Category Archives: CLICK HERE for Dishing with “Mark & Carrie”

Dishing with Mark n Carrie – Ybor City Changing Spirit

Posted on by

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 7th” 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

https://www.facebook.com/events/2138680506566094

Southern Nights

Bradley’s on 7th

Utopia Road Bar & Courtyard

You Just Can Not Make This Up.

Posted on by

One day at MC Film, Our Gay Pride Store, a favorite customer walked in and asked for a job. With a surprised look we said would love to but could never afford him. The retired executive just laughed and said after he retired there was just so many times, he could rearrange his furniture. What a perfect place for a Gay guy to work at… our Gay Pride Store. Mr. Mike started to work for one or 2 days a week.  We were lucky to have him and learned so very much from Mr. Mike.

When you are open to the LGBTQ+ public all kinds of people walk thru the door. 99% are great. The 1% could be having a bad day, high or drunk, on or off their meds, etc.etc. etc. Mr. Mike was very calm and had a deep southern accent. This was the 1st time we heard “Bless your hearts” & “Your just full of all kinds of special”.  Many people would ask all kinds of advice, especial from Mr. Mike who mentored many. Mr. Mike stayed with us until the store closed 16 years later. Today, Mr. Mike is in this 90’s and we talk every week.

Dishing with Mark & Carrie – The Great Migration

Posted on by

The Great Migration

The best part about going to a World Pride Conference is talking with other Prides. At the last conference people were talking about “The Great Migration.” I did not realize that other people were noticing it too. Our transgender community is now in a “Great Migration.” Not feeling safe in their current states, (like Florida.) They are all leaving for states that are becoming a sanctuary for gender-affirming care. The top 5 states are; Washington State, Colorado, Washington, D.C., California & Minnesota. More states are currently working on gender-affirming care in the Northeast and West Coast.

One Giant Step Forward for Ybor City

This week was the grand opening of La Union in Ybor City. This high-end luxury apartment complex is the 1st of 18 to be built in the new Gasworks area of Ybor City. We are not only looking forward to these new apartment homes but to the fun people that will enjoy this upscale lifestyle. FYI https://www.launionliving.com/

Click Here for more Photos

https://www.mcfilm.co/category/great-photos/special-events-photos

Congratulations Tampa PRIDE

Tampa PRIDE earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar!

https://candid.org

Just add to Netflix! “PRESDESTINATION”

When 2 days later you are still thinking about a movie…. That’s a great movie!!! This is one.

Tampa transit officials considering making people pay for TECO Streetcar

19th Street Greenway Project

Ybor City Cigar Festival

https://www.facebook.com/events/1204094290882251

Utopia Road Bar & Courtyard

LGBTQ+ support lines in the US:

Southern Nights

Bradley’s on 7th

Utopia Road Bar & Courtyard

You Just Can Not Make This Up

Posted on by

We were at World InterPride Conference in Medellin, Colombia. One night the hosts arraigned a night tour of the beautiful City. At the end of the night the fun Drag Queen host asked if the group would like to stop at a Gay Bar. Of course, the answer was YES!  The club was located in the entertainment district. It was an open-air club with very beautiful artworks and packed with fun people. They had us all seated at small cocktail tables before the show. Then to our surprise, the Drag Queen Host was ours from the bus. She asked if there were any Queer Men in the House? YAAAAA Are there any Queen Lesbians in the House? YAAAA Then says “We have 2 senior citizens in the house! YAAAA In Medellin we love old people!!! They then turn the spot light on us. I just leaned over and asked my friend “how do you say B*tch in Spanish?” LMAO All is good. I bet they were wish that when they are our age, they too will be out at a club at 1AM. La Perra (Spanish for B*tch)