Concert review: Method Man and Redman stage dive at Jannus Live, St. Petersburg (with photos + video)
As Method Man and Redman orbited around the Jannus Live stage, strutting and bouncing to their hypnotizing beats and flowing on their comical and clever lyricisms, the dynamic emcee duo had a blunt viewpoint to share about the current state of hip-hop, which can be summed up in two words that were yelled into the…
The whole thing: Coming to terms with your fowl
Meat comes from animals. Animals are living creatures that had families and may or may not have been cute. When they were killed they were not at all happy about it and they bled a lot. These are the facts. If you are a person who eats meat, then this is a reality you must…
Go green even in death with this biodegradable coffin made from recycled paper pulp
Move over EcoPod, here's the newest design in eco-friendly coffins: the PULP coffin by DanCof. It looks like the standard coffin but is made of biodegradable, long fiber recycled paper, it is incredibly light compared to wooden caskets, and it is a sustainable product that can be easily mass produced. The usual wooden or MDF…
Five reasons why Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival is worth your while (with video!)
Four years ago, my husband and I took in the sights and sounds of the inaugural Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival, a quaint but high-quality North Florida fest held at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park and boasting a bounty of musical high points, not to mention plenty of non-musical diversions. The fest has gotten…
Obama contrite over self-confessed “shellacking”
President Obama has received lots of tough criticism over the past year, and critics question whether he'll adapt a la Bill Clinton from the thrashing that he and his party received yesterday across the country in losing 60 seats in the House of Representatives. But there is no doubt that through his body language he…
Movie Review: Megamind, starring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and David Cross (with trailer video)
Megamind cross-pollinates many familiar elements of superhero movies and pop culture with the talented voice acting of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and David Cross to create a fun story — though it may be slightly too complicated for younger audiences. The idea is that Ferrell’s MegaMind and Pitt’s MetroMan were sent…
Photo review: The Fest 9, Gainesville
The Fest 9 was this past weekend in Gainesville. It’s the ninth annual edition and so far — and I’m going out on a limb here writing this — I'd say it was just as debauchery-filled as the previous eight. The multi-venue Fest is known for it’s slew of punk and thrash-oriented bands, and draws…
After serving on Hillsborough County Commission for nearly 2 decades, Jim Norman to blow off going away ceremony?
There were dozens of races to cover in local politics Tuesday night, so it's understandable that reporters didn't make the Senate District 12 race one of the can't miss stories to discuss regarding the results of the 2010 midterm elections here in Florida. Yes, that's the district where Jim Norman was expected to and did…
Movie/TV Links for Today, Nov. 3, 2010: MUBI, Jon Stewart, TV Election Coverage and more …
If you own a PlayStation 3 and happen to live in UK, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Australia or New Zealand (and if Tuesday's election was any indication, you probably will be in the near future) the film fanatic website MUBI now has a free app for the game machine…
Holiday wine tasting and recycled art exhibit at Whole Foods Market – Saturday, November 6
is hosting their first ever holiday wine tasting and recycled art exhibit this Saturday at their Dale Mabry location. It's not only a wine tasting, it's an art show that will feature works of recycled art by local artists and a charity event benefiting The Gold Shield Foundation. Sample a variety of over 30 wines…
Is the anger over Stephen Fry’s comments on sexuality justified? (updated with audio)
You may think I'm just another female writer jumping on the "I hate Stephen Fry" bandwagon, but you would be wrong. Stephen Fry, a rather popular gay British blogger, has received some backlash for comments he made regarding women's motives for having sex. While his feelings may not be popular, or delicately expressed, they certainly…
Dance Review: USF 2010 Fall Dance Concert
The USF Fall Dance Concert is a great showcase for this school’s dance talent, both in performance and choreography. That the USF School of Theater and Dance has attracted some esteemed faculty and visiting choreographers with impressive credits in recent years is very obvious in the excellence of this show. The five numbers performed are…
USF Students Speak Out on Election 2010
The elections yesterday left a sour taste in the mouths of several USF students. With what appears to be a very low voting turnout amongst students, the opinion seems to be unanimous; this election was not handled constructively (although turnout amongst young people was higher than the 2006 Florida midterm election). Several students around campus…
Tonight’s Top Chef Just Desserts preview: Power rankings
Honestly, I have no clue what's going on with Top Chef: Just Desserts tonight. The only preview videos that are up on Bravo's site don't reveal anything about tonight's challenges nor did the previews at the end of last week's episode. Well, besides the chefs frantically running around the kitchen and lots of sh*t talking…
Concert announcement: Iron Maiden to play first Tampa show in 22 years… with updated ticket info!
I was probably not the most impartial concert reviewer on April 2, 2009. When you wait half your life to cross a band off the number one slot on the concerts-to-see-before-I-die list, you get excited. I'm positive the rest of the Bank Atlantic Center crowd felt the same way as Iron Maiden pounded one classic…
Concert review: Phoenix with Wavves at House of Blues, Orlando 10-26-10 (with photos & setlist)
The French are well known for many things: silly flat hats, garlic drenched snails, phallic monuments, royal be-headings, and more varieties of cheese and wine than a single country should be allowed to lay claim to. What the French are not known for is music. I will concede that there’s Chopin, Edith Piaf, and the…
Sink concedes: Rick Scott is the Governor-Elect of Florida
Trailing by approximately 68,000 votes, Democrat Alex Sink conceded the governor's race a little after 10:30 a.m. today, making Rick Scott the winner in the Florida 2010 gubernatorial election. Speaking to reporters from the site of last night's election event at the Tampa Marriott Waterside (which began much earlier than the 10:45 call that had…
On the Radar: Party in the Parks, D.L. Hughley, Ybor gets jazzy and more
Welcome to On the Radar, a preview of upcoming events to mark on your calendar: Over the past several weeks, the city of St. Petersburg has been commemorating the Waterfront Parks Centennial with various free events at its picturesque expanses of land by the bay. The big humdinger celebration happens this Saturday: Party in the…
Dissecting Dexter: Season 5, episode 6 “Everything is Illumenated”
Whew! Though Dexter may not be able to just yet, I can finally breathe a big sigh of relief. One of the best dramas on television is regaining its strength, pushing through potentially disastrous plotlines to produce an episode full of classic Dexter-style entertainment. No time is wasted in developing the Lumen story, which is…
DIY green: Make your own solar powered water heater (video)
For all of you weekend warriors and DIY MacGyvers, here's a green project to tackle that will help you save some energy in your home: a solar water heater. Just follow these step-by-step instructions on how to make a simple solar water heater from everyday household items. How does it work? Water inside a water…
No gussying up this pig: Dems get thrashed in Florida: Mitch Perry Report 11.3.10
The deepest, darkest fears of Florida Democrats were realized in full Tuesday night, when the party was rejected in virtually every race considered competitive, top to bottom. And not only are there now more Republicans than there were in Tallahassee a day ago, they are proudly more conservative. If there is a living, breathing example…
Your next governor? What a Scott victory could mean for Florida
If Rick Scott wins the close race for governor, what are the possible consequences for Florida? 1. No more high-speed rail? As a candidate, Scott accused opponent Alex Sink of wanting to spend over $12.5 billion to implement her programs, and accused her of having to raise taxes to do so. Sink vehemently denied his…
Your next governor? What an Alex Sink victory would mean for Florida
If Alex Sink pulls ahead in the very close race for governor, what would her victory mean for Florida? 1. No Arizona-style crackdown on undocumented immigrants Alex Sink has said that she would penalize businesses who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. But she has been adamant about not supporting an Arizona-style illegal immigration bill, which means…
Election 2010: What will Marco Rubio support in the Senate?
First of all, we can reassure Floridians concerned about Rubio’s strong conservative stances that he’s just one of 100 members of the Senate, and won’t be able to pass anything on his own. However, he was one of the most charismatic and hyped-up candidates of 2010. There’s no question that many of his viewpoints are…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, November 3: Mr. Dunderbak's and The Independent Seminole Heights Join Shmaltz Brewing proprietor, Jeremy Cowan, and Sales Manager Darren Quinlan as they present a special selection of beers from their HE'BREW Beer line at Mr Dunderbaks and The Independent Seminole Heights. Shmaltz will pour two barrel-aged beers including R.I.P.A. on Rye and the brand…
Election Results in Pinellas County: Democrats Heller, Hackworth, Justice defeated
Pinellas County saw over 50% voter turnout for midterm elections Tuesday, but few were in the Democrats' favor. The District 4 seat for Pinellas County Commission went to Republican Susan Latvala, who won 56% of the vote against Democrat Bob Hackworth. Hackworth, the former mayor of Dunedin, ran and lost against Congressman Bill Young in…
Sink addresses crowd at Tampa Marriott Waterside hotel – down by 2% with lots of votes still to be counted
At approximately 12:06 a.m., Alex Sink finally came out and spoke to supporters at her downtown Tampa party headquarters. With 91% of precincts in, Sink is just 2% down behind Rick Scott, with votes from lots of Democratic counties still coming in. "There are still hundreds of thousands of votes to be counted," she said.…
Do It Today: Retro Art Show at Bamboozle, Caribbean Essence at UT and the Ybor Jazz Festival
Wednesdays are like mini-Thanksgivings, when we express our gratitude for surviving the first half of the week (and this week, a stressful Election Day) and start counting down to Saturday and Sunday. Let's give thanks for worthwhile things to do, now that we've sufficiently regained our energy to go out in public again. Tonight at…
Riding the Republican wave, Tampa’s Pam Bondi blows out Dan Gelber in Attorney General race
Some of Dan Gelber's biggest supporters admitted over the weekend that they were always underdog to Pam Bondi, the longtime Hillsborough County Assistant Prosecutor and spokeswoman, and in recent years, a big presence on cable news. Add to it that she was an attractive female based in the I-4 corridor and running in a position…
Republicans kick ass in Hillsborough Country
Congratulations to Debbie Cox-Roush, the Chairwoman for the Hillsborough County Republican Party. She and her minions have worked hard for months, and that hard work – and the general anti Democratic party sentiment throughout Florida and the nation, saw the GOP but an old fashioned whoopin' on the D's tonight. In House District 57, Republican…
Hillsborough transit tax going down to defeat
Cl was just at the (extremely modest) party headquarters for Moving Hillsborough Forward, the group that was pushing for the transit tax that would help fund light rail in Hillsborough County. That measure is getting crushed, 58% to 42%, with 359 of 383 precincts reporting. Former Tampa Democratic Congressman Jim Davis worked tirelessly over the…
Alan Grayson getting crushed in his bid for re-election- Fox News calls it for Republican Dan Webster
He always had a bulls-eye on his chest after his provocative comments about Republicans plan for health care ("Republicans want you to die quickly"), and he further ignited strong GOP anger (and fundraising to his opponent) when he ran a television ad calling his Republican opponent in his Congressional District 8 seat, "Taliban Dan." But…
With nearly half precincts reporting, Ken Hagan on way to victory over Linda Saul-Sena in Hillsborough’s District 5 race
With 168 of 363 precincts reporting in Hillsborough's District 5 race that became increasingly nasty in the final weeks, Republican Ken Hagan has a strong 55%-40% lead over his Democratic opponent Linda Saul-Sena, with independent candidate Jim Hosler at 5%. If the trend continues, Hagan will get four more years in the county wide seat,…
In the early count, Amendments 5 & 6 are winning
With Florida's constitutional amendments needing 60% to win, some analysts said that none of the measures would be victorious. Maybe that will be the case at the end of the night, but right now, Amendments 5 & 6, measures supported by Florida FairDistricts, that are dedicated towards making both Congressional and Legislative Districts to be…
Rubio declared winner of Florida’s longest Senate contest as polls close
It's been a long, sprawling saga, and now it's over. Marco Rubio has been declared by the Associated Press as the winner of the Florida U.S. Senate race, immediately after the polls closed in the Panhandle. What that means is that though we're far from knowing what the final margin of victory will be, it…
Hillsborough County Transit tax down early
With the early and absentee vote totals already being announced, the Hillsborough County transportation tax is losing big time, 59%-41%. No doubt conservative voters, strongly anti-tax for the most part, account for many of those early votes, although as Hillsborough County Democratic party chair Pat Kemp said today, the Dems had actually caught up with…
Hillsborough County Commission to have dramatically different look
Although we don't expect to know for awhile about the two closest races in Hillsborough County – that being the District 1 seat between Republican Sandy Murman and Democrat John Dingfelder – and in District 5 – where Ken Hagan and Linda Saul-Sena's campaign descended into accusations of racism, along with indie candidate Jim Hosler,…
Zoofari at Lowry Park Zoo: Eat, drink and enjoy live music by The Gin Blossoms – Saturday, November 6
The 24th annual Zoofari event at Lowry Park Zoo this Saturday, November 6th, is another reason to visit the country's No. 1 zoo in America, as rated by both Parents magazine (2009) and Child magazine (2004). Don't miss over 70 of the Bay area’s best restaurants live entertainment this Saturday starting at 7 pm. Get…
Rick Scott stops the rain in South Tampa
After the driest month of October in Tampa on record, the rains have descended upon parts of the Tampa Bay area with force on Election Day, threatening to depress Democratic turnout even further. But Republicans have always been a much heartier bunch when it comes to expressing their franchise, and dozens of them stood in…
Condom care: tips for gripping without ripping or slipping
Boys grow up believing condoms are akin to bulletproof superhero cloaks that make our dicks invincible, which is why it came as quite a shock to me when my condom broke the first time I had sex, then slipped off completely on another try. The reason for the breakage was not my enormous penis, but…
Floating restaurant made entirely of recycled materials is spreading the word about sustainable seafood
The "SS Plastic Dining Room" is making waves in Vancouver, Canada, with their floating dining room made entirely of renewable, recycled, repurposed or reclaimed materials. What makes it even greener is that the chef de cuisine serves only sustainable seafood and local produce on board — proving that you can have luxury dining and be…
Movie Links for Nov. 2nd, 2010: Rabbit Hole, 127 Hours, Zach Galifianakis tokes up and more …
This week's IFC News Podcast profiles the films of Danny Boyle, whose latest film 127 Hours opens in limited release this Friday and in the Bay area on Nov. 24. The Playlist gives us a First Look at Wong Kar Wai's The Grand Master starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Zhang Ziyi.
Collective Memory: an interview with The Books
What truly distinguishes The Books is their ability to shine intense emotional light on the most everyday moments and the extremely obscure instances. Ambiguous answering machine messages, meditation monologues, a hymn about math numbers. A song constructed out of a giant stash of old TalkBoys with little kids saying strange and threatening things. Even Ghandi…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Cocktail-gate parties, five dash two and waive bye-bye to Randy Moss
Every so often you have a "grown-up" moment during a familiar experience through adult eyes when you feel something completely different from the days of your carefree youth where your idea of stress was premature ejaculation (seriously, did "It's been a while" and "You're just so attractive" ever work?). My first was when I watched The Price is Right one day…
Musicians commit “Random Acts of Culture”
Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Random Acts of Culture series brings classical artists out of the performance halls and into the streets and our everyday lives. Think Mozart at the Food Court. A tango in an airport terminal. Or in Saturday’s case, the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah orchestrated…
Younger voters still excited in 2010
With campaign ads streaming through every media outlet, it is hard for a "plugged-in" crowd to miss the hype. For the last week, the question many people ask is "Are you ready to vote?" For many college students the answer is yes. Walking around the University of South Florida, political signs can be found outside…
Electrolux unveils ‘Vacs from the Sea’, vacuums made from recycled ocean litter
, the Swedish the home appliance manufacturer, has created one-of-a-kind vacuums for their Vacs from the Sea campaign. Each one is adorned with plastic trash found in the North Sea, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean and the Baltic Sea in an effort to spread the message to other big companies about using more recycled…
Should health care reform include free birth control?
As medical experts begin advising lawmakers this month on what forms of preventive care should be covered under new health care legislation, many politicians will have to decide if birth control is a form of preventive medicine. Many doctors view contraception as a kind of temporary immunization. Not only does it reduce the tremendous cost…
Election Day edition: Equality Florida takes issue with Dana Young mailer, DC Democrats already bashing Obama, and John Sugg blasts the Tampa Tribune: Mitch Perry Report 11.2.10
Well, Election Day 2010 is finally here. Last night, in her second-to-last campaign appearance, Democrat Alex Sink and the rest of the Cabinet candidates came through Ybor City for an extremely brief rally that had a lot of enthusiasm — though in one-on-one conversations, that euphoria was a lot more tempered. Dana Young and Stacy…
Recriminations against Obama amongst Democrats already beginning
By this time tomorrow we will no longer have to contend with any more polls – actually, that's not true, as there should already be exit poll information ready to be deciphered and scrutinized. But with undoubtedly fewer Democrats in the House and Senate, there will be new criticism added to the past several weeks,…
Equality Florida takes issue with Dana Young mailer
Last night, the LGBT group Equality Florida issued a press release taking issue with Republican House District 57 candidate Dana Young, for a recent mailer sent to households in the district that calls her Democratic opponent, Stacy Frank, of being pro gay marriage and pro gay adoption. Brian Winfield with the group wrote, Dana Young…
From nose to tail: Trotter (pigs feet) terrine recipe
There has been a lot of chatter lately about “nose-to-tail eating”: utilizing of all parts of an animal for human consumption rather than just a few prime cuts, while the rest goes into making dog food. While butchering and cooking the entire animal used to be standard practice, it is now rather trendy in restaurants.…
John Sugg on why won’t the Tampa Trib tell you what people in Nashville know about Steve Emerson?
John F. Sugg was editor of the Weekly Planet in the 1990s, and group senior editor of Creative Loafing Newspapers until he retired in 2008. In his tenure, he reported extensively on the Sami Al-Arian story. After recent negative news broke about terrorism "expert" Steven Emerson, Sugg contacted CL about filing this post. Steven Emerson,…
New music releases out this Tuesday, November 2: Brian Eno, Good Charlotte, Violens, Elvis Costello, Mariah Carey, N.E.R.D., Matt and Kim, Neil Diamond, and more (with audio & video)
More new music out today! Yay! Here’s a breakdown of the ones you might want to know about. To see last week’s releases (out Oct. 26), click here; for releases out Oct 19, click here. , Return of the Century (Parasol) 7 Walkers, 7 Walkers (Response) A new music collaboration featuring The Grateful Dead's Bill…
Do It Today: Election Day therapy by way of the Museum of Fine Arts and a punk show
There are a couple of therapeutic ways to deal with the poopy feelings of an Election Day anti-climax. One is peaceful; the other, well, cathartic.
Sink and the rest of the Democratic ticket do a quick drive-by in Ybor City
With the polls showing the governor's race neck and neck, but all the other down-ballot races looking bleak for the Democratic candidates, the entire roster of statewide Democrats running on Tuesday's Election Day ballot made a "hometown" stop for Thonotosassa resident Alex Sink early Monday evening at the Ritz Theatre in Ybor City. Joining Alex…
Photo review: Jason Derulo, Auburn and Trinity at the Ritz Ybor, Tampa
Pics of Jason Derulo, Auburn and Trinity performing at the Ritz Ybor on 10/28/2010. (pics by Jeff O'Kelley) Photo gallery after the jump —>
The short film “The Secret Life of Beef” reveals the negative environmental impact of the meat industry (video)
What's one of the biggest source of carbon emissions on the planet? The cattle industry. From the feed and antibiotics to production to transportation, it takes an abundance of resources and emissions just to raise, process and transport one pound of beef. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), "Livestock production is…
Shinedown brings their “Anything & Everything” acoustic tour to Tampa this Thursday
When Shinedown vocalist Brent Smith said I could ask him anything, I got the impression he was serious. After chatting with him briefly a few weeks back about the band's upcoming "Anything & Everything" acoustic tour, I now know for sure. [Smith pictured right; all photos by Jeff O'Kelley.] This marks the first-ever unplugged tour…
Photo review: Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation at Hard Rock Live in Orlando
Some shots from the co-headlining show featuring UK's trip hop/ambient dance outfit, Massive Attack, along with DC-based lounge-infused global dance ensemble Thievery Corporation at Hard Rock Live in Orlando. Massive Attack Thievery Corporation Check out the complete photo gallery after the jump.
With fundraising down and more competition, WMNF’s program director floats new program schedule
Tampa Bay's community radio station, WMNF 88.5 FM, has had a rocky few years when it comes to fundraising. Although supposedly out of the recession, most Americans have been feeling the economic squeeze for three years or so, which is approximately when the station started having more trouble than usual hitting its financial goals during …
3 Guys & Glee — The Podcast: Season 2, Episode 5 “Rocky Horror Glee Show”
The 3 Guys crew are back after a break to discuss the latest episode of Glee, as they perform songs from the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. We break down the music, the characters, the creepiness of Will Schuster, whether the show should have done Rocky Horror and the infamous GQ photo shoot heard…
Reality TV stripped down: Casting for “The Nak’d Truth”
Reality TV is taking over the world as we know it, which basically consists of the world we see through plasma screens. Soon we'll just stay home watching live feeds from the security cameras positioned in places where sexy, naked people congregate. A healthy balance of sex appeal and voyeurism is a key component for…
A real-life pilgrimage to an ironic political rally: Shannon Bennett at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
It is a grueling 16 hours from Tampa to Washington D.C. by car. If, like me, you decide to make the trip with only 22 hours to your necessary arrival time, you'd better bring a driving buddy, caffeine and a hefty supply of beef jerky. Play your cards right, and you'll pull into DC at…
Eat ‘Dessert First’ to benefit the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida – Friday, November 5
Though we are about four months away from Girl Scout cookie season, you can get your fix of some decadent desserts inspired by the famous cookies this Friday at the InterContinental Hotel at 'Dessert First'. This event will showcase pastry creations by some of Tampa Bay's top chefs that utilize different Girl Scout cookies we…
Recycle your electronics to win a free cruise to the Bahamas
I know most of you probably have old CD and MP3 players, VCRs, etc., lying around your house or in the garage collecting dust. Instead of just throwing them away to end up leaching toxic chemicals into a landfill, why not go the eco-friendlier route and send them off to an electronics recycling center? What…
TV Review: The Walking Dead reanimates AMC’s Sunday 10 p.m. time slot
I thought I was going to have serious withdrawals after the Mad Men season finale, but AMC has given me and the bf a new juicy drama to cap off the weekend: AMC's The Walking Dead, adapted from the highly touted comic book series of the same name.
Sex positions to talk about, but not to try
Who doesn't enjoy sitting around the water cooler at work, whispering about the latest absurd sex positions you read about online, like the classic Dirty Sanchez or the Hot Carl? The questions that always arise with these "sex positions" is, who comes up with this stuff, and who actually does these things. The answer in…
Sink-Scott dead even on eve of election; GOP establishment terrified of Sarah Palin running for President; And Bill Clinton assuages his guilt by appearing with Kendrick Meek tonight in Orlando; Mitch Perry Report 11.1.10H
Happy post Halloween Monday to you all. Okay, so what can we say about the elections? The very latest poll, released this morning, shows that in the governor's race, Alex Sink and Rick Scott are basically tied (Sink's up by 1 point in the Quinnipiac survey). The Democrat holds her 2nd to last campaign event…
Buc renaissance, Oregon #1 in college football, and can Cliff Lee keep the low-rated World Series on the air?
Message to Tampa Bay area football fans: While you've decided in the past year to stop religiously following your local team in your favorite sport, the Raheem Morris led ball club has become one of the surprises of the first half of the 2010 season, after the Bucs, led by their 2nd year QB Josh…
Fox News’ Chris Wallace tells Sarah Palin she’s not running for president while Politico reports GOP establishment is freaked out that she will
The national political media complex will have its mini Super Bowl Tuesday night, but is already looking forward to what is the Super Bowl — the race to the presidency 2012. So the focus on who will be the Republican nominee (the Democrats already have their guy) will really accelerate on the cable news shows…
Drinking Dogfish diagonally: Comparing the Dogfish Head IPA siblings
has a well-deserved reputation for their wild and crazy beer styles. Not surprising coming from a brewery that touts itself as "Off-centered beers for off-centered people." Led by craft beer rock star Sam Calagione, Dogfish has broken rule after rule about what beer is "supposed" to be. From the potent 18% ABV Worldwide Stout to…
EarthTalk: Scratching synthetics for Merino wool
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: Merino wool undergarments tout themselves as being kinder to the environment than other wools or synthetics. How is this so? — Stella Cooley,…
UPDATE: Last major poll shows Sink & Scott in dead heat; Sink-Smith team to campaign in Ybor City tonight
Of course there are too many polls, and as every candidate generally says of them, "the only poll that counts is on November 2." Soon enough, that will literally be true, but the Alex Sink camp has to feel a little better this morning than yesterday when it comes to these surveys. That's because Quinnipiac…
Do It Today: First Monday Movie Night at the Independent, Roger Palmer’s scathing political art and more
Tonight is the inaugural free First Monday Movie Night at the Independent in Tampa. The first screening falls under the "so bad, it's good" category: The cult film The Room, the most audience-participation-heavy midnight movie since The Rocky Horror Picture Show first got toast pelted at the screen. Here's a trailer …
Can men succeed with women without being weird jerks?
Seduction is an art — an art which can be studied, practiced, perfected, taught and sold. Ever since Neil Strauss infiltrated the budding internet community of pickup artists (PUAs) in his book, The Game, seduction methods and manuals have exploded in popularity. The basics of most are the same: suppress your fear of rejection and…
Kendrick Meek’s 24 hour marathon campaign to begin Sunday night at USF & in Ybor City, ends with Bill Clinton guilt appearance Monday night
In all probability, Kendrick Meek will not win the U.S. Senate race in Florida Tuesday night. After news reports broke Thursday night that President Clinton had asked Meek to drop out of the race – and Meek reportedly agreed -both men then spent Friday disputing those rumors. With 48 hours before election day, the debacle…
Halloween Night Is Last Call for ZooBoo
Today is Halloween, which means it’s the last evening to visit ZooBoo at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave. The annual fund-raiser gives the zoo a Halloween theme, with haunted houses, games and rides. It features a mix of scary attractions for older guests and entertainment for younger ones.
Concert review: MGMT brings the hipsters to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater (with pics & setlist)
By the time the Brooklyn-based quintet MGMT dropped 2010’s Congratulations, expectations from both fans and critics were running at an all-time high and just begging to be crushed. The follow-up to their flawlessly produced, aurally lush 2007 major label debut, Oracular Spectacular, could never match the retro rock and psyche pop perfection of its predecessor.…
Charlie Crist to caucus with Dems, and not “the people” in the unlikely event he’s elected
Well, there's been a whole lot of space devoted over the past 24 hours about the whole Kendrick Meek quitting/Charlie Crist caucusing with Democrats/Bill Clinton playing the heavy story being breathlessly covered by state and national media. The bottom line as we leave you on this Friday afternoon – despite wherever Kendrick Meek's mind was…
Four Loko: The controversial party beverage that leaves you “wide awake drunk”
There is no mystery in the popularity of energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster. The caffeine content, alongside added sugar, will heighten awareness in most individuals for an extended amount of time. Young adults are particularly interested in energy drinks, especially high school and college students. But what about energy drinks with alcohol? More…
EarthTalk: Can pollution affect my child’s IQ?
The following is from the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk®, by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine, that we’ll be regularly featuring here on CL’s Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: Can pollution affect my child’s IQ? — Ellen Franzen, Portland, OR A spate of recent studies suggests that pollution can indeed affect the…
PoliFact rules Jeff Brandes claims about Bill Heller raising taxes as “mostly true”
The St. Pete Times' David DeCamp (who is a font of info on the goings-on in Pinellas County on the paper's Bay Buzz blog) has sat down and done the research on claims made by District 52 Republican aspirant Jeff Brandes against his Democratic incumbent opponent, Bill Heller. Everything in this race is relevant, with…
Ooey gooey goodness: Make an autumn feast of these pumpkin caramel blondies
Pumpkin is my absolute favorite flavor in the entire world (right before garlic and chipotle), probably because it reminds me of fall and the wonderful holidays that take place in this season. And I can't believe I've gone this long without writing a pumpkin-based recipe for CL Food. I guess the delay was due to…
Anti transit tax group blasts HART’s offer of a free ride to the polls on Election Day
If you have your voter registration card handy, offering that to a HART bus driver next Tuesday will get a you a free bus ride to your polling place, or any destination point that particular route goes. As part of a series of measures that the HART board introduced this year, the agency is offering…
CL Sound Bites: Foo Fighters channel Nirvana, the new old music of INXS, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, and more!
>>>Say what you will about Foo Fighters' occasionally above-average mainstream alt-rock, Dave Grohl never relied on his Nirvana pedigree to sell records. I'll give him credit for waiting fifteen years and six albums before tapping that well. Grohl is in the studio with Nevermind producer Butch Vig working on LP7, and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic will…
Ask Dream Momma: dreaming of a huge black bug
“Dream Momma, I dreamt that I was inside my old house and I was on the first floor with my mom. We were going in the kitchen together and all of a sudden I see this huge black creepy-crawly bug on the floor. I jump on a chair and scream for my mom to kill it…
Jealousy in the age of social media
Years ago jealousy stemmed from too many stray glances, a simple flirtation with the waitress, or a partner's sudden tendency to keep coming home late. Today things are much more complicated. The internet has opened up a whole new realm of infidelity and jealousy. I recently received this email on Facebook swirling with jealousy: "hi, rebecca..women to…
Meek denies he was set to quit Senate race, though a spokesman for Bill Clinton says he was; Rod Smith comes to Tampa to try to fire up sleepy Democrats, and Planned Parenthood tries to rally pro-choice Dems as well: Mitch Perry Report 10.29.10
Well, there certainly was a lot of drama last night, wasn't there? The Kendrick Meek dropping out of the Senate race story? No, the first 7 1/2 innings of Game Two of the World Series. But the drama ended in an endless bottom of the eighth inning when the Texas Rangers bullpen collectively couldn't throw…
Dining Guide: Downtown Clearwater (and beyond)
The Downtown Clearwater district has undergone significant improvements in the past decade, and is still growing thanks to the proactive efforts of the city and the community to improve the area. There are many hidden treasures to discover, with more on the way. Here are some of the culinary treasures you don't want to miss,…
PETA says they’ll help fund Lindsay Lohan’s rehab with $20k if she goes vegan
As deemed “So True” by E! News, animal advocacy group PETA is coming to the rescue of yet another wild animal — the ever-distressed Lindsay Lohan. Li-Lo, who has been on-again off-again with both rehab and jail was recently ordered by a judge to go back to rehab instead of jail for violating her probation.…
Rod Smith adds some excitement to otherwise lackluster Hillsborough Democratic meeting
Last night the Hillsborough County Democratic party hosted a Get Out the Vote rally in Ybor City, that, until the arrival of Rod Smith, Alex Sink's running mate, felt like a regular Democratic Executive Committee meeting held in the summer, not an important rally to fire up Democrats just days away from the midterm election.…
Concert review: Sublime with Rome at Jannus Live, St. Petersburg (with photos!)
Text by Amber McDonald; photos by Tracy May. “Higher the mountain, it hard to climb / Rougher the rhythm, it must be Sublime / Check out Bud Gaugh, Yea he’s right on time / We got cricket Eric Wilson with the funky bass line.” ~Excerpt from Sublime's “Don’t Push." With poetic-punk rock lyricisms, good-vibe reggae…
Meek denies Politico story that said Bill Clinton had talked him into quitting Senate race : “Totally false” (video)
I've got a question for Democrats and anybody else who has already voted for Kendrick Meek in early or absentee voting. How you feeling about your vote today? Kendrick Meek did the full monte of the morning news programs today, hitting up The Today Show, GMA, and CBS' Early Show to deny the story originally…
Do It This Weekend: Guavaween, John’s Pass Seafood Festival and more
Can you believe it? Tampa’s most loved (and hated) Halloween street bash has been around for a quarter of a century. If you haven’t got a party to attend or scary movie to watch this Saturday, venture out to Seventh Avenue to make history at the 25th Anniversary of Guavaween in Ybor City. Slap on…
Scientists discover biodegradable Styrofoam made from milk and clay
For all of you who ship packages with those Styrofoam peanuts on a regular basis, listen up. A Styrofoam substitute made from milk proteins and clay has been created by scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. This milk and clay concoction is easy to produce, lightweight and completely biodegradable. The recipe was a…
Top Chef Podcast: Just Desserts Ep. 7 – Dessert Storm
On the newest episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts, the chef'testants had to draw cookies to see what teams they would be on for the Quickfire and, magically, Team Go Diva was once again back together. The pastry mise en place relay race was quite entertaining. Seeing Morgan smugly hold stiff egg whites over his…
Planned Parenthood working on getting the vote out for Stacy Frank & Bill Heller
As we have written about several times, two of the most competitive state House races in Florida are taking place here in the Tampa Bay area – specifically in District 57, where Democrats are working hard to see Stacy Frank beat Dana Young in a seat previously held by term-limited Republican Faye Culp. The other…
Dallas TV reporter enjoying all of the aroma that is a World Series in San Francisco (video)
As many of you may know, Californians will go to the polls next week to vote on Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana in the Golden State. Earlier public opinion surveys had the measure passing, but the most recent polls show the measure going the other way. The Obama administration reacted as the Clinton Justice…
Festival of Reading: future of eBooks panel discussion
With approximately 7.5 million iPads sold since April, an increasing buzz around the mysterious launch date of Google Editions and a quarterly announcement from Amazon.com that customers are purchasing more Kindle books than hardcover and paperback combined for the top 10, 25, 100, and 1,000 bestsellers on the website, it is undeniable that books are…
CD review: Iggy Pop & James Williamson, Kill City Restored, Remixed & Remastered
If you only know Iggy Pop as the leader of the Stooges or as that guy who later graduated from the David Bowie school of pop/rock, Kill City will come as a revelation. It was recorded after the Stooges incarnations had fizzled and before Iggy was co-opted as the next whatever. Here, we find our…
Saul-Sena stays edgy with new ad bashing Ken Hagan (video)
Earlier this week we saw Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan's new television ad on Fox News where he bashes his Democratic opponent in the District 5 countywide seat, Democrat Linda Saul-Sena, alleging that in her zeal to challenge the furniture store Ikea if it did not come up with a better, more environmentally friendly design…
The Water Cooler: shameless politicians’ edition
The Water Cooler is a snapshot of some of the things people are talking about in politics By Chris Ingram Norman back on ballot but still may need orange jumpsuit The Florida District Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court judge’s ruling that Jim Norman is a lying, cheating bum and should be…
LEED Sustainable Sites and USGBC ‘lunch and learn’ at St. Pete College – Tuesday, November 9
Interested in delving further into your knowledge of technical information and strategies related to reducing urban heat islands while achieving LEED credit? Join LEED Sustainable Sites Technical Advisory Group members Joby Carlson (Research Engineer & Lab Manager, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University) and Gina Bocra (Director of Sustainable Design, Burt Hill) for an…
Corrections for tonight: Afroman canceled; Rocky Votolato plays Orlando, not Ybor; Tech N9ne and crew not coming at all
Somehow, I managed to miss getting these corrections into the paper before it went to print this week. All of them happen to fall on today — Thursday, October 28. Afroman canceled tonight's stop at Orpheum in Ybor City due to a health scare involving his newborn baby daughter. And the Tech N9ne show that…
Washington City Paper “guidelines” re Stewart/Colbert rallies: Chuckle politely, but not genuinely
Our colleague in the Creative Loafing empire, Washington City Paper Editor Michael Schaffer, has responded to the befuddlement of mainstream media regarding this weekend's Stewart/Colbert rallies ('Should we attend? If we attend, should we pay attention?') by issuing his own set of guidelines for City Paper staffers. Here's an excerpt:
Crist inches closer to Rubio in new poll, but is it too late? Skepticism in Seminole Heights on transit tax, and looking forward to hearing Jim Norman crow about his judicial victory: Mitch Perry Report 10.28.10
Good morning! Although I didn't write this yesterday (I didn't write anything about the World Series) a colleague of mine at CL can vouch that I did say yesterday afternoon that Texas Rangers pitching ace Cliff Lee did not walk on water, and no way was I conceding Game One of the 2010 Series to…
Vibrator giveaways on Election Day (Nov. 2) and Sex Toy Day (Nov. 4)
Who doesn't want a free sex toy? Okay, maybe the Tea Party candidate Christine O’Donnell isn't a big fan of vibrators as she has long campaigned against masturbation. It's not O'Donnell's fault. She has probably never had an orgasm; like many sexually repressed men and women across the country she might just be afraid of…
New Quinnipiac poll confirms more Democrats supporting Charlie Crist in Senate seat: The guv is now down by 7% to Marco Rubio
A new Quinnipiac poll released Thursday morning confirms what a Zogby poll showed back on Monday — that as Election Day nears, more Democrats are peeling away their support (in the polls, anyway) from their standard-bearer in the race, Miami Congressman Kendrick Meek, and defecting to independent Charlie Crist, who they obviously feel is the…
Upscale and down-home: Diner Sixty West serves comfort food at comfortable prices, with an updated aura
3 1/2 stars 2525 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727-437-0255 There are only a few restaurant genres that span the breadth of dining habits from meat-and-potatoes chain regulars to inveterate foodies, and almost all of them feature low-end fare: sandwiches and comfort food done right, maybe with a little flair to surprise people who want to pay…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Green Halloween event, free permaculture design course, markets and more
Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar. Fresh Markets and More at Seminole Mall- Every Thursday-Sunday; 9 am-3 pm. Fresh Markets and More is a fun-filled celebration of the world’s most popular culinary ingredients along with a selection of unique arts and crafts all located…
Doubts remain in Seminole Heights on Hillsborough County transit tax
With just five days to go before Hillsborough county voters decide on the penny transit tax that would begin the construction of a light rail system, voters still have lots of questions about the plans, questions that weren't all answered at a forum on the issue Wednesday night at Hillsborough High School in Seminole Heights…
Rubio, Crist & Meek: The three-party system – a free-spending Tea Party Republican, a recently minted Indie and the last Dem standing
Just minutes after finishing an intense debate with Senate rivals Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist in the studio of WTVT-Fox 13 in Tampa on October 15, Kendrick Meek met the press for a debriefing. Immediately a reporter repeated the question that moderator John Wilson had just asked him: Would he consider withdrawing from the three-way…
Gabba Gabba Do! The hip children’s TV show with an indie-music fan base is now touring live
Everyone must have thought Scott Schultz was losing it. A few years ago, the father of four quit a great job doing art design for Quicksilver sports clothes to start a children's TV show. He had zero television experience, but he was so disappointed in the programming available that he felt he had to act.…
Upscale & down-home: Diner Sixty West serves comfort food at comfortable prices, with an updated aura
There are only a few restaurant genres that span the breadth of dining habits from meat-and-potatoes chain regulars to inveterate foodies, and almost all of them feature low-end fare: sandwiches and comfort food done right, maybe with a little flair to surprise people who want to pay attention to what they're eating. And none of…
Electing not to elect: Want me to choose? How about giving me a candidate worth choosing?
Election Day approaches, and I am weary beyond description. I'm tired of local-news segments. Tired of soundbites. Tired of wave after wave of attack ads that seem to ironically underscore the current focus on teenage bullying. Tired, even, of the sarcastic intellectual mockery of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. But most of all, I'm tired…
There she blows, but he just wants more and more
I love reading your column and never thought that I would have a reason to write to you, but to my pleasure and chagrin, I realized today that I could use your help. I am a 23-year-old woman. I have been with my boyfriend for three years, and we have lived together for two. We…
Yes. I mean, no: A list to help you make sense of this season’s ballot measures
Feeling a bit ambushed by all the amendments on this year's ballot? Here's what you'll be getting with your Yes or No votes. AMENDMENT 1: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing RequirementThe basics: In 1998, an amendment passed that provided state money for candidates running for statewide office. In 2006, the cost was $11.1 million, with…
Sink vs. Scott: Bank prez meets bald ambition
Although Rick Scott is rarely associated with the Tea Party, the former health chair executive's lack of electoral experience, strong conservative agenda and anti-Barack Obama rhetoric make him as much a part of the dominant political movement in 2010 as fellow Republican Marco Rubio. An outsider who has lived in Florida for only seven years,…
Ooey gooey goodness: Make a Halloween feast of these pumpkin caramel blondies
Pumpkin is my absolute favorite flavor in the entire world (right before garlic and chipotle), probably because it reminds me of fall and the wonderful holidays that take place in this season. And I can't believe I've gone this long without writing a pumpkin-based recipe for CL Food. I guess the delay was due to…
Back to the ’80s: The me-decade classic Back to the Future arrives on Blu-ray
I'm not going to lie: The first thing I did after opening the excellent new Back to the Future Trilogy 25th anniversary Blu-ray package (Universal, $79.99 MSRP, but it's been advertised below $50) was skip all the content about the movies, and jump straight into a bonus feature covering Back to the Future: The Ride.…
Cheesetails: How to pair cheeses with cocktails and spirits
The cocktail culture in America has seen a movement toward classic cocktails with modern twists and an imaginative originality that only a mixologist with some culinary background could muster. Balance, acidity and structure no longer apply to just "wine talk." The current success of spirits mirrors the course of wine, craft beers and artisanal cheese…
Shake, stir, shiver: Devil’s night drinks and witchy brews
The only thing scary about most Halloween-themed cocktails is how frightfully bad they taste. From the ghastly Candy Corn (equal parts Baileys, vanilla liqueur and butterscotch Schnapps), to the merely gut-wrenching Jack-O-Tini (bourbon, sour-apple Schnapps and cranberry juice), devil's night drinks tend to taste more like tricks than treats. Which is why I'd suggest you…
Hungry ghosts: Though kids’ costumes aren’t what they used to be, a good scare is forever
…What are these So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th'inhabitants o' the earth, And yet are on't? Our children occasionally behaved unlike the inhabitants of the earth. In the dark, one early morning, Jeanne heard a slight noise, and when she looked in the boys' room, she could just…
Playing with our heads A tricky serial-killer thriller Mindgame is a Jobsite treat
Why are ordinary, law-abiding people so fascinated with serial killers? This is the question that Mindgame, Anthony Horowitz's psychological romp now playing at Jobsite Theater, attempts to answer while carrying us along on a wild and entertaining ride. Horowitz's answer seems to be that we find in Jeffrey Dahmer or Charles Manson vicarious relief for…
Comeback complete: Lightning victorious over Penguins
The Tampa Bay Lightning had fallen behind the Pittsburgh Penguins by two goals on Wednesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum, but the Bolts didn't come up short this time around like they did against Nashville; Marty St. Louis made sure of it, as they defeated the Penguins by the final score of 5-3.…
Do It Today: Jason Derülo and Extremities
has already proven himself a promising young talent with three Top 10 Billboard hits, one of those a triple-platinum seller, and an eponymous 2010 LP that’s put the barely 21-year-old South Florida R&B pop artist on the map. Read CL Music Editor Leilani Polk's profile of the South Florida R&B pop star Derülo, who brings…
Conference on Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan to take place at USF Nov.3-4
Although occasional outbursts of foreign policy have been interjected into the debates between House and Senate candidates in Florida (such as in Tuesday night's final Senate debate moderated by NBC's David Gregory), the fact is that with the economy being the dominant issue of the 2010 political season, discussions on the wars in Afghanistan and…
Cheesetails: How to pair cheeses with cocktails and spirits
The cocktail culture in America has seen a movement toward classic cocktails with modern twists and an imaginative originality that only a mixologist with some culinary background could muster. Balance, acidity and structure no longer apply to just "wine talk." The current success of spirits mirrors the course of wine, craft beers and artisanal cheese…
Tonight’s Top Chef Just Desserts preview: Dessert Wars!
Can you believe we're already halfway to the finale of Top Chef: Just Desserts? Just to recap, the remaining contestants are Heather "The Bitchy One" Hurlbert, Danielle "Putty Face" Keene, Yigit "Cutie Pie" Pura, Morgan "Don Draper" Wilson, Eric "Zen Baker" Wolitzky, and Zac "Glitter Pants" Young. The competition is fierce and their attitudes are…
Top Chef Podcast: Just Desserts Ep. 6 – Black and white and bitchy all over
This week's episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts' entertainment quotient went up a but, but the bitch factor was significantly higher than last week's installment. Smack talking, sabotage and elbow throwin' — ESCANDALO! For the Quickfire, the chef'testants were challenged with creating a savory dessert using only one pot (that they were allowed to wash…
Where to get into the Halloween spirit(s)
'Tis the season for creepy fun. Here's an ongoing, continuously updated rundown of adult-only and family-friendly Halloween events. Oct. 28-31 The Asylum Visitors are challenged to escape the asylum, that is, if they're lucky enough to get out of the graveyard, manage to find their way through the pitch-black maze and make it out of the dark woods. See what…
