College expenses: What am I paying for exactly?
I'm a college student, in case you hadn't guessed from the headline, and I have recently been wondering what exactly it is that I'm paying for with my college expenses. It seems that every corner I round, there's another expense just lurking in the shadows (or standing right in front of me with a c…
I Love My Job
I can not say that I am experienced with the typical 9-5 job. Wake up, get ready for work, head to the office, sit in a cublicle, lunch, cubicle time, then leave work around 5. I am not going to say my life is better than a typical 9-5 job, but it is very different. I…
Brews and bites : the beer and snack pairing marathon
Pairing beer and food has always been a major fascination, but lately I have become preoccupied and unable to focus. All I can think about is a variety of fine brews accompanied by little plates of delectable fare. After much persuading, five of my friends agreed to skip dinner and embark upon a beer and…
‘The Bachelorette’ has returned, looking for love, but shouldn’t she be looking for some damn good sex? (video)
If you are anything like the master of sexual disaster, Rabid Nick, your boob tube was on 24 watching Jack Bauer kick ass in ways too various to mention last night. However I am certain many of you were watching terror threats of a much different variety, the premiere of the latest season of The Bachelorette.…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, May 20: The Grape Throughout the month of May, The Grape pairs interesting Italian wines not featured on the regular menu with a special chef’s tasting menu. It includes delectable selections like grilled shrimp crostini, Portobello carpaccio, paillard of chicken breast puttanesca and an artisanal Italian cheese plate. $35. 2223 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa…
Green office tip of the week: reduce paper use with digital notes
Green Office Tip of the Week from your CL Green Office Specialist: Did you know that the average American uses the equivalent of a tree 100 feet high and 18 inches in diameter each year? And if 10,000 CL Green Community readers would use digital desktop notes instead of three packages of sticky notes, we…
May 19 new releases, CDs and vinyl
CAUSE WE SEZ SO! VINYL: • Tori Amos – Abnormally Attracted, limited edition Tori litho w/ purchase (while supplies last)! • Booker T – Potato Hole • Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career • Les Claypool – Of Fungi and Foe Leonard Cohen reissues: Live Songs New Skin For The Old Ceremony Songs From a…
CL Interview: Galactic’s Stanton Moore (with video)
He was the bespectacled white kid from the suburbs trying to sit in with musical legends in New Orleans. But instead of getting the cold shoulder, drummer Stanton Moore was welcomed on the bandstand by any number of prominent players. And the crowd dug him, too. “To tell you the truth, when I was coming…
The raw and living food diet: What is it?
The Raw/Living Food Diet is actually not some new-fangled crash diet trend. It's been on the organic food scene for awhile and seems to be growing in popularity. So what exactly is it, you ask? It doesn't just mean eating raw veggies all day, there are some stipulations to this way of eating raw and living food.…
Controlling the global food supply and cutting out genetically modified food
This rant was prompted by a documentary I saw recently called "absolute unbridled greed and total lack of concern for basic human rights and simple fairness. The film is a few years old but it exposes one, of many, result of corporate controlled government. Being framed as I am, my first thought, only a few…
Finally a qualified applicant for my Fuck-Buddy position
I got thrown for a loop the other night. I was sought out; someone wanted to turn in his fuck-buddy application. I was reluctant at first. He’s not my normal type of applicant. He’s not my normal type of anything. That’s what makes him so unique and alluring. I went to meet him with the…
Diet dilemmas: staying on track while you travel
Staying on track with your diet can be challenging enough during the busy work week, but it is especially challenging when you are out of your normal routine. We travel for many reasons, for business, relaxation and the occasional visit to friends and family in need. All occasions many times can be reasons to let…
$100 Case of Wine: Best wine deals at Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Petersburg
During my hunt to find the best $100 (or so) case of wine at Bay area retailers, I meandered into one of my favorite gourmet shops in Tampa Bay: Mazzaro's Italian Market in St. Pete. There, among the drool-worthy selection of craft-made cheeses, single-grove olive oils and handmade pasta, there's also a well-appointed wine room coddled by Jeff DiMaio. Ironically, few wine…
May marks National Masturbation Month and the Masturbate-a-thon
Forget other holidays this month, like Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day, May is National Masturbation Month! "Masturbation Month was originally started in 1995 by a company called Good Vibrations to protest firing U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders" (Associated Content). Even though the month is almost half over, you can still celebrate in your…
Sherlock Holmes trailer released
Today we finally get a look at Guy Ritchie's big-screen adaptation of Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. As a kid, I was a fan of both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's source material and the series of Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce (both The Hound of the Baskervilles and…
Adam vs. Kris: Has American Idol victor already been decided?
You'd think so from the way the judges have been fawning over him; in fact, Simon Cowell says a Lambert win is already in the bag. And according to some critics, the St. Petersburg Times' Eric Deggans among them, American Idol needs Lambert to win to retain some measure of cred. I agree with Deggans…
Classic Chili Recipe
Few classic home style staples are as simple and satisfying as a rich, hearty chili. This recipe literally takes 20 minutes to prepare and the simmer does the rest. Once you have the magical formula down pat, it’s the easiest one pot meal I’ve found to pull together on a lazy day. There are several…
John Legend: Season’s best commencement speech?
There are plenty more commencement speakers to come this graduation season, ready to send college students over metaphoric thresholds into the uncertain future. But it seems unlikely that any of the speakers will be as casually eloquent and, well, cool as R&B star John Legend, speaking at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. (Video…
The art of cat yodeling
It's an art. Yes, it is so. Watch this video and pick up the fine points. (PS: Take note of the safety measures.)
Can hemp help create a green economy?
Is hemp our future economic stimulus? A recent article on Alternet.org written by Dara Colwell suggests so. Industrial hemp has 25,000 known applications. From paper (our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written on hemp paper ), to clothing (your hemp pants will last forever ), to food products (according to this article, the Wall…
‘Climate change’ is the new ‘global warming’ — the green linguistics battle
So it's come to this? "Global warming" is out and "climate change" is in? We are no longer looking for a "silver bullet", but rather seek "silver buckshot"? Based on a recent article in the NYTimes, linguistic battles are shaping as PR firms and lobbyists look to shape the language of debate over climate-change legislation…
Do It Today: Eric Hutchinson and stroke screenings
Eric Hutchinson may be embarrassed to admit that he hit the iTunes Store’s top 10 after he was plugged by gossip blogger Perez Hilton, but the impressive numbers also got him a record deal with Warner Bros. The label recognized that Hutchinson’s infectious, intellectual blend of piano pop and acoustic soul was Top 40-friendly enough…
Eric Haase – Contributor
Eric is a lifelong environmentalist. His appreciation for nature came from a childhood spent hiking the woods of the Hudson River Valley. A clinical death experience in 2004 reconnected him to his ecological roots and he began publishing www.consciousconsumers.net, a website concerning the individual consumer's role in earth's environmental situation. He recently published the book…
Lizzie Burke – contributor
Lizzie Burke is a 27 year-old, emo goddess from New Jersey, living in downtown St. Pete. She spends her days giving advice to adults who are homeless and suffering from mental illness and substance dependence. Evenings are spent ignoring the very advice she dispenses and in dedication to the quest for love, self-discovery, and the…
Tampa Bay Summer Concert Preview (with video)
Dozens and dozens of acts will make it onto Tampa Bay area concert stages this summer. Here’s our best bets, in a wide range of genres. Stanton Moore The bespectacled founder of NOLA funk purveyors Galactic is widely regarded as one of the best drummers currently drawing air. This show has him in a trio…
The .22 and the mattress – a poem
She opened up her cash register to give me change. I believe it was the wonder model number double D. "The bigger the better" she said. "Less trips to the bank." But I didn't buy that she had a bank account that didn't get slept on. And it likely shared a space with a .22…
Indie 101: Birdie Busch.
One of the best things about being one of the hosts of The Merry Andrews Show is having the opportunity to introduce listeners to new music—- but being introduced to new music by my fellow co-hosts is the real treat. For the hour that we record the show we get to not only play the…
Urban Decay uses naked men to sell lip gloss
The raunchy cosmetics brand Urban Decay — which already sells highly pigmented eye shadows with grimy names like Baked, Roach and Asphyxia — has launched Pocket Rockets, a line of colorful lip glosses K. Pocket Rockets come in eight colors; they're shiny and pretty and tastes good … blah, blah, blah. What's so different about…
Images from Tropical Heatwave 2009
Camera in hand, I gently elbowed my way to the front of the crowd as Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa were setting up in the Cuban Club Cantina. If it wasn't for the camera I probably would not have made it that close to the stage 'cause so many had already staked out that prime…
Bottle Shock movie released on DVD
Bottle Shock, the 2008 wine-themed movie, is now available on DVD. It was unfathomably popular — Sundance shone on it, reviews were kind, even glowing at times, and fairly scathing at others. But to this wine enthusiast — who really, really tried to like it — Bottle Shock's studio managed to turn an historic wine moment…
Green Cities conference in Orlando (5/20-21) and an overview of permaculture
I just heard a talk by Joseph Malki at Tarpon Springs; lots of major players in that town attended and plans are afoot to do some good things with sustainability there. He's putting on Green Cities in Orlando, May 20-21. It is "an innovative sustainability conference for business, government and community". If you care about sustainability, this…
CL Summer Guide Party – Wednesday, May 20 at Fly Bar
Every day's a summer vacation day in Tampa Bay, and on Wednesday, May 20, Creative Loafing's Summer Guide will tell you how to make the best of the sultry months. We've got complete listings of what to do and where to go, from museums to camps, arts centers to amusement parks. Want something hotter? How…
“Political correctness”, faith, religion and reality
"Political correctness (adjectivally, politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen by some as seeking to minimize offense to gender, racial, cultural, disabled, aged or other identity groups. Conversely, the term "politically incorrect" is used to refer to language or ideas that may cause…
Video game review: Plants vs. Zombies
It's the classic philosophical puzzler that ultimately led to the death of Socrates: who would win in a fight between plants and zombies. And just like plants beat Socrates, if you play your seeds right, so too will they defeat the oncoming zombie hordes. It won't be easy. It will take a lot of mouse…
Orlando Magic eliminate the Celtics: How and why they did it
A skip-in-my-step morning. Last Wednesday, I ranted on this blog about how the Orlando Magic and the Tampa Bay Rays (but mostly the Magic) were making me come unglued. My, how things can change in just a few days. After a historic collapse in Game 5 of their best-of-seven playoff series with Boston Celtics, the…
Is MMA as dangerous as it looks?
Blood seems to be everywhere inside the octagon. The fighters look like they just walked off a minefield. Brutal punches, knees, kicks and, not to forget, ruthless ground-and-pounding are the very trademarks of mixed martial arts (MMA), also known as ultimate fighting and cage fighting. Scenes from the movie Fight Club with Brad Pitt seem…
Cannes, Fish Tank and Bitch Slapped in a tux
The cast of Bitch Slap!. This will be my fifth attempt at writing a blog post. Delta, my favorite airline, managed to crush my Acer mini laptop to dust on the flight over to France. I'm writing from a computer in the American Pavilion where I'm interning during the Cannes Film Festival. It's not a…
Instead of beef and potato, try this lamb burger and eggplant fries
These Lamb Burgers are packed with flavors from the Middle East. Cumin, mint and parsley bring out the best in the lamb, while a sauce of tahini and lemon is a savory stand-in for mayo. Served on warm flat bread, the tiny burgers are very moist, even when cooked through. A Cucumber-Feta Quick Pickle adds…
GreenTrends 2009 conference to take place in St. Petersburg this June
The Some of the Education sessions that are already set in motion include Green Remodeling, Greening your business, and new trends in water efficiency. There is also a myriad of keynote speakers ranging from general contractors to solar energy experts.
The Tampa that might have been
A year ago I was doing microfilm research on local history at the John German Library in Tampa. Anyone who's done this research knows how tedious it is; there's no index for microfilm so to find pertinent articles one must scan each newspaper page on each microfilm roll. While doing this I was flabbergasted to…
Late night music, May 18-23: Grizzly Bear, Tori Amos, No Doubt and more
A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you've got an early bedtime. The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Monday, May 18: White Rabbits Tuesday, May 19: Kenny Chesney Wednesday, May 20: Grizzly Bear (pictured) Thursday, May 21: Jean Redpath Friday, May 22: Green Day The…
Do It Today: Toots, Gavin, Patty and the Bachelorette
This evening, the Studio@620 stages the area premiere of Toots, Kristi Jacobson's documentary film that looks at the life and times of infamous Manhattan saloonkeeper Toots Shor (pictured), proprietor of Toots Shor's Restaurant for more than 30 years, from the 1940s to the 1970s, and a self-made man who welcomed all manner of clientele into…
Leilani’s perspective: Heatwave Hopscotch
Last night, having a grand old time all along the way. We cruised into Heatwave around 9 p.m., missing the monsoon and arriving just in time to catch a snatch of blues guitarist Michael Burks at the Bandshell before we landed in the Cantina for Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa. (Kinobe pictured, photo by Phil…
Tropical Heatwave: New World and Orpheum
The early evening monsoon that struck Saturday had the bands at New World Brewery running late. No worries, the music never really stopped, and though the rains would let up, the crowd would not. Packed in on the porch, those in attendance witnessed some of the best central Florida music. The first set I caught…
Autopsy IV’s Tropical Heatwave Report
@autopsy4: Made it to Ybor. Have I mentioned how much I hate driving to Tampa? I arrived to Ybor late and famished due to the traffic jam the rest of the world refers to as Tampa. After getting my access secured and a whiskey inside of me I started to settle down and headed to…
Tropical Heatwave: the view from the Cantina
So — right off the bat I wasn't there on time to see the Mojo Gurus. Sorry gurus. Then, as the rain poured down, the next band went on. That band was Thomas Wynn & the Believers, and they had a real good time at Tropical Heatwave. I didn't get to see them have that good…
A Heathen’s Paradise: an analysis of power, desire, and sex in A Streetcar Named Desire
Sex and desire are ever-present forces in human conflict. However, not until Named Desire premiered in 1947 had the physical act of sex been so explicitly depicted on stage as a source of power and dominance. In Streetcar, the New Orleans street, Elysian Fields, is an urban jungle where the laws of nature are the…
Sex Bites update: no sex in the Prime Minister’s room
Two Sex Bites ago, I wrote about the sex ban in Kenya. CNN reports that a Kenyan man, James Kimondo, has sued women activists who called for the week-long sex ban to protest the unstable coalition government. Kimondo filed a lawsuit against the G-10, an umbrella group of women activists, claiming the sex ban affected…
See Lowry Park Zoo today for $5
Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., is an impressive local attraction. It’s rated the best zoo in the United States according to Parents Magazine. It has more than 2000 animals. It has activities for both children and adults to enjoy. And it costs $20 to get in. Unless, of course, you know when to…
Americans in France, a.d.d. band for the schizo generation, return to Tampa Bay
Sunday night rock n roll shows: difficult to book, annoying to promote and hard to get people to leave their comfortable homes and come out for bands they may not have heard about. My band Blast and the Detergents last played a Sunday night show a couple months ago at the Crow Bar opening for…
Squeezing the best from vegetables: juicing recipes that make you glow
You can't help but notice that juicing is all the rage today. And I don't mean just squeezing an orange into a glass. I'm talking about beets, celery, kale, spinach, bell peppers and carrots. Juice bars are popping up everywhere while smoothie shops are slowly losing customers. What gives? Juicing is one of the healthiest…
Danger Mouse’s Dark Soul (with photos)
A while back I had heard vague and unsubstantiated rumors that Danger Mouse (one half of Gnarls Barkley) and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) were collaborating on an album. My first reaction was something near to a cliched Napolean Dynamite "YESSSSSSSS!" The project was to be called Dark Night Of The Soul.
Homemade Music Symposium, June 13-14
Homemade Music Symposium – This a mini-SXSW in Ybor City. That's what we are going for. We say we have the talent. Now, let's see the support. The second annual symposium is offered free of charge to all Tampa Bay area musicians and the general public. The numerous seminars and workshops are focused on the…
MySpace premieres new Eminem, Tori Amos, Busta Rhymes and others beginning today.
Just got a news release announcing the premiere of six albums on MySpace over the course of the weekend, before the albums hit stores. Here's more info (click the links to hear the albums):
Concert tip for tonight: The Heavy Pets @ Dunedin Brewery
One of the best kept secrets in the Tampa Bay music scene is the fact that a extremely talented and young band plays semi-regularly at one of coolest locaI spots. This would be the Ft. Lauderdale fivesome The Heavy Pets and the Dunedin Brewery. I cringe every time I use the term 'jamband' – it's a…
Review: Eilen Jewell’s Sea of Tears
NOTE: I originally posted this on ninebullets.net last month so some of the wording may seem a little dated. Eilen will be on the Cuban Club Cantina stage at Tropical Heatwave tomorrow. Her set time is 7:45 to 8:45. She get's the ninebullets.net seal of approval. When I started ninebullets.net I really didn’t listen to…
The best of CL’s food and drink blogs
IN FOOD NEWS: If you didn't read it, you should. Louis Thornton's tirade against organic farming ruffled many a reader. The comments, as long as the piece itself, are full of information as well. While we're on that topic, the USDA is offering $50 million in grants to conventional farmers who want to turn organic.…
Little Ashes focuses on Dali-Lorca romance
Tampa Theatre begins screening Little Ashes, a film about the more-than-friendship between surrealist painter Salvador Dali and poet Federico Garcia Lorca, this weekend. Showtimes tonight, Saturday and Sunday are preceeded by talks by Dali Museum staffers, including director Hank Hine (Saturday). Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson plays Dali, and the film's trailer promises a titillating mix…
Review: Green’s Day’s 21st Century Breakdown
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown Reprise It may be a quaint notion in the download era, but I still think of the Album as a distinct artistic statement. Green Day obviously agrees, because 2004’s American Idiot was a rock opera and their new one, 21st Century Breakdown, out today, is a 70-minute, three-part song cycle.…
Making class warfare a thing of the past and the future of our world
By taking the wisdom we have learned from past events, we can move forward free from the past and also enjoy freedom from the cycle of history repeating itself. It has been said that class warfare has always been a part of our lives, even when it comes to our environment. There are those who…
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, May 15-17
Keith Haring, Andy Mouse (1986) © Keith Haring Foundation This weekend's visual art options include the debut of Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends at the Museum of Fine Arts, featuring more than 70 screen-prints by the pop master. Classics including Campbell’s Soup I (Cream of Mushroom), Flowers and portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Superman and…
Chili’s opens outpost in India with a vegetarian menu
It's not news when 200+ location mega-chain Chili's opens another door in the U.S. It's not even interesting when it opens in France, although it's doutbful anyone in that culinary Mecca would salivate over bland American "Tex Mex." But when a burger haven like Chili's goes into India, where the bulk of people eat vegetarian, that's peculiar. Even…
Concert tip: War @ State Theatre tonight (with vintage video)
My sleeper concert of the weekend is War, the Southern California band, formed in the late 1960s that blends flowing funk, Latin, Afrobeat and rock into a sound that has held up extremely well over the years. Case in point: Who doesn't get a little kick in their step when they hear "Low Rider." Show…
ACLU’s Camerahead Project at Tropical Heatwave, May 16
Do you ever feel like Big Brother is watching you? If you've been to 7th Avenue in Ybor City, you're probably right. The street is lined with CCTV surveillance cameras. That's why a group of concerned USF art students, in conjunction with the Tampa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, is performing in the…
Urban design event: Pecha Kucha tonight (5/15) at the Roosevelt in Ybor
Nick Algee of 1Sky & CleanEnergy.org hit my inbox last night: Friday night May 15th is Pecha Kucha Night at the Roosevelt. WTF is that? I gotta say it is one of the more intriguing events to arrive amongst a tedious list of a gazillion emails I rather not read. Nick is a cool guy,…
Craving cheap dinner? Try beans
If you're looking for an affordable weeknight dinner, look no further. Let me introduce one of my very best friends: the dried bean. You see, dried beans are so often looked over at grocery stores but they provide a plethora of nutritional benefits as well as being tasty and filling! For only about $1.29 per…
Is forgiveness my ticket out of relationship hell?
Sometimes I act a little “extreme” in relationships. Some of my ex’s have called me crazy. I prefer the term passionate. And at the risk of blacklisting myself from dating forever, I’m going to disclose some of my insanity, right here, right now, in hopes of helping at least one lost soul out there like…
Can stress actually be good for us?
A different view of stress…. "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". "It is only in passing through the furnace, that iron becomes steel." The New Way of Thinking that will get us to the New World requires that we revisit and reframe our understanding of everything that touches our lives. In my last post I…
Do It This Weekend: Warhol, dance concerts, Heatwave, TB Wine & Food Fest, and more
Catch “Andy mania” this weekend when Museum of Fine Arts debuts Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends, an exhibit of more than 70 screen-prints by the pop master. Classics including "Campbell’s Soup I (Cream of Mushroom)," "Flowers" and portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Superman and Muhammad Ali go on view, along with several lesser-known portfolios. (Pictured…
Relationship killer: how many people have you slept with?
Love isn't the most sensible of emotions. I'd go so far as to say that love is the mentally handicapped cousin of reason. There's just something about being in a relationship that causes you to ask stupid questions you don't want to know the answers to. "Were you thinking of Mathew McConaughey the last time…
CL’s Lost podcast: Season 5, Ep 16 “The Incident Part 1”
It's season finale time, and we've got a special two-part edition of our Lost podcast. (You didn't expect us to cram all our speculation into a normal-length podcast, did you?) In Part 1, we cover the "The Incident part 1 & 2," discussing the epic fall of Ben Linus, whether God and the devil play…
Cheesy video of the day: the Hoff
David Hasselhoff was once unbelievably popular in Europe, especially in Germany, when his single, "Looking for Freedom," hit number one right around the fall of the Berlin Wall. He hasn't done much since aside from the odd acting gig and alcoholic video embarassments, though he's done several self-satire appearances in films ranging from David Hasselhoff:…
Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament assaulted and robbed.
You know the economy's bad when musicians get robbed, and the two recent occurrences in what seems to be a new trend are Jeff Ament and Gliss vocalist/guitarist Martin Klingman. A few weeks ago, some assholes broke into the van of LA psyche rockers Gliss (who stopped here a few weeks ago) and made off…
Sometimes a dream is just a dream
A reader sent me a "garden variety" dream. A dream that basically rehashed his day's events. He dreamed he was flying a plane and wanted to land it to go home and have a beer. Luckily, before I got all analytical, I asked him what he did for a living. He was a pilot. …
7 examples of the Orlando Magic’s tragic leadership vacuum
The Cleveland Cavaliers have it easy. For that sake, so do the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. The difference between those teams and the Orlando Magic is so clear cut, it smacks you in the face like a playoff game you should have won, then inexplicably lost. Cleveland has a leader. …
USDA offers grants to conventional farmers to switch to organic
The USDA has announced it will throw in a total of $50 million conventional farmers to help them switch to organic. In comparison to bank bailouts, the amount might sound paltry, but we have to start somewhere. Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Kathleen Merrigan said: "Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill as well…
Kama Sutra: the wrestler position
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate position (1 as horrible, 10 as sexual nirvana)? While I would say it actually has the possibilities of becoming a solid 8, I had to give it a 3. Unless your partner is a contortionist, this position is very hard to negotiate. Did you…
Do It Today: Romeo, Juliet and Doc Webb on stage in St. Pete
Romeo + Juliet. Bob Devin Jones, fearless leader of The Studio@620, takes on William Shakespeare’s most famous love story with a multi-cultural, multi-talented cast. Among the familiar names on board are Julie Rowe as the nurse, Bonnie Agan and Jorge Acosta as Lord and Lady Capulet and Sharon Scott as the chorus, with T. Scott…
Peter Meinke named St. Petersburg Poet Laureate
St. Pete's about to get what Tampa has had for years — a poet laureate — and we're happy to report he's one of us. Peter Meinke writes the "Poet's Notebook" column for Creative Loafing, and in a proclamation today from St. Petersburg City Council, he will be named the city's first poet-in-chief. The title…
Cake decorating gets a new look
With the rise of all-things-cooking has come a slew of television shows, celebrity chefs, designer cookbooks, and yes, that one-time silly-frillyness formerly relegated to weddings and 3rd grade birthday parties: cake decorating. The cake decorating movement, in line with the new consciousness about cooking (see: slow food, organic food, food competitions, gourmet food, Top Chef,…
The case against organic foods and what you may not know about them
Before you run out and splurge on your "organic" products, there are many things you may want to understand. The marketing campaigns from the companies who provide these foods tell you the benefits, and there are benefits, but fail to share all of the facts from the scientific community. I must admit, when I began research…
In my fuck-buddy search, I hit my age limit
As the hunt for my next fuck-buddy continues, I’ve expanded my search parameters and raised my age limit. At least I tried to. When I was younger I vowed I wouldn't date anyone more than eight years older than me, but as I grew up, my lovers and boyfriends got progressively younger. To be honest,…
New Wilco album streaming now
Wilco is currently streaming their new self-titled album. Check it out here. And for your viewing pleasure, after the jump, see a video of Wilco performing "Wilco," from the album Wilco on the Colbert Report. (Thanks, Stephen!)
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Thursday, May 14: ABC Fine Wines and Spirits St. Pete Sample dozens of wines, enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres to complement the wines, and chat with our wine experts. $5 includes souvernir wine glass. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 6398 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., St. Pete (727-527-1579). Friday, May 15: American Spirits Taste 15-20 wines from around…
A Latin-inspired meal: not just your plain old chicken and rice
When thinking of recipes to make to post on the site, I rack my brain looking at food magazines, and foodie sites and blogs for inspiration. But I've come to find, through trial and error, that my best looking and tasting dishes are almost always done as a spur of the moment thing. I especially love a…
An American foodie in China
Listening to the pre-trip food-poisoning, bug-eating horror stories, I expected to lose weight. But far from the miracle Dexatrim solution I'd envisioned, my recent vacation in China proved to be an incredible culinary adventure. China is far more modern, clean and sophisticated than I ever imagined, at least in the cities. Its citizens are warmly…
May is National Bike Month, so park the car and hop on a bike
Have fun while benefiting your health and the environment. You remember how to ride a bike, but do you remember how much fun it is to ride your bike? The feel of the wind as you ride down the hill as fast as you can, exploring all day through the neighborhood with your friends, or…
Antonio’s top 10 ice-breakers for women to use on men
The dating scene has changed since our parents were trolling the bars. It's 2009 and finally women are taking the initiative, approaching guys with pick-up lines. Sure, there's the cheesy ones that make us cringe…but when delivered well, still work. But I'm not talking about those gimmicky lines. I'm talking about the memorable lines that…
Free food at grand opening of Soup A Hero in Clearwater 5/13
A new deli and restaurant in Clearwater, Soup A Hero, celebrates its grand opening with free menu samples today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The menu features an array of gourmet foods, soups and salads prepared by owner and head cook Nino Accetta. Soup A Hero Deli and Restaurant 2245 Nursery Rd Clearwater, FL 33764…
Rant: The Magic and the Rays are making me nuts (especially the Magic)
A pit-in-the-stomach morning. It’s been a bad few days to be a fan of central Florida’s professional sports teams. I’m referring specifically to the Tampa Bay Rays and Orlando Magic. On Sunday night and last night, both teams played at about the same time, which had me working the “Last” button on the remote a…
CL Sound Bites: Flaming Lips, Ramones, Radiohead, and more.
Oklahoma is cooler than Florida! At least as far as official state rock songs are concerned. Residents declared The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize?" the rock anthem of Oklahoma via an online vote. However, the Oklahoma state House rejected the resolution. Some representatives, inclined against all things cool, protested the vote, citing the band's profanity and provocative…
Do It Today: Lost season finale — whose side are you on?
Lost Season Finale. The penultimate season of J.J. Abrams' time-travelogue series has proven to be nothing if not debatable. Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen thinks it's been "a pretty freakin' fun and altogether fulfilling year." But the Tampa Tribune's Walt Belcher dismisses the season as "tiresome," and the New York Times' Ginia Bellafante says the show…
Paris Gardens at Bartlett Park- Gardening for safety, food and community
The horrifying and tragic shooting death of 8-year old Paris Whitehead Hamilton this past month sparked a wellspring of grief and outrage among neighbors in Bartlett Park's south St. Petersburg neighborhood. In a move to heal and renew the community, members of Green Florida have launched a new project in Paris' memory to transform front yards in…
Bringing home the gold: Tampa’s initiatives to become a more sustainably green city
Earlier this year, Pam Iorio announced the City’s Gold-level certified Green Local Government designation by the Florida Green Building Coaliton (FGBC). Tampa was only the second city to achieve this award in Florida (Tallahassee was the first) and the local government is wasting no time in starting to get the city on its way to creating…
The Ramones: a rite of passage
By Vinyl Fever's Gabe Echazabal A young music lover whose taste I respect and admire told me something shocking the other day. The kid is in his late teens and listens to some pretty cool stuff — vintage Bowie, freaked-out Zappa and some other worthwhile contemporary artists as well. I see myself in this person…
Review: The bar at Restaurant BT
BT’s bar menu can’t keep up with it’s innovative cocktails.
T-shirts as art — and a deal
In this economy, it's pretty much a no-brainer that if you're buying art at all, you're looking for the bargains. (Of course what constitutes a bargain is relative. Last week, a New York art dealer snapped up a late Picasso previously owned by contemporary artist Julian Schnabel for a cool $7.7 million — just undercutting…
Shining City at TBPAC burns brightly
A new Stageworks play is nothing short of brilliant.
Savage Love: Is my personality costing me relationships and sex?
Guy might think too highly of himself
Dick Greco for Tampa mayor … again?
Toward the end of a local history forum that featured Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, moderator Gary Mormino, a University of South Florida historian, asked if either politician (both interested in moving up to statewide office) if they had any announcements to make. Both demurred. Baker joked that the only…
Can air injected into the bloodstream really kill you?
What's the deal with air in your bloodstream being lethal? Is this true? I have to assume it is; presumably it's the reason for tapping on a syringe to get the air out of it. But if so, how does it stop your heart? How much is too much? Is it 100 percent lethal? Please…
Summer Guide ’09: You Need A Vacation
"We live in a place where others work 51 weeks a year to visit for one week. Every day is a vacation." That's what Democratic Congressional candidate Doug Tudor told CL's Wayne Garcia when asked about his summer plans. And that's the irony of the sultry season in Tampa Bay. It's the time when the…
An American Foodie in China
Listening to the pre-trip food-poisoning, bug-eating horror stories, I expected to lose weight. But far from the miracle Dexatrim solution I'd envisioned, my recent vacation in China proved to be an incredible culinary adventure. China is far more modern, clean and sophisticated than I ever imagined, at least in the cities. Its citizens are warmly…
Bacon flavored vodka is on its way
It sounds like bottled baked potato with bacon topping. It kinda skeezes me out, yet intrigues. But, given the growing fascination with all things pork and cured, we should have expected it: A potato-based vodka with a “savory bacon flavor” has been invented in Seattle. Created by Black Rock Spirits after two years of testing, Bakon Vodka celebrates…
Squeezing the best from vegetables: juicing recipes that make you glow
You can’t help but notice that juicing is all the rage today. And I don’t mean just squeezing an orange into a glass. I’m talking about beets, celery, kale, spinach, bell peppers and carrots. Juice bars are popping up everywhere while smoothie shops are slowly losing customers. What gives? Juicing is one of the healthiest…
Review: Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown
Green Day21st Century Breakdown Reprise It may be a quaint notion in the download era, but I still think of the Album as a distinct artistic statement. Green Day obviously agrees, because 2004’s American Idiot was a rock opera and their new one, 21st Century Breakdown, out today, is a 70-minute, three-part song cycle. And…
Uganda’s Kinobe makes music that transcends national boundaries
As elusive as the concept of African unity may be, Kinobe Herbert is doing his part to realize it. The 25-year-old singer/multi-instrumentalist from Uganda rejects the fragmentation of the continent's often tradition-bound musical landscape, and instead actively seeks to incorporate influences and instruments from throughout Africa and beyond. "Most people in Uganda know more about…
Heatwave Preview: Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa
As elusive as the concept of African unity may be, Kinobe Herbert is doing his part to realize it. The 25-year-old singer/multi-instrumentalist from Uganda rejects the fragmentation of the continent's often tradition-bound musical landscape, and instead actively seeks to incorporate influences and instruments from throughout Africa and beyond. Kinobe his band, Soul Beat Africa, play…
Pipo’s and Skyway Jack’s restaurants expanding in St. Petersburg
Looks like the area on north 4th in St. Petersburg is getting lively, thanks to two Bay area restaurants looking to expand. Signs have gone up advertising a new location for Pipo's (9939 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-576-PIPO), the Tampa-based Cuban mini-chain. Ramon Hernandez (who splits ownership of the Pipo's locations with his brother),…
MMA 101: CL’s new Mixed Martial Arts blogger reports on “Street Kings”
By Astrid Bidanec TAMPA, Fla., April 17, 2009— Real Fighting Championships (RFC) hosted the mixed martial arts (MMA) event, "Street Kings," at a sold-out A La Carte Pavilion. Ring announcer Duane Spires dedicated a moment of silence to Charles “Mask” Lewis, who died in a car accident on March 11, 2009. Lewis was the co-founder…
Green Community Contributors
Sharon Joy Kleitsch – Editor Sharon Joy Kleitsch is a meta-networker, weaving local with global by sharing what’s emerging and what’s working. She inspires communities, organizations and individuals to partner “outside the box” in conversations that matter and actions that make a difference. A former Citigroup executive with a masters in spirituality, she applies the…
