Happy Halloween Rumstylin'

     October 31, 2013 is already here and Halloween Night looms over us.   This is usually a fun night of very strange cocktails that look something less than appealing.    I propose a fun evening of
unappealing costumes and some fine eye appealing cocktails that are enjoyable to the eye and palate.

     There is a great tasting Cocktail that Don the Beachcomber created back in the 1930's called a "Zombie" that in it's original presentation would turn you into a "Zombie" rather quickly.   I have an idea for a simplified concoction that will be less "lethal" for a party made cocktail.

Halloween Party Zombie

• 3/4 oz. White Rum
• 3/4 oz. Dark Rum
• 1/2 oz. Dekuyper Pomegranate Schnapps
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz. Grapefruit Juice
• Dash of Bitters

Place all ingredients into a blender with ice and turn it on and off quickly 4 or 5 times until the ice is crushed like a swizzle.  Pour into a pint glass and garnish with an orange zest.  If you need some strength added just float with a flavorful 151 proof rum like Lemon Hart.

     Halloween can get pretty ugly, but you can have some very fun and tasty cocktails without the stomach turning appearance of a blood clot or brain hemorrhage.   Take some time with your Halloween cocktails to make they taste and appear friendly, even though they could be deceptively dangerous.

Grand Cayman Through the Windshield

     Last July I had the pleasure of four days in Grand Cayman, it was a chance to relax on the beach at The Reef Resort, but even more it was a chance to drive from one end of the island to the other a couple of times.     I was looking through my photos and noticed a number of shots that I took through the windshield of the vehicle we were riding in and I enjoyed them enough to share them with you.   I usually don't put a lot of credence in these pictures, but in this case they show how really nice this little island in the Caribbean really is.  Just spend a little bit of the time traversing from the airport to the resort looking out the windshield and you will be amazed what is out in front of you.  ;o)

 

From Jerry Thomas' Bartender's Guide of 1862 to Today

"Blue Blazer"

     Jerry Thomas was the original pioneer of cocktailing, he was the first to take the original cocktails of the day and add unusual ingredients to create new and exciting blends for the stale cocktail menus of the times.   Thomas really made a name for himself in San Francisco at the El Dorado Gambling Saloon in the Occidental Hotel.   His signature drink, the "Blue Blazer", takes whiskey then setting it on fire then  passing it between two mixing cups and creating a great blue arc between them.   Jerry only live for 55 years, but he managed to be known from coast to coast and Europe for his flamboyant style and ideas about making cocktails.    He also was known for adding a touch of showmanship to the profession of bartending. making it more a show than just being a server.  


    To make an improved brandy cocktail, you strained the plain version (brandy, bitters and gum syrup, plus one or two dashes of Curaçao) into a fancy wine glass, moistened the rim of the glass with lemon and added a twist of lemon to the drink. (Thomas’s book was the first to mention the twist, which replaced grated nutmeg as the final flourish to a drink.) In the improved cocktail, maraschino liqueur was substituted for Curaçao. Add fruit juice and the cocktail became a crusta.  An excerpt from a great article, "The Bartender that Started it All"  read more at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/dining/31cock.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

    

     Thumbing through the book, I found an interesting cocktail called the Saratoga.  Jerry Thomas seems to like to name cocktails for cities around San Francisco Bay Area.  The Martinez (Martini now) and several others.   This is a curious cocktail that combines whiskey and Brandy with sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters.   Being the rum guy that I am, I had to play with the mix a bit to create a fun cocktail that will give us rum folks a taste of the 1860's and San Francisco gold rush days and the Barbary Coast days.

 

      Rum Saratoga

• 3/4 oz. 21 Year Zafra Rum (Whiskey Notes)
• 3/4 oz. Diplomatico Reserva Rum (Brandy Notes)
• 3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
• Dash of Bitters

Place all of the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled and strain into a Martini Glass and garnish with a lemon twist (an idea created by Jerry Thomas as well)

     The book is available on Amazon.com, and a few other places, it has a great selection of ideas and how to make things in a proper way, something that no one before him had thought to put into a cocktail book.  There is a copy of the book on line on the Art of Drink site:  http://www.artofdrink.com/jerry-thomas/  .   Try some of the many ideas in the book and work your own magic just like what was his legacy for creating new cocktail ideas

 

Bartenders Drinking Behind the Bar?

     This is a question that is brought up quite often.  Personally, I feel that making cocktails is a job, and I have a work ethic that says that I don't drink on the job.   The real thing about drinking behind the bar is for the safety of my customers.  I cant cut someone off or make sure that they don't drive home if I'm as drunk or high as they are.

     In the state of Florida it really isn't an issue, because it is against the law to be drinking and selling alcoholic beverages.   Although  illegal there are different types of bars and different atmospheres, I feel that the individual bartenders have to make their own decisions as to what they feel is right for them.

     I have bartender friends that work in England where the bar scene is quite unique and different.  William Cassin, the general Manager of Trailer Happiness a really fun London bar,  had this to say about the subject.   "For me, there is clearly an argument for both sides of this question, each depending on individual circumstances and venues. But, ultimately, I am happy for my crew at Trailer Happiness to have a few drinks behind the bar if they see fit.  I have been in situations where it is completely inappropriate to drink behind the bar, which is why I made a decision not to work in five star hotels anymore. Career bartenders (including those who have worked in high-end hotel bars, nightclubs, pubs and cocktail bars) are generally very responsible and mature. They are capable of deciding when to turn down a shot and they understand when they have had enough to drink."

     "I am by no means suggesting that it is appropriate to get drunk during every shift and for bartenders to neglect their professional responsibilities. I believe that if you have made that decision to be a career bartender and give every Friday and Saturday to your craft, thus relinquishing your social life and day-walker friends, then you are responsible enough to have a few drinks and still be able to close your station and be attentive to your guests."

     I look at things differently than some, but I try to put myself on the other side of the bar and think if I would be happy being waited on by someone that was drunk and not really putting an effort forward making my cocktails properly or staggering around behind the bar.  It is a job!!!   You don't go to drunken lawyers, pharmacists, doctors, mechanics or most any other business, so why would you want to put up with a drunken bartender.  ;o)


  

Then it was Over, Fantasy Fest 2013

    There is nothing left except beads and trash all over the street that will be blown into the center of the street and the street sweepers will have cleaned up before 9:00am.    It was another wonderful parade with a huge crowd of fun loving people out letting go and enjoying the Grand Finale of Fantasy Fest 2013.  From Grand Marshall Diana Nyad's float to finish, to the thousands of people walking behind the parade at the end it was a really fun finale this year.  ;o)

Fantasy Fest Grand Parade Tonight

Float in the 2012 Parade

     After a week of insanity, there is a light at the end of the tunnel today.   The Grand Parade is tonight and this will for all practical purposes bring the curtain down on Fantasy Fest 2013.    Yesterday was the Peoples Parade and the Street Festival, the island became a maze of people walking around in crazy costumes and having a really fun time. Traversing the island to get home was truly interesting, I felt like a mouse in a maze trying to find a route through the masses of people.

Naughty Officers to control the crowds

     It is a busy day for us at the Rum Bar today, with all of the parade participants getting mentally ready for the big doin's tonight.   We have a pair of officers to keep the crowd under control.    This is very important in an event like this one to maintain crowd control inside.   I'll have the day shift under control wit the help of my lovely assistants behind the bar. 


Bahama Bob and his able bodied assistants

    This is a day that is going to be just for the fun of  it and the end of a great Fantasy Fest week here in Key West.   The week is long and grueling, but it is always a fun one.  The Parade tonight is a wonderful way to wrap up the week of craziness.  The groups and the floats are always fun and spectacular, there are a number of eye catching figure to keep things exciting.



Eye Catching Figures

   The beads are going to be flying the whole length of the parade and the streets will be 5 or more deep with people watching the procession come on by.   I'll be at the satellite bar on the street in front of the Rum Bar from 6pm until the end of the parade.  Stop by if you are in that area and I'll be looking forward to seeing all of you tonight.  ;o)


2013 Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival in Granada

  Running November 22 and 23, this is a fun and informative event that is made very special by the flair of the Caribbean island of Granada.   The 2013 Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival is packed with special events in addition to the grand tasting of fun and exotic rums from all over the Caribbean.   All of the excitement of the fine rums and beers is only the beginning of this colorful annual event. 
   The Granada Golf Tournament at the Granada Golf  Club which includes a 9 Hole and 18 Hole event including lunch on Saturday the 23rd from 7am until 4 pm.  Lots of prizes, and fun, equipment is available or you can bring your own.
 





     The Annual CAB (Caribbean Alcohol Beverage) Taste Contest is on The 21st, featuring the

contest as an established part of the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival. The competition is fierce and the winners deserve to be recognised as 'best in class'. This years blind tasting session will be held in Grenada on 21 November 2013.

     Each category of product will be judged by a rum or beer panel made up of industry experts.   Members of the esteemed expert rum panel include influential rum commentators from the International Rum Council, Rum XP panel members, the editors of ‘Got Rum’ magazine as well as members of the Ministry of Rum.

The expert beer panel contains a range of brewmasters, authors of beer publications and beer pundits.  All products are sampled blind and judges award Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades to the adjudicated top three products in each section.

The rums are broken down into categories and judged on aroma, appearance, taste, finish and overall impression.   The categories include white, gold, dark, aged 5 to 9 years, aged 10 to14 years, premium aged 15 years plus, white rhum agricole, dark rhum agricole, overproof, flavored, and rum punch.  There will be awards given for each category of rum.

Other Special events include:

·         Master classes from international rum and beer experts

·         Live culinary displays of cooking with rum and beer

·         'Rum Cocktail Wars' - Grenada's Mixologists vs The Caribbean's Best

·         Steel Pan Music, African drumming and DJ music

·         Live music on stage on both nights of the Festival

·         A Creole Hog roast

·         Rum cakes & Chocolates

·         Local arts & crafts

 

     You can make the trip to Granada and have a dual fun time.  The unmatched beauty of Granada and the fun of getting to know the rums and the people that make it is an unforgettable experience.  Hopefully I'll see you at the Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival this year.  I'm looking forward to being a judge in this years CAB Tasting Contest .  I'll be issuing daily reports from Granada while I'm in country as usual.   ;o)

 

From the Roof of the Inglaterra Hotel

From the roof top down Prado to Harbor

     On the plaza in Old Havana there are many fine hotels, Telegrafo, Park, and  Plaza, but there is a very unique one right next door to the Telegrafo call the Inglaterra Hotel.    This is a hotel that first opened in December of 1875, in the days of the wall around Havana to protect it from the pirates, corsairs, and invaders.    At the corner of Prado and San Rafael Streets she stands in all of the glory that is  Old Havana.  There are many tile paintings on the sidewalk and the pillars that are copies of paintings that are hung in the Louvre in Paris.  The coffee shop at street level's name was changed in 1863 from Café y Salones de Escauriza to El Louvre" because of all of the tile images at the entrance..   

National Theater and El Capitolo

     On the roof there is a fine restaurant and bar that serves wonderful daiquiris, mojitos and other fine cocktails as you sit in awe of the landscape around you.    From this marvelous vantage point you see all the sculptures atop the National Theater (Taco'n Theater), The Bacardi Building, The Prado to the harbor and El Capitolo.   This roof top is so breath taking  in all directions, you just can't see all there is to see on the first visit.


Top of the Bacardi Building

     Sitting down to a fabulous dinner as the sun begans to set on this our first evening in Havana on this trip.  The sun set is just beautiful and the city takes on a mysterious glow as the sun begins to set.   I feel very privileged to have been able to experience the City and the Ingleterra Hotel's spectacular roof top café with so many of my friends.   The early evening of dinner and cocktails is just absolutely unbeatable.   ;o)

Tutus, Plaid and Green parties In Key West

      Busy night at the 2013 Fantasy Fest last night.   Captain Tony's Plaid Party, Finnegan's Wake Green Party and Mango's Tutu Pa
rty all in one night.  Lots of clothing changes and way too much fun for all involved.

   Fortunately for me I was at the Hurricane Hole enjoying NO COSTUME Karaoke Night with Gary and Debbie.  I guess that after a few of these crazy week
s of Fantasy Fest , I'm satisfied with working on Duval Street four days of the Fantasy Fest fun.   It is really more fun working behind the par enjoying all of the craziness and fun without having to be pushed and shoved around in the crowds.  It will be back to the Rum bar on Thursday and for the rest of the week.  Lots of fun and another Fantasy Fest Week will be behind me.  

    The sun rose this morning and guaranteed me another day to write and have fun.   It was a rather wonderful sun rise at that.  ;o)

A Brugal Aviation Cocktail

The Aviation is another of the mysterious classics that there doesn't seem to be an answer as to who was the original creator, but one that has been with us since the time of the first airplanes.  

According to David Wondrich's Imbibe!, it was first printed in a 1916 book by Hugo Ensslin called Recipes for Mixed Drinks.   The cocktail has passed in and out of popularity over the past century, and seems to be making a comeback again.   I keep hearing about the Aviation Cocktail at the Rum Bar, so I decided to do some research into it and I found the Hugo Ensslin recipe and decided to work with it a bit.  

 Hugo Ensslin's Avaiation

 

      ·         1½ oz. El Bart gin
       ·         ¾ oz. lemon juice
       ·         2 dashes maraschino liqueur
       ·         2 dashes crème de violette , a violet liqueur which gives the cocktail a pale sky-blue color.

       As usual I found a way to recreate this recipe using rum.   I found that Brugal's Extra Dry Blanco was ideal for the task.     The rum is lacking some of the botanical flavor of the gin, so it was necessary to add a dash of Fee Bros. Gin Barrel Bitters to fill the void.

 

 

Brugal Avaiator

• 2 ounces Brugal Extra Dry Blanco
• 1/4 ounce Luxardo
• 1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
• Dash of Blue Curacao
• Lemon Zest
• Dash of Fee Bros. Gin Barrel Bitters 

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.    Shake well until chilled, and strain into a chilled Martini Glass, and garnish with a lemon zest

 

 

 

 

 

The Top 10 Untruths about Alcohol You Need for Fantasy Fest

     I ran across this article in "The Daily Mail", and I just had to share it with you.   With Fantasy Fest just getting under way, I think it is something that needs to be brought out in the open.   You can read the rest of the article at http://www.thedailymeal.com/10-alcohol-myths-just-aren-t-true/101713

I hope you get the same kick out of this that I did.  ;o)

"10 Alcohol Myths That Just Aren’t True"

The 'Beer Belly' is Caused by Drinking a Lot of Beer

Thank goodness you can relax and take an extra swig of your beer without loosening your belt buckle. Professor of food science and technology at the University of California, Davis Charles Bamforth is also an Anheuser-Busch-endowed professor of brewing science and he told Popular Science, "The beer belly is a complete myth. The main source of calories in any alcoholic beverage is alcohol...There's nothing magical about the alcohol in beer, it's just alcohol." Alcohol has a high sugar content, which means that drinking too much of it will cause weight gain. Period. But if you’re seeing some extra girth around your midsection it can’t necessarily be blamed on the few extra beers you threw back on Saturday night — it very well might have been the martini last night, or the glass of wine on Friday. There is no longer a need to single out your poor beer as the cause of alcohol-induced weight gain.

Drinking Coffee Will Sober You Up

MythBusters helped us to bust this myth. They reported that "Coffee does not help you get sober. If you're plastered, you're going to have to wait several hours for the alcohol to leave your system on its own. Drinking coffee won't make your body metabolize alcohol faster." Alcohol has to metabolize in your body in order for you to sober up. Caffeine won’t necessarily speed up that process, but it may heighten your senses and allow you to appear more sober. Unfortunately, you’ll just have to sleep off your drunken stupor.

Men and Women of the Same Height Can Drink the Same Amounts

If you're a woman, the next time you try to go shot for shot with a bunch of your guy friends you should remember that you actually will get drunker faster than the men in the group. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence reported that when men and women of the same height, weight, and build were compared, it was found that men tended to have more muscle and less fat than women. Muscle has more water than fat, which means that alcohol is more diluted in men than in women. So in reality, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is going to be higher in a woman than in a man, and the woman will feel the effects of the alcohol sooner than a man will.

Absinthe is a Hallucinogenic

Believe it or not, there is actually an association dedicated to absinthe called The Wormwood Society. They reported that "Contrary to popular misconception, absinthe is not hallucinogenic, psychedelic, or narcotic. If you're looking for this kind of experience you'll be very disappointed in genuine absinthe. The only drug in absinthe is alcohol." Absinthe can be extremely high in alcohol content, though, making the drink extremely pungent when mixed in martinis and other cocktails. And let's face it, if you have too much of any alcohol you might start seeing things — it’s the beer goggles theory.

Mixing Alcohol with Energy Drinks Will Make You Drunker

This was a tough myth to bust, but the answer is no, mixing alcohol with energy drinks will not make your drunker. California State University, Chico reported that alcohol mixed with energy drinks usually contains the same amount of alcohol as draft beers and wines, but it’s the addition of caffeine that can cause a dramatic intoxication. They reported that "experts have started to call [it] the 'wide-awake drunk.' Essentially, this means the individual will have the same blood alcohol content, BAC, as they would have without drinking the energy drink, however the stimulants creates a more 'sobering' effect." It should be noted that mixing energy drinks with alcohol can be incredibly dangerous to your health  — we don’t recommend it.

'Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker'

This myth explores whether or not the order in which you drink different alcohols will make you sick. We left it to MythBusters rather than doing our own hands-on research and they reported that, "If you knock back the same alcohol content by chugging brewskies as you would switching between beer and liquor, you'll be at risk for the same aftereffects: dehydration, memory loss, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound — in other words, a hangover." Regardless of whether you drink your beer before your liquor or your liquor before your beer, you’ll still end up with your head in the toilet if you drank too much.

Vomiting Helps to Sober You Up

This is another myth that does have some gray lines. Health Guidance reported that vomiting does expel the alcohol that is in your stomach and will stop it from further entering your blood stream, but the part of the vomiting myth that isn’t true is that it will sober you up. The alcohol that is already in your blood stream needs to metabolize, which means that you might not continue to get drunker but you will in fact remain drunk until your body has completely processed all the alcohol in your bloodstream.

Drinking Lighter-Colored Alcoholic Drinks Will Prevent a Hangover

Drinking lighter-colored drinks like vodka and gin won’t necessarily prevent a hangover the next morning, but it may help. The Mayo Clinic reported that congeners, products of alcohol fermentation and one cause of a hangover, are more prevalent in dark liquors such as brandy, whiskey, darker beer, and red wine than they are in clear liquors such as vodka, gin, and lighter beers. The same article reported that drinking too much of anything is going to make you hungover, though — so whether you’re drinking light or dark alcohol it probably won’t matter if you’ve had too much to drink anyway.

Alcohol Kills Brain Cells

This myth is unnerving for college students who binge drink regularly. But thankfully, those who overindulged in college can now rest easy — it didn’t harm your brain cells. The New York Times reported that former researcher at the State University of New York at Buffalo Dr. Roberta J. Pentney found that "alcohol disrupts brain function in adults by damaging message-carrying dendrites on neurons in the cerebellum, a structure involved in learning and motor coordination. This reduces communication between neurons, alters their structure, and causes some of the impairment associated with intoxication. It does not kill off entire cells, however." So there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to your brain cells and alcohol, but that shouldn’t give you the go-ahead to binge drink.

Dark Beer is Higher in Alcohol Content

This myth made us laugh a little bit when we came across it. Not all beer is created equal — you are truly in the hands of the brewmaster when it comes to the alcohol content of the beer you are drinking. You may very well have picked a lighter ale with a higher alcohol content than the dark lager your friend is drinking. Some lighter colored beers have a high alcohol content that can easily stand up to a big, bold, dark colored beer. So don’t feel less badass because you ordered something lighter in color than the beer veteran standing next to you.

Read more at  http://www.thedailymeal.com/10-alcohol-myths-just-aren-t-true/101713

The Moon is Nearly Full and the Zombies Are Riding

   Fantasy Fest is getting underway OFFICIALLY tonight with the Zombie Ride.   The nearly full moon will make this an eventful evening, There is a Zombie party at the Rum Bar on Duval Street this evening as well.   Everyone of the Zombies, be careful and have a great ride this evening.  ;o)
  

Zombie Bike Ride Tomorrow

     The 2013 edition of the Zombie Bike Ride goes off from We Cycle on Hwy 1 Stock Island at 6:30 pm tomorrow.   This is one of the great events of the Goombay - Fantasy Fest week.   Nearly 4,000 "Zombies " will mount bicycles and ride the 3 mile course to the finish on Duval Street.  There is a Zombie Beach Bash on Smather's Beach from 4 til 7 and a Zombie Den at Fogarty's on Duval Street.   The Hurricane Hole right next to We Cycle is offering cocktails out side in the staging area for all of the riders to purchase in preparation for the start of the ride.

    Last year the huge crowd rolled on to Key West from the Cow Key Bridge in droves.  This year they have promised even more of the living dead rolling into town. 

     If you haven't signed up yet, you can register on line at http://zombie-bike-ride.myshopify.com/products/wrist-band-registration

     Look forward to seeing all of you riding over the Cow Key Bridge again this year as I return home from work on Sunday.  ;o)

    

DUSA and Tito Cordero Win Golden Rum Barrel Awards

     DUSA the Venezuelan rum distiller that produces "Diplomatico" rum was named the recipient of the Golden Rum Barrel at the UK Rumfest last week.    Located in La Miel, Lara in the mountains of Venezuela, this very green distillery produces some of the finest rums in the world.  The honor is a well earned one for the distillery and all of the people there that make the process work.

Tito Cordero

     Tito Cordero,  Maestro Ronero (Rum Master) is only the third Master Blender at DUSA in the company's history.   This very talented man has taken the Diplomatico line of rums to a pinnacle of fine taste and true quality.   His creativity and ability to work out side of the box to create these fine rums  is unlike any other.    The Golden Rum Barrel award for distiller of the year was well deserved .

    

Ian Burrel

     “This year’s Golden Rum Barrel Awards plays tribute to the pioneers within the industry whether blend or being,” said Ian Burrel, founder of the UK Rumfest.

     “Rum’s rising popularity throughout the world can be attributed to many of these esteemed individuals or brands and we are thrilled to announce such an incredible range of distillers, master blenders, ambassadors and rum blends from all over the world.”

 

     DUSA and Tito Cordero are responsible for such wonderful rums a Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Ambassador, Single Vintage 1997, and 2000, and the rest of the Diplomatico Line of fine rums. 

     I would like to pass on my personal congratulations to my friend Tito Cordero and the rest of the people that make everything happen at DUSA.  Keep the fine rums coming .  I just can't tell you how excited I am about tasting your new Single Vintage 2000 later this year.   ;o) 

Fantasy Fest and Goombay Begin Saturday in Key West

Fantasy Fest Brings a Super-Powered Celebration to Key West

 

 

 

By: Lauren Tjaden

     Have you ever dreamed of being Superman, a muscle-bound bloke who can leap buildings in a single bound? Or maybe you’d prefer to be the Joker, cloaked in green, purple and a twisted smile. Or maybe the Bionic Woman, a shapely do-gooder who humbles Fembots, is more to your liking.

Key West’s outrageous annual costuming celebration, Fantasy Fest, Oct. 18-27, 2013, is the ideal place to unleash your inner comic-book superstar, because this year’s theme is ‘Super Heroes, Villains... & Beyond.’

‘Beyond’ is an apt description not only for this year’s theme but for the Festival in general. It’s beyond crazy, beyond belief -- and beyond popular. In recent years, its attendance has surpassed 100,000 people, or more than three times the population of the island itself.

The gala includes events like a 5K run, a pet parade, and contests galore.  It includes Fantasy Fest Street Fair, a mile-long extravaganza of arts, crafts, food vendors, libations and costumed frivolity that spills down Duval Street. And it includes a plethora of parties --toga, pajama, bikini, pink and even tighty whitey parties – to keep the most dedicated reveler reeling.  

The world-renowned Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade, Oct. 26, 2013, 7 p.m., caps off the celebration.

You should go. Because as Spider-Man said: I believe there's a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride.

   This is the BIG ONE here in Key West and the one you don't want to miss.   I'll be sending pix and stories of the fun all week long next week as things unfold.  Parade night I'll be at my usual place don Duval Street selling the street side booze and watching all of the fun.

 

     Don't forget the Zombie Bicycle Ride coming this Sunday afternoon either.  Lots of zombies and lots of fun.    ;o)