Key West Holiday Events
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!
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!
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.
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.
We are now just 10 days away from Christmas and it is still in the high to mid 70’s here! And according to the extended forecast it is to remain in the high 70’s for quite some time. While the warm weather does not do much to make it feel Christmasy around here, I am sure all of the visitors to our island during the holiday will find it a warm welcome (pun intended) compared to the primarily cold climates they are now experiencing back home.
Genn,
Just a quick note to let you all know that we had a great outing. I was on the South Paw with Captain Brad & his 1st mate Heath. Not only were these guys friendly & jovial but their professionalism was clearly evident in the level of preparedness of tackle, bait & boat! All day long they put forth the effort to make sure we had a great time and to give us every opportunity to catch fish. I’ve been on enough charters with other outfits to know that Team Southpaw ranks at the high end of high! I’ve attached a few pictures that sums up the day for all of us on the Southpaw!
So this Saturday my husband and I went to get a Christmas tree. I thought that we were going to go to Publix to pick up a tree but he wanted to go to Home Depot, which is where we went since all I cared about was getting a tree and not where we actually got it. I really did no even know that Home Depot was selling Christmas trees; I had been there the previous day to pick up a gift card and did not see any signs of Christmas trees. Maybe they should put out a sign?? I think getting the tree at Publix would have been easier because all your would have to do is pull up to the building, pick out a tree, and stick it in the car. At Home Depot you have to park, get a cart, wheel it all the way to the back of the garden department, roll it all the way back up front and into the parking lot to where ever it was that you parked.
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.
So, today is November thirtieth. Officially this is the last day of the Atlantic hurricane season! I am surprised that someone in Key West has not started the “End of Hurricane Days Festival” or something like that to draw in crowds and have another excuse to party on Duval Street.
So there is another new restaurant in the Lower Keys. Located at the Sugarloaf Lodge, this new Italian restaurant has recently opened up. It is great because this area is in need of more restaurants and especially a pizza place for a quick dinner. I stopped in the other night to do just that. Since I had not been there before my sister and I decided to stop in and check the place out and get a pizza to go. The interior has certainly undergone some drastic changes from when Mary Goode ran the restaurant. It went from medieval style decor to brightly painted interiors with a modern look. But it is very noisy. Yes, there were several people dining in the vast dining room, but they were far from shouting yet it was still difficult to hear the guy when he was taking our order. I was glad not to be eating on property just for this reason, although it looked lovely and smelled good and the staff all seemed very friendly and very Italian which gave me high hopes for the food quality.
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.
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!
The final day of the races went much better than the first two days. There were no fatalities. That being said, there was still an accident with serious injuries that marred the final day. Warpaint, a 38 foot boat powered with twin 750-HP motors, slammed into a wave; both drivers were taken to the hospital but they are both expected to be released.