Honoring Yesterday, Creating Tomorrow

How one historic building in Ybor City was transformed into a forward-minded creative playground.


By Tyler Francischine

Photo by Kaylen Sifon/ @kaylensifon

A mother hen and her bevy of chicks lead the way along the brick-lined sidewalk of East Seventh Avenue to the doors of Tempus Projects. Below its stately façade, a hand-drawn chalk sign invites curious visitors inside. Once they climb the staircase to the second floor, deep bass and excited conversations fill the air. On the mic, someone calls out, “Everyone say, How Bazar!” The crowd pauses their exchanges to answer the call.

On November 22, How Bazar hosted the fourth stop of its Bazar À La Carte 2025 Florida tour in historic Ybor City, filling a century-old space with new ideas in the form of more than 30 artisan makers, a music lounge, an art and zine-making station, a mahjong lounge, visual art exhibitions, pottery workshops and more. Though the building’s worn, wooden floor had likely supported thousands of events over its long existence, it probably never acted as home base for a gathering quite like this.

Here was a group of folks who use their understanding of where they come from to create a different, better tomorrow — each using their unique gifts to light the way. No matter where you turned that night, an organizer or an artist was creating the future in real time, through sparking important dialogue, sharing their craft, or simply being. How exactly are the Tampa Bay area’s creative communities shaping a new tomorrow? Read on and find out.

Ayat Hasan. Photo by Emily Ward/ @mily_media

Honoring culture by nurturing curiosity

Not far from the entrance to Tempus Projects, dozens of vendor stalls displayed hand-made wares, art and baked goods for sale. Ayat Hasan, who creates art as Zeitoon Studio, covered her stall with prints and stickers featuring bold strokes of red, green, black and white, along with a few splashes of orange. When Ayat wasn’t speaking with attendees at her booth, she was strolling about the space taking in the scene, the keffiyeh tied around her waist swaying with each step she took. Ayat said her artistic creations are motivated by a deep-seated curiosity to learn more about the culture and people of her homeland, Palestine, which she hasn’t seen since she was 3 years old.

“I’m a naturally curious person, and I love nurturing my curiosity by exploring new environments, listening to what my community has to share and pushing myself forward to see how far I’m able to achieve a goal or spread a message,” said Ayat, whose artworks honor the rich history, strength and resilience of the Palestinian people.

“So much in Palestine is lost, and it feels true to me to research online and discover how my people cultivated culture within their land. Although the memories are distant, I live vicariously through the stories my community shares,” said Ayat, who organizes Arab-centered arts and culture events in Tampa through Ayoon Art House. “I miss my land, and I try to find parts of Palestine in my everyday life. The growing Palestinian community in Tampa enriches my soul, and it feels like we’re building a small part of Palestine in this city. The knowledge my community shares helps inform and guide me on what aspects to highlight in my artwork.”

Photo by Kaylen Sifon/ @kaylensifon

Inspiring vulnerability through illuminated artistry

Iridescent suncatchers and gleaming, sparkling jewelry pieces hung from every corner of the Sunshine at Midnight vendor booth, where Sheliza Bakhsh displayed her artistic creations for attendees. Sheliza is intentional in creating art that you can experience — she intimately understands the buoyant, jubilant feeling that her suncatchers conjure up when the sunlight hits them just right, and it’s an experience she’s eager to share with others. She’s also mindful of the darker, heavier feelings that inspire the need for artistic expression, and she’s unafraid to dive deeper into those experiences, too.

“As I started sharing my work with folks, I realized we were all sharing in the same experience. We were getting to connect on the stories behind the suncatchers, which are often inspired by my loved ones or big emotions I was going through, times when I needed the flow state and space of making art to help me process. They helped me share stories and feelings that were initially difficult to put into words,” said Sheliza, who launched her business as an art accessories line in 2020. “We were experiencing how beautiful vulnerability can be — together. Once people began connecting with the emotions behind the work, I felt so seen. It has given me so much hope, and I get to pour that back into my world.”

The name Sunshine at Midnight serves as a mantra for Sheliza, a salve that lifts her out of periods of rough mental health. No matter the difficult circumstances, Sheliza resolves to take her place in the sun, basking in its warmth. Her artistry is a reminder that from the darkest days come the brightest moments in life.

“Making art reminds me that making mistakes makes me human, not a bad person. And sometimes, it's just a sign of being new at something, or maybe just out of practice,” she said. “Either way, making mistakes means you're trying, and maybe they’re worth celebrating instead of feeling ashamed. I hope my work and my stories inspire folks to just try.”

Photo by The Hub 954/ @thehub954 

Encouraging artistic expression

Enter a small room with art-lined walls near the doors to Tempus Projects, and feel the hustle and bustle of the market area give way to a quiet hum of activity. Here, Tampa-based event organizer Kay Rose, also known as Attic Cat, led a zine station where guests created a variety of art while engaging in timely discussions.

One zine detailed all the reasons why cops are the worst; another art piece transformed old magazine pages into a house built for fairies. A riveting discussion uncovered the preservatives laden in American food, while another conversation explored women’s inequal experiences with the American justice system. Kay said the zine station and the event itself served as proof that Tampa’s creative communities are eager to sink their teeth into engaging opportunities for expression and collaboration, and Tempus Projects provided the perfect backdrop for this work.

“This was a really special moment, because I got to see direct evidence of the impact we’ve made in the community so far. It felt like a celebration of all the hard work so many of us have put in over the years to build a space for different communities to share, harness skills and connect with each other,” they said. “In places like Ybor, the history is so integral to the culture. Ybor has always been a place of community, created by working-class immigrants. Today, it’s still a community hub for nightlife and art. I think a beautiful way to honor this history is to create more spaces that encourage collaborative action.”

Photo by Jay Winters/ @jaydot_png

Germinating new ideas by telling visual stories

At Tempus Projects, you’d be hard-pressed to find a corner of the space lacking in paintings, photographs and other artworks, but there was one area that bloomed in new life for one night only. St. Pete-based creative multihyphenate Cato Galen gathered the work of 17 mostly up-and-coming Tampa Bay artists for “Memories and Fortunes,” an exhibition that asked artists to consider the challenges they’ve faced and the bright futures that await them.

“I thought about a theme that was reflective of some of the difficulty that so many of us have been facing lately but also provides some levity, encouragement and optimism to move forward,” said Cato, who serves as a docent specialist at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. “We need the art to do both things: the catharsis, release and shared burden of grief, but also, we need to celebrate together.”

Pieces included “The Irreplaceable Human Soul” by Abbey Miller, a reflection on the nuances of human experience that AI could never recreate, and an untitled work by Diana Wangly that invited viewers closer with its woven textures. Cato said the exhibition and the night’s events gave new life to an old environment, mirroring the transformative process of creation itself.

“Consider pollen and seeds. Like these natural substances, we need art and creativity to spread far and wide to keep things growing and fruiting. Sometimes, people want to see only the esteemed artists, but you have to create an environment that facilitates that artistic growth. You don’t collect butterflies for a garden; you grow the garden of native plants, and the butterflies come,” they said. “Using historic buildings, and nurturing and reinvigorating existing spaces, is how we create and foster that growth and prevent more of the world being paved over and minimized for efficiency.”

Photo by Jay Winters/ @jaydot_png

Introducing audiences to their new favorite artists

Navigating down a winding hallway rewarded guests when they happened upon the Twenty-Four Collective Music Lounge, an intimate space where Tampa area musicians, poets and spoken-word artists shared their talents during an open mic session and a local artist showcase. When Chill The Freeman performed his set of poetry, he took the audience by surprise — he began his first piece from the back of the room, and as he slowly walked toward the microphone, all eyes were on him as he condensed the energy of the space into one focused stream.

Mars Glenn, founder of Twenty-Four Collective Events and curator of the music lounge, has been curating events for over a decade with aims of creating safe spaces for creatives to collaborate, experiment and grow. By combining top-level production with authentic, homegrown talent, Mars hopes that audiences walk in expecting one thing and leaving full of new discoveries and inspiration. She said the music lounge at Bazar À La Carte achieved her goals in unforgettable ways.

“The artists were thrilled, and the intimacy of the setting made the energy electric. Standing-room-only vibes are my favorite — it forces connection. The exchange between performers and the crowd was beautiful. Everyone feeding off each other’s energy created a moment that felt intentional, communal and alive,” she said. “The event was a glimpse of what Tampa could be if we collaborated more often. Seeing so many creatives in one space — so much talent, love and energy — was mind-blowing. There were so many moments happening at once, and witnessing it all was incredible.”

Jacob Chang, center. Photo by Kaylen Sifon/ @kaylensifon

Making space for play

Across the hall from the music lounge, a cozy, low-lit room contained a handful of tables covered in green felt. Atop each table sat sets of white tiles, along with a couple dice. Jacob Chang, founder of Tampa’s Red-Eye Mahjong, had transformed the space into a mahjong lounge, welcoming newcomers and experienced players alike for rounds of the popular Chinese game combining strategy, skill and luck. What began as a weekly get-together in Jacob’s friend’s apartment became a trending public series, and these days, Red-Eye Mahjong serves as a vehicle for Jacob to share his belief in the mystical power of mahjong, a game that simultaneously encourages introspection and interconnection.

“My passion for playing turned into a passion for teaching and bringing people together. Nothing brings me more joy than watching the game click for someone. It’s such a special experience that keeps me motivated to keep going,” Jacob said. “Mahjong, although typically played in Asian diaspora communities, is truly a global game. Considering that you need four people to play, the inherently social nature of the game literally brings people together. Thanks to the diversity and culture here in Tampa, it’s been awesome to see people of all colors and creeds come together to play this game.”

Luis Morales, far right. Photo by Kaylen Sifon/ @kaylensifon

Nourishing bodies with healthy foods

In between a set of picturesque balconies, not far from where a DJ was bumping uptempo rhythms, Luis Morales served vegan meals with his pop-up project, R&Vegan, alongside fellow Tampa-based collaborators My Hungry Vegan and The Sea Moss Goat. For Luis, R&Vegan encompasses more than just introducing folks to vegan specialties; it’s about providing space for community to gather in the name of quality music and nourishing food. Good music, good food and good people is the best combination out there, he said, noting that Bazar À La Carte contained all those elements, plus one more: a historic environment that invited reflection and presence.

“There’s something about being surrounded by history that naturally shifts the way people show up. As a Tampa local, I’ve always felt that our historic spaces hold a kind of quiet memory — layers of stories, artists and communities that came before us,” Luis said. “When we step into a place like Tempus Projects, we’re not just gathering; we’re stepping into continuity.”

Photo by Jay Winters/ @Jaydot_png

Sharing skills and a love for the work

Strands of twinkling lights lent a warm glow to a small balcony near the back of Tempus Projects, where guests tried their hand at creating clay pottery in a series of pottery wheel workshops led by Wren Neil of Wren’s Mud Works. Wren, who has been making pottery since she was in high school, said her aim is to introduce more people to the joys of crafting with clay, and the collaborative, creative atmosphere at Bazar À La Carte provided her with the opportunity to do just that.

“Just stepping into Tempus Projects, I was overwhelmed by the mass of creativity that flowed out of the space. There were so many artists and creatives in one spot, surrounded by a beautiful building that felt so personal and cozy,” Wren said. “It's very important to keep the innovative thoughts moving. In a more intimate setting where everyone is in very close quarters, it allows vendors and patrons to talk and share ideas.”

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