You Can Not Make This Stuff Up!!

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    The Kress Building Toilets & MC Starts Trouble Again
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This past month there have been massive renovations on the Kress Building block in downtown Tampa. Back in the 1990’s the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival had a “Video Cabaret” and Festival Vendor Show here. We had a booth there. When they turned on the water after 10 years having been shutoff, all the pipes broke and were spraying water all over. There were 5 blue portable restrooms brought in. One Late night a little dizzy person came charging up to us demanding to know, “WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE!!!!” We said they had left and would be back later. Is there something we could help with? He actually said “Only one of those 5 toilets would flush!!!” He was serious!!! LOL LOL
    The featured film, at the Tampa Theatre, this festival was “The Naked Civil Servant” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Civil_Servant_%28film%29 an award film about the life of the famous eccentric Gay Icon Quentin Crisp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Crisp . He had appeared in over 20 LGBT films. The day before at an art gallery in SoHo we had met Quentin & became friends instantly. That night he was the guest speaker and doing a question & answer after the film. The night the film was showing we ran into Quentin in the Video Cabaret. We offered to buy him a beer, which we found out he loved!!! After several beers we asked him if he needed to get over to the film. With a Quentin smile he said, “What for darlings, I know how the film ends. Let’s have another beer!!!” The film at the Tampa Theater ended & no Quentin & they couldn’t find him. OOOPS We caught hell for being too good of hosts that night!!! The best part was that we became life friends of Quentin. Who remembers the Sting song “Englishman in New York”? that was Quentin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englishman_in_New_York
Quentin Crisp
Dec 1908 – Nov. 1999

 

Mark & Carrie’s Nephew/Niece of the Week

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Jerry Harper
(125)
When not working hard at his day time job, Jerry is our fundraising for the community. Raising $1,000’s of dollars and making friends everywhere.  His one of a kind tattoo is just plain fun!!!  Become his facebook friend today so you don’t miss anything!!! Below is more about Jerry in his own words.  What an incredible guy!!!
I just wanted to respond to your Facebook message to tell you a little about myself. I am a hiring manager for New York Life and also over recruiting efforts for New York Life Pride. We currently have over Fifty members. I had the idea to do Penny Wars to raise money for Metro Wellness and we ended up raising Over $1600.00 plus dedicated enough volunteer hours to get them a $1200.00 grant. I also help coordinate our charity events and do the aids walk, the gay and lesbian film festival, St. Pete Pride and others. My group of friends “the Double Down Crew” actually rode on your float two years ago for St. Pete Pride. I also play softball with the Suncoast Softball League. The team I play for is Tampa Octane.   When I’m not working I love to spend time (and my paycheck) with my friends in Gaybor, spending time with my partner of 5 years Anthony and our two spoiled chihuahuas Lolita Labamba and Chiquita Cucaracha. Please let me know if there is any other info you need.

 

8-27-2012 The Police Horses Steal the Show

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GaYBOR/Ybor City was  quiet early today. Just like before a big storm about to hit. Small changes happened over night. New posters everywhere, strange street signs for the RNC, and people we didn’t know with Northern manners. The convention has been called off today because of the weather but there are still police & protesters. We rode the streetcar down to Channelside with 3 other people in the car. Along Meridian Street were dozens of private dark navy blue rail cars parked. There were police everywhere and placed every 20 ft. Three Cheers for our Tampa Chief of Police Jane Castor!!!! She must have given all the police a class on being nice & human courtesy!!! Many officers stopped us and asked if everything was OK? Did we need some water? Directions? Have a nice day. WOW WOW WOW.

The rain & cancellations killed everything. We only saw one small group of well behaved protesters. From the estimated 5,000-8,000 possible protesters arriving, they estimated a group of 125-150 marched.  We made a stop into the Metro Bar & Grille for a beer. Friends Rich & Tripp joined us there. Then the sun came out. We were 1 block from Gaslight Park where all the police horses were collected. Mark grew up on a horse ranch & we are both animal lovers. It was quite beautiful. The horses were all smiling you could just hear them saying. “Cool green grass feels great on our feet!!! & What’s up with the funny police riot face shield we are wearing?” We didn’t know that the horses wear police badges on each side of their bridals.

Then we ran into Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s personal administrative staff. Can we say photo time. The temp in city hall is chilly we were told. Let’s hope the rest of the convention goes as good as Monday did. WOW this is a little creepy in a nice way.

Today don’t ask me why, but I checked our myspace page. There was a page from my friend Rex Maniscalco that passed away 3 years ago. Rex had started Rainbow in Sunshine Project, a collection of LGBT photos from the Tampa past. Rex was also a Gay political activist who would have been totally involved  about having the  the RNC here in Tampa. I clicked on his Rainbow in Sunshine Project & here is what came up http://www.myspace.com/rainbowinsunshine/photos (((HUGS)) to Rex on the other side

8-26-2012 MSNBC at Channelside.

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It’s official the big Republican National Convention will be postponed the opening until Tuesday. After a great Sunday brunch at Hamburger Mary’s, where the new head Chef Scott is doing a deliciously great job, we headed to Channelside District. Here MSNBC has set up in the court yard. The club formally known as “Howl at the Moon” is now called “The Elephant Bar.” The MSNBC Morning Joe Show with Florida resident TV host, Jim Scarborough will be shooting live from inside the bar during the rain/shine climate week. No credentials are needed to see the daily shows throughout the day/evenings. The Fox Network is set up in the designated credential needed area at the Tampa Bay History Center. The ‘Where in the World is Matt Lauer’ and  NBC News TV daily shows are at Jackson’s on Harbour Island.

Back in GaYBOR/Ybor City it was beyond quiet. With the storm, Hurricane Isaac lingering & the convention security scaring a lot of locals away, it is so- so in the historic area. Inside Bradley’s on 7th there was quite the Hurricane Party!!! But it is only the beginning.