Which Way Is This Parade Going?

It’s Saturday, the big parade day for Fantasy Fest.  The street fair is wrapping up on Duval Street to get the world famous ‘drag’ cleared for tonight’s parade.  The weather has been really beautiful (sunny, clear, 80 degrees or so) and there will be a full moon tonight.

Here is video from the Masquerade March and Fantasy Fest yesterday as the “southern route” passed Chelsea House.  The March is a walking parade for anyone who wants to join in, either in costume or not. The parade starts at the Key West Cemetery and takes two different routes to Duval Street. Luckily, we have hotels on both routes! The southern route goes past Chelsea House and the northern one goes past the Merlin Guesthouse. At both hotels we set up a bar that serves our coveted rum punch.  This year we named our punch recipe our “fang banger”. We also had D.J.’s blasting tunes to get everyone dancing.

The Masquerade March is a free-style parade.  People just show up at the Key West cemetary around 5pm and start following the crowd in one direction or another..thats how you end up on the “southern route” or the “northern route” of the parade.  The groups are not always equal in size, so its a challenge for our teams at Chelsea and Merlin to anticipate how much punch to make….so we just make a lot!!!  We never have leftovers.  This year we made up about 55 gallons of rum punch.

Our Guests Go Out in Style!

We Got Soul!

Here's Denice Welcoming Guests to Key Lime Inn.

Our hotel guests generally start with our party, and then join the parade as it passes by and continues toward  Duval Street.  We had two great parties this year, one on Truman Avenue out front of Chelsea House,and one on Simonton Street, out front of Merlin Guesthouse.  We did something new this year, cooking up hotdogs at Chelsea House to hand out along with our punch,  so everyone had a little food to balance the booze.

The photos you are seeing and the video in this post are from the Chelsea House party. I was so busy shooting pictures on Truman, I didn’t make it to the Merlin party.  But, Abby (our Merlin manager) had a video camera there and shot these videos for our YouTube channel.  There are some great costumes!! I hope you enjoy them.  See you on Duval tonight!

Julie

Pink Pasties and Big Headdresses

The Crowd in Front of Chelsea House

Getting the Party Started with Fang Bangers and 'Dogs

Rum Punch in One Hand and ??? in the Other?

Watch the Masquerade March on Friday from the front garden at Chelsea House.

Wednesday, October 28  – Mid-way thru Fantasy Fest 2009

I can already tell you Fantasy Fest 2009 will be one of the best.  All the inns are full at this point for the remainder of the festival…more visitors are arriving in town each day.  The weather is fantastic.

Its great to see our guests rolling in with their latest costume creations in tow.  For those that packed light, there are many places to get a last minute costume (or not) or find some beads to throw around your neck.  Parties are happening every day all around Old Town.

The body paint shops have become one of the big attractions during Fantasy Fest, as many people choose to have their “costume” sprayed on, as opposed to, well, wearing a costume.  Key West has many talented artists that set up temporary “paint shops” for Fantesy Fest with air-brush guns and body paint.  Hanging out to watch these artists in action and to watch their subjects bare their canvas has become a popular activity during the festival.  For anyone that wants to do this I would recommend setting up an appointment with the artist.  The artists tend to be very busy.  They can paint subjects for 18 hours a day, if they have the stamina, during the last three days of FF.

The Masquerade March is coming up on Friday, and we are busy getting ready at Merlin Guesthouse and Chelsea House.  Both inns are on the parade route and are official stopovers.  We have DJ’s that will be playing tunes for the event, and Andy (our manager at Chelsea House) will be grilling hotdogs this year.  But, the main attraction at our Stopover Parties is our Rum Punch, which we will be serving to all who stop by.  We have named this year’s recipe our Fang Banger.  It’s all free, so stop by and have a drink with us.

I promise to take some pictures and videos on Friday during the Masquerade March.  I will post some here, so stop by later and check it out.

Julie

Last Minute Availability (As of October 14)

As of this writing we have only a few rooms left for this year’s Fantasy Fest. Call our Reservations Desk at 800-549-4430.

All Historic Key West Inns still have availability for the early event dates that start with Goombay Festival over the weekend of Oct 23 and 24. There are also great events on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Fantasy Fest week, when rooms are plentiful and rates are low.

One of our favorite events is the Headdress Ball on Tuesday night, Oct 27. It is a costume party of headgear only, but you won’t believe what some creative folks come up with. This party is hosted by the Key West Business Guild. The event is known for it’s talented performers, outlandish costumes, and a good dose of very gay entertainment. You can view the entire party schedule at the official Fantasy Fest website: www.FantasyFest.net.

All of the Historic Key West Inns are located within walking distance of the Fantasy Zone.  Come and have fun in our beautiful island paradise. See you then!

In today’s post we thought we would highlight two weddings of guests who stayed with us at Key Lime Inn and Lighthouse Court. Denice Suriner is our sales agent dedicated to helping with wedding arrangements at any of our hotels. You can contact her directly here: denicesurnier@historickeywestinns.com   On our weddings page you can get information on license requirements, florists  and  local caterers. We are always happy when guests choose us for their special day!

The first wedding we want to showcase is that of Lisa Grass and Robert Geoffrion who held both their ceremony and reception at our Lighthouse Court Hotel.

Lisa and Robert Geoffrion in front of Lighthouse Court

Here are their comments about their wedding experience with us:

Dear Andy and Julie:

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! It was a great idea to have our wedding at Lighthouse Court! Your staff was amazing! Every time I went in to see Andy with another; “I just thought of this” request, he always said, “yes, no problem!” He was terrific. Thanks to him, his quick thinking helped our party escape a torrential downpour which threatened to ruin our meal…hehehe…but alas, the show went on and I can truly say that we had the best time of our lives! All of our guests commented on how beautiful the property was and how great an atmosphere it provided. For one long weekend, people from all across the country (and the world for that matter), got to hang out and chill and enjoy one another like we all lived on the same block at home! It was fantastic and we will be back next July to celebrate our one year anniversary! Oh, by the way…if I can mention the really great folks who run the Eat-n-Grin restaurant on Truman…they were great! They made us breakfast for 11 people, to go, with no notice and even gave us a ride back to the court! We went back three times and some of our guests did too! They are a wonderful couple who run that place!

Cheers!
Robert and Lisa Geoffrion

Our second couple are Ricardo and Ingrid who stayed at Key Lime Inn.

Ricardo and Ingrid's Wedding

Here are their comments:

Thank you Denice:

This past weekend was the best we have ever experienced, and we owe much of that to you. Our guests LOVED the Key Lime Inn! I look back on the day Ingrid and I were searching for hotels and we are so glad we found you. You did everything you could to accommodate us and our guests including finding us last minute rooms, contacting the scooter company, giving us advice on planning, making sure our guests were taken care of…the list could go on and on.

We never knew how difficult it would be to plan a wedding, and we also realize how much more difficult it would have been if it weren’t for you and the staff at the Key Lime.

We want you to know from the bottom of our hearts that we will never forget how helpful you were and how thoughtful you were to us for the most important day of our life. Thank you so much for everything and we hope to see you again whenever we go down to Key West!

Sincerely,

Ricardo & Ingrid

Come relax in our Key Lime Inn pool

February and March are a beautiful time of year in our Key West paradise because the suns rays are just warm enough to help you forget about any freezing winds back home, the sky is crystal blue, and the temperature in our pools is just right for relaxation.  Even the island’s favorite cat resident, Aurora,  is romping around town having fun. You can see what she did last night here.  Key West Six-Toed Cat Cam.

We know that the economic news has not turned around yet so we have responded by lowering our rates to make your Spring vacation break or romantic Valentine’s Day dreams beautiful this year. So come snorkel, sail, parasail, or swim in the beautiful waters off Key West. The weather is perfect for tanning.

Here is our events calendar for the next two months:

Cuban Cultural Expolosion       February 1 – 7

An entire week packed with Cuban-inspired entertainment and educational opportunities, culminating with Hot Havana Nights on the 7th. For the first part of the week, there will be lectures by local and regional experts to learn about the flora, fauna, art, architecture, food, and of course the gardens of Cuba. Cuban movies will be shown in the tropical setting of the Botanical Garden throughout the week. Celebrate Cuba Week finishes with the hottest event of the year. Dance to the sounds of Havana Soul while enjoying mojitos, authentic Cuban food, original Cuban art, live auction and more. This HOT benefit always sells out so make your reservations early! VIP Seating: $125, General Admission $75.
Lectures: $8 members / $10 non-members. Movies: $6 members/$8 non-members. Dates and lecture times TBA. For further info contact them at 305-296-1504 or go to their site http://www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org/.

Sculpture Key West          February 1 -April 18

Outdoor sculpture exhibition at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and West Martello Tower. Very cool, cutting edge sculptures made by artists from around the world. For more info visit their site http://www.sculpturekeywest.com or call 305-295-3800.

Valentine’s Day Weekend          February 13 – 15

Albury Court is the perfect place for a romantic Valentine’s Weekend

One of Cupid’s favorite places is Key West! Couples from all over the world have come to indulge in a romantic getaway at our hotels during Valentine’s weekend and right now our room rates are fantastic. If you want to create a surprise for him or her and have champagne, flowers or chocolates in the room or to make dinner reservations we will be happy to arrange that for you.  Nothing is more beautiful and memorable than a Valentine’s kiss on the beach during a Key West sunset.

Civil War Heritage Festival          February 13 – 15

Re-enactments, military parades, sea battles with schooner ships, and more await for this unique historical event. Other info can be found at 305-292-6850http://www.forttaylor.org/

5th Annual Key West Antiques Show and Sale           February 21 – 22

This is the only antiques show south of Miami! Over 30 dealers from around the US with a huge variety of antiques and collectables. Located at Fort East Martello. Benefits Key West Art & Historical Society.  For more info contact Gerri Sidoti 305-295-6616 ext 12  or their site http://www.kwahs.com/

“Bitch Slap” at the Waterfront Theatre February 25 – March 7

This play is a humorous look at why ultimate screen goddesses Joan Crawford (the Movie Star) and Bette Davis (the Actress) hated each other so much. The box office and further info can be found at http://www.waterfrontplayhouse.org/ or 305-294-5015

Spring Break in Key West          March 2 – 13

Scooters in Key West

The coolest place to be for Spring Break is in the hottest island paradise in the US! Key West has a laid back vibe that’s perfect for your break from all those lit and science classes.  The waters off our beaches are amazing for diving, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, wave running and swimming. Most breakers chill at either Smather’s or Higgs Beach during the day because they have the vendors that rent the jet-skis, catamarans, parasails and even the beach chairs and umbrellas. If you have time, you could take a trip to snorkel off the Dry Tortugas coral reef. Make sure you bring heavy-duty sunscreen because our sunlight is potent. Towards evening head off to to the local bars to soak in the nightlife. Afterwards come home to your hotel room for a rest before you start all over again in the morning.

Key West Fishing Tournament Kick-Off          March 13 – 15

Targeting multiple species, this annual challenge starts a season-long tournament that awards certificates for outstanding catches and prizes in a host of categories. Email the director for more information director@keywestfishingtournament.com or call 305-295-6601