GaYBOR Happenings
The sun never sets in Ybor City. Just in the last two weeks, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn presented MC Film Festival co-owner Carrie West with the Ybor City Development Corp. 2011 Achievement Award for his indefatigable promotion of the historic commercial district. GaYBOR Coalition members Manny Alvarez (Liquid Lounge), D. Stephen Moss (Honey Pot, G.Bar), and Bonnie Plumbtree (Crowbar) were named to the YCDC board. And the Hillsborough Community College students returned! According to MC Film Fest's Mark Bias, the bumper crop of fresh-faced collegians loves to party at the Ybor Social Club on Thursday nights, and then with a full complement of liquid courage venture over to Bradley's on 7th to enter the amateur strip contest”with $200 prize. That'll buy a few books! According to Bias, some of them stop at MC to pick up a clean pair of underwear first.
4Friends Bar Opens
It just opened earlier this month, but many are already pronouncing 4Friends Club-Bar the “best gay latino party in town.” The owner are”you guessed it”four friends, comprised of two couples: Mercedes and Gloria, and Leonardo and James. Gloria is a professional cake artist, and Leonardo is an accomplished artist whose paintings have won awards, and hang on the walls at the bar. 4Friends features a stage, dance floor, high tech lighting and video screens. Right now it's open Thursday thru Sunday nights at 4025 W. Waters Ave. just west of Dale Mabry.
DADT Dies at Queens Head
On Tuesday Sept. 20, more than 100 people gathered at Queens Head Restaurant and Eurobar to celebrate the repeal of the military's nefarious “Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. A happy mix of LGBT veterans, elected officials and community activists listened to the different experiences of two gay service members, Kris Tobin and Brian Arsenault, under DADT. The happy event was sponsored by Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas.
Trans Art
Transgender artist Robin Morgan's striking “Noise” is one of twelve sculptures being considered for permanent display by the City of Sarasota. All twelve were selected to be installed in downtown Sarasota for one year, and the winner”announced Nov. 9″will be purchased by the city for $20,000. “This is my first sculpture, so I don't expect to win,” Morgan said. “I'm honored to be included in this group of professional artists.”
