Creative Loafing Tampa

Tampa Tribune on the market?

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:11:01 -0500

After corporate owner Media General fired 165 Tampa Tribune staffers in December, rumors grew louder about the fragility of the Trib's future prospects.

Rumors will continue to circulate with Media General's press release today, which confirmed that the company "is exploring the potential sale of newspaper operations."…

Marco Rubio attempts to humanize Republican stance on immigration

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:39:30 -0500

Jeb Bush has been consistent over the past few years in wishing that members of his party could be just a little more sensitive in discussing Mexicans and illegal immigration.

Although Marco Rubio hasn't himself employed the kind of vitriolic language Bush criticizes, he also hasn't been very sympathetic to comprehensive immigration reform.…

Mitt Romney has spent $41.9 million less of his own money in this campaign

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:09:29 -0500

Although John McCain beat Mitt Romney soundly to win the Republican nomination for president four years ago, Romney did have some success, winning nine states in primaries and caucuses (Mike Huckabee took 8 states). Republicans say that Romney was considered the alternative to McCain, which earned him a lot of votes.…

Hillsbough Commisioners reject effort to add extra single-member district

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:06:09 -0500

A plan proposed by Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller that would potentially increase the chances of getting Latino representation on the board died on a 5-2 vote Wednesday morning.

Miller's plan was to have the BOCC allow citizens to vote on changing the current structure of the commission — four single-member seats and three at-large seats — to one in which there would be five single-member seats and just two-county wide.…

Concert review: Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Gabe Echazabal — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0500

Setlist included by Gabe Echazabal Downtown St. Pete was doused with a tidal wave of New Jersey swagger last Friday night. One of the favorite sons of the Asbury Park music scene took the rambunctious crowd packed inside Jannus Live on a high octane, two-hour trek down the Jersey Turnpike, and what a sweet ride it was.…

The Raw Story: Don't "What" an Undertaker Promo

Daniel Feingold — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:25:00 -0500

I welcome you to this week's The Raw Story. As usual, I wrote a whole lot about Raw , but I did promise to give my thoughts on Sunday's Elimination Chamber as well.…

Florida Legislature poised to kill texting-while-driving bill again?

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:18:28 -0500

In Tallahassee, the Senate Budget Committee has approved a texting-while-driving bill (SB 416) that would classify the offense as a secondary violation — meaning that a driver would have to be pulled over for some other action initially. But for those of you who think this means Florida might join the other 35 states who have enacted some sort of law on cell phones in cars, consider that this is the third straight year that such a bill has passed through this committee, only to die in the House of Representatives.…

The Gaily News: Indiana Rep. Bob Morris vs. the Girl Scouts

Tiffany Razzano — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:17:00 -0500

Be careful the next time you order a box of Thin Mints — you might be tricked into supporting the gay agenda.

At least that's what an Indiana lawmaker would like you to believe.…

Mitch Perry Report 2.22.12 -lobbying for peace in Washington

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:06:00 -0500

As the four GOP presidential candidates gather in Mesa, Arizona tonight to engage in their first debate since last month in Jacksonville, no doubt Rick Santorum will be on the firing line for several of his controversial comments on social issues, both in this current campaign, and previously in his political career.

Conservative news aggregator Matt Drudge joined what Sarah Palin would call the "lamestream media" yesterday when he posted on his website a story about Santorum saying that Satan was "attacking the great institutions of America," in a 2008 speech in Florida.…

Mr. Skin's 13th Anatomy Awards (NSFW)

Sex and Love editor — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0500

Millions of women watch the Academy Awards to imagine themselves dressed as the actresses waltzing down the red carpet. Just as many men watch to imagine these stars dressed in nothing at all.…

This week in food and drink: Burger tattoos, anyone?

Juliette Cassistre — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Free BGRs, cake decorating, food truck fest, wine dinners and more! by Juliette Cassistre Wednesday, February 22: EATS! American GrillThis charity dinner will benefit Voices for Children and celebrate EATS!…

The lobbyist for peace comes to Tampa

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:39:00 -0500

Whether it actually comes to fruition or not, right now the Department of Defense is looking at having its budget cut in ways that only the most passionate peaceniks could have hoped for.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently outlined a $525 billion budget for next year that would be the first step in a deficit-cutting plan that calls for a reduction in projected defense spending of $487 billion over 10 years.…

Drudge now going off on Santorum

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:19:19 -0500

Even with the plethora of other political websites and blogs crowding into the reading diet of your average political junkie, the Drudge Report still stands as a barometer of what's rocking conservative America's world. It's particularly scrutinized by producers of talk-radio programs on the AM dial.…

Between the sheets: Top 10 most provocative books out this month

Shawn Alff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:31:00 -0500

It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living. Edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller.…

Florida Republican Senate race gets a bit edgier

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:47:03 -0500

Republicans in Washington believe because of the number of vulnerable Democratic Senate seats up for election this November, they have a good chance of taking back the upper chamber, which has been in Democratic control for the past five years. The Dems currently maintain a 53-47 majority over their Republican counterparts, including two Independent Senators — Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman — who caucus with the Democratic party.…

GOP candidates keep flailing away at Obama on foreign policy

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:08:18 -0500

When the GOP presidential debate drama resumes tomorrow night in Arizona, prepare to hear what you've always heard during these forums — a lot of Barack Obama bashing.

With the country still in one of its weakest positions economically in decades (though there have been incremental improvements in recent months), Obama should be vulnerable this election year, unless the Republicans nominate a general election candidate who is unacceptable to the masses.…

Mitch Perry 2.21.12 - Alex Sink blasts GOP race for turning on birth control

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:05:00 -0500

Alex Sink is not walking away from the fray. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate of 2010 attended the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee last night, where she exhorted her fellow Dems that they don't want to make the same mistake they did two years ago.…

Party of one

Erica Miller — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0500

I'm a single diner.

I'm not waiting on someone.…

New Music Tuesday! (Feb. 21): Sleigh Bells, Cheap Girls, Galactic + more

Leilani Polk — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -0500

New music! I've included info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may never have heard of (but should know), with audio & video for your listening and viewing pleasure.…

Alex Sink rips on Republicans at Hillsborough County Democratic meeting

Mitch Perry — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:58:35 -0500

Count Alex Sink as one Florida Democratic woman stunned at where the GOP presidential race has gone in recent weeks.

"The women in this country are mad!" she declared, eliciting cheers from the 75 or so people at the Hillsborough County's Democratic Executive Committee Meeting at the Children's Board in Ybor City on Monday night.…

S&M, ahem, Student & Member show at DFAC

Julie Garisto — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:54:00 -0500

DFAC's S&M exhibition stands for "Student and Member," so get your mind out of the gutter and check out the 300-plus works on Fri., Feb. 24, 6-8 p.m. by Julie Garisto For their big, new exhibition, S&M: DFAC Student/Member and Faculty Exhibitions, the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Ken Hannon clarifies in a recent e-mail that “the S&M — in addition to student and member — stands for "Summa and Magna,” followed by a winky emoticon. So, yeah, there'll be no whips, chains, harnesses and complicated swings on display in chill-tastic Dunedin, but that would be an interesting mash-up of cultures and aesthetics, eh?…

Funding for Bay area transit agencies still in question

Mitch Perry — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:35:57 -0500

In referring to the controversial transportation bill that still lacks a majority to get through the House of Representatives, you might recall the line used by Woody Allen to begin Annie Hall.

“There’s an old joke - um… two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of ‘em says, ‘Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.’ The other one says, ‘Yeah, I know; and such small portions.’

Such are the sentiments of some in the transit agency community, who may may feel the same as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has labeled it as both the "worst" transportation bill he's seen in decades and the most partisan.

The proposed bill calls for the elimination of dedicated funding from the Highway Trust Fund for public transit, replacing it with a one-time allocation that runs out completely in 2016.…

Cru Cellars wines and dines

Juliette Cassistre — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0500

Cru Cellars, a local wine bar and shop, recently launched a food menu to accompany their wide selection of small production wine. Owner and Certified Sommelier Jen Bingham teamed up with In Bloom Catering and Creative Food Concepts to create a menu most complementary to the wines.…

#MusicMonday Vol. 59: Howler, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Breton + more

Scott Harrell — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0500

What the CL Music Team is listening to on this fine Monday to rocket launch the work week. Click here to check out previous entries.…

Tampa band Tallhart signs to Equal Vision Records

Leilani Polk — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:46:00 -0500

The indie rock foursome formerly known as Marksmen, and currently known as Tallhart (to avoid trademark issues), has finally received their due and not only landed a fatty label deal, but are the first act signed to Equal Vision Records' newly launched imprint , Rory Records, which is headed up by Say Anything frontman Max Bemis.

Tallhart.…