How Sundance changed my life, by Matt Went
I will never be the same person again. Sundance marked a transition in my life, and there is no turning back. I cannot escape the vortex which I have fallen into. That vortex, being, of course, film. I have always liked movies (I rarely ever saw one I did not like) but never realized that…
Caramelized onions with less work
MMMM…Caramelized onions, sweet like candy. Ok, so maybe not candy, cause I know I don't crave caramelized onions when I am P.M.S 'ing. But they are sweet as far as onions go. I used to have an aversion to cooking them. I suppose I burned them one too many times. They require pot stalking. Its…
7 Sludge Rock songs that put some hair on your chest
I woke up with a bug this morning. Something heavy. Something fuzzy. Something hazy. None of the pop-tinged alternative in my music collection seem to satiate this thirst. Then I stumbled upon these Sludge Rock gems. Sludge Rock (aka Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Heavy Metal) is a down-tuned, thicker-than-molasses branch of heavy metal that focuses on…
Ron Asheton, Stooges guitarist, R.I.P.
Ron Asheton, the legendary guitarist for The Stooges, has passed away. There really isn't much more that needs to be said. Ron was a guitar god in the eyes of those who had rejected the conventional, mainstream guitar gods (Clapton, Hendrix, Page, ect).
A mostly contemporary anti-war playlist
For reasons abstractly philosophic, pragmatically political and deeply personal, I'm feeling pretty anti-war these days. If you're with me, here are my recommendations for a mostly contemporary anti-war playlist. (If you can think of anything worth hearing that I've ommitted, let me know. I'm always hungry for new tunes.) Rise Against, Hero of War: When I heard this simple and…
Another one jumps ship
Yesterday, the big news was that Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was leaving the band. His departure announcement overshadowed that of another — Reed Mathis (pictured), founding member of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, who's leaving his post as bassist of JFJO to explore new horizons of improvisation. From the JFJO website: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is…
Roasted cauliflower with garam masala and nine other cauliflower recipes
At the farmers' market this week I found huge heads of an odd cauliflower cultivar, the underside tinged purple and the florets tiered instead of a smooth dome. It was gorgeous, fresh from the Punta Gorda soil and carried tasted of that mild, vegetal spice that make this veggie one of my favorites. I bought…
Another ‘Sound’ artist.
BBC continues its 'Sound of 2009' series — which spotlights the hottest up-and-coming talent for the New Year — with its fourth selection, Empire of the Sun. The name should tell you something about the band, an Australian electro-pop duo who does the I'm-taking-myself-so-seriously-it's-not-serious-anymore schtick ala Gil Mantera's Party Dream complete with outrageous costumes and…
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, Jan. 8-10
Martha Whittington, “Nonpareils” (detail), sewn vinyl, 2008. Courtesy C. Emerson Fine Arts. Truly an insane amount of great art to see this weekend. Please leave a comment if you'd like to have your event included and it's not here. Unless otherwise noted, events are generally free. Thursday 4-6 p.m. – Symposium featuring the artists of…
iTunes goes DRM-free (finally)
I've been keeping an eye on the keynote address going on right now at Apple's Macworld conference. After a pretty uninspiring show (upgraded software, one new laptop, almost no surprises), new keynote MC Phil Schiller revealed that Apple's iTunes Music Store is dumping the annoying copy protection scheme, Fairplay DRM. Basically, this means that when…
Group wants to turn Obama into a farmer with White House Garden petition
TheWhoFarm is a grassroots initiative started to get Obama's hands dirty by encouraging the new administration to plant an organic garden on the White House grounds. It's a great idea that's found a lot of traction among the usual crew of progressive food policy advocates, like Michael Pollan. The founders have been promoting the plan…
Flapjackgate! Obama admits accepting free food!
Check, Please! is an 8 year old television restaurant review show from WTTW in Chicago. Makes sense that, among the celeb guests they've had over the years there'd be one featuring a charismatic young senator from Illinios. Sort of. In 2001 the show filmed an episode with Barack Obama, but never aired it. Is this…
The Short List: Apple’s Macworld without Steve Jobs
Today is the keynote address at the Macworld Conference & Expo, an annual Apple-centric trade show. CEO Steve Jobs normally gives the big speech, during which he takes the wraps off Apple's latest shiny thing (iPhone, iPod, etc.), but this year Steve is a no-show. Speculation about Jobs' health has become so rampant that the…
La Roux makes the ‘Sound.’
BBC Entertainment News named the first artist featured in its “BBC Sound of 2009” countdown series: Roux, the stage name/alter ego of 20-year-old fiery-haired electro-pop songstress Elly Jackson (pictured) and her behind-the-scenes production partner Ben Langmaid. The latest sassy lass to emerge from London sets her perfectly pop vocals against heavily synthesized beats that are…
Lights On Tampa: Silver balls, silver balls…
If you're in the vicinity of the Tampa Convention Center tonight, you may feel the urge to boogie-oogie-oogie. That's one potential effect of the rotating mirror balls that artist Chris Doyle has hung from the Center and from nearby palm trees for Lights On Tampa 2009. He's doing a test run tonight; his installation and…
Critic as playwright: Oops, we lost another actor
With only two weeks before the staged reading of my play A River in the Desert at Gorilla Theatre, we've had to make some quick personnel shifts. First Michael O. Smith, who'd agreed to play one of the two leads, had to pull out because he had too many other commitments. We asked another fine…
Lights On Tampa: Testing, testing…
If you're in the vicinity of the Tampa Convention Center tonight, you may feel a sudden urge to boogie-oogie-oogie. That's one potential effect of being bathed in the light of the rotating mirror balls artist Chris Doyle has hung from the Center and nearby palm trees as part of Ecstatic City, his installation for Lights…
Eat your words — 5 easy ways to keep a green tongue in ’09
Last week, US News and World Report green blogger Mara Judkis came out with this list of ways to make your food consumption more planet-friendly in the coming year. Think you don't have the time to transform yourself into a green eater? You're wrong. Again. Even if you take out the time consuming options —…
Hungry Housewife oven-baked potatoes
We don't eat spuds that often in my house, quite frankly because my hips don't like them. I have food willpower issues, so I just avoid them like the plague! But on the rare occasion that I do make them, I don't want mashed (even though I make MEAN mashed potatoes) and I don't want…
Our own Hungry Housewife in St. Pete Times’ “Nine to Watch in ’09”
Yep, new CL contributor and recipe maven Leslie Green — the Hungry Housewife — has been picked as one of nine Bay area folks to watch this year by the St. Pete Times. Check out her photo (it's number three in the series) and click on "caption" to read her story. Or you can read…
The Short List: Mr. Obama goes to Washington
Thinking of doing some investing in 2009? Here's some predictions from Bloomberg TV for what's in store in the year ahead. Israel gets its war on in Gaza. A "choked up" Obama heads for Washington. Tax credits for everyone! Bill Richardson withdraws as Obama's Commerce secretary citing his being investigated back home in New Mexico.…
A Reason to Rock at Jannus Landing on January 10 2009
A Reason to Rock 2 A benefit concert for Parkinson's reasearch Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL Saturday January 10, 2009 Bands: Chris McCarty Band, Radio Reset, Soulfound, The Prospect All Ages | $20 at Door | Meet and greet at 6:00p | Doors at 7:00p
Recurrent Radon and Lemuria, a Transitions show
Though naturally occuring, radon in the building world can be a big problem. Luckily in the music world recurrent Radon means rejoicing. Radon version 1.0 was a stalwart of the Florida scene in the 90s. Since reforming they have put out a new record on No Idea Records and have been out playing shows including Fest. Sadly, this…
Have Gun, Will Travel does it again.
Have Gun, Will Travel performing at New World Brewery Sat., Dec. 27. After the Radon show , I skedaddled over to New World Brewery just in time to catch Have Gun, Will Travel in another fine Thx Mgmt-hosted bill. HGWT is consistently one of my favorite live acts because they continue to innovate each time I see…
Keep Audio Fit with Rec Center and Geri X
Rec Center performs at New World Brewery In Commonwealth countries, the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day where everyone commonly gathered together and celebrated in various ways including when I lived in Dublin seeing Mummers perform. In Tampa, sadly we don't have Mummers but thanks to THX MGMT we were treated to a great…
Meet decaffeinated Lorna
Coffee, like written language, is a vital and definitive element of human civilization. From the foxholes of Bastogne during WWII to the Starbucks that stood for seven years in China's 587-year-old imperial palace, wherever there are people, there is coffee nearby. According to legend, 9th Century Ethiopian shepherds were the first to observe coffee's benevolent…
Reel Projections, what to watch for in 2009
UPDATED 8/9/19 11:52 p.m. As today is my last here at the Loaf, (you can reach me at [removed]) this may well be my final Reel Projections (I know, boo fucking hoo, the end of an era). But rather than cry in my beer (which I really don't like to drink these days, anyway, and…
The Short List: Kathy Griffin says “dick” live on CNN
Happy new year one day late. To celebrate the '09, here's a little clip from CNN's NYE coverage featuring Kathy Griffin, an open mike and off-color hilarity. Links after the jump …
Do you have a Zune 30gig MP3 player?
So, you thought you were going to be cooler than your iPod worshiping friends and buy a Zune? Well, if you bought a Zune 30gig you are SOFL right now.
Start the New Year with a jazz starter kit
A couple of weeks ago, my brother in Seattle called and asked if I could recommend a few jazz CDs for his 20-year-old son who had expressed an interest. A starter kit, if you will. I’ve had like requests many, many times over the years, and so it dawned on me: Why not publish one?…
The New York Times food section round up
Florence Fabricant discusses how Sherry's bitter half is gaining exposure. (Read more about Sherry here). Tara Parker-Pope lists 20 healthy foods that cost under $1. Kerri Conan tells a tale of two snacks, featuring flatbread with leeks, pears and blue cheese. The Times staff investigates Champagne. Mark Bittman offers up 101 simple appetizers prepared in…
Reel Projections, Wednesday December 31
The wait is over. Joe and I return to the studio for our fourth Reel Projections podcast, 20 minutes of windbagging about the best films of the year (most of which we didn't see), the biggest moneymakers and my utter lack of preparation for the show. Special Listener Bonus: another appearance by singer/songwriter Clint Eastwood.…
New Years music offerings all over the Bay.
Want to toast the New Year with local denizen while enjoying some sort of live music? The following is a list of shows taking place all over in bars, concert clubs, pubs, PACs, and other various venues. Nervous Turkey at Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa, 813-251-2748. Sister Hazel at Jannus Landing, 16…
The Short List: Goodbye 2008!
Last day of the year. Why not end it with one final look back at the 2008 presidential election, as seen through the all-seeing eye of YouTube? Be back in 2009! Links after the jump.
WMNF Tribute to the music of 1968
The idea for WMNF's next tribute show started with a friendly argument. "Last year, [station program director] Randy Wynne did a special on the Sixties Show making the case that 1967 was the greatest year ever in rock 'n' roll," says WMNF music director Lee "Flee" Courtney. "Then a week later the folks from the…
Music: The Ira Sullivan Quartet
Tampa Jazz Club welcomes multi-instrumentalist bebopper Ira Sullivan for an afternoon show at the historic Springs Theater. Sullivan is known for his ability to improvise on all the instruments he uses – trumpet, flute, alto, soprano and tenor saxophone – and was apparently a leading artist in the 1950s Chicago hard-bop scene. He’s joined by…
Is Yellowstone Park sitting on a supervolcano that’s about to blow?
My friend Melanie loves to watch the Discovery Channel and share what she has watched with others. The problem is she can never get the story straight. Her latest tale is about Yellowstone Park sitting on top of a supervolcano that has been dormant for 6,000-ish years. She said the supervolcano is starting to show…
Obama, Blagojevich and the wisdom of Kipling
If you can dream — and not make dreams your master; If you can think — and not make thought your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap…
Classical Musi/Performance: The Florida Orchestra presents Petrusha with Puppets
It’s not only an all-Russian program (beautiful enough as that is) but The Florida Orchestra is teaming up with Bits N’ Pieces Puppet Theatre for a unique presentation of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka (1911). The story is about a puppet that comes to life to experience all its joys and terrors, so it should make…
USF and TGH have something in common: Good art collections
As the opening for the University of South Florida's new Marshall Student Center loomed, Tampa architect John Curran knew he had one last thing to take care of. To complement the voluminous building's snazzy green-and-gold terrazzo floors and sleek, contemporary furniture, the Marshall Student Center's designer needed some artwork. Something that would say "USF!" Say,…
Is gay marriage wrong?
As a political issue, that is? One LGBT advocate says yes
Dine on food news at The Daily Loaf
If you read Creative Loafing's website, or peruse our Daily Loaf mega-blog, you might have virtually met some of the exciting people we've recently brought on board. From home cooks to restaurant insiders, we've assembled a wide array of cool food and drink folk to give you the skinny on our local and national food…
The best films of 2008
Genre entertainments invariably rake in more money than heavyweight film dramas — that's what they're made for. The striking thing about 2008 wasn't just that the popcorn movies had more explosions and sight gags, but that they had more to say than the theoretically more substantial films. Movies about monsters, robots and caped crusaders seemed…
Theater: Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Steve Martin made his mark as A Wild and Crazy Guy, but a more accurate nickname would be the “Wild and Brainy Guy.” Both his comic-anarchic streak and his taste for philosophical conundrums inform his inventive 1996 comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile, a play that tends to inspire reviews with lots of “z” words…
Special Events: 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration
USF kicks off its 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration, a week of events honoring the late Civil Rights leader and leading up to the MLK holiday. Today’s musical prelude and interpretive tribute, “Move the Dream, Move the Mountain,” features USF students (under the direction of USF Associate Dance Professor Fanni Green)…
Special Events: USF Talk of the Arts presents Bill Irwin
Anyone who’s ever seen a performance by the amazing Bill Irwin has wondered, “How does he do that?” Thing is, the question could apply to any number of seemingly impossible feats the chameleonic actor/clown/choreographer/playwright is capable of. Like, how does he do that thing where his legs get all rubbery? (And his face, for that…
Art: I Love St. Pete Art Show
I was a longtime local jaded by my town when I found myself forced to take some classes at USF in St. Petersburg. The campus was right on the water and surrounded by a small but thriving downtown area full of laid-back, friendly folks. I fell in love, irresistibly charmed by the city’s community feel,…
The future is now
Sure, we've had to cut our edit staff down a bit. But that doesn't mean we're left without resources. As we enter the new year, when predictions are the go-to option for media everywhere, we turn to a professional in the field: "psychic intuitive" Sherry Lord. A recent transplant to the Sarasota area, she travels…
Bad manners and the battle of the sexes
Savage Love My girlfriend of seven years has disgusting manners. She eats loudly with her mouth open, farts and belches incessantly, snorts instead of blows her nose, and so on. I used to find it refreshing to be with a girl who was so uninhibited. But now it is getting on my nerves, and it's…
Art: Evidence, Not Proof
HCC Ybor Art Gallery kicks off its '09 art season with Evidence, Not Proof. This collaborative exhibit features film and photo artist David Audet, who displays photos essays that trace his relationship with his camera via images of his travels in Europe in the ‘70s through recent expeditions to Cuba, Maine and the American Southwest;…
St. Pete homeless man beaten near City Hall
On most days, William Shumate spends his time in St. Petersburg's Williams Park. "Pops," as St. Pete's homeless community knows him, has no job. The white-bearded Vietnam veteran injured himself years ago while working as an engineer. At 60 and disabled, he doesn't get jobs easily, so he keeps himself busy by fixing other homeless…
Dance: An Evening of Contemporary Dance
Moving Current Dance Collective presents An Evening of Contemporary Dance. Artistic directors Cynthia Hennessy and Erin Cardinal debut new and re-staged works alongside those of invited guests artists: Kristin O’Neal, whose program about the power of imagination is driven by the 1930 and ‘40s radio news flashes and iconic musical voices; and Jeanne Travers, who…
A&E Events
DECEMBER Wednesday, Dec. 31 Nervous Turkey (Yeoman's Road Pub, Tampa) Wednesday, Dec. 31 Rewind: The WMNF Tribute to the Music and Songs of 1968 w/ Boon/Christie Lenee/Crabgrass Cowboys/Ted Lukas/Johnny Zoom/Lush Progress/Midnight Bowler’s League/Rancid Polecats/Roppongi’s Ace/Talk to Mark WMNF’s Flee strays from his typical tribute show tradition of having a diverse lineup of local acts honor…
Lowry Park Zoo advocates warned of mismanagement
The last seven months have been one of the worst periods in Lowry Park Zoo's history. First, reporters discovered Lowry Park CEO Lex Salisbury's use of zoo personnel and resources for personal gain. Then revelations about dead zoo animals at Salisbury's Dade City ranch leaked out. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums revoked Lowry Park's…
Film: Tampa Film Review Finale
After five years of hosting their own once-a-month local indie film showcase, Best of the Bay award winners and Tampa Film Review brothers Pete and Paul Guzzo are calling it quits. The Tampa Film Review Finale moves to the Italian Club and includes the best of the best short films produced here by Tampa filmmakers…
Art/Special Events: Cirque du Surreal
Gulf Coast Artists' Alliance stages its second annual fundraiser, Cirque du Surreal, an extravaganza of surreality spanning across disciplines. Dedicated to late St. Petersburg artist Jack Barrett and inspired by his surreal circus-themed paintings, the main component is an exhibit of works by GCAA member artists and friends at Salt Creek Artworks, where some of…
Jim Hall & Bill Frisell: Hemispheres
This is prostrate-on-the-couch, block-out-all-distractions, listen-through-a-good-sound-system music. Guitarists Jim Hall, 78, and Bill Frisell, 57, comprise a mutual admiration society, and this two-CD set represents their first long-form collaboration. Hemispheres is ultra-sensitive, and at times almost unbearably subtle, but considerable rewards await the patient and attentive listener. Disc One is a series of duets, recorded at…
Theater: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Crossword geeks, Scrabble nerds and wordsmiths of every ilk unite for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony-winning musical comedy where six awkward “adolescents” take to the stage for the ultimate spelldown. The show is lauded for its inspired use of audience participation, which creates an intimate and unique performance each night and…
Taylor Eason’s tips for avoiding a hangover
At this moment, I'm struggling with a massive hangover, tasked with writing about my current nemesis — alcohol. My stomach gurgles, my head flounders, and I was 2 pounds lighter this morning due to dehydration. And it's a Monday. In one of those sleepless "what was I thinking" moments at 4 a.m., I rolled over,…
Heard of Jamaican stout? Let this otter introduce you.
Otter Creek Otter MonJamaican Style StoutVermont, ABV ? I feel compelled to experience all the goodness beer has to offer, from near ethereal to utter schlock. I tend to seek out vintage, extreme, or limited brews; the fleeting moments of beer-making. Enter the Otter Creek World Tour, a series of one time releases from Otter…
