hurricane

It has come to my attention that some residents of the fair peninsula known as Florida are pointing fingers at ol' Hurricane 'ere, insinuatin' that it is I who is drawing the likes of Charley and now Frances. While I will gladly look them square in the eye anytime, I have not issued any invites and 'tisn't true that one Hurricane automatically draws another. I've noticed some tar and feathers bein' left about on the docks near the Blackheart recently and some scallywag seems to be tryin' to run me out of town to rid the populace of this nuisance (Frances, Charley, et al, not meself). Me own assumption is that it's that blasted Mayor Buddy of neighborin' Portlando, up to his ol' tricks. Stand down lad. I will not run but perhaps you should hide. But to all the fine pirates who make the ports of Florida their home for pillagin' and plunderin' I send my regrets concerning this recent bout of hard blows and blow hards that have been interruptin' the sweet trade. As for ol' Hurricane, I say bring it on Frances. Charley was nothin' to be a feared of. And I look forward to lookin' at you square in the eye as well. And to all the brethren at sea and in port, take shelter quickly, make yer ties fast, always face into the wind and ensure that the rest of yer crewe is safe and sound, no matter where they are. And pray that Frances is not what she makes 'erself out to be... and that she fails to strike true or hard... Fair winds all! See you on the other side (of the storm, that is)... -- Captain Hurricane

That's what ya get when the captain's not cut in on the share of rum, eh? :)

I'd be doing the crewe a disservice by expecting anything else from you, Sheila dear.

Ahoy all! Might notice a few postings missing. I'm trying to keep this about the festival dates as rumors have been circulating that are wrong. Sorry I had to do me duty and erase some postings more sutable for the hot tub.... Ah, a captain's and moderator's duties combined... --

Ahoy, Master At Arms, Animal! I be kickin' yer arse if ye don't be gainin' control of the crewe. There's fratanizin, cavorting, drinkin' (without captain given permssion), and too much loose behavior. You'll be answering to Captain 'ere, MA Animal... Ye may be 3000 miles away but Captain's got very long arms of shipboard law... Straighten ye crewe up, sir, or I be lookin' for the Conscience to call on ya, and no mortal soul be wantin' that, trust me!

Avast there Scupper! No moistening the crewe. Diosa will be here soon to split yer gizzard. Only the Conscience gets moistened aboard the Blackheart....

Ahem! Yer Capt'n is back and wants to know what all the mayhem is about... Quartermaster Animal? What be all this scurrying about with the lasses... why aren't yer duties performed mates. Hay ye got too much time on yer miserable hands while I was ashore with Diosa?

Good to see you there, lass... it's going to be a lot of fun this year. Entering the Walk the Plank Championships?

Ahoy all! There seems to be some confusion about when Pirates in Paradise is and how long. So here's the scoop. The festival is still 10 days long, from Nov. 25 through Dec. 5. There's the usual balls, parties, pub runs, sea battles, etc. The only thing that has changed is the Thieve's Market. The actual marketplace is a three day event on the last weekend (Dec. 3-5). It will be held at Fort Taylor along with a period encampment, entertainment, fight circles and such. The 10 day festival will culminate at the fort with a big feast in the bricked section (see http://www.piratesinparadise.com for more information). We hope to see everyone for the whole festival, including the kid's event at the Mel Fisher's Museum, the Radio Auction, cruise ship duty, the Banana Bay beach party, etc.

Usually true about the Benevolent Dictatorship... but we've been down the meetings and positions road before and each time it has become mired in politics, fighting over monies, letting less than stellar pirates into the crewe and hard feelings. After being through that three times, I've learned my lesson. So, we have no meetings. All monies are dispersed equally according to who showed up (if we even charge for something), everyone is expected to have fun, there's no Captain or similar position - whoever sets up and event runs it, period. We aren't historically accurate but we are hysterically accurate - and everyone must have fun!!!! In the end, The Pyrates are attached to our business so we get all the protections of a corporation, including that wonderful liability insurance that can be impossible to get with a bunch of cutthroats running around with weapons. So ultimately, I get the final say and that's worked well for many years now. Pirates just want to be pirates and not into politics and positions. So, if any of you want to follow the rules 1) Drink, 2) Have fun, 3) Leave a positive impression on all you come into contact with... then yer more than welcome in our happy, mischievious crewe.

I lived in the PNW all my life until recently when I high tailed it down Florida way for sun and fun. I believe the TNT (which is next door) has a two year lease remaining on their space, with options. It seems that the guy who built the condos and Bartells on the backside had a little money trouble, hence the extension on the lease. But money talks so who knows. I spent a lot of time in the Benbow and TNT - will miss them both when I visit there in the future... --

Ahoy all! Seems all the crewe has plenty of time to chit chat on deck. Must not be given ya all enough to do... Ah, dear Paisley, I'm sure the Captain will come up with some appropriate title for ya, lass. When might ya send me a photo so I can add you to the crewe page? Studley, we are working on the first batch as we speak. We need four pirates to get a set to print so that's just being completed. I hear tell that Spitfire and perhaps the Wycked Wenches will be placing an order as well. Sure could have used them at the voyage yesterday - many wanted our contact information and they would have been the perfect item for that...

The Admiral Benbow as we all knew it actually closed two or more years ago, after the owner died. It was in her will that it be closed immediately upon her death and a grand wake was held that night. Many of the items were sold to customers. The new place that opened in its place earlier this year was a different operation - may have had the same decor, but it just wasn't the Benbow anymore. Eventually, that whole block will be raised to make way for condos. All the properties has a two year lease extension, including our hangout of 20 years, the TNT Tavern next door to it. Ah, the sad, sad outfall of progress...

Of course we're always lookin' for crewe, dear Paisley. Here's the requirements. You must have fun. We don't do politics. There's no meetings. We just go out pirating all over the place and have a great time together. Ya up for it, lass? Then we're glad to have ya aboard!

Fabrics are used in filming that are less intense than in person, due to the way film, well, films. The bright red jackets in Cuttroat Island of the soldiers is actually a very washed out red. Plus, those costumes used in background shots tend to be more flat in color and of monotone palettes. The farther back they are used, the more blah they are colorwise...

Yes, soon after the movie came out the principals outfits were up for bid on Disney's auction site as well as some props. Then the receipts started rolling in from the box office and that gig ended pretty quickly as they'd be needing them for the sequels.

Type in "pirate boots" on ebay.com - there are many price ranges. Also, type in "thing high boots" and many times Bob and Angie have men's boots that are good and not too expensive. The other option is to buy a pair of Wellington style boots and add your own cuffs. I have a pair like that that I've had 20 years now...

I have many of the original costumes and props from Cutthroat Island - they were purchased through Hollywood CPR, a charitable organization that teaches kids in need how to work in the prop industry... Frankly, I wear them out all the time and use the props as well... Luckily, Cutthroat Island's costumers were obsessive about detail and authenticity so they're not cheaply made. And since no one was interested in piratephenalia back then, most of the sets (coat, pants, shirt and hat) could be had for $250. Geena Davis' white dress in the auction scene only went for $1500. I bought another dress and the thing must have weighed 10 pounds. I originally got a few of the pieces to display, but they were really meant to wear. What's the point of having a piece in a display case in your home when it can be seen as a wearable collection at an event...

Sounds like we'll be having one of the largest crewes there. The more the merrier obviously. Master Studley, would love to know more about the shirts. PiP has their own but Sir Nigel be workin' on a new logo for the flag so we will wanta be showin' it off a bit in KW and other parts unknown. Dear Sheila, save some floggin' for the captain. Diosa can only do so much to keep him in line. And he loves da floggin'. Hopin' Animal, Doc and Merrydeath can make it down to play with the crewe too (how melodic). We need to show some of the casual pirates how things are really done...

It would be Against All Flags and Captain Blood, followed by PotC and Cutthroat Island. The latter two are good family fare, but the other two have more interesting plots to them... and who could not love Maureen O'Hara as saucy Mistress Stevens. While some of it may seem cheezy by today's over the top special effects, it has some charm to it. And lest one forget The Buccaneer, with Yul Brynner as Jean Lafitte, Charlton Heston as Andy Jackson and directed by Anthony Quinn.

Everything the guy is selling comes from other wholesale outlets and retailers. The gold bar is the same one that Mel Fisher's Museum in KW has for $16... the supposed PotC cutlasses are standard ebay crap... I got one for $9 for decor. It seems that his moniker, PiratesRUs is very appropriate as he seems to be a very good pirate... taking people left and right.

So which of you degenerates and scurvy characters are going to Key West for Pirates in Paradise. Captain's tryin' to get a head count so the local militia can make plans accordingly to repel The Pyrates of the Coast(s).

They're shooting for Pirates in Paradise soft opening on the last weekend. So construction is under way finally and they're working overtime to get at least a large part of it done by the Dec. 3,4,5, window.... - Capt. Hurricane

Ahoy there! Hurricane checking in after Charley tried in vein to steal me thunder. I looked him squarely in the eye and he shudder, shook, blew and winnowed in the face of ol' Hurricane here. He was no match for us. We hunkered down in the domicile, Wrong Way, Sir Nigel and I. Diosa braved the fierce winds in pursuit of her alter duty as a reporter extraordinaire. She reported in downton O -- watching her brand new SUV bounce about like a toy. Winds at the domicile were 90 mph with 105 gusts... power went out at 8:30 - still not back on. We're now bunkered down at the Wellesley Inns, a nice little inn that's kind to wayward pirates. Power is supposed to be restored by Saturday. Will keep you posted -- got great photos of the storm in progress and the brave pirates from the Northwest (who didn't know any better) who met death face to face. Also managed to find time to write a song that got national play on Clear Channel stations. So if you heard a song about Charley done to Jimmy Buffett's Volcano, that was us.

Welcome to Paradise lass! I can vouch that the waters are warm, the air is, well, warm, and the people are pretty warm too. I can't say that I miss the Pacific Northwest waters much. Like eatin' the same thing for all three squares for four decades and likin' it. And fear not. Charley be aiming square for ol' Hurricane too... in Portlando. We'll see if Charley is any match for a Hurricane that's Cat 5 human wreckage and emotional debris. Come and get me Charley if ye think you can handle it.... (skulks off to check ship's stores of rum, candles and water)... and I mean it too... :X We'll be over Tampa way this Saturday to troll for treasures washed up in the tides. Let us know if you want Nigel and I to bring a bucket brigade... Our thoughts be with ya lass!