CD Review: The Semis, Decapitator Blues
The foursome issues a solid follow-up to last year’s Back to the Beach
Concert review: IDentity Fest at 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre, Tampa
A wrap-up of the traveling electronic music festival.
Tonight’s Top Chef Just Desserts preview: Housewives, Hugh returns and an explosion of pink
Check out the preview videos for tonight’s episode of Top Chef Just Desserts!
Photo review: Erasure at The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City
Some shots from Wednesday night’s show.
Sustainable spinners: New Sennheiser turntables are ‘greener’ than ever
Giving this classic turntable style from the ’80s a ‘green’ and modern makeover.
Centro-matic to the rescue: The Denton band raises funds for Texas fire victims
Under-the-radar music enthusiasts who've seen or gotten to the pleasure to meet Will Johnson and his bandmates in Centro-matic/South San Gabriel have been moved the band's rootsy but intensely nuanced rock. The Texas gents are known for being stand-up guys — as generous in spirit as they are versatile musicians. So it comes as no…
Mitch Perry Report 9.7.11
Tampa's airport director, Joe Lopano, is seemingly in the local press every day, but equally important to Tampa's economy is its Port. Yesterday Port Authority Chair Richard Wainio discussed some of the good and not so good things happening at the Port. Tonight the Tampa City Council will hear from its citizenry about Mayor Bob…
On the eve of panhandling vote, Tampa City Council to hear from public on Buckhorn budget
Roy Jenkins Pool In his five months on the job, the only thing close to a controversy in Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn's tenure was his unfortunate rebuke to Council member Frank Reddick that "I only need four votes." The mayor made that comment came after an angry Reddick said he would not support Buckhorn's FY2012…
Hillsborough MPO gives go-ahead on Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail
Good news for bicycle riders in the Tampa Bay area. Tuesday morning the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Organization passed a feasibility study for a trail that would run alongside the Tampa Bypass Canal. The Bypass Canal trail is just one leg of a proposed network of trails that Alan Snel with the Southwest Bicycle United Dealers…
This week in food and drink
‘I Like It Hot’ festival, Fall Wine Fest, Whole Foods’ Customer Appreciation Weekend and more.
9/11: We will not forget
Where to commemorate the decade anniversary of 9/11
Josh Pearson’s ABCs of living in the city
A Q&A with the illustrator about his new picture book, Alphabhetto.
New music Tuesday! (September 6)
New releases out this week by Grace Jones, Hank 3 & more (audio & video)
All you really need: home theater on a budget
You already own most of a home theater system so why pay all the middle men?
2nd Annual Dunedin Beer Festival: Saturday, September 17
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Dunedin Doggie Rescue and the Dunedin Brewers Guild.
Obama supporters looking to phone bank this Thursday- the same time he addresses the nation
We're not sure if the timing is the greatest, but nevertheless this Thursday evening in Ybor City, the group Organizing For America will be phone banking to measure the support for the President in 2012, as well as other Democrats (like Bill Nelson) who will be on the ballot. Advocates say in an e-mail that,…
Tampa’s Port director warns about the future of the cruise biz
Richard Wainio Fully 25 percent of all of the revenues that come into the Tampa Port Authority are due to the luxury cruise ship business, with 60 percent of that business coming from people who drive and park their cars in the long-term lot at Channelside. Port Authority Director Richard Wainio says that the business…
Three reasons to ‘fall’ in love with bourbon
Two autumn-inspired cocktails and a butternut squash soup — with bourbon!
Improving light bulb energy efficiency: Saving energy, carbon emissions and consumer dollars
New standards will save the amount of electricity generated by more than 30 large power plants and save carbon emissions equal to the removal of 14 million cars off the road.
Ordering “Omakase” style at Kaisen Sushi in Carrollwood
Letting the chef take the reins.
Mitch Perry Report 9.6.11
As we bemoan the fact that we've been told we can't get in to watch Eric Cantor talk about the economy in a roundtable/fundraising luncheon today at the Palma Ceia Golf Club in South Tampa, we did see that partisan politics are alive and well this morning, as Democratic Party Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz refused…
Wasserman Schultz goes on the attack
South Florida Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has a second job in addition to representing her constituents in her Miami-Dade and Broward Counties – that's being the attack dog for the Democratic party in her role as party chair. So while the diminutive Representative was on the air Tuesday morning on all three cable networks…
Romney doesn’t go all Tea Party at South Carolina Forum
Mitt Romney is scheduled to present his economic plan Tuesday, which he says will consist of 59 specific proposals – including 10 actions he'll take on his first day in office – to turn around the country's faltering economy. It was always part of his game plan to come out immediately after Labor Day to…
Manna From Heaven is a worthy successor to Shirley’s Soul Food
Jump on the soul train for divine fried chicken and tasty braised oxtail.
Event for female veterans to take place in Tampa on Saturday
Tampa is a military town, which means there's lot of former veterans from past and current wars living in the region, and in some cases, struggling to make things work after serving the nation. Locally Sara Romeo's Crossroads organization has tried to make a difference with some female vets who have become homeless. And for…
Zach Braff in St. Petersburg? We Found Him (Kinda)
For the past few days, St. Pete has been abuzz with the news that the adorable Zach Braff may be in town. The wheres, whys and hows have been all over Twitter and finally, we bring you the answers. Booyah credible news sources, you have been scooped!
A Simple Theatre’s Death and the Maiden is taut political drama
An auspicious debut, with a riveting perfomance by Giles Davies.
Ybor sex shop, Kicks on 7th, demands cash upfront
Kicks on 7th Avenue It's a rare Saturday night when Soccer Dad and I head down to Ybor City. If we aren't partying at a local swingers club you might find us at a house party. At our age, late 30s and early 40s, we just don't drink on the Ybor strip anymore. However, this…
Review: An intimate evening with John Vanderslice at CL Space
Guest performances by Susie Ulrey and Alexander and the Grapes made for a memorable evening.
Workers anxious about job security amidst dismal jobs report
Stocks plunged as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that no new jobs were created in August, holding the unemployment rate persistently at 9.1%. The latest BLS jobs report, the worst in almost a year, confirms fears of a stalling recovery. Also affecting the markets was the news of major banks, including Bank of America,…
Top Chef Podcast – Just Desserts season 2, Ep. 2: Disharmonious desserts
Hear the hilariously irreverent new episode of the Top Chef Podcast where we kvetch about Top Chef Just Desserts.
Florida Orchestra partners with International Plaza
Ever feel like your high-end shopping experience is missing something? Maybe some orchestral sounds? Well, thanks to an upcoming partnership between the Florida Orchestra and International Plaza and Bay Street, it’s your lucky year. The Florida Orchestra has been a draw for music lovers and a cultural force in Tampa for decades. International Plaza and…
Neighborhood Dining Guide: Soul Food
Save some collard greens for me!
Romney makes drive-by appearance at new state headquarters in Tampa
No longer the front-runner for the GOP nomination for President, Mitt Romney greeted a crowd of well wishers at the unveiling of his new state headquarters office on West Platt Street in Tampa this morning, across the street from the Bayshore Publix grocery store. The former Massachusetts Governor, dressed casually in an open collar shirt…
Re-make my day: Remake, reboot, what’s the difference?
It's been said repeatedly over the years that Hollywood has run out of new ideas. But with the studios digging through the archive to remake so many "classics," it seems like Tinseltown is stuck in perpetual deja view. There's so much recycling going on, we now have multiple names for this cinematic recycling: remake and…
“Nonpoint source pollution” could be the largest threat to our water quality
It comes from many diffuse sources, like natural and human-made pollutants.
Mitch Perry Report 9.2.11
Good morning, and welcome to the beginning of Labor Day weekend and all that portends. Today in Tampa presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Herman Cain are in town for the National Republican Hispanic Assembly, (Update Romney appeared in Tampa Friday morning, which you can read about here). Romney is supposed to give us his economic…
Tampa Trib held tax fraud story up while authorities completed investigation
A news conference was scheduled to be held this morning involving a host of local and federal agencies announcing the results of a six month investigation regarding tax fraud happening in Tampa, a story that is detailed by Elaine Silvestrini and Lauren Mayk in today's Tribune.. According to the Tampa Police Department, they told the…
As Mitt Romney hits Tampa, Jon Huntsman unveils his economic plan
As Mitt Romney invades Tampa Friday morning, his fellow Utah Mormon competitor, John Huntsman, has been making lots of news, though it's questionable if it will ultimately mean anything in the big picture. It was revealed on Thursday that Huntsman had canned his campaign manager in New Hampshire, where the former Utah Governor is essentially…
Stung by article, Scientology produces glossy magazine to discredit New Yorker
When CL asked Church of Scientology spokesman Peter Mansell back in late March what he had to say about The New Yorker's February article written by Lawrence Wright that featured film director Paul Haggis' story about leaving the organization, he scoffed at me. "Who reads The New Yorker?" he scoffed. Well, obviously David Miscavige does,…
A quicker pickle
Preserving summer’s bounty in a flash.
Pier-spectives: Visions of the St. Pete Pier
Meet the designers competing to determine the Pier’s future.
Gorilla Theatre needs you
Following the loss of its chief benefactor, Gorilla’s in a financial bind.
Wines that will help you melt away the heat
Summer is for sipping.
Get ready: Red light cameras now in place in St. Pete
Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines – but be prepared to stop when the light turns yellow. After months of hype and speculation, red light cameras are now officially in place at 10 different intersections sprinkled throughout St. Petersburg. The city becomes the latest municipality to adopt such controversial cameras, just as there had been…
The excesses of Citizens rate hikes hit home bitterly
Mike Fasano In one of the great understatements of 2011, the website propertycasualty360.com has a story that's title reads, "Is Citizens’ Rate Hike Backlash a Case of Buyer’s Remorse With SB 408?" Uh, let me see. The answer to that is a screaming "yes." The story chronicles what has been painfully obvious since the day…
Green Community Calendar weekend events
Bat Tower Talk, aquaponic farm tour, markets galore and more.
Mitch Perry Report 9.1.11
Now that we've got it straight when President Obama will address the nation regarding his plan on jobs next week (actually, we now know the date but not the time), Florida Governor Rick Scott weighed in this morning on Tampa radio on what he'd like to hear from the President. Yesterday the Tampa Tribune reported…
Rick Scott’s advice to Obama on jobs
Rick Scott (in Tampa in early August) Since the beginning of August (and coinciding with the addition of Stephen MacNamara as chief of staff), Rick Scott has been doing a media offensive that may become a regular part of his duties in office, but still seems unusual considering his indifference, if not outright hostility, to…
Report on Tampa’s greenhouse emissions creates concern
The problem may be getting worse before it gets better.
Making the cut: Miss October, Amanda Cerny, on surviving a Playboy casting call
Courtesy of Playboy A year ago Amanda Cerny was a sorority sister at Florida State University who occasionally modeled and constantly worked out. Now she is on the verge of becoming Playboy's Miss October 2011. But, before Cerny is officially inducted into the most exclusive, and beautiful, sisterhood in the world, she will head down…
Wilderness companion: John Vanderslice
The singer/songwriter returns from an ambitious exploration.
Hunx brings His Punx to Crowbar & more of the week’s best upcoming concerts.
THURS 01 Rock the Park w/Rocksteady@8/Mighty Mongo/Rebekah Pulley THX Management's monthly outdoor music series kicks off September with toast-filled reggae-dancehall beats (Rocksteady@8), youthful punk-reggae featuring boy-girl harmonies (Mighty Mongo), and femme-wise and Americana twangy folk rock (Rebekah Pulley). (Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa) FRI 02 John Vanderslice w/Alexander and the Grapes The prolific, well-regarded indie rock…
The workers’ song
A song reminds us why labor got organized in the first place.
Still the one?
A confused wife questions her husband’s faithfulness.
The Debt pays off
Good direction and performances save this thriller.
Hedonistic Sustainability: Q&A w. Bjarke Ingels of BIG
The Danish star-chitect’s firm is a finalist in the St. Pete Pier design competition.
Tampa Bay Food & Wine Experience
Get your VIP ticket for $75 (a $100 value)! Creative Loafing has a limited amount of VIP tickets to the event that we are able to offer to our audience for a discount thanks to the folks at SAVOR. Tickets will be available at will call with your valid ID. The event is 21 and…
Hurricane Irene, redistricting smackdown and more …
Shit Happened from Wed., Aug. 24-30, 2011.
Live and Local Spotlight: The Rukus
In "Where We At Now," emcees Rude and KeithElite trade off verses as they offer an introduction to The Rukus (which also features DJ Blenda on decks); dish out some good-natured (and justifiable) bravado as they compare past to present in the refrain ("We came a long way from playing the background / to where…
Charlie Gerdes won a majority Tuesday night – so why does he have to run again in November?
In some of the country's more progressive cities, instant run-off voting has been adopted, which, among other things, eliminates the need for a primary election. Since nobody is clamoring for it in St. Petersburg, we're not about to lead that campaign. But forgive us for thinking there's something a bit off about having a primary…
Chipotle teams with Willie Nelson for outreach film on sustainable farming (video)
Nelson cover’s Coldplay’s “The Scientist” for the short film.
Tampa home prices at new low in 2011
Because most economists believe the economic morass won't improve until the housing crisis alleviates, today's news that Tampa's home prices have hit a new low this year has to be a blow for local officials. Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home price index monthly report that came out on Wednesday showed "mixed signals" for recovery in home…
Tampa’s first ‘Food Truck Rally’ is a go! – Sat., Sept. 24th
Mobile eateries, live music and a tasty good time.
RNC 2012 & Tampa strippers: Perfect together?
“Republicans are human beings, too,” acknowledges Joe Redner.
