The Tampa Theatre will host a special screening of "Nickel Boys" on March 22, followed by a discussion with filmmaker RaMell Ross, forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle and journalist Ben Montgomery.

Why it matters: The film adapts Colson Whitehead's award-winning novel, a fictional portrayal of the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, where students suffered horrific abuse for over a century.

• "Nickel Boys" had a limited theatrical run last year and was nominated this month for Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Zoom in: The film tells the story of Elwood Curtis, a Black teenager from Jim Crow-era Tallahassee, and his friend Turner as they navigate Nickel, an abusive reform school in Florida.

Flashback: The Tampa Bay Times series, "For Their Own Good," written by Montgomery and former Times reporter Waveney Ann Moore, inspired Whitehead's novel.

• For 109 years, Florida sent wayward boys from across the state to Dozier — and the series chronicled the men who survived the school and demanded acknowledgment, resolution and reparation.
• Dozier closed in 2011, and soon after, researchers from USF found the remains of children in unmarked graves at the school.

The big picture: Attendees will have the chance to hear from the filmmaker, along with the reporter and researcher who helped uncover the real story.

• The Florida Institute for Forensic Anthropology and Applied Science (IFAAS) at USF partnered with Orion Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios for the special screening.
• The event is free, and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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👋 Kathryn here. Maybe it's the perfect spring weather, or maybe I've just been watching too much "White Lotus," but all I want to do these days is sit outside sipping a fancy cocktail.

Why it matters: Perry's Porch, a swanky new restaurant on the St. Pete Pier, is a great venue for it.

Dig in: Like its name implies, this spot is all about the porch. The name and design are inspired by C. Perry Snell, a land developer from the early 1990s who built Snell Isle and was known to love a wraparound porch.

• It's the latest concept by Seed & Feed Hospitality, the restaurant group behind The Mandarin Hide, Trophy Fish and El Cap.

So of course, when I went to try it out recently with a friend, we grabbed a table outside.

The vibes were impeccable: breezy, lit golden from the setting sun, tucked away from the touristy bustle of the pier but still lively enough to feel that downtown energy.

• The cocktail menu featured homages to St. Pete, like the Pink Streets Margarita and the Strauberry Park.
• Just bring your wallet — they start at $14.

Best bites: The trufflekopita ($19) — a filo pastry with feta, honey and sesame — and the bucatini with bolognese ($25) were standouts.

Yes, but: And I cannot stress this enough: Skip the burger. It was overcooked and didn't appear to be hand-pattied, which, for the price point ($24), is yikes.

If you go: Grab coffee and pastries from 7-11am, lunch from 11am-4pm and dinner from 4pm-10pm (or 9pm on Sundays).

• Make a reservation here.

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🍽️ The Michelin Guide has recommended four new Tampa restaurants — Big Ray's Fish Camp, Cousin Vinny's Sandwich Co., Fisk and Mad Dogs & Englishmen — though diners will have to wait until April to see if any are bestowed with Bib Gourmand or star awards. (Michelin)

• While Pinellas County recently became eligible for awards and inclusion in the guide, no spots on that side of the bay made the cut.

The University of South Florida and the University of Tampa are among 60 colleges the Department of Education is investigating over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination. (Axios)

• "Antisemitism has no place in our society and will not be tolerated on our campuses," a USF spokesperson told the News Service of Florida.
• UT's probe stemmed from an incident between two students that took place before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, a spokesperson told the News Service. The issue was resolved through the student conduct process.

Waterfront reggae music and rollerskating are on the docket for this lovely spring weekend.

🎤 Catch a stacked lineup of musicians including Slightly Stoopid, Stephen Marley and Lettuce, plus art, food and more at the 10th annual Reggae Rise Up festival at Vinoy Park in St. Pete.

• The fest kicks off today and runs through Sunday. Buy tickets here.

🛼 Roller skate with a view at the Rockin' Roller Rink on the St. Pete Pier. The pop-up soft opens tonight and runs through April 13. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made here.

🦸 Dress up as your favorite hero or villain and head to the Countryside Recreation Center for Clearwater Comic Con. This free event from 10am-5pm Saturday will also feature food trucks, artists and activities.

🔮 Get your fortune told and shop more than 100 artists and crafters at the Oddities & Art Market from 11am-6pm Saturday at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

• Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased here. Proceeds benefit Access Art, a nonprofit that connects underprivileged youth to the arts.

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Tampa Bay homes spent a median of 52 days on the market before going under contract in December, data shows.

Why it matters: Earlier this year, U.S. houses were selling at the slowest pace since March 2020, Redfin reported.

The big picture: "Homes are taking a long time to sell largely because housing costs are so expensive — but for buyers who can afford it, there are a fair amount of homes to choose from," Redfin's Dana Anderson wrote in the report.