Tis the Season

It's hard in Key West for Northerners like me to get into the Christmas spirit because the weather is so unlike the White Christmas we dream of. Strangely enough, the song I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas just came up on the CD Player! How's that for coincidence?

Anyway, Key West's weather and all the tropical foliage and colors make decorating for Christmas a challenge, especially in the shop. The traditional red and green seem too heavy for the light airy look we've got going here. So we've put together decorations to express the same feeling - big silver glass shells, mercury glass spiral drop ornaments, blue glass spirals, blue glass birds with feather tails,some painted tin birds with crystal drops, some pastel painted whimsical shapes of tin, all interlaced with aqua, lime, and coral net ribbon. And - voila.....Style Key West Christmas!


Merry Christmas to All,

Today's Headline: Flaming Flags in Key West!

Last week Key Westers found yet another cause for celebration (that's not hard for us to do).

December 1 marked the end of an uneventful (for Key West) hurricane season, and tourism and weather officials celebrated by burning the red and black hurricane flags that are flown at the Coast Guard stations when the islands are under a hurricane warning.


We're out of the woods until June 1 next year! Hooray!

Fantasy Fest Week 2010 - Adults & Their Significant Others

There’s nothing like Fantasy Fest to bring couples together in a common cause… exposing your woman to a world of grateful admirers.





Seems like everyone gets into the act. Even respectable CEO guys…


Unfortunately, it looks like Mrs. Kiss didn’t get the memo…


Creativity was also alive and well on the couple’s front…





Although for the life of me, I can’t figure out the connection between BP and pink flamingos…


Some relationships didn’t seem long for the world…


While others seemed to be made in heaven…


And then, of course, there was the occasional ménage a trois (or is that ménage a weird?).


Finally, I leave you with a couple of close couple friends.

Fantasy Fest Week 2010 - Painting the Town...

That’s Captain Morgan. He’s kinda like “our leader”. A former pirate, he now spends most of his time selling rum and hanging out with a choice selection of wenches…




Duval Street is ground zero for this multi-cultural event featuring everything from folks who want to be seen to those who simply want to be obscene…





We even have Captain Morgan wannabes…


Hey, a fella can dream, can’t he?

Local businesses were also there to put their best feet (or other body parts) forward…




Advertising everything from real estate…


…to a great place to get a drink…


Even businesses going out of business got into the swing of things…


Folks of all ages were out to flaunt a little pazazz…




As were proponents of higher education…



And people of unfathomable purpose…



And then, of course, you get your share of spoilsports.



On the other hand, maybe there’s something to be said for their point of view.

Hemingway Days

This week is the 30th Anniversary of the Ernest Hemingway Festival in Key West. "Papas" come from all around to compete in the look-alike contest held in July to honor what would have been the author's 110th birthday this year. In addition to the look-alike contest, there is a fishing tournament, a one-man drama depicting Hemingway's life, and the announcement of Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition.



And what Hemingway festival would be complete without a "Running of the Bulls" down Duval Street?


Ernest Hemingway is easily Key West's most famous resident, having lived here with his wife Pauline at their Spanish Colonial residence on Whitehead Street from 1931 until their divorce in 1939. This was the most prolific period of Hemingway's writing, as he found great inspiration in the turquoise waters and the variety of characters who live in Key West. Hemingway owned the home until his death in 1961, and many of the couple's furnishings from their time here, as well as descendants of Hemingway's well-known six-toed cats, are still at the home, which is now a museum.









Pauline had been an editor at Vogue magazine when she met Hemingway in Paris. Her sense of style and wealthy upbringing led to some budget overruns which may have contributed to the end of the marriage. After hearing that she had spent $20,000 to have a swimming pool installed, Hemingway tossed her a penny saying that she might as well have his last cent! To which Pauline responded by having the penny set in the stone around the pool.


No doubt the Hemingway House in Key West houses the most famous cat drinking fountain in the world; The top of the fountain is an old Spanish olive jar that was brought from Cuba. The trough at the base of the olive jar came from Papa's good friend Joe Russell's joint "Sloppy Joe's." It is actually one of the bar's urinals. Pauline added the decorative tile to disguise it




Happy birthday Papa!