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Dishing with Mark & Carrie 2-13-13

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Dishing with Mark & Carrie
2-13-13
Happy Valentine’s Day
Sant’ Yago Knight Parade
The Grand Marshall for this years Sant’ Yago Knight Parade was TV show host, Steve Wilkos. We got some great pics with the friendly tv celebrity. The pre-party parade setup has krewes listening to bands, serving awesome tailgate party food & adult beverages all served in red cups! It is a great social community club event The historic Ybor City fun night had an attendance over 140,000 bead hungry grabbing partiers. The more of an adult themed parade had over 140 entries in the annual parade with floats, krewes and high school bands. And yes, tons of pirate thrown beads. The money raised by the krewe goes to the Sant’ Yago Education Foundation for college scholarships.
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Happy Valentines Day Gift Ideas
Always a great I Love You Gift at MC FILM. New Pistol Pete Swimwear & Underwear. Also arriving new UNICO, Go Softwear, Kurt Designs and Clever Swimwear. New colognes ON SALE including Vintage, 747 Club, Code Red and Tuscan. All are all so nice!
Flowers are the best smelling romantic surprise and Roses are in stock at Island Flowers on 7th Ave. What is for Valentine’s Day Night Romantic Special Dinners? 1st … Make Reservations to most restaurants! It is a very busy night. With that someone special a special occasion menu of Filet Mignon and a specially prepared Grouper Dish is set up at The Laughing Cat Restaurant. Special romantic dinner and wine at Carne’s Chop House in Ybor and at the Queen & I Thai Restaurant on Central Ave. have a Special Lovers Appetizer.
Getaway and stay at the St Pete Guest House in St. Pete and receive a FREE bottle of champagne. The Ybor Wine Queen, Jayme at Ybor City Wine Bar is giving an extra long Valentine’s Day Special with 5 glasses of fine wine, 2 red & 2 white and an assortment of deserts for $35.00. Christino’s Italian Restaurant on South Ft. Harrison in Clearwater always has a way with great homemade Italian recipes. This year nothing less with a special over the top pasta dish for 2! Don’t forget about the cabin in the woods getaway at Sawmill Resort in Dade City. The large gay campground has nightly outdoor fun events. Rent a cabin for the night or stay in your own tent or camper and enjoy the campfires.You will meet new friends! And to just enjoy GaYBOR at its best? The Hampton Inn & Suites in Ybor City or the Sheraton Riverwalk Hotel in downtown Tampa will pamper your loving hearts dreams.
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GaYBOR District Coalition’s Planning Meeting
The February GaYBOR District Meeting was at the Metro Wellness & Community Center in GaYBOR/ Ybor City. We were introduced to the new Ybor Community TPD Officer Dianne Lopes helping TPD Officer Sean Mahabir. The first 6 months of 2013 were layed out with events including this weekends big Gay Gasparilla Softball Tourney with 88 teams coming from all over the country playing in Tampa, Fiesta Day Weekend Feb 23, Rough Rider’s St Patty Night Parade – March 16, GaYBOR’s Annual Easter Bonnet Bar Crawl – March 24th, Miss GaYBOR Pageant – May 19th, Annual GaYBOR Days on Memorial Day Weekend that includes a great line up of celebrities, Premier of a new Gay Movie release, GaYBOR’s White Party, Poolside Party, and a host of great shows at all the clubs that weekend – May 25th – 27th.
A new upcoming collaboration in May with Hillsborough Community College & GaYBOR District for a judged Ybor Painted Rooster Art Competition. The springtime event will include an open gallery showing, painted roosters in Ybor City storefront windows. The student winner of the painted rooster contest will receive a tuition voucher at HCC- Ybor City.
The renewals are coming in and can be sent to; GaYBOR 1901 North 15th Street Tampa, Florida 33605.
Yearly membership is $75 for businesses and non profits and $35.00 for any resident that lives anywhere in the US..

GaYBOR Member of the Week

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Festive Floats
It is always an exciting time when we go out to the Festive Floats Offices & Float Barn to see all the newly decorated floats getting ready for the 2013 parade season. Owners, Chick and Bruce Adams started the company in 1994 and have over 50 themed floats that are uniquely made and decorated up. The float company has 2 locations to coral all the moving promenade spectacles. New floats are designed and takes 6 months from concept to final product. Chick has a big wall boards for all annual event parade dates and locations in their office off Falkenburg Road in East Tampa. The company contracts out their floats and travel from Key West to Mobile, Alabama and all cities in between.
GaYBOR District Coalition has contracted for floats the past 6 years. Festive Floats are founding members to the GaYBOR District Coalition. When we went to deliver beads and place goodies for the GaYBOR Krewes floatiers in last Saturday nights Sant’ Yago Knight Parade, another GLBT group arrived. A group from The Krewe of the Cavaliers also came to get things delivered and set up on their floats.
We all appreciate the colorful beads, the pretty krewes costumes and rugged pirate groups throwing out the goodies and the chromatic adorned floats as they all pass by. Now you know the rest of the floats story

You Just Can Not Make This Up

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The Bucs Win the Super Bowl!!!
What an exciting time that was for Tampa Bay. We decided to go to the stadium to join in the victorious homecoming football Super Bowl Party. We drove over with some friends and our visiting Uncle Gale from Wisconsin in our topless limo, H.R.H. Princess Priscilla. When we arrived at the stadium they saw our extended bright white limo convertible and directed us right up front next to the stadium to park. A most exciting Super Bowl Winning Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s returning Jet stadium fly over, just above the stadium a little over the crowded fans hands it felt like. Then suddenly Black Hawk Helicopters were above our heads and military personnel were lowering themselves onto the playing field. Quite the show. It was a once in a lifetime spectacular energized sight!
The Buc’s came in on a dozen open windowed charter busses. They were amazed as were the standing cheering camera flashing fans. The early morning hour stadium filled crowd went wild. After the Huge Welcoming Home Celebration, it was a parade through Tampa. A policemen told us to pull our limo in  behind a couple of police cars with lights & sirens on! The winning Super Bowl Champs Buccaneer team buses were right behind us. The crowds were massive and we slowly proceeded through the stadium area streets. Beads in hand our bartender friend, Jack ran up to a couple of the team bus’s open doors to give them handfuls of rainbow strands of beads. The assistant coach asked if that was our limo. We said yes, and the next thing we knew there were 2 of the winning coaches riding in our limo!! GO BUCS!!! What a parade!!!!

Dishing With Mark & Carrie 2-6-2013

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Mark & Carrie’s 35th Anniversary
How do you celebrate 35 Great Years together? We decided to file for  Tampa’s Domestic Partnership Registry. It was just one year ago that we championed the rights for DPR recognition in Tampa. Lucky for us we DO NOT live in the unincorporated Hillsborough County where elected officials just voted this down.
We are truly blessed to call our Family -Friends and our Friends -Family so invitations were sent out to everybody. We started the ceremonious day wearing tuxes and then onto a family lunch at one of our very favorite restaurants, The Laughing Cat. During lunch our 3 sisters from the Wisconsin gave Carrie a lace handkerchief that our Great Grandmother wore in her wedding and has been worn and carried by all family members since. We all rode the TECO Streetcar down to Old Tampa City Hall. Many more people were there to greet us and cheer us on. The Tampa City Clerks were very friendly and helpful. Our witnesses were Sister- Yvonne Yacoub, Friend- Judy B. Good and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Carrie used the same pen that Mayor Bob Buckhorn signed Domestic Partnership Registry into law. After several minutes everything was done. The press were all there for photos and interviews.
HOTspots Magazine
FOX News
ABC Action News
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There was then a fun ride back to GaYBOR on the streetcar. At Hamburger Mary’s there was a tasty CupCake & Celebration Party that went long into the night. If you are looking for the Perfect Valentine’s Day gift we strongly suggest DPR , https://www.tampagov.net/dept_city_clerk/programs_and_services/domestic_partnership_FAQS/index.asp
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We would like to thank everybody in our community for a once in a life time day.  Special Thank You to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hamburger Mary’s and our photographers; Scott S, niece Natalie, Matt & brother Ron.

Dishing Part 2

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Thanks Tampa
Can you believe it has been 1 year since talking to Tampa City Council about the benefits of having a citywide Domestic Partner Registry. It was a great group effort and we thank Tampa Councilwoman Yolie Capin for her introduction to the other Tampa City Council members. It is one of the best drafted laws for all the residents of the city. Today’s society has changed and so are the laws for our communities. Without same-sex marriage rights allowed yet in Florida, DPR offers rights, fairness and equality to all couples lives. Young or old, Straight or Gay, all race and genders this is the fairness act for unmarried couples living together with protections and rights under the city law.
We have been told that the City of Tampa officials are moving forward in plans to recognize other registered DPR couples from other city and counties in Florida.
If you live in Hillsborough County you still can go to the Tampa City Clerk’s office to register since a lot of the counties hospital, schools and funeral homes are within the city limits. You still have rights! It is a great service which Pinellas County and Orange County Commissioners in passing countywide domestic partnership registries. We hear that a couple of Hillsborough County Commissioners are requesting further information about the county DPR for reconsideration since voting it down last week 4-3.
This next week, Valentine’s Day, will be very busy for the Tampa City Clerk’s office we were told in registering DPR couples. Tampa Clerk’s office is located in the old City Hall building in downtown Tampa. Calls for Valentine’s Day appointments are being accepted. A great positive day for long lasting romantic servitude to your partner.
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The  Krewe of Sant’ Yago Knight Parade
This Saturday “All roads lead to GaYBOR/Ybor City” It’s the Best Parade of the Year!!! Be sure to cheer for the The GaYBOR Float as she passes by in the parade. Then after the parade ALL the GaYBOR Members are planning on HUGE Parties for you !! RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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GaYBOR Date Night for Under $40
Tuesday Nights are the perfect night for a midweek date night! Planning on arriving early since it is a school/work night. Two hours of FREE parking on the street. 1st stop should always be MC Film on the corner of 8th Ave & 15th Street. Here you will find out all the specials and pick up a FREE GaYBOR map for all the best stops. There is an incredible early bird special at Carne’s. Prime rib dinner with choice of two sides for $9.99 and $2.00 martines!!  Dinner drink & tip for two $30.00. After dinner head over to the FREE “Twilight Market”. Local Organic every Tuesday. www.creativityincommerce.com $10 left over… Stop by Hamburger Mary’s, Bradley’s on 7th or the Ybor City Wine bar for a good night cocktail. Dinner, drinks 7 home early for all under $40!!! Viva La GaYBOR!
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2nd Annual Cuban Club Bocce Ball Tourney
A little known game across the country but very popular here in historic Ybor City. This time the tourney winnings will go to help in the renovation of the Cuban Club.  This classic Italian outdoors ball game can be played by 2 individuals or teams of 3 or 4 per side. The “Jack” or “Pallino” is a small ball in which team throws first down the court about halfway then try to get the bigger Bocce Balls as close to the Jack as possible. The teams take turns in trying to get close to the Jack Ball for points. Teams each have 4 balls to throw. Closest ball wins 3 points, 2nd closest wins 2 points and the 3rd ball closest gets 1 point. The total win is to reach 36 or closest to 36 points. Young or old players it is a growing sport internationally.
The Cuban Club had a number of corp. teams attempting to win bragging rights and help the charity benefit. La Gaceta Newspaper editor, Patrick Manteiga was one of the Bocce judges.
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Valentines Jewelry & New Colognes at MC FILM
New Sterling Silver Rainbow semi precious rings have arrived at MC FILM for both men & women. New designs in stainless steel rainbow rings and necklaces also are arriving. New Top GaYBOR Model Underwear including UNICO, Pistol Pete & More. NEW NEW LEATHER for Naughty & Nice MEN!!! New colognes include Vintage, 818 and very popular 747 Club. Don’t forget your Valentine!!!
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Gaauuleee Marine Actor Jim Nabors Weds
TV’s Marine wacky private, star comedic actor with the very southern accent Jim Nabors married his longtime 38 year companion, Stan Cadwallader. Starring first on the 1960’s sitcom, “Andy Griffith Show” as the then on his own sitcom, “Gomer Pyle MC”. The private couple live in Hawaii and flew to Seattle to legally get married. Washington State residents voted to legalize same-sex marriages last November and became legal in December.
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Florida State Fair
Take me out to the fair. The 109th Florida State Fair starts this Thursday and runs thru Feb 18th at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Musical concerts, fun thrilling rides, super exotic fair food treats and the permanent historic Cracker Country, a step back in Florida time. www.floridastatefair.com

You Just Can Not Make This Up

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2 of the many stories about Mary.
We were very lucky to have a fun next door neighbor everybody called Mom Mary. Retired and full of life. Loved her kids, cigarette and 2 cocktails a day. One day a friend had stopped by and we decide to have a impromptu brunch. We gave Mary a call to come over but she didn’t answer the phone. With our friend we stared to talk about how much fun Mary was and yes some interesting things about her sex life. About 15 minutes later the door bell rang and there stood Mary.  We said that “WOW we just called you and we talking about you”. Mary said “Yes I Know you bitches forgot to hang up the phone & I just heard everything you said about me!!!” OK that was an embarrassing moment!! Next story… One night the phone rang & it was Mary’s. She wanted us to come over to help move a rug she just bought. Mary was always buying antiques and re arranging her furniture so this was nothing new. We said sure will be over in a hour. Mary shouted NO COME NOW!!! She tried to move the rug herself and had fallen under it!! When we arrived Mary was laying  on the floor with the un rolled rug over her. Luck for Mary’s she could reach her cell phone even luckier was she could reach her cigarettes & lighter!!! After we got her out Mary told us to cut up this ##**# rug and use it to line over van.  Every time we look at the rug in our van we laugh. Do you think they smoke cigarettes in Heaven? With Mary there we are sure they do!!!

GaYBOR Member of the Week

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Creative Loafing- Tampa Bay
Always engaged in Tampa news, political scene, new bands, creative theatre, food stops, reviews and so much more. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay under the leadership of editor, David Warner and a staff of dozens covers the news events all over Tampa Bay. They underscore the importance to newly opened businesses, non profits and clubs that help inspire the area in diversity. It has been over a year the newspaper moved to Ybor City. The new gossipy weekly tabloid is on the streets FREE every Thursday.