Hillsborough County Commission greenlights new committee to study transit options
Mark Sharpe It's been a long two-and-a-half years since Hillsborough County has done anything serious about its numerous transportation issues. Supporters who pushed for the transit tax that would have propelled the construction of a light-rail system in the county were stunned after the measure went down in a landslide defeat in November of 2010.…
Susan Latvala and Paula Dockery endorse Rick Kriseman for mayor
Rick Kriseman This morning, the Rick Kriseman for Mayor campaign issued a second release of public officials who are endorsing him in his attempt to dethrone Bill Foster later this year. But unlike the first one, two Republicans are on the list. Those would be Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala and former Lakeland area state…
Transportation for Hillsborough; the games must end
Transportation is in the forefront of people's minds in Hillsborough, as well as the entire Tampa Bay Area. Almost everyone agrees that we have a problem. In Hillsborough we have a $15B+ deficit in transportation funding, our roads are failing and there's almost no money to upgrade capacity of public transportation as growth occurs, and…
Mitch Perry Report 3.20.13 – According to the latest polls, it’s still NOT working for Gov. Scott
There was lots of discussion in political circles throughout Florida yesterday on the newest poll regarding, Rick Scott, Charlie Crist and the 2014 governors race. Well, it was the "newest" poll yesterday. This morning Quinnipiac University has their own survey out, and the news again is ambivalent at best for Rick Scott. The governor is…
New poll shows Florida Dems support Charlie Crist much more than Alex Sink
Charlie Crist We're still a lifetime away from the next gubernatorial election in Florida (actually a-year-and-a-half) but that doesn't mean the new poll from Public Policy Institute about that race is any less interesting or relevant. Charlie Crist has a 12-point lead over incumbent Rick Scott if the two were the major party candidates on…
Drink beer for breakfast and help the ballet
What kind of an event combines drinking before noon and benefits a local ballet organization? James Repka's beer breakfast on Saturday, March 23, at 9 a.m. at the Mandarin Hide … that's what. Repka, a commercial mortgage broker by day, was walking through downtown St. Petersburg one Saturday morning in 2002 when the idea struck…
On 10th anniversary of U.S. invasion of Iraq, protesters gather in Tampa
It was at 10:15 p.m. EST on March 19, 2003, when George W. Bush addressed the American public and announced that the U.S. and coalition forces had begun striking targets that were of military importance to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign," he declared.…
At hearing in Tallahassee, only one parent supports controversial Parent Empowerment bill
On Tuesday morning in Tallahassee, there was a second hearing for legislation that would allow a low-performing public school to convert into a for-profit charter school if at least 51 percent of the parents signed a petition. For a bill that's supposed to empower parents, the only ones in attendance (save one) spoke out in…
Ex wife new life: treading on thin ice (part 2)
marthastewartweddings.com In my last post I was preparing for a date-cation with a new man, and a new sport: snow skiing. My preparation was limited to a few lessons on an indoor ramp at Bill Jackson's and a pair of wool socks. My Florida ski instructor did not bother telling me about everything else I…
Mitch Perry Report 3.19.13: Health care costs to only increase in the future?
Plus: State Republicans mess with voting … again.
That’s bananas
An easy recipe for dairy-free “ice cream” made from that beloved oblong fruit.
Weekend o’fun — shots from 2013 St. Patrick’s Day events
Jet packs, bikes races, a green river and more …
Tensions surface as Fla. Senate Democrats unanimously oppose elections reform bill
Critics call GOP’s efforts on election reform “half-hearted.”
Just in time for Hispanic outreach, Republicans blast Obama’s pick for labor secretary
This morning, the Republican National Committee released its much hyped "scathing self analysis" (as the Wall Street Journal dubbed it) of what is wrong with the GOP and why more Americans aren't supporting the party — it's a fascinating read. Video streaming by Ustream When it comes to outreach with Latinos, Asians and blacks, the…
Hillsborough County Commissioners, GLBTA and Equality Florida talk domestic partner registry
Al Higginbotham Last week, domestic partnership registries unanimously passed in two more local Florida governments. On Tuesday, March 12, the Venice City Council passed the measure, and the Leon County Commission followed suit the next day. Meanwhile, advocates for Equality Florida are working to overturn the Hillsborough County Commission's 4-3 rejection of a domestic partner…
Mitch Perry Report 3.18.13: GOP internal disputes continue
It’s Paul vs. McCain for the soul of the Republican Party.
The Veldt reunion tour stops at New World Brewery, Ybor City
A very special St. Patrick’s Day show with The Vera Violets and Dylar.
Reince Priebus says the RNC will no longer be held in August
The RNC Chair says June or July is prime time for a political convention.
Best foot forward
Was a recent theater audition run by a fetishist playing games?
Saturday at CPAC: Weatherford brags about rejecting Medicaid expansion
Saturday was the third and final day of CPAC, the annual conservative clambake hosted in Washington by the American Conservative Union. The rhetorical red meat came fast and furious via the speeches of Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and Ted Cruz, as well as some rare internal soul searching from a few stray Republicans. Early Saturday…
Barbarella Tampa shacks up with The Social
If you haven’t heard already, two of the more talked about dance clubs in Ybor City have now integrated their best nights into one location. Barbarella Tampa, formerly on Seventh Avenue, has relocated its popular Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights to the Ybor City Social Club, a nightspot that's been a favorite in the GLBT…
A foodie’s festival
Gasparilla Music Festival tasted as good as it sounded.
Mark Sharpe on his fellow Republicans: “We’re crazy on transit”
Now on the back end of what will likely be a 10-year career on the Hillsborough County Commission, Mark Sharpe made an appearance at the Tiger Bay Club meeting held at the Straz Center in Tampa on Friday afternoon. The area's most iconoclastic Republican talked about job creation, domestic partner registries, and why he remains…
Bill Young votes against raising the minimum wage
A measure that would have increased the minimum wage from the current $7.25 to $8.20 within three months and $10.10 over three years was defeated in the GOP-led House of Representatives on Friday. One of the members of Congress voting no was Pinellas Representative Bill Young. Young's opposition comes just a month after a Pew…
Get out your LGBT weekend planner
If you're still looking to make weekend plans that involve green beer and corned beef, there are plenty of LGBT St. Patty's Day events in the Tampa Bay area. Ladies, join Girl2Girl Productions for its third “Girls Love Beer” happy hour tonight, Friday, March 15, at Cold Storage Craft Brewery, 4101 N. Florida Ave., Tampa,…
The Call dials up revenge
And Halle Berry is there in an emergency.
Burt Wonderstone is incredibly awful
I wish Steve Carell’s latest movie would just disappear.
Mitch Perry Report 3.15.13 – a tale of 2 GOP Senators on gay marriage
You might remember that great philosopher, Chris Rock, once said that everybody had a gay cousin. Obviously that was an exaggeration, but his point was that it was hard to be homophobic when someone you know is gay. We saw how this could affect somebody's world view when Dick Cheney, hardly a liberal, came out…
Inside the photo booth: Jazz vocalist Rose Bilal
Kevin Tighe Rose Bilal, Tampa, FL 3.13.13 (click to enlarge)
Post Coital: beyond the boudoir
Mindy Solomon Gallery’s latest show is sexy and it knows it.
Play on
Memories of a brilliant young pianist named Cliburn.
Janet Long & Charlie Justice sound cautious in discussing funding for Clearwater’s new proposed aquarium
The new kids at the big table: Charlie Justice & Janet Long at Tiger Bay Officials with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium made a big splash recently with their plans for a proposed $160 million new home, which would include a 2,000-seat dolphin stadium, a two-story coral reef tank and a "4D theater." Officials ambitiously say…
Darden Rice announces her candidacy for St. Pete City Council’s District 4 seat
Today, Darden Rice — an activist and civic leader in St. Petersburg for more than a decade — announced that this fall she will run for City Council in St. Pete's District 4 seat. Her candidacy sets up a potential ideological blockbuster clash with Tea Party activist Dr. David McKalip; McKalip already announced his candidacy…
Why I don’t wear red to Target
Everyday racism: It’s hard to know how to respond.
Les Miller pushing for another single-member district Hillsborough County Commission seat
Les Miller addressing the Hillsborough GLBTA Democratic Caucus at J.J.'s in Ybor It was a little more than a year ago when Hillsborough County Commissioners killed a plan to create a fifth single-member district, a measure backed by Hispanic advocacy groups. But one of the only two County Commissioners who supported the plan, Democrat Les…
Mitch Perry Report 3.14.13. – Remind me why we need a Lieutenant Governor?
There are certain things that exist in our system of governing in America that makes no sense, yet will probably never change. Things like the fact that the tiny New England state of Rhode Island has the same number of U.S. Senators as Florida or California has. Or the fact that Florida has any need…
St. Petersburg in the world
Retired Ambassador Douglas McElhaney brings international issues to the forefront in a conference in St. Petersburg.
Movie magic at the Gasparilla International Film Festival
Tampa’s biggest and best film festival is back for a seventh year of screenings, stars and more.
Acting out at Circle Mirror Transformation
Stagework’s latest casts reflections on the theater life and life’s theatrics.
Jett Propelled
A chat with St. Petersburg in the World panelist Dennis Jett.
Join the Polar Bear Club
The hard-buzzing upstarts put recording on hold to hit the road with punk vets Bad Religion.
No more green beer
Choose a more enlightened beer for your drinking pleasure this St. Paddy’s Day.
Second annual Gasparilla Music Festival brings food, music and fellowship to downtown Tampa
A look at the March 9 fest from multiple viewpoints, photos included.
Introducing Erica Dawson
CL adds a new column by an award winning poet with attitude.
This week in Tampa Bay area live music: Leonard Cohen, Bad Religion, Jake Shimabukuro, Kenny Chesney & more
Concerts, March 14-20, 2013
St. Paddy’s dining guide
A bi-county guide for finding the best corned beef and cabbage.
Rick Scott says he won’t pick new LG until after session ends
In a brief news conference with reporters outside the capitol this afternoon, Governor Rick Scott said that Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll resigned from office because of her former association with Allied Veterans of the World, a Jacksonville-based Internet sweepstakes nonprofit at the center of a multi-state federal investigation. He said he won't name a replacement…
Miami New Times editor blows off Bud Selig and MLB on steroid story
On Jan. 29, Miami's New Times produced one of the biggest scoops from an alternative newsweekly in years, alleging that a number of Major League Baseball players, including New York Yankees star Alex Rodriquez, received Human Growth Hormone and other performance enhancing drugs from a Coral Gables anti-aging clinic called Biogenesis of America. The story…
More than 3,000 FAST supporters and public officials meet at Tropicana Field
The view from the stage at FAST's Nehemiah Action Assembly at Tropicana Field For years, Faith and Action for Strength Together (FAST) has held huge annual rallies called Nehemiah Action Assemblies. Recently, more than 3,000 members gathered at Indian Rocks Beach Church, and this past Tuesday night, FAST officials raised the stakes by renting out…
SXSW 2013: CL dispatches from the Austin, Texas fest
South by CL DAY 5: Climax and ConclusionYou ever feel like you’re functioning, but completely devoid of any real, useful thought? Like, you just hope no human comes up to you in fear that you’ll just garble up a bunch of random syllables like a broken Speak-n-Spell? Usually after like, less than three hours of…
