CD review: Ian Axel, This Is the New Year (with video)
There is no such thing as a perfect album. But Ian Axel’s debut, This is the New Year, comes pretty daggum close. I haven’t loved an entire album this much since I discovered Harry Nilsson’s 1971 life-changer Nilsson Schmilsson. Along the same notes as the legendary whiz, Axel tinkers and pounds on his piano keys…
3 Guys and the Quest for the Holy FAIL: Monster in the Closet, starring Paul Walker and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas
In search of the worst film of all time, The 3 Guys tackled another in a long line of horrid cinematic offenders: Monster in the Closet. Join The Hopp, Rabid Nick Refer and Jimbo on a craptastic journey to a world where that sweater you got from your mom for Christmas isn’t the scariest thing…
On the Radar: Chef Cat Cora’s cooking demo and Hub n’ Grub in Seminole Heights
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. As the only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s kitschy hit series and the new poster girl for lipstick lesbians, Cat Cora’s got some (proverbial) cojones. This weekend, the Greek goddess of the kitchen shows off her skills in a…
Movie Review: The Last Station, starring James McAvoy, Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer
[Editor's Note: The Last Station opens Fri., Feb. 26 at St. Pete's Muvico Baywalk, CineBistro in Hyde Park, Oldsmar's Woodlands 20 and Sarasota's Burns Court. Get movie showtimes here, and for reviews of more new releases check out the Daily Loaf Movie Review Index.] The Last Station presents the fascinating last year in the life…
Theater Review: Agnes of God is an elemental success
“I think,” said Franz Kafka in a letter of 1904, “we ought to read only books that bite and sting us …What we need are books that hit us like a most painful misfortune, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, that make us feel as though we had been banished to…
On the Radar: I Am A Cuban Sandwich at Silver Meteor and Flan Fest at the Ybor Saturday Market
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend, the artists and residents of Ybor City pay homage to Cigar City’s heritage with two Ameri-Cuban inspired events. I Am A Cuban Sandwich, written by Richard and Mary Ellen DiPietra and directed by James Rayfield, celebrates Richard…
Do It Today: See eco-drama The Age of Stupid for free, Stephen Marley at The Ritz and The Met Live: Simon Boccanegro
is an eco-docu-drama starring Pete Postlethwaite (pictured) as a global archivist in 2055 who is wondering why the heck people didn’t get the clue about global climate change and stop it when they had a chance. It features present day news clips in an archive that interweaves six dramatic stories of people from around the…
Poker night at the synagogue: A study in unmenschlike activity
I played in a charity poker event last week at — believe it or not — the same temple where I had my Bar mitzvah so many years ago. Nothing like pocket tens and torahs to brighten up an evening. Before I took my seat, I wondered how the big man upstairs felt about a…
St Pete Times reports Janet Cruz denied homestead exemption on 2nd home for the past two years
With just hours to go before the polls close tonight in the special District 58 House election between Democrat Janet Cruz and Republican Hunter Chamberlin, the local Tampa Web site Politics in Tampa revealed this morning that Cruz had lost the homestead exemption that she was claiming on a 2nd home in Tampa. In response…
Free screening of The Age of Stupid, a docudrama about our possible climate future – Wednesday (2/24)
See the free screening of The Age of Stupid, a powerful environmental docudrama about climate change and our possible future. (Read the review by one of our contributors here). It's being sponsored by the City of Gulfport and Repower America. Repower America will also be filming people for their video wall, so come Wednesday for…
Bill Foster at Tiger Bay on new police chase policy: “We’re not going to have cowboys”
Bill Foster addressed in detail today his controversial move to change the St. Petersburg Police Department's chase policy. Last week Foster said that he wanted the department to be able to chase suspected burglars and car thieves to the current policy, which only allows officers to chase suspects for violent crimes. Speaking at the St.…
Residents square off against the Brandon Chamber and it looks like a bait and switch could be in the works regarding that ‘rail’ referendum
Well, the battle over to widen certain sections of Lithia Pinecrest Rd is continuing and the latest round was held at Bell Schoals Baptist Church earlier this month. The contestants were mostly citizens who do not want their homes or land taken by the county, vs. the Brandon Chamber along with a few commuters who…
Jersey Shore: intellectual wasteland (with bonus JS slang translator)
Yes, it’s happened. It was inevitable, but I kept putting it off for some reason. Jersey Shore…you complete me. This show is fantastic in a way that makes me feel so much better about myself! In case you haven’t forced you eyeballs open Clockwork Orange-style to watch this wonderful program, I’ll catch you up quickly…
Almond Softies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Almond is one of those distinctive flavors that can be added to both sweet and savory dishes to make them multi dimensional. This particular cookie is a variation of my classic snickerdoodle formula, with just a touch of almond extract and a bit of brown sugar incorporated for richness. The flavor profile that results does…
DVD/Blu-ray Review: Richard Kelly’s The Box, starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella
The Box, a Twilight Zone episode remake from Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly, comes to DVD and Blu-ray for the simple purpose of confusing people in their own homes. James Marsden, Cameron Diaz and Frank Langella star in this 1970s period mind-bender about a moral dilemma and the consequences that follow. The package I reviewed…
A young Floridian’s experience at the UN Climate Change Conference
Below is a good read about young student from Oviedo, FL who was lucky enough to travel to Copenhagen this past December. Actually luck may be the wrong word: Joseph actually raised $2500 on his own to pay his way over. Regardless, below is the story of the young mans adventures in Copenhagen, forming the "Wolfpack", …
Spandex and power suits: The modern age of costuming
Mandy Akins Aldrige has a dual identity. It’s not a secret identity; her friends all know about it and the people she meets while doing it already know about it because they’re doing it, too. Even her co-workers know about it, and the knowledge doesn’t faze them one bit. “Guys I work with all know…
Jannus Landing gets a new name (Jannus Live) to go with its new and improved look
The historic concert courtyard that's been out of commission for the past several months is tentatively scheduled to re-open Thursday, March 25, and with its new makeover comes a new name: Jannus Live. Here's the official release with details about the renovations (in case you didn't read Eric's story back in November): Architects, designers and…
DVD Review: Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, starring John C. Reilly and Chris Massoglia
[Editor's Note: Cirque Du Freak is out on DVD and Blu-ray today.] In an attempt to cash in on some of that Harry Potter and Twilight money, some Hollywood suit thought it would be smart to mix the two worlds, leading to double the awesome and double the money, right? Well, the product is Cirque…
Republican Oath would make Hitler and Stalin proud
An open letter to Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher By Chris Ingram Dear Chairman Thrasher: Congratulations on your election as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. I wouldn’t wish this job on my worst enemy. Sharon Day should be relieved she lost and doesn’t have to herd all the cats on the committee with all…
R.I.P iBoob: Apple drops more overtly sexual apps
Originally reported by the Huffington Post, Apple recently dropped 5,000 apps for iPhone, many of which it considered too sexual. Software developers received statements claiming that Apple is recalibrating the limits of what it considers appropriate. In an effort to reduce endless 4th amendment debates, Apple has yet to post specific guidelines for acceptable content.…
DVD Review: The Secret Policeman’s Private Party, featuring Monty Python’s John Cleese, Michael Palin, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie
Britain, Britain, Britain, your comedy how I love thee. With your bollocks and your bloody this and that, you get me every time. There’s no finer a way to coerce laughter from the pit of my belly. So when The Secret Policeman’s Private Party crossed my desk, I may have gotten a little silly in…
New releases in music this Tuesday, February 23: All Time High, Daniel Merriweather, Joanna Newsom, Quasi, Shout Out Louds, Butch Walker and more (with music videos)
This week’s new music releases; for a complete breakdown of hot new releases due out in the next several months, click here. Alkaline Trio, This Addiction (Epitaph) To read Scott's review of the album, click here. All Time High, Friends In High Places (Small Stone) The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? (A Records)…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, February 23: IHOP National Pancake Day. It may not be the classiest event we've ever included in this list, who would turn down free pancakes? That's exactly what you're getting today — though you might consider giving a portion of what you'd pay for your short stack to the Children's Miracle Network, for which…
New study shows factory farms breed mutated superbugs with antibiotic feed
As if there weren't enough reasons to avoid factory-farmed meat, a new Boston University study shows that the low levels of antibiotics used in pig and chicken farms to stimulate growth in the animals also tends to stimulate mutation in bacteria. Antibiotics largely kill bacteria by encouraging the production of free radicals in the cells.…
Dependence on foreign oil threatens our nation’s security
The United States spends about one billion dollars per day on foreign oil — with nearly one-fifth of oil being imported from hostile and unstable nations. According to the 2008 Foreign Trade Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau, our annual oil debt reached $386 billion — greater than our $266 billion debt with China. Dennis McGinn, Former Battelle Corporate Officer and Retired…
Tampa will fire more city employees, A Tea Party candidate challenges Bill Young, and will Rahm Emanuel stay or go in the White House:Mitch Perry report 2.23.10
Last night we reported on Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio's sobering report to the City Council on the city's budget outlook for 2011. Iorio says the city must cut $27 million, which she says will be harder than the $90 million they've already cut over the past 3 years; You all know about Bill Young vs.…
Rahm Emanuel continues to be lightning rod in White House
Yesterday President Obama announced his own health care plan for the first time. The $950 billion plan lays the groundwork for his televised summit with Congressional Republicans and Democrats this Thursday, and we'll write more about it throughout the week. However, the focus for today is about White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who…
Kathy Castor breaks ground on new health clinic
After digging a gold shovel into the ground and daintily tossing the heap of dirt onto a tiny mound, US Congresswoman, Kathy Castor, proclaimed, “ You earned it, you deserve it!” “You” being the residents of Tampa Bay. “It” being a new community health center. This morning, Castor lent a hand and a little elbow…
Will Tea Party candidate make any impact on Bill Young’s race?
We reported on Sunday that Pinellas County Congressman Bill Young has ended whatever suspense remained, and in fact he will run for re-election for his 20th term representing Florida's 10th Congressional District. He's expected to have his toughest fight in a long time , with Democratic State Senator Charlie Justice already tossing out incendiary press…
Do It Today: PostSecret creator Frank Warren lectures at USF, Tampa Bay Symphony does Tchaikovsky and more
USF makes it worth the trek to north Tampa this week with an array of interesting events. First, PostSecret Project creator Frank Warren hosts this month’s University Lecture Series. His call for postcards anonymously revealing secrets—from silly to somber—created catharsis on an international scale when published as a book series. Maybe you want to hear…
On the Radar: Munny show at SPoT, Deft in St. Pete and I Before E in Tampa
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. This weekend brings a big-ass variety of wicked art shows, including Munny: Change is Everything at the Skatepark of Tampa; Deft at St. Petersburg's C. Emerson Fine Arts Center; and I Before E at the West Tampa Center for the…
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio tells City Council that the city must cut $27 million from next year’s budget
This afternoon, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and her Revenue & Finance Director, Bonnie Wise, briefed members of the City Council on the city's financial status going into the 2011 fiscal year. The outlook: cut over $27.5 million by October 1. Such meetings over the past few years have become commonplace at City Hall. In the…
DC’s integrity Waynes with return of Dark Knight
He may be the best DC has to offer (sorry, Superman), but few iconic comic characters have had it harder than Batman. His tragedy began from his inception: a superhero born by the death of his parents. The real tragedy of Batman, however, lies not in the death of his parents, not in the death of…
Concert review: Tegan and Sara at Tampa Theatre (with pics)
Ford Barsi is a 23-year-old Tampa resident and a USF sociology student due to graduate this summer. Barsi has been writing most of his life – he started out as an English major – so his father snagged the “Music Critic for a Night” Holiday Auction package for his son as a Christmas gift. He’s…
Obama explains the difference between climate change and extreme weather (video)
Here's a video of President Obama directly addressing the issue of climate change versus weather in Nevada last Friday. I'd just like to say thank you to Obama for finally publicly addressing the issue of climate change to all of the deniers out there. Will people finally cut out the, "It's snowing outside so global…
Drop the boxed mix and spruce up your waffles with bananas
We do breakfast at night ALOT at my house! At least once a week. One might call it lazy, but I call it damn good. Breakfast during the week consists of a grab and go Slim Fast out the door and that is about it. Seriously, who has time on the weekdays to make a…
Players speak out on the positive aspects of gaming
We are a people that love, nay need, to stereotype people. Whether it is race, gender, religion or preferred activities, our lives are dictated and spelled out but what society believes is true of us. We are placed within a box, like gamers who are supposedly violent, anti-social, dirty and failing at real world responsibilities.…
Concert review: Rebelution, SOJA and Zion I at The Ritz (with pics + video)
Every live show has its own overall vibe — the musical-madness-at-a-weekend-long-festival vibe, the superstar-rockin'-huge-arenas vibe, the folk rock, hip-hop or flailing-armed hippie vibe, the time-to-get crazy-and-dance or the time-to-effing-rage-and-mosh-against life vibe, the somber and depressing Staind-pained type of vibe, the party time, let's-get-loose vibe … Rebelution’s vibe is mad love. Throughout their concert at The…
Green your diet with these foodie iPhone apps
Want to know where the nearest farmers markets are or what seafood choices are the most sustainable? Without trying to sound cliché, there are apps for that. Whether you're a strict vegan or just looking to eat healthier, here's a list of just some of the many iPhone apps for greening your groceries, cooking, and…
Crist trash talks Rubio just moments before new Rasmussen Poll shows him down by 18% (video)
Florida Governor Charlie Crist spoke as aggressively as we've seen him on any cable news show this campaign season this morning, while speaking on MSNBC's Morning Joe program. You can watch the entire exchange here, which came about an hour before a new Rasmussen survey showed that Marco Rubio is now up by an almost…
Sansom resigns, Young in for re-election, and Crist smacks Rubio on cable news:Mitch Perry Report 2.22.10
It's been an eventful weekend in state politics, with nothing bigger than Ray Sansom quitting his House of Representatives seat in the Florida Legislature on the eve of his ethics trial. We spoke today with the woman who's complaint helped to the current events; Charlie Crist was on MSNBC this morning, talking some trash about…
Crist talks smack about Rubio on “Morning Joe” as new poll shows him losing badly
Florida Governor Charlie Crist is in Washington this morning, for the 3rd and final day of the National Governors Association Winter meeting. It came before a new poll released by Rasmussen shows the Governor getting blown out of the water against Marco Rubio, with Rubio up 54 to 36% in the survey. Appearing on MSNBC's…
Sansom resigns, Florida GOP breathes collective sigh of relief
Ray Sansom's resignation from the Florida House of Representatives Sunday night is in the words of Bradenton House Republican Bill Galvano "a resolution that's in the best interest of everyone involved." No kidding. The departure of the embattled Panhandled based former House Speaker means that the House Select Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (which…
This week’s caption contest featuring the NFL’s fashionable Terrell Owens
I’ve never tried my hand at modeling… with good reason. I’ll stick to watching Zoolander for my runway walk-offs. But some superstar athletes simply can’t stay out of the limelight. Proving once again there is no such thing as an NFL offseason, Terrell Owens, the former Cowboys, Eagles, Niners and Bills wide receiver was spotted…
Concert review: Blind Man’s Colour, Sons of Hippies and MillionYoung at New World Brewery (with pics)
The last year has been good to St. Petersburg's Blind Man's Colour [pictured] — they were featured on Stereogum, blogged about by Kanye West and became labelmates with Grizzly Bear on Kanine Records. Their psychedelic 2009 debut, Season Dreaming, drew instant comparisons to Animal Collective in the blogosphere. But Friday night at New World Brewery as…
Do It Today: Rose Bilal’s classical jazz, Long and Schambon at Tempus Projects and more
In celebration of Black History Month, Rose Bilal — who has performed with Gladys Knight and the Pips and the O'Jays — brings her soulful sounds to the local library for "An Evening of Classic Jazz". (Pictured: Rose Bilal with Charles Dutton) 7 p.m. Mon., Feb. 22, New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd.,…
Do you have penis honor?
While most men want you to think that they have a large penis; the fact is most men are simply average. I have found that some men will go out of their way to reassure you that their penis is big, huge even. I'm not sure if these guys want you to suddenly scream out…
It happened this week-ish: Olympians gone wild, Pot and driving don’t mix, Tiger’s back in the news, Ethnicity fraud on the Jersey Shore and more….
Olympic Snowboarder Scotty Lago is living every Olympian's dream. Photos have surfaced of his bronze medal hanging around his waist and the "hardware hung over his groin" and a woman kissing and biting said medal on a street in Vancouver. Every man who has ever won a medal has wanted to get a lovely lady…
Book launch zombie party: Zombie St. Pete
“Florida is a big horror place. I think it’s all the sunshine that makes people want to be dark.” — a quote from Aaron Alper during an interview over lattés at a local café. He is about to unleash an event called Zombie St. Pete at the St. Pete Pier on Sat., Feb. 27th. It’s…
Young-Justice duel is now set
Venerable GOP Pinellas Congressman Bill Young announced on Saturday night what had been heavily rumored to be the case in the last month – that indeed, he will run for re-election this November, and try for the 20th time to represent Florida's 10th Congressional District in Washington. Young made his announcement at the Pinellas County…
Democrats (and 1 Republican) try to change the narrative that the stimulus has “failed”
As this site has written about frequently, and especially in the past week, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, (a/k/a the stimulus bill), has been cited by a number of independent economists as having made a substantial impact in lessening the economic conditions in the world wide recession (and the Congressional Budget Office, everybody in…
Violence is pandemic in the homeless community
In 2007, Florida ranked number one in the country in lethal and non-lethal attacks against homeless people. Los Angeles was second that year. The following year, John McGraham, a homeless man, was set on fire and burned to death on a Los Angeles sidewalk. The city called it a hate crime. Violence is something that…
Buzz off, dog breath: Why you should brush your dog’s teeth
National Dog Biscuit Day is coming up on Feb. 23. I only know that because the wonderful, info-packed calendar that The Whole Dog Journal folks sent me tells me so. It also tells me that February is Pet Dental Health Month. I guess, if Dog Biscuit Day is something like a doggy Halloween, those over-indulged…
Concert Review: Brandi Carlile at Capitol Theater
photos by Jeff O'Kelley magine a girl born to sing. A girl who, at a very young age, channels the likes of Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, but growing up in dreary Seattle, is surrounded by visceral and dangerous contemporaries like Nirvana and The Supersuckers. At age 16, she lands a gig as a backup…
Small business software review: LessAccounting.com
As small business owners, we wear a lot of hats. Marketer, boss, creative director, janitor, project manager, accountant – and a lot of those hats are mighty uncomfortable. For me, it's the numbers thing. I just can't wrap my head around daily accounting. Around bookkeeping. Around tracking expenses and receipts and mileage and all of…
Rubio to Crist: I’ll debate you anytime, anywhere, after our Fox debate on March 28
Marco Rubio has been calling on Charlie Crist to engage him a debate since last summer. Finally, the Florida Governor – now trailing for the first time in some polls – has accepted Rubio's challenge. Crist said today he would debate Rubio on two nationally televisd Sunday morning public affairs programs – on March 7…
New sugar-based plastic can be composted at home
Scientists at the Imperial College of London have come up with a solution for a plastic that biodegrades much quicker than traditional petroleum- and plant-based plastics. These new sugar-based plastics could be composted in peoples' homes along with leftover scraps of food, disappearing much quicker than PLA corn-based plastics. This new type of plastic is…
Project Runway Podcast Ep. 6: Little girls invade the workroom, chaos ensues
Kids!!!! Finally we get a little bit of fun in the Project Runway workroom with the addition of 11 little girls! The challenge this week was to design a garment for a child, a task that some of them seemed to think could not have gotten more frightening. And then….wait for it….PLOT TWIST!!!!!! Yeah, two…
A taste of some unique, locally produced finds at Ybor’s Saturday Market
As any globe trotter worth his salt will tell you, one of the best parts of traveling to the distant and exotic is finding that perfect token to take home. Unfortunately for a souvenir junkie like myself, local marketplaces the world over have slowly begun to resemble each other. My hand-woven Moroccan beanie and my…
CD review: Alkaline Trio, This Addiction
They say you can't go home again, that time and choices have a way of changing your perspective to a point that renders the safety and familiarity of past comforts unrecognizable. But they also say that the last couple of Alkaline Trio albums weren't exactly up there with the Chicago-bred trio's best work, and if…
It’s a new new world: Wines from Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula
The classification of wines as old world or new world can be a helpful distinction. France, Spain, Italy and other European countries are home to old world wines. They may taste like leather, tobacco, minerals or earth. New world wines are found around the globe, coming from areas like Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Canada,…
Tiger Woods apology: “A staged public relations stunt,” says lawyer
Tiger's apology — Elin didn't hit him, please try to believe in him again, Buddhism will get him through, etc, etc — didn't sit well with Gloria Allred, attorney for his alleged porn-star girlfriend Joslyn James (real name Veronika Siwik-Daniels). Immediately after the golf champ's first public statement about his extra-marital flinging, Allred (who seems…
Nimby week in review: Supporters of sexual harassers, sprawl pushers, sinkholes and shitty water
1. It turns out that developer welfare in Tampa Bay goes way beyond just local politicians giving away services, this article shows us how local developers got over a billion dollars in federal government subsidies. 2. Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan toyed with the idea of the Rays coming to Hillsborough. I wonder who…
USDA’s Food Environment Atlas: How does Florida stack up to the rest of the country?
The USDA has debuted a nifty new tool that uses food consumption data to create color coded maps — the USDA Food Environment Atlas. Sound dry? Only if you don't like competition. Start selecting a few variables and you can instantly see how your region stacks up against the rest of the country. For instance,…
A week of eco films at the Eckerd College Environmental Film Fest
Eckerd College presents their 12th Annual Environmental Film Fest which is a week long event, beginning today, showcasing compelling and important films in order to raise awareness and promote discussion of questions relating to nature, place, and the environment. Two of the films presented feature the work of Eckerd alumni, Dennis Mader (’68) and Karl…
Music video: Those Darlins, “The Whole Damn Thing” (Nine Inch Nails remix)
I imagine this ain't nearly as amusing if you're not familiar with the Those Darlins song, "The Whole Damn Thing," so make sure to check out the band and then the song before checking out this video… Those Darlins – The Whole Damn Thing Those Darlins – The Whole Damn Thing (Nine Inch Nails Remix)
Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Challah recipe
Two Christmases ago, I gave my mother a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. I’ve written about this marvelous bread-baking book before. It is truly one of my favorites and one of the most used in my cookbook collection. My mom has never been much into…
Iorio on Rays stadium talk, Dems prepared to take nuclear option on health care, and a libertarian style Republican tries to win a Hillsborough County legislative seat: Mitch Perry Report 2.19.10
Are the Rays coming to Hillsborough County anytime soon? We're extremely skeptical, but enjoy reading the front page stories. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio says if they do, they ain't getting any local government funds to build a park; The CPAC conference, where thousands of Republicans started screaming as Dick Cheney told them naughtily to "knock…
Are Democrats ready to go forward on health care?
The New York Times reports this morning that President Obama is prepared to go ahead and propose health care legislation that would use what is known as reconciliation, which means the bill would simply need 51, and not a filibuster proof 60 votes, to pass the U.S. Senate. Such a move has been called for…
“Full frontal assault” on Obama sure to be on display at CPAC this weekend (video)
Marco Rubio called this November mid term elections "a referendum on our very identity as our nation," yesterday in giving the opening keynote address at the annual Conservative Policy Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington. The Florida GOP Senate candidate reportedly "wowed" the thousands at the annual conservative enclave, as he joined up with a number…
Pam Iorio discusses the Tampa Bay Rays and the (im)possibility of them playing in Tampa
This past week has been littered with news about the Tampa Bay Rays and possible sites for a new stadium for the St. Petersburg based team in Hillsborough County. Today both local dailies again headline their front pages with the story. Michael Van Sickler's piece in the St. Petersburg Times includes a warning from St.…
Movie Review: Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams
At this point, Martin Scorsese should go ahead and have the words “America’s greatest living filmmaker” tattooed on his forehead. Look at a few Best Movies of the Decade lists for the 1970s, '80s, '90s and '00s, and you’ll note that he’s got at least one film on each of them. (Usually, Taxi Driver, Raging…
On the Radar: Tampa gets inked at the Cigar City Tattoo Convention
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. When it comes to tattoos, everybody has an opinion. Mine is — I love them and have always been fascinated by the art form. I think getting inked is a great adrenaline rush, and have always found it amazing that…
Meet the Sex Squad: stars of a wacky sex ed video game
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has devised a hip, new way to educate young folks about safe sex: The Sex Squad. The site features a bizarre, interactive game called Adventures in Sex City, in which the Sex Squad battles the evil, STI-spreading "Sperminator." No joke. Just for shits n' giggles, let's meet the Squad. At the…
House District 58 candidate Hunter Chamberlin- a kinder, gentler Republican?
Next Tuesday, citizens in House District 58 will vote between Democrat Janet Cruz and Republican Hunter Chamberlin. The winner should be seated nearly immediately, as the new legislative session begins the following week. There was much coverage in the local media with the very tight (and at times nasty) battle for the Democratic nomination to…
Help the SPC Environmental Club and the Emerging Green Builders clean up Clearwater Beach
The St. Petersburg College environmental clubs and Emerging Green Builders adopted a mile of beach (Lot 36) on the North Shore Clearwater Beach, running from Rockaway St. to 880 Mandalay. We have scheduled our next beach clean-up Saturday February 27 starting at 9am, meeting on the beach at Rockaway Street, right in front of Frenchy’s…
The libertine’s guide to gallantry: finding your type
I have always had a powerful lust for muscular, female legs. I think this stemmed from my obsession with gymnasts, then cheerleaders, as these were the few pretty girls in high school who were shorter than me. While I wouldn't go as far as to say I only date athletic women, many men do have…
A great turning: From dominator economic model to partnership economic model (videos)
In a recent YES Magazine article, "Building Cultures of Peace", Riane Eisler describes what kind of culture we find ourselves living in along with how to create a new culture and peaceful economic model. This economic model would be different from the growing dominator economic model that is causing our country to head towards totalitarianism. …
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music: Kiss Kiss, The English Beat, Noel Paul Stookey, Tegan and Sara, Paleface, Dumpstafunk, Rock & Roll Swap Meet, and more
A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Concerts page. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Kiss Kiss [pictured left] w/The Venetia Fair For such fronting such a young band, Kiss Kiss singer, keyboardist and visionary leader…
A Q&A with Johnathan Coody of Ninja Gun, which supports Against Me! on Saturday
For the better part of a decade, the four men of Ninja Gun have been taking their unique mix of punk ethos, bar-rock twang and thoughtful lyrical themes to the basements, clubs and indie record stores of America's D.I.Y. touring circuit. In the year-and-a-half since the release of their most recent album, Restless Rubes, the…
James Beard Restaurant Awards semi-finalists released: Sarasota represents, Tampa fails
Last year, the usually staid and stuff James Beard Awards — the Oscars of the restaurant biz — reached out and pushed a little on their nominee envelope by including Zack Gross of St. Petersburg's Z Grille on their Best Chef: South short list, as well as Sarasota's Derek Barnes (Derek's Culinary Casual). Neither made…
Candied Bacon-Chocolate Chunk Cookies recipe
I consider myself a pretty adventurous “foodie” type person, both in restaurants and in my own kitchen. Never one to shy away from trying new things, I’ve eaten a lot of foods that many would flee from. (Although, I do draw the line at bugs and things that are still moving! But, I think you…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Intro to permaculture workshop, green markets, solar power workshops and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday (through April); 8 am- 1 pm. 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 Market is…
A thorough look at the underrated stimulus, can Kevin White be stopped? and more on the Rays and Hillsborough County: Mitch Perry Report 2.18.10
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the $787 billion stimulus plan. Lots of criticism, but frankly, a lot of that we find to be misguided; Kevin White is running for re-election in Hillsborough County. Last night the "embattled" one held a big fund-raiser in Ybor City; And there is more about the Tampa Bay…
Will Kevin White be seriously challenged for re-election?
The Kevin White saga in Hillsborough County has been an interesting one, and will be until August at least, when he faces a Democratic primary challenge at the polls. White, a former Tampa City Councilman and first term County Commissioner in District 3, has been the source of much opprobrium over the past half year,…
Though stimulus has done its job, GOP has done its job in convincing the public otherwise
Marco Rubio is in Washington today, where he will give the keynote speech today at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Committee's annual confab, where all the stars of the right wing come and play (Mitt Romney, Glenn Beck and Newt Gingrich area also on the program). As the Miami Herald/St. Pete Times reports today, he's…
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but these two women might.
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but these two women might. By Chris Ingram Principled grassroots conservatives have a chance to send the moneyed muckety-mucks a message this weekend at the RPOF meeting in Orlando when they vote for the replacement of disgraced former chairman Jim Greer. The message is clear: Sharon Day is the…
Understanding your man’s need for self-love
While some believe males still control the world, I believe women are the primary authority in the sexual realm. Male masturbation and cheating have long been condemned as vulgar by women who don't fully understand the amount of influence sexual urges have over the male psyche. Many women can't understand why it takes more than…
CD review/Show preview: Blind Man’s Colour presents Wooden Blankets at a release show with Sons of Hippies this Friday
was the hottest indie act to rise from the local music scene in 2009. In a matter of few months, the experimental psyche pop outfit fronted by young musicians Kyle Wyss and Orhan Chettri was recognized by Kanye West, featured on tastemaker blogs like Stereogum and Gorilla vs. Bear, and signed by Brooklyn indie label…
Diary of the unemployed housewife: I feel good
I had the most bizarre dream, a dream like none I had ever had before. It was like I was watching a story unfold in my head, with unique characters and crazy plotlines. When I woke up I was in a haze: “What was that?” I willed myself to fall back asleep so I could…
Hillsborough County Commission discusses talking to the ABC group about the Tampa Bay Rays
Two days after Hillsborough County Commissioner Chairman Ken Hagan issued an invitation to the head of a group recommending potential new sites for the Tampa Bay Rays, his colleagues on the Board today discussed what he was up to. The ABC Coalition, a group of St. Petersburg citizens charged by former Mayor Rick Baker with…
Locals on the scene and the music that shaped and influenced them: JoEllen Schilke, Manny Kool, Rebekah Pulley and Doug Allen
A little while back, for no specific reason at all, I decided to revisit my musical past. I set out buying every 7" I could remember that had a profound effect on my life and steered me in the direction of becoming what can only be referred to as a "music snob." Much to my…
Take Part in the Great American Cleanup this spring
Join Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful and other proactive citizens for the Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 17. KHCB is recruiting site captains, volunteers and local sponsors to coordinate or assist in project efforts, which include beautification, community improvement initiatives, recycling activities, and litter removal along roads, waterways, and in parks. The Hillsborough County event…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Metric
Metric, the band not the measurement system, formed in Canada in 1999 (the system in France, 1791) and consists of Emily Haines (vocals, synthesizer and guitar), James Shaw (guitars), Josh Winstead (bass) and Joules Scott-Key (drums, no relation to Francis). Emily and James also play with Wednesday-music.com favorite Broken Social Scene. In fact, she met…
Photo review: The Wailers and the Supervillains at The Ritz
A series of shots featuring The Wailers and the Supervillains at The Ritz in Ybor City this past Friday February 12.
DVD Review: The Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man, starring Michael Stuhlbarg and Fred Melamed
It seems as if the Coen Brothers are in the mist of a career renaissance. In the past three years they directed Best Picture winner No Country For Old Men and the star-studded farce Burn after Reading — the two biggest money makers of their career. With A Serious Man, now out on DVD and…
Pasco high school students are recognized for participating in the Worst To First Initiative
Rhea Chiles was close to tears as she recognized students from Pasco High School for their efforts in participating in the Worst To First initiative on Tuesday, February 16. She honored the students at the University of South Florida by presenting them a painting of a river titled “Heartland,” which she painted herself. Pasco High…
Featured green site: Inhabitat – The sustainable home design blog
is a blog that focuses on design innovation inside and outside of the home, keeping a finger on the pulse of technology, practices, and materials for sustainable architecture and home design. The site showcases emerging green trends in product, interior and architectural design in the following categories: Architecture, landscape, interiors, furniture, products, gadgets, fashion, green…
Hillsborough GOP meeting votes against light rail, labor protest in Tampa, and a Democratic candidate in Colorado’s idiocy:Mitch Perry Report 2.17.10
Last night we attended the Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee's February meeting , where light rail was discussed and voted on. Check out the results: Home care workers who say they can't get a break from their employers will protest today in Tampa; And when people question why Democrats are sometimes their own enemy need…
Pat Caddell fiasco in Colorado shows why some Democrats deserve to lose
Following up on our post yesterday regarding the chances that the U.S. Senate may go Red this year, both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal report on what we wrote about – how there are some sure states that will switch from Democrat to Republican this year (including Indiana, thanks to Evan…
The Olympics you don’t see on TV
From the vantage point of NBC cameras, the Vancouver Olympics is a sea of cheery, cheering Canadians. And yes, the host country has clearly enjoyed some shining moments, most notably Canada's first gold medal win on home soil (and with it, the genuinely touching saga of winning moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau). But you want to…
Hillsborough County Republicans reject light rail in straw poll
Over the years, the aversion to tax increases amongst Republicans has hardened. Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe knows that as well as anyone, which is why he increasingly must be feeling ostracized as an intruder in his own party. Last night in Tampa at the Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee's monthly meeting, a straw poll…
Dozens of home caregivers to protest in Tampa
On Wednesday, a protest being led by the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, intend to demonstrate in front of the offices of Sea Crest and Greystone, a nursing home companies who the union claims has blocked the workers efforts to negotiate for affordable health care coverage and other necessities. The workers say that they…
Is paying attention to the air quality index crazy?
My brother refuses to go running on days the air quality index tells him not to because he doesn't want to die sooner. How do we go about proving him insane? —littleWaki We're always hearing about how much damage smoking does to our bodies. My question is, how much damage does smoking do to the…
Flying away
On a college campus, talk of Obama and fleeting hopes.
Has anyone ever been f!@#$% by an Oscar award?
Are Oscars put anywhere other than mantles?
Kama Sutra: the spider
The Spider begins with the couple facing each other in a seated position. The woman lies back, while the man scoots between her legs, achieving penetration. Then the man lies back, careful to maintain his erection inside her. If the position is done correctly, each partner should be lying flat on their back with their…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, February 16: Uncorked Fine Wine and Spirits Uncorked Wine Academy. Hit the books (and the bottle!) with a certified sommelier at this wine-centric course that covers pairing food and wine; tasting techniques; grape varietals; how wine makes it from the vineyard to the glass; and how to distinguish the flavors that make your tastebuds…
It’s wine festival season, time to mark your calendars
Sure, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival at the end of of February may be to much of a budgetary and time stretch for most people, but that doesn't mean you can't sip and nosh with the best of them. The next two months are the height of Florida's culinary event season, with three…
CL’s Lost Podcast: Season 6, Ep. 2 “What Kate Does”
We're back for another edition of CL's Lost podcast. This week, we rehash the episode "What Kate Does," with Joe thinking the episode was boring, London and Ham Gravy thinking that maybe it was they who were off yesterday and not the show, while Fat Jesus comes through with excellent reasons that last night's Lost…
Joe Bardi talks ABC’s Lost, Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart and Super Bowl commercials on The Grind with Flip and Bill
If you're in the Tampa Bay area, you can catch The Grind weekdays from 10-3 p.m. on 1010 AM radio. If you're outside the broadcast area or just prefer listening online, you can check out the show at WQYK AM's website. For this week's show, the guys and I discussed ABC's Lost and why the…
Small cock syndrome: what you should know
Living with a small cock must be something like being a zombie. You are stricken with a horrifying disease that controls your every move, causing you to perform inane acts all around town and in the barns of Pasco County. Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to have a small dick to suffer from…
