Carl’s Jr. introduces the footlong cheeseburger. (Yes, this is real.)
The fast food chain Carl's Jr. is doling out an experimental footlong cheeseburger to a few restaurants in their Southern California test market. Add this to the list of completely absurd, albeit deliciously intriguing, fast food items infiltrating American stomachs today. The KFC Double-Down, the quarter-pounder chili dog from Sonic, the Krispy Kreme bacon cheeseburger;…
Catch My Disease: Viral videos of the week (7.16.10)
My lovely infected ones, I owe you an apology. I figured out why the videos in the last few weeks have been so uninteresting. A lot of our favorite Youtube celebrities such as Michael Buckley, Dave Days and Vlogbrothers were in LA attending Vidcon, a conference drawing Youtubers away from their webcams to sit in…
Summer beers to beat the heat
Summer is here and weather like this screams out for the cooling kick of a summertime ale. For those who have not discovered this once-a-year style, here are some tips to find your perfect pint to beat the heat. First of all, we need to discuss what makes a beer a “summer seasonal”. Summer beers…
Do It This Weekend: Back to the Future pub crawl, a Rays watch party, ARTpool’s Tra’shion Fashion show, the Tampa Elvis Festival, St. Pete’s Cool Arts Show and more
Let's be honest: we're all itching for a chance to dig out our box of '80s gear — you know, the one hiding scrunchies, leg warmers in every shade of neon, and stirruped leggings for the ladies; acid-wash jeans, puffy vests and hair band tees for the guys — and Saturday's Back to the Future…
On the Radar: get free Blue Bell ice cream at MOSI’s celebration of National Ice Cream Month
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. In honor of National Ice Cream Month, Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry is treating guests to free samples of Blue Bell’s newest flavor, Caramel Kettle Crunch — sweet and salty kettle corn, smooth ice cream and a swirl of…
Thanks to Fez, St. Pete’s Central Avenue has a new cuisine to discover
It's a Thursday night in downtown St. Petersburg and Central Avenue is lively. Maybe not hopping, exactly, but there are enough diners and revelers around to outnumber the usual parade of full-time downtown "residents" who repeatedly walk the circuit throughout the night. There are families and couples at sidewalk tables and live music streaming from…
On the Radar: put on your blue suede shoes for the Tampa Elvis Festival
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. It takes more than mutton chops and a sexy sneer to pull off a convincing impersonation of the immortal Elvis Presley. See for yourself whose routine will reign supreme at The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. It’s the highlight of…
Do It Today: All Out Rep and Secret Theatre produce Half Dozen the Other in Ybor, New Seeds Salon at Sacred Grounds, and St. Pete Times journo Thomas French signs Zoo Story
Half Dozen the Other (cast pictured right) is a stage show on speed: All Out Rep and Secret Theatre offer six 10-minute plays by local authors that range "from the comical to the macabre." secrettheatre.net. July 15-24, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; additional 11 p.m. performance Sat., July 24, silver Meteor Gallery, Ybor City, $6 and $12…
As hope floats on containing oil gusher, Pinellas County hosts another forum on the oil spill crisis
Wednesday night in Seminole there will be a community forum on the environmental disaster that continues in the Gulf of Mexico beginning at 6 p.m. Called the Impact of the Gulf Oil Crisis on Tampa Bay, it will take place at the Digitoirum on SPC’s Seminole Campus, 9200 113th Street North, Seminole. It's the second…
Catch My Disease: Harry Potter edition of viral videos
Though it's hard to imagine (at the ripe, old age of 18), there was a time in my life where I couldn't turn to Youtube for entertainment. The year was 1998. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in the U.S. on September 1. Google was incorporated three days later. By 2005, when Youtube…
Eco beauty: The green way to shave (video)
You're trying to live a greener lifestyle — recycling, composting, riding a bike instead of driving, etc. — but have you ever looked at how you can green your beauty routine? Shaving is one aspect of grooming that you may have overlooked. Plastic razors are obviously a bad choice, seeing as they'll just end up…
XFC hosts “Open Fighter Tryout” in Brandon in August
As part of ongoing mixed martial arts talent search efforts the Tampa-based MMA promotion, Xtreme Fighting Championships, will host the next Open Fighter Tryout on its home turf again at the XFC Training Facility in Brandon Aug. 28. The tryout is open to male and female fighters ages 18 and up who have to demonstrate…
Utilizing opposing flavors: A chef’s tool for taste
There is a big difference between a good meal and fantastic meal. Yes, one most likely has a better visual presentation, but people would agree that the most important factor is taste. A question I get very often from my customers is, “How do you get it to taste like that?”. Fortunately I am not…
Fans vs. like: my Facebook dilemma
When Facebook changed its designation of fans pages to like pages I started thinking about its implications. First of all, it handled my biggest objection to fan pages. I always thought it was quite arrogant for the average person or small business to designate themselves in a way that denoted celebrity. Let's face, it there…
Concert review: Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band rock Ruth Eckerd Hall
Almost a week after his 70th birthday Ringo Starr and the All Starr Band left the crowd star-struck at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall. The backdrop for the stage was a huge, psychedelic star with star-gazer lilies all over. It was a sold out show hosting a different audience than I’d become accustomed to at Ruth…
The Grind Podcast 6/14: All-Star Game left us cold, LeBron saga officially old, and the funniest fart story ever told
It was five years ago Tuesday Bill Freitas made his amateur broadcasting debut on 620 in place of Steve Duemig. It was the day after the All-Star Game and Bill quickly realized why the host used this particular week to haul-ass on vacation. The country is in a virtual sports coma. No football, no hockey, no actual baseball;…
CD review: M.I.A., Maya (with video)
M.I.A. is having an identity crisis. Not one of those ones that find a familiar artist taking her music into brash and, at the very least, intriguing musical territories, but more along the lines of your polo-sporting, Young-Republican little brother coming home with a fistful of Minor Threat records, barking “This shit is my jam…
The tropical island fitness plan: stay hydrated, snack on frozen fruit, and drink like the locals
When most people think of summertime, they think of vacations filled with sunny days. Being as I'm a Florida native, my family’s idea of a perfect vacation includes destinations that require minimal travel and a lot of sunshine — Bahamas, the Keys, and Captiva Island were always winners. Naturally, during the winter and spring months,…
Pat Donovan’s Deep Fried Sports: Goodbye, Boss, welcome back, Rays
Pat Donovan talks about the loss of George Steinbrenner, the All-Star game and the Rays rotation heading into the second half of the season.
On the Radar: ARTpool’s Tra’shion Fashion show is this Saturday in downtown St. Pete
Tra'shion Fashion III is this Saturday, July 17, at ARTpool Gallery in downtown St. Pete. Tra'shion Fashion is known for showcasing fun — and often outrageous — alternative fashion looks crafted from recycled and other unconventional materials. This year's show promises to be the biggest yet, with more than 15 designers and 45 models showing…
News and notes from Lightning prospect camp: Brett Connolly shines in first scrimmage
For the past three days, Tampa Bay Lightning prospects have skated up and down the St Pete Times Forum ice, testing their agility, stamina and balance. Tuesday, the players got their first taste of a live game with a intersquad scrimmage. In a high scoring affair, Team White defeated Team Black 7-4. It was a…
Is the Predators trailer really false advertising? (with video)
The trailer for Predators was amazing. It showed an escalation way above anything seen in the previous movies: more humans, more guns, different planet, and in the money shot, the hero (Adrien Brody) gets lit up by a dozen predator laser sights ready to blast him into a billion pieces. The geeks went wild. Only…
Is UFC President Dana White the Steinbrenner of MMA?
In light of George M. Steinbrenner's passing early Tuesday morning it seems appropriate to not only review his legacy but also search the sports sphere for a fitting successor, even if not necessarily on the baseball field. “George was The Boss, make no mistake,” Yogi Berra said shortly after the tragic news were released. “He…
ABC 28 report on Jim Norman does raise some questions (video)
Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman is running for the state Senate in District 12, which encompasses much of Pasco and a good part of northern Hillsborough county. He's also in a contested GOP primary with representative Kevin Ambler, who made news today with his call (with Paula Dockery) for the state to discuss implementing get…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Ariel Pink
Ariel Pink (pronounced "r-real pink") grew up in LA and attended Beverly Hills High School (the same one in the Alicia Silverstone incest-based comedy classic, Clueless). He started writing songs around age 10 and says he has recorded 500+ songs since 1996; most have never been heard by fans. His eccentric/melodic lo-fi recordings utilize some…
IKEA to discontinue incandescent light bulb sales in favor of energy efficient options
The Swedish home furnishings retailer IKEA — whom we all know and love for their meatballs and self-assembled furniture — is going a deeper shade of green by discontinuing sales of traditional incandescent light bulbs, beginning on January 1st of 2011. In addition to their current selection of energy-saving CFLs, IKEA will be issuing a…
What to do when he tattoos your name on his chest
The love thing isn’t working out so well. Someone I used to love with all my heart has tattooed my real name on his chest! I’m freaked the fuck out. This is what every woman wants, though right, to have a man love her so much, he’ll put her name on his body for the…
Interview with Jerome Tuccille, author of Gallery of Fools, a peek into the secret world of mobster art thieves
Family is a complicated thing. Just ask best-selling biographer and former candidate for the governorship of New York, Jerry Tuccille. In the early '70s, Tuccille was called home to his father's hospital bed in New York, away from his hard-won average, middle-class life. With Salvatore Tuccille seemingly on the verge of death, there was no option but to…
Rays shine at MLB All-Star game
The American League team fell 3-1 to the National League at the 81st annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game, losing for the first time in 13 years. The NL won on the strength of a seventh-inning, bases-clearing double by Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves. The Tampa Bay Rays’ own Evan Longoria was the only…
Going on vacation? Organize your office and your exit strategy first to reduce “pre-vacation stress”
Congratulations! You’re going on vacation. Your time away is likely well-deserved, much-needed and long overdue. Whether you’re taking a vacation or a “staycation”, you are leaving the office behind. If the thought of being away from the office for several days or weeks brings on more stress than you can bear, read on to find…
American cheese? Yes, please! (Processed slices in plastic not included)
With all the patriotic revelry that goes on around this time of year, I found myself thinking about what our country does and makes well, and what foods we are best known for (everything turns into food trivia for me), when a commercial for American cheese slices comes on the TV. How did this happen?…
A reflection back on the many lives of George Steinbrenner; Oil spill forum tonight in Seminole, and Mitch Perry Report: 7.14.10
The death of George Steinbrenner was felt powerfully in Tampa on Tuesday. The 80-year-old South Tampa resident made a giant impact philanthropically in Tampa. We look at his career, and what politicians he supported financially here in the Sunshine State. This morning in Tampa, Representative Kevin Ambler will hold a news conference explaining why legislation…
Sobel endorses Aronberg, while Gelber camp denounces Aronberg’s’ new mailer
The Democratic race for Attorney General has been a race that many Florida Democrats have been reluctant to take a stand on, since in most cases they respect both men, but with less than 6 weeks to go before the August 24 primary, that block of neutrality is starting to break. The Gelber camp was…
On the Radar: Christmas in July screens at the Beach Theatre — for free
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. Instead of languishing in the blessed (and ungodly expensive) air conditioning of your house/apartment/car/friend’s couch, get out for some fun in the form of Christmas in July, which screens at the Beach Theatre this Saturday. (You didn’t think I would…
Josh “bacon burger” Burgin: “Would you like fries with that Sam?”
Poker-playing puppeteer puts up unproven pawn for Hillsborough County Commission Photo: Josh Burgin: Rashid's "yes" man. By Chris Ingram Irreverent View readers and those who follow Hillsborough County politics know County Commissioner Mark Sharpe has a Republican Primary opponent in Josh Burgin. Burgin surprised Sharpe with his last minute qualification for the office, but Burgin…
Paula Dockery and Kevin Ambler call for special session to include illegal immigration debate
Though the state Legislature met in March and April this year and rarely discussed the topic of illegal immigration, something major has happened in the debate over the past two months that has now focused Florida and many other states to now address the issue. Was it an influx of undocumented people into the Sunshine…
“Fire on the water”: Original song written by Tampa Bay musician about the Gulf oil spill (video)
The following is a message and an original song, "Fire on the Water", written by a local Tampa Bay musician, Max Combs, about the devastation due to the oil spill in the Gulf. My name is Max Combs. I like most folks, I am devistated by the events that have unfolded in the Gulf. How…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, July 13: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits Stag’s Leap Wine Dinner. Wine rep Kimberly Jones hosts tonight’s five-course, wine-paired dinner, starring Stag’s Leap wines — which pioneered the American wine tradition with its inception in Napa Valley more than three decades ago. $125. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463) Wednesday, July 14:…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Rest in peace, boss: a personal recollection
Yankee/Tampa legend, George Steinbrenner has left us. No doubt the local and national media will give the proper and respectful historical retrospectives with everything you may or may not have known about the man, the maverick, the philanthropist. So it would seem unnecessary for me to echo what most of us already know by writers better…
CD review: Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, Dark Night of the Soul
My review of this album originally ran in June of 2009 on Tampa Calling, when Dark Night Of The Soul saw it’s unofficial (free) digital release online due to a then-dispute with EMI. The heavy negotiations regarding its release came to a recent close (likely because of the death of Sparklehorse) and the album was…
Steinbrenner financially supported Republicans mostly in Florida, but Democrats nationally and in New York
Courtesy of the The News Service of Florida, we have information on who George Steinbrenner gave campaign contributions to here in Tampa. Steinbrenner gave the max ($500) to struggling GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum in 2009. He also give $500 to South Florida GOP Congressional candidate David Rivera when he was still running for state…
Sketchbook: Jazz, films and yoga at Bay area art museums
It’s old hat by now in the museum world that if you want to lure in visitors, you need to offer them more than just an opportunity to look at art. (Never minding for a moment that the whole point of art museums is to look at art.) Beyond its otherwise energetic slate of events,…
The Last Damn Show returns August 28; Gucci Mane to headline
It might be Florida, but get ready to bust out the parkas when the iceman cometh to the St. Pete Times Forum August 28th. Gucci Mane (aka Radric Davis) of ice-fancying fame has been announced as the headliner for Wild 94.1's Last Damn Show 12 at the Forum. More of today's big names in hip…
St. Petersburg city council member holds press conference to support energy efficiency funding
St. Petersburg city council member Karl Nurse held a press conference this morning at city hall to support funding that would aid in making homes more energy efficient, known as PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) funding. According to the Department of Energy, “PACE financing programs allow state and local governments, where permitted by state law,…
Remembering George Steinbrenner: A Red Sox fan’s perspective
Hello, my name is Christopher and I’m a Red Sox fan. Which makes what I’m about to say so difficult. I could not have written this years ago. In October 2003, we Sox faithful had once again suffered another devastating defeat to our arch-rival and overall evil-doers, the New York Yankees. This time, the blow…
New music releases out this Tuesday, July 13: Waaves, Sun Kil Moon, M.I.A., Blue Giant, Tracy Bonham, Korn, and more (with audio + video)
This week's new music releases. To see last week's releases (out July 6), click here; for releases out June 29, click here. Sam Adams, Boston's Boy (Mighty Loud) Autechre, Move of Ten (Warp) Blue Giant, Blue Giant (Vanguard) This indie-pop "supergroup" features Kevin and Anita Robinson (the visionary couple of Viva Voce), Chris Funk (The…
DVD Review: Psych: Season 4, starring James Roday and Dule Hill, and guest stars Ally Sheedy, John Cena, Rachael Leigh Cook and more
Sham psychic Shawn Spencer and sidekick Burton Guster are back for Season 5 of the USA Networks hit series, Psych. But before you tune in, you need to catch up with Season 4, and ask yourself one question: "Are you a fan of delicious flavor?" As a huge fan of Psych, I loved Season 4,…
A New York native and Tampa resident remembers the George Steinbrenner soap opera
I approach the passing of Geroge Steinbrenner from a somewhat unique perspective. I was born and raised in New York and have called Tampa home for some years now. Like many Tampa residents I can't help but applaud the many good deeds and uncounted dollars charitably spent for this city and its people. And like…
Transitioning from consumers to “Creatives” to shape a ‘quality of life’ economy
How many times have you read or listened to a radio news report and heard lines that go something like this: “Consumer spending was up today and economists predict a good year;” “The Stock market today reacted to a slow holiday spending season as consumers decided to save;” “Lower consumer confidence spells out a continued…
Summer grilling and craft beer: Kielbasa and Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere
Summer is here, and that means grilling is the choice of many when it comes to cooking. And that primal desire to cook our food over fire pairs perfectly with our oldest and favorite beverage: beer! But before you start cracking cans of Bud or anything with a “Lite” in its name, think about what…
“The Boss” is dead: From a Yankee hater, thank you George Steinbrenner
On the day we celebrate the best players in Major League Baseball, we're left to mourn the loss of perhaps its greatest owner. George Steinbrenner passed this morning from a massive heart attack. If you're not a Yankee fan, you hate the Yankees. Sometimes that hatred spewed past the logo right into the lap of Yankees owner…
Theater Review: Stageworks’ Bees finally a Honey of a play
At its best, As Bees in Honey Drown is about the American fixation on groundless celebrity. As high-powered Alexa Vere de Vere tells us in Act II, the shelf life of real accomplishment is brief — about six months for a new “hot” playwright, for example — but superficial, based-on-nothing fame is eternal. That’s the…
Why have sex? The dark motives behind doing the nasty
Some claim they have sex for love, because they're horny, or to fulfill a basic physical need. Darwin theorized that the primary motivation behind sex is to propagate one's genes, or to gain status and resources. However, these common assumptions largely ignore some of the darker reasons we have sex, which are surprisingly similar to…
George Steinbrenner dies of heart attack at the age of 80 in Tampa
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has died of a massive heart attack at the age of 80. He reportedly was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa last night and passed away at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Steinbrenner was not only a legendary (and controversial) owner of one of the most legendary sports franchises in…
Rick Scott wants to spend as much money as possible, but limit how much his opponents can; Democratic AG race officially getting low; And Tea Party groups to announce a coalition to fight light rail proposal on Hillsborough ballot:Mitch Perry Report 7.13
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has joined the likes of Michael Bloomberg and Meg Whitman in spending millions to become competitive this year, in his case the Florida governors race. But Scott has now gone to court claiming his free speech rights are being denied because if he begins spending more than $25 million in…
So much for comity in Florida Democratic Attorney General race
has the goods today on two actions that Democratic attorney general candidate Dave Aronberg has employed recently that is turning a few neutral Florida Democrats off the sidelines and into the arms of Aronberg's opponent, Miami Beach state Senator Dan Gelber. This site documented two weeks ago the back and forth between the two candidates…
Court decision critical for Bill McCollum’s chances in GOP Primary
Florida's public finance laws ("derided as welfare for politicians") will make Attorney General and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum eligible for taxpayer funds matching dollar-for-dollar what his richer opponent, Rick Scott spends over the $24.9 million limit, which could happen within the next week or so. That's the law, though the multimillionaire Scott did say…
Shai Kremer’s Infected Landscape: Photos of battle-scarred Israel and Palestine at Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Shai Kremer. Soldiers Viewing Platform, Israel Lebanon Border (2006). Lambda Print. Courtesy of the artist and Julie Saul Gallery, New York. In one of photographer Shai Kremer’s beautiful panoramas, a curiously quiet city surrounds a pair of central towers topped with green lights. Composed of squat, concrete buildings — uniformly stark white with square windows,…
Life by the slick: Pensacola locals forced to adapt to the oil leak
A water tower on Interstate 10 proclaims that Pensacola is home to “Florida’s Most Beautiful Beaches.” With the BP oil leak fast approaching the triple digits and no permanent solution in sight, one has to wonder how long that claim will remain true. But for those living and working in the area, there's no choice…
Restaurant News: The Bricks opens in Ybor, Chez Bryce to close its doors this weekend, and more
Brick House Tavern and Tap looks to be another Hooters/Wing House type chain celebrating male chauvinism and serving a "man food" menu of huge burgers, wings, fried appetizers, steaks and sandwiches. I'll give them a few points for their list of great import and craft brews and for the fact that they'll serve you a…
You may now stop pretending that you like soccer
The World Cup is over. Unlike the masses of Americans who spent the last month pretending to give a damn about a sport they never watch I'll go ahead and admit it, I'm glad. I'm glad the World Cup is over because I don't like soccer, and let's be honest, most likely, neither do you.…
Lessons from a married couple’s ex-girlfriend
We meet people in all phases of their lives. Sometimes we meet people at their best, sometimes we meet people at their worst. Everyone else is somewhere in the middle. We can deal when people are mostly towards the "better" part of the scale. But when people are more towards the "worse" part? As much…
Group opposed to transit tax in Hillsborough County forms
On Tuesday, a coalition of groups, including Tea Party establishments like the Tampa 9.12 Project and the Tampa Tea Party are announcing a new group that will be fighting the penny sales tax referendum on transit that Hillsborough County citizens will vote on in November. The group is calling itself NoTaxForTracks.com (though that website does…
Florida politicos compete for items other than offshore drilling to be debated in next week’s special session
Last week's announcement by Governor Charlie Crist that he is calling the state Legislature to hold a special session between July 20-23 was greeted with enthusiasm by House and Senate Democrats who have been calling for such a session for over two months, and with sneering by virtually everyone else. Even U.S. Democratic Senate candidates…
Impact of the Oil Crisis in the Gulf on Tampa Bay forum at SPC, July 14
Two panels of experts will discuss the likelihood that oil from the Deepwater Horizon accident will reach Tampa Bay, response plans, and the economic and environmental impacts of the spill at a community forum at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 14. The forum, Impact of the Gulf Oil Crisis on Tampa Bay, will be at the…
Fried green tomato BLT with Creole remoulade recipe
I love a good BLT. But don't worry, I'm not here to talk about the bacon – that subject is like beating a dead horse (or pig)…we all know we love it, and it's good with just about everything. Enough said. I'd like to discuss the tomato component.
Hunter S. Thompson, back from the dead with new doc Animal, Whores and Dialogue
Truth in Advertising Department: This Book Blog is really a Movie Blog. Wayne Ewing’s Breakfast with Hunter was a great documentary film, but it had one small problem. It ended. Ewing has rectified this shortcoming with Animals, Whores and Dialogue, a welcome sequel to – and continuation of – Breakfast with Hunter. We get a…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Rays cruise to All-Star break hot, Storm get a playoff spot and I hate Jesse Jackson a lot
Phew. Yep, the "load'em and leave'em" Rays never miss an opportunity to give the Bay area a collective "D'oh" watching potential runs get flushed down the scoreless toilet, but if you were in it for 9 innings (or more), our boys wound up giving you a reason not to tune in to the World Cup.…
Concert review: Vanilla Ice plays a disappointing post-Rays show at Tropicana Field
This past Friday, July 9, Vanilla Ice took over the stage at Tropicana Field after the Cleveland Indians stung the Rays with a victory. Unlike usual protocol for the Rays Concert Series, there were no wristbands, no VIP section, and anyone who attended the game was invited to hit the field afterwards to watch the…
#MusicMonday, Vol. XI: Grateful Dead, Deer Tick, The Fugees, Phish, Deleted Scenes and more!
Ever wonder what the Creative Loafing music team listens to on Mondays to get us through the post-weekend tedium? Here’s this week’s selections. Shawn – Grateful Dead, Europe '72 I never understood why this album is perceived as such a disappointment, even by most Dead fans. Whether this is actually true or believed by myself…
DVD Review: Greenberg, starring Ben Stiller and Greta Gerwig (with trailer)
Greenberg is the little French movie with American accents, directed by Noah Baumbach, and starring Ben Stiller. CL contributor Anthony Nicholas reviewed the movie when it came out, and now that it comes out on DVD, it's time to take another look. In Nicholas' review, he pointed out wonderful Stiller and Greta Gerwig's performances are…
It Happened This Week-ish: Ryan Seacrest making out (with a girl!), John Krasinski and Carrie Underwood got married (not to each other), Lindsay Lohan’s courtroom notes, we hate Lebron in Comic Sans, video game condoms and more…
Ryan Seacrest, is proving to the whole world that he is not gay by making out with a hot, country-singing, ballroom-dancing blonde in plain view of the papz camera lenses. I want to believe that Julianne Hough is too beautiful to knowingly serve as a beard, so it is going to be really rough when…
Marinades, sauces, rubs and mops: Kick up the flavor of your ‘cue
Some people are purists and insist on enjoying the natural flavors of grilled food, but others (myself included) believe that foods cooked on the grill can be further enhanced by sauces, rubs, mops and marinades, taking them to the next level. Get a little adventurous with your grilling this Summer and try out one of…
Americans take a stand against BP, starting at the pump
Many are feeling the pain and hurt that the oil spill disaster has brought upon us. And, most of the time, people do not respond to what they cannot feel or see. After returning from a trip to the Midwest, I feel compelled to speak for all who are taking a stand. Taking I-75 North…
MGMT adds more fall tour dates, including a stop at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater
After releasing their second much-anticipated full-length, Congratulations — the follow-up to their masterful debut, Oracular Spectacular — and disappointing the majority of critics while leaving fans bemused but generally accepting of their non-catchy (not so new) direction, MGMT hits the road to promote the aforementioned new album. More exciting is that according to an email…
Study: creating lesbian mice by regulating a key hormone
A study published in the BMC Genetics Journal found that the deletion of a key hormone regulating gene alters the sexual preference of female mice. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology hypothesized that the exposure of the hormone oestrogen to the brains of female mice influences which gender role they takes…
XFC 11 results: Micah Miller rebounds, Kim Couture loses to MMA rookie
As six up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters were pitched against MMA veterans on the XFC 11: The Next Generation fight card at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa July 9 some careers took off while others possibly came to a screeching halt. Former WEC fighter Micah Miller was able to get back on the…
Transgenderism vs. Transvestism… and how to make a Tranny
Before I start I would like to thank Creative Loafing for allowing me to share my dribble. I hope that somewhere a little tranny guy like me reads something in here that makes him feel a little less alone and a little more special: 'cause dude, you are. And I can't forget about those amazing trans-ladies.…
Obama administration playing defense on the economy, while Democratic governors not happy about Justice Dept. suit against Arizona:Mitch Perry Report 7.12.10
Immigration is only getting hotter as one of the topics of 2010, and Democratic Governors say they're not necessarily excited by the Obama administration suing Arizona over their controversial new law. Speaking for the White House on the Sunday talk shows yesterday was David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs – and at times it wasn't easy…
Deadline for Tampa City Council candidates comes for those seeking to replace Dingfelder and Saul-Sena
Today is the deadline for Tampa citizens who want to apply for consideration to be selected as interim council members next week, replacing John Dingfelder and Linda Saul-Sena, who both resigned last month after they learned that they had missed a deadline to submit paperwork declaring they would be resigning. Although several candidates who were…
Bacon Salt: Because everything should taste like bacon
What is America's obsession with bacon? Over the past two years, bacon has been elevated to some sort of food demi-god, especially here in the states, eliciting whole websites that obsess over it and outrageous culinary creations with bacon as the star ingredient (i.e.: The Bacon Explosion). What is it about this salty, fatty, crispy…
White House plays defense on jobs and the economy
With new poll numbers released this week showing that independents are moving away from the Obama administration, the White House unleashed two of their top spokespeople onto the Sunday morning programs yesterday, political strategist David Axelrod and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. The blood is in the water with conservatives, who are seizing on those low…
Immigration on Sunday morning talk goes nowhere
Although we continue live through recessionary times and there is more focus than ever on what the U.S. military is attempting to achieve in Afghanistan, the summer of 2010 politically is about two issues: the giant oil spill in the Gulf, and immigration. The New York Times A-1 story today is on how Democratic Governors…
The Battle of Upham Beach, Part 3: Paying for an unsustainable project
The ensuing article is the third piece in the Upham Beach series, following: “The Battle of Upham Beach: Groins – not just a pain in the pass", and The Battle of Upham Beach, part 2: The great sand debate". The permanent T-groin rock structure costs an estimated $17.5 million. The proposed rocks are being paid…
Building the dream at Atomic Audio, a Tampa-based recording studio and rehearsal space
This time last year, Mark Nikolich [pictured right] and his recording studio Atomic Audio were already well-entrenched in the Bay area original-music scene. Nikolich was 10 years into a side career tracking more than 100 acts, from obscure, short-lived locals to nationally recognized names like Kylesa and Pseudo Heroes. He'd taken Atomic Audio from a…
St. Petersburg activist group works toward city policy change in five areas
The St. Petersburg based activist group Agenda 2010 met Saturday afternoon for part two of the City Policy Convention in which proposals concerning five different policy areas were finalized so they can be brought before the St. Petersburg City Council. Five different workshop sessions were dedicated to each different policy area including health, minority business,…
Dear Cavs owner Dan Gilbert: What were you thinking?
Dear Dan, As you now know, you’ve become the butt of yet another Cleveland sports joke. I’m sorry that Lebron broke up with you on national television. You should have known that attention comes with celebrity and everyone wanted to “witness” this moment in history. The moment us Clevelanders were so sure would never come.…
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s blonde yearbook photo surfaces, America cares
, and became the first openly gay anchor to host a United States prime-time news program in 2008 with MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show. The show is described by Maddow's website as "[featuring] the top headlines from the worlds of politics, current events, sports, science, health, crime, and the absurd – and interviews with newsmakers…
Diving dogs set to have fun in the sun at Lutz event
Does your dog love the water? Love to jump and splash and chase toys? You might have an up-and-coming dock diver on your hands. Take him to Lutz on July 10 to find out about this fast-growing sport for dogs. Courteous Canine at 3414 Melissa Country Way in Lutz is hosting the SunCoast DockDogs “Fun…
How to keep our oceans free of plastic and chemicals
Are you aware that the number one material polluting the world’s oceans is plastic? Bags, disposable cutlery, cups and plates, and all kinds of unnecessary items will end up in a landfill, and a great deal of this garbage then makes it to the oceans. In fact, around 80% of the plastics in the ocean…
A tasty alternative to regular tea: Iced hibiscus tea recipe
I don’t like tea. There, I said it. I want to like tea. I love the idea of it — a cup of hot tea in the evening to relax, an icy, cold sweet tea on a summer afternoon. Nope. Still don’t like it. However, I have an alternative. Iced, sweetened hibiscus tea has been…
Scott and McCollum agree to 2 debates in August
Florida Republican gubernatorial candidates Rick Scott and Bill McCollum formally agreed today to participate in two televised debates next month – and possibly a third one. In a letter sent by McCollum Senior Adviser Doyle Bartlett to Scott campaign manager Susan Wiles, the candidates have agreed to debate in Miami on Monday, August 2, at…
UPDATE: Linda Saul-Sena responds to Hillsborough GOP lawsuit to throw her off November ballot
UPDATED: As expected, a Hillsborough County Republican has stepped up for the team and filed a lawsuit challenging Linda Saul-Sena's status on the November ballot for Hillsborough County Commission. Mike Salinaro with the Tampa Tribune reports that the suit has been filed by developer Benton R. Murphey. The suit comes a day after another Hillsborough…
Boston: Federal judge rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
Good news from Boston today, as reported by Denise Lavoie, Associated Press Legal Affairs Writer: BOSTON – The federal law banning gay marriage is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define the institution and therefore denies married gay couples some federal benefits, a federal judge ruled Thursday in Boston. U.S. District Judge…
New Centcom leader: “It’s fun to shoot people” (video)
President Obama's pick to replace General David Petraeus and head Central Command out of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa is Marine Corps. General James Mattis, who is considered an experienced ground combat commander. However, in the wake of the General Stanley McChrystal Rolling Stone magazine debacle that led to his ouster recently, no doubt…
BREAKING: Sean Paul Cancels Tomorrow’s St. Pete Tour Date
BREAKING: Pop-dancehall superstar Sean Paul's show scheduled for tomorrow evening, Saturday, July 10 at Jannus Live has been canceled. No official word has gone up on the performer's website; we received word from the venue's PR team that "medical reasons" were cited.
The Slow Food Tampa Sampler and Tampa Bay local food guide
I attended the Slow Food Sampler last night at Studio 620, an informative event in which the organizers hoped to gain fans and build momentum for the Tampa Bay group, which will be the 10th Slow Food Movement group in Florida. The huge showing of local supporters was a great sign that Tampa Bay is…
Does Ke$ha’s nude picture help her garbage chic image? (photo NSFW)
Another pop star was sacrificed to the feeding frenzy of online searches for nude celebrities earlier this week when Perez Hilton posted a picture of what appears to be a topless Ke$ha. To add a splash of flavor to the average tasteless leaked photo, the girl in the picture is covered in “juices.” Ke$ha's rep…
Catch My Disease: viral videos of the week (7.9.10)
This week was a strange one for the youtubers among us. There were a few videos that exploded to the public eye, but there was little else that caught much attention. Perhaps the mid-summer slump that affects television has come to youtube. The most popular video this week was the trailer for Harry Potter and…
Under fire for BP association, Nan Rich comes to Dan Gelber’s defense
Last week a hot story on Florida political blogs was the issue of Democratic Attorney General candidate Dan Gelber and his resignation from his place of employment, Akerman Senterfitt, after the law firm took on disgraced oil giant BP as a client. Gelber's Democratic opponent, fellow state Senator Dave Aronberg, issued a press release a…
Another 20 crazy places to have sex
After fucking through my first list of 20 crazy places to have sex, it's time to find a few more out-of-the-way, out-of-the-ordinary, and out-of-your-mind places that will hit the g-spot. Some of these came from my own twisted mind and experiences; others came from my frisky readers. These might not be easy, safe, or legal…
A Judge knocks down Amendment 7; More Tampa City Council candidates get in the mix, and King James is now a Floridian: Mitch Perry Report 7.9.10
A Tallahassee Judge yesterday threw out Amendment 7, the measure supported by incumbent lawmakers that would neuter Amendment 5 and 6, which would make the drawing of political districts in the state seemingly fairer. As more Tampa City Council candidates apply for the interim decisions to be decided in 9 days, one of those applicants…
Jim Gray has become the Larry King of sportscasting
Exactly a week ago in this space we gave tribute to a man clearly past his prime, CNN talk-show host Larry King, who will be hanging up his suspenders from the cable news network in the fall at the age of 76. We chose to give love to the Brooklyn native not for what he…
Movie Review: Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell, Jason Segel and Russell Brand (with trailer video)
Kids' movies are a delicate art. The perfect balance of kiddy humor, loud enough sound effects to override the crying babies in the audience, moral content handled with the care of an atomic bomb, and clever nudge-winks to the parents are imperative to make it a success. Despicable Me takes a few scenes to find its groove, but…
Three new species of fish discovered in the Gulf under the oil spill
Here's a bit of good news from the Gulf: Three new species of fish have been discovered in the Gulf of Mexico. The new species are flat, bottom-dwelling fish from the anglerfish family Ogcocephalidae that often inhabit the deep, dark depths of the ocean. Two of the species discovered have been classified as pancake batfish…
Republicans to appeal Tallahassee judge throwing out Amendment 7
A Tallahassee judge yesterday rejected the Florida Legislature's proposed constitutional amendment aimed at countering the "Fair Districts" amendments on this November's ballot that would reform how legislators draw up legislative and congressional districts. Leon County Circuit Judge James Shelfer put it succinctly, saying: "I'm not the brightest light on the Christmas tree, but it took…
Neighborhood Eats: Downtown Tampa
CL regularly presents focused listings of the best dining options in Tampa Bay's neighborhoods. This week we're giving you a guide to the restaurants in Downtown Tampa. ASHLEY STREET GRILLE 200 N Ashley Dr., Tampa, 813-223-2222; sheratontampariverwalk.com/dining This waterfront spot in downtown Tampa, located in the Sheraton hotel, features classic American cuisine, and was named…
Rays win long ball battle, beat Indians 5-2
I don’t know why I bothered writing this; I’m sure everyone was watching the same game I saw and not this LeBron guy, right? LeYawn (thanks to Carter Gaddis for that one)… Anyway, Thursday night saw the Tampa Bay Rays win the first of a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians on the strength of…
Do It This Weekend: Free food on Cow Appreciation Day, Ybor City Tattoo grand opening, Stageworks’ As Bees in Honey Drown, Bluelucy’s MUG show, the Xtreme Fighting Championships and more
Today is the only other day of the year you can get away with dressing like a bovine: Chik-fil-A is giving away free combo meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner to anyone who comes "fully dressed in cow attire," in honor of Cow Appreciation Day. Today's the day to proudly don your black and white…
Dingfelder responds to lawsuit filed by Hillsborough Republican
Former Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder is playing it close to the vest in terms of his official reaction to a lawsuit that Hillsborough County Republican Party chair Deborah Cox-Roush warned was coming. The Democratic candidate for Hillsborough County Commission District 1 resigned suddenly two weeks ago after he submitted his paper work late declaring…
Florida GOP establishment call’s Crist’s call for special session on offshore drilling -unneccessary and irrelevant
The reviews are coming in from some of the Florida Republican party establishment on Governor Charlie Crist's call for a special session to discuss placing a constitutional amendment banning off shore drilling, and they're all negative. Marco Rubio says this isn't leadership: “The Obama/Crist response to the oil spill has been a total failure and…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Rays get the hat-trick, Lebron news makes me sick and Lane Kiffin a total dick
Rays win. Again. How does that taste, Sux fans? Now get the hell out of our sorry-ass stadium. It's a long trip back to Boston. What? Oh, right. It's a long trip back to St Pete Beach. Mystifying there's still an attendance issue. But that's not important right now. The term "sweep" has been overused…
Charlie Crist takes a risk in calling for special session on offshore drilling
Earlier today we chastised Governor Charlie Crist for his failure to strive to bring about change when it comes to environmental initiatives over the past year, so we've got to give him props for sacking up and calling this afternoon for a special session on discussing a constitutional amendment on banning offshore drilling, to take…
Gallery: Jamie Cullum and Julian Velard at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall
Photos by Jeff O'Kelley
Don’t buy new books, trade them with PaperBack Swap
While reading a book on your iPad or Kindle may be more environmentally friendly, nothing replaces turning a page and reading a real book. PaperBack Swap is a website for book lovers to swap their books with other members basically for free. What's green about this service is that you're, in essence, reusing and recycling…
Famous Gender Benders Throughout History
I love history, it must be genetic because all the men on my fathers side do. So learning about transsexuals and gender benders throughout history was fun for me, in case you don't like history I will try and also make it fun for you. Remember, I warned you I was corny. Greek gods could…
Movie Review: Predators, starring Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne and Topher Grace
When I was younger, and even now, for that matter, I loved the original Predator movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. It had a great cat and mouse game, some good suspense and two larger-than-life foes. Sadly, the franchise hit a downturn with every installment since, but director Robert Rodriguez looks to revitalize it with a return…
CL interview with Lightning head coach Guy Boucher.
With the NHL entry draft and the beginning of unrestricted free agency a not-so-distant memory, Guy Boucher sat down with CL Sports recently to give his thoughts on all things Lightning. One of the bigger question marks that came out of the Boucher hiring was whether he would would bring his assistants from Hamilton with…
Do I smell smoke?: Sides and sauces to kick up your ‘cue
It's summer and everyone loves a good barbecue. We are fortunate that the Florida weather affords us the luxury of grilling out year 'round. For hardcore barbecue fans, like my brother in law, weather makes no difference. Larry often cooked out at Christmastime — in Michigan. Grilling in mittens is a sight to be seen.…
The growth of first time All-Star David Price
Inconsistency is a product of youth. That statement perfectly described the 2009 season of David Price. After being a huge part of the Rays run to the World Series in 2008 coming out of the bullpen, Price, still technically a rookie, learned quickly that being a major league starter wasn't gonna be easy. That year,…
Katy Perry breaks play count records on Nielsen and Mediabase airplay charts (w/ video)
Well, file this one under "excruciatingly nauseating." After nabbing the title of fastest-rising single on pop radio in four years, Katy Perry's "California Gurls" featuring Snoop Dogg has now set the record for most amount of plays in a week—13,167 to be exact, according to both Nielsen and Mediabase Top 40 airplay charts. In case…
Daytona Beach House Democrat calls on Charlie Crist to hold special session on offshore drilling and bill BP for the expense
In an earlier blog post written today, we wrote about how Governor Charlie Crist has spoken about taking up the proposal by House Democrats Rick Kriseman and Keith Fitzgerald to call a special session to discuss putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot banning offshore drilling in Florida waters. Despite saying he supports the…
Be your own hero, part 1: gays on TV, gays at the bar and Mighty Mouse
“Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?” So starts Bonnie Tyler’s howling, rhetorical cry to the universe, the anthem for Generation X’s gays and 'hags looking for one true guy to save the day. As a boy, my male family members didn’t step up to the plate when I…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Rain harvesting workshop, intro to permaculture class, markets and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. World Cafe Discussions- Every Friday; 7:30-9:30 pm. Awakening and engaging collective intelligence through conversations about questions that matter. RSVP to Pat at 727.421.2746 or goodpat@tampabay.rr.com. Starbucks Cafe- 4th St N and 89th Ave N, St. Pete. www.theworldcafe.com. Dunedin…
Charlie Crist’s lack of leadership on the environment, BP says it might cap oil spill in 3 weeks, and CNN fires a 20 year correspondent for one errant tweet: Mitch Perry Report: 7.8.10
One of Charlie Crist's best attributes, I would argue, is that he doesn't seem to be ideological, which is why he could be called a classic centrist. Of course, there is a down side to seemingly not believing in certain core values, and with that comes serious charges of being inauthentic. And when it comes…
NPR changes its name to……..NPR?
Courtesy of Paul Farhi at the Washington Post, we learn today that NPR, officially known as National Public Radio since its inception in 1971, now wants to be known – no exceptions, now – as NPR. Forgive me, but I'm wondering how much the network paid some ad, excuse me, branding agency to tell them…
WSJ: BP official says in “perfect world” oil spill can be capped in 3 weeks
that BP is pushing to fix its Gulf oil well leak by July 27. Both BP and the Coast Guard have been saying for weeks (months now?) that they plan has been to have a fix in place by mid-August. But the Journal quotes BP's Gulf Coast restoration unit managing director Bob Dudley, as saying:…
Downtown St. Petersburg’s Messineo’s Market on the rise
Jim Mason, in jeans and untucked shirt, doesn't look like the CEO of a burgeoning gourmet market chain as he tells me a story about his childhood. He remembers back to when he was a kid and his mom would call down to the local butcher shop and tell them what kind of meat she…
Charlie Crist’s missed opportunities on the environment
Kendrick Meek accurately calls himself the only U.S. Senate candidate who's been consistently against offshore drilling. Governor Charlie Crist's return to his earlier position against drilling near Florida's coast has aided him during the Gulf oil spill crises as an independent sort who runs against the dominant political position of his(former) party, but as St.…
Life As We Blow It: Calling All Mad Scientists
Simpsons creator Matt Groening’s wonderfully geeky Futurama returned with new episodes a few weeks back after a seven-year absence, and the animated sci-fi sitcom’s reappearance couldn’t have been more timely. Because at its core, underneath the absurdity and cutting social satire, Futurama celebrates, and illustrates the basic need for, one of America’s most enduring and…
The answer to everything
When speaking to your parents, avoid mayhem with this simple phrase.
Building the dream at Atomic Audio
Mark Nicolich makes Atomic Audio a place to record, rehearse and learn.
Heart of Glass: Today Chihuly, tomorrow the world
With the openings of The Chihuly Collection and a glassblowing hotshop, the Morean Arts Center casts new light on St. Petersburg’s growing community of glass artists.
Marvelous mercurial Tampa Bay actress Meg Heimstead
Meg Heimstead is one of the best (and busiest) actors in Tampa Bay.
Fright of your life at Fangoria FrightFest
Fangoria Magazine presents eight horror films to die for.
Is “clean coal” really clean?
I've been reading about clean coal technology — in particular, coal gasification and its use in power production. Everyone touts the clean emissions consisting of CO², which gets sequestered underground, and water vapor. But what about the other by-products, such as sulfur, nitrogen oxide and ash? What about trace metals such as mercury, lead and…
Downtown St. Petersburg’s Messineo’s Market on the rise
Messineo’s is a neighborhood joint in the best sense of the word.
Sox fans weep as Rays get the sweep, beat Boston 6-4
The Tampa Bay Rays took the third and final game of this home series from the Boston Red Sox on the strength of excellent starting pitching by David Price. The hard-throwing lefty picked up 10 strikeouts and allowed two runs on eight hits. Relievers Grant Balfour and Randy Choate were each charged with a run…
Seth Nelson’s charter amendment proposal that would eliminate Tampa City Council members from leaving early to run for County Commission
The deadline for Tampa citizens who want to throw their hat in the ring to be interim members of the council to replace John Dingfelder and Linda Saul-Sena is just days away now. Last we checked, 18 people had filed applications to be considered by the five remaining members of council, who will review the…
Tonight’s Top Chef D.C. episode preview: “Who got high and came up with this challenge?”, part 2
After watching the preview videos of tonight's challenges on Top Chef, it looks like it's going to be another week of "Who got high and came up with this?" First up: Baby food Quickfire Challenge. WTF?! I'm guessing the producers were munching on Fun-yuns post-hot box party and thought, "Padma and Tom both have babies…
PACE financing programs in trouble in Florida after federal regulator balks?
In May the Florida Legislature passed HB 7179, which would establish the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to allow local governments to finance renewable energy and storm-resistance improvements. It's a program championed by environmentalists, and was one of the few notable environmental achievements made by the Legislature this year, according to activists. Essentially it…
Why women 27 to 45 have a higher sex drive
A new study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences discovered that women’s sex drive hits its prime between 27 and 45. Scientists believe this is an involuntary reaction to declining fertility. In the study 827 women filled out an online survey regarding their sexual desires and activities. These women were then grouped into…
The Green Community week in review: Hands Across the Sand coverage, BP’s newest cover-up (literally), and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: Hands Across the Sand: Photos from around Tampa Bay and the world – Check out the photos from Hands locations on Pinellas beaches, as well as from Alaska, India, and New Zealand. – At the…
Top Chef D.C. Podcast, Ep. 3: Inedible pie, bad intern jokes and throwin’ shade
Everything stereotypically related with America was featured on episode 3 of Top Chef: D.C. — pies, picnics, grilling large pieces of meat outdoors, naughty Washington intern jokes — you get the idea. I don't know about you all, but I am still reeling from the loss of our flaxen-haired beauty, Jacqeline. Not! One annoying chick…
(UPDATE) 2nd Trailer for Facebook movie The Social Network is out and it pokes me in all the wrong places (with trailer video)
*Rabid Nick has invited you to check out the first trailer for 'The Social Network', the Facebook movie. (UPDATE) 2nd, more impressive trailer is now attached! Inevitably, it had to happen. Facebook, the social networking tool and everyone's favorite thing to Alt-Tab to when the boss is out of the office is hitting the big screen…
It Happened this Week-ish: Chace Crawford’s hott mugshot, January Jones’ walk of shame, Kevin Costner’s oil spill fixing machine, Heidi & Spencer split for real? and more…
Hey kids, I apologize for my absence last week-ish. I know you probably clicked on CLTampa.com every four minutes for the past seven days, eagerly awaiting my latest ramblings and yet, there were no hilarious ramblings to be found. I hope I haven't let you down; I want to assure you that celebrities are still around and…
