Arrr! Board the Killer Pirate Party of the Year!
Avast, each year cutthroats, rogues n’ buccaneers eagerly wait fer the next Hot Pirate Babe Calendar, which be known as the Victoria Secret of Piracy. This Calendar Release Party get you the 2011 Hot Pirate Babe Calendar, an authentic Pyrate Dinner, all you can drink ale, grog and tea, a set of classes on Cutlass Sword Fighting and How to Talk Like a Pirate, Entertainment by Rusty Cutlass, Captain Dan, Pyrate Pyro Performance and my three store assistants will be making there debute belly dancing performance as the"Silent Sirens".
The event is September 11 at the Ocean Pier Pavilion on 350 A1A Beach Blvd in St Augustine Beach, Florida 32080, from 5 to 10pm. The cost is $45 per individual or $80 per couple. Purchase tickets on-line at: PirateFashions.com or at the store: Pirate Fashions N Fotos, 26 Cuna Street, St Augustine, FL 32084. Must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets are limited and not available at the door. Dress code of fashionable pirate clothing will be enforced. Models from the calendar will be on hand to autography copies of the calendar.
Tiger Lee is the photographer and publisher of the Hot Pirate Babe Calendar series for the past 5 years. He moved to St Augustine to start up Pirate Fashions N Fotos the world’s only pirate photo studio and pirate retail store. Tiger wrote the “A Siren’s Call” column in “Pirates Magazine” for 3 years. He also created the “Molly Roger” the little sister of old Jolly Roger and first female pirate symbol.
Ships Log: Calendar Release Party
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: Pirate fer Haiti-Aid Pub Crawl, 2-5-10
Avast ye salty dogs,
What could be better than a whole bunch of pirates helpin' out a Caribbean Island in need? Come in pirate garb fer $5 donation or $10 on land lubber clothes. Meet at my shop at 6:30 on Feb 12, 2010 in St Augustine Pirate Portraits N Treasures or ye can just donate on my website.
100% of the fund collected with go to Its Chance on their second mission to Haiti. Chance Craven the team leader will be there with picture and telling us what they did on the first mission and what they plan on doing for the second mission. There will be raffles and 50/50 drawing as well as entertainers from the Black Raven.
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 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: St Augustine Pirate Gathering, 11-13-09
Avast ye scurvy dogs,
Finally a real pirate event in my new hometown, arrrrgh! The St Augustine Pirate Gathering is put on by the Ancient City Privateers. I have to say that it was much improved over last year, as the move from the Fountain of Youth to Frances Field resulted in 10 times as many guest visiting the event. They had a parade, which I missed most of since my assistant showed up late. The Saturday night Bucanneer Bash be a grand old time with hundreds of pirates being entertained by several pirate bands. Here is an picture from the Best Dressed Pirate Contest. Over all I did ok at the vending booth, but made new record sales day in the store 3 blocks away.
Ships Log: St Augustine Beach 50th Birthday, 11-7-09
Ahoy Maties,
I vended at the 50th Birthday of the St Augustine Beach. Here be some pirates from the Ancient City Privateers.
Ships Log: Talk Like A Pirate Day, 9-19-09
Aye Shallywages,
This be the international day fer all common folk to Talk Like a Pirate! My store did well all this weekend, thank the heavens that some many folk love pirates. I when over to Hurricane Patty's to celebrate with the Swashbucklers.
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: 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: 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.
Ships Log: Drake's Raid of St Augustine , 6-7-09
Burn the town,
In 1586, England and Spain were at war n' Sir Francis Drake fired upon St Augustine, forcing Governor Marquez n' his people to flee. Immediately, Indians looted the town. When the English arrived, they took what the Indians left behind, and it is said the killing of an English soldier by the Spanish rearguard prompted Drake to issue his dreadful orders- "burn the town!"
I love re-enactments. We all get to get in garb, fire some black powered, sword fight n' have some fun. But the Devil be angered by some event that I must voice out. Two little boys get dressed up as pirates and visit the Drake's raid encampment. They are unfriendly told to leave the area immediately. The boys n' their mother show up in my shop, purchase a few items to become more authentic but not enough to gain access. Is this the best policy to encourage youngsters to delve into history. I firmly believe in being inclusive vs exclusive. Let people come with what they have, educate them, and slowly over time they will upgrade n' become more authentic. A change in attitude will help greatly in our towns coffer as well as its merchants.
If historical correctness is so important, then the great re-entactment of the brave Spanish defense of the city gates and reguard action throughout the city and its last stand in front of the Government House is a total fabrication. Most of the city ran into the wood before the English arrive, a few sniper were left to slow the English. Why be costume Nazi, what does it buy us? In a time of a depressed economy for St Augustine as well as the entire US, we need to become more attractive to get at the few traveler about.
Ships Log: Folio Weekly Pirate Article , 6-2-09
The blood rags,
That would be my artwork on the cover maties. They got more right than wrong about me. They did get my name, address, calendar, pub crawl, Molly Roger n' writing fer Pirate Magazine right. But I don't have a Fu Manchu mustache o' blouse that sell for $100. I do have blouses that sell for $39 and bodices from run from $30 to $139. Even bad press can be good if it get people to come in to Pirate Portraits N Treasures, arrrrgh!
Overall they wrote an article to stir up controversy between who the City of St Augustine is at odd with Pirates. The city claims there have never been any pirates in the oldest city in the new world. Plus they only tell of how the evil English privateers attacked the city many times, but say nothing of Spanish privateers taking English prizes. Initially the Spanish crown did not recognize privateer's letter of mark and hung them just like any other pirate. One countries privateer is another counties pirate, for the results are them taking of merchant ships and sacking of coastal cities. When Spanish n' England were at war, the city of St Augustine almost starved if it were not for Spanish privateers who took English merchantmen filled with supplies. They should be celebrated like Robin Hood. 
I agree with the Destination Master Plan report which states focusing all arrr tourism around the Spanish Colonial history alone is like forcing feeding yar kid's veggies. I would rather have the City of St Augustine embrace a wider range of historical endeavors rather than build a plastic water park. People come here for history, let give it to them in buckle loads instead of a very narrow city approved one. If the City is starving for income, it will have to attract more tourist. If the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie is film here, we should board the treasure galleon n' claim arrr share of the gold, instead of focusing on how is not historically correct. Alternative history can be as powerful as real history, since history is always told by the winner. Most of arrr pirate history come from the English, it might look different from the Spanish, French or Dutch perspective. St Augustine was only second to Havana as a Spanish privateer port, who also supplied many French privateers who were at war with England.
Ships Log: Nina & Pinta visit St Augustine , 5-9-09
Columbus sailed the ocean blue,
The Nina and Pinta (really the Santa Clara) are historical reproductions of 2 of the original ships that Columbus sailed to the New World. They are visiting in St Augustine from May 8 to 19 for lubbers to visit, $6 admission fee.
Dar Ancient City Privateer boarded the two tallship in mass, as that's what pyrates do, arrrrgh!
Ships Log: Black Raven Maiden Cruise, 5-9-09
Ta be at sea!
It grand ta have the wind ta yar back, sea spray in yar face n' salt air in yar lungs. I took the 6:15 sunset cruise on the first day of crusing, so technically it was the 3rd cruise n' not the maiden voyage. While not a reproduction tall wood ship, the Black Ravenis best steel tourist pirate ship on ocean. Unfortunately tall ships can't break even in the tourist business as they require more crew member, more up keep, and have less passenger capacity.
Overall the cruise be pleasant n' informative. As it be dar first day at sea, they still need a bit more work on their interaction with passengers. When they get dar liquor licensee n' permit to fire black powder on the water, it will be much better. You can purchase ticket for the Black Raven at my shop: Pirate Portraits N Treasures, dar horizon looks golden with more pirate attraction is this olde port town.
Ships Log: 3rd In Garb Pub Crawl, 5-8-09
What do ya do with a Drunken Sailor,
The third In Garb Pub Crawl be a smaller group but just as fun as the two. We made a detour ta the Cast N Anchored this time to harass innocent lubber walking down Cuna Street. As always we be singing sea chanteys n' playing period games. Join us if ye be in St Augustine on the second friday of the month. This month's featured cause be the Project Special Care. Here be a group photo taken by Fran in front of Ann O'Malley's.
Ships Log: On the Cover of St Augustine Record, 5-8-09
Makin' a Splash,
I made it on the Cover of the St Augustine Record, the main local rag fer the oldest city in America. The paper photographer took a photo of me and Joseph O'Steen N Wife at the St Augustine Marine when the Black Raven first arrived into port on 4-22-09.
