Tampa Police Chief says if activists want to host a spontaneous protest during the RNC “we’ll work with them”
TPD Chief Jane Castor Normal life in downtown Tampa and in the Channelside district will be a little bit different when the Republican National Convention takes place in 12 days, which is why Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Police Chief Jane Castor and a number of other city department heads are holding town hall meetings this…
Cold Storage Craft Brewery opens public tasting room
ARIELLE STEVENSON Inside the Cold Storage Craft Brewery. Cold Storage Craft Brewery opened last year, launching their trademark draft Florida Avenue Ale in blueberry and IPA. Tuesday, founders Andy DeLaParte, Bruce Talcott, and Brent Berthy celebrated the opening of their public tasting room on Florida Avenue. The tasting room has all the Cold Storage Brewery…
RNC closures are a little too sobering
LONGORIAWINE.COM I finally sat down to take a look at the road closures for the RNC. Who came up with this plan? It must have been someone who took this whole thing WAY too soberly serious, someone who needs a drink. Pour the man (or woman) a glass of Longoria Pinot Grigio from Santa Barbara…
Canadian beer travels part one: Phillips Brewing sampler
Carol Dekkers Hopbox IPAs Few craft beer drinkers in Florida and the southern U.S. give pause to consider what the rest of the world has available for craft beer selection. Here in Western Canada (where I am visiting my parents and brothers), the craft brewing industry has encountered a similar awakening as in the US…
Ask Dream Momma: A hairy situation
“Dear Dream Momma, In my dream I feel a hair in my mouth, and I begin to remove it, but it turns into a never-ending cord of hair. There are usually between maybe ten strands and, oh, two dozen of them. I pull it out of my mouth with both hands, alternating them like a…
Mitch Perry Report: Election Aftermath
Winners and losers from yesterday’s primaries.
New study shows large % of unlikely voters would choose Obama – but they probably won’t vote
A new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll of people who are eligible to vote but probably won't favor Barack Obama's re-election over Mitt Romney by more than a 2-1 margin. That should be a serious concern for the Obama forces. An accompanying story written by USA TODAY political reporter Susan Page breaks down the numbers from…
Storms thrashes Turner, but many other social conservatives go down in Hillsborough County
Ronda Storms thrashing of incumbent Property Appraiser Rob Turner Tuesday night presents potentially one of the most interesting races this November, where she will now take on former state Representative Bob Henriquez in a race that Hillsborough Democrats think they can win. For Rob Turner, the election results were the climax of a humiliating sequence…
RNC food for thought
MITCH PERRY Tuesday, the Tampa Convention Center released some interesting tidbits on food consumption for the upcoming Republican National Convention. The convention center plans on serving up more than 5,500 gallons of coffee between August 27-31. They've nicknamed their coffee machine Big Bertha, and BB can pump out 110 gallons of hot brew at once.…
The price of corn versus the price of freedom
"Politicks are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politicks, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it."Dr. Samuel Johnson (1791) A few weeks ago with little fanfare and almost negative column inches the US Senate approved an extension of the Farm Bill with minor…
Drive-By Truckers blow off RNC gig in Tampa
Drive-By Truckers in concert As CL and other local media outlets have been reporting in recent weeks, there will be plenty of entertainment coming Tampa's way while the Republican National Convention is underway. Some of these shows will be open to the public and many others will be for Republican eyes only, via an invitation.…
Humana Freewheelin pedal buses could be essential for travel in downtown Tampa during RNC
Mayor Buckhorn takes ride for the cameras Maybe you shrugged when you first heard the news that health care giant Humana was going to be providing what they are calling pedal buses to transport delegates, business people and presumably protesters around downtown Tampa during the Republican National Convention later this month. But now with the…
Rowdies 0 – Atlanta 0: Tied at loose ends
Let’s face it, the Rowdies, who had won five in a row at home heading into Saturday’s contest, looked lost in transition in their scoreless tie against last-place Atlanta.
Mitch Perry Report — Rubio & Christie get star turns at RNC
Pus: DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz goes after Paul Ryan and more …
Attorney representing family of Javon Neal may pursue legal means to obtain evidence in his shooting
The parents of Javon Neal – Michael Lovett & Kethessa Fordom – at a press conference last month Last week Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober declared that the two Tampa police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Javon Neal at the Central Court Apartments was justifiable. The fatal shooting occurred on the…
New music Tuesday! (August 14): WHY?, Slightly Stoopid, The-Dream, Yellowcard, an all-star tribute to Fleetwood Mac & more
Round two of new releases in August. I've included info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may not have heard of (but should know), with audio & video for your listening and viewing pleasure. Click here to check out releases that dropped over the…
Local St. Pete game developers hit on the (mono) cellular level
A local game developer is using Kickstarter to crowd-source their latest mobile game.
Debbie Wasserman Shultz leads team of Democrats to Tampa to denounce the Romney-Ryan ticket
Debbie Wasserman Schultz greets supporters in South Tampa Although some media outlets had Paul Ryan on a shortlist for Mitt Romney's possible running mates, a number of folks have said they were surprised the former Massachusetts Governor went bold in taking the House Budget Chairman. Count Ryan's Wisconsin Congressional colleague, Democrat Gwen Moore, as one…
Felt, up! Avenue Q brings entertaining puppetry
M.A.D.’s musical production hands us a nice bit of Broadway fun.
Two Big Mouths #111 Now Live
[audio-path:http://archive.org/download/TwoBigMouths111v2/Tbm08-09.mp3] Yes friends, we are back with a new show this week. We'll talk about the Olympics and some of the U-S athletes that have been sent home. It was hot in July in the U-S….Africa hot! And take it easy with the buttered movie theatre popcorn, that stuff can make you crazy when you're…
Concert review: Mewithoutyou at State Theatre, St. Petersburg
A look back at the Wed., Aug. 8 concert.
#MusicMonday, Vol. 75: Sweet Valley, Childish Gambino, Owl City, The Divine Fits & more
What the CL Music Team is jamming this fine Monday to rocket launch the work week (audio/video included).
Ralph Reed’s Faith & Freedom Coalition to hold event at Tampa Theater before RNC
A bevy of conservative rock stars have been invited to the Faith & Freedom Celebration, an event produced by the Faith & Freedom Coalition, the group started in 2009 by Ralph Reed that will take place at the Tampa Theater on Sunday August 26. According to a press release, invited speakers include Ann Romney, Marco…
Mitch Perry Report 8.13.12 – Palin not given a slot to speak at Tampa RNC
Last week was filled with news about who will be getting speaking gigs at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. While we still await news on whether Marco Rubio or Chris Christie will give the keynote address, one GOP superstar who will not be speaking inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum, and that's Sarah Palin.…
Dems say Ryan wants to eliminate tax shelters that “people like Romney enjoy”
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan held their first joint interview on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday night, and the Obama For America campaign immediately seized on one comment by the vice-presidential nominee as "awkward." Specifically the Dems criticism came from Ryan's comment "What we're saying is, take away the tax shelters that are uniquely enjoyed…
Koffin Kats, Our Way & The Highway
The Koffin Kats' newest album is a landmark for them for two reasons: This record, their fifth, marks the Koffin Kats' first full-length release on Sailor's Grave Records, and Our Way & The Highway is also their first recording with Ian on guitar, who replaced founding-member Tommy Koffin in 2010. Though the Koffin Kats are…
Review: Ledisi with Eric Benet at Mahaffey Theatre, St. Petersbrurg
There are a lot of ways to tell when a female artist has cemented her reputation as a top line act. In Ledisi's case, it isn't the seven Grammy nominations, or partnering with Essence magazine on a semi-inspirational book, Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love and Power. But any female artist who can enlist Eric…
Romney coming to Florida without Paul Ryan
Will Mitt’s Veep selection be a drag with older voters?
Democratic National Committee goes on record in support of marriage equality
In Detroit on Saturday, the Democratic party platform committee unanimously voted to endorse same-sex marriage, the first time a major political party has supported that issue in its official statement of policies. The platform says Democrats support "marriage equality" and the "movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples." The Democratic platform also…
Jaws still has teeth
Spielberg’s proto-blockbuster spins with new luster on Blu-ray.
Dear Mr. Savage …
Dan answers reader mail.
Feedback: Warpt Tour and more …
You wrote it, we printed it.
Romney selects Paul Ryan to be his running mate
16 days before the Republican National Convention takes place, Mitt Romney now has a partner. Saturday morning Romney named Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan to be his vice-presidential nominee, delighting many of the party's intelligentsia who was advocating for his selection, largely based on his famed budget proposals that the House Republicans voted on a party…
Neighborhood Dining Guide: Indian
Curry favor at these authentic Indian restaurants.
Innisbrooke to salute RNC by naming each hole of its famed golf course after the past 18 GOP presidents
Part of the punishment the Republican National Committee enforced against the Republican Party of Florida for circumventing the primary process this year was a loss of half of its delegates to the convention. But that wasn't the only penalty Reince Priebus and company unleashed on the RPOF to express its displeasure by holding its primary…
Neighborhood Dining Guide: The Beaches
Enjoy a meal down by the seaside.
The boring Legacy
A dearth of fisticuffs is but one of many problems plaguing The Bourne Legacy.
Ruby Sparks leaps from page to screen
The directors of Little Miss Sunshine score with another quirky dramedy.
How not to get hacked at the RNC
The Republican confab will likely be one of the juiciest hacking targets ever.
Curry with a kick
An easy-to-make curry inspired by … soccer?
50 shades of Fetish Con: POV scenes from the 2012 convention (NSFW)
BrianJamesGallery.com I needed a reason to go shirtless amid the touchy-feely crowd attending the meet and greet at Fetish Con 2012. Shannon Holt of Bombshell Body Art gave me that reason. To match my captain’s hat and short shorts, Holt painted an admiral’s jacket on me — a short-sleeve jacket that did not conceal the…
Mitch Perry Report 8.10.12 – Who is the World’s Greatest Athlete?
Usain Bolt won the 200-meter final last night. That came days after taking the 100 meter run, becoming the first man in Olympic history to capture Gold medals in both events in consecutive Summer Olympic games. On Saturday, he'll compete with his Jamaican teammates in the 4×100 relay. If he can lead the Jamaicans to…
Looking up
A Tampa Bay original eyes the local fashion scene.
Get Vegucated
Marisa Miller Wolfson wants to give you a reason to go vegan.
Obama’s grassroots campaign for the local LGBT vote
Terrence Laney addresses the guests at an LGBT for Obama house meeting Gathered in a Coquina Key home, a group of President Obama's local supporters chat and laugh as if they're casually socializing, like friends at a housewarming party or a Sunday dinner with the neighbors. It’s cozy and welcoming, but everyone is there for…
The Lorax comes home
The Dr. Seuss’ adaptation hits Blu-ray and DVD.
This weekend, at a gallery near you
A stellar sampling of art shows open on both sides of the bay.
Pinellas County Sheriff candidates talk gun control -well, sort of
Bob Gualiteri GOP primary voters voting on August 14 (as well as currently through absentee ballots) are facing the choice of retaining incumbent Sheriff Bob Guiliteri, or bringing back former sheriff Everett Rice, who ran the department from 1988 to 2004. In last week's copy of CL, we reported on this intense battle, but because…
It’s Hope-less for Streep and Jones
Despite a talented cast, Hope Springs falls apart.
Tampa to dip $8.7 million in reserves to balance city’s budget
Bob Buckhorn Although Bob Buckhorn has been Mayor of Tampa for 16 months now, there's still a gratitude of debt he owes his predecessor, Pam Iorio. That's because as Buckhorn worked with city staff over the past few months to overcome a $27 million deficit, he had the ability to do so without raising taxes…
Looking forward to Future Tense
Promising young playwright Gianfranco Settecasi impresses in the present.
Mitch Perry Report -8.9.12 – Plans for new Rays park don’t include who will pay for it
The Tampa Bay Times lead story this morning is about a proposal for a new home for the Tampa Bay Rays that would be located in the Gateway/Carillon area of St. Pete. It's all quite interesting, and we look forward to seeing if anything comes out of it. Considering that both the Tampa Tribune and…
Newt Gingrich to host daily workshops at RNC
The former candidate claims he’s cool with not speaking at the big show.
A Q&A with Gavin Rossdale of Bush
Bush played The Ritz on August 2 and Kevin Tall caught up with lead singer Gavin Rossdale for a quick chat.
Artists to melt “middle class”
Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese send a chilly message to the delegates during the RNC.
Kathy Castor not shy about showing her support for Affordable Care Act
Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Kristen Tocci, and Sheeba George One of the narratives going into the homestretch of this political campaign season is to assess how much will Democrats embrace or try to separate from President Obama's signature domestic policy achievement of his time in office, the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Tampa area Congresswoman Kathy Castor…
Herman Cain coming to Tampa (again) in September as part of his “Truth Tour 2012”
CL has already reported on the Unity Tour coming to a church in Eastern Tampa the night before the Republican National Convention begins on Sunday, August 26, featuring appearances by Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann Now we can tell you that the man sometimes known as "the Herminator" will be making a return visit to…
Setting a new Boundary
Jim Wilson The formerly notorious Club B2T (Bottom to the Top) strip club at 1101 First Ave. North in St. Petersburg has a new identity: The Boundary American Grille & Tavern. Partners Jim Wilson and Jason Kingsley gutted the building, added windows, and rebuilt the stage and kitchen. “We found $400 in singles under the…
Tampa officials explain why they don’t want protesters sleeping outside during convention
Tampa Assistant Police Chief John Bennett Where does the city of Tampa expect protesters to stay while in town for the Republican National Convention? The question came approximately halfway thru a seminar hosted by the Florida ACLU on Tuesday night inside the Reeves theater on the University of Tampa campus. It was the civil liberties…
Amateur infusions: gin
Arielle Stevenson Using some advice from my herbalist-guru mother on how to make flower essences and extracts at home, I ventured into infusion territory. It's not as complicated as it sounds, plus your gin/vodka/whiskey gets an up-do. This is seriously basic infusions for amateurs by amateurs. Get a few mason jars with lids ($9 for…
Jim Hightower talks the talk
The progressive pundit with a Texas flair brings his populist rhetoric to Tampa pre-RNC.
Randy Travis gets in trouble just after it’s announced he’s appearing in Tampa during the RNC for Willie Nelson
Hours after Travis was announced to perform in Tampa, he was busted for an alleged DUI.
Mitch Perry Report 8.8.12: Addressing Hillsborough traffic woes
The Tampa Tribune's lead editorial this morning highlight's HART's upcoming first MetroRapid line that had a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday. The editorial notes that Tampa recently ranked 5th in the nation for traffic congestion, stating, "This region cannot afford to wait years for another tax-for-rail campaign before making improvements." But that begs the question, less…
Rising Hispanics among the latest group of speakers announced for Tampa RNC
Luis Fortuno For the third consecutive day, the Republican National Committee has released a list of officials who will be speaking at the Republican National Convention in Tampa later this month. The latest list isn't as filled with GOP heavyweights as the previous two, but does include an official that the Florida Republican Party believes…
Hillsborough MPO Chair on possible rail measure: Very unlikely a county wide referendum will ever pass
Ray Chiaramonte It's been nearly two years since the referendum on a transit tax to help fund the beginning of a light-rail line in Hillsborough County failed at the polls, and local leaders in Tampa show no inclination to bring the issue back anytime soon. Despite criticism of how poorly the campaign was run in…
Rogerio rules the runway
Rogerio Martins, a standard bearer for Wearable Art, came upon his niche by happy accident.
Classics revisited at The Black Pearl
The old-school virtues of this Dunedin mainstay never go out of style.
Merchandise makes a buzz
Plus: Tallhart and Sleepy Vikings drumming dilemmas, Palantine slows down + more in local music news.
Celebrate shark week with a Narragansett
You’re gonna need a bigger beer stein…
Fleming’s summer steak and sangria menu
Flemings Money is precious these days and spending it on a dinner out should be enjoyable, not a gamble. Certainly there are the culinary moments when you want to take a risk, but sometimes a good meal with good service is all that is desired. Enter Fleming's prime steakhouse and wine bar. Sure, it is…
Cajun Cafe on the Bayou does Lambics up right
Specialty craft beer events are something that Cajun Cafe on the Bayou and owner Paul Unwin are becoming known for in the Tampa Bay area. I attended my first Cajun Cafe beer event, the first annual Sour, Lambic and Berliner Wiesse festival on June 16, 2012. I happily discovered it was a well run and…
RNC Host Committee says many millions spent locally for convention, but won’t release specific figures or businesses
The Host Committee for the Republican National Convention today released a list of how many local businesses are getting a piece of the pie for one of the biggest events to ever happen in Tampa, now just 20 days away. Or we should say, they released a list of different types of businesses that are…
New Music Tuesday! (August 7): Antibalas, Johnny Cash Tribute, Antony and the Johnsons, Rob Zombie & more
This week’s new releases; audio & video included.
Florida Democratic Party rhapsodic over Rick Scott’s invite to RNC
Although their best candidate to dethrone him may not even be somebody in their own party (i.e. Charlie Crist), Florida Democrats can never resist the chance to throw Rick Scott's unpopularity back at him and the Republican Party of Florida. A day after it was announced that the Florida governor would indeed get an opportunity…
Green Party presidential ticket to make separate appearances in Miami & St. Pete this Friday
(UPDATE: See below).While the campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney get criticized daily by the mainstream media for their rather pedestrian efforts slogging through this endless summer, there are in fact a number of other choices that will be on the ballot for president this November. One of those choices is Dr. Jill Stein,…
Does Rand Paul’s invitation to speak at the Republican Convention mean Ron Paul won’t be?
Overnight Reuters broke the news about the second wave of officials who have been invited to speak at the Republican National Convention in Tampa later this month. They include Jeb Bush, Rick Santorum, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who now join Condoleeza Rice, Rick Scott, John McCain, South Carolina Gov.…
New ad protesting gun violence airs just hours before America’s latest gun related tragedy
Law enforcement authorities in Wisconsin announced Monday afternoon that the shooting suspect who killed six people and wounded three others at a Sikh temple just outside Milwaukee on Sunday was Wade Page, a former U.S. Army vet who the Southern Poverty Law Center says they had been tracking for a decade because of his ties…
Will Integrity Florida’s latest report move lawmakers to beef up disclosure requirements?
Ben Wilcox & Dan Krassner with Integrity Florida On Monday, an Illinois appeals court denied a motion by former Illinois Governor George Ryan to overturn a set of convictions that might have granted him his release or at least a new trial in his imprisonment on corruption charges. Meanwhile, another former Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich,…
Local beer, “Loafinbräu,” to be released at Creative Loafing Beer Fest on September 22
For immediate release | contact: Joran Oppelt; joran@creativeloafing.com | additional images available upon request What: Creative Loafing Beer Fest 2012: The Art of BeerWhen: Saturday, Sept. 22; VIP: 6-7 p.m. GA: 7-10 p.m.Where: Tampa Museum of Art; 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL, 33602 (813) 274-8130Music: The Black Honkeys and moreTickets: General Admission: $30 adv,…
Rape realities
I respect everyone's right to free speech. The First Amendment is a cornerstone of this country. Without it I wouldn't be able to write about fuck buddies, sex, and all the other dirty things I do in the bedroom. I also believe that just because I have this freedom, doesn't mean I have to use…
