The Theatre Edition: Straz Perfroming Arts Center, Stageworks, m.a.d. Theatre,
Carrollwood Players & Eight O’Clock Theatre
(Check out al the events in The MC Film Mail Bag section)
Last Week to Vote
Rumor has it the Voting has become intense. This is your last week to VOTE for Grand Marshals for St. Pete Pride. If you have not Voted yet in this fun PRIDE competition, now is the time to Vote!
VOTE HERE
Tampa’s Downtown – Changing
The downtown district in Tampa and the center of activity in the 1960’s and 1970’s is again going through a major rejuvenation facelift in sorts. Is downtown Tampa finally changing? New condos, townhouse and new boutique businesses are emerging. The once pedestrian mall ( Franklin Street) now reconverted back to car traffic has new storefronts appearing.
The new developed downtown condos and townhouses are comforted by recently built condos on Bayshore Blvd, Harbour Island and in the Channelside District. Two older downtown buildings are being transformed for more hotel space. The old Mercantile Bank Tower on the Hillsborough River is changing to a new trendy loft style hotel and the old federal courthouse building is changing to an upscale artsy La Meridien Hotel. New restaurants are also planned in the future hotels.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is so positive of the new undergoing downtown changes that he gave his 2013 State of the City at the old ornate Kress Building on Franklin Street. That beautiful historical building has been empty for over 2 decades.
Just last fall the 5 year multi-million dollar project at the historical preserved Floridan Hotel made head turns and appreciate new growth spurt in the downtown district. Two new housing projects are in the works for groundbreaking this fall. Other new projects are being built in the new Encore Development Project between downtown and Ybor City. Maybe downtown Tampa has a bright new future!
More so are all the new weekend planned events that help support a downtown community. The on the river and green space at Curtis Hixon Park have monthly festivals and concerts helping resonate the open air feeling of downtown living. Soon the long planned Tampa Riverwalk will be completed for a stroll along Tampa’s downtown waterways and past the Straz Performing Arts Center.. The wide variety of cultural events are set in the many acclaimed downtown museums including Tampa Museum of Art, Glazer Children’s Museum, Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa Bay History Center and Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. All are new centers for family and group activities and education. The weekly downtown Sunday Market on Franklin Street is in its growth state. Food items, crafts, fresh vegetables, baked and homemade items and services are available under the tents and the crowds are plentiful for more new items.
Somewhere on the downtown plan is an anticipated and gravely needed grocery store. Some say Trader Joe’s and others say Publix Grocery stores have acquired future sites. It would make sense in the growing renaissance of the new downtown Tampa plan.
Well, it is spring and a new hope of re-developing downtown Tampa business and cultural area. New ideas are always welcome!
Senior Citizen Discount ???
OMG!!! It happened this week. Some great friends had given us a gift card to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Buffett. They told us first to sign up for the “Players Club” then the buffet goes from $20 to $15. Standing in line we were joking about being the youngest people in line. It was our day off so we just enjoyed the leisurely day. We walked up to the smiling lady at the window and gave her our drivers license for membership. Then it HAPPENED!!! She welcomed us to the Players Club and said, “Here are your tickets to the $9.95 Spring Senior Citizen buffet special today!”
Mark said, “Sorry we do not qualify for that special.” The lady smiled and said “Yes you do!”
OOUCH!!! Then she said that with our new Players card they would take an additional $5.00 off.
Humm…. so the $20 buffet went to $15 then $9.95 now $4.95
We just might start to like these Senior Citizens Discounts!!!! LOL LOL LOL
ACID BETTY, Headliner for Tolerance Ball
Just announced. ACID BETTY will be performing at the Foundation for Tolerance First Annual Masked Ball Gala. http://vimeo.com/64421074 details below.
The Foundation for Tolerance was established to raise funds for at risk and LGBT teens that are bullied, neglected, living in a hostile environment or homeless. The funds will also be directed to create greater acceptance and to teach tolerance of youth in schools and at home through suicide prevention education to reduce peer and family rejection. The Foundation will organize and sponsor a myriad of annual fundraising events from which proceeds will be directed to both local and national community outreach centers that play a hands-on role in providing housing and counseling.
The Foundation for Tolerance
Requests the pleasure of your company
at
the First Annual Masked Ball Gala
for the benefit of its charitable endeavors
Saturday, the fourth of May
Two Thousand and Thirteen
Reception at half past seven in the evening
The Floridan Palace Hotel – Grand Ballroom
905 North Florida Avenue – Tampa, FL
An elegant and exciting evening to be shared by all
Cocktails & butler served hors d’ouevres, silent & live Auction,
DJ & dancing, casino gaming & VIP Cabanas
Black Tie Optional
Masks Recommended
www.Facebook.com/theMaskedBallTampa
www.FoundationforTolerance.org
http://themaskedballtampa.eventbrite.com
Questions: GJG.themaskedball@gmail.com
Port of Tampa
Much like the Florida Snow Birds several of our favorite cruise ships are heading northfor the summer. They will be cruising the summer months out of Boston and NYC. Many of the cruise ships staff have become regulars in GaYBOR and will be missed for the Summer. Once off the ship there are 3 things the staff like to do in public, Have a drink, Smoke a cigarette & Swear just a little!
Thank you to all the crazy fun stories you have shared over the past months. Did you know there are 4 major cruise lines calling Port Tampa home? They are Royal Caribbean Cruise Line , Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland American Cruise Line & Carnival Cruise Line.
