Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

After a successful debut in 2007, the Gasparilla Film Festival has bigger and better plans for this year’s festival, which opens tonight, February 27. At a recent press conference, festival executive director John Rosser and president Eric Odum presented the film line up, announced guest appearances, and listed the panels, receptions and special events planned for this year. 81 films from ten countries will be screened over five days, with at least 20 of the selected films having a connection to the Tampa Bay area.

By the way, Shane West, star of TV’s ER and the GFF selection What We Do Is Secret, will be at the Gasparilla Film Festival this year. I’ll post more details when I get ‘em.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the special events and screenings planned for this year:

Wednesday, February 27:

• Opening Night VIP Reception at the Tampa Theatre
• Opening night film Kabluey, a “hilarious, unique and heartfelt comedy” starring Lisa Kudrow, Chris Parnell and Christine Taylor. **Executive producer Jeff Balis is a Tampa native.**

(more…)

107 people were arrested during last month’s Gasparilla invasion and parade. The two you see being carted off here were busted before the parade even started. There were eleven felonies reported and 96 misdemeanors, including nine charges of boating under the influence.

The director of Hillsborough County Health Department and professor of internal medicine at the University of South Florida, Dr. Douglas A. Holt was arrested during Gasparilla festivities Saturday on a charge of boating under the influence. His response:

“I’m a very responsible person, but I made perhaps a wrong choice,” Holt said. “I certainly put no one in danger.”

Meanwhile, Mark Koert was drunk when he tried to slam a 28-foot Maxim he stole from the municipal docks at the Tampa Convention Center into Deputies Paul Shute and Timothy Lundy, both of the sheriff’s marine unit. The Realtor has a mostly clean record, so I’m thinking he was quite inebriated.

Don’t forget, the Knight Parade is this Saturday. Have fun with that!

Photo courtesy of J William Robinson. Check out his other work at jwilliamphoto.com.

Another weekend is coming around, and with the little one coming home, we need kid friendly events.

When I started looking for stuff to do, I kept in mind that we will be in Downtown Tampa on Saturday morning for the big JGLB show at the Q105 Post Race Celebration & Awards Presentation after the Gasparilla Distance Classic running race.

With that in mind, I went to the Tampa’s Downtown Partnership website to see what they had listed and I found a neat little treasure. There will be an additional big Gasparilla event this year called the “Gasparilla March Triumphant: The Return to the Sea”, which has not been held since 1964.

Channelside Bay Plaza will have live bands, free beads, balloon makers, face painters and there is no charge for admission. I have been to events like this before at Channelside and they always have a good variety of things for the kids to run back and forth from!

The Florida Aquarium is offering free admission to children 12 and under who come in pirate costume and the first 500 guests will receive beads. This event will start around noon with the Jose Gasparilla docking at Channelside for everyone to view from the wharf. Around 4:30pm, pirates will begin their march from The Florida Aquarium along the streets ending at Channelside. At approximately 6:45 the Captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will meet up with Mayor Pam Iorio, who is seeking the return of the key to the city.

Ending with the Captain and his mates boarding the Jose Gasparilla and pushing off from Channelside, with a final cannon salute launched towards downtown Tampa. You can go visit any of these websites for more information: www.eventmakersfl.com www.gasparillaextravaganza.com www.gasparillapiratefest.com and www.tampasdowntown.com

After all of that, I think we will stay in on Sunday and relax!

Get ready for next week though, the rowdiest Gasparilla event, the Knight Parade!

Now that the Tampa Museum of Art is closed until March, it’s time to spread our wings and discover other art installations the area has to offer.

Trying to escape drunken crowds and invading pirates? Dunedin Fine Art Center is holding a two day event called Contain It! Friday and Saturday.

The opening party starts at 8 p.m. Fri. and is $10 for admission. The event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday is free.

The exhibit is a series of 10 PODs (storage units) transformed by artists. For the party Friday night, there will also be DJs, Red Bull lounges, and artist/performer John Kilduff.

While you’re there, take some time out to view DFAC’s other exhibits, like the privacy squashing pictures from Les Slesnick’s Private Spaces and Elizabeth Faubert’s whimsical photographic take on words in The Light of Language.

For more information on Contain It!, current exhibits, or attending a workshop with John Kilduff, call DFAC at 727.298.DFAC .

DFAC is located at 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, FL 34698.

Another week and we have earned another dollar, so let’s go spend it around town. Courtesy of Weekly Options, here are a few of the Pirate Events in Tampa for you to attend and enjoy for a few bucks!

25 Jan. Friday - Rough Riders Gasparilla Eve Annual Party – 6-11pm at Embassy Suites 513 S Florida Ave. Tampa. Buffet, dancing, music and more. 35$.

A Fabulous Buffet Will Be Served From 6:30 to 9:30 and music by Otis and the Old School Band. Rough Rider Members are free and guests are $35.00 per person which includes buffet and two drink tickets per person. Payment due in advance and reservations are required. Call Club Secretary Iris with credit card info at 813-248-1898.

26 Jan. Saturday – Gasparilla 11am - ? Downtown Tampa

The pirate invasion of Tampa will begin at 11am in the south end of Tampa Bay and then docking at the Tampa Convention Center at 1pm. At that time the Mayor will have to hand over the key to the city. With the key to the city in hand they will begin the parade of pirates down Bayshore Blvd.

26 Jan. Saturday - Gasparilla Pre-Parade Brunch – 10am-Noon at the University of Tampa Plant Hall West Verandah 401 W. Kennedy Tampa.

Join UT alumni & friends for the annual Gasparilla Brunch on Saturday, January 26th from 10 AM until noon. Enjoy an all you can eat breakfast buffet, an open bar, and free parking while you get ready for the parade. Tampa Alpha Members and children under 5 are free, $35 per adult guest in advance ($40 at the door), $10 for children ages 6 to 13 in advance ($15 at the door), Children 5 and under are free.

26 Jan. Saturday – Gasparilla Invasion Brunch - 10am-1pm at the Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St. Tampa.55$ adults, 45$ child.

This event includes a buffet brunch, live entertainment and a reserved seat with the best view of the invasion. Pirates from the Ye Mystic Krewe will return to this location after the invasion to get a bite to eat with you. You must have a reserved ticket and to do so call 813-353-8108 before 2pm Monday – Friday before the 26th.

26 Jan. Saturday – TBT Pirate Invasion Party – 10am-2pm poolside at Westin Harbour Island 725 South Harbor Island Blvd.

Drink specials, music and a fantastic view of the Gasparilla Invasion. 25$ advance, 15$ general admission. MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND! Arrive early for best parking options. The bridge crossing over to Harbour Island will close at 9:30 a.m. The Westin Harbour Island does not provide free parking. The Pirate Fest Buffet will be included with the purchase of a VIP ticket/ VIP table only. All other food and drinks can be purchased on site. Tickets after Jan. 24: VIP, $35 General Admission: $25 for reservations and details call (727) 893-8602

Whether you eat at one of these events or not make sure you do eat before you start the drinking part of this great parade! The list of things to remember have already been posted here at Sticks so read over them, pick your seating area or venue and have fun!

Here are my top ten tips for successfully getting through Gasparilla Day:

1. Eat a decent breakfast. You never know where your next meal might be.
2. Pack light. Leave the coolers at home.
3. Hide a $20 in your sock. You will need it later.
4. Sunscreen. Trust me on this one.
5. Charge your cell phone the night before.
6. Bring a disposable camera. If you lose it no biggie.
7. Pace your intake of adult beverages. Mix in a water now and then.
8. Be patient. Standing in line will occur more than once.
9. Show some respect for the kids and seniors. There will be plenty of beads for everyone.
10. Just when you think you have seen it all, you will see something that makes you go WTF?

I have a quick follow up to an earlier post about the off-kilter cleaners. Apparently, he did not want to be subject to the same fate. Read on…

Instead of taking my Krewe gear downstairs, I drove several blocks to McNatt Cleaners at MacDill and Kennedy.

I handed my things to the young lady behind the counter and she writes on my receipt, “Kilt, Sash, Pirate Shirt.”

Truly a thing of beauty. It’s not as convenient as going downstairs – and it’ll probably cost a little more – but it’s well worth it.

Thanks KMcC

We are so very glad he is satisfied with the new skirt & scarf cleaners.

Sometimes I sure love mayor Pam. Not sure about how good a Mayor she is, but pictures like this make me smile.

Can’t see Dick Greco or Sandy Friedman having a photo like that show up anyplace, can you? Unfortunately, for a lot of folks Gasparilla day was not going to end with smiles such as Mayor Pam’s.

This year saw 166 arrests on the day of the big parade. That is 46 more that just one week prior (I guess the children’s parade isn’t quite as wild) or a 28% jump. Last year the same comparison from the day of the parade and the Saturday one week prior only saw a 3.5% increase in arrests.
Of course I know that beer has no direct correlation with the number of folks jailed but something was sure in the air.

If you read the St Pete Times on Sunday the morning after the parade you might notice that they only indicate one person arrested for Boating Under the Influence. That may be the total of those arrested by the Tampa Police but the State Fish and Wildlife officers arrested quite a few boaters on Saturday for overindulgence. Gasparilla Day is reviled by some boaters for the damage inflicted by inattentive/inebriated boat owners in the crowded bay and channel.

Maybe the Trib’s Daniel Ruth summed up the day best of all,

Today is the big day when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will, in honor of a rapacious phony pirate, invade the city in a cocktail-fueled parade of bacchanalia during which pulchritudinous maidens of dubious age of consent will expose themselves in return for cheap beads made by some of the finest Chinese political prisoners money can buy.

It’s a family event.

(Don’t worry guys I had to look up “pulchritudinous” also- Jason)

I hope that all of our dear Sticks of Fire readers and contributers were safe this weekend and that the hangovers have faded nicely. If you did wind up in the pokey let us know what happened in the comments, but be sure to tell us your name so we can look at your mugshot and laugh at with you.

*** The pictures used in this post were taken by Jonathon Robinson (hire him! w32.jonathon.x [at] gmail [dot] com) and if you want you can see the rest of his Gasparilla 2007 set at his flickr.com page.