In 2012 the RNC Convention was held in Tampa. It was the toughest security we had ever seen. On one night there was a Republican LGBTQ+ Party at the Ybor City Gay Bar “The Honey Pot”. We all dressed up and went to see who was there. It was a bit of a letdown. Most of the guests were curios people from Ybor City like us. In the past there have been big protests at this party. Not this year. Across the street at Bradley’s on 7th (a Gay Bar too) The officers lined up in front to protect the business. Wounder if the guys knew there were in front of a Gay Bar???? Notice the posters of Joey Brooks and Esme looking at the guys!!! LOL It did make for great views from inside. LMAO
Years ago, a friend of our got in trouble with the law. He had to go away to prison. Before leaving he asked all his friends to keep his things for him. Furniture, clothes, personal items, etc. He came to us with his most valuable treasure. It was a photo of Marilyn Monroe in a very cheap frame. He kept it on his night stand. He asks us to keep it on our night stand and say good night to Marilyn every night, just like he had done for many years. LMAO!!!! With good behavior he was out in 16 months. The 1st thing he did was went right to us to get his Marilyn picture. He kissed the photo then turned it over and removed the back. It was full of $100 bills!!! You Just Can Not Make This Up. https://www.mcfilm.co/category/you-just-cant-make-this-sht-up/
In 1983 a friend of ours had a private sale of his things. He was trying to raise money for medication. We purchased his pasta maker and gave him extra cash. He said that he would come over and show us his favorite pasta recipe. I remember we had a fun night making past. His recipe was. In a large frying pan add ½ stick butter lots of olive oil. Sauté a diced onion and garlic. Then ad a can of anchovies in oil. Cook until the anchovies have dissolved. Then add cooked pasta. A couple months later he passed away due to AIDS. His family would not claim the body. A group of us came together and raised the $85.00 for cremation. We never knew what happened to the ashes. Every time we make this pasta, we think of Rodger.
This week we say a sad good bye to The Stone Soup Company. After 13 years then have closed their doors. It is very sad to see what is going on in Ybor now days. Yesterday on a drive down 7th Ave we counted 22+ vacant store fronts.