Jim Shoemake's Last Day at Forbidden Island

This past Tuesday, a whole mess of us gathered to pay tribute to our beloved bartender, Jim Shoemake. Before joining Forbidden Island, Jim was already a local legend, having been at Trader Vic's. Having Jim at Forbidden Island has been such a wonderful pleasure all around, and we were all very sad to see him go. However, it's all for a good cause -- his lady love lives in Houston, Texas, and he can't stand to be apart from her any longer, so he's hitchin' up and riding into the sunset.

The bar was boisterous for his last day as a Forbidden Island bartender, and chock-full of sherrifs (thanks to hats, bandanas & badges provided by FI waitress Melissa). There was a big ol' boot pinata, filled with candy, cigarettes & liquor. Best of all, there was Jim, on our side of the bar, finally able to join us in toasts & getting toasted.

Farewell Jim, and thanks for all the Mai Tais!

I don't have pictures, but I know that Mai Tai does, hopefully we'll see them soon. Jim's going to be back in town briefly Wednesday after next (the 29th), and he's hoping to join us for our regular Wednesday before he hits the trail for good.

Jim's expertise and all-round great guy character will be sorely missed at FI!!
Thanks for being such an integral part of our first 8 months. Best of luck in all your future endeavors.
Cheers!!

[ Edited by: Conga Mike 2006-11-18 15:19 ]

Here's some dad gum ol' pictures of the hoedown for Jim. Here's to the Rootinist, Tootinist bartender this side of the Mississippi. And that side of the Mississippi as well!!!.

Jim gets the boot. (Get it?!? The Boot!!!)

And what more could this Hombre ask for in his pinata than a pack of smokes and Jaegermeister?

Why, the answer would be Miss Kitty AND the sheriff's wife plum sittin' smack dab in the middle of his gol darn lap!!!

There were a lot of pesky ol' varmints there, some so angry that they'd shoot a man just fer snorin'!!!

Towards the end of the evening, we asked Jim if he'd do a special favor for us, and make us one last batch of Mai Tai's. He said it would be an honor.

And we eagerly drank them. Ah, the perfect Mai Tai. They were delicious, to say the least!

As to the festivities that happen at a party of this caliber, well....
There's most likely gonna be some drinkin'...

Most likely gonna be some wrasslin' too...

Most likely gonna be some forced shaving of body parts for the loser of the wrasslin' match as well!!!

Jim, I know that it's time for you to hit that dusty trail, but you will definitely be missed at Forbidden Island. Much thanks for all of the fantastic drinks and first class hospitality! Cheers!!!