Mitch Perry Report 6.12.13 – The Heat have the Spurs right where they want them. Right?
The San Antonio Spurs thrashed LeBron James and the Miami Heat last night, 113-77, in one of the biggest single game onslaughts in the history of the NBA Finals (actually the third worst blowout ever). But hey, you might say the Heat have the Spurs right where they want them, down 2-1 in the best…
Roads less taken: Glimpses of downtown St Pete’s alley art
Artist Bill "Woo" Correira died last year. This mural was started around midnight on the night of his death by his friends according to one passerby. It is painted on the side of the Sleepworks store on Sixth Street. Have you seen the murals behind the shops and galleries of Central Avenue in St. Petersburg?…
Tampa Democrats blast ‘Ricardo’ Scott on immigrant driver’s license veto
Tampa Democratic Representative Janet Cruz and 'Dreamer' Carlos Segovia While Rick Scott raises more money every day and tries to beef up a more centrist persona for his 2014 re-election bid, Florida Democrats have been relegated to the sidelines, as only state Sen. Nan Rich has officially declared her candidacy to challenge him next year.…
Bloomingdale residents tell Al Higginbotham they don’t want big-box retail in their neighborhood
Under fire: Al Higginbotham addressing citizens in Brandon Monday night Hundreds of people jammed into a stuffy Brandon Community Center on Monday night to give their representative on the Hillsborough County Commission, Al Higginbotham, a piece of their mind. More than 40 people spoke up saying they don't approve of the big-box development that's supposed…
Mitch Perry Report 6.11.13 – Florida makes it a little less convenient to get high
We sometimes lose count of how out of step Florida is from the rest of the country, and the example of that is the bill Rick Scott signed last week that makes it a bit more difficult to purchase paraphernalia to smoke marijuana, though as the Tampa Tribune reports in its headline above the fold…
New Music Tuesday! (June 11): Boards of Canada, Jimmy Eat World, The Lonely Island, Black Sabbath & more
Releases out this week; audio & video included.
Canon Project Imaginat10n: call for submissions
Ron Howard and daughter Bryce Dallas Howard. Ron Howard and his hyper-creative gang have teamed up with Canon to give a deductive twist to storytelling. Ninety-one winning photographs have been chosen to boost your imagination, chosen after a wave of photographic submissions themed after the 10 tenets of storytelling: Mood, Goal, Backstory, Character, Obstacle, Relationship,…
Inside the photo booth: Art gallery owner Mindy Solomon
Kevin Tighe Mindy Solomon (click to enlarge)
Hillsborough County’s new MetroRapid line gets a grand opening ceremony
The ceremony took place at the new Park-n-Ride Station located off Hidden River Road.
Kathy Castor said leaked reports about government surveillance sound “overly broad”
Kathy Castor Today, the second highest ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, Eric Cantor, said he's "perplexed" by the recent revelations about government eavesdropping. He said he wants more answers from the Obama administration. Cantor told CBS' This Morning that a lot of lawmakers "don't know what happened and we've got to find out."…
Five Things I Learned From Some Legends: Kings of the Mic Tour at Mahaffey Theater
A look back at the Thurs., June 6 show.
Hillsborough county LGBT community celebrates repeal of gay pride ban
Nick Cardello Kevin Beckner at Hamburger Mary's Last Wednesday's 7-0 vote by the Hillsborough County Commission to repeal the eight-year-old ban on gay pride events is significant not only to the local LGBT community, said Ybor City business owner Carrie West, but to the gay community nationwide. "I had friends call me immediately on Friday…
Mitch Perry Report 6.10.13: Who’s afraid of the NSA?
Plus: Tony winners, Sunday shows recap and more …
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden says he doesn’t want to live in a society that “does these sort of things”
The man responsible for issuing the leaks last week to The Guardian and the Washington Post regarding the U.S.'s surveillance programs went public on Sunday. 29-year-old Edward Snowden says he took the extraordinary step because “the public needs to decide whether these programs and policies are right or wrong.” Snowden currently does not work for…
Rand Paul wants you to join him in suing over govt. surveillance
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul said on Fox News Sunday that he wants to enlist outraged Americans in filing a class-action lawsuit against the National Security Agency for acquiring Americans’ phone records without a warrant. Through two different leaked media reports over the past week, the public has learned that that the NSA obtained data…
LL Cool J stops by Kristina’s Cafe in St. Pete
Photo courtesy Kristina's Cafe Kristina's night manager Elton (left) with LL Cool J (right) Thursday night at the cafe. After LL Cool J rocked the mic at Mahaffey on Thursday night, he stopped by Kristina's Cafe (3590 34th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-526-6673) for some late-night breakfast. He's pictured here with Kristina's night manager Elton.…
The Real Good Wife
In praise of Edith Bunker.
One track mind
I’m sick of my husband relentlessly pushing his fantasy on me.
Tampa Bay Times head honcho Paul Tash tames a mellow Tiger Bay Club
Paul Tash Dubbed on the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club's website as (arguably) "the most powerful person in town," Tampa Bay Times Chairman and CEO Paul Tash was the featured speaker at the group's luncheon at the St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater hotel on Friday. The piece on Tiger Bay's website says, "As powerful as Tash is,…
A Q&A with singer-songwriter and lesbian icon Melissa Ferrick
Following the release of her latest album, “the truth is,” earlier this week, Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick will be in the area for a free show on Saturday, June 8, 7 p.m., at the New Port Richey Library. With a career that spans two decades, Ferrick builds on her signature raw and emotive sound on…
Andy San Dimas’ excellent adventures and bogus journeys in porn
An interview with the metal chick who serves as the puppet master behind the porn star.
American Stage’s Mammoth undertaking
7 Homeless Mammoths may survive extinction on its strengths, but overlooks the theater’s process of natural selection.
Dunedin IPA Fest was a hoppy, soggy good time
Nicole Abbett Dopapod playing Saturday at Dunedin Brewery for the Fifth Annual IPA Fest. The longest line at Dunedin Brewery's IPA Fest was not for the brewery's new Chronicle 10: Double Oatmeal Pale Ale (which was excellent). Nor was it for Rapp Brewing's Black IPA or 7venth Sun Brewery's Summer Camp #2. No, the longest…
Crum’s Bar and Grill closing
JAMES OSTRAND Crum's Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg, home to a vast selection of craft beers on tap and homemade potato chips, is closing. Thursday night, owners Chris Crum and Lanette Miller announced the bar would shut down until its final night on Saturday, June 15. The Best of the Bay award-winning craft beer…
An acceptable Internship
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson crash Google.
Cringing at The Purge
Ethan Hawke’s latest barely gets below the surface of its intriguing premise.
Mitch Perry Report 6.7.13 – There’s Jan Brewer’s way of pushing her Legislature on Medicaid expansion. And then there’s Rick Scott
It's time for Allison Tant and the Florida Democratic Party to start firing up some commercials, even if they're just on the Web, challenging Rick Scott for his lack of motivating his Republican colleagues in the state Legislature to accept the federal government's plan on Medicaid expansion. The thought comes to mind as the RPOF…
Weekend wrap-up: Florida Night Heat at New World, George Clinton at Ferg’s
A look back at shows that happened on May 31 and June 1, 2013; photos & video included.
Tampa City Council passes car noise ordinance that threatens jail time for offenders
Activist Connie Burton argued against the car noise ordinance The Tampa City Council approved an ordinance on a 6-0 vote on Thursday that would sanction drivers who are blasting audible music from 50 feet away. The ordinance includes possible jail time for third time offenders. Reacting to complaints from residents, particularly elderly African-Americans in East…
Mayor Buckhorn engages in a touching display at the Florida Aquarium
Nicole Abbett Mayor Bob Buckhorn addresses the crowd atop the dock of the new Stingray Beach. The new Stingray Beach at the Florida Aquarium held its official grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday night, recognizing the completion of the first phase of the Rising Tides Capital Campaign. Mayor Bob Buckhorn joined Florida Aquarium President and CEO…
“Let’s stop talking and do some walking”: the Prancercise revolution (with video)
This past winter did a number on my health, and I'm still dealing with the aftermath of the Bronchitis 2012-13 tour of my upper respiratory system — even today. So, since I fell off my semi-religious routine of aerobics and outdoor exercise, I'm now 20 pounds mas, wondering what I've missed on the fitness frontier.…
Mitch Perry Report: On the end of the gay pride ban
As you know by now, the Hillsborough County Commission repealed its eight-year-old ban on promoting or sponsoring gay pride events yesterday, which according to one of the Christian conservatives who railed against the repeal said, means the county has now lost "the favor of God." A couple of random thoughts on the day's proceedings nearly…
Citywide recycling in St. Petersburg remains a dream
Why “Florida’s First Green City” is last in universal curbside recycling.
Kurt Elling: Question man
The surprising, satisfying music of Kurt Elling, vocalist, singer and scholar.
USF CAM explores modern Cuba
Occupying, Building, Thinking highlights images of loss, impermanence and hope in contemporary Cuban video.
Cops caught on camera
Police officers know there are smartphones capturing their every move. And yet …
Album review: set and setting, Equanimity
The way St. Pete musician Shane Handal tells it, set and setting’s roots are in the bedroom. At the project’s infancy, the then 19-year-old set about composing heavy riffing instrumental passages with nothing but his computer to keep him company. These hermetic origins and a band name that references psychedelic jargon coined by Timothy Leary…
Review: Frampton’s Guitar Circus brings a six-string extravaganza to Ruth Eckerd Hall
A look back at the Sun., June 2 show.
You, only better
Finding fashion that works at a new “styling lounge” in Hyde Park Village.
Cookie party
A recipe that calls for not one but two bags of chocolate chips.
Yes you can can
The best canned beers for beating the heat.
Review: The hits don’t stop with Fleetwood Mac at Tampa Bay Times Forum
A look back at the Fri., June 7 concert, with photos.
Bike co-op advocates cycling, culture & community
Meaghan Habuda The St. Petersburg Bike Co-op greets visitors to its June 1 premiere with the lowdown on the mission. The symphony of rain on Saturday night did not disrupt the St. Petersburg Bike Co-op’s grand opening at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. Despite the weather, the co-op elicited a crowd to its converted storage…
Florida Dems blast Rick Scott for vetoing immigrant driver’s license bill
New York discussed the issue of offering drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants back in 2007 — something the Florida bill would not have done In recent weeks, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry has had a field day over the state Democratic Party's self-inflicted wounds regarding chair Allison Tant's decision to exclude Nan Rich…
Hillsborough Commission votes 7-0 to repeal ban on gay pride
Kevin Beckner brandished a copy of the Constitution during today's meeting Almost exactly eight years after they voted to place a ban on county sponsorship of gay pride events in Hillsborough, the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday morning voted unanimously to repeal that ban, 7-0. However, it wasn't without controversy. That's because three of…
Now that’s a spicy pepper fest
Rebecca Bailey STEAM HEAT: Contestants had to eat as many raw jalapenos as possible in three minutes. At the 7th Annuall Pinellas Pepper Fest, the folks from Tahiti Joe's Hot Sauces passed out samples of hot sauce-based Jell-O shots and strawberry margaritas. Robin Sandell, Tahiti Joe's sister, said their hot sauce-infused drinks give people another…
Celeste Star’s heavenly body of work
An interview with the petite Latina porn star on ferrets, threesomes, and riding the roller coaster of adult entertainment for nearly a decade.
The Royal family
Ms. Mattie Royal’s food is cooked with soul and a little salt and pepper.
Ale aboard for Cigar City
The local brewer’s new brewpub combines Cuban cuisine with house-made beers.
Polenta pot pies for dinner tonight
Savory ratatouille pot pies are sure to please any crowd.
Former Mayor Bill Poe livens up Tampa Riverwalk ceremony
Tampa's current mayor Bob Buckhorn with his precedessors: Pam Iorio, Dick Greco, Sandy Freedman, Bob Martinez and Bill Poe The last phase of the four-decades long process of creating and completing Tampa's Riverwalk is nearing an end. On Tuesday morning, it was announced that construction will begin on what is being called the Kennedy Boulevard…
