Anatomy of a clone trooper
What makes a middle-aged man dress in full Star Wars regalia?
On the heels of World AIDS Day, Hillsborough to offer free HIV testing Friday
World AIDS Day observances invariably include HIV/AIDS testing, which was the case in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, when the Florida Department of Health offered services in Williams Park. The initiative continues on Friday, Dec. 4, on the other side of the bay: the Hillsborough County Health Department will offer testing most of the day. And that's…
Movie Review: Room is riveting
The profound connection between a mother and son is at the heart of a suspenseful, intimate film.
Sh*t happened 12/3/15: Yesterday wasn’t funny
We tried; we really did. We futzed about with some jokes about Hillary Clinton being in town, and messed around with something on the subject of that pig getting back home, but our hearts just weren't in it. The truth is, in the wake of yesterday's news about the shootings in San Bernardino and Savannah,…
Last Christmas: A Gulfport couple navigates a path between celebration and mourning
Judy and Mike Baggs can’t agree where to host the party. Judy thinks the house will work best, because they have a huge yard, plus they’ve never had a housewarming. Mike argues it’d be less stressful to hold it at the Gulfport Casino. The topic keeps coming up, fading behind other things, then moving to…
Living history: Education fosters preservation in St. Petersburg, but vigilance is all
With a positive vote from St. Pete City Council on November 23, local preservationists moved ahead in their efforts to protect a historic home in Allendale. But this victory was hard-won, and the education of the developer who finally supported the designation was the tipping point. Why, oh why, is it so challenging to protect…
The view from the bar: Charlie Doan’s Little Bar Stories
The veteran Ybor bartender and artist’s show opens this weekend at Silver Meteor Gallery.
Theater review: The 39 Steps isn’t without its Hitches
As funny as these exercises in excess may be at first, we soon have enough of them.
Five Courses: Riverview’s ‘cue to believe in & more
Bay area food and drink happenings, featuring Trust Me BBQ, Cafe Masala and others.
Do This: Food + Art: A Tasteful Event
A quartet of locals plans to show off their Food + Art cookbook recipes at The Studio@620.
Game of Drones: 12/03/15
With the holidays now upon us, one would think there would be some kind of slowdown in the insanity of our political realms. No dice. Gov. Rick Scott In late November, the governor released a budget proposal so foul it raised hackles all along the political spectrum. Salaries for state employees who fight forest fires…
On U.S. House floor, David Jolly offers touching tribute to late chef Tom Pritchard
Last week, we lost renowned chef Tom Pritchard, who is perhaps known best as one of the area's culinary trailblazers through his work at Salt Rock Grill. On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, Congressman David Jolly (R—Indian Shores) offered kind words to honor his memory, calling Pritchard a "dear friend" and a…
7 name suggestions for the Pier now that “Pier Park” is a no-go
We've all heard by now that the design concept slated for the St. Pete Pier in 2018 has had to drop the moniker "Pier Park" because apparently it's not the most original name for a development (No!) and some mixed-use deal in the Panhandle already has that name. As the story has made its rounds…
Florida Supremes sign off on congressional districts
The News Service of Florida is reporting that the Florida Supreme Court has officially given the nod to a congressional map that, among other things, puts most of Pinellas County in one district. The decision comes after months — nah, years — of controversy over the manner in which the state's congressional districts ought to…
The Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival: Focused on the fringe
Tampa’s newest cinema soiree packs this weekend with an ambitious sophomore effort.
Way Back Wednesday: Naughty By Nature
A weekly video spotlight on artists who came up pre-’00s, lots of videos included
Do This: Curiosity at St Pete’s Museum of Fine Arts
Catch the official opening of Curiosity at the Museum of Fine Arts in downtown St. Pete.
Welcome home: Second Craft Street Kitchen opens to Oldsmar
The Trinity-based Craft Street Kitchen invades Oldsmar with a larger gastropub and more beer.
Restaurant review: Pericos à la Cancún
Pericos Mexican restaurant in St. Petersburg serves up some hits, and misses.
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival lineup catches fire with the addition of Robert Plant, Ween, others
More than 80 bands converge on South Florida in March and the lineup additions continue to impress
Hillsborough Commission: Mike Merrill doin’ just fine
It's hard to believe that the Hillsborough County Commission is the same governing body that, five years ago, seemed to always be in a ruckus. There were the very public scandals of former commissioners Kevin White (the Pimpin' Commish) and "Lightnin'" Jim Norman, and then there was that Pat Bean/Renee Lee thing that happened. Things…
LGBT discrimination ban charter amendment fails to pass review board in Hillsborough
The Hillsborough County charter review board decided not to press forward on an amendment that would place LGBT protections in the county charter, voting 11-1 against a 2016 ballot initiative on Tuesday night. The decision came after a public forum that had almost thirty speakers, including both religious conservatives and members of the LGBT community,…
Sh*t happened 12/2/15: Bubba back in trouble, evil dillhole steals from kids, Zuckerberg gives
Welcome to Wednesday, the temporal equivalent of a frozen family dinner for four whose packaging literally says stuff like "Eats, Kind Of!" and "Goes in your stomach with a minimum of fuss" and "Flavor: Meh." Media ratings company Nielsen expanded on its lawsuit and allegations of data manipulation and tampering against Bubba The Love Sponge…
On the Sauce: Repeal Day Old Fashioned
Celebrate your drinking freedom with moonshine in this take on an Old-Fashioned.
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
John Morgan, Theo Von and others in town this week are even better than leftover turkey sandwiches.
A holiday cooking class guide for both sides of the bay
Several cooking events to keep your holiday dishes and more incr-edible this season.
Do This: Carousel No. 5
The unique photography exhibition returns to St. Pete’s Green Bench Brewing Wednesday night.
Later, Volstead: Tampa Bay’s Repeal Day celebration returns
USBG Tampa Bay’s week of cocktail-driven festivities are helping locals cheers to Repeal Day.
Photo review: A look back at the third annual Don’t Stop St. Petersburg festival
A look back in photos at the Sat., Nov. 28 music fest.
Dispatches from Paris: the stakes are high as climate talks open
Imagine a world where the dominant species excretes a noxious substance so damaging to their fragile ecosystem that it will make large parts of their planet totally uninhabitable over just a few generations. Now imagine that the leaders of this species get together every time the planet revolves around its star to discuss how to…
#GivingTuesday: Bid today in CL’s Holiday Auction
It is, of course, more blessed to give than to receive. But what if you could do both at once? Today is #GivingTuesday — the national fundraising initiative that encourages people to give back to their favorite non-profits. That makes it the perfect day to bid on items in Creative Loafing's Holiday Auction for the…
Tonight in live music: Mac Miller, Kenny G, Celtic Christmas
Three shows happening this Tue., Dec. 1.
Sh*t happened 12/1/15: Largo election scandal, Clearwater pig on the loose, hurricane season ends
Happy first of December, otherwise known as "Nature Knows Hurricane Season is Over, Right?" Day. Because if history has taught us anything, an's control over the natural world is absolute. A Largo City Commission candidate was charged with extortion after his opponent received an email threatening that damning information would be released if the opponent…
As seen on TV, local artist Jason Hulfish
He’s going to be featured on web-based reality series but has a bigger reason for his Kickstarter Project.
Fight hunger, eat ice cream this weekend in St. Pete
On Saturday, Two Hangry Chicks and iChills will dish free sweets to those who donate canned food.
Weekly Tune-Up: Tunes for your week by Wild Nothing, Dr. Dog, Merchandise & more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the week. Spotify playlist included.
Eddie Izzard uses the Force tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall
The famed British comic talks about foreign language immersion and his knack for suppressing humiliation.
Sh*t happened 11/30/15: Man, it’s been, like, five days
Darby watched, revolted, as McLaren plunged his arms elbow-deep into the waist-high pile of dung. "We've gotta mix this with the table leavings and wet cardboard, get a real good compost going," McLaren said. "Lemme ask you," said Darby, "is there such a thing as good shit and bad shit?" McLaren smiled. "Of course. But…
One Holiday Late for Columbus Day Angst
Nothing says "give thanks" like fake blood on a Christopher Columbus statue. Around 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, photos of a "bloody" Christopher Columbus statute by Fresco's Waterfront Bistro in downtown St. Petersburg started making the rounds on social media. The Knights of Columbus Council, a Catholic charity, erected the statue there in May of…
Photos: Trump rally draws thousands, including protesters
Making his third Florida appearance since announcing his presidential run in June, 2016 Republican frontrunner Donald Trump filled Sarasota's 4,000-plus seat Robarts Arena as hundreds more spilled into a makeshift outdoor venue. Arriving 20 minutes past noon — when he was supposed to show up, Trump emerged from his private helicopter, which had circled twice…
This Sunday in live music: Billy Gibbons, Ky-Mani Marley, Holey Miss Moley + more
A look at some concerts happening this Sun., Nov. 29.
CL’s annual Holiday Auction: Repeal Day package, craft beer & more
Less than 24 hours remain in our first week of incredible auction items.
This Saturday in live music: Brother Cephus Album Release Party, Dash Rip Rock, Cedric Gervais + more
A look at some concerts happening this Sat., Nov. 28.
Tonight in live music: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Mayhem and Watain + more
A look at some shows happening this Fri., Nov. 27.
Boobs: Get over the girls
Boobies, cans, jugs, knockers, tits, bazongas. Call ‘em what you want, but more and more women are harnessing the power of their breasts by, of all things, flaunting them publicly. For the last couple of years, in places like New York, Washington D.C., Ontario and Scotland, women have been banding together in topless protests, saying…
Tangible treasures unfold at The Paper Seahorse
This Tampa space carries the torch for handwritten artistry.
Album review: Jonathan Powell & Nu Sangha, Beacons of Light
The St. Pete native trumpeter — whose group includes sax playing bro Jeremy — presents a brand new post-bop outing.
Microgroove celebrates four years of fine indie music retail this weekend.
The Seminole Heights record shop throws a day-long anniversary party Sun., Nov. 29.
Tonight’s live music offerings plus a peek at the holiday weekend ahead, from Figure to Billy Gibbons + more
Lots happening Wed., Nov. 25-Sun., Nov. 29; full breakdown here.
Don’t Stop St. Petersburg: A stage-by-stage guide to the third annual music fest
More than 40 bands are spread over four stages in the Grand Central District this Saturday.
Crowbar celebrates nine years this Saturday with a free show
Dirty Bourbon River Show leads the anniversary lineup.
