CD review: Acid Mothers Temple, Dark Side of the Black Moon: What Planet Are We On?
This year, the Japanese psychedelic-metal collective Acid Mothers Temple stayed busier than most and released four albums. Their latest, Dark Side of the Black Moon: What Planet Are We On? is unaltered in the slightest from their uncountable number of previous outputs, and if anything, their style – a distinct rupture of metallic speed –…
On the Radar: Bill Maher at TBPAC
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. In the aftermath of last year's presidential election, some cultural critics wondered if political humor might suffer in the Age of Obama. Regular viewers of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher know that hasn't been an issue with this…
Do It This Weekend: Doug Stanhope, Cigar Heritage Festival, Plant City Pig Jam, CraftArt, Chillounge and more
Doug Stanhope is a balls-to-the-wall tact-free modern-day outlaw comic who says exactly what’s on his mind to great (if highly uncomfortable and nearly always offensive) comic effect. He recently admitted to being a “techno-retard” on his blog and to becoming “every hackneyed old comic who talks about these kids and their gadgets today. Take your…
Do It Today: Twilight Saga festival, Beards of Comedy, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and more
As everyone in the world that possesses a television knows, New Moon, the second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is in a theater near you at midnight tonight. My guess is most fans are going to watch Twilight right before they go see New Moon, just for the thrill of it. However, if they…
Women claim Marvel comics in 2010
When you think about Marvel Comics, chances are you think about Spider-Man. The Hulk. Captain America. Iron Man. The X-Men. But there have been just as many X-Women as -Men. More of Marvel's characters have called themselves Spider-Woman than Spider-Man, including the figurehead of last summer's mega-crossover Secret Invasion. She-Hulk was Marvel Chairman Emeritus Stan…
Art review: Square One’s Magnum Opus at The RITZ Ybor
Okesene Tilo, co-founder and co-owner of Square One Creative, Tampa, celebrated his 30th birthday in a whirl of art and costume last Saturday at Square One's latest major event, Magnum Opus. The theme of the event was creation and self-preservation, linking the disparity of support in the arts community with that of the environment, with…
Nosh Pit Episode 26: The Tampa Bay pizza scene with Dan Bavaro (Pizzaiolo Bavaro) and Peter Taylor (Wood Fired Pizza Wine Bar)
Peter Taylor (of Wood Fired Pizza Wine Bar) and Dan Bavaro (of Pizzaiolo Bavaro) come in to talk about the Tampa Bay pizza scene, which was shocked back into life this year thanks to their two restaurants. Taylor is a fanatic who wants to make the best pizza in the world, day in and day…
Youfit: A brand new environmentally friendly fitness club
If you live in Sarasota or Pinellas County, you may have heard of the fitness club chain Youfit. They are a relatively new fitness club chain aiming to promote energy efficiency and an environmentally friendly atmosphere as well as maintain low membership fees. Right now, they are having a special for new members. You pay…
Do It Today: Bad Dates in Tampa, opera adventures in Clearwater and Turandot at the theater
Hot on the heels of her appearance in Jobsite Theater’s And Baby Makes Seven, recent Tampa Bay area transplant Jessica Rothert slips into Stageworks’ production of Bad Dates, which previews tonight at the Shimberg Playhouse. Theresa Rebeck’s one-woman show, which premiered Off Broadway in 2003, is about Haley Walker, a Texas transplant living in Manhattan…
On the Radar: A Truman Capote Christmas
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Nothing says holiday cheer like spending time with the author of In Cold Blood (about the brutal murder of an entire family) and Breakfast At Tiffany's (about a high-class hooker). But sometimes, Christmas traditions are re-imagined — like in…
New Orleans’ Hornets nest: The firing of Byron Scott
What makes a successful head coach? Or perhaps a better question is… what makes a once successful head coach suddenly forget how to coach? Last week, the New Orleans Hornets announced that the services of their head coach and former NBA coach of the year, Byron Scott, would no longer be needed. The Hornets had…
Theater Review: 100 Saints You Should Know at USF College of the Arts
There are two sets of crises in 100 Saints You Should Know, one religious, one sexual. The religious crises are experienced by a priest named Matthew, who’s losing his faith, and a cleaning woman named Theresa, who’s just beginning to gain hers. The sexual crises involve Matthew again – he’s discovering that he’s gay and…
Stetson Law and The Innocence Project: Law school students righting wrongs
Since its creation in 1992, The Innocence Project has helped exonerate more than 240 people across the U.S., including 17 on death row. The Innocence Project of Florida (IPF) opened its doors in 2003 with a mission to find and free the innocent in Florida prisons. It’s done primarily through DNA testing, although those cases…
The Vegan Thanksgiving: Cheap, quick, and somehow still delicious
I spent three Thanksgivings poring over homemade dishes at my Jewish grandma’s house, wondering if she understood entirely what I meant when I told her I was vegan. “Sarah, honey, you’ll eat the turkey, won’t you?” she would ask me. “No, grandma, vegans don’t eat turkey.” “But you’ll eat the green bean casserole.” “No, grandma. It…
The Tampa Green Business Designation Program awards first three designations
The Tampa Green Business Designation Program is a partnership of the Sustany Foundation and the City of Tampa designed to highlight green and sustainable businesses in Tampa. Their website states: "Businesses seeking to participate in the program will be reviewed against a list of criteria that evaluate their organization’s level of sustainability including green policies…
Apps help the disabled communicate. So why won’t Medicaid pay for them?
Technology gets more amazing every day. Satellites guide us from our driveways all the way to a grocery store in Ohio. A webcam enables a soldier in Afghanistan to talk face-to-face with his wife in Nebraska. And a new wave of iPhone apps allows individuals with disabilities to communicate with others — some, for the…
Gossip Girl recap: a cautionary tale of having a threesome in a twin bed
"Sometimes it's after the curtains close the real reckonings come, whether it's about who we wish we were or who we wish we could be or who we want." — xoxo Gossip Girl This week was the one of seriously awkward conversations … I guess that's what happens when you have threesome, or if you're…
Concert review: Pete Yorn at Push Ultra Lounge (with setlist)
Poor Pete Yorn. He deserves a fate better than the hand he was dealt last Thursday night at Push, a hip downtown St. Pete nightclub. The New Jersey native has built quite a name for himself since the release of his excellent 2001 debut album, "Musicforthemorningafter". He's slowly but steadily racked up a solid fan…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, November 18: Cork and Olive Carrollwood Winey Women Wednesday. This is the only time it's good to be a "winey" woman. Bring a friend, leave with a buzz and a bottle! Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 10019 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733) Thursday, November 19: Total Wine South African Roadshow. Discover sweet new surprises from…
Love in the time of texting: I’ll make this quick
My boyfriend hates texting. Hates it. Doesn’t understand it. "I’m not married to my phone," he says. "Why do people think they can just reach me whenever they want?" They think that because, well, they can. We live in a technological age of hyper-connectedness. But, the deeper question is how has our connectedness affected us…
Hunger in U.S. way up, Hillsborough Dems talk about their priorities, and Glenn Beck & Bill O’Reilly together in Tampa: Mitch Perry Report 11.17.09
We all know how bad the American economy continues to be. Now new statistics from the Agriculture Department confirm that hunger is at a 14 year high; Three Hillsborough County based state legislators spoke to the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee last night. Find out what they had to say; And Fox News' Bill O'Reilly…
Glenn Beck & Bill O’Reilly appearing in Tampa together in January
Yesterday we put up a post informing you, the discriminating CL reader, that that if you've got a couple of hours to spare this Saturday, you can check out talk show host/author/ Glenn Beck at Borders on South Dale Mabry near I-275 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. However, you're reading it here first: The…
Cone Ranch one step closer to being safe from Hillsborough County Commissioners
Graphic credit: George Niemann I attended what I hope was the last meeting of the Cone Ranch Advisory Panel (not so affectionately known as C.R.A.P. by some activists) Monday morning. Recall the panel was set up by our County Commission ( BOCC ) at the request of Chairman Ken Hagan to recommend how best to…
Hillsborough state reps admit they have to play defense in Tallahassee
Last night, three of Hillsborough County's representatives in Tallahassee addressed the County's Democratic Executive Committee, about their legislative goals for the 2010 session. However, what was painfully obvious is that those legislators – State Senator Charlie Justice, and State Representatives Betty Reed and Mike Scionti, are handicapped, particularly in the House, by being the minority…
Ponzi schemes target green investors
The advice may sound tired, but it is still as valid today as it ever was: "If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is." And now this maxim applies even to financial proposals that reach out to investors who want to put greenbacks in green-tech. Here is a story ripped straight from…
As Thanksgiving approaches, hunger levels in U.S. at 14 year high
This Thursday in downtown Tampa, America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay is staging its 15th annual Empty Bowls Thanksgiving Luncheon in Lykes Gaslight Square. Last year's event raised more than $50,000 for the organization's food bank and Kids Cafe Programs. It's always around the holidays when the issue of the less fortunate get more play…
On the Radar: Plant City Pig Jam
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. When I became a certified barbecue judge a few years back, I realized that there's more to the art of smoked meat than most people realize. Luckily, you won't have to worry about that when you head out to…
Do It Today: drink high tea, hear Awesome New Republic and more
It's a rare pleasure to indulge in the tradition of High Tea (and by that we do mean afternoon tea, not drug-infused drinks), and today pinkie-lifting tea lovers can enjoy the tea traditions of four cultures with samplings of drink and cuisine from around the world: cucumber and mint sandwiches, goat cheese and watercress on…
Tips on heating, cooling and sealing your home to save energy and some green (video)
Now that the temperatures have finally dropped here in Florida, it won't be long before you're turning up your home's thermostat at night. Did you know that you can save energy and money on your utility bill just by properly using your thermostat and keeping your house sealed from outside air? This video from National…
Self acknowledged ‘rodeo clown’ Glenn Beck coming to Tampa
Conservative radio and television talk show Glenn Beck is coming to Tampa this weekend. According to the web site of Tampa 9-12 The former 970 WFLA talk show host, whose career has blown up in '09, will be appearing in Tampa this Saturday at Borders on South Dale Mabry Highway. Beck will be signing copies…
Beer Review : Left Hand Smokejumper Smoked Imperial Porter
It is known throughout the land – I am flamboyantly enraptured with every single beer produced by Left Hand Brewing. Their Milk Stout is the most excellent session stout ever, JuJu Ginger is the best accompaniment for sushi since wasabi, and Polestar Pilsner is so yummy it makes an ale junkie like me develop insane…
Dunedin Wines the Blues raises the bar with a performance by John Lee Hooker, Jr.
The Dunedin Wines the Blues Festival wrapped up its eighteenth year on Saturday with an old school blues show by John Lee Hooker, Jr., son of the legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker. John Lee, Jr. hit the stage in true blues style, dressed in a dark hat, sunglasses and a vest, and quickly brought the…
Obama and other world leaders fess up: No climate change deal likely in December
After all the efforts from people around the globe to get our world leaders to listen up and take action against climate change in December in Copenhagen, it looks like things aren't going to be changing any time soon. Yesterday, President Obama and leaders from the rest of the world's top economic powers finally fessed up…
New boss at CL, Alex Sink’s against Florida’s ban on gay adoption, and Rudy Giuliani doesn’t like a terrorism trial in NYC: Mitch Perry Report 11.16.09
Big news in CL's world. Former St. Pete Times Publisher Marty Petty has been hired as the CEO of Creative Loafing. Florida CFO and Democratic candidate for Governor Alex Sink has been criticized by some analysts for being too cautious. So last night she made news by announcing she's against Florida's ban on gay adoptions.…
Late night music, Nov. 16-21: Wyclef Jean, Neko Case, Carrie Underwood, Death Cab for Cutie, and more (plus video of Norah Jones on Letterman)
A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night… , CBS Monday, November 16: Wyclef Jean [pictured] with Cyndi Lauper (No doubt they'll perform "Slumdog Millionaire" off Wyclef's new album, From the Hut, To…
Creative Loafing chain hires Marty Petty, formerly of St. Petersburg Times, as new CEO
Creative Loafing, Inc. announced today that Marty Petty, the former publisher of the St. Petersburg Times and Hartford Courant, has been named chief executive officer for the alternative newspaper weekly chain. The announcement was made this morning by interim CEO Richard Gilbert at the Tampa paper's headquarters in Ybor City. In a press release,…
It happened this week-ish: New Moon madness, Madonna and Jesus’ mom, Carrie Prejean is sluttier than we thought and more
*It's Twilight Series: New Moon week kiddies and we know you are all just as excited as we are, we being me and Franki and that is all, no one else at CL cares even a little….but that isn't stopping me from telling YOU about the latest and greatest from the makers of Barbie, Ken…
Sugar daddy wanted: part 2
first introduced my friend Julia in Sugar daddy wanted: part 1, as a beautiful, 30-something with long black hair, large breasts, and a thin frame–-a woman who should never have a problem finding a date, yet she does. Julia decided to try her luck on seekingarrangment.com, and quickly began sending and receiving messages. The emails…
Manning-Brady classic and Buc heartbreaking loss shows why NFL remains America’s most popular sport
Last week the St. Petersburg Times' Michael Kruse and Eric Deggans wrote about how in this era of lower ratings for television programs due to splintered audiences, the National Football League's ratings have ascended in recent years. Days like yesterday demonstrate why pro football has such a grip on the mass public's attention. In a…
Concert review: Laura Izibor at Capitol Theater in Clearwater
It didn't matter that she played to a crowd of 225, slightly more than a half-full house at the Capitol Theater in Clearwater — Laura Izibor comported herself as a star Saturday night. She danced, she strutted, she belted out her neo-soul tunes with thorough conviction. And she smiled. Beamed, actually. The 22-year-old Irish artist…
Pranks to play on passed out friends, #1: The Slipcover
As my friends continue to prove unable to handle their liquor, this hopes to become a series of helpful hints and amusing anecdotes which the more experienced party-goers can use to ridicule their friends who ill-advisedly drink beyond their means. It also sets up for some pretty good photography. Here’s hoping they’ll still hang out…
Is solar PV dead in Florida?
Solar PV developers may soon get the message that the Sunshine State is closed for business. In an important proceeding at the Florida Public Service Commission in Tallahassee, approval of large-scale solar projects is in doubt. The key issue before the Commission is whether to approve a project with clear environmental benefits, yet its price…
Alex Sink says Florida ban on gay adoption has got to go
Florida is the only state in the country with a blanket ban on gay adoptions. Throughout the years there has been attempts through the courts and in the legislature to change that. Yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, Chief Financial Officer and Democratic candidate for Governor Alex Sink said that has to change. Speaking at a fundraiser…
Republicans on Holder decision on KSM: “Ideology run wild”
Although he hasn't held elective office in over 8 years and has had multiple setbacks professionally since then (none worse than his embarrassing performance in running for President two years ago), former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani will always have the goodwill amongst New Yorkers and Americans for his performance as Mayor in the…
On the Radar: Dog Sees God at The Frenzie
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend, The Frenzie Theatre company offers Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, an angsty adolescent show that asks what might happen to the Peanuts gang if they ever reached teenagerhood. When CB's dog dies of rabies,…
Do It Today: Meet Stephen King, hear Tech N9ne rap and rhyme, see Snake Dance Moon
Just in time to miss Halloween (thanks, Steve) the master of macabre, Stephen King, visits Sarasota to promote his new novel, Under the Dome, in an on-stage interview with the Sarasota Harold-Tribune’s Susan Rife. The author, who imbues many of his characters with his personal bad habits (think Jack Torrance in The Shining, but minus…
Southern Pride: Man Calls 911 for Sex (video)
And he's Florida's own! Early Wednesday morning, Joshua Basso, 29, ran out of cell phone minutes, so he allegedly dialed the only number that would work: 911. Basso called a 911 operator, and allegedly made several sexual comments about her body before asking to come over to her house and have sex with her. After…
Concert review: mc chris, Whole Wheat Bread and I Fight Dragons at Crowbar (with video)
“mc chris” is not capitalized. Googling him I found he is pretty adamant about it. He also doesn't capitalize song titles. Whereas some bands put on lackluster performances and call their concerts “shows” for the sake of monosyllabic brevity, I Fight Dragons put on a spectacle of a performance worth the term “show. The band…
Concert review: JET at RibFest in St. Petersburg (with setlist)
After watching their live show, it appears to me that JET has forgotten that they're no longer a group of kids playing in a garage band, and instead are a full-fledged rock 'n' roll band. This is not a complaint, so please don't remind them that they are. The Aussies rocked Vinoy Park on Friday…
RFC 19 results: Jason Ball defeats Edson Berto, becomes new RFC lightweight champion
TAMPA, Fla., Nov.13, 2009— The Real Fighting Championships (RFC) lightweight title belt is moving to the U.K. after challenger, Jason Ball, defeated defending champion, Edson Berto, during five grueling rounds last night at a sold out A La Carte Pavilion. Berto surprised Ball with an unprecedented level of aggressiveness and a whole new fight strategy…
Who is promoting Hillsborough’s gravy train?
I hate to derail this vision of a choo choo in Hillsborough before the tracks are even subsidized but somebody besides the anti-rail crowd has to ask the tough questions. The MSM sure don't seem to be asking many. Peeling another layer off this proposed tax to help developers pay for roads pay for rail…
November Chumpservations, Part One: The World Series, arm strength and barbecue for breakfast
A-Rod redeemed: How to win a World Series in ten days Okay… deep breath. Congratulations to the New York Yankees for knocking off the Phillies en route to their 27th World Series title. There… I said it. Now Red Sox hat placed firmly back on my head. A particular congratulations to Alex Rodriguez who proved…
EA: Wii weaker than expected, needs more games
Last week we learned that Nintendo President of Japan Satoru Iwata felt the Wii is not in a "healthy" state and with the release of Electronic Art's earning report yesterday it seems that EA, being the most prolific third party publisher on the Wii, can't seem to avoid having the same feelings. Although EA is…
This week’s caption contest featuring Sammy Sosa
It’s rare that we at SportsChump.net are blessed with a photo that needs no doctoring or no explanation. It stands alone on its own freakish merit. Such is the case this week. Most of the major names surrounding baseball’s steroid scandal, i.e. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, have disappeared into obscurity… until recently, when…
What college and NFL games to watch this weekend (Nov 13-15)
The curtain is closing on college football’s regular season. The top three teams in the nation are all double-digit road favorites (Florida at South Carolina, Alabama at Mississippi State, Texas at Baylor), but they are slowly running out of opportunities to stumble. Nobody expects them to lose but stranger things have happened. The NFL is…
Sarah Gerard – Contributor
Sarah Gerard received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from Hofstra University and is currently pursuing her MFA in fiction. She is a freelance writer of fiction and poetry, an avid craft-maker, and most recently co-founded a new, non-profit, youth arts center in downtown St. Petersburg. She can also sing like Emmylou…
Project Runway recap: New York, Ohio, accusations and vomit, oh my!
Finally, it's almost time for Bryant Park! Before we can get back to New York City though, we have to visit the designers in their hometowns and deal with a few surprises along the way. Carol Hannah moved to the suburbs of NY and is no longer living in her car, which is good.?She is…
Music news links for Friday, Nov. 13: The Who, Aerosmith, Paul McCartney, Beck, Cat Stevens, 30 Seconds to Mars and more (with video)
Does Friday the 13th equal a freaky news day in the music world? Find out here. The Who are going to perform at Super Bowl XLIV, which is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2010, in Miami. This will be the band's first North American performance since 2008. The biggest night in pro football and the Who?…
Cheap Eats: Song Huong Vietnamese Restaurant
Song Huong Vietnamese Restaurant 4040 W Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-880-9676 For the budget conscious diner, I recommend Vietnamese cuisine: rice vermicelli, grilled beef and pork, steamed shrimp and piles of vegetables and herbs like sprouts, cilantro, lemongrass, cucumbers and carrots flavored with tart lime, spicy chili or briny fish sauce. The flavors are lively and…
MyGreenBuildings wins in the Greenest Remodeling category of the Master Design Awards Contest
, the Sarasota-based green building company owned by Steve Ellis and Grant Castilow, has recently won an award in the Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards Contest for the Green Remodel category. The yearly Master Design Awards, sponsored by Qualified Remodeler magazine, is the premier national design contest that recognizes outstanding achievement in residential remodeling projects…
Anubha Momin – Contributor
Anubha Momin was raised in Toronto, Canada, where she received an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto. Anubha began writing for Creative Loafing while attending the Youth Encounter on Sustainability 2009 in Braunwald, Switzerland, a course that heightened both her awareness of and response to the challenges facing the green…
Concert review: Captured by Robots at Orpheum in Ybor City
With absolutely no idea of what to expect, I headed into the Orpheum on Thursday night to see a performance by Captured by Robots. Now, truthfully, I did take some time to check out the band’s website so that I could prepare myself for the show, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Taking the stage in…
Movie Review: Pirate Radio, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Nighy
When you strip away all the pomp and circumstance from rock ’n’ roll — the fashion and politics and drugs and groupies and stardom and burnout — what’s usually left is a few simple chords and a tune you can hum. In the 50-plus years since Chuck Berry, Little Richard, etc. created an art form,…
On the Radar: Twilight Saga Festival Night
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. As everyone in the world that possesses a television knows, New Moon, the second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is in a theater near you next Fri., Nov. 20. My guess is most fans are going to watch…
Beer Review: Petrus Blond, the light side of the Key to Heaven gift pack
With the holidays approaching, the glorious bounty that is winter seasonal beer begins to descend upon the shelves of local bottle shops. One of my favorite seasonal offerings is the Petrus Key to Heaven gift pack, which features 6 unique brews from Belgian brewery Bavik-De Brabandere, many of which have been wood aged for at…
Crist gets blasted by Tribune, Pawlenty’s in Florida, and Castor says health care reform will be a boon for Medicare patients: Mitch Perry Report 11.13.09
For your Friday the 13th editions, two people prominently mentioned as possible 2012 GOP Presidential candidates will be visiting Florida in the next few weeks. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty tonight, and Sarah Palin later this month. Some say Charlie Crist could be considered Presidential material (now that he's married). But will he even make it to…
Pawlenty’s in Florida and Palin will be in two weeks. Don’t presidential politics ever take a break?
The mainstream media is about to have a collective orgasm as Sarah Palin hits the circuit with the publication of her book Going Rogue. The book will be published on Tuesday, and the former Alaska governor's literary itinerary conspicuously eschews many major American (i.e. Democratic-oriented) cities, with neither L.A., San Francisco, Philadelphia nor Seattle making…
Castor and AARP extol the health care bill’s benefits for Florida seniors
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering a proposal to raise Medicare payroll taxes on couples who make more than $250,000 a year. The Nevada Democrat needs to find a way to find more money to pay for health care reform in the Senate bill, and he reporteadley would rather do that than put a…
IEA whistle blower reports that oil supplies are lower than we’re being told
Reports coming from The Guardian are that a whistleblower from the International Energy Agency leaked information that we are much closer to the peak production of oil than anticipated. The whistleblower is staying anonymous so I want to state that it's still unconfirmed, the IEA is denying what is being stated.
Trib editorial board: Charlie Crist has “embarrassed himself”
No, this is not the latest email salvo from the Marco Rubio camp (though if you're on the list, you might think so). Today the Tampa Tribune blasts our governor in their lead editorial, titled "Crist has lost his invincible touch." The op-ed chronicles his recent comedy of errors, in which the man famously known…
Theater Review: GoodVibes’ “Odyssey” to the center of your multiverse
Whoa. That was intense. If you missed the GoodVibes Production of “You Are More Than You Know: A Celestial Odyssey” (or should I say ODDyssey?) this past weekend at The Studio @620, you really missed…something. The attempt was noble, I’ll give them that. Their website (www.goodvibesmusic.com) describes the production thusly: “Have you heard the news?…
FC&EG wants to delay Cone Ranch proposal
The St. Petersburg Times reported on their web site this afternoon that Florida Conservation & Environment Group, or FC&EG, have written to the Hillsborough County Commission that they want to delay the negotiations between them and the County because of Commissioner Jim Norman's recent call to look at consolidating the water departments of the County…
Do It Tonight: Sleep of Reason Cinema
[5]art Gallery continues its mid-week pick-me-up art events with another installment in the Sleep of Reason Cinema Series, which was curated by Brian Taylor and Bradley Valentine with a dream of “providing a contemporary venue for a delirious brand of cinema.” Tonight's offering is a variety of short movies by Kelly Benjamin, Todd Lynne, Jeffrey…
Washington’s Best Pimp
Saxby Chambliss: Washington’s Best Pimp Watch your wallet, there is no shame or respect for the truth from this DC dirt-bag By Chris Ingram Frequent readers of my column will recall that earlier this year I chastised Georgia U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss for endorsing Charlie Crist. I have known Saxby for a long time and…
3 Guys & Glee — The Podcast: Episode 8, “Wheels”
When Fox’s Glee premiered, CL readers (OK, Lily the intern) demanded a goofy podcast talking about the show, the songs and Bruce Springsteen. Now, we make good on this demand: Click here to listen to 3 Guys and Glee, the Podcast with Kevin Hopp, Rabid Nick Refer and Jimbo. This week’s episode is entitled “Wheels,”…
TV Review: V,”There is No Normal Anymore”
The new ABC Sci-fi drama V returned for it's second installment and picked up directly where the first left off. And although it didn't suffer from similar pacing issues, the second episode didn't actually expound much into anything worth raving about either. What is very interesting however is the drama the prime-time event is causing…
On the Radar: “Beards of Comedy” and Doug Stanhope comedy shows
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, Ybor City sets the stage for two worthy comedy shows, and neither takes place at the Improv. Four furry Southeastern funnymakers bring their “Beards of Comedy” tour to New World Brewery to entertain the beer-loving masses with…
Movie Review: 2012, starring John Cusack, Oliver Platt and Amanda Peet
Walking out of 2012, the latest disaster epic by Independence Day directer Roland Emmerich, I couldn't help but feel that the Hollywood Industrial Complex has painted itself into a corner. Make no mistake: 2012 is the disaster movie to end all disaster movies. In the film, almost all of Earth's continents are destroyed by a…
Roy Nelson beats Justin Wren, advances to TUF 10 semi-finals
In episode nine of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season ten Roy "Big Country" Nelson defeated Justin Wren via split decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19) in the first quarter-final bout of the season. Nelson now advances to the semi-finals where he will most likely face one of the other members from Team Rashad. While Wren seemed to…
Saul-Sena wants school board represented at chamber events
Once every three months, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce hosts a luncheon with members of the Hillsborough County Commission and the Tampa City Council. CL attended the most recent gathering, in which the discussion of where the Chamber was philosophically in relations to the light rail proposal in Hillsborough was debated. Now Tampa City…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Vegetarian Thanksgiving cooking class, fresh markets galore, and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday. Tampa Downtown Market-…
Burgers and Brews: Beer and Food pairings at Square One Burgers
I challenge you to find a more suitable, adult appropriate, companion for a well assembled burger than a flavorful brew. But not every beer has the power to bring out the best in every burger. Some matches are just better than others. Thankfully, Square One Burger has an extensive beer list and a huge variety…
The evolution of slut-dom in modern dating
Undoubtedly you’ve heard the double standard: women who sleep around are called sluts, while sexually promiscuous men are considered manly men. But, does this inequality still exist? For the most part, I agree that promiscuous women are unfairly demonized, but I don’t think it’s the men who are doing the name calling.
Castor wants to talk to Obama on abortion, religious right targets Tampa City Council, and Florida’s economic future looks dismal: Mitch Perry Report 11.12.09
• A coalition of progressive groups will hold a news conference in support of Tampa Congresswoman Kathy Castor, as the Democrat continues to say she won't support a final health care reform bill if restrictions on abortion rights are in it. • A new report on the economic conditions of the various states of the…
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music: Pete Yorn, Lucero, Say Anything, Get Up Kids, MC Chris, Melt Banana, Laura Izibor, Deadmau5 and more!
A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 [pictured] I’m an admitted fan of Pete Yorn’s 2001 debut, musicforthemorningafter. It’s full of alt pop gems like “Life…
Jobsite’s food drive: Because zombies know what it’s like to be hungry …
Zombies are always hungry — good thing they aren't real. Metropolitan Ministries have hungry families and their need is real, so the cast of Jobsite Theater's Night of the Living Dead is teaming up to help! All jokes aside (and I can't take credit for that headline, that's the work of our resident designer Brian…
Religious right to go after Tampa for adding protections to transgendered people ?
Last week, the Tampa City Council voted to include gender identity and expression in the city's human rights law, which would effectively prohibit workplace discrimination against people who change genders. The discussion was relatively non-controversial, with some humorous quips made during the debate by Council members Mary Mulhern and Charlie Miranda, who said at one…
Need a break from all of the hoopla of the holidays? Take a yoga cruise and relax
Are you wound up and stressed from all of the holidays coming up? Have you already been eating lots of junk food and feel like you need to revamp your body and mind? Then this local cruise might be just the thing you need to get back into mental and physical shape. Royal Carribean's 3rd…
Pew Report: Florida in deep doo-doo
A report issued yesterday by the Pew Center on the States finds Florida as among the worst states in the nation in terms of its economy. The report, called "Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril" notes that what many of us have been recognizing day by day, month by month – Florida is not the…
Abortion issue in health care bill leading to a “civil war’ amongst Democrats?
A variety of progressive activist groups, such as MoveOn, OFA, the SEIU and the Florida Health Care For America Now Coalition plan to present Tampa Congresswoman Kathy Castor with a pair of boxing gloves today at a news conference, urging her to keep fighting for health care reform legislation. The event takes place just days…
Kama Sutra: the face
The position begins with the woman kneeling in a subservient position with her mouth open and ready to receive her man. The man grabs the back of her head, pulls her towards his member, and inserts it in her mouth (As lovingly as possible of course… unless she likes it rough!) The man controls the…
Movie trailer mania: Clash of the Titans, Salt and Prince of Persia
This week has been quite exciting for movie fans, with the release of three interesting trailers, including Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Angelina Jolie spy flick Salt and the Clash of the Titans remake starring Sam Worthington. Check them out after the jump!
Show preview/CD review – Have Gun, Will Travel, Postcards from the Friendly City; CD release show this Saturday at New World
Last year, Bradenton-based quintet Have Gun, Will Travel caught the attention of NPR with their stylistic and thematic take on Old West-flavored Americana in Casting Shadows Tall as Giants, their sophomore full-length. The band’s self-released third effort, Postcards from the Friendly City (out Nov. 17) maintains the dusty trailblazing charm of its predecessor with rambling…
Green your home inside and out
Here at Creative Loafing's Green Community, we often post articles on ways to green almost every aspect of your life. From food and beauty, to pets and decor, we've listed a myriad of ways to become eco-friendlier. This time, I've decided to focus on home-related issues and ways to make your home greener, inside and out. Here are…
Photo review: Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves with Mike Hale and How Dare You at Crowbar
Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves made their Tampa debut at Crowbar this past Friday, November 6, with support from Mike Hale and How Dare You.
Restaurant Review: Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe
Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe 3 and 1/2 stars 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-234-1000 or ellasfolkartcafe.com I shy away from the the term "hipster," if only because it's tossed around with a disregard of meaning that puts the misuse of "cool" and "hip" to shame. Sometimes it's a slur, sometimes a misguided attempt to…
It’s not who wears the underpants, but who buys them
Originally reported by the Dailymail.co, The British designer store, Debenhams, recently researched who buys men’s underwear. What they found reveals a bit more about relationship trends that just who controls the wallet. Men only buy their own underwear for seventeen years of their lives. This responsibility is relegated to mothers and wives the rest of…
Veterans day edition, Castor wants abortion amendment removed, and Nina Hayden makes her (virtual) Hillsborough debut: Mitch Perry Report 11.11.09
Earlier this week a group of House Democrats who supported the health care reform bill over the weekend contacted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that they will not vote for a final bill that contains language restricting a woman's right to choose further than current law. CL has been informed that among the signatories was Tampa's…
The priest and the Marine: How the gayosphere is reacting
The evolving story of the Greek Orthodox priest and the tire iron-wielding Marine keeps getting more interesting, including the news that the Marine was a model for AllAmericanGuys.com. And nowhere are the theories more interesting than in the gay blogosphere, where questions are being raised about what exactly happened in that there parking garage. To…
Kathy Castor one of 41 House Democrats to vote no on health care without Stupak Amendment removed
As has been widely reported, the health care legislation that barely squeaked through the House by a 5-vote margin last Saturday night happened only after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed for an amendment that would sharply curtail the availability of abortions in health care coverage. That amendment, introduced by Michigan Representative Bart Stupak, has proven…
Wednesday-music.com profile: The Swell Season
"The Swell Season" was originally the name of Glen Hansard (vocals, guitar) and Markéta Irglová's (vocals, piano) first album released in 2006. However, they have become commonly known and now refer to themselves as The Swell Season. The name comes from humanist Josef škvorecký's 1975 novel titled The Swell Season; Glen's favorite novel. The initial…
Reap the rewards for recycling and make some green
Seeing as this Sunday is America Recycles Day, I've been in the recycling mood and racking my brain for different ways to do so. Then I stumbled upon something wonderful: cash (or swag) for recycling! We could all probably use some extra dough these days, and just for the act of recycling you can make a…
Nina Hayden wows crowd at Hillsborough Young Dems meeting
Last night at Streetcar Charlie's in Ybor City, the Young Democrats of Hillsborough County held an event that featured former Congressman Jim Davis and State Senate candidate Nina Hayden. Hayden, elected last year to the Pinellas County School District, is a young woman in a hurry (she’s 35). She’s now running for the State Senate…
On this Veterans Day more questions about Fort Hood killings
There are various events commemorating Veterans Day today, with one of the biggest surely to be at Bay Pines Medical Center in St. Petersburg at 10 a.m. House Representative Bill Heller will be the keynote speaker. In Tampa, thee was a parade that was to conclude with ceremonies at James A. Haley VA Medical Center,…
Book Review: Max McCalman’s Mastering Cheese
Max McCalman didn't plan on becoming a cheese guy. While working at the famed restaurant Picholine in New York City, the chef asked for volunteers to help him start a cheese program in the restaurant. It fell to McCalman almost by default. Now, 15 years later, McCalman has written two definitive books on cheese, with…
An open letter to my next ex-girlfriend
Hey there. It was really nice meeting you the other night at [name of club, bar, or mutual friend's house]. I really liked the ensemble you were wearing. I'm not one to boast, but I can spot a well-made garment when I see one. Your shoes were really cute too. I'm really sorry I spilled…
What makes Paula Dockery run?
Why State Senator Paula Dockery jumped into Florida’s gubernatorial race.
Welcome to the Yborhood, Creative Loafing
With this issue, Creative Loafing is celebrating a homecoming of sorts: Five years after leaving Ybor, we've returned to our roots. We now occupy a suite of offices in Ybor Square across the street from our old stomping grounds at El Pasaje — where (I am told — this all happened before my time), the…
War stories
Tolstoy’s War and Peace is as gripping and contemporary as ever.
Hillsborough County inches ever closer to a light rail system
The Hillsborough County Commission last week began the first formal steps toward approving a penny sales tax referendum that would pay for transportation improvements, including the beginnings of a light rail system. The vote was 5-2, with Commissioners Al Higginbotham and Jim Norman dissenting. If the same super majority holds when the issue comes back…
Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe in Seminole Heights is retro-modern, with food to match
I shy away from the the term "hipster," if only because it's tossed around with a disregard of meaning that puts the misuse of "cool" and "hip" to shame. Sometimes it's a slur, sometimes a misguided attempt to classify a widely varied range of people. But when it comes to Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe,…
Jaden Hair, food blogger and CL alum, publishes Steamy Kitchen Cookbook
I first met Jaden (rhymnes with "maiden") Hair two years ago, in the drizzled, muddy parking lot of an organic farm stand. She came to my attention thanks to her blog — steamykitchen.com — which had hit the local scene a mere six months before and had already garnered a national following; and she brought…
How did the states establish long straight borders before GPS?
How is it that, in places without natural features such as a river or mountain range to mark a border, U.S. states could establish a nice, even line over hundreds of miles before GPS? —Granite-Morale The lines aren't always nice and even. Study a U.S. atlas and you'll find many supposedly straight boundaries with slants…
Students highlight the Independents’ Film Festival, plus Sarasota’s Cine-World
It used to be that film festivals in the Tampa Bay area were a rarity. No longer. Totaling up all the fundraisers, workshops and side programming that go along with the ever-expanding number of festivals, it's clear that fest-hopping has become a year-round sport. And that's great, because we can all stand to broaden our…
Simply gross
Here’s hoping this Internet creep is making all this up.
The state of Ybor City
Is it the best of times or the worst of times? What’s in store for Ybor?
Art is an entertaining play about male friendship and contemporary art
Yasmina Reza's Art has two subjects, one of them serious and worthy of attention, the other slightly embarrassing and perhaps even philistine. The better theme — and the one that gets most of the stage time — is male friendship and the unspoken agreements that sustain it. The three men in this case are Marc,…
What’s next for Jannus Landing?
The life, death and rebirth of a beloved concert venue.
Lesley Dill’s breathtaking artwork explores how words shape our world
For all the blows that have been struck against the once-hallowed ideal of the artist as expressive genius, for many museum-goers a visit to that sacred temple of art is still about encountering the "voice" of a visionary. (For example, while, say, community-based artworks are gaining some traction as the focus of museum exhibitions, the…
Smart new improv show The Dumb Show is a welcome monthly addition to American Stage
Good improv requires a lot more than acting talent. It requires intelligence, a wide-ranging imagination, split-second decision-making and an unfailing instinct for what's comic in the human condition. Where Gavin Hawk and Ricky Wayne of The Dumb Show are concerned, it also means the willingness to appear utterly ridiculous in front of a crowdful of…
The Genitorturers frontwoman and metal provocateur celebrates her band’s new album with a hometown show
The siren wails of ascending notes, the speedy electro hammering of programmed drums and a fat and sinister guitar riff open Blackheart Revolution. And then the bestial growl of Genitorturers frontwoman/namesake Gen aggro blasts onto the track and demands your undivided attention: "Well no one cares about the rock star illusion / No one cares…
It’s only a game, parents
But you wouldn’t know it from the coaches and parents watching youth baseball.
Cafe Dufrain’s new chef Ferrell Alvarez needs to catch up to his potential
One glance at Cafe Dufrain's new menu — which is still evolving — and you can see where new chef Ferrell Alvarez has come from. Alvarez spent the last seven years next to Marty Blitz in the kitchens of Mise En Place, Chef de Cuisine in Tampa's grande dame of modern American dining. He moved…
I want a threesome with my boyfriend, but I’m jealous when he talks to other girls
Woman interested in threesome may have to do the asking.
Routes Music, Long Beach: Modern shaman ‘Mushroom’ uses didgeridoo to heal mind, body, spirit (with video)
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
The Temple Terrace Preservation Society’s next meeting to feature local author Dr. John Henry Fleming and his book Fearsome Creatures of Florida
The Temple Terrace Preservation Society's next meeting on Thursday, November 19, will be featuring local author and Temple Terrace resident, Dr. John Henry Fleming, and his newest book, Fearsome Creatures. Dr. Fleming will do a reading and signing of his latest book that's mystical, magical and funny, with an environmental theme about preserving what's left…
The Green Community week in review: Pre-urban renewal Ybor, energy systems 2.0, green your holidays, and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: City of Seminole recycling and sustainability discussion – A local activist held a discussion on recycling and sustainability at the Seminole Community Library on Monday, November 9. 1890s Ybor City: Green and sustainable (plus…
Movie Review: The Fourth Kind, starring Milla Jovovich
For a movie whose title references the most sinister level of encounter with an alien life form — abduction — The Fourth Kind should probably have come with a modest “buyer beware” warning. That’s because the film is less about getting prodded and probed by little green men than it is a test of what…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Open house at Yoga Lotus Room, Awakening the Dreamer symposium, World Peace Day celebration, and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday. Tampa Downtown Market-…
Top Chef Las Vegas Podcast, Ep. 10: Natalie Portman, dick jokes, and where’s the beef?
Last week's episode sure got my hopes up. I hate to keep complaining about what a snooze-fest this season is, but seriously, it is. Is it the contestants? Is it the editing of the show? Why can't someone cut themselves or make out with another contestant like last season? Oh, it's supposed to be about…
Late night music: Florence and the Machine, Wolfmother, Fruit Bats, Andrew Bird, Slipknot and more (plus video of Echo & the Bunnymen on Jimmy Kimmel Live)
A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night… , CBS Monday, October 26: Harper Simon (son of Paul, who just released his self-titled debut) Tuesday, October 27: Florence and the Machine (Florence pictured,…
“Rabid” Nick Refer – Contributor
The Rabid One comes to you from the mean streets of Hoboken, if it were an hour south and called the Jersey Shore. Keep a keen eye and you’ll notice the obnoxious Springsteeen predilection. Mr. Refer is your official party host and if it relates to film, fiction, sex and/or love he’s on top of…
