Hillsborough County Commissioners to hold workshop to change configuration of board
Les Miller A proposal offered by Commissioner Les Miler to change the configuration of the Hillsborough County Commission so it might result in a Latino-oriented district moved forward on Wednesday. The board agreed to hold a workshop next month before deciding in November if it should go before the voters in 2014. Currently the County…
Concert review: Depeche Mode just can’t get enough in Tampa
A look back at the Sat., Sept. 14 show with Bat For Lashes; pics included
Foster and Kriseman talk about who’s more partisan
Tuesday night's St. Petersburg mayoral debate at Nova 535 focused primarily on small businesses, the arts and sustainability. But as the moderator of the event, I was fortunate enough to get the reactions from both Bill Foster and Rick Kriseman on a couple of issues that I hadn't heard them discuss in previous forums. One…
Tampa Bay Rays aren’t only pennant contender dealing with lousy attendance
The lead story in Wednesday's USA Today sports section is all about how some of the leading contenders for the American League playoffs all are among the worst teams in Major League Baseball in terms of home attendance. The story features the situations in St. Petersburg, Cleveland and Oakland, where all three teams are struggling…
The Well-Played List, 9/18/2013: Willy Mason, X Ambassadors, Black Joe Lewis, Sebadoh & more!
What the CL Music Team & local tastemakers are jamming this week.
Mitch Perry Report 9.18.13: Sebelius confronts Florida GOP’s obstructionism on Obamacare
Although there's been considerable grumbling in the business community regarding Obamacare, Bob Rohrlack with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce stood beside the League of Women Voters and other supporters of the law in Tampa yesterday, forcefully advocating that the state Legislature endorse expanding Medicaid, or use some other mechanism to accept the $51 billion…
Florida’s League of Women Voters and Tampa Chamber of Commerce continue to push for Medicaid expansion
"Take the money!" members of the League of Women Voters yelled at the end of today's press conference With less than two weeks to go before the health care exchanges are live, the reality is that close to a million Floridians who don't have health insurance could get it next year — if the Florida…
Alan Cohn rips into Congressman Dennis Ross at Hillsborough County Democratic executive committee meeting
Alan Cohn addresses Hillsborough Democrats in Ybor City Monday Alan Cohn doesn't lack confidence. The former award-winning broadcast journalist announced just a few weeks ago that he's taking on Republican Dennis Ross in Florida's 15th Congressional District race next year. And since that time, he's been introducing himself to Democrats at party gatherings in Polk…
Clendenin on latest Democratic sideshow :”It’s very possible” that Darryl Rouson could be ousted as House Minority Leader
Alan Clendenin It hasn't exactly been a banner year for Florida Democrats in 2013. Nearly a year after they added seats in the Legislature and got Barack Obama re-elected, the party still doesn't have any major declared candidates for any of the Cabinet positions, with the exception of former Senate Minority Leader Nan rich running…
Mitch Perry Report 9.17.13: R.I.P. Juan Capin
As the nation mourns the death of a dozen people who were killed as their workday began at the Washington Navy Yard yesterday, the question again resumes: What can be done about such indiscriminate violence in this country? Whatever the answer, it never really seems sufficient. We want to give our condolences to Tampa City…
New Music Tuesday! (September 17): Jack Johnson, The Roots & Elvis Costello, MGMT + more!
Releases out this week; audio & video included
Review: Steely Dan stages a set free of deep cuts at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
A look back at the Sat., Sept. 14 concert.
USF’s Judy Genshaft and Eckerd’s Donald Eastman call on House to pass immigration reform
USF President Judy Genshaft Although comprehensive immigration reform appears to be going nowhere in the House of Representatives, a new letter signed by 19 Florida university and college presidents indicates that they haven't given up hope. The letter was addressed to to Florida's congressional delegation, and it urges the lawmakers to support such legislation. USF's…
New report says Medicaid expansion would bring 65,000 jobs to Florida
There are only two weeks to go before the health care exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) go live. This means there will be a lot of news stories about the law between now and Oct. 1, such as the report that was released today by two pro-Obamacare groups in Florida. Prepared by Organize…
KPMG to do new study of possible HART/PSTA consolidation
Last year, after a state mandated study for consolidation was released, representatives from both Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) said they did not think it was the right time for the two to merge — though they disagreed on whether further study was necessary. Clearwater area state Sen. Jack…
Mitch Perry Report 9.16.13: Talking about income inequality isn’t the same as doing something about it
The Tampa Tribune's William March has a story out entitled, "Candidates seize on income disparity," in which he writes that "claiming the mantle of middle class champion is emerging as the moral high ground in politics," and likely will be an issue in the 2014 elections in Florida and the country. The issue is one…
Five years after Lehman fall, Barney Frank disagrees with Elizabeth Warren that the banks are still “too big to fail.”
Sunday marked the fifth anniversary of the announcement that Lehman Brothers was declaring bankruptcy, the largest in the nation's history and the defining moment of the 2008 financial crises that rocked the globe. Hank Paulson was the one official in the George W. Bush administration who acted with force and prevented the crises from spreading.…
On ABC’s This Week, Obama defends Syria policy
President Obama has received some of the most brutal criticism of his presidency with his handling of the situation in Syria. In the new edition of Time, left-center columnist Joe Klein writes that Obama's contradictory positions regarding Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's crossing a red line by using chemical weapons "has damaged his presidency and weakened…
Chipotle ad “The Scarecrow” is the best animated short film since Disney’s Paperman
Came across this on Gawker and had to share: Per the Gawker post: And with Oscar-ready animation from the acclaimed visual effects wizards at MOONBOT Studios set over a score of Fiona Apple covering "Pure Imagination" from the 1971 cult children's film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is it any wonder that Chipotle's "stealth"…
Can Florida Democrats win in Pasco County’s special House election next month?
Amanda Murphy Although undoubtedly many Republicans in Tallahassee were pleased when Governor Rick Scott chose longtime legislator Mike Fasano to replace the late Mike Olson as tax collector in Pasco County last month, state Democrats hungry to raise their numbers in Tallahassee were happy as well. It's easy to understand why some Republicans were enthused…
Sheathe that thing
How do I tell my boyfriend about my kink without bruising his ego?
Tensions heat up in Breaking Bad’s “To’Hajiilee”
Michelle MacLaren is trying to kill us. Or at least give us irregular heartbeats. The 48-year-old Canadian director has tried before with episodes like season three’s “One Minute”, but we all knew, or had a pretty good idea, Hank wasn’t going to die in that shootout with the cousins. It was clear then that the…
Tegan and Sara open for fun. in Orlando this Thurs., Sept. 19
Sara Quin discusses the pair’s latest album, their new sound and their lesbian heartthrob status
A Family get-together
De Niro and Pfeiffer shine in Luc Besson’s bloody, affectionate comedy.
Mitch Perry Report 9.13.13 – 5 years after Lehman, Rick Scott blames Charlie Crist for Florida’s economic downturn
Almost exactly five years to the day the announcement that Lehman Brothers had declared bankruptcy shook the world economy, Rick Scott told a group of invited political insiders in Orlando that Florida “never should have had that downturn." Media accounts don't tell us if those in attendance sat quietly and nodded their heads, or started…
Six years of style
2013 is Fashion Week Tampa Bay’s biggest year yet.
Designer details
Inside the spring/summer 2014 collections.
Wet Hot Tampanian Summer
The season’s almost over, but it feels hotter than ever.
City Council candidates debate environment, CRA’s and a whole lot else in South St Pete
St. Pete City Council candidates Jim Kennedy, Lorraine Margeson, Darden Rice, Carolyn Fries, Karl Nurse, Sharon Russ, Steve Galvin & Amy Foster At Wednesday night's city council candidates forum sponsored by the Broadwater League of Women Voters, a question was posed to the District 8 candidates regarding a proposed development along the wetlands near the…
Tampa Bay Times to install paywall, but will it stick?
There's no question that readers will pay for journalism they value on the Internet. That's been proven with some of the nation's finest newspapers, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times over the years. Earlier this year, the Washington Post joined that distinguished list. But the results have…
Careful commissioner, you may end up eating your words
Ken Hagan The Bloomingdale community in east Hillsborough has been plagued by the pending development of a gargantuan new commercial project. It will include a super big box along with an apartment complex and various restaurants and shops. It will be sandwiched into a primarily residential area with failed roads feeding it and all kinds…
Mitch Perry Report 9.12.13: Debate season resumes in St. Pete
It's always amusing during a season of political debates to watch candidates fidget when they're not certain about the answer to a particular question. Though we did see Rick Kriseman admit on a couple of "lightning round" questions during last night's League of Women Voters debate in South St. Pete, that's a rare occasion. Which…
Hillsborough’s Public Transportation Commission faces an uncertain future
The PTC continues to battle strong opposition on the right and the left.
Dominique Labauvie: Living in a material whirl
The renowned artist’s minimalistic show at HCC’s Gallery 21 achieves strength through fragility.
Hedwig: Love me transgender
Jobsite’s Spencer Meyers brings to life a likable and highly enjoyable Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
J. Cole and Wale bring hip hop to the Straz in Tampa
A look back at the Fri., Sept. 13 show
This week in Tampa Bay area live music: Depeche Mode, J. Cole, Loretta Lynn & more
Concerts, Sept. 12-18
Ryan Pinés’ cocktails are Colicchio-approved
The Edison Food + Drink Lab bartender does Tampa proud at a national bartenders’ contest, winning praise from the star of Top Chef.
Review: Youthful revival with Rancid at Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Saturday night’s show was like being a 16-year-old again.
Brew-therly love at Halfway There beer fest ahead of Tampa Bay Beer Week
The Halfway There beer festival welcomed three new local breweries, and an array of rare beer tastings.
Mrenc, All Around Surround
The cover of All Around Surround is a light pollution map of Florida tilted against a featureless black backdrop, a visual that gels with the album’s tensely coiled post-punk and driving percussion-imbued indie rock dosed in lightly experimental ambiance. The first proper solo release from Mrenc (the pseudonym of Lakeland-based New Granada Records artist Eric…
“We Care” Campaign focuses on Pinellas County
Pinellas County School Board member Rene Flowers introduces the panel Pinellas County — home to some of America’s most highly ranked beaches and one of the Bay Area’s most populated regions. But Pinellas leaves more to be desired than many think, with a less glamorous reputation which is sometimes overlooked. As data regarding things like…
Candidates play artistic show and tell at Studio@620 debate
Arielle Stevenson The debate on the arts, held at the Studio@620, drew a crowd. Wednesday morning, a standing room only crowd packed into St. Petersburg's Studio@620 to hear from the city council and mayoral candidates on the subject of art. The debate focused on the candidates vision, perception and funding plans for the arts in…
Celebrate 20 years with Metro Wellness
Metro Wellness & Community Centers celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend with two fabulous events. On Friday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m., lesbian comedian Karen Williams — called “a laugh riot” by Curve magazine — takes the stage at Metro Wellness and Community Center, 3251 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Tickets are $20 and can be…
AF Dance Theatre II’s unforgettable fire
Adin and Ferguson ignite the modern dance scene with an exciting multimedia, multi-discipline performance.
Les Miller’s resignation from PTC a rebuke to Victor Crist
Les Miller Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller has quit his appointed position on the Public Transportation Commission (PTC) board. The commissioner's resignation came on the same day that the troubled agency selected Kevin Jackson as the interim choice to replace Cesar Padilla as executive director. Padilla retired from the agency last month after reports surfaced…
Interview with the naked vampire: Angela Sommers (NSFW)
The Penthouse Pet on her alter ego, strap ons, being tied up, why she’ll try anything twice, biting her fans, and naming her vagina.
Get a guide
Menu options abound at Dunedin’s Ivory Mandarin Bistro.
Texas temptation
Try this version of a junk food delicacy from the Lone Star State.
Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford takes shots at the Times and The League of Women Voters during St. Pete Tiger Bay appearance
Will Weatherford at Tiger Bay At 33 years old, House Speaker Will Weatherford is a political phenom. But two articles written by Michael Van Sickler of the Tampa Bay Times this year have undoubtedly taken some of the shine off one of the state's leading and most powerful politicians. In March, the Times Tallahassee-based reporter…
