Green Community Calendar weekend events
Vegetable, herb and tea workshops, seed bookmarks and farmers markets!
Countdown to Tropical Heatwave 2012: The Preservation
CL spotlights our favorite Heatwave acts in the weeks leading up to the WMNF fest (w/audio & video).
Tes One makes a stand for Trayvon
The artist created a limited edition print called “Stand Our Ground.” Proceeds go to Justice for Trayvon Martin.
Unconventional water summit scheduled for this Friday night in St. Pete
Work by Margaret Ross Tolbert The Florida Current reported on Friday that Northwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director Douglas Barr told his district board that after 20 years as executive director, he is leaving the agency, becoming the last head of the five water management districts in Florida to quit, retire or be forced…
Why transsexual beauty, Jenna Talackova, shouldn’t be readmitted to the Miss Universe Canada competition
Model Mayhem Transgendered beauty queen, Jenna Talackova After Jenna Talackova, 23, was booted from the Miss Universe Canada pageant for being born a genetic male, a petition went around to get her reinstated to the competition. For some reason many people think it's unfair to ban a transsexual from a beauty competition while it's completely…
In turnaround, Obama leads Romney in new Quinnipiac Florida poll
A new Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday morning shows for the first time in over half a year, President Obama leads Mitt Romney in a head-to-head matchup in Florida, 49-42 percent. Obama fares even better against the only other viable Republican in the general election race, former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. The president leads him…
Mitch Perry Report 3.28.12 – Trayvon town hall in Tampa & Tea Partiers in Pinellas down on light rail concept
In Washington D.C. today, the U.S. Supreme Court addresses the possibility that if the individual insurance mandate in the health care reform bill is ruled unconstitutional, can the law itself survive? Meanwhile, a new study has been released saying that only about 2 percent of Americans would be subject to penalties if they refused to…
This week in food & drink: Citrus fest, Lorax pancakes and more
What’s coming up on the culinary calendar.
Not caught on camera
We assume everything’s under surveillance — and when there’s no video record, as in the Trayvon Martin case, we fill in the blanks.
Tampa Town Hall meeting on Trayvon Martin fills East Tampa church
Though newly leaked information favoring George Zimmerman regarding his February 26 deadly confrontation with Trayvon Martin has surfaced in recent days, nobody at the jam-packed town hall meeting at the 34th Street Church of God was buying it Tuesday night in Tampa. Hosted by Tampa City Councilman Frank Reddick in a house of worship run…
Voter registration is down in Florida. Is it because of the new elections law?
The New York Times is reporting that voter registration numbers are down in Florida compared to 2008, the last presidential election year — an outcome predicted by critics of Florida's controversial elections law when it was passed in 2011. According to the paper's analysis, 81,471 fewer Floridians have registered to vote since the law took…
Kornell optimistic that a domestic partnership registry will be approved in St. Pete
Steve Kornell At a debate with opponent Kathleen Ford in the fall of 2009, St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster said that he would not object to domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples. The issue hasn't surfaced again until now, as the St. Petersburg City Council is about to begin weighing a domestic partnership registry like…
New Music Monday & Tuesday (March 26-27): Madonna, Macy Gray, Paul Weller, The Mars Volta + more
The last wave of March releases is a big one, with new music dropping this week on both Monday and Tuesday, March 26 and 27. I've included info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may not have heard of (but should know), with audio…
New report says health care mandate will not affect majority of Americans
Two hours of arguments for and against the most controversial aspect of President Obama's signature health care reform law — the individual mandate — are being heard today at the U.S. Supreme Court. The law states that citizens currently uninsured must obtain coverage or pay a fine. Conservatives — including those who have supported the…
Pollo Tropical caters to Christians, with shrimp
If you’re craving Pollo Tropical on Friday but are a dedicated Christian, you may hesitate because you realize that it’s Lent, and assume Pollo Tropical is taboo. But guess what? Throughout Lent, Pollo Tropical is offering several items with shrimp, as a Lenten alternative to the chicken or “beefy” pork and rib offerings on their…
Mitch Perry Report 3.27.12: The case for George Zimmerman begins
Good morning, everyone. Like Tim Tebow, we're very excited to be here today. After a week of media attention and protests condemning the Sanford, Florida police department and George Zimmerman, those entities fought back yesterday, with the police leaking information about Zimmerman's take on what happened that fateful night last month when he killed Trayvon…
USF students weigh in on Trayvon Martin case
Emmanuel Catalan addresses the press at USF For a long time now, the USF campus in North Tampa has been rather sleepy when it came to social issues that generally energize students on other college campuses. But the situation involving slain black Florida teenager Trayvon Martin moved members of the College Democrats at USF to…
The agony and the ecstasy of Prometheus
filmofilia.com 'Prometheus,' the upcoming prequel to 'Alien,' is the latest directorial effort by Ridley Scott. Ridley Scott is the definitive science fiction populist, never meandering into over-technical schlock like Star Trek: Nemesis or self-important grimness like the last third of what-could-have-been-great Sunshine. When he debuted Alien for moviegoers in 1979, his movie would inevitably be…
Movie Matt-ers: Can men enjoy Twilight?
Editor's Note: Today marks the debut of "Movie Matt-ers," a movie advice column written by — you guessed it — a guy named Matt. If you've seen his work as a columnist for the movie site hudakonhollywood.com, you know that Matt Kaiser's specialty is answering reader questions. What's not going to kill me at concession…
Business and higher education leaders in Tampa want to increase the number of residents with college degrees
A university president signs the Graduate Tampa Bay document In the words of St. Petersburg College president Dr. Bill Lee, it's pretty easy to get into a community college in Florida, and just as easy to leave. That's why Lee and several of his brethren at Tampa Bay colleges and universities came together Monday morning…
Orlando Sentinel: Zimmerman account that Trayvon decked him “backed up by witnesses”
Shanna Gillette As protests continue today in Sanford and other parts of the country honoring the memory of 17-year-old black youth Trayvon Martin, the Orlando Sentinel is reporting specific details of what George Zimmerman says happened on the night of the shooting and killing, Sunday, February 26. According to Zimmerman's story as recounted by the…
The full package: Mr. Lopez bares all on being a nude dancer (NSFW)
Mr. Lopez on stage at Club Skin There's only so long I can sit in a fully nude club filled with male strippers before I start fantasizing about being a performer, or at least making the money that dancers do. Aside from a few stray tattoos and some pole tricks, the only thing separating many…
Bruce Springsteen hits the Tampa Bay Times Forum with his Wrecking Ball tour
Gabe ranks Friday night’s show as one of the fieriest he’s seen yet
CBS News reporter Lara Logan to speak at USF April 3
CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and frequent 60 Minutes contributor Lara Logan will be speaking at the USF campus to talk about her career in international news reporting on April 3 at 8 p.m. in the the Marshall Student Center Ballroom on the Tampa campus. The free lecture is being billed as “Lara Logan…
Santorum boasts of cursing out NY Times scribe
In case you missed it, Rick Santorum won another primary the other night in the Deep South — this time in Louisiana by 22 percentage points (49-27), the largest margin he's had over GOP rival Mitt Romney in any of his 11 primary victories. His win there came after he had to walk back yet…
Einstein’s fine wines
I’m no Einstein, but I can assure you that the wine was more than fine at MOSI’s 17th annual Einstein Food and Wine event on Saturday. Juliette Cassistre This annual fundraiser has earned Tampa Bay Magazine’s vote for Best Wine Tasting Event. It gives attendees the opportunity to sample spirits from wineries around the world,…
Paul Ryan defends his new budget
House Republicans may vote this week on the budget proposed last week by their Budget Committee Chair, Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan. Ryan's plan repeats much of his 2011 proposal that Democrats bludgeoned because of his call for essentially replacing Medicare, by subsidizing insurance premiums for seniors to allow them to buy either a private plan…
Mitch Perry Report 3.26.12: Hunger Games & budget gambits
I spent $8 to go see The Hunger Games yesterday afternoon — contributing to the $155 million the film made in the U.S. this weekend. The sequel, Catching Fire, is scheduled to come out next fall. I never saw (or read) any of the Harry Potter or Twilight books, but apparently the producers behind this…
Rick Scott says George Zimmerman hasn’t asked for protection
In the first time since he's been governor, Rick Scott was the lead guest on a national Sunday morning public affairs program. And why not, as Florida is once again at the epicenter of a raging national story — the Trayvon Martin case. It was 28 days ago that the 17-year-old unarmed black youth was…
More than 1,000 people rally in Tampa in memory of Trayvon Martin
Parents at Tampa rally echo President Obama: Trayvon could be their kid.
Photo review: Miniature Tigers at The Social, Orlando
Brooklyn's Miniature Tigers hit up The Social in Orlando last Monday night for a tight set seeped in psyched-out revelry and blissful hits from their latest, Mia Pharaoh. Not one for fabulously flailing like his Of Montreal-ian pop might suggest, frontman Charlie Brand took a different approach, staring dead-eyed into space, narcotically sauntering across stage…
Porn star Prinzzess Felicity Jade on machete fights, real estate, and using her sisters as stage props (NSFW)
There is some debate about what to name Prinzzess Felicity Jade's younger sister, who is visiting from Belize. Tonight, Prinzzess plans to pull her sister on stage at Penthouse for the first time ever, but before she can do that she must come up with a sexy name for the DJ to announce. "What would…
Concert review: John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
The singer-songwriters shared the stage to perform from their respective catalogs.
Rev up for the Grand Prix St. Pete — on and off the track
Race info and some handy et ceteras.
Mitch Perry Report 3.23.12: The state begins to act in Trayvon Martin case
There were lots of developments yesterday in the Trayvon Martin case in Sanford, Florida. An estimated 8,000 people attended a rally last night featuring the Reverend Al Sharpton. Maybe high-speed rail in Florida isn't a dead deal after all. A private company announced yesterday that it intends to construct a line from Miami to Orlando,…
Wine wisdom: Part two…
This week, making the perfect pairing.
Newsweek goes retro — too much?
There’s lots of hype leading into this Sunday night’s return of AMC's Emmy-winning Mad Men, and deservedly so, since it’s been nearly a year and a half since its fans have seen a new episode. In tribute to the cultural power of the show, Newsweek has published a double issue that mimics the visual style…
Estimated 8,000 gather in Sanford for justice in Trayvon Martin case
There were lots of developments in the case of slain black teenager Trayvon Martin yesterday. An estimated 8,000 people gathered at Fort Mellon Park in Sanford on Thursday night to join their voices with a purpose and to hear the Reverend Al Sharpton give a fiery speech. Sharpton addressed a crowd before the official rally…
On being ‘the other woman’ without having sex
My Best Friend's Wedding Cheating is traditionally a label reserved for sexual behavior engaged in outside of a committed relationship. In recent years, I've noticed a new form of infidelity: the emotional cheater. I know this exists because in terms of emotional infidelity I am guilty of being “the other woman”—very, very guilty.
Get lucky at CL Story Time — Fate and Fortune
Serendipity, synchronicity and events that seem oddly scripted.
A chat with the good half of Good vs. Evil, superstar chef Eric Ripert.
C’est si bon, Eric Ripert.
The Gaily News: New Hampshire lawmakers vote to uphold marriage equality
While Maryland and Washington recently became the latest states to legalize gay marriage, the New Hampshire legislature nearly rescinded its 2-year-old law permitting same-sex nuptials. After a push by the Republican majority, the state's House voted against repealing its marriage equality law and replacing gay marriages with civil unions by a wide margin — 211-116.…
Private company says it will build a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Miami
Approximately 13 months ago, Florida Governor Rick Scott killed the dreams of a lot of people along the I-4 corridor (as well as in the White House) when he rejected over $2 billion in federal funds to help build a high-speed rail line that would go from Tampa to Orlando. Although most experts in the…
The slowest lap of the Grand Prix St. Pete
A spin around the IndyCar track via bicyle. Photos by Shanna Gillette.
Do you fondue?
It may be cheesy, but it sure is easy.
South Florida Democrats trash Paul Ryan budget
Paul Ryan On Tuesday, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan released his new budget plan, called The Path to Prosperity. Perhaps predictably, it was promptly slammed by Democrats. Under his plan, federal debt would be reduced from 73 percent of GDP at the end of FY 2012 to 62 percent in 2022. It would do…
Ron Paul (and his fans) carry on
The calls for Newt Gingrich to get out of the GOP race grew last week when he lost in his alleged home court areas of Alabama and Mississippi, and they only grew louder after another desultory performance in Illinois. But what about Ron Paul? The only presidential candidate who has yet to win a primary…
Bill’s Sports Binge:Broadway ‘Bow, Peyton’s new place and Saints ain’t got no coach
(Yawn) Golly, I'm bored. Not a damn thing to write about this week. Football is long gone, the Lightning have had a fork stuck in them for a while now, the Rays have yet to begin a game that matters, March Madness is in full swing, but the games are to be watched, not gabbed…
Do we really need to talk about Kevin?
Tilda Swinton and Jonny Greenwood make it a conversational piece.
Mitch Perry Report 3.22.12 – the not such a big deal endorsement
The man who many Republicans in Florida and across the nation have fantasized as being their ideal candidate to face Barack Obama in 2012 – Jeb Bush – announced yesterday his full fledged endorsement for Mitt Romney. It's no doubt significant in that Bush is perhaps the biggest heavyweight in the entire party, but really,…
The evolution of snacking
It’s gone from between-meals to all-through-the-day, and the results show up in obesity stats.
Hop delivers just in time for Easter
James Marsden and Russell Brand team up for a bunny comedy.
The unrepentant Ralph Fernandez
In a time of changing attitudes toward Cuba, Democratic power broker Ralph Fernandez remains staunchly anti-Castro and anti-trade.
Editor’s Note: Please welcome Susan Egan
The Palladium brings Broadway’s Belle to St. Petersburg.
SBTRKT delivers downtempo dance grooves at Orpheum + more concerts this week
Tampa Bay’s live music offerings, March 22-28
The wild kingdoms of Ke Wang and Kenny
Nature — inside and out — at St. Pete’s Salt Creek
Austin rockers Electric Touch hit State Theatre fresh off SXSW.
The British-American five-piece opens for Hot Chelle Rae on Sunday.
Top 10 highlights of South By Southwest 2012
SXSW memories from Springsteen to The Velvet Teen.
Peter Meinke’s Poet’s Notebook: Ernesto’s place
If Cuban embargoes were lifted, we could all experience the country Hemingway loved.
Dominate me
How do I find a kinky mate that’s right for me?
Buckhorn more fired up than ever about RNC coming to Tampa
Bob Buckhorn spoke at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Tomorrow marks exactly a year that Bob Buckhorn crushed Rose Ferlita to become Tampa's next leader, and the mayor used the milestone on Wednesday to wax enthusiastic about a variety of issues confronting his city, while reciting enough lines from his campaign stump speech to…
Buckhorn on stadium issue: I don’t plan on getting involved in Rays/St. Pete situation anytime soon
Bob Buckhorn had little to add on Wednesday to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan's comment that he intends to ask county attorneys if Hillsborough can engage in direct talks with the Tampa Bay Rays regarding their future plans for a new ballpark in the region. "Ultimately that contact is between the city of St. Petersburg…
Live Review: Young the Giant plays a sold-out show at The Ritz Ybor on St. Paddy’s Day
Young the Giant hit up The Ritz Ybor this past Saturday for a sold-out St. Patrick's Day show seeped in kitschy revelry and all the trappings of impending stardom for the young fivesome. In the past year, YTG has cruised the alt-rock FM waves straight to Billboard-ian territories with their crushing debut single "My Body,"…
On eve of Pope’s Cuba visit, Marco Rubio unloads on the Cuban government
For a variety of reasons, Cuba has very little Internet penetration. "If Cubans could communicate with each other, if these groups could link up and coordinate with each other, the Cuban government couldn't survive, and I think these guys know it," said Marco Rubio at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C. Wednesday morning. Speaking with…
Waiting to inhale: First World Vaping Day on March 22
Local e-cigarette “smokers” celebrate World Vaping Day on March 22.
Wood Fired Pizza: Pie for all
Pizza master Peter Taylor expands his empire.
Countdown to Tropical Heatwave 2012: JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
CL spotlights our top 10 favorite Heatwave acts in the 10 weeks leading up to the WMNF fest (w/audio & video).
The powerful Rip.Tied. hits St. Petersburg
A family drama unfolds amidst a natural disaster in a thrilling new play at freeFall.
Tampa Bay Area law enforcement agencies train on bikes for RNC
Some 200 local law enforcement officers will be patrolling the streets of downtown Tampa during the Republican National Convention, and this week 26 officers and deputies from five of the local agencies that will comprise the RNC Bike Patrol are undergoing intensive training for the experience. Wednesday morning in Tampa, part of that training took…
The Whipping Man signals a new beginning for Gorilla
A USF grad’s post-Civil War drama marks a triumphant new step for Gorilla Theatre.
To Kill A Mockingbird still enlightens
The courtroom scenes shine in Stageworks’ adaptation of a classic.
Play time for The Hunger Games
Jennifer Lawrence shines in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel.
Transgender group intent on educating local businesses
Bishop Tavern and Lounge Simply looking for a fun night out with friends, Alex Borrego never imagined she'd find herself at the center of a highly-publicized uproar involving an incident of transgender discrimination. After all, it was Thursday, ladies night, at the Bishop Tavern and Lounge, located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, and…
Album review: Vacationer, Gone
Retaining a fanbase after switching bands isn't easy, but Kenny Vasoli (who first gained notoriety as singer-bassist of pop-punk outfit The Starting Line) hasn't given his followers many reasons to jump ship in his post-TSL career. Vasoli's Person L side project blossomed from a solo bedroom endeavor into a full-fledged touring rock band (their 2009…
