Hemingway’s Key West legacy and six-toed cats



The crown jewel of Key West’s rich literary legacy, which has attracted writers such as Tennessee Williams, Ralph Ellison, Robert Frost and Carson McCullers, is Ernest Hemingway’s old home at 907 Whitehead St. The sprawling two-story property is a National Historic Landmark where Mr. Hemingway lived and wrote during most of the 1930s. It is also famously home to about […]

BARTENDER OF THE WEEK

Shawna Miller Allen: Runaway bride found her true love in Key West


Locals in Key West who were born and raised here are known as Conchs. If you happen to move to the island and make it through seven years you are known as a freshwater Conch. At an event coming up later this month, the Freshwater Conch Gala and Celebration, recipients of their freshwater Conch certificates will be given the opportunity, […]

DRAG LIFE

Sushi: The house queen of 801 Cabaret


Spelled out on the wall behind the bar in huge letters lit with orange bulbs are the words DRAG ASYLUM. I’m at 801 Bourbon on Duval Street looking for an interview with Sushi, a drag queen who runs the upstairs Cabaret shows that have made it a Key West landmark. The bartender says Sushi will be here around 8 p.m. […]

MUSIC SCENE

Claire Finley — brilliant, blithe and beautiful, sure, but the ‘B’ in ‘Lady B’ stands for bass


There’s no way to describe in words Claire Finley’s skills as a bassist. It’s something you have to hear and experience. It isn’t just thumping along the tonic notes of chords with an occasional riff in between. She virtually makes the bass sing. Listeners are always blown away, whether they’re critical experts or they’re musically illiterate. She’s got the funk. […]

KEY WEST GALLERY GUIDE



For a comprehensive guide and map to Key West’s finest art galleries visit keysarts.com/artist_ connections/ – gallery_ guide.pdf Special events this week Key West Art and Historicalal Society Custom House281 Front St.Kwahs.org Roberta Marks: ARetrospective30 years of mixed-media workon display at the CustomHouseOngoing Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden 5210 College Roadkwbgs.org Key West Art Garden 2016 Florida Keys […]

KEY WEST HAPPY HOUR GUIDE



Your guide to where the locals go for happy hour drink and food specials. Alonzo’s 700 Front St. 4-6:30 p.m. Half-price appetizers Olonzoysterbar.com Bagatelle 115 Duval St. 4-6 p.m. Half-price drinks $5 appetizers Bagatellekeywest.com Bistro Sole 1019 White St. Monday through Friday 5-6:30 p.m. Half-price beer and wine Tapas specials Bistrosole.com Boathouse Bar and Grill 400 Greene St., #408 4-6 […]

SHOT IN KEY WEST



Would you like to see your photo in Florida Weekly Key West edition? Send your photos to okillian@floridaweekly.com along with your name, the city where you live and the date and location of the photo.

Good times in the Conch Republic



Here are three attractions for the whole family that capture Key West’s artistic inclinations, diverse history, and whimsical beauty. Mallory Square The nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is the best free show in town, a center of Key West commerce and performance art (mallorysquare.com). The square’s history dates back to the town’s early years when it was incorporated in […]

NOT-TO-MISS ATTRACTIONS



Audubon House & Tropical Gardens 205 Whitehead St. (305) 294- 2116 or (877) 294-2470 audubonhouse.com Original lithographs of John James Audubon’s drawings are on display at this former home of shipwreck salvager Capt. John Geiger. CityView Trolley Tours of Key West 1045 Whitehead St. (305) 294-0644 cityviewtrolleys.com These open-air trolleys offer hop-on-and-off tours that incorporate narration of the history of […]

The Conch Train: Rambling along the streets and through the history of Key West since 1958



On a blustery, partly cloudy Sunday afternoon The Conch Tour Train, Key West’s old-time sightseeing tour, pulled out of the station on Front Street and rambled and jangled along the sometimes bumpy roads of Key West’s historic district. A ticket for the train, actually a car outfitted like a train with passenger cars in tow, is about $30 (plus tip); […]