Art Reappears on the streets of Ybor City  A big task was handed to project manager, David Audet of HCC Ybor Campus. Re-decorating some of the empty buildings on 7th Ave.and bringing a sparkle to the district. Interior sculptors, outside paintings and a theme from "Out of this World" is the start of the ongoing art rejuvenation project. Working along with David is Peggy Lee and husband Bud, who started the "Artists and Writers Ball" in the mid 70's that was held at the Cuban Club. Her three kids visiting from North Carolina an Florida helped this past week in the artistic changeover. Drive down 7th and see the new changes all to the betterment of Ybor.   Peggy Lee with Artists and Writers Group David Audet project manager setting up drawings for new art on 7th Volunteer Artist at work changing old empty buildings into art to appreciate David with brush in hand Sculptures in windows at Masquardes Colorful art pieces adorn the store fronts Your guess?     Meet Willy, An Ybor Ambassador  When walking around Ybor you will see greeters offering information on Historic Ybor CIty. A sponsorship of the City of Tampa, Ybor has 4 ambassadors on the streets greeting guests, giving directions and also answering questions from visitors. This is a free service for the 1000's of visitors coming to the Ybor City district. Ambassador Willy Emerson also said that tours of Ybor can be requested through the Ybor City Museum  located at 9th Ave North & 19th street.   Wearing a Cuban hat, Blue Ambassador shirt and a cigar in mouth Willie Emerson, an Ybor Ambassador gives friendly help to 1000's of international and local visitors.    The New Year's Out Back Bowl Setting up local Pride in Ybor City to welcome the 1000's of visiting tourists to the Outback Bowl is a big deal. This year football teams fans wearing red Wisconsin & orange Tennessee colors crowded the streets of Tampa and headed for entertainment fun in historic Ybor City. The Outback Bowl Parade on New Years Eve had revelers cheering for their favorite teams in the unreal temperature of 80 degrees. From the northern states this was like a day in July!!! Great crazy spontaneous performances by the University of Wisconsin marching band during the parade. A bunch of wild & crazy kids. Well we welcome next years teams to Outback Bowl and the fun in Ybor City.         GaYBOR New Years Eve The GLBT Community "Ground Zero for New Year's Eve" was definatly the corner of 7th Ave & 14h Street in The GaYBOR District! Thousand of college students & fans from the Out Back Bowl were all given "A Night to Remember" from the locales! On one side was G.BAR with dueling DJ's and out of control fun on the dance floor. At one time we were sure that there were people dancing in the ceilings!!! Across the street at Lounge 714 it was all you can drink & eat for just $20.00! Now that's just plain FUN!!! Toss in a fab drag show and VJ to round out the night. At The Forge it was the Black & White Ball. There were so many "Men in Leather" that you couldn't move and the crowd spilled out into the courtyard. Hum & the problem is??? Over at Flirt Night Club , Darlene was wowing the audience with the Best Drag in town!  No matter which side of the bay you celebrated on it was Hot & Rocking! Happy New Year!           New Year's Day Tradition Our New Year's Day tradition for years was the Southern good luck diner of collar greens, black eye peas & corn bread. This year we decided to start a new tradition and went to the Buddhist Temple with our friends Bryan & Donald from The King & I Restaurant. Every Sunday & on special days like New Years Day, people gather on the Temple grounds and have a Thai picnic & market together. All the Thai favorite dishes are available for purchase there. This inspiring setting with the Temple & waundering Monks is located on the banks of the Palm River Just a couple minutes from Ybor City.  FMI visit  http://www.wattampa.com/index.html       People are Talking! Rumor has it that there are several Gay groups trying to move into the old Rock-n-Sports location! Either way all the groups are Gay & will be a welcome addition to The GaYBOR District! Also a little bird told us that a new club with a huge out side court yard will be opening very soon in GaYBOR. The traditional outside Sunday T-Dances will be back! Toby from Island Florist was hospitalized after a boating accident this past week. Everybody in Ybor wishes Toby a  speedy recovery!  The Metro in Tampa was invaded with Ft. Lauderdale kids. You didn't think that Steve could sneak back into Tampa with out being noticed!!! Georgie's Alibi was packed with Holiday guests. Our secret eye at Georgie's (Keith) reports that the local guys were all  busy showing true Southern Hospitality! One last thing... Who is Batman???? He has been spotted all over the Tampa Bay Area. The man dressed as Batman driving a all black supped up motorcycle. Pulls up to people gives them the thumbs up and drives off! Is he just looking for Bat Boi? Oh Robin!!!!!   Tampa Bay Business Guild Meeting Guest Speaker will be Carrie West, President of GaYBOR District Coalition     Click here for Meeting Information & Reservations   Casting Call   The show cast of Chiq bar is looking at add some new cast member for there Sunday night shows starting in the next few weeks.  If you are  interested in joining the cast or have a interest in doing guest spots,  please contact Mark Saraceno at Stonewallmail@aol.com or contact Miss Esme' Russel    The shows are on Sunday at 10:30 pm at Chiq bar in St. Pete, 4900 66th st. north and will be hosted by Esme' Russel.    The new cast members will also be considered for the cast of the  new Stonewall Resort slatted to open sometime this Spring   Thank you Mark A Saraceno    The producers of the Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather Contest and Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather 2008, Pedro Diaz, wish to announce the following fund raising event in January 2008:   View full size   View full size   "Free Your Mind" - This brings the meaning of why we celebrate this holiday and this man's life to our own particular lifestyles, and encompasses so much of why so many of us in the gay and leather communities struggle and strive. This will be held on January 19th, the Saturday of the Martin Luther King weekend beginning at 10PM in Ybor City.  Yes, the same weekend as MAL in Washington, DC.  So whoever is not traveling up to chilly DC for that festive weekend, please enjoy the "warmer" Tampa weather here and join us at Lounge 7.14 / The Forge, levi/leather bar.  Pedro begins his charity fund raising for ASAP with this event and also to build his Travel / Leather Fund. For those who are unable to attend, we have a Donation Button on www.mrgulfcoastfloridaleather.com with which people can assist either using a paypal account or credit card.  Every dollar helps. Also please remember that the Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather contest producers sponsor "Gear Up Tampa Studs" at The Forge on the second Saturday of each month starting at 10PM.  This is JUST a night out.  No fund raising, no speeches, no hassles.  It's a night for leather men to come out and make out.  Please go to www.myspace.com/gearuptampastuds for more information. Upcoming Community Involvement and Fund Raising: February:  The "Expo In The Park" for Winter Pride Tampa Bay March:  CLAW -  Tampa Bay "Carnival Of Leather" - This event is associated with "Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) in Cleveland, Ohio on the weekend of 24-27 April, 2008.  www.clawinfo.org April:  Saturday April 19th - After Tax Day Happy New Year to you all.  Be well, be prosperous, be at peace. Lincoln    Lincoln Calcavecchi Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather 2006 mrgcflleather06@aol.com www.mrgulfcoastfloridaleather.com www.myspace.com/mrgcflleather06 www.myspace.com/gearuptampastuds 813-728-5042 TITLE BAR & PEDRO's IML SPONSOR: Lounge 7.14 / The Forge - Leather Levi Bar Ybor City, Tampa, Florida www.lounge714.com "The Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather 2008 contest over Veterans Day Weekend in Ybor City (Tampa), Florida was a rousing success!! Thanks to everyone for your support!! Pedro Diaz is Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather 2008." DONATE:  Please visit the web site www.mrgulfcoastfloridaleather.com if you wish to help raise money for Pedro's Leather and Travel Fund. Every dollar helps. Thank you!   ANIMAL FRIENDLY VENDORS WANTED! Get Rescued in Gulfport seeks animal friendly vendors for the third annual Get Rescued in Gulfport event on March 1 st, 2008. The event takes place on Beach Blvd. S from noon to 5pm. Animal friendly vendors may apply now through February 15th.  All other vendors may apply between January 15 th and February 15th. Get Rescued in Gulfport was established in 2005 with the sole purpose of bringing together registered 'non profit' animal rescue charities.  The City of Gulfport supports the festival that will allow rescue groups to showcase adoptable pets, promote their work and raise money so their cause may be continued.   For sponsorship or vendor opportunities, please call 727-322-5217, or e-mail GulfportEvents@Gmail.com.     From the Washington Blade    FILM Back to the art houses   Gay Vibrant queer cinema disappeared from multiplexes in 2007 GREG MARZULLO Friday, December 28, 2007 It’s been a grim year for gay cinema, at least in terms of making it into the multiplexes. Very little came down the pike that was especially groundbreaking for the mainstream (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” doesn’t even come close), and in many ways, gay issues have been driven back into the indie art films. I’ve gotten a little more stringent in my own personal criteria for what I prefer to review in this column. Having a gay actor (who plays straight) or a gay director telling an essentially non-gay story is no longer enough — I’m more interested in seeing how gay lives are presented by filmmakers, indie and mainstream alike. There were some notable films this year that fell into that nebulous “gay interest” category. Gay director Todd Haynes’ episodic Bob Dylan ode, “I’m Not There” garnered a lot of buzz, not the least of which is a hoped-for Oscar nod for Cate Blanchett’s gender-bending turn as the singer. The same actress also headlined “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” which received mixed reviews but was a diva-worshipper’s fantasy. For another type of diva, the hot-and-cold Edith Piaf biopic “La Vie En Rose” was a treat because of Marion Cotillard’s exquisite performance as the legendary Sparrow. Let’s not forget Tim Burton’s “Sweeney Todd,” which just opened recently, and is a sad disappointment. Finally, “Hairspray” also belongs with the other films in this category. Without someone like Divine or Harvey Fierstein anchoring the drag role of Edna Turnblad (despite a top-notch performance by John Travolta), the movie drifted more into campy fun than subversive queer or trash cinema. FILM FESTIVALS, LIMITED releases and DVDs remained the go-to spots for queer cinema. Eytan Fox’s “The Bubble” received lots of play and critical praise this year. A Romeo-and-Juliet story about the love between an Israeli and a Palestinian, the film was loved by many, but I had mixed feelings. For my review, which criticized what I saw as an easy ending, I got a significant amount of feedback asserting that the ending was a perfect representation of Jewish-Palestinian relations. Probably one of my favorite films of the past year, which did receive a limited release, was “The Life of Reilly,” a video record of Charles Nelson Reilly’s one-man show, “Save It For the Stage.” Before and after becoming known as a game-show staple and caricature, Reilly was an award-winning actor and director, and it’s easy to see why. His engaging performance is full of subtlety, moving from wry humor to wistful longing and even occasional moments of heartbreak. “Super Amigos,” a documentary seen at Philadelphia’s gay film festival as well as the AFI’s Silverdocs Festival, in Silver Spring, Md., was one of the year’s bright spots. Following a handful of Mexican men who dress up in the campy, superhero-like costumes of Mexican wrestlers, they take on social justice issues, including housing inequity, environmentalism and homophobia. “Super Gay,” a man whose partner was killed in a homophobic attack, makes appearances all over the city, promoting a pro-gay stance on the radio and comforting a mother robbed of her son by a hate crime. A popular film with a decent release this year was “Boy Culture,” directed by Q. Allan Brocka. Based on the same-titled book by Matthew Rettenmund, the story follows X, a hooker with an eventual heart of gold, who finds his way to love and a healthy relationship. DVDs this year gave audiences the chance to see some classic gay films. “Mikaël” is a silent German film that’s a fascinating history lesson on gays in early cinema, as is Jean Genet’s erotic and aching “Chant D’amour.” Genet’s 1950 film, in particular, is a groundbreaking piece, even by today’s standards, showing gay sexuality in a way that would make the MPAA blush and leave modern gay viewers thrilled at seeing themselves depicted so honestly. If only Hollywood could do the same.       The Date has been Set! The 2008 Gulfport Womyn's Festival will be held on April 5th. Mark Your Calendars now. Downloadable forms are now avilabe at www.SPHF.org  also be sure and check out their new MySpace at   http://www.myspace.com/gulfportwomynsfestival           E Mail From Our Readers   From Our Niece Megan in Tennessee Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!   From Mike in Miami Click here: Daily Email Newsletter - Funniest Video of the Day     From Wayne in St. Pete Technology just keeps advancing!           Wayne Prototype: Disappearing car doors http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtkoje4-eM        New GaYBOR Area Map Update       G. Bar www.Thisweekintampabay.com            Flirt Club & Show Bar www.flirtnightclubshowbar.com   Lounge 714 & The Forge http://www.myspace.com/lounge714 http://www.myspace.com/theforgeat714     Photo by Rex Maniscalco The New Home of the "Judy B Goode & Paul Thomas Show!" Every Thursday starting at 7pm!     SPIN!  Sunday's at Amphitheater in GaYBOR http://www.myspace.com/spinsundays         Wrangler's www.Wranglersbar.com http://www.myspace.com/wranglersheriff     Czar MySpace URL www.myspace.com/czarvodkabar       The Honey Pot www.myspace.com/tampahoneypot        Rock-N-Sports New Location Second Floor in the Plaza at Centro Ybor! Join our new MySpace www.myspace.com/rocknsportscentroybor      DETOUR Former Grand Central Station http://www.grandcentralstationfl.com/         City Side http://www.clubcityside.com     Sporters www.myspace.com/sportersbar     Our new web-site is up, www.sportersbar.com.     Georgie's Alibi www.georgiesalibi.com      Christopher Street Check out their Fab Website at http://christopherstreetbar.com/ New e mail address is email@christophersclub.com   NEW MySpace www.MySpace.com/christopherstreetbar     Pro Shop       Pulse in Lakeland http://www.myspace.com/pulselakeland        Waterside Landing http://www.myspace.com/watersidelandingnightclub     **************************************************************************************   Valentines www.Valentinesnightclub.com   Chiq Bar http://www.myspace.com/chiqbar      ******************************************** Sawmill Campground 21710 U.S. Highway 98 Dade City, Florida 33523 Phone: (352) 583-0664  http://www.flsawmill.com ********************************************************* For Directions Visit   GayBarMaps.com More Clubs & Links 2606 Back Room City Side Christopher Street Bar Cold Keg Nite Club Flirt Night Club/Show Bar G. Bar Gaspar's Grotto Georgie's Alibi Grand Central Station The Hideaway Keith's Bar Midtown Tavern Tampa Pro Shop Rainbow Room Pub The Hideaway The Other Side The Platform This Week In Tampa Bay Valentines Night Club Waterside Landing Wranglers Bar ***********************************************************  Fun Links in Ybor City Fun Links in Ybor City   Bonita Casitas - Historic Guest Cottages http://www.bonitacasitastampabay.com   The Castle  http://www.castle-ybor.com/ Centro Ybor http://www.centroybor.com/   Creatures of Delight www.creaturesofdelight.com   Crow Bar Live http://www.crowbarlive.com   Czar www.myspace.com/czarvodkabar   Don Vicente Inn http://www.donvicenteinn.com/   Flirt Night Club Show Bar http://www.flirtnightclubshowbar.com/   G.Bar http://www.gbartampabay.com/   GaYBOR District Coalition http://www.myspace.com/gaybor    Gay Country Line Dancing www.gaycountrylinedancing.com   Hampton Inn & Suites www.tampayborcitysuites.hamptoninn.com Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Ybor Historic District www.tampaybor.stayhgi.com   Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association http://www.hynca.com The Honey Pot http://www.myspace.com/tampahoneypot  Island Flowers of Ybor http://www.yborislandflowers.com  The Laughing Cat Restaurant http://myspace.com/thelaughingcatrestaurant Lounge 7 at 14 http://www.myspace.com/lounge714 M. A.D. Theatre www.madtheatre.com   MC Film Festival www.MCFILMFEST.com   New York New York  Pizza new york new york pizza   Rock -N- Sports www.rocknsportsbar.com   SAC Supper Club www.sacsuppers.com    Tampa Improv Comedy Club http://improvtampa.com/Default.asp   Wrangler's http://www.wranglersbar.com/   Wrangler's Dancers http://www.myspace.com/tampabaywranglers   Ybor Chamber of Commerce http://www.ybor.org   Ybor City Development Corp. http://www.tampagov.net/dept_ybor_city_development_corporation/index.asp   For the complete list of links visit www.mcfilmfest.com Links Page   Would you like to be included in our links page? Its easy... Include us on your link page and we will put you on ours. Contact us at mcfilmfest@aol.com  ****************************************************************************     P.S. Hear any Good Dish? Please share it with us at ... E-mail: MCFilmFest@aol.com    Until Next Week, Dishing with Mark & Carrie MC  Film  Festival 1901 North 15th Street (corner of 8th and 15th street, Ybor City) Tampa, Florida,  33605 813-247-6233  (mcff) Web site: www.mcfilmfest.com E-mail:   MCFILMFEST@aol.com myspace.com/mcfilmfest

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