Billy Corgan slams Pavement. But is he right?
Beware an inspired Billy Corgan, because an inspired Billy Corgan sometimes says crazy shit. It was an inspired Billy Corgan that took out a full-page newspaper ad hyping a Smashing Pumpkins reunion without half the core lineup. Learning his band would share a bill with Pavement at a festival in Brazil, Corgan (right) was inspired…
Pumpkin pie comes from pumpkins? Proof that using real pumpkin makes for better pie
And I thought it came from cans. The cold-hearted Libby’s corporation has too long held us hostage in our holiday traditions. For too long, those purveyors of pulverized pumpkin pulp have pushed their canned wares on a generation of piemen and women. For too long, we have let this foreign-owned subsidiary dominate the processed pumpkin…
EarthTalk: For sustainable housing, look to small prefab homes
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: I am looking for a small, modular home to put on a piece of vacation property. What’s available that could meet my needs…
Cynical and southern: Trans – The forbidden topic
How about a trans joke to get things rolling? Just kidding. As far as touchy subjects go, the topic of trans may rank near the top of the list. I have been the person who used the wrong pronoun and dealt with the backlash. I’ve been in the presence of trans people and I was…
Is comedian Louis C.K. a wanker? A Rabid Tampa comedy preview (w/ offensive video)
There's just something about seeing a comedian in person after you've already seen his junk while watching his raunchy sitcom. How do you not pretend you haven't seen him naked, being that you can't un-see it?
Local officials gather in Tampa to question what went wrong with Hillsborough transit tax
It's been two weeks now since those working on the Hillsborough sales tax referendum to help fund the beginnings of a light rail system have had time to assess what went so wrong on November 2, when county voters overwhelmingly defeated the much hyped measure. Calling for a tax increase, always a tall order in…
Spoiler Corner: Glee, Gossip Girl, The Walking Dead and more!
Curious about your favorite shows? Is someone going to die? Is your favorite couple getting engaged? Hook ups? Break ups? Well here you will find all the answers to your burning questions! How I Met Your Mother Looks like it's the third installment of Slapsgiving this week and everyone is dying to know when that…
Concert review: Jason Bonham keeps The Zeppelin afloat at Ruth Eckerd Hall (with photos)
Tribute bands are big business these days. In an attempt to re-create the magic and the illusion of a band since gone, plenty of able-bodied musicians are getting together and forming bands that emulate the sound and aura of their long gone heroes. There are, right now, plenty of tribute bands that make a living…
The 19 lucky U.S. cities where the Ford Focus Electric will debut
Ford had just announced the nineteen cities fortunate enough to be the first acquire the all-electric, zero emissions Focus Electric when it hits the market late next year. (Drumroll please.) Atlanta, Austin and Houston, Texas, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Tucson, Portland, Raleigh Durham, Richmond, Seattle,…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, November 17: Whole Foods Market “Thanks for Turkey”: Learn all the aspects of basic bird preparation from roasting to brining, and even “stuffing.” You'll also get to enjoy a sampling of side dishes that will pair perfectly with your bird. If you have any questions about turkey, this is the class for you! It’s…
Five wrong moves women won’t stop making, but should
I realize from time to time I come off as a man bashing woman. You poor men out there in internet-land have to take my tongue lashings when I'm in a snappy mood. It's high time I share some of that shame and blame with the women. With that in mind, this blog is dedicated…
Movie Review: David Yates’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter (with trailer video)
Ripped from the beloved children’s books and adapted into one of the biggest movie franchises in history, the epic tale of Harry Potter and his magical mates is (slowly) coming to a close with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. (Part 2 hits theaters July 15, 2011.) As sides clash, characters embrace their…
CL’s bold prediction: Haley Barbour will NOT be our next President
Every day, some political website or other runs through the list of potential GOP candidates for president in 2012. You know the names: Pawlenty, Gingrich, Palin, Jindal, Romney, DeMint, Huckabee, etc. No doubt that some of those people are going to get serious early next year about 2012. But American tradition — at least over…
Do It Today: Benefit for Suicide Prevention at Venue and Obots at Interior Motives Gallery
Every 16 minutes, someone in this country ends his or her life intentionally, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people. In recognition of this startling statistic, the Dunedin Waterside Rotary Club is hosting its American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Benefit from 7:30 p.m. to midnight tonight at The Venue nightclub in Clearwater (pictured…
Tampa City Council candidate lays down ambitious agenda
Tony DeSisto, a Tampa attorney who grew up in Rhode Island and is now running for the Tampa City Council in District 4, unveiled a specific agenda that he wants to base his campaign upon today. The South Tampa District 4 seat is currently held by Yolie Capin, selected by the Council last summer to…
Recycle your old holiday lights and get a discount on ENERGY STAR sets
Get rid of those old strings of holiday lights that have become clutter in your garage and trade them in for some brand new, energy efficient ones. Until November 20th (this Saturday), Sears and Kmart are taking in those old lights in exchange for a coupon toward ENERGY STAR qualified lights for their “Trade-in to…
Turkey 101: Giving your family the bird – The guerrilla guide to holiday turkey cookery
It’s the night before Thanksgiving and procrastination has finally given way to panic. The invitations have been sent out, decorative cobs of corn have been hung, the extra computer chair from your office is now part of your dining room set, and the liquor cabinet has been overstocked. But there are some things alcohol can’t…
Clearwater’s final Ironman 70.3: A photographic record
Saturday, Nov. 13, 5 a.m. A field of 1,500-plus athletes awaits the start of the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3: 1.2 miles in the water, 56 miles by bike, ending with a 13.1-mile run. This was the fifth, and last, year of the Ironman World Championship 70.3 to be held in Clearwater, FL.…
Movie & TV (and a little music) links for today, Nov. 16th 2010: Girl Talk’s new album for free, Fantasia, IFC Podcast, Criterion Collection and more …
Download the new Girl Talk album All Day here for FREE!! Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz has a conversation with his 13-year-old daughter about Walt Disney's Fantasia in honor of its 70th anniversary. Speaking of which: Fantasia & Fantasia 2000 Special Edition blu-ray will be released on November 30, 2010.
On the Radar this Friday: Anthony Bourdain at Mahaffey and Not Playing With a Full Deck at the Bricks
Rock star of the food world and salt-and-pepper sex symbol Anthony Bourdain appears live in the sizzling flesh Friday to share his travel stories and silver-tongued smart-assery – and answer some questions from his fans. The globe-trekiking star of the Travel channel’s Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations has one of the most enviable gigs: Each week…
New music releases out this Tuesday, November 16: Nelly, Stereolab, Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Kid Rock, Girl Talk, and more (with video)
New music is back after a temporary hiatus! A breakdown of the noteworthy releases that dropped November 9 is included at the bottom of the post… , Bare Bones (Decca) The Grammy-winning rocker issues his debut release on Decca, which features stripped-down arrangements of hits from his three-decade career. Black Francis, The Golem (Black Francis…
Movie Review: Tense, thrilling Unstoppable, starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson (with trailer video)
Back in 1994, there was an action movie about a bus held hostage and unable to stop without exploding. The movie I’m talking about is Speed, I have yet to repeat the twin feelings of being on the edge of my seat and being so exhausted after a movie-going experience. Unstoppable reminded me a lot…
Cru Cellars wine tasting to benefit the Children’s Home – Thursday, November 18
If you haven't been by the newly opened and renovated Cru Cellars in South Tampa yet, this would be a great opportunity to do so. Attend their grand opening wine tasting, "A Perfect Pairing", this Friday evening and drink for a cause. What cause, you ask? Cru Cellars is partnering with the Children’s Home (a…
Dissecting Dexter: Season 5, episode 8 “Take It!”
This episode had just the right amount of fervor, excitement and heart. Things continue to heat up as the plot thickens and our characters are put into weirdly unprecedented situations. And we've still got four episodes to go! I love, love, loved the cheesy, creepy, really unsettling Jordan Chase "Take It!" opening. What a weirdo.…
Concert review: An Evening with Ian Anderson at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater (with setlist)
It's quite amazing to think about, especially in this day and age of technological advances and progress, that a middle-aged man playing a flute and singing tales of ancient folklore can evoke such a passionate, fevered response from a paying audience. So is the case of Ian Anderson, lead singer, flautist, multi-instrumentalist and oracle of…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Buccaneers beat bad teams, bad news Gators and blackouts are annoying AND dangerous
The Bucs are now at a holy-shit 6-3 record after nailing the door shut on the Panthers 31-16, completing the division sweep. Or so I've heard. Literally. I sat this one out and decided to watch football like my Grandma Dot used to. Laying by the pool with a boom-box and a beer cooler. Blackouts, shmackouts, you sissy-Mary's…
Coalition of Immokalee Workers hails agreement with trade group as “watershed moment in the history of Florida agriculture”
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers have been on a decade long campaign to bring a level of economic fairness and work safety measures to immigrant farmworkers in Florida, and today they reached the pinnacle of that effort with an agreement with the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) that will extend the labor organization's "Fair Food"…
This weekend: The USF School of Theater and Dance presents What the Heart Remembers: The Women and Children of Darfur
“If you are facing the mountain, you can move the mountain.” This is the opening entreaty from What the Heart Remembers: The Women and Children of Darfur, a multi media piece that shows the atrocities inflicted upon the residents of the Darfur refugee camps. The USF School of Theater and Dance has taken on an…
Richard Branson wants in on Florida high speed rail; William Snyder moves on up in Florida Legislature, and Keith Olbermann’s now mad at Ted Koppel: Mitch Perry Report 11.16.10
Even though Hillsborough County voters rejected a penny sales tax referendum two weeks ago, the issues of transportation in Florida and the Tampa Bay area aren't going away. Yesterday board members with HART said at least they couldn't with a straight face keep on talking about what light rail corridors they needed to choose from…
Finding the right light: An interactive guide to finding the right CFLs for your home
With so many options for energy-efficient CFL bulbs out there now, it can be confusing when going to purchase them for certain light fixtures in your home. Lucky for us, ENERGY STAR has created an interactive website where you can learn the exact type of bulb you can use for certain fixtures, the different color…
Olbermann sounds off on Ted Koppel’s critical op-ed (video)
Following up on Jon Stewart's take down on cable news when speaking with Rachel Maddow last week, legendary newsman Ted Koppel, now reporting for BBC America, blasted cablecasters like Keith Olbermann, Glenn Beck & Bill O'Reilly in an op-ed in Sunday's Washington Post. Koppel began his op-ed by using the news about Olbermann's short two…
Richard Branson wants in on Florida’s high speed rail fun
The Wall Street Journal originally reported last Friday that the U.K.'s Virgin Group, led by entrepreneur Richard Branson, plans to bid for Florida's high speed rail line. The story is picked up in today's Financial Times: Virgin confirmed it had joined the competition, with an official announcement expected later this week. “We’re interested in exciting…
On Thanksgiving Day, don’t forget the Gewürztraminer!
The table is set: turkey, stuffing, the creamiest mashed potatoes ever, cranberry sauce to coo over, sweet potato casserole too sweet to pass up and homemade biscuits that Paul Bunyan could appreciate. But what is missing? Turkey? Check. Stuffing? Check. Mashed potatoes? Check. Cranberry sauce? Check. Sweet potato casserole? Check. Biscuits? Check. Oh, yes; the…
Buying the “El Baron Latino” dildo for work
One of the attractions of being a professional dominatrix, and of making porn to sell, is that it leads to so many interesting experiences. Take last week, when I was honestly able to say "I'm off to do my weekly volunteer shift at the kid's school. But first, I must stop and buy a dildo. …
The truth of The Nak’d Truth : Trying out for a naked reality show
“Go ahead and take off your pants,” one of the producers told me. Sweat dripped from my pits and my hands shook holding the card displaying my tryout number (3-8). "A woman watching online wants to know if you're big?" the personable host wearing too many clothes for Florida asked. “I have a big personality,”…
Why Haley Barbour won’t be our next president, a Tampa City Council candidate lays out a bold agenda, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers sign what one official calls a “watershed moment” : Mitch Perry Report 11.17.10
November has seen all types of candidates running for city council in Tampa make official declarations of their candidacies or pronouncements of what they intend to do in office. Tuesday brought forward a 10 point agenda laid out by Tony DeSisto, running in Tampa's District 4 race. All types of men (and one woman) on…
William Snyder of Arizona-style immigration bill fame, to chair Florida House Judiciary Committee
Stuart GOP House Representative William Snyder was named by House Speaker Dean Cannon on Monday to chair the Florida Judiciary Committee. The name is probably familiar to those who will recall that Snyder has already introduced an illegal immigration bill in the Legislature that he said back in the summer would be the envy of…
Do It Today: Forbidden Broadway and Joanna Newsom
Musical theater geeks — really anyone with a passing interest in staged stories with characters breaking out into song — should see Forbidden Broadway, the entertaining send-up of classic and would-be classic numbers. The cabaret serves up delicious show tunes from this decade and decades past, from West Side Story to Wicked. "Somehow it manages…
AltDotPop: Goonies 2, Taylor Momsen is still the worst, Giada and John are a lie, Jessica Simpson to be a “Newlywed” again and more Mel Gibson fun…
Dakota Fanning has been crowned the Homecoming Queen for the second year in a row. I call that unfair. The girl has already won an MTV Movie Award, which should automatically make a person ineligible for a double dose of Homecoming Queen. Selfish bitch. Two of the "Gosselin Eight" have been expelled from school, but as is…
Remembering Rachel
A great person and friend to many passed away suddenly last week. Rachel Lisi was taken from us just a few days before her 40th birthday by a pulmonary embolism. I have known Rachel since the late '90s, but I spent a few years only knowing her by her screen name, kundavega, through LiveJournal. We…
Hot Rod’s BBQ and Grill in Lutz: Home of the 15 lb. burger and barbecued “swamp bat”
The sweet, smokey scent of barbecue hangs in the air at the corner of Livingston Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in Lutz. This is where you'll find Hot Rod's BBQ and Grill. It's a family owned restaurant, named after Rod, that opened in February of 1998. The restaurant includes a produce stand, country store, indoor and…
The Story of Electronics: Why ‘designed for the dump’ is toxic for people and the planet (video)
Annie Leonard, better known as the director of The Story of Stuff Project and author of The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities and Our Health, has added yet another short film to the 'Stuff Project' collection: The Story of Electronics. And what an appropriate time for…
District 12 Senator Elect Jim Norman and those pesky ethics laws
By George Niemann CL/Daily Loaf contributor and R-LAND, UCAN, FSP activist and eternal Florida Hometown Democracy believer. The views expressed are my own and not necessarily the same as the organizations to which I belong. Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman may be planning on decorating the District 12 state Senator office that he just won,…
Lightning must come together as a team to fill Vinny void
Today, Vincent Lecavalier is in Cleveland, undergoing surgery for the non-displaced fracture on his right hand. After losing the last three games – the last two without Vinny – a big question mark surfaces: How is the Tampa Bay Lightning going to survive without its captain? According to the initial prognosis from team officials, Lecavalier…
Concert Review: Social Distortion, Lucero and Frank Turner at Jannus Live (with photos)
It was a big deal that Social Distortion played Jannus Live last Friday, Nov. 13. Add to that, two top-notch openers — rootsy troubadour Frank Turner from England and Tennessee rustic favorite Lucero — and you had the formula for a sell-out show. Social Distortion has attracted fans of, I dunno, at least three generations…
Movie & TV links for today, Nov. 15, 2010: Lethal Weapon 5, drugs, Todd Haynes and more …
Sound on Sight finds an extremely hilarious and distasteful fan trailer for the Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia gang's Lethal Weapon 5. IFC lists the 30 Greatest Drug Scenes of All Time.
Exercise your third eye – an interview with television psychic John Holland of the ‘You Can Do It’ Conference
Your professional renown is heavily focused around assisting people in tapping into their own psychic abilities. Do you have any advice for our readers on perhaps trying out a few basic techniques to see what they're capable of? We feel intuitively in different ways. Some people are clairesentient. A room or a place or a…
Best of the 2010 Independents’ Film Festival
Last weekend, Tampa's own Education Channel hosted its yearly preview of the very best of December's Independent's Film Festival programming. Along with a sampling of shorts, features, documentaries, animations and experimentations, filmmakers turned out from around the globe to participate in what was named 2010's Best Intimate Film Festival in CL's Best of the Bay…
Television review: TBS’s Glory Daze, Pilot episode (with video)
I’m sure everyone has seen the movie Animal House by now, or at least one of the hundreds of imitators it spawned, like American Pie. Well, have you ever thought "Gee, that would make a sweet show, but they should do it in the ‘80s, when everything was cooler?’ If you have, then you should…
CL Feature: Legendary reggae-ska forefathers Toots and the Maytals return to Jannus (with video)
Deep-down-in-the-belly soulful, feisty and still going strong at 64, reggae-ska godfather Frederick “Toots” Hibberts is an unstoppable force. The influential frontman of Toots and the Maytals keeps touring, collaborating and recording even if the newest tune you can recall by his band is "Monkey Man."
Dinner in a flash: Creamy bowtie pasta with bacon, onion and peas (recipe)
This little pasta dish was so darn easy to make that I’m almost embarrassed to tell you about it. Seriously. It took hardly any time, much less skill, at all. But then I realized that it is precisely because of the dish’s simplicity that I had to share it with you. Because if your life…
It’s America Recycles Day: Where and how to get involved
It's November 15th and you know what that means: it's America Recycles Day! Whether you recycle regularly or not, this is a great excuse to get together all of those unused/unwanted things lying around your home or office and drop them off at a place that will put them to good (re)use — a recycling…
HART board votes to stop work on on rail project – at least until somebody has a better idea
Saying they would look "tone deaf" if they kept pursuing plans for a light rail system after being rejected by the voters, Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe today led the way for the HART board to deny approving the alternative analysis plan on light rail, in the wake of the vote 13 days ago two…
Concert Review: Wolf Parade at The Social, Orlando, 11-09-2010 (with setlist)
There are two reasons why Wolf Parade shouldn't work well together: the band has two singer/songwriters with distinctly different styles (which has proven the downfall of many bands,) and these two are such prolific creative forces that they're involved in multiple other side projects (which nearly always leads to unfocused chaos.) Considering that Spencer Krug's…
EarthTalk: Restaurants don’t have to let unused food go to waste
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: I work at a fast food place and I am appalled by the amount of unpurchased food we throw away. The boss says…
Kathy Castor uncertain about Nancy Pelosi leading the Dems; Alan Clendenin will challenge Rod Smith for FDP chair, and Democrats reassess the Debt Commission’s recommendations: Mitch Perry Report: 11.15.10
Good morning everybody. For those of you in the Sarasota area, we will be part of a media discussion taking place tonight at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, hosted by the SouthWest Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice, beginning at 7 p.m. Click here for more information. We were busy working over the weekend. We…
Debt commission gets a reappraisal five days after its release
The preliminary release last week of President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform to tackle the nation's fiscal problems provoked howls of disapproval last week by conservatives and liberals alike, though the media immediately focused on outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comment that the document should be DOA. Then again, it does make…
Paws for a Cause: Photos from Curtis Hixon Park
Paws for a Cause took place Saturday at Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa. The charity event featured vendors, demonstrations by K-9 units from Tampa Police and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office , as well as Frisbee demonstrations. There were also pet contests including Best Costume, Pet/Owner Look Alike, and cutest and ugliest dog. Proceeds from the event…
Kathy Castor expresses ambivalent feelings about Nancy Pelosi sticking around
As House Democrats return to Washington on Monday for the beginning of their lame-duck session, the question remains: will any Democratic Representative challenge Nancy Pelosi in leading the party in the House for the next two years? In an interview with NPR on Friday, Pelosi said the Democrats "shellacking" wasn't because of her: We didn’t…
Do It Today: Trip to the Ballpark at American Stage and artist Shannon Bennett’s Signature Moments in Sports at TMA
We're feeling especially sporty on this manic Monday … Signature Moments in Sports by Shannon Bennett is a vivid and immediate collection that highlights more than 40 unique canvas art pieces depicting famous athletes. Each of the 4-by-5-feet original paintings is signed by the featured sports star. Around 30 pieces will be on display at…
Despite effort, Lightning dealt third straight loss by Wild
Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom loves the St. Pete Times Forum. Backstrom and the Wild defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday night; the goaltender made saves en route to leading his team to the win, and improved to 3-0-1 in Tampa. For the Lightning, it was their third loss in a row, and it came…
The Green Community week in review: Eco-friendly craft brewers, “Cool It” review, oil spill forum in St. Pete and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: EarthTalk: The story behind Meatless Monday – The "Meatless Monday" campaign wants consumers to know that livestock production accounts for one-fifth of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and is also a major factor in…
Cindy McCain gets back in line and supports John McCain’s position on don’t ask, don’t tell (video)
Last week Cindy McCain, the spouse of Arizona U.S. Senator John McCain, who has been extremely obstinate when it comes to repealing the don't ask, don't tell policy on banning gays in the military, was featured in a web ad from the No8H campaign, an organization formed as a response to California's Proposition 8, which…
Theater Review: Incisive, funny Forbidden Broadway at the Straz
Watching Forbidden Broadway at the Straz Center the other night, I was struck by the idea of Broadway as a small planet on which all sorts of flora and fauna nonsensically co-exist. Where but on Planet Broadway would you find Tevye the Milkman and Little Orphan Annie, Liza Minnelli and the Lion King, Stephen Sondheim…
Ask Dream Momma: help with being directionally challenged
“Dear Dream Momma, I have been reading you a while and finally decided to send you this repeating dream. In the dream I was in strange city, lost and trying to get to a specific location in that city or get home (not sure if it was my home at the time), asking people for…
Alan Clendenin is back IN the race for Florida Democratic Party chair, and ready to take on Rod Smith
Although it appears that Rod Smith may declare his candidacy on Monday to be the next chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, he is absolutely not the favorite of everybody inside the party who has a vote, and one candidate, Hillsborough State Committeeman Alan Clendenin, announced on Saturday that he is back in the race…
Domino effect: goals keep coming as Bolts lose 5-1 to Penguins
The Tampa Bay Lightning started Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a strong effort, but they proved to be a house of cards, falling in a dramatic 5-1 loss. In their defense, the odds were stacked against the Bolts. Sure, injuries are never good, but missing captain Vincent Lecavalier and Steve Downie, a…
Stellar juice: Wine world wallflower Foppiano Vineyards starts turning heads
Let’s face it. Bullshit sells. I’m talking about the stories marketers tell us to get us to buy stuff. Chances are that pricey skin moisturizer redolent of wild lavender with the French name was actually fabrique aux Etats-Unis. In Cleveland, no less. Tales told about wines and the folks who make them often are especially…
Karen Thurman announces her resignation as chair of the Florida Democratic Party
Although you would hardly know it by all the speculation that has filled the blogosphere over the past week, Florida Democratic party chair Karen Thurman has actually still been nominally in charge since last week's election debacle. Until now. Shortly after 2 p.m., Thurman issued out this letter, which you can read below. November 12,…
Bill’s Sports Binge Friday freeway: Blackout number five for Bucs, Gators and Cocks and dog rugby groupies
You're over-caffeinated yet tired. Your back hurts, your eyelids are heavy and the boss was scheduled to blow out early but is still hanging around telling painfully unfunny jokes in another futile attempt to be one of the guys. All you can do is laugh uncomfortably until you fake a frantic phone call, side-step to the fax machine…
Movie & TV links for today, Nov. 12, 2010: new Wes Anderson, remembering Dino De Laurentiis, Jon Stewart and Rachel Maddow square off and more …
The Playlist reports Wes Anderson's next film, Moon Rise Kingdom, is set to begin filming in spring 2011 with Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Bill Murray (of course) in talks to join. The Guardian remembers legendary Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis, who died yesterday at age 91. Here's a slideshow of some of…
Latest panel discussion on BP oil spill will take place in St Pete on November 16
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday released two peer reviewed reports concerning dioxins emitted during the controlled burns of oil during the Deepwater Horizon BP spill. The reports found that while small amounts of dioxins were created by the burns, the levels that workers and residents would have been exposed to were below EPA’s…
Neighborhood Dining Guide: Tampa Bay farmers’ markets
Here’s your guide to finding the freshest, locally produced foods and goods (and an all-around good time) at weekly fresh markets in the Bay Area. Gulfport Tuesday Morning Fresh Market- Every Tuesday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 2914 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport. Open rain or shine, the Tuesday Morning Fresh Market is a weekly, year-round event in the Gulfport…
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service updates their annual candidate list, hoping for candidate protection under the ESA
The annul evaluation of current plants and animals considered as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was recently released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the new 2010 candidates. Although one species has been removed from the candidate status altogether, five species have been added, along with several changes…
Reinventing Playboy: The impending death or rebirth of an icon
There's no better example than Playboy of how the rise of the internet has led to the fall of print media. Since 2000, the value of Playboy Enterprises Inc. has dropped from around $1 billion to $84 million in 2009. Despite these devastating loses the company has hung on in part because Hugh Hefner, 84,…
Restaurant review: Jeannie Pierola’s Kitchenbar, a pop-up powerhouse
Tuesday night, November 9, just shy of 6:30 p.m., Kitchenbar looks like it’s in the weeds. The place opens for business in minutes, but servers are still scurrying about to drop flatware on tables, tie aprons and huddle up for a final confab before service. Soon enough, the groups of people waiting in the cool…
More Tampa City Council candidates get into the ring; Chair of transit tax advocacy group writes about what comes next, and Tampa Trib calls on Glazer family to suck it up and buy remaining Buc tickets so fans can watch the game: Mitch Perry Report 11.1
We're not sure what political reporters in other parts of Florida are doing 10 days after the 2010 midterm (actually, we are, as we read many of their stories every day), but for those of us in Tampa, it's straight on to municipal elections taking place in approximately 3 1/2 months. Last night we attended…
What a difference a recession makes: Tampa Trib editorial page now calls on Glazer family to aid taxpaying citizens shut out of watching Bucs
For years former CL (or Weekly Planet, as it was then called) editor John Sugg railed in the pages of our publication against the Tampa Tribune for its advocacy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting a new, tax payer paid stadium, which happened in 1996. Neil deMause, in the pages of FAIR magazine, back in…
The news on peak oil in 2010
Recall that "drill baby, drill" mantra the Republican Party spoke of? Well apparently, in order to drill our Gulf of Mexico we will need triple digit oil prices (meaning $4 a gallon gasoline) in order to afford the return on investment to purchase new drilling platforms/obtain new leases/drill exploratory wells. All of these activities are…
Two if by sea: Max and Sam’s seafood shines
Max and Sam’s Bar and Grille 2 1/2 stars 1700 Park St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-360-6525 “Bar and grille” can mean oh so many things, depending on the business behind the moniker. For some, the food is the focus, with the lounge or bar area little more than an added incentive for people who want…
Sara Romeo says she’s ready to bring her years of community service to Tampa as she runs for a City Council seat
Unlike all the other new candidates running for Tampa's City Council next March, Sara Romeo has actually served as a Legislator previously. It was just one stint in the Florida House, representing District 60 from 2000-2002. Since then she's served as the executive director for Tampa's Crossroads, which works with people with chemical dependency and…
Have Vagina, Will Travel: Adventures of a U-Haul lesbian
One month ago I moved for the sixth time in as many years. The list of locales is pretty varied. An Irish neighborhood in the northern Bronx, bordering on Yonkers and Westchester. Bayville, a small, blue collar village right on the Long Island Sound, amidst Long Island’s storied Gold Coast. Cambridge, Mass., where I had…
Moving Hillsborough Forward Chair Garry Sasso on what happens next
Garry Sasso is the Chair of Moving Hillsborough Forward, the group formed this year to try to get the transit tax referendum passed in Hillsborough County on November 2. He's also the chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership, a major local group that was solidly behind the proposal which lost overwhelmingly at the polls. In…
Comedienne Christine O’Leary in Tampa: “Comedy is a way to tell the truth”
By Staci Backauskas Originally posted at MyQmunity Authenticity is expensive. But the return has been worth the investment for Christine O’Leary. It’s what makes her comedy soar. Audiences relate to her honesty about the journey of being a human being. They get to realize they’re not in it alone – and they get to laugh. “Comedy…
Lightning lose game, Lecavalier, in Washington
The Tampa Bay Lightning came into Thursday night's game with the Washington Capitals hoping to make a statement. Unfortunately, that statement hit the post in what became a theme for the Lightning in a 6-3 defeat at Verizon Center. The Lightning got off to a quick start when Teddy Purcell scored his second goal of…
Do It this Weekend: Square One’s Berlin, Derby Darlins’ Stache Bash, Dunedin Wines the Blues and more
The Square One art collective has put on some memorable art parties, and its third annual installment looks like another super-duper audio-visual blowout. Organizers say they expect 2,000 people to attend Berlin, which features 100 local artists and more than 40 musicians, dancers, models and performers.
Annual Charlie Daniels charity event to celebrate 20th anniversary with star-studded weekend
For more than two decades, country music legend Charlie Daniels has presented an annual fundraising event for The Angelus and this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the best yet. To mark the event’s twentieth anniversary, Charlie and friends will offer nearly four days of music and fun, with lots of special…
The Rabid Interview with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt, the scribe behind Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine
Michael Arndt is the Academy Award winning screenwriter of number one animated film of all time (Toy Story 3) and the recent independent darling Little Miss Sunshine. The Rabid One had the opportunity to take part in a Q&A with the acclaimed screenwriter regarding Pixar's latest juggernaut, and screenwriting in general:
Cool It heats up the global warming debate
Cool It is a feature documentary indictment of the global warming issue. The film begins with a summation of the global warming meta-narrative. This introduction uses a child’s narration and stylized crayon drawings to effectively make this complex subject understandable and simultaneously, eerily haunting (i.e.: a child should probably never know so much about his…
Barking up the right tree: Creating dog treats even a human would love
Why am I writing about dog treats in a section normally reserved for human food? If you remember, last week I featured a recipe for pumpkin caramel blondies. Fresh out of the oven, my boyfriend and I sampled them the night I made them. I was very happy with the outcome and couldn't wait to…
Movie & TV links for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2010: IFC, The Fighter, Office Space: The Musical, Glenn Beck and more …
For Veterans Day the IFC Podcast discusses films about returning from war. First reviews are in for David O Russell's The Fighter. Mike Judge's Office Space is being turned into a musical? Cinematical's Christopher Campbell takes an in-depth look at Bjorn Lomborg's controversial global warming doc Cool It.
Concert review: The Cult at Jannus Live, St. Petersburg (with photos)
Few rock 'n' roll bands have ever been able to shift gears and dive headfirst into a totally different genre mid-career and survive. A glowing example of this type of stylistic flip-flop is The Cult. [All photos by Tracy May] Forming in the early 1980s as an underground psychedelic/goth band and going by the moniker…
Concert Review: Sevendust with 10 Years, Anew Revolution, Since October and Aranda at The Ritz Ybor
Wrapping up the Harddrive Live Tour with two Florida shows, heavy metal band Sevendust rolled into Tampa on Tuesday for a show at The Ritz Ybor. Sevendust is currently touring in support of their latest recording Cold Day Memory, released April 20 via their own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. In…
Concert review: Tornado Rider at the Market on 7th, Ybor City
I caught Tornado Rider at Tropical Heatwave last year under the advise of many a friend. They’d tried to describe what the band was like but much like I am about to here, they fell woefully short. It’s not their fault. Trying to describe their live show is a lot like trying to describe a…
CL Sound Bites: Epitaph Records’ history, Kyuss & Pulp reunions, new LP’s by Jane’s Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Paul Westerberg, and more! (with video)
Bad Religion's 30th anniversary album The Dissent Of Man came out last month. Spin took the opportunity to gather that band and many other So-Cal Punk scene players for an oral history of Epitaph Records. The label, founded by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz, has played host to Bad Religion, NOFX, Pennywise, The Offspring, and…
U.S. in Afghanistan for (at least) 4 more years? Jim Davis seriously interested in becoming Tampa’s new mayor; local Hillsborough Democrat says he’ll drop his candidacy and support Rod Smith for Florida Democratic Party Chair:Mitch Perry Report 11.11.10
Happy Veterans Day to everyone out there. Lots of news to cover today. Speaking of veterans, one reason why this national holiday has certainly acquired more heft over the past decade is simply the number of veteran and current members of the military that exist in the U.S., what with the two wars continuing to…
U.S. troops sticking in Afghanistan until 2014 not a new story
reports today that members of the Obama administration are emphasizing that the key date regarding U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan will be in 2014, not next July, as the President announced last December. Obama did say at the time that July 2011 would begin the withdrawal of the surge in troops that he announced late last…
Winter Park Dairy’s Bleu Sunshine, the first (legal) aged raw milk cheese in Florida
Florida produces some admirable products of late and it’s not just about seafood and citrus anymore. Locally sourced items include grass fed Angus beef, Hereford pork, heritage breed eggs, honeycomb, delicate herbs, vegetables, beer, rum and even whiskey! The most exciting aspect is that Floridians are producing all of the above at a high level…
Paws for Justice dogs provide comfort to abused kids in court
Testifying in court can be a terrifying experience, especially for a young child. Now, in Hillsborough County, abused children can be comforted and helped through the preparation for their court appearances by a Courteous Canine. Courteous Canine Paws for Justice has six trained dog-and-handler teams who will assist abused children who have to testify. The…
CD Review: Smoke or Fire, The Speakeasy
In the ten years since guitarist/vocalist Joe McMahon and guitarist Jeremy Cochran sowed the seeds that would grow into Smoke or Fire with their first band Jericho, their vision has been equally shaped by member changes, their experiences on the road and the evolution of the punk scene in general. On the third Smoke or…
Do It Today: 11:11, Safety Harbor Veteran’s Day fest, Yael Dayan and Venue’s The Man With the Plastic Sandwich
11/11 sounds like a lucky date, doesn’t it? Along with it being Veteran’s Day, it’s also the kickoff of 11:11, a major three-day audio-visual event at Unity Campus. If you’re into out-there art, spiritual new age philosophies and world-conscious music, then the CL-sponsored extravaganza is just for you. Schedule includes dance performances by Hip Expressions;…
Hillsborough County Committeeman Alan Clendenin says he will back Rod Smith if he wants Florida Democratic Party Chair gig
There have been a plethora of various Democrats whose names have been tossed around all week as possible candidates to succeed Karen Thurman as the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, with a lot of mainstream love being tossed out to give the impression that Rod Smith is the man to beat. Among the other…
26-year-old Chris Mitchell says he’s running to chair the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee
Christopher Mitchell, 26, currently vice chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, announced on Wednesday that he is an official candidate for the party chair, currently held by Pat Kemp. Mitchell was briefly a candidate for the Democratic nomination for House District 47 before dropping out of that race (Michael Steinberg became the nominee…
CL Feature: PBS whisks viewers away with new series, Circus (with trailer video)
Have you ever imagined being part of a world where home is a traveling caravan and your neighbors are a creative tribe of talent who spend afternoons balancing on tightropes or flipping bowling pins through the air? Have you ever dreamed of a place where clowns are treated with high artistic regard, or had a wanderlust…
32 year-old Jason Wilson is the newest applicant in the Tampa City Council race
This week we've seen a number of people step up and announce their candidacies for Tampa City Council, and on Thursday the latest entrant was Jason Wilson, a 32-year-old emergency medicine physician at Tampa General Hospital, who has announced his candidacy in the citywide District 3 race, where currently the only other candidate is Seth…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Thursday, November 11: Maestro’s Restaurant at the Straz Center "A Wine Dinner in the French Countryside": Maestro's Restaurant will feature a four-course meal with wines from some of the best vineyards in France. Enjoy a reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres preceding dinner. See the full menu here. Reservations can be made by calling 813.229.STAR…
On the Radar: Square One’s Berlin, Creative Clay’s New Year’s in November and I Love Africa
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark on your calendar: The Square One art collective has put on some memorable art parties, and its third annual installment looks like another super-duper audio-visual blowout. Organizers say they expect 2,000 people to attend Berlin, an event featuring 100 local artists and more than…
Coral colonies’ lives at risk: BP oil spill to blame?
Deep sea coral was recently found dead among various coral colonies seven miles from the Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill. For the first time, the Associated Press reports, federal scientists are faced with circumstantial evidence of oceanic sea floor effects from the oil spill. Before this finding, federal teams reported no damage to the…
The 5th annual Bike Fest attracts crowds and dishes out safety awareness
To the outsider, the scene had all the elements for a perfect enjoyable Sunday afternoon in Tampa Bay. A welcome, brisk 60ish degrees, making the weather was ideal. Endless blue skies, miles of lush trees and the ceaseless serenade of birds chirping created a backdrop that could have been out of a Norman Rockwell painting.…
The Green Community week in review: The beef with beef, greenest home in Pinellas, “eco-enlightened” NYU and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: EarthTalk: Scratching synthetics for Merino wool – Merino wool undergarments tout themselves as being kinder to the environment than other wools or synthetics. How is this so? Recycle your electronics to win a free cruise…
Top Chef Podcast – Just Desserts Ep. 8: Dastardly duos
This week's installment of Top Chef: Just Desserts had the final five making edible bouquets and preparing pastries for a "celebri-tea" party. For the Quickfire, guest judge and sugar flower artist extraordinaire, Shinmin Li, asked the chef'testants to make a flower arrangement good enough to eat. I think it was pretty much "anything goes" because…
Holiday side dishes sans guilt: Ginger-coconut sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions
With the holiday season now upon us, what you're going to serve at your festive gatherings is probably looming in your mind. Side dishes, in my opinion, are the best part about the celebratory feasts. While they're delicious, most sides are loaded with calories due to the copious amounts of cream and butter used (among…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Holiday wine tasting and recycled art show, markets galore and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Fresh Markets and More at Seminole Mall- Every Thursday-Sunday; 9 am-3 pm. Fresh Markets and More is a fun-filled celebration of the world’s most popular culinary ingredients along with a selection of unique arts and crafts all located…
Tampa Bay restaurant news: Openings, closings and makeovers
The dish on the restaurant news that has been (or will be) the talk of the town. Pinellas: A source recently informed me that the highly anticipated Taco Bus #2 in St. Pete could be opening as early as December of this year. Look for post-barhopping jaunts up Central for authentic Mexican fare at 3…
