Week of 10/6/2025

This week, visual gags are all the rage on The Shapes, I announce a lineup of markets I have this Halloween season, and review Bill Roundy's bar review series Bar Scrawl on Sammy the Critic.

The Shapes

Clairvoyant Kathy

Unhip to be Square

News

Events

The first two events of October were disappointingly slow, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of the month.

Spooky Island Market/Daydream Market

Today I’ll be at two St. Pete markets back-to-back! First, it’s Spooky Island at Ritual Grounds from noon to 5 and Daydream Art Market afterward from 5-9. Admission to Spooky Island costs $7.18.

Groovehive Market

Get your groove on next Saturday night and get down to the spooky spirit at La Femme Institute from 5-9 PM for Groovehive Market!

Dharma Art Market

Kava/kratom bars are more your scene? Then head on out to the Dharma Kava Lounge on October 21 from 7-11 PM for their Halloween market.

Coffin Collective Market

Finally (for now), there’s Coffin Collective at the Skatepark of Tampa from 6-11 PM, featuring death metal live music. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Sammy the Critic

Bar Scrawl Review

Think up any niche subject or subculture, and there’s most likely a minicomic that exists for it. Brooklyn cartoonist Bill Roundy is a testament to that statement with his Bar Scrawl series. A clear play on words with “bar crawl,” Roundy takes on the role of tour guide for his readers in each issue, highlighting his favorite bars/breweries and eateries in New York City, generally themed by neighborhood, such as Industry City, Park Slope, Caroll Gardens, etc.

As someone who loves writing about urban activities/attractions and going on bar crawls, particularly when visiting other cities, these comics were right up my alley! Since they’re the graphic equivalent of the food & drink review column of a newspaper/magazine, the series will be more of interest to NYC locals and perhaps tourists. Outsiders can still appreciate Roundy’s presentation style, however.

You can buy issues of Bar Scrawl on Bill Roundy’s website.