IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND KEY WEST 2011 MCTCU-5763 Culture 2011 Front Cover A LO1 Here in the Florida Keys, we’re proud to be one of the most beautiful and colorful cultural destinations in the world while remaining Haccessible to all. Our festivals, theaters, concerts (indoor, outdoor, and underwater), art exhibitions and an abundance of cultural history are yours to enjoy in our warm and tranquil paradise. Mayor Sylvia J. Murphy fla-keys.com ~ 1-800-FLA-KEYS ofTable About the Cover Contents As you might expect from “All American Journey”.. 3-5 a Florida native, much of the artwork Teresa produces has been “Tropical Heat, inspired by her community. She Metropolitan Cool” .......6-8 grew up in St. Petersburg and IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND KEY WEST 2011 Key Largo, and as a current Keys Calendar of Events. .9-15 resident is constantly on the water--boating, fishing and just enjoying the unique environment she feels privileged to call home. Teresa is involved in the local community, using her talents to promote various events that support the environment. She is proactive in donating her artwork to local causes such as Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, the “Blue Heaven” by Carolyn S. Smith Chamber of Commerce, local school fund-raisers and sports fishing events, to name a few. As a second- generation Cuban- “Cortadito” TeresaMCTCU-5763 Kelley Culture 2011 Front Cover A LO1 American, Teresa’s heritage plays a role in her subject matter. Although she did not grow up in Cuba, her family instilled the pride, closeness and heart consistent with that culture, and it comes out in her artwork. Currently exhibiting at the Key Largo Art Gallery, Teresa is proud to be a part of such an elite group of award-winning artists, saying, “The encouragement and talent inspires me as a young artist and provides me “Tropical Dreamer, Tropical with positive criticism that allows me to grow as an artist.” Schemer” by Jeannine Mead Bean From left to right: “Tropical Classic” by Nicholas Bergery, “Morning Walk” by Christine Cordone Smith, “Color of Grace” by Karen Beauprie, “Underwater” by Mary Ruden, “The Project” by Priscilla Coote, "Loggerhead Reef and Lighthouse" by Don Kincaid. ©2010 Monroe County Commission. All Rights Reserved. Event listings are for use as a guide in contacting event coordinators and receiving information on event dates, times and locations. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but verification of information should be made when planning to attend these events. Dates, times and locations are subject to change. Neither the Monroe County Commission, Monroe County Tourist Florida Keys & Key West CULTURE 2011 West & Key Florida Keys Development Council, nor their agency may be held liable for incorrect information, errors or omissions. 2 AllAmerican Journey by Margit Bisztray Remains of steps to the original bridge and railway at Bahia Honda. Photo credit Eddie Green The transition from the only solid ground – is natural, recreational, and scenic Florida Mainland to the Keys – the highway. qualities. An All-American Road Card Sound Road or the 18-mile Designated in 2001, the further possesses features that stretch – is a teaser for what Florida Keys Scenic Highway make it a destination in its own lies ahead: a two-lane seam of earned highest ranking by right. From its gateway, the pavement joining loosely knit the United States Department natural splendor of the Overseas mangrove masses, turquoise of Transportation as an All- Highway is obvious. Attributes horizons, and marshlands American Road in October that make it remarkable reveal fluttering with leggy birds. 2009. It runs from Mile Marker themselves like marine life on Yet at a point, the road itself 110, just before the Jewfish a coral head; some sudden and transitions. At the crest of the Creek Bridge, to Mile Marker startling, some subtle while Jewfish Creek Bridge, where The Zero in Key West, traversing others are nearly camouflaged. Florida Keys Scenic Highway 43 bridges. It is the only All- To roll down a window driving begins, green formations on American Road in Florida, and into the Keys is to be inundated a variegated blue background one of only thirty in the nation. with the scents of sulfur from spread out like an interactive “It brings status to us with the mangroves, parched salt and map. This crest marks a international travelers and the particular soup of fecund gateway, and beyond it land domestic visitors, so that they shallow water. Invitations to the becomes the minority. Pockets know driving U.S. 1 from Key water start arriving immediately of civilization will alternate Largo to Key West is a one- in the form of bait shops, dive with pockets in which the only of-a-kind driving experience,” centers, marinas, preserves, and evidence of people – and the said Judy Hull, president of the parks. Though heaviest in Key Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Largo “Dive Capital of the World,” Alliance, whose mission is to Islamorada “Fishing Capital of the CULTURE 2011 West & Key Florida Keys protect, promote, and preserve World” and Key West, “Gateway this unique American treasure. to the world’s third largest barrier An All-American Road must reef,” water recreation defines first be declared a National the Keys. An All-American Road Scenic Byway: a road distinct for encompasses the territory five archeological, cultural, historic, miles on either side of it. Here that includes the Gulf of Mexico The All-American Road sign at the crest of the Jewfish Creek Bridge. or the Atlantic. Photo credit Eddie Green. 3 Palm trees dancing on the fringes are part of what make U.S. 1 a scenic highway. Popular launching points and the remains of a native there is more to this roadway for experiencing birds, tropical American village. than the sensual, including a hammocks, Key deer, turtles, The flavors of the Keys tempt fascinating history. and rare plants are State Parks: almost as immediately as the The bones of old bridges, John Pennekamp, Long Key, aquatic and natural features, connecting mostly nothing to Lignumvitae Botanical, Bahia with fish shacks advertising nothing, often run parallel to Honda, and Fort Zachary conch fritters, smoked tuna the new. Many have heard of Taylor; the Florida Keys Wild dip, and fresh catch of the day, the Overseas Railroad, built Bird Center, and Crane Point Key lime pie shops and tiki hut by Standard Oil billionaire Museums and Nature Center cocktail bars. Henry Flagler and chugging also an archeological preserve, Though the sights, smells and between Homestead and Key with Adderly House from 1906 tastes are sufficiently alluring, West from 1912-1935 when it was wiped out by the famous On certain stretches, the contrast of the old and the new runs nearly parallel. Labor Day hurricane. Fewer know that there was also an original highway. Built in 1928, it ran from Homestead on what is today Card Sound Road, to Lower Matacumbe where motorists would catch a ferry to No Name Key then continue driving to Key West. Pieces of this semi-paved road are still visible as Boca Chica Road and on the outskirts of Florida Keys & Key West CULTURE 2011 West & Key Florida Keys Sugarloaf Key. 4 Districts and Places become almost too numerous to mention. In Sugarloaf, there is Righty C. Perky’s bat tower. In Key West, the entire Old Town district, Truman’s Little White House, the Key West Lighthouse, East Martello Tower, and the Dry Tortugas National Park. Cultural attractions in Key West include the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, The Audubon House and Gardens, and the Custom House Museum. The Key West Lighthouse is but one of the many historic, cultural landmarks at home on U.S. 1. The All-American Road title has many implications for the future of the highway, as well as With toll fares costing $3.50 Havana. The ship to Cuba for the Florida Keys. for an average-sized car ($200 ran from Knight’s Key, today Jane Tallman, Coordinator in today’s money) and ferries a campground in Marathon, for the Scenic Corridor Alliance $1 per passenger, the earliest beginning in 1909, once the comments that the designation road travel to the Keys was railroad reached Key West, brings together for a common an indulgence, a vacation from Trumbo Point as well. cause the diverse communities unto itself. A 1928 roadmap In addition to Marathon on within the Keys. “We’re advertises Mack’s Place “Service Vaca Key, another settlement working with small non-profits for Man and Auto” in Rock formed due to the railroad was connected by this road, like the Harbor, B.Z. Service Station on Pigeon Key, an island village 2.2 Florida Keys Lighthouses, the White and Catherine Street, Key miles west of Marathon operated Matacumbe Historical Trust, West and Chester Thompson’s from 1908-1935. Today’s Seven and Safe Harbor Marina. Down Marine Curios on Front Street, Mile Bridge was built in 1982. here, almost every project Key West, home of the Sponge The original overpasses the affects U.S.1.” Collaborative Market today. Many of the certified Historic District on the projects underway include vintage motels and motor lodges National Registry of Historic expansion of the Overseas on the Overseas Highway hark Places, where a former store, Heritage Trail, the bicycle and back to an era of leisurely post office, school, Cuban pedestrian trail parallel to the CULTURE 2011 West & Key Florida Keys auto-cruising, too, including refugee vessel and dock now highway, and more booths like O.D. King’s Rustic Inn, which welcome tourists to a museum the red caboose on Islamorada, became the Green Turtle Inn, and the Bridge Tender’s House.