Key West update

Things I am dreaming about lately:

The Saint Hotel's Spicy Margarita and their Truffle Fries

I met with Isabelle, Emily and Isabelle's mom Kristin for happy hour in The Saint. The cocktails were amazing and the food was too!  (Truffle friiiiiiiiiiiiiies mmmm)

Kristin, an ex model with the most fabulous skin ever I must say, works for this skincare line and she kindly gifted me some samples.  So far, I am very impressed. If my skin continues feeling and looking as good as it does right now, I think I will be buying some of this.

Hollywood comes to Key West!

Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson and Judy Blume were all in town for the premiere of Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.  How exciting for our little small town, and how exciting just in general!  I am so very much looking forward to seeing this film when it is on public release.

Little catch up with photos

Lovely Saturday light dinner/quick happy hour in Half Shell Raw Bar.  You simply can't beat Half Shell for their tasty appetizers, good value hh drinks and that water front ambiance.

We got out on the boat twice this weekend.   Checked the crab traps and harvested 4 medium size claws.  The season is slowing down...as it always does around this time of the year.  Feels like we might only have two more rounds of crab traps left.  On Sunday morning we went fishing and Patrick caught this beauty of a Spanish Mackerel.  I caught a nice size porgy.  And that was that.  It was a fun morning out all the same - our neighbours pulled up beside us in their boat and fished alongside which was a bit of craic!  Patrick was working hard all afternoon then, so I am glad we got up and out so early (8am - 7am old time - daylight savings kicked in etc etc!)

The cat is still a little molly.  Seriously.  Have you ever seen anything like this??!!!

The Saint is getting ready for St Patrick's Day! I ordered this big backdrop for people to take photos/selfies in front of and it arrived much bigger than I remembered ordering 🤣🤣

 

Flying visit!

About two or three months ago, Alice told me that she would be (relatively) near me in Anna Maria Island/Bradenton and hoped we could meet.  We immediately made arrangements that she would fly down on a Sunday morning during her holiday and back on Tuesday morning.  

The plot thickens when with literally about 24 hours to go before seeing Alice, I suggested to Enid, that she look at flights and "just come".  Well, we knew she was in trouble when she saw the price of flights, there were amaaazing, no getting out of it now!

So Enid came over.  That's pretty much it tbh.  Can't polish it up more than that. Lol.  And we went to the airport to pick up Alice - dressed in the same clothes, Enid standing with Patrick and me hiding (badly) behind a pillar.  And all of us laughing hysterically.  I won't go into details but our little airport prank, while funny, failed miserably!

We packed a ton of activities in over the day and a half/two days.  Went out on the boat to check the crab traps, ate stone crab, drank prosecco while chatting in the pool, key lime pie, beach time, cocktails and lovely food.  We did it all!  And while it was too short of a time before Alice went back to her AM island we were delighted with how much we did and the time spent together.

And that left Enid and I.  What a lovely time we had.  I was going to take some time off work but in the end I just left Enid to her own devices during the day and we got together in the evening.  She went fishing one day and caught a TON which we cooked in the house one evening.  We went to Martin's for wine and tapas which was just great.  And of course Half Shell Raw Bar and Alonzos.  And during the day she did lovely things like museums and the beach.

Oh! We also met every morning before my work for a coffee and chat in Cuban Coffee Queen.  Was so nice!

The time came around too quick too for her leaving too.  But wow.  What a great time spent here.

A few small photos which capture things nicely.

Sunday Funday

It's hard to think that I could squeeze any more "stuff" into yesterday. Actually, there is no think about it, I know I could not have done more.

First up!

I went to The Custom House Museum to see their latest exhibition "The Literary History of Key West".  It was excellent.  

I counted over 40 writers featured - and the curator notes there are many more but space did not allow for them.  It is amazing really, for a little small island with, let's face it, a bit of a party reputation, it has massive literary influence, culture and history.  I honestly cannot fathom a place where so many recipients of the Pulitzer prize, Tony Awards,  Nobel prize for Literature and Poet Laureates reside, or have resided. So cool.  

Have I mentioned lately that I love this little island?

From there, I cycled up Duval and Truman, stopping off at the little Tennessee Williams Museum.  

It is small but packs a mighty punch, packed to the gills with information, photos and paraphernalia from his time on the island. I love this exhibit for the personal insight you get. Aside from the obvious, that Tennessee Williams was incredibly talented he also was just a good guy (the care - emotionally and financially - and the bond he shared with his sister Rose who had special needs) and a fun guy (Key West suited him, and he suited Key West!)

Me personally:

I adore Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  The book of course, but whoa, that film! Not just for Paul Newman (no seriously, I mean it), my God Elizabeth Taylor is just wonderful as Maggie/Cat. The storyline, the writing, the themes.  It is a brilliant piece.

Did you know I live on a street with not one, but two Tennessee Williams connections?

His house where he lived is on this exact street.  Plus right beside it is the house where The Rose Tattoo was filmed - he wrote it here, it was filmed here, and it premiered her in the San Carlos Institute.

How about that for history! 

Have I mentioned lately that I love this little island?

The day continues!

I met Marta in Halo to watch the Boat Race Parade.  These boats are like nothing I have ever seen - like they were conceived and built on the set of a futuristic movie, think Blade Runner or Minority Report.  We had fun!

Also there was Dawn and her gal pals so when Marta left I hung with them.  We strolled down to General Horseplay where we met up with others.  Another fun time!

But wait! 

There is more! At 6pm I went to Half  Shell Raw Bar and had the usual WONDERFUL dinner of garlic steamed clams, buffalo shrimp, fish dip and sesame crackers.  Deeeeeeeeeeevine.

Phew! What a great day.

Adventure begins at The Saint!

We had a lot of fun filming and showing off all that is great about The Saint Hotel, Key West!
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The Saint - On the Town!  Fun in the sun in Paradise
https://vimeo.com/348436364
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The Saint - Pool Party! Check me representing Oirland in the green bikini lol
https://vimeo.com/348885588
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The Saint - Exactly like Nothing Else!  That's my twin and I making an appearance halfway through :)
https://vimeo.com/356022706

Pretty perfect day it has to be said...

Yesterday was a pretty good day/evening...

It started when Patrick met me after my work and we split a burger (because we're wild) and had a glass of wine (me) and a beer (him) in The Saint.  The Saint make unbelievable burgers.  I will literally never barbecue burgers at home when you can get an incredible one for just $10 at Happy Hour (4.17pm - 7.14pm every day)

From there we moved to my favourite neighbourhood dive bar Mary Ellen's 

Where we split (because we're wild) an amazing toasted cheese sandwich (3 cheeses, texas toast)

Then! Later that night I met up with Marta (from work) at a comedy club where we supported Paul (also from my work) - he was taking part in a charity Blind Date comedy type of thing.  It, and all the other comedy acts were utterly hilarious.  I am embarrassed to say this was my first time a comedy club...but it will not be my last!

Eating and Drinking

May (and the start of June) has involved a lot of eating.  I fell behind in my blogging, only 9 posts in May :( so this is going to have to be a bit of a list slash catch up on what I've been putting in mah bellah over the last while.

*French Toast in The Saint Hotel, Tempt Restaurant.  Delish!

*I spent a fabulous evening sharing tapas with Enid and Ciaran in Santiago's Bodega.  Amongst other things I ate: Cajun Shrimp bisque, lamb meatballs, shrimp & chorizo skewers, filet mignon, prosciutto and cheese wrapped dates.  Incredible flavours.  I recommend!

*I was treated to a lovely surprise of a Date Night out in Little Pearl restaurant.  Fab wine and amazing food - escargot ensconsed in puff pastry with garlic butter, whipped almond butter and bread, oysters, shrimp and grits, and seafood pie (lobster, crab and shrimp).  'Twas beautiful food.  And the wine and company weren't too bad either (read, they were both great!)

*Pork tacos at home, cooked on the grill.  Have I ever mentioned I am obsessed with pork.  It's pretty much my favourite meat, end of.

*Steak and shrimp cooked at home on the grill.  Always good

*Martin's - tasty martini's and a spectacular smorgasbord of pork schnitzel, crabcakes, baked brie, and escargot in their shells

Not pictured:

*Sarabeth's for their amazing Sunday night fried chicken.  Massive thumbs up

*Brunch at Bistro 245 in the Margaritaville resort. Fab. As always.

*I made lunch at home today: Smoked salmon and silky smooth scrambled eggs. Scrumdiddlyumptious

*Half Shell Raw bar for oysters, buffalo shrimp and fish dip.  This has to be one of my most favourite happy hours on the island