Jimmy Buffett made a surprise stop at his Margaritaville Cafe in Panama City, Florida on Wednesday night and played a few tunes with Mac McAnally and the Barry Fish Band.

(photos from Pier Park)

Walmart has listed Jimmy Buffett’s upcoming live album “Encores”. According to the site, it contains 2 CD’s, is exclusive to Walmart (though it will likely also be sold at Mailboat Records), and will be released on Tuesday, April 20th.

The album is available for pre-order now at Walmart.com for $12.00.

Track List:

Disc 1

1. Come Monday
2. Tin Cup Chalice
3. Growing Older But Not Up
4. Coast Of Carolina
5. Paradise
6. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
7. Nautical Wheelers
8. Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season
9. Banana Republics
10. He Went To Paris
11. Last Mango In Paris

Disc 2

1. L’air De La Louisiane
2. Reggabilly Hill
3. Coast Of Marseilles
4. Lovely Cruise
5. Oysters And Pearls
6. Wildflowers
7. Defying Gravity
8. Big Old Goofy World
9. Death Of An Unpopular Poet
10. Blowin’ In The Wind
11. A Pirate Looks At Forty

Humble and gracious as always, Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally accepted the Arthur Alexander songwriter’s award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame on Thursday:

Red Bay native Mac McAnnally still can’t believe he’s doing what he’s doing — and has been doing it for so many years.

The award-winning songwriter-musician appeared before a group of reporters today before the Alabama Music Hall of Fame’s ceremony. He said he has always seen himself as a person who was just turned out on stage and that he has never really belonged in the field — but he is certainly grateful for everything.

According to SportsByBrooks, Jimmy Buffett is on the short list of acts being considered for the 2011 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Other acts on the list include Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, and Brooks & Dunn. Chesney has publicly stated that he’d like to do the show.

The 2011 Super Bowl will be held at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Sunday, February 6th.

Would you like to see Jimmy do the Half Time Show?

In the latest Vanity Fair, Jimmy Buffett writes about his friend Herman Wouk, with whom he collaborated on the musical Don’t Stop The Carnival:

Herman Wouk is one of the wisest men I have ever known. In aviation the best information comes from pilots themselves, in airplanes, not from air-traffic controllers or meteorologists on the ground, in some big air-conditioned office. In his new book, The Language God Talks, Herman sends us all a most valuable pilot report, since it comes from a man whose remaining time on this voyage, he concedes, is rather short. It has been a long time since I sat down and thought about the big questions, such as “Who are we, really?” and “Why are we here?” I have always been more comfortable being tagged a court jester than any kind of philosopher, but I am glad that my old friend keeps his page-a-day commitment to himself, thus extending, in The Language God Talks, a pilot report that we can all use.

Pre-order Wouk’s new book now at Amazon.com.

Would you like to work at the new Margaritaville Cafe that’s currently under construction in Niagara Falls? If so, you’ll want to attend a job fair they are putting on in two weeks:

The poster says the job fair will be held April 8th – 11th from 10am – 5:30pm at the Maid Of The Mist Centre and also details what jobs are available.

When the cafe opens in late spring or early summer, it will become the first Margaritaville in Canada. Another is under construction in Calgary, and Toronto and Vancouver are being considered for future locations. Read more about the Niagara Falls location here.

Visit AccessNiagara.com for photos of the construction.

Plans to build a Margaritaville Cafe have hit a snag and must meet certain historical preservation guidelines to be approved:

The building sits in the Broadway Preservation District and has to meet strict construction guidelines.

The Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission staff found problems with some of the beach-themed restaurant’s signage and proposed glass wall that would replace the building’s windows.

The Broadway Preservation District came about in 2007 when a Westin Hotel was proposed for Lower Broadway. The guidelines have created a hurdle for Margaritaville.

Bloom said an open concept is crucial to Margaritaville’s concept.

“To where there’s pretty weather, then you can engage the sidewalk and the street for them to see in and to listen to the music, hear the music,” said Bloom.

The property owner said without the open windows Margaritaville would most likely not invest in Downtown Nashville.

Bloom estimated Margaritaville would employ close to 150 people and take in $10 million a year in sales. That could net Nashville close to a $1 million a year in tax revenue.

Other downtown restaurants do have open windows. Broadway Brewhouse and Paradise Park installed their windows before 2007.

“They’re there to protect the character of our city and the buildings that make up our city,” said Tim Walker, executive director of the Metro Historic Zoning Commission.

The group is charged with guiding construction in the city’s preservation districts. Walker’s staff reviews plans and makes recommendations to the full Historic Zoning Commission.

“Those buildings are unique to Nashville. They’re what makes Nashville, Nashville and not just any city,” said Walker.

The Broadway Preservation district guidelines read replacement storefronts most mimic the original storefront of the building. That is where Margaritaville’s plan hit a snag.

Small modifications will bring Margaritaville’s proposed signage into compliance with the preservation district’s guidelines.

Both sides are optimistic they will be able to work out a compromise.

“I would say we’re 90 percent there, and there are just a few modifications to be made before the projects approved,” said Walker.

“We think we’ll be able to come to an agreement that will satisfy everyone and move forward with this project,” said Bloom.

The snag is likely to delay construction by a month, but developers say the project is still on target to open at the end of this year.

Congratulations to DO for winning the latest Jimmy Buffett photo caption contest!

Here was the photo:

And DO’s winning caption with 144 votes (33% of the vote) was:

“Here’s the number to my cousin in Miami. He can take care of you…”

Thanks to everyone who submitted captions and we’ll do another one soon!

Newton Marshall became the first person from the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica to finish the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as he crossed the finish line at 7:27pm AKDT. Newton had an elapsed time of 12 days, four hours, and 27 minutes from the start line in Willow. “Jamaica, I did it again,” he exclaimed as he rode down Front Street in Nome waving a Jamaican flag from his position behind 10 dogs in harness and one in his sled basket.

You’ve been Rootin’ for Newton and now it’s your chance to meet him! Enter below for your chance to win a VIP Jamaica Dogsled experience at Chukka Cove, plus access to any of the other Chukka Adventures that you want! Enjoy a $200 Gift Certificate to Margaritaville Ocho Rios and receive a 5-day/4-night all inclusive Funjet Vacations getaway for two to the beautiful Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa where you can enjoy five restaurants, eight bars, white sand beach, five swimming pools and the Lighthouse Waterslide. It’s all included!

Click here to enter to win!

Must be 21 years of age to enter.

The Jimmy Buffett / Zac Brown Band CMT Crossroads episode debuted Friday night at 10 pm, and if you missed it you can now watch it online at CMT.com:

Watch the full episode

You can also watch the performances individually here.

CMT television will also re-air the show at the following times:

• Saturday at 1:00 am and 10:00 am
• Sunday at 2:00 pm
• Tuesday at 12:00 pm
• Thursday at 1:00 am
• Friday at 10:00 am