The people have spoken: The top 10 CL Recipes of 2010
CL’s talented contributing writers submitted some seriously tasty-looking recipes for our Food and Drink section this past year. After sorting through them all, I chose 57 original recipes that were submitted in 2010 and asked readers to vote on their favorites. Here are the winners (in no particular order). ‘Arroz con Andy’ is Tampa food…
Top 10 Albums of 2010: Editor’s Choice (with videos)
Once again, it's time for a look back at the year in music and waxings on which albums were best. This year's list includes recordings I obsessed over this year, those albums I played so much the songs are forever engrained in my grey matter and that I listened to so much, that I had…
EarthTalk: Sockeye salmon on the rebound?
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: Why did 34 million wild sockeye salmon return to the Fraser River in British Columbia this year? The run had been declining for…
Moments in time: The 10 best movie moments of 2010
In a year where even the best movies weren’t perfect, 2010 was all about the individual moments for me. CL Contributors Kevin Hopp, Rabid Nick Refer and Anthony Nicholas will all have their own 10 Best of 2010 lists up on Daily Loaf later in the week, but for now, here’s my 10 best movie…
CL Holiday Auction raises $19,000 for The Children’s Home — one of the Top 10 reasons this year’s auction rocked
Creative Loafing’s 2nd Annual Online Holiday Auction, which ran from Nov. 18 to Dec. 16, brought together hundreds of businesses and thousands of readers for one important cause: raising funds for The Children’s Home. We were hoping to top last year’s total — $12,077 — and we did. By a lot. (Scroll down to the…
CD review: Kid Cudi, Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager
“You are now in the world I am ruling / Take a minute to adjust to the wondrous / Clusterfuck of fun and enchantment / I promise you some generation next shit / Speak for the silent who are left with / Parallel levels in a dark, dark place.” With these opening lyrics, Kid Cudi…
Miranda running for re-election for Tampa City Council, San Francisco’s mayoral intrigue, and thoughts on the demise of Vinyl Fever in Tampa: Mitch Perry Report 12.29.10
Hello everybody, welcome back to a new edition of MPR- back after nearly two weeks off, most of it spent in the San Francisco Bay Area that was my home until 2000. We're back blogging for today and tomorrow, and then come back fully loaded next Monday, the beginning of 2011. A few items for…
DIY Green: Turn a wooden pallet into a patio chair (video)
Here's a project to get you thinking about the warmer days to come: patio furniture! Before we know it, the temperatures will be rising and that means we'll spending more time outside. Need new outdoor furniture for your Spring and Summer fêtes? Don't buy new ones — make them instead! Wow your guests with these…
California observations as a new era begins
Imagine if Pam Iorio had ran for higher office this past fall, and been successful, at say, CFO. She would obviously have to leave office before her mayoral term ended, and an interim mayor would need to be named to lead the city over the remaining months of her term. But who should decide who…
Charlie Miranda announces for re-election for Tampa City Council District 6
Stretching out the suspense, Tampa City Councilman Charlie Miranda announced on Tuesday that he will run for re-election for his district 6 seat that encompasses West Tampa, Seminole Heights, Wellsworth and Drew Park. Miranda had announced weeks ago that he would run again for office, but provocatively said that he wasn't sure which district he…
Tampa Bay food and drink events (plus, New Year’s Eve events!)
Wednesday, December 29: World of Wines South Tampa Get a taste of several special bubblies to get you in the New Years' spirit, along with some tasty hors d'oeuvres. $15; 6-8 p.m. 3431 South West Shore Blvd, Tampa. 813-835-9463 Thursday, December 30: Publix Greenwise Market Do you know what you'll be drinking when the ball…
The most wonderful time of the year: the polyamorous edition
I would be fibbing if I said Christmas was my favorite holiday. That would have to be Easter. A holiday largely based on pagan fertility rituals? I am so there! It also doesn't hurt that my birthday coincides with Easter every so often. But the winter holiday season is still a very special time for…
Lightning fall to Bruins resulting from blown call
The last time the Tampa Bay Lightning saw the Boston Bruins, the Bruins skated off with an 8-2 blowout. The Lightning were hoping to return the favor when they took on Boston at the St. Pete Times Forum Tuesday night. The Lightning were also hoping to play well at home, where they currently have the…
Future food: Hungry? Just hit the ‘print’ button
Forget molecular gastronomy; inkjet gastronomy may be the wave of the future. Researchers at Cornell University's Computational Synthesis Lab are currently developing a 3-D food "printer" that will be able to create items using raw-food ink syringes. This is just one of the many personal fabrication technologies under their Fab@Home Project. Each syringe is filled…
Must-click links for Tues., Dec. 28, 2010: Carlos, 2010’s best posters, Waking Life, quitting Facebook, Santaland Diaries and more …
Thompson on Hollywood: IFC's long-form experiment Carlos is embraced by critics and the Globes. Why LA Weekly's Karina Longworth quit Facebook. New York Times' A.O. Scott gives this weeks' Critic's Pick: Richard Linklater's "unclassifiable" Waking Life. David Sedaris and the Santaland Diaries: an encore. Absolutely classic!
Top 10 Tampa Bay brushes with celebrities in 2010
Jeter has his mansion on Davis Islands, Kim Kardashian partied at Aja, LeBron James hit the Venue, Mary J. Blige and Liza Minnelli hawked their wares at HSN. Big names all. But who were the really cool celebrities who passed through town this past year — the people who left a lasting impression? We asked…
A dessert even an eggnog hater could love: Eggnog tiramisu (recipe)
Eggnog is one of those things that you either love or hate. I'll be honest, I try it every year only to remind myself, again, that it is just not for me. Drinking a thick, sweet egg-based beverage somehow doesn't appeal to me but I love the flavor combination, and wanted to make an attempt…
Permablitz gardening event at The Angelus with Code Green Community – Sunday, January 2nd
is looking for volunteers to help with their permaculture "permablitz" event this Sunday at The Angelus in Hudson, a charity and home for severely handicapped persons who are not able to care for themselves. What is a permablitz? It's where members of a community get together to create an edible garden or share skills related…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Top 10 in 2010 from where I sit
New Year's: A time of reflection (A year already? Where has all the time gone? I mean, besides directly to my fat ass), disappointment (Well, I spelled my name right and I've definitely succeeded in drinking more, but outside of that my 2010 resolutions are an epic bust) and hope (Next year? I'm totally learning tennis and the guitar…on the wii) Another favorite…
The race for chair of FL’s Republican party: Will a 2004 DUI derail Cox-Roush?
Deborah Cox-Roush mugshot (photo courtesy Hillsborough County Sheriff) In what could be the final nail in the coffin of her race for chair of the Republican Party of Florida, it was disclosed yesterday that Hillsborough County Chairwoman Deborah Cox-Roush was arrested for DUI in 2004. According to the St. Petersblog (which appears to have broken…
Vinyl Fever to close in February: A longtime VF veteran reflects on the end of an era
As I sit at home on this chilly Monday afternoon, I'm grateful that I had the foresight to take this, the Monday after Christmas, as a vacation day from my day job. I figured I'd be dragging and still recovering from all the holiday chaos of get-togethers with a very large extended family and an…
The worst fast food creations of 2010
2010: The year that brought us scary fast food creations like KFC's Doublicious, Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt, and Carl Jr.'s footlong cheeseburger. You'd think that with all of the focus on healthful eating this year that we would have seen more fast food chains coming out with lighter (calorie-wise) fare, to entice those who…
The science of sex: The sweaty t-shirt test and mate selection
Evolutionary scientists don't believe in free will when it comes to how humans choose a mate. They side more with the idea of sexual chemistry. MHC (major histocompatibility locus) genes produce a distinct odor in all of us that serves as a kind of genetic fingerprint. The idea that the smell of these genes could…
Do It Today: Dinner and show with the Moscow Ballet
Russian banquet hall and host of dancing shows galore St. Petersburg Nights is working in conjunction with the prestigious dance company and Mahaffey Theater to offer a Moscow Ballet Dinner. The authentic Russian meal/performance combo before and after the company’s performance of The Great Russian Nutcracker at 7:30 p.m. The ballet’s stars are reported to…
Must-click links for Mon., Dec. 27, 2010: R.I.P. Teena Maria, The Illusionist better than Toy Story 3?, holiday flops, blizzard video, light rail and more …
Time magazine on Sylvain Chomet and Jacques Tati's The Illusionist: Is it better Than Toy Story 3? R.I.P. Teena Marie; the R&B legend died in her home at age 54.
St. Pete residents: Recycle your Christmas tree into Yuletide mulch (and how the rest of Pinellas and Hillsborough can get rid of theirs too)
Don't go sticking your withered tannenbaum in the dumpster after the holidays, St. Pete folks, let the city turn it into "Yuletide" mulch. On Saturday, January 8th, get your tree picked up by city Sanitation crews at no charge and they'll take it to be recycled into usable mulch. According to The City of St.…
Easy slow cooker chicken soup (recipe)
Yesterday I dug through the fridge wondering what I could make that would be warming, delicious, and would not require a trip to the market. I decided on chicken noodle soup. It's an amazingly easy dish to make, and you can have fun with the ingredients and spices, as there is not only one way…
The Tampa Bay area’s best live music experiences of 2010 as told by the locals (with photos)
Witnessing as Candy Bars returned from a long break and performed with cool and compelling force at the Homemade Music Showcase; chowing down on barbecue and being charmed by folk-pop ensemble Grecian Urns at Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café; getting my face rocked off by Poetry n’ Lotion during their staging of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid…
Hair, Seafarer among Top 10 Tampa Bay theater offerings in 2010
It was a very good year for theater in the Tampa Bay area. The established stages turned in some of their best work ever, and the new kids on the block — freeFall, Revolve, St. Petersburg Shakespeare Company and New American Theatre — helped jumpstart a more vibrant and various local theater culture. The following…
Pop open a sparkling wine and pop open a celebration
The question is whispered around in conversation as if the season had a scarlet letter on it: “Can you believe it’s already the holiday season?” No one wants to admit that they were once again caught off guard. While they weren’t looking, the calendar jumped ahead leaving them agape and staring at the month of…
EarthTalk: The controversy over “fracking” for natural gas
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: Can you explain what “fracking” is with regard to natural gas exploration and why it is controversial? — Jonas Kern, Bellevue, WA Fracking…
The science of sex: Oxytocin, the cuddle hormone
Oxytocin is best known as the drug that helps induce labor, but in the last few years it has taken on a new identity: the cuddle hormone. This naturally occurring hormone seems to be associated with maintaining healthy relationships, whether that be with setting boundaries or helping to mediate emotional experiences. In mammals oxytocin has…
Being called ugly always sucks
My phone was blowing up for 48 hours. His friends found out I had a crush on him. They loved him. They loved me. They loved the idea of us. They were determined to make it happen. In detailed text messages his best friend told me what to wear on the first date, what to…
The state we’re in: The Top 10 developments in Florida and Tampa Bay politics in 2010
Willful ignorance, blatant hypocrisy, campaign mistakes — it was all in a year's work in the election year that was. Here are my observations of 10 key political developments that brought us to the state we're in. 1. Kendrick Meek’s lack of respect from Democratic voters The former Miami Congressman was never taken seriously in…
Downtown Disney boots McDonald’s, replaces with healthier fare and BabyCakes gluten-free bakery
When I visited Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista a few months ago, I noticed something was missing in the Marketplace area: McDonald's. There was a high fence around the perimeter and the sign had been stripped off. Obviously, I was curious to see what would take the fast food giant's place in this area…
On The Radar: KC needs some sunshine — The disco legend fights off a cold and plays Treasure Island New Year’s Eve
Besides the Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band is probably the first band that comes to mind when struck with disco fever. Frontman, Miami native and founder Harry “KC” Casey has kept crowds dancing over the past four decades — and helped keep a slew of cheesy cover bands in business — performing ’70s…
Do It Today: SOUL! Xmas/NYE Party and Tampa’s Downtown on Ice
We're smack dab in the middle between the year's two biggest celebrations, so here's an event that packs the two-one punch your body needs: the SOUL! Xmas/NYE Party . For the past four years, DJs Funk Jesus and Gregg Schmidt have hosted the every-last-Monday-of-the-month SOUL! dance party a night of getting down to old-school funk,…
Review of Ludacris’ Conjure cognac, plus cocktail recipes
I can’t think of a name more fitting for cognac than Conjure, a bottle of which I recently received. Mention of this booze tends to summon one of two very different (and equally cartoonish) images. There’s the waspy dude in a smoking jacket, raising a snifter of amber liquid in toast to, say, cornering the…
From garden to consumer: Interview with Tarpon Springs market gardener (video)
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing a local market gardener in the Tarpon Springs area who sells to local vendors as well as his own neighbors. Check out the videos below:
Toy Story: What happens when Junior discovers Mommy’s Special Drawer
I am rarely speechless. Oh sure, there was that time when doctors told me I was carrying twins and I had nothing to say for at least 10 minutes. Remember when a great deal of people re-elected George Bush? I was stumped for hours. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen often. Where my children are concerned, I…
EarthTalk: 16 states limit phosphates in dishwasher detergent due to negative impacts on wastewater systems
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: What’s up with dishwasher detergents of late? They’re clearly not working as well. I hope whatever was done is helping the environment because…
Lightning win lengthy shootout with Rangers, take division lead
The Tampa Bay Lightning had two goals on Thursday night when they took on the New York Rangers: first, respond to the lackluster effort they put forth on Wednesday when they lost in overtime to the Islanders; second, head into the Christmas break as the Southeast Division leader. They accomplished both those goals with an…
Must-Click Links: Soderbergh retiring? Air-powered cars? A productive congress? A Red State trailer? Plus much more …
Is Steven Soderbergh really going to retire from making movies? (Doubt it …) Forget electric: Is the air-powered car the way of the future? Woo!! The lame duck congress was the most productive congress in recent U.S. History. Boo!! R.I.P. DREAM Act.
AirPod: The mini car that runs on air (video)
The AirPod may look like a futuristic clown car, but it's actually the cleanest vehicle on the road. Just approved for production, this super green vehicle by French engineers (and father-son team) Guy and Cyril Negre has 3 wheels, one door, no steering wheel and runs entirely on compressed air. The two current models can…
Eater island: Kon Tiki brings Latin-Asian fusion and stylish fun to hotel dining
After biting through a gooey mass of braised short rib and sharp queso fresco into the flaky crunch of deep-fried wonton skin, and feeling the bright bite of pickled jalapeño blow though the other flavors, I can’t help but assume that Thor Heyerdahl never had it this good. Of course, the intrepid explorer/author and Easter…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Fresh markets galore for pre- and post-Christmas shopping
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Fresh Markets and More at Seminole Mall- Every Thursday-Sunday; 9 am-3 pm. Fresh Markets and More is a fun-filled celebration of the world’s most popular culinary ingredients along with a selection of unique arts and crafts all located…
Last-minute gifts: What do I give Sarah Palin? Fred Phelps? Lady Gaga? Mark Zuckerberg? Rick Scott? The Refinery?
Hopefully, you’re reading this on Thursday or Friday, post-workday beverage nearby (or coming up soon), A Christmas Story on the tube across the living room or behind the bar, satisfied that all your final pre-holiday responsibilities have been handled. The snowball is rolling, as it were, and you’ve got nothing more to do than follow…
Theater Review: The Men at Studio@620
There are only three actors of real merit in Christian Couture’s The Men at The Studio@620, and when the show in question boasts 10 performers, that’s a real problem. The other problem is that the plot of The Men isn’t about much besides a typically unstable love triangle, and the novelty of seeing gay men…
Hailing a taxi
St. Petersburg resident Rand Moorhead, 53, has the look of an aging beach boy. Born in Michigan, he's lived all over the U.S. and the world, and by his own estimation has worked in perhaps five dozen jobs throughout his life (including stints organizing transportation conferences at Robert Redford's Sundance Institute and teaching English in…
Mother of a problem
I'm writing to you under the influence of a little alcohol (as I'm not sure I'd have the courage to write to you about this sober). I've got an awkward (understatement) situation. My mother left her e-mail logged in on my computer, and I decided to be an asshole and snoop out of boredom. I…
In wartime, a grandfather’s beloved carol is suddenly verboten.
Toward the end of the 19th century, my grandfather, Harry Christian Meinke, came over from Hannover, Germany, through Ellis Island, a young orphan shipped to relatives. His father died before Harry was born, and his mother died in childbirth, but his luck was about to change. He wound up with some German fishermen in one…
You make me feel so real
Leandro Erlich's Rain III (1999-2000) is, I promise you, a sculpture (or an installation, but whatever). You walk around it in real time, and it is a thing, physically present in three dimensions. But Rain III is also a clever bit of cinema. Between two windows installed on either side of a movable wall, a…
Eater island
After biting through a gooey mass of braised short rib and sharp queso fresco into the flaky crunch of deep-fried wonton skin, and feeling the bright bite of pickled jalapeño blow though the other flavors, I can't help but assume that Thor Heyerdahl never had it this good. Of course, the intrepid explorer/author and Easter…
Which holiday movie are you?
Welcome back, my friends, to the season that never seems to end: the holiday movie season, that is. Hollywood opened the firehose of new releases around Thanksgiving, spraying the multiplex with a torrent of Potters, Burlesques and James Franco's arm blood. Now it's time for the deluge. The week leading to Christmas has seen the…
Gay things to do on Christmas
If you are wondering where to go and what to for LGBT food, fun or entertainment on Christmas Day, here are some pretty good options! Dining Options: Hamburger Mary's – Opens at 5 p.m. until around midnight. It will be the regular menu. Kelly's – Closed on Christmas Day. Flamingo Resort – Hang on, this…
Do It Today: Brokenmold Christmas Party and a fantastic folk-pop show at New World
The friends are in from out of town, the Christmas shopping is (nearly) done. You might be venturing out to the Hub or the Emerald Bar and other neighborhood watering holes to see old friends. Here's a suggestion: Invite your pals and loved ones to two outstanding local music shows while you're making plans, the…
Dining Guide: Where to eat on Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day in Tampa Bay
Thinking of dining out on on of the upcoming holidays? Here's a list of places around Tampa Bay that will be open and offering special menus for Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day or all of the above. Be sure to call ahead to make your reservations and visit their websites…
Top Chef Podcast – All-Stars Ep. 3: Double elimination, oh my god!
Do I even need to get into details about last night's episode of Top Chef All-Stars? If you've already seen it, then you know what happened, and if you haven't watched your DVR recording of it yet, you may not read this for fear of spoilers. Plus, I'm in a rush to get this up…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Finish holiday shopping at weekend fresh markets, Sweetwater Farm’s herbal workshop and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Fridays: 8 am-1 pm, (through April). Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green Market is located in…
