OMG, did we do a faux pas on covering the Square One “Man on the Moon” art event in the hallway of the Ritz Ybor. The huge oil wall painting by local artist, Chou Chou looked familiar. Of course!!! It was reigning Ybor hotel mogul, Tessa Shiver in the hmmmm.. buff! Great eyes Tessa. A large contingency of cowboy ‘wanna bees’ from Tampa Bay headed south to Davie, FL for the 6th Annual Sunshine Stampede Gay Rodeo Competition. Who would want to miss out on these “campy” rodeo events; Goat Dressing, Steer Decorating and Wild Drag Racing. And we were told to don’t forget about all the anytime cowboy parties. Let’s see 12,000+ gay cowboys and …. This weekend will be a most unique time if all is said about where Lady Gaga will be heading after her concert Saturday night. The Ritz is having the Little Monsters Ball Tour benefiting the Japan Earthquake Relief Effort with a Lady Gaga and Britney Spears look-a-like contest, Bradley’s on 7th said that they have been contacted by a Lady Gaga’s promo agent for an on stage appearance, and she is said to be going to CZAR Night Club and G. Bar has flyers stating they are the ‘Official Lady Gaga After Party’. Whew…Lady Gaga will be busy dancing around in GaYBOR Saturday night!!! A Special Medical Benefit for T.H.A.D. case manager, Max at Chelsea Night Club, Sunday at 6 pm. He was accidentally shot in the stomach before Christmas. This will help in his major medical expenses. BBQ & special drinks. Everything helps!!!
Pro Shop Pub Turns 35
What a strange delivery package came in the mail today. It was an old 8 track stereo tape (long before digital kids) with the Pro Shop Pub’s 35th Anniversary Celebration Invite attached. How 70’s… How clever advertising. It is Saturday, April 23 at the historic laid back Clearwater beachy bar. Miss “You Never Know What’s Going to Happen Next” Natasha Richards will be MC’ing the nights historic event. So it will be crazy. Always involved in gay events, be it Pride kickoffs, Bear Events, Gay Theatre, Guy or Girls Sport Teams and charity benefits. The Pro Shop is always there helping out! Always a packed party most anytime especially for their anniversaries. This will be a huge ‘gay’optic blowout. See friends you haven’t seen in years. We hear the Pro Shop Pub is the oldest running Gay Bar in Florida! www.proshoppub.us
GLBT News
Florida Candidate’s Signs Defaced by Anti-Gay Slurs
With just two days until election day in Miami Shores, candidate Jesse Walters is fighting back, not against his opponents but rather a hateful message he found plastered on his campaign signs this weekend. Walters filed a police report Sunday after yard campaign signs for the Miami Shores council candidate were defaced with derogatory statements about his sexual preference. Walters, who’s openly gay, says campaign mail was distributed to peoples’ homes Saturday with a picture of his partner of 23 years and their 15-month-old daughter. He believes the picture set someone off.
Anti-Gay Activist Actually Now Supports Gay Marriage
There’s an adage about intelligent people changing their minds, so maybe anti-gay activist Louis J. Marinelli is smarter than we thought. He formerly served as the National Organization For Marriage’s tour organizer and social media expert, and writes that he “spent the last five years putting all of [his] political will, interest and energy into fighting against the spread of same-sex marriage as if it were a contagious disease.” But on his website over the weekend, Marinelli writes that “after several months of an internal conflict,” he can “for the first time simply admit…that I do in fact support civil marriage equality.” He acknowledges those he has “targeted, hurt and oppressed” and hopes to “discus the events that brought about [his] change of heart.” www.BigGayNews.com
Gay Soldiers Can Begin Serving Openly by Summer
Even though the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was repealed back in December, President Obama and proponents of the move were always clear that it would take some time to enact the chance in blanket military policy on the field level. But progress toward — well — progress is continuing at a steady pace, and the Pentagon says that gay servicemen and women can expect to be able to serve openly for the first time ever this summer. “We’ve not seen issues,” said General James Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps and one military leader who was staunchly against repeal. “There’s not been anxiety over it from the forces in the field … there hasn’t been pushback.” Amos was testifying with fellow generals today before the House Armed Services Committee. Likewise, Army General Norton Schwartz said he was even “more comfortable than I was” last year with the repeal.
From The MC Film Mail Bag…
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Dishing with Mark & Carrie 4-6-11
Went Video Crazy, This Week!!!
Storm @ MC Film in Ybor City 3-31-11
Bob Buckhorn Oath of Office Ceremony
Billy @ Hamburger Mary’s in GaYBOR
A Sad Good Bye & Good Luck to
Brenda Holloway at The Hampton Inn Ybor
Congratulation Bob Buckhorn Mayor of Tampa
Our new Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said we will have strength thru diversity. Judging by the oath of office he is holding true to this!!! There were straight & Gay choir/chorus’s performing. The Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church Choir (with a few gay guys we noticed) & the Gay Men’s Chorale chorus group, the Una Voce Rays sang with distinction. Speakers were: USF President Judy Genshaft, Father David Toups – Christ the King Catholic Church, Tampa Police & Tampa Fire Fighters Bagpipe Honor Guard Band, Sergeant Joel Tavera- US Army Purple Heart & Bronze Star recipient, anthem singing Tampa Police Detective – Sonja Wise, Imam Al-Inshirah Abdel Jaleel – United Muslim Association, Chief Judge Manuel Menendez, Jr., Rabbi Richard Bimholz – Congregation Schaaral Zedek, Senior Judge E. L. Salcines, & dynamic, boisterous speaker Pastor T.W. Jenkins – New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Also in the audience of 1100+ were yours truly… Mark & Carrie!!! Many elected officials were in the audience to help congratulate the newly elected Tampa City Council and Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Watch our Video for a sampling of the event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUYvlLZUdLY
The Metro Wellness & Community Centers Doors are Open
The former weathered Sans Souci Building on 1315 7th Ave. in Ybor City has moved on and has been totally renovated to house the 6th largest GLBT community center in North America, Metro Wellness & Community Centers. The week long Grand Opening Celebration event that included a huge ribbon cutting ceremony with out going Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Ybor Property Group developers Joe Capitano, Sr, Frank Capitano and Alan Kahana, Mark Huey – Tampa Economic & Urban Development Administrator and Vince Pardo – YCDC Mgr on Monday. Saturday had hundreds of national, state and local attendees tour the totally renovated 2 story 22,000 s/f yellow brick facility open house. Champagne, refreshments and hors d’oeuvres were served with Special Thanks to Stephen Moss & Steve Donahue of Florida Entertainment Group. Outside is a special patio designed by Tampa’s Pondscapes. Also part of the building is Bio Script Pharmacy and forthcoming USF Primary Pediatric Health Clinic.
The Metro Wellness Center is the largest HIV/AIDS service organization in the West Coast of Central Florida. It provides free HIV testing, substance abuse and mental health treatment and education, clinical services, HIV medical case management and counseling. More community health programs are in the works.
“This used to be a mafia butchershop. People came in but didn’t go out! ” voiced Metro Executive Director, Lorraine Langlais to the large open house group in their new white painted decorated community room. The 1906 landmark building also had been a movie theatre, telegraph office, Maas Bros.Dept Store and a Badcock Furniture store up until early 2003.
A very inspirational opening prayer by MCC Tampa Rev. Phyllis Hunt followed by Dr. Scott Strader, chair of Metro Board of Directors, welcoming all attendees.
“An eyesore but now a shining gem!” said Carrie West, Barrio Latino Commissioner and President of the GaYBOR District Coalition. ” This is a big triumphant moment not just for the GLBTA community but for everyone in Tampa, to help move forward and redeveloping the heart of Tampa, historic Ybor City.”
Michael Ruppal, Executive Director of The Aids Institute. applauded the new beautiful facility , the volunteer staff and the exceptional turnout of committed citizens for this HIV AIDS event. ” I want to let everyone here in this room know that if Lorraine needs to get to the ear of the President of the United States, I will tell you she can!”
Terry Stone, Executive Director of Centerlink, GLBT Assoc of Community Centers spoke about Tampa Bays new Metro Center is the 6th largest GLBT Community Center in North America. ” It is bigger and more grandeur than what I was told and possibly imagined but that is Lorraine!”
Florida State House of Representative District 59, Betty Reed said that, “…the commitment of the legislature is for the need of… the overall health of the citizens in this great state.”
Metro Wellness Center is home for everyone! Welcome to GaYBOR and Historic Ybor City.
Square One Art Show: Man on the Moon
Road Trip to Florida's Highest Spot, Beautiful Bok Tower
Looking for a fun one tank trip? Here is one of our favorite! A short fun 55 mile ride east of Tampa in Lake Wales you will find a lovely nature sanctuary, Bok Tower. http://www.boktower.org/ Located on the top of one of the highest points in Florida & surrounded by manicured orange groves, you will find the National Historic Landmark site, Bok Tower. The 205′ tall Carillon Bell Singing Tower was dedicated in 1929 by United States President Calvin Coolidge.. It was built by Edward Bok, Pulitzer Award Winner & publisher of Ladies Home Journal and an immigrant from the Netherlands. He built and gave the 60 brass carllon bell tower and the botanical gardens to Florida as a gift for being an American. Just as in 1929 there is an incredible 250 acres of exotic and protected botanical gardens at the base of the towering Iron Mountain. Today there is also a modern welcome center with cafe, museum, theatre & gift shop. There are Carillon Bell concerts everyday at 1 and 3 pm with live performances Saturday & Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, so check the web site for the exact times and special performances.
The Great Brass Door and wrought iron gates on the north side of the Tower were the masterpiece of Samuel Yellin, America’s premier metalworker. The door depicts the Book of Genesis, starting with the creation of light and ending with Adam and Eve being ousted from the Garden of Eden. The iron gates leading to the Tower were hand-wrought and showcase zoomorphic figures with various expressions and wings for flight.
Buried at the base of the tower is Mr. Bok who was married had 2 sons. His wife was not buried next to him at the tower. He did have a very devoted gardener buried within site there. Humm…???? Just say n. After leaving Bok Tower the “Must Do Stop…Kinda” is Spook Hill. It is an old Florida Indian site.You will not believe your eyes! You drive down to the bottom of Spook Hill and stop & put your car in neutral. Then in total amazement your car rolls back up the hill????? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill
*** And Who Did We Happen to See There.
On our Monday visit we ran into Tampa Bay TV and radio personality, Jack Harris, signing his newly released tell all humorous story and picture book, “Jack Harris Unwrapped” with his co-writing lovely wife, Joy Harris at the Bok Tower Information Center Entrance. A percentage of all the book sales will be donated to The Children’s Home, Inc. A best kept secret of Jack & Joy recipe from their book.
*** Curry Lime Chicken ***
1 1/2 lbs skinless boneless chicken breast
Juice of 3 limes
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp curry powder, your choice
1 tsp salt
- Place chicken in a large re-sealable plastic bag, add the rest of the ingredients.
- Refrig for at least 4 hours or overnite.
- Preheat broiler for 10 minutes, Remove chicken from marinade.
- Place chicken on a broiler pan that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray
- Place broiler pan 2″ from the source of heat and broil for 8-10 minutes on each side.
Serves 4 – 6