Daily Loaf

Bay area singer-songwriter David New picked up guitar as a kid, but never really got serious about being a musician until he was in his mid-20s.

“At the time, I was bored, hating my job really bad and just kind of searching for something else,” New told me last week when we chatted at the St. Pete Beach loft apartment-cum-recording space where his band, The Hip Abduction, spends much of their time. Bassist Chris Powers actually lives there, but the rest of the band members reap the benefits of the place, likely getting much inspiration for their vibrant tropical sounds from the scenic view of the Gulf off the third-floor porch.

Back then, New was working as an environmental scientist and it wasn’t anything like he’d imagined. “I thought I was gonna be green and save the world straight out of college, but it ended up that I was working for the oil company and standing up for big oil, which was awful. Writing took me somewhere else.” New says he endured it for about two years before he bailed. Then he spent a few years soaking up the sounds and culture of the Caribbean. “I ran a sailing program and taught marine biology and diving on the side. A lot of my lyrics come from what I experienced there. I grew up in Virginia, so I never listened to reggae very much. Then I really, really got into it down there and I’ve never been able to shake it.” Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

What’s better than a free cab ride when you’re sloshed at one of those crazy holiday parties?

A free tow!

If you’re a little hesitant about taking a cab ride home because you don’t want to leave your car somewhere sketchy, AAA and Budweiser have partnered up for a free tow service that will take you and your car safely home. “Tow to Go” is free, open to AAA non-members and it’s 100 percent confidential.

So far, Tow to Go has safely removed more than 8,300 drunk drivers from the roads over its 10-year history.

Halloween is one of those heavily “celebrated” holidays, so they’re offering the service tomorrow night through Nov. 2. Take advantage of it by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP. Put it in your phone now and drink to your heart’s content!