Throwaway dogs: Will you foster Flowers?
In March, Suncoast Animal League undertook a huge rescue endeavor: They traveled to Redland, Florida to rescue dogs (and two kitties!) abandoned by the roadside and left to die. In some cases, Suncoast Animal League couldn't save the dogs — dogs people had poisoned or stuffed, still alive, into plastic bags. Those dogs didn't make…
Do This: Min Pinned
This is not a joke, and apparently, it is not offensive.
Do This: (Clinging to the) Ghost of You at the Silver Meteor
It’s an early twentieth-century ear worm. You’re welcome.
This Saturday in live music: Melvins with Napalm Death, Hideaway Cafe 7-Year Anniversary Party + more
A breakdown of concerts happening on this Sat., April 9
Do This: The Messenger
It’s for the birds. Really.
This Friday in live music: Tampa Bay Blues Festival, The Dave Rawlings Machine, G. Love & Special Sauce + more
A look at concert highlights for this Fri., April 8, plus a peek at what’s coming up this weekend.
Tonight in live music: Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion, Blackbird Blackbird, Chris Botti + more
A rather packed night of live music on this Thurs., April 7.
Transforming Tampa Bay: Let us gather by the river
Given that the Hillsborough River runs through the center of Tampa’s downtown, it’s amazing that until recently there was no place to sit on its banks and have a drink — unless you brown-bagged it on the top floor of the Poe Parking Garage. Improvements have taken place — Tampa Museum of Art’s Sono Cafe,…
A little help? As HIV cases rise, a local LGBT nonprofit fights to meet demands
Half of the building is a bright and busy collection of medical exam rooms and administrative offices as well as a couple of multipurpose areas. It seems apparent that those who work for Metropolitan Charities, Inc., which rents said half, like it here. Also known as Metro Wellness, the nonprofit is headquartered at the western…
Next Gen Riot Grrrls: Jim Chambers Music Box prepares young musicians for the stage
Groups like Extra Celestial learn the ropes at this Tampa school of rock.
Bar cultures: Chuck’s Natural opens new taphouse in Brandon store
Similar to a health beverage bar, Windmill Taphouse has debuted with kombucha on tap and more.
Right at home: Next to the Dunedin Woodwright, a different kind of craft
Woodwright Brewing’s German-style beer is pouring in the former Dunedin Woodwright showroom.
The Laugh Tract: Rants aplenty, plus free shows
Lewis Black and Joel McHale are here to rescue us from politics as usual.
Kriseman, Buckhorn to North Carolina businesses: come on down, we’re not homophobes
In the wake of North Carolina lawmakers' passage of the astonishingly ass-backwards HB2, major companies are pulling out of the state in protest. HB2, the sole purpose for which lawmakers in that state convened a $42,000-a-day special session to pass, is a real piece of work. It does everything from preempting local governments from passing…
On the menu: Watch coffee competitors throw down in Tampa tonight
The Barista Jam & Latte Art Throwdown at Oxford Exchange will feature various Florida entrants.
Restaurant review: Keepin’ it simple at Fish
In Gulfport, Fish Bar and Grille makes fresh seafood its star, but sometimes less is more.
Shots fired: (New England) Patriots at The Bends, St. Petersburg
Photos from the show featuring the band (not the team).
On the Sauce: Hibiscus Gin Cocktail
You’ll want to kick back on the porch or by the pool with this springtime beverage.
Hillsborough gets ball rolling on making transit functional again
County Commissioners in Hillsborough have a big decision to make this month. They have to choose between a half-cent sales tax increase that would fund transit projects throughout the county, and a hike in the fees the county charges developers for their impact on infrastructure. Or, we suppose, they can opt to sit back and…
Sea Salt oyster sommelier to share pearls of wisdom
Oysters and champagne will be sampled and discussed during a Sea Salt event Saturday afternoon.
Not So Little Drummer Boy Takes Stage in Tampa
A Q&A with Zakir Hussain
Buckhorn, union activists call for better senior care conditions
Before a crowd of roughly 60 activists, news media and caregivers from the Service Employees International Union, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn proclaimed that April Fifth will now be recognized as Florida Senior Care Day in Tampa. The proclamation occurred in conjunction with a panel discussion exploring both the increasing senior population in Tampa as well…
Sh*t happened 4/6/16: If you hate Rick Scott, you’re gonna love the last thing here
Yesterday brought us, among other things, the Wisconsin primary, reminding us that nothing is set in stone and also that, yes, there's still another seven months of this crap. Onward! The results of a week-long Polk County sting operation targeting pedophiles were publicized, and boy, will they wanna make you take a Borax shower. Seventeen…
Tonight in live music: Frank Secich, Jon Shain, Living Colour
A look at some noteworthy concerts happening this Wed., April 6.
In Pinellas, diversion, not citation, the likely route on marijuana and other offenses
If a new policy passes in Pinellas, come January you might not go to jail if you're caught with a couple of Js, but don't call it decriminalization. Pinellas County Commissioners and top law enforcement and criminal justice officials spent much of Tuesday morning weighing the plusses and minuses of lightening punishments for marijuana possession…
The suck comes later: Holding off on reality so kids can hold on to innocence
Louis Armstrong sang, “What a Wonderful World." Louis CK has said, “Life is full of horrible mistakes.” True stories, both. As adults, we understand that this is the paradox of human existence, but as parents we work hard to hide the worst of humanity from our kids. For instance, in an episode of Louis CK's…
Do This: Don’t fuhggedabout Festa Italiana
Tampa’s 19th Annual Festa Italiana Weekend kicks off Thursday with 70-plus wines and Italian grub.
Spread the love: Five ideas for National Pimento Cheese Day
The Fresh Market has declared National Pimento Cheese Day its new food holiday.
Self Publishing Notebook: Did I Just Get Panhandled By A New York Times Bestseller?
“Will blog for food!”
Sh*t happened 4/5/16: Failure factories investigated by DoE, HART buses get wifi, hero with gun doesn’t shoot anybody
It's Tuesday. Do you know where your tacos are? The U.S. Department of Education began an investigation of possible civil rights violations within the Pinellas County School District in the wake of the Tampa Bay Times' "failure factories" report on schools in predominantly black neighborhoods that allegedly were allowed to descend into decrepitude. Oh good…
Tonight in live music: They Might Be Giants, Larry Coryell, Eye of the Destroyer
Three noteworthy concerts are happening on this Tue., April 5.
Gulfport Merchants Association picks nonprofit grant recipients
Gulfport's annual "Gecko Season" of partying, parades and pub crawling isn't just an expression of the little city's commitment to having a good time (and amateur herpetology). It's also for raising money — some of which the Gulfport Merchants Association can parlay into grants for local nonprofits. Proceeds from late summer's Gecko Ball, Gecko Pub…
Weekly Tune-Up: New music for your week by The Last Shadow Puppets, Weezer, Com Truise + more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the week. Spotify playlist included.
We’re not jerking: Beef Jerky Outlet launches in Clearwater Beach
Yep. In Clearwater Beach, a whole store filled with the practical, low-cal snack is actually a thing.
Five Courses: Updates on upscale Mexican, regional American fare & more
Tampa’s O Cocina & Flights opens this week, On Swann is hiring and other Tampa Bay food news.
Reasons to Watch: Love, fear, and bourgee housewives
Crazy ass catfights are always a good excuse to get the popcorn ready.
Sh*t happened 4/4/2016: Man impersonates cop, woman shoots man, SeaWorld makes nice-nice
Good Monday to you. Were your hidden offshore billions exposed in that massive Panamanian law firm infoleak? No? Well, then, to the bridge traffic and cubicle beyond, one supposes. FRIDAY, APRIL 1: A Largo man jailed (and bailed out) numerous times for impersonating a police officer was released again on bail, and is now facing…
Tonight in live music: Atlantic Oceans Farewell Party, Rod Picott
A few shows are happening this Mon., April 4.
Virtual Progressive Dinner campaign tours lighter side of St. Pete
As part of the deputy mayor’s Healthy St. Pete initiative, Virtual Progressive Dinners have launched.
Concert review: Duran Duran and CHIC serve a double-dose of nonstop dancing in Tampa
The pioneering ’80s New Romantic/synth-pop makers delivered a career-spanning setlist at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater
Shots fired: Alexander & The Grapes Album Release Party at Crowbar, Ybor City
The multi-textured pop outfit headlined a Crowbar celebration this past Fri., April 1, 2016
This Saturday in live music: Bonerama, Robin Trower, Zach Deputy & more
A look at concert highlights for this Sat., April 2.
In memoriam: a former Tampa musician honors Jon West
Author and Tampa expatriate (and first-ever LitSpace writer-in-residence) Michael Patrick Welch remembers Jon West’s passion for the local music scene.
Local video production group plans A Whole Brew World (with video)
The region’s thriving craft beer scene will drive a new documentary from Good Enough Films.
St. Pete councilman on marijuana citation policy: pass the thing already
Earlier this month, Tampa adopted civil citations as its preferred way of punishing those caught with small amounts of marijuana. But St. Petersburg, despite generally being more open to progressive policies, has been struggling to hash out the details of its own marijuana citation policy. At a recent committee meeting, the third of its kind…
Weekend Platter: PhilFest celebrating, green thumbs & more
Enjoy free eats at a spring cookout, PhilFest’s Filipino delicacies and other tastes this weekend.
Shots fired: of Montreal at Orpheum, Ybor City
Tampa fans always expect a serious show from the Athens group, and the group delivered this past Thurs., March 31.
Sh*t happened 4/1/16: Yesterday was terrible
Oh, good. April Fool's Day. The day where nothing is ever annoying or requires that you waste extra precious moments trying not to appear foolish or gullible. What fun. Let's hide in yesterday's headlines, which were, in point of fact, horrible. In a weird and tragic synchronicity, two Tampa Bay accidents involved cars going into…
Tonight in live music: Polyenso Album Release Party, Samantha Fish + more
A look at some concerts happening this Fri., April 1, along with a peek at the live music weekend ahead.
Poet’s Notebook: Assuming the position
I have started to say ‘A quarter of a century’ Or ‘thirty years back’ About my own life… When we arrived at the Hickman Theatre in Gulfport for a reading a while ago, we circled around the crowded parking lot for a few minutes before spotting the Laureate Parking Cone. Now there’s a dividend, we…
Florida court backs utility-backed solar amendment by slim margin
As we wrote about last summer, large power companies are backing a proposed state constitutional amendment supporters say would expand solar power (when all it does is reinforce the status quo, which obviously is not doing that). Originally, Consumers for Smart Solar was one of two dueling amendments dealing with solar power in Florida, the…
Gasp! 2016: David Warner on CL’s annual fringefest
The multi-disciplinary performing arts festival returns to Tampa Museum of Art Friday evening.
Sh*t happened 3/31/16: Spice bust, gator hunt, sinkhole, dumb teens, Florida!
I know, I know. It's late. I had a thing. A super-secret thing! Let's recap: Update to The Great Tampa Bay Spice Panic of 2016: Three men were arrested for selling the synthetic pot you've gotta be a moron to smoke at an East Tampa convenience store. Solution to The Great Tampa Bay Spice Panic…
Tonight in live music: of Montreal, The Weight + more
A look at some concerts happening on this Thurs., March 31
Shawn Mullins, Robin Zander, Otis Taylor + many more to play the third annual Safety Harbor SongFest
The Safety Harbor music fest expands to two days and more than 20 acts for the 2016 edition; playlist included.
A Q&A with Simon Le Bon, who hits town with Duran Duran on Saturday
The seminal British synth-pop group hits town behind 14th album Paper Gods, with support from CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers
The Laugh Tract: Kathy Griffin comes to town… and more funny shit
Kathy Griffin heads the list of brash comedians who will fill local theaters and clubs this week.
Theater Review: The End of the Road for 4000 Miles
The characters (and the actors) are fascinating in American Stage’s 4000 Miles, but the play’s got nothing new to say.
Views from the Porch: Exquisite Porch
The serial art project Exquisite Porch showcases Florida fauna.
