New music: Asilo, Fine Goods
I am so sick of hearing people say that Tampa doesn't have a good music scene. What a load of crap! I'll admit that we are no Nashville, but we've come a long way! Let's not forget that U2 just played an epic show at Raymond James Stadium. 70,000 people were packed in like sardines…
Dreaming of being a closet Republican
“’m a guy who lives in Tampa. I don't remember my dreams often, but I had one a few weeks ago that was rather disturbing It was 2012 and I found myself voting for Richard Nixon, who had somehow gotten his name on the ballot again, instead of voting for Obama like I wanted to.…
Something is wrong in America
Will you stand? Comment what you're standing for here locally in Tampa bay.
Single mom dreams of help raising her son
“Dream Momma, I dream I was climbing a mountain. I was pushing my son up it and just when I reached the top a car blocked me the headlights blinded me and a guy steps out reaches his arm out to help me and falls off the mountain. Now I'm saying I'm stuck, I can't…
NBA season preview 2009-2010: Lebron, Lakers still on top
The NFL has a lot of bad teams. Entering Week Six, nine teams, the Bills, Lions, Panthers, Bucs, Rams, Browns, Titans, Raiders and Chiefs all had a combined five wins… and some of those teams had played each other! Any NFL preview of those teams at the beginning of the season turned out to be…
Rabid movie review: Lars von Trier’s Antichrist
The opening prologue to Lars von Trier's Antichrist is so visually and rhythmically arresting that it lures the viewer into a state of calm that will slowly be smeared over broken glass as the film progresses. The director seems to take great pleasure leading the viewer through a wilderness of both pleasure and horrific despair.…
Down for the count… the tale of the tragically flaccid
There are many times in my life/daily activities when I can be heard mumbling under my breath, "Man, I wish I was a guy." This is accurate on most accounts. It sucks bleeding every month for days on end, having a kid come out of your lower body looks pretty shitty, and general upkeep is…
The Great Goddess, a dream guide, a red rose and affirmation
“Hello Dream Momma! I saw your video from the St. Petersburg short film festival on http://www.roblimo.com/ and a dream that I had in the wee hours of Saturday came to mind. I was starting a job at a company I worked for 25 years ago, and only one person was still there (she would be…
Retro-sexing, ex-sex, and re-cycling old flames
An inquisitive reader emailed me wanting to know my opinion on retro-sexing, ex-sex, & re-fucking an old flame.
The changing face of pimpitude in America
My company recently sent me to attend a three-day work conference. I won’t elaborate as to which city hosted the conference as I’d hate to incriminate this fine town for its legal and moral shortcomings. Suffice it to say, the city boasts casinos, and prostitution is against the law… I think. As I sat in…
How to solve the homeless crisis, the energy crisis and the banking crisis in Florida and around the world!
How to solve the homeless crisis, the energy crisis and the banking crisis in Florida and around the world! In St. Petersburg Florida the taxpayers are being asked to take $450,000,000.00 (that’s about half a billion dollars!) of their tax money to build a new baseball stadium. In neighboring Hillsborough County, they are looking for…
Photo Review: Vivian Girls, Sleepy Vikings & Hippodrome
A veritable dance party erupted at Crowbar Tuesday evening during and between splendid sets by Vivian Girls (NYC), Sleepy Vikings (Tampa) & Hippodrome (Tampa). Vivian Girls Everything went right for the highly anticipated Vivian Girls set last night… well mostly right – there was one minor snag with a misbehaving guitar resulting in frequent string…
On the Radar: Abilities Foundation Pig Roast
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Break out your best duds and take your little piggies to Clearwater Beach next Friday for the Abilities Guild’s Pig Roast Gone Sassy. The guild needs you to help bring home the bacon for the Abilities Foundation, a nonprofit…
Do It Today: Race Across the Sky with Lance Armstrong, Art:21 and more
See a panel discussion with Lance Armstrong, his coach Chris Carmichael, six-time defending Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) champion Dave Wiens (pictured) and other elite cyclists broadcast before the theatrical debut of Race Across the Sky. This cycle-mentary is about the LT100 race in Leadville, CO, which attracts more than 1,000 entries each year and challenges…
100% Organic, USDA Certified Organic, All Natural – What do they all mean?
If you don’t understand the definitions of each of the terms, you may not end up buying what you are looking for! Here's what you need to know… The USDA enforces proper organic production and categorizes the terms in the following manner: -Products with the "100% Organic" seal include products with 100% organically produced (raw…
Television Review: MTV’s Ultimate Parkour Challenge (with video)
Editor's Note: MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge premieres tonight, Oct. 22 at 10 p.m. on MTV and will air repeatedly thereafter. MTV has long been a youth-sucking goliath; it’s bloated corporate girth waddling to the trough of whatever cool new thing the kids are into before swallowing it whole and shitting out a processed log of…
Buca Di Beppo hands out free pasta on World Pasta Day (Monday, Oct. 26)
? Sheesh, another holiday rammed through the legal system by those Hallmark lobbyists. I guess I better start working on my homemade dried pasta sheets printed with happy pasta day sentiments now, so they'll make it through the mail system in time for the big day. How will you be celebrating this important holiday. You…
Dreaming of killing cockroaches
“I'm from Tampa Bay area. I read your blog. For a couple of nights now I have been having a recurring dream. I keep seeing a line of cockroaches crawling on the floor and I kill them. What exactly does this means?” (sic) If you think of the cockroach as a symbol you can begin…
The Walking Dead: Why You Should “Fear the Hunters”
The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s incredible tale of ongoing survival horror, is THE most consistently great comic book series on shelves today. It's so good, that it's being developed into a television series for AMC (the same folks airing the critically acclaimed drama Mad Men). Image Comics has been publishing The Walking…
The Cove: Proof a documentary can change the world
If you missed it, The Cove is a documentary about the Japanese town of Taijii — the scene of a brutal, annual hunt and slaughter of dolphins. The film is much more than a collection of horrifying images; it's also at turns beautiful, suspenseful, and even comical. (The Cove is also one of the first…
Hillsborough County Commissioners vote to look into possible homeless shelter in Tampa
Stung by criticism over the past week after rejecting a proposed tent city homeless shelter, the Hillsborough County Commissioners voted unanimously today to looked at the 'viability' of a shelter at a former mall located on Florida Avenue and Busch Boulevard. But it was hardly a ringing endorsement of the proposal brought forth by Commissioner…
Wednesday-music.com profile: Monsters of Folk (with audio)
The super group Monsters of Folk is made up of actual "monsters of folk" Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), M. Ward (of late, the "him" of She and Him), and producer Mike Mogis (Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley, Sea Wolf, Cursive, etc). The foursome first came together as a result of a…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, October 21: The NoHo Bistro A Palette for Your Palate. The bistro’s ingenious culinary team pairs five tapas tastings with a new wine each week. Tonight's Pinot Grigio palette promises to be lip-smackingly lovely. $15. 5-8 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691) Wednesday, October 21: Rigatoni Tuscan Oven Wild Tuscan Wednesdays. Indulge in…
Eco apocalyptic films: A glimpse of our future?
We've been hearing about the plethora of environmental films and docu-dramas out today that preach about changing our ways concerning our food, climate change, pesticide use, and so on (Food Inc., The Age of Stupid, Fresh, A Chemical Reaction, etc.). But did you ever look at Mad Max as an "eco film"? Its portrayal of…
Fantasy Fest, 7 days of painted naked people (NSFW photos)
I don’t know how many of you are aware of the week long debauchery party that takes place down in Key West every year. AKA Fantasy Fest. This year they’re celebrating 30 years of parades, painted naked people, drunken stupors and casual sex. Fantasy Fest was originated as a way to bring tourist to Key…
Foster supports domestic partner benefits, Rubio gains ground on Crist, and Hillsborough Commissioners look at new proposals for the homeless; Mitch Perry Report 10.21.09
This reporter was at the latest Bill Foster/Kathleen Ford debate last night in St. Petersburg. Not a whole lot of news being made, with the exception that Foster now says he supports domestic partnership benefits. Very interesting new poll numbers are out in Florida's Senate and Gubernatorial races this morning. The big news here is…
Hillsborough County Commissioners to get proactive on the homeless?
This morning in downtown Tampa, Hillsborough County Commissioners will discuss a proposal brought forth by Commissioners Kevin White and Al Higgenbotham that the County seriously look at using the space in the former Floriland Mall at Florida Avenue and Busch Boulevard to be used as space for the homeless. Both Commissioners were part of the…
Rubio gains ground against Crist
A new Quinnipiac poll just released shows Marco Rubio (finally) making inroads against Charlie Crist in the battle for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010. The Governor still has a double digit lead (50% to 35%) over the former House Speaker, but it's dramatically different from a Quinnipiac Poll published two months ago,…
CD Review: Tiny Tim, I’ve Never Seen a Straight Banana (with audio!)
Forget everything you may or may not have heard about Tiny Tim. If it exists in your mind, erase the memory of his novelty hit from 1968. Now think about him as a human encyclopedia of popular song — a Manhattan native born in 1932 who could convincingly sing any number of otherwise-forgotten tunes once…
Cheap Eats (College Guide Edition): Ricky P’s Po’ Boys, Tun-Du-Ree and The Jerk Hut
Do not use the word inexpensive. It conveys entirely the wrong sentiment. Inexpensive is a word marketing gurus spout when selling low-end versions of high-end products. It's a tool the wealthy use to determine socio-economic pecking order, to know when to sneer or raise an insouciant eyebrow, to peg poseurs striving for more than they…
Bill Foster: I don’t object to domestic partnership benefits
Bill Foster and Kathleen Ford held yet another debate last night. The event at the Pinellas Community Church in South St. Pete was a little different than some of their most recent encounters; Like John McCain and Barack Obama's affair with the Reverend Rick Warren at his Saddleback Church in August of 2008, the candidates…
College Guide Evan Tokarz | My USF Tampa: “Thanks, Teach”
Submission#7: Evan Tokarz | My USF Tampa: "Thanks, Teach" Evan Tokarz USF Tampa Junior, Journalism (News/Editorial) 20, Lutz My USF is: “The professors who teach me about myself and the world.” For Evan, the most memorable aspect of his college experience was — wait for it — the education! And as an old-school kind of…
College Guide Kristina Welch | My USF St. Petersburg: “Our little island”
Submission#6: Kristina Welch | My USF St. Petersburg: "Our little island" Kristina Welch USF St. Petersburg Senior, Journalism 22, Florida and Oklahoma My USF is: “A community. And my friends and I are a family. They always make fun of me for saying that, but it’s true.” Kristina’s video may make you wonder, between the…
College Guide Rebecca Wainright | My USF Tampa: “Bronze Balls & Crazy Squirrels”
Submission#5: Rebecca Wainright | My USF Tampa: "Bronze Balls & Crazy Squirrels" Rebecca Wainright USF Tampa Senior, Mass Communications (Journalism/Magazine) 26, Tampa My USF is: “Gangsta.” Rebecca’s audio slide show reveals a campus with unexpected pockets of greenery, potentially dangerous wildlife and a well-equipped USF bull.
College Guide Chris Dvorscak | My Eckerd: “Party Time, Excellent”
Submission#4: Chris Dvorscak | My Eckerd: "Party Time, Excellent" Chris Dvorscak Eckerd College Senior, Anthropology (major), Management (minor) 21, Crystal River My Eckerd is: “A tropical vacation spot.” Chris is a baseball player, an anthropology major and an underwater archaeologist, so his tour of Eckerd naturally takes us to the ballfield, the dorms (where we…
College Guide Christina Erlinger | My Stetson Law: “Mind, Body, Soul”
Submission#3: Christina Erlinger | My Stetson Law: "Mind, Body, Soul" Christina Erlinger Stetson University College of Law 2L (Second-Year Law) 23, Seminole My Stetson is: “Accomplished, studious, social and exciting.” Who says lawyers have no soul? Christina’s video tour of Stetson proves they do, plus minds and bodies, too. Video:
College Guide Amanda Abadi | My UT: “Where in the world is Spartacus?”
Submission#2: Amanda Abadi | My UT: "Where in the world is Spartacus?" Amanda Abadi University of Tampa 2nd Year, Masters in Business Administration (Management) 23, Detroit My UT is: “Community-focused, auspicious, cultural and enriching.” Amanda’s video follows the intrepid Dingo Dundee as he scours the UT campus in search of the university’s elusive mascot. Dingo…
College Guide Alex Vera | My UT: “Yes, I’m Losing My Mind”
Submission #1: Alex Vera | My UT: "Yes, I'm Losing My Mind" Alex Vera University of Tampa Junior, Graphic Design 21, Tampa My UT is: “The Minaret, my second home.” Alex’s video takes viewers behind the scenes for a day (and night) in the life of the UT students who put out the school’s Minaret…
Love is a battlefield: fetish model Angela Ryan talks shop (pics NSFW)
Angela Ryan, one of many nation fetish acts performing at Taboo 3 this Saturday, describes her adventures in the world of alternative modeling. Creative Loafing: How did you become a Fetish/pinup model and a burlesque performer? Angela Ryan: I modeled a little professionally as a child and my mother constantly had a camera in my…
On the Radar: St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This Saturday, voracious readers are in heaven. Seriously, the St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading is a nice reminder that in 2009, people still read theses little things called books. Held on the USF St. Petersburg campus, this lovely…
Do It Today: End of the Road: An Evening with Jack Kerouac, Dance Happening and more
Loyal fans of the influential writer – who is remembered as being the father of the beat generation – are bound to be moved by The End of the Road: An Evening with Jack Kerouac on the 40th Anniversary of his Death, an After Hours Series production at American Stage. The one-man play by Steve…
Concert review: Leonard Cohen at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Will she cry, or won’t she? Will she cry, or won’t she? That was the third-person sentence running 'round and 'round my head, referencing myself, as I made my way through the hefty crowd of Leonard Cohen fans who’d come to see the grandmaster of songwriting play Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center this past Monday,…
Dear stalkers, stop requesting sex over facebook
Dear Stalkers: Since I started writing this blog, I've come to accept that some of you out there in internet-land aren't entirely normal. You seem to think that because I write about my sexual encounters with new acquaintances at swingers parties that I will be wooed by your sexual requests via Facebook as a kind…
Tampa police officer to headline MMA event in Sarasota
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 20, 2009— Tampa police officer, Chris Baten, will headline the mixed martial arts (MMA) event Rumble at Robarts 4 hosted by the MMA promoter, Art of Fighting (AOF), at Robarts arena in Sarasota this Friday. He will face Tampa native and MMA veteran, CT Turner, who recently made his debut in the…
LGBT group supports Gelber in Democratic AG race
Equality Florida, the state's leading LGBT political group, is endorsing Dan Gelber in his race against Dave Aronberg for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General. The two candidates, who engaged in a relatively high mind debate 9 days ago at the Democratic Party's state conference in Lake Buena Vista, are campaigning hard for endorsements and…
Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine turns 20 today (with audio)
Sometimes you have your blogging day all mapped out and a news blip makes you scrap everything and bang out a post on the fly. That's the case today so please excuse any grammatical errors and/or typos and if the thought processes feel disjointed I apologize….we're going 100% stream of conscience and publish with this…
One critic’s thoughts on what’s happening in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County community activist Marcella O'Steen has some thoughts on County Administrator Pat Bean and County Attorney Renee Lee's 1% percent raises they were able to provide for themselves. Commissioner Mark Sharpe Sharp has said he will make a motion for an outside probe the external probe at next Wednesday's commission meeting. He suggested the…
The Age of Stupid showing tonight at USF St. Pete campus (video)
Are enough people waking up to make a difference? Or, maybe the scenario of The Age of Stupid, the film that’s circulating the globe, is a prediction of things to come. The Student Environmental Awareness Society is starting their Environmental Film Series with the question, “Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had a…
Support for a public option rises, Go Davis responds, and Alex Sink plays it very close to the vest; Mitch Perry report 10.20.09
Support for a government run public health care option is rising in the U.S. As activists prepare to protest in front of Senator Bill Nelson's office today, perhaps the new numbers will inspire him and others to get more behind the idea? One prominent Florida Democrat has no opinion about a public option, and, with…
Game Review: Brütal Legend is too much to handle (with video)
I've got mixed feelings writing this review, and not just because it means I have to figure out how to use umlauts. No, those mixed feelings are more primal, more basic than that – they are the painful discomfort associated with having something not live up to your expectations. And my expectations for Brütal Legend…
Three shows for Tuesday: Willie Nelson, Vivian Girls and Jason Ricci (with video)
It's another Tuesday night and there's not one, not two, but three shows to choose from featuring three very different artists. Outlaw country music icon and good-natured, pot-loving, bandana-wearing Willie Nelson kicks out so many albums that it’s hard to keep up — 31 the last time I checked, the most recent a collaboration with…
On the Radar: Thrill the World
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This Saturday, St. Pete joins Michael Jackson fans across the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Dance — in this case, the famed zombie-rific Thriller dance. The Pier hosts Thrill the World,…
Spectating at a destination marathon: Don’t forget the post-race beer
Jen and I recently traveled to Chicago for her first marathon. She began the Chicago Marathon in exactly the same state as she finished it: excited and feeling great. She's still in the Midwest visiting family so I'll give you all a little recap of what it's like to be a spectator at a marathon in another state.…
Creative Toasting: An appreciaton of toaster ovens, with “recipes”
Attention bachelors and bachelorettes! I have discovered a fast, tasty alternative to Ramen and microwaved frozen food. And all you need is a toaster oven. The toaster oven is the intersection between the tastiness of oven-cooked food and the speed of a microwave. It cooks like an oven, with temperatures and broiling settings, but there’s…
CL Feature: Junior Boys, who play Crowbar on Friday night
You catch the mid-tempo beat as the night fades to black and the lights on the dance floor fall in saturated reds and blues, your body slipping into a supple, hip-shaking groove, ass grinding lightly against the anonymous partner moving at your back, then not so lightly as he draws you closer, and suddenly his…
Obsessed with ‘Twilight?’ meet ‘Twilight XXX’
First, Twilight fans were given The Vamp, a pale, sparkly dildo which, according to the website, retains temperature so you can "toss it in the fridge for that authentic experience." Naturally, the next step was to turn the teenage melodrama into a porno flick. Given the abundance of XXX parodies released this year, it's hardly…
Gossip Girl recap: all is fair in love and war — right?
"When it comes to family, we are all still children at heart. No matter how old we get we always need a place to call home because, without the people who love you most, you can't help but feel alone in the world. Fortunately, misery loves company — for now, at least" -xoxo gossip girl…
October 24 is the International Day of Climate Action (videos)
This Saturday, October 24, 2009, is the International Day of Climate Action – the biggest day of grassroots action on global warming ever. Why are people speaking out on this day, you ask? People are trying to make their voices heard over wanting stricter regulations on global carbon emissions, so we can try to curb global warming…
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day observed in Clearwater
The High Point community is tucked away, just west of the Bayside Bridge and south of East bay, in Clearwater. It is a low to moderate income community that has a large black and Latino population. Ebony Murray is a single mother who lives there. Murray has health insurance though her job now, but she…
Gay rights activists outraged that openly gay man’s murder is not considered a hate crime
Last week the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said it would not investigate the beating death of a Fort Lauderdale man as a hate crime, prompting outrage from gay rights activists. Craig Cohen was 47 years old and openly gay. He was walking home from a local diner in Oakland Park, just north of Fort Lauderdale…
When reporters attack! Watch as St. Petersburg Times reporter Christina Silva nails St.Pete City Council Chair Jeff Danner on his lies
When reporters attack! Watch as St. Petersburg Times reporter Christina Silva nails St.Pete City Council Chair Jeff Danner on his lies about allowing peace groups to have input in the Baywalk sidewalk issue. Thank God there are still a few reporters in this world that will stand up to the government when our representatives are…
Toy Story 3-D Double Feature: Is It Worth Your Dime?
The only Disney franchise with a sequel good enough to get a theatrical releases is back, but should we care? The Toy Story 3-D Double Feature (TS3D) costs almost twice as much as a normal movie. 3-D movies have traditionally been a little blurry on screen, and those big goofy glasses can make your head…
Alex Sink, moderate Democrat
The Miami Herald's Beth Reinhard reports today in a story entitled, "State CFO Sink painted as silent on tough issues" about the CFO's reluctance to disclose how much campaign contributions she's received from the political action group Emily's List, which supports candidates who believe in abortion rights. That's somewhat interesting, but only in the respect…
Go Davis responds in print to Kathleen Ford “HNIC” controversy
Yesterday in St. Petersburg, former mayoral candidate Deveron Gibbons led a group reported to be around 30 who held a news conference in front of City Hall, denouncing Kathleen Ford's comments last week on a radio program as being racially insensitive. The interview (done with Bubba the Love Sponge) became news on Saturday after it…
Growing majority in U.S. want public health insurance option
FCAN (the Florida Consumer Action Network) along with students from USF and UT will be holding a news conference this afternoon in front of Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's downtown district office, calling on him to support health care reform. It's part of a nationwide call out today targeting members of Congress, and it comes…
Do It Today: The New Century, Robin Williams and more
American Stage’s After Hours Series returns with Paul Rudnick's new comedy, The New Century, which has gotten some pretty good press — the New York Post warns that there are "so many gut-busting one-liners that those with heart conditions are advised to steer clear." Here's the set-up: Helene brags on her three gay sons at…
The bathroom floor looked comfortable at the time
It might surprise some of you to know that I am not known for being the "relationship type"…. now that you're done laughing, I would like to present you with a very serious idea. Very. Serious. Although I may not have any normal female impulses to attach myself to another human being and then procreate…
Watch the UFC 104 for free in Tampa Bay this Saturday
The mixed martial arts (MMA) World Light Heavyweight Championship bout between defending champion, Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida, and his challenger, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is upon us this Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will air this epic match on Pay-Per-View (PPV) along with four other fights on…
Erica Miller – Contributor
I am a slave to my cravings: decadent mac and cheese, lively Mexican, savory Vietnamese, fruity gelato and on and on. Growing up overseas with a chef- mother fostered a taste for a variety of flavors. Although baking and cooking come naturally; dining out is what I do most and my standards are high. Life…
The coolest headgear in sports: A top 12 list
For decades, athletes from Walt Frazier and Joe Namath to Derek Jeter and Dwyane Wade have graced us with a sense of style and pizzazz off the field. Due to uniform restrictions in most professional sports, it is much more difficult for athletes to fashionably express their individuality on the field. Some athletes, however, have…
Which big name food company is behind your organic food?
You're buying more organic food these days, maybe for health reasons or just because it makes you feel like you're making a difference. But did you know that most of the organic brands you find in the grocery store, like Cascadian Farm, Kashi, and Back to Nature, are owned by some of the biggest names in the…
Down in the polls, Bill Foster supporters blast Kathleen Ford’s Cornel West quote
At noon today, former St. Pete mayoral candidate and now Bill Foster supporter Deveron Gibbons led a group of religious leaders and others to denounce Kathleen Ford for her now infamous "HNIC"crack on Bubba the Love Sponge's radio program last week. Ford quoted Princeton Professor Cornel West in the interview when discussing Goliath Davis, the…
On the Radar: Sunscreen presents Horror Fest
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend, the Sunscreen Film Festival presents a cadre of chilling cinema – and then fills you in on how to get onscreen yourself. At the Horror Fest workshops, acting coach Mark Durso explains his Uta Hagen technique; Twilight…
CD review: Do Make Say Think, Other Truths
The drawn-out instrumental music of Canadian post-rockers Do Make Say Think can alleviate the inescapable tedium drooling forth from the most inane and never-ending idiocies of daily activities. For their sixth album, Other Truths (out tomorrow on Constellation), the music gets a particularly stylized treatment. Besides having an eponymous track listing (the first track is…
Concert announcement: 93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball with The Fray, Jordin Sparks, Pitbull, Ting Tings and more
Today, the Bay area's 93.3-FLZ announced the lineup for its holiday concert, 93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball, set to takes place on Sun., Dec. 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum. Among the featured Top 40 acts scheduled to perform thus far are piano rock quartet The Fray, R&B pop singer and…
Marge Simpson’s sexy playboy spread (pics)
You first peek as Mrs. Simposon's Playboy photos:
Book Review — Alton Brown’s Good Eats: The Early Years
Alton Brown is an odd poster boy for the modern Food Network. His Good Eats cooking show, which debuted on the network in 1999, is quirky. Incredibly informative. Culinarily wonky, even. Not the kind of thing you'd expect from the sanitized, simplified, housewife-friendly cooking channel that counts Paula Deen, Rachael Ray and Giada DiLaurentis' cleavage…
Leonard Cohen plays Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center tonight (video)
Leonard Cohen's subject matter tends toward the morbid and the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter delivers his dark messages in a deep, gravelly baritone that drapes itself inside your subconscious like a warm but not quite comforting blanket. His songs about marriage and infidelity, Judaism and Christianity, depression, suicide, the facade of U.S. Democracy, the gaping disparity…
It Happened This Week-ish: Lost Housewives, Tina Fey’s virginity, Taylor Lautner is still underage, John & Jen are back on
*I loved the ABC crossover promos as much as everyone else, but the Lost plane crashing onto Desperate Housewives?! Sorry ABC, that is not going to make me watch Terri Hatcher's skeletal frame neurotically wash dishes while some other woman my mom's age bangs Hurley so that she officially can consider herself a cougar. Crossover…
St. Pete Mayor’s race tight, Obama disses Fox News(again), and the President talks smack to the health insurance industry; Mitch Perry Report 10.19.09
The St. Petersburg Mayor's race just got a whole lot more interesting. The Obama Administration is not dropping its jihad against Fox News. And some in the media are spreading the narrative that Barack Obama simply isn't tough enough – but Obama's radio address on Saturday threatening to revoke the health care industry's anti trust…
Theater Review: Sharon Scott makes Mahalia soar
If you’re interested in hearing some superb gospel singing, don’t miss Sharon E. Scott in Just As I Am: The Life, the Times, The Voice of Mahalia Jackson. But the title is misleading: in fact, Scott’s script leaves out huge chunks of Jackson’s life and times, leaving audiences pretty much uninformed about more than a…
Tampa joins International Day of Climate Action to take a stand for a safe climate future
On October 24, people from Tampa will join Greenpeace to hear the importance of acting now for the climate and gather together to take a stand for the climate and a clean energy future as part of the largest global day of climate action ever. The event is one of more than 3,000 events in…
St. Pete mayor’s race: Kathleen Ford leading Bill Foster in poll released over weekend
Despite the official imprimatur of the St. Petersburg Times (who endorsed Bill Foster yesterday), a new poll commissioned by the Times and Bay News 9 yesterday shows Kathleen Ford leading Bill Foster, 39% to 34%, 16 days before the election. The poll was based on interviews with over 600 people and was taken last week. …
Mainstream media questions Obama’s toughness
On ABC's This Week program, the president's alleged lack of toughness was the first topic that George Stephanopoulos brought up with in his sitdown with White House advisor David Axelrod. Showing the cover of the current National Journal as well as a skit that aired on Saturday Night Live, Stephanopoulous asked whether it's a fair…
Late night music: the mostly rerun edition, Vol. III (+ Ludacris, Rod Stewart, Echo & the Bunneymen, and video of Hockey on Jimmy Fallon)
A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night… , NBC Monday, October 19: Rod Stewart Tuesday, October 20: Ludacris (likely there to promote his latest film) The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS…
Obama disses Fox News again
The Obama White House again dissed Fox News on Sunday, trotting out administrative spokespeople for all of the public affairs programs that dominate network news programming — with the noted exception of Fox News Sunday. This has become a story unto itself, particularly after White House Communications Advisor Anita Dunn went on CNN last week…
Sex bites: Interracial Marriage, cheeseburgers, Meghan McCain, Oprah, Vampires. . .
Your week in sex and love news. No mention of balloon boy (other than this one). Pinky swear. The Big O says 'hell no' to mile high club: Earlier this week, Oprah Winfrey's former flight attendant claimed that she was wrongfully fired after being accused of having sex during a flight in June. The attendant,…
Do It Today: Learn the Recipe for Water, Wilder to Williams Film Series and more
Like a modern form of alchemy, scientists struggle to create and purify an element necessary for human life: water. Diana Leavengood and Paula Allen have found the secret recipe, collected in Recipe for Water, an exhibit of photography, ceramics, drawings and paintings with a common bond of "intuitive interpretations of the unseen energies around water."…
Final filmfest reviews: Prodigal Sons, Fig Trees, Big Gay Musical at TIGLFF
The 20th annual Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival concludes today, and if the lines outside the films and the comments from Executive Director Chuck Henson are any indication, this was one of the most successful seasons ever, with large increases in single ticket sales offsetting the drop in corporate sponsorship. The fest certainly…
Matt Arroyo, Monstah Lobstah appear on the movie set of Caged Dreams
Getting a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Guzzo brothers' mixed martial arts (MMA) movie Caged Dreams really makes MMA fans appreciate all the hard work that goes into each fight scene. It also proves that team work is necessary to accomplish any great task. Local MMA talent on set included former UFC fighter…
Filmfest review: Eating Out 3: All You Can Eat at TIGLFF
Had you told me years ago that there'd be a second installment of Eating Out, let alone a third, I'd have thanked you for the warning. The films are full of eye candy, sure, but living proof of why serious actors John Travolta their way into the closet. But the now-franchise, the third installment in…
Tolerance is a crock. What we need is equality.
The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival has been in town these past two weeks, and it’s a time of celebration. We should not only be celebrating the films themselves, but celebrating the love that goes into the making of them. These are real people with real lives. This is someone, somewhere’s story. There…
Filmfest review: I Can’t Think Straight at TIGLFF
I Can’t Think Straight Two rich families move to London. Girl meets girl at a tennis match. Girl, Leyla, begins to question her feelings about her boyfriend, and more so, about her sexuality. Other girl, Tala, fights the temptation that Leyla dangles in front of her because she’s engaged and she says that people just…
Filmfest reviews: Patrik 1.5, College Boys Live at TIGLFF
Patrik 1.5 I can count on one hand the number of subtitled films I've watched — and prior to watching Patrik 1.5 I'd have wagered its place would be on my middle finger. The Swedish film showcases the perfect gay couple, their new suburban home and an adoption gone awry, saddling them with a homophobic,…
Music links for Friday, Oct. 16: The Flaming Lips, Garth Brooks, John Mayer, Bon Jovi, The Arctic Monkeys, The Cranberries and more
A fresh batch of music links to start the weekend off right. The Flaming Lips plan to cover Pink Floyd's classic 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon, a collaborative effort with bands Stardeath and White Dwarfs. Let's just state the obvious: It takes some serious balls to redo Dark Side of the Moon. Don't…
What NFL and NCAA football games to watch this weekend (Oct. 17-18)
If you thought last weekend featured the only big-time tussle in the bayou, think again. While this weekend’s college slate might at first glance pale in comparison to Florida-LSU, don’t be fooled. Three of the top-five teams in the nation square off against ranked opponents. If they’re not careful, they can easily be knocked from…
Project Runway Recap Episode 9: Christina Aguilera & the attack of the sparkly panties
I am so excited to write this recap, I can hardly stand it. I may have stated multiple times during this episode that this was the best hour of Project Runway ever. Fashion icons, sequins, love, drama, bitchiness, feathers, stank looks … amazing. Bob Mackie is the man behind the magic of this episode and that…
Are green jobs paying better now?
A report released earlier this year by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works claimed that green and clean energy jobs were lower paying than similar non-green jobs. For instance, it said that workers in renewable energy manufacturing facilities were making around $7-$10 an hour less than their non-green manufacturing counterparts. But a…
RIP, Jon and Kate Plus Eight, we will miss you
I write this blog with much regret: My favorite addiction and guiltiest pleasure, Jon and Kate Plus Eight, takes its final curtain call next month. I am honestly in shock. I thought I would follow the Gossellin children through the rough teen years and off into college. I don’t know what I’m going to do…
St. Pete City Council candidate uses fight footage for campaign purposes
St. Pete City Council candidate Leonard Schmiege has found an ingenious way of getting some free publicity for his campaign to oust incumbent Jeff Dannner. Schmiege, an activist who first became known in the city for his work on voting issues earlier this decade, was at yesterday's City Council meeting when emotions burst out after…
Jason Bonham cancels tonight’s show at State Theatre
, who was set to appear at State Theatre tonight, has canceled his appearance. To be honest, I really kind of thought this would happen. I found virtually no info about what John's prodigal son was doing right now, no info on his band, no reviews of recent shows. So when I got the notice…
CD review: Amy Millan, Masters of the Burial (with video)
As a sometime member of Broken Social Scene and Stars, Amy Millan has never had to step into the limelight completely. In BSS, the vocals of Emily Haines and Leslie Feist often overshadow Millan’s own. And in Stars, she shares center stage with singer Torquil Campbell. Masters of the Burial, Millan’s second solo effort and…
Theater Review: Spine-tingling The Woman in Black at Gorilla Theatre
The Woman in Black is an entertaining, unusually literary ghost drama for the Halloween season, though one that lacks much reason for existing outside its capacity to excite a degree of fear. Beautifully acted by Christopher Rutherford and Glenn Gover, the current Gorilla Theatre production is genuinely spooky — several times spectators shrieked — and…
Movie review: Where The Wild Things Are
[Editor's Note: This review is by CL Atlanta's Curt Holman. You can check out more of his work here.] Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers’ Where the Wild Things Are remembers something most adults have forgotten: A huge gulf lies between the simplicity of children’s entertainment and the complexity of actual childhood. Growing up may be…
Protests resume at BayWalk, PSC to rule on rate hikes, and Rush’s NFL dream is over: Mitch Perry Report 10.16.09
After last night's brawl following the controversial St. Petersburg City Council vote on vacating the sidewalk of BayWalk, St. Pete for Peace says they'll demonstrate tonight. The Public Service Commission today rules on whether to impose a $200 million front end hit to ratepayers in the state. And the Wall Street Journal blasts the National…
Dreaming of a dancing stone foot
“Dream Momma, I wanted to send you this dream to give you a smile. My husband told me yesterday morning that he had dreamed of a big stone foot that was possessed – and it was forced to tap-dance all over the place. He has just taken up a part-time corporate contract after being on…
Unique ‘upcycled’ home decor
Forget the term 'recycle', these days people are turning everyday found objects into pieces of usable art by 'upcycling'. According to the Sustainability Dictionary, upcycling is "the process of converting an industrial nutrient (material) into something of similar or greater value, in its second life. Aluminum and glass, for example, can usually be upcycled into…
WSJ: Left wing ‘intimidation’ brings down Rush Limbaugh
We've discussed the Rush Limbaugh possibly buying a piece of the St. Louis Rams for much of this week, so now that El Rushbo has been kicked to the curb by his would be financial partner, Dave Checketts, time for some reality. The Wall Street Journal blasts the pressure brought on by progressive groups (and…
St Pete For Peace says they’ll protest at BayWalk tonight
Yesterday the St. Petersburg City Council reversed itself from its previous vote two weeks ago, and voted 5-3 to allow for the vacating of the north sidewalk in front of BayWalk, per the request of its owners, along with Mayor Rick Baker, Mayoral candidate Bill Foster, the editorial page of the St. Petersburg Times, and…
Big Day at PSC
The Florida Public Service Commission will be deciding today whether or not to approve rate increases for proposed new nuclear reactors that Progress Energy and Florida Power & Light have proposed. One leading environmental organization, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, released a statement on Wednesday calling for the PSC to reject the rate hikes:…
How to flatter a working mother who’s been happily married to the same man for almost 15 years
By Catherine Durkin Robinson PoHo contributor Catherine Durkin Robinson is a handful creating quite a scene over at Out in Left Field. From time to time, men hit on me. Not a lot, but enough. How about that? I no longer repel. Either smiling more than scowling, losing all that baby weight, getting in shape,…
CD Review: Melvins, Chicken Switch
A new Melvins record. A monumental event from a band with a 25-year career that has seen them influence the likes of Nirvana and Mastodon, go through seven bass players (including Gene Simmons and Shirley Temple's daughter) and release 24 studio albums, three on a major label (Atlantic). The Melvins are nothing if not an…
Meghan McCain breast shot sparks outrage on Twitter
Republican blogger, daughter of John McCain, and overall minx Meghan McCain almost pulled a Miley Cyrus this week and quit her Twitter after a racy photo sparked outrage from the conservative masses. With all the troubles we have these days as Americans and it's some hot cleavage that we're worried about? Full "racy" shot after the break:
Fight at city hall after re-vote privatizes Baywalk sidewalk
A fight broke out at St. Petersburg's city hall after a re-vote on the controversial Baywalk sidewalk privatization issue. Today the council revoted with a 5-3 vote for the sidewalk, a popular place for protesters and teens to gather, to be made private so that people may not loiter there. Herb Polson was the Councilmember…
Concert review: Neon Indian with Sunbears! and BC the Black Child at Crowbar
If you had popped your head in to the Crowbar this past Tuesday night, you would have never known that the headlining band Neon Indian, was — as the inebriated and prancing band manager stated — "on top of the music world." Alan Palermo's latest project had just officially released their debut, Psychic Chasms, and…
Justin Wren puts Wes Sims to sleep in 60 seconds; Team Rashad maintains lead
Size and experience do matter, but apparently not to Justin Wren who put the UFC veteran and giant, Wes Sims, to sleep in about 60 seconds flat with an arm triangle choke on episode five of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season ten. Subsequently, Team Rashad maintained the lead over Team Rampage with a score of…
Simple tips to green your Halloween
has and always will be one of my favorite holidays. It is the one day of the year that you can actually walk out of your house wearing just about anything and you get a 'free pass' on weird or strange looks from neighbors. Hey, anything goes on this day, right? Not to mention the…
How to roast Pumpkin Seeds, and 10 ways to make them taste great
Maybe you don't want to the fuss of cutting into a pumpkin for homemade pie — those cans are so damn easy — but chances are you'll be carving a jack-o-lantern for the front porch. Instead of scooping the slimy innards directly into the trash, save the seeds for a roasted treat that almost makes…
Top Chef Las Vegas Podcast, Ep. 8: Pork explosion, hairy armpits, and mama’s boys
Is it episode 8 already? Well, we're still here, still podcasting about Top Chef Las Vegas (no, this isn't the Hell's Kitchen podcast). Unfortunately this week we are sans our resident wine guru, Taylor. Fortunately, Jeff provided us with a different form of bubbly to enjoy during our gab session this week- Stella Artois (whose commercials…
The All-American Rejects video premiere for “I Wanna” (video included)
When I first listened to the All-American Rejects' When the World Comes Down nearly a year ago, I knew they'd release "I Wanna" as a single and that time has finally come. The song is beyond catchy, and from its conception, was destined to be a hit. The chorus is guaranteed to be stuck in…
Pumpkin Cheese Pie with Toffee and Caramel Swirl (aka Serendipity Pie)
Have you ever noticed that the most exciting inventions and breakthrough discoveries are sometimes stumbled upon purely by accident? From medical research, to science and technology right on down to recipes, some of our biggest boo boos can be and have been turned into “Eureka!” moments. For example, the discoveries of penicillin, quinine, the smallpox…
USF Poli Sci Professor to analyze the coup in Honduras at WMNF this Saturday
Several news agencies are reporting that a 'tentative plan' to end the months long political crises in Honduras could be ending soon as as negotiators are again meeting to discuss whether President Manuel Zelaya, toppled in a June coup, should be returned to power. Zelaya was forced into exile by soldiers in late June but…
Is bigger better? (Re: itty bitty titty committee)
Before you ask: yes, they’re real. Just ask my editor. Ginger's article on small breasts just goes to show that the grass is always greener on the other side. Like Ginger, I grew up anticipating the day I would have breasts. I hoped that they would be comfy – like the women who raised me.…
Show some puppy love at the SPCA Pet Walk next Saturday
Next Saturday, October 24th, brings us the 19th annual Pet Walk hosted by the SPCA Tampa Bay. The one-mile walk starts at 9 a.m. at beautiful North Shore Park in downtown St. Pete. The registration fee is just $10, and includes a bandanna for your furry friend. Other fun features include an adoptable pet parade,…
Cheese Course: Fresh Brillat-Savarin
Pedigree: Created in the 1930's, this cheese is named after the famed violinist, capital punishment advocate, magistrate, food writer and wanted man Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. It's de rigeur at this point to quote one of Brillat-Savarin's famed culinary one-liners, so let's go with: "A meal without some cheese is like a beautiful woman with only…
Charlie Crist wants to ban plastic bags in Florida lastic bags
The Orlando Sentinel is reporting today that the Crist Administration is contemplating legislation that would make the sunshine state the first in the country to ban plastic and paper bags. The proposal comes from the state's Department of Environmental Protection. According to the Sentinel, the proposal: targets the disposable bags provided by a wide variety…
Dreaming of a transcendent experience
“Dear Dream Momma, I have been a member of a dream analyses group for 10 years and I am half Norwegian, my mother being completely Norwegian and with many relatives in Norway currently. Here is my dream: I dreamt my mother and I were together and we met my father, who appeared to be with a…
CD review: Truckstop Coffee, For Dear Life (with audio)
Some reviews are tough to write because you like the record but seriously dislike the people in the band; others are tough to write because you love the album but just can't think of anything to say about it beyond the simple fact that you love it. And then there are reviews such as this…
Welcome Fall with a great baked Pumpkin Pudding
Gears grinding down. Head and heart heavy. I took stock of my life and wasn't thrilled with what I saw: broke (or damn near close to it), ailing family members, loveless (yet again), spinning wheels at work and school (if it wasn't a glass ceiling I had hit it may as well have been concrete,…
Mayoral debate, Baywalk, Bill Nelson: Mitch Perry Report 10.15.09
Several stories in the news today – such as yesterday's Mayoral Debate in St. Pete St. Pete's City Council again brings up BayWalk And there's a protest at Bill Nelson's office today on health care – also President Obama is not popular in parts of New Orleans and San Francisco, which he visits today.
Concert review: Os Mutantes at Skipper’s Smokehouse
All photos by Tracy May. Beneath the white Christmas lights dangling from the canopy in the half-filled venue, the hum of anticipation was upset, ruptured by the audience crowding against the stage, hopping and whooping and hugging, the applause thundering as Sergio Dias, age 57, dressed in the immaculate white robe a cleanshaven cult leader…
MoveOn.Org says the fate of the public option is in the hands of Bill Nelson
Today at high noon, MoveOn.org is sponsoring a rally in Tampa, to be held in front of Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's Florida Avenue District office. At the Florida Democratic Party State Conference last weekend, Nelson reportedly at times had to pause during his address to the delegates, with people yelling "public option" at several…
Five overrated movies
We now take a brief break from the world of sports to discuss cinema. Movies are a matter of personal preference. A film that I may love, someone else may think is total garbage and vice versa. For example, critics acclaim Citizen Kane as one of the greatest films of all time. Personally, I think…
Kathleen Ford & Bill Foster to get it on again, a debate, that is
If it's Thursday, it must be time for another Bill Foster/Kathleen Ford debate. That takes place today at the Business and Professional Women's Candidates Forum. Yesterday, the two tangled at the apex of the St. Pete political establishment, the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club at the St. Pete Yacht Club. The candidates seem to be increasingly…
Green living expo/sustainable science fair at the Science Center of Pinellas County
The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council will sponsor a Green Living Expo and Sustainable Science Fair Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10AM to 3PM at the Science Center of Pinellas County. The Expo portion of the program focuses on homeowners and other interested parties. The Science Fair is aimed at middle…
BayWalk sidewalk fight take two
It was only two weeks ago that the St. Petersburg City Council stunned many in St. Pete by refusing to grant permission to the owners of the BayWalk shopping center complex to vacate the public sidewalk in front of the complex. Those owners had insisted that they could bring back retailers to the compex if they…
Ardi, Baywalk and the race for mayor
… Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with wond'ring eyes He stared at the Pacific … —John Keats (1816) The Romantic poets lived in a scientific Age of Wonder, reacting to voyages of discovery on the oceans, in the…
Why do songs get stuck in your head?
What's the deal with getting a song stuck in your head? Why does it happen, especially if it's a song you don't like or don't even know well? Yet all you can think about is that stupid tune. Please enlighten me; I'm getting really sick of "Tainted Love" running circles through my brain. —Meg You…
The symptom, not the disease
Man inflates his own importance in drama
Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita’s fierce pursuit
Her fight to get payback from Kevin White: Missionary zeal, mayoral dreams or both?
Corkscrew: Top Five Restaurant Wine Service Pet Peeves
I consider myself a fairly patient person, especially when it comes to service in restaurants. I, along with millions of others, toiled in commercial kitchens and dining rooms across the country, and certainly understand the often horrific treatment endured by smarmy scumbags masking as diners. But enough is enough. I must kvetch about wine service…
USF Green Expo panel discusses high-speed rail
The Going Green Tampa Bay Expo created a lot of buzz on the USF campus last Friday. Cars fueled by compressed natural gas were parked in front of the Marshall Student Center, while other sustainable energy exhibits and workshops were set up inside. Energy experts from all over the state came to share their green…
Late night music, Oct. 12-17: Tim McGraw, Built to Spill, Baaba Maal & the Brazilian Girls, Grizzly Bear, Flaming Lips, Shakira and more (+ video of Motorhead on Jimmy Kimmel Live)
A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night… , NBC No music on Leno this week. The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Monday, October 12: Tim McGraw Tuesday, October 13: Dead by…
The Green Community week in review: Interview with Ed Begley Jr., toxic beauty, Sweetwater Farm’s Planter’s Ball, and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: Eco Chic: Bracelets and cuffs from recycled vinyl records- These bracelets are a great way to enhance your favorite outfit while showing your love for music and the environment all at the same time.…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Tampa Bay Green Expo, beach cleanup, organic cooking class and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. 4th Annual Campus and Community Sustainability Conference and Expo- Thursday & Friday, October 8-9. Presented by Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas at the University of South Florida in Tampa. This is the state's premier forum to explore sustainability…
