Check out our new T-Shirt design. New shirts will be available any day now!!!
All Mambo'ians will want one!!!

Welcoming Team Drink

Welcome to the March edition of the Crab Island Mambo Mullet Wrapper. Living here on the Emerald Coast, or as we like to call it, our slice of paradise, is like being on vacation every day. We get to meet folks everyday who come here for a vacation and don't want to leave. Shoot, most of us ended up moving down here after coming on vacation. The sugar white sand beaches and the beauty of this area draws you back time after time.

"Tropical Shirt Guy" Wayne

Over the last few weeks, the Emerald Coast has gained one more resident. Our good friend "Tropical Shirt Guy" Wayne is now one of us. Wayne has lived in the French Quarter of New Orleans for many years but he has wanted to move to paradise since I have known him. He finally got his chance this year to do a lateral transfer with his company to a local office. He jumped at the chance and started his new adventure just a few weeks ago.

Kelly and Wayne having phun at Crab Island

The differences between New Orleans and Destin are many and obvious. Bourbon Street versus the Destin Harbor...The French Quarter versus The Pointe...The Mississippi River versus Crab Island...Tropical Isle versus Anglers Beachside Bar...Horse and Buggy Carriage Rides versus tourist in enormous SUV's...Living below sea level versus to living 10 feet above sea level...Mardi Gras versus Nothing like that kind of party here in Destin. LOL  Will Wayne miss any of the fun and excitement of the Big Easy? As he told us, the time had come to get away.

Wayne and Jon Boy

Wayne has been coming over to party with us the last few years. He had his own futon in my spare bedroom. (He originally had "Coleman," an inflatable mattress that never quite worked right!) It was obvious Wayne was really a beach bum at heart. He has been out to Crab Island with us several times. He has experienced the Destin Fourth of July fireworks show from the beach at the Jetties. He walked the beach after the BP oil spill when the beach was clean but the tourist stayed away thanks to the news media. He has partied with us at AJ's, KC's, Anglers, Harry T's, Swizzle Stick...Yep, Wayne has Destin in his blood!

Wayne at Rendezvous

Mama Mambo and I welcome Wayne to paradise. We wish all of our friends from around the country could also move here and get to experience our lifestyle like Wayne has. There are a lot of great places to live but we feel like we are in one of the best. When you see Wayne, welcome him and buy him a Miller Lite. Now if we can only get him to like seafood...

 
Wayne on the beach and with Pat and a new friend in Key West

Wayne joked with me last month that he was not in enough pictures. I think we are taking care of that this month! LOL Enjoy the rest of the March Mullet Wrapper!

Stingray Steve

Trop Rock Party Phun
"Trop Rockin Rocky Bayou"

Okay, time for a little shameless self promotion. "Trop Rockin Rocky Bayou" is our own Crab Island Mambo event to be held Saturday May 19, 2012. Hosted by Jim and Pam Vohs in their spacious backyard overlooking Rocky Bayou, it is the perfect Trop Rock venue. Those who were there last year can attest to the location and the view is second to none. We really appreciate Jim and Pam allowing us to hold this party in their backyard.

Pat and Wayne on Capt. John's boat at the party

This year we are bringing you not one but two Trop Rock superstars to perform. Leading off the day starting at noon is our good friend from Gulf Shores, AL Brent Burns. Brent has won more Trop Rock Music Association awards than the law should allow. Entertainer of the year, album of the year, song of the year...you name it and Brent has won it. Brent has some of the most humorous songs around. With titles like, "If it's snowbird season, why can't we shoot them," "Going ugly early," "Beach in my backyard"...you will have a great time listening and dancing to Brent's music.

Jerry and the guys

Following Brent and playing from 3:00 to 6:00 are our friends from Texas, Jerry Diaz & Hanna's Reef. Jerry and the guys have also won their share of awards including Jerry getting the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the national Parrothead organization. Jerry's music will have you up and dancing as he performs his original songs as well as covers of your favorite Trop Rock songs.

Dancing phun

Once again this year Larry will be donning his "Chef's" apron and he will be cooking up a feast. He will have his special seafood gumbo, pulled pork barbeque, beer broiled brats and more. If anyone wants to bring a dish or snack to share that is great but you don't have too. We will also have Cindy's prized Mac & Cheese (ask Wayne how good it is!) and we hope to have a special treat as Buzz is brewing up some homemade beer for us try.

Wayne showing off his CIM koozie

But there is more.....As a special treat, on Friday night (May 18th), The Emerald Coast Parrothead Club is sponsoring a sunset cruise on the Seablaster. This two hour ride through the harbor and out into the gulf to look for dolphins is only $15 for members of ANY parrothead club or $25 for non parrothead members. Free beer and wine on the trip adds to the phun. The last trip the club took they emptied two kegs and drank them out of wine! Seating is limited so let me know as soon as possible if you want to join in on this fun trip. Then to close out the weekend on Sunday, Anglers Beachside Bar is sponsoring a brunch with music by Bwana Ray who comes to us from Panama City. The music will start at 1:00 pm and will go till 4:00 pm. This event is open to the public and there is no additional charge so come on out and enjoy Ray's renditions of old Buffet tunes while enjoying a wind down to the weekend.

 
         Brent Burns                                                                        Seablaster phun

Please support our sponsors that are helping us bring this party to the Emerald Coast. "Emerald Bay Plumbing," Anglers Beachside Bar" and we even have an anonymous donor. The Hampton Inn is giving us special room rates for anyone that wants to stay overnight right across the bayou. Thanks to all of them! For more information and to get registered for this phun time please click here. You will be glad you did!!! "Embrace the Chaos!"

Where Parrots Mambo
 
  
                      Conga Line                                                                    Kathy, Wayne and Jay in Put-in-Bay

 
Sorry Pat, Wayne found a new friend!                                                         David drumming his tie

 
          Bob entertaining the crowd                                                    Steve and Mark with plenty of empties

 
                                           New phriends                                         Char on stage at MOTM with her Emerald Coast sweatshirt

 
                More new phriends                                                                     Wayne and Steve at The Chart Room

 
Seablaster in the Gulf                                                                        Phun on the Seablaster
               

Belly up to the Bar

The Crab Island Mambo Mullet Wrapper would not be complete if we didn’t spend time giving everyone the low down on drinking establishments near and far. We always take suggestions on new places to visit too!  J 
 

Nav-a-Gator

Nav-a-Gator

Let's take a road trip this month! The bar we are bellying up to is the Nav-A-Gator in Lake Suzy, FL. The Nav-A-Gator has become the gold standard for Trop Rock music venues in the country. For the last several years the Nav-A-Gator has been voted the number one place to catch a Trop Rock show by members of the Trop Rock Music Association. They have big name Trop Rockers play several days a week. Being in the heart of Southwest Florida where many Parrotheads clubs and Phlockers reside gives the bar a built in fan base and they play up to it. 

Yep, Wayne's been to the Nav-a-Gator too!

The Nav-A-Gator uses a tag line: "A nice place if you can find it." You really have to want to go there as it is way out in the middle of nowhere. Whatever your thoughts of old time Florida is, this place and area will take you back to that time. It is housed in an old time wood building right on the Peace River. You can come by boat, car or even helicopter. Fishing trips and even summer nautical camps are held here. 

"You're here or you're lost!

The big draw of the Nav-A-Gator is obviously the great Trop Rock musicians they have perform there. Just last month they had Jimi Pappas, Mike Broward, Jim Morris, Jack Mosley, Latitude, Paul Roush, John Friday and Capt. Josh and Banjody. Another great thing about the music is they never have a cover charge for any of their shows. The only thing they ask for is non-perishable food items which they donate to a charitable organization. This past season it went to the Salvation Army. 

Jim Morris at the Nav-a-Gator

They also do some special request like when John Frinzi plays they ask that you bring basic school supplies for fifth grade students. His wife is a school teacher who knows our schools are not getting the funding they need to provide even the basics for their students. And finally when Jim Morris performs they hope you bring either the non-perishable food or a pair of shoes. Jim and his wife Sharon have made the Shoes for Kids Project, their number one fundraiser. When Jim sings his "Twenty Dollar Bills" song and people throw the real thing; they use it to buy shoes for the kids in the local Charlotte County school system.

Crab Island Mambo and Mama Mambo have been to the Nav-A-Gator on several occasions. We have always had a great time and it seems like we run into old and new friends each time. There always seems to be a party going on at the Nav-A-Gator. We have been there for a Halloween party that was a blast. Jim Morris has turned Thursday nights when he plays into "No Panties Thursday" party.  There always seems to be a party going on at the Nav-A-Gator. 

That's Wayne's arm too!!! LOL

If you get down to the Port Charlotte area, make a trip over to the Nav-A-Gator. Grab a signature Nav-A-Gator beer, enjoy some fresh seafood, try some gator tail and sit back and listen to some great Trop Rock music. Tell owners Dennis and Nancy, Crab Island Mambo sent you! http://nav-a-gator.com/

Bartender of the Month

Our bartender of the month is actually "bartenders" of the month. Good friends of Crab Island Mambo, Justin and Ryan are brothers who help keep the crowd at Anglers Beachside bar lubricated. The brothers are a couple of Ohio boys who made the trip down south and decided to stay. That sounds kind of familiar!

Justin and Ryan

There have been many good memories with one or both of the guys behind the bar. Justin took good care of our Crab Island Mambo Christmas party participants in December. There was the evening last summer when I had walked over to Anglers...yes, I used to live close enough that I could walk the beach there...and a storm blew in. I was only going to stay for few brews but as the rain kept coming down, more beers went down thanks to Ryan. Finally about 10:30 the rain let up enough where I could take off. Ryan gave me an umbrella someone had given him earlier and off I went. Luckily I didn't fall into any "drunk holes."

Ryan cutting up

I know you are wondering what "drunk holes" are? Everyone has seen kids on the beach dig holes and bury themselves. Well, if they don't fill them back in you can't see the holes at night. I have never fell into one but I have heard stories of others who were not so lucky. LOL

Justin and Ryan are ready for Mambo'ians

Get on over to Anglers and let the guys take care of you, talk some Ohio State Football with them and watch the world go by. Make sure you take care of them too as both have families. Better brothers and friends you won't find anywhere! 

Trop Rock Musician Spotlight

A monthly feature you will see in the Crab Island Mambo Mullet Wrapper is a spotlight on a Trop Rock musician. There are outstanding Trop Rock artists that many Parrotheads have never heard about. We want to change that. This month we feature a new friend, Mike Broward.     

Mike Broward

Mike Broward

Mike is a talented singer and songwriter who has been performing Trop Rock music since the 1990's! Mike was also our feature performer in February at our show at Anglers Beachside Bar. He put on a great show that had the crowd up and dancing to his original songs as well as the cover songs he did.

Mike and Mama Mambo

For years Mike lived in San Diego and performed with "Stars on the Water." They released two CD's during the time Mike performed with the group. It was at this time his song, "What Happens in Key West Never Happened" was released to wide spread acclaim. This song has been released by many different artist and has even been featured on a couple of MTV Reality TV shows.

Mike at Anglers

Several years ago Mike relocated from San Diego to Nashville where he is now pursuing a solo career. Since going solo, Mike has released two CD's. “Parrothead Rehab” has struck a nerve in the Parrothead world that has resulted in Mike gaining notority with the Parrothead's. His latest release, “Margaritas And Moonshine” explores the collision of troprock and country music. Trop Rock Music Association (formally the Margarita Mafia) nominated Mike for musician of the year in 2008 and album of the year in 2009. Folks are taking notice of Mike's talent.

Amy Lee, KD Moore and Mike at Cowboy Bills in Key West

Listening to Mike as he performed for us it was easy to see why his music is gaining such a following. With songs like "My Retirement Plan," "The Road to Rum," "Southern Girls," Mr. Right" and many more Mike's music is finding its way onto internet radio stations like Island Time Radio out of Cleveland, Ohio and over the air stations like Trop Rock 1290 out of Panama City. Mike is also a regular in Key West during Meeting of the Minds where he has performed with K.D. Moore and Amy Lee at Cowboy Bills the last few years.

Mike at Anglers for Crab Island Mambo

If Mike is performing in your area, get out and catch his show. You will be a convert to his music in no time. For more information on where Mike is playing and to buy his CD's, go to: http://www.musicmike.net/

SUPPORT our Trop Rockin' SPONSORS  Destin, FL 850-837-1979 www.EmeraldBayPlumbing.com    Ft. Walton Bch, FL 850-796-0260  www.anglersbeachside.com Anonymous Donor

Extra Side of Mullet

"Pirates Choice Rum"

The Trop Rock world is a mixture of many different people with a wide range of talents. As we travel the country to events, we are lucky to meet folks who are just like you or me except they have talents I could only hope to emulate. Of course there are the musicians who are nothing short of amazing. We have met some artist who I envy since I can't draw a stick figure. There are friends who sponsor house parties. It seems like the Trop Rock world has it all.

Mama Mambo in heaven with free rum samples! LOL

But one guy who was really special was a fellow who help start a company that made rum. And it was not just any rum but rum that was Made in America. Pirates Choice Rum was the brain child of Don Brown who lived down in the Keys. They had two types of rum...a caramel dark rum and a key lime rum. Both were excellent rums. Unfortunately Don had to shut down production due to the death of his business partner. He hopes to get the spigots turned back on again this spring.

The Stalker with Steve

But while there is not any more Pirates Choice Rum to be had, we still have the memories of when it was available. A couple of years ago as we were traveling to Key West for MOTM, we stopped in at the Pit Stop Party. Don had set-up samples and we were hooked. I loved the dark rum while Mama Mambo wanted the Key Lime rum. After we got to Key West, Don had another tasting at the Blue Marlin. We keep looking for more free samples after that! LOL

At the Atlanta PHC's 20th anniversary party, Mama Mambo won a giant Pirates Choice Rum banner. The banner proudly flew from our balcony for each Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival held each June in the Sound behind my condo. It was a perfect fit. About as perfect as a phlocking the ECPHC held at a local liquor store where Pirates Choice Rum as one of the featured drinks. Yes, Parrotheads in a liquor store was like kids in a candy store. They sold a lot of bottles of booze that day with the Pirates Choice Rum one of the best sellers.

The banner flew over our Bowlegs party for years

Probably the best memory was the night in Panama City at Rendezvous. A late night party outside our room turned into party central for all the folks who still wanted to party. Mama Mambo was making concoctions with the Key Lime Rum while Jeff and I started working on a bottle of the dark rum. By the time the party ended, we had two friends tied together with twine, a friend falling into the planter with a palm tree, Bud telling stories that had us all laughing so hard we couldn't catch our breath and it was the night of a couple of ladies in the bathroom doing something! Meanwhile Jeff and I completely drained our bottle and most of the Key Lime Rum was gone as well. The next morning was tough on everyone but more so for Lisa who had to perform! She was a trooper!!!

This was our last bottle....we hope for more!

As you can see, there were a lot of good times with Pirates Choice Rum. I hope Don can get the taps flowing again so we can continue to make more memories. If I hear it is available I will pass the word on the best American Made Rum!!!
 

ISLAND INHABITANTS

This month we put the Island Spotlight on Alan and Jackie Jones!


Jackie and Alan

This month we shine our spotlight on some good friends from Marion, Illinois, Alan and Jackie Jones. We have known Alan and Jackie for several years now. We first met them at the old Baby J's bar that used to sit on the Destin harbor. Mama Mambo and I noticed they were wearing Parrothead T-Shirts so we had to find out where they were from. It turns out they visit the Emerald Coast a couple of times a year and a friendship was born.

Debbie with Jackie and Alan

They have been coming down to the Emerald Coast for many years now. I was surprised to see Alan show up in a Joe Mammy video. He was at The Boathouse one evening when Joe Mammy showed up with his video camera and Alan ended up being in the video. I didn't realize Alan was in the video when I received permission from Joe Mammy to post his videos on this site. Imagine my surprise when I spied Alan. Click here to go to my Joe Mammy videos and see it for yourself.

Alan and Jackie are very active in their local Parrothead club, the Southern Illinois Parrothead Club. Alan is well known for being able to sweet talk vendors out of some real nice items for club auctions. They help the club put on several fund raising events each year. One of their daughters, Wendy, is now President of the club. Yes, the family that "Parrotheads" together stays together! lol

Jackie with Chuck Lawson

Alan and Jackie are folks that travel to many out of town events. They have been to Key West several times for "Meeting of the Minds," they love to go to New Orleans for any party that is going on there and they even attended the ECPHC's 10th anniversary "Phall into Phun" party a few years back. In fact, our first meeting with Alan and Jackie happened because of a party in Navarre that they were attending.  If you have a party going on, they will be there!

Jackie and Diane

Just like our friend Wayne, who we previously mentioned recently moved here from New Orleans, Alan and Jackie are temporary residents of the Emerald Coast now too. They came down in December and will be heading back to Illinois in March. Okay, they are snowbirds, but not the kind that Brent Burns sings about! They are cool snowbirds that have hit almost every bar and restaurant in town. If you need a recommendation, just ask them!

Alan with a pink animal

The Trop Rock world is full of fantastic folks from all over the country. "A-List" Alan and Jackie "Jackie-O" Jones are two of the best. They are strong supporters of Crab Island Mambo and all Trop Rock musicians and Parrothead events. Stop and chat with them the next time you see them and tell them Crab Island Mambo said "hey."

 
 Looking for that pot of gold                                     Mama Mambo and Stingray

See you next month!!!!! 

 BACK

Contact us at: info@crabislandmambo.com
Copyright Crabislandmambo.com 2012-2013
Crab Island Mambo and Embrace the Chaos
is a registered Trademark ®