Daily Loaf

What’s up, Creative Loafers? Today I’ve got to hit the road and get over to One Buc Place to pick up some credentials so everyone here at Creative Loafing can give you the best Buccaneers coverage possible!

The Rays won their 6th game in a row yesterday behind another strong performance from David Price, completing a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers. Price went 6.1 innings, giving up just 2 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 9. He picked up his 14th win of the season, which ties him for the team record for most wins in a season.  That feat is even more amazing when you consider the Rays still have over 60 games remaining this year, giving Price around another dozen starts.

Carlos Pena continued to swing a hot bat yesterday, driving in all 4 runs on 3 hits, including a solo home run in the second inning.  Two of Pena’s 4 RBI yesterday also came with 2 outs. Driving in runs with 2 outs has been something the Rays have struggled with throughout the season so the Rays can only hope Pena can continue to come through like he did Thursday.

The Yankees come into town Friday night for a 3-game set to determine first place in the American League East.  Wade Davis, 3-0 in the month of July, will take the mound tonight for the Rays against the Yankees’ young stud, Phil Hughes, who enters the game at 12-3 with a 4.04 ERA. Read more “Pat Donovan’s Deep Fried Sports: The “let me get to 1 Buc” print edition” »

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking another look at their policy towards the labeling chicken as “natural”. As it stands, a poultry product can be labeled “natural” as long as it doesn’t contain artificial flavors or chemical preservatives. But many politicians and health advocates are bringing up the issue that about a third of the chicken sold in the US is injected with additives that can account for up to 15% of its weight, doubling and even tripling its sodium content.

Due to the concern, new rules on food labeling will be issued this fall by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The poultry producer Perdue is also backing these new labeling policies and has even joined the Truthful Labeling Coalition.

Perdue spokesman Luis Luna stated, “Our labels say natural or all natural only if there is nothing added. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to label poultry that has been enhanced with water or broth or solutions as natural, or all natural.”
Read more “The debate on labeling chicken as ‘natural’” »

state Senator Victor Crist

Last week the St. Petersburg City Council alienated a block of the community when they voted to amend their comprehensive land use plan in the event that Floridians approve Amendment 4 this November.  The Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment would require local governments to have voters have a say in any changes to such a comp plan.  But critics say they’ve planted a decoy map, instead, and some opposition has been fierce (they will have a second reading on the proposal in September).

Today at a forum at the Straz Center in Tampa with a slew of candidates running for Hillsborough County Commission seats this August and/or November, most said they were opposed to Amendment 4, but many also slammed the St. Pete City Council for their actions last week as well.

Former Tampa City Councilman and District One candidate John Dingfelder began the discussion by saying he acknowledged it sounded “a little snippy,” but he didn’t like what St. Pete did.  “Everyone should vote on it,” he said.  Read more “Hillsborough County Commission candidates slam St. Pete City Council for Amendment 4 “gamesmanship”” »

Photo credit: johnnyalive @Flickr.com

This week in review once again proves that political corruption, circumventing the rules, and the love of boats are all bipartisan

1. Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman, R is still not saying which investors paid for his wife’s $400,000+ vacation home in Arkansas (that his name is not on). Doesn’t this separate finances claim seem to fly in the face of traditional marriage that Norman preaches about so often? For instance, when Commissioner Kevin Beckner tried to drag Hillsborough county out of the dark ages and provide domestic partner benefits to county employees, Norman, who is in contention for the Commission’s biggest homophobe, opposed it. Norman also supported  a discriminatory board policy which could cost the county taxpayers a fortune (just like the Kevin White lawsuit did) due to a faulty policy. I wonder…………..since the Normans don’t seem to practice traditional family values when it comes to things like sharing their finances on vacation homes, do we taxpayers foot the bill for Mrs. Norman’s health benefits? If we do I don’t think we should have to any longer.  In related news, reading a few of the comments under these Norman stories over the past week shows that the Salvation Army( which pays Mr. Norman over $90,000) should see their donations drop significantly this year as citizens seemed appalled at this ahem……….development. Norman’s pontoon boats at his wife’s vacation house were also called into question since they might be worth over $1000.

2. The Tribune just endorsed Norman’s opponent Read more “Traditional family values, vacation houses, boats and Obama jumps the shark.” »

Never content to be outdone by Kevin White, Jim Norman is equally disgraceful.

A satirical look at Norman’s latest plea for help

By Chris Ingram

Dear sycophant Kool-aid drinking Republicans:

As you know, it’s tough being an elected official when the darned media starts asking questions about where you got your lakefront resort home in Arkansas and a pair of nice boats to go with it. What they don’t realize is it is tough being a county commissioner; and I need those boats for recreation – especially fishing for some big Bass! I have done my best to keep who paid for my wife’s house from you and the media because I don’t like to see people get upset. And that’s what you would be if you really knew where the coin came from. You would say: “that smells like something Kevin White dragged in.” And Lord knows I don’t want to be associated with him. As you know I am committed to fighting increasing taxes and mandates that continue to burden you – unless it happens to be a multi-million dollar sports complex with my name on it, or if the Feds. are paying for it on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

The reason I have chose to run as your State Senator in District 12 is, I really need a job. Flying back and forth to Arkansas is about to break me. So even some low-paying job in the state legislature will help pay the bills the wife doesn’t pay. And while yes, the pay in Tallahassee stinks, you don’t have to work real hard, there are lots of free dinners and receptions to go to, and the people I meet up in Tallahassee who couldn’t give two piles of dog poop about you have deeeeeep pockets!

Fellow career politician Senator Victor Crist has reached the limit of his term in office and has endorsed my campaign as have all the bought and paid for “leaders” of our party. These are the guys who will give me plum committee assignments so I can shake down the lobbyists with the fattest bank accounts – so long as I do EXACTLY as they say. Oh, and I forgot to mention, one of the reasons I (like Victor Crist) am running for state legislature is because I am also term-limited. In short, my six-figure “job” on the county commission is as out of reach for me as the truth about my lake house is to you the voters and the media. So after twenty years of ignoring the real problems facing Hillsborough County (traffic being the big one people are always bitchin’ about), and focusing on irrelevant things like the sports park, I’m ready to take my knuckle-headedness to Tallahassee and be a voice for, uhm, err, uh, you. Yeah, that’s it. I’m going to work for you!

Keeping in mind that you need me, let me just say, I need you. I need you to walk, make calls, and talk to your friends about “nonperformin’ Norman!” Wait a minute, did I say that? Ah, forget it. Just come help volunteer.

I’ll be at the lake house if you need me.

Your incompetent pal,

Jimbo

p.s. If you’re interested in making things hard for the media to find, go to Arkansas. They have real convenient rules about disclosure, public records, and stuff like that – why do ya’ think ol’ Clinton lived there?

(Editor’s note: Norman’s “real” plea for help follows). Read more ““Non-performin’” Norman needs a job” »

OhMiBod’s sound sensitive vibrator, the Freestyle, gives new meaning to songs like “Ride the Lightning,”  “Sex Machine,” “Rock Me All Night Long,” “All by Myself” …

OhMiBod is trumpeting in a new wave of sex toys, leading the  industry in vibrators that hum along to your favorite songs. The mobile ClubVibe bullet can have you quaking to the vibrations in any public setting: a dance club, a concert, work, your car while driving through the night with the music pounding. However, while the ClubVibe was built for discreet public play, it’s not ideal for bedroom antics: the wires seriously threaten to put a choke-hold on any approaching cock. But, where the ClubVibe fails, the Freestyle picks up the orgasmic torch.

The Freestyle looks like a Read more “Ride the lightning with the musical vibrator, the Freestyle” »

It’s been said that pizza is like sex — even when it’s bad, it’s still somewhat good. But why settle for mediocre sex, er, pizza? There are a vast array of choices out there, from large chain delivery to frozen to gourmet, but making homemade pizza is rewarding and, with a little preparation, can be ready to eat in the same amount of time it takes for delivery.

I’ve often heard people say that getting the crust right is tricky, attributing this to Florida’s water quality and high humidity. Alas, my husband has defied these notions with his pizza crust recipe. He has made both deep dish and thin crust style, both results being tender, chewy and crispy. Sometimes he even grills our pizza, the char and smokiness adding an extra flavor dimension.
Read more “Simple (and delicious) homemade pizza dough recipe” »

You’ll be surprised to learn that Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore is the Citizen Kane of talking animal movies. It’s true, it’s true, it’s damn true! Or maybe I’m making a wild exaggeration to sell you on reading the review of a movie you have zero interest in seeing in the first place. There’s plenty of hyperbole and snark ahead, so please read on …

Read more “Time to change the kitty litter: The Rabid movie review of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (with fur-raising trailer video)” »

Sports are filled with stereotypes; gay men also conjure up a multitude of stereotypes. Add the two together, and a common sum is figure skating. Welcome to my world as a male figure skater.

Stereotypes are generally based on some truth. They generally offend at least some portion of the group, as they are simplistic and frequently negative. The gay male figure skater stereotype is one that I spent much of my life fighting until I realized it made no sense for me to fight it. In its essence, I am the stereotype. Figure skater: check. Gay: okay. But do I have a big “G” branded on my forehead? No.

On a quick glance, I do nothing to break this stigma, but I’ve found that being a figure skater has shaped my life far more than being gay or straight. What does it matter about one’s sexuality when talking about a sport? It doesn’t seem to be a topic of conversation in most sports where athletes are assumed to be straight. When there is a big skating event on TV that I invite or force my friends to watch, they always want the “inside scoop,” which basically becomes a guessing game of “gay or straight?” Although I could make a stink and ask why it matters, I don’t, because then it turns into an issue.  It shouldn’t be one. Actually, I eagerly divulge any information I have. Being a figure skater and a journalist, a switch flips me into TMZ of skating mode. Figure skating is an endless frozen pool of drama and entertainment. Read more “Stereotype on ice: My world as a male figure skater” »

Manhunt.com, an online dating website for gay and bisexual men, compiled its users’ info to create a state-by-state breakdown of the average percentage of uncircumcised men across the U.S.. Normally I wouldn’t trust any information listed in the profiles of online daters, especially when it comes to penis stats, but reporting whether you are circumcised or not seems pretty cut and dry.

States that boarder with Mexico—California, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona—have a higher percentage of uncut men. The same is true for states with large immigrant populations, including Florida and New York. Northern, midwestern states tend to have the lowest percentage of uncircumcised men.

Check out the full state-by-state breakdown after the jump Read more “Manhunt’s map for finding uncircumcised men in the U.S.” »

Remember the double rainbow guy?

He, like many a Spaghetti Cat before him and many after, became an Internet sensation after discovering a double rainbow, freaking out about it, and posting the video on the popular, Google-owned YouTube. Jimmy Kimmel even tweeted about it. (I actually miss when a sentence like that wouldn’t have made sense.)

The Second City Network certainly remembered him — and the team behind Sassy Gay Friend sought to parody the video with a Hollywood-style spoof. It features a lesbian kiss — or rather, did, until YouTube censored the liplocking. Read more “Is YouTube homophobic? (with censored lesbian kiss video)” »

On the cutting edge of eco-burials, the Ecopod is not only environmentally friendly, it’s also very attractive — because who wants to bury their loved one in some bulky and drab traditional coffin?

The Ecopod, manufactured in Brighton, England, is handmade from recycled newspapers and hand finished with 100% mulberry pulp paper. It sports a natural calico mattress, so you or your loved one’s corpse can rest in comfortable peace (until the whole coffin degrades). Being painted with non-toxic, eco-friendly paints, it is available in a variety of colors like white, indigo blue, red, and forest green.
Read more “The Ecopod: The stylish, natural and biodegradable burial option” »

Why do I choose to be transgendered? It’s a hard life and it’s not like anyone would ever have to know how I really feel inside. You’re right, I do have a “choice.” I could choose to keep my female body and go on living a life of unfulfilled dreams. Because I am not the person in my dreams.

Lets say as I grew up I wanted to be a fireman, well that’s just it, I would see myself as a fireman. Imagine growing up feeling as if your true dreams could never be realized because you could never be the person in them.

I actually grew up wanting to be a singer. I am pretty good, so people say, but who wants to listen to a trans-man singer? How many people would want to buy my album? Or worse, would they find out I am trans and make a mockery of me? These thoughts go through my head because I was conditioned to not like who I am. 

And I am not alone there. I’ve heard that at least 30% of transsexuals contemplate suicide, 14% actually do it. I fall somewhere in between. I have never tried to commit suicide but I did attempt to destroy the body I came to loathe by using drugs and alcohol. I am not alone there either, too many beautiful transwomen and handsome transmen turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with their own internal struggle and the struggle of being “worse than the queers.” (And no one wants to be worse than them! Just kidding.) 50% of trans people will be verbally assualted and  25% of trans-people will actually be assaulted. It makes you wonder how many trans people never bother telling the truth about themselves. Who could blame them with statistics like that? Read more “The choice of being transgender” »

A new poll indicates the obvious: Charlie Crist owes his continuing lead in the U.S. Senate race this November on Democratic support.

That same poll reveals that a huge majority of the state’s voters wanted a chance to vote on offshore drilling this November, but can Democrats seize on that?

Regular readers of this post know that we’ve been reporting extensively on the Democratic race for Attorney General.  But as is the case on the Republican side, we really wish somebody would conduct a major poll to know if any of the five major candidates are breaking out at all, 3 1/2 weeks before the August 24 primary.

Tampa City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern has been relentless of late in trying to get the powers that be to consider backing her proposal to have the high speed rail authorities search out federal dollars to study putting a high speed rail station to Tampa International Airport.  That cause was dealt a blow yesterday, however.

Download
the report here.

Quinnipiac University has a new poll out today on the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.  You can read here for more on that.

However, what deserves further discussion in that state wide survey is another example of how out to lunch the Republican led Legislature is when it comes to where the majority of Floridians are.  Read this:

Florida voters support 62 – 34 percent the idea of a state constitutional amendment to ban drilling within 10 miles of the Florida coast and say 72 – 24 percent they want a referendum on the ballot on that question.

Of course, this is the same Republican led Legislature that just had two constitutional amendments they voted on be rejected in the past three weeks by a Jeb Bush selected judge in Tallahassee. If Karen Thurman and the Florida Democratic Party can’t make inroads with this, they really are in worst trouble than one could presume.

Think about the above.  Nearly 3/4ths of those surveyed by Quinnipiac wanted the Legislature to meet last week and approve a constitutional amendment, to at least give the public to weigh in on the outrage they feel towards such maneuvers just months after one of the country’s worst environmental disasters ever.

The arrogance of those House Republicans, led by Larry Cretul, should not be forgotten.  However, in the lopsided Republican led legislature, how many Senate or House seats can the Dems pick up this November?  Yes, some of the districts heavily lean towards one particular party (and just for the record, we don’t see that changing substantially if amendments 5 and 6 pass, but that’s just us).  But 72% said they wanted the chance to weigh in on this. If Democrats running for state office this November don’t use that to speak about the problems with one party rule for the past decade plus in Tallahassee, then they deserve to lose. Read more “New Quinnipiac poll on offshore drilling shows Florida House Republicans have completely ignored will of the public” »

Politico is reporting this morning on the interesting crew of characters who are populating Charlie Crist’s independent run for U.S. Senate.  Labeled “Band of Others,” the story written by David Catanese includes this interesting quote from Florida Republican strategist Brett Doster:

“Thirty percent of the votes in a general election come from the four southeastern counties,” Doster said. “Democrats can win in Florida by carrying seven to 12 counties out of the 67, if they do it right. Charlie has built a team designed to help him find Democratic votes in southeastern Florida.”

Getting lots of love in the piece is Eric Johnson, former chief of staff for former South Florida Democratic firebrand Congressman Robert Wexler, who gives a familiar sounding quote about how Florida Dems have no problem that he’s working with Crist.

“I was always amazed at how he took positions that wouldn’t sit well with the extreme of his party,” Johnson continued, noting the governor’s move to extend voting hours and his now infamous support of the federal stimulus bill. “Other governors were playing politics with it, saying they wouldn’t accept the money. He didn’t play those games. I felt that deserved support. Most of my Democratic friends have given me a thumbs up for my involvement.”

I’m sure they have.  Overnight I received an e-mail from a friend of mine who is a New York native but has been living in Plant City for a number of years.  Here’s a short excerpt of why this registered Democrat says he supports Charlie Crist for Senate:

As for Charlie Crist, you are clearly not seeing the bigger picture.  I do detest the man, who– based upon his naked ambition and sociopathic lack of any morals –will say or do anything that he perceives as advancing his career.  But that will be our advantage once he arrives in Washington.  Unlike Meek (who is clearly a party hack) and Rubio (who scares the shit outta me), Crist’s support and votes will have to be courted by whomever controls the Senate (GOP or Dems).  That puts him into the same league as fellow scumbag, Joe Lieberman, and will benefit Floridians far more than the reliable, party-bound votes of either a Meek or a Rubio.  Charlie will be in a position to cut deals, unlike the men he’d be replacing (first Martinez, now LeMieux) or our redneck senior party hack, Bill Nelson.

The e-mail goes on to suggest that Kendrick Meek has never had a chance in Florida, alleging racism. Read more “Charlie Crist’s campaign team gets attention, as Democrats continue their love affair with the Governor” »

A debate between the Republican candidates for Attorney General – Holly Benson, Pam Bondi and Jeff Kottkamp, will be aired this Sunday night on Bay News 9 here in the Tampa Bay area.

It will air just a little over three weeks before primary voters will go to the polls to select their nominee, and until a substantive poll is conducted and released, we’re all pretty clueless about who is leading at this point.

Earlier this week the St. Pete Times Steve Bosquet reported on that paper’s Buzz Blog that he had obtained a McLaughlin & Associates poll conducted for the Florida Medical Association asking 600 likely Republican voters who they would vote for in the AG race.

The results clearly showed that most voters haven’t decided yet, with Holly Benson with 11.8% support, Jeff Kottkamp at 10.8% and Pam Bondi at 9.5%.

Bondi is flush off getting the endorsement from the Florida Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.  It follows an endorsement last week from the Tampa Tribune in the primary, though to say the Trib did so with faint praise would be an understatement.  Or how would you refer to this passage, that came with the endorsement?

But she is hazy on some key state issues, including growth management, and it’s disappointing that she supported near-shore drilling until the recent spill. She needs to move beyond party talking points and show she will think for herself. Read more “Anybody have any idea of who might win Attorney General nominations?” »

Ask most people who don’t yet receive Social Security checks in the mail what sorts of aperitifs they like, and your audience will likely imagine musty old ladies sipping what tastes like cough syrup from tiny glasses while peering over bifocals at their bridge hands.

I did too. Until I began trying some of these drinks.

Let’s start with one you can (and should) start supper with – an aperitif called the Negroni.

The first one of these I had was in its home country of Italy, in the absurdly beautiful lobby bar of the , the drink’s birthplace. At the first sip, I was hooked. Pleasingly bitter and sweet and tart all at the same time, the Negroni was the perfect pre-supper drink. My then-girlfriend-now-wife, Gail, and I ordered two apiece, and we would have kept going but it was obvious that any more and we might not make it to dinner.

True, my mad crush on this drink might also have been influenced by having tromped up and down stairs and along narrow, cobbled streets all day. And I know how seductive context can be in making strange tastes even better – especially if that place is a former 18th century palace and you’re thirsty enough to drink bath water. That’s why one of the first things we did when we got home to Tampa was get the ingredients (we’d bugged the bartender at the Grand for the recipe) and make our own. We found that Negronis are still great; but they do taste even better in Italy. Still, that’s no reason not to try them anywhere.
Read more “The Negroni: A classic (and classy) Italian cocktail that’s not just for the older folks” »

Neil Finn: what’s not to love? The 52-year-old singer-songwriter from New Zealand has delighted his faithful followers for 30-plus years with his mastery of pop music and his gorgeous voice. Since his early days as a young lad and member of pop giants Split Enz, Finn has held a firm grasp on the right amount of charisma, wit and talent. And judging from his bold display of all three of those elements Wednesday night fronting Crowded House at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Neil Finn shows no signs of losing his unique mojo. [Finn pictured at left; all photos by Jeff O'Kelley.]

Taking the stage promptly at 9 p.m. sharp, the four members of Crowded House (or “Crowdies” as they’re referred to by their rabid fans) started the evening with a nugget from their 1986 self-titled debut, “World Where You Live,” and then immediately launched into “Saturday Sun,” the first single from their exquisite new album, Intriguer. Never ones to shy away from digging deep into their catalog, Crowded House are one of the few touring bands who can seamlessly blend older material with newer stuff, throw in a few covers along the way, and inject their sets with their fair share of silliness while somehow still managing to make it all sound great. And that type of loose, unscripted vibe is a huge part of what has always drawn diehard fans to this band. Admittedly, the house wasn’t so crowded for this show; the hall looked to be only about half-full. Whether that was due to the bizarre coincidence of there being so many other top-name acts in town on the same night or inclement weather, those who didn’t take advantage of seeing Crowded House on this rare Florida tour stop really missed out. The irony is that those who were in attendance more than made up for the paltry turnout. While singing along and cheering wildly, the small but passionate crowd let their appreciation be known. And heard. Read more “Concert review: Crowded House wows at Ruth Eckerd Hall (with pics + setlist)” »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview upcoming events to mark your calendar for. Coming up in August are documentaries about two remarkably influential people.

The Dali Museum screens a film on Spanish architect, Antonio Gaudi. Despite the sparse dialogue, it takes the viewer on an otherworldly tour through each of Gaudi’s buildings. The enchanting visual journey is accompanied by a poignant score by Toru Takemitsu that seamlessly complements Gaudi’s work.

Also playing is Jump at the Sun, which celebrates author Zora Neale Hurston (pictured). The film — written by St. Pete resident Kristy Andersen — follows Hurston’s life travels and highlights her accomplishments and impact — from writing Their Eyes Were Watching God, to working for the Works Progress Administration, to her significant role in the Harlem Renaissance. The bio-doc features interviews with Maya Angelou and Alice Walker. Stay after the screening for a Read more “On the Radar: see bio-docs on author Zora Neale Hurston and architect Antonio Gaudi” »

What comes to mind when you think of Ybor City? No doubt it’s a combination of history (cigar factories, Cuban sandwiches, brick-lined streets) and party destination (how many neighborhoods can boast goth, hip-hop, indie rock and gay clubs all within a few blocks?) That diversity has inspired many things (among them sordid sagas of drunken mishaps, usually ending at Mema’s). Most recently, the area’s spawned The Bricks and Kick Start My Art’s Ode to Ybor, a collection of artwork by 17 local artists who pay tribute to “a city that helped raise our generation.”

Speaking of diverse, Ybor’s burgeoning eco-friendly venue, The Roosevelt, hosts State of the Art V.3, Tek-nique Entertainment’s multimedia showcase of nearly 30 artists, who redefine art in an array of unexpected media — from origami to graffiti, computer graphics, fashion, and performance art. (Pictured: Steven Thomas Williams’ “Ode to Ybor”) Ode to Ybor, 10 p.m. Fri., July 30, The Bricks, 1327 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, facebook.com/thebricksybor; State of the Art V.3, 8 p.m. Sat., July 31, The Roosevelt, 1812 N. 15th St., Ybor City, $8 in advance, $10 at the door, facebook.com/theRoosevelt. –Franki Weddington

Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller probably won’t show up to demonstrate how a regulation dodgeball game is really played, but when Clear Channel Radio and the Tampa Bay Storm team up to host a day of Charity Dodgeball (aka pegging your friends and foes in the face with a big rubber ball) we bet you’ll have fun nonetheless. Even better, proceeds benefit the families of fallen Tampa Police officers Kocab and Curtis. The registration fee for each six-person team is $120; contact gregwolf@clearchannel.com for info and registration. Admission to watch the tourney is free. Sat., July 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa.

Enjoy the art of spoken word and some fierce performance poetry at Saturday’s Sacred Sounds Team Poetry Slam. Four teams from around the state compete with their best rhymes and lyrical prose for a prize of $300. This team slam is hosted by the Got Jokes? comedy and spoken word troupe, and has the added dimension of up to five people performing in a single piece of poetic work. tampaslam.eventbrite.com. Sat., July 31, 7:45-11 p.m., Got Jokes? Comedy House, Tampa, $10 in advance, $20 at the door. Read more “Do It This Weekend: Art, from an Ode to Ybor to State of the Art V.3, plays like Hamlet and Bat Boy: The Musical, a dodgeball fundraiser for Officers Curtis and Kocab, Celebrate Sinatra, a spoken word slam, and soccer with the Tampa Bay Rowdies” »

First off, thank you to the CL reader who sent us this inspired piece of mapmaking via Twitter, whoever you are. Please come forward and identify yourself so you can get the credit, or the blame.

Meanwhile, check out the map (larger version after the break) and claim your neighborhood.

Note that Pinellas is indicated at the left, off the map: “This way to old white people and a small colony of hipsters.” Discuss. Read more “The real map of Hillsborough: Which ghetto are you?” »

If you are a surfer in the Tampa Bay area, you may already know their names: Corey and Shea Lopez.  Guess what? They are taking a stand against offshore drilling.  The guys grew up here, their family owns Nekton Surf Shop on Indian Rocks Beach, and their sister has spoken before our state legislature.

“Florida does not need oil drilling.”

The family travels the world and they know beauty and good surf.  Shea gets to the point: The Gulf Coast “is not Disney World, our biggest assets are our beaches and water.”  The guys continue on to talk about the bad use of disbursements and the people’s health in the video interview below.
Read more “Home grown pro surfers, Cory and Shea Lopez, speak out against offshore drilling (Video)” »

This week on Top Chef: D.C., the challenges were actually very fitting and appropriate for the host city. Toothpicks, politicians, White House correspondents, The Palm D.C., and power lunches — what could be more demonstrative of D.C.?

For the Quickfire, the chef’testants were constructing mini meals — or amuse bouches, if you will — skewered with toothpicks (even umbrella ones!) and competing for $20k. It was like a flashback to season five with all of the scallops on display.

This episode basically centered around our new Top Chef villain, Mr. Burns (Alex), and whether or not he stole Ed’s pea puree and then used it on his own dish. I lost count how many times “pea puree” was uttered, and I hear it even briefly made it as a trending topic on Twitter. Personally, I (and most of America) thinks Mr. Burns is a dirty, pea puree-stealing shyster. The proof is in the pea puree and his guilty looks on camera further damn him — just sayin’.

Want to know what happened? Well, then you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out.

Top Chef Cookbook Giveaway:

Hey, Top Chef fans, it’s your lucky day because we’re giving away the show’s newest cookbook, How to Cook Like a Top Chef, featuring recipes from the last six seasons and “insider techniques from everyone’s favorite contestants and judges”. Sharpen your knife skills, learn how to sous-vide and brush up on your sauce-making techniques, and be privy to some juicy trivia. Check out this recipe for Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless’ Vegan Corn Tamales and an interview with the Voltaggio brothers straight from the book.

Want it? Then just answer these ten questions whose answers can be found in the chef bios and “dating profiles” on the Top Chef website. Leave your answers in the comment box below and the first five people to correctly answer them will claim the prize. (First or full names will accepted. Contest open to residents the United States of America and Canada only who are 18+. Please leave your email address.)
Read more “Top Chef D.C. Podcast, Ep. 7: The proof is in the pea puree (and the Top Chef Cookbook giveaway contest)” »

Calling it “manifestly misleading” to voters,  Judge James Shelfer on Thursday blocked Amendment 9,  nicknamed the “Health care freedom” amendment by Republican members of the Legislature who voted for its inclusion on the November ballot.  The measure if passed would put a ban on any future attempts by the Florida legislature to launch a statewide health reform plan.

State Democrats had denounced that vote, saying it was pure posturing on the GOP’s part, and Judge Shelfer, who was named to the county bench by Jeb Bush and the Circuit Court by Charlie Crist, agreed. (For Shelfer, it was the second time in three weeks that he has thrown a Republican-backed constitutional amendment off the ballot.  Earlier in the month he rejected Amendment 7 from the ballot, ruling that its ballot summary failed to inform voters about its impacts on the redistricting process.) Read more “Jeb Bush-appointed judge throws out another constitutional amendment placed on ballot by Florida GOP” »

[Editor's Note: This is a preview, not a review. Middle Men hits theaters on Fri., Aug. 6. To read reviews of all the latest releases, check out the Daily Loaf Movie Review Index.]

The seemingly limitless potential of the Internet to create money-making enterprises is a steady phenomenon, with success stories regularly popping up on the world’s desktops. Just the other day, I heard a radio interview with a California teenager who used Craigslist to trade his way from a cell phone to a 2000 Porsche Boxster S.

Nonfiction stories of people who have pioneered their way to financial victory make great movies, with Hollywood executives seeing dollar signs as scriptwriter imaginations run wild with the freedom that comes with the five words, “Inspired by a true story.”

This, of course, has all lead to the highly anticipated film The Social Network due out in October. However, while everyone else is all hot and heavy for a movie about a guy who makes enemies while spawning a communications revolution and becoming the youngest billionaire alive, I find that I’m more interested in a much sleazier World Wide Web success story — the transformation and outrageous beginnings of the online pornography business.

Read more “Movie Preview: George Gallo’s Middle Men, starring Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi and Gabriel Macht (with trailer video)” »

It’s always fabulous to go roadtrippin’ in the name music, which is exactly what I did this past weekend to get my second hit of the Sublime with Rome tour.

Of the two stops in Florida, the boyfriend and I scored tickets to Boca Raton, where the bill also included The Dirty Heads and Matisyahu.

We arrived at the sold-out show this past Sunday, July 25, and pulled into a line of hundreds of cars waiting to get into the Sunset Cove Amphitheater, stereos from one car to the next blaring Sublime staples like “Get Ready” and “Doin’ Time”. (I was bumpin’ Dirty Heads myself.). A steady stream of people roamed the roads, carrying signs that all more-or-less read, “I NEED TICKETS.” Read more “CL on the Road concert review: Sublime with Rome shreds it at the Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton (with video)” »

In an effort to support the families of slain Tampa police officers, David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, the Tampa-based mixed martial arts promotion, Xtreme Fighting Championships, has entered an XFC team in the charity dodge ball tournament to take place July 31 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

Curtis and Kocab were shot and killed during a routine traffic stop June 29. Curtis left behind a wife and four children while Kocab’s wife gave birth to their first child only hours after his passing.

The tournament currently includes 64 teams and is hosted by Clear Channel Radio of Tampa, Tampa Bay Storm, and the St. Pete Times Forum with the goal to raise funds through ticket sales (game against The Orlando Predators to take place July 31) with 50 percent being donated to a fund for the fallen officers’ families.

While the dodge ball tournament is free and open to the public from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. there will also be a raffle with proceeds going to the Curtis/Kocab Memorial Fund. Any other donations will be accepted as well, but are not mandatory. Read more “XFC to participate in charity dodgeball tourney for fallen Tampa police officers” »

Like condoms, commercials for rubbers only work when applied properly. Like the risque print condom ads, these commercials often hinge on sex appeal and the inherent humor in the kinky things we do behind closed doors. Many were banned for sexually explicit content, or more accurately, the implications of what is happening off screen (who knew chocolate in a sheep’s teeth during a commercial for flavored condoms would be offensive).  Some appear to be banned for misanthropic themes, marketing to those people who find children annoying or who don’t want to spend as much as the price of a house on child support payments.

Others bank on the increased pleasure of ribbed condoms, how rubbers make you last longer, how some condoms are bigger than others, and of course their ability to prevent STDs.

My favorite quote comes from the first commercial:  “When I was born a wizard put magic on my willy. If I put rubber on my penis Read more “The best condom commercials ever aired (videos NSFW)” »

You might not realize this, but you won’t find many film critics at a Grease Sing-A-Long screening. Which is fine, since most critics abhor having the slightest bit of fun anyway. (“If it ain’t French or 50 years old it’s no good!”) My disdain for the pompous critic attitude is likely why I found myself at this gimmick of a showing, singing along with a classic film re-released with newly added zest. Who doesn’t want to sing Hopelessly Devoted with 200 strangers, especially when those 200 people are not drunk at a Tampa dive bar?

It was decided early in the evening by my crew (girlfriend and bff) that I was Danny Zuko. We were playing a vapid little game where you re-cast a film with people from your own life filling the most obvious of roles. Sadly my prettier half was not a “Sandy,” and thus the game may have decided our fate prematurely.

You don’t question the movie casting game. Ever.

Read more “Movie review: How I survived Grease Sing-A-Long, or singing with a group of 200 strangers can be fun! (with trailer video)” »

Rays win (again). Maddon had Grant Balfour intentionally walk Miguel Cabrera (again) in a close game in the 7th inning (again), to load the bases (again) and face Brennan Boesch (again). Boesch got out (again) and the Rays beat the Tigers (again). That’s five wins in a row and like the kid whose father just tossed him into the pool for the fifth straight time, I’ve got one word for our Rays. Say it with me, AGAIN. Um, you didn’t say it. What, are you embarrassed? You afraid your little co-workers will think you’re weird? You know what? Forget it. Just sit there and worry and wonder why no one asks you to Happy Hour. You disgust me.

Meanwhile, the Rays have patted St. Pete Mayor Foster on the head and thanked him for pretending he has any power over the team’s decision of where to build a new stadium, contract or not. Bill Foster basically made a final offer of two possible locations (Gateway or Derby Lane) that would be okay with him. The Rays said, “Yeah, no. We’re considering all options, but thanks for meddling.” So, now the Mayor has drawn a line in the sand.
“At this point, I’m not interested in talking about it until 2027, or earlier if the Rays agree to this amendment,” said Foster.
Isn’t he adorable? Somebody watched The Godfather a few too many times.
So the question still remains: Will society have flying cars by 2027? Seriously eggheads, step it up.

Man, I wish I had a race card. Fired USF academic advisor is suing the athletic department for racial discrimination. Read more “Bill’s Sports Binge: Deja vous, Pitino’s quick screw and got fired? Sue!” »

Julie Garisto is a familiar name to Tampa Bay readers, and a familiar face to anyone who’s spent time going to clubs or concerts or galleries or anywhere else something cool was going on. Copy editor for Creative Loafing back when it was called the Weekly Planet, she moved on to write arts and music features for  tbt* and the St. Petersburg Times, among many other publications, and now I’m happy to say she’s back at the Loaf.

Starting next week, Julie will be the new editor of our Arts & Entertainment website, cltampa.com/arts. As part of that job, she’ll also edit the events listings and arts picks that are such an important of both the print and online editions of Creative Loafing. Read more “Creative Loafing welcomes Julie Garisto as new A&E site editor” »

This morning the Tampa City Council rejected a proposal to have the Florida Department of Transportation apply for federal funds to study extending the Tampa-Orlando high speed rail line to Tampa’s International Airport.

The 70 minute long discussion featured several speakers who told the Council that they did not believe it was viable to extend high speed rail to TIA, but instead support having a light rail link go there.

City Council woman Mary Mulhern, who has single-handedly been a force in driving the discussion about getting funds to study the possible link, challenged those speakers, such as TIA interim director John Wheat and Ed Turanchik, currently a consultant with an agency working with the FDOT on the rail line, saying there has never been a definitive study to determine whether or not it in fact was viable.

Mulhern began the discussion by calling it “astonishing” that in the 26 year history of high speed rail in Florida, it had never been studied.

Turanchik said in his remarks that the high speed rail technology didn’t lend itself to going to TIA, mentioning the size and speed of the trains and the “curvature” that is also demanded.   He also said that the high speed rail in Tampa, in being located close to downtown, would be a boon for development around the area, something that because of height restrictions and the like could not happen at the airport. Read more “High Speed rail to airport link study discussed, then rejected at Tampa City Council” »

I try to be eco-conscious when I get in my car. Is there somewhere close to home that offers what I’m looking for? Am I able to make it myself and not have to buy it at all? Can I support a local business? Can I make more than one stop on a venture? These are the questions I ask myself in order for me to justify the majority of trips I make in my car.

So on Friday, when we decided to drive almost an hour north to Hernando Beach to take my sister and brother-in-law to Brian’s Place, I had to answer to each one of those questions.

First off, there is nowhere in Tampa that does what Brian Alvarez, head chef and owner of Brian’s Place, is doing. His menu is based on what he calls “the way cuisine”. It’s the way his family, a blend of Spanish and Italian, cooked when he was growing up in Land O’ Lakes. This Spanish-Italian fusion blend is like nothing else.
Read more “Brian’s Place: Fresh, locally sourced Spanish-Italian fusion that’s worth the drive” »

Pat Donovan talks about the Rays offense picking up Jeff Niemann on an off night, the Rays pursuit of a Detroit sweep and also wonders if the Rays may have been the third team which Buster Olney reported backed out of the Roy Ozwalt to Philadelphia Phillies talks.

Also, find out which prospects Pat thinks the Rays won’t be trading if they make a move before Saturday’s non waiver trade deadline and also one thing you should never do while attending a game in Cleveland. We’d also like to thank Deep Fried Sports executive producer Jonas for all of his hard work on the show this morning.

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