Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Last February I wrote about my first Gasparilla parade even though I am a lifelong Tampa resident.  The three things that I fully expected - fighting, vomiting, and boobs (of both genders) - were noticeably absent.  Gasparilla veterans blamed the lack of beer sales. It seems when you are limited to the amount of booze you can smuggle in in your pockets, purses, or shopping carts it is a bit more difficult to get thoroughly hammered.  I like a good fight as much as anybody, but I can live without the vomit, and in my experience it is always the wrong folks who like to show their goodies (thanks, grandma)!

If you do want to see that stuff, there is no need to hold your breath any longer. TBO.com confirmed that local Bud distributor Pepin got the contract for gasparilla beer sales this year.  And (of course) they are doing it for the charities that “typically raise a combined $50,000 from beer sales.”  (is that a lot? I mean there are like 250,000 people there right?)

Regardless of what the old time Gasparilla vets told me, I didn’t notice a large decrease of arrests over the Gasparilla weekend.  Even with no beer sales, the total number of folks locked up decreased only 7% from the 2005.  That sounds like a lot but weekend prior to the parade had a similar drop in arrests that can’t be explained by the lack of beer sales.  The decline of arrests seems to be part of a larger trend.

I hear some of the pirates grumbling that they didn’t get quite the “eyeful” they have learned to look forward to.  It is a shame really, at their age I hope the old guys get to gaze at a few more knockers before heading to that big country club in the sky.

So load up on your dollar bills before heading out to Bayshore this year, and bring your digital cameras because those prudes over at the Tribune won’t show you the “good” pics.  Remember that you only rent beer, and one look at the inside of the port-o-potties before you head toward the beer tent may do a lot to slake your thirst.

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