Ships Log: Searle's Raid on St Augustine, 3-6-10

Rape, Pillage N Burn,


In 1668, Capt Robert Searle n his privateers from Port Royal sailed under the cover of night into the harbor of St Augustine to loot the silver ingots held in the royal coffers of the Spanish. They killed 60 people and pilaged the goverment buildings, churaches n' homes. The devaststion wrought by these blood thirsty pirates prompted Spain's Council of the Indies to build Castillo de San Marcos.

The re-enactor who run the re-enactment are much more colonial type than pirate types, as the whole city seem to dislike pirates. They consider themselves privateers, but from the Spanish point of view, they were viewed as pirates, for they burn the town down.

Ships Log, Florida Ren Festival, 2-28-10

Good Day Me Lord,


I fancied a a day from me shop ta go down the coast to attend the Florida Renaissance Festival, where I meet some one of the first pirates I shoot in Florida 2 year ago. It was big, but not as big as the Southern CA Pleasure Faire. Here be a confederation of three different pirate krewe doing the black powder demostration, which I got be part of with my newly acquired hand cannon. Without a doubt a fun day to be had.

Here be

Ships Log, New Name N' Location, 3-1-10

Ahoy Matie,

I will be moving from my tiny 300 sq ft store on 100 St George Street to a 1200 sq ft store on 26 Cuna Street on April 1, 2010. I will also be changing the name of the store from Pirate Portraits N Treasures to Pirate Fashions n Fotos. Here be me new business card n' logo.

Ships Log: Pirate at the Pier, 1-23-10

Avast ye scurvy krewe,

This be dar 3rd year fer the Pirates at the Pier. I did set up a small table of some of my pirate garb, weapons n' jewely n' did ok, even Jack came around to shop.

As always, I be keeping a weather eye fer lovely wenches.

Ships Log: Ybor Knight Parade, 2-6-10

Hell's Fury,

In fer a penny, in fer a pound. Life wouldn't be complete without par taking of the Krewe of the Knight's of Sant Yago Knight Paradein the historical Ybor City.


Here be the Ye Mystic Krewe of the Santa Margarita who I also took a group portrait fer.

Bead throwin' from floats that look like pirate ship, if ye be drinkin'g enough. Which be the main purpose to this fine celebration. It's grand when an pirate event doesn't try to be PC. As pirates are a mean n' wild bunch.

Ships Log: Gasparilla Pirate Fest, 1-30-10

By flint n' bones,

I wasn't sure if I was ever goin' ta attend the world's largest pirate festival Gasparilla, they not be friendly to merchants who sell good pirate stuff. I got invited by the Ye Krewe of Sir Henry Morgan, who I took this grand group portraits fer.

I did have a fun time takin' in the sites, I have a better appreciation of the kilt now. NO thing aren't authentic or real, but ye can have mindless fun.

It be nice that pirate be center stage with hundreds of thousands of pirate lovin' soul in attendance, wantin' ye to throw a little booty to them. Booty meanin' some plastic beads, arrrr!

Ships Log: Alafia River Rebdezvous, 1-21-10

Ye Haw Maties,

I be search far n' wide fer unique items to stock my pirate store in St Augstine. I had to brave indian attacks on my way to do some trading at Alafia River Rebdezvous. This would be my first rendezvous event, which be a pre-1840's frontiersmen, indian, mountain men gathering.

Hundreds of period canvas tent with trade blankets with all kinds of goodies abounded. I be a lucky mate fer foundin' me a real 200 year old antique British Flintlock Pistol to add to my collection or ye can call me a salted codfish.
!

Ships Log: British Night Watch, 12-5-09

Dar British Be Comin'

It be a might frighting sight to see hundred of British Red Coats invade yar city, if ye happen ta be a pirate.

I be just an honest merchant man, sir. I says to these bloody red coats who be pointing their muskets at me. On the 5th of Dec at 8pm, the 35th Annual British Night Watch Parade started out with 400 fully dressed Red Coats n' their entourage marched up n' down St George Street.

Ships Log: Pirate in Paradise, 12-3-09

Ello Bilge Rats,

Well here I be again at Key West for the legendary Pirates in Paradise Festival held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6, 2009. This be a grand festival from the re-enactment side as it gets to use a real fort as its playground. Firing real canons and using real tall ship, the Wolf. Ye also get to play with pirates from all over the world. Buccaneers camped in historical tents only a few feet from the beach.

Here be two brand new bronze 6 pounds being fired fer the very first time, they be real beauties. The weather be might unpredictable. One day it be like a hot summer day, then the next it be rain n' fierce winds. I wish I could of spent more days in this week long event, but I had to leave early to defend my shop, as I heard that 400 Red Coats be invading my home port of St Augustine.

Ships Log: Pirate Fashions Launches, 11-24-09

Lets Celebrate Mates,

After a hard year of relocating and setting a new life setting up a new life n' full time store, I have finally gotten around to putting up a new website Pirate Fashions that will sell many of the unique items at my store: Pirate Portraits N Treasures. Please stop by n' let me know what you think.

Ships Log: Calendar Release Party, 9-12-09

Celebrate with me mates,
Pyrates, buccaneers n' scurvy dogs every year eagerly await the new Hot Pirate Babe calendar. My friend, Pirates of Treasure Coast put on this calendar release party fer me.

They event got my favorite pirate band, Captain Dan n' the Scurvy Crew to play at the party

Here be some of the cutthroats n' wench who showed up ta celebrate.

Ships Log: Treasure Coast Pirate Fest, 9-12-09

I'd wager a handsome venture,

To start a new venture with Pearl as my partner in vending at pirate events in the south eastern seaboard. This be the Second Annual Treasure Coast Pirate Fest n' the first real one I have done as am outside vendor since startin' up me shop in St Augustine.

It rained while setting up, but stayed sunny fer the rest of the day. Tons of landlubbers showed up n' purchased many Molly Roger shirts. Arrr first venture be quite profitable in a very slow month fer me. Here be my partner manning the booth in one of the few slow times. I am trying to work on my Pirate Fashion line at festivals, as I don't have the resources to do a pirate photo studio in two locations at once.

Down below be one really grand land ship, I want one fer my birthday, arrrgh!

Ship's Log: St Augustine's 444th Birthday: 9-4-09

In name of God, King n' County,

In 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed at Mission of Nombre de Dio to proclaim name this land, St Augustine of Florida. The city put on a re-enactment of the event to celebrate the 444th birthday of St Augustine.

The good thing about such an old city, is that it has many celebrations fer re-enactors to get dressed up n' attract tourist. Not that I be liking Spanards, but if they weren't here, we pirates wouldn't have any body to plunder, arrrrgh!

Ships Log: Tiger Lee's Calendar Release Party, 8-21-09

Dance dar hemp jig,

Each year cutthroats, buccaneers n' rogues eagerly await fer the release of the next Hot Pirate Babe Calendar. On Saturday, Sept 12, 2009 will be a wild adult only party with entertainment by Captain Dan & the Scurvy Crew, me favorite pirate band. The party be part of the 2nd Annual Treasure Coast Pirate Festival.

Tiger will be holding a Hot Pirate Babe Model Search for the next calendar. The party be held at 7:30 to 10 PM in Howard Johnson Inn of Stuart, 950 SE Federal Hwy Stuart, Fl. Cover charge be $16.00 which includes one signed 2010 calendar. Ye have a grand time or ye may gut me fer a preacher!

Ships Log: 6th In Garb Pub Crawl, 8-14-09

Drinkin' fer a cause,

The 6th In Garb Pub Crawl started out with only 6 rouges at Mc Lean's, but picked up 8 more pirate loving soul later. We had a real grand time telling really bad pirate jokes, playing lier's die, n' singin' sea shanties very badly. Join us if ye be in St Augustine on the second friday of the month. This month's featured cause be the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who helps one of the group's son, so drunkin' fer a good cause be what we're about! Here be a group photo taken by Joe O'Steen in Ann O'Malley's.

Ships Log: New Pirate Group Forms, 7-14-09

Mutinous Dogs,

New groups form out of old groups, that be dar way of the pyrate world. Many of the most successful pyrate krewe split ways with their original krewe, so be with the Swashbucklers, Pirates & Buccaneers Social Society of St Augustine. They held dar first meeting at Santa Maria Restaurant, which be a cannon shot from the Black Raven Pirate Ship. I say that 2 groups will alway be better than one group, as competition forces both groups ta be better.

Here be dar Mayham brothers, William the shorter one on the right, be the new Captain of the Krewe. We had 3 mates from the Georgia Cutthroat Titans travel ta attend this first meeting.

Ships Log: Fireworks over the Fort, 7-4-09

Blow me down,

It be Fourth of July in dar New World n' the Governor be orderin' a grand fireworks celebration in St Augustine. Here be two images of dar spectacle above Castillo de San Marcos. These images n' most of all the images in this blog are available as fine art prints at my studio/store o' ye can e-mail me.

I be guessin' that this be a similar sight that Francis Scott Key saw over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, which be dar war Pirates help ta win

Ships Log: Pirate Art Walk, 7-3-09

Arrrrrrt Maties,


As part of the First Friday Artwalks in St Augustine, I decided to join in as put on my first Pirate Art Walk since I now carry the art of Don Maitz, Michael Noles, Dean Quigley n’ Tiger Lee.

Dar image at the top be Don Maitz, creator of the famous Capt Morgan Rum image. This is his version of Anne Bonney n' Mary Read top of me 180 year old Spanish Colonial chest on display. Below is Michael Nole's Pirate n' Mermaid image, my photo of the Spanish guard during the Changing of the Flags ceremony at Castillo de San Marcos, treasure maps in my reconditioned antique steamer chest.


By heaven o' high water if ye be in town, please stop by Pirate Portraits N Treasure ta have a looks at some beautiful pirate arrrrt work!

Ships Log: John Levique Pirate Days, 4-14-09

On the road,

A much as I love havin' a permanent store, I do sometimes love traveling ta new events n' seeing old friends. Well I got away on sunday to set up a small table of me Molly Roger wenchware at the 8th Annual John Levique Pirate Days at Johns Pass. I hear saturday be mighty busy, but sunday turned out ta be very slow. Here be some wenches engaged in a cat fight n' the West Coast Mutineers with Ms Florida. Damn me eyes, but after a hot n' humid day of vending, I be ready fer my air conditioned shop back in St Augustine.

Ships Log: 4th In Garb Pub Crawl, 6-12-09

Curse ye n' the ship ye came in on,

The fourth In Garb Pub Crawl be a grand success, we even had some lubber who came not in garb to have a fun time. We made a detour ta the Cast N Anchored this time to harass innocent lubber walking down Cuna Street.This month we taught how to curse like a pirate in addition to singing drinking songs and period games. Join us if ye be in St Augustine on the second friday of the month. This month's featured cause be the Children's Hospital of Orange County.