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Gasparilla Pirates Ready To Invade Tampa - Again!

Tribune file photo by JULIE BUSCH

Members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla ride a pirate ship through downtown Tampa before last year's mayhem.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 3, 2009

TAMPA - Just when you thought you were rid of rowdy out-of-town guests who came into town for Super Bowl XLIII and raised ruckuses at our hotels, restaurants and strip clubs, a rag-tag band of pirates is making its annual assault on downtown Tampa this morning, heck-bent on kidnapping and general mayhem.

The Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and Parade happens on Saturday, and today's scouting raid won't be all that covert. Gaudily dressed buccaneers started cruising downtown about 11 a.m. in large floats to pop off their guns to create a scene, all the while making an abduction run at Mayor Pam Iorio.

Here's how secret this raid is: The streets that are being used have been announced, and regular commuters who don't want to be caught up in confusion are avoiding Ashley Drive, Whiting Street, Franklin Street, Channelside Drive, Twiggs Street, Florida Avenue, Tyler Street and Jackson Street. Much of the activity will center at Lykes Gaslight Square around noon.

"They scheduled an appointment for kidnapping," said the mayor's spokeswoman, Liana Lopez. City officials don't plan to offer any resistance, she said.

The pirate invasion and parade is Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., with the formal invasion staged for 11:30 a.m. The parade winds down Bayshore Boulevard through downtown Tampa beginning at 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, local krewes will be busy with parties before and after the celebration.

Those events include:

• The Krewe of F-Troop Kickoff for Gasparilla Social. The event, open to all krewes, will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jackson's Bistro on Harbour Island.

• The Krewe of Shamrock's Party-Like-a-Pirate All-Krewe Social. The event will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Gaspar's Bar & Grill, 8448 N. 56th St. It includes karaoke and live music.

• The Krewe of Rough Riders' Night-Before-Gasparilla Invasion Party. It is from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday at the Embassy Suites downtown. Dress is Gasparilla festive and krewe casual. The event includes a buffet from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and live music. Tickets are $35 in advance, and reservations are required. Information about ordering tickets is available from Bonnie Stewart at bonnistew@aol.com.

• The krewes of St. Florian, Mustang Sallies and Ryders, Charlotte de Berry and Cigar City will have an all-krewe social at 7 p.m. Friday at Banana Joe's Channelside. The cost is $10 at the door and proceeds benefit Krewes Kare.

• The Krewe of Florian will have its fourth annual Pelota de Fuego at the Tampa Firefighters Museum, 720 Zack St., at 5 p.m. Saturday. The event includes food, beer, wine and live band. Tickets are $25 at the door with proceeds benefiting the museum.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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