When it comes to tattoos, everybody has an opinion. Mine is — I love them. Getting inked is a great adrenaline rush, and it’s amazing that someone can create a piece of art and then use a crazy gun-thing with needles to drill it onto somebody else’s flesh. And that’s why I’m so excited for the next weekend: three days of tattoo contests (best portrait, best sleeve), films, live music and art shows. The Sirens of the South, a feisty and sexy touring burlesque show, tease ink enthusiasts on Friday, and a Miss Cigar City competition, looking to crown its own barely-clad version of a Suicide Girl, revs up throughout the weekend. Tattoo artists from all over the U.S., Japan and Europe will use Tampa residents’ skin as their canvas — appointments are recommended. But if you plan on attending and are not expecting to get tattooed, be advised that the eternal “buzzzzz” of the tattoo machines will put a spell on you and sporadic tattoos may occur. I’m just saying: be prepared with ideas. Feb. 26-28, noon-midnight Fri.-Sat., noon-8 p.m. Sun., Cuban Club, 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Ybor City, $15 day pass, $40 weekend pass. —Amber McDonald
As the only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s kitschy hit series and the new poster girl for lipstick lesbians, Cat Cora’s got some (proverbial) cojones. This weekend, the Greek goddess of the kitchen shows off her skills in a cooking demo. It’s largely focused on helping home chefs use what they’ve got on hand to create simple, tasty meals — also the topic of her latest book, Cooking From The Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals. If the only food in your pantry is a few packs of Ramen and a half-eaten bag of Doritos, it’s safe to say you prefer to eat out. If all those empty take-out boxes are starting to make you feel guilty, the Hub and Grub Bike Tour of Seminole Heights is just the remedy. Eat to your heart’s (and stomach’s) content, and then work it off by pedaling to the next dining destination with a group of likeminded food and fitness enthusiasts. The schedule includes stops at CL-approved spots like the Taco Bus, Bungalow Bistro, Cappy’s, Ella’s, the Independent and more. Cat Cora, Sat., Feb. 27, 3-4 p.m. meet and greet (free), 5 p.m. cooking demo ($35-$45), Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 N. Orient Rd., Tampa, catcoracooks.com or seminolehardrocktampa.com; Hub and Grub bike tour, 3-5:30 p.m. Sat., Feb. 27, meets at the Garden Center, 5800 Central Ave., Tampa, free, seminoleheightsbicycleclub.com. —FW
After the break: Step Afrika! at the Straz Center, Munny show at Skatepark of Tampa, I Am A Cuban Sandwich at Silver Meteor, Flan Fest at the Ybor Saturday Market, Zombie St. Pete book release party, Get Rescued in Gulfport, Rock and Roll Ladies Wrestling, Lord of the Dance and more :
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2010.