Daily Loaf

“Dream Momma, I am starting to dream about you! In my dream I was going to a place, near a lake, to receive three awards.  You were there.  I asked you if you were waiting for me and you replied you were.  I went to pick up the three awards but the only one that I was interested in was broken. A silver strip had come undone and the prize was missing parts of it.  It was in the shape of a shadowbox filled with jet-black small stones, like aquarium gravel.  In the middle of the shadowbox were two dark female figures highlighted in silver.  Some of the stones had leaked out the back of the prize and I was upset by that.   Suddenly I had a Milky Way candy bar and a red leather purse in my hand.  I accidentally dropped them as I was approaching you and had trouble picking them up.  You said let’s eat here by the water. The place seemed like it was in a foreign land but we both agreed it was not.  I had this dream early in the morning after I read last week that you were presenting at the Positive Aging Conference.” (sic)

Dream Momma is flattered that she has entered your unconscious as a symbol of sorts.  Read the rest of this entry »

Bradley’s life-long dream did not resemble bartending at Cha Cha Coconuts at the St. Pete Pier.  Tonight he’s slinging drinks for college kids and snow birds; tomorrow he’ll be once again reexamining how it all went to hell.  But, as he pours the Merlot into the lipstick-stained glass he gets a head start on tomorrow’s pity party.  Most of the blame could be attributed to him falling for that vapid girl last year.  Yeah, most all of his problems came from getting hung up on women, the wrong women.

Read the rest of this entry »

Paula Abdul and regret. Ellen DeGeneres and opportunity. Kanye West and unwarranted opinion. Beyonce and PR. Peanut butter and jelly. Jelly and John Goodman.

Spider-Man: art lover.

Some things just go together – like vintage clothing and artwork. Don’t believe me? Just ask those in attendance at St. Pete’s ARTpool’s monthly gallery opening, Heroes & Heroines — or any of the locals who frequent the shop for a must-have creation in fabric or frame.

ARTpool opened in April of 2008 and has been making waves ever since.

Its mission statement is to “partner with the community to form an organic, evolving cooperative of artists that will work together to build a sustainable and a mutually beneficial artistic environment that promotes creativity, originality, and forward thought.” It’s done just that, holding events ranging from fashion shows to children’s installation events.

The latest opening was last Saturday, and, inspired by decades of comic book art, owner Marina Williams and local artists banded together to celebrate the finest fashions and fantasies. Live entertainment and artistry complemented the creation-lined walls as superhero and civilian alike answered the bat signal to enjoy St. Pete’s finest fusion. Read the rest of this entry »

In about 20 minutes, the polls close on St. Petersburg’s mayoral primary. I’ve crisscrossed the city and made some calls to give you an update. Here’s a brief rundown:

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July 2-5. GaYBOR Days 2009.

-Thur. July 2. Weekend Kick-off Social Party. 2 hours of GameWorks fun card. Drag Show. Drinks & Tapas included! Families and adults welcome. $15. Gameworks.
-Fri. July 3. VIP Party at The Nest. 6-9pm. 1430 E. th Ave. Ybor City.
-Fri. July 3. DJ Manny Lehman and Pistol Pete Underwear Fashion Show. 10pm-3am. Steam Fridays 1507 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City.
-Sat. July 4. GaYBOR Poolside Beach Party. 4pm-8pm. $15. Tampa Howard Johnson Riverfront Plaza.
-Sat. July 4. Derrick Barry as Britney Spears. 9pm-3am. G Bar. 1401 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City.
-Sun. July 5. GaYBOR Brunch. 11am-2pm. Streetcar Charlie’s. 1811 N. 15th St. Ybor City.
-Sun. July 5. The GaYBOR Bar Crawl. $20. 5pm- Read the rest of this entry »

Last night, Dereck and I went to the St. Petersburg Tweetup, held at Savannah’s Cafe (1113 Central Ave, St Petersburg, FL 33705-1650, (727) 388-4371). This was a much different crowd and vibe than any Tweetup I’d been too before. The crowd was more mature, more segmented and a bit frazzled. That said, I did shake a lot of hands and meet a lot of interesting folks involved in social media.

I also managed to get a few pictures in the packed upstairs meeting room. Here they are:

More pictures after the jump: Read the rest of this entry »

I’m back on the hunt for my next fuck buddy applicant. The qualified applicant I came across wasn’t available to accept the position - he already had an employer and was just testing the market. It was a great interview that ended too soon. I was prepared to have multiple interviews and multiple organisms with him, but that’s the way it sometimes goes with fuck buddies.

My quest for a dependable, exciting fuck buddy has inspired and shocked my friends. I have one girlfriend who’s recently divorced and sees the wisdom in the fuck buddy application process. Meet them, take their application, give them a thorough interview and either offer them the job or kick them to the curb. It’s not that hard of a process, just one you have to be careful of.  Read the rest of this entry »

St. Petersburg, charming and picturesque as the city is, has suffered one consistant complaint from its residents: the lack of a city curbside recycling program. I’ve even made this complaint from myself, finding it odd that North Pinellas would have curbside recycling, while a more progressive and environmentally aware area of the same county would not.

Under the watch of Mayor Rick Baker, St. Petersburg became the first “green city” in Florida, and once the example was set, many other Sunshine State cities followed (often encouraged by Mayor Baker himself). The Mayor even drives a hybrid car, so the lack of curbside recycling is not through a lack of consideration for the environment, inconsistent as that seems at the surface.

I knew there had to be a logical explanation for it, though. Surely Mayor Baker must have a reason for not implementing such a program, especially with so many voter’s voices in favor of it, so when I had a chance to talk to the man, it was one of the first questions I asked him.

Read the rest of this entry »

Is your Kitty Purry? Video after the break

Pandemic?  We don’t need no stinkin’ pandemic.  The world might be in a state of blinding fear but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the faces in the crowd at Katy Perry’s bay area appearance on 4/28.  The Rabid one was a part of the wily crowd and has to say, sex was flowing in the air and it had a palpable taste.

She kissed a girl and hell yeah she liked it. Her pseudo lesbian moment brought the people out en mass to Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg.  Ok, I know what you’re thinking, “who cares about pop music’s current female sensation?”  But a quick study of the mostly estrogen fueled audience yields fascinating results.   Read the rest of this entry »

If your looking for a place to bare it all this spring break, Trip Advisor has compiled a list of the top ten places to go nude. I still can’t believe St. Pete didn’t make the list. Not that you can go nude here, but I wouldn’t mind visitors testing the waters. All we need is ten or so beautiful people to get the trend rolling before the male dominated city council takes up the cause. We should really get a collection going to hire some suitable models to spearhead this campaign. If you wish to contribute, please send contributions to Alfie, care of Creative Loafing.

1. Au Naturel Club, Riviera Maya, Mexico

This Kantenah Bay Riviera Maya resort makes a clothing-optional vacation a truly luxurious experience. According to one TripAdvisor traveler: “Everyone is just there to relax and enjoy the sun and to unwind. I cannot think of a better place to do all of those things.” Read the rest of this entry »

This homey shop, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, was founded by Polish immigrants Jan and Krystyna Milewski, who somehow manage to work hours on end under the same roof and then head home as husband and wife. That sense of family permeates the shop — the two hold court, joking and telling stories at the checkout counter (whenever Jan’s not schlepping kegs or slinging his handtruck around). The Mart might not have as much shelf space as its chain counterparts, and it might not be as well-labeled, but the selection is extensive and eclectic, and has all the basics covered. The store’s prices are easily competitive with, and often cheaper than, what you’d find at larger establishments. More than anything, the Milewskis have that special touch that makes stopping into their shop like an intimate, small-town experience.

Gift this: Svedka Vodka from Sweden. According to Jan Milewski, it compares in quality to Absolut. It’s certainly a lot cheaper: $19.99 for a 1.75 liter bottle, as opposed to $37.99 for Absolut. 7208 4th St N, St Petersburg, 727-522-5372.
Photos by Larry Biddle
See other stops on CL’s Indie Holiday Shopping Spree here.

We’ve been told for the last year how much the Super Bowl is going to boost our economy. But, as some have reported before, that’s largely bullshit. The money coming into the Tampa Bay area usually leaves the next day through corporate chains’ profits. Besides some double-shifts, residents don’t see much from all the sports fans staying at Holiday Inns and eating at Applebee’s.

Except for one group. The hustlers.

Con artists, scammers, counterfeiters, panhandlers and other underground entrepreneurs have always done well at large sporting events, especially the Super Bowl. Their profits, however distasteful, often go right back into our local economy (although sometimes through other black market economies like drugs).

I, for one, was looking forward to spending the day circling Raymond James Stadium and talking to vendors selling hats and shirts quickly stitched with one of the battling teams or picking out the best con artist scheme.

But the city of Tampa doesn’t see it the same way and tomorrow the city council will debate (and most likely pass) an ordinance that creates a “clean zone” encompassing several blocks around the stadium and downtown hotels. They’re even saying a house party that charges at the door could be subject to fines.

What ever happened to the “free market?” If I want to buy a $20 Super Bowl XLIII T-shirt that mixes up the roman letters a bit (”Super Bowl XIIIL!”) over a $75 NFL-licensed shirt, isn’t that my right? And where else but on the streets would you find live turtles with NFL logos emblazoned on their shells?

(The city will allow vendors to purchase special permits to sell items, though

I’d like to hear from readers on the best unlicensed vendors you’ve bought from and your thoughts on the “clean zone.”

While you think about it, some other Super Bowl links to the underground:

How to spot fake tickets.

Tricks on how (not) to get into the Super Bowl for free.

In 2006, Canadians saw a spike in their underground economy.

St. Petersburg is following Tampa’s footsteps by creating a “Clean Zone” around Tropicana Field for the anticipated World Series.