Key West Florida Weekly

Tropical Heat is hot hot hot




Tropical Heat is back for its 15th year of lighting the island on fire. COURTESY PHOTO

Tropical Heat is back for its 15th year of lighting the island on fire. COURTESY PHOTO

August in Key West is hot. We know what you’re thinking: Key West isn’t special — August just about everywhere in the country is hot. Yes, Death Valley may be setting records for three-digit temps, but Key West’s humidity is positively brutal. We’re talking walking through molasses, stopping at every other bar just for water (an act so blasphemous you know we would never commit such a sin unless moved by duress of the most dire sort), keep your kids and pets inside for the love of all that is holy kind of blazing heat.

And as if the scorching temps weren’t enough to keep us nice and toasty, Tropical Heat is back for its 15th year of lighting the island on fire. Key West Tropical Heat, hosted by the Key West Business Guild, runs from Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 14-18, and promises five nights and four days chock full of gay male erotica. (Mom, you can stop reading here.)

Lest the prude amongst you run to cover your eyes and ears, the schedule does feature the occasional art show, trolley tour or nightclub act. And though the weekend is geared toward men, women are welcome to a handful of the events. As always, the Business Guild has mobilized its business members, gay-oriented or non-, to organize an astonishing number of events and activities. Allday programming will carry Tropical Heaters from mornings on the water to afternoon tours to happy hours and on until the wee hours of morning.

ISLAND HOUSE COURTESY PHOTO

ISLAND HOUSE COURTESY PHOTO

Aquatic highlights of this year’s daytime schedule include the all-male Blu Q Snorkel and Sandbar Cruise offered Friday and Saturday (bluqkeywest.com), as well as the Sandbar Sunday Excursion. Aboard the Blu Q , Key West’s only all gay sailing catamaran, participants will have the opportunity to snorkel, kayak, explore the reefs and explore and play like a true local. Those excursions are just the tip of the volcano (iceberg just doesn’t seem appropriate for an event called Tropical Heat, now does it?) — the full schedule is a dizzying runaway train of nonstop entertainment.

COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

Wednesday

Tropical Heat officially offi kicks offf on Wednesday night with The Official Tropicalpical Heat Kick-off Pool Party from 5 too 8 p.m., where else but at “the world’s best gay men’s resort,”rt,” Island House, at 1129129 Fleming St. (islandh ndt ousekeywest.com). They will be offering free shotsts and free appetizers z el outside at the clothing optional poolside bar and restaurant, as well as a 2-4-1 happy hour on everything. We also hear there will be naked pool boys, but you’ll have to attend to find outut if the rumors are true.

Thursday

For those looking to enjoy the noontime sun in as little (or no) clothing as possible on Thursday, Equator Resort, at 822 Duval St. (equatorresort.com), will host the Bare or Underwear Pool Party from noon to 4 p.m. A wide variety of drinks will be available for just $5. Towel off in time to head to Drunken Drag Brunch at Mangoes (700 Duval St., mangoeskeywest.com), where you can indulge in unlimited mimosas and a Cuban-style buffet from 2-4 p.m.

Make sure you get a solid nap in after all that sun exposure — Sidebar (504 Angela St., sidebarkeywest.com) is hosting a dance party at 9 p.m., after which you can head to Saloon One’s annual ForePLAY party, which begins at 10 p.m. at 801 Duval St. “in the REAR!” (801bourbon.com/1saloon.html).

We know all these late night events are super tempting (and who hasn’t said “I’ll just have one more…” and found themselves belting out showtunes at Bobby’s on the other side of midnight?), but don’t forget about maximizing your sunnier waking hours — there are a number of aquatic outfits available for you to sun those buns every day from Thursday until the end of your Tropical Heat weekend.

Friday

Friday’s daytime feature is a noon SPLASH! Pool Party at Bourbon Street Pub (724 Duval St., bourbonstpub.com), followed by the Big Game Party, benefiting AH Monroe. Dress in your favorite hot sports gear to win prizes for Best Bat (best bulge in sports gear), Best Back Field (best butt in jocks provided byy Skull & Bones)) and MVP (best sports gear).g The Big Game Party runs from

7-10 p.m. at

Alexander’s

GuestG House

(1118 Fleming

St.,S alexanderskeywest. sk com).

Nightfall meansme it’s time for a show — in this case, the Aquanette’s “RealityRe is a Drag” revuerevu at both 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. at AAqua Nightclub club (711 Duval St., aquakeywest.aquak com). For something a little more risqué, hit SaloonS One’s

“Heat SStroke” Fetish Party fromfr 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. “Unleash your fetish,” the ads advise. The event calls for fetish attire or clothing optional with clothes check provided.

Saturday

Saturday is always party time, but this year it looks as if the folks over at the Business Guild have gone that extra mile. After a morning of play on the water, there are some choices to be made. Check out the Tropical Heat Skinny Dip Party at noon at the Island House — an “EPIC” all-male pool party for men who like to play. And no Tropical Heat weekend would be complete without the annual Tropical Heat Toga Party at the Equator Resort from 7-10 p.m.

As night falls, there’s the famous 801 Girls Show upstairs in the cabaret at the 801 Bar, logically located at 801 Duval St. Show times are at 9 and 11 p.m. (801bourbon.com). Finally, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., plan to attend “The Main Event of Tropical Heat” — “The Big ‘O’ Exhibition” back at the Bourbon Street Pub. There will be a foam party, play areas, exotic dancers, special guest porn stars and live exhibition shows.

Sunday

For all who survive until Sunday and want to do anything more than lay around basking in the weekend’s glow, there’s another full day ahead, beginning with watersports in the morning for the early-risers among you, and proceeding to a special Blu Q “Sandbar Sunday Excursion” at 11 a.m. (bluqkeywest.com). Meanwhile, Island House will be hosting a “Hot Naked Sunday Pool Party from noon to 4 p.m. with $5 Stoli cocktails, while at 4 p.m. the music begins for Key West’s Traditional Tea Dance at La Te Da (1125 Duval St., lateda.com).

At the end of the long weekend, bask in “The Afterglow” back at Saloon One beginning at 10 p.m.

You can get a VIP Pass for $99 either online at www.tropicalheatkw.com or at the Kick-Off Party Wednesday evening. At press time, a limited number of tickets were available for individual events. For additional details visit tropicalheatkw.com or phone the Guild at 305-294-4603.

History

Before the Florida Weekly Key West Edition was even a twinkle in the local journalistic arena, Tropical Heat weekend started out including both men and women, but with Womenfest occurring only a few weeks later, Tropical Heat transitioned to an allmale event. Still, there are events, such as the drag shows, where women are welcome.

Whether you’re here for a little history or just the “heat,” Tropical Heat promises to be a steamy weekend no matter what the thermostat reads. ¦

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