Key West: Florida Keys Art Guild Festival

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:December 29, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

Running from December 27th through the 31st is the Florida Keys Art Guild Festival, a free art festival held at Bayview Park. It was billed to have dozens of artists from around the country joining local artisans to display their work, ranging from fine jewelry, sculpture, paintings and photography as well as fine crafts. However, I would be surprised if there were a dozen total vendors peddling their wares.

We stopped by yesterday thinking it would be a fun afternoon. It took us maybe a half hour to peruse the few tents. There were some great products there; some beautiful paintings and photographs along with some slightly disturbing works of art. There were really nice jewelry pieces there as well with reversible stones set in silver. My favorite display was of the rock oil candles. The artist takes natural stones, attaches part of a recycled bottle to the bottom as a reservoir for oil, and drills a hole in the top and attaches a fiberglass wick that never needs replacing. Ingenious! (more…)

Key West Holiday Events

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:December 22, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

There are a few things happening on our island this week and next. Some are holiday related and others are not. But they are all interesting! Definitely something for everyone happening this time of year!

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Key West Restaurant Review: Update on ZaZa Pizzeria

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:December 19, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

After ordering overly expensive personal pizzas for take put a few weeks ago I decided that I did not want to cook so my husband and I had dinner there the other evening. Inside there were less people than the last time I stopped by to pick up food; it was still loud though. We ended up eating outside to avoid the noise. Plus it is a beautiful waterfront view sitting out there. And the weather was perfect for sitting outside and enjoying a meal.

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Key West Restaurant Review: Cafe Marquesa

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:December 19, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

Located at the Marquesa Hotel on Fleming Street, this classy restaurant has a unique international menu that is constantly changing and very good service. Menus are actually printed daily so the servers will not have any specials to tell you about. My husband and I had dinner here for our anniversary this weekend. The decor is elegant with huge framed mirrors, large windows, and beautiful molding. This all helps with the illusion that the dining area is larger than it is. The tables are fairly close together. Luckily, we were seated next to a very friendly and interesting German couple and we had a nice conversation throughout dinner. It is slightly noisy in the restaurant, but not obnoxiously so; there is foam glued underneath the tables to help combat the noise level. There were a few older gentlemen sitting at the bar that were quite loud, but it quieted down loads after they left.

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December in Key West

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:December 1, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

Today is the first day of December! It was 80 degrees yesterday but a major cold front moved through last evening making it a balmy 70 degrees outside today. I know. I know. I am really suffering down here. Well, it may be 70 degrees, but it does not seem like Christmas is just around the corner. Maybe this weekend’s Tree Trimming Party at the Schooner Wharf Bar will change that. This Sunday, December 4th starting at 5:00 PM the Schooner Wharf will be hosting a party to get everyone into the holiday spirit.

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Key West Restaurant Review: Kaya Island Eats

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:November 22, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

This new (only opened 2 weeks ago) eatery is located on the ocean and US1 N in Saddle Bunch Keys (about 15 miles north of Key West). The building once housed another restaurant but Kaya is thus far much different (in a good way). Based on its name, you can probably guess that the menu has a tropical theme which goes in line with the locale. And the owner, Scott, grew up in Hawaii and became a partner at the famed Key West restaurant, Blue Heaven, so it all fits. This also gives one a lot of hope for this spot as the locals really need another good restaurant in this area. Scott has already made some major improvements to the building with beautiful signage and a very tropical decor inside. The place definitely draws you in.

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Key West – Pirates in Paradise

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:November 15, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

Starting on November 24th and running through December 4th, is the 12 Annual Pirates in Paradise festival celebrating Key West’s “colorful maritime history.” Historic walking tours, bazaar markets, storytelling competitions, and many more activities will be a part of this event. Check it out while you are here!

Event Schedule of Events:

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Key West Restaurant Review: Boat House

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:November 12, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

Walking around last night checking out he race boats, we decided to grab a bite to eat before heading home. We ended up stopping at the Boat House, located beneath the Commodore Restaurant at A&B Marina. For those of you that have been in the area before thinking, there is no restaurant there, you are kinda right. This spot used to be a Tommy Bahama store but they closed their doors about a year ago and the Boat House moved in.

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Key West – Hurricane Rina

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 27, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

So, it looks like Key West are dodging a potential bullet with Rina, making everyone happy since she would have put a damper on our Fantasy Fest Celebrations. Only once in the past 20+ years has Fantasy Fest been cancelled and rescheduled, and that was in fact due to a hurricane. You can read more about this and Fantasy Fest in general by reading my article on the history of the celebration.

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Key West Fishing & Weather

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 23, 2011
Post category:Activities Fishing

Well, we had an unusually soggy week in Key West last week. It rained for about 5 days straight, flooding parts of the island. That means that most activities like fishing, sunset sails, and water sports tours were shut down during that time. Visitors were relegated to only hanging out at the bars like Sloppy Joe’s or visiting museums like the Hemingway House. Now that can be fun and relaxing, but after a while people surely want to get out and about. Now is the time. Weather is clear and a little breezy making the outdoors extremely comfortable this time of year in Key West.

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Key West Historical Markers: The Captain George Carey House and the Pirates Well

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 6, 2011
Post category:History

I was wondering downtown the other day and I came across a sign posted in front of one of the historic downtown homes that said “Pirates Well.” I have walked by this place a hundred times and had never noticed it before, so I read the marker at the house and did a bit or research on it.

Apparently where this house sits was where the first fresh water on the island was found by pirates in the 1700s. But this house, located at 410 Caroline Street between Duval and Whitehead Streets, known as the Captain George Carey House has a few more claims to fame.

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Discovering Key West

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 3, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

I have lived in Key West for nearly 13 years now. Wow! I know the island pretty darn well. But every once in a while I still get surprised. Hard to do on a 2×4 square mile island? I say not! Key West is very tourist industry driven so we have a ton of restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions directed toward capturing that tourist market. Often times businesses start up and don’t make it so something new will pop up before you know it.

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