Holiday Guide Auction: Daily Loaf, Creative Loafing Tampa

Movie review: George Nolfi's The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt (with trailer video)

Joe Bardi — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:02:11 -0500

[Editor's Note: This review is by CL Holiday Auction winner Upohar Haroon. Haroon won the chance to tap her inner Ebert when her husband, Matthew Peterson, placed a successful bid for the “Be a movie reviewer” item in the 2010 CL Holiday Auction for the benefit of The Children’s Home.]

Who controls our fate?…

SOLD!: A holiday auction winner interviews Rick Burch of Jimmy Eat World, which plays The Ritz Ybor on Wed., Feb. 2

Leilani Polk — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:35:48 -0500

When we contacted “Interview Your Favorite Band” CL Holiday Auction winner Derek Weiner to find out the bands he was most interested in talking to, he responded with a shortlist of picks. “Admittedly, I may be dreaming a little too big,” he wrote, “but I figured why not give you the wish list and let you be the judge of that?” At the top was platinum-selling alt rock/power pop foursome Jimmy Eat World.…

SOLD!: Indie music store shopping spree

Leilani Polk — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:12:21 -0500

A few weeks before I was due to take the winner of the indie music store shopping spree out for some record riffling (the package included two records each from three indie record stores along with some expert shopping advice and picks by yours truly), 30-year-old mainstay Vinyl Fever announced it was closing its doors for good.

Vinyl Fever was a participant in the spree and owner Lee Wolfson was still more than willing to offer the winning bidder store credit.…

CL Profile: Dr. Charles McLaughlin, plastic surgeon and connoisseur

David Warner — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:37:49 -0500

I didn’t quite know what to expect when I agreed to interview Tampa plastic surgeon Dr. Charles McLaughlin. I knew that his family friend Gina Flynn-Carmack had been enthusiastic enough about him to place the winning bid for “Buy the news” in the Creative Loafing Holiday Auction, ensuring that CL would do a profile of the good doctor.…

The CL Sold! Issue: Content bought or inspired by winners of the Creative Loafing Holiday Auction

David Warner — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:00:25 -0500

On their way to helping us raise $19,000 for The Children's Home in the 2010 Online Holiday Auction, several lucky readers snagged a spot for themselves (or their friends and families) on the pages of Creative Loafing. In the print edition of CL that hit the streets Jan. 19, they got to see the results in content marked, aptly enough, SOLD!…

CL Holiday Auction raises $19,000 for The Children's Home — one of the Top 10 reasons this year's auction rocked

David Warner — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:25:36 -0500

Creative Loafing’s 2nd Annual Online Holiday Auction, which ran from Nov. 18 to Dec. 16, brought together hundreds of businesses and thousands of readers for one important cause: raising funds for The Children’s Home. We were hoping to top last year’s total — $12,077 — and we did.…

CL Holiday Auction Final Day: Lady Gaga, The Refinery, CL's cover are among the items up for grabs

David Warner — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:57:00 -0500

This is it — your last chance to bid in the Creative Loafing Holiday Auction for The Children's Home. The final 20 items close today from noon-6 p.m., and they're among the biggest prizes of all: a vacation anywhere in the world; a private chef's dinner at Best of the Bay-winning restaurant The Refinery; Lady Gaga tickets; a private tour of the Tampa Museum of Art's upcoming Degas show; gourmet feasts at Datz and Taqueria Monterrey; package deals in SoHo and Dunedin; cocktail class at Fly; and poker lessons from a champion.…

CL Holiday Auction Item #026: Guest list for every show at the New World Brewery in 2011 -- bidding ends today at 6 p.m.

Leilani Polk — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:31:18 -0500

This is absolutely a CAN'T MISS auction item for music fans who love New World Brewery, Ybor City's popular bar and concert venue. The fine folks at New World (in conjunction with promoters New Granada Presents, THX Mgmt and Brokenmold Entertainment) will grant the winner (and a companion) a spot on the guest list for every event held at the bar in 2011.…

CL Auction Wild Wednesday: 18 items closing today

David Warner — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:34:39 -0500

It's the next-to-last day in the Creative Loafing Holiday Auction for the benefit of The Children's Home, and it's a big one. Almost 20 items close today starting at 12 noon and continuing until 7 p.m., ranging from amazing gift certificate packages to concert and theater-ticket offers you won't see anywhere but here.…

Drink up! Cigar City, Independent, Wine Exchange auction items closing today

David Warner — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:26:37 -0500

The CL Holiday Auction marches on. Just three more days of bidding to go, and today's almost over!…

Closing at 2 p.m. today!: CL Holiday Auction Items #64 & #65- Wine class at The Wine Exchange & a wine tasting party at home

Katie Machol — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:00:46 -0500

One last chance to bid on these items that close at 2 p.m. (EST)!…

CL Holiday Auction 2010 Item #034: Brokenmold Entertainment poster package (closes today at 2 p.m.)

Leilani Polk — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:30:47 -0500

Know the uber-cool concert posters you see all over town -- the ones that are brilliant and graphic and generally eye-grabbing? [See right if you answered no.] Those are the handiwork of Best of the Bay 2010 winners S. Bradley Askew and AZN Mike, who took home a "Best Poster Art" award for their Brokenmold Entertainment promo art.…

CL Holiday Auction 2010 Item #028: Two all-access passes to WildSplash (closes at 2 p.m. Dec. 14)

Leilani Polk — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:35:00 -0500

Your all-access pass to Wild 94.1's Wild Splash in March 2011 at Clearwater's Coachman Park. You and a guest will receive all-access passes, hang out with the Wild 94.1 staff, watch the show from the stage and get the chance to interview some of the artists in the media tent.…

CL Holiday Auction Item #63: Brewer for a Day at Tampa Bay Brewing Company and a Pizza Party

Katie Machol — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:30:07 -0500

Join forces with Tampa Bay Brewing Company Head Brewer David Doble to become a brewing apprentice for a day. You will assist David as he brews one of the house beers (and he might even let you pick which one).…

CL Holiday Auction Mega-Monday: Bucs, SideBern's, Dalí, Big Top packages and more closing today

David Warner — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:30:51 -0500

Don't wait any longer: Some of the most-coveted items in the Creative Loafing Holiday Auction start closing out this afternoon. Check out the list of Monday closings below, read more at cltampa.com/auction, and remember: The Children's Home is the beneficiary, and your bids help nurture and protect children who have been victims of neglect and abuse.…

CL Holiday Auction Item #58: The Casanova package - Seductive dinners from Max & Sam's, Ceviche, The Melting Pot & Reservations Gourmet To Go

Katie Machol — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:00:40 -0500

Three great nights out, one great night in -- and no one has to cook! Woo her (or him) with these four special dinners: the ultimate fondue experience at The Melting Pot, where you can cozy up next to each other while dipping delicious items into vats of melted cheese or chocolate; Ceviche in St. Pete, where delicious tapas and perhaps a flamenco serenade will whisk you away to Barcelona; Max & Sam's, the beautiful new supper club in Jungle Prada (Pinellas) where you can dance after dinner, or just sing along in the piano bar; and Seminole Heights' Reservations Gourmet to Go, where you pick up a comforting home-cooked meal, take it home and eat.…

Only a few minutes left! Tampa Improv, Channelside, health & beauty packages and lots more Holiday Auction items closing today at 2 p.m.

David Warner — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:25:33 -0500

Jump into the bidding right now and you may win one of the following packages in the Creative Loafing Holiday Auction for The Children's Home — all of them closing this afternoon.

Check the complete list of auction items if you want to find out what's closing in the auction's final week, Dec. 13-16.…

CL Holiday Auction Item #60: Beautiful (and tasty) gift baskets for the holidays and after

Katie Machol — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:30:38 -0500

This item's a cornucopia of good stuff -- or actually two cornucopias. From BJ's Wholesale Club, enjoy a "Sweet Soiree" basket featuring holiday-inspired chocolates, cookies and serving accessories (wine stoppers, a three-tier buffet server) that can be used for entertaining after the holidays are over.…

Creative Loafing Auction Item #040: Tampa Improv tickets and meet and greet

Julie Garisto — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 11:40:34 -0500

Tampa Improv has featured the biggest names in stand-up comedy, such as Mad TV's Aries Spears, who's appearing at the club next weekend.

This package provides tickets to a comedian to-be-determined (the schedule isn't finalized yet) who'll be performing at the Tampa Improv in 2011.…

CL Holiday Auction: Act fast, items are closing

David Warner — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:03:29 -0500

Waiting till the last minute to place your bids in the CL Holiday Auction?

Well, the last minute is almost here.

Starting Thurs.…

CL Holiday Auction 2010 Item #036: Dinner and a show at Skipper's Smokehouse

Leilani Polk — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:28:33 -0500

North Tampa's longtime outdoor venue, Skipper's Smokehouse, and restaurant is a bona fide Tampa landmark and favorite of live music aficionados. This package includes dinner for two ($30 value) and two tickets to virtually any show of your choice that takes place between Dec. 16, 2010, and Dec. 16, 2011.…

CL Holiday Auction Item #67: Taste the best of Cigar City's limited edition brews

Katie Machol — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:05 -0500

This item is a mystery grab bag of sorts, but if you or someone you know is a Cigar City brew fan, this is a must-have item. Joey Redner will be handpicking a number of special-edition, limited-release -- and highly coveted -- bottles, including ones that you can longer find in stores, for this "best of" Cigar City package.…

How to give and receive: A CL Holiday Auction shopping list (plus a challenge)

David Warner — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:49:38 -0500

Do I hear $16,000? $20,000?…

CL Holiday Auction Item #62: The Whole Foods Experience - Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie Party and Gift Basket

Katie Machol — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:00:08 -0500

A delectable fete for you and nine of your friends, featuring some of the best that Whole Foods Market has to offer from their international wine, cheese and meat departments. To sweeten the deal, the Market will also give you a primo gift basket filled with cheese, chocolate, coffee, pasta, sauces, spices, and more -- and a $50 gift card.…

CL Holiday Auction Item #87: Private Rooftop Cocktail Class and Tasting at Fly Bar & Restaurant

Katie Machol — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:30:03 -0500

Release your inner mixologist with this class and tasting for up to 10 people in one of downtown Tampa’s most dramatic settings: the rooftop bar at Fly. The bar’s expert mixmasters will provide an introduction to “creative cocktailing,” including education on ingredients and liquors; tastings of Fly’s signature cocktails, accompanied by complementary foods from the restaurant’s Small Plate menu; and the chance to design a seasonal cocktail as a group and have it added to Fly’s cocktail list.…