A Special Thank You For Joining To
Amphitheatre Events, Inc. Liane Bennati 1609 E. 7th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 Event Show Productions Dorene Collier P.O. Box 20731 Tampa, FL 33622 Kuehne + Nagel, Inc. Bill Donovan 8130 Anderson Road, Suite 306 Tampa, FL 33634 La Herencia De Cuba Mario Magan 1817 E. 7th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 Mema's Alaskan Tacos Sean Godin 1724 E. 8th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 Natural Supreme Smoothie Robin Buggs 1910 E. 7th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 Rent All of Tampa, Inc. Randy Runey 722 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33609 Segway Experience at Ybor City Rebecca Greenwood 1600 E. 8th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 A Note of Appreciation To Renewed Members ASAP Magazine Distribution Leo Hooper 4423 N. Florida Ave. Tampa, FL 33603 Bay Villa Development Dan Howell P.O. Box 18464 Tampa, FL 33679 CGM Services, Inc. Debbie Herweh 1015 E Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard Tampa, FL 33603 Empire Discount Paint & Hardware Mark Wilson 3602 E 7th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute 12902 Magnolia Drive, MBC-PR Tampa, FL 33612 Quality Inn & Suites Near Fairgrounds & Ybor City Bill Deitz 4955 E. 18th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605 TBYC Holdings, LLC Sheila Shaw 4210 Fairway Circle Tampa, FL 33618 The Dirty Shame Richard Boom 1929 E. 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605 Click on a highlighted company name to learn more about your fellow members. |

Ybor Chamber
Member Spotlight
Opened in 1917 as the Rivoli Theater, The Ritz Ybor is back and better than ever. Re-opened in June 2008 after a $2 million renovation, The Ritz Ybor is home to live concerts, high-profile events such as the 2009 Maxim Super Bowl Party, and special events, parties and weddings. Owned by Ybor's own Capitano Family, the 17,000 square foot facility has three distinct rooms, including the Theater Ballroom, which houses a state-of-the-art lighting system, a grand foyer, full service bars, and an extensive catering prep kitchen.
You can catch "up-and-coming" artists, such as Lady Gaga before she became a house hold name, as well as old favorites like Three Dog Night. Just last week, Natasha Betingfield played to an appreciative crowd. Now through August 19, you can participate in The Ritz Ybor's Second Annual Quest for the Ultimate Opening Act.
Square One Creative Events, directed by Okesene Tilo, who is the Public Relations & Marketing Director of The Ritz Ybor, occurs biannually at The Ritz Ybor, fusing art, music, dance and fashion.
It's great to have Tampa's premiere live concert and events venue right in our own back yard.
Carla Vaughan The Ritz Ybor 1503 E. 7th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 813-247-2555 www.theritzybor.com
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Convention Planner
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July 30- August 10
2011 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
Anticipated Attendance: 5,500
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August 18-27
2011 Gospel Music Workshop of America National Convention
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
Anticipated Attendance: 15,000
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Florida's Best
Michele and I spent the weekend with my sister Kay and her husband. I have known "brother Bill" since I was twelve. He bought me my first bottle of liquor (he got in more trouble than I did) and helped me write my first speech. So, we thought we would show them a bit of "Florida's Best."
Bill has had a gift certificate to Bern's Steakhouse burning a hole in his pocket for months. And, of course, I'm just the guy to help him use it. So it was off to Bern's - not too shabby an introduction to "Florida's Best." Don't forget, this culinary icon even has a separate room just for dessert - even if you just have room for the Café Con Leche with Cuarenta Y Tres, like I did.
The next day while Bill & Kay slept-in at the Hampton - Ybor City, "M" and I shopped and prepped for one of our "tapas afternoons." A great tapas affair is like maintaining a gentle "beach buzz." Each item is uniquely satisfying, but served in small enough portions to keep folks wanting more - some Caprese Pintxos, a few Diver Scallops, a modest portion of Salteado (made with the leftovers from Bern's). Bill and I had time for a Flor De Ybor City, and a little "43" on the side, while the girls started getting ready.
For a great evening out, it's "dinner & a movie" or the theater. With special guests, what better than a Broadway show? So, it was off to the Straz to see & hear Mamma Mia. Fantastic, the guys in the theater rendition could actually sing. Pierce Bosnan makes a great 007, but can't "carry a tune in a bucket" in the movie version.
"Auntie M" took the lead on preparing Sunday Brunch, producing her "customize your own" Belgian Waffles. She has a Hamilton Pro double waffle iron and can crank those babies out. What to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? How about touring "a world-class" art museum. Yes, that's it, let's visit the new Dali. Our docent was so knowledgeable. She revealed some of the truly unique aspects of Salvador Dali's childhood that shaped his quirky behavior as "the world's most important surrealist" (according to Dali).
What to do for the grand finale? We returned to Ybor City to finish our tour of "Florida's Best" at the Columbia - a favorite with our family for three generations. A pitcher of Mojitos, the Shrimp Supreme tapas, a round of 1905 Salads and a choice of artisanal bean soup - what a great way to end a weekend of "Florida's Best."
Start and end your tour of "Florida's Best" in the heart and soul of Tampa - Historic Ybor City.
- Tom Keating
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Chamber Happenings August 9- Ybor Chamber Monthly Membership Luncheon, Tues. 11:45AM- 1:15PM- Luncheon attendees will receive a campus update from the Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus President, Dr. Shawn Robinson. The Ybor Chamber will also present the HCC Foundation a check for the Dr. Lois Gaston scholarship. The award is dedicated to the Ybor Campus' Motion Media Program. 813.248.3712 x22 September 17- Gala 2011 and Adela & Cesar Gonzmart Award Presentation- Sat. 6:30PM- Join us at the Columbia Restaurant in celebrating the opening of the Latin social season and recognizing the many contributions of the Moré family, owners of La Segunda Central Bakery and one of Ybor's most prominent families. Anyone interested in sponsoring, advertising, donating and attending Gala should contact Anna Ramos at 813.248.3712 x22 |
Summer 2011 Ybor Expo: Business Showcase
 | Member Tampa Bay Business Journal was on hand for their first Ybor Expo. (Photo- Michele Keating)
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 | Past Chamber President & Author, Annette DeLisle (in lavendar) and Past Chamber Chair, Ron Rampolla catch up on old times.
(Photo- Michele Keating) |
 | New Member, Event Show Productions, added flair to the Expo!
(Photo- Al Frederick) |
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Events and Announcements July 20- Movie Night At Tre Amici, Wed. 7PM- 9PM- Wednesday nights are movie nights at The Bunker and tomorrow, Wednesday, July 20th will feature the life and times of the Beatle's John Lennon in Nowhere Boy. 813.247.6964 July 20- Tribal Seeds, Tribal Style & Seedless At Crowbar, Wed. 7PM- 11:30PM- Join Tom and the rest of the crew at Crowbar for a night filled with California roots, rock and reggae rhythms in a jamming show. 813.241.8600 July 22- Paint The Possible: Artictic Mural Messagaing, Fri. 5PM- 8PM- Community Stepping Stones, a youth outreach program, will make their mural at at the HCC Ybor Campus Art gallery come to life. They will showcase their talents in a unique style. Attendees may even become models for one of the murals. 813.932.1950 July 29- Free Show & Book Signing At The Bricks, Fri. 9PM- Midnight- Ever wondered what it would be like to travel with musicians? If so, head to The Bricks to pick-up a signed copy of Tony Patino's The Road, and while you are there, take in the musical talents of Murder-Suicide Pact, Dave Decker Acoustic, and New Bruises. 813.247.1785 August 18- Tampa Bay Tech Jam 2011: A Decade of Rock- The Tampa Bay Technology Forum will be holding its tenth annual Tech Jam at the Ritz Ybor. This event serves as a fundraiser for the TBTF Foundation. Proceeds from the event benefit mentoring and education programs as well as provide for various scholarships focused on students interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and math. 813.425.9635 717 Parking Partners With HCC - Hillsborough Community College's Ybor Campus now has a new parking company managing their lots after hours. Rates will vary between $3 and $10 per vehicle depending on dates and events. For more information, visit www.717parking.com. Day Tours Tampa Bay Introduces All-Inclusive Experience To Ybor City's Historic Eatery- Ambassador Limousine & Sedan, Inc. will be rolling out an all-Inclusive tour through their Day Tours Tampa Bay division come Monday, August 1st. Guests will be provided a luxurious ride to Ybor City, followed up by a tour of the Columbia Restaurant capped off by an authentic Columbia meal. 866.508.9050 Import/Export Stipends Available From The Institute For Corporate and Continuing Education at HCC- Ybor companies shipping goods are encouraged to participate in an educational program specializing in certifcations, consulting, and training related to the import/export industry. Stipends cover 50 to 75% of training and consulting costs associated with the programs. 813.253.7074 |
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