The Pisco war
It’s Peru vs. Chile in a battle of South American brandy.
Levi and Judah leave Emerald, open Broken Tusk bar
THE EMERALD BAR Levi Love behind the bar at the Emerald. This week, Levi and Judah are opening their own bar, the Broken Tusk. For weeks, rumors swirled that the Best of the Bay winning Emerald bar was changing or closing. No one knew exactly what was happening, but suddenly you didn't need to hit…
Current helps turn the tide for Pasco family
EngagetheCurrent.com HOPEFUL: Hope for Homes is helping remodel the home of Jeff, Amy and Paige Calkowski in Pasco County. Best of the Bay-winner Jason Sowell and his organization Current of Tampa Bay are making positive waves again. This weekend the Tampa charity that's also helped the needy through its Laundry Love Project will make much…
Eastwooding: The iconic figure returns for a Romney ad paid for by Karl Rove’s SuperPAC
Although nobody will ever forget Clint Eastwood's bizarre appearance at the Republican convention in Tampa, the fact is that the iconic actor/director hasn't talked much directly about Mitt Romney since that encounter. He hasn't been media shy for sure, appearing in countless interviews hyping his baseball related drama Trouble With The Curve which was released…
Mitch Perry Report 10.24.12 – Let the (World Series) games begin
I know we're knee deep in a major election, but you'll have to forgive my digressions into baseball. Tonight, the San Francisco Giants — a team I have followed through lots of ups and down since the early 1970s — host Game One of the 2012 World Series from AT&T Park in S.F. against the…
Connie Mack campaigns in Tampa — calls on Bill Nelson for another debate
Connie Mack was joined by John McCain on the campaign stump Two weeks before the election that could swing the entire U.S. Senate, Connie Mack is still hoping for another debate with the man he's trying to knock off — Democrat Bill Nelson. "We have accepted eight debates," Mack told reporters after he spoke before…
Obama campaign official says supporters are voting in bigger numbers than in 2008
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina Fourteen days before the election, Team Obama is feeling just fine. That's despite a Drudge Report story that shows a picture of President Obama holding an infant at a campaign rally while looking up at the heavens with the headline "Looking for a miracle." However, the link to that headline…
Tampa to spend $2.2 million on 8,400 street lights
These signs will soon be posted in areas where new streetlights will be installed Like other major cities, Tampa needs to make improvements and enhancements to its basic infrastructure. Some of those needs, like stormwater protection or new sidewalks, are exceedingly expensive. Some, like adding street lights, aren't as expensive. On Tuesday, Tampa Mayor Bob…
Blood on the canvas: Florida Combat Challenge III
modelsandmma.com Keith Cooper at Florida Combat Challenge III Two fighters slammed against the cage, sending a spray of blood onto my notepad. While Jordan Ammens (0-0) and Keith Cooper (1-1-1) may be amateurs, they bled like pros, never letting the damage they were inflicting, or incurring, slow them down. I assumed Ammens, whose 185-pound body…
New Music Monday & Tuesday! (October 22 & 23): Taylor Swift, Bat For Lashes, The Doors & more
Lots of audio & video included.
Mitt doubles down on Obama “Apology Tour” in new ad
No Apology was the name of Mitt Romney's 2009 book. It's a theme he has used for years, accusing Barack Obama of apologizing for America overseas, specifically on his 2009 tour of foreign nations. And he used it again in Monday night's foreign policy debate in Boca Raton, though President Obama was more than ready…
Mitch Perry Report 10.23.12 — Romney overconfident?
Regardless of who you think (or what the public who was polled thinks) "won" the debate, conservatives are telling each other that Mitt Romney was the more impressive man because he acted more "presidential"; and he looked like the incumbent and Obama looked like the challenger in terms of who was more aggressive and who…
Dia De Los Muertos in Dunedin: Dead-on good time
Participants dressed up as skeletons known as Calacas and marched in a procession down Main Street in Dunedin Casa Tina's annual Dia De Los Muertos was celebrated in downtown Dunedin on Saturday night with good food, great jazz, and lots of Calacas (skeletons) and mojigangas (18-foot-tall puppets). Dia De Los Muertos direct translation is Day…
President Obama to speak in Ybor City Thursday
Before HB 1355 was passed in 2011, early voting would have begun today in Florida, 15 days before Election Day. But one of the controversial provisions of that controversial elections bill reduced the days of early voting, meaning the first day when registered voters can go to the polls and fill out a ballot is…
Tampa Trib cutting wages and offering buyouts
Well, that was fast, wasn't it? Two weeks after the Tampa Tribune was purchased by a Los Angeles-based private-equity investment group, the paper is cutting employee wages and offering buyouts. A memo (originally published on the Romenesko website) was sent to Trib employees Monday morning with the headline "Pay adjustment and voluntary severance program." Sent…
Spooky domiciles, creepy kids and more: The CL 2012 Halloween Guide
Check here for all the fun.
Sen. Fasano and watchdog groups call for expanded investigation into Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Earlier this month, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. dumped four of its Office of Corporate Integrity members, claiming the action was to reduce redundancy and beef up its fraud investigation unit. The incident coincided with state inspector general Melinda Miguel's investigation of Citizens' alleged lavish executive spending, which prompted officials with two consumer advocacy groups to…
#MusicMonday, Vol. 77: Sparks, Two Door Cinema Club, Yeasayer & more
What the CL music team is jamming this week (with video)
Al Cardenas is bullish on Connie Mack
Al Cardenas On Saturday, the generally conservative Tampa Tribune endorsed Bill Nelson in his bid for re-election against Republican Connie Mack IV. The Fort Myers-based Congressman derided Nelson as being a "lockstep liberal" with President Obama, and the Trib admits that its view would be different "if there was a strong conservative alternative, someone like…
Gloria Steinem rallies crowd of more than 400 against Amendment 6
The feminist icon headlined Saturday’s I Am Choice rally in St. Petersburg.
Lehane and Koryta sign books at Four Green Fields tonight
Mystic River and other famous bestsellers. His newest is called Live by Night with settings in Ybor City." title="Dennis Lehane penned Mystic River and other famous bestsellers. His newest is called Live by Night with settings in Ybor City." width="260" height="156" /> Dennis Lehane penned Mystic River and other famous bestsellers. His newest is called…
Mitch Perry Report 10.22.12 -R.I.P. George McGovern
On Saturday, the Tampa community said its final goodbyes to Sam Gibbons, the long-time Democratic Congressman who represented Tampa in D.C. for 34 years. Gibbons passed away earlier this month at 92, and yesterday one of his contemporaries, former South Dakota U.S. Sen. George McGovern, died at 90. Today you can read about McGovern's life…
NBC Nightly News at UT as candidates prepare for presidential debate in Florida
ut.edu The UT marching band performs during Sunday's Today broadcast. As part of their coverage of Florida's impact on the election, Today show host Lester Holt and a crew from NBC conducted a live broadcast of the network's morning news show from the University of Tampa today. The network has camped out as President Barack…
Gallup pollster goes on Fox News Sunday to explain why Romney leads in his poll by 7 points, and everyone else has it tied
Frank Newport, editor-in-chief for Gallup We all know that the presidency will be one by the candidate with the most electoral votes, not necessarily the popular vote. That happened in 2000, where Al Gore had 500,000 more votes than George W. Bush, but lost the electoral vote when the Supreme Court ended the recount in…
Rahm Emanuel visits Tampa to fire up the Obama troops
Rahm Emanuel in Tampa on Saturday In a New York Times' blog post, author Nate Silver speculates that recent gains by Mitt Romney might necessitate the Obama administration to withdraw from competing in the Sunshine State, but Chicago Mayor and Obama supporter Rahm Emanuel said nothing doing on that front. "Based on the president and…
Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Lunch on the Lawn lacking-photos from Friday’s event
Most tables were empty and crowds were thin for Friday afternoon's event It makes sense that The Tampa Downtown Partnership would try to meet the needs of restaurants based in downtown. Why import competition from food trucks or other operations that aren't from that area? The idea behind Lunch on the Lawn in Lykes Gaslight…
Rowdies face Minnesota in first leg of NASL finals
Shane Hill fires a shot on goal in the 3-3 draw against Carolina last Saturday in a contest that set up a berth in the NASL Championship Series. If the Rowdies win, it will be the second title in organization history since the Rowdies won in their inaugural season in 1975. When the Rowdies last…
Could it be… SATAN?
When it comes to local sports… sure could.
Who’s defrauding whom?
It’s hard to argue you’re changing elections law to prevent fraud when your actions are directly responsible for it.
Mea culpa
Last week’s answer was not my finest.
Rich Glorioso doesn’t want Hillsborough Elections employees who have contributed to his opponent working in that office
Rich Glorioso Plant City State Representative Rich Glorioso is running for Supervisor of Elections in Hillsborough County next month against Democrat Craig Latimer, who currently works as chief of staff to the current SOE head, Dr. Earl Lennard. A number of staff members in that office have given financial support to Latimer, and Glorioso doesn't…
Joe Biden in Sun City Center: “This isn’t your father’s Republican Party”
Bill Nelson & Joe Biden spoke on Friday An interesting thing happened toward the end of Vice President Joe Biden's nearly 40-minute speech at a community center in Sun City Center on Friday. He stopped ripping into the policies being promoted by the Romney-Ryan ticket, and began paying tribute to members of the U.S. military,…
Review: Ani DiFranco stages a big solo folk show at The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City
I can't pretend I was even trying to be unbiased as I headed to The Ritz Ybor on Tuesday night to see Ani DiFranco. Though I've been listening to Ani for half of my life, this would be my first time seeing her in person. Back in the late days of middle school, it was…
Grave consequences: the arduous preservation of an old cemetery
Historians lament the neglect of historic, local graveyards.
High Five
TMA’s Five By Five fuses an art exhibition, a benefit sale and a slate of 10-minute performances, all in support of local artists.
Date night
Tampa Rep’s second season takes flight with Phoenix, a rom-com-dram for the stage.
Terror in Ybor Square!
CL’s Reel Terror Film Festival rises again.
Presidential drag
Campaign-fatigued? The Kinsey Sicks’ Electile Dysfunction could be the cure.
Cross words for Alex Cross
Tyler Perry trades Madea for a badge.
Mitch Perry Report 10.19.12 – Gallup vs. the world?
With apologies to Nate Silver (whose headline in the NY Times we ripped off today), the big story on this third-to-last weekend before the presidential election is: who is winning the race right now, nationally and in the key battleground states? Conservatives were besides themselves with joy yesterday when the daily Gallup poll showed Mitt…
Two Big Mouths #116 Now Live
[audio-path:http://archive.org/download/TwoBigMouths116V2/Tbm10-18.mp3] Well hello Mouthy friends. On the big show this week, the 5 second rule for food on the floor has been disproven. Enjoy your botulism. We're a bit more of a violent bunch around here these days. And a the one that started it all, the video game revolution starter, turns 35 this month.…
Two Big Motuhs #116 Now Live
[audio-path:http://archive.org/download/TwoBigMouths116V2/Tbm10-18.mp3] Well hello Mouthy friends. On the big show this week, the 5 second rule for food on the floor has been disproven. Enjoy your botulism. We're a bit more of a violent bunch around here these days. And a the one that started it all, the video game revolution starter, turns 35 this month.…
Tampa RNC host committee officials believe convention brought in $180 million
Ken Jones & Al Austin meet the press Thursday outside the Tampa Bay Times Forum After much anticipation, the host committee for the Tampa Republican National Convention posted its financial report with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday night. Thursday morning, the two top officials associated with the local committee — Ken Jones and Al Austin…
Charlie Crist reiterates support for Barack Obama
The president & Charlie Crist in Seminole in September With Paul Ryan making campaign stops in Ocala and Fort Myers on Thursday, it was no surprise that the Democratic National Committee would host a conference call with a spokesperson bashing the Romney-Ryan ticket. However the choice of campaign surrogate was a little spicier than usual…
America’s role in the world discussed at Tampa Convention Center
Anthony Zinni, Robert Zoellick, Sylvia Burwell and Frank Sesno in Tampa Retired General Anthony Zinni said the U.S. government still acts and governs like it's the Cold War. "Explain to me your national security strategy," the former leader of U.S. Central Command told an audience at the Tampa Convention Center on Thursday, at a forum…
Need weekend plans?
Let freeFall Theatre take you on a musical journey through Bette Midler's catalogue Saturday night. Get out your planner, because there's a lot going on in Tampa Bay this weekend. Stop by the Chelsea for Oral Fixation's LGBTQ open mic series — the only one of its kind in the area — held the third…
His grandmother’s ravioli
Mo Rocca’s new series spotlights family recipes cooked by America’s sweet and salty grandparents.
An issue with teeth
Pinellas Commissioners’ 4-3 anti-fluoride vote has put a scare into voters. But there’s another development that’s even scarier.
It came from the kitchen!
Restaurant horror stories from two TV reporters with very strong stomachs.
Spotlight On: Clearwater Jazz Holiday
Full details on the festival in Coachman Park.
We almost had Paris
A lovely restaurant in Safety Harbor whose parts don’t quite add up yet.
Die Antwoord reps the zefs at The Ritz + Chris Robinson Brotherhood, The Temper Trap & more in live music this week.
Tampa Bay concerts, Oct. 18-24
Turn your freak on: An untraditional Halloween music playlist
With lots of video and a Spotify playlist link.
Mitch Perry Report 10.18.12 – Connie Mack on the offense
Did y'all catch last night's one and only U.S. Senate debate between Bill Nelson and Connie Mack? Although observers gave it negative reviews, we're curious if it might boost the Republican's chances in next month's election. Mack has a lot of vulnerabilities (as does Nelson), but the 45-year-old Fort Myers based Congressman was ready for…
#MusicMonday, Vol. 76: Japandroids, Django Django, Frank Turner & more
What the CL Music Team is spinning this week.
