Oh, right. This should probably make sense.
I have been informed that an introduction is in order, so here goes. Up until 2 weeks ago, I was a Weekly Planet staff writer (and according to the website, I still am). I left to move to San Francisco, but it's been a tough transition — so tough that I couldn't quite make a…
Mamafest Destiny Underway
KANSAS CITY, MO— The drive to San Francisco has begun — in fact, my mother and I are damn near halfway there, having crossed the mighty Mississip a few hundred miles back. This is an epic trip — three thousand some odd miles in five days, mother and son 2 feet from each other the…
Replacing Katherine Harris
I’m devoting some space in Political Whore this week to breaking down the Democratic primary in Congressional District 13 in Sarasota and Manatee counties, the seat now held by Katherine Harris. The GOP’s lightning rod is moving up for a U.S. Senate race, so her seat is open. Already there is a spirited Democratic primary,…
Update: Masquerade
It's over.
A Week in Review: Music
Toots and the Maytals packed Jannus Landing’s courtyard Tuesday night — a surprisingly large crowd for the second day of the week, but not so surprising if you consider that the so-called father of ska-reggae was performing. It was fun, energetic, uplifting, and at all times, musically fantastic. Toots, despite his somewhat questionable…
Is The Party Over for Masquerade?
There's been no word in the dailies, or even a post on the club's website, but we have it on good authority that enduring Ybor City nightclub/concert venue Masquerade is going under. According to Masquerade GM Tom DeGeorge, the place has been operating in the red for quite some time, and the landlord has delivered…
The Wider World of Sports
With football season over, I made a conscious decision to expand my sports viewing horizons. March Madness is a few weeks off, and the NBA regular season has become laborious. I can hardly watch more than a few minutes at a time. How to fill the void? The Winter Olympics was the…
100 Ideas for the GOP
Tripped across (via Sayfie) the Republican Party’s web entry, 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future. It bills itself as a real-time, interactive site for new ideas from the common people. It promises that its members (who control both branches of the legislature and the governor’s mansion) will listen and act. The ideas so far, however,…
Disappearing Central Tampa
Readers of the print and online versions of the Weekly Planet likely saw my story on the growing protest in Seminole Heights against the loss of its own news section in the Tampa Tribune. Dave Scott Banghart over at Seminole Heights Blog was kind enough to post a picture of yours truly taken at the…
Pizza Crust
Our Fearless Leader is good to us — in so many ways. For our Wednesday lunchtime editorial meetings, Dave (Warner, Editor) has pizza delivered from Gourmet Pizza Company. While, as someone who grew up in New Yoo-awk, I may be fairly discerning about my pizza, FREE pizza is always good (except for Pizza…
Snider in the House
I'm on, your resident reluctant blogger. Be gentle with me, and fuck off.
Driving Me Nuts, Monday edition
Trial lawyer television advertising has hit a new, and hilarious, low. This AM as I dressed, I witnessed an actress washing pots and pans on a commercial for the Fernandez Firm. She said, ““I’m not a lawyer; I’m a regular spokesperson, just like you.†We are all reeling, of course, from the weekend deaths of…
Just Announced
Chocodog.com e-mail subscribers received exciting news yesterday morning with Ween’s confirmation of some Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic tour dates. Tickets go on sale as early as March 3, and much anticipated Florida stops include: Fri., April 7 – Revolution200 W. Broward BlvdFort Lauderdale, FL954-727-0950 Sat., April 8 – Jannus Landing16 2nd St N. St Petersburg, FL727-896-1244…
Ricky Henderson likes Charlie Crist
Blurbex doesn’t like it when candidates start referring to themselves in the third person. It’s as creepy as the sports stars like Ricky Henderson who perfected the “What Ricky needs to do is concentrate on Ricky's business†third-person rap. On Wednesday, Charlie Crist did just that in an e-mail to supporters. He started in the…
Something Fishy at the Trib
Two quick thoughts on the Tampa Tribune, my former employer and the area's second-largest newspaper: The paper has moved serial name-caller Dan Ruth out onto the Metro front 3X a week. That tempers the good news that Steve Otto will not be out there as often as he has been. Second, I know the Tribune…
Mother Nature’s Population Control
In 2003, an estimated 43,000 people were killed in the ancient city of Bam, Iran. following a 6.5-scale earthquake. Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne raged through the Caribbean and Southeastern United States in 2004, and were responsible for more than 3,100 deaths. Later that year, the Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent Asian Tsunami devastated…
Politics and Advertising
The Bay Area Media Network turns its attention to politics at its monthly meeting with an interesting lineup of in-front-of-the-cameras people and behind-the-scenes players. Fresh from his appearance at the Planet’s Political Party, Joe Redner joins GOP consultant Adam Goodman, former state Rep. Sara Romeo, USF political science guru Susan MacManus, Tampa Tribune scribe Dan…
Ella Homage
MUSIC
Smoke and Mirrors
Why cigarettes? A tobacco novice decides to light up and find out.
Wine List
Tipsy Times in Tampa Bay
Not Destroyed by Madness
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Levon Been explains what happened to your rock ‘n’ roll.
Fightin’ Words
Seminole Heights residents want their neighborhood section back.
Music Menu
FRIDAY, FEB. 24 THE MOODY BLUES They started out in '65 as a worthy member of the British invasion with the hit "Go Now" (far and away the band's best song). Late in the decade, the Moodies shifted to artier fare like "Nights in White Satin," and the LP Days of Future Passed. By the…
Bobby and Wolfgang
Classical Music
Body Works
ART
Burnin’ Down the House
Hill-country blues
Double Duty
Tommy Lee Jones stars in and directs this year’s other great western.
Go Figure
Wine drinkers go under the microscope.
Slaves to History
Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargo
Two up-and-coming bands bring the jam to the ‘Burg.
Bankable Talents
Sacred Snickers
COMEDY
She improvs with age
A gift for improvisation has carried organist Rosa Rio through a century of change.
The Blotter
Natty Lights, Rolls & Wallet Shenangians
Backspin
Here, My DearMARVIN GAYEMotown This double LP (single CD) is most famous for being part of Marvin's divorce settlement with Anna Gordy, but it's also one of the most naked musical statements in pop annals. The songs chronicle a crumbling relationship, and are full of bitterness, regret, guilt, doubt, finger-pointing and self-recrimination. Gaye sings these…
Flan-Filled Weekend
FESTIVAL
Outtakes Brief
Running on Empty
A Hero’s Lesson
LECTURE/SCREENING
Outtakes
Recently reviewed movies
Numbers Don’t Lie?
The polls show us a lot of things, and not always the truth.
Sexy in Ybor City
Good food and a new mood bring pretty people to Acropolis.
News Scout
Sassy jokes from sassy folks
The X Factor
DISCUSSION
Kissing Ash
Some of us at the Planet can’t puff enough.
