Another Round of Applause
Step back, says the French proverb, in order to jump better. And maybe that's right: Maybe there's nothing to hurl us into 2002 better than a look back on the best of 2001. So here are my Top 10 — the (locally produced) plays that did Tampa Bay proud last year, and that stand as…
Culinary Events
A Full Course for Culinary Skills A nine-week course designed for those who would like to improve their culinary skills; missed classes may be made up during the next series. Every Saturday for nine weeks, beginning Saturday, Jan. 5. 3-5:30 p.m. $595, including a $60 textbook. La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin. 727-736-3070. lamaisongourmet.com.…
Reflecting 2001’s Best
A funny thing happened on the way to putting together this year's Top 10 list. Somewhere in the middle of the compilation process, an odd pattern began taking shape. There seemed to be more good films floating around this year, and it soon became apparent that many of these films were curiously connected. The more…
Ooh, Alberto’s!
Downtown St. Pete, once the ugly duckling, has become a lovely swan. It's such a pleasant place to play, so much nicer than downtown Tampa. There's the Pier and BayWalk, with dozens of shops and restaurants; there's the blue magic of Tampa Bay, fronted by 65 acres of parkland. There's live music at Jannus Landing,…
Web Site of the Week
KevviModelhttp://www.kevvimodel.com/ Here's a little something for the ladies — eye candy who just happens to be underage and from Florida! Naughty, naughty … but you know you love it. Just so you don't have to worry about the rampant pedophilia stigma, KevviModel is a tease. No nekkidness, just oh so tantalizingly risque pictures in skimpy…
Soundboard
Thursday, Jan. 3 Alley Cat's Cafe Jamie Perlow Beach Place Triology Billy G'Z Baby Huey Band Cadillac Jack's Green Flash Carlie's Even Steven Chase Club Derrick Williams Daiquiri Deck Groove Altar Dave's Aqua Lounge Michael Shawn Norton Fox and Hounds Irish Pub Jon Springs Frenchy's Rockaway Grill Rhodeside Gasoline Alley Christine Steel/Kenny McGee's Disease Gators…
Books
Once you get past the drool and the smell, dogs really are lovable creatures. Everyone knows that. But did you know that about humans? McSweeny's contributor and O. Henry award-winning short story writer Arthur Bradford trots out tales of weirdo Homo sapiens and beasts that not only blur the line between the two, but illustrate…
Legalized Loan Sharking
Former state bureaucrat named Harry L. Hooper has a confession to make. Hooper, a 28-year lawyer and retired U.S. Marine Corps judge advocate, was confronted with a seemingly innocuous request soon after becoming general counsel to the Florida state comptroller in 1995. McKenzie Check Advance wondered whether it could accept post-dated checks. After some legal…
Dining Guide
HILLSBOROUGH Brandon Bec's, 147 E. Bloomingdale Ave. (813-662-3000). Grab-n-go morning drivers will love the palmlettes, calzone-like breakfast sandwiches stuffed with delicious combos of eggs, meat, cheeses and veggies. For brunch, try baked egg souffles with a variety of meats, cheeses and veggies. Lox and bagel lovers will appreciate the generous Nova platter. For lunch, try…
The List
Festivals/Events Christmas at Pinewood: Songs of the Season Pinewood, designed by architect Charles Waite, is on the National register of Historic Places, and has been showcased in Home & Garden Television's Christmas Castles. Each of the Mediterranean Revival-style villa's 20 rooms are decorated to portray a favorite holiday song. Fine linens, intricate tile, antique furnishings,…
Grappling with Goliath
You'd think Richard A. Corbett and the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority would kiss us first. Or at least buy us a drink. By us, I mean Hillsborough County taxpayers, and I think you know what drinks and kisses are preludes to. In April, Weekly Planet Staff Writer Francis X. Gilpin reported that Corbett, through a…
The Wine List
An Aloha Wine Night Roy's presents an introduction to Zaca Mesa wines, with special guest Jim Fiolek, vice president of marketing for Zaca Mesa, leading the discussion. The wines are paired with Hawaiian fusion cuisine, a specialty of the restaurant. Class limited to 50 participants. Thursday, Jan. 17. 7 p.m. $70, plus tax and gratuity.…
Corkscrew: Bring Your Own
THE WINE LIST
Snider’s Honor Roll
Herewith, I submit my 10 favorite albums of 2001 Beginning with honorable mentions: Gotohells, Rock 'n' Roll America (Vagrant), straight outta St. Pete, more than true to its title; Jason Moran, Black Stars (Blue Note), left-of-center pianist continues to amaze, Sam Rivers on sax; Orlando Cachaito Lopez, Cachaito (Nonesuch), the most adventurous album ever from…
Planet Picks
Thursday 1.3 No Exaggeration The Greatest Show on Earth comes to town through Jan. 6 with six shows under the big top of the Ice Palace roof. For kids, the circus is something like a Disney cartoon come true while adults see it as their greatest excuse to go ooh and aah and say words…
Identity Crisis
While St. Petersburg's City Council prepares to vote on whether it will amend the human rights ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, an example of why the amendment is needed may be coming to light. Pam Van Order spent about a year working for the St. Petersburg Times as one of those people…
Nurture Young Classical Talent
Show some support for local music students and attend the 14th annual Florida Orchestra Young Artists Competition, taking place in the Performing Arts Building of HCC-Ybor at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5. The competition is for students up to the age of 22, with senior and junior divisions. Each division includes piano, string and woodwind/brass/percussion…
Outtakes
Ali (R) Sitting through all two-and-a-half hours of director Michael Mann's Ali is a lot like being locked in a small room with a feisty eight-year-old with Attention Deficit Disorder. Between the jittery, distracted style-gymnastics and a storyline that flits willy-nilly from one event to another, Ali gives us a scattershot picture, at best, of…
Music Menu
Bryan Adams Any guitarist over the age of 25 who never jammed on Summer of '69 at any point should hang his or her head in shame. Bryan Adams pretty much defined radio pop-rock in the early/mid '80s, before moving on to obscurity, a fashion makeover, a half-assed comeback and unaccountably massive late-career success in…
Harrell’s Cum Laude
I hereby issue my 10 fave CDs of 2001: 10. Jamiroquai: A Funk Odyssey (Epic/Sony) — I'm not even kidding. England's soul-hat has-beens returned from the ether this year with the most unabashedly cheesy disco-funk party soundtrack this side of a mid-'80s porn flick. And it's good, too! Unobtrusive wah-drenched guitars, freaky horns and those…
