You Just Can Not Make This Up

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The 2 Queens of England

Back in the 1990’s we decide to have a true Charles Dickinson Christmas. We booked flights to London England and planned on being there from Christmas thru New Year’s Eve. Together with good friends Walt & Jack we rented a condo for 2 weeks. What nobody told was how very differently they celebrated Christmas in London. First off the Charle’s Dickinson thing is like the American Revolution in America. Mostly only in theme parks. In fact there were very little in Holiday decorations anywhere. They also exchange gifts on Dec 26 the day after Christmas and call it Boxing Day. Then the government & many private business closed down between Christmas & New Year’s, including manny of the tourist attractions. Christmas Eve we were lucky and did get tickets to the Royal Albert Hall for a Holiday concert. New Year’s Eve we were all ready to go to Trafalger Square to ring in the new year. Guess what??? It was pouring rain and so cold!!!  The four of us had a celebration in the condos living room. Then….. at Midnight….. on TV came the Queen of England to address the country. To our delight right after Queen Elizabeth the announcers (tong in cheek) said and now an address from the other Queen of England. It was our friend & Gay Icon Quentin Crist from New York City! He told the people of London that was too cold and they should all leave for America now. LOL LOL  He is a sample of his wit & hurmor.

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GaYBOR Member of the Week

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Ybor Youth Clinic – USF
 Proud members of the GaYBOR District Coalition. The YYC is the first health care facility in the South East to reach out to Homeless, LGBTQ, and HIV-Infected youth. Their mission statement says it all.
Mission: Our mission is to provide the highest quality, innovative, compassionate and nonjudgmental health care services to our youth in an environment tailored to their specific and unique needs. Our health care services will include HIV testing and treatment; primary, specialty and episodic care; GYN and contraceptive care; comprehensive STI testing and treatment; psychiatric and mental health screening and care; and access to various adolescent research trials. In time, we will implement training programs for prospective nurses and physicians aspiring to gain the necessary knowledge and skills suitable to working with these vulnerable populations.

Dishing with Mark & Carrie 12-19-12

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Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays from MC Film Fest
 
Thank You to Mr Jorge Alvarado for making this video!
Viva La GaYBOR!!!
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VOTE Robert VOTE Tampa
Tampa’s very own Robert Geller has entered the www.GayTravel.com Guru contest.
Out of over 2,000+ people Robert is now a finalist in the TOP 30!!!
Bring the Tile of Gay Travel Guru to Tampa,  would be FANTASTIC for our community.
How you can help.
 Please VOTE here
Check out Robert’s  Video of Tampa Bay
Forward this to all your friends and share on Facebook too.
GO ROBERT!!!!!
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New Year’s Eve Plans
It isn’t to early to make your New Years plans. Tampa’s Sheratan Riverwalk, Howard Johnson’s downtown Tampa, Don Vicente Inn, Hilton Garden’s Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites in Ybor City are all great places to stay. The Outback Bowl Parade is set for Dec 31st with SEC conference South Carolina and Big Ten Michigan football teams vieing it out for the big nationally broadcast Outback Bowl Football game Jan 1st.
The parade starts at 5 pm in Ybor City all along 7th Ave. with a battle of the university’s bands competition right after that in the Czar Parking lot. After that a feast for activities throughout GaYBOR/ Ybor City.
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New Colognes and Handmade Soap at MC FILM
A run on the fabulous 747 Cologne has created a rush order for the Christmas Stocking morning. A lot of new popular scented glycerine handmade soaps have also arrived in time for Christmas. We have a lot of  last minute buys from December Diamonds ornaments, pop up Christmas trees, jewelry to personal intimate products at MC FILM in GaYBOR/ Ybor City.
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King Corona… One Stop
For your last minute gift items head on over to King Corona on 7th Ave. Don Barco, owner is a  founding member of GaYBOR  offers you a tempered wall full of choice aromatic handmade cigars and some are from his own local personal cigar factory.  Other goodies include a wide variety of specialty port wines, gift items, craft beers and that afternoon pick-me up booster of Cuban espresso or 12 other types of freshly prepared coffees.
A great supporter to Tampa and the whole Tampa Bay community visit King Corona..
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Good Bye to the Tampa AIDS Memorial Park?
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Tea Cup & Jeff Italiano
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Happy Holiday’s
Mathieu
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Snow Storm in GaYBOR/Ybor City
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Seth’s Wild Night Out!!!

Ybor Holiday Spirit Parade

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Ybor Holiday Spirit Parade
Parents and Grandparents too brought along the kids to experience the snow falling down 7th Avenue in GaYBOR/ Ybor City for the Holiday Spirit Parade. The forecasted snow flurry had area middle and high school marching bands showing off there best musical talents for the holiday gigantic crowds. The precision dance groups were all in step! The beautiful white horses and white carriage had Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and his wife, Cathy and 2 beautiful smiling daughters lead the 1st annual promenade procession with over 30,000 parade watchers. Behind the mayor was a large entourage from GaYBOR District Coalition including Mama, holding banners for each of the marching, dance and drill team groups. The highlight of course was welcoming Santa & Mrs Claus to the historic district riding in beauteous pair of leather harnessed horses & sparkling holiday carriage. Under the leadership of Mathieu Stanoch, Florida Entertainment Group Visual director, local groups helped make this event happen including YCDC, Ybor Merchants Assoc., Tampa Parks Dept and GaYBOR District Coalition all came together to make a very memorable gleeful night.
The parade ended at the Winter Carnival in the Czar parking lot. The weather was perfect. The clear skied night was very festive. All band and dance group troop members received special gift bags from Ybor merchants and Santa Claus.
The GaYBOR/Ybor City Winter Carnival
The carnival had local merchants riding the rides and maneuvering through mechanical thrill rides. Freddy from NY NY Pizza had his family taking on the colorful lighted mechanical beasts. Don Vicente Inn’s Jack Shiver, Tessa and Veronica  hitting the sideshows. Alan Kahana and friends munched on the sugar candies as Santa & Mrs Claus greeted 1000’s of kids (old & young) giving away cookies in the holiday tent. YCDC’s economic director Brenda Thrower had her family riding the slides for the Tampa TV program, “Ybor Flavors”. Kudos to all the groups working together making for a great weekend in Historic Ybor City.

Viva La Krewe of Alegria

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It was that time of the year to break out your favorite RED SHOES!!! The Krewe of Alegria http://www.kreweofalegria.com/ annual fundraiser “Kickin’ For Kids”. The event was held in conjunction with a very special BINGO Night at Hamburger Mary’s. Miss Amy Demilo and Tea Cup were the co hosts. With 50/50, Give a ways & BINGO the group raised $1,000’s for children. A special Thank You to organizer Paula Luce. Viva La Krewe of Alegria!!!