the 941

Sarasota has a kindred spirit with the city of Gainesville. Maybe it’s the feel of the warmth of the western sun when it begins its daily decent over our beautiful coast. The last few minutes of brilliance cast a glow on our land that no one else gets to see unless you are here. We are stewards of this land; charged with the responsibility to protect and maintain its entire splendor. Mayor Hanrahan, Gainesville Fl, is someone who is a pure example of just that; a steward leading her city with the knowledge that it can be done.

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Mayor Hanrahan in Tallahassee this week. She accompanied me and Commissioner Kelly Kirschner on our visit to speak on the importance of a strong Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) this legislative session. Rounding out our group was two others who are passionate about the environment, Attorneys Steve Urse and Deb Swim.

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Yeah, we don’t make it into B-Town proper as much as we should, either. But if you’re planning a trip to Bradenton’s administrative center we have a few choices that might making your dining decisions easier. From down-home comfort food to dive-bar burgers, or from craft brews to chic martinis, we’ve got you covered. (Let us know if we missed any of your favorites.)

B TOWNE COFFEE COMPANY 440 Old Main St., Bradenton, 745-3100
The usual snacks and coffee drinks in a comfy setting right in the heart of Old Main.

BELLA COFFEE HOUSE 417 12th St. W., Bradenton, 747-1687
Cozy coffee house with damn fine brews and the usual pastries.

BONNI BAKES EDIBLE ART 930 12th St. West, Bradenton, 746-6647
You might dismiss this quaint Village of the Arts spot as another artsy coffee shop, but Bonni Bakes has instituted a daily guest chef series, which means the menu changes every day, from Old Florida, to Ethiopian, New York to Greece.

Many more after the break:

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Letters From Elvis: \”Paris 1334\” (”Paris 1334″)

LETTERS FROM ELVIS

Members: Patrick Johnson (guitar, vocals), Greg Ferris (bass)

Sounds like: Built to Spill, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Want a dose of unreserved enthusiasm about the state of Sarasota’s music scene? Sit down for a talk with Letters From Elvis frontman Patrick Johnson. “Right now is the time in Sarasota,” Johnson says. “It’s just one of those little windows in time in the music industry to break through and make a huge difference in music history.” He namechecks several local acts he thinks could emerge on the national stage, and even — no shit — compares our area scene to Seattle’s circa 1990. It’s been a long time coming. Letters From Elvis first emerged in the late ’90s, but Johnson shelved the project till last fall, when he connected with drummer Steve Pettit and bassist Greg Ferris. The trio began rehearsing in January; within two days, the band was up to speed. Since then, Pettit’s moved out to LA, but not before he cut a seven-track live recording with the other guys as a way to generate buzz and get gigs. When/if the Sarasota scene blows up like Johnson thinks, Letters From Elvis will no doubt be one of the acts to make it happen. In Johnson’s mind, of course, it’s only a matter of time: “It’s just waiting to avalanche.”

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— State Rep. Doug Holder calls Herald-Tribune reporter Jeremy Wallace to let him know how strongly he supports the Florida House’s offshore drilling bill, which could lead to drilling just three miles from Sarasota’s beaches. But that’s not all: ”Holder also told me he isn’t really for drilling 3 miles from the shore. He said if anyone attempts to drill that close to Sarasota he would protest, even though the legislation he voted for would allow it.” (Emphasis added.) Ah, principles. Holder also accuses Wallace of plotting to run against him in the next election cycle.

— Some in Manatee County aren’t happy about the MCC name change; the school’s pres defends the process.

— The much-discussed Palm Avenue parking garage will be the focus of a special Sarasota City Commission session today.

— One year to the day after she resigned in protest as a weekly Pelican Press columnist because the newspaper kowtowed to angry advertisers, MC Coolidge recaps her decision, and re-publishes her swan song column.

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I consider Bob Dylan the greatest rock artist ever, bar none, but even I’ll concede that some of the hoopla over the Man’s late-career phase is a bit over the top — Rolling Stone’s review of Dylan’s 2006 disc Modern Times probably had the five stars attached before the thing was even written. But I will go to my grave defending 2001’s “Love and Theft”, an incredible late-career masterpiece that legitimately ranks with Dylan’s best. “Mississippi” gives me shivers to this day.

And, luckily, a similar pleasure hits me listening to “I Feel a Change Comin’ On,” one of the 10 tracks on Together Through Life, Dylan’s latest solo LP.

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Commissioner Kirschner,

My first thank you of the day is to you. I really appreciate all that you did, not only yesterday in Tallahassee, but everything that led up to it.

Like most people, I have been sitting on the sidelines for most of my life waiting and watching for our elected officials to take care of our problems. I believed that I was doing my part every election day by voting someone into office who I hoped was the best person to represent me. I did my part and then it was time they did their part.

But as years passed and the waiting continued, there was always a gap between identifying and solving the problem. I finally got tired of waiting. In fact, my frustration grew into annoyance and then anger, because no one seemed to be aware that the clock had been ticking and the argument was getting old.

I am not spending my time in Tallahassee because I think it’s a noble thing to do. I’m not there because I want the right to complain or the opportunity to lay blame; I’m there out of sheer desperation. It’s the only thing I can do because I don’t know what else to do at this point in time. Everything I have — my past, my present, my future — is tied up with this state. There is no other place for me except here. And throughout the years I have seen the things that I value diminish into sensible arguments that justify its extinction. And for every good, solid argument that I accept, I am left with the knowledge that we have sold our soul for the greater good.

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Creative Loafing Half-Hour Variety Hour: Episode #9 (Part 1)

Creative Loafing Half-Hour Variety Hour: Episode #9 (Part 2)

Peep this podcast, punks!

Yep, it’s episode nine of the best banter on the airwaves. This week, Food Editor Brian Ries takes a vacay, so Events Editor/Staff Writer Tim Sukits and I team up with special guest Shannon Fortner to discuss this week’s cover story and her fight to get the U.S. government to officially recognize her relationship with UK native Kelly Hollender, so the latter can immigrate.

In part two, we roll on to discuss the upcoming Summer Guide (which I’m sure you know all about) and Shannon (who is in not one, but two bands we’ve selected to participate) chimes in with her thoughts, too.

Enjoy!

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Ed. note: This piece comes from our hardy Editorial Intern Jennifer Almond.

Saw something on YouTube last week that sparked off a chain of thought (and quite possibly a bit of a rant) about the way in which we perceive others and the presumptions we make based upon stereotypes. For example: If you have blond hair and an ample chest, then you must be an airhead. If you wear a lot of pastel colors, spend a long time on grooming and mince around a bit then you must be gay. You know what I’m talking about.

And I guess Simon Cowell and company, when laying eyes on a middle-aged contestant hailing from a small village in Scotland didn’t expect this.

Yes! Despite eyebrows that could give Ernie from Sesame Street a run for his money… damn! That woman can sing! She has talent! And if you watch this clip carefully you will note the disbelieving and “yeah right” looks from not only the judges, but also from much of the audience, who are giving each another skeptical stares before she opens up those pipes.

The female judge says afterwards, “I think we were all being very cynical…” No, the word would not be “cynical.” That’s the polite we-don’t-want-to-admit-how-openly-biased-we-were-before-you-even-opened-your-mouth-because-of-the-way-you-look way to say it.

The correct term would be “judgmental,” “prejudiced,” or even “bigoted.” There are a whole host of adjectives for it.

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Are you afraid of eating pork thanks to the outbreak of the swine flu? Or, more accurately, the outbreak of media hysteria over swine flu?

Well, don’t worry about it, you can’t catch a respiratory disease like flu from a slab of applewood smoked bacon or inch-thick chop, no matter how undercooked. This new strain that’s affecting humans hasn’t even been found in pigs. But that’s not stopping the hysteria bandwagon, among consumers, the media and governments.

Which means that American pork producers have had to go on the offensive. (more…)

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Sonic Youth: \”Sacred Trickster\”

Right off the bat, you hear a blast from the past in the first track Sonic Youth has mp3-released from its forthcoming LP, The Eternal, out June 9 on Matador. Those clanging anti-church No Wave chord assaults announce that while the band may have been mellowing in recent years, all that’s out the window now.

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