fina restaurant
Hotel Haya’s upscale Latin restaurant and cocktail bar had us full with joyful anticipation.
Tampa Bay’s Black brewery owners work to bring more people of color to craft beer
The lack of Black-owned breweries isn’t a uniquely Floridian problem.
Metro’s new ‘Inclusivitea’ health center, adult retail shop and cafe is now open in St. Pete
It’s in the former home of Metro Retro and Retail.
Gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried will attend Tampa’s Tiger Bay Club next month
In a campaign hype video, Fried flashed her own medical marijuana card.
9/11 actually exposed our true mysterious enemy—ourselves
Informed Dissent.
Crist says Florida GOP is ‘raising ungodly sums of money’ in race for governor’s office
And while the governor’s race draws most of the attention, Republicans also have built large financial cushions for the three state Cabinet races on next year’s ballot.
Savage Love: My massage therapist and I became friends, but now he has feelings for me
And I’m a tantric sex sage who can no longer come when I want to, what do I do?
Video shows Central Florida woman fending off massive alligator while paddleboarding
“Why are you messing with me?” Why are you trying to bite me?,” says Baker in one of the videos.
Inaugural Tampa ‘Pride on the River’ happens downtown next weekend
Guianna among the artists playing Straz Center’s Riverwalk Stage.
Comedian Patton Oswalt cancels Clearwater show over COVID-19 concerns
‘ …my ego is not big enough to think that people should die to hear my stupid comedy.’
One year after Hillsborough declared racism a public health crisis, local leaders call for more action
The Bible-Based Fellowship Church will host a community forum on September 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Tampa’s Gasparilla Music Festival 2021 releases daily schedule, adds Cedric Burnside and others to lineup
The festival happens Oct. 1-3 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Kiley Garden.
Hillsborough County’s push to end puppy mills continues
Many local organizations provide resources for folks looking to adopt responsibly.
Warhol ‘western motifs’ exhibit opens at St. Pete’s James Museum next month
‘Warhol’s West’ runs Oct. 2-Jan. 9.
Rapper Freddie Gibbs announces fall Tampa concert in Ybor City
Now that’s something to rap about.
There’s little evidence of a Florida cop shortage, but DeSantis wants $5,000 signing bonuses for new officers
His latest announcement comes amid actual teacher and nurse shortages.
‘Lightning Launch Weekend’ includes Stanley Cup movie screening at Tampa Theatre
Bolts Brew Fest and an open skate at Amalie Arena are on tap, too.
Seminole Heights’ Refinery building leased to folks behind Cigar City, King of the Coop and Westshore Pizza
The new ‘Flocale’ concept eyes a Dec. 1 opening.
New Asian concept, Urban Hawkers, moving into former Hall on Franklin location in Tampa Heights
New ‘Coming soon’ signage went up Tuesday.
Front 242’s Jean-Luc De Meyer promises all-new live set when EBM favorite plays Tampa next month
The show at Orpheum will include tunes which have never been played live or haven’t been played in several decades.
Opera Tampa announces 2022 season
But it’s closing out 2021 with shows at Donatello and Straz Center.






