Score sushi on Franklin, the Avenue’s new menu & more
Munching through the latest in restaurant news.
Narain stands out in HD61 Debate at Hillsborough LGBTA event
Florida's House District 61 seat encompasses much of the urban core of Tampa, and is looking for new representation with the term-limited retirement of Betty Reed this fall. Three of the four people competing in the heavily Democratic district appeared for an hour Wednesday night at J.J.'s in Ybor City at the Hillsborough County LGBTA…
The Available Cupholders spilleth over
The Austin-based group celebrates a decade with performances at American Stage and the Sarasota Improv Festival.
Award-winning chef knows his Florida seafood
Native Floridian and chef Justin Timineri set to heat up the Museum of Florida History.
Mitch Perry Report 7.10.14: Why Medicaid expansion will continue to be a key issue for Charlie Crist this fall
A number of groups, and not just Democrats, have been lobbying the Florida Legislature to reconsider its refusal to support expanding Medicaid here, which would provide health care to an additional 800,000-900,000 people in the Sunshine State. By other groups, I'm talking about such radicals as the Florida Chamber of Commerce. But House Speaker Will…
Jenny Lewis lands at Ruth Eckerd Hall tonight
The former Rilo Kiley frontwoman and current indie rock icon warms the stage for Ray LaMontagne.
The superhero next door: Tampa Bay performer joins historic Marvel Universe Live! show
Starting this Thursday, July 10, families, fans and nerds of all ages can explore and experience a new universe at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Well, not a universe. The Universe. The Marvel Universe, that is, painstakingly brought to life in all its glory and splendor for an entertainment spectacle sure to thrill your inner…
In Tampa appearance Carlos Lopez-Cantera compares Charlie Crist’s record unfavorably with Rick Scott’s
Although Florida Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera's appearance at the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory in Tampa today was billed as a non-political event, Rick Scott's running mate made sure to use the occasion to disparage Charlie Crist and Barack Obama when discussing new FDA regulations that the cigar store's owners say could force them to give up their…
Florida business leaders (again) call on Congress & Obama to come together on immigration reform
Speaker of the House John Boehner has gone back and forth over the last year about whether he'll ever bring up the Senate's bill on comprehensive immigration reform that passed last summer. Some analysts say the legislation could pass if a a certain number of Republicans join the majority of Democrats who support the bill.…
Life As We Blow It: Cunning canine
One of our dogs, Bentley, looks like a cross between a crotchety old man and Falcor from The NeverEnding Story. Which is perfect, because, while he’s loving and clever, he’s also moody and stubborn. Very stubborn. We’re not sure what Bentley’s backstory is, but it made him smart and independent and pretty damned sure he’s…
Weezer announce Everything Will Be Alright in the End LP, out Sept. 30
Weezer enlist Rick Ocasek, get a little metal, on their forthcoming studio album
Tampa’s last cigar factory says new regulations would kill 119-year-old business
Proposed new requirements by the Food and Drug Administration on tobacco products that would treat cigar manufacturers like cigarette makers threatens the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, the last surviving cigar company in Tampa, which used to be known as the Cigar City. Those new regulations would create a "stranglehold" on the company, says Eric Newman,…
Restaurant review: Holy mole!
South St. Pete’s El Gallo Grande delivers south-of-the-border flair.
Integrate This: Quinoa
The perfect choice for eaters with gluten sensitivities or those searching for a wheat alternative.
Game on
Where to chow down in downtown Tampa during the World Cup final.
Fueling up
Breaking one of food author Michael Pollan’s trusty eating commandments.
The Laugh Tract — who’s bringing the funny
From theaters to comedy clubs to free shows at local bars and tap houses, there are plenty of comedy options for anyone who wants a laugh this week. Just pick your style and head on out for some stand-up. Here are your options this week: Theaters Laugh for the Troops Comedy Tour at The Straz…
Concert review: Go-Go’s bring 1980s Replay America package tour to Clearwater
A look back at the Sat., July 5 show, with photos.
Mitch Perry Report 7.9.14 – GOP to party in Cleveland in 2016
Some random thoughts on the Republican National Committee choosing Cleveland over Dallas to host its four-day convention in 2016… For one thing, is it going to be four days? The last two GOP conventions and the 2012 Democratic Convention lasted only three for different reasons (natural disasters in the GOP's case, Labor Day for the…
Live music tonight: Gold Panda hits Crowbar with indie dance beats
To friends and family, he’s Derwin Schlecker. The rest of the world knows him as British-born, Berlin-based Ghostly International producer Gold Panda. In the electro-tripping, glitchy mix of UK garage, post-dubstep and witch house on his 2013 sophomore LP, Half of Where You Live, he pieces together or skips and skews seemingly disparate samples, found sounds and…
Earl Lennard endorses Paula Meckley in crowded Hillsborough County School Board race
There are a lot of candidates running in the District 6 Hillsborough County School Board race, elections for which take place next month — eight of them, actually. Many of them entered the contest assuming that the seat was an open one, with incumbent April Griffin announcing in 2013 that she would be moving on…
Live Nation bring Julian Casblancas to headline inaugural Coral Skies Festival, nix relationship with Coastline Festival
Bombay Bicycle Club, The Hold Steady, Cage The Elephant, and more set for October 25 festival.
Yolie Capin says she raised over $41,000 at Ulele fundraiser last month
Tampa City Councilwoman Yolie Capin said last month that she didn't intend to officially begin her re-election campaign for 2015 so early, but when Ulele restaurant owner Richard Gonzmart offered the extremely anticipated new eatery soon to open in Tampa Heights as the setting for a fundraiser, she couldn't say no. Good decision. Capin says…
Video: Crosby, Stills, and Nash give into the YouTube generation with a cover of Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” on Fallon
They also performed some originals during last night’s show.
Gualtieri wants every city in Pinellas to cough up more for Safe Harbor
When it comes to dealing with homelessness, Pinellas County officials have been considered a leader in the Tampa Bay area by helping to support the creation of Safe Harbor in Clearwater back in January of 2011. The shelter came at a time when cities in Pinellas were passing and enforcing ordinances to stop panhandling and…
Makin’ it grain
Green Bench and other Florida breweries win honors at U.S. Open Beer Championship.
Mitch Perry Report 7-8-14 : The Scott administration feels the heat regarding All Aboard Florida
All Aboard Florida is the ostensibly private rail project running from Orlando to Miami that is supported by Governor Rick Scott. But initially it won't be going that far. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the passenger rail service will initially run only between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in late 2016. Back in February…
New Music Tuesday! (July 8): Braid, Judas Priest, Dirty Heads, Ministry & more
Releases out this week; audio & video included.
Family & friends of Tariq Abu Khdeir decry his treatment by Israeli officers
Family members and friends of 15-year-old Palestinian-American Tariq Abu Khdeir gathered this afternoon at the offices of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Tampa, days after the Tampa youth was brutally attacked by Israeli police officers and is still under house arrest in a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. "It's really hard for me to…
Keep Calm and Drink Magaritas
Tampa bay, are you ready for a war? It’s on! On July 31st, bartenders from The Bends, Anaar Bar & Grill, Sea Sea Riders, Postcard Inn, Salty’s Gulfport, Mandarin Hide, Datz, The Outpost, Roux, Casa Tina and more will have their weapons ready—tequila, limes, salt and sugar—to compete for the title of Tampa Bay’s Best Margarita! For only $40 (or $50 at the door), you’ll get to try unique margarita…
There’s a new Pink Floyd album coming out, but does anybody really care?
No Roger Waters, and no tour supporting The Endless River.
Bike Share program now scheduled to begin in Tampa this August
A bike-share program scheduled to begin this spring in Tampa will now officially start up sometime in August. That's the message that came out of today's rainy press conference held outside City Hall this morning, where Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Coast Bike Share's Eric Trull discussed the details which will see a bike sharing program similar…
Rick Scott begins the Tough on Crime part of his re-election campaign
Two years ago the GOP-led Florida Legislature voted nearly overwhelmingly in both houses (116-4) to support a bill that would have allowed low-level, non-violent inmates in Florida prisons to receive drug treatment after serving at least half of their sentence. But it was vetoed by Governor Scott, who boasted about it as he kicked off…
Help Teach Me Equals record their new EP
The Sarasota duo is due to release a new vinyl EP.
Charlie Crist debuts his first TV ad of campaign
Coming off a rough couple of weeks, Charlie Crist's team has finally gone on broadcast television with their first paid campaign ad of the 2014 campaign season. The Florida gubernatorial candidate's ad is called "Sunshine," that touts his record on taxes and education as governor from 2007-2011. “’Sunshine’ reflects who our campaign is about: Florida’s…
Mitch Perry Report 7.7.14: Fatal shooting by TPD SWAT team of Seminole Heights man deserves further scrutiny
Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to the working week. In St. Petersburg, Mayor Rick Kriseman will return from a midsummer vacation later this week and is expected shortly thereafter to name a new police chief. Meanwhile in Tampa, some folks are asking questions about their police department following Tampa Bay Times reporter Peter Jamison's disturbing report…
Live music tonight: Dizzy Wright hits Orpheum with his stoner intellectualism
Signed to Hopsin's indie record label Funk Volume, 23-year-old Las Vegas-based emcee Dizzy Wright has a youthful vocal timbre, an elastic-slick and lightning-quick flow, a mix of trip-groove and bumpin’ crunkin’ production, and bravado that doesn’t come off as boastful since his chops back up his claims. His stoner intellectualism is inspired by The Four Agreements of…
Earth to Echo Never Finds its Footing
This found-footage, sci-fi adventure is all over the place.
Bill’s Sports Binge: World Cup post USA, never over with the Rays and slow sports days
Great googly-moogly, it's hot (did I mention I was recently promoted to the rank of captain of the obvious? It's pretty sweet). As I type this sports mess, it's currently 94 and cloudy. Cloudy. If the sun peeks through it will cut like a laser beam and your body will explode in a mess of…
Tampa teen Tariq Khdeir released by Israeli authorities, but remains under house arrest
Tariq Khdeir, the 15-year-old Palestinian American teenager from Tampa who was allegedly beaten by Israel police last week, has been released from custody but remains under house arrest in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat. News reports indicate that Khdeir's face and lips remain swollen from the blows suffered from the attack that occurred on Thursday, where…
A more ambient yoga experience — Dark Wave Yoga at Tempus Projects
Tampa gallery Tempus Projects veers a little off the wall every Tuesday night for an hour of Dark Wave Yoga, 7:15-8:15 p.m. Teachers Eric and Erin Wheeler are warm and welcoming. The married yogi duo comes to Tempus Projects from Seminole Heights’ Lucky Cat Yoga. A vinyasa flow set to dark, melancholy music makes this practice a truly unique…
Do This: The Weekend Top 10
Milestones, music, non-World Cup soccer, classics and final shows lure us off the couch.
Live music weekend: moe., Go Go’s, Chilled Monkey Brains & more
Concerts, July 5-6
Live Music Rundown for Friday, July 4
Here’s a look at some of Friday’s most notable shows.
The 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act is celebrated in Tampa
Fifty years ago, the country was transformed when the Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The Hillsborough County Office of Community Affairs, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the City…
Futbol fever and fireworks — a Rowdies soccer weekend
RowdiesSoccer.com Fireworks will follow both matches when the Tampa Bay Rowdies host the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers on July 4 and the Orlando City Soccer Club on July 6. With the FIFA World Cup winding down and with the U.S. Men’s National Team ousted, it doesn’t mean futbol fever needs to end. The Tampa Bay Rowdies…
The empire strikes back: Lou Minardi speaks out on Uber & Lyft in Tampa
The ascendancy of ride-sharing services Lyft and Uber has taken a bit of hit recently. In Pittsburgh earlier this week both companies received an order to cease and desist by the state's Public Utility Commission, and in California, that state's PUC ordered those companies to stop driving or picking up riders at any airport in the state,…
Collaborative grounds
Mojo Books & Music and Zeal Coffee Roasters to host cupping event.
Poet’s Notebook: Unsmiling
Greta Garbo Poem #25 When I’m with Greta Garbo she gets very talkative She likes me to put on my Russian accent and she plays Ninotchka again People think we’re crazy especially the waiters at Howard Johnson’s Do you want dessert? they ask Oh no says Greta Garbo Ve vant to be alone! and she…
Live and Local Spotlight: Dunedin Brewery 18th Anniversary Weekend
Four days of brews and live tunes.
High on Style: Two easy pieces
Vintage swimwear still makes a splash at the beach, but a hot new twist on the modest style from Allusions by A. Lekay screams fabulous. I caught up with Allusions proprietress Altrichia Cook (aka A. Lekay) at the tail end of her company’s one-year birthday bash. So what are high-waist bikinis doing in a modern…
Transforming Tampa Bay: Everything old is new again
Le Méridien, the four-star hotel fashioned from the 1905 Federal Courthouse, is consciously cool. Gary Prosterman, the developer, had already successfully transformed a YMCA in Philadelphia into a Le Méredien, so he knew what he was taking on. The scale and complexity of this 105,000-square-foot structure was challenging and expensive, costing $27 million. A graceful…
Pre-Fourth live music: Hot Dog Party 8 with The Coathangers & others, Paul Ritch + more
Lots of enticing live music options this Thurs., July 3
Lucky number 50: Local folk icon Ronny Elliott celebrates a career milestone
Ronny celebrates five decades of playing at the Skipperdome this Saturday
Concert review: Cut Copy with Classixx at The Ritz, Ybor City
CL intern Cody Smith offers his take on Cut Copy’s recent tour stop at The Ritz Ybor.
