Bob Martinez says Bob Dole is wrong: Ronald Reagan would make it in today’s GOP
Bob Martinez Bob Martinez — who ended his mayoral tenure in 1986 to become governor of the Sunshine State — was among the former mayors fielding questions from local reporters after yesterday's news conference regarding the final phase of the Riverwalk at Curtis Hixon Park. Now 78, Martinez still looks in damn good shape. While…
Mitch Perry Report: Benghazi THIS, Obama says with choice of Rice at NSA
Plus: Tampa Riverwalk, Hillsborough revisits Pride and more …
Seeds of summer
It’s not too hot to grow your own food, says Willow LaMonte.
Review: Dopapod continues to re-invent at the Dunedin Brewery
Dopapod serves Dunedin Brewery’s IPA Festival “a synchronicity of smooth, psychedelic jams.
New Music Tuesday! (June 4): Queens of the Stone Age, City and Colour, Frank Zappa, Megadeth & more
Releases out this week; audio & video included.
Tampa City Councilman Harry Cohen calls trip to Cuba “intense”
Tampa City Council members Yolie Capin and Harry Cohen in Cuba Among the group of 38 people who were part of the the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's first trip to Cuba last week was City Councilman Harry Cohen, who called the journey an intense experience. (Council members Yolie Capin and Mary Mulhern also went.)…
Orlando-based Christian conservative group gets involved in Hillsborough gay pride vote
John Stemberger The four Republican members of the Hillsborough County Commission are dealing with their constituents — and in some cases, their political consultants — regarding how they should vote tomorrow on Kevin Beckner's call to repeal the 8-year-old ban on gay pride events in the county. Now the calls are coming from outside of…
Mitch Perry Report 6.5.13: Young GOP voters say their own party is “rigid” and “old-fashioned”
Plus: Gay rights, HART and more …
Mark Sharpe says HART chairman Philip Hale has to go
HART CEO Philip Hale Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe says it's time for HART CEO Philip Hale to go. Sharpe accuses Hale of "uninspired, unimaginative leadership," and says that the board needs someone new at the helm in order for it to pursue a more ambitious direction. When asked for reaction, Hale responded that the…
HART’s Josh Burgin says he doesn’t want to be offended by possible transit tax
Josh Burgin Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe's outspoken support of a transit tax in 2010 so angered some conservatives in the GOP that they "primaried" him — with Plant City Republican Josh Burgin challenging Sharpe in his re-election bid in August of that year. Sharpe survived, but the tax did not, going down to a…
#MusicMonday 91: Willy Moon, Big K.R.I.T., Yo La Tengo & more
What the CL Team is spinning this week.
Hillsborough County Commissioners to revisit ban on gay pride on Wednesday
Kevin Beckner Two decades ago, Hillsborough County Commissioners removed gays and lesbians from the list of protected groups in their human rights ordinance, a move that alienated the LGBT community. Then in June of 2005 the BOCC went even further, imposing a ban on county recognition of gay pride events. Ronda Storms, a commissioner at…
Florida’s not alone with crazy beer laws
It's no secret Florida has some strange beer laws. Growlers, anyone? But Colorado? Arguably the center of the American craft beer movement? Sure, you can buy a to-go beer in the industry standard 64-ounce growler (unlike Florida). You can only fill them at breweries (just like Florida, and unlike "progressive" states like South Carolina). But…
Rubio on status of immigration bill in Senate -“There will have to be improvements”
Everybody knows the story with Marco Rubio when it comes to the immigration issue being debated in Congress. The Florida Republican Senator has a lot on the line as he tries to shepherd a bill that is unpopular with a strong segment of the GOP base (a base that Rubio wants to cultivate for his…
Mitch Perry Report 6.3.13 – Turkey erupts
Gun laws, Dems bashing Charlie Crist and more …
Tampa Bay transit talk workshop organizes support for public transportation
Tim Heberlin and Phil Compton A coalition of groups eyeing expanded transportation options in the Bay area convened Saturday morning at the Pinellas Realtor Organization in Clearwater for the Tampa Bay Transit Talk Workshop, an event intended to educate citizens on upcoming transit initiatives and then improve their ability to communicate those issues to the…
Last day for the Sandstorm and RIP to theme park favorites
Nowadays young people require more technology and less imagination to get excited, and we have to accept that the sentimental, low-frills favorites of our childhood — like the swirly orbiter ride Sandstorm, at Busch Gardens Tampa — eventually bite the dust. Located in the Timbuktu area of the park, the Sandstorm opened in December 1979.…
Believe the hype! Straz dazzles with season preview
Tampa’s ever-evolving performing arts mecca is poised for what may be its best run yet.
Crist now taking shots from left and the right in Florida, and he’s still not a candidate for governor
As speculation remain rife that Charlie Crist will announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor sometime this summer (Politico weighs in with a report that sheds little light on when that might be), the Republican Party of Florida has been licking their chops, getting in daily shots at their former standard bearer. Now…
Despite inaction in Congress, Tampa gun control activists not backing down
Gun control activists gathered at Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa In mid-April a bi-partisan amendment sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) that would have expanded background checks to gun shows and Internet sales went down to defeat in the U.S. Senate, coming up six votes short of the 60-vote threshold to…
The real Gatsby
The book’s more relevant than ever, but the movie’s a fairy tale.
Workplace romance
I’m dating someone I met while working as a prostitute.
Rowdies beat Sounders and advance in the U.S. Open Cup tourney
Epic. Historic. Electric. Rowdies forward Georgi Hristov celebrates after giving the Rowdies a 1-0 lead in the win over Seattle on Wednesday at Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa area lawmakers talk (and talk) about transportation
Bob Buckhorn, Sandy Murman, Lisa Montelione & Jamie Grant at the Vaughn Center on the UT Campus May 30, 2013 There wasn't a whole lot of breaking news coming out of Thursday night's Emerge Tampa Bay town hall meeting on the University of Tampa campus, but the event was still entertaining. Emerge Tampa Bay is…
After Earth crashes and burns
Will Smith stars with his son in the year’s most boring sci-fi movie.
The Gaily News: Hillsborough County Commission to reconsider gay pride ban
Wanda The Hillsborough County Commission is considering lifting a countywide ban on gay pride events and will discuss the matter at its Wednesday, June 5 meeting. The commission originally passed the ban on gay pride recognition eight years ago, in 2005. Openly gay Commissioner Kevin Beckner recently made a motion calling for the repeal of…
Mitch Perry Report 5.31.13 – Free Nan Rich?
Republican Party of Florida state chair Lenny Curry has been having a good ole' time this week, trying to stir up passions among Democrats over the fact that his state party counterpart, Allison Tant, is refusing to give Nan Rich five minutes to speak at the party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner next month in South Florida. Rich…
TECO Customers say no to proposed rate increase
Left to Right: Commissioner Eduardo E Balbis, Commissioner Lisa Polak Edgar, Chairman Ronald A Brise, Commissioner Art Graham, Commissioner Julie I Brown Tampa Electric is a regulated company that is supposed to provide safe, reliable service at the lowest possible rate. TECO believes they need to increase their rates, but consumers are left wondering why.…
Indigo Girls to perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall Saturday, June 1
Indigo Girls, Amy Ray (left) and Emily Saliers, take the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Saturday, June 1. Grammy-winning folk duo the Indigo Girls are known for their pitch-perfect harmonies and hummable melodies. Now they’re adding some oomph to their acoustic body of work on their current tour, which lands them at Ruth Eckerd…
“Tampa Bay & Company” is history. Meet “Unlock Tampa Bay: Treasure Awaits”
After more than a year of research and development, Tampa Bay & Company has come up with a new name for itself and a new approach to attracting tourists and businesses to Tampa and Hillsborough County. Say hello to "Unlock Tampa Bay: Treasure Awaits." (The corporate ID for the publicly funded, privately run company is…
St. Petersburg Opera ushers in June — amusingly (with video)
What happens when the richest man in Vienna plans to entertain his guests with both an opera and an Italian burlesque? Well, in the first act of St. Petersburg Opera's Ariadne auf Naxos, things get competitive and tempers flare — a situation all too familiar to arts patrons.
Buzzfeed provides comic relief for teacher-itis
It's almost the end of the school year, and teachers are just as antsy and drained as the students with senioritis et al., and with end-of-semester exams making time virtually stand still, excruciating boredom adds to the dreaded mix. Time fillers and a hearty guffaw have become a necessity, a situation lamented by my high…
Rally supporting Wikileaks leaker Bradley Manning to take place Sat., June 1 in Tampa
Bradley Manning June 1 marks the beginning of Bradley Manning’s fourth year in prison. While serving as a U.S. Army soldier in Iraq in 2010, he was arrested on suspicion of having passed classified material to the website WikiLeaks. Manning's trial begins on Monday, and he faces a possible life sentence if convicted. This Saturday…
This week in Tampa Bay area live music: George Clinton & P-Funk, ZZ Ward, Dirty Names + more
Concerts, May 30-June 5.
Mitch Perry Report 5.30.13 – It’s been 10 weeks without a Lieutenant Governor. Anyone notice?
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Jeremy Wallace reports today that Sarasota GOP chairman Joe Gruters has "announced a petition drive this week to push (Rick) Scott to select state Rep. Doug Holder" to be his next Lieutenant Governor. Holder is quoted as saying "What an unexpected surprise." Hmm. We heard from others that Holder was putting his…
Faster, Governor! Kill! Kill!
Florida is already tops in the U.S. in number of death sentences. Now the state wants to kill faster, too.
King Django still rules
Catching up with ageless ska music icon Jeff Baker, aka King Django.
The trouble with Frances
Greta Gerwig shines and infuriates in Frances Ha.
Florida Craftsman Gallery welcomes you to their dollhouse
Dollmakers Chomick + Meder show off their uniquely crafted characters in a new show in St. Pete.
Stageworks has the ’wright stuff
Actor Jim Wicker helps showcase local playwrights through TampaWorks and the Radio Theatre Project.
Something old, something new
How do Old World and New World wines compare?
Review: Good memories and good lovin’ with The Rascals at Ruth Eckerd Hall
A look back at the Thurs., May 30 concert.
The boys of summer return
The Rays are heating up right along with the temperatures.
David McKalip criticizes opponents regarding the Lens, opponents lash back
David McKalip As of late, there has been quite a bit of news about the St. Pete City Council District 4 race. Mark Puente of the Times reported last week that both Darden Rice and David McKalip have rented homes in the newly drawn up district but don't actually live there. St. Pete's charter requires…
Photo review: Bad Veins at Crowbar, Ybor City
Some shots from the Bad Veins show last Wed., May 22, with Death Starsky and Jensen Serf Co. at Crowbar, Ybor City. Drunkcameraguy.com Bad Veins Drunkcameraguy.com Jake Bonta of Bad Veins Drunkcameraguy.com Ben Davis of Bad Veins More photos after the jump…
Picture time! Carousel, a slideshow by the pros
Inspired by the bygone family tradition of gathering around the ol’ slide projector, the Carousel photography series showcases work by prominent, (mostly) local photographers — not your drunk dad commanding you to stay in your chair and shut up while he fumbles through yet another round of vacation snapshots. (Ohhhh, that was just my family…
Update: Elmer Carroll executed Wednesday night by state of Florida
Elmer Carroll Florida has more than 400 men on death row, but there will be one less if the execution of Elmer Carroll takes place as scheduled at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected arguments by Carroll's attorneys that the prisoner should not be executed because he is mentally…
Moving on up
Go to The Birchwood for one-of-a-kind views.
Meet Blood and Sand, a scotch-based tiki drink
Dean Hurst The Blood and Sand cocktail, in all its tiki-ness. The scotch-based cocktail was introduced following the 1922 bullfighter film from Rudolph Valentino, Blood and Sand. It's one of the few non-rum "tiki" cocktails, and thanks to Dean Hurst, Director of Spirits at Sidebern's and President of the Left Coast Bartenders' Guild, you can…
Bluth’s frozen bananas
Where once the words of Kitty Sanchez, "say goodbye to these, because it's the last time," rang all too true with us, the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together, now continues. Although the Tampa Bay area hasn't been graced…
Inside the photo booth: Dunedin Brewery’s Mike Bryant
" title="Mike Bryant, General Manager, Dunedin Brewery" width="500" height="750" /> Kevin Tighe Mike Bryant, General Manager, Dunedin Brewery (click to enlarge) Mike Bryant is the general manager at Dunedin Brewery, Florida's original craft brewery. Dunedin Brewery is known for its tasty craft beer as well as its kick ass live music, which Mike personally lords…
