Faith No More reforms with Mike Patton!
In a press release issued early Tuesday, the band responsible for unleashing Mike Patton upon the mainstream music world announced its return. Faith No More is back! Back in the early 90s when MTV actually played music videos on a regular basis, eyes shooting lightning bolts in the palms of hands and fish flopping around in…
Willian Elliot Whitmore: Animals in the Dark
Sometimes an album review just writes itself. Such is the case with William Elliott Whitmore’s new album, Animals In The Dark, and here is what it writes: “William Elliott Whitmore’s new album is absolutely awesome and anyone who listens to it and honestly dislikes it needs a swift kick in the crotch.” Really, I could…
Dumped on IM
I'm mad. I'm mad and I'm bitter and I want to talk about it. With you. I'm cursed with the inability to meet a man, well, in person. I'm that girl in the corner of the coffee shop with her nose in a book. I'm not the sassy temptress that men usually talk to. So…
Jazz up your popcorn!
I've really been in the mood for popcorn lately but I want to try something different than your run-of-the-mill butter flavor. I could take the cheat approach and just buy one of the fancy new flavors that are out now at the grocery store, but I believe that when you make something yourself from scratch…
A.L.I.W.I.W.T.U.M. (A list I wish I woulda thought up myself)
A blog I periodically visit, Music for Kids Who Can't Read Too Good, recently posted a pretty good list, "T.A.I.S.T.M. (The Acronym In Song Titles Mix)," a series of songs with acronyms in their titles paired with MP3s of said songs. A pretty nice little collection, with songs like of Montreal's "Requiem For O.M.M.2," Broken…
Kama Sutra – Splitting the Bamboo
Getting into the position: The man begins the position seated above the woman with his legs "split" around her waist. While one of the woman’s legs rests on the man's shoulder, the man guides his manhood into her yoni and proceeds to make love to her. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would…
My deployment in Qatar: Get out of my Kool-Aid
[Editor's Note: Jennifer Huntsman is a US Army Reserve Signal Captain stationed at MacDill Air Force Base with Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). She is currently deployed in Qatar. Jenny will be writing for The Daily Loaf about life in the military.] After a year out of high school and not enjoying college class attendance I enlisted in…
Gaming the recession: Wall Street Fighter IV
OK, this is awesome. Really. Just awesomely funny. I mean, what good is a depression if you can't laugh at it? And what's funnier than real people pretending to be video game characters? From the video humorists at CB Fresh comes this vision of what would happen if Street Fighter 4 was really about the…
Spider-Man hits Broadway
Everyone's favorite web-crawler (sorry, Charlotte) is poised to make his Broadway debut — in a musical! That's not even the crazy part. Per Variety: Helmed by Julie Taymor ("The Lion King"), "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark" will have music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge, both of U2. Taymor and Glen Berger ("Underneath the…
Field Day ’09 video retrospective
For those who missed it, here's some video of your friendly neighborhood CL staff competing at Field Day '09. We put this shindig on once a year with the folks at Tampa Bay Club Sport.
New Releases Tues., Feb. 24
And Then There Were None, Who Speaks for Planet Earth? (Tooth & Nail) Black Lips, 200 Million Thousand (Vice) Joe Bonamassa, The Ballad of John Henry (Premier Artists) The Bran Flakes, I Have Hands (Illegal Art) J.J. Cale, Roll On (Rounder) Company of Thieves, Ordinary Riches (Wind-up) Chris Isaak, Mr. Lucky (Reprise Records) K'Naan, Troubadour…
Roasted garlic hummus recipe
Hummus is my favorite go-to snack when I've got the mid-day munchies. This traditional Middle Eastern concoction is easy to make, versatile, and healthy. Basically, you're whizzing up chickpeas (a.k.a.: garbanzo beans) with some olive oil and tahini (toasted sesame seed paste) in a food processor, then throwing in whatever your heart desires to flavor…
In video: Paula Deen loses her pants at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival
This video, thanks to our friends down at the Miami New Times, shows chain-smokin', Smithfield-lovin', butter-injectin' Paula Deen accidently drop trou during a presentation at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival. It looks like an accident, thanks to a heavy microphone pickup clipped to loose, elastic waist pants, but who knows? Maybe, her fame…
A good egg is hard to find: The hassles of fresh, local eggs
In my journey to find local food for my family and business, eggs were high on the priority list. At the time, my wife was still vegetarian (now she's considered a 'pescatarian') and eggs are a common food that we both could enjoy. A friend turned me on to some of his backyard eggs. He…
Beer review: Ola Dubh Special 16 Reserve Ale – barrels aren’t just for whiskey and wine
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 16 Reserve Whiskey barrel aged old ale, 8% Scotland Old Engine Oil, produced by the Scottish brewery Harviestoun, is definitely among my top ten favorite beers produced by humans on planet Earth. It looks and tastes like it sounds: dark, slick, and chewy. The body's density and combination of burnt, bitter,…
The Short List: The stock market hits 1997 levels
Woo hoo! They are partying like it's 1997 down on Wall Street. I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for it to hit 1933 levels before I start my bargain hunting. Obama plans "a more transparent budget." I presume that means it will be printed on clear paper. "I have already talked to (Defense…
Free shit: Pancakes at IHOP (2/24 7am-10pm)
IHOP is celebrating National Pancake Day (which happens to be Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday) with a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. They invite you to make a donation for a really good cause – the Children's Miracle Network program at All Children's Hospital. Last year IHOP raised more than $875,000!!! The promotion runs…
Tonight at State Theatre: Justin Nozuka, Missy Higgins and Lenka
Canadian/American singer/songwriter Justin Nozuka, 20, writes poppy tunes and sings them in an effete tenor. Missy Higgins (pictured at right), a more substantial artist than Nozuka, hails from Australia; her music alternates between moody, intimate post-folk and livelier acoustic pop. Also on the bill is cutie Aussie folkie Lenka. 8 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg,…
Tonight at Crowbar: Gil Mantera’s Party Dream
Synth pop duo-turned-trio Gil Mantera's Party Dream (drummer A.E. Paterra joined last tour) wrote and performed new music throughout ’08, and this January released Dreamscape, the follow-up to their ’06 debut. (For more on that and to see the first video, click here.) I’ve only heard a few tracks, but so far, Dreamscape seems pretty…
Do It Today: Nozuka and Higgins and Lenka, free pancakes, a Tuskeegee Airman, and more
As part of USF's Black Emphasis Month series of events, Freethinkers@USF host "Superstition Ain't the Way: Secular Movements in Africa," a presentation on how scholars, activists, and educators contribute to contemporary African life by providing secular alternatives to belief systems. The evening's guest speaker is foremost African philosopher and retired USF professor Emeritus Dr. Kwasi…
New Giddy-Up, Helicopter! reviewed
Giddy-Up, Helicopter!: Something that Needs Nothing A surprising warmth pervades Giddy-Up, Helicopter!’s new CD — surprising in light of the quintet’s propensity for shoegaze and general outward aloofness, in light of a vocal approach that favors a matter-of-fact delivery over emoting. “Tiny Moon,” five tracks in, brushes closest to warm 'n' fuzzy with its loping…
News odds and ends
TV on the Radio's serene guitarist-falsetto singer Kyp Malone had a pretty nice chat with Pitchfork last week. (Pitchfork writer Ryan Dombol likened him to "human chamomile tea.") In the interview, he talked about TVOTR's Saturday Night Live debut ("I was immediately told how shitty the sound was by people who were outside the room"),…
Strawberry recipes
This time of year, the heady scent of fresh strawberries reaches out and pulls me to the produce aisle. Plant City strawberries are synonymous with spring's beginning in Tampa Bay and being the first recipients of this fragrant, vitamin-C-packed fruit gives me reason to stay in Florida. Really. But once I've consumed a few plain, I…
Phish Saves America: Contest details and booty, newsy tidbits, Twitter feed
To check out "Phish Saves America Vol. I: DVD, Reunion, Summer Tour," click here; for "Phish Saves America, Vol. II: Bonnaroo, ticket woes, Pollock show and contest," click here. For those who've cast your votes in the Phish contest I announced in my last posting — Thank You! I have made note of your answers…
Michelle Obama gives tour of White House kitchen to culinary students
On Sunday, First Lady Michelle Obama and her chef Cristeta Comerford gave a tour of the White House kitchen to a group of DC-area culinary students. Chef Cristeta patiently answered questions like how to get a job in the White House kitchen and if she sources local ingredients. Mrs. Obama said this about locally-sourced food: "When it's local,…
Tonight in O-town: Fujiya & Miyagi, Trail of Dead.
It’s not often you find a UK electro outfit that can combine elements of Can-style Krautrock (Britain-meets-Berlin accents, slinky minimal beats, hypnotic repetition) with sly, witty songwriting that references Hans Christian Anderson, ice cream flavors, Reebok, pickpockets and various other nonsensical subjects, many related in some way to the '80s. Fujiya & Miyagi (pictured) bring…
Street Fighter IV review: The best is back
My whole basis for judging value in an entertainment product comes from Street Fighter. Back in my late high school/early college days, my friends and I played a heluva lota Street Fighter 2 at the arcade. It's a quick game, and at a quarter a pop, you could spend a lot of money fast if…
Dreams interpretation: The staircase
A reader wrote, "I used to have a recurring dream that I would be climbing a staircase and right as I got near the top, the staircase would be disconnected and I would have to go through a maze of difficulty to get to the top. I have a habit of saying 'This should not…
My deployment in Qatar: Groundhog Day in real life
[Editor's Note: Jennifer Huntsman is a US Army Reserve Signal Captain stationed at MacDill Air Force Base with Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). She is currently deployed in Qatar. Jenny will be writing for The Daily Loaf about life in the military.] Did you ever see the movie Groundhog Day? Every day exactly the same,…
Game review: Afro Samurai
Based on the first season of the Spike TV modern 'anime' series (which is in turn based on the manga) by the same name, Afro Samurai has just about everything you would expect from something with Samuel L. Jackson's name on it. There's violence; blood; (cartoon) gore; revenge; and half-naked women. Just add in the…
BBQ Cheesy Chicken recipe: Make your favorite Chili’s entree at home.
When my husband was building our house 10 years ago, we lived here and there during construction. So needless to say I didn't have a kitchen to cook in. We ate out 2-3 times a day(crazy, I know). I got extremely familiar with the menus from just about every restaurant know to man. This dinner…
My cat the molester
My cat, Morpheus, is a molester and it’s my fault, well mine and my ex-boyfriends. Ever since my ex and I broke up, Morpheus has been humping my butt! I’ve woken up the past couple of mornings to a blaring alarm clock and this strange feeling on my ass, only to look back and see…
Death to butter packets
I hate tiny little wrapped butter packets. They are evil. I have no idea why restaurants use them. What amazes me more is that I have come across them at restaurants that aren't necessarily cheap: Bonefish and Cheesecake Factory. It's a fairly simple request. All I want is some butter to go with my bread.…
Periodic Table of cupcakes
From basics to kids' faves this Periodic Table of cupcakes at Woman's Day provides 46 delicious cupcake recipes. Get their recipe for School Bus cupcakes after the jump.
Tech porn: The Impress multi-dimensional foam touscreen
So we don't all own jetpacks yet, but the 21st century isn't a total bust. Take touchscreens, for example; they're a cool concept, and the new Impress foam touchscreen by Dis.play takes the touchscreen into 3-D. Impress is the deliverance of the touch screen from its technical stiffness, coldness and rigidity. It breaks the distance…
Late night music, Feb. 23-28: The mostly rerun edition.
A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing the five-nights-a-week late night talk shows (and SNL); no need to set your TIVOs or DVRs as most of this week's offerings are reruns. But hey, if you missed them last time … The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS (All reruns) Thursday, February 26: Anthony Hamilton (pictured;…
Miley Cyrus is totally a lesbian!
I'm not usually one to expend a lot of time and energy speculating about someone's sexual orientation, but Miley Cyrus's red carpet interview during ABC's pre-Oscar coverage tonight had my gaydar sounding too loud to ignore. First of all, she looked like a volleyball player in an evening gown. Second of all, and this is…
No Lip Vol. 2 compilation from Mohawk Bomb Records drops on February 24.
Clearwater-based Mohawk Bomb Records announces the release of No Lip Vol. 2. Available through www.mohawkbomb.com and via all major online music services (iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody and Napster), the compilation features 14 songs from 14 artists spanning the entire Rock music spectrum. No Lip Vol. 2 celebrates independent bands from all over the World, with…
Do It Today: TB Symphony, Sunsine State, Job-side, and O-town music.
Tampa Bay Symphony, the 90-plus volunteer orchestra, presents George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Edvard Grieg’s Symphonic Dances, Ravel’s Alborada del Grazioso, and with guest soloist Corinne Puchalla, von Weber’s Andante & Hungarian Rondo for Solo Bassoon. 8 p.m., Progress Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg, $20. Eckerd College's Visions Of…
Live Blogging the Oscars: Slumdog Millionaire wins Best Picture
Welcome to Creative Loafing's live blog of the 2009 Academy Awards. Make yourself at home and please, sound off in the comments section. Also, we'll be keeping you up to speed on the progress of our Oscar contest throughout the evening. 11:56 p.m.: Show officially over! Final tabulations in the Oscar contest ongoing. The answer…
Carnival comedown
It is a sad day when the economy starts affecting how we party. From where he sits inside Rio's Sambadrome, a snack vendor mulls what the global financial crisis means for "the greatest party on earth." First, the bad news: fewer foreigners at this year's Carnival. "The gringos who are coming this year – there…
Mickey Rourke Spirit Award speech: “If they ain’t got the balls to bring it, then fuck ’em”
If Mickey Rourke wins Best Actor tonight, and if his acceptance speech is even half as funny (or a sixteenth as profane) as his Independent Spirit Awards speech yesterday, then we'll have an Oscar moment to cherish right up there with the Jack Palance one-armed pushup. I'm rooting for Sean Penn myself, but I'd be…
Ten possible Oscar upsets and other must-reads
If you haven't already done so, check out our Oscar contest blog, our live-blog headquarters and our posts about a might-have-been-an-Oscar-winning film in this year's Gasparilla International Film Festival. And for your further Oscar edification, here are some stories (and predictions) worth checking out before the show: On EW.com, Dave Karger's provocative speculations about the…
Gasparilla filmfest opener Nothing But the Truth shoulda been an Oscar contender
Today's St. Petersburg Times has a story from the Washington Post by Ann Hornaday about Oscar "orphans" — good films that got caught up in money problems or other unfortunate circumstances that prevented them from being released in time for Oscar consideration. Tops on her list of movies left in Oscar limbo is this year's…
Photo of bruised Rihanna sparks L.A. police probe
Billboard reports: The first picture of a bruised and bloodied Rihanna after her alleged assault by singer Chris Brown has surfaced on the Internet, prompting an investigation by Los Angeles police into how it was leaked. Read more. Here's the photo in question. And here's another…
Oscar Preview: Best Picture
Note: If you haven't done so already, make sure you enter our Oscar contest for a chance at free dinner and a movie from Creative Loafing. And don't miss our live-blogging of the show itself, starting 7 p.m. on Sunday night, right here on The Daily Loaf. Now, we continue our countdown to Oscar night…
Seedy Motels
I once held down a housekeeping gig at a motel. We worked in pairs. One person turned the linens and vacuumed; the other person scrubbed the bathroom and emptied the waste baskets. The morning I started, my housekeeping partner told me, “Don’t ever remove your gloves.” She described herself as a veteran housekeeper; she’d seen…
New concert announcement: Ben Folds!
I got to see Ben Folds perform at Langerado last year and it was one of the highlights of the now-defunct fest, Folds far more lively and engaging and far less maudlin than I expected. So you can imagine my pleasure at receiving this very exciting concert announcement from No Clubs: BEN FOLDS w/ Special…
Dr. Dog fills up Crowbar
The last time Dr. Dog played Tampa was Halloween '07 to a light crowd with only a few fans singing along. Though it was only a year-and-a-half ago, it was must have felt like a small lifetime for the Philly fivesome. Since then, the band has been on several "Best of" lists, put out a…
U2 now streaming new album on MySpace
U2's No Line on the Horizon, slated for release March 3, is now streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. Click on the album cover icon next to the playlist
Concert cancellations and changes: Loudon Wainwright, Bonnie Raitt and others
Palladium Theater's Wednesday, February 25 concert featuring vet folkie Loudon Wainwright III gets moved around, with Wainwright re-scheduling for March 2 due to a conflict with his acting career. Canadian singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards (pictured), who was supposed to share the bill with Wainwright, will continue the show without him with fullscale concert of her own.…
Review: Dan Auerbach, Keep It Hid
Check out Eric's review of the debut solo effort of Black Keys' frontman Dan Auerbach: The singing, guitar-playing half of the Black Keys drops his first solo album, and very little of it measures up to the music of his regular band. The Keys' lean guitar-drums attack always imposed certain limitations, but Auerbach has not…
King Hedley II’s Bechir Sylvain: What a guy
Last fall I had the incredible opportunity to work intimately on stage with Bechir Sylvain in Six Degrees of Separation. I post his head shot because not only does it paint him as this irresistible yet down-to-earth-and-all-around-lovable, sincere guy. It is also an accurate depiction of the actor who has claimed Tampa as his temporary…
Pepsi Throwback will contain real sugar
Perhaps you've seen the recent televised propaganda commercials from the high fructose corn syrup lobby (aka the Corn Refiners Association). It turns out they might have reason to be nervous. In addition to the bad rap they've gotten in works like Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma, they now have to face the possibility of a pro-sugar…
This weekend’s live music picks: go Florida!
Lots of concerts to pick and choose from this February 20-22 weekend (for a complete list, click here), but if you haven't already made concrete plans, why not show some support to the local and regional acts who always work extra hard for your lovin'? Here are highlights from the Florida band concert calendar: Friday,…
Bacon cheese pizza burger
Found on the web. Without context, I repost this photo to give you something to dream about this weekend – the bacon cheese pizza burger.
Oscar Preview: Best Director
Note: If you haven't done so already, make sure you enter our Oscar contest for a chance at free dinner and a movie from Creative Loafing. And don't miss our live-blogging of the show itself, starting 7 p.m. on Sunday night, right here on The Daily Loaf. Now, we continue our countdown to Oscar night…
Cuban Pizza recipe: Like the sandwich, but on a pizza
Have you tried my Roast Pork with Black Beans and Yellow rice yet? No? Shame on you, I don't want to be your friend anymore. (I am at home with sick kids and a sick self, so I am feeling a bit childish!) Well if you did make it you probably had some left-over pork.…
Do It This Weekend: Danube, Nealon, war and computer art.
As part of the opening reception for Electronics Alive V — University of Tampa's biennial exhibit of experimental computer animations, interactive 2D and 3D digital art, and multimedia computer graphics and installations — UT art professor Lew Harris and retired UT music professor Terry Mohn present an original, “mind-expanding” performance piece featuring live and pre-recorded…
Rihanna, bloodied and battered, in TMZ photo
Celeb-news website TMZ has obtained a photo of what it says is Rihanna post-Chris Brown (alleged) beatdown. Here it is. But the LAPD ain't happy about it, releasing this statement:
The Hooville Martini: Yoo-hoo isn’t just for kids anymore
While thumbing through an in flight magazine on the red eye to San Antonio, I stumbled across this fabulous cocktail recipe- the Hooville Martini. Who ever thought of using Yoo-Hoo as a mixer is a genius! (Recipe after the jump) The Hooville was created for the bar menu at the trendy Ketchup restaurant in L.A.,…
Carolina Pulled Pork recipe (with a twist)
For the few who follow my blog, some might recall that earlier this year I slow-roasted beef ribs in the oven for hours. They were perfectly spiced and fall off the bone tender. I also smoked some ribs in the backyard for an upcoming Food Network BBQ show to air in the spring. I ended…
The Short List: Canada loves Obama!
The Canadians went wild over President Obama's first trip to their nation, his first trip out of the country since assuming the office. Have a good weekend, everyone. See you at the Oscar live blog Sunday night at 7 p.m. The NY Post apologizes (sort of) for that maybe-racist cartoon. They're still working out the…
Stevie Wonder to perform for the President on TV
See Stevie Wonder on the Grammys? They had him slumming with the Jonas Brothers, and the dude is enormous, whale-esque — but, y'know, he can still sing. Coming up is a better opportunity to see the pop/R&B legend on the tube — in a program called "Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The…
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, Feb. 20-21
A 2001 installation by Jin Soo Kim. Courtesy Selby Gallery. Friday 5-7 p.m. – Opening reception for What’s Next?: Installations and Digital Films by Jin Soo Kim at Selby Gallery, Ringling College of Art and Design. 6 p.m. – View & Review with guest critic Joe Mitchell, retired Art Supervisor for the Polk County School…
Jump Back Jake: Brooklyn Hustle/Memphis Muscle
I'll be totally honest with y'all. The moment I opened the envelope this album came in and saw the cover and read the band name and CD title, I wanted to like it. Add to that the fact that it was coming off the freshly reborn Ardent Music label and I needed to like it.…
We need a lil’ “Peace Piece,” opening Tuesday
Working in the art/nightlife scene for six years, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of really talented people from all areas of the industry. So when I saw that Marissa Alma Nick was back in town from LA working on a project called Peace Piece, I had to get in contact and…
Grizzly Bear gives further details about their forthcoming album
Ever since putting out their 2006 transcendant masterpiece, Yellow House, Grizzly Bear has enjoyed boundless fan adoration, respect from peers and from veterans like Paul Simon (who invited the band to play for five nights during his month-long residency last April at the Brooklyn Academy of Music) and Radiohead (which had Grizzly open some dates…
Wine bar at Datz Deli is truly remarkable
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my ideal wine bar, a place I could call home and nuzzle with everyday. At the time, it didn't exist yet in Tampa, but today, I found a pretty damn close example. It's not the warm, cozy, fluffy-couch place of my dreams, but the wine list… sa-weet! The…
U2 to take up residency on Letterman
To promote the March 3 release of their new CD, No Line on the Horizon, U2 will perform five nights straight on The Late Show with David Letterman starting Monday, March 2. No band has ever had a week-long residency on the program. U2 has yet to provide details about what they plan to perform,…
Goldman Sachs, Burger King and your tax dollars
Here's the latest from Brave New Films, a look at Goldman Sachs' 2002 purchase of Burger King and the wage slavery the BK employees live under: It's just infuriating. Both the Democrats and Reppublicans are bought and paid for by companies like Goldman, so there is no surprise in Congress rolling over. However, I do…
Full frontal – GTA IV: Lost and the Damned puts the penis back in gaming
I'm a big fan of nudity in games, as I am of nudity in most situations. I like how it helps push us past this last, weird, Puritan taboo this country has about sex and body image and all that. Never afraid of courting a little controversy if it gets them a lot of free…
Dreams: The big seven
Another big number is SEVEN. Think shooting craps; seven come eleven, seven brides for seven brothers, seven deadly sins, seven days of the week, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, etc. Did you know the seventh son (or daughter) of a seventh son (or daughter) has special gifts? The Bible gets confusing as the Great…
Oscar preview: Best Actress
Note: If you haven't done so already, make sure you enter our Oscar contest for a chance at free dinner and a movie from Creative Loafing. And don't miss our live-blogging of the show itself, starting 7 p.m. on Sunday night, right here on The Daily Loaf. Now, we continue our countdown to Oscar night…
$2 coupon for wine purchase at B-21
Until 2/22, get $2 off any 750-ml bottle of wine priced $9.99 and up. Check out the specials on Pillar Box Red (my house wine right now -$9.99), Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($12.99) and Bodegas Atalaya ($12.99). B-21 in Tarpon Springs (delivery available to the entire Tampa Bay area) See the ad
Restaurant Preview: Hula Bay Club and Duke’s Retired Surfers’ Island Bar
She’s baaa-aaaaaack, at least longitudinally and latitudinally if not nominally. The old Rattlefish site is back up and running as the Hula Bay Club and Duke’s Retired Surfers’ Island Bar but now she wears a sarong and tank top (the guys wear Tommy Bahama-esque club shirts and khakis). The space has gotten a major makeover…
Bill Nye, the College-Frenzy Guy
A frenetic energy pulsed through the line of people wrapped around the second floor of USF's Marshall Student Center the other night, complete with crazed college-age fans squealing in delight as they discussed the man they were about to watch. Some major celebrity? No. Just a person that these students grew up with. A trusted…
Culinary Adventure: San Antonio, Texas
Last weekend I was able to fulfill a long-standing dream of mine: visiting San Antonio, Texas. Why San Antonio, you ask? Yes, there's the historic Alamo, the touristy River Walk, and many other cultural and historic sights. But this city has been the mecca of Tex-Mex food in my eyes (and also a stop…
Capcanes 2004 Mas Donis Montsant wine
From the dry, crusty-looking Montsant region south of Barcelona comes a shockingly good, shockingly inexpensive red blend. Monsant surrounds the Priorat region like a pita sandwich, wrapping snuggly around an area known for its hefty wines and corresponding prices. I can't afford Priorat so Monsant it is.
Portishead seeks a business model.
Portishead stands on a precipice in 2009, and endless possibilities lay before them. Their album Third, released last year, fulfilled their contractual obligations to Island Records – and as Pitchfork reported yesterday, Portishead are free agents. Here's Geoff Barrow: "with the world being the way it is there are lots of options open…but if you lot…
The Short List: Obama foreclosure plan good news for Florida?
This may qualify as the dumbest thing I have ever posted in this space. Yet, somehow I am charmed. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Obama's Elf. High hopes in Florida for Obama's foreclosure plan. Hillary takes it to them in Asia. The top Health and Human Services job may go to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Pasco…
Do It Today: The Temptations, UT Spring Dance
The Temptations, w. The Four Tops Two of Motown’s signature acts during the label’s 1960s heyday, The Temptations and the Four Tops have scores of hits between them. Members have changed considerably over the years — especially with The Tempts — but the spirit of the music (and that goofy choreography) still holds. 8 p.m.,…
Review: Stacy Keach in Frost/Nixon at TBPAC
The first thing the audience sees in the stage production of Frost/Nixon is a gigantic screen, crackling with static. Peter Morgan’s play (the basis for the Oscar-nominated film) is nominally about the famous 1977 TV interviews between British talk-show personality David Frost and former president Richard Nixon, and the negotiations that led up to them.…
In memory of Susan Hussey
I've just found out that Susan Hussey, co-artistic director of Gorilla Theatre, has succumbed to cancer after a brave struggle. Susan was a playwright as well as a producer, and her work confronted issues of social and national significance. She was also one of the kindest persons in the theater, here or anywhere. I never…
To Do: The Pine Box Boys at Dave’s Aqua Lounge, Dr. Dog at Crowbar
This Friday the murdergrass outfit out of San Francisco, The Pine Box Boys, will make their triumphant return to the stage at Dave's Aqua Lounge. The last time these guys came through town I partied a little too hard with my good buddies Beam and Ginger and was unable to write a decent review of…
The Prado Museum on Google Earth
[youtube]] Not sure whether to think of this development as a thrilling breakthrough in the accessibility of art or yet another scary, scary reason why I will never be leaving my desk again. Now in Google Earth, tour the Prado Museum and a selection of its masterworks without crossing the Atlantic. If you aren't already…
Did you grow up with Amy Vanderbilt? Actor/director Ami Sallee Corley needs your help
One of my goals when I took the leap last February and became a freelance artist was not only to have more time to commit to Jobsite, but also to collaborate with the artists I've met in the Tampa Bay area on original projects. This not only ensures more work for artists in our community,…
Indie 101: Brendan McCreary
Brendan McCreary (who actually spells it BrEndAn) decided that he was going to become a rock star at the ripe age of 11. He tells me, “It was the summer of my 8th grade year, and staring at the piano keys in my living room, I realized there was a lot more going on with…
New Pearl Jam track from upcoming Ten reissue
You may have heard that Pearl Jam is set to reissue its landmark Ten album on March 24 in four versions. Originally released in 1991, the album was a watershed of the grunge movement that pushed alternative rock into mainstream consciousness. The band’s MySpace page is featuring an unreleased track, “Brother,” from the sessions. Pearl…
The Temptations, “Ball of Confusion”
A trippy retro video of The Temptations performing "Ball of Confusion." A grayer version of the band stops at Ruth Eckerd Hall this Thursday night and plays a show with The Four Tops.
Some shit for you to watch…
It's lunch hour on a Tuesday afternoon and I'm doing what every descent red-blooded American that has managed to keep their job is doing — I'm using the company's bandwidth to watch videos. Today has been especially good and I thought I'd share some with y'all: My distaste for Pitchfork has been well documented on…
Dream numbers explained
Lots of people dream of numbers. Sometimes, they dream of the same number over and over again and it drives them crazy. Numbers can be symbols in dreams so the question, and it is very, very subjective is, what does the number mean? For example if you dream of the number 4 and your kid…
F.E.A.R 2 Review: The horror is pretty fun
Does a game so bold as to claim “fear” right in the title offer up anything scary? Can you play a sequel to a game you've never played and enjoy it? Do we need another first person shooter with weirdo psychic ghost-girls? Yes, yes, and yes we do. For me, there are few gaming pleasures…
Today’s produce less nourishing than yesteryear’s
A report in this month's issue of the Journal of Horticultural Science (I've already read my copy!) explains how today's veggies and fruits may be as much as 40% lower in minerals than the same produce from 50 years ago. Why? One big reason is selective breeding that selects for bigger, prettier fruit that generally…
Do It Today: Dance, dance, dance
Two stellar dance companies raise the barre for fans in Tampa Bay today. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company presents Another Evening: Serenade/The Proposition at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Jones is a recognized leader (and MacArthur Foundation "genius" grantee) in the creation of dance that addresses, through movement and text, complex social issues. Serenade/The…
New Pearl Jam track from upcoming Ten reissue
You may have heard that Pearl Jam is set to reissue its landmark Ten album on March 24 in four versions. Originally released in 1991, the album was a watershed of the grunge movement that pushed alternative rock into mainstream consciousness. The band's MySpace page is featuring an unreleased track, "Brother," from the sessions. Pearl…
Tampa Bay Rays take the field
Last scene sulking off the field in World Series defeat, the Tampa Bay Rays opened spring training this morning with their first full-squad workout. After the depressing end to last year (can you say "unfinished business"?), it's great to have the American League Champions back on the diamond, preparing for a long campaign against the…
Local food blog Steamy Kitchen makes Time Online’s list of 50 best food blogs
We love Sarasota resident Jaden Hair's Steamy Kitchen blog so much, we asked her to write for us a couple of years ago. Now she writes for these guys. Still, there's no arguing with her beautiful food photography, penchant for food-related double entendres and damn fine recipes. The UK's Times of London pegged her very…
Oscar preview: Best Actor
Note: If you haven't done so already, make sure you enter our Oscar contest for a chance at free dinner and a movie from Creative Loafing. And don't miss our live-blogging of the show itself, starting 7 p.m. on Sunday night, right here on The Daily Loaf. Now, we continue our countdown to Oscar night…
Beer Review: Terra Rye’Zd from Left Hand and Terrapin Brewing
Terra-Rye'Zd Rye Schwarzbier, 6.6% Left Hand / Terrapin Collaboration It's true, I am perpetually harping on the awesomeness of Left Hand Brewing. I'm totally, shamelessly on their jock, and I'm ok with that. When most thought it couldn't get any worse, Left Hand went and did a limited release collaboration beer with Terrapin Brewing out…
The Short List: Obama signs stimulus package
Now that the $787 billion stimulus package has been signed in to law, you may be wondering, "What's in it for me?" This video should help. President Obama orders 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. Looks like we're not going to be one big bipartisan family after all.
Author Tim Dorsey’s book tours are murder
… and that’s just the way he likes it.
Two new visual arts shows at HCC and UT
Specimens, Observations and Drawings at HCC and Electronics Alive at UT.
Recessionomics: The Graph of Doom
Comparing job loss in past recessions with today’s
Oscars roundup: The envelope, please
Know your Oscars? Win dinner and a movie and get your snark on, too.
Just how stupid are Americans?
Are Americans dumber than Europeans?
The Knology Clearwater Sea Blues Festival
An impressive lineup highlights this free fest
A Body of Water at Gorilla Theater
Body of Water piles on too much with too little payoff.
The Hooville Martini: Yoo-hoo isn’t just for kids anymore
While thumbing through an in flight magazine on the red-eye to San Antonio, I stumbled across this fabulous cocktail recipe — the Hooville Martini. Whoever thought of using Yoo-Hoo as a mixer is a genius! The Hooville was created for the bar menu at the trendy Ketchup restaurant in L.A., which features classic comfort food…
Dan Auerbach: Keep it Hid
The singing, guitar-playing half of the Black Keys drops his first solo album, and very little of it measures up to the music of his regular band. The Keys' lean guitar-drums attack always imposed certain limitations, but Auerbach has not used his solo freedom to add refinement or polish; rather, he sinks deep into the…
Brave new world
Getting to the core of a wine schism.
Terra Rye’Zd from Left Hand and Terrapin Brewing
It’s true, I am perpetually harping on the awesomeness of Left Hand Brewing. I’m totally, shamelessly on their jock, and I’m ok with that. When most thought it couldn’t get any worse, Left Hand went and did a limited release collaboration beer with Terrapin Brewing out of Athens, GA. If that wasn’t enough to send…
Wine bar at Datz Deli is truly remarkable
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my ideal wine bar, a place I could call home and nuzzle with everyday. At the time, it didn’t exist yet in Tampa, but today, I found a pretty damn close example. It’s not the warm, cozy, fluffy-couch place of my dreams, but the wine list… sa-weet! The…
Red Mesa Cantina Mexican restaurant has a good pedigree
Nice buzz, but the flavors could use a jolt.
Giddy-Up, Helicopter!: Something That Needs Nothing
A surprising warmth pervades Giddy-Up, Helicopter!’s new CD — surprising in light of the quintet’s propensity for shoegaze and general outward aloofness, in light of a vocal approach that favors a matter-of-fact delivery over emoting. “Tiny Moon,” five tracks in, brushes closest to warm 'n' fuzzy with its loping rhythm, luxuriant melody and the cozy…
Debating the Florida Hometown Democracy amendment
The case for, and against, growth plan amendments
Southside Johnny, one of rock’s most undervalued artists
“It’s gotta be different every night.”
Florida Fire pushes the limits of ceramic art
Get in on the UF Faculty Experience at Florida Craftsman Gallery.
Can married swinger practice monogomy?
Husband was openly upfront about his needs
The stimulus package dominates the week that was
Plus: Republicans cracking down and the local housing glut
Restaurant comfort food, Asian style
The best in vietnamese cooking from around the Bay area
In love with both of them – a poem
In love with both of them Who is mad? The hat or the hatter or the man who buys them both? My fist on the table doesn't answer My eyes see double My mouth screams Perfection!
Oscar preview: Best Supporting Actress
Note: If you haven't done so already, make sure you enter our Oscar contest for a chance at free dinner and a movie from Creative Loafing. And don't miss our live-blogging of the show itself, starting 7 p.m. on Sunday night, right here on The Daily Loaf. Now, we continue our countdown to Oscar night…
Oscar Contest and Live Blog: Win dinner and a movie on CL
In celebration of this year's Academy Awards, we're going to be live blogging the ABC telecast and giving away a free dinner and movie in the process. First things first: That free dinner and movie. Here's how you win it: 1. Pick a winner in each of the following categories (for a full rundown of…
CL Sounds 2.16: Late of the Pier, Cataldo, Iron Maiden and more.
A new weekly roundup of what the CL team is listening to right now. Late of the Pier Fantasy Black Channel (2008) While Late of the Pier are synth-propelled, indie dance-rockers, the heavy blues riffage and arena rock bombast of Led Zeppelin sneak into songs like “Heartbeat” and “Bathroom Gurgle” amid the electronic beats and…
Bob Dylan sells his song (soul) to Pepsi.
Pepsi to run a Super Bowl commercial that features Dylan's "Forever Young," hip-hop star Will.i.am, and iconic images connecting the past to the present.
Late night music.
I usually end up finding out too late when a band I like (or am interested in checking out) is playing on any of the four late night comedy talk shows (I've left out Carson Daly and Jimmy Kimmel because really, do any of us care about what either of them are doing in the…
