Do It Today: ZooGria and Fashion Week
If you've been meaning to check out the new Ceviche in Clearwater, you have good reason to tonight. Join Lowry Park Zoo's young professional Tower Club for ZooGria, a festive fundraiser with drink specials and half-priced tapas. Suggested donation is $15. All donations benefit the zoo's education, recreation, conservation and research efforts. The new Ceviche occupies the…
Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2010: Fashion Designer Nina Verklas Makes Clothes for Girls Who Rock and Lady Gaga
The work of fashion designer Nina Verklas was first featured in Fashion Week Tampa Bay when she was a student at the International Academy of Design and Academy here in Tampa two years ago. Since then she has started her own design company, Bambina by N.V., and created a dress for arguably the edgiest fashionista…
EarthTalk: What would it take to produce “green” tires?
The following is part of the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk® by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine that we'll be featuring here on CL's Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: What would it take to produce “green” tires? The tire industry is huge and I understand that tires contain a large amount of…
Florida statewide Democrats complain that their GOP opponents reluctant to debate
Although a bit confusing about who accepted first, it's now official that Rick Scott and Alex Sink will debate at least three times this election season, with the last being a nationally broadcast event to be held on the USF campus in Tampa on CNN on October 25. The Scott camp announced today in a…
Tasty game day fare: Beer cheese dip in a bread bowl (recipe)
Football season is finally upon us. Everyone has their own reason for loving football. For some it might be the actual "love of the game", while others simply enjoy the camaraderie of cheering for a beloved hometown team. Why do I love football you ask? Well there are a couple of reasons — one being…
Movie Review: Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, starring Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin and Frank Langella (with video)
1987’s Wall Street is one of director Oliver Stone’s finest films. Coming off early masterpieces like Platoon and Talk Radio but yet to go off the stylistic deep end after the triumph of JFK, Stone was at the absolute peak of his power as a filmmaker. The resulting movie — largely driven by a terrific…
Al Gore coming to Tampa to campaign for Meek
Is it an Inconvenient Truth that a majority of Floridians, for whatever reason, have yet to fully embrace a Kendrick Meek Senate candidacy. Former Vice President Al Gore has been recruited to help get Kendrick Meek back in the game in the U.S. Senate campaign, and will be with the Miami Democrat in a campaign…
Exclusive photos from the set of HBO’s hit series Boardwalk Empire
HBO's Boardwalk Empire looks like a certified hit after 7 million viewers tuned in for last weekend's premiere. The numbers were so good that HBO, in search of it's next Sopranos-sized hit, has already ordered a second season despite having only airing the first episode. A sprawling exterior set of the Atlantic City boardwalk was…
Bill’s Sports Binge: Bucs winning, Rays losing and Gruden likes Bush
The Rays lose two in a row, the Bucs won two in a row, the Vikings are winless, the Cowboys are winless, hell even the Colts lost already. What next, a Mosque at Ground Zero? (oh Bill no, don't go there) Rays rally-ragged. I love a good comeback, don't you? Rocky came back from the…
Flamingo Resort celebrates one year of bringing the community together
A little over a year ago, the property at 4601 34th St. South in St. Petersburg was in complete disarray. In fact, the site, which in its heyday housed a Holiday Inn, was downright decrepit. The pool lay empty, full of cracks and debris. The walls were grey and peeling. Weeds grew from any crevice they…
Appeals Court rules Florida’s ban on gay adoption unconstitutional – case could still ultimately be decided by Fla Supreme Court
In a decision that had been waited on for over a year, the Third District Court of Appeal out of Miami today ruled that Florida's 33 year-old ban on gay adoption is unconstitutional. However, today's decision does not end the fight to ban the law originally adopted with the help of Anita Bryant back in…
Concert review: Lady Antebellum at Ruth Eckerd Hall (with photo gallery)
Tuesday night’s show by country rockers Lady Antebellum might have only been the second date on their very first headlining tour, but it felt they’d been doing it for years. The talented, multi-award-winning trio performed to a sold out crowd at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, mixing songs from their self-titled debut and 2010’s Need You…
Vote to decide how Disney should divvy up $1 million to eco organizations
As part of Disney's "Friends for Change: Project Green" initiative, they've put up $1 million in donation funds to go toward five different projects by charitable environmental organizations. Instead of splitting it up evenly, they're asking the public to vote to decide how the money should be divvied up. Why the donations? Disney's Project Green…
The Gaily News: Maddow dissects the DADT vote and McCain goes all Rain Man
Cloture, filibuster, amendments… amidst all the jargon surrounding the Senate vote preventing repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, depend on Rachel Maddow to cut through the bullshit and explain what happened. (Video after the break; Maddow's segment begins around 1:40.) And how about John McCain's obsessive-compulsive Rain Man-esque interview about outing in the military? In…
Fight for super GOP control of GOP House plays out in Tampa Bay, the Florida Hometown Democracy folks have a new ad out, and could Florida be a leader in banning “sugary” drinks in public schools? Mitch Perry Report 9.22.10
Good morning CL readers, Yours truly is back and better than ever in Tampa, after spending two days on assignment in Tallahassee, where I had the opportunity to mingle Monday night with a couple of Florida's Supreme Court Justices. We'll probably be writing something up for our weekly publication on what we learned over the…
Could Florida actually be a leader in banning sugar drinks from public schools?
First lady Michelle Obama has chosen as her signature domestic initiative to focus in on childhood obesity, and her's "Lets Move" campaign is all about having the country's schoolchildren get access to better nutrition. Such efforts have already taken place in some of more progressive cities across the country. But could such a thing happen…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, September 22: Gaspar's Grotto Continuing with their week of anniversary celebrations, Gaspar's is throwing a blues and BBQ bash — and yes, there will even be a pirate invasion. Complimentary wine tasting (because these are classy pirates), barbecue galore and specials on Jim Beam and Cigar City Maduro Ale. 5 p.m.-? 1805 E. 7th…
Florida Hometown Democracy’s not so subtle new ad
Though the forces against Amendment Four, the Florida Hometown Democracy amendment, have considerably more financial resources in opposing the measure that would cause all changes to a county's comprehensive land use plan go to a popular vote, the Yes of 4 people have gotten their act together to finance this new ad, which is none…
Can FL House Dems prevent GOP from super-majority in Tallahassee this fall?
There are 120 members in the Florida House of Representatives, and nearly two-thirds of them are Republican. The breakdown 41 days before Election Day is 76 Republicans and 44 Democrats. And yet there is definitely something at stake in terms of power heading into next year. Why? Well, if Alex Sink wins and becomes Florida's…
Tampa Bay Lightning win preseason opener
The Tampa Bay Lightning did not have much of a chance to think about their preseason opener in Dallas tonight. After a morning practice in Brandon for the players not involved in the game, the team boarded a charter mid afternoon and arrived in Dallas just hours before game time. If the results are any…
Do It Today: Downtown St. Pete coffeehouses are where it’s at …
The Globe Coffee Lounge hasn't gotten any love in a while. It's not that we've lost affection, but perhaps we're just taking for granted that cafe owner JoEllen Schilke will always be there, going above and beyond — like a doting mom who's always ready with a warm hug and something good to eat —…
Ines Sainz and when sexual comments are appropriate
When the story broke about the gorgeous sports reporter, Ines Sainz, being harassed by members of the New York Jets football program on the field and in the locker room, the question on everyone's mind, but few's lips was —- if you dress in a way that exaggerates your sexuality, even at the work place,…
The 2010 Vote: Stacy Frank vs. Dana Young in House District 57
The one House district in Tampa Bay that the Florida Democratic Party seriously believes it can take away from the Republican fold this November is the District 57 seat being vacated by a term-limited Faye Culp. Culp’s brand of mostly doctrinaire Republican philosophy sprinkled with a liberal take on issues like education and gay rights…
Concert review: Surfer Blood and The Drums at State Theatre, St. Petersburg (with photos)
Chalk it up to a bad mix or some mid-tour malaise, but something was off at Sunday night’s Surfer Blood / Drums show. [All photos by Mike Wilson.] Openers The Drums (full disclosure: previously unheard) played a brand of New Wave-derivative tunes mottled in tired phrases of beach-dom and surfing of the sort that's so…
On the radar: a weekend of Kick Start My Art events
Art collective Kick Start My Art kicks major butt this weekend with two worthwhile shows in a row. First, do you love bacon? How about Kevin Bacon? Kick Start has sizzled up a new exhibition, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, based on the theory that any celeb can be linked to Kevin Bacon by six…
Best of the Bay 2010: The best in global cuisine
Tampa Bay has an array of restaurants that represent different cuisines from around the globe. So put away your passport, save yourself an expensive flight overseas and check out some of the best ethnic fare the Bay area has to offer as picked by our CL staffers and faithful readers. Critics' Picks: Best Fish &…
Join the Ocean Conservancy’s 25th Annual International Coastal Cleanup this Saturday, September 25
Join Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful for the Ocean Conservancy's 25th Annual International Coastal Cleanup and help keep our coastlines and waterways debris-free. KHCB is looking for thousands of volunteers of all ages to join a worldwide effort on Saturday, September 25th to pick up trash along coastlines, rivers and lakes. Volunteers will be participating in…
Republicans filibuster Defense Appropriations Bill, blocking a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
This morning on Daily Loaf, we mentioned Lady Gaga's appearing in Maine to try and sway senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe into breaking ranks with their anti-military Republican brethren by voting against a filibuster of the Defense Appropriations Bill. (Which, among other things, provides funding for our men and women in uniform.) Rather than…
Photos from a whimsical holiday: National Park(ing) Day
On Friday, Sept. 17, city dwellers across the country converted the an everyday slab of asphalt into the serene and magical on National Park(ing) Day. Residents of Tampa participated in the nationwide event by converting parking spaces downtown into welcoming retreats. From picnic tables to paper shelters to origami birds, local participants came up with beautiful…
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a sangrita cocktail (recipe)
September 15th kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month (which lasts until October 15) which marks the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico's day of independence is September 16 (not Cinco de Mayo) and Chile's is on September 18. Needless to say, this has got me in…
Must-see music: The Legendary Shack Shakers with Have Gun, Will Travel and Urbane Cowboys this Wednesday at Crowbar, Ybor City (with audio)
I said this on both Twitter and Facebook and I think it’s worth repeating here: I’d pretty much figured The Urbane Cowboys had called it quits, and yet here they are. Simply having them on a bill with Have Gun, Will Travel makes this show worth its door charge ($12 in advance/$15 day of show),…
Say goodbye to batteries: Talk-powered cell phones in development
Say goodbye to cell phone batteries that need replacing and just end up leeching toxic elements into landfills because cell phones in the near future could be powered by the spoken word — literally. Researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University have been experimenting with power harvesting using piezoelectric materials (nanotechnology…
Korean food adventure: The seafood pancake at Sa Ri One in Tampa
Following a craving for Korean food, I recently ventured to Sa Ri One (on Cypress Street, near I-275) to get my fix. Arriving at the small, yet cozy establishment, I was quickly seated and took a look at the menu. Being a beginner in terms of Korean cuisine, each visit presents me with an opportunity…
Television Review: Mad Men, season 4, episode 9 — “The Beautiful Girls”
"It's the business of sadists and masochists, and you know which one you are." —to Peggy. "It's hard the way she breezes past me." —to Don, about notifying him when Dr. Fay arrives. "She looks chubby in the pictures." —about Sally. Our dear Miss Blankenship, we hardly knew thee. It was an enjoyable time, and you…
The Gaily News: Gaga, DADT and the new kid on Glee
– Lady Gaga went from protesting Don't Ask Don't Tell in a meat dress at the VMAs to giving a "red-meat" speech against DADT while wearing suit and tie in Maine. Why Maine? Because of its two moderate Republican senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, that's why. — Meanwhile, those same Maine senators and other…
New music releases out this Tuesday, September 21: Paula Cole, Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Legend & The Roots, The Script, Santana, Swans, Lauris Vidal, and more (with lots of audio & video)
This week’s new music releases. To see last week’s releases (out Sept. 14), click here; for releases out Sept. 7, click here. , Mounqaliba (Six Degrees) Kaci Battaglia, Bring It On (Curb Records) Paula Cole, Ithaca (Decca) Billy Currington, Enjoy Yourself (Mercury Nashville) Black Country Communion, Black Country Communion (J&R) This group, the brainchild of…
The 2010 Vote: Bill Heller vs. Jeff Brandes in FL House District 52
In his first television ad for the House District 52 race, Republican candidate Jeff Brandes stands in a lumber yard discussing how his family’s lumber business created hundreds of jobs over the years. But because of high taxes and government regulation, he complains, those types of businesses are now under siege. “If Tallahassee gets in…
Daddy’s Little Girl: A daughter tries to educate her father about homosexuality
My father loves me, I know this. He doesn't accept me because I'm gay. I should be over this, being that I'm 26 years old and married with a child of my own. But I'm not. I don't feel loved when every accomplishment that I achieve is overshadowed by my "mortal sin" of gayness. My…
“It’s so much awesome”: Big dreams at the Glazer Children’s Museum
No Oompa Loompas were present, but the "Golden Ticket Day" preview at the new Glazer Children's Museum on Sunday was a hit just the same. “It’s so much awesome,” said 5-year-old Luciano Vivino while watching his sister Isabella, 7, perform in the museum’s Twinkle Stars Theatre. The iridescently lit space, complete with costumes and changeable…
Do It Today: Lady Antebellum and Skipper’s Smokehouse’s 30th anniversary
Word is there are concerts on both sides of the bay tonight. Lovely CL music critic Leilani Polk provides info about a couple of 'em: Nashville's Lady Antebellum performs at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The country pop trio has only been active four years, but already won all manner of awards, including a 2009 Grammy for “I…
Theater Review: Einstein’s Dreams at Jobsite is hallucinatory and graceful
Einstein’s Dreams is a lovely meditation on the nature of time, presented as theater, mime and dance. In the current Jobsite Theater production of Alan Lightman’s work (adapted from prose fiction by David Gardiner and Ralf Remshardt), five female and four male actors dressed in white enact time turning in circles, freezing, becoming “sticky,” becoming…
Golden Ticket Day at Glazer Children’s Museum (Photos by Chip Weiner)
The Glazer Children’s Museum had its first viewing with a "Golden Ticket Day" on Sunday, September 19. The 50 lucky families who'd won admission through a special promotion (plus a gaggle of local media) got a preview of the games, activities and educational experiences that will be available when the museum opens on September 26.…
Attend the Tampa Bay Builders Association’s Green Building Expo this Saturday, September 25
Studies have shown that green buildings aren't just a passing trend, but that these environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in construction will continue to be on the rise over the next few years. Besides being beneficial to the environment, green buildings can also improve our own well being and save resources like electricity and water…
Best of the Bay 2010: The best drinks and where to find them in Tampa Bay
Here it is, the best in libations in the Bay, where to get them and who to get them from as chosen by the CL staff and our faithful readers. Critics' Picks: Best Way to Get Drunk for $2: Reservoir Bar’s Mr. Purple shots, Ybor A down and dirty dive bar on the Ybor City…
Dream Momma: wedding photographer’s nightmare
Hi, Dream Momma, Welcome back. I’m a Tampa Bay area photographer and I had a dream last night that I was shooting a wedding and the ceremony was starting, there were 6 guests standing in the front all with professional cameras. I told them very nicely that I do not allow that and one of…
#MusicMonday, Vol. 15: Mavis Staples, Dan Auerbach, Crocodiles, Maroon 5, Fake Problems, and more (with audio & video)
What the Creative Loafing music team is listening to this Monday to get us through the day and rocket launch the week… Click here to check out previous entries. – Mavis Staples, You Are Not Alone (2010) Excellent new gospel/R&B release from one of the very best vocalists from both of those genres. Wilco's leader…
Dogs’ play styles are as varied as their breeds
A recent article in The Bark magazine got me thinking about dogs and their friends. The article asked “Who’s your dog’s BFF?” and said that the answer might not be you — or any other human — but a dog buddy. I know my dog has friends — human and canine alike — and that…
EarthTalk: How long does it take a plastic grocery bag to decompose?
The following is part of the environmental themed advice column EarthTalk® by the Editors of the non-profit publication E/The Environmental Magazine that we'll be featuring here on CL's Green Community. Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard conflicting reports regarding how long it really takes for a plastic grocery bag to decompose. Can you set the record straight?…
Southern Brewing and Winemaking Supply: A resource for homebrewers in Tampa Bay
Craft beer is a hot topic these days. Walk into almost any restaurant, bar or grocery store and you will see at least a handful of domestic and imported micro brews along side the usual suspects. As a craft beer enthusiast this is a welcome invasion and I bask in the seemingly never-ending parade of…
Top 11 ways to prevent erectile dysfunction
Between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED). Like many of the medical problems that come with age, your chances of developing ED can be drastically reduced through proper lifestyle choices. Below are the top 11 tips for maintaining the structural integrity of your hard-on as recommended by WebMD. 1.…
Love and lust on the field as Adam Lambert rocks the Trop (with concert video)
In his fans' minds, he is their empath, a conduit to some kind of electrical force that powers their bodies, their minds. He of course is glam rocker and American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert, who lit up Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL Saturday night.To them he is the tribe leader, a charismatic marvel and power…
Green DIY: Using the sun and hula hoops to naturally heat your pool (video)
Although it stays fairly warm here in Florida for about ten months of the year, there are those cooler days when it's still bearable to be out poolside in a bikini, but then the pool is chilly (to our standards which is anything under 80 degrees). Instead of installing expensive (and energy wasting) pool heaters,…
Michael Alig: The Cynical And Southern Interview
Michael Alig. An inspiration to thousands of lost and creative suburbanites turned club kids over the years. Immortalized by Macaulay Culkin in the film Party Monster. In jail for the murder of Angel Melendez. After seeing a documentary about Alig, I, too, found myself enraptured by his story. Murder aside, I found many parallels between…
Is propylene glycol in food making us fat?
Most of you are probably wondering, "What the heck is propylene glycol?" Propylene glycol may sound fancy and scientific, but it's really just a clear, odorless liquid made from petroleum. It's used as a stabilizer (to keep things held together, and keep them from evaporating), and to keep foods moist. It's used in many of…
AltDotPop: Adam Lambert vs. the paparazzi, the future for Blake Lively, Joaquin Phoenix is a liar and Tim Gunn on Lady Gaga
Adam Lambert tried to hide from the paparazzi by dressing like a poor kid from Brooklyn visiting his grandparents at their Miami condo. Adam's disguise failed and to make a long story short, he tried to dry hump the paparazzo. The paparazzo liked it, who wouldn't. Many have come before her and many will follow…
Reckless Rubio never met a perk he didn’t like
What you see is not what you are going to get. By Chris Ingram The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has an in-depth article about Marco Rubio today. It’s not a flattering article for sure, and Kool-aid drinking Rubio supporters (one of which I used to be) will no doubt put their blinders on and ignore it or blame…
Concert review: Kings of Leon with The Black Keys and The Whigs at 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre in Tampa (with photos and setlists)
I don't often attend stadium shows and will freely admit I've been especially critical of the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre: the name is an embarrassment, the weather nearly always proves to be too wet (the recent Jonas Brothers show was canceled due to flooding), and good god … the price of tickets is truly offensive. After Saturday's…
Mitch Perry Report 9.20-21
Greetings and salutations from Tallahassee, where this reporter joins 23 other journalists in being part of the 21st Annual Florida Bar Reporters' Workshop. But we still did record a podcast, because we just can't help it. St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster is complaining about St. Pete being left out of plans for high speed rail,…
Do It Today: I’ll Show You Mine and Tampa Bay Career and Job Fair
Less pervy than it sounds but we like the artist's sense of humor, I'll Show You Mine, You Show Me Yours at USF's Centre Gallery assembles sculptures that resulted from collaborations between Adam Kitzerow and other artists. All the works include finished pieces of Kitzerow's incorporated into new, altogether different pieces by other artists. Exhibition…
Getting back to backseat bangin’
Can you even remember the last time you climbed into your backseat for a quickie? Unless you're having an affair, or dating someone who still lives with their parents, the last time you had sex in a car was probably during your dorm days in college, or over Christmas break while trying to escape your…
Concert review: O.A.R (…of a revolution) at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater (with photos)
Words by CL Music Intern Mary Small; photos by Jeff O'Kelley. After finishing up “On Top the Cage,” from their second album, Soul’s Aflame (2000), O.A.R. singer/guitarist Marc Roberge confessed that the band was reluctant to start touring again after taking some time off. “We haven’t played a show in a couple of weeks,” explained…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best cow intestines, vegan hot dog, veggie burger and kangaroo
Best Cow Intestines: Critics' Pick – Taqueria Monterrey, University Area Although many food cultures follow the “snout to tail” theory when cooking dead animals, eating the digestive tracts of livestock hasn’t caught on in the U.S. Maybe more people would give it a try if they sampled the tripe tacos at Taqueria Monterrey. The finely…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best New Music Fest
Critics’ Pick for Best New Music Fest: AntiWarpt Music & Arts Festival, downtown St. Petersburg Brokenmold Entertainment and No Clubs banked on St. Pete’s burgeoning 600 Block popularity with this single-day multi-venue live music event, which featured more than 20 high-caliber local and regional acts, from Orlando soul-blues songstress Kaleigh Baker, to Bradenton’s fire-fueled Americana…
Bill Foster again raises his voice about St. Pete and high speed rail, this time with city council support
Readers may recall when the PBS NewsHour was in Tampa earlier this year, with Gwen Ifill, Judy Woodruff and the whole gang doing a series of reports about what's going on in the political world in the Tampa Bay area. Included in those reports was a substantial piece about rail – both light and high…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Director, Eric Davis
As his stunning staging of The Wild Party in 2008 proved, Eric Davis is an extraordinary director. But would he ever be able to top his work on that wonderful Party? Yes: Hair, at American Stage this year, brought us the most convincing singing, dancing, pot-smoking hippies ever to wander on- and off-stage this side…
AOF launches amateur MMA in Ybor with a bang
Since nothing spells success like a packed venue and an enthusiastic crowd cheering at the top of its lungs the Tampa-based mixed martial arts promotion, Art of Fighting, seems to be off to a good start with her brand new Amateur MMA at the Ritz series that was launched Friday night at an almost sold…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Folk Pop
Critics’ Pick for Best Folk Pop: The Grecian Urns Only active in the summer when its members are on break from school, this folk pop ensemble produces music that’s fresh and full of sunshine. The catchy refrains and heart-hugging melodies charm a tiny tear from your sentimental eye, boy-girl harmonies and exuberant sing-shouts trigger feel-good…
The Million Masturbators March
Little ol' Delaware is the site of a growing movement — if you can believe humorist Andy Borowitz. Which you can't, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go to Huffington Post right now and read "Delaware Masturbators March Against O'Donnell." "O'Donnell" i's Christine O'Donnell, of course, the notorious GOP U.S. Senate candidate in Delaware. Her…
Wheels fell off: Angels over Rays 4-3
For the third time this week, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a game on a home run. Sunday it was a walk-off in Toronto hit off Rafael Soriano in a rare blown save. Tuesday it was a leadoff long-ball in extras off reliever Dan Wheeler. Friday night, Wheeler was once again the culprit victim, costing…
Amid public outcry, St. Petersburg City Council tables new land use map
After months, weeks, days and hours, the St. Petersburg City Council's decision on the new five-colored land use map arrived Thursday evening. Their verdict? To unanimously table the issue until Florida voters make their decision in November on the "Hometown Democracy" Amendment 4, which requires voter approval on any change to a local land use…
Movie Review: The Town, directed by and starring Ben Affleck, also starring Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively and Titus Welliver (with trailer video)
I didn't watch the trailer for The Town before going to see it. For me, the words "Oscar bait" and "Ben Affleck" in the same sentence are enough to get me into a seat. Regardless of what you might expect from Affleck as an artiste, a movie like this usually manages to become fodder around…
Green Renovation: The Steve Thomas approach
Steve Thomas, former host of PBS This Old House and host of Planet Green's Renovation Nation, has fallen prey many times to the seven most dangerous words in renovation: "might as well" and "while were at it." They are the words that any person with renovator's disease can fall victim too. It is these words…
Vintage-inspired Fashion Designer Kimberly Hendrix Tells Us How to Go Vintage Shopping the Right Way
Kimberly Hendrix, a fashion designer and resident of Palm Harbor, will be showcasing her newest collection next Saturday at Fashion Week Tampa Bay, a yearly event that showcases the design talents of Tampa Bay’s fashion finest. Kimberly’s vintage–inspired designs, a line of sparkly, shiny, one-of-a-kind re-worked vintage pieces are a party girl’s dream. They’ve been…
The 45 Most Anticipated Films for the Rest of 2010 — Numbers 15-1
[Editor's Note: What follows is the third and final part of CL Contributor Anthony Nicholas' epic, three-part Fall Movie Preview. You can check out Part 1 or Part 2 by clicking these links.] 15) Catfish The trailer may oversell the movie as a thriller or a horror film but don't be fooled. Ariel Schulman and…
The Water Cooler: Charlie in a Speedo?; Don’t snicker at Snitker; the Delaware Dummy
What people are talking about in politics By Chris Ingram Charlie Crist’s new ad It may have taken him four times to pass the Florida Bar exam, but Charlie Crist is not a complete dummy and can in fact spell “American.” In his new ad he even takes the words “Democrat” and “Republican” and forms them…
Going Wireless: Freedom from Office Confines
When you decide to free your business from the confines of the office, you have the chance to improve your business work-flow. But like an 18 year old who moves out of his parents' house for the first time, you can completely mess up, ruining the transition and disappointing your employees and clients. As you…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Saxophonist
Critics’ Pick for Best Saxophonist: Jeremy Powell Local sax man Jeremy Powell plays both tenor and soprano saxophones, and can do it sexy smooth, session-player subtle, or make his instrument scream so loud it’d make John Zorn proud. This year, he’s been particularly busy. In addition to regularly playing with swamp jam rock outfit Swamp…
Creative reuses for obsolete iMacs: Hamster cage, mini kegerator and more
When the cute and colorful iMacs were released in 1998, 2.7 million were sold that year. The problem is, after a few years they became outdated as Apple scrapped that design in favor for slimmer, sleeker models (isn't that always the way?) and people were left with these candy-colored monitors and CPU towers that they…
Sharp differences reflected in Stacy Frank-Dana Young debate in Tampa
The House District 57 race is one of the most competitive in Florida state politics this year, which is why today's Tiger Bay debate between Democrat Stacy Frank and Republican Dana Young was highly anticipated, and did not disappoint in reflecting the clear and vast differences in opinion and philosophy between the two candidates in…
Join Bank of America and Creative Tampa Bay for a Three-Part Conference on Staying Relevant in the Future
On Wednesday, Sept. 22, Bank of America and Creative Tampa Bay host a three-part afternoon conference about keeping businesses relevant as technology, the economy, and society continue to grow and change. The four experts that lead the conversation include: Dave Gray, the Founder and Chairman of visual thinking company, XPLANE; Dr. Snaith, the Director of…
Top Chef Podcast doubleheader: D.C. finale and Just Desserts premiere
As one door closes, another one opens. We said goodbye to Top Chef: D.C. Wednesday night and welcomed a new incarnation of the Emmy-winning series, Just Desserts (which gave me hope for a good season). But first, I'll discuss D.C. I have to say that, even a few weeks ago, I wouldn't have called who…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best World Jam Fusion
Critics’ Pick for Best World Jam Fusion: The Hip Abduction This lively eight-piece fuses the flavors of jazz, acoustic rock, tropicalia, blues, funk, Afrobeat and reggae into a sound that grooves with the easy-going vibe of the islands without ever coming off as trite. Against supple basslines, fluid keyboard melodies and a two-piece horn combo, frontman…
Concert review: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with ZZ Top at St. Pete Times Forum (with photos)
When the critic starts pondering a concert’s meaning in the overall context of the modern music business model, and the critic does so right in the middle of the concert, perhaps that’s a sign that the show is not as captivating is it should be. [All photos by Phil Bardi.] And so it was with…
Restaurant BT in Hyde Park to close its doors this weekend (but there’s good news, too)
The bad news: Restaurant BT in Hyde Park, best known for their innovative French-Vietnamese cuisine, will be closing their doors after this Saturday night (September 18th) after five years of service. This isn't surprising to hear after Chef BT Nguyen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just a few months ago. The good news: Restaurant…
Best of the Bay 2010: sex & love readers’ picks
Best Local Sex Scandal Winner: Kevin White Runners-up: Teachers having sex with kids; The Hogans. Other: "BP screwing all of us" Dialogue: "Again… Anyone have the Gayle Guyardo pictures?????"; "Pathetic question — get a life!" Best Strip Club Winner: Mons Venus. Runners-up: 2001 Odyssey, Oz Best Adult Performer, Female Winner:
Tampa Bay Lightning set to kick off Training Camp
And so it begins… After an offseason that saw many faces come and go, the Tampa Bay Lightning are set to take to the ice officially for the first time this weekend at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. For many players and fans, this day could not come quickly enough. New General Manager Steve…
Rick Scott wants no part of “Obama liberal” Chris Matthews, Dems try to make John Boehner a boogeyman, and former Green party candidate David Cobb comes to the Tampa Bay area:Mitch Perry Report 9.17.10
A couple of notes this morning: first of all, a big thanks to all the folks who attended last night's meeting in Clearwater of the Suncoast Sierra Club – quite a stimulating conversation that I was honored to be invited to be a part of. Please check out our gaudy Best of the Bay edition…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Florida Legislation
The Critics’ Pick for Best Florida Legislation: PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) bill We’re not sure how this happened, but somehow the Florida legislature passed HB 7179, the PACE bill, giving local governments the authority to create a mechanism for up-front financing for energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and wind mitigation to actual residents’…
Neighborhood Dining Guide: Dunedin
The restaurant options in this little town by the gulf have exploded in the past decade, turning downtown Dunedin into a dining destination for the entire Bay area. If you’re headed to out neighbor in the north, here are a few options, from down-home diner fare to high-end cuisine. (Editor's note: this is an updated…
Rick Scott rejects Chris Matthews as debate host, and y’all set to watch the Senate debate at 11 pm tonight?
Windy March in today's Tampa Tribune reports that a statewide broadcast debate on all NBC affiliates across Florida has been nixed by Rick Scott because he's no fan of the proposed moderator, MSNBC's Chris Matthews. A spokeswoman for the GOP gubernatorial candidate said that he prefers to debate on CNN that same night (October 25),…
Michael Steele’s “Fire Pelosi” bus tour coming to Tampa on Monday
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele returns to Tampa this Monday, September 20, for a "Fire Pelosi" rally scheduled at 10:30 a.m at 1221 Cass St. It takes awhile for Congressional leaders to become famous enough to ridicule, which is why the GOP's campaign against Pelosi – a/k/a "The San Francisco Democrat" in 2006 went…
Former Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb: The unedited interview
In the current Best of the Bay issue of CL, we have published an interview with David Cobb, the 2004 Green Party nominee for President. But because of space limitations, we were only able to excerpt a portion of that interview. In anticipation of his appearances in Tampa, Sarasota and St. Petersburg Saturday night, Cobb…
Best of the Bay 2010: sex & love critics’ picks
Best waste of swimwear indoors/ Best reason to still go to Tampa for strip clubs: Bikini Bars in St. Pete. A rash of new bikini bars have flared up in downtown St. Pete, with four opening or planning to open this year. Owners hoped to capitalize on the new 3 a.m. bar ordinance and the…
Do It This Weekend: Kings of Leon and Surfer Blood in concert, Art After Dark, Moving Current and more
Last weekend film and visual arts ruled the scene. The fin de semaine of Sept. 17-19 is all about the concerts. CL Music Editor Leilani Polk wrote about a slew of shows this weekend. Here’s a rundown my favorites among Ms. Polk’s must-attends: * Friday, Sept. 17-Saturday, Sept. 18 Beanstalk BBQ Bash and Old School Reunion Concert This two-night Friday-Saturday…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Use of Social Media to Save Your (Restaurant’s) Ass
Best Use of Social Media to Save Your (Restaurant's) Ass – Critics' Pick: Bowled and St. Pete Brasserie, St. Petersburg. This year two St. Pete restaurants on the brink of closing, Bowled and St. Pete Brasserie, reached out to their customers through Facebook and the like, announcing that business wasn’t so great and inviting people…
Brooksville to hold ‘Get Healthy Cycling Classic’ for families and cycling enthusiasts
Get Healthy Vitamin and Natural Food Stores are gearing up to make the 1st Annual Brooksville Get Healthy Cycling Classic, a family event that you won't want to miss. Throughout the weekend of October 16 &17, there will be cycling events for kids and families along the Good Neighbor Trail as well as events for die-hard…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Prog Fusion
Critics’ Pick for Best Prog Fusion: Auto?Automatic?? Instrumental three-piece Auto?Automatic?? fuses elements of prog, post and alt rock, and throws the occasional jazz, funk and reggae flavors into the mix, too. The players have chops to spare and good working chemistry that adds up to a dynamic whole, guitarist Brian Larsen’s finger-tapping style of soloing…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best New Restaurant and Best Chef
Seminole Heights' restaurant scene has come a long way, especially in the past year, and some of its eclectic dining spots took the top awards in the Best of the Bay Food and Drink category this year. Best New Restaurant – Readers' Poll: Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Seminole Heights "…an interesting melange of upscale…
Best of the Bay 2010: Best Grassroots Activist Event
The Critics' Pick for Best grassroots activist event: Hands Across the Sand Two months before the Deepwater Horizon volcano blew its black tide of toxic funk, the people of Florida came to the beaches, joined hands and told our state legislature how they felt about drilling our coasts. Hands Across the Sand turned out 10,000…
A short Q&A with Mike Donovan of Sic Alps
After only a few releases, San Francisco’s Sic Alps have cultivated a frenzied pack of followers willing to toss out significant dough in order to collect the group's out-of-print records. Label Drag City placated those hysterical souls in 2009 with A Long Way Around to a Shortcut, a collection of the really hard-to-find earlier stuff…
Mind over medicine: Sexual thoughts may be more effective than ‘female Viagra’
Two in five American women suffer from sexual dysfunction, yet only recently have drug companies tried to find a chemical treatment for this problem. With the rising success of erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and Cialis, the drug industry has rushed to capitalize on the other half of the population with a pill that boosts…
“Milk Party” rolls into Tampa Thursday night
Florida's "Milk Party" comes to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa Thursday night at 6 p.m. to tout what organizers say is a non-partisan agenda promoting children's issues in the Sunshine State. It's part of a 17-city tour (organizers will be in St. Petersburg on September 20) to put an emphasis on issues affecting kids. Organizers…
On the Radar: Talk Like a Pirate Day and ‘Full Sail Ahead,’ Gaspar Grotto’s week of shenanigans
Arghhh you ready for this? Sunday, Sept. 19, is Talk Like A Pirate Day. The Galley at Gaspar’s Grotto, the new pirate-themed restaurant attached to the Grotto, commemorates the occasion with a new menu, new chef Craig Smith, complimentary food and drinks and a full week of “outrageous” parties. The swashbuckling holiday kicks off seven…
Democrats perhaps a bit too happy about Tea Party influence? Elizabeth Warren to be named by Obama to run consumer bureau, and Susan Latvala and Bob Hackworth engage in a verbal battle in Dunedin: Mitch Perry Report 9.16.10
So what's it all mean? After every primary election, pundits from all of the country gather and make grand pronouncements, and they're certainly doing it after Tuesday's election results from Delaware. We try to break it down here. President Obama has disappointed a lot of liberals. Will they be pleased that he will select Harvard…
Elizabeth Warren to be named to lead consumer agency – will Obama’s critics on the left be happy?
I have a very liberal friend who thinks that most Democrats are weasels, and that includes Barack Obama. But when I informed her last week that Obama was still considering naming Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren to head a new consumer protection agency, she was delighted and said she would hold off on criticizing the President…
The Gaily News, BOTB edition: Who were the LGBT winners of Best of the Bay?
Last night Creative Loafing gave out its annual Best of the Bay awards at our offices in Ybor Square. The Loafies award show is always a blast, and this year's party was no exception. And there were many reasons for LGBT folk to celebrate, both in the editor's awards and in the results of the…
Dems a bit too giddy after Delaware ?
Part of the challenge in writing a political column in the U.S. is that the subjects are so limited: Democrats and Republicans. But now we have the influence of the Tea Party, which analysts are grateful for to have something else to talk about. And talk about the Tea Party they are, in the wake…
Good move: Bella Brava comes into its own in a new location
This is my third review of Bella Brava. Not many restaurants can claim that dubious honor, and maybe it speaks highly of this restaurant's attempts to adapt to changes in chef, changes in focus and, now, a change in venue. In the six years that Bella Brava has been open, much has changed and much…
Hometown gal: Sick of politicians and campaigning, she sees hope in Amendment 4
I can't get excited about the upcoming election. Apathetic voters are always a concern, but trepidation from former Kool-Aid drinkers like me should be especially disturbing to campaign managers everywhere. That's right; I'm a lifelong liberal and Democratic activist. Doctors used forceps on my mother when she gave birth to me back in 1969, and…
Oh Canada: An appreciation of Montreal, still crazy after all these years
Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan! (But where are the snows of yesteryear?) —from "Ballade" by François Villon (1431-1465) We're tennis fans, so last month, when we had a chance to see the Rogers Cup (Women's Quarterfinals), we jumped at it. An irresistible bonus was that the Cup was played in Montreal, where, once upon…
Good move: Bella Brava comes into its own in a new location
This is my third review of Bella Brava. Not many restaurants can claim that dubious honor, and maybe it speaks highly of this restaurant's attempts to adapt to changes in chef, changes in focus and, now, a change in venue. In the six years that Bella Brava has been open, much has changed and much…
Fight the power: The Green Party’s David Cobb is leading a campaign to make it illegal
David Cobb was the 2004 Green Party nominee for president. The northern California attorney is now spending his time rallying citizens behind a grass-roots effort to reduce the power of corporations in America. MovetoAmend.org brands itself as a coalition dedicated to ending "the illegitimate legal doctrines" that prevent the American people from governing themselves. In…
Home run hero: Johnson cranks 2 in 4-3 Rays win over the Yankees
What a night! What a game! What a series! As the rest of the CL crew was loafin’ it up at the Best of the Bay Awards, your intrepid Tampa Bay Rays blogger was dutifully in attendance at Tropicana Field for Game Three of the series with the New York Yankees. While I wanted to…
Do It Today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and ZZ Top
This year, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers put out their 12th studio album and first release of original material in eight years, Mojo, affirming yet again that they do, indeed, still have it. Mojo, that is. From hip-swinging good-time shuffles (“Candy”), to melancholy introspective ballads (“No Reason to Cry”), to drawn-out Allmans-esque scorchers (“First Flash…
Tonight’s Top Chef Just Desserts episode preview: The sweet and sassy premiere
Finally, pastry chefs will get their just deserts and show the culinary world they mean business — and I'm not talking about competing in some frou-frou cake wars type show either Top Chef: Just Desserts premieres tonight, pitting twelve pastry chefs against one another for $100,000 and the title of Top Pastry Chef. After the…
Do you care about your future?
This past Saturday, September 11, the Sierra Club had a beach cleanup and planted over 10,000 sea oats on Fort DeSoto Beach. There was a great turn out and everything got planted, watered and I think overall it was a good experience for everyone who took part. A large majority of attendees were mature, older…
Lots of new music releases out this Tuesday, September 14: The Black Angels, Les Savy Fav, Cloud Cult, Trey Songz, Linkin Park, Megafaun, Robert Plant, Underworld, The Vaselines, Soulive, Weezer and more (with audio & video)
This week’s bursting with new music releases of all sorts. To see last week’s releases (out Sept. 7), click here; for releases out Aug. 31, click here. The Absence, Enemy Unbound (Metal Blade) Amely, Hello World (Fearless Records) Azure Ray, Drawing Down The Moon (Saddle Creek) The Bad Plus, Never Stop (HUI/Universal/Do the Math Records)…
Weird Insurance: Alien Abductions, Segways and Flying Corks
Insurance is a pretty strange business with some pretty hilarious claims. What do you think of when you hear 'insurance'? You probably think of the norms, you know: car insurance, homeowner's insurance, medical insurance, dental insurance and alien abduction insurance. Wait! What?! I think it's interesting that businesses can go into such niche categories without…
Campaign Virality: Old Spice Man and Stormy Simon
What do great campaigns have in common? They usually have a prominent and regular face with a 360 degree personality — one you could actually believe would be a real life person with that specific character — and a good solid strategy behind them. Two recent campaigns have caught my eye, and from a marketing…
Top Chef D.C. Podcast, Ep. 13: Singapore showdown
In last night's episode of Top Chef: D.C. (or should I say, Top Chef: Singapore), four became three and the heat was turned up on this lukewarm season — temperature-wise, at least. As I commented in the preview post yesterday, having the finale in Southeast Asia for the season taking place in our nation's capital…
Green Community Calendar weekend events: Sierra Club’s Ft. Desoto beach cleanup, World Cafe discussion group, 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…
Sampling Tampa’s food history: Revisiting the rum omelet and Cuban bollos
I was inspired last month when I judged a heritage pie baking contest at Cracker Country, a living history program at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Some of the 19th-century recipes sounded unusual, especially the vinegar pies and jelly pies, but many shined despite my doubts. Florida has its share of iconic dishes, but many have…
