Columns

Dishing with Mark & Carrie Dec 23, 2009

December 21, 2009

People are Talking about GaYBOR

The rumors are flying around Ybor these days! Inspired by the positive, can do attitude of the GaYBOR District Coalition, the start of the New Year looks like a very busy and fabulous start. Two weeks ago we saw the opening of Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille in Centro Ybor. The month before we saw the opening of Tribeca Colorsalon , Joffery’s Coffee and Agora Furnishings. This week we heard that another famous GLBT restaurant bar chain is taking a serious look at GaYBOR. Two new restaurants will be opening soon on and off 7th Ave. An investment group from Key West is talking about opening a guest house/club on 7th Ave in GaYBOR. There also 2 other guest house locations being talked about by other investors. There is aloso a national internet company looking to relocate its operations in GaYBOR, bringing 80 to 100 new jobs to Ybor City. In March, the Metro Charties will be opening next to the Hampton Inn & Suites on 7th in the major multi-million dollar renovated century old Sans Sounci Theatre Building. There are also talks of a pharmacy moving in. The GaYBOR Coalition is busy working on the spring break festival, Southern Exposure, with big name entertainment and amusements in late February and GaYBOR Day’s in July. GaYBOR is also kicking off a national advertising campaign on Facebook and working together with Tampa Bay & Co to bring 2 major conventions to Historic Ybor City in 2011.WOW… looks like a very bright future for 2010! Remember, when in Historic Ybor City look for businesses that proudly display the GaYBOR stickers in their windows. Why would you want to do business anywhere else?

Saturday, December 26, 2009, 8pm

Wanzie Production’s final performance of the all star “A Christmas Carol,” a dickens-inspired celebrity cavalcade holiday spectacle, takes place Saturday, December 26^th at 8pm at the Parliament House in the Footlight Theatre. Imagine Wanzie narrating the Dickens holiday classic while all the stars of the show (some living, some dead) refuse to completely divest themselves of their Hollywood and Broadway personas. Inappropriate in manner and dress, the egocentric celebs attempt to portray dickens-era scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future. This most unique and downright hilarious production is being billed as Dickens – inspired celebrity cavalcade holiday spectacle but what happens when one of the spectacles advertised headliners is a no-show and the talent agency sends an un-rehearsed aging Broadway legend as a last minute stand-in who arrives just seconds before the footlight theatre curtain rises on Wanzie’s glittering, star studded “A Christmas Carol?” Will Wanzie be able to narrate the show and direct the confused stand-in at the same time? And how do confetti-throwing Rip Tailor and Muppet Miss Piggy fit into this period piece? What happens when the celebrity performers start competing for the spotlight during the musical numbers? The answers to the above questions will only become known to you when you attend Wanzie’s glittering, star studded “A Christmas Carol.” In addition to the many living and dead celebs – such as Barbra, Lucy and Elvis, all of whom will be appearing in the show – this production also exploits the talents of Carol Lee, Miss Sammy, Gidget Galore, Wanzie’s Doug White and master puppeteer Doug Baaser. God help us, every one! Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at Wanzie.com/boxoffice.