hurricane

It is a grand event. Been there many times and still have good friends there. It just never makes it on the horizon any longer due to PiP, though I have invites outstanding.

Have a great time sir. The people there are great and it won't take but moments to make friends.

--

Oh, yes. That is one of the Key's most beautiful gardens. So many wonderous things in bloom and some of the garden's delights are simply overflowing.

Willie covered the basics quite well - alcohol during the event is verboten on the park grounds. But most of us can scare up a good swagger while staying hydrated. Lots of water, gatorade or other drink is highly recommended. It's very easy to get dehydrated. Especially if you're in the heat of the day in the fort in gear. The festival will be providing the gatorade and water. No worries there.

Fayma let me know we will have five photographers on the grounds this year to cover everything you don't shoot. We all benefit from their tremendous gift to us and the photos are always amazing from this band of professional photogs. They will be at the fort and at the annex as well as the events in town. So don't worry, you'll be in photos this year.

Keep the questions coming. If you're interested in entering the National Walk the Plank Championships this year and taking a leap off the WOLF, let me know and I'll sign you up!

Some more updates on this event. Just in case you ever wanted to sample other period weapons, they added a selection for ya!

Conch Republic Admirals Finbar & Bill Grosscup invite qualified marksmen to join them for this rare opportunity to sail out past the reef in open water and shoot a variety of historic weapons, including a, including a Queen Anne flintlock pistol, 45 caliber percussion pistol, Civil War era 44 cap and ball revolver, WWI German Mauser pistol, WWI German Lugar pistol and WWII M1 Garand rifle. Participants are also welcome to bring along their own weapons, which will be inspected prior departure.

Departing promptly at Noon, the four hour Conch Republic Shoot & Sail aboard the WOLF will begin boarding at 11:30am. The WOLF is docked at the Truman Waterfront Commons, end of Southard Street in Old Town Key West. Cost for the 4 hour trip is $75 per person. Ice, water and soft drinks are provided and everyone is welcome to bring along a snack. For reservations and information, visit PiratesInParadise.com, email Info@PiratesinParadise.com or call 305.296.9694.

It'd be nice to hear who's doing what. Since I will be over at the Annex stage, I would like to let those there know what's happening at the fort and when besides the battles so I can share in in announcements.

On Tuesday you'll find all the pirates down at the Truman Annex Waterfront celebrating the End of Hurricane Season with a ceremony, the traditional burning of the pirate flags and entertainment. That's a great place to introduce yourself and get to know some of us. Just ask where the USS Mowhawk is or just head toward the fort (on Whitehead go westish from the Green Parrot Bar at Southard and then bear right after leaving the Truman Annex) if you're hoofing it. Be in costume, we all will be. We're there from 3 until 9ish partying and enjoying the entertainment.

And yes, the Mercury folks (as is everyone else) are absolutely terrific and will make you feel right at home.

Exactly, Lily. Once you step off the plane, everyone will be taking care of you. It truly is the land of pirate love and all are welcome and all are cared for.

All of us involved are ready to "hit this year out of the park" and make it the pirate event to come to. So book your flight, let us know your plans so someone can pick you up at the airport and take you wherever you want and get ready for the time of your life. You're about to meet 200+ of the most amazing pirates - from hysterical to historical - you'll ever meet in your life. As Fayma always says you have your real family and then you have your pirate family, and they're all waiting for you in Key West.

There are plenty of helping hands to be had. Just extend yours (sans cutlass) and one of us are here to help. That's one of the great things about Pirates in Paradise).

Think of it as PyrateStock, my friend. All good, all the time.

I hope we can find the time for this dialogue there. It's very intriguing. Dry cleaning? Isn't that when you drag your shirt through the dust to soak up all the ale you spilled on it?

Fabreeze is the magic mix for today's dirty looking rogue. Allows me to be authentic while still being able to slip close to the wench at night. :)

-

That is such a welcome addition to the festival. It will be nice tying the fort, Annex and downtown together. Perhaps we can do what we did a few years ago and deploy pirates near where the cruise ship folks disembark so we can tell them about the festival. We did this with great success a few years back and probably ended up in lots of their photos at the same time.

Since the fort has one of the best beaches it was a natural cross sell to talk about the festival and to tell them it's the best beach, so they could easily do both during their visit. Having the shuttle really promotes this as well.

Hey Fayma,

Good talking to you, today as always.

As for locations for pick up, is there a space to load and unload near Mel Fisher's, the Wrecker's Museum or the Government House? I know the Conch Train has a lot of that space to themselves, but something near there or even pulling through near Mallory Square could work. Just trying to figure out something fairly centrally located since Pirate Soul is gone.

Hurricane,

I feel that I must interject here, The Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion is most certainly a part of Pirates in Paradise. It is a separate event, and as such has something different to offer folks. We are doing the period correct, living history aspect of piracy from the Buccaneers to the Wreckers. Please do not say that we are not a part of PiP. That offended me.

That being said, there is going to be a shuttle from downtown to the Truman waterfront then over to the Fort. It will repeat the cycle throughout the day and will stop running around 10 pm or so. I have not confirmed the exact timelines, as I am waiting to see if there is a sponsor location for the downtown aspect, since Pirate's Soul has moved out of town.

If there is a need for an airport pickup, I have folks ready, willing and able for most times to pick up or drop off, for the duration of PiP, not just during the Fort Taylor Pyrate invasion. Pirates don't let pirates take expensive cabs in Key West when it can be helped. Please feel free to contact me for arrangements.

The Friends of Fort Taylor and the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion fully support the use of our hotel sponsor. It is a great hotel, and they are giving a good deal. Hurricane, would you please pm me with full information, so that I can get that to some of our "hotel" folks that may need it? It would be greatly appreciated.

Fayma, I think you misunderstood what I wrote. I only wrote that a shuttle was not part of the PiP side of the event (as far as I knew). I never said that Fort Fest wasn't. The Fort Fest has taken PiP to a whole other level and I would never ever say that that they were separate or apart. It was simply a reference to the shuttle question, which I was referring to. I apologize for the confusion and there was certainly no sleight intended at all.

That is exciting news about the shuttle. Woohoo! I will add that to the website schedule for PiP.

I PM'd you the hotel information so others can get the festival rate there.

Actually, Mission, Pirates in Paradise is the entire 10-day festival, which includes the Fort Fest and the Pirates Village and Thieve's Market at Truman Annex on the final weekend. It also includes events during the week in town, including the lectures, historic and ghost walks, artist and author's series, dinners, sails aboard the WOLF, antique weapons expo, lectures, tryal of Anne and Mary, and the National Walk the Plank Championships.

As a newcomer Beowoulf you will find many things going on from Wednesday until the Fort Fest opens on Friday. In fact, you should be there in plenty of time for the Most Buxom Wench and Bad Ass Pirate Contest at the Schooner Bar, which is at the Historic Seaport, Wednesday night and on Thursday at 3:30 (time change) it's the walk the plank championships aboard the Schooner WOLF.

All the non period vending and food have been moved over to the annex to accommodate the space needs of the re-enactors in the fort. The entertainment stage is also over there now, along with a pub that is open all day. Lectures, the tryal and other events in the fort in previous years have been moved to the annex as well.

I have not heard of any shuttle running back and forth between the fort and town this year. That would be cool! Perhaps Fayma or Lily knows more about this than I as it is not part of the Pirates in Paradise Festival but may be offered by the Fort Fest planners.

The Doubletree is on the other side of the island, that was my orignal reference. It has a shuttle all day until midnight to and from Old Town and the Seaport.

While I certainly don't speak for anyone else here, our own crewe tries to support the major Pirates in Paradise sponsors whenever possible and they knocked off almost 50% of their nightly rate for participants as the official headquarters. So we default to supporting our fellow sponsors.

No, no it's not. But with the discount I get a much nicer hotel for the same price and have a shuttle. And it is the event's (PiP) headquarters and major sponsor.

Again, there are all sort so choices. But this one isn't any cheaper, just closer. Always tradeoffs. I always err on the side of comfort these days.

I should be getting there around 3 on Tuesday (airport) .... Just called the Doubletree hotel ... $149 per night and 3.5 miles from downtown ... kinda far

It's actually $109 with the special Conch Republic Navy promotional code. They have a shuttle that runs into town constantly until midnight each night.

Key West is expensive in general. On Kayak, to get close to Old Town, you're in the neighborhood of $100 a night regardless. Good luck on your search and we look forward to meeting you.

I should be getting there around 3 on Tuesday (airport) .... Just called the Doubletree hotel ... $149 per night and 3.5 miles from downtown ... kinda far

It's actually $109 with the special Conch Republic Navy code I gave you. They have a shuttle that runs into town constantly until midnight each night.

Key West is expensive in general. On Kayak, to get close to Old Town, you're in the neighborhood of $100 a night regardless. Good luck on your search and we look forward to meeting you.

-- Hurricane

There shouldn't be much competition for rooms in town. There's nothing else going on except PiP and a lot of PiP campers don't come in until they can set up at the fort. So most places are vacant. The biggest trick is finding something close enough to where you want to be. For example, on Tuesday through Wednesday all the action is in town on Duval and out at the Schooner Bar at the seaport. So you would want to book a room near there rather than farther out.

If someone is in town they may be willing to pick you up instead of you taking a cab. There are lots of helpful people on the pub here who are going.

--

If I recall it was a Hurricane force storm... never know when they will pop up. One must always be on watch.

Oh, I so want to see the photos. I always love what you come up with, sir. A craftsman and a creative you are, all in one. My kind of guy (in a not hitting on sort of way).

Such will always be the problem, I fear. Someone will say they want to play all on period contact pub but then someone will end up with red wine spilled all over their duds and get pissy about it, wanting to change the rules midstream. There would be no curbing behavior unless it was by duel or cutlass. Things just aren't settled the same way these days. Pity. A good drubbing would do some people good in this world.

Who all are attending St. Augustine this year from the pub? Looking forward to it, says I!

Thanks, all, for the warm welcome! I have been perusing the pages and see that you are far from an exclusive, snooty group.

A few questions (which, if I spent days and days sifting, I could probably find the answers to somewhere in these pages).

1) I've been looking at all the PC stuff. Heck! I just want to dress like a pirate and stay drunk for 10 days! (Ok... maybe I could have done that 30 years ago, but you get my drift, I think!) You all sound like you are SO industrious! What is a worthless rogue like me to do at, say, PiP? (I'm VERY good at giving advice!)

2) Looks like you bring a ****load of stuff along with you to gatherings (like PiP, which I have my eye on!). How do you transport all that stuff from home??? Do many of you come by plane? People talk of tents, cots, etc., etc., etc. I'd need to charter my own plane for all that stuff! I'm having trouble just imagining transporting the clothes by plane! (Hat?? Boots?? Cutlass?? Keep in mind that I am a huge man and my clothes are probably twice as big as some of you wee ones.....) Also, it must be hot there and people must sweat alot .... a different shirt for every day?

3) PiP .... Commercial lodgings? Beach? Fort? I HATE not being clean. Where do you wash? Shampoo? Brush your teeth? Comb your hair? Take care of "elimination needs"? I can guess that once the sun goes down, things really get fun. Like most places, the best stories probably come from the 11 PM to 3 AM time period! lol! Gee, I wonder why.... Seems like the on site ppl would be privy to all the late nite shenanigans.

4) I see no evidence of ppl "bunking together" (except for everyone who was inviting the red haired grad student to share their hammock in 2008!). Maybe sharing hotel rooms are arranged privately between ppl who have already met and assured themselves that the other is not Charles Manson's brother.

5) While I wouldn't be showing up in a costume-store getup bought at say, Rubie's, I would probably be more flamboyantly dressed than most of the PC stuff I have seen. (No offense, but in the pics I have seen, PC clothes look kinda drab!) I get the impression, though, that this place/group would even welcome the Key West Gay Men's Cross-Dressing Pirate's Chorus. (Ok, maybe not the pirates from the blue states.....)

I just hate the thought of spending all that money on the first year's trip to mainly discover what I SHOULD have done to have the best time!

6) Does it matter much when in the 10 days you show up? When does the "best" stuff happen? When is it most fun? Would going for December 3, 4, 5 be too short? (On second thought, if I am going to fly all that way - from Montreal - I should probably stay as long as possible, no?) Leaving the day after American Thanksgiving is not very likely ... gotta spend some time with the extended family in Maine.

Presuming upon your patience,

John

Ahoy there, sir!

As for the costume, the Pyrate Fest at the fort attempts to be fairly PC but all the pirates who aren't camping there have much wider interpretations of what a pirate is. Pirates in Paradise is not a PC event - it is all inclusive, from the historical to the hysterical.

In addition to the fort activities this year, there is additional pirating to be done at the Pirate Village and Thieve's Market, which is adjacent to the park area. That's where all the stage entertainment is, the pirate's pub, the Schooner WOLF, vendors, food and activities. It's a short hop by car away from the fort, about three minutes. So when you get bored at one you can hop to the other.

Our entire crewe is not PC, so feel free to hang with us if you feel out of place at any time. We always feel out of place. :)

The Doubletree is the official pirate port. They are offering special room rates under the Conch Republic Navy.

The website is: http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/EYWDTDT-Doubletree-Grand-Key-Resort-Florida/index.do

Use the code CRN. That gets you $109 a room plus tax. They have a free shuttle into town for drinkin. It works on the website.... One of my crew just booked through it. It's a good rate unless you want a dive hotel there. I think breakfast is included.

If you have limited time, I suggest you fly in Wednesday. The bulk of the activities are Thursday through Sunday. For a complete schedule go here: http://www.piratesinparadise.com.

If you have any questions about the Pirates in Paradise festival, email me at hurricane@piratesofthecoast.com. I'm working with Julie on all the events. I will be down there from Monday through Sunday.

-- Hurricane

Edited. Didn't like what I said. Damned writer. LOL

I first raised the point that bars in different places would be different and I stand by that. A bar by the port would most likely be more rough-and-tumble than one in the city center. Still, even the louts in the slummiest of establishments would behave differently if it contained both sexes (and not all of them were to be paid for after hours activities.) For the most part, a man can't impress a female by behaving like someone of no character at all. (This is not to say that everyone in a drinking establishment would be doing such, but some almost certainly would have. Probably more than less if our society is any indicator.)

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Even now, this isn't always true. It's still a sweeping generalization. I have known male friends in my own world who have quite a bit of money and have been crass and vile and walked out with the prettiest woman in the room, even though there were insulting and degrading to them. I have rarely seen men act differently than they ordinarily would, even to get some nooky. Case in point. I was in a bar in Fort Pierce this weekend and the guy's opening line to a woman was (and I'm not making this up), "You look a lot better with makeup." If this was his best foot forward trying to impress a female, it wasn't working for him. And a vile buccaneer with a pocket full of several years' wages hardly had to be on his best behavior in Port Royal. There was no reason to be.

-- Hurricane

Cool. I'll make sure there's an hour's break in there so people can get over to the battle.

-- Hurricane