Polk Pride Festival Presented….

Posted on June 21, 2016 by admin

Polk Pride Festival Presented….

This years Polk Pride Festival has grown to added events. This is the 2nd year for the young organizers. The Saturday Pride in the Park Festival Expo in Munn Park had a wide variety of local and statewide exhibitors all supporting the local GLBT event with a lot of security. The exhibitors, local organizations and Food Trucks were all around the Gen Robert E Lee Statue in downtown Lakeland’s Confederate Park (Munn Park).

Taking up a sound safety corridor because if the Orlando tragedy, the Lakeland Police were there in force. The increase of people coming out to support the festival was truly amazing. People had smiles on there faces and that is what Polk Pride organization officials tried to accomplish.

Lakeland GLBT community held an Orlando Strong Candlelight Vigil in downtown Lakeland and had over 1500 attendees just days before there Pride.

TAMPA PRIDE was there for support and are participating in all community Prides. Many local political leaders gave their speeches for GLBT support. The days entertainment also was incredible with DJ Greg Anderson at the helm of the music mixing, inspirational dancing groups, live singing performers and the unlimited comedy performances by Kathryn Nevets with 6 other top drag pageantry of glamour performances.

The After Pride Party events were held at the gay bar with crazy bartender Mike B, Club Main Street in the downtown Lakeland area.

Orlando Vigil

Posted on June 21, 2016 by admin

Many of us watched this on TV Sunday Night. Thank You to Sarah Perez and her wife who sent us these photos.

Dishing with Mark and Carrie 6-16-16

Posted on June 16, 2016 by admin

Words can not express what has happened at Pulse in Orlando and to the LGBT Community.

Tampa Community Candlelight Vigil

Organized by; Tampa Pride, GAYBOR District, PFLAG, Tampa Bay & Ybor Merchants, Volunteers and the whole Tampa Bay Community.

We Love you, Orlando! The drone video. Filmed by Nicole Abbett

https://vimeo.com/170672213

We Love You, Orlando! from Nicole Abbett on Vimeo.

We LOVE YOU Orlando

Ernie Web, the president of the GaYBOR District Coalition, at the Community Candlelight Vigil. He asked the crowed on the count of 3 to make a heart with their hands and say “We Love You Orlando”

https://youtu.be/2pPy5vl94Xw

Dishing with Mark and Carrie 6-09-16

Posted on June 8, 2016 by admin

The Muhammad Ali & Ybor City Connection.

One of the most famous people in Ybor City is Dr. Ferdie Pacheco. He is an awarded artist, author, poet and was also a medical Doctor. Ferdie became a doctor at the local tobacco workers & family’s Mutual Aid Society, Trellis Clinic in Ybor City. Today this clinic is the Ybor Resort & Spa.

In the 1960’s Ferdie became the private doctor to the boxing great Cassius Clay who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Visit Ferdie’s web site to see all the photos of them together at http://ferdiepacheco.com/ .

The next time you are walking down 7th Ave in Ybor City look down. The tobacco leafs in the stone all have Ferdie’s quotes etched in them. Also the artists has original paintings in Tampa City Hall, the Tampa Construction Services Building and many inside Carne’s Steak House in Centro Ybor.

Today Ferdie & his family are retired and living in Miami.

Gay Days Expo & Huge Party Events

Taking our time at the Big Mouse Day Party for the GLBTA community in Orlando. Thousands came to visit and take in the big Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal Studios or as we did the Expo with 100’s of vendors at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton near Sea World. The fabulous 28 acre complex resort have parties going on at the three large pool areas. The Annual Women’s Pool Party was taken over by the Bear Party event and was relocated to another hotel.

The weeklong GLBT Disney Orlando events started in 1990 and Mark & Carrie are glad to be part of the founding and volunteering the beginning 8 years of this International acclaimed Gay event with the then pioneering computer group, Digital Queers! Red shirts and all.

Gay Days is always the first weekend in June. Why? Back at the start was the end of Florida Residents Days at Walt Disney World. It was the last weekend Disney special before summer rates and at a cost of $29 for a days entry.

The 2 big Pool Parties had hunks in speedos and beautiful bodied guys all in the newest skimpy swimming attire trends. Bears Party had the loudest bang for the splash! The pool was bouncing to both the sounds and the drag queen performers tossing beach balls into the pool and waterfall.

What a time especially with singer Judy B Goode and I going through the high energy music pool events.

Besides the expo and getting away from the 200,000 week event gay attendees, the host resort complex had 2 packed pool parties a day (costing $45 ea), the Miss Gay Days Pageant and reunion of friends.

By the way Miss Gay Days 2016 is also our Miss TAMPA PRIDE 2016 Alexis Mateo. Congratulations.

Congratulations Sonny & Steve

Posted on May 24, 2016 by admin

After 19 years together Sonny & Steven tied the knot this week. The reception was held at the Hollander Hotel. Following the reception guest enjoyed the Judy B. Goode Show

Florida Cane Distillery Relocates to Historic Ybor City

Posted on May 18, 2016 by admin

The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for a new fun destination in historic District in Ybor City, The Florida Cane Distillery. It is right across the street from our old digs at MC FILM at 8th & 15th Street. A new change and relocation from the old East Tampa Industrial Park location they started distilling in 2012.

Open Thursday & Friday 3-9pm, Saturday 12-9 pm.

The well attended opening (why not there was free liquor) had Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Tampa Council members Guido Maniscalco and Lisa Montelione in the greeting line with owners, Pat O’Brien and Lee Nelson. This small craft making gin & vodka distillery has a wide variety of Florida and local flavors. They include Plant City Strawberry (very delicious) , Weechi Wachi Watermellon, Orlando Orange, Gator Grape and Buccaneer Blueberry flavorings.

Available will be walking tours of the first Tampa craft distillery. Coming this summer will be classes on the distilling process. Another great addition to the historic flavor of historic Ybor City.

Boston

Posted on May 12, 2016 by admin

Did you know the 1st state in the Union to approve LGBT Marriage was Massachusetts? Boston is a fun and easy get away for Tampa Bay. The airport is just minutes away from downtown Boston. Here you will many shops,restaurants, entertainment and a ton of History. We choose to take one of the many day tours. With 19 stops we only had time for 4 stops. The people were friendly and wink wink had even more fun accents!!! We did find one Gay bar. It was called The Alley. A fun bar with a nice crowed. Everybody should visit Boston at least once. CHEERS!!!!

Tropical Heat Wave

Posted on May 5, 2016 by admin

A Flirt Reunion, 10 Years Past

Posted on April 13, 2016 by admin

After many years of the absence of Flirt Night Club, a reunion was planned and held at the Ritz in Ybor City. The old night club and past church building turned over to the Social Club on 15th St. (next to our old MC FILM store) about 10 years ago. The stage was set and promoter then and now Chef Darlene Herrick had a fun filled packed night of today’s kids with yesterdays regulars.