Top 30 Songs of 2007
Here’s my highly subjective list of the best songs issued in the past 12 months (which means its OK to include a Tom Waits track released last December.) Enjoy — I’ve put links wherever possible — and feel free to post comments telling me what I missed or how I’m a sap for honoring country…
Michael Ruhlman Continues To Be Awesome
He's written some of the most evocative books about chefs around (Reach, Making, and Soul Of A Chef), devoted an entire glorious cookbook to Charcuterie, and allows Anthony Bourdain to post on his blog. Yeah, he's pretty cool. As a companion to his new book — Elements Of Cooking — Ruhlman has added another blog…
Soko haunting home video
I just can’t stop raving about this unsigned French pop duo singer that moves and fascinates me like few other vocalists. Exquisitely stark, this home movie shows the mysterious Soko singing the devastating breakup/murder ballad “I’ll Kill Her.†Dressed in a white sweater and black dress, she stares plaintively into a large mirror, the setting…
Led Zeppelin to play Bonnaroo (or not!!!!!!)
UPDATE 12/4/2007: What the fuck? Billboard.com reports on the band's first U.S. performance since 1977. Here's my Led Zeppelin Ultimate Set List. And while we "get the Led out," here' a rough draft of my Zep CD review: The Soundtrack From the Film The Song Remains the Same (Remastered/Expanded) LED ZEPPELIN Rhino The original Led…
Top 10: City Songs
I got the idea for this tally when CL Political Whore Wayne Garcia played Randy Newman's "Baltimore" during last Friday's office "Dance Party." Been working on it, to a certain extent, ever since. And let me tell ya, it was tough. How could this list NOT include "New York, New York" or "Angel From Montgomery",…
A Spay/Neuter Story
I stressed about it all week. Every time I brought him his food, I scratched behind his ears, stroked the soft fur on his chest, and felt helplessly guilty. See, I was about to have my stray neutered by the Animal Coalition of Tampa and I was having doubts about my decision. The handsome, shorthaired…
Last Supper
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice had a website that lists the final meal requests of every prisoner executed between 1982 and 2003. The TDCJ pulled the site in 2003, but archives like the one I link to above are available. I hesitated before posting this. After all, this meal is the last piece of…
Amy Winehouse does bump on stage; and other fun links
A drink with friends after work Friday resulted in a full-blown SoHo stumble (scroll down) — so I didn't manage to stay home the entire weekend as planned. However, I did hunker down last night: read some Elmore Leonard; listened to both discs of the dare-I-say-perfect Eat A Peach deluxe edition, plus the new Ronny…
Kobe Beef: Basically Veal
Gourmet Magazine has an article by Barry Estabrook in the latest issue that discusses the realities of how the world-reknowned Kobe beef is raised. I've described in glowing terms how these cows lead better lives than you and I. It turns out, not so much. Yeah, they're fed beer, probably to re-start the appetites of…
Top 10: Songs for staying home
Been a long, busy week: visited a nonprofit Monday for our upcoming holiday guide issue; Tuesday found me at USF listening to Chuck D threaten to kick a cracker's ass; and Wednesday I attempted to drink with Republicans in St. Pete for next week's Bar Tab column. I spent Thursday and today chained to my…
Somnolence
This position begins with the woman and man both laying on their sides, both facing in the same direction (as in spooning). The man enters the woman's yoni from behind, taking his upper leg and directing it between her legs, so that she can then wrap her top leg around his hip behind her, opening…
Magadog and more
Here's what I have running in the new issue: My interview with Florida ska heroes Magadog. Jay-Z returns to form 97X Goes Large Sovus Radio, Nanci Griffith and more in Music Week. This Rabbit runs. Backspin: 1977: Townes Van Zandt. Not Pretty: Pink Lincolns stay vicious. BAR TAB: Football fever at Walter's Press Box.
Protest Poll Results In
This is cross-posted with the Political Whore blog, which has extensive debate coverage here. Results are in from the Rise Up! The System is Broken event. They conducted two polls. One was your basic plurality poll; the other, an instant run-off option. Tallies for the first poll are: Ron Paul: 240 votes Dennis Kucinich: 26…
Homeless Still At Debate Site
If you thought St. Pete's lovable, huggable (if a little stinky) homeless men and women were gone from the debate site — think again. Police have given them the OK to stay the night in the shadow of the Mahaffrey Theater. Eric Rubin, one of the more vocal homeless advocates, called the camp-out/protest a success.…
The Pre-Debate Protest Party: Organizer Closing Remarks
Mike Fox, one of the many organizers of the Rise Up! The System is Broken demonstration at Pioneer Park had a few comments as he packed up his signs tonight. "I think it went fabulously," says Fox, who even after 12 hours of preparing for this event, jumps around animatedly. "Even though you had divergent…
The pre-debate protest party: A Review
Just returned from the pre-debate demonstration at Pioneer Park. Nearly 30 organizations — from the Green Party and the Pinellas Democratic Party to Code Pink and the Florida Rainbow PUSH Coalition — came out in force to support anti-war and anti-corporate causes. I give it one and a half fists up. Here's the rundown: Pioneer…
The Pre-Debate Protest Party: Quick Hits
Just getting in from the circus that was downtown St. Pete:The UNITY demonstration — also known as the Rise Up! The System Is Broken event — had a fairly large turnout. My estimate: 150. However, the Ron Paul contingent, criss-crossing downtown in the Ron Paul “Magic Bus†(my words, not theirs), was surprisingly absent. I…
Top 10: Songs for Presidential Hopefuls
Here's my Top 10 in honor of tonight's CNN-You Tube debate in St. Pete. I'll be prowling around downtown looking for a kick-ass GOP after party. Does such a thing exist? We'll see. 1. "Elected," Alice Cooper 2. "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," Marilyn Monroe 3. "Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)," Randy Newman…
Chuck D challenges Viacom’s ‘cracker’
Panel discussions are usually boring. Unless Chuck D's on the couch, as was the case at tonight's "Perspectives of Hip Hop in Today's Society". The event took place at the USF Sun Dome Corral and drew a crowd of several hundred, most of 'em undergrads. The six-person panel featured a documentarian (Byron Hurt), poet (Bridget…
Gifts for winos
At every budget level.
Boxed Out
Press Box proves too much for this scribe.
Olden Days Stroll
A Tampa Bay tradition, the Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum is currently celebrating its 26th year of time-honored extravagance. The annual holiday event transforms the historical museum into a festively bedecked Tampa Bay Hotel circa 1891, the halls decorated with all manner of lush and shimmering embellishments — from faux boughs…
Town Criers
The colorful characters in the Hometown Democracy fight. This week: The opponents.
Lawyering Up
Bob Hite, Hulk Hogan and the Moonlite Bunnyranch
Charitable Bazaar
Shopping/Fundraiser Saturday, December 1
Don’t Panic
Whatever happened to the Coalition of the Willing? On Saturday, Australian voters politely informed Prime Minister John Howard that he would no longer be eating his Vegemite sandwiches off government china. Howard was booted from office after 12 years in power and replaced by Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd. Rudd is best known in the…
Not Pretty
Pink Lincolns stay vicious.
Wine List
Got an upcoming or ongoing wine event? Send information to: The Wine List, 810 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33606, fax 813-739-4801 or e-mail brian.ries@creativeloafing.com. WINE AND GELATO Sample five wines from Jacuzzi Family Vineyards paired with five different gelatos, from pistachio with pinot noir to cheesecake with primitivo. $10, 7-10 p.m., Thurs., Nov.29, La…
Sister Hazel, Trombone Shorty
Plus ZZ Top
Just Make It Moxie For Mine
Finally, Maine's official state soft drink is available here in Florida, thanks to the fine people at Sweetbay. Moxie Soda has long had a cult-like following, due to both its unusual flavor and small distribution area. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola Bottling of Northern New England purchased the brand and planned to expand sales of Moxie…
Go to Townes
And discover a true classic
Day Job Jokes
Comedy Monday, December 3
Back on the Boards
Eric Davis brings his talent back to the local stage.
Space between friends
Relegated to the closet.
Olden Days Stroll
Holiday/Fundraiser Wednesday, December 5
Build a Stadium, Raze a Neighborhood
Memories of Gas Plant haunt the Rays’ latest plans.
I’m, Um … Canadian
Encounters with American liars in the Middle East.
Visions in the ‘Burg
Art Sunday, December 2
This Magic Moment
Among many pseudo-magical flicks, only Enchanted entertains.
Ska Survivors
After a near-decade hiatus, Magadog is back.
Playing for Keeps
Film Friday, November 30
Chanukah Kick-Off
Holiday Tuesday, December 4
97X Goes Large
With Next Big thing, Plus Kelly Clarkson and Charlie-Palooza
Sovus Radio, Mouse Fire, Noah Woods
Plus Michael McDonald
Psychedelic Radio
Music Thursday, November 29
Outtakes
RECENT RELEASES BEE MOVIE (PG) Jerry Seinfeld returns from the stand-up comedy wilderness with this CGI-animated offering about a spunky little bee who wants more (as apparently do all animated creatures these days). The voice cast alone might be reason enough to investigate: Besides Seinfeld, Renee Zelwegger, Matthew Broderick and John Goodman, there's an eclectic…
Goodbye, My Gadgets
A holiday cabinet-cleaning leads to one last roast.
A Piano Great
Let’s his fingers do the “talk”ing
True & False
"I certainly hope so." —President Bush, when asked by Charles Gibson whether or not he thought Pakistan's nuclear weapons were "safe from Islamic radicals" "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief…
Jay-Z returns to form
Plus Ingrid Michaelson, Buck 65 and We Are Wolves
The Complete Holiday Happenings List
ART EXHIBITS AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING Annual Christmas Show and Sale Select from a variety of unique holiday gifts, including ceramics, prints, pottery, calligraphy, cards and more. An opening reception takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Sun., Dec. 2. Dec. 2-7, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Elliott Gallery — Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S., St.…
Queen of the Road
For the first time in six years, Nanci Griffith performs in Florida.
Excess Is Best
If you dig adventurous flavors, you’ll feel right at home in The Kitchen.
Weekly Planner
CL's must-do list for the week of Thurs., Nov. 29-Wed., Dec. 5 29In honor of its Art of Boat Building exhibit, Studio@620 hosts a "Barge Journey" discussion with Melanie Ourbak, who lived on a barge for the first 13 years of her life. A reading of Herman Melville's writings by poet Jeffrey James follows. 7:30…
Virgins & Vixens
An Ybor gallery pairs Madonnas and red-hot mamas.
.comments
Creative Loafing had words about Britney Spears, Richard Paey, the Rays and Rush Limbaugh in recent weeks, and readers talked back. Peter Meinke's Nov. 21 "Poet's Notebook" column on American leadership post-JFK even prompted that rare form of correspondence, the handwritten note. The most extended back-and-forth debates — regarding Wade Tatangelo's critique of a tbt*…
This Rabbit Runs
With quality originals
The Red Sea
Red tide will be back — and Frank Alcock is helping us understand why.
