Saturday, February 28, 2009

Friends Of Stogie

At Gaspars In Temple Terrace

The Blue Lizard Hookah Lounge In Ybor City

Mike Higgins brings the hose to his mouth and inhales one deep puff. He blows out, and a cloud of watermelon-flavored smoke floats, then dissipates above him. He leans back against the plush red couch, putting his feet on the edge of the coffee table where his hookah is gurgling..........more

Tampa's Homeless Census Puts A Number To The Need

On the front porch of a boarded-up bungalow in the shadow of downtown Tampa, a woman using a rucksack for a pillow and a thin blanket against the night chill sleeps on.........more

Big Cat Rescue, Tampa, Florida



Big Cat Rescue, Tampa, Florida

Fiesta Day in Ybor City

This event even has party in its name, Fiesta Day in Ybor City! This is the time to tear yourself away from the Tampa Bay area beaches and head over to historic Ybor City! It all happens this Saturday, and here are the details.........more

Tampa Dogs Find A Home

"It was the day of the inauguration," recalled the 37-year-old, who requested the use of her nickname instead of her real name, due to the backlash she's received from some not-so-pleasant animal activists. "I had been looking for a home for both of my dogs together for over four months. My house was in foreclosure, and I knew it was a bad time.".............more

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Douchebag Tom DeLay rips Charlie Crist

Strong words from one of the greatest congressional douchebags of the last decade, but Tom DeLay blames Charlie Crist for Florida’s fiscal tanking...........more

Tampa Council Weighs Giving Preference To Local Vendors

Councilwoman Mary Mulhern
Says the Iorio administration should adopt new policies giving locals preference over out-of-town firms on bids for good and services. "We need to change the way we look at the local economy," she said at today's council workshop.
"There is growing consensus that local is what's going to save us."............more

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Big Brothers Big Sisters Seeks UT for Help

In 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters matched 2,250 children with mentors in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. With the economic downfall in the last year, it has left many more children, approximately 800 and counting, stuck on this waiting list........more

Tampa Theatre Offers Oscar Fame For A Night

Sylvia Martinez-Hasque didn't have to travel 2,500 miles to Hollywood to experience the glitz of Oscar night. She stayed in her hometown instead, bought a VIP ticket to the Tampa Theatre's Oscar Night Party tonight and became a celebrity for the 30 seconds it took to sashay down the red carpet..........more

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Sean Penn Wins

Walk Before You Run

Thinking about running for elected office? If public service appeals to you, but you're unsure if you have what it takes to be a viable candidate and do what it takes to run a successful campaign, this workshop is for you............more
The Studio @ 620, 620 First Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Kate Winslet

Best Actress

Penelope Cruz

Best Supporting-Actress

Friends Of Stogie

At The Firehouse

The Florida Wing Of The GOP Hypocrisy Hall Of Fame

Adam Putnam, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Tom Rooney, Mario Diaz-Balart, Ginny Brown-Waite, Cliff Stearns, John Mica, and Bill Posey...........here

EYE ON YBOR

Watched while you walk...........here

Gasparilla International Film Festival

here

Batman and Robin Verses The Tampa Police

It looks like the saga of Batman and Robin verses the Tampa Police Department may be over, for now at least. Batman was in court on Monday to face charges of wearing a mask in public and guess what? He won! That's right. There is justice after all............more

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Cookie and Coco Need A Home

Please pass along to all family, friends, co-workers - spread the word and help find these two adorable labs a home. You never know who may want to adopt them or who may know someone that does.........more
Contact: Katherine at: kjmorris74@yahoo.com

Body Worlds Exhibit at MOSI

At $18.95, the ticket price includes both the extensive Body Worlds exhibit but also, for a limited time, one standard IMAX® Dome Theatre film. You will want to make a day of it, as MOSI, the IMAX Dome and the Body Worlds exhibit are all quite robust, and you'll want to devote as much time as you can to each exhibit.........more

Hillsborough River Bridge at Fort Foster

Major General George A. McCall wrote of his experience as a young officer working to open a military road from Tampa Bay to what is today Ocala in Marion County. This was the Fort King Road, traces of which can still be seen through central Florida's palmetto and pine forests...........more

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Tampa Courthouse Making People Sick

Tampa's Federal Courthouse is making people sick, Florida Senator Bill Nelson announced today. Nelson surveyed the damage and declared the problem goes beyond malpractice. It was
"bordering on criminal."........more

Open Letter to Thank Howard Dean

Add Your Name

Tampa Bay Area Celebrates Florida Bike Month

For the third consecutive year, Tampa BayCycle, an initiative that encourages commuters to cycle to work, school, for errands or play, will hit the streets of the Bay area, this year during the month of March, Florida's Bike Month...........more

Stogie's Oscar Picks

Actor in a Leading Role: Mickey Rourke
Actor in a Supporting Role: Josh Brolin
Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet
Actress in a Supporting Role: Amy Adams
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Art Direction: Changeling
Cinematography: The Dark Kniight
Directing: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

a common thing to break on cars in tampa florida

A very common occurrence in Tampa, that being the busted electric driver’s side window (the girl driving the car has the door open because the window won’t roll down due to an electrical failure)...........more

Red's Ribs

Natchitoches, Louisiana


Friday, February 20, 2009

In Loving Memory

Of Mr. Zuch

Sightseeing in Tampa

With 165 parks and beaches within the city limits of Tampa, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the temperate climate, sea air and sand between your toes. You’re not likely to miss a meal with the multitude of fine dining options before or after enjoying the exciting nightlife or fun attractions............more

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Friends Of Stogie

At Baba Louies

The Friendship Bridge Is Falling Down

Thousands of boaters might have to settle for fewer fishing spots after Hillsborough County Public Works officials issue a stern warning against boaters going under the dilapidated Friendship Trail Bridge..........more

The Upper Tampa Bay/Suncoast Trail Connection

This morning I ventured to the Hillsborough County Commission meeting to see what action the commissioners would take about extending the Upper Tampa Bay Trail seven miles and extending it to the Suncoast Trail. Don't hold your breath, folks........more

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White Irate

Last month, Hillsborough County's public affairs television producers taped an interview with former state Sen. Les Miller for a 30-minute program on blacks in politics..........more

Benefit For Cypress Creek At Skipper's Smokehouse

Zach Deputy and Tribal Style
Friday, Feb. 27, 8 pm to Midnight
Tickets are $10 advance, $15 at the door. Online tickets www.skipperssmokehouse.com
Call Denise Layne at 813-246-0485 for more information on the fundraiser.

Rescued Dogs Available

Ten of the dogs seized from a breeder in North Carolina are now available for adoption at the
SPCA Tampa Bay..........here

Kathy Lovelace Of Zephyrhills, Florida

Kathy Lovelace lost her job and was about to lose her house, too. But then she made a seemingly simple request of the bank: Show me the original mortgage paperwork.........more

Republicans In Washington Flee Back To Florida

Why would a Republican congressman potentially on track to be speaker of the House leave Washington for one of the lowest-profile posts in Tallahassee? Ask Adam Putnam, a political wunderkind elected in 2001 at 26 who stepped off the leadership path and launched a bid this month for state agriculture commissioner........more

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Activist calls for investigation of Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham

United Citizens Action Network (U-CAN), a citizen-led government watchdog group, is calling for the investigation of Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham and his aide, Jess Johnson, for their actions relating to the County Charter..........more

Friends Of Stogie

At The Firehouse

Tampa Bay, Florida: A Sunshine Tour

Since moving to Tampa, Florida five-and-a-half years ago, I've played tour guide to numerous family and friends seeking inexpensive family vacations. It's been a fun adventure to be a hometown tourist..........more

Redemption For The Ybor City Batman

Hillsborough County Judge John Conrad today dismissed two misdemeanor charges Tampa police lodged against Walsh Ian Nichols when he refused orders to take off his Batman mask........more

Monday, February 16, 2009

FBI Investigating Buddy Johnson

The FBI has opened an investigation into the office of former Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson, hauling away documents related to a blistering audit that revealed Johnson had overspent his budget by almost $1 million..........more

Tampa Bay Reservoir Nearly Dry

Tampa Bay Water's 15-billion-gallon reservoir is about a month from being drained dry, a sign of just how dire the region's drought has become...........here

Random Pixels vs. The Miami Cuban Mafia

Help Random Pixels, Write Them
newshawk@gmail.com
And Ask What You Can Do.

Oil Rigs Possible Off Florida’s Gulf Coast

Just weeks into his presidency, President Barack Obama has moved right past the should-we-drill-offshore question and plunged into a new debate about how best to tap resources on the Outer Continental Shelf...........more

Debbie Wasserman Schultz On Hardball

The War Comes Home: An Evening with Aaron Glantz In St. Pete

The Studio @ 620 welcomes WMNF as they present a screening of the documentary film When I Came Home , followed by a discussion with journalist Aaron Glantz, author of The War Comes Home..........more

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

The Carter Center

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Great American Cleanup Needs Volunteers

Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful is coordinating the event locallyand expects about 2,000 volunteers to participate during the countywide cleanup on April 19. Check-in will be at 8:30 a.m., and the cleanupwill take place from 9 a.m. to noon..........more