Scandalously Good Oatmeal Cookies
I'm not normally a huge fan of cookies. Not that I don't enjoy a good a good cookie from time to time, because I do. I just don't go crazy for them the way I do other sweets like, say…ice cream or eclairs. But when I do reach into the cookie jar, it's a pretty…
Do It This Weekend: Magnum Opus, Dunedin Wines the Blues, Jack Hanna’s safari, Dixie Fest, Grit and Silk, pet adoption expo and more
It’s hard enough to wrangle a hip group of artists/musicians/designers/models together at the same place and time, but it’s even harder to convince anyone to come see the spectacle. The visionaries at Square One do just that with scenester-crowded, can’t-miss-‘em shindigs — like Saturday's eco-themed Magnum Opus — that draw party people in droves. More…
Do It Today: Meet Samuel Adler or Chris Markowski, watch Beau Jest or The Fantasticks, see Florida Lost Tribes and more
At this week's Musical Festival feat. Samuel Adler, the renowned composer (who has written compositions for the Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, American Brass Quintet and more) visits Tampa to perform, observe and teach. Three Adler events are open to the public this week: the UT music faculty performs Adler's chamber music at 7:30…
Group fitness: a lot like a Friday night
It was 7 am on a Saturday morning when my alarm sounded. The pounding headache, the unsteady vision, and the smeared mascara under my eyes confirms that I, Caitlin Reagan, had lived my Friday night to its fullest potential. After one cup of coffee, two aspirin, one bowl of cereal, four glasses of water and…
On the Radar: meet Stephen King
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next Monday, and just in time to miss Halloween (thanks, Steve) the master of macabre, Stephen King, visits Sarasota to promote his new novel, Under the Dome, in an on-stage interview with the Sarasota Harold-Tribune’s Susan Rife. The author,…
Do It Today: 11:11 – Let There Be Light, Art, Sound, Aida at the Met, Home of the Brave and Dudley Clendinen book signings
Today marks the beginning of a three-day interactive multi-media art event, 11:11 – Let There Be Light, Art, Sound, a celebration of the creativity that molds our communities and keeps us from falling prey to the everyday tedium of mainstream mediocrity. The star of the event is Alex Grey, who, along with his artist wife…
Thoughts on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
It's been 20 years since the Berlin Wall came down. The wall was up for almost 30 years, cutting off West Berlin from all of East Germany. Soviet-controlled zones were disconnected from the American, French and British, making not only geographical divisions but, more importantly, human divisions. The wall severed families, friends and lovers. It…
Recycle your hair: Who knew it had so many uses?
We are told that we must recycle. So we put our cans, glass and plastics in our curbside bins. Or we collect our bits and drive them to the nearest recycling station. Maybe we even take old electronics to swap shops to keep the chemicals from leeching into the ground. But what about the less…
CD review: Julian Casablancas, Phrazes For The Young
Let’s skip all the expository fragments of The Strokes' history and swiftly veer away from the obvious compare/contrast. Meet NYC resident Julian Casablancas. On Phrazes For The Young he has replaced all your expectations with synths straight out of 1984. Listen closely. Pop waves too polished to be considered prog echoing "Rio" by Duran Duran,…
Dream of Phelps and Obama
“Dream Momma, One morning I had a dream about Phelps in the pool with Obama and they were eating smoked turkey.” (sic) Dream Momma understands why they were together in a pool “swimming” in the limelight. They have a lot on common. For example, in no particular order: They are both winners. They broke records.…
Bud Chiles walks on to make children a priority in Florida
Bud Chiles is about a third of the way done in his "One Million Steps For Florida's Kids" state wide walking campaign. The campaign is to build grassroots demand for more state spending on programs for children, and he's attempting to get a million people to sign on to his web site to make that…
Get involved in America Recycles Day this Sunday (11/15)
This Sunday marks the 12th anniversary of America Recycles Day, a nationally recognized day dedicated to recycling and purchasing recycled and repurposed items. America Recycles Day is working in partnership with Keep America Beautiful and the National Recycling Coalition to support local communities and raises awareness by educating citizens about the benefits of recycling. The…
It happened this week-ish: Aerosmith is minus a Steven, Twilight star goes naked for PETA, Eva Mendes oils up for Calvin Klein and more
*Steven Tyler has apparently quit Aerosmith to focus on his solo career. The thing is, he's like 900 years old and at this point, having a solo career kinda sorta isn't an option. You don't see Bob Barker starting his own game show, sans the Price is Right ladies, called the "Bob Barker Project" where…
Gossip Girl recap: OM3some
"Some people think that when the party ends the night is over, but I've found its when the music stops and the lights come up that the real trouble begins. You better get your beauty rest now because it looks like things could get ugly in the morning." -xoxo Gossip Girl Becoming a debutante is…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, November 10: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits Fontodi Wine Dinner. There’s no better way to start the week than with an elegant wine dinner, and this one truly delivers with its selection of six wines from the Fontodi estate specially paired with six modern Mediterranean cuisine courses by SideBern’s Chef extraordinaire, Chad Johnson. $125.…
Dockery’s in (again), Florida Senate prez is not so in on drilling, and what reform will do (or not do) for health care costs: Mitch Perry Report 11.10.09
In today's report: • There has been much written about Florida's legislative leaders in 2010 (Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolus) being advocates of offshore drilling, and how a repeal of the 1990 ban in Florida is only a matter of time. Perhaps, but those officials aren't completely in control right now. Jeff Atwater is in…
Sustainability and spirituality
I recently presented a speech on sustainability for a local Unitarian Universalist church in Odessa. The scenery was amazing: it was right near some old horse farms, the wind was blowing and when everyone was silent it was eerily peaceful. I had fun, though feeling a bit unprepared; sometimes I get anxious but my passion keeps me going.…
Apple-Maple Acorn Squash Puree, and a lot more apple recipes
It's hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You might not even realize this as the malls and supermarkets are already breaking out their Christmas finery. For the last few years, retailers have just skipped right over the Thanksgiving season, jumping right into Santa, Rudolph and the Grinch! When did this trend…
Florida Senate President in no hurry regarding offshore drilling
Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater announced yesterday that he wants to see reports from a number of dorganizations before having serious discussions about offshore drilling. It is not the first time that Atwater, running for the GOP nomination for CEO, has made less than enthusiastic remarks about offshore drilling, which certainly puts him in a…
America is seemingly split down the middle on health care reform
A new Gallup poll released today shows the American public basically divided in half on whether or not the health care reforms are what this country needs. 41% support changes to the system, while 40% believe that reforms will make things worse. The problem for President Obama and Congressional Democrats all year long in their…
Dockery “officially” enters GOP race for Governor today
This afternoon in Lakeland, State Senator Paula Dockery "officially" announces her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor. (We put officially in quotation marks since she filed the paperwork to run a week ago). The event begins at 5:30 p.m.at Munn park. On Sunday, Dockery's hometown newspaper, The Lakeland Ledger, hailed her entrance into the…
What’s next for Jannus Landing?
“This didn’t have to happen,” says Rob Douglas, his 6-foot-4 frame slouched on a sofa in his south St. Pete condo, his raspy voice weary and tinged with bitterness. He’s a linchpin of the St. Petersburg concert scene, his tenure as a promoter, venue operator and production manager dating back to the early ’80s, when…
On the Radar: Forever Young dancers
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Ladies of Tampa Bay, all your dreams are going to come true this weekend. Fantasy Fest may be over, but you haven’t missed your chance to see wrinkly old man arse shaking onstage: the calendar boys of Forever Young…
Do It Today: Music Reborn II: Forbidden and Forgotten, Three from Korea, celebrate history at the Columbia and more
Music Reborn II: Forbidden and Forgotten is a memorial to the Jewish composers whose lives were lost in the Holocaust and tribute to the victims of Kristallnacht that includes performances by musicians Brian Payne, violin; Jason Jerald, viola; Debra Horne, Soprano; Mary Ann Scialdo, piano; and a special performance by Franciscan friar, Father Vit Fiala.…
Tampa Bay Area farmers’/green markets guide
Here's your guide to finding the freshest, locally produced foods and goods (and an all-around good time) at weekly fresh markets in the Bay Area. – Every Tuesday; 9 am-3 pm. The Tuesday Morning Fresh Market is a weekly gathering in the Gulfport, Florida Waterfront District offering fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood in a festive environment with…
Review: The Yin and Yang of Joe Bonamassa at Ruth Eckerd Hall
4:30pm – Yin Driving into the parking lot of Ruth Eckerd Hall, for a late afternoon “meet & greet” with blues/rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Admittedly, I wasn’t that familiar with his work and I felt a bit unprepared. Beyond recent media flashes regarding his appearance at the Royal…
Bill Nelson advises Tampa Chamber of Commerce to fight offshore drilling
Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said today that the Tampa Bay area has taken a big leap in attempting to get high-speed rail to the region, and he placed great hopes on the Florida Legislature to conduct a special session on rail issues next month to show Washington that it means business about a a…
Routes Music rewind, Phoenix: Border patrol, dust storms and a new look on downloading music
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
CD review: Weezer, Raditude
Your enjoyment of Raditude is entirely dependent on your feelings about Weezer’s brand of pop music — sing-a-longs, whoa-OH choruses, and inane lyrics that you can’t get seem to get out of your head. Lead singer-songwriter Rivers Cuomo seems to have given up on writing the sort of lyrics he did back on Pinkerton, an…
The USDA’s “People’s Garden”
Maybe Michelle and Barack Obama were strong-armed into having an organic garden on the White House lawn by tough punks like Alice Waters, but Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made his without any public opinion campaigns to twist his arm. Yep, there are two governement garden in DC, the second one run by the USDA…
Concert Review: Brand New and Thrice at The Ritz Ybor (with pics)
boasts a capacity of 1,150 for its concert hall. I would call that a conservative estimate for Brand New (frontman Jesse Lacey pictured right) and Thrice as I politely pushed through the throng of mostly teenage girls clogging the stairways leading to the pit. All the "Excuse Me's" I could muster made no difference when I bumped a girl's…
Lieberman on “Muslim extremist” at Fort Hood, Charlie Crist and the stimulus, and why Kucinich voted against the health care bill: Mitch Perry Report 11.09.09
Although the U.S. Military is cautioning about making judgments about Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the American-born Muslim suspected of killing 13 and wounding 29 others at Ford Hood last week, Joe Lieberman calls the shooting a 'terrorist act." Two Florida Democrats were among the 39 who voted against the health care bill in the…
Game Review: Borderlands is bazillions of funs
Saying Borderlands is my favorite combination of first person shooter and role-playing game is like saying Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are my favorite mass market peanut butter and chocolate candy – sure there's not a lot of competition, but damn they're both really good. Set on the a sci-fi western/post apocalyptic planet called Pandora, Borderlands…
More developer welfare exposed along with some of the politicians that handed it out
Photo credit: respres @ Flickr.com Reporter Michael Van Sickler of the Times takes a look at the reasons for the area's high foreclosure rate in this article and explains that it isn't just the banks approving risky loans and homeowners living beyond their means that are to blame. He notes that flippers and investors along…
Charlie Crist sounds more pro-stimulus bill than ever on Bay News 9
For Sunday morning political news junkies, there are a myriad of national programs to view before getting to local programming – that being Political Connections, a Bay News 9/St. Petersburg Times joint effort. Yesterday's appearance by Governor Charlie Crist, now more under fire than at any other time in his tenure , was one of…
Sugar daddy wanted: part 1
Julia is a beautiful, 30-something with long black hair, large breasts, and a thin frame—a woman who should never have a problem finding a date. She is not a woman who bounces from one man to another. She has had few relationships, including one marriage, that haven't worked out. The dating scene hasn't been in the forefront of her…
Two Florida Dems among the 39 who rejected Health care bill
Blue Dog North Florida Representative Allen Boyd and Orlando area Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas were the two Democrats that joined all of the Republicans in the Florida Congressional Caucus who voted against the $1.1 trillion health care reform bill that barely squeaked by in the House Saturday night on a 220-215 vote. In a lengthy press…
Lieberman on Fox: Hasan could have been an Islamic extremist
On Fox News Sunday yesterday, Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman boldly yesterday suggested that Major Nidal Malik Hasan could have been an Islamic extremist, and that his violent attack at Fort Hood in which he is accused of killing 13 people and wounding another 29 was a terrorist attack. Lieberman, the Chairman of the Senate…
Theater Review: Art at Venue Ensemble Theatre
Yasmina Reza’s Art has two subjects, one of them serious and worthy of attention, the other slightly embarrassing and perhaps even philistine. The better theme – and the one that gets most of the stage time – is male friendship and the unspoken agreements that sustain it. The three men in this case are Marc,…
On the Radar: Magnum Opus at The RITZ Ybor
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. It’s hard enough to wrangle a hip group of artists/musicians/designers/models together at the same place and time, but it’s even harder to convince anyone to come see the spectacle. The visionaries at Square One do just that with scenester-crowded,…
Do It Today: See The Rose Tattoo at Push Ultra Lounge, Hyperventilate! and more
Fresh from the succcess of the Best of the Bay-winning Summer Sunset Cinema Series, The Studio@620 and Push Ultra Lounge once again team up to present a collection of classic films each Monday. Tonight’s selection in the Wilder to Williams Film Series — which includes the best of Billy Wilder and Tennessee Williams — is…
Concert Review: Dethklok and Mastodon in Orlando (with video)
You people out there give us something more than just record sales. You give us something to hate. And we hate you, you brainless mutants. So begins Dethklok's traditional closer "Fansong." I suppose when you're (fictionally) the world's seventh largest economy you can take your fans for granted. After all, Dethklok represents creator Brendon Small's…
Strikeforce results: Fedor defeats Rogers with spectacular TKO
Rated as best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter pound-for-pound worldwide, Fedor Emalienko proved that bigger is not always better when he defeated the five-inch taller Brett Rogers via TKO at 1:48 in round two during the Strikeforce main event at the Sears Center in Chicago, Ill. last night. The event was also broadcast live on…
Pelosi gets it done – House passes health care bill by 5 votes
Shortly before 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, the House of Representatives approved their $1.1 trillion plan to bring comprehensive and affordable health care coverage to an estimated 36 million people who currently do not have it. The final vote was 220-215, with 1 Republican, New Orleans area Representative . Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana the only…
Routes Music rewind, Austin: From the drunken debauchery on Sixth Street to the soothing sound of violins
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
Best of Daily Loaf: The Week In Review
The Creative Loafing team prides itself on producing more Daily Loaf content each week than any individual could ever possibly comprehend. As such, you're bound to have missed at least one worthwhile story from the pages of this blog over the last few days. Here's a "greatest hits" list from the week that was, broken…
What NCAA and NFL games to watch this weekend (Nov. 7 – 9)
Remember those sharply dressed fellows in last week’s What to Watch? You know … the ones desperately trying to gain entry into that South Beach BCS night club? Their names were Iowa, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State and LSU. Well, the lights are coming on and last call is rapidly approaching. This weekend, one of those…
How to green your holidays
With the holiday season coming to a start and the year already coming to an end, why wait until the new year to start living a greener lifestyle? Get into the swing of the holidays by putting some eco-friendly practices to use. Bonus: They'll help you save money as well. Here's a list of some…
Dreaming of marriage as death
“Hi! I live in Tampa. A while ago, I dreamt that I was getting married. Everything seemed to be normal at the wedding, until I looked at a picture that someone had taken. My gown was black, as were my bridesmaids. The whole male wedding party was also wearing nothing but black! I'm only 14…
Music news links for Friday, Nov. 6: Jay-Z, Beyonce, AFI, Slash, Jack White, Rihanna and more (with video)
Don't forget about your homework for the weekend — keeping up on music news. Jay-Z announced the second leg of his tour for his new album, Blueprint 3. There are no Florida dates announced yet. The record may just be a "blueprint," but no doubt it's a plan to lay the foundation of another successful…
USF student “sleepout” tries to raise more awareness about the homeless
Tonight on the USF Tampa campus, a group of students intend to put a focus on the homeless situation by simulating a homeless camp on the campus grounds for one night. Christy Burke is assistant director of the USF Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement. She says tonight's event is part of National Hunger and…
How to make perfect sushi rice
Sushi, like most Japanese things, is made using exact skill and precision. But don't let this scare you from making your own at home. In this recipe I outline the exact steps to take in order to achieve proper sushi rice using a rice cooker. I suggest that you purchase one of these handy kitchen…
Project Runway recap: the final challenge
I think the editors have finally started to pay attention to this little blogger here in St. Pete, because we automatically start this week by learning that Althea and Irina aren't speaking. Love it…finally Irina picked on the wrong girl, I have the feeling that Althea has a little trailer park in her and we…
Another mass shooting — this time in Orlando
At least eight people have been shot in a downtown office highrise in Orlando, FL, according to TV news reports. Here's an excerpt from a report by WESH 2 in Orlando: Firefighters were called to Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place around 11:30 a.m. The building is near Lake Ivanhoe. All patients have been taken…
Routes Music, Malibu: Scoping the beautiful bikini babes on the shores of the Pacific Ocean
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
An open letter to Hillsborough County Commission – will we get all of the facts about the 2010 Light Rail/Penny Tax Referendum?
By George Niemann PoHo contributor Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners: It appears likely that you are going to ask us to approve a 1% sales tax increase in November of 2010 to fund a long range multi-modal transportation package which is highlighting the introduction of light rail to the Tampa Bay region. At Wednesday’s Regular…
USS New York built with recycled WTC steel
Talk about recycling with a purpose: The new Navy Ship, USS New York, came into New York harbor this week sporting more than just 361 crew members – contained in the ship is 7.5 tons of recycled steel from the World Trade Center. The 25,000 behemoth was built in Virginia and is the length of…
Maroon 5 releases teaser trailers for upcoming album
With the exceptions of my sister and my buddy Jesse, there may be no one more stoked for the upcoming Maroon 5 album than me. Songs About Jane, their 2002 debut album as Maroon 5 (the four original members formerly played as Kara's Flowers), is the one record that takes me back to my high…
Call Cracker-jack and Hootie, get the team back together: World Series of Beer Pong Satellites are here
The World Series of Beer Pong — "the largest, longest-running organized beer pong (aka Beirut) tournament in the world, created by beer pong players, for beer pong players" according to the WSOBP website — will start in less than two months, on Jan. 1 at the Flamingo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. But you…
National civil rights group says enough is enough; wants Crist to ban Tasers
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference calls it “electrocution without prosecution," and in the wake of the two most recent Taser-related deaths in Florida, the civil rights group wants the governor to temporarily ban Tasers until a stricter, more uniform policy can be put in place. The so called “non-lethal” devices, manufactured by Taser International, have…
Movie Review: The Box, starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden
If Alfred Hitchcock and Edgar Allan Poe got together to do their own version of The Matrix, it would look a lot like Richard Kelly’s The Box. The Donnie Darko director returns with a morality tale that twists and turns around a complex story like barbed wire around a rose. No matter what notion you…
Historic health care bill to be voted on in House, V.A. Secretary in Tampa, and activists to protest Rick Baker: Mitch Perry Report: 11.06.09
As speculation continues on what led to Thursday's crazed shooting spree by Nidal Hassan at Fort Hood yesterday, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, General Eric Shinseki, is scheduled to speak today on the USF Tampa campus. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her underlings will be working furiously today to try to gather the 218 votes…
St Pete activists ready to rain on Rick Baker’s parade
In two months, the Rick Baker era ends. St. Petersburg's mayor moves on, possibly toward the only job he's said he really wants: replacing Carl Kuttler as the head of St. Petersburg College. But before he goes, his critics want to let him know how they really feel about him. Yesterday a coalition of activist…
Routes Music rewind, New Orleans: Living Room Studio, Lovie Dovies, the Blackbelt Band (video)
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
Historic bill on health care reform to be voted on Saturday. Does Pelosi have the votes?
Later today, President Obama is expected to visit the House to rally support for the biggest issue of his young presidency domestically, health care reform. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told the members of the House to come to the Capitol at 9 a.m. Saturday to vote on the 10-year, $1.05 trillion health care legislation.…
V.A. Secretary Shinseki to speak at Tampa day after Fort Hood tragedy
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is scheduled to give the keynote address today at the USF-Tampa campus at 12:30 p.m. No doubt he will reference in the tragedy yesterday at Fort Hood, where as of this morning, an Army psychiatrist suspected of killing 13 people and wounding 30 others in a shooting rampage, remains hospitalized…
Kama Sutra: putting on the sock
Kama Sutra: putting on the sock œPutting on the sock†does not refer to a condom or penis extension as many would have thought. Instead, it refers to an age old technique of foreplay. The technique begins with the woman on her back and man kneeling before her with his penis placed at the entrance…
On the Radar: 11:11 — Let There Be Light, Art, Sound feat. Alex Grey
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, a three-day interactive multi-media art event, 11:11 – Let There Be Light, Art, Sound, is a celebration of the creativity that molds our communities and keeps us from falling prey to the everyday tedium of mainstream mediocrity.…
Do It This Weekend: Walk with the mayor, Roser Park art fest, Evolution of Drag, Boxer Bash and more
The City of Tampa’s fiendish plot to have you get up at an insanely early hour of the morning and groggily lace up your sneakers continues this Saturday with Keeping Tampa Fit. The biannual event is devoted to increasing awareness of personal health and the city’s numerous parks, while also offering the chance to keep…
On the Radar: The Queen of Bingo at the Carrollwood Playhouse
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next weekend, you can shuffleboard boogie it down at the St. Pete Shuffle or get crazy with a few rounds of Bingo at your community theater in Tampa. The average age of Florida citizens might be rising higher than…
The Table begins its brasserie-style menu this weekend, name change still in doubt
The Table Restaurant in St. Pete, which has flirted with two new names recently — The Place and St. Pete Brasserie — as well as different culinary themes, will begin serving its French-inspired menu this weekend, according to GM Andrew Wilkins. Almost all the prices, excepting a ribeye and bigger portions of lamb and filet…
Remind me again — why am I running this charity 5K?
On Halloween, I was hopelessly spending most of the day huddled in my apartment researching the United States’ media coverage on Iran. I had purposely not made plans to celebrate the evening dressed as media sensation Balloon Boy, a firefighter with red-hot lipstick and heels, or even a cat. Instead, six weeks prior, I committed…
MMA fighter War Machine debuts as porn star
The 28-year-old mixed martial arts fighter, War Machine, a.k.a. Jon Koppenhaver announced his official debut as porn star, War Machine XXX, on twitter last month. He was last seen in Tampa at the mixed martial arts event, XFC 9, where he defeated Mikey Gomez (fully clothed) via TKO in round three. Maybe his loss to…
Mass shooting at Fort Hood army base in Texas
According to reports from the AP and TV news, seven people have been killed and 20 wounded in shootings at the Fort Hood military base in Fort Hood, TX. From the New York Times/AP report: An Army spokesman at the Pentagon says the shootings began about 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a personnel and medical processing…
John Mayer’s live concert broadcast on Fuse to be made available to troops overseas
I mentioned a few weeks ago that Fuse will be airing a John Mayer concert on Tuesday, November 17, the same day his new Battle Studies album hits the shelves. The concert, which takes at New York's Beacon Theatre, will be broadcast live across the country beginning at 9 p.m. Fuse has also partnered with…
Dreaming of a split psyche
“Dream Momma, I had dream while I was away from my family studying in Norway, I was at my brother’s house up where it was behind the hospital. My brother and I were watching TV, and these people came to the door. Just as there are people who stop you when you are in your…
How the upcoming disaster flick 2012 went green
For a big budget, Hollywood-style disaster film, 2012 probably wouldn't come to mind as an "eco film" to most people. But not only does the movie serve as a message (or warning) of the effects of impending climate change, the director, Roland Emmerich, and producers took great strides to be as green as possible when…
Former St. Pete Times restaurant critic Chris Sherman now a blogger for B-21
Chris Sherman was the St. Pete Times restaurant critic for 17 years, until he decided to give up the gig at the end of 2006 because of ongoing health problems. He remained a staff writer for the Times and became the restaurant editor and travel writer for its sister publication, Florida Trend Magazine, where he…
Photo review: Attack! Attack! at State Theatre
Some shots from the Monday, November 2 show at State Theatre.
Apple Pecan Crumb Cake Recipe
My most recent baking project has become creating the perfect crumb cake. There are so many elements that come into play here- texture, topping, density, and overall taste are all vital in formulating a masterpiece. I’m happy to say that I just may be onto something with this recipe. Fall is high time for all things…
Not in the mood: causes and solutions
Sex should be fun, free, and feel good, but the reality is that it's not always easy to get in the mood for sex. Many things can cause a couple, or partner, to be turned off of sex. Here's a quickie list of mood killers and tricks for recharging your sexual energy.
Ex-Buccaneer Marcus Jones wins on TUF 10; Team Rashad suffers first loss
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Marcus Jones, defeated the UFC veteran, Mike Wessel, on episode eight of The Ultimate Fighter season ten (TUF 10) last night. After two months of restless waiting Jones finally got his chance to prove his worth in the octagon as the last fighter on Team Rampage, after being labeled as…
Hillsborough Commissioners put the county over $11,000 in the hole with every new rooftop they approve yet take a step closer to asking you to pay the highest sales tax in the state
Photo credit: Anderson Mancini @Flickr.com I have to give Commission Mark Sharpe credit for promoting alternative transportation options. On it's face, rail sounds like a good idea, but take a closer look at how our county currently operates and how we got here in the first place and that rail vision starts to blur. Hillsborough…
Light rail in Hillsborough, a new addition to a human rights ordinance in Tampa, and another look at Tuesday’s election results: Mitch Perry Report 11.05.09
With more time to digest the results of Tuesday's elections nationally, the question remains: what does it all mean? The Tampa City Council today will vote on adding gender identity to their human rights ordinance, and in Hillsborough County, the campaign for a one-cent sales tax referendum slowly begins. Audio podcast should be up by…
The meaning of Tuesday’s elections, take two
With time hopefully comes perspective, so we will again revisit what nationally some political analysts are deciphering from Tuesday's elections across the nation. One of the more interesting takes I read this morning comes from Daniel Henninger in the Wall Street Journal, in a column titled, "The Permanent Tea Party". Henninger writes about how the…
The opportunity for Hillsborough citizens to vote on light rail begins
5-2. That was the vote yesterday by Hillsborough County Commissioners to have the county attorney prepare a resolution indicating that the commissioners intend to look at a 1 cent sales tax referendum on the ballot a year from now. Commissioners Jim Norman and Al Higgenbotham voted no, and based on their rhetoric yesterday, show no…
On the Radar: Jack Hanna’s safari adventures at Busch Gardens
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Those of you seeking your Jack Hanna fix, here it is. Next weekend, the renowned animal expert and frequent guest on Late Night With David Letterman will appear not once, not twice, but four times at Busch Gardens to…
Fantasy Fest 2009: WOW (NSFW Photos)
had so much fun in Key West for Fantasy Fest it should be illegal (though I’m sure some of it was, or very damn close). The boat ride on the Key West Express was well worth it. We got there in a fraction of the time and my friend Melissa and I got a head…
Wednesday-music.com profile: Taken By Trees
Stockholm’s Taken By Trees is the name of Victoria Bergsman's latest solo project, who for eleven years (until 2006) was lead singer of The Concretes. You may recognize The Concretes' song "Say Something New" from the Target commercial. Or maybe not, I don't know how much TV you watch. Before creating Taken By Trees, she…
Tampa MMA: RFC lightweight title belt might go to UK
The Tampa based mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, Real Fighting Championships (RFC) is offering Jason Ball from the UK a shot at the the RFC lightweight title on Nov. 13, 2009 at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. If Ball defeats current RFC Lightweight Champion, Edson Berto from Winter Haven, Fla., the belt might…
College Guides 2009: Amanda Abadi of UT is our winner
Thousands voted, but only one of our College Guide contestants could win it all: Amanda Abadi of the University of Tampa. Her inventive video — which we refer to informally as "Crocodile Dundee Meets UT" — drew 6,694 votes in our College Guides 2009 contest. Readers were asked to choose their favorite entry from a…
Routes Music, Los Angeles: We didn’t see Megan Fox (naked or otherwise) but we did see wildfires (with video!)
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
Brian Blair’s got a plan for the homeless
Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, a candidate for State House in District 47 next year, has come up with his own idea to help the homeless, after watching his former colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners fail to come up with their own plan. Blair says he wants to renovate at least one…
Slow-Cooked Salmon recipe from The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook
(Look for three other exclusive recipes from The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook here on the Daily Loaf: Three Pea Stir-Fry, Thai-Style Chicken Flatbread, and Lettuce Cups.) I’ve been a bad blogger buddy! My friend Jaden Hair’s lovely new cookbook, The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook, has been on the shelves for three weeks and I’ve yet to write…
Sex as the answer
“Sex is always the answer. It’s never a question. And the answer is yes. Yes. YES!" —Nickelback. Sex is a great answer to most every relationship problem, unless you're with someone who's never in the mood or uses sex as a punishment. So you had a fight. Nothing resolves the issue or rekindles your lust…
Preview: Independents’ Film Festival and Cine-World Film Festival
It used to be that film festivals in the Tampa Bay area were a rarity. No longer. Totaling up all the fundraisers, workshops and side programming that go along with the ever-expanding number of festivals, it’s clear that fest-hopping has become a year-round sport. And that’s great, because we can all stand to broaden our…
Obama visits the solar harvesting “farms” in Desoto County
It wasn’t easy for me to resist the temptation to gush happily in print over our President’s visit to DeSoto county last week. Consider this: a utility company executive delivers accolades to the President for his leadership on sustainable energy production. Is this an anomaly? Maybe, but FPL Group’s CEO Lewis Hay, belongs to an exclusive club.…
TV Review: V, “Pilot”
The visitors have returned to Earth, and this time they’re bringing more intrigue and drama to prime-time TV. V is a science fiction reboot that debuted this week on ABC after a load of publicity and excitement. The original was a major event over on NBC during the ‘80s, and the mouse house’s flagship network…
Tonight’s Top Chef preview: All-stars reunion throwdown (videos)
Sadly, there will be no new Top Chef Las Vegas episode tonight – how will I get my Bryan Voltaggio fix? Luckily, we will be graced with a Top Chef All Stars Reunion! That's right, now we get to catch up with some of the most loved (and hated) cheftestants from seasons past. First of all, I have a soft…
CD Review: Bob Dylan, Christmas in the Heart
At this point in time, nothing that Bob Dylan does should surprise anyone. His satellite radio program Theme Time Radio Hour pretty much laid all his cards on the table and pegged him once and for all as a mischievous kidder with a wit drier than any Sunday in the Bible Belt. Back in 1966,…
CL Feature: Gen of The Genitorturers, who play The Ritz Ybor on Friday night (with video)
The siren wails of ascending notes, the speedy electro hammering of programmed drums and a fat and sinister guitar riff open Blackheart Revolution. And then the bestial growl of Genitorturers frontwoman/namesake Gen aggro blasts onto the track and demands your undivided attention: “Well no one cares about the rock star illusion / No one cares…
Local and national election results, and Hillsborough County talks about mass transit: Mitch Perry Report 11.4.09
After spending a record $225,000, Bill Foster has captured the Mayoral race in St. Petersburg. Nationally, Democrats and Republicans are spinning furiously about what if anything yesterday's elections in New York, New Jersey and Virginia mean on a national basis. And Hillsborough County Commissioners sit down to finally get serious about a possible referendum on…
CD review: Atlas Sound, Logos
Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox has recorded under the pseudonym Atlas Sound since he was a teenager, and on his second proper solo release, Logos, he submerges the divine and ancient reason that tethers the universe into an inebriated kaleidoscope of pop memories. Cox is a smart enough pop music aficionado that he effortlessly fuses catchy…
BPA found in canned foods and juices
Earlier this week, I wrote a post about BPA (Bisphenol-A) being found in plastic bottles and food containers and its harmful effects on humans, it also being linked to causing aggressive behavior in children. Use of this chemical has been banned in Canada and in some parts of the US. Now you don't have to look much further to…
The spin is in overdrive on the meaning of Tuesday’s election results
There were three main races that the nation's political pundit class were focusing on yesterday as possible referendums on the state of the Obama Administration and the state of the nation. So, with Republicans winning governors races in New Jersey and Virginia, but losing a highly focused Congressional race in upstate New York, what's it…
Bill Foster humble in victory
Bill Foster awakens this morning having enjoyed what he called during the campaign his lifelong dream. He is now the Mayor of St. Petersburg. A somewhat exhausted Foster shook hands and hugged supporters on Central Avenue for hours after Kathleen Ford called to concede the election right around 8p.m. last evening. Foster won with nearly…
For gay voters, a national disappointment (Maine), local triumphs (Steve Kornell)
It was a mixed bag for gay voters last night. The vote to preserve marriage equality came up short in Maine, but great strides were made in local elections — including St. Petersburg's City Council race. Steve Kornell, one of the most impressive candidates in any local race this season, won his St. Pete council…
Hillsborough County Commissioners begin the process on a possible referendum on light rail today
Today Hillsborough County Commissioners are scheduled to formally begin discussions on preparing ballot language for a one cent sales tax referendum for light rail, increased bus service, and improved roads. But Commissioner Mark Sharpe now says that today the Board will simply hear from the County's Transportation Task Force, and the discussion on the language…
Election Night USA: The Maine gay marriage vote
For real-time results in the vote on gay marriage in Maine, head to ProtectMaineEquality.org. If voters reject the amendment to repeal the state's marriage equality law, it will mark the first time that the right to gay marriage is established by voters, not their elected representatives. But the race is very close, as you'll see…
Election Night, USA: Christie upsets Corzine in NJ
The fabulously rich Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine has been upset by the cheerfully overweight Republican challenger Chris Christie in New Jersey, MSNBC has reported. Maybe the Virginia election wasn't a referendum on Obama, but New Jersey certainly could be viewed as such. It's a little early, however, (Howard Fineman, we're talking to you) to see…
Election night, USA: GOP gets a triple sweep in VA
Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Atty General all go to the Republicans in Virginia, with Bob McDonnell thoroughly trouncing Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds for the top spot — a defeat that's no surprise to anyone. Interestingly enough, RNC chair Michael Steele on CNN comes off as idiotic in victory as he usually does in defeat, as…
St. Petersburg election results: It’s Mayor-elect Bill Foster
Election Night, 7:45 p.m.: With almost all precincts reporting, Bill Foster is maintaining a 6 percent lead over Kathleen Ford in the race to succeed Rick Baker as mayor of St. Petersburg. In the race for City Council, Steve Kornell, Leslie Curran, Jeff Danner and Karl Nurse look like sure winners; Jim Kennedy's race with…
Routes Music, Indio: A look at Phish Festival 8 from the costumes to the light show
Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here;…
The Green Community week in review: Tampa underwater by 2100, reviving local economies, kill your lawn (the green way), and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: Tampa Bay planning tip: Learn to swim (video) – Grant Rimbey explores what rising ocean levels could mean for the Tampa Bay area by 2100. Green Visions Series: Water conservation and the revival of…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Sweetwater Farm’s market grand reopening, Halloween’s creepy creatures, and green markets galore
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday. Tampa Downtown Market-…
