The last couple weeks have kept me busy and on the go. I met a lot of Key West fans at the recent Gay Travel Expo in Chicago, and returning home to the island I met fun-loving people on the American Eagle flight from Miami. 

This engaging panorama by local artist Rick Worth graces the exterior of Key West International Airport.

American now has jet service to Key West (a quick 22-minute flight from Miami!) and the view is spectacular. After landing at Key West International Airport, you enter an arrivals lounge that is under renovation and expansion. Soon we’ll have two baggage carousels, newly remodeled restrooms and relocated automotive rental counters. 

FYI, you’ll find the major car rental companies here — but once you’re in Old Town Key West, you really don’t need a car. Walking and bicycles are the preferred means of traversing our two-mile by four-mile island. You’ll find pedicabs and taxis all over Old Town if the walk seems too far.

Plans are underway for Key West Pride, set for June 5-9, where we celebrate our lifestyle here on the island. Festivities begin with the Key West Business Guild’s open-house mixer at the Island House. Starting at 5 p.m. the boys of Island House will serve cocktails and champagne while passing gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Mingle with our local characters and learn why we chose to live at the “end of the road,” closer to Cuba than Miami.

Key West Pride includes a film festival at the Tropic Cinema featuring a new documentary about Divine, who made Key West her home. We crown a Miss Pride, Ms. Pride, and Mr. Pride during three nights of pageants. In addition the Kinsey Sicks, dubbed “a Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet,” bring their music and humor to the stage for three performances at the Waterfront Playhouse. 

Gilbert Baker savors the moment as his 1.25-mile rainbow flag is unfurled down Key West's Duval Street. (Photo by Mike Hollar, Florida Keys News Bureau)

During Pride week you can enjoy pool parties, disco dance parties, late-night soirees, and moonlight sailing excursions.

Our highlight Pride parade features Gilbert Baker, creator of the original rainbow flag, as the grand marshall. Three sections of the 1.25-mile sea-to-sea rainbow flag, which was created by Baker and unfurled down the entire length of Key West’s Duval Street in 2003, will be carried in the parade. 

Spending time on the water during Pride brings so many choices for visitors. I like to join LGBT friends on Venus Charters for a dolphin-watching adventure, or join the guys snorkeling and kayaking on the Blu Q.

Venus Charters’ Captain Karen has been entertaining gay women and men for years, showing them how to fish and snorkel and sharing the excitement of discovering pods of our native dolphin (not to be confused with the dolphin fish served in local eateries). Captain Steve of the famed Blu Q takes a day on the water to another level: join him and his crew for a clothing-optional snorkeling excursion along with a romantic picnic on a remote island.

A group of friends prepares to embark on a Blu Q cruise in Key West waters. (Photo courtesy of Blu Q)

Watching the sun set each day at Mallory Square is a unique experience (a tradition that, legend has it, was started more than 30 years ago by a gay trolley driver with a pitcher of martinis). Today the nightly sunset celebration features locally-made arts and crafts as well as exuberant performers and buskers.

Other sunset options include a relaxed sailing excursion, complete with fine imported wines and hors d’oeuvres, on Danger Charters’ Wind and Wine Sunset Sail. Other times you’ll find me with a group of friends on the Fury’s Commotion on the Ocean sunset adventure with live music and margaritas.

Join us here for Key West Pride, and I guarantee you’ll make new friends and take home countless stories and memories to share. See you June 5!

Topics: Events, Festivals, Key West, LGBT, On the Water

Recently I attended the 30th anniversary convention of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Founded in Key West and located there for more than 15 years, the association began as the International Gay Travel Association.

Blog author Steve Smith shares the Keys' all-welcome attitude at IGLTA as well as on the island.

Many of the founders of the IGTA also were founders of the 35-year-old Key West Business Guild. Founders included travel agents, guesthouse owners, tour operators, and a gay advertising agency called Impressions Unlimited.

I became involved with the IGTA in 1992, representing the Key West Business Guild.  I served many years on its board of directors representing the Florida Keys and held offices including treasurer, president, past president and board member at large.

Soon the organization recognized the need to include women in its name and it became the IGLTA. The membership has grown to include more than 2,000 members globally. During my tenure an ambassador program was created and we now have ambassadors from places such as Brazil and Argentina to India, Israel, Japan, and South Korea.

These relationships have guided the tourism world to respect and welcome gay travelers — just as Key West began doing in the 1970s. I believe our hospitality has rubbed off on communities across the globe.

Teams race decorated beds on Duval Street during the annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration. (Photo by Rob O'Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau)

Speaking of Key West, May ushers in our summer season. When I first began marketing the Florida Keys, summers were very quiet. We locals celebrated the end of tourist season with a “survivors” party, where we kicked up our heels and raised funds for AIDS Help, Inc., our community- based AIDS service organization.

On May 27, we will stage the 35th or 36th annual party (depending on who you ask) and today it’s held on South Beach at the end of Duval Street. Entertainment is continuous throughout the evening, with food galore and a massive silent auction. The event now raise funds for the Sister Season Fund, a local non-profit that provides temporary financial assistance to hospitality industry workers having health or employment difficulties.

On another note, we just completed our 31st annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration with highlights like an exuberant sea battle. The festivities continue, however, with the Key West Fringe Theater’s rendition of “Conch Republic, The Musical,” based on a script by island resident Monnie King and starring a cast of local talent.

The Fringe Theater is known for its ability to create a stage at places such as upstairs at Kelly’s on Whitehead Street (named for its former co-owner, actress Kelly McGillis) and at the historic Key West Firehouse Museum on Virginia Street.

More than 100 of America's leading songwriters perform in audience-friendly settings during the annual Key West Songwriter's Festival. (Photos courtesy of the Key West Songwriter's Festival)

In a current production, the Fringe takes on legendary Key West fire chief Bum Farto (google him and you’ll discover people really DID call him that) and his feud with the late Peggy Mills, owner of the lovely property that’s now The Gardens Hotel.

The Fringe’s companion production tells the story of Key West’s original diva of art and anti-development activist Marion Stevens. I had the pleasure of knowing Marion and enjoying many unique afternoons and evenings with her. This renowned lady left an endowment for promoting the arts on the island that she so loved.

The Fringe Theater will entertain you with its innovative performance style while recounting some of the wild — and true! — tales that continue to charm both locals and visitors.

Music lovers have a treat in store too: the 18th annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival runs May 1-5. Several dozen free shows feature approximately 150 top songwriters, performing at favorite watering holes and hotspots throughout Old Town and on the beach. And don’t miss Saturday evening’s Duval Street concert!

Topics: Arts, Events, Festivals, Key West, LGBT

For much of the United States, summer typically kicks off Memorial Day weekend with parties, cook-outs, bar events, and friends gathering to toast the end of winter and the advent of warm weather and lazy days.

Military re-enactors stage a sea battle between two historic tall ships in the waters off "Fort Elizabeth Taylor."

Here in Key West we do recognize Memorial Day, but we usher in our summer with the Conch Republic Independence Celebration.

In a previous blog, I mentioned that a 1982 U.S. Border Patrol roadblock at the head of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway — and the subsequent searching of all vehicles leaving the Keys — led to our secession from the United States and the formation of the Conch Republic. We mark the anniversary each year with our very own festival of independence. 

This Friday, April 19, we raise the “colors” and take over Fort Zachary Taylor, (which we refer to as Fort Elizabeth Taylor). The fort, by the way, is part of a beautiful state park that contains the locals’ favorite beach.

When you visit Fort Elizabeth Taylor, a small admission fee gives you access to the beach, the park and picnic grounds, and the historic Civil War fort. During the Civil War, Key West was a Union outpost and three forts were constructed here.  

Discover the tranquil waterfront oasis created by the Key West Garden Club on the grounds of historic Fort West Martello. (Photo courtesy of the Key West Garden Club)

One of them is Fort East Martello, now a museum operated by the Key West Art and Historical Society. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, East Martello houses the famous possessed doll, Robert. 

West Martello Tower, another pre-Civil War fort, today is the home of the Key West Garden Club.  It’s open daily, so you can stop by and tour the gardens. 

Several annual plant and orchid shows are held here. I stock up on my orchids, and bromeliads at great prices!

While they were never completed and never saw combat, the Martello Towers played a part in housing troops and signaling, and were lookout posts.

Getting back to our independence celebration, we gather for block parties, a battle in the harbor, the famous Drag Race on Saturday, April 20, and the Red Ribbon Bed Race on the following Saturday, April 27.  

For some added color, we throw in the annual Conch Cruiser Car Show, set for Sunday, April 21, at the Schooner Wharf Bar. This is not your typical classic automobile show, but a mix of creative autos, bikes, motorcycles, and vehicles with one to four wheels that make for unique photo opportunities.

Even NBC "Today" weatherman Al Roker (left) and anchor Matt Lauer are fans of the irreverent Conch Republic. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)

On Thursday, April 25, the so-called World’s Longest Parade steps off on Duval Street somewhere around 8 p.m. This exuberant promenade draws the Conch Republic’s militia and supporters — plus a potpourri of pirates, wenches, the Sons of Italy, and a sprinkling of our elected officials.

It’s easy to visit during the Conch Republic Independence Celebration. Flight, driving, and lodging information is available on the Florida Keys website; lodging information can also be found on the Key West Business Guild website.

If you can’t make the celebration, check the calendar for upcoming events in Key West and the Florida Keys. There’s always something fun happening on the islands that will sweep you away from reality and change your perspective on life. 

In fact, many of us here came for a visit and soon packed our stuff and relocated to the Conch Republic. Just ask people you meet; we all have great stories about how we ended up living on the continental United States’ southernmost — and most wonderful — island.

Topics: Events, Festivals, Highlights, Key West, LGBT, Local Color

For many years, April’s arrival signaled the end of a busy season in Key West — but that’s not the case any more! Now April is one of the most fun-filled months on the Florida Keys calendar, with lots of activities particularly in the southernmost city.

The beautiful Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden provides a lovely open-air setting for Hot Havana Nights. (Photo courtesy of the Key West Botanical Garden Society)

For example, Hot Havana Nights steams up the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden on Saturday, April 13. The garden was founded and developed by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration as a showplace for tourists during the Depression in the 1930s.

Later, it fell into neglect until 1972 when the Key West Garden Club took over its maintenance.

In 1988, the Key West Botanical Garden Society was formed and has since transformed the place into a renowned arboretum, botanical garden, educational center, and wildlife refuge.

Join in the garden’s Hot Havana Nights festivities celebrating the food, culture, and entertainment of Cuba, our island neighbor just 90 miles away. The evening kicks off in the waterfall courtyard with a catered dinner, open bar, and entertainment by Miguel Cruz & Tropical Dreams.

The majestic San Carlos is the site of the Key West Business Guild's anniversary gala. (Photo courtesy of the San Carlos Institute)

The party then moves lakeside with cocktails, a silent auction, and dancing under the stars to the music of Frank Diaz and the famous Cuban “orquesta” Havana Soul.

Less than a week later, on Friday, April 19, join the Key West Business Guild at its 35th anniversary celebration and awards presentation.

The gala takes place at the historic San Carlos Institute, founded in 1871 as an educational, civic, and patriotic center. At the San Carlos, Jose Marti (often referred to as the George Washington of Cuba) united the exile community in 1892 to fight for Cuba’s independence.

The guild itself was founded 35 years ago to promote the island domestically and internationally to the gay community.

In great part through the organization’s efforts, Key West has become known as the world’s premiere gay island destination and the home of the One Human Family philosophy.

In the Conch Republic, "drag racing" is not for the faint of heart -- or weak of ankle. (Photo by Rob O'Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau)

The guild continues to promote Key West with numerous events throughout the year and the publication of an acclaimed gay business directory and map. It also operates an LGBTA visitor center that’s open seven days a week.

The anniversary champagne celebration opens at 7 p.m. with a meet & greet and hors d’oeuvres in the San Carlos lobby. The party will move into the historic theater for a film highlighting the guild and the presentation of awards for the stewardship, cornerstone support, and visionary advancement of LGBT Key West.

What’s next on the island’s agenda? The 35th annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration, commemorating the tiny “country” whose mantra is ‘‘we seceded where others failed.”

Drag queens racing down Duval Street in the annual Great Conch Republic Drag Race help set the tone for the festival, which salutes Key West’s secession from the United States to protest a 1982 Border Patrol blockade on the only road leading in and out of the Florida Keys.

Chance are, you'll spot blog author Steve Smith throwing candy to spectators during the World's Longest Parade.

Other festivities including an exuberant sea battle featuring tall ships and the Red Ribbon Bed Race down our main street. This quirky challenge is billed as “the most fun you can have in bed with your clothes on” — though sometimes teams wear only minimal clothing.

This 10-day party also includes the World’s Longest Parade, traversing Duval Street from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Your blogger is often perched on the boot of a shiny ragtop throwing candy to the multitudes. I’ll look for you along the parade route!

Topics: Events, Festivals, Key West, LGBT, Local Color

March 20 marked the vernal equinox — the end of winter and the beginning of spring. That means Key West is in the midst of high season, with visitors escaping cold weather and students on their spring break.

This spring, and all year long, blog author Steve Smith welcomes visitors to Key West.

It doesn’t seem like spring if you look at the temperatures around the country (especially the northeast). We, however, are enjoying temperatures in the upper 70’s with lots of sunshine — perfect for bicycling around the island while our friends in the New England states unwillingly shovel snow.

While you’re pedaling through Old Town Key West, check out a couple of great stops for Cuban coffee, toast and sandwiches.

5 Brothers Grocery and Sandwich Shop, on the corner of Southard and Grinnell streets, has been a locals’ favorite for 26 years. It was there that I had my first Key West “Cuban Mix” sandwich some 25 years ago. Pressed flat Cuban bread layered with ham, fresh cooked pork roast, salami, cheese and pickles makes for an explosion of flavors. Often I grab a sandwich and coffee and sit on the bench outside the shop chatting with locals as they stop in for coffee and a social visit.

Want a seriously great Cuban Mix sandwich and cafe con leche? Head for one of Key West's traditional Cuban eateries. (Photo courtesy of the Cuban Coffee Queen)

Another locals’ favorite is the Cuban Coffee Queen, located at the end of Margaret Street in the Historic Seaport. Toasted Cuban bread with butter and cheese, accompanied by café con leche, is a tradition. Dip the toast in your coffee for a taste treat.  If you need a shot of energy, try the cortadito — a double espresso with cane sugar topped with steamed milk.

After your coffee, take a ride through the historic Key West Cemetery, moved to its current location in 1847. A tour through the surprisingly welcoming place tells much about the island’s unique character.

The sailors who lost their lives in the sinking of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in 1898 are commemorated, as are those who died in the Ten Years’ War, fought from 1868 to 1878 in an unsuccessful attempt to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule.

The Key West Cemetery offers an oasis of peace and tranquil beauty. (Photo by Joseph McLaughlin)

Also notable are locals’ epitaphs that boldly proclaim sentiments ranging from “I Told You I Was Sick” to “Devoted Fan of Singer Julio Iglesias.”

Speaking of interesting explorations, every Saturday you can hop on the Gay Trolley Tour. Departing at 4 p.m. from a trolley stop at Angela and Duval streets, the tour is a fun-filled hour-plus highlighting the gay history of Key West, pointing out places of interest and filling you in on upcoming events.

The Key West Business Guild, now celebrating its 35th year, hosts the tour as well as operating Key West’s Gay and Lesbian Visitor Center while producing a weekly “What’s Happening This Week and Beyond” guide to keep you busy.

The center is open daily and offers a wealth of information about gay and gay-friendly Key West and discounts from guild members. Stop in and meet Peter, Matt, Susan, Guy, and some of the guild’s volunteers. You’ll find the center at 513 Truman Ave. just off Duval in a Key lime green building.

On Key West's gay trolley tour, passengers learn about the island city's LGBT sites, history and highlights.

If you’re planning a trip to the Keys, flying to into the Key West International Airport has never been easier. We now have seasonal Saturday nonstop service from New York’s La Guardia on Delta, and from Washington’s Reagan National on US Airways. Delta also offers nonstop flights from Atlanta. Southwest now serves us nonstop from Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta and New Orleans — and American Airlines has changed from turbo-props to jet service with flights taking less than 30 minutes from Miami International.

Upcoming events include the 31st annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration, which salutes our 1982 secession from the Union to become the planet’s first “fifth world” nation. Look for more on this entertaining event in my next writing.

Topics: Food, Key West, LGBT, Local Color, Restaurant Picks

This week I’m writing my blog while in Berlin for the international travel show ITB. ITB Berlin is a unique international travel fair featuring representatives from more than 11,000 travel companies and more than 170,000 visitors, including about 113,000 from sellers of travel. Today was sunny, but the Berlin temperature was in the low 40s — about 35 degrees chillier than the Florida Keys. My German friends are ready for spring and summer!

Blog author Steve Smith (right) meets a journalist at the ITB show in chilly Berlin.

Fifteen years ago at Key West’s ITB stand, I hoisted a small rainbow flag — the first ever at this global marketplace. It was not “love at first sight” with the organizers, but the flag remained at our stand.

Today, LGBT travel is listed as an official market segment and the show’s “gay” travel pavilion will have representatives from many countries including Brazil, Poland, Greece, and the Keys’ own Conch Republic. It’s amazing what impact the little island of Key West had in opening closet doors for gay travelers throughout the world. If you happen to be in Berlin this weekend, be sure to stop by the fair held at Messe Berlin.

New Yorkers will have fun at the Original LGBT Expo this weekend at the Jacob Javits Center. At 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, you’re invited to join Key West residents Peter Arnow and Randy Becker as they exchange vows — in what will be the first legal gay wedding held in the LGBT Expo’s 20-year history.

Peter and Randy actually headed to New York this past October with friends for their wedding. However, an uninvited guest named Hurricane Sandy followed them up the coast and thwarted their event.

Key Westers Peter Arnow (left) and Randy Becker will get married at a surprising New York venue March 9.

I knew how important this wedding was to my two friends, so at my suggestion they’re returning to New York City to hold their wedding at the Key West booth. They will exchange their vows with several thousand new friends in attendance (nothing like an intimate wedding held in Key West style, complete with cake and a toast!).

Back on the island, Pink Patty’s Day returns to Duval Street Saturday, March 17. Each year we wear pink as we stroll down the famed thoroughfare, visiting shops and pubs and sharing the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day. (We chose pink some years ago when LGBT groups were banned from participating in their communities’ “green” parades.)

Join the marchers at the Bourbon St. Pub around 10 a.m. for this annual adventure, and don’t forget to dress in pink — hat, shirt, shorts, skirt or whatever manner of dress tickles you pink!

The unique Tennessee Williams museum exhibit will debut in Key West March 22.

On another note Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams, and a new museum exhibit showcasing his Key West life, are being celebrated this month.

At 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, the Key West Business Guild invites everyone to a ribbon-cutting and opening reception for the newly installed exhibit — which focuses on Tennessee’s 30-plus years living on the island and the works he wrote while here.

Opening events continue Saturday, March 23, with guided exhibit tours hosted by producer and curator Dennis Beaver. The following day, Sunday, we commemorate the playwright’s birthday anniversary, complete with cake, from noon until 4 p.m.

One exhibit section recalls the Key West filming of Tennessee's classic "The Rose Tattoo."

Tennessee’s ties to Key West go beyond his decades-long residence. The Academy Award-winning film adaptation of his play “The Rose Tattoo” was shot on the island in the 1950s, and the Tennessee Williams Theatre opened in 1980 on the grounds of Florida Keys Community College.

The free-admission museum exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 513 Truman Ave., adjacent to the Key West Business Guild Visitor Center. The guild, which celebrates its 35th anniversary in April, has operated its center continuously for more than 21 years.

Stay tuned for more Key West news when I get back to the island!

Topics: Arts, Events, History, Key West, LGBT

The Florida Keys just experienced 2013’s first “winter” weather. While much of the country was blanketed in snow, sleet and artic chills, we saw the temperature dip one night to the (gasp!) upper 60s.  While many of our visitors strolled the streets in shorts and windbreakers, we locals were wearing hooded jackets and scarves (and a few less hardy souls even wore gloves!).

Beautiful sunrises over the Atlantic Ocean are characteristic of Key West's balmy "winter" season.

Two days later, I walked the blog dog in shorts and a T-shirt, watching kite surfers soar and families playing at the beach. We are truly blessed with our balmy year-round weather; the high temperatures this week will be in the 80s with lows in the mid-70s and sunshine all day.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Key West, take some time to bicycle around the island during the early winter days. You’ll see mango trees flush with small thumb-size fruit that ripens in late May. The fruit becomes the size of a grapefruit and turns various shades of yellow, orange and red.

The frangipani trees that recently looked like bare reindeer antlers now have bursts of yellow, pink, white and red flowers on the ends of the antler-shaped branches.  Gardens and planters are full of blooming impatiens, bromeliads and geraniums decorating homes and yards with purple, red, yellow and orange splashes of color.  (This is a great time to take photos, so don’t forget your camera.)

Located in a former carriage house behind the Key West Woman's Club, the Red Barn is a mecca for lovers of good theater. (Photo courtesy of the Red Barn Theatre)

You’ll also find our theaters alive with nightly performances. Intimate theater thrives here and I suggest checking the schedules and purchasing tickets in advance, because often the evenings sell out.

The Red Barn Theatre, built as a carriage house in 1829, has seating for 88 guests. “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” and the Tony Award nominee “Time Stands Still” are on the upcoming schedule.

The Waterfront Playhouse will open “The Drowsy Chaperone” on March 7. Described as “a musical within a comedy,” this big production features 18 performers, 20 set changes and 250 costumes. Winner of five Tony Awards, the show blends a gay wedding and mayhem, keeping audiences impatiently awaiting the next scene.  Local actors Marjorie Paul-Shook, Vicki Roush, Bruce Moore, Jeff Harwell, and JB McLendon bring their talents to the Waterfront to present an unforgettable evening.

On theater nights I like grab a quick meal on the walk to the show, and Key West’s Hard Rock Café is always good for a bite.  Located next to the Red Barn Theatre in a restored Victorian structure, the Hard Rock opened in the 1990s and features Key West–themed cuisine served on terraces overlooking Duval Street.

The Waterfront Playhouse offers a stellar season of theater and special events each year. (Drawing by Judi Bradford)

Across the street is another of my pre-theater favorites, the Grand Café, which also occupies a restored Duval Street mansion. The Grand offers indoor and garden dining and seating on a wraparound porch. Fresh Key West pink shrimp, mahi mahi, tuna and yellowtail snapper highlight the menu.

If you’re in the mood for salsa music and a Cuban meal, try the family-owned and operated El Meson de Pepe just steps from the Waterfront Playhouse. El Meson is located on Mallory Square in the Cayo Hueso y Habana building, and a walk through this historic brick structure offers glimpses of colorful Cuban and Key West history. The air is filled with the smells of fragrant tobacco from freshly-rolled cigars, as well as Spanish olive oil and garlic, and you’ll find yourself swaying to the beat of the Latin music performed by the onsite band.

On a closing note, save the weekend of March 22 for a celebration of the life of playwright Tennessee Williams. I’ll tell you more about this significant event next time around.

Topics: Arts, Food, LGBT, Restaurant Picks

You can tell it’s February and Key West is abuzz with visitors from around the world. Walking down Duval Street, you hear a blend of languages and accents — and at the mile marker zero sign on the corner of Fleming and Whitehead streets, lines of people are waiting to snap photos at the end (or the beginning) of U.S. Highway 1.

Sculpture Key West features fine art in island settings, like this colorful coral-and-fish study by William Thompson.

I must have an “information” sign on my forehead, since I seem to be the one asked questions on topics from where to eat to where the cell phone stores are. I have to laugh a little, because the questioners remind me of myself 25 years ago on my first visit.

February also puts us smack dab in the middle of Sculpture Key West. This event showcases both artists and the island as a backdrop for some amazing installations. The juried art is placed on beaches beside and around West Martello Tower and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. Sculptures remain on display until the end of March — so bring your camera as you explore and become part of the art installations.

One of my favorite winter events is the annual house and garden tour series sponsored by the Old Island Restoration Foundation. The mission of the OIRF, a group founded in 1960, is to promote the preservation and restoration of historically significant buildings within Key West’s Old Town district.

"Blog Dog" Giulio checks out a large-scale beachside sculpture by German artist Gereon Krebber.

Tours featuring local homes are held four times each year. This Feb. 15-16, you can tour homes and gardens from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, discovering some beautiful renovated properties and gardens.

For art lovers, Feb. 23-24 brings the 48th annual Old Island Days Art Festival to Key West. This is a juried show with more than 100 fine artists showing and selling their creations along Whitehead Street and through the famous Presidential Gates into historic Truman Annex. Exhibiting artists range from Keys locals to talented individuals from across the country and Canada, and proceeds from the event help fund the Key West Art Center’s gallery at 301 Front St.

Adjacent to the art festival site, you’ll find several historic attractions that are well worth a visit. For example, the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens is located on the corner of Greene and Whitehead streets. The 19th-century home, built by ships’ carpenters for harbor pilot and shipwreck salvager Captain John Geiger — whose family occupied the house for approximately 100 years — is a museum that showcases both the Audubon connection and Key West’s early years. The antique-filled house contains nearly 30 first-edition Audubon works and stands beside a gallery featuring Audubon lithographs.

Harry Truman's former "little White House" in Key West is now a world-renowned museum. (Photo courtesy of the Little White House Museum)

Down Caroline Street in the Truman Annex neighborhood is the Harry S. Truman Little White House, where former President Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration.

Now beautifully restored, it’s Florida’s only presidential museum — and as well as being Truman’s working presidential headquarters, the house also has hosted former presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. It’s open 365 days a year, offering you a chance to cross the threshold and step back in time to the colorful Truman era.

Have a great month and, if you’re able to join us in Key West, we’ll gladly welcome you at the Gay & Lesbian Visitor Center at 513 Truman Ave.  The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and is also home to a fascinating Tennessee Williams exhibit — but more about that next time!

Topics: Arts, Events, Festivals, Key West, LGBT

Wow — the northern part of our country has experienced a big chill this week! Friends in Chicago are enduring temperatures of just 14 degrees Fahrenheit, my New York colleagues are suffering in 18-degree weather and Pennsylvania’s Johnstown hit a brutal 8 degrees with a wind chill making it feel like -8.

Blog author Steve (right) takes part in a Jan. 21 parade in Key West's balmy sunshine.

However, this morning I walked the blog dog in shorts and a T-shirt in breezy 70-degree sunshine. I’m not trying to rub this in, but that’s a typical winter morning in Key West. Once in a while, when Florida’s mainland temps drop to the 30s, we will see temperatures in the mid 50s here on the island — but that’s a rare occurrence.

A big question I get from potential visitors is “What do I bring to wear in the winter?” My rule of thumb is to bring shorts, swimwear, a pair of jeans or slacks, and a windbreaker especially if it’s a bit cool. If you’re planning a sunset or stargazing sail on one of our tall ships like the Schooner Western Union, flagship of Key West and the State of Florida, you might want a light jacket — although the evening temperatures could easily turn out to be in the mid to upper 70s.

The Florida Keys website features temperature information as well as live webcams to let you know what’s happening on the island before you visit. I often check our weather using accuweather.com, and it tells me today to expect daily highs in the mid to upper 70s! What a great start for our winter 2013 season.

Want to peek into one of Key West's gorgeous private homes and see how the "natives" live? Step inside during annual winter house tours.

The season also guarantees great theater, house and garden tours and art and craft festivals.

For example, Key West’s Red Barn Theatre presents Charles Busch’s demented comic homage titled “The Divine Sister.” Female impersonator Randy Roberts, known for entertaining crowds in both Provincetown and Key West, leads the cast as Mother Superior. In addition, local actors Kathleen Peace and Mimi McDonald are doubly cast in this chaotic mystery/comedy, whose plot twists will keep you on the edge of hysteria. The production is certain to be a sellout, so be sure to purchase your tickets in advance.

The Waterfront Playhouse offers “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” described as part comedy, part drama and part cha-cha-cha. Following that production and opening March 7 is the Tony Award winner “The Drowsy Chaperone.” This musical within a comedy features a cast of 18 performers — reminding me that we’re fortunate to have such great talent on this tiny island!

Civil War re-enactors fire on a tall ship from the grounds of Fort Zachary Taylor.

Another highlight happening this February is the Civil War Heritage Days festival. Key West was a Union outpost during the Civil War (strange as that may seem!) and you’ll find three Civil War-era forts on the island and a fourth 70 miles west in the Dry Tortugas.

Heritage festivalgoers will experience a sea battle with schooners, re-enacted patrol skirmishes by actors in period costumes, and tours of the historic Fort Zachary Taylor (known to some locals as Fort Elizabeth Taylor), the centerpiece of Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. The fort tours and festivities are free with admission to the park, located at the end of Southard Street past Truman Annex.

Make a day of the festival and also visit the park’s beach, catch some winter sun and tour the fort. You’ll find unlimited photo opportunities as you explore the many levels and rooms within the fort — an architectural marvel considering it was built in the 1860s.

If you’re able to escape the winter chill and head for Key West, have a terrific time during your visit. And be sure to stop by the Gay & Lesbian Visitor Center and Tennessee Williams exhibit at 513 Truman Ave. for maps, info and discount coupons good at local attractions and restaurants.

Topics: Arts, Festivals, History, Key West, LGBT

What do 22 years, 20 teams, Mexico, Scandinavia, Canada and the United States have in common? The answer is the 22nd annual Kelly McGillis Classic International Women’s & Girls’ Flag Football Championship and World Challenge VI Game, beginning Feb. 3 in Key West.

Women and girls are expected from around the U.S. and international destinations to play in the flag football championship in Key West.

Many years ago, a very young girl named Diane Beruldsen began playing flag football with the boys in the streets of Brooklyn, New York. Even then, she saw how little importance was placed on females playing sports.

As a young adult she used her sports experience to begin forming flag football leagues in Brooklyn and other areas of New York. These leagues soon became the Brooklyn Women’s Flag Football League and the New York Women’s Flag Football League — and then, when she moved to Key West, she started the Key West Women’s Flag Football League.

Eventually, this led to the first-ever National Women’s Flag Football League. As teams began forming in other countries, Diane created the International Women’s Flag Football Association (IWFFA), an umbrella organization for women’s and girls’ flag football leagues and teams. The association’s mission is to promote flag football to women and girls through tournaments, training, and promotional tours throughout the world.

Actress Kelly McGillis a former Key West resident who starred in “Top Gun” and “Witness” among other films, endorsed the effort as providing positive values, exercise, and fun for women. She even lent her name to the league’s championship tournament.

Actress Kelly McGillis, famed for her roles in "Top Gun" and "Witness," lends her support and her name to the flag football classic.

“You learn to be part of a team, work together as a group — there’s no one more important than anybody else,” Kelly said while in Key West for a previous year’s tournament. “Those are all great life skills to have, and I don’t think we live in a culture that nourishes those things, especially for women.”

During championship games, flag football teams compete in divisions based on age and skill level. Women 18 and over vie in three divisions, while separate girls’ divisions accommodate players ranging from 8 years old to the late teens.

“They’re all here to celebrate playing football, something they love to do,” Kelly said of the competitors.

Find out more about the upcoming Kelly McGillis Classic by visiting the official IWFFA website. And if you’re in Key West during the event, come out and watch the teams compete. You’re certain to see the positive impact this sport has on young women.

Where should you stay when you head for Key West, whether for the tournament or for a subtropical escape from winter woes?

Key West will offer a warm welcome to players and spectators of the empowering women's and girls' sport.

Here’s a helpful newsflash — the Equator Resort, one of the island’s noted male guesthouses, has purchased its neighbor, the Coral Tree Inn. The Coral Tree Inn has been a popular getaway for many years and now, as part of the Equator, it’s likely to become your favorite five-star guesthouse.

The acquisition of the property makes the Equator one of the largest guesthouses in Key West, and its attractions include two swimming pools and two Jacuzzis. The Equator experience blends an attentive and fun-loving staff, daily breakfast and happy hour, and a comfortable welcoming atmosphere.

In the coming months, watch for the Equator to renovate, upgrade and sprinkle fairy dust around the Coral Tree Inn.

Topics: Events, Key West, LGBT