Ambar Ramirez
Shipyard Social takes the concept of a party to uncharted waters.
Words by Ambar Ramirez
My weekend nightlife routine has consisted of going to the beach bars, Silent Disco at Rootdown or simply staying in, so when I got an extended (and slightly vague) invite to a party on a ship, I have to admit I was intrigued. And not that it takes much to convince me to try something new, as I am an Aquarius after all, but when I learned that this wasn’t just any ordinary party on a boat, but Shipyard Social — a Halloween-themed party on the historic USS Orleck — I quickly RSVP’d and bought my tickets.
Dressed up as Velma from Scooby Doo along with my partner in crime dressed as Shaggy, we arrived at the Navy ship docked on East Bay Street, ready to catch some monsters and see what all the rage was about. After getting past security and walking through the wooden boardwalk that led to the main deck of the ship, I immediately knew that this wasn’t gonna be a typical night. As if (again) a party on a Navy ship wasn’t telling enough that this wasn’t going to be a regular night out, the main deck had some vendors set up, one selling vintage clothing and another selling food. But this deck is not where the party is or should I say parties.
The description on the invite emphasized only one thing and that was to not wear heels. And when I saw the steep ladder that led to the upper deck, I understood why. Once we made our way up the slightly scary but supervised ladder, we were met with loud music and colorful lights. The ship was decked out in caution tape, disco balls, plants and more. Now I meant what I said when I said “parties” because rather than this just being a one-stage, one-performer kind of event, there were three stages with multiple performers cycling in throughout the night.
The main stage is situated toward the back of the boat, giving you a full view of Downtown’s skyline and the St. Johns River. It was at this stage we found some friends who happened to have a VIP table and a bottle, so sorry if my recollection of the rest of the night is a little blurry. Then with limited access to roam the ship, you walk through a hallway that leads to the second stage, also called the Groove stage. Situated right in the middle of the boat, the stage was a bit smaller than the others but that in no way took away from the big energy emanating from the crowd. Then the last stage was situated at the front of the ship: The “Danger Zone” gave us a full view of the river and starlit sky, the perfect backdrop for a dancefloor. Each stage was separated enough that the music from each didn’t interfere with the other, but not too far apart which made it difficult to navigate. And with various vendors situated throughout the ship, I couldn’t help but think that every party should be like this. Not just a party but an experience.
This was Shipyard Social’s second event and the next one is scheduled for New Year’s Eve. I can’t imagine a better place to watch the fireworks. Why confine ourselves to partying near the water when you could party on it, right? Of course, I have to add that this event is organized by Danielle Bass, entrepreneur and owner of Copper Closet, proving once again that women just do it better.
Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com and prices range from $30 for general admission up to $100 for a VIP booth.
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