Our January issue of Tampa Epoch is now in many vendors hands. It has a RED logo on the cover. If you see any vendors selling December issues (Blue logo), please let them know that we will take the prior issue in trade for the new issue at no cost to them.
We are at our usual location at the Army Surplus Store parking lot between 7 and 8:30 AM every day except Sunday to exchange papers as they need. Location is 1312 N. Tampa Street in Downtown
Please let me know your thoughts on our new January issue,
The Tampa Tribune featured us on the front page on Saturday, If you missed it you can see the article
But remember to put in the date of the show Dec 27th.
We are receiving a lot of support.
But we are in need of more safety vests, signs, carry bags, and more. Our wish list is getting smaller due to the success of sales and through your support. We have also been able to increase our inventory of tshirts and January issues.
To Express Through Excellence In Men’s Choral Music
The Inherent Worth And Dignity Of All People
In Order To Foster A Global Community
That Celebrates And Embraces Diversity
You Can Support Us In Our Mission In Many Ways:
Become an Una Voce Sponsor:Sponsorship levels range from Friends at $25 to the President’s Circle at $2,500.
Your Sponsorship Contribution will help Una Voce to continue to bring great music to the Tampa Bay community. Contact Nelson Newton, Treasurer, at 727-510-9320 or visit our website for more information. Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale qualifies as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal RevenueCode thereby allowing contributions and donations to be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Become a Member of Una Voce: You can join us as a singer or as a support member. We could always use a helping hand, especially at concert time.
Use Our Amazon Widget: When you make your next purchase at Amazon.com, start your search from the Amazon link on our website: www.Una-Voce.org. When you do, Amazon.com will donate a portion of your purchases to Una Voce. You can enjoy convenience of Amazon.com and the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting Una Voce.
Ybor Pub Crawl to Benefit the Ronald McDonald House
Don your red shoes for the first ever Red Shoe Pub Crawl in Ybor City. Not only will you enjoy great drink specials, but all proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay which provides a home-away-from-home for families of pediatric patients in area hospitals. Prizes will be given for the most spirited and creative dress. The event is organized by the Red Shoe Council, a group of young and mid-professionals whose goal is to raise community awareness and operating funds for RMHC. Purchase tickets by calling Alexandra at (813)258-6430 ext 5. For more information please visit, www.rmhctampabay.com/redshoecouncil.php
From pub to pub follow the shoes of red, and help give families a place to rest their head.
1.) The Bricks
2.) JJ’s Cafe and Bar
3.) The Dog’s Bollocks
4.) The Green Iguana
5.) Gaspar’s Grotto
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Warmest Regards,
Alexandra Greacen
Ronald McDonald House
Charities of Tampa Bay, Inc.
28 Columbia Dr,
Tampa, FL 33606
Office: 813-258-6430 ext 5,
Fax: 813-258-6517
Please sign up for our e-newsletter
at www.rmhctampabay.com
We now accept donations of cars, boats, RVs and other vehicles. Please visit www.rmhctampabay.com
What a roller coaster ride for 2011! A real humdinger for news stories. Tampa Bay area had a lot happening in the GLBT community. Starting with an open seat for Tampa mayor, GaYBORDistrict Coalition had the first all open public mayor debates at the newly opening Metro Wellness and CommunityCenter in Ybor City. Five high ranking community contenders for Tampa’s high post were Dick Greco, Rose Ferlita, Bob Buckhorn, Ed Turanchik and Thomas Scott. With a runnoff between Ferlita and Buckhorn, Tampa’s new mayor became Bob Buckhorn. Carrie West was more than pleased to have been among the candidates for Tampa City Council District 5 race as Tampa’s first openly gay candidate where Frank Reddick won.
A new GLBT community center was opened on 7th Ave in historic Ybor City after a 2.5 million dollar beautifully renovated, Metro Wellness and Community Center. It is part of the coordinated GLBT community services in St. Petersburg, New Port Richey and Tampa. A new gay Tampa circuit party, Gancho Party, was created during the Tampa’s Gasparilla invasion. Great parades GaYBOR were included in were Sant’ Yago Knight Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Florida’s largest Gay Pride Festival, St. Pete’s Pride Parade in June with over 100,000 attendees. In April was the 2nd Annual Pride on 7th Festival. May had the largest Gay Days at Disney Week. Over 250,000 went to the mouse town for the annual gay week. GaYBOR Day’s had a great showing during the 4th of July weekend with community health fair, guest international activist and slain gay political leader pf Harvey Milk, nephew Stuart Milk showed the movie, “The Harvey Milk Story” and a full weekend of other major events. Local gay establishment Streetcar Charlie’s Bar & Grille closed unexpectedly and Laughing Cat Italian Restaurant opened there. Also the Ybor Eagle closed and changed names to the Ybor Social.
A lot of national and international journalist came to experience GaYBOR District and ran great positive press about our 4 year old growing community including writers from Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, England, Ireland, and Canada. A multitude of writers have been exploring Tampa Bay from all across the country and writing about the new positive gay friendly Florida destination. GaYBOR members went to work and challenged other area groups to raise money for Police Bicycles inhistoric Ybor City. A $1800 bicycle was given in partnership with Hampton Inn & Suites Ybor to Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.
The Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival had a great 10 day run in October. Orlando Pride got rained out and rescheduled to mid November. But the 4th Annual GaYBOR Storefront Decorating in historic Ybor went onto bigger extravaganzas. A full 6 weeks of holiday fun with ‘Art in the Park’, lighting of a 34′ Christmas Tree in Centro Ybor and a, Snow Blizzard on 7th Ave all with help of GaYBORDistrict, YCDC, Tampa Recreation Dept and Florida Entertainment Group.
These events and hundreds not mentioned made for a crazy 2011. Onto next year, 2012!
2012 Will Be Bringing These Events….
It will be a kickoff to 2012 with the Outback Bowl Parade New Years Eve Night in historic Ybor City. 5:00pm the drums will be banging and the trumpets blaring through the streets. A very refreshing start of the 1st day of the year with a parade, university band pep rally competition and a Michigan State vs Georgia football game. The 2nd Annual Gancho Circuit Party is set for Gasparilla Weekend Jan 27-29th. That is also the only Olivia Cruise this year and leaves from Tampa with over 1300 women aboard. Jan 29-Feb 5th they will be hitting the high seas. The 18th Annual Gasparilla Softball Tourney, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Suncoast Softball League is Feb 17-19th playing all around Tampa Bay baseball diamonds.
Sant’ Yago’s Pinchasers Night Parade is Feb 18th at 7pm. And of course the weekly events at all the clubs/ bars and non profits in the area.
GaYBOR Meetings are always the 2nd Friday of the month. www.GaYBOR.com
Happy New Year 2012.
GaYBOR’s New Year’s Resolution “To continue & develope our close relationship with the Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa and Develop a United and Happier GLBT Community”
A Softer Side of Ybor City Many people think that Ybor City is all about Brick Buildings, Cobble Stone Streets & Hard Core Parties. What really makes Ybor City such a “Special Place” is the people who live and/or work here and go to school here. Yes many people do live in Ybor City and many who work here also call Ybor city home. Together this wonderful group of hard working, hospitable, honest people create the “Ybor Experience” that we are known for world wide. In an apartment window on the corner of 15th St & 9th Ave is a warm example of the softer side of Ybor City. Walking by you might not notice the softer side until you pause and take a closer look. Viva La Ybor City The friendly village we all call home.
Are you from the Dakota’s? Now forming “The Dakota Club”
If you understand the joke… “the only Gay Bar in North Dakota is in Minnesota!” You are from the Dakota’s!!! We now know 4 groups of people from the Dakotas who are living in Tampa Bay but do know each other. The idea was tossed up to form a Dakota group. A chance to get together and share experience. If you are from North or South Dakota please send your name, phone number & email to dishingmcfilm@aol.com
Featured GaYBOR Member of the Week.
Thomas Ward
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000173616525
By day Thomas is a hard working business person. By Night hi is the Crazy Manager/Bartender at G.BAR!!! If your not his facebook friend yet you need to join today. Tomas will keep you up on all the Hottest parties in GaYBOR. Just remember he is on facebook, so be careful what you say to him, especially when we are all cocktailed!!! LOL LOL Many (((HUGS)) “That’s ice water in my Tea Cup Officer!”
Have you ever been dancing at Steam Friday’s of G.BAR and looked up into the DJ booth and though …”Who is that cute Guy in the booth with the DJ?” That was probably Brian and he is the lighting director at the clubs.
Join Tampa Bay area emerging leaders and young professionals on Friday, January 20, 2012 for Emerge Tampa Bay’s Invasion 2012! Invasion 2012 will celebrate “A Night At The Oscars” at the Ritz Ybor from 7:30pm to 11pm.
Invasion is the premier young professional’s event of the year, offering valuable networking opportunities with the Tamps Bay area’s future leaders and celebrating the accomplishments of 2011 while looking ahead to the goals of 2012.
In addition to a night of networking in style at one of the area’s premier event venues, the Ritz Ybor, attendees will enjoy entertainment, drinks, delectable food, a photo booth, dancing, and more. And don’t forget to dress your best for your walk down the Red Carpet!
Come ready to strut your stuff for the paparazzi during Emerge Tampa Bay’s Invasion 2012.
COCO & HOMO: HUNGOVER FOR THE HOLIDAYS, A HOLIGAY CABARET
Tampa’s very own “cutie-pie miscreants” of cabaret are back and bringing in the new year with their surprise holiday special, ‘Hungover for the Holidays, a HoliGay Cabaret.’ On December 29 and 30, let Coco & Homo nurse your xxx-mas hangover with a dose of playful, interactive games and a healthy serving of classic ditties, campy anthems, and frolicking drinking songs. While celebrating the long forgotten holiday of Sexmas (a five day long celebration of all things gay and Jesus), Coco & Homo’s seemingly impenetrable bond is put to the test when they both find themselves under the mistletoe with a certain jolly old man. 2011 Best of the Bay winners, see the act Creative Loafing claims is “diva slapping the Tampa Bay entertainment scene into submission!”
About Coco & Homo:
Raised by their lesbian nun aunts after losing their parents to a tragic accident involving three goats, a fire truck, and a Chilean prostitute, Coco & Homo developed a taste for the bizarre and joined an underground touring circus. Now on their own, they seek to change the world one handful of glitter at a time. They dedicate their life’s work to Whitney Houston and proving that unicorns really do exist. Look for Coco & Homo on this upcoming season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent. www.cocoandhomo.com
Coco & Homo: Hungover for the Holidays, a HoliGay Cabaret.
December 29 & 30 @ 8 PM.
Stageworks Theatre, 1120 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa FL. $15 Advance Sale, $20 Day of Show. To purchase tickets and for more information visit www.cocoandhomo.com and www.stageworrkstheatre.org. Tickets go on sale Saturday December 17.
‘LIKE’ Coco & Homo on facebook and ‘Follow’ them on twitter…you won’t regret it.
About Stageworks Theatre:
Founded by Anna Brennan and now located in Tampa’s Grand Central District, Stageworks’ mission is to provide the highest quality professional theatre which respects, ignites and celebrates the human spirit, while challenging the thresholds of intolerance and insensitivity. www.stageworkstheatre.org
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MAD Theatre
m.a.d. theatre
Announces Auditions for
bare: a pop opera
Directed by Jennifer Marshall
Audition Dates
January 16 and 17, 6-8 PM
January 18 (Callbacks)
at
Intercontinental Hotel
Suite 140
on the Urban Two side of the hotel
4860 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
Located at Kennedy Blvd. and Westshore Blvd. Please use the parking garage entrance off Westhore Blvd. and take the elevator to the hotel lobby
Production dates: April 19-22, 26-29, 2012 at the Shimberg Playhouse (Straz Center)
Be prepared to sing 16 bars from a musical or pop music song (sheet music is preferred). Dress comfortably as a short movement combination will be taught at the audition. All performers must be 18 or have parental consent to audition for bare. Non paid.
For detailed summary, casting information and music samples, please visit www.theatricalrights.com/bare or more information.
Please contact the director, Jennifer Marshall at jkjmarshall@gmail.com or 813-386-6173 with any questions about auditions or the show.
Casting Information:
Adults:
Sister Chantelle – African America nun, no nonsense, belter
Claire – Peter’s mother
Priest – Boarding school headmaster
Students:
Jason – most popular boy at St. Cecilia’s boarding school; involved with Peter and Ivy
Peter – Jason’s room mate and secret boyfriend
Nadia- Jason’s sarcastic overweight twin sister
Ivy – most popular girl at St. Cecilia’s
Matt – Jason’s academic rival, in love with Ivy
Lucas – school drug dealer (rapping ability preferred)
Other students (2 boys, 4 girls) – all ethnicities and types (i.e. sexy, naive, nerdy, jock)
A group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school faces issues of sexuality and personal identity. As they struggle to come to terms with who they are, and who the world thinks they should be, they seek answers from their church, their friends, and ultimately, from within themselves. Its rich, vibrant score draws on many styles of contemporary music.
bare: a pop opera will be performed at the Shimberg Playhouse at The Straz Center for the Performing Arts on April 19-22 & 26-29, 2012.
Synopsis:
Set in a Catholic boarding school, the show centers on a group of friends during their senior year. Altar boy Peter is in love with his roommate Jason, one of the most popular kids in school. They are carrying on a closeted romance but Peter wants to go public with their affair, at least to his mother, whom he loves dearly. Jason isn’t so keen on the idea, as he feels that his entire world would crumble if word of the relationship got out. Things get more complicated when Ivy makes a play for Jason. Her rejected suitor Matt discovers the secret that Peter and Jason have been keeping and it’s only a matter of time before things start to spin out of control.
m.a.d theatre is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit community theatre that incorporates the three performing arts; Music, Acting, & Dance. For 12 years m.a.d theatre has delivered powerful, provocative, and affordable musical theatre to stages in the Tampa area. We are always looking for people who are interested in performing or volunteering, and for donors and corporate sponsors. m.a.d. theatre survives on your generosity!
The lit garland strands were hung up with care by over 160 GaYBORCoalition members & city workers volunteering their time decorating all along the Nationally famous Ybor streets. The big lighting ceremony of the central districts 34′ Holiday Tree in Centro Ybor was setup, lit and witnessed by thousands. A Juried Art Festival in the Park bringing in new visitors to Centennial Park. 25 cent TECOStreetcar rides offered for families to ride clanking along the historical, waterfront and Channelside Districts. A big unleashed holiday spectacular was around the corner though. “SNOW IN YBOR CITY” was experienced by the many thousands of visitors. All along 7th Ave between 15th and 17th Streets last Friday and Saturday nights with the surprise appearance of Santa Claus on the Ybor City Fire truck. Just like a northern blizzard hit a small quaint historical area of Tampa, Florida. TV coverage was huge. Kids letting the flakes fall upon their heads, drivers driving through the snowy maze with their car tops down. And where did that marching band come from??? The Nationally televised Outback Bowl Parade is days away, December 31st. Michigan State vs Georgia Jan 2nd!!
Well, here is a little video glimpse for you to enjoy.
