Key West Photoblog » Events

Key West Boat Show

Caty — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:40:14 +0000

The Key West Boat Show and Nautical Market was, well let’s put it in nice terms… a sign of the times.ï¿½ If you go to a boat show, you want to see awesome boats you dream about.ï¿½ You want to be impressed, you want to see incredible examples of what money can buy.ï¿½ You don’t want to see Sea Chasers.

This year’s Key West Boat Show offered attendees the chance to see boats up close which didn’t really inspire much.ï¿½ Not very inspirational at all, actually.ï¿½ There were maybe a dozen boats, many of which were a brand (Sea Chaser) known for its strength in the budget category.ï¿½ These were not dream boats, for the most part.ï¿½ There was a nice Sea Cat outfitted with lots of fishing boxes, a huge live well, and millions of compartments for gear, etc, but pretty much the 2010 Key West Boat Show was a bust.

This is a Used Boat for Sale

As for the vendors, don’t even bother.ï¿½ Want a polyester T-shirt?ï¿½ How about a bronze mermaid windmill?ï¿½ Or some jewelry?ï¿½ There was some no-name dive gear on sale, and a book tent with 50% off books.ï¿½ But wow, what a bust.ï¿½ I guess nobody’s buying expensive boats these days, so it makes more sense to have Sea Chasers and used boats for sale on the lot, like the one in this picture.

Key West Civil War Heritage Days

Caty — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:47:17 +0000

One of the interesting things about Key West is the situation in which the city found itself during the Civil War.ï¿½ï¿½ Fort Zachary Taylor, which wasn’t even complete when the Civil War broke out, was a Federal fort of course.ï¿½ But Florida is in the south, so you have mini versions of North vs. South in some southern states.

This occurred in most Federal forts of the south where Federal soldiers tried to hold their ground, but South Carolina and Fort Sumpter get all the attention.ï¿½ The standoff that happened at Fort Sumpter and the ensuing fame (or infamy) could just have easily taken place at Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West, had Florida been governed by a firebrand secessionist like the Governor of South Carolina at the time.ï¿½ Fort Taylor remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War, by the way.

Key West has a lot of silly events designed to attract and entertain tourists who don’t know any better.ï¿½ But the Key West Civil War Heritage Days celebrate real events in our city’s history.ï¿½ That makes this event one of the coolest celebrations of the year.ï¿½ However, this year the best part of the weekend was canceled because of the crummy weather.ï¿½ The schooner battle was scrapped – how disappointing.

These were some participants at the Key West Boat Show, also disappointed with the cancellation of the schooner war.ï¿½ As you can see from their costumes, they are re-enacters.ï¿½ I love the Coach bag addition to the outfit on the woman.

Yacht Races

Caty — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:54:29 +0000

Winter in Key West beckons yachts and sailboats for several races throughout the season. These boats are racing around orange boueys between Key West harbor and Sand Key, close in. The event isn’t really talked about much among locals, and the contestants are from all over the world, so not much to say about this except that they looked real pretty, like a painting.

Fantasy Fest 2009 Friday & Saturday Night

Caty — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:31:51 +0000

Friday & Saturday Nights and Fantasy Fest 2009 is really rockin’ out there. All kinds of creative costumes in the street, everyone’s having a great time. The American Gladiators were some of my favorites…it looks like some body builders really chose the right costumes. I love Fantasy Fest!

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Pet Masquerade 2009 Video

Caty — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

The 2009 Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade was at Casa Marina, the best spot in the world for such an event. The setting sun, the beachside stage, the droopy palm trees over comfy lounge chairs, what an improvement over two years ago, at the Westin near Mallory Square.

As always, the Pet Masquerade brings out some of best creativity of Fantasy Fest, and more locals of course. The Fantasy Fest theme: “Vixens, Villains, and Vampires” inspired a Cruella D’Evil costume, complete with cigarrette filter and feather boa. Great Costume!

The “Skunkadoodles” were great, too. Then there was “Shi*head”, a dog whose everyday pet stroller had been converted into a toilet bowl. We could only find one cat, the jailbird cat at 1:52.

Enjoy our best of the Pet Masquerade video:

Fantasy Fest 2009 Thursday Night

Caty — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:18:20 +0000

This was my third Fantasy Fest and I’m already starting to recognize people. I guess they love it as much as I do. My favorite costumes always seem to involve headdresses…take a look at these! There’s also a picture of the street performer, I don’t know his name, but he’s here in Key West at Mallory Square and on Duval Street even when Fantasy Fest isn’t happening. Someone told me he’s from NYC, where he also used to perform. His act is great- he does a flip through a hoop that’s held high above a girl’s back.

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Fantasy Fest 2009 Red Party

Caty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:02:41 +0000

Red costumes are so much fun… here are photos taken in front of Fogarty’s, where the Red Party was held on Wednesday night during Fantasy Fest 2009. My vote for best Red costume is Li’l Orphan Annie. Best Overall Costume of Fantasy Fest 2009 is also pictured here. He was all decked out as the Devil, awesome makeup job, like movie-quality professionally done.

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Pet Masquerade 2009 Pictures

Caty — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:38:19 +0000

Before the show, pet owners and their dressed up animals milled around the beautiful beachy grounds of the Casa Marina. All pets were well behaved and relaxed, and none seemed to mind wearing a costume.

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Bike Week 2009

Caty — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:46:35 +0000

AKA Peterson’s Poker Run, one of my favorite events in Key West. The rumblings actually started Thursday afternoon as some early birds rolled into town on their Harleys. A motorcade of motorcycles thundered up Duval, fresh from a wedding. The bride rode behind the groom, veil flowing straight out behind her.

There seemed to be fewer bikes this year, and not as many in the $100,000 range. In a tough economy, art bikes are the first to go I guess. Nevertheless, there were some beautiful specimens this year.

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Bikers

Caty — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:11:18 +0000