BURLESQUE
Franki Markstone gives insight into the sultry side of Tampa culture
CULTURE CRAWL Discover the history of Ybor’s finest establishments
THE DOGHOUSE
A glance at the place where several of Tampa’s baseball stars started See inside for your chance to win a copy of Just Dance 2015
Our
Culture ISSUE 81.12 | NOVEMBER ISSUE | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR FACULTY ADVISOR ART DIRECTOR
Mia Glatter Lauren Richey Tiffini Theisen Justine Parks
NEWS & FEATURES Katherine Lavacca Zoe Fowler ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Jackie Braje Selene San Felice OPINION Richard Whitaker Avery Twible SPORTS Philip Novotny Jordan Llanes MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Doha Madani Savanna Blackerby COPY EDITING Khadijah Khan PHOTOGRAPHY Casey Budd Raeshaad Long Alex Jackson Ellis Catalan WRITERS
Maddie Irwin James Belluscio Marcus Mitchell Regina Gonzalez Tess Sheets
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Culture is everywhere. Some culture we absorb from our families or friends. Some we participate in because of where we live. Some is formed around us subconciously and before we know it, we are classified in certain categories, whether it applies to us or not. In my life, I see several cultures; I get my italian appetite and work ethic from my family, I’m a millenial so I fall into the stereotypes of Gen Y, and I live in Tampa so I participate in the city’s culture. As we were creating this magazine we all realized that there is still so much of our individual cultures that we haven’t experienced and want to know more about. Discovering the richness and reason behind different cultures is what we strived to accomplish in this issue. If we only scratch the surface of our cultures, we will only see the shallow parts. You know Tampa has an abundance of strip clubs, but did you know that Burlesque has a strong presence as well? Our covergirl, the beautiful Franki Markstone, will clue you in. Online and app dating is all our generation can talk about, but can actual blind dates, without the corrpution of social media, still work? We sent two writers to find out. Believe it or not, Ybor also exists during the daytime and many of the dives there have a rich history I’ll bet you’ve never known. As you peruse the pages of this magazine I hope you find something that makes you want to learn more about your cultures as well.
ut.minaret@gmail.com
THE MINARET | PAGE 2
MIA GLATTER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Contents 4 | DORM THANKSGIVING Don’t get to go home this thanksgiving break? We’ve got the recipes for a worry free, dorm-friendly meal.
6 | JUST DANCE The highly anticipated sixth installment of the Just Dance series just came out and it’ll really get you moving.
10 | BLIND DATES With the conviences of online dating services, is it really possible to go on a completely blind date?
12 | VIETNAM Our Asst. Opinion editor discusses what she has learned about her father’s time in the vietnam war.
14 | CULTURAL CRAWL Take a walk through Ybor during the daytime and discover the history behind some great places.
18 | BURLESQUE Burlesque veteran Franki Markstone gives her take on the Tampa Burlesque scene.
22 | PEOPLE OF YBOR You’ve seen or heard about these people on wild Ybor nights. Now hear their stories.
28 | THE DOGHOUSE Here’s what baseball means to Seminole Heights, whose little leage scene has produced some great pros.
30 | COACHES Two long-time UT coaches give their take on how athletics has changed and improved over the years.
34 | EDC Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat? We sent an editor to EDC to learn if the beads and totems live up to the hype.
38 | CRETTIQUITE Most college students aren’t without their share of loans. A local CPA shares how to start tackling them now.
40 | FASHION
Ever wonder what you can find when you dig in a thrift store? We show our best finds and how to wear them.
42 | ART STUDENTS Seasoned art students at UT are producing some incredible stuff. They share their inspirations and styles.
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Merry Bright May your dorms be
By Madison Irwin
For Thanksgiving break some students have the luxury of going home (or receiving an invite to crash at someone else’s place) and enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal with their family. Others, unfortunately, are stuck on campus for the week. For those who are in fact staying on campus and don’t want to partake in the Thanksgiving feast that the cafeteria offers, there is one more solution: cook your own Thanksgiving dinner. Below are five super easy and affordable recipes to ensure that you don’t miss out on the holiday; whether you decide to invite others over or to gobble everything down yourself is another story.
No Stress Turkey
They don’t call it Turkey Day for nothing! Fun fact: the average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. Unfortunately, you probably won’t have that many guests to feed and big birds can run on the pricier side. By no means does that mean you have to stop cold turkey (pun intended). This college friendly recipe is by far the easiest one. All you need to do is buy some sliced turkey from the deli then season it to add moisture and flavor, just like you would do to a whole turkey. The best seasonings to use is a blend of salt, black pepper, dried parsley, onion powder, and a bit of sugar. Lastly, cook the deli turkey in the microwave until it’s steaming hot. If you would prefer to have ham the same directions apply.
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Ingredients:
Deli turkey meat Salt Black Pepper Dried Parsley Onion powder Sugar
Simple Stuffing
Luckily, stuffing is already an easy-to-make Thanksgiving recipe. Although there will be no stuffing of the turkey for this feast, there will definitely be stuffing of the face. For this recipe, you can start by taking out all of your anger at being left on campus over this holiday by ripping up some day-old bread in a medium bowl. Then mix in (less angrily) with the rest of the ingredients. Next, shape the sticky concoction into a loaf and wrap it in foil. Bake it (if you don’t have a kitchen, you can use the community oven in your building) for an hour at 350 degrees, slice it, and it’s ready to serve. If you really desire to, you could also just make stovetop stuffing. Then again, is the goal really to impress anyone at this point?
Ingredients:
1/3 loaf of day-old bread 1/3 can of cream of mushroom soup 1/3 can of vegetable broth 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon of poultry seasonings 1/4 teaspoon of sage Optional- one tablespoon of chopped pecans or two tablespoons of dried cranberries
Homemade Microwaveable Mashed Potatoes
No stove is required for this recipe! Homemade mashed potatoes are a once a year delicacy, mainly due to the fact that it takes a decent amount of time for it to cook. But college students have a tendency to get hangry, so it’s best not to leave your guests waiting for too
long. Sure, microwaveable mashed potato packets are convenient, but they still have an artificial taste to them; and there should be nothing artificial about Thanksgiving. It’s time to put that baked potato button on your microwave to the test. All you have to do for this recipe is cook the potatoes in the microwave, scoop out the flesh, then mash together all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
Ingredients:
6 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered (about 2 pounds) 1/4 cup of butter 1/2-3/4 cup of milk salt and pepper
No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
As Paula Deen says, “I don’t want to spend my life not having good food going into my pie hole. That hole was made for pies.” And who doesn’t love pie? For this simple recipe, start out by whisking together the pudding mixes and milk in a medium bowl until thick and blended. Next, stir in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Spread the mix evenly over the graham cracker or gingersnap crust. If you so desire, garnish the top with pecan or walnut halves. Then cover and refrigerate the pie for at least 5 hours or overnight. And of course, don’t forget about the whipped cream!
Ingredients:
1 pre-made graham cracker or gingersnap pie crust 2 packages (3-3/4 ounces each) of instant vanilla pudding mix 1 and 1/2 cups of milk 1 can of solid-pack pumpkin puree 1 and 1/4 teaspoons of cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon of ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg optional- pecan halves or walnut halves for garnish
Just Want To Dance By Mia Glatter
T
he gym is too small. Too crowded. Not enough machines. Too many meatheads. It smells weird. I have no time. I don’t even lift. My sneakers don’t match my shorts. There is never a shortage of excuses to not make it to the gym, especially with the understandably hectic lives that most UT students lead. If only there was another way that we could get sufficient exercise without having to leave the comfort of our living rooms. If only there was a routine that didn’t make exercise haters want to melt into the hot pavement every time it was attempted. Let’s just dance. If you happen to be blessed with the availability of some sort of gaming system with
moving software like a PS4 with a camera, an Xbox with a Kinect or a Wii, any of the Just Dance games are the answer to your fitness prayers. Just Dance 2015 was released on October 21 and is the sixth installment of the popular birthday party/ family reunion/ drunken night in/ basically anytime you’re feeling dancey game. Just Dance 2015 offers a new setlist of 45 songs to choose from including some current top 40 favorites like “Bang Bang” and “Happy,” as well as some oldies but goodies like “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith and “You Spin Me Right Round” by Dead or Alive. It even introduces some fun cult classics like “What the Fox Say” and the theme from Tetris. No, really. You play human tetris with four people. Do yourselves a favor and choose the lightest person to be the yellow one.
Other than the songs, there are some cool elements to Just Dance 2015 that make you wonder how you ever shook your groove thing before without them. After playing a few songs, a version of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” becomes available in which you can dance while sitting down. Whether this was an added feature to be inclusive to the handicapped or to appeal those too lazy to actually dance, sitting is a refreshing change. The calorie counter isn’t exactly a new feature, but it really helps solidify confidence in the game as a workout. Dancing for 40 minutes, you burn around 230 calories, which is definitely more calories than you would burn sitting on the couch playing Mario Party. Some of the songs, in particular the ones that are more cultural, reach a particularly high fitness
Want to Win a copy of Just Dance 2015 for PS4 or Xbox 360? Like The Minaret on Facebook and comment on our Giveaway post with which version you want for a chance to win. Contest ends Dec. 1, 2014 Games provided by Ubisoft Entertainment
Our favorites
Mahna Mahna:
level. A greek dancing routine called “Epic Sirtaki” will leave you sweating and simultaneously reaching for your phone to order from Acropolis. The game isn’t without some drawbacks. Some of the songs require a partner to execute the movements correctly, even if you are playing in solo mode. In the slow classic “Only You,” your onscreen mentors are an astronaut and an alien doing an adorable waltz that is downright impossible when you’re the only one playing. Also, some of the dances require more living room space than the average crowded dorm allows. The Miley Cyrus song “4x4” involves dancers in animal masks rodeo-ing around in a pretty wide circumference. Another issue is that a lot of the songs feature dancers that are female (17 out of the 45 songs feature all female avatars and 11 feature all
male avatars), which makes the moves pretty feminine and would make any boyfriend reluctant to play along. The more you play, however, more variations of songs become available and many of them swap gender dancers.
Our Favorites Best Song Ever:
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it is like to be a member of a boy band/super hero squad, then this fun version of “Best Song Ever” by One Direction will excite. The fitness level is moderate, but the movements aren’t too aerobic or difficult. Four avatars portray different super heroes that don’t really bear any resemblance to One Direction, but that could be a plus or minus depending on your taste.
Our generation will probably recognize this song more for its use in a classic Muppet sketch than its origins by the composer Piero Umiliani. Either way, this song is flamboyant and fun to play with three people. Mahna Mahna is not much in the way of fitness, but you might get some calories out of the laughing that will ultimately ensue.
I Need A Hero:
A ripped gladiator in pink, fuzzy go-go boots dances to this disco number while standing on a moving spaceship in the middle of an intergalactic battle. The fitness level is intense and even requires a Jean Claude Van Damme-like split at the end. That’s all you need to know.
Macarena:
This is a cute, girly twist on the classic wedding pumper. Catching on is really easy because who doesn’t know at least some of the Macarena already. The fitness level on this was pretty low, but it’s really fun to play. PAGE 7 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
BLINDSIDED The rules of the experiment were simple: each columnist planned a date for the other, keeping the identity of the person confidential until the day of. By Terry Preston & Selene San Felice
Terry Preston The dating game is now a digital experience. As technology has progressed, the way people meet and get to know one another has evolved from being completely up to chance to having everything laid out on the table. Anyone has the ability to get to know a stranger through a series of clicks and scrolls. Thanks to Tinder, Grindr and the likes, singles don’t even need to meet in person before talking or getting romantically involved. Our Sex and Love columnists decided to kick it old school and try blind dating in its truest form-- no social media, no prior contact and no questions asked. THE MINARET | PAGE 8
If I have a crush on someone, then no part of me hesitates when stalking the life out of their social media accounts-- and I know I’m not alone. These accounts are like artifacts, and we millennials use the clues posted on each of them to help piece together the idea of who a person truly is. Here’s a breakdown of my methods for internet stalking someone: First, I would go through every single one of their profile pictures—before remembering that people only use pictures they look good in for profile pictures. That’s when I switch to the tagged photos. I would scroll all the way down
until I knew each and every one of their questionable fashion choices ever made and then had a detailed account of what they looked like in the seventh grade. Following the visual aspect of their personality, I would take my hunt to Twitter. On twitter, I can learn all of the bitter, internal side commentary they are too afraid to say in real life. Lastly, I would scroll through their Instagram and see what it is they find most important to share with the world. After meandering through their selfies and pictures of food, I would develop an even stronger sense of their values. I, too, Instagram my Taco Bus order, I would
think to myself. We could be perfect for each other. However, not one of my typical internet stalking methods was put to use for my blind date—and that made it all the more terrifying. When one is asked out by another person, he or she is at least comforted by the fact that the other person is interested in them. When set up on a blind date, there is no such comfort. Rather, there is only fear—what if he doesn’t like me and it gets awkward? What if I don’t like him but he’s way too into me? Although no technology was used to creep, it was still used as a tool of destruction. My date was scheduled weeks ahead of time, and on the day of, while I was mentally preparing myself for the events later in the evening, Selene gave me the news. “He can’t make it tonight,” she cried to me over a text. “He’s really sick and can’t even get out of bed. I’m so sorry.” Call me a Debbie Downer, but my immediate reaction was that this strange man was standing me up—and he hadn’t even met me yet. I, too, have been “sick” before a handful of dates, and I know the game well enough to know that what made me sick was the other person combined with a viral strain of “uninterested.” The delays continued until Monday afternoon. The itinerary was to start with pottery painting at “Color Me Mine” in Hyde Park. Selene and I made our way across campus to meet my mystery date. Because the gay community at UT is so small, I assumed that there was no way Selene would be able to find someone that I hadn’t at least seen or heard about before. Fortunately, she pulled off just that. For the purpose of this article, names have been changed as part of a privacy clause. Because I consider myself to be the gay male version of Carrie Bradshaw, we shall call this mystery gay “Aiden,” because he is the boyfriend from Sex and the City that everyone likes (and if you don’t like him then you don’t have a heart). While I expected there to
be a thick cloud of awkward surrounding our first meeting, I was pleasantly surprised by exactly how well Aiden and I interacted. Our conversation kicked off without having to stutter through the typical, “Wow, these set-ups are always so awkward… so what do you do for fun?” or any of the other uncomfortable icebreakers the world has come to know. Upon arriving at “Color Me Mine,” we located an employee who then told us that we came in too close to closing time, and if
the drive home, unready for the night to end, we decided to drive down Bayshore and walk down the pier at Ballast Point Park. We perched on a swing near the water and continued getting to know each other. As Aiden was in the midst of telling me about getting punched in the face by a stranger, a local woman with two dogs approached. Aiden gleefully pet them and carried pleasant conversation with her. They discussed school, hometowns and hobbies. He wished her a goodnight, she said
“Aiden and I never experienced a lull in our conversations. It was refreshing to be able to have such fluidity with a complete stranger.” we were going to paint, it had to be something small and we had to paint it fast. He chose a mug. I selected a Turkey. Painting often serves as a painful reminder that, despite classifying myself as “artistic,” visual arts are not my forte. I begin every painting experience truly believing that I am capable of creating a masterpiece. I end every painting experience disappointed in myself and tinged with bitterness. Aiden and I never experienced a lull in our conversations. It was refreshing to be able to have such fluidity with a complete stranger—it was as if we had been friends for a while. The success in our conversing was fantastic, and ultimately, I felt incredibly comfortable around Aiden. There was no pressure to force communication, to say the right thing, or to try my hardest to impress him. Rather, everything unfolded naturally, we laughed frequently, and it was a pleasant experience. The Color Me Mine employee rushed us, and promised that she would touch up our painting before she put it in the vent. On
the same—and then continued to linger. After lighting up a cigarette, this strange woman showed no intention of leaving us be anytime soon. Following ten minutes of trying to shake this woman off like toilet paper stuck to the bottom of one’s shoe, she eventually meandered on throughout the rest of the trail. Aiden and I laughed about exactly how long she stayed, and we continued to swing until it came time for his group project meeting. We got into my car, and the lingering woman was walked by once again. Aiden made an additional effort to wish her a goodnight. His action stuck with me—it was awesome to meet someone who was so genuine and friendly to anyone. On the drive home, Aiden said the exact words that I have always wanted to hear from a first date. “I know the words to pretty much every single Taylor Swift song,” he said. “And I can play most of them on piano.” And in that moment, on Bayshore Boulevard and beneath a sky filled with city lights and the occasional star, my PAGE 9 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
“We took a sharp turn on to Bayshore, Craig leaning us incredibly close to the road. I could see my epitaph: Selene San Felice: She should have used Tinder.”
(figurative) ovaries screamed so loudly that they could be heard from outer space. The evening ended with an exchange of phone numbers and a hug, alongside of the offer to see each other again. The entire experience was exciting, and it was interesting to discover exactly how much one can have in common with a total stranger—and unveiling that through conversation as opposed to social media. In the end, there’s something to be said for going in blind—after all, if you weaken one sense, it only makes the others that much stronger.
Selene San Felice
Call me crazy, but I keep my men and my media very separate. After spending years in long term relationships, documenting every milestone, uploading pointless pictures and overanalyzing every update, tweet or status I just couldn’t take it anymore. Aside from needing to give my love life some privacy, I don’t date through social media for one reason: it’s too easy. Where’s the mystery? If I can find out everything I need to know about you from scrolling through your tweets and favs, is it even worth the free dinner? Look at George Bailey and Mary Hatch of It’s a Wonderful Life. They met at a party and just getting to know each other on the walk home was enough for the THE MINARET | PAGE 10
two to fall in love--she didn’t even need to swipe right. I may not be looking for my George Bailey, but for the sake of saving old fashioned love, I figured I’d put my trust in Terry and give his blind date a try. He set me up with his friend, Craig (not his real name). While I completely trusted Terry, I couldn’t help but be a little nervous. “What if I’m not attracted to this guy?” I thought. “What if I have nothing to say or we have nothing in common?” If the questions bouncing around in my head weren’t enough, Terry put me through further mental torture by keeping the date a secret too. After putting on the world’s cutest dress 30 minutes before Craig was supposed to pick me up, I got a text from Terry saying I would need to wear pants, close-toed shoes, and a shirt that “won’t fly up.” “What does that mean?” I asked. “Am I going to be getting sweaty?” “You won’t sweat unless you scare easily,” He replied. “It’s not what you’re thinking.” Damnit Terry. I ran through the options in my head. Howl O’Scream at Busch Gardens, indoor skydiving and a trampoline arena all seemed possible. Finally 9 p.m. arrived and Terry told me to meet Craig outside of my dorm. There he stood looking confused and a little nervous himself with his
motorcycle by his side. “Ohhhhh!” I shouted with relief. “It’s you!” Craig and I had actually met a few times. He had classes with a few of my friends but we had never formally been introduced. I remembered a story he told a week ago about how he took a girl out on his bike and she cried. “I brought this helmet for you,” he said. “I don’t know how close in touch you are with mortality.” I laughed as he helped me put it on. This would be worth untangling my hair for later. I had never ridden a motorcycle before, but this seemed a lot less scary compared to whatever the hell I thought Terry was going to put me through. Craig sweetly helped my always clumsy self onto the back of his bike. I wrapped my arms around his waist and away we went. When we took off on Kennedy, my heart leaped out of my chest. Holy shit this was dangerous. I can totally see why that girl cried. We took a sharp turn onto bayshore, Craig leaning us incredibly close to the road. I could see my epitaph: “Selene San Felice: She should have used Tinder.” Even though I could see my life flashing before my eyes and I myself was flashing all of Tampa (I was definitely wearing the wrong shirt), that ride was one of the most spectacular things I have ever
done. There couldn’t have been a more gorgeous night, and I put thoughts of my impending death aside to admire the beauty of it all. We crossed over on to Davis Island and the sight of the city lights on the Hillsborough was simply stunning. Craig pulled us over onto Davis Islands Park. Helping me off the bike he smiled and told me that he’d pushed it a little but I did well. I apologized for nearly clawing into him. We walked around the park, sat on top of one of the metal picnic benches and talked for
almost three hours. This was what was worth going in blind. It turns out we have almost the exact same viewpoint on everything, from relationships to roommates to Ryan Gosling. We laughed and shared stories of our mutual friends. This was something beautiful, and if I had gone to the trouble of looking Craig up and analyzing every word of his profile it wouldn’t have been the natural easy conversation that it was. I would have assumed that Craig would probably take me out on his bike, I would know
that we knew a lot of the same people, and I would have just run through a list of talking points in my head. Craig and I agreed that Terry had done pretty well. We were both happy to have been matched with each other and agreed to go out again soon. Riding back to campus I watched the lights twinkle off of the Hillsborough and I knew there was hope for the dating world yet.
PAGE 11 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
Exploring the war that changed my father’s life. By Avery Twible
I
’m the proud daughter of a Vietnam veteran, but my knowledge of what that truly means has always been limited. Our family’s talk on the matter never went much farther than the fact that my father was drafted and served in Vietnam at age 21. As a combat veteran, he has issues he is still dealing with these many decades later. I can’t remember it ever being said explicitly, but it was always known that the war was not a topic to be brought up. I learned bits and pieces about the war in school, but never had the emotional or mental maturity to begin to really process it, and more importantly, what it meant for my father. Knowing that he served in the war was something never forgotten by my sister or me, but without a basis of understanding, it remained little more than a fact; being decades separated from the war, we hardly thought to ask. Now, 50 years after America’s official involvement in the war began, I have been struck with a desire for insight on the war and its deeply rooted effect on my father’s life, and through extension, my own. I picked up a copy of LIFE’s new Vietnam edition that happened to be next to a register in a Philadelphia airport a few weeks ago. Without a second thought I bought it, not knowing the effect its contents would have on me. Reading it on the plane ride is what caused me to delve into exploration on the war. It is titled “The Vietnam Wars: 50 Years Ago—Two Countries Torn Apart,” and provides a 112 page look into the war we think we know, and has candid content not often focused on. There are exhaustive timelines of the war, personal accounts of the deplorable treatment of Americans upon their return home, and many unreserved pictures of life in the country during war. Through its graphic images and unapologetically
honest details of the war, LIFE sheds some light on the realities of war I had never before seen, and sparked my interest in learning about this aspect of my father’s life. I may never have been able to ask my dad about his experience in the war, but the pictures and stories in the magazine address a lot of questions I never felt I could ask. They paint a brutal picture of life for any living thing that was present in Vietnam during the war, including Americans, but I would rather know about and understand this part of my dad’s life than be left in the dark. The images depict a horrendous environment; there is a naked girl screaming in terror running down the road after her clothes had been burned off by napalm, and a gut-wrenching image of the American GI’s inside of a helicopter in the midst of a firefight. With each moment of war frozen in time, I learn more about my father. Each picture of an American that I look at has my father’s face, and with each turn of the page I felt emotions for the war and my family that I had never before felt. With every picture, it becomes increasingly clear why my father has never been able to tell me about his time spent there, and maybe never wanted to. In one section of the magazine, a blunt depiction of the anti-war protests in America are shown. No matter how extreme the protests appear in the image, an underlying theme is the same: the hatred for the Vietnam War, and undeservedly, the troops who fought in it. The most difficult section for me to read is titled “Coming Home,” and tells of the heart wrenching realities faced for troops returning home from the war. Despite the fact that they were fighting a war they didn’t necessarily want to fight and many had no choice in the matter because of
the draft, they were spit on upon their return to America, and often asked “How do you feel about killing all of those innocent people?” These were American citizens turned servicemen in the blink of an eye, and when they returned home from their required service, they were made to feel shame, many of them even by their families. I feel a burst of hope when I see a veteran wearing a Vietnam hat; it tells me that despite the physical and mental torment experienced by the Vietnam vets and the treatment they received when they returned home, today they feel deservedly proud of their service and dare to show the world. Just as I see my father’s face on every American in the magazine, I see his face in every Vietnam veteran that I thank for their service. Vietnam vets experienced disgustingly unfair treatment when they returned from a war that a large portion of them did not even sign up for. Veterans of all branches of service, in times of draft or not, who saw combat or didn’t, deserve to be respected and thanked for their service to their country. Although Nov. 11 is the official day to recognize vets and put forth gratitude, it is something that should be done every single day. Learning about the Vietnam War is the responsibility of every American citizen. Past this, remembering and revering those who fought there is a courtesy that all of us owe these brave soldiers. Through its detailed timelines and brutally real pictures of war and its victims, LIFE enlightened me on the war and permitted me an extension of my relationship with my dad that I’ve been unable to understand throughout my life.
PAGE 13 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
Culture Crawl
BY KATHERINE LAVACCA
T
he City of Tampa has a rich history that dates back to the early 1800’s. Vicente Martinez Ybor put Tampa on the map when he purchased 40 acres of land in 1885 to relocate his cigar company. In less than twenty years the population of Tampa grew from less than 1000 people to roughly 16,000. Many of the new residents were Cuban and Spaniard immigrants were experts at hand rolling cigars and came with Ybor during his relocation
The mesh of Cuban, Spaniard, and Italian culture that was brought to Tampa has created a unique, relaxed atmosphere that’s enhanced by the tropical climate. Today Tampa has grown into a sprawling city that has been molded by a new-aged, hip scene. Although THE MINARET | PAGE 14
LA TROPICANA CAFE 1822 E 7TH AVE.
many of the original cafes, and restaurants have either been left to decay or replaced by big-chains, there’s still plenty of Tampa soul left. The places explored in this article are local gems that Tampanians frequent when they want an authentic Tampa experience.
La Tropicana Cafe was established in 1963 when the original family ventured to Tampa from Cuba. The restaurant was once known for their Cuban sandwiches, but since the big location change to across the street in 1971, their deviled crabs have been deemed ‘the best in Tampa’ by locals. The workers take pride in every dish and are always ready to make each meal a relaxing, communal event. Even though there’s been a lot of changes in Ybor, La Tropicana has kept a steady clientele of regulars and food lovers from all over. In 2004, president George W. Bush visited La Tropicana and put his seal of approval on their cuban sandwiches. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In 1926 The Bunker was originally a cafe called ‘The Two Friends.’ At the time, many cigar factory workers would socialize, sip cafe con leche, and relax at The Two Friends. Later, the cafe was converted into a hangout for local war veterans where it was fondly given the name ‘The Bunker.” This historic building was almost lost to Tampa during the time of the Great Depression when it was neglected and abandoned. Luckily for the ever growing coffee culture scene in Tampa, the Ybor City Museum Society decided to re-convert the building back into a cafe. The cafe was relocated to the Italian District of Ybor and dubbed ‘Tre Amici.’ The cafe has a very cozy vibe and has a clientele that consist of neighborhood regulars and new generation cafe seekers. Tre Amici offers open mic nights every first Friday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m and a singer/ songwriter night every Thursday. Their hours during the week are Monday through Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. On the weekends they’re open Friday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.
tre amici at the bunker |1907 n. 19th ave.
king corona cigars |1523 e. 7th ave.
King Corona can be described as a microcosm of Ybor culture. Not only do they operate as a cigar shop but they also run a cafe and bar. The cafe offers the standard Café con Leché and Latte, but they also have unique drinks like the Coco-Latte, which is half hot chocolate and half latte. The shop has been a family owned business that’s been passed down for five generations and cigars are their passion. King Corona offers a large variety of hand rolled cigars and the workers take pride in their quality products. If you’re not much of a cigar connoisseur the staff will be happy to introduce you to a type of cigar that will suit you and even tell you what type of wine or beer to pair it with. The shop features indoor and outdoor lounges where customers can enjoy their cigar and Cuban coffee and relax in the laid back atmosphere. King Corona is open Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 a.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Their weekday hours are Monday through Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
At first glance El Molino might seem like a cafe that would get glanced over by the new-aged coffee yuppie. But, once you get a wiff of the freshly steamed, freshly ground, and freshly brewed coffee being made you might want to stop in to investigate. The Naviera Coffee Mill was founded in 1921 by Carlos Menendez, who named the company after the shipping line that brought him to America. Since its creation Naviera Coffee Mill has produced fine quality coffee that has been enjoyed by generations of Tampanians and visitors of the Tampa area. The company has gone through four generations of the Menendez family and is happy to offer customers some of their amazing product right where its made. The El Molino Gourmet Coffee Shop opened its doors in 1985 to give customers a glance at the coffee making process while you’re in the cafe. The shop is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
el molino gourmet coffee shop| at the naviera coffee mill 2012 e. 7th ave. THE MINARET | PAGE 16
The grotto is not as old as the other locations featured, but it does capture the story of the infamous José Gaspar. Bar-goers can enjoy drafts inside the elaborately decorated, pirate styled Grotto. Known for their $2 shots and beers, The Grotto lets customers sitting at the bar spin for a free bar tab. If you’re more interested in outdoor dining you can listen to live music at The Galley where you can enjoy a $25 gallon Long Island Iced Tea or Margarita to share. The last spot customers can enjoy at Gaspar’s Grotto is the Sandbar. If you’re looking for a different lounge experience take a trip to Ybor’s first outdoor party lounge and enjoy mixes spun by local DJ’s. Gaspar’s Grotto is open Sunday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and list their night events on their website at, http:// gasparsgrotto.com/events/.
Gaspar’s grotto |1805 e. 7th ave.
PAGE 17 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
F
ranki Markstone, although not a household name, is notorious in the world of Florida burlesque. Co-founder of one of the first burlesque troupes in southern Florida, Thee Vaudevillians, Markstone uses her tassel-twirling skills and dazzling smile to win over audiences across the nation. The Minaret was lucky enough to get a personal show from Markstone, as well as her insight on stripping, alter egos and self empowerment. How did you discover burlesque and decide it was something you wanted to do for yourself? When I was much younger I started out stripping in clubs. I needed money quickly to get a car and find a place to live, and having no skill sets that young, it seemed like the quickest way to accomplish those goals. I took to pole dancing very quickly and really enjoyed the entertainment factor of it. So over time I began writing little routines for when I went on stage. Eventually I moved to a larger upscale club, and saw my first feature dancer. The costuming and choreography really grabbed me. I thought to myself , “Now that, THAT is what I need to be doing!” I ended up being sponsored by one of my regular clients at the club, he sent me off to a program that basically taught girls how to be a feature dancer in the adult industry. After that I had my first photoshoot done, scraped together some small merch and began touring
the country with my own feature show. I didn’t have anything to my name that was a draw, so it certainly wasn’t huge over the top venues. But I did have a great show, and the crowds liked me, so I got a lot of gigs via word of mouth and many repeat shows. When I moved here to Florida I met my best friend Vita Devoid. She was bartending at a dance club where I was a gogo dancer. She mentioned that she wanted to start up a burlesque troupe. I was like, “great, whats burlesque?” *laughs* I mean thats all a featurette is really, a tiny burlesque number, but I had never heard the word before. So I did a little research and gave it my best shot. I suppose we did alright in the early days because we are still here! Thee Vaudevillains produced by Vita, and Co-produced by myself still book all over the US. So considering the beginning club days to now, I’ve been performing for 16 years now. What inspired your burlesque name? I’ve had a few burlesque stage names. Originally I was using a name that I had from my days in Pro Wrestling. I had been working by Ana Mosity for about 5 years , so it seemed natural to use it, since it had pull and I answered to it. But after our first season of shows I changed it after realizing that I was in breach of the contract I wrote up for our show. “No member of Thee vaudevillains shall use their stage name outside off VV events.” So I changed it to Veronica Kelley. Which I thought was terribly clever, since that was the name of
Velma Kelley’s dead sister in Chicago. Unfortunately no one got that reference but me. *laughs* Cast members, the audience, friends, continued to use my club name, “Franki”, so I finally settled on just using that name. My drag mother, Alicia Markstone, eventually adopted me and the two names together, just worked together for my personality. And so Franki Markstone was born. Can you tell me a bit about the importance of stage names in burlesque? Stage names are very important because they are the first and last thing the audience gets from your character, performance, all of it. Your name should clue them into what you are about--what they can expect for your character. If you have a cute-clevercheeky name, its pretty safe to assume that your performances (for the most part) will also be cute, clever and cheeky. Can you explain the difference between neo-burlesque and classic burlesque? Which do you consider yourself? To me, classic burlesque is a nod to the first bawdy glamorous over top shows from back in the 30s and 40s. The good ol’ Bump and grind, the fan dance, the gimmick shows. Neo burlesque is more geared towards the younger crowds. The music is more modern, the costuming can be anything. The dance is more contemporary. I competed last year at the Texas Burlesque Festival. At the end I was talking with Jett Adore,
from the Stage door Johnnies. I had asked him what he thought of my performance and he gave me possibly the best compliment I’ve ever received. He said that what I did on stage was difficult, that by my costume and choreography there were obvious elements of true classic burlesque to my number. But in the way that I revealed, the interaction with the audience, and my musical selection I had performed a neo piece. He said, “ To combine these two styles is very difficult, but you pulled it off flawlessly. I was very entertained. You just performed a neoclassic piece. You made a new genre.” I immediately began crying and hugged him because for years, when asked this question, I tell people I’m a neoclassic stripper. In burlesque a lot of dancers will become a character for their act. What characters or themes have you performed? What are yours or the crowd’s favorites? I have a few very specific alter egos on stage. One of my most requested performances is my “Magic Man” act, a nod to the Harry Potter series. I come out in all gold and burgundy, it’s a very cheeky routine, and I usually switch my hair to blonde in a huge bouffant wig. ‘Her’ name is GoGo Gryffindor. I have another routine where I dress as Amadeus and turn the piano into a bed of nails and lay on it. In my darker, sexier routines I dawn long black hair, very striking makeup, and over the top drag lips. You can usually tell what you’re in for in the first few seconds of my act by the styling of my hair and make up. What was your first burlesque stage experience like? Oh man, my first time on stage was not like others, I suppose. I had stripped nude in clubs for so long that to strip down to smaller clothing didn’t really phase me. It’s difficult to do anything onstage in front of people, but to do
By Selene San Felice
“As a performer you are telling a story or taking the audience for a little journey. Yes, I’m using my body to do it, but not in a sexual way .”
PAGE 20 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
it naked is something else. I’m sure for some performers the experience can be pretty jarring. But for myself, I like being naked, I like performing for people, so to be naked (so to speak) and performing for people just comes pretty naturally. Have you ever had a significant other or personal experience hold you back from dancing? It’s very difficult to date a performer, of any kind. You really need to have your head screwed on tight. It can seem like we give the majority of our time, love, effort and attention to complete strangers. Holidays, birthdays and the likes are usually spent on stage, and jealousy and insecurities in a partner are quite common. I have had a few that just couldn’t handle my dancing, and I did quit for them. Not because I felt I was doing anything wrong, but because I cared for them. Looking back now I see that was a mistake, because if they truly care for me, they would understand that THIS is part of who I am. And nowadays, anyone who wants to be with me will have to take it all or leave it all together. I am who I am and I, nor any other performer, should have to change for a partner’s love. A lot of people get burlesque and stripping confused. How would you explain the difference? Burlesque and stripping are both unfairly judged and confused by the general populace. I live in both worlds. To me, the stripper is just another evolution of burlesque. The shows used to be hugely over-the-top productions in theaters with huge casts, then to a smaller show of just a handful of performers at private shows, where they were encouraged to mingle with the audience, flirt and rev up champagne sales.....Well sheesh, doesn’t that sound like a strip club to you? Of course there are still big differences in club and stage stripping, but to me the differences are based in costuming, stylization and choreography. Theres a great performer by the name of Paco Fish who said, “The difference in burly q and stripping is this: The stripper as we know her today presents herself on stage as the object of fantasy to be
projected upon. The burlesque dancer projects her fantasy onto the audience.” I like that a lot. Would you say that as a burlesque dancer you’re toeing the line between objectification and selfempowerment? I dont feel like im being objectified on stage at all. Of course people are going to be looking at me. That’s WHY I am on stage. But if I’m doing my job up there, they are going to be looking at me feeling or being affected the way I WANT. As a performer you are telling a story or taking the audience for a little journey. Yes, I’m using my body to do it, but not in a sexual way. It’s a sensual interaction. The same way opera can make you cry. I’m up there to make you feel something, anything, that’s not real life. And if I achieve that, how is that being objectified? I’m in control. And in that thought pattern, yes, burlesque is very empowering. You can use your body, your creativity, your expressions, hell, sometimes your own breathing patterns to really move an audience. That’s empowering. A lot of people don’t know that comedy can also play a big part in a burlesque act. Can you explain that a little bit? The word burlesque, in many different translations, comes from roots that mean to joke, to scoff at or to make fun off. Burlesque is about satire and comedy. It was never meant to be serious and heavy. I myself can only hold down sexy for about 5 seconds ‘til I do something goofy. It’s like, yeah, everyone is gorgeous and taking their clothes off... but what else ya got? I think the silly and fun aspects of burlesque are a major part of its appeal. What would you say burlesque dancing does for one’s self-esteem compared to other forms of dance or activity? Burlesque has this amazing ability to lift a performer to new heights. Like I said before, to do anything for a crowd is nerve-racking. I’ve seen gals shaking like a leaf during the intro to their number and come off stage dawning only pasties and a thong, grinning from ear to ear, ready to take on the world. There’s an energy that you get on stage from a great routine. Seriously, even
an act gone wrong can still leave you feeling like a million bucks. What is your favorite trick or dance move to perform? My favorite move is my most recognized move-- I’m a tassel twirler. I can move them by isolating my pectoral muscles. I’ve been doing it for so many years so now, but I’m still learning new tricks. All my fans will tell someone new about “this thing she does with her boobies,” or they will wave their hands over their chest and try to describe it. It’s pretty funny. How would someone get started in burlesque today? The best way to start in burlesque is to get educated: Learn about the history of this art form, learn about the amazing performers that worked really hard to legitimize this industry. Burlesque is a huge part of americana but its basically been left out of the history books. There’s so much more involved than pretty clothing and prancing about. It takes money, time, effort, skill and talent. My advice is to find workshops and demos, and read blogs from the superstars and headliners. Really put effort into learning about burlesque before approaching anyone in the industry and saying, “Gosh that looks like so much fun, how do I get booked?”. What’s your opinion on the movie “Burlesque” that came out a few years ago? Oh mother Mary of unholy hell.... That movie didn’t have jack squat to do with burlesque. It was ‘Cabaret 2.0’ or should’ve been called “Let’s listen to Xtina sing”. It was an okay movie, but it didn’t have anything to do with this industry. The popularity of burlesque seems to fluctuate over time. What do you think the future holds for burlesque in Tampa? I truly believe the Florida burlesque scene has nowhere to go but up. Our community is strong and the shows available are fantastic. Our audiences are wonderfully supportive. I remember there being nothing really like this when I started and I’m excited to see everything happening now. I cant wait to see what happens in another ten years.
THE MINARET | PAGE 21
the Personalities of Ybor BY JACKIE BRAJE Tampa is a quilt. It’s comprised of varying patchwork (some parts patchier than others), contrasting colors, different textures and the occasional glitch in the stitching. But it’s all more or less held together by a common thread: Ybor City. Whether you’ve been in Tampa for three days or 30 years, there‘s a high possibility you’ve taken a stroll down the jungle of 7th street at least once, either for a steaming cup of Cuban coffee from King Corona or just the simple pleasure of people-watching. Ybor, for the love of all that’s cliché, is a melting pot of countless personalities and untold stories.
LUNA
Luna has worked as a belly dancer at Acropolis for eight years. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she sought out a way to embrace her Palestinian roots at age 13 after watching dancers on TV. “My father bought a restaurant when I was a little girl, and every Wednesday we had a belly dancer,” Luna said sitting outside after work, hands tucked away from the cold in the pockets of her leather jacket. “It was my first time
seeing it live and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, I could do this!’” She took her very first class in Tampa after her father retired from the army and moved down south, and her time here since has been a seamless balance of both positive and negative feedback—proof that fusing two different cultures isn’t always an easy feat. “There’s definitely people who don’t
understand the dance, and there’s a lot of people who kind of place us in the category of strippers. But whenever that happens I just do my best to lift their spirits and let them know that this is an art. The best part is definitely the people who get up and join me. I once had a woman celebrating her 92nd birthday get up and dance with me, and she was great! I hope she comes back again next year.” PAGE 23 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
AHMED “If you want to work for the government, you have to play by their rules. So I left.” Ahmed Mustapha moved to Tampa from Egypt after attending Assuit University. Formerly a journalist of five years during the revolution in Egypt, Mustapha now works as a cashier at the family owned Ybor City Supermarket on 7th Street, where he evidently sees equally disturbing happenings on a daily basis. From the shooting that occurred just down the street
from him in 2012 during Gasparilla, to the frequent thefts, Mustapha’s developed a unique philosophy about pushing through the day-to-day. “Every week we catch people stealing things from us, but we just take it back from them, kick them out and that’s it. You never know what to expect here. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned: you gotta let it go. Just let it go.”
BO THE TATTOO GUY When you really start to think about it, the bar-to-tattoo-parlor ratio in Ybor City doesn’t seem all that coincidental. Bo has been an artist at Atomic Tattoo since this past Fourth of July, and with the shop located in the heart of 7th Street, he could probably paint a portrait of a drunken man requesting a tattoo while blindfolded. “Last night I had a guy come in here to get his eyelids tattooed. He got ‘Stay True’ and already had ‘Pure Hate’ written across his knuckles. But I mean, the worst tattoos that people get? Probably the infinity signs with the anchors that say ‘Never Sink.’ Because I mean, you’re kind of infinitely sinking.” However, Bo strongly advocates staying true to your tattoo ideas, and to even go at it alone. “Go by yourself, get what you want and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.”
GYPSY AND THE DRIFTER They met as next-door neighbors in a small town in Georgia when Joe caught Linda trying to steal his dog from his backyard. Ever since, they’ve crafted a tumultuous love story: Gypsy and the Drifter. He was planning on leaving for Nashville while she was falling out of her first marriage, but she eventually convinced him to head for New Orleans instead. It was there that their musical career as street performers really started; they even received a $100 tip from sir Bob Dylan.
“We love what we’re doing, and it’s not for the money. It’s for the experience.” After completing a work-trade program to pay off a boat, they sailed their way from Gibsonton down to the Tampa Bay. Linda sat perched against a wrought-iron fence with a cigarette in hand as a loyal fan dropped off a pizza for them—a frequent occurrence. They spend nearly every day playing on the streets of Ybor, sometimes from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., so their fan base of
passersby is pretty well-cultivated. While playing a few songs, Linda looked over to Joe every so often to make sure she was getting the chords right. “She’s a gypsy, and she’s left me more times than I can count on my toes. But every song we’ve ever written has been for each other,” Joe said.
THE
DOGHOUSE Seminole Heights: Tampa's Cradle of Baseball Civilization BY JAMES BELLUSCIO AND MARCUS MITCHELL
339
2
HOME RUNS
TIME ALL-STAR
1997
.271
44 HOMERUNS 141 RBI
BATTING AVERAGE
E
ven though the Tampa Bay Rays are the youngest franchise in Major League Baseball, Tampa’s baseball roots have a long and storied history. In 1913, the Chicago Cubs moved their baseball team to St. Petersburg for spring training. And since then, St. Pete has become the most common spring training spot for the entire league leading with 10 teams that have played in the area over the last 100 years. With year-round temperatures never reaching the chill of other states, the Tampa Bay area has been truly important for baseball’s growth and opportunity for many years. Yet, it goes much further than our ideal weather. The
Tampa Bay area has produced extraordinary talent over the years, such as the great Chicago White Sox manager, Al Lopez. He was the first area native to play and manage in the major leagues and the first to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, who came out of the leagues of Ybor City in the early 20th century. Since then, many current and former major league players and managers such as Lou Piniella, Fred McGriff, Gary Sheffield, Tino Martinez, Dwight Gooden, Tony La Russa and Hall of Famer Wade Boggs have gotten their start on local tampa area diamonds. Sheffield and Gooden attended Hillsborough high school while Martinez, Mcgriff, and La Russa
played at local area rival Jefferson high school. The Little League years are the crucial time to mold and groom young grass pickers into home run professionals. Little League also prepares them for the bigger games on the high school level. It is different in a sport like football, where a college basketball player who has freakish size and speed can pick up the game and become a tight end in the National Football League, such as Antonio Gates. Tampa’s regional programs and coaching is the reason for the constant success. “There is an expectation to do well and the players feed into that,” said Ty Griffin, the head coach of the Tampa Catholic High School
AVERAGE HOME RUNS by season 44 34 31
28
28
25
23
21
20
16
17
15
SEASON
‘94
‘95
‘96
‘97
‘98
‘99
‘00
‘01
‘02
‘03
‘04
‘05
GAMES
97
141
155
158
142
159
155
154
150
138
138
131
“Weather, passion from the community, family atmosphere, competitiveness, great athletes who were multisport stars are all a winning formula for success.” Coach Griffin
baseball team. “They also have the ability to play against very good competition from little league to high school.” The locals of Seminole Heights embrace baseball as a lifestyle and not just as a sport. Let’s face it, baseball is called America’s pastime, but certainly not the favorite sport of our generation. So seeing the love and passion for the game in this region is certainly refreshing. One fan, Aracely O’Dell, who spent countless hours watching her little brother play all the way from little league to the starting second baseman for Tampa Catholic High School said, “You wouldn’t believe the people that would show up, every seat was packed every single night.”
She went on saying they even had more fans at their baseball games than football games. That is not usually something you would expect in a southern state. “Weather, passion from the community, family atmosphere, competitiveness, great athletes who were multi- sport stars are all a winning formula for success,” said Coach Griffin. Of course, being able to play year-round is a benefit players have living in Florida. That is at least five more months than any player from a Northern state has to practice and prepare for the season. But it is much more than that. This region expects excellence, and expects their best talent to make it to the top.
PAGE 31 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
Legends of the fall A Sitdown With Men’s Basketball Coach Richard Schmidt and Volleyball Coach Chris Catanach
By Tess Sheets & Regina Gonzalez
I
magine walking to class in Plant Hall on a sunny day at UT and not seeing the Martinez Athletic Center, the Sykes College of Business or passing by Vaughn for a quick bite to eat with. They don’t exist. Imagine only having 1500 classmates and the only dorms are small, average looking Smiley and McKay. Over the past 30 years, our school has transformed into the wellknown, private university we attend today but it was not always like this. In the early days of UT, inadequate facilities such as the athletic building, made up a large portion of the campus. Athletic coaches such as basketball head coach Richard Schmidt and volleyball head coach Chris Catanach have been able to see first hand how the athletic programs have evolved since the 1980s. The primary difference? Facilities. “When I first got here, we had an old gym down by where Tampa Prep is right now,” Schmidt said. “We had no heat, no air conditioning, most of the windows were broken out, and that is where we practiced. My first year here, it was 19 degrees on Christmas Day, and we practiced that night. There’s
THE MINARET | PAGE 32
not even a comparison to what is was when I first got here.” Both coaches hold a special place in their heart for UT as Catanach is an alumni of the school and Schmidt built the basketball program from nothing. Schmidt began his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Virginia, and soon after took a head coaching position in 1979 at Vanderbilt University. After two years in Nashville, he finally found his way to UT in 1982. “A friend of mine was the athletic director here and we got talking and we tried to see if I could start a program down here,” Schmidt said. “I had started a program at Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky and I was the only coach there. I started that from scratch and we had a great team. So this was something I thought I would enjoy doing because we had no basketball program at UT then. We started from scratch and built it the way that I wanted to build it.” A native of the U.S Virgin Islands, Catanach attended the University of Tampa and worked as a student manager for the volleyball
team, serving and hitting balls in practice and learning the game in the process. After graduating in 1983, he spent a year in admissions traveling across the country in search of recruits for the athletic program. As he returned from the extensive traveling time he spent recruiting, the position for the women’s head volleyball coach opened up that spring. He was able to convince the athletic director to give him the job, an opportunity that wouldn’t have been open to someone with the little qualifications he had at the time. Back then, it had only been UT’s third year of having an NCAA volleyball team, and in 1984 he endured his first season as head coach with a low budget in order to help his team grow. “My first year my budget was $6,300, I will never forget that,” said Catanach. “We couldn’t supply the girls practice gear or shoes, we had to purchase cheap uniforms and do what we had to do to get by.” For the first ten years of his career, the weak opportunity provided to expand the volleyball program even made him consider finding a different job. In 1995, he
was offered a coaching job at the University of Virginia. However, after weighing out the pros and cons, the only advantage he saw was that UV was a “name school.” They had similar funding as Tampa at the time and the facilities were just as poor. “When choosing your job you choose where you’d have the best chance to enjoy it and be successful. I decided to turn the job down and stay at Tampa. I’ve never looked back,” Catanach said. “Shortly after, President Vaughn came in and changed a lot. He started to figure out new ways to sell the school well and each year UT became a better and more enjoyable place to work.” Despite having their fair share of both successful and unsuccessful seasons, the one thing that both coaches agree has affected their decision to stay in Tampa for all these years has been the relationships they created with their players. Schmidt, in particular, is notorious for recruiting a high school underdog and making it his goal to mold them into a successful college athlete. “I enjoy coaching and working with young men and seeing them develop,” Schmidt said. “Here’s an example: Nate Johnson, who played here, went on to play in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz. He didn’t even start on his high school JV team when he was a junior. I’ve had a lot of kids that weren’t really recruited by anyone but me, and I enjoy seeing them develop and get better both mentally and physically in life.” Totalling over 30 seasons each, Catanach and Schmidt have seen both the athletic program and the school as a whole expand in every sense of the word. However, despite their lengthy careers, the dedication each has to their individual sport and players has kept them hungry for more seasons. “I truly believe that if you find something you’re passionate about, its not a job,” Catanach said. “Every time you graduate a kid you think you’ll never find one like them again and then another one pops up and wows you and are different, but tremendous.”
PAGE 33 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
EDC RAVE AT your own risk By Selene San Felice
Picture every student enrolled at the University of Tampa. Now multiply that by four and a half. That’s 31,000 millennials. Pack all those crazy teens into Orlando’s Tinker Field with every glowstick and strobe light accessory available, throw in 60 EDM (Electronic Dance Music) performers, three stages, four carnival rides and two days to do it all. What do you get out of all that? The Electric Daisy Carnival. This year the production company Insomniac hosted one of the world’s biggest parties in Orlando, and I was lucky enough to get invited. By the time Meg, Casey and I crawled out of bed and into the waffle house next door to our hotel, mid-afternoon had already arrived. After a couple hours of getting dressed, slapping on makeup and meeting up with the rest of our group, we were finally ready. While traditional rave-wear usually involves as little clothing as possible, I was not about to prance around in neon undies in the sunless 60 degree chill. I sported leggings and Asics under my short sky blue overalls, which matched my rhinestone-dotted eyes. We faced Tinker Field at 6:00 p.m. Almost every inch of grass and curb outside the street was filled with cars. We pulled up to an officer directing traffic and Meg asked where parking was. “Uh, anywhere you can, Ma’am,” he said. It was a free-for-all. We gave a nice couple in a local house a block down the road $10 to park in their driveway. Anxious ravers swarmed around us like salmon in thongs, tutus and light up bras all rushing upstream towards security. Today there were over 32,000 people on the field; EDC had completely
sold out for the weekend. After walking a few blocks we finally reached security. For many EDC attendees this stop is pivotal in determining their experience. Despite the fact that Insomniac caters almost exclusively to ravers, and most ravers being drug users, EDC has a strict no drug policy. This also includes anything affiliated with drugs including light gloves, massagers, laser pointers, air horns, and Vicks Vaporub. Anything that can stimulate the senses for those who roll are not permitted, but that doesn’t mean they won’t make it in. Before entering the event attendees are sorted into lines separating genders. A large stumpy woman patted me down and checked my bag. I was one of the lucky girls to not be felt up under the underwire of my bra, despite the fact that my shoes weren’t checked at all. By the time we got past security, the sun had set. The main stage, dubbed the Kinetic Cathedral, glowed and shot lasers into the night. A ferris wheel lit up red and white as it spun next to a zipline and screaming eagle ride. Across a manmade lake a swing ride could be seen whirling festival-goers around while the third stage pulsed to its own beat. With 32,000 glowing zombies wandering around there’s only one way we could have found the rest of our group: totems. While these look simply like funny signs to hold above the crowd, totems are actually essential for big groups at a festival this large. A totem can be seen from almost any point in a crowd, giving a small glimmer of hope to those separated from friends. Most totems glowed, flashed and sported internet memes. Among the many seen
‘With 32,000 glowing zombies wandering around there’s only one way we could have found the rest of our group: totems.’ bouncing around the crowd there was a Hello Kitty doll dressed as Skrillex, emoji monkeys and cats, the Reddit logo, a stuffed Molly from the “Big Comfy Couch” TV show sporting a “Molly” t-shirt and a cardboard Dave Chappelle that featured glowing eyes and the words, “I’M RICK JAMES BITCH.” Several blow up sex dolls had been attached to poles as makeshift totems and along with blown up versions of every cat meme imaginable. The group we met up with actually had three totems, each a different letter, “E,” “D” and “C” covered in glitter and laced with neon LED lights. Our friends Christie and George had taken out all the stops for their EDC experience. The couple was dressed up as Nintendo’s Mario and Princess Peach. George’s Mario costume was spot on and even included a fake mustache. Princess Peach, however, was a bit skimpier than the original. Along with a
tutu and crown, Christie wore a bra she had decorated with pink and white silky frills and gold and pearl beads. If you think just making costumes and totems took time and money for the couple, consider this: Christie and George paid roughly $175 each for their EDC tickets and a hotel room cost $110 for two nights. This is not even considered remotely expensive in the grand scheme of EDC costs, as Christie and George got their tickets and hotel at early bird prices as soon as the festival was announced. Not to mention they were only general admission. VIP tickets went as high as $5,000 a pop. Tack on the price of transportation, food, and drugs (for the many that wished to partake) and EDC becomes one of the many high-profit events of Orlando. The influx of money being spent not only on EDC but at EDC is simply astounding (picture 32,000 people all buying tshirts, pizza, and beer). Instead of handling at least millions of dollars in cash, the event was run using a system of “Daisy Dollars.” Attendees were given a cloth wristband to grant them access to the event, and attached to this wristband was a small chip covered in plastic. By downloading the EDC Orlando app attendees could register their wristbands and add Daisy Dollars, making EDC a cash and card free event, save the top-up stations which refilled attendees’ Daisy Dollars. This made spending money entirely hassle free, and perhaps even encouraged spending. Instead of fumbling for my wallet inside my bag and searching through cards all I had to do was press my band to a screen and “BLOOP” I now had chicken tenders and lemonade. I didn’t even need to think about the fact that I had just spent $8 on three chicken tenders and $5 on about 8 ounces of lemonade until I received an email at the end of the night. However, I didn’t go to EDC to investigate economics or eat chicken tenders. Like everyone else, I was there to dance. Casey and I split away from Meg, Mario, Peach and the rest of the group and headed to the second stage, Neon Garden. Decorated to mimic a Buddhist temple the stage included dancers dressed as monks and an enormous golden Buddha behind the DJ. A tiny girl in Victoria’s Secret cheekster underwear danced next to me. A few minutes later she was lifted on to the shoulders of the guy she was dancing with. Her bare butt bounced along with the beat as she flailed above the crowd. After a ride on the ferris wheel Casey and I blooped in more daisy dollars for THE MINARET | PAGE 36
pizza and sat by the lake. Fireworks shot out from the Kinetic Cathedral as we ate. We were exhausted. There was just no way to keep up with the energy level without being under some sort of influence. An olive skinned boy with rhinestones on the outside corners of his eyes plopped behind us as if he had known us forever. “It’s so cold,” he whispered as he threw his arms around our shoulders. We shot each other confused looks simultaneously. The boy introduced himself as Sayon while awkwardly rubbing our shoulders. His pupils were saucers. Casey and I quickly peeled him off of us. “You guys are so shy,” he teased. “No…” Casey replied, “We just don’t like snuggling with strangers.” “Are you guys rolling?” he asked. We shook our heads no and asked how he got his drugs in. “I taped them to my balls,” he replied.
He told us one of his friends had taped a baggie of weed on the underside of his penis, and a girl he knew had even gone so far as to saran wrap her molly inside a tampon to smuggle in inside of her. Finally after a few more minutes of enduring the overly cuddly Sayon, Casey and I made our escape. We danced in the crowd outside the second stage, the Neon Garden, to songs we had already heard throughout the day. You’d think with 60 different DJ’s there would be a larger variety of remixes, yet the crowd went crazy every time Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars” or Bastille’s “Pompeii” started up again. Casey and I danced our way through thousands of people to the front of the Kinetic Cathedral. I felt something touching the back of my drawstring bag. I turned around to see a guy with dark hair in a green striped Freddy Krueger style sweater. He was wearing reflective
aviators, but the look he gave me still struck me as odd. I assumed he had been trying to dance or was drugged up, but something just didn’t seem right. I took my bag off to have a look after the next song. “Oh no, I ripped Meg’s bag,” I thought. There was a four-inch slice where my phone had been. My heartbeat pulsed in my ears, clashing with the beat of the DJ as I searched my bag. A wallet, a sweatshirt, a phone charger, but no phone. My head spun faster than the totems that surrounded me as I looked for Freddy Krueger, but he was gone. A boy wearing a shirt with cut off sleeves tried offer me some comfort. He held a Bud Light in his hand as he said, “Listen. I lost my phone yesterday. It sucks but there’s nothing you can do about it. Have a fun night.” Having a fun night was the least of my worries, so Casey and I searched for someone to report the theft to. Behind the gates security guards, medics and volunteers huddled around a collapsed body wearing a pair of black converse, which stuck out like that of the Wicked Witch of the East’s ruby red slippers. A fire marshall told Casey and I there was just too much going on and that nothing could be done right now. It was hopeless. I slumped in front of the gate, not even listening to the performer onstage. A few tears rolled down my face, taking some eyeshadow and a rhinestone with them. I glanced over at the converse sticking out of the security huddle. It could always be worse. By the time Casey and I shuffled through the crowd and made our way over to customer service to report the theft, the woman taking reports said that they’d caught “the guy stealing phones” and that everything was at lost and found. The catch: lost and found is outside the entrance, and once you leave there’s no re-entry. This was where the Bud Light boy was right. All I could do was enjoy the last few hours and hope my phone would be waiting for me at the end of the night. This came just in time for the one performer I knew, Steve Aoki. Casey and I shuffled through the maze of ravers and made our way to the front of the Kinetic Cathedral within the first few songs. I danced next to a tall guy in a black shirt. “You wanna go up?” he asked me. He squatted down on the ground in front of me. “We gotta get caked by Steve Aoki!” he shouted. “Oh God,” I thought to myself, “I might crush this kid.” I wobbled and bounced on his shoulders as I looked out into
the crowd. I could have high-fived the Hello Kitty Skrillex totem. I got off of the guy’s shoulders before I could see what he meant by “caked.” To thank him, I pointed towards my wrist, asking to exchange Kandi. Kandi are beaded bracelets that usually spell out words, made for trading at festivals. This goes along with the rave moto: PLUR (Peace Love Unity Respect). We connected the tips of our fingers which made peace signs, created a heart between the curve of our thumb and four-fingers, and finally laced our hands as we traded bracelets between the connection. At this point Casey needed to leave the crowd to get photos. With the amazing spot we had scored there was no way the two of us could fight the crowd again to get it back. “Stay here,” she shouted. “I’ll be back in like 15 minutes.” I danced on without her, inching closer and closer to the gates, phoneless and totemless. “There’s no way she’s going to find me again,” I thought. Steve Aoiki emerged from his booth and took to the stage. “EDC,” he roared into the microphone. “MY NAME IS FUCKING STEVE AOKI.” This was when “getting caked” made sense. The crowd went insane as someone handed Steve Aoiki a huge sheet cake, which he slung into the writhing, screaming
teens. After about 10 cakes it was time for the last song of the set. As Steve Aoki’s “Pursuit of Happiness” remix played I didn’t have care in the world. Everything that shines ain’t always gonna be gold, hey. I’ll be fine, once I get it. I’ll be good. Now was time for the final headliner, Knife Party. Rain had begun to drizzle down into the lasers, but that certainly wasn’t stopping anyone from having a good time. The scent of weed, smoke, and dust filled my lungs. “Just keep dancing,” I thought. After about 15 more minutes I began to look back into the crowd. There was no way Casey could find me here. Just before I had begun to worry, or at least figure out an escape plan, Casey appeared. She squeezed and struggled, sliding between dancers as I pulled her up next to me. We laughed and hugged, both soaking wet. Strobes flashed, fireworks exploded, Knife Party’s infamous remix, “Bonfire,” blared as we jumped up and down with everything we had. All weekend I had taken up sobriety as my cross to bear, when in reality, I could be high in the moment. Nothing could ruin this. Forget your phone. Forget school. Forget life. Just shut up and dance. *All names have been changed asside from Casey’s and my own.
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GETTING IT
TOGETHER
tips and tricks for bringing yourself out of debt
Q& A BY DOHA MADANI
Loans and credit card debt can easily be ignored as they add up while students remain in school because most do not require repayment until graduation. This mentality causes many post-grads to find themselves drowning in bills, without a clue as to how to budget or prioritize their debt. There are some relatively easy ways to start planning repayment given to UT students through an email interview with Justin Rosen, CPA at his local Tampa firm J. Rosen Financial Data Services, Inc.
When going in to a loan, there can be a lot of difficult language to navigate. What are the key things to look out to benefit yourself? What is the interest rate you’re paying? What is your monthly payment? How much interest will you pay over the LIFE of the loan? What are the total costs, fees and taxes being added to your loan? You may be purchasing a $10,000 car but your loan will be $12,000 after all additional costs. Students often find themselves with a lot of debt coming out of college and don’t know where to start. What are some ways students can start planning to pay off their loans? Try to use at least 5% of your earnings to pay back student loans. Try to pay more each month than your required minimum monthly payment. Even if you can only pay an extra $10 or $25 or $50 on your student loan each month, it could save you thousands over the life of the loans. What are some tools available to help manage a personal budget? Easy and Simple Budgets can be created in Microsoft Excel. This also gives you great practice in using Excel for the workplace. Also www.mint.com is a great online tool you can use to track your spending.
THE MINARET | PAGE 38
There are a lot of student tax breaks and incentives that many of us probably don’t know about. What are some of the benefits of a personal accountant over a program like TurboTax once tax season comes around? TurboTax can prepare your tax return but does not help in TAX PLANNING. After 12/31, there is little you can do to save on taxes. Before 12/31, there are multiple ways to reduce your tax burden. The key with taxes is to plan ahead. Also, when you hire a professional accountant to prepare your taxes, you will feel confident your return is prepared correctly and you will have maximized your deductions. Preparing your own return can leave uncertainty about if the return was prepared right or if you maximized your deductions. Students normally have simple returns that can be prepared very cheaply by professionals. If there is one piece of major finance advice you could give to a young adult, what would it be? Don’t spend more than you are earning and know where your money is being spent. Also, pay your highest interest rate debt off first. If you have credit card debit at 19% and student loans at 9% pay your credit cards off first.
What are some of the most common mistakes young adults can make when it comes to credit and credit cards? Not paying attention to the interest rate and/or fees. Bank give young people HIGH interest rates because they have no credit history. If you don’t pay your card off in full every month the $500 you spend can quickly become $600 or $700 after interest and fees. What are a few easy tips to help build credit from a young age? Open a credit card, put only 1 or 2 purchases on this card a month, and pay it off in full. Do this for about 6 to 9 months before opening another card or asking for a credit increase.
A lot of young adults open up numerous store cards to try and build credit. Are there any benefits to a store credit card over a normal bankcard? Store cards are easier to get but have MUCH HIGHER interest rates and fees. Bankcards are harder to get but sometimes have lower interest rates and feel. Bankcards also offer cash rewards. Information provided by Justin Rosen, CPA J. Rosen Financial Data Service Inc. www.jrosenfds.com
Getting it together:
42.9% of loan borrowers said the monthly payments are causing financial distress
$1 trillion Student debt in America now exceeds
Average Debt Over Time Thousands of dollars
35 $29,400
30 $23,450
25 20
$17,550
15 10
$18,750
$12,850
borrowers now owe more than $54,000 in loans.
$9,450
$3,200 The average undergrad carries
5 0
1 in 10
1993
1996
2000
2004
71% of all students graduating from four- year colleges had student loan debt
28.4% of loan borrowers took on credit card debt to help cover monthly payments.
2008
2012
The Institute for College Access & Success. 2014. Quick Facts about Student Debt. http://bit.ly/1lxjskr.
in credit card debt.
Student Loan Debt None
18.15% 29.55% 6.85%
Less than $10,000 $10,000 - $20,000 $20,000 - $30,000 $30,000 - $40,000
10.17% 8.82% 14.32%
12.14%
$40,000 - $50,000 More than $50,000 http://crsiglist.us/student-loan-repayment-contact-2/
GRAPHIC BY VICTORIA PAVEL
PAGE 39 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
from
Rags riches to
BY JUSTINE PARKS
PAGE 40 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
Ever wonder what you could find when you sift through the racks of your local thrift store? Take a closer look of what trends you can find for under $20 and how to wear them.
THE MINARET | PAGE 13
Different
strokes As the end of the first semester nears, senior art students share their latest projects as they work towards building their portfolios. The Minaret got a look at the some favorites and learned the inspiration behind the pieces.
THE MINARET | PAGE 42
Jeff Chambless
“This packaging system was designed for a fictional company as part of a project in Graphic Design II. The project brief stipulated that once the fictitious company had been created a packaging system for three flavor variations must be designed to clearly differentiate between the three flavors; however, each of the packaging variations must work together as a whole. Having chosen a tea company I designed and built a food safe hexagonal wood container to house the loose leaf tea. Each flavor of tea - white, green, and black in this case - can be quickly identified by the color of the container as well as the bellyband that wraps around. After the tea has run out the container may be repurposed into a useful object around the house rather than simply thrown away. “
PAGE 43 | THEMINARETONLINE.COM
Lexy Castriotta
“I love pen sketch work, and playing with line, and I guess playful, would be the best word to describe how I approach art. My stuff is pretty consistently approachable and it usually shows some frozen colorful moment from a made up story in to feel fun, for me to make, and for people to look at. I really think that the coolest thing UT does for art majors of all kinds, is practice appreciation for different styles. I don’t think I have met a pretentious art kid yet, we all kind of dig what each other does even if it isn’t something we would do. My best advice to freshman art majors is to have a laugh while you’re figuring yourself out; life, and art, don’t always have to be these heavy, serious things.”
George Butterly
“My inspiration comes from the past. For as long as I can remember, the feats of the Old Masters have been something I’ve looked up to. My style is indebted to the painters of the 18th century, whose works I constantly study. This piece is a painting within a painting within a painting. It alludes to the fact that art continues to allude to past art and artists, whether or not it is intentional. This portrait is being painted by myself (the figure with the back turned towards the viewer), and both me and the portrait are another work inside the whole painting.�
Sources COVER
The University of Tampa Department of Speech, Theatre and Dance Presents
Les Miserables
A New Production of Boublil and Schönberg’s
Directed by Paul E. Finocchiaro
•
Musical Direction by Tara Richards Swartzbaugh
Nov. 20, 21, 22 at 8 p.m. • Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.
Photo by Ellis Catalan
EDITORIAL | Page 2 Photo by Casey Budd
CONTENTS | Page 3 Photo by Ellis Catalan
DORM THANKSGIVING | PAGES 4-5 Photo by Casey Budd
JUST DANCE | PAGE 6-7
Photos courtesy of www.ubisoft-press.com
BLINDSIDED | PAGE 8-11 Photos by Alex Jackson
VIETNAM | PAGE 12-13
Photos provided by the Twible Family
CULTURE CRAWL | PAGES 14-17 Photos by Katherine Lavacca
BURLESQUE | PAGES 18-21 Photos by Ellis Catalan
YBOR | PAGES 22-27 ybor/flickr.com Photos by Casey Budd
THE DOGHOUSE | PAGES 28-31 Photos by Alexandra Martin calre_and_ben /flickr.com
COACHES | PAGES 32-33 Photo by Reashad Long
EDC | PAGES 34-37 Photos by Casey Budd
CRETTIQUITE | PAGES 38-39
428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa General Admission Cost: $15 Non-UT Students and Seniors: $10 UT Students, Faculty and Staff: Free w/ID (813) 253-6243 • www.ut.edu Les Misérables is licensed by Theatre International (MTI) by arrangement with Cameron MacKintosh LTD. Photo Credit: Deen van Meer • Poster Design: Julia Rifino, UT Class of 2017
FASHION | PAGES 40-41 Photos by Justine Parks
SENIOR ARTISTS | PAGES 42-45 Photos courtesy of Jeff Chambless, Lexi Castriotta, George Butterly
SPECIAL THANKS Rebecca Barton, Victoria Pavel, Franki Markstone, Tom Kolbe
CR E DI TS
Falk Theatre
401(K) 2013/flickr.com Icons-by misirlou from The Noun Project, Rob Gill, and Musauvir Ahmed
Master It It’s not too early to plan ahead! Boost your career credentials with a graduate degree from UT: • 4+1 MBA (combined B.S./MBA) • MBA (with seven concentrations) • M.S. in Accounting • M.S. in Finance • M.S. in Marketing • Certificates in Nonprofit Management, Accounting and Business Administration
• M.S. in Exercise and Nutrition Science • M.S. in Nursing • M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology • Master of Education • MFA in Creative Writing
U.S. News & World Report ranks UT as a top-tier school for master’s degrees in the South. The Sykes College of Business has been named one of the best business schools in the world by The Princeton Review for the last nine years, and is accredited by AACSB International, an honor shared by only 6 percent of business schools.
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