Ed Turanchik and HMS Global Maritime introduce proposal to bring high-speed ferry rail to Tampa Bay
Ed Turanchik, and Greg Dronkert and Mark Fernandez of HMS Ferries at the Tampa Bay Times Forum Today, Tampa attorney and public transportation advocate Ed Turanchik along with officials from the Seattle based HMS Ferries laid out their vision of a public-private partnership to initiate Tampa Bay's first commuter, recreational and tourist passenger ferry service.…
Beating around the bush with ‘natural’ adult model, Sativa Verte
magical images photography Amid a Vegas convention hall filled with surgically enhanced and chemically remastered porn stars, Sativa Verte is labeled a "fetish" or "alternative" model. A more accurate term for her is "natural," due to her minimal use (and need for) beauty products and her un-landscaped patches of body hair. Verte is even more…
Tampa City Council members differ on the need for budget analyst
Wayne Garcia Mayor Iorio and the City Council discuss the budget in 2008 It has been years since crowds formed at City Hall for Tampa's annual late summer budget hearings. The last time citizens showed serious concern during those discussions was in the mid-aughts, when the region's property values were ablaze, creating bigger tax bills…
Mitch Perry Report 5.22.13 – Please welcome Anthony Weiner back to the political stage
For those of us who thrive on following elections, 2013 is a pretty dry year. Locally we've got the St. Pete mayoral and City Council elections coming up, with a big primary in August (with the Lens on the ballot) and the general election in November. Nationally, there's only really one gubernatorial race of interest,…
Conservative protesters say “Down with the IRS” and “Fire Obama”
Douglas Coggeshall, one of the last supporters to leave the Anti-IRS rally. The corrupt attacks and denials follow “a pattern like Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler, and even Watergate. The Obama administration is as corrupt as it can be and we won’t stand for this.” Douglas Coggeshall, engineer and history buff, believes that history is repeating itself…
Paradise found
Caretta on the Gulf redefines beach cuisine.
Greece-y goodness
Say “Opa!” to these Greek lamb sliders in pita pockets.
Drinking it all in
A night of Beer, Bites & Brushes in the Warehouse District.
Get out your LGBT Memorial Day weekend calendar
If you're looking to make Memorial Day weekend plans, there are plenty of LGBT events in the Tampa Bay area. On Wednesday, May 22, 4 — 7 p.m., join local elected officials and announced candidates at the Harvey Milk Day Meet and Mingle at The Birchwood Inn, 340 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg. Tickets are…
If DOMA goes away, then what?
On a national level, same-sex marriage could soon be recognized by the United States government. This means that federal benefits for married gay couples will be the same as heterosexual married couples. What sort of federal benefits? Social security benefits, VA benefits, military benefits, IRS tax situations.
Landmark victory: American Journey has arrived
Not only does it best Ikea as the coolest thing on Adamo Drive, the mural is the largest of its kind in Florida.
Jamie Dimon easily survives vote to split his duties at JPMorgan Chase shareholder meeting in Tampa
Cameras and recording devices were banned from JPMorgan Chase's shareholder meeting in Tampa At JPMorgan Chase's annual shareholders' meeting in Tampa a year ago, the bank's CEO and chairman of the board, Jamie Dimon, was embarrassed when a close shareholder vote nearly stripped him of his chairman's job in the wake of the corporation's so-called…
Environmental Activist Bill McKibben speaks at Eckerd College’s 2013 Graduation
Sunday, May 19, marked the Golden Anniversary of the annual Eckerd College graduation commencement in Saint Petersburg. More than 500 graduates, their families and well-wishers, the faculty and the board of trustees all gathered under a circus-styled big top for the ceremony. This year’s commencement address was delivered by Bill McKibben, a world-renowned environmental activist…
“It’s Monsoon season, bitches!” The CL interview with RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon
RuPaul's Drag Race has turned American on to plenty of fishy and glamorous drag queens during it's five seasons, but none have stolen more hearts than campy theater queen, Jinkx Monsoon. Jinkx (performed by Jerick Hoffer) went from this year's underdog, all the way to winner, crowned by RuPaul herself. We had the chance to…
Mitch Perry Report: Fluoride on the ballot again, but a long way from Pinellas County
Plus: Tea Party paranoia, HART and more …
Hillsborough County Democrats elect a new chairman
Michael van Hoek takes the reins; Tim Heberlein is the party’s new vice-chair.
Tampa Tea Party member says she’s been negatively affected by IRS on two separate occasions
Karen Jaroch Before it was revealed earlier this month that the IRS has been scrutinizing conservative groups seeking a tax-exempt status, the biggest issue the agency has dealt with in the past year is refund fraud and identify theft — a problem that has exploded in the Tampa Bay area. As a co-founder of the…
HART to use $1.2 million to add bus hours on nights and weekends
Talk about doing more with less. The proposed fiscal year 2014 operating and capital budget for Hillsborough County's transit agency will come in nearly 27 percent lower than last year. The $62 million slated to spend next year is slightly higher than the current amended budget, but it's part of the agency's capital budget, which…
Pet-A-Palooza 2013: Pics from the pet party
Cute and cuddly were everywhere Saturday at Pet-A-Palooza, held at Raymond James Stadium. Pet challenges included Twiggy the water-skiing squirrel and a dog diving dock. More than 30 animal rescue organizations were also in attendance. Temperatures crept toward 90 degrees, leaving many of the four-legged attendees panting as their owners sought shade. Twiggy the water-skiing…
Middle fingers fly as American Idiot invades the Straz Center
Green Day angsts up Broadway.
Mitch Perry Report 5.20.13: The President’s agenda wasn’t in good shape before Benghazi/AP/IRS …
… so stop saying otherwise Joe Scarborough.
The Amazon Trail: Fleeing Flatonia
We fled Flatonia, Texas like it could pursue us. We’d be back home in the Pacific Northwest in just a few days and, we hoped, bed bug-less. Once on the road, my sweetheart read to me about Flatonia, which boasts 8,000 people and a proud melting pot history. We sped through San Antonio, a pretty…
All scandal, all the time for the next month in Washington?
The economy has improved — quick, look over here!
Hands Across the Sand draws a line against oil drilling and fracking
Residents took a stand in the sand Saturday on Treasure island.
Adamo Drive Mural ready to be unveiled
It’ll be the largest outdoor original artwork in Florida, in Ybor City between 17th and 19th streets.
Shorties
Sometimes there is a simple answer.
The Office ends on a high note
I’ve watched a lot of shows to completion. All of them have one thing in common; I used DVD or Netflix to finish them. Until now. The Office is the first show I’ve kept up with in it’s entirety week by week. As ridiculous as it sounds, I’ve grown up with the show. It’s spanned…
Harvey Milk Festival set this weekend
This weekend, Sarasota once again celebrates the life of the first openly gay politician with the fourth annual Harvey Milk Festival. The three-day event espouses the late Milk’s ideals by showcasing emerging musicians and artists who support diversity and reject discrimination, while promoting equality for the LGBT community. The festival kicked off Thursday, May 16…
Conservative group rallies in Florida to keep ban on “avowed” gay Boy Scouts
Protesters at a Scouts office off of Central Avenue in North Tampa Boy Scout delegates will decide next week if the ban on gay Scouts remains or not. Supporters of the ban held rallies in 40 cities on Friday, including Tampa, urging delegates to "Keep sex and politics out of the Boy Scouts" and vote…
Renoir paints a beautiful picture
The Tampa Theatre imports a little summer counterprogramming from France.
Hillsborough County homeless population drops dramatically
Is it a miracle of tabulation or are things really getting better on the streets?
Mitch Perry Report 5.17.13: TPD being questioned (again) in Al Fox DUI case
Plus: Turn down your car stereo!
Get out your LGBT weekend calendar
If you're still looking to make weekend plans, there are plenty of LGBT events in the Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, hosts its eighth annual Pride & Passion event on Saturday, May 18 starting at 8 p.m. The event features cuisine from Timpano Italian Chophouse, complimentary cocktails and…
Tampa goes green
A community comes together to create a pathway connecting Tampa’s greenspaces.
Jon & Jen take a musical trip through the decades
freeFall Theatre’s latest production is a lovely but superficial tour of American life from the ’50s to the ’90s.
Race headlong fearless
The legacy of Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays.
EMILY’s List highlights Jessica Ehrlich in her 2014 race against Bill Young
“I am proud to receive the support of Emily’s List …” she said.
Tampa nears enacting ordinance to reduce car-stereo noise
Car speakers like these are creating havoc in some Tampa neighborhoods The City of Tampa is less than a month away from enacting an ordinance designed to crack down on motorists who refuse to turn down the volume on their car stereos, with repeat offenders looking at a possible jail sentence. The Tampa City Council,…
Tampa cyclists ride for safer streets
Cyclists gathered at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa sporting Wednesday night wearing reflective gear, helmets, and lights. These bicyclists decided to join the ride throughout downtown in an effort to raise awareness for bicycle and pedestrian safety on the roadways. Approximately 65 riders attended the Ride To Silence. Participants were escorted by the Tampa…
Seminole Heights residents speak up on potential dog park
Residents sound off on a proposed dog park at Henry and Ola Park in Seminole Heights.
Mitch Perry Report: Tribune urges Rick Scott to veto study of HART/PSTA merger
Plus: Fireworks at the BOCC, Nan Rich and more …
Florida Dems search for a gubernatorial candidate
The speculation runs rampant as Democrats ponder who will run against Rick Scott.
Patrick Wilson rocks out
Actor/singer Patrick Wilson talks about making music for charity with his brothers in The Wilson Van.
A week of Skipperdome CD release shows: Joel Tatangelo, Geoff Abraham, Applebutter Express
This week, the Skipperdome presents album release parties featuring three noteworthy local acts on three separate nights. Opening the fresh material festivities is Joel Tatangelo Band, its namesake guitarist renowned for slide guitar chops that have only grown more polished over the seven years he’s been active in the scene. His axe skills are on…
The Sugar Man lands in Tampa: Rodriguez live at the Straz Center
A look back at the Thurs., May 9 concert.
It’s R Bar
Welcome to Treasure Island’s newest brewpub.
See you in Canton, Ronde
The Bucs and their fans owe plenty to Ronde Barber.
A look back at the 32nd annual Tropical Heatwave, Ybor City
Photos included; CL-produced video forthcoming.
Hot shots
Zoya hosts a shot-out for the new summer menu.
Controversial Christian conservative’s inclusion on diversity board leads to explosive debate at Hillsborough County Commission
Terry Kemple The question of whether to include Christian conservative activist Terry Kemple on a county diversity advisory group led to an extraordinary debate regarding Hillsborough County's history of discrimination against gays at a Board of County Commissioners meeting Wednesday afternoon. Kemple's strident advocacy has alienated him from both the gay and Muslim communities over…
Star Trekking at the gates of hell
The crew of the Enterprise returns for the workmanlike Into Darkness.
Simon Pegg: Great Scotty!
The multitalented Simon Pegg is a geek for all seasons.
Hillsborough Board agrees to referendum that could add Latino to BOCC
Les Miller After last year's presidential election, when Barack Obama smoked Mitt Romney 71-29 percent on the Latino vote, Republicans throughout the land said they have to increase their outreach to the fast growing demographic, or else their political futures could be at stake. Taken from that perspective, the unanimous vote by the Hillsborough Board…
Spanish renaissance at Vizcaya
Tasty tapas choices abound in the beautifully renovated space.
Hold the chicken
No birds will be harmed when making this excellent chicken(less) salad.
