Langerado cancelled, ticket sales were too slow
Yesterday, I heard rumors that Langerado was in trouble due to slow ticket sales. Today, 14 hours after Bonnaroo revealed its monster schedule with Phish, NIN and Springsteen as headliners, I received the official nail-in-the-coffin confirmation. Here's the release: LANGERADO 2009 CANCELLED Today, the 2009 Langerado Music Festival is cancelled due to sluggish ticket sales.…
The day the music died: 50 years ago today, Buddy Holly dies at 22
On Feb. 3, 1959, a four-seat airplane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) crashed into a cornfield eight miles north of Clear Lake, Iowa. The term "rock 'n' roll" had only come into widespread use about three years before. The seeds planted between 1958-1964, between Elvis and the Beatles, go…
Rare tape of Buddy Holly phone call to Decca Records
Buddy Holly perished in a plane crash 50 years ago today. Whether that was "the day the music died" depends on point of view, but it was clearly a watershed event in rock 'n' roll history. Holly's short career was beset by bad business dealings. On Feb. 28, 1957, Holly hooked up his reel-to-reel tape…
Ingredient Basics: Vanilla
For the first time in years, I dragged out my ice cream maker with plans to introduce my son to the glories of homemade frozen treats. But as soon as we hit the supermarket for the necessary supplies, I was confronted with something that made me put the kibosh on our epic gourmet dessert: vanilla…
New Lily Allen streaming on MySpace
Brit pop chanteusse Lily Allen has a new album, It's Not Me, It's You, coming out Feb. 10. You can stream all 14 tracks here as of today. This pic should get you in the mood. The album has a number of songs that are sexually frank.
Flight of the Conchords to play Orlando … but at what cost?
Flight of the Conchords will no doubt be decked out in a slick new pair of business socks when they land at Orlando's UCF on Arena Wednesday, April 4. These socks (I'm picturing argyle) will run you upwards of $50 a ticket after all the charges and tax. That's steep. I'm a big fan of…
A&L Fine Wines in Palm Harbor is closing
In yet another sign of the times, this morning Alex and Lydia at A&L Fine Wines sent out this email: "To our wonderful patrons, at the end of March, we will be closing our doors for the final time. We want to thank all of our family, friends, and all of our wonderful new friends…
Another national band contest
This just showed up in my e-mail inbox: PickTheBand.com, the world’s first online record label where the fans run the label has partnered with ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, to present the first Pick The Band national competition to pick the best unsigned rock band in America. Registration has already begun…
Kama Sutra: The Spider
The Spider begins with the couple facing each other, both in a seated position. The woman is the first to lie back, while the man scoots in between her legs achieving penetration. Next, it's the man's turn to lie back, being careful to maintain his erection inside her. If the couple is in the position…
The recession slams into the wine business
In the first major layoffs by a big wine player, Jackson Family Wines (parent company of Kendall Jackson) cut 170 full time employees from their staff roles, most of them last Friday. Winemakers, marketers and administrative staff were among those who lost their jobs. In mid-2008, the company employed around 810 employees. Read more here.…
Do It Today: Rubber duckies, Rachel Getting Married, Sankofa and O’Death
The Great Rubber Ducky Race at Karl Reef is race is both a fundraiser for the two Honorary Governor of West Pasco candidates and the Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando Program. Buy a $20 duck, take part in the race, and enjoy an after party with food and drink. The first place winner get $1,000 in cash;…
Massive bank fraud, 80 billion stolen, starship fleets sent on galaxy-wide manhunt
Things are tough all over, even in space. The massively multi-player online roleplaying game EVE Online recently saw one of the biggest virtual thefts of all time, with thieving bankers stealing tens of billions of ISK (some sort of space-dollar) from customers. And best of all from the criminal's point of view, they did it…
The Christian Bale Rant: dance remix by RuPaul’s producer
For those who wondered if the professional, serious journalists here at CL could resist jumping on the Christian Bale Rant bandwagon, here's your answer: Hell no.
Kelly’s burgers shows “pedestrian” shouldn’t be a four-letter word
Somebody has made an error. In the culinary community, the word "pedestrian" has somehow been associated with "not good". Common. Anyone can make that. Un-original. How can this be? Some foods that I adore would get this classification yet using the P word to describe them is supposed to make my nose point upward and…
Another national band contest
PickTheBand.com, the world’s first online record label where the fans run the label has partnered with ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, to present the first Pick The Band national competition to pick the best unsigned rock band in America. Registration has already begun on the PickTheBand.com website and will continue through…
Burger King re-releases its body spray
Selling out their inventory in three days after its debut in December, Burger King announced they are bringing back their meat-scented body spray "Flame" this week. In a crowning WTF moment, Brian Gies, VP of Marketing Impact for BK, said, "People simply couldn't get enough of FLAME – even paying more than $100 for it on eBay……
How much stimulus money goes to food and agriculture?
A new report from the Congressional Research Service shows just how much — or how little — of Obama's new $825 billion economic stimulus package is going towards agriculture and food programs. $27 billion is slated for food-related issues, with the vast majority — $21 billion — going to bolster the nation's food assistance programs,…
One man’s journey from corporate agriculture to local foods booster
Hi, I'm John Matthews. Last week, Brian Ries convinced me to blog for Creative Loafing concerning local foods. I've read some blogs, but never thought I would be doing this. But with the help of my lovely wife, Andrea, I hope I write a few things you will find informative and insightful. To give you…
The Short List: Eric Holder becomes nation’s first black A.G.
I'll have what he's having. Eric Holder confirmed as Attorney General. Let's hope a memory test was part of the vetting process. And the new Speaker of the Florida House is … It gets a little dark after the break folks. You've been warned …
Bonnaroo 2009 Line-Up
TV on the Radio appears to have leaked the line-up a few hours early. Best festival line-up ever. Schedule conflicts of mammoth proportions brewing. Check out the leak, official announcement due tomorrow. Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment are excited to announce the initial lineup for the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The eighth annual…
Get to Know Your Local Mutants, Volume 3: Danny McGuire
Danny McGuire Polk City is damn far from Tampa, and its further from St Petersburg. Somehow, the only person I know who lives in Polk City, Danny McGuire, makes it to more shows in the Tampa/Orlando metropolitan area than anyone who lives in either town. Whether playing shows in any of his many bands hawking…
Jimmy Buffett coming to Ford Amp
I'd rather step on a hundred pop tops than endure a Jimmy Buffett show, but I hear that some people like him, so I dutifully pass this info along from LiveNation: Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band are back in town for one remarkable performance at Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, April 25 as part…
Record Labels Ignore Supply and Demand and Kill their Profits
Over the last decade, there has been much talk and figures to support the fact that the heyday of the music industry has passed, or at least shrunk. For example, the Top 10 selling albums of 2008 totaled 19 million units, including digital sales. In 1988, the 5 top-selling album alone sold over 26 million…
We now interrupt your regularly scheduled sports program for 30 seconds of porn.
You know the news stories about the Super Bowl feed in Tuscon, Arizona that got interrupted by 30 seconds worth of pay-per-view porn? I found some video that's being touted as the alleged telecast; I have doubts about its authenticity as it cuts back in right as John Madden is saying "the right guy, in…
The Beat vs. The Donnas: Who does it better?
Just got sent a video link to The Beat's "Don't Wait Up for Me" from their 1979 self-titled debut. On the same page, I found The Donnas' "Don't Wait Up for Me" from 2007's Bitchin'. Two songs with the same name = two very different outcomes. [The songs only share a name, not lyrics, content…
Free Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast on Feb. 3
On Tuesday, February 3 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Denny's restaurants will give away a free Grand Slam breakfast at all locations across the United States. The dine-in only breakfast includes two pancakes, two eggs, two links of sausage and two strips of bacon. Customers will also get a coupon booklet for future free…
Chef Domenica Macchia finds a new home at Shackleton’s Folly
Shackleton's Folly is the new enterprise by Dan Soronen, formerly of Old Northeast Tavern. Domenica Macchia is the former chef at MJ's Martini and Tapas. A combination of the two could make for a fantastic restaurant. Macchia just accepted the job today, after pitching Soronen on a gastropub-style menu for Shackleton's. "I said 'A sports…
Review: Springsteen’s halftime set
I was a bit less enamored with Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl halftime performance than the rest of the world, but I'll give the man his props: He understood the situation and delivered a rousing, crowd-pleasing 12-minute set. No time to ease into the show, no room for subtlety — this had to be bang-bang, here…
Another candidate for best Cuban sandwich
New Heights Magazine chimes in on the perennial debate about who has the best Cuban sandwich in Tampa. Find out who they picked after the jump.
Watching the game where the crowds weren’t
Brian Ries recommended some sports-bar alternatives where the crowds wouldn't be on Game Day, and he was right about the attendance. At the start of a Super Bowl that would turn out to be one of the best ever, Ybor City (hung over from the night before, perhaps) was very quiet. But if nothing much…
The best tastes at Taste of the NFL
Yea, I was lucky enough to grab a $500 ticket to Saturday's posh, celebrity-studded affair set up on the astroturf at Tropicana Field. Very well organized, I must give kudos to the people who were able to transform a ballpark into an elegant venue featuring 38 dishes from chefs all over the country. Each creation was paired with…
Photos of Snoop Dogg from Bud Bowl
This was a busy week for the Street Team! We went to downtown St. Pete and downtown Tampa handing out Super Bowl supplements to out-of-town visitors, we hit the St. Pete Times Forum, we saw Al Roker Thursday morning at Teatro in Ybor (and even got our CLTampa.com sign on the Today Show!), we rocked…
Is there a video-conferencing iPhone in the works?
Apple was recently granted a patent that reveals covering serious video capabilities. Alexander Wolfe, from InformationWeek, dug up these sections from the patent that explain the video capabilities of the iPhone.That and more pics below the jump:
Some final ad hoc thoughts about the Super Bowl
On 1A of the St. Petersburg Times, sports columnist Gary Shelton trumpeted last night's game as the greatest Super Bowl ever. It ranks high on my list, but I still have to give the overall nod to last year's Giants/Patriots juggernaut. Admittedly, I liked the outcome of that game better than this one. I was…
David Letterman’s most awkward interview moments
David Letterman may not be the greatest late night host ever (sorry, nobody's ever going to top Craig Ferguson), but there's one type of interaction in which Letterman absolutely shines: dealing with people he has no respect for. If Letterman thinks the guest isn't worth his time (and he'll let you know within the first…
Marijuana Olympian: Michael Phelps bakes, Brit tabloid quakes
The AP reports: The International Olympic Committee expressed confidence Monday that Michael Phelps will learn from his "inappropriate behavior" and continue to serve as a role model after a British newspaper published a photo of him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics, apologized…
ISO the perfect pizza, preferably in Pinellas
What’s your idea of a fantastic pizza? I'm on a mission to find one. Hopefully, close to home. In my humble opinion, this was a perfect pizza. It comes from Prato's in Montreal (that's right, Canada). I can tell you with confidence that I have not had great pizza in north Pinellas County and I am…
Best Super Bowl ads? Vote here
The New York Times' Stuart Elliott says the ads ranked with such disappointments as the movie "Australia" and errant airport birds. The Washington Post's Tom Shales marveled at the expensive-looking production values. For a quick overview, or to make your own post-show awards, see the roundup on Huffington Post or check out Creative Loafing's live…
The Short List: Super Bowl hangover edition
Here's a great piece on the impact of the recession on this year's Super Bowl. (From Al-Jazeera, no less!) Tampa looks great in the video, and looked stunning in all the overhead shots during the game. Nice job, Bay area. See you in 2014, NFL. The Steelers win one for the other thumb. NBC does…
Umphrey’s McGee embarks on a virtual tour
Chicago prog rock sextet Umphrey's McGee is trying out a different sort of hype/marketing campaign to move copies of their fifth and latest studio album, Mantis, which came out on Sci Fidelity January 20. In October, the band announced new and intriguing pre-order promotion: for every X number of copies of Mantis ordered in advance…
Did Jennifer Hudson lip-sync?
If that was lip-syncing, she's an even better actress than I thought she was. But that was apparently the case, at least according to this passage from a HuffPo report (Minor is pre-game show producer Rickey Minor): Although entertainers can perform live, Minor insisted that Hudson and Faith Hill, who sang "America the Beautiful" before…
Super Bowl XLIII: Another classic
One of the best. One of the best Super Bowls ever. That’s two in a row. Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23. For a good portion of the game, it looked like it was going to be one of those ho-hum affairs, and order would be restored. Instead, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals mounted a…
Live blogging Super Bowl 43
10:15 Stay tuned as we live blog The Office. Just kidding. Goodnight, everybody! 10:12 After many years of snoozefests, we've had two great games in two years. This probably doesn't top the Giants/Patriots, or does it? 10:10 Pittsburgh 26 – Arizona 23 – FINAL Valiant comeback by Arizona, but in the end their defense could…
Working the red carpet: Where are the celebs?
Maybe Will and Jada, Ashton and Demi, and Paris showed up later — a spokesman for The Good Life Experience, the three-day bash that culminated last night at the The Venue, said they were expected. But when I bailed media row (around 12:30) at the red carpet (actually it was white) they hadn't shown yet,…
Do It This Week: A Chorus Line, Body Worlds and more
After the Bowl is over, life will go on. Coming up this week, here are some of the events we're looking forward to: A Chorus Line at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center: The national tour of the groundbreaking musical that has been dazzling audiences since 1975. Opens Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., TBPAC. Yellowman at Jobsite: A…
Tampa’s Super Bowl parties bore Lindsay Lohan
Huffington Post is at its huffiest in this putdown of Tampa's Super Bowl weekend parties — which, according to HuffPo, have been "a major bust." Why? According to Jenna Fryer, taxis were scarce, the A-listers were no-shows and — yes, Jenna, we have to agree this was lame — Frankie Delgado (who?) was a big…
Do It Today: Game-Watching Edition
Going to the game? Watching it (or ignoring it) at a party or a bar? Settling in with some nacho chips and a six-pack to watch it from your couch? All good, and we can help. First off, you can join us here to live-blog the big event. Root for the Steelers and trash-talk the…
Anti-Superbowl potluck/concert
In writing this I know I run the risk of coming across as an elitist snob, but I honestly couldn't care less about tomorrow's barbaric and absurd national ritual. (I'm talking about the Superbowl, not church.) If you're with me and are looking for something else to do while the rest of America watches dudes touch each other in the only manner…
Last Chance: Portraiture: In Three Movements
Tonight's the last chance to check out a performance by St. Petersburg-based "image-maker" Alice Ferrulo of Black Horse Theatre, whose creations meld theater, dance and visual art. Portraiture: In Three Movements is her take on Olivia, a composite personality inspired by portraits of former substance abusers by painter Thomas Murray (formerly of the Bay area,…
Ringling Student Art Sale
This just landed in my inbox this morning: Ringling Student Art Sale Comes to Campus Saturday, January 31! On Saturday, January 31 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Ringling College of Art and Design presents a one-day creative collaboration of emerging artists work along with an art materials showcase featuring top brands. The art exhibition…
Art that has nothing to do with Super Bowl
Check out the Saturday events on Megan Voeller's Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup. Her recommendations include two new shows that opened yesterday: Sean Erwin at Florida Craftsmen Gallery and Lights On Tampa photographer Carlton Ward, Jr. at Hoffman Porges Gallery. And there's a party in Ybor tonight that doesn't have anything to do with the Super Bowl,…
Do It Today: Diddy’s Good Life and Celebrity Beach Bowl
It's Super Bowl eve, so we're going with an all-SB edition of Do It Today: The Good Life Experience The three-night bacchanal at The Venue culminates with tonight's Diddy-hosted "Icons of the Good Life" event, which promises to be "an opulent night of glamour and extravagance." Stars are sure to stud the joint, and with…
Phish Saves America: DVD, Reunion, Summer Tour
A new weekly column (with media!) about the jam band supergroup; logo art by Phil Bardi. On October 1, when the members of Phish — guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell — announced they were getting back together right in the middle of what was turning out to…
“Don’t be throwin’ me no pink balls”
The Tonight Show's Ross the Intern was identified in Eric Snider's NFL Media Day post only as "the queenie guy." To be fair, no one is queenier than Ross the Intern, aka Ross Matthews — that's his schtick — but he's also got balls. (Pink balls, to be exact, but we'll get to that in…
![Morrissey naked! [NSFW]](https://i0.wp.com/www.cltampa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/29302_3239905680_4c54c4868b_o.png?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Morrissey naked! [NSFW]
Morrissey and his band stuck 7" records to their dicks and got someone to take a picture of it. According to fansite sources, the photo will appear on the inside sleeve of his new single, "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris". Follow the jump to see genuine Smiths pubes:
Who were the top U.S. philanthropists in 2008? Hint: One was from Sarasota
Oil, real estate, Microsoft — the usual sources of American wealth are represented in the Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual countdown of the country’s most generous rich people. But some of the money comes from sources it’s hard to believe were all that lucrative. Fiji Water? Dexter Shoes? Newspapers? Yep, once upon a…
Interview: Damon Fowler
A few days before Damon Fowler's new, nationally released CD, Sugar Shack, came out on Jan. 27, I sat with him in the CL studio for a lengthy conversation. The 29-year-old Tampa native was enthusiastic, but realistic, about the CD, released on the San Francisco blues label Blind Pig. He also knows he has some…
Taste of the NFL
Each year, hundreds of people come together on the 'eve of Superbowl to nobnob with ccreated dishes prepared by some of America's best chefs (this year, paired with matching wines from Gallo Family Vineyards), and raise awareness and funds for hunger charities. It's a big hooha. On a weekend with plenty of sports activities, Tropicana Field…
Ninebullets.net Presents: O’Death
ninebullets.net is the official online presenter of the O'Death show here in Tampa on Tuesday night. While I'm not entirely sure what "the official online presenter" really means, I can also say I don't really care. Anytime I have the chance to align the site with the Appalachian Apocalypse from New York that is O’death,…
Media Watch: Rating the local coverage of the Super Bowl in Tampa
For most of the Tampa Bay media, it is all hands on deck for Super Bowl coverage as we near the game on Sunday. This has been building for weeks, with the crescendo in newsprint, online sites, video and audio over the past week. Overall, though, my main thought about the coverage is: Damn! It…
Best games of 2008? Yeah, probably
Sure, most of the world is filled with righteous, totally justified outrage that The Dark Knight was ignored for a Best Picture nomination in favor of five movies I haven't seen, (although I actually read The Reader in it's original novel form, though not in its original German). But there are more important awards out…
Recommended wine: Toad Hall 2005 Bodacious
Besides a cool name, Bodacious bears a boatload of juicy, easy-drinking fruit. 100 percent cabernet sauvignon, this wine has silky tannins, fragrant, violet-infused black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and an aroma you want to live in. It's easily worth twice the price because of its quality (retail around $45). Toad Hall Cellars is a partnership between John Komes from Napa's Flora Springs Winery and Bob Bettencourt,…
Do It Today: Jenny McCarthy, Tim Dorsey and more
Super Bowl Weekend at Jackson's Bistro: "Leather and Laces" Carmen Electra, Jenny McCarthy and Kim Kardashian (left to right in the photo) co-host this Super Bowl kickoff bash at Jackson's Bistro, Harbour Island's high-end pickup joint. There'll be live entertainment by Cirque USA performers and spins by celebrity DJ Tendaji Lathan, with proceeds to benefit…
Recent restaurant openings
Datz Deli 2616 MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-7000 or datzdeli.com People seem obsessed with the idea of a new deli in town providing giant sandwiches over-stuffed with pastrami or corned beef. Opening day this week was mobbed at this two-story space, maybe because along with the sammies there's fairly decent wine a beer selection. Fatdogs 1200…
See the Lights before they’re turned off
If you're an out-of-town visitor, you should know that our Convention Center is not ordinarily tricked out like an outdoor disco, and that we don't usually project enigmatic artworks onto our parking garages, show animated visions of a flooded Tampa outside the St. Pete Times Forum or track our collective consciousness with an oversized mood…
Super Bowl Media Day: A chat in the bleachers
After wandering around Media Day at Raymond James Stadium, squeezing my way in front of the stars while reporters shouted inane questions, I made my way up into the bleachers where it was less frenzied. That's where I saw a good-looking large fellow sitting all by his lonesome. It said "Spaeth" on the back of…
The Short List: The Super Bowl arrives in Tampa
With the big game just around the corner, here is an informative video that should help ticket counterfeiters make more realistic facsimiles to sell to the helpless rubes around Ray-Jay. Thank you, St. Pete Times! We're live-blogging the game on Sunday. Won't you stop by and give your $.02? Be careful driving this weekend. There…
A new Black Moth Super Rainbow album due out in May
Black Moth Super Rainbow makes some of the most tripped-out experimental music you'll hear around these days, psychedelic electro-rock that belongs in a sci-fi space odyssey done in the 1970's. And it's not like that hard to sit through, hard to appreciate experi stuff — Black Moth's music is vibrant, a rainbow of flavors that…
Sampling or stealing? It’s not just a question for DJs
"Appropriationist" artists like Richard Prince and Jeff Koons are running into trouble with "sampling" just as musicians have. It's all about copyright, or lack thereof. The Wall Street Journal's Daniel Grant reports on recent cases, and the legal gray areas in which they reside. The lawsuit against Prince was filed by French photographer Patrick Cariou,…
New Final Fantasy battle system exposed, explored
Few games of this entire console generation are has highly-anticipated as Final Fantasy XIII. As one of the biggest entries in the series and the first multi-platform one (not counting the online-only Final Fantasy XI), Final Fantasy XIII has an almost incalculable amount of hype to live up to. While the game still remains largely…
Google Earth reveals two-acre field of weed to Swiss police
Police in Switzerland managed to discover a two-acre field of marijuana while using Google Earth as part of an investigation. Growers, you may be able to hide your goods from police in fields of corn, but you can't hide from the all-seeing eyes of Google. Google Earth has proven useful for a plethora of things-finding…
“Waiting for Guffman” on Broadway: Please let it be true
EW's Popwatch is willfully spreading a too-good-to-be-true rumor that they found on MTV's website.
Blagojevich convicted, removed from office by Illinois State Senate.
Blagojevich convicted, removed from office by Illinois State Senate. Stay tuned for more info.
Super Bowl week: The party to beat all parties
Much has been made over the last few days about the celebrities (or lack thereof) who will be populating the various Super Bowl week parties around the Bay area. It appears as if high-profile places like The Venue and Aja are not giving up many guest names other than party hosts, and we can understand:…
Leslie Shows at USF
Leslie Shows. The Au Layer/ Storm Reflecting in a Pool, 2008. Collage and acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, via SFGate.com. If you don't already keep an ear out for visiting artist/scholar talks at the University of South Florida's College of Visual and Performing Arts on a regular…
Evelyn Craft leaving St. Pete’s Arts Center
She's leaving for a job as executive director of a non-profit foundation and arts center in Kansas City, according to the report in the St. Petersburg Times. The timing might seem a little nervous-making; the Arts Center is in the midst of building a new facility that will house a much-touted collection of works by…
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, Jan. 29-31
Sean Erwin. The Gardener, 2008. Porcelain, Glaze, Luster and Mixed Media. Courtesy Florida Craftsmen Gallery. Not a bad weekend for the visual arts if you can stand the Super Bowl traffic. Just a heads-up, this is also the LAST WEEKEND to see Lights On Tampa 2009 installed downtown. Click here for CL coverage; visit the…
CL’s staff bake-off and the hamburger cake
Last week here at CL HQ, we had a bake-off for the staff members. I didn't participate (it wouldn't have been fair, really), but the field was narrowed down to three finalists. Earlier this week, they had a show-down. The desserts ranged from meh to tasty (in my critical opinion), but one of the entrants…
Steelers tackle Jason Capizzi on wearing No. 69.
A hulking, bearded man of 6-feet-9 stood in the bleachers during Super Bowl Media Day at Raymond James Stadium. He was a boisterous fellow who seemed to be enjoying himself. His name: Jason Capizzi. He plays offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He wears No. 69. After Capizzi acommodated a guy from armed forces media…
Check out the cleanliness of your favorite restaurants
sneak a peak in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant. According to the site, the CDC estimates more than 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur each year in the United States. To prevent this, your local government sends out health inspectors to visit a location 2-3 times per year on average. Cleanscores reveals all…
Will Arnett to host an online Super Bowl party for “losers”
Arnett welcomes those with "nothing to do on the Super Bowl i.e. losers," including, apparently, Andy Richter and "YouTube's most famous celebs." The irony quotient suffers somewhat when you find out the party's being hosted on refresheverything.com, the website of Pepsi. There's a clip promoting the party in which Arnett welcomes all, including "nude dudes,"…
Kama Sutra: Hallway Hump
For lack of a better title, this position is designed to do just what it sounds like. You will need to find a narrow room to accomplish this task, which includes anything from a bathroom, hallway, corridor, alleyway, or closet, etc. To begin, the man removes enough clothing to expose his throbbing erection. With his…
Quote of the day: Jessica Alba fights back at O’Reilly via her MySpace
Bill O'Reilly: Don't mess with Jessica Alba. From the actress' MySpace blog: I want to clear some things up that have been bothering me lately. I find it depressing that in the midst of perhaps the most salient time in our country's history, individuals are taking it upon themselves to encourage negativity and stupidity. Last…
Ridge Vineyards’ president Donn Reisen found dead
On Monday, Donn Reisen, president of famed zinfandel producer Ridge, was found dead in his car, an apparent suicide victim. Although winemaker Paul Draper represented the face of this favored winery, Reisen worked 32 years in sales and marketing and propelled it to cult status. A quiet yet incredibly passionate man, one of the best things about…
DE Simeon Rice on Jon Gruden: He’s ‘a Scumbag’
The former Buc tells Sirius radio: "I think he's a scumbag personally. You know what he told me? 'Simeon you'll be here in the next five years.' I got injured [and] this man's never said one word to me. I won a Super Bowl for you. I got 13 sacks, 12, 15 every year for…
Lost Report: “Jughead”
We're pretty busy down here at Loaf central today, what with the Super Bowl only four days away and time quickly running out. Of course, time was of the essence once again on last night's episode of Lost. From 9 p.m. until 10:02 p.m. (very slippery thwarting of the DVR folks, ABC), I studied it…
Enchilada Tamale Pie: a tasty Tex-Mex one-dish meal
Mexican and Tex-Mex definitely top my list of favorite cuisines. Their use of spices elevate and enhance simple ingredients to create delicious, comforting dishes. One of my favorite Tex-Mex dishes is Tamale Pie, which is a casserole that is supposed to mimic the flavors of a traditional Mexican tamale: shredded or ground meat encased in…
Weapons check for your kitchen
Spices and ingredients are weapons for your kitchen arsenal – a diverse cache prepares you for most culinary challenges, whether it be saving a dish with a skillful application or satisfying a discerning palate. Every now and then it's wise for a cook to do an inventory of their arsenal and the inspection of my pantry renewed my…
Despite Steelers on campus, most USF students don’t give a damn about the Big Game
The Athletics Department at the University of South Florida opened its doors to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. USF is serving as a In anticipation of the Super Bowl-bound Steelers, USF's football practice field underwent an extreme makeover — including new grass, repainted hash marks and lines, and a Steelers logo in the middle of…
Food and wine events
Thursday, Jan. 29: All Children's Hospital This class is designed to teach parents and kids how to cook healthy foods. Free. 6:30-8 p.m., All Children's Hospital Education Center, 701 4th St., St. Petersburg (allkids.org) Thursday, Jan. 29: Cork & Olive Palm Harbor Sip and dip night with eight red and white wines and olive oil.…
Hydroponic farm close to home — Urban Oasis in Carrollwood
TBO has a story about an organic hydroponic farm that's close enough to encourage frequent visits. Urban Oasis (5416 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 813-293-3276) is on Linebaugh, right in the path of many folks regular commutes. I've visited many hydroponic farms, but most are a good drive away from central Tampa, making it difficult to…
Peanut butter recall expands to over 400 products
The number of products affected by the salmonella-tainted peanut butter coming out of a Peanut Corporation of America plant in Georgia has expanded. Again. Federal investigators found roaches, mold, leaky roofs and other sanitary problems at the PCA plant, which provides bulk butter to the manufacturers of hundreds of peanut containing products. According to the…
Al Roker in Ybor — Centro Ybor, that is
Tampa is getting its first 15 minutes of Today Show Super Bowl exposure — more like five minutes so far — via weatherguy Al Roker, who's broadcasting his morning reports from Centro Ybor. Viewers aren't seeing much local scenery from this vantage point — just glimpses of balconies and the Centro courtyard crowded with the…
Elbowing in a question for Anquan Boldin
At Super Bowl Media Day, the star players sit at podiums and take questions from a throng of reporters, while the lesser names sit up in the stands and do interviews. Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin is a podium guy. Reporters practiced in the art of gang interviewing (or those with high-profile TV faces) get…
Do It Today: Rihanna, John Legend and an All Star Poetry Slam
Barbados native singer Rihanna is a Def Jam artist with the whole package — good looks, great voice and undeniable magnetism. She was propelled into stardom with five number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Beyoncé and Mariah Carey for the most by a female artist this decade. Her Grammy-winning single…
The latest round of concert announcements
Somehow the actual announcement of these flew by my radar, so I'll share them all in one fell swoop. (Thanks to Gabe for posting something about Bad Brains.) Friday, March 6, Skindred (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) Saturday, March 7, Tricky (pictured, State Theatre, St. Petersburg) Friday, March 13, Papa Grows Funk (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)…
The Pack A.D. have gone and made themselves a new video
One of those bands that really caught my attention at the 2008 Deep Blues Festival was The Pack A.D. I was already a fan prior to the fest but after seeing their set, I was gung-ho. The band has just made a video and shipped it off to MTV and everything. So, hopefully it'll get…
Review: Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino) I’ve always enjoyed Animal Collective’s musical idiosyncrasies – the ecstatic whoops and squeals, the ghostly, far-off vocals that sound as if they’re sung in another room or in an echo chamber, the layers upon layers of synthetic sound studded with absurd and seemingly random samples, the rhythms seemingly thrown…
The Short List: House pases $819 Billion stimulus package
The bill moves on to the Senate, where Obama is going to need at least a few Republican votes to get the package through to his desk. For the U.S. Postal Service, the crumbling economy has proven more troubling than snow, rain, heat or gloom of night. Capitalists, please remain calm: Obama Administration has no…
The Good Life Experience celebrity guest list grows…
The Good Life Experience celebrity guest list just keeps growing and growing and growing. (For those in the dark, the Good Life Experience is a trio of star-studded Super Bowl XLIII parties hosted by hip hop superstar Diddy; for more info, check out our celebrity events list.) Here's the release I received today:
Will the arts have a place in the economic stimulus package?
Americans for the Arts is making a push to get arts funding included in the economic stimulus package. Here's the text of the email they're sending around: The House version [of the bill] currently has $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts to distribute to state and local arts agencies to help preserve…
Keller cheers up the masses at Jannus
“It’s so good to see you here, my Florida friends / Even if you don’t stay to the end,” Keller Williams sang warmly with his usual amiable charm and shortly after my crew and I strolled into Jannus last night a few minutes late. Then he proceeded to make me smile and get down throughout…
Louis Thornton – Contributor
Like most Floridians, Louis is a transplant from the north but has lived here most of his life. In his 20's, and long before it was en vogue, he found a love for cooking, food and friends. During his extensive travels he writes about the tastes and experiences from all corners of the globe. He…
Review of Dälek’s Gutter Tactics
Over in the record reviews section, I've posted a write up of the new Dälek album, Gutter Tactics. Haven't heard of them? Give it a read and check them out. Here's a teaser for you: Dälek is not your typical rap group; in fact, they are something completely different altogether. Sure, there are beats and…
It’s the end of the Book World as we know it
The Washington Post is closing down the print edition of its Book World section – one of the last of the Sunday-paper stand-alone book review supplements. The NY Times Book Review is looking lonelier all the time. Nothing in this blog post suggests the Book Review will go the same route, but the comments raise…
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream video and album
I'm a big fan of Gil Mantera's Party Dream. The previous time the synth pop duo-turned-recent-trio (drummer A.E. Paterra joined last tour) came through town, I did a little one-on-one phoner with Ultimate Donny, where he told me that he and Gil had been writing new music throughout last year and planned on releasing an…
Chipotle’s prices going up, portion sizes going down
Something very frightening is happening at Chipotle. In the past 6-8 weeks I have observed some dramatic changes the restaurant chain has made to its pricing structure and portion sizes. First let's reflect on what Chipotle used to be: – A commitment to naturally raised products with no chemicals or preservatives. – Salsas, guacamole, cheese,…
Hook Atsavinh — chef/owner of Hook’s Sushi — dies of unknown infection
The St. Petersburg Times reported that Atsavinh had been on a diet over the past two months and lost 40 pounds. After going to the emergency room a few days ago, he died Monday from an unknown infection. Sad news, especially since Atsavinh — who worked at a number of Bay area sushi joints before…
Bad Brains to play St. Petersburg
Bad Brains are playing The State Theatre on Thursday March 5th. Do I need to say anymore? For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me fill you in. Bad Brains was originally a jazz-fusion band called Mind Power; formed in 1975 in Washington D.C. They soon became enamored with punk rock…
Food and Wine events
Wednesday, Jan. 28: Cork & Olive Carrolwood Wine 101 class that'll teach you how to taste. $10 (applied to purchase). 6:30-8 p.m., 10019 N.Dale Mabry Hwy., Carrolwood (813-868-3733 or corkandolivecarrolwood.com) Upcoming events after the break:
Superbowl party food ideas
Having a Super Bowl party? With the Bay area hosting the big game, you're going to have a lot of competition. If you don't serve more than the usual finger sandwiches and frozen wings spread, you might not get the attendance you're looking for. Thankfully, the blogosphere provides you a full array of ideas and…
A Best of the Bay favorite is set to close; another winner moves
St. Pete Beach Hardware is closing this week, and that's sad news for fans of old-fashioned hardware stores. That includes us: Creative Loafing named it the area's "Best Old-Fashioned Hardware Store" in the Best of the Bay issue of 2006. Our description of the place from 2006 still rings true: Whether you’re in search of…
“Dear Richard Branson” — Best complaint about airline food (or anything) ever
I'd like to say that I've had terrible experiences with airline food lately, but I'm having trouble remembering the last time I was on a flight that served actual food. I obviously need to upgrade more. Or not, according to a letter circulating around the web and recently published on UK's Telegraph. Apparently, a passenger…
Super Bowl not that super as a beer holiday
Common wisdom would tell you that the big game and the sudsy brew go hand in hand. Sure, up to a point. But when it comes to holidays and events, Super Bowl is way down the rankings in terms of beer sales, eighth on the list. Why? Well, most Super Bowl celebrations don't start until…
Jordin Sparks on singing the National Anthem
I'm real picky when it comes to pop stars singing the National Anthem at sports events. Too many artists tend to oversing, over-emote and occasionally turn it into a Patti LaBelle-esque shriek-a-thon. That said, I don't expect everyone to sing the song exactly note for note — as a tune, it's pretty lame — so…
Do It Today: King Hedley, NFL photos, Drawings from Darfur
Rebecca Tinsley, journalist and director of human rights group Waging Peace, is the first guest in USF Libraries’ Holocaust & Genocide Studies Center 2009 Lecture Series. Tinsley draws on her experiences reporting on war-torn countries and serving as a Waging Peace advocate during her talk, “Genocide in Darfur: Lessons from Rwanda and Uganda.” Tinsley’s visit…
Free shit: Coffee (and breakfast) at Panera Bread
All day long (Wednesday 1/28), Panera Bread is giving away FREE coffee. Plus they are having samples of the new breakfast menu items for you to try (and try again and again). Hunker down and score breakfast on the cheap. And hey, if you are feeling guilty about sample after sample after sample, they are…
Eckerd students look back on Sundance: cool movies, colder weather
Jerad Ford: Talking about Movies Jerad Ford For me, Sundance has been a once in a lifetime experience. Being in Park City surrounded by thousands of people who are all here to watch films and to support independent cinema is very exciting, because everyone is here for the same cause, to support art. Everyone is…
The Short List: Obama goes to Capitol Hill
President Obama tried again yesterday to get Republican lawmakers' support for his economic stimulus package. The Republicans seem determined to oppose it. So, Mr. President, we going to do this thing or what? (On a side note: Happy Birthday Mom!) A few choice Blago tapes get a public airing. Unemployment is up everywhere. Everywhere!
Super Bowl not that super as a beer holiday
Common wisdom would tell you that the big game and the sudsy brew go hand in hand. Sure, up to a point. But when it comes to holidays and events, Super Bowl is way down the rankings in terms of beer sales, eighth on the list. Why? Well, most Super Bowl celebrations don’t start until…
Sports-bar alternatives: Watch the game in style
Who says the Super Bowl has to be fried and sudsy?
Damon Fowler doesn’t play the blues
Blues guitar ace Damon Fowler is definitely not “just another white guy with a guitar.”
Real men drink wine: Super Bowl spirits don’t have to be limited to Bud Light
Perhaps it's my tiny universe, but wine seems to be crossing a crucial threshold. Parties whose alcoholic lineup formerly included only beer (in kegs) and vile vodka from Idaho now mingle with white and reds. This highly anecdotal evidence is backed up with stats from the Wine Institute, a trade group based in California that…
A lesson in anti-gay politics
You could see the baby-seal clubbing that Kevin Beckner was going to get a mile away. Blame Beckner for either political naïveté (he is a first-term Hillsborough County commissioner, after all) or for believing that a rationale, responsible argument could carry the day. Neither of those is helpful when you are talking about anything even…
Were people really thrown to the lions?
My friend says Christians weren't actually thrown to the lions in ancient Rome, but when I was at the Colosseum, I saw a big cross there in honor of all the Christians martyred at that spot. He insists this was just made up by the church to perpetuate their religion. What gives? —Bunny The story…
Escape the Super Bowl press
If you're sane, you'll be watching this week's game from the comforts of your own home, with fridge and stove near at hand for all your consumable needs. But if you feel the need to get out and experience a bit of sporting camaraderie with others, you might want to stay away from the usual…
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion
I’ve always enjoyed Animal Collective’s musical idiosyncrasies – the ecstatic whoops and squeals, the ghostly, far-off vocals that sound as if they’re sung in another room or in an echo chamber, the layers upon layers of synthetic sound studded with absurd and seemingly random samples, the rhythms seemingly thrown in as an afterthought and carrying…
The Week that Was: All or nothing
Between the inauguration of Barack Obama and the mounting hype for Super Bowl XLIII, all the news air has been sucked out of Tampa Bay. But here are a few developments you might have missed last week: Saving Tierra Verde: Legislators will try to cockblock Mayor Rick Baker's attempt to annex two commercial parcels of…
American Stage makes the most of King Hedley II
Theater review
Boxed wine wins San Francisco Chronicle wine competition
In a surprising twist (or pull), Corbett Canyon's non-vintage 3-liter box Merlot won Best of Class in this year’s San Francisco Chronicle wine competition. Since the judges taste all wines blind, no one knew they were loving the box. A 3-liter cask (the fancy name for the box) houses four normal, 750-ml bottles and the Corbett Canyon Merlot…
Savage Love: Good vibrations
I love the wife I married two years ago, but she absolutely can't come unless she uses a vibrator on herself. She's asked me to let her use it during sex or for me to use it on her, but I've refused. It's bad enough knowing I can't compete with that thing without having to…
Portraiture: In Three Movements looks at the face of addiction
Two artists collaborate for a provocative commentary.
A&L Fine Wines in Palm Harbor is closing
In yet another sign of the times, this morning Alex and Lydia at A&L Fine Wines sent out this email: "To our wonderful patrons, at the end of March, we will be closing our doors for the final time. We want to thank all of our family, friends, and all of our wonderful new friends for…
Recommended wine: Toad Hall 2005 Bodacious
Besides a cool name, Bodacious bears a boatload of juicy, easy-drinking fruit. 100 percent cabernet sauvignon, this wine has silky tannins, fragrant, violet-infused black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and an aroma you want to live in. It’s easily worth twice the price because of its quality (retail around $45). Toad Hall Cellars is a partnership between John Komes from Napa’s Flora Springs Winery and Bob Bettencourt,…
Real men drink wine: Super Bowl spirits don’t have to be limited to Bud Light
Perhaps it's my tiny universe, but wine seems to be crossing a crucial threshold. Parties whose alcoholic lineup formerly included only beer (in kegs) and vile vodka from Idaho now mingle with white and reds. This highly anecdotal evidence is backed up with stats from the Wine Institute, a trade group based in California that…
Bruce Springsteen: Working on a Dream
It’s sure been a prolific decade for Bruce Springsteen, but sadly Working on a Dream doesn’t put a very good capper on it. On his fourth rock outing of the 2000s, he sounds all but tapped out, rehashing the mélange of styles that he’s incorporated over his long career, recycling melodies, and generally failing to…
The recession slams into the wine business
In the first major layoffs by a big wine player, Jackson Family Wines (parent company of Kendall Jackson) cut 170 full time employees from their staff roles, most of them last Friday. Winemakers, marketers and administrative staff were among those who lost their jobs. In mid-2008, the company employed around 810 employees. Read more here.…
The Glenlivet XXV: Aged elegance
In the old days, I frequented a bar in Sarasota called The Gator Club. Downstairs it was a meat-market for the lower-end middle-aged set, complete with cover bands and cheap cocktails. Upstairs, however, was a different scene. There was a pool table, aged leather couches, hidden nooks and Randy Adams. During his reign over the…
Can a poem stop a war?
I think a poet, like any other being, should recognize that the world is mostly controlled by political forces and should become politically active too. —Adrian Mitchell (1932-2008) Late last year two great British pacifists died, the popular poet Adrian Mitchell and the even better-known playwright — and Nobel Prize winner — Harold Pinter. Although…
Dälek: Gutter Tactics
The opening track on Dälek’s Gutter Tactics is anchored by a sample of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s 9/11 speech: “We bombed Iraq. We killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed a plant in Sudan to pay back for the attack on our embassy, killed hundreds of hard-working people, mothers and fathers who left…
The Super cost of the big game
Here is what we know for sure about the economics of Super Bowl XLIII: The face value of the highest-priced tickets is $1,000; the new turf at Raymond James Stadium cost $85,000; and strippers at the best gentlemen's clubs in Tampa will pay a "house fee" of $200 a night for the privilege of grinding…
Franz Ferdinand: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
This is make or break time for Franz Ferdinand. Their 2005 album, You Could Have It So Much Better, didn’t quite live up to the hype following their 2004 debut. That’s not to say So Much Better was bad; it was quite good, but the Franz buzz machine seemed to run out of steam just…
Your guide to getting around during Super Bowl week
Locals know that getting around Tampa has been hampered by extensive construction on I-275 between downtown and the Tampa International Airport/Howard Frankland Bridge interchange. With the big game in town, things will get even more complicated by added road closures and thousands of out-of-town guests. One piece of advice: If you lack the proper parking…
Super Bowl not that super as a beer holiday
Common wisdom would tell you that the big game and the sudsy brew go hand in hand. Sure, up to a point. But when it comes to holidays and events, Super Bowl is way down the rankings in terms of beer sales, eighth on the list. Why? Well, most Super Bowl celebrations don't start until…
Ridge Vineyards’ president Donn Reisen found dead
On Monday, Donn Reisen, president of famed zinfandel producer Ridge, was found dead in his car, an apparent suicide victim. Although winemaker Paul Draper represented the face of this favored winery, Reisen worked 32 years in sales and marketing and propelled it to cult status. A quiet yet incredibly passionate man, one of the best things about…
How to make your own iPhone stand
Courtesy of Design Zen Sometimes it's handy to watch a short movie or live streams on a mobile phone. But, getting the viewing angle just right isn't always possible without having to hold it. Then you need something that can solve this problem – or come out with creative DIY pencil iPhone stand just like…
