This year’s Alibi Five Year Ring was created by Mark Silver of Argenti Jewelers and will be presented to Brendan Corman (barback), Bobby Furedi (barback), Mark Hess (bartender), Jean Michel (Kitchen), Cole Morris (Bartender), Lee Nickels (Server), Michael Toy (Bartender), and Ralph Valentino(Server).
“I redesigned the new ring keeping in mind that most of the guys like to wear white metal instead of yellow,” Silver said. “I used the old Alibi ring design as a template and then I updated it to a more contemporary design. I redesigned the metals using Sterling Silver as the base ring with a 14 K Yellow Gold Martini Glass with a natural Emerald Gemstone. The precious metals and gemstones I used are;.925 Sterling Silver, 14 K Yellow Gold and a Natural Emerald Gemstone.”
The Ring Ceremony is a tradition that Georgie’s Alibi’s founder, George Kessinger, started and current owners Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete have keep alive.
“When we bought the place four years ago we decided to keep the tradition going because it’s a good thank you,” Padgett said. “Five years of employment is a long time.”
The ring ceremony will take place on April 1 and there will be special giveaways and prizes that night at 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight. The weekend value of giveaways will be well over $10,000.
Georgie’s Alibi first opened in Wilton Manors in April 1997 and was an instant success. The mega popular gay video bar/cafe/sports bar is a local hangout and a must-see for vacationers.
“I think the secret to the success of The Alibi is that we follow a couple of small rules. Mark and I believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect from the staff to the customers and we request that the customers do that to each other,” Padgett said. “And of course, we obviously offer great food and cocktails and specials.”
Another reason that Alibi is so popular is because the owners and staff are very community minded.
‘We love the community as a whole and people realize that by supporting us, they are supporting the community,” Padgett explained.
The formula is a winning one. The community mainstay is so well known that it is always packed with guys of all ages playing pool, watching a show, enjoying one of their many drink specials or a having a meal with friends. Yes, the food is another big draw — Alibi’s burger was recently crowned the Best Burger in Fort Lauderdale.
A few years back, another Alibi was opened in St. Pete and then another in Palm Springs, California and both were also immediately popular.
To celebrate its 14th anniversary, Alibi is having several events. The schedule is as follows:
April 1st
- Ring Ceremony and special giveaways and prizes all night. Drawings to be held at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., and midnight. Entry tickets will be received with each purchase of a cocktail. Not with Complimentary cards or 2-4-1 tokens.
April 2nd
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Miami Dade College Pride Car Wash
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Jazz Brunch
- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – The Man Underneath sales/show event
- 9 p.m. Sean Ensign will perform his newest hits .
- 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight- Cash prize and giveaways with raffle drawings. Entry tickets will be received with each purchase of a cocktail. Not with Complimentary cards or 2-4-1 tokens.
April 3rd
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Jazz Brunch Sunday
- 6 p.m. Drawings – prizes include cash, gift cards, gift baskets, Flat Screen TVs, etc.
Come out and celebrate this beloved community mainstay!
