Transcending gender with adult vixen, TS Foxxy
The transsexual porn star on her boobs, her straight fans, the stigma against ts stars, and how she maintains a feminine physique.
Mitch Perry Report 7.31.13 – Is Weatherford sincere on possibly reviewing Stand Your Ground?
The student activists known as the Dream Defenders are continuing their vigil in the state Capitol today. Their presence has become a destination point for historic civil rights activists to pay homage, such as Harry Belafonte and yesterday, the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Cynics say they're fighting a losing cause, as there appears to be little…
Review: A night of Monkees business at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
When one thinks of The Monkees — the zany madcap comedic quartet that sold a boatload of records in the 1960's and starred in their own television sitcom — an image of the adorable, wide-eyed pint-sized lead singer Davy Jones comes to mind. Sadly, for the first time since the group's formation, The Monkees are…
American Bar Association asks Supreme Court to clarify competency standard for Florida death row inmate
Mass murderer John Ferguson is scheduled to be executed by the state of Florida next Monday at 6 p.m. at the Florida State Prison. The 65 year old has been on death row for the past 35 years after his conviction for murdering six people in a drug-related crime in Carol City and Hialeah in Miami-Dade…
Hundreds flock to job fair sponsored by Rep. Janet Cruz
You wouldn't know that we are in an economic recovery if you were trying to find a parking place at Higgins Hall in West Tampa today. The parking lot was packed because of a job fair organized by Tampa Democratic state Rep. Janet Cruz, who has held similar events annually since being elected to the…
An interview with the creator of ‘Tonight’s on You’: the eBay of dating sites
This website allows users to bid on dates with other members.
How David Skover saw the Beat minds of a generation restored by Mania
An interview with the author of a new biography on the creative drive behind the Beat Generation.
Loveskills coming to the Bends’ new party Cloak + Dagger
Brooklyn's Loveskills (aka Richard Spitzer) is bringing his finely quaffed beats to St. Petersburg's The Bends on Tuesday, July 30. Cloak+Dagger hosts the FREE performance by the NYC producer. His tracks have been described as "therapeutic synth, low frequency bass, and a balance of melodic heart speak." Spitzer has worked with the likes of Dan Deacon,…
New legislation could dramatically reduce U.S. citizens’ ability to travel to Cuba
Blame it on Jay-Z and Beyonce. Since January of 2011, when President Obama reopened categories of travel to increase people-to-people contacts, more and more Americans without family connections in Cuba have traveled to the island. The president's directive restored rights for scholars and students to travel there for coursework that offered academic credit, and provided “specific…
Mitch Perry Report 7.30.13 – Rogue cop hurts TPD’s reputation
Both the Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Bay Times lead today with the 24-page report produced by the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office regarding the setup of attorney Phillip Campbell, who was defending Todd Schnitt in his trial against fellow radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge. Campbell was busted with a DUI by Tampa…
New Music Tuesday! (July 30): Robin Thicke, Buddy Guy, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and more!
Releases out this week; audio & video included.
Community Cafe to open late-night coffee spot in the ‘Burg
Community Cafe from Community Cafe on Vimeo. Among the first places Mandy Keyes visited when she moved to St. Petersburg were Café Bohemia and the Globe Coffee Lounge. She loved the Globe’s Caprese sandwich. “When the Globe closed, there was a void in the community,” Keyes says. “So I said, let’s fill the void, and…
Dale Gordon hired as new Tampa/Hillsborough County Film Commisssioner
Today, the Tampa Hillsborough Film and Digital Media Commission announced that they have hired Dale Gordon to become their new Executive Director, a position that has been vacant for the past couple of years. Gordon served as Director of Film and Digital Media Development for the Metro Orlando region from 2001-2009. "Going forward I really…
That’s a wrap for the 48 Film Project — screenings this Wed., July 31 and Thurs., Aug. 1
The 48 Hour Film Project brings together aspiring filmmakers for a high-stress battle to see who can pull off the best 5-7 minute short film in — what else? — 48 hours. Teams are randomly assigned a genre, prop, character name and line of dialogue on a Friday night, and then have to scramble all weekend…
The Gaily News: Pope Francis asks, ‘Who am I to judge?’
Pope Francis Breaking away from the Vatican’s long-standing anti-gay stance, Pope Francis told reporters that he won’t judge gay priests for their sexual orientation. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Pope Francis asked. “We shouldn’t marginalize people for this. They must be…
Two independent PACS sending out negative intel about Kathleen Ford
(UPDATE: Kathleen Ford responds. See below) There are two separate independent political action groups sending out negative information to St. Pete voters about Kathleen Ford, who is battling Bill Foster and Rick Kriseman in the race for St. Pete mayor in the Aug. 27 primary. Blogger Peter Schorsch has helped create the Committee to Stop Kathleen…
Heritage Foundation’s Jim DeMint coming to Tampa to bash Obamacare
Former South Carolina GOP Senator Jim DeMint is coming to Tampa next month. The head of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington D.C. based think tank, will be speaking about "Defunding Obamacare and Getting America Back on Track," according to the release sent out by the group last week. Although a relatively little known senator…
Mitch Perry Report 7.29.13 – All too human
Late last Friday afternoon we posted a story on St. Petersburg District 8 City Council candidate Steve Galvin, who told CL that with the exception of a certain blogger, he's thoroughly enjoyed the give and take of his first political campaign so far. But that was before the Tampa Bay Times Anna Phillips reported hours…
Castor signs on to letter to Obama regarding NSA surveillance
As we reported last week, Tampa area Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor surprised some of her constituents when she voted with Bill Young and Gus Bilirakis (among others) in opposing an amendment that would have cut funding for the NSA program that collects phone data. As reported by Foreign Policy, a number of House Democrats opposed…
Volunteers go door to door explaining the Affordable Care Act
An estimated 30 volunteers canvassed the neighborhoods in around Al Lopez Park and south of Gandy Blvd on Saturday morning, informing uninsured residents of the upcoming changes in health insurance brought upon by the Affordable Care Act. The event is a part of a statewide effort by Get Covered America to educate the insured of…
Occupy Tampa booted from area malls
A member of Occupy Tampa is detained and escorted off the International Plaza property by a Tampa police officer. A group of approximately 30 people from Occupy Tampa were escorted from two different Bay area malls on Saturday for protesting in advocacy for the release of Bradley Manning, the 25-year-old Army private currently jailed for…
The skyscraper next door
Residences at the Riverwalk is a project with promise — but questions remain.
Brooklyn music
Sweet sounds from a tough neighborhood.
Head Fake
An unsatisfying sex life has one reader hunting gratification online.
Steve Galvin says St. Petersburg needs someone like him on City Council
St. Pete resident Steve Galvin enjoyed a fully engaged life working in the entertainment industry in Southern California for much of his adult career. So he admits that if you had told him five years ago he'd be running for political office, his response would have been along the lines of, "you have Googled a different…
We made a list — a good one (is it a joke?)
Tampa makes it to the top of a list, one that doesn't slam us for being too fat, underpaid, lazy, stupid or greasy. It's a good list, folks, and a good ranking (no spoilers!). Click here to see how we ranked in Air BnB's America's 10 Most Hospitable Cities, as reported by Buzz Feed's Ashley Perez.…
Some thought’s about this year’s Emmy nominations
New Girl rejected, Girls‘ star cheered and more.
Sharknado blows into theaters nationwide on August 2
The SyFy Channel landed a monster hit with the July 11 airing of campy Z-movie Sharknado, and the basic cable network has been looking for ways to cash in ever since. In addition to a planned sequel set in New York City, Sharknado will also get a midnight screening on Fri., Aug. 2. Bay area…
Stop stealing music!
David Lowery of Cracker is speaking out against illegal file sharing.
The Wolverine movie fans deserve
Hugh Jackman is at his snarling best in this satisfying summer blockbuster.
Cross it off your To Do List
Aubrey Plaza stars in a movie as casual and phony as the sex it portrays.
Thoroughly Modern Ringling?
American Moderns may not be comprehensive but is well worth exploring.
Spring Awakening and Good Egg both shine
The two St. Pete productions are each uniquely life-affirming.
Mitch Perry Report 7.26.13 – GOP Senator calls Rubio plan to defund government “ridiculous”
After a state panel recommended yesterday that the Bro Bowl skatepark in Tampa deserves historical preservation, Mayor Bob Buckhorn blasted the decision, calling it "ridiculous" and "not grounded in reality." Really, Mr. Mayor? There's a battle between different camps about giving the park historical status, which would prevent the city from going ahead with plans…
Class in a glass
When it comes to wine tasting, set and setting matter.
Bro Bowl proponents ask, “Whose history?”
A local skater takes his Bro Bowl campaign to Tallahassee.
Members only
Want special access to Cigar City beers? Join the club.
Fruitvale Station is powerful real-life drama
Ryan Coogler’s assured directorial debut is the best movie of the summer.
Sisterland: Shaking the ties that bind
Get hold of this book. Get thee to a local bookstore, or download it or go to the library and get on the waiting list. You’ll thank me.
Inside the photo booth: Artist Carol Mickett
Kevin Tighe Carol Mickett (click to enlarge)
The Intern Challenge: The Top 5 Places to Go While in Ybor City, Summer 2013
When you think about a good time, where does your mind first wander? Is it to the nearest theme park or a local nightclub? The people of Tampa Bay are diving right into the streets of Ybor City. In response to an intern challenge from Creative Loafing, we have compiled a list of top picks…
The Intern Challenge: Ybor City, Voice of Equality
Hitting the streets of Ybor City as Creative Loafing Interns for the day, we set out to on a mission to showcase a more modern side of these historic blocks.
The Intern Challenge: You can’t miss the heart of GaYbor
After a long 35-year journey together, have Mark and Carrie turned the city of Ybor into the home of GaYbor? Take a look and see! As part of our intern challenge we've done a little homework for you.
Chris Ruen talks about Freeloading
Chris Ruen Brooklyn-based journalist Chris Ruen's Freeloading: How Our Insatiable Hunger for Free Content Starves Creativity (OR Books) looks at Internet piracy. As a 20-something writer and part-time barista, he got to know a handful of members from some of the most interesting bands of the 21st century (like TV On The Radio, Yeasayer and…
Buckhorn unveils $831 million budget for Tampa
Once again Buckhorn gave praise to predecessor Pam Iorio for leaving a strong fund balance.
Jazz it up at MFA
The jazz age may be over, but the Museum of Fine Arts will resurrect it for a short time. The MFA’s sixth annual Dinner and Jazz Series will transport you from the same ol’ same ol’ right back to the roaring twenties, every Friday through July 30. Dan McMillion (July 26), Impromptu (Aug. 2), Sasha…
Mitch Perry Report 7.25.13- Castor refuses to buck Obama on NSA surveillance
I was going to weigh in on the latest developments regarding the Rays and Mayor Bill Foster – but please, how about we hold off jumping up and down until there's actually some agreement in place? Reports simply indicate a deal that a deal along the lines of Councilman Charlie Gerdes' proposal to have the…
The Hip-Hop Underground
Rhyme-slingers, DJs and producers making waves on both sides of the Bay.
The Sarasota music scene
Sarasota may be hard to break into, but plenty of musicians are up for the challenge.
Jazz godfather David Manson
You’d be hard put to hear a conversation about Tampa Bay jazz and experimental music without mention of Dr. David Manson. “Dave is the Thurston Moore of the free jazz/experimental music scene in Tampa Bay,” musician and writer Gina Vivinetto once said, comparing Manson to the prolific singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. “He’s…
Hardcore/Punk/DIY
Nonconformist ideals mix with a desire to create purely for music’s sake.
Jazz(isms) and where to find them
Aficionados can find exciting sounds scattered around the Bay area.
Believing is art in My Name Is Asher Lev
Chaim Potok’s conflict between art and faith emerges poignantly at American Stage.
Multi-talented Temp
While many performers could make solid cases for being key players in Tampa’s underground hip-hop scene, newcomer Chris ‘Temp’ Caro has taken some attention-worthy strides since breaking into the games less than two years ago. A two-pronged force working as an emcee and promoter, Temp boasts a potent inner cocktail of lyrical agility and business…
Teach Me Equals
It’s after midnight at St. Petersburg’s Local 662; the room floods red and black. Erin Murphy and Greg Bortnichak of Teach Me Equals (formerly Bard and Mustache) take the stage in artfully worn-and-torn threads. Bortnichak hunches over his cello. Murphy positions her violin. Both ready their bows. When they launch into “More Where That Came…
Ska-Fusion: The Fourth Wave
The area scene mixes kitchen sink appeal with skanky flavor.
Venture Compound’s Jesse Vance
Jesse Vance kneels on the floor at the Museum of Fine Arts on a balmy St. Pete evening, flanked by a synthesizer, a laptop, a saxophone and other unidentifiable electronic paraphernalia. His close confidant and business associate Bradley Kokay stands at the ready in front of a blank canvas. Then: music. A series of electronic…
Luxury Mane’s Billy Summer
Were we looking to trace the currently rising psych/surf/garage scene to a sort of homegrown aesthetic Johnny Appleseed, we could do worse than Billy Summer. After coming up in the popular and prosperous ’90s Pinellas bar-band scene, Summer founded The Semis, a voluminous and unclassifiable original-rock act that ably showcased his generations-deep knowledge of the…
Live and Local Spotlight: Sympathy for the Devil WMNF Birthday Tribute to Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger turns 70 on July 26, and WMNF celebrates the occasion in its usual manner: with a tribute show honoring the Rolling Stones frontman, his band, and one of their most celebrated albums. The party is spread over two days, at venues located on either side of the Bay, and 20 local acts playing…
Tampa Zine Fest makes a scene
The first-ever event is a revelation on how well an arts community can come together.
UNRB’s Noel Rochford
Whether or not Noel Rochford considers himself an influential part of the ska scene, the 22-year-old artist and his ska-fusion band UNRB are representative of the genre’s expanding sonic boundaries. The inherent skankiness is ever-present despite a sound that delves into punk, reggae, funk, New Wave, jazz, Latin music, prog rock and even polka and…
John Freda does his thing
With less than a quarter century of life under his belt, John Freda is a fresh-faced advocate of smaller shows where concertgoers with open minds can share ideas without the pretense and complications of commercialized consumption. He’s hosted major players in the national underground scene at Fuzz Factory (Burger Records’ Elvis Christ recently blew through),…
Retro fresh psychedelia
Psych-rock hallmarks from the past herald a local rock revolution.
The Music Issue 2013: Find Your Niche
Uncovering local music scenes beyond those already so familiar to Tampa Bay audiences.
Experiments in noise
A growing group of creatives produce free-form music at its most base.
The Amazon Trail: Old Folks Hill
Elaine Mulligan Lynch Yep, it’s that time of life. We’re living on Old Folks Hill. And loving it. We were just checking out the neighborhood when we came upon this house. It’s gorgeous by our standards. It’s sunny, even in the rain, relatively low-maintenance, close to town, in a safe place for walking, and almost…
From teaching to doing with Broadway Theatre Project and Mark E. Leib
This weekend, theater behind the scenes experts — and stars — give us the goods. For the Broadway Theatre Project, 37 guest faculty members and young artists will share their professional stage and screen expertise — luminaries like Donna McKechnie of A Chorus Line fame (pictured) and fellow triple-threat Herman Payne, who have trained young Tampa…
Same old song and dance
The Rays are singing a happy tune. Plus: The Bucs are back!
Largo’s joie de vivre
Cafe Largo may have room for improvement, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
Bacon restraint
A new cookbook argues that enjoyment of bacon is all about moderation.
