Daily Loaf

Welcome to On the Radar: New Year’s Eve Edition, where we preview up-and-coming events to mark your calendar for. The Florida Aquarium hosts Aqua-Eve, which promises everything that a New Year’s Eve party should be, including live music, beer and wine, decadent desserts and a champagne toast (I, for one, will be putting off my resolution to start working out until Jan. 2, when all the alcohol and fatty foods are safely detoxed.)

All set off, of course, by one of the Bay area’s best views of the fireworks extravaganza over the channel. If you’re really in the mood for some hoity-toity New Year’s fun, try the Aquarium’s fireworks cruise (holy shit!) aboard the Bay Spirit II. Thurs., Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, $100, flaquarium,org.

The Florida Aquarium’s  ‘Brews by the Bay’ event made quite a splash Saturday night. Creative Loafing was the media sponsor of the festivities, which started at 8 p.m. with a line that wrapped around the building (tickets having sold out before the event even started), full of partygoers who were eager to sample the many brews offered and the appetizing food from local restaurants.

The party went on throughout the aquarium, with Four Star Riot playing downstairs, a DJ outside on the deck, and an acoustic musician playing inside the Coral Reef Gallery room, as well as scuba divers who interacted with the onlookers by writing messages on Etch-a-Sketch boards and performing acrobatics. Visitors were greeted by two live mermaids who offered photo opportunities (although it looked like most people were more interested in getting inside and downing their first beer). Guests had the chance to roam around the building to find all the food and drink spots while admiring the aquatic scenery.
Read the rest of this entry »

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when buxom lasses and dudes in lederhosen lift steins to praise the amber liquid that will sustain us through the cold, cold winter — Oktoberfest! But how will you be able to take advantage of the two simultaneous brew celebrations next weekend? No worries, you won’t have to.

Do you like the crisp and simple taste of American and international macro-brews, sampled in refined comfort while sharks and rays look on in jealous hunger? Head to the CL-sponsored Brews By the Bay: Oktoberfest 2009 at The Florida Aquarium. Along with the full repertoire of Anheuser-Busch, you’ll be able to sample beers from Magic Hat, Boddington’s, Stella Artois and many others, all while noshing food from restaurants like Datz Deli. Smoke, and more.  Next up, OktoBEERfest. Read the rest of this entry »

After my brief, stolen moment with Governor C. at the charity fashion show, my life returned to its usual mundane routine. I was a nobody. Why would C. even remember me?

So when I answered my cell phone after class Monday afternoon, I was astonished to find myself on the line with C.’s assistant. Apparently, the Governor had been impressed by me and wished to meet me under better circumstances, and would I be available Friday night? I would. I was instructed not to tell anyone the Governor and I would be meeting, nor was I told where the meeting would take place.

The week passed by me as I sat through my USF classes, unable to concentrate, my entire attention on C. What should I wear? Where would we meet? Was it a date? But the biggest question I had was, why me?

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 past week:

Cool-N-Save: An eco-friendly energy saver for your air conditioning unit (Video): Jennifer Meier writes about how the Cool-n-SaveTM system affixes to the top of most home air conditioning units, resulting in a substantial drop in ambient temperature of up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The Cool-N-Save(TM) system has also been rated by the US Department of Energy and EPA as an Energy Star Partner.

Signs of hope: are our environmental efforts making a difference?: Linda Taylor shows us an example of how environmental efforts can make a difference, even if they take years to come to fruition.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Florida Aquarium and Mise en Place are partnering up to raise awareness for World Ocean Day by offering a special sustainable seafood menu for two weeks at the restaurant. Beginning the week of June 8th, Mise will donate $3 for each sustainable seafood three-course meal, which will cost $35, or $5 for each dinner with a wine purchase until Saturday, June 20th, to benefit the aquarium’s Marine Science Conversation and Education programs.

What is sustainable seafood and why is this important? Tom Wagner, the Public Relations manager at the Aquarium, explains that “Sustainable seafood is about becoming educated about where the fish you eat is coming from, how it is being caught, and making sure there is enough of the particular fish to be able to keep reproducing in the oceans”. Overfishing, as Tom explained, is one type of problem that has become hazardous to our ecosystem. Overfishing stems from the fish being caught before they are of reproductive age, thus making that fish stock below normal levels and overall effecting the the marine ecosystem.
Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a hard-knock life for everyone but Daddy Warbucks right now, but little orphan Annie is here to remind us that maybe tomorrow we’ll find a new job, or move out of our parent’s house, or … well, at least there’ll be a sun. Everyone’s favorite plucky redhead is currently celebrating her 30th anniversary tour with director Martin Charnin, who brought the original, Tony-winning production to the Great White Way in 1977. Annie’s bright outlook proved irresistible for audiences across the world — everyone loves to root for her in her quest to find her parents. Along the way, she encounters everyone from Sandy, a spunky pup who becomes her faithful companion, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who aids her in her search. Along the way she spreads hope and cheer among her fellow orphan girls and the homeless who’ve been disenfranchised by the Great Depression, and even icy businessman, Oliver Warbucks. The endlessly cheery musical is a perfect pick-me-up for anyone down on his luck — you can bet your bottom dollar on that. June 12-14, 8 p.m. Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sun., Carol Morsani Hall at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $38.50-$72.50, 813-229-7827, tbpac.org. (Franki Weddington)

Experience the sights, sounds and flavors of the islands at the Caribbean Carnival, a festival that features a costume parade, authentic cuisine and popular performing artists like Sean Paul, Gilberto Santa Rosa and soca queen Alison Hinds. Also on stage are Auturo Sandoval, DJ Ibis, Neauva Saka, steel band Tamboo Bamboo, and traditional dancing by Paulette Rolle of Alesnik and Dancers. See the full schedule of performers and events at tampacarnival.com. Noon-10 p.m. Sat, 10 a.m-10 p.m. Sun., June 13-14, Vinoy Park, 501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, $10 a day or $15 for both days.

The blue-collar Jedi of humor is ready to split your side with his uncompromising honesty at LOL: An Evening with Tony Gaud. Be part of the guinea pig audience when Gaud debuts new material for his next comedic venture. 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., June 12-20, Shimberg Playhouse at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $5; free for Jobsite season ticket holders, 813-229-7827, jobsitetheater.org.

Many, many more events after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, Apr. 8: ABC Fine Wine and Spirits
Join wine lovers and experts at this tasting and sample from dozens of wine selections. Each guest will receive a souvenir wine glass and a coupon for $5 any purchase that night. $10. 6-8 p.m., 14248 US Hwy 19 N., Hudson (727-869-3003)

Wednesday, Apr. 8: Whole Foods Market
Sample Pinot varieties at this wine tasting and class, including Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigo and Pinot Noir. $5 voluntary donation. 6:30-8 p.m., 1548 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa (813-874-9435)

Thursday, Apr. 9: Publix Apron’s Cooking School
Learn how to create two quick, easy and delicious meals for your busy family. $40. 6 p.m., 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-926-4465)

Thursday, Apr. 9: Whole Foods
Join Chef Jim for a bistro-style recipe class and wine pairing and tasting. This month, the featured item is organic Italian pasta. 6:30-8 p.m., 1548 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa (813-874-9435)

Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa is getting its first 15 minutes of Today Show Super Bowl exposure — more like five minutes so far —  via weatherguy Al Roker, who’s broadcasting his morning reports from Centro Ybor. Viewers aren’t seeing much local scenery from this vantage point — just glimpses of balconies and the Centro courtyard crowded with the usual Today Show attention-getters. (The GaYbor District Coalition’s sign had good visibility, as did the Florida Aquarium’s shark — and yep, our own cltampa.com sign.) A few local businesses got a big boost; Teatro on Seventh served Roker churros on its balcony; Tampa Bay Brewing Company got to show off a lineup of its best brews and Columbia Restaurant sent in the flamenco dancers. (And, in the 9 a.m. segment, Castillo’s Cigar Factory rolled a cigar for Roker, which he employed for a quickie Groucho impression.)