![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Richard-J.-Girard-II.png\")
Richard J. Girard II Credit: Courtesy headshot<\/p>\nRichard J. Girard II Credit: Courtesy headshot<\/p>\n
Every family has recipes. For some, that includes molotov cocktails and pipe bombs. That\u2019s on paper, at least, for the writer and spoken word artist Richard J. Girard II.<\/p>\n
This weekend, the 20-year literary and poetry scene veteran celebrates the release of a new book \u201cMolotov Cocktails, Pipe Bombs & Other Family Recipes\u201d by bringing some of it to the stage. Across about 100 pages, the 42-year-old takes readers on his path from a certain naive innocence, across cynicism, and to a fully activated citizen of the world. The work is personal, a call-to-arms, and, yes, a cookbook of sorts (the ingredients for \u201cSlow Roasted\u201d call for a \u201c\u2026sustainable and locally-sourced landlord\u201d).<\/p>\n
\u201c \u2026the collection presents what Girard describes as a manifesto disguised as a poetry collection, tempered throughout by dark humor and an eye toward the absurd,\u201d a press release says. \u201cBy the end, readers have traveled through where Girard came from, where he stands today, and the darkly absurd vision he sees for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Florida poet and educator Lizz Straight, who wrote the foreword, will do a special reading for this engagement that includes a reading from Girard, along with host and Growhouse founder Denis Amadeus.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the Richard J. Girard II \u201cMolotov Cocktails, Pipe Bombs & Other Family Recipes\u201d book release happening Saturday, Sept. 5 inside Kress Contemporary\u2019s Fringe Theater in Ybor City are still available and start at $12.51<\/a>.<\/p>\n See more of the best things to do in Tampa Bay between Sept. 3-10 below. This listing is compiled weekly by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay contributors and staffers.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t see your event here? Get it in front of CL readers by self-submitting to our events calenda<\/a>r.<\/p>\n Arts & entertainment<\/p>\n Fall 2026 Exhibition Opening Reception Friday, Sept. 4. 6 p.m. No cover for members; $10 for everyone else. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin. dfac.org<\/p>\n Flamenco & Latin Night with Los Rumberos<\/a> Friday, Sept. 4. 5 p.m. $5 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com<\/a><\/p>\n LIV(IN)G Estuary: A Space Between (Opening reception) w\/Ashley Rivers Friday, Sept. 4. 6 p.m. No cover. Brenda McMahon Gallery, Gulfport. brendamcmahongallery.com<\/a><\/p>\n Scream-A-Geddon (opening night) Friday, Sept. 4. 7 p.m. $34.95 & up. Scream-A-Geddon, Dade City. screamageddon.com<\/p>\n \u2018AMPED: Turn Up for the Arts\u2019 Fundraiser Party & Exhibition Opening Saturday, Sept. 5. 6 p.m. $25 & up. FloridaRAMA, St. Petersburg. creativepinellas.org<\/p>\n Geckofest 2026: Gecko Music Awards<\/a> Saturday, Sept. 5. 10 a.m. No cover. Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport<\/p>\n Labor Day White Party<\/a> Saturday, Sept. 5. 7 p.m. $200. Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel<\/p>\n \u200b\u200bLabor Day Weekend Pool Party (Adults only)<\/a> Sunday, Sept. 6. 12 p.m. $50. Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel<\/p>\n Dance Social with Danse Konpa<\/a> Tuesday, Sept. 8. 5:30 p.m. $10. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com<\/a><\/p>\n Fall Bouquet Workshop with The Roaming Petal Wednesday, Sept. 9. 6:30 p.m. $49.87. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg. theroamingpetal.com<\/a><\/p>\n Brims & Brews Hat Workshop Thursday, Sept. 10. 6 p.m. $85. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Heidi Kay Art Reception Thursday, Sept. 10. 2 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org<\/a><\/p>\n Loud In Fashion hosted by Imani Battle Thursday, Sept. 10. 7 p.m. $13.45 & up. Showbar, Ybor City<\/p>\n Bookish<\/p>\n Book Club Performance and Participation: \u2018Open Water\u201d by Caleb Azumah Nelson Thursday, Sept. 3. 6 p.m. $25 & up. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com<\/p>\n Bottom Feeders: An Evening with Arielle Hebert <\/a>Thursday, Sept. 3. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com<\/p>\n Deidra Duncan (book signing) Saturday, Sept. 5. 12 p.m. No cover with RSVP. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com<\/p>\n EC Book Club: \u2018Wake Now In The Fire\u2019 by by Jarrett Dapier and AJ Dungo Sunday, Sept. 6. 4:30 p.m. No cover. Emerald City Comics, Pinellas Park. emeraldcitycomics.com<\/p>\n Horror Book Club: \u2018Monstrillo\u2019 by Gerardo S\u00e1mano C\u00f3rdova Sunday, Sept. 6. 9 a.m. No cover to attend. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com\u00a0<\/p>\n Bodega Stories: An Evening with Amaris Castillo<\/a> Tuesday, Sept. 8. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n Book Bedazzling Tuesday, Sept. 8. 6 p.m. $25. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com<\/p>\n Book Discussion: \u2018The God of the Woods\u2019 by Liz Moore Tuesday, Sept. 8. 11 a.m. No cover. Lutz Branch Library, Lutz<\/p>\n OE Book Club: The Midnight Train Tuesday, Sept. 8. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Oxford Exchange, Hyde Park<\/p>\n Virtual Author Talks: Daniel Kraus Tuesday, Sept. 8. 7 p.m. No cover with registration. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin<\/p>\n Jono Miller \u2018The Palmetto Book\u2019 talk Wednesday, Sept. 9. 5 p.m. No cover. Wild Space Gallery at The Factory, St. Petersburg. floridawildlifecorridor.org<\/p>\n Vulture Gold: An Evening with Micah Dean Hicks<\/a> Wednesday, Sept. 9. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n Ales & Tales Book Club: \u2018The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America\u2019 by Kostya Kennedy Thursday, Sept. 10. 6 p.m. No cover. Stilt House Brewery, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org<\/p>\n Crime Travel Book Club: \u2018The Secret Dinner\u2019 by Raphael Montes Thursday, Sept. 10. 6:30 p.m. No cover to attend. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com<\/p>\n Comedy<\/p>\n April Macie Select times Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 3-6. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa<\/p>\n Jay Legend Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 3-5. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor<\/p>\n April Macie Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 3-6. 8 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday; 6 P.M. Sunday. $20 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa<\/p>\n Ginger Kelly Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-5. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach<\/p>\n Jake Polin Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-5. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater<\/p>\n Marcus D. Wiley Multiple times Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-5. $29. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa<\/p>\n Rio Paris Friday, Sept. 4. 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. $23.80. Side Spitters, Wesley Chapel<\/p>\n Tom Wise Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-5. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach<\/p>\n Nick Giasullo Saturday, Sept. 5. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $23.80. Side Spitters, Wesley Chapel<\/p>\n Kevin James Thornton Thursday, Sept. 10. 7 p.m. $37. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa<\/p>\n Josh Wolf Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 10-12. 7 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday. $29 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa<\/p>\n Renard Hirsch Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 10-12. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor<\/p>\n Film & TV<\/p>\n Be Kind, Rewind! An \u201980s Movie History Celebration with Hector Sotomayor<\/a> Thursday, Sept. 3. 1 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org<\/a><\/p>\n The Green Flash Anniversary Screening w\/Filmmaker Q&A Sunday, Sept. 6. 7 p.m. (doors 5:30 p.m.; AV performance 6 p.m.). $20. The Beach Theatre, St. Pete Beach<\/p>\n Screaming Cinema Series: Beast Mode Saturday, Sept. 5. 4 p.m. No cover. Xzanthia\u2019s Art Asylum Studio, Gulfport. tampabayscreams.com<\/p>\n The Green Flash Anniversary Screening w\/Filmmaker Q&A Sunday, Sept. 6. 7 p.m. (doors 5:30 p.m.; AV performance 6 p.m.). $20. The Beach Theatre, St. Pete Beach. thebeachtheatre.org<\/p>\n 37th Annual Queer Film Festival: Taste of TIGLFF Shorts Program Thursday, Sept. 10. 7 p.m. $12. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg. tiglff.com<\/p>\n Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster Documentary Thursday, Sept. 10. 6 p.m. No cover. Safety Harbor Public Library, Safety Harbor. safetyharborlibrary.org<\/p>\n Second Quarterly Micro Film Festival Thursday, Sept. 10. 7 p.m. $12.51. Russian American Club, Gulfport<\/p>\n Learn<\/p>\n St. Petersburg City Council: FY27 Budget Public Hearing No. 1 Thursday, Sept. 3. 6 p.m. No cover. City Hall Council Chambers, 175 5th St. N., St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Florida Air Museum Grand Re-Opening<\/a> Friday-Sunday, Sept. 4-9. 10 a.m. No cover. Florida Air Museum, Lakeland. floridaairmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\n Science After Dark<\/a> Friday, Sept. 4. 6 p.m. $35 & up. Mosi, Tampa. mosi.org<\/a><\/p>\n Stretching: The Somatic Way Friday, Sept. 4. 10:30 a.m. Waitlist open. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org<\/p>\n Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz Saturday, Sept. 5. 10 a.m.-noon. No cover. Raymond H. Neri Park, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Panel Discussion: Art, Conscience and the Public Square<\/a> Tuesday, Sept. 8. 6 p.m. No cover. Dal\u00ed Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org<\/a><\/p>\n Solar United Neighbors (SUN) \u2013 Switch Together Informational Session Wednesday, Sept. 9. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin<\/p>\n Revolutionary Impressions: Create Your Own Stamps Workshop<\/a> Thursday, Sept. 10. 6 p.m. $15. Dunedin History Museum, Dunedin. dunedinmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\n Markets & retail<\/p>\n Tabernacle Of Oddities: Tabernacle 2026 Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 5-6. $16-$66. The Cuban Club, Ybor City<\/p>\n Final Vinyl: Spin & Shop at Aspirations Winery with Kingfish Records<\/a> Thursday, Sept. 10. 6 p.m. No cover. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater<\/p>\n Pride<\/p>\n Attic Cat & Sun City Sapphics: Matchmaking Mixer Friday, Sept. 4. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Donation suggested. Corner Club, Seminole Heights\u00a0<\/p>\n DIY Movie Review Journal: TIGLFF Fundraiser Finale w\/Jumpsuit Giant Saturday, Sept. 5. 6-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Check @tiglff on Instagram<\/p>\n Lubor Day 2026: Queer Wrestling & Performances Monday, Sept. 7. 3-6 p.m. (wrestling 3:30 p.m.). $5-$15 suggested donation. 18+. Allendale United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n 37th Annual Queer Film Festival Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 10-13. Various times and prices. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Sports<\/p>\n Tampa Bay Sun Foundation Free Youth Soccer Clinics Various dates Aug. 7-Spring 2027. Free. Select locations across Tampa Bay<\/p>\n Tampa Tarpons vs. Dunedin Blue Jays<\/a> Select times Tuesday-Sunday, Sept. 1-6. $2.25 & up. George Steinbrenner Field, Tampa<\/p>\n Tampa Bay Rodeo & Family Festival Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-5. Gates 4:30 p.m.; rodeo 7:30 p.m. $25 & up. Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, Tampa. tamparodeo.com<\/p>\n South Florida Bulls Football vs. Florida International University Football<\/a> Saturday, Sept. 5. 7 p.m. $20 & up. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa<\/p>\n Springboks vs All Blacks watch party Saturday, Sept. 5. 11 a.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport<\/p>\n South Atlantic Pro Wrestling: Tangle In Tampa<\/a> Sunday, Sept. 6. 6 p.m. $20. Brass Mug, Tampa<\/p>\n Theater<\/p>\n Arsenic and Old Lace Select performances Sept. 3-13. $32.50 & up. Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton<\/p>\n Jobsite Theater: Penelope Select times and dates through Sunday, Sept. 6. $71.40 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa<\/p>\n Arsenic and Old Lace Select times and dates Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 3-20. $32.50. Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton<\/p>\n Eight O\u2019 Clock Theater: Come From Away Select times and dates Friday-Sunday, Sept. 4-13. $47. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo<\/p>\n Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> and [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> for details.\u00a0<\/p>\n