Is ‘Chinese Democracy’ the last Old Media album?
The most striking part of Chuck Klosterman's Chinese Democracy review — he gave it an A- in The Onion, about the same as my 3.5, reduced to 3 star, review — is his argument that the disc will be remembered as the last physical record that anyone gave a shit about. For one thing, Chinese…
Skeletal Lamping, a complicated but extraordinary art piece.
In 2007’s masterful Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer, of Montreal frontman/visionary/songwriter Kevin Barnes got up close and personal, expressing his fears, frustrations and failures against rainbow-hued synth-pop with a funky, disco-fied swagger. Skeletal Lamping finds Barnes in much better spirits and back to mining his psyche for material, the album playing much like…
Washington State Seeks New Organic AVA
Citing a different soil structure, high elevation and a commitment to organic farming, a band of vineyard owners and wineries are seeking approval for a tenth AVA in Washington State: Naches Heights. The Associated Press reported: "At 13,254 acres, the proposed appellation would run from the confluence of the Naches River and Cowiche Creek to the…
Geri X returning to Tampa Bay
Singer/songwriter extraordinaire Geri X is freezing her ass off in Wisconsin and has decided to return to Tampa Bay— permanently. Which makes us very happy. "So, we are coming home for good in December," she says via email. 24HR Service Station records signed us and we are doing some work with John Wesley at Red…
Free Shit: Become a friend of Papa John’s and they’ll give you a pizza
National pizza chain Papa John's is trying to buy our friendship — with free pizza. Continuing its online trend — they were the first national chain to offer online ordering — Papa Jon's is offering a free medium cheese pizza to any Facebook user that adds the company as a fan. From their release: Beginning…
30 years and still Trotting
Since the dawn of man (or at least since they all moved down here from Indiana and Illinois), my family have been faithful participants in the St. Petersburg Times' Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot is a somewhat counter-intuitive Thanksgiving ritual: On the one day out of the year when all of our physical, mental and…
Grant Achatz gives you a Thanksgiving feast cooked in Ziploc bags
Grant Achatz — the award-winning wunderkind chef behind Chicago's Alinea — doesn't just talk the talk of innovative cooking techniques, he walks the walk. In this series of videos, Achatz shows you how he's planning to roll this Thanksgiving, with just about the entire meal — turkey and all — cooked sous vide. All you…
Cooking for Obama’s inauguration
The Associated Press asked a bunch of chefs what they would cook at Obama's inaugural dinner. Some of the respondents are likely already on the Obamas' short list — like Mexican-food guru Rick Bayless from Chicago's Tobolobampo, one of the family-elect's favorite eateries. Bayless has already cleared his schedule for that week, just in case,…
Reel Projections — Tuesday, November 25
First things first: A review of the New on DVD or Blu-ray today: Hancock, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All, Fred Claus Variety reviews The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt and directed by David Fincher. Spoiler: They like it. William Shatner gives his two cents on the design of the…
Best cookbook gifts of 2008
To give a cookbook as a gift is an act of nourishment. You hope that your offering will inspire and ultimately feed the recipient. You hope he/she will think of you while standing in the kitchen, excited and covered in flour. Perhaps the year's best cookbook, or at least the most lavish, isn't nourishing to…
The Short List: A foreclosure freeze for Florida?
Slow news week: At the risk of going back to the SNL well once too often, here's Andy Sandberg as Rahmbo, a Web-only offering from NBC. Obama reaches across the aisle to work with … George W. Bush? Gov. Crist ponders a foreclosure freeze financed by a cigarette tax hike. The Obama economic team is…
Do It Today
Bay area hip hop trio T.M.P. (Too Much Pride) stages a red carpet album release party to mark the release of Business Before Pleasure, their debut full-length (pictured). 9 p.m., Hip Hop Soda Shop, Tampa, $10 (bring a canned good for Metropolitan Ministries, get $2 off). Skipper's Smokehouse continues its monthly femme-centric Girlie Show concert…
Chinese Democracy: a song-by-song analysis
The most hyped record in rock history begins with a big noise — but it's ultimately more of a whimper than a bang. The opening title-track amounting to a Pro Tools mess of guitar processing that pours out of the speakers loud and hard but never rocks, never swings, never grabs you the way, say,…
Baseball players, great stadiums, pols and poets
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. TAKE US OUT TO THE BALL GAME: For those of you already weary of the holidays, here’s a bit of good news: only three months until pitchers and catchers report to spring…
Cranky Copy Editor — Monday, November 24
25.5-0. With the point spread, that was Detroit’s lead over the Bucs in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. And yours truly was feeling like the smartest guy in the world for having taken the Lions in his pick 'em league, as if I'd asked out a girl I was supposed to have no chance…
Tampa Bay’s cultural death greatly exaggerated
The Sprawl: In the effort to create an American wet dream of spacious property and segregated neighborhoods out of the Tampa Bay area, developers deconstructed centralized arteries of urban life and supported massive sprawl. The end result, a limitless landscape of suburban paradise, stifles awareness of community and cultural events. When even the independent media outlets…
Leilani Polk on Media Talk
Events editor Leilani Polk discusses Shop Local, America Unchained, what to do over the weekend as well as this week's cover story. [youtube]\\<\/iframe\>]
Aaron Neville snubbed by Rolling Stone
Last night, right before we watched the new Big Lebowski double-DVD set, my brother Joel informed me that Aaron Neville didn't make Rolling Stone's list of Top 100 Singers. I told Joel that's crazy, the Crescent City big man with the angelic voice had to have made the cut. And then I took a look…
New Menu Monday and Restaurant Openings
Teatro on 7th (1600 E. 8th. Ave., Ybor, 813-248-9400) has been open for about six weeks, but there's been little fanfare so I thought I'd give its menu a shout-out. Owners Philip Zeltsar and Bill Haines have a long history in the restaurant business in and out of Tampa, most recently at Bernini where Zeltsar…
In Pictures: Dumbwaiters, Woven and Kingsbury
Dumbwaiters, Woven and Kingsbury @ New World Brewery 11/22/08 On a rather chilly Saturday night, Tampa's New Granada Presents put together a show like only they can. Orlando's Kingsbury drove over to serve up a most excellent set of atmospheric rock. Woven, from Los Angeles, brought more effect pedals on tour than most bands would…
Thanksgiving Countdown: Stuffing/Dressing
Three days left and it's time to settle on a menu. Sure, you could break out the recipe for grandma's cornbread stuffing that you've been shoving down your gob since you could handle solid food, but before you do, take a step back: just because it's traditional doesn't mean it's good. If you want to…
More Photos from Wine Rave 2008
Here are some Street Team pics from this year's Wine Rave event – ART XTC, held at the West Tampa Center for the Arts on November 22.
Not enough water for new sod, but plenty for new houses in sprawl developments
We don't have enough water and our water management district Swiftmud has imposed tighter watering restrictions and is now prohibiting watering of new sod. We are in a drought so it is reasonable to think that tougher restrictions would apply. Other officials are also proposing a ban on the selling of fertilizer containing nitrogen in…
Domenica Macchia gone from MJ’s — put that jazz lounge on Deathwatch
Got an email from Mj's Martini and Jazz Lounge chef Domenica Macchia saying that she is now the former chef. According to her, the restaurant and bar let her go because it is heading more for a downscale menu and vibe that she calls "roadhouse". Although I didn't want to put it my review of…
Dumbwaiters rock through the cold at NWB
New World Brewery on a Saturday night boasts a healthy built in crowd of conversationalists and music lovers respectively. Even with the threatening cold snap on the horizon and very little local media coverage, quite a few people made it out specifically to support the local post-punk rock band Dumbwaiters and the show promoter New Granada…
The Short List: SNL’s turkeys on the run
We're kicking off Thanksgiving week in style with SNL's "turkeys on the run" skit from over the weekend. Enjoy. The incredibly ballooning stimulus package. Citibank looks to be the next member of the bailout club. Gas prices continue their long overdue plunge. Sometimes it sucks to be an astronaut. How many blogs does the world…
Tampa Bay Bucs: A solid win after a shaky start
I don't know about you, but when the Bucs went down 17-0 against the lowly Lions, I really didn't think they were in any trouble. Sure enough, Tampa Bay went on to score 35 unanswered points to take a 35-17 lead, and ultimately win 38-20. The Lions not only looked thoroughly inept, but completely snakebit.…
Cheap Trick salutes “Sgt. Pepper” with heart and soul
Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander perform at a post-show jam. The guitar Nielsen is playing fetched $4,000 in an auction. Every note, sound and lyric of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is so indelibly imprinted in people's heads that the thought of performing it live must be a little daunting. If that was the…
Rock of Love: Charm School Edition: Bitch, put down that drink!
Editor's note: Among Autopsy IV's many talents is opining on the awesomely crappy reality TV show "Rock of Love." Here's his latest slice of sidesplitting commentary. To catch up on his marvelous skewering, go to ninebullets.net. Okay. I asked if people were interested in me doing these and then never actually started. I have a…
Holiday gift ideas — Cranky Copy Editor edition
Just last night, a friend of mine asked what she should get someone as a birthday present, as she doesn't have a lot of time to spend contemplating potential gifts, and the date is fast approaching. Her predicament reminded of the quandary most or us are in during the holiday season. I usually think of…
The good, the bad and the country
When I give an interview, 9 times out of 10 I am asked the same litany of inane questions. The one I dread the most (even more than the completely irrelevant "How old are you?") is this one: "Who are your biggest influences?" There are a lot of reasons I don't like this question: It's…
Tatangelo grabs Griot Drum Award
Last night I picked up a Griot Drum Award — 1st Place, Print, Features (circ. below 100,000) — for my United Front story. I then proceeded to get thoroughly wasted at Tamiami Bar, where I watched blues badass Papa Mali, and then continued my imbibing over at State Theatre, where The Toadies were playing. And…
Black Diamond Heavies rock St. Petersburg
This just in from our brilliant music/booze hound, Autopsy IV, who helms the ass-kicking blog ninebullets.net. The folks who run the new Creative Loafing music site want me to get these out pretty quickly after the show and the truth is, I wanted to do a show recap yesterday but I couldn't formulate coherent thoughts…
Florida author Carlos Frias signing tonight in Carrollwood
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. HOLD THE PHONE!: We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog for this announcement of a book signing tonight. We've been talking about Carlos Frias and his brilliant new book, Take Me With You…
Where have all the real celebrities gone?
We are currently in the midst of a severe celebrity slump. Real, honest-to-goodness headline-grabbing celebs are no where to be found. Instead, we’ve been bombarded with the imitation crab variety, pretty girls and airbrushed guys with little to offer above and beyond their MTV “reality” shows. I can’t get away from them – the Lauren…
Do It This Weekend
Goofy, Southern-fried comedian Jon Reep (pictured), the fifth season winner of Last Comic Standing, brings his stand-up to Side Splitters Comedy Club. Nov. 21-22, 8 and 10:15 p.m. Fri., 6, 8 and 10:15 p.m. Sat., $22 and $27. St. Petersburg's Florida Craftsmen Gallery holds its biggest event of the year, CraftArt 2008, a craft fair featuring 140…
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, Nov. 21-23
Steel sculpture by Dominique Labauvie. Friday 5-7 p.m. – Opening reception for László Horváth at Gallery 501, Blake High School, 1701 N. Boulevard, Tampa. 7-9 p.m. – Opening reception for Je veux l’art, an exhibit of work by USF undergraduate and graduate students and faculty who traveled to Paris in June 2008, at Centre Gallery,…
slotMusic.org: Future of Music Sales?
I came across an ad in Rolling Stone about slotMusic.org, a new music "format" that is being hyped by major labels as "a versatile new physical music format for the 21st Century". In short, the new slotMusic format is a 1 Gig microSD card preloaded with DRM-free mp3s (properly tagged and 320 kBPs) and videos…
The Short List: Sarah Palin’s Turkey Interview
I was originally going to go with the hilarious "nobody want's to shake Bush's hand" video from a few days ago, but then I saw Sarah Palin soon to be infamous " target="_blank">Turkey Interview. Warning! This gets kind of gross. Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapses while on stage in D.C. The stock market collapses in…
Conor Oberst warms the crowd at Jannus Landing
Editor's note: This just in from our live music hound by B.Treotch. Despite a nip in the air and, well, it being a Wednesday night and all, fans filled Jannus Landing to catch the Bright Eyes frontman’s latest musical offering: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. The six piece ensemble, three guitars strong, produced…
Today is Chris Whitley Tribute Day
Chris Whitley died three years ago today. He was 45. It was unexpected, even to his diehard fans, of which I am one. I remember hearing about it and thinking “OD” — he was perilously gaunt and rumors of drug abuse swirled around him — then I was strangely relieved to find out it was…
We Now Welcome You (and us) to the 21st Century
If you’re a loyal reader of Tampa Calling or if you just happened by, thanks for your interest. We’ve got something very cool to announce: Creative Loafing has launched a new website specifically geared to music. If you're one of those itchy types, and would rather go directly to the site than read the rest…
New Guns N Roses CD streaming on MySpace
My first Guns N' Roses experience came via a cassette tape of the band's irresistibly decadent 1987 major label debut album Appetite for Destruction. I had just entered the third grade. I hid the tape from my parents. It was a prized possession of mine. The CD on my shelf still gets dusted off and…
Reel Projections — Thursday, November 20
Comin' at ya: Disney's Beauty and the Beast to be Stiller the one: New photos from the set of the sequel to Night at the Museum. Plus shots of Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. Shaking and stirring Bond: Quantum of Solace producers talk about bringing 007 back to his roots, casting Daniel Craig as the…
The Short List – Ayman called Obama a what?!?
Al-Qaeda's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri called President-elect Obama a "house negro?" Oh no he didn't. Who will Bush pardon before he leaves office? Scooter? Tampa Bay lawmaker Wil Weatherford in line for Florida House speakership in 2012. Adultery hookup site Ashley Madison looking to buy TV time locally. FLA says, gimme some sugar! Charlie to…
Do It Today
Museum of Fine Arts and Sunscreen Film Festival team up to bring locals a new "Movies at the Museum" screening series. The first kicks off tonight; the featured selection is The Blues Brothers starring Dan Akroyd and John Belushi (pictured). The screening begins at 7 p.m., but guests are encouraged to arrive early and browse MFA'a…
McCartney’s eclectic Electric
Paul McCartney's late-career renaissance may have hit another high point. Though his new disc doesn't drop until Nov. 25, you can head over to National Public Radio's website and listen to the exclusive streaming of Electric Arguments, the third collaboration between McCartney and Youth under "The Fireman" moniker. While their previous two releases were rooted…
Fleet Foxes live and ad hoc in Paris
Uber-cool Seattle band Fleet Foxes cut this seven-minute-plus video in an echoey abandoned room in Paris Grand Palais. Lots of natural echo, which is part of Fleet Foxes' signature, cool a cappella vocals and then a bit of sparse instrumentation. If you've not yet gotten hip to Fleet Foxes, this is a nice little primer.…
Transgender Day of Rememberance local events
In the early morning hours of February 22, Simmie Williams was walking the streets of Ft. Lauderdale. But before the sun came up, the 17-year-old openly gay teen was shot by two men. He died at the scene. Later, police reports indicated that Williams was wearing women's clothing. Williams' murder came just 10 days after…
The best little venue that not enough people know about…
Have you ever been to a listening room? I'm not talking about a theatre where folks may come to listen but first they have to contend with uptight ushers, mediocre seats and expensive drinks. I'm not even talking about a coffeehouse where folks may come to listen but are hard pressed to do so over…
Raw Deals — This week in the supermarket ads
This week is all about Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean you can't find interesting things to cook in the lead up to turkey day. Here are some of the best sales on raw ingredients, with a few suggestions for what you can do with them: Whole Foods – Local navel oranges are a mere $.69/pound…
The new new thing: The Knux
Who: The Knux Seven-word description: Rad rhymes and big beats from NOLA. Should appeal to fans of: Goodie Mob, Outkast, Lil Wayne. Is that an ode to Cappuccino? Yes, but the Katrina displaced Crescent City duo also has fun thugging out on "Bang! Bang!" Breakout CD: Remind Me in 3 Days.. Release date/label: Oct. 14/Interscope…
Florida Burning Man: Afterburn 2008
Heard about Florida's Afterburn? I hadn't, but asked CL'er Elke Lockert to report back: "About 24 of us arrived on Friday to a very special greeting at the Maddox Ranch gate near Lakeland, where they asked us to get out of our vehicle, explained what MOOP was and gave us a spanking. Ok, this is cool, we are…
The Short List: Obama won because you’re dumb
This blatant rip-off of Leno's "Jaywalking" segment is making some waves this week. Remember, the Republicans think that if you voted for Obama you're stupid but if you voted for Bush twice you're a great American, so maybe take their opinion with a grain of salt. (Oh, and the related Zogby poll is pure hogwash.)…
Wade Tatangelo’s up for an award
My cover story/feature on local hip-hop collective Umbrella Corporation has been nominated for A Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists' Griot Drum Award. Here's what we call the "lede," aka the opening salvo, in the journalism biz: Heavy beats slam through the room like war drums. The crowded nightclub is thick with cigarette smoke, booze,…
Do It Today
Filmmaker Jeff Barrie (pictured) sheds light on energy in documentary that focuses on where we get our electricity, the problems energy production causes, and the individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities trying to make a difference by practicing energy conservation and efficiency, and using renewable, green power. The film is screened locally for free, with special…
Wine suggestions for your Thanksgiving holiday
Thanksgiving was always — and remains — my favorite holiday. It's the pinnacle of gluttony, a gustatory bacchanal, an excuse to eat 20 pounds of poultry and not gain a perceived pound. And it's the perfect pretext for opening numerous bottles of wine without being labeled the family drunk. Consider the "walking around wine" technique.…
Will the end of the Bush administration bring peace between the U.S. and Iran?
Barack Obama's not even president yet, but he's already honoring his controversial campaign pledge to hold face-to-face meetings with America's worst enemies. Last week he met with George W. Bush. Bush gave Obama a tour of some of the White House, including the Oval Office, the Lincoln Bedroom, the Nixon Incinerator, the William Henry Harrison…
Q-Tip: The Renaissance
Much to the dismay of many of us, thinking-persons’ hip-hop has been pushed deep into the underground over the last few years. So it’s especially heartening that Q-Tip’s The Renaissance, his first album since 1999’s Amplified, entered the Billboard album chart at a more-than-respectable No. 11. The disc is just about everything fans of the…
Australia to Valkyrie: The 2008 holiday season’s must-see movies
So far in 2008, superb genre films such as WALL-E, Cloverfield and The Dark Knight have outshone the more "serious" cinematic output of filmmakers such as the Coen brothers, Spike Lee and Clint Eastwood. There's still time for ambitious dramas and other big Oscar-bait films to steal the thunder from the popcorn fare, however. Here…
Sonny Rollins: Road Shows Vol. 1
Tenor saxophone legend Sonny Rollins, 78, has throw open the vaults. Culled from his own archives and that of uber fan Carl Smith, "Road Shows Vol. 1" presents treasured live tracks recorded from 1980 to 2007. These performances carry a sense of abandon and expansiveness often missing from Rollins’ studio work since the ’80s. On…
Theater: Nunsense and Sister’s Christmas Catechism — The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold
Nuns and comedy go together like Catholicism and guilt — you can’t have one without the other. And when all the right elements collide, you have yourself a God-fearing recipe for hilarity. Two local performing arts venues present nun-infused comedies this week. Ruth Eckerd Hall leads the habit march with the 25th annual national tour…
Creedence Clearwater Revival: 40th Anniversary Reissues
BACKSPIN 1968-1970 From 1968 to 1970, Creedence Clearwater Revival released a most impressive run of six sizzling roots rock albums resulting in a slew of swam-pop hits. For years, most fans were content to enjoy the radio staples on collections like "Chronicles Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2." Diehards — wanting to devour all seven, gloriously…
Art students at IADT get a dose of reality show with show Artistik Envy
Call it the American Idol phenomenon. These days, there's a reality series where artists compete against each other for fame and fortune in nearly every discipline. There's Top Chef for the toque-and-mise crowd, Design Star for aspiring décor gurus and — of course — Project Runway for the fashion obsessed. The premises of these programs…
Play Reefer Madness lights up American Stage
If Reefer Madness were only a parody of a 1936 anti-marijuana film, it would hardly be noteworthy. But what makes this "After Hours" offering at American Stage an important milestone for Bay area theater is that it's also a send-up of theater itself — of adults donning disguise and pretending to be who they're not,…
Picture Incomplete: Trent Armand Kendall’s one-man musical at Shimberg Playhouse
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…
Does Chopstix Chinese restaurant rival China Yuan and Yummy House?
The foodie rumor mill has been abuzz with the news of a new Chinese restaurant that might rival Yummy House and China Yuan — Tampa's two uncontested rulers of that particular Asian cuisine. Will Chopstix up the ante and give our humble city a third option for scintillating, traditional Chinese food? Chopstix has a good…
Theater: The Santaland Diaries
The next installment of American Stage’s appealing “After Hours” production series is an alternative staple of the season, The Santaland Diaries. This one-act, one-man play began as a drolly acidic radio essay about a grumpy, chemically dependent writer who’s forced to dress up as an elf to pay the bills during the Yuletide season. Nowadays,…
Apocalypse Florida: Florida’s top historian files a report from the future
It was a dark but sunny day. On November 18, 2058, the dream that was Florida died. The National Guard forced the last remaining band of determined squatters from their tent cities atop the Florida Ridge. As the last Freedom Flight touched down in Vidalia, Georgia, authorities sealed off the Florida border. In lyrical but…
Tom Gabel: Heart Burns
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…
Art: Holiday Glass Show: Glass Work by Gott & Sgrillo
Shake off that turkey-induced lethargy and round up family and friends for a visit to Tampa glass artist Susan Gott’s annual post-Thanksgiving open house. Through Sunday, take a peek inside the furnaces of Phoenix Glass Studio in Seminole Heights, where Gott and her assistants blow and cast molten glass into colorful, ethereal forms. The fiery…
Charity: Be a Rock Star
“Be a Rock Star” is a karaoke night fundraiser in support of Tampa Bay Derby Darlins, the area’s own roller derby league. Pay the measly admission fee, get good and juiced up, pick the song you want to slaughter, contribute $1, and do your thing with Cowboy Mafia, DJ Robb Smith, the Rancid Polecats or…
Q&A with Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning
It's 10:30 a.m. on a Friday in Toronto, and Broken Social Scene co-founder Brendan Canning has been awake a total of 20 minutes. For the next 20 minutes, he will talk to Creative Loafing, via phone, about his new solo debut album, his role in the long-running indie-rock collective (or, as BSS is often called,…
Barry Melrose, Hillary Clinton, James Bond, Barack Obama
SECRETARY OF STATE HILlARY CLINTON? Republicans said to favor any plan that keeps the senator out of the country for extended periods of time. Not as much as Bill does, though. OBAMA MAKES FIRST RADIO ADDRESS ON YOUTUBE The President-elect implored viewers to leave Britney alone! LIGHTNING FIRES BARRY MELROSE Management wonders what it will…
Proposition 8, butt plugs and the “F” word
Savage Love I have to say I'm disappointed. Proposition 8 passed in California, as did anti-gay-marriage amendments in Florida and Arizona. Decency and compassion suffered a horrible blow, and I was hoping to hear a few words from you about it. Maybe you had your column written already, but couldn't you have pulled an all-nighter…
Secret service names for Obama, McCain, Palin
"Interesting to know that Obamas name is renegade. Was mcCains Lemming?" –—Poster "FatCog," commenting on wonkette.com's Nov. 13 coverage of the BBC News story, "Obamas All Have Hopeful Secret-Service Code Names" "Sarah and Todd: Moose and Squirrel" –—Min "I think Taft's was 'The Fat Slob'." –—Cape Clod "Luckily they just re-used Lieberman's from 2000, 'Lupus'."…
Performance of A Tuna Christmas flops on American Stage
It's not often that I consider walking out of a play at intermission, but A Tuna Christmas at American Stage is so relentlessly stupid, I almost convinced myself to skip the second act. Almost but not quite — because I was there to review the whole show, after all, and couldn't be sure that there…
Culinary: Holiday Ale Testing
New World Brewery stages a Holiday Ale Testing to herald in a new season of brews. Among the ales on the tasting menu are Brooklyn Black Chocolate, St. Nick Rock, Santa's Private Reserve, Bad Elf, Red Stone Holiday Mead, Sam Smith's Winter Welcome, Sierra Nevada Celebration, Delirium Noel, Wychwood Bah Humbug, Corsendonk Christmas, St. Peter's…
Charity: World AIDS Day
Despite ongoing efforts by governments, organizations and charities worldwide to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, an estimated 2.7 million people become infected each year, and an estimated 33 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS. The numbers are a bleak reminder that we still have a long way to go. No matter how well-versed…
Art/Shopping: The Holizaar: A Hand-Made Holiday Extravaganza
St. Pete Craft Heroes provide St. Pete area folks with yet another opportunity to shop local at "The Holizaar: A Hand-Made Holiday Extravaganza." This afternoon bazaar features 20 area artisans and crafters, who hawk stained glass, prints, handpainted pottery, jewelry made of beads or silver or wood or leather, original greeting cards, purses, Tiki art,…
Chris Ortiz and Brotherhood Ministries help the homeless
It's no secret that state and local governments have been reducing funds for nonprofits that service the disadvantaged. This year, for instance, the state of Florida cut the budget for drug treatment centers by an estimated $31 million. Chris Ortiz's Brotherhood Ministries doesn't depend on government funding, but its main source of support is even…
Wine: WineRave ART XTC
A new take on a wine tasting, WineRave ART XTC is the latest and greatest Creative Loafing Wine Club event. Held at the West Tampa Center for the Arts, Wine Rave spotlights more than 50 wines, among them, Chehalem 2007 Inox Chardonnay, La Crema Chard and Pinot, Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc, and Bonterra Zinfandel. In addition, guests can peruse artworks by a…
Music: Time for Three with The Florida Orchestra
Far from a typical chamber music trio, Time for Three (aka Tf3) uses their classical training as a launch pad for music that crosses the stifling boundaries of tradition. Double bassist Ranaan Meyer and violinists Zach DePue and Nick Kendall first met as students at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. The three musicians began playing…
Music: Paul Oakenfold
For the past few months, Sunset Promotions has been throwing dance music parties at the Green Iguana off Anderson Road and bringing big name electronica acts to its stage. This Turkey Day, Sunset presents one of the biggest names of them all, UK DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold, who’s currently on tour with Madonna and plays a…
Were “concrete shoes” a favored technique of mob hitmen?
I'm sure you've heard the term "concrete shoes," mobsters' choice of swimwear for fellas with rodent traits and other individuals who ran afoul of them. Is there any truth to it? — — Ale, Bangkok When your question came in, Ale, I thought: At last, a chance to have it out with E.L. Doctorow. You…
BBQ and babes at Vinoy Park’s Ribfest
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 that I later learned that multiple 4 a.m. phone calls and pounding on my bedroom window went unheard. Oh well. I called Decker back, and a superb plan was hatched…
Nine weeks to music success
I have been reading this book about online PR for bands called "Music Success in Nine Weeks" and it rules. At 143 pages, its a quick, workbook-style read that anyone can benefit from. In this how-to guide to self-promotion, cyber PR guru Ariel Hyatt gives bands a step-by-step guide to supercharging your PR efforts, building…
Creedence Clearwater Revival reissued
Creedence Clearwater Revival released a most impressive run of six sizzling roots rock albums between the span of 1968 to 1970 (hear that, Axl?). Chief revivalist John Fogerty appropriated the sounds of the swampland — although he grew up in California — and crafted a distinctive, brand of Americana resulting in a slew of hit…
Black Diamond Heavies, Mojo Gurus, Beauvilles tonight in St. Pete
Editor's note: This just in from our man Autopsy IV — see his pic/bio after the jump — via ninebullets.net. WHO: Black Diamond Heavies, The Mojo Gurus and The Beauvilles WHAT: Concert WHERE: Dave's Aqua Lounge 10820 Gandy Blvd. St. Petersburg (727) 576-1091 WHEN: Tuesday November 18, 2008 DETAILS: Showtime 9:00pm, tickets $7. Doors are…
Best songs about money
It’s hard to take a breath these days without thinking about money, money, money. The stimulus package didn't do shit and the stock market still sucks donkey dick. The national debt is off the chart, literally. And it seems everyone in Tampa Bay knows someone who recently received a pink slip. Luckily, my company is…
Geri X tonight at the Globe
Highly talented singer/songwriter Geri X returns from an extended stay in Wisconsin to delight local fans with her poignant indie-folk offerings. She performs tonight at Globe Coffee Lounge in St. Petersburg on a killer lineup featuring Ronny Elliott, Can't Do It, Rebekah Pulley (her new album is amazing, more on that later), and Acho Brother.…
Obama rocks
In case you needed one more reason to vote for the Democratic presidential contender check out Barack Obama's iPod selections, which range from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan (yeah, Obama def has my vote) to Jay-Z and Ludacris to Miles Davis and John Coltrane, reports RollingStone.com. Obama's musical hero? Stevie Wonder. Works for me. Let's…
The new new thing: Fleet Foxes
Here's a new weekly feature dubbed "The new new thing" that will run every Tuesday and spotlight up and coming artists. Enjoy. Who: Fleet Foxes Seven-word description: Organic pop marked by gorgeous vocal harmonies. Should appeal to fans of: Brian Wilson, Simon & Garfunkel, Dr. Dog, Band of Horses. Is that a flute? Yes, but…
Landreth, Soul Rebels and more at Heatwave
Slide guitar master Sonny Landreth causing jaws to drop at Tropical Heatwave Saturday on the El Pasaje Plaza/Louisiana Stage. Creative Loafing cover girl Amanda Shaw performed on the same stage earlier in the day. For my review/photos of her set click here. Landreth performed numbers like the spectacular backwoods space jam "The Milk Way Home"…
