- Issue Archive for
- Feb 4-10, 2009
- Vol. 21, No. 47
News & Views
Week that was: In and out of the mayor's race
While we were all busy making onion dip, icing down beers and filling out squares for the office pool, here are a few non-Super Bowl developments you might have missed last week:
Can hermaphrodites get themselves pregnant?
Can hermaphrodites get themselves pregnant?
Pam Iorio for Senate? No-brainer
It's funny how quickly things change in politics. Three weeks ago, it made almost no sense for Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio to think about running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez in 2010.
Music
A&E
Review: Thom Pain (based on nothing)
Thom Pain (based on nothing) is a howl of agony disguised as a monologue, a brilliant modernist poem about loss and despair, and nostalgia for the rare moments when the sun smiled and one was happy. Though actor T. Scott Wooten isn't a technically proficient artist, he's still able, following Julie Rowe's direction, to suggest the scattered mind and battered soul of the eponymous hero, who in his fragmented, indecisive way has a chilling tale to tell about mishaps, miscues and missed opportunities.
Food & Drink
Bin there, ate that: Bin 27 Bistro
The restaurant industry is full of amateurs, people who feel that they can cook or serve food just as good, or better, than the rest of the joints out there. Sometimes they're right, but most often the daily grind of the business wears them down until they realize that cooking, or serving, isn't the only talent they need.
Going the distance for Spanish love at B-21
Sunday was a day that reminds us all why we live in Florida. The slight breeze and bountiful sunshine motivated me to endure a very lengthy drive to Tarpon Springs where the large wine retailer B-21 hosted a seminar on Spanish wines.
No wine gimmicks, please
Wine bars are sprouting up like fungi after a rain. It's as if everyone read the same glowing press release declaring an onslaught of wine consumers and feverishly birthed a business plan. Each bar owner seems to have an original idea of what the masses need in order to get more comfortable in their grape skins: cutesy, amateurish names for wine types and tastes of grossly overpriced juice spit from a card-fed machine. Do people really require gimmicks? Frankly, I don't think so. They want to feel comfortable, not ripped-off, and they want to communicate with a human being.
Movies & TV
Coraline
The fantastical opening credits sequence of Coraline superbly sets the stage for the eerie wonders to come. An unseen, scissor-handed figure sews and dresses a rag doll in an otherworldly environment. At one point a needle pops through the coarse fabric and JUTS RIGHT OUT AT THE AUDIENCE, in one of those amusing show-offy moments we expect from 3-D movies, but that still takes us by surprise.
Blogs
Alex Rodriguez: From A-Rod to A-Fraud to A-Roid
It didn't take long for A-Rod's nickname to morph into something even worse than A-Fraud, but the headlines may be distracting us from the real story.
P. Diddy’s Pants-Less Super Bowl Blowout Party
The Super Bowl is not a game. It’s a national holiday from moderation, offering sanctuary from dieting, sobriety, and sense. It’s a celebration of all the things foreigners despise, and secretly envy, about Americans: extravagance, overindulgence, consumerism, and idiocy.
The Thirsty Marlin: A touch of Key West in Palm Harbor
Louis loves the Floribbean flavors and fresh fish of Pinellas' Thirsty Marlin.
O'Reilly/Bale mashup: It had to happen
Christian Bale's on-set rant meets Bill O'Reilly's on-set meltdown with fabulous results.
Brandal 2007 Albarino
Mmm... white wine in the winter...crisp and refreshing. Might seem counter-intuitive but you might be surprised how a little tongue tingle can revive a dull day.
P. Diddy’s Pants-Less Super Bowl Blowout
The Super Bowl is not a game. It’s a national holiday from moderation, offering sanctuary from dieting, sobriety, and sense. It’s a celebration of all the things foreigners despise, and secretly envy, about Americans: extravagance, overindulgence, consumerism, and idiocy.
Kama Sutra: The Black Bee
Blogger Eric Leech stretches his sex legs with the Kama Sutra position The Bee.
Reliving the Chinese Communist Invasion of Alaska in 2077, thanks to Fallout 3 expansion packs
Linear combat and more gray backdrops, but essential for the Fallout fanatic.
Forget booty. Give me beer
“Let me show you my new implants,” announced a half-drunk wench Saturday at Tampa’s annual Gasparilla (http://www.gasparillapiratefest.com/) pirate invasion. “Alright,” I said. It was the only logical response.
Advice from the Dildo Whisperer
The Dildo Whisperer gives candid LGBT sex advice on SiriusOutQ, the satellite radio station for all things queer.
R.I.P. Lux Interior, legendary voice of The Cramps
A celebration of the contributions to rock n roll by the late Lux Interior. As the singer of legendary underground punk band, The Cramps, he affected audiences across the globe for over 30 years. RIP.
Does anyone, anywhere, care about the Grammys?
A simple poll today. Do you care about the Grammys?
Kings of Leon spring tour date include stop in Tampa
The band plays the Sun Dome May 8.
The Florida Orchestra reveals its 2009-2010 season
The Beatles, Gershwin and Caribbean drums are on the schedule.
Do It Today: Peters, Meaney and NAACP
Stuff to do Monday, Febry
Brunch on this: Southwestern Shrimp and Grits
South meets Southwest in this tasty new recipe to try for your next brunch get-together!
Free beer or sangria at Tijuana Flats
"Smack My Ass and Show Me You're Single" giveaway
The Tutored Chef: Student run restaurant at the Art Institute of Tampa
Looking for a new place to try on your lunch break? Try The Tutored Chef: a restaurant run by students at The Art Institute of Tampa, with gourmet delights that won't break the bank.
An introduction to sour beer: Petrus Oud Bruin
For the salt and vinegar potato chip loving, malt vinegar French fry craving, sour apple candy enthusiasts.
$10 bottle of wine at Ruby Tuesday
Get Bronco Coastal Vines Chardonnay for $10 on the wine list at Ruby Tuesday.
Michael Graves coffee maker from Target and Eight O' Clock Columbian coffee rated best by Consumer Reports
Cobalt blue plastic not sited by the magazine as a factor.
Twitter with CL for Gasparilla and win dinner on us
What's going on at the Gasparilla Parade? Join our Twitter brigade and don't miss a minute of the madness.
U.S. theater's hurting. Tampa Bay theater? Booming.
Financial crisis? What financial crisis? Tampa Bay theater companies are experiencing a boom.
Gallagher Steakhouse prix-fixe deal
High-end steakhouses (hell, even low-end) are clamoring for business these days.
Concert announcements: Coldplay, Seal, Kings of Leon and the return of Beanstalk
More news you need to know.
Welcome to the upside down world of dreams
Have you had an Obama dream? Dream Momma can help you understand it.
Iron Maiden comes to Florida!
Iron Maiden returns to the Sunshine State for the first time in 13 years.
Food and wine events
Plan your nights, from swilling reds to gala dinners.
Gasparilla Film Fest expanding to 10 days this year
Opening night will feature a film starring
Do It Today: Scythian, Diversity and Zebras
Music, an exhibit and related activities, and a staged reading.
Tampa beer haven Mr. Dunderbak's opening Wednesday night in new location
Our long, beerless nightmare will soon be over.
Tonight at Skipper's: Pato Banton
The show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $15.
The Short List: Can anyone pass this stimulus package?
What better way to end this week than with a Colbert clip where Stephen sends up the Christian Bale meltdown with a little help from Steve Martin? Plus all the news of the day on today's Short List.
Tonight at Dave's: Reverend Deadeye
The blues howlin' troubadour brings his explosive energy
Former Trib employee charged with embezzling more than a million
A former credit manager for the Trib is charged with embezzling more than $1 million from Media General.
The Grammys: Play-by-Play
Give your Grammy two cents here.
Sensory Overload 4.0 is coming!
CL's annual arts, music, film, etc. event goes digital.
My Apartment Hunt: Nightmare on Craigslist
I'm not one to bash Craigslist, but when searching for roommates online you meet more than your share of crazies.
The Short List: Obama caps exec pay at $500,000
New Lost tonight and I've got a special video sneak peak of the episode, plus all the news on today's Short List.
Get your zombie on with Dead Rising 2
Nine out of ten zombies polled say the brains are even tastier in this upcoming sequel
The Short List: Good times/ bad times for Obama
It's good news/bad news for Obama yesterday, as the Prez signs an expansion of SCHIP but sees his economic stimulus package tied up in the Senate. This and much more on today's Short List.
Undercooked steak destroys idiot woman's ability to tolerate beef
Actually getting the ribeye well-done would have been a real tragedy.
Pato Banton warms up Skipper's
A review of the Wednesday night show -- with pics!
What's your music personality? Signal Patterns has an answer.
New music personality test defines what you like and what they can sell you.
Free films from around the world! Does it get better than that?
Psychedelic Japanese animation? Asian hit-men double feature? Vampires? Find them all at Eckerd's FREE international filmfest.
The Short List: Obama makes his case
President Obama took to the airwaves last night — and heads to Ft. Myers today — to push the stimulus package, plus A-Rod, Chris Brown, iWoz and all the day's news on today's Short List.
Obama's prayer: Religion as uniter, not divider
President Obama's breakfast prayer envisions religion as a uniter, not a divider. Now there's an idea!
Sneak Peak: The International
MSN has posted the first 5 minutes of The International as a free review. Check it out …
Digital pirates winning battle with movie studios?
Hollywood may at last be having its Napster moment — struggling against the video version of the digital looting that capsized the music business.
A community garden network in Tampa
An urban community garden initiative begun in St. Petersburg spreads to Tampa.
Fuck and Run, Nebraska and other Valentine's Day classics
In honor of Valentine's Day, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite love songs. I'm pretty sure I deviate radically from the common wisdom on this...
A week in the life of CL food and drink blogs
We were busy this week. Check out what the CL food and wine blogs served up.
The Thermals rock The Bell House in New York
The Thermals kill it in Brooklyn, playing half their new album!
Trent Reznor's Million Dollar Business Model
Magic formula for how bands with followings can make a living playing and recording music.
St. Petersburg's The Table loses chef Pedro Flores, drama ensues
Flores is moving back to Sarasota and The Table either doesn't know, or doesn't want to say.
Labor Department reports biggest job loss since 1974
More financial storm clouds with not a silver lining in sight.
Tonight at Crowbar: Round two of Perpetual Groove
The jamtronica foursome plays night two of their Tampa run.
Sims 3 release date pushed back to June
If you've been looking forward to getting your Sim on later this month, I'm afraid we've got some bad news for you.
Stephen Malkmus talks Pavement reissues/reunion in new Pitchfork interview
In a new, thorough interview with Pitchfork, Malkmus discussed the possibility of a Pavement reunion.
5 pirate games for your Gasparilla enjoyment
Looking for some pirate gaming fun without spending a bunch of dubloons? Check out these games!
New music releases Tues., Feb. 10: Lily Allen, Golem and more
Albums out today and several are streaming right now on MySpace:
Blog crush: This is why you're fat
How many layers of bacon and cheese can I stack on one sandwich? A lot, it turns out.
Datz Deli: First look
Datz needs a little time, but there's a lot of promise in this new restaurant.
Still my favorite Gasparilla photo of all time
Beads, violence, beers and bare butts. Yep, this classic photo has it all in capturing the essence of the pirate parade.
The Sopranos in 27 minutes
The Sopranos in 27 minutes. Yeah, it's just the curse words.
Soup and Sandwiches: the perfect remedy to beat the winter blues
Make a comforting soup and sandwich combo to keep away the winter chills!
CL Sounds 2.5: Plants and Animals, Buddy Holly, Little Joy and others.
A new weekly roundup about what the CL team is listening to right now.
Disney Eggs: Would you pay a premium for a little Goofy on your shell?
Maybe, if they all came out of th
Does anyone, anywhere, care about the Grammys?
For an event whose most-cited moments include Milli Vanilli's 1990 Grammy for Best New Artist and the Bob Dylan soy bomb dancer, We're guessing probably not.
The Short List: Please, just pass the damn stimulus already!
Gasparilla video, Michael Steele clearing his "good name," the never-ending stimulus debate rolls on, Ann Coulter under investigation for voter fraud and much more on today's Short List.
Late night music: Feb. 9-13
Duffy, the Jonas Brothers, They Might Be Giants and others.
Going the distance for Spanish love at B-21
New wine blogger Audra explores the bounty of Spanish wines and Tarpon Springs' retailer B-21.
Twitter all the Gasparilla madness with CL — and win a free dinner
What's going on at the Gasparilla Parade? Join our Twitter brigade and don't miss a minute of the madness.
Wii rockers finally get Moving Pictures
That's right - Rush Wii DLC, now with 100% more Lifeson, Lee and Peart than before!
Apartment hunt: My search for the perfect place, Part 1
Follow Arielle Stevenson as she embarks on her "Apartment Hunt" — a blog about the search for a nice cheap place and the horrors you find instead.
Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg hospitalized
The liberal Justice is being treated for early-stage pancreatic cancer.
Do It This Weekend: Time and Eric, Mosaic, Gasparilla and more
The picks of the litter.
John Wesley: From Porcupine Tree to the Green Iguana — and back.
The tour guitarist for Porcupine Tree is a Brandon native.
Too cold for a sundae? Try a Banana Split Salad
It's never too cold for ice cream in Florida.
