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From Shreveporttimes.com: “Margaritaville groundbreaking draws a crowd”

Developers of the Margaritaville Resort Casino officially broke ground on their $197 million project today during a special ceremony that included an appearance from Jimmy Buffett.

Buffett, whose 1977 hit song has been branded into a number of business ventures, told the large crowd at 777 Margaritaville Way it was “truly an honor” to be in attendance and back in the area where he had performed early in his career.

Mayor Lorenz “Lo” Walker, city councilmen, Bossier police jurors, representatives of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, as well as other area officials were in attendance.

Construction will begin immediately on the $197 million casino and hotel, which is targeted to open in June 2013. Margaritaville Resort Casino is projected to provide more than 1,200 jobs and more than $12 million in local tax revenue to support jobs for first-responders and educators.

Margaritaville mobile Brings the Jimmy Buffett Experience to the iPhone

THQ Inc. announced the release of the new free mobile app Margaritaville® MobileTM for iPhone®. Players of the virtual paradise Margaritaville® OnlineTM, available now on Facebook and iPad®, can further expand the Parrothead lifestyle by using the companion app to claim exclusive rewards. Through multiple tropical themed mini-games and socially driven activities, the Margaritaville Mobile iPhone app allows players to earn multiple tiers of badges while obtaining unique rewards for Margaritaville Online on Facebook and iPad.

“From the beginning, THQ’s goal has been to make the laid-back Margaritaville mindset accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime,” said Michael Lustenberger Vice President, Global Brand Management – Online at THQ. “What began on Facebook and iPad with Margaritaville Online continues on through our next virtual vacation destination in Margaritaville Mobile. Now, fans can continue their Parrothead lifestyle on the go by simply checking in and enjoying new content via their iPhones.”

To download the Margaritaville Mobile companion app, please click here.
To download Margaritaville Online for iPad, please click here.
To play Margaritaville Online on Facebook, please click here.

Registration has opened for The Barefoot Islands Cruise which will sail the Caribbean Islands you’ve heard Jimmy Buffett sing about- Anguilla, St. Barts, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Nevis, and Virgin Gorda. The custom itinerary allows passengers extended time to hangout ashore at famous beach bars such as Foxy’s, Sunshine’s, The Soggy Dollar, and The Dune Preserve. At most anchorages the ship will stay until late evening or even overnight.

The cruise is a full charter of the luxury ship Wind Surf of Windstar Cruises. With a capacity of only 312 passengers it will be a great way to get together with fellow Parrot Heads without the hassle and crowds of a large ship with 2,500 passengers or more. The casual atmosphere includes open seated dining (no reservations or seating assignments) with options to dine outside on-deck. Windstar Cruises, voted Condé Nast Traveler “Top Small-Ship Cruise Line”, continues to provide top-of-the-line service and amenities as a fleet wide $18 million refurbishment will be completed prior to the March 16-23, 2013 cruise.

Plenty of live music onboard and ashore! Enjoy performances throughout the week from a special ensemble of tropical beach rock musicians featuring Scott Nickerson, founder of Parrot Heads in Paradise, as well as special sessions with well known local musicians.

Rates begin at $1,899pp with items such as onboard watersports, ground transportation, and soft beverages (bottled water, sodas, coffees, espressos, smoothies, etc.) included. Register before March 23, 2012 and save $200. Additional discounts if you refer friends.

This will be a unique sail through some beautiful small islands and harbors normally only visited by smaller yachts. A perfect opportunity to sit back on white sand beach with a boat drink and good friends. Presented by Local Knowledge. See website for details: BarefootIslandsCruise.com.

Note: Jimmy Buffett is not participating in or associated with this event.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band performed at the Leon County Civic Center – Tallahassee F last night as part of the “Welcome to Fin Land Tour”. The Set List the show is now available.

Some changes to the set list included “Frank and Lola”, “Last Man Standing”, “Migration”, and “Tin Cup Chalice” for the final encore.

Tallahassee.com has an article and pictures from the show: “Occupy Margaritaville! Jimmy Buffett party starts in the parking lot”

Buffett and his Coral Reefer band pulled into the Civic Center for a concert Tuesday night that is part of his “Welcome To Fin Land” tour. The beach-bum bard was trailed by thousands of his party-hearty followers, fans and ParrotHead Club members. They arrived early to drink Buffett’s official Land Shark Lager, make frosty margaritas with Buffett-approved, generator-run Frozen Concoction Makers (priced at around $200) and, like Arbogast, break out the official Margaritaville Tailgating Grill.

AL.com has a review of last night’s show: “How did Jimmy Buffett please his audience in Birmingham? Let us count the ways.” — Review rating: Four out of five stars.

Buffett, 65, and his 12-member band, the Coral Reefers, hadn’t played in Birmingham since November 2001.

Those Alabama roots provided a welcome focus for Buffett’s headlining set, which lasted about two hours and 20 minutes. He recalled his past in Mobile, inserted Birmingham into various song lyrics, praised the state’s football champs and generally acted like a proud homeboy. Buffett made sure to highlight another Alabama guy in the band, guitarist-singer Mac McAnally. Photos of Alabama were part of the stage design, displayed on a huge screen behind the performers.

Buffett’s playlist, nearly 30 numbers strong, clearly was made for the occasion. It included “Bama Breeze,” “Pascagoula Run,” “Back Where I come From,” “Stars Fell on Alabama,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Birmingham” and “Southern Cross.” Chris Fryar, a Gardendale resident and drummer for the Zac Brown Band, made a guest appearance on “Knee Deep,” playing percussion.

A surprising treat popped up in the middle of the show: Matt Hoggatt, a musician from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, emerged to sing “Dear Jimmy Buffett,” an original that aced a contest in American Songwriter magazine. Buffett sat nearby, cheering him on, then responded with a freshly minted song of his own, “Hey Matt Hoggatt.” What could be more fun, or more gracious?

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band performed at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham AL last night as part of the “Welcome to Fin Land Tour”. The Set List the show is now available.

There were many changes to the set list from past shows:
Piece Of Work (last played 12-06-2010 in Houston, TX)
Birmingham (a Randy Newman song)
Sweet Home Alabama (a Lynyrd Skynyrd song, last played 12-28-1998 in Aspen, CO)
Stars Fell On Alabama (last played 11-07-2001 in Birmingham, AL)
Dreamsicle (last played 06-21-2011 in Burgettstown, PA)

Dear Jimmy Buffett (by Matt Hoggatt)
Hey Matt Hoggatt (Jimmy Buffett)

The tour continues on Tuesday February 28th with a show at the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee, FL.

From the Birmingham News : “Buffett on Buffett: Lucy talks about brother Jimmy, who’s soon to perform in Birmingham”

Lucy Buffett answers some questions from about here brother Jimmy

Q: Do you have a favorite Buffett song? If so, why?

A: “Havana Daydreamin’” is one of my favorite old songs. I was living in Key West when that album came out, so I knew all the characters and contexts. He wrote a beautiful tribute to my dad that’s very touching, but it’s not one you will ever hear him perform. I’m particularly fond of the one about “oysters and beer for dinner every day of the year.” That’s the one I can relate to. It was also one of my mother’s favorites. That, and “He Went to Paris.” Ironically, I don’t know the titles of all his songs, but I do know most of the lyrics.

Q: When your brother started his career as a musician, did you ever imagine that he’d reach these heights of success? When did you first realize, “Oh, boy, he’s really famous”?

A: From my point of view as the baby sister who’s seven years younger than he is, I thought he had made it when mama, daddy and I drove over to Hattiesburg to watch him open for Jerry Jeff Walker in some small, coffee-house type venue. He sang and people applauded; I thought right then that he was a star. And the fact that he was also playing on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in his first group meant he had made it. If not to the big time, at least he’d made it out of Mobile, and I knew he would never come back home to live.

Q: Anything else you’d like to say about your brother?

A: Jimmy’s a very practical fellow. He can iron his own clothes, prefers to drive himself around, and is extremely self sufficient. He’s not afraid to laugh at himself, but he’s really smart and has great instincts, especially about business. He’s a very early riser, and most of his emails come to me between 5 and 6 in the morning. No, he’s not out partying all night in Margaritaville — LOL!

From Margaritaville.com: Celebrate National Margarita Day with us on Wednesday, February 22nd! We’ll be featuring the Raspberry Lemonade Margarita (sent in by Pam from Alpharetta, GA – our National Margarita Day Recipe Contest winner!) food & drink specials, giveaways, contests and much more!

National Margarita Day Specials (available at Margaritaville locations in the USA):
Join us on Wednesday, February 22nd for a variety of margarita-themed specials at our U.S. locations! All venues will feature:
– Margarita specials all day long!
– Gift certificates given to those with February 22nd birthdays, and get a bonus if you were born on February 22, 1922! (With valid ID)
– Enter to win a Frozen Concoction Maker!
– 22% off margarita-themed merchandise in our retail store.

From Margartiaville.com:
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
Saturday, April 21st!
Tickets go on sale February 27th.

From Margaritaville.com: “Omaha and Des Moines added to April tour dates”
Jimmy & the Coral Reefers will bring their tropical party to Omaha, NE on Saturday, April 14th and Des Moines, IA on Tuesday, April 17th!

04/14/2012 – CenturyLink Center – Omaha, NE
Tickets go on sale Feb. 25th.

04/17/2012 -Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA
Tickets go on sale March 3rd

From TicketMaster.com:
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
Waikiki Shell – Honolulu, HI
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 07:00 PM
Onsale: Fri, 02/17/12 09:00 AM HST
Price Range: US $38.00 – US $135.00 (plus TM Fees)

From MauiNow.com: “Margaritaville in March: Jimmy Buffett Live on Maui”

The Maui show is at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16, 2012 at the Yokouchi Pavilion and A&B Amphitheater, and is part of the “WELCOME TO FIN LAND” Tour 2012.

Tickets for the Maui show go on sale to members of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m.; and to the general public on Wednesday, February 22 at 10 a.m.

Maui tickets are $59 for general admission, and $89 or $136 for reserved seating (plus applicable fees). Member ticket limits apply: 2 for ‘Ilima level, 4 for ‘Ohi’a level, 6 for Kukui level and 8 for Silversword and higher levels. Call the MACC Box Office at 808-242-SHOW (7469) or order online at www.mauiarts.org/events/