A Big THANK YOU goes out to; Bradley’s on 7th and New York New York Pizza for Hosted this year’s Tampa Pride Volunteer Party.
Metro Inclusive Health
PFLAG Riverview June 17th
SUNday FUNday
Join us this Sunday for Ybor’s longest running brunch as we Celebrate Amanda D Rhod birthday!! Don’t wait until the last minute, make your reservations now 813.443.8581 (call or text). Then as always join us on the patio for the best t-dance with April Cooper, Mark Bias West (TeaCup), and DJ Mike Sklarz until 5:00!
Now OPEN in Largo is The Lady’s Room Bar-Restaurant. The owner was associated with Biff Burgers so you know the burgers are GREAT!!! The staff is very friendly and the food is Fantastic. There is something for everyone 7 days a week here. Be sure to check out the Lady’s Room and tell them Mark & Carrie sent you!
Over the years Dishing with Mark and Carrie have taken 10’s of 1,000s of photos. All these photos are archived on our web side. Take a trip down memory lane today at http://www.mcfilm.co/
Bainbridge has been sold to new owners …
This week Bainbridge in Ybor City sold for $90 million. The new owners are planning on adding $9 million more in upgrades. Read the whole story here.
This week some good friends in Ybor City had their rent go up $800 per month. WOW this is just crazy! Now is the time to look at purchasing your own properties. We have suggested before to start looking now in Gary to purchase. Gary is a part of East Ybor City. 7th ave is the boarder on the south with I-4 to the North. 31st Street on the West to 36St Street on the East. It is a very small quiet community with in walking distance of Historic Ybor. There are several new homes and townhomes under construction here now. Once these homes are put on the market they sell in several days. Now is the time to put these homes on your radar. Before they go on the market. Take a drive thru the neighborhood today and you will be surprised at what you will find. FMI https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=33926
Metro Inclusive Health
Bike Ride – Neighborhood Improvement Committee
Join your neighbors for a short AM Bike Ride through Historic Ybor to identify areas of concern/improvement within the neighborhood … overgrown alleys damaged sidewalks, graffiti, etc.
We will start the ride promptly this Saturday at 9am at Foundation Coffee Co on 19th Street … feel free to arrive a little early and support a great neighborhood business.
The very BEST Birthday Celebration we have been to in a very long time!!! My work husband Miss April May-June Cooper turned the BIG 50 last week. We all know April loves black, goth culture, rock music, her family and friends!!! The private party was held at The Showbar Ybor City. Karl Piessens spent over 30+hours to build a beautiful coffin with purple lining. He had everyone sign it with a silver pen. We made a huge black funeral wreath and filled it with photos of April. The guest wore black and even painted their fingernails black. John and David were in charge of the food and many other guests helped with the decorations. Aissa Barrie brought a one-of-a-kind Coffin Birthday Cake complete with fireworks candles.
Both of Miss April’s sons are very talented and professional musicians. Denver Cooper was home from a European tour and brought his Spanish girlfriend for us all to meet. Wyatt Cooper also had a new girl friend for all to meet. The brothers both took turns signing to Miss April. The guy’s father was also here. He too is a professional singer and performed several songs. There were so many tears of joy for everyone!!!! (Some of the performances are on my Facebook page Mark Bias West)
Now for a “ONLY IN YBOR STORY” At the end of the party my Carrie went to get our van to take the coffin to Aprils & Sparkles home. Ybor was unusually very busy for a Sunday night. Carrie doubled parked the van and opened the back door. Then went inside and told the guys to bring it out. Back at the van the police were there with lights going. The officer asked Carrie what he was doing? Carrie told him he was here for a pick up. The police said he could not park there!!!! Just then 4 big guys walked out of the bar caring the coffin out with the funeral wreath on top of it. It was very heavy filled with birthday gifts. The officer asked “Is there in a body in that???” Carrie replied “I was just told to come and pick up the coffin.” With that the officer stopped the traffic in both directions and let them load the coffin!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL!!!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!
WOW hat a FUN PACKED WEEKEND at Southern Night Ybor!!!!
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
LMAO on Instagram
Some good friends told us about https://www.instagram.com/yborcreatures/. Then we spent the next hours to make sure we were not on it!! LMAO For some good laughs check out YborCreatures on Instagram for yourself.
Happy Birthday
We wish Her Majesty The Queen a happy and glorious 96th Birthday
In this photo released to mark this auspicious event, Her Majesty is seen with two of her fell ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
This Saturday (4/23), the City of Tampa will be providing a THOUSAND free trees to the community as part a new initiative, Mayor Jane’s Tree Giveaway.
Registration is now open for #Tampa residents to pick up a free tree between 9AM-noon. Residents will be able to choose from 3 types of trees on-site based on availability.
ELIGIBLITY
To be eligible for a free tree, you must:
– Live within City of Tampa limits (if you are unsure, you can confirm that your address is within City limits at: tampa.gov/City-Limits)
– Have a yard where you can safely plant the tree (information on tree planting and regulations is available at: tampa.gov/trees)
– Be able to safely transport a 5-8FT tree in your vehicle. Staff/volunteers will be on-site to help load the tree but we ask that all residents arrive prepared with their vehicles cleared and blankets/towels laid out in advance.
It was very sad to hear of the passing of Joel this week https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010510090927 . Joel & Erin were a very popular and loved couple in Ybor City. Erin passed a couple years ago. Now they are both together again in heaven.
This week I heard a familiar sad story. A Bar/Restaurant owner stealing from staff. Sadly, this has been happening for as long as I can remember.
Years ago there was a popular Gay bar in Tampa. It was a straight topless bar before. The club owners, who in their own minds thought they were Mafi, decided to try a Gay bar. Or F#got bar as they would say. The club was a hit. Two of the club promoters (both Gay) were friends of ours. After a couple of years they told me that the club was going to try a Friday Happy Hour and would I come as a favor and bartend. The shift was 5 to 8. My 1st day should have been a clue. I walked into a huge mess. Even the fruit was still sitting out on the bar top from 4 days before. At the end of the shift I took my cash drawer to the owners office. You opened the door and there was a huge fancy desk with the owners sitting behind it, with his back to the wall. On the desk top was a loaded gun facing the door I just walked in. He would count the money then give me my credit card tips. On week #4 he told me that I was allowing the F#gots to leave with too much money in their pockets. Then went on to tell me I should start over charging – add extra drink to tabs. WTF. The next week #5 I had a OK shift and ring. No padding!!! I take the cash drawer to the office. The desk was covered with take out food next to the gun. The owner and his “whore of the week” were both pigging out on the BBQ Ribs and had food all over their faces. He looked at the register print out. Then counted the drawer very fast. Looked up and said you are $40 short!!! I said that’s not right let’s recount the drawer. He said NO & told me to F off. Then said that I did not tip out the barback. I told him I didn’t have a barback and every week started by cleaning the bar and taking the trash out myself. Then he took $80 out of my credit card tips and handed me the remainder of $3.00. I said Thank You, walked out and never came back.
