Mitch Perry Report 1.25.13 – Serious momentum now for gun regulations?
With military weapons displayed behind her, California U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein hosted a news conference where she officially introduced her bill to ban assault weapons. Feinstein, who was 45 in 1978 when San Francisco's mayor, George Moscone, was assassinated (along with gay icon Harvey Milk), faces an uphill battle undoubtedly. But a new poll done…
Shine bright like a…
No, not a diamond. This gem’s hue is the Pantone Color of the Year.
Hillsborough County Commissioners reject creating a domestic partner registry
The Hillsborough County Commission voted down the measure by a 4-3 margin. The Hillsborough County Commission today voted 4-3 against creating a domestic partnership registry, marking them once again as an outlier when it comes to supporting any type of equal rights for the LGBT community. Such a registry would have given unmarried couples in…
Rays owner Stu Sternberg tells Hillsborough County Commission of his frustration working with Bill Foster
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg It's been a long time coming, but this morning the owner of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchise, Stu Sternberg addressed the Hillsborough County Commission about where the organization stands in their quest for a new ballpark. The Rays have a lease that locks them into playing at Tropicana Field until…
Inside the photo booth: Director Karla Hartley
Kevin Tighe Karla Hartley, Tampa, FL 1/13/13 (click on image to enlarge)
Get out your LGBT weekend planner
If you're still looking to make weekend plans, there are plenty of LGBT events in the Tampa Bay area for your choosing. For literary folks, head to the L Train bar in St. Pete tonight, Thursday, Jan. 24, for Wordier Than Thou’s storytelling and fiction open mic. Featured readers include Terri Richards, who released her…
Mitch Perry Report 1.24.13 – Hillsborough poised to become latest local county to approve a domestic partner registry?
Over the past year, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and as of last week, Pinellas County, have been just some of the local jurisdictions who have passed domestic partner registries, which would allow unmarried couples to have some of the rights that married people have, such as for hospital visiting privileges. In early 2013 in any…
Ex-Scientologists sue for fraud in Tampa
Luis Garcia (3rd from right) in Tampa today There have been several lawsuits filed over the decades against the Church of Scientology, but none has ever been successful in putting the church's controversial leader, David Miscavige, on the witness stand. West Palm Beach attorney Theodore Babbitt says this time it will be different. A federal…
Get ready for the smooth sounds of Suede
The openly lesbian jazz and blues singer performs at a fundraiser for Metro Wellness Saturday night.
Pinellas transit officials approve asking for sales tax referendum
After a three-hour bout with Pinellas and Hillsborough citizens in a packed room, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority officials unanimously voted to push a one-cent sales tax increase for the County Commission to put on the Nov. 4, 2014, ballot — an effort that would ultimately revolutionize local public transit. The one-cent tax increase would…
Rick Scott proposes giving each teacher in Florida a $2,500 raise
Rick Scott I would bet that if you ask Florida teachers if they are a fan of Rick Scott, a majority of them would say no (except for those who get featured in his promotional ads). Reason number one for that disdain might be Scott's signature on one of the more divisive pieces of legislation…
A fond fare-thee-well to Underoath
The Christian metalcore outfit plays their last Tampa show Sat., Jan. 26.
Mitch Perry Report 1.23.13 – Pressure on Obama on Keystone Pipeline
One of President Obama's toughest choicest he had to make last year regarding the battle between creating jobs and cleaning up the environment was the whole deal with the Keystone XL Pipeline. The 1,700-mile pipeline begins in Canada and winds through the U.S., bringing heavy crude oil from tar sands formations to refineries on the…
Mavis Staples charms and serenades fans at Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
A review of the singer’s Sat., Jan. 19 concert.
Charlie Justice has big plans for 2013 and beyond
For a long time, Charlie Justice was one of the most promising local Democrats with a political future in Pinellas County. Elected to the state House in 2000 and the Senate in 2006, Justice was most likely assured another term in Tallahassee in 2010 when he decided to leave that body and take on what…
Pinellas Democrats celebrate President Obama’s next four years
Rick Kriseman and Charlie Justice discuss life at the Pinellas County Democrats Inauguration celebration Spirits were high and the booze was flowing on Monday night at the Gulport Casino, where Pinellas County (as well as some Hillsborough based) Democrats partied in style. They were celebrating the second inauguration of President Obama, as well as their…
New Music Tuesday! (January 22): Adam Ant, Camper Van Beethoven, Toro y Moi, The Joy Formidable & more!
Releases out this week; audio & video included
On Roe v. Wade’s 40th anniversary, new poll shows increased support for abortion rights
As politicians squabble, the public seems to have made up its mind on abortion rights.
Mitch Perry Report 1.22.13: Jill Kelley talks, but not to the Tampa Bay Times
The Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz gets the scoop …
Author’s first novel interweaves lesbian themes, historical fiction, and a tale of suspense
Terri Richards always knew that one day she’d write a book. But Richards, a New York transplant who lives in Lutz, spends most of her time on the road as a regional marketing director for the fast food chain Sonic, visiting franchisees from Florida to Kentucky. This leaves her little time to write. Eventually, though,…
Climate change, gay rights prominent in Obama’s inauguration speech
The president’s second term begins with soaring rhetoric that’s sure to delight his supporters.
Will Democratic bill reviewing Stand Your Ground even get a look in the Florida Legislature?
Last week, the mother of Trayvon Martin called on Florida legislators to support a bill that would repeal Florida's extremely controversial Stand Your Ground law. Speaking to reporters outside the Senate chambers in Tallahassee, Sabrina Fulton said, "We need to do something seriously about this law," referring to the 2005 Florida self-defense statute that allows…
#MusicMonday 82: Mayer Hawthorne, Dikembe, The Kinks & more
What the CL Music Team is jamming this week (w/audio & video)
Mitch Perry Report 1.21.13 – Happy MLK/Inauguration/13 days before Super Bowl day
Today is a historic day, obviously, with Barack Hussein Obama taking the oath of office (for the 4th time!)at high noon today in Washington D.C. The president will be placing his left hand on a bible once owned by the Revered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as direct a connection of any between the leader…
It’s not you … it’s Mike Birbiglia
The comedic storyteller has issues with love, life and “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.”
Schumer & Cruz engage in gun control debate
On NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, guns and gun control were the focus of the program from the jump, with gun rights supporter Ted Cruz, the freshman GOP Senator from Texas, blasting President Obama's new focus on gun violence as simply part of a "partisan agenda." Matched up against a longtime gun-control advocate in…
Readings, readings, everywhere …
… so you can stop and think.
A week out from the selection of a new Florida Democratic Party chair, Alen Clendenin tries to separate fact from fiction
Alan Clendenin The intense infighting between Alan Clendenin and Allison Tant and their respective camps for the Democratic Party chair race will climax in Lake Mary one week from today, when the approximately 1,150 delegates with a vote will decide who will lead the party going into the crucial 2014 elections. The latest salvo in…
Fight over domestic partner registry in Hillsborough could give Terry Kemple something new to do
Terry Kemple Listed in many stories this week about Pinellas County's vote to offer a domestic partner registry is the fact that while seemingly every major local government in the Tampa Bay area has created A DPR in the past year (including Tampa and St. Petersburg), Hillsborough County remains a holdout. But could that soon…
Monster Truck Jam takes over Tampa
More ginormous vehicles pop wheelies at Ray Jay Saturday night.
Snake charmers in the Everglades
Finally, something to confirm our state’s Deep South credentials.
Glass Menagerie is a delicate imbalance
Tampa Rep’s revival may glisten, but Tennessee Williams fans will be a tougher crowd.
Valentine’s Day shopping
What kinky toys should I buy for my boyfriend?
MaryAnn Elia says her proposal for armed security at schools is not a knee-jerk reaction
MaryEllen Elia speaks at Tiger Bay Club Last Tuesday the Hillsborough County School District board rebuked Superintendent MaryEllen Elia's proposal to put an armed security officer in every elementary school next year at a cost of $4.1 million. It came a week after she approved a plan to spend $2 million of the district's contingency…
Argggh you ready for Gasparilla?!
Get out your beads. Jose Gasparilla invades Tampa again on Jan. 26.
Help them grow
St. Petersburg’s Edible Peace Patch needs your help.
Meet the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s new head of community relations
Nereia Cormier Bob Henriquez isn't the only new face inside the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's office. Nereia Cormier, a ubiquitous presence in the Tampa Democratic scene over the past couple of years, worked for Henriquez this summer on his campaign to replace Rob Turner. The government and world history professor at Plant High was so…
Get out your LGBT weekend planner
Sarasota's MeteorEYES kicks off its winter tour at New World Brewery on Friday, Jan. 18. If you're still looking to make weekend plans, there's plenty of LGBT events in the Tampa Bay area. Ladies, do you love craft beer? Girl2Girl Productions hosts its first "Girls Love Beer" happy hour event at Cold Storage Craft Brewery…
Mitch Perry Report 1.18.13 – Rick Scott’s very mixed week
Rick Scott's schedule has him in Miami today, the end of an extremely interesting week for our governor. Yesterday he celebrated the Florida Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling on the 2011 decision by him and the Legislature to begin having state employees begin contributing three percent to their pension plan. The proposal was challenged in court…
Schwarzenegger’s Last Stand
The movie’s iffy, but Ah-nold does well with his first starring role in a decade.
Patrick Dougherty branches out
A public installation makes a good sticking point for Sarasota’s new contemporary art museum.
Cheaters never prosper in Broken City
Despite some hot direction, Mark Wahlberg’s latest never catches fire.
Mama’s house
Guillermo del Toro executive produces a familiar haunt.
Mavis Staples: Her music is still her most powerful message
The soul singer hits Mahaffey Theater this Saturday.
Two Big Mouths, How It All Started
[audio-path:http://archive.org/download/TwoBigMouthsNumber1/TwoBigMouths05-27.mp3 24882651] Hello Mouthy friends and welcome back. This week we are going back to when it all started: Two Big Mouths NUMBER ONE. The show that started it all way back in May of 2010. The Main Mouths were cutting their teeth on this whole radio podcast thingy, and have come a long way…
Two Big Mouths, How It All Started
[audio-path:http://archive.org/download/TwoBigMouthsNumber1/TwoBigMouths05-27.mp3 24882651] Hello Mouthy friends and welcome back. This week we are going back to when it all started: Two Big Mouths NUMBER ONE. The show that started it all way back in May of 2010. The Main Mouths were cutting their teeth on this whole radio podcast thingy, and have come a long way…
Florida Supreme Court upholds Rick Scott’s decision for state workers to put three percent of salary into their pensions
Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente One of the biggest pieces of legislation that Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-led Legislature passed in 2011 was a requirement that all state workers put three percent of their earnings into their pension plan — the first time they've had to do that in 40 years. But the…
Donna Shalala says tort reform is needed to reduce health care costs
During 2010's year-long debate about health care reform in the U.S., Republican critics of President Obama's proposals said there were other issues that needed to be on the table, including: acquiring insurance across state lines, expanding health savings accounts, and putting limits on malpractice awards. In a conference call on Thursday morning hosted by Fix…
Report says changes to Florida’s electoral system in 2012 negatively affected minority voters
A new report about the 2012 election in Florida stated that controversial changes to the state's electoral system had a negative effect on voter participation. Shortly after the report was released, Gov. Rick Scott said he wants voting changes enacted for the 2014 elections. In a press release, Scott said reforms need to address three…
Pancakes meet Grindcore in six-year-old’s song
Sockweb, a grindcore project concocted by father Adam "Blackula" Young and six-year-old daughter Joanie "Bologna" Young released their debut single "I want pancakes" to internet fanfare this week. "Bologna" came up with the band name, and wrote the lyrics for "I want pancakes", while Dad helped put the tune to grindcore music. It's hardcore, endearing,…
Mitch Perry Report, 1.17.13: Caught up in the illusions of the rich and/or famous
While some of the anticipation of Lance Armstrong's bid for forgiveness on Oprah Winfrey's network (by the way, anyone know what channel OWN is on the Verizon FIOS dial?) has been sucked up by the bizarre tale about Notre Dame start linebacker Manti Te'o's fantasy girlfriend, there's still great interest in seeing the former Tour…
Florida Democrats race to the bottom
They should be riding high. Instead, they’re fighting over who gets to be party chair.
Wood Brothers Oliver and Chris make up for lost time.
The sibling-led outfit plays Sunshine Blues Fest this Sunday.
Raising Dough, reading stories
An explanation of a CL cover, plus a report on a literary Saturday night.
Album review: Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso, The Curse of the Unsinkable Ship
Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso deliver a sea-flecked sonic adventure full of droll and occasionally absurd narratives in their fresh-pressed full-length, The Curse of the Unsinkable Ship. “Prologue” finds Johnny Cakes frontman Ostrich relating the story of a pirate who sets out to sink his own ship so he can use…
Sakana’s sushi is a shore thing
A sublime sushi spot on Gandy near Bayshore.
That’s so over
Andy Huse disses the Cuban sandwich debate.
Breakfast diner guide
No corporate restaurants need apply; the locals have breakfast covered.
Wicked good Broadway at Straz
Enchanting, wacky, tacky and sublime — Wicked is ultimately entertaining.
Former Scientology member Nancy Many talks about L. Ron Hubbard, Hollywood, and why she left the church
This past week the Tampa Bay Times produced another expose about an FBI investigation into the Church of Scientology. It comes in the same week that Lawrence Wright's new book on the church, Going Clear, has been published. In 2009, former Scientology member Nancy Many published her own memoir, called My Billion Year Contract: Memoir…
Lowry Park Zoo officials react to major diss from animal rights group
TLPZ Mbali and baby at Lowry Park Officials with Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo are dismissing extremely unfavorable remarks made by the San Francisco based animal rights group, In Defense of Animals. The group gave the zoo a "Dishonorable Mention" in its listing of the 2012 Top Ten Worst Zoos For Elephants. The "Dishonorable Mention" ranking…
Time for a GOP challenger to emerge? New poll says “Rick Scott is in a very bad position”
Although Public Policy Polling will always be tagged with being "Democratic-leaning," the fact of the matter is they kicked ass with surveys in Florida and throughout the country in 2012. So everyone involved in Florida politics should not dismiss its newest poll, which shows that if the 2014 gubernatorial elections were held today, Charlie Crist…
Graffiti, poetry and the Wu Tang in St. Pete
WELL VERSED: Pedro El Poeta co-headlines Artistry in Motion. Two upcoming events in Downtown St. Pete combine street sensibilities, art and entertainment.
Wine and Fitzgerald at the Oxford Exchange
Shanna Gillette Looking to make good on that resolution to read classic novels? The Oxford Exchange is hosting a book club complete with wine and a selection of delicious housemade hors d'oeuvres. The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the book club's first selection.
Al Fox not surprised that some Tampa-Cuba flights are being discontinued
Al Fox Last week, news broke that Tampa International Airport is losing one of its three Cuba charter carriers and two of its five weekly flights to the island nation. XAEL Charters Inc. will discontinue its Tampa-Havana flights on Feb. 14, and ABC Charters Tampa-Holguin flights will cease on Feb. 28. Both companies are based…
Some cheese with that wine?
Jan. 20 is National Cheese Lover's Day. A celebration of curds and whey could turn out to be more fun than you would expect. Below is a suggested list of pairings so you can pick your favorite block of cheese, and wash it down with a grapy libation. Blue-Veined (Stilton, Roquefort, Gorgonzola)Blue-veined cheeses are difficult.…
Mitch Perry Report 1.16.13 – Scientology’s tough week
This was always going to be a tough week for the PR pros with Scientology. The much anticipated Lawrence Wright tome on the religion (which we are hoping finally comes in the mail today) called Going Clear was published this week. In addition to the latest Tampa Bay Times expose (which let's admit was only…
Hillsborough County School Board votes against expanding school security
At a particularly well-attended school board meeting on Tuesday, board members listened to four proposals for increased school security presented by Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. The proposals included hiring outside security expert Michael Dorn for $8,500, securing access points around schools, hiring more student resource officers, and training students and faculty in crisis…
Familial dysfunction leads to laughs in Petunia
TIGLFF’s Best of Fest returns for one night only Jan. 17.
