Category Archives: CLICK HERE for Dishing with “Mark & Carrie”
Caught @ Ybor City Wine Bar
Photos of the Week
Photo of the Week
R.I.P. Wanda
NEW Outside Patio Opens at Bradley’s on 7th
Did someone say “Big Snake??”
Jimmy John’s GaYBOR
Mother & Daughter @ D’Italiana
Laughing Cat Restaurant
Carrie, Pete with Uncle Tom & Mark
GaYBOR White Party @ The Honey Pot
Dishing with Mark & Carrie 3-30-13
Hillsborough County Commissioners All Agree On GaYBOR Days
It has been six years in the making but this year ALL the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners agreed that the positive changes made by GaYBOR District Coalition needed to be recognized. The 6th Annual GaYBOR District Coalition “GaYBOR Days” is not just about GLBT and ally commerce but a noted and accepting place for visiting GLBT tourists and companies to do business here. And with the positive atmosphere with even international companies like Austria’s Edelweiss Airlines Officials and Intl GLBT magazines like Beige, Brazil Gay Magazine, Men from Germany, GaYBOR has been put on the world spotlight tour market as a pleasant GLBT friendly destination to visit, eat, party, shop and to just experience! GaYBOR has really help make needed changes and kicked off a positive renaissance in Historic Ybor City.
Having not signed or recognized the local GLBTA’s civic groups efforts the past 5 years proclamations, the elected board were always in a controversial blinded muted state of mind!
SURPRISE this year …the county commissioners all signed the Proclamation for 2013 GaYBOR Days.
“A new favorable direction in Hillsborough Cty is upon us.” said Carrie West. “Thanks to Commissioners Kevin Beckner and Les Miller for leading the charge and calling out all the GaYBOR diverse members accomplishments.”
Carrie West, President of GDC noted, ” It was one year ago when on last years St Pete Pride Saturday, the VP of Operations at Edelweiss Airlines wanted a tour of GaYBOR District in historic Ybor City. He brought along 30 VIP guests the airline flew over including 2 TV reporters and camera crew, editors and photographers from 6 European GLBT magazines and newspapers. They all loved it and wrote about Ybor.”
Over a dozen of other top GLBT national and international magazines have written feature stories about the GaYBOR District.
This week we have to applaud our local media outlets with GaYBOR being on the front page 5 days in a row . Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Tribune and TBT wrote all positive GaYBOR stories. TV stations WTSP, and Bay News 9 did direct live opening top stories about GaYBOR in historic Ybor City.
All of the GaYBOR executive board, 270+ GDC members and GLBT community are truly happy in the county commissioners rightful decision.
MC FILM Swimwear and Summer “GAY Days” Go Together
The summer is here but the best part of the kick off to summer is getting the right attire and new swim wear before heading to the sandy beaches, taking getaway cruises and of course the big animal of all…. Gay Days Water Park events in Orlando.
We have hundreds of top designer swim wear, tank tops, shorts and jocks in stock for any water park event.
Stop in to see the newest Aussie Bum, Pistol Pete, Kurt’s, Unico, GO Softwear and Seobean swim suits at MC FILM before you head off to the Orlando parties.
GaYBOR Days Celebrations
The 2013 GaYBOR Days brought a lot of local and state attention to the area. Proclamations of support, recognition and achievements came from Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, all Tampa City Council members,
all Hillsborough County Commission, Rep Janet Cruz, Florida House State Rep in Tallahassee and Cathy Castor, US House of Representatives in Wash, D.C.
We heard that President Barack Obama will be sending a Commendation to the GLBTA GaYBOR District Coalition this week.
Comm Kevin Beckner read the county proclamation at the VIP & Movie Party Night at Muvico Theater.
Then he presented it to the GaYBOR Board. All the proclamations wrote about the positive changes GaYBOR has done to improve, renovate, excite and invigorate the historic district in Tampa. Each of the GaYBOR Board members read an honored proclamation. GaYBOR was packed with visitors and also the Intl. Gay Bowlers Convention was being held with over 3000 additional convention attendees.
Events were held at Muvico Centro Ybor 20, Hamburger Mary’s with special appearances by the RuPaul’s Drag Race winners, Bradley’s on 7th events, G. Bar, MC Film and other GaYBOR business locations.
The Gaybor Annual White Party
The Parties guest all walked the White Carpet. This years party with special concert performance by Vassy . Performing her top chart hit. Los Angeles DJ/VJ Dave Aude’ spinning packed the dance floor. Steve D kicked the party into high rear with his special glow sticks and party toys. Huge THANK YOU to the Honey Pot owners and staff!!!
Hamburger Mary’s Brings in the STARS
For the Annual GaYBOR Days, Hamburger Mary’s showcased a lot of great talent and having a Ru Paul Drag Race Invasion to GaYBOR!. Having kicked off just 1 week ago from Ru Paul Drag Race was winner, Jinx Monsoon. This past weekend appeared Ru Paul Drag Race runner-up winners, Friday night was Special Guest performer Alaska Thunder F**K along with HM cast members Daphne Ferarro, Chi Chi and Kathryn Nevins. Saturday night the Special Guest celebrity performer was crazy Alyssa Edwards along with HM cast Jocelyn Summers, Esme Russell, Amanda and Josephine and Sunday night was our very own Special Guest Ru Paul Drag Race runner up winner, Coco Montrese with Alyssa Edwards and Roxxy.
A lot of extra fun times with the servers and bartenders going crazy. There were more pictures taken than 1 could imagine. The Ru Paul cast was wonderful and outgoing to all the fans and customers.
All shows were sold out on Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights. On a holiday weekend that was great!
Tampa Host Intl Gay Bowlers Convention
Pinchasers Bowling Lanes had all its bowling lanes open for an intl competition. The International Gay Bowlers Convention has been in the plans for 3 years. Four bowling locations were picked for the conventioneers. A lot of hard work behind the scenes took place to land this GLBT international event. Over 800 around the world bowlers registered and participated while an additional 2000 friends came to cheer them on and visit Tampa Bay.
What a kick off ceremony having a “bowl off ” with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione with Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor officiating. Great form Mr Mayor!
It was a packed GaYBOR week!. Kudos to the GLBT Bowlers.
Exploring Savannah, Georgia
We did a road trip to visit our graduating niece, Meagan in Savannah. She is graduating from the prestigious Savannah College of Art Design (SCAD) in cloth manufacturing, design and implementation. The colleges buildings have been reclaimed in the old downtown district to become additional revamped college buildings. Clever maneuvering in getting and restoring an old Holiday Inn Hotel, an old Jewish Synagogue, 2 very large downtown department stores, an old hi-rise nursing home, an historic towering brick church, large abandoned movie theaters and giving them all to new life as classrooms, work stations, students centers and libraries. The buildings are all scattered about throughout the downtown area.
Wow who knew of this landmark historic building recovery. A city’s great history lesson in saving our nations sultry architectural past.
Of course we had to do what the locals do and ate at some super notable places including the Best Rueben in Savannah- Six Pence Pub, Pirate House for great fresh caught fish and Two Sisters Southern Soul. We did a night bar crawl ghost tour visiting museums, parks and entered some adult beverage locations along the historic Savannah riverfront area. Alleys were our tour guides best places to go and tell tales!
Our niece took us to some notable gay hideaway drinkeries. Ones she knew would want to visit and write about in “Dishing” she said.. So our last stops were ones that our niece and boyfriend Chris knew of.
So we ventured into Chuck’s Bar on the River and all we thought of was well…very historic, Club One where famed Lady Chablis performs with the large Rainbow flag flying on the third floor building and then an off beat gay SCAD students headquarters that was the greatest neuvo surprise, SEED! Very artsy and
contemporary modern feel.
Savannah a great place to visit and to revisit!
Bernini Restaurant
The drinks & food are always fantastic at Bernini. This popular GaYBOR member, has started to paint artistic murals on the interior walls. We understand a new ceiling mural is on the way also!! See you there this week for dinner & drinks!
You Can Not make this Up.
In the early 1980’s we were living in a up stairs down stairs duplex in Hyde park. We lived on the upper floor and a nice gay guy named Bill lived on the lower level. One week at the local LGBT church Bill meet Michael Atria. He was in his young 20’s with red hair and had just moved to Tampa. Michael didn’t have any money and was looking for a place to stay until he found work. Bill and Michael hit it off right away and soon both were living in the lower unit below us. Since Michael did not have any money everybody was being nice to him and gave him small odd jobs & had him over for drinks & dinner. Then one early morning Mark was looking out the front window when he said “Ah Carrie get over her your not going to believe this!!!!” The street in front of the house was full of police. All had their guys pulled and were pointing at our duplex. Just then the doorbell rang OMG!!!! OMG!!! We waited to see if Bill and Michael would open their door first. Then did and the next thing you know Michael Atria is on the ground with guns to his head!!!! It turned out that poor Michael was not poor. He was actual a big bank robber. In the wheel well behind his spare tire was over $200,000 in cash! Last we heard he was given 30 years and is in the federal prison in South Dakota.