Gasparilla 2010, both the children’s parade and the pirate invasion, have come and gone. What have we learned?
· A family-oriented, lemonade-fueled crowd, however huge, can co-exist with an adjacent neighborhood.
· A serious, concerted effort to warn and rein in those responsible for mayhem in the past seemed effective. But “wet-zoning” is still a mixed message.
· Half as many spectators; three times as many arrests. A “zero-tolerance” message has been sent.
· Next year, provided it doesn’t rain, will demonstrate where we really are in the learning curve. May Ye Mystic Krude be banished for good.