Two critically acclaimed one-woman fringe shows are back on stage in Tampa Bay.

Gabrielle Leonore’s “My Life as an ‘Inspirational P*rn Star” and Emily Weitzman’s “Furniture Boys” both showed at Tampa and Edinburgh fringe festivals over the summer.

Leonore’s show is part standup, burlesque and character study with a PowerPoint presentation and a soundtrack punctuated by Olivia Rodrigo’s “Brutal”.

Weitzman’s “Furniture Boys” is an absurdist comedy about boyfriends who become, well, furniture. The show combines clowning and spoken word for a reflection on love and impermanence. The Guardian called it “shimmeringly silly, ingenuous, and ridiculous and revelatory.”

Tickets are $27 for “Straight from the Fringes,” showing Thursday, Jan. 8-Sunday, Jan. 11 in Clearwater.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post Clearwater’s TheatreFor stages one-woman fringe double feature appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

Creative Pinellas’ eighth Arts Annual exhibition will be its last.

The exhibition themed “From Now to Next” acts as its goodbye celebration as the publicly defunded arts program prepares to close its office and gallery space in Largo by Feb. 1.

A total of 122 works from 73 artists span the exhibition, including painting, sculpture, spoken word, ceramics, mixed media, assemblage, film, and a special site-specific installation from the artist BASK.

Some of the exhibit’s featured artists, like Miss Crit, aka Laura Spencer, credit Creative Pinellas with their success after being nurtured by the program.

“Creative Pinellas has always been there for me and our artistic community,” Spencer said in a release. “It’s an absolute honor and privilege to participate in the final exhibit at the gallery.”

Others, like Cristi López, will show their work for the first time. In the gallery’s closing announcement, she said being showcased in the last Arts Annual “affirms that I made a great decision in moving here.”

There is no cover for Arts Annual: From Now to Next, running through Jan. 4 in Largo.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post Creative Pinellas’ last exhibit ends next weekend appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

The Tampa Museum of Art closed 2025 with a celebration of multi-talented Japanese-American artist Jun Kaneko’s work, opening his first major presentation in Florida. But there’s still plenty of time to see the exhibit.

“Silence Before Sound” features nearly 50 pieces of Kaneko’s large-scale ceramic sculptures, paintings and works on paper, tracing back six decades of his work.

His creative process is shaped by moments of pause or “Ma,” a concept rooted in Japanese aesthetics that Keneko has said is essential to the balance of an artwork. 

The museum’s “Remix” monthly workshop series bases its next project on his work. On Jan. 29, guests can learn glaze painting on ceramic tile to create Kaneko-inspired art.

Tickets start at $5 for “Silence before Sound,” running through Aug. 23 in Tampa. The “Remix” workshop is $55.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post Tampa Museum of Art showcases renowned Japanese-American artist appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

A comedy club has stepped in to help a local comedian who lost his home in an electrical fire. 

Clark Brooks, a regular at Side Splitters and other improv and sketch events in the area, lost his home earlier this month. He and his pets are safe, but most possessions have been lost. While other people are making holiday plans, Brooks is now trying to find permanent shelter and a way to rebuild. 

Side Splitters, a comedy club known for helping local performers in need, hosts a benefit show to help Brooks at their Dale Mabry location on Sunday. Ticket proceeds will help the comedian with the various expenses related to losing his residence. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Brooks as well.

The lineup will include previous Best of the Bay winners Rahn Hortman, Jeff Klein and Steve Miller.

Brian Thompson, owner of Side Splitters, told Creative Loafing that comedians started volunteering to participate immediately after hearing about the fundraiser, including those who had benefits held for them in the past.

“I am just happy to be in a position to be able to help people when they need it,” Thompson said via email. “He (Brooks) would not have asked for this but I know it will help him get the essentials he needs and start to get back on his feet. Hopefully it lifts his spirits as well.”

Tickets start at $23.50 for the Fundraiser for Clark Brooks on Sunday, Dec. 21 in Tampa.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post Side Splitters hosts benefit for local comedian this weekend appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

Vanderbilt and Iowa face off for the first time ever for this year’s ReliaQuest Bowl on the day of New Year’s Eve.

Vanderbilt brings a historic 10-win season with an offense led by Heisman finalist Diego Pavia. Iowa’s famous defense is ready for the team’s seventh bowl in Tampa after a slightly disappointing 8-4 season.

But the Hawkeyes’ secret ingredient this year is in their offense: Mark Gronowski. The South Dakota State transfer set a program record of 15 rushing TDs by a quarterback this season, and became the team’s first member ever to rush for, throw, and catch a touchdown in the same game (vs. USC).

Either way, Tampa Bay wins. The bowl’s economic impact has reached an estimated $1.2 billion since it started as the Hall of Fame Bowl 40 years ago, Tampa Bay Business and Wealth recently reported. It was the Outback Bowl from 1995 to 2022 before the Tampa-based cybersecurity firm cut the check.

Teams will be in town five days early for events, including a beach day and parade.

Tickets start at $95 for ReliaQuest Bowl 2025, happening Wednesday, Dec. 31 in Tampa.

2025 ReliaQuest Bowl

Time Wed., Dec. 31, 12 p.m.

Location Raymond James Stadium, 4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

View More

The post ReliaQuest Bowl will be historic this New Year’s Eve in Tampa appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) offers an escape from the madness of the holidays next weekend.

In this immersive deep-sea experience, the garish reds and greens of Christmas and black and golds of New Year’s are nowhere to be seen. No carols, no “ho ho ho”-ing. Just the endless blue and the meditative sounds of animals who don’t know what a holiday even is.

“Sounds of the Ocean” promises “a captivating blend of art, music, and mindfulness that transports you straight into the ocean’s embrace,” per MOSI’s event description.

Inside what’s now America’s second-largest planetarium, mesmerizing deep-sea visuals pair with the natural music of whale and dolphin sounds, combined with original music composed by humans.

For those who can’t make it this weekend or want an encore, it’ll be back in MOSI’s dome again on Jan. 11.

Tickets are $18-$34 for “Sounds of the Ocean,” screening Sunday, Dec. 28 in Tampa.

Sounds of the Ocean – The Immersive Experience Tampa

Time

Location Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave, Tampa

View More

The post MOSI’s giant dome screens a deep-sea experience next weekend appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

There’s a reason Mariah Carey didn’t write “All I want for Christmas is more socks.” But hey, someone out there might want them. And you might actually like the smell of that candle they got.

Give regifting a chance at the St. Pete Elk’s Lodge next weekend. Last year’s haul included a pickle lover’s gift set,  pampering kits, a dancing party game and fake lashes.

It’s the thought, and lack of receipt, that counts.

There is no cover for Elks Lodge #1224’s Re-Gift Party, happening Saturday, Dec. 27 in St. Petersburg.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post Swap the presents you ‘loved’ at a re-gift party in St. Pete next weekend appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

What does Santa do to let loose the weekend after Christmas? Apparently, relive his college days.

Tampa Bay Club Sport hosts a “Bad Santa” bar Olympics at Rec Dec St. Pete, where teams of four compete in classic bar games. Beverages will be provided for events that need them, and each team gets eight free drink tickets.

Competitors can register alone for $30 or as a team of four for $120 for “Bad Santa’ Bar Olympics, happening Saturday, Dec. 27 in St. Petersburg.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post ‘Bad Santas’ can compete in bar Olympics next weekend in St. Pete appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

This weekend is your last chance to check out “Between Two Groves,” Karian Yanes’s solo exhibition at the Morean Center for Clay.

Through ceramics, Yanes shares her experience at the intersection of Puerto Rican, Palestinian and Midwestern culture, exploring how stories and traditions transform across time, memory, and diaspora.

The show’s largest work, “All We Ate Was Watermelon,” is a 12-foot-tall mixed-media sculpture with 3,480 ceramic pieces protecting an orange branch modeled after a traditional Palestinian cross-stitch pattern.

It’s surrounded by a series of ceramic wall hangings that show fragments of Yanes’ family history using scenes from her family’s orange grove in Palestine and imagery from Puerto Rico, where her grandfather worked in a juice factory, along with references to her ‘90s Ohio childhood and elements of her current life in Florida.

There is no cover for “Between Two Groves,” running through Saturday, Dec. 27 in St. Petersburg.

Karina Yanes: Between Two Groves Ceramic Exhibition

Time Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Dec. 27 2025

Location Morean Center for Clay, 420 22nd Street South, St.Petersburg

View More

The post Puerto Rican, Palestinian, Midwest ceramic show closes in St. Pete next week appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

The first night of Kwanzaa centers on the principle of umoja, meaning “unity” in Swahili. St. Pete Youth Farm practices the concept every day with workshops, programs and events to promote a happier, healthier Tampa Bay.

Next Friday, community members will gather to celebrate and reflect on the African proverb “I am because we are.”

It’s one of the farm’s biggest events of the year, with drumming, family-friendly activities and free food.

Carla Bristol, who heads the farm, posts more Kwanzaa events around St. Pete at fb.com/kwanzaastpete.

There is no cover for St. Pete Youth Farm’s 12th Annual First Night of Kwanzaa happening Saturday, Dec. 26 in St. Petersburg.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

The post St. Pete Youth Farm hosts a free first night of Kwanzaa party next week appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.