Survivor Viewing Party was a big success last night

We were taken aback last night when we entered Calamari for the Survivor viewing party. We didn't realize that all those hundreds of people eating and drinking and partying were there for Survivor. We thought it was a usual Wednesday night crowd. But Brenda Lowe (above right) with Maureen Mahoney was the big draw. Every single table was taken and every single spot at the bar was filled.

Local girl Brenda is a contestant this season on Survivor Nicaragua.


People arrived early for dinner and then enjoyed drinks and dessert with Survivor. Brenda was glued to the tv once the show started, everyone actually was. This is the first time Brenda would see herself on the show. The crowd cheered every time Brenda showed up on the tv screens surrounding the bar and restaurant.


Liz and Bryan Medrano were part of the huge Survivor and Brenda fanbase who came out for the first of the weekly viewing parties.


Once the show started, the whole place turned to the screens and quieted down unless it was time to cheer our hometown girl on.


There were people all over the place. That's Gaea Garrity, pointing to the tv, with Clara Anderson. Gaea put the whole weekly Survivor viewing party together.


We had to laugh when Sal, the manager, would yell out to his staff, "I need another table for 10!" This went on all night! As the show wound down, Trevor, the Grove's snake guy, was outside right on cue, showing off one of his pets to the jungle-crazy crowd.


Every part of the Grove Trilogy was entranced by Brenda and Survivor. Here, Gabriella Harari and Henry Barrow, wine educator, watched at La Bottega, the wine room. Coincidentally behind them on the tv we captured two Miamians together who are on Survivor this season -- Jimmy Johnson (yes, that Jimmy) and Brenda.

The Taurus had fans watching the tv's there, too. The viewing party was to take place at The Taurus, originally, but people came early, sat down at Calamari, ate dinner, and just stayed at their tables.


The Survivor Viewing Party is at Calamari (3540 Main Highway) each Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Stop by and enjoy the show with Brenda and all those Survivor fans.

Spoiler Alert: Wendy, the goat rancher, from Montana, was booted off the island at the conclusion of last night's episode.