Limbaugh Billboard Debuts In West Palm Beach

You get two scenarios: A honk with a thumbs-up or a honk with a middle finger

The national Democratic Party unveiled its raspberry for Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday in Palm Beach County.A traveling billboard with the teasing message "Americans didn't vote for a Rush to failure" and an image of a cigar-smoking Limbaugh debuted in West Palm Beach, immediately causing a firestorm between supporters of Limbaugh and backers of President Obama............here

The Osbournes Banned In Panama City, Florida

A television station in the Florida Panhandle is not going to air a new variety show hosted by Ozzy Osbourne and his family because it contains profanity and adult content. The head of Panama City Fox affiliate WPGX says he watched a six-minute preview of "Osbournes: Reloaded" and found that the time slot for the show makes him uncomfortable.............WPGX General Manager David Cavileer

Friends Of Stogie

At The Old UA

Claude Kirk And Nuclear Jellyfish

Former Florida governor Claude Kirk knows it isn't a good idea to accept rides from strangers and quickly realizes his mistake as soon as he does. The driver begins waving a gun while talking angrily on a cellphone to a diamond thief trying to kill him. The driver, it turns out, is insane and responsible for a string of gruesome murders. Not to worry: the car ride is fictional, and so is the dangerous man behind the wheel - but not Kirk............more

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Ann And Gerald

She Is From New York, He Is From Dayton, Ohio
They Have Been Homeless In Florida For 20 Years.

Jamie Bennett Event At The Pier

here

Joe Popp Returns To Tampa

In 2000, with the last embers of his namesake punk-rock band finally extinguished, Joe Popp left Tampa Bay for New York City’s greener creative pastures. Joe Popp, the band — which included bassist Martin Rice and late drummer Jeff Wood — was perhaps the last local rock group to pack ’em in at venues like the State Theatre............more

Tampa Is A Finalist For 2009 All America City Award

Yes, my droogies, there was a time when having civic pride in Tampa Bay meant a whole lot. When we were innocent enough to care that Tampa was awarded the “All America City” designation. When the meaning of civic involvement was broader than just whining on a blog about local government.........more

New Local Food Blog

Lynn Kessel's Table Scraps

Living the sweet life in Ruskin, FL, I'm the author of Table Scraps, a weekly food column published by The Tampa Tribune in the South Shore News & Tribune and the Brandon News & Tribune.

here

Battle To Save Egmont Key

“It’s time to call in the cavalry. Deliberations in Tallahassee may seal the fate of this beloved historical island. Letters and calls to legislators are needed now if we are to muster the support to
Save Egmont Key.”............here
They will only act in our interest if we demand this of them..........Mariella

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Mike
He Is 65, From Washington DC. Been In Tampa 4 Years.

Tampa To Benefit From US Cuba Trade

Back in the days before the Kennedy administration slapped an economic embargo on Cuba, Tampa shipping agent A.R. Savage & Son was at the forefront of a lucrative trade with the island. The Tampa area was a major supplier of cattle, and ships brought tobacco for the local cigar industry.............here

There was even a twice-weekly passenger ferry service.

Friends Of Stogie

At Apadana Pub In Tampa

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Pork Steak

With Spanish Bean Soup, Rice And Green Beans

$5.95............At Palm River Cafe, Corner Of Palm River Rd. And 78th Street In Clair Mel City

Eat Local

Tampa Bay Community Gardener

Kate Mullin

Seminole Heights

here

Linsley And Mario Going Green

In Tampa

The Kid's Not Going To Like Cops Now

A rookie police officer accused of slamming a 10-year-old boy against his cruiser for skateboarding in the street has received a two-day suspension and ordered to attend anger management classes.........here
via........The Cooler

Ybor City Night Shoot

Stephanie A Smith Photography

Overnight Underground On WMNF 88.5 FM

Socially-conscious and politically provocative music, talk, and info on street actions and needed resources during these trying times. Produced and hosted by peace and social justice advocates/activists.............here

They Need Our Money, Simply Click On The "Tip Jar"

Vilmar's Take On Earth Hour

Do Your Part. Make Some Noise. Light Up The Night And Keep Out The Darkness

These twig eatin’, tofu fartin’, lily livered, Prius driving, America-hating, bleeding heart liberal, blinkered, Starbucks drinking, elitist, can’t-we-all-just-get-along, granola eating, namby-pamby, Birkenstock wearing, tree hugging, long haired, pansy-assed, kumbaya-singing, Earth First, bed-wetting, patchouli wearing, dirty, smelly, dope smoking, bongo playing, arm pit haired women and feminized, armpit shaved men crying “Mother Earth is Gaia,” tortured “artiste” types would have us live in.............here
Vilmar You Forgot The Pinko Fags!

Tampa Photographers Networking Event

Clark Griffiths Photography

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Remembering Where We Are

There are times when the sound of the gulls echoes just right; when the humidity, temperature, and strength of the breeze is just right; or when perhaps you see some little visual reminder; and, you remember just where you are, living on a peninsula between a huge bay and an even bigger gulf..........more

The Opera Tampa Apprentice Program

Opera Tampa Apprentices hosted by Sherrill Milnes presents The Opera Prelude Series: Faust April 2, 7 p.m.
Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St.

here

Brand Tampa

Connecting People In and Around Tampa with Local Awesomeness

here

Stan Good's Timely, Cool Tampa Emporium

Stan Good, is surrounded by clocks, watches and a tsunami of antique fans at his namesake shop on S MacDill Avenue in Tampa.........more

Yankee Hits Ybor Street For A Game Of Stickball

New York Yankees first-baseman Mark Teixeira stepped to the plate with a stickball bat and rubber ball in hand. In his first at-bat playing the urban game, Teixeira asked how many swings he would get. The crowd of players standing on an Ybor City cobblestone street Friday afternoon, in unison, yelled, "One!".........more

Farmer’s Markets Around The Tampa Bay Area

Want fresh produce and fruit? Then visit some of these fantastic Farmer’s Markets around the Tampa Bay area............here
Eat Local

Tampa Still A Two-Newspaper Town

St. Petersburg Times Versus Tampa Tribune: The Unofficial Survey

here

Seminole Heights Community Gardens

The very first community gardening group in Seminole Heights. Join in and grow your own too!...........here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Ropa Vieja

With Black Beans And Rice And Yuca

$5.95...........At Rosa'a On MLK West Of Lois Ave. In Tampa

Eat Local

Tampa Designer Bus Bench

On Fletcher Ave.

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Former Tampa Man Has Special Link To The President

The election of a new president always gets the connection game rolling. And Tampa has its distant claim to Barack Obama via the Rev. Mike Young, a former Tampa pastor who conducted the December memorial service for Madelyn Dunham, the president's beloved 86-year-old grandmother.........more

The 25 Best Concerts Coming To Tampa Bay This Year

here

Tommy Duncan and Sticks of Fire

The 40-something blogger founded the most-often-cited independent Tampa Bay news blog, Sticks of Fire, in Feb. 2004, and the site, without much financial assistance from advertising, is still going strong today with a stable of more than a dozen regular contributors.........more

Tampa Red - Grievin' And Worryin' Blues

10th Annual Tampa Bay TattooFest

There are as many types of tattoo enthusiasts as there are tattoo designs, and that is evident at the 10th Annual Tampa Bay Tattoofest. Held this weekend at the Double Tree Hotel, 4500 West Cypress Street, Tampa............more

Republican Spies At April Griffin's Temple Terrace Home

That's the suspicion of some Hillsborough Democrats, after seeing Republican activist Hank Gill show up at a recent Democratic Professionals Council meeting snapping pictures and then last night meeting a fellow named Michael Ciftci at a Young Democrats gathering at April Griffin's Temple Terrace home........here

Florida Film Festival 2009

Cutting-edge American independent and international film paired with fine cuisine and wine will take a bow at the 18th annual Florida Film Festival, March 27 through April 5, 2009........here

Cities Dimming Their Lights For Earth Hour

The SunTrust building dome will go dark for one hour Saturday night. The lights will be going out for Earth Hour. The event, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. around the world, is organized by the World Wildlife Fund to draw attention to global warming...........more

Albany Jane's Trip To Tampa

There are worse places to be than Tampa in March”, so we managed to enjoy ourselves on this trip as well. He is quite right – Tampa was so very nice in comparison to the 29F degree weather in Albany...........more

Friends Of Stogie

At Bulls Club

What Happens When Tampa Bay Really Runs Out Of Water?

Our reservoir is essentially dry. More than 6 major brush fires burn in the counties around us due to the dry conditions and we’re only at the beginning of the dry season. Is anyone besides me wondering what happens next?.......more

Sunset Beach Alcohol Ban Proposal Withdrawn

A proposal to ban alcoholic beverages on Sunset Beach was withdrawn tonight in the face of overwhelming opposition from Sunset Beach residents............more

University of Florida Plays Large Role in Combatting Discrimination

What may have been the biggest weapon in the arsenal of LGBT rights supporters in Gainesville this past week, who handily defeated an anti-LGBT ballot initiative in municipal elections on Tuesday.........more
Go Gators

The Treasure Island City Commission “Emergency Meeting”

An alcohol-free Sunset Beach? That could become reality if several Treasure Island homeowners get their way...........more

Fans Of Stogie

Marla Of Tampa

The Suncoast Avian Society

Will hold its Exotic Bird Fair on April 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Minnreg Bldg., 6340 126 Ave., Largo

here

Ybor Festival of the Moving Image

Wednesday, April 1 through Sunday, April 5

Palm Ave and 15th Street, Ybor City

here

Twigs & Leaves Of St.Pete

Specializes in native Florida plants, trees and flowers and carry environmentally friendly organic soils, fertilizers and pesticides. Full sun, partial shade or full shade, there are Florida native plants suitable for any project. Through the use of Florida native plants, homeowners can enjoy a lush and colorful landscape that saves energy, reduces water usage and adds to your quality of life............more

Friends Of Stogie

At Baba Louies

Keep Jazz On The Air In Tampa

On WMNF,
The big push for jazz-programming pledges takes place this Saturday,
March 28, from 6 to 9 p.m...........more

StandwithDrDean.com

Brian Blair Facing Elections Commission Charges

The Florida Elections Commission has found probable cause that former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair violated state law in his unsuccessful reelection bid last fall.......more

Castor To Talk Women At USF St. Pete

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor will lead a discussion on women in politics at USF St. Petersburg on Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event in honor of Women's History Month is open to the public and takes place in Davis Hall, Room 130, at USF St. Petersburg, 140 Seventh Ave. S.......more

Kevin Beckner Is Legislator of the Year

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner may have failed in his attempt to get the commission to consider offering domestic partner benefits to county employees. But he succeeded in getting an award from social workers for the effort..........more

What Stogie Had For Dinner

Pork Chops

Yellow Rice, Spanish Bean Soup And Yuca

$7.95............At Bohio Verde Cuban Restaurant, 8114 N Florida Ave, Tampa

Eat Local

Pedestrian Unfriendly Tampa Bay

Oh, the joys of living someplace so totally pedestrian unfriendly... Yes, my city, state and region (Tampa Bay area) have the dubious distinction, several times over, of being one of the most dangerous places in the nation for pedestrians and cyclists..........more

Festa Italiana In Ybor City

Festa Italiana is a gathering of authentic tastes, sights & sounds straight from Italy... Imported here to Ybor City. An annual event guaranteed to delight your whole family! Set in the heart of Historic Ybor City. Proceeds to benefit the Italian Club Restoration Fund L'Unione Italiana Founded 1894. Admission $5.00 - Under 12 FREE

here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Todd Rundgren To Perform At Capitol Theatre

Friday, March 27, 8 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater.

here

"Tampa Bay in the Future" Chalk Walk

Last week, I reported on the "Tampa Bay in the Future" Chalk Walk Art Event. It was an incredible success, bringing in many chalk artists and hundreds of attendees to share their interpretations of the future of Tampa Bay in chalk. Here are a few images of the event.

TSA: Let's Let In The Sunshine

Irritated by the ouster of the Tampa Sports Authority's executive director, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio announced today that the city's TV station will start airing the agency's meetings..........here

Fans Of Stogie

Jose Of Tampa

WMNF Needs Our Money

A couple of times year, we ask for your contributions to help keep WMNF on the air. WMNF is non-commercial community radio - we survive only due to the generosity of listeners like you.

...............here

We need: $473,000.00 - Raised so far: $54,749.63 from 642 generous supporters!

What Stogie Had For Breakfast

Eggs, Bacon And Home Fries

$4.50.........At 3 Coins Diner In Tampa

Eat Local

Storms: Funding Public Art Low Priority In Tough Times

The Brandon Republican also questions whether the more than 100 pieces of public art occupying the University of South Florida's Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses contribute anything to the quality of the education students receive............more

Ybor City Hopes Connector Will Ease Traffic Woes

Hope has taken the form of an elevated bypass that would let trucks and other traffic travel from the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway to Interstate 4 without touching an Ybor road...........more

Friends Of Stogie

At Apadana Pub In Tampa

Welcome to the Evelyn City Neighborhood

We would like to invite you to get involved with our latest project: ECO.lution, 2009. The Urban Charrette is a collaborative that seeks to educate and empower the community to support the development of a more livable city............more

Florida Anti-War March

Join several hundreds from more than 10 cities, Miami to Atlanta, in demanding our government fund human needs instead of war and corporate greed. Bail out the people and the troops, not the banks.........more
”Hey, Obama, yes, we can. Troops out of Afghanistan.”.........Mark Weaver

Tampa Wants To Give Away Water

City officials have come up with a plan to get more reclaimed water onto parched lawns and gardens in the drought-plagued Tampa Bay area: give it away............more

Tampa Police Use MySpace

That’s the goal for the Tampa Police Department, which took the innovative step in summer 2008 to create MySpace pages for itself and each of its 25 school resource officers...........more

Tampa Bay Water Is Incompetent!

Tampa City Council blames our water woes on the wrong people, ratepayers. It’s the same ridiculous scenario every year. The dry season comes and we are blamed for the area’s water shortcomings. The blame and sacrifices should be borne by the worst-run government agency in the area, Tampa Bay Water..........more

Floridians Are A Bunch Of Unmotivated, Crack-Smoking Losers

This slap in the face comes courtesy of

Florida State Senator Michael S. Bennett

A Republican from Bradenton. He’s 64, Baptist and hails from the Midwest........here

Fans Of Stogie

Shawn Of Pennsylvania, Go Steelers

Stogie Recommends

A Bronx Dream

Is an inspiring look into the lives of 32 children from a school in one of the poorest districts of the Bronx, their discovery of Irish dancing, the Irish language and their journey to and passion for a country they have only seen in their imagination.

The Keltic Dream

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Tampa Mayor And Light Rail

The solution to economic woes is light rail because it will create jobs and promote smart growth. Iorio said she hoped by the end of the year Hillsborough County commissioners would approve putting a referendum on a sales tax to pay for a line from the

University Of South Florida To The Airport

On the 2010 ballot...........more

An Evening With Amy Goodman At USF

Award-winning journalist Amy Goodman, host of the daily, grassroots, global, radio/TV news hour “Democracy Now!” is coming to USF-Tampa on Monday, April 6th........here
Stogie's Hero

Shop Local

The Dog's Meow
16311 N. Florida Ave., Lutz
here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Beef Stew

With Moro

$5.95..........At Las Margaritas Restaurant, 4031 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa

Eat Local

FLORIDA WILDLIFE: THE VIEW FROM SIOUXIE'S DECK

here

Big John's Alabama Barbecue, Get It While You Still Can

Tuesday, March 31st, will be the last opportunity that patrons of an East Tampa business will have the opportunity to visit for several weeks. Big John's Alabama Barbecue is closing its doors for the expansion of the N. 40th Street Widening Project........more
"But We Are Coming Back Bigger And Better".........Ms. Jabessa Stephens Major

Debbra Bruce Photography Of Tampa

here

Republican Civil War Raging In Tallahassee

Over the past few weeks there has been a Republican civil war raging in Tallahassee, splitting Florida's GOP into two factions: the Crist "Out-Of-Touch" Republicans and the "Arrogant-Elitist" Republicans............more

Friends Of Stogie

At Baba Louies

4,000 God-Fearing Patriots In Orlando

More than 4,000 people attended the Orlando Tea Party, a conservative rally aimed at expressing discontent with Washington.........here

The International Rum Festival In Ybor City

The festival’s main events are being held March 26-28 in three different venues. Teatro on Seventh is hosting The Rum Tasting Dinner Thursday night. The following day, festival goers can dress down at Gaspar’s Grotto for Rum on the Bar B (Q). The festival wraps up Saturday night with the Main Event being held at the Ritz Ybor............more

Tampa Stair Climbers

More than 700 climbed 42 floors in the Bank of America building in Tampa on Saturday to raise money for the American Lung Association..........more

Florida Water Worries: Serious Shortages For Tampa Bay

The reservoir's level is so low we are unable to provide water, consistently, to the water treatment plant and we are unable to pull water from the Alafia River or the Tampa Bypass Canal............more

Best Of Tedd Webb

What is a liberal? A liberal is a person so open minded, their brains fall out of their heads.........Tedd Webb

The Stogie Has Obamicon Tampa Bay's Favorite Right Winger,
I Hope He Dosn't Get Mad.

Angela Rouson for City Council

Late word from the City Clerk's office says that Angela Rouson, pictured here with her husband state representative Darryl Rouson, has picked up candidate paperwork to run for the District 5 seat on the St. Petersburg City Council........here

Lorena And Jay Sneaks In Ybor City

Carrie Wildes Photography

Happy Family

In Tampa

The Year Of The Developer In Florida

This is a year for developers and their high-paid legal lackeys to make end-runs on state and local environmental regulations, all in the name of re-starting our economy by letting development and growth run rampant — which is pretty much what tanked Florida’s economy in the first place...........more

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Stir-Fried Shrimp in Garlic Sauce With Rice

$5.95...........At Good Eats 40th Street And Busch Blvd. In Tampa

Eat Local

Friends Of Stogie

At Baba Louies

Choose Life

Now Or Later?
On East Bay In Largo

The Charlie Miranda Shower

"We've been spoiled in America," opined council member Charlie Miranda, famous (or infamous) for his contention that you can shower as effectively in four minutes as in 15. The Miranda Shower goes like this: water on, get wet, water off, suds up, water on. Rinse and do not repeat..........more
Stogie Can Do It In 7 Minutes

Tampa Theatre's Free Sunset Cinema

Tonight, they’ll be showing “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” (clearly the best in the Indiana Jones series) at River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird Street in Seminole Heights. An inflatable, 50-foot-wide screen and powerful sound system provide excellent visual and sound effects..........here

Businessman Hakim Aquil Of Tampa

Has been selling his wares at Columbus Drive and North Boulevard in Tampa for 25 years. But new vendor rules are forcing him to shut down..........here

Tampa Is Great, Wish You Were Here

This sign makes me laugh every time I drive by, so I finally stopped to take a photo. I swear, I only went in to talk about baseball..........here

New Heights Magazine

here

Criststimulus

Barack Obama’s most ardent Republican supporter, Florida’s Charlie Crist, finally released a website detailing where federal stimulus funds will go...........here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Old UA

Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Jobsite Theater

here

Fellow Drivers Beware

Hillsborough Ave And Anderson Road

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Palomilla Steak
With Red Beans And Rice
$5.85 At El Paraiso Cafe On 7th Ave In East Tampa

Streets Of Tampa

7th Ave. And 40th St.

Fires North of Tampa Bay

Two fires are blazing in northwestern Florida, in the upper lefthand quadrant of this image. This western part of the Florida Peninsula has been experiencing long term drough conditions...........here

Temple Terrace, Florida

Revenue Stream
56th St. And Fowler Ave
South Bound Traffic Turning Right, Beware

Friends Of Stogie

At The LA Hangout

Ani DiFranco In Tampa

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 AT 8PM - TAMPA THEATRE

here

Committee Approves Bestiality Law

Broward Sen. Nan Rich's bill to make bestiality a crime is moving toward becoming law, picking up a unanimous committee approval Tuesday. Florida is among 16 states that don't outlaw sex with animals. Rich's bill would make it a third-degree felony............more

What will the folks in the panhandle do on Saturday nights?

A New Foundation for Growth

The Bartlet Park Community Garden

Planting a Sustainable Yard: The basics of Florida Native Landscaping

Saturday March 21st, 9:00-10:00 am - 1443 Highland St. South, St. Pete.......here

The Stogie Is 6 Years Old

The Beginnings

Natasha Jane Richardson

RIP

1963 - 2009

Hungry Harry's BBQ In Seffner

All in all, a great value for all-you-can-eat BBQ. If you find yourself in Seffner with an empty stomach, you'll be hard pressed to do better than Hungry Harrys for the money...........here

Matriarch's Love Lives On As Ybor Family's Legacy

With three generations of my family in Ybor City, my childhood memories are the catalyst for the ideal of a kinder, gentler society. I remember an integrated neighborhood in segregated times, speaking to people as we walked to and fro. I remember devil crabs made from chunks of fresh crabmeat and the best Cuban sandwiches from the Silver Ring Cafe........more

Cuban Connection Long and Deep In Tampa

For most Floridians, the mention of Cuba generates immediate thoughts of Fidel Castro, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Mariel Boat Lift and the United States' long-standing trade embargo. But, Florida and specifically the Tampa Bay area have longer, deeper and richer ties to that island nation than what's occurred in the last half century........more

The Tampa Bay Blues Festival

Each year since 1995 the Tampa Bay Blues Festival has been staged at beautiful Vinoy Waterfront Park in downtown St. Petersburg. The park is located on the shores of scenic Tampa Bay, with the famous St. Petersburg Pier providing a brilliant backdrop for the festival. With its acres of plush grass and palm trees, Vinoy Park is the perfect tropical setting for one of the world's greatest blues festivals............here

South Tampa Neighbors Oppose Cell Tower Proposal

The possibility of a cell phone tower rising in their neighborhood has Virginia Park residents taking a stand..........more

Woodpecker Terrorizes Tampa Neighborhood

The woodpecker normally prefers softwood deciduous trees…except in one south Tampa neighborhood...........here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Firehouse

Michelle Patty And Buddy Johnson

Tampa black activist Michelle Patty took to the airwaves earlier this week to dispute a St. Petersburg Times investigation. The report found she had gone from a onetime critic of Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson to an active campaigner after he funneled $16,000 in taxpayer dollars to her firm for "voter education."............more

Bartlett Park Community Garden In St. Pete

If you haven’t had a chance to drive by the Bartlett Park Community Garden in St. Pete, I’d urge you to stop and smell the cabbage. The year-long effort has already paid off with a bountiful harvest of vegetables and fruits, as well as promoting some goodwill and friendship in a tough neighborhood...........more

Hookah Lounges Breathe New Life Into Tampa Bay Music Scene

Two venues in particular that have caught the attention of music lovers in the area are the Extraordinair Lounge in Clearwater, and the Meridian Lounge in Tampa...........here

Tampa Bay Desalination Plant In Trouble Again

Just at the time it is really needed, the Tampa Bay seawater desalination plant has hit trouble again. For some months now, the plant has been operating well below capacity - at a time when the rainfall in that part of Florida is at record low levels...........more

New Latin Chamber for Tampa

The Tampa Latin Chamber has formed to provide leadership and education to the Hispanic businesses community in the Bay area. The organization will hold a launch event on April 28 at the Valencia Garden Restaurant, 811 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa........more

Tampa Web Site: Syfy

When Michael Hinman first got the idea to name his Tampa-based Web site after a funny-looking synonym for science fiction, his goal was to find a trademark term that would instantly spell out what he and his geeky pals were obsessing over...........more

Big Cat Rescue on Front Page of Tampa Tribune

Are You Living Next To An Exotic Animal?...........here

The St. Pete Police Chief Interview I’d Like To See

Maxwell’s Fluffed Up Interview With The City’s Top Cop

Is so PR-friendly I’m tempted to call police PR flack Bill Profitt and ask if he’s retiring. Is Maxwell positioning for a job as the newspaper industry falters?...........here

The Corrs - Lough Erin Shore

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Pamela Anderson “Save The Chimps In Florida” Campaign

Pamela Anderson is campaigning to free chimpanzees kept in captivity in the State of Florida. The former Baywatch babe has teamed up with animal rights allies at PETA to pen an open letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, targeting the state’s roadside zoos, where Pamelas claims chimps and other animals are kept in inadequate conditions............more

Calling All Tampa Bay “Green” Vendors

Improving the local economy is a large part of being sustainable. Pinellas County Extension is committed to educating and informing our community about the available resources in the Tampa Bay Area.We need your help identifying who our local “green” vendors are. Please complete and submit this Green Vendor Information Survey...........more

8th Annual Cigar City Celebration

March 21, 2009 from 7pm to 11pm

Riverwalk at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 South Franklin Street

here

David Rodgers Of Tampa, Florida

He could have just kept on driving. But
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White
said he could not pass by and do nothing as a man beat up a woman. So he made a U-turn............more

Rally in Tally

here

Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan

Economic Stimulus Task Force

Two months ago, Chairman Hagan proposed an economic stimulus task force to study ways to create new jobs and make the county more competitive. Hagan said that he wanted to get a “fresh set of eyes and ideas” working on the problem..........more

Honeymoon Island, Florida

Honeymoon Island State Park is located in Dunedin,Florida.It is most famous for being the gateway to Caladesi Island,America's Best Beach...........more

Friends Of Stogie

At Gapars In Temple Terrace

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Saltado

With Black Beans, Rice And Platanos
$5.95........At Rosa's On MLK In Drew Park

Eat Local

The Creative Native Gallery In Tampa

Friday night, I checked out the Creative Native Gallery on the east side of Tampa. The gallery, a converted and restored home on the outskirts of town, is home to the "Spotlight Tampa!" collection. This collection features artists from all over Tampa Bay and their artwork, a mixed medium collection in many disciplines............more

Drumming Up Business In Port Richey

State Road 52 And Little Road

In Memoriam

Rachel Corrie

1979 - 2003

here

Largo, Florida

What should happen to the Pier?

Curious about a couple of the seemingly underestimated candidates for St. Petersburg mayor, I stopped by recent receptions for Deveron Gibbons and Scott Wagman. Both were asked about the future of the Pier, and they gave strikingly different responses...........more

The Space Shuttle

From Temple Terrace, Florida

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Beef Stew

With Moro And Platanos

$6.95.........At Pino's Cafe, 4629 N Lois Ave, Tampa

Eat Local

St. Patrick's Day in Tampa Bay

here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Susan Stanton A Finalist For South Florida City Manager’s Job

She’s living now in Arizona, a long way from Largo where her transgender revelation as Steve Stanton cost her a longtime job as city manager, but Susan Stanton has a shot at returning to the Sunshine State..........more

The Largo Five

Trafficking That Touches Tampa

She came from Guatemala, a woman in her early 20s smuggled into the United States for what she thought was a housekeeping job............more

Stogie's Daughter Turns 29

A Jewel In Seminole Heights

Bungalow Bistro

Delicious Food And Great Service

here

Eat Local

Carmine's on 7th Avenue In Ybor City

here

Don't Piss On Me And Tell Me It's Raining

There are widespread reports of the big blowout in the Senate yesterday, featuring the
freakishly evil Ronda Storms
and newcomer Chris Smith...........more

WMNF, True Talk, and Gaza

Speaking of friends and enemies, the following day I was in the car and turned on the radio to catch True Talk on WMNF. Host Ahmed Bedier uses this forum to discuss Muslim issues and events...........more

Amy Grant In Tampa

A Benefit Concert For Homeless Families

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Assorted Chinese

$5.95..........At China Palace, 1807 State Road 60 E, Valrico

Eat Local

Celebrities Dance for charity in Tampa

The St. Petersburg Times' Amy Scherzer shares some fun photos from Celebrity Dancing in Tampa Bay, the third annual $1-per-vote benefit for the Spring of Tampa Bay held March 12 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center...........here

Welcome To Tampa

A City Under Surveillance

Friends Of Stogie

At The LA Hangout

Tampa Bay Artist Creates a "ONE SONG FOR AMERICA"

Tampa Bay area recording artist and motivational speaker, Terez, creates a “One Song for America” Challenge to help stimulate the economy with her new song entitled “These Times – New American Dream”..............here

Sorry Officer

Paul Dellegatto: Worst Person in the World

In the Tampa Bay area to take in some spring training games, Olbermann dinged Dellegatto for "putting in global warming denial propaganda into the local freaking weather forecast of the local freaking Fox station."........here

Tampa Soldiers Welcomed Home From Kuwait

Fifty-one soldiers with the 387th Transportation Detachment were welcomed home today to Tampa after a yearlong deployment in Kuwait..........more

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Jerk Pork

With Rice And Salad

$6.95............At Jerk Hut On Fowler Ave Tampa

Ronda Storms And Our Messiah

Our own Ronda Storms is back in the headlines for her motormouth, this time for calling Barack Obama “The Messiah.”...........here

Rough Rider's Saint Patricks Day Parade in Ybor

The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Rough Riders will host their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ybor City this Saturday, March 14, 2009. The parade will begin at 8:00 pm...........here

Friends Of Stogie

Go Bulls

Tampa Bay A Super Place.......

Pam Iorio Creates Energy Conservation Task Force

Today, Tampa Mayor, Pam Iorio announced the members of a citizen's task force that will work with the City of Tampa and TECO Energy to develop energy conservation policies for our community.............here

Brian Blair Wants His Reputation Back

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair’s lawsuit against Kevin Beckner, who beat him in 2008 at the polls, reeks of sore loser rather than a principled stand for the truth..........more

What Stogie Had For Breakfast

Corned Beef Hash, Eggs And Grits

$4.99........At Three Coins Diner, 7410 North Nebraska Avenue, Tampa

Eat Local

Going Green

In St. Pete

Gun Sale

In The Tampa Tribune
here

Stogie Recommends

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Firehouse

Amtrak Ridership Increases On Route Through Tampa

Ridership continues to grow on Amtrak's Silver Star serving Tampa on its New York-Miami route, bucking nationwide projections of lower ridership because of the recession and a decline in gasoline prices..............more

Linda Saul-Sena Wants Tampa's Preservation Rules Bolstered

Saying not enough is being done to preserve Tampa's crumbling architectural legacy, a councilwoman wants the Iorio administration to get tougher with private property owners who allow historical buildings to deteriorate..........more

Kenneth G. Lopez Of Tampa, Florida

Beat a 2-year-old girl unconscious, causing her to stop breathing. He was arrested about 12:10 p.m. Sunday on one count of aggravated child abuse. Sometime between midnight and 5 a.m. Sunday, Lopez wrapped a white towel around the girl's arms and torso and also wrapped her in a blanket. He then struck her repeatedly..................here

Get Rid Of Gasparilla?

South Tampa residents are crying about Gasparilla. Over 30 people showed up at a meeting to complain about the day long invasion and parade..........here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Red Snapper

Yellow Rice And Salad

$8.99...........At Riverside Seafood Market, 6501 N 40th St Tampa

Eat Local

Protester In Drew Park

Brain Blair Signs

Please pick them up, they are littering the county.

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

U2 At Raymond James Stadium

Fresh from their release of No Line on the Horizon and a week performing on Letterman, U2 has announced a world tour of stadium shows. U2tours.com says the band will play Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 9.........here

Rick Baker And Kathleen Shanahan Chat At Atwater's

If Rick Baker is playing coy about political future, he wasn't too shy today when he met with Kathleen Shanahan, an uber-connected former chief of staff to Jeb Bush and Dick Cheney. Unsure of what the meeting was about, but Baker met with Shanahan at Atwater's, the popular restaurant in the heart of St. Pete's Midtown.........more

TampaArtist.com

Tampa Artist Inc. is a Fine Art Non-Profit organization that is dedicated to assisting and promoting local area artists through exhibitions/events and linking local Tampa artists to other artists in the Tampa and St. Pete community...........here
http://www.cristinafernandez.us/

TECO Signs Contract to Purchase Solar Energy

Tampa Electric today announced that it has signed a contract to purchase solar power supplied by Energy 5.0’s Florida Solar I facility, a proposed 25-megawatt solar PV electric generating station, for a 25-year period beginning in 2011...........more

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

This past weekend was the 39th Annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in downtown Tampa.........more

Hillsborough County’s own Rep. Rich Glorioso, and Rep. Faye Culp

For the 5th year in a row, Legislators have announced they will seek to abolish local control of wetlands permitting, especially by our Environmental Protection Commission. Who are this year’s lucky sponsors of the amendment/bill?
Why Hillsborough County’s own Rep. Rich Glorioso, and Rep. Faye Culp............more

Cruising the Upper Tampa Bay Trail

Riding a bike on a cold day is never easy when you factor in wind chill. Today I dressed in a number of layers as I prepared myself for the 14.5 mile bike ride along the Upper Tampa By Trail...........more

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Slavery Alive and Well in Florida

Immokalee is the tomato capital of the United States. Between December and May, as much as 90 percent of the fresh domestic tomatoes we eat come from south Florida, and Immokalee is home to one of the area’s largest communities of farmworkers........more

Clearwater's Ban Of Mural

The city of Clearwater may have backed itself into a legal corner in its efforts to regulate a painting of fish........more

Skyway Jack's - St Petersburg, Florida

This is the restaurant that Cracker Barrel aspires to be, a down-home country kitchen with kitsch and outstanding breakfast fare...........here

Tampa Heights Sanitarium

Dr. Hiram J. Hampton owned and operated the Tampa Heights Sanitarium in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, advertising his services........here
Local lore oft repeats the story that the Hamptons' backs are turned deliberately to the city.

Let's Find 10,000 Floridians Who Support SunRail

As the state legislature considers the final approvals to start construction on SunRail, it's time to rally the troops.This is a grass-roots group consisting of Floridians who believe Central Florida needs to expand its transit offerings - starting with SunRail...........here

The South Florida Blog War

Random Pixels: Blinded By Hate

I despise Fidel Castro and everything about his "revolution."Castro has enslaved and deprived an entire nation of hope, democracy and freedom for half a century. I despise all that he is, just as I despise all dictators. Imagine living in a country where every basic freedom is denied and the state decides at every turn what's good for you and what's not good..........more

Friends Of Stogie

At Baba Louies

El Goya Reunion In Ybor City

Club Czar in Ybor City returns to its roots for one night this week to celebrate Tampa's golden days of drag. The reunion event will star the same queens who performed there in the early 1980s when the bar, then called El Goya, was the only gay nightspot in Ybor...........more

Strip Club King: The Story of Joe Redner

Loved...Admired...Hated!!! Charismatic to some and revolting to others. Joe Redner is most often associated with owning one of the most famous nude clubs in America...

3 Mile Sauce and Salsa In Ybor

While walking around the Ybor Saturday Market the other day, I ran across a booth selling one of my favorite things: hot sauces!.............more
3 Mile Sauce and Salsa

Florida's CSX Deal

Florida's CSX deal..from $491 million in 2006, to $650 million in 08, to 2.6 billion this year. And as this powerful editorial in The Ledger today points out....no one in the Republican legislature really pays much attention to it..........more

Tampa Man Wants His Cats Back

Peter Bordwell, whose 156 rabbits and four cats were confiscated for improper confinement six weeks ago, was in court Friday pleading for his kittens back..........here

Free Pizza In Downtown Tampa

Pizzaiolo Bavaro 514 N. Franklin St will offer free pizza tastings next Tuesday, noon to 2 p.m........here

Adam Hasner Is A Hate-Monger

Rep. Adam Hasner apparently opposes freedom of speech for Muslims. A group of Florida Muslims wants to go to the capitol during the session and lobby on behalf of education, healthcare and the economy...........here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

No Fun In Milton, Florida

here

Tedd Webb's Obama Laundry List

It is amazing how much damage President Barack Obama has done to this country in his first 3 weeks of power. Most presidents govern… Obama rules..........here

Florida Republican Hypocrites

Here is a list of the hypocrites who were so bold, so principled about their opposition to the stimulus bill. Instead of spending their time trying to help fix a problem, they complained for political capital........here

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

Matt Damon for U.S. Senate

With Democratic Party career politicians Gelber and Meek repeating the same tired old imperial foreign policy platitudes as the Republicans on the Middle East that will keep us in perpetual war that is draining our economy at the very time we are sinking into another Depression, the Democratic nomination race for U.S. Senate is shaping up as just another right wing echo chamber that shuts out any discussion of an alternative foreign policy and will deny Florida voters a fundamental choice that is at stake in next year’s election. Matt Damon has the potential to add that voice to the debate, and actually be electable...........more

Downtown Tampa

From Ballast Point

Project 3.0 In Ybor City

A hundred years ago, it served as a horse stable for Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. Most recently, it housed a micro-brewery. Today, the 103-year-old building in Ybor City is reinventing itself again, this time as a model for sustainable development..........more

Friends Of Stogie

At Chubby's

PoHo: Is Rush Limbaugh the New Face of the Republican Party?

Kate In Her Hot Mama Jeans

Creative Loafing has a new website and I’m one of their contributing writers. They invited me to their launch party and I thought it’d be fun. That’s what I get for thinking. I put on my hot mama jeans, did my hair, and even applied some goddamn makeup. One of my favorite Republicans, Jim Johnson, said he’d meet me there so I stuck the boys with my mom for the evening and took off for South Tampa..........more

Cigars, Casitas and Children's Books

We took a trip to Ybor City, once the cigar capital of the world,where Cubans, Spaniards and Italians lived and worked........more

The Travel Slut's Gasparilla Photostream

here

Tampa

here

Florida-Seasoned Craig Fugate

President Obama intends to nominate the head of Florida's emergency management office to lead FEMA, a post that came under national scrutiny in 2005 over what many said was the inept response to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina.......more

Tedd Webb: Obama And The Communist Party

The "changes" Barack has instituted are not new, they are the platform of the Communist Party USA, seriously. In 6 weeks Obama has managed to get this country on a collision course with Capitalism.............more

Florida's Proposed Breeder Police Legislation

My great state has offered up twin bills, SB 2002 and HB 1249, to promote healthy dog breeding practices through warrantless home searches and a maze of often dubiously helpful restrictions for anyone housing ten or more dogs...........more

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Paving Paradise

Florida's Vanishing Wetlands and the Failure of No Net Loss

Buy Here

Stogie Recommends

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

here