Tampa Bay area ranks 40 out of 50 in annual list of the fittest cities
A new study of the top 50 metropolitan areas in the country has the Tampa/St.Petersburg/Clearwater region showing up near the back of the pack in 40th place, according to the American College of Sport Medicine's (ACSM) American Fitness Index™ (AFI). The sixth annual report evaluates preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions, health care…
Mitch Perry Report 5.29.13 – The Tampa Chamber of Commerce takes a trip to Cuba
Several dozen Tampa Bay area residents will be hopping on a plane today for a trip to Cuba organized by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. It's a huge step, if perhaps mostly symbolic, for the organization to begin a relationship with their counterparts in Havana. We call it symbolic because this is really a…
Bill Nelson wants heads to roll if changes aren’t made regarding the accuracy of short sale classifications
Saying he's ready for heads to roll at two federal agencies unless changes are made within the next few months, Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson held a press event at his downtown Tampa office on Tuesday with bank officials and homeowners who have been deleteriously affected by short sales being misreported in consumer credit reports…
St. Pete NAACP not happy with current establishment at City Hall
St. Pete NAACP head Manuel Sykes Concerns about the police and the lack of progress in the city's Midtown section were among the reasons that St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and Police Chief Chuck Harmon sat down with officials from the NAACP and ACLU this afternoon at City Hall. The meeting was originally scheduled to…
Once again, Bill Nelson denies he wants to run for governor
Bill Nelson Despite his protestations to the contrary, Bill Nelson continues to be floated as a possible Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2014. His latest declaration that he does not want to run to be the state's chief executive came during a session with Tampa reporters at the conclusion of a press event he held at…
‘Shawn Alff’ makes a cameo in the BDSM romance novel, Stare Me Down
What happened when I gave Riley Murphy permission to use me as a character in her latest book
UT grad freaks the cluck out of So You Think You Can Dance? judges
"This chick can dance!" exclaim the viral posts about dancer Lea (pronounced "Lee") McGowan, circulating around the web o'spheres' big cyber hen party. Reality TV fans are squawking about University of Tampa grad Lea McGowan, who auditioned on the reality show in a chicken costume. The multitalented actress, comedian, aerialist, performance artist, dancer and more,…
Mitch Perry Report: Marco Rubio, “The Amnesty candidate?”
Plus: Bob Dole, summer movies and more …
New Music Tuesday! (May 28): Aceyalone, John Fogerty, Skinny Puppy & more
Releases out this week, with audio, video + a quick wrap of May 21 drops, too.
Bob Dole latest old-school Republican to say he wouldn’t be welcome in today’s GOP
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Bob Dole became the latest major name Republican who says he'd have a hard time getting elected in the modern day GOP. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, the Republican presidential nominee from 1996 said not only would he have a difficult time getting through a GOP primary based on how…
Hundreds march against Monsanto in Tampa and St. Pete
Locals turn out Saturday to protest Monsanto in St. Pete and Tampa.
Looking for closure
An early sexual experience continues to haunt one reader.
Eat a burger, help your neighbor
Joanie Corneil and Bill Shumate, owners of Square 1 Burgers, are both from Oklahoma. This weekend, Corneil and Shumate are raising money for not one, but two great causes. For families and victims of the recent Oklahoma tornado, $1 will be donated for every Okie Dog or double-dipped onion rings order. The fundraiser runs from…
The summer quit
’Tis not the season for smoking. A personal vaporizer, on the other hand…
One Bitch Two Bitch
When to name things and when to call things names.
Rick Kriseman says Kathleen Ford’s advocacy against the Lens could hurt her run for mayor
Rick Kriseman With Memorial Day weekend upon us, it's unofficially summertime, which means the next three months will be a concentrated campaign season in St.Petersburg for the mayoral and City Council candidates; the primary election takes place a week before Labor Day. There are two announced challengers who want to thwart Bill Foster from enjoying…
Summertime farmers markets
Edge District Market The Edge District Market, held at Everything Dolce, features local and chemical-free produce and goods. Summer has arrived in Florida and growing season is on its way out, once again. While some farmers markets are closing for the summer, others are staying open so you don't have to worry about missing out…
Rowdies win award at Soiree, advance to Cup
TAMPA BAY ROWDIES SWEET CHARITY: Rowdies CEO/GM Andrew Nestor and Midfielder Luke Mulholland at the third annual Sneaker Soiree. The Tampa Bay Rowdies host Minnesota United FC on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for a chance to move into first place in the NASL standings. The Rowdies have been quite busy over the past couple of…
Make Memorial Day weekend memorably fun
The holiday is meant to honor the dearly departed, soldiers who’ve fallen in the line of duty, but remember to have some fun, too. Local attractions and museums salute military men, women and their families throughout the holiday weekend by offering a fleet of freebies — and there's plenty of free, affordable activities for family…
Tampa Bay Unified Auditions registration ends at 5 p.m. today!
Actors and would-be actors, get on the stick! Pronto!
Get tanked on tiki with the Zombie
Before you drink up at the Sunset Tiki Party on June 2 at the Post Card Inn, try this classic tiki cocktail recipe at home from Dean Hurst, Director of Spirits at Sidebern's and the President of the Left Coast Bartenders Guild. Originally concocted (legend has it) by Donn Beach at Don the Beachcomber in…
Mitch Perry Report 5.24.13 – Code Pink never went away
If you watched President Obama's major speech on his national security policies yesterday, or even just read about it today, you no doubt must have seen or heard about the protester at the National Defense University in Washington who began shouting in the middle of the address regarding drone warfare. That activist was Medea Benjamin,…
Weisse up
Florida brewers adopt and adapt the Berliner Weisse style.
Boy Scouts of America decision to take in openly gay youth as members a bitter pill for John Stemberger to swallow
John Stemberger has been on CNN frequently debating the Scouts issue John Stemberger is not a happy camper tonight. The Orlando based Christian conservative was a leading figure supporter for Amendment Two back in 2008, the constitutional amendment that defined marriage as a union of one man and one woman. He's been a leading voice…
My quickie interview and thwarted attempt to film a sequel to ‘Backdoor Teen Mom’ with Farrah Abraham
The x-rated reality star opens up about James Deen, what’s left on her ‘fucket list’, and what she learned from the careers of other celebrities with sex tapes.
Major rallies against Monsanto planned this Saturday in Tampa and St. Petersburg
At 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, major rallies are planned in more than 400 cities around the world, with people protesting biotechnology giant Monsanto — one of the least popular major corporations around the world. One of the main goals of March Against Monsanto is to raise awareness about genetically modified foods, which critics say…
Debate about budget analyst triggers emotions at Tampa City Council meeting
Mary Mulhern On Thursday morning, The Tampa City Council voted down a proposal to hire a budget analyst. The discussion leading up to the vote opened up fissures amongst board members who feel their work ethic and independence in standing up to Mayor Bob Buckhorn is being challenged when it comes to fiscal matters. Council…
Tiki revival: Mai Tais and marimbas
Four locals talk the rise, fall and revival of tiki culture.
Mitch Perry Report 5.23.13 -Hillsborough County, where progress moves at a snail’s pace
News about the LGBT community in one way or another seems to dominate the news these days. A big national story will be taking place later today in Grapevine, Texas, where the Boy Scouts of America are considering a proposal at their annual meeting to allow gay youths to participate openly in the popular organization…
Welcome back, Bluths
New episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix? Here’s why we give a shit.
Spin These: The National, David Bowie, Chance the Rapper, Vampire Weekend
Catching up with some of the biggest album releases of 2013.
Fast 6 is Furiously entertaining
Old favorites return for the best installment of the Fast and Furious series yet.
Dressing up the little black dress
Start by thinking of one item that will elevate the look to a whole other level.
This week in Tampa Bay area live music, featuring Coheed and Cambria, Steve Martin, King Lincoln and more …
THURSDAY, MAY 23 Hockey/The Hush Sound w/River City Extension/Genevieve/Lucas Carpenter The sexy post-punk rock and electro-disco roll of Hockey’s debut full-length, Mind Chaos, made it a favorite of 2009, though the Portland-based outfit (featuring core members Benjamin Grubin and Jeremy Reynolds) has since ventured into synthesized dance punk territory with more fuzzy tones, New Wave…
The Hangover trilogy ends with a whimper
The Wolfpack is back and largely defanged for The Hangover Part III.
Epic in name only
But this modest eco-fantasy is refreshing.
Album Review: Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
Don’t think just because Vampire Weekend’s latest album is called Modern Vampires of the City (XL) that their brand of neo-colonialist art-pop has taken a turn entirely toward the morose. Frontman Ezra Koenig’s concerns may be newly self-reflective, but not at the expense of the bouncy indie pop they’ve built an empire producing. “Ya Hey”…
Album Review: The National, Trouble Will Find Me
Twelve years into their recording career, The National has found their wheelhouse. Early efforts from the Cincinnati-bred, Brooklyn-based quintet hinted at an unhinged side to the typically staid band. Their latest full-length Trouble Will Find Me (4AD) offers no such suggestion of danger, instead falling into place as the latest amid a string of three-piece-suit-wearing…
Album Review: David Bowie, The Next Day
The always innovative David Bowie, who most fans thought had permanently retired from the business, shocked the world when in January, on his 66th birthday, he announced he’d completed a brand new studio album. As a teaser, he premiered the plaintive single “Where Are We Now?” on the same day, and the first full-length of…
Album Review: Chance The Rapper, Acid Rap
Chancelor Bennett likes LSD. The 20-year-old Chicagoan who records as Chance The Rapper has made that clear in his tweets, in his verses, and, most evidently, in the title of his latest mixtape. Despite Acid Rap’s obvious fixation on psychedelia, the record is decidedly more narcoleptic than narcotic. Even as Chance weaves lines about keeping…
Sympathy for the deviant
Visiting my friend, the sex offender, in prison.
Hillsborough County resumes the journey toward a transportation plan
Everybody at the table: The Policy Leadership Group in Hillsborough County conducts its first meeting The overwhelming defeat of the transit tax in Hillsborough County in 2010 shell-shocked the elected officials who supported the plan. While Pinellas County officials have worked toward having their citizenry vote on light-rail plans in 2014, nothing much has been…
Speculation on gay marriage from the perspective of an unmarriageable lesbian
A moment of recognition for marriage equality progress in America.
