Local author named an International Latino Book Awards finalist
Tarpon Springs author a finalist in Int’l Latino Book Awards
Council Oak debuts new happy hour menu
Wine and dine through Wine Down Wednesday at Seminole Hard Rock’s Council Oak.
A Tampa Filmmaker went to North Dakota to meditate on the meaning of love, the results are gorgeous
“Crosby Rail” takes an objective look at untouched, rural America, and unveils a little about ourselves in the process
Theater Review: Chapatti
Splendid performances in a touching play about a cat lover, a dog owner and an awkward courtship.
16 events to look forward to this summer
Dade City’s new zipline park, Chris Hardwick, Sheryl Underwood and more.
Impending doom: Florida’s possible government shutdown and you
Ahead of the June special legislative session in which the state House and Senate plan to fulfill their constitutional duty of passing a budget by the end of the month — kind of important, guys — Governor Rick Scott asked heads of state agencies to prepare plans for how to function barebones in the event…
Local low-wage worker activists in Chicago for massive protest at McDonalds HQ
Believe it or not, people eat at McDonald's. A lot of them, actually. In order to meet demand for the company's product, McDonald's, which is headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., has to hire people to prepare "food" featured on its menu and collect currency from customers, who then apparently consume it. The company earns billions…
Summer Guide 2015: ReCREATION – Beaches, Museums, Parks & More
MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONSADVENTURE ISLAND The park is open daily March through October; hours vary. Single-day passes are $44 age 3 and up with a $5 discount if you purchase online; children 2 and younger enter for free ($12 parking fee). Busch Gardens/Adventure Island combo tickets are available. The newest ride, the Colossal Curl, is open…
Summer Guide 2015: ReANIMATE – An education in digital animation
Spend the summer learning how to create your own animated superstars.
Summer Guide 2015: ReGRESS – Kids’ stuff for adults
Sure, there are plenty of grown-up summer activities all over the Bay area to fill up the hot days and humid nights. From bars and clubs to museums, beaches, boating and more, there’s a lot of adulting to do. But adulting gets old after a while. Why should the kids have all the cheap, carefree…
Summer Guide 2015: ReCON – Get your geek on
A look at the highest-profile niche conventions the region has to offer.
Summer Guide 2015: ReCOVER – Can you karaoke?
Lay down some jams this summer in air-conditioned comfort.
Summer Guide 2015: ReBAIT – Fishing 101
It’s nice out. You’d like to do something by the water, but you’re kind of sick of just hanging out and/or drinking. Why not go fishing? Hey, that sounds fun! But wait. You haven’t been fishing in ages, and you didn’t know a whole lot about it even then. All you’ve got is an old…
Summer Guide 2015: ReCHARGE – Alternative ways to get healthy
There are two new forward-thinking health and fitness services in Tampa Bay that have busy people in mind. They are led by smart, down-to-earth, non-judgmental professionals whose mission is not to coerce you or shame you into doing the right thing but to teach you how to make good nutrition and lifestyle choices — and…
Summer Guide 2015: ReTHINK – The performing arts rundown
Opera and literature and big band (and more), oh my!
Summer Guide 2015: ReTAIL
As we’ve all heard, the Tampa Bay area is (mostly) enjoying an economic upswing, with a spate of new residential and mixed-use developments set to permeate the urban cores of St. Pete and Tampa. A sure sign of the region’s upward mobility, retail outfits are flocking here — some indie, some not-so-indie. Here is a…
Bloom’s wall-to-wall first-year anniversary
The art center will celebrate with more than 25 artists and more.
Gulfport bands together to save imperiled duckling
Could you go to jail over a duckling? If you said yes, you're a good person. If you got indignant that we're even asking, odds are, you live in Gulfport, where ducks… well, ducks aren't exactly worshipped in this one-of-a-kind town, but they aren't exactly not worshipped, either. Case in point: When faced with potential…
Gas guzzlers: The best food from Tampa fuel stations
Chicken and waffles, Caribbean grub and more at Tampa gas stops.
Wolfing it Down: The hot, the sweet at Kojak’s
A Tampa institution brings a mixed bag to the table.
Way Back Wednesday: Dr. Dre
A weekly video spotlight on influential artists who came up pre-’00s
Restaurant review: Wildflower Café delivers on the details
From classic brunch to homemade desserts, Wildflower Café, a Clearwater gem, shines.
Saint Somewhere Brewing Kickstarts new facility, tasting room
For eight years, Saint Somewhere has been crafting incredible Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales out of the same production facility in a small industrial park in Tarpon Springs. While the space has also been home to a series of bottle trade events and the like, it's not what you could call an ideal place to really savor…
Bondi announcement anticlimactic, nothing “major”
Well, with a 2016 Senate run off the table for months and 2018 way too far out for none but the kookiest of candidates to announce a run, we weren't really sure what Attorney General Pam Bondi was going to announce when we made jokes about it earlier this week. She was the guest of…
Groups offer $7500 for info on lowlifes behind abuse of St. Pete dogfighting victim Rogue
Between the Humane Society and PETA, if you have the balls to turn in the dogfighters who allegedly used Rogue as a bait dog in a secret St. Petersburg dogfighting ring, you could walk away with up to $7500. The Humane Society of the United States offers $5000 to anyone with information that leads to…
Sh*t happened 5/20/15: R.I.P. Helen Gordon Davis, Rays Win, Tampa jobs ranking
Tuesdays: "Making Mondays Seem Way Better Than We Thought In Hindsight Since 0001." Many progressives and pols mourned the passing of legislator and activist Helen Gordon Davis. I confess I didn't know much about Davis, the first woman from Hillsborough County to be elected to the state legislature — she lost her seat in the…
Radarmen celebrate a new album at a release show this Friday
The local indie rock trio presents Echoes in Sound; check out two tracks here.
New Music Tuesday! (May 19): The Helio Sequence, Paul Weller, Faith No More, Hot Chip & more
A curated breakdown of albums that dropped this week, with lots of audio & video included
Mad Max: Fury Road is man-hating at its awesomest
It’s a film that puts women first, and all filmgoers are the winners.
Sh*t happened 5/19/15: People not being punished enough for doing bad things edition
Jeez. We must've gotten some much-needed rest this weekend, because we rolled into Monday rarin' to continue civilization's hastening decline, didn't we? Former Buc and NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp has agreed to a deal regarding his February dust-up with two hookers in Phoenix, pleading guilty to two misdemeanors after being charged with solicitation…
Tonight in live music: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Helios Jazz Orchestra featuring Lorri Hafer
A few concerts happening on this Tue., May 19
Bondi to announce something Tuesday at huge fundraiser in Tampa…but what?
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday will be the beneficiary of a fundraiser put on by the people of Maggie's List, the anti-Emily's list, and kind of an Angie's list for conservative lady politicians, SaintPetersBlog reported a few weeks back. The event's public portion begins at 5:30 in the evening at the Columbia Restaurant's museum…
Dogfighting Alive and Well in St. Petersburg
If this were a child, St. Petersburg would be losing its collective shit. Apparently — and we say apparently because seriously, no one seems able to do a damn thing about this — dogfighting is a thing that happens in St. Pete, and while we'll organize a task force over curbside recycling or how much…
Page Turners: Tampa Bay’s literary happenings
Author signings abound in the Tampa Bay area
Local goes international: Paula Brett’s candy mandala creations covered by Vanity Fair Italia
Paula Brett’s found-object art is sweetly spiritual.
Sh*t happened 5/18/15: Tourism, lobbying, Rubio, Legoland, more
"So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Gary skipped another shell across the oily surface of the retention pond. "I dunno," said Adam, "but my father says whatever I end up doing, I should be 'influential.'" "What does that mean, 'influential?'" "It means," said the homeless veteran watching the water from…
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
DeRay Davis is at Tampa Improv this weekend. After several weeks of hosting some of the biggest names in the business, Tampa takes a break from mega-celebrities on Memorial Day weekend. There are still plenty of funny shows, of course. Touring headliners and talented locals provide entertainment at several venues. And when you don't have…
Thoughts on the Mad Men series finale: “Person to Person”
The beloved series goes out with poignant phone calls, life changes, loss, renewal and a sweet, shaggy romance.
Pitch Perfect 2: The music’s good, the gags are OK, the plot’s not
Not exactly a sophomore slump, but this sequel doesn’t match the original.
This Sunday in live music: The Hackensaw Boys, The Slackers, Laurie Berkner & more
Concerts taking place this Sun., May 17
Tonight in live music: Ciara, John Fogerty, The Welzeins, Strung Out & more
Lots of shows happening this Sat., May 16
Ahead of his keynote at Eckerd commencement, former NJ gov Tom Kean talks politics with CL
It may seem incongruous that a Republican is delivering a commencement speech at St. Pete's Eckerd College, a private liberal arts college that seems to us embody both liberalism and arts — in a good way. But former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean, who served in that capacity from 1982 to 1990 and is considered…
Why we’re going to see Mad Max: Fury Road this weekend
Big-budget blockbusters with lots of explosions aren't really our thing, but we may have to make an exception for the new Mad Max remake. Sure, it's getting phenomenal reviews and we find the post-apocalyptic milieu appealing. But what really makes us want to head to SunDial to see the flick (after a few beverages at…
Luxury movie Theatre on its way to Tyrone Square
State-of-the art trappings, soft leather comfort, food from scratch and more give moviegoers incentive to get off the couch early 2016.
The Hip Hop ABCs: The winner of Letter L; vote on Letter M
The alphabetical rap battles continue
Weekend Tune-Up: Tunes for your weekend by Incubus, Brandon Flowers, Other Lives & more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the weekend, Spotify playlist included.
Totally meow-some! ARTPool’s Wild Things offers feline fun Saturday night
Animals, art and the first Florida showing of the Internet Cat Video Festival.
Rick Scott has 15 seconds of coolness for signing growler bill, but then…
When State Rep. Chris Sprowls and State Sen. Jack Latvala filed bills in their respective chambers last December that would make it legal for craft brewers to sell 64-ounce growlers, as is legal in every single other non-Utah state, we were admittedly skeptical. After all, it's tough for even the most sensible, consumer-friendly and small…
Sh*t happened 5/15/15: Bye-bye Biltmore, accidental shooting, pot bust & more
Welcome to Friday, your preferred weekday scenario. You've traveled long and hard to get here, seen many things, heard many stories and learned many lessons. Why, just yesterday… For better or worse, demolition of the historic Belleview Biltmore hotel in Pinellas has finally begun. No more murder-mystery dinner theater. Whodunnit? Progress, that's who. Progress dunnit.…
Tonight in live music: Old Crow Medicine Show, Rockabilly Battle Royale, The Maine & more
Concerts this Fri., May 15
Kriseman definitely endorses Murphy for U.S. Senate
We mentioned this was probably going to happen in a post earlier today. The little bird who indicated to us that St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman was about to endorse Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate was Kriseman himself, who told this reporter and others over lunch at Sylvia's Queen of Soul Food that…
Thanks to the Rangers, Frozen on Ice will go on
Disney characters will take over Amalie’s rink for the weekend.
Down by the water: A sweeping new plan would overhaul St. Pete’s waterfront (and no, we’re not just talking about the Pier).
It’s a place to sit and think, to catch live music or theater, get some cardio or fish with the kids. Some people even work along St. Pete’s downtown waterfront, a seven-mile stretch that runs from Coffee Pot Bayou to Lassing Park. Yet while it has in recent years been heralded as an attraction integral…
Tonight in live music: Built to Spill, Guerilla Toss, John Mayall & more
Shows happening this Thurs., May 14
Live and Local Spotlight: DEA + Saint
A talented R&B-fused alt hip hop duo hits The Amsterdam Thurs., May 21. Audio from their new LP included.
Local “new punk” Jasmine Deja juggles multiple instruments and projects
A profile on the artist behind Soapbox Soliloquy, and plays in Selectric and Veiny Hands, among other collabs.
