Festa Italiana

With a great 80 degree sunny spring weekend in Ybor City the Festa Italiana Celebration had its biggest crowds ever. From Italian movie night, Italian tourists charter traveling over from Italy to Bocce Ball competition, and vino making and Italian wine samplings, that was the warm up of the annual 14th year red tomato ceremony. Sunday was a day to say hit the roof with over 50+ food restaurants touting there authentic regional fares to over 25,000 attendees and a full array of dancing groups and musical talents performing on multiple stages. 

Spanking at RISE???

RISE Sundays has become the perfect Sunday Night Club. Now they are featuring not only incredible views of Tampa from the roof top, but Naughty Showers too that need to be seen to believe! This past Sunday The GaYBOR Easter Bonnet Bar Hop held an after party there. Poor Jared had quite the surprise from Mama & her trusted paddle.  

New Sunday BRUNCH Block Party!

Drag, Jazz, Great Food, Frozen Drinks, Live Entertainment …. all mixed together with friends & beautiful Florida weather and you get the New BRUNCH Block Party in Centro Ybor. Three of our favorite places in GaYBOR & all next doors to each other! Hamburger Mary’s  has an all you can eat Brunch with a Drag Show at 1PM. Next doors at the New Blue Dog Bistro dine on incredible New Orleans Cuisine and a Live Jazz performer. Joffrey’s Coffee & Teas gets you going with there freshly brewed selections of java. Centro Canteen is the perfect balcony to watch a lazy Sunday afternoon go by. There is a wall of frozen drinks turning and Live Music here too. But wait there’s more… Downstairs is Fresh Mouth & across the street is JJ’s Cafe & Bar. All this just 1/2 block from MC Film!!! You can easily arrive at 11 am and spend the whole day & night here.  Viva La GaYBOR!!!!
 
Blue Dog Bistro  www.bluedogbistro.com 

People are Talking

Congratulations to the “Miss Gay Tampa Bay Florida America,” Miss Jaeda Fuentes & 1st Alt Miss Jelitza Fierce. Great job by organizers Melony & Jori from Find a Drag Show (F.A.D.S.). Lady Gaga was at the St. Pete Times Forum. After the concert she made a stop at The Kennedy Bar.

SPECIAL 'MC' EASTER RECIPE

  We love going out and making reservations on Easter but often we make this fabulous spring lamb recipe for our friends. Send us Your favorite recipes so we can post them and share in “Dishing.”

 
    Leg of lamb with garlic and herbs
  • 1 leg of lamb, about 5 pounds
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  •  few thyme & rosemary sprigs
  • 2 teaspoons dried leaf oregano, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
  • 1 cup good drinkable dry red wine (per Teacup)
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
       Cut deep slits in meat at 2-inch intervals. Combine crushed garlic, salt, oregano, and pepper; press into the slits in meat. Place sprigs of rosemary & thyme on top of rack. Place lamb on a rack, fat side up, in open roasting pan. Mix red wine and green onions and lemon juice; reserve 1 cup of mixture for gravy. Brush lamb with a little of the remaining wine mixture. Brushing frequently with the wine mixture, roast at 325° for about 30 minutes per pound, or until thermometer reads about 165° for medium rare. Lift roast to a warm platter and make gravy.
       Pour juices into a measuring cup; skim off juices. Add water to juices to make 1 cup. Measure 2 tablespoons of the fat into the roasting pan, over medium low heat. Stir in flour scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan. Add meat juices and reserved red wine that you didn’t drink mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until hot and bubbly. Cook for 1 minute then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve gravy with leg of lamb. Serves 8 good friends.

Club City Side is hosting its annual Softball Appreciation Day.

This coming Saturday Club City Side is hosting its annual Softball Appreciation day. I’ve attached the poster in a .JPG format.I hope you will forward to you team members. (This will also be a good example of how a team can do their OWN fund raiser while making it fun and different!) We are still looking for performers if anyone is interested. City Side will also give drink specials to current SSL members who wear their jersey to the event.  Here is the event info:
 
Name: 
City Side’s 18th Annual Softball Players’ Appreciation Day

Time Schedule:
5PM FREE COOKOUT on the patio
7PM-10PM drag show starts with your hosts — Former Miss Suncoast Softball League “Miss B. Havin’ ” and Mr. Suncoast Softball League runner up “SoFonda Cox”. A special appearance will also be made by Miss Joan Crawford!

The night will feature funny / campy drag by league and non-league members alike, raffles for prizes, Jello® shots, and a grand prize to be announced.

Proceeds will benefit the Easter Seals Florida / Tampa Bay chapter helping children and adults with special needs, the City Side Sharks and the Clip Tampa Bay Film Festival Starlets softball team.


If you’d like to donate a prize we can raffle off (something, even a small gift certificate from your sponsors’ businesses) we will do a program acknowledging ALL sponsors during the evening and give shout outs to all businesses.

 
Questions? Email kevinchurst@gmail.com or gatorgerre63@hotmail.com
 
Gerre Reynolds and Kevin Hurst, City Side Sharks