Creative Loafing Tampa

Welcome back, Bluths

Daniel Figueroa IV — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:05:00 -0400

New episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix? Here’s why we give a shit. by Daniel Figueroa IV I was drunk. But a night spent at all times not far from a glass of vodka with a splash of olive juice will do that to you.…

Check out these new albums

CL Staff — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:04:00 -0400

Catching up with some of the biggest album releases of 2013. by CL Staff David Bowie The Next Day Critic’s rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 The always innovative David Bowie, who most fans thought had permanently retired from the business, shocked the world when in January, on his 66th birthday, he announced he’d completed a brand new studio album. As a teaser, he premiered the plaintive single “Where Are We Now?” on the same day, and the first full-length of fresh Bowie material since 2003’s Reality arrived in March.…

Fast 6 is Furiously entertaining

Katelyn Williamson — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:03:00 -0400

Old favorites return for the best installment of the Fast and Furious series yet. by Katelyn Williamson Fast and Furious 6 opens with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) racing through the striking Spanish Canary Islands. Dom’s all-American Dodge Challenger and Brian’s GTR Skyline rocket and bandy for position along the edge of steep cliffs as the cerulean waves crash far below.…

Dressing up the little black dress

Leslie Joy Ickowitz — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:02:00 -0400

Start by thinking of one item that will elevate the look to a whole other level. by Leslie Joy Ickowitz Which type are you? Are you all about the thrill of the hunt?…

This week in Tampa Bay area live music, featuring Coheed and Cambria, Steve Martin, King Lincoln and more …

Leilani Polk — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

by Leilani Polk THURSDAY, MAY 23 Hockey/The Hush Sound w/River City Extension/Genevieve/Lucas Carpenter The sexy post-punk rock and electro-disco roll of Hockey’s debut full-length, Mind Chaos, made it a favorite of 2009, though the Portland-based outfit (featuring core members Benjamin Grubin and Jeremy Reynolds) has since ventured into synthesized dance punk territory with more fuzzy tones, New Wave bounce and technotronic embellishments and effects in sophomore follow-up Wyeth IS, out digitally a few weeks ago and due for a physical release in late June.…

Album Review: Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City

Colin Joyce — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:19:00 -0400

by Colin Joyce Don’t think just because Vampire Weekend’s latest album is called Modern Vampires of the City (XL) that their brand of neo-colonialist art-pop has taken a turn entirely toward the morose. Frontman Ezra Koenig’s concerns may be newly self-reflective, but not at the expense of the bouncy indie pop they’ve built an empire producing.…

Album Review: The National, Trouble Will Find Me

Colin Joyce — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:12:00 -0400

by Colin Joyce Twelve years into their recording career, The National has found their wheelhouse. Early efforts from the Cincinnati-bred, Brooklyn-based quintet hinted at an unhinged side to the typically staid band.…

Album Review: David Bowie, The Next Day

Gabe Echazabal — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:11:00 -0400

by Gabe Echazabal The always innovative David Bowie, who most fans thought had permanently retired from the business, shocked the world when in January, on his 66th birthday, he announced he’d completed a brand new studio album. As a teaser, he premiered the plaintive single “Where Are We Now?” on the same day, and the first full-length of fresh Bowie material since 2003’s Reality arrived in March.…

Album Review: Chance The Rapper, Acid Rap

Colin Joyce — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:10:00 -0400

by Colin Joyce Chancelor Bennett likes LSD. The 20-year-old Chicagoan who records as Chance The Rapper has made that clear in his tweets, in his verses, and, most evidently, in the title of his latest mixtape.…

Sympathy for the deviant

Shawn Alff — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:37:00 -0400

Visiting my friend, the sex offender, in prison. by Shawn Alff It was my first time in prison. I was visiting an old friend, a convicted sex offender.…

Hillsborough County resumes the journey toward a transportation plan

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:00 -0400

The overwhelming defeat of the transit tax in Hillsborough County in 2010 shell-shocked the elected officials who supported the plan.

While Pinellas County officials have worked toward having their citizenry vote on light-rail plans in 2014, nothing much has been done in Hillsborough since the resounding defeat.…

Ed Turanchik and HMS Global Maritime introduce proposal to bring high-speed ferry rail to Tampa Bay

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:01:00 -0400

Today, Tampa attorney and public transportation advocate Ed Turanchik along with officials from the Seattle based HMS Ferries laid out their vision of a public-private partnership to initiate Tampa Bay's first commuter, recreational and tourist passenger ferry service. The idea came from studies showing that thousands of commuters who live in South Hillsborough County and drive to MacDill Air Force Base on a daily basis would take a ferry service if it was an option.…

Tampa City Council members differ on the need for budget analyst

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:16:00 -0400

It has been years since crowds formed at City Hall for Tampa's annual late summer budget hearings. The last time citizens showed serious concern during those discussions was in the mid-aughts, when the region's property values were ablaze, creating bigger tax bills for homeowners.…

Mitch Perry Report 5.22.13 - Please welcome Anthony Weiner back to the political stage

Mitch Perry — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:53:00 -0400

For those of us who thrive on following elections, 2013 is a pretty dry year. Locally we've got the St. Pete mayoral and City Council elections coming up, with a big primary in August (with the Lens on the ballot) and the general election in November.…

Paradise found

Jon Palmer Claridge — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:01:00 -0400

Caretta on the Gulf redefines beach cuisine. by Jon Palmer Claridge One of the great perks of living on the Gulf Coast is the ability to be awed daily by breathtaking sunsets over the water. It’s a seductive lure for residents and tourists alike.…

Greece-y goodness

Katie Machol — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Say “Opa!” to these Greek lamb sliders in pita pockets. by Katie Machol When it comes to burgers, quality meat can make a simple burger great, but flavorful additions will really put it over the top. Herbs and spices mixed into the meat, tasty toppings, quality cheeses and fancy buns will all contribute to making one stellar gourmet burger.…

Drinking it all in

Daniel Figueroa IV — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:59:00 -0400

A night of Beer, Bites & Brushes in the Warehouse District. by Daniel Figueroa IV The food was disappearing faster than it could come out. Florida Beer Company’s Thomas Barris shuttled trays of zucchini pasta out of the makeshift kitchen, deftly averting the long-haired tattooed guy, the woman in the cherry-blossom dress, and the guys in polos and cargo shorts.…

Get out your LGBT Memorial Day weekend calendar

Tiffany Razzano — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:46:00 -0400

If you're looking to make Memorial Day weekend plans, there are plenty of LGBT events in the Tampa Bay area.

On Wednesday, May 22, 4 — 7 p.m., join local elected officials and announced candidates at the Harvey Milk Day Meet and Mingle at The Birchwood Inn, 340 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg.…

Conservative protesters say "Down with the IRS" and "Fire Obama"

Chrystal Tacker — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:46:00 -0400

The corrupt attacks and denials follow “a pattern like Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler, and even Watergate. The Obama administration is as corrupt as it can be and we won’t stand for this.” Douglas Coggeshall, engineer and history buff, believes that history is repeating itself once again and he plans to stand up against the cycle.…

If DOMA goes away, then what?

Sharon Herman — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:23:00 -0400

On a national level, same-sex marriage could soon be recognized by the United States government. This means that federal benefits for married gay couples will be the same as heterosexual married couples.…

Landmark victory: American Journey has arrived

Nicole Abbett — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:43:00 -0400

Despite the sweltering heat, more than 100 people showed up to the dedication of the Adamo Drive Mural, American Journey, joining Mayor Bob Buckhorn and mural artist Michael Parker in a dedication ceremony to celebrate its official unobstructed view, allowing all a glimpse of Ybor City’s rich history.

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Jamie Dimon easily survives vote to split his duties at JPMorgan Chase shareholder meeting in Tampa

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:45:00 -0400

At JPMorgan Chase's annual shareholders' meeting in Tampa a year ago, the bank's CEO and chairman of the board, Jamie Dimon, was embarrassed when a close shareholder vote nearly stripped him of his chairman's job in the wake of the corporation's so-called "London Whale" trade loss, which ultimately cost Chase $6.2 billion.

But this afternoon, with more scrutiny on the banking superstar than ever (and rumors that he might bolt if the shareholder vote were successful this time around), only 32.2 percent of the shareholders voted to split his duties, thus insuring that the 57-year-old Dimon won't be leaving Chase anytime soon.…

Environmental Activist Bill McKibben speaks at Eckerd College's 2013 Graduation

Samuel Johnson — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:37:00 -0400

Sunday, May 19, marked the Golden Anniversary of the annual Eckerd College graduation commencement in Saint Petersburg. More than 500 graduates, their families and well-wishers, the faculty and the board of trustees all gathered under a circus-styled big top for the ceremony.…

"It's Monsoon season, bitches!" The CL interview with RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon

Brian Frederick — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:48:00 -0400

RuPaul's Drag Race has turned American on to plenty of fishy and glamorous drag queens during it's five seasons, but none have stolen more hearts than campy theater queen, Jinkx Monsoon. Jinkx (performed by Jerick Hoffer) went from this year's underdog, all the way to winner, crowned by RuPaul herself.…

Mitch Perry Report: Fluoride on the ballot again, but a long way from Pinellas County

Mitch Perry — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:09:00 -0400

Last year, the issue of the Pinellas County Commission's 2011 vote to remove fluoride from the water supply exploded, partially because of the Tampa Bay Times editorial page that raged against the four commissioners who supported that measure — John Morroni, Norm Roche, Neil Brickfield and Nancy Bostock. (Times writers Tim Nickens and Dan Ruth ended up receiving Pulitzer Prizes for the editorial campaign.)

With Bostock and Brickfield running for re-election last fall, the issue hung around their necks like an albatross, and was used in every possible campaign forum or event by their respective Democratic opponents, Janet Long and Charlie Justice.…