Nephew of the Week: Dontez Matthews
Just out of the U.S. Army! That’s way cool! Now Dontez is the operations manager at Game Time in GaYBOR/Ybor City.
You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up!
In the 1980s we were lucky to meet this fun loving guy named Jim. He was a very large guy with an even bigger heart. He had purchased a home in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa. What fun he and his contractor had with this home. The bedroom next to the master had been converted into a Greek bath fantasy room. In the center of the room were four Greek columns. Each one had two shower heads pointing to the center. Jim would laugh about all the fun he had when he turned all eight showerheads on and he would dance in the center! LOL LOL! Attached to the home, he had a four-car garage. Inside the home was a narrower staircase that led up to the party room, which was built over the garage. There was a huge bar and dance floor, complete with lights, disco balls and sounds. There was only one restroom, which had a sign on the door that said “Men’s Room.” Inside there was a wall-to-floor urinal for the men! But the most incredible part of this room was on the walls. Behind glass, custom-made floor to ceiling, was a collection of miniature liquor bottles. Jim would boast that at this time he had the Guinness World Records’ LARGEST COLLECTION! A few years later Jim passed away. We cannot help but wonder what ever happened to his miniature liquor bottle collection. THANK YOU Jim for the great memories!
Bear Party Beautiful at the Ybor City Social Club
Capacity was reached numerous times and the lines grew and grew for the monthly Bear Party at The Social. It was a gorgeous night to be out and the bears came out in force, bringing along otters and cubs. There was also a softball team selling raffle tickets for their team heading to the gay softball tournament in July.
The third Saturday has become a focal attraction for the Bear community and has bears coming from as far away as Atlanta, Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. This is the ninth bear monthly event held on the third Saturday of the month, and all of the events have been supremely attended.
The attendance as noted was belly to belly and laughter and smiles could be seen from the hundreds of fun-loving bears and fans.
Condos on the Ybor Horizon
The fourth stage of the Encore Housing District is set for the musical-themed housing development in between downtown Tampa and Ybor City. The high-rise developments completed are the Ella (from singer Ella Fitzgerald), the Tempo, and the new Trio apartment building and Reed Senior Living Center on Ray Charles Boulevard in the Encore District.
Now the next phase of housing will begin, and with it brings an assortment of townhouses, condos, hotels and shopping centers that are in the planning stages. They are going to be starting construction soon at the corner of Cypress Street and Nebraska Avenue.
Celebrating 25 Years in Business in Tampa Bay, MC FILM
Rainbow items are ON SALE! There are a colorful assortment of rainbow flags, super rainbow beach towels, rainbow hats, colorful shirts and underwear! There’s also a wide variety of rainbow bracelets, necklaces and beads at MC FILM: your one-stop shop in GaYBOR!
