First was Pep Boys’ parking lot. Man we had fun. A whole bunch of teenagers making noise in the middle of a crowded parking lot. I still wish we could play those type of shows, but the support disappeared. Really, the support always disappears. Let us see: We had Evolution Records, Woodpecker Records, Frenzi, Johnson Sound, Dirt Star, Downtown Lakeland, Florida Southern College, and Rage of the Needle, which are all dead and have been for quite some time. These places were the best! All ages, cheap to get in, and a surprise was always in store. (Once in a while an amazing touring band would stop by and rock everyone’s faces off!)

As we all grew up, the venues did too, but their fate seemed to be destined. MB3 at Carpenter’s, The Mad Hatter, Lillian’s Music Store, and Winners Circle all had a great chance at becoming something, but once again they all died, and so did the local music scene. Seeing all these places disappear kept my head running¾why, why are they all disappearing? And it finally hit me, we did not have a real music scene. We did not have people that were interested in music making and changing their surroundings like many musicians had done in the past. We just had a whole bunch of teenagers competing for popularity. Whatever band had the most amount of friends had the best shows; and that really made me want to quit music. Actually, I did. Most of us did.

But not for long.

Now, a new wave on musicians and venues are running in Lakeland again. All of us hoping to finally bring local entertainment into mainstream Lakeland. All of us just wanting to have a good time, share our thoughts and talents, and engage people a little while trying to sell enough merchandise to keep it all running along. From the death of several promoters and venues, we now have Conness Productions and Central Florida Entertainment booking hundreds of acts around Central Florida. In Lakeland, we have Doc’s Place, the new Winners Circle, DC Sportsbar, Mojo’s, and even the Polk Theater is becoming more supportive towards the local music scene by including us to their event cycles.

There is new hope that we can all have a stage or two to play and share, but that cloud of the past still hunts me at times. I guess all I can do is stay optimistic about our current music scene and keep hoping that Lakeland will finally understand and support its own musicians and artists. Until then, feel free to catch me and my friends making noise in one of the live venues around town.

Be blessed, balanced, and beautiful.

For information about what is happening around Lakeland, please visit these sites:

http://www.myspace.com/sarahsmiles321
http://entertainingfl.com/
http://www.docsplacelivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mojoslakeland
http://eventful.com/lakeland/events

Yes – that headline says April 15. Your tax forms must be in the mail by midnight tonight.

Apopka Cops say that the house being used for a reality show was once used to broadcast live sex acts for an adult entertainment Web site. Can’t you imagine the idiots behind this? “Hey, we got this house sitting here – we need to use it to get rich and famous!”

In Haines City, work on the North Sixth Street streetscaping project has been postponed because of paperwork requested by Florida’s Department of Community Affairs. Meanwhile in Winter Haven, Third Street between Avenue A Southwest and Avenue E Northwest is undergoing a face lift as part of that city’s continuing effort to improve the downtown. The work is expected to take the rest of the year.

Mulberry Police Deputy Chief Jody Beaudry was arrested Monday on charges of sexual battery and engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a minor. FDLE investigators say in 2004, Beaudry threatened to revoke a 16 year old girl’s probation if she did not have sex with him. Sounds like rape to me.

A Ledger editorial notes the Bush Administration’s terrible EPA record.

Compared to 2007, Sun ‘n Fun President John Burton said that daily attendance during the week was down 5 percent or 6 percent each day for the first four days of the six-day event. There was no dropoff in deaths surrounding the event.

Media General’s Florida Communications Group is offering voluntary buyouts to about half its 1,326 employees, including those with The Tampa Tribune and WFLA, News Channel 8. They are trying to reduce staff and other costs in a difficult economic environment in the Tampa Bay area, said John Schueler, president of Florida Communications Group, which oversees the operation of The Tribune, WFLA, TBO.com and other Florida media outlets.

The book The Land is about the son of a prosperous landowner and a former slave whose white father raises him openly in post-Civil War Georgia. The book includes use of the N-word. After a parent’s complaint, a committee of school administrators, parents and teachers from Turner Elementary School in northeast Hillsborough County said The Land by Mildred Taylor was “above the maturity level of elementary students” and will donate the book to a middle school, school officials said Monday.

Tampa Tribune Editorial: In scoring and hosting championship games, Tampa has been outstanding. But Orlando is investing a billion dollars in sporting venues and other facilities, and are on the way to building commuter rail. Tampa needs to stay ahead of Orlando.

That’s it for now. Feel free to go finish your taxes.

Here is the craigslist ad:

Crab fishing in the Bering Sea. Bridge painting, dangling 35 stories above a river . Oil rigging.. Rescuing an injured person from the icy ledges of North America’s highest mountain.. Sound like child’s play? Then you’re just who we’re looking for!

NBC is currently casting adventure lovers who are craving a change from every day life for a new series entitled “I Can Do That”. If you’re interested in escaping your cubicle and computer screen for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if you’ve got physical moxie, mental fortitude, nerves of steel, and the ability to psyche-out your opponents when everyone else is cracking from the pressure, this could be the chance of a lifetime. Cut-throat competitors with a daredevil spirit should apply now for your chance to travel America on a 50-day action-packed adventure.

And did we mention the prize? THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS to the last man – or woman! – standing.

We are looking for confident and charismatic men and women over the age of 18 who are genuinely interested in changing their lives. Applicants must be legal residents of the United States who can commit to the experience for up to six weeks. Our OPEN CASTING CALL will be at the Green Iguana at 1200 N Westshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607 on Saturday, March 15th from 1-5.

Please email icandothattampa@gmail.com with any questions.

Best of luck.

Also, if anyone decides to go tomorrow, we would love to hear what you see there…

FX International offered up bigger stars, was less crowded, and had a congenial staff. Katie Jarvinen, the general manager of the con, personally worked with me to get me what I needed, smoothed out issues over the phone and through email, and was always polite and helpful, even when she was busy with keeping celebrities happy at the event�s autograph alley. I felt like a valued guest of the event.

From Megacon, I received one generic email.

While FX was centralized, Megacon was spread out over two floors. And then, there were the scheduling conflicts.

I joined up with One World by Night, a Live Action Roleplay group I�m a member of. In the convention program, the group was scheduled until 1:30 a.m. all three nights of the con. Before midnight on Friday, we had security guards telling us to leave, even after we showed them our scheduled time in the event�s official booklet. Saturday was worse, with a security guard asking if we were in a seance and having a party and then readjusting our lighting to full bright before 11 p.m. Anyone who�s LARPed or table topped before will understand why some angry members who traveled across the country to attend Mega just to game asked for their money back. For everyone else, imagine a security guard turning on the lights during a play or movie and asking the audience why they�re all sitting around.

There were also problems securing passes for game staff and the expected annoyance of paying $6-$10 for a day�s worth of parking. Fortunately, myself and others staying at the Days Inn across the street could walk to the convention center in around 10 minutes. Note to anyone attending a conference or convention at the Orange County Convention Center: the Days Inn is a good choice for a price that shouldn�t eat your wallet.

For me, there were three highlights to the con. There was a miniature game piece painting room, which offered up free classes and free miniatures to paint for different games. I spent at least an hour painting a tiny warrior woman brandishing a pair of swords. There were also a number of people carrying around ball-jointed dolls (china dolls that can be posed and which can cost thousands of dollars when fully painted and accessorized). I even got to hold one, realizing they�re much creepier in person. There were also belly dancing lessons and performances throughout the day. I�m not sure how they fit into the overall theme of the event, but they were fun.

There are more cons coming up this year. Here�s a brief rundown of those closest to us.

Jacon

This is a 24-hour anime con in Orlando. Their guest of honor is Tara Strong and features anime related attractions, from artists to musical guests. They have some guest related info up, but the site�s a little sparse on details.

Oasis 21

Authors and artists will be on hand for the Orlando Area�s Science Fiction Society�s convention. The con runs May 23-25 and has David Gerrold and Paul Vincenti as guests of honor. Their website has a full listing of guests and events.

Metrocon

Tampa�s anime convention is being held July 18-20 at the Tampa Convention Center. Expect a bunch of otaku (hard-core anime fans) in costume. There are also costume contests, a human chess match, a masquerade, and a host of other visual draws. Check out the Metrocon site for more info.

Necronomicon

Necronomicon has had some problems in the past, partly because of rowdy con attendants and overflow from Guavaween. This year, the horror party is going to be at the downtown St. Pete Hilton Oct. 10-12. I�ve always liked Necro for not overlooking literature, as other cons usually do. This year the guests of honor are Frederick Pohl, Julie E. Czerneda, and Rick Wilber (who, for reasons of disclosure, is a former professor of mine.) Necro is another RPG friendly con. Necro�s site has a few tidbits about this year�s events.

Screamfest

Screamfest is another horror fest in October, but this one�s in Orlando. It runs from Oct. 17-19 and has a line up of film festivals and bands as well as stars and writers in attendance. The site doesn�t have much info yet, but if you�re interested bookmark it and check it out in a few months.

FX 2009

Yes, next year�s FX in Orlando is already in the works. The website already has a few juicy tidbits about next year (including info about a poker game where comic book professionals raise money for a good cause) but won�t be up in its full glory for at least a few months.

• Thursday, March 6, Tampa Theatre, 7 p.m. � Making Trouble (2007, 85 min) � �An impeccably researched documentary that explores six legendary American Jewish women comics. Produced by the Jewish Women�s Archive, Rachel Talbot as Director, has created a tribute to Molly Picon, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers, Wendy Wasserstein and Gilda Radner.� Opening Night Celebration with special guest Cory Kahaney and a dessert reception following the film. Tickets for the opening night are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Ticket includes a dessert reception after the movie. Sponsored by Weinberg Village.
• Saturday, March 8, Tampa Theatre, 7 p.m. � Schwartz Dynasty (Israel, 2005, 104 min) � �This dramatic comedy is a satirical look at Israeli society.�
• Saturday, March 8, Tampa Theatre, 9 p.m. � Someone to Run With (Israel, 2006, 118 min) � �This movie tells a beautiful story based on the novel by David Grossman about growing up and finding the strength to overcome your fears, the meaning of true friendship, and best of all, finding someone to love, someone to hold, someone to run with.�
• Sunday, March 9, Tampa Theatre, 1 p.m. � Praying with Lior (USA, 2007, 88 min) � �Ilana Trachtman�s touching documentary presents a real-world story of faith, the heart-wrenching challenges of a child with disabilities, and the complex relationship Lior shares with family, friends and community.� Sponsored by Tampa Jewish Family Services.
• Sunday, March 9, Tampa Theatre, 3 p.m. � Shadya (Israel, 2005, 52 min)� This film �poignantly illustrates the challenges of coping with competing identities�Palestinian/Israeli citizen and Muslim woman/karate champ.� Sponsored by Tampa Jewish Family Services.
• Sunday, March 9, Tampa Theatre, 4 p.m. � Arranged (USA, 2007, 89 min) � �Featuring strong, naturalistic performances and a sensitive screenplay, Arranged offers a unique perspective on what it means for modern women of faith to make their own choices in a secular world.” Awarded Best Narrative Feature at the 2007 Brooklyn International Film Festival. Sponsored by Tampa Jewish Family Services.
• Thursday, March 13, Baywalk in St. Pete, 7 p.m. � Nina�s Home (France, 2005, 109 min) � This feature film �movingly dramatizes the true stories of Elie Wiesel and other child Holocaust survivors.� Sponsored by Hadassah of Tampa Bay.
• Thursday, March 13, Baywalk in St. Pete, 9 p.m. � Pesya�s Necklace (Israel, 2006, 35 min) � Drama about an elderly woman�s memories of Auschwitz. Sponsored by Hadassah of Tampa Bay.
• Saturday, March 15, Baywalk in St. Pete, 8 p.m. � Beaufort (Israel, 2007, 125 min) � A �stirring war epic� based on Ron Leshen�s best-selling novel. Nominated for Best Foreign Film Academy Award in 2007. Winner of four Israeli Oscars, including Best Cinematography, and the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival for Joseph Cedar, a veteran of the first Lebanon war.
• Saturday, March 15, Baywalk in St. Pete, 10:15 p.m. � A Touch Away (Israel, 2006, 80 min) � A �marvelous, multi-family drama� primetime television series in Israel. The TBJFF will screen two episodes, with the remainder to follow later in the spring.
• Sunday, March 16, Baywalk in St. Pete, 1 p.m. � Sixty Six (UK, 2006, 93 min) � �A wonderful mix of nostalgia, comedy and pathos, Sixty Six is an autobiographical story based on director Paul Weiland�s childhood experiences growing up in post-war Britain.�
• Sunday, March 16, Baywalk in St. Pete, 3 p.m. � The First Time I Turned Twenty (France, 2004, 97 min) � A �charming, humorous and poignant film� about a sixteen-year old misfit growing up in the suburbs of post-war France.
• Wednesday, March 19, University of South Florida, 7 p.m. � Aviva My Love (Israel, 2006, 107 min) � A �richly-layered story of a working-class woman desperate to escape her provincial life.� Winner of six Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Script and Best Director honors for acclaimed filmmaker Shemi Zarhin (Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi).

You can purchase tickets, watch movie trailers and more at the Tampa Jewish Federation website.

(cross-posted at www.tampafilmfan.com)

I looked over some of the lists out there, but have not found much that I feel like doing here locally. I already have plans Friday night with a girlfriend so I think Tommy and I will just disappear on Saturday and see where it takes us. Sometimes having a plan is not always the way to go.

Here�s what I will be doing Friday and then I wanted to mention an event on Saturday that is being held in Clearwater for The Spring of Tampa Bay. A very close friend of mine works for The Spring, and will be at this event collecting all the donations that go to a great cause. If you have the time and the $50/$60, please join them for their event.

Friday February 29 Don Rickles and Joan Rivers at Ruth Eckerd Hall. I won these tickets from 105.5 the Dove this week, so my girlfriend and I are heading out for some laughs. I have heard this show will have adult language and adult content some even say pretty raunchy! You can go online to purchase tickets at http://www.rutheckerdhall.com.

Saturday March 1 the 3rd Annual VIP Mardi Gras Charity Party will be held at the home of founder J. Michael Pinson with the proceeds to benefit The Spring of Tampa Bay. There will plenty of special guests from the who�s who list of Tampa Bay. All inclusive: New Orleans style crab & lobster claws, French baked scallops, seared tuna, shrimp gumbo, pasta, shrimp, prime filet and more. 3 Full Open Bars with New Orleans Rum Runners & martinis. Get there early the food and drinks are while supplies last. This is a Mardi Gras Party so bring your beads! Cocktail Dress Recommended. Men, no ties are required. Dress to be comfortable to have a relaxing and enjoyable evening.

Since 1977, The Spring of Tampa Bay has provided sanctuary and services to more than 30,000 abused adults and their children. The Spring is the largest of Florida’s 41 certified domestic violence shelters and the first in the United States to have an accredited school on site. Nearly half of the operating budget comes from private sources including: individuals, corporations, and foundations.

This is a great charity event and is one of the premier events of the year. They only sell 250 tickets to this event due to limited space, you may call the Pinson office at 813-855-3663 until Friday February 28th at 12 noon to purchase advance tickets at $50. After that time, all ticket sales will be at the door at $60 per person. The Pinson website with all the info is http://www.pinsonfoundation.org

By the way, Shane West, star of TV�s ER and the GFF selection What We Do Is Secret, will be at the Gasparilla Film Festival this year. I�ll post more details when I get �em.

Here�s a glimpse at some of the special events and screenings planned for this year:

Wednesday, February 27:

• Opening Night VIP Reception at the Tampa Theatre
• Opening night film Kabluey, a �hilarious, unique and heartfelt comedy� starring Lisa Kudrow, Chris Parnell and Christine Taylor. **Executive producer Jeff Balis is a Tampa native.**

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