Daily Loaf

“Hi!  I live in Tampa. A while ago, I dreamt that I was getting married. Everything seemed to be normal at the wedding, until I looked at a picture that someone had taken. My gown was black, as were my bridesmaids. The whole male wedding party was also wearing nothing but black! I’m only 14 years old, don’t have a boyfriend, and definitely DON’T want to be married. Can you tell me what this means?” (sic)

It’s interesting that at an age when young girls fantasize about boys, weddings, marriage, etc., you are sooo adamant that you DON’T want to get married.  What’s up with that?

I’ll tell you. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s depressing to think that much of the music I grew up with and love is now considered classic rock. The name “classic rock” evokes an image of elderly rockers, banging out overplayed tunes that can often be heard in the aisles of the local Publix. I suppose I take it a bit personally because I don’t think of myself as old. But, as my daughter once pointed out, most old people don’t. It’s a disturbing trend that goes right along with the recent revelation that my first car, a 1975 Mustang, is now considered an antique and items from my childhood show up on Antiques Roadshow from time to time. Maybe, when I finally give in to old age, these things won’t affect me so much. But don’t expect that to happen any time soon.

Friday night’s triple bill at the Ford Amphitheatre featured REO Speedwagon, Styx and Nightranger, all of whom qualify for the classic rock moniker. Still, despite this branding, these three bands managed to convince thousands of people to hand over their hard-earned money in exchange for a few hours of music and fun. In these tough economic times, that have seen the cancellation of many big name tours, this feat is one that should not be dismissed as a fluke or written off as a trip down memory lane. This was an old fashioned rock show that had the crowd on their feet dancing and screaming all night long. Even the weather held out and offered comfortable temperatures and a cool breeze.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Dream Momma, I am a 45-year-old, married, black female professional living in Tampa. I have been having an online “affair,” if you will call it that, for 3 years with a white man. My husband, who is also a professional, travels a lot with his job. I have met my online lover, and although we have shared embraces, we have not shared a bed.

This dream begins with me on my bed and my husband in the sitting room that is off our bedroom. There is a curtain there, so I cannot actually see him but I hear him as he moves about. He is watching TV. My lover enters my bedroom wearing just a long tee shirt and crawls onto the bed with me. I am not surprised to see him; it is as if he does this often. He snuggles up behind me and is very amorous. I am watching the crack in the curtain. I suggest that we go to another room.

We go the bathroom that is just beyond my laundry room. There is a cot set up for him. He apparently stays here often. But the washer has been moved into the bathroom and I am concerned that my husband will come into this room to tend to the washer. So I am emptying the washer and taking clothes from the toilet(?) that appear to be clean. I am trying frantically to stay ahead of my husband in thought.

I hear him come into the laundry room and he is doing something with the dryer. My lover is starting to say something and I am signaling him not to talk but he continues to whisper. My husband is close enough that I could touch him if there were no wall and I am almost crazed that I can’t seem to make my lover understand that he should not talk AT ALL.

He finally makes me understand that he has left his belt out in the house somewhere. He thinks maybe my bedroom, and he is not sure where his pants are. My head is about spin off as I try to imagine where he might have left his things and if I can get to them before my husband sees them – as they are not the same body types and do not share a sense of style. Help me understand this dream please.” (sic)

Dream Momma will try. The first thing that is of significance is the fact that whenever your husband appears in the dream there is something concrete between you (a curtain, a wall). That is important. It means there IS something between you in real, waking, life that is interfering with marital intimacy (and Dream Momma doesn’t mean just sex). Read the rest of this entry »

Former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) bantamweight champion, Miguel Torres, will host a mixed martial arts (MMA) seminar at World Class Martial Arts in Tampa on Nov. 12, 2009 from 8-10 p.m. Cost is $50 per person.

The seminar is open to anyone regardless of gym affiliation and experience. Torres, who is one of the best MMA fighters in the world pound-for-pound,  teaches some of the most effective MMA stand-up and ground techniques. He has over 15 years of fighting experience and an impressive professional fight record of 37 wins and only two losses. These numbers don’t include his equally amazing amateur fight record, though.

Torres only recently lost his bantamweight throne to Brian Bowles at WEC 42 in August of this year after an 18-months-reign and three successful title defenses against Yoshiro Maeda, Manny Tapia and Takeya Mizugaki. Rumor has it that he might change weight class and fight for the UFC in the near future. Other speculations include a rematch and de-throning of Brian Bowles, of course.

Watch the WEC highlights video of Torres after the break. Read the rest of this entry »

Late this afternoon, just hours before controversial reggae singer Buju Banton’s concert at the Cuban Club in Ybor City was to take place, an emergency meeting was held inside radio station WMNF.

Banton’s song “Boom Bye Bye” advocates gay-bashing and murder, and has led  to a letter-writing campaign by the LGBT group  Equality Florida to protest Banton’s shows in Jacksonville, Miami and in Ybor City.

WMNF has had a relationship with the Cuban Club for years, using the facility for their popular Heatwave concerts.  But after one board member reportedly questioned whether that relationship should continue because of the controversy over Banton, Station Manager Jim Bennett called a meeting at 4p.m. on Friday.

Representing the Cuban Club was La Gaceta editor and publisher Patrick Manteiga, who sits on the Executive Committee of the Foundation Board of the Cuban Club.

The Cuban Club booked the show earlier this week after the show was canceled at the Ritz Theatre and Jannus Landing.  During a discussion with Bennett, Equality Florida’s Brian Winfield and several staff and board members of WMNF, Manteiga said the promoter had come to the Cuban Club because the Ritz had not sold many tickets for the event.

But others say that the Ritz wanted nothing to do with the show.

Manteiga said in the last 24 hours, Cuban Club board members had received some hate e-mail for booking the show.  He said that no one with the Club had any clue about the controversy surrounding Banton.

“What we’ve done is ask this artist not to perform this song, we’ve increased the deposit, and if he performs this song, we’ll keep the deposit,” Manteiga said.  He also said that the promoter agreed to pay for three additional police officers to staff the event.

Brian Winfield of Equality Florida told CL that his group was not satisfied with the Cuban Club agreeing to let the show go on, saying they were literally giving him a platform to deliver his hateful message toward gays and lesbians.

Winfield said he was not there to dictate to WMNF what their policy should be toward Banton (WMNF Program Director Randy Wynne said the station has only played “Boom Bye Bye” one time, and has a policy of not airing it.  But he says that they do play other songs from his repertoire.  During the meeting, he said “the bulk of his material does not reflect his message.”)

“We’re asking  community members and leaders like WMNF to stand up and clearly stand against the murderous message that Buju Banton represents and incites violence against gay people,” Winfield said.

He said that his group had no intention of protesting in front of the Cuban Club for Friday night’s performance.

(Full disclosure.  This reporter was a staff member of WMNF for over 9 years, and still does volunteer work with the station).

“Dream Momma, I’m a senior at a college in Tampa. We check out your blog once in a while so I thought I would write. In my dream I was taking a really hard test but i showed up late. No one seemed to care. Just about everyone was finished and walking out of this very casual class room which reminded me more of a lounge then anything. I hadn’t even started this huge booklet which contained all the tests to all my classes. All of a sudden this unknown guy shows up and starts spitting out the answers which I didn’t want to get in trouble for listening to. Then it faded out…” (sic)

This dream symbolizes both your casual attitude and your confidence about your education. Dream Momma deduces that you are Read the rest of this entry »

“Well, I’ll start of with the basics you’ll need to know to understand how this is so confusing to me. All my life i’ve constantly been told by girls “i only like you as a friend” There this girl in real life who i really like, but we’re just friends, best friends to be exact, and i’m totally fine with that. In fact, i am great with it because relationships often die out but friendships don’t. She is in my dreams almost every night, but last night, “she was in my dream but only in the background a couple of times and we spoke a little bit. The strangest part is now, there was this girl in my dream (who i don’t know in real life, she was obviously made up in my dreamland) who is completely not my type in looks and personality. But for some reason i started to like her, a lot, and just as i was getting the courage up to ask her on a date, she makes it very clear that we’re just friends. Not only that, but one of my childhood friends who i am still currently friends with also liked her but she also only liked him as a friend too, but i was willing to go behind his back to go on a date with the girl who we both liked (and i wouldn’t do that in real life, i’m not that kind of guy)” (sic)

Dream Momma likes this dream because it is such a good example of the sexual shadow at work. Read the rest of this entry »

Cafe Dufrain
3 stars
707 Harbour Post Drive, Tampa, 813-275-9701 or cafedufrain.com

One glance at Cafe Dufrain’s new menu — which is still evolving — and you can see where new chef Ferrell Alvarez has come from. Alvarez spent the last seven years next to Marty Blitz in the kitchens of Mise En Place, Chef de Cuisine in Tampa’s grande dame of modern American dining. He moved over the bridge to Harbour Island this summer to serve his own brand of cuisine in the casually elegant restaurant with expansive views across the water, at prices that are much more comfortable to the pocketbook than his former home.

I can recognize Blitz’s influence, though, just by reading Alvarez’s entree list, each entry topped by a bland protein — veal flank steak, Korean short ribs — followed by a procession of fabulous-sounding concoctions that always seem more interesting than the headliner. Polenta sandwich, duo of kimchi, “loaded” frites. Ordering becomes a gut-wrenching choice between groups of side dishes you don’t want to miss. Can I order several plates of accompaniments, hold the protein?

Those sides, which list ingredients and techniques that range from North African preserved lemon to the aforementioned kimchi, illustrate Alavarez’s excitement and vision. It’s modern food that flirts with trends without being trendy, unique enough to stand out in Tampa’s stifled dining scene, with a flair for gorgeous presentation on the table. All of that sets the bar rather high, however, for when you finally put fork to mouth. Read the rest of this entry »

Last Saturday (October 24) was the International Day of Climate Action — the biggest day of grassroots action on global warming ever. People from over 180 countries participated in different ways to show our world leaders that we want them to establish stricter rules on global carbon emissions when they meet in Copenhagen in December to reach an agreement on a new climate treaty.

There were over 5,200 events staged internationally and over 19,000 photos taken of the various events that day — from the US to India, Australia to Iceland. See photos submitted to Greenpeace, the Huffington Post, TreeHugger, and check out 350.org’s page for photos and current updates of the movement.
Read the rest of this entry »

“’m a guy who lives in Tampa. I don’t remember my dreams often, but I had one a few weeks ago that was rather disturbing It was 2012 and I found myself voting for Richard Nixon, who had somehow gotten his name on the ballot again, instead of voting for Obama like I wanted to. Very strange. I hope it doesn’t mean I’m a closet Republican or something.

Let’s see, when I think of Richard Nixon, I suppose I think of dishonesty, an inflamed ego, and a bit of paranoia. I watched “Frost/Nixon” a few weeks ago so he may have been fresh in my mind from that The name Richard doesn’t really mean anything to me.

A friend of mine said he was going to nominate me as president in 2012  I was going to run as the Bull Moose Party, but I decided against it. I wouldn’t want to take away any votes from Obama.” (sic)

Dream Momma just loves this dream. It is so easy to connect the dots I’m surprised you haven’t done so. I suspect it’s because you are a closet something but not a Republican. You, my prime-of-life dreamer, are a closet hot-for-Sarah-Palin. Read the rest of this entry »

Gratzzi’s not dead yet! CineBistro ups the ante on beer and fries theaters! The Table will not be The Spot, or will it? Primi changes owners, but not much else!

Read on for all the details!

Gratzzi closed up shop in Baywatch a few weeks back, right around the same time that Pacific Wave closed on the other side of Downtown St. Pete. For Pacific Wave, the closure was about revenue, and the economy, and being tired of struggling in an industry that’s tough in the best of times. For Gratzzi, though, it was more about the fact that Baywalk is on life-support, with relatives eager to pull the plug and divide its meager posessions. Don’t count Gratzzi out. The Italian restaurant is planning to re-open in the former home of Pacific Wave before the end of the year, if things go well. Owner Domenic D’Angelo will scale back his upscale menu to concentrate on homier dishes that cater to diners’ reduced budgets, with the smaller space a better match for the more casual fare. Read the rest of this entry »

A veritable dance party erupted at Crowbar this past Tuesday evening during and between splendid sets by Vivian Girls (NYC), and Tampa’s Sleepy Vikings and Hippodrome.

Read the rest of this entry »

“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 »

Do not use the word inexpensive. It conveys entirely the wrong sentiment. Inexpensive is a word marketing gurus spout when selling low-end versions of high-end products. It’s a tool the wealthy use to determine socio-economic pecking order, to know when to sneer or raise an insouciant eyebrow, to peg poseurs striving for more than they can afford.

Inexpensive implies reduced quality.

Cheap, on the other hand, is a bargain. Getting something for less than it’s worth. The hallmark of value. And a prime criterion for students in search of dinner.

All three of these restaurants, scattered conveniently across the Bay area near local campuses, proudly serve flavorful, filling and — most importantly — cheap food. Nothing inexpensive about them.

Reviews after the break:

Ricky P’s Po Boys
3.5 stars
6521 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-525-2023 or rickyps.com

Damn, if Ricky P’s Po’ Boys ($5.99-8.99) doesn’t just look the part. The tiny storefront on N. Fourth Street in St. Pete has barely enough parking to accommodate a lunch rush, a counter that’s so close to the front door you’ll likely be lining up outside, and just enough tables to tease you into thinking you’ll be able to eat your sandwich in comfort. It feels exquisitely cheap.

For a po’ boy joint, Ricky P’s has a fairly expansive selection of non-po’ sandwiches and hot dishes, including better than average gumbo based on a seriously expressive roux, beans and rice spiced by a prodigious amount of cayenne-infused andouille sausage, and the best jambalaya I’ve had in the Bay area. Maybe that’s not saying much, considering the lack of Big Easy eateries around town, but this moist, tomatoey rice would likely compete on equal footing with non-cheap options.

Ricky P’s sloppy roast beef is loaded with salty gravy that’ll soak the bun by the time you get your take-out home, like a Chicago beef dip that’s soaked from the inside out. Get it “ferdi”-style — with added ham and melted cheese — because, well, why not? The muffuletta is slathered in a damn fine spicy olive salad, the Cuban is typical and the cochon de lait — pulled pork topped by “cajun” slaw — is a backyard barbecue treat with almost enough juice to compete with the drippy beef sandwich.

Ricky P’s eponymous traditional po’ boys, although tasty, are actually the least exciting items on the menu. Stacked with lettuce and tomato and slathered in dressing, the fried shrimp or oysters are often cooked a little earlier to be ready for the lunch rush. When the seafood is fresh, hot and crunchy, the sandwiches are excellent. After a short rest in a steam tray, however, the sandwiches are merely good. Still cheap, though.

Tun-Du-Ree
3 stars
1506 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-251-2111 or tunduree.com

We originally wrote about Tun-Du-Ree ($3.99-7.99) several years ago, back when the little Indian take-out joint was still housed in a trailer in an empty lot near Interbay. Owner Bhava “Pat” Saravana spent a year looking for a permament spot, eventually finding one to his liking on Kennedy, between SoHo and Downtown. Gone was quaint and rustic in favor of Tun-Du-Ree’s new look: vibrant, well-designed and positively chain-like. The website even has a tab for “locations.” Plural.

The menu expanded as well, but on the whole the changes were more physical than culinary. Tun-Du-Ree’s food is still simple, tasty and cheap.

The restaurant’s heartier entrees — like vindaloo or korma — are stripped-down versions of what you’ll find at your neighborhood sit-down Indian spot, flavorful enough, but without the depth. Fast food.

You’re better off ordering the kinds of dishes that fast food joints do best, like Tun-Du-Ree’s deep-fried samosas, the dumplings covered in a crackling-crisp shell and stuffed with deeply spiced potatoes, or spinach and cheese. Parantha — a flatbread stuffed with lentils and griddled — is flaky and rich, with an immense amount of spicy heat that works wonders with bright mint sauces.

Tun-Du-Ree’s real bargains are the “snack” wraps loaded with seasoned and stewed chick peas, or the restaurant’s trademark roast chicken, stacked with fresh veggies and slathered in more of that mint sauce. Those are the kinds of sandwiches that’ll keep you from driving through the McD drive-through next door.

Jerk Hut
3 stars
207 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, 813-223-4473; 926 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-977-5777 or jerkhut.com

The Jerk Hut ($5.99-12.99) was always a hidden gem in Tampa’s downtown business district, a dark den of flavorful foods stocked with rickety furniture and colorful characters. Then, they moved their northern location — out by USF — to a big new spot. Suddenly, that Jerk Hut has a mojito bar. Sunday brunch. Regular live music in a festive party-atmosphere.

Thankfully, the food is the same cafeteria-style Jamaican stews and curries that still make the downtown location a non-secretive secret hang-out.

At both spots, jerk is a worthy choice, the Hut’s take on the classic spice rub uncompromisingly potent in both spice and herbaceous punch, conveyed by chicken that manages to be juicy and tender no matter how long it appears to have sat in a steam tray.

Venture away from the chicken and you’ll find luscious oxtail stewed slowly until the bones’ gelatin infuses the tender meat and veggies; curried goat coated in fragrant spices that temper the pungent meat; and stewed veggies that make you understand how Rastafarians can endure being vegetarian.

Although the $15 cover charge almost breaks the “cheap” barrier, the Sunday brunch at the Fowler location is still an incredible deal if you plan on hanging out and eating all that you can eat.

(Want to follow all of CL’s Food, Drink and Restaurant news? Bookmark the food section of the blog, add the CL Food RSS feed to your reader of choice, follow @BrianRies on Twitter, or check out the Food Section page multiple times daily.)

Will she cry, or won’t she? Will she cry, or won’t she?

That was the third-person sentence running ’round and ’round my head, referencing myself, as I made my way through the hefty crowd of Leonard Cohen fans who’d come to see the grandmaster of songwriting play Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center this past Monday, October 19. [All photos by Sam Goresh.]

I tend to get sentimental when it comes to music anyway, and my husband had just left town for a month-long journey across America to shoot his Routes Music documentary, so I was feeling rather blue. This was one of the few concerts I’d attended without my other half since we met more than eight years ago, and considering that he was the one who turned me onto Leonard, I wasn’t sure how the music would hit me.

But the longtime troubadour allowed me no opportunity to dwell on my loneliness and managed to lift me up from the gloom in my heart, even making me laugh at various points in the evening.

Debonair as always in his grey pinstripe suit and matching fedora, the 75-year-old held the audience mesmerized with his deep breathy baritone and occasional witty stage banter. He sang against his rootsy, jazz-flavored, gospel-tinged folk rock with his hand alternately cupped around his face or around his mic, at times bending into a crouch to deliver his lyrics from the floor with his trademark self-possessed passion. Read the rest of this entry »

For most professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters training for upcoming bouts means much more than working towards payday. It is a form of self-discovery and quickly becomes their way of life. MMA fans are usually not aware of the dedication and hard work, not to mention long hours that go into the preparation for a professional fight in the octagon.

The female MMA fighter, Caroline Portugal, reveals first-hand what it takes to get a shot at the limelight and how she prepares for her upcoming pro-debut at the Real Fighting Championships (RFC) event in Feb. 2010 in Tampa, Fla. during some Q & A as first part of a new weekly MMA training series.

Q: How has your training changed since you started getting ready for your first professional fight?
A: Before I knew I was going to fight (professionally) I just trained for (amateur) tournaments every other day. Now, five months before my first pro fight, I’m doing something everyday. I’m either working with my conditioning coach, Alan Molina, at either of my dojos, World Class or Spartan Gym. I’m doing something six to seven days a week. If I’m not at the dojo working on technique or sparring, I’m doing sprints or weights at home. I’m focusing on impact conditioning. My diet is 3000 calories a day. I try to spar with everyone while staying injury-free. Read the rest of this entry »

“Dream Momma, I’m a young woman from Tampa. My dad died a little over a year ago. The other night I dreamed he gave me a key. The key was fancy and old. It was gold or gold metal. I read your blogs a lot so I know the key is probably a symbol, but still wanted some input from you.”

Thank you for following my blog and yes, you are correct: The key is a symbol. Now, the cool thing about dream symbols is that they are very specific in their own way. For example, ask yourself why he didn’t give you a different type of key; a modern one or a pink one with little dots on it?  This particular key is about your Read the rest of this entry »

Last time Comedian Mark Malkoff was in town he was living aboard an Airtran airplane for a month. Mark now has a new “Keys to The City” mission, driving him via Ford Fusion to collect 100 city keys in 28 days. His comedic road trip antics brought him to Tampa on Monday to be presented the key to the city of Tampa by Mayor Pam Iorio. Maybe next time Mark will come live in our IKEA?

Read more about Mark Malkoff’s “Keys to The City” project here.

Just when you thought there was nothing to do on a Tuesday night, two hot acts — psyche rock pioneers and an electro indie buzz band — stop right here in Tampa Bay.

Merging elements of ’60s psychedelic rock and pop with traditional Brazilian rhythms, Os Mutantes (“the Mutants”) carried the Tropicália movement torch after leaders Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso were jailed on a false charges, then exiled to London in 1968. The band’s distinctive, riotous sound was marked by unorthodox song structures, lyricism tending towards cultural irony and political activism, and experiments that incorporated distortion, feedback, Musique concrete recording techniques (looping, mixing, filtering), field recordings, and various other avant-garde sonics that have influenced anyone from Nirvana to Flaming Lips to Beck and David Byrne. Os Mutantes released seven albums and went through several lineup changes from 1968 to 1976 before calling it quits in 1978. But after playing a string of dates with Os Mutantes in 2006, founding frontman Sergio Dias Baptista found himself revitalized and ready to write. His new incarnation of the band signed with ANTI- and released the first new Os Mutantes studio record in 35 years, Haih or Amortecedor, in September. Their Tampa appearance, which is supported by Brooklyn world music quintet, DeLeon, is a rare treat and this show has definite sell out potential. Get your tickets ASAP. Tues., Oct. 13, 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $25. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings readers, this is Ava Lussuria coming to you from deep within the trenches of Tampa’s adult industry. I’ve been a dancer here for about 15 years and I’ve seen more than my share of crazy shit. The people at CL seem to think this industry is worth writing about, and they’ve assigned me the task of delivering an insider’s perspective. So, I’m here to enlighten you on what it’s really like to work in the business–the good times and the bad, from what it’s like being a stripper to a porn star, and everything in between.

Either you love the local adult scene or you hate us. Bachelor parties flock to local strip clubs, looking for a last hoorah for their poor buddy who is seemingly losing his freedom. Politicians want to label us immoral and shut us down. Women come to this business looking to fill a void–or their bank account. Men come for, well, you all know what they come for, or do you? Read the rest of this entry »

Paul Allen leans over his immense desk discussing the family business.  He speaks in a raspy voice not unlike Brando’s in The Godfather, though given to bursts of impromptu songs like, “I kissed a girl and I liked it.” Fingers weighted with gold rings comb his dark, slicked back hair and trimmed goatee. A large man sits in the corner with his tattooed forearms crossed. In an adjacent office, Allen’s wife Tracy finishes Paul’s sentences, filling in names and dates. Allen’s son walks in, getting his father’s approval on a project while Allen’s daughter in-laws announces new callers. Even Allen’s eighty-two year old father works in the office, balancing the books. All the doors are open, promoting an open-air intercom system. With Tampa Bay Downs blocks away, and sports memorabilia layering the walls, one might assume Allen runs a bookie operation. In fact, Allen even played a mafia kingpin in Stormy Daniels’ adult film Whack Jobs. But Allen is no gangster. He’s a business man who heads a family run publishing company, the staple of which is NightMoves—a free, monthly magazine dedicated to Tampa’s active adult scene. Read the rest of this entry »

Rocktober started off with a bit of twang with tunes by Greenland is Melting, Rebekah Pulley and Jon Gaunt at New World Brewery this past Thursday, October 1.

Greenland is Melting with Jon Gaunt

Greenland is Melting

Greenland is Melting plays simply splendid soulful roots rock, music meant for listening to while you’re kicking back on the front porch or sitting around the kitchen table. Greenland is Melting channels old timey bluegrass with lines like “My grass is blue,” but with a chorus of “I know, I know, if there’s blood on the banjo tonight, then I really must have done something right,” you know they also bring a bit of ruckus. Read the rest of this entry »

Marrakech Restaurant
2.5 stars
2402 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-258-9100

Philippe and Nassira Coriou, husband and wife owners of Marrakech Restaurant in Tampa, come from separate continents, across the Mediterranean Sea. She’s Moroccan, he’s French, two nationalities that have an entwined history apparent to anyone who’s seen Casablanca. And, although Philippe is a classically trained French chef, the menu at Marrakech is almost entirely devoted to the cuisine of his wife’s homeland.

That means rich dishes that blend sweet and savory on the same plate, often using dried fruit like prunes, aromatic spices like cinnamon and less common ingredients like preserved lemon. Entrees are divided between humble couscous topped with rich meats and stewed vegetables; elegant pastry pockets called pastilla, stuffed with vegetables, chicken or seafood; and an array of dishes served in the impressive, portable clay ovens called tagine.

And, like Tampa’s recent flirtation with Ethiopian food at Queen of Sheba and the defunct Abol Bunna, it’s traditional. Perhaps too traditional. 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 »

Ybor brewery Cigar City has rocked the beer world since its first release last year, with ratings on beer review sites that put some of its brews at the top of the heap, along with widespread critical acclaim. Now the local brewery can add another bauble to its trophy case.

In the annual Great American Beer Festival National Beer Competition, Cigar City’s Cedar-aged Humidor Series India Pale Ale took a gold medal for the Wood Aged Beer category. Here’s a quote from judge and UK beer writer Melissa Cole that sums up why: Read the rest of this entry »

The City of Tampa has a limited supply of affordable housing that is also environmentally friendly. City Council, led by Councilman John Dingfelder, passed an ordinance last year that would promote green building practices for new construction. That ordinance while still a long way from achieving its goal of prompting mainstream builders to incorporate green building practices into their projects. Although several buildings have been LEED certified in the area, they have considerably higher price tags than non-green projects.

One company, Rising Force Construction, has undertaken the task of creating affordable, energy efficient homes that promote sustainable living in Terrace Park, an established neighborhood just south of the University of South Florida. Residents have the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint on several levels: They can live, shop, work and enjoy recreational activities; and they can live in a home that reduces utility consumption by 30 to 40 percent over an existing home of the same size. For those that are tired of seeing their budgets eaten up by ever rising gas prices, they can walk, bike or take public transportation.
Read the rest of this entry »

Sat. Sept. 26. VIP Dungeon Party. The first ever VIP Dungeon Party is an exclusive event for 250 fetish enthusiasts. X-rated performances by StrykerVawn. In addition to the fetish equipment already set up in the Castle’s dungeon room, there will be a Roman cross, suspension spreader, padded kneeler, and a coffin cage. $15. DJ Rob Givens. The Castle 2004 N. 16th St. Ybor 33605.

Sat. Sept. 26th. Ride ‘Em Cowgirl Swingers’ Party. Come dressed in your hottest cowboy or cowgirl outfits and scoot your boots on the dance floor! Ladies, feel free to take a ride down the happy trail in the “Sybian Saddle!” There will be a hottest Badonkadonk (Smokin’ Hot Ass) contest and Sensual Swingers will be providing prizes. 9pm-?. Visit Tabooswingers.com Read the rest of this entry »

Nola Cafe
2 Stars
301 W. Platt St., Tampa, 813-258-8778 or nolacafe.com
(See all recent restaurant reviews.)

You can see Nola Cafe from the Crosstown Expressway, if you’re looking at the right spot, but finding it while cruising down Platt is tough unless you happen to see the rustic, handpainted signs promising “Po’ Boys!” and “Jambalaya!” The little cafe is hidden in an awkward strip mall facing the pharmacy drive-through of a Walgreens, tucked into the back, the kind of spot you hear about and track down. In the Bay area, New Orleans cuisine is like that — rare, almost secret, with little of the fanfare that sprang up a few years ago after Katrina.

In unfortunate good timing, Nola opened a year before the hurricane devastated owner Louis Robert Jr.’s Louisiana home town. After the storm, the restaurant easily turned into a hub for New Orleans expats and well-wishers who wanted to eat and talk their way through the tragedy. It has the right vibe for that, with a newsstand tucked into a former closet, well-worn furniture and jazz standards playing through the speakers. Robert works his way through the closely arranged tables, talking up his restaurant’s inspiration and letting “le bon temps rouler.” With his help, Nola feels like the Morning Call Coffee Stand that was the restaurant’s New Orleans inspiration.

The food, however, is a much paler homage to New Orleans. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s only one of Harold Seltzer’s (of Sam Seltzer fame) new Cuban sandwich chain concept, but it’s already good enough — and authentic enough — to put Tampa’s handheld icon on the map the way Outback popularized Australia’s traditional deep-fried whole onion.

4424 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-287-6662, finestcubansandwich.com.

The meat at Council Oak — stacked in a gigantic, glass-walled room in the foyer — is prime, aged and exquisite. Here, though, that’s just a starting point. The rest of the food, from subtle, brothy soups to classic steakhouse sides, easily competes with the finest non-steakhouse restaurants. And once you navigate past the obstacle course of Hard Rock slots, Council Oak will soothe your soul with a modern dining room that few non-casino restaurants in the area can compete with.

5223 Orient Rd., Tampa, 813-627-7625 or hardrockhotelcasinotampa.com.

Fri. Sept. 18. Crossover Night at Alt Pathway. A mix of fetish enthusiasts and swingers featuring live music by “SexWhacks.” $10. 8pm-12midnight. Alt Pathway restaurant and lounge  810 E. Skagway, Ave. Tampa.

Sat. Sept. 19. 3rd Annual Midsummer Night’s Dream. Nudity, dancing, and free food–what more could you want? $0-20. Caliente Resort Gran Via Blvd. Land O Lakes, FL 34637.

Sun. Sept. 20. Pervy Pool Party. Read the rest of this entry »

Great sushi- now closer to home (for me, anyway).

I was introduced to Origami’s Hillsborough Avenue location about a year ago.  They have a new location on Waters Avenue and a recent move to a new residence put me dangerously close to this location.

There’s a huge selection of makimono, my favorite being Read the rest of this entry »

It takes an obsessive to impress and obsessive. Peter Taylor’s pies may be the culmination of two decades of research and development, but it’s the love he puts into crafting each one that shines through. He cultivates his own yeast, makes his own mozzarella, grows his own herbs and won’t trust anyone else to man the wood-fired oven that gives the joint its name. The result are thin pies that are near perfect, from the simple margerita to interesting combinations like pistachio and rosemary. Count us impressed.

Wood Fired Pizza Wine Bar, 2822 E. Bearss Ave., Tampa, 813-341-2900

• The Table is in the midst of another shake-up, with 717 South Michael Stewart, former GM Joe Moledo out and Andrew Wilkins (formerly of Mad Fish and Ceviche) in as GM. This comes after a long history of turmoil, including the loss of chef Pedro Flores earlier this year. Looks like the restaurant’s new thrust will be for lower price points and fewer staff changes. (Mouth)

• Ella’s Folk Art Cafe, the first of a new generation of restaurant slated to open in Tampa and Seminole Heights, started serving this past weekend.

The Columbia, OktoBEERfest, Domenica Macchia, and Grattzi’s after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

After a long wait, the first in a series of new restaurants slated for Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights opened over this past weekend.

Ella’s Folk Art Cafe (5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-234-1000) looks like it has the right funky vibe to fit in with the Seminole Heights crowd, along with outdoor seating (albeit next to Nebraska) and an eclectic American menu that ranges from beer-battered, deep-fried jalapenos stuffed with pulled pork, cheddar and cream cheese to “beet box and veggie pot pie”, whatever that is. There’s also pizza, salad, and soups; a small but very capable beer list; and a Sunday brunch/neighborhood barbecue.

Open for dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, with daylight hourse on Sunday.