Hundreds of Capt. Morgan doppelgängers drank and danced (espresso martinis were all the rage) at Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s Ye Captain’s Ball Jan. 25, where the dress code for swashbucklers called for fancy skull and crossbones attire and was often accessorized with scraggly beards grown just for invasion season.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/2RAVCBOSPBARDFYPC2SKYURLDE.jpg "From left, Tom and Bet Snyder and Doug and Sandra Tuttle.")
Krewe Capt. Truett Gardner and 900-plus partiers celebrated in high anticipation of Tampa’s legendary annual spectacle, the 106th Gasparilla invasion. Bustling bartenders poured upwards of 5,000 drinks at six bars, ensuring no pirate went thirsty. San Diego-based band Liquid Blue rocked the big tent while Ward Cook’s band, a local favorite, set a mellow mood in the Tampa Yacht & Country Club ballroom.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WQ2HIWPMB5AI5MWQNRERO3ECVI.jpg "Mike and Kate Piazza.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/U5XDOYZOFNHLNBFDD3RCPWYNLM.jpg "From left, Bill and Stacy Curtis, Katie Curtis and Don Barlow.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/2CHBX22ZSZAHJHAHPAAGH2QYZA.jpg "From left, Misty Winter, Doug Damron and Lee Winter.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/E5B4YB5XENG4PNGY6QEQIBVQDI.jpg "Ann and James “Bubba” Turner.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BWL25VKVXJDYTGYGBDPUDMC6CQ.jpg "Radix Collection’s fashion show dazzled guests at NOVA 535 in January")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FCD56DNOTNAAPOBLH6645XAIQY.jpg "Tampa Bay author’s new book focuses on downsizing for seniors")
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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TLGKF5KMKJDKVAOQHMJYFFURFA.JPG "Tampa travelers, check out these tips before summer trips")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PVD6NWARCBHM5P5AE3DUJZY2NQ.jpg "Need to downsize, Tampa Bay? This method could help.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ITSJ5F4HEFAIBBQ2JRZJGFWIZU.jpg "Ye Captain’s Ball — Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6QRL2HOOWBGGNLYUEVW5ZLFV54.jpg "Annual Tampa Bay Food Fight raises more than $300,000 for Metropolitan Ministries")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4CWA2QZH5FEMVAT3SZB4JKLCLE.JPG "Annual To Life Benefit raises over $1 million for Florida Holocaust Museum")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HOVF226WJ5ET5LIZXKVYNXN3W4.jpg "February’s Go Red for Women Luncheon celebrated the American Heart Association’s 100th birthday")