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Dishing with Mark & Carrie 11-1-2012

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ELECTION  DAY  Is  NOVEMBER  6th… VOTE!!
 
President Barack Obama in Historic Ybor City
What an honor to welcome the President of the United States to Centennial Park in historic Ybor City, Thursday, October 25th. We were up at 5:00 AM and took pictures along the entry lineup! We were surprised to see so many friends & friendly morning faces in the long line that went all around a 7 block area. An estimated 10,000 ticketed people wanted to also see and hear President Barack Obama speak in their backyards. With the campaign coming to the final election day, November 6th, it is a virtual tie for Florida with Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
No matter of any party affiliation, it was an honor to have the President of the United States visit us in the quaint historic District.
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Santa Speedo Run Tampa Bay in Ybor City
    Register Today at www.SantaSpeedoRun.org

    Santa Speedo Run Tampa Bay benefits Brighter Seasons for Children and AIDS Service Association of Pinellas. The 3rd Annual Santa Speedo Run Tampa Bay will be held in Ybor City on December 9th, check-in starts at 1p.m.. This year’s run will start and finish in Centennial Park, located at 8th Ave & 19th St., with an after party to be held at Barbarilla’s.

Remember, this year’s Santa Speedo Run still benefits ASAP and our Tampa Bay Area kids in our Brighter Seasons for Children program that are affected by HIV/AIDS. Here is a short film/PSA (30s) we made last year about the importance of the event that we would like you to watch again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DLHsVRn_v4

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Election Day is Tuesday, November 6th.
JUST GO OUT AND VOTE!!
We recommend You to ” VOTE NO ” to all Amendments on the ballot!
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MC FILM ANNUAL BIG BOGO SHIRT SALE this Week!
    It is time for MC FILM’s ANNUAL BIG BOGO SHIRT SALE and other great prices and SAVINGS on Swiss Navy Lubricants, GO SOFTWEAR & UNICO Underwear. A huge selection of Swim Boardshorts.
    DVD’s at $ 4.00 + and a large assortment of Pride Flags, Bear, Leather Flags & Towels also!
 
Hamburger Mary’s this Sunday FUNday!!!!
Join Tea Cup on the balcony at Hamburger Mary’s this Sunday FUNDay for “Tea Party with Tea Cup” also this Sunday the Mary’s Softball Party!!!
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New Guavaween Format & New Fantasma Big Hit
    The Ybor streets were full of Walking Zombies, Sesame Street Big Birds, Computer Boxes, Frankenstein’s and thousands of TV characters, good & bad! All for the Annual Guavaween Night antics. The changes this year were No Fences, No Admission Charge, No Parade and No Streets wet zoned in Ybor City. The night went off like a well oiled engine. A little smokey at times but the whole event ran smoothly.
    All the businesses saw an increase in business. A lot that have been closed in the past were open including Muvico Theaters, Improv, and a lot of clubs and bars. MC FILM was open and we had a great time with all our visiting ghouly guests.
    The afternoon held its first Ybor Merchants Association Children’s Pumpkin Patch and was a big hit with costumed kids trick-or -treating in Centro Ybor and surrounding participating stores. Thanks to La France store owner, Jill Wax for decorating up the kids Halloween faces.
    This year the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce had a new live music venue at 8 different clubs including Czar, New World Brewery, Ritz Ybor, Market on 7th, Crowbar, JJ’s Cafe, Centro Cantina and Dirty Shame.
    A lot of the Gay clubs had special entertainment with costume contests and special shows with visiting International/ National VJ/ DJ’s. Hamburger Mary’s had special ghostly guests performing, Honey Pot was all decked out with a wonderous cemetery scene. G. Bar had the bartenders all dressed in costumes, Bradley’s on 7th had a contest and special performers. Coincidently the All Hallows Ball ended at midnight and the over 8,000 attendees then came by TECO streetcar to Ybor City to shine up the after midnight crowd . All in elaborate and scary costumes.
    So congratulations Ybor City for making a Great positive change in Guavaween.
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People Are Talking
    The controversial Ybor City 7th Ave/ La Se’tima Street signs went on the auction block Monday at a 50th Street auction house. The correct Spanish spelling was the big concern and a committee in Ybor wanted the changes done before the RNC Convention last summer. The old 7th Ave./ La Se’tima where replaced by Tampa City Council to read “7th Ave/ La Se’tima/ La Se’ptima” and brought in $6000 to Ybor City’s tax district fund! A new Ybor liquor store will be opening soon at the Afterglow Bar on 15th Street.
    Owners of the Columbian Restaurant in Ybor City were upset with people parking in their parking lot in the wee hours to see President Obama. The facebook comments by the restaurant were hilarious!
New developments all over Tampa is a great sign of the changing economic times. A new $ 36 million dollar apartment complex in North Hyde Park called NoHo Flats had a groundbreaking for the new eight building 300 apartment complex with tons of upscale amenities. Mayor Bob Buckhorn tossed dirt along side Tampa Bay Lightening owner, Jeff Vinik who is in partnership with the development firm Pollack Shores Real Estate Group.
    All Hallows Ball had a record crowd at the Tampa Convention Center Saturday night. Florida’s Largest Private Annual Gay event is held every Halloween. Attendees came from as far away as Berlin, Germany and across America to attend the outrageous spectacular costume required event. See loads of Halloween pictures down further.
    The 2nd Annual Santa Speedo Run Tampa Bay is coming to Ybor City, Sunday, December 9th in Centennial Park and benefits Brighter Seasons for Children & Aids Services Association of Pinellas. Red speedos are requested for the fun run. MC FILM have a lot of hot red Santa speedo’s ready for your run! www.SantaSpeedoRun.org & www.MCFILM.co
    The hundred of holly & oak trees cut down in Ybor City two months ago are now being replaced with Olive Trees and Crape Myrtles along the baron streetways. We hope they will live on for decades and add great beauty to our historic district.
    The new Bear Night which is usually the 2nd Saturday at the Ybor Social. This month it will be the third Saturday because of the big Bear Fest at the Sawmill Campground in Dade City the 2nd weekend in November! In December Bear Night will be again the 2nd Saturday Night at the Ybor Social.
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Hyde Park Village Fall Art Show
    Again Hyde Park Village had a fabulous cool but sunny fall art festival. The weekend show had art gurus from all over the country participating. A combination of great cool dry air and very decorative Christmas ornaments, aluminum sculptures, acrylic colorful paintings, clothing and so much more were in tents for 6 blocks in and around the village center.
    More dogs were accompanying their masters in this great outdoor show. A lot of people were picking up and carrying their prized original imaginative pieces through the crowded boulevards..
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Hamburger Mary’s this Sunday FUNday!!!!
Join Tea Cup on the balcony at Hamburger Mary’s this Sunday FUNDay for “Tea Party with Tea Cup” also this Sunday the Mary’s Softball Party!!!
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You Can Not make This Stuff Up!!
    Ugly Women
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    There was this famous drag queen in Tampa who was an alleged coke dealer. We will change her name and call her Carlotta. When not in full drag she looked like woman down on her luck. One day our uncle was visiting us. Carlotta was walking down our alley when she stopped to yell ” hello” with her very heavy PR accent.
     Our Uncle Gale smiled and said, “I have to tell you guys… my god the women in this town are ugly!!!” 
     One night we were coming home from our first MC Film store located across from the University of Tampa. There was a huge two story house fire. We stopped and there in the front yard was Carlotta. She told us that she had just bought new furniture for her whole apartment and of course was very upset. The next day we heard a very different story. Allegedly…. she did not pay her coke supplier and spent the money on new furniture. When he found out the supplier set the house on fire. Who knows if this is true or not but that was the last time we saw Carlotta.
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Featured GaYBOR Member of the Week
Bernini of Ybor
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    A founding member of GaYBOR!!! Bernini’s is located in the former Bank of Ybor City. Owner Jason Fernandez and manager Bill are always coming up with some great cuisine ideas. A favorite for many especially at happy hour. $2 Finlandia Martini’s & 1/2 price entrees. Pull up a chair on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. Be sure to check Bernini’s out on your next trip to GaYBOR/Ybor City
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Mark & Carrie’s Nephew/Niece of the Week
Miss Jocelyn Summers

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    Everybody loves Miss Jocelyn. This past week she add a new crown to her collection of many. And Miss Jocelyn your looks have changed!  Congratulations on Miss Orlando!!!
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Caught @ The Reservoir Bar
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I want to Play on this Team!!!
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Caught @ Steam Fridays
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Caught @ G.BAR
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Caught @ Bradley’s on 7th
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Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s
Caught @ JJ’s Cafe & Bar
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Caught @ Centro Cantina
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Caught @ MC Film
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Caught @ GaYBOR/Ybor City

You Can Not make This Stuff Up!!

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    Ugly Women
(25)
    There was this famous drag queen in Tampa who was an alleged coke dealer. We will change her name and call her Carlotta. When not in full drag she looked like woman down on her luck. One day our uncle was visiting us. Carlotta was walking down our alley when she stopped to yell ” hello” with her very heavy PR accent.
     Our Uncle Gale smiled and said, “I have to tell you guys… my god the women in this town are ugly!!!” 
     One night we were coming home from our first MC Film store located across from the University of Tampa. There was a huge two story house fire. We stopped and there in the front yard was Carlotta. She told us that she had just bought new furniture for her whole apartment and of course was very upset. The next day we heard a very different story. Allegedly…. she did not pay her coke supplier and spent the money on new furniture. When he found out the supplier set the house on fire. Who knows if this is true or not but that was the last time we saw Carlotta.

Featured GaYBOR Member of the Week

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Bernini of Ybor

 

 

(68)

 

    A founding member of GaYBOR!!! Bernini’s is located in the former Bank of Ybor City. Owner Jason Fernandez and manager Bill are always coming up with some great cuisine ideas. A favorite for many especially at happy hour. $2 Finlandia Martini’s & 1/2 price entrees. Pull up a chair on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. Be sure to check Bernini’s out on your next trip to GaYBOR/Ybor City

 

VM Ybor District House Tour

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    On a beautiful sunny Sunday, V.M. Ybor District had its VM Ybor 2012 House Tour showcasing 10 homes and businesses just north of the I-4 separation from Historic Ybor City.
    Remodeled cigar and bungalow homes were on the open tour invite. A record number of people took in the tour that included and starting point the old 1908 Ybor Grammar School now Academy Prep Center of Tampa. Welcoming the home was local architect Kim Headland and a host of other community volunteers. The area is changing with the economy changing and a high interest in moving to Ybor City area. Other notable places were J.C. Newman Cigar Factory Museum building . The greatness was the four sided tour clock that people governed their time by. The location of old St Benedicts Moor School location now sits one of the relocated homes from the I-4 expansion. The historical house has many recognizing facts. One being a home of Tampa mafia kingpin, Vincent LoSacalzo. This was also the site of one of the first schools for African- Cuban students. There were laws of against teaching young Africans on Florida laws. The 1913 Florida law that was acted upon, “An Act Prohibiting White Persons from Teaching Negroes in Negroes Schools.”
    All along the sidewalks is a poem embedded in the specially laid granite sidewalk by City of Tampa Laureate, James E. Tokley ,Sr.. It is on the corner of 17th Street & Columbus. Very worth while to see.
Some of the on tour homes were completely remodeled as others alongside them are in various stages of renovations. A very happening re-development area.
    Congratulations to the VM Ybor Neighborhood Association on a great insight to a special area in Tampa.

Guavaween, A Big Success Changeover

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    After years of a Ybor City Mama Guava Parade, 24 block fenced in area of Ybor, and a cover charge to enter, this year it all changed! And to the good! More costumed characters came out and took part of the new Guavaween celebration changeover. Although the numbers aren’t in the estimated police number was up over the past years.
    This year more of an adult wrist banded music venue at 8 clubs that was a huge hit for the clubs and for the Ybor Chamber of Commerce. Guavaween is an annual fundraiser for the chamber. The paid wristband let you get an entry to hear top bands perform and all the other Ybor businesses were open for a more regular Saturday night of fun and craziness.
    There was a bit of confusion on whether visiting partiers had to pay an admission charge to get into Ybor City. The main charge was for the wrist bands that got you into the 8 music venue clubs. Other clubs charged accordingly.
    Costume contests at Hamburger Mary’s, Honey Pot, Centro Cantina, Bradley’s on 7th and G. Bar all created over the top entertainment and grusome ghostly zombie parties. The street costume watching was just as exciting as being in any of the clubs.
    It was a win, win for Ybor City!

Dishing with Mark & Carrie 10-24-2012

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Happy Guavaween!  Halloween Beware!
President Barack Obama in Ybor City
    Welcome to GaYBOR/Ybor City the President of the Unites States of America, Barack Obama!!! This Thursday, Oct 25th the President will be at The State Museum & Gardens. The doors open at 7AM. FREE tickets at 1702 N. 14th Street in Ybor City.
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New Graffiti Art in Ybor That is GREAT
    Walking down 7th Ave this morning I saw an artist painting the wooden street barricades between Hoffman Gallery & the Orpheum. The not so typical mural painting had a lot of Ybor City history designed and painted on the streets wood walls. Some of the work to be done still only in stencil.
        I introduced myself and had a great chat with the artist, ” NO” he claims, “I am a graffiti artist from NYC!” His name is Chico. No last name just Chico. He moved to Tampa with his wife and children a couple of years ago and loves it here.
    “I wanted to do something to cheerfully cheer up the (Ybor City) district. Make it more colorful and happy!”
I found out that he is Cuban and Puerto Rican. He grew up and lived in NYC’s Lower Eastside. Any corner he said, “has his art and work! “
    Chico doesn’t use a regular canvas and brushes in his paintings. He uses Krylon spray paint and open spaces, buildings, walls, and storefronts. “That is what makes me a graffiti artist! ” He started spray painting graffiti on NYC Subway cars as a kid. He says that he has been picked up and ruffed up by the police, stabbed a couple of times and even shot. But his passion for art continues.
    Showing me his idea for the planned 7th Ave plans he told me many of his life’s story. “I was commissioned to paint a mural in Piccadilly Circus in London.” he said. “And it was for the 20th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s death!”
    The very happy painter, I don’t know if it was his personality or from the paint fumes, relived his encounter in NYC at the local video store in the spring of 1992. ” I went to return the videos and a tall guy 6’7″ tapped at my shoulder and said, ‘Are you CHICO?’ I nodded and said that he had tickets for me to go to London and do the Jimi Hendrix mural. Here are the airline tickets and they put me up in the White House Hotel for over 2 weeks. Meals, nights out on the town, everything and I got paid handsomely.”
    The prismatic Ybor mural so far depicts a portrait of Ybor City’s founder- Vincent Martinez Ybor, a bright yellow TECO Streetcar, a huge colorful rooster and smaller chicken, historical cigar box labels and the old Tampa Hotel with minarets.
    ” It took me three tries to get the mural job from the owner, Jill at the gallery. But she gave in!” With a huge table of different color spray can,s Chico is making a difference in Ybor City! He also has done a mural for Tampa Police Dept, District 2 headquarters he said that he “is very proud of.” www.chicoartnyc.com
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Halloween GaYBOR Style
    Get ready for a Crazy Scary Weeklong Celebration! This year there will no NO FENCE; NO STREET WETZONED AREAS; NO ADMISSION  for Guavaween in Ybor City!!!!! Instead there will be a music festival. You may purchase tickets in advance at www.ybor.org . ALL the GaYBOR members will be hosting Halloween Parties starting Thursday Oct 25 thru Saturday Nov 3rd!!! WOW that is just plain, pardon this, Spook-Tacular!
    This year the All Hallows Ball http://allhallowsball.org/ will be on Saturday Oct 27 at the Tampa Convention Center. Just a short Streetcar ride away, this is going to be a night you will not want to miss in GaYBOR/Ybor City.
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A Horse of a Different Color @ G.BAR
    Saturday, Oct 20 was the kick off for many Halloween Parties from Florida Entertainment. The Scary night Wizard of OZ themed night featured a “Horse of a Different Color” to see more photos visit http://www.mcfilm.co/category/great-photos/caught-g-bar/
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A Blast from the Past
    “Why I Love GaYBOR!!!”
    Three years ago we made this video of GaYBOR. this week two guys from Alabama came into our store. They told us how much they like this video. it was the reason they deiced to spend a night in GaYBOR on their vacation. Then asked “Is the guy running in the video still here?” The answer is YES!!! He is one of GaYBOR favorite sons! Bradford, is bartending at Bradley’s on 7th. Watch the video & tell Bradford that you saw his big film debut! LOL LOL become his facebook friend today at https://www.facebook.com/bradford.bradleys?fref=ts
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/rwF_FjqJYpg?list=UUUUvc3KZNyR1HFfK8zLShdw&amp;hl=en_US” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
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People are Talking
    Big changes in the club/bar scene in GaYBOR/Ybor City. The former Club Empire will be shortly a New Gay Club in Ybor City! The newly proposed club will feature Latin Gay Music & Gay Country Western Dancing. Congratulations to Carol “Mama” Steen https://www.facebook.com/carol.steen who is now the manager at Bradley’s on 7th. Opening Nov 4 on the balcony of Hamburger Mary’s will be “Tea Party Sunday” with Tea Cup. This week Hamburger Mary’s will be installing a new bar on the balcony there. The Sunday tea Cup will feature Great Friends, Fresh Music and the ONLY balcony in GaYBOR/Ybor to feature a full bar. As one guest said “This balcony is like hanging out with my best friends in our tree house!” See you all Sunday, Nov 4th!!! Viva La GaYBOR!!!
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You Can Not make This Stuff Up!!

    Ghost Stories from GaYBOR/Ybor City
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From our Award Winning Past Column in ” Dishing with Mark & Carrie” 2009 column of the ghostly times in Ybor City. We thought that would keep up the ghostly stories.
    Talking with people about the historic Ybor City District reveals more and more ghost tales. Most recently, 3 weeks ago in fact at JJ’s Cafe, we met up with former proprietor of the former Lower Red Bar on 16th Street, Annie. Annie was with her boyfriend, Jay and one thing led to another. We made mention of the infamous Ybor gangsters and murdered gambling profiteer mobster, Charlie Wall. “This was one of his hangouts we understood.” I said. A ghostly trail of many lore and characters and who knows what in the earlier days of Ybor City. Gambling, prostitution, ethnic turf wars and the famed prohibition Ybor City bootlegging! Well, Ybor City is more than diverse!
    The conversations went on to mention of ghosts. They had faces of horror on both of their faces.” We have a poltergeist demon in our upstairs apartment.” Annie said. as she pointed up. “ I mean it!” Jay went on to say that, ” (we’ve) have been living in our apt for over 2 years and unaccountable screeches, voices,, banging of pots, pots being tossed around, water turning on in the shower and our kitchen sink in the middle of the night and getting personally slapped and held down. Silhouette ghostly sightings are infrequent but both have observed white cloudy orbs! It is a weird experience.”
    They both looked at each other puzzled and then said, ” We have to surround our bed with glass and candles every night or else!!” More info forth coming…
Ghostly Lore Tales of and In Historic Ybor City
    In the almost thirty years in Tampa area we have always loved the uniqueness and historic aspect of Historic Ybor City. Yes, it is quaint, historic, ethnic and very open to a variety of cultures that keep it vibrant. No one group has a ruling hand in Ybor. It is a melting pot of kind. Just by its early beginning it served as a non-segregated community in Tampa. Often the beginnings of a village, are filled with terrific lore stories of ancestry or ghostly spirits of the past. I went out with pen, paper & camera into the historic area to find and hear about some of the historic Ybor City ghost lore stories. I started out with some old stories we have heard as being, “Oh that place is haunted.”
    My reply is ,”Why and what have you heard that makes you tell me that… that place is haunted?” Here are a few of my interesting findings.
    Teatro on 7th, now closed in Centro Ybor (previous Big City Tavern) I had been told has a cynical spirited ghost in the 2nd floor of El Centro Espanol’s Building restaurants hallway from the kitchen to the dining room. Often tripping or pushing servers with a tray full of plates of food. Some servers say they feel like a rope came up and tripped their legs or someone pushing them on their shoulders. Owners chef, Bill and Leigh have more interesting stories. Many guests and workers have seen a beautiful Latino lady in a full floor length white dress in high heels and has been seen there in the restaurant numerous times. Very period piece timing and she is gone as quick as she is identified. Most recently a mischievous ghost has been making waves in Teatro with a quick push down the kitchenway. One of the owners, Jill was pushed from behind in the front of the bar and had bruises on her back to show for it. Nobody was around! This I was told, “happens a lot!”
    And in a very eerie moment, workers were stripping and sealing the wood floor. They closed up late and when opened the next morning candle wax was puddled all over the floor near the huge floor to ceiling windows. The only candles around were new and had not been lit! Yes, doors open and close by themselves at Teatro and yet nobody is around. And now it is an FBI office furniture store.
King Corona on 7th Avenue had a lot of different operating tenants prior to the famous cigar /coffee shop. Previously Raul Vega for decades sold the finest in women’s clothing then La Nica Fashions was there up to 1997. Owner Don Barco gave me some of the chilling accounts that he has experienced and were told of his establishment. First was a taut cigar smoking gent who looked like a boss of the place. No it wasn’t present owner Don! This business gentlemen spirit had been spotted by customers and was said to be wearing a light colored fluffy shirt and the sleeves rolled up on this hairy armed ghost. He seems to be curious as to what customers like to buy!
    Secondly is the sighting of a small smiling little girl. Store employee Sarah has seen the little girl and thought that her parents were around. She vanished. She has been seen by many customers and salesmen that call on Don. ” That is a cute little girl Don! Who is she?” he has been asked by a number of reps and patrons. All describe a smiling little girl in a turn of the century Sunday dress. Is anyone missing any children?
    Island Florists on 7th Ave is a most unlikely place for a ghost. Flowers and gifts fill the local shop owned by Mario. I had heard of a co existing ghost at the store. HE is said to have been in the big fire in the 1920’s when a large portion of Ybor City was burned down including the brothel and the unlicensed casinos directly behind Island Florist. Mario showed me the fire and smoke marks still scoring the bricks almost 100 years later. The ghost makes the dog bark as he comes in through the ally screen door entry. He comes in quite frequently some days. It is said that he was burned to death in the fire leaving the brothel! He still marches around looking for an escape in the 15th street ally.
    The Italian Club of Tampa ( est. 1894) on 7th Ave is an ethnic pillar and the social outlet for many decades as a plaza auditorium for dances, dinners, card playing and community social events. This historic building has a singular aspect that isn’t scary but memorable. A number of members have seen past Italian Club President Paul Longo and a long standing board member (1920-1980’s) ghost walking around inside the huge social club auditorium and in the basement bar. Always working to keep it in ship shape condition.
The Italian Club Cemetery on 22nd Street North is a private Italian Member Cemetery. But one of the most recalled stories that I was told from early 1980’s is the story of Italian club women working one day at the cemetery sprucing up the cemetery for the annual Italian Cemetery picnic putting in plants and trimming around the family gravestones. A lady on her knees was trying to get up from working when a smartly young dressed soldier came up and offered her his hand to help her up. She ‘Thanked Him very much’ and asked for his name not recognizing who he was and thought one of the other ladies had a relative coming to see the cemetery.
    After she looked around and yelled to the other ladies, the well dressed muscular smiling soldier spirit vanished. Others have said to have experienced the same uniformed young gent at different times.
    Gaspar’s Grotto on 7th I talked with owner, Shere Schiller about the ghost appearing hands in pictures taken at the eatery and bars location. The pictures when they were developed have ghostly long hands around a small boy. Easy to see but unexplained! Noises are heard by patrons and employees in the back of the bar still occur. And nobody is back there! The pictures are still displayed!
    The Ritz on 7th has recently had a multi-million dollar makeover. It is a spectacular historic theatre and something else is too. Children are heard running, screaming and playing in the upstairs apartments corridors by a lot of the tenants. Sometimes disruptive, the playful noises come and go in this adult only apartment complex! Carla V. a manager of the Ritz, says she has had a few of the 2nd floor tenants tell her more suspicious stories. The residents look in the hallways and see nothing but faint to loud noises of children playing being heard, often! And as the story is told It seem some of the children living there in the 1930’s were playing “horsey” with friends and a younger brother who he fell over the 2nd floor balcony accidentally hanging himself.
    And after that in the early 1970’s, the theatre projectionists, Beemer, knew the dazzling Ms Melanie Minyon. On occasion the infatuated admirer of a very young Melanie had her come over to the Ritz. “On many occasions the projector in the projectionist room would just start running and show what ever movie was on the reels or with nothing on the movie reels. It just had a mind of its own.” Melanie said. ” Very eerie.”
    The Social (former Ybor Eagle) is a new phenomenon sighting that occurred by one of the bartenders, Shane. Working on opening and setting up the bar, all alone, noises came from the back of the bars restroom areas. Doors opening and closing. He was sure that he was the only one there but went to investigate the situation after a couple of doors started banging. Seeing that nobody else was there he walked back to the bar. Around the corner he heard chains rattling and taps on the wall. He left screaming and didn’t stop until he could go to the old Streetcar Charlie’s for some water. And probably a couple of beer!
Oh I just love gothic, terrorizing paranormal and ghostly stories.
      Czar ( former Tracks, Pleasure Dome, El Goya) on 7th has a lot of friendly ghost beings. I had to talk with the Ybor Diva Joey Brooks about encounters and stories she had heard. “Need not go any further. These are first hand encounters.” she said. First when a youngster, she started working at El Goya in the spot light room upstairs next to the office she and co-worker friend and small dwarf, Dolly were working the spot light in the very small cubby hole. The infamous drag show was getting ready to start. ” You have to realize this area we worked in was a tiny space right over the main bar.” They heard footsteps and thought the manager (Warner) was checking up on them. But they noticed the manager down stairs next to the bartender. They waved for the bartender to have the manager go check upstairs as someone was walking around in the office. Security went and didn’t find anyone and locked the door. The show started and the lights were on stage with the performers and they heard the definite footsteps overhead again. Joey slipped a note for the bartender for the manager to check upstairs again. Again nothing and was yelled at by the security guy. The show was almost over and again the steps were loud above their heads in the little spot room space. All of a sudden a ghostly man in his white pant legs dropped through the cubby hole where they were working. Then just disappeared. Yes, it scared the ‘begeebers’ out them both!!! The lights went out…Sorry who was ever on stage.
    Then in the back western themed bar one night Joey and a couple of other performers were getting ready before the club opened and walked down the hallway and there was a man in a white tailored suit, large white hat, smoking a stinky cigar.
    ” Are you suppose to be here?” Joey matter of factly asked then turned around and left. Calling a security guard to check it out as no one was suppose to be in the club yet. No one was there as they returned but the cigar smell was strong and smoke still was there. Others have seen this same ghostly man in white in all parts of the club. Upstairs and down!
    A story Joey also shared was about the club was when it was the Havana Hotel and the Las Novedades Restaurant. A chef and hot headed waiter had a quarrel and turned into a deadly knife fight. The dead waiters ghost has been seen in the club in a white waiters outfit.
    Don Vicente Hotel (old Gonzalez Hospital and Clinic) on 14th and 9th Ave we have been told that the basement bar of the hotel has had many visiting guests see spirits, and not from the bottle spirits kind either! This was the previous area of the past hospitals morgue. Known as “The hospital of the ‘un-dead’” as patients whom were thought to have had passed away were put in the cool basement morgue and miraculously came back to life. Some say hot weather outside in the hot summer Florida heat revived many and some say no explanation! In 2011 a family staying at the historic inn had a group picture taken on the classic stairwell. When they looked at the pictures later on, there was an older gentleman and a young girl in a white lace dress looking from the inside of the mirror out to the family. They sent a copy back to the hotel. Bizarre!
    Ybor Resort & Spa ( former Trelles Clinic & Hospital) on 8th Ave is another very bewitching and scary place. The building sat for years without any tenants or maybe they spiritly did. Before the remodeling to the new resort I personally can say this place was like going to the halls of a haunted house. Equipment left; a huge sanitizer machine, a bone crsherthe pot shape bone crusher in the morgue and the medical surgery room with the surgeons sinks. It wasn’t until I met up with owner, Fred Schwartz about the windows closing on their own. The doors on the 2nd floor rooms would never stay closed. The feeling of someone putting there hand up the back of your neck and hair line. It would end chills up your spine.
    I remember calling televisions Sci Fi Network TV Channels “Ghost Hunters” about this scary place. They responded as did HBO’s TV show, Paranormal, former local group leader of Bill Sharpe’s Ghost Watchers and SFPRS. On many 30+ tours of the old medical building we experienced anomalies, spirits, huge temperature changes, and things you just knew were ghosts and not tales! We met the child in the pharmacy who yanked on a number of peoples clothing and said in Spanish on digital recording, “My name is Juan.” I and others also met up numerous times and even filmed with the ghostly spirit Conchita Trelles, beautiful wife and nurse at the medical center to the womanizing Dr. Jorge Trelles. On one specific tour someone taking pictures didn’t realize it at the time but captured an image of a dark hazed ghostly person in the 2nd floor hallway.
    Well, that is only a few sampling accounts of lore tales, unexplained spirits and stories in Historic Ybor City.
    I know that I will be receiving more fun stories.
Ghosts Lore Adventure Stories and More of My Growing Up Years …
    I just love the crispy fall season. It is reminiscent of my younger days growing up in the colorful leafy wooded area in northern Wisconsin. I encountered many paranormal and ghostly stories of lore growing up. A few that really got my mind going was the story of a Wisconsin River ferryboat captain murdered and was an American Civil War deserter and ferry boat captain, Capt. Calvin Blood buried near St. Point, WI. The irony is that he was buried in the Blood Family Cemetery alongside the river. A lot of area kids, college students and residents went to see the grave site and often saw what appeared to be a ghost who was said to have whispered to many, “I’m Capt. Calvin Blood!” He is said to have been murdered by a couple of crazy robbing ferry patrons. His ghost was here, there and everywhere!
    I went to the cemetery one evening with a family friend St. Point Police Detective Audrey on a cool fall night to see if we would see the infamous Calvin! We took the police cruiser out to the cemetery in the early evening hour. We arrived at the tempered care cemetery and walked around to see where the Blood gravesite and stone was. Definitely a party place for young crowds in the area with beer cans spread around.
To our surprise the portable police radio started to screech and then went dead. We walked back to the cruiser and the car didn’t start. The battery was totally dead. We were a little on edge with both of the incidences that just occurred. We were stuck out in no where land. And not along a well traveled road. We walked around the fenced hallowed graves and grounds. The wind was whistling through the tall pine trees and we were sure we would see something out of the ordinary – ghost or something! Nothing but a sense of eeriness.
    An hour later the police radio came back on unexpectedly and we called for a tow truck. The car was started by the truck driver. Oh well…. No signs of ghosts or apparitions but a truly weird northern night experience.
    The second personal experience was also very surrealistic and genuinely honorific. I think everyone knows Alfred Hitchcock’s famous country motel movie, ” Psycho” a haunting Halloween season timed classic. The deranged movie is based upon a guy from our neighboring town. His name was Ed Gein; loner, handyman, farmer, murderer, taxidermist and cannibalist. He was one of America’s worst documented psychopaths, serial killers and a big ‘momas boy’! In fact he preserved his dead mother and had her body sleep in his bed with him.
    As a youngster I recall, I went with my parents to see his farmhouse just a day after the cities newspapers breaking headline report. The county sheriff said that he was arrested for murdering a hardware owner, Bernice Worden in rural Plainfield, Wisc. She was well known as the owner of the country hardware and farm store and both my parents and family knew her. The 2 lane rural highways around the isolated farm were packed with sheriff & police cars, TV trucks, cars and hundreds of neighboring rural people. He was known by our family because he had bought fresh vegetables and fruit from my Aunt Grace who had a fresh vegetable/ fruit roadside stand. Police traced him from the last receipt at the small country hardware store. They found the shop owner decapitated and strung up in his barn. Neighbors said that Gein would often offer them sausage meat saying it was deer meat and he was a known hunter. Hmmm.
    Police investigators found human skull bowls, tanned human skin lampshades, human skin belts, ground up human meat, human made sausage and human organs in the refrigerator. Weeks after we had visited the gruesome site neighbors burned the farmhouse and out buildings down so it wouldn’t turn into a cult museum attraction. The whole area called Gein’s house the “house of horrors.” Gein’s old pickup truck was sold to a circus as a sideshow exhibit. Police said that they found a list of older area women’s names on a pad in the trashed dilapidated unkept farmhouse kitchen and Aunt Grace’s name was on the list.
    Other movies also used this schizoid psycho mania guy as inspiration including “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Silence of the Lambs.” They say ghostly sightings and paranormal odd things still are found around the Plainfield farm property today. He died in a Wisconsin Mental Asylum 1984.
Featured GaYBOR Member of the Week
    Mark & Brad
(67)
    Active & Proud members of the GaYBOR District Coalition. It’s individuals like Mark & Brad that make GaYBOR so special. If you enjoyed the last GaYBOR bar crawl thank mark & Brad. They will be helping organizing the next December Holiday Bar Crawl too. If you would like to meet more people & get involved with the community just talk to Mark & Brad.
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Mark & Carrie’s Nephew/Niece of the Week
    Mr. Bob Taylor
(132)
    Easily “The Empress of the Drag Pageant World”. One of the most loved people in the LGBTA Community not only in Florida but across the USA. With a cool leave head and the patients of a Saint, no pageant is complete without Bob.
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Jay wearing UNICO Underwear from MC Film
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Dogs Love 7th Ave Too!!!
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Impromptu Horse Parade
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I See Zombies Everywhere
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Surprise Stephen
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Happy Birthday Bill
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Caught @ Steam Fridays
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Caught @ G.BAR
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Caught @ Bradley’s on 7th
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Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s
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Caught @The Social
Caught @ JJ’s Cafe & Bar
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Caught @ Centro Cantina
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Caught @ MC Film
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Caught @ GaYBOR/Ybor City

Dishing with Mark & Carrie 10-18-12

Posted on by
TECO Line Streetcar Festival This Saturday!!!
    The TECO Line Streetcar Line is celebrating 10 years of service. Sometimes under community controversy, the streetcar is a major Tampa Brand! The streetcar travels Historic Ybor City thru Channelside and ends at downtown Tampa.
     Great entertainment is planned all along the route for the upcoming anniversary celebration. Lowery Park Zoo has an animal arena, bands playing in Centro Ybor, circus acts, Streetcar Barn open for tours and food samples at different stops for the special celebration. It is always a great family friendly party day.
    MC FILM has Annual 20% OFF SALE all day Saturday. Just show us your TECO 10 Cent ticket! It all is happening Saturday 10 AM until 2AM.
New Gay Drama Filming in Ybor City
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New Sunday FUNday Tea Party in GaYBOR
Putting the Tea into T-ParTy
Opening Night….. Nov. 4, 2012
Sign up for the VIP Opening Night Guest List!!!
Today @
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GaYBOR Meeting has Local TV Reporter/ Anchor As Special Guest

    October’s GaYBOR District Coalition has a long list of activities planned for the next 6 months! Included is a “GaYBOR Student Art Competition”, Decorated Storefronts Contest in historic Ybor City for Holiday Spirit in Ybor in December and the State of GaYBOR in January with guest speaker, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
“Close to the 300 GaYBOR member mark and what a positive accomplishment to our historic district.” said Carrie West, President of GaYBOR District. ” That is worldwide advertising to entice tourists to come to historic Ybor City. That’s only $6.00 per month for each business!”
    Guest speakers at the monthly meeting held at Hampton Inn & Suites were Preston Rudie, WTSP TV anchor /reporter talking about media and community relations in historic Ybor City and GaYBOR. Also guest speakers included Sally Phillips, Florida State Dem Committeewoman on the upcoming November Florida ballot and Tom Keating, President of Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, talking about the upcoming Guavaween weekend the end of October 27th.
MORE PHOTOS BELOW……..

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People Are Talking

   More talk is in the breeze of a new gay restaurant/club rumored to be opening in St Petersburg. Good St. Pete friends said that the deal was sealed 2 weeks ago for the old Detours location.  Still looking into it.
    The 112 ‘murdered Trees’ in Ybor will be having a new flowery look. The city wants to plant Crape Myrtles and a few Olive Trees in place of the mowed downed and stumped 20 year old oak and holly tress on Ybor sidewalks that occurred 1 month ago. It is in the Master plan we were told! But were we!!!
    Big Birthday week bedsides TeaCup was Miss Joey Brooks at Bradley’s on 7th and Sheriff Mike at Hamburger Mary’s. Happy Birthday to the October Birthday Readers!
    Fresh Mouth  in Centro Ybor closed it’s doors for good. The other 2 locations owned by the same owner  Centro Cantina and JJ’s Cafe are still open. “Just making things more manageable.” said owner, Joe V. Who wants to open a diner?
    Guavaween is making a major change! No fenced in area and no paying to get into Ybor City. This year a musical staged venue will be replacing Mama Guava parade October 26th and the permitted fence and wet zoning for 7th Ave. Halloweeen weekend. The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce oversees Guavaween and benefits from the annual event

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TIGLFF Finished On Top

    The 23rd Annual Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival showed better revenue this year than for last year with 25% increase in moviegoers. Changes this year were: a shorter film festival schedule (9 days instead of 11 days) , more visual appearances by film directors and actors, Surge (Men’s) & Sugar (Women’s) After Party was held at 1 location instead of 2 saving money and a new Film Festival Food Truck Rally opening night at the downtown Tampa Theatre which was a huge success. More changes as the festivals board gets together for their final numbers.
    TIGLFF Executive Director Larry Biddle was hoping for 7,000 movie attendees to see the 60 movies scheduled. “We over did expectations.” Bidddle smiled.
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New BEARhood Take Over Party
    Congratulations to the party organizer/ bartender Vincent Salpietro. The new 2nd Saturday of the month Bear Party is held in the basement of the Ybor Social. See all the photos at www.mcfilm.co You will not want to miss the next party. Become a friend of Vinny today at https://www.facebook.com/vincent.salpietro.5?fref=ts
MORE PHOTOS BELOW……..
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Get all the “Tea & Dish” 1st
Subscribe to the Award Winning Column at MC Film Main Facebook Page Today!!!
Get on the VIP List Today!!! Send your email to
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You Can Not Make This Stuff Up!!
    Wild Night at New York New York Pizza
(23)
    Everybody knows that the must do last stop in GaYBOR/Ybor City is to NY NY Pizza. The Best pizza and wildest floor show and they don’t even have a floor show!!!! One night it was after 2AM and the place was busy. All of a sudden a man fell out of the ceiling!!!! Everybody screamed! The owner Freddie ran up to the very drunk guy and asked… “Are you OK? Where did you come from? What’s going on?”
    The drunk actually said, “Those’s Mother F***ers locked me into the mewsroom. So I had to crawl up into and out thru the ceiling!!!”
    Freddie stated, “What there is no lock on the door!” The Drunken customer replied he had pushed & pushed and the door wouldn’t open IT WAS LOCKED!!!!!” Freddy replied, “It wasn’t locked all you have to do was to pull the door not push!” Freddie  and another employeeshowed the intoxicated gent, then escorted him out the door.
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Featured GaYBOR Member of the Week
    Centro Ybor
    Centro Ybor, LTD, the new mall in central historic Ybor City, have been a member since the beginning of GaYBOR District Coalition and great team players in all historic Ybor City Events. Providing and managing a mall right smack in the middle of the old historic district, They have a modernized mall and commons area in the historic district including restaurants; Hamburger Mary’s, Carne, the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Samarai Blue . Other businesses include Muvico Theatres, Joeffry’s, Tampa Improv and 6 major business office complexes. Plus so much more.
    This week they are hosting Centro Ybor’s concerts for the TECO Line Streetcars 10 Year Anniversary. They also have the huge Ybor Holiday Spirit Christmas Tree on there property also.
Centro Ybor property owners are M&J Wilkow, LTD in Chicago. Senior VP David Harvey, Vivian, Carl and staff all have helped all of historic Ybor City and Tampa. We Congratulate You on All Your Successes.
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Mark & Carrie’s Nephew/ Niece of the Week
    Chi Chi Lalique
(131)
One of the most beautiful ladies in GaYBOR/Ybor City. Chi Chi can even made old eyesores look FANTASTIC!! By day she is the reigning Mayor of New Port Richey!!! She holds court there daily at Salon Ke-lani  https://www.facebook.com/SalonKeLani By night she is thrilling audiences across Tampa Bay!. Check her out at Hamburger Mary’s this weekend!
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Who Ordered the Ice?
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Fall Foliage or Dying New Tress?
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Check out the Free Movie & friendly staff
@ Chamber of Commerce Info
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Diva!!!
You Guess which one! LOL
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Men of After Glow
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Desert @ the Row Boat
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Caught @ Steam Fridays
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Caught @ G.BAR
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Caught @ Bradley’s on 7th
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Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s
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Caught @The Social
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Caught @ JJ’s Cafe & Bar
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Caught @ Centro Cantina
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Caught @ MC Film
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Caught @ MC Film/GaYBOR/Ybor City

Dishing with Mark & Carrie 10-11-2012

Posted on by
NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO VISIT HISTORIC YBOR CITY
Dishing with Mark & Carrie
10-11-2012

Mark’s Surprise Birthday Party

A Huge Thank You for the surprise Party! How did you all keep this from me???? This Saturday Night after Hamburger Mary’s,  I will be at Bradley’s on 7th & G.BAR.  Please join me for a Crazy Saturday Night!!!

(((HUGS))) Tea Cup aka Mark
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EL GOYA Reunion
    Friday night was an El Goya Reunion Party and brought back great memories of days past. Bradley’s on 7th was the host to the 30 year old kindling. Hosted by Joey Brooks and a cast of performing entertainers that haven’t performed in years. Attending and performing were some of the Ybor City’s Golden Days Drag stars. The numbers and outrageous outfits were spectacular. Bobbie Lake, Melanie Minyon, Gilda Golden and Joey Brooks. The place was packed with memory hounds, well wishers and renewed friendship seekers. Also was longtime area favorite Drag Star, “Hey Everybody” Stephanie Shippae.
    Memories of the 1980’s days of the very popular gay bar were portrayed by the smiles, talents and friendships that people developed. This was a very visual exciting youthful gay bar that many found out and acted upon their true inner feelings and found a comfort zone.
    “Straight or gay, El Goya was a very popular place to take visiting dignitaries to.” said former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco. ” Most people had never even seen a real drag show and it was a very interesting place to take our city’s VIP visiting guests. I loved it. And so did the guests.”
    “Mayor Dick Greco had a reserved table in the front of the stage whenever he wanted it.” commented reunion host Joey Brooks.
    Ybor City’s famous El Goya closed in late 1980’s changed to Tracks and then Pleasure Dome and now Czar.
“It was so unique back then in Ybor City that it was one of 2 businesses that stayed open after dark, the Columbian Restaurant and El Goya. “ said Horst Glamsh, a lifelong Tampa Bay resident, bartender and El Goya Bar frequenter.
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GaYBOR District Coalition Meeting
This Friday, 10,12
4PM @
The Hampton Inn & Suites Ybor
Special Guest Speakers:
Preston Rudie, WTSP TV News Anchor
Sally Phillips, Florida GLBTA Dem. Committee woman
Everyone is invited and welcome to attend!
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People are Talking
NEW, NEW, NEW
    Was Sir Michael Phillips ‘Mick’ Jagger’s son caught in GaYBOR??? He was spotted at MC Film & Steam Fridays. The murdered trees of Ybor saga is stretching on and on. After the Tampa City Parks Dept. admitted they did follow the rules, The Tampa City Council demanded answers at the last council meeting.
     “When Council m,embers get 100’s of calls about the tree cuttings in Ybor City, there needs to be a full explanation.” stated Councilman Frank Redddick. They have now stopped everything and are asking the  Barrio Latino Commission (Ybor City’s Historic Preservation Council) for permission to cut down the 110+ trees. Just makes you want to say WTF!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME!!! New in GaYBOR/Ybor City the rickshaws are back! Owner of one of the bikes, Keith, who had his Ybor City peddler pedestrian bicycle stolen was found after 2 years. It was discovered unassembled but was nicely painted…blue.
    NEW… WHO ARE THE Shadow-Men of GaYBOR??? This dynamic duel are spotted on Saturday Nights From Hamburger Mary’s to Bradley’s – G.BAR to other YC clubs. Covered from head to toe in vibrant spandex fabric. I have actually seen them drinking beer thru the cloth covering their faces. Who ever they are WE LOVE IT!!! 
     A surprise retirement party was held for retiring Tampa Police Major Gerald Honeywell. Being a guest celebrity on a float with other Tampa Police officers heading to Middleton H.S. for  his special dedication. He has been a great positive presence as a well as a very liked leader in protecting East Tampa and Ybor City. Good Luck Major Honeywell!
    Be sure to stop by the Stone Soup Company not only for great food but great music too. There are bands there every weekend now. NEW at Hamburger Mary’s every Saturday Night you will find the talents of the outrageous Miss Alica Markstone! Every Tuesday Night there is a new naughty BINGO starring Miss Alica Markstone too. NEW Diva bartender, Ybor Mama is now at Bradley’s on 7th. NEW at the Ybor Social. The doors are now opening at 9PM for the Best College Night in Tampa! NOT NEW, NOT NEW, (thank Goodness they are our friends) but FABULOUS FABULOUS, the Twat Sisters were caught at Steam,G.BAR & Bradley’s LOL LOL
    NEW Now open in the Channelside District is Lucky Sundays @  AJA every Sunday at 9PM.  NEW NEW Check out the facebook tip of the week below. The Ybor City Wine Bar is opening soon!
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The Facebook Tip of the Week!!!
Miss Jayme is opening the “Ybor City Wine Bar” in Centro Ybor in December. Our HOT TIP is to become her facebook friend TODAY so you don’t miss out on the VIP Parties!!! This will be the talk of our community.
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Pro Boxer Orlando Cruz Proudly Gay
The WBO Featherweight boxer, Orlando Cruz announced himself as a “Proud Gay Man.” Cruz, 31, from Puerto Rico said, ” he wants to be the best role model to kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.” He is also the first fighter to come out openly gay!
    Nationally # 4 ranked in the featherweight class by the World Boxing Organization.
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You Can Not make This Stuff Up!!
        What’s in That Box?!?!?!?
    A unusually group of people were in the gay club. They were straight, Lesbian & Gay. The group was in a big party mood. On the corner of their table was a metal box. During the drag show there were all putting money on to of the box as tips for the drag performers.
    Finally Esme couldn’t take it any more and asked “What’s up with this box?” They explained that their 2 favorite lesbian aunts had passed away. The ashes of both of the aunts were in the box. The Aunties LOVED drag shows so…. There Gay & Straight families decide to take the Aunties on a trip from Atlanta to Tampa onto New Orleans to see drag shows. After the show we told Esme that she really knocked them dead tonight!!!
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GaYBOR Member of the Week
    Row Boat Mediterranean Cuisine / R Bar have been great supporters of GaYBOR District. The gyros and special daily ‘Mediterranean Dish of the Day’ are really scrumptious. And recently the owners, Jad & Jordan have opened an Ybor fun getaway bar called, R Bar! The restaurant makes daily the great deserts including Bakalava, besides the Greek salads, Dolmas (Stuffed Grape Leaf) appetizers, Turkish Coffee and yes, the Gyros, Kabobs and Falafel!
    Their very special event is coming October 18th at 5PM. Their Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and local leaders celebrating the newly opened establishments to GaYBOR /Ybor City. Located on the corner opposite MC FILM at 8th Ave and 15th Street. Everyone is invited to help celebrate.
Welcome to GaYBOR / Ybor City. facebook/ Rowboat
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Mark & Carrie’s Nephew/Niece of the Week
    Kathryn Nevets
    One of the jewels in the crown tiara of the GaYBOR Drag Community, Miss Kathryn is truly a shining star. She also performs a very convincing Kathy Griffin! From comedy to super star glam Kathryn is outstanding in all!. Be sure to see her every Friday Night at Hamburger Mary’s and a cast member with Amy Demilo, Daphne Ferraro and ChiChi Lalique at 8:30 and 10:30
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Obituary Marc Zolkowski
 A Memorial Service fo Marc was on for Thursday, October 4th at 6pm at the South Tampa (MacDill) Boze & Curry Funeral Home, with a gathering afterwards at the Chelsea Bar located at 1502 N Florida Avenue. A memorial fund has been established at Wells Fargo under Marc’s name to help defray the costs of the memorial should you wish to make a donation. Marc & partner Bill are owners of  http://www.metro-tampa.com/
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Little Mick Jagger caught@ Steam
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WHO ARE THE Shadow-men of GaYBOR???
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I Miss my Trees
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How much are those bois in the window?
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Ride a rickshaw
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Music at Stonesoup Company
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Naughty Twat Sisters
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Caught @ Steam Fridays
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Caught @ G.BAR
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Caught @ Bradley’s on 7th
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Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s
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Caught @The Social
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Caught @ MC Film
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HOTspots Magazine
Caught @ GaYBOR/Ybor City

From the MC Film Mail Bag

Posted on by
Candidate for Ala. High Court Slams Marriage Rights, LGBT Equality
    Roy Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and a candidate to regain the post, told a Tea Party rally that marriage rights for same-sex couples will cause “the ultimate destruction of our country.” “We can’t keep disparaging our military and promoting things like same-sex marriage, LGBT. To hear the president of the United States say that we are promoting LGBT. Let’s think about what that is: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights,” Moore told the crowd. Moore was removed as chief justice in 2003 when he refused to comply with a court order banning a monument displaying the Ten Commandments in the state judicial building.
Record Number of Out Candidates Running For Congress
    Nine openly gay, lesbian and bisexual candidates are major party nominees for Congress this year, a new record that could see the LGBT community with more of its own on Capitol Hill than ever before. The candidates say anti-gay politicking so far hasn’t been an issue in their races, and one openly gay Republican candidate says he’s been welcomed by party leaders. “As for issues of equality, you’ll never have true equality until you have advocates on both sides of the aisle,” said Richard Tisei, the GOP nominee for a House seat in Massachusetts. Two of the nine are incumbents seeking re-election to the House, while one incumbent House member, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is seeking a Senate seat.
Autumn is SOUP TIME!
Send us your favorite recipes for “Dishing” dishingmcfilm@aol.com
Fresh Tomato Basil Bisque

Ingredients
3 large local tomatoes, diced
1 cup of vidalia onion, diced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
32 oz chicken stock
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of red pepper
parmesan cheese for topping

Directions

    In a large sauce pot heat 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil over medium-low heat. Brown the onions until they begin to become translucent (about 3-4 minutes). Add the chicken stock, tomatoes and basil. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve warm with parmesan cheese. Make a double batch so you’ll be sure to have leftovers and store them in Ziploc bags in your freezer!

From the MC Film Mail Bag

A N N O U N C E M E N T
Celebrate Baseball!
When:
Thursday October 18, 2012
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Add to my calendar


Where:

Ybor City Museum State Park
1818 E. 9th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605

Driving Directions
Please join us for the opening celebration for our new exhibit, Béisbol: Tampa’s Love of the Game, which commemorates the 125-year history of Tampa’s infatuation with baseball.

Enjoy baseball-inspired food and beverages, music, surprise guests, and more in the Museum Garden. Wear your favorite team attire and test your pitching skills. TVs will be available so you can watch the playoffs.

Please click below more more information or to purchase tickets.
Get more information
Purchase Tickets Now!
I can’t make it
Visit www.ybormuseum.org/events-a-program or email baseball@ybormuseum.org for more information.
We look forward to seeing you at our exhibit opening.
Sincerely,
Chantal Hevia, President
Ybor City Museum Society

P.S. Click here for more information regarding Kids and Family Day on Saturday, October 20th.
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Subject: For Immediate Release: Romance Novelist Featured in Courageous Art Benefit

Media Contact – msshiver@gmail.com, (813) 505-8802

Tampa, Florida

 

     Romance Novelist Featured in Courageous Art Benefit

Romance novelist Mackenzie Crown recently released her memoir on her battle with breast cancer. Mackenzie, her younger sister and her first cousin were all diagnosed with varying stages of breast cancer within two months of each other, devastating her family and bringing to the forefront the precious gift of this thing we call life. “Where Would You Like Your Nipple?”, a comedic survival guide of hope, is a light hearted embrace of a sobering subject. The author’s wit serves as salve for those who are taking the same frightful journey.

 

Mackenzie will be doing a book signing on Oct 13th in conjunction with The West Tampa Center for the Arts event “Pink”, a benefit for the local non-profit, Faces of Courage. In addition to the release of Mackenzie’s book, “Pink” will feature the female form celebrated by some of the bay area’s most renowned artists including Lisa Scholder, whose work has included body painting adornments on breast cancer survivors since 2009.

 

“Her work was a natural fit”, says Moira Shiver of Lisa’s work, “for both this art show and for the cover of Mackenzie’s book.” Moira is an art consultant and the Art Director for the WTCA and arranged for these two artists to meet and collaborate for the cover of Mackenzie’s book and for the breast cancer benefit “Pink”.

 

This event will also feature an art scavenger hunt, live “survivor” body art painting, book sales and a live art auction of donated works. Books are available for purchase for $10.00 at the event.

Show Dates and Times: $5.00 General Admission ($15.00 includes Admission and Art Hunt)

Saturday, October 13, 2012, 6 – 10 PM

Scavenger Hunt 7:00 PM

Book Signing 8:00 – 9:00 PM

Art Auction 9:00 PM

West Tampa Center for the Arts

1906 N Armenia Avenue

Tampa, FL 33607

 

Faces of Courage is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides day outing and traditional weekend camps for women, children and families touched by cancer and blood disorders. All programs provided by Faces of Courage are made available at no cost to the participants. Faces of Courage has hosted over 4,000 families since 2004. Donations and fundraisers such as this are their primary means of support. For more information please check out their website at www.Facesofcourage.org .

Motto: Cancer is Serious, Camp is Serious FUN!!!

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