Poetically Correct
Celebrate National Poetry Month with YellowJacket Press
Michael Foley talks about the Florida Dance Festival
, a landmark dance event, is about to storm the Tampa Bay area starting June 16th. Top contemporary professional dancers and choreographers from major cities throughout the country will present and teach at Florida Dance Festival’s 10-day intensive training workshop that attracts serious dance students with professional aspirations from across the state, as well as…
Just plain cheesy: Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month with this tasty sandwich (recipe)
Grilled cheese sandwiches are comforting and nostalgic. Biting down on crisped bread, hearing the crunch before the toast starts to dissolve on our tongue and pulling a bite away to have strings of melted cheese stretch toward our lips make this a favorite comfort food for many. April is National Grilled Cheese Month: an entire…
What exactly constitutes “Eco-Travel” or “Eco-Tourism”?
Courtesy of: EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What exactly constitutes "Eco-Travel" or "Eco-Tourism"? —Jeannette Peclet, Norwalk, CT While tour operators and travel agents around the world may tout their trips as "eco-tours," environmentally conscious travelers take a variety of considerations into account when determining whether or not any given excursion qualifies as…
CL on the Road story: The second annual Hangout Music Fest brings Paul Simon, My Morning Jacket, Ween, and many others to Gulf Shores, Alabama
Looming warm and bright in my concert-going horizon like a perfect storm of great times waiting to happen is the second annual Hangout Music Fest, a three-day event that ushers in the summer with tasty live music right on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. [Photo credit: Dave Vann.] For me, the lineup alone…
Concert review: Dr. Dog at State Theatre, St. Petersburg (with setlist & photo)
Record Store Day is by far, my favorite of the consumer-based holidays. Its premise — that one day of the year, we are reminded of the importance of indie music retailers and the timeless element of music through a return to the tangible quality of vinyl — is in direct opposition to what our instant…
The British is coming
Emmy Award-winner John Oliver's spry sass and eloquent delivery have attracted him a fan base that reaches way beyond the usual stable of basic-cable junkies. The charmingly gleeful critic of society shares his singular wry style with Tampa Bay audiences on Fri., Oct. 21, at the Straz. Oliver as been a writer and correspondent on Comedy…
Tampa Chillounge Night brings the party to Downtown Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park
Saturday, April 16, the 2nd Annual Tampa Chillounge Night brought a night of live entertainment, socializing and fashion to the grounds of Curtis Hixon Park. The party was decorated with South Beach resort-style furniture for guests to mingle and chat. Food vendors and cash bars were located throughout the crowds to provide the party with…
Live review: Coheed & Cambria at Jannus, St. Petersburg (with photos)
For a band so well versed in producing stadium-shaking epics, Coheed and Cambria’s show at Jannus Live on Friday was a respectable but somewhat epic-free effort. [All photos by Mike Wilson.] This was largely conscious on their part. To commemorate their 10th anniversary, Coheed is playing a tour of unique sets, wherein they deliver a…
Rick Scott’s reluctance to litigate against Transocean enrages some Florida Democrats
Today of course marks the one year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon/Anaconda oil spill, which brings back stories of the crises from a year ago, which is still enduring in terms of the litigation involved with trying to make things whole for the people who suffered last year along the Gulf Coast. As we referred…
Armijo hints at litigation in the wake of his firing as HART CEO
Although he had been put on the equivalent of a month's paid suspension for accusations by employees of conflicts of interest, favoritism of hiring and taking improper vacation time, the St. Pete Times reports this morning that a huge factor in the HART board of directors voting 7-4 Monday night to terminate CEO David Armijo…
David Armijo not going away quietly in the wake of his ouster at HART; Rick Scott’s refusing to sue Transocean alienates some Florida Democrats, and Mel Martinez joins Barack Obama at the White House to talk immigration policy: Mitch Perry Report 4.20.11
Good morning everybody. We're happy to be back in our regular place after taking off for a long weekend to Southern California, where we attended perhaps the music festival in the U.S. – well, at least if you're an indie rock fan – that being the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, just a few…
Tampa Bay food and drink events
Check out our Easter Dining Guide for a list of local restaurants serving all-you-can-eat buffets and special menus this Sunday. Thursday, April 21: ABC Fine Wine and Spirits – St. Pete Another installment of ABC’s tastings which feature over 50 wine selections from around the globe and cigars. Each guest receives a souvenir wine glass…
When planning a wedding, someone will call you a bridezilla. Don’t burn them with your fire breath
As a little girl, planning a wedding is a game. It's something fun you do with your friends then forget about when your mom calls you down for dinner. Even as a teen it can be fun to flip through bridal magazines in waiting rooms and dream about your perfect wedding. Unfortunately when planning a…
Do It Today: The return of Movies That Move! and Happy 4/20 with a Grateful Dead flick
A big, hearty and warm welcome back to cine-maven Margaret Murray and her roving outdoor cinema, Movies That Move! What better way to relaunch the beloved series than with a trip back to "Moon River." Breakfast at Tiffany's, the inaugural outdoor presentation of the new Movies on the Green at freeFall Theater, is the idyllic, iconic Audrey Hepburn film…
CL on the Road story: The 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival returns with a focus on the city’s Haitian influences
Story by guest writer Cynthia Mulligan. “N’awlins” is synonymous with cool music, great eats and guaranteed good times. The colorful city is steeped in Franco-Caribbean traditions – the food, the vernacular, the sights and sounds of Creole – but this year’s venerable New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival focuses on its deeply-rooted Haitian influence, which…
Dining out on Easter? Stuff yourself silly with these special brunches and buffets in Tampa Bay
Instead of eating yourself sick on chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks and colorful hard-boiled eggs, here’s a list of places around Tampa Bay that will be offering special menus and/or all-you-can-eat brunch buffets. And let me impart some restaurant wisdom on you: make reservations ahead of time. BELLA BRAVA 204 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-895-5515,…
Spoiler Corner: Glee, Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, and more!
Curious about your favorite shows? Is someone dying? If your favorite couple getting engaged? Hook-ups? Break-ups? Well, here you will find the answers to your burning questions! Enjoy, television lovers! Glee Gleeks, the time has finally come and Glee is returning TONIGHT and although the wait was painful it will now all be worth it. Holly…
Candlelight vigil commemorating the one-year anniversary of the BP oil spill disaster: Wed., April 20
Join the Gulf Restoration Network and Sierra Club on the one-year anniversary of the BP Oil Spill Disaster for a candlelight vigil to remember the lives lost and the horrific damage done to our beautiful coasts, sea life and coastal economies. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 20 — exactly one year since…
Concert review: Smooth sailing with Boz Scaggs at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Often referred to as a vast wasteland of throwaway pop , excessive prog rock and bland soft rock, 1970's radio boasted a few bright spots throughout the decade. The true beauty of the airwaves in that maligned time period was how blurred the lines that separated the genres were. It wasn't uncommon to turn on…
New Music out this week
Gorillaz, Tune-Yards, Superchunk, Lenka, Pee Wee Ellis & more! (with lots of video)
Yummy House prepares to open a new location in Tampa
A seemingly modest restaurant in Carrollwood is having to expand by popular demand. Yummy House is described as “an instant hit” by tampabay.com, and Creative Loafing’s own Brian Ries raved about it in 2007, describing it as a “juggernaut” of Hong Kong cuisine. Yummy House’s owner , John Zhao, finally had to admit, “I have…
How to properly dispose of prosthetic limbs, sex toys and more unusual items
When going through the routine of spring cleaning this season, you're very likely to come across some items that you don't want to end up in a landfill, definitely won't reuse, but also wouldn't necessarily give away to charity. (I don't think the Salvation Army accepts worn out bras or used dentures.) But fear not,…
HART fires CEO David Armijo after whistleblower accusations surface
After weeks of investigations and more than four hours of deliberation, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority board made a majority decision to terminate HART’s CEO David Armijo after allegations of internal conflicts regarding employees. Current interim Philip Hale will take over operations until a new CEO is appointed. During the meeting, Armijo was questioned…
Spend Easter with Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino wine
Do you realize it is Easter time already? Where has the time gone? That question always ages you. No one under the age of 12 wonders where the time has gone. Instead, he or she is waiting in anticipating of the future like the next school vacation. Now you too can feel youthful again with…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Mo-Joe, Bucs go Euro and a Boston uh-oh
Bi*po*lar (by-poh-ler) – adj 1. Having or characterized by two opposed opinions, natures, etc. 2. Suffering from bipolar manic-depressive disorder 3. 2011 Tampa Bay Rays Two weeks ago the Rays were swinging bats like a blindfolded Ralph Wiggim on a pinata with one hand up his nose after a pixie-stix and Nyquil bender (I'll give…
Do It Today: Spamalot, Upright Citizens Brigade and the Female Indiana Jones at National Geographic Live!
Spamalot returns to the bay area for another ribald run. The play won a 2005 Tony for best musical and offers a fun revamp of the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It includes some of Monty Python's most famous songs and sight gags — flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and more.…
Believe it: Rays, Price blank ChiSox 5-0
Fans forgoing the Tampa Bay Rays game in favor of seeing the Tampa Bay Lightning lose at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins may have gotten to witness playoff hockey’s return to Tampa, but they missed a hell of a baseball game against the visiting Chicago White Sox. The 12,016 in attendance were treated to a…
Lightning battle back, still fall to Penguins 3-2
Just like that, the Penguins answered right back. After a game two thrashing of Pittsburgh, the Tampa Bay Lightning took to the ice in front of a raucous crowd at the St. Pete Times Forum on Monday night, hoping to grab the lead in the series and hold on to the home ice they had…
The Rays Report: Team turnaround in post-Manny era
What a difference a week makes, baseball fans. They say time heals all wounds but the Tampa Bay Rays had a pretty speedy recovery from having their Manny-hood removed (too much?). It was more of an outpatient procedure; Band-aid on, you’re all set, go get ‘em team. “A great player retired, but I believe it…
EVOS is giving out free milkshakes on Earth Day: Friday, April 22
Earth Day is upon us once again, a day to celebrate Mother Earth and to highlight ways to improve our planet. It's also the day synonymous with getting free milkshakes at EVOS. That's right, every EVOS location in the Tampa Bay area is handing out free organic milkshakes with no purchase necessary. Patrons can choose…
Skyball League seeks a team of eight with Tampa contestants
A brand new reality sports show in the works is rolling into Tampa. Sought are co-ed ballers for the Fox Sports summer series Skyball League. Eight contestants between the ages of 18 to 40 will be chosen to represent Tampa in the Sky Ball League Tournament of Champions while competing for a cash prize. The…
Concert review: Iron Maiden rocks the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa (with setlist and photos included!)
"Scream for me, Tampa!" may be the greatest four-word sentence in the human language, according to the 12,000 voracious souls who filled the St. Pete Times Forum last night. Bay area Iron Maiden fans waited almost 23 years to hear frontman Bruce Dickinson name our city at the end of his trademark request. As a…
Is U.S. air quality on the mend?
Courtesy of: EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is air quality in the United States improving or getting worse? Is it cleaner in some parts of the country than in others? — K. Gould, Sherman Oaks, CA Air quality across the United States has improved dramatically since 1970 when Congress passed the Clean…
#MusicMonday, Vol. 35: Sleepy Vikings, Maritime, Rolling Stones, Record Store Day vinyl, and more! (with audio & video)
The CL Music Team kicks off some jams to rocket launch us into the work week! Here’s what we’re spinning now, with a few extra treats and some input from a local (soon to be featured) band; to check out previous entries, click here. – Sleepy Vikings, They Will Find You Here (forthcoming, May 10,…
Alex Elman proves that one doesn’t need all five senses to make great organic wines
These days it seems wines with critters on the labels are proliferating like, well, critters. It's too bad the wine in most of these bottles tastes like it was made in the bladder of the animal on the label. This is definitely not the case with the wines of Alex Elman, whose seeing-eye dog (she's…
11 signs your lover is lying
Some evolutionary psychologists believe that our capacity for speech was developed as a tool of persuasion as opposed to a mechanism for relaying the truth. That is, we learned to talk as a way to convince others to do and think what we want. If we merely needed to communicate facts, a rudimentary system of…
Concert review: The Beach Boys bring an evening of nostalgia to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater
Friday April 15th, The Beach Boys stopped at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall to indulge their many fans in a blast from the past. Although The Beach Boys have made many transitions with and without their founding members, and had many proclaimed “come-backs,” Friday’s lineup included, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, John Cowsill, Tim Bonhomme, Randell Kirsch,…
Tampa Bay area fresh markets guide
Here’s your guide to finding the freshest, locally produced foods and goods (and an all-around good time) at weekly fresh markets in the Bay Area. Some of them are open year-round, while others are closing with the onset of the warmer weather — make sure to visit before they close for the summer season! COREY…
Theater Review: Rent at American Stage in the Park
I admire Rent more than I like it. I admire Jonathan Larson’s idea of translating Puccini’s La Bohème into a turn-of-the-millennium New York rock opera, in which AIDS and not TB is the disease stalking everyone, and gays, lesbians and cross-dressers surround the central hetero relationship. I admire Eric Davis’ staging of the musical, which…
Do It Today: DigiMazing and photography at USF, Yanni (!) and A Day to Remember at Jannus
A first for the USF facility since opening in 1984, the gallery presents DigiMazing, an entire exhibition focused on the medium of video art. The collaborative exhibition transforms the gallery space into a techno dreamscape through the use of televisions, projectors, computers, videos and audio. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to…
Can’t win ‘em all: Rays fall to Twins 4-2
Sunday greeted the Bay area and the Tampa Bay Rays with the prospect of sweeping the visiting Minnesota Twins just a week removed from the opening-week funk. Well that didn't happen, to the dismay of the 22,426 fans at Tropicana Field, but the team played well in defeat. "We really hit the ball well today,"…
The Green Community week in review: Chef Ferrell Alvarez believes in sourcing local ingredients, toxic cleaning products, how to spot truly “organic” food and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: New book raises awareness about recycling in Florida Public Schools. Local author Stephanie Armenia wants to raise awareness about recycling in Florida public schools. She has designed an exciting new outreach to encourage the habit…
Walk-off 2.0: Rays stay alive with consecutive win no. 5
Another game, another late comeback, another win with another Johnny Damon walk-off. The Tampa Bay Rays are riding a wave of solid pitching and hot hitting, capturing their fifth consecutive win – and sixth in the last eight games – Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Trailing for most of the outing, they…
College students shouldn’t hold their breath for summer Pell grants
While the battle over the budget rages on in Washington, summer classes at the University of South Florida are slated to begin May 16. With only a month until another semester begins for many, financial aide counselors are advising students not to count on federal Pell grants to come through for this summer session. The…
Hot-hitting Rays top Twins 5-2
In honor of Jackie Robinson Day, the Tampa Bay Rays and visiting Minnesota Twins all wore no. 42 in Friday night’s game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Number 42 had a hell of a game for Tampa Bay, scoring five runs on 13 hits and recording all 27 outs defensively. While it was very…
Lightning beat Fleury early and often, crush Penguins to even series
Despite all the hype surrounding him after game one, the Tampa Bay Lightning proved that Marc-Andre Fleury is in fact human Friday night. The Bolts got that crucial first goal against Fluery early in game one, and then they got several more on their way to a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, tying the…
Ask Dream Momma: A white batmobile tells a story
“Dear Dream Momma, My dream started with me and another person who I can’t identify looking out the kitchen window of my grandfather’s house. We are looking at an ocean shoreline even though in real life his house doesn’t have an ocean view. Through the window…
Soave for spring: Veni, vidi, vino from the Veneto
Spring has finally arrived and paradise is found! It’s no time to retreat inside; it’s time to rekindle the romance with the outdoors. Embrace the fresh air, the grass under your feet and even the pollen, which has its place in stirring our passions for the season. As the weather warms up, we turn to…
Must-click links for April 15, 2011
The 2011 Cannes Film festival lineup has been announced, and it's fantastic!! I swear this is not an Onion story: Worried M. Night Shyamalan fans raise money for the director to return to film school. This whole J. Crew catalog gender identity thing is one of the strangest controversies I can remember. New York Times Paul Krugman:…
EarthTalk: Getting rid of fast-spreading invasive reed species without chemicals
Courtesy of: EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: We have an invasion of phragmites in the wetlands bordering our neighborhood. I understand they are a non-native plant that, if left unchecked, will overrun the whole ecosystem. How does one remedy this situation in an eco-friendly way? — Jeff Willets, via e-mail Fast-growing, fast-spreading…
How to make homemade mayonnaise that beats the name brands
It all started with a BLT sandwich. Using my skills as a famous food writer, I planned to deftly combine these three simple elements into a masterpiece of sandwich perfection. The stage was set: Tomato was sliced, bacon was sizzling, lettuce — well there was no lettuce because who cares about the lettuce anyway. The…
Film Review: Your Highness
Although the medieval storyline had me doubting the script, I came into Your Highness with high expectations due to the presence of Danny McBride. Unfortunately, Your Highness focuses mostly on violent action scenes and special effects, with McBride working as comic relief. Yes, he delivers — but he can't save this film on his own.…
Fix Gun Checks Campaign comes to Florida
Kenneth Quinnell is the founder and executive director of the Florida Progressive Coalition. I think I've mentioned this a time or two before, but the main reason that I got into online politics and blogging in the first place was Columbine. Like most Americans, I was horrified when it happened, but I thought to myself,…
USF Student says he’ll engage in 24 hours of speech to incite President Obama to visit Tampa
Saying they're concerned about proposed budgets cut to higher education and anti-illegal immigration legislation in Florida, a group of USF students say they intend on breaking a record for the longest political speech combined ever – at 78 hours – with Student Body president Cesar Hernandez alone attempting to speak for 24 hours consecutively -…
Getting married in Vegas: a haven for the traditionally nontraditional
Las Vegas is a mirage, a city founded on the idea of turning your fantasies into realities—-for a price. How else could an oasis in the middle of the desert explode into one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world except by offering relaxed laws when it comes to entertaining your every vice.…
Damon weighs in: 10th inning homer wins vs. Twins
Who would have thought a week ago, with the Rays having lost the first six games of the 2011 season, that they’d hear the words “winning” at all, much less in the same sentence as “streak”? Clearly the Rays knew they had it in them and brought it out Thursday night at Tropicana Field for…
Do It This Weekend: Iron Maiden, Art After Dark, Chillounge, Brian Posehn, Festa Italiana, Mainsail and more
People are all gaga over some pop diva's sold-out concerts this weekend, but the real music event in a "Sea of Madness" is Iron Maiden. British heavy metal gods Iron Maiden return to Tampa for the first time since 1988, making good on a promise to return to Florida after their triumphant 2009 set in…
10/100/1000 Awards: Networking, big ideas and… Swings!
Last night, more than 100 dreamers and doers gathered at CL Space to find out who won Creative Loafing/Creative Tampa Bay's 10/100/1000 Challenge. The room was abuzz with creative (of course) energy, starting with something we called a Pitch Party, in which anyone with an idea got two minutes to sell it to one of…
Top Chef Podcast – Masters Ep. 2: Retro revisions
Last night on Top Chef Masters: We viewers got a nice surprise when we found out that Hugh Acheson was back to to compete in the show, but were sad to find out that it was because John Sedlar had to leave the show for personal reasons. I am happy that Hugh's wit and talent…
Composting 101 with Rick Martinez at Sweetwater Organic Farm: Sunday, April 17
Composting: It's not just about throwing your kitchen scraps into a pile of dirt. Join Sweetwater Organic Farm's Rick Martinez and Nathan Wax from Mother’s Organics Humus Farm, this Sunday to learn the about the ins and outs of composting. Rick and Nathan will share their combined knowledge and teach you all you’ve ever wanted…
Amphitheatre Part Trois: Ybor event and concert venue re-opens
Partiers and VIPs enjoy music and the 30 foot revolving dance floor in the newly re-opened Amphitheatre in Ybor City. The Amphitheatre in Ybor city is up and partying … again. It was first opened at its address at 1609 E. Seventh Ave. as the Amphitheatre in 1998 but closed in 2007 as large crowds…
Ybor Aficionado Days 2011: Tasting Ybor’s Tapas Trail and crowning the Tapas Challenge winner
I finally got my tapas. I was excited to attend Ybor Aficionado Days this year and explore the Tapas Trail set up for the event. The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce created a fun concept perfectly suited for Ybor City during the Ybor Aficionado Days this year: A fleet of Chevys were available to whisk…
Enjoy Live Music and Dancing This Friday at The Studio@620’s Studio Lounge
Don your fedoras, suspenders, stockings, beads, feathers, hats and canes, because this Friday marks the first monthly Studio Lounge at St. Pete's The Studio@620. The night channels a speakeasy vibe and will be full of live music, heavy dancing and of course, libations. The internationally acclaimed Sharon Scott (pictured right) is the night's host, and…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Oil spill memorial, raw food fair, Eco Expo and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Fridays: 8 am-1 pm, Saturdays: 9 am-2 pm (through April). Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green…
Another Florida poll shows Obama underwater – and Rick Scott extremely unpopular
There have been a slew of polls released lately about Florida politicos, but the latest, from Suffolk University in Boston of 600 Florida registered voters, has plenty for political enthusiasts to chew on, Let's look at Florida's presidential primary, which up until now the state's leaders have arrogantly considered holding next January (though apparently saner…
Rick Baker talks about The Seamless City – Part II
On Wednesday we published on this blog the first part of our interview with former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, upon the publication of his new book The Seamless City: A Conservative Mayor's Approach to Urban Revitalization that Could Work Anywhere. We pick up the pace by asking Baker about what he called one of…
Obama responds to Ryan – and according to polls, the public is buying what he’s selling
Ronald Reagan raised taxes many times when he was President (former Republican Senator Alan Simpson recently told NPR it was 11 times). Would that get him kicked out of the current GOP? It's important to remember that when you hear Paul Ryan, Newt Gingrich and a host of other conservatives giving President Obama bad reviews…
Mitch Perry Report: Romney, Ryan, new polls
Good morning everybody, how about that speech by Barack Obama yesterday on how he would reduce the deficit over the next decade plus? Okay, so it wasn't the most scintillating thing ever (Joe Biden certainly would agree) but it was extremely important in terms of the President actually taking a step on leading the way…
Sourcing local ingredients is becoming more of an option for Bay area restaurants: Cafe Dufrain’s Ferrell Alvarez finds the time
Most restaurants in the Bay area follow a simple formula for stocking their coolers. Every few days they call a number and leave a recorded order for their produce needs. It might be with a local produce wholesaler, or even more likely with one of the major wholesale restaurant suppliers like Sysco. The order will…
10/100/1000: And the winner is …
"Install simple swings in moderate traffic areas with trees and parks…" Not all of us on the judging panel were immediately taken with Reuben Pressman's idea. Swings? It seemed too simple — tossed-off, frivolous, even childish. But as we talked — and as we got to know more about Pressman and the inspiration behind his…
Wrongful convictions lead to possible legal changes in Florida
Derrick Williams, 48, was exonerated earlier this month after spending 18 years of a life sentence in prison for a crime he did not commit — making him the 13th man in Florida to be wrongfully incarcerated and released thanks to DNA testing and the dedicated work of the Innocence Project of Florida. The dozen…
Interview with Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray
Grammy-winning British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden return to Tampa on Sunday for the first time since 1988. Aside from bassist/founder Steve Harris, no one has been a member of the band as long as guitarist Dave Murray. I got the chance to speak with him last week.CL: The show on Sunday will be your…
Music Week: Sunbears, Dr. Dog, Big Bad Voodoo daddy and more
THURS 14 Boz Scaggs w/Marc Cohn The pop-soulful singer-songwriter with the high-pitched timbre experienced his peak of commercial success from the mid-'70s to the early '80s with several Top 20 hits, including the 1976 Grammy-winning disco funk standard, "Lowdown," and 1980's smooth AC ballad, "Look What You've Done to Me" from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack.…
Sourcing local ingredients is becoming more of an option for Bay area restaurants
Most restaurants in the Bay area follow a simple formula for stocking their coolers. Every few days they call a number and leave a recorded order for their produce needs. It might be with a local produce wholesaler, or even more likely with one of the major wholesale restaurant suppliers like Sysco. The order will…
Record Store Day
Even though we bade a tearful farewell to Vinyl Fever in February, several other high-quality indie record stores remain. They're surviving by broadening their offerings, stocking plenty of vinyl to meet the revival demands, and getting involved in the internationally recognized Record Store Day campaign, a celebration of indie music retail. This year marks the…
Video killed the radio star
My wife and I click on just about every level except for sex. After our last child was born, my advances were increasingly rejected. In an attempt to avoid pressuring her, I stopped initiating. Depression and anger set in. But I was committed to being the "perfect husband," so I did not pressure her, hoping…
Honorees named for new City of Writers Hall of Fame
Jean-Louis "Jack" Kerouac, the voice of the beat generation, bled to death in St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg on October 21, 1969. He was 47. A decade earlier, his On the Road influenced The Doors' Jim Morrison, who died of a drug overdose at the age of 27. Before "Light My Fire" and "People…
Tampa Bay Area Fresh Markets
Local produce is abundant (and not to be passed up) at these open air fresh markets. Here's your guide to finding the freshest, locally produced foods and goods (and an all-around good time) at weekly fresh markets in the Bay Area. Some of them are open year-round, while others are closing with the onset of…
How to survive FCAT
The FCAT is here, that magical standardized test that spreads stress around like frat boys spread venereal warts. Educators, students and parents have to deal with pressures that could make soldiers in Libya feel nervous. It's everyone's least favorite time of year, but like that man you all elected governor, FCAT isn't going away anytime…
10/100/1000: What’s the Big Idea?
When Creative Loafing joined with Creative Tampa Bay to kick off The 10/100/1000 Challenge in January, we decided that the announcement of the 10 finalists (include the $1,000 winner) would be an apt centerpiece for CL's annual Green Issue. Why green? It wasn't as if we'd asked for proposals that were "green," per se, when…
Dance Review: USF Spring Dance Concert
USF's Spring Dance Concert reveals a dance department that continues to outdo itself in the skill and artistry of its performances. Undertaking the works of brilliant choreographers like Doug Varone and Talley Beatty is no small challenge, and the dancers and production staff rise to the occasion. The headline dance, Varone's version of Le Sacre…
Recipe: Homemade mayonnaise
It all started with a BLT sandwich. Using my skills as a famous food writer, I planned to deftly combine these three simple elements into a masterpiece of sandwich perfection. The stage was set: Tomato was sliced, bacon was sizzling, lettuce — well there was no lettuce because who cares about the lettuce anyway. The…
Movie reviews: Sunscreen, Kaboom, Scream 4 and more …
New this week 6TH ANNUAL SUNSCREEN FILM FESTIVAL Invading Downtown St. Pete's BayWalk Muvico 20 from Wed., April 13-Sun., April 17 is the 6th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival. Though most festivals have panels devoted to the craft of filmmaking, Sunscreen has traditionally trumped all the other local fests when it comes to workshops with industry…
The arrival of spring means it’s the perfect time for Soave
Spring has finally arrived and paradise is found! It's no time to retreat inside; it's time to rekindle the romance with the outdoors. Embrace the fresh air, the grass under your feet and even the pollen, which has its place in stirring our passions for the season. As the weather warms up, we turn to…
10/100/1000: The Finalists
The 10/100/1000 Challenge from Creative Loafing and Creative Tampa Bay asked readers to submit their proposals to make Tampa Bay a better place to live. We received more than 80 entries, and the judges selected the following finalists (including one, The Roosevelt 2.0, that won an automatic spot in the Top 10 as the winner…
A Lesson Before Dying at the Straz Center
I first saw A Lesson Before Dying in a topnotch production at Sarasota's Florida Studio Theatre more than a decade ago, and my ultimate response was: Where's the beef? After all, this was a show that promised to show us how an innocent black man, condemned to die in the electric chair, was taught by…
Not my cup of tea
There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth, and every common sight, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, The glory and the freshness of a dream. —from "Intimations of Immortality" by William Wordsworth Most people believe that, in essence, we humans don't change very much as we age. We grow…
Do It Today: PYT, free Brew & View Toga Party at Ren Fest, Wines of Italy and more
We like Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay (PYT) because the group enables Tampa Bay’s young professionals to be patrons of the arts for a low dollar amount. For a $5 donation, you get VIP access to an enlightening and unique social gathering. The next PYT event is tonight at the Bricks in Ybor City. It's presented…
Have Vagina, Will Travel: So, a priest and a rabbi walk into a gay bar…
A few days ago I received a Facebook friend request from a man I didn’t know. But we had 21 friends in common, all people who worked in media or for local organizations on the East End of Long Island. Surely, I must have stumbled across him in real life, when I worked as a…
Rays-Redsox rained out; Super Fuld recognized
Inclement weather caused the third game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Redsox to be postponed Wednesday night. The game will be rescheduled at a later date. Barring the ecosystem inside Tropicana Field getting some hellacious humidity, look for Thursday's series opener against the Minnesota Twins to start on time; it's scheduled for…
Lightning fall to Penguins in a matter of seconds
Finally, after four years away from postseason play, the Tampa Bay Lightning began what they hope will be an extended run through the Stanley Cup playoffs when they took on the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night in game one. For the Lightning, the first game back in the postseason didn’t go quite according to plan, as…
Tasting notes and highlights from the Grand Tasting at Bern’s Winefest (photos)
My first Bern’s Winefest was a transformative experience. It was a few years ago – pre-recession, when I could still afford to buy tickets to fancy things. I remember distinctly an encounter with a very pricey Super Tuscan from Chianti. I had never had anything like it before. In one taste, the breadth and depth…
Tampa Bay food and drink events
Wednesday, April 13: Whole Foods Market Curtis Whitwam, Whole Foods’ Healthy Eating Specialist, will introduce you to the Health Starts Here program with a cooking demo and tour of the store. Learn how to use the ANDI score to identify the most nutrient-rich vegetables, meats, cheeses, fish and other products in the store. Curtis will…
New book raises awareness about recycling in Florida Public Schools
Local author Stephanie Armenia wants to raise awareness about recycling in Florida Public Schools. She has designed an exciting new outreach to encourage the habit of recycling early in life by focusing on second graders and plastic water bottles. Sponsors are needed to help underwrite the cost of printing these educational books. According to Stephanie: "The…
Top Chef Podcast – Masters Ep. 1: New faces, new challenges and a smokin’ new host
Last night's premiere of Top Chef Masters season 3 brought us new faces, new challenges and a very smokin' new host. They're doing things a little differently for this go round: Letting the 12 master chef'testants compete throughout the season until they're whittled down to one Top Chef Master. Gael Greene has been replaced with…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: “How to Inspire a Sustainable Tampa Bay”, Nature’s Classroom open house, markets and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Fridays: 8 am-1 pm, Saturdays: 9 am-2 pm (through April). Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green…
Sheen’s “Violent Torpedo” targets Tampa
That’s right, the crazy cometh. Charlie Sheen’s traveling road show, “Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option” invades the St. Pete Times Forum on April 22. Seats start from $46.75 (up to about $90) and and if you’re really a die-hard fan, you can drop $750 for front row seats and an autographed photo.…
