Do It This Weekend: Walking with Dinosaurs, Monster’s Ball, Pops in the Park, Parranda, Gala’s Half-Dressed Carnivale and more
Don't panic: The dinos in the Walking with Dinosaurs arena show aren't going to reenact a scene from Jurassic Park and start eating audience members, but the animatronics in this arena show are so life-like that it almost seems like a possibility. The award-winning epic is based on the BBC series of the same name,…
On the Radar: Celtic Thunder
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. The name “Celtic Thunder” sounds pretty cool for a soccer team. But when the bombastic appellation describes five attractive guys from Ireland and Scotland who sing an odd mix of pop hits and traditional Irish songs at the Mahaffey…
Mad Men’s Don Draper did ‘adult films’ (video)
Catching up on my Jon Hamm-stalking, I came across this video of the Mad Men's leading man on Letterman's Late Show last Friday. In this clip, the ever-charismatic Hamm talks about his "proudest moment" of underemployment: working on late-night Cinemax productions, a.k.a. "Skinimax." Before you get too excited about seeing Don's dong, I'm sad to report…
Do It Today: Hear Mahalia, drink Organic, Shaken and Stirred cocktails, see Lair of the White Worm and more
Today, award-winning local actress Sharon Scott debuts Mahalia, Just As I Am, her new musical about the life and times of gospel great Mahalia Jackson. The powerhouse vocalist was the first artist to be awarded a Grammy in gospel, but everything wasn’t coming up roses – the show follows her continued struggle with segregation in…
On the Radar: The New Century at American Stage
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. American Stage’s After Hours Series returns next Tuesday with Paul Rudnick's new comedy, The New Century, which has gotten some pretty good press — the New York Post warns that there are "so many gut-busting one-liners that those with…
Filmfest reviews: Chica Busca Chica, Her Name Was Steven, Outrage, St. Trinian’s at TIGLFF
Wednesday night, Oct. 14, at the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival: Chica Busca Chica (Girl Looks for Girl): It’s like The L Word with subtitles. There’s the “I’m straight, but I’m into that one girl” lesbian; the “I just met you but I’m already in love with you and want you to move…
Hey, are you on Facebook? We should have the sex.
After another weekend full of my usual make-out antics, an issue I've been coping with reared it's ugly head: post-make-out dating etiquette. Undoubtedly, the internet has revolutionized dating protocol. The days of going to your mom for advice are gone. I am pretty sure my mom would be stumped if I asked her "What does…
I hate Duran Duran, I love Duran Duran: The Remastered Rio
As a teenager in the 1980's, I was the proverbial "kid in a candy store" when it came to all the great music that was at my fingertips for me to explore and experience. Many of the discoveries I made during the "decade of decadence" have stayed with me until this day and more than…
Stuffed Peppers recipe
When life gives you these … You really just have to make this … I saw these stunning red bell peppers at the market a while back, and they stopped me in my tracks. Not only were they gorgeous, but they were HUGE and perfectly shaped! The minute I laid eyes on them, I knew…
Toy Story 3 theatrical trailer hits the Web
Buzz, Woody and the gang are back. Yes, the toys are back in town. The Disney/Pixar juggernaut hits theaters June 18, 2010 and the first theatrical trailer hit the Web today. Click the teaser poster below to check it out. Synopsis: Andy is now a young adult, departing for college, and his toys, including Woody…
Horror fans invade Orlando for the Ultimate Horror Weekend
Thousands of horror fans from all over the country gathered this past weekend at the Orlando Wyndham Resort for Florida's largest horror convention — Spooky Empire's Ultimate Horror Weekend. Featuring dozens of celebrity guests, the event is an annual three-day festival of music, movies, and just about anything horror-related. This was the convention's seventh year,…
Mr. Show blows up the moon
To commemorate NASA’s recent bombing of the moon here’s a clip from David Cross and Bob Odenkirk Mr. Show. Way back in the mid-nineties, Mr. Show predicted the current scenario. Talk about being ahead of your time. Enjoy:
How to become a professional MMA fighter—Part One
For most professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters training for upcoming bouts means much more than working towards payday. It is a form of self-discovery and quickly becomes their way of life. MMA fans are usually not aware of the dedication and hard work, not to mention long hours that go into the preparation for…
Wednesday-music.com profile: Maxim Ludwig and The Santa Fe Seven
Our friend Alex Spoto of Roppongi's Ace fame turned me on to Maxim Ludwig & The Santa Fe Seven a few months ago. Twenty-one year old Brooklyn-born/current Los Angelian Maxim Ludwig got his start banging pots and pans in his godmother's kitchen, and later as a ten year-old harmonica blower playing in blues cover bands…
Help clean up Clearwater Beach this Saturday with the SPC Environmental Club
The St. Petersburg College Environmental Club and the Emerging Green Builders adopted a mile of beach (Lot 36) on North Shore Clearwater Beach, running from Rockaway St. to 880 Mandalay. We have scheduled our next beach cleanup Saturday, October 17, starting at 9 am. Help us spend a few hours picking up garbage and then relaxing on the beautiful, clean…
Concert review: Thievery Corporation at The Ritz Ybor (photos + video)
The dance party was in full swing by the time we made it to the Ritz Theater in Ybor City a little after 11 p.m. last Saturday, October 10, right at the tail end of Thievery Corporation’s set. In fact, they launched into the last song as we threaded our way through the thick crowd…
Tonight’s Top Chef preview: Mama drama with Robin, Charlie Palmer makes them sweat (videos)
As we've been discussing the last few weeks in the Top Chef Podcast, there seems to be a lot of tension between Robin and Eli. Well, between Robin and almost everyone, it seems. Is it because they don't respect her as much as some of the cheftestants that were booted before her? Or are they just…
Chinese Throwdown, Part II: ABC Seafood Restaurant
Before the dust had cleared from the first Chinese restaurant throwdown at Yummy House and China Yuan, the Chowhound committee wondered where to meet next. One of us suggested an investigation into ABC Seafood Restaurant (2705 54th Ave. N., St Petersburg, 727-522-1888). When we visited the restaurant on a recent Sunday, our food-obsessed group had…
Theater Interview: Maria’s Song writer and director Suzanne Willett
I went to see a powerful play, Maria's Song, about the plight of an illegal immigrant who is trying to stay in the states to be with her son. Afterward, I interviewed Suzanne Willett, who created, directed, and wrote the script, music and lyrics for this show — all out of her passion for this…
Rush Limbaugh starts to feel the NFL heat
Rush Limbaugh is getting more pushback in his purported bid to purchase the St. Louis Rams. The Commish, Roger Goodell, a good corporate man if there ever was one, didn't sound too enthusiastic about the possibility of the man with talent on loan from god being part of a group that buys its way into…
Another Kevin White relationship makes news
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White is in the news in both local dailies this morning. The Tampa Tribune reports on a relationship that some people have wondered about for a while — that is, the fact that the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, or PTC, which is chaired by White, has been paying Vic DiMaio…
Robert Wexler, “Fire Breathing Liberal” from Florida, to depart Congress
A variety of South Florida news sources are reporting that South Florida Democratic Representative Robert Wexler, one of the state's most beloved liberals, will announce today that he is stepping down from his seat to become director of a Mid East think tank called the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. There are plenty…
We’re eco-friendly, and our pets should be too
The Issue We try so hard to make eco-minded decisions for ourselves that we forget about man’s (and woman’s) best friend! -Typical dogs produce 274 pounds of waste each year, and each pet litter bag take up to 100 years to biodegrade! -We wouldn’t eat low quality foods, so why should our pets?
Young woman dreaming of a key
“Dream Momma, I’m a young woman from Tampa. My dad died a little over a year ago. The other night I dreamed he gave me a key. The key was fancy and old. It was gold or gold metal. I read your blogs a lot so I know the key is probably a symbol, but…
A bloody good time at Spooky Empire 2009
When you think of Orlando, you may think of Mickey Mouse and the tourist-filled, neon-lit strip of International Drive. However, now all I see is Mickey's zombiefied clone terrorizing tourists and International Drive becoming a twisted nightmare of ghoulish zombies … oh and Jake Busey. My family has some strange traditions. For the last three…
On the Radar: Monster’s Ball
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. On Saturday, Best of the Bay winning Café Hey is celebrating its two-year anniversary with Monster’s Ball, a not-so-spooky night of music, art, and partying. Super Secret Best Friends, Florida Night Heat, SOG and DJ’s SowsDef and Pocket Chomper…
Do It Today: The Jim Crow Effect, TB Symphony, Fences, porch party, Fi(gh)t for the Cure and more
Eckerd College's new exhibit, The Jim Crow Effect: Drinking From the Fountain, includes artifacts from that tension-fraught era in American history. Today, Dr. Cody L. Clark, an artist, musician and collector of Jim Crow memorabilia and Professor Randolph Lightfoot, President of the African American History Museum Board, discuss the importance of the images for understanding…
Itty bitty titty committee (part one)
As a child, I spent many afternoons with Playboy magazines I found in my parents' bathroom. I would hide one in my waistband, climb a tree, and find a comfortable spot to sit and flip through the pages. I didn't read the articles, but rather stared at the big-breasted women coyly looking back at me. I…
CL Feature: The Bravery (which plays State Theatre this Saturday)
The grainy black-and-white imagery in The Bravery’s new video is meant to disturb. A smudge of spotlight allows glimpses of a scantily-clad woman — a flash of her legs and gas mask-covered face, a pale arm drawing a bath that fills with inky water, hands mixing noxious cocktails into clear plastic party cups, cracking eggs…
James Turner – Contributor
James Turner is currently a senior majoring in Film and Media Studies at The University of Tampa. He is, to put it simply, a punk rocking, comic book reading, video game playing dork. Having escaped the monotony of Connecticut, Jamie feels at home in Tampa and has no plans to leave any time soon (if…
Comedian Mark Malkoff presented the key to the city of Tampa
Last time Comedian Mark Malkoff was in town he was living aboard an Airtran airplane for a month. Mark now has a new "Keys to The City" mission, driving him via Ford Fusion to collect 100 city keys in 28 days. His comedic road trip antics brought him to Tampa on Monday to be presented…
Republican Olympia Snowe supports health care bill in Finance Committee
Senators on the Finance Committee in Washington are continuing to pontificate about the bill coming out of the Max Baucus led group,but the big news before the final vote this afternoon is that Maine Republican Olympia Snowe has voted for the bill. However, she warned Democrats on the Committee that she reserves the right to…
Concert review: WMNF’s Woodstock Flashback at the Skipperdome
The Skipperdome was packed on Sunday October 11, 2009 for WMNF’s Woodstock Flashback. Having been to Skipper’s Smokehouse more than anywhere else in Tampa, I was shocked as I’d never seen so many people there in both the restaurant and the venue. The parking lot was overflowing. Due to the lack of parking spots, and…
Sex stars at the National Equality March on Washington (video)
Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon and pop music sex symbol Lady Gaga, among countless others, addressed the National Equality March on Washington yesterday. Thousands of supporters descended on the Washington Mall on Sunday, October 11, 2009 in the largest gay rights rally in nearly a decade. The rally called upon President Obama to…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, October 14: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping in for SideBern’s gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one-stop wonder is cassolette with pork belly, lamb, white beans and an herb crust . $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard…
‘Repower America’ event on clean energy and climate change tonight in St. Petersburg
If you're interested in clean energy solutions, climate change, and the environment, be sure to attend the Repower America event tonight in St. Petersburg:
Beckner, Limbaugh, Alex Sink, Hillsborough tent city: Mitch Perry Report 10.13.09
In today's podcast: • Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner wants to clear the record on his Kevin White • CFO Alex Sink on ex-felons' civil rights: She wants to take some of them back • Limbaugh wants the St. Louis Rams: TBO commenters just want to bash Al Sharpton • You'll never believe who's against…
It happened this week-ish: James Franco on a soap, exploding boobs, Death Cab sings for a vampire, Bunnies on TV, and Playgirl is still around?
*I kinda missed the boat on this last week, but that is the beauty of having a time frame that ends in "-ish"…the freedom to extend my week. So, James Franco is joining the cast of General Hospital and explaining it by claiming it as "performance art." No James, no it is not. It's a…
Rush Limbaugh wants the Rams; TBO.com readers just want to bash Al Sharpton
Conservative icon Rush Limbaugh is in discussions with a group looking at buying without doubt the worst team in the National Football League right now — no, not the Bucs — the St. Louis Rams. The NFL Players Association head has come out against this, as have a few black players, who don't think much…
CFO Alex Sink on ex-felons’ civil rights: She wants to take some of them back
The Florida Cabinet was scheduled to meet this morning to discuss ex-felons' civil rights. However, it wasn't about restoring their rights, but possibly taking some away. The effort is being led by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who has responded with alacrity to an audit that determined the Florida Parole Commission restored the rights to 13…
Hillsborough BOCC vote against possible tent city; Homeless Coalition is against it
In Tampa today, the Hillsborough County Commission has voted to reject a rezoning request today that would have allowed for Catholic Charities to get closer to building a tent city in the County. The organizers said they would build housing for up to 250 homeless people, for up to 90 days at a time. Interestingly…
Two shows for Tuesday: Os Mutantes at Skipper’s Smokehouse, Neon Indians at Crowbar
Just when you thought there was nothing to do on a Tuesday night, two hot acts — psyche rock pioneers and an electro indie buzz band — stop right here in Tampa Bay. Merging elements of ’60s psychedelic rock and pop with traditional Brazilian rhythms, Os Mutantes (“the Mutants”) carried the Tropicália movement torch after…
Gossip Girl recap: Happily ever after?
"There are songs that make us want to dance, songs that make us want to sing along, but the best songs bring you back to the moment you first heard them and once again break your heart" -xoxo gossip girl Every Upper East Sider loves a good wedding. The flowers, the toasts, the dress ……
Sex as stress relief
For those who work difficult jobs, sex is an important way to blow off steam. My husband has a very stressful job, so I do my part to make his home life as pleasurable as possible. One particular night my husband called home late from work. I could tell he had a rotten day because…
Participate in ‘No Impact Week’ to lighten your carbon footprint
I'm sure many of us have all tried in one form or fashion to become more eco-conscious and tread a little lighter on this planet. Most of you have heard about the concept of the carbon footprint (greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product) and probably practice recycling,…
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner wants to clear the record on his Kevin White vote
Commissioner Kevin Beckner has written a letter that was published in this morning's St. Petersburg Times regarding the Kevin White sexual harassment lawsuit. Beckner takes exception to a Times editorial written last week: This editorial incorrectly implies that I, as well as some of my colleagues, believe that Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White should not…
On the Radar: Block Party Parranda
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Few things are as gratifying as enjoying yourself while helping a good cause. Well, you can do just that this Friday when you head to Town ’n’ Country for the TNC Block Party Parranda, which celebrates Hispanic Heritage 2009…
Do It Today: Belly Dancing Under the Big Top, Kthx;)!!1!, GLBT financial course
is a dance showcase by the Hip Expressions belly dance studio: a collection of circus-themed acts sprinkled with Egyptian-inspired numbers, lively gypsies and dancing clowns. Visit hip-expressions.com for more info. Tues., Oct. 13, 7-11 p.m., St. Petersburg Nights Restaurant, 6800 sunset Way, St. Pete Beach, $10, $5 ages 11 and younger. As anyone familiar with…
Book Review: Would you like to sleep with my wife?
Former Tampa resident Tom Kelly details his journey into the swinger world as a single male in Would you like to sleep with my wife. Kelly's adventure begins after leaving an unhappy relationship with a fanatic girlfriend in attempt to quell his desire to be constantly surrounded by naked women. This ultimately leads him to a…
Filmfest review: Love of Siam at TIGLFF
"Do you think it's possible to love someone without being afraid of losing them? But at the same time is it possible to be alive in this world without loving anyone at all?" Those questions are at the heart of the gentle, bittersweet Love of Siam, Thailand's 2008 submission to the Academy Awards. They're spoken…
Poker: The dangers of playing “favorite hands” in No Limit Hold ’em
I was playing poker with the usual cast of characters the other night when someone said something aloud that I’m sure we’ve all heard at the poker table before. The guys I’ve been playing with lately are a pretty vocal group, particularly when it comes to the hands they play. As for me, I’m generally…
Walking with Dinosaurs roars at the St. Pete Times Forum this week
Don't panic: The dinos in the Walking with Dinosaurs arena show aren't going to reenact a scene from Jurassic Park and start eating audience members, but the animatronics in the arena show that begins on Wednesday are so life-like that it almost seems like a possibility. The award-winning epic is based on the BBC series…
Concert review: Muse supports U2 at Raymond James Stadium (with video)
Before judging their latest album The Resistance too harshly, I wanted to hear how Muse's poppiest, most ambitious album to date would sound in person. The Devon, England quartet (lately touring with a fourth member so Matt Bellamy can focus on guitar and vocals and not worry about keyboards anymore) wasted no time launching into the…
Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful receives $10,000 grant award as part of nationwide competition to “think green”
The non-profit organization Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful has been recognized for their green efforts by the national nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful, Inc. as part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Waste Management that encourages local solutions to improving community environments. KHCB received a $10,000 cash grant for being one of 15 winners nationwide (out…
Rick Kriseman doesn’t want LeMieux redux
St. Petersburg based House Democrat Rick Kriseman has just announced he is filing legislation for the 2010 session that would require a special election in the event of a vacancy in the U.S. Senate, as just happened in late August after Mel Martinez stunningly announced he did not want to return to Washington following the…
CD review: Backstreet Boys, This Is Us
The first time I ever heard the Backstreet Boys, I was 10 years old and riding passenger on the way to the hospital with a fractured wrist. The song was "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)," and boy, did those dreamboats have me hooked. Amid my pain and my hatred for Ralph Green — the…
Florida transgendered man speaks at National Equality March in D.C.
In the current issue of CL, we reported on the National Equality March, which took place in Washington D.C. yesterday. On Saturday night, President Obama addressed the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, where he said he has urged Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic…
Behind the scenes: Recording the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack (video)
Here's a great mini-documentary from Lance Bangs that chronicles the making of the music for Spike Jonze' upcoming film, Where the Wild Things Are. Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) wrote most of the songs and produced the sessions. It turns out the kids' voices you here on the soundtrack (listen to it here)…
Restaurant Review: WineBurgers on Tierra Verde
If you want to go out to eat on Tiera Verde, there's just one place to go. Smack dab in the middle of the island, right on the Pinellas Bayway, is downtown Verde, a strip mall and a half of restaurants that run the gamut from Chinese take-out to German schnitzel. And tucked into a…
Florida Democratic Attorney General candidates square off at state party conference
Dan Gelber and Dave Aronberg are two prominent South Florida Democrats in the state Senate. Originally, Gelber announced he was running for the party's nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010, where he certainly would have been engaged in a tough battle against Congressman Kendrick Meek. But when Charlie Crist got into the Senate race on…
The Girls Next Door premiere: more blondes, more boobs, less clothing
Goodbye Holly, Bridget and Kendra…hello Crystal, Karissa, and Kristina. The Girls Next Door revamp premiered last night and showcased the new and unimproved lifestyle of Mr. Hugh Hefner and his new girlfriends. Crystal (the new Holly) is 23 — which is a just a small, 60-year age difference with Hef, but of course everyone acts…
“Quick, But it Tastes Like it Took All Day” Chicken Soup
For the past several days I've had the mother lode of colds. You know the kind. One of those sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, feverish affairs where your eyes won’t stop watering and your head feels like it’s locked up inside a steel drum. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I feel this way,…
No rubber equals no pleasure
I am what many may call a protection queen. If you want to put your man parts into my girl parts you better be covered. It's a very simple rule, no sex without a condom. There are many reasons I feel this way – I don't want an STD, I don't want to get pregnant,…
Hillary Clinton laughs at NBC Today Show’s questions on her ‘being marginalized’ in Obama administration
The Florida Democratic Party hosted its annual state conference over the weekend at a Disney resort in Lake Buena Vista. This reporter was there for some of the events, including a debate between Dan Gelber and Dave Aronberg, the aspiring candidates to be the Party's nominee for Attorney General next year. I'll be writing a…
Connecting of tribes at the Campus and Community Sustainability Conference at USF
I intend to describe an emerging tribe that is being formed, not only in the Tampa Bay area, but across the state as well. But while doing, so I want to showcase my own observations of the mindset of a large section of the population that is emerging. I believe and have witnessed the cohesive power…
Do It Today: The Laramie Project, Wilder to Williams film series, Sam and Ruby at TBPAC
The Laramie Project explores the long-term effects of Matthew Shepard’s murder (the result of a brutal, homophobic hate crime) on his hometown of Laramie via in-depth interviews with his mother, friends, and, most chillingly, his murderer, Aaron McKinney – the results of which eventually became an HBO special and play. Tonight’s performers take the stage…
On the Radar: Woman in Black at Gorilla Theatre
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. If you scare easily or shudder at the thought of ghosts and dark, scary rooms, perhaps you should sit this one out. This weekend, Gorilla Theatre presents the classic ghost tale, Woman in Black. Closely based on English author…
CD review: Hunx and His Punx, Gay Singles
In case you weren’t paying attention, there’s a garage rock revival going greatly surpassing the one that happened at the beginning of the century (think White Stripes, Strokes, etc.). But what differentiates this one from the previous is attention to detail. Attempting to replicate the ruckus as a relic rather than a slick re-invention, San…
Filmfest review: Training Rules, powerful TIGLFF documentary about homophobia in women’s basketball
A maddening, heartbreaking, ultimately satisfying documentary about the fight to depose Rene Portland, the celebrated women's basketball coach at Penn State who wielded her "no lesbians" rule with brutal force. For almost 30 years Portland threatened students, threw them off the team, made insinuations about other universities' programs, all with impunity — until a courageous…
Free Movie at Tampa Theatre’s Sunset Cinema—October 10
When you’re trying to stay within a budget, you have to weigh your entertainment options. Is it worth the money? Can I afford to bring a date, or go with a group of people? None of that is a concern tonight.
UPDATED: U2 at Raymond James Stadium concert review (with photos + gallery)
All photos by Phil Bardi. Upwards of 70,000 people were crammed into Raymond James Stadium, waiting for musical liftoff, and were rewarded with a colossal production spectacle steered by the voices, instruments and magnetic charismas of the Irish mega-foursome. The stage was a four-legged spaceship and U2 was central command. I was among the thousands,…
Top 5 movies that scared the hell out of me
It's October, and do you know what that means? OK, yes, it is the season of post-season baseball, but I was talking about Halloween. More specifically, I'm talking about a steady diet of scary movies regularly consumed by cinema fans in honor of our annual festival of the dead. After watching more than my fair…
Brendan Schaub submits Demico Rogers; Team Rashad scores again
In the fourth episode of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) on Spike TV last night Team Rashad's Brendan Schaub submitted Team Rampage's Demico Rogers swiftly in round one, propelling his team's score to 4-0.
The good, the bad and the fugly: An #NFL quarterly
What have we learned in the first four weeks of this NFL season, other than we’re damn glad football is finally back? We know there are a number of quality teams that are playing some really good football. Then there are those teams you wouldn’t bring home to mother. Picking a Super Bowl winner at…
Album review: Brand New, Daisy (with video)
Jesse Lacey warned us about Daisy earlier this summer: I’m a little worried [about the new album]. It’s a pretty exhausting record. It’s quite dense and I think some of the decisions we made don’t always go in the most obvious direction. We were thinking a lot more about what we’d want to play when…
Aspiring St. Pete City Council candidate blasts Council’s vote on BayWalk
Leonard Schmiege is running for the St. Pete City Council seat currently held by incumbent Jeff Danner in District Eight. Speaking to CL this afternoon, he called the Council's decision on Thursday to revisit their vote from on allowing BayWalk to vacate the sidewalk where protesters have gathered "terrible." "This is about showing who's boss,"…
Theater Review: Maria’s Song
I attended a preview of Maria’s Song and I have to say I’ve scarcely been so moved by a play. The story is about Maria, an illegal worker who has been caught in a raid on a labor camp and is making every attempt possible to keep her American-born son. The emotional authenticity of the…
Why Bono of U2 is a piece of shit
To truly understand my outrage at U2 front man, Bono, accepting knighthood from the queen of England, allow me to put it into historical context. England calls herself the United Kingdom these days. It sounds better than the English Empire. "Empire" got a bad rap in the Star Wars trilogy so for international marketing every…
The 15 most toxic places in the world to live
Yes, we here in Tampa Bay may live in a highly populated metropolitan area with a huge carbon footprint, but you can now rest a little easier when I tell you that we didn't make the list of The 15 Most Toxic Places to Live (courtesy of The Mother Nature Network). This doesn't mean that…
Music links for Friday, Oct. 9: Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, Ozzy, Soulja Boy, Carly Simon, Phish, The Pixies, Oasis and more
A helping of music links to get you through the weekend. Despite Thom Yorke's ongoing solo project, Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien says the band will be releasing a physical album sometime next year. I don't care if you give me something online or on vinyl — just keep on playing, Radiohead. Amy Winehouse is "hopefully"…
Movie Review: Couples Retreat, starring Vince Vaughn
[Editor's Note: This review is by CL Atlanta's Curt Holman, part of his Hollywood Product series. To see more reviews by Curt, go here.] GENRE: Frat-pack vacation. THE PITCH: Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell play spouses contemplating divorce who convince three couples to join them at a tropical resort that requires a mandatory “skill-building” session.…
Project Runway recap: From the altar, to the courtroom, to the runway
Tonight is a night of weddings on my television: I am going straight from the Jim & Pam wedding on The Office to Project Runway, Wedding Edition. The difference? Runway is a little less "Yay, Love!" and a little more "Boo, Men." Good transition TV, though I feel all sorts of confused now. So if…
Fearless ground beef: How to avoid e. coli (and a lot of industrial chemicals) by making your own ground beef
Anyone who's seen Food, Inc. has witnessed the terrifying process by which some ground beef finds its way to supermarket shelves. Your backyard burger could come from different parts of several different cows, sometimes killed at separate slaughterhouses, perhaps mixed with a "mash-like product derived from scraps," according to a recent NY Times article. Many…
Photo review: GWAR at the Ritz Ybor
A series of shots from the Sunday, October 4 GWAR show at The Ritz Ybor.
Tampa Bay Partnership has specific concerns on light rail they’d like addressed in referendum
Last week, CL reported on where the business community in the Tampa Bay area stood on the soon to be proposed light rail referendum in Hillsborough County. One key player in the process is the Tampa Bay Partnership. Not until this week were we able to sit down and discuss the organization's thoughts on the…
97X announces Next Big Thing 9 lineup (Matisyahu, Metric, Panic at the Disco and others)
I have always had a very on-again, off-again relationship with 97x’s Next Big Thing. The first one I attended was NBT 3 back in 2003, when the mini-outdoor music festival was held at Clearwater’s Coachman Park. It was the year after my first Warped Tour and I was in need of something to hold me…
What NFL and NCAA football games to watch this weekend (Oct 10-12)
It’s always a spectacle in the south when football kicks into full gear, but this weekend is particularly big. And by big, I mean huge: The three conference powers all grace the gridiron, including a highly anticipated game between two unbeatens. It’s also an important weekend in the Big Ten as the top four teams…
Beer Review: Sierra Nevada 2009 Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale
Sierra Nevada 2009 Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Ale 6.7% ABV, 24-ounce bottle Sierra Nevada has always been the safety date for craft brew lovers, when they're forced by circumstance to buy beer at grocery and liquor stores with limited selections. Partly, that's due to this brewery's amazing success at penetrating the market — it's ubiquitous…
Kevin’s Korner: Terry Gilliam, Marlon Wayans and Venom, oh my!
Ladies, gentleman and movie geeks, Kevin’s Korner is back, and better than ever. This week, I wrap up some news found floating around the Interwebs, check the box office tally *cough Zombieland cough*, sample what’s out on DVD, throw in a mild rant and top it all off with the hotly anticipated Trailer of the…
Concert review: The Black Crowes at Ruth Eckerd Hall (with photos)
I’ve seen the Black Crowes a few times over the years — once at Langerado in the Spring of '06, and again later that summer at the Ford Amp, when there were so few people showed because of it raining all day that everyone was packed into the pavilion. The security was so tight that…
Nobel vote for Obama “A bold statement of support”
Stunning. That had to be the overwhelming feeling among Americans as they awoke to the news early this morning that Barack Obama is this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. It came in at 5 a.m. East Coast time this morning, and I literally jumped up and off my bed hearing the NPR announcer…
What noises are coming from your bedroom?
been in a few bedrooms over the years and I'm always amazed by the sounds that come out of overly excited sex partners, either with me or in the bed next to me. Everyone responds differently to sex, orgasm, and excitement, but how much of that noise is genuine and how much is put on…
Review: Big Star Box Set, Keep an Eye on the Sky
Between 1968 and 1975, Big Star was America’s answer to the demise of the Beatles. Sadly, no one noticed this at the time. It was not entirely Big Star's fault. They wrote the right songs and performed them with edgy soul. All the right ingredients collided in one of those musical miracles that seems impossible…
President Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize
The award, announced this morning, recognized the president “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Media reports suggested the award was the Nobel committee's investment in the future rather than a recognition of any actual, um, Peace. After all, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are still being fought, the…
On the Radar: Gala’s Half-Dressed Carnivale and more
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, the Dali Museum outdoes itself once again with its focus not only on art, but also a dedication to interesting events that keep even native ‘Burgians coming back. On Saturday, Gala’s Half-Dressed Carnivale is a costume party…
Our Noise, the history of Merge Records as told by those who were there
If one quote from the new oral history Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, the Indie Label That Got Big and Stayed Small sums up why Merge Records — and indies like it — are thriving while the major labels are collapsing, it’s from Jeff Mangum, the itinerant and press-dodging frontman of the legendary…
Tampa Bay Amnesty International Group seeks new members
The Tampa Bay area's Amnesty International Group (Group 240) is actively looking for new members to help in their campaigns for human rights around the globe and at home. Hillsborough and Pinellas residents are welcome to come to the group's meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at the Jan Platt Regional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave.…
Top Chef Las Vegas Podcast, Ep. 7: Tired, bland, and contrived
This week, we're back in the Champagne Room (aka: the podcast bunker) to kvetch about episode 7 of Top Chef. (What did you think this was, the Project Runway Podcast?) Was this episode painfully boring or was it just my short attention span? I'm going to sum it up much like the cheftestants had to get the specs…
Go paperless to get green with Bright House Networks
Are you sick of looking in your mailbox and the only thing in there is junk mail and bills? Well, Bright House Networks is now offering customers a $10 gift card for changing your billing status from mail to reoccurring paperless statements. This saves trees, energy and money. If you currently use Bright House as…
Concert review: Wye Oak, Zillionaire and The Holy Slow Train at New World Brewery
The Holy Slow Train Even if Will Quinlan wasn’t a fan of the humidity last night, his band showed promise at New World Brewery. “But wait,” you say, “I didn’t hear about a Will Quinlan and the Diviners show.” That’s because Quinlan was playing with a new side project to the Diviners, a group called…
Tortoni Sono Buoni (Italian Frozen Custard) recipe
When I was a little girl, we lived in New York City. I’m talking about the waaaaay early years before my pesky little attention hog of a baby brother was born. Ah…..those were the days, an only child basking in the undivided adoration of all the adults in my life. I was the center of…
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music (U2, Tortured Soul, Rev. Peyton, Dex Romweber Duo, WMNF Woodstock Flashback, Pattern is Movement, Rob McArdle benefit show, and more)
A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 Waters. In recent tours, Winter performs seated due to various health issues, and avoids playing rock music all together…
Ava Lussuria. It’s a business doing pleasure with you
Greetings readers, this is Ava Lussuria coming to you from deep within the trenches of Tampa's adult industry. I've been a dancer here for about 15 years and I've seen more than my share of crazy shit. The people at CL seem to think this industry is worth writing about, and they've assigned me the…
Sweetwater Organic Community Farm kicks off growing season with the 7th Annual Planter’s Ball
It's finally Fall which means it's the start of the growing season, and you know what that means- Sweetwater Organic Community Farm is back open for business! They're going to kick off the season with their 7th Annual Planters Ball on Saturday, October 17, which is open to the entire Tampa Bay community. The Planter's Ball is a potluck…
Health care reform gets major boost
The latest Senate health bill will cost $829 billion over the next decade AND slightly reduce the federal budget deficit. That's according to the official scorekeepers of such things, the Congressional Budget Office. It said the legislation coming out of Max Baucus Finance Committee would also cover 94% of nonelderly legal U.S. citizens, up from…
Thievery Corporation Concert + official Ancient Astronauts After Party in Ybor City this Saturday night
As Thievery Corporation, DC-based DJ/producers Rob Garza and Eric Hilton (pictured) have taken electronica to new heights of international appeal. The duo’s richly textured mid-tempo dance grooves are spiced up with elements of lounge, trip hop, acid jazz, dancehall and dub reggae, Indian classical, psychedelia, afro-beat and bossa nova. Thievery’s 2008 album, Radio Retaliation, was…
Album review: The Very Best, Warm Heart of Africa (with video)
Used to be that a Western pop singer could pilfer from Third World sounds and never think twice about the source material. Just check the tangled copyright issues surrounding “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” for proof. But in 2008, that tradition got flipped, when The Very Best — a trio comprised of production duo Radioclit and…
Movie Review: Her Name Was Steven
If you think you know all about Susan née Steven Stanton, the Largo City Manager fired in 2007 after announcing that he was changing gender, think again. This CNN documentary not only recounts the now-familiar saga of his termination by the City Commission, it provides invaluable insight into Stanton's life before and after that turning…
Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, 20 years out
Tampa’s gay filmfest celebrates a major milestone.
Movie Review: Hannah Free
Sharon Gless (Queer as Folk) produces and stars in Hannah Free, from an award-winning play by Claudia Allen that sadly, on film, comes across as a lesbian version of The Notebook. The story is there: two women, their decades-long romance initiated at childhood, the ridiculous (and all too true) notion that they'd be kept apart…
Why march on Washington? Why now?
Local gay activists explain why they’re taking part in Sunday’s National Equality March in D.C.
Movie Review: Make the Yuletide Gay
Managing to be both implausible and predictable, this slapdash little coming-out movie is diverting nevertheless, boosted by funny characterizations, cute boys and pop-cult knowingness. Big Queer On Campus Olaf "Gunn" Gunnunderson somehow remains closeted to his family, a fact that comes as a surprise to his boyfriend Nathan when he shows up unexpectedly at Gunn's…
Movie Review: St. Trinian’s
A big enough hit in the UK to have already spawned a sequel, this is the latest reboot in a series of films based on the famous Ronald Searle cartoons about an anarchic girl's school. St. Trinian's keeps the mordant comedy and blithe cross-dressing of the original 1954 version and cranks up the volume; these…
Who controls the content on an Internet message board?
Years ago you were asked whether it was legal to publish a letter someone had sent you. You said the author's permission was needed. Now that it's 2009, I got to wondering if one could take a post on, say, the Straight Dope Message Board and publish it without the author's permission, or for that…
Movie Review: Eating Out 3: All You Can Eat
Had you told me years ago that there'd be a second installment of Eating Out, let alone a third, I'd have thanked you for the warning. The films are full of eye candy, sure, but living proof of why serious actors John Travolta their way into the closet. But the now-franchise, the third installment in…
Movie Review: Baby Formula
Baby Formula works, as a formula, in much the same way E=Mc cubed would: it doesn't. The mockumentary format leads you to believe that the actresses portraying the two lesbians who've conceived sans sperm could be real people — that perhaps they aren't just, well, bad actresses — but within the first 15 minutes of…
Movie Review: Patrik 1.5
I can count on one hand the number of subtitled films I've watched — and prior to watching Patrik 1.5 I'd have wagered its place would be on my middle finger. The Swedish film showcases the perfect gay couple, their new suburban home, and an adoption gone awry, saddling them with a homophobic, criminal teenager…
Movie Review: Big Gay Musical
I liked it better when it was just called Cats. It's very difficult to marry farce and heart in the same film, and Big Gay Musical is a perfect testament to the fact. Chicago it ain't. The film revolves around Paul and Eddie prepping for their roles in the Off-Broadway musical Adam and Steve: Just…
The Ringling International Arts Festival dances on the cutting edge
Sarasota's arts scene has been damn exciting of late, from international DJ events to Ringling College of Art and Design alums starting artistic co-ops to promote less traditional works. Ringling Museum, however, has always been the area's artistic grande dame, its formidable collection and parade of international traveling exhibits a dependable lure for visitors and…
Movie Review: Hollywood Je T’Aime
Desolate and bored after a split with his boyfriend, sad-eyed Jerome (Eric Benets) leaves gray Paree to pursue fantasies of Hollywood fame. When he gets to L.A., the city is nothing like the glamorous spot he'd envisioned; the beach is cold, the apartments are dingy and the job prospects are drab and discouraging. Actor-turned-director Jason…
Movie Review: Training Rules
A maddening, heartbreaking, ultimately satisfying documentary about the fight to depose Rene Portland, the celebrated women's basketball coach at Penn State who wielded her "no lesbians" rule with brutal force. For almost 30 years Portland threatened students, threw them off the team, made insinuations about other universities' programs, all with impunity — until a courageous…
History boy: A prime mover of Tampa’s gay filmfest reflects on the past 20 years
[Editor's Note: We asked Jim Harper, the first president of Friends of the Festival, Inc., to reflect on why the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has endured for two decades. This is his reply.] WHY THE FESTIVAL HAS SUCCEEDED AND PROSPERED OVER THE YEARS At every moment in the film festival's history, a…
Movie Review: College Boys Live
College Boys Live, the documentary surrounding the scandalous website of the same name, details the lives of two "housemothers" and three boys (none of whom is actually in college) living in a webcam house in 24/7 voyeurism. It's entertaining to watch the housemothers attempt to convince themselves, amidst their $20,000/mo earnings, that they aren't running…
Spreading santorum
Influential blog could use volunteers
Movie Review:Love of Siam
"Do you think it's possible to love someone without being afraid of losing them? But at the same time is it possible to be alive in this world without loving anyone at all?" Those questions are at the heart of the gentle, bittersweet Love of Siam. They're spoken by Mew to his best friend Tong,…
Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival review: Baby Formula, Oct. 9
Baby Formula works, as a formula, in much the same way E=Mc cubed would: it doesn’t. The mockumentary format leads you to believe that the actresses portraying the two lesbians who’ve conceived sans sperm could be real people. That perhaps they aren’t just, well, bad actresses.
The Table Restaurant in downtown St. Pete rebrands, retools, renames itself “THE Place”
St. Pete's The Table has ridden a rollercoaster of ups and (mostly) downs since it opened just two years ago. (The long tale, in chronological order: here, here, here, and here.) The original owners walked away from the place, then a new team of owners stepped in, chefs came and went, then the ownership shifted…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, October 7: Cafe Dufrain Wine Down Wednesday. Most of us need a little pick-me-up by mid-week, and this free wine tasting is just what the doctor ordered. Free. 6-7:30 p.m., 707 Harbour Post Dr., Tampa (813-275-9701) Wednesday, October 7: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping in…
African journalists meet up with U.S. reporters at USF St. Petersburg
On Monday night at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library at USF St. Petersburg, a group of local reporters were inviteds were invited to share stories and hear directly from 17 African journalists who have been participating in a program that the USF St. Petersburg Department of Journalism and Media Studies hosted in partnership with the…
Late night music, Oct. 5-10: Rosanne Cash, Anvil, Eve, KISS, Backstreet Boys, Gossip, Regina Spektor and many others (+ video of Paramore on Conan)
A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night… The Jay Leno Show, NBC Thursday, October 8: Ben Harper & Jack Black The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Tuesday, October 6: KISS Wednesday,…
The Green Community week in review: Green builder in Tampa, energy efficient tax exemptions, green beauty and more
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week: Builder goes green with their eco-friendly homes in Terrace Park, Tampa- One company, Rising Force Construction, has undertaken the task of creating affordable, energy efficient homes that promote sustainable living in Terrace Park, an…
Theater Review: A fine Fences at American Stage
Fences is a character study of a flawed man whose defects aren’t entirely of his own making. Troy Maxson is an African-American garbage collector who spent 15 years in jail for killing a man in a robbery, who afterwards became a star baseball player in the Negro Leagues, and who then married a good woman…
Top Chef Las Vegas Podcast, Ep. 6: Devilish deconstruction, Ceveech sweats, and the pronunciation of paella
This week, we're back in the Champagne Room (aka: the podcast bunker) to rag on episode 6 of the new season on Top Chef. I have to admit that the "Angels and Devils" theme for the Quickfire Challenge was a bit cheesy (and so were some of the dishes, and I'm not talking dairy here). The…
