Molly’s better half
A chat with Billy Gardell of Mike and Molly. He comes to Tampa May 12.
Check THIS out tonight: Jeremy Gloff CD release at The Social Club, 9 p.m., free admission
Outspoken, at times controversial, ever prolific and always original, Tampa Bay's — and CLGBT contributor — Jeremy Gloff will be celebrating the release of his 17th album tonight at The Social Club in Ybor City.
Mike Bennett on wanting to make it harder for Floridians to vote
During a discussion in the Florida Senate last week on the controversial elections bill that, among its other features would reduce early voting in Florida from 14 days to eight, Bradenton Republican state Senator Mike Bennett said he was proud to make it harder for Floridians to vote. The Senator said, "I have to tell…
How safe is soy?
Timothy Valentine via Flickr Americans today spend upwards of $4 billion yearly on soy food products. Courtesy of: EarthTalk®E — The Environmental MagazineDear Earth Talk: How healthy is soy? I heard that, despite its healthy image, most soy is grown using chemicals like other crops and is even being genetically modified. — D. Frinka, Syracuse,…
2011 FL Legislative Session: The biggest losers
Well, it's over — mercifully. The 2011 regular Florida legislative session went into overtime this weekend, but it's definitely now history, and not a moment too soon for anybody who describes themselves as a progressive/liberal/Democrat or possibly just an independent voter, all of whom must feel just a bit alienated to live in a state…
The waterboarding debate
Although most conservatives (no matter how begrudgingly) have given it up and credited Barack Obama for his decision to use a Navy SEAL team to take out Osama bin Laden a week ago, those same conservatives have also used their time in the cable news spotlight to criticize the administration for investigating CIA officers who…
Weekend Reading: News, Movies, TV and more …
Fox Searchlight Jessica Chastain in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life Entertainment Weekly: An exclusive clip from Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. The next big thing in entertainment is here: 3D Sound!!! Rocket scientist Edgar Choueiri has developed a way to render sound in three dimensions. And he has broadcast this new technology for…
The Refinery hosts its first ‘Farm to Fork’ event
There’s something quite wonderful about being able to put a face and name to your foods, something few of us can probably admit to doing. Many of us purchase and eat blindly, never questioning where our meats and produce come from and the methods by which they are made. We sometimes don’t consider the techniques…
Fight climate change with cow poo (video)
jpockele via flickr Cows have often been seen by many environmentalists as being ozone offenders because the gas they emit — as burps and in their poo — contains high levels of methane, a greenhouse gas. But now the cows can breathe (and burp) a little easier with this method of extracting and recycling their…
Final frustration: Florida Dems on session’s last day
St.Pete House Democrat Rick Kriseman The clock is winding down to Sine Die, as the Florida Legislature scrambles to pass its remaining bills before adjourning its regular 2011 session later today. It's been a horrific nine weeks for Democrats – the few that are up there – and their frustrations are erupting on this final…
This Weekend @ The Movies
Look into my eyes moviegoer — now give me your wallet. It's time, movie fans: The summer blockbuster season is now officially in full swing with Marvel's release of Thor, the first big superhero flick of a summer loaded with them. CL's Kevin Hopp reports that Thor is actually pretty good, featuring some kick-ass action,…
Chocolate euphoria
Chase away the blues with a sorbet from the gods.
Memo to the Tea Party: USA Today reports Americans are paying the smallest share of taxes in over 50 years
A USA Today analysis reported on Friday that Americans are paying the smallest share of their income on taxes since 1958. According to Bureau of Economic Analysis data, the total tax burden – for all federal, state and local taxes – dropped to 23.6% of income in the first quarter. The paper reports that by…
Shiver me timbers! Timber theft on the rise
Washington State Department of Natural Resources The aftermath of a timber theft in Washington State. Courtesy of: EarthTalk®E — The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I heard that timber thefts are increasing across the country. Why would people steal timber and is it a particular kind for a particular use? — Rosie Ng, Stanwood, WA People…
The GOP candidates for President (or some of them) debate (video)
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson Going into the first GOP Presidential debate last night in Greenville, South Carolina, the biggest story was about who was not there. That indifference actually spread down to the press, as it was reported that both the Associated Press and Reuters were going to join Mitt Romney, Donald Trump…
Reading under the influence
Cru Cellar’s book club puts the “lit” in literature.
Price and The Farnz stay cool in Rays win
Kevin Tall He was on his way to his first complete game of the season. Or so he thought. The next thing he knew, he was on his way to the dugout. With a 3-1 lead over Toronto in the top of the ninth inning, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon pulled lefty David Price…
Hank, morphine and miracles: a new World for Steve Earle
I’ve been a huge Steve Earle fan since he released the album Guitar Town in 1986. But that is the singer-songwriter Steve Earle, not the novelist Steve Earle, so no disclaimer should be needed. Still, his prodigious songwriting talents made the crossover to long-form prose an intriguing and anticipated event. The characters that populate I’ll…
I scream for free Häagen-Dazs ice cream on May 10th!
Ice cream is great, especially during these hotter days we're experiencing, but free ice cream is even better. What's the scoop, you ask? As part of their 5th annual Free Flavor Day from 4-8 p.m. on May 10th, Häagen-Dazs stores nationwide are giving away free scoops of any flavor that you desire. Why? So patrons…
Dine on earthly delights
Indulge in the fruits (err, veggies) of Eckerd College students' labor. On Saturday, May 14, Eckerd students host the Roots Harvest Festival, where they will harvest vegetables from their own organic community garden, and use them to create clean, pleasing to the palate dishes for a public potluck. On the menu: lots of rich leafy…
White plastic bags: Big environmental offenders
Though plastic bags can be convenient when hauling home your loot from the grocery store, they're also quite the environmental nuisance. Billions of plastic bags end up clogging landfills and oceans each year — adversely affecting the environment and marine life — and they're manufactured using oil, so they create CO2 emissions. And on top…
Gods, lanterns, aliens and barbarians… ah, summer!
Marvel Mjolnir I don't know about any of you, but I was one of those kids you probably tripped over in junior high, because I had the mutant ability to become invisible. Or at least that is how it played out in my imagination. I was always lost in my head dreaming of interstellar or…
Hillsborough homeless count: 17,755-plus
Rayme L. Nuckles, CEO of the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County The number of homeless men, women and children in Hillsborough County is 17,755, according to the county’s 2011 homeless count. Volunteers for the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County conducted the count on Jan. 27. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the…
Tampa City Council to revisit panhandling issue
Harry Cohen Remember the issue of panhandling in Tampa? For months, at the end of 2010 and especially throughout the mayoral and city council campaign this winter, the story was a dominant one, with most of those running for office saying they supported a crackdown of some sort on people asking for money at street…
Point of Vue
A great place for a drink, but the food …
Something stinks
Unsavory characters sink Something Borrowed.
The Gaily News: J. Crew, Google Chrome, NY gay marriage, Brit kissing ban (video)
After inspiring conservative ire by featuring a little boy getting his toenails painted pink in an online newsletter last month, J. Crew's May catalogue features gay designer Somsack Sikhounmuong with his boyfriend, Micah. The caption underneath the beaming couple reads "Happy Together."
Erotic humiliation play: When you want the names to hurt
There's a reason our emotions are also called our feelings. It's because we feel them. Heart pounding, nerves tingling, blood rushing to different parts of our body… these are all physically felt in the same way we feel a smack on the ass. We know that some people are delighted by bodily sensations others would…
Harry Reid to Marco Rubio: Don’t Forget Who You Are (video)
Although his biography has been well documented over the past couple of years, it's rarely noted that Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio spent part of his childhood in Las Vegas. Actually, in his stump speech touting American Exceptionalism, Rubio would frequently invoke his hard working immigrant father tending bar in Vegas. We bring up the…
Green Community Calendar weekend events
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…
Mother’s Day meals
cote via Flickr Treat Mom to a nice meal (and maybe even a few mimosas) at these Bay area restaurants offering brunch and dinner specials on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8. AQUA BAR & GRILLE The Westin Tampa Bay, 7627 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, 813-675-8700, aquabarandgrille.com. Treat Mom to fresh seafood from around the globe…
Florida Senate poised to vote on bill that will shorten early voting days
The Florida Senate may vote on Thursday on SB 2086, the election reform bill which would reduce the amount of early voting days from 14 to 10 and the end of practice of allowing voters to file name and address changes at the polls on Election Day (Some media reports say the early voting days…
Hammer time
Marvel’s cinematic universe continues to expand with Thor.
Johnny on the Spot
A Puccini opera gets an update &mdash and a cast of wonderful singers.
Live from Laurel Canyon
The epicenter of folk, psychedelia and nearly every other genre roped of the late 1960s and early '70s, Laurel Canyon was once home to Neil Young, Frank Zappa, The Doors, David Crosby, Joni Mitchell and various others who helped define the voice of a revolutionary generation. The tiny terrestrial corridor between West Hollywood and the…
Osama Bin Laden is dead
Plus the rest of the week’s Bin Laden-related news.
King of Spain & Mrenc EP Release Show
The two Florida acts present a new limited split EP.
Absolute power
In Tallahassee, a close-up view of the clout (and the horrors) of one-party rule.
The fan problem
The Rays and the Orchestra share a common deficit, no matter how well they play.
Knowledge is power
Is daddy-to-be entitled to know his boys can swim?
Rusko, Jeff Beck, Heavy Cream and more …
This week’s picks for the best upcoming concerts.
Johnny on the spot
A Puccini opera gets an update — and a cast of wonderful singers.
Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Fiestas offer grown-up libations and kid fun throughout Tampa Bay.
Fresh ink on tattooed porn vixen, Joanna Angel
If you’ve watched or read a recent mainstream news report on the porn industry, you’ve met Joanna Angel. As owner, producer, director, writer, and star of the adult entertainment brand, BurningAngel.com, Joanna represents the modern porn mogul hustling to turn a few tricks and a profit in a demanding market. Among her accolades, she has…
The Voice Recap: Blind Auditions Part Two
The honeymoon is over but we are still in love.
SWEEP!
As it turns out, David has one heck of a slingshot. The Tampa Bay Lightning completed a four-game sweep of the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum with a 5-3 victory over the #1 seeded Capitals, booking themselves a date in the Eastern Conference Finals against the winner of the…
