When our niece Natalie, who works for NASA, invited us to a VIP viewing of the last of the United States NASA space shuttles missions, Atlantis, rolling out of the VAB (Vehiclel Assembly Building) at Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Center to the launch pad, we screamed YES!!! We were very excited as this turned out to be an event of a lifetime ! Just getting the chance to see a space shuttle up close that is getting ready to transport equipment to the International Space Station.  This private viewing was for NASA employees & VIP’s only. It was thank you to all NASA workers and families. This is the end of a generation of growing up in the 30 year space shuttle race program.  We were just feet away from the river rock road that Atlantis would travel down 9 miles going out to the launch pad. The whole event took on a tailgate party atmosphere only much classier.  Invitees were encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic baskets and bug spray!  Arriving at 6 PM, the party kicked off with great food. Hoagies was the meal of choice. Around 7PM the astronauts arrived for a meet & greet. We met 2 of the Atlantis Astronauts crew and had to have our photo taken with Astronaut Tom Walheim!!! Around 8:45 the Atlantis started to make it’s way out of the VAB.  During the next hour we were struck by two incredible things…. First the shuttle looked small in the building and as it came closer & closer it got Bigger & BIGGER until OMG!!!!  The second thing was how very slow it was moving. Each of the giant transport cleats weight is at one ton each!!! Slowly but sensory leveled and moving at about 1/2 – 1 mile a hour. As Atlantis came closer & closer the faster & FASTER she seemed to be moving. As she passed by everyone cheered for the last space shuttle Atlantis on its history journey. The whole experience was bitter sweet as this was the very last time any planned scheduled shuttle would roll out the VAB. Pride in the USA was everywhere! Scheduled Atlantis launch date is July 8th. God Speed to Atlantis!   

 

We hope thru our photos & video you can experience the excitement of the night!

 

 Check video our at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiyVWbX2sw

 

 

GaYBOR District Coalition and the Hampton Inn & Suites Ybor have raised money for a Tampa Police Dept. bicycle for Ybor City. The completely decked out police bike comes in at a cost of over $1600. We have 3 police certified riding officers in Ybor City.  An official ceremony is June 8th in Centro Ybor with Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor and other city offcials.

 

 

This is one of those many things to do weekends. Gay Days Disney Events, An Juried Art Show at the Scientology Building (Ybor Square) on Saturday. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had their benefit Chili Cook Off at City Side and there were some blazing mouths. Congratulations to Dakota for her spicy winning recipe. The GaYBOR District has the taste of Cuban Coffee & Art for the month of June. Artist and local flavor David Audett has put together a Tampa art event called “Cuban Coffee!”

 

Gay Day’s at Disney Comes Around Again
    Every year the first weekend of June has been recognized as the Gay Days weekend at the hallowed Mouse Town. The over the top Gay weekend is June 3 – 5th in Orlando. Being “the largest Gay Party Event in North America”, 150,000 party enthusiasts from around the world are planning this weeks memorable journey. There are so many party and night events one can do. (www.gaydays.com) Specialty parties and hotels for Gay Choir members, Lambda Car Club, Bear…Pool Boys, Leather, Lipstick Lesbian, Hispanic Gay Men, Gay pilots, Marathon runners, Circuit parties, Cowboys/Cowgirls the list goes on! You get the picture. It is so diverse and now so precise that any person can find their own personal liking or fetish. Gay Day’s is a time to celebrate. And it is somewhat the official kickoff to summer and the Gay PRIDE season.Yes, we all come to honor the house that Walt built!
   Mark & Carrie are proud to be one of the forming and founding group members of Gay Day at Disney back in 1991, the national gay computer progressives- Digital Queers and the beginnings of the Orlando Gay Community Center members. The designated red shirts said it all! Yes, we were never given a specific honored GAY day by Disney World but were given guidelines and that is now wink wink history. (Don’t forget the religious protesters!)
   It now takes a travel planner to get you to all the destinations and party happenings. Pool Parties, theme parties, Disney Magic Kingdom Parade gathering, after hour parties, and always the Parliament House Resort Party and entertainment! We have come a long way baby!!!
   Write and tell us at “Dishing with Mark & Carrie” your 2011 memories at Disney!!!