| Issue #2 - posted 1/14/01
Greetings from sunny South Padre!
Well, actually it is not so sunny right now. In fact, it is kind
of chilly and, oh my - it's raining. Rather nice, really, to get
the occasional break from all that hot, sunny stuff...
As you may or may not know, I design and update web-sites for a
whole bunch of island businesses, and in just the past two or
three days almost every one of them has contacted me with spring
break updates they want posted yesterday. Fact is - I am one busy
SOB! I think I can safely say that the local merchants have
finally awoken from their collective holiday stupor and are now
getting very serious about planning a kick-ass party for you guys
in a couple of months. So, without further ado --
Concert News
I was talking with Dan Stanton earlier - he is the general manager
over at Louie's Backyard (for you SPI spring break newbies, LBY
is a huge bayside club that should definitely be on your "must do"
list) - and there are some very exciting things happening over
there. When I get a minute or two I will be updating the LBY SB
pages, but in the meantime let me tell you a little of what he
has planned for you this year:
Top of the list - Louie's is going to have live music in '02
(first time ever.) Dan tells me that they are bringing in a huge
barge to serve as a floating stage with a total of 10 shows planned
on the following dates (all March): 4th,5th, 10th-15th, 17th-19th.
I'd love to be able to tell you some of the performers' names he
tossed out, but they are still in the "verbal agreement" phase of
negotiations and can't be published. Suffice to say that they are
artists even I have heard of and I don't think you will be
disappointed. Stay tuned to the LBY web-site (and SPIonline.com!) for more updates.
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And now a word from "Island Attorney" Mike McNamara. Mike is my
workout buddy/trainer and he specializes in DWIs - a good man
to know if you wake up in the SPI jail some morning. In this
article, he talks about the new open container law and how it
can affect your spring break --
New this year is the "Open Container" law titled Consumptionof Alcoholic Beverage In Motor Vehicle, Sec. 49.301 TexasPenal Code. It has nothing to do with the beverages being consumed but disposal of the container from which they wereconsumed. In other words it seems you can drink all youwant in the car but don't get caught with the container.
49.031 (a) (1) "Open container" means a bottle, can, or
other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic
beverage and that is open, that has been opened, that has a
broken seal, or the contents of which are partially removed.
The law forbids possession of such a container in the
passenger area of a motor vehicle which is defined under
(a)(2) as the area of a motor vehicle designed for the
seating of the operator and passengers of the vehicle.
Excluded from this definition is a locked glove compartment
(no passenger could sit there anyway) or similar container
that is locked (such as console between the driver and front
passenger), the trunk of the vehicle (locked or unlocked)
or the area behind the last upright seat of the vehicle, if
the vehicle does not have a trunk (such as sports utility
vehicles).
The vehicle must be on a public road or highway. This
encompasses the entire right of way. So if the vehicle is
parked off the paved shoulder but still on the right of way
and a passenger in the vehicle is in possession of an open
container, a violation occurs. The beach on South Padre
Island is considered a public roadway. Care must be
exercised here. It doesn't matter if the vehicle is in
motion or parked. This could be trouble if you are parked
on the beach and drinking beer. If you are sitting in the
car drinking beer you run afoul of this law. If you sit on
the hood or trunk of the car you are a law abiding beer
drinker. Just don't put the empties back in the car. There
is always one last drop and the law forbids a container
with any amount of alcohol within.
Vehicles for hire and motor homes are excluded from this
law. You can drink all you want while riding in a cab or
limo or in the back of your motor home.
A violation results in a fine for up to $500.00. The good
news is that law enforcement officers cannot arrest violators
of this law but can only issue citations. But if you don't
sign the citation promising to appear you can be arrested as
in any ordinary traffic offense.
Mike has more good advice for you on his web-site so be sure to
check it out if you haven't already.
(public service announcement)
The SoB Pledge: I promise to have fun, help others have fun,
and UNLITTER
("unlitter" means to properly dispose of more garbage than you
generate)
Gentle Reminder: It is illegal to bring glass to SPI beaches --
Thank you very much.
(/public service announcement)
Party News:
Wells Marketing and Promotions is hosting the VENUS SWIMWEAR
World's Largest Bikini Contest at Club Rio Beach. Win a
chance to be the next VENUS SWIMWEAR Model! You could win an
all expense paid trip to Florida and compete for the title of
"VENUS SWIMWEAR MODEL of the YEAR" along with $$$CASH and
prizes....
Gentlemen need not feel excluded: We need judges for this
contest and you could be one of them. For more info on
competing, judging or to pre-register for this competition,
e-mail Wellsmrkprom@aol.com
Lodging News
Over the past week, I have gotten quite a few requests for
information about "cheap rooms" for Texas week. Let me reiterate -
THERE ARE NO CHEAP ROOMS FOR TEXAS WEEK. This is
the single busiest week on the SPI calendar and anyone who has a
closet torent is asking (and probably getting) top dollar for it. If you
show up during that week without reservations - hoping against hope
to find something upon arrival - you are likely to find yourself
pulling up a piece of beach. (While that may sound romantic, trust
me when I tell you that waking up with sand in every orifice is
anything but.) If you are planning to be here any time at all
between March 8 and 16, you need to be getting very serious about
booking something ASAP, because things are filling up fast.
One property that still has some rooms available for Texas week
(as well as other weeks - as of this writing) is South Beach Inn
(formerly "The Sea Grape."). SBI is NOT in the throbbing center of
spring beak excitement. It is located in a quiet residential area
near Blackbeards' (the neighborhood I call home, in fact) and for
this reason has a somewhat daunting list of restrictions and rules.
However, if you are willing to take your party elsewhere - SBI
offers clean and comfy kitchenettes (save $ by cooking yourself!)
at affordable rates. To sweeten the pot, SBI is teaming up with
its sister property - Hotel Posseidon in Matamoros - to offer you
an incredible deal: Book four nights at SBI and spend one of them
in Mexico at no additional charge. That means you can drink until
the wee hours (Mexican bars don't have to close at 2 AM, and you
need only be 18 to drink there) without having to figure out how
to get past immigration and back to SPI. Shuttles to and from the
Inernational bridge, the clubs and the market are furnished. For
more information, surf on over to southbeachtexas.com.
Reminder: You can get into a WHOLE HEAPING LOT OF
TROUBLE trying to walk back over the international bridge in an
intoxicated state.
Save yourself big bucks and big aggravation by sobering up before
you attempt it.
.
Coming soon - information on the hottest clubs
in Matamoros for spring break '02!
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SPRING BREAK PAGES
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