After three years and a few delays, the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is finally ready for groundbreaking:

The developer of Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort will host a groundbreaking bash for local dignitaries at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Johnson Street bandshell.

Hollywood officials are predicting the $147 million Jimmy Buffett-themed project will usher in a wave of redevelopment on the beach.

Nearly 200 city officials and VIPs have been invited to the big event.

The Margaritaville Biloxi opened a year and a half ago, and this week it was revealed that a hotel tower is planned for the development:

A workshop to discuss a connector road for Bayview Avenue brought news of two casino developments on the Point in Biloxi.

Margaritaville Casino is planning a $50 million to $60 million development to build a hotel tower, according to managing director John Cary.

Chris Ferrara of Biloxi Boardwalk, who owns the Heinz plant adjacent to Margaritaville, said he plans to spend $200 million for a casino, hotel, convention center and RV park in east Biloxi.

Jimmy Buffett first studio album in five years hits stores today! Songs From St. Somewhere features 15 songs, plus a bonus track.

Download your copy now at iTunes or AmazonMP3, or order the CD at Amazon.

Tracks

1. Something Bout A Boat
2. Einstein Was A Surfer
3. Earl’s Dead Cadillac For Sale
4. Too Drunk To Karaoke – Duet with Toby Keith
5. Serpintine
6. Useless But Important Information
7. I Want to Go Back to Cartagena
8. Soulfully
9. Rue De La Guitare
10. I’m No Russian
11. Tides
12. The Rocket That Grandpa Rode
13. I Wave Bye Bye
14. Colour Of The Sun
15. Oldest Surfer On The Beach
16. I Want to Go Back to Cartegana – Spanish version duet with Fanny Lu

Listened to the album yet? Give us your review in the comments.

TIME has an excellent interview with Jimmy Buffett, focusing mostly on the new album Songs From St. Somewhere that comes out tomorrow.

In the interview, Jimmy squashed the idea of retiring any time soon:

A lot of people look at Jimmy Buffett and think “That’s what I want to do when I retire,” but it doesn’t seem like you’re looking to retire from being Jimmy Buffett.

You know, Willie Nelson came out maybe a month ago and played a club in Montauk. When I was a struggling songwriter in Nashville, Willie was one of the few people who cut a few of my songs. We played a few songs; I wanted to see what 80 looked like on stage, because I’m 66.

And we were talking about it, and Mickey Raphael, who’s played with him forever and who I’ve known forever, told me a story about how last year the band had a big meeting with Willie on the bus where they asked, “Look, you’re gonna be 80 here, and we’re wondering what we’ll be doing if you’re thinking about retiring.” And Willie looked at them and he said “From what?” [laughs] I got a license to carry marijuana, we’re playing music and traveling and seeing the country, the kids are grown and happy. Retire from what? And if that applies to Willie it sure as hell applies to me, because I’m still having a good time, I still enjoy the creative aspect I’m a junkie for applause. As long as I feel that then I’ll stay there.

Be sure to read the full interview here.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band hit the road again after a month off, rocking suburban Washington, DC at Jiffy Lube Live.

The set list was largely similar to other Songs From St. Somewhere shows, except for one notable exception: Buffett finished the night with “Nautical Wheelers.” The song was last played on March 30th, 2012 in Tampa.

View the entire set list here.

Jimmy only has a few shows remaining on the 2013 summer schedule. He’ll play two nights in Wantagh, NY this week and then make his usual trek to Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI. You can still get tickets to these shows and the fall shows here.

And don’t forget on Tuesday Jimmy’s new album Songs From St. Somewhere will be released!