Ybor truly makes the Yuletide gay
When you talk about things “hung” in Ybor City, it can mean a variety of things”but in this case it's all about the holiday decorations. The Fourth Annual GaYbor Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest transformed historic 7th Avenue to truly make the yuletide gay. Retail shops, bars, clubs, hotels and offices all participated for a chance to win prize baskets and recognition for their Christmas cheer. To celebrate the festive feat, The Honey Pot hosted a party of more than 160 business owners, according to our friends Mark Bias and Carrie West of the novelty store MC Film Fest.
While entertainers Esme Russell, Amy DeMilo, Robyn DeMornay, Melanie Minyon, Summer Alexander and Judy B. Goode and Paul Thomas entertained the crowd, winners of the decorating contest were announced: Best Decorated Retail”Hoffman Prges Art Gallery at 1907 7th Ave.; Best Decorated Club/Bar”The Ritz Ybor at 1503 7th Ave.; Best Decorated Restaurant”Hot Willy's Hot Dogs on North 1604 17th St.; Best Decorated House/ Condo”Jeff Duck & Bud McAfee at 1910 E. 4th Ave.; and Best Decorated Group Effort category”Sherry Matone, Kim Cheeley and Brett Diebold at 1406-1410 E. 4th Ave.
Wanda Sykes on DADT and bin Laden's death
When Wanda Sykes appeared at Ruth Eckerd Hall recently, she shared her views on the GOP Presidential candidates, the sex life of President Obama and First Lady Michele and marrying a white woman and raising two white babies. All got plenty of laughs, but what really had the crowd roaring was when the comedienne spoke about the repeal of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and its “coincidental” timing with the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden. “You know once those soldiers heard that they could be out and stop stressing about keeping such a big secret to themselves, they came out of the closet,” [prancing across the stage], “and said, “Here he is, bitches.' Pow. Pow. Pow.”
With the outdated policy finally in the history books, Sykes predicted even more military success for our troops around the world. “They don't have to put all that energy into hiding who they are,” Sykes said. “Look out terrorists, we've truly got a focused military now.”
