Author Archives: MC Film Festival

Road Trip to Florida's Highest Spot, Beautiful Bok Tower

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    Looking for a fun one tank trip? Here is one of our favorite! A short fun 55 mile ride east of Tampa in Lake Wales you will find a lovely nature sanctuary, Bok Tower. http://www.boktower.org/  Located on the top of one of the highest points in Florida & surrounded by manicured orange groves, you will find the National Historic Landmark site, Bok Tower. The 205′ tall Carillon Bell Singing Tower was dedicated in 1929 by United States President Calvin Coolidge.. It was built by Edward Bok, Pulitzer Award Winner & publisher of Ladies Home Journal and an immigrant from the Netherlands. He built and gave the 60 brass carllon bell tower and the botanical gardens to Florida as a gift for being an American. Just as in 1929 there is an incredible 250 acres of exotic and protected botanical gardens at the base of the towering Iron Mountain. Today there is also a modern welcome center with cafe, museum, theatre & gift shop. There are Carillon Bell concerts everyday at 1 and 3 pm with live performances Saturday & Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, so check the web site for the exact times and special performances. 
    The Great Brass Door and wrought iron gates on the north side of the Tower were the masterpiece of Samuel Yellin, America’s premier metalworker. The door depicts the Book of Genesis, starting with the creation of light and ending with Adam and Eve being ousted from the Garden of Eden. The iron gates leading to the Tower were hand-wrought and showcase zoomorphic figures with various expressions and wings for flight.
    Buried at the base of the tower is Mr. Bok who was married had 2 sons. His wife was not buried next to him at the tower. He did have a very devoted gardener buried within site there. Humm…???? Just say n.  After leaving Bok Tower the “Must Do Stop…Kinda” is Spook Hill. It is an old Florida Indian site.You will not believe your eyes! You drive down to the bottom of Spook Hill and stop & put your car in neutral. Then in total amazement your car rolls back up the hill????? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill
 
*** And Who Did We Happen to See There.
On our Monday visit we ran into Tampa Bay TV and radio personality, Jack Harris, signing his newly released tell all humorous story and picture book, “Jack Harris Unwrapped” with his co-writing lovely wife, Joy Harris at the Bok Tower Information Center Entrance. A percentage of all the book sales will be donated to The Children’s Home, Inc. A best kept secret of Jack & Joy recipe from their book.
 
*** Curry Lime Chicken ***
1 1/2 lbs skinless boneless chicken breast
Juice of 3 limes
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp curry powder, your choice
1 tsp salt
  • Place chicken in a large re-sealable plastic bag, add the rest of the ingredients.
  • Refrig for at least 4 hours or overnite.
  • Preheat broiler for 10 minutes, Remove chicken from marinade.
  • Place chicken on a broiler pan that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray
  • Place broiler pan 2″ from the source of heat and broil for 8-10 minutes on each side.
Serves 4 – 6

People are Talking & WOW Are They This Week!!!

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Say it’s not so!!!! Local entertainer Judy B. Goode is on www.peopleofwalmart.com !!!! Here at MC Film we happen to like her tail!!! It’s personality & individualism!!!  (((HUGS))) to poor Judy. Happy One Year Anniversary to GaYBOR member Ybor City Tattoo Company. Is TABU a new Gay bar? Guess it depends on who & when you ask? Sunday it’s RISE Sundays & now it looks like it’s Gay on Tuesday nights too. Don’t know the new nights name yet.  Who is moving into the old Buddha Lounge? Everyone’s friend, Jim Nixon has resigned from Watermark Magazine after 7 years. He will be continuing his stay for the Special St. Pete Pride 2011 Brochure coming out in May. Jim can be seen at his new stop as group sales coordinator at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Good Luck Jim. We happen to see some people in the community at the closed and old 911 Lounge on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. Don’t know but just saying… Happy Birthday to L-Train owner, Laura on her 50th birthday, L-Train was formerly Pink Panthers in St. Pete. All top management including our own GaYBOR diva advocate, Ms Brenda Holloway were given pink slips this week from the Ybor Hampton Inn & Suites as a new ownership has taken over the hotel property. We love you Brenda and so does the community!!!

LGBT News

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Effort Under Way to Politicize Pulpits Ahead of 2012 Elections
The American Family Association is bankrolling dozens of events in at least 14 states that have trained almost 10,000 pastors to get their flocks more involved in socially conservative political causes, such as same-sex marriage, gay adoption, GLBT rights and abortion issues. Planners say they hope these efforts will reinvigorate the religious right as a force in national politics. Said one pastor who attended one of the regional trainings, “I came out of there like Seabiscuit out of the gate, ready to do even more.”

Fight brewing Over Calif. LGBT History Bill
A bill that would require California public school’s social science textbooks to include information about the historical contributions of LGBT Americans faces opposition from some religious groups. The measure has won support, however, the California Teachers Association and the Los Angeles Unified School District. The bill’s sponsor, openly gay State Sen. Mark Leno, said the bill is intended to provide role models for LGBT youth and help others understand the community’s place in the history of California and the U.S.

Mass. Gov. Appoints Lesbian to State Supreme Court
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has nominated Barbara Lenk to the state’s highest court, calling her a “very well prepared and highly qualified candidate.” Lenk would be the court’s first openly gay or lesbian justice.

Dozens Held in Raid on Shanghai Gay Bar
Police raided a Shanghai gay bar, Q Bar on Sunday, detaining at least 60 patrons and bar staff for as long as 12 hours. Reports from those detained suggest the police were interested in details about a dance performance. Others say it is because of the fierce competition of bar owners in the gay bar scene. The call came because of seeing nude men on the roof of the bar and they were very loud.