Creative Loafing Tampa

Queened Out: Another year and another lonely night

• by Jaeda Fuentes
There are so many obstacles when it comes to love and relationships; having no love for yourself doesn’t need to be another one.
• Tags: CLGBT, CLGBT, Queened Out, Jaeda Fuentes, Relationships, Love, New Year's Eve, Holidays, gay, drag queen, drag, New Year's kiss

Nix the mix: DIY Mexican hot chocolate

Forget the powdered mix and make it from scratch!

• by Katie Machol
Forget the powdered mix and make it from scratch!
• Tags: Drink, Recipes & Cooking, chocolate, hot chocolate, mexican hot chocolate, holidays, drink, dessert, recipe, diy, easy, taza organic chocolate, abuelita chocolate

Tasty twists on classic eggnog

Spirited renditions of a holiday standby (recipes).

• by Katie Machol
Spirited renditions of a holiday standby (recipes).
• Tags: Drink, drink, eggnog, booze, rum, whiskey, eggs, raw eggs, scotch, Christmas, coquito, rompope, choquito, liqueur, recipe, cocktail, holidays

"Ralphie to the Rescue": A Christmas Story gets the Broadway musical treatment

• by Julie Garisto
Some of it's brilliant and some of it's just filler, but A Christmas Story: The Musical is a sweet, sassy romp.
• Tags: Arts & Entertainment, A Christmas Story, Peter Billingsley, 1983, 1940s, Christmas, holidays, Broadway, musical, John Bolton, Clarke Hallum, Gene Weygandt

Mull them over: Holiday mulled wine recipes

Serve up seasonal warmth with a punch.

• by Katie Machol
Serve up seasonal warmth with a punch.
• Tags: Drink, mulled wine, wine, Glühwein, Glögg, Glintwein, Vin Brulé, recipe, drink, alcohol, holidays, festive

Fab CL Holiday Auction items for foodies

Chef's dinners, pizza maker for a day, private wine tasting and more.

• by Katie Machol
Chef's dinners, pizza maker for a day, private wine tasting and more.
• Tags: Food and Restaurants, Holiday Auction 2011, holiday auction, holiday auction 2011, holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, gifts, CL holiday auction, local food, Tampa Bay restaurants, dining

Be your own barista with these post-holiday feast drink offerings

Tasty, coffeehouse style drinks for the holiday season.

• by Katie Machol
Tasty, coffeehouse style drinks for the holiday season.
• Tags: Drink, holidays, feast, food, thanksgiving, Christmas, barista, coffee, latte, milk foam, steamed milk, how to foam milk at home, recipe, hot chocolate

CL Holiday Auction items for craft beer fanatics

Brewer for a day, keg party and more!

• by Katie Machol
Brewer for a day, keg party and more!
• Tags: Food and Restaurants, Drink, Holiday Auction 2011, holiday auction, holiday auction 2011, holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, gifts, CL holiday auction, beer, drink, craft beer, booze, local beer

Chase away the cold with Russian tea

• by Susan Filson
The first thing you’ll need is a container of Tang orange flavored drink mix. Yes, that Tang. If it’s good enough for the astronauts, it’s good enough for me. The next thing you’ll need is lemon-flavored, instant iced tea mix. (Does anyone actually use that stuff anymore?) And finally, you’ll need some ground cloves, cinnamon and lots of good, old-fashioned granulated sugar.
• Tags: Drink, Recipes & Cooking, Drink, tea, recipes, holidays, Recipes & Cooking, drinks, russian

Skål! Mull some festive Swedish Glögg to warm your holiday nights

• by Sean Nordquist
In our home, we always celebrated Christmas, and the real indicator that the holiday was close was when my father made his traditional Swedish meatballs and cooked up the family Glögg.
• Tags: Drink, Recipes & Cooking, wine, Drink, holidays, christmas, Recipes & Cooking, swedish, holiday traditions, Glögg, swedish glogg, mulled wine

More holiday gifts for super music fans only: Michael Jackson statue, Elvis cookie jar, and more

• by Shawn Goldberg
It’s that time of year again. Time to buy something for somebody that has everything. Well guess what? We did all the work for you except spend the dough.
• Tags: Music, Pop Culture, holidays, holiday, christmas, Willie Nelson, floor, Michael Jackson, Elvis, Tom-waits, Music, Preservation, kanye west, Pixies, Hunx, nelson mandela, West, Kanye, Pop Culture, punx, beyond, below, dimebag, darrell, mitch ryder

Simple 'throw together' holiday dessert: Cranberry-lime galette

• by Susan Filson
• Tags: Food and Restaurants, Recipes & Cooking, Food and Restaurants, recipes, holidays, Recipes & Cooking, apples, baking, desserts, pies. galettes, cranberries

Tampa Bay food, wine and beer events

• by Katie Machol
Plan your eating and drinking to-do list with our comprehensive calendar.
• Tags: Drink, Food & Drink Events, Food Events, wine, Drink, beer-club, food, beer, wine tasting, holidays, holiday, events, tasting, Food & Drink Events, Food Events

Holiday side dishes sans guilt: Ginger-coconut sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions

• by Katie Machol
Try these easy to prepare, lightened up sides in at your next feast with plenty of flavor and significantly less calories than the standard holiday fare. Your pants will thank you.
• Tags: Recipes & Cooking, recipe, holidays, thanksgiving, christmas, Recipes & Cooking, Katie Machol, caramelized onions, side dish, holiday season, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, holiday food

Torta di Riso recipe, an Easter tradition

• by Susan Filson
Rebirth, hope and renewal, packed into a beautiful dessert.
• Tags: Recipes & Cooking, recipes, holidays, Recipes & Cooking, rice, italian, easter, pie, Uncategorized

No-Knead Easter Bread recipe

• by Susan Filson
• Tags: Recipes & Cooking, recipes, holidays, Recipes & Cooking, easter, bread, Lent, Uncategorized

Homemade Pita Chips

• by Susan Filson
• Tags: Food and Restaurants, Recipes & Cooking, Food and Restaurants, recipes, holidays, Recipes & Cooking, bread, crackers, pita, Uncategorized

Santa Claus is coming to town … to scare your pants off!!!!!

• by Joe Bardi
For anyone who remembers the terror of the red suit, this one's for you … (with horrifying video)
• Tags: video, humor, santa claus, holidays, christmas, kids, crying, video, humor, reign of terror, the horror, Uncategorized

Recycling, repurposing and reusing your Christmas tree

• by Katie Machol
After the holiday season is over, those of you with real, live Christmas trees may be wondering what you can do with it besides just putting it out with the trash. Here are some great examples of how some cities are reusing their evergreens, why purchasing a live tree is the 'greener' choice, and some tips on recycling your tree.
• Tags: Green Living, Green Community, holidays, sustainable, Green Living, Green living, Green Community, cl green, creative loafing green community, mulch, PVC, Christmas trees, recycling your christmas tree, green your holiday, renewable resource, flammable christmas trees, fake vs. real christmas trees, harmful toxins, lead, locally farmed trees, Uncategorized

Double Chocolate Peppermint Chip Cookies recipe

• by Susan Filson
Inspired by a trip to Publix.
• Tags: Food and Restaurants, Recipes & Cooking, Food and Restaurants, chocolate, holidays, Recipes & Cooking, cookies, desserts, sweets, peppermint, Uncategorized