Mitch Perry Report 6.5.12 – Wisconsin showdown time
Plus: Light rail for Pinellas?
Turanchik not fond of Pinellas County’s light-rail bid
Tea Party activists in Pinellas County now have an unlikely ally in their effort to thwart commissioners intent on putting a sales tax referendum on next year's ballot for construction of a light-rail system. That ally would be Ed Turanchik, the longtime Hillsborough County transit advocate who made a spirited run for mayor of Tampa…
Local business still waiting for traffic from RNC
Matt Becker is with the Tampa Host Committee for the RNC It's like the lottery, Beleria Floyd said. You can't win if you don't play. And with that motto, Floyd, the owner of Grand Dames Car Service in Tampa joined the 2012 Tampa Bay Small Business Network for the Republican National Convention. But Floyd hasn't…
HART, PSTA intend to spend money on consultant, not TBARTA, for possible merger
TBARTA's Bob Clifford Although the language in recently enacted state law mandates that the Hillsborough and Pinellas County transit agencies pay the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority for a study on consolidating their agencies, HART officials said today they will spend that money on a consultant, with TBARTA "facilitating" the process." That bill, sponsored…
The “Cat Copter” — Brilliant art or worst thing ever?
Today's Internet sensation, fresh from the pages of the Daily Mail, involves the world's first unmanned aerial cat drone: Dutch artist Bart Jansen first stuffed Orville before teaming up with radio control helicopter flyer Arjen Beltman to build a specially-designed flying mechanism to attach to the cat. … The end result, named the Orvillecopter, is…
Up against the wall
Is it graffiti or is it art? A dispute in St. Pete’s Warehouse District.
#MusicMonday, Vol. 70: Father John Misty, Santigold, Jerry Lee Lewis & more
What the CL Music Team is jamming to rocket launch the work week.
Another Castor to enter Florida politics?
Betty’s daughter Karen plans a run in Maitland.
Mitch Perry Report: Qualifying week for state candidates
In Tampa Bay politics, it’s Republican vs. Republican.
Review: The Beach Boys, That’s Why God Made the Radio
Is it a return to past glory or glorified kitsch?
No Florida Democrat standing tall as challenger to Rick Scott yet
Scott Randolph & Keith Fitzgerald chew the fat in Tampa Democratic party activists from throughout the Sunshine State gathered Saturday night for food and drinks after spending the day voting for delegates to the national party's convention in Charlotte this September. The festivities inside the Hyatt Regency included speeches by party chair Rod Smith, Tampa…
Occupy Tampa resurfaces in downtown Tampa
Occupy Tampa activists gathered at Lykes Gaslight Park There have been a handful of events for Occupy Tampa since they moved from protesting at Curtis Hixon Park last fall to Voice of Freedom Park in West Tampa last December, but none have been as big as the regional General Assembly held this past Saturday at…
This Week in Zombie Apocalypse Food News
We've all learned a lot this week about the spectrum of human dining — literally. Relatives will now think twice before looking upon young children and exclaiming "You're so good, I could just eat you up!" http://weknowmemes.com/2012/06/hipster-hannibal/ Because Hannibal did it first. Wednesday in Stockholm, a man was arrested for cutting off and eating his…
Neighborhood Dining Guide: Breakfast
Start your day at one of these eateries.
Occupy St. Pete’s senior citizens brave rain to “move their money”
Though some Occupy movements across the country are losing steam, Occupy St. Pete still attempts to bring energy to their community. On Friday, about a dozen demonstrators gathered outside the local Bank of American branch located in downtown St. Petersburg on Third Street South. Fighting the rain with umbrellas and even their posters, the demonstrators…
Constant comments
A flap over a blog post rekindles the debate about online commenting.
East meets West
Enjoy a twist on a classic with these Indian-inspired enchiladas.
Jim Sorensen chooses Tampa Bay
The natural-born leading man is back for freeFall’s Cabaret.
Mitch Perry Report: Feds tell Florida to stop voter purge
Plus: Don Shula, Maddie Turner and more.
Stop and smell the rosés
And taste them, too: They’re not all as sweet as you might think.
Gigolo in training
How do I break into the straight male escort business?
Governor signs tax-exemption bill for families of first responders
Governor Rick Scott at the 18th Annual Our Heroes Luncheon Governor Rick Scott stopped in Tampa Thursday afternoon to attend the 18th Annual Our Heroes Luncheon, which recognized Tampa Bay first responders at the Tampa Convention Center. In a closed, VIP only ceremony, Scott symbolically signed House Bill 95, which, if approved, will grant property…
Hail Mary confessions of attraction
Last week I wrote about guys who pop up from time to time like annoying gophers to say, "I miss you," then disappear without backing up their confessions with action. For me, writing is usually cathartic. It helps me get past whatever is bothering me. Unfortunately, sometimes those same issues keep coming up and need…
Federal Judge rejects one part of Florida’s controversial elections bill
"If the goal is to discourage voter-registration drives and thus also to make it harder for new voters to register, the 48-hour deadline may succeed. But if the goal is to further the state’s legitimate interests without unduly burdening the rights of voters and voter- registration organizations, 48 hours is a bad choice." Those words…
The stoned leading the stoned
High School falls flat trying to live up to its influences.
Romney’s advisers deny their candidate is a “neo-con”
Condi Rice endorsed Mitt Romney Wednesday night Mitt Romney was in the San Francisco Bay Area Wednesday night, where he was formally endorsed by former Secretary of States Condoleeza Rice and George Schultz. Although that's "news" only in the sense that the pair hadn't done so yet. As the New York Times reports, there are…
New Shula’s Bar and Grill and burger joint sizzles at Tampa International Airport
This reporter with Don Shula at Tampa International Airport On Thursday, the Tampa Tribune's Jeff Houck and the Tampa Bay Times critic Laura Reilly both wrote about five new restaurants/bars that have opened at Tampa International Airport. Cl will have our full report on the new food and drink choices for TIA travelers (that's in…
New food critic, other staff changes announced at Creative Loafing Tampa
Assistant Editor Arielle Stevenson should be familiar to regular CL readers Creative Loafing Tampa has announced several changes in its editorial staff, including the naming of a new restaurant critic. The new Food Critic will be Jon Palmer Claridge, a former Dunedin resident who's recently returned to the area after many years working in Washington,…
The Gaily News: U.S. appeals court rules DOMA unconstitutional
Plus: Zephyrhills High School under investigation for handling of gay bullying and harassment.
Alberto Gonzalez one Latino Republican not supporting Marco Rubio for VP
Last night on Fox News' O'Reilly Report, Florida junior U.S. Senator Marco Rubio made an appearance, and was once again pressed (albeit in a unique way) about the possibility of being named Mitt Romney's running mate. Give Rubio credit — he's in a no-win situation. Though he's perhaps the most popular choice among rank-and-file Republicans…
Mitch Perry Report 5.31.12 – Hillsborough SOE’s blows off Rick Scott’s purge
Florida Democrats and good government types like the League of Women Voters were aghast at the Legislature's 2011 elections bill that they claim will make it harder for people to participate at the polls this year. So the news that Governor Scott has called on his Division of Elections office has produced a (faulty) list…
From Matt to Maddie Turner
A local musician is transitioning from male to female — and she’s sharing her journey with the world.
Codex marks the spot
Meander through the quilted portals, puffy clouds and painted tableaus of Sanford Biggers’ imagination.
Folly fixed at Macau’s Asian Tapas
The new restaurant in a familiar South St. Pete space is worth a visit.
Time for tea
Afternoon tea – stuffy, old-fashioned, and boring, right? Wrong. This delightful tradition can be as formal or as informal as the host wishes. Having friends and family over for delicious tea and goodies is a perfect way to relax and connect face-to-face in our high-tech 24/7 world. Begun in the 1800s by the Duchess of…
75th Annual National Donut Day: Friday, June 1
Score a free donut on National Donut Day!
Hillsborough County ends its voter purge
Craig Latimer On Tuesday Kathy Castor joined with five Democratic colleagues from the Florida Congressional delegation in asking Governor Rick Scott to immediately suspend the purge of names from Florida voter rolls in advance of November's election. But in the Congresswoman's own district, that purge has already ceased. Craig Latimer, chief of staff to Dr.…
The culinary calendar
See who’s ringing the dinner bell for you at these food events.
Tampa downtown bank will close during RNC
We already know that the County Center in downtown Tampa, the home of much of Hillsborough County's government staff, will be shutting down for two weeks to avoid any issues with protesters at this summer's Republican National Convention. The city of Tampa has not officially declared whether it will be open for business. And on…
