“RQV”
For 29+ years we were the owners of the Gay Pride Shops, “MC Film Festival Music & Video Store.” We had locations in Orlando, Tampa, Ybor City & 4 in St. Petersburg. We actual started with beta tapes then went into VHS. At one point we had the largest collection of non porno LGBT videos. Many universities would call and purchase videos from us. People would ask many times a day,” What’s good to watch?” That is when we started “RQV” Required Queer Viewing. When a film would come along that we all thought was GREAT it would get a “RQV” sticker on the box. People loved this and these videos were always in high demand. When DVD’s started to gain in popularity, we phased out VHS and brought in DVD’s. Then the new on demand services started up. With the popularity of Amazon it was time to close our stores. That brings us to today. Some good friends told us we must watch “The Handmaid’s Tale”. This is one of the most powerful films we have ever seen. It is very believable especial in the times we live in NOW! There are many LGBT parts and social comparisons. We proudly give “The Handmaid’s Tale” our RQV RATING!!!!
NFL says ‘Football is gay. Football is queer. Football is accepting.’
Hurricane Elsa
Well, that was a cute test run for this year’s hurricane season. Every year we ask our friends what are the must have things in your hurricane kit. We have heard things like work gloves and boats for cleanup, deck of cards, old fashion radios. We stumbled on a very cool thing. It started when we purchased a RYOBI battery drill. RYOBI also has lights, radio, fans and cell phone chargers. Now there is no need for all the extra batteries. We even wrote to RYOBI and suggested a all-in-one hurricane kits. They actually wrote back and said there already was one in design. Our other Hurricane tip is. The night before the storm make an extra pot of coffee. If the power goes off the next day. Cold coffee is better than no coffee LMAO!
The Columbia Restaurant Name
Thank you for sharing where your name the name “The Columbia Restaurant” came from. This is just anougher reason why we love Ybor City so much! Below is from facebook…
On Fourth of July, we remember the patriotic origins of our name. In 1903, founder Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., named his new Ybor City cafe the Saloon Columbia out of gratefulness for his asylum in the land of opportunity. The saloon’s name was inspired by the song “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean,” a popular patriotic tune at the time which functioned as an unofficial national anthem in competition with “Hail, Columbia” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The name Columbia, in fact, served as a nickname for the United States of America in the 19th century. Reading the song’s lyrics, you can imagine why the soul of a Cuban immigrant of Spanish descent would be stirred by singing them: https://youtu.be/8wIDXclKtGQ
This Saturday
Tuesday @ City Side
Virtual Campfire Series | LGBTQ+ Youth
https://www.facebook.com/events/2962405714044151/?ref=newsfeed
Coming Soon… A New Store in Ybor City
https://www.facebook.com/BulgeTampaBay
PFLAG National
Netflix’s new “We the People” Teaches Civics Through Song (with More Than a Little Help from Some Queer Moms) 🧡🌈 via Mombian
SUNday FUNday
