R.I.P. dry humping…
Every single time it happens, I wake up the next day convincing myself that it must have been the booze, or if sober, a repressed middle school memory must have reared it's ugly head. Please someone explain this phenomena to me. WHY would ANYONE over the age of 14 dry hump another human being?! I…
Rabid Erotica: Tampa tramps and torments
Bradley’s life-long dream did not resemble bartending at Cha Cha Coconuts at the St. Pete Pier. Sadly it was only a mere shard of the broken glass of his dream window. The one he used to look through in his head. Tonight he’s slinging drinks for college kids and snow birds, tomorrow he’ll be once…
My fantasies part 2: risky sex (SFW)
Living the swinger lifestyle offers the opportunity of stranger sex. I don't really know all of the people I have sex with, but normally I have talked and spent some time with them before engaging in anything. Even with this excitement in my life I still have fantasies about something a little riskier. In the dressing…
Dreamer meets the inner trickster
"I dreamt that I was working at my old job (the one I had before my current one) and that I kept trying to escape but someone kept catching me and bringing me back. I finally had the smart idea to open and shut one door as though I had gone into that room but…
Worst Wii remote attachment discovered
Ever since the Wii was released, third party attachment and peripheral makers have been having a field day. If it'll attach to your Wii remote, it'll sell. If it'll make you feel like the hero in the game while simultaneously making people question your mental faculties, it's a hot item in the minds of attachment…
Ex trader dreaming of missing emotions
“I was surrounded by a bunch of people I used to work with at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The dream felt pretty benign; more thoughtful than interactive. I considered each person & what my relationship with them had been like. There were at least one or two significant people missing. I didn’t really talk with…
Sex and the single dad
Life has a way of taking wrong turns when you least expect it. We all face it, sometimes fear it, usually deal with it, and hopefully learn from it. Our lives are intertwined with so many others we barely know where to draw lines anymore. And after a particularly large turn, we find ourselves faced…
On the Radar: Cruising for Critters
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming events to mark your calendar for. This Saturday, even leather-clad biker baddies show their soft spot for the cute, cuddly pups and kittens up for adoption at the Humane Society. Proceeds from the bike run, Cruising for Critters, go toward ensuring that the pets are well…
My fantasies part 1: sexy nakedness (NSFW)
As I float around my pool today, naked of course, I am of the mindset to fantasize about things I'd like to do naked. Some of these things may be risky and others just goofy fun. Besides jumping in the pool naked, I have walked around a private club naked, attended a swingers party naked,…
St. Pete City Council votes Thursday on whether to make public sidewalks private at BayWalk
On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council will vote on whether to give the public sidewalk in front of the BayWalk shopping complex to its owners. The city also intends to spend $700,000 of federal stimulus money to help revitalize the facility. For the past two months, City Hall in St. Pete has been home…
Lilly Ledbetter to speak at USF-St. Pete campus
Lilly Ledbetter is coming to the University of South Florida's St.Petersburg campus. The former Goodyear Tire employee, who has become a feminist icon after her plight about unequal pay became a campaign issue last year, will speak at Professor Judithanne Scourfield McLaughlin's Women and the Law Class on Thursday, October 22nd, at 11AM. In a…
Control insects and rodents in a humane, eco-friendlier way
The Issue: Environmentally friendly and humane residential pest and rodent control. The Larger Issue: -Researchers have linked the ingredients in the typical residential aerosol pesticides to cancer and other diseases. -Mosquitoes can carry and transmit diseases and viruses like Malaria, Encephalitis and West Nile Virus. -Typical ant-killers may cause nervous-system issues in dogs, cats, and…
To the surprise of no one, Bill Nelson rejects public health care option (but votes for a 2nd, less robust p.o.)
Florida's extremely cautious senior U.S. Senator, Bill Nelson, a short time ago joined with 4 of his Democratic party colleagues to shoot down a government run public option on a health care bill coming out of the Senate Finance Committee. Despite polls nationally that show a solid majority in favor of government involvement, Nelson has…
Richard Blais on Top Chef Las Vegas: Second Helpings — Survivor: Las Vegas
You see it on Top Chef all the time. The hobbled, baby wildebeest limping around the kitchen. A chef barely hanging on in the competition. Scared and bleeding. On their last legs. With a few hyena snapping at their ankles. A lions pride, calmly in the brush, watching.Figuratively, Robin is that wildebeest.Literally, though, she’s a…
Movie Review: Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story
No one can explain capitalism in a simple manner, and Michael Moore is no exception. Yet Capitalism: A Love Story does a fine job tackling the different sides of a complicated issue and sets forth the premise that the struggle we now face, no matter what the pundits tell you, isn’t between capitalism and socialism.…
He said he didn’t have a girlfriend
I hate when guys tell me they don’t have girlfriends when they do. I don’t care, I’ll fuck you anyway if I’m attracted to you. Just don’t lie to me about because I want to know the risks upfront. Some women will flip out on you if they catch you with their man. I ended…
Indie 101: Scott Cooper
Let me introduce you to… The Coop-Miester … The Cooper Mini … The Coop Boop Be Doop … The other words that rhyme with Coop or Cooper …The one and only super duper SCOTT COOPER! “Robots and monkeys are just about my favourite thing on this earth. Goddamn they make me laugh. Especially retro looking…
Restaurant Review: 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House
400 Beach Seafood and Tap House 3 stars 400 Beach Dr., St. Petersburg, 727-896-2400 An estimated 2,000 people reportedly showed up for the opening celebration at 400 Beach, suggesting that this new restaurant on Beach Drive in St. Pete was destined to become a hip, upscale mecca for movers and shakers, not for the hoi…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Tuesday, September 29: Datz Deli From Tree to Bottle: The Flavors of Olive Oil. It's not just for frying — olive oil has a flavor all its own, and this course covers the essentials. What elements should be present for dipping? baking? sauteing? Chefs on the Loose guide the class through an oil tasting, followed…
Hope springs from tragedy: A city rebuilds to become better, stronger and greener
In May 2007, the city of Greensburg, Kansas, was hit by an EF5 tornado that wiped out 95 percent of the city and killed eleven people. Now, the city is working on becoming better, stronger and greener. Greensburg is now being rebuilt as a "green" town, with all city buildings being LEED certified platinum (the…
Charlie Crist tries to sell his health care plan on cable news
Governor Charlie Crist made the rounds of the cable networks this morning, and part of that offensive included contrasting the health care reform plans being promulgated by President Obama with his own modest endeavor here in Florida. That's despite the fact that (as the Miami Herald reported in August), the governor's plan, called Cover Florida,…
Waking up from a dream guilty and sweating
"Dream Momma, I always wake up feeling guilty and covered in sweat but cannot remember dreaming. What's up with that?" So, you've had a dream that soaked your pillow, woke you up. Bothered you all the next day too. "What the hell?" you chewed. Well the hell is you've had a "big" dream, one…
New music: Paramore, Brand New Eyes out today
I almost pee'd my pants when I got the new Paramore CD, Brand New Eyes, in the mail five days before it actually came out. It was literally the highlight of my week. Is that pathetic? I frantically ripped open the package, popped the CD into my computer, and turned it up as loud as…
Gossip Girl recap: going once, going twice, sold to the best liar
"Anyone want to start the bidding on what happens next? Going once, going twice." — xoxo Gossip Girl Gossip Girl never has a lack of scandal and lies, but tonight seemed to be a little more about spilling the truth….or at least half of the truth. I've been waiting for Scott to spill his secret…
HolyCrapTheseAreAmazing Cookies, with recipe
Let me start right off by saying that no, that is not the official name of these cookies – but it should be. They are actually called Peanut Butter Corn Flake Balls. That’s a decent enough name. It is accurate and descriptive. However, it comes nowhere close to describing the flat out, mind-blowing awesomeness of…
Do It Today: The Sounds, last chance art, Fences pay-what-you-can night
"So turn it up and break it down / Come on bring that beatbox back," frontwoman Maja Ivarsson demands in a haughty girl tone to the New Wave dance rock of Swedish fivesome The Sounds. Deemed by Blender as one of the "Hottest Women in Rock," Ivarsson brings sex appeal to the band's image and…
On the Radar: cumbas:echeverry:torres and Sleep of Reason Cinema
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. The busy bees at the Best of the Bay-winning [5]art Gallery live up to the title this weekend, and we enjoy the sweet reward of their work with two interesting interdisciplinary events. On Friday, the gallery debuts cumbas:echeverry:torres, a…
Sex bites: Roman Polanski arrested in Switzerland, fights for release
Film director Roman Polanski was arrested entering Switzerland Saturday for a decade's old arrest warrant. By request of the United States, the 76-year old Academy Award winner was questioned by Swiss police upon entering the country regarding the warrant issued in 1978. In 1977, Polanski plead guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl, and…
Concert review: blink-182, All American Rejects and Fall Out Boy at Ford Amphitheatre
All photos and text by Mike Wilson. It’s been almost seven years since I last saw blink-182, and things haven’t changed one bit. With traffic backed up for miles, lines were filled with soccer mom mini vans and screaming girls who were so young it felt illegal just looking at them. But thankfully, the long…
Two more screenings scheduled for Fresh: New thinking about what we’re eating
Just in case you missed the first run showing of Fresh in the Tampa Bay area, you now have two more chances to see this new film about what's wrong with the mega-industrial food industry. FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation…
CD review: The Dead Weather, Horehound (with video)
White Stripes’ frontman Jack White takes a behind-the-scenes role in his latest project, The Dead Weather, which brings together lead singer Alison Mosshart (of London-based lo-fi post-punk duo The Kills), Raconteurs’ bassist Jack Lawrence, and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertita. The foursome involved weren’t fucking around when they went into the studio…
Putting the social in social media at BarCamp Tampa (video)
Many of us are so used to using social networking sites daily that we forget that there is a big world out there. I admit, I have also become accustomed to living life under 140 characters or less. The allure of being able to network in my underwear has become all too tempting. Finally, having…
Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009: photo review
The 2010 collections of 15 local and regional designers were featured in this years Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009. The event, held at the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk, was packed full of fabulous fashion, VIP soirees, after parties, vendor and exhibitor boutiques, and two nights of runway couture. The organizers have a two-fold mission: to bring together emerging and…
Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009: Trineice Cagua
Trineice Cagua www.jcagua.com
Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009: Ivanka Ska
Ivanka Ska
Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009: Ben Chmura
Ben Chmura
Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009: Troy Anthony
Troy Anthony www.troyanthonyfashion.com
CL Sound Bites: Nirvana, Henry Rollins, The Stooges, and more.
Does anyone under 30 even give a shit about the whole Kurt Cobain/Guitar Hero 5 avatar controversy? This wouldn't have even happened if Courtney Love could refrain from signing her name to legal documents in exchange for large sums of money. Anyways, here's some Nirvana news that has nothing to do with plastic instruments: two…
Concert review: Punk Goes Pop Tour with The Queers, The Leftovers and TA-80
Well, I broke the “cardinal rule” of concert going and dared to wear my Queers shirt at the September 25, 2009 “Punk Goes Pop” concert. TA-80, The Leftovers and the Queers rocked the Orpheum in Ybor City Friday night and proved that perhaps it isn’t so terrible for punk to go pop….occasionally. With mohawks, leather-clad…
The Mitch Perry Report: Will Obama stand up to the generals on Afghanistan?
There are currently 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. But according to a report leaked to the Washington Post last week, the top commander on the ground there, General Stanley McChrystal, wants to increase the troop strength by up to 40,000 more troops. Meanwhile, back at home, the American populace (as measured by public opinion polls)…
Bobby Bowden, the Florida State Seminoles and the end of an era
Thanksgiving is a special time of year. It’s a holiday when family and friends gather round the dinner table and give thanks for everything they have. Back in the day, I used to dread that time of year for it meant the annual meeting between Florida and Florida State. Now all is good. Florida has…
Builder goes green with their eco-friendly homes in Terrace Park, Tampa
The City of Tampa has a limited supply of affordable housing that is also environmentally friendly. City Council, led by Councilman John Dingfelder, passed an ordinance last year that would promote green building practices for new construction. That ordinance while still a long way from achieving its goal of prompting mainstream builders to incorporate green…
I can’t understand a damn thing you’re saying… but keep talking
I can't explain (much like not being able to explain my "Anakin Skywalker pull toward the dark side" love of plaid) why I love accents SO much. Of course I am just as happy to talk to any interesting male creature… but when that male creature hails from somewhere beyond North America's lovely shores, I…
On the Radar: Repeat Offender at Redletter1 Gallery
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This Saturday, Tes One (aka Leon Bedore) returns to Tampa for Repeat Offender, his first solo show in five years. The artist, whose prints are a mainstay in galleries around the Bay area (and designer of CL's own Obama-inspired…
Crist supporter raises doubt about Crist
Charlie’s lack of conviction on the issues is catching up with him By Chris Ingram It hasn’t taken long, but there is trouble in Tallahassee for the Charlie Crist campaign. It seems Chuckles the clown, er, governor is starting to take some heat from within his own tent for lacking any conviction or serious plans…
Restaurant Preview: Downtown St. Petersburg’s India Grill in pictures
India Grill — the popular St. Pete Indian restaurant — is back in downtown, on Central Ave. in the spot formerly occupied by Leafy Greens Cafe and The Kitchen. It's the same as before, just moved a few blocks. Check out some of the dishes below (many more pictures — by jamesostrand.com — after the…
Late night music, Sept. 28-Oct. 3: Madonna on Letterman, Sunny Day Real Estate on Fallon, Joss Stone on Kimmel, and more! (+ video of U2 on SNL
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… , NBC Monday, September 28: Brad Paisley & Sheryl Crow Wednesday, September 30: Vince Gill & Emmylou Harris The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS…
Do It Today: Wilder to Williams Film Series, Psychedelic Furs, Bare Particulars
In lieu of the Best of the Bay-winning Summer Sunset Cinema Series, The Studio@620 and Push Ultra Lounge once again team up to present Wilder to Williams, a collection of thought-provoking films each Monday. Tonight's selection in the new series — which includes the best of Billy Wilder and Tennessee Williams — is Williams' Suddenly, Last…
VIP in the Castle’s dungeon room (pics NSFW)
“I feel like I’m in a horror movie,” photographer, Shannon Adams said at the VIP Dungeon Party Saturday. Fetishists with black electrical tape X-ing out nipples, PVC suits struggling to restrain curvaceous bodies, and leashes chaining submissives to their masters’ belts, roamed The Castle’s Dungeon Room. On the padded tables, beds, and couches coated in…
Show review: The Almost at State Theatre in St. Petersburg
The crowd was moving from the moment the ginormous "Almost" sign lit up the stage, lead singer Aaron Gillespie pumping up the crowd and urging them with challenges like "Come on St. Petersburg, I know you can do better than that. I grew up here! I wanna see you moving!" (Gillespie first made a name…
The art of the argument in Major League Baseball
Other than the occasional Family Guy rerun, my television rarely strays from ESPN. While watching Sportscenter the other night, I happened upon some Yankees highlights and had a most interesting revelation. After a called third strike to Alex Rodriguez that appeared just off the plate, Yankee manager Joe Girardi rushed out of the dugout to…
Museum Day 09-26— Free Admission
We have a lot of museums in the area, but they’re not all cheap to visit. Admission costs vary, but even the less expensive admissions add up if you’re taking the family. Even if you want to go, sometimes the budget doesn’t allow taking everyone to an exhibit. But you can’t use that excuse today.
See ZooBoo At A Discount Today: 09-26
ZooBoo is an annual tradition at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Slight Avenue. It’s also one of their biggest fund-raisers, and a great way for a family to get into the Halloween Spirit.
Game Review: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 – variety is only skin deep
Video games allow us to simulate amazing feats and experience what it's like to possess superhuman abilities, or to put it another way – to act like superheroes. Even games like Halo or Call of Duty owe as much to the super-heroic experience as they do to modern warfare. In real life, you can't just…
Celebrate the suds next weekend at Brews by the Bay and OktoBEERfest
It's the most wonderful time of the year, when buxom lasses and dudes in lederhosen lift steins to praise the amber liquid that will sustain us through the cold, cold winter — Oktoberfest! But how will you be able to take advantage of the two simultaneous brew celebrations next weekend? No worries, you won't have…
Really funny shit from bloggers turned authors
Every now and then in class, I mention “the library” and look out to see rows of blank faces. Time to explain myself again. “It’s like the Internet, only it’s printed out,” I tell my students. “It’s this big building across campus . . . surely you’ve seen it? Has a million or so books?”…
How to use a penis leash at the movies
Nothing bores me more than controlled environments like movies, plays, amusement parks, the zoo, or the circus. I just don’t enjoy artificial stimulation—at least that kind of stimulation. Unfortunately my husband is the complete opposite. Recently, on a perfect afternoon with the sun shining through the clear, 59 degree Pinellas County sky, he wanted to…
What NCAA and NFL games to watch this weekend (Sept. 26-27)
This week in college and professional football might finally shed some light on who’s good and who’s not, putting some distance between the contenders and the pretenders. Below are some of the game you should be watching. South Florida at (18) Florida State – (Saturday, 12:00 pm – ESPN – FSU minus 14) Once upon…
Album review: Phish, Joy
Phish announced they were calling it quits a month before dropping their 10th official studio album in 2004. Their last release under Elektra, Undermind was a brilliant work, moody and driving psyche rock studded with upbeat pop and the odd goof-off. But its dark and melancholy moments were too much a reflection of Phish’s own…
Beer Review: Seasonal pumpkin ales from Brooklyn Brewery and Wolaver’s
Recently, craft and macro-brewers alike have seized upon a formula that's worked for the greeting card industry and the Food Network for years now: holiday-themed product. It's an easy sell for Hallmark and its ilk, and televised cooking shows have made a good go of showcasing cooking focused more on big holidays than seasonal ingredients.…
Dan Gelber: Story regarding Governor’s “shadow panels” to choose judges overblown
Dan Gelber was at Mise en Place in Tampa last night, for a fundraiser for his campaign for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General. The Miami Beach Democrat was in the news this week, after reports surfaced that he was one of several state officials to help vet judicial applicants for Governor Charlie Crist. But…
Stop spraying chemicals on our lawns and use these sustainable solutions instead
The Issue Only 5% of pesticides reach target weeds, the rest ends up in our water supply or the air we breathe. Runoff from fertilizers pollutes streams and lakes and cause algae blooms, depleted oxygen and damage to aquatic life. Research has found that dogs exposed to herbicide-treated lawns can double their chance of developing lymphoma…
Project Runway recap episode six: hooray for Hollywood
Hooray for Hollywood, that something, something, something Hollywood…okay, yeah, I don't know that song but you get the idea and if you don't know where this is going, they did a movie challenge, because you know, Project Runway is in LA this season, if you hadn't gathered that yet. This is one of the cooler…
Chicken Marbella for Sheila
Way back a hundred million years ago, when my husband and I were first married, we received a copy of The Silver Palate Cookbook as a wedding gift. It sat proudly in our orange crate bookcase alongside The Joy of Cooking and The Betty Crocker Cookbook, also wedding gifts. That bookcase made quite a statement…
David Cronenberg to direct The Fly … again
That's right, film fans, the director of A History of Violence and The Fly is getting back to work on a remake of The Fly. Generally, remakes are done to bring fresh blood and a new take on a classic story to audiences who may not have seen it, but Cronenberg seems to just want…
My Joel Madden DJ encounter in Las Vegas
haters—and I know you’re out there—read no further. I lost my Vegas virginity this summer on a trip with two of my girlfriends. I learned there is only one problem with staying at the Luxor in June: It’s located just off the strip, so to get to where all the action is, you can walk…
Jim Davis says he hasn’t shut door on running for Mayor of Tampa
The big news internationally today is President Obama, along with Gordon Brown and Nicholas Sarkozy, accusing Iran of building a secret underground facility to manufacture nuclear fuel. What this means for the immediate future is uncertain; the U.S. was prepared to begin talks with Iran next Thursday. Do those talks continue now? Conservative critics will…
Kama Sutra: the corkscrew
The Cork Screw promises much clitoral stimulation as well as a grand view and easy pumping action for the guy. The Cork Screw begins with the woman on her back and the man above her in missionary position. The woman then closes her legs and twists her waist so that her knees are to her…
Debate over drilling for oil off our coast heats up (video)
With committee meetings just around the corner for the Florida Legislature, the proposal to drill for oil in state waters, just a few miles off the coasts of America's best beaches, has begun – again. I was recently invited to speak at the Agency on Bay Management, a committee of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning…
Do It This Weekend: FolkFest, free museum day, And Baby Makes Seven, chili cookoff, more
The city closes down two blocks of Central Avenue for the third edition of Creative Clay’s now-annual fundraiser, FolkFest St. Pete. The free two-day street party celebrates all things folk with food and drink, art booths spotlighting the works of a range of local artisans, and a solid lineup of music throughout. Florida’s finest singer-songwriters,…
On the Radar: TheatreUSF’s The Doctor Is In!
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week marks the opening of The Doctor Is In!, C. David Frankel’s adaptation of Moliere’s 17th century French farce, The Doctor in Spite of Himself . Written centuries apart, both poke fun at the gullible patients who swallow…
Sex degrees of separation, or how the average Brit has slept with 2.8 million people
British pharmaceutical bigwig, Lloyd's Pharmacy has created a six degrees of separation-style "calculator" system to determine how many indirect sexual partners you've had. The average Brit's number is 2.8 million. The calculator system, based on data collected from over 6,000 adults, is being called "sex degrees of separation." Developed to raise awareness about sexually transmitted…
Eco-chic: Recycled VHS cassette tape handbags
Do you remember the old VHS cassette tapes that have long been replaced by DVDs? Do you ever wonder what became of all those outdated tapes? Many of them, no doubt, ended up in landfills but some of them have actually been put to good use. Many of them are being used to design beautiful…
Sex bites: Mackenzie Phillips had an affair with her father
This afternoon, Mackenzie Phillips revealed on Oprah what most of the world found out earlier this week—that Phillips had a 10 year affair with her father, John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas. In her new book, High on Arrival, Phillips chronicles her life of drug, sex, rehab, divorce, arrests, and a sexual relationship…
Megan Fox eats boys in new movie, Jennifer’s Body
Not your average movie about a hot cheerleader and her nerdy best friend, Jennifer's Body hit theaters last week. Staring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer's Body tells the story of a popular girl who is slighty more evil than the teenage girls of today's society.
Hot Stuff: Fireman Auction this Saturday at the RITZ Ybor
Listen up, bachelorettes (and, I'd wager a guess, a few bachelors as well): Saturday's fifth annual Fireman Auction is like something straight outta Sex and the City — and these local firemen are bound to do just about everything but turn down the heat. The Krewe of Charlotte De Berry and the Krewe of St.…
Restaurant Preview: 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House in pictures
400 Beach Seafood and Tap House (400 Beach Dr., St. Petersburg, 727-896-2400) This new restaurant by Steve Westphal (of Parkshore Grill), is in the the spot made famous as the potential home of a restaurant by lying Food Network chef Robert Irvine. 400 Beach's focus is on seafood in almost all its forms, from baskets…
This weekend’s best bets in Bay area music: JJ Grey & Mofro, FolkFest St. Pete, The Queers, Eek-A-Mouse, blink-182 and more!
A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 JJ Grey & Mofro w/Shooter Jennings/Earl Greyhound [pictured] A good ol’ boy from the backwaters of Jacksonville, JJ Grey is the creative force and frontman of Mofro, their music swamp-stomping, finger-licking,…
The Rock Report: Truckstop Coffee @ New World Brewery
Honestly, this probably wasn't what Truckstop Coffee envisioned when they booked a small tour through the Southeast in support of their new album, For Dear Life, but the road can be a cruel mistress and she decided to slap the band around pretty hard this time around. Larry, the drummer, fell head-first into a campfire,…
Living the dream: Top Chef Las Vegas, episode six
Toby Young is back, and he’s still “very, very British.” In last night’s magic themed episode of Top Chef Las Vegas, Toby Young, the show's resident foul mouthed, analogy-making Brit, returned to judge the remaining cheftestants deconstructed versions of classic dishes, from a showy caesar salad to eggs “foreign to me,” alongside deconstructionist showmen Penn…
On the Radar: Women Taking Care of the World
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next weekend brings Women Taking Care of the World to the Mahaffey, a first-ever empowering event unites women in an effort to make a change. The day-long conference includes inspirational speakers, artists, musicians, and more than 100 exhibits that…
New music by Mike Doughty, the Postmarks, The Mary Onettes, and Dead Man’s Bones (with audio)
Some free MP3s for your aural pleasure: Miami-based indie trio The Postmarks present the pop-pretty "My Lucky Charm," off their new record, Memoirs At The End of the World (Unfiltered Records); they stop at New World Brewery on October 29. The Postmarks, "My Lucky Charm"
How to get a scumbag (e.g., Kevin White) out of office: Postpone his pay
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White’s sexual harassment case finally appears like it will be settled by the county. The county has agreed to pay $278,000 to White’s victim and her attorneys. I think this is the right thing to do, as it limits the potential for any further costs borne to taxpayers already on the…
Potential date or creep: Rebecca considers fan mail
to work Monday, Fisher and Boy from the 97X morning show played a creepy voicemail from a dude attempting to get a date. The bit was about a woman who was approached by a guy who asked her out. She wasn't interested and was only able to get rid of him by giving him her business card. Probably a dumb…
Peaches Jones – Contributor
Sex is very important in most relationships. I remember when I was growing up all I ever heard was if you can’t cook you’ll never get a husband, maybe. My saying has always been if you don’t put out, and make it fun, you’ll never keep a husband. I have always hated the saying ”…
Will Tampa citizens get the chance to vote on drinking treated wastewater?
The Tampa City Council will revisit the issue of reclaimed water, specifically, whether to put on the ballot a referendum asking citizens if they want to drink highly treated wastewater. Actually, the Council agreed to do so back in June. But the controversial nature of it demands, apparently, more discussion. Just a few weeks ago, the…
Florida’s solar energy system tax incentives
A great opportunity crossed my path when Jamie Trahan from the USF Clean Energy Research Center called. As a local green builder, she thought I could help her search for homes to feature on the 14th annual ASES National Solar Tour being held across the country on October 3rd. Sadly, I informed her although I…
Do It Today: Black Box Film Fest, curtain call, meet Peter Meinke, Global Lens Film Series
The University of Tampa Film Society hosts the Black Box Film Festival, a showcase of the year's best student-directed films complete with a plethora of panel discussions and workshops with film industry professionals from across the country. Highlights include a lecture on the pitfalls of indie filmmaking (and how to avoid them) with The Reel…
Susan Filson – Contributor
Longtime Sarasota resident, Susan Filson, is the author of the popular food blog Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy. She is a wife, mother, daughter and sister, former professional musician and a lawyer. Ever reinventing herself, Susan currently spends her time as a freelance food writer and photographer, cooking instructor and aspiring chef extraordinaire. She loves to…
Bianca Rosen Siegel – Contributor
Bianca is currently pursuing a degree in Communication so she can eventually gossip for a living. Her love of scandal, steamy romance and gossip all guide her obsession with Gossip Girl. Every Monday she wears headbands in honor of Blair Waldorf, the Queen B. She is still looking for her Chuck Bass to sweep her…
Concert review: Sara Haze at Orpheum
Wow. This show was a freaking roller coaster. I heard some awesome music, and I heard some… well, not so awesome music. As I walked into the completely empty Orpheum on Friday night, I was greeted by the cold blow of the air conditioning and that's about it. I waited around for a good 20…
Franki Weddington – Arts & Entertainment Editor
Franki loves her job as CL's A&E Editor, but is also dedicated to her full-time job as a geek. Her favorite nerdy things and activities include: Jeopardy, Scrabble, the Harry Potter and Twilight series, crosswords, her cat and David Bowie in Labyrinth. Franki holds Bachelor's degrees in English and Journalism from the University of South…
Sex talk: a tale of two sisters
Boners, dykes, pubes, drag queens – I've discussed it all with my 13-year-old sister, Rose. We have a sort of no-holds-barred relationship; she can ask me anything and I'll be completely honest. Growing up, my Bubbi and I shared the same sort of communication and I treasured it, so I wanted to offer this kind of…
Local businesses and individuals volunteer to build permaculture garden at High Point Elementary School in Clearwater
St. Petersburg College Sustainability Club members, Dynamet, Inc. and Gateway Organic Farm have partnered with High Point Elementary School students, teachers and a gardening expert to develop a garden which will have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. The garden is located on the High Point Elementary School grounds at 5921 150th Avenue…
Corkscrew: Glass Game – How much does high-end crystal matter?
My cabinets overflow with wine glasses of every shape and size. We manage to break one weekly, but the brimming collection strangely never dwindles. The cheap, logo-emblazoned ones are like indestructible cement, but the pricey ones regularly fall in battle. Unique to my house? I think not, because people often ask if the half-paycheck glasses…
Paul Kirk to be named as new Senator to replace Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts
Several different news agencies are reporting that former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Kirk will be the next U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, replacing the late Ted Kennedy. Whether that announcement happens later today or tomorrow, it's a significant development for President Obama and Senate Democrats, looking to get every possible vote to pass health care…
Bill Nelson being targeted by the GOP on health care. But why?
Politico reported yesterday that Florida Senator Bill Nelson is part of a select group of Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee (now in the thick of the health care debate) who are being targeted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee — even though he's not up for re-election for three more years. The website reports…
Just your ordinary Florida-Tennessee weekend
The road trip to Gainesville had been planned for months. Just as both Florida and Tennessee had earmarked September 19 on their calendar, my friends and I had done so as well. Although we didn’t have Lane Kiffin’s off-season comments posted as bulletin board material, some of us did have our own personal message for…
WMNF Beatles Tribute this Saturday at Skipper’s Smokehouse
My parents played me The Beatles while I was still in the womb and in the end, I was compelled to make a break for the light so I could hear those sweet melodies all the better. (It was perfectly warm and comfortable in there, but the acoustics were simply awful.) I don’t ever remember…
An asshole? Maybe. But not everyone who disagrees with President Obama is “racist”
By Catherine Durkin Robinson PoHo contributor Catherine Durkin Robinson is a handful, creating quite a scene over at Out in Left Field. “Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.” – Ferris Bueller What if white, country-boy Kanye West had interrupted African-American, R&B…
Going Green Expo to take place in October at USF Tampa
Do you want to know more about renewable energy and local sustainable products? Then the Going Green Tampa 2009 Expo will be right up your alley. Held Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th at the USF Marshall Center, the Expo will feature a number of exhibits and workshops that will focus on sustainability and…
Restaurant Review: Nola Cafe is Tampa’s little Big Easy
Nola Cafe 2 Stars 301 W. Platt St., Tampa, 813-258-8778 or nolacafe.com (See all recent restaurant reviews.) You can see Nola Cafe from the Crosstown Expressway, if you’re looking at the right spot, but finding it while cruising down Platt is tough unless you happen to see the rustic, handpainted signs promising “Po’ Boys!” and…
Do It Tonight: Sex advice columnist Dan Savage visits USF
Everyone’s favorite gay, straight-talkin’, potty-mouthed sex advice columnist, Dan Savage, visits USF Tampa tonight as part of the University Lecture Series. Bring your hammer: it’s time to put another nail “Dear Abby’s” coffin. Amid the rumors that his “Savage Love” syndicated weekly column could be HBO-ified for sex- and cable-loving audiences across the nation, the…
Wednesday-music.com profile: Patrick Watson
Canadian singer/songwriter Patrick Watson began his musical career early in life. As a boy he played in church choirs and studied jazz and classical piano performance, composition, and arrangement. While in high school in the late 1990’s he sang and played keyboards with a Ska band called Gangster Politics. In 2001 he left the band…
Giuliano Hazan cooks with the morning stars: An inside look at the Today Show
(Click here to watch the video of Giuliano Hazan on the Today Show.) Security in New York is serious business. The city is still exciting, the energy stimulating, and the pace can give you whiplash. But the access is gone. Just try and get into the Today Show set and you run a gauntlet of…
Best Buy’s Geek Squad practically commit armed robbery: $129 console setups
Geek Squad and Best Buy are now offering the invaluable service of plugging in 2 cables for the low, low price of $129. Yes, that's $129 USD, not $129 Mexican pesos. Not even the pitch-master Billy Mays combined with the spin power of Rush "El Rushbo" Limbaugh could get any sane consumer to buy this…
Connecting longevity to a green lifestyle
Since 1996 my company, It’s Our Nature has had a vision of connecting our wellness to the health of the earth. Recently, Prevention Magazine provided a list of Surprising Signs That You’ll Probably Live Longer that correlate to a green lifestyle. Here are some of the connections from Planet Green: You walk to stay fit.…
Recommended new releases for the week of Sept. 22 (Fugazi, David Gray, Porcupine Tree, They Might Be Giants and more)
VINYL: Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty Now available on HQ-180 gatefold double vinyl. Fugazi – End Hits Fugazi – Steady Diet of Nothing Remastered reissues, with each containing a bonus download. Mudhoney – Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge LP+MP3 Mudhoney – Mudhoney LP+MP3 Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff LP+MP3 Reissued on HQ-180 vinyl with MP3 download..…
Do It Today: Wizard of Oz in theaters, forums on sustainability and hate crimes, more
Follow the yellow brick road to the theater, where you can see The Wizard of Oz in hi-def on the big screen. It's the story of a girl from Kansas who's magically transported over the rainbow to the land of Oz, where she meets a cowardly lion, a tin man and a scarecrow who help…
How to milk your man’s prostate
The internal prostate massage is one of the most sexually stimulating practices you can do for a man, and it’s healthy. I started milking the prostate a few years ago after reading some literature on the subject. It was more than difficult getting my then 46-year-old husband to try it, but once I did he…
CL Sound Bites: Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, Lily Allen vs. Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, and Michael Jackson
Some random news bites, a music video premiere and a trailer, all for your music consuming pleasure. The debate on file-sharing continues in earnest, with UK artists Radiohead and Lily Allen taking opposite sides. From a September 10 article in the Times Online, about musicians speaking out against a British government proposal to cut illegal…
Tampa Bay activists say there must be a public health care option (audio)
As Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus was getting verbally assaulted by his colleagues in Washington for the version of health care reform that he produced last week, approximately 30 people marched in support of a government-run public option in front of insurance giant Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Tampa on Tuesday afternoon. Listen to audio…
The healthcare battle: What the anger is about
Earlier this month — actually, September 12th (or “9-12” in Glenn Beck parlance) — conservative Tea Parties were again held across the country, essentially to bring like-minded folks together to decry excessive federal spending — at least when Barack Obama is doing it. In Lakeland, a crowd estimated to be around 2,500 people showed up…
Miss Destructo – Contributor
Miss Destructo, a.k.a. Amber Osborne, is a swank, classy dame of the creative persuasion. When she’s not being a social media superhero, she can be found destroying boredom around Tampa Bay. Also highly uncoordinated, somewhat of an insomniac with a slight addiction to caffeine and 80’s music videos. :Nothing is Impossible: Twitter: @missdestructo | Blog:…
Kristina Welch – Contributor
Kristina Welch is a huge music junkie, but doesn’t actually possess any musical ability herself. She’s a very loyal follower and once artists make their way into her collection, they will forever be a part of the soundtrack to her life. This explains why she gets “busted” by her friends for the Toni Braxton, Seal…
Sex bites: John Edwards promised rooftop wedding with Dave Matthews serenade
The New York Times reported Saturday that Andrew Young—the man who once said he fathered John Edward's mistress' child—now claims that Edwards is in fact the father of Rielle Hunter's child. Young, the former Edwards aide who has a book deal with St. Martin's Press, said in his proposal that Edwards not only fathered Hunter's…
Gossip Girl recap: OMJC
Our favorite Upper East Siders started college this week. Dan, Vanessa, and Blair all are at NYU, Nate's starting at Columbia soon, and Serena is off to Brown, right? Maybe not. In her apparent quest to be the center of attention, Serena decided Brown was not the right decision for her. Ivy League just isn't…
Restaurant Deals: $45 for 4 courses and 5 wines at Toasted Pheasant Bistro in Carrollwood, this Thursday
Toasted Pheasant Bistro (14445 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 813-265-6700 or toastedpheasant.com) has always been generous when it comes to wine dinners, but this one reaches new lows. Or highs? The only caveat is that the wines are all from Virginia — Kluge Estate, to be exact — which may be either a positive or…
Photo Show Review: Tape Delay & Slow Claw at New World Brewery
New Granada Presents hosted a fine Friday evening of indie rock featuring The Tape Delay, Slow Claw and The Tenant at New World Brewery this past Friday, September 18. Tape Delay Tampa's Tape Delay melds the essence of '90s melodic hardcore bands like Braid and Mineral, their music given a modern twist into something more…
What happens when MMA fighters and boxers collide?
The debate about whether mixed martial arts (MMA) or boxing is more effective has been an ongoing one ever since the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) petitioned for the sanctioning of MMA in 2001. All speculation aside, fans had the rare opportunity to watch a professional MMA fighter in a heavyweight match against a professional boxer…
How flexible is MoveOn.org on the public option?
The Pinellas County Commission meets today. Soon the Commission will decide what to do with about a million dollars designated for homeless initiatives. 17 different providers have submitted applications for funding, including Catholic Charities, for their Pinellas Hope Project. Last Friday, Pinellas Hope broke ground on phase two of their Tent City project for the…
What did we learn from Obama’s “Full Ginsburg”?
On Sunday, President Obama did what no President before him has done since the major television networks added their Sunday morning public affairs programs – he did "The Full Ginsburg". Derisively named after Monica Lewinsky's attorney William Ginsburg after he took on all 5 such shows in early 1998, the President- already criticized for being…
CL Feature: Deconstructing The Beatles remasters via Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Revolver
As someone whose formative years were profoundly influenced by The Beatles, I just assumed that their music was so indelibly etched in my consciousness that I would never hear it in a new way. The songs — all of them, or nearly — had taken on such a mythic quality that spinning them every so…
Best Comeback: Geri X
Moody neo-folk rock songwriter/vocalist Geri X skipped town last year to pursue a blossoming relationship and work the Milwaukee music scene. She returned with a brighter outlook, a boyfriend/band member, and a mission to make a career of her music in the city she had admittedly taken for granted. She re-submersed herself in the scene…
How to pleasure an uncircumcised man
I occasionally receive sex questions to answer on my blog. This recent question and its accompanying answer struck me as something I should share with a wider audience: I can’t believe I’m actually asking this, but I’m kind of desperate. I am dating a guy who is uncircumcised and I’ve never been with an uncut guy…
Best Place for a Girly Gathering: Milk & Honey Tea Room
The perfect place to sip tea and nibble sweet and savory treats with your girlfriends, whether it be a few enjoying a casual afternoon tea, or a few dozen celebrating a birthday, bridal or baby shower at a private tea party. Special occasions get special treatment – choose an ostentatious hat from the rack on…
Game Review: The Beatles: Rock Band – A history of rock in 45 songs
I can't think of another game that combines the utterly familiar with the intricately unique as well as The Beatles: Rock Band. The Fab Four's music transcends fame, and everyone knows it (whether from growing up with it, discovering it as classic rock in their youth or hearing it in commercials). The game play is…
Best Place to See/Perform Gratuitous Acts: Sunset Beach
Just imagine what you’d see after dark on the only slice of beach in Pinellas County that allows drinking directly on the sand – all-manner of outrageous behavior, from impromptu nude photo shoots with cell phones to uninhibited alcohol-fueled canoodling. Off West Gulf Boulevard, from 77th Avenue to Blind Pass Road, Treasure Island. (Photo courtesy…
Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events
Wednesday, September 9: The NoHo Bistro A Palette for Your Palate. The bistro’s ingenious culinary team pairs five tapas tastings with a new wine each week. Today, Zin masters rejoice: it’s the Zinfandel palette. $15. 5-8 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691) Wednesday, September 9: Publix Apron’s Cooking School Seafood on the Grill. It’s…
On the Radar: Moving Current Dance Collective, AIDS Walk
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend brings a slew of activities, including a modern dance performance and the AIDS Walk to raise funds and awareness for ASAP, which provides services to locals living with HIV and AIDS. The Moving Current Dance Collective –…
Do It Today: Unconscious Surreality, Backroom Short Film Fest, A Palette for your Palate
Unconscious Surreality is as an "abstract expressionist vision of reality" by Darwin Leon, a collection that features vivid, intricately rendered paintings of oddly realistic images, like that of a reclining woman, the back of whose head subtly melts into the buildings of a cityscape, and whose cigarette smoke wafts upward to form a bright crescent…
Who do you think should pay for Kevin White’s indiscretions?
We want to know who you think should pay for Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White's indiscretions: The Pimpin' Commish himself, Kevin White, or Hillsborough County taxpayers? The jury awarded his former aide $75,000 in a sexual harassment suit and the legal bills for her and the county are piling up.The bill is up to $500,ooo…
Correction: Cage, not Cage, at State Theatre
In this week's issue, I wrote about NYC indie rap artist CAGE appearing at State Theatre this Wednesday, September 9, when, in fact, the band that's playing at State is San Diego heavy metal fivesome Cage (pictured at right). Please take note and my apologies if I got your hopes up.
Smorgasbord IKEA: SKAL! Drink like a pseudo-Swede
(Part 2 of our Smorgasbord: IKEA series.) Lingonberry and elderberry syrups take up a lot of space on the IKEA grocery shelves, for good reason. The tart, cranberry-like flavor of lingonberries is perfect when dropped into a glass of sparkling water, while the elderberry will produce a more fragrant, softer spritzer that's sweeter and more…
Mentally survive a running injury with sex, beer, and donuts
Jen and I had our weekly meeting (READ: daily IM-ing during work hours) regarding our posts for CL and decided that since I am suffering through an injury I could provide you all some insights on how to make it through an injury of your own. Physically making it through is one thing, mentally making it through…
CL Feature: WMNF 30th Birthday Party with Paul Thorn, Samantha Crain and others (w/video)
Community radio has enjoyed a short but storied history in America, beginning on the West Coast in 1946 with the launch of KPFA at Berkeley by journalist/pacifist Lewis Hill and a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to fostering “a lasting understanding between nations and between individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors.” Community radio…
Join the Seminole Heights Community Garden to plant a garden in honor of 9/11
The Seminole Heights Community Gardens has teamed up with Green Florida to plant a native and edible garden for a local community member in honor of those lost eight years ago on 9/11. The event will take place this Saturday, September 12th and SHCG are looking for volunteers to to help with setting up the…
Kevin’s Korner: Iron Man 2, Bad Boys 3 and Smurfs
Happy Monday, and welcome to Kevin’s Korner, the column that hasn’t been purchased by the Mouse — yet. This week, we have all kinds of great news, including Mickey and Spider-Man, Iron Man 2 info, another Bad Boys, Rambo and Fantastic Four movie, and a bit of Smurfing, along with a great trailer for Boondock…
On the Radar: Barrage fiddlers at Capitol, Swing Your Empire at HCC Ybor
Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today we double your pleasure with two events, both coming up this Thursday. Ruth Eckerd Hall continues its partnership with the historic and recently refurbished Capitol Theatre in Clearwater by bringing another show to its stage: Barrage, a nine-piece…
Obama’s speech to schoolchildren, annotated
The White House has released a transcript of the controversial speech President Obama is slated to make Sept. 8 at a high school in Virginia. To save the pundits the trouble of analyzing the text point by point, we've gone ahead and inserted some useful opposition talking points. (Read aloud with air of barely controlled…
An interview with chef Domenica Macchia about leaving Diner 437 for Bella Brava
Domenica Macchia is on the move. Again. This week, my favorite fast-talking, passionate chef will take over the kitchen at Bella Brava, replacing outgoing chef Trevor Lyman at the modern Italian restaurant on downtown St. Pete's Central Avenue. New Bella Brava co-owner Mike Harting (fresh from a long career with Outback Steakhouse), started looking for…
Do It Today: Mike Zito rocks, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in art, Tampa Bay Estuary forum
The soulful husky vocals of St. Louis-by-way-of-Texas songwriter Mike Zito accompany bluesy roots rock that heats to a slow, easy-going burn. Tonight's show is held in conjunction with Magic Hat Beer's Official 9/9/09 Party, a celebration of the label's signature No. 9 "not-quite-pale ale" brew with $3 drafts and Plinko-style prize giveaways. Tues., Sept. 8,…
Concert Review: Depeche Mode at Ford Amphitheatre (with video!)
This summer, Depeche Mode and Aerosmith shared more in common than either the bands or their fans would probably care to admit. Both penciled in stops at the Ford Amphitheatre and were among the most anticipated big shows of the Bay area's 2009 concert season. Both bands hit some pretty serious snags on the road. But…
Springsteen Week: Sex in the songs of Springsteen
Sex and rock 'n' roll go hand in hand, and when it comes to rockin' and lovin', no one does it better than The Boss. Any number of Bruce Springsteen albums will send you zooming off in your car to the nearest body of water, to put your hands all over your lover's engine. Below…
What we need to form Florida’s green economy
Last October, an economy that had been running its course for the past three decades was laid to rest. Our country has been on a nearly 30-year credit bubble where we have binged on cheap credit to buy up homes at ever increasing values. This 30-year ascent made us think it could be forever. But…
Writing the young-adult novel: What about the sex?
Welcome to a new edition of how to write a novel. Bringing an entire story together without any relationships would be difficult, even if the relationship isn’t a romance. Consider Neo and Trinity, Martin Riggs and Lorna Cole, Bella Swan and Jacob Black, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes, to name…
NIMBYs infiltrate Urban Land Institute’s Anti-NIMBY Class
By George Niemann PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist NIMBY Slayer Patrick Slevin rode into Tampa Sept. 3 looking for action, but there was no shootout to be had. He gave an instructional presentation to developers on how to deal with pesky NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) that get in the way of…
It Happened This Week-ish: The Duggars’ 19th, Macaulay Culkin’s spawn, Tila Tequila’s NFL trouble and more
*The Duggars are expecting their 19th child. If you do not know who they are, I want you to imagine Jon and Kate + 8 – The Douche + 11 x a whole lot of morals and a stance against birth control. Got it? Good. In all seriousness though, that woman's uterus should be removed…
Rays’ Carlos Peña injured and out for the season
There goes the season. Unless someone on the Rays is planning a quick trip to Lourdes, there's no saving the team's playoff chances in the wake of 1B Carlos Peña's injury during the first game of a Yankees doubleheader today. Hit in the hand while swinging at a pitch, he fractured his left index and…
Under the Hillsborough County Commission’s Bigtop
Photo Credit: wolfsavard at Flickr.com Step right up! Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages anyone over 18. The circus comes to town again this Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., another three-ring event starring… The Pimpin' Commish! The epic comb-over! And one Brave Soul who can make other politicians fall silent just by turning up…
Vinyl Fever After-hours Beatles Party + other local Fab Four release events
Capitol/EMI has done little with the Beatles’ music since 1987, when it first re-released the foursome's catalog and did little to ensure the sound quality stood up to the transfer from vinyl to disc; 2004’s The Capitol Albums, Vol. 1 and the soundtrack to Cirque de Soleil's Love revealed just how good the Beatles' songs…
Springsteen Week: Working on a Dream: Springsteen’s Super Bowl Journal review
How do you pack the worlds greatest rock and roll show into 12 tight little minutes? Perhaps you need to ask The Boss. When Super Bowl 43 took over Tampa this past winter, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band wowed the millions of Americans watching as only they can. Working on a Dream: Bruce…
Photo Review: The Beach Boys at Tropicana Field
American pop music icons The Beach Boys (sans Brian Wilson) took the field this past Saturday, September 5, closing the post-Rays game concert series. The Beach Boys
The single dad: Jet Li, John Milton and learning curves
I’ve listened so many times to the chatter of little children, mostly my own. They flitter and twitter, mostly talking gibberish, and yet I listen intently. It’s been said we learn so much from them and yet it seems that all I’ve learned is a new language. Some of the new terminology is interesting and…
Tampa music spotlight: King of Spain
I have a confession to make. I went to the REAX Magazine Benefit show the other night. Does that make me some sort of traitor? In my mind, I just love music, so I support any publication out there with musical content. But that's not the point. The point is, I went to this show…
Best theater performance to make an entire audience sniffle: Tuesdays with Morrie
I'm not a big crier, but when I went to see American Stage's production of uesdays with Morrie, I reminded myself to think happy thoughts. It was useless. Tuesdays is about a reporter who visits his former professor every week. Sounds nice until you find out that teach has Lou Gehrig's disease. Fortunately, my nose-blowing…
The hostile health-care debate and the difficulties of keeping an open mind
There is an excellent CNN commentary, written by Rudy Ruiz, called "Open your minds, America." The article comments on the intolerant and hostile tone in our debate over health care. Ruiz argues that our inability to form rational dialogue is a symptom of a larger problem — "A contagious culture of close-mindedness threatens to suffocate…
Sex bites: your week in (mass murder) sex news
Earlier this week, a provocative commercial for the ad campaign "AIDS is a Mass Murderer" hit the internet. The commercial is set for official release for World AIDS Day on December 1, 2009. Dan Comitee, a young, presumably edgy, Hamburg- based advertising agency produced the commercial on behalf of the small German AIDS awareness group…
The truth about Van Jones: Communist? Nope. Revolutionary? Hope so.
In April, Van Jones was recognized by TIME as one of the 100 most influential people on the planet for the work he did with Green for All and the U.S. government. Sunday, in the midst of a quiet Labor Day weekend, Van Jones resigned as special advisor on green jobs for the White House…
Millionaire filmmaker Michael Moore: “Capitalism is evil”
It is laughable that Michael Moore would have the audacity to launch an attack on capitalism in the form of a wide-release studio film, particularly when he is also serving as the film's producer. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the premise of Moore's latest "documentary," Capitalism: A Love Story, is that "You have to…
A father’s letter to VIOS: My family looks for Dora the Explorer and you show us a trailer for Saw
A letter to Verizon Communications from Chris Ingram March 17, 2009 Ivan G. Seidenberg Chairman and CEO Verizon Verizon Communications Inc. 1095 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 Dear Mr. Seidenberg: We have enjoyed FIOS TV since subscribing to it in the summer of 2007. However, as our three girls ages 5…
Megan Fox fantasies fulfilled: She’s a centerfold in a comic book
Who could forget Megan Fox's 37-episode tenure opposite Kelly Ripa in Hope & Faith? Or her portrayal of a rich teenager in 2004's Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen? Everyone. But ever since Michael Bay and Hollywood transformed the actress in 2007, reassembling her from scraps of Angelina Jolie and the magnetism of Marilyn Monroe,…
Are the Alice In Chains and Sublime reunions bullshit?
I’m only 28, but it makes me feel old to find out bands like Alice In Chains (below) and Sublime (right) – which enjoyed their heyday when I was a teenager – have reunited. Back then, I clearly remember not giving a shit when various pop-culture purveyors made a big deal about reconciliations of groups like …
Charlie Crist Romance Novel: The Governor’s Mistress – Chapter 5 – Governor C. comes out of the closet — sort of
“I think you’re drunk,” Governor C. whispered to me as I sat on the king-sized bed in a hotel room at the Tampa Airport Marriott. There I was, sitting on top of the covers, eating Oreo cookies and sipping rosé, watching Jurassic Park with the governor of my home state, the governor I had enjoyed…
The Van Jones resignation: “Coarse rhetoric” only OK if you’re a Republican
It'd be laughable if it weren't so dangerous. Flame-throwing and name-calling are all fine if they come from the right, but let a Democrat — or worse, a black Democrat — or still worse. a black Democrat with a green agenda working in the Obama administration — let that guy call Republicans names, and WHOA!…
Project Runway Recap: California Catfights
Welcome to Project Runway, episode three. Finally we got to see some claws come out AND a Runway first in the elimination. This is the Project Runway we all know and love. But let's rewind, I can't get ahead of myself, even though I want to, because there is a lot of ground to cover.…
Dahlia Legault stunning in Stageworks’ My Children! My Africa!
One of the pleasures of being a consistent witness to Bay area theater is watching new stars come into their own on local stages. I still remember the first area performances of Colleen McDonnell, Linda Slade, Jack Holloway and others, and I still savor those moments when I first recognized a talent that would shine…
Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators’ quest for perfection
Tim Tebow was wrong. Believe it or not, college football’s poster boy actually made a mistake. During last year’s famous pledge to play harder than anyone else in the country, Tebow actually misspoke. After a 31-30 loss to Ole Miss, he apologized for not producing Florida’s first undefeated season. Actually, the Gators have had an…
CD review: Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs (video)
has been around for so long, and been so good for so long, I thought they’d pretty much exhausted all the indie rock tricks out there. And then I heard “If It’s True,” track number six from the band’s newest LP, Popular Songs (Matador, out Sept. 8). It opens with a dusty bass groove that…
Best bets in live music this Labor Day weekend: Depeche Mode, Lil Wayne, Matt Hires and reggae galore
A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Depeche Mode (pictured) w/Peter, Bjorn and John English electronic music pioneers Depeche Mode have influenced anyone from Radiohead to Rammstein to Crystal Method, and are among the too-few bands that emerged…
Top Chef Las Vegas Podcast, Ep. 3: Top Chef goes Top Gun
This week, we're back for round 3 of the new season on Top Chef. (Editor's Note: Our podcast was more exciting than this episode, so listen to it even if you haven't seen the episode yet.) The quickfire challenge was to make and "out-of-this-world" potato dish and the cheftestants served up some interesting spuds. I was…
Obama’s speech to students: So-called “conservatives” should just get over it
Slap me silly and call me Norton, but I just don’t get the “outrage” over Obama speaking to a bunch of schoolchildren. This was front-page news in my local paper this morning — top of the fold! First, let me say, mine is not an “Obama-loving” household. I’ve brainwashed my 5-year-old daughter into making comments…
Quickie CD Reviews: ScarJo and Yorn, Apples in Stereo and Juliette Lewis (with audio player +video)
Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn Break Up (Rhino) Inspired by Serge Gainsbourg's duets with Brigitte Bardot, singer-songwriter Pete Yorn teams up with actress Scarlett Johansson for Break Up, a sweetly-produced and easy-to-enjoy album. The nine-song collection goes by quickly and has ScarJo and Yorn seductively singing saccharine melodies over Beach-Boys-style production. It's a mellifluous session,…
Summer Jam 5 Review, Part II: In Pictures (The Honorary Title, Cory Branan and others)
ThxMgmt's Summer Jam 5 was a resounding success with a plethora of diverse bands, acts and DJs — The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Damion Suomi, Carter Hulsey, The Beauvilles, Shunda K (formerly of Yo Majesty!), Da Goldminerz, How Dare You, S.L.I.M.M. H.U.S.T.L.E, Blind Man’s Colour, Larcen, GreyMarket, The Tape Delay, The Sheaks, Deficit, Alexander &…
Two phases of polenta, with a recipe
Polenta. Peasant food of Gods. "Grits with a college education," as one wise customer put it. Thickly ground cornmeal, originating in husk of sweet yellow or white corn, dried, grounded, pounded, whisked and cooked, preferrably over a double boiler, 5 parts to 1, water to cornmeal. PHASE 1: A porridge like pot of mush appears.…
Eco-adventurer takes ‘Plastiki’ expedition to the Pacific Garbage Patch
Eco-adventurer David de Rothschild plans to sail 11,000 miles from San Francisco to Sydney by way of the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch on his 60-foot catamaran called the Plastiki. That in itself is a big deal, however the amazing thing is that the catamaran is made of used two-liter plastic bottles! “Our philosophy of throwing…
TV Review: Psych, Season 4, Episode 4 “The Devil is in the Details … and in the Upstairs Bedroom”
Welcome back Psych fans to the review of episode 4, The Devil is in the Details… and in the Upstairs Bedroom. This week, the crew investigates a murder where all the clues lead to a possessed girl. Now, Father Westley (Ray Wise) must exorcise the demons, while Shawn comes to grips with the paranormal.
Is Afghanistan a necessary war?
There has been very little good news about Afghanistan lately: Election fraud has plagued Afghanistan with a legitimacy crisis. August proved to be the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The State Department is now reviewing allegations of misconduct at U.S. embassy in Kabul. Even military officials have commented on the situation in Afghanistan:…
Two ideal Hollywood bios: Actor Warren Oates (The Wild Bunch) and director Hal Ashby (Being There)
James Stewart once said that the reason we love the movies is that “they give us little, tiny pieces of time that we never forget.” Too true, Mr. Stewart. I see Sam Shepard, burned and damaged, walking out of the desert at the end of The Right Stuff. I remember The Quiet Man, with John Wayne…
Hillsborough BOCC still undecided about citizens’ share of Commissioner White’s womanizing costs
By George Niemann PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist The Board of County Commissioners spent 1 ½ hours of their regular meeting yesterday deciding what the next steps will be in settling the Kevin White Sex Trial Case. So far they’ve passed two motions: 1) to spend an additional $10K to have attorney Claire…
This Week in Sex: male contraception, topless Rihanna, Nat’l Cougar Convention, etc.
Science Progress says yes, though it may be a while before we see it. A recent discovery, that a defect with the PLZ zeta protein in sperm leads to infertility, may be the key to finding a safe, impermanent contraceptive for men. American Apparel in trouble once again Only a few months ago, the L.A.-based…
Gulf Restoration Network gives Florida a D+ for water quality protection
Gulf Restoration Network report reveals poor water quality protection Gulf-wide: TAMPA, FL – Today the Gulf Restoration Network released its “Clean Up Your Act!” report card, which grades Gulf of Mexico states on how they implement the Clean Water Act and protect their state waters and public health. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas all…
Movie Review: Mike Judge’s Extract starring Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis and Ben Affleck
Mike Judge's Extract is an annoying movie instead of a funny one. Pitched as a return by the director to the workplace comedy of Office Space, Extract instead suffers from the same faults as Judge's last film, the Luke Wilson flop Idiocracy. Both flicks have appealing casts and hint at good movies that could be…
Review: Star in your favorite films with Yoostar
System: YooStar MSRP: $169.99 Launch Date(s): Available at Bloomingdale's on 8/24/09 Available at Best Buy on 9/8/09 If you haven’t said it before, at least your friends have: “I could’ve made that movie!” “I could’ve played that part better!” Some movie industry veterans got together to give you the chance to star in famous film…
Game Review: Shadow Complex, a very good game connected to a nasty anti-gay author, Orson Scott Card
I don't have any reason to think 99% of the developers who programmed, designed or otherwise helped create the new X-Box Live Arcade game Shadow Complex hate gay people. I'm assuming they don't. But I do know that one man associated closely with the game is a talented writer and outspoken anti-gay advocate named Orson…
Photo review + concert wrap-up: Parachute Musical and The Winter Sounds at New World
Parachute Musical and The Winter Sounds descended on New World Brewery in Ybor City this past Friday, August 28, for a New Granada Presents show. Parachute Musical Every now and then I randomly come across a band that makes me smile every time I hear them. My first such band was Operation Ivy. To this…
How to buy a running shoe (and avoid icky, oozy, sticky blisters)
(The Stinky Drinkers are members of a beer-loving running team in training for the Women's Running Magazine Women's Half Marathon coming up this November in downtown St. Pete! We're up to 10 miles per run and counting…and we're toasting every Tuesday night at Push Ultra Lounge with free John Hughes films and your chance to…
Go green with Spirit Airlines: Cheap fares on their new green fleet
Spirit Airlines has always been my go-to for cheap flying from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale or Atlantic City to see the family. I recommend them to everyone because of their cheap deals and relatively painless flying experience. Once, I flew round trip from Tampa to A.C. for $39 including taxes. Really, I am almost willing to sit…
Best Home Cooking Without the Cooking: Pasta from the Ravioli Company
Swing by the Ravioli Company on your way home and order your favorite shape; they'll pull fresh pasta from the fridge and slice it to order, all for less than $5 a pound. Throw in a salad and a container of sauce and you have a home-cooked meal actually cooked (largely) in your home. And,…
Gulfport:The Musical: Mark Leib talks to playwright Gil Perlroth
It's the musical that had to be written. And only Gil Perlroth could be trusted to bring it off. When Gulfport:The Musical premieres in January, 2010 at the Catherine Hickman Theater as part of the town's centennial celebration, it will feature the book, music and lyrics of one of the most prolific and successful playwrights…
New Music: Colbie Caillat, Breakthrough
She's back! The beautiful and talented Colbie Caillat brings us more of her powerful, acoustic pop-rock and soulful vocals. I first discovered Caillat when I was in the studio with my band. Our record producer told me that I sounded like Colbie Caillat. At the time I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or…
The FDA does away with Armour Thyroid: Another example of freedom of choice in healthcare being taken away
Be aware: There seems to be an effort afoot to eliminate the most effective form of thyroid replacement, Armour Thyroid. It has become increasingly difficult to get in any dosage strength, and many patients are having to switch to more expensive alternatives. When I started my practice, Wellness Works, back in 1994, I had a…
Wednesday-music.com profile: Dirty Projectors
Dirty Projectors are led by former Yale student, current “musical director” and one of the most unique/eccentric indie singer/songwriters of the early 2000’s, Dave Longstreth. He is accompanied by a shifting cast of band members. In fact, there have been 17 band members in total, but no more than 6 at a time (including Ezra…
10 reasons you might be a swinger
Swingers aren't as easy to spot as you may think. You may even be a swinger without realizing it. To eliminate any confusion, I've compiled a top ten list of reasons you might want to change your Facebook status from "married" to "swinger." You might be a swinger if:
Two upcoming presentations in St. Pete on environmental sustainability and conservation
Here are two upcoming lectures on environmentalism, sustainability, and conservation, one presented by a St. Petersburg College professor, the other hosted at St. Petersburg College. The first presentation will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 7:30 until 8:30pm at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve's Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center, and led by SPC Professor Christopher Nichol.…
Tampa’s Chinese Face-off: Yummy House vs. China Yuan
Six Tampa chowhounds, two restaurants, two and a half hours of stir fried bliss Competition sure tastes good. Tampa is lucky to be home to two excellent Chinese restaurants, China Yuan and Yummy House, both near the intersection of Armenia and Waters. I already knew both restaurants served the best Chinese food in the city,…
Recommended releases for the week of Sept. 1 (John Fogerty, Mars Volta and more)
Vinyl: Avett Brothers – "Slight Figure of Speech" 7" Special Vinyl Saturday (September 5th) 7" release with pic sleeve. Big Star – "Feel" b/w "Mod Lang" 7" Special Vinyl Saturday (September 5th) 7" release with pic sleeve. The Black Crowes – Before the Frost… Until The Freeze Before The Frost features 11 new unreleased Black…
The Austrians vs. the Keynesians: The end of the Federal Reserve
By Al Coryell PoHo correspondent In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series we learned the origin of the Federal Reserve System and looked at the Keynesian economic philosophy, the preferred philosophy of economists who have run the Fed since the Great Depression. We learned that Keynesian economic philosophy is an anti-free market philosophy,…
St. Petersburg Mayoral Primary: Kathleen Ford and Bill Foster jockey for losing candidates’ support
As Bill Foster and Kathleen Ford celebrated primary wins last night, the losing eight mayoral candidates wrapped up election parties and drove home. But their roles in the mayoral election are not finished. Over the next few weeks, Foster and Ford will jockey for the remaining 47 percent of voters who didn't choose them tonight,…
CD Review: The Apples in Stero, #1 Hits Explosion
The Apples in Stereo#1 Hits Explosion (Yep Roc) With 17 years of pop rockin’ under their belt, The Apples in Stereo collect their best tunes on one album, #1 Hits Explosion. For seasoned fans, this may not be a choice album as it’s really just a recap of what they’ve been enjoying for years. For…
CD Review: Juliette Lewis, Terra Incognita
Juliette LewisTerra Incognita (The End Records) Imagine a bluesy version of Mars Volta’s De-Loused in the Comatorium with controlled drumming, Juliette Lewis’ explosive vocals and pop song structure. This is what a great Omar Lopez-Rodriguez-produced release sounds like. Evoking Janis Joplin, the 12-track album is darker than anything Lewis has done before. OLR’s expert influence…
Peter Bjorn and John have taken their music in unexpected directions
The stickiest whistling of the 21st century was conceived in Sweden, nurtured in the collective musical subconscious of three Stockholm musicians, shaped by their distinct creative personalities and love of New Wave, alt rock and '60s pop, and born several years later in a catchy, charming pop ditty, "Young Folks." By that time, Swedish trio…
Album Review: The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Edition)
In 2006, writers for the English music magazine NME voted 1989’s The Stone Roses the “greatest British album of all time.” I would not go that far. But I will assert this: Anyone who aspires to a rock music collection considered definitive should make unequivocally sure that the Manchester, England band’s debut album is part…
The Art of Italian Cookbooks: Giuliano Hazan’s rise as an Italian cooking authority
Giuliano Hazan’s rise as an Italian cooking authority.
Dan Savage reads love from the fans
Words of thanks from Dan’s loyal readers
From Elvis to Led Zeppelin, the rock gods get their due in the art (and t-shirts) of William Munch
Every morning I leap from bed and sink to my knees and thank God that Bob Dylan never made a video for "Like a Rolling Stone." And good on Mick and Keith for having the sense to not shoot a promo clip for "Satisfaction." Every time I hear those songs — and I'm sure I'm…
Corkscrew: Get your drunk on
What to do during life transitions.
Hey, teach! We’re sad to see you go, Wayne Garcia
On Garcia’s departure for the groves of academe in Gainesville.
War and peace and college for all
The first G.I. Bill changed America. Will a “Post 9/11” bill do the same?
Pay attention here: Political Editor Wayne Garcia says goodbye
When I drove back into town last Friday, I was greeted at home with a copy of the St. Petersburg Times and a metro section story about influential trucker-builder Bing Kearney, who had seen one of his companies forced into bankruptcy court. His corporate misfortune in this recession is probably the perfect place to start…
Are earlobe creases a sign of heart disease?
Do earlobe creases really indicate you may have coronary heart disease? —Jen You may say: This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. But read some Straight Dope mail and you'll realize dumbest-thing-ever is a pretty high bar. More to the point, earlobe creases shouldn't be dismissed lightly, as they fall into the surprisingly large…
CD Review: Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs
Yo La Tengo has been around for so long, and been so good for so long, I thought they’d pretty much exhausted all the indie rock tricks out there. And then I heard “If It’s True,” track number six from the band’s newest LP, Popular Songs (Matador, out Sept. 8). It opens with a dusty…
Kickoff time: ready for some football
The unending fascination of football.
Who owns my garbage?
Some years ago I read about a slightly loony "garbologist" who liked to go through people's trash, including that of one person in particular — Mr. Robert Zimmerman of Woodstock, New York, aka Bob Dylan, rebel poet of a generation, blah blah blah. One day when said garbologist was busy in the trash cans in…
CD Review: Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn, Break Up
Scarlett Johansson and Pete YornBreak Up(Rhino) Inspired by Serge Gainsbourg’s duets with Brigitte Bardot, singer-songwriter Pete Yorn teams up with actress Scarlett Johansson for Break Up, a sweetly-produced and easy-to-enjoy album. The nine-song collection goes by quickly and has ScarJo and Yorn seductively singing saccharine melodies over Beach-Boys-style production. It’s a mellifluous session, but the…
Are saunas really good for you?
I love to go to the steam room (or if there isn't one, the sauna) after a workout. But I've always wondered: Do they really help? Or rather: I sweat a lot in the steam room, and it's obviously doing something to my body, but what exactly are its benefits? Or is it actually damaging…
St. Petersburg Mayoral Primary: At the Deveron Gibbons party
I’m attempting to hit every candidate’s election night event for insight, great political theater and free food. Next up: Deveron Gibbons. Where: Push Ultra Lounge (upstairs from Kathleen Ford's event) Mood: Vague, much like Gibbons' campaign. There are a few people mingling about, no real energy. Many patrons are just here to drink at the…
St. Petersburg Mayoral Primary: At the Kathleen Ford party
I'm attempting to hit every candidate's election night event for insight, great political theater and free food. My first: Kathleen Ford. Where: Red Mesa Cantina Mood: Upbeat and relaxed, like a cocktail party (well, except for the guy on the right). About 25 Ford supporters sip large margaritas and chat. Although reserved, Kathleen Ford is…
The top 10 hottest women in comics
The number of male celebrities who've portrayed comic book characters on film is impressive, but the list of actresses to translate the women of comics for the big screen definitely, well, racks up. Halle Berry brought a loosely adapted Catwoman to the silver screen, though more acclaimed was her version of element- and director-controlling Storm…
St. Pete Primary Update: Ford & Foster on top
Polls have been closed for just under an hour, but the results are already looking pretty conclusive. The top vote-getters in the mayoral race are Bill Foster at 26.97%, Kathleen Ford at 25.87%, Deveron Gibbons at 19.51% and Scott Wagman at 15.03%. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, it looks like Ford and Foster will…
