Dreary Morning Sept 28

Good morning Everyone,

What a dull and dreary morning it is. Not often do we start the day out like this. There are a few small storms around as the flow is out of the South now. It looks like it may clear later. Calm seas and no wind today.

We're In!!!!!!!!!!!! On Friday we officially opened the new Ship Store and Service Department sections of the main building. Still lots to do but the Ship Store is fully operational and stocked with a wide selection of beers and soft drinks. New ice machine and frozen bait locker as well. Ice is exactly the same price as Publix now and we're working on the drinks prices at the moment. A great selection of clothing at terrific prices and check out the duffle bags and cooler bags.

This coming week we will open the upstairs section to employees and start setting the furniture and getting connected. The pool will get the final inspection on Tuesday and then it's time for a swim! With a small bit of luck the elevator will be cleared and we'll be able to open to Members by Monday week.

The member's Club Room is nearly ready. Just a few minor touch-ups and the furniture for it arrives on the 6th.

I haven't taken any pics today because of the weather but I will tomorrow. The Promenade furniture was delivered on Friday and looks amazing. It's so comfortable. Also, the pool furniture is here and just waiting for the final inspection this week.

Progress on the restaurant continues at a furious pace with the final stucco work this week and painting the exteriour. Then it's all inside. Finally we say good-bye to the scaffolding!

Mitch and the architects are going gangbusters toward the January 2 opening of Bayfront Bistro and the plans are really exciting. The back bar will be a sight to behold! Check out the menu at www.bayfrontbistro.com

So, as we continue to get settled in to our new digs we look forward to our first party welcoming the Members and prospective Members on November 1. And then on Sunday the 2nd we'll have an open house for all to see. Lots of food and drink and a special draw for prizes such as free boat rentals, VHF radios and more on the day.

By the way, compare our gas prices. We're $469 while all of our neighbors are $4.87 to $5.10! And Members enjoy that special price at the moment of $4.41.

Safe boating and we look forward to welcoming you!

Joe

Morning Blog

Good morning Everyone,

Lots of activity here at the marina as we get ready to move into the new Ship Store on Wednesday. O my God, that's tomorrow! We have been stocking the shelves all week and we're about 70% ready. All of the new shirts and towels and bags are in and lots of new goodies in the store.

The cooler is still being stocked and we hope all of the distributors will be here by Thursday. In the cooler we have a great selection now of soft drinks and domestic as well as imported beers, wine and coolers. Check out the prices. We are working hard to be competitive with Publix. Also with the new ice machine we're now exactly the same price as Publix, $1.93 per bag.

Next week we'll move in upstairs and the furniture for the offices has arrived and is being set up today. The pool is ready and the final layer of Cool Crete on the deck will be completed tomorrow. I get the first swim! The BBQs arrive on Thursday as well.

Most of the security and webcam equipment is now installed and we're just waiting for it to go live so we can put the cams up on our website. Great views of the Gulf and the Bay!

On Friday Robb & Stuckey will deliver the pool furniture and the wonderful collection for the Promenade. Can't wait! The Promenade looks great with the lights on now and the 3" ropes joining each colum. Just need a place to sit and enjoy the scenery!

We're also moving into the new service department tomorrow. The guys are sure looking forward to getting out of those 40' containers.

The most exciting of all is the progress on the restaurant. Bayfront Bistro will open in January and we are submitting for permit to complete the interior on Wednesday. This is going to be a wonderful restaurant with something for everyone. From Baby Back Ribs and Sliders to:

Try These

SEARED AHI TUNA PAD THAI SALAD Napa cabbage – udon noodles – roasted peanuts sesame ginger vinaigrette

BUFFALO CHICKEN SANDWICH Bleu cheese aioli - Franks hot sauce lettuce – tomato – onion

PAN SEARED GROUPER Sage caper brown butter – scalloped potatoes fresh vegetables

GORGONZOLA TORTELLINI Chef made three cheese tortellini – vine ripe tomatoes – fresh basil rich gorgonzola cream sauce – shredded parmesan

A casual restaurant with great food (all freshly made on the day) and a very substantial wine list featuring the beautiful wines of Napa and Sonoma Counties. You will be able to arrive by boat or car and dine on the upper deck or down below or just saddle up to the bar where the view is amazing in all directions. Check out the website (still under construction but the menu is up) at www.bayfrontbistro.com

We've joined with Mitch Schwenke of The Blue Coyote who has proven his considerable skill at hiring and training the most creative and energetic staff of any restaurant I have ever been to. Check it out at http://bluecoyoteclub.com/home.htm Mitch and his team will get the restaurant up and running for us and hire the management for the future. Wait till you see the interior as Mitch has designed it with our architect Gora McGahey Associates! It's going to be something really special.

Opening January 2!

I know a pic is worth a thousand, as they say, but I'll wait a few more days to get more pics up. The final cleanup is going on right now and it will look better on the weekend after the Promenade and pool furniture is in place.

Oh yeah! The weather. Well, Noah is building a new ark here today. We have had torrential rains every evening for a week and the drought is officially over. Ike gave us a miss of course and all is quiet for now in the Atlantic. Interesting that the storms that passed us by have cooled the waters around us and that will inhibit storm development for a while yet. Every day quiet is another day closer to the end of season. We started Fall yesterday at 11:41 AM. Who coulda guessed? Why not 11:45 or...

Today we're looking for 15 Kts NE winds and probably afternoon rain with cooler temps. Tomorrow we get back to normal with a dry spell coming in from the North. All in all, still paradise!

Well, that's enough blabber for now. I'll leave the rest to McCain and Obama. uuuggghhh.

Later

Joe

Update September 8

Good morning Everyone,

Well, first I am sure you all realize we have been extremely busy here dodging hurricanes. Every time we get a storm threat we must go into our hurricane Prep mode and that means all hands on deck preparing the property and the boats. Our policy has always been to prepare for the worst if a storm enters the Gulf so the last few weeks have been crazy here.

Crossing our fingers now, it appears Ike will give us a bye and with no named storms out there we will begin returning to normal tomorrow. That means flood panels down, sand bags stowed and planters back on the pad.

We are getting very close to opening the main building including the Ship Store and upstairs amenities now. The final paint touch up is today and the appliances arrive on Thursday. With a little luck we'll complete the stucco on the bridge this week and be able to open next week. We are now stocking the Ship Store and the pool looks great with its glistening water.

The flagpole arrives this week and soon the water features will be up and splashing.

I'll be taking loads of pictures next week when we are finished. Not much to see this week with the flood panels covering the windows and doors and the plastic coverings everywhere inside while they paint.

Of course, the air con is on and the bathrooms are getting their final touches today as well.

We're glad to welcome some new folks in wet slips recently including Larry on his 44' Bayliner, Scott, Shelley and the family on their special built 56' houseboat "Now We're Ready" and Joe Griffin on his 38' Marine Trader.

Word came to me last week that our dear friend Jack McCloskey is in remission now after a very tough battle with cancer. Jack and Peg have been such great friends to the marina and we're just delighted that he is doing well. We look forward to seeing you aboard Slam Dunk very soon Jack.

Many Member boats have now arrived and are enjoying the Platinum Concierge Service as promised.

Last week we announced that Jill McLearn will serve as Concierge. This position is so very important. Jill's responsibilities will be to manage the relationship between each Member and the marina. Everything that concerns member services will be overseen by Jill, the Member's first point of contact.

Kim DeGuerre will now take charge of the Ship Store and she is looking forward to moving in to the new store next week. The new store will be well stocked with all your boating needs and a great selection of fishing equipment will also be on hand. And when you get here check out our beer and soft drink prices. Kim will soon have an assistant in the store to help out with the new shift hours.

On November 1 we will begin our new hours of 7AM to 7PM.

We also welcome our new dockhand Wayne Palhette who joined the team two weeks ago.

So, come in and have a look. We'll be glad to have you.

Joe