Daily Loaf

Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday.

Dialogue on Climate Change and Coastal Conservation- Friday, October 23; 9 am-12 pm. On October 23rd, participate and be part of a lively discussion on climate change adaptation strategies and ways to maintain our coasts as places where people and wildlife can thrive. The Dialogue on Climate Change and Coastal Conservation will explore what we must do to prepare for the challenges of a changing coastline. The Dialogue will build on and increase cooperation for protecting natural resources and the economy in response to the effects of global warming. Free event. Seating is limited so please reserve your seats now. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33716.

Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays October-May; 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food & gourmet products. The mission of the Tampa Downtown Market is to serve as a community-gathering place where local farmers, producers, and artisans can offer fresh agricultural and related products to generate a sense of local pride and further the economic development of Downtown Tampa. With a strong focus on sustainability, the Tampa Downtown Market intends to provide a vehicle to educate the community on the importance of good health as we create more business opportunities and residential benefits. Located in Lykes Gaslight Square- Tampa St. & Kennedy Blvd., Downtown Tampa.

2009 Audubon Assembly- Friday and Saturday, October 23-24. Come and enjoy two days of Audubon fellowship. Connect with nature and birds on expert-led and self-guided field trips. Celebrate Audubon chapter milestones, too: St. Petersburg Audubon turns 100 and Clearwater Audubon is 50 this year. Deepen your knowledge at exciting learning sessions. And share your stories of how climate change is affecting your life and the places you care about. See the full Assembly schedule. Register here. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33716.

Green Halloween- Friday, October 23; 3:30-6:30 pm. Who says Halloween has to be unhealthy? And who says healthy can’t be fun? Green Halloween® is about making Halloween happy and healthy and about creating community traditions we can all be proud of. Divine Events will host Tampa’s inaugural Green Halloween on Friday, October 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Hyde Park Village. Event activities include a pumpkin patch cake walk, bobbing for organic apples, make your own Halloween bag out of old TBPM magazines, “best green costume” contest, and much more! National Sponsors Cascadian Farms, Glee Gum, Larabar & Surf Sweets will be providing healthy snacks for kids. Divine Events will also be collecting used children’s Halloween costumes, in good condition, to donate to The Alpha House of Tampa for use by less fortunate children. Local sponsors include Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine, Seedlings, My Green Home, and Nicole Geller Photography.  To read all about Green Halloween® and find fun events near you, visit GreenHalloween.org/Tampa. You can learn how to get involved locally, sign up for the super nifty newsletter, and share DIY costume ideas, recipes, and more on the new discussion board. There’s even a trick-or-treat bag design contest for kids! For more information visit www.greenhalloween.org/tampa or contact Barbara Keskiner at barbara@divinetampa.com or 727.403.5868.
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“I’m from Tampa Bay area. I read your blog. For a couple of nights now I have been having a recurring dream. I keep seeing a line of cockroaches crawling on the floor and I kill them. What exactly does this means?” (sic)

If you think of the cockroach as a symbol you can begin to make some connections for yourself. Here’s one: I worked with a guy that dreamed of cockroaches all the time. He dreamed they were coming out of his pores. Well, when we began to look at connections he admitted to smoking pot.  For the unenlightened reader (and perhaps yourself) the very small end of a joint (marijuana cigarette) is called a roach. As we talked more about it he admitted he smoked a lot of pot. He smoked so much pot he had become a pothead. His dream was a warning get-a-clue dream.

Archetypally, a cockroach is a symbol of dirt and filth. It also represents the insect version of a rat and is tied to abandonment (i.e. rats leaving a sinking ship). It is believed that cockroaches and rats will inherit the earth; they are that indestructible as a species. Sometimes in dreams words need to be separated, so cockroach becomes cock and roach. Read the rest of this entry »

On October 24, people from Tampa will join Greenpeace to hear the importance of acting now for the climate and gather together to take a stand for the climate and a clean energy future as part of the largest global day of climate action ever.

The event is one of more than 3,000 events in over 150 countries to call on President Obama and other world leaders to secure a fair, ambitious and binding global deal in Copenhagen this December at the UN Climate Change Conference. Greenpeace is calling on President Obama to lead the world toward a solution to the climate crisis that is based on the latest science, not the demands of oil and coal companies and their backers in Congress.
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It’s time to move from wondering what’s Slow Food to questioning Slow Money. Like enjoying locally-grown food, slow money is about making your investments local, “bringing money back down to earth,” says Woody Tasch. For deeper digging, there’s his book, Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered. No time? Check out why the Wall Street Journal considers slow money a local hedge fund.

In early September, over 450 people from 34 states and six countries showed up in Santa Fe for the Slow Money Inaugural National Gathering. If you missed it, they are slowly putting workshops videos up on their web site.
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Capitol/EMI has done little with the Beatles’ music since 1987, when it first re-released the foursome’s catalog and did little to ensure the sound quality stood up to the transfer from vinyl to disc; 2004’s The Capitol Albums, Vol. 1 and the soundtrack to Cirque de Soleil’s Love revealed just how good the Beatles’ songs could sound when given the right treatment.

This Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09) is an important date for Fab Four fans – The Beatles: Rock Band hits the racks along with long-awaited, much-anticipated digitally-remastered versions of all of the Beatles’ studio albums. This re-release encompasses Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles for Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be, Yellow Submarine as well as Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters Vol. I and II packaged as a single collection. Each album features the songs and artwork as they were originally released in the U.K. and come with expanded booklets of rare photos and original and newly-inked liner notes. For a limited time, each of the 14 albums will also be “embedded” with a brief documentary about its making. There are all kinds of other tasty bonuses that I won’t go into here, but I will tell share some info with you about some special events being held all over town in honor of the re-release. Read the rest of this entry »

This week, life threw a massive curve ball at Creative Loafing Media. Taken over by the NYC-based hedge fund to whom we owed a ton of money, each employee processed the news in a different way: sadness, optimism, relief. Me? I got shit-faced. On great wine. I figured if my family’s legacy is going down [my parents founded Creative Loafing and my brother was CEO until last Tuesday], I should consume voluminous amounts of quality juice. Fast. However, the questioned remained … which ones? So many choices, so little time to race and get to the promised land.

Obviously, I needed something high in alcohol. These sorts of wines emerge from hot areas, where the grapes grow fat with sugar and the resulting wine has more punch (sugar converts to alcohol in fermentation). Napa, Sonoma, Barossa Valley (Australia), Washington State (yes, there are areas where it isn’t miserably rainy), and a host of other delicious choices for the perfect Zen state of non-thought. 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 last week:

Finding an emotional connection with our planet- Doing so allows us to look at what our needs are in life and what is of the highest and greatest importance to us and our environment.

Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll 2009: The race for Greenest Politician has Linda Saul-Sena in the lead- Who do you think should take the title of this year’s Greenest Politician in the Bay?

Clean energy and anti-offshore drilling rally in Ybor this Thursday- Thursday, August 27th, join Sierra Club, 1Sky Florida, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other environmental groups for a real grassroots rally outside Big Oil’s staged gathering.
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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Caribbean Night at Greenwise- Friday, August 28; 4-7 pm. Join us for this storewide event and sample the food, wine and music from the Caribbean. Publix Greenwise Market- 2403 W. Azeele St., Tampa. 813-250-0129.

Kayak/Yoga Outing- Saturday, August 29; 7-10 am. Roger McKeever guides a 45 minute kayak trip to an island where he leads a yoga flow practice on a beautiful, secluded beach. Bring lunch and enjoy a picnic upon return to shore. $55 (w/ kayak), $45 (if you bring your own kayak). Meet at Fort DeSoto Causeway. Space is limited; reservations required: 813.961.3160.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

Saturday Summer Market- every Saturday through September 19; 9 am-1pm. Brought to you by the Saturday Morning Market, this market features the same great vendors (food, crafts, art) as the original market, but this one’s in the shade of the Mahaffey Theatre parking garage. 400 1st St S., St. Petersburg. (which is just 2-3 block south of our current location at Al Lang stadium).
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Would you like to stand up against the Big Oil and Big Energy companies and oppose offshore drilling of the Gulf Coast? Would you like to support Clean Energy and green jobs in the Bay area? Then help make a difference and make your voice heard by attending this Clean Energy rally on Thursday in Ybor:

The American Petroleum Institute, a lobbying front group for Big Oil and other energy industries, is orchestrating staged “grassroots rallies” to try and stop the Clean Energy and Climate Bill from passing the U.S. Senate. The press calls these rallies “astroturf”: manufactured grassroots. This Thursday, August 27th, join Sierra Club, 1Sky Florida, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other environmental groups for a real grassroots rally outside Big Oil’s staged gathering.

WHEN & WHERE: Meet beforehand at 9:30 am at La Tropicana Café, 1822 East 7th Ave. for some for great cuban coffee! The “Energy Citizens’” event begins at 11:00 am at The RITZ YBOR theatre, and we will counter rally out front at 1503 East 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 (there is a shady area where we’ll be).
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The race for the title of Greenest Politician in the Bay area is neck and neck so far, with Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena of Tampa just two votes ahead of Councilman Karl Nurse of St. Petersburg. Behind them are Councilwoman Mary Mulhern and Rep. Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg; Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Gov. Crist bring up the rear of this race.

(Editor’s Note: Ralph Nader and Al Gore are not residents of the Bay area, thus not qualifying for this race – so please don’t bother voting for them again.)

Who do you think should take the title? You have less than a week to vote (the poll ends Aug. 31). Vote now!

[About Daily Best of the Bay: Creative Loafing is posting writers' and editors' picks for Best of the Bay 2009 each day until the BOTB issue is released on Sept. 16. Vote now for your own BOTB choices in our Readers' Poll!]

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

Fixing sprawl and redesigning suburbia- Grant Rimbey CNU explores a possible strategy towards improving existing sprawl. Fixing the sprawl that we have, along with sprawl demolition and recycling, are strategies that could be employed in the future as a new green industry.

Nation’s largest solar facility to be in DeSoto County by next year- Florida Power and Light is currently building the nation’s largest photovoltaic plant in DeSoto County, a $173.5 million, 25 megawatt solar generating facility.

Fresh: New Thinking About What We’re Eating screening – What’s wrong with the mega-industrial food industry- Struggling small farms, problems with food safety rules and the mega-industrial food industry, and a film about all of the above.
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It’s the stupid economy.

Apparently the dour economy is to blame for the revolting headlines inviting readers to delve into the details of men killing babies, beating and raping women and murdering their families.

That’s according to the U.S. Department of Justice report, “When Violence Hits Home: How Economics and Neighborhood Play a Role.”

And David Braughton, chief executive officer of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, would be the first to agree.

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Tampa Bay Green Drinks is relaunching and their first networking event is being held Wednesday, August 19 in Ybor at 6 pm.

Tampa Bay Green Drinks is relaunching! Join us on August 19, 2009 at 6:00pm at the Roosevelt, a green building in Ybor City located at 1812 N. 15th St.

The Roosevelt showcases a multitude of environmentally sustainable and preferable construction techniques and systems. Meet other professionals in various “green” businesses for networking and discussion. We encourage you to bring anyone interested in green building to check out the progress being made at the Roosevelt to see just what is possible. Wine and beer will be provided.

What is Green Drinks?

Green Drinks is a social networking group that brings together corporate, government, ngo, non-profit and interested people who want to learn about environmentally responsible practices and other related topics. Our goal at Tampa Bay Green Drinks is to bring together the Tampa Bay community to keep “green” moving forward in our community.
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Datz Deli: Salt of the Earth. Despite what some may say, Datz wants to teach you that “from fleur de sel to kosher, all salts are not created equal.” Learn how to use this humble ingredient to enhance the flavors of every bite you eat. Free. 6 p.m., 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-7000)

Z Grille: Offers 1/2 price bottles of wine every Monday, to go with its fantastic food, which you can enjoy on the cheap as well with this new happy hour food deal: 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 last week:

Sustainable beer 101: A guide to growlers- Benefits of refillable beer jugs far exceed the lure of fresh tap beer.

Refresh your mind, body and spirit by reconnecting with nature- Living in such a busy world these days overloaded with technology leaves little time to get back to the basics and connect with the planet we live on. Take some time out of your busy schedule and reconnect with nature, which will balance you physically, mentally and spiritually.

Ronald McDonald gets a pie in the face from PETA protester- Ronald McDonald takes one in the kisser from a PETA protester who is against McDonald’s “controlled-atmosphere killing” of chickens.

St. Petersburg College and Tampa Bay green building chapter announce partnership- St Petersburg College’s Corporate Training Office announced a partnership with the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter (FGCC) of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a comprehensive sustainable building operations training course based on the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system.
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Aug 13-16. Fetish Con. A fetish trade show. Featured appearances by comic book artists and writer George Perez, industry speaker and legal representative Robert B. Nussbaum, the original “Michael Meyers” Tony Moran, and Tonya Kay from Season 1 of “Who Wants to be a Super Hero.” Guests of honor: Stacy Burke Spokesmodel, Paris Kennedy, Kendra James, Maxine X, Emily Addison, Rubberdoll, Jean Bardot, Jade Indica, Paige Richards, Jewell Marceau, and Anastasia Pierce. Lectures and demonstrations: how to be a successful model, the federal record keeping statue, intro to bondage photography, self-puppeteer rope bondage suspension demo, predicament bondage, the art of body plastering, the art of cupping, the first amendment and obscenity law, super heroine showdown III, creating a presence via social networks, BDSM for the disabled, pain is for pleasure not injury, beginning rope bondage suspension, rope bondage for porn, fan photo shoot, and private dungeon play space. 18+. $20-55. Fetishcon.com. Read the rest of this entry »

After debating STD rates this weekend despite the fact that I had no solid evidence, I decided to research the matter. Below is a brief overview of the STD situation in the bay area. Keep in mind that while some of these rates may seem low, they are significantly higher among sexually active demographics.

According to Avert.org, in 2007 the Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater area reported 11,754 AIDS/HIV cases. For every 100,000 people, 17.2 people are living with the disease, or roughly 0.017 % of the total population. Read the rest of this entry »

St Petersburg College’s Corporate Training Office announced a partnership with the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter (FGCC) of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a comprehensive sustainable building operations training course based on the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system.

The course will be available August 17th.

According to the USGBC, LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M is the tool for the operation and maintenance of commercial and institutional buildings.  The certification system identifies and rewards best practices and describes ways for using less energy, water and natural resources; for improving indoor environment; and for uncovering operating inefficiencies. 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 last week:

St. Petersburg College’s new Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building is certified LEED® Gold- St. Petersburg College recently announced that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings.

Best of the Bay of the Day: Best organic smoothie- Believe it or not, algae and bee pollen add up to a delicious drink called the Spirulina Power Buzz. Read this to find out where to get one.

Tips to improve gas mileage (and save some green)- Do you have a lead foot or drive an inefficient automobile?  Here are a few simple tips to improve gas mileage and save a bunch of green!

Living Sustainably in Tampa Bay: Darren Brinkley, owner of REAL Building- Brinkley is the owner of REAL Building and home that he built for his family in St. Petersburg is the first home in Florida to achieve the LEED for Homes Gold Rating.
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This week, Brian and Taylor invite PoHo Wayne Garcia in for a special food-related recession session. We drink vodka flavored with baby aspirin and discuss the reduction in creamy splooge at Dunkin Donuts, SoHo Sushi’s so so sushi, Taylor’s list of recession wines, and the problems restaurants are having in this economy.

Download the episode here.

This column is the second in a series of profiles of people who do their part to live more sustainably in Tampa Bay.

Darren Brinkley doesn’t pretend to be the most environmentally responsible person in the world or the Tampa Bay area. He just feels that he is trying to do his part to preserve the world around him.

Brinkley is the owner of REAL Building, which stands for ‘Responsible, Efficient, Attainable, and Livable Building’. REAL Building only builds green homes, unlike many other companies that will build green only if the client dictates it. 

“We don’t build anything that isn’t green,” Brinkley proclaimed. “We have now mandated some form of rainwater and/or greywater and solar water heaters on all our residential projects.”

“We are constantly searching for new and innovative ideas and going the extra mile to bring them to our market, even if it means rocking the boat with a few building officials along the way,” added Brinkley. 
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You can’t beat an ass kicking rock concert with a female bombshell.  Monday night Green Day, the Rabid One and a Punk Rock Princess I met on Craigslist almost melted down the former Ice Palace. (CL PHOTO review here) The Grammy winning band, last in Tampa four years ago on the ‘American Idiot’ tour, showed us why we missed them so much.  And the stranger I took showed me just how much I miss wild nights without expectations.

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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

Dunedin Green Market- Saturday, August 8; 8 am- 12 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs the second Saturday of every month until October.

Grand Reopening Events at Whole Foods Market Tampa- Saturday, August 1:
-Free Continental Breakfast: 8-9 am. Free Complimentary continental breakfast for Whole Foods Market customers from 8-9 am prior to store opening while supplies last. Meet and Greet with our store community partners. Store Patio.
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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturday, July 25; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

People’s Use of Plants Through Time- Saturday, July 25; 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Join us for an engaging ethnobotany class and hike to learn about native plants and their many uses.  Humans have traditionally used plants for food, shelter, tools, and medicine.  Learn about the natural and cultural history of common Florida plants.  Call us for more information and to register.  This program is free and open to the public. Recommended for adults. Weedon Island Preserve- 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

Gulfport Green Market- Saturday, July 25; 10 am-5 pm. Gulfport Goes Green is Tampa Bay’s premier monthly street fair and expo focused on green and healthy living, eco-consciousness and sustainability.  It is a free public gathering in the Gulfport, Florida and welcomes all ages on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10AM through 5PM in the Gulfport Waterfront District.  This July 25 activities will include:computer recycling by the Gulfport Technology Center, clothing swap hosted by LocalShops1.com to benefit Salvation Army, book swap coordinated by Small Adventure Books, green vendors and informational presentations, household battery recycling at The Outpost, Herbalwise offering information on herbal remedies and how to start your own backyard herb garden. Gulfport Florida Waterfront District (Beach Boulevard south of 28th Ave S).
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

TRA’shion Fashion and Art Show 2009 (photos) – The fabulous trashionistas were out in force for ARTpool’s annual TRA’shion Show, and photographer Chip Weiner caught all the recycled green glamour.

Letting go of addictions: Using alternative methods to release addictions of any type- Kelly Rothwell gives us alternative methods such as energetic healing, visualizations and affirmations, that can be used to not only cope with such addictions but to understand the reason behind the addiction and let it go for good.

Living sustainably in Tampa Bay: Dave Starman’s biodiesel fueled car and green lifestyle – The first in a series of profiles, by Jack B., of individuals who are living sustainably in Tampa Bay. This profiles Tampa Bay resident Dave Starman.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Pete Times Forum employees and staff members participated in a “River Cleanup this morning - cleaning the shoreline and water’s edge of the Garrison Channel around the Cotanchobee Park.

Wearing shirts saying “Together We Will”, the group picked up trash and debris in the park and river areas.

It’s great to hear about individuals, groups and companies doing “the green thing” and setting an example for others to do the same. Whether its picking up trash, planting trees, or even donating money to green charitable causes, many people are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

Celebrating Independence Day or creating environmental disaster? – Kelly Rothwell looks at the littered aftermath of Fourth of July celebrations and wonder why, instead of giving back in celebration of their freedom, people decide to light off fireworks, leaving mass amounts of debris in the water and on the beach.

Local Food: Dinner in, and from, the garden at Gateway Organic Farm – Chef Gui Alinat gives information about Gateway Organic Farm’s next “Dinner in the Garden” event, an incredible local foods experience featuring nine Bay area chefs.

Read the rest of this entry »

She’s not, seriously.  However, the pop princess DID sit down with Cosmopolitan, the magazine that knows more orgasm secrets than professional sex workers, for a fun little interview and photo shoot.  And, as you may have already guessed, The Rabid One would love to wear Ms. Perry’s cherry chapstick.

Here are some lovely excerpts from the piece: Read the rest of this entry »

On Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 pm, Gateway Organic Farm will present its 2nd Dinner in the Garden. It’s difficult to find true farm-to-table experiences in Tampa Bay, despite the growing interest in local food. Note that Gateway Organic Farm is the only organic farm in hyper-developed Pinellas County and one of two (count’em!) organic farms in Tampa Bay.

What’s the Dinner in the Garden?

Nine chefs and the farmers have one vision: harvesting and preparing a six-course dinner, with wine, in a greenhouse overlooking the garden. Chefs Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill, Matt Tracy of St. Petersburg Yacht Club, Chris Knowles of Sea Sea Riders, Gui Alinat of chefgui.com (that’s me), Peter Leonavicius of Toasted Pheasant, pastry chef Cathleen Ryan (Gateway Farm Chef/Pastry Girl consultant) , Bobby Mayo of Sideberns, Thomas Kerns and Terry Harding, will feature fresh organic vegetables from the farm, along with local and organic meat, sustainable fish, and fine wines.

But the most entertaining experience for the guests, beside tasting from-the-ground local ingredients, is the chance to socialize with the nine chefs, as well as the farmers and local producer, who actually dine with them. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

photo courtesy of chefgui.com

(CL has written about Tampa raw milk a few times — here and here – but it’s always nice to have a different perspective.)

The sale of un-pasteurized milk is illegal in most states, including ours. But with techniques reminiscent of the Prohibition era, aficionados use a Florida loophole to get their ways. Raw milk sale for human consumption is against the law; buying raw milk for your pet (wink, wink!) is, however, perfectly legal.

Call farmers and tell them Sparky, your Bichon Frise, would enjoy a gallon of raw milk, and they will Fed Ex it in no time. What happens at home, behind closed doors, well, happens at home behind closed doors.

Under the so-called “pet law”, approximately 1500 gallons of raw milk are delivered to the Tampa Bay area weekly. An underground, parallel micro-economy!

I talked to many farmers and raw-milk-drinking Bichon Frise owners. One chiropractic doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, — and whose passion is “in how traditional cultures have used foods to maintain excellent health” — says he himself orders about a gallon a week, delivered in a co-op fashion to certain distribution points. Raw milk speakeasies? Read the rest of this entry »

Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Whole Foods: Destination Date Night- Fri., June 19. Comedy, plus wine and cheese tasting. Singles and couples are treated to an hour long variety adventure while enjoying a wine and cheese tasting from Whole Foods Market. Registration required- RSVP: at store lobby or to sherell.white@wholefoods.com. Whole Foods Market- 1548 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-874-9435

The World Cafe: Connecting People Through Conversations That Matter- Fri., June 19. Every Fri., 7:30 pm promptly; Starbucks at 4th St. N. & 89th Ave N., St. Pete (just south of Gandy Blvd.); RSVP to Pat at 727.421.2746 or goodpat@tampabay.rr.com

Plant Some Trees with the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins- Sat., June 20. What better way to kick off the summertime then to plant a few trees with some fun, kick-ass girls? Come out to Little Bayou Park at 9am on Saturday, June 20th to help the girls out in their first full fledged green event! Planting supplies will be provided but please do not forget to bring your sunscreen, water to keep hydrated (we are in Florida in June people), and gloves! The girls have promised that they will only ruffle your feathers upon request! 9 am, Little Bayou Park- 4th Street South and 55th Avenue South in St. Petersburg.

Guided Hike at Weedon Island- Sat., June 20. Guided hikes through coastal mangrove and upland ecosystems of the Preserve are held each Saturday of the month. Join us to learn about the coastal environment and the early residents of Weedon Island Preserve. Be sure to bring water and a snack for this 2-hour hike. A hat and closed-toe shoes are also recommended. Reserve your space by 2 pm on the Friday prior to the tour of choice. This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Recommended ages: 6 and up. Call (727) 453-6500 for more information and to register. 9 a.m.-11 a.m.; Weedon Island Preserve.

Guided Hike at Brooker Creek- Sat., June 20. Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75-mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome – children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging. Call (727) 453-6800 for more information and to register. 9am-11am; Brooker Creek Preserve.

Lose Your Lawn and Go Native: Native Plant Tour and Talk- Sat., June 20. Talking about native alternatives to your lawn with a garden tour of the nursery at Twigs & Leaves Garden Center. Every Saturday, 10 am; 1013 9th Street (Dr. MLK Jr. Street) South in St. Petersburg 33705, 727.822.5400; free.

Compost Happens- Sat., June 20. Join Master Gardener John Kingsbury for this informative workshop to learn how easy composting can be. Just add your kitchen scraps to your yard clippings and compost happens! To register for this free program, visit http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/ and click on the “Online Class Registration” button or call (727) 582-2100. 10 a.m.; Pinellas County Extension 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

Environmental Justice Conference- Sat., June 20. Environmental Justice/Conservation and “We The People”. The School of Urban and Regional Planning is co-hosting an Environmental Justice Conference at the Broward County Main Library Auditorium. During the Conference we will discuss the progress that has been made with regard to the 2001 Economic and Environmental Equity Program Management Plan that was part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. In addition, we will discuss how we can make sure that the needs of low income and minority communities will be addressed in the future. For more information, please call Linda Foster at 954.762.5652. 10 am-3 pm; Broward County Main Library Auditorium, 100 South Andrews, Fort Lauderdale; free, with lunch included.

Living Foods Made Easy- Sat., June 20. A free raw foods class with Chef Joseph Custer. Feat. Southwest Chili and Avocado-Kale Salad. 11 am; Nature’s Food Patch- 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6706; free.

Whole Foods Private Label Storewide Tasting- Sat., June 20. A storewise block party featuring Whole Foods Market’s private label products- 365. Active demos in every department, valuable tips, recipes and tasty samples. 1-3 pm; Whole Foods Market- 1548 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-874-9435; free event.

Whole Foods: Decorate a Cake for Dad- Sat., June 20. Kids Father’s Day Cake Decorating Event. Whole Foods will provide the cakes and decorations. Adults must accompany kids 8 and under. Class limited to 20, RSVP: at store lobby or to sherell.white@wholefoods.com. 3-4 pm.; Whole Foods Market- 1548 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-874-9435

New Zealand Wine Tasting at Greenwise Market- Sat., June 20. Try these unique wines at the Greenwise Wine Shop. Free. June 20, 4-7 pm; 2403 W. Azeele St., Tampa.

Summer Solstice Party- Sat., June 20. A community celebration for all ages during the longest day of the year with activities, food, beverages, live music and a native plant sale. Sat., June 20, all day event; Twigs and Leaves- 1013 9th Street (Dr. MLK Jr. Street) South in St. Petersburg 33705, 727.822.5400; free

Obviously, a top 10 list is — by definition — a big generalization. But it is fair to say that the following is pretty accurate in the restaurant industry. And of course, the assumptions in the following list vary with the kind, location and standards of the restaurants, as well as the level of professionalism of the chef.

• There is no such a thing as ‘fresh fish’.

Let’s define “fresh fish”. I remember the days when I worked on a Mediterranean island in the south of France. I’d walk down to the harbor in the morning to meet with fishermen just back from the sea. They’d show me the catch, I would buy whatever I liked and I’d walk back to the restaurant. And I’d served the fish. That’s fresh fish.
I’ll take an educated guess and say that 80% of the restaurants in your town buy previously frozen fish. “Frozen”, not “fresh”. While we’re at it, 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 »

Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Guided Canoe Trip at Weedon Island Preserve- Friday, June 12. Take this opportunity to explore a portion of the south canoe trail at Weedon Island Preserve. This trail offers a rare look at some of the aquatic ecosystems that make west-central Florida so special. Trained canoe guides lead you through mangrove stands and over seagrass and oyster beds, while pointing out various flora and fauna that live here. If you have never explored the Preserve from the water, this is an exciting opportunity you don’t want to miss! The cost for this unique experience is $14.02 per person plus tax ($15 total) or $28.04 per canoe plus tax ($30 total) (maximum of 3 people per canoe). Spaces fill quickly, and pre-registration is required. Minimum age: Children must be 6 years old or older and all minors must be accompanied by an adult. Call(727) 453-6500 for more information and to register. Weedon Island Preserve- 1500 Weedon Dr NE, St Petersburg.

Dutch Approach to Climate Change: A Dialogue with Tampa Bay- Friday, June 12. To open a dialogue on knowledge exchange between the Tampa Bay region and the Dutch water sector on approaches to adapt our cities and infrastructure to potential consequences of climate change. Target audience: Water resource managers, urban planners, utility managers, municipal administrators, infrastructure engineers, members of Tampa Bay community. Gain new insight into how the integration of water management, land use planning, infrastructure engineering and hazard planning can prepare Tampa Bay for potential consequences of climate change. For questions related to workshop content, please contact Dr. Daniel Yeh (dhyeh@eng.usf.edu ) 813.974.4746. Please also see the site for the latest agenda. The event is free but registration is required due to limited seating. Please RSVP: Ms. Bessie Skoures (bskoures@cas.usf.edu ) 813-974-1256. Gibbons Alumni Center, University of South Florida, Tampa.
Read the rest of this entry »