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Dear sandy feet,
Congrats to you & Walter for coming home victorious from the World Championship Sand Sculpture Competition. Did you get to talk much about the island? And where do you guys go from here?
Since the Sons of the Beach are not known for resting on their laurels (they are too fragile to bear any amount of weight for long, at any rate) we are of course eager to conquer new frontiers. Masters-level contests, which typically draw tens of thousands of spectators and participants, provide us with an excellent opportunity to promote South Padre and our own contest, the upcoming South Pade Island Sandcastle Days.
We get to talk to a lot of people at these events, and many of them want to talk about our home beach - what the weather is like, when's the best time to visit, things to see in the area, etc. As you might imagine, our responses are well-rehearsed and enthusiastic. After all, our ability to participate in these contests is largely dependent upon the sponsorship provided by various local business and individual contributions. Currently, we have our sights set on attending the contest in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, the first week in November. But first.....
Hey, feet!
What's the inside scoop on Sandcastle Days `96?
The only Texas' Gulf Coast sand sculpture contest to feature a masters division is scheduled for Oct. 19-20 at the Bahia Mar, and I for one can hardly wait. Once again, the SPI CVB will be flying in 5 master sculptors from various corners of the US and Canada, and we hope to snag a few more just on the force of our personality - treating South Texas to a world-class show of sand sculpture mastery.
The SoB Sand Castle Wizards are hoping to raise enough sponsorship to do our traditional demonstration castle - local business owners who would like to help support this worthwhile event should contact Amazin' Walter at 761-5943.
I am also very excited about the Open (amateur) contest this year. As in years past, cash prizes will be offered in the top three places in the following five categories: Youth Elementary; Youth Secondary; Family & Adult Team; Solo; and the Texas State Championship (solo/duo). There is still no entry fee and all sand sculptors and sand sculptor-wannabes are encouraged to participate. Call the friendly folks at the SPI CVB (1-800-343-2368 or 956-761-6433) for more info.
Local waiter/kiteguy Steve "DuneHead" Mutter tells me he is organizing a team from the South Padre Island Brewing Company to enter the Family/Adult Team category and is challenging other local restaurants and bars to do the same. An unidentified source quoted him to wit: "Tom & Jerry's, Blackbeards', Gulf Coast Oyster Bar, Amberjacks, etc. are all a bunch of liver-lillied, no-show wimps if they fail to come up with an entry and even if they do you can be sure that the Brew Pub team will bury their butts in the dunes but good!"
(Note: I am still offering free sand sculpture instruction to anyone interested enough to show up at Boomerang's Sundays at noon. In fact, I am prepared to go a step further and offer free special sessions to any local business-affiliated group willing to take on the Brew Pub Challenge. So no more lame excuses, okay?)
Let's imagine for a moment that you are one of the last 10 or so people on the planet who have failed to learn how to dance the Macarena... and are too embarrassed to admit it much less ask for assistance. Well, now you can receive step-by-step instruction in the privacy of your own home office by surfing the web to the Macarena page . This site even features audio clips of the song, in case the cave you just crawled out of was not equipped with a boom box. (Swing those hips!)
The Fix-It Guy Homepage is dedicated the guy (or gal) who is apt to bravely utter the words, "I'll just do it myself!" This page is chock-full of useful info, including the Fix-It Guy Directory, tales, tips, Fix-It Guy products and even a Fix-It Guy poem.
If you are contemplating a move to the Island and in the market to rent or buy a place ont he beach to call your own, try checking out the BEaCh BuMs BiZNeSS PagE also features a some nice aerial shots of our favorite sandbar as well as info on a great source of discounted sago palms for those of you who might be doing some landscaping in the near future.
Want to have your website featured here? E-mail me your URL... and happy surfing!
There are five (5) ways to submit your questions/comments for future Ask Sandy columns: In person; by phone (761-6222) or fax (761-8930); the US Postal System (box 2694,spi,78597) and E-mail. Visit the SOB Sandcastle Page (http://www.unlitter.com) for tips on sandcastling, contest info, recent Ask Sandy columns, and my reviews of local businesses.
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