I am 50 Cent and so Can You: Blood on The Sand Review
This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. And I love it. I'm not even going to try and defend myself, other than to say sometimes the craziest shit can be fun. 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is ridiculous, crazy, and totally fun, and I'm not entirely sure why. It features a ridiculous, hackneyed story that's poorly…
The self – a poem
Branches break. Makes me wonder why they spend so much time reaching as far away from their roots as they can. Do they hate the moist warmth of the womb? No. They reach for sex though they grow never to feel penetration. Not true. Gender discrimination is what their unions would fight against. The dioeicious…
Def Leppard announces tour and Tampa stop, causes a “Duel to the Def” face-off
I just got a release announcing Def Leppard's latest 40-city American tour with Poison and Cheap Trick, which includes a Tampa stop at Ford Amphitheatre Fri., Aug. 14. After receiving news about one of hair metal's greatest Aqua Netted fivesome, I was inspired to look up and play the classic "Pour Some Sugar on Me."…
Songs to save your party
This past Saturday I attended a friend of a friend's 50th birthday celebration. At 25 years old, I was the youngest reveler there by a solid two decades. This generation gap evidenced itself in all of the usual and uncomfortable ways. My skuzzy Chuck Taylors and the holes in my jeans belied my immaturity while…
Corkscrew: Diary of a freaked out hostess
Shit, people will be here in an hour, and I still haven't showered. The husband is mesmerized by Battlestar Galactica and probably wouldn't be much help anyway. This in-home wine tasting will be the death of me, but I always seem to have fun … probably too much fun actually, since tomorrow will likely hurt.…
Prince to retail 3-album bundle exclusively through Target
Prince may not be willing to be a "slave" to record labels, but he is OK to work with Target to exclusively retail his next three CDs. In an innovative marketing move, he'll offer a three-album bundle for $11.99. Available March 29, the three-fer will include Prince's guitar-oriented Lotusflow3r and funky-leaning MPLSound, along with Elixir,…
Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping recipe
Having seen tons of pictures of delicious-looking pancakes last week on my food porn sites, it put me in the mood to make some. I am not a fan of plain ol' regular pancakes, though, because I find them to be dry, dull, flavorless and only good as a vehicle for syrup. Whilst looking in my…
Strange brew: The out-of-town beer marathon
If you know me on a personal basis and are planning a trip anywhere outside of Florida, prepare to be handed a shopping list and an envelope of cash. There are a few things I will need you to bring back for me. As further compensation, upon your return, we will gather with the expressed…
Jon Stewart thinks Twitter is a silly waste of time
Jon Stewart thinks Twitter is a silly waste of time, according to yesterday's Daily Show segment of "Jon Stewart shakes his fist at _____." Reporter Samantha Bee plays the Twitter enthusiast. Or is she a desperate member of the media, clinging to Twitter like a branch on the bank of a raging river? You make…
And the winner is …
Creative Loafing’s inaugural Oscar contest was simple: Pick the winners in six top categories and tell us what time the show would end. Dozens of you took a shot, with 13 entrants nailing all six categories correctly. After we sorted out the tiebreaker (the show ended at 11:56 p.m., with the credits rolling until 11:59…
Secret Bush memo OK’ed military attacks on US apartment buildings, offices
The revelations of what the Bush administration was considering in the wake of 9/11 have been chilling, and nowhere is the scope of these measures summed up better than in the opening paragraph of Michael Isikoff's current story in Newsweek: In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Justice Department secretly gave the green light…
The biggest jerk in Bachelor history?
Something odd happened in Reality TV-Land last night: reality. Or at least it sure looked like reality, or what passes for it on ABC's weepfest The Bachelor. Hunky Jason Mesnick (pictured) permanently forsook his nice-guy status by reneging on Melissa, his first choice to be Mrs. Mesnick, in favor of Molly, his #2 — and…
St. Petersburg’s The Table brings a new chef team to the, uhm, table
After the surprising departure of chef Pedro Flores from The Table — he originated The Table's Atlantic Rim cuisine in its previous incarnation — current owners Michael Stewart (717 South) and Linda and George Rahdert (the owners of the building The Table occupies) have brought in some local names to helm the kitchen at this…
Travelling to Miami: I’m in South Beach, bitch!
That was one of my favorite t-shirt slogans among the many hanging in windows along Collins Avenue. I just got back from the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and, along with my birthday, am glad that I only celebrate it once a year. What with all the weapons of mass cirrhotic destruction leading to…
The Short List: Michael Steele apologizes to Rush Limbaugh
Here's a compelling animation of the U.S. Airways Hudson River crash. Stay tuned for the end, where the passengers are revealed to be the cast of The Sims. Michael Steele apologizes to Rush, making Limbaugh the defacto leader of the Republican Party. R.I.P. The Dow Jones Industrial Average. Is this a Depression? What the hell…
New Releases: Tuesday, March 3
Bell X1, Blue Lights on the Runway (Yep Roc) Boston Spaceships, Planets are Blasted (Guided by Voices) Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (Anti-) Justin Townes Earle, Midnight at the Movies (Bloodshot) Molly Jenson, Maybe Tomorrow (Nettwerk) The Prodigy, Invaders Must Die (Take Me to the Hospital/Cooking Vinyl) The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Communion (Yep Roc) U2,…
U2’s The Edge still supports record labels.
U2 persists as the biggest rock band in the world. No Line on the Horizon will likely flirt with platinum status in its first week of release – quite an accomplishment in these dire times for the music biz. There aren't many acts left for whom pressing a new album is akin to printing money. When U2…
Do It Today: Olivia Newton-John, Lovedrug and more.
Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John, 60 (pictured), is so wholesome that her 1981 smash, “Physical,” was considered risqué by her squeaky-clean standards. Quiz: How many of her other No. 1s can you name? OK, I’m not going to print this upside down on the bottom of the page. The answers: “I Honestly Love You” (1974),…
That’s so gay! X-Box Live says no to sexual orientation
Wanna be called a "fag" over and over again by 12 year old boys from around the world? Well, that's what X-Box live was designed to deliver – the young male gamer in all his puerility. I mean sure, there's a kick-ass shooter or three in there too, but the name-calling can be hard to…
Southern Exposure in Ybor: Such devoted Sisters
Holy Culture Clash! Ybor City was festival central this past weekend, with Fiesta Day, Flan Fest and Southern Exposure vying for crowds from one end of Ybor to the other. Southern Exposure was the newest of the celebrations, a GaYbor carnival complete with midway, ferris wheel and a visitation from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,…
Phish Saves America: Final predictions and a desperation plea
So this is it. The week that it starts all over again. The members of Phish are re-convening for the first time in nearly five years, at the Mothership Hampton Coliseum, with 13,800 of their closest phans looking on. Hopefully, this sad sack included. No, I have not yet acquired my extra tickets — one…
A review of the new U2
U2 No Line on the Horizon Interscope Four years after "Vertigo" blasted from speakers and iPod commercials — can it really have been that long? — U2 continues to defy the odds. While the ranks of legendary rockers limp along with lame new offerings that suggest they're all but tapped out (it wouldn't be polite…
Tonight’s Loudon Wainwright show postponed
This just in from WMNF: Tonight's scheduled Loudon Wainwright III concert has been postponed. A make-up show later this month or next month will be set up where we will honor the original tickets.
Nick Schuyler found alive in boating accident; two NFL players, a third man still missing
Former USF football player Nick Schuyler was found clinging to an overturned boat 35 miles off the coast of Tampa Bay today, as three other people (including two NFL players) remain missing. Coast Guard Capt. Timothy M. Close said rescuers found Nick Schuyler clinging to the hull of an overturned boat about 35 miles off…
Restaurant Review: Bowled in St. Petersburg
Bowled Restaurant 3 Stars 3451 4th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-895-2695 Serving everything in a bowl – or as many menu items as possible – is more than just a restaurant gimmick or an excuse for an endless series of pot-smoking jokes. It's a clear declaration of what St. Pete restaurant Bowled is all about.…
Maximizing your beverage: The traveling cup
Maybe you haven't done it. Maybe you have. Or maybe you've never even thought about it. I have been known on several occasions to turn my "to-go beverage" from
Girls with a new flavor (the new hip hop sound)
There's been this new sound swirling around; it sounds like hip hop but with an electro beat … I'm no music critic and my vocabulary to breakdown the proper terminology is laughable. All I know is this sound is propped up by new female "alternative" artists, and they all have a killer style. In our…
Flourless Chocolate Cake and Toasted Coconut Ice Cream worth marrying
Is it possible to be in love with a chocolate cake? Is it possible to marry it? How about toasted coconut ice cream? Can I marry it too? Please tell me I can. Oh but wait, that means I would be married to 3 things, my husband, chocolate cake and toasted coconut ice cream. Welp,…
My deployment in Qatar: Operation Footprint
[Editor's Note: Jennifer Huntsman is a US Army Reserve Signal Captain stationed at MacDill Air Force Base with Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). She is currently deployed in Qatar. Jenny will be writing for The Daily Loaf about life in the military.] There are moments in a day where it is clear why we are…
Do It Today: Jimmy Fallon, gender medicine & more
Jimmy Fallon hosts his first Late Night tonight at 12:37 a.m. on NBC. Hopes are high, but Jimmy's scared. At least that's how it looks from the webisode he did with Lorne Michaels, an odd little interview that's either a parody in search of a punchline or a sincere 'Jimmy pays homage to his mentor'…
Girls with a new flavor (the new hip hop sound)
There's been this new sound swirling around; it sounds like hip hop but with an electro beat … I'm no music critic and my vocabulary to breakdown the proper terminology is laughable. All I know is this sound is propped up by new female "alternative" artists, and they all have a killer style. In our…
Fusionistas podcast #1: Shunda K
Download. In the first Fusionistas podcast, Aleka Phoenix welcomes into the studio hip hop artist Shunda K, creator of the group Yo! Majesty, for a candid conversation about where she's been and where she's going, and how she was a forerunner of a new sound.
The blowjob/fucking continuum
Today’s topic: coitus vs. fellatio. Fucking vs. blowjobs. I’m coming (sorry) at this from a specific (heterosexual) angle; let me lay it out: When I was in high school in the ’70s, getting sex from a girl was hard to come (sorry) by. Perhaps I just wasn’t a very good closer, or maybe I preferred…
Late night music, March 2-7
A regular weekly bulletin on musical guests playing the five-nights-a-week late night talk shows (and SNL); set your TIVOs or DVRs. The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Monday, March 2-Friday, March 6: U2 (pictured, and yes, they are the musical guest every night this week) The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC Monday, March…
Nude Nites
It took every ounce of professionalism I could muster to tastefully cover the annual Warehouse. I hadn't counted on how difficult it would be to remain calm and composed when trying to document an art show featuring over 100 provocative works of art in every median from canvas to skin. Japanese lanterns dangled from the…
How young is too young?
How young is too young? What defines age? The actual number in years? Maybe it’s the experiences in your life that define your age? Can age be described in accomplishments or possessions? I’ve recently opened myself up to someone who’s made me ask these questions. In my 20’s, too young was anyone who wasn’t 21…
After Faith No More, what is the likelihood of more major reunions?
Rolling Stone recently did an analysis of the likelihood of certain legendary bands re-forming. Here's an excerpt: Band: Led Zeppelin Date last seen: December 10, 2007 in London Why you shouldn’t hold your breath: Frontman Robert Plant said that the band’s surviving members explored a reunion after their one-off tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, but ultimately…
Men should come with warning labels
There are men in this world that should come with a warning label. These men come in variations forms, but my personal favorite is the kind who is smart to appear sane through the witty anecdotes and half-truths he posts online. Recently I met a man named Ben on match.com who suckered me in. 28,…
Phoebe Snow to take DNA test to prove she’s not black
The Jewish folk and blues singer Phoebe Snow is so often mistaken as an African-American that she was recently lauded by New Jersey magazine as one of several "black music greats." She's laughing about it now, but plans to take a DNA test to prove her ethnicity once and for all, EURweb says: "I was…
Dream-sex with ex
A reader writes, “So Dream Lady, every time I break up with a chic and I have doubts if I should spread the love as this relationship is over or work things out, I have a dream about my ex and if I wake up before I have sex with her, the relationship always ends. …
The Sheaks / Nessie tonight at Bartlett Park
Root/Cause: A Birthday Party for the Garden! Saturday February 28th, 7:30 pm, 1013 MLK Street S. Join the Bartlett Park Community Garden for a night of music, food and art under the stars. Twigs and Leaves Native Florida Plant Nursery hosts this landmark celebration.Sat, Feb 28th 7:30pm Twigs & Leaves 1013 MLK Street South, St.…
Indie 101: Drew Danburry (vol.1)
Drew Danburry is a folk musician from California who I fell in love with after watching this video for a song he wrote about his wife, Lynette: I talked to him recently and learned that he is about to embark on a tour with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin as well as Ryland Bouchard…
Wanee Music Festival celebrates the Allmans’ 40th anniversary
Wanee, the annual Florida music festival hosted by Southern jam rock grandfathers Allman Brothers Band and featuring two nights worth of headlining shows by them returns, this time with Gregg Allman in good health and actually in attendance. The current lineup of performers includes the usual suspects — the Allmans (who headlines both nights), Gov't…
CL’s weekly food and drink round-up
All the beer, dropped trou, bistro burgers and food news you may have missed, in one easy list. CL's food and drink podcast, Nosh Pit: Episode 5 Brian reviews Datz Deli Corkscrew covers Tempranillo Upcoming food and wine events Also: great cheap wine deal, Bistro Burger recipe, highlights from CL's Wine Club event, Tournament of…
Pitchfork announces its ’09 fest dates
Pictured: The Dodos at the '08 Pitchfork Music Fest; photo by Jen Reel. Last year, I tried and failed to head up to Chicago for 2008's three-day Pitchfork Music Festival. The lineup was an indie rock lovers dream — how could you expect any less from a Pitchfork.com-sponsored event? — but I simply couldn't get…
The garden celebrates its first year
It's hard work starting up a community garden. Here in Bartlett Park we're so proud that our garden is one year old this weekend. For twelve months, more than a hundred volunteers have hauled dirt, mulch, water, compost, plants, food, chairs, fencing, pvc pipes and friends out to 1443 Highland Street South in St Petersburg…
Dream symbols: The slippery dudes of dreams
Carl Jung, the well-known analyst, and Freud's expected heir apparent (didn't happen, they had a fight) said a symbol was the best representation of something unknown. Jung believed symbols were lurking in the collective unconscious (a part of our psyche we share with all mankind) and they appear as messengers in dreams. Interpreting them can…
“Everytime I don’t get laid … late night burrito place”
Spoof songs fans, burrito fans, anybody who goes to Ybor City on the weekend (maybe this weekend), enjoy:
Axl Rose calls Slash “a cancer”
I guess this is what you do when your highly anticipated album stiffs. In a recently published new interview, Axl Rose said of his former guitar mate Slash, "In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided — and the less anyone heard of him or his supporters the better." Guns…
Grocery store sale shopping list 2/26
The good deals at Bay area grocery stores, all in one place. Last week, I saved $22 on my grocery bill by shopping by the sales. Really. Publix (prices good through 3/4): Ground chuck, $1.99/lb. (Recipe: Bistro Burger) Medium white shrimp, $4.99 (Recipe: Southwestern Shrimp and Grits) Mueller's pasta, buy one get one free, $1.39…
Obama girls (and boys): ‘We’re deeply in love!’
When I was growing up, the motto on the editorial page of my hometown paper was that famous quote of Voltaire’s: “I disagree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Anyone out there today willing to go balls-to-the-wall for a dissenting point of view? Didn’t think so.…
Food and wine events
Friday, Feb. 27: Southern Brewing Supply The Best Florida Beer Championships invites you to the 6th Annual "Try This! Beer and Food Pairing." Sample craft and homebrew beers with creative cuisine. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 7:30-10:30 p.m., 1717 E Busch Blvd, Tampa (813-765-1289) Friday, Feb. 27: Cork Sample Bordeaux varietals in Cork's…
Get more bacon into your diet
If you're like me you wake up every morning wondering "How can I get more bacon into my diet?" Well, Lists Galore is here to help with "
Do It This Weekend: RuPaul, Fiesta Day, Abdul-Jabbar
Southern Exposure "The nation’s first all-gay carnival weekend event” comes to GaYbor complete with 68-foot-tall Ferris wheel, carnival midway and Ms. RuPaul, who will be performing Saturday and Sunday nights at L’Olivier’s. Feb. 27-March 1, Southern Exposure, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat., noon-9:30 p.m. Sun., Czar parking lot, Seventh Avenue and 14th Street, free admission; RuPaul…
Vote in the 2009 Wine Blog Awards
Apparently we missed the call to enter, but let the voting begin for the 2009 American Wine Blog Awards, hosted by FERMENTATION: The Daily Wine Blog. The categories include Best Writing on a Wine Blog, Best Graphics, Best Single-Subject Wine Blog and Best Winery Blog, among others. Nominees include Jonathan Alsop's In Vino Veritas, The New York Times…
My deployment in Qatar: Operation Beach Party
[Editor's Note: Jennifer Huntsman is a US Army Reserve Signal Captain stationed at MacDill Air Force Base with Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). She is currently deployed in Qatar. Jenny will be writing for The Daily Loaf about life in the military.] Throughout military careers we are told that we have to attend events that…
The Short List: Obama’s budget revealed
sdfsgfdg Obama takes the wraps off the budget … … Let's hope it goes over better than the Iraq withdrawal plan.
Sex shop adventures
Like liquor stores and post offices, there's never a good sex shop around when you need one. Around eleven, my coworker Thao and I stumbled out of Dave's Aqua Lounge on Gandy after being casually molested by a large man named Nacho. We were headed for the sex shop down the street, BedTyme Stories. I…
From Boca to The Philippines: Dennis Lambert’s musical rebirth
By Eric Snider; cross-posted from The Daily Loaf: You probably don’t know the name Dennis Lambert, but you know the man’s work. During most of the ’70s and into the ’80s, he was part of a songwriting/producing tandem that routinely spun out chart-topping singles. The tunes cut a broad stylistic swath: Hamilton, Joe Frank and…
Morrissey cancels shows, blames unidentified illness
Today, former Smiths frontman
Review: N.A.S.A.’s The Spirit of Apollo
—A review by Creative Loafing Sarasota Editor Cooper Levy-Baker from the Sarasota blog, the 941. Two months ago, we teased the hell out of the debut disc by the hot-shot DJ duo N.A.S.A., and posted an mp3 and a video by the group to boot. Well, this past Tuesday, the disc finally hit the streets,…
Great cheap wine deal
On sale through March 3 at Whole Foods Market at I-275 and North Dale Mabry: Borsao Monte Oton Old Vine Grenache, $7.99/bottle Corkscrew Review, 11/9/2008: Incredible value wine. Medium-bodied, this perfect-for-everyday wine has cherry and raspberry, silky tannins and a pretty, forever finish. 4 stars.
From Boca to The Philippines: Dennis Lambert’s musical rebirth
You probably don’t know the name Dennis Lambert, but you know the man's work. During most of the ’70s and into the ’80s, he was part of a songwriting/producing tandem that routinely spun out chart-topping singles. The tunes cut a broad stylistic swath: Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds’ “Don’t Pull Your Love,” Player’s “Baby Come…
The Bistro Burger: a gourmet take on an American classic
The weather here in the Tampa Bay area has been absolutely gorgeous lately, thus putting me in the mood for some grilling action. I've had a hankering for a big juicy burger for ages but I wanted to try something different than a plain old burger with American cheese on a boring bun. I was at…
Tonight at New World Brewery: Brass Bed
A relatively new indie outfit from Louisiana, Brass Bed crafts sprightly folk-infused psyche pop flavored with ‘60s rock textures (tambourine, garage fuzzy riffs, mellow rolling interludes, Beach Boy harmonies). The songs are quirky-catchy and easy to enjoy, and 2008's Midnight Matinee is a nice slice of upbeat. I hear they put on a pretty good…
Indie 101: Zack Weber.
What I enjoy most about Zack Weber has zip, zero, zilch, to do with the fact that he has a sound so unique that every generation can find a piece of his music and dance around to it like it’s nobody’s business. It has nothing to do with fact that his music is so diverse…
Highlights from CL Wine Club at Vintage Wine Cellars
Over 50 people got their drink on at last night's free CL Wine Club wine tasting at Vintage Wine Cellars (why didn't you know about it? Get on the email or text lists). The wines, of course, rocked since they were hand-picked by yours truly but the most popular selections were: Matanzas Creek 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($22)…
An afterthought – a poem
She lay on the bed under knots and moonlit notches breathing like she just came from the bottom of the ocean. I tasted the sea on the tip of my tongue. One of her languid arms fell to the floor and twitched with diminishing frequency like an autotomized lizard's tail. A piece of the moment…
Variety reviews Watchmen
In the first major review of Watchmen, Variety's Justin Chang has mixed feelings about the much anticipated superhero flick. An excerpt: Yet the movie is ultimately undone by its own reverence; there’s simply no room for these characters and stories to breathe of their own accord, and even the most fastidiously replicated scenes can feel…
Tournament of Tacos has a theme song: Taco Bell Canon
Ignore the video and just listen — there are a variety of versions of this on YouTube, but this one has the best audio. Attributed to the Rick Bayless choir, to the tune of Pachelbel's classic Canon in D major, I give you Taco Bell Canon, after the break:
Beer news: Fat Tire heads east, but don’t believe the hype
For some reason, pseudo beer drinkers everywhere have become enamored with a certain amber ale that goes by the name Fat Tire. As a beertender, I couldn't go one night without being on the receiving end of some nonsensical harangue about how Fat Tire is the best beer ever made and every bar in the…
Bryan Rice – Contributor
Bryan is a poet currently pursuing an MFA degree at the University of South Florida. Do you know those scruffy, loner types who hole up in random coffee shops and spend hours scribbling in their notebooks? They sneer at anything mainstream; they chain-smoke; they rave about Ingmar Bergman and Virginia Woolf; they sometimes speak with…
Do It Today: Seinfeld, Nude Nite, filmfest kickoff
Gasparilla International Film Festival Ten days of films, workshops and parties kick off tonight at Tampa Theatre with a screening of Rod Lurie's Nothing But the Truth, starring Kate Beckinsale in a much-buzzed-about take on the Valerie Plame/Judith Miller case. Tonight's festivities also include a lifetime achievement award to Terry Moore, the Oscar-nominated actress, Playboy…
Concert Review: Trail of Dead Mon., Feb. 23 @ The Social
I vowed not to risk a good night's sleep on another potentially turbulent …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead show ninety minutes away – not after what happened at Jannus Landing last time they visited the Bay Area; but a last minute ticket and ride offer from my co-worker and good…
The Short List: Obama puts price tag on health care
Comedian Louis CK puts our current economic crisis in perspective. What's another $634 billion among friends? When it comes to their guns, Mexican drug cartels buy American. Pick a diet, any diet … The Obamas have selected the First Dog … maybe. Tiger Woods is frickin' incredible. The Arrested Development movie is a go. Good…
To Do This Friday: Malcolm Holcombe @ Dave’s Aqua Lounge
Okay, I'll be 100% honest. I'm not nearly as familiar with Malcolm Holcombe as I should be. He's always been an artist I've meant to delve into but for what ever reason, have never gotten around to checking out. However, after reading the following quote from leftofthedial I dunno how I could miss the chance…
New Neko Case album Middle Cyclone streaming now
Who doesn't love some sultry Neko Case? NPR has her new album, Middle Cyclone, available for listen now. Ultimately, Case says, the songs on Middle Cyclone are more about the universal need for love, regardless of what form it may take. "What other people might call 'love songs,' I think of as homages," she says.…
Dunedin Mardi Gras: Drunks, drunks everywhere but not a drop of beer fit to drink
Sociologists note that festivals, including events like parades, involve the temporary suspension of societal norms. In these liminal settings, the individual is permitted to conduct themselves outside the conventions of acceptable behavior. This includes being loud, overeating, becoming drunk, or dancing — or some wicked hedonistic combination of all the aforementioned. The activities associated with…
Bill Niman will no longer eat Niman Ranch meat
Bill Niman — the man who founded a meat company that brought sustainable, humane and natural meat to homes and restaurants acrosss the country — recently said that standards had changed so much at Niman Ranch that he no longer feels comfortable eating his former company's meat. Admittedly, some of that may come more from…
Peace Piece premiere: Big ambitions, big fun
The multimedia extravaganza Peace Piece/ Take A Walk in My Shoes premiered last night at USF, and it was a kick. I'd spoken with two of its creators, Marisa Alma Nick and Tera "DJ Nova Jade" Greene, during a recent episode of ArtsSpeak and was impressed by their enthusiasm and ambition (40-plus performers, a documentary,…
Grilled Asian Skirt Steak with Arugula Salad and Garlic Potato Rounds
Have you watched the news lately? Apparently, the economy isn't doing so well. They say that January saw more layoffs in one month since 1974. Wow! I almost got through January but on the 27th, I became one of those statistics too. Now it's not all bad folks. My career field is actually in demand…
Buccaneers release Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway
In yet another sign of the Tampa Bay Bucs' drastic facelift, the team released perhaps the most stalwart player in franchise history, LB Derrick Brooks, a sure-fire future Hall of Famer. Joining him on he cuts list were another popular Buc, RB Warrick Dunn, who returned to the team last year after several with the…
Food and wine events
Wednesday, Feb. 25: Belleair Grill and Wine Bar Enjoy a five-course meal paired with select wines at the Legends of Sonoma and Napa event. Featured Merlots, Chardonnays and Cabernets come from Arrowood Vineyards, Freemark Abbey and Matanzas Creek. Reservations required. $65. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1575 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater (727-449-2988) Thursday, Feb. 26: Mise En…
Do It Today: Kathleen Edwards, Giselle and star-gazing
Kathleen Edwards A Canadian singer/songwriter with an alt-country bent, a plaintive, lilting voice and a knack for compelling narrative ("Six O'Clock News," "Alicia Ross") and hard-edged love songs ("Asking for Flowers" ), Edwards was scheduled to share this bill with Loudon Wainwright III. He switched to Mar. 2, leaving Edwards to hold the stage on…
Playing with my food: Crème Brûlée
I cradled the spoon in my hand, staring at the caramelized top of my dessert. It was artfully crafted and sat in a simple white ramekin, with seven succulent blueberries arranged in a circle in its center. I grazed my spoon on top of the crisp burnt sugar, trying to decide where to break it.…
Dali and dreams
It was one of those "must be seen" events I tagged along on. Amid the crowd, noise, a woman with a shoe on her head and good but loud music, I slipped away to commune with Salvador Dali. One image jumped off the wall because it was an incomplete staircase and had the word "Dream"…
U2: No Line on the Horizon
Four years after “Vertigo” blasted from speakers and iPod commercials — can it really have been that long? — U2 continues to defy the odds. While the ranks of legendary rockers limp along with lame new offerings that suggest they’re all but tapped out (it wouldn’t be polite to name names … but Springsteen comes…
Beer review: Ola Dubh Special 16 Reserve Ale
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 16 ReserveWhiskey barrel aged old ale, 8%Scotland Old Engine Oil, produced by the Scottish brewery Harviestoun, is definitely among my top ten favorite beers produced by humans on planet Earth. It looks and tastes like it sounds: dark, slick, and chewy. The body's density and combination of burnt, bitter, and slightly…
Strawberry Festival returns to Plant City
The fest is more than just a celebration of Plant City’s favorite fruit.
Gasparilla International Film Festival: Reviews
Reviews of select films in the festival.
Actress Barbara Eaker shines on bay area stages
The actress is a pretty face, but so much more.
Is Datz a Deli? More or less
A new South Tampa eatery pleases a lot, frustrates a little.
Recommended wines: A grape by any other name
The coming out of tempranillo
Bob Hunter stands up to Hillsborough County developers
Is he a smart-growth champ or just a double-dipper?
The Gasparilla Film Festival, bigger than ever
The Gasparilla International Film Festival is growing, but its staff isn’t.
Morrissey to play Jannus Landing March 4
The musician is touring behind his strongest album in years
Joaquin Phoenix stars in Two Lovers
The recently insane star gets beached in Brooklyn with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Savage Love: At what point is it “safe” to have an open relationship?
Dan goes to college
Dunedin Mardi Gras: Drunks, drunks everywhere but not a drop of beer fit to drink
Sociologists note that festivals, including events like parades, involve the temporary suspension of societal norms. In these liminal settings, the individual is permitted to conduct themselves outside the conventions of acceptable behavior. This includes being loud, overeating, becoming drunk, dancing — or some wicked hedonistic combination of all the aforementioned. The activities associated with Mardi…
Beer news: Fat Tire heads east, but don’t believe the hype
For some reason, pseudo beer drinkers everywhere have become enamored with a certain amber ale that goes by the name Fat Tire. As a beertender, I couldn't go one night without being on the receiving end of some nonsensical harangue about how Fat Tire is the best beer ever made and every bar in the…
Highlights from CL Wine Club at Vintage Wine Cellars
Over 50 people got their drink on at last night's free CL Wine Club wine tasting at Vintage Wine Cellars (why didn't you know about it? Get on the email or text lists). The wines, of course, rocked since they were hand-picked by yours truly but the most popular selections were: Matanzas Creek 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($22)…
Can playing the bongos make you piss blood?
I've heard and read stories about musicians, specifically hand drummers, pissing blood after playing a particularly tough or long set. The great Armando Peraza, Santana's longtime bongo and conga player, told an interviewer: "Playing percussion for Carlos you had to be able to play hard, non-stop for sometimes up to three straight hours, and play…
Quizno’s giving away free sub sandwiches*
Quizno's, the home of the toasted sandwich, is giving away one million free subs. They're already up to 368,000, so hurry. The catch is — there's always a catch, right? — you have to give 'em a valid email address. No telling what Viagra/porn/hair replacement spam list you'll end up on but a free sub is a…
New Depeche Mode album and tour with a Tampa stop.
On Friday, Depeche Mode announced a U.S. tour, the final leg landing in Florida with a stop in Tampa on Friday, September 4, at a yet-to-be-named venue. (DM has also scheduled a stop in Ft. Lauderdale Saturday, September 5.) Today, the band unveiled cover of their new album, Sounds of the Universe, to be released…
Food and wine events
Wednesday, Feb. 25: Belleair Grill and Wine Bar Enjoy a five-course meal paired with select wines at the Legends of Sonoma and Napa event. Featured Merlots, Chardonnays and Cabernets come from Arrowood Vineyards, Freemark Abbey and Matanzas Creek. Reservations required. $65. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1575 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater (727-449-2988) More upcoming events after the…
Touch and Go Records closes its distribution wing and cuts back on new releases
On February 18th, both the Chicago Tribune and Pitchfork ran stories that put a knife through the heart of the punk/indie world. Venerable Chicago label, Touch and Go Records would be closing it's distribution wing and massively scaling back it's own output. This decision, that I'm sure was made after all other options were exhausted,…
