Free Shit: Circus Tickets
I'm not one to pay to see a circus show. Too many ethical issues involved. But a free ticket? Perhaps — if I can sneak in my own popcorn. The St. Pete Times forum is offering free tickets to an upcoming Ringling Brothers circus show if you bring them 10 non-perishable food items between 11…
What’s worse than Progress Energy, TECO rate hikes?
Answer: Knowing that while the power companies are raping your wallet, they're also clogging your lungs. An interesting piece in today's St. Petersburg Times finds the answer behind why South Floridians will see no increased power bills this holiday season (in fact, they get a break!) and Tampa Bay will see bills inflated by 12-25…
Canceled: Cedric Burnside at Skipper’s Smokehouse
This just in from our friends at the Skipperdome: Tonight’s show with The Juke Joint Duo, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin Malcolm, has been canceled; Cedric’s grandmother passed away so Cedric is heading back to Mississippi to be with his family. Our thoughts and prayers go out them during this difficult time.
What’s your favorite music site?
In anticipation of Creative Loafing's new music site, which we plan to debut in the very near future, and an even better Tampa Calling, featuring a killer, stable of community contributors (wanna join? hit me up), we're trying to build and ultimate music links list. See what I have so far — long ass list…
Tun-Du-Ree moves to permanent digs
Yesterday, Tampa's favorite Indian-restaurant-in-a-trailer moved from its semi-mobile home to an actual building. Tun-Du-Ree's owner Bhava Saravana had been looking towards acquiring a storefront for about a year, and recently found a suitable spot at 1506 W. Kennedy, between SoHo and downtown. Then came the "18-hour work days-1hr commute, 3 hrs cooking, 6 hrs at…
Festivus Gainesville (aka Fest 7)
Let's face it – Gainesville always does things a bit differently. So it is no wonder that the celebration of Festivus (aka Fest 7) Gainesville style is actually the amalgamation of more than 250 bands over 3 days in 8 venues throughout Hogtown wrangled by Tony Weinbender (of No Idea Records) and friends. In its seventh…
Reel Proejctions — Tuesday, November 18
First things first: I have an interview scheduled with Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons this Wednesday at 11 a.m. He's promoting his book Watching the Watchmen, which recounts the making of the outstanding graphic novel he created with writer Alan Moore. Wish me luck, and let me know if there are any questions you'd like to…
The Short List: Obama on 60 Minutes
Turns out that President-Elect Barack Obama can still pack 'em in post-election. His appearance Sunday on 60 Minutes netted the news show its highest ratings in nine years. Can Bill's dealings derail Hillary's appointment as Secretary of State? Who's driving that supertanker? Somali pirates, of course. Congress is back in session. Woo! Checking in on…
Do It Today
Mississippi blues fusion "play a show at Skipper's Smokehouse. 8 p.m., $8. The Skipper's show has been cancelled due to a death in Burnside's family, but there's still plenty of other noteworthy live music take place tonight — read about the Black Diamond Heavies (pictured) in Tampa Calling, and Bob Weir and Lorna Bracewell in Upcoming Concerts. Largo…
Download Waylon Jenning’s Outlaw Shit
A gifted, deep-voiced singer, razor-sharp songwriter and expert interpreter, Waylon Jennings reigned supreme in the 1970s as country music's top outlaw. Like Toby Keith but infinitely cooler and more talented, Jennings churned out about a half-dozen awesome albums that ran from 1973's Lonesome, On'ry and Mean to 1978's I've Always Been Crazy. Crazy includes the…
Against Me!’s Tom Gabel issues excellent solo EP
What do you do when your hipster-approved punk band ascends from relative obscurity to widespread commercial success? If you're Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel, whose Gainesville band blew up with last year's excellent full-length New Wave — and its catchy party-girl-grown-old hit single "Thrash Unreal" — you return to your folk roots and issue the…
Taking off the Band-Aid
William McKeen is chairman of the University of Florida’s Department of Journalism and author of several books, including the Hunter S. Thompson biography Outlaw Journalist. FAMILY ALBUM: It’s a terrific story about his trip to Cuba, the home of this parents … the home to which they cannot return. Carlos is one talented dude. The book reaches…
Mary Gauthier offers mercy and more tonight in Tampa
Southern singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier brings her touching, slightly twangy, confessional tales to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's cozy Jaeb Theatre tonight for an 8 p.m. gig. Read more about Gauthier (pronounced "Go-Shay") in Upcoming Concerts. Listen to her perform "Mercy Now" and try to keep your eyes dry. I fight back a many tear…
Pics from CL in Concert at State Theatre
Here are the pics from Saturday night's CL in Concert show at the State Theatre. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tampabaystreetteam/sets/72157609270574884/show/
Tell me what you think about my music
Artists are always looking for “what people think” about their music. This really translates to “tell me something positive so I don’t freak out”. If this is the intended purpose, why ask in the first place? I had a band send in a demo and ask me to tell them what I thought of it.…
Bummer, dude: Freshwater turtle population in question due to harvesting
I'm sure the obvious question to most transplants reading this is: WTF? People really harvest pond turtles? That's correct-a-mundo, dude. People hunt turtles. Sounds like a mismatched battle to me, but what hunting isn't a little handicapped in favor of humans, right? Harvesting wild freshwater turtles for food and pets has long been part of…
Groovisions illustrates food security for the Japanese Ag Ministry and you
Groovisions — a Tokyo-based design firm known for some pretty fantastic artsy graphics — put together a video for the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that showcases that country's dependence on foreign food imports. Seems dry, doesn't it? Until, of course, you catch the bouncy technified soundtrack and watch little Sims farmers and…
Bucs RB Graham likely out for the season
I recently caught the last few minutes of Jon Gruden's press conference on the radio and was disappointed to find out that it appears running back Earnest Graham is out for the season with a serious ankle injury. Photo: NFL.com Bummer. Graham had emerged from obscurity to be the featured RB in the Bucs attack.…
Dallas Bull debuts its latest calendar
Cowgirl hotties — and the cowboys who love 'em — congregated at Tampa's top honky tonk for a meet-n-greet last month that surely inspired a few hoots and hollers. Here's the info: (Tampa, FL) – The Dallas Bull released its popular and long-awaited calendar for the upcoming year with a bang on October 16th. Those…
Brian Blair’s meltdown did not stop at his news conference
I couldn't believe reading about the stunt Blair pulled Thursday afternoon as he held a press conference to attack Kevin Beckner accusing him of campaign violations and threatening legal actions. Honestly, I would have been disappointed if he started showing any dignity or grace now but this was a new low, even for Blair. His…
The Short List: Obama’s radio address hits YouTube
The President-Elect put a modern-day spin on the old radio address to the nation by becoming the first President (or soon-to-be President) to post their radio address straight to YouTube. First order of business for President Obama: dumping the Crackberry. Japan officially in a recession. Almost two weeks after election day, Missouri is still a…
Do It Today
Louisiana alt-country songstress Mary Gauthier (pictured) plays a show in the intimate Jaeb Theater at Tampa Bay Performing Art Center. 7:30 p.m., $25.50. Read more about here in Upcoming Concerts. Feminism is alive and kicking, and USF Women’s Studies Department stages a series of talks that celebrate the ever-evolving movement. Several of the country's foremost feminist…
Video of “Shame On 2” rallies across Florida
On Saturday, thousands of gay rights supporters rallied at parks and courthouses to show their continuing fight against divisive legislation like Amendment 2. After the jump is a look at video from those gatherings.
Free Shit: Golden Corral dinner for current, former military
The Golden Corral buffet restaurant chain is offering a free meal to all current and former military men and women at their establishments nationwide tomorrow. "Military Appreciation Monday" runs from 5 to 9 p.m. From their site: The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States…
Tennessee babe Natalie Stovall country rocks RibFest
It has been another rowdy weekend and I haven't even made it over to Buck's place yet for a Sunday afternoon cookout. Yesterday, I attended Ribfest, which runs through today, among several other places serving alcohol in St. Petersburg, and was thoroughly impressed by the sights and sounds being offered by country newcomer Natalie Stovall.…
If you took away the signs, it could have been a church picnic
This past Saturday I was the guerilla sound girl at St. Petersburg's instantiation of the Join the Impact National Day of Action for GLBTQ Rights at Mirror Lake Park. If you were there, perhaps you saw me frantically running extension cords through the sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist church across the street from the rally.…
Black Diamond Heavies get classy, sorta
Editor's note: Autopsy IV is the owner of the music blog ninebullets.net. He lives in a nondescript house in Southeast St. Petersburg with his wife and two bulldogs. He can regularly be found with a whiskey in hand in a multitude of Downtown watering holes and music venues. When sober, he is better at Guitar…
Bar Tab: Ribfest, Ex-Mormon reunions and Crown Royal
My buddy Decker's 10:38 Saturday morning call went unanswered. But it did manage to rouse me from a heavy, booze-induced slumber that was so death-like deep that I later learned multiple 3:45 a.m. phone calls and pounding on my bedroom window went unheard. Oh well. I called Decker back and a superb plan was hatched…
Genitorturers, Soulfound, Rachel Goodrich rock the weekend
Get your live music fix at our newly expanded Upcoming Concerts (formerly "Music Week"), which has the hottest shows of the next seven days listed and blurbed.
Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash and wife support gay marriage
A new video, in anticipation of the country-wide protests against divisive anti-gay marriage initiatives, shows Slash and his wife Perla Ferrar speaking out against California's Proposition 8. (Well, Slash doesn't speak as much as wail on his guitar.) [youtube]\\<\/iframe\>]
SMAsh Radio – Episode 28 (Listen Now!)
The new episode of SMAsh Radio (our local music podcast) is now live. Click here to listen. It features tracks from The Beauvilles, Automatic Loveletter, Rebekah Pulley, The Sheaks, Infinite Skillz, Tides of Man, a track from the vaults and more. It also showcases the sheer power of our new recording studio (pictured). Yeah, that's…
10 websites you need to use to build a fanbase
The Bombardier Manifesto is a blog for bands, clubs and related industries about music, marketing and technology. Learn how to use these tools to develop a healthy and profitable music scene. Hello World! Welcome to the first entry of the Bombardier Manifesto. Having spent the last 10 years trying to build my music cred and…
Water taxis coming to Tampa?
Back in May, I looked at water taxis/ferries as a mode of public transit for Tampa Bay. It’s an innovative idea that has been resurrected many times locally, but always fell flat to finances or bureaucracy. Well, we just might see one (or two) in the near future. Most recently, Tampa resident Cliff Conatser is…
SMAsh Radio – Episode 28 (Listen Now!)
The new episode of SMAsh Radio (our local music podcast) is now live. Click here to listen. It features tracks from The Beauvilles, Automatic Loveletter, Rebekah Pulley, The Sheaks, Infinite Skillz, Tides of Man, a track from the vaults and more. It also showcases the sheer power of our new recording studio (pictured). Yeah, that's…
Puzzler Merl Reagle guests on The Simpsons
Programming alert: Resident CL crossword-puzzle genius Merl Reagle (profiled by CL writer Scott Harrell in March 2006) will be guest-starring on this Sunday's episode of The Simpsons. Merl has had other brushes with fame — most notably appearing in the puzzle-doc Wordplay and appearing on Oprah — but being animated into Simpsonsland has to rank…
My First Election: Report from the front lines
I know I’m a little late on this. But: I did it! I voted! I must say that it’s pretty awesome for my first election that the candidate I voted for won. I early voted. I went on Saturday afternoon around 2 or so. My dad decided to come early vote with me. He took…
Sex sells, even in a recession
Everything from the auto industry to the real estate market to retail sales are in the shitter. People can barely get by on their take-home pay and put food on the table — but the flesh fantasy business is as robust as ever, according to this release by national strip club chain Rick's Cabaret: HOUSTON…
My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses and more to honor Shel Silverstein
She Silverstein, who died on Key West in 1999, is best known for classic children books like Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic and my personal, tear-inducing fave, The Giving Tree, which was made into this animated movie, read by Silverstein. But he also wrote screenplays, and hilarious raunch in the form…
Do It This Weekend
Prolific local artist John Gurbacs presents a solo exhibition of new paintings at Salt Creek Artworks in St. Petersburg. The opening reception is held from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight. On display Nov. 14-Dec. 20, free admission. Pictured at right by Gurbacs: "Speak No Evil." Rich-voiced Miami Beach songstress Rachel Goodrich — who plays guitar,…
New Watchmen trailer
By now, you've probably surmised that I've been looking forward to Watchmen more than any other upcoming release. So I was over the moon when I saw the latest trailer today, which, quite simply, is the best of the teasers yet released. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VLA0tg5yI0[/youtube]
Affordable, High End Wine Tasting Tonight
Held in an opulent house on Tampa Bay, this is one holiday wine tasting you don't want to miss. Mike Kwasin, who owns Fine Wine and Spirits Warehouse on Gandy, opens his home to the public every quarter to offer up tastes of super premium wines no one else does. The $35 ($60 per couple) ticket price benefits…
The Short List: New Bond flick opens today
The new James Bond flick Quantum of Solace hits theaters today and it's said to be action-packed. Check out the CL review here, and get your game face on with the video for the theme song, performed by Alicia Keys and Jack White. Could it be: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? No bailout for the…
Shame on 2!
Hear ye! Hear ye! Disillusioned gay folks, sympathetic straight folks and all fair minded Floridians who fall anywhere in between on the spectrum of human sexuality, it's time to stand up and be counted! This Saturday, November 15 is your chance to voice your opposition to the recent passage of several anti-gay (and anti-civil rights…
Concert review: Phosphorescent at New World Brewery
Editor's note: Fresh review from our live music hound B. Treotch. Right from the show opener — "A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise," the lead track from Phosphorescent's 2007 highly ethereal album Pride — it was evident the band's live sound would be a departure from their studio-created sonics. Offering almost entirely different interpretations…
Festie weekend
This weekend, I am practicing restraint and missing not one but two awesome Florida festivals in favor of plunging my backed-up toilet of duties. Three if you count RibFest — but despite the fact that I could walk to it from my house, the lineup is so unappealing I can't even manage to drum-up excitement over all…
Twenty greatest places to see a show in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay live music lovers can be found absorbing loud sonics and sweaty sights in venues ranging from cozy rock dens to plush theaters to humongous arenas to moonlit lawns peppered with empty beer cups. Everybody has his or her fave. Here at Creative Loafing, we have dozens of preferred rock, jazz, country, blues and…
Gay rights supporters want to undo Amendment 2
Continuing election day fallout: Opponents of Amendment 2, which banned gay marriage in the state of Florida, are planning a series of rallies and events throughout the state to draw a line in the sand against bigotry. First, on Saturday Nov. 15, progressives will hold "Shame on 2" rallies in several Florida cities, including Tampa…
Need a labiaplasty?
I'm not gonna call it the latest plastic surgery trend because it's been around for a while, but that doesn't mean I'm able to hold back a snicker when I get a press release for an informative lecture on … Cosmetic Gynecology! Yes, folks, it's pretty much just how it sounds — cosmetic surgery for…
Brian Blair’s parting shots to Kevin Beckner and a hint at the Killer B’s future
Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair held a press conference today at noon to discuss his four years in office that turned into an attack on the newly elected commissioner Kevin Beckner. Reporters guessing that Blair would put his foot in his mouth at his first (last?) press conference after losing his seat to Beckner…
Reel Projections — Thursday, November 13
You think this is a game?! helming a movie based on a board game. Now accepting suggestions for who should play Uncle Pennybags. And can films based on "Mastermind" and "Chutes and Ladders" be far behind? Speaking of Ridley Scott, he explains how Russell Crowe will portray both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.…
The Short List: Teco raises your rates
Here's an interesting clip of Thomas Friedman talking about the green revolution. (Oh, and hardcore pushing his new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded.) Interesting how he castigates the right for the language they used to demonize "green," but then segues into thoughts on how to better talk to those same folks. I'm wondering, if someone…
Gang wars in Hillsborough
While they don't run the streets, the Gang of Five Four do run our county. Known for their environmental attacks, sprawl creation and developer-friendly wide stance, the Gang of Five has recently controled the Hillsborough County Commission. That is until it's weakest link was picked off Tuesday by a citizen army fighting for a respectable…
Roller skate song sensations
As a newspaper writer, every now and then, you become friends, real friends with readers. I spent about four years at the Bradenton Herald. I lived downtown. In a small town. And could always be found at the same bar, on pretty much a nightly basis. The bar was called The Old Main Pub. Kellie,…
Do It Today
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author/biologist/theorist/researcher/so-called father of environmentalism Edward O. Wilson (pictured at right and looking very stately) appears at Eckerd College to talk about his new book, The Future of Life, which outlines his plane for saving the Earth's biological heritage. 7:30 p.m., Fox Hall, free admission. Heavy intrumental post-rock foursome Pelican performs their heavy, extended jams…
Don’t you wish your boyfriends were hot like mine?
So, in case you haven't already heard me talking this up on the mic at my shows, on any WMNF show that will have me, in line at the bank or in the waiting room at my gynecologist's office, I am performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall's Murray Studio Theatre this Friday night, November 14 at…
Phosphorescent tonight at New World Brewery
Editor’s note: This just in from our trusty live music hound, B. Treotch, who will be out again at NWB tonight reviewing the show.
Black Crowes bootleg of Clearwater show
Considering all the arguing about the merits of the Black Crowes' Nov. 11 performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, I think it's time everyone re-listen, with sober ears, to the show. Photo of Chris (L) and Rich Robinson By Jayson Matteucci. We can, thanks to local field recording master Jerome Jell-O, who taped the…
Save the cheerleader. Save the world. Save the show.
For a cast of superhuman freaks, you would think Heroes would have some power over the future of their show. Unfortunately, Heroes’ kryptonite is cancellation. Since the start of the third season, “Volume Three: Villains,” there has been speculation that the show could be dropped. Given the rumors, I have listed a set of tips…
Are Christians under attack?
Editor's note: Most Creative Loafing readers already know and love Lorna Bracewell. Luckily, for us, the St. Pete-based singer, guitarist and songwriter has agreed to be a contributor to our music blog. She will be blogging about everything from her adventures on the road as a musician and speaker to politics, religion and any other…
Concert review: Hoots & Hellmouth at Skipper’s Smokehouse
Editor's note: This, words and pics, just in from B. Treotch. With a pulsing mantra of "Stomp! Clap! Shout!" — the soulful alt-country rockers Hoots & Hellmouth won over the NPR crowd of a 150 or so Tuesday at Skipper's Smokehouse. Two strong sets drawing mainly from their self-titled (and only) release worked up the…
Vagina as economic engine
A late-night run of The Vagina Monologues as a boost for a theater facing hard times? Doesn’t sound likely, especially in Tampa Bay, but that’s what happened at American Stage. The company staged the Eve Ensler play as part of its After Hours series; according to Artistic Director Todd Olson, almost 1,600 people came to…
The Cranky Copy Editor — Small government toxicity
What’s the value of a single human life? Under the Bush administration, writes Rebecca Clarren, about a million dollars less than it used to be worth. Call it the dark side of “small government” that conservatives champion, an anti-regulatory stance designed to save dollars at the expense of lives. Clarren, writing for Salon.com, details how…
Free Shit: Obama Wins sticker
Feeling the post-election blues? Wondering how you can support your (presidential) man after he already won? Don't fret Obamaniac — Moveon.org is offering free "Yes we did!" stickers designed by Shepard Fairey, the same guy who designed the infamous "Hope" poster for Obama. Get them here.
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, Nov. 14-16
Radcliffe Bailey, Tobacco Blues, 2000, Aquatint, etching, drypoint, photogravure, and chine collé, Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of the Friends of the McNay, 2006.56. I'm gonna drop this week's roundup early because there are some Thursday events here folks should know about. Text in italics is taken directly from press releases. If I'm…
Who Is John Henry?
Passersby in downtown Tampa – or anyone with a view of the waterfront just north of the Platt Street Bridge – may have been wondering about the giant, red steel sculpture sprouting up in MacDill Park this week. It's part of Chattanooga-based artist John Henry's Peninsula Project, which brings his monumental sculptures to seven Florida…
The Short List: The Matrix on Windows
What would The Matrix have been like if the machines were Windows users? Click play to find out (and watch out for the paper clip!) McCain says to leave Sarah Palin out of it. Alaska locates missing and uncounted ballots equaling ONE-THIRD of the total votes cast. Obama turns a cold shoulder on the lobbyists.…
Do It Today
The Brooklyn singer/songwriter who calls himself brings his lovely acoustic ballads to New World Brewery, with support sets by fellow Brooklynites Virgin Forest, Orlando's Attachedhands and Tampa's King of Spain. 9 p.m., $7. Ever wonder what happens to the half-billion tons of garbage produced by Americans each year? For tonight's installment of the Indy Film Cafe documentary…
Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka might make me actually drink vodka
When the promo video for Crystal Head Vodka was posted about a month or so ago, I sort of thought it might be a joke, or maybe a little early viral promo for Ghostbusters III. Dan Aykroyd hammed it up admirably, detailing a somewhat-based-in-fact legend of 13 crystal skulls (like the Mitchell-Hedges skull featured in…
FORD AMPHITHEATRE
4802 N. U.S. 301, Tampa, 813-740-2446, livenation.com In 2004, Tampa Bay got its first facility specifically built for outdoor concerts. Pundits said the market already had enough large venues, but the Ford Amphitheatre has stayed busy since its inception, hosting all manner of shows, from heavy-metal fests to snoozefests (Norah Jones). As with most amphitheaters,…
Theater: Dixie’s Tupperware Party
Dixie Longate. Say it: Dixie Longate. If you still can’t hear the pun, no matter: You’ll still have fun at Dixie’s Tupperware Party, an Off-Broadway hit described by Playbill as “a unique hybrid of improv, drag show, social satire and Tupperware party — complete with lids that burp.” As written and performed by Kris Andersson,…
Literature: An Intimate Evening with Author Michael Connelly
One part book launch party, one part fundraiser for the Studio@620’s educational initiatives, “Spinning Brass into Gold: An Intimate Evening with Author Michael Connelly” features a chat about and signing of the mystery writer’s latest book, The Brass Verdict. UF journalism professor/author/CL book blogger William McKeen gave The Brass Verdict his seal of approval, praising…
Film: Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace Double Feature
Before its midnight screening of Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond flick, Beach Theatre offers a free presentation of its predecessor, Casino Royale. The 2006 film looks back at the special agent’s first mission as 007 and stars chisel-faced Brit Daniel Craig in his Bond debut; Craig makes his second go-'round as Bond in Quantum. During the…
Discussion: Feel the Heat: Climate Change, Vulnerability and Environmental Justice
Recent studies show steadily rising temperatures and acidity levels in the ocean, a grave consequence of several decades’ worth of massive carbon dioxide emissions. Not only is the survival of ecosystem-essential marine life in dire jeopardy, but the lost fishing and tourism revenue could cost our already economically unstable society billions of dollars each year.…
Theater: Picture Incomplete
Trent Armand Kendall has stretched his acting muscles in a variety of creative ventures, from making brief TV appearances on Law & Order and the now-defunct Strangers with Candy comedy series, to starring in full-scale Broadway productions in NYC, like In the Woods with Vanessa Williams, Hair with Jennifer Hudson, and the Wizard of Oz…
Tampa Bay’s top 20 concert venues
Tampa Bay live music lovers can be found absorbing loud sonics and sweaty sights in venues ranging from cozy rock dens to plush theaters to humongous arenas to moonlit lawns peppered with empty beer cups. Everybody has his or her fave. Here at Creative Loafing, we have dozens of preferred rock, jazz, country, blues and…
RUTH ECKERD HALL
1111 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com The theater has magnificent sightlines and superior acoustics throughout. REH has no aisles except for the ones on the perimeter, which makes taking a piss seriously embarrassing if you're seated front and center. No food or beverages are allowed in the seats, and that makes listening to…
After Busansky, Beckner win, Republicans in disarray in Hillsborough
If it took a wrecked economy and a languishing war in Iraq for the United States to elect a black man as president, it took a former pro wrestler and a chicken-and-dumplings entrepreneur to force Hillsborough County to return to the Democratic party. The recipients of the Obama tidal wave and the Bush recession backlash…
University of Tampa alumni art showcased at Scarfone/Hartley Gallery
Scarfone/Hartley Gallery spotlights the work of three Tampa-based artists and University of Tampa alumni. The exhibition consists of "pop-surrealist" mixed-media works by Carl Cowden, small-scale paintings by Alexandra Fernandez and sculptures made of new, found, natural and manufactured woods, metals, bronze, stone and fiber by Michael Massaro. The exhibit kicks off with a gallery talk,…
Special Events/Shopping: America Unchained
Every Saturday before Thanksgiving, the American Independent Business Alliance stages America Unchained, a national campaign urging the masses to "unchain" for the day by only spending money at locally owned independent businesses. Spending locally maximizes the impact of your money on the local economy — local indies use goods and services of other local indies,…
Zurritos, Pita Pit and Whaley’s: Tasty dining on the cheap
Creative Loafing still pays my way for reviews, but on my own dime it's getting tougher and tougher to justify $20 for a pile of pad thai and some spring rolls. But wait a minute: Shouldn't everything I eat outside of my home (and sometimes in) justify a new line on my expense report? Call…
TRANSITIONS ART GALLERY @ SKATEPARK OF TAMPA
4215 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa, 813-621-6793, transtionsartgallery.com Transitions, part of the Skate Park of Tampa complex, is one of the smaller venues around town, but this works to its advantage. Management books bands, mostly punk-based, from grindcore to experimental, that might not otherwise have a place to play in the Bay area. The space, with…
Art: CraftArt 2008 and Buy Florida, Give Florida
As consumers gear up to give the sagging economy a jolt in the form of holiday spending (let’s hope, anyway, or we’re all screwed), there’s never been a better time to buy local. That’s the premise behind Florida Craftsmen Gallery’s annual holiday show, Buy Florida, Give Florida, which features one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts by more than…
JANNUS LANDING
16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-896-2276, jannuslandingconcerts.com If Creative Loafing's annual Best of the Bay Readers' Poll is any indication — and of course we think it is — Jannus Landing is the most beloved concert venue in Tampa Bay. The downtown St. Pete courtyard retains its rustic charm — although, given a few…
Art: Back in Black T-shirt Exhibit
Graphic T-shirts are a fashion trend that just won’t die, likely because T’s are a fun way to express who you are and what you’re about without having to pony up a whole lotta cash. Plus, they make great gifts, especially for those (like me) who possess a lack of original ideas on what to…
Daniel Craig’s James Bond seeks a Quantum of Solace
The problem with a long-running series like the James Bond films is that the formula doesn't mean the same thing in different eras. Bond movies have a simple reason for being: the spectacle of a supersuave, supersexy, supercompetent manly man shooting and fornicating his way across one exotic locale after another, defeating every bad guy,…
DAVE’S AQUA LOUNGE
10820 Gandy Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727-576-1091, davesongandy.com In addition to booking top local acts, hosting beloved jams and the occasional national band, the cozy, smoky dive serves the strongest cocktails of any live music venue in Tampa Bay, making even lousy singers sound totally rad after that third rum-and-coke. And you can't beat the rock…
A toast to film’s memorable boozers
1. Dudley Moore as Arthur Bach in Arthur (1981) As a kid, I wanted to be Indiana Jones. I discovered this classic comedy in my mid-20s and have considered Arthur Bach my personal Jesus ever since. Killer line: "Not all of us who drink are poets. Some of us drink because we're not poets." 2.…
THE BRASS MUG
1441 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, 813-972-8152, myspace.com/brassmug Sure, it's a smoky little dive, but the Brass Mug is also one of the last bastions of Tampa's most infamous musical export: death metal. The bar plays host to a smorgasbord of mostly local acts; some of these go on to wider acclaim, while others just keep…
Which world crises do you want President Obama to solve first?
Barack Obama will become the 44th president of the United States in about nine weeks. This means we can reasonably expect all of the world's problems to be solved by May 2009. That may seem like a long time, but you have to remember — the Obamas are getting a new puppy for their daughters.…
Charity: Chillounge Night
An event that made its debut in Sarasota in March, Chillounge Night transforms St. Pete’s Straub Park into a lounge under the stars complete with live jazz by BK Jackson, performances by Brazilian samba dancers and drummers, opera and tango presentations, a Coco Brazil and Maison Rouge fashion show, and all manner of scattered outdoor…
PROGRESS ENERGY CENTER FOR THE ARTS (Mahaffey Theater)
400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-892-5798, mahaffeytheater.com While it doesn't present nearly as many pop concerts as it once did, the Mahaffey Theater, located on the downtown St. Pete bayfront, is among the most aesthetically pleasing, sonically rewarding and comfortable venues in the market. Originally opened in 1965 as part of the Bayfront Center…
Theater: A Tuna Christmas and Reefer Madness
This weekend, American Stage opens two irreverent comedies that are poles apart. For its main stage production, the company presents A Tuna Christmas, the second in a cycle of plays set in the fictional, extra-small town of Greater Tuna, Texas. Two consummate comedic actors – Matthew McGee and Candler Budd – portray the few dozen…
Art: Glorious Glass: Translucent and Opaque
The Arts Center opens Glorious Glass: Translucent and Opaque, a glittering glass extravaganza and follow-up to last year’s Behind Glass: Creativity and Collaboration. Both exhibits, masterminded by Seattle curator Margery Aronson, showcase cutting-edge techniques in studio glass art and emphasize the medium’s predisposition toward teamwork. Check out works by Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, Sonja Blomdahl,…
Obama, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden
FED REFUSES TO SAY WHO GOT $2 TRILLON IN EMERGENCY LOANSDon't look at us. REPUBLICAN INFIGHTING INTENSIFIESIf only they had fought this hard to catch bin Laden. OBAMA PLANS U.S. TRIALS FOR GITMO PRISONERSIs Judge Judy available? JOE BIDEN BOOED AT EAGLES GAMEThe fans thought he was Santa Claus. NEW RAMP OPENS AT TIA INTERCHANGEOnly…
Art: Twice Exposed: Photographic & Print Works from the Permanent Collection of the USF Contemporary Art Museum
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts opens Twice Exposed: Photographic & Print Works from the Permanent Collection of the USF Contemporary Art Museum. The featured images reveal the diverse ways that artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Chuck Close, Jim Campbell, Jose Alejandro Restrepo and several others manipulate photos to create prints, collages, sculptures, videos and more. Nov.…
CROWBAR
1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City, 813-241-8600, crowbarlive.com The unofficial home base of Aestheticized Presents, Crowbar has become the place to see quality indie music on a quality PA system. The stage is roomy, elevated and conveniently located in the front and center of the room, directly across from the venue's two generous corner bars…
Art/Fundraiser: Brad Cooper Gallery 24th Anniversary Benefit Fine Art Auction
If you fancy yourself an art collector, or even just a casual cultural dabbler with aspirations to own, Brad Cooper Gallery’s 24th Anniversary Benefit Fine Art Auction is the ideal place to see and bid on contemporary fine art by established regional, national and international modern artists. This year’s auction includes more than 70 paintings,…
Theater: Damn Yankees
Spanish Lyric Theatre stages a one-night-only performance of Damn Yankees, a musical comedy about a man who makes a deal with the Devil to help his beloved baseball team, the Washington Senators, face and defeat the mighty New York Yankees. This retelling of the Faust legend won the 1956 Tony award for Best Musical, and…
DUNEDIN BREWERY
937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com One of only three microbrewery producer/distributors in Florida, the 12-year-old Dunedin standby is not just a venue but an attraction that serves all its own handcrafted ales on tap. The building is a converted garage, the roll-up doors replaced with big windows that look out onto Douglas Avenue. The…
Hot for Native Americans, the opposite of orgasms and threeway etiquette
Savage Love For some reason, I have always found Native Americans to be sexually attractive. But the whole semidark skin and traditional breechcloth thing doesn't seem to be easy to find in porn or real life. I was wondering if you had some pointers for someone with a bad case of Native American Jungle Fever.…
What’s the deal with so many abandoned babies in cartoons?
Having grown up on Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry and similar cartoons, I can't tell you how many I've watched involving a baby left on a doorstep. Did people really do this back when these cartoons were made? Was there a rash of baby abandonment somewhere back in the '40s, '50s and '60s that cartoonists…
Literature: Author E.L. Doctorow
The award-winning novels of distinguished American author E. L. Doctorow are set amidst crucial moments in American social history, his characters a rich tapestry of personalities both real and imagined who bring color and authenticity to the eras they inhabit. In his most famous work, 1975’s Ragtime, he interweaves the fates of three fictional families…
VINOY PARK
598 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg It's a sprawling tract of waterfront property within walking distance of downtown St. Pete — but far enough from the condos so that the volume can be cranked for rowdy events like Rib Fest and Warped Tour. Granted, The grounds get hot as a crotch in front of the…
Comedy, left to right
"Though the nation has been closely divided along partisan lines for years, the funniest and most politically important acts are overwhelmingly at the expense of conservatives and often carry a clear partisan message." —The Boston Globe's Lisa Wangsness, on how "Comedy has become a liberal genre" "And someone with the last name Wangsness knows comedy."…
Tampa Bay’s top 20 concert venues
Tampa Bay live music lovers can be found absorbing loud sonics and sweaty sights in venues ranging from cozy rock dens to plush theaters to humongous arenas to moonlit lawns peppered with empty beer cups. Everybody has his or her fave. Here at Creative Loafing, we have dozens of preferred rock, jazz, country, blues and…
CZAR
1420 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 813-247-2664, czarybor.com One of Ybor City's hottest destinations, Czar is a monster club with three distinct rooms: the Cyberia Vodka Bar in the front; the Bela-Rus Ballroom in the middle; and the large, impressive, newly remodeled Imperial Theatre in the far back, where national touring bands and DJs perform.…
Fundraiser: Holiday Baking Crash Course
Food guru Jack Bishop of PBS’ America's Test Kitchen shares holiday baking tips and tricks, offers samples of test kitchen's favorite holiday cookies and stages a blind taste-test of premium dark chocolates during "Holiday Baking Crash Course," a fundraiser for WEDU. Participants should bring two canned food items for America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay.…
Spain wises up: New World wine know-how trumps tradition
Spain, the oft-ridiculed kid in the wine schoolyard, is experiencing a Cinderella moment. For centuries, embarrassingly outdated winemaking processes and crappy quality reflected its lackadaisical attention to detail — with the strong exception of cash-cow areas Rioja and Ribera del Duero — and thus made "quality Spanish wine" an oxymoron. But about 10 years ago,…
COACHMAN PARK
Drew Street and the waterfront in downtown Clearwater, 727-562-4800, clearwater-fl.com A great open space on the water, Coachman Park hosts a number of freebie shows, including the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday. Though its small stage-bowl is too tiny for most acts, the bigger concerts construct their own stage for rock and jazz shows. The sound…
Urban Charrette architects and planners have designs on the future of Tampa
We've just elected a president who announced his VP pick by text message, culled millions of dollars from individual donors via the Internet and gave his victory speech in a public park to a quarter-million supporters, as people rejoiced around the globe. Some would suggest we're no longer in the age of the Internet but…
USF SUN DOME
4202 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, 813-974-3111 Until the mid-'90s and the opening of the Ice Palace, the Sun Dome was where the Elton Johns, Billy Joels, Tina Turners and Neil Youngs performed in Tampa Bay. Conveniently located on the USF campus, just off Fowler Avenue, the venue originally had an inflatable fabric roof, which made…
STATE THEATRE
687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-895-3045, statetheatreconcerts.com According to lore, the State was once a movie theater that played mostly blaxploitation flicks. It sat empty for a couple of decades, then was rehabbed in the late '80s and opened as a concert venue. The no-frills room is largely a punk and indie rock venue these…
NEW WORLD BREWERY
1313 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-248-4969, myspace.com/newworldbrewery The quaint red-brick outdoor terrace is a cozy place to unwind while schmoozing with friends and catching a show by local and regional groups and smaller-scale national indie acts — who all play on the patio's ground-level stage area. Inside is a generous L-shaped bar with a superior…
Special Events: A Very Special Evening with Garrison Keillor
Like his long-running, much-beloved NPR show, A Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor manages to pack a bunch of contradictory elements into one genial package; he mixes lefty politics with folksy warmth, a satirical bent with a wry tolerance of humanity’s foibles. It’s a tricky balance to maintain, but he’s done so for more than 30…
New Tampa Museum of Art celebrates contribution, completion of building frame
Pages are turning quickly on the Tampa Museum of Art's somewhat tumultuous recent history. Understandably eager to move onward and upward with their new building/new branding initiative — and now, new executive director — hardly a week passes without the TMA dropping a nugget of news that's indicative of the institution's determination to reclaim public…
Amendment 1 fails and Florida’s anti-Asian legacy lives on
In all the post-election hoopla — from President-elect Barack Obama carrying Florida to our own local vote-counting morass in Hillsborough — the news of one failed amendment to the state Constitution has faded away quietly. And yet, the failure of Amendment 1 says just as much about the state's electorate as the passage of Amendment…
THE PALLADIUM AT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-3590, mypalladium.org Built in 1925 as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and transformed into a theater in 1998 by a group of civic leaders, the Palladium finds its third act as part of St. Petersburg College. SPC vowed to expand programming at the facility, and its use of…
TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, 813-222-1000, tbpac.org Now 21 years old, TBPAC is one of Tampa Bay's civic jewels, an arts hub with five distinct theaters, three of which have been used regularly for concerts. The largest space, Carol Morsani Hall, has hosted a roll call of events, from highbrow to rock 'n' roll. Smaller…
SKIPPER’S SMOKEHOUSE
910 Skipper Road, Tampa, 813-971-0666, skipperssmokehouse.com The Skipper's motto is "we smoke everything," and the restaurant/venue has been the hippie hangout of Tampa Bay for the past 28 years. Founded by a couple ol' Air Force buddies, the wonderfully wacky live music destination has been lovingly described as the club "that washed ashore" thanks to…
Music: CL in Concert Series
Electro alt-rockers Auditorium – fronted by Southeast Music Alliance founder/Creative Loafing staffer Joran Slane – bids adieu to the local music scene this Saturday night, their final performance part of the CL in Concert series. Sharing the bill are Life of Pi and Blast and the Detergents (also featuring current CL staffers) as well as…
This Week’s Wine & Culinary Events List
WEDNESDAY: ABC FINE WINE AND SPIRITS Wine tasting and cigar smoker. $10. 6-8 p.m., Nov. 12, ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, 3110 Gandy Blvd., Tampa (813-839-7167 or abcfws.com). WEDNESDAY: VINTAGE WINE CELLARS Champagne class. $25. 6:30-9 p.m., Nov. 12, Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa (813-879-2931 or vintagewinecellars.net). WEDNESDAY: TASTINGS New York-style wine tasting.…
Florida journalist Carlos Frias journeys to Cuba in Take Me With You
Trust me on this: The hardest thing to write about is your family. Journalists talk to strangers and tell their stories. Novelists get to make up stuff. But writing about your father and then looking him in the eye and saying, "I wrote this about you. Read it." — now that's tough. Somehow Carlos Frias…
TAMPA THEATRE
711 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-274-8981, tampatheatre.org Opened in 1926, the Tampa Theatre is clearly the Bay area's most storied venue — the only one on the National Register of Historic Places. Hell, it was the first commercial building in Tampa to feature air-conditioning. The building almost fell to the wrecking ball, but the city…
ST. PETE TIMES FORUM
401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 813-301-6600, sptimesforum.com Every major market has a sports arena that doubles as a concert venue, and so it is with the St. Pete Times Forum, which used to have a much cooler name, the Ice Palace. Completed in 1996, the Forum is neither outmoded nor state-of-the-art, neither big nor small, as…
Automakers want a piece of the bailout sweepstakes
U.S. automakers are currently panhandling through Washington's halls of power, seeking a mere $50 billion for a cup of coffee and potential financial solvency. The economy, along with decades of inept adaption to changing auto sale business models, are making GM, Chrysler and Ford shake with need. GM's stock closed at a 59-year low last…
Black Crowes at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater
The Black Crowes performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall last night, in front of a packed house of roughly 2,000, showed the band operating in several modes. There was the Hot ‘Lanta hoodlums Southern rocking the joint in taut, greasy fashion on "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" – the first cut/debut single off the band's sizzling…
Against Me!’s Tom Gabel to drop solo EP
After leading his punk band Against Me! to a banner year marked by the acclaimed album New Wave, its smash single "Thrash Unreal" and mad gigging that included headlining Warped Tour, Tom Gabel (pictured, photo by me) has decided to dial it down a bit. His upcoming seven-song solo EP, Heart Burns, will be released…
Against Me! wows at Warped
Gainesville-based punk band Against Me! delivered a gloriously powerful performance Friday at the Vans Warped Tour, Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg. Against Me! lead singer Tom Gabel (pictured, left) was raised in Naples and the audience included friends and family in addition to thousands of fans. (The publicist told me they expected 14,000 concertgoers. I'd say…
Die, Boston, die
As the Lakers prepare to go mano a mano with the Celtics in the NBA Finals this Thursday, I’m reminded of the epic battles between these two proud franchises in the 1980s. And how much I hate Boston. Not so much this incarnation of the Celtics and their current roster of hired guns. But geez,…
