The Panama City Margaritaville will close for a week for minor renovations on November 9th:

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant, located at Pier Park, will temporarily close Nov. 9 for minor cosmetic improvements, according to a news release.

During the temporary closure, the restaurant will be refinishing its floors and installing a more energy efficient air conditioning unit.

Margaritaville staff members will be on site during regular business hours to answer any questions. The restaurant will reopen Nov. 16.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band performed for Barack Obama in Tampa, Florida on Sunday afternoon. 20,000 attended the “Last Chance For Change Rally” at the Ford Amphitheater. A sign outside the event said “I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this concert”.

Here was the set list from the show:

1 – Fins
2 – License to Chill
3 – It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere
4 – Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
5- Son of a Son of a Sailor
6 – Volcano
7 – Cheeseburger in Paradise
8 – Come Monday
9 – Brown Eye Girl
10 – Margaritaville

Encore:
11 – Last Mango in Paris (dedicated to Captain Tony)

(Hat tip to SSOB4ever for providing us the set list)

Here are some writeups in the media:

• Fox13 – “Politics in Margaritaville”
• Creative Loafing – “Buffett Rocks for Obama in Tampa”
• Tampa Bay 10 – “Last Minute Push for Florida”

Also, view some photos from the show on Flickr.

Tony Tarracino, known as Captain Tony to parrotheads, passed away Saturday at the age of 92 after being hospitalized for a week. His wife Mary of 38 years and seven of his children were by his side.

Captain Tony, owner of Captain Tony’s Saloon and former Key West Mayor, was immortalized by Jimmy Buffett in the song “Last Mango In Paris”.

CBS4.com has more:

His wife and seven of his children shared stories in his hospital room shortly before his death. A viewing is planned for Friday evening in Key West, with a service scheduled for Saturday morning. A reception for family and friends at Captain Tony’s Saloon will follow.

Captain Tony arrived in Key West from New Jersey in 1948. Ten years later, he purchased a bar on Greene Street, calling it Captain Tony’s Saloon. The bar still has the name, though it was sold in 1989.

Captain Tony was a charter boat captain, gambler and a gun runner for Cuban mercenaries during the Bay of Pigs invasion. He served as mayor of Key West from 1989 to 1991.

He married four times and fathered 13 children. A film titled “The Cuba Crossing” recounts his story; Stewart Whitman played Captain Tony. He was also memorialized by musician and longtime friend Jimmy Buffet, in the song “Last Mango in Paris.” Captain Tony also authored a book with Brad Manard, called “Life Lessons of a Legend.”

It’s time for the October edition of “From Under My Lone Palm”, a monthly column written by BuffettWorld contributor Justin H. This month’s column focuses on the 30 year anniversary of “You Had To Be There”:

October 2008 is important month in Buffett history. You see 30 years ago this month, Jimmy’s landmark live album “You Had to be There: Jimmy Buffett Recorded Live in Concert” hit record stores everywhere. Over the years, the album has developed a cult following among parrotheads old and new. You just never hear anyone say “I like x one of Jimmy’s live albums better.” And as we all know, there is plenty of live Buffett to chose from. So when I decided to write about it this month, a few burning questions hit me instantly: Just what exactly makes the album so magical? Why, eight live albums and counting later, is it still the best?

Read the rest of this month’s FUMLP here.

Congratulations to Columbus Fins for winning this week’s Caption Contest.

Here was the photo:

And here was Columbus Fins’ winning caption:

If Riverdance doesn’t pan out, would you like a gig as a Coral Reefer dancer?

The voting was very tight, with the top 4 captions separated by only 11 votes. Columbus Fins edged out the runner-up by 2 votes, out of a total of 280 votes that were cast. In second place was LI AL with “Hey Mel did Jerry Seinfield sell you that puffy-shirt? What do you mean you don’t want to be a pirate?”

Here are the full results:

• If Riverdance doesn’t pan out, would you like a gig as a Coral Reefer dancer? – Columbus Fins (66 votes, 24%)
• Hey Mel did Jerry Seinfeld sell you that puffy-shirt? What do you mean you don’t want to be a pirate? – LI AL (64 votes, 23%)
• Nice try Mel, but I’m not hiring any reeferettes right now. – Steve (57 votes, 20%)
• GIMME BACK MY SON OF A SON OF A SAILOR!!!!! – Chad (55 votes, 20%)
• “Road Warrior,” huh? Try spending six months on a bus with my band! – Bluedog (38 votes, 14%)

View all of the captions that were submitted here.

Congratulations to Columbus Fins and thanks to everyone who entered. We’ll have another contest before long!