The Guilty Pleasures Songbook
SING IT SISTERS Weak SWV (1993)Sixth grade. A friend's birthday party. A Saturday night birthday party. The lights are dimmed, boys and girls are in the living room, dancing awkwardly with a foot of space between them. And there, in the corner, is Rowan Sidd. Beautiful, prematurely bosomed Rowan Sidd. I get so weak in…
Summer Camps and Workshops for Kids
THE ARTS CENTER, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-7872). The Arts Center offers summer art camps in one-week sessions for ages 5-15, and these camps cover ceramics, painting, jewelry making, photography, scrapbooking and printmaking. Weeklong sessions run June 6-Aug. 5, and cost between $25 per session and $130 per weeklong camp. For adults and families,…
Gulf Coast Beaches
ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Bradenton Beach area (941-742-5923). There are three major beaches on Anna Maria: Coquina, Manatee Public and Bayfront Park. Coquina (west side of Gulf Drive/State Road 789) is a 96-acre stretch of clean beach popular with both families and kids. Showers, restrooms, pine tree-shaded picnic tables, a playground and nearby boat ramps add…
The Guilty Pleasures Bookshelf
THE NAUGHTY BITSPeyton Place Grace Metalious (1956) It may seem tame by today's standards, but Peyton Place in its day was scandalous. For my brother and me, it was the guiltiest of pleasures to sneak my father's paperback copy out of the old rolltop desk in the basement and flip through the book till we…
When the Circus Comes
The Beat Circus’ carnival of sound hits the Heatwave
Spins
HalHALRough TradeThese four lads from suburban Dublin make the purest pop of any band around. They don't even bother with the power. Hal's debut is sugary but not saccharine, sunny but with traces of melancholy, consummately tuneful but ambitious in a very ear-friendly way. The milestones influences are here: Brian Wilson, McCartney, Simon & Garfunkel.…
Hey, Sport
Despite the title, this is a curiously listless comedy from wild man Will Ferrell. The former SNL player isn't given much room to stretch or improvise as the incompetent coach of a kids' soccer team, and there are even more wasted opportunities when Ferrell finds himself competing against the league's Ubercoach – his own bullying,…
2005 Heatwave Lineup
All slots are tentative; make sure you check the schedule when you get to the show. All venues are located in Ybor City in the vicinity of The Cuban Club, 2010 N. Avenida Republica de Cuba. EL PASAJE PLAZA 6:25 – ERIC STECKEL BAND The Tampa Bay area, and Florida in general, has long had…
Drink Blindly
Lose the labels, double your fun
Museums
THE ARTS CENTER, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-7872). With five separate galleries, The Arts Center boasts a wide range of art by locally, nationally and internationally known artists. Upcoming summer exhibits include Nancy Cervenka: Coming into Focus; Where Two Roads Meet: The Photography of Peter Schreyer & Rick Lang; Love – Lost & Found:…
Amusements and Attractions
ADVENTURE ISLAND, 10001 Malcolm McKinley Drive, near Busch Gardens (813-987-5660). This 30-acre water park features a huge variety of amusements, including slides, corkscrews, water falls, a wave pool, children's water playground and other family attractions. Additional amenities include outdoor cafes, picnic and sunbathing areas, gift shops, arcades and a white-sand volleyball complex. Summer hours: 10…
Wine List
Got an upcoming or ongoing wine event? Send information to: The Wine List, 810 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33606, fax 813-739-4801 or e-mail winestuff@weeklyplanet.com. A TASTY TRIP Visit Oregon through its fantastic wines, from Willamette Valley to Rogue Valley. $10; includes souvenir glass and hors d'oeuvres. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri., May 13. Uncorked, 2706 Fourth…
Letters
Letters of the LawRe: "Bama Judge Wars,'" Suggblog, by John Sugg (April 27-May 3) I am deeply disappointed in Suggblog's decision to write, and the Weekly Planet's decision to publish, an article that is nothing more than hate-mongering and name-calling. As is always the case with this type of "reporting," the true issue is obliterated.…
Ask the Advice Goddess
Leering ImpairedWhat is your view of magazines like Penthouse and Playboy? I have maybe 30 of these magazines and a dozen soft-core DVDs. I store them in my closet, but you start to get close to some women, and they feel entitled to go through your things. I don't want to throw everything out or…
The Guilty Pleasures Weblinks
BeautifulAgony.com This Australian pay-per-view site is subtitled "Facettes de la petit mort," or "faces of the little death," a reference to the French slang for the "little death" of the Big O. The site shows everyday men and women pleasuring themselves to orgasm, but the trick is that they are shot from the shoulders up;…
The Tampa Bay Guilty Pleasure Hall of Fame
In which the new kid is sent off to sample the best of the so-bad-it´s-good stuff
Music Concerts
Thursday, May. 12 42nd Street Bistro Rick Pupelo Adobe Gila's Audioband Bahama Breeze Mike Hastings/Denny Falzon Bahama Mama's Blue Star Highway The Bank Nightclub and Concert Venue Left Lane Blue Martini Black Honkeys Captain Jack's Rus Anderson The Chic-A-Boom Room Stephanie Anderson CK's Revolving Rooftop Restaurant Derrick Williams Clancy' s of New Orleans Steve Santo…
Burning Bright
Enjoyable throughout, Torch Song Trilogy shines in the final act
Don’t Panic
Your war questions answered
Culinary Events
CHELATION THERAPY Dr. Ray C. Wunderlich lectures on chelation therapy. Free. 6:30 p.m. Wed., May 11. Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater (727-443-6703 or www.naturesfoodpatch.com). HERB COOKING CLASS Learn to use herbs in your favorite dishes. $45. 6:30-9 p.m. Thurs., May 12. La Maison Gourmet, 471 Main St., Dunedin (727-736-3070 or www.lamaisongourmet.info). CAULIFLOWER PREPARATION…
DVD Picks
WP’s recommendation of the week
Upcoming Concerts
May 19 Lit w/TBA State Theatre 20 Everclear w/TBA Jannus Landing 20 Tishamingo Skipper's Smokehouse 20 Mastodon/Death By Stereo/Cult of Luna/Torche State Theatre 21 King Diamond/Nile/Black Dahlia Murder Masquerade 21 Jon Oliva's Pain w/Firstborn/Money Shot Bourbon Street 21 Allman Brothers Band/Lynyrd Skynyrd Ford Amphitheatre 21 Paulina Rubio Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 21 Bob Schneider…
The Guilty Pleasures Movie Marathon
THE HORNY 16-YEAR-OLD UP-ALL-NIGHT-WATCHIN'-SKINEMAX LIST Body of Evidence (1993) Screwballs (1983) Bound (1996) Sliver (1993) and Basic Instinct (1992) (The Sharon Stone double feature) Poison Ivy 2 (1996) Wild Things (1998) 9 1/2 Weeks (1986) Wild Orchid (1990) USA Up All Night (Started in 1986) Red Shoe Diaries (1992-1999) Anything with Shannon Tweed-Joe Bardi OH…
Freebie Roundup
This week, the Planet recommends: Diamond Teeth Mary LiveArts Peninsula Foundation hosts a staged reading of this new play about the legendary Florida blues singer. Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues, who toured with Diamond Teeth Mary for over a decade, provide live accompaniment. Written by Levy Lee Simon and directed by Eckerd College professor Ellen…
Parks & Trails
The following parks and trails are free and open dawn to dusk unless otherwise indicated. A.L. ANDERSON PARK, 39699 U.S. 19 N., Tarpon Springs (727-943-4085). This 129-acre site features a boardwalk and nature trail, boat ramp, playground, picnic shelter and restrooms. ALDERMAN'S FORD, State Road 39, south of State Road 60 in Hillsborough County (813-757-3801).…
Outtakes
Short reviews of movies playing throughout the Tampa Bay area
Guilty Pleasures
Mad dogs and Englishmen may go out in the midday sun, but only damn fools do the same thing on a typical summer's day in Florida. I was just such a fool one afternoon last summer – my first here – when I decided to walk to lunch from the Planet's offices at Lemon and…
Personality
Restaurant BT’s chef is a sensation, but what of the food? By Brian Ries
Seeking Salvation
A Central Oak Park expansion has raised suspicions about the Salvation Army’s plans
To The Core
Alternative Press used to be a pretty decent music magazine. Since it willfully threw all of its eggs into the nu-punk/emo/screamo/metalcore basket a couple of years back, however, the publication has pretty much only been good for introducing readers to the latest bands to sound exactly like the latest bands of six months ago. Well,…
Short List
BREAKING NEWS PROGRESS ENERGY WANTING TO "TIP" ITSELFHey, they're still the best power monopoly I've ever been forced to use… '80s CHRISTIAN METAL BAND STRYPER REUNITESAll right, all right, you can have all the Supreme Court appointments you want – but for the love of your God, turn that shit off! THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO…
The Guilty Pleasures Pantry
GLORY HOLES Donuts donuts donuts. I love every shape, size and flavor of donuts. Stolen donuts are the best. Sometimes I meander around the Publix with sugar-encrusted lips from a donut I'm eating, and which I plan on finishing before arriving at the check-out line. -Mark Sanders Dove Triple Chocolate Ice Cream bars The cutting…
Blotter
Go Means Go: After pulling over a car with no tag at 29th Street N. and 38th Avenue E., officers discovered the car's passenger had two outstanding warrants and placed him under arrest. The driver, who was secretly carrying both marijuana and a "large" hunk of crack, was told he was free to go. Rather…
Music Venues
VENUES For a comprehensive list of addresses and contact information for the nightspots listed in SOUNDBOARD, log on to www.weeklyplanet.com. 688 SKATEPARK, 6140 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, 727-523-0785 THE BANK NIGHTCLUB AND CONCERT VENUE, 1950 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-898-4488 BOOMERZ BOILER ROOM/BOOMERZ CAFÉ, 6990 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, 727-391-7066 BOURBON STREET, 4331 U.S. 19 N.,…
Re-Made in Heaven?
The 2005 Summer Movie Guide
Music Menu
THURSDAY, MAY 12 HASTE THE DAY/EXTOL/DEAD TO FALL/EMBRACE TODAY/TWELVE TRIBES/FIGHT PARIS/LOSA Kick off what's looking to be a severely metal-saturated week of live shows at this six-hour, seven-band mini-fest. Haste the Day records for Christian indie label Solid State, and features vocals guaranteed to peel wallpaper; Norway's Extol rocks a nicely classic thrash sound. As…
Planet Picks
May 12 Thursday WIPE OUT This weekend, Palm Harbor resident Arsen Broztek releases his debut surf documentary, Jungle Juice: Surfing Adventure In Costa Rica's Southern Zone. The 45-minute film follows three friends as they pack up their boards and head to Costa Rica for some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. An assortment of family and friends join them…
Going to Pot
Tips on getting a high turnout to next year’s pro-legalization rally
The Guilty Pleasures TV Listings
TRAVELOCITY The Amazing Race (2001-present) Why, when running around airports getting tickets exchanged is about as much fun personally as a buzzsaw to the head, is it so entertaining to watch a gaggle of Type A personalities trying to do the same thing? OK, maybe that isn't so entertaining. But the travelogues are fun. -David…
Upcoming Releases
The following releases will be in stores Tues., May 17: Ambassador, Thesis (Cross Movement) Ambry, Holding on by the Blindfolds We Hide Behind (DeAth Scene) The Bangkok Five, Ten the Hard Way (Aeronaut) Boned, Up at the Crack (Perris) Brassknuckle Boys, American Bastard (Haunted Town) The Brian Jonestown Massacre, We Are the Radio (Tee Pee)…
Summer Shorts
The Family That Motors Together …Dirtbiking About 30 minutes north of Tampa on I-75, the Withlacoochee State Forest sprawls east of Brooksville. You know the drill. Canopied campgrounds. Lazily flowing river water. Abundant wildlife, most of which is tiny, six-legged and intent upon eating you alive.And, of course, the roar of hundreds of small internal-combustion…
