Dishing with Mark n Carrie – Ybor City Changing Spirit

Ybor City Changing Spirit

From 1988 to 2016 we were the owners and operators of the Pride Stores,” MC Film”. At closing we were the longest running Pride stores in America. Located at 9 locations in 5 cities. In 2007 we opened a store in Ybor City. In 2008 with others, we started the GaYbor District Coalition in Historic Ybor City. Carrie was appointed to the board of the YCDC. Carrie told the board he was so very surprised that Ybor City did not decorate for the Holidays. They asked him what did he want to do? Well, for starts let’s clean up the store fronts and put a red bow on the lamp posts. That year we went to all the K-Marts and bought all the large red bows in town LOL! (notice the Big Red Bow in the photo) The next year the GaYbor District Coalition headed the decorations. “Snow on 7^th” was the idea of the GaYbor District. Then YCDC found some money and we purchased used holiday decorations. We even purchased the Holiday tree from the Old Hyde Park Village. Of course we dressed up the tree with much holiday flair!!! Then we started a with a fun group of volunteers to decorate the lamp posts and streetcar stops. The group would meet for a light breakfast in Ybor City sponsored by Ybor City merchants. Then off in teams with ladders and decoration to hang. The lighting of the tree was a huge community event. There were Marching Bands, Dancers, Holiday Costumes, one year even had acrobats high in the air. The best part was the diversity it brought to Ybor City!! This was an event many of us looked forward to every year. Then after many years the YCDC said it was too much of a liability for the city and took the decorating away from the volunteers. Talk about killing community HOLIDAY SPIRIT!!! Then the event became “family friendly.” It was always family-friendly, planned out before but now the definition of family-friendly had changed.

This reminds me of years ago there was a seminar at Metro Inclusive Health in Ybor City. The professor was a transgender person. She said,” Whenever straights say “family friendly”…. RUN the other direction as fast as you can. They will be talking about their family only and not ours.” As the YES Team are busy putting up this year’s decorations, they look nice. It is sad there is no spirit behind the decorations and the corporate stand alone tree.

Tampa PRIDE Meeting @ The Hamton Inn & Suites Ybor City

Reserve you space in Festival & Parade today at

www.TampaPride.org

THIS SATURDAY @ Southern Nights Ybor City

THIS SUNDAY

Joush & Tea Cup @ Show Bar

GaYbor District in Historic Ybor City Bar Crawl

Join us next Sunday (11/17) after Showbar’s drag brunch for the GaYBOR District Coalition Thanksgiving Bar Crawl. Bringing canned food items ensures local families have plenty to eat on Thanksgiving.

🦃 Check-In @ Showbar

🦃 3 PM – 6 PM

🥫 $15 (no canned goods donated)

🥫 $10 (5 canned goods donated)

🥫 FREE (10 canned goods donated)

Rays plan to play 2025 season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field

The Rays are planning to play the 2025 season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the rival New York Yankees. The Rays have been looking for an interim home since Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to Tropicana Field last month. Under a repair plan revealed Tuesday, the Trop won’t be playable until the 2026 season. More Info https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2024/11/14/interim-stadium-steinbrenner-field-yankees-tarpons-pinellas-st-petersburg

“The Infiltrator” Filmed in Tampa & Ybor City

This classic movie, based on a true story, was film in Tampa & Ybor City in 2016. The Infiltrator takes us back to 1986. How many places can you recognize in the film? Available now on Netflix.

HEYGMA