Daily Loaf

HOLD THE PHONE!: We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog for this announcement of a book signing tonight.

We’ve been talking about Carlos Frias and his brilliant new book, Take Me With You (Atria, $24.95). Frias lives in South Florida and works for the Palm Beach Post. We figured he’d let us know about book signings or events in the Tampa Bay area.

He just called from the desolation known as Yeehaw Junction. He’s on his way to the Barnes and Noble at  11802 N. Dale Mabry. The reading starts at 7 p.m.

If you haven’t made plans yet, this might make for a good evening. I’ve heard Carlos read from the book and it’s incredibly moving.

My Palm Reader column this month in the print edition was devoted to Frias. You can read more of our interview in this week’s full version of the Book Blog.

And if you can’t make it tonight but live near I-4, Carlos will be at the Barnes and Noble, 2418 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, on Tuesday.

William McKeen is chairman of the University of Florida’s Department of Journalism and author of several books, including the Hunter S. Thompson biography Outlaw Journalist.

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We are currently in the midst of a severe celebrity slump.

Real, honest-to-goodness headline-grabbing celebs are no where to be found. Instead, we’ve been bombarded with the imitation crab variety, pretty girls and airbrushed guys with little to offer above and beyond their MTV “reality” shows. I can’t get away from them – the Lauren Conrads, Heidi Montags, Spencer Pratts and Audrina Partridges of the world. I don’t watch the show, yet I know every freaking thing that’s going on in their “lives.” I’m bombarded with information about them, not because they have any redeeming qualities, or talents, or have done something noteworthy, but because they’re whores for the camera. They see a lens and instead of hiding their faces, or smiling uncomfortably and scurrying for the closest exit ala authentic celebs, they make a beeline straight for the photo op. This full-on media assault on my consciousness has caused me to avoid my usual celeb gossip haunts because I know I’m gonna find out some useless bit of information about how Audrina’s tits might be fake, or how Lauren and Heidi might finally bury the hatchet, or whether or not Spencer is going to propose again and what size diamond will he choose (it has to be big, you know how Heidi gets), and where oh where are they tying the knot, and will it be recorded and broadcast on The Hills, and will Heidi get her dress made personally by Vera Wang?

Excuse me, I’ve thrown up in my mouth a little and it tastes of my disgust in humanity.

Pictured: Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, ruining the time-honored tradition of celebritydom one photo op at a time. Read the rest of this entry »

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Goofy, Southern-fried comedian Jon Reep (pictured), the fifth season winner of Last Comic Standing, brings his stand-up to Side Splitters Comedy Club. Nov. 21-22, 8 and 10:15 p.m. Fri., 6, 8 and 10:15 p.m. Sat., $22 and $27.

St. Petersburg’s Florida Craftsmen Gallery holds its biggest event of the year, CraftArt 2008, a craft fair featuring 140 artists from around the country and this year, held right outside the doors of the gallery, which means you can drop in and peruse the affordable pieces in the current holiday show, Buy Florida, Give Florida. Nov. 21-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, free admission.

Break away from the big box retailers and corporate chains this Saturday and make your money count in “American Unchained,” a national campaign urging communities around the continent to “unchain” and shop at locally-owned independent businesses for the day, which means choosing Tre Amici and Sacred Grounds over Starbucks, or Mojo Books and Music over Borders, or Backfin Blue Cafe over Bonefish Grill, or … you get the idea. Sat., Nov. 22.

Speaking of spending locally, Interior Motives, an independently-owned gallery, interior design and framing shop, offers hundreds of picture frames for $1 to $50 as well as 50 to 60 percent discounts on furniture, accessories, reproductions and mirrors, and up to 90 percent off on other select items. Nov. 21-22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, St. Petersburg.

The sixth annual Rock & Roll Swap Meet features more than 20 vendors hawking music, art, t-shirts, instruments and memorabilia against the sounds of live music by seven local acts — The Beauvilles, Doll Parts, November Foxtrot Whiskey, Rebekah Pulley and DJs Sam the Pickle and Sugarbear. Sun., Nov. 23, 1-5 p.m., Jannus Landing Courtyard and Tamiami Bar, St. petersburg, $5.

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Steel sculpture by Dominique Labauvie.

Friday

5-7 p.m. – Opening reception for László Horváth at Gallery 501, Blake High School, 1701 N. Boulevard, Tampa.

7-9 p.m. – Opening reception for Je veux l’art, an exhibit of work by USF undergraduate and graduate students and faculty who traveled to Paris in June 2008, at Centre Gallery, USF Tampa.

7-10 p.m. – Opening reception for Dominique Labauvie: Sculpture Scale and Tales at [5]art; exhibit runs through Dec. 19.

Saturday

10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Made by Hand Art Show, a fundraiser for the Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc., which supports city parks and recreation programs, at Kate Jackson Community Center, 821 S. Rome Ave, Tampa.

Read the rest of this entry »

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I was originally going to go with the hilarious “nobody wants to shake Bush’s hand” video from a few days ago, but then I saw Sarah Palin soon to be infamous Turkey Interview. Warning! This gets kind of gross.

• Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapses while on stage in D.C.
• The stock market collapses in late-day trading in New York.
• How you feel about telecom immunity now, Barack?
• Hillary announcement after Thanksgiving?
• I hope you already sold your Citibank stock.
• Hal Steinbrenner takes control.
• Surprised by the NFL season? You’re not the only one.
• The New York Times doesn’t like Chinese Democracy as much as Rolling Stone does.
• … but its release will get you a free Dr. Pepper!
• Fred Thompson is going back to a job with unlimited power, willing young girls, and all the money you want. (No, he’s not going back to the US Senate)
• “Taxes are anathema.”
• The answer to this question is: No.
• I’m surprised to not find Irwin Mainway’s “Bag o’ glass” on this list.
• RIP Ybor City the nightclub district.
• The time has come to forge a real “liberal media.”

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Comin’ at ya: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to be re-released in 2010 in 3-D.

Stiller the one: New photos from the set of the sequel to Night at the Museum. Plus shots of Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart.

Shaking and stirring Bond: Quantum of Solace producers talk about bringing 007 back to his roots, casting Daniel Craig as the iconic spy and the meaning of the new James Bond title.

A Marvel-ous assignment: Chronicles of Narnia screenwriters are in talks to pen the upcoming Captain America.

Drop outs: Directors of Jonah Hex, an adaptation of the D.C. comic-book, have