Telemundo TV (America’s Spanish speaking TV Network) host Grace Solorzano called MC Film and asked for a tour of the GaYBOR District. Grace explained she wanted to do a show for the RNC from a Gay point of view. GaYBOR definitely has a great Gay point of view! The night began with an interview with Carrie West, President of the GaYBOR District Coalition, at MC Film. From there, with cameras rolling, the group made a stop at The Ybor Social. On to Hamburger Mary’s where they did an interview with Alexis Mateo & Joathan del Villar. After shooting footage of 7th Ave, King Corona, El Centro Espanol Building, the candle bridges and some of our historical buildings it was on to Liquid Tampa for Latino Night. Lady Janet was the special guest performer and did a interview next to the Ybor lamp posts. One last stop, Bradley’s on 7th. No trip to GaYBOR would be complete without a visit with the First Lady of Ybor City, Miss Joey Brooks. Ms. Grace & crew were having such a great time they didn’t want to leave.

    Telemundo is a division of NBC Universal and as big to the Spanish speaking community as CNN is here. This report will be broadcast & seen in 84 countries worldwide. Via La GaYBOR!!!!

    The Franklin Street historic preservation buildings; S.H. Kress & Co., J.J.Newberry Dept Store and Woolworth’s in downtown Tampa are undergoing fast changes. A decisive Tampa City Council battleground in 2000’s between the buildings ownership and Tampa City Council to maintain the historic landmark buildings instead of having them demolished for Condo towers. All have the buildings have historic preservation inheritance.

     It seems to have been at least 5 years since we heard of any public activity for the downtown dept store block. In just a few weeks the full city block is going from being boarded up for 17 years to restored and for use. It is rumored that Bain Capital is behind the funding. Humm.. could this be the not so secret location of the “Secret Mitt Rommey Headquarters?”

    It was only 2 weeks ago that the next door towering historic Floridan Hotel re-opened  after being closed for over 25 years. The hotel had a major $10 million dollar renovation.It is beautiful!  Can you just imagine how fast we could change downtown Tampa if our permit & construction services department always worked this incredibly fast.

Remembering Ybor City Early 1980’s
    Last Saturday, I was taken back in time at the documentary film showing of “Living in America: 100 Years of Ybor” at HCC Performing Art Center. Why? The documentary filming by Gayla Jamison was the same time period as when we had just moved to Tampa in early 1980’s. Ybor City was a very different place then! A snapshot in time.
A multi- ethnic hometown suburban community made up of Cubans, Spanish, Italians, Sicilians, and Germans that was changed by the new I-4 corridor, demise of cigar companies, non interest in social clubs and a new open mindedness to America’s changing lifestyles. A mammoth attitude and residential change into where to live, work and to raise children. The growing older cigar rolling industry residents that resided here for generations stayed but the younger generation moved elsewhere. Across town, to newer suburbs and a loft left the cigar famous area. We recall boxing rinks on 7th Ave., a small fish market and sidewalk cafes. Coffee roasting was like an ambrosia to the nose. Small bodegas (shops) where still common in the 1980’s Ybor, where you went to get fresh Cuban bread, meat, sausages and produce. It was a continuance of European small boutique shopping.
David Audett, The Cuban Sandwich Event creator had a panel of locals and talked about the changes that they encountered over the years and what they remember growing up in Ybor City.
Today the recognizable buildings were the Columbian Restaurant, La Tropicana and the infamous El Goya Night Club (now Czar’s). Take in this private invested & city sponsored classic art exhibition. Thank You to the month long Art Event, The Cuban Sandwich Show.

Cuban Sandwich Show Continues through August
    A month long celebration of the Cuban Sandwich
The month long Yborite’s creation of a hundred year old sandwich has its special month of fame. David Audett’s creation of what is and was the most popular sandwich in Ybor City, the Cuban Sandwich, now has a 30 day run event of art, storytelling, photography, art shows, panelists discussions and advertising the so popular delicious Cuban Sandwich fare.
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” Living in America: 100 Years of Ybor “ Film screening
Director Gayla Jamison screened and hosted a panel discussion of her one-hour Ybor City 1982 documentary.
Panelists: Moderator David Audett, Creator / Director of Cuban Sandwich Show Event; Filmmaker Gayla Jamison from Atlanta, GA; Yvonne” Yollie” Capin, Tampa City Council member; Judith Vilavianis, artist born in Ybor City and a subject in the film; Don Barco, owner of King Corona Cigar Bar; Joe Howden, artist and tour guide for Ybor City; Michelle and Robert Faedo, winners of the “Best Cuban Sandwich in Florida 2012”. They all brought memories of growing up in Ybor City to the attendees.  www.CubanSandwichShow.com