Photos of the Week
 Tru T
   Bradley’s on 7th
   Steam @ The Honey Pot
 Tea Cup
   Tequila’s Ybor City
  Ybor Wine Bar
   GaYBOR-Ybor City
|
   |
Author Archives: admin
Dishing with Mark & Carrie 5-9-19 Cuba
Mother’s Day
Treat Mom to brunch and a Drag Show at Tequila’s. Then following the show will be a Special 80’s T-Dance just for her!!! Mom will Love It!!!
.
Mark Your Calendars
May 31, June 1 & June 2nd will be the Mark & Carrie Estate SALE.
32 years ago we had nightmare renters in one of our rental homes. We had to go thru a forced eviction to get them out. They totally trashed the home before leaving. Today we laugh… they even sprayed painted on the walls “Mark & Carrie are FAGGOTS”. I wanted to write YES we are and own the home too… LMAO We decided to move into the home while we re-fixed it up. Our plan was to stay for 5 years and then move on. Before we knew it 28 years had gone by. The closets, attic, garage, office & storage rooms were all filled up. We have now moved into our “Forever Home” and have left behind 1,000’s of things. We are very lucky to have Blair Burns & his team to organize and run our sale. https://www.facebook.com/blair.burns.357 There will be many more exciting details coming soon. For now we can say there will be; 1,000s of movie posters, Disney Theatrical Stand Ups, Costumes, Antiques, Tools, Household Items, Furniture, etc etc. From our closed MC FILM FESTIVAL PRIDE stores…. NEW DVDS, Movies, Rainbow PRIDE items, Jewelry, lighting, displays and even Lube and adult items. This will be a once in a life time SALE you will not want to miss!!!!
Hours
May 31, 10AM – 4PM
June 1, 10AM – 4PM
June 2, 10AM – 3PM
39 Years ago TODAY 5-9-1980
Where were you when it happened? We were USF students & just going to work at Sears in the University Square Mall.
This Friday
https://www.facebook.com/events/2329387417342609/
Vision 2020- Planning for Ybor City’s Future
The Ybor City Development Corporation (YCDC) invites you to engage in Vision 2020- Planning for Ybor City’s future. Mark your calendars now and plan to join the YCDC team at a special community meeting on Wednesday, May 15th, 2019.
YCDC has partnered with the Planning Commission to update the Ybor City Vision Plans from 2005 and 2010. Vision 2020 will result in a five-year action plan focused on market analysis, urban planning, transportation, & infrastructure. Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) will lead the visioning process.
The event will be held at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County located at 1002 East Palm Avenue, Tampa FL 33605.
5:00 p.m. | Community Networking
5:30 p.m | Vision 2020 Plan Engagement Program
7:30 p.m. | Wrap Up
The meeting will be held in the Boardroom. Bring your big ideas and your neighbors-Your input is strongly valued!
For more information call the YCDC office at (813)-274-7936 or visit:
https://yborcityonline.com/events/vision-2020-planning-for-ybor-citys-future/
.
J.C. Newman Breaks Ground On Multimillion Dollar Factory Expansion
CLICK HERE
https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/j-c-newman-breaks-ground-on-multimillion-dollar-factory-expansion?fbclid=IwAR3IO8j6cttI–hAE7ibAvDPgnkYK4oHttTDzaCdGinIahvZx1gYRbUtF7I
ALL ABOARD This Saturday – Tampa Train Day Returns
https://www.facebook.com/events/301588457218959/
Tampa Train Day returns to historic Tampa Union Station on Saturday, May 11, from 10 AM to 4 PM.Join us for history exhibits, model train displays, live music and food trucks at this free, family-friendly event, now in its 12th year!Come on out and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony that marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad with us!This event is organized by the volunteers of nonprofit group Friends of Tampa Union Station, who work to raise funds and awareness for our historic station, completed in 1912. More information and updates: www.tampaunionstation.com
BUD Light Coming in June
THANK YOU WFLA Channel 8
This past week WFLA News Channel 8 mistakenly reported that there was a shooting in Ybor City. The shooting location was actually several miles outside of Ybor. After it was brought to their attention this was corrected. Ybor gets a bad rap already and do not need more. Thank You WFLA.
Havana, Cuba Trip
Mark & I have both wanted to go to Cuba for a long time. I mean decades! So close but yet so far away. Well we planned a NCL cruise to Cuba via Key West. A great Birthday stop for our annual getaway. We went with Naughty Nancy and Lefty Desmond, great travelling partners. On the cruise heading south we were just a little offshore enough for gambling and seeing the Ft Lauderdale & Miami Beach skyline with lights brightening the dark starlit sky.
Key West is always a great stopping point and we were reunited with many friends now living down there. Suncoast Resort Dickie still working his AC magic at all the gay clubs down on Duval Street now. Former bartender and friend from Hamburger Mary’s Ybor was smiling Will Gray. Now working at infamous Ernest Hemmingway’s – Sloppy Joe’s Bar, doing a lot of volunteer work for gay organizations and living on a houseboat he bought. Adventurous to say the least. The Bourbon Pub regulars that often came up every 3 months to spend weekends in GaYBOR were sitting around the front bar. Nancy wanted to go to the outside bar but had ‘Men Only’ posted on the door that led to the large pool and back outside nude bar. The 801 Bar bartenders who we have known for years had their big ol’ dog sitting on the bar stool welcoming customers and residents alike. Key West is that crazy laid back getaway that is so often needed. La Te Da’s Bar & Guest House has had a makeover and was as tropical as could be imagined. The tropical plant lined pool and rooms were recently upgraded we were told. We always seem to stop there for the famous weekend outdoor brunch but this was a Tuesday. Right across the street was the Key West LGBT Information Center. Had to go and peruse and get the latest community dish!
A short stay and back to the Norwegian Sun to travel south to Havana on an overnight. The ships shows were awesome about 5 going at once in each of the 10 bars. Travelling just off shore in early hours we spotted Havana from our outside balcony. No real stories or pre imagined Cuba predictions just an adventurous stop that was in our bucket list of things to do.
A quiet city as we slowly cruised into the harbor being greeted only by a military boat that had members hop aboard. A huge statue on the entry of Christ. Then our government tour guides took over. We saw old building and great history. Then we noticed that we were the only ones on the streets. It was like we were being herded down the streets and saw only what the government wanted us to see. There was nothing open and nothing to even buy. Our guides talked about the history up until 1959 only. The questions that we asked were not answered. We asked a question about Jose Marti. The great liberator with statues in Ybor City. No answers. Later in the day we were by the largest monument and were told it was the Great War Monument. Wrong it was the Jose Marti monument. Back on the bus we past 1,000’s of building that looked condiment. Then someone would pop their heads out a window or hanging laundry. People were still living in these places. That night we went to the World Famous Cabaret Tropicana Cuba. An outdoor theatre with over 100 people performing. It was incredible especially when told that these performers make the huge amount of $30 per month. (The average is $20 per month). This show was the highlight of Cuba for us. It represented a Cuba that was. We could almost see Lucy & Desi Arnaz performing on the stage in the 1950’s.
Looking back from home in Tampa. Everyone should go at least once. We have been in communist country before like China and Russia. If a person was born in 1959, after the revolution, they would be 60 today. Unfortunately have lived this way their entire life. The people have accepted this as a way of life. In many ways Ybor City & Florida are more Cuban that Cuba is. The heart and soul of Cuba left in 1959. What is in Cuba today are brainwashed Communist. We do not know the answer to this.
Stop in Key West on our way to Cuba
CUBA TRIP
Havana, Cuba Trip
Photo from the Ship
From the MC Mail Bag
You Just Can Not Make This Up
One of the items FOR SALE at our estate (May 31, 2019) is our pool table. This not just any pool table but a pool table rich in Tampa LGBT History. We hope it goes to a good new home. This Pool table was from the 1950’s at the Gay Bar “The Knotty Pine” it then went on to… “CoCo Joe’s”, “KIKIKI #1”, “KIKIKI #2”, “Old Plantation”, “KIKIKI #3”. About 20 years ago we purchased the table. We had to wait for the owner of the club Cesar (Who was Rene’s Brother) to pay him. He finally arrived after midnight. The pool table would not fit into our van so we decided to carry it the 2 ½ block home. We announced to the boys anyone want to help carry it home for beers and there were several takers. We were half way across Kennedy Blvd. when here comes a fire truck!!! OMG Hurry guys. We made it across Kennedy and were on Albany ½ block north of Kennedy. Then here comes 3 police cars!!! One in front, one back and one on the side. The office got out of his car and said into his radio “Just pulled over a pool table going north on Albany.” Our one friend, Glen started to laugh. The officer said do you think this is funny. Glen said YES!!!! How fast were we going? What had happened was the firemen had called in a stolen pool table. We showed the officers our receipt. He asked “How far are we going?” We told then 50 ft turning right into the alley & 50ft more. The police laughed too and gave us a 5 minute police escort to out carport. The rest of the night we played pool until the sun came up. The guys who helped us carry the table… well several were wanted by the police for parole violations LMAO. We then had the broken slate top removed and replaced with marine grade plywood. This wood needs to be replaced again. Did you know there are 6 bumpers on a pool table and 6 colors in the Rainbow flag? YES we had the bumpers changed into the rainbow colors. https://www.facebook.com/events/448018662632675/
Caught @ Tequila’s with Tea Cup, April, DJ Mike & Miss Joey Brooks
Photos of the Week 4-21-19
Photos of the Week
 NY NY PIZZA
 La France
 Hot Wax
 The Easter Bunny
  Bradley’s on 7th
   Steam @ The Honey Pot
 Tea Cup
   Tequila’s Ybor City
  Ybor Wine Bar
    GaYBOR-Ybor City
|
|
|
Dishing with Mark n Carrie 4-25-19 TAMPA WINS
CONGRATULATION MAYOR JANE CASTOR
Tampa just elected a GREAT Mayor!!! Mayor Jane castor will take the city and our community to the next level! We are Very Proud to add the Mayor Jane yard sign to our wall of WINNERS!!!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011354603115
MSNBC
From Miss Joey Brooks
This SUNDAY
Happy Birthday Nic
https://www.facebook.com/events/615428155598571/?notif_t=plan_user_invited¬if_id=1556156240269085
Support TAMPA PRIDE this Mother’s Day
When you shop Mother’s Day gifts at smile.amazon.com, AmazonSmile donates to Tampa Pride, Inc. Simply replace www in the address line to Smile Then choose Tampa Pride. THANK YOU
Ray’s Baseball & Tampa PRIDE
Code “Pride4”
Tru T
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/KLPKMrZmYBk” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Who remembers the Kapok Tree Inn???
This Famous restaurant closed in 1991. We remember taking our family here many times. This week Creative Loafing wrote an article about the Kapok Tree in. There are some remarkable photos included in the story. Click Here to take a walk back in time