Daily Loaf

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that raises money and builds homes for the less fortunate. This Saturday, the Pinellas County chapter of Habitat is throwing the “Hammers and Heartstrings Ball” fundraiser so that more projects in Pinellas County can be funded and built.

The culinary students from the Art Institute of Tampa are preparing the food for the VIP cocktail party, dinner, and dessert; The Sassy Jazzy Band plays live, and live and silent auctions round out the evening.

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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 cared for until they find a forever home. The 40-mile poker run includes motorcycles of all styles — and a few four-legged friends come along for the ride. Registration and kick-off are at Eve’s Family Restaurant, with stops along the route at Captain Jack’s Sunset Grill, Danny’s Food and Spirits, and Fletcher’s Harley Davidson. The final destination is Quaker’s Steak and Lube, where the non-bikers among us can also join in the fun with Read the rest of this entry »

Art lovers, comic fans and those in-between: time to throw on your tights, tie on your cape and iron your underwear! St. Pete’s co-op gallery and boutique ARTpool is having a Heroes and Heroines art party for its monthly show opening. The all-ages opening is expected to garner 100-300 attendees (including you) and showcases comic-inspired 2D, 3D and video art from local talent — commissioned and otherwise. $10 gets you in the door with hors d’oeuvres, a complimentary drink and face-time with super-heroine owner Marina Williams and other local superguys and gals to celebrate the graphic novel as an art form. If you’re worried about your secret identity, visitors are encouraged to dress as their favorite comic character, though Clark Kent and other civilians are welcome. (Pictured: “Harley and Ivy”  by Nick Yakimovich) Sat., Sept. 12, 6 p.m.-12 a.m., ArtPool, 919 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, $10; includes hors d’oeuvres and drink, artpoolrules.com. –Ryan Jent Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

TRA’shion Fashion and Art Show 2009 (photos) – The fabulous trashionistas were out in force for ARTpool’s annual TRA’shion Show, and photographer Chip Weiner caught all the recycled green glamour.

Letting go of addictions: Using alternative methods to release addictions of any type- Kelly Rothwell gives us alternative methods such as energetic healing, visualizations and affirmations, that can be used to not only cope with such addictions but to understand the reason behind the addiction and let it go for good.

Living sustainably in Tampa Bay: Dave Starman’s biodiesel fueled car and green lifestyle – The first in a series of profiles, by Jack B., of individuals who are living sustainably in Tampa Bay. This profiles Tampa Bay resident Dave Starman.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Pete Times Forum employees and staff members participated in a “River Cleanup this morning - cleaning the shoreline and water’s edge of the Garrison Channel around the Cotanchobee Park.

Wearing shirts saying “Together We Will”, the group picked up trash and debris in the park and river areas.

It’s great to hear about individuals, groups and companies doing “the green thing” and setting an example for others to do the same. Whether its picking up trash, planting trees, or even donating money to green charitable causes, many people are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

Celebrating Independence Day or creating environmental disaster? – Kelly Rothwell looks at the littered aftermath of Fourth of July celebrations and wonder why, instead of giving back in celebration of their freedom, people decide to light off fireworks, leaving mass amounts of debris in the water and on the beach.

Local Food: Dinner in, and from, the garden at Gateway Organic Farm – Chef Gui Alinat gives information about Gateway Organic Farm’s next “Dinner in the Garden” event, an incredible local foods experience featuring nine Bay area chefs.

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Consider the thousands of events that take place in the Tampa Bay area, from the smallest to the largest, from the neighborhood Tupperware party to the Super Bowl. If there is a somewhat forgotten landscape for green, event management could be it.

Furthermore, the impact that could be gained locally would be enormous (of course depending upon how many people are engaged) and to take steps toward sustainable event management, whether it is your occupation or your hobby, is very easy if given the right direction.
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Going to the movies is a fun activity for kids during the summer. However, with high prices, many parents might be debating whether or not to catch a flick on the big screen. The good news is that there are a few theaters offering free and discounted movies for kids.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays Muvico is hosting a free Summer Film Festival and AMC is hosting a Summer Movie Camp with $1 admissions every Wednesday through Aug. 5. Both movie theater companies are raising money for charity by offering these free and discounted films.
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If you have been paying attention to all of the ads and the commercials on Bravo, you’ll already know that the Top Chef series is back (and we’re hoping you’ve watched). This time, there’s a twist: 24 well-known, seasoned chefs go head-to-head and compete in challenges just like they’ve put the contestants from past seasons through, all to win money for their charity of choice.

Top Chef Masters is a bit different than the original show, though. Instead of sticking all 24 of the “masters” in an apartment and make them eat, sleep, booze, and live together, four of them at a time compete in an episode. I was thoroughly surprised when I saw this – they didn’t mention that in the previews, but I can understand why this was done. (Do you really think these chefs are going to give up the reins of their uber popular restaurants and two months of their lives just for a TV show? Though I would liked to have seen a Hosea-Leah hookup scenario between, say, Roy Yamaguchi and Cindy Pawlcyn.)
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The story of the What About Blue? organization starts with the tale of how the name came about. A group of three Tampa Bay friends wanted to raise awareness about the global water crisis. Kevin Lilly, Jesse Landis and Missy Hurley wanted to form an active group to make a positive change. “We were trying to think of names,” said Lilly. They definitely wanted something easy for people to remember them by. They realized that color-branding just might do the trick. “When I say ‘pink,’ you think of breast cancer awareness. When I say ‘green,’ you think of the environment,” Lilly said. The group started playing around with that concept, and suddenly Lilly blurted out as a color possibility: “What about blue?” And that started it all. Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, Feb. 4: ABC Fine Wines and Spirits Largo
Sample from dozens of wine selections, with free hors d’oeuvres. $10. 1603 N. Missouri Ave., Largo (727-581-4642)

Thursday, Feb. 5: Belleair Grill and Wine Bar
4 course Spanish wine dinner featuring importer David Bernard of Vinamericas. $49. 6:30-9 p.m., 1575 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater (727-449-2988 or belleairgrill.com)

Thursday, Feb. 5: Whole Foods
This tasting class will cover reds, whites and sparkling wines. Registration required. Free. 6:30-8 p.m., 1548 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-874-9435)

More upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, Jan. 29: All Children’s Hospital
This class is designed to teach parents and kids how to cook healthy foods. Free. 6:30-8 p.m., All Children’s Hospital Education Center, 701 4th St., St. Petersburg (allkids.org)

Thursday, Jan. 29: Cork & Olive Palm Harbor
Sip and dip night with eight red and white wines and olive oil. Free. 6-8 p.m., 4978 Ridgemoor Blvd., Palm Harbor (727-781-9463 or corkandolive.com)

Upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, Jan. 28: Cork & Olive Carrolwood
Wine 101 class that’ll teach you how to taste. $10 (applied to purchase). 6:30-8 p.m., 10019 N.Dale Mabry Hwy., Carrolwood (813-868-3733 or corkandolivecarrolwood.com)

Upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, Jan. 23: Vintage Wine Cellars
Hoppy beers will be on tap. $10. 7-9 p.m., 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa (813-879-2931 or vintagewinecellars.net)

Friday, Jan. 23: Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits
Continuing the January Crush Hour series, Bern’s will feature Oregon Pinot Noirs. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463 or bernssteakhouse.com)

Friday, Jan. 23: Kuba Cigars
Hit Kuba for wines from Argentina, Spain and more. Free. 7-9 p.m., 243 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa (813-258-8191 or kubacigars.com)

Friday, Jan. 23: Cork & Olive Palm Harbor
Wine and cheese social with eight red and white wines, cheese and olive oil. Free. 6-8 p.m., 4978 Ridgemoor Blvd., Palm Harbor (727-781-9463 or corkandolive.com)

Friday, Jan. 23: Uncorked
Weekly tasting features Argentinean wines. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463 or uncorkedwines.com)

Friday, Jan. 23: Cork & Olive Carrolwood
Learn how to pair cigars with wine, with a cigar roller on hand from Serafin Cigars. Free. 6-8 p.m., 10019 N.Dale Mabry Hwy., Carrolwood (813-868-3733 or corkandolivecarrolwood.com)

More upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, Jan. 22: Winemall
Tampa Bay Lightning wine tasting featuring Lightning Girls and benefitting the Lightning Foundation. Free. 6-8 p.m., 11246 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa (813-855-7711 or winemall.com)

Thursday, Jan. 22: Toasted Pheasant Bistro
Tuscan wine dinner with wine expert Massimiliano Boscaino and food from Chef Peter Leonavicius. $54.95. 7-9:30 p.m., 14445 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-265-6700 or toastedpheasant.com)

More upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Every hobby and interest group should have its own pet charity. For hackers, it’s the Electronic Frontier Foundation. For comic book fans it’s The Hero Initiative (which supports aging comic creators fallen on hard times). For gamers, more and more, it’s Child’s Play.

Founded by Gabe and Tycho — those two maestros of video-game inspired comic strips at Penny Arcade — Child’s Play gives games, toys, books and money to sick kids. They work through hospitals around the world, who provide them with wish lists from their needy patients. Read the rest of this entry »

Held in an opulent house on Tampa Bay, this is one holiday wine tasting you don’t want to miss. Mike Kwasin, who owns Fine Wine and Spirits Warehouse on Gandy, opens his home to the public every quarter to offer up tastes of super premium wines no one else does. The $35 ($60 per couple) ticket price benefits charity — this one for the Abilities Foundation. Appetizers and 40 wines from producers like Pahlmeyer, Opus One, Geyser Peak, B. R. Cohn, Silver Oak, Duckhorn, and Rombauer. Friday November 14^th  from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 3613 S. Beach Dr., Tampa.  For more information Call (813) 837-8941.