Aziz Ansari
Before his much-anticipated March 16 shows at the Mahaffey Theater, comic Aziz Ansari checked out Bananas Music, the world's largest vinyl retailer. Bananas Vinyl Warehouse in Florida. Amazing spot, wrote @azizansari. He later tweeted a pic of his vinyl haul, which included some surprisingly avant garde jazz and rock — Donald Byrd, Z.Z. Hill, the Mothers of Invention and Alexis Korner.
MILEY CYRUS
Ah, yes, young Miley. #f---yeahtampa yasss that's a bruise on my arssss, @mileycyrus wrote on March 19, a day before her concert at the then-named Tampa Bay Times Forum. She didn't specify her location, although that pink building in the background looks a heck of a lot like the Don CeSar. At last check, the viral photo has garnered 725,017 likes.
Haim
Alana Haim wasn't the only celebrity to visit Hogan's Beach during a trip through Tampa Bay, but she might be the coolest. The keyboardist and youngest sister in the Grammy-nominated indie rock trio Haim posted this pic after her band's gig at the Big Guava Music Festival in May. Spring break 99' drinking hogans punch nbd, wrote @babyhaim. No big deal, indeed.
HANNIBAL BURESS
Comedian Grant Cotter is far from a household name, but he performed alongside plenty of them (Louis C.K., Chris Hardwick) at the Oddball Comedy and Curisoity Festival on Aug. 8 at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. That's where he captured this incredible pic of Hannibal Buress doing stand-up in a lightning storm. NOTHING STOPS HANNIBAL, wrote @grantcotter. @hannibalburess later reposted Cotter's pic, adding, Lightning tried to show up and ruin my set in Tampa but I powered through.
Dick Vitale
In 2014, Dickie V went semi-viral for his tendency to live-tweet Tampa Bay's softest soft-rock spectaculars, from Billy Joel to Barry Manilow. The Sarasota resident got to go backstage at Lionel Richie's July 14 concert at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, where he met Richie and opening act CeeLo Green. Backstage with @CeLoGreen& his ladies as they open 4 @LionelRichie in Tampa, wrote @dickiev_espn.
TORI AMOS
Sometimes, celebrities have to work on their birthday. That was the case for singer-songwriter Tori Amos, who celebrated turning 51 with an Aug. 22 concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. In addition to photos of her backstage decorations and "new birthday shoes," she (or, more accurately, whoever was handling her account) sent out this photo from the end of the show, when daughter Natashya came out to surprise her with a cake. Here's a photo from the on stage surprise Tori just received for her birthday tonight in Clearwater Florida! wrote @toriamos.
Jenna Elfman
Actress Jenna Elfman spent a little family time in Tampa Bay this summer. On Aug. 16, she went to 3 Daughters Brewing for a charity concert by The Wilson Van, a classic rock cover band featuring St. Pete's famed Wilson brothers: fellow actor Patrick, news anchor Mark and marketing pro Paul, who handled lead vocals (and choreography) in this shot. Yup, @paulbwilson67 can kick! wrote @jennaelfman.
Planning your weekend?
Subscribe to our free Top 5 things to do newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your optionsWayne Coyne
This pic was snapped in Tennessee, not Tampa, but it's too good not to share. St. Pete singer-songwriter Mark Etherington, aka Mountain Holler, volunteered to work this year's Bonnaroo Music Festival and was spraying down a potentially overheated crowd when Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne dropped by to help out. So, this happened yesterday, wrote @mountainholler. Wayne Coyne came and hungout and helped me and @roke3028 spray the kids with water. Take care of each other!! Coyne (@waynecoyne5) regrammed Etherington's pic with the caption: Me having to fight off a drugged crazed hippie !!!! F---!! Ha ha juz kiddin thanks @mountainholler for the cool pic!!!