Coming to the Straz Center: Gaspar — A Pirate Fantasy
Revivals have been all the rage on Broadway for the past few seasons, and Tampa is about to join in on that trend with a revival of its own, a ballet about the larger-than-life pirate, José Gaspar. Originally performed at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on Feb. 5, 1994, Gaspar — A Pirate Fantasy, is a…
Simple ‘throw together’ holiday dessert: Cranberry-lime galette
Wowie, wow, wow, WOW!!! Dorie Greenspan's Cranberry Lime Galette packs a quite a wallop! To be honest, I didn’t expect such a bold, “in your face” punch of flavor when I first baked it – but I got one. This galette is the simplest thing in the world to make, but make no mistake, there’s…
CL Sound Bites: Against Me! ditch label & hit 97X Next Big Thing 10 on Sunday, new Misfits LP, System of a Down reunion + more! (with video)
Since Reinventing Axl Rose Against Me! has delivered increasingly awesome albums amid pointless sellout accusations while hopping to increasingly larger labels, eventually settling with Sire Records for 2007's New Wave and 2010's White Crosses – both albums among the best of their respective year. But despite the commercial and critical success of the former, the latter…
Hillsborough County Commission slams Ronda Storms bill that would eliminate PTC
Hillsborough County Commissioners, following the lead from interim County Attorney Mike Merrill, voted unanimously to oppose a bill being proposed by East Hillsborough GOP state Senator Ronda Storms that would eliminate the county's Public Transportation Commission. The Commission, the only organization of its type in the state, regulates taxis, limousines, ambulances, tow trucks, and other…
Brew Mitzvah: Shmaltz Brewing Co.’s He’Brew Jewbelation beers
When people think of Hanukkah they general think of menorahs, dreidels and latkes, but it is a little more than that. It’s a festival of light celebrating the Jewish culture regaining the holy city of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Holy Temple. Now during this special time of year, the brewers at Shmaltz Brewing…
Turanchik calls for 4 mayoral debates in Tampa – though undoubtedly there’ll be more
Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik today sent a letter to all of his opponents for the March 1 election today, suggesting that they agree to four different debates to be held in late January and early February of 2011. Turanchik is calling for the four different debates to be focused on one particular subject, and…
Hillsborough Commissioners vote to extend 1 year contract to Mike Merrill, but will expand search
After a lengthy discussion this morning, Hillsborough County Commissioners today voted unanimously to offer interim County Administrator Mike Merrill a one-year contract, but will go outside the county and commit to a nationwide search for a permanent successor to Pat Bean, who was fired by the BOCC earlier this year. Boosted by an editorial in…
Suncoast Waldorf School’s eco-friendly Holiday Faire – Saturday, December 4th
Celebrate the season with the Suncoast Waldorf School at their very 'green' holiday festival where their community will join for an enriching holiday experience for young and old alike. The school's classrooms, playgrounds and meadows will be transformed into a magical holiday wonderland. The event will include natural food vendors, children's crafts and activities, caroling,…
Movie & TV links for today, Wed., Dec. 1, 2010: Independent Spirit Award nominees, David Lynch’s plugs in, Happy Birthday Woody Allen and more …
The Independent Spirit award nominations have been announced. Winter's Bone leads the pack with seven. Listen to director David Lynch's foray into electronic music … if you dare.
Spoiler Corner: Glee, Raising Hope, Vampire Diaries and more!
Curious about your favorite shows? Is someone dying? Is your favorite couple getting engaged? Hook-ups? Break-ups? Well, here you will find all the answers to your burning questions! Enjoy television lovers! Glee Well Klaine fans this week (Kurt and Blaine) you are in luck, Kurt is really transferring schools and he wastes no time joining…
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Eux Autres
The native Omaha, current San Franciscan trio Eux Autres (pronounced: ooz-oh-tra) channel “sixties French pop and with a unique sensibility”. The band’s name translates to “them others” and is made up of siblings Nicholas (guitar and vocals) and Heather Larimer (vocals), and Yoshi Nakamoto on drums. “Eux Autres write compact songs with sparse instrumentation and…
Tonight’s Top Chef All-Stars preview: Redemption for 18 former chef’testants (videos)
It's here! The day we Top Chef fans have been waiting for all year: the premiere of season 8, Top Chef All-Stars! I don't know about you guys, but I've got a culinary boner — BIG TIME. I was a bit scared at first that Bravo would be pulling a TC Masters on us and…
Jeb Bush sounding tougher on illegal immigration, Florida GOP contemplating straw poll to be relevant in 2012 presidential nomination race, and Hillsborough County Planning Commission chair accused of violating code of ethics law :Mitch Perry Report: 12.
Good morning everyone. First up, CL editor David Warner weighs in on a survey of those in the military asked about the don't ask, don't tell law. Most don't give a hoot. Former governor Jeb Bush is hosting an education summit this week in the nation's capital, and thus he's being asked his opinions on…
Think, buy, be local: It’s sustainable! Participate in SIBA’s Buy Local Week
The push for creating local, more sustainable economies just keeps on growing nationally and in the Tampa Bay area. The Sustainable Interconnected Business Alliance (SIBA) joined with the Pinellas County Commission in recognizing National Buy Local Week 2010. The County Commission, led by Chair Karen Seel, proclaimed November 29th through December 6th Buy Local Week in…
Will Florida GOP fight for straw poll to be relevant in who their presidential nominee is?
William March in today's Tampa Tribune reports that Republican Party of Florida may attempt to revive what has in the past been a significant event in electing their nominee for president – by hosting a straw poll in the fall of 2011. March's excellent report looks back historically at how previous straw polls in 1988,…
World AIDS Day: Fundraisers, testing and more this month
In commemoration of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, local AIDS organizations are holding a variety of events to raise funds for prevention and treatment, and to extend opportunities for HIV testing. Here's a quick rundown: • World AIDS Day HIV Testing Events. For a comprehensive list of testing events and other World AIDS Day commemorations…
Always a moderating voice on the right regarding immigration, Jeb Bush now calls for “border security” first
Though he's been out of office for four years now, Jeb Bush still has major influence within the Republican Party, not just in Florida, but nationally. The former governor was quoted all over the place on Tuesday, at the start of his two-day third annual education conference organized in Washington D.C. Among the questions posed…
The Defense Department’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Survey: The report and the reactions
The results are in: According to the Department of Defense survey of nearly 400,000 active and reserve servicemen and women re the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the majority essentially feel this way: I could care less whether the guy or gal serving next to me is gay or lesbian. This startling (not) news…
Do It Today: Hanukkah, World AIDS Day … and The Air Guitar Contest at Cappy’s
Sunset marks the beginning of Hanukkah. Check with your local temple for times and events commemorating the beginning of the holiday. Chabad Jewish Center of West Pasco celebrates the Festival of Lights with a public Menorah kindling ceremony. Honorary guests include Fire Rescue Chief Duncan Hitchcock and State Sen. Mike Fasano. The celebration highlights the…
Bolts’ Gagne returns, scores OT winner in Toronto
The Tampa Bay Lightning went into Toronto hoping to snap a two-game losing streak. They also hoped they would get to witness the return of star forward Simon Gagne. One ended up contributing to the other, as the Lightning rallied to beat the Maple Leafs in overtime, 4-3, courtesy of Gagne's game-winner. The Maple Leafs…
A Q&A with Margaret Cho
As a 41-year-old counter-culture-type person, I feel like I've grown up with the charmingly brash and fearlessly in-your-face comedienne Margaret Cho. Cho, born Dec. 5, 1968, just five months ahead of me, was an icon for mainstream exiles in the '90s. We watched her stand-up specials on cable and even tuned into her infamously failed…
Hillsborough county environmentalist files ethics complaint against new chairman of Hillsborough Planning Commission
Hillsborough County environmentalist Dee Layne announced on Tuesday that she has filed a complaint against Edward Giunta, II, the new chairman of the Hillsborough-County City-County Planning Commission, for violations of the Code of Ethics and Planning Commission By-Laws. Giunta has spurred opposition after an e-mail he sent to Bob Hunter, the executive director of the…
Prohibition Repeal Day party with the Tampa US Bartenders’ Guild – Sunday, December 5th
Come join in on the charter event for Tampa’s United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) team and party like it's 1933! They're celebrating the 77th anniversary of the end of Prohibition in the U.S. and paying homage to the great pre-Prohibition cocktails with a 1920s themed Repeal Party. Enjoy cocktails prepared by the USBG team and…
Tampa Bay hip hop duo Blac Soap releases a safe sex video in honor of World Aids Day (video included)
After some quiet time writing and recording new material, Tampa hip hop duo Blac Soap [pictured right] returns to public consciousness as they prep a new album, Thug Hippy Thriller, which is due out early next year. The duo — made up of emcees/vocalists Seif and Fly Beads — has dropped a new music video…
Organic, recycled and energy-saving gift ideas for green holiday gift giving
When you hear the phrase “green Christmas” you might think that it means being in a location that never receives snow fall, but what it actually means is a holiday season full of eco-friendly activities and gifts. Do you ever feel like you are looking for something different for holiday gifts and want to be…
Nelson vote against earmarks just a hint of the shape of things to come
In the wake of the November midterm elections, President Obama attempted to show that he got the message regarding reducing federal spending by announcing his pay freeze on all federal employees on Monday. In his morning after news conference from the election, in which he acknowledged his "shellacking," Obama mentioned a few other items in…
November’s Epic Fails: They call the season “fall” for a reason
I saw this on Huff Post and had to click, seeing as I'm a sucker for lowest-common-denominator, Jackass-style videos. Enjoy …
CL Holiday Auction Item #56: Datz’s Gourmet Bacon Dinner for 8
Everything is better with bacon, right? What about a meal that's based entirely on bacon? Get this five-course gourmet dinner featuring, you guessed it, bacon prepared for you and seven friends at Datz's Chef's Table, right before your eyes. Starting with bacon-wrapped dates and ending with a candied bacon plate, this will surely be a…
Movie & TV Links for today, Tues., Nov. 30, 2010: Black Swan, Winter’s Bone, in defense of WikiLeaks, Terrence Malick and more …
Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone was this big winner at this year's Gotham Independent Film Awards, beating out more buzzed about fare like Tiny Furniture, Black Swan and Blue Valentine — all of which went home empty handed. This week's IFC Podcast: "Black Swan" and the Life of Ballet Dancers On Film. Wired takes a look…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Bucs lose to winners, coach Morris’ polished turd and God hates the Bills
During my first year in college, I took Fundamental Math because it was an easy A (folks nicknamed it Fun-for-mentals Math) and with a schedule of Eco-1, Pre-Cal and an Accounting class at 7:25 in the f***ing morning, my GPA could use all the help it could get, given the brain cells I was murdering weekly with Bud.…
Greco love-in as the septuagenarian takes on another campaign, hurricane predictions horribly adrift and a White House chat with GOP leaders: Mitch Perry Report 11.30.10
Dick Greco made it official last night — that he's in it to win it, declaring in a 15-minute speech that he has what his various opponents lack (experience) and denouncing the idea of criticizing "career politicians." The touchy-feely aspect of his character, so lovingly depicted by various reporters who have been in this town…
Rowan Somerville honored with Bad Sex in Fiction Award
How can you expect a fiction writer to be adept at describing sex when he spends most of his time alone with his computer fighting the urge to view online porn? The problem with writing about sex is that it's difficult to find inventive ways to describe this basic human experience, the mere mention of…
Will there be any surprises as Congressional Republicans sit down with President Obama?
This morning at 10:30 a.m., a group of Republicans – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker-Elect John Boehner, and Minority Whip Jon Kyle are scheduled to finally have their sit down with President Obama that had originally been scheduled 12 days earlier, but was called off for some reason by those same Republicans (they'll be…
All I want for Christmas is two bottles of Tempranillo (from Bodegas Montecillo)
Remember that old Christmas song usually sung by a freckle-faced little boy? “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. Gosh, oh gee, how happy I'd be if I could only whistle.” Now you are all grown up and your two front teeth finally came in (hopefully long ago) and your Christmas desire…
The first sporty hybrid of its kind: The 2011 Honda CR-Z
The 2011 Honda CR-Z is a cross between a hybrid and a sports car. Although the mix might be considered oxymoronic— for hybrids usually center on fuel economy and sports cars usually center on engine muscle—Honda provides drivers a way to be fuel conscious while still having a fun ride. Up until recently, hybrids like…
New music releases out this Tuesday, November 30: Black Eyed Peas, King Cannibal, Mice Parade, Chrisette Michele, Gasoline Rainbows compilation, and more (with video!)
The new music continues into the holiday season, with some big name artists squeezing their release dates into those dwindling weeks before Christmas. Here’s a breakdown of the ones you want to know about; to see releases that came out last week (November 22-23), click here; and for albums out Nov. 16 and 9, click…
Hurricane forecasters as bad as political pundits on some predictions
Tuesday is November 30, which in addition to being 25 days before Christmas, also is the official end to the 2010 Hurricane season. Thankfully for all of us on the Gulf Coast, there weren't any major storms to get excited about. That wasn't the case worldwide, as tropical storms and hurricanes killed more than 250…
The Libertine’s Guide to Gallantry: The Rogue’s Handbook
To quote Winston Churchill, "A joke is a very serious thing." Where the uninspired see The Rogue’s Handbook as simply a humorous novelty book that would make a great stocking stuffer, I see a basic analysis of character traits that will make you more successful with women. While The Rogue's Handbook may have been published…
Do It Today: Centre Gallery’s Vous Etes Ici and UT’s Opus Live!
French for “You Are Here,” Vous Etes Ici is USF Centre Gallery's multimedia souvenir of the school's Summer Paris Program. The students who participated in the 2010 study-abroad excursion have created a variety of media, drawing on insights gained while exploring and experiencing another culture. If you can't visit during the day today, plan to attend…
Bonnie & Clyde, a new Frank Wildhorn musical premiering at Sarasota’s Asolo Rep, is a complex success
The Straz Center’s Wonderland isn’t the only musical in our region that’s headed for Broadway. At Sarasota’s Asolo Rep, Bonnie & Clyde has recently opened, and the plan is to take it to the Apple as soon as possible. What audiences there will find, if it does make the transit, is a complex but ultimately…
Before an adoring crowd of hundreds, 77-year-old Dick Greco says he’s the best man to become Tampa’s next mayor — again
There are several talented candidates running for mayor of Tampa next March, but it's unlikely that any of them could pull off the grand entrance to the race that Dick Greco did on Monday night. That there were hundreds of people in attendance was obvious soon after entering the lobby of the InterContinental hotel at…
CL Holiday Auction Item #045: Family 4-pack, Christmas home tour at Bok Tower Gardens
Four tickets (plus lunch) at the Lake Wales National Historical Landmark whose gardens (designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.) have been acclaimed as among the most beautiful in the country. Another attraction is the 205-foor Singing Tower, the site of popular daily carillon concerts. Plus, the winner of this item receives four tickets…
Dining out on Turkey Day: Thanksgiving at The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor
Thanksgiving is normally a routine in my family. We pick a household and the whole family heads there for a night of cooking, dancing, and loud neighborhood block parties. However, this Thanksgiving my family split ways and my direct family decided we would dine out on Thanksgiving for the first time in my life. We…
Tampa Heights neighborhood association to break ground on renovating historic church for community and youth center
This weekend the Tampa Heights Civic Association will begin officially work on renovating a historic church located at Lamar and Palm Avenue that will be ultimately be transitioned into a community and youth development center. That church has been vacant for the past four years and was purchased by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),…
Get your dreidels in a whirl at two fun Hanukkah events
Happy Hanukkah! Sunset Wednesday, Dec. 1, begins the eight days and nights of Hanukkah – named after the Hebrew word for “dedication.” Pasadena’s Temple Beth-El celebrates the fourth day of Hanukkah on Saturday, Dec. 4, with 101 Menorahs a casual, festive observance that includes the entertainment of Rabbi Torop and the Jammin’ Jews, traditional treats like…
EarthTalk: Greener electronics
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: Where can I find information on which electronics and their manufacturers are greener than others, with regard to components, manufacturing processes and end…
Movie & TV links for today, Mon., Nov. 29, 2010: R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen and Irvin Kershner, the best films of 2010, Nic Cage loses his shit and more …
R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen (1926-2010) Here are some tributes by Roger Ebert, Glenn Kenny and Mubi, and the funniest moments from the Naked Gun films: Irvin Kershner, director of the best Star Wars film, is dead. He was 87 years old.
For Dick Greco the future is about the past
Win or lose he’ll always be “the mayor” By Chris Ingram (Author’s note: the following feature article is based on a series of interviews I had with Greco over the last few months. Greco was informed our talks would be for publication and I also disclosed to him before we began that I had made…
#MusicMonday, Volume 21: Pete Sinjin, 50 Cent, Lower Dens, Neko Case, and more! (with video)
What the Creative Loafing music team is jamming to break through the Monday malaise and rocket launch the work week… Click here to check out previous entries. – Pete Sinjin, Better Angels Radio (2010) The Brooklyn, NY-based singer-songwriter delivers a knockout punch of Americana/folk in the style and spirit of Woody Guthrie and Steve Earle.…
“All Commercial Non-commercial Radio” with Flee on WMNF’s Sonic Detour today + some CL favorite songs in commercials (with video!)
If you're like me, you've gotten into the habit of DVR/TIVO-ing everything you really like so you can skip through all those dratted commercials and get to the meat of your media consumption. Of course, you can never entirely get away from commercials, especially if you tend to watch television in real time. Luckily, ad…
CL Holiday Auction Item #55: Party for 30 at Taqueria Monterrey
Throw a Mexican fiesta for 29 of your closest friends at Taqueria Monterrey, the younger, more upscale sister restaurant of the legendary Taco Bus. Chef and owner Rene Valenzuela will be taking care of all the food and non-alcoholic beverages while you get to sit back, relax and totally impress your friends with this sweet…
TED for teens: Highlights from the TEDx Youth Tampa Bay event (videos)
I had the awesome opportunity of a lifetime to do a TEDx Youth Tampa Bay talk at the New Port Richey on November 20th (video below). TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark…
Swinger facts you didn’t know, but should
I had a great time this weekend at another swinger party. Since I was not the hostess and wasn't attempting to network with anyone, I had the opportunity to just blend into the crowd (my next event is Dec. 17th). And even though I was only wearing my swinger hat, and not my Rebecca Ammon – sex…
A couple of Tampa mayoral candidates sound off on Dick Greco, Adam Putnam’s Food Safety bill to be voted on in Senate, and will GOP thwart START? Mitch Perry Report 11.29.10
Happy post-Thanksgiving holiday weekend to you all. Hope it was positive for all of you out there on this Cyber Monday (in which people have money apparently to buy lots of stuff during the recession, but still aren't ready to spend money on the Tampa Bay Bucs). The big news locally is the anticipation that…
“Spider-Man” debut dubbed “epic flop” by one NYC tabloid (video)
Being huge fans of U2, we've been closely following the drama in New York City evolving around one of the most anticipated (and certainly most expensive) Broadway shows ever mounted on the Great White Way, that being the Julie Taymor directed Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, which finally had its first run through before a…
AltDotPop: Miley turns 18, Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal caught in the act, is Jessica Simpson pregnant? and more…
Thanksgiving happened, but more importantly, Miley Cyrus turned 18. She's legal, and if this outfit she is rocking is any indication, she is also starring in the reboot of the cinematic classic, Coyote Ugly. Remember when you didn't have an opinion on David Arquette? He was just Officer Dewey from the Scream series and he…
CL Holiday Auction: How to give and receive on Cyber Monday
There are deals galore in cyberspace on this day of all online-shopping days. But where can you get the reward of helping others at the same time you're helping yourself? The Creative Loafing Online Holiday Auction, where your winning bid helps The Children's Home sustain its programs to assure the safety and happiness of abused…
Ideas for using leftover Thanksgiving turkey
As I sit here reeling from the debauchery that was Thanksgiving dinner, I am wondering if "tryptophan" (the chemical that is supposedly in turkey which causes that sleepy feeling) even exists. I doubt any scientist can provide a vial of tryptophan, much less even sketch its chemical make up. Okay, I am off topic already.…
Senate to vote on food safety bill that Adam Putnam championed in the House
As Congress returns back to work in Washington for a few more weeks of their lame-duck session of Congress (and by the way, why is it so controversial that they actually do so? We thought that representatives were elected for two years – not a year and ten months), among the bills that the Senate…
CL Feature: Legendary DIY indie group Superchunk, which plays SPOT’s Tampa Am 18-Year Anniversary Party at Czar on Saturday
When Chapel Hill, N.C. legends Superchunk disappeared into a semi-hiatus not too long after the promotional cycle for their 2001 album, Here's to Shutting Up, few could argue that they'd earned it; over the course of more than a decade and eight-odd full-lengths, the group had traveled the world countless times, built their own label…
Republicans smell another Obama defeat with START treaty
As Congress returns back from its Thanksgiving break to go into the a lame-duck session of Congress that could go as long as three weeks (or considerably shorter), there are a number of items that Congressional Democrats would like to vote on before they break for Christmas, including the DREAM Act, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, …
Do it Today: Love! Valour! Compassion! and Dennis Lehane
One! Night! Only! Commemorate World AIDS Day (actually, Dec. 1) with a staged reading of Love! Valour! Compassion!, presented by the Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project. Terrence McNally’s 1995 Tony Award-winner is a humorous, heart-tugging ensemble piece that centers on eight gay men who hash out their passions, resentments and fears during a farmhouse summer vacation.…
Buckhorn & Turanchik speak boldly on eve of Greco announcment in Tampa Mayor race
Quoting friends and supporters, the Tampa Tribune's Christian Wade reported Saturday morning that former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco will do it again – that is, for the 3rd time in what will be 6 decades – he'll run for mayor of Tampa, with an announcement to be scheduled on Monday night officially declaring his candidacy. …
Lightning fall to Panthers in shootout
The Tampa Bay Lightning were hoping for a bounce-back effort against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night at the St. Pete Times Forum. While they did get a much better effort, the Panthers ended up winning the game 4-3 in a shootout. The Bolts opened the scoring at the 10:21 mark of the first period…
Concert review: Lyle Lovett and His Big Band at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg (with photos)
It’s been a few years since I’ve attended a religious service. That all changed last Sunday night at Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, where, for the better part of two hours, me and the rest of the fans who'd gathered to see Lyle Lovett became part of his congregation. Ask a casual fan to describe…
Skate Park of Tampa (SPoT) and Red Bull team up with award-winning artist for mural
Red Bull is sponsoring nationally recognized and world record holding artist Tracy Lee Stum to create a 3D mural on the floor of Skate Park of Tampa for the parks upcoming 17th Annual Tampa Am competition. The mural, approximately 25 to 30 ft in diameter, features 2 angry looking bulls (yes- they are red) breaking through…
Lightning crashes in 6-0 loss to Capitals
The Tampa Bay Lightning fell in a devastating loss 6-0 to the Washington Capitals Friday evening, putting an emphatic end to the team's five-game win streak. The Capitals came out strong in the first period, opening the scoring in the first three minutes when John Carlson’s shot rocketed off the top of the right circle…
Shop local on Small Business Saturday, be eco-conscious on Green Gift Monday
Obviously, we all know about Black Friday where people go shopping at the 'big box' stores even before the crack of dawn. Then there's Cyber Monday, which was started five years ago, that takes place the Monday after Thanksgiving where online retailers slash prices and dish out deals in order to entice shoppers. This year,…
What to give your favorite foodies and kitchen dwellers this holiday season
Whoever you are, wherever you are, you probably have a foodie or two in your life. (If you don't, please read this article and send some loot to me.) I've heard many non-kitchen dwelling people say that it's difficult to buy presents for cooks, so I'm here to help. I came up with a few…
Cynical and southern: Collecting owls helped me get my life back together
In late 2004, after a short West Coast tour promoting my album The Orange Songs, I returned to Florida and decided to make some changes in my life. Part of this restructuring included the challenge of removing the Internet from my apartment for a year. The allure of gay chat sites and online interaction can…
CL Holiday Auction Item #035: Music lessons at Atomic Audio
Atomic Audio, the sonic headquarters of popular local bands Sleepy Vikings and Light Yourself on Fire, opened its 4,100-square-foot recording studio and learning center in East Tampa this year. Owner, engineer and instructor Mark Nicolich (pictured right) is one of the area's most respected and referred sound gurus. Check out Nicolich's new digs and find…
CL Holiday Auction Item #037: Wonderland fan package
Wonderland: A New Alice, the Straz Center's spectacular musical adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is headed to Broadway — and you can be there, too. With this package you'll get two tickets, plus a meet-and-greet with the cast, during the show's pre-NYC run at the Straz in January, and two tickets to a preview…
Shop from home, find amazing bargains at the CL Holiday Auction
Why get stuck in mall traffic? Settle down and do your gift shopping with the CL Online Holiday Auction. It's fun, it's easy, and you'll be raising money for The Children's Home. Plus, right now, there are still plenty of high-value items with low bids — so bargains await! Just for instance, check out the…
CL Holiday Auction Item #71: Coffee Roaster for a Day at Buddy Brew and a Pound of Coffee Every Month for a Year
Learn the art of artisan coffee roasting from Buddy Brew Coffee's master roaster Dave Ward. In addition to this hands-on experience (including immersion in the divine smell of roasting coffee beans), you will get a pound of coffee a month for all of 2011, including some from the batch you helped roast. Value: $145 (plus…
EarthTalk: Why not a national recycling law?
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: Given the environmental and economic benefits, why doesn’t the U.S. have a federal law mandating recycling nationwide? —N. Koslowsky, Pompano Beach, FL The…
Datz what it is: At a Tampa deli-turned-gastropub, the sandwiches are still sublime
3 1/2 stars 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa 813-831-7000 or datzdeli.com When Datz Deli first opened in January of 2009, it had some problems. The new spot was owners Roger and Suzanne Perry's first foray into the restaurant/gourmet market world and they admit they made some mistakes. One week in, the deli dropped the counter…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Fresh markets galore and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Fridays: 8 am-1 pm, Saturdays: 9 am-2 pm (through April). Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green…
As American as Thanksgiving (no matter what’s on the table)
The other day I ran across a short story recalling of the author’s idyllic Thanksgivings on the Minnesota Plains. His descriptions sounded amazing: family gathered around the table, mom bringing in the trays of food, dad carving the turkey and grandma always at the ready to help the little ones with their needs. If there was…
Datz what it is: At a Tampa deli-turned-gastropub, the sandwiches are still sublime
When Datz Deli first opened in January of 2009, it had some problems. The new spot was owners Roger and Suzanne Perry's first foray into the restaurant/gourmet market world and they admit they made some mistakes. One week in, the deli dropped the counter service and became a regular restaurant — a regular restaurant that…
Dennis Lehane belongs to us
Dennis Lehane belongs to us If by "us" you mean fans of great fiction — although Floridians can lay a particular claim. It might turn into a literary turf war. There's no denying that Dennis Lehane has emerged as one of America's greatest novelists during the last decade and a half. His books have touched…
Fighting the holiday spirit: Christmas Stopping is a mild season antidote
James Rayfield is one of the most respected theater professionals in the Tampa Bay area. As an acting teacher for many years at the Blake High School of the Performing Arts, he educated and inspired some of the best performers still in the region and others who have moved on to bigger cities for bigger…
James Franco acts his way out from under a boulder in 127 Hours
Danny Boyle's 127 Hours vividly brings to life the much-publicized true story of Aron Ralston, a hiker who in 2003 cut off his own arm after getting it trapped under a boulder while canyoneering in an isolated part of Utah. James Franco plays Ralston as a rad bro with a positive attitude and a love…
Too fine to be mine: How can I get that cute guy at the gym to notice me?
I'm a 23-year-old female college student whose life consists of going to class and going to the gym. I got hurt in my last relationship, so I've been staying away from dating for a while. I'm attractive and I notice guys checking me out — making the gym a second home does have benefits! —…
Trouble brewing: The fight over Joey Redner’s Cigar City tasting room pits neighbors against beer-o-philes
The national craft beer intelligentsia has fallen hard for Cigar City Brewing. This summer Entrepreneur magazine named the brewery the #1 hottest startup in the U.S., and its home off Spruce Street near Dale Mabry is becoming a new destination point for Tampa, as essential a stop for some out-of-towners as Bern's or Busch Gardens.…
Lightning extend winning streak, defeat Rangers 5-3
Apparently Wednesday nights are the Tampa Bay Lightning's favorite night of the week. Entering play this week, the Lightning had not suffered a regulation loss on that particular day, a trend that continued with a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Lightning jumped out to a huge…
Peter Meinke’s Poet’s Notebook, Thanksgiving edition
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run . . . Our children, with whom this year we can only gather post-Thanksgiving, are scattered all over the world, but we’ve been pleased to learn…
Do It This Holiday Weekend: Give thanks for Aasif Mandvi at Tampa Theatre, holiday lights, Palm Harbor House of Beer and much more
The handsome and cheeky Aasif Mandvi is one of the funniest guys on TV, known primarily for his stint on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he provides acerbic chestnuts as the Senior Asia Correspondent and Senior Middle East Correspondent. About Israel, Mandvi said, “I think what we’re seeing here in the Gaza Strip…
WMNF program changes leave staff feeling uneasy and doubtful
Temperatures rose last night as members of the WMNF 88.5 community huddled in the bright teal room. With splashes of concern, worry and disappointment on their faces, they took their places, anxiously awaiting the start of what was obviously not going to be a comfortable discussion. With the economy in turmoil and people continuing to…
Movie Review: Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours, starring James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn and Treat Williams (with video)
Danny Boyle's 127 Hours vividly brings to life the much-publicized true story of Aron Ralston, a hiker who in 2003 cut off his own arm after getting it trapped under a boulder while canyoneering in an isolated part of Utah. James Franco plays Ralston as a rad bro with a positive attitude and a love…
Tampa City Council candidate Kelly Benjamin off to Mexico to cover Climate Change Summit
Tampa City Council candidate in District 6, Kelly Benjamin, hosted a campaign fundraiser for himself Sunday night at the Refinery in the city's Seminole Heights District, and reports the event brought in more than 100 supporters and over $2,500 to his campaign coffers. Benjamin will be stepping off the campaign trail for 10 days beginning…
The Green Community week in review: Edible gardens in schools, Clean Energy Victory Bonds, CFL guide and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week: EarthTalk: Restaurants don't have to let unused food go to waste – Diverting food waste to feed hungry people or for animal feed or compost is a winning scenario for all concerned parties as it…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Everglades eco tour, organic ice cream workshop, markets and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Everglades Eco Tour- Friday-Sunday, November 19-21. Join Sensing Nature for a three-day eco-tour of the Florida Everglades. Arrive in Everglades City on Friday afternoon and get a feel for this historic city during our brief visit to historic…
Tonight’s Top Chef Just Desserts preview: The finale! (plus photo caption contest)
It's the episode we've all been waiting for these past ten weeks: the Top Chef: Just Desserts finale! In the first preview video (below), it's the morning of the final challenge and the remaining chefs are reflecting on the past few weeks and the big challenge ahead of them. Morgan is still bitching about Zac…
