Ask Dream Momma: a hero in the making
“Dream Momma, I dreamed I was at a water park that had been converted into the park from an old zoo. We were playing in what had beenthe elephant exhibit when I heard a loud noise and started yelling to everyone to get out because there was still an elephant there and it would be…
Poli want a cookie?: The Tampa Mayoral race “cookie campaign”
It’s cookie season! No, I’m not referring to the overpriced ones sold by uniformed little girls — this cookie campaign is a little more political. I first spotted them at the Tampa mayoral debate we hosted here at CL Space a few weeks ago: large cookies with candidates’ names on them, each frosted with the…
CL Feature: Those Darlins, a Tennessee garage pop-punkabilly foursome that opens for Old 97’s next Wednesday at Skipper’s Smokehouse (with video)
Jessi, Kelley and Nikki “Darlin” have covered some rather impressive ground in the four years they’ve been active as Those Darlins, from jamming retro country tunes on the front porch of a shack they once shared, to premiering a video for their own twang-punk number on Spin.com earlier this month. [Photo credit: Veta & Theo.]…
Why Lebowski Fest makes Tampa seem suddenly cooler
The soiree got hopping some time after sundown. The White Russians were flowing; Creedence was blaring. It was my job to answer the door. Wearing thrift store stilettos and a cheap white nightie, I intoned, “You must be here to fix the cable” to all who arrived. Many were bathrobe-clad. The more savvy of the…
Florida Legislature to put TABOR on the ballot next year?
On Wednesday, the Senate Budget Committee in Tallahassee passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask voters to put a new revenue cap in the state Constitution, a measure sponsored by Fort Lauderdale GOP state Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff. The so called TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) legislation has only been approved in one other state -…
Restaurant News: Peg’s Cantina in Gulfport offers new farm-to-table menu
Peg's Cantina in Gulfport may be known for their homey Mexican fare and hand-crafted brews, but as of this evening they're putting a more sustainable spin on their menu — offering dishes with locally-sourced ingredients. Chef Joe Voller has taken over Peg's kitchen to create rotating weekly 'farm-to-table' menus that consist of local, seasonal, sustainable…
Must-click links: Libya in chaos, The Simpsons nail the Oscars, Mel Gibson in Vanity Fair, Franco’s Private Idaho and more …
Scientific American: Why are Americans so ill-informed on the topic of Climate Change? Al Jazeera: Gaddafi loosing more Libyan cities. Vanity Fair profiles the eternal rudeness of Mel Gibson. Frontline debuts a one hour special on the revolution in Egypt, which you can watch it in its entirety here.
CD review: G. Love, Fixin’ To Die
Since he’s most famous for his stylistic fusion of blues licks, bellowing harmonica, and hip-hop lyrical delivery prevalent on more than a handful of his records, it’s easy for listeners to forget that in order to make the blues his own, Garrett Dutton had to fully immerse himself in all of the genre’s ghosts and…
HART poised to give Tampa voters free rides on Election Day
You might recall last fall when HART announced that, as a way to encourage Hillsborough County voters to get off their keisters and actually participate in American democracy, they would offer free rides to customers with a valid voter registration card on Election Day. But Tea Party activists and others were angry upon hearing that…
Congress kicks back as countdown to government running out of money nears
Marco Rubio made a triumphant return to the state Capitol on Wednesday when he addressed the House Republican Caucus on the country's debt problems. He was hailed by some of his former colleagues as the returning hero, but his appearance leads to a searching question: why the heck was he in Tallahassee, and not in…
On the Radar: Nude Nite
You don’t have to take your clothes off to have a good time – but others will – at Nude Nite March 3-5, an event organizers claim it to be the largest nude art event in the U.S. The annual exposé of art and entertainment transforms the 16,000-square-foot Trolley Barn space – a former industrial…
New York Magazine loves St. Pete: Travel story sings area’s praises
It's been a pretty terrible week for St. Petersburg, with the murder of another police officer attracting unwelcome national attention and leaving residents wondering what's going on with their town. So it's at least a small comfort that the things we usually boast about — the culture, the restaurants, the weather — can still get…
Dude outtakes: More words of wisdom from the Creative Loafing interview with real-life “Dude” Jeff Dowd
Jeff Dowd (pictured right, with Jeff Bridges) is the real-life inspiration behind The Dude in The Big Lebowski. He is visiting Tampa Bay for Lebowski Fest this weekend (Feb. 25-26). Dowd is a philosophical fella who likes to share his ideas and wisdom. The Hollywood movie promoter/producer chatted with CL about a wide variety of…
Lebowski Fest musts: Merch that would make The Dude proud
The Big Lebowski is not a comic strip-inspired movie, nor is it a sci-fi film or a Kevin Smith vehicle. But you can go online, or to any number of fan fests and Comic Con-type conventions, and find the same amount of Lebowski-inspired merch as you would for those geek-a-riffic cult genres. Why? It's really…
The Dude abides: Jeff Dowd, the inspiration behind the The Big Lebowski’s lovable lead, comes to Tampa for Lebowski Fest Feb. 25-26
During the scripted intro of 1998’s The Big Lebowski, cowboy narrator Sam Elliott proclaims with a slow drawl: “He is the Dude. His rumpled look and relaxed manner suggest a man in whom casualness runs deep.” The prophetic line doesn’t just speak volumes about the film’s lead character. It also describes the real-life Dude, Jeff…
Iowa high school wrestler defaulted to a girl, but the story is not that simple
High school wrestling, long a subject of personal interest that only makes sporadic headlines down here in Florida, got national attention last week after an Iowa wrestler refused to face his first opponent in the state tournament. The reason? His opponent was a girl. Joel Northrup, a sophomore with a 35-4 record going into the…
Need help with your spring cleaning? Friends of Gulfport Library can help
This season, while cleaning out the garage, the attic, or your bookshelves, set aside your gently used books, movies and music and donate them to Friends of the Gulfport Library. Donations must be in good condition. Because books, movies and music will be purchased by others to read in their homes, the organization accepts only…
Concert review: Fresh Grounds Tour with Iration and Ballyhoo! kicks off Florida’s springtime vibe at Jannus Live, St. Petersburg (with photos & video)
“Cuz it’s a full moon — whoa, oh oh / Tell sobriety that she’s / She’s about to meet her doom / Under this full moon — whoa oh oh / Kegs are glistening and I / Fear my heart just skipped a beat — whoa oh oh / Cuz this alcohol looks beautiful tonight.”…
Reduce greenhouse gases by eating insects?
Instead of shooing away or squashing those pesky bugs around your home, you could be collecting them as a "greener" food source. Other countries have been engaging in entomophagy (a fancy word for "eating bugs") for centuries: — caterpillars, larvae, grasshopper and crickets are popular food sources in parts of Africa, Japan and Mexico. Insects…
St. Pete Police get their man in police shooting; Michael Ciftci disputes parts of St. Pete Times story, and the candidates for Tampa debate for one of the last times of the season: Mitch Perry Report 2.23.11
It's been a busy 24 hours in the Tampa Bay area. First and foremost of course is the capture of a suspect in the killing of St. Pete Police Officer David S. Crawford by St. Petersburg Police last night. You can read about that here, and also our take on if we can start getting…
In wake of latest St. Pete police shooting, can we at least talk about gun control measures?
Tampa Bay area citizens awoke this morning to read in their local papers or view or hear broadcast reports that St. Pete Police arrested 16-year-old Nicholas Lemmon Lindsey, who reportedly has admitted to shooting officer David S. Crawford Monday night. Local media have already "flooded the zone" as former New York Times editor Howell Raines…
Tampa Bay food and drink events
Wednesday, February 23: O'Bistro O’Bistro has planned a magnificent evening with scrumptious cuisine and flavor-packed Zonin Italian wines at this dinner to benefit The Abilities Foundation. 13 Zonin Italian wines will be served with a cocktail reception and three-course dinner. Proceeds support job placement services for disabled veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.…
The Gaily News: Target teams with Lady Gaga for better LGBT relations, Wainwright’s first child, Rosie back on the market, Creation Museum kicks out a gay couple and more
After much backlash from gay activists and liberal groups over its donating money to a gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota who opposed same-sex marriage, Target has changed its policy regarding political spending. This comes after the company announced a partnership with Lady Gaga to release an exclusive edition of her pro-gay "Born This Way" album. Gaga claimed in a recent interview…
Tampa mayoral candidates engage in one of the last forums of the campaign
In less than a week we'll know who the two candidates will be in the run-off for Tampa mayor. That made last night's North Tampa forum at the Forest Hills Recreation Center special, in that after six weeks of intense campaigning, the "fab five" will soon be reduced to the top two. The forum had…
Do It Today: Zonin Dinner for Abilities, Butch Thomas and Acho Brother/BBQ at New World
One of the bay area's best non-profits gets some mighty fine assistance by way of the Zonin Italian Wine Dinner to Benefit Abilities this evening. O’Bistro, a longstanding Abilities partner, has planned an evening with cuisine paired with "flavor-packed" Zonin Italian wines. Plated Courses: Primo (first course) — Sarde alla Griglia (grilled sardines with fried capers)…
Deadliest Catch crew washes onshore for a rare public event
The Wizard and the Northwestern as seen on Deadliest Catch Stars of the Discovery Channel documentary series Deadliest Catch will make a rare appearance on land at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on June 25 at 8 p.m. Select members of the cast, including Captain Sig and the Hillstrand Brothers, will entertain guests with behind-the-scenes tales…
Theater Review: Stageworks’ MOMologues long on honesty, short on insight
Hearing the audience roar with laughter at The MOMologues on the evening I saw the performance, you might have thought that the play must be brilliantly witty. But you’d be wrong: What the (mostly) women watching this Stageworks show were clearly laughing at was the accuracy of its many descriptions of the motherhood experience, from the…
He’s a kid: Suspect arrested in officer’s death is 16 years old
Update 5:33 a.m., Wed. 2/23: St. Petersburg Police arrested a suspect last night in the murder of Officer David S. Crawford. Nicholas Lemmon Lindsey reportedly admitted shooting the officer after being taken into custody at 6 p.m. More on the story from the St. Petersburg Times and Bay News 9. Update 5:54 p.m.: A video…
On the Radar: Wayne Brady and Neil Hamburger
Two comedians with completely diverse styles hit the mics this weekend. Wayne Brady started out flexing his improv skills on Drew Carey’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?, was made over into a squeaky clean talk show star for the Emmy-winning Wayne Brady Show, then spent the next few years separating himself from his G-rated image,…
Biofuel from beer? Turning brewing waste into natural gas
One man has learned how to utilize the organic waste byproducts from the brewing process to create a natural gas. Eric Fitch, CEO of PurposeEnergy Inc., has created an anaerobic methane digester that "recycles" the used hops, barley and yeast that is used to make beer by harnessing the methane gas they emit to help…
Michael Ciftci reacts to St. Pete Times story — and the Times responds back
On Sunday the St. Petersburg Times wrote a blistering story on District 3 Tampa City Council candidate Michael Ciftci and his group, United for a Sustainable America (UFSA), which received $100,000 in state funds to build 50 homes in Haiti and create 150 jobs — half to go to Floridians. The story by Times reporter…
Gulf oil spill researcher finds dead sea life and plenty of oil still on sea floor
On Saturday, marine scientist Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia unveiled her research regarding the remaining oil from last year's horrific spill that is still stuck to the floor of the Gulf of Mexico at a science conference in Washington. Her findings: there's still a huge amount of oil, it is not degrading and…
New music releases out this Tuesday, February 22: Rachel Goodrich, Adele, Johnny Cash, Loch Lomond, Toro Y Moi, John Waite, and more (with audio & video)
More new music! Yay!! Check out all of the ones you want to know about (some with audio, some with video) below. Click here to check out new music releases that dropped last week and here for new releases that have come out in the past several months… , 21 (Columbia / XL Recordings) The…
A festival of gastronomical proportions: MOSI’s Einstein on Food and Wine – Saturday, February 26th
I'm not sure what Einstein has to do with any of it, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that good food and copious amounts of wine equal one good time. MOSI’s Einstein on Food & Wine event will feature 70 vintners with a variety of wines on hand, everything from reds, whites,…
Concert review: Outlaw father and son Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson take over Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater (update: with photos!)
For all the disappointments and letdowns that are all too prevalent in music nowadays, it's nice to know that certain artists will never let you down. Living in a time of false idols, auto tune and manufactured overnight sensations, the favorite son of Texas and country music legend Willie Nelson still has plenty left in…
Top 10 household items used as masturbatory aids
In 1902, the first electric vibrator was patented by the American company Hamilton Beach, making the vibrator the fifth domestic appliance to be electrified following the sewing machine, fan, tea kettle, and toaster. In those days, vibrators were not as much sexual aids as medical devices used to relieve female hysteria; doctors often got tired…
St. Pete Police lose another officer; Hillsborough Democrats unveil strategy which they hope will lead to success; and supporters and critics of high-speed rail shout down each other in downtown Tampa: Mitch Perry Report 2.22.11
As we write this (a little before 9 a.m.) the St. Petersburg Police Department is engaged in a massive search for the killer of a St. Petersburg Police officer last night. If you live in St. Pete you don't need to read this to realize what's happening down there this morning — we'll update our…
Theater interview: British director Paul Miller offers a fresh approach to the USF production of Othello
I spoke with Veteran London director, Paul Miller, who is guest directing at the USF Theater and Dance Department as part of the British International Theatre (BRIT) program. He and a British theater group. Frantic Assembly, will focus two very different lenses on Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello. Frantic Assembly, one of England’s premier physical theater companies,…
Learning Gate Community School EcoFest 2011 – Saturday, April 2nd
Learning Gate Community School has announced that their upcoming EcoFest will be held on Saturday, April 2nd. It will be a fun-filled and educational day dedicated to the principles of sustainability: ecology, equity and economy. Located on the grounds of the school, the event will encompass everything from rainwater harvest, solar energy, alternative healing, drum…
Affordable Italian bubbly for any celebration (even if you’re just celebrating a Tuesday)
For an activity that brings so much pleasure, drinking wine has an awful lot of rules. Red wine with beef or pork, but not with fish. No white wine after Labor Day. Okay, I made that last one up, but you know what I mean. One of the goofier wine "guidelines" is drinking Champagne only…
Hillsborough Democrats release their plan for success in 2012 and beyond
The Hillsborough County Democratic party had a brutal 2010, losing every competitive race for state and local office. The futility of the party was never more apparent than in state Senate district 12, where the disgraced Jim Norman was able to survive the embarrassing (and possibly illegal) financial gift from the late Ralph Hughes, mainly…
AltDotPop: Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson back on, Lady Gaga dressed like condom for AIDS, Billy Ray hates Disney and more
That new Twilight movie better hit theaters soon, because R. Patz is really starting to look like a douche. An MTV Letterman Jacket? #WannabeHipster Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson had a sleepover this week….awwww. Maybe they were just getting their friendship back on track with some snuggle time and a Grey's Anatomy marathon or maybe…
“Not again…”: St. Petersburg police officer shot and killed near downtown
Many of us who live near downtown St. Petersburg awoke early this morning to flashlights and copters, as SWAT teams searched our front porches and back yards for the suspect who killed police officer David S. Crawford around 10:30 p.m. last night. According to published reports, Officer Crawford was shot near Eighth Street and Third…
Do It Today: The Othello Project at USF and Tampa Bay Comedy Fest film premiere
Shakespeare's dramas stand tall on their own, but it is fascinating when performers and directors give us new perspectives on the Bard, and, in turn, the theater medium itself. Such is the case with the USF theater and dance departments, who bring us the fruits of their collaboration with members of the British International Theatre…
Campaign to try to reduce sports-related concussions in Florida begins this week
The suicidal shooting by former New York Giant and Chicago Bear safety Dave Duerson in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida last week has led to new concerns about his experience with brain trauma from his playing days in the NFL, a growing concern with everyone in the game. The New York Times reported in Monday's editions…
Review: Got Jokes? All-Stars (mostly) entertains
When I was in high school and college, I was obsessed with Second City, Kids in the Hall, SNL and the whole comedy, sketch, improv shebang. I practiced it, competed in it and even attempted some off-the-cuff character acting and scene-making during during an audition at the Caroline's in New York. My performance — if…
MOSI invites children of all ages to Bug Out at a new interactive exhibit
Harry the Chinese Praying Mantis and his buggy friends have made a stop in Tampa at MOSI for a new exhibit, Harry's Big Adventure: My Bug World! The exhibit showcases the five following environments that serve as natural habitats for many different kinds of insects.
Food & Wine Magazine letting the people decide 2011’s ‘Best New Chef’
This year, Food & Wine Magazine is letting the people decide who deserves the title of 'Best New Chef' in their publication. They're letting folks vote online for the "chef whose restaurant has most significantly stirred your soul and your palate" in Food & Wine's The People's Best New Chef 2011. Voters can choose from…
Must click links, Presidents’ Day edition: Who’s the worst president of them all?, R.I.P. the blogs, Berlin Film Festival, life at the Apple Store and much more …
Salon.com: Who is the worst President of them all? Is it Johnson? Buchanan? W? PBS Video has dozens of amazing documentaries on American Presidents available to watch in their archives. New York Times: Blogs wane as the young drift to Social media. And the winners at this year's Berlin Film Festival are…
Supporters and critics converge in downtown Tampa at Rally For Rail event
Although much of the Tampa Bay political and business class, along with most progressives are outraged at Governor Rick Scott's decision to reject $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money to construct a high speed rail line in Florida, the moved turned on Tea Partiers and others who believe that such a plan is a potential…
EarthTalk: When is high-speed rail coming to America?
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: Vice-President Joe Biden just announced a commitment by the Obama administration of $53 billion to high speed rail. Isn’t it about time? Why…
Got some artsy junk in your trunk? Sell it at Dunedin Fine Art Center March 12
Dunedin Fine Art Center is currently accepting gently used artwork and art-related supplies for the Annual Trashy Treasures Art Sale, the center's popular art garage sale. The sale takes place on Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Drop by your donations to DFAC, Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday…
Top of the hops: Hopslam, Hoptimum and all of the beer hype
There are certain beers that get a lot of attention, whether they deserve it or not. Some are simply "flagship" beers or the unofficial face of the brewery, like New Belgium's Fat Tire. It's a perfectly good beer, but for some reason — maybe due to its unavailability in most of Florida — it has…
High-speed rail supporters say they have a plan they will soon present to Governor Scott
This morning a consortium of local and federal legislators announced that they are working on a proposal to give to Governor Rick Scott within the next day or two. They're looking into a partnership of local governments that would assume responsibility for the high-speed rail project between Tampa to Orlando. "This project will satisfy Governor…
Turanchik airs first campaign ad (video)
Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik is acting more optimistic than ever, claiming that his own surveying of South Tampa early voters on Saturday indicates that 33% of them voted for him. We're not certain about that, but there is no doubt that there does seem to be some momentum in his campaign. Now he's got…
Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay is here to save Tampa’s culturally conscious
As a college student in Tampa who has lived here since I was 16, I understand that this city is often thought of among the younger crowd as… culturally lacking, to put it nicely. Compared with more popular cities like New York or San Francisco, Tampa’s art and culture scene can seem slow-paced and maybe…
High speed rail fans to rally in Tampa; Early voting has begun in Tampa’s mayoral and city council races; and Wisconsin GOP Guv Walker admits he wants to destroy unions:Mitch Perry Report 2.21.11
Happy President's Day to you and yours out there in America today. If you've got the federal holiday off, congrats, I hope you make the most of it. And for the rest of us working stiffs, let's suck it up and make the most of it, shall we? Well, what other choice do you have?…
Former McDonald’s executive to start vegetarian-friendly fast food chain
CEO Mike Roberts, a former president and chief operating officer for McDonald’s restaurants, and founder Stephen Sidwell, an investment banker, recently made an announcement that they aim to start a healthy, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly fast-food chain — much like celebrities Mike Tyson and Eric Johnson (Jessica Simpson's fiance) are currently aiming to do. LYFE ("Love…
Advocates stress they want today’s rally in Tampa to be pro-high speed rail, not a Rick Scott bashing fest
The odds remain slim, extremely slim, that Florida will accept in any way the $2.4 billion that Governor Rick Scott said he didn't want from the feds last week to build a high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando. But a rally to be held today in downtown Tampa will try to keep that slim…
Your INKspiration: What inspired your tattoo?
Whether your tattoo is discreetly hidden below the belt or proudly displayed on your forearm, I bet you have a story behind your body art. Sometimes these stories are long and complicated, and sometimes they're invented after the fact to justify impulsive ink. In any case, your tattoos tell a story about the canvas they're…
Poll shows status quo remains in affect in Tampa Mayoral race 8 days out
Voting has already begun in the Tampa mayoral election. A record amount of absentee ballots has been requested for this municipal election, and on Saturday, the first day of early voting, 821 Tampa voters cast a ballot. Over the weekend the entire political class in Tampa was poised for the first major poll conducted on…
It’s the Monday after Valentine’s. What Would Liquid Jesus Do?
Monday is undoubtedly the most dreaded day of the week. For the working folk, it’s a reminder of just how much stuff they didn’t get done the week before. The unemployed sect wake up every Monday remembering that they still don’t have a job. Last Monday was Valentine’s Day, adding a new level of hurt…
Do It Today: The Unreturned at UT
The University of Tampa will screen The Unreturned, a film about Iraqi refugees at 2:30 p.m. in Reeves Theater on campus. Admission is free. The movie tells the stories of five Iraqis from diverse ethnic backgrounds and religions who are displaced by the ongoing war. It moves back and forth between their daily struggles and…
Lights on Tampa 2011: Photos of the light fantastic
The 2011 Lights on Tampa event happened on Saturday night. The bi-annual event featured several artists using light as an artistic medium. The main event took place in the new Curtis Hixon Park, and other installations were spread throughout the city. See more photos below:
Concert review: Ozzy Osbourne and Slash bring the hard and heavy to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa (with photos)
Ozzy Osbourne has traveled a long, hard road of ups and downs in his 62 years of life, navigating through a nearly four-decade-long battle with drug and alcohol abuse, two marriages (one failed, the other still going strong after 30 years), multiple lawsuits, accusations of Satan worship, the death of friend and bandmate Randy Rhoads,…
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker admits he wants to bring down unions
The biggest political battle taking place in the country has been in Madison, Wisconsin over the past week. That's where protesters have descended upon the Badger state's capitol, demonstrating against Governor Scott Walker's attempt to not only have state workers begin contributing to their retirement and health care benefit plans (which they have said they're…
The Green Community week in review: Rally to ban offshore drilling, plastic bags turned into fuel, Eckerd College Environmental Film Fest and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: EarthTalk: Have E-ZPass and similar programs reduced traffic and pollution? – The New Jersey Turnpike Authority ‘s E-ZPass electronic toll collection system has reduced toll plaza delay by about 85 percent overall and decreased overall…
Eckerd College’s Environmental Film Festival kicks off this weekend: Free screenings and panel discussions
The "Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature," Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College kicked off Friday night with the winner of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or prize, Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives. Another highlight of this year's festival is the screening of Ondi Timoner's film Cool It, about controversial environmentalist Bjorn…
Done deal on high-speed rail? Tampa advocates hope not, as they plan a rally at noon on Monday in front of City Hall
Though the odds look increasingly difficult that Florida officials will be able to circumvent Governor Rick Scott's decision to kill the Tampa-to-Orlando high speed rail route, a coalition of interested groups and individuals from the Tampa Bay area plan to hold a rally Monday in front of Tampa's City Hall to keep hope alive for…
EarthTalk: One million electric vehicles on the road by 2015?
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: In his recent State of the Union Address, President Obama called for a million electric vehicles on American roads by 2015. How likely…
Bus stop: Valenzuela’s taco empire expands with new location and menu
Valenzuela hard at work in Taqueria Monterrey's kitchen. Growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, Rene Valenzuela was interested in the restaurant business. Although his heart belonged to Mexican street food, Rene was intrigued when McDonald’s announced it would open a location in his home town. It would be Mexico’s second McDonald’s in history, and the buzz…
Tampa mayoral candidates go tame at Tiger Bay Club forum
After all the drama of this past week, Friday's Tampa mayoral forum at the Tiger Bay Club Friday afternoon was a rather tame affair. In fact, there wasn't one reference to anybody driving anybody anywhere, a refrain from the past 24 hours of media intensity on a Dick Greco comment about Thomas Scott, the only…
Ask Dream Momma: The Stairmaster from hell
“Dear Dream Momma, in my dream I am on the Stairmaster working out. I have my water bottle and drink from it. That’s it. That’s the dream. The reason I’m writing you is because this dream keeps coming back and on some nights I have it over and over again. My boyfriend says I’m very…
Movie review: Jaume Collet-Serra’s Unknown, starring Liam Neeson, January Jones, Bruno Ganz, Aidan Quinn and Diane Kruger (with trailer video)
Driven by an interesting storyline and a few quality twists, Jaume Collet-Serra's Unknown sucks the audience in with a quick start, but doesn’t maintain enough substance throughout to make it unique. As Liam Neeson runs around Berlin like a crazed lunatic trying to restore his identity, I found myself looking for a plot that was…
Why Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” is a colossal failure
Baby, I was born this way. At least Lady Gaga thinks so. Admittedly, I was up at six a.m., drawn in by the hype of what was supposedly going to be the “gay anthem for this generation.” Like many of my friends, I was interested in hearing her new single as soon as it came…
The 10/100/1000 Challenge: Great Arts & Culture Ideas
We’re almost a month into Creative Loafing’s 10/100/1000 Challenge and we’ve already garnered some innovative ideas in the Arts & Culture category. Below you’ll find just a few of the great ideas that have been submitted so far. Make sure to vote for your favorite idea to make Tampa Bay a better place to live…
Lights On Tampa 2011: Poe Garage gets Etch-a-Sketched (video)
If you happened to be heading up Ashley Street in downtown Tampa last night between 7 and 8 p.m., you might have noticed that the usually bland hulk that is Poe Parking Garage was undergoing a transformation. For several minutes, lines of light traced the contours of the building as if someone were projecting a…
Craig Ferguson’s Does This Need to Be Said? proves that he’s the best host in Late Night television
“I wanna try something I don't normally do … I'm going to try to tell you a joke.” With all the hubbub in the media last year regarding bitter, embattled late night talk show hosts, the one guy you should really be paying attention to was vastly ignored. Forget Chinface Chippendale or The Non-Barbarian Conan,…
Tips for first-time gardeners
With some extra time on my hands, I have decided to start a vegetable garden this Spring so that I can have fresh vegetables for myself, friends and family. My mother makes a mean vegetable lasagna, so it is imperative that we have fresh and delicious vegetables for it. Now I’m sure that everyone knows…
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Season! Find local cookie booths with new smart phone app
Yes, it's that time of the year again, when all of those healthy resolutions you've been sticking to are thrown out the window in order to indulge in the fruits of Girl Scout Cookie Season. And this year, those gals are making it even easier to track them down with their Girl Scout Cookie Locator…
Do It This Weekend: Music and art combos, film fests galore, Rays Fan Fest, Bugs at MOSI and lots more
Attend Music for No Good, a concert of site-specific electronic music created in response to the exhibition, Trenton Doyle Hancock: We Done All We Could and None of It’s Good. SYCOM composers have worked in groups to compose music meant to be heard in conjunction with the artworks that inspired it. The concert will be…
District 3 candidates debate everything from high-speed rail to the future of the Tampa Bay Rays on Mitch Perry’s radio show, Last Call
Five Tampa City Council candidates vying for District 3 came together on Thursday to discuss issues on CL News & Politics Editor Mitch Perry’s radio show, Last Call. The candidates running are Michael Cifiti, Yvonne Capin, Chris Hart, Seth Nelson and Jason Wilson. Right off the bat, Perry starts the discussion with the hot topic…
3,000 volunteers needed for Tampa Clean City Day
Friends of Clean City are looking for 3,000 volunteers to help clean up Tampa on March 12, 2011. With over 100 beautification projects around Hillsborough, this will be a day to invest in your community. You can volunteer alone or as a group by filling out the registration form on the City of Tampa's website.
Dining Guide: Desserts and sweet treats in Tampa Bay
CL regularly presents focused listings of the best dining options in Tampa Bay’s neighborhoods. This week we’re giving you a guide to the spots in Tampa Bay where you can get your fix for that sweet tooth. ALESSI'S BAKERY 2909 W Cypress St., Tampa. 813-879-4544, alessibakeries.com. Since they're been in the business since 1912, Alessi's…
Greco-Scott dispute new wrinkle in Tampa mayoral race; Florida legislators rally to save high speed rail, and Hillsborough County Commisionners name Terry Kemple to Human Relations Board: Mitch Perry Report: 2.18.11
Happy Friday to one and all – and it certainly is for us, considering we began the working week bedridden with a vicious flu virus. Speaking of vicious, we hate to get all cliche ridden on you, but the Tampa mayoral race is becoming more bitter by the day (just 11 to go). Read our…
Lightning fall to Red Wings 6-2
Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings was a huge opportunity for the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they hoped to establish they belonged with the top teams in the NHL. The main story line going into this one was the reuniting of former Red Wing great Steve Yzerman playing against his old team. In…
Greco says Thomas Scott owes him an apology in wake of the former mayor’s latest controversial comment
The controversy that evolved out of Wednesday night's Tampa mayoral debate escalated Thursday night at another mayoral forum, this time in East Tampa. [To recap: At the Wednesday debate, former Mayor Dick Greco was asked by the moderator what job he would give City Council Chair Thomas Scott in a Greco administration. He replied that…
Political analyst Charlie Cook on why he doesn’t think Chris Christie (or Marco Rubio) will run in 2012
New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie has become the Marco Rubio of 2011, arousing conservatives with his tough talking mantra of cutting government spending. Christie was in Washington on Wednesday, speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, where the Daily Beast's Eleanor Clift wrote that "Christie at once charmed the audience and disappointed them when he…
Furious reaction in Florida Senate to Scott’s rejection of rail funds; GOP state Senator says, “The bottom line is, he can’t reject this money.”
Published reports from Washington indicate that U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has given Florida officials one week to try to find a mechanism to receive the $2.4 billion for high-speed rail that was rejected Wednesday by Florida Governor Rick Scott. That news came as it was discovered that 26 members of the state Senate have…
The Battle of Upham Beach, Part 4: Suncoast Surfrider Foundation stands to get controversial T-groins removed from St. Pete’s Upham Beach
By the time I reached writing about the fourth part in the Upham Beach "battle over the T-groins" series, I realized a few things. Any engineer, financial analyst or project manger would notice that project implementation numbers were missing from the financial analysis. Thus, financial claims of savings are misled. But more importantly, before proving…
Equality Florida blasts BOCC for naming Terry Kemple to Hillsborough County’s Human Relations Board
Last summer Hillsborough County Christian conservative Terry Kemple made certain to keep his socially conservative views on creationism, gays and bikini bars in the closest as he aspired to mainstream acceptance in his bid for election to Hillsborough County's School Board. However, he was unsuccessful, losing out in the primary last August. He's back in…
Must-click links: Siskel & Ebert online, recall Rick Scott, Coke’s formula revealed, Meek’s Cutoff, Alan Sepinwall, internatonal response to Egypt, Bieber gets political, Borders goes under and much more …
Siskel & Ebert now have a online archive with all their surviving old shows, including the above clip on film criticism. Recall Rick Scott! And why living in a Tea Party-governed state means no science, no fast trains, and no rights for women. Foreign Policy.com: How China and Russia see the Egyptian revolution. Did last week's…
The Refinery in Tampa named semifinalist in 2011 James Beard awards
Congratulations to Greg and Michelle Baker for their restaurant, The Refinery, being named a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the 2011 James Beard Foundation awards. After winning CL's 2010 Best of the Bay Award for Best Chef and their success in the past year, it's no surprise that they're up for this prestigious culinary…
Rick Scott’s ego rush devastates Tampa Bay; Bob Buckhorn scores at Young Professionals mayoral forum; and CL endorses in the mayor’s race: Mitch Perry Report 2.17.11
In our political process, it is rare to invest so much power in one person, hence the different branches of government. But just as the president is our supreme leader of the country, the buck stops in Florida at the governor's office. And Rick Scott's decision to kill the Tampa-to-Orlando high speed rail route has…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Renewable Energy Tour, Eckerd’s Environmental Film Festival, permaculture courses and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays (through May); 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food…
Review: St. Pete’s Mandarin Hide and Ruby’s Elixir bring different personalities to the cocktail shaker
The Mandarin Hide 231 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-231-4007, mandarinhide.com Ruby's Elixir 15 Third St. N., St. Petersburg,727-898-7829 Looks like some people have recognized that downing cocktails in a beautiful environment devoted to the task is the just and inalienable right of everyone who tilts back a glass. No need for an upscale restaurant or…
Scott’s rail fail: The aftermath, the outcry, the recall movement
Governor Rick Scott's rejection of $2.4 billion in federal funding for Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail shocked and dismayed Democrat and Republican elected officials, business interests, transit advocates and just about anybody else with any common sense. But the Tea Party loves it. And the Reason Foundation should ask for author credit. Creative Loafing News & Politics…
CD Reviews: Shunda K, The Get Up Kids and Social Distortion
Shunda K The Most Wanted You could easily argue that technical proficiency is becoming more and more irrelevant when it comes to achieving chart-topping emcee status these days. Scan the local urban stations for any length of time and you realize that cadence, enunciation and speed are still valued in the hip-hop world, but not…
NFL lockout, baseball on deck and more
This week’s sport’s binge.
Crepes get a savory makeover
When we think of crepes, generally what comes to mind is a sweet, fruity dessert topped with fresh whipped cream, such as the famous Crepe Suzette with caramelized sugar, butter, orange and Grand Marnier liqueur. However, savory crepes have been making their way onto American menus for a while now, filled with everything from seafood…
How to install a marital safety valve
I am a straight man. From high school through college and after, I loved me some women. Then I met my present girl 10 years ago. I fell head over heels for her. I still love her. But, little by little, she has become boring to me. Our sex life has cooled. Days run together…
Mismatched pair
Paul Potenza and Shawn Paonessa are so convincing as the leads in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, it comes as a shock to discover, a little way through Act II, that this couple is becoming monotonous. It's worse than a shock: after all, these two formidable actors have easily delighted us in Act I, and…
Suncoast Animal League raises money for a good cause
It seems every week, there is a charitable fitness event; a Walk for This, a March for That or a Skip-to-my-Lou for Them Too. So how do you choose which organization and event to support? A better question: How often do you come across an event that allows you to cycle for a worthy cause…
Mubarak, SI Swimsuit Issue, Rick Scott blows high speed rail and more …
FRIDAY 11 Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is finally forced from office after the nation's military sides with the millions of protesters. Fellow Middle Eastern dictators hire new PR people. SUNDAY 13 In the race for mayor of Tampa, the Times endorses Bob Buckhorn while the Tribune takes Turanchik. If only another publication would break the…
Books: The thing that wouldn’t die
Did you see the numbers for e-reader sales for last year, particularly the ones for the fourth quarter, as Christmas approached? Have you heard that eBook sales of bestsellers have been beating physical book numbers in the new year? Are you sick to fucking death of endless tastemaker proclamations, manufacturer projections and tech-blog suppositions heralding…
Taco Bus opens St. Petersburg location
Rene Valenzuela remembers the day McDonald's opened in his hometown of Monterrey, Mexico. It was only the second McDonald's in the country's history, and he had never seen such a buzz for a restaurant before. At least until now. The lastest branch of his Taco Bus is the Bay area's most anticipated restaurant in some…
Reviews of movies now playing at a theater near you
Oscar shorts at the Tampa Theatre, plus Liam Neeson and more.
Mandarin Hide and Ruby’s Elixir open in St. Petersburg
Looks like some people have recognized that downing cocktails in a beautiful environment devoted to the task is the just and inalienable right of everyone who tilts back a glass. No need for an upscale restaurant or hotel lobby to provide the setting — cocktails should be their own reward. Maybe that's why downtown St.…
Cooking with egg yolks
My name is Hampton and I am addicted to runny yolks. Quietly sneaking out for some late night over-easing; midday poaching when my family is right there in the next room… Hell, I've even tried to capture some Ybor City street chickens and imprison them in the makeshift hen house in my shed. Scrambled eggs…
Learning to love (or at least tolerate) the Florida State Fair
There are certain things I never thought I'd do, like forget to shave my legs on a regular basis or curse at my DVR when it stopped working properly. I also never thought I'd attend a fair, theme park or carnival and actually enjoy it. But here I am, getting older, unable to understand modern…
The CL Endorsement: Ed Turanchik for Mayor of Tampa
Ed Turanchik gets slammed sometimes for dreaming too big. His resume is marked by wide-ranging efforts to make change happen — efforts that may not have always panned out, but that always reflected a vision for a better city. He tried to address the need for affordable housing with the Civitas project in 2004; as…
Do It Today: PYT Launch Party, great local music at the Bricks and To Life
Hampton Arts Management's new Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay (PYT) is way cool, not just because it has the same acronym as a great Michael Jackson tune, which gets stuck in my head every time I think of it … na na na na na … but because — by using a crowd-financing approach — the…
EarthTalk: Researchers studying long-term effects of cell phone use and links to cancer and neurological diseases
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 the latest research on the question of whether cell phone use causes cancer? — William Thigpen, via e-mail Cell phones have only…
Barney Bishop bends over backwards to kiss Rick Scott’s ass in wake of high speed rail decision
Associated Industries of Florida, like virtually every other business group in Florida, advocated strongly for Rick Scott to accept the federal funds already earmarked for a Tampa-Orlando high speed rail line. If you don't think so, check out this press release its powerful president, Barney Bishop, sent out last month: “Associated Industries of Florida has,…
Tonight’s Top Chef All-Stars preview: Cookie craze
On tonight's episode of Top Chef: All-Stars, the chefs are drawing inspiration from two very American concepts: Sesame Street and the supercenter. The Quickfire Challenge is to create "the perfect cookie" that satisfies the discerning tastes of The Cookie Monster, Telly (the purple guy with the big nose), and Elmo. How much do you want…
Tampa Bay food and drink events
Wednesday, February 16: Pour House It's that time again: Keep the Pint Night! This week's featured brewery is Bell's who have also donated gift baskets, hats and t-shirts to raffle off. Free event (with purchase); 7:30 p.m. 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Suite #112, Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com Thursday, February 17: Whole Foods Market Exploring the cheeses…
Buckhorn scores at Young Professionals’ City of Tampa Mayoral Forum
At 52, nobody is accusing Bob Buckhorn of being a "Young Gun," or whatever phrase du jour is applied to the up and coming (such as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who calls himself that at the tender age of 47). Nevertheless, the former City Council member is the youngest of the five candidates running…
The Green Community week in review: Proposed drilling ban in state waters, vanishing honey bees, eco-friendly Valentine’s Day and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: How to collect rain water for your lawn using a cistern (video) – It may even help you save money on your water bill as you'll be able to use rain water on your plants…
Top Chef Podcast – All-Stars Ep. 9: Funny business
During last night's episode of Top Chef All-Stars, we got to see a few things that are no longer "cool" (pop culturally speaking): fondue and Jimmy Fallon. For the Quickfire, the chefs had some fun with fondue and had to judge each others' creations, each picking their top three. Blais stuck to liquid nitrogen-filled roots…
