Nephew of the Week: Jeffrey Kelly Abess
The two words that best describe Jeffrey are “defying gravity.” When on stage he flies through the air like a bird. He is the winner of many titles (and deservedly so). If you’re lucky, you might catch him performing on a Thursday night at Hamburger Mary’s in GaYBOR.
You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up!
One year before 9/11, we were in Las Vegas for the New Year’s Gift Show with our friends Chuck and George. We decided to take an afternoon off and visit the wondrous, humongous Hoover Dam. Before 9/11 you could take the hard hat tours and go deep inside the workings of the massive dam.
We all had our hats on and headed into Hoover Dam. Our tour guide took our group of eight people into the inner dam facilities. As we made our way through the famous dam, and through the many tunnels, it was very interesting.
We were told that the concrete was still curing. There were small leaks of water actually coming through. Finally, we were at the very base of the gigantic mother dam just above the winding Colorado River. All of a sudden, very loud sirens went off.
Our tour guide and the workers started to run everywhere. We didn’t know what to do and just looked at each other…what was going on? After about four minutes the sirens that echoed the river’s lower canyon chamber stopped and our guide re-appeared. Of course we all asked what just happened.
Our guide actually said…”That was the dam’s emergency warning system to evacuate the dam. I knew you couldn’t keep up with us so we just left you here.” Hmmmmm, you really can’t make this up!
Miss East Coast Large & Lovely Pageant
Nicole Lane from Tampa won the pageant title at the 4th Annual Miss East Coast Large & Lovely Pageant. The co-owners, Delores Van Cartier and Kurt King, put on a very impressive pageant at Hamburger Mary’s Sunday night. The friendly, fierce set of judges included from Baltimore, Adonius Diamond; from St. Petersburg, Stephanie Stuart; from Clearwater, Jocelyn Summers; and from Lakeland, Kathryn Nevets.
This year’s pageant had eight contestants and the pageant added a sexy lingerie category for all contestants. The winner took away $14,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. The national pageant will be held in February in Orlando at the Parliament House.
Last year’s winner, Miss Dorae Saunders, and 2013 winner, Miss Star Montrese Love, were celebrated pageant guests. Congratulations Nicole!
Saturday Ybor City Market’s New Fall Season
The fall season is perfect pickings for fall produce and an assortment of handmade crafts. The Ybor City Saturday Market in Centennial Park is starting another year with many new vendors.
The upcoming Fall Pumpkin Patch, Fall Crafts Weekend and the many fall festival weekends are always a treat for the whole family. The aroma of freshly baking bread in the air is a treat, as is the chance to meet with the many artists and chat about their creations.
Market hours are on Saturday mornings in historic Ybor City from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit ybormarket.com.
