Can you imagine my incredible fortune? The tasty knowledge sauce in which I marinate daily?
Right behind me sits the movie critic. Catty-corner, the performing arts critic. A few desks away, the food critic. On and on it goes, a panacea of experts who report privileged inside information, who try out good, bad and otherwise esoteric things so others don't have to first. Our arts and entertainment critics basically wrote the book on Having A Really Superior Time.
If I want to know if there's more to Magic Mike XXL than Channing Tatum's abs (hah, as if), I can turn around and ask. If I want to know the best deal for bottomless mimosas on a Sunday (throw in something with hollandaise, please), I can pepper the fizzy authority in the elevator.
But I can also share this incredible insight. That's the idea behind our reimagined critics Planners. Our critics aren't insiders for a select few. They're insiders for you, the people living and playing in Tampa Bay.
We also know there's never enough time, and you can't spend hours searching for opinions and recommendations. Sometimes, you don't even know where to start.
Check out our new Planner pages and you'll see each critic has created a quick and simple guide to reference as you lay out your weekend. In addition to our regular roster of things to do around town and our popular 5 under $5 list, you'll find a guide to going outside from Times outdoors and fitness editor Terry Tomalin. Check back each week for the best picks to plot your weekend.
Movie critic Steve Persall will mention must-see flicks and total stink bombs. In case you're in couch-and-cookie-sleeve mode, he'll suggest new DVD releases to make a good night in. And yes, the movie times are still here (check the back of the section).
Performing arts critic Andrew Meacham will guide you through the busy stage scene, from Florida Orchestra performances to local plays to flashy tours at the Straz and Ruth Eckerd Hall. That includes comedy, dance, performance art and all things well-lit.
Art critic Lennie Bennett will illuminate art exhibits fine and freaky alike, from the Tampa Museum of Art to the Mainsail Art Festival to smaller shows at local galleries.
Pop music and culture critic Jay Cridlin will steer you to sounds from American Idol to bro-country to hair rock to bearded hipster bands (or in this weekend's case, a band even hairier than that).
And because you are human and want to eat between all of this, food critic Laura Reiley will pick delicious places for you to nosh, whether it's Mother's Day or just a Thirsty Thursday. She'll also offer newsy tidbits about businesses coming and going on our ever-changing food scene.
Here's an exhibit of how this actually works. I went to lunch at the Subway on Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg recently, and saw a sign for a new place called the Mill. The window was all covered, and I wondered what kind of place would enter the avenue's interesting mix.
I got back to the office and — lo! — found a file from Laura, her first Dining Planner. In it, she had the scoop on the Mill.
It's nice to have friends in high places. I hope you enjoy it, too.