Nephew of the Week: Peter Mardon
Originally from Los Angeles, Peter now calls Ybor City his home. When he’s not busy working, you will find Peter out with friends in GaYBOR, with a big smile on his face. Introduce yourself to him. You will be glad you did.
You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up!
When we were going to USF there was a new apartment complex there. They were called “Garden Homes” and were pre-fab single story units. We were at a party in one of those units when the host wanted to show us something.
There had been a fire in one bedroom and it burned a hole in the floor and scorched the inner walls. The guys living there didn’t want to tell the landlords. We thought that was one of the strangest things, until last week.
We met two guys in their late 50s. The guys told us they have been together for about five years. They were living next door to each other at an apartment complex. About a year into their relationship, the guys took down the wall between the two apartments to make one big unit. They told us that the landlord actually got really mad. So in the middle of the night they moved out.
OMG…They looked like nice, intelligent guys. WOW!
Celebrity Sighting
Daytime TV’s mega-star Bryan Dattilo, who is celebrating 22 years on Days of Our Lives this year, was spotted at Bradley’s on 7th having a great GaYBOR time. Along with him were two of the newest actors also on the show, Casey Moss and Christopher Sean.
St. Pete Pride 2015
The largest GLBT pride event in Florida, the 13th Annual St Pete Pride was very successful. An estimated diverse crowd of 150,000 viewed the night parade. Large numbers came from across the state to be a part of the second annual night parade festivities. The community was triumphant after the previous day’s SCOTUS decision legalizing same-sex marriage across all 50 states. A proud moment for everyone.
The evening air was refreshing. The parade went off without any hitches. This year lights were lighting up the parade route all along the side streets and on Central Avenue.
The new St. Pete Pride logo was hanging from street lamps all along Central Avenue’s Grand Central District, welcoming visitors from all over the country and world.
Thundering clouds in the morning washed the pavement for what then turned out to be a fabulous sunny Sunday for the Street Festival on Central Avenue. Over 400 vendors filled the avenue. Music stages sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank and another stage sponsored by Verizon FIOS had a great number of area acts performing. A three-story zipline in the middle of the street festival had courageous attendees flying through the air surrounded by a crowd of onlookers right on Central Avenue.
Misters and cold towels were being handed out by a great number of vendors. Again, a typical hot, humid day in St. Pete but luckily no rain during the daytime festival.
Proud Uncles
Our niece Sarah married her partner Jennifer several years ago. Now in our family we have a second niece and two great-nephews. They have a home in the Washington, D.C. area. When the Supreme Court handed down their equal marriage ruling, we were all so excited. Then later that night, we received the following text and photo from our niece.
“Rainbow lights on the White House?!? What! Everybody out of bed, we’re taking a ride. :)”
