Daily Loaf

Right after this, they did a double-cry.

This was hands down, the most tearjerkery Project Runway episode since… well, I don’t think they have ever worked with people who have pacemakers before, so, ever, I guess. The designers are going red to raise awareness for the American Heart Association, designing dresses for real women who have been affected by heart disease, for a gala during fashion week. Of course, Campbell’s Soup was involved, because we all know nothing says “healthy heart” like chicken noodle soup, right? Or maybe Bluefly.com just wasn’t paying the bills this week, either way, Campbell’s Soup was there with patterned fabric to really class up these dresses (insert sarcastic eyeroll here).

Luckily, this challenge was just heart-wrenching enough to get in three cries within the first eight minutes, which might be a record, I am not sure because I am not a total Runway scholar…yet. Anywho, the workroom was mostly filled with bitchy designers whining about how the models were, ya know, normal sized and not suffering from anorexia* and stuff. It’s as if they have NEVER seen a woman above a size two. Geez!! We also got our first big-time healthy dose of shite-talking from the confessionals as Emilio ripped apart, like everyone and also gave us the quote of the week in reference to Mila’s dress: “cheap flag at the Thanksgiving day parade.” Amen, Emilio, you tell it like it is aaaaaand I like it. Sidenote: Does anyone miss Ping? Cuz I don’t.

After the jump, check out the winner, who got auf’ed, the cry count and the podcast where we chat about soup, chin piercings, designing for strippers and more.

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It’s hard enough to wrangle a hip group of artists/musicians/designers/models together at the same place and time, but it’s even harder to convince anyone to come see the spectacle. The visionaries at Square One do just that with scenester-crowded, can’t-miss-‘em shindigs — like Saturday’s eco-themed Magnum Opus — that draw party people in droves. More than 75 visual artists display their work (among them CL faves like Bluelucy, Kat Wilson, KLAAREN and Robert Wegmann), Jeremy Gloff hosts his album release party, and dance and fashion shows by Bella Danza, Enigma Dance Kru, Kinetic Dance Group and Wear To The Tear Fashion mean that there’s always something shiny and new to look at onstage. The cherry on top is that this nightlong shindig is completely gratis. Sat., Nov. 14, 7-10 p.m. , The Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, free, squareoneflorida.com. – Franki Weddington

What goes together better than wine and blues? The holy union (which drew more than 30,000 folks downtown last year) gets its due this weekend at Dunedin Wines the Blues, when the Suncoast Blues Society heats things up at Dunedin’s Second Friday Art and Wine Walk and a blues jam takes the stage to accompany the arts and crafts, food and wine vendors. The real party gets started on Saturday, with an all-day jazz and blues jam-session that welcomes Grammy-nom John Lee Hooker, Jr., The Steve Arvey Horn Band, Kathy Jo and The Bluzification Band to the stage. Visit dunedinwinestheblues.info for more info. Nov. 13-14, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Fri., 5-11 p.m. Sat., Downtown Dunedin, free. Read the rest of this entry »

Go Red for Women Luncheon This American Heart Association-sponsored event features three women who receive a Go Red makeover and the first female winner of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Ali Vincent (above), as the keynote speaker.  11 a.m. Wed., May 6, A La Carte Event Pavilion, Tampa, $125, 813-831-5190.

Tale of Two Cities: Tampa and St. Petersburg. It’s the Battle of the Bay, as Mayors Iorio and Baker face off at Centro Asturiano in Ybor to discuss the history, culture and characters of Cigar City and Sunshine City. It’s an opportunity for residents to compare the history smarts of their top public officials, and a chance for the mayors to one-up each other on their towns’ relative merits. Wed., May 6, 7-8:30 p.m. Centro Asturiano, 1913 N. Nebraska Ave, Tampa, 727-873-2006. Sponsored by Florida Humanities Council. Free admission.

Lifetime of Laughter Comedy Benefit. A comedy show to raise funds for diabetes research features Mark Eddie, who combines stand-up with guitar, and Ybor’s own Roy Johnson, winner of the 2006 Maxim/Bud Light Real Man of Comedy competition in Atlantic City. Wed., May 6, 8 p.m., The Tampa Improv, Ybor City, $20.

A little furniture store from Sweden opens today. If you aren’t already in line by the time you read this, maybe you’d better wait for the crowds to thin out before you visit. Think July. Read the rest of this entry »