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It used to be that film festivals in the Tampa Bay area were a rarity. No longer. Totaling up all the fundraisers, workshops and side programming that go along with the ever-expanding number of festivals, it’s clear that fest-hopping has become a year-round sport. And that’s great, because we can all stand to broaden our horizons beyond the standard Hollywood pulp that fills the multiplex each Friday. In the next few weeks, there are two festivals of note: one with lots of local appeal, and one a bit farther south that attracts filmmakers (and filmgoers) from all over the world.

Independents’ Film Festival
Hosted by Tampa’s The Education Channel, the 16th annual Independents’ Film Festival promises an intimate look at locally produced films, including a strong program of student films out of USF. I say intimate because all screenings will be held at The Education Channel’s beautiful, newly upgraded screening room with seating for about 65 people. Festival organizers also promise ample opportunity to hob-nob with filmmakers and other fest attendees, as each themed evening begins with a food and drink reception and ends with coffee and dessert. (All included in the $15 ticket price.)

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Complemented by a hearty round of applause, “Welcome Draper to the University of South Florida” were among the first words USF’s President Judy Genshaft spoke in warmly receiving Draper Laboratories as new residents on the Tampa campus. With some of Hillsborough County’s elite in attendance, including Mayor Pam Iorio, a red ribbon ceremony was held this past Monday afternoon.
At its new location, Draper will be conducting bio-medical research. According to the National Science Foundation, USF is the fastest growing research university in America. Genshaft said the marriage of the research facility and research university is a perfect fit and reassured Draper that they had come “…to a place where research and innovations are highly, highly, highly valued.”

Among the Hillsborough dignitaries in attendance was County Commissioner Ken Hagan. He also gave Draper a warm welcome to the Tampa Bay region, but for reasons different than Genshaft.

Hagan believes that Draper will create “Jobs, jobs and more jobs,” and encouraged the crowd to celebrate  because the economy was finally “going to start getting better,” thanks to Draper. More than 100 jobs have been created so far, and Hagan said he expects more than 100 more high- paying, high-quality jobs will be created once the facility  is completed.
The new Draper Lab facility is projected to be 20,000 sq ft and cost 20 million. So far, only $3 million of the budget has been spent on completing 10,000 sq ft . Genshaft said the money for the endeavor comes from Draper Military Systems sources that are all in support of Draper Laboratory. This includes $6 million from Hillsborough County’s Economic Development Department, $4 million from the USF Research Foundation and $10 million from the state of Florida Innovation Incentive Fund.

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit research and development organization. It develops advanced space and energy technology as well military tactical systems, special operations and manufactures wartime weapons. According to their website, more than 90 percent of their work is government-funded from military branches such as the US Navy, Air Force, and NASA, to name a few.

Draper spokesman Len Polizzotto said that each of Draper’s six locations typically specializes in one field. At USF, it will be bio-engineering. An important research area at Draper is the design, prototyping and testing of MEMs or microelectromechanical systems. These tiny systems are also used by Draper to further enhance its bio-research. Draper is looking to partner with USF medical school and Moffitt Cancer to expand its studies in the future.

Earlier on Monday, Draper also opened a second location in St.Petersburg on 16th Street North. The St. Pete lab, Polizzotto said, will be a MEM’s manufacturing facility.

The main Draper facility is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Draper Laboratories got its start at the Instrumentation Laboratory of MIT in the late 1960s. In 1973, however, Draper was forced out of MIT. Polizzotto said Draper’s weaponry manufacturing stirred protests from faculty, students and demonstrators against the Vietnam War. Polizzotto said even though Draper still make weapons today, he guarantees USF will not be put in a similar situation as MIT because it will not be manufacturing weapons at USF. Draper will only “be dealing with health care.”

USF’s President Judy Genshaft disagrees. She said the university is open to working with Draper in their different fields of research and development beyond health care.

“Whether it be in the water area, energy area or medical area, all the work that you do we want to be part of the innovation that can make a difference for us not only in the state of Florida, but globally as well.”

In light of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Genshaft said she did not foresee controversy similar to that of MIT occurring at USF because “(Draper) doesn’t make weapons. What they do in terms of the military is that the military has such heavy packs that they downsize the amount through their chips and so the soldier doesn’t have to carry as heavy gear as they otherwise would.”

Draper’s website states that their tactical systems “focuses Draper’s capabilities in autonomy, accuracy, and awareness in the domains of soldier systems, munitions GN&C, missile defense GN&C, and undersea systems. Providing solutions in this space meets the urgent needs of national security in supporting stability and counterinsurgency operations and responds to the increased proliferation of ballistic missiles.”

County Commissioner Hagan said if Draper started making weapons, “ It would have to be looked into.”

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

Tampa joins International Day of Climate Action to take a stand for a safe climate future- On October 24, people from Tampa Bay joined 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.

Which big name food company is behind your organic food? – Did you know that some of your favorite organic food brands are owned by some of the biggest names in the food production business?

October 24 is the International Day of Climate Action (videos) – The biggest day of grassroots action on global warming ever.

The Age of Stupid showing at USF St. Pete campus (video) – The Student Environmental Awareness Society is starting their Environmental Film Series with the question, “Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had a chance?”
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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.)

You came, you saw, you voted: The winner of this year’s College Guide contest is Amanda Abadi of the University of Tampa. Her inventive video, which could be retitled “Crocodile Dundee Meets UT,” drew 6,694 votes. Amanda wins the title CL College Guide 2009, plus a CL briefcase stuffed with movie and concert passes, CDs and DVDs and assorted CL gear plus a $500 shopping spree from CL Deals.

Submission #1: Alex Vera | My UT: “Yes, I’m Losing My Mind”

Alex Vera
University of Tampa
Junior, Graphic Design
21, Tampa
My UT is: “The Minaret, my second home.”

Alex’s video takes viewers behind the scenes for a day (and night) in the life of the UT students who put out the school’s Minaret newspaper. Note the tempers fraying as the night stretches into morning.
(Editor’s Note: Despite any impression you might get from the photo, Alex is not UT’s Spartan mascot. We just happened to have a Spartan costume at the photo shoot, and Alex is an amazingly good sport.) Read the rest of this entry »

Submission#5: Rebecca Wainright | My USF Tampa: “Bronze Balls & Crazy Squirrels”

Rebecca Wainright
USF Tampa
Senior, Mass Communications (Journalism/Magazine)
26, Tampa
My USF is: “Gangsta.”

Rebecca’s audio slide show reveals a campus with unexpected pockets of greenery, potentially dangerous wildlife and a well-equipped USF bull. Read the rest of this entry »

Update:

Several news agencies are reporting that a man has been taken into custody on the USF campus.

That follows an intense search on the campus that featured live video footage on cable network MSNBC showing police with guns drawn.

The man was taken into custody in the Parking and Transportation Services area of the campus.

Since approximately 1:36 p.m. today, there have been reports of an armed man on the USF-Tampa campus.

MSNBC has been showing dramatic shots  of USF police with guns pointed in the Parking and Transportation Services area of the campus, where the Bull Runner buses are parked.

The network showed three people walking backwards, and then being handcuffed.

School police are asking that all students and staff stay indoors.

TBO.com was reporting that an initial report indicated the gunman also was armed with a bomb and was in the area of the library.

All photos by Tracy May.

I am a MASSIVE fan of The Killers. I love the Killers like the British love the Beatles. On my most existential days — when boys are infuriating and life in general doesn’t make sense — I can be found driving my car, blasting their music from my stereo, shouting, “You just get it, Brandon Flowers! You just get women!” And my friends know that if I’ve had a lousy day, all it takes to pick me up is a glass of wine and some tunes by the Vegas foursome. They’re all used to me randomly quoting Killers lyrics by now, because damn it, Brandon Flowers (pictured left on bass) does just get it.

I only bring this up because I want to emphasize the trickiness of going to a concert put on by a band that rocks your world. On the one hand, you really want to love it. It would feel sacrilegious not to. On the other, said band has to put on a near-perfect show in order to impress you, because when you’ve listened to their albums countless times, you know exactly how their songs should sound. And you can tell whether they’re really putting their hearts into their performance, or if it’s just another stop on a long, dragging tour.

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The 14th annual ASES Solar Home Tour this Saturday, October 3rd will be the first time tour conducted in Tampa. Don’t miss the opportunity to see some demonstrations, learn how solar photovoltaic installations work and how to save money by using energy efficient systems in your home.

In my last post, the energy savings I mentioned weren’t all that’s available for those of you who want to harness some of the sun’s power and claim it for yourself.  Unfortunately, there seems to be a little placating going on between the citizenry’s desire to move our state toward renewable energy and our legislator’s desire to make us think that they are on our side. Last November, Florida voters passed Amendment 3. What? You don’t remember Amendment 3? Not many people do, but then again, it seems there’s not much of a reason to.

What you may remember about November 2008’s ballot: the long lines for a voting booth, media hype and all of those pesky Constitutional Amendments. One of them, Amendment 3, was placed on the ballot under the authority of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission; a gubernatorial appointed board that meets once every 20 years. Every 20 years – really? One of the ideas they managed to place on the ballot was amazingly clearly worded, but honestly, I don’t think it was the renewable energy part that prompted so many Floridians to vote for Amendment 3. Authors cleverly name amendments to attract attention, and often word them to confuse the general public, designed for a pass or fail depending on which outcome they prefer. Remember the “Florida Marriage Protection Amendment”? In the case of Amendment 3 it was the storm protection component that played to fear-stricken Floridians: fear of not only hurricane force winds, but fear that they’d improve their homes to protect themselves, and then get taxed. It passed. Couldn’t have been because of the renewable energy, there’s already an exemption on the books for that, but who knew?
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Thanksgiving is a special time of year. It’s a holiday when family and friends gather round the dinner table and give thanks for everything they have. Back in the day, I used to dread that time of year for it meant the annual meeting between Florida and Florida State.

Now all is good. Florida has beaten Florida State soundly the last five times they’ve played by a combined score of 165-61. But back in the 1990s when the Gators were trying to solidify themselves as a national power, they would be brought back down to earth with a swift, tomahawk chop. Warrick Dunn, Charlie Ward, Derrick Brooks, Deion Sanders, Tamarack Vanover wore the garnet and gold with pride. They were bad ass.

Florida went nearly twenty years without a win in Tallahassee. Steve Spurrier never won there in six tries.

In 1994, perhaps the most painful Gator “loss” of them all, Florida State came back from a four touchdown deficit in the 4th quarter to tie the game 31-31. We watched that game in disbelief, knowing all along the outcome was inevitable. After the game, Bowden was asked why he didn’t go for the two-point conversion and the win. Bowden smirked at the reporter and responded confidently in his southern drawl that his boys had played too hard to risk losing the game. Everybody knew the Seminoles had won that day despite what the scoreboard said.

Sure, Florida got its occasional victory, including the biggest game played between the two, the 1997 Sugar Bowl, but wins were few and far between.

Simply put, Florida State owned Florida. Not so much anymore.

Which brings us to present-day Bobby Bowden. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you want to know more about renewable energy and local sustainable products? Then the Going Green Tampa 2009 Expo will be right up your alley.

Held Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th at the USF Marshall Center, the Expo will feature a number of exhibits and workshops that will focus on sustainability and reasons why the Tampa Bay area would be a great place for a businesses who would be interested in green growth.

According to the Going Green Tampa Bay website, below is what is expected to be a part of the expo:
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We all want to save money on energy and utility bills during this time when money is tight. Some people have the misconception that going ‘green’ and putting energy efficient installations in their home can be expensive, but it’s quite the contrary. Why not learn how these solar powered/energy efficient components work and see them in action in homes and buildings around the Tampa Bay area?

The Tampa Solar Homes tour will show you how to go ‘green’ and save money on your utility bills by installing photovoltaic systems, solar hot water heaters, back-up batteries and solar attic fans. Listen to some solar power experts, get a solar photovoltaic system tutorial, and check out the numerous homes and businesses around the Bay that are using these practices- for free! Bonus: There will be a free shuttle to tour participants around to see all of the sites on this tour.

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

PARK(ing) Day- Friday, September 18th, 10 am-6 pm. Mini-parks will be sprouting up in parking spaces in Downtown Tampa as part of PARK(ing) Day – an annual global event where parking spaces are transformed into parks for the day. These temporary park installations aim to transform urban environments designed for vehicle use into a communal space for public use, promote green initiatives, and bring awareness to civic processes and policies that directly impact our landscape and environment. The Tampa Downtown Partnership, in conjunction with SuperTest, a local arts organization, has planned a dozen PARK(ing) space installations throughout the N. Franklin Street corridor, from Café Hey (just north of I-275) to Madison Street.  The PARK(ing) installations will line this pedestrian friendly route designed to highlight independent businesses and promote civic engagement. Visitors will be encouraged to walk, bike, or utilize the free electric cart shuttles to tour and relax in the Tampa PARK(ing) Day spaces. Park installations will be accessible from 10am – 6pm, Friday, September 18th.

Guided Canoe Trip at Weedon Island- Friday, September 18; 12:30-3:30 pm. 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. Weedon Island Preserve- 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33702. (727) 453-6500.

Nosh with the Cheese Mavens at Greenwise- Friday, September 18; 4-7pm. Stop and enjoy a bite and you might learn something new about Kosher cheese. Publix Greenwise Market- 2403 W. Azeele St., Tampa. 813-250-0129.

Experiencing Inner Power and Protection Workshop- Friday, September 18; 7 pm. Join us for a Magical evening as we explore this theme of Power and Protection through: beautiful music, cultural performances, inspiring conversation, an unforgettable interview with Sister Mohini, and soothing meditation. Sister Mohini is a practicing meditator and spiritual leader for over 50 years. This event is organized by the Brahma Kumaris (www.bktampa.org), Students of India Association, and the Institute of Transportation Engineers Student Chapter at NO CHARGE as a service to the community. For further information about the evening, please call us at 813-987-2525 or email us at bktampa@gmail.com. USF Marshall Center Oval Theatre 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa.
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“There can be no real happiness until the soul finds its peace.” -Dadi Janki; Administrative Head, Brahma Kumaris

Everyone in the world I know is either in the pursuit of peace or happiness or both.  Welcome to my post, dear readers, which is going to be all about the pursuit of sustainable happiness. 

I would like to give a brief synopsis of why and how I’m using the word sustainable in this context.  Just like green-related sustainability, it means a lifestyle that attempts to reduce our dependency on the Earth’s natural resources. Sustainability in relation to happiness here is used to denote something that is generative, something that will complete us and not deplete our energy levels, something that would inspire us to be better and, hence, more whole. 
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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

“What’s Transformation?” with Anne Adams PhD @ USF St. Pete- Fri., July 17; 7-9pm. The Essentials of Transformation with Anne Adams PhD. Introducing a Transformational Series presented by USF St Petersburg’s Bishop Center for Ethical Leadership & The Connection Partners Inc. What’s Transformation? How’s that different from change? What we’ve believed to be true isn’t working any more. Stories of fear and greed are giving way to those of generosity and compassion. What’s going on? Gain insights as to what’s behind this global shift. Free event. USF St Petersburg, Davis 130; 140 Seventh Ave South St., St Petersburg, FL 33701.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturday, July 18; 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).

Post July 4th Beach Cleanup in the Fort Desoto area- Saturday, July 18; 9 am-12:30 pm. The Ocean Conservancy will be conducting a cleanup on July 18th in the Fort Desoto area.
We are seeking volunteers to assist in removing marine debris from Bunces Pass, Terre Verde and Fort Desoto gulf pier from 9:00-12:30. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to mailto:intern-fla@oceanconservancy.org with your beach of choice. If either beach suits you just let us know or we will place you where is needed.
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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 »

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

Guided Canoe Trip, Weedon Island- Friday, July 10, 2009; 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. 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. Weedon Island Preserve- 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

The World Cafe: Connecting People Through Conversations That Matter- 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
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Are you pretty wiped out from the partying, barbecuing and fireworks from the Fourth of July weekend? What other way to spend this coming weekend then to peacefully stroll through the beautiful Botanical Gardens at USF. Admittedly, when I was a graduate student there a few years back, I would see signs for the Botanical Gardens and always promised myself I would go, but haven’t until only very recently.

Kept up by the Department of Geography at the University and from generous donations from visiting and membership opportunities, the Botanical Gardens take you away from the city for a few moments to explore natural beauty from scenic plant life to small animals, insects and even birds. It is the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon before the hustle and bustle of the Tampa nightlife sets off.
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For USF men, the new mantra seems to be “Take it off. Take it all off.” According to a New York Times article about the rise in heterosexual manscaping, a University of South Florida grad student has done two (yes, two) studies that show a high percentage of male USF students prefer to go smooth like Brüno. 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:

Steps to becoming greener: Reducing your waste, reusing and recycling: Joshua Poll gives some useful tips for ways to start reducing, reusing, and recycling things you thought you could just throw away.

Genetically engineering cows that will produce less methane, reducing greenhouse gases: Geneticists in Canada are trying to engineer a cow that produces less methane, resulting in less greenhouse gases, reports Brian Roberts.
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What architecture is and what an architect does seem largely unknown to most folks.

Tampa often seems strangely ambivalent toward good architecture and design; for instance, it’s nicknamed one of its finest newer downtown buildings the “beer can building” a.k.a. Rivergate Tower (see photo).   This exquisite neoclassical building was designed by architect Harry Wolf, who based its measurements on the Fibonnacci series. You know the building — it’s the round one right next to the “exploding chicken” sculpture.

People work with an architect for many reasons. Sometimes it’s required by law for the building they’re constructing. Others hire an architect because they’re interested in collaborating and turning their ideas into a built form that is extraordinary and reflects not only themselves, but the local climate, history and culture. This team then finds a contractor or builder that can build what they want. Many think that architecture is the purview of the rich, that the intent of architecture is to create expensive “works of art.” This ignores the fact that “good design” needn’t be expensive and often employs good old-fashioned American ingenuity: locating and implementing alternate materials and construction methods to keep the price within bounds. Truly good design accomplishes the needs and wants of the client and architect within whatever budget.

The American Institute of Architects Florida Chapter recently created a video that describes what architecture is, what architects do and why architecture is important.   It’s not on YouTube but it can be viewed after the break, along with a list of recipients of the 2009 AIA Tampa Bay Design Awards.

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

Reconstructing a historic bat tower in Temple Terrace and how to build your own bat roost- Grant Rimbey investigates efforts in Temple Terrace to reconstruct an historic tower for bats, discusses a large community bat roost he designed for the Florida Bat Conservancy, and tells how you can purchase (or build) your own bat roost for your yard.

Summer Solstice: A brief history- Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, occurs this Sunday- June 21st. Here are a few facts you might not have known about it, from Linda Taylor.

Organics: How to eat well without breaking your budget- With the increase of demand over organic food in the last ten years you would think that a wide range of these products would be easily accessible. Here’s some some advice from Kelly Rothwell on purchasing healthy, organic food in this region without breaking your budget.
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This post is about bat conservation: efforts in Temple Terrace to reconstruct an historic tower for bats, a large community bat roost I designed for the Florida Bat Conservancy, and how you can purchase (or build) your own bat roost.

Folks have long thought that installing birdhouses is beneficial, but the idea of placing roosts for bats is a recent one. Bats are not the feared, repulsive creatures of the night that folklore and superstition have made them out to be.  Bats are not blind, they do not attack people, they do not get caught in people’s hair, and they are not flying rodents. Not all bats are rabid, in fact, “studies have shown that less than one percent of bats contract rabies, and when they do, they usually die within three or four days”. Bats are an important and beneficial part of the natural Florida environment, for instance, a single bat is capable of eating 500-1000 mosquitoes per hour!

Growing up in Temple Terrace I had many uniquely Florida experiences as I explored this eighty year old city with my brothers and sisters: the mysterious Hillsborough River; moss draped, crumbling 1920s Mediterranean Revival buildings; the ancient live oaks and longleaf pines; the Olmstedian 1920s golf course; and of course, the sublime and gothic bat tower. That’s right, I said “bat tower”!

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It was maybe the first impacting death to reach me first via Twitter: Augusto Boal died at the age of 78 Friday from respiratory failure after a long battle with leukemia.

I was immediately transported back in time to the first time I’d studied the theater legend in undergrad at USF — I’m pretty sure it was during a course taught by Nancy Cole called something to the effect of The Theater of Post-Cultural Pluralism. I’d go a lot more in-depth the next year in Dr. Pat Finelli’s Senior Colloqium class (perhaps the best class I had as an undergrad theater student). By the time I’d moved on to UF for grad school, Boal would be shoulder to shoulder in my theatrical Mount Rushmore, joining Dario Fo, Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brook.

Two of Boal’s books — Theater of the Oppressed and Games for Actors and Non-Actors — still hold special spots on my bookshelf. What was fresh and exciting about Augusto Boal to me as a student in the mid-’90s (he developed his methods in the ’50s and ’60s) was that he worked lifelong to completely demysitify the form, worked tirelessly to put art and power into the hands of the common citizen and worked to use the form as a tool for change.

He worked with professionals, he worked with farmers — give him bodies and he’d create. Some of his work laid the foundation for what we’d today call drama therapy (which he called Forum Theater), where “spect-actors” would work through scenarios of oppression toward change. Boal’s methods encourage an actual dialogue with the audience as opposed to simple one-sided conversation. Theater was to be an active relationship.  He created and taught others how to create theater ripped from local news or based on current or proposed legislation. He created what was called “Invisible Theater” that could spring up anywhere and where those witnessing wouldn’t be clued in that it was performance.

His work was regarded as dangerous — the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from the ’60s to the ’80s detained, arrested, jailed and tortured Boal before finally exiling him to Argentina.  He returned home in the late ’80s after that regime’s collapse. Read the rest of this entry »

Ben & Jerry’s celebrate its 30th annual Free Cone Day today with free scoops of all its favorites — Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia and Chubby Hubby — as well as some of its newest offerings like Fair Trade Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams Swirled Together with Fudge-Covered Macadamia Nuts and Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road, and Triple Caramel Chunk. Participating local stores: Ben & Jerry’s St. Petersburg, 189 Second Ave., Space 104, St. Petersburg, 727-822-2653; USF Tampa, 4204 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 913-974-1185; and USF Student Union, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., MSC 1100D, Tampa, 813-974-4266. Call each individual store for hours.

Florida Holocaust Museum hosts Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah, a day of remembrance, which includes a presentation of the Righteous Among the Nations award by the Israeli Consulate to the Nauta Family. Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance of Israel organization, presents the award to those who risked their lives to help Jews during the Holocaust. Rabbi Danielle Upbin leads the service and students from Pinellas County Jewish Day School sing. 6:30 p.m., Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, free, flholocaustmuseum.org. Read the rest of this entry »

Omaha post-prog quartet Beep Beep (pictured at left) just released its sophomore effort, Enchanted Islands, which sets falsetto vocals against music that’s alternately organic and folk-infused, or near dissonant with disjointed tempos. The Show Is the Rainbow is Darren Keen’s one-man electro-rock band. Local support on the bill is provided by Tampa’s Win Win Winter. Definitely a 420-worthy show. For more on TSiTR, click here. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7.

Meet with 30 to 40 local companies who have immediate openings at the “employment event of the season,” the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair. Many occupations and skill sets are represented, including entry level, skilled trade, health care and top managerial positions. This year also features representatives from local universities. On-site hiring, testing, screening, helpful tips and advice and great job opportunities are the name of the game at this can’t-miss event. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Coliseum, St. Petersburg, free admission.

Eckerd College faculty members Yaniro Angulo-Cano (Spanish), David Bryant (Religious Studies), Gavin Hawk (Theater) and Kathleen Keller (History) take part in a roundtable discussion titled, “AfterLives of Marxism,” which focuses on the importance of Marxism in modern culture. 7 p.m. Triton Room at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, free admission. Read the rest of this entry »

In a traditional world, mechanics and Cirque du Soleil acrobats aren’t usually beer buddies. But the Birdhouse Factory isn’t exactly typical, and the Cirque Mechanics acrobatic troupe (pictured) is anything but ordinary. In the troupe’s death-defying spectacle, performers fly, climb and contort their way through rotating gears, trampoline walls and aerial hoops. This stunning combination of engineering and human agility also features machines that were built to test acrobatic limits — and performers who rise to the challenge every time. The evocative storyline of factory workers who have a few tricks up their sleeves also incorporates elements of circus and theater. Clowns, mimes, jugglers and contortionists round out the cast. Tues., March 24, 1 and 7 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, $35-$50, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com. (Franki Weddington)

Also today: For its annual LGBT Community Gala, USF welcomes keynote speaker Betty Castor, who presents “Global Diversity in Action,” an address on the importance of inclusionary practices and USF’s role in a global environment. The event also features the PRIDE awards and the presentation of the newly-endowed USF LGBT Scholarship. 5:45-8 p.m., Gibbons Alumni Center, USF-Tampa, 813-974-5468.

Last chance to see: Electronics Alive V, University of Tampa’s biennial exhibit that features experimental computer animations, interactive 2D and 3D digital art, and multimedia computer graphics and installations by artists from here and around the world, among them, Corey George, Greg Perkins, Doug Sutherland, Sally Grizzell Larson, Viktor Koen, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masakazu Takano, Mark Stock, Carlos Franklin, Roque Rivas and Jeff Whipple. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Scarfone/Hartley Gallery at R.K. Bailey Art Studios-University of Tampa, 310 N. Boulevard, Tampa, 813-253-6217, utampa.edu.

Thur., March 5. Floyd’s Ladies Night Thursday. Ladies get free cover and drinks until midnight. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, FL 33610.

Fri.- Sun., March 6-8. USF Conference “Anything But Safe: Sex, Sexuality, and Gender Conference“. An interdisciplinary graduate conference discussing sex, sexuality, and gender, and how these cultural constructions are anything but safe. $30. USF campus.

Fri., March 6. St. Pete’s First Friday. The first Friday of every month St. Pete throws a block party in the heart of the downtown bar district. Wondering how this qualifies as a Sex and Love event? After the music dies around 10p.m., thousands of drunk, single people flood the bars around Central Ave. for a night of debauchery. The 1st Friday of every month. 5p.m. – 2a.m. Free. Downtown St. Pete. Central Ave., between 2nd St. and 3rd St.

Mon., March 9. Lingerie Mechanical Bull Riding Contest. Every Monday night, Penthouse’s “Pet of the Year,” and adult film star, Stormy Daniels, hosts this lingerie and bull riding contest. Think Urban Cowboy except with far hotter girls and much less clothing. $1 drinks all night. Girls in lingerie drink free. 1^st 100 people get a free Stormy DVD.  $1000 in total prize money. Strokers 11236 W. Hillsborough Ave. Tampa, Fl. 33635. Read the rest of this entry »

credit: Adam Campbell/US Coast Guard handout photo

Former USF football player Nick Schuyler was found clinging to an overturned boat 35 miles off the coast of Tampa Bay today, as three other people (including two NFL players) remain missing.

Coast Guard Capt. Timothy M. Close said rescuers found Nick Schuyler clinging to the hull of an overturned boat about 35 miles off the coast of Florida today.

The search for the three other boaters, including NFL players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, will continue, he said.

The Coast Guard, which was once searching an area of 16,000 square miles, has narrowed the search field significantly. The search has been ongoing since early Sunday, when the four boaters did not return from a Saturday fishing trip.

Read the full USA Today story.

By late afternoon, his Facebook page was covered with several dozen greetings from relieved friends and family members who sweated out a tough night awaiting news of Schuyler’s fate. One wrote, “Incredible and inspiring story you have to tell. Thoughts and prayers are everywhere for you!”

(This now-ironic photo was once Schuyler’s Facebook profile photo.)

A still from a vintage Temptations video; watch it at TampaCalling.com

The Temptations, w. The Four Tops Two of Motown’s signature acts during the label’s 1960s heyday, The Temptations and the Four Tops have scores of hits between them. Members have changed considerably over the years — especially with The Tempts — but the spirit of the music (and that goofy choreography) still holds. 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater (Eric Snider)

University of Tampa Spring Dance Concert This concert of ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop and tap dance features choreography by UT dance faculty (Susan Taylor Lennon, Phyllis Gaines, Linda Lopez and Richard Ploch) and alumni (Aleah King and Ericka Womack-Brown) as well as guests like Detroit Dance Collective founding director Paula Kramer, former Tampa Ballet and Chicago Lyric Opera dancer Bill Philin Ploplis, and NY-based choreographer Fadi Tavoukdjian. Feb. 19-21, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., David Falk Theater, Tampa, free admission.

Closing today:
Japan World Heritage Sites Photography Exhibition Forests, deserts, lakes, mountains, buildings, monuments, complexes and cities around the world have been classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These 878 sites receive conservation status based on their importance to the common heritage of humanity. An international touring exhibit that looks at Japan World Heritage Sites is closing its stint today at USF, its first stop in the U.S. Acclaimed photographer Kazuyoshi Miyoshi presents 30 photo panels from a collection of 60 featuring Japan’s own important sites, including Kasuga-taisha Shrine in Nara and Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto. USF College of Business, BSN 3403, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, free admission. (Leilani Polk)

Rebecca Tinsley, journalist and director of human rights group Waging Peace, is the first guest in USF Libraries’ Holocaust & Genocide Studies Center 2009 Lecture Series. Tinsley draws on her experiences reporting on war-torn countries and serving as a Waging Peace advocate during her talk, “Genocide in Darfur: Lessons from Rwanda and Uganda.” Tinsley’s visit coincides with Lost Voices of Darfur, an exhibit of enlarged reproductions of drawings by Darfuri child refugees ages six to 18. The drawings came after Waging Peace researcher Anna Schmitt — who was gathering testimonies from Darfuri refugees and displaced Chadians — was encouraged to talk to the refugee camp’s smallest and most impressionable witnesses, who were given paper and pencils and asked to sketch their strongest memory and their dreams for the future. In November of 2007, the children’s graphic drawings were accepted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague as contextual evidence of crimes committed in Darfur, and will be used as a graphic illustration of the atrocities in the trials against the accused. (Pictured: Tinsley with Darfuri children.) Wed., Jan. 28, 4 p.m. (lecture), USF Library Grace Allen Room, fourth floor, with the works on display now through January 31, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, free admission, 813-974-2729. (Leilani Polk)

Other things to do today:

• King Hedley II: August Wilson drama at American Stage, 211 3rd St. S., St. Petersburg, 7:30 p.m., 727-823-PLAY.

• The NFL and Getty Images, football photo exhibition the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 200 N. Tampa St., Tampa,  timed to coincide with you-know-what. Exhibit hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; dinner event tonight at 8:15 at The Tampa Club.

• “Secret” Fall Out Boy concert at State Theatre, St. Petersburg, around 9 p.m. By invite only, but you may be able to find a way in; see Leilani Polk’s post here.

Louisiana alt-country songstress Mary Gauthier (pictured) plays a show in the intimate Jaeb Theater at Tampa Bay Performing Art Center. 7:30 p.m., $25.50. Read more about her in Upcoming Concerts.

Feminism is alive and kicking, and USF Women’s Studies Department stages a series of talks that celebrate the ever-evolving movement. Several of the country’s foremost feminist scholars are scheduled to appear. The first is Jennifer Baumgardner, a writer for rags ranging from Allure to The Nation, co-author of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future and Grassroots, A Field Guide for Feminist Activism, and producer/creator of the award-winning documentary, I Had an Abortion. Her talk is on “Aborton and Life.” 3 p.m., USF TECO Room., free admission.

The top 11 dancers from the fourth season of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance perform at the St. Pete Times Forum when the show’s national live tour lands in Tampa tonight. 7:30 p.m., $35-$54.50.

Interested in taking part in a lively conversation about diversity? A new local networking and forum group, Community Members for Diversity, holds its monthly meeting tonight and invites the public to come out and get involved. This month’s featured organization is NFL Youth Education Towns, with special guest rep Stephanie Owens sharing info about the organization’s goals and mission. 6:30 p.m., Shimberg Playhouse-Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, free admission.

The latest installment of the Gorilla Reading Series spotlights William Leavengood’s new play, Charley and Emma, about the turbulent relationship between Charles Darwin and his devoutly Christian wife and first cousin, Emma Wedgewood. The staged reading is directed by James Rayfield and the cast includes Mike Norton, Meg Heimstead, Jim Wicker, Chris Jackson and Justin Duggan, among a few others. 7 p.m., Gorilla Theatre, Tampa, $5.

The final guest appearing as part of the Sustain it(!) – Strategies + Tactics for Sustainability in Architecture and Urbanism series is Miami-based sustainable architect Chad Oppenheim, who talks about development in his presentation, “In Search of Essence.” 6 p.m., C.W. Bill Young Joint Military/ROTC Building, Tampa, free admission.

Rock the Vote stages Disturbing the Peace Fest 11, a pre-election day party featuring sets by 20 bands on three different stages at St. Petersburg’s Jannus Landing, its adjacent Tamiami Bar, and Push Ultra Lounge. Confirmed artists include Retard-O-Bot, Klik, Trace of Day, Tailgunner Joe & The Earls Of Slander, The Turncoat, and Military Junior. 5 p.m.-2 a.m., $10.

A new exhibit opens today at Scarfone/Hartley Gallery that features “pop-surrealist” mixed media by Carl Cowden, small-scale paintings by Alexandra Fernandez and sculptures made of new, found, natural and manufactured woods, metals, bronze, stone and fiber by Michael Massaro. All three are Tampa residents and University of Tampa alumni. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 813-253-6217.

Comedian Diane Ford performs a set of stand-up at Floyd’s. 8 p.m., Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, $20.

Students of USF’s School of Music Voice Studio present An Evening of Spanish Zarzuela, which includes performances of classical Spanish songs and arias. 8 p.m., Music Recital Hall (FAH 101) at USF-Tampa, free.

Eckerd College welcomes Dr. Zahid Bukhari — Director of American Muslim Studies at Georgetown University’s Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding — for a talk titled, “Muslims in the American Public Square.” 7:30 pm, Fox Hall, free admission.

Each Fall an army of eighteen-year-old “adults” floods USF, expecting to finally set foot in the long prophesized “real world.” They soon discover that college, and the real world, are whatever these freshmen make of them.  In constructing their identities, most are required to take a basic writing course.

Creative Loafing has chosen four of those students to blog for the Daily Loaf.

These are their rants, insights, fears and hopes….

Don’t worry, I will not really talk about ketchup, even though there are a lot of great things I can say about ketchup. I eat ketchup with everything pretty much, but that is not what I want to say. I will explain myself with a story. I have been trying to invite one of my good friends to come over to my apartment to spent the night and have a some fun, but every single time she has some excuse, like a project, essay, she’d tired, so on and so forth. As I talked to her yesterday, she started explaining that she feels like she is playing catch up all the time, there is always something due the next morning that requires immediate attention.

Her accent really made it sound like she was saying “ketchup” and not “catch up”, so we has a good laugh, and a whole discussion on ketchup and food. But on more serious note, isn’t it the way so many people especially college students feel? … Read the rest of this entry »

Michelle Obama takes the stage for the opening night’s keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.

• Sure it was Michelle’s night, but Teddy Kennedy stole the show.
• Republican spoilers crash the convention. (Remember this next week when they pillory the Dems for doing the same thing right back.)
• Tonight: Will Hillary Clinton be a uniter or a divider?
• Now that Fay’s gone, get ready for Gustav.
• USF gets a little bit safer.
• Mickey Mouse to enter the public domain?
• Don’t believe the hype ladies, your “pain threshold” is lower than the opposite sex’s.
• “There is speculation that we may be approaching an inflection point where the rate of technology advancements is accelerating at an exponential rate, and machines could even overtake humans in their ability to reason in the not-so-distant future.”
• Don’t miss Wayne Garcia’s review of night #1 of the convention at his Political Whore blog.