Curse Get Inked Like A Sailor

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 13, 2013 9:30PM

Had he not had the unfortunate run of bad luck known as "dying," tomorrow would mark Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins' 102nd birthday. Collins is known rather well in two different but simpatico worlds; tattoos and booze. The ex-Navy man set up a tattoo shop in Hawaii in the '30s, and his style would go on to be instantly recognizable over the next few decades. You know that language of tattoos grounded in the sea with anchors, snarls and sexy ladies that sprout from the same lineage as Petunia, the dancing tattoo on The Adventures of Pete And Pete. While his visual flair would have had an immortal life of its own, the man's name has been stamped on bottles of especially potent spiced rum to birth the Sailor Jerry line of spiced rum.

It's the booze arm of his legacy that's celebrating his birthday, and they're joining forces with his lineage of tattoos to make the day special for 102 Chicagoans. Chicago Tattoo, at 1017 W. Belmont, will be giving out 102 free Sailor Jerry tattoos of a specific Collins anchor design for free on a first come first served basis starting at noon tomorrow, January 14. And each tattoo also comes with a coupon for a free Sailor Jerry cocktail around the corner at Trader Todd's on 3216 N. Sheffield.