Dreaming of the man of her dreams
"Dear Dream Momma, I'm a professional from Tampa and had a long, complicated dream last night that realy upset me. It's too long to describe here but the part that I can't get out of my mind is when I am deeply kissing this man. He is blond, well-built, and playful. Just the kind of…
Dreaming of a faceless woman
"dream momma, i live in Tampa, read creative loafing, and follow your blog. i've been looking for a woman, a real woman for a long time. i had a dream that a woman brushed by me. i could smell her, it was terrific, and i went to find her but couldn't. suddenly she brushed by…
ninebullets.net presents .357 String Band, Bob Wayne, and Dear Old Liar
ninebullets.net is bringing the .357 String Band & Bob Wayne’s revue style (think revival tour) show to The Emerald in Downtown St. Pete. If the idea of outlaw country and plenty of punk injected into your bluegrass sounds fun then this is a must see show. Opening is St. Pete’s own Dear Old Liar as…
Dreaming of a jeweled briefcase
"Hi Deam Momma, I've been checking out your blog. Read the dream about the guy whose suitcase was covered with jewels. That night I had the same dream except my suitcase was more like a briefcase. Hoped it meant I was going to get rich cuz I'm busting my ass trying to make a living…
CD review: Los Campesinos!, Romance Is Boring (with video)
To summarize albums, reviewers sometimes resort to wordplay and puns. The one for this album would be, "Romance Is Boring, isn't." And the reason it isn't is because the Welsh indie pop septet Los Campesinos! branch out a bit on their new record. As they did on previous albums, the band play fast-paced, infectious twee,…
Do It This Weekend: I Love St. Pete, Writers in Paradise, Cirque de la Symphonie, Monster Jam and more
You love the ’Burg, you really, really do. So get out of the house this Saturday and show your pride at ARTPool’s fourth annual I Love St. Pete art show. The vintage boutique hosts a nightlong celebration and showcase of the area’s eclectic art scene. Last year’s event featured exhibits by local artists, fashion, live…
Do It Today: Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Black Heritage Film Festival, The Florida Orchestra and more
When I began my freshman year at USF as a double major in journalism and English, I didn’t give much thought to the latter; it was just my “back-up” degree. What started as an afterthought turned into one of the best decisions of my life: the poetry and plays that I had heretofore deemed as…
Courtney Love defends Hole reformation (with video)
Courtney Love announced last summer she would slap the Hole name on her long-awaited (by someone) second solo effort Nobody's Daughter. Her band? No one from Hole. No Eric Erlandson. No Melissa Auf Der Maur. Some young kid named Micko Larkin on guitar. Not long after, we heard from guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder, and – most…
Valrico’s James McCabe playhouse inspires a community’s love of theater
The James McCabe Theater, home of the Village Players, houses the plays of modern day and some from long ago. The building itself was built in 1915 and was originally the home of the Valrico Civic Club. Today, the site is the home of theatrical productions with dedicated actors, Broadway shows, and amateur artists. The building was deeded…
The lost art of the one-man band
Too often modes of performance are shunned as novelty. The one-man band has suffered an unfortunate downfall of value, cultivating a reputation limited to street performer, the musician garbed in a cartoonish ensemble of horns, noisemakers, harmonicas, and percussion strapped about at every conceivable angle. Its art seems discarded to the side in favor of…
Video game pirate sentenced to a year in prison
Software pirates, beware! A UK man was sentenced to 12 months of jail time for importing and planning to resell 26,500 R4 cartridges, which allow Nintendo DS owners to play illegally downloaded games. While it is safe to say that gamers who use R4 cartridges for piracy use a few less than the aforementioned offender, gamers should…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, January 20: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one pot wonder is duck a l’orange with glazed root vegetables and dried apricot. $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa…
On the Radar: A Cinderella Story fuses jazz and ballet
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. We all know the story of Cinderella and her glass slipper; we all know how the detested Drew Barrymore murdered a million childhood fantasies when she played Cinderella in Ever After (pictured). But never have I seen a marriage…
Do It Today: Blithe Spirit at American Stage, a trippy electroacoustic concert at UT and a swordfighting seminar
I’m glad the folks at American Stage love British comedy as much as I do. It's opening night of Blithe Spirit, a tongue-in-cheek comedy classic, tells the story of a novelist who invites a medium into his house hoping to gather new material. In typical British style, everything goes hilariously awry when the ghost of…
Make like a tree to see the electric Nissan Leaf firsthand during the ‘Zero Emission Tour’
Having just unveiled their new vehicle, that runs entirely on electricity, The Leaf, Nissan is planning a stop in Orlando later this month to let consumers see this electric wonder firsthand. This zero gas and emissions answer to the hybrid Chevy Volt runs at 107 horsepower – entirely on a battery. The Leaf runs on…
Tampa Bay Economic Scorecard: Income up, Housing down, Tampa ranked in the middle
Tampa Bay ranked third amongst six Southeastern cities in the most recent economic assessment conducted by Tampa Bay Partnership. The scorecard measured Tampa Bay against Dallas, Jacksonville, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Raleigh-Durham performed best while Atlanta bottomed out the list. The rankings resulted from each city’s performance in six categories: Employment and Workforce; Income and Productivity;…
New releases out this Tuesday, January 19: Eels, Surfer Blood, Missy Elliot and more.
This week's new music releases; for a complete breakdown of hot new releases due out in the next several months, click here. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 , IRM (Because/Elektra) Dinowalrus, % (Kanine) Eels, End Times (Vagrant) The HotRats, Turn Ons (Fat Possum) Sonny Landreth, Mississippi Blues (Varese Sarabande) Lindstrom & Christabelle, Real Life Is No Cool…
The Rock Report: Will Quinlan and Truckstop Coffee at New World Brewery
The rains made the night was less than hospitable but those that made it out were treated to a wonderful night of music. We arrived just was Knoxville's Matt Woods was wrapping his set up so I immediately hit the bar for some social lubrication. Two Red Seal Ales into the night The Most Beautiful…
Coachella 2010 lineup announced: Pavement, Jay Z, Thom Yorke among the headliners
The headliners for this year's Coachella Music and Arts Festival was announced today. The three-day event, which along with Bonaroo in June are considered the premiere outdoor events of the rock music festival world in the states, will take place April 16-18 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. The Sunday night line-up in…
Vinyl diving with the Holiday Auction winner
The winner of CL's Indie Record Shopping Spree, Safety Harbor wife and mother Christi Atkins, purchased the package as a surprise birthday gift for her husband, Jeff Mahar. She wanted to keep it secret until the day we actually went shopping — Saturday, January 9, shortly after Jeff’s actual birth date — and so we…
Reunited and it feels so good: alcohol and I are back together
As an update on my New Year’s resolution, I regret to inform you that Alcohol and I got back together. Yes, I broke it off two weeks ago because we were headed in different directions. Alcohol did not support my desire to achieve a strong midsection, so I told Alcohol that I needed a break.…
Ginger Ale channels her poetic sex goddess
I can’t help it, I like to tell people I’m a sex blogger. I’m proud of what I do. I like the attention. I get a lot of weird looks, crazy stares and personal questions—the most popular of which is: “Exactly how much sex do you have?” Here’s my answer… Sex Goddess by: Maggie Estep
Sony announces Spider-reboot: trades Spider-Man 4 Spider-Boy
First a musical, now this? Too bad Peter Parker used up all of his emo in Spider-Man 3. Sorry, Tobey. Sony has announced Spider-Man 4 as a no-go, opting instead for a reboot of their $2.4 billion franchise. The press release, with a few bolded liberties, reads like a supervillain monologue: Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) — Peter…
Treeless paper made from elephant poop? (video)
In Sri Lanka, the relationship between the local farmers and the indigenous elephants hasn't always been the friendliest. Thousands of elephants have been killed in this country – not for their tusks, hide or meat, but because they're a nuisance, wandering into the farmers' crops and trampling them. Luckily, the elephants and and farmers are…
Theater Review: The Drunken City is a disappointing bender
There are smart drunks and stupid drunks. Smart drunks are like the guys in Long Day’s Journey Into Night: the more they imbibe, the more articulate they become and the more honest about their lives. In a drunken state, Edmund Tyrone regales his father with his memories of a mystical experience on board ship, when…
Restaurant Review: I’m lucky that Lucky Dill Deli won this CL Holiday Auction lot
Lucky Dill Deli 5 Stars (Read below.) 2800 Alt 19, Palm Harbor, 727-789-5574? or luckydilldeli.com Some people were highly skeptical, even critical, of CL's Holiday Auction. Much of that was heaped on one auction lot, where we gave people a chance to purchase a five-star restaurant review from yours truly, likely the only five-star review…
Concert review: The Florida Orchestra plays Led Zeppelin (with pics)
It's official. My life is complete. Last night, I finally got to rock out to Led Zeppelin, live. Okay, so it wasn't the real Led Zeppelin, but it's as close as I'm gonna get. Led Zeppelin led (no pun intended) a musical revolution in the late '60's with their fusion of hard rock, blues, and…
It Happened This Week-ish: Megan Fox engaged? Idol is back and better than ever, Heidi Montag becomes less human and Channing Tatum loses his manhood, kinda
This week has been chock-full-o-dramatics. The land of pop culture has blessed me with a gift, a gift of more news than I can possibly cover, and they even delivered it in a sparkly package tied up with a ginormous bow in the shape of Conan's lovely locks. So sit back, relax, put on your…
An Irreverent View of current political events
By Chris Ingram Republicans will be dissapointed In Massachusetts, Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 3:1. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama bested John McCain by 26 points. Massachusetts is home to large labor unions and one of the most liberal state legislatures in the country. But if you believe the most recent polls, Republican…
Health care on the line in Massachusetts? Dems chastise McCollum for his anti MLK Day vote, and District 58 contenders mix it up: Mitch Perry Report 1.19.10
The national political world is staring at Massachusetts today. But as we point out today, it's not like the state never elects Republicans; The nation and Florida celebrated and honored Martin Luther King Jr. yesterday on what would have been his 81st birthday. But the Florida Democratic Party wants to alert Floridians that if Bill…
Nearly all District 58 candidates debate in Tampa Monday night
Last night four of the five candidates who are on the ballot in the District 58 House special election engaged in a candidates forum at Oak Grove Church of God in Tampa. The event was sponsored by several Latino media organizations, with Tampa Univision reporter Gonzalo Alvarado and Pinecrest-West Park Neighborhood Civic Association board member…
Sundance Film Festival TwentyTen
Starting this Thursday, Creative Loafing will have a couple film geeks on the ground in Park City dishing on the scene and the seen. Hi! We are Chris & Jenn. We are both veteran Sundancers with a total of 18 under our collective belts. Not content to just see the films, we will also continue…
Introduction to Code Green Community and how you can get involved (video)
What is Code Green Community? We are a devoted group of citizens encouraging other citizens to engage with their local communities. We inspire and attract local community organizers and help train them coordinate their communities to become sustainable following the transition town method. An open source, non-profit organization dedicated to creation of sustainable and resilient…
Democrats freaking out about Massachusetts
If Scott Brown does defeat Martha Coakley in the much watched Massachusetts Senate race tonight, it's because independent voters in the Bay State are leaning overwhelmingly toward the Republican in the race. Although much is made of how Blue the state is as a Democratic redoubt, 2.1 million voters (more than half the voters in…
Florida Dems try to embarrass Bill McCollum on MLK Day
Florida Attorney General and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum was doing what all political candidates do on MLK Day – issuing out statements either in praise of or calling attention to an even they're at in honor of the slain civil rights leader. But McCollum has a long record, certainly in Congress, where he spent…
On the Radar: Monster Truck Jam
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming events to mark your calendar for. The growly-voiced announcer on the Monster Truck Jam commercials makes this Saturday's derby one of my favorite events of the year. (You know, “sponsored by Beef O’ Brady’s and DAIRY QUEEN!” I never imagined that hamburgers and ice cream cones…
Do It Today: African-American artist Ernie Barnes opening reception, meet St. Pete’s Poet Laureate Peter Meinke and more
Lauded as "America’s foremost African-American artist," Ernie Barnes wiry subjects — most frequently portrayed playing sports — are energetically rendered in bold colors and action-driven poses. An opening reception for Selected Works of Ernie Barnes is held at 6 p.m. on Tues., Jan. 19; On display through Feb. 26. (Pictured: "Sugar Shack," Copyright 1976. Courtesy…
One year later: The distance between Candidate Obama and President Obama
On January 20th, 2009, Husband bought home a bottle of Champagne in the middle of the day. We were in the mood to celebrate. This happens quite often; it doesn’t take much to put me in a good mood and eager for a glass of Chandon. Perhaps my twin sons remembered to lift up the…
CL’s Golden Globes breakdown
Sunday brought us the 67th annual Golden Globe awards, and promised us an unleashed Ricky Gervais as host, along with some amazing surprises. For once, NBC delivered on their promise. Host Gervais was brash and harsh and completely hilarious as expected and poked fun at Steve Carrell, script writers in general, Colin Farrell, Sir Paul…
The Diary of the Unemployed Housewife: Stripper shoes, you know you own a pair
We headed over to a friend's house to watch the playoffs on Saturday night, teenager in tow. She brought along a couple of friends, thank god — I find that teenagers are much more self-contained when you travel with them in groups. Just feed them and they are pretty much maintenance-free. You just have to…
The 10 differences between me, you and Brett Favre (with video)
10 ) Us: Most of us look better in purple than we do in green and yellow. Brett: So does Brett, but when he changed colors, it upset an entire fan base. 9 ) Us: We all have moments of indecision. Brett: Favre’s are moments of national security. 8 ) Us: Most of us work longer…
Mixed Martial Arts promotion AOF to host amateur event Rumble at the Ritz on Jan.30
The Tampa based mixed martial arts promotion Art of Fighting (AOF) will host an amateur International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) kickboxing and submission grappling event, Rumble at the Ritz, at the Ritz in Ybor City on Jan. 30, 2010. This martial arts competition is AOF's first attempt to support the sanctioning of amateur MMA in…
James Zambon – Contributor
James is the man behind the photography at AfterTheHours.com. He is always behind a camera and usually drinking whiskey on the rocks at parties and concerts. He also has an unhealthy obsession with zombie movies. email: holla@thejam.es | AIM: jazambon
Rock wall climbing: more than just physical ability
One of my favorite aspects of fitness is the lack of brainpower involved. Before I lose you, just hear me out on this one. If you factor out the basic mental necessities to execute the action (such as common sense) it truly doesn’t take a significant amount of thought to break a sweat. Studies have…
PostSecret national tour to visit USF
"My family's failures are my inspiration." "The bruises on my knees are from masturbating all weekend." "Sometimes I hope to be hit by a drunk driver, just to teach my alcoholic father a lesson." "I wish I had more reasons to get on Facebook than just to play Farmville." "I want to make a difference…
Concert review: Foreigner and Eddie Money at Ruth Eckerd Hall (with pics)
When I checked the Upcoming Concerts listings and saw that Eddie Money would be touring with Foreigner, and the two would be appearing at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, I thought, “Well, why not? Now there’s a show that will be hilariously amazing.” And it was, but in a completely different sense than I’d…
Lingerie Football’s Tampa Breeze blows by the NY Majesty (pics)
should be renamed the Hurricanes after Friday night's demolition of The New York Majesty with their air and land assaults. Whether you came to the The St. Pete Times Forum to watch the sexy celebration dances of women with uniform spray-on tans and six-pack bodies packed into impossibly tight lingerie, or just to see our…
Important Pinellas County Commission public hearing to pass fertilizer management ordinance, Tues. (1/19)
For all those who are concerned about the quality of our waterways, please attend the public hearing this Tuesday night, January 19th, when the Pinellas County Commission will vote on the important Fertilizer and Landscape Management ordinance. We need your support for this important water quality measure. National industries have taken an unprecedented interest in…
Senator Mike Bennett wants to use tax dollars to campaign against Florida Hometown Democracy
Senator Mike Bennett -R of Bradenton (developer and politician) is at it again. As if saddling the whole state with SB 360 last year (a bill that dismantled what little growth management Florida did have), an attempt to abolish the DCA (the state's planning agency) and then his proposal to extend term limits for state…
Four Corners inspires new work from four favorites: Frank Strunk III, Bask, Anthony Zollo and Gali Nieves
A TV, books, an ashtray. Maybe a pack of cigarettes, a notebook, a bookcase. What about a transistor radio? Frank Strunk III just finished a major metal installation at a bank in downtown Tampa. Strunk has made a name for himself as a metalworker, his signature industrial design appearing in financial centers, bars and houses,…
The Allman Brothers Band present the 2010 Wanee Music Festival lineup
If you’re looking for a great way to spend a weekend, check out the 2010 Wanee Music Festival in Live Oak, this years scheduled to occur April 16-17. Promoters have just announced the lineup and it sounds like a weekend full of good music. The Allman Brothers headline their fest as usual with guests Widespread…
Homeless find storage and more in The Locker Project. So why can’t it open?
Celebrate Outreach! is a conglomeration of Tampa Bay churches whose mission is, “preventing and ending homelessness in our area through social justice, advocacy, community education and direct service.” The partnership is responsible for organizing a popular Friday night meal, Saturday morning breakfast, the initiation of cold-shelters and, most recently, The Locker Project. On January 24th,…
MLK Day events, Alan Grayson comes to Tampa, and health care on the line tomorrow? Mitch Perry Report 1.18.10
Today is MLK Day. (Why am I working?) Major events will take place in Tampa, St. Pete, and Lakeland today. We've got more here: The entire political establishment is watching tomorrow night's Massachusetts special election Senate Primary – the passage of a health care bill in the Senate could be at stake; And fiery Democratic…
Four simple rules for a healthier, greener diet
Our culture shapes our diets, corporations market choices to us, restaurants we like to spend time in (or like because we spend basically no time in) line almost every road in our city. Our supermarket society makes it easy for us to eat foods that sound or look healthy without our understanding of the contents…
On MLK Day, focus is on Haiti
Today the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday is being observed nationally, and there will be major parades in honor of the slain civil rights hero today in the Tampa Bay area. As has been the case in the past couple of years, the Tampa event begins right in front of WMNF radio, at MLK Jr.…
Alan Grayson fundraises in Tampa
Orlando area Democrat Alan Grayson has a bulls-eye on his chest. The outspoken freshman Representative was in Hyde Park in South Tampa on Saturday, at a fundraiser hosted by attorney Tom Scarritt and his wife Linda. He says he's halfway to his goal of raising $2 million for his re-election race this fall. Grayson outraged…
Politics are toxic for Democrats “either way” McConnell says on health care bill
With the continuing humanitarian crises in Haiti dominating the focus of the Sunday morning chat shows, the number one political story in the U.S. will climax sometime tomorrow night in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where the special election to determine the successor to Ted Kennedy is considered a too close to call fight between Democrat…
Crashing the Orlando 2010 Jobs Summit aka Kill Amendment 4 Rally
By George Niemann PoHo contributor and R-LAND, UCAN, FHD-Amendment 4, FSP activist The views expressed are my own and not necessarily shared by the organizations to which I belong The Florida Jobs Summit took place on Friday January 15, 2010 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando. It was hosted by Sen. Mike Haridopolus…
On the Radar: Eckerd College Writers’ Conference — Writers in Paradise
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. There are more writers than you can shake a manuscript at participating in this week’s Eckerd College Writers’ Conference: Writers in Paradise. Among the authors I’ll be vying to meet: Sheri Reynolds, who has received the ultimate in literary…
Do It Today: join the MLK Day celebrations, hear the Glenn Miller Orchestra or meet a Pushcart Prize poet
Today's Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration includes the MLK Leadership Breakfast, where Dr. Crystal Kuykendall of the National Council of Negro Women serves as keynote speaker and the Drum Major For Justice National Parade. The parade route begins at Third Avenue S. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and proceeds north to Central Avenue, east…
Swinger mom answers your questions
I've received a number of emails from readers seeking advice on sex and the swinger lifestyle. Here are a few that represent pretty common problems. Mr. X: I have been married for seven years and wife was a virgin when we got married. She was never a particularly sexual person and I am the complete…
CD/DVD box set review: The Rolling Stones, Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!
The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! (2009 Edition) This little time-capsule bursts forth out of the speakers just as you would expect – with gritty sound quality and druggy edginess. It is a proper mess, in other words. The late, great Lester Bangs had a few things to say about it (see the…
Concert review: Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso
If the name isn't crazy enough for you, just check out this bands music. Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso, from St. Petersburg, are an insane combination of ska, reggae, and punk. Then I did some research and found out they play a specific style called guitar calypso, which is a combination…
Times endorses Kemp; Trib endorses Cruz in District 58 Democratic Primary
Both local dailies came out with their endorsements in the State House District 58 race this morning. The St. Pete Times endorses Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Pat Kemp. The editorial says: "Kemp brings a serious agenda to this race — jobs, consumer and environmental protection, a fairer system for taxation, and available and…
Tips on scoring a table at a hot restaurant, and why tipping well pays
Besides being asked to recommend cocktails and wines, I get a fair numbers of questions about restaurants. Mostly, people ask if I know any tricks to scoring a reservation at some hot restaurant. Especially for holidays like Valentine’s Day and New Year’s or, honestly, during the height of our winter tourist season. Can’t say I…
CD review: Spoon, Transference
Rock-snob darling Spoon is just one of those bands that always sounds like itself — whether Britt Daniel and company are screwing around with classic R&B tropes, soulful multi-instrumentation or timeless chamber-pop, the familiar listener knows in just a few seconds exactly what group they're hearing. Which is a good thing, because those elements of…
Forget snakes on a plane, worry about ‘super snakes’ in your backyard
have been on Florida's invasive species list for over a decade, living and reproducing in the Everglades and other parts of South Florida. Now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have a bigger problem on their hands: the African rock python. This snake has recently been spotted in South Florida, five having just…
Interview with Mike Mitchell, “I’m With Coco” artist and Conan O’Brien supporter. UPDATED with rally info
We're only a few weeks into the new year and already it looks like one of the biggest entertainment stories of the decade is upon us. NBC's late-night lineup has been a fixture for over a half-century, but in the last few weeks this TV staple has been rocked to its core. Conan O'Brien, the…
Amber McDonald – Contributor
Amber graduated from j-school in 2006 and, not long after, relocated to the Tampa Bay area for no other reason than she assumed a quarter-life crisis would be a better experience if sun and palm trees were involved. Favorite local things consist of Creative Loafing (obviously), Jannus Landing, WMNF, The Undertow, Davis Island’s dog park,…
Local Tampa officials praise Castor as they bask in a $38 million grant to rebuild Central Park Village
This morning in Tampa, Mayor Pam Iorio, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and Tampa Housing Authority chairman Jerome Ryans were among the officials who spoke in near ecstatic terms today, a day after learning that the Obama administration had awarded $38 million to Hillsborough County – with $28 million going directly into funding the long delayed plan…
Project Runway Podcast ep. 1: Back in New York with more talent, more tears, a baby seal and one jollysexual
Welcome to the very first episode-recapping edition of the Project Runway podcast!! (Can you feel the excitement?) So, this week was pretty typical of any Runway premiere, intros to all the designers, some hilarious moments from Anthony (who will be referred to from this point on as "The Jolly Homosexual" or "Jollysexual"), a fairly vanilla…
Theater Review: Side Show at the Francis Wilson Playhouse
We’re all a little freaky inside, aren’t we? Go to see the Francis Wilson Playhouse production of Side Show to experience the world through the eyes of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. These courageous young women make a change from being a circus sideshow act to becoming famous vaudeville performers in the 1930s. The…
The pay-per-view sports event we would all like to see
“I’m an idea man, Chuck” -Michael Keaton as Bill Blazejowski in Night Shift Hey, I have ideas too. Good ones sometimes. And just like every other sports fan, I have unanswered questions. In the wake of Mark McGwire’s steroid confession, the impact of which will soon fade, I thought of a pay-per-view opportunity that would make…
Help Haiti’s earthquake victims now — here’s how
We are keeping an ongoing list of ways to help the victims of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake. Please add other suggestions in the comments section, and we will continue to update the list from your input. To see how funds make their way from aid organizations to the victims, follow the link to this interesting CNN…
Global warming: We were warned over fifty years ago (video)
Apparently, even fifty years ago, some were already hip to the notion of global warming. This prophetic video (below) is a clip from an episode of a series of educational films called "The Bell Laboratory Science Series", that aired in the late '50s to mid '60s, and were shown in science classrooms for many years.…
Disclosed: Charlie Crist’s strategy session
At the Crist for U.S. Senate campaign headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida Governor Charlie Crist meets with campaign manager Eric Eikenberg By Chris Ingram Charlie (with a big grin): Hey Eric! How are you? Eric: I’m fine, and you sir? Charlie: Feeling tanned. Where are you from Eric? Eric (with a puzzled look on his face): Uh, er,…
WMNF Emergency Fundraiser for Haiti Relief aims to raise $100,000; hours extended to 6 p.m. today
WMNF 88.5 FM is once again putting the "community" into "community radio." Having successfully raised $132,000 in a one-day fundraiser in 2005 for victims of Hurricane Katrina, the station is appealing to its listeners today to make donations to be split evenly among four organizations bringing aid to survivors of the Haiti earthquake: Wyclef Jean’s…
Are those “green” products all they’re cracked up to be? Find out at Ecoscene
Ever wondered if all of those products touted to be "green" really are just that? Find out if you're making a good purchase or just being greenwashed by visiting Ecoscene – a site that tests green/natural/organic products and services to inform their readers of what they're purchasing – if it's really all it's claimed to…
Barry Cohen wants Jim Leavitt to “man up”; President Obama’s first-year evaluations: Mitch Perry report 1.15.10
As USF named Skip Holtz to replace Jim Leavitt with their football program, the young man who was involved in the altercation with Leavitt that led to his demise, Joel Miller, held a news conference Thursday. Or, should we say his attorney, Barry Cohen did. Next week will mark the end of Barack Obama's first…
Single dad: How to cook for six kids (it takes a lot of juggling)
I understand we go through a number of changes in taste as we grow up. I can still recall myself as a child, first liking a certain food and then disliking it. Later, in some cases, I ended up liking it again. But I wasn’t fickle. Honest. I’ve heard that all children go through similar…
On the Radar: Long Day’s Journey Into Night at The Studio@620
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week marks a limited run of Long Day's Journey Into Night at The Studio@620. When I began my freshman year at USF as a double major in journalism and English, I didn’t give much thought to the latter;…
The Diary of the Unemployed Housewife: Please pass the mojitos
Hi, I'm the Unemployed Housewife — unemployed since losing my job in human resources in December, and a housewife since, well, getting married, but getting lots more housewifey by the minute the more time I spend at home. (How much TLC can one person watch?) Besides giving me a chance to complain about the lousy…
Brandon neighborhood snatched from the clutches of developer rainman
By George Niemann PoHo contributor and R-LAND, UCAN, Amendment 4, FSP activist The ideas expressed are my own and not necessarily those of the organizations to which I belong At the land use meeting held on January 12, 2010 in downtown Tampa, Hillsborough’s Board of County Commissioners decided to spare a Brandon neighborhood from further…
Movie trailer: Chloe, featuring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried (NSFW, with video)
The newest trailer for a movie called Chloe is out, and people are taking notice. Before you shrug it off as just another French movie, note the A-list cast: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and Jennifer’s Body co-star Amanda Seyfried. At first, the movie looks like a typical love-triangle-gone-awry story, with Moore hiring Amanda Seyfried to…
Michelle Hurd – Contributor
Michelle Hurd is a 33 year old unemployed housewife living in the Tampa Bay Area. She was born in St. Petersburg, but was a military brat growing up all over the U.S. and finally landed back in the Tampa Bay area in 1994. She is a wife, a stepmom and a student in her senior…
Upcycled art and recycled fashion at ‘Re:Create: The Art of Upcycle’ event in Ybor
One man's trash is another man's work of art, this being the case at the upcoming 'Re:Create: The Art of Upcycle' event. It's only fitting that the event be held at the Project 3.0 site itself: the historic "greenovated" Roosevelt in Ybor. This unique art show will feature recycled art by local artists, such as…
Z.J. Hafeez running for House District 67
South Hillsborough County native Z.J. Hafeez is only 26 years old, but don't tell him he's too young to run for the Florida State House. A New College of Sarasota and Georgetown Law School graduate, Hafeez is an uber-achiever who considers himself a bridge builder in working with various groups – whether it be of…
Detroit Liquors to re-open this weekend in downtown St. Pete
As part of the ongoing re-do of all the businesses under the auspices of the new Jannus Landing owners, the closed Detroit Liquors will re-open this weekend. Is it exciting? Maybe, if you want inexpensive hooch. The store's gimmick is cheap liters, many priced as low as 750 ml bottles at other spots. Full press…
Skip Holtz reported to be new coach at USF
The Web site Fanhouse is reporting this afternoon that East Carolina Coach Skip Holtz will take over at USF, replacing Jim Leavitt. The 45 year-old Holtz, the son of former Notre Dame coach and now ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz, led East Carolina this year to their second straight Conference USA title in 2009, as well…
CD review: The Spongetones present Jamie & Steve, English Afterthoughts (with video)
I’ll be the first to admit to my longtime addiction to pop music, but let me be clear; I’m talking about “pop music,” not just what’s popular. In recent years, way too many artists have been lumped into the pop music category, turning the genre into a murky cesspool of music that bears little resemblance…
Leigh Toborowsky – Contributor
I am a native New Jerseyian who graduated from the University of South Florida in 1987. I have had a passion for animals and the human/animal bond since before I could remember. I moved to Tampa after working for the largest distributor of pet supplies in the country as a sales rep and learning over 22,000…
Obama pledges aid, says Haiti has not been “forsaken”
Pat Robertson is playing God, saying those infidels in Haiti are just getting what they've deserved ever since their alleged pact with the devil, oh, 200-some years ago. Rush Limbaugh is playing politics, saying Obama is just too damn compassionate toward those thousands of dead furriners and wasn't anywhere near enough upset by the underwear…
3 Guys & Chuck The Podcast – Ep. 3.01-3.03
The Three Guys are back, and better than ever. This time around, we’re putting our Glee hats to the side, and picking up our nerd hats for Chuck, the NBC spy drama/comedy that started its third season on Sunday. If you've seen it, you'll enjoy our witty banter. If you missed it, click anyway, because…
The votes are in: CL’s Top 10 Albums of the Decade
The time has finally come. After some discussion and much input from the rest of our contributing staff, we have narrowed down the top 10 selections of our 100 Best Albums of the Decade. Before we reveal the winners, let's take a quick look at the albums that didn't quite make the cut or that…
NO HEADLINE
Unless you’re a police officer, you can only imagine what it’s like having a partner. We see it portrayed in books and films, and I gather it’s something like a marriage. So when you’re starting out together – when you get assigned a new partner – it’s sort of like an arranged marriage. There’s a…
Crime & punishment & great reading
Unless you’re a police officer, you can only imagine what it’s like having a partner. We see it portrayed in books and films, and I gather it’s something like a marriage. So when you’re starting out together – when you get assigned a new partner – it’s sort of like an arranged marriage. There’s a…
Bill Nelson says health care will pass in a month, Tampa wants the RNC , and a sad anniversary is remembered in St. Pete: Mitch Perry Report 1.14.10
Major Democrats were involved in an all day discussion yesterday regarding getting a health care bill together; Bill Nelson told us on Tuesday he thinks a bill were be ready for the President to sign by the State of the Union. Is he too optimistic? Are Tampa officials ready to get their heart broken again…
Advocates use tent slashing anniversary to renew attention on homeless in St. Pete
This afternoon advocates for the homeless in St. Petersburg will meet in front of City Hall at 3p.m. to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of an ugly moment in police/homeless relations anywhere. That's when members of the St. Pete Police slashed the tents of some homeless people and destroyed their meager belongings. Remember? Listed below is…
Jennifer Love Hewitt explains why women should vagazzle their va-jay-jays with crystals (video clip)
After chatting about her new book, The Day I Shot Cupid: My Name is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic, on Lopez Tonight, Hewitt went on to explain why she has developed the habit of bedazzling her vagina with Swaroski Crystals. "After a breakup a friend of mine Swarovski-crystaled my 'precious lady' and it…
Is Tampa prepared emotionally to be rejected by the GOP again?
The St. Petersburg Times' Janet Zink reports this morning that, despite being jilted at the alter the last two times around, Tampa officials will submit a bid to host the 2012 Republican National Convention tomorrow. If you'll recall from the early part of the millennium, local politicos of all political stripes were quite optimistic that…
CD reviews/dual release show preview: Marksmen and Tailgunner Joe & the Earls of Slander
Tampa-based indie rock bands Tailgunner Joe & the Earls of Slander [pictured, photo by Ed Richter] and the Marksmen stage a dual CD release concert in celebration of their new respective studio recordings – Tailgunner Joe’s is the The Money Game EP; Marksmen present The Blue and Grey EP. Both foursomes perform at Crowbar this…
Democrats in a furious battle to clear up issues on health care bill
On Tuesday in Tampa, Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson told reporters that negotiations between conferees in the House and Senate on a health care reform bill should be done by the end of this month. Of course, we've heard that one before. Yesterday, there was an all-day long session held in Washington with major Democrats,…
Giving Mike Deeson his due
Yesterday we blogged about the recent news about a potential new client interested in renting out a building owned by Tampa International Airport, the building that airport director Louis Miller had wanted to demolish, but now will hold off on. We gave credit to the St. Petersburg Times, who did report that it was the…
R.I.P.: Musician Jay Reatard found dead
This just in from our friends at Pitchfork: Musician and recent CL interview Jay Reatard is dead. It's too early for any info on what killed Reatard (Pitchfork has him being found dead in bed, a la Brittany Murphy), but it will be a little while before the incriminating toxicology report comes back from the…
Movie review: Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli — a faith-based action/adventure
Denzel Washington not only stars in, but is also an Executive Producer of, the new Hughes Brothers film, The Book of Eli. As such, I assume he had a guiding role in its creation. This post-apocalyptic story is being marketed as a brooding and violent action flick, and it definitely delivers some intense and visually…
Get ready to read Obama one-year evaluations over the next week
Fresh off spending the last month writing Best of 2009 and/or Best of the Decade lists, political commentators will now begin for at least the next week writing their evaluations of Barack Obama's first year in office. The president himself is weighing in, admitting to People magazine in their issue released on Friday that he's…
One man’s trash is another’s treasure at the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Refashion’ event this weekend
One man's trash is another man's treasure, right? Come see what treasures you can find at Creative Clay's 'Reduce, Reuse, Refashion' event this Friday and Saturday (January 15 and 16), from 8 am until 2 pm both days. From kayaks to canvases, they're selling their overstock and storage unit treasures at garage sale prices Come…
A juicing Big Mac: Mark McGwire’s steroid admission use leaves more questions than answers
I don’t like movies that are predictable, like the typical romantic comedy where the couple who despises each other falls in love or the true-crime thriller where we know the killer’s identity from scene one. Scriptwriters may try to pull the wool over our eyes, but the American public is not stupid. We might be…
Grammar made sexy: It’s v. Its
Using proper grammar is like having sex with someone you love. To get the desired effect—and really make your readers squeal—you have to place the right words in the right places, finesse your commas in between the right clauses, and then interrobang the shit out of your sentences when you’re ready to climax. A bad…
Behind the scenes at a beer dinner: Mr. Dunderbak’s and Boulder Beer Company
Having a beer with dinner isn't such an unusual idea, but what about designing an entire meal around a collection of brews. Not many people know what goes into planning, organizing, and executing a beer dinner – or even the general idea behind beer dinners. It's where you skip food and have beer for dinner…
St. Petersburg social service agency wins $2.3 million stimulus grant
Labor Department Secretary Hilda Solis announced on a conference call this morning that St. Petersburg based Boley Centers has been awarded $2.3 million federal grant to create a green jobs training program for young adults who are disadvantaged and unemployed who live in St. Pete. Tampa Bay area Representative Kathy Castor said during the same…
Pat Kemp supporters blast the idea that District 58 is a Hispanic seat
Some Hillsborough County Democrats are blasting published comments by Patrick Manteiga and Vic DiMaio that the House District 58 seat is a Hispanic seat, and should remain as such going into the special election being held later this month. “According to that logic, I had no business running in District 57," says Yolie Capin, a…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: The XX
My good friend Mat (only one "t" necessary, no need for redundancy) recently introduced me to The XX. Although the band is only four years old and have only released one studio LP, the Guardian UK placed them at number one on their "Album of the Year List", NME ranked them at number two, Pitchfork…
Lowry Park Zoo goes solar with new PV panels and renewable energy system
A few days before Christmas, the newest additions to the Lowry Park Zoo were finished and unveiled (and I'm not talking about penguins or baby pandas): 65 solar photovoltaic (PV) cells that are attached to the shade structure and night house in the elephant quarters. This $800,000 project that was funded by TECO (Tampa Electric…
Theater Review: What the Butler Saw is inspired lunacy
One of the funniest performances I’ve seen in years is being offered these days by Caroline Jett as the horny alcoholic Mrs. Prentice in Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw. This Jobsite Theater production is worth viewing for lots of reasons, but even in a strong cast, Jett’s desperate housewife stands out. She's a woman who can’t…
Kendrick Meek encourages aid to Haiti, more news at Tampa International, and Ronda Storms has a GOP challenger: Mitch Perry Report 1.13.10
As we learn more about the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, Miami area Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek, who represents many Haitians in his district, is trying to lead efforts to send aid to the stricken nation; Remember last week's contentious Tampa International Airport meeting on that proposed building to be demolished that board member Steve…
Reports of catastrophe of “major proportions” coming out of Haiti
As of this posting (9 a.m. Wednesday) there are still no official casualties reported in the devastating 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti Tuesday afternoon. But initial reports are not promising. The United Nations says that its five-story headquarters had collapsed and “a large number of personnel remain unaccounted for.'' From today's Miami Herald: Haitian President…
Razing of Tampa International Airport building now delayed
At one point during last week's Hillsborough County Aviation Authority's monthly meeting, airport executive director Louis Miller said he would halt the planned demolition of a $4 million property owned by the county. He made that remark after he was challenged by board member Steve Burton, who said the move by Miller to do so …
I have some bones to pick with The Lovely Bones
Our auction-winning guest critic buries Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.
I’m on a deserted island. How can I tell which plants are poisonous?
Quick scenario: deserted island, colorful fruits and vegetation. How do I know what I should eat and what I should feed to my mother-in-law? Is there any way to differentiate between poisonous fruits and nonpoisonous ones? —Jermain The traditional method, which admittedly works better on a group-project basis, is to try some. If you throw…
Dan Savage in defense of men
Standing by sensible advice.
Conan O’Brien Releases Statement: He will not move The Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m.
After some speculation, some rumors and one entertaining monologue, Conan O'Brien finally addressed the "12:05 a.m. plan" that NBC has proposed: He's not moving The Tonight Show. This planned schedule change is the result of Jay Leno failing to deliver the numbers NBC wanted with his primetime show. The network's brilliant solution (insert sarcastic tone…
Lifestyle clubs: it’s a living
For Eric and Angie, owners of Club Elite in New Port Richey, swinging is not just a lifestyle; it's a way of life. The two have been together as a swinging couple for more than 10 years. Their commitment to honesty and integrity in the lifestyle has helped their club become a popular swingers destination both week nights…
“The 9” battle of the bands victory claimed by Mogul Street Reserve, close second by Male Order Brides (with photos)
Three preliminary rounds and one final showdown later, Mogul Street Reserve [pictured] emerged victorious, taking home first place of The 9 this past Friday night at Skipper's Smokehouse. The battle of the bands-style competition sponsored by Creative Loafing, Morrisound Studio & Recording and Magic Hat Brewery was set up to help local, already-established acts get…
The Green Community week in review: The new Sustainable Independent Business Alliance, green home DIY projects, and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: Sustainable, "local first" business alliance organizes in Tampa Bay – The 'Local First' movement in Tampa Bay, admirably promoted at the grassroots for years by such organizations as the Tampa Independent Business Alliance (TIBA),…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Organic gardening in Central FL workshop, screening of The Power of Community, markets and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday (through April); 8 am- 1 pm. Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green Market is…
