GLBT Advocate ‘Carrie West’
Appointed to Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Board
A special big surprise from Ken Hagan, Chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners, in an appointment in December for Carroll “Carrie” West to become a Historical Advisory Board Member for Hillsborough County. The three year appointment was due in part for Carries being historically conscience of Tampa’s historic districts. Presently, Carrie is on Tampa’s historical Barrio Latino Commission, has been a 4 year board member on Tampa’s Ybor City Development Corp, Historical North Hyde Park Civic Groups, and President of the recent business revival of historic Ybor City, forming the GaYBOR District Coalition.
The chairman of the BOCC, Ken Hagan goes on to say in the letter, “I cannot adequately express to you the importance the county places on your participation. I believe Hillsborough County is unique in the number of citizens who have direct input into the government. Your caliber of membership is outstanding and your service invaluable.” A side note stated ,”Thanks for your great service!”
The county’s Historical Advisory Board is made up of 7 members including 1 each from City of Tampa, City of Temple Terrace and City of Plant City with 4 members selected by commissioners.
West, a local gay businessman said, ” I am pleased for the appointment. Just 6 months ago the commissioners looked away in what was going on in historic Ybor City and didn’t want to sign the proclamation for Ybor City’s annual GaYBOR Days during the 4th of July. Now they seem to say “Wow” it is a very positive Hillsborough County economic story!”
2012 the POWER of GaYBOR…
6 New Gay Clubs Opening in Tampa!!!
More LGBTA Business on the Horrizon
With the new year only 4 days old, comes a flood of new Gay bars opening in Tampa. There are 3 opening in GaYBOR/Ybor City. The liquid Lounge is moving in to the former Blue Shark location on 7th Ave & 15th Street. The former location of Liquid Lounge is becoming a Leather/MENS Bar. The owner are currently looking of a investor partner who would also be manager/bartender. There is also a un announced LGBT bar set to open this week in Ybor City on 15th Street. Barbarella, which celebrated their Grand Opening on Dec 31, announced they will be starting a Sunday LGBT T-Dance there soon. Many of us remember the fun T-Dances here when it was called Frankie’s Patio. Club Owner DIVA Chris will soon be opening “Cocktails Club Tampa”. Become a facebook fan today at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cocktail-Club-Tampa/263662843688234 A little bird told us about a Mega LGBT Dance club opening soon in North Hyde Park close to the University of Tampa. It’s name is rumored to be “Mary-Go-Round.”
Big LGBTA Events Coming to GaYBOR/Ybor City in the Next Few Weeks …
GANCHO TAMPA
Some Hotels are already sold out!!!
Olivia Cruse Sets Sail from Tampa
State of Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus
Florida LEATHER SIR/ LEATHER BOY WEEKEND
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What do 80+ Businesses in Ybor City all have in common?
80+ business are working together and are active members of the GaYBOR District Coalition in Historic Ybor City. The GaYBOR District Coalition has about 300 active members from Key West to Atlanta, Georgia. All the members recognize the economic impact the “Ybor City Experience” of Shopping, Dinning, Entertainment and Historic Ybor City has on the Tampa Bay Area and the State of Florida. Of the 300 members approximately 1/2 of our membership are our straight owned business allies !!!
Do you know the “Successful Secret”
all GaYBOR non profit members listed below know?
AIDS Services Association of Pinellas, Inc. A.S.A.P.
American Cancer Society (Pinellas Unit)
Artists and Writers Group, Inc
B.M.A.D.Brothers Making a Difference
Crescendo (The Tampa Bay Women’s Chorus)
Cuban Club
East Ybor Historic & Civic Assoc.
Equality Florida
Faith Family Community Church
Florida Together Federation, Inc.
Francis House, Inc
Friends of the Festival, Inc. (TIGLFF)
GLSEN Tampa
Gulfport Chamber of Commerce
Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus
Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association
Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County
Italian Club of Tampa
Key West Business Guild
M.A.D. Theatre of Tampa, Inc.
Masque Community Theatre
MCC Tampa
Metro Wellness and Community Center
Miss GaYBOR Pageant
Potters House Fellowship
Salvador Dali Museum
St Jude Helping Hand Foundation, Inc.
St Pete Pride, Inc.
Stageworks Theatre
Straz Center (Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center)
Suncoast Softball League, Inc.
Tampa Bay and Company
Tampa Bay Business Guild
Tampa Bay Leather N Fetish Pride
Tampa Bay Sisters, Inc.
Tampa Youth Project
Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Choir
Ybor Chamber of Commerce
Ybor City Development Corporation
Ybor City Information Center & Museum
Ybor City Museum Society
Ybor City Saturday Market
Answer is… The “Ybor City Experience” wlll bring out, in big numbers, the public for meetings, local events & fundraising. The non profits also enjoy the GaYBOR Monthly Meetings, where they stand up and tell everybody what their wants & needs are. Many huge events have started at the GaYBOR District Meetings.
Did you know that the LGBTA Community spends $64 Billion a year on tourism?
With the help of The GaYBOR Coalition, St. Pete Pride & Gay Day’s at Disney, the state of Florida is now #2 in America for Gay dollars. Florida is behind California and pushed ahead of New York state. GaYBOR has had many positive articles & TV spots across America. GaYBOR has also been featured (for Free) in Magazines in Canada, Spain, England, Germany, Brazil, Argenta, Mexico & more.
JOIN GaYBOR Today!!!
GaYBOR District Coalition Membership
Jan 1, 2012 is time to re new your GaYBOR memberships. It is also a GREAT TIME to JOIN GaYBOR. Simply go to www.GaYBOR.com and down load the membership application. Then bring it with a check, cash, money order to the January GaYBOR Meeting on January 13th at 4PM at the Hampton Inn & Suite in Ybor City.
Look for and support business with the GaYBOR Sticker in their window.
‘The Buzz’ Coffee Shop Shows Gay Documentary
to benefit GaYBOR District Coalition
January 5th at 7PM
A documentary film about Tampa’s 2005 ban on gay literature and promotion of any Gay Pride events in the county by Hillsborough County Commissioners. A must see movie…. January 5th at 7pm.
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Hey Guys.
It’s Paul Guzzo of the Charlie Wall Film …
My wife opened her business… not a piano lounge, though … it is a coffeehouse on Harbour Island –
The Buzz.
Anyway, one of the regular events we do is a documentary night. Every first Thursday of the month we show a documentary about Tampa, showcase some other artists and then donate all ticket proceeds to charity or civic causes. We showed Ghost of Ybor; Charlie Wall in November and raised $400 for the Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay … in December we showed the Joe Redner documentary and raised $250 for the Florida FIlm Network.
Anyway, one of the regular events we do is a documentary night. Every first Thursday of the month we show a documentary about Tampa, showcase some other artists and then donate all ticket proceeds to charity or civic causes. We showed Ghost of Ybor; Charlie Wall in November and raised $400 for the Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay … in December we showed the Joe Redner documentary and raised $250 for the Florida FIlm Network.
On January 5 we are showing the documentary “UnBanned.” It is a 20-minute film about the 2005 County commission decision to ban gay literature from the libraries and any gay pride month exhibits. We will then have poets performing about censorship issues and Mitzi Gordon’s book bus will have gay rights literature on hand.
We wanted to donate door proceeds to GaYBOR. Seems fitting. We only charge $5 and only allow sell 40 tickets. We raise more because some people care to donate more when they get here.
Cigar City Magazine sponsors the event and we sell tickets through their website.
The BUZZ Coffee Lounge/ Wine Shop
on Harbour Island
710 Harbour Post Drive
813-224-9214
*** Note about this local GLBT documentary film. It has been shown in the area and SOLD OUT almost everytime!!!
Featured GaYBOR Members of the Week
Terrell A. Italiano & Brother Jeff Italiano
This brother & sister duo are the stuff that makes Tampa Bay so Great!!! Separate individual businesses but equally committed to helping out the community and customize their great talents in customer care.
Jeff Italiano is the owner of Italiano Insurance Services
A backbone to the Tampa Bay Community for many years. The GaYBOR District Coalition insurance is thru Italiano Insurance.
Terrell Italiano is the owner of “Teamwork Imprint Sportswear”. Talk about a Community TEAM PLAYER!!!! For many years Terrell has supported 100’s of community events. The GaYBOR Bar Crawl t-shirts are just some of the many shirts made here. Viva la Terrell.
Mark & Carrie Nephew of the Week
Stephen Antonelli
Stephen turns many heads with his fabulous smile! Working as a supervisor at Fresh Mouth in Centro Ybor.
His favorite quotations are “Act well your part; there all the honour lies” – Thespis
“Sinner’s have a soul too” – The Color Purple
“Sinner’s have a soul too” – The Color Purple