West Tampa Redevelopment Lesson No. 1
Zoning is some really boring shit, not to put too fine a point on it. I know. Back in the day, I sat through enough land-use and zoning public hearings that I literally start to shiver when I trip across them on government TV while channel-surfing the cable. But zoning is key to understanding why…
UPDATE: Central Tampa vs. Tribune
From the latest post over at Seminole Heights Blog, it looks like that neighborhood has won its battle with the Tampa Tribune to get its "Central Tampa" section back. Here's our Urban Explorer story about the matter.
Derby Darlins Benefit
This little tidbit came across the transom too late to make it into Planet Picks or the Music Menu, but we feel it warrants an advance because, frankly and at the risk of sounding a bit sexist, we're really looking forward to watching tall, hot girls with tattoos beat the shit out of each other…
MEDIA WATCH: Montgomery weighs in
Heard from Ben Montgomery (formerly of Tribune, now of Times) in response to an e-mail I sent him after my last post about the newspaper war. Here is what he had to say about his move: "I was talking to the Times a little when I was at the Times Herald-Record in New York, but…
Second Helpings
The idea was to make it in time for Langerado’s Sunday brunch of The Lee Boys, but seeing how last night’s Umphrey’s show at Revolution (see Leilani Polk’s post) kept me up past any reasonable bedtime, a change in plans was in order. For me, Day two at Markham Park would start with a long…
Saturday Night Fever
UM's Pair of aces: Jake Cinninger (left) and Brendan Bayliss An Umphrey’s McGee show requires a great deal of stamina, and Saturday night’s two sets at Ft. Lauderdale club Revolution were definitely no exception. The Chicago sextet turned on the energy the moment they stepped onto the stage in the venue’s outdoor courtyard, opening with…
Wayne’s World
Wayne Coyne Wayne Coyne wants you. A self-anointed “fearless freak,†Coyne is part-carnival barker, part-shaman, and ringmaster of The Flaming Lips’ three-ring sing-a-long circus. He’s the charismatic center of the band’s swirling chaos of sound, confetti and fans dressed in plush animal costumes. At Langerado, Coyne seemed intent on raising an army of freaks.
The Beat Goes On
Umphrey's bassist Ryan Stasik It was the best of times, it was … the best of times. Really. The first day of Langerado ran like a finely tuned machine. The four-year-old alternative festival seems “put on by people who care more about the music and the audience than about making money,†as Wayne Coyne so…
Life At Langerado
John Ginty Band Now officially underway, Saturday at Langerado promises to be a day of stage-hopping as the five concert venues simultaneously pump out the tunes all day. How do you decide between the rocktronica vibe of Lotus at noon, the Zeppelinesque antics of Rose Hill Drive at 12:15 p.m., and the always-interesting Lake Trout…
MEDIA WATCH: Newspaper War Heats Up
The long-dormant newspaper war between the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune is getting hot again. Over at Front Page Florida, former Trib editor Joe Registrato reports on a "skirmish" in a downtown Tampa park, between the tbt* folks handing out freebies (hired models, once source tells us, we're tracking that down) and a wave…
“We’re Using Time For Funâ€
Marco Benevento and Joe Russo were only a few feet apart, staring into each other’s eyes, lost in silent communication. Separated by Benevento’s keyboards and Russo’s drums, The Duo (as their collaboration is otherwise known) produced an unlikely tidal wave of sound that seemed impossible coming from two scrawny white guys. For the tune “Memphis, 
Goin’ Downtown to the Disco
The night is old* (2:54 a.m. to be exact) and we – Joe, Phil and myself – are driving down the long dark road to Langerado. The wee hour traffic is scarce, we’re still running on adrenaline from the Disco Biscuits show at The Bank, and relief at not having to face a four-hour drive…
MEDIA WATCH: Times winning battle of the awards
It’s not earth-shattering news that the St. Petersburg Times is winning a lot more major journalism writing awards than the Tampa Tribune. But as we ramp up to the excitement that is the 2006 Pulitzer Prizes (set to be announced Monday, April 17 at 3 p.m.), here is a rundown on the some of the…
Ho, California, Ho
We have arrived. A harrowing final 24 hours, sure, but we made it. That's the view from the Bay Bridge, and don't be deceived by the apparent lack of cars. You think the Howard Frankland was bad today, Joe? They tell me this behemoth is gridlocked Tuesday at 4 a.m. Luckily, my cross-bay commuting should…
Get Motivated!
Traffic coming from St. Pete into Tampa across the Howard Frankland was a nightmare this morning, apparently due to a motivational seminar held at 8 a.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum. The event was reportedly a sell-out. To the people who managed to fight horrendous traffic (as late as 9:40 a.m. the backup still…
Sail Away
Why a Palmetto couple gave up just about everything to travel the coast in a 104-year-old barge.
Category-Free
MUSIC
Singing Women
THEATER
At The Buzzer
With the season on the line, St. Pete Catholic turned to a familiar face.
Mile-High Chug
Small airlines make flying friendlier with better wines.
Give Her A Pulitzer
THEATER
Failing Marks
If the State of the County is good, how does the County Commission rate?
Out Looks
ART
The Blotter
Paraphernalia Party: twigs, crack pipes & lots of baggies
The Good, The Bad, The Local
Our critics take their periodic look at scene recordings.
Entranced
MUSIC
Music Menu
WP Picks for March 9-15, 2006
Tastings
Tipsy Times in Tampa Bay
It’s All About The Beer
What can I say? I like it.
Upcoming Releases
New Music available March 14, 2006
Slaves Like U.S.
Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier is back with the second installment of his “American” trilogy.
Outtakes
Recently reviewed movies
From Russia With Love
POETRY
Peace Movements
Visions of Peace at Players Theatre of Sarasota
Backspin
Weather Report’s Black Market
Wining and Dining
CULINARY/FUNDRAISER
Spins
Elvis Costello, James Hunter, Half-handed Cloud, Richard Cheese and I Love Guitar Wolf…Very Much
GOTCHA!
Bush, Baseball & Blurbex.com
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
See The Last Five Years for the songs, not the story.
A Surge of Jazz
Jazz Composers Forum concerts, USF Tampa
Global influence
Tampa gets good fare with international flair at Sidebern’s.
Going Postal
St. Pete for Peace, Tampa Trib & John Sugg
The War at Home
Why We Fight at Tampa Theatre
Holy Warrior
A mellower Randall Terry still fights the godless.
