James was a great rooster. No. Scratch that. I never knew him. Um … James did a lot of good for our community. Nope. He was a rooster! Wow! What exactly do you say at a rooster's funeral?
It didn't really matter to the 60 or so people who attended the James E. Rooster wake, Chicken Parade, and Rooster Promenade in Ybor City on Sunday afternoon. The celebrations return after a five-year hiatus is a quirky event originated by the fowl's owner Tommy Stevens following the birds untimely demise in the jaws of a dog in 1997. David Audet organized the celebration this year with Steven's blessing.
The walking parade began around 6 p.m. at Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que on 18th St. It proceeded to Gaspar's Grotto, The Dirty Shame Pub, and ended up at the decorated gravesite of Steven's feathery friend, James.
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2012.