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New poll shows Rick Scott would lose by 19% to Alex Sink
This is a new post. Meanwhile, we need to learn how to use the admin site to see what it looks like.
Dunedin Fine Art Center opens registration for spring and summer art classes
Whether you want to write the next Academy Award-winning film or to design beautiful jewelry for friends and family, the Dunedin Fine Art Center has a class to help. The center's Gladys Douglas School of the Arts is currently open for registration for a variety of different instructional courses such as Screenwriting, Clay FUN-damentals, Intro…
A couple of regular Joes: The Sloppy Joe meets its Cuban cousin
Ground beef is pretty low in the hierarchy of meat, but its cheapness makes it a cornerstone of the modern American diet. This is not the stuff of fine dining, but sturdy home-style simplicity. Sloppy Joe and Cuban picadillo are similar tangy ground beef recipes. It’s interesting how two very different cultures inadvertently created variations…
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Pinellas: Caddy’s vs Frog Pond
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Pinellas: Beverly’s La Croisette vs Cafe Alma
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Pinellas: Cassis vs Dome Grill
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Pinellas: Kissin Cuzzins vs Munch’s Sundries
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Pinellas: Lenny’s vs Moxie’s Express Cafe & Grille (Largo)
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Pinellas: The Lucky Dill Palm Harbor vs Kelly’s Chic-A-Boom
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Hillsborough: Daily Eats vs Pink Flamingo Cafe
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Hillsborough: Cafe Hey vs Moxie’s Cafe
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Hillsborough: The Bricks of Ybor vs La Tropicana Cafe
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Hillsborough: The Refinery vs Tre Amici
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Hillsborough: Three Coins vs West Tampa Sandwich Shop
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Breakfast Bowl Round 2 Voting, Hillsborough: Mimi’s Cafe vs Aguila Sandwich Shop
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Citing his “checkered history with women and women’s issues” Rose Ferlita calls on Bob Buckhorn to apologize for calling her campaign “sleazy”
It had been a quiet couple of days in the Tampa Mayor's race, but Rose Ferlita changed that dynamic Wednesday afternoon when she issued a press release calling on opponent Bob Buckhorn to apologize to her and other women in general for calling her campaign "sleazy" in a television ad that's been airing for several…
Over 100 people protest in front of Federal building against Rick Scott & Florida Legislature in Tampa
Late Tuesday afternoon, as the Florida House of Representatives was in the middle of a debate on a controversial teacher merit bill that would do away with tenure and require that half of a teacher's performance would be based on student test scores, a group of approximately 100 protesters gathered on both the west and…
Vice President Joe Biden coming to Tampa for fundraiser for Bill Nelson – meanwhile, his potential opponents get closer to formally declaring their candidacy
Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Tampa for the first time since he and Barack Obama thrilled a University of Tampa crowd by announcing that they were leaving a $1.25 billion check to the state to begin constructing a high speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando in January of 2010. You know what…
April’s got a sweet tooth with plenty of pie festivals and contests in Central Florida
According to the American Pie Council, the up and coming month of April will be sweeter than ever as not one, but two major pie events are taking place early in the month. The 2011 APR Crisco National Pie Championships are kicking off April 8 and continuing through April 10, 2011, at the Caribe Royale…
Must-click links: SXSW Film Edition
Here's IFC.com's cheat sheet for all the films that played at SXSW. (Check out their entire coverage of the fest here.) Also read Matt Singer's review of the Jeannie Finlay's doc Sound it Out and his interview with Vikram Gandhi, director and star of the religion based doc Kumaré. Robbie Pickering's comedy Natural Selection and Tristan Patterson's…
Tarpon Springs plans serious fun for weekend after April Fools: the 37th Annual Fine Arts Festival
If you have the time to be serious about art the weekend after April Fools' Day, Tarpon Springs presents their 37th Annual Fine Arts Festival April 2-3 at Craig Park. More than 200 artists will be featured a wide variety of media used in their fine art pieces. Live music and food will also be…
Photo review: Dum Dum Girls with Tennis and La Sera at Orpheum, Ybor City
Some shots from this past Sunday night's show at Orpheum featuring indie fuzz pop four-piece Dum Dum Girls with support by Tennis and La Sera. Dum Dum Girls Tennis La Sera Check out the complete photo galleries after the jump.
Bill’s Sports Binge: Bracket racket, Auburn bust and slaving away for millions
I love this time of year. March Madness hits its fever pitch coupled with vomiting and explosive diarrhea (ch-cha-cha) on Thursday, which conveniently and dangerously falls on St. Patrick's Day, and soon an army of brain-dead coeds will be flooding our beaches from all over with daddy's money to act like stupid drunken whores for our enjoyment. Ah,…
EarthTalk: How to safely dispose of used batteries
Courtesy of: EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear Earth Talk: How do I recycle or safely dispose of used batteries? —Tom Shamrell, Brattleboro, VT Unfortunately, most of the more than 750 million alkaline batteries sold each year to power our cameras, flashlights and Discmans are landfilled and incinerated, not recycled. The chemicals in these…
Creative Loafing endorses Bob Buckhorn for mayor of Tampa
It was all going so well — a mayor’s race between qualified competitors, marked by mutual respect and cordial agreements to disagree. Once Rose Ferlita finally got around to revealing a detailed plan for her administration — many, many weeks after her opponent, Bob Buckhorn — the race even threatened to offer voters a real…
Mural at TPD pays tribute to fallen Corporal Mike Roberts and all Tampa police officers
A vibrant new mural honors fallen Corporal Mike Roberts at Tampa Police Department’s District Two Headquarters at 9330 N. 30th St., painted by artist Chico Garcia, who learned of the tragic death of Corporal Roberts on Aug. 19, 2009, when had he had recently moved to Tampa. Garcia felt compelled to show his support for…
Tampa city council candidates debate, while Julie Jenkins says she has a real shot against Harry Cohen; BayWalk now up for sale in St. Pete, and anti-illegal immigration zealot Tom Tancredo comes to Tampa this weekend
Good Wednesday morning to you all. Let's get straight to the local political news: We were up in the Forest Hills area of North Tampa last night, where several of the candidates on the ballot for City Council next week in Tampa engaged in a loose, fun political forum. Those candidates were from the two…
Slow Food Tampa Bay’s next membership meeting featuring permaculturist Cory Brennan – Monday, March 28
If you're already a member of the Tampa Bay chapter of Slow Food International or would like to become one, the next meeting will be held at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library on Monday, March 28. The featured speaker at this month's membership meeting is Cory Brennan, a certified permaculture designer, educator and writer,…
A lesson in rejection: Why you should ask her out anyway
Shaquea Moore originally posted this story on another site. I was so moved that I asked her permission to repost it here for two reasons. 1. I believe someone in our community might need to hear this, and 2. so straight people know that the gays go through the same things they do. The more…
Julie Jenkins says she has a “really good shot” in her race against Harry Cohen for Tampa’s District 4 City Council seat
South Tampa resident Julie Jenkins has built up lots of grass roots support from her work with neighborhoods over the past two decades that she's spent in Tampa. She's worked in sales and marketing positions for AirTran Airways, Holiday Inn and Virgin Atlantic Airways, as well as in real estate, and ran for City Council…
Tampa City Council candidates (most of them, anyway) engage in the issues in Forest Hills debate
There are four City Council races that Tampa voters will decide next Tuesday (actually, they're weighing in on those races now, as the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office says 3,971 people have voted in 3 days of early voting so far). Last night in Forest Hills, four of those candidates on the ballot appeared…
Real estate firm says it’s actively trying to sell BayWalk complex in St. Petersburg
Because there are lots of parts of downtown St. Petersburg that are doing so well, it seems to maybe be a bit annoying for some to bring up BayWalk, but until something ever happens to the entertainment complex, it will continue to stand as a large, lurking mass of nothing that maintains a presence downtown.…
Tampa Bay food and drink events
Wednesday, March 16: Pour House This week, Pour House is hosting Saint Somehwere Brewing and brewmaster Bob Sylvester. Offering $12 for a paddle of four of Saint Somewhere's farmhouse ales, as well as draft specials. 7 p.m. 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Suite #112, Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com Thursday, March 17: Durty Nelly's Celebrate the Irish holiday…
Do It Today: Happy hour fundraisers, Pops plays Porter, comedian Pedro Lima and acoustic ‘cue at New World
The southernmost border of Ybor City isn't the most enticing of gateways, but organizers of the Adamo Drive Mural Project hope to change that. Their goal is to raise $50,000 to erect a series of cigar-Cubano-inspired murals on the north side of Adamo between 18th and 19th streets. Sherwin-Williams offered to donate paint for the…
On the eve of St. Patty’s Day, thoughts on a modern Irish-American-Jewish-and-Everything-Else family
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and I find myself thinking of my great-grandparents. Back in the 1800s, when they took a boat from County Mayo in Ireland to Pennsylvania, they also took quite a chance. They risked their lives to make a better one for their children and grandchildren. When they first arrived, my…
Misapprehension leads to wrongful apprehension at contain it!: Sarah Gail Hutcherson wants her artworks back
Here's a scenario that reminds us of the importance of clear instructions — or better reading skills. The takeaway: If you have any of Sarah Gail Hutcherson's movable pieces from the contain it! show in Dunedin last Friday, please return them to her.
Music Feature: Charlotte alt rock outfit Paper Tongues headlines the 97X Freebie Weebie this Sunday at Jannus Live (with video)
The seven N.C. musicians who make up Paper Tongues started out as street buskers in an improv music collective that regularly met and jammed at a busy Charlotte intersection “for the city and the people and the homeless and the club goers and whoever wanted to come out.” All that changed fouryears ago when their…
On the Radar: Chalk Walk in Hyde Park and Spring Awakening at Ruth Eckerd Hall
A sprawling, scrawling three-day fest in Hyde Park, Chalk Walk allows kids and adult artists to hit the pavement to create masterpieces under the direction of artist Julie Graden. The free event offers fun for grown-up non-artists, too, with local musical entertainment and drink specials from Blue Moon Beer and Barefoot Wine all weekend long.…
Groups urge Governor Scott to re-submit FairDistricts amendments to DOJ for approval
Last November Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendments 5 & 6, better wise known as the Florida Fair Districts amendments. They call for lawmakers to draw up legislative and congressional districts in a contiguous, compact fashion that doesn't show favoritism for incumbents, parties or minorities. After it was voted into law by the electorate, then Governor…
The ideal kitchen: How to plan and equip your kitchen for optimal use
One of the questions I get asked most often is, "What is my kitchen missing?". As a personal chef I’ve cooked in over 400 different kitchens, both in the US and Canada. And I didn’t realize until recently that I’ve been sitting on a very interesting pile of data. So, I have compiled this article,…
TradeWinds makes waves with new water park, Splash Island, opening Thurs., March 17
It's beach season, and there's one more fun activity to enjoy in your bathing suit. Opening March 17, Splash Island Water Park, a 15,750 square-foot floating inflatable water park within the swim zone off the beach at the TradeWinds Island Grand, will offer more than 11 options – from jumping and climbing, to relaxing and sunning. Water…
Concert review: Yelawolf with Bad Shit at Czar, Ybor City (with photos)
Yelawolf is crazed in the best way possible. Absolutely annihilating the mic with a machine-gun barrage of syllables and scummy, Southern imagery, he, at least, made the time worthwhile at the Skatepark of Tampa's Tampa Pro After Party this past Saturday at Czar. Openers Bad Shit played some really, well, bad shit for about 30…
Google adds electric vehicle charging stations to mapping service
For those of you with or who will have an electric vehicle, charging stations won't be very hard to find (depending on your location) thanks to Google Maps. The search engine just added the EV charger locating feature to its mapping service last week. Teaming up with the U.S. government’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Google…
Tom Tancredo, Judge Andrew Napolitano among the guests coming to Tampa this weekend for “Save America Convention” (video)
The arrivals of both Barack Obama as President and a debt never before seen has had many conservatives muttering that America itself is on the precipice. If you subscribe to this notion of our future then perhaps you'll want to get tickets to a weekend event taking place in downtown Tampa featuring some stars from…
Spoiler Corner: Glee, Pretty Little Liars, and Vampire Diaries
Curious about your favorite shows? Is someone dying? If your favorite couple getting engaged? Hook-ups? Break-ups? Well, here you will find the answers to your burning questions! Enjoy television lovers! Glee Hold on to your fabulous poofy dresses, fedoras and dancing shoes because the New Directions are going to regionals! Of course that is not…
New music releases out this Tuesday, March 15: Travis Barker, Dead Kenny G’s, Mastodon, The Dodos, Lady Gaga, Sing Fang, Rise Against, and more (with lots of audio & video!)
This week’s new music … Check out all of the ones you want to know about (some with audio, some with video) below. Click here to check out new music releases that dropped last week and here for new releases that have come out in the past several months… , Songs in the Key of…
Six ways to improve business efficiency online
Businesses are always on the look out for new methods to increase efficiency since leaner operations generally mean less cost and more profit. With many online business operations, companies can find a plethora of means to increase their financial gains. Here are 6 ways to improve business efficiency online.
Bob Buckhorn won’t be at Friday’s Tiger Bay Debate – but will debate Rose Ferlita on Florida This Week that night
This coming Friday was scheduled to be one of the last debates between Tampa mayoral candidates Bob Buckhorn and Rose Ferlita. But it won't be now. The Buckhorn camp says that their candidate will not be at previously scheduled event, to take place at Maestro's restaurant in the Straz Center, but instead will be serving…
Sex position cheat sheet: a guide to love manuals
Sex position manuals have long given legitimacy to adult businesses veiled as adult book stores. Along with the vibrators and lingerie stocked in the novelty section of sex shops, these books are what wives flip through while their husbands are lost somewhere deep in the big butt porno section. Sadly, the reality is that many…
Must-click links: Crisis in Japan after partially meltdown at Fukushima and much more …
Japanese nuclear plant hit by fire and third explosion, as radiation around Fukushima Daiichi plant has reached levels damaging to health. World financial markets take a dive as Japanese officials and workers struggle to get control of the damaged reactors. Rachel Maddow gives an explanation in plain layman's terms of the nuclear situation in Japan.…
The Gaily News: House, Senate take on DOMA, harassment at a California high school, Canada’s new citizenship guide
The House and Senate will introduce a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act at a press conference tomorrow morning. The House's version of the legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act, would repeal DOMA in its entirety, and already has 105 original cosponsors.
Ask Dream Momma: White seagulls symbolically transform
“Dear Dream Momma, I look to the sky and see five white seagulls flying overhead. At first they are shiny black silhouettes, but then they change into a beautiful array of rainbow colors. As each bird becomes a solid hue like red, orange and purple, they also turn into kites, all the while retaining their…
Sustainable Floridians Master Volunteer Program – Thursday, March 17
Open orientation for the Sustainable Floridians program, a 7-week certification course hosted by the Pinellas County Extension and modeled on the successful Florida Master Gardener Program, will take place Thursday, March 17th. It's goal is to teach participants about utilizing sustainability in their everyday lives. Participants will explore values, attitudes and sustainable actions through discussion…
CL’s Breakfast Bowl: The ‘Toasty 32’
Here are the 'Toasty 32' Breakfast Bowl finalists who are still in the running. Early next week, we'll be revealing the Sizzling 16, shortly followed by the Eggscellent 8 and just a few days later, The Final Four will be announced. They will then be judged in a taste-a-thon and reviewed by Brian Ries with…
Mary Alvarez hits all the talking points in pro-Ferlita robocall
Mary Alvarez served on the Tampa City Council with both Rose Ferlita and Bob Buckhorn. It's fair to say that she enjoyed her experience with Ms. Ferlita a bit more. She's supporting her former colleague in the race for Tampa's mayor, and recorded a robocall that was sent to registered voters throughout Tampa on Monday,…
Liberal activists against GOP-led federal budget to protest in Tampa, Yolie Capin gets some satisfaction, and Scientology is officially open for biz in Ybor Square: Mitch Perry Report 3.15.11
In the past few weeks, we've seen quite a bit of activism in the Tampa Bay area, and for the first time in a few years, it isn't being led by Tea Party members. No, it's been union officials and teachers, who have a lot of their own skin in the game. They have been…
Scientology finally moves into Ybor Square
Last May the Church of Scientology purchased the V.M. Ybor Cigar Factory, better known as Ybor Square, for approximately $7 million. The only two tenants that remain in the Square now are the longtime popular Italian food eatery Spaghetti Warehouse, and CL, which resides directly upstairs from the restaurant in what is known as the…
According to Brookings, Tampa Bay among the 20 weakest metro areas in the country
As Rose Ferlita and Bob Buckhorn battle it out to see who will lead the city of Tampa over the next four years, a new report indicates what a hole the city is in at this moment. On Monday, the Brookings Institute released their latest report on the top 100 metro economies in the country…
Penis adventures in the world of genital desensitizers
I'm usually eager to volunteer my penis as a lab rat for sex products, but when Shunga Erotic Art contacted me about sampling their new Male Desensitizer, I was a bit hesitant. This initial trepidation returned five minutes after applying the product when my penis had curled up in my lap to take an etherized…
Do It Today: Des Ark, The Slackers and Men at Work’s Colin Hay plus famed dancer Jacques D’amboise and Degas dancers at Tampa Museum of Art
CL Music Editor Leilani Polk has pointed us in the direction of three crucial music shows on both sides of the bay. Des Ark/Pygmy Lush/Young Livers is a threefer that offers some of the best under-the-radar sounds on both the national and local fronts. The performing moniker of Philly-based singer-songwriter Aimée Argote, Des Ark sings…
Lightning routs Leafs 6-2
The Tampa Bay Lightning got what it needed in a big way Monday night, taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team had been lacking secondary scoring and regulation wins in previous games, but the Air Canada Center cured all that ailed the Bolts, as they rolled to a 6-2 win on the second game…
Opt out of cheap green beer and try these creative St. Patty’s Day cocktails instead
If you're not down with crowded bars and green beer this St. Patrick's Day, try making some of your own verdant libations at home. They'll probably end up saving you money (and a possible DUI) versus going out on the town. Check out these fun and creative cocktails I've found on some seriously tasty-looking food…
Tampa Museum of Art brings famed impressionist to Tampa for the first time with Degas: Form, Movement, and the Antique
The exhibition Degas: Form, Movement, and the Antique has just opened at the Tampa Museum of Art much to the delight and anticipation of many Degas fans in the Tampa area. But even if you don’t consider yourself a huge fan of Degas’ work, the exhibition is definitely worth the trip into downtown Tampa. It…
EarthTalk: Pesticide use and thyroid disease connection?
Courtesy of: EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Instances of people with thyroid problems seems to be on the rise. Is there an environmental connection? — Dora Light, Waukesha, WI The American Cancer Society reports that thyroid cancer is one of the few cancers that have been on the rise in recent decades,…
Rose Ferlita at WFLA radio debate on Tampa mayoral opponent Bob Buckhorn “He somewhat distorts the truth.”
Bob Buckhorn and Rose Ferlita engaged in their 3rd one-on-one debate of the runoff election campaign for Tampa mayor this morning. The event, streamed live on WFLA 970 AM's website and hosted by the station's morning team of Jack Harris and Tedd Webb, remained mostly on the issues, but a new commercial aired by Buckhorn…
Concert review: Murder By Death with Fake Problems, Buried Beds and Mustache! at Orpheum, Ybor City (with photos!)
One way to describe Thursday evening's show featuring Murder By Death, Fake Problems and Buried Beds at Orpheum is a boot lickin' good time (explanation below). Another is a night filled with storytelling, sing-a-longs and a few surprises.
#MusicMonday, Vol. 31: Rise Against, R.E.M., Lykki Li, Sonic Youth, The Pauses, and more (with audio + video!)
The CL Music Team kicks off the week with some new jams (or old) to launch us into a new work week! Here’s what we’re spinning now; to check out previous entries, click here. – Rise Against, Endgame (2011) I’m tired of slagging Rise Against for writing big rock hooks instead of angry punk tunes.…
Theater review: Jobsite’s excellent Yellowman is blisteringly honest theater
Dael Orlandersmith’s Yellowman is a powerful, shocking, and finally poignant play about light-skinned and dark-skinned African Americans in South Carolina in the late 20th century. Following two in particular — dark-skinned Alma, played brilliantly by Fanni Green, and “high yella” Eugene, portrayed sensitively by the impressive Jim Wicker (who is himself white) — Orlandersmith shows…
Taps Wine & Beer Merchants helps bring life back to downtown Tampa
Life in downtown Tampa is a far cry from where it was just a few years ago thanks to the influx of condos and neighborhood bars now lining the streets. In years past, the downtown area offered the business crowd few lunch options during the week and resembled a ghost town on the weekends and…
Concert review: Ra Ra Riot with The Luyas at Crowbar, Ybor City (with photos)
I decided to go to Wednesday night's show at Crowbar on a whim. I'd heard good things about Ra Ra Riot from a close friend of mine, and decided to give the band a shot. I had expected, it being a mid-week show, that the bar would be scarcely populated due to being scheduled in…
Wedding planning: Kids or no kids, that is the question
As much as my fiance Kevin and I love our family and all the little tykes in it, we all know that an otherwise perfect day, such as your wedding, can be tarnished by screaming or misbehaving children. When planning your wedding, the question of inviting or banning kids is a legitimate and difficult one.…
After complaints from Yolie Capin, League of Women Voters debate with Chris Hart will NOT be replayed
During a televised debate hosted by the Hillsborough County branch of the League of Women Voters between District 3 City Council candidates Yolie Capin and Chris Hart, Hart claimed Capin had cheated her customers at her formal bridal shop. At the time Capin disputed that charge, and days later, Hart apologized, admitting that he had…
Calling it “guerrilla theatre,” James O’Keefe says big business and big government are “scheming together” (video)
Conservative media activist James O'Keefe scored his biggest hit yet last week, posting a video that recorded an NPR executive making remarks that played into the stereotype of the classic liberal mentality that critics say it's all about (such as calling the Tea Party racist, among other bon mots) and absolutely not sounding like a…
Buckhorn’s new ad calls Ferlita’s campaign “sleazy”; Mitch Daniels still being coy about running for President, and NCAA basketball tourney returns to Tampa: Mitch Perry Report 3.14.11
Happy first Monday after Daylight Savings has kicked into effect. Yay? I'm thinking not for most of you today. Okay, this is the last full week of the Tampa mayoral and City Council races. Keep it here to learn all the latest. You might have missed the fact that the candidates debated Friday morning -…
As NCAA Tourney comes to Tampa, the games might be great, but the teams simply aren’t
For the 3rd time in the past 8 years, the NCAA basketball tournament, a/k/a The Final Four or "March Madness," comes to Tampa this coming week at the St. Pete Times Forum for south and southeast regional games Thursday and Saturday. It also comes as the NCAA has (slightly) expanded its field of teams competing…
Bob Buckhorn’s new ad blasts Rose Ferlita’s “sleazy” campaign (video)
As the last full week of the Tampa mayoral campaign begins this morning with another debate, this time on WFLA radio, Bob Buckhorn is responding to Rose Ferlita's attack ad from last week with an ad that, well, gets sort of negative as it accuses opponent Rose Ferlita of engaging in "sleazy" tactics. Watch below:…
Genetically modified alfalfa controversy in review
Alfalfa is commonly known to be the fourth most grown crop in the United States. Farmers use the millions of acres of alfalfa to produce forage seed and hay for cows and other livestock. The controversy surrounding United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved planting of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa has everyone in an uproar.…
Do It Today: Pi Day at MOSI, heartwarming benefit at Casa Tina and auditions at American Stage
What's the square root of kickass? Celebrate Pi Day today and take the Pi Day Challenge to get into MOSI for free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pi Day Challenge involves a series logic-based puzzles and can be found by visiting mosi.org, MOSI’s Facebook page facebook.com/MOSIFL or by visiting the official 2011 Pi…
Local album review: Burning Tree, Oppressive Heat EP (with audio)
Socially-conscious and introspective lyrics surf on distorted guitar swells that build and curl around crashing drums, which all help build the rip tide of reggae rock on Burning Tree’s new Oppressive Heat EP. With a very Sublime-inspired ska-punk sensibility (ala tunes like “Ebin,” “Under My Voodoo” and “Burritos”) the aural vibe of Oppressive Heat rides…
Mitch Daniels still coy about presidential aspirations
The first scheduled debate amongst the prospective candidates running for the Republican Party nomination for President in 2012 will take place in just seven weeks, a joint effort NBC News & Politico, and will take place at the Reagan Library in Southern California. Now can we get some candidates to be a part of it?…
Flat Lightning fall to Senators 2-1
"We are not as mature a team as I thought." Those were the words of Lightning head coach Guy Boucher after his team fell to the last place Ottawa Senators Friday night. So many words could be used to describe the effort put forth in the first half of this game. But the ones he…
Movie review: Cedar Rapids
I've never gone on a business trip, but the idea of one has a magical hold on my imagination. I'm also a pretty well-traveled individual who loves hotels and airports and smelly taxicabs, which makes me the opposite of Cedar Rapids' Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), a small-town insurance salesmen pressed by his superiors to represent…
This weekend at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival: Shamrocks & Shenanigans Weekend – Highland games, Irish food and green beer
This weekend at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival it's the 'Shamrocks & Shenanigans Weekend', taking place on the fairgrounds in Piper's Valley. In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the Ren Fest will be 'going green' and celebrating the weekend Irish-style. Activities will include: Highland Games: Stone and weight throwing competitions, caber and sheaf tossing and…
Buckhorn calls for Ferlita to take down controversial TV ad at LWV debate- she says she won’t
It's been a dizzying 24 hours in the life of the Tampa mayoral campaign, and the intensity continued this morning as Bob Buckhorn and Rose Ferlita engaged in the second of their four scheduled debates before the March 22 runoff election. The forum was held at the City of Tampa Television studios on West 7th…
50-year-old MMA promoter to turn fighter at RFC 23
After successfully beating cancer, the 50-year-old former boxer and mixed martial arts promoter, Tom Crowther, now wants to try his luck in the cage against a fighter half his age. As a result he will make his professional MMA debut in the co-main event at RFC 23: Breaking Point at the A La Carte Pavilion…
EarthTalk: The Food Safety Modernization Act
Courtesy of: EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What specific issues and protections are covered by the Food Safety Modernization Act recently signed into law? — P. Palmerino, New York, NY Existing laws and oversight from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have done a decent job of keeping the vast majority…
Must-click links: Earthquake off Japan, Wisconsin protest video, Mauritius, Super 8 trailer and much more …
Devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake (one of the largest ever recorded) strikes Japan, triggering a 13-foot tsunami. Here's some shocking video of Earthquake, and a new Google tool that has been created to help locate missing people after the disaster. Planet Money looks into the possible economic consequences of the quake. Slate.com: Why conservatives had mixed luck getting video…
Movie Review: Red Riding Hood, starring Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman and Billy Burke (with trailer video)
Before we get to the review of Red Riding Hood, let's talk about period films. There are certain things that shouldn't exist in a universe meant to be somewhere in Europe sometime in the middle ages. They include, but are not limited to: Thick American accents Booty dancing GMILFs Hair gel Call me a stickler,…
Bombshell: Iorio endorses Bob Buckhorn in Tampa Mayor race
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has said she would not endorse in the Tampa mayor 's race this year. But though it might have been obvious when her mother was heard to be endorsing Bob Buckhorn that the daughter would follow suit, this became official a few minutes ago, in an e-mail sent to members of…
Ferlita endorsed by Ronald McDonald and Scooby Doo
Okay, not really but since she’s playing loose with the facts, we are too By Chris Ingram She’s short on vision, possesses a hot-headed temperament, and apparently has an inability to tell the truth (my kid’s call that lying). Running out of steam, Rose Ferlita’s campaign is now running desperate ads that lie about opponent…
Ferlita-Buckhorn race starts getting nasty; Tribune endorses Buckhorn, while teachers & other public employees get a small break in Tallahassee: Mitch Perry Report 3.11.11
We're not big fans of daylight savings time – at least not since Congress moved it up 3 weeks in the spring and let it go one week longer in the fall back in 2005. And you won't either come Monday morning. Okay, just had to get out of the way as we worry about…
Support the Dunedin Community Garden at their yard sale fundraiser this Friday and Saturday, March 11-12
In order to reach their goal of raising $11,600 to help their garden grow (quite literally), the Dunedin Community Garden Association is holding a yard sale fundraiser today and tomorrow, March 11-12. The Dunedin Parks and Recreation Department signed a 3-year agreement with the group last October, allowing them to use a space of open…
Join The Refinery in celebrating their first anniversary with free food, drink specials and live music – Sunday, March 13th
The Refinery in Seminole Heights is inviting guests to "eat, drink and confabulate" on Sunday, March 13 at their first anniversary celebration. A free buffet will be available at the restaurant as well as drink specials and live music. There is no cover and RSVPs are not necessary. The Refinery offers customers professionally prepared food…
New 527 group mailer attacks Rose Ferlita for being “Unmarried”
Last night we wrote a post about the increasing aggressiveness of Rose Ferlita in her race against Bob Buckhorn for Tampa mayor. Over the course of the past week, the former City Council woman and County Commissioner has blasted Buckhorn for being an elitist, and airing a television ad that blasts him about several different…
Florida state Senate committee votes to have public employees pay into their pensions – but only at 2%
Unless you're been away from Florida (or a newspaper) for the past few weeks, you know that going into the 2011 Legislative session, public employees, especially teachers, are feeling particularly besieged and concerned about what's in store for them under Governor Rick Scott and the proudly "hard right" conservative legislature over the course of the…
Ferlita continues attacking Buckhorn as an elitist – says he’s running for mayor of Beverly Hills
Rose Ferlita hinted during earlier forums that other candidates shouldn't be dismissing the middle and lower classes of Tampa by focusing exclusively on bringing in new hi-tech jobs to Tampa, but she's taken that argument to a whole new level in recent days, culminating in a press release issued Thursday where she mockingly says her…
Do It This Weekend: contain it!, St. Pat’s parade in Ybor, Downtown St. Pete Art Walk, St. Puppy’s Day, Bob Saget and more
TCL recommends this tantalizing twofer that goes outside the "boxes": Dunedin Fine Art Center’s contain it! art show and Trashy Treasures. The idea of contain it! first came to curator Kaya Jill on a road trip to Art Basel in Miami. She wondered what artists could do with PODS from a corporate neighbor (Portable on…
Florida Senate passes SB 736, euphemistically called the “Student Success Act”
Admitting it wasn't a perfect bill, Jacksonville Republican Stephen Wise was all smiles early Thursday, after the Florida state Senate followed his lead and approved the teacher reform and merit bill known as SB 736, or the "Student Success Act," on a 26-12 vote. Although immediately after the vote Senate President Mike Haridopolos showered praise…
Treasure Island’s first Spring Fling offers fun for entire family March 17-20
If you can't make a long-term commitment to beach outings, steal away for the Spring Fling in Treasure Island. Gulf Beaches Rotary and the City of Treasure Island hosts the weekend-long bash — the first of what promises to be an annual event — from Friday to Sunday, March 17-20. The event will take place…
Chris Hart admits he got it wrong at LWV debate- apologizes to Yolie Capin
We caught a few minutes the other day the League of Women Voters debate on the City of Tampa Television channel featuring District 3 candidates Chris Hart & Yolie Capin. In particular, we caught the part where the candidates ask a question of their opponent. That's where Hart alleged that Capin had been less than…
This weekend in Tampa Bay area live music: Poetry n’ Lotion and Have Gun Will Travel SXSW-bound shows, Yes, Say Hi and Yellow Ostrich, SPoT Pro Party with Yelawolf + more!
A breakdown of live music taking place in the Tampa Bay area this Thursday through Sunday, with featured highlights at the top and the rest of the week’s schedule at the bottom. For a complete list of concerts, click here to visit our Upcoming Concerts page. Thursday, March 10 [pictured right, photo by Greg Whitaker]…
U.S. Dept. of Energy announces new biofuel to replace gasoline
As our gas prices are skyrocketing, here's some good news: The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that their BioEnergy Science Center has created a new biofuel from woody plants that can be used in place of gasoline in conventional cars. This method of converting woody plants straight into isobutanol is cost effective and will…
Movie review: Jonathan Liebesman’s Battle: Los Angeles, starring Aaron Eckhart, Ramon Rodriguez, Cory Hardrich, Ne-Yo, Bridget Moynahan and Michelle Rodriguez (with trailer video)
As a title, Battle: Los Angeles is the perfect summation of Hollywood's latest alien invasion fantasy. This is a war movie unconcerned with little things like plot or characterization. Oh sure, there's a general through-line (meteors land off the coast of Santa Monica, aliens arrive on shore and open a can of whoop-ass, U.S. Marines…
Streaker protocol at athletic events: To tackle or not to tackle (video)
For as long as athletically talented men have gathered in arenas to play competitive sports, smaller awkward men have sought to bask for a few fleeting moments in the reflective glory of stadium lights while streaking naked through the field of play. No record exists on how ancient Greeks or Mayans dealt with streakers. Some…
UPDATE: Rubio stuck in D.C., cancels “constituent coffee” in Tampa on Friday at Stetson Law (audio)
In his first nonpartisan event in the Tampa Bay area since he was elected last fall, Florida freshman U.S. Senator Marco Rubio will be in Tampa Friday morning, holding a "constituent coffee" at Stetson University College of Law at 10:00 a.m. Rubio is expected to speak for roughly 15 minutes, and then take questions from…
New poll commissioned by Buckhorn has him up in Tampa mayoral race
Earlier this week the Tampa Chamber of Commerce released a poll showing Rose Ferlita up by 10% over Bob Buckhorn in the race for Tampa mayor. The key statistic in that poll showed independents strongly supporting Ferlita by a 2 to 1 margin. The Bob Buckhorn camp dismissed those results, and today issued out the…
Breakfast Bowl Round 1 Voting, Pinellas: Caddy’s on the Beach vs Undertow Beach Bar
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
On the Radar: The 5th Annual Gasparilla International Film Festival (with video)
Get your celluloid on at The Gasparilla International Film Festival March 24-27. The multifaceted cine-extravaganza partners with the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image this year, which begins one day earlier with presentations on March 23 and screenings at HCC-Ybor throughout the weekend (visit yborfilmfestival.com for details). From international offerings to Florida-centric features, music documentaries, celebrity appearances and…
Do It Today: Lewis Black, Loving Florida to Death Part II, George Jones at the Strawberry Fest, PYT and more
Hearing Lewis Black go off on one of his rants on politics and society, you get a feeling of release – no, not that kind, you pervs – the psychological kind, when he’s helped you purge some bad feelings. Even if he seems perpetually pissed-off, Black is no mean son of a bitch. His PR…
Michael Clayton dashes to end zone with Buckhorn
Former Buc Clayton supports Buckhorn Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Wide Receiver Michael Clayton (who now plays for the NY Giants) expressed his support for Tampa Mayoral candidate Bob Buckhorn when the two met yesterday. Photo caption: Michael Clayton meets with Bob Buckhorn. In addition to being a professional athlete, Clayton is a small business entrepreneur…
Ferlita provides more details for her campaign to become Tampa’s next mayor; Iorio urges successor to continue to think big, and will Legislature push back presidential primary in ’12? Mitch Perry Report 3.10.11
Good morning to everyone on this wet Thursday, as the rains are making a big impact up and down the Atlantic Coast today. So, remember high-speed rail in Florida? Even though it's really dead, every other day there's seemingly some story that keeps it going in the public discourse. The latest is the ridership study…
Breakfast Bowl Round 1 Voting, Hillsborough: La Ideal Sandwich Shop vs West Tampa Sandwich Shop
In the CL Breakfast Bowl, Tampa Bay's best breakfast eateries are pitted against one another bracket-style, with reader votes determining the winner of each matchup until the Final Four. Follow the tournament, see the competitors and brackets, and vote in head-to-head matches at cltampa.com/breakfastbowl. But first: Vote in this matchup!
Mitt Romney pays homage to Rick Scott, while RPOF considers possibly shifting presidential primary date back
You may have noticed that now that we're in March, the political commentariat has picked up its game in terms of talking up who the Republican party will decide will be their candidate to face Barack Obama next year. Actually, as political campaigns even for U.S. Senate seem to begin earlier than ever, it's sort…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Tampa Clean City Day, DIY solar oven class, salt marsh planting and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Fridays: 8 am-1 pm, Saturdays: 9 am-2 pm (through April). Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green…
Tagalong crescent rolls that are simple to make.
It's cookie time, folks! Girl Scout cookies, that is. They're everywhere! You couldn't escape them, even if you wanted to. But who doesn't love Girl Scout cookies? Every year at this time, the girls are out en masse, camped out in front of every supermarket in town, hawking their wares. It takes a heart of…
Disco Pigs at Ybor’s Silver Meteor Gallery is joyful noise
The most stunning drama I've seen in months can be presently found at Ybor City's Silver Meteor Gallery, and if you love art or theater, you'll hurry over and buy a ticket. The play is Enda Walsh's Disco Pigs, the two inspired performers are Dahlia LeGault and Nic Carter, and the subjects are love, friendship,…
Tennis sails back to the Bay area
Tennis founding member Patrick Riley spent just over six years saving up for the sailboat that carried him and wife/vocalist-keyboardist Aliana Moore on the seven-month journey that's sonically documented in the retro pop duo's debut LP, Cape Dory. "It's not hard to raise a bunch of money if you forgo having a car, Internet, cell…
St. Pete’s approach to the homeless takes a positive turn
In January of 2007, the sound of police officers' blades shearing through homeless person's tents echoed throughout St. Petersburg, and the negative fallout was felt across the country. In response, Catholic Charities developed a piece of property owned by Bishop Robert Lynch into a tent city called Pinellas Hope. In 2009, the National Law Center…
Meet three of St. Pete’s longest-running champion ballplayers
Near the North Shore pool in St. Petersburg sits a manicured plot of grass and dirt with dugouts on each side surrounded by a wire-mesh fence where on alternate days play the Half Century Softball Club and the better-known Kids and Cubs. The Kids and Cubs are players 75 years old and up. The less-renowned…
This week at the multiplex
Short movie reviews for Fri., March 11-Thurs., March 17.
The trouble with therapy
Long story short: I cheated on my boyfriend three years ago. I admitted it nine months ago, and we've been in couples counseling for six months. My BF is very responsive in therapy, where we're working on his control issues, and he says everything the therapist expects him to during a session. Twenty-four hours later,…
Catch Paradise Lost/Paradise Found and Disappearing Florida while you can
Living in urban Tampa or St. Petersburg, it's easy to forget about the "real Florida." Not that a daily trip to Starbucks or a commute across the Howard Frankland isn't real — but you know what I mean. I'm talking roadside vegetable stands and thickets of orange groves. I'm talking palm fronds and juice stands…
Breakfast Bowl 2011
The best part of waking up …
Ed Helms gets out of The Office for a trip to Cedar Rapids.
I've never gone on a business trip, but the idea of one has a magical hold on my imagination. I'm also a pretty well-traveled individual who loves hotels and airports and smelly taxicabs, which makes me the opposite of Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), a small-town insurance salesmen pressed by his superiors to represent his firm…
Lightning end slide, beat Blackhawks in shootout.
The Tampa Bay Lightning took to the ice against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum in a game that had a must-win feel to it. The Lightning, winless in their last 4 games, overcame late-game adversity and beat the Blackhawks 4-3 with some shootout trickery to…
Dems elect Thurston as their next leader; Rouson cries foul over unemployment bill opposition by caucus
As a new political correspondent for the Daily Loaf, I attended my first-ever legislative meeting Tuesday, a Democratic Caucus meeting where the Dems in the House of Representatives were electing their leader to serve for the 2012-2014 legislative term. It was strange to be in a room filled with people whom I've primarily seen in…
A tale of three rallies in Tallahassee
March 8 was circled on the map by a lot of Floridians as a day to protest the governor's and the legislature's budget proposals. The protests, dubbed "Awake the State" by organizer Ray Seaman of Progress Florida, were held in 32 cities across the state, including two events in Tallahassee, one in the morning and…
Ferlita reveals “additional specifics” at news conference; Buckhorn not impressed
Rose Ferlita won more votes than anybody in last week's Tampa primary mayoral race, and a new poll shows her leading in the runoff against Bob Buckhorn. So if she's looking good right now,why dump an extensive (30 pages listed, though we counted 40) binder of policy positions on the media and the electorate just…
It’s time for Morning Madness! CL’s Breakfast Bowl begins
After four years of celebrating foods meant to be eaten after the morning is over — pizza, burgers, tacos and ribs — CL’s annual food tournament is finally giving proper due to the meal that kicks off the day. Get ready for the Breakfast Bowl. It’s the most important meal of the day, if you…
Tonight’s Top Chef All-Stars preview: Ghosts of Top Chef’s past
It's Round 1 of the finale on Top Chef: All-Stars tonight and the 5 remaining chefs are in the beautiful and picturesque (and tourist-ridden) island of Nassau in The Bahamas! For the Quickfire, the chefs must compete in a cook-off against the champion from their season. Stephanie Izard, winner of season 4, has to go…
Get yer Irish up at these St. Patty’s Day events
We're helping you get a head start on your shenanigans with food, drink and music events that commemorate that snake-eradicatin' Irish priest named Patrick. Originally, the March 17 holiday honored the patron saint of Ireland, who founded a mission near Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, in 432 A.D., bringing Christianity to the island for the first time.…
Top Chef Podcast – All-Stars Ep. 12: Kissin’ Cousins
During last night's episode Top Chef All-Stars we learned a lot about the five remaining chefs, their genealogy and how to whip up a junk food treat whilst on a moving vessel. The Quickfire Challenge was to make a dish using snack food found in the Ellis Island Ferry's snack bar. And who better to…
