Overheard in Tampa Bay: Leather, leather and MORE leather!

Overheard in Tampa Bay: Leather, leather and MORE leather!

Erotic St. Petersburg
Really, it is erotic. The return of the Erotica art show at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts ex expected to bring a huge crowd and some beautiful models for the 2014 edition on Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Erotica: An Evening with Venus, explores erotic imagery in ancient Roman Art and plans include bodybuilder models and beautiful women representing the time period and artwork. They will truly be walking works of art, complete with body paint. Spathose’s George Medieros, who helped create the event, said he expects the largest crowd yet and some very happy vendors, who will display their own works of art in the museum’s lobby. After a mingle near the entrance, Dr. Robert Stephen Bianchi will introduce selections of sensually themed graffiti from Pompeii, proving that “horny” isn’t just a modern-day emotion. Tickets range from $15-$25 and are available at Fine-Arts.org.

Knight Parade shooting wasn’t gay-related
We get that this headline seems more appropriate for the news pages, but there is speculation that a shooting immediately following the Gasparilla Knight Parade in Ybor City involved two gay men. Police say that is incorrect. According to official reports, the shooter was a straight teenager who was upset with his ex-girlfriend but had awful aim and shot an innocent male bystander. Of course, the incident is under investigation but at press time, that’s the official account from Tampa Police. Rumors on Facebook swirled that it was gay-on-gay violence amidst the revelry of the Feb. 8 tradition. So far, there’s no evidence to support that.

A leather revival in St. Pete?
On Feb. 1, members of the Tampa Bay leather community celebrated the grand opening of The Eagle’s Boiler Room on 5th Ave. North in St. Petersburg. The new bar—and former home of Partner’s Bar and Grill—sported a leather theme, a slideshow of leather events and raffle tickets sold by members of the Tampa Bay Leather Club. The crowded parking lot suggested there is a lot of interest in the new club, and the leather-clad bartender and owners seemed ready to ensure everyone had a fun experience.

Mr. Code set to return
The grand opening of The Eagle was just a month and a half before the annual Mr. Code contest scheduled for the Flamingo Resort the weekend of March 21-23. Organizers of that event say the contestant list is already filling up quickly. The contest is held over three days and begins with a contestant meet-and-greet Friday night and the outdoor contest on Saturday night. A celebratory brunch and T-Dance is slated for that Sunday. It’s free to watch the contest. If you want to enter and vie for Mr. Code, a preliminary contest to International Mr. Leather, visit FlamingoFla.com.

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