#B0TB25: The Best of 1991
The voting for our 25th annual Best of the Bay has begun! Meanwhile, in the weeks leading up to the 25th anniversary issue on Sept. 24, when this year's results will be published, we’re reviewing each of the BOTB issues that has gone before. Here's what we were talking about in the second year of BOTB…
#BOTB25: The Best of 1990
With the understated modesty that has long characterized Creative Loafing and Weekly Planet, this is how editors described (on the cover, no less) the inaugural Best of the Bay edition on Aug. 11, 1990: “…the first-ever, totally free, once-in-a-lifetime, tell-all, required reading rhapsody on the hippest, hypest, hottest there’s to be found in the Bay…
Paper Source is a Source of Happiness
The newest addition to Hyde Park Village is the fabulous paperie, Paper Source, a haven for the creative fine-paper lovers. With a friendly, welcoming environment that can be felt from the moment you enter the door, and endless possibilities, even if you aren’t into paper crafts, you will walk out with a whirl of ideas and…
LitSpace strengthens St. Pete’s lit scene
A great new resource for local wordsmiths and aspiring writers.
Drink More Wine: Give mead a chance
A look at honey wine, an ancient drink that’s experiencing a revival.
A coup for local writers, actors and directors: 4X6
A proliferation of showcases highlighting locally written plays is one of our favorite theater trends of the past couple of years. The 4X6 Fest Performance and Awards Gala is the latest such sampling, and it offers a cool twist — the four new one-act plays by six playwrights (Autumn Widdoes, Christen Hailey, James Rayfield, Jan…
Pride Issue 2015: Za-Gay Guide
Where to go for food, beverages and merriment before and after St. Pete Pride.
Pride Issue 2015: The LGBT year in review
A lot has happened for the LGBT community since last June’s Pride celebration. As the community awaits the biggest news of all — the federal Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the legality of same-sex nuptials nationwide, a decision that could be delivered any time between now and the end of the month — let’s review some…
Pride Issue 2015: Beyond same-sex marriage
Since 2004, when then-president George W. Bush called for a ban on same-sex marriage, what was once a wedge issue has evolved into a matter of basic rights. As of press time, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could strike down same-sex marriage bans across the country is pending. LGBT advocates are hopeful, given that…
Who cares? As voters evolve on LGBT issues, pockets of resistance still lurk.
Sexual orientation doesn’t seem to be a big deal for local voters anymore. St. Pete City Council has three openly gay members — Amy Foster, Steve Kornell and Darden Rice. In notoriously conservative Hillsborough County, openly gay County Commissioner Kevin Beckner has won a countywide seat not once, but twice. Sure, these thoughtful progressives have…
Pride Issue 2015: Think pink — the origins of the Pride flag
If any color deserves pride of place on a gay pride flag, you’d think it would be hot pink. That’s what the flag’s designer, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, thought. In his original version of the now-iconic pennant, he not only gave top billing to hot pink, he assigned it — along with the other…
Pride Issue 2015: Philly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first march for equality
In the weekend following St. Pete Pride, another notable celebration of freedom takes place in a city about a thousand miles north of here: Philadelphia. I’m not talking about Philly’s traditional Independence Day festivities, whose historic cachet is already well-known, but of a Fourth of July milestone being celebrated there for the first time: the…
Pride Issue 2015: St. Pete Pride Grand Marshal Larry Biddle
[Editor’s Note: CL asked the 2015 St. Pete Pride Parade Grand Marshals — Larry Biddle, Ashley Brundage, Nick Janovsky and Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas (represented by its president, Susan McGrath) — to talk about the experiences that have inspired their work with the community. The interviews, conducted via email, were condensed and edited for publication.]LARRY…
Pride Issue 2015: Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas, St. Pete Pride Grand Marshal (organization)
[Editor’s Note: CL asked the 2015 St. Pete Pride Parade Grand Marshals — Larry Biddle, Ashley Brundage, Nick Janovsky and Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas (represented by its president, Susan McGrath) — to talk about the experiences that have inspired their work with the community. The interviews, conducted via email, were condensed and edited for publication.]…
Pride Issue 2015: St. Pete Pride Grand Marshal Ashley Brundage
[Editor’s Note: CL asked the 2015 St. Pete Pride Parade Grand Marshals — Larry Biddle, Ashley Brundage, Nick Janovsky and Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas (represented by its president, Susan McGrath) — to talk about the experiences that have inspired their work with the community. The interviews, conducted via email, were condensed and edited for publication.] ASHLEY…
Pride Issue 2015: St. Pete Pride Grand Marshal Nick Janovsky
[Editor’s Note: CL asked the 2015 St. Pete Pride Parade Grand Marshals — Larry Biddle, Ashley Brundage, Nick Janovsky and Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas (represented by its president, Susan McGrath) — to talk about the experiences that have inspired their work with the community. The interviews, conducted via email, were condensed and edited for publication.]…
Sh*t happened 6/25/15: Some infuriating things, but mostly you’re really going to shoot the bears?
The stranger pulled the blanket tighter around him. I poured him a whisky; he nodded his thanks, and asked who was in charge. "Officially? No one," I told him. "In here? You stutter the flow of this place and I'll have to make an example of you." He laughed. "Put my head on a pike…
Welcome to GastroTown: Gulfport gets D.C. chef with Boca Bay Grille
The new Boca Bay Grille will bring Persian influence to Gulfport’s food scene.
Do This: St. Pete Pride & Weekend Top Events
Reverie, laughs, performance, art shows and more distract us from the miserable weather outside.
Movie Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
A touching, funny tale about friendship.
His talk is straight but that’s just about it — Ross Mathews visits St. Pete tonight
Before his visit, Mathews offers words of wisdom and some laughs with CL.
FWC to Floridians: shoot them barrs!
Despite hours of impassioned pleas from dozens of residents and environmental advocates, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which met in Sarasota, gave a thumbs-up to a proposal to lift the current ban on bear hunting in Florida, a move that will likely serve as fodder for late-night TV hosts. The commission is appointed…
Way Back Wednesday: Jane’s Addiction
A weekly series spotlighting artists from ‘way back’ that came up pre-’00s.
Pride Issue 2015: Colorful pre-Pride bites
Prepare this eggcellent starter before getting down at St. Pete Pride.
Restaurant review: Tastes of the bayou at Happy’s
Happy’s Bayou Bites in downtown Dunedin cooks up casual eats in a charming setting.
Another bacon, beer festival invades downtown Tampa
Saturday’s Bacon + Brews will cater to the region’s craving for bacon-infused grub.
Sh*t happens 6/24/15: New Florida budget, potential Congressional candidates, cockfighting
Good morning! If your Tuesday didn't include contemplation of a run for higher political office or cheering on a cruel and unlawful south-of-the-border tradition, you probably won't see your own name below. Rick Scott signed off on a new state budget — after cutting out a butt-ton of items only a complete Scrinch (half-Scrooge, half-Grinch,…
Listen: Permament Makeup, “Weak In The Knees”
The St. Pete trio previews a new track from their sophomore full-length, Taker
Mulhern and Rice are now possible contenders for Jolly Congressional seat
So, we're more than a year out from the primary, so anything can happen. But so far, it looks like the race for Florida's 13th Congressional seat is once again going to get weird. While we're waiting on incumbent U.S. Rep. David Jolly to make up his mind on whether he'll vacate his seat to…
Aaaand we have a State budget, sort of (no juice for you)
Governor Rick Scott signed the budget privately in his lair Tuesday, presumably under the heat of a large sunlamp. The good news is that there is an actual state budget, governor's signature and all, which means there won't be a state government shutdown July 1, which could have been bad. The sucky news, according to…
On the menu: Dunedin Beer Olympics set for Saturday
Work on your summer booze belly during the Dunedin Beer Olympics’ beer-soaked games.
Sh*t happened 6/23/15: Obama’s N-bomb, SC’s rebel flag, Hillsborough schools
Yesterday was heavy on national news, so let's tackle some of that right up front, shall we? So the leader of the free world said "the 'n' word" during his interview on comedian/walking psychiatric test case Marc Maron's popular podcast WTF, and the part of the free world that knows about CNN, Fox News and…
Tonight in live music: Def Leppard with Styx and Tesla
The British heavy metal behemoth leads a massive summer tour that lands in Tampa
New Music Tuesday! (June 23): Kasey Musgraves, Desaparecidos, Thundercat, Cayucas & more
A curated breakdown of new albums out this week, with lots of audio & video included.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company hosts second BadAss Beerfest in July
A grand opening, birthday and new brew will be celebrated at BrewCo’s second BadAss Beerfest.
Container bar adds to the Avenue’s outdoor patio
Here’s the lowdown on the 10-month-old container bar at downtown St. Pete’s the Avenue.
As S.C. Confederate flag debate rages, controversy over Tampa Confederate flag gets rekindled
Joining the thousands of petitions calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina capitol grounds in the wake of Wednesday's racially motivated shootings are some unlikely voices, including South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Senator from South Carolina Tim Scott, as well as former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt…
Another day, another minimum wage demonstration
Activists who seek a significant hike in the minimum wage have proven steadfast in their efforts to draw attention to the issue, holding events outside fast food franchises and the like nearly week in recent months. On Monday, they protested outside a busy McDonald's store on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa. The occasion? To show solidarity…
Tonight in live music: Ceremony with Tony Molina
The Frisco area outfits play Epic Problem this Mon., June 22.
Sh*t happened 6/22/15: Jeb in Tampa, Sapp investigated, Orlando man shoots self & more
It was the weekend that was. FRIDAY, JUNE 19: At a GOP event in Hillsborough, presidential hopeful Jeb Bush announced he will make Tampa home to his Florida campaign headquarters. Oh, good. We get the guy whose ideas are too divorced from reality to play in Miami? Florida's unemployment rate rose to 5.7%, up .1…
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
A police officer, a pit bull and an Amish guy all come to Tampa. It's the start of a weird joke, right? Actually, it's part of this week's stand-up comedy lineup. The police officer is actually Billy Gardell, who plays one on "Mike & Molly." The pit bull is the "Pit Bull of Comedy," Bobby…
Notes from the (Weather) Underground
As part of our examination of the hazards of summer storms in the Tampa Bay region this week, we sought the wisdom of an expert behind one of the best sources of weather-related intel out there, The Weather Underground's Bob Henson. For commuters like myself, and for anyone interested in the latest big blow (like Tropical Storm Bill,…
This Sunday in live music: House of Lightning, Organs for Organs 2
Concerts happening this Sun., June 21
Solidarity with Charleston Candlelight Vigil held in Tampa
A diverse and peaceful crowd gathered Saturday night for a candlelight vigil to show solidarity with the families of those who died in the Charleston, S.C. shooting Wednesday. Approximately 100 people attended the event, held in Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa, listening to speakers talk about the problem of ongoing racism — the motivation…
Jug & Bottle Dept. premieres to Seminole Heights
Score wine, beer and specialty goods like cheese and coffee from Seminole Heights’ Jug & Bottle.
There they are, Miss Florida contestants … now let’s see what you’re made of, ladies!
Some new talent categories to prove who’s truly a superbabe.
As Bush headlines GOP event in Tampa, Common Core critics demonstrate outside
Former Florida Gov. and GOP primary candidate Jeb Bush has been making the rounds in the wake of making his presidential run official, and made a stop in Tampa Friday to headline the annual Hillsborough County Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner at TPepin's Hospitality Centre. In a 20-minute speech, he outlined his platform and announced…
Whaa?! … Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig star in a Lifetime Original Movie: A Deadly Adoption
You know it can’t be totally serious, but they respect the tradition with the requisite intensity.
This Saturday in live music: Charlie Wilson, Blackfoot, Timonthy Eerie & more
A look at concerts happening this Sat., June 20
Geek out in the kitchen with sic-fi, fantasy tastes
Cassandra Reeder’s Geeky Chef Cookbook offers more than 60 fictional recipes for nerdly foodies.
Hungry?: More details on Stillwaters Tavern in St. Pete
St. Pete’s Stillwaters Tavern spills food and drink details, its hogfish mascot’s name and more.
The Hip Hop ABCs: The winner of Letter Q; vote on Letter R
The alphabetical rap battles continue…
Gun group offers no-brainer way to prevent violence in houses of worship
In the wake of the devastating events that unfolded in Charleston Wednesday night, the rest of the world is shocked that such a monstrous act could occur in this day and age, and questioning the U.S.'s profound love and respect for the Second Amendment. President Obama weighed in Thursday, blaming the terror that unfolded at…
Tampa Bay residents show solidarity with Charleston
Civil rights leaders are in mourning and on edge in the wake of the racially motivated mass shooting that killed nine, including a pastor, at a Bible study in Charleston, SC. "Today is a heavy day," Rev. David Green, senior pastor at Allen Temple AME Church in Tampa, told the Tampa Bay Times. "It's a…
Movie Review: Burying The Ex takes Joe Dante back to his B-movie roots
A horror-comedy mixes elements of various genres and eras to entertaining effect.
Weekend Tune-Up: Tunes for your weekend by Beck, Slum Village, Foals & more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the weekend, Spotify playlist included.
Sh*t happened 6/19/15: More cops having to do more stuff
Crime. Crime! It's been a crime-y sort of week — hell, season — and law enforcement-type activities made for a bunch of the local headlines Thursday, as well. The city of Tampa will host a gun buy-back program next Saturday, June 27 at River Tower Park. For those who don't know, a gun buy-back program…
Tonight in live music: Romeo Santos, The Murder Junkies, Doctor P & more
Concerts happening this Fri., June 19
Rooster & the Till cook starts GoFundMe for colleague
A local GoFundMe campaign plans to help a Rooster & the Till employee with his college tuition.
Florida home to dozens of hate groups
As we reel from the horror of Wednesday night's shooting at a predominantly African American church in Charleston, details are slowly emerging about Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine during the rampage. While some describe Roof as quiet and kind of a loner, others say he has been known to crack racist jokes. …
A look back at the METROCON geekstravaganza
An anime human chess match, cosplay and more.
Poet’s Notebook: Northern winters revisited
EDITOR'S NOTE: Peter Meinke just keeps piling up the laurels. The Poet Laureate of St. Petersburg until January 2016, he has now been selected by Gov. Rick Scott to be Florida Poet Laureate, a four-year honorary position established last year by the state Legislature. Congrats, Peter! One must have a mind of winter To regard…
Live and local spotlight: Homegrown Hip Hop 7
A plethora of local hip hop artists convene under one roof for the seventh annual local hip hop showcase
Can’t stop the rain: So why can’t somebody figure out how to keep our roads from flooding?
The houses that line Edison Avenue in South Tampa, down by where the street meets Bayshore Boulevard, are lofty, old and mostly worth well north of a million dollars. But bubbling up beneath the gently sloping street is a water flow that’s nearly constant during the rainy season. The sidewalk is soggy and the cattails…
Tonight in music: Cory Branan, Throwback Thursdays
If you hadn't noticed, we removed the 'live' from the title of today's edition because, as indicated, not everything featured this Thurs., June 18, is live. Find out more in the round-up below. Cory Branan with Will Quinlan, Mountain Holler The best way to describe singer-songwriter Cory Branan might be that he’s the guy who…
Row Jomah throws an album release party for Cat People this Friday at Dunedin Brewery
Between Bluffs opens the free event
