Slime green word salad. Viral TikTok dances. McLain’s brat-cha. Your Gen Z + Millennial relatives calling you “so brat.”
It’s been a “brat summer” whether you knew it or not, so we’re here to explain what it means and how to get in on the fun before flannels and pumpkin spice lattes take over in a few months.
Released on June 7, British singer Charli XCX’s album “brat” debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. Its 15 tracks examine existential topics like womanhood, family, and insecurity — all with an electric veneer of dance pop partying. In essence, to be a “brat” is to be yourself, flaws and all, while still having fun.
Now that you’re caught up on the lingo, here are three spots to live out your very own “brat summer” in the Tampa Bay area:
Wendy’s Closet on Central | Grand Central District, St. Pete
Part of “brat summer” is dressing the part. Think: sporty sunglasses (even inside), cropped graphic tees, Von Dutch hats, and neon green threads. Lucky for you, Tampa Bay is full to the brim of thrift stores, flea markets, and resale options.
Lowry Parcade | Lowry Park, Tampa
This quirky bar combines retro arcade games with a selection of local craft beers, ciders, and wines. Unleash your inner brat at Nerdy-Oke (aka karaoke) hosted on Thursdays. There’s no shortage of karaoke spots in TBAY.
Keel Farms | Plant City
Apple-picking options are sparse in the Tampa Bay area, but strawberries + blueberries are up for grabs at local U-Pick farms. Make it “brat” by practicing the viral “Apple” TikTok dance when you go.
Need us to put another pop culture phenomenon in TBAY terms? Drop us a line and we’ll share our findings in a future newsletter. Bye, bye, brats.
