Local author Kris Radish’s Gravel on the Side of the Road
Once, just once, I'd like to get through a Kris Radish book without crying. Gravel on the Side of the Road: True Stories From a Broad Who Has Been There was not that book. That's OK. Well, mostly. Reviewing a book when you know the author — Radish and her partner own Wine Madonna in downtown…
PBS and Tampa Rep provide fascinating history lessons on the Roosevelts
Teddy, Franklin and Eleanor up close this month and October.
Mitch Perry Report 9.11.14: Charlie Crist’s evolution on school vouchers
School voucher programs have been controversial since their introduction in the 1990s — not between Republicans and Democrats, but between Democrats and Democrats. Florida under former Governor Jeb Bush and the GOP-led Legislature created the Opportunity Scholarship Program in 2001, the first statewide voucher program in the nation, which served just 730 students.. But it…
This American pioneer — an interview with Ira Glass
The radio host has reinvented radio for two decades and isn’t nearly finished.
Visual Arts Preview: Spathalicious
Spathalicious: Sat., Sept. 13, 5-10 p.m. at Station NumberThree, 2701 Fifth Ave. S., St. Petersburg, spathose.com. When Scott Durfee and George Medeiros moved to St. Petersburg eight years ago, they didn’t think twice about decorating their yard with planters and lawn sculptures made from palm tree spathes. With Durfee’s family background in floristry and the couple’s…
Pop Secret: 9:00-5:00 showcases the Bay’s young art fringe
A one-night show you don’t deserve to miss.
Jane Goodall discusses factory farms, GMOs at USF talk
A USF Sun Dome lecture featured thoughts on eating meat, GMOs and more from Dr. Jane Goodall.
SCENE BREAKER: Less Mame to love, a last-minute Lala and Pocahontas takes Manhattan
Here’s what’s behind the curtain this week in Tampa Bay theatre… THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAME: Already prepping to play the title role in the Jerry Herman musical Mame at freeFall Theatre next summer, actor and drag artist Matthew McGee (The Scott & Patti Show, Stageworks’ The Divine Sister) has set himself the goal of losing 25…
Tampa drummer Paul Moroz passes away
Paul Moroz, longtime drummer and fixture on the Tampa Bay original-music scene, has reportedly passed away. Details are sketchy at this point. Moroz was apparently found in his apartment by his landlord; the exact time of death has not been determined, and an autopsy is pending. He is probably best known for stints with Will…
RPOF responds to Crist attack on Rick Scott’s abortion record with vintage Charlie Crist pro-life rhetoric
On Tuesday, the Charlie Crist campaign attacked Rick Scott regarding his record on abortion rights with a new ad. On Wednesday the Republican Party answered back with a web ad, cleverly using Crist's new ad, but with Crist's face popping up from earlier debates when he was pro-life, such as the last time he ran…
Restaurant review: Tia’s dishes a taste of home
Tia’s Authentic Latin Food’s spicy no-frills cuisine embodies the Puerto Rican homestyle experience.
South Tampa gets doughnuts with Perk’s, fifth Holy Hog opens & more
Munching through the latest in restaurant news.
Judithanne McLauchlan’s 1st proposed bill would be to repeal nuclear fee
SD 22 Democratic candidate Judithanne McLauchlan today said that the first bill she would sponsor if she defeats Jeff Brandes in November would be to end the nuclear cost recovery fee that electric utilities like Duke Energy have been able to charge their customers since 2006. In addition, McLauchlan's bill would provide a refund to consumers…
Uber & Lyft enthusiasts rally for their cause at Hillsborough PTC meeting
Supporters and critics of ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft packed the Hillsborough County Public Transportation meeting today in Tampa, though many had left the County Center by the time that PTC Executive Director Kyle Cockream unveiled the results of a study regarding those companies later in the morning. Lyft and then Uber began offering rides…
Get your blood pumping with the Red Sofa tour
Tampa Bay's first annual Red Sofa Tour, part of the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association’s (ASA) heart disease and stroke awareness campaign, kicks off today, Sept. 10, at The Birchwood, and runs through Oct. 3. The campaign’s goal is to engage the Tampa Bay community in honest conversation about heart disease and…
David Jolly formally files bill to require local law enforcement to be trained to use military equipment
Local police agencies that use military equipment earmarked for counter-terrorism to handle public order disturbances instead could be forced to repay millions of dollars in grants, under a review revealed during the first congressional hearing of the events that transpired this summer in Ferguson, Missouri. "We have a range of remedies should [the DOJ] find noncompliance,…
New Shakespeare-Book Release Party and Performance at USFSP
Friends, Tampa Bay residents, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to give you a party… USF St. Pete is celebrating the release of Violence, Trauma, and Virtus in Shakespeare’s Roman Poems and Plays: Transforming Ovid, by Professor Lisa S. Starks-Estes, in style. A launch party will be held today, from 4:30-6 p.m., at Harbor…
Listen to Atlantic Oceans’ debut 7-inch, grab it on green vinyl now
Ex-Giddy Up, Helicopter!/Sleepy Vikings members get in on New Granada’s 20th Anniversary series
Mitch Perry Report 9.10.14: Greenlight debate gets more intense
I'm not sure there were many undecided voters in the St Pete Community Church in Disston Heights last night. They were gathered to watch a forum on Greenlight Pinellas, the transit tax swap that Pinellas County voters will vote on in 55 days (or sooner with early voting). Randall O'Toole from the Cato Institute (which…
Tonight in live music: Fitz & the Tantrums, Lily Allen & more
Concerts this Wed., Sept. 10.
Winevasion in store for the region this weekend
The weekend’s bill of wine festivals makes it good to be a vino lover.
Keeping It “Weird” in Gulfport — a look at the town’s upcoming triathlon
Two races take runners through Gulfport
Do This: Jane Goodall at USF and Art of the Roast at the Ritz-Ybor
Take advantage of an unusually eventful Tuesday evening with two pretty major happenings; both inspirational in their own unique ways. First up, you can see the scientist who changed forever how we view chimpanzees at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa. Jane Goodall will not have primates in tow but will be sure to provide some…
Crist campaign attacks Rick Scott on abortion rights
Although nobody would accuse Charlie Crist of being a paragon of consistency when it comes to the issue of abortion, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee is now very pro-choice as he tries to rally his new base in his bid to oust Rick Scott this fall. So when the Crist campaign opted to talk about their…
Buckhorn unveils new design for Riverfront Park
Acknowledging that not everyone is going to be able to get what they want in regards to the redesign of Tampa's Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Mayor Bob Buckhorn today hailed the beginnings of the transformation of the underutilized park located on the west side of the Hillsborough River. "We don’t get chances to re-imagine…
Do This: St. Pete Historic Walking Tour
The St. Petersburg Preservation’s (SPP) penultimate “Twilight on the Town" monthly historic summer-evening walking tour is upon us. The guided tour begins tonight, at 7 p.m., in front of the Snell House (507 2nd St. S. — SW corner of 5th Ave S. & 2nd St) and will meander through the hopelessly gorgeous USF St.…
Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Sonia Nazario to speak at Eckerd College
On Saturday, President Obama said that the surge of immigrant children entering the U.S. illegally this summer had changed the politics surrounding the issue of immigration, and led him to put off a pledge to use executive action that could shield millions of people from deportation, angering parts of the Latino community. Although the number…
Fall staples hit Seasons 52 menus
The fall menu at Seasons 52 includes ingredients like squash, apples and seasonal spices.
Mitch Perry Report 9.9.14: Roger Goodell’s reputation is shattered
I have to admit, I'm never been a big fan of Roger Goodell. For one thing, the dude makes $44 million a year. He's done a lot of questionable things since replacing Paul Tagliabue as commissioner of the National Football League, but even if you believe he's been the ideal leader taking the game into the…
New Music Tuesday! (September 9): Ryan Adams, Karen O, Robert Plant, Interpol & more
Releases out today; audio & video included.
Weeknight quickies: Two dishes with vegan pesto
A vegan avocado-basil pesto sauce is used for this pair of simple recipes.
No Tax for Tracks touts new poll that shows Greenlight losing
No Tax for Tracks, the political action committee created to oppose the Greenlight Pinellas transit tax, today released a new survey from St. Pete Polls that shows the measure losing in November, 46-38 percent among all voters. Among active voters the discrepancy is even greater, with 48 opposed to 36 in support. However, more people…
The Laugh Tract — who’s bringing the funny
Pauly Shore headlines Tampa Improv this weekend Odds are you've seen this week's comedians somewhere. Either on MTV — a number of performers have been on programs there — or local stages. Quite a few live right here in our area. But they'll all bring plenty of personality and jokes. Here's the lineup this week.…
Tampa Bay’s weekly literary happenings
Author Sonia Nazario discusses her book Enrique's Journey and immigration at Eckerd College Thursday, Sept. 11. Tampa’s Inkwood Books hosts is monthly Teen Book Club — to be held the second Monday of every month — Monday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. Open to kids in the 8th through 12th, the group will be led by…
Savage love: Crazy in love
Dan Savage takes on the non-horny and the definitely crazy.
Uber targets Victor Crist & Al Higginbotham in new mailers
Negotiations between ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft and the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Company have moved along at a snail's pace this year since the two companies began operating their services in April without being certified by the PTC. After repeated warnings, PTC agents have gone after and started busting Lyft and Uber drivers, citing them for…
Mitch Perry Report 9.8.14 – U.S. battle to take on ISIS to take 3 years?
Some random thoughts on this Monday morning…The report that there was yet another wrong-way crash along the same stretch of I-275 this weekend in Tampa is one of the most confounding stories I can recall in awhile. The fact that this happens even once is bizarre, but four times? In one year? A Highway Patrol…
Secretive suppers: Redefining dinner for chefs, eaters
Like-minded regionites will experience new epicurean exploration through the Illumineati dinner club.
Mitt Romney says Obama is “so out of touch with reality”
Being a two-time loser in the presidential sweepstakes, you can understand why Mitt Romney wants no part of a third run for the White House. But the fact that he now appears to have been prescient on at least some foreign policy issues (notably Russia) seems to have led to a re-evaluation of the former…
Do This: The Weekend Top 10
Wacky irreverence at New World Brewery, theater, live music, classic cinema, photography and two famous Martins.
Two Florida top-notch political pros discuss the 2014 election
According to Republican political consultant Adam Goodman, Amendment Two is "definitely going down." Speaking Friday at the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists (FAPL) annual conference that took place this week in Tampa, Goodman said he believed the medical marijuana initiative would ultimately fail at the ballot box because of the difficulty of gaining 60 percent…
Forum brings out candidates for Pinellas House districts
With election day less than 60 days away, the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club on Friday afternoon at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club hosted candidates running for House Districts 64, 66, 68 and 69, all serving the Pinellas County area. The event intended to provide a forum for the upcoming races, allowing members in attendance to…
Apropos of nothing, here’s Babymetal (VIDEO)
It's Friday, so here's Babymetal doing "Head Bangya!!" Babymetal is from Japan; it's, um … I guess the Japanese symphonic-metal version of a manufactured female teen-pop outfit. But Japanese! And symphonic metal! Also, it's called Babymetal, and the song is called "Head Bangya!!" Video after the jump.
Mary Mulhern says she’s undecided on her next career move
Contrary to what was reported in La Gaceta today, Tampa City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern says that she is not running for the Tampa City Council District 4 seat currently held by fellow Democrat Harry Cohen — at least not at this moment. In his column, "As We Heard It," La Gaceta editor Patrick Manteiga wrote…
Movie review: The Identical blends faith and Elvis into a campy mess
This Christian parable is more unintentionally funny than spiritually uplifting.
The Hip Hop ABCs: Letter U
It is nearly impossible to get a bunch of passionate hip hop fans to agree on anything. But I tried anyhow, starting with a series of polls on Facebook that aimed to figure out which emcee or group was the best in the game as driven by the letters of the alphabet. No specific rubric…
Smooth operators: Bodega’s juice bar nearly complete
Bodega on Central’s expanded juice bar and indoor seating will debut to the masses next weekend.
Mitch Perry Report 9.5.14 – Is the Tampa Bay area ready to embrace their NFL squad?
The National Football League kicked off its 2014 regular season last night in Seattle, where for the first time in that franchise's history, the Seahawks are begining the season as the defending NFL champs. The Seahawks came into the league in 1976, the same year as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And now both possess one…
Tonight in live music: Coldair, Kings of Leon, Public Speaking & more
Concerts this Fri., Sept. 5
Joan Rivers – Honorary Librarian
Stand-up Librarian Meredith Myers shares influences from the late, great Joan Rivers that aren’t so obvious.
Tampa fast food workers demand fair wages
Today in Tampa in front of two different McDonald’s stores, fast food workers walked off the job during two separate protests. They joined fellow fast food workers, organizers and activists to demand fair wages, and the ability to form a union without retaliation. One protest was held at 6:00 a.m. with approximately forty people in…
Frank Reddick wants Jane Castor to hire more minority officers to the TPD
One of the most jarring facts to come out of the events of Ferguson, Missouri last month — where protests took place for weeks after an unarmed black teenager was killed by a white police officer — was the paucity of minority police officers in a minority-majority town. In a city that is 67 percent African-American,…
Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners proclaims September “Best of the Bay Month”
On Thursday, September 4, CL's Marketing, Events & Promotions Coordinator Gina Moccio and I attended the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners' regular meeting, where we were honored to represent Creative Loafing in receiving the board's proclamation naming September 2014 "Best of the Bay Month," in recognizance of CL's annual Best of the Bay issue. As…
Seminole Heights art gallery Epoxy closes
The unique art space permanantly closes its doors this week.
Action Bronson channels Guy Fieri in Fuck That’s Delicious Episode 4
Action Bronson goes all “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” on us in the latest episode of his cooking show.
A chat with Martin before his Very Stupid Conversation with Steve
Martin Short talks with CL about his new TV co-star, his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s forthcoming film and a new memoir, too.
Poet’s Notebook: Poetry & age
The buffalo eats grass, I eat him, and when I die, the earth eats me and sprouts more grass. Therefore nothing is ever lost, and each thing is everything forever, though all things move. — Old Lodge Skins, Indian chief in Thomas Berger’s novel Little Big Man (1964) The other day I read a brief…
Health professionals discuss how EPA proposal on carbon emissions will affect Florida
On June 2, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal plants by as much as 30 percent nationally by 2030 compared with 2005 levels — 38 percent in Florida. It's all part of President Obama's plan for dealing with climate change, and it was immediately controversial,…
Seminole Heights Market at Southern: Fresh, Local & Lively.
Looking for something to do next weekend? While it might be hard to compete with last weekend’s end-of-summer Labor Day festivities, you can start the month off right by shopping local and celebrating the start of September at the Seminole Heights Market at Southern! A collaboration between Southern Brewing & Winemaking and the Seminole Heights…
Benedetto’s brings Delectable Dining award to Land O’ Lakes
Eddie V’s and others faced off against Benedetto’s for the duPont Registry accolade.
Album review: Merchandise, After the End
“If I’m your enemy, then I’m keen to be your enemy,” Carson Cox sings to open After The End (4AD). Cox, 28, is probably used to animosity by now. Merchandise’s first shows were Tampa storage unit sets spent exploring riotous krautrock, and where last year’s Total Nite surely alienated the last of fans with asses chapped…
Tonight in live music: Drake vs. Lil Wayne, Archnemesis, Naughty Professor
Concerts happening this Thurs., Sept. 4.
Mixed signals: WMNF’s search for new listeners and continued relevance
Tampa’s great radio experiment, WMNF 88.5 FM, is 35 years old, and its age is beginning to show. Once the only game in town for news, talk and music outside the mainstream, WMNF now finds itself just one of a multitude of media options vying for listeners. Previously housed in a series of cramped, makeshift…
