Good friends of our purchased a home in South Tampa. The seller was also Gay and at the closing table, said that his roommate did not move out. He was also Gay and retired military. He always paid his rent on time and spent most of his time in the garden and his room. Our friends said they would give it a try. John (the renter) and them became good friends right away. John became an important part of their family. We meet John several times and he was always fun and a nice guy. 12 years later John passed away.  In the later years John had made our friends his administrator of his estate. John said he had family but they had not spoken in many years. Some things went to charities and the balance of the estate to our friends. It wasn’t a lot. 1 month later the doorbell rang. It was Johns family wanting everything. All those years the family, that John never spoke of, lived 10 blocks away also in South Tampa.  You Just Can Not make This Up.  

I bartend with an incredible person. April looks like a young Elvira with a Jack Daniels attitude. 2 spring break couples walk into the bar. April smiles and asks what are you drinking. The one guy says “Do you have a drink menu?” April says no. But what do you like to drink? The guys said “Anything on a drink menu!” April, OK I’ll come back to you what is everyone else drinking? She makes the drinks and comes back. The guys said he will have a gin and organ juice. April makes a face and with a big smile said No, I’ll make you a vodka orange juice. Mean while I’m watching all this and laughing to myself. I walk over to the girl with this guy and ask…. “So… do you have a boyfriend?” she looks shocked and says not really.  I pull out my business card and had it to her while say n YOU DO NOW! CALL ME MAYBE (it actually says Call Me Maybe on my card). Everyone breaks out laughing. I then turn to Mr. Drink Menu and ask him the same question. He replied no one has every asked me that question before. Laughing I handed him a card and said YOU DO NOW! CALL ME MAYBE. We all were laughing so hard. Then we told then to stay for the Drag Show. Mr. Drink menu asked what is a Drag Show? I told him the most beautiful women you will ever see in your life. Several hours later they left as our new best friends. I’m sure they will never forget Spring Break, in Florida, when they walking into The Showbar Ybor City and meet Miss April & Tea Cup. LMAO  Here is my card.

Over the past years flavored vodka has become popular in America.  We like to think this is a new thing. In the 1990’s we were in China.  In one very high-class restaurant there were jars and jars filled with things like reindeer penises, dead snakes, rats and many more very unusual things. All were then covered and soaking in vodka. In China there has been flavored vodka for 1,000s of years. Of course, we tried many of them. The walk on the Great Wall of China was interesting after these shots. LOL

I have spent much of my life working in Gay bars & many times in the drag dressing rooms. One day a favorite Diva said to me…” You know Tea Cup, I’m sure you have seen more naked trannies than anyone else in Tampa!” She was probably right LOL I have also seen many things in those dressing rooms.  Recently after a show, there was a VIP friend of the owners that want to come back stage and meet the girls. She was very nice and very cocktailed. The Diva commented on how beautiful her hand bag was. Right away she said “You can have it! Give me that plastic bag.” Then started to move everything out of the designer bag into a Walmart plastic bag. The Diva stopped her saying thank you but that’s a very expensive bag. She then said that her husband was rich and it was OK.  There was no talking her out of it. The lady left with the plastic bag in her hand and went back to the bar.  The Diva is a very kind and thoughtful person. She took the bag and went up to the husband standing at the bar. She explained that his wife had just given her this bag and maybe he should take it home. He just laughed and said that she doses that all the time. Please keep the bag. Then with a big smile he said “The only thing wrong with this bag is there is no money in it.” Then opens the bag and put a $100 bill in it. The next day the Diva googled the bag. It was worth $3,500. You Just Can Not Make This Up

http://www.mcfilm.co/category/you-just-cant-make-this-sht-up/

There are many funny stories about Miss Judy B Goode!!!  Judy is a very Famous Cabaret Singer/ Musician who has performed everywhere! We like to tease her, that her dresses are too short! One time after performing in Ybor City Judy and us were crossing 7^th Ave. A car of guys rolled down their windows and whistled at her.  Then one of the guys yelled “Looking Sexy Grandma!” Let’s just say that didn’t go over well!!! LMAO In this photo is Judy and Tiffany McLauchlin out celebrating Judy’s 60ISH Birthday.

https://www.facebook.com/judy.b.goode

Our good friend Miss Joey Brooks is quite the hoot!!!  One time she was at the Big Flea Market dressed as a boy.  Walking past one booth there was a beautiful painting of Dolly Parton. Joey stopped and asked how much? The guy told Joey. Hum … Joey says “A lot of people say I look just like her” The guy starts to laugh RIGHT! Joey says “If I prove it to you will you give me a big discount?” The guy says yes and Joey shows him a photo of her as Dolly Parton. The painting is in Joeys home today. LMAO We could tell a lot more stories about Joey but read them yourself in her book Joey Brooks “The Show Must Go On” https://www.amazon.com/Joey-Brooks-Show-Must-Go/dp/1312684844

The Video “Joey’s Show Will Go On” with a cameo appearance by Tea Cup   https://youtu.be/PiWhP7FOkE4

NOTE: See Miss Joey Brooks

 This Saturday Night, 3-6-21 at The 10 Year Anniversary Show @ Bradley’s on 7^th then for SUNday FUNday @ The Showbar Ybor City

In 1980 one of the first people, we meet in Tampa was our friend Steve. Over the years we have been close friends with him and his parents. Shortly after I started to bartend at The Show Bar Ybor City, Steve & Mom stopped by one Sunday. Mom’s hair and jewelry were perfect, wearing a new cocktail dress and designer sunglasses. After 2 scotch and waters Mom told me that she liked the new bar and the DJ. Then wishing me the best they left. Mom had just turned 101 years old. WOW…  What a beautiful person and life. CHEERS

In the summer of 1977, I worked 1 month at a high-class downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota Steak House. To become a night server, you 1^st had to work the lunches. EVERYTHING inside this 1940’s restaurant was white. The walls were cover with white lattice work and white flowers. White stage with a huge white grand piano and white chandelier. The tables were white table cloths, dishes and white candelabras with white candles. Even white ashtrays on the tables. You get it everything was white. During the summer months even, the guests would come dressed all in white. The staff called the lunch special the “Blue Haired Ladies Special.” In the special there was a sandwich with the crust cut off, a scoop of fruit on a lettuce leave, a cup of soup & your choice of a Martini or Manhattan.  All this for $4.75 tax included.  I can still hear the ladies say “Here is a $5.00 bill and you can keep the change.” A table of 4 we would make $1.00 LMAO That is why no one worked the lunches. 45+ years later we were at an estate sale in Florida. There were candelabras that looked just like the ones from this restaurant! The estate sale was a former pianist. Maybe he played here years ago??? I’m still laughing about keeping the quarter.

We went to Cuba on a cruise ship. We had a tour of Havana with a stop for a classic Cuban meal.  There was a choice of beef or fish with canned black beans and rice. Tossed salad. The bread was Italian? Hands down one of the worst Cuban meals ever.  Later we learned that the meal was from the cruise ship. They explained that it was in the best interest of the cruise ship guests. LMAO  

Late one night in 1981 there was a Tampa Stonewall at the Denny’s. There were several gay bars on Kennedy at this time. After the clubs everyone went to Denny’s for our late-night breakfast. Many of the Drag Queens would also join us here. We were there one night when a new manager was on duty. He walked up to the table and told the Drag Queens to leave and never come back. The next thing you know there as this huge food fight started and the police were called. When the police arrived, everyone took off and we never went back. A few years later the building was torn down.

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