After years of a Ybor City Mama Guava Parade, 24 block fenced in area of Ybor, and a cover charge to enter, this year it all changed! And to the good! More costumed characters came out and took part of the new Guavaween celebration changeover. Although the numbers aren’t in the estimated police number was up over the past years.
This year more of an adult wrist banded music venue at 8 clubs that was a huge hit for the clubs and for the Ybor Chamber of Commerce. Guavaween is an annual fundraiser for the chamber. The paid wristband let you get an entry to hear top bands perform and all the other Ybor businesses were open for a more regular Saturday night of fun and craziness.
There was a bit of confusion on whether visiting partiers had to pay an admission charge to get into Ybor City. The main charge was for the wrist bands that got you into the 8 music venue clubs. Other clubs charged accordingly.
Costume contests at Hamburger Mary’s, Honey Pot, Centro Cantina, Bradley’s on 7th and G. Bar all created over the top entertainment and grusome ghostly zombie parties. The street costume watching was just as exciting as being in any of the clubs.
TIGLFF Executive Director Larry Biddle talked about the 23rd Annual Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival starting October 5th at the Tampa Theatre. What a great time to get out and have fun seeing new GLBT movies being theatrically released for the year. Florida Aquarium’s Animal Registrar, Jason Donnell talked about the future million dollar expansion program of the aquarium, group events and finding the 1900 sunken boat in Hillsborough River. The GaYBOR District gave a $500.00 check to the Holiday Spirit of Ybor Festival for the upcoming 6 week Christmas Holiday events in Ybor City. The next GaYBOR Meeting is October 13th.
For the first time ever, in Tampa there was a totally nude men’s show!!! The creatively artistic unclothed men were from Liquid Lounge. The event was hosted at the Adamo Drive strip spot, SKIN Tampa, in Ybor City at 1621 2nd Ave. To the delight of everybody there it offered the bare essentials. The ‘au naturel’ shows were Very Classy and non stop from 7pm to 4 AM! Hundreds from around the area and state packed SKIN for the event. We must say that for a strip club SKIN was very 1st class, clean, very friendly & totally a bare blast of FUN!!! We are sure you all want to see the photos but we have something even better…… We went with the guys to learn their 1st stripper pole techniques & stayed for the finals. National Convention GOP’rs visiting, we now have another alternative for you. Here is the video… http://youtu.be/fkuqNKQJs3M
It was so cold last week that “Hell Must Have Frozen Over!”Carrie actually bought a new cell phone!!! When we walked into the Verizon Store at 714 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa, to our delight there was smiling and ‘cowboy line dancing’ Mike Sklarz behind the counter!!! Many of us remember that this was the location of the original Baxter’s Lounge in the 1980’s! Then it became a fast food chicken place, then verizon wireless. Mike was beyond FANTASTIC and was FABULOUS!! He took his time to explain the new phones then, with the patience of a Saint, Mike had us working our new 4G phone like professionals in no time. Now is a great time to upgrade your phone! Give Mike a call today at 813-597-4000 or email at Michael.Sklaz@verizonwireless.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501346981
Thank you Mike!!!!
TeaCup’s GIN Party at Hamburger Mary’s…
Calling All Upper Mid West Friends
If your from the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin this party is for you!!! There is a Mid West G.I.N.(Gays In Neighborhood) Party on the balcony of Hamburger Mary’s this Saturday Night 6-11pm. The idea came for this party when one night Tea Cup ran into 3 different groups of people from the Dakotas who didn’t know each other. See you Saturday Night on Balcony. Tea Cup is the bartender, the view is Great & what a fun way to network, recall similarities and make New Friends!
New MC FILM Arrivals
It has to be close to Valentine’s Day with crazy lover gift items now in stock. It isn’t just the chocolate Heart Candies in the Red Boxed Hearts to choose from. New items include ‘Dick on a Stick Suckers’, Pecker Mints, Weenie & Macaroni, Gummy Peckers andBoobie Pasta & Gummies are just a few of the new items arriving for your upcoming Lovers Basket of Goodies.
Also arriving is the new 2012 Unico & Pistol Pete lines of swimwear! And the new designer lines of Barefoot Attitude’s Hawaiian Spring Colorful Shirts with sizes Small and up to 2x and 3x on some new designs.
GaYBOR District 2012 Meeting Kicks Off to Great Start
The New Year has brought new members joining GaYBOR District Coalition for 2012. Last year GaYBOR had over 280 GLBTA members from around the state. GaYBOR supported many new projects including a co-sponsorship campaign with Hampton Inn & Suites raising over $1700 for an Ybor Police Bicycle for Tampa Police Dept, the Tampa Police Memorial Gardens, the first Mayor Candidates Forum for the Tampa Mayor’s race, GaYBOR Days with special guest International Human Rights Advocate StuartMilk, Harvey Milk’s nephew. GaYBOR participated in 3 Ybor City & area parades, numerous booths setups including IGLTA, Gay Days Orlando, St. Pete Pride, Out With Pride Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale Pride and Pride on 7th Ave.
“The awareness we received from the Tampa Bay community, Tampa Mayor’s office, Tampa City Council, Florida State Legislative House, Washington DC Congressional and all the way through to the President of the United States Barrack Obama’s GaYBOR Days Proclamationwas astounding.” said Carrie West, President of GaYBOR District Coalition.
Guests speakers at the January meeting included Tampa Police Community Officer Sean Mahibir talked about Ybor City Business Crime Watch. ( Sean was named Tampa Police Community Officer of the Year) and Tampa City Councilman Mike Suarez who gave us some insight on the upcoming National GOP Convention. He offered assistance from his office at the Tampa Council.
Membership is $75.00 for businesses and non profits and $35.00 for any residents.
Meet founding member, Crystal Rivera, the Business Travel Sale Manager & Social Media for the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel. Crystal has helped out with many GaYBOR events. She works with hotel manager Bryan Clancy, formerly with Hampton Inn & Suites Ybor. We especially remember the times on the St. Pete Float !!! Wink Wink
When this cheerful 22 year old isn’t dancing at G.BAR he is out making videos, playing video games, surfing the Internet and just hanging out with his friends. His zodiac sign is Cancer! But he says he is a little shy!Next time you see him in GaYBOR/ Ybor City introduce yourself.
Passing very unexpectedly last week was Kyle Taplin at 51. Sadly about 2 years ago Kyle’s partner in life, Bill Trotter, passed away in an auto accident. Many people remember Bill working the front desk of the Sun Coast Resort. Kyle continued to run his karaoke with business partner, Carlos Lopez. A Celebration of Life was held at Hamburger Mary’s in Tampa January 17th.
Party @ Carne’s
Caught @ GaYBOR/Ybor City
