Winter/Spring 2019 Florida's #1 Visitors Guide© DESTINATIOlNTM FLORIDA Marathon Seafood Festival ION Renaissance Woman + 57 Other Fun Nance Frank Happenings The Gallery On Greene Luau Madness! Snook’s Bayside Key Largo FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST JTS-Nav8-blue LittleSwitzerland_DestinationKeyWest (8x10.75).qxp_Layout 1 6/19/18 7:50 PM Page 1 The Breitling Jet Squad Jacques Bothelin Christophe Deketelaere Paco Wallaert #SQUADONAMISSION JTS-Nav8-blue LittleSwitzerland_DestinationKeyWest (8x10.75).qxp_Layout 1 6/19/18 7:50 PM Page 1 The Breitling Jet Squad Jacques Bothelin Christophe Deketelaere Paco Wallaert #SQUADONAMISSION eet Renaissance Woman, Nance Frank. M As a master sailor who’s raced around the world chasing Gold Cups, there’s nothing Nance loves ion more than “burying the rail” in a rolling Renaissance Woman, sea with the wind at her back. SUNSET Except for one other thing. Nance Frank It’s a passion that resonates deep within Nance Frank’s soul: curating JUST GOT art and promoting local artists at her legendary Gallery on Greene in Key West’s Historic Seaport. The Key West native has been UPGRADED. involved in the island’s art scene as long as she can remember. In addition to operating The Gallery on Greene, Nance has authored several books on renowned Key West artist, Mario Sanchez and coordinated the donation of his work to the Smithsonian. She’s also curated museums in Switzerland and Chile, and she’s served as a founding board member for several local art associations and foundations. With an extensive collection of contemporary fine art by master artists, Pulitzer Prize winners, and Cuban greats, Gallery on Greene is considered to be one of Key West’s most preeminent galleries. Nance Frank’s unbridled enthusiasm for curating local art that captures the heritage, culture and local charm of the Keys from 1934 to present day, provides a fantastic look into the minds of the most creative people who have lived in the Florida Keys. If you’d like to meet one of them, stop in and see Nance Frank at the The Gallery on Greene, 606 Greene Street CLASSIC HARBOR LINE KEY WEST, FL in Key West. She’s one fascinating woman. Info 305-294-1669; 305-293-7245 • WWW.SAIL-KEYWEST.COM • 202 WILLIAM STREET galleryongreene.com Photo: Pete Arnow 16-CHL-0456_KW_1p.indd 1 7/29/16 2:32 PM SUNSET JUST GOT UPGRADED. CLASSIC HARBOR LINE KEY WEST, FL 305-293-7245 • WWW.SAIL-KEYWEST.COM • 202 WILLIAM STREET 16-CHL-0456_KW_1p.indd 1 7/29/16 2:32 PM 12-23 What's Up 31-40 Xplore 41-65 Good Eats DESTINATIOlNTM FLORIDA what’s inside... Florida Keys & Key West Publishers 4 ION: Nance Frank 34 Hoist the Sails Karen L. Davis/Pamela Childs Gallery On Greene’s Curator Extraordinaire Key West’s Sunset Sail is the Real Deal Comptroller 7 - 9 Top Picks 38 Zen In Key West Karen Davis The Best of the Florida Keys & Key West Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden Marketing/Creative Director 10 - 11 Gallery Scene Pamela Childs Acclaimed artist Peter Vey Show at Gallery 41 - 65 Good Eats Art Director/Brand Manager On Greene Cool spots to eat, drink and party Marsha Michaels 12 - 23 What’s Up 43 Feast Like A King Account Manager Key West Fun happenings from Key West to Key Snooks Luau & Pig Roast Peter Arnow Largo 51 bite Adventure Contributor 17 Feast Your Eyes On This A special recipe from Olive Morada Mayor Gonzo Mays Marathon Original Seafood Festival Photographer At Large 55 - 56 What’s On The Menu? Peter Arnow 19 We Seceded Where Others Failed! Sample menus from the Keys’ top 37th Annual Conch Republic Days restaurants Webmaster Celebration Lance Belew 57 - 61 Shop 20 Unplugged Where to discover lots of great finds PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Key Largo’s Original Music Festival 63 - 67 Nest P.O. Box 1233, Key West, FL 33041 21 A Fantastical Calvacade of Human Scope out your own home in paradise Powered Sculpture Online Edition @ Key West’s Papio Kinetic Parade 66 Living the Dream destinationfloridakeys.com Maison Residences facebook.com/destinationfloridakeys 24 Footlights twittter.com/destinationkeys What’s On Stage 68 - 69 Gonzo Dairies Local icon,“Mayor Gonzo” Mays’ photo destinationflorida.com 25 A Tour-de-Force One Man Show safari Randy Roberts Live! To become a Marketing Partner 70 - 71 Snap! or to order complimentary copies 27 Master of Illusion Peter Arnow shoots KeyWest’s most fun for your lodging property, please Christopher Peterson events and interesting people contact us at 305-849-3482 [email protected] 29 Other Florida Happenings 75 Getting Around Fun things to do all over Florida Area Map 31 - 40 Xplore Top attractions you won’t want to miss 119 Trees Planted This Issue 34 Burying the Rail! Key West’s Annual Wreckers Race Cup Member of the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and the Series official in-room visitors guide for the Keys top lodging properties. Additional distribution at high traffic areas throughout Monroe County including: Key West Chamber Of Commerce, ABOUT THE COVER Key West Business Guild, Marathon Chamber Of Commerce, Artist Peter Vey shares his extraordinary paintings at Key West’s Gallery On Greene with Islamorada Chamber Of Commerce, Key Largo Visitor Center. a special show entitled “Journey to Paradise” that opens on Friday, February 16 from 6 - 8pm. “Like Winslow Homer before him, Vey is inspired by the landscapes and colors of Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. the Florida Keys” and his work captures the essence of our beautiful island home. 6 DESTINATION FLORIDA Florida Keys & Key West TOP PICKS BEST KEYS SUNSET CELEBRATION Lor-e-lei Restaurant & Cabana Bar Cited as one of the “Best and Brightest Spots in Florida” by Power and Motoryacht Magazine, this casual, family-friendly hangout is home to the world famous Lor-e-lei Fishing Guides and lively Sunset Celebration. Great casual fare with an array of tasty sandwiches, fresh local seafood, ribs, steak and chicken. Live entertainment by local bands. Happy Hour specials from 4-6 pm Major credit cards. Open Daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner. Find it at mayo. Also first-rate: the BEST FISH HOUSE MM 82, Bayside, Islamorada. 305-664-2692; incredible Lobster BLT Soup The Fish House loreleifloridakeys.com loaded with bacon and lobster, If the name fits — and here it does along with lots of other delicious BEST PORTERHOUSE STEAK because this bustling joint is the hottest sandwiches, salads, and fresh seafood baskets. seafood spot in town and gets constant Wine & Beer. Cafe open Mon. - Sat. 10 am - 8 Ziggie & Mad Dog’s raves from locals and visitors alike. pm Retail Market: Mon. - Thurs. 7:30 am - 5:30 Truth be told, you can’t go wrong with anything Big portions, a fun, friendly staff and pm and on Fri. & Sat. ‘til 7 pm Find it at MM on the menu of this legendary Keys’ landmark a Keysey atmosphere complement an 99.5, Oceanside at 1313 Ocean Bay Dr., Key because all the food here is truly world- extensive menu that includes chowders, Largo. 305-451-3782; keylargofisheries.com class. Steak lovers will revel in stone crab, shellfish, native fish, steaks the tender 12 oz. Center Cut and pasta. Find it at MM 102.4, BEST ISLAND CHIC Filet, tasty 16 oz. New York Oceanside, Key Largo. 305-451- Snook’s Bayside Strip and full flavored 21 oz. HOOK; fishhouse.com Bone-In Ribeye, but it’s the 28 Hidden away at the end of a private lane, just oz. “Czonka” Porterhouse that off US 1, this chandeliered Grand Tiki with its is totally over the top. Team one flickering torches, lush plantings, and SOBE-style BEST LOBSTER BLT up with a linebacker-size baked sofa lounges is oh-so-chic! A gorgeous, open-air Key Largo Fisheries dining area, sprawling 5,000 sq. ft. patio and potato and you’ve got yourself a winning combination. Open Until recently, we always thought there was multiple bars, all have unobstructed views of the daily at 5:30 pm for dinner. Full nothing like a great Maine lobster roll. Of course, Bay, giving you a ringside seat to one of the best sunset celebrations in the Keys. As seen on South bar. Major credit cards. Find it that was before we stumbled upon the “Backyard Florida’s popular TV show, “Check Please", the at MM 83 Bayside, Islamorada. Cafe” on the docks behind Key Largo Fisheries fresh, island-inspired dishes won high-fives from the 305-664-3391; ziggieand and discovered their signature Lobster BLT. Perfectly show’s panel of judges and are all made to order. maddogs.com cooked, firm-tender lobster (not fried - Sacre Bleu!) Truly a great place to kick back with a rum punch is generously heaped on a buttery croissant fused and grab yourself a piece of paradise. Find it at with crisp bacon, juicy ripe tomato slices, fresh MM 99.9 Bayside, Key Largo. 305-453-5004; Bibb lettuce and a healthy slather of spicy snooks.com BEST DEAL IN TOWN Keys Pawn Maybe it’s just us, but when we think “pawn shop” we think “eh, maybe not.” Not so with Keys Pawn. This place is like no other pawn shop we’ve ever seen (even the ones on TV). The folks here have been supplying dealers from all over the world with luxury watches, high-end jewelry, rare antiques and collectibles at super low prices for over forty years. Now they’ve opened this new brick and mortar with a terrific ever-changing inventory that also includes a wonderful collection of rare guitars.