Information about Key West
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.
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.
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.
Well, it will be quite some time before humanity sees this date again. I was getting a lot of calls for accommodations for this week and every one of the places that I work with and all of the ones that I don’t work with as well were totally booked up. Yes, the World Super Boat Races are this week, but in years past there has still been some availability on accommodations down here during that week. What I just found out was the the date 11-11-11 is the most popular date for weddings this year. So, in addition to all of the visitors to our area for the races, we also have a bunch of visitors here for Destination Weddings. Who woulda’ thunk it.
Very sad news. Yesterday was the first day of racing and they did not get off to a good start. Big Thunder Marine owner Bob Morgan and his throttle man Jeff Tillman were both killed when their boat flipped during the third race of the day. The boat was a 46 foot Skater catamaran with four 1200 HP engines powering it. According to witnesses, the boat was going about 130 mph when it caught some air and flipped, completely damaging the right front hull of the boat. It took less than 60 seconds for rescue divers to be deployed but they were unable to save the two men who both died upon arrival to the Lower Keys Medical Center.
For those of you that may be in Key West currently you have probably noticed an influx of BIG boats coming onto the island via trailer. These boats are painted up colorfully and that is to draw attention to themselves since they are going to be competing this week in the 31st Annual Key West World Championship Races.
So my husband and I rescued a beautiful baby hawk today. I was walking my dog Indie around the block and I looked down and there was this bird about Indie’s size just sitting on a coconut that had fallen to the ground. We were only a couple feet away from it and it did not try to move at all so I called my husband Steven over being that he is like the bird whisperer, lol. He put on some work gloves, gently picked up the bird, and we brought him back to the house with us. (more…)
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.
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.