On the Radar: Four Days of Dance in Ybor
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. Next week, HCC hosts Four Days of Dance, a performance series that showcases the talent of college and professional dancers from across Florida. If the talent is anything like last year, you’re in for a real treat: styles ranged from…
Do It Today: Art Nexus at TMA, Inertia debuts at USF, Chicago soft rocks at the Mahaffey, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at The Studio and more
is a series of digital installation pieces, live performance and music dubbed a “multimedia spectacle.” University of Tampa professor Dana Plays screens “Demolition,” her video doc of the demo of the old TMA; UT dance professor Susan Taylor Lennon offers a live performance; student composers, DJs and VJs spin wicked wax and electro acoustic experiments;…
Barkin HeARTS: a Wonderland-inspired art, fashion and dance extravaganza to benefit Dogma Animal Rescue
Most people do not choose to celebrate their birthdays by coordinating large events for charity. But Johnna Guzman, an interior designer and event planner, really wanted to celebrate the start of her 26th year by do something for a pet rescue service. “I wanted to do a show to benefit the animals,” coordinator Guzman said, “and I…
On the Radar: St. Pete Shakespeare Company at American Stage, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at the Studio, and Jails, Hospitals and Hip-Hop offer theater galore
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming arts events to mark your calendars for. Here’s a quickdraw rundown of three fab theater events across Pinellas this weekend: First, the newly-formed St. Petersburg Shakespeare Company (pictured) hosts an open mic night at American Stage, where you can dust off those old college essays, sing…
Do It Today: Pilobolus’ amazing acro-contortion choreography, Parachute plays The Orpheum, Hamlet goes to the opera and more
If you've missed the myriad acrobatic extravaganzas that've made appearances in Tampa Bay lately, never fear — Pilobolus is here (pictured). The internationally-acclaimed acro-choreography troupe collaborates to contort themselves into shapes seemingly impossible for endoskeletons to create. Visit rutheckerdhall.com for more info. Wed., April 14, 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, $43-$48. A Top 40…
Running Moms of Tampa strive to keep shoes out of landfills and on the feet of those who need them most
, a local running group, are encouraging team members to donate their used running shoes to Soles4Souls. The gesture counts as a “double-whammy” in keeping shoes out of landfills and providing shoes to the less fortunate. Running Moms of Tampa was established in 2010 by Christy Royer in an effort to become a healthier mom.…
Castor: House Democrats to unveil legislation on campaign disclosure
Democrats reacted with outrage in January when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Citizens vs Federal Election Committee case that the government could not ban corporations from spending in political campaigns, and now they intend to do something about it. Tampa area Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor confirmed to CL on Tuesday a New York…
Correction: Tonight’s David Gray show is at Ruth Eckerd Hall, not Capitol Theatre
Apologies for our earlier mistake in writing that David Gray's concert was moved to Capitol Theatre. It is at Ruth Eckerd Hall at 7:30 p.m. Details on what you can expect at tonight's show below: Raspy-voiced singer-songwriter David Gray (pictured) hasn’t made any considerable changes to his formula after 17 years. His eighth and most…
Anti health care reform activist gets into GOP Florida Governor’s race
Bill McCollum is coasting in his bid to be the Republican nominee for Governor this year, easily defeating State Senator Paula Dockery, with the winner to face Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in the fall. So what's Rick Scott's case for getting into the race? Scott is best known for being a passionate advocate for…
Even death can be more eco-conscious with the new Restomation process
You'd think by leaving this planet (and I don't mean by spaceship) that it'd lighten the carbon load since you're no longer taking up space and using resources, right? Sorry to burst your eco bubble, but death takes quite a toll on both your loved ones and the planet. Most coffins, headstones and burial plots…
USF Health dept. receives $5.9 million in stimulus funds for to train doctor’s offices throughout Florida on electronic records
Officials with the University of South Florida's College of Public Health today held a news conference to discuss the $5.9 million in stimulus fund that will help the department hire, train and deploy approximately 100 people to go throughout the state to train doctor's offices on using paperless technology. According to the National Center for…
Enjoy Bark at the Ball Park with your best dog buddy and Clearwater Threshers baseball
What better way to enjoy a perfect spring afternoon than attending a baseball game with your best friends? That’s what I thought as I pulled into the parking lot at Bright House Field in Clearwater for the first of this year’s Bark at the Ball Park events with Jana and Oriel. Jana took the title…
Book review: Do the Devil’s Work For Him: How to Make It In the Music Industry (And Stay In It!)
This step-by-step workbook brought to you by Amy Sciarretto and Rick Florino is a good introduction to what it takes for you work your way into the music business from the writer/intern angle. Stretched out over 132 pages, Do the Devil’s Work For Him is a fast, interview-style read that covers the basics of online…
New music releases out this Tuesday, April 13: MGMT, Jeff Beck, Earl Greyhound, Freelance Whales (with video), Cancer Bats, Miike Snow (with video), and more
This week’s new music releases; to check out a complete breakdown of upcoming releases due out in the next several months (and a list of those ones that have dropped since the year began), click here. Aceyalone, Hip Hop & The World We Live In (Decon) Amber Pacific, Virtues (Victory) Jennie Arnau, Chasing Giants (MRI)…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
April 13-April 25: Jamba Juice 20th Anniversary Celebration. The tasty, healthy frozen concoction, famously slurped by stars like Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Joe Jonas celebrates the big 2-0 by giving away BOGO smoothies for the next two weeks (that's buy one, get one free for those of you not up on the lingo). Visit…
Measure it! Five ways to use your Web site analytics
Let's face it. A well-designed, thoughtful Web site isn't cheap. It's an investment in your brand, your business and your self. It's a leap of faith. It's also your best salesperson and the first impression a lot – if not most – of your clients have with your company. Web site analytics are a way…
20 crazy places to have sex
Public sex can be pretty exciting. While my sexploits have been pretty crazy, my readers have experienced some other crazy places for fucking. Would you try anything this crazy? I admit to have done a few of these things, but some are beyond my courage. If you feel like trying out a public place, just…
Rubio squishy on SB6? Campaign finance reports released, and sniping going on in Pinellas County Commission race: Mitch Perry Report 4.13.10
The fundraising totals for the first quarter of 2010 for all candidates running in Florida were released yesterday. Check out some of the details here; It's getting snippy already in one Pinellas County Commission race; And the clock is ticking on what Charlie Crist will do on SB 6. But WWMD? What Would Marco Do?…
Let’s earthquake-proof and rebuild our economy with a Triple Bottom Line
Recently, former President Clinton acknowledged that food policies he instituted in Haiti during his terms in office were a colossal failure. Haiti was encouraged to end rice production and outsource their major food staple so they could instead concentrate on building their market economy for the future. But as the January 12th earthquake has shown,…
First quarter campaign fundraising totals released for local and state candidates
Yesterday was the official deadline for all Florida candidates to release their financial reports through March 31. Locally, lots of folks were looking forward to seeing how Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White would fare in the 1st quarter of 2010. The answer? Not very good, though he still holds a formidable financial lead over his…
It Happened This Week-ish: Goodbye Dixie Carter, Bret Michael has an organ removed, Beiber-Time, Screech is homeless, Nazi McGee and more
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT PICTURE???? If the accompanying article wasn't about Heidi Montag penning a "Bourne meets Barbie screenplay" I would NOT be able to take her seriously. Dixie Carter is designing in heaven now. I am sure the golden gates have never had such beautiful drapes. Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy ended their…
Is Marco Rubio now backing off supporting SB 6?
Special thanks to William March of the Tampa Tribune, who includes dialogue in his blog post between Marco Rubio and 970 WFLA's Jack Harris Monday morning, when the GOP Senate candidate was asked his thoughts about supporting the number one issue dominating state politics today, Senate Bill 6, better known as the teacher tenure bill.…
Record Store Day returns to Tampa Bay with celebrations and limited releases at Daddy Kool, Vinyl Fever, Mojo Books & Music, and Banana’s
Last week during of Montreal’s concert at The Ritz, bassist Davey Pierce shared the sad news that the Vinyl Fever in his hometown of Tallahassee had closed its doors for good. “You guys are lucky to still have a Vinyl Fever here in Tampa,” he told us, and encouraged us to support our own location…
On the Radar: Camille Leone, Square One’s art, music and fashion extravaganza at The RITZ Ybor
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming arts events to mark your calendars for. Hmm … if you say Camille and Leone together, it kind of sounds like chameleon. Coincidence? I think not. Saturday's Camille Leone is Square One’s spring-themed art extravaganza, which has attracted more than 2,000 attendees in the past, and…
Do It Today: David Gray sings and strums, The Man Who Planted Trees onstage, Take Back the Night in Tampa, Local H in Ybor and more
Raspy-voiced singer-songwriter David Gray (pictured) hasn’t made any considerable changes to his formula after 17 years. His eighth and most recent album, 2009’s Draw The Line, is awash with crisp instrumentation, strings and lush harmonies. “Full Steam,” a duet with Annie Lennox, is a blissful piano-driven exchange that builds into a glorious chant showcasing Lennox’s…
2010 Pulitzer Prize winners announced in journalism
The big guns in American journalism, the Washington Post and the New York Times, dominated the list of Pulitzer Prize winners list announced Monday afternoon, taking home seven awards between them. The Post took home four of the most prestigious awards handed out in the world of reporting, with Anthony Shadid winning for International Reporting,…
Local Motive event at USF to support local businesses, April 14
Show our local businesses in Tampa Bay some support by attending Local Motive this Wednesday, April 14, at the USF Tampa campus. Local Motive's goal is to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of supporting local businesses. There will be independent local businesses and organizations in attendance, as well as volunteer opportunities…
Spanish Garnacha is fit for a crowd
Garnacha is the most widely planted red wine grape in Spain. It is a versatile wine…..great with food, but because of its normally rounded tannins it is good on its own as well. The same varietal is known as grenache in much of the world, and there are many wonderful ways it is used. In…
Latvala and Hackworth already sparring
We're more than half a year away until the November elections, but some candidates are itching to engage in combat right now. Last week former Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth, a former Republican who turned Democrat in 2008 and is now running for a seat on the Pinellas County Commission, blasted the incumbent in the race…
Serious Chili: Judging the first Sarasota Chili Cook-Off
Within mere seconds of entering the judges' room at this past weekend's first Sarasota Chili Cook-Off, I quickly realized what the day would be like. The cook-off was billed as our area's entry into the high-powered world of serious — sanctioned even, by the International Chili Society — cooking competitions. Forty teams were set to…
CL Party Pics: Filthy Richard Fridays at Czar (4-9-10)
Every Friday is Filthy Richard Fridays at Czar in Ybor City. Gotta hand it to Czar citizens, they know how to party! The Party: "The Filthiest Party In Town!" Every Friday Czar is packed with filthy party people getting trashed. The Music: Resident vj and dj MONK spinning party rock, indie, electro and custom underground…
Weather forecaster and climatologist duke it out over climate change on the Colbert Report (video)
Due to a recent New York Times article on the debate over climate change between weather forecasters and climate scientists, Stephen Colbert decided to take the issue on during his show. Colbert invited Joe Bastardi, chief Accuweather forecaster and climate change skeptic, and Brenda Ekwurzel, a climatologist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, to the…
On the Radar: Inertia: The Musical, USF’s first-ever student-directed College of the Arts collaboration, makes its stage debut
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming arts events to mark your calendars for. If you go see Inertia: The Musical this weekend, you will, if nothing else, be a witness to an historical event. According to its author and composer, Chris Sgammato, the production marks a numbers of “firsts,” including first musical…
Loose Nukes and a Supreme Court nomination:Mitch Perry Report 4.12.10
President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize last year in some ways for what he and his administration represents. One of the hopes is that he can make a difference in the world when it comes to nuclear weapons. Today Obama presses the issue of loose nuclear weapons and material at his two-day summit beginning…
Do It Today: American Stage descends into Reefer Madness and Shades of Street at your local coffeehouse
In preparation for its upcoming string of performances at the Orlando International Fringe Festival, American Stage hosts Reefer Madness, based on the 1936 film cult classic. T. Scott Wooten (pictured) wrote, directed and stars in the play, alongside Katie Castonguay, Jan Ray and Michael Titone. Tonight offers two final chances to see Reefer, which follows…
Lieberman giddy about Obama selecting a moderate on Supreme Court
Friday's announcement by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens that he'll be stepping down after 34 years on the job was no surprise, as the 89-year-old Justice has been telegraphing as much to reporters in the past few months. So naturally there is excitement and concern among both liberals and conservatives about who President Obama…
Clinton and Gates lay the facts out on Obama’s nuclear policy
Today in Washington, representatives from 46 nations will join with the Obama administration on a two day nuclear summit, the largest gathering of international leaders in the U.S. in 60 years. It comes at the same time that the President has just signed a New Start treaty with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, and the U.S.…
Watch these eco films online for free (sort of)
With the rise in popularity of eco-related documentaries and docudramas, just about every subject related to environmentalism has been covered — from GMO food to the slaughtering of whales to global warming. Luckily, there are a good number of these films that are available online that you can watch for free* — and I don't…
TUF 11 contestant Clayton McKinney appears at AOF 7 in Tampa
The Art of Fighting 7 card at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa on April 3, 2010 was stacked with local talent and included a guest appearance by The Ultimate Fighter season eleven contestant, Clayton McKinney, who has already made a name for himself as professional mixed martial artist in Tampa MMA circles. With a…
YouTube under the covers: Lady Gaga (with video)
Saying there are a lot of Lady Gaga covers floating around on YouTube is like saying Tiger Woods was having a little bit of an issue with those pesky marriage vows. Most of them are bad, like Jesse James-fucking-up-the-fact-that-Sandra Bullock-was-fucking-him-at-night-for-a-go-with-the-most-colorful-girl-in-the-trailer-park bad. However, there are the occasional good ones. Here are two of them, along with…
Movie Review: Date Night, starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco and Common (with trailer video and a poll)
[Editor's Note: For more reviews of the summer's biggest releases, check out the Daily Loaf Movie Review Index.] People generally responded positively when I would tell them I was going to see Date Night. "Oh, that preview looked funny," they would say. I never thought so, but I always chalked up the sentiment to built-in…
Project Runway Podcast Ep. 11 and 12: Circus freaks can be fashionable too…
Well, we missed last week's Project Runway podcast due to the holiday weekend and some busy schedules, but we are back in business this week and soooo much has changed! Anthony is back, Maya is a quitter, the madness continues. If you missed it, I did a little recap of episode 11 and you can…
Life As We Blow It: The Kids Are Alright, If By “Alright” You Mean “Screwed”
OK, so, here in Florida legislators have passed a bill that will tie a teacher’s income to the performance of their students, and prosecutors hard-balling 18-year-old high school students for having felonious sex with willing underage participants. In Wisconsin, they’ve got a new law providing guidelines for sex education that include information about contraception, and…
Saul-Sena announces fundraising totals in her quest to beat Ken Hagan for County Commission
Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena has announced that she's raised $79,282 in fundraising in her maiden attempt on getting on the Hillsborough County Commission, where she faces Republican Ken Hagan and independent Jim Hosler (Don Kruse is attempting to knock off Hagan in the GOP Primary in August). In a press release, Saul-Sena said, “I…
The Muppets go green: Kermit preaches about water pollution (video)
Apparently, The Muppets had this whole 'going green' thing down years before it became hip. I stumbled upon this PSA (below) from the 1980s starring Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear preaching about "using our water wisely" by keeping our waters clean and debris-free. If puppets can get on the 'green train', then why shouldn't…
Charlie Crist greets protesting school officials in Ybor City
Governor Charlie Crist met briefly with protesting Hillsborough County Teachers Association officials in Ybor City today, where he told union president Jean Clemens that he will be considering the viewpoints of her union and others seriously in the week he has to decide whether or not to sign the controversial teacher tenure bill SB 6…
Walmart sells customers their own upcycled trash, courtesy of TerraCycle (video)
Whether you were in one of the PTA groups in question or the recipient being hassled by them for your trash (i.e.: empty juice pouches, snack warappers, etc.) for the past year, all of that pestering and collecting non-recyclable waste has finally payed off. That trash has been turned into some very useful products by…
Teacher tenure bill passes in House; Hillsborough’s Children’s Board avoids a vote on its existence, and a shakeup in the Alex Sink camp: Mitch Perry Report 4.9.10
In Tallahassee, the House early this morning passed the contentious teacher tenure bill, and again the question now is: What will Charlie Crist do with it? The Children's Board of Hillsborough County might have had to begin campaigning immediately to tell taxpayers why they should be supported – but that won't happen, at least this…
Children’s Board of Hillsborough County avoids possible vote on its existence
During Wednesday's discussion of a bill at the Hillsborough County Commission meeting that would have required child services boards throughout the state to have to come before the voters to justify their existence every six years – beginning this year – board members questioned if they should dare forward a letter to legislators to "kill…
Controversial education reform bill passes House in the wee hours of the morning
After a marathon debate session, the state House of Representatives voted 64-55 in support of HB 7189, the house version of John Thrasher's SB 6, and the proposal will now go to Governor Charlie Crist's desk. 11 Republicans – including Tampa area Representative Faye Culp – joined all 44 Democrats in opposing the legislation, where…
On the Radar: Purina Incredible Dog Challenge
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. Looking for something to do with your best doggie friend next weekend? Snap a leash on him and take him down to the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge at downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront Spa Beach Park. Don’t worry – he doesn’t…
When the dog needs a walk (or a motel): Two great local choices for daycare and dog-walkers
What does your dog do when you travel? Or when you are out of the house for many long hours? Our dogs have found their home away from home at Love My Dog, a boarding, day care, grooming and all-around dog hangout in St. Petersburg. Billing itself as a dog resort, Love My Dog first…
Previously on Lost: “Happily Ever After”
[Editor's Note: For more on Lost, check out the CL Lost Podcast.] Man. How great is Lost? Seriously, there is nothing like it on TV (as we've learned from recent over-hyped wannabes like V and Flash Forward). Tuesday night's episode "Happily Ever After," was extraordinary. Great acting from some of the show's best characters? Check.…
Featured green site: EthicalSingles.com – The green matchmaking site
Single eco-friendly folks, rejoice! If you're a green advocate and find it hard seeking out quality people with your same ethical values and outlook on life, why not try perusing EthicalSingles.com? It's an online dating service for like-minded people who are interested in environmental issues, as well as human and animal rights from all over…
MSNBC going back on Sirius-XM radio
Sirius XM is welcoming back MSNBC to its airwaves. The liberal "place for politics"was taken off of XM's satellite radio back in 2006, though Fox News and CNN were still readily available. Now, the most liberal of our cable news networks will be accessible to subscribers to SiriusXM, which merged back in July of 2008. …
McCollum piles on as Sink’s campaign sputters
The big news in Florida's gubernatorial race today was the announcement that Alex Sink's campaign manager, Paul Dunn, is leaving the campaign, and for now Jim Cassady, her former chief of staff at her paid gig as Chief Financial Office, will take over. Team Sink also announced a new deputy campaign manger in charge of…
CL’s Lost Podcast: Season 6, Ep. 10 “Happily Ever After”
Welcome to another edition of CL's Lost podcast. This week, Host Joe was joined by Ham Gravy, Fat Jesus and Producer Stephen Joran as they rode off into the sunset with this week's "Best of Season Six" episode, "Happily Ever After." If you missed the episode, you can watch it (courtesy of Hulu) after the…
April is Water Conservation Month so turn off that tap (and use these tips)!
Have you noticed it hasn’t rained in a few days? The downpours we cursed a few weeks ago are now a distant memory. So you're probably then wondering: How appropriate is it that April is water conservation month? Historically, April is the driest month in Florida, but that may change soon. It’s only a matter…
Kama Sutra: the maiden voyage
Have you ever had a thing for those well endowed, nearly naked ladies on the front of old ships. These “figureheads” were meant to guide sailors home safely, but they were often the source of a lot of upper deck jerk-off sessions. Today we bring you a position that is designed to bring those fantasies…
Crist to veto SB6? County Commissioners mum on county mayor proposal, and commmisioners say “kill the bill” on legislation that could hurt the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County
Good morning, America. Well, there are more protests scheduled this afternoon as the house version of the the controversial education reform bill is scheduled to be voted on in the House today. And it's WWCD? What Will Charlie Do with the bill? A news conference is scheduled for this morning in Tampa for proponents of…
SB 6 to be approved in House: Might Crist veto it?
Who says protests don't matter? You'll never read such a thing here. There was a demonstration in Tampa last night by school teachers protesting the education reform plan that has become the biggest story out of Tallahassee this spring. Additional protests are planned tonight in two different locations in Pinellas County, at McMullen-Booth Road and…
Movie Review: The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and Michael Shannon (with trailer video)
Watching The Runaways, I was reminded of the Chuck Klosterman riff on how teenage girls are the new teenage boys. Here's a movie about a bunch of chicks from fucked-up families who fall under the tutelage of a crass, manipulative record producer, write some solid tunes and do a few tours before the rock 'n'…
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music: of Montreal, Pat Metheny, Easy Star All Stars, Omar Sosa, Alchemy Fest, and more
The following is a quick breakdown of shows this weekend's worthiest live music offerings beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Concerts page THURSDAY, APRIL 8 of Montreal [pictured] w/James Husband When of Montreal performed here in 2008, the Athens, Ga. ensemble…
How do you like my curves?
I am a curvy girl. I won't give my exact stats, but I will describe myself. I have a heart shaped ass, small waist, and large breasts. Those factors equal curvy in my book. I haven't always been this curvy. There was a time when I sported pencil thin thighs and a flat chest, but somehow still had a…
Recycle your wine corks at Whole Foods stores
All you wine lovers out there can now feel better about those corks you throw away (or are keeping stashed in some drawer): Whole Foods Markets will now have cork recycling bins in their stores so they can be turned into useful post-consumer products by Cork ReHarvest. Recycling corks not only helps out the plantations…
Trailer Trap — All the latest trailers in a nice, neat wrapper — including Iron Man 2, The Expenables, The A-Team and more
Spring is an exciting time to be a movie fan. There are so many movie trailers out there right now gearing us up for the summer releases, it’s hard to keep track of them all. To help, I've gathered some of the newest previews for your viewing pleasure. If these don’t get you excited, you…
SeaWorld reacts to CL
In the current issue of CL, we have a report on animal rights and animal welfare, and referenced the tragedy that occurred on February 24 at SeaWorld in Orlando. That's when an orca whale named Tilikum ended up grabbing trainer Dawn Brancheau in its jaws and thrashed her underwater, killing her in front of a…
Show the EPA you want clean water! EPA hearing on water pollution limits – Wednesday, April 14
Coastal supporters, please sign up for the upcoming EPA hearing about proposing new limits to curb sewage and fertilizer pollution in Florida in Tampa next Wednesday, April 14th. There are afternoon and evening slots available. Your voice is critical to the success of this process. The Gulf Coast has led the way in passing strong…
Future of Hillsborough County’s Children’s Board at stake?
Wednesday morning the Hillsborough County Commission approved a resolution sponsored by Kevin Beckner that puts them on record as wanting to kill legislation moving in Tallahassee that would require the Children's Board of Hillsborough County and seven other children's services councils with taxing power throughout the state to seek voter approval to stay alive every…
Hillsborough County Commission mum on county mayor proposal
At the Towers of Channelside this morning, supporters of putting a County Mayor proposal on the November ballot in Hillsborough County have scheduled an hour long news conference. They're hoping for maximum media coverage so it will be a bit easier to gather the 41,161 signatures ( 8 percent of the votes cast in the…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Harlem
Michael “Comers” Coomer (vocals/guitars/drums) and Curtis O’Mara (also, vocals/guitars/drums), are from Tucson; Jose Boyer (bass) hails from North Carolina. The trio is actually called Harlem; they are now based in Austin. The band formed in 2007 in Nashville, where they released their first lp, Free Drugs ;- ) (not sure why they included the emoticon…
Diary of a Working Housewife: The Tattoo Stigma
I was recently at a party where I overheard someone say, “You know, like one of those girls that get a tattoo on her ankle, you know she will never get a real job." Wow, I couldn’t believe how pompous, ancient and judgmental this chick’s viewpoint was, and what’s worse were the nods of agreement…
“Window farming”: Indoor hydroponic gardening (video)
Many people who live in apartments, especially those in big cities, know the struggles of finding fresh foods (and I'm not talking about the "fresh" produce that's traveled hundreds of miles to be sold in grocery stores). Many neighborhoods in big cities are literally food deserts, with no nearby farms and no access to backyard…
Are you a squirter? (links NSFW)
While I have experienced sex in many positions, with many men and women, and a few inanimate objects, I have never squirted. Many men and women have told me the phenomenon occurs all the time, but I've never witnessed it. From my research, some men are really into women who squirt during orgasms while others think…
Campaign for County Mayor begins in Hillsborough, Turanchik got a new gig,and Drudge goes low:Mitch Perry Report 4.7.10
The idea of having voters in Hillsborough County decide on whether they want a county mayor form of government is an intriguing one. Maybe it might finally happen this year. While you were ruminating about all the pollen in the air, Ed Turanchik just got a new job; Conservative Web star Matt Drudge sunk to…
The magic Bridget Bean
A talk with Bridget Bean, back on stage in her much-acclaimed role as Shirley Valentine.
Rib-Off: Pinellas County’s best ribs
Our critic sizes up the rest of the Edible Eight.
Daryl Rouson’s anti-pot-paraphernalia crusade goes statewide
In November, citizens will go to the polls in budget-poor California to vote on legalizing, regulating and taxing the sale of marijuana. The attempt comes 14 years after the state became the first to legalize medical marijuana (which 13 other states have since done as well). But in the Sunshine State, legislators are trying to…
Award-winning A Prophet breaks out of prison clichés
The French penitentiary that provides the setting for the gangland drama A Prophet looks like a typical hellhole of criminality — with one exception. When the porters deliver meals to the inmates, they hand out the usual slop on metal trays, along with delicious-looking torpedo-sized loaves of French bread. One briefly wonders if the jailbirds…
Full disclosure required: My boyfriend dumped me for being an escort
Plus, airing dirty laundry.
Will special paint keep my house cooler in summer?
I ran across your 1984 Straight Dope column about whether water freezes or boils in outer space. (You said it boils, then freezes.) You mentioned that polished aluminum in space can absorb enough solar radiation to reach 850 degrees, but some types of white paint will absorb so little they will reach only -40 degrees.…
Party at Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials bring rollicking good times and a party atmosphere to this year’s Tampa Bay Blues Fest.
Chicks rule in the new rockudrama The Runaways
Watching The Runaways, I was reminded of the Chuck Klosterman riff on how teenage girls are the new teenage boys. Here's a movie about a bunch of chicks from fucked-up families who fall under the tutelage of a crass, manipulative record producer, write some solid tunes and do a few tours before the rock 'n'…
Whale of a question: Are activists right to criticize institutions like SeaWorld for keeping animals in captivity?
Last Thursday at SeaWorld in Orlando, the crowd gasped as orca whales popped out of the water like frogs leaping out of a hot pan. Onlookers murmured in approval as the prodigious mammals hoisted themselves out of the water tank and slid onto the decks, and they cheered when the whales waved to the audience,…
The greatest condom in the world: LifeStyles Skyn
Most people agree that condoms suck. Although necessary, prophylactics inhibit sensation, suck up lubrication, and can even dampen the mood. Love gloves are worth the trouble for their protection against pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections, but they still generally suck. Luckily, not all rubbers are created equal. New shapes, lubricants and materials are constantly being developed…
Taboo 4 fetish performances: Stryker Vawn, RubberDoll, Rebecca, and Thee VaudeVillains (Videos NSFW!)
Idiots and the inexperienced often dismiss burlesque and fetish performances as trashy stripteases with a deviant edge. While these categories aren’t mutually exclusive, comparing stripping in a dive bar to the fetish acts at Taboo 4 is like comparing grainy amateur sex videos to adult films with high production value and a plot. The featured…
The Green Community week in review: Offshore drilling protest in St. Pete, Florida business owners demand clean energy, and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: USF's Design Build program: Architecture as community involvement – Grant Rimbey reviews the award-winning Design/Build Program of the University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design. Join 'Hands Across the Sand' in…
CL’s Lost Podcast: Season 6, Ep. 9 “The Package”
Welcome to another edition of CL's Lost podcast. This week, Host Joe was joined by Ham Gravy, Fat Jesus and Producer Stephen as we unwrapped this week's set-up episode, "The Package." If you missed the episode, you can watch it (courtesy of Hulu) after the break. And as always, talk back in the comments section.…
Ken Gormley’s “The Death of American Virtue” shows history won’t be kind to Ken Starr
Ken Gormley's just published The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr is perhaps the definitive chronicle of the impeachment imbroglio that nearly brought down President Clinton over a decade ago. There were several good books written about the impeachment saga a few years after Clinton was impeached but not removed from office (such as…
Tonight’s Top Chef preview: The final showdown in Napa (videos)
Well, Top Chef fans, this is it. Tonight's final challenge will show us who's got mad enough skills to be crowned our new Top Chef. One last chance to see the Brothers Voltaggio's 'Cain and Abel' act and Kevin's lusciously infamous red beard. After watching the preview the preview videos (below) I still have no…
Lisa Montelione – Contributor
Lisa has been talking about green building to anyone who will listen, believing energy efficient new construction and green renovations is not an option; it is a requirement. She builds energy efficient, green, affordable homes without sacrificing style or comfort along with her partner, Josh Geary of Rising Force Construction. She worked with the organizing…
Cope stages their official “coming out” show this Friday at Skipper’s
Cope w/Middle Rhythm Session Fri., March 6, 8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $7 A solid jam-rock outfit that's been gigging around the Bay area for the past several years, Cope has only recently found a lineup that fits. Now, they're ready to get serious. "We've finally reached a sound we're proud of," guitarist/vocalist Dennis Stadelman…
