Category Archives: Special Events Photos

Happy 3 Year Anniversary… Hamburger Mary’s

Posted on by
    Congratulations to Hamburger Mary’s Ybor City in their 3rd year  anniversary celebration. The bar & waiter staff also did a Turn-a-Bout drag event benefitting  Metropolitan Ministries Children Fund. Customers graciously donated to the some; funny, amusing but not so pretty cross overs. Pics below tell the story.  HM hostess Melanie Minyon was the ring master for the night.
    Kudos to Hamburger Mary’s for another great year and all the non profit support you give.

GaYBOR Store Front Decorating Holiday Party

Posted on by
    The competition was fierce this year in the annual storefront decorating event. Hundreds of Ybor City businesses, bars, clubs, retail shops, offices and residents went all out to win the bragging rights and the $$$ of donated gifts and hotel weekend stays. The many judges had a hard time and the number of entries doubled over previous years. All making GaYBOR/ Ybor City a prettier holiday experience. 
    Winners this year.  Best Decorated Bar – Gaspar’s Grotto, Best Decorated Restaurant- Carnes Chop House, Best Decorated Retail- La France and Best Decorated Residents home went to
    The party was held at Bradley’s on 7th and over 350 attended the holiday fare with flair party. The hilarious entertainment included, Miss Joey Brooks, Esme Russell, Melanie Minyon and cast.

Obituary

Posted on by
Terry Petsch
Died 11-27-2012
When we heard that our good friend Terry had passed we started to look for a “Good” photo of him. In all the photos he was making a humorous face. Then we realized, that was Terry. He was really a big kid at heart. Big smile on his face as he always enjoyed life and was having a great time. Many people will remember his parties at Ft. DeSoto State Park,  The Suncoast Resort & Flamingo Hotel. Born in Minnesota, partners in the Saloon Bar in Mpls, he relocated to Long Boat Key where he operated his framing studio in Siesta Key. Terry will be missed by many in our communities. His sudden bout with cancer was a surprise to us all. Rest in peace our fun loving Italian friend.

Lighting of the GaYBOR/ Ybor City Holiday Tree

Posted on by
The official kick off to the 2012 Holiday Season has begun!!!
Groups like: The GaYBOR District Coalition, YCDC &&& Businesses: like Hamburger Mary’s, Honey Pot, G.BAR, Social, MC Film Fest, JJ’s Cafe, Carne, Don Vicente Inn &&& Ybor residents: like Mike, Scott, Rich, Tessa, Jack, Mamma &&& Many Many more organizations and individuals all worked together, under the leadership of Mathieu Stanoch & Florida Entertainment Group, to bring an exciting line up this Holiday Season. Last week volunteers decorated the famous 7th Ave. lamp posts of GaYBOR/ Ybor City. It really looks marvelous and highly welcoming.
On Wednesday, 11-27-12 was the lighting of the Holiday Tree in Centro Ybor. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Santa Clause both did the honor of lighting the 2 story tree. There were 100’s of people and performers from Busch Gardens & The Straz Performing Art Center all there to cheer them on. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, Dec 15, 2012, the date of the next BIG event you will not want to miss and experience! “The Holiday Spirit Parade & Snowing on 7th Ave.”  (We hear there will be snow flying.)

Latin Heritage & Cigar Festival Lights Up

Posted on by
This year the 14th Annual Latin Heritage & Cigar Festival moved its location from Centennial Park to Ybor Square. The weather was clear skies and Florida perfect for any type of outdoor festival. The proceeds from the festival will go to the Ybor City Museum Society.  Broadcasting live on major radio networks from the courtyard stage the National Cigar Show, the many interviewed guests included local Ybor writer and author, Paul Guzzo, Cigar City Magazine writer and Tampa Bay History Museum Marketing Director Manny Leto and many national & local cigar makers & connoisseurs.
This year thousands participated and attended the special heritage and cigar event. Three of the big Tampa Bay sports teams were represented with the TB Buccaneer Cheerleaders, Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey interactive display, Tampa Bay Ray’s Batter Up Experience. Food Truck Rally ( including Michelle Fadedo’s Best Ever Devil Crabs), Ybor City Architecture Tours, live bands, and a conglomerate of fine cigar sellers were displaying and selling what Tampa is known for, Great cigars.
Along with all the festivities was the charity booth, ” Cigars for Soldiers” where cigars are gathered and donated all to be shipped abroad to our Fighting Overseas American Soldiers!
This was also the first year for Cigar Palooza. The Bear Cigar Smokeout in Ybor City this past weekend follows other national Bear Cigar events in P- Town and Las Vegas.! Great job promoter Chris Reilly!
You can donate cigars or money to this special 4th year Ybor cigar benefit by contacting the Ybor City Development Corp.,  813-274-7936

Holiday Decorating GaYBOR/Ybor City

Posted on by

The GaYBOR / Ybor City family all came out to put bows on the Ybor Street lights and helped re-create a small town Holiday setting last Sunday. With direction from Mathieu Stanoch, GaYBOR leaders and the YCDC, Ybor has that holiday feel for every man woman or child to experience. More great events are in the works this week. Holiday Tree Lighting in Centro Ybor. Thousands attended last years festive tree lighting.

Ybor Youth Clinic

Posted on by
A start of another new GLBT health related business in GaYBOR/ Ybor City. The opening of the new  Ybor Youth Clinic sponsored by Lazy Days Employee Foundation and University of South Florida Health. The 1st floor clinic is underneath Metro Wellness & Community Center on 1315 East 7th Ave. 7th Ave in Ybor City.
The new director Jeremiah, said that teams of physicians from USF Adolescent Medicine and USF Health Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division and other local doctors are participating and on board. Volunteer students in USF Medical School are also giving a helping hand to the youth program. The clinic works mainly with high risk youth including HIV positive, homeless and street youth, and GLBT youth 13-24 years of age. 
The new facility has 3 bright white medical examining rooms, 3 patient / doctor conference rooms, group meeting room, staff rooms, and a large conference.
This is the beginning of another level of the untraditional medical healthcare that doesn’t exist in most other major cities.  We welcome the commitment from USF Health attitude toward making a better and inclusive community and the help of forethought thinking Lazy Days Employees group for this groundbreaking healthcare clinic.
A Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting was held with Mayor Bob Buckhorn cutting the ribbon on October 12th.
“Though the health clinic is now operational and open, a community open house is being set up for local community leaders and businesses in Tampa in January.” said Jeremiah.

Night Out in St. Pete

Posted on by
What a fun night out in St. Pete.  A group of 4 GaYBOR Board Members made the trip to QueensHead Restaurant to meet the new Executive President, President & Vice President of St. Pete Pride. Behind the bar was one of our favorite nephews  Sonny of Sonny n Steve! We dcecied to go for a walk around the Central Ave district. Walking past the now closed Grand Central Station-Detours brought back many great memories. In to the Lucky Star! All the new improvements were very impress. Bartender and local actor Daniel Harris was holding court to a packed house. Across the street we stopped at a new bar. The Garage on Central Ave. The owners actually own the car garage next doors. The decor was very mannly garage. Behind the bar was “Just Jake”. The garage attendant eager to pump the men with antifreeze!!! The owner was there with a big group of patrons and seamed very nice too. This will definitly be a stop on our next trip. Just a few blocks way is GaYBOR Member, “The Queen & I Restaurant.”  Bryan’s welcome of DARLINGS made us all feel at home. The Thai food was over the top fab as always. As we were traveling back over the bridge we all said, “That as so much fun we need to make the trip more often.” Everybody laughed and said “That’s probably what St. Pte says about GaYBOR too.”

New Must Try Restaurant.

Posted on by
    We just love the magic of GaYBOR!!! After a full Sunday FUNday, we stopped by Bradley’s on 7th. Sitting next to us were 2 very cheerful guys. Ryan & his friend. The conversation moved to food. When we talked about kim chee Ryan’s eyes opened up. It turns out he is a chef at the new restaurant across the street to the University of Tampa, “Edison: food + drink lab.”
    Ryan described a chef’s special, Tuna Tartar with kim chee & Korean pickles that they make at the new open air trendy bistro. The next day we made a trip to the Edison. Located at 912 W. Kennedy Blvd in the same building as GaYBOR Members Tribeca Hair.
    The dinning room has a fresh, clean, scientific fun Edison- esk atmosphere. The luncheon menu was full of interesting & unusually interesting savoring items, mostly New American Modern Cuisine. Our server explained that most of the items have 5+ flavors hid on each plate. We looked up to see our friend, Melissa (Madge) Judge was working there as brand operations mgr. We commented on how fantastic the menu was then she told us who the Chef-Owner is… Jeannie Pierola!!!
    WOW Jeannie is a legendary celebrity chef in Tampa. From Bern’s Steak House and SideBern’s Restaurants to private pop up parties!!! The staff is made up of people who Jeannie personally knows and has worked with. The food, service & atmosphere all got 5 out of 5 stars from us. Our only complaint is that Edison is not located in Ybor City! LOL LOL
    You all know how much we like to walk to everything. Edison’s is perfect for “Date Night!!!” We highly suggest reservations for this “Must Do” restaurant at http://edison-tampa.com/
Follow Edison on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EdisonFoodDrinkLab

VM Ybor District House Tour

Posted on by
    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.