Strain your brain with M.C. Escher at the Dalí
This fun new exhibition at the Dalí should be a puzzling experience for all.
A time to kill? How Florida went from protecting bears to hunting them.
In just under two months, unless it can successfully be stopped, a hunting season for Florida black bears will open in four areas throughout the state. It will be the first hunt of its kind in more than 20 years. The state Fish and Wildlife Commission, a panel appointed by the governor, voted nearly unanimously…
Drink More Wine: Feelin’ GruVe
Here are two delightful wines to help you round out the summer season.
Wall-to-wall luminosity — the SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival
Local muralists are joined by peers from all over for a two-week celebration.
St. Pete buys land once slated for another subdivision
Sometimes the one with the most money doesn't win. Case in point: St. Petersburg's announcement this morning that it will buy 10 acres of golf course land adjacent to Boyd Hill Nature Park. Two years ago, juggernaut developer Taylor Morrison had offered the St. Petersburg Country Club $3.2 million for the land, but the deal…
Bikers, rejoice! Tampa ranks No. 1 for bike-friendly businesses in Florida
Eleven Tampa businesses have been awarded a medal by the League of American Bicyclists.
Caught backstage: 20 Penny Circus at The Improv
Tyler Sutter and Carl Skenes, known as the 20 Penny Circus, are a dark and twisted clown duo who perform magic tricks and insane stunts with humor and a vaudevillian-meets-punk rock flair. Sutter, who had an interest in circus and performing from a young age, broke into the biz performing magic shows at the Universal…
You may want to stay home Monday, everyone
This time of year, one of our favorite things to do is hit the National Hurricane Center website a few times a day (2 & 5 a.m. and p.m. on the nose, to be accurate) to watch our federal tax dollars at work, tracking the development of tropical cyclones in our hemisphere all day long.…
On the Sauce: Bourbon Basil Lemonade
A beverage so refreshing that you’ll find yourself investing in a basil plant at home.
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
Patton Oswalt and Jay Pharoah are the biggest names in town this week.
Do This: Get Your Gras on at Gecko Ball this Saturday
Gulfport meets the French Quarter. This is going to be legendary.
Happy National Dog Day! How Florida ranks for dogs, events to commemorate
Floridians love their dogs. Show it at a few local events tonight through Sunday.
Restaurant review: Rustic adventure at The Mill
Downtown St. Pete’s The Mill takes diners on an exciting culinary ride with New American surprises.
Tampa community organizers seek to secure free and reduced lunch programs
As students returned to school on Tuesday morning, a press conference highlighted the importance of free and reduced lunches outside Miles Elementary in Tampa. The gathering, organized by Florida Consumer Action Network, was prompted by Congress' potential failure to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, the source of funding for the program. According to FCAN, said…
Sh*t happened 8/26/15: District 7, Tampa retirement, Jacksonville cold-case murder
It was a wise and perceptive person who once said, "when the middle of the week feels like the end of the week, the rest of the week will almost certainly suck." It's all uphill from here: Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Winthrop Newton were the top two vote-getters in the primary race to represent St. Pete's…
And now, the general: two St. Pete Council candidates make it through a hard-fought, five person primary. Now what?
In a small south St. Pete office, campaign volunteers’ chairs lined the room’s perimeter as others set up food and drink. A minute or two after seven — when the polls closed — Lisa Wheeler-Brown walked in. Everyone cheered for the candidate as she made her rounds. Wheeler-Brown had run against four primary opponents for…
The real truth about cats and dogs
It’s pretty obvious that dogs have people right where they want us. They can shit on our floor, chew up our shoes, puke and eat it, and we love and want them anyway because of their ability to be loving and upbeat in just about any circumstance. Because of these endearing traits, we build them…
Gov. Scott’s approval rating goes…up?
Um, guys? Apparently 45 percent of Floridians say Gov. Rick Scott is doing an a-ok job, according to a Quinnipiac poll out today, which we first heard about from the News Service of Florida. NSF says "[the] poll indicated that 45 percent of voters approve of the way Scott is handling his job, while 44…
New Tunes Day: The Dead Weather, Silicon, The Underachievers & more
A round-up of some fresh songs and videos, plus a look at new albums dropping this Fri., Aug. 28
Underoath announces a reunion tour that launches from Tampa Bay next March
Two albums will be played in their entirety. The presale is tomorrow; public sale on Friday.
‘1905 Day’ offers rolled-back Columbia Restaurant prices
To celebrate its 110th anniversary, the Columbia will feature yesteryear pricing on Sept. 20.
Sh*t happened 8/25/2015: St. Pete’s PWA retires, Ferguson judge wipes city’s slate clean, Rick Scott does his thing
Tuesday! It's like Monday, with cilantro. St. Petersburg's public works administrator abruptly announced his retirement. Apparently, this has everything to do with his desire to spend more time with his family, and nothing to do with his decision to dump all kinds of shitwater into Clam Bayou during our recent torrential rainfall, a move regarded…
Tonight in live music: Machine Gun Kelly at The Ritz Ybor
The aggro rapper repped by Bad Boy/Interscope brings his rapid-fire raps to Tampa Bay
Five Courses: Johnny Grits heads north with Southern grub & more
The second Johnny Grits launched in New Port Richey, plus more local food and drink news.
Brains behind sewage snafu “retires” in St. Pete
In the wake of Shitgate 2015/PooNami, the city has announced St. Petersburg Public Works Administrator Mike Connors' "retirement" (emphasis ours) today. Although Mayor Rick Kriseman's office would not say whether or not Connors' retirement had to do with a series of shitty decisions — Connors ordered the early-August pumping of 15.4 million gallons of untreated sewage…
Have dinner, family-style, with Urban Comfort next week
On Aug. 31, Urban Comfort will host its first family meal in St. Pete’s Grand Central District.
Sh*t happened 8/24/15: Pier wake, RIP Merl Reagle, SeaWorld’s damage control, more
The weekend before school starts again is never the rush of last-minute joycrimes and bad ideas one fears it might be; you gotta give the kids a week to get bored again. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21: Florida's unemployment rate dropped slightly in July, posting gains in leisure and hospitality among other sectors and bringing it more…
Do This: Flights of Angels at The Studio@620
Theatrical excerpts, testimonial, music and even some comedic moments about the art and the act of dying.
This Sunday in live music: Umphrey’s McGee, Yes & Toto, Leisure Cruise
Some shows happening this Sun., Aug. 23
Our puzzle man is gone: Merl Reagle has died
The crossword puzzle master was 65.
This Saturday in live music: Funkfest with Jodeci, SWV & others, The Atlas Moth, Shroud Eater + more
Concerts happening this Sat., Aug. 22.
Florida to make marriage licenses gender-neutral
Friday marked the anniversary of the anniversary of District Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling that struck down the state's gay marriage ban. On the eve of that anniversary, LGBT equality advocates saw another small but symbolic victory, according to Equality Florida. Come next month, the state will likely begin issuing gender-neutral marriage licenses and death certificates, state Bureau…
City bids adieu to inverted pyramid amid sinister undercurrents of…a petition
The weather couldn't have been better. The crowd was big, but not overwhelming. Local emissaries and media were hanging around, taking in the city's sentimental farewell to the upside-down pyramid. Some attendees — we heard crowd estimates went beyond 600 — picked up commemorative bricks on a first-come-first-served basis. If it wasn't for the protesters…
St. Pete Localicious announces events for weeklong celebration
Food fests, a speakeasy and other events to fuel local eating and drinking during Localicious week.
Platt’s Pizza to keep the vibe, pies simple in Hyde Park
Final touches are being put on Hyde Park’s Platt’s Pizza, slated to host a grand opening next month.
Do This: The Weekend Top 10
New Escher exhibit at the Dali, Rob Schneider, Legendary at Bloom, Nick Thune, Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan double feature and more.
Weekend Tune-Up: Tunes for your weekend by Panda Bear, Deerhunter, Neon Indian & more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the weekend, Spotify playlist included.
Shakeup for Rowdies leadership after “terribly disappointing” run
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced this morning it'll be parting ways with Farrukh Quraishi, the team's president and general manager, and Thomas Rongen, the team's coach, in what we deem a not-so-subtle media release. "The changes come after a terribly disappointing start to the Fall Season, with a record of two wins, one draw and…
“Colossal failure” marks end of Florida special session on redistricting
Remember a couple of months ago when the Florida House and Senate couldn't agree over whether to expand Medicaid, and nearly put the state's budget in jeopardy? Well, it's time to make way for Impasse 2: The Squeakquel. That's because the two chambers are at odds over the two Congressional maps they drew, and they…
Movie review: American Ultra is EXTREME!(ly) likeable
Strong performances ground an unfocused script.
The Weeknd coming to Tampa
The Canadian crooner and Drake associate lands at Amalie Arena this fall
Concert review: Rickie Lee Jones at The Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
The unique songstress delivers a night of laughs, stories and stunning performances
St. Pete modifies historic preservation rules after very, very, very long meeting
By the time St. Pete City Council members passed a set of changes to its current historic preservation ordinance, 1:30 a.m., their chatter was the ambient music of our quasi-dreamscapes, and probably those of dozens of others who left a once-packed City Hall hours earlier. But we were awake enough to hear the sizable compromise…
Sh*t happened 8/21/15: Rick Scott settlement, Rays’ McGee out, Buffalo Bill’s house for sale
In celebration of Friday's arrival, let's just blow through this and go get some barbecue, OK? OK: Rick Scott, Florida's governor and also a villain from a 1930s movie-house serial, is defending the use of $700,000 in taxpayer money to settle a lawsuit brought against him and his administration for allegedly ignoring and stalling public…
Tonight in live music: Kim Lenz and The Jaguars, Telekinetic Walrus & more
A breakdown of concerts happening this Fri., Aug. 21, plus a look at what’s coming up this weekend.
Weekend Platter: German fun, beer tastings & more
Drink beer, dance underneath the city and more using CL’s foodie event picks for the weekend.
USDA files complaint against private Dade City zoo
A Pasco County wildlife attraction, Dade's City Wild Things, is under fire for the way it treats some of its residents, namely, juvenile tigers that it allows visitors to swim with for $200 a pop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture last month filed a complaint against the zoo over conditions some animals are kept in…
Sh*t happened 8/20/15: Tourism record, health-code violations, cigars, TBO.com wins
Let's relive yesterday with the same joyful recollection and enthusiasm for life we'd exhibit trying to get back to our car from the police station after a night of drinking Fireball with someone we hated in high school who just happened to be passing through town… Florida set a new record for numbers of tourists…
School of thought: Florida schools are ripe for potential church-state violations.
It’s a new school year. That means new books. New clothes. New classmates. New subjects. New potential for others, intentionally or otherwise, to impose their beliefs on you in ways that might make you uncomfortable. Florida has a decent share of cases of unconstitutional religiosity in public schools, says Andrew Seidel, a staff attorney with…
Abstaining from the facts: Florida’s lack of a sex ed policy may be screwing its students.
It wasn’t a typical permission slip, but Mona Mangat signed it. Ostensibly, a group known as More 2 Life was giving a presentation on “life choices” before her daughter’s seventh grade class at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in St. Petersburg. “It says things like… ‘we will not be discussing sex, we will talk about good…
Fall Arts Preview 2015: Film Threat-O-Meter
Other movies the theaters might not want to show this year.
Theater Reviews: A Peculiar Crossroads and Issac’s Eye
Two beloved historical figures are dramatized with disparate results at Tampa’s Silver Meteor and Sarasota’s Urbanite.
Fall Arts Preview: Movies
Big (and a few sleeper) flicks to look forward to.
Tonight in live music: The Motet, Will Sprott, Nashville Pussy & Valient Thorr + more
Several high quality shows are happening this Thurs., Aug. 20.
Fall Arts Preview, 25 & Under: Ella Jet & Brett Bowcutt
Singer-songwriter, 17, and her cellist/bandmate/collaborator, 20, St. Petersburg
Fall Arts Preview, 25 & Under: Noel Rochford
Composer, musician, UNRB band leader, 24, St. Petersburg
Fall Arts Preview 2015: What to Watch for in Music
Jose Gonzales, Chance the Rapper and others hit Tampa Bay this fall.
Fall Arts Preview 2015: Turn Turn Turn
Inspiring young Bay area artists 25 & under, and a look at the season’s best creative bets.
