Down the rabbit hole with body artist, Sophia Fiore
The porn star on naked selfies, blending adult entertainment and the fitness industry, her love of dominating other doms, and why Alice in Wonderland is her favorite book.
Do This: Top 10 weekend events
From Mo’Nique to 3D printing to Coco and Homo to Saturday Night Fever, there’s plenty to do indoors away from the rain and oppressive heat this weekend.
Off-Broadway play examines how Washington politics change
When inveterate political observers refer to the collapse of civility in Washington D.C., one event that's frequently invoked is the battle to bring down Robert Bork in 1987. The then-60-year-old (he died in 2012) was sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit when President Reagan announced that he was…
A feast for the ears: Four food-centric party scenarios & playlists for each.
Leilani Polk helps craft the perfect soundtrack to your next summer food-fest.
L.A. acting coach Benson Simmonds here to boost Tampa talent
Success in acting is about "the three C's of success: craft, confidence and contribution," says Los Angeles-based acting coach Benson Simmonds. The actor, comedian, author and instructor will be teaching scene study, audition technique classes and sharing his "Kick Butt" branding/marketing knowhow in Tampa today through June 19. Simmonds has appeared on TV shows (Supernatural, Stargate…
Theater profile: Patrick Ryan Sullivan from freeFall’s The Burnt Part Boys
From the Space Coast to Broadway to St. Pete, Sullivan is well-traveled and well-received.
Read, eat, ask for seconds — a tour of eats and drinks in popular books
A mash-up of great books and the foods they inspire. (Mmmmm — mash.)
Hangry! How school lunches triggered a food fight
School may be out for summer, but school lunches remain a hot topic. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFK), signed into law by President Obama in 2010, was initally welcomed. An important companion to Michelle Obama’s childhood obesity initiative and her “Let’s Move” campaign, the bill strengthened nutrition requirements and provided for free school lunch…
Don’t mess with my food
On the Saturday before Memorial Day, hundreds of people of diverse backgrounds gathered in front of the Stained Marketplace, an outdoor market that lies just a block north of I-4 in Ybor City. They assembled for what has now become an annual “March on Monsanto,” calling for the boycott of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs,…
The Food Issue: Staff tastes too
Not to be left out, CL’s amateur eaters list the dishes they can’t forget.
The Food Issue: The CL stars guide
Jon Palmer Claridge’s best-reviewed restaurants from 2012-2014, from 3.5 stars on up.
The Food Issue: Unforgettable
The 25 local dishes CL restaurant critic Jon Palmer Claridge still dreams about.
Poet’s Notebook: Happy Fathers
My father’s eyes rolled upward in Paul’s Diner not in fine frenzy but diabetic coma and we thought when they refocused two weeks later it was time to make amends . . . Jeanne’s and my fathers were old-style Republicans. High-school graduates from blue-collar backgrounds, they worked hard, and eventually prospered as salesmen, Jeanne’s dad…
Hillsborough Democrat wants DWS out as DNC Chair
Since being selected to chair the Democratic National Committee a few years ago, Debbie Wasserman Schultz has received her share of criticism from certain parts of the party. In Tampa, for instance, her rigidity in aligning herself with the anti-Castro exile community in Miami has been a turn-off, as her House colleague Kathy Castor and…
Concert review: Selwyn Birchwood throws an album release party at the Skipperdome
The 29-year-old delivered a celebratory performance on Friday night.
The Food Issue: Tastes of the future
The celebrity chefs of Sundial and an offshoot of Pearl in the Grove.
The Food Issue: Spoon, advise, yelp!
Meet four of the area’s most active online restaurant reviewers.
The Food Issue: Hangover helpers
What to eat the morning after a night you don’t quite remember.
Second meeting on the future of Tampa’s Riverfront Park a bit more contentious
Last month the city of Tampa convened the first in a series of publicly announced meetings inviting the West Tampa community to weigh in on Mayor Bob Buckhorn's intentions on redeveloping Riverfront Park, the 23-acre green space located on the western side of the Hillsborough River directly across from downtown. It's one element in a larger…
Mitch Perry Report 6.11.14: Ted Cruz wing of the GOP emboldened after Cantor stunner?
On CBS' This Morning, longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz said "Republican pollsters suck," in explaining to Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell why House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary re-election bid to little-known Tea Partier David Brat last night. (Luntz mentioned that Mitt Romney's pollster got it wrong in 2012 as well.) Obviously it…
Florida fails to land any city in top 20 most LGBT-friendly list
To hear Bill O'Reilly describe it, Seattle has now transcended San Francisco (thanks to legalizing pot) as the most liberal enclave in America. Whether the Fox News host's take is accurate or not, the Emerald City has now come out ahead of the city by the bay in another category — it surpassed San Fran…
The Strokes and Phoenix stand out at the fourth annual Governors Ball in NYC
The early summer fest is making itself known as a dominant force the Northeast.
Tiki time
Tampa Bay’s United States Bartenders’ Guild serve up an array cocktails at its Sunset Tiki Party.
Concert review: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Orpheum, Ybor City
A look back at the Thurs., June 5 show.
The Weekend That Was: China, Mieka, Norma, Tony
From the Tampa Museum of Art to St. Pete Opera to a living room-turned-concert venue.
New Music Tuesday! (June 10): Jack White, Umphrey’s McGee, First Aid Kit & more
Music out this week; audio & video included.
New poll shows Floridians not really into Rick Scott OR Charlie Crist
If you're with Charlie Crist's brain trust this morning, the question that has to be asked is: How long can we stay off the airwaves? That's because a new Public Policy Survey of nearly 600 Floridians shows that Rick Scott and Charlie Crist are now tied at 42 percent. Only 39 percent of voters think Scott's…
Activist group wants Florida to end for-profit youth prisons
Critics contend that privatization of juvenile prisons has had detrimental effects on youth, including high recidivism rates. A report last year from the Huffington Post showed that 40 percent of youth offenders who serve time in Florida’s prisons commit a crime within a year of their release that places them back in jail. Among the companies that…
Mitch Perry Report 6.10.14: The VA situation is worse than imagined
The C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center at Bay Pines is among 110 Veterans Affairs facilities listed for additional review in an auditor's report about the problem with waiting lists for veterans trying to get medical care. The report says that the Young facility had 1,193 patients who signed up for appointments in the past…
No final answers about future of HART board after three-hour meeting
Less than two weeks after the Transportation for Economic Development group consisting of the Hillsborough County Commission and the mayors of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City voted to take control of HART, the existing HART board brought County Administrator Mike Merrill before them Monday afternoon to discuss the current state of play. The meeting…
The Laugh Tract — who’s bringing the funny
Mo'Nique is at Tampa Improv this weekend. If you want to take dad out to see some comedy on Father's Day weekend, you have plenty of choices. There are even some free shows on the schedule, so if you're on a tight budget you can still take dad out for a few laughs. Here are…
World Cup excitement is at fever pitch, but here’s the bad news about FIFA
At this point, all your soccer-loving parts are probably bursting with excitement about the World Cup kicking off in less than 48 hours. And how could it not be? Just 32 teams will compete will spend the next month facing in other in group play, quarter finals, and semis all culminating in what promised to…
Ken Welch responds to Tom Rask’s email that Pinellas County is selling part of its water supply
Over the weekend Tom Rask, a Pinellas County Republican challenging John Morroni in the County Commission District 6 primary this August, sent out a mass emailing to Pinellas residents, headlined "Your drinking water is endangered!- Pinellas County Commission Considers Sale of Our Water Source." He's referring to a plan by the majority of the County Commission…
Björk is definitely on side one of Death Grips’ brand new double LP, download it now
Death Grips opens for NIN and Soundgarden in Tampa on August 11.
Rik “The People’s Poet” Mayall is dead — quotes from The Young Ones star
Looking back on the comedic genius’ maladjusted Rick from The Young Ones.
Suck on that
Competitors at the 8th Annual Pinellas Pepper Fest lick the world’s hottest lollipop.
Live Music Radar: Little Dragon hits Orpheum, Ybor City
Get your indie dance on this Wednesday night
The science of sipping
Riedel’s Coca-Cola glass: It’s the real thing!
Album Review: Lykke Li, I Never Learn
Swedish indie-pop star Lykke Li bums us out with her relationship woes on her new album, I Never Learn.
Equality Means Business: The link between LGBT-friendliness and business success
Businesses are realizing that their success is tied to diversity, and that includes addressing the needs and interests of LGBT employees and consumers. In other words, Equality Means Business — the main topic of discussion at a roundtable and luncheon held at the Tampa Bay History Center Thursday. The event was hosted by the Equality…
Tampa Bay’s weekly literary happenings
Tampa’s Inkwood Books kicks off its summer foodie events with Chef Gale Gand signing copies of her new book Lunch! Tuesday, June 10, 7 p.m. There will also be a demonstration and food tasting. Learn how to better utilize Facebook to share your work. The Aspiring Writers Publishing and Marketing Meetup.com group presents “Jumpstart Your Author…
Weekend Recap: Fun, Flicks & Free Stuff
6.6.14–6.8.14
Florida Democrats revive Rick Scott’s tarnished past at Columbia/HCA
During the 2010 race for governor, Democrats made an issue out of the fact that in Rick Scott's previous career as the CEO of Columbia/HCA, the hospital company was fined a record $1.7 billion for Medicare and Medicaid fraud. And while it might have had an impact, it didn't stop Scott from defeating Democrat Alex…
Mitch Perry Report 6.9.14: Rays look dead — time to move David Price?
Good morning, everyone. What a weekend in America, eh? Lots of fun stuff happened. I spent most of it in New York City, and will have more to tell in upcoming posts. But between the Tony Awards, Miss USA (uh, what's the difference between that and Miss America?) and LeBron James having a massive game…
Sympathy for Bowe Bergdahl hard to find on Sunday morning television
The New York Times reported over the weekend that Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has told medical officials that his Taliban captors locked him in a metal cage in total darkness for weeks at a time as punishment for trying to escape. The story also went on to say that he is ready physically but not emotionally…
Savage Love: Make the call
Sex and relationship advice columnist Dan Savage covers the comings and goings.
If these Weezer song teasers are torture, then you should see the band at The Trop tonight
Win or lose, Rays fans still get a Weezer concert after the game
The Well-Played List, 06-06-2014: The Fresh and Onlys, 1,2,3, Say Anything, Mary Gauthier & more
Find out what the CL Team and local tastemakers are jamming this week; audio, video & Spotify playlist included…
Bill’s SportsBinge: Whiners shouldn’t win, bobblehead Brooks and Rays reek
Congratulations graduates. Time to take your vast knowledge of recycling and 2 + 2 = whatever-makes-you-happy and get out there to start blaming others for why you're not a millionaire before 30. If there's one piece of advice I can offer, given the amount of graduation speeches I've delivered, it's this. Having "haters" is not…
Few Faults to be found in Our Stars
Woodley, Elgort, and supporting cast bring a beloved YA novel to life.
Adult Swim Announces 2014 Singles Program
New, free tracks every week from Sleep, Giorgio Moroder, Mastodon, Future + more beginning June 9.
Weekend Preview: Hellooo, Summer! Please Stay a While.
6.6.14–6.8.14
St. Pete Polls survey now has Greenlight Pinellas leading in popularity
A new poll published shows that Greenlight Pinellas, the one-cent transit tax measure on the November ballot in Pinellas County, leads 48-45 percent, a dramatic turnaround from a poll conducted by the same polling firm two months ago. Seven percent said they were uncertain. The survey was produced by St. Pete Polls and commissioned by St.…
Video: Fifteen years later, American Football’s “Never Meant” finally gets a music video
Emo torchbearers’ set for a handful of reunion shows, too.
Meet the CL Street Team
Lauren, Sam, Shay, Renee & Alexis
Arts: Made in China
A blockbuster show on both sides of the Bay showcases the work of young Chinese artists.
Life as we blow it: A little too auto
Driverless cars. Driverless cars! The future is here! Safety! Fuel efficiency! Environmental friendliness! It’s the single greatest technological development in the history of humanity! Oh, wait — no, it’s not. It’s the dumbest thing we’ve done yet. Why not take the single most destructive threat to the communal fabric of society, and make it even…
Transforming Tampa Bay: The groves of academe — Temple Terrace
If I were looking around for a special place to live, on the Hillsborough River, with loads of amenities, I’d choose Temple Terrace. This one-mile square, incorporated town, located just east of the University of South Florida, bears out the adage about the relationship between quality and quantity — smaller can be better. Let’s start…
No Words: On Maya Angelou
I have a friend who’s been posting pictures of Maya Angelou’s stoop-turned-memorial, just up the street from her own home in Harlem. A wreath of white peonies. Stacks of single roses wrapped in cellophane, all snug in baby’s breath. On the day Angelou died, Facebook and Twitter blew up with RIPs and reflections about the…
Review: The Grecian Urns bring gang-vocal-love-jams to Green Bench Brewing (video)
A look back at the May 31 reunion.
Movie Review: Words and Pictures is a film without enough emphasis on either
Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche pair up for a rom-com whose reach exceeds its grasp.
Live music radar: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah hit Orpheum, Ybor City tonight
The self-produced, self-released 2005 debut from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was an indie rock revelation with perfect jangle pop sensibility as led by singer-guitarist Alec Ounsworth, who channeled the vocal phrasing and intonations of David Byrne but added his own unhinged warbly twang. There wasn’t a bad track to be found on that album — and it's…
Interview: Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz discusses his mental health, a fresh LP from his band & more
Counting Crows hit the Straz Center this Wed., June 11, with Toad the Wet Sprocket
Live and Local Spotlight: Selwyn Birchwood CD Release Party
The 29-year-old presents his Alligator Records debut.
