A Night with the How Bazar
Last month, on November 22nd, a large group of artists and creatives gathered in Ybor City for a night centered on music, art, and connection as The How Bazar, a staple of Gainesville’s artistic community, brought its Bazar À La Carte Florida Tour to a close in Tampa. Over the past several months, the collective has traveled across the state, spreading its message of building strong, interconnected creative communities in cities like Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville. The Tampa market unfolded across multiple rooms throughout Ybor City, each space offering its own distinct atmosphere while remaining united by the same energy—people socializing, taking photos, forming improvised dance floors, and sharing drinks as they moved from room to room.
Music played a central role in shaping the night’s momentum, with many attendees coming out to support the DJs and musicians who kept the market vibrant throughout the evening. Several DJs performed in two separate areas curated by Gulf Coast radio station Sector FM and DJ Mila Killa, creating a soundtrack that ranged from alternative reggae to traditional salsa and encouraged guests to dance while browsing the vendors. In one corner of the event, a neon pink room housed live musicians in a space as intimate as an old jazz club, where an open mic invited people from across the city to share personal stories—expressions of hardship, growth, and resilience shaped by life’s many trials.
Alongside the music, visual art anchored the experience. Tempus Projects, the Ybor City gallery hosting part of the event, presented work from a range of Tampa-based artists, some of whom had never publicly exhibited their work before. The group exhibition, Memories & Fortunes, curated by Cato Galen, explored themes of reflection and foresight, asking viewers to confront what they carry from the past while imagining the futures those memories shape. One standout piece was Animated (2025) by artist Mars, the largest work in the exhibition, featuring ceramic puzzle pieces that told a story of dysfunctional family dynamics and the complex bond between siblings. Other notable works included Cameron White’s untitled digital media pieces and Catherine Spirit’s The Word (2023), which greeted many attendees as they entered the gallery.
These works formed a backdrop for the market’s vendors, many of whom sold unique clothing, handmade jewelry, and fashion accessories. In one corner, local artist Jay Coachman live-painted Afrofuturist portraits as guests browsed racks of clothing, trays of jewelry, and even baked goods available for purchase. Adjacent to Tempus Projects and in conversation with the space’s ongoing exhibition Noodle Doodle, another room invited attendees to sit down and create art of their own—ranging from collage zines to friendship bracelets. The space was cohabitated by Attic Cat and St. Pete’s Queer Expression, two community-centered organizations dedicated to bringing people of different backgrounds together through creativity.
Though the market took place in Tampa, people traveled from across Florida to attend. The How Bazar’s Bazar À La Carte embraced creative expression in all its forms, from music and visual art to fashion and collecting, reinforcing the idea that events like this thrive on more than just sales and performances. The sense of belonging carried throughout the night, fostering new connections and reconnections among artists, creatives, and friends across Tampa Bay.
