When Jimmy Buffett sang about '...all of those tourists covered in oil' in Margaritaville, crude oil was not the variety he had in mind.  Gulf Coast states fighting to defend their coastlines against the BP oil spill are also in a battle against the perception that beautiful beaches are fouled with more oil than they actually are.  Buffett, who will soon open a Margaritaville beach front hotel in Pensacola, Florida (story) and whose sister runs Lulu's, a very successful restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama, has already been pitching in to help provide resources to fight the spill.  On July 1, Buffett's Coral Reefer Band and a bunch of special guests stage a free concert in Gulf Shores to help turn the tourism tide against against any misconception that the Gulf isn't still a great place to visit.  Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Sonny Landreth, Allen Toiussaint and Jesse Winchester are all expected to perform in the concert, which is slated to air on CMT.
Up north, Parrotheads were out in force last week in Niagara Falls, Ontario for the grand opening of the newest Margaritaville Cafe, the first of two locations opening north of the border.  The 14,000 square foot indoor tropical paradise overlooking the famed Falls brings the Cafe count to 17.
Margaritaville.com   PNJ.com

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