Spring/Summer 2021 Florida's #1 Visitors Guide DESTINATIOlNTM FLORIDA Festivals Galore! + 47 Other Fun Happenings Keys Eats: Signature Recipes & Noteworthy Restaurants Art, Culture, Music & More! FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST 8-9 Arts Scene 31-34 Xplore 35-48 Good Eats DESTINATIOlNTM FLORIDA what’s inside... Florida Keys & Key West Publishers 6 - 7 Top Picks 28 Fins Up! Karen L. Davis/Pamela Childs The Best of the Florida Keys & Key 37th Annual Underwater Music West Festival Comptroller Karen Davis 8 - 9 Arts Scene 31 - 34 Xplore Noteworthy Art Galleries Top Attractions Around the Keys Marketing/Creative Director Pamela Childs 10 Art Lights the Way 35 - 48 Good Eats The Artists Who Saved Key West Cool Spots to Eat, Drink and Party Art Director/Brand Manager Marsha Michaels 12 - 13 Art Happenings 39 Bite Gallery Walks & Openings Key Lime Pie Recipe Account Manager Key West Peter Arnow 14 - 15 Walk this Way 42 Get Your Tiki On! Key West’s Colorful Historical The Island Fish Co Rocks the Boat Adventure Contributor Adventure Mayor Gonzo Mays 49 - 52 Shop 16 - 17 Time Travel Where to Discover Lots Of Great Photographer At Large Museums That Fascinate Finds Peter Arnow 18 - 30 What’s Up 53 - 54 Nest Webmaster Happenings from Key West to Key Scope Out Your Own Home In Lance Belew Largo Paradise PUBLISHED QUARTERLY 23 Summer Always Sizzles 56 - 58 Sleep Tight P.O. Box 1233, Key West, FL 33041 Gay Key West Recommended Lodging Properties Online Edition @ 24 Celebrating Sweet Summer destinationfloridakeys.com Mango Fest Key West facebook.com/destinationfloridakeys destinationflorida.com 26 America’s Favorite Citrus Celebration To become a Marketing Partner Key West’s Lime Festival or to order complimentary copies for your lodging property, please contact us at [email protected] ABOUT THE COVER We are honored to have “Shady Higgs Beach” by Master Artist Peter Vey gracing our Spring/Summer cover. Vey paints places that most other people only dream about. Like Winslow Homer, one of the 19th century’s foremost painters, he’s inspired by the landscapes, waters, and colors of the region. His canvases are as dazzling as his surroundings and Member of the Lodging Association of the Florida chronicle the simple pleasures of tropical living. You can see more of Vey’s outstanding work Keys and the official in-room visitors guide for the at Key West’s highly acclaimed Gallery On Greene, 606 Greene St. Info: 305-294-1669; Keys top lodging properties. Additional distribution at high traffic areas throughout Monroe County. galleryongreene.com. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Special thanks to Key West’s Gallery On Greene 4 DESTINATION FLORIDA Florida Keys & Key West TOP PICKS BEST PORTERHOUSE STEAK Ziggie & Mad Dog’s BEST TREASURE HUNT Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Truth be told, you can’t go wrong with anything Former chicken farmer, Mel Fisher became the world’s greatest treasure hunter when after on the menu of this legendary 16 years of searching, finally discovered the treasure-packed Spanish galleon, Nuestra Keys’ landmark because all the food here is Señora de Atocha, which sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. The legendary truly world class. Steak lovers will revel in the shipwreck salvor died in 1998 but his legacy lives on at Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, tender 12 oz. Center Cut Filet, tasty 16 oz. New where you can see the richest single collection of 17th-century maritime and shipwreck antiquities in York Strip and full flavored 21 oz. Bone-In Rib the Western Hemisphere. The amazing treasure trove includes a fortune in gold, silver bars and priceless Eye, but it’s the 28 oz. “Czonka” Porterhouse artifacts from the prized Atocha and sister ship, Santa Margarita which sank in the same storm. Find it at that is totally over the top. Team one up with 200 Greene Street in Key West. 305-294-2633 or go to melfisher.org. a linebacker-size baked potato and you’ve got yourself a winning combination. Find it at MM 83 Bayside, Islamorada. 305-664-3391; ziggieandmaddogs.com. BEST HAPPY HOUR & And while The Gallery On Greene is a TAPAS favorite stomping ground for serious art BEST JET SKI TOUR BEST ISLAND CHIC Tavern N’ Town collectors, it’s also a popular spot for more Barefoot Billy’s BEST KEYS SUNSET Snook’s Bayside casual buyers, like us. Find it at 606 If zipping across the ocean going This favorite local CELEBRATION Greene St, Key West. 305-294-1669; 40mph is your idea of a day in the Hidden away at the end of a private lane, hang has not one, but galleryongreene.com. sun, this high-octane jet ski experience Lor-e-lei Restaurant & just off US 1, this chandeliered Grand Tiki two, terrific daily Happy BEST LOBSTER BLT is your ticket to ride. Go it alone or Cabana Bar with its flickering torches, lush plantings and Hours with generous 2 - Key Largo Fisheries SOBE-style sofa lounges is oh-so-chic! A BEST SUSHI Ambrosia jump on Barefoot Billy’s original two Cited as one of the "Best and Brightest for - 1 libations from 5 - 7pm gorgeous, open-air dining area, sprawling Chef/Owner Masa and wife Noriko are hour, 28 mile guided jet ski tour where Spots in Florida,” this casual, family- Until recently, we always thought there was and again from 9 - 11pm. The 5,000 square foot patio and multiple bars all making waves at Key West’s hip, vintage Santa you can zoom from the Atlantic to friendly hangout is home to the world nothing like a great Maine lobster roll. Of early Happy Hour also features have unobstructed views of the Bay, giving Maria Hotel where their edgy Japanese the Gulf and stop at lots of fun places famous Lor-e-lei Fishing Guides and course that was before we discovered the a revolving lineup of top notch you a ringside seat to one of the best sunset restaurant and sushi bar is renowned for its along the way. Billy also has flyboards, lively Sunset Celebration. Great Lobster BLT at the “Take Away Cafe” on the entertainment that draws a big local celebrations in the Keys. The fresh, island- authentic, artfully crafted plates including kayaks, and paddle boards as well as casual fare with an array of tasty docks behind Key Largo Fisheries. Perfectly crowd. But what really hits the ball inspired dishes, are also first rate. Truly a great Masa’s premium bluefin tuna creations and Dolphin Watch & Snorkeling Tours. FYI: sandwiches, fresh local seafood, ribs, cooked, firm-tender lobster (not fried - Sacre out of the park are the Tapas Nights place to kick back enjoy a piece of paradise. other full-flavored dishes like the Spicy Seafood If you book directly online, you can steak, and chicken. Live entertainment Bleu!) is generously heaped on a buttery on Tuesday and Thursday where Find it at MM 99.9 Bayside, Key Largo. 305- Carpaccio with fresh jalapeño, sweet onion and save yourself 10% on any of Barefoot by local bands. Happy Hour specials Croissant fused with crisp bacon, juicy globally-inspired small tasting 453-5004; snooks.com. Yuzu pepper paste. Tradition and innovation Billy’s special tours. Just call 305-900- ripe tomato slices, fresh Bibb lettuce and a plates of gourmet appetizers from 4 - 6pm. Find it at MM82, collide with all kinds of intriguing signature 3088 or hit up barefootbillys.com and healthy slather of spicy mayo. Also first rate: are all artfully prepared. A Bayside, Islamorada. 305-664-2692; rolls and Japanese specialties. Find it at 1401 use coupon code “BAREFOOT.” Two the incredible Lobster BLT Soup loaded with Late Night Tapas menu is also Loreleicabanabar.com. Simonton St, Key West. 305-293-0304; convenient locations: Casa Marina bacon and lobster. YUM! Find it at MM 99.5, available from 9 - 11pm. Find it at the Key keywestambrosia.com. Resort at the corner of Seminole and West Marriott Beachside Hotel, 3811 North Oceanside at 1313 Ocean Bay Dr., Key Largo. Alberta Streets; and the Reach Resort Roosevelt Blvd, Key West. 305-296-8100; BEST DEAL IN TOWN 305-451-3782; keylargofisheries.com. at the corner of Vernon and Waddell TavernNTown.com. Keys Pawn Streets. Maybe it’s just us, but when we think “pawn BEST REGIONAL ART shop” we think “eh, maybe not.” Not so with BEST COLLECTION Keys Pawn. This place is like no other pawn SEAFOOD JOINT The Gallery On Greene shop we’ve ever seen (even the ones on TV). The Square No one personifies the Key West art scene The folks here have been supplying dealers Grouper more than Nance Frank, Gallery Director at from all over the world with luxury watches, Gallery On Greene in Key West’s Historic high-end jewelry, rare antiques and collectibles Bar & Grill Seaport. Her meticulously curated collection at super low prices for over forty years. Now Chef/owner Lynn Bell and her of authentic, historic and museum-quality they’ve opened this new brick and mortar with top culinary crew are creating the regional art is an absolute visual delight. Here a terrific ever-changing inventory that also most intriguing small plates and entrees, you’ll find Pulitzer Prize winners like political includes a wonderful collection of rare guitars. pastas and ever changing specials, making this hip cartoonists Jeff MacNelly, Mike Peters and Tony The prices and selection are phenomenal, so if roadside Bar & Grill a true “Destination” restaurant and earning it a “Top 10” ranking in the Florida Auth; poet/writer/visual artist, Annie Dillard; you’re into snagging great deals, this Pawn’s Keys & Key West restaurant scene.