by Debbi | Feb 9, 2008 | St. Patrick's Day
Well, I thought we had decided on a float idea for this year.
I should have known better. Every year, at some point during the year, we definitively state, "THIS is what we’re going to do," only to change our minds about a month before the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and go in a completely different direction. This year was no different.
We had a super-secret float meeting at The Sandbar today with the veteran float builders, choreographers, and costumers. It might sound like we’re a professional bunch, and I guess after all these years of building floats- and almost always winning a prize- we could be called professionals. Peach brought her folder full of sketches made on construction paper, and she loaded up the jukebox with the songs for each idea. She made her pitch for each idea, giving us an idea of the structure we could build, the costumes we could wear, and of course the all-important song.
Some ideas were new; some we’ve seen before. None of them will be revealed because we might use it; if not this year, then next year or five years down the road. After we made it through Peach’s sketches, and the other new ideas that were brought to the meeting, we each got to make our case for our top two choices. We’re very democratic like that. Surprisingly, the same few ideas got all the votes, and we have a clear winner for this year. And it was my top choice so I’m super excited.
The most important factors that go into our decision are structure and music. A theme could be great, but if we can’t come up with some type of meaningful structure to build, it’s useless to us. Same with the music- if we can’t find a catchy, upbeat, danceable tune to go along with the theme, we won’t do it. This year, we have a fantastic structure to build, and two great songs that the crowd will know and love.
Dave had to be the rebel and suggest "Crank Dat." He even gave us a demonstration of the dance. Nobody bit on that one; although we did laugh ourselves silly at his dance.
by Debbi | Jan 21, 2008 | St. Patrick's Day
It was just about this time last year when I gave you a run-down of some of our favorite floats of St.Patrick’s Days of the past. January might seem early to be thinking about St. Patrick’s Day to everyone who doesn’t live in The Sandbar world, but trust me, it’s not early enough.
We’ve tentatively had an idea for this year’s float for several months now. Dave even got a great deal on costumes the day after Halloween when the local "Halloween Spirit" store marked all their leftovers down to a ridiculously low price. Between our basement and the office at the bar, we have enough costumes stored to outfit the entire town of Lawrence for the next twenty nine Halloweens. Or St. Patrick’s Day, whichever your favorite dress-up holiday might be.
Here’s a look back at last year’s showboat. For an action shot, check out our video clips here or here. I think the showboat was one of my all-time favorite floats. It is truly an amazing feeling dancing all the way down Massachusetts Street in front of such a huge crowd.
This year’s idea will remain a secret for awhile longer as we mull over the design, the music, and the dance moves. And you never know, we might change our minds and go in a completely different direction. Suggestions? Leave them in the comments.
by Debbi | Mar 19, 2007 | St. Patrick's Day
It was brought to my attention by my peanut gallery that I failed to mention the best part of the float, or at least the most unique part of the float.
Have you ever seen a parade float that actually had a bathroom on board? And not only a bathroom….but separate men’s and women’s, with sheets separating them for privacy? Only on the Sandbar float would you find something so strange.
Last year, like every year really, we lined up soooo early and ended up waiting and waiting for the parade to start. Of course as soon as we were very far from the house, it seemed like everyone had to use the restroom. A few people ran all the way back to our house to use the facilities. Leah, however, the "runaway bride," marched right up to the house on Mass Street that we were parked in front of and asked the residents, who were hanging out on the porch, if she could use theirs. They didn’t mind, and those of us on the float thought it was hilarious.
Our on-board bathroom actually did get used, too.
by Debbi | Mar 18, 2007 | St. Patrick's Day
Well, we all survived another St. Pat’s Day, fully intact. Thankfully everyone managed to duck the low-hanging tree branches along Locust Street.
The weather was perfect- just cool enough to keep us from getting hot and sweaty while dancing all the way down the parade route. The day started off early with float riders gathering at our house for pizza, dance practice, and last minute costume adjustments. The float pulled out of the alley around noon to line up, and then the wait began. We were entry #105 out of a record 148 entries in the parade.
Massachusetts Street was packed. It seemed like there were ten times as many people than usual- and there probably were since the parade fell on a Saturday this year. People were all the way out to the middle of the street, right up to the edge of our float.
Our float this year was a giant Showboat! It was awesome. White, black, and red, with lots of glitter and a giant paddle wheel on the back. Dave rigged up the wheel using the windshield wiper motor from his old Firebird. He also hooked up a bubble machine on the inside of the wheel, so it turned and blew bubbles during the parade route. The girls wore sequins, feather boas, and white gloves; the boys wore black pants, white shirts, sequin bowties, and black tophats.
It’s such a blast riding on the float and dancing down the street. The kids- and even the adults- get so excited and animated when they see us coming. People get up and start dancing with us, and we love to see everyone laugh and smile as we go by. This year, many of our float riders were closer to street level than in the past and they loved to be able to interact more with the crowd. This is why The Sandbar participates in the parade every year- we enjoy the camaraderie of building the float and we love to entertain the kids. 
Reverend Dave married a local couple on top of the float as it crossed the Kansas River. This was a first for The Sandbar, but not for the parade- twenty years ago, a local couple was married in the very first St. Patrick’s Day parade. They rode on a float in this year’s parade, too, and renewed their vows.
We continued our performance as the float traveled through North Lawrence- the crowds were smaller but there were still lots of folks out there. The parade ended at the Flamingo Club where everyone enjoyed Chef Ben’s fabulous buffet lunch and the awards ceremony. The Sandbar reclaimed the Grand Prize Traveling Trophy!
It was a very long, fun, tiring day. Thanks to everyone who participated on our float this year! We can’t wait for next year. Of course, we’re already looking for ideas….
by Debbi | Mar 17, 2007 | St. Patrick's Day
by Debbi | Mar 16, 2007 | Newsworthy, St. Patrick's Day
Look at this…
The Lawrence Journal-World loves us. I think The Sandbar is the darling of the local bar scene for the LJW. Every New Year’s Eve they send a photographer in, and this was the first year in several that we didn’t have a Sandbar picture on the front page. They did still quote some of our customers, however.
Every year, also, when St. Patrick’s Day approaches they come around again. They know where we live and where we build the float. A couple days before the parade, a picture of Dave working on it appears in the paper, sometimes with a short story. The day after the parade, a picture of The Sandbar float usually accompanies the article about the holiday.
The LJW knows what the people want to see.
You can see the most recent article here.
