Do It Today: Hitchcock thriller Rear Window, healthy eating 101
See thrill-master Alfred Hitchcock's screening celebrating our picturesque Florida sunset, every Monday through August 31. Rear Window's star-studded cast includes Grace Kelly, whose boyfriend is played by a particularly paranoid Jimmy Stewart. He's confined to his room after breaking a leg, and passes the time spying on his motley crew of neighbors. When one of…
Do It This Weekend: Richard III rock show, comedian Ron White, horror film fest and more
Often recognized as Shakespeare’s bloodiest play, the Secret Theatre Company puts a new spin on the old ultraviolence with their production of Richard III. Quick to point out that this hybrid of theater and rock ‘n’ roll is “not to be confused with a rock musical” (we’re not talking Andrew Lloyd Webber here), the performance…
Video Game Review: Let’s Tap
We thought we had it all. We could use the Wii remote as a sword, fishing rod, tennis racket, baseball bat, lightsaber and an assortment of other weapons and sports paraphernalia. But alas, we didn't have it all. At least not until Let's Tap. Now, gamers can set their Wiimotes down for a change and…
Theater interview: Joe Popp works his magic in Jobsite’s Pericles
I interviewed a dark, smoky bar in downtown Tampa. He was affable and talkative — I guess I expected more of a pissed-off punk guy. I mentioned that I had seen his punk rock Macbeth at American Stage in 1997. It was a kick-ass production that still stands as the best-attended event ever in that…
Do It Today: Biopics on Leonard Cohen and Dalí, Gourmet Feastival benefit
The Think + Drink Cinema Series focuses on cultural, social and scientific topics. This week's selection isYour Man, which explores the life and times of Leonard Cohen (pictured, photo by MJ Kim), the prolific musician and poet whose tunes inspired covers by everyone from Rufus Wainwright to Beth Orton, Jarvis Cocker, Nick Cave, Kate and…
Ingredient Basics: Four things to do with an avocado
What do I do with this avocado? by: Chef Cristian Feher www.tampabaychef.com You were walking down the produce isle and spotted a mob of people busily squeezing a case of avocados. So naturally, you got in there and started squeezing some yourself. You noticed that some were rock-hard, and you put them back. Others were…
Best Loony Display of Public Concern: Tea Parties
[About Daily Best of the Bay: Creative Loafing is posting writers' and editors' picks for Best of the Bay each day until the BOTB issue is released on Sept. 16. Vote now on your own BOTB choices in our Readers' Poll!] Yes, it's the year of calling any public protest a "Tea Party," regardless of its…
The Ugly Side of Fitness
“I hate running,” my friend Carolyn said to me as we sat sipping a glass of Sauvignon Blanc on an idle Tuesday evening. “In fact, I hate people who run. It seems masochistic in so many ways.” “Maybe it is,” I said. “I run for the after-effects, not the process.” My name is Caitlin Reagan.…
Do It Today: Thrash and Burn tour, Wine Wednesdays, quilts at DFAC and more
If the tour title didn't give you an immediate hint at hardcore music, the logo should with its pair of spiky-horned demons gripping an electric guitar in a freakish tug-o-war, one burned down to his bones, the other with a crimson face melting in gooey drips. The second annual Thrash & Burn tour spotlights a…
Radar: Grease at TBPAC
Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a perennial favorite that you can't help singing along to, no matter how hard you try. Forget what your preacher told you: Grease is the word, and the 50s-era rock ‘n’ roll musical about Danny, a…
Your weekly SportsChumpdate featuring Brett Favre, Michael Vick, Urban Meyer and more
Brett Favre has retired yet again and this time he means it… we think. Then again, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter was supposed to be the final Jason movie. No word whether ESPN will shorten their SportsCenter broadcasts to 30 minutes with lack of new Favre material to cover. The Favre Will He/Won't He reality series could…
Running with The Stinky Drinkers: Introducing SD Liz
Hello, race fans! Stinky Drinker Holley here with an update on the progress we've made in training for the Women's Running Magazine Women's Half-Marathon coming up November 22nd! We're a small but mighty running team, none of whom has ever run a "half" before, motivated by sheer will and the promise of a cold beer…
Tampa Calling moving to the Daily Loaf
As of Wednesday, August 5, 2009, Tampa Calling will be folded into Creative Loafing’s main blog, The Daily Loaf, and all music content from this date forward will be merged with the rest of the content on DL. To continue to read solely music content, click here and save the link to your bookmarks. To…
Kate Cillian – Contributor
Kate is a quirky blonde who loves to write, and one day hopes to be a professional journalist. Former lead singer of the all girl band, Isn’t She Lovely, Kate now utilizes her vox strictly in the shower. She wants to travel the world in a Volkswagen Bus. She loves swimming and cats. E-mail: kate@islband.com
Nick Truden – Contributor
Nick has been living in the Central Florida area for 25 years. His theme song is “Ms. Jackson” from OutKast. In his opinion, Kostritzer is the finest beer ever to be brewed. Nick lives vicariously through Anthony Bourdain’s travels and in between graphic design, losing Tupperware and the perpetual search for the sublime Chicken Korma…
Joel Weiss — Contributor
Joel joined CL as a Tampa Calling contributor in 2009. After earning a radio degree from Emerson College in Boston, Joel moved back home to the Tampa area and has spent time DJ-ing at local stations since 2003. Through his ten years of radio experience, Joel has hosted metal, local, and old-school alternative shows. e-mail:…
B.Treotch – Contributor
B.Treotch grew up in Texas, but was born on the Supertramp tour bus somewhere between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Having played in enough bands and seen enough shows to make him a real asshole about music, he now spends most of the daytime sciencing things at USF. B.Treotch is also one of the contributors…
Autopsy IV — Contributor
Autopsy IV is the owner of the music blog ninebullets.net. He lives in a nondescript house in Southeast St. Petersburg with his wife and 2 bulldogs. He can regularly be found with a whiskey in hand in a multitude of Downtown watering holes and music venues. When sober, he is better at Guitar Hero than…
Infinite Skillz — Contributor
Infinite Skillz started writing lyrics while attending high school in Virginia. While in college, he joined an Atlanta based crew called Unparalleled Sound (UPS). This four-man consortium went their separate ways after graduation but remain friends. Infinite left Atlanta after graduating from Morehouse College and moved to a small town named Searcy in North Central…
Christopher Nadeau — Contributor
Practically tactless and often sweaty, cnadeau writes songs, sings, contorts and guitars in the band Blast and the Detergents. Besides sometimes changing nouns into verbs on a whim, he reads a lot of books (mostly science fiction), supports third-party non-corporate politics, dj’s rock n roll voodoo magic about once a month at Cafe Bohemia, just…
Lorna Bracewell — Contributor
The St. Pete-based singer, guitarist and songwriter has released six albums on her own label Braced Well Records and has toured throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to her musical performances, Lorna lectures at colleges and universities nationwide on topics ranging from folk music and the civil rights movement to constitutional law. To…
Photo Review: Green Day at St. Pete Times Forum
Some shots from last night's Green Day show at the forum. More will be featured in a follow-up review of the show that will be posted by tomorrow. Stay tuned. Billie Joe Armstrong and 12-year-old fan Giovanni Sosto, from Costa Rica, share some stage time during "Know Your Enemy."
Postponed: ’70s Soul Jam at The Ritz Ybor
The RITZ Ybor has announced that the 70's Soul Jam featuring The Stylistics (pictured), Chi-Lites and MC Jimmy "JJ" Walker due to take place this Friday, August 7, has been postponed and will not be rescheduled until sometime in 2010 (no date has been confirmed). Refunds are available at the point of purchase; tickets purchased…
New Vinyl, CDs and DVDs out August 4
Vinyl: Antony & the Johnsons – Aeon 7” New single from 'The Crying Light'. Includes the earnest and impassioned cover of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love.” Assjack – Assjack Death-metal band founded and fronted by Hank III. Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band Using bright melodies, defiantly major-key chord structures, natural imagery mixed with the occasional…
Jon and Kate Plus 8 is back, but the Gosselins are headed their separate ways
I am a self-proclaimed Jon and Kate Plus 8 groupie. I watch the show religiously, and have recently become obsessed with the ongoing tabloid rumors and scandals surround the Gosselins. Between affairs and child abuse allegations, this once wholesome family has become a reality TV lover's dream, combining my two loves of great TV and…
Photo Review: Torche, House of Lightning and Averikou at Czar
Metal Monday came early this week with Sunday evening's show, August 2, at Czar's Imperial Palace featuring Torche, House of Lightning and Averkiou. Death Metal, one of Tampa's more unqiue claims to fame, has influenced a plethora of subgenres including the hardcore scene I grew up in. It was awesome to see how many old…
Ivan Pena — Contributor
Ivan has an Advertising degree from UF, 8+ years in corporate and consumer marketing, 10+ years in graphic design and promotions. He’s also the leader of the group Soulfound and runs his own independent record label, Mohawk Bomb. In 2008, Ivan was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 by the Tampa Bay Business…
CD Review: Moby, Wait for Me (with video)
Moby has a rare gift — he's incapable of sucking at anything. Whether he's creating pulse-pounding beats or lulling melodies, the man has skills. He makes music because he feels something and wants the person putting on their headphones to feel it, too. With Wait For Me, his ninth studio album, Moby is experimenting again…
Nicole Kibert — Contributor
Elawgrrl is a legal eagle shutterbug bringing music photography to you through her “only music has the answer” Flickr site, blog, and Myspace. Her photography has been found in gallery exhibits, CDs, music publications, websites, blogs, and of course, Myspace pages. In past lives, she has been a music director and DJ for WRGW (GWU…
Joran Oppelt — Marketing and Promotions Director
Joran Slane Oppelt is the Marketing + Promotions Director for Creative Loafing and Media Producer for CL Studios. He is also the founder of the Southeast Music Alliance and before being hired by the Loaf, he was a 10-time Best of the Bay Award winner. He has toured and recorded with his own bands (Auditorium,…
Leilani Polk — Music Editor
Leilani’s been writing for CL since she was an intern back in ’03, before she earned her Mass Communications degree at USF and used it and her wits to get a full-time position at the paper. She is quiet and unassuming, except when it comes to food (chocolate and sushi), travel (the farther the better),…
Tips to improve gas mileage (and save some green)
Do you have a lead foot or drive an inefficient automobile? Here are a few simple tips to improve gas mileage and save a bunch of green! The Issue: Poor gas mileage! The Larger Issue: -Oil is a non-renewable resource, and while there is debate as to how long it will last, we will eventually…
CL hosts TIBA event (pictures and video)
Aug. 1 marked the opening of Creative Loafing's new multi-use facility, dubbed CL Space, with an event welcoming members of the Tampa Independent Business Alliance (TIBA). Two winners were announced as part of the "Shop Local & Fill Your Passport" contest (customers spent money at locally-owned businesses during the summer to be eligible). The Brett…
New Vinyl, CDs and DVDs out August 4
Vinyl: Antony & the Johnsons – Aeon 7” New single from 'The Crying Light'. Includes the earnest and impassioned cover of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love.” Assjack – Assjack Death-metal band founded and fronted by Hank III. Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band Using bright melodies, defiantly major-key chord structures, natural imagery mixed with the occasional…
The problems with farm-raised fish: Where does your salmon come from?
Where Does Your Salmon Come From? By: Chef Cristian Feher http://www.tampabaychef.com/ The sushi chef has prepared a beautiful plate of Salmon Sashimi (raw sliced salmon). Trusting its quality and freshness, you dab a little Wasabi on it, dip it in the soya sauce and toss it back. The buttery flavour melts in your mouth, and…
Best of the Bay of the Day: Best organic smoothie
[About Best of the Bay of the Day: Creative Loafing is posting writers' and editors' picks for Best of the Bay each day until the BOTB issue is released on Sept. 16. Vote now on your own BOTB choices in our Readers' Poll!] Algae and bee pollen in a smoothie? Yes, the deep green, kelp-colored drink…
Dirty talk 101
fucking cool considering most women can't even tell their husbands to give them some dick while laying in bed together. Most people look at being a phone sex operator a dirty job for skanks and hookers, but I'm neither. I have a Bachelors' Degree in Communication. Class was Interpersonal Communication and after class was all…
Corkscrew: Drink Well, Save Dough — Top ten best wines for the money right now
This column should have perforated edges so people can tear it out. It answers the #1 wine question I receive: What's really tasty and affordable right now? Ever since this recession withered wallets around the world, it's been my quest to find the best deals. My top ten. Kim Crawford 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough (New…
Blu-ray review: Race to Witch Mountain starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Dwayne (formerly “The Rock”) Johnson and director Andy Fickman are the talent behind Race To Witch Mountain, an action-packed family film based on the 1968 Alexander Key novel and its later Disney incarnations. Johnson and Fickman previously worked together on 2007's The Game Plan. How does the pair do the second time around?
Do It Today: Release and Circumference of a Squirrel
Time's winding down to see show. The pro 'boarder is inspired by skateboard graffiti, and combines painting and sketchwork to create his trippy, graphic images. On display through August 13. (Pictured: an unnamed work by Lasata featured in the Release exhibit) Cafe Bohemia, 128 Third St. S., St.Petersburg, 727-895-4495. Part of American Stage's After Hours…
The Unemployment Chronicles: Focus on the Solution!
My husband says "focus on the solution, not the problem." What that translates to in trying-to-be-supportive husband language is "Please stop whining and find a job." Will somebody please offer me a solution? You might assume that my problem is unemployment — and it is a gigantic slice of my problem pie. Unemployment is definitely…
Concert announcements: GWAR and The Honorary Title
Here a few concert announcements I received this past weekend. No Clubs Presents sci-fi horror metal makers GWAR with special like-minded guests Job for a Cowboy and The Red Chord Sunday, October 4, at The Ritz in Ybor City. Tickets are $19 in advance/$22 day of show, and go on sale this Saturday, August 8,…
Vote Now: Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll ’09
It's that time of year again — time to enter Creative Loafing's virtual ballot box and vote in our annual Best of the Bay Readers' Poll. Go to cltampa.com/botbballot and you'll find 150 categories to vote on, from Best New Restaurant to Best Local Tweeter, from Worst Waste of Tax Dollars to Best Local Actress.…
Late night music, August 3-8: Gomez, Glasvegas and more (with video of Regina Spektor on Conan)
A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Monday, August 3: Levon Helm (original air date July 9) Tuesday, August 4: Kelly Clarkson (July 13) Thursday, August 6: St. Vincent (pictured, photo by Annie Clark,…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, August 4: Roy’s Island Hop Celebration. The ultimate in Hawaiian-fusion presents a five course tour of the islands, paired with chef-selected Caymus Vineyards wines. $85. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 4342 West Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa (813-873-7697) Wednesday, August 5: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet…
Is unprotected sex linked with mental health?
According to Scottish psychologist Stuart Brody, unprotected heterosexual sex is strongly correlated with increased levels of mental wellbeing in women and men. He also claims that those who engage in heterosexual sex with a condom are more likely to suffer from depression and stress. Brody qualified his findings in terms of evolution, claiming that man…
Video: “Folsom Prison Blues” as interpreted by a 5-year-old
Kids are freaking great, right? They just keep getting smarter and more clever every generation. Here's the latest whiz, 5-year-old Wesley, who performs his own unique rendition of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" at the 2009 Spring Coffee Shop Jam at Columbia City Theater in Seattle. This is not a child being exploited or another…
Book review: Passion on the Vine, A Memoir of Food, Wine and Family in Italy
Halfway through this rich, artfully written memoir, I began booking a trip to Tuscany. Writer Sergio Esposito put his Italian hook in my soul and it hasn't been removed from my drooling mouth yet. A Neapolitan wine importer and retailer from New York City, Esposito's love letter to his native homeland gets to the heart…
Do It Today: Slow Death of a Flamingo, comedian Richard Lewis
In the not-so-subtly-titled exhibit to the "present and future state of economic, environmental and social" issues, both local and worldwide. Artists include Maria Emilia, Edgar Sanchez-Cumbas, Sean Erwin, Ivan Reyes-Garcia, Cosme Herrera, Lazlo Horvath, Conor King, Michael Parker and Carlos Manual Soto. (Pictured: Final Battle by Michael Parker, from the Slow Death of a Flamingo…
St. Petersburg College’s new Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building is certified LEED® Gold
St. Petersburg College recently announced that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings. The Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building on the Clearwater campus received the certification. The other LEED Gold building is the…
Breast size: how much is too much? (pics)
I was thinking the other day about my breasts. Are they too big? I started out my adult life as a common 34B. After spending a few years in the swinging lifestyle I started to envy women with larger breasts. Those women looked fabulous in low cut tops and even better naked. This began my search…
Wazoo at Lowry Park Zoo: WOO-HOO!! (Photos)
[Note: Photos by Marina Williams. For more, go to Creative Loafing's Flickr page.] I love going to Wazoo at the Lowry Park Zoo. Living in Seminole Heights, it’s an easy walk to the annual beer tasting so we skip the argument about who is driving. Going to an alcohol-themed event and staying sober is like being…
Sex bites: this week in sex and love
Sex offenders sell: After two months on the App Store, ThinAir Wireless' "Offender Locator" has worked it's way into the top ten best selling paid iphone applications. The company offers a $.99 and free version of the sex offender application, which lets users view registered sex offenders in their neighborhood. On Sunday, August 2, 2009,…
Photo review: Maxwell at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Check out my shots from the Maxwell show at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater this past Thursday, July 30. Apparently the neo-soul singer is bashful; the handful of photographers were granted access to shoot the first three songs, but only from the very back of the auditorium.
Boys’ Team vs. Girls’ Team: A lesson in dyke-otomy
Flannel-wearing, wrench-wielding, mullet-rocking dykes. This is what we’re not. Well, not all of us… I surround myself with a group of fabulous, interesting, women-loving women. To others — and by others, I mean heterosexuals, namely of the right-wing persuasion — lesbian women are all the same. Gay people, in general, are all the same. The…
The Unemployment Chronicles: Blogging through the pain
A year ago, I was anxiously awaiting the closing of our first home, avoiding my mother's crazed wedding planning calls, and three months into a job with a company I was certain I would retire from. My career in human resources was progressing and the opportunities ahead were infinite. I was hungry for challenge and…
Ridley Scott signs on to direct Alien prequel
Ridley Scott, director of the first Alien movie has signed on for a prequel in an attempt to rejuvenate the franchise after two horrendous Alien Vs. Predator movies. Scott's a talented guy, and he did a great job with the first Alien movie, but I have to wonder what the story is going to be?
Old School Friday with Soul Train (video)
A friend of mine sent me a link to this Soul Train clip featuring Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie." While the quality of the video isn't great, the dancing is effing classic. I want to bust moves like this. I do bust moves like this, in my mind.
ninebullets.net July podcast
Holy. Crap. Talk about getting one in right under the wire. No matter. We're here. It's still July and the podcast is live, so let's talk about it. This month's podcast is divided into two halves. The first half is all about new music. In that section we have a song from the upcoming Lucero…
CL Food and Drink week in review
Seven days of food and drink coverage, shortened to a series of pithy links. Eat it up. Holley Sinn's Stinky Drinkers combine alcohol and running! Chef Gui improves your cooking with ten tips, then helps you with plating techniques! CL's Top Chef Masters podcast continues its obsession with sex! And food, I guess. Lael Hazan…
The Costume Diva: How to make a BIG pair of pants
Dear Diva, I have a BIG problem. I am costuming a production of Pinocchio and the actor playing Geppetto is quite “well-upholstered." He told me he wears a size 50 pants, however I think his nose is growing! When I took his measurements, he actually has a 58” waist and 55” hips. How do I…
The Stinky Drinkers present toast-worthy running tips
Hello, race fans! The Stinky Drinkers have been hard at work this week, from building mileage to recruiting runners, and we haven't stopped long enough to tie our shoes. Given the nature of our various day jobs, the SDs are most inclined to evening training sessions, a facet of our efforts which has led us…
Please don’t break this one rule of concert etiquette.
Shitty concert etiquette can destroy what could otherwise be an out-of-this-world concert experience. I've attended hundreds of metal, rock, and punk shows and witnessed all manner of drunken douchebaggery. The more intense the show, the more idiocy you'll have to put up with. I'm not a people person. I don't go to shows to get shitfaced. I don't…
Trendspotting: What they’re wearing right now in NYC
What awaits at the end of of a two hour-long, cushy Jet Blue flight north; a 10-minute AirTrain ride west, a 55-minute subway ride uptown; and a climb up a particularly steep and stained flight of stairs? New York City! (In my best Pace Picante Sauce voice), and a bottle of Poland Spring water, of…
Kevin’s Korner – Week 3 – Harry vs. rodents, Twilight, Bryce Dallas Howard and more!
Welcome back to another edition of Kevin's Korner, where I wrap up all the big movie news into one neat package (sorry, no bow). After last weekends Comic-Con, there is plenty of news, trailers and rumors running around, so I'll address a few. Also, Harry Potter got beat down by some rodents. Who would've predicted…
Kama Sutra: the bull
Getting into position: The man lies flat on his back with his legs stretched out. The woman sits on him facing away and grasping his feet. Basically, this is a reverse cowgirl with grip handles. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate position? 7 Did you have difficulty getting into the…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Green markets, Whole Foods grand reopening, Pecha Kucha night and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers' Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in "green" natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a…
Movie review: Judd Apatow’s Funny People, starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and a cast of thousands
For more reviews of the summer's biggest movies, check out the CL Movies & Television site. What’s often missed about the sense of humor is that it’s a defense mechanism. Behind every biting joke, taunt or put-down is a kernel of fear or hurt. Maybe if we keep laughing, all that pain and uncertainty hiding…
How to Write a Band Bio
Having an objective and effective band biography can be a challenge for many bands. Often, the bands write these bio themselves (they are usually better at their instruments than at basic grammar) and are full of overly flowery explanations of the origin and mission of their sound and myriad influences. Sometimes, these monoliths are multiple…
Do It This Weekend: Creature Feature, Warhol’s birthday bash, Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat and more
3D is suddenly all the rage again, with Hollywood embracing the technology with a gusto not seen in decades. These days it's mostly kiddie flicks that get the 3D treatment, but back in the day horror was the king. This weekend, Tampa Theatre takes us back to the scary old days with a screening of…
The job hunt is the same as searching for Mr. Right
So it has been a few years since I've played the dating game… but I distinctly remember it… checking my phone for missed calls, checking my phone to make sure it was working…. Yes, occasionally I was THAT girl… looking forward to Friday for that first date, wondering where it would lead. And I remember…
Tales From the Pit: My First Warped Tour Experience
It was ridiculously hot. It took me 15 minutes to realize that my white wife beater would become my face towel for the day. It was loud. It was colorful. It was my first time at Vinoy Park. And finally, at the age of 24, it was my first time experiencing Warped Tour. It's been…
Courtney Bishop – Contributor
Courtney Bishop believes that she is a reincarnated black Jew from the Motown era. She is also a flaming homosexual. When she's not busy touching her roots – and sometimes while touching them – you can find her bartending, rocking the mic, causing a scene, concert-going (where she's probably interpretive dancing in a corner somewhere),…
The environmental impacts of bottled water
In 1967, that smug businessman from the film “The Graduate” took Dustin Hoffman’s character aside and declared “I just want to say one word to you, just one word: ‘plastics.’” Ever since that iconic moment, plastic has signified society’s wasteful tendencies and has come to represent our “throwaway culture”. The prepackaged bottle of water is…
Indie 101: Jeff Klein
When Marc featured the title track off of The Hustler album by Jeff Klein on Episode 17 of the show, I think I asked him to replay the song three times. After patiently listening to The Hustler on repeat for 15 minutes he said “Oh! And you have to watch this video! I think he…
Top Chef Masters Podcast, Episode 7: Rick Bayless’ sex appeal, Art Smith’s issues, and a Purple Cowboy
In this first episode of the Championships Round, we welcomed back Hubert "The Other French Guy" Keller, Suzanne "Cold Fish" Tracht, Anita "Cowardly Lion" Lo, Michael "Brown Noser" Chiarello, Art "Honey Bear" Smith, and the delicious Rick "Hot Mexican Chili" Bayless (I'm not partial, I swear). For the quickfire challenge, the chefs got into two…
New trailer for A Serious Man, the latest from the Coen Bros.
It looks like the Coen Brothers, those mad geniuses behind Raising Arizona and Fargo, have finally embraced their Judaism. I may be biased (I love me some Joel and Ethan!), but why let that stop me from telling you that the following trailer for A Serious Man looks hysterical? It does. See you yourself ……
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music, July 30-August 2
A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page. Thursday, July 30 Jeffree Star w/Artist VS Poet/Watch Out! Theres Ghosts/Lets Get It Jeffree Star is conversely ambiguous and flamboyant — he…
Sam Raimi to direct World of Warcraft movie, blow fans’ minds
Sam Raimi, the director behind the Spider-Man trilogy, The Evil Dead series and Drag Me To Hell, is set to direct the upcoming live-action World of Warcraft movie announced by Activison-Blizzard last week. Not only is the director of Spider-Man behind the impending blockbuster, but the producer and production house behind The Dark Knight and…
Let us now praise baseball nicknames
And now for something a little different. File this under "library, treasures of the." Whenever I'm blue, I get a book down from the shelf, turn to page 78 and begin to laugh. It's Fred C. Harris. It's one of those books available by special order. You can also find a used copy online for…
Trying to score with Tampa’s lingerie football team
Earlier this week hopeful young ladies attended the Tampa Breeze tryouts to become part of the bay area's hottest sports team. The St Pete Times Forum was loaded with prospective players suited up in T-shirts, short shorts, and shoulder pads. The Lingerie Football League may sound cute, but it's no joke. These girls are ready…
The Pete Rose hall of fame debate rages on
"The banishment for life of Pete Rose from baseball is the sad end of a sorry episode. One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts. By choosing not to come to a hearing before…
Game review: Secret of Monkey Island, 19 years old and funny as ever
I've lived most of my life playing video games — 37 years that span the vast majority of video game history. We had a dedicated ment in many gamers' lives. It's one of the classics. And until two weeks ago, I'd never played one second of it. The less said about what happened with King's…
Zora Neale Hurston: Florida folklorist and explorer
Zora Neale Hurston: January 7, 1891 (Nostasulga, Alabama) – January 28, 1960 (Fort Pierce, Florida) Zora Neale Hurston was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist whose fictional and factual accounts of black heritage are unparalleled. Her autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road, begins with the words: “I have memories within that came out of the materials…
Tampa Goes Hollywood: Chan Tatum stole my friend’s girlfriend
Chan Tatum stole my friend’s girlfriend. That’s right; the hunky spray-tanned star of summer’s G.I. Joe, is allegedly a heartbreaker. Of course, this rumored event happened in seventh-grade, back when Tatum was just another kid trucking his backpack to and from Hillsborough County Schools. These days, Tatum is a celebrity, living it up with the…
Hashing defined, because running makes you thirsty, for alcohol
Ever since I started running “professionally” I would hear whispers of a certain subculture of running, one that involved booze, tawdry nicknames and running in dresses, red ones at that, worn by men. Redhead mentioned that she had heard of this underground running cult as well. Although we are fond of both running and boozing,…
The Unicorn Chronicles: Or, the hunt for a single, attractive bisexual female willing to do a threesome
My wife Kate, and I, Jon, are your average, mid-twenties professional couple who entertain fantasies of having a threesome. The only difference between us and most couples who dream about this kinky fantasy with a third party is that we actually actively hunt and track the mythical unicorn: a single bisexual female who hooks up with couples (oh,…
Travel: Israeli food and restaurants come of age
Israel is becoming a surprising food Mecca (yes, I enjoyed writing that). Israelis enjoy traveling and are demanding higher food quality and variety when they arrive home. That, combined with an influx of peoples from all over the globe, has started a food renaissance that makes eating in Israel a surprising joy. Standard Middle Eastern…
Not Tonight Josephine, Drew Street Mary and more at State Theater July 31
The all-local bill celebrating the release of Not Tonight Josephine's new CD includes Drew Street Mary, Claiborne, Look Right Penny and Ghost of Gloria. All bands have a female name in the their band name. I wonder if this was done on purpose? Rumor has it that Drew Street Mary has a fill in bass…
Do It Today: Motown Heroes the Funk Brothers, meet author Ian Vasquez, GirlStories Theatre
The Think+Drink film fest focuses on cultural, social and scientific topics and the "American Music Series" prior to each movie explores the history and icons of the music that have shaped America, presenting a live performance by a new local musician each week. The July 30 selection is Standing in the Shadows of Motown, a…
X-Men characters share Marvel’s first gay kiss
I'm listening to RuPaul's new CD. RuPaul, the famous drag queen. It's circumstantial, to be honest. I like dance music; I like pop. It's music that doesn't require much thought, which can be nice for an over-thinker. I'm not listening to RuPaul because I'm gay. I'm not listening to RuPaul because she's gay. That being…
Big men in super tight tights
There is nothing better than spending a Friday night at a Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) live show. Apparently, all of the wrestlers are contracted by the WWE and represent the next generation of even more hardcore wrestlers. Despite the attire — which consisted of very small tights that don’t leave much to the imagination —…
Travels with Jack, Part 2: Pitchfork Fest ’09 Wrap (with lots of pics)
"I'm so blessed to / have spent the time / with my family and the friends I love/ with my short life / I have met so many people I deeply care for" These final chanted lyrics of Yeasayer's "Red Cave" go a ridiculously long way in summarizing exactly what my recent trip to Chicago…
Photo review: American Idol Live at St. Pete Times Forum
A photo review of last night's American Idol Live concert at the St. Pete Times forum. To check out a review of the show, click here. A piano duel between Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre.
Movie Review: The Hurt Locker
[Editor's note: This review was written by film critic J.R. Jones for our sister paper the Chicago Reader. You can check out more of Jones' reviews and the rest of the Reader's film coverage here. For more reviews of the biggest movies of the summer, check out CL's Movies & Television site.] The Hurt Locker,…
CD review: The Takers, Taker Easy (audio)
Anyone who pays any attention to music in Florida has heard about The Takers at some point in the past year, and since Suburban Home picked them up, the hype machine has been doing nothing but gaining momentum. By the time Virgil reached out to me with a copy of the band's debut album, Taker…
Cypress mulch protest for the Save Our Cypress campaign this Saturday
Cypress trees all along the gulf coast are the regulators of our water system. They provide us with a natural filter, support the nutrient cycles and protect our environment from storm surge. They have been doing this for thousands of years and now it is our turn to protect them. The clear cut of cypress trees…
Psychotic Pulp Vol. 2: Restless stumbling through space time
Restless again. My band stops playing and a smattering of applause fills the void of sound as the barkeep kicks on the punk jukebox. Love Comes in Spurts pipes through the shitty speakers as Richard Hell's whiney voice affirms the nihilistic undertones of modern living. I look down at my sweat-stained shirt and a tiny…
Sawatdee: Eating through Bangkok
I stayed just 2 days in Bangkok (BKK), and I am now in Na Harn, a relatively sleepy beach town on the southern end of Phuket. Phuket itself is an island off the southern coast of Thailand. Yes, it is a tropical paradise, and so is the food. If I were not training Thai boxing…
Book review: Lords of Finance — The Bankers Who Broke the World
So you're not an economist, not in the finance or banking business; you dump your 401K money into generic funds. You don't care too much for money, just that it can buy you stuff. You're like me, like a lot of us. So why would you ever consider reading Liaquat Ahamed's Lords of Finance: The…
CL Feature: Black Moth Super Rainbow (the psyche-pop-fizz group plays Crowbar on Friday)
Pennsylvania experimental rock ensemble Black Moth Super Rainbow (pictured, photo by Jae Rumberto) hit retro and modern notes all at once with their day-glo vibrant electro-dance melodies, fizzadelic folk shambles and made-for-space jams. It’s some of the headiest music you’ll find out there right now, but songwriter/frontman/creative conscience Tobacco (real name Tom Fec) doesn’t consider…
Movie review: Zooey Deschanel in (500) Days of Summer
For more reviews of the summer's biggest movies, be sure and visit CL's Movies & Television site. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back. It’s a formula as old as drama, but it’s also sort of fanciful. In real life, the boy who loses the girl often sits brooding on the sidelines…
The geek who asked Megan Fox if she’d shoot a celebrity sex tape with him (video)
I couldn't help but comment on the Comic Con fan who made a video of himself asking St. Petersburg's own Megan Fox if she'd like to do a celebrity sex tape with him. That took balls. I'd have liked to see a better picture of him. I mean, if he was cute, why the hell…
I just breathed the same air as Adam Lambert, an American Idol concert review
As an American Idol Super-Fan, it is pretty shocking to even me that I had not attended the annual extravaganza of singing, dancing and sequins that is American Idols Live. But finally, I have been there, I have done that and it was worth the wait. I won't bore you with a play-by-play recap of…
Movie review: Moon offers David Bowie’s son Duncan Jones’ take on sci-fi
[Editor's Note: Moon is currently playing in Tampa. Check here for showtimes. And for reviews of all the summer's biggest releases, be sure and check out the CL Movies & TV site.] Without a doubt, director Duncan Jones' upbringing as pop hero David Bowie's son is apparent in the sci-fi psychological thriller Moon in a…
The Stinky Drinkers: Meet SD Lisa, a.k.a. “Snake Bite”
[Editor's Note: Welcome to the latest chapter in Holley Sinn's running (ha) saga of The Stinky Drinkers, a beer-driven bunch in training for the upcoming Women’s Running Magazine Women’s Half-Marathon coming up this November in downtown St. Pete.] After our most recent run, SD Phil decided that we needed some rules. We needed to "name"…
Jason Ball out-slugs Edson Berto at RFC Pride
TAMPA, Fla., July 24, 2009: The Real Fighting Championships hosted the mixed martial arts event, Pride, at the A La Carte Pavilion with seven bouts on the fight card. Florida State Lightweight MMA Champion Edson Berto vs. Jason Ball from the UK was the main event.
Comic-Con 2009 wrap-up: The movies (feat. Jonah Hex, Iron Man 2, Kick-Ass)
The San Diego Comic-Con, or SDCC for short, wrapped up this past Sunday. (See Anthony Nicholas' full recap here.) For those unfamiliar with SDCC, it's one of several annual conventions where massive crowds of fandom (about 125,000 this year) turn out to share their love of comics and related forms of entertainment. And to be…
Tell your wife to stop sexting me
Are you a dude? Are you a married dude? Then pay attention. For far too long you’ve let your wife, your life partner, your everything, sit alone on the sidelines. Well it's time to wake your ass up and get your head back in the game—the game of being in a good relationship. You can…
Five things you may not know about food
Nothing is more entertaining at a social gathering than paying close attention while someone divulges previously unknown facts about a certain subject. We've all gathered around in a circle to hear what our suit jacket has in common with the space station, and how the shoes you're wearing can help provide energy for a small…
Free “Didgeridoo Down Under” program this afternoon
How do you feel about didgeridoos? Have you ever seen one up close? Have you ever heard one? Do you have any idea what they are?
Don’t cry for Argentina wines
Malbec wines are taking over.
Thanks to SPC, the Gulf Coast Museum’s collection of Tampa Bay artists remains intact
While most graduating high school seniors hope mom and dad will spring for a car or European vacation as a parting gift, Christine Renc-Carter clearly remembers a more unconventional present, one that reflected her family's commitment to creativity. The prize — to select any artwork she wished from the studio of Dunedin artist Denis Gaston…
Christine Decker is the Dirty Harry of nuns in a dazzling American Stage production of Doubt
What a gift John Patrick Shanley gave to middle-aged-and-over actresses when he brought Doubt to the stage. The role of Sister Aloysius is the sort performers dream about: dominating, unpredictable, withering, unwittingly comic, getting by not on glamour but on ugly old self-righteousness, mean-spirited certainty and unflappable overconfidence. Sister Aloysius is a Dirty Harry of…
Black Moth Super Rainbow puts the “psych” in psychedelic, though frontman Tobacco thinks of his band’s music as pop
Pennsylvania experimental rock ensemble Black Moth Super Rainbow hit retro and modern notes all at once with their day-glo vibrant electro-dance melodies, fizzadelic folk shambles and made-for-space jams. It's some of the headiest music you'll find out there right now, but songwriter/frontman/creative conscience Tobacco (real name Tom Fec) doesn't consider his music psychedelic at all.…
Why were the continents once all piled in a big clump?
I've seen pictures of Pangaea, the giant land mass that eventually separated into the continents we know today. But why were the continents smushed together like that in the first place? What made the land higher on that one side of the earth? Were there other continents we can no longer account for? Is it…
Mommie dreariest hates that I watch porn
Plus, brotherly love with the Jonas clan
The rat man cometh
Small rodents demand small poems.
Breaking up is hard to do in (500) Days of Summer
[RECOMMENDED] (500) Days of Summer Directed by Mark Webb. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Rated PG-13. Opens Fri., July 31 at area theaters. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back. It's a formula as old as drama, but it's also sort of fanciful. In real life, the boy who loses the…
Meat Week: The great supermarket steak-off
The best of the beef in local markets.
Beth Shaw – Contributor
Beth Shaw- Beth, or B.o.B. as she is referred to by her running friends, is originally from the Tampa Bay area. Her degree in Journalism comes from the University of Central Florida. A former gym rat, she began running more seriously in 2008 after signing up for the Disney Marathon. When this marathon proved disastrous…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: July 25-26
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturday, July 25; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers' Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in "green" natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle…
Leighton Meester’s sex tape (NSFW)
When will celebutantes learn? Just because you spend your days acting sexy in front of a camera doesn't mean you should spend your nights filming sex tapes, unless of course you want to sue for millions and boost your career from an actress playing a socialite on Gossip Girl to the real thing. (Pics below…
Coming to a wine shop or restaurant near you: Sparkling White Jasmine Tea
Tea is hot. Riding this wave is a marketing-minded team in California who fermented organic Chinese jasmine tea and bottled up its bubbliness. But here's the kicker: Even though it's fermented, it's non-alcoholic. It's only after fermentation that the Golden Star Tea Company adds organic cane sugar to make the grog palatable to the masses. For an alcohol…
Infinite Skillz — Contributor
Infinite Skillz started writing lyrics while attending high school in Virginia. While in college, he joined an Atlanta based crew called Unparalleled Sound (UPS). This four-man consortium went their separate ways after graduation but remain friends. Infinite left Atlanta after graduating from Morehouse College and moved to a small town named Searcy in North Central…
Christopher Nadeau — Contributor
Practically tactless and often sweaty, cnadeau writes songs, sings, contorts and guitars in the band Blast and the Detergents. Besides sometimes changing nouns into verbs on a whim, he reads a lot of books (mostly science fiction), supports third-party non-corporate politics, dj's rock n roll voodoo magic about once a month at Cafe Bohemia, just…
Lorna Bracewell — Contributor
The St. Pete-based singer, guitarist and songwriter has released six albums on her own label Braced Well Records and has toured throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to her musical performances, Lorna lectures at colleges and universities nationwide on topics ranging from folk music and the civil rights movement to constitutional law. To…
