Ryan Shaw dazzles, debuts new original
Here's a review and photo from contributor Arielle Stevenson: Fri., Oct. 26, Orpheum, Ybor City CONCERT REVIEW Guavaween may have been some people's favorite part of last weekend but it fails in comparison to what took place Friday at the Orpheum in Ybor City. Ryan Shaw possesses the vocal ability of 1960s era Stevie Wonder…
A Visit to the Great American Cooter Festival
I don’t know what you did this weekend, but I saw a bunch of cooters … at the Great American Cooter Festival in Iverness, Florida! It was typical small-town Florida festival — vendors carrying Confederate flags, scented candles and fried dough. But there were also cooter races, Miss Cooter 2007 and a Cooter Idol contest.…
Obesity, From Sea To Shining Sea
I haven't seen a map this scary since hurricane season two years ago. Make sure to watch the animation, that tells the real story of the growth of obesity in the US. Thanks to CNN. (via our friends in Atlanta)
The Short List is moving
… over to The Political Whore. Check PoHo blog daily for your dose of goofy or insightful links. Today's is here.
Big News. SELMON Big!
I don't actually know what the news is, but it's big! OSI — the Outback folks — are trying to drum up interest in a Lee Roy Selmon's press conference this afternoon. Lee Roy will be there, as will OSI CEO and all-around big-shot Bill Allen. But really, what kind of big news would necessitate…
Mick Jagger’s skinny ass (and other Monday music links)
One more reason to love Natalie Portman. Neil Young discusses new album, tour with New York Times. Bon Jovi to play Tampa April 27 at St. Pete Times Forum. Country Music Hall of Famer Porter Wagoner dies. One of his most popular hits, "Satisfied Mind," was covered by The Byrds, Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams.…
Ronny Elliott debuts new material at Tre Amici
Last night at Tre Amici in Ybor City, attendees were treated to impassioned sets by three of the Bay's area best singer/songwriters: Rebekah Pulley, Lorna Bracewell and then Ronny Elliott (pictured), who debuted cuts from his upcoming album Jalopypaint. One of the standouts focuses on the many Hollywood actors and filmmakers who were blacklisted during…
The Willow (Oral Pleasures)- Part 1
This position begins with the man seated on the edge of the bed or a chair and the woman saddled over top his lap. Gently lean her back until she has both hands on the floor and is balanced. The man then pulls her torso towards him, while she walks back using her hands. Clenching…
Nature’s Harvest Reorganizes To Compete With The Big Boys
Nature’s Harvest, a 23 year old fixture in Tampa’s organic and natural foods community, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few weeks ago. The south Tampa store was suffering under a conflict with the bank that holds their mortgage and, according to President David Taylor, “the only way to go forward with that relationship…
Liberal Libations: Brandon’s Drinking Liberally Turns 2
Do you miss Beerfest already? Don’t worry, Tampa Bay, there are more opportunities to swig brew. After all, we are the No. 6 party town in the nation (at least according to Maxim magazine). Today marks the two-year anniversary of Brandon’s Drinking Liberally, one of the local versions of a national group seeking to foster…
The Short List — Thurs., Oct. 25
Two months 'til Christmas. Have you begun putting off shopping yet? California is burning. Let the blame game begin! The U.S. has designated Iran's real-super-scary-sounding Revolutionary Guard Corps "a proliferater of weapons of mass destruction." Really? And the proof of this is …? The government's terror watch list has topped 750,000 names — still short…
Ooze, Schmooze, Irvine’s Snooze
Don't really know what that title means, but I have news about celebrity chef and all-around scary fella Robert Irvine's poorly named restaurant in St. Petersburg. Ooze and Schmooze was originally scheduled to open this month at 400 Beach Dr., but that's not going to happen. According to the building's developers, the earliest they expect…
The Hard Luck of Homelessness
“Here we are on the fuzzy border between eccentricity and incompetence,†writes Dr. Douglas Uzzell after a psychiatric examination of David Castellano, the subject of my Urban Explorer column this week. You might know Castellano as the rotund man on Tampa’s Sheldon Road surrounded by signs claiming he won the Pennsylvania Lottery. But spend a…
Neil Young: Extra ’Ordinary’
I've spent the past couple of days absorbing Neil Young's new album Chrome Dreams II, a sequel to an unreleased album from the 1970s. A collection of fresh cuts and archive material, the disc's centerpiece is the 18-minute-plus "Ordinary People," which Young reportedly recorded in 1988 with the Blue Notes. Listening to "Ordinary People," which…
Where Did All Those Central Park Residents Go?
Over 1,000 men, women and children living in 483 apartments — where did all those Central Park residents go? That’s the central questions of last week’s Urban Explorer. Using records obtained from the Tampa Housing Authority, I tracked down a handful of former tenants of the notorious housing project in downtown Tampa to see where…
Fatal Attraction
There are moments in Ang Lee's new movie when you'd swear you were watching a film by Hong Kong enfant terrible de jour Wong Kar Wei — 2046, maybe, or most likely In the Mood for Love. From its willowy women in elegant, high-necked dresses, to the curiously Anglicized retro-pop soundtrack, to the overall ambience…
Funk Your Smooth Jazz
Medeski, Martin and Wood grooves with its loyal following.
Detective Game
Theater Wednesday, October 31
Indian Reservations
Two ethnic eateries would be easier to recommend if they could pool their strengths.
Rotten Luck
He was cheated by the lottery, he says. But the sad state of homeless care may be the real culprit.
Green Swath of Death
A controversial beltway around Tampa Bay resurfaces and, with it, conspiracy theories.
Weekly Planner
CL's must-do list for the week of Thurs., oct. 25-Wed., Oct. 31 25The local observance of the Sixth Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days — a global awareness-raising series of events — spreads a message of hope, unity and "Harmony for Humanity" with live music, readings and talks by several Bay area luminaries. 7-11 p.m.,…
Being as Becoming
Artists’ surprising journeys into Latin American culture.
Mat Kearney, Ryan Shaw, Zappaween…
Plus (Lord help us) The Village People
From Road Show to Chick Lit
LITERATURE
Leftovers
Beer’s to You
The checklist
Confessions of a Halloween-oholic.
May I Take Your Pledge?
A public radio junkie gives her time, and telephone voice, to the cause.
Alicia Pops In
With a great ballad from her forthcoming album
The Shaw Thing
Ryan Shaw revives the golden age of R&B
Jimmy Buffett, Queen Latifah, Rev. Horton Heat…
…and Blue October (even though it’s nearly November)
They are the Pipettes
Plus … Slow Poke and Robert Plant
Bark and Bash
Holiday Thursday, October 25
Up, up and not away
Tampa Bay works against itself in the fight for international flights.
Want to See More?
Midtown Through Our Eyes will be on view at Eckerd College, Lewis Hall, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, Oct. 29 through December; and at St. Petersburg/ Clearwater International Airport, Roosevelt Boulevard, Oct. 29 through May 2007. Unmatted prints of the photos are available in various sizes for $15-$30; calendars for $10. For information, contact…
Caged Heat
SPORTS
Don’t Panic
Who is Khaled el-Masri?
Currying flavor
Intrigued by the review of Shalimar and Taj but want a few more options? Check out these Bay-area palaces to the rich cuisine of India. Bombay Masala Indian Cuisine 4023 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-880-7511 Angithi Indian Cuisine 2047 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-979-4889 Udipi Café 14422 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-962-7300 PureVeg Mirch Masala…
Nothing up his sleeve
Rox, Sox, Republicans…
The Great 48
The amazing young journalists of Midtown Magazine
Night of the living dead
Halloween is here, but it’s springtime for Hitler in DVD-Land.
Bounce to Bootsy
And get stretched by the funk
Celebrate Good Times
Music Sunday, October 28
Briefing room blues
"I don't even know what that is. Is that a band?" –—White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, when asked by the Washington Times about Radiohead's new album, In Rainbows "[A]ccording to wikipedia … dana perino even lived in the U.K. for a year. weeaak…" –—Comment posted by Tim A in response to the Times article…
Reach for the Sky
And a subdued listen
Michael Myers is Gonna Get Cha
Film Tuesday, October 30
Ahmed Bedier: “Like the NAACP, but for Muslims…”
Who? Ahmed Bedier, 33, is the executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Sphere of influence: Bedier heads up the second-largest CAIR group in the nation. The media regularly quotes him on Muslim-related events, and religious groups frequently tap him for educational lectures on Islam. Bedier also co-hosts True…
Get Your Freak On: Guavaween 2007
Another year, another Guavaween. If you've attended in the past, you either love the disorderly cavorting of tens of thousands of costumed Tampanians or avoid it like a rotten stink. If you count yourself among the former, or you're a Guavaween virgin, we've provided a handy schedule of events all occurring this Saturday, Oct. 27.…
Outtakes
Upcoming Releases BELLA (PG-13) A huge crowd pleaser on the festival circuit (it snagged the Audience Award winner at the Toronto Film Festival), Bella offers sincerity, romance and emotional uplift for miles. As far as subtlety or originality go, the movie doesn't fare nearly so well. Eduardo Verastegui stars as Jose, a once-promising soccer player…
Take Me to the River
Special Events Saturday, October 27
Alterna-ween
If you'd like to avoid the bedlam and accompanying throng of drunken, mask-wearing gropers of Guavaween, we suggest these worthy holiday alternatives. FOR CHARITY The Barkoween Pet Costume Party — a fundraiser for Stop Pet Overpopulation Together (SPOT) — is a social gathering for doggies and their upright companions. The focus of the festivities is…
Monday Night Metal
Music Monday, October 26
Fresh Eyes
A 14-year-old photographer trains his camera on Midtown.
A Bit Too Gorey
A little goes a long way in these macabre, if well-performed, tales.
Time for Wine
Looking for your weekly Corkscrew by wine columnist extraordinaire Taylor Eason? She'll be gone for the next two weeks, but you can get your vino-fix at one of these upcoming wine events from around the Bay area. Got an upcoming or ongoing wine event? Send information to: The Wine List, 810 N. Howard Ave., Tampa,…
Aquarium Scare
Holiday Friday, October 26
Carnivale of Alcohol
Tiny mugs, big buzz at Beerfest.
Banding Together
What it’s like to be Mark Frangione.
Catch a Wave With Nada Surf
Plus Dr. Dog and a Celebration
Strangers on a Train
Wes Anderson tracks three brothers’ quirky journey across India.
