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Top Keys
Cultural News

Count the Loch Ness Monster among the scores of "snowbirds" that winter in Key West to escape colder climates. A 12-foot by 12.5-foot sculptural replica of the iconic monster was recently installed in a local pond as part of Sculpture Key West, a critically acclaimed annual exhibition that runs through April 19. To learn more, click here.

Top Keys
Dive News

The Florida Keys offer a rich variety of diving and snorkeling experiences for everyone from novices to experts. Visitors can even find attractions and excursions that allow them to discover the Keys' underwater world without getting wet. Immerse yourself in the new and unique offerings for underwater aficionados by clicking here.

Top Keys
Fishing News

The Florida Keys might be called the Las Vegas strip of fishing. In Vegas, players take their chances against blackjack dealers and roulette wheels. In the Keys, anglers try their luck against bonefish, burly groupers and seven-foot-long blue marlin. Learn more about this jackpot for anglers by clicking here.

Upcoming Keys
Special Events:

Through March 2
in Islamorada

Tour the HGTV Florida Keys Dream Home
Tour the Florida Keys HGTV (Home and Garden Television) Dream Home daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tours begin at the Rain Barrel Artisan Village, mile marker 86.7. $20 per person tour fee benefits the Florida Keys Children's Shelter. Click here.

Through Feb. 9
in Key West

"Tuesdays with Morrie" at Waterfront Playhouse
The true story of how a sports writer reconnected with his aging mentor is to be presented at the playhouse at historic Mallory Square. Click here.

Feb. 5-March 8
in Key West

"Shel Shocked" at Red Barn Theatre
The theatre at 319 Duval St. is proud to bring back more of Shel Silverstein's short plays. Click here.

Feb. 8-10
in Key West

Civil War Heritage Festival
Colorful Civil War re-enactments and tours of Key West's historic Civil War-era Fort Zachary Taylor highlight the journey into the island's past. Call (305) 292-6850.

Feb. 8-10
in Islamorada

Islamorada Women's Sailfish Tournament
Women anglers are to challenge one of fishing's most famous tail-dancers to win trophies and prizes. Call (305) 852-9337 or e-mail fishnbully@ msn.com.

Feb. 9-10
in Marathon

14th Annual Pigeon Key Art Festival
Artists and craftspeople are to exhibit their works at Marathon Community Park, mile marker 49 on U.S. 1. The event includes food, music, and a children's corner to benefit the Pigeon Key Foundation that works to preserve the historic island along the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Call (305) 289-9555.

Feb. 9-10
in Islamorada

Sweethearts Arts & Crafts Festival
Unique Valentine's Day gifts are the hallmark of this festival set to take place at Holiday Isle Beach Resorts and Marina, mile marker 84 oceanside, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Click here.

Feb. 10
in Key West

Impromptu Concerts presents "La Boheme" -
A Night at the Opera
Seven vocalists from the Jacksonville Lyric Opera are to perform a concert version of the Puccini masterpiece at 8 p.m. at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, 5901 College Road, Stock Island. Click here.

Feb. 12
in Islamorada

A Night at the Opera Presents Puccini's
"La Boheme"
Seven outstanding vocalists are to perform this classic opera in concert style at 8 p.m. at the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center, mile marker 89, in a presentation by the South Florida Center for the Arts. Call (305) 304-9059.

Feb. 12
in Key West

Jacques Brel
"Love and War"
The staff of the Red Barn Theatre is to gather at Tropic Cinema to honor the passion, humor and magic of the immortal songwriter Jacques Brel by performing his songs and music. Click here.

Feb. 16
in Islamorada

"Yesterday," A Tribute to the Beatles
The powerful music and mannerisms of the Fab Four are to be recreated at 8 p.m. at the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center, mile marker 89. Click here.

Feb. 16
in Islamorada

Florida Keys Community Concert Band Presents
"Pops in the Park:
That's Entertainment"
The community band is scheduled to give a free outdoor performance at Founders Park, mile marker 87, at 4 p.m. Please bring blankets or lawn chairs. Click here.

Feb. 17
in Key West

Impromptu Concerts Presents Pianist Ji-Yong
The young pianist who has already won wide critical acclaim is to perform at St. Paul's Church, Duval and Eaton streets, at 4 p.m. Click here.

Feb. 19-20
in Islamorada

Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament
This popular Keys tournament typically draws more than 200 anglers. Click here.

Feb. 21-23
in Islamorada

The Backcountry Fly Championship
Anglers in this new fly-fishing tournament are to compete to catch the largest snook and redfish in a region of the Keys that is famous for them. Call (305) 664-2444.

Feb. 23-24
in Key West

Old Island Days
Art Festival
The 43rd annual juried fine art show is set on lower Whitehead Street in historic Old Town. Call (305) 294-1241.

Feb. 23-24
in Islamorada

Upper Keys Gigantic Nautical Flea Market
Hundreds of marine- and watersports-related vendors offer wares to thousands of buyers seeking deals on new and used boats, marine equipment, electronics, fishing tackle, dive gear, nautical arts and crafts and more. Click here.

Feb. 26
in Islamorada

Marcus Belgrave and the New Orleans Jazz Celebration
New Orleans and Dixieland jazz classics are to be performed at the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center, mile marker 89, at 8 p.m. Click here.

Feb. 27 - March 22
in Key West

"Reefer Madness: The Musical" at Waterfront Playhouse
The raucous musical comedy based on a 1936 film is to be presented at the playhouse at historic Mallory Square. Click here.

Feb. 29 - March 1
in Islamorada

Backbone Lures
"Fish 'Til You Lose It"
Anglers are to compete to catch the finned denizens of the shallows with one lure until they lose it. Call (305) 393-2156.

Feb. 29 - March 2
in Marathon

Capt. Leon Shell Memorial Billfish Tournament 10th Anniversary
Anglers are to pursue sailfish in honor of the late lure maker who made Key Colony Beach his home. The event raises funds for the local hospice in-home health care program. Call (305) 743-5305.

March 1
in Marathon

32nd Annual Marathon House & Garden Tour
Tour beautiful homes and extraordinary gardens in the Marathon area — all selected for their uniqueness and reflection of Keys living. Each home is adorned with floral arrangements created by members of the Marathon Garden Club. Call (305) 743-4971.

March 2
in Key West

Impromptu Concerts Presents the Camerata Bariloche String Orchestra
This 18-member Argentine ensemble, which has toured to international acclaim, is to perform at Tennessee Williams Theatre, 5901 College Road, Stock Island, at 8 p.m. Click here.

March 8
in Key West

46th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest
An Old Island Days tradition, this unique contest features novel sounds produced by contestants in several age categories as they attempt to make "music" on fluted conch shells. Click here.

March 8
in Islamorada

Pianist Stanislaw Drzewiecki
The remarkable young Polish pianist is to perform at 8 p.m. at the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center, mile marker 89. Click here.

March 14-15
in Key Largo

The Celtic Spring Celebration
All are invited to join in a St. Patrick's parade and activities at the Key Largo Civic Club, mile marker 100 oceanside. Click here.

March 14-16
in Key West

Key West Fishing Tournament Kick-off
Targeting multiple species, this annual challenge starts a season-long tournament that awards certificates for outstanding catches and prizes in a host of categories. Click here.

March 18 - April 12
in Key West

"Sylvia" at Red Barn Theatre
The famous play is to return to the theatre at 319 Duval St. with Marjorie Paul Shook as Sylvia. Click here.

March 26-28
in Islamorada

Islamorada All-Tackle Spring Bonefish Tournament
Anglers are to compete to catch the ghost of the flats in the legendary shallows surrounding Islamorada. Call (305) 852-1694.

March 29
in Islamorada

Florida Keys Community Concert Band Presents "Pops in the Park: Florida Heritage Concert"
The community band is scheduled to give a free outdoor performance at Founders Park, mile marker 87, at 4 p.m. Please bring blankets or lawn chairs. Click here.

Vol. 4, No. 4
February 2008
Photo by Bob Care/Florida Keys News Bureau
Here comes Peter Cottontail ... underwater.
Several scuba diving Easter bunnies hide eggs each year in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off the Upper Keys. One hunt, set for Sunday, March 23, is open to divers eager to discover where the bunny stashed the bounty. Real eggs and nontoxic colorings are used to prevent negative ecological impacts. Proceeds benefit Kids in Special Situations, a local charity. Call (305) 451-3020 for more details.
Unique Sights, Sounds, Seafood Set For March 15-16 Original Marathon Seafood Festival

By Nancy Lucas
Florida Keys News Bureau

Local Florida lobster tails, a seasonal delight in the Keys, are to be available at the seafood festival.
Whether fish are swimming underwater or sautéed on a plate, Marathon is the place to find the best catch on the East Coast. Seafood lovers can sample it at the 37th annual Original Marathon Seafood Festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, at Marathon Community Park, mile marker 49 oceanside.

Seafood caught in local waters, such as fresh snapper, sushi-quality tuna, succulent stone crab claws and juicy Florida lobster, is to be prepared by professional chefs in a variety of dishes well known to the Florida Keys.

Other specialties are to include Key lime pie and conch, pronounced "konk," which is traditionally served in chowder, salad and fritters.

Stone crab claws found in local waters are savored for their sweet and tender meat.
As well as tasting delicacies indigenous to the Florida Keys, festival attendees can listen to rollicking rhythms by live bands. Shopping also awaits, with more than 100 vendors offering wares from casual clothing to high-tech fishing gear.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $8 per adult. Children under 12 are to be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information, contact the Marathon Chamber of Commerce at (305) 743-5417 or (800) 262-7284.

GPS Tours Debut to Showcase Key West

By Carol Shaughnessy
Florida Keys News Bureau

Photo by Rob O'Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau
Go GPS Tours' Highlights of Key West excursion guides visitors past art galleries, favorite local hangouts and historic landmarks and museums such as the former home of Ernest Hemingway.
Visitors are using high-tech handheld global positioning system units to tour the low-key island of Key West following the January 2008 debut of Go GPS Tours' interactive audiovisual sightseeing experiences.

The innovative tours use video clips, contemporary and historic photographs, text and audio narration to present the island's popular attractions, hidden treasures, art and culture, flora and fauna, offbeat history and local color.

Visitors stroll at their own pace, carrying small user-friendly GPS Ranger units with splash-proof non-glare screens. Audiovisual informational segments are automatically triggered to play on the units as participants move from location to location (GPS coordinate to GPS coordinate).

Tours include Highlights of Key West, an overview of the historic Old Town district featuring popular landmarks, and the Old Town Waterfront Tour that features Mallory Square and the colorful Historic Seaport. Both guide visitors past notable museums, art galleries and favorite local hangouts.

"We present facts that you would learn if you were being walked around town by a local," said Go GPS Tours' Sue Cooper. "We want people to come away with a sense of really knowing Key West."

The tours are available in English, Spanish, German and French.

The price for the three-hour rental of a programmed GPS Ranger unit is $29 plus tax. Longer rentals can be arranged. To book a tour and arrange for delivery of a Ranger to any Key West accommodation, call (305) 293-8891 or e-mail info@goGPStours.com.

Winter Star Party Brings 600 Astronomers to Lower Keys

By Carol Shaughnessy
Florida Keys News Bureau

As many as 600 amateur astronomers from around the world are in the Florida Keys through Sunday, attracted by the chance for 180-degree viewing of the Southern Cross and other constellations during the 24th annual Winter Star Party.

Photo by Rob O'Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau
Harry Taylor of Atlanta captures astronomical images through his telescope on a laptop computer.
The sold-out Winter Star Party's primary draw for astronomers is the large number of southern constellations, comets, stars and other celestial objects that are visible from the Florida Keys — virtually the only place in the continental United States where they can be seen.

The gathering is hosted by Miami's Southern Cross Astronomical Society, one of the oldest amateur astronomical societies in the Western Hemisphere.

As well as stargazing nightly, participants can attend lectures and presentations by nationally recognized astronomers and guest speakers, purchase on-site vendors' products for amateur astronomy, participate in photo contests and workshops, compete for door prizes, take mirror-grinding lessons and exchange information with fellow astronomy aficionados. A popular "Kids Kamp" offers daily hands-on activities for children.

For more information and dates of the 2009 star party, click here.

Keys Resorts Rewarded for Going “Green”

By Josie Gulliksen
Florida Keys News Bureau

The number of properties going "green" throughout the Florida Keys continues to rise, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarding seven Keys hotels and guesthouses Green Lodging certifications.

Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution. As a reward for the designation, Florida is recommending Green Lodges to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities.

The first Keys properties to go green were Key West's Banyan Resort and the Gardens Hotel, lauded for purchasing products with recycled content and incorporating solar roof panels to heat their pools.

Certifications for Andrews Inn and Garden Cottages, Hyatt Key West, Southernmost Hotel Collection and Old Town Manor, all in Key West, and the Lower Keys' Deer Run Bed & Breakfast soon followed. Several other Keys properties are among more than 100 applicants in line to receive the Green Lodging certification.

To earn certification, properties are evaluated in categories including water and energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality, communication of green practices to guests and goals for continued improvements.

For more travel information on the Florida Keys:
www.fla-keys.com
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Florida Keys Tourist Development Council
1201 White Street, Key West FL 33040
1-800-FLA-KEYS
(800-352-5397)

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