People, Places & Politics
Winner: Burg Body Fitness
Finalists: Eli's BBQ - Dunedin, Jerk Hut Tampa
Finalists: Eli's BBQ - Dunedin, Jerk Hut Tampa
Winner: Sally McPherson
Finalists: Mrs. Barieka , Valrico Lakes Advantage Academy; Dan Walch - St. Petersburg Collegiate High School
Finalists: Mrs. Barieka , Valrico Lakes Advantage Academy; Dan Walch - St. Petersburg Collegiate High School
Winner: St. Petersburg
Finalists: Tampa, Dunedin
Finalists: Tampa, Dunedin
Winner: Richie Floyd
Finalists: Copley Gerdes, Lynn Hurtak
Finalists: Copley Gerdes, Lynn Hurtak
Winner: Ft. Desoto Dog Beach
Finalists: Vinoy Dog Park, Honeymoon Island
Finalists: Vinoy Dog Park, Honeymoon Island
Whether you know him as Jimbo from the skatepark or Westy from the fire service, you know he’s the type of guy you want to have around in any situation. He’s honest and silly, street-smart and encouraging—a good, kind person. I met him last year after I randomly got into skateboarding; when he mentioned doing a ride along, I knew it’d be a cool experience, but I had no idea how it would change my life. Nearly a year later, I’ve begun piecing together the world’s first Corporate-Girlie-to-Firefighter pipeline because of him and the A Shift at CFD Station 50 (shout out Lt. Craig Krueger and Fire Medic Gregory “GG” Georges). Westy is an excellent mentor who doesn’t take himself too seriously, has a story for everything after 20-plus years in the fire department, and still genuinely cares about the community he serves. It’s inspiring, it’s refreshing, and it’s an important reminder that good people do exist.—SK West
Winner: First Ladies Farm & Sanctuary
Finalists: 15th Street Farm, Fat Beet Farm
Finalists: 15th Street Farm, Fat Beet Farm
Winner: Alexis Thompson
Finalists: Hoover Digital, Bayshore Marketing Group
Finalists: Hoover Digital, Bayshore Marketing Group
There’s only one male runner in history that’s won the New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon, and medaled in the event at the Olympics. And you can usually find him on Bayshore Boulevard. Last fall, as Meb Keflezighi co-coached the Plant High School cross country team, the silver medalist and American running legend pushed his athletes, but also reminded them that the hardest part of running, and anything really, is getting out the door. “You never know what people are going through,” the 51-year-old immigrant from Eritrea said. His runners are obviously listening, and told CL about finding fulfillment in “getting better every day, little by little.” Always ready with a high five—one powered me through the end of last spring's Gasparilla half-marathon—and consistently out for the community (his “Run With Meb” race celebrated five years of supporting youth health, education, and fitness this year), Meb treads lightly and makes an impact wherever he goes. @runmeb on Instagram—Ray Roa
Too many Democrats are in denial about the DSA, but the movement is taking hold in the Bay area. St. Petersburg has had a DSA member on city council since 2022, and saw him re-elected without opposition over the summer. Across the bridge, local socialists come together to not only canvass for their candidates, but fix broken tail lights for their neighbors. Over the summer Tampa’s DSA chapter raised $11,201 they used to cancel $2 million in medical debt for Hillsborough residents. One of DSA’s own, Ashley Herrmann is running for state house in District 69, and you can bet that her Republican opponent—police union lawyer, and incumbent Danny Alvarez is not taking the challenge lightly.
@tampadsa and @pinellasdsa on Instagram—Ray Roa
@tampadsa and @pinellasdsa on Instagram—Ray Roa
Winner: Sean Daly - WFTS
Finalists: Brandy Stark - The Gabber & the Northeast Journal, Ryan Williams-Jent - Watermark Out News
Finalists: Brandy Stark - The Gabber & the Northeast Journal, Ryan Williams-Jent - Watermark Out News
Trying to keep up with the arts in the Tampa Bay area is an impossible task. On any given week, there are scores of artists, actors, dancers, comedians, bands, authors, chefs and more, all creating, and sharing their work for anyone who’ll listen. There are a few outlets trying (futilely?) to share those efforts with their readers. Just ask journalist and author Bill DeYoung whose byline pops up seemingly several times a day, attached to events roundups, interviews, podcasts and the like. Working in newspapers since the mid-’80s in Gainesville, DeYoung, who’s also a playwright, has brought his work to the St. Pete Catalyst for nearly a decade now, and the Bay is better informed for it. As journalism continues to wring its hands and navel gaze about having to do more with less, DeYoung is a reminder that there are always people doing more because the work isn’t going to do itself. @bill.deyoung.14 on Facebook—Ray Roa
Winner: Tampa Bay Times
Finalists: The Sapphic Sun, The Gulfport Gabber
Finalists: The Sapphic Sun, The Gulfport Gabber
Winner: Downtown St. Pete
Finalists: Ybor City, Grand Central District
Finalists: Ybor City, Grand Central District
Winner: Florida Academy of Performing Arts
Finalists: WMNF 88.5FM, GIGI'S Playhouse
Finalists: WMNF 88.5FM, GIGI'S Playhouse
Winner: PARC Center for Disabilities
Finalists: Winter Pride, CASA Pinellas
Finalists: Winter Pride, CASA Pinellas
Last May ahead of screening the documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” in Tampa, “Democracy Now” host and founder Amy Goodman walked through the University Mall looking for Florida’s last public access television station, Tampa Bay Community Network (TBCN). The nonprofit media center airs Goodman’s legendary news program daily, trains locals in video production, and offers airtime at no charge to Hillsborough residents (outsiders pay a nominal fee). Staffers’ jaws dropped when the legendary journalist walked in. Because it’s how she is, Goodman could not stop asking questions and extolling TBCN, including Member Services Manager Vantanna Tarver for the service they provide the Bay area. Watch it on cable (Verizon 30 and 36, Spectrum 638 and 639, Comcast 20) or on tbcn.org.—Ray Roa
Winner: Mr. Money Pawn
Finalists: Value Pawn & Jewelry, Tampa Pawn
Finalists: Value Pawn & Jewelry, Tampa Pawn
Winner: Evelyn Long
Finalists: Kent Rodahaver, Lummy "Warren Garrison" BTLS
Finalists: Kent Rodahaver, Lummy "Warren Garrison" BTLS
Winner: Denis Phillips
Finalists: Hazel Alevok, Jeff and Mark Exploring
Finalists: Hazel Alevok, Jeff and Mark Exploring
Winner: Denis Phillips
Finalists: Rachel Wilson - Gigglewaters, Hazel Alevok
Finalists: Rachel Wilson - Gigglewaters, Hazel Alevok
Winner: Kent Rodahaver
Finalists: Julie Weintraub, Phil Yost
Finalists: Julie Weintraub, Phil Yost
Winner: Daylina Miller - WUSF
Finalists: Leah Burdick - WMNF, Dave Decker - Creative Loafing & independent
Finalists: Leah Burdick - WMNF, Dave Decker - Creative Loafing & independent
Winner: The James Museum
Finalists: Highland House, Sunken Gardens
Finalists: Highland House, Sunken Gardens
Winner: MetroLagoons
Finalists: First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary, Rescue Pets of Florida
Finalists: First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary, Rescue Pets of Florida
Winner: Rescue Pets of Florida
Finalists: Humane Society of Tampa Bay, AnimalLuvr's Dream Rescue
Finalists: Humane Society of Tampa Bay, AnimalLuvr's Dream Rescue
Loomer, the far-right gorgon and Trumpette wackadoodle, got clapped back good when she went after Florida’s Democratic Senatorial candidate Angie Nixon. Loomer had already trashed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar as “ghetto, entitled, race-obsessed, destructive black BTCHES who are completely unfit for the power they hold.” Then, after spewing that racist bile, she dismissed Nixon on X as a “ghetto, Black, communist.” Loomer wasn’t having it, responding, “Girl. You ate dog food on camera [which she did]. Who you calling a bitch?" Later, Nixon finished up with this coup de grace: “When referring to me, it’s Representative Angie Nixon. However after November 3rd, YOU CAN CALL ME SENATOR!” May it be so. angienixon.com—David Warner
Winner: Zanni & Ziggi / Slave to the Poodle
Finalists: @hazel.the.labradoodle, Maui
Finalists: @hazel.the.labradoodle, Maui
After this month, St. Petersburg’s lesbian newspaper of record will go from monthly to quarterly because it has too many subscribers who are blessed monthly with an orange envelope containing 16 riso-printed, hand-folded-and-packed pages of WLW goodness. “That was cute when there were 90 of you, but we’ve reached the limit of how many issues we can reasonably put out…” Sapphic Sun Editor-In-Chief (and new CL staffer) Valerie Smith said in a video posted alongside Publisher Kelly Dunsmore. Now, the hundreds of subscribers will have to sign back up to get the new, presumably thicker magazine in their mailboxes. “We want to have time to dig into stories deeper and to foster our mission of creating a living, tangible, queer archive in the South,” Dunsmore, who co-founded the publication two years ago added. Sign us up. sapphicsunfl.com—Ray Roa
Winner: Kent Rodahaver
Finalists: Jeff and Mark Exploring, Mark O'Donnell
Finalists: Jeff and Mark Exploring, Mark O'Donnell
Can a person have a more even-keeled, kind friend? A Connecticut transplant who fell in love with the city during undergrad at University of Tampa, Keir Magoulas has seen a lot, and shared it with the city through photography distributed by Visit Tampa Bay where he is the Creative Director. But the 33-year-old has his own special projects, too, and one of them finally came to fruition this summer in the form of a zine simply titled “Top 10 Tampa Pizza Spots.” Unpretentious, and deliberately not a definitive ranking or list, the 54-page book is full of warm photos and is an ode to slowing down, embracing nostalgia, and looking your friends in the eye as molten hot cheese takes skin off the the roofs of their mouths. Magoulas released it by giving away free pizza at Sky Puppy Brewing in Ybor City last July, and we’re desperately waiting for Pt. 2. palmarborsupply.com—Ray Roa
Winner: Winter Pride St. Pete
Finalists: Inclusive Care Group, Metro Inclusive Health
Finalists: Inclusive Care Group, Metro Inclusive Health
Winner: DeWayne Hill
Finalists: Cory Van Valin, Ryan and Chris Zubrick
Finalists: Cory Van Valin, Ryan and Chris Zubrick
Winner: Pour & Decor
Finalists: ZaZoo'd, The Pirate Candy Shop, Byrd's Nest
Finalists: ZaZoo'd, The Pirate Candy Shop, Byrd's Nest
Winner: MetroLagoons
Finalists: St. Petersburg Pier, Tradewinds
Finalists: St. Petersburg Pier, Tradewinds
Winner: Studio Physique
Finalists: MetroLagoons, Pour & Decor
Finalists: MetroLagoons, Pour & Decor
There’s hardly any value left in the world. With a little hand-eye coordination and a couple fivers, you can buck that trend during a trip to Treasure Island. That’s if you make time for the Atomic Claw Arcade where stuffies tumble out of the games so frequently that staff is constantly reloading machines. Who says you can’t have three Mr. Pickles and four stuffed Spam cans on your six-year-old’s bed? atomicclaw.com—Ray Roa
Winner: St. Pete Athletic Club
Finalists: High 5 Inc, Pickle & Pint
Finalists: High 5 Inc, Pickle & Pint
Winner: Rescue Pets of Florida
Finalists: Feeding Tampa Bay, Parc Center for Disabilities
Finalists: Feeding Tampa Bay, Parc Center for Disabilities
Winner: Whitewood on Main
Finalists: Gulf Orchids, Kerby's Nursery
Finalists: Gulf Orchids, Kerby's Nursery
We have four poker rooms in this area—that’s a whole lot—and five if you count Sarasota. Each has its own character, its own charm and weakness, its own fans and detractors. The poker room at Hard Rock has the advantage of being the biggest, which means if you find yourself at a table with a jerk, or with players you just can’t beat, you can get transferred to a new table pretty easily. The dealers and players are patient with novices, which means a lot of newbs play there, which means experienced players can often win their money. Lots of food options (though limited after midnight), 24-hour poker and 24-hour alcohol, great security when it’s needed, more variety of games and tournaments than other rooms, and exceptionally large jackpots on selected days are all big pluses. Unlike other parts of the casino at Hard Rock, the Draper Room is non-smoking, too, so it doesn’t stink all the time. casino.hardrock.com—Marty Clear
Winner: Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa
Finalists: David Jolly, Fmr. U.S. Rep.; Richie Floyd, St. Petersburg City Council
Finalists: David Jolly, Fmr. U.S. Rep.; Richie Floyd, St. Petersburg City Council
Winner: Amanda Henderson
Finalists: Nicholas Rivera - Jesuit High School, MS Harris (Autism Inspired Academy)
Finalists: Nicholas Rivera - Jesuit High School, MS Harris (Autism Inspired Academy)
Winner: Mangrove Bay and Cypress Links
Finalists: Clearwater Country Club, Babe Zaharias
Finalists: Clearwater Country Club, Babe Zaharias
Winner: Ft. DeSoto
Finalists: Vinoy Park, Largo Central Park
Finalists: Vinoy Park, Largo Central Park
Winner: Frances Bradford - Clearwater High
Finalists: Archie Ocampo Brooker Elementary, Amber Hearn - 8th grade Math at Hill Middle School in Tampa
Finalists: Archie Ocampo Brooker Elementary, Amber Hearn - 8th grade Math at Hill Middle School in Tampa
Tampa Bay is gay AF, but there’s not always a clearing house for all the gay shit one can do around here. On the back of a recent issue of Sapphic Sun, was the QR code for the No Unity Without Love events calendar. Available for Google and Apple users, the calendar covers both sides of the bridges, listing everything from bingo to movie nights, craft get together, outdoors activities, nightlife, and more. There’s even virtual events for the homebodies. An Instagram page (@queerandnowevents) is available for those who’d rather have their doomscrolling interrupted by reminders that there’s a place for everyone. links.nounity.com—Ray Roa
For nearly three decades now, Patrick Manteiga has wielded one of the loudest megaphones in Tampa politics. Like his father Roland before him, Manteiga has the byline on “As We Heard It,” a more or less print-only column that spends 15-25 inches covering local and state news, gossip and commentary. There’s a scoop a week, it seems, and Manteiga—now editor and publisher of his family’s 103-year-old paper—is not shy about sharing his opinion as he advocates for working Tampeños and the Hispanic community. A co-worker once asked me how Mantiega can publish the rumours he does. I shrugged, and replied, “I mean, how many times has he actually been wrong?” lagacetanewspaper.com—Ray Roa
Generations of Tampa residents know him simply as “Coach Glenn,” and that’s because Glenn Shull has a simple mantra: “If you play tennis, you live longer.” He’s probably right. At 83, Shull has taught the sport for decades, and you can find him most mornings and afternoons at the Himes Avenue Sports Complex in South Tampa. Shull, who retired in 1999 from Marathon Oil, has been coaching since 2001, and his clients span everyone from 4-year-olds to high school varsity players, adults and seniors, and even Tom Brady’s family during his Super Bowl run with the Bucs. Just last month, the City of Tampa’s Parks and Recreation Department honored Shull for his service as a local icon in the Tampa tennis community. tampa.gov—Colin Wolf
Winner: Joe King Carter – WMNF
Finalists: Bubba The Love Sponge, Sky Lebron - WUSF
Finalists: Bubba The Love Sponge, Sky Lebron - WUSF
Tampa Bay has been building at such a furious pace that it’s easy to overlook the equally important work of keeping what we already have. Tampa Union Station was built in 1912 and renovated once already back in 1998. Now a roughly $6 million restoration is tackling everything from its brickwork and historic windows to its roof, plaster, and long-shuttered second floor. But this isn’t preservation under glass. Trains still pull up. Passengers still drag suitcases through the waiting room. People still leave Tampa by rail for Miami, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. And when the work is done, a new generation of travelers will get to enter and leave our city through the same front door generations before them did. tampaunionstation.com—Alex English
The skating rink is one of the last bastions of pure life. More or less untainted by the accouterments and complications of the modern age, skating around in a circle to good music requires only balance, bravery, and barely a slice of rhythm. A great rink guard in zebra stripes helps, too, and there’s one at United Skates in Tampa with perhaps the greatest mullet on wheels. Mike, last April during a school skate night, I saw you, and that mighty fine lettuce framing your smiling face. I immediately said, “Lord, I’ve seen what you’ve done for Mike, and I want that for me.” Keep rolling, Mike. unitedskates.com/tampa—Ray Roa
Winner: Skate Park of Tampa
Finalists: Gulfport Skatepark, Campbell Park
Finalists: Gulfport Skatepark, Campbell Park
Winner: Jon Cooper
Finalists: Kevin Cash, Vianey Nieves - Tampa Dynamo FC
Finalists: Kevin Cash, Vianey Nieves - Tampa Dynamo FC
Winner: Carter Brantley - Creative Loafing Tampa
Finalists: Kyle Burger - WFTS, John Romano - Tampa Bay Times
Finalists: Kyle Burger - WFTS, John Romano - Tampa Bay Times
What do you do when you’re sick of seeing your beloved, nearly-90-year-old local bookstore closed forever? You make a plan to sell half-a-million t-shirts to buy it from the owners. That’s what Felipe ‘Fil’ Bergson decided last April, and he hasn’t slowed down, even making zines and booking a parking lot concert at Haslam’s that finally got owners Ray Hinst and Suzanne Haslam to acknowledge his existence. “We are grateful that so many people still love Haslam’s,” they told St. Pete Catalyst. “There will be no concert on this property.” The show ended up at The Nest, and now there are at least 1,364 people walking around in the dopest “RIP HASLAM’S” bootleg t-shirts. Just 498,636 shirts to go, Fil. spnchspnch.com—Ray Roa
Over the summer, TSA officers at Tampa International Airport managed to help pressure the airport to walk back a controversial decision to privatize its security services, following immense public pushback, criticism from the officers’ labor union, and a scathing letter penned by Tampa Congresswoman Kathy Castor in solidarity with the workers. The TSA employees, who are unionized with the American Federation of Government Employees, rallied in opposition to the privatization move, which they said would have eliminated the rights, protections, and benefits that TPA’s more than 700 TSA officers currently have under their union contract. The Tampa airport was one of just three airports nationwide that had announced their decision to participate in this new privatization program, in addition to airports in Charleston, South Carolina and Des Moines, Iowa. afge548.org—McKenna Schueler
Winner: Danny - Mons Venus
Finalists: Jeremy - 2001, James Bennett - Oz
Finalists: Jeremy - 2001, James Bennett - Oz
Winner: Dunedin Fine Arts Camp
Finalists: Girls Rock St. Pete, Florida Academy of Performing Arts
Finalists: Girls Rock St. Pete, Florida Academy of Performing Arts
This month, Tampa Theatre officially lifts the veil on a centennial restoration that shut down its Duncan Auditorium last March. Not everyone's been locked out. The venue’s Taylor Screening room has continued to show movies, and just a month after starting the $30 million touch up, Tampa Theatre started letting members take hard hat tours. A highlight on the excursion in its early stages was a walk scaffolding all the way up to the theater’s ceiling, which locals know is painted like the night sky. New paint, upgraded fiber optic “stars,” and cloud machines are just some of the new things waiting for patrons during a weeklong re-opening, but getting to experience Tampa Theatre on this tour had us on Cloud Nine. tampatheatre.org—Ray Roa
Winner: Denis Phillips
Finalists: Sean Daly, Charley Belcher
Finalists: Sean Daly, Charley Belcher
The 2025 special election for Tampa City Council’s District 5 seat was historically-crowded and saw 33-year-old Naya Young make it to a runoff against longtime local politico Thomas Scott. Supported heavily by individual donors who skirted limits using their business, and plus PACs connected to Realtors, a controversial Florida attorney Scott outfundraised Young more than 2 to one 1. But Young, a grassroots activist and former Executive Director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, had more individual donations and eventually beat her opponent by earning nearly 61% of the vote in the runoff. She’s continued to advocate for neighborhoods from the dais, and filed for re-election, but also upset many constituents last August with her vote to approve a re-worked Rays stadium funding plan that provides $80 million to the team owned in part by a north Florida homebuilder with a net worth of more than $1 billion. Young has already drawn two opponents in the 2027 municipal election, including Jackson Heights leader Fran Tate (who earned over 10% of the vote in the special election last year). nayafortampa.com—Ray Roa
Winner: Freedom Home Service Group
Finalists: The Honu Restaurant & Tiki Bar, Dave's Automotive Repair
Finalists: The Honu Restaurant & Tiki Bar, Dave's Automotive Repair
Winner: Top Golf
Finalists: Birdie Club Indoor Golf, Golfology
Finalists: Birdie Club Indoor Golf, Golfology
Tampa is lucky to have a diverse pool of candidates running for mayor next spring, and one of the more refreshing campaigns is the one from Taryn Sabia. The urban designer and Assistant Dean for Research at the University of South Florida’s College of Design, Art & Performance launched her run with a walk—from her home in Tampa Heights (it’s the original Robles house) to the supervisor of elections with a stop at Supernatural Food & Wine along the way. There, campaign volunteers shared coffee and two dozen of Tampa’s best doughnuts, with Sabia joking about having the foresight to pre-order the rounds that usually sell out before 9 a.m. “Being able to anticipate the future is what I do, and setting that vision and then working toward it is critical,” she told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Born legally blind, Sabia has campaign materials that regularly (and cheekily?) talk about the city needing a new vision whether she’s talking about mobility and accessibility, inclusiveness, development, resilience, design and more. Her campaign has already raised more than $25,000 in contributions (fourth in a field of 14 active candidates including a former mayor and two current city councilmembers), so there’s a lot of people seeing it Sabia’s way, too. tarynformayor.com—Ray Roa
Winner: St Petersboo Haunted History Walking Ghost Tours
Finalists: Pioneer Florida Museum, St. Pete Distillery Bootlegger Tours
Finalists: Pioneer Florida Museum, St. Pete Distillery Bootlegger Tours
Winner: Christeler Aesthetics
Finalists: Studio Physique, Pour & Decor
Finalists: Studio Physique, Pour & Decor
Michelle Sawyer is an artist by day, but should add preservationist to her resumé. She’s not necessarily saving buildings, but is always, often quietly, making sure the next generation of Tampeños have a chance to fall in love with their city, too. Last January, she helped raise money to help pay for dragon dancers at Cafe Hey and Oceanic’s Chinese New Year celebration. On Feb. 22, Mt.Song Martial Arts Academy arrived and delivered a joyous, and seemingly never-ending performance that started outside the market before going inside and then navigating the back storage area and ending outside Cafe Hey. Kids sat with mouths ajar, and adults became kids again. Here’s to hoping the dance returns, and that this city returns the favor for people and places that do everything to keep this place special. cafehey.com – Ray Roa
Lockup is lonely; especially when you’re a kid. “They're children. Many of us make mistakes when we're teenagers,” Carrie Boucher, told this reporter during a recent interview on WMNF Tampa. For the last eight years, the Founding Artist and Executive Director of NOMADstudio (it stands for “Neighborhood Oriented Mobile Art + Design Studio”) has visited incarcerated teens in Pinellas and this year expanded the reading program by teaming up with St. Pete’s Tombolo Books to start a registry so the public can purchase books for the kids, who don’t even have writing utensils. Despite losing a $100,000 federal grant from 2024, the registry has now expanded to Hillsborough County where juveniles are kept near the proposed site of a new Rays stadium. Books made available for the teens include graphic novels, culturally relevant chapter books, and books on careers and life skills. Each teen can take two books per session back to their room, and they can keep any book they love. “We want them to be the ones who are making the choices about what they're reading,” Boucher added. nomadstudio.org—Ray Roa
Then men who played a part in enacting Florida’s six-week abortion ban are still on a victory lap, and the state’s warriors connecting people to life-saving medical care continue to go to bat for their most vulnerable neighbors. Tampa Bay Abortion Funds’ edict remains the same—remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access. From Opill Palooza, to book talks, fundraisers, tabling, monthly meetings, and everyday outreach, TBAF is always looking forward, connecting people in need with solutions regardless of the bumps in the road. @tbafund on Instagram—Ray Roa
Winner: @kittens_beer
Finalists: Cole & Marmalade, Fauna
Finalists: Cole & Marmalade, Fauna
Winner: Stella Dinnis & Lena Santos - St. Pete Wellness & Med Spa
Finalists: Debbie Reinhardt - Resource Property Management, Michelle Detweiler- Parc Center for Disabilities
Finalists: Debbie Reinhardt - Resource Property Management, Michelle Detweiler- Parc Center for Disabilities
Originally opened in 1926 as West Tampa Elementary with the goal of educating the children of local cigar factory workers, MacFarlane Park Elementary has spent a full century standing out as a cornerstone of West Tampa’s community heritage. Today, the school thrives as a top-ranked IB Primary Years Programme magnet school (even winning No. 1 elementary magnet school in America in 2023), celebrating 100 years of excellence. MacFarlane Park Elementary continues to remain a vital bridge between Tampa’s rich industrial past and its next generation of globally-minded young thinkers.
hillsboroughschools.org/o/macfarlanepark—Annalise Mabe
hillsboroughschools.org/o/macfarlanepark—Annalise Mabe
Winner: St Pete Girl Boss
Finalists: RGA Network, SWEL - Suncoast Weddings & Event Leadership
Best Environmental Organization
Finalists: RGA Network, SWEL - Suncoast Weddings & Event Leadership
Best Environmental Organization
Winner: WK Preservation Group Inc
Finalists: Tampa Bay Watch, Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy
Finalists: Tampa Bay Watch, Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy
Winner: St. Pete Saturday Morning Market
Finalists: Safety Harbor's Market on Main, Corey Ave Farmers Market
Finalists: Safety Harbor's Market on Main, Corey Ave Farmers Market
Last month, Friends of Strays brought two puppies, Rockruff and Lucario, to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s CLTV studio, reminding viewers and listeners that every day, it not only cares for animals locally, but connects with shelters across the state to help fluffballs whose futures don’t look so bright. Those pups have since been all fixed up and adopted out, but the St. Petersburg-based, nearly 50-year-old nonprofit remains committed to being best friends to voiceless strays all ready to change your life. friendsofstrays.org—Ray Roa
Winner: Tampa Theater
Finalists: St Pete Shuffle, Mari Jean Hotel
Finalists: St Pete Shuffle, Mari Jean Hotel
Winner: Structure Interior Design Studio
Finalists: Casa Tina, Inclusive Care Group, Dark Mark Ink Tattoo Studio
Finalists: Casa Tina, Inclusive Care Group, Dark Mark Ink Tattoo Studio
Winner: Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
Finalists: Weedon Island, Pinellas Trail
Finalists: Weedon Island, Pinellas Trail
Winner: Chris Field - Studio Physique
Finalists: Kent Rodahaver, Laurie Stogniew
Finalists: Kent Rodahaver, Laurie Stogniew
Winner: The Pirate Candy Shop
Finalists: Wax Bakery, Weenies N' Bikinis
Finalists: Wax Bakery, Weenies N' Bikinis
Winner: Jeff and Mark Exploring
Finalists: Alicat's Crystal Chat, J.C. Roddy - Cigar City Sounds
Finalists: Alicat's Crystal Chat, J.C. Roddy - Cigar City Sounds
Winner: Tombolo Social Justice Book Club
Finalists: Queer Expression's Radical Book Club, Booze & Book Club
Finalists: Queer Expression's Radical Book Club, Booze & Book Club
Winner: Brandy Stark - The Gabber
Finalists: Stephanie Hayes - Tampa Bay Times, Chris Gorman - WMNF
Finalists: Stephanie Hayes - Tampa Bay Times, Chris Gorman - WMNF
Winner: HEP Urban Empowerment Garden
Finalists: Queer Expression Nest's Community Garden, Daystar Life Center
Finalists: Queer Expression Nest's Community Garden, Daystar Life Center
Up against the odds of beating back the billionaire class, Starbucks workers in Clearwater—unionized with Starbucks Workers United—participated in a national strike (with more than 200 unionized stores participating) this past winter in an effort to pressure their multibillion-dollar employer to come to the bargaining table and hammer out a union contract that’s been years in the making. Although the strike—initially open-ended—has concluded, the union of more than 11,000 baristas nationwide more recently asked the public to boycott Starbucks, which has reportedly spent millions of dollars on “union avoidance” services while failing to agree to union contract terms that include a higher minimum wage, more full-time opportunities for baristas, and protections against customer abuses. In Florida, unions have less political and social influence, due to decades of state and federal leaders gradually degrading union power through anti-worker policies. More power to these service workers—brewing up the latte or frappuccino that helps you power through your own work day—for standing up for themselves and their coworkers, despite the challenge. wcflc.org—McKenna Schueler
Winner: Natacha Christeler & David Kanstoroom
Finalists: Michael & Paige Sporck, Richard & Sylvia Allard
Finalists: Michael & Paige Sporck, Richard & Sylvia Allard
Winner: Beach Art Center
Finalists: Florida School of Woodwork, Sew Pinellas
Finalists: Florida School of Woodwork, Sew Pinellas
Winner: Old McMickey's Farm
Finalists: First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary, Rescue Pets of Florida
Finalists: First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary, Rescue Pets of Florida
Winner: Greenhouse Girls Dispensary
Finalists: Structure Interior Design Studio, COCKtail St. Pete
Finalists: Structure Interior Design Studio, COCKtail St. Pete
Winner: Scott Simon - Bradley's
Finalists: Blaze, Hunter Vance
Finalists: Blaze, Hunter Vance
Winner: MacDinton's Irish Pub
Finalists: CJ's Backstage, FloridaRAMA
Finalists: CJ's Backstage, FloridaRAMA
Winner: USF - Tampa
Finalists: St Petersburg College, University of Tampa
Finalists: St Petersburg College, University of Tampa
Artist and designer Mishou Sanchez isn’t actually running for mayor, which may be why her campaign is more fun than most. Her platform treats art like infrastructure, proposing concepts like oversized surrealist pop art along The Riverwalk, the Tampa Heat Museum—a reimagination of the empty former TECO headquarters along N Franklin Street—and plans to turn underused spaces like Kiley Gardens and Sulphur Springs’ River Tower Park into places where people might actually want to hang out again. And color. Lots of it. Beige has had a good run. In a city that spends plenty of time talking about serious growth, Sanchez is asking a more delightful question: What if Tampa were simply more fun?
mishouformayor.com—Alex English
mishouformayor.com—Alex English
In a world where some congregations seem to enjoy MLM more than WWJD, it’s nice to see these sisters making the church look good. Founded in San Francisco c. 1979 in response to homophobic evangelists, Sisters of Perpetual are a queer and trans order of nuns in drag. As reported by the Sapphic Sun, a novice sister must complete a community project to become a fully professed member of the order. Novice Sister Haram Bae recently raised money for the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, and spends other nights distributing safe sex and safe drug use supplies. Locals may have also seen the sisters blocking out homophobes at Pride events, or at candlelight vigils comforting mourners. Last month, the local chapter were at downtown Tampa dive bar The Hub raising money for a local theater company that provides performance and education opportunities for adults with disabilities. Christ-like as hell, amirite? tampabaysisters.com—Ray Roa
So what do you do when you’ve been a Florida state senator, education commissioner, attorney general, one-term governor defeated for re-election and a U.S. Congressman who runs for governor a second time only to get defeated again? Do you decide to just hang it up and retire? Or… do you see if your hometown will have you—as mayor? Well, we know what Charlie Crist decided to do. He just can’t stop running, and running, and running, and running. You just have to wonder: Is this Energizer Bunny running just to run?—David Warner
Winner: OfficeWerks
Finalists: Ybor Hive, Book + Bottle
Finalists: Ybor Hive, Book + Bottle
Winner: EmpowHERment
Finalists: Beach Art Center, Dunedin Community Center
Finalists: Beach Art Center, Dunedin Community Center
Winner: Ambee Stephens - EmpowHERment
Finalists: Mark ODonnell, Girls Rock St. Pete
Finalists: Mark ODonnell, Girls Rock St. Pete
Winner: Pinellas
Finalists: Hillsborough, Pasco
Finalists: Hillsborough, Pasco
Tucked between overpriced boutiques, 1509 W Swann Ave. is a little secret spot in Hyde Park Village that’s actually worth the splurge. Whether it’s the gin-marinated olives, any one of the nearly dozen cocktails, or any one of the 36 the tailor-made suites, everything about Palihouse is charming, warm and a welcome break from the rapidly-changing world outside the doors. And yes, the Michelin Key’d place has the champagne of beers for just $6 a bottle. palisociety.com—Ray Roa
Winner: Jane Castor
Finalists: Mayor Ken Welch, Bruce Rector - Clearwater
Finalists: Mayor Ken Welch, Bruce Rector - Clearwater
Winner: Indian Rocks Beach
Finalists: Gulfport, St Pete Beach
Finalists: Gulfport, St Pete Beach
Winner: Tom Bassano - Safety Harbor Grinch
Finalists: PinkHairedFox, Jack Rozsa
Finalists: PinkHairedFox, Jack Rozsa
Winner: Sabrina Hennessey Studio Physique
Finalists: Kent Rodahaver, Mark O'Donnell
Finalists: Kent Rodahaver, Mark O'Donnell
There are places in Hillsborough County where tax dollars work hard and play, too. Funded by the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, the nonprofit Rooted In Play that provides no-cost, child-led play, inclusive camps, and more. Last June the group even celebrated International Mud Day where kids got filthy in mud kitchens, slung dirt and rummaged through random cardboard, tires and fabric, all while adults simply stood watch (and pitched in when needed). In a world where young people are perpetually connected to technology, Rooted In Play lets them log off and learn about themselves. rootedinplay.org—Ray Roa
Not to be confused with the Chicago Public Library/Obama Presidential Center Branch, which opened on Juneteenth in 2026, the President Barack Obama Main Library in St. Petersburg opened in September of last year. The opening—or rather, the re-opening after six (!) years of renovations on the 63-year-old facility—was worth the wait. The library’s now a bright, airy space with a welcoming vibe, a lake view, and room for 80,000 books, 70-plus computers, special areas for youngsters and quiet study, and many more 21st-century amenities. Like that slightly more famous library in Chicago, this one, in the words of Mayor Ken Welch, is named after President Obama “because his legacy is everything this library should represent: the power of education, the importance of facts, the importance of community—and the belief that knowledge can transform lives.” splibraries.org—David Warner
Winner: PARC Center for Disabilities
Finalists: Feeding Tampa Bay, Winter Pride St. Pete
Finalists: Feeding Tampa Bay, Winter Pride St. Pete
Winner: BB's Micros
Finalists: Astra and Friends, Art of Acupuncture
Finalists: Astra and Friends, Art of Acupuncture
Randy Ojeda was podcasting well before it became a trend, but his goal on the Cigar City Podcast was always simple: share good music. Now literally lawyered up, because he is one, Ojeda not only helps artists protect their rights, navigate deals, and build sustainable careers, but continues to run their music through an amplifier. His long running Tampa Mixtape is a must for any Spotify user; there’s a Tampa Music Radar companion that uses data to place local artists on a chart. Now Ojeda has launched an eponymous release series that will also work to make great records heard with an interesting catch: Ojeda won’t ask to own the music, split royalties, or collect recoupment. “What we spend is never taken back. Maybe that doesn’t make the most business sense,” he said. “That’s kind of the point.” That’s the kind of psycho we need. randyojedaesq.com—Ray Roa