Do It Today: TattooFest, Eco.lution expo, meet authors Frances O’Roarke Dowell, Peter Meinke and Dorothy Allison at book readings across the Bay
Tampa is a multicolored mosaic of people with tatted-up arms and legs, backs, shoulders and rib cages, flashing everything from koi fish to twirled tribals etched artistically into skin. With hotties and notties, moms, dads and grandparents all flaunting professional ink, Tampa visibly embraces the tattoo culture — which is why it makes an ideal…
On the Radar: UFC Live and the Black Eyed Peas at a theater near you
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. Raise your hand if you’ve always wanted to watch strong, sweaty men give each other fat lips and black eyes on a very big screen? Fine, I didn’t raise mine, but if you did, you’re in luck: NCM Fathom and…
Dreaming of Tinkerbell and boyfriend
“Hi Dream Momma, Love your blog. I dream a lot. A dream about my bf is bothering me. It was so weird cause it had Tinkerbell in it, the little fairy from Peter Pan. She’s flying around my bf head. He’s wearing a baseball cap backwards (which really annoys me cuz he’s older but not…
Red Tuna or Brown Tuna, How do I Know if it’s Fresh?
Sushi is one of my favorite foods. I love the colors, tastes and varieties. I eat it raw, cooked, dipped, sliced, with Wasabi, and even seared with black Sesame seeds! Tuna, whether it's minced and mixed with Srirachia sauce or freshly sliced on its own (as in Tuna Sashimi) is the quintessential ingredient most sought…
Record Store Day is on its way!
On April 17, an exceptional slew of records will appear in independent record stores nationwide for the third annual national Record Store Day, an organized event that acts as a Christmas/birthday extravaganza for lovers of that antiquated technology referred to as vinyl. This year, even more hand-numbered, limited edition, and special colored re-issues are planned.…
Growing up Ybor, 1995-2010
I’ve spent the past 15 years roaming the streets and exploring the spaces of Ybor City. I watched its evolution from crusty and creative-friendly, to corporate and shiny, to the synergistic community of today, but one constant has remained throughout: it’s a place where you can be yourself. And no matter who that self may…
Do It Today: Alesana onstage at the State, American Ballet Theatre, Adventures in Opera and Jaguar Love plays Orpheum
(pictured), a six-piece band from Raleigh, N.C., makes the most of its expansive line up. Live shows have been known to have guitar duels with up to three guitarists playing all at once. Alesana’s songwriting often takes cues from literature, particularly fables and Greek mythology. Their most recent album, The Emptiness, is chock full of…
On the Radar: CL’s Sensory Overload takes over Ybor
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming arts events to mark your calendar for. Warning: There is so much cool stuff going on at CL’s fifth annual Sensory Overload this Saturday, your brain might just go into overdrive. The smorgasbord of stimulating events takes over CL’s new home, historic Ybor City, where you’ll…
Grand Old Ybor: A conversation with “Marty” Martinez, 88 (audio)
One of the highlights of putting together the Creative Loafing Ybor Issue (out tomorrow) was the chance to speak to Augustine "Marty" Martinez, 88, who was born and raised in Ybor City, the son of a cigar-factory worker. Marty's son, Rick Martinez, is the executive director of Sweetwater Organic Community Farm; ironic, because his father…
Jim Hosler to run against Ken Hagan and Linda Saul-Sena in Hillsborough County District
The race for Hillsborough County Commission in Countywide District Five , already on paper to be an interesting one between Republican Ken Hagan and Democrat Linda Saul-Sena, just became more provocative today when former Hillsborough county planner Jim Hosler announced he will run as an independent in the race. Hosler has been a registered Republican,…
CL Sound Bites: R.I.P. Alex Chilton, new LPs from Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, and more in music news
"How does one react to the death of one's own mentor?" * That's how Paul Westerberg began his eulogy of Big Star mainman, producer, and influential alt-rock figure Alex Chilton in his New York Times op-ed piece. Chilton suffered a heart attack on St. Patrick's Day and passed away at the age of 59. While I…
10 birth control choices for women
Birth control for women has come a long way since the days of the pullout method and jumping up and down after sex. Pharmaceutical companies continue to develop alternative ways to prevent pregnancy because most every current option has a few adverse side effects. Often times, women must not only shop around for different types…
CD review: Old Lost John, Faceless
Malmö, Sweden is where we find our fearless troubadour Old Lost John, the moniker under which singer/guitarist Tomas Thunberg resides. His new full-length release, Faceless, is rife with the creepiness found in old photographs and campfire-side, Canterbury-style folk tales, which he delivers in a wispy, Bonnie “Prince” Billy rasp. The new breath of archaic wonderment…
McCollum blasts new health care bill while insisting law suit isn’t political
As he's promised for months, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, along with several other states Attorneys General, filed a lawsuit this afternoon against the federal government for the individual mandate provision of the health care reform bill that requires all Americans to get health insurance (He also publicly announced that he is paying nationally known…
Indie music station WOXY goes silent
As of 10 a.m. this morning, WOXY went silent. While this isn't the first time the indie station has vanished, it does appear that this will be the last. After leaving its FM roots in 2004, WOXY re-emerged as the preeminent leader in online independent radio and had recently re-located from Cincinnati to Austin. Without…
Be green with your gadgets: Use them ’til they’re dead
Do you really need that new model iPhone or the latest game console? Take a look at the gadgets you currently have: cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, game systems, etc., and ask yourself: "Is it still working? Do I really need to upgrade to the newest model if this one is working just fine?"…
Concert review: Rodrigo y Gabriela at The Ritz in Ybor (with pics + video)
Rodrigo y Gabriela's "Tamacun" is probably the best new song I've heard this year. There's just something magical and electric about its searing flamenco flavor and unbeatable melody. [All photos by Tracy May.] At this point, you're probably assuming I liked the duo's live show, right? Wrong. "Tamacun" itself is a magnificent piece of music,…
New music releases out Tuesday, March 23: Bonobo, Goldfrapp, Monica, She & Him, Snoop Dogg, the bird and the bee, and more (with video)
This week’s new music releases; to check out a complete breakdown of upcoming releases due out in the next several months (and a list of those ones that have dropped since the year began), click here. Autechre, Oversteps (Warp) Bonnie Prince Billy & the Cairo Gang, Wonder Show of the World (Drag City) The fruits…
A Grand St. Pete weekend: the Honda Grand Prix is back in town
Race over to downtown St. Pete this weekend as the Honda Grand Prix rolls back into town. It should be a fun Thursday night with the free Rev-Up Party at the new Jannus Live, featuring the Greg Billings Band, Tom Gribbin and the Saltwater Band, and Gale Trippsmith. Along with the concerts Thursday night, there…
Photo review: Richard Marx at the Capitol Theatre
Some shots from the solo acoustic show featuring Richard Marx at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater this past Thursday, March 18. Check out the complete photo gallery after the jump.
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, March 23: Somme Wine and Martini Bar 10-10 Tuesdays. I know it's not even the middle of the week yet, but instead of watching Jeopardy or another rerun of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, get outta the house tonight for the best bar deals I've seen, well, maybe ever: get $10 bottles of bubbly…
Choxotica: Gone but not forgotten
Still mourning the loss of Choxotica. Perhaps you read about this unique shop but didn’t get a chance to visit. Eric Green’s chocolate boutique, Choxotica, was in business in North Tampa for just under two years: from October of 2007 until August 2009. I drove by it twice a day for that entire time and…
It’s time for an American energy policy revolution
Forty years ago, nearly 20 million Americans participated in what was the beginning of the modern movement toward environmental awareness. Inspired by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson after witnessing an oil spill off California’s coast, Earth Day was started to spotlight environmental degradation and the need to protect our natural resources. Though some progress has been…
Loads more on health care, a Hillsborough County School Board member changes her tune on cell phone towers, and censorship of books in the Hillsborough School District? Mitch Perry Report:3.23.10
Bill McCollum is getting maximum face time as the GOP gubernatorial candidate continues to advocate against the just passed health care bill on constitutional grounds; A new narrative is coursing its way through the mainstream media vortex; maybe Democrats won't be hurt by the bill now? A very interesting story by CL's Catherine Durkin Robinson…
How to ban books in Hillsborough County Schools
Catherine Durkin Robinson is a handful, creating quite a scene over at Out in Left Field. "It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers…
New web reality show features role playing porn stars- Dungeons and Dragons, that is
The video game enthusiast website The Escapist just released their newest web reality series, "I Hit It With My Axe", which features porn stars and strippers role playing, but not the kind of roles you'd be expecting – think elves, sorcerers, and the like. They're playing Dungeons and Dragons. (This could have also been titled…
Democrats were said to be on “Kamikaze” mission- now it’s the GOP?
Last week South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, in discussing the Democrats push for a health care reform bill, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on a suicide mission. He actually employed more colorful terms: "Nancy Pelosi, I think, has got them all liquored up on sake and you know, they're making a suicide run…
It’s Carpe diem for Bill McCollum in the aftermath of health care bill passing
President Obama is scheduled to sign to sign the health insurance reform bill at 11:15 Tuesday morning. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has promised to file a lawsuit against the portion of the bill mandating that everybody must buy into health insurance immediately after that. The GOP gubernatorial candidate is arguing that the mandate falls…
On the Radar: Festa Italiana in Ybor City
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. Over the years, my father has been fond of saying, “There are two kinds of people in this world: those who are Italian, and those who want to be.” Regardless of which camp you belong to, we can all be…
Do It Today: On the Way to O’Neill’s: JFK in Ireland at Jobsite, The World According to Bart at Mindy Solomon Gallery and Simplified onstage at Skipper’s
is a staged reading of this piece of revisionist history by David Beckett and Ann G. Bauer that imagines what might’ve happened if JFK had survived Dallas. It’s set in 1999, when the former president, now an octogenarian, visits Wexford to mourn the death of his son. Get some insight on the story at the…
Hillsborough County School Board member has change of heart on cell phone towers
Four years ago the Hillsborough County School District awarded Collier Enterprises II a contract to lease school properties to wireless carriers. In late 2008, opposition to cell phone towers placed at Coleman Middle School in South Tampa began a movement by parents and concerned citizens, leading to organized protests before the School Board, the Hillsborough…
The social networking effect: Does it cheapen the process of news reporting?
When I started college in 2006, the Facebook I used was really nothing more than updates (usually mindless) about the minutiae of my friends' lives. The first time I realized that social networking sites had the ability to act as traditional news sources was when Heath Ledger died. I first learned about Ledger's death via…
Oil drilling off our shores: Dean Cannon, we’ve come to know ye
After concluding the House's final workshop on the exploration of oil and gas drilling off Florida coasts on Friday, Rep. Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) outlined three areas he expects the House bill to include when it is released in two weeks. Point #1: Preventing "any visual impact to our beaches" that could "cause visual blight".…
Dreaming of a Hummer
“Dear Dream Momma, I’m female and a young professional living in St. Pete. I am dating this guy from Tampa that I have doubts about even though we have a lot of fun together romantically. Before our dates I look forward to going out but half way through the night I wish I were somewhere…
Concert review: Badfish keeps the sounds of Sublime alive at State Theatre (with pics and video)
Part of the Badfish credo, which is printed on shirts and other merch for the tribute band is, “Keep Sublime Alive.” A relevant request of fans, by a musical group that makes its living off playing shows celebrating the band of all things Long Beach, Long boards and Lou-dog. Rockin’ out and climbing all over…
Rubio launches petition to repeal health care bill
Trying to seize on the collective anger and depression amongst conservatives who have campaigned against health care reform over the past year, Florida GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio announced today that he wants people to sign a petition to repeal the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives last night. “Yesterday’s vote puts…
Field Day: you’re never too old for the sack race, water balloon toss and kickball
Last month, I celebrated my 24th birthday. To commemorate the occasion, I threw a Field Day-themed birthday party. With roughly 25 guests, we were able to relive our greatest childhood moments. You name it, we did it: tug-of-war, water balloon toss, kickball, three-legged race, wheelbarrow race and, of course 20 authentic burlap sacks (thanks to…
Concert review: Little Dragon at Crowbar (with pics!)
The night after St. Patrick's Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to get out for a night of dancing. With significant amounts of Jameson's still coursing through my bloodstream, I headed to Crowbar to catch the Swedish electronica of Little Dragon. [All photos by D. Rich Photography.] The opening act, Joint Custody, started the evening…
RIB-OFF! Welcome to the Savory Sixteen in CL’s Tournament of Ribs
In the second round of voting for CL's Tournament of Ribs, history was made. Not by the ribs themselves, but by the people who eat and make those delectable slabs of meat, smoke, spice and bone. Safety Harbor's Brady's Backyard BBQ headed into the round after assembling a respectable 231 votes in its victory over…
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Kojak’s House of Ribs versus Jimbo’s Pit BBQ
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Jaymer Que BBQ versus Cally’s Sticky Bones BBQ
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Uncle Rodney’s Rib House versus Mike’s Smokehouse BBQ and Grill
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Spoto’s Steak Joint versus Rib City
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Brady’s Backyard BBQ versus Tony Mac’s BBQ
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Angry Pepper versus Buffy’s Southern Pit BBQ
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Jazzy’s BBQ versus Lupton’s Fat Man BBQ
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
RIB-OFF! Savory Sixteen voting: Quick Q BBQ versus Z Grille
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. Voting for this Savory Sixteen match will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 25!
CL party pics: POPsickle Saturdays at CZAR (3-20-10)
CZAR promised popsicles and more pop than you can wrap your mouth around — and Saturday night's grand opening of POPsickle Saturdays certainly delivered. The Party: Bring your dancing shoes cause POPsickles Saturdays at CZAR is one serious dance party, complete with cheap drinks, 80s-90s jams and a stripper pole! Get on the guest list…
Haunted Ybor: Teatro on 7th, Revolve and the Don Vicente Inn
It was appropriately cold and blustery the night I met Chrissy Koplenik in Centro Ybor to talk about the paranormal goings-on in one of Florida's oldest and most infamous neighborhoods. Chrissy owns Ghost Party Paranormal, a company that has been offering guided tours of Ybor's most haunted areas since 1996. Her customized tours range from historically…
Theater Review: American Stage’s Driving Miss Daisy is delightful but weightless
Alfred Uhry’s Driving Miss Daisy is a lovely but remarkably lightweight drama about subjects so potent they could fuel a hundred more ambitious works of theater. Among the issues gently raised and then dropped are black/Jewish relations, racism in the modern South, Jewish assimilation into Christian culture, the effects of the Civil Rights movement on…
New Florida rebates for energy efficient appliances: Your own personal stimulus bill
Have you been postponing replacing an appliance in your home? Wondering when all that Stimulus Bill money is going to benefit us little guys? Well, wait no more! $17.5 million of ARRA money is about to rain down, perhaps someone in our legislative body has a thing for rhymes, because the funds will begin flowing…
House passes health care bill; Karl Rove and David Plouffe square off, and an indepth review of last week’s Hillsborough County Commission meeting (the one where nobody was fired):Mitch Perry Report 3.22.10
We've got reaction from elected officials and some pundits on last night's House vote for health care reform; Before the vote yesterday we watched all of the Sunday morning programs. None were notable other than Karl Rove losing it on ABC; In the wake of repeated references to "Pelosi's Sausage factory", we bring CL readers…
What to expect on your first visit to a swingers club
While a swingers club is much like a vanilla club there is one subtle difference between the two. Most of the people in a swingers club will be getting laid later that evening while a majority of the people in a vanilla club will be going home alone. The first visit to a swingers club can…
Keeping score at Hillsborough’s latest taxpayer funded backstabbing match; one CL reader calls Hagan’s performance an ineffective bravado with a flaccid finish.
Another taxpayer funded circus parade marched through County Center Wednesday afternoon. Embattled County Administrator Pat Bean has been under fire for raises to herself and others (which she later had to be forced to give back). Those raises in question are under still under investigation by the FDLE at the request of Commissioner Kevin Beckner…
This Friday in Tampa: Duncan Sheik at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik has been through quite a career transformation, from weathered-voiced pop-rock troubadour to musical theater composing guru. He made the surprising leap to theater with his off-Broadway debut of the Tony-winning rock musical, Spring Awakening, in 2006. The show was a global phenomenon, breathed new life into Sheik’s career, and debuted on Broadway…
Obama gets it done- Democrats celebrate passage of health care bill in the House
As USA Today reports, it will take years to sort out the winners and losers among consumers, insurers and health care providers following last night's historic 219-202 vote in the House of Representatives on a health care bill that first and foremost will cover an additional 32 million Americans by expanding Medicaid and providing federal…
A Gay in the Life: Love thy neighbor, even if they’re Christian
According to Westboro Baptist Church's GodHatesFags.com, gay murder victim Matthew Shepard has been in Hell (as I write this) for 4, 178 days. The site informs readers that "All the candlelight vigils [and] all the acts of Congress … will not shorten his sentence by … one day, [and] will not buy him one drop of…
It Happened This Week-ish: Lady Gaga phones home, Kate & Leo finally get their chance, Jesse James has an affair with a tattooed Nazi (kinda), a Top Chef babydaddy and more…
OK, like I totally don't want to over-think this, but I am pretty sure Lady Gaga is sending me a message to call her. Ryan Adams is the musical genius of our time. Mostly because we are all left wondering if he is serious about any side project he throws out into the interwebs until it…
Do It Today: Andy Roddick at the Tampa Tennis Classic, Blue Willow at American Stage and more
Luminaries of tennis’s past and present serve it up for a good cause at the St. Pete Times Forum. Superstars Andy Roddick and Jim Courier headline the Tampa Tennis Classic to raise money for Raymond James Courier’s Kids, which supports the First Serve program that reaches out to inner city youth to embrace not only…
On the Radar: Urban Charrette’s Eco.lution — the Eco.expo, Eco.festival, and Paint the Town Green
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. Get ready for Earth Day a month early by going green with the Urban Charrette for their Eco.lution events this weekend. The Eco.expo kicks off the three-day event with a green products trade show at The Ritz Ybor, showcasing environmentally…
It’s done: House votes 219-212 in favor of health care legislation
It's a done deal. After all the soul-deadening debate, the name-calling and the lies and the questionable deals, we're there. With the House vote tonight — 219-212 in favor of the Obama legislation — we're as close to universal health care as the United States has ever been. But you know, in reading the reports…
Concert review: Air at Hard Rock Live in Orlando (with pics + setlist)
We took an end-of-the-weekend sojourn and headed over to Orlando last Sunday, March 14, to see French electro-pop duo Air play at Hard Rock Live. A group of us had reserved a few rooms at Universal Orlando’s Loews Portofino Bay Resort for an overnight stay thanks to our good friend and fellow concertgoer who worked…
CD review: Freeway & Jake One, The Stimulus Package
For indie rap label Rhymesayers to land a deal with former Roc-A-Fella star Freeway says a lot about the rap industry in 2010. More and more rappers seem to be recognizing that nurturing a consistent core fanbase with tight, no-bullshit LPs might be a better long-term strategy than pursuing blockbuster crossover sales by crafting endless…
Fear factor dominates talk show discussion before health care vote
Since Barack Obama became president, Karl Rove has become one of his leading intellectual critics on the right, with his weekly Wall Street Journal column, his regular appearances as a paid commentator for Fox News, and in other media appearance as he hawks his new memoir, Courage and Consequences. Scheduled to go one-on-one with Barack…
The Green Community week in review: Clean Energy Citizen Action Day, reader submissions needed for the Green Issue, light rail campaign begins, and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: Tampa's fourth annual Clean City Day – The City of Tampa will be hosting the Fourth Annual Clean City Day on Saturday, March 20, in conjunction with The Great American Cleanup, and they need…
Tired of beltway talk on “how the sausage is being made”? See the real thing (video)
I think it was during CNN's Reliable Sources program Sunday morning discussing the reporting of the health care debate that I officially reached my quota of references to the difficult process in the Democrats crafting the legislation (what with "Deem and Pass", "reconciliation", et al). Invariably, the messiness in putting together bills like the health…
Movie Review: Noah Baumbach’s Greenberg, starring Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rhys Ifans
Noah Baumbach’s latest gets us hooked from the start — by simply following around the character of Florence doing her daily routine. During the opening credits the camera lingers on her face as she’s driving. We are watching Baumbach fall in love with the talents of his young star Greta Gerwig (also my new cinematic…
The last great wall of adulthood: Do we or don’t we become parents — of a dog?
I had been minding my own business, always a sure sign of trouble, when a life-altering decision came into view and stood in the middle of the highway of my life. My wife called me just after she had learned of it, and she wanted to know what we should do. We have technically been…
Read all about it: The 2010 Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) (With pictures and video)
[Editor's Note: For all the latest movie news and reviews, check out the Daily Loaf Movies Index.] If you've hit Daily Loaf at all this week, you've probably caught some of our coverage of the 2010 Gasparilla International Film Festival. Hell, with over a dozen posts on the fest in the last four days, I…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Talal Jabari’s Full Signal (with trailer video)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore, Mitch Perry's longer story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] Talal Jabari's Full Signal, a 61 minute documentary that looks at the…
Tampa City Council approves zoning for 150-foot monopole tower in Sunset Park
Residents and business owners of Sunset Park are surprised and outraged at the 4-2 passing of the Tampa City Council vote on the 150-foot zoning law for a new monopole tower in South Tampa. The tower will be built in a community strip on the edge of the neighborhood just off of Henderson, just 30-feet…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Mike Walter’s Breaking News Breaking Down, featuring Kelly Ring (with trailer video)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore, Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] Breaking News, Breaking Down is a film about journalists dealing with post traumatic…
HIllsborough Republicans want to impress RNC on having Tampa host the 2012 Republican Convention
After being also-rans in the competition to host the Republican National Convention in both 2004 and 2008, local Republican officials really hope that the third time will be the charm – and they may be correct. With only Salt Lake City and Pheonix as its competition, Tampa will put on its best face later this…
Making laundry time a little greener
Whether you've realized it or not, your laundry machines use a lot of energy and water. Luckily, there are new more efficient alternatives to those old school machines. There now an array of energy efficient washing machines and dryers out there (and they're pretty snazzy looking, too) by the big manufacturers, like LG, Maytag, Whirlpool,…
Reel Projections podcast: Joe Bardi on The Grind talking Gasparilla International Film Festival and Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler in The Bounty Hunter (with audio)
For more movie news and reviews, check out the CL index of movie posts. The Reel Projections podcast crew has been going out of their heads this week, with my reporting on the Gasparilla International Film Festival (did you watch the videos from opening night yet?), and the dynamic duo of Kevin Hopp and Rabid…
Dreaming of murdered twins
"dream momma, I have an interesting dream for you – perhaps interesting LOL. Ive been having a recurring dream for a very long time. It consists of twin boys who were murdered in my dream and they come back to ask me to find out who did it. Every time i dream it i get that…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Bout That Bout (with trailer video)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] I'm not a fighter, so the idea that high-school kids can benefit from…
Project Runway Podcast Ep. 9: We talk to Ben Chmura about getting auf’ed and the NYC Challenge
Thank you Lifetime for giving me two team challenges this season, cuz you know how I love the drama. This week's challenge: Teams + Day look + Evening look + inspired by a NYC neighborhood = whoa. The teams: Anthony and Maya : Chinatown Amy and Jonathan : Upper East Side Emilio and Seth Aaron…
Wine and cheese pairing: Two rules and a few suggestions
It’s no secret that I love wine. But my relationship with cheese has been going on since I was a child. I was probably eight years old when I discovered the cheese course at the end of a meal. We lived in Europe and I was fortunate to be introduced to an amazing array of…
Priority Records and Snoop Dogg present The West Coast Blueprint + re-releases by Eazy-E, EPMD and Master P
The first time I saw Snoop Dogg perform was at a show that was part of the "Up In Smoke Tour" in the summer of 2000. He seemed to float around stage and sounded as good as his CDs despite being in such a big venue. That night, he shared the stage with the likes…
As the page turns: this week in new comic books … comics are like Wal-Mart, and what’s a Cat-Girl?
A comic book is a lot like Wal-Mart. You don't have to be able to read to enjoy it. It's cheap, at least compared to other forms of entertainment, and you can find a comic book almost anywhere. And sometimes an idiot somehow grabs the reigns (or the PA) and takes control. This week in comics…
Tea Rose Cottage in Ybor plays host to Alice and her Wonderland friends
Last Thursday in Ybor City, the afternoon's high tea ceremony at the Tea Rose Cottage was a little bit "curiouser" than usual. Local artists, re-invented as a variety of Lewis Carroll's beloved creations, invaded the little tea house nestled on the corner of Centinnial Park to share scones, tea, and photo ops prior to a…
Nerdy is the new sexy
Forget your typical hunks like David Beckham and Brad Pitt because nerdy is the new 'sexy'. What is it about nerdy guys that turns us ladies on? Is it the way they know their way around a hard drive, their deep appreciation for shows like Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who, or because Comic-Con is their…
Kick the habit (the meat habit) on Meatout Day, March 20
March 20 isn't just the first day of spring, it also marks Meatout Day – the world's largest and oldest annual grassroots diet education campaign aimed at educating people about the benefits of cutting out meat from their diets and enjoying more plant-based foods. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Meatout Day, the movement…
2 Florida House Democrats undecided on health care, high speed rail construction to begin within a year, and March Madness begins, baby!:Mitch Perry report 3.19.10
Although I've seen no references to it yet today, this Friday does mark the 7th anniversary of the beginning of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Nobody talks about Iraq much anymore, but we're all about the raging health care debate. Two Florida House Democrats are among the group of undecideds going into Sunday's climactic vote…
Two undecided Florida House Democrats now say they’ll vote for health care bill
As we write this at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Florida Democratic Representatives Allen Boyd and Suzanne Kosmas remain uncommitted on the health care bill that House members are scheduled to vote on Sunday. Though not called out by name, they are part of the undecideds, or as Politico refers to them today, The Drama Queen…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Endure, starring Judd Nelson, Tom Arnold and Joey Lauren Adams (with video)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] Shot right next door in Lakeland, Endure is a great looking police procedural…
Do it this weekend: Cavalia, live art in Tampa and St. Pete, Women of Jazz, WMNF skate bash, WineRave, FossilFest, Mutt Strut and more
Some things just go together: peanut butter and jelly, Ross and Rachel, hipsters and PBR, cirque and… horses? Hey, here’s to unexpected combos like Cavalia, where “equestrian arts are infused with magic” for a fairy tale-like stage extravaganza that blends live music, high-flying acrobatics, visual effects and a herd of 60 horses for a show…
On the Radar: 11th annual Tampa Bay Tattoofest
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. Tampa is a multicolored mosaic of people with tatted up arms and legs, backs, shoulders and rib cages, flashing everything from Koi fish to cherry blossom trees, Japanese waves, detailed portraits, twirled tribals and countless other personal vignettes etched artistically…
Opening night at the 2010 Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF): Armand Assante, Raymond J. Barry, Charlie Belcher and more (with pictures and video)
The 2010 Gasparilla International Film Festival got underway Thursday night with a red carpet gala at the Tampa Theatre. Those assembled included stars (Armand Assante, Raymond J. Barry), politicos (Rep. Kevin Ambler, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp) and you, members of the general public who just love the movies. Turnout was solid, the food at the…
Highlights from the 2010 Harvest of Hope Festival (with lots of pics)
The 2010 Harvest of Hope Festival was a mixture of heat, mud, guitars, and, of course, good music. Here's some highlights from my journey to this year's festival. [All photos by Mike Wilson.] FRIDAY, MARCH 12: DAY 1 7:29 p.m. I learn from an organizer that $0.85 of every $1 made by the festival goes…
Kaeli Conforti – Contributor
An aspiring travel writer who loves to write, edit and dabble in photography, Kaeli wants to one day travel the world and write about her adventures. She is a recent graduate of USF St. Petersburg with a B.A. in Mass Communications. So far, she has lived in New York, Hawaii and Florida, and visited 11…
Can online gaming solve world problems? (video)
One of the reasons I'm so optimistic that we can change our ways and combat global climate change is because I am a former World of Warcraft player and I know what an "epic win" feels like. Check out this video below of a TED talk with Jane McGonigal, a video game designer, who believes…
So they cheated, so what? A defense of Tiger Woods, Jesse James, John Edwards et al
Catherine Durkin Robinson is a handful, creating quite a scene over at Out in Left Field. I’m sick of hearing about philandering husbands. As a society, we’ve invented so many reasons to get upset, create a scene, destroy ourselves and each other. Isn’t life in general and marriage in particular difficult enough? John Edwards, Mark…
FCC to hold Media Ownership Workshop in Tampa on April 20
The FCC announced yesterday that they will be returning back to Tampa next month, where "cross-ownership" will be the theme. The government agency is apparently re-exploring newspaper-broadcast and TV-radio cross-ownership rules. The event will be held at the Marshall Center on the USF campus from 3 p.m. to 7:30, and according to the FCC will:…
RIB-OFF! Voting update and tight races in CL’s Tournament of Ribs
We thought that last week's round of 64 saw some fierce battles in CL's Tournament of Ribs, but they were nothing compared to some of the furious fights taking place in this week's voting. And first up is the War for North Pinellas — Brady's Backyard BBQ versus Smokin' Rib Shack. Brady's managed an impressive…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Sensored (with video trailer)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] The titular neologism of Sensored promises an interesting mix of shocking material and…
March Madness is still exciting, but college basketball ain’t what it used to be
Today begins the second day of the NCAA's Basketball Tournament, with games beginning at noon and going past midnight. It's the most intense weekend of activity in the three week tourney, which will climax on Monday, April 4 from Indianapolis. Yesterday's opening day of 16 games was filled with thrills and suprises, and was a…
Focusing your social media strategy to benefit your small business
Small business owners spend a lot of time on social media to promote themselves. They do so through Facebook fan pages, Twitter conversations, keeping a blog or posting photos of new products to their Flickr pages. (If you’re not doing these things, you should be. Contact me.) It’s how you build your tribe, amass your…
Baseball spring training is here — play hooky
The seemingly never-ending winter looks like it finally may be behind us, and that forecast in the 70s means that I can now, in good faith, finally declare it “spring.” So, this week, whether it is your spring break from college or a regular 9-to-5 work week, take advantage of this newfound warmth and get…
The Permaculture Guild needs your help to continue their efforts in Haiti
I'm assisting a permaculture relief team in Haiti currently with The Permaculture Guild, a group of six permaculturists who were first responders for the earthquake – five who are still there. They have saved lives by putting in sanitation systems and low tech water filtration, which were the key areas where lives were at risk…
Movie Review: Repo Men, starring Jude Law, Forest Whitaker and Liev Schreiber (with trailer video)
[Editor's Note: Repo Men opens Fri., March 19 at area theaters. (Check showtimes here.) For more reviews of the biggest new releases, check out the Daily Loaf Movie Review Index.] Ten years ago, you might have scoffed at the idea that our economy could be in the horrific state we see today, where people are forced to…
Exotic dancer uses labor law to sue D.C. club over wages
Quansa Thompson, an exotic dancer in Washington D.C., is suing her former employer, The House, in U.S. District Court, citing the the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 – claiming the club didn't pay her like the full-time employee she was. Thompson was fired from The House last summer after threatening to sue the…
Concert review: Kool Keith at Czar (with pics + video)
Kool Keith, the man with many monikers, blessed the Sunday crowd at Czar with a set only a man with numerous namesakes could pull off. It included everything from "Ease Back" and "Ego Tripping" from his days as part of the Ultramagnetic MCs to "Blue Flowers" (Dr. Octogon) as well as "Livin' Astro" under his…
MegaCon 2010: Nerd hordes descend on Orlando to celebrate Star Wars, Star Trek, Lea Thompson and more … (with pics and video)
Last weekend, MegaCon 2010 took over the Orlando Convention Center, providing a haven for everything nerd. The Con included appearances by artists and celebrities, and displays on comic books, video games, movie makers, role-playing and even a sword-fighting ring. If it's nerdy, it was at MegaCon. Fortunately, Rabid Nick Reefer and I were there to…
Previously on Lost: “Recon”
Oh, Lost. How I marvel at your ability to deliver entertaining episodes with strong performances by central characters we love but advance the plot of the story only mere inches at a time. Tuesday night's sexy, Sawyer-centered episode "Recon," answered some questions, glossed over others and focused a lot on a single character in both…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Friends (With Benefits) (with video trailer)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] If you ever sat around with your friends talking about your lives in…
Janet Cruz busted on 2nd homestead exemption, rail campaign begins in Hillsborough and Morning Joe coming to Tampa: Mitch Perry Report 3.18.10
We caught a lot (but not all) of yesterday's long day journey into night discussion at the Hillsborough County Commission regarding the fate of Pat Bean, Renee Lee, and Jim Barnes. We hope to have more commentary on the event later for you, but because we didn't focus on every minute of the debate, we…
With ballot language now approved, the campaign for light rail begins
As we reported here yesterday, Hillsborough County Commissioners (finally!) approved the 75 magic words that will appear on the November ballot regarding the 1-cent sales tax referendum on transportation. That doesn't mean that everything has been wrapped up in a nice little bow, though. There are several other hurdles to be dealt with, such as…
Janet Cruz 2nd homestead exemption revoked – says she’ll pay more than $30K in back taxes
Although newly elected state Representative Janet Cruz dismissed the stories as "smears" by her Democratic opponent in the House District 58 special election primary back in January, the St. Pete Times today confirms that Cruz has been found to be in violation of state law that allows family units to claim only one homestead exemption,…
Must-see show tonight: Swedish electro foursome Little Dragon at Crowbar
If you haven’t noticed, Swedish electronica is everywhere these days: Peter Bjorn and John, Röyksopp, Koop, The Knife, and Fever Ray are getting bombed with critical love from all the major music sites. The newest addition to the craze is Little Dragon, and if you’re not familiar with them now – you will be soon.…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Trippin’ (with teaser trailer video)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] Trippin' is an indie horror/comedy that pays tribute to the films of Troma…
Do It Today: Universoul Circus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the Palm Harbor Citrus Fest and more
Let some fun shine in at Universoul Circus, with high-flying performances by acrobatic aerialists, dancing in the aisles to a love concert of songs spanning from Motown hits to today's chart-toppers, acrodunk stunt b-ballers, contortionists, a daring tiger act and more. Visit universoulcircus.com for info and full schedule. March 18-21, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. It's…
Head of Florida High Speed Rail project says construction should begin within the next year
The head of the organization in charge of the high speed rail project in Florida says that construction along the Tampa to Orlando rail line should begin within the next year. Nazih Haddad is the chief operating officer for the Florida Rail Enterprise a new office within the state's department of Transportation, created by the…
“Morning Joe” coming to Tampa
MSNBC's daily three-hour political morning talk show starring Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski that's absolutely essential viewing for political junkies, is coming to Tampa next Thursday. The crew will be broadcasting live from Alexander Elementary School cafeteria on North Lois Avenue. According to an e-mail distributed by Hillsborough County School Board spokesperson Kristin Jernigan, the…
Concert review: The Mercury Program kicks off their triumphant return at Crowbar
A few hundred fans turned up at Crowbar this past Friday night to hear and witness the return of The Mercury Program [pictured, photo by Phil Bardi]. While the foursome has been playing together over the past several months (they released their first studio album in seven years, Chez Viking, last November), this was their…
Arne Duncan wants to ban NCAA teams with low graduation rates
On the eve of the NCAA College Basketball tournament, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan blasted the fact that several of the basketball teams participating have horrible graduation rates, and proposed in the future that schools must have at least 40% of their players graduate to be eligible for postseason play. "We're trying to prepare…
Welsh company unveils modular homes made out of recycled plastic
Welsh housing company Affresol has developed a material to build their modular homes that's cheap, readily available and doesn't involve chopping down tons of trees – from recycled plastic. The Swansea, Wales-based company has developed Thermo Poly Rock, a waterproof, fire-retardant and rot-proof material from recycled plastic mixed with resin that pours like concrete (and…
Kendrick Meek latest Democrat to bash Obama administration over Israel tiff
Over the course of the past week, tensions between the U.S. and Israeli governments have intensified. That began after Vice President Joe Biden was embarrassed last week when the Israel government announced an expansion of 1,600 settlements in East Jerusalem while he was visiting the nation. Last Friday, Secretary Hillary Clinton expressed "dismay and disappointment"…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: The Back Nine (with video preview)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] With beautiful locations, a compelling narrative and very likeable subject, The Back Nine…
American Idol Top 12 Recap: We get it, “Big Mike” and Crystal are amazing…can we be done now?
Why are we even here? Seriously, American Idol…why am I still watching you this season? You have forsaken me. Last week's results show was the first time in my long and sordid history with Idol that I actually believed we need a "judges' override." There is no way in hell or heaven or earth that…
3 Guys & Chuck — The Podcast: “Chuck vs. The Tic Tac”
3 Guys and Chuck the Podcast have returned this week for Chuck vs. The Tic Tac. Last week, we said we had seen the best episode of Chuck ever. Was this week's episode able to top that awesomeness? "Chuck vs. the Tic Tac" centered around John Casey’s background, and featured an appearance from Terminator 2…
Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) movie review: Brainjacked (with video preview)
[Editor's Note: For more coverage of GIFF, check out Joe Bardi's cover story on GIFF and expanded Q&A with festival President Chad Moore Mitch Perry's story on festival entry Full Signal, and more reviews of some of the films playing the festival.] Brainjacked, a low budget indie sci-fi/horror flick filmed in St. Petersburg, is filled…
Florida bans movies with “non-traditional” themes from receiving tax incentives for shooting in the state
In an effort to attract filmmakers to the Sunshine state, the Florida legislature has in place financial incentives for people who make their movie here. These incentives include tax breaks and sometimes even grants, but thanks to State Rep. Stephen Precourt (R-Orlando, pictured right), the rules on who is eligible for these dollars have been…
The Reuben, perfect for all that leftover corned beef after St. Patrick’s Day
Who doesn’t love a great sandwich? They’re quick and easy to prepare. They’re pretty much self-contained, portable and are appropriate in almost any situation. The various possible combinations and ratios of breads and fillings are virtually endless. And, they are delicious! When my father was alive, his office was right down the hall from mine.…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Bear in Heaven
Brooklyn based Bear in Heaven formed back in late 2002 by Atlanta’s multi-talented Jon Philpot and incorporated psychedelic, electronic and krautrock (late 60’s, early 70’s German experimental music) and have be compared to Pink Floyd and Animal Collective. Previously, Jon recorded with Need Thomas Windhamas in a band called Presocratics; in 2001 the duo released…
Hillsborough Commissioners approve ballot language for transit tax
By a 5-2 vote, Hillsborough County Commissioners have approved ballot language that will go before voters for a one cent sales tax transit referendum in November. The board approved a revision to two earlier drafts that was proposed by Commissioner Rose Ferlita, who was mocked by some in the press for her deliberations at last…
What’s your green idea? We want to hear from you for our upcoming Green Issue!
How do you do green? Last year we announced The Green 100. For this year's Green Issue, we want to hear from you — and what better day to announce this than the day synonymous with green? (Okay, not the eco-friendly kind of green, but you get the idea.) We're looking for ideas on how…
Obesity trims years off your pet’s life
Not only are Americans increasingly overweight, so are our dogs. A vet friend of mine who taught a seminar on canine health says that obesity trims three years off a dog’s life expectancy. Three years! Given that our dogs never, ever live long enough as it is, giving up three years of my best friend’s…
A Gay in the Life: Please don’t ask me, “Who’s on top?”
I’d like to preface this post by noting that I am not easily offended. I grew up in a tattoo shop — not because my parents were getting sleeves and forgot me but because of my stepfather’s career choice. Take a moment and think of a type of tattoo. Any type — from butterfly to…
Indian Rocks Beach Green Fest this Saturday
Start celebrating Earth Day a month early by joining other eco-friendly folks at the Indian Rocks Beach Green Fest this weekend. Some of the festivities will include live music, local food, activities for the little ones (including a "bouncy house"), eco-friendly vendors, and a raffle which includes a prize for a gulf front beach weekend…
McCollum stays aggressive on health care, immigration reform discussed at USF, and President Obama does Fox:Mitch Perry Report 3.17.10
Happy St. Patty's day to all of you. There's lots of drama on store at the Board of Hillsborough County Commission meeting today. Our Kelly Cornelius has two separate takes on it all. Attorney General Bill McCollum has been pretty clear (unlike his Democratic gubernatorial challenger) on what he thinks of the federal health care…
CD review: Jimi Hendrix, Valleys of Neptune
How are we supposed to feel about the seemingly endless plundering of this man's grave? The tape vaults are apparently still fertile ground for the picking if this latest posthumous Jimi Hendrix release is any indication. Certainly Hendrix himself would disapprove of his unfinished material reaching the masses, but he is most decidedly dead and…
Speakers at USF Forum on immigration reform say their time is now
As CL's Blaire Yancy writes in another post published today, there is a major demonstration for comprehensive immigration reform scheduled for this Sunday in Washington D.C., and at an event last night on the Tampa campus of USF, organizers were busy recruiting as many people as possible to travel from Tampa for the weekend's activities.…
Having emergency contraception available preemptively doesn’t change pregnancy or STI rates
A new study reported in The Cochrane Library found that giving women emergency contraceptive drugs before they're needed doesn’t reduce pregnancy rates. Emergency contraception works up to five days after unprotected sex. However, some countries don’t offer these drugs over the counter and it may be difficult to arrange a doctors appointment in time. To…
Bill McCollum’s relentless grandstanding on health care continues
Bill McCollum is a political animal. Nothing wrong with that, as I personally admire such creatures. But voters should keep that in mind as they hear the Attorney General and potentially next Governor of Florida weigh in again on the dominant domestic political issue over the past year, health care reform. Yesterday in Tallahassee, for…
Review of Cavalia at FL State Fairgrounds: Pretty horses, pretty amazing
It took me a while to warm up to Cavalia, the equine extravaganza under the White Big Top at the Florida State Fairgrounds through March 21. The pre-show audience quiz, projected onto a scrim, was informative — 62 horses! 28 stallions! Lusitanos! Oldenburgs! Warmbloods! (breeds, for those of you as un-horsey as I am) —…
Immigration Reformers Will March in Washington, D.C.
Hispanic Organization Democracia USA hosted a forum at USF on Tuesday to discuss Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the DREAM Act, two bills before the U.S. House of Representatives that call for improvements on a variety of issues involving undocumented immigrants in America. Democracia USA, partnered with Reform Immigration for America (RIFA) and Florida Immigrant Coalition…
March Madness at the circus
The Circus is in town again today. No, not Barnum and Bailey, more like Barnes, Lee, and Bean for the sequel of last week's taxpayer funded train wreck under Hillsborough's Big Top otherwise known as County Center. But today the circus meets March madness since none of the three embattled county employees (who are battling…
Three rings, three stooges, and one big train wreck!
Photo credit: wolfsavard @Flickr.com So a sexual harasser, an email hacker, and an attorney walk into a bar………..oh wait, that wasn't a bar that was County Center! Cue the circus music. I have written about our local circus before but last week this circus train completely fell off its tracks. This train wreck, otherwise known…
You could learn a thing or two from the Irish
Catherine Durkin Robinson is a handful, creating quite a scene over at Out in Left Field. Targets of discrimination — listen up. Here's how you beat bigotry with style. How many of you are familiar with the story of the Irish? It ain't about green beer (oh the horror), corned beef and cabbage. What is…
Saving face on Facebook
Is this relationship divine or bedeviled?
Gasparilla International Film Festival kicks off the spring filmfest season
The 2010 spring film festival season in Tampa Bay gets off to a rousing start this weekend with the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF), which invades the Tampa Theatre, CinéBistro in Hyde Park and the Muvico Centro Ybor starting on Thursday. In coming weeks the Sunscreen Film Festival, Ybor Festival of the Moving Image and…
RIB-OFF! Round 2 voting: First Choice BBQ versus Jazzy’s BBQ
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. But first: Vote in this matchup!
RIB-OFF! Round 2 voting: Big John’s Alabama BBQ versus Uncle Rodney’s Rib House
We're pitting Tampa Bay's best ribs against each other in our RIB-OFF! 2010 Tournament of Ribs. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/ribs. But first: Vote in this matchup!
The Green Community week in review: National Coffee Party Day, solar powered iPhone case, Nike’s ‘green’ World Cup uniforms and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: Building Green, thinking green – Grant Rimbey CNU reviews the green and sustainable home building series Building Green and offers reviews on two recent books: Whole Earth Discipline, An Ecopragmatist Manifesto by Stewart Brand,…
SXSW 2010 Interactive diary (with photos, video)
Greetings and welcome from Austin, Texas, home to the annual South By Southwest Music, Film & Interactive conference. I'm hitting up a bunch of Interactive panels, all dealing with social media and journalism in the era of new media —the past, present and future of the Internet. Here's coverage of the six days of geekdom (scroll to bottom…
CL’s Lost Podcast: Season 6, Ep. 6 “Dr. Linus”
This week is a very special one for CL's Lost podcast. In addition to the triumphant, back-from-the-dead return of Fat Jesus to the podcast mic, Host Joe is joined by London, Ham Gravy, Music Editor Leilani Polk and ex-Political Whore and current UF Professor Wayne Garcia, who lends his smooth baritone and intimate knowledge of…
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St. Patrick’s Day 2010 events across Tampa Bay
It’s that time of year again: time for green beer, shamrocks and kissing strangers who claim to be Irish – and a whole host of venues gets in on the celebration. The Dubliner's St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza isn't for the faint of heart. They're not just filling up the pub with Irish-inspired booze and food…
Joe Bardi talks Cop Out, American Idol, and Raging Bull 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 Kevin Smith's Cop Out, why…
