To go along with the St. Patrick's Day theme that we stretch out as long as possible every year, we bring you our newest drink toy:
(photo courtesy of Fun Express)
Shamrock shutter shades! Shutter shades have easily been our most popular drink toy in the history of Bahama Mamas, and when we found this shamrock-shaped version, we knew we had to have them.
Our new St. Patrick's Day pint glasses are in! After the huge success of our Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day pint glasses, we're definitely making this a holiday tradition.
Big thanks to customer Brian for the great design:
Look closely at the leprechaun- does he remind you of anyone? (Hint: a big, tall guy.)
The pint glasses are for sale for just $3 each, and you can bring them in on Thursdays when tropical drinks are just $2.50. Be sure to add this one to your collection!
(Note: You may have noticed that St. Patrick's Day falls on a Thursday this year. While we will still consider it "Tropical Thursday," we will NOT have tropical drinks on special that day. In fact, there are no drink specials on St. Patrick's Day.)
This is a guest blog by the Sandbar's art director & chief mischief maker, Brother Pants. If you need something framed, he's your guy. Visit him at Fast Frame on West 6th Street.
The Sandbar has been entering floats in the St Patty's Day parade for over a decade, but the thing that makes their floats as unique and original as the bar itself is their departure from the rules of traditional parade floats. With the Sandbar, it is less a float as it is a theatrical experience. And that's why I am honored to be part of the team.
It actually reminds me of my high school experiences in the theater department. The float ideas start months in advance (usually over some tasty beverages) and the construction and production is very similar to a stage production. Of course the actual building of the float goes on for a few weeks by a horde of volunteer workers (usually consisting of employees or SB regulars) led by the dedicated Dave Johanning, compiling hundreds of manhours (and beers).
On another front, staff members often teach dance routines, create costumes and build scenery. And amidst the madness, as time is running short, there always seems to be a specific moment when you just know it's going to be a great show (for me last year, it was when I saw the smoke come out of the dragon's nose at 1 a.m. in Dave's shop). Always a team effort.
And when the big day arrives, and the anticipation peaks, and the music rises, and thousands of people line the streets, it's as if the curtain rises on the stage and the show begins. It's worth every minute.
Our annual Sandbar float-building extravaganza has finally begun, a little behind schedule this year.
We have a new space to build our creation this year. Good thing, since we outgrew Dave's yard several years ago. And our new space is indoors, with heat and running water, so we don't freeze to death.
The boys have decided to mark their progress this year not by how big the float structure is, but rather by their beer can structure:
Check back tomorrow for an inside look at float building from one of our experienced crew members.
This entry is a guest blog by long-time Friday evening bartender and future bride-to-be, Heather.
Many of you who saw our float know it was an amazing castle. Dave truly is a float building genius and each year seems to outdo himself from the year before. What you may not be aware of is how amazing the float was on the inside as well. Decorated on the inside, you say? Ah, it's true…we here at The Sandbar don't do anything halfway.
This year our float had not only a working bathroom, but a pretty pretty pink princess bathroom. In addition to the pink princesses on the pink walls, there was hand sanitizer, hand lotion, a trashcan, a pink shower curtain for privacy, and my absolute favorite: the potted flowers.
Now Dave may have had the idea for the potty (or maybe not- the women at The Sandbar frequently request more access and better facilities), but the ever-resourceful Coleen came up with the decorations. The story I've been told is that Coleen and Michelle worked on the bathroom in front of Dave, all the while discussing castle related decorations and gray paint. He had no idea it was pink until it was too late.
When Dave asked the ladies "isn't that pink?"- meaning the wall paint- Michelle told him it was just the way the sun was hitting it. I like to imagine the look on his face when he first walked into the float bathroom in all its pink princess glory.
A special thanks goes out to Sandbar regular Brandon for providing the potty. Rumor has it he wanted to buy it for tailgating, and offering to loan it to the Sandbar float got bonus points with his wife.
For me, the pink girly bathroom made our castle on wheels quite luxurious and lots of fun!