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.

Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here; check out all previous entries here.

“Where eeez yer pipe?”

A 6’4 security guard towered over me, glaring.

“Where eeez yer pipe?” he repeated in a thick Islands accent.

“What?” I replied, not sure he really just asked me what I think he just asked me.

“Where eeez yer pipe?” he asked again.

“My what?” I said again, still shocked.

“Yer pipe. Yer pipe.”

Now he was aggravated. I’m enjoying feigning ignorance.

“I don’t know what you’re saying, man.”

The guard switches tactics.

“Drugs?”

I smile.

“No, no drugs.”

“OK, go ahead.”

So began my very first experience at an extended-day music festival, and only my second time ever seeing the seminal jam band, Phish. Luckily, the rest of the three-day fest at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, Calif. went smoother than my entry.

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

Reconstructing a historic bat tower in Temple Terrace and how to build your own bat roost- Grant Rimbey investigates efforts in Temple Terrace to reconstruct an historic tower for bats, discusses a large community bat roost he designed for the Florida Bat Conservancy, and tells how you can purchase (or build) your own bat roost for your yard.

Summer Solstice: A brief history- Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, occurs this Sunday- June 21st. Here are a few facts you might not have known about it, from Linda Taylor.

Organics: How to eat well without breaking your budget- With the increase of demand over organic food in the last ten years you would think that a wide range of these products would be easily accessible. Here’s some some advice from Kelly Rothwell on purchasing healthy, organic food in this region without breaking your budget.
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Along with Father’s Day we will honor the Summer Solstice on June 21 – precisely at 1:46 AM. How appropriate, as many native cultures respected Mother Moon and Father Sun. “Sol” and “stice” derives from a combination of Latin words meaning “sun” and “to stand still”.
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Thursday, Feb. 19: St. Petersburg Wine and Food Festival
Stroll through downtown St. Pete and experience fine wines and spirits, food samplings and jazz music. $75 VIP, $50 general. 5:30-9:30 p.m. (727-347-6133)

Thursday, Feb. 19: Vino 100 St. Pete
Hosted by Vino 100, Massage Envy and Let’s Eat, “Ladies Night Out” is designed to pamper guests with wine, massages and delicious cuisine. Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)

Friday, Feb. 20: Bern’s Fine Wine & Spirits
Come to Bern’s for Crush Hour, featuring seven different Japanese sakes paired with small, Japanese-inspired side dishes. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

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

Thursday, Feb. 12-Friday, Feb. 13: PRP Wines International
Take advantage of this Valentine’s Warehouse Sale — PRP is opening its warehouse to the public for the first of only four times this year. Stock up on their all-natural, no added sulfite wines in time for Valentine’s Day. Free. 5-9 p.m., 5910 Breckenridge Pkwy Suite F, Tampa (813-621-1911 ext 2017)

Thursday, Feb. 12-Saturday, Feb. 14: Avenue Cellars
Spend Valentine’s Day weekend at the Pre-Valentine’s Love Fest Wine Tasting. The event will feature several wines Thursday and Friday in preparation for Saturday, when Avenue Cellars invites you to share a romantic bottle of wine with your date. Free. 6:30-8 p.m., 9662 Linebaugh Ave, Tampa (813-920-9991)

Friday, Feb. 13: South Florida Museum
Celebrate food and drink from around the world at the third annual Vinology 3-Epicure Tour. Enjoy fine wines and accompanying tasting menus, food, beer, cooking demonstrations and wine seminars. $75 (includes all food, wine, beer, seminars and a souvenir glass). 6-11 p.m., 201 10th St. W., Bradenton (941-746-4131 ext. 11)

Friday, Feb. 13: Vintage Wine Cellars
Sample 10 specialty red blends from around the world, along with bread and cheeses. $10. 7-9 p.m., 3629 Henderson Blvd, Tampa (813-879-2931)

Friday, Feb. 13: Uncorked
Uncorked will uncork a selection of luscious red wines for this Valentine’s weekend tastin, including Petite Sirah, Zin and Syrah. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

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Spring brings wondrous things, of course, but its also high season for local film festivals in the Bay area.
Here’s a rundown (in order of calendar date):

1.  Environmental Film Festival – Eckerd College (11th year)
Dates: Saturday, Feb. 21th- Saturday, Feb. 28th
Locations: Dan + Mary Miller Auditorium, Eckerd College
The skinny: Free admission to all screenings! Named CL’s 2007 ‘Best Local Film Series’. Kudos to Drs. Nate Andersen and Cathy Griggs for building the best Environment Film Festival in the Southeast United States. Arrive early for your film — the 300 seat Dan + Mary Miller auditorium is usually standing-room only for screenings!
Website: http://www.eckerd.edu/eff

More festivals after the jump …

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