“Broadside Johnnie,” a biking pirate

OK, I completely goofed on this one. I know today was Talk Like a Pirate Day and this is being posted sort of late. Oh well.

I thought it’d be fitting to post something about “Broadside Johnnie”. You may have seen this guy around town. He dresses like a pirate and flies a bikey-inspired Jolly Roger flag (see photo). I met Johnnie when I parked his bike at the Blues Festival earlier this summer.

He’s hung up his cutlass and now he makes his way by selling these flags for $8-10 depending on the color. Here’s a bit more about them from Johnnie himself:

“The design is an adaptation of the Jolly Roger flown by Henry Every. Keep yer weathereye open because I usually carry inventory with me when I ride. If you see me on the road and want to see what I have, shout out “Broadside!” Yeah, the copyright notice in the picture is the one my parents gave me, but my performing name, Broadside Johnnie, has also been adopted by friends as my nickname.

I also carry inventory when I busk on Hawthorne, along the water front (Riverplace) and at farmers’ markets, festivals, and other events. You may have seen me on the sidewalk, or at the Festival de Piratas. If you run across me in mid-tune while I’m busking, I’d prefer to finish the tune before answering questions or making a sale.

You can also send email to broadsidejohnnie@comcast.net, and expect a response within a day. At present, I can only accept cash or money orders. If I can’t make change, I’ll make up for the inconvenience by delivering a flag to you when I have change.”