Weekend: The real treasures of Gasparilla

Shortly after last year's Gasparilla parade, a group of women from the Krewe of Alegria were celebrating at a nearby restaurant.

Many were wearing the all-female krewe's custom chunky krewe pendants, which feature a detailed molding of an extremely well-endowed senorita. That's when a fellow patron - a guy - decided he wanted one of the medallions.

"He started to take his pants off," krewe president Rocky Valdez said. "I told him, 'I'll give you the bead if you keep 'em on.' "

Such is the power of beads at Gasparilla. But if you think you're getting the best strands just by waving your arms along the parade route, you're mistaken.

It's a tradition among krewe members to swap and collect krewe logo medallions, like the one that almost prompted the man to flash the Krewe of Alegria. They're huge and elaborate, and they change from year to year. Some pirates own dozens from Gasparillas past.

"Bling is the thing for us," says Barbara Kleinhans, secretary of the Krewe of Shamrock, which this year produced a bundle of $12 gold pendants that would look right at home around 50 Cent's neck.

Many krewes have a design in mind when they order medallions, said Duane Wendel, co-owner of the Bead Barn in South Tampa.

The designs are shipped to China, where workers pour a polyresin mixture into a hand-carved mold. When it hardens, each pendant is hand-painted in bright colors. They generally cost about $6.95 for a pack of four and can only be sold to the krewe that ordered them.

The polyresin is hard but breakable - "between a plastic and a glass," Wendel says - so the medallions are rarely thrown into the crowd. The same goes double for metal pendants. To get them, you have to be ready to barter.

One pirate might trade his or her krewe medallion for another, one for one, or for the opportunity to use a bathroom on another krewe's float. Others might have to throw in a rhinestone pin, a kiss or . . . well, you can just guess.

If you're not in a krewe, you can always buy elaborate beads or pins for a few bucks a pop - the Bead Barn has a huge selection of nonkrewe medallions - then hope some pirate likes them enough to make a trade. Some parade marchers might give you a medallion for food, booze or a bottle of water. Or you can offer a hug, a kiss or . . . well, you can just guess.

The medallions on these pages are some of the finest booty this year's krewes have to offer. If you must lift your shirt for a set of beads, these are the ones you should get in return.

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Comments on this article

by Rocky	01/26/07 10:58 AM
Enjoyed article, nicely done. No complaints from Krewe of Alegria - Gasparilla (and every parade) is what it is. Viva Alegria!

by Louise	01/26/07 10:43 AM
I am past president of an all-female krewe and I find your story offensive. You are a sexist pig. Thank you for completely misleading the Tampa Bay population and neglecting to mention the hundreds of thousands of charity dollars we raise.

by SOG	01/26/07 09:44 AM
To all you haters. Get a life. Take the article for what is worth and get over it. Start your on blog and rant there. Gasparilla is what is and that is only once a year. The Krewes do good things all year long, but everyone needs fun once in awhile

by Laurie	01/26/07 09:06 AM
As a member of a Krewe I obviously see lots of "flashing" for beads. I just wish the public could see all of the charity and community service work that goes on behind the scenes.There's lots more to Krewe's than beads - how about an article on that?

by ziggy	01/26/07 08:35 AM
I would have thought that after all the years,hours and MONEY that Krewe's in the Tampa Bay area have worked and donated to charities, that boobs are all you can find to write about is a real shame!!!

by Jeff	01/25/07 10:49 PM
There were thousands of good things you could have said about the Krewes and the members who spend the year working to support worthy charities throughout our community. Your article was a sad waste of ink and paper! Maybe next year you'll get it!

by A mad krewe member	01/25/07 10:42 PM
Jay - Five out of the seven beads you used are of FEMALE ONLY krewes. You were contacted by local krewe members with information about the GOOD WORKS that krewes do throughout the year but instead you wrote a story about boobs. You are the "BOOB!"

by lori	01/25/07 08:39 PM
Flashing of the boobs does go on, but lets not encourage it. Even though there is a kid parade, the real one has millions of families there. It's ackward and embarrasing when those few drunk girls get going.

by Lori	01/25/07 08:15 PM
Jay,Jay,Jay...of all the good things there are to write about Gasparilla, you have to concentrate on a womens chest. We all know that this behavior goes on in small numbers but for you to encourage more of it sucks. Many kids are there. Grow up!

by Daniel	01/25/07 05:34 PM
Tracey! Never underestimate the desires of the geriatric lesbian population as well. You sexist, ageist, . . .

by Paul	01/25/07 05:04 PM
Does Rhonda Storms approve of this? Look out, she may prevent local government from recognizing this event if there are breasts involved, hahhaa!

by Dan	01/25/07 02:45 PM
Judging by the number of people who turn out for this notorious event every year, I'd say there are quite a few folks who enjoy Gasparilla. Bottom line: if you don't like it, stay home.

by Tracey	01/25/07 12:08 PM
This article is pretty disrespectful and not appropriate for a hometown paper. The audience for this article is young and male. It is more appropriate for alternative papers. Did this circular go to all the schools for their education as well?

by Wren	01/25/07 10:48 AM
Lighten up, Donald.

by Barbara	01/25/07 10:25 AM
I have been a Krewe membeb for almost 10 years and can tell you firsthand that it is RARE that we give beads to those that flash! We do give them to people who hold up a sign supporting our Krewe and to anyone we see that is really into the parade.

by Tom	01/25/07 09:55 AM
Come on' get with the spirit, its not immoral to show chests of gold or booty! arrrgh!

by BoBo	01/25/07 09:36 AM
Stop being so damn politically correct, it's Gasparilla for godsake...one day a year to get a little wild

by Teri	01/25/07 09:32 AM
HAHAHA.... ligten up Donald! Wow, you need to get out there and have some fun, AND if the nude body is so offensive to you I feel sorry for your kids, they will certainly have a complex when they grow up, if they don't already!!

by Donald Fan	01/25/07 09:23 AM
Can we all say Exploitation?! I thought laws were in place for public nudity but I guess it depends on who bares all. If a man 'exposes' himself he lands in jail, a woman receives beads. Niiiiice! No wonder it's call Trampa!!

by Donald	01/25/07 06:18 AM
Is someone putting a gun to these peoples heads? "If you must lift your shirt for a set of beads". What exactly does "Please flash accordingly" mean ? What does this tell our young people ? Are these not PUBLIC streets - is THIS not child abuse?

by Donald	01/25/07 04:34 AM
I can hear the uproar already - however - I will say it anyway - when does encouraging public intoxication, nudity, immoral behavior, illegal activity, become a good thing ? A slippery slope indeed ! Can you say hypocrite - I know you can .

Gasparilla

The real treasures of Gasparilla

If you plan to let it all hang out Saturday, at least save yourself for a rare krewe medallion.