Category Archives: CLICK HERE for Dishing with “Mark & Carrie”
Caught @ Steam
Photos of the Week 7-7-9
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Dishing with Mark and Carrie…Turns 130
Tampa Celebrating 130 Years Young
Tampa’s has a very long history of being a shipping port that had encompassed an Indian Tribes settlement back in 1600-1800’s (now Ft. Brooke’s Parking garage). A population of then 188 inhabitants. Tampa early translation known as “sticks of fire.” Today the U.S. census has Tampa at 355,000 residents.
The early commercial fishing trade waters around Tampa were plentiful. The catch were smoked and often taken back to Cuba for sale. Later after the Civil War, shipping progress developed. The steamship trading to other country ports increased with products of fruit, cattle and phosphate.
The 1880’s had the Tampa Board of Trade bring cigar businesses owned by Vincent Martinez Ybor to Tampa from Key West to make cigars. The land deals were set. The first buildings were built in Ybor City. All he needed was workers that led to immigration of Spaniards, European, German, Bahamians and Cubans to work and hand roll the cigars. Tampa was then growing big in tobacco and in 1929 Tampa produced over 500 million cigars that year.
Tracks were laid for trains to run to the west coast of Florida from the already Flagler owned train routes on the east coast by entrepreneur Henry B. Plant. Plant also had a big stake in the Tampa steamship industry. Plant built 3 hotels in Tampa. The most famous Is the Henry B. Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel which was built as a $2.5 million luxury resort for the northern well to do tourists and distinguished government officials, (now the University of Tampa). The other 2 hotels were built in Old Port Tampa City. where he had built train lines, St Elmo’s Inn and Port Tampa Inn.
Many famous people stayed in Tampa including not yet President Teddy Roosevelt in the fighting battles of the Spanish American War. Tampa was a military headquarters.
Crime organizations in the old Tampa City Hall. From early crime organizations having pay rolled many city and county officials. The secret crime society still is around Tampa. Infamous players include Charlie Wall, Santo Trafficante, Sr & Santo Trafficante, Jr, Angelo “the Hammer” LoScalzo and Frank “Francesco” Diesidue in the 1920’s through today. Many great stories and books are available locally.
Tampa also known for its sports heritage. Greyhound Dog tracks, Jai Alai, horse racing, baseball, soccer, football and hockey professional teams. Did you know Babe Ruth hit his longest home run at the University of Tampa ball diamond?
From Tampa’s first Mayor Joseph B. Lancaster to today’s Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Tampa’s known diversity and progress still stands tall.
With being known for a tourist area with multitude of activities including Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Straz Performing Arts Center, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NY Yankees Training Camp, Cruise ship sailing port, Tampa Bay Rays, Riverwalk, Tampa Bay boating and fishing, Ybor City Nightlife and all the great historical residential communities in and around Tampa. And don’t forget our Great Local Educational Schools and Universities also.
Happy 130 Years )ld Tampa! A Place where People Proudly Call Home!
SHAZAM
The balcony at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City is always a Great Time! Especially on SUNday FUNdays! Tea Cup makes a special Party Cocktail called the SHAZAM!!! This Sunday plan on come over and check out the NEW Sunday Brunch, stay for the 1:30 Drag Show. Them party the afternoon way with your friends and a SHAZAM!!!
Gay Days at Busch Gardens
https://www.facebook.com/BigGayBuschGardens/
1,000’s of Photos just released!!!
Calling all Tampa History buffs. There are several large Tampa Photo History Collection available on line. Everyday there are more photos being uploaded. We just found this interesting photo. The gentleman in the center is Judge Leo Stalnaker. He was the former owner of our home. One collection not mentioned is the USF Special Collections at the Library. here you will find many LGBT photos that we have donated.
http://wfla.com/2017/07/10/thousands-of-old-photos-of-tampa-released-to-public/
From Al Ferguson
BREATHTAKING: Rock Hudson, Cuba, Edward Sotomayor and Santiago Hermes: just today I receive a postcard written at the Havana Cruise ship terminal on April 14. It is addressed TO AMERICA. The stamp was Rock Hudson. The famous actor that lived his life in the closet loved and adored by men and women. HE DIES OF AIDS. It is the ONLY stamp I could buy. IN CUBA. We worried it would not deliver. It was the 1 year anniversary of Eddie S in Cuba. To the day. Hudson stamp represents gay hiding and Cuban artist Santiago Hermes comes to Sarasota for Eddies funeral and paints “Top Hat Eddie” about the gay community in hiding. One year later Santiago sails as first Cuban ever on a cruise (as guest) from Havana. To the day. With a Rock Hudson stamp and the following post card message… to America… “it’s April 14, 2017 NOT 2016. Today, 1 year ago… today… I am with Eddie in Cienfuegos, Cuba. (We have just sailed from Havana) He meets Santiago Hermes. Today, 1 year later Santiago is the first Cuban in history to board a cruise in Havana. He is with me. BOTH are with me. The History is not lost on me. This anniversary and today’s history. I just wish “Top Hat Eddie” was with me. Love, Al”. Then the top 🎩 with “do all the good you can”. TODAY IT IS DELIVERED. Is the universe, God, or whatever… at work? YES. I’m listening.
https://www.facebook.com/al.alandchuck.ferguson
Thank you Al for sharing this.
Bern’s Steak House
Everything is BIGGER in South Tampa! That included the new wine decanter at Bern’s. Actually it is very FABOULOUS!!! The rare imperial decanter from Penfolds. Visit Burn’s facebook page and watch DLynn Proctor, global ambassador for Penfolds assemble this work of art.
https://www.facebook.com/BernsSteakHouse/
Meet Kevin Boyer
Have you ever dreamed about living in Ybor City or Gary Town? If yes then you will want to make a call to Kevin Boyer 813 853 3070 today. Kevin is a specialist in our urban communities. He has that special talent of knowing before when a property is coming on the market. When not out working hard Kevin can be found a his favorite watering hole is Bradley’s on 7th.
https://www.facebook.com/kevinboyer813
Ybor City Barber Shop is moving
From The MC Film News Bag
Join Our Team!
Metro provides a variety of health and wellness services and programs inclusive of everyone in the Tampa Bay community. Our services include extensive programming for Youth, Transgender, and SAGE (older adult) populations, HIV Prevention and Community Outreach, HIV Healthcare & Education Services, LGBTQ focused Primary Care to those in Community throughout Tampa Bay. Our locations include: St. Petersburg and Tampa Community Centers, LGBT Welcome Center on Central Ave next to our Thrift Store. Medical Services are provided in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
Check out our other career opportunities at Metrotampabay.org.
You Just Can Not Make This Up
In the late 1970’s there was a famous Gay Bar in Minneapolis. There were 3 owners of the bar. The owner with the liquor licence in his name passed away. That left the other 2 owners. One was a very prominent business man and couldn’t have his name on it. The other was a convicted HOMOSEXUAL. Yes in those day the police would stamp your file Homosexual if they even thought it. So….. I was good friends with both the owners. They asked me to have the licence put in my name until they could find a new partner. Needless to say …. I drank free there from then on. LOL
Caught @ Bradley’s on 7th
Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s
Caught @ Steam Friday
Photos of the Week 7-9-17
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Dishing with Mark and Carrie…
“Let Hamburger Mary’s Take Over the World”
The quote above was in the July Bon Appetit Magazine. To see what all the fun is about visit one of the 5 Tampa Bay Area Locations. Especial the Centro Ybor Location with Tea Cup on the balcony!!!
http://www.bonappetit.com/story/hamburger-marys-restaurant
Best New Brunch In Ybor City
Why Did You Paint Your Porch Ceilings Blue?
Mark & I have always painted the porch ceilings in our homes “haint blue?” We have been asked by so many people, ” Why did you paint your porch ceilings blue?” This is a southern term but I grew up in the Midwest also with blue porch ceilings. So the areas of blue ceilings is not to one geographic area of the country. In fact Boston and Philadelphia districts that have blue porch ceiling from a Victorian era style background.
Recently, our new “MC Rainbow Plantation” porch ceilings were painted haint blue as is our present bungalow home in North Hyde Park. There are many legends and reasons for painting the front porch blue as there are colors of “haint blue.”
What is haint blue? It has its own color palette of hues of bold blue to light bird shell. Some colors I call more turquoise while a variety are more of a sky blue hue or have a distinct greenish tinge. Haint is a southern term for wild or lost dead spirits or being haunted. The color haint blue was to defend your home from wandering and uninvited spirits. It is said that Spirits or the dead can not walk on water. So it is an old fable illusion of painting blue to your houses porches ceilings but maybe its true. Some homes window sills are also painted blue for the same reason. Keep them demons out!
The other passed down usages and reasons for the blue painted ceilings is that in the past hot summers and homes without any air conditioning, the blue colored outdoor porch ceilings were pleasant and made you psychologically feel cooler in the outdoors. It added daylight overhead as the sun set and was added greatness for sipping cool ice tea in the outdoors. Tales and pass me down legends goes onto add that bees, bugs and spiders would be confused of the blue ceilings and think the ceilings were sky. So that thwarted spider nests, bird nests and bee hives on the porches.True but not proven.
In the Gulf Coast plantations, the blue ceilings were known as the eyes of the house. Welcoming when coming up a driveway to visit or return home. Inviting from the homes facing water ways, you could always spot the blue painted ceilings of the house as a welcome sign just like pineapples, but that is another story.
TAMPA PRIDE 2018 Planning Meeting
It seem just like yesterday that TAMPA PRIDE 2017 occurred. And it is less than 2 weeks that St Pete Pride was held. To make all the great exciting events to happen takes teamwork and volunteers in planning these spectacular occasions.
You said at the last Pride Festivals, “Wow I want to get involved.”
You can get involved and help create one of the fastest growing LGBTA Festivals in the country or register to volunteer. Your creativity and talents have a direct input in what happens at TAMPA PRIDE 2018.
Volunteer. Be a Shaker, Get Involved, it’s Fun!
Next TAMPA PRIDE 2018 Planning Meeting, Tuesday, August 1st, 6pm at Metro Wellness & Community Centers in Ybor City. Bring along a friend or 2!
Sale of King Corona
This week King Corna was sold. This marks the end of a 5 generations of business. Don and Brenda Barco have ben very supportive of GaYbor and our community. We wish them the very best in the future.
It’s Now Undeniable That LGBTQ Rights Are In Danger Of Being Rolled Back
A Note from Kevin Beckner
For those of you who have heard me speak about LGBTQ rights and issues, you know how proud I am of the progress that we have made as a community and country. You have also heard me emphasize that our work is not done and we must remain vigilant and never take for granted our rights or progress. The article below by Michelangelo Signorile, whom I deeply respect and who personally helped me on my “coming out” journey, clearly articulates why our work is not done and the potential dangers and pitfalls of complacency. A MUST read for all LGBTQ advocates, families and allies.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/apos-now-undeniable-lgbtq-rights-182122303.html?.tsrc=fauxdal
Upcoming July Days
July 12 – National Pecan Pie Day
July 13 – National french Fry Day
July 14th – National Nude Day
July 15th – National Give Something Away Day
July 16th – National Ice Cream Day