Self Publishing Notebook: Sending Query Letters? Wall Street Says “Save Your Stamps!”
Adventures in self-publishing
Ballet to benefit from Beer Breakfast’s annual return
Next week, eat, drink and more for a cause during the annual Beer Breakfast in St. Pete.
Eat & do good: Jersey Mike’s to launch Month of Giving
Around the region, Jersey Mike’s Subs are preparing for March’s fundraiser for local charities.
Sipping the South: The other Derby drink
Kentucky may have the julep, but Florida’s got the juice.
Sipping the South: Catching fireflies in South Carolina
Of rum, vodka and Southern hospitality at Firefly Distillery.
Sipping the South: On the beer map
Finding the South’s place in the new craft beer landscape.
We’re no Flint, but…
It was a shock for residents of Flint, Michigan. The water supply on which they depend was found to be contaminated with lead, a substance known to cause behavior and psychological problems (or worse) in those who consume it. Thousands of families, including children, were put at risk for some very serious health problems, all…
All fired up: More details on barbecue, cocktail concept next to the Avenue
Say hello to Proper Kitchen & Cocktails, the Avenue eat/drink’s newest St. Pete sibling.
Sipping the South: Shine on
White lightning, the unofficial drink of the South.
Sipping the South: Legion of spirits
A list of local Tampa Bay distilleries.
Sipping the South: Kentucky(ish) born, but not (necessarily) bred
The truth about bourbon.
Sipping the South: The essential recipes
Five Southern-style cocktails that every Floridian should know.
Sipping the South: Why so-called ‘blue laws’ are fading from the books
As cities evolve, old, temperance-inspired laws are becoming a thing of the past.
Sipping the South: Manhattans from Ocala
A former horse farmer distills a smooth whiskey.
Sipping the South: Jazzed up staples
Five boozeless takes on classic Southern beverages, including lemonade and sweet tea.
Gov. Scott signs law banning backyard gun ranges (!)
File this under things we didn't ever think would need to be encoded in state statute. Among several other bills he signed Wednesday, Governor Rick Scott gave the nod to a bill that makes it illegal to recreationally discharge a firearm in a densely populated residential area. The bill passed in the State House and…
Bill Clinton to headline South Florida Hillary rally
Hillary fans, it's road trip time! The day after the South Carolina Democratic primary, former President Bill Clinton will be on the stump for his wife in South Florida. At an early afternoon event, according to an email from the Hillary Clinton campaign, Mr. Clinton will go on the stump for the former First Lady,…
Beach blanket bullseye
The Bard heads to a Florida beach.
Seeing Stars
CL’s theater critic explains how he rates shows.
One color: Visual artist Samuel Bak at the Florida Holocaust Museum
Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak on painting, social justice, and Trump’s Muslim registry.
Too cute to fail
Think of the banking industry. Did it make you smile? Yeah, us neither. But this did: Employees at GTE Financial, a Tampa Bay area credit union, raised enough money to sponsor two Southeastern Guide Dog Puppies. Sponsorship cost $5,000 per pup and includes naming rights for the dog. Employees raised the money through different fundraisers,…
Restaurant review: Crafty meets creative at Craft Street
Oldsmar’s Craft Street Kitchen has casual, fresh comfort food with enticing craft beer and cocktails.
Close, but no “dislike”
Facebook unveils new reaction buttons for posts.
Drink More Wine: Carry me back to old Virginny
Virginia’s Linden and Barboursville vineyards are world-class.
Trump, Scott, Rubio, oh my!: What will happen between now and March 15?
The chaotic and fleeting weather outside our window today provides an apt reminder of our current political state. One's chaos seems to result from a number of atmospheric factors, including an influx of carbon dioxide that changes the patterns. The other appears to stem from a shifting economy, bad information and dirty money. Yesterday's delightful…
Sh*t happened 2/24/16: Hit man-hiring lady testifies, Tampa Bay home prices soar
Ah, yes. It's the kind of Wednesday that makes you want to lay in bed all morning, putting off everything in favor of wasting good time thinking about all the stuff you're putting off by laying in bed, listening to the rain and dreading traffic. Let's retreat into yesterday, in the hope of finding a…
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
When a popular comedian comes to town, you can expect sold-out shows at the comedy club. If they're a bigger name, you might see them at a local theater. A huge star might sell out multiple shows there. Then there's Jeff Dunham. Dunham's performing at Amalie Arena Wednesday night, a venue normally reserved for the…
Tonight in live music: Robert DeLong, Lyle Lovett and Vince Gill, Redleg Husky + more
A look at the concert highlights for this Wed., Feb. 24.
Do This: Make foamy friends at Meet the Brewers
CL’s Meet the Brewers will allow guests to rub elbows with the brewers behind their favorite suds.
Agency drops gun range water pollution lawsuit after NRA badgering
Chalk another one up for the metaphorical death stare of renowned gun rights lobbyist Marion Hammer. Two weeks ago, the former NRA champion called for the dismantling of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) over its lawsuit against a gun range from which the lead of thousands of pounds of spent bullets leached into…
Activists decry disproportionate black student success, discipline at Pinellas schools HQ
As the sun sank behind the Pinellas County School District headquarters in Largo, activists stood on a shaded hill to give school board members an earful on what they see as a system that callously leaves behind its African-American students, namely in low-income areas. In particular, they voiced concern over the five failing schools highlighted…
The Honu officially debuts to downtown Dunedin
Kimberly Platt’s “lei’d back cafe” has opened in Dunedin with casual Hawaiian-inspired fare.
Two breweries with ties to the Pirates partner on new beers
Darwin Brewing and Rivertowne Brewing will launch their collaboration in Bradenton this week.
Go gourmet: Drama Burger grand opening set for South Tampa Friday
Tampa’s new burger boutique, Drama Burger, will give away eats at its grand opening bash.
Sh*t happened 2/23/16: Maniscalco ethics complaint, green river, Lumber Liquidators
Let's recap: Tampa City Council member Guido Maniscalco is the subject of an ethics complaint related to a helicopter ride the councilman took as part of a tour of St. Joseph's Hospital before a vote that settled a long-running zoning dispute. Local politicians around the country are said to be collectively outraged by the idea…
Seriously, chill the f@ck out
Four simple words can make a big difference sometimes. For instance, there’s a simple yet effective mantra I’ve read about lately for dealing with life’s frustrations and irritations. I give you, “Chill The Fuck Out.” The caveat though, is to make this your own personal mantra and not go around telling people to chill the…
Legislature to Obama, Congress: can we do a war, please?
Members of the Florida Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee on Monday unanimously voted to pass a proposal (SM 1710) that, according to the News Service of Florida, asks President Obama and Congress to bring more freedom explosions to the Middle East. The non-binding resolution, according to NSF, "urges Congress and…
Weekly Tune-Up: Tunes for your week by Animal Collective, Wild Nothing, Polica + more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the week. Spotify playlist included.
Sh*t happened 2/22/16: SeaWorld officials leave, Jeb leaves, tegu comes to the ‘glades
Hey folks, here's something to read between trips to the break room for coffee and arguing over whether tonight's final installment of The X Files will cap it off right. FRIDAY, FEB. 19:A couple of high-ranking SeaWorld officials left their posts, with one retiring and another stepping down into an "emeritus role." Having a movie…
On the Sauce: The Resting Garden Margarita, Anise
Cheers to National Margarita Day with this recipe from Anise Global Gastrobar’s Ryan Brown.
Concert review: Bryan Adams delivers it straight from the heart at Coachman Park
The raspy-voiced Canadian rocker treated fans to a night of both old and new material on a chilly, windy night in Clearwater
This Sunday in live music: Steep Canyon Rangers, Herbie Hancock tribute, Loretta Lynn & more
Concert highlights for this Sun., Feb. 21
RIP, specter of a third Bush presidency
The presidential candidacy of former Florida Governor Jeb "Jus' Jeb!" Bush succumbed to The Void late Saturday after a months-long struggle with voter indifference. The candidacy was taken off life support on the heels of an embarrassing loss in South Carolina's Republican primary, in which the candidate, despite formidable fundraising and establishment support, had a…
Do This: Roller derby in St. Pete
FeBRUISEary Roller Derby Bout Sat., Feb. 20, The Slayground, 4033 35th St. N., St. Petersburg 6:30 p.m. first whistle at 7. $10 adv./$12 at the door. Skaters' warm-up at 5:30 p.m. deadlyrivalrollerderby.com. Some fringe-athletics trends come and go, but roller derby is, apparently, forever. Not that we’re complaining — working out while working out one’s…
This Saturday in live music: Heartless Bastards, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, MuteMath + more
It’s a jam-packed evening of concerts on this Sat., Feb. 20.
Sarasota Dance Company is Changing the (Dance) World
Your Weekly Dance Blog: Get out and DANCE
Sparks fly at Alan Grayson, Pam Keith forum in Tampa
Those who expected fireworks as they walked into Friday's Tampa Tiger Bay Club forum featuring two of the three Democratic U.S. Senate candidates were not disappointed. And it wasn't just the candidates supplying the sparks. Alan Grayson, an Orlando Congressman known for his blunt and at times confrontational manner and his lesser-known opponent Pamela Keith,…
Reasons to Watch: Massive TV guide edition
Girls, JFK, and lawyers.
Weekend Platter: Chili cookoff, salute to citrus & more
Eat barbecue and chili, sample craft suds and more with these weekend food and drink picks.
Your weekend: Now with more weather
Weekend: It’s what’s for dinner.
Sh*t happened 2/19/16: Cops, cops, planes
Yeah, we know it's Friday, and a beautiful Friday at that, but please take a moment to give Thursday a proper burial before you start Instagramming your sun-drenched lunchtime cocktails, OK? A Hudson man arrested for burglary and arson reportedly targeted a deputy's cruiser and patio furniture because he wanted to be arrested. When presented…
Tonight in live music: Bryan Adams, Sun Seeker, Marty Friedman + more
A look at concert highlights for this Fri., Feb. 19, plus a peek at the weekend ahead
GameTime reopens in Ybor City with new restaurant, more
After a big remodel, the Ybor entertainment hub GameTime will host its “welcome back weekend.”
Fresh from Cuba trip, Castor lauds Obama’s plans to travel there
As relations between the United States and Cuba continue to thaw, President Obama's announcement that he plans to visit the country is the latest in a string of concrete actions signifying the strengthening ties between the two nations. The president's trip, set for next month, marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has traveled…
A 21-Year-Old Christian’s Take on ‘The Book of Mormon’
Crude. Offensive. Inappropriate. Go see it.
Plensa & Public and Private: The extraordinary beauty of the ordinary human form in two shows at the Tampa Museum of Art.
As Gasparilla arts season gears up to bring thousands of people to Curtis Hixon Park in March, the Tampa Museum of Art is putting on quite a show outdoors. Through mid-May, an exhibition of works by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa extends beyond the museum’s walls and around its perimeter, where visitors can find a handful…
Opal Sands commissions local artists for resort-wide collection
The artwork around Clearwater Beach’s Opal Sands to create a one-of-a-kind gallery all its own.
Pot decriminalization moves forward in Tampa
Getting arrested for, say, a joint can be a harsh, harsh thing. You have to get a lawyer, show up to court and, if you're not lucky enough to afford a lawyer who can get you off on some kind of technicality, you get stuck with fines, possible jail time and a blemish on your…
The others: How soundbite politics get it wrong on immigration and foreign policy
As a local pastor cited a litany of reasons he supports presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who was to stand at that same podium within an hour, TV news cameras turned to the opposite end of the standing-room-only arena floor, where a group of young guys appeared on the verge of a frenzy. “Build that wall!…
Poet’s Notebook: A push, a nudge
What do we want from our friends if not a lifting once in a while of the world’s weight: I see you hunched at your desk eyes inches from a book… The poet Josephine Jacobsen once said, “Poetry is an immensely private occupation”; she’d never think of showing a poem to anyone before it was…
Sh*t happened 2/18/16: Suspicious package (heh), Florida’s own Doogie Howser, Clearwater Beach kills it
Hello, Thursday. You look nice, but we've been fooled before — take it easy on us, willya? We've still got Wednesday echoing in our hearts. An "unattended package" that caused a section of downtown Tampa to be shut down turned out to be a briefcase. Which is strange, because we would've assumed it was always…
Tonight in live music: Gary Clark, Jr., Melissa Etheridge
A few shows should be on your radar this Thurs., Feb. 18.
The beat goes on (and Erykah Badu hits the stage) at the fifth annual Gasparilla Music Festival
More than 40 artists are due playthe 2016 edition of GMF.
Gasparilla Arts Month Preview 2016
From visual arts to music to tech, Tampa’s month-long celebration of creativity is almost here.
Detroit post-punk outfit Protomartyr makes their Tampa Bay debut
The rising indie stars hit town behind third critically acclaimed LP, The Agent Intellect.
