Drop an F-Bomb to Save a Friend
A new grass-roots campaign encourages teenagers to drop an “F-bomb” to save a friend who may be a victim of human trafficking. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay initiated the campaign, Drop an F-Bomb, in early June to combat sex trafficking of young people. Although it may seem vulgar, the “F” actually stands for something positive: friendship.…
Mitch Perry Report 7.3-4.14: What will make the difference in Florida’s gubernatorial election?
Charlie Crist made an appearance on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" with Ed Schultz last night, where he defended the choice of his wife Carole Rome not to release her tax returns, and mostly used the time to assail Rick Scott, calling his tenure as governor a "nightmare, Tea Party administration." One of the headlines, of course,…
A final curtain call for Todd Olson
American Stage’s outgoing artistic director reveals what he loved and what he didn’t about theater in Tampa Bay.
Alan Cohn hoping key issues will bring out Democrats in CD15 race
There has been a plethora of stories in recent months about the Democratic Party's historic inability to generate voter turnout in midterm elections like the one coming up this November. One liberal leaning blogger recently said there were five issues that could instill an urgency for Democrats this fall, and as CL reported yesterday, the Supreme Court's ruling…
Up her Alley — The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s newest attraction (w/videos and photos)
The theme park gives CL a sneak peek at Diagon Alley before it opens on July 8.
Newness at FMoPA
New Visions and an interim director debut at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
Restaurant review: Back in black
The Black Palm’s fare is more than worthy of its stylish new environs.
UPDATE: Village Voice management responds to staff walk-out
On Monday, we covered and linked to a Gawker report about a staff walk-out at venerable NYC alt-weekly the Village Voice. The staffers were/are protesting low wages, disappearing benefits and shitty coffee, among other working conditions they deemed unacceptable. CL just received a statement attributed to the Village Voice: “The Village Voice values our employees, and we’re confident that we’ll achieve a…
Tampa Bay’s weekly literary happenings
Get Lit! at The Amsterdam Sunday evening. Share your poetry, stories and songs at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church’s bi-monthly Poetry & Open Mic Night, Wednesday, July 2. The evening kicks off with a potluck at 6:30 p.m. So get there early to sign in and snack; readings and performances begin promptly at 7 p.m. The…
Ditch the nachos: Give this authentic Mexican street food a try
Sopes de chorizo bring authentic Latin American flavors to the Mexican culinary spectrum.
Dog days of summer
Must-try Bay area spots that rethink the standard ketchup-and-relish wiener.
Lisa Montelione skeptical about proposed restructuring of HART
Count Lisa Montelione as another Tampa City Council member expressing unease about the proposal for the current HART board to be restructured, with the County Commission and the mayors of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City taking control. "Much like the MTA in New York or other transit agencies around the country, it's usually one…
Boom! — The CL Fourth of July event guide
Fireworks, parades, parties, picnics and more celebrate the U.S.’s birthday.
The Laugh Tract — who’s bringing the funny
Christian Finnegan is in Tampa for shows this week, including a late-night gig on July 4. The Fourth of July weekend normally means lots of food, plenty of parties and bad decisions with fireworks. But how about some good decisions with stand-up comedy? There are plenty of good options this weekend, and many venues are…
Nevada punk band mistaken for Pride-bombing terrorists
The responding officers looked “confused” when she told them she wasn’t harboring terrorists, just musicians.
Mitch Perry Report 7.2.14: Can America’s newfound love for soccer help Bill Edwards get a new stadium in St. Pete?
Can I begin with a little "straight talk," as John McCain used to say? For all of the love being thrown the way of the U.S. soccer team this morning, the American squad won all of one game in the 2014 World Cup. In that respect, it's even more impressive that this country, which usually…
Today in live music: Lindsey Stirling, The Menzingers
A few noteworthy shows for this Wed., July 2.
Yes on Greenlight internal poll shows transit measure gaining support
Is Greenlight Pinellas gaining support some four months before Election Day? That's what the folks at Yes on Greenlight say. They're the political action committee formed to help pass the Pinellas transit tax, and an internal poll released today says the measure now garners 59 percent of county voters, vs. just 35 percent opposing it…
Belgium vs. U.S.A. — World Cup invades local pubs today
Say what you want about soccer, or as Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima calls it in the Kia commercials, "futbol," the 2014 FIFA World Cup has taken over the pubs, televisions, computer screens, and city squares of the U.S.A. in an unprecedented way. This year's version of Copa Mundial being played in Brazil has captivated the…
Bill Edwards focuses on the Rowdies in rare Tiger Bay appearance
Bill Edwards didn't become the financial bigwig that he is by bowing down to somebody else's agenda. So while the packed house at Tuesday's Suncoast Tiger Bay Club meeting at the St. Pete Yacht Club fired questions to him about issues like the Rays, water taxis, eminent domain, moving Tampa's Port to St. Pete or…
Photo review: Katy Perry at the Tampa Bay Times Forum
A look back at the Mon., June 30 show with Capital Cities and Ferras
Castor, Cohn hesitant about U.S. involvement in Iraq & Syria
On Monday, Pentagon officials announced that the U.S. was sending another 300 troops to Iraq to increase security at the U.S. Embassy and elsewhere in the Baghdad area to protect U.S. citizens and property, bringing the total number of troops there to 750. In what is considered a reaction to the recent events in Iraq, the…
Jensen Serf Company announce new 12-inch EP, hear some of Triple Freaks A Beach now
J. Mendecino mastered effort will see limited vinyl-only release “sooner than later”
Mitch Perry Report 7.1.14: Hobby Lobby ruling a boon for Democratic 2014 hopes?
All the kvetching about the Supreme Court decision on the Hobby Lobby case confirms that abortion remains a potent force in American politics, some 41 years after Roe v. Wade. But could it affect the 2014 midterms? With the Democrats fearing they may lose the U.S. Senate in November, the court's decision that the government…
Concert review: Phantogram dances and shines at The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City
A look back at the Sun., June 29 show, with photos
New music Tuesday! (July 1): Robin Thicke, Old Crow Medicine Show, Trey Songz & more
Releases out this week; audio & video included.
You can thank Zach Braff for that new Bon Iver song; listen to it now
“Heavenly Father” appears on Wish I Here soundtrack due July 15.
Castor okay with Obama’s call to begin repatriating undocumented children
Although Kathy Castor has been a major advocate for comprehensive immigration reform in recent years, she says she has no problem with the news that President Obama plans to ask Congress next week for increased powers to send unaccompanied children from Central America back home, across the U.S. border they tried to cross illegally. President Obama addressed…
Get your bake on
Registration for the Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest begins.
Concert review: Come Back Alice and Dropin Pickup electrify Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
A look back at the Fri., June 27 show.
Village Voice employees walk out, demand better wages, benefits, non-crappy coffee
UPDATE: Management responds. A dispatch recently posted by NYC media blog Gawker reports that employees at long-running alternative weekly newspaper the Village Voice have staged a walkout over low wages, benefit cuts and terrible coffee. Seriously — their demands apparently include the phrase "our coffee is shit." Represented by the UAW Local 2110 Village Voice Bargaining unit, staffers…
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie says he’s doing better than mainstream polls reveal
Last Friday yet another poll regarding the 2014 Florida gubernatorial race was released, and in what is becoming something of a trend, Rick Scott held a small lead over Charlie Crist. The Gravis Marketing poll has the current governor leading the former one, 41-39 percent. But perhaps just as significant coming out of this particular survey…
Kathy Castor leads a local team of health professionals to raise awareness of HPV vaccination
Genital HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common virus that is passed through direct skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. The Centers for Disease Control reports that most sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their lives, though most will never know about it. That's because most HPV types cause no symptoms and go away on…
Weekend Recap: New Belgium Pairs Well with Creative Loafing
6.27.14–6.29.14
St. Pete’s EDGE District ripe with new, updated foodie destinations
Commune over tapas at The Edge, Bodega’s thirst-quenching additions and more.
Hot & hotter: St. Pete Pride Street Fest in photos
After huge crowds packed the Grand Central District on Saturday for St. Pete Pride's first nighttime parade some observers wondered whether the turnout would be diluted for the street festival the following day. It certainly didn't seem so. At Creative Loafing's booth in the 2600 block of Central Avenue, a steady stream of festivalgoers stopped by…
Today in live music: Katy Perry, Robb Bank$
A few shows this Mon., June 30
Mitch Perry Report 6.30.14: Sami Al-Arian finally gets his freedom — someplace outside the U.S.
Although the persecution and subsequent prosecution of former USF professor Sami Al-Arian has been a flashpoint in the Tampa Bay area for two decades, even his harshest critics have looked askance at the U.S. Department of Justice's treatment of him in the years since the December 2005 terrorism trial in which a Tampa jury acquitted him…
“Before and After” — beauty in the eye of the … Photoshopper?
Is this a big reveal or more of a “made you look”?
“Rocky Mountain High?” jokes President Clinton when asked about legalized pot in Colorado
Bill Clinton was mocked relentlessly during his first campaign for president in the early 90's when he said he had "experimented with marijuana a time or two" during his Rhodes scholar years in England, but actually never inhaled. But during an interview taped last week in Colorado for air on Sunday's Meet The Press, the former…
Loud and proud: 2014 St Pete Pride Parade in photos
The first-ever nighttime parade brought out big crowds.
‘Ganjapreneur’ seminar hopes to educate Florida on what is to come this November
The people of Florida now have marijuana on their minds. Medical cannabis is already the law with Governor Rick Scott's recent passing of the “Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014” (see Senate 1030 bill here). State residents have shown they do not want to break the laws, but change them. This coming November, Floridians have the…
Florida working women thank Rep. Castor for her support for paid family leave
At Representative Kathy Castor’s office on Thursday, the Florida Consumer Action Network and the Working Women’s Economic Securities Round table met with the congresswoman's staffers to discuss the Family Leave Act. Though the advocates had a number of things to talk about at the meeting, the main reason for the visit was to thank Castor…
Mike Suarez does believe Hillsborough County can pass a transit tax in 2016
Mike Suarez wants to be perfectly clear: Despite what was reported in Thursday's Tampa Bay Times, he believes a transit tax on the 2016 ballot in Hillsborough County can be successful. "I think we can do a referendum in 2016, I don’t see any reason why we can’t do it," the HART board chair told a…
Live music weekend: Phantogram, Bananas 37th Anniversary Party & more
Concerts, Sat.-Sun., June 28-29
The Hip Hop ABCs: Letter S
The alphabetical rap battles continue…
Charlie Crist files legal brief in support of same-sex marriage in Florida
On the eve of Pride weekend, Charlie Crist has filed an amicus brief (a/k/a/ friend of the court) in support of the marriage equality lawsuit set for a hearing next week in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami. "As former governor, and as someone who previously supported this measure, Charlie Crist's words matter a great deal,” said…
Lil Wayne drops another probable Carter V track, “Krazy”
“Krazy” joins previously released Carter V tracks, “Believe Me” and “D’Usse.”
Do This: Top 10 weekend events
Celebrate Pride, catch some art and theater, indulge in World Cup mania and hit the beach for some fun and good reads. FRIDAY El Mundialito: The World Cup may be taking the day off in Brazil, but an international soccer tournament, dubbed the Mini World Cup, will take place just a few miles away today. Read…
Ira Glass tickets go on sale today
As fans might know already, radio host Ira Glass, beloved for his storytelling hour, This American Life, will appear live at the Mahaffey in St. Petersburg on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. for the WUSF Public Media event Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass. The creator of the Public Radio International show will talk about his…
Mitch Perry Report 6.27.14: Medical marijuana backlash builds nationally
Blame if you like the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, but the effectiveness of medical marijuana has never been more under scrutiny than right now, just months before Florida attempts to become the 23rd state in the union to legalize it. If you don't think so, check out this story in today's New York…
Today in live music: DieAlps!, Basement Sessions 5, and more.
Concerts taking place Fri., June 27.
Millennials come to hear about transportation options in Tampa Bay
Recent plans to improve transportation in Tampa Bay through the expansion of the transit system, a proposed high-speed ferry and a new intermodal center next to Interstate 275 are causing young professionals to join the conversation about transportation. Emerge Tampa Bay hosted a panel at the University of Tampa’s Vaughn Center Wednesday night to allow…
The Florida Orchestra appoints Music Director Michael Francis
Michael Francis, the Florida Orchestra's new music director, will be starting with the 2015/2016 season, serving as Music Director Designate for the upcoming 2014/2015 season. According the Orchestra's spokesperson, the orchestra’s music director search took more than three years and the appointment was made earlier than expected. The orchestra projected the process to take four years,…
It’s official: Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival confirmed for Aug. 8
See Marc Maron and a cavalcade of weirdoes and comedians on Aug. 8. Tickets go on sale Saturday.
Buckhorn says TPD won’t be citing Uber or Lyft drivers
Since April, car-sharing services UberX and Lyft have been operating in Tampa, much to the frustration of Hillsborough County Public Transportation Executive Director Kyle Cockream, who says those drivers are violating the law by not being certified by his agency. The PTC has officers who can issue citations and they've done so over 40 times…
Weekend Preview: Proudly Cruising Around Town
6.27.14–6.29.14
Eli Wallach — a look back at his memorable roles
A fond farewell to one of the stage and screen’s finest character actors.
Grant for tree planting & sustainability training begins in Tampa Heights & V.M. Ybor
According to TD Bank Senior Retail Officer Chris Yance, cities from Key West to Portland, Maine applied for a $20,000 "Green Streets" grant for tree planting and sustainability training for local residents. Ultimately Tampa was one of just 10 such cities nationwide to receive that grant, which will be invested in the V.M. Ybor and…
Today in live music: Heatwave Redux, A Wilhelm Scream, Gravel Kings
Good Graeff is among the Thurs., June 29 concert highlights.
Pride Issue 2014: Marriage marches on
Florida’s marriage equality fight heads to court as AG Pam Bondi goes back on the rampage.
Pride Issue 2014: Let the sun shine
A three-decade City Hall vet, Robert Danielson steps up to become St. Pete’s first LGBT liaison.
Pride Issue 2014: Concert Preview
Mary Lambert of “Same Love” fame headlines St. Pete Pride’s big Friday night fundraiser.
Pride Issue 2014: Event schedule & maps
Your rundown of events for one of the nation’s largest Pride celebrations.
Pride Issue 2014: Beyond the bars
As LGBT rights and visibility expand, so do the options for having fun (and doing good).
The Pride Issue: Night & day
Just like this year’s St. Pete Pride festivities, Creative Loafing’s annual Pride Issue is bigger and better than ever.
Savage Love: Old times
Sex and love advice columnist Dan Savage handles horny old cousins and pregnant swingers.
Movie Review: The latest Transformers can’t morph a bad script into a good movie
There’s no excuse for it. And by “it,” I mean this fourth entry in the Transformers franchise being two hours and 45 punishing minutes long. I’m not saying there’s not a future world where this could be a good thing. One where a clever script and a director not named Michael Bay are leading the…
Movie Review: Obvious Child
This edgy romantic comedy draws you in by slowly revealing the depths of its characters.
Spotlighting hope: Garry Allan Breul
Garry Breul’s Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project has helped thousands. Now he’s facing his own health crisis.
