Dogs as doctors: Yes, they’re still the best therapy
By Pamela S. Hogle I’ve seen several articles and columns in the past few days with headlines along the lines of “Fido’s No Doctor.” They all say that some new study purports to show that dogs might not be so beneficial to our health after all. Well, what I have to say to that ……
Tart up your dinner: Curry-braised chicken and potato tarts
Although most of the meals I make for my family are based on whatever I can grab from pantry and fridge, sometimes an occasion calls for something a little snazzier than ad hoc stir fry or soup and noodle casserole. Whether you’re having a dinner party, or friends are visiting town, you need a repertoire…
Must-click links for Wed., Jan. 5, 2011: Ignatiy Vishnevetsky arrives, True Grit scores, more war for the Middle East, Colbert on Spider-Man and much more …
MUBI's Ignatiy Vishnevetsky has been announced as co-host for the new Ebert Presents At The Movies, along with the Associated Press' Christy Lemire. It's quite a big deal for a 24-year-old blogger who's day job is a video store clerk. Ebert says he is "soon to be a household name," so get up to speed with…
FPIRG produces report to refute the notion that roads pay for themselves — even as House Republicans threaten to cut funding for those roads
During the recent debate about a transit tax in Hillsborough County, advocates such as County Commissioner Mark Sharpe and others blasted the notion that only public transportation is subsidized by government, and not highways or other roads. Now the Florida Public Interest Research Group (FPIRG) has released a report called Do Roads Pay For Themselves?…
Seminole discussion on recycling, sustainability and organic gardening (videos)
This first video, taken at the Seminole discussion on recycling and sustainability, discusses organic gardening and the importance of minerals in our food relating to our health.
Rick Scott is your new Governor, Florida – deal with it; Pam Bondi pens an op-ed in the WSJ on going after the feds on the health care bill, and it’s now ex-governor Charlie Crist: Mitch Perry Report 1.5.10
Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and the first full day of the Scott/Bondi/Putnam/Atwater era in Florida. Rick Scott of course had inaugural speech yesterday at high noon. You can read our impressions of that here. Attorney General Pam Bondi has an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal in which…
Deepwater drilling resumes in the Gulf of Mexico
On Monday, the Obama administration gave the 'OK' for 13 companies to resume deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico after being suspended since the BP spill in May. The 16 wells allowed to proceed with drilling were functional before the Deepwater disaster and must comply with new safety rules, environmental reviews notwithstanding. White House…
It’s now Ex-Governor Charlie Crist
As happened a few times over the years, the St. Petersburg Times embedded a reporter to follow now former Florida Governor Charlie Crist for a day – that day being yesterday, when he officially handed over power to Rick Scott. Aaron Sharockman provides the sometimes minute-by-minute description of the Crist's waning moments as king of…
Tampa Bay food and drink events
Thursday, January 6: Whole Foods Market This month's wine class at WFM is all about the bubbly. Even after the new year, keep the Champagne celebrations going! Who says you can’t celebrate all year? Register by the exit lobby or by emailing Maria.Gumina@Wholefoods.com. Free event; 6:30-7:30 p.m. 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. 813-874-9435; wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/tampa…
Bondi in Wall Street Journal: More states will follow Florida in suing the feds over health care law
On Pam Bondi's first full day in office, the new Attorney General in Florida has written an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on the topic that she brought the most passion to during her campaign – picking up the mantle from Bill McCollum on leading the fight against the individual mandate provision written into…
CL Feature: Orlando indie alt pop trio The Pauses, which play a soft CD release party this Friday at New World Brewery (with audio & video)
Orlando musicians Jason Kupfer and Tierney Tough were bandmates before they were friends. Not that they didn’t like each other; but their relationship started as a professional one in Vostok and their friendship grew from a mutual creative respect that ultimately lasted longer than the band that drew them together. I chatted with Kupfer and…
On the Radar: The Florida Orchestra presents The One and Only Louis Armstrong
Of all the trumpeters in all the world, none have made quite the lasting impact as seminal New Orleans jazz musician Louis Armstrong. The Florida Orchestra pays homage to the artist formerly known as Satchmo during its first Raymond James Pops of the season, The One and Only Louis Armstrong. Charismatic soloist Byron Stripling –…
Boobs only lesbians (NSFW)
After years of playing the role of a bisexual female swinger, I've finally realized something about myself —- I am not truly bisexual at all. Although there are many categories in the swinger world that attempt to define female to female sexual preference, I haven't found one that completely describes me. Below are a few…
Do It Today: Celebrity Autobiography and Tig Notaro
Ever eye ridiculous memoirs by stars like Vanna White or Mr. T and be struck with that weird and uneasy curiosity one gets when passing an automobile wreck? Well, you can satisfy your voyeuristic curiosities and get a good laugh tonight at Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words, where superstar memoirs are acted out live…
Must-click links for Tues., Jan. 4, 2011: More best of 2010, R.I.P. Pete Postlethwaite, the great American income gap and more …
The New York Times' 2010 year in review. India's Tata Nano, "the world's cheapest car," is struggling in sales. My personal favorite of the year-end movie lists: Reverse Shot's 11 offenses of 2010. Absolutely certain to piss off any film fan. Love it!! Josh Youngerman from Sound on Sight has a wonderfully diverse list of…
Burger King unveils new Brussels sprouts burger
"Is this real or just another one of those photoshopped hoaxes (like the McRiblets)?" you may be asking yourself right now. Yes, this one is real, but unfortunately for some who actually like the vegetable, it won't be found in the States. This "Sprout Surprise Whopper" was available for a limited time at select Burger…
Tampa Port Authority director frowns on further study of a water taxi line from Gibsonton to MacDill
CL readers may recall our story from a few weeks ago where we wrote about plans for possible water ferry service in the Tampa Bay area. Although there are many (including Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik) who dream about such service taking passengers from Tampa to St. Petersburg, there are no such plans in the…
Microblogging gone green: 10 must-see ‘green’ Tumblr sites
The Mother Nature Network, one of my favorite sites to visit regularly, has picked their top 10 environmental themed Tumblr accounts that you should follow. In case you're not familiar with Tumblr, it's a microblogging platform containing short-form blogs — publishing well over 2 million posts and seen by hundreds of millions of people every…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Half-full of realism, a serving of sexism and ESPN pulls a Puddy
Let's look at the glass together and you tell me whether it looks half full or empty. What do the Browns, Bengals, Panthers and 49ers have in common besides accounting for half of the Bucs' victories this year? All the head coaches should be updating their resumes. Three more victories (Rams, Seahawks and Cardinals) are from the NFC…
Rick Scott shows compassion for the unemployed, says little about vouchers in his inaugural address
On the campaign trail, Rick Scott talked a lot about being a proven job creator. In his 20-minute inauguration address on Tuesday in Tallahassee, he seemed to grasp how difficult that reality is going to be as he inherits the leadership of a state that has been contending with record unemployment. Calling the current economic…
New music releases out this Tuesday, January 4: Bon Jovi, Jake Shimabukuro and more (with video)
New Year, new music! Here are the first albums to come out in 2011. Click here for new releases that dropped in the past several months; click here for my Best of 2010 list; and here for my team's breakdown of albums they jammed in 2010. , Live at Madison Square Garden (Island) The arena-playing…
Concert review: Ringing in the New Year with the Dead Kennedy’s at the State Theatre, St. Petersburg
Some people make dinner reservations, buy new outfits and toast with their friends and loved ones at the stroke of midnight on December 31st. This past Saturday, a gathering of hardcore fans and punk rockers thrashed out the end of 2010 and roared in the start of 2011 with punk legends, The Dead Kennedys. State…
Chocoholics rejoice! The Festival of Chocolate at MOSI – January 15-17
MOSI will be hosting The Festival of Chocolate, a unique, educational and interactive event for all the senses. So whether you're a fan of deep, dark or milky white chocolate, there will be something to please every palate at this tasty event. Besides being able to taste and purchase almost every form of chocolate known…
Don’t smoke the mistletoe: what happens when you add pot to a porn shoot
“Do you want me to take off my panties now?" Tasha Knox asks the camera, her soft features slowly congealing into a confused scowl. "I'm asking you Steve, should I take off my panties now or what?" Steve, the one man production crew, removes the weed cigar he's puffing on and says, "Santa would love…
Rick Scott’s $3 million inauguration supported by lots of corporate donations with business before the state; public school teachers wear red in protest of Scott education agenda, and Florida lawmakers announce first hearings on illegal immigration:Mitch
Today is the big day when Rick Scott becomes the 45th governor of the great state of Florida. And his two-day inauguration extravaganza is being funded by lots of wealthy corporations with business before the state, but of course, there's no reason to believe that those donations will play any part in how Scott governs.…
Florida Legislature announces hearings on immigration – apparently no plans yet to challenge Birthright citizenship (video)
New Florida Governor Rick Scott owes a substantial debt to his victory over Bill McCollum in the GOP primary to his tough stance on illegal immigration – a stance that he believes in so strongly that any discussion of it virtually vanished once he vanquished McCollum and took on Alex Sink for the general election.…
Donate scrap metal to benefit the Tempus Projects’ Scrapping for the Arts fundraiser
Get rid of your old scrap metal and help out local artists in the same turn. Tempus Projects is asking for donations of metal scraps for their 'Scrapping for the Arts' project. The scrap will be turned in to be recycled, the cash received going toward funding local artists. Tempus Projects is enthusiastic about this…
Get lucky with Pasta e Lenticchie (recipe)
When I was a little girl, my grandfather worked as a longshoreman for the New York Port Authority. For most of his career, he worked the night shift. This meant that from Monday through Friday, he was rarely ever around at dinner time. As a result, my Nonna usually kept weeknight meals simple, since it…
Rick Scott’s gaudy inauguration paid for by corporate interests with various issues that will come before the state
The Rick Scott era begins in just a few hours, as the ostentatious $3 million two-day inauguration extravaganza continues with the official swearing-in ceremonies at high noon today. While Jerry Brown was being sworn in as California's newest governor, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that outside of the Capitol, "hundreds of people stood in line…
Do It Today: Knives in Hens at Studio@620
The Studio@620 presents its last performance of Knives in Hens — a play that’s been dubbed by critics as a modern classic — tonight at 8 p.m. The emotionally evocative tale, written by David Harrower and directed by Samuel French, takes place in a “pre-industrial, God-fearing nowhere land,” and centers on an uneducated young woman who…
The Gaily News: More reasons to love Barcelona
There's a famously tantalizing lyric from Stephen Sondheim's Company in which the main character, Bobby, asks his latest conquest, a flight attendant, where she's headed. "Where you going?" "Barcelona." "Oh." And even though they're none too enthusiastic about her destination, LGBT tourists should be. Latest reason: The city's building a gay monument. And it's slated…
UPDATE: Rick Scott names Herschel Vinyard (who?) to run the Department of Environmental Protection
Moments after Governor-Elect Rick Scott named Herschel Vinyard to be his new Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, a press release issued saluting the choice came from ..no, not an environmental group, but the Florida Chamber of Commerce. What, you expected the Sierra Club? The Chair of the Chamber, former House Speaker Allan Bense,…
“Seinfeld”-themed buffet served prior to Jerry Seinfeld show at Ruth Eckerd Hall this weekend (Jan. 7-8)
In case you're planning on going to one of the evening performances of Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up act this weekend at Ruth Eckerd Hall, why not nosh on the Seinfeld-themed pre-show buffet before the show? Available only before the 7 p.m. shows on Saturday and Sunday, January 7-8, this gourmet buffet dinner will be available for…
Free ‘Green Living Resolutions for 2011’ webinar – Wednesday, January 5
If you're wanting to live your life a little (or a lot) greener, lighten your carbon footprint and save money on utility bills, then this free online webinar is for you. The Pinellas County Extension is hosting this event on Wednesday, January 5, at 12:15-12:45 p.m. Get easy tips to green up your life through…
Florida schoolteachers full of anxiety as Rick Scott era begins (updated)
(UPDATE: See Below). Tuesday at noon Rick Scott will officially become the next governor of the great state of Florida. Unlike any other elected official we can think of in recent times, the chief official comes into office with his ratings down from his performance at the polls last November. Public Policy Institute revealed in…
Produce recalled in 16 states and Canada due to salmonella scare
After their curly parsley and cilantro tested positive for salmonella, J&D Produce out of Texas is recalling those items as well as 18 additional vegetables and herbs that they distribute to 16 U.S. states and to parts of Canada. The products in question, ranging from arugula to turnips, were packed only on November 30th and…
Circus animals parade through Tampa today
At 3 p.m. today , animals in The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will unload at the railroad tracks on the corner of Nuccio Parkway and N. Nebraska Avenue, next to Union Station, for their return to the St. Pete Times Forum to kick off Ringling Bros. Fully Charged! – the 141st edition of The Greatest Show On Earth. They…
Why studies keep finding that abstinence before marriage benefits your relationship
A new study published in American Psychology Association’s Journal of Family Psychology shows once again that abstaining from sex before marriage results in couples who report healthier relationships. Many people who can't conceive of waiting until marriage to have sex are quick to point out the flaws of these studies, which are often abundant. For…
Get healthy and still eat fast food? Pollo Tropical thinks you can with their 21-Days To a New You meal plan
With the resolutions of being healthier and losing weight in the new year in mind, Pollo Tropical, a Miami-based fast food chain, is launching their "21-Days To a New You" meal plan where participants can eat on the run and get on the right track to eating healthier. I'm assuming this is geared more toward…
EarthTalk: Time to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976
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 is happening to update and reform the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, which I understand is considerably outdated and actually permits…
Tampa Mayor’s race loses a candidate, new House GOP’s grand plans to change govt. as we know it, and remind me why we need a Lieutenant Governor? Mitch Perry Report: 1.3.10
Happy New Year to one and all out there on the Internet! It's great to be back in this regular space after essentially a two-break at the end of the year to celebrate the holidays and read as many top 10 lists as humanly possible. But it's a big week in politics: Rick Scott is…
House Republicans lay down their plan to kill health care bill AND threaten to shut down the govt. (video)
Several new House Republicans who will take over power in Congress this week had their coming out party on the various Sunday public affairs shows, and they came out firing in declaring how they intend to shake up the status quo over the past two years in Washington. Lots of Republicans have discussed how they'll…
‘Tis the season to hit Sundance: Must-see flicks in Park City, 2011
It's January, which means it's time to look forward to the upcoming slate of quirky independent films from around the world that will play this year at Sundance. Each winter, film lovers, filmmakers and industry types converge on the small mountain resort town of Park City, Utah, in hopes of sighting celebrities, making big deals,…
Do It Today: The King’s Speech at Tampa Theatre
The Star Ledger describes The King's Speech as a "beautiful story of one man finding his voice." Colin Firth stars as England's King George VI, who on the brink of war must not only conquer the enemy but a debilitating speech impediment. To the rescue comes Bertie, an eccentric Australian therapist played by Geoffrey Rush.…
Marion Lewis drops out of race for Tampa mayor
UPDATE: Already a long shot in the race to become Tampa's next mayor, former Police Captain Marion Lewis announced Sunday afternoon that he was withdrawing from the 2011 race. In a press release, Lewis, who was the first official candidate in the race, says that continuing litigation from his legal challenge between himself and the…
Meet Darrell Issa. He hopes to be as famous as John Boehner. But will he turn out to be Dan Burton?
You remember Dan Burton, the Indiana Republican Congressman who single-handedly tried to bring down Bill Clinton's presidency, issuing over 1,000 subpoenas against the Clinton administration before anyone had even heard of Monica Lewinsky? He's actually still in Congress, but is no longer making headlines such as shooting pumpkins in his backyard to prove to skeptics…
Lightning beat Rangers, make post-game goalie acquisition
The Tampa Bay Lightning entered the new year coming off the best December in franchise history, and hoped to continue that success when they took to the ice against the New York Rangers Saturday night. The Rangers came into the game with the best road record in the NHL, while the Lightning sported a 2-0…
The hangover: Tips for recuperating the morning after
Everybody’s got one. No, not that. I’m talking about a favorite hangover cure. For those who like to drink, hangovers are as inevitable as death (and can feel about as bad in the process). Still, hangovers need not be so horrible. Sorry, no cure for mortality yet, though. My hangover remedies have evolved over the…
New fresh market: First Saturdays at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel
For those of you in North Tampa and Pasco County who have to travel far and wide to enjoy the great fresh markets in Pinellas and South Hillsborough, now you have one in your neck of the woods. Wiregrass Mall is holding their open air market the first Saturday of every month, from 10 a.m.…
A singer/songwriter’s tribute to the late, great Teena Marie
Teena Marie is dead and I can’t stop crying. So little moves me, but her songs always did. Teena began her music career in the late 1970s as a protegée of Rick James. She was also the first white artist to be signed to the Motown label. Over the course of 13 albums Teena Marie…
Lightning bounce back, beat Canadiens 4-1 behind goalie’s debut
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Cedrick Desjardins grew up in the Montreal 0rganization. On Thursday night, he had the chance to play his first career NHL game against Montreal, and he did not disappoint, leading his team to a 4-1 victory over the Habs. It was not all smooth sailing for Desjardins, as he gave up…
Great plates: My most memorable meals of 2010
Here they are, the 10 most memorable meals I’ve eaten in Tampa Bay this year (and would gladly go back and order again): Blu Figs Gourmet Lounge in Carrollwood serves a red wine braised short rib which I enjoyed earlier this year. It was a small, fairly simple dish in theory, but executed perfectly and…
Do It This Weekend: Ring in a happy and healthy 2011
Happy New Year, everybody! Some of us will be whooping it up in big style, some in small and intimate gatherings with friends. However you pick your pleasure, please ring in 2011 with fun and safety in mind. Check our comprehensive Auld Lang Syne listings online to find a party that suits you.
Must-click links for Thurs., Dec. 30, 2010: 10 Best films of 2011, “Monster” leaked, Rosie the Riveter, the Dalai Lama and much more …
The IFC Podcast give us part two of its end of the year special. For more, the IFC podcast has archived all 200+ shows for your convenience. Predicting the 10 best films of 2011. The Economist on the legacy of Larry Summers.
Dining Guide: Where to eat and drink along St. Pete Beach
No vacation this year because of funds getting smaller and bills getting bigger? Make the best of the recession, hop on over to one of our great beaches and feel like a tourist in your own backyard. To help you along in your staycation (or day trip), here's a guide to dining and drinking on…
Top 10 Movies of 2010: Kevin Hopp’s list
As we chill the champagne and ready the fireworks for another end of year celebration, I can't help but look back on the year that was. 2010 was rough for moviegoers, with a whole lot of movies that were less than memorable (at best). While I make no claim that my list is definitive (I…
Convivial cocktails and party punches to help ring in the New Year
Though bubbly is the traditional drink on New Year's Eve, why not spice things up a bit and try something new for the occasion? Below are some fun cocktail and party punch recipes I've found, including ones for champagne cocktails. Admiral Russel's Punch (12 Bottle Bar) – Great for a crowd, this one consists mainly…
What is LEED? Funny short video featuring the Queen of England explains it all (video)
Are you still confused about the whole LEED building certification process? Well, you're in luck because Xtranormal has put together this informative little video that covers the basics. It features "Sir Leedington" (who looks an awful lot like Albert Einstein) giving the Queen of England the 411 on LEED standards and certification. It's actually rather…
Do It Today: Reptar at New World, Lightning vs. Canadiens
Once in a while, our esteemed music editor Leilani comes across a band that grabs her attention and is deemed a revelation. This week's defining moment happens courtesy of Reptar. The Athens, Ga., band plays New World tonight with two upstanding locals: energetic Tampa rockers the Beauvilles and Signals From Satellites — all making up a…
Buckhorn calls for City Council to put economic incentive package on the March ballot
Former Tampa City Councilman and now mayoral candidate Bob Buckhorn is calling on his former colleagues to do him a solid: place an initiative on the March ballot would create tax incentives to bring in more high tech companies to the Tampa region. And Buckhorn says if the council opts not to put in on…
Stinging grand jury should compel GOP lawmakers to act, but will they? Plus new WMNF programming changes, and CL to host Tampa Mayoral debate:Mitch Perry Report 12.30-31.10
Hello everybody, and welcome to the last Mitch Perry Report for 2010. It starts with local media news, where WMNF radio, Tampa Bay's community radio station for over 30 years, will begin broadcasting its new programming schedule on the public next Monday, and includes this reporter returning back on the airwaves once a week. We're…
State grand jury says Legislature should impose tougher penalties to crack down on public corruption. But will it?
Pardon my cynicism as 2010 fades away, but if a grand jury report recommends that public officials in Florida now should be held to a higher standard, and those same public officials all hail from the same political party currently in power receives that report, does it really matter? On Wednesday, that grand jury, which…
WMNF programming changes for 2011 include CL’s political editor
Over the holidays Tampa's community radio station, WMNF 88.5 FM, announced some major programming changes beginning early in the new year — actually in just a few days. (And let me say right at the top that I will be part of this new scheduling change. More on that later in this post). Troubled by…
Creative Loafing to host Tampa mayoral debate February 10
In just a little over two months, Tampa voters will go to the polls to elect a new mayor. Creative Loafing intends to do its part to inform voters on the issues by hosting a debate with all of the candidates on Thursday night, February 10, at CL's Ybor City headquarters. The debate will take…
Top 10 2010: Restaurant renaissance? The top 10 new restaurants of 2010 (in no particular order)
I admit it — I have been pessimistic about the Bay area restaurant scene in the past. Not any more. This year’s crop of new and interesting restaurants, powered by exciting chefs, has me singing a different end-of-the-year tune. For the first time in a long while — and amidst a glacial climb out of…
Excellent companies
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…
Star quality
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…
Restaurant renaissance?
I admit it — I have been pessimistic about the Bay area restaurant scene in the past. Not any more. This year's crop of new and interesting restaurants, powered by exciting chefs, has me singing a different end-of-the-year tune. For the first time in a long while — and amidst a glacial climb out of…
Moments in time
In a year where even the best movies weren't perfect, it was all about the individual moments for me. For more traditional lists of the year's best films, check out cltampa.com/arts. For now, here's my 10 best movie moments from 2010: The forever-spinning top: InceptionIs Leo dreaming? Is he in limbo? And is this movie…
Live and local: The best in live music for 2010.
Witnessing as Candy Bars returned from a long break and performed with cool and compelling force at the Homemade Music Showcase; chowing down on barbeque 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…
Great plates: My most memorable meals of 2010.
Here they are, the 10 most memorable meals I've eaten in Tampa Bay this year (and would gladly go back and order again): Blu Figs Gourmet Lounge in Carrollwood serves a red wine braised short rib which I enjoyed earlier this year. It was a small, fairly simple dish in theory, but executed perfectly and…
I love you, now stop it
I really need some help and comfort. I am a straight 25-year-old woman, and I've been dating my boyfriend for four years. I have never been the romantic type, until I met him. At the beginning, we were purely sexual. We love role-playing, and we always came up with erotic fantasies of me being fucked…
The state we’re in: Ten key 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. Kendrick Meek's lack of respect from Democratic voters The former Miami congressman was never taken seriously in 2010, and for that the Florida Democratic party must take blame/credit. When Meek quickly earned endorsements from some…
Binge thinking: The official trademarked league-approved SportsBinge Top 10 List of 2010.
Lists! What kind of half-assed journalist would I be if I didn't cram my own personal top 10 list down your gullet before the apple drops and you tongue-kiss a stranger? The sissy communist kind, that's what. Presenting the Top 10 thought-provoking sports stories of the year 2010 according to me (catchy, huh?). LeBron screws…
CL Music Team Top 10 albums of 2010 roundup (with audio)
Yesterday, I revealed my Top 10 favorite albums of 2010. But I don't do this alone, people, and it wouldn't do this blog justice if I didn't also present our readers with the top picks from some of the music aficionados who make up my fabulous team of contributors. Here they are, with some audio…
Food fireworks: Turkey in a deep fryer, Mentos and Diet Coke and more gastronomic explosions
This Friday, thousands of Americans all across the country will celebrate the start of a new year by blowing something up. Fireworks are as synonymous with New Year’s Eve as champagne toasts and hangovers the morning after. In celebration of the New Year, the following article describes ways to, whether by accident or on purpose,…
Why Vinyl Fever’s demise is bad for Tampa rock music enthusiasts
It was less than 3 weeks ago in our special music issue that I wrote about how local record stores in the Tampa Bay area were maintaining their viability in the midst of a changing business model, as iTunes and other file sharing websites have revolutionized how people purchase music over the past decade. One…
The Green Community week in review: ‘Greenest’ gaming console, car that runs on air and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: Tips to help conserve energy and resources for a greener holiday – The holiday season is a time of the year when the most energy and resources are used, but also gives us many opportunities…
Tonight’s Top Chef All-Stars preview: Look Ma, no utensils!
It's a holiday-themed Top Chef All-Stars tonight! For their Quickfire Challenge, the chefs must create a holiday stuffing dish without their utensils. That means no knives, spoons, whisks, etc. Needless to say, it gets pretty interesting. Fabio teaches us yet another guerrilla-style prep tactic this week when he uses the storage rack as a grater.…
Out of answers: Rays fall to Yankees 7-8 in extras
As my fellow CL Sports guy Pat Donovan tweeted last night, “For the love of baseball, could any 2 games be any more different than last night's and tonight's?” Indeed, the back-to-back outings were as different as Florida Gator fans and personal hygiene. Monday night’s game saw the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees…
Harry Cohen discusses why he wants to serve on the Tampa City Council
In 2008, the Florida Legislature voted to vastly cut funding to the various Clerks of the Courts offices throughout Florida. As the #2 person behind Pat Frank in Hillsborough's office, Harry Cohen said he learned then and there what it takes to find a way for a government agency to do the same amount of…
Kottkamp’s travel budget just another reason why Lieutenant Gov. position should be scrapped
Not only is this the last day of the Charlie Crist administration, but also that of Jeff Kottkamp's tenure as Lieutenant Governor, an event that will be mourned by Florida political reporters, from whom he has given much over the past four years. But how many others can say the same, from any Lieutenant Governor…
