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Feb 27 – Mar 4, 2008

Feb 27 - Mar 4, 2008 / Vol. 20 / No. 50

Hidden gem or …

I pass it whenever I take Park Boulevard east back to my home in West St. Pete, and if I keep my eyes peeled, I sometimes notice the small sign: “Mariscos el Pulpo.” It’s a Mexican restaurant, just west of the Albertson’s at the corner of 49th and Park. Housed in a small building set…

by Anthony Salveggi

TBARTA plans public meetings on regional corridors

Some thoughts on how to fix our transportation mess? Share them with the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) as it delves into creating a Regional Transportation Master Plan. The new agency plans a a series of community meetings as the first of many steps writing a transportation plan for Tampa Bay’s seven counties.…

by Jamie Forsyth

Immigration Bills Heading to Legislature

One thing I noticed after moving back to Tampa Bay, after a brief stint in Arizona, was the lack of immigration debate in Florida. Immigration issues certainly don’t top the list of state problems like they do in the Southwest and Midwest. I’ve always found this surprising considering Florida has the third-largest immigrant population in…

by Alex Pickett

Fond Favrewell

Fox Sports is reporting that Brett Favre has decided to hang up the jock strap after 17 incredible seasons as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. You can't argue with Favre's timing, seeing as his retirement follows his best season in years. Fox's Jay Glazer sums up Favre's final campaign this way: "He led the…

by Joe Bardi

k.d. lang, banjo-playing chick magnet

During her concert last night before an ecstatic near-capacity audience at Ruth Eckerd Hall, k.d. lang sang “The Valley” by Jane Siberry, complimenting her fellow Canadian singer/ songwriter for her combination of “passion and equanimity.” That’s a rare combination, but it’s one that lang can claim, too. As she demonstrated in number after number, including…

by David Warner

Robyn: ’Be Mine!’ video

Here in the states we’re largely stuck with brain-dead pop by prefabricated starlets (turned-mental-cases) like Britney Spears. Sweden has Robyn, a singer/songwriter who turns out gems such as “Be Mine!” A disco dance number that’s also smart and strikingly emotive, it was the first single off her 2005 self-titled album. The song finds Robyn evocatively…

by Wade Tatangelo

Tampa Bay’s Community Gardens

Price of veggies got you down? Tired of seeing those vacant lots in your neighborhood attract all sort of rubbish? Perhaps you should consider embarking on a quest to create a community garden. This week’s Urban Explorer chronicles the struggles for a community garden in Bartlett Park, and shines the spotlight on a few other…

by Alex Pickett

Photo of the Day

Time and Place: 3:30 p.m. on Florida Avenue in Tampa. Look closely at the sign, because the owner of Tampa Automotive Service Center certainly didn't when he came to work this morning. Apparently, vandals hit the marquee often.

by Alex Pickett

Road Rage

Seems like in recent weeks, morning traffic into Tampa over the Howard Frankland has been slowing to a crawl once you get over the hump. Today appeared to be no different, so I made the rather hasty decision to get into the far right lane so I could take Kennedy to my digs here at…

by Anthony Salveggi

Fort De Soto ‘Top U.S. Beach’

Last week, TripAdvisor told America what us Tampa Bay residents already knew: Fort De Soto Park is the No. 1 beach in the U.S. (Take that, Hawaii!) Of course, the state park has been on our Best of the Bay lists for years, culminating in a Hall of Fame award in 2006. TripAdvisor cited “a…

by Alex Pickett

Hillsborough commission meets on regional transportation

The Hillsborough County Commission, not the greatest friend to mass transit around these parts, is scheduled for a briefing from the new Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). The meeting is open to the public, so those who aren't busy, say, earning a living, can attend on Wednesday, March 5 Thursday, March 6, at…

by Wayne Garcia

Top 10: Songs for Hillary Clinton

On Tuesday, four primary elections could squelch Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's wish of returning to the White House as our country's first woman president. The former Democratic front-runner and world's most famous female cuckold appeared poised for victory in the early rounds of this brutal bout but if Clinton gets knocked down in Texas and…

by Wade Tatangelo

Mead, Mac, Pills, Shills and Naked Bourdain: Monday Media Wrap-Up

"If Winnie-the-Pooh ever took to the bottle, this is exactly what he'd want." "I look forward to the next ad—of my head, photo-shopped onto Barney Fife's naked body torturing a puppy." Emeril's new show focussed on local and organic ingredients? "The series is shot exclusively at Whole Foods Market." Fish stick recall affects Florida: "At…

by Brian Ries

The USDA Hates Local Foods

The government is not in the business of making it easier for you to find and purchase local foods. Just look at the draconian regulations that govern slaughterhouses, the USDA requirements (separate bathroom for the inspector?) so arduous and expensive that they all but eliminate boutique companies or local slaughterhouses from being able to slaughter…

by Brian Ries

Erykah Badu leads list of Sunday music links

Here's what piqued my interest while sitting outside, soaking up this warmest of winter days and scanning the 'Net: Eccentric R&B diva Erykah Badu on her freshly minted album New AmErykah, Part One (4th World War) (New York Times). More good news for everybody's favorite singer/tabloid star and recent Grammy winner: "Amy Winehouse will not…

by Wade Tatangelo

One box of chalks, one downtown sidewalk, one artist

(Photo by Franki Weddington, CL Staff Intern) Hani Shihada’s art might not be on display in the Tampa Museum of Art (which would be difficult, given that it is in the process of being torn down and rebuilt), but his work in the One City Center brick plaza a few blocks from the museum is…

by Franki Weddington

Waterboarding Video Up

The Bleepin Truth has the video of their waterboarding demonstration up on their site. Besides the video of my experience, and a brief interview, they have two videos of my fellow "detainee" Dennis Ruppert. If you haven't read my blog item about it, check it out here. Follow the jump for a few more photos…

by Alex Pickett

Things I hate today (and most likely will hate tomorrow)

I hate: • that rumors of Stevie Wonder playing Tampa Bay are unfounded. • when someone says “print is dead.” • that Omar on The Wire is dead. • that I only get to the beach three or four times a year. • Ben Affleck less than I used to. • fruit in my beer.…

by Eric Snider

Nowhere Man

Not that I want to speak ill of the recently deceased conservative icon William F. Buckley, and his positive contributions to political thought notwithstanding, but this ignorant quote attributed to him really rankles my inner Beatlemaniac.

by Anthony Salveggi

OneRepublic, Fabolous playing Tampa on April 19

Odd couple OneRepublic (pictured left) and Fabolous (bottom, right) have teamed for the Crocs Next Step Campus Tour, reports Billboard.com, and play USF's Sun Dome on April 19. The pop rock quintet OneRepublic's single "Apologize" recently became the second song in history to sell 3 million digital song downloads and bling rapper Fabolous' album From…

by Wade Tatangelo

Mixed votes on Hillsborough suburban sprawl

It ain’t sexy stuff to write about Hillsborough County’s urban services boundary, but the imaginary line that is supposed to contain suburban sprawl around Florida cities is important nonetheless. Around these parts, it is under assault: [Hillsborough County] Commissioners allowed a last-minute continuance of another bid to breach the county’s growth boundary, a move that…

by Wayne Garcia

Top 10: Songs for Leap Day

Leap Day, aka bissextile day, has always puzzled me. I don't have the head for numbers or a strong enough understanding of astronomy to really comprehend it. "February 29" looks weird on the calendar. Every four years, it sneaks up on me. I gaze down at the date displayed on my phone and feel like…

by Wade Tatangelo

The Ostrich’s Tail

This position is called the Ostrich's Tail because the woman's raised and spread legs give the impression of an ostrich's tail. This position is said to benefit both partners by allowing them to build up to a mutual orgasm. The woman begins this position on her back with her legs comfortably in front. The man…

by Eric J. Leech

Très Bien, Mars Volta, Miranda Lambert and more

Here's what I have running in the new Creative Loafing: Très Bien faces reality: The Clearwater band talks about their brush with national fame. CD reviews of Mars Volta, Raveonettes, more. Senior Editor Eric Snider on alto saxophonist Rudresh Manhanthappa and k.d. lang, I riff on Dan Penn. Miranda Lambert, People Noise, Tom Jones and…

by Wade Tatangelo

‘Everything Must Change Tour’ comes to St. Pete

One thing I’ve noticed since moving back to Florida is the large amount of liberal activist Christians that make their home in the Tampa Bay area. Rev. Bruce Wright of the Refuge, the Unitarian Universalists and other liberal congregations make up large contingents of the peace movement. They also typically speak out on gay rights…

by Alex Pickett

Alt-weeklies reach some closure in free press fiascos

Remember the double-shocker to the alt-weekly world back in October, when Orlando Weekly and Phoenix New Times staffers found themselves facing arrests and subpoenas after writing several critical articles on local police? Well, the papers have finally reached some closure. The Orlando Weekly's blog reports the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation dropped its racketeering charges against…

by Alex Pickett

Sarasota Mail Bag

While I'm working up the chutzpah for a new blog segment where I interview restaurateurs after my review of their establishment hits the paper, for good or ill, I thought I'd throw down some letters about a couple of recent reviews in Sarasota.

by Brian Ries

Band of Horses playing Tampa on March 22

In January, Skatepark of Tampa brought The Hold Steady to town for a killer 15th Anniversary bash. This event, featuring acclaimed indie rockers (with a twang bent) Band of Horses, pictured, should be another date not to miss. OK, so I didn't love their album Cease to Begin, but it seems everyone else does. Maybe…

by Wade Tatangelo

Want to be a citizen journalist?

We need your voice and knowledge! Let me know which issue is your area of expertise and something about your qualifications and/or knowledge about that issue in an e-mail and I'll see what I can do about getting you added as a guest blogger on Fix It Now.

by Wayne Garcia

FROM THE STREET (Fishnets and Kneepads)

The promise of cheese-on-a-stick, midway rides spinning me into a state of catatonic-nausea and ex-con carnies harassing me to win deformed stuffed animals would have to wait. … at least until after I got my fill of the Roller Derby State Championship at the FL State Fairgrounds. Anne Tagonize, president of the Tampa Bay Derby…

by Tampa Promotions

I Was Waterboarded

Dennis Ruppert, a personal trainer and former anti-terrorism specialist, undergoes a mock interogation — including waterboarding — on Dale Mabry Highway. _ Last night, two people were waterboarded in Tampa. One of them was 44-year-old Dennis Ruppert, a personal trainer and a former anti-terrorism specialist. The other was, well, me. Organized by The Bleepin’ Truth,…

by Alex Pickett

From the Street with Alfie: Fishnets and Kneepads

The promise of cheese-on-a-stick, midway rides spinning me into a state of catatonic-nausea and ex-con carnies harassing me to win deformed stuffed animals would have to wait. … at least until after I got my fill of the Roller Derby State Championship at the FL State Fairgrounds. Anne Tagonize, president of the Tampa Bay Derby…

by Shawn Alff

Word

"Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'Let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.'" —Actor Will Smith in a recent interview with the Daily Record, a Scottish newspaper…

by Franki Weddington

Andrea Gonzmart: “You can’t follow the fads”

Who? Andrea Gonzmart, fifth-generation member of the Hernandez-Gonzmart family, which founded the Columbia Restaurant in 1905. Sphere of influence: Gonzmart began working at the Columbia Restaurant when she was just 10; now, at 28, she co-manages the Tampa landmark with other family members. She serves on the board of directors for Ybor City's Chamber of…

by Alex Pickett

Wine List

Got an upcoming or ongoing wine event? Send information to: The Wine List, 810 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33606, fax 813-739-4801 or e-mail brian.ries@creativeloafing.com. BEST BETS: TOASTED PHEASANT WINE DINNER Toasted Pheasant Bistro, the new endeavor by former Le Bouchon owner and chef Peter Leonavicius, will be hosting its first wine dinner featuring a…

by CL Staff

Fix it now

You sent the message loud and clear: Start repairing Tampa Bay right away

by CL Staff

Why does the United States consider Cuba an enemy?

The United States considers Cuba an enemy because Cuba is bad. Not bad like Shaft was bad, or bad like "Put your pants back on, you naughty boy." But bad in an evil way. Cuba is a threat to the American way of life. How? Cuba is a dictatorship. Fidel Castro and his brother, Raul,…

by Andisheh Nouraee

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