Dreaming of a knife-wielding boyfriend
“Dream Momma, I live in Tampa but work in St. Pete. I spend a lot of time on the bridge just thinking about things. I realize the commute is good for me that way. I think about my old BF and why we broke up. The other night I had this dream and it still…
Do It This Weekend: Taste of Pinellas, Carmen at the opera and Chicago at the theater, pepper and beer fests, a Rays watch party, the Living Green Expo and more
Bring your sunscreen, family and friends to Taste of Pinellas, the annual three day festival of food, music and fun. Munch on miniature servings from The Venue, Sushi Rock Grill, Red Mesa, Moscato’s Bella Cuisine, Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, Fresco’s and many more. The food is fab, but the entertainment line-up might just match it: Martina…
On the Radar: the Pinellas Pepper Fest and Dunedin Brewery’s Hoppy Endings IPA Festival
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. Whether your pleasure is measured in Scovilles or alcohol-by-volume, this is the weekend for tingling the taste buds. The flavor adventure starts Saturday afternoon with the fourth annual Pinellas Pepper Fest at the England Brothers Bandshell Park. Local vendors will…
CD review: Delta Spirit, History from Below (with video)
I saw Delta Spirit live three years ago and was literally struck numb by their set. The group's collective energy, multi-instrument switcheroos, and the heartfelt emotion flowing from their songs was heart-pounding and entrancing. Such is the energy and emotion captured in the group's second album, History From Below (Rounder), released June 8. In the three years…
Hannah Walk – Contributor
Hannah Walk is an unexpected sorority girl on a mission — unexpected, because every time she tells someone how she went GR??K, they say, “that’s unexpected.” There might be some validity in their surprise. She’s not a blonde and pink ball of energy. Her mission is simple, but if she told you, she would have…
Theater preview: Carrollwood Players presents Jane Martin’s Talking With … to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure (with video)
When Carrollwood Players puts on Jane Martin’s Talking With… this weekend, it will very much be a family affair for me. My mother, MaryAnn Bardi, is co-directing (with Mary Ann Newton) and has been the driving force behind the production, which will see all proceeds go to cancer-battling charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure.…
Dreaming of a shadow dad
“Dear Dream Momma, I was at the house where I grew up and I heard a knock on the back door. When I opened the door my sister and father (who has been deceased for four years) were standing there. My sister said, "J, Dad has decided he wants to live in Pennsylvania again." (that's…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Janelle Monáe
As a teen, Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Robinson) felt suffocated by the limited resources offered to her in her native Kansas City, so after high school she moved to NYC to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. However, she soon realized that the roles that she wanted didn’t exist. So she did what anyone…
Want affordable solar energy for your home? 1 Block Off the Grid will help you get it (video)
When it comes to large home improvement purchases, solar panel installation is intimidating and expensive. Even as a sustainability advocate, I don't know what to ask or how to avoid getting ripped off when looking to install solar panels — the potential stress of it all can be a bit overwhelming (a previous experience with…
CD review: Foghat, Last Train Home
With their 21st recording, legendary blues-rockers Foghat once again prove that they’re never content to just sit on their asses and simply enjoy the ride. Last Train Home represents the band’s return to the blues-influenced rock n' roll sound that has served Foghat extremely well in the past. Last Train Home is a mix of…
Former Florida Republican Party Chair Jim Greer busted on 6 felony counts, including fraud, grand theft and money laundering
Former Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer was arrested this morning by Seminole County Sheriff's deputies and charged with six felony counts: organized scheme to defraud, four counts of grand theft, and a count of money laundering. In January, Greer was forced to resign after allegations of extravagant overspending, as well as pressure from Republican…
The Water Cooler: Greer Arrested; Israeli pirates; Obama’s sludge problem; Crist’s victory
What people are talking about in politics By Chris Ingram Jim Greer Arrested! The Associated Press is reporting former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer has been arrested. According to the A.P. the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is expected to announce the basis of the arrest which has not yet been reported. Stay tuned……
Hats off for Topper, a 1937 comedy playing the Tampa Theatre, Sun., June 6 (with video)
I love old screwball comedies, and you can't much screwier than the hilarious 1937 classic Topper. Based on the popular novel written by Thorne Smith, Topper stars Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as George and Marion Kerby, a wild, married couple who are killed in an automobile accident while returning home from a night of…
McDonald’s gay-themed French ad (video)
Just like sappy movies, commercials often employ wily methods to tug at our heart strings without earning these emotions. If you don't believe me, can you remember when you used to think BP was the environmentally friendly oil company because of its ad campaign, which connected BP with conservation? This is the magic of advertising.…
Some Florida Republicans talking up Arizona type of immigration law in Florida, activists protest Israeli seizure of flotilla going to Gaza, and Bill McCollum gets dissed by Eric Holder:Mitch Perry Report 6.2.10
Florida Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement yesterday that the federal government will open criminal and civil investigations into the Gulf oil disaster led the national headlines throughout the country today. He also met with federal prosecutors and state attorneys general from Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. But not Florida. And Bill McCollum is extremely peeved that…
New ad tying the oil spill with national security targets Florida Senators (video)
Although there's been some talk (a lot in some quarters) that the huge oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico can be a defining moment that will finally revitalize Americans to come together in terms of realizing where the country should go regarding energy, there's been little to no movement publicly in support for a…
Florida state Senator and Representatives in Melbourne say they want Arizona immigration law in Florida
In the most recent issue of CL, we write about how some local and state Republican candidates are jumping on the issue of illegal immigration in their campaigns, but seemingly only in reaction to Arizona's newly crafted legislation, which has led to a new national debate on the volatile issue. Now some Republicans already in…
Summer fun with your dog: Beaches, ballparks and sidewalk cafés
Now that Memorial Day has kicked off a summer of fun, don’t forget your best friend. Our all-time favorite spot to cool off and enjoy the best of life in Florida is the award-winning Fort De Soto dog beach. Fort De Soto's Paw Playground is separated into large-dog and small-dog fenced yards, plus there's a…
After 40 years, Al and Tipper Gore split
The romantic lives of politicians have a reputation for being, well, anything from tumultuous to all-out train wrecks (Sup, Sanford?). Luckily for Al and Tipper Gore, their recent split after 40 years of marriage seems amicable and respectful enough to keep the gossip hounds from jumping into a scandal-thirsty feeding frenzy on this thing. According…
On the Radar: the Tampa Bay Living Green Expo takes over St. Pete
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. Immerse yourself in all things green at the fifth annual Tampa Bay Living Green Expo. This year's event, focused on energy retrofitting, will include a green jobs fair, dozens of
Do It Today: Learn to ballroom dance like the stars (for free), and a final chance to see exhibits at Tempus Projects and the Plant Museum
If you've ever taken dance lessons, you know they don't come cheap (and if you haven't, just take our word for it). That makes tonight's Latin Ballroom Dance Class with Patel Conservatory instructor Debra Loran one of the best deals (and cheap dates) we've ever seen. Learn the basic steps, turns and positions of Salsa,…
Oil spill may make landfall in Pensacola later this week
Weather experts are now predicting that the oil spill may make its first landfall in Florida by reaching Pensacola beaches later this week. The Florida state Department of Environmental Protection has asked BP and the Coast Guard to use their booms to focus first on protecting the coastal wetlands and inland areas against the oil,…
Concert review: Backstreet Boys bring back the 90’s on Memorial Day at Ruth Eckerd Hall (with pics!)
To satisfy my teenage pop-obsessed past I decided to go for it when I saw that Backstreet Boys would be performing in Clearwater on May 31st. Yes, “Backstreet’s back, alright!” To open, the audience met what looked like it could be the “Jackson 4,” but called themselves Mindless Behavior. With matching plaid pants, hip-pop dance…
McCollum publicly gripes after he’s excluded from AG Eric Holder’s from Deepwater Horizon response meeting
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum isn't silently stewing as he was dissed by Attorney General Eric Holder in Louisiana today- he's publicly reacting to the omission. Earlier today, Holder held a meeting meet with the attorneys general and U.S. Attorneys from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama today to talk about potential legal action against oil giant…
Over two dozen demonstrators in Tampa protest Israeli raid on Gaza bound fleet
A day after Israeli commandos raided an aid flotilla seeking to breach the blockade of Gaza in international waters, more than two dozen activists demonstrated in front of the Florida Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's office in downtown Tampa on Tuesday. The actions by the commandos resulted in the deaths Monday of 9 people, including…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, June 1 – Saturday, June 6 Italian Lifestyle Wine Dinners. Most Memorial Day-related food fests are full-on Americana, but if you’re looking to branch out, check out the Italian Lifestyle Wine Dinners, a six-night series of prix fixe dinner-and-wine pairings from May 31 to June 5. Proceeds from the dinners, the Abilities Foundation’s latest…
Join the Ocean Conservancy’s beach cleanup this Saturday, June 5
The Ocean Conservancy will be partnering with Defenders of Wildlife this Saturday, June 5, to clean up the shoreline area around both the east and west sides of I-275 around the Pinellas Skyway Bridge rest area. They are taking these preventative measures by removing debris before it becomes hazardous to our wildlife, if and when…
St. Petersburg City Council committee discusses the difference between nude clubs and bikini bars
The St Petersburg City Council Public Services and Infrastructure Committee (PSI) met Thursday morning in part to address a concern about the bikini bars that have recently appeared in St. Petersburg. Council member Jeff Danner referred the discussion, which sought to define the difference between a nude club and a bikini club in order to…
New music releases out this Tuesday, June 1: Clay Aiken, Funki Porcini, Jack Johnson, Lamb of God, Sergio Mendes, Born Ruffians, Paul Weller, and more (with video)
This week’s new music releases. To see last week’s breakdown of releases (out May 25), click here; and for releases out May 18, click here. , Curtis Lane EP (Filter US Recordings) The solo project of LA-based indie songwriter/musician Pat Grossi Clay Aiken, Tried and True (Decca) A CD/DVD combo Born Ruffians, Say It (Warp)…
New Kanye West single, “Power”
Hype Machine's got a decent copy of Kanye's newest single, "Power" featuring Dwele, from his forthcoming, hilariously titled LP Good Ass Job. I'll just thank the rap gods for inspiring Kanye to rap again and ditch the whole singing robot shtick. Listen to it before the record label sharks come in and eat that thing up! …
Give BP a more fitting logo in Greenpeace’s rebranding competition
Greenpeace isn't impressed at all with BP's rebranding a few years back, claiming they were "beyond petroleum". Even though they claim to be moving beyond oil, it seems that BP is still set on acquiring black gold from the pristine Canadian Wilderness — thus destroying ecosystems and the land of their indigenous people. We here…
Federal govt. and BP to continue use potentially toxic dispersants in Gulf, Florida GOP AG candidate speaks to CL about her candidacy, and volunteer opportunites to help in preparing Pinellas County beaches for worst case scenario: Mitch Perry Report 6.1
Last week we interviewed Holly Benson, one of three candidates running for the GOP nomination for Attorney General this year. Our story can be accessed here, and entire transcript of our interview here; Plenty of news on the oil spill, after BP's "Top Kill" failed Saturday afternoon; And for concerned citizens who want to protect…
Pinellas County says it needs at least 2,000 people to sign up for pre-oil beach cleanup
Although there is no immediate concerns about the massive oil spill in the Gulf entering into the west coast of Florida, Pinellas County officials are taking no chances in preparing for the worst case scenario. So the local anti-litter group Keep Pinellas Beautiful is looking for at least 2,000 volunteers to help in such efforts. …
Florida Dems sure to pounce on WUSF radio report on $200,000 pro-offshore drilling study done for Florida House Republicans
Props this morning to WUSF 89.7's Scott Finn for reporting on a study supporting offshore drilling paid for by Florida taxpayers and presented to members of the Legislature in April that said that any oil spills would be "rare, small and easily contained." According to Finn, the presentation by the Willis Group cost $200, 000. …
Diary of a cheater: open marriage theory
A few months ago Curtis emailed me with questions about dating while being married. His dilemma went much deeper than these initial questions. Here is his story. Curtis and Meg have been married for several years. The relationship began on a high note: two people very much in love and looking forward to a long,…
Party Pics: Gil Mantera’s Party Dream at Crowbar (5-25-20)
Gil Mantera's Party Dream brought spandex, man panties, badass dance moves and beer to a packed dance floor at Crowbar, 1812 North 17th Street Ybor City last Tuesday, May 25. These sweaty men know how to shake it! The Party: Gil Mantera's Party Dream shared the Crowbar stage with Auto?Automatic??, Sunbears! and DJ Mega. To say…
Theater Review: Mary Poppins flies high at Straz Center
Mary Poppins is, at its core, a fantasy about healing. At the start, the Banks family is broken: the children are so wild, no nanny can manage them, and paterfamilias George is cold to his wife, fixated on business, and, in general, emotionally unavailable. Into this wounded household comes the magician figure, Mary Poppins, who…
Lonely liberals at Bay Pines Memorial Day observance
by Catherine Durkin Robinson, creating quite a scene over at Out in Left Field. My husband and I took our kids to Bay Pines National Cemetery for the annual Memorial Day ceremony. We’ve been attending this event for ten years and can remember the days when hardly anyone showed up. Back in 2000 and 2001,…
A Gay in the Life: He’s my boyfriend, not my partner
I've called my boyfriend many things since he strolled into our first date almost six years ago. Late, first of all. He went to the wrong restaurant. But after that, dreamy. Next was friend, both with and without benefits. Lover, though usually in a funny kind of way, because that's too cheesecake. Jerk. (I have…
It Happened this Week-ish: Hulk Hogan sues Cocoa Pebbles, Matt Lauer “didn’t” have an affair with a tranny, Crystal Bowersox loses Idol and her boyfriend, Is Speidi breaking up? and more….
Britney Spears' newest "little obsession" is cryogenic freezing. She decided on this form of post-mortem preservation after the idea of turning her ashes to diamonds was ruled out. Obvies, that's so 2002. Hometown hero-ish Hulk Hogan is suing the makers of Cocoa Pebbles for using his image (read: a cartoon version of him) to promote…
Concert review: The Bamboozle Road Show with Good Charlotte, All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, Forever The Sickest Kids, Cartel + others at the Ford Amphitheatre (with pics!)
took over Ford Amphitheater this past Wednesday, May 26, and filled it with a seething mass of pseudo-punk-pop, angst-filled but still relatively well-behaved teens. Very different from my Jimmy Buffet experience several weeks prior. In fact, some fans were indeed “bamboozled” when they arrived and learned that 90’s pop superstars, Hanson, would not be playing…
On the Radar: Taste of Pinellas, a Bayside gustatory gala to benefit All Children’s Hospital
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. Bring your sunscreen, family and friends to Taste of Pinellas, the annual three day festival of food, music and fun. Munch on miniature servings from The Venue, Sushi Rock Grill, Red Mesa, Moscato’s Bella Cuisine, Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, Fresco’s and…
Do It Today: Perfectly Imperfect at the Dunedin Fine Art Center and fingerstyle guitar fiend Shaun Hopper at Skipper’s
includes works by Jane D’Arensbourg, Aganetha & Richard Dyck, April Kawaoka, David Smalley, Ryan Takaba and Kimberly Witham (work pictured right). The artists explore varying views of the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi — the beauty of imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness — via photography, ceramics, glass, metals and mixed-media sculpture On display through June 27.…
Holly Benson says she wants to fight ObamaCare “and everything else that Washington is going to do to the states.”
Although former Hillsborough County prosecutor Pam Bondi continues to win straw polls amongst GOP activists in the race for the nomination for Republican attorney general, one of her opponents, Holly Benson is conceding nothing in the battle that will be decided on August 24. In the only state-wide poll taken on the race, Lieutenant Governor…
Tonight at The Local 662 in St. Petersburg: tasty reggae by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Dubbed as “relentless reggae” (no pun intended), Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad infuses their psychedelic roots-dub sound with heavy funkin’ keys on Hammond B3, Rhodes and clavinet, and carries it along on a tight and airy backbeat. The quartet’s 2009 release, LIVE UP!, is a “closing statement” of the former lineup and includes a collection…
DVD Review: Joe Johnston’s The Wolfman (2009), starring Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt (with trailer video)
Creative Loafing's own Joe Bardi reviewed this winter's remake of The Wolfman when it hit theaters, and I mostly agree when he said Benicio Del Toro was flat and disappointing as the actor-turned-hairy monster. Joe also thought the effects were sometimes cheesy, and the gore bordered on laughable. Both probably true, though I don't think…
GOP Attorney General candidate Holly Benson on the record
Republican Attorney General candidate Holly Benson came to Creative Loafing's offices in Ybor City last Wednesday, May 27, and sat down and spoke with us for about 20 minutes. Here's the complete Q&A of our discussion with the former Panhandle representative. CL: On your website you write that “We can’t let government regulation continue to…
Do It Today: Memorial Day barbecues and free admission for vets, the Backstreet Boys in Clearwater, and meet Survivor competitors Russell Hantz and Natalie White
There’s plenty to do in the Bay Area on this sure-to-be warm-weathered (if rainy) Memorial Day. The St. Petersburg Lions Club throws a Bluegrass Barbecue on Sunset Beach in Treasure Island. Admission is $15, but proceeds go to the visually impaired, and admission includes all kinds of good-for-the-soul sounds, from Gypsy Wind (pictured) to the…
On the Radar: USF Honors Theater presents Sarah Ruhl’s Melancholy Play, and Broadcast at the Contemporary Art Musem
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. MacArthur "Genius" Grant-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl has been staging a silent coup of local theaters lately, garnering praise along the way from CL theater critic Mark Leib. The students in USF's Honors Theatre continue the trend with Ruhl's Melancholy Play…
BP’s top kill method is a big FAIL
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end — and some sooner than others, especially in the case of BP's "top kill" method to stop the mile deep oil gusher. The New York Times reported Saturday that the "top kill" technique had failed after only a few days in use. Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating…
Memorial Day 2010 events, from a Bluegrass Barbecue to free museum admission for military members
There’s plenty to do in the Bay Area on this sure-to-be warm-weathered Memorial Day. The St. Petersburg Lions Club throws a Bluegrass Barbecue on Sunset Beach in Treasure Island. Admission is $15, but proceeds go to the visually impaired, and admission includes all kinds of good-for-the-soul sounds, from Gypsy Wind (pictured) to the Bluegrass Parlor…
Big East Baseball Championship: Attack of the Overgrown Little League Players
In case you didn’t know, even though professional baseball is just getting into the real meat of the season, college baseball is winding down. While the teams congregating in Clearwater’s Bright House Field may seem to be made up of overgrown Little League players, some of them could very well be seen in the lineups…
Q&A with Academy Award winning costume designer Colleen Atwood about her work on Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
From the grit and glamor of Chicago to the might and majesty of Memoirs of a Geisha, Academy Award winning costume designer Colleen Atwood has added depth and character to many of Hollywood's most recent hits with her inspired costume choices. When the iconic blue dress adorned by the title heroine in Alice in Wonderland (out…
On the Radar: Gorilla Theatre’s Young Dramatists Project and David Mamet’s politicomedy, November, at American Stage
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendars for. When Gorilla Theatre began its Young Dramatists Project 10 years ago, this year's winners were probably just learning to put pen to paper, much less composing full-fledged works of art. Here's the gist: Gorilla picks five original plays by local…
CD review: Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Come and Get It
Stir Marvin Gaye with two cups of Otis Redding, two teaspoons of Little Richard, a dash of vanilla, and all of the excess energy you have left in your pantry. Bake for one hour and out pops Eli “Paperboy” Reed, the pompadour-sporting Jewish kid from Massachusetts who, surprisingly, rocks and jives on a level almost…
Kevin’s Korner: Victoria’s Secret model cast in Transformers 3, Orlando Bloom, Jackie Brown 2 and more!
Welcome to Kevin’s Korner, Creative Loafing’s source for all the movie news you could ever want but never knew you needed. This week there were all kinds of casting rumors, industry shakeups and a few snubs — along with a great excuse for searching out pictures of an incredibly hot Victoria’s Secret model. (Yeah, that's…
Rabid Movie Review: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina (with trailer video)
Films based on popular video game franchises often go from foolproof idea to black eye for the filmmakers the second the public gets a look at them. In our age of sophisticated technology, most video games are often themselves playable movies with plots and scenery that rival the most massive Hollywood spectacles. Sadly, thus far…
Libation lineup: Three refreshing cocktails to kickstart the holiday weekend
A special occasion calls for an extra-special mixed drink and this long weekend is a great excuse to indulge in some of these leaded libations. The following recipes are perfect for this weekend's festivities, whether you're celebrating with a backyard barbecue or a day on the beach. As long as the liquor used in these…
How safe is your sunscreen? The best and worst sun care products on the market
Every year, The Environmental Working Group tests hundreds of different sunscreen products on the market and reports on which ones are best for sun protection and which could be potentially harmful to your health. Believe it or not, the majority of sunscreens on the market only protect against only one of three kinds of skin…
CL Feature: Citizen Cope, a hip-hop/blues/reggae/folk-pop singer songwriter who plays Jannus Live on Friday (with video)
The last time singer-songwriter Citizen Cope played the Jannus stage, I attended as an absolute newb. In fact, I’d originally planned on seeing G. Love that weekend, but my friends persuaded me to check out Cope’s fusion of blues, reggae, folk-pop and hip-hop instead. I bought my tickets in advance, and a good thing, too,…
Hayley Williams of Paramore posts topless photo on Twitter (NSFW)
Once upon a time I was having a discussion about scandalous celebrity photos. With all these sex tapes, naked pics and the power of social media (and of course, my celebrity status, duh) my response to “would you ever?” was very clear and simple, “nope, that stuff always ends up on the internet.” Some people…
How to use social media when you’re too busy to be social
The past few weeks have been really hectic around here, and I'm finding myself letting my social media presence dim a bit. I know how important it is to keep those relationships going, to be a part of the conversation and to put yourself out there, but I just can't seem to find the time…
Florida leaders react to Obama speech on oil spill, Tampa City Council calls for local leaders to study business opportunites in Cuba, and new Glenn Beck bio reflects on Tampa radio:Mitch Perry Report 5.28.10
Pinellas GOP Congressman Bill Young's ethics case with PMA Consulting is getting a second look, and his Democratic opponent, Charlie Justice, is seizing on the information. We don't have anything too original to say about Barack Obama's news conference or the attendant media discussion of it vis a vis the Gulf oil spill. Joe Klein…
Congressional Ethics Board sends findings in PMA lobbying firm case to Justice Department – Congressman Bill Young involved
The Office of Congressional Ethics said yesterday its board voted unanimously to send its findings in the PMA lobbying firm case to the U.S. Justice Department. Among those members of Congress involved with that investigation include Bill Young of Pinellas County. That case had been looked at previously by a House Ethics Committee, and dropped.…
Forget the plastic surgeon: Herbicide Atrazine causes sex change in amphibians
A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that ten percent of amphibians that were exposed to the herbicide Atrazine during larval development were completely chemically castrated and transformed into functional females that were able to reproduce. Farmers use approximately 80 million pounds of Atrazine on an annual basis,…
A late-night encounter with TBPD: The ballad of the white lines
I was returning home to Ybor City when my drunk friend in the passenger seat, whom I was designated-driving, decided that she wanted pizza. Being a Saturday at 2 A.M. in Ybor, parking on the street was scarce. I had already looped around the block once, and was on my second go-round. Suddenly, I see…
Hipsters rejoice! Pabst Blue Ribbon bought out
So, the guy who once owned the Pabst Blue Ribbon beer company died with what he believed to be his small, dwindling beer company in 1987. In a seemingly last-ditch noble effort, this previous owner, Paul Kalmanovitz, pawned the company off to a charitable foundation shortly before he passed. Well, the IRS isn't too cool…
Bonnaroo 2010 preview: It’s on like Donkey Kong
Among the most widely-recognized music festivals of today is Bonnaroo, an annual throwdown held in the quaint town of Manchester, Tenn., on a 700-acre farm about 60 miles south of Nashville. Since its inception in 2001 as a niche, jam-band and folk-oriented event, Bonnaroo has evolved into a mid-country Mecca for music lovers with its…
New critical biography of Glenn Beck features several Tampa personalities
Arriving in bookstores for your Memorial Day beach reading pleasure this weekend is Brooklyn based journalist Alexander Zaitchik's take down of perhaps the biggest media commentator around in 2010, Glenn Beck, in Common Nonsense:Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance (Wiley). We've just began reading it, but we look forward to getting into it this…
McCollum gets partisan after Obama news conference on oil spill, calling govt. “derelict”
The reaction in the media world has been skeptical after President Obama's first news conference in 10 months today, which with the exception of three questions, was all about the massive oil spill that continues to flow unabated. Early Thursday night, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, already at war with the Obama administration as the…
Meek bashes Charlie Crist for his conversion in now supporting repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” 3 days after he was against it
Florida Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Kendrick Meek seized on the most recent reversal of opinion by his independent opponent, Governor Charlie Crist, who said today that he would "be inclined" to support a Senate compromise on the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military. The Senate deal being discussed this week…
Grind Podcast 5/27: Sox sweep Rays, Madden mad and the Super Bowl becomes the Ice Bowl
Welcome back to The Grind. The single best sports podcasting show Creative Loafing has ever posted in the last week of May beginning with the letter "G." Now, who can argue with that? Flip Satchel and Bill Freitas barricade themselves into CL Studio once again to serve up a heaping helping of Tampa Bay sports and a side…
CL on the Road photo review: The Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama with John Legend, Trey Anastasio, Girl Talk, The Black Crowes, The Roots, and more!
I spend the weekend of May 14-16 running up and down the beach of Gulf Shores, Alabama, snapping photos of all the bands who performed at the inaugural Hangout Beach Music & Arts Festival. Here are my shots from Friday and Saturday, with Sunday to be added shortly. Enjoy! FRIDAY, MAY 14 Alison Krauss and…
Tampa City Council Chairman Thomas Scott rejects the idea of entire council going to Cuba to foster business ties
Representatives of two Tampa based groups who say the city is behind other U.S. cities in creating trade relations with Cuba spoke before the Tampa City Council in a workshop on Cuba today. Steve Michelini is the managing director for the World Trade Center, a global trade organization. Al Fox is with the the…
Rays suffer first sweep as first place lead dwindles
It took almost two months into the season, but the Rays have suffered their first sweep and unfortunately it came at the hands of the hated Boston Red Sox, a team nearly left for dead after suffering a four game sweep to the Rays in mid April. The Rays seemed poised to widen their lead…
Castor after Obama presser on the oil spill: “We don’t need any more studies”
Tampa area Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor released a statement just moment after President Obama finished his one hour plus news conference today, in which all but three questions were devoted to the oil spill in the Gulf. “For all intents and purposes, bringing rigs closer to Florida’s beaches appears to be dead. The Deepwater Horizon…
Reel Projections podcast: Critics Suck Edition, featuring Sex and the City 2
For more movie news and reviews, check out the CL index of movie posts. Click here to listen to Reel Projections — Episode 20: Critics Suck Edition, featuring SATC2. We're back for another installment of the Reel Projections podcast, the only CL podcast detailing the week's biggest theatrical movie releases, DVD and Blu-ray offerings and…
3 Guys & Chuck – The Podcast: Season Finale Edition, featuring “Chuck vs. The Subway” and “Chuck vs. The Ring, Part II”
It’s the season finale of Chuck and the 3 Guys crew is back to discuss the monumental conclusion to one of the best shows on television. In the podcast, we discuss the two episodes closing out season 3, "Chuck vs. The Subway" and "Chuck vs. The Ring, Part II." We also discuss the epic showdown…
BP’s top kill method appears to be working (so far)
BP's top kill tactic to fill and essentially kill the Macondo well with drilling mud might just be working. BP has kept its live spill cam up and running during the top kill process, switching between different camera angles to show progress. Liquid is still clearly coming out of the well, but it appears muddier…
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music: MillionYoung, Crash Mitchell Five, 97X Backyard BBQ, Reggae Lovefest, Peter Baldwin, and more!
The following is a quick breakdown of this weekend’s worthiest live music offerings from Thursday through Sunday — 'cause this is a holiday weekend, bitches!!! Start it early! Not that you really need a reason to … For a more comprehensive schedule of this week's offerings and beyong, check out our Upcoming Concerts page. THURSDAY,…
Sean Bowes – Contributor
Sean Bowes is a senior at the University of South Florida studying multimedia journalism. He lives in a bungalow in Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood. He skateboards daily, and enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Rose, and his turtle, Bruce. email: sbowes@mail.usf.edu
Obama’s first presser in over 300 days; Why Kendrick Meek should accept Jeff Greene’s challenge to a debate; and Police Chiefs across the country discuss why they don’t like Arizona’s new law against illegal immigrants:Mitch Perry Report 5.27.10
It's been over 300 days since President Obama held an official press conference. It finally happens later today: Democratic Senate aspirant Jeff Greene challenges Kendrick Meek to many debates. Why Meek should say yes; And police chiefs across the country give their reasons why they don't want to see Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law coming to…
Barack Obama will be under pressure in his first news conference in 10 months
President Obama will field questions from White House reporters this afternoon at 12;45 EDT. Under perhaps the most withering criticism since he came to office 16 months ago, the President is hoping he'll be able to begin the presser with good news regarding the "top-kill" method that BP is using to try to stop the…
50 Cent loses 50 pounds, head somehow gets bigger
Well, this is now permanently burned into our retinas. Here's a photo of rap artist 50 Cent all slim and schvelt for his upcoming movie, Things Fall Apart, where he plays a football player stricken with cancer. With a liquid diet and daily three-hour treadmill walks, you, too can look like the emaciated Fiddy in…
3 Guys & Glee – The Podcast: Ep. 20. “Theatricality”
Lady Gaga invaded Glee in the extremely dramatic "Theatricality." The episode dealt with heavy issues like struggling to find out who you are and being happy with it when you do, along with Rachael finding the mother she never knew. The 3 Guys are here to talk about whether the young singers messed up their…
Kendrick Meek needs to debate Jeff Greene (and Maurice Ferre) soon
Earlier this week, Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene challenged front-runner Kendrick Meek to a debate. Actually, many debates. In a press release issued Tuesday, Greene said he wanted to engage Meek in a "bi-weekly series of debates between now and the primary election, " adding, "Voters deserve a real debate about our ideas and the…
Chicken and waffles with a view? That’s reason enough to hope for The Hangar’s success
The new Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge at downtown St. Petersburg's Albert Whitted Airport is an interesting choice for Steve Westphal's third bayfront eatery. His Parkshore Grill blazed a trail for new concepts on Beach Boulevard, and 400 Beach — which moved from steakhouse to fancy fish shack — seemed to pack them in during…
Dunedin-based foursome Alexander and the Grapes attempt to describe their sound
Opening acts, especially the locally-brewed variety, seldom get begged for encores. But a few days into the new decade, on-the-rise Bay area group Alexander and The Grapes earned lengthy applause and hearty shouts for more after their support set for Gainesville art-rockers Clock Hands Strangle came to an end. What makes it even more intriguing…
Why does a blow to the testicles cause nausea?
Why does a male feel nauseous, possibly to the point of vomiting, after being struck in the genitals? Is there some sort of gonadal-gastrointestinal connection that the common man doesn't know about? —John and Sheri, Charlottesville Why do virtually all male terrestrial mammals keep their reproductive organs outside their body, instead of safely inside like…
How St. Pete’s 600 Block blight brigade made art happen on Central Ave.
Late last year, artist Johnny Vitale was driving down Central Avenue in St. Petersburg on his way home from a job, when he noticed something going on around the Crislip Arcade. Workers were renovating the historic building, which was constructed around 1926 as a shopping center in pre-air-conditioning days, and the adjacent storefronts. Despite its…
When it comes to illegal immigration, Florida is no Arizona
But that hasn’t stopped Florida GOP candidates like Rick Scott from jumping on the immigrant-bashing bandwagon.
Stageworks’ production of Eurydice captures the shimmering appeal of a unique script
Eurydice is a lovely poem of a play, a meditation on death and memory that has the elusiveness and allusiveness of a dream. What author Sarah Ruhl gives us in this unusual work, brilliantly staged by Karla Hartley of Stageworks, is a narrative that doesn't mean anything in particular, but instead exists, as a fine…
The move to build Rays a stadium in Tampa heats up, but the game is far from over
Hours before the Tampa Bay Rays invaded the country's media capital last week and dismantled the New York Yankees two nights in a row, the group charged with assessing the Rays' stadium needs was presenting its final report to the Hillsborough County Commission. Craig Sher and Alan Bomstein from A Baseball Coalition (ABC) spoke about…
Their cheated-on hearts
Past column inspires two readers to weigh in.
Why Stageworks, Jobsite and theaters all over the world are doing plays by Sarah Ruhl
It may be a coincidence that two plays by Sarah Ruhl are running in the Bay area within a few weeks of each other, but it's the kind of coincidence that only happens when a dramatist happens to be hot. And Ruhl — whose Eurydice ends its run at Stageworks May 30 (see review opposite…
Do It Today: Sex and the City 2-themed girls’ night out, USF Honors Theater offers Animals and Plants, movies in the park and an evening with Broadway star Ben Vereen
I don't know about you, but every group of gals I know made a weekly appointment to watch Sex and the City, choosing which characters they most identify with (like the grown-up equivalent of Barbies). In celebration of the release of the second SATC movie, tonight's Girls Night Out: Sex and the City 2 Party…
X-Box 360 game Mass Effect being adapted into a movie
Good news for the video game fans out there: Variety is reporting some progress on a Mass Effect movie, with Legendary Pictures picking I am Legend and Thor screenwriter Mark Protosevich to pen a script. This is good news for fans of the X-Box 360 game, as we will get a chance to see Commander…
Tonight’s Top Chef Masters preview: It’s all Greek to me!
This week, we're down to five chef'testants on Top Chef Masters and the stakes are getting even higher. Luckily, the challenges don't seem to be all that ridiculous this episode. The Quickfire challenge tonight is actually one of my favorites from Top Chef: ‘Name That Ingredient’, where the chefs are blindfolded while tasting a variety…
The Green Community week in review: Oil spill news, ADHD linked to pesticides, eco-friendly fashion, and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: FEMA director Michael Brown: "Obama wanted the oil spill to happen" – Why would a president or environmentalist want to crash Florida's economy, or any other state's, during a recession — or cause major…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Natural pest control class, home brew workshop and InGREEDients screening, green markets, and more!
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays (through May); 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food…
Reel Projections podcast: Iron Man 2, Florida filmmakers, Slimed and more …
For more movie news and reviews, check out the CL index of movie posts. Click here to listen to Reel Projections — Episode 17: Iron Man 2 Edition And we're back for another installment of the Reel Projections podcast, the only CL podcast detailing the week's biggest theatrical movie releases, DVD and Blu-ray offerings and…
