Key West Pride 2021

Island House (men's only resort/hotel) opens their doors to women just one day a year, and for like just 4 hours, every year during Pride.  So of course I have to go lol.  Here is my post from the 2019 event.  None in 2020 of course due to stupid covid.

I arrived early and bumped into my work colleague Paul.  Soon after that Isabelle arrived too.  Good eats (nice hor doeuvres) and good drink (sponsored by Stoli, yay!).  It was a really fun night.  And then we were booted out at 9pm (one hour past the close of the event) and the resort reverted back to their men's only little private club.  Thanks for the hospitality, see you next year Island House!

 

Pool party, woohoo!

She is tipsy

She is a mermaid

Pigsy in Key West

Happy Pride month! 
I am delighted to present "Duval Flag" by Irish artist Pigsy. “Duval Flag”  (410mm W x 920mm H)  (16” Wide x  36”) Mixed Media On Canvas Key West Business Guild are selling raffle tickets for a chance to win this piece "Duval Flag" which Pigsy painted on a recent trip to KW. It includes the famous sea to sea rainbow flag flying high and is painted in his usual expressionist style. It is an uplifting joyful piece that highlights the Key West motto of One Human Family. It will be on view during the week in the Key West Business Guild. Tickets are available, plus the painting is on display: *In the Business Guild, 808 Duval Street right now! *At the Business Guild luncheon on Wednesday at the Marriott Beachside*At the street fair on Saturday

Pigsy's curator Kemp has this to say about "Duval Flag":

"While PIGSY was vacationing in Key West the overall vibe of the islands ethos of “One Human Family” compelled him to compulsively start painting. The result is an inspired flow of expressionism which helped him to subconsciously recall the sea to sea rainbow flag which was 1.25 miles long and ran along Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean created by the designer Gilbert Baker (happy image on the bike exploring his creation) who passed away in 2017. The island created a sense of creative happiness which manifested itself in the positive message that,  all people are created equal.

The painting reflects the joyous pride that one can feel when prejudice and judgement of other people’s decisions are discarded and a free positive happy all for one, one for all approach to everyday life is embraced in a fair inclusive way, as it is with Key West which has embraced the motto “One Human Family”. The butterflies , flowers and smile on Gilbert’s Face show happiness and freedom along with pride and gives us a sense that the world is a brighter place with rainbows in it, along with an acceptance of diversity".

By Kemp

Could I beEEE any busier?

Where to start!

I've had the most maddest couple of days on the social front over the last few days.  This is not normal I must say!  And I probably won't be out for the next month.  It just happened that a lot of things came up together on this one weekend.

Starting with:
Thursday
Thursday morning I had a couple of appointments and some stuff to attend to.  That afternoon I met Enid for lunch and we went to Beeftro on Balfe Street.

I cannot recommend the food enough, the steak was incredible, one of the best steaks I've had in Dublin for a while now.  We were in between Lunch and Dinner so the restaurant didn't have many people in but it is so nicely decorated/great setting that there still was a good atmosphere.  And I always enjoy my time with Enid so we don't necessarily need a big buzzy atmosphere anyway.

We pottered into the Stephen's Green SC as I wanted to look at something in a shop, and from there we then headed to Farrier & Draper on South William Street. F&D is within the old Powerscourt Townhouse, now the Powerscourt (shopping) centre, and takes its name from two age old trades that were practiced within the walls of Powerscourt: the farriers who shod the horses of the aristocracy and drapers who operated in the building (for over 140 years! From the middle of the 19th century right up until the 1970s).



We neither got our horses shod or bought new clothes and instead drank espresso martinis.  And more nice chats.

And then! We moved to The Dean Hotel for a Whiskey Tasting with Powers, hosted by Powers and the Irish Times. 



Well this was just wonderful.  I learnt so much and have a much better appreciation for whiskey now - it's not a drink that would be my preference ordinarily.  We were doing live tweeting during the event so if you want to find out more search #PowersWhiskeyWisdom

Friday
Friday evening Enid and cousin Kasey called over for some nibbles and drinks.  Which Enid did everything! I mean everything! She brought over all the food (crab claws mmm, and other stuff) and the wine.  It was all lovely and we had a great night of chatting.



Saturday (1)
Up early and headed to The Odeon on Harcourt Street to meet members of my company's Diversity & Inclusivity Group to help set up and run our pre-Pride Parade event.



Here's our merry gang of volunteers slash party planners. Great venue, great people, great atmosphere and it all worked out for a smashing morning for all!

Saturday (2)
We then headed down to St Stephens Green to assemble for the parade. 



It was a long time standing round but the sun was shining bright and hot, and the atmosphere was super.  And off we set!  There was a new route this year and I was not bowled over with it (I like our parades to go down O'Connell Street) but I did think the ending place for the main Pride party of Smithfield worked well.



A few of us ended up in Delaneys on South King Street for a debrief, relax and few drinks.

Saturday (3)
I left Smithfield around 5.30pm and set off walking home but realised quickly that I was quite far away from my place so I jumped in a taxi.  I needed to be home asap in order to get ready for Jackie and Gillian calling around.  I had intended doing some cocktails but I was just too tired after the long day of Pride. 

So I just did some quick nibbles, and chips and dip, and we drank Proseccco - actually after such a long day I only had a small drop of Proscecco and instead had two cans of Coke Zero which seemed to re-energise me so that was good!

Saturday (4)
Nolita on George's Street was venue number one where we met up with Kamilla and all her friends.



Kamilla is heading back to Poland :-( after eight years in Ireland.
Nolita was good - busy, and good music.  I must say though I thought it would be more jammers considering it was Pride and we were on George's street (which would be a gay district in Dublin) but maybe all Pride attendees were up on Capel Street at Pantibar??

Sunday (1)
At around 12.30 we headed around to Lillies.



I guess we were a little early so it was quiet enough...but there was some good music playing.  However the long day had taken its toll on me and I left at about half one.

Today
This morning I am due to meet Enid and Alice for food and chats.  I love our catchups...
Then I need to go to Lidl to get my food shopping for the week - I need to get back to good eating, plus I have schedule planned to get back into my spin classes this week also.
Then later today Enid and I will meet two of our friends from Key West who are touring Europe - France, UK & Ireland.

Phew! That's a lot.  As I said that is probably me done for a month now.

Stuff & Other Stories

 I went to a calligraphy class!

I used to do (self taught) calligraphy about 20 years ago but it was a very strict and rigid Gothic style which I guess is a little old fashioned and definitely out of fashion now.  So I would like to try something different and develop a more modern freer style of writing.

I seemed to have the most ink on my hands out of all the students "yeah you might just be messy" said Sarah our lovely teacher. "Like me" she added - to make me feel better I think lol!

Here I am concentrating intently

Oh my gosh check this out!!!! My own fairy door for a fairy to come live with me! 

A wonderful friend gave me this lovely gift!

Hmm. 

Although I do worry that I have ended up with a bold fairy.  This lad rocked up at the door on only the second night, the bowsie. 

The door is positioned below my bar.  I am wondering do I need to lock up the vodka.

Watch this space! 

This photo cracks me up!

The big sulky head on me at the Ireland v Austria World Cup Qualifier. 

I swear I actually was having a brilliant time and really enjoyed it all. EVEN when it started raining.

It's Pride week and my company is running some great Diversity & Inclusion events to celebrate.  It's culminating in the Pride parade where we/the company will #represent and march for the first time.  I've volunteered to marshal on the day for us and am very much looking forward to it.  This will be my fifth year taking part and last year I remember seeing Paypal and other companies and thinking why on earth we weren't marching.  Other years I have gone with my bike group, my roller derby gals and my wonderful Yes Equality canvass group, but this year will be a new and different experience for me taking part in a "corporate" group. We have a great day planned - meeting preparade for some facepainting and food :-)

I met Enid for a decaf coffee after work yesterday.  Oh I was so bold! On the bike on my way to meet her I passed Off Beat donuts.  And I don't know what got into me!  But I stopped the bike and bought us three for us to share.  My God they were luscious but I felt fierce guilty afterwards.  Particularly as I haven't been to the gym/spinning for a week or so now.  I really need to get back to that!