Daily Loaf

The Dunedin Wines the Blues Festival wrapped up its 18th year on Saturday with an old school blues show by John Lee Hooker, Jr., son of the legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker.  John Lee, Jr. hit the stage in true blues style, dressed in a dark hat, sunglasses and a vest, and quickly brought the at-capacity crowd to its feet. Backed by a four-piece band, Hooker started the set with “The People Want a Change,” from his Grammy-nominated release, All Odds Against Me, and continued to turn out the blues for nearly two hours. In addition to a wide variety of originals and blues standards, Hooker also managed to squeeze in a song or two by his famous father, which brought the crowd to its feet again. Caught up in the excitement, several women even felt the urge to join Hooker on stage, which John Lee seemed to enjoy. In all, this year’s blues festival set a new bar for musical quality, due largely to the inclusion of John Lee Hooker, Jr. It will be interesting to see how festival organizers plan to keep up this level of quality entertainment in the coming years.

For more Tampa area concert info, follow Jeff on Twitter.

11:11, Let There Be Light, Art, Sound This sneak peek of the exhibit (which officially opens Nov. 11) includes live music, artworks from local artists, a drum atrium and a costume contest on Halloween night. Visit studio620.org for more info. Oct. 27-31, noon-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat., reception 7 p.m. Sat., The Studio@620, St. Petersburg, free.

Ghost Ship Spooktacular Under the bay, there be monsters…and a few of them have surfaced for this scary fun tour of the decades-old “haunted” ship. Visit the galley, mess hall, hospital, and radio room, where ghouls, freaks and zombies lurk around every corner. Search for ghosts with the Florida Paranormal Research Group and the White Noise Paranormal Network, and visit the Demon Den Deck for a brew if your nerves get a bit jangled. The kid’s tour is a mite less macabre; bob for apples, play monster musical chairs, run in an eyeball relay race and compete in the costume contest. Visit americanvictory.org for more info. Oct. 29-31, Ghost Ship 7:30-11:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; Kid’s Spooktacular 2-4 p.m. Sat., American Victory Ship and Museum, Tampa, Ghost ship, $20; Kid’s Spooktacular, $10 adults, $5 kids 4-12.

Hit the break for more on Guavaween, graveyard walks, haunted houses, weird art and more, and check back as we add to the list of spooky spectacles. Read the rest of this entry »

Couture and craft collided in the fifth Wearable Art Fashion Show at the Dunedin Fine Art Center Saturday night. Nine design houses created dozens of different wearable art ensembles to the thrill of the packed house. See all the fashion festivities (and a few faux pas?) after the break…

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We’re 2,000-plus votes and counting in this year’s Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll — deadline Aug. 31 — and there are no hotter races underway than the ones for Best Neighborhood/Hillsborough and Best Neighborhood/Pinellas.

After the jump: Find out if your ‘hood is among the front-runners. Read the rest of this entry »

Have fun while benefiting your health and the environment. You remember how to ride a bike, but do you remember how much fun it is to ride your bike? The feel of the wind as you ride down the hill as fast as you can, exploring all day through the neighborhood with your friends, or in college around campus in between class. Not only is biking fun for the whole family, all ages and skill levels, it is a great exercise and totally green.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money either for a good bike. With last Christmas’ bonus check, I purchased a used bike on craigslist of Tampa for $75, put new tires on for $30 and got a $50 tune up at Revolution Bikes; I now have a great bike I paid only $155 in total for what I have been told is worth $200-$300. It is a great and comfortable bike for cruising the Pinellas Trail or just riding through my neighborhood. Read the rest of this entry »

After four weeks of voting — and over 7,500 votes cast — you guys have picked the most popular tacos in the entire Bay area.

The Championship match pitted the popular Dunedin Mexican restaurant Casa Tina against the surprisingly active fans of Lutz’s Mekenita Mexican Grill in a 24-hour marathon of voting. It was the most active contest by far, with over 2,500 votes cast.

Did the Dunedin Darling beat the Lutz Lover?

Which taco wins the coveted prize of Readers’ Poll Champion?

Find out after the break –

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It’s all come down to this. All the signs in the restaurant, the mass emailings to patrons and friends, the voting every ten minutes like clockwork. Casa Tina and Mekenita Mexican Grill have both done their jobs, mobilizing fans and getting out the vote. But now is crunch time for these taco prom queens.

Can the Dunedin Darling beat the Lutz Lover?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Championship?

Vote after the break –

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Wow. WOW! Over 850 votes were cast in this epic battle between two Pinellas taco favorites, but only one can move on to the Bay area championships. With a count of 571 to 293, Casa Tina utterly dominated the vote. So much so, in fact, that Zurritos’ Zack Gross emailed me a concession earlier today.

Congrats to Casa Tina, Pinellas champion of the 2009 Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll!

Now it’s time to vote for the Tampa championship match — Mekenita Mexican Grill vs. Mema’s Alaskan Tacos. Can either of those two worthy spots muster the kind of turnout that Casa Tina did?

If you want to find out who won the Critic’s Bracket, it’s up on the food site today. And check back tomorrow at 2 p.m. to start voting for the Readers’ Poll Bay area championship, Casa Tina vs. ???

For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Zurritos has consistently motivated its loyal customers to get out the vote in the competition, with some of the highest tallies of any of the matches. Casa Tina has had it fairly easy so far. Can they ramp up their efforts to compete with the seemingly unstoppable Zack Gross fans?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Championship?

Vote after the break –

Read the rest of this entry »

The final round of the Edible Eight was massive, with over 300 votes cast and the outcome close in the final tally. In the end, El Taconazo was unable to hold off the ardent supporters of Mekenita Mexican Grill

That means that the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll Final Four is set: Zurritos, Casa Tina, Mema’s Mexican Grill and Mekenita Mexican Grill. Voting begins today in the first semi-final match — Zurritos vs. Casa Tina — and continues until tomorrow around 2 p.m..

For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

No matter how much I may disagree with the results, there’s no arguing with popularity. At least, that is, in a popularity contest like the Readers’ Poll. Casa Tina easily surpasses La Cabana Del Tio and moves on to the Final Four

Voting for the final match of the Edible Eight began today — El Taconazo vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill — and continues through tomorrow, so be sure to support your favorite spot! For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Casa Tina is a perennial favorite among northern Pinellas folks, thanks the its congenial atmosphere and often incredible sauces. La Cabana del Tio is a tiny spot with a devout following amongst the Bay area’s taco cognoscenti. Will the Dunedin restaurant unseat the Clearwater taco specialist?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break –

Read the rest of this entry »

In an outcome that’s no surprise for anyone who’s experienced the massive fan base of Casa Tina, Dunedin’s favorite Mexican joint dominated the polls, with 71 votes to El Toro Negro’s measly 3. Casa Tina moves on into the Readers’ Poll Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: El Taconazo vs. Don Pancho Villa, and for all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

El Toro Negro is a nondescript Mexican joint that airs financial news and telenovellas on their TVs all day. Casa Tina is a Dunedin fixture that’s incredibly popular with folks from around the Bay. Can the hole-in-the-wall beat the upscale fave?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

Read the rest of this entry »

The first weekend of CL’s Tournament of Tacos competition saw the full range of taco artisans at play, from modernized Mex restaurants to corner bodegas, from Latin-fusion to combo-plate factories.

Here were the matchups:
Casa Tina vs. Mexico Lindo
Mekenita Mexican Grill vs. Vallarta’s
Red Mesa Cantina vs. Zapata’s
Chihuahua vs. Estela’s

Did this weekend finally result in the upset of high-seeded taco? Who advances to the Savory Sixteen? Which tacos took the popular vote?

Find out after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Casa Tina is a revered Dunedin dining spot known for tasty Mexican with modern flair. Mexico Lindo is a bodega with more square feet devoted to phone cards than taco menu options. Can a downtown Dunedin restaurant beat out a place with a butcher shop on the premises? Which taco deserves to move up to the Savory Sixteen?

I’ll reveal my pick tomorrow, but you still have a say. Vote below for your favorite in this taco-a-taco showdown and we’ll track the results in our readers’ poll. And if you haven’t tasted these two worthy competitors, this is a perfect excuse for an extended, taco-tasting lunch.

Check out all of CL’s Tournament of Tacos coverage here for past and future matchups, daily results, contact info for contenders and updated brackets.

So who wins: Casa Tina or Mexico Lindo? (And don’t forget to vote in today’s other matchup!)

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Check out the full Tournament of Tacos bracket after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Monday, Mar. 2, 9, 16, 23: Uncorked
This is the first of four courses at the Uncorked Wine Academy. Learn about wine making techniques, how to read wine labels, and food and wine pairings. $50 for four classes. 7-9 p.m., 2706 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Wednesday, Mar. 4: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Sample from dozens of wine selections at the Brandon store. Chat with wine experts and indulge in gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Each guest will receive a free wine glass and a coupon for $5 off any purchase that night. $10. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 1405 E Brandon Blvd, Brandon (813-685-4832)

Thursday, Mar. 5: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Wine tasting at the Treasure Island location. Guests will receive a free wine glass and a coupon for $3 off a purchase of the night. $5. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 204 107th Ave, Treasure Island (727-360-6153)

Friday, Mar. 6: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
Join Dr. Julie Gatza at the “Five Secrets to Looking and Feeling Younger” seminar and learn how to eat and live healthy. Free. 6 p.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Friday, Mar. 6: Andrea’s Sip for Life Wine Tasting
Sample tapas from The Columbia Restaurant and over 250 wines from Spain, California and South America at the third annual Sip For Life tasting. Proceeds from the event at the Tampa Bay History Center go to support finding a cure for pediatric sarcoma. $100 donation. 7-10 p.m., 801 Old Water Street, Tampa (813-248-3000)

Friday, Mar. 6: Belleair Grill and Wine Bar
Friday wine Happy Hours at Belleair continue this week. Free. 5-8 p.m., 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater (727-449-2988)

Saturday, Mar. 7: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
Chef Debby DeGraaff will host the “Wonderful Wild Rice” cooking class, featuring a wild rice and vegetable salad paired with wild rice with mushrooms and tofu. Free. 11 a.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Saturday, Mar. 7: Abilities Wine Tasting
Enjoy hundreds of wines, live entertainment and food from gourmet restaurants at Tropicana Field’s 20th annual tasting. $50 – $125. 6-9 p.m., 1 Tropicana Dr, St. Petersburg (727-538-7370 ext. 345)

Saturday, Mar. 7: Vino 100 Brandon/Valrico
Explore the effects of environment on wine with Vino 100 by sampling a slew of Australian wines. Free. 12-5 p.m., 1038 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico (813-654-8466)

Saturday, Mar. 7: Chez Bryce
Enjoy a three-course lunch with Tatiana Rugers, a Tampa Bay mural and decorative artist, at Chez Bryce restaurant. $15. 12-2 p.m., 238 E Davis Isle, Tampa (813-258-8100)

Sunday, Mar. 8: Tampa Rotary Pig Roast
Come see if Team “Sir Pigs A Lot” will take top honors for the fourth year in a row in this whole-pig roasting competition to benefit local charities. $25. 2-5 p.m., St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa (813-765-0707)

Sunday, Mar. 8: The Best Florida Beer Championship
The championship ends with the Brewers Ball at Skipper’s Smokehouse. Celebrate with food, music and beer – gold-medal winning beers from the championship will be featured – while the winners of the Professional and Homebrew competitions are announced. $25. 12-5 p.m., 910 Skipper Rd, Tampa (813-220-1086)

Tuesday, Mar. 10: FOODMATTERS Film Showing
This provocative film at The Long Center is back by popular demand. Whole Foods Market will provide snacks. $5. 7 p.m., 1501 N Belcher Rd, Clearwater

Wednesday, Mar. 11: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
Explore ways to cope with your physical, mental or emotional challenges at Dr. Anthony Calandro’s seminar “Creating a Health Body through Cultivating a Positive Mind.” Free. 6:30 p.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Wednesday, Mar. 11: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Enjoy another ABC wine tasting, this time at the Wesley Chapel store. Guest will receive a free wine glass and a coupon for $5 off a purchase of the night. 1845 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Wesley Chapel (813-782-1389)

Thursday, Mar. 12: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Sample wine selections from around the world and hors d’oeuvres at this Seffner wine tasting. Each guest will receive a free wine glass and a coupon for $3 off a purchase of the night. $5. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 507 W MLK Blvd, Seffner (813-681-7979)

Thursday, Mar. 12: The Grape
The Tampa Alumnae Panhellenic Association hosts the 6th annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, featuring gourmet food, wine and music. $25 advanced, $35 at the door. 6-8 p.m., 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Suite B217, Tampa (239-272-8281)

Thursday, Mar. 12: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
In the “Gut Connection” seminar, Dr. George Springer will explain how imbalances in the body’s digestive system can cause health problems. Free. 6:30 p.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Thursday, Mar. 12: Vino 100 St. Petersburg
Sample wines from Australia at this St. Pete wine tasting. Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)

Thursday, Mar. 12 & Friday, Mar. 13: Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Enjoy great music, fine wines and a three-course meal at the Vintage Rock Dinner. $55. 6:30 p.m. 2001 Siesta Dr, Sarasota (941-358-9463)

Friday, Mar. 13: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
Nutritionist Barbara Lee will explain how to get all you can for your health dollar in the “Spending Money Wisely on Health” seminar. Free. 6 p.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Friday, Mar. 13: Belleair Grill and Wine Bar
Weekly Friday wine Happy Hour at Belleair. Free. 5-8 p.m., 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater (727-449-2988)

Friday, Mar. 13: Uncorked
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day at Uncorked with McBeer and Mead, snacks and dancing. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Friday-Sunday, Mar. 13-15: Cajun Zydeco Crawfish Festival
Cajun invasion begins with this 9th annual festival of all things Louisiana. $35 for three days. Friday 4:30-10 p.m., Saturday noon-10 p.m., Sunday noon-8 p.m., Vinoy Park, Downtown St. Pete (727-892-5798)

Saturday, Mar. 14: Vino 100 Brandon
Sippin Saturday tasting at the Brandon store. Free. 12-5 p.m., 1038 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico (813-654-8466)

Tuesday, Mar. 17: Vino 100 Brandon
Learn about the elegant white wines of Germany – like Riesling – at The Wines of Germany class. $20 per person, $35 per couple. 6- 7:30 p.m., 1038 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico (813-654-8466)

Friday, Mar. 20: Uncorked
At the Oregon Wine Tasting, sample different wines from the region – like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris – and discover unique food pairings. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Friday, Mar. 20: Belleair Wine and Grill Bar
Weekly Friday wine Happy Hour at Belleair. Free. 5-8 p.m., 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater (727-449-2988)

Saturday, Mar. 21: Toast Fine Wine & Cigars
Listen to some of your favorite records while drinking fabulous wines at Toast’s Vine and Vinyl event. Free. 6-9 p.m., 14921 Bruce B. Downs, Tampa (813-632-3105)

Saturday, Mar. 21: Sweetwater Organic Workshop
Listen to Sweetwater founder and director Rick Martinez discuss the most common weeds and pests in the area, and how to keep them out of your garden. $15 (or volunteer). 2-3 p.m., 6842 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa (813-887-4066)

Saturday, Mar. 21: Vino 100 Brandon
Join Vino as they take a tour of the old country, and sample wine from some of the greatest wine regions in the world: Chianti, Tuscany Piedmont, Bordeaux and Loire. Free. 12-5 p.m., 1038 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico (813-654-8466)

Saturday, Mar. 21: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
At “Living Foods Made Easy,” Chef Joseph Custer will teach guests how to prepare puddings and creams from raw foods. Free. 11 a.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Sunday, Mar. 22: Sweetwater Organic Workshop
This workshop covers how to handle stress and depression with herbal medicine, featuring herbalist Bob Linde. $10. 3-4 p.m., 6842 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa (813-887-4066)

Thursday, Mar. 26: Italian Club of Tampa
Join the Italian Club for the Wines of Italy, featuring 65 wines from different regions in Italy, Italian antipasta and desserts. $45 before Mar. 20. 6-9 p.m., 1731 E. 7th Ave., Tampa (813-248-3316)

Mar. 26-28: International Rum Festival
The largest rum festival in the U.S. will feature three days of tastings, dinners and festive events in Ybor.

Friday, Mar. 27: Toast Fine Wine & Cigars
Toast’s monthly wine tasting will offer 17 wine selections and appetizers. Free. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 14921 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa (813-632-3105)

Friday, Mar. 27: Belleair Grill and Wine Bar
Weekly Friday wine Happy Hour. Free. 5-8 p.m., 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater (727-449-2988)

Friday, Mar. 27: Uncorked
At the Big Three Wine Tasting, sample wines from popular regions in France, Italy and Spain. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Saturday, Mar. 28: Polished Palate International Rum Festival
Come to the Ritz Ybor to sample dozens of rums from around the world and rum-infused treats. A silent auction and various seminars by rum aficionados will also take place. $50 VIP, $40 general. 7-10 p.m., 1503 E. 7th Ave., Tampa (727-947-3522)

Saturday, Mar. 28: Vino 100 Brandon
Vino’s Sippin Saturday wine tasting at the Brandon store. Free. 12-5 p.m., 1038 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico (813-654-8466)

Sunday, Mar. 29: Sweetwater Organic Workshop
Julie Barreda Bruyn will show kids and parents the basics of cooking, using crops fresh from Sweetwater’s fields. Ages 9 and up. $10. 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., 6842 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa (813-887-4066)

Tuesday, Mar. 31: The Wine Shop of St. Pete Beach
In this “Health by Numbers” seminar, Susan Bucci will talk about body statistics we need to know in order to achieve optimum health. Free. 6:15 p.m., 401 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-9463)

Apr. 3-5: Cajun Cafe on the Bayou Crawfish Festival
Lots of music, lots of crawfish, lots of people saying “suck the head!” 8101 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park (727-546-6732)

Friday-Monday, Apr. 17-20: Bern’s 12th Annual Winefest Weekend
Bern’s big annual event includes tastings, dinners, seminars and more. Check the event website for full details.

Sunday, Apr. 19: B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits
Join B-21 for their annual Bordeaux vs. Cabernet wine tasting and sale. $25 before Apr. 17, $30 at the door. 2-5 p.m., 43380 US Hwy 19 N., Tarpon Springs (727-937-5049)

Saturday, Apr. 25: Uncorked
Join Uncorked for their British Isles & Ireland Beer Event, where they will serve diverse brews from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Reservations required. $20. 7-9 p.m., 2706 4th St N, St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

Friday-Saturday, May 15-16: Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival
This event at the Don Cesar Resort will feature wine and food tastings, seminars by celebrity chefs and live performances. $75, 1-4 p.m., 3400 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach (813-258-5858)

Sunday, Jun. 14: B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits
B-21’s Tour of Italy tasting and sale will feature Italian wines such as Barolo, Chianti Classico and Supertuscans. $25 before Jun. 12, $30 at the door. 2-5 p.m., 43380 US Hwy 19 N., Tarpon Springs (727-937-5049)

Saturday, Aug. 8: Vino, Java and Jazz
This event at the Florida Aquarium will feature wine samplings, special dishes, desserts, coffee and jazz music. Proceeds from a silent auction will go toward the Tampa Bay Region of the Easter Seals Florida organization. $65 in advance, $80 at the door. 7-11 p.m., 701 Channelside Dr., Tampa (813-769-5915)

Sunday, Aug. 16: B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits
Celebrate selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the Best of Burgundy and Beyond tasting and Sale. $25 before Aug. 14, $30 at the door. 2-5 p.m., 43380 US Hwy 19 N., Tarpon Springs (727-937-5049)

Sociologists note that festivals, including events like parades, involve the temporary suspension of societal norms. In these liminal settings, the individual is permitted to conduct themselves outside the conventions of acceptable behavior. This includes being loud, overeating, becoming drunk, dancing — or some wicked hedonistic combination of all the aforementioned. The activities associated with Mardi Gras exemplify festival-centered norm suspension, even Mardi Gras as it occurs in PG rated format on the main drag of a charming little town in Pinellas County with a high concentration of Scottish residents.

Last night, myself and roughly 30,000 other people descended into downtown Dunedin, some trampling flower beds and littering profusely. As an avid fan of outdoor drinking events, people watching opportunities, and yummy things like kettle corn and funnel cakes, I usually have a riotously enjoyable time at Dunedin Mardi Gras. The plan is always something like: grab a few brews from the Dunedin Brewery tent and wander the crowded streets looking at this strange swarm of people, making sure to peer into the window of the pet grooming shop to say hi to the kitties that live there.

This was the tentative agenda for last night. Little did I know, I was about to face epic disappointment. Read the rest of this entry »

Somebody has made an error. In the culinary community, the word “pedestrian” has somehow been associated with “not good”. Common. Anyone can make that. Un-original. How can this be?

Some foods that I adore would get this classification yet using the P word to describe them is supposed to make my nose point upward and walk away. Well I will not!

Long before I knew I was a foodie and long before I could afford to buy almost anything, I loved a good burger. One of my first “OMG, this is fabulous” food memories Read the rest of this entry »

This post continues an ongoing conversation with local arts leaders about how the economy is impacting their business. (Read the first in this series of posts here or an even earlier post here.)

The national media are starting to pick up the broader story about the effects of the recession on arts organizations and the art market. This Boston Globe article opens with the bittersweet account of a patron requesting an extended donation payment plan; in the past week, more ominous stories about art museums and the Frieze Art Fair hit the New York Times. All three articles suggest that the worst may be yet to come.

On the other hand, this story about the $69 million economic impact of Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls hit NYC newspapers this afternoon—a glimmer of good news that emphasizes one of the many ways in which we value art (i.e., by its nifty tendency to attract tourists).

As of three weeks ago, representatives from both the Salvador Dali Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art told me their building projects are on track to meet previously set opening dates (fall 2010 and fall 2009, respectively). And Lights on Tampa 2009 remains set to take place during the Super Bowl. (I assume it will play a role in luring Super Bowl visitors to Tampa’s downtown—what those visitors will think of the city’s core when they get there is another question.)

Thoughts from other players in the Bay area arts community:

Read the rest of this entry »