First Solar-Powered City In Florida

Real estate developer Kitson & Partners today announced a landmark agreement with electric utility Florida Power & Light to build the world's largest solar photovoltaic power plant at Babcock Ranch, Florida - making it the world's first city powered by solar energy........more

USS Bainbridge No Stranger To Pirates

The USS Bainbridge, which is in sight of a lifeboat carrying an American captain held hostage by four Somali pirates, docked in Tampa two years ago for Gasparilla..........here

Tampa Bay Mug Shot Site Draws Ethical Questions

A new website that showcases mug shots of people arrested in several Florida counties is like a modern "Scarlet Letter." Some privacy activists are condemning the site...........more

Tampa Bloggers and Friends Walk for Maddie

On April 25th, I will join local Tampa area bloggers and friends of the Spohrs to walk in the memory of their daughter Maddie. Maddie passed away unexpectedly on April 7th after a miraculous life with her family...........here

Seminole Heights Community Gardens: Clean-up Day

Tomorrow, Saturday April 11th, All Day.
Violet Street Garden

Bring gardening tools like shovels, spades, tillers, rakes, pruning shears and possibly some hammers and nails. We'll also need some water donations to the rain barrels for storing water especially during these dry days............more

Yves and Melisa Conze Of Tampa

Clever Ways To Spring Through The Drought
Yves and Melisa Conze installed AstroLawn synthetic grass at their Tampa Heights home in 2001, and have been happy ever since.........more

Jennifer Closshey Of Plant City, Florida

One of the city's largest residential water users over the last year is a Southwest Florida Water Management District board member..........more

Local Milkmaids Produce Fresh, Delicious Milk For Tampa Bay

Pam Lunn started Dancing Goat after losing her job and we’re the beneficiaries of her efforts. But goat’s milk isn’t the only thing she produces. She turns this milk into kefir, whey and cheese. Very few communities in Florida can say they have this available to them!...........more

Sickles High School Penis T-Shirt

Administrators at Sickles High School got into a bit of trouble with this year’s t-shirt when a few parents called to say that the shirt was “obscene” and “inappropriate.”.........here

If you squint your eyes, dim the lights, and drink a glass of wine - that castle still doesn’t look like a cock.

Thanks New Blair Higginbotham!

Rural residents against sprawl (or as opponents negatively call us, diehards) successfully defended the rural area against another assault last Thursday. Not without first having to battle arguably one of the most influential developers in the county, Stephen Dibbs..........more

Alex Pickett’s Guide To Ridiculous Legislation

5 Bong Hits: Florida Lawmakers Want To Ban Novelty Lighters

There are few bills that reach the absolute absurdity of SB 806, a proposed law banning lighters that resemble “a cartoon character, animal, toy, gun, watch, musical instrument, vehicle, food or beverage, that plays sound or musical notes, or that displays flashing lights or other visual effects.”...........here

Hillsborough County To Vote On Furloughs

With the Hillsborough government facing a deficit of more than $100 million, County Commissioners today agreed to lead by example by voting to furlough themselves several days sometime later this year.
The idea of the Commissioners taking a hit themselves originated last week from Commissioner Kevin Beckner..........more

Friends Of Stogie

Sarge Of The Bulls Club In Tampa.

Florida Journalists on the Future of Newspapers, Community Media

With Amy Goodman, Rob Lorei Of WMNF, Patrick Manteiga Of The Gaceta, And Marty Petty Of The St. Pete Times. From Tampa

Ghost Hunters @ The Cuban Club & Trelles Clinic Ybor City

There was a fairly decent display of actual debunking going on, but still a lot of assumptions that leave the proverbial door wide open to debate. First, lets look at the paranormal claims being made by the sites under investigation...........more

Joe Gets Fined For Helping A Chicken Cross The Road in Ybor City

Hillsborough Rejects Development In Little Manatee River

Hillsborough County Commissioners today rejected a developer’s request to build homes on a slice of land near the Little Manatee River in Ruskin, and instead said they would forward the issue to their environmental lands acquisition department for possible purchase...........more

Rob Lorei Chats With Rich Lowry Editor Of National Review

Play Date 4.8.09
Rich Lowry Was Actually Pretty Cool, For A Right Winger

Banquo's Ghosts - NRO

USF Student Arrested by Immigration Three Days After Acquittal

Nighttime Economy Stimulus Program

Ybor City Will Host The First Of Fourteen Regional Forums

On the nighttime economy held throughout North America. Each forum will guide business and government leaders in planning and managing nightlife. The first forum in Ybor City on April 30 will be followed in cities from Providence to San Diego, Toronto to LA and Seattle to New York City...........here

The "IKEA-Zation" Of Ybor City

The latest addition to the Ybor City arts scene is part gallery, theater, concert hall, gift shop and classroom...........more

Tampa The Best City For Cats

Stogie's Friends

A survey by CATalyst, a coalition of veterinarians, cat loving academics, nonprofits and industries as well as animal welfare organizations, has named Tampa the best city for felines..........here

Tax Leaves Cigarmakers Feeling Burned

Wallace Reyes of Gonzalez Habano Cigar Co. fears new taxes will kill the cigar industry in Tampa..........more

Mom Finds Missing Son In Ybor City Bar

A missing Orange County man was found safe in Hillsborough County recently after walking away from his life in Orlando. Darren Harris, 24, was found safe in Ybor City on April 3 at a bar there. Harris' mother, Carrie Helfrich, drove from Tennessee to Tampa after Orange County deputies discovered he had been staying in the area...........more

The Warrior Woman Of Tampa Bay

Adrienne Nadeau

The Warrior Woman, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing teens and at-risk youth a means of artistic expression is looking for volunteers!We are currently running a program called "The 36 Schools Project". We will travel into under-funded and at-risk schools and run empowering spoken word poetry events for approximately 150 teens...........more

Hit and Run

Tampa Mugshots

here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Tally Ho

Ben Folds at The Ritz Ybor

Walking by the Ritz in Ybor City last Friday night, you may have thought some tech convention was going on..........more

Alan Snel's Letter To The City Of Tampa

I want to share a letter I wrote today informing the city of Tampa to please instruct its police officers to not stop bicyclists from crossing the Gandy Bridge...........here

Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure

WMNF Film Series Committee

Presents the film Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure, a documentary about the 1st US war for oil of the 21st century Narrated by Ed Asner........more

TIA Transfer Center

In March, bus service to Tampa International Airport got faster and more convenient with improved frequencies on Route 30. Now, service is slated to improve even more with an agreement to build a new multi-modal transfer center on airport property..........more

Mote Aqaurium’s Turtle Mascot

Mote Aqaurium's Turtle Mascot, Shelley, Comes Out of Her Shell... from roblimo on Vimeo.

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Assorted Chinese

$5.24.............China First, 2811 E Fowler Ave, Tampa

Eat Local

Jen Of "Go Green Items"

Featured her recycled eco friendly purses in a 10 x 10 tent in beautiful Hyde Park Tampa and had a wonderful day. Not realizing it I was in conversation with a very nice woman and then realized it was Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio. What a great feeling to welcome the Mayor into my booth, then it got better, she loved my recycled juice box purses and actually purchased one. She was also sweet enough to let me snap a quick picture..........more

U.S. Congressional Delegation Arrives in Havana

U.S Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif, speaks with journalists along with fellow congressmen in Havana, Friday, April 3, 2009. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus traveled to Cuba on Friday in another sign of the US Congress' apparent interest in easing a long-standing trade embargo and travel restrictions............more
Let's End The Embargo, Yes We Can.

Best of Tampa Bay Apron Contest

The winner this year by unanimous decision was

Shelby McCarter

here

Looking For A Prostitute In Tampa?

Stay Off Nebraska Avenue, Tampa Police Is Watching

Friday night, they set up a prostitution sting along Nebraska Avenue. Undercover female officers posed as prostitutes. It took less than 30 seconds for a man in a truck to stop..........here