Bless me guts,
Dar Sock Monkey attacked our store one day, tryin' ta steal some booty, but I pulled out my twin butterfly knives. He decided to write a nice entree in his blog.
Here's what he wrote: While out playing in St. Augustine, Sock Monkey appened upon yet another pirate! Tiger Lee (the pirate), while rather fierce to meet, actually turned out to be a great guy! He does have a rather frieghtening scowl and wicked looking blades, but he was a nice as can be after Sock Monkey got to know him a little better.
Tiger Lee runs a little shop on St. George Street (near the corner of Hypolita at 100 St. George, Suite 1) called Pirate Portraits N' Treasures. This place is wonderful! Not only can you get your photo taken in pirate garb, but Tiger Lee is a fount of information. He even has a piece of the Black Pearl (from Pirates of the Caribbean) in his shop!
On the second Friday of every month, Tiger Lee offers an In Garb Pub Crawl to benefit different charities from 7 pm until 11 pm. It's a great time with pirate camaraderie, storytelling, song and drinks. Well worth the $5 (IF your in 16th-19th century pirate garb) price. It's $10 if you don't dress-up, but what's the fun in not dressing? Stop by Pirate Portraits N' Treasures to book your reservation!
If your in the market for period clothing, then Tiger Lee is the one to know! He has everything you need, including weapons (no weapons on the pub crawls allowed).
Ships Log: Sock Monkey Attacks, 3-17-09
Ships Log: Tiger's New Wenches, 3-15-09
Yarrr!
Good help be hard ta find, but as luck have it I found a little waif of a girl, one step from living on her own like a steet urchin. Crazy Eyed Elise, my new first mate, can be found hawking fer me on St George N Hypolita Street on the weekends. What she lacks in sophistication, she makes up in guts n' eagerness. She may be short n' blonde, beware as she has become a deadly sword fighter in dar short time I have been trainin' her.
Her best mate, Red Hand Arial, 2nd mate be comin' aboard as seamtress n' backup assistant. They make up a lovely but deadly krewe, so come down fer a visit to Pirate Portraits N Treasures.
Ships Log: St Aug Travelers Tidbits, 3-1-09
Avast ye cursin' corsairs,
Here be dar Special St. Augustine Shop Review from St Augustine Travel Guide's newsletter #8 written by Lynn.
Pirate Portraits n' Treasures
"I came across this new, unique little shop today, purely by accident. I was out taking photographs and happened upon a beautiful pirate lady who I learned was Crazy Eyed Elise.
I asked her if I might take her picture and she invited me into the store to meet Tiger Lee, pirate extraordinaire, from the South China Seas. "Ahoy, matie", he says to me, "me name is Tiger Lee. Arrgh!" I knew I was in for a treat. This is the tale I heard...
Avast ye pirate lovers, Tiger Lee moves to St. Augustine to open Pirate Portraits N Treasures, the worlds first pirate store and photo studio.
Tiger Lee, from the South China Seas, plundered an ancient mystical box from the Manchu Emperor. Tiger be forced to flee his homeland to escape Royal Assassins.
Experience this magical image box, that transforms common folk into portraits of beautiful wenches n' fierce pirates in a matter of minutes.
Pirate Portraits n' Treasures is filled with real 150 year old trunks, pirate garb for men and women, fight quality swords, reproduction flinklocks, made to order tricorn hats, and pirate books.
Take home some real pirate booty, a pirate portrait of yourself! Be sure to visit this fun shop. Located at 100 St. George Street."
Ships Log: Tiger Opens Shop in St Augustine, 1-17-09
Avast all ye bucanners,
Well maties, after a long and trying search, I have finally opened up shop. Me new place be called "Pirate Portraits n' Treasures" it be located on 100 St George Street, Spanish Plaza, Suite I, St Augustine, FL. Here be a quick photo of the place. I still have a floor to fix, lights to set up, products to get in, signage to put up. It be a small 300 sq foot photo studio and pirate store in the heart of the historical district. I plan to carry re-enactor quality pirate garb, some weapons, Molly Roger products, Pirate Magazines n' books.
Ship's Log: Pirates in Paradise: 12-4-08
Da wind in me face,
N' the sun to me back felt good to be in the warmth of Key West for the legendary Pirates in Paradise Festival. Dar be many a pirates from across the county at this festival with in the gates of Fort Taylor. Buccaneers camped in historical tents only a few feet from the beach. Overall this be a grand festival from the re-enactment side, but a very poor event fer us vendors.
We pyrates joined in to the Holiday parade on saturday night, followed by much rum drinking in Key West. Here be Pearl, one of the many fine vixen who I got to know this fine weekend in Paradise, life be curse with too few day n' too many wenches.
Ship's Log: Florida Pirate Festival: 11-21-08
Well n' good,
Finally I've gotten me cargo from the Custom's Haus in Maimi, I am finally able to vend at dar Florida Pirate Festival in St Petersburg, Florida. This be my second time here at Vinoy Park. The performances by the festival's krew of pirates be first rate, both the day n' the night time fire performance.
The sinkin' economy has put a dent on all the festival, as nobody seems to be buying anything. This has gotten me to ponder on havin' to stay in Florida to survive the market. Dar be only 14 pirate events on the West Coast, but 38 pirate events on the East Coast, must be that dar be 3 times as many states on the east side.
Just like last year, I be blessed with finding some real lusty wenches ta shoot fer the next Hot Pirate Babe calendar. I found Nicole n' two other beauties to shoot next day in a sleazy hotel room.
Ship's Log: Pirate Days at the Colony: 10-18-08
Beginnin' of a long voyage,
Well this be my trans-american voyage to St Thomas. Well in the middle of my 3000 mile route, dar happened to be a pyrate event near Dallas, called Pirate Days at the Colony. It turned out to be a fine first time event, but they do need more pirates. It be a joy meeting with some long time fans of me artwork. Listened to a grand Celtic band called: NeedFire.
Here be two lovely wenches who happened ta be twins. Steady as she goes, maties.
Ship's Log: Age of Chivalry: 10-10-08
What dar desert winds may bring,
This be me very last West Coast event before setting sail to the Island of Virgins. In the desert of Las Vegas, I seek fortune at the Age of Chivalry, one massive Renaissance faire of 50,000 folk in one weekend. This be one interesting fantasy faire with The Wild, Vikings, Belly Dancers, Gladiators, Scottish, Fairies, Queen & her court n' Pirates.
Here be Yaya Han, Miss Feb. of the 2009 Hot Pirate Babes Calendar model, who be signing her authographs fer those lucky visitor to me photo booth. As with most events in this down economy, my best event of last year didn't bring me fortune, but the same dry cough that I caught last year, arrrrrgh!
Ship's Log: Ojai Pirate Faire: 9-27-08
By the blood in me heart,
This be 17th year for Ojai Pirate Faire the oldest pirate festival on dar west coast. I be settin' up me Olde Tyme Dress Like A Pyrate Photo Booth for my very last faire in California. It be a very good weekend fer me, with saying good bye to lots of old friends.
Here be 3 of me beautiful models from the 2009 Calendar (Carolyn - Ms May, JJ - Ms June, Ramona - Ms July) who be on hand ta sign calendars on saturday. Plus Anyssa - Ms Sept (in wench with dar umbrella in the montage above) be on dar on Sun to sign as well.
Ship's Log: Oceanside Harbor Days: 9-20-08
Dar Red Coats be Coming!
Well this be dar second Oceanside Harbor Day with pirates, that I be vending at. It be fun to meet up with Capt Joseph Ferguson's Company of the Royal Welch Fusllers 23rd Foot Regiment at this event, as you need some bad guys to shoot at, arrrgh!
Not quiet as profitable in doubloons, but far more profitable in my search for pirate wentches. I had a number of lusty doxies drop by my booth to audition for the 2010 Hot Pirate Babe Calendar. Here be Siouxsie, my lovely assistant for the day. I continue to have the luck of dar devil in getting lusty wenches as helpers.
Ship's Log: Festival of Sail - San Diego, 8-20-08
By Heaven n' Hell,
Only one day of rest between LA and the San Diego Festival of Sail. It was the last and best organized of all the tallship festivals, but not as good as Tacoma. 150 vendors all in one small area, almost everyone had good spot, lot of people but not many buyers. This one is 5 long days, with no time to board any of the tall ships.
I be the son of a double eye whore from the reeking gutter of Rotterdam if I don't have the luck of the devil with my last few assistants, every single one is hotty. Marina be this year's Miss Teenage San Diego. Life be good as a pirate.
Ship's Log: Festival of Sail - Los Angeles, 8-15-08
Bleed me,
The Festival of Sails Los Angeles be just like dar one in San Francisco: expensive, divided, disorganized, scarcely crowded, and not interested in purchasing from the merchants. I be soundin' like a complainer, but I'm tryin' to make money for my voyage to the Caribbean this year. Plus I between SeaWolf selling shirts for $10 and the Official T-Shirt vendor selling shirts for only $5, while i'm trying to sell my Molly Roger Tanktop for $20. 
Our shirts are sexier, original, quality, exclusive, made in the US. We did alright against the competition because of my secret weapon, a saucy assistant wearing my sexy tanktop. I had be beat back all the other vendors who tried to steal her away. Doesn't Miko look totally hot, arrrrgh! Hopefully we will see her in the next calendar. We implemented the no picture without a purchase rule with great success. As it be hard to run a photo booth when your letting everyone take free picture of yourself.
Ship's Log: Festival of Sail - Oxnard, 8-8-08
Damn me buttons,
Here I be at dar Oxnard - Channel Islands Tall Ships Festival. This might be dar small of the Tallships Festival of the season, but it was profitable one, after I moved me booth from the front of the entrance to in front of the line for the HMS Bounty, the one made for the 1960 Mutiny of the Bounty movie with Marlon Brando. The weather was perfect with a nice sea breeze all day. Had dinner and rum at dar Port Royal Privateers encampment, fine group of rouges. May your grog be cold n' wet, your sails full of wind and yer women hot
n' sweaty.
Ship's Log: St. Thomas Pirate Festival
Ahoy Maties,
I be planning a trip ta the Caribbean, somewhere with lots of wenches . . . the Virgin Islands. I will be vending at the first St Thomas Pirate Festival, which be held on Oct 31 to Nov 3, 2008. Every true pirate should take a visit over dar! Here be an entree I pirated from Nicole Cargill-Kipar's History Resources for the PotC about the pirate haven.
Saint Thomas - Mountainous and sparsely covered in forest, St. Thomas has several low peaks which dominate its silhouette. St. Thomas Harbor is a well-sheltered deep water harbor, peeking out between St. Thomas proper and the smaller, uninhabited Hassel Island. The island is semi-arid and the vegetation is sparse besides trees.
St. Thomas was settled by the Dutch in 1657 and soon became home to several bands of English pirates. The island's population is mainly Danish (with Dutch and Portuguese Jews living there as well) and in 1672 the Danish India Company purchased the island. In 1674 the King of Denmark purchased the island and named the Port Charlotte Amalie, after his wife. Many nobles at the time believed that he purchased the island for the express purpose of naming the port as such.
Because the Danish Navy did not operate as far south as the Caribbean (and was embroiled in a bitter war against the Swedes), the King empowered the Governor of the Danish West Indies (who resided in Charlotte Amalie) to issue Letters of Marque at his discretion.
The island became a haven for pirates to rival Tortuga and is home to a black market nearly as large as Curaçao.
St. Thomas is the only whole colony in the Caribbean not controlled by the French, English, Dutch, or Spanish. It was the extent of the Danish colonial empire at the time of its founding. St. Thomas is home to a very eclectic and moderately interesting array of people. The nearest other port that is not controlled by the 'big four' (France, Spain, Britain, or the Netherlands) is the Portuguese colony at Buenos Aires, in Brazil.
So come on over an join me in my raid of a true pirate town, yarrrr!
Ship's Log: Festival of Sail San Francisco: 7-23-08
By living thunder,
Ye would think that Festival of Sails San Francisco would be dar most crowded event ever if ye be listening ta dar promoter, but ye be wrong, very wrong. I recoken that dar be just too many things happening in the city or they just don't know how to promote n' organize. I got to the city a day early so I could take photos of the parade of ship, since it normally takes place while I'm vending. I even rented a special 400mm lens, which be mighty smart as the ships were a very far off from the shores.
Here be my very beautiful assistant, Teague, who you might see more of in dar future. I was entertained by a very talented Jack Spare Ribs. I hope ta see you at one the events that I'll be setting up my Olde Tyme Dress Like a Pyrate Photo Booth.
Ship's Log: Ventura Harbor Village: 7-19-08
Lookee here,
This be one of me favorite events, Ventura Harbor Village Pirate Day's, fer I get ta be with my good friends, Pirates for Hire. This be both a blessing n' a curse. Fer I get a nice booth 5 feet infront of dar stage, which means I get ta be entertained by with everyone watching them - I get's no business. I finally figured it out that if I turned my booth 90 degress, people would finally figure out I was not part of the stage n' come up to take pictures. I'll be damned that it worked n' I was busy all Sunday. 
Dar Pirates for Hire krewe changed quiet a bit since we first did this event 3 years ago. I heartily approve of their new direction of showin' more skin fer their wenches. Here be 4 new doxies n' lookers they be.
Ship's Log: Tacoma Tall Ships, 7-3-08
On my soul's salvation,
After a week of restlessness worrying if my grant trip to the great NorthWest has going to sink me financially, dar Tall Ships Tacoma be finally here. They put me between the speakers of the main stage and a large generator in the 3rd Village with the best ships. I complained n' was put on the sidewalk in the 2nd Village with had no tallships. They were gunning fer a million visitor, but I project they got a third to a half million visitors. All the other vendors were complaining and many left before the last day, but I did great. Fortunately I was 10 feet from the bus stop, this ended up being me best show ever.
I know I shouldn't be picking up strays, but this cute wharf rat had just disembarked from a tall ship from one of the youth sailing programs. We exchange pictures fer services rendered - I still have that monkey fist of hers. Without a doubt, this be a profit venture even with half the engagements.
Ship's Log: Rusty Scuppers, 6-20-08
I'd have the pleasure of saying,
that I be thinkin' that this here little pyrate event was going to be a bit corny and not very profitable, but I'd be wrong. I had a great time at the Rusty Scupper Pirate Weekend in Westport, Washington. They had a wonderful parade of pirate ships on floats as well as a few miniature pirate ships in the water. Dar weather started out a bit wet n' overcast, but dar sun come out on Sunday.
It was good ta be known by some of dar local pirate groups up in the great NorthWest. I should of gotten me a pretty little assistant fer it was my busiest event I have done by myself. Sink n' scuttle me if I don't be finding any wanned wenches.
Ship's Log: NQG Article
Bless yer rusty heart,
Christine Lampe from dar gang at No Quarter Given wrote up a grand article about me Olde Tyme Dress LIke a Pyrate Photo Booth.
She should know, as they be vending next to me at a third of the 30 pirate event that I be doing in the past year or two. They currently have the longest continuous Pirate Publication in existence, they been doing the newsletter since Nov 1993. Plus they have the most up to date listing of all pirate events on the internet, it be where I find out about what event I'll be vending at. Smoothing sailing mates!
Ship's Log: Big Bear Pirate Faire, 6-7-08
What Ho!
This marks me 3rd anniversary of Pirate Portraits by Tiger Lee. As little more than 2 years ago I vended at Big Bear Pirate Faire with my first pirate photo booth. It be successful enough to think I could make a go of it. I had tried a few year before with Renaissance Faire, but that didn't work. There be a photo of a krewe of wenches fire off a 6 pounder naval gun.
Dar faire be very sluggish, as I be thinkin' arrr slow economy n' pirate high gas prices be effecting my pyrating business, along with everyone elses. Here be a little lass named Cortney, that be a pirate n' training.
