prepping for gasparilla
permalink | categories: 366, bayshore, downtown, free, gasparilla, hyde park, soho, things to do, tourismby gar @ 8:45 am
Here are my top ten tips for successfully getting through Gasparilla Day:
- Eat a decent breakfast. You never know where your next meal might be.
- Pack light. Leave the coolers at home.
- Hide a $20 in your sock. You will need it later.
- Sunscreen. Trust me on this one.
- Charge your cell phone the night before.
- Bring a disposable camera. If you lose it no biggie.
- Pace your intake of adult beverages. Mix in a water now and then.
- Be patient. Standing in line will occur more than once.
- Show some respect for the kids and seniors. There will be plenty of beads for everyone.
- Just when you think you have seen it all, you will see something that makes you go WTF?
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January 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
One more thing: If you need the police for any reason, make sure you don’t have a police record yourself. Just ask the poor woman last year who was raped.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
Also,
Plan to park far away.
Plan to walk a long way.
Plan to spend 2 hours in traffic if you choose to leave after the parade.
Plan to carpool!
If you bring drinks, don’t bring glass bottles.
Also remember to bring extra plastic cups.
And finally, stay out of my yard, lamo.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I just wanted to point out that as a point of pride, residents of the other two cities in Hillsborough county, Plant City and Temple Terrace, do NOT indulge in Tampa’s drunken Mardi Gras wannabe of GASparilla. Frankly, it’s beneath us.
Party on white bread.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
And you know this how? I have a ton of friends in Plant City that take part in all the activities!
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I presume that the comment about “the other two cities in Hillsborough, Plant City and Temple Terrace” was for our comic relief. I’m pretty sure those aren’t “cities” as much as they are “areas with an Appleby’s and your occasional Texaco Quik Mart”
Also, guys who use the word “frankly” are almost uniformly goofballs.
A couple of random observations here for your perusal
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I’ll be there reporting for my next Creative Loafing Bar Tab column … Laughing at the drunken buffoonery, hoping for a nice flash from a UT hottie and cringing at the middle-aged slobs bowling over women and children for the coveted trinkets.
Of course, in order to maintain during such madness I’ll definitely need to fortify myself with a steady intake of alcohol. Which means, like in the past, I might be that guy discretely pissing in the bushes. But really? What/who does that hurt? Look it at as free watering.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I knew the “pseudo Mardi Gras” comment would get a few replies, can’t deprive Tampa of its public displays of proviciality.
Frankly, O.D. Humanity, there are, indeed, three cities in Hillsboroug County. Consult a map. I will not digress on your use of “random observations” and “perusal”. How retro!
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I am looking forward to the day ! Let the party begin.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
drink water in between? you cannot be serious. like finding a place to piss off beer isnt enough of a problem!
actually, im thinking of skipping this mess this year. im liking the night parade instead.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Ease up and stop being so serious Anon. Just trying help peeps!
January 25th, 2008 at 9:39 am
“there are, indeed, three cities in Hillsboroug County.”
sorry man, evidently a misunderstanding here. hillsbourg county? consulting a map at your suggestion i see nothing by this name anywhere nearby. maybe it’s outside of edinburgh or on some scottish heath somewhere.
the cities of Hillsbourg Co., wherever they are, sound pretty puritanical i must say
January 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am
“The Big Story: Get ready for the worst day of the year”
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/politicalwhore/tag/gasparilla
January 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Looking at the history of Gasparilla on Wikpedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasparilla_Pirate_Festival, it appears the festival used to have a shred of validity to it. Concerning the Chamber of Commerce gimmick the festival has devolved into, it amazes me that it was once an ethnic Ybor festivity involving Cuban bread and black bean soup.
I mean who really wants to see a bunch of Bud swilling noveau riche white bread idiots baking in the sun, pretending to be pirates?
January 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Here’s that Wikpedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasparilla_Pirate_Festival
January 25th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Anon 11:55a. Again it’s just a party, a time for people of all backgrounds to have fun. It’s like the radio, if you don’t like it turn the dial. FYI I don’t consider myself a “Bud swilling noveau riche white bread idiot”, more like a “Capt & Coke guzzling,vieille classe moyenne, multi-grain dummy” pretending to be nothing!
January 25th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I’m a parade veteran for 20 years. I’m a Krewe member who buys the beads that are thrown in the parade. Have fun!!! But, be VERY CAREFUL. If you take kids, make sure they stay safe in the crowd. I see lots of pushing and shoving. NO BEAD IS WORTH GETTING HURT. It costs 5 cents. It gets loud and people get drunk and obnoxious. Try to exit after unit 100. There are 130 units in the parade. The back of the parade sucks….I have been there. The last pirate float is for the drunk pirates who need a ride. find a spot near the start of the parade on Bayshore.