Coulda Been a Contender
Sitting through all two-and-a-half hours of director Michael Mann's Ali is a lot like being locked in a small room with a feisty 8-year-old with Attention Deficit Disorder. Between the jittery style-gymnastics of Mann's film and a storyline that flits willy-nilly from one event to another, Ali may not be the year's most blatant example…
Adventures in the F State 2001
Florida’s News of the Weird for the Past Year
Merry Mayhem
The problem with 'Tis the Season to Do Folly isn't just that we don't care about its characters; the problem is, we don't even believe in these characters. Yes, it's entertaining when magician John Calvert performs several tricks for the audience; but who is he, really, and why does he seem to have so little…
Planet Picks
Thursday 12.27 Jeni Jones Comedian Richard Jeni has starred in his own sitcom, Platypus Man, and several HBO comedy specials. But for those still looking to make plans for New Year's Eve, you may be interested to know he's also hosted Fox's New Year's Eve Live. Jeni performs at the Improv through Dec. 31, with…
Music Menu
The Osmond Brothers Christmas Once considered pop music's most wholesome family act, the Osmonds are now universally regarded as a genetically engineered race of uber-singers whose agenda of world domination ultimately perished in the white-hot flames of indifference. Oddly enough, they're still thought of as wholesome. Now, the ones not designated by code-references Donny and…
Prognostication for Fun and Profit
"Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it." Some leathery old bastard or other said that, and in the grand scheme of human interaction, it's almost certainly true. But down here on the Tampa Bay music-column level — where hell is for children and the unfathomable mechanics of an uncertain universe…
Website
Threebrainhttp://www.threebrain.com OK, so, like, omigod, this one time I went to a Web site and it was like, "Weeeeee!" "Cause there was this squirrel in a video for a song that went "Weeeee!" and you could download the MP3 for it and there was a remix involving a clown and you know what he said?…
Sip Into Something More Comfortable
Tea became the rage in England in 1662, when Charles II, nicknamed "the Merry monarch," married the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza. As part of her dowry, she brought with her to England a large chest of tea, drunk in China for millennia, but newly introduced in Europe. It was so expensive, only royalty could…
Soundboard
Thursday, Dec. 27 Alley Cat's Cafe Jamie Perlow Beach Place Paper Chase Billy G'Z Baby Huey Band Carlie's Stormbringer Chase Club Derrick Williams Daiquiri Deck Curious Jones Dave's Grill & Bar Lorna Bracewell/Bushhounds/Ten Second Drop Famous Cigar Jazz Lounge Monique Gasoline Alley 4th Floor/Blue Flame Combo/Breakout Green Iguana-West Shore Other Guy/Authorities J.J.'s Sports Lounge Open…
Freebie
Outback Bowl 2002
The List
Festivals/Events March of Mourning Women in Black, a newly formed Gulf Coast local organization, has scheduled this march to coincide with an international Women in Black peace event taking place in Jerusalem and more than 80 other cities worldwide. The group gathers in Williams Park, located between Fourth and Third streets north and Second and…
Dining Guide
HILLSBOROUGH Brandon Bec's, 147 E. Bloomingdale Ave. (813-662-3000). Grab-n-go morning drivers will love the palmlettes, calzone-like breakfast sandwiches stuffed with delicious combos of eggs, meat, cheeses and veggies. For brunch, try baked egg souffles with a variety of meats, cheeses and veggies. Lox and bagel lovers will appreciate the generous Nova platter. For lunch, try…
Culinary Events
Pasta-Riffic Kids 8-14 years old can learn how to make linguini with Thai shrimp, bowties with creamy Alfredo sauce, crispy rice noodles and beef and broccoli stir-fry and Ricotta fritters. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin, 727-733-8915. $30. The Wine Cellar Restaurant Cooking Class Executive Chef Douglas Miller…
Spins
Marc Ribot Saints The iconoclastic guitarist goes solo on Saints, an inventive, challenging effort that deconstructs the work of such far-ranging sources as Albert Ayler (three tunes), John Zorn, John Lurie, The Beatles ("Happiness is a Warm Gun") and Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim ("Somewhere"). On the standard "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," each note is hard-won;…
First Night St. Petersburg 2002
Of all the things you might want to do on New Year's Eve, you can probably do them all at First Night St. Petersburg. Unless staying at home with a bottle of Korbel and watching Dick Clark do the ball-drop countdown is one of them. First Night is hands-on, entertainment-intensive and stroll-ful. Founded in 1976…
Shutter to Think
Now in its final week, the huge photography exhibition Americanos playing at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg presents an extraordinary glimpse into the multi-dimensional world of the American Latino population. MFA's hosting of this exhibition also speaks to the role of fine arts museums in sociological education. Historically, there are precedents: Lewis…
Toute Sweet
Americans love their sugar. The home of Dolly Madison, Coca Cola and blush wine peddles tons of tooth decaying junk, but for some unknown reason, the masses have not welcomed sweet dessert wines into their lives. Wine snobs have loved them for years and they've been around since Roman times. So lovers of sweet stuff…
Books
Violets Are Blue By James Patterson Little Brown/$27.95 Now that Dec. 25 has passed, we're sure that thousands of you are holding bookstore gift certificates in your hot little hands. If you have any credit left after snapping up all the discounted 2002 calendars, you could do worse than picking up James Patterson's latest Alex…
Letters
We've Always Been Shallow Re: "Missing Sugg," a letter by Ann Griffin (Dec. 13-19) I am deeply, abysmally, bottomless pitly annoyed by Ms. Griffin's letter in which she said, "… since John Sugg left, the paper has decomposed into a compilation of featherweight features … and porn ads." For three years-plus of featherweight-level features writing,…
Outtakes
13 Ghosts (PG-13) 21st century remake of the old William Castle spookfest about a family trapped in the haunted house they've just inherited. Stars F. Murray Abraham, Tony Shalhoub and Shannon Elizabeth. (Not Reviewed) Ali (R) See Film column. Amazing Journeys (PG) IMAX films are about scale, size — from the unfathomably huge (the oceans,…
A Lesson in Self-interest
The University of South Florida Board of Trustees had an opportunity last week to set an example of courage in the face of adversity. They had a chance to teach a lesson in tolerance and in standing up for academic freedom and free speech, even though that speech may be unpopular and may cause hardship,…
Public Life
Foster Parent Orientation Saturday, Dec. 29 2-4:15 p.m.The Children's Home seeks those willing and able to give a child the love and security of a home. Attend this orientation for new, long-term foster/adoptive parents at 10909 Memorial Highway, Tampa. Call Ellen Fisher for directions or info at 813-855-4435, ext. 2037. RCS Relocation Dec. 26-29Religious Community…
Just desserts
The sweet appeal of after-dinner wines
