The Judy B. Goode & Paul Thomas Show
After 16 months The Judy B. Goode & Paul Thomas Show returns to The Hollander Hotel!!! The SOLD OUT audience went wild as Judy and Paul performed for 2+ hours. The Celebrities spotted included our favorite Nancy Alexander. The show will be back the 1st Saturday of the month starting at 5PM. Click here for all the Fun Photos.
4th Of July Celebrations
Cesar Augusto Morales SINGING LIVE as Cher @ The Showbar Ybor
If you think she looks like Cher…. Wait until you hear her sing live!!!!
4th of July Fireworks Tip
Everyone has a favorite place to watch the 4th Of July Fireworks. Ours is…. Come Early to Ybor City and park on the roof top of the Centro Ybor Garage. Then visit some Ybor Restaurants & Clubs. At Sunset meet your friends on the roof top of the parking garage and watch fireworks across Tampa. See you all there.
GO LIGHTNING
The Metro Inclusive Calendar for July 2021
Naviera Coffee Mills Building
About 3 years ago the Naviera Coffee Mills building were sold to the Gonzmarts, who own the Columbia Restaurant. This week they started the renovations to this historical building. We understand there will be a new coffee shop and Italian Market!!! The community is so EXCITED about what will be coming soon!!!
New Renovation
The former Design Interiors building on 7th Ave is well underway for restorations! This is going to be the new HOT Spot in Ybor City! The Ybor Street lights are going to be extended to 26 Street. Here there will also be a new Ybor City Arch welcoming visitors to Ybor City.
The Gimmick
The original Silver Meteor Gallery was a very popular space in Ybor City for many many years. We co-produced the play “Mommas Ghost” here. It was co produced, writing and directed by Max Turn. This play went on to play off Broadway. This space has been rented out to The Gimmick. Sean, an artist from Vermont, who is using the space as The Gimmick, his art studio & gallery as well as a store for 70s, 80s, and 90s vintage collectables. Very Fun!!! https://www.facebook.com/thegimmick2020/
Classy, Very Classy, NOT!!!
We think https://jarritos.com/ owes our community an apology for all the graffiti posters they put up in Ybor City and surrounding areas. What would make anyone this is, OK?
Every 4th of July we can not help but think of the huge over the top 4th of July parties at the SunCoast Resort in St. Petersburg. It was to us the center of the Gay Universe. We owned and operated 2 stores there. Mark aka Tea Cup also performed there on stilts and bartended for The Judy B Goode & Paul Thomas Show. The 4th of July fire works were incredible!!! As you can see in the photo behind the build, next to the interstate was a 2-story parking garage. It was very old and the second floor was not safe to park cars on. There were 4 tennis court here. During one of the fireworks displays a rocket came down and started a small fire. The firemen were so excited to show off the new firetruck and raced up the ramp onto the 2nd floor. OMG!!! OMG!!! When told it was not safe the firemen actually looked scared. Over the next 2 hours they very carefully backed the truck down. There were firemen talking on radios with the ones below where it was safe to move the truck. Finally, it was down and everyone was safe. Just one of the crazy SunCoast Resort Memories. Happy July 4th to everyone!!! Feel free to share your photos here. https://www.facebook.com/suncoast.resortmemories
The 2 Brick Homes
Over 20+ years ago our dear friend and antique dealer, Marie Hall, told us a story about the 2 brick homes on 7th Ave & 25th Street. Marie told us that the homes were owned by a couple who also owned a funeral parlor in Tampa. The wife loved to collect Hummel Figurines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummel_figurines Her collecting grew so large that, the husband purchased the home next door to them just to hold the collection. Then the collection went crazy, 10’s of thousands of figurines, filling the whole house. After their deaths the collection was auctioned off. Marie said it could have easily been the largest Hummel Figurines auction in America.
Has anyone else in East Ybor-Gary heard of this?
From Fran Costantino
Yes, that was Mrs. Burks and those were her 2 homes that I sold way back when! Mr. Burks was huge in Democratic circles and guided the Black community in all civic affairs and held huge BBQ’s for candidates from those 2 houses! Mr. and Mrs. Burks never had children of their own but were “foster parents” to dozens over time. He gave her nothing but the best and she had a huge collection of Hummel’s and of Louis Vuitton luggage – every piece – even the big foot locker which she never used because she was afraid to travel! I loved that woman! She had a heart of gold! She moved to Gary near your house – I’ll go by and get the address for you – I don’t know if any of the children are still there! And I never heard her say anything about a funeral home as Mr. Burks had long passed away!❤️❤️❤️om
