Key West Florida Weekly

BARTENDER OF THE WEEK

Courtney Wilson – Waterworld Girl



 

 

If it’s possible to balance “down-to-earth” and “free-spirit,” then social butterfly Courtney Wilson has mastered it. You might see her out late at a party, the next day she’s snowboarding in Colorado, or floating in the blue waters of Iceland, but her professionalism and dependability have kept her working steadily at the best bars and restaurants since her arrival in Key West in 2010.

Courtney was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in Put-in-Bay through college. She attended Ohio State, but then graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in public relations and advertising. “I first came to Key West with a college girlfriend,” she said. “The first thing I did was go on a Cowboy Bill’s Hay Ride. A friend of mine, Big E, convinced me to come visit and I met Bonnie McKinnis, whose mom owned Pepe’s. She said that there was a house for rent for $600 two blocks from Duval. I packed up my dog, Teddy, and two suitcases thinking I’d give it three months, but then I ended up staying,” she said. “I left my boyfriend up at college.”

Courtney’s first job was at the Southernmost Beach House, where she worked for five years, “until Damian (DeAngelis) bought Bagatelle.” Then she switched over behind the bar at Bagatelle, where she has worked for almost three years now.

That isn’t to say she hasn’t worked other places. Courtney is one of those “‘work hard, play hard” people, one generally inspiring and encouraging the other. She worked at Rumor for three years, Pete’s Piano Bar for its entire duration (1½ years), Tatts and Scars through football season and Gecko Back Bar.

Right now, she’s working both at Bagatelle (Wednesday, Thursdays and Mondays from 4 p.m. till close) and at Blue Macaw Island Eats (Tuesdays from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m.). And within the week, she’ll be picking up shifts at the Mary Ellen’s Bar on Appelrouth Lane. All this to support her globetrotting/ water world lifestyle.

Her boyfriend, Scottie Jahn, also works as a bartender at the Blue Macaw. They recently returned from a Colorado vacation spent up in the snowy mountains. “Snowboarding is my favorite thing in the world.” She’s also visited Croatia, Iceland, the Turks and Caicos, Mexico, Puerto Rico, as well as spending vacation time domestically in Texas and California. They have two adopted terrier mixes, Baxter and Gunner. “They look like twins,” she says.

“I’m planning to go on a girls’ trip to Costa Rica next,” she said. “With Liz, Molly, Jenn and Bethany. Molly’s graduating nursing school, so we’re going to celebrate.”

Courtney says her hobbies include anything that involves being out on the water, on a boat, on a beach or in a pool. “Or on the snow,” she insists, which is, in fact, also water when you think about it, just frozen.

The Blue Macaw Island Eats and Bar, located at Petronia and Whitehead streets at the mouth of Bahama Village, is scarcely a year old, but already a favorite with locals and tourists. It feature live music, local fusion cuisine and Caribbean cocktails in a colorful, tropical outdoor jungle setting complete with the refreshing splash of waterfalls. You can have breakfast lunch or dinner, and you have to try the Bloody Marys. Check out the incredible menu at www.bluemacawkeywest.com.

On Wednesday, April 26, during the Conch Republic Independence Celebration week, Blue Macaw will host the Freshwater Conch Gala and Celebration on its trendy rooftop bar, from 7 to 9 p.m. The hosts are Bucky Montgomery (me), Bill Hoebee and Carolyn Guarini. For those in the dark, a “Conch,” besides being the giant marine snail that thrives in our waters, is also the name of anyone born on the island. And a “Freshwater Conch” is any Key West immigrant who has lived here for seven consecutive years. This is another silly Key West party and the public is invited. If your dog has lived in Key West for one year (seven years in dog years) it is celebrated as well.

“I like where I work, and the people I work with,” Courtney says. “Living in Key West, I can walk everywhere I need to go. I can take my dogs everywhere I go if I want. I can be on a boat with 10 minutes notice. Everywhere I go, everywhere I look, I see someone I know.” ¦


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