Today the Aparium Hotel group http://aparium.com/ held a hotel ground breaking service in Ybor City. Aparium’s local partners include Ybor City investor Darryl Shaw, as well as the Capitano, Garcia and Ellison families, investor Alex Walter, Alfonso Architects, Batson-Cook Construction and EWI Construction. There will be soon opening, a 50 million dollar hotel on 7th Ave. There has been talk about a Hotel on this location for over 20+ years. It will be good to see the new addition to Ybor City. On this Location was the Original Havana Hotel and Las Novedades Restaurant http://www.tampapix.com/lasnovedades.htm . Since the 1980’s there were 4 Gay night Clubs here; El Goya Club https://www.facebook.com/elgoya , Tracks Nigh Club, Pleasure Dome and Czar. Today there is a very funny GAY Historical Marker in front of the building. The marker talks about Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. One of the soldiers so appreciated the hospitality of the local man that he rode his horse into Las Novedades and Gayly galloped down 7th ave. This became known as “The Charge of the Yellow Rice Brigade.” For many years later when a local want to say a person was Gay they would say “he is yellow rice”. Good luck to the new developers.
Category Archives: Special Events Photos
Jane Castor for Tampa Mayor
There was a huge campaign kickoff celebration at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Over 400+ guest cheered as Jane talked about her ideas for Tampa. From transportation, housing, jobs and more. https://www.facebook.com/janecastorformayor/
Tampa Bay Lightning Watch Party
GO BOLTZ!!!Last night the Lightning beat the Capitals 4 to 1. In Centro Ybor there were 2 large jumbo screen put up. The traffic on 7th ave was stopped from 15th street to 21st street. This was the 1st time there was a watch party in Ybor City. What a huge SUCCESS! What an incredible fun celebration of what’s right in Tampa Bay. The pre party was off the chain fun with floating cameras catching people on the huge screens! I’m not sure what liquor license permit the event promoter got but I hope others can now get the same one. Everybody was enjoying drinks on the street with no fences while the police looked on. Can’t wait for the next Tampa Bay Lightning Viewing Party YBOR CITY STYLE!!!
Taking In San Antonio
It was a getaway for Carrie’s Birthday Celebration to San Antonio, TX this year. Last year was San Juan, Puerto Rico. John & Nancy Desmond had San Antonio on their radar sites too. So we ventured out together to adventure the historic legendary Texas city. I had been stationed in San Antonio in the Air Force twice many moons ago. A first for Mark & Nancy.
The first stop in going to San Antonio is remembering and seeing the Alamo. We were staying right on the famous River Walk at Embassy Suites. A quick walk around winding river bends and along the beautiful tree hovering river banks loaded with restaurants, gift shops, hotels and clubs. We came upon the Texas Revolution’s 1836 fighting mission fortress, the Alamo. Over 200 Texas soldiers died in the Texan-Mexican Revolution attack. Yes, the great frontiersman Davy Crockett and Colonel James Bowie were killed there.
Walking up from the river banks to our amazement, a new group of citizens were getting their American citizenship in an outside ceremony in front of the Alamo with the San Antonio Mayor and District Court Judges presiding and giving out the new citizens certificates. The Alamo seemed so small. It is Texas’s biggest tourist destination.
On the Double Decker bus tour we ventured to the old Pearl Beer Brewery. A grand repurposing of an old institution with Condo’s, Hotels, retail spaces, restaurants, community space and bars taking over the old grand facility. Continuing on the bus tour we went to the Fiesta Market. A similar open air Mexican trade market as along the Rio Grande. Authentic Mexican Restaurant signs were placquered on all the cafes and restaurants (ok were are here!). Margarita time!
I had written an email note to the San Antonio Pride Committee of our visit. We were contacted by their secretary, James. We met up with he and their president Phillip in the “Gay” section of town. Over 26 gay bars, restaurants, new apartment complexes and Rainbow Stripes painted on all the intersections. Pride events also happen here as there is a park right in the center of the district. We had a lot of comparing notes.
To add color to a touristy town visit, he asked if we would like to go to an antique village 45 minutes outside of San Antonio. He wanted to be our daylong tour guide. What a great town, Guerney with boutiques shops, small creative eateries and loads of vintage items. And yes, Mark found a lot of historic forged iron pieces for the plantation. Back in San Antonio we went up the 1964 World’s Fair, Tower of the America’s that goes up 75 stories in the air with bar, restaurant and observatory of the Texan flat lands.
Thanks to our great tour guides James and Phillip. Put San Antonio on your places to visit.
THANK YOU BRADLEY’s on 7th
THANK YOU BRADLEY’s on 7th
The Annual Turn-a-bout was a huge success this year!! This year the benefitting nonprofits were the Moffit Cancer Center & Tampa Pride. Click here of all the fun photos. GREAT JOB EVERBODY!!!!
Congratulations to Cristoph’s
Become Facebook friends today at https://www.facebook.com/cristophstampa/
Tampa PRIDE 2018 VIP Sponsor Party
THANK YOU Tampa Pride 2018 Sponsors
MCC Tampa & Tampa Pride Interfaith Service
The 2nd annual Interfaith Service celebrating Tampa Pride was held at MCC Tampa. Religious leaders from many background came together for this service. The highlight of the service for us was this music video just released. https://youtu.be/XqvKDCP5-xE
St Patrick Day Parade
It was a WILD Night in Ybor City for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Hosted by the Tampa Rough Riders. Visit www.MCFilmFest for all the photos.
