All-Stars
The WWE wrestler otherwise known as Thaddeus Bullard is a champ in and out of the ring. Following his success as an athlete, he has become a major benefactor for youth advancement. Through his Bullard Family Foundation, he sponsors events like the annual Back to School Bash at Raymond James Stadium, distributing tens of thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies to Tampa Bay students.—David Warner
Perennial winner of Best Sports Bar in CL’s Best of the Bay (and voted Best Local Sports Bar in America by USA Today), Ferg’s Sports Bar in St. Pete owes its success to owner Mark Ferguson, who as a young teacher in 1992 transformed an old Sunoco station into the multi-faceted complex Ferg’s is today, complete with a dog park, an axe-throwing venue, 100+ TVs, and (bless him) the old World Liquors globe sign. He’s also now a co-owner of another St. Pete institution: The Chattaway in Old Southeast.—David Warner
If Ybor City’s 140-year history is a saga of cigars and social clubs, ambitious immigrants and innovative artists, its future may well be determined by one man: Darryl Shaw. His 5-million-square-foot Gasworx development is transforming the district’s environs, his Ybor Harbor complex is planned for the waterfront, and he’s been influential in the retail and residential sectors of old Ybor, from redeveloping the old Kress Building into Kress Contemporary, a gallery and performance hub, to building Hotel Haya, the district’s first boutique hotel. —David Warner
Kristina Lavallee’s award-winning Carrollwood bakery has made an astonishing St. Pete Pier cake for 727 Day, sold mini-cupcakes for the benefit of the American Cancer Society, and created a multi-tiered wonder for Cardi B. But we’re sure she is most proud of having made the 35th birthday cake for last year’s Best of the Bay celebration (and, of course, for having won Readers’ Picks for Best Cakes, Cupcakes and X-rated Cakes).—David Warner
Powered by the dream of founder Howard Gobioff “to make the world a better place,” the Gobioff Foundation has unquestionably made Tampa Bay a better place. Its grants to arts-focused and human rights/civil liberties organizations and to individual artists have changed the region’s cultural landscape for good.—David Warner
Tampa Bay’s multi-talented Zelig has played a major role in the region’s cultural scene for decades: at the Artists and Writers Balls in 1970s Ybor; at the Times and the Tribune in the ‘80s and ‘90s; at Tampa City Hall in the early aughts (where he was “The Arts Czar”); and now at The Palladium of St. Petersburg College, where he’s executive director. Plus, he’s an award-winning fiction writer, a piano man, and half of a beloved cabaret act with his wife, the actor Eugenie Bondurant.—David Warner
An eloquent change-maker from a family that has called St. Pete home for five generations, she has been a force in the city’s government, academic, and corporate life since 1993. Now, as President and CEO of Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, she is shaping the future of health equity.—David Warner
Tom G, also known as “The Challenge Gawd,” is without a doubt an original Tampa Bay hip-hop pioneer. The rap icon, whose real name is Thomas Godbolt, put Jook City on the map with the 2004 hit single “City Boy Wit It,” which found his signature raspy voice carry well beyond Hillsborough County and even sparked its own dance craze. Then, in 2019, Tom G performed a remix of “City Boy” at the BET Awards, solidifying his place among rap elite. But the Howard W. Blake High School alum isn’t just an established hitmaker. Godbolt has since been dabbling with everything from directing his own movie (“Poison”), he wrote a book (“Process & Purpose”), and he even owns a food truck called Snack Trap, which is typically parked in East Ybor on 22nd St. and 11th ave.—Colin Wolf
The first female mayor of Tampa, succeeding Bob Martinez when he left to be governor of Florida, Sandy Freedman served the rest of his term and then was elected twice more in the ‘80s and ‘90s. A tennis champion in her youth, she stood up for minorities and women in government, organized Tampa’s first march against hate crimes, and saw the opening of the convention center and the Florida Aquarium and the restoration of Bayshore Boulevard during her tenure as mayor. —David Warner
When Bob Devin Jones co-founded The Studio@620 in 2005 (with the late David Ellis), he made a profound difference in the way St. Pete thought of itself. An accomplished theater artist himself, he nurtured new talents like the founders of freeFall and projectAlchemy and created a home for alternative artwork and community connection where the answer was always yes – and now continues to thrive under the leadership of his hand-picked successor, Erica Sutherlin.—David Warner
Whether you’re shopping for dinner or stopping for lunch, a trip to Mazzaro’s is an experience like no other. The sheer abbondanza of it all! The wines, the cheeses, the meats and fishes on display, the gourmet foods on the shelves, and above all the deli, where the lunch crush might seem daunting but the sandwiches are superb, have been drawing crowds since 1996.—David Warner
A locus for the visual arts since 1975 (and culinary arts since 2018), DFAC offers something for everyone: over 1,000 classes for adults, teens and kids in everything from ceramics to sushi, cutting-edge art exhibitions, and legendary events like its unique fashion-meets-art extravaganza, Wearable Art. In its 50-plus years of operation, the Center’s impact has spread far beyond Dunedin.—David Warner
A gleaming one-stop shop for all things frisky, from pasties to penis rings, from stripper heels to strap-ons, the Todd’s status as “Best Sex Shop” has remained unchallenged for years among CL Best of the Bay voters. “Date night starts here,” says the website, and even though it’s probably not a first-date destination, it’s been furnishing fun for all since 1969.—David Warner
South Tampa’s go-to destination for hearty, homemade Italian classics since 1986. Whether you’re hungry for lunch, dinner, or late-night eats, Bella’s pizzas, pastas and parmigianas are “Buonissimo!” seven days of the week.—David Warner
Putting final touches on its 47th iteration set for Oct. 15-18, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday has become an exemplar of what a local festival can be. With headliners more eclectic than ever (Americana, blues, and funk always make it in the mix), Clearwater Jazz Holiday always finds ways to include lots of jazz up and down the lineup (this year features a Chick Corea tribute, along with youth showcases, and so much more). More than that, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation spends the rest of the year supporting the Bay area’s young jazz musicians through education, and outreach during programs like the free Young Lions Jazz Camp, master sessions and clinics, online lessons. One-off concerts help keep money coming into the effort, which we hope gets at least another 47 years.—Ray Roa
Marty Blitz and Maryann Ferenc kick-started a new culinary era in Tampa Bay when they opened Mise en Place in 1986. Blitz’s updated gourmet cuisine and Ferenc’s savvy (but never stuffy) knack for hospitality set the standard for contemporary restaurants throughout the area and launched the careers of innumerable chefs. Now occupying snazzy new digs in Ybor, the restaurant continues to thrive as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.—David Warner
Celebrating its 100th birthday this fall after a major renovation, Tampa Theatre is a jewel in the city’s crown — not just because of its intelligent programming, gorgeous interior and iconic marquee, but because it represents what citizens can do when they stand up against the forces of mindless development to save a city landmark, as Tampanians did in the 1970s when Tampa Theatre was threatened with demolition. —David Warner
A quadruple threat, the Grammy-winning rapper/singer/songwriter/actor Doechii (née Jayla Hickmon) is one of the biggest stars to come out of Tampa since maybe ever. Plus, she’s Black, beautiful and unapologetically queer, and the name of her second mixtape (“Alligator Bites Never Heal”) couldn’t be more Florida, with lyrics — “anxiety keeps on trying me; I feel it quietly, tryina silence me” — that have a lingering bite.—David Warner
Bern Laxer’s vision way back in 1956 led to the establishment of what is arguably Tampa’s most famous restaurant. Its superior steaks (and legendary steak sandwich), world-renowned wine list, unique dessert room, and over-the-top red-velvet decor have made Bern’s Steak House a must-visit culinary destination for 70 years.—David Warner
St. Petersburg’s first museum (founded in 1965) and the only museum in the Tampa Bay region with an encyclopedic collection — over 20,000 objects representing nearly 5,000 years of civilization — the MFA continues to be a vital institution. In addition to cutting-edge exhibitions, the museum is currently in the process of reimagining its permanent collection, bringing works from different cultures and eras together around shared human experiences. —David Warner
Tampa Bay’s concert scene, without a doubt, would be drastically different without No Clubs Presents and Daddy Kool Records. The area’s OG indie promoter, No Clubs and its founders Tony Rifugiato and Dave Hundley staged a staggering amount of concerts after founding the company in 1985, including Red Hot Chili Peppers at London Victory Club, Fela Kuti and Egypt 80 at Jannus Landing, David Byrne at Tampa Theatre, Green Day at the Florida State Fairgrounds, and so many more. In more recent years, the company brought still-emerging stars like Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan to town. Keepers of their word, and fair business partners, it’s tough, if not impossible, to find anyone in town who’s been burned by No Clubs. Last year, “Tony and Dave” brought on “Vicky,” as in Victoria Huddy, as a third partner. Huddy has been a scene staple for what feels like a majority of her young life and is well-positioned to add another 40 years to No Clubs’ already storied history.—Ray Roa
He’s the paterfamilias of the 1905 Family of Restaurants, the multi-million-dollar chain that includes the flagship Columbia Restaurant in Ybor and its counterparts throughout the state, plus Ulele, Casa Santo Stefano and ChaCha Coconuts. He’s also a beloved philanthropist, having raised millions for the Moffitt Cancer Center, USF scholarships and scores of nonprofits through initiatives like Richard’s Run for Life and Community Harvest.—David Warner
Thanks to collectors A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse in 1982, St. Petersburg was able to establish a museum featuring the largest collection outside Europe of works by that crazy-like-a-fox Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Yann Weymouth’s eye-popping design for the museum’s current home, which opened in 2011, has become an attraction in its own right, and curators under the leadership of Executive Director Hank Hine have found myriad ways of connecting Dalí’s legacy with artists of the past and present. —David Warner
A profile in courage since she was a teenager when she took part in the 1960 sit-ins to protest segregation at Tampa’s lunch counters, she continued to make her mark as the first black female attorney in Hillsborough and Polk counties, as president of the National Bar Association, and as a FL State Representative and State Senator. The ever-stylish octogenarian continues to speak out loud, proud and clear for equality.—David Warner
At one point in Tampa’s history, what’s now known as the Wilson building was the tallest in downtown. That was in the mid-’60s, until Park Tower was completed across from Lykes Gaslight Square Park. The Wilson name, however, is still uttered regularly by anyone who cares about preserving historic buildings. In 1999, Carolyn ‘CW’ Wilson saved the Franklin Exchange bank building, which was facing demolition. Completed in 1923, and featured in many historic photos of streetcars and celebrations at the corner of Franklin and Twiggs Streets, the Exchange National Bank is now home to special events venue The Vault, plus CW’s Gin Joint. She also owns the nearby Kress Block, which is next on preservation nerds’ list of downtown addresses to revitalize. Wilson is devoted to restoration unlike many others who end up with coveted downtown property on their hands, and she’s occasionally seen at the Gin Joint and special events at The Vault for anyone who wants to learn more.—Ray Roa
Pulling a muscle at a Black Honkeys set should be a rite of passage in the Tampa Bay area, but making the revered party band work week in and week out is a feat in itself, too. Led by Phil Esposito, the Honkeys have nine members in the lineup and play more a dozen shows a month, bringing tight, R&B-based sounds for a set that features covers and barn-burning originals, too. More dangerous than pretty much any for-hire outfit this polished, Esposito & co. have been perennial Best of the Bay winners for nearly the entirety of their two-decade existence. And, actually, the band shows no signs of slowing down.—Ray Roa
Over the last five years, the Tampa Bay concert scene has taken part in a long goodbye for Crowbar, the 300-ish cap indie rock club helmed by Tom DeGeorge. A Pennsylvania native, the 52-year-old arrived in Ybor City 25 years ago to run the since-shuttered Masquerade (it’s now The Ritz). His clubs have won numerous Best of the Bay awards, and since the pandemic DeGeorge has worked with the National Independent Venue Association to give rooms the one he just closed a chance to survive. DeGeorge didn’t make the runoff during a 2025 run for Tampa City Council—and a recent “New Home for Live Music” Kickstarter fell short of its goal this month—but he’s never laid down, so expect to hear more soon.—Ray Roa
The Hall, which opened in 1983, expanded upon the big-name music and theater programming at its 2,180-seat home base when it took over management of the more intimate Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater in 2009, restoring the former movie house into the 739-seat venue it is today. Then, in 2023, the organization further transformed the city’s entertainment landscape with the opening in waterfront Coachman Park of the BayCare Sound, a 9,000-capacity amphitheatre that has brought in acts from Diana Ross to Goose.—David Warner
Moffitt (official name: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute) has been tackling tumors since it opened on USF Tampa’s campus in 1986. The only facility in Florida designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute, it has been a pioneer in the development of immunotherapy treatments for lymphoma and melanoma and stands as an invaluable medical resource for Tampa and the world.—David Warner
For more than 30 years, Tampa Bay 28’s Chief Meteorologist has been the go-to guy for weather forecasts. Famous for his Hurricane Rules (especially Rule #7: “Stop freaking out until I tell you to”) and his trademark suspenders, he’s inspired Halloween costumes, a one-man Fringe show, and even a beer: Rule#7 from Crooked Thumb Brewery.—David Warner
A force in the indie art scene for decades, Tracy established the non-profit Tempus Projects gallery in Seminole Heights in 2009 and is now director of curatorial and community affairs for the Kress Contemporary in Ybor, where Tempus relocated in 2022. Once called a “sexy badass” by a CL art writer, she lives up to the description with humor, pragmatism and a core belief in the value of art and artists. —David Warner
Seventy-seven years young, The Hub has deservedly taken Best Dive Bar honors for many of those years, and for good reason. Renowned for its stiff pours, classic jukebox and polyglot clientele, it’s conveniently located steps away from Tampa Theatre — and now that people actually live in downtown Tampa, it’s just a quick stumble back home. —David Warner
Stageworks Theatre, Tampa’s longest-running professional theater company, has had only two artistic directors in its 43-year history: its founder, the late Anna Brennen, and Karla Hartley, who has been producing artistic director since 2014. Her indomitable spirit, savvy business sense, and dry wit have kept Stageworks’ Channel District home humming right along, appealing to a diverse audience and maintaining a high standard of production excellence. —David Warner
Open since 2019, St. Pete’s beloved independent bookstore has become an invaluable oasis for book lovers, thanks to founder Alsace Walentine and her partner and co-owner Candice Anderson. The smartly-curated book selection, knowledgeable staff, and ultra-busy calendar of author events make it a destination for readers on both sides of the Bay. —David Warner
Yes, he’s Tampa’s “strip club king,” but also more than that. In 2025, Redner, now 86 years old, sold his most famous business, Mons Venus, to Don Kleinhans, owner of 2001 Odyssey (the one across the street, with the spaceship). Redner hasn’t shared his future plans, but natives and newbs alike should know that he’s also been a longtime, unwavering champion for free speech, public access television, gay rights, and more. In 201, Redner, no stranger to getting on a ballot as a candidate, gave quarter to the Occupy movement, fought then City Councilman Bob Buckhorn over a so-called six-foot-rule that outlawed lapdances. After voters brought legalized medical marijuana to Florida in 2016, he even started growing his own green to help with his lung cancer—which led to a prolonged fight with the state. Redner won in Leon County in 2018, but an appeals court overturned the ruling the next year, with the Florida Supreme Court denying Redner’s appeal, ending that fight against a ban on home-grown medical cannabis. A perennial Best of the Bay winner, Redner got one in 2006 for a political bumper sticker that said, “You may not want me, but you need me!” No lies detected. —Ray Roa
He’ll be 93 in November, but we doubt that’ll stop John Lamb. Having played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and backed up some of the biggest names in jazz, the renowned double bassist settled in St. Pete in 1972, where he became a music educator and the city’s most celebrated jazz artist, filling the Palladium every time he was on the bill and sharing the stage with the likes of La Lucha and Nate Najar. —David Warner
In a conversation with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay a year ago, Grammy-winning musical genius Jon Batiste recalled a studio session he had with A$AP Rocky and Tampa producer Jordan Patrick. The trio took a break and went to Smalls jazz club, a few blocks away in Greenwich Village. They ended up on the bandstand, and Batiste was very clear that Patrick, 32, has unique abilities. “Reminds me of me when I was that age,” Batiste told CL. That’s no surprise to longtime local hip-hop heads. Also known as JXPVTTY, Patrick has long been involved with the Bay area’s most forward-thinking artists, and now he travels the world as part of A$AP Rocky’s inner circle (and all over the rapper’s latest album, Don’t Be Dumb). Rocky told CL that the Jefferson High School and USF graduate is the only person he knows that can play multiple instruments, make a beat, rap on it, and mix it. ““Jordan is a savant,” Rocky added, “a true renaissance man.” Patrick is a prime example of a local who is working the long game, and if his impact so far is any indication, Tampa will continue to have a lot to be proud of. hellojp.co —Ray Roa