INSIDE WEEK OF AUGUST 16-22, 2018 www.FloridaWeekly.com Vol. 3, No. 20 • FREE INSIDE: Schedule of this year’s Tropical Bartender Heat. of the Week A10-11 X Gage Beaulieu, mixing things up at three spots. A6 X COURTESY PHOTO Aerial view of Fort Jefferson. Explore the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson BY LAURA RICHARDSON TROPICAL Florida Weekly Correspondent Peruse any guidebook that chronicles HEAT: Music the top attractions in the Florida Keys and it’s a guarantee that the Dry Tortu- Michael Festa’s cookin’ up gas and Fort Jefferson will make an ap- HOT something new. A17 X pearance near the top of the list of must- see sites. A mere 68 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, the Dry Tortugas is one of the most spectacular (in my HOT majorly biased opinion) national parks of the 59 that beautify our great nation. So named because Juan Ponce dede LeónLeón apparently caught 160 sea turtleses ttherehere in 1513, the Dry Tortugas Nationalnal Park technically comprises the sevenven DryDry Tortugas islands as well as Fortrt JeJeffer-ffer- son, a gargantuan unfinished hexagonalexagonal fortress built of red brick andd largelylargely abandoned (save for the roughlyy 60,000 annual visitors who come to learnrn aboutabout the fort’s history and snorkel thee vibrant reefs around her perimeter). It isn’tsn’t easeasyy to get out there, but the voyage iiss worth it for both the fascinating (andd some- what macabre) history of the ffortort and the access to one of the best-preservedreserved Top Picks reef ecosystems in the Westernn Hemi- sphere. Great things to do on There are a few ways to get too the the island this week. A9 X Dry Tortugas National Park and its jewel-like chain of islands. Whichich way is right for you depends een-n- tirely on your tolerance for beingng close BY LAURA RICHARDSONRICHARDSON to other people, how long you’re’re will- Florida WeeklyWeekly CorrespondentCorrespond ing to wait to get to your destination,tination, how comfortable you are on choppchoppyy HOT UGUST IN KEY WEST IS HOT. WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE seas, how interested you are iinn spot- thinking:thinking: Key West isn’t special — August just ting whales from the sky and howw much aaboutbout everywhereeveryw in the country is hot. Yes, money you deem to be a ridiculousdiculous Death Valley may be setting records for three- sum to pay in order to travel there.ere. The digitdigit temps, butb Key West’s humidity is positively cheapest of options — other thanan an ex- A brutal.brutal. We’rWe’ree talking walking through molasses, hausting swim — is to ride on tthehe Yan- stoppingstopping at every otherother bar just for water (an act so blas- kee Freedom III, a high-speed catama- phemous yyouou know wewe would never commit such a sin un- ran that ferries zinc-nosed visitorsors bbackack Real Estate less moved byby duress ooff the direst sort), keep your kids and Five bedrooms, four baths SEE HEAT, A10 X SEE TORTUGAS,AS, A1A122 X at 1309 Villa Mill Alley. A22 X A2 WEEK OF AUGUST 16-22, 2018 www.FloridaWeekly.com FLORIDA WEEKLY KEY WEST OFF OFF DUVAL Editor Owen Killian The most traveled and visible street books.com; 305-294-2904. This [email protected] in Key West is only the beginning, the decades-old boutique bookstore offers a surface, of what the town has to offer. surprisingly varied wealth of current and Publisher Ask the locals about their favorite spots, used titles, from bestsellers to rare titles. Niall Geoghegan stroll through quiet neighborhoods or Often open late, it’s an inviting place to [email protected] down alleyways off Duval and you’ll browse the crowded stacks. begin to dive deeper into the quieter, Reporters more diverse and less readily appar- La Rubia Fine Hats, 510 Fleming Bucky Montgomery ent offerings. Here are eight spots you St. 305-296-6059; www.larubiakey- Laura Richardson might not see at first glance. west.com. This is the Florida Keys’ Jennifer White only importer of authentic Panama hats. Better than Sex, 926 Simonton The owners developed the boutique to Presentation Editor St. 305-296-8102; www.betterthan- carry on the centuries-old tradition of Eric Raddatz sexkeywest.com. A great place for hand weaving hats (which come from [email protected] couples. Swing by this dessert-only, COURTESY PHOTO Ecuador and not Panama, by the way). adults-only restaurant late in the eve- The Mellow Café and Gastro Pub is open for There are styles for men and women Production Manager ning. Indulge your senses with choco- breakfast, lunch and dinner. in a wide array of colors and weaves. Alisa Bowman late dipped wine glasses and cheeky, There’s also a nice selection of wearable [email protected] homemade desserts and beverages such ret St. 305-292-4747; www.cuban- fair trade crafts such as jewelry, ikat as an Ephemere Apple Spiced Ale in a coffeequeen.com. The strong Cuban wraps and shigra bags. Graphic Designers tall beer glass with a signature caramel coffee at this hole in the wall is also Chris Andruskiewicz rim-job. Lick it good. rich in Key West heritage. A café con Little Pearl, 632 Olivia St. 305-204- Paul Heinrich • Scott Sleeper leche paired with a classic Cuban 4762; www.littlepearlkeywest.com. Mellow Café and Gastro Pub, 1605 sandwich or some Havana rice and Nestled in the heart of Old Town Key Circulation Manager Roosevelt Blvd. 305-745-3874; www. beans will keep you going long into a West and away from the bustling down- Michael Gagliardi mellowventureskeywesst.com. Near Key West night. town streets sits this excellent spot for [email protected] the water in Old Town Key West, the fresh local catch and innovative cuisine café is open for breakfast, lunch and Firefly, 223 Petronia St. 305-849- with a tropical twist. It’s new and it’s Sales and Marketing Assistant dinner and offers unique island fare 0104; www.fireflykeywest.com. Being hot. Reservations are required. Tiffany Nagle with a mellow atmosphere to match. that Key West is home to the southern- Operations Manager The menu items are crafted with fresh, most point of the continental United Nancy Forrester’s Secret Gar- Kelli Carico locally sourced ingredients and include States, it’s fitting that the island is home den, 518 Elizabeth St. 305-294-0015; a fresh catch, Havana roasted pork, to a very southern-inspired restaurant. www.nancyforrester.com. Ms. For- Published by romaine leaf plates and caramelized Firefly’s plantation-style look and South- rester has a secret, and it’s not her Florida Media Group LLC banana chocolate tacos. Drink options ern-inspired cuisine give it the most garden, per se: It’s what she keeps 100 Grinnell Street • Key West, FL 33040 include a large selection of craft beers, down-home feel of any culinary experi- there. The longtime environmentalist 305.363.1310 11 rotating tap beers, wine, house-made ence on the island. The shrimp and grits, has been caring for orphaned parrots sangria, and champagne cocktails. They fried chicken and bacon-wrapped meat- for more than 30 years. She invites www.FloridaWeekly.com have a great happy hour daily from 5-7 loaf are a few fan favorites. the public to meet them, take pictures, p.m., and delivery is available. hold them and listen as she educates Key West Island Bookstore, 513 the community about her fine feath- Copyright: The contents of the Florida Weekly are copyright 2018 by Florida Media Group, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without Cuban Coffee Queen, 284 Marga- Fleming St. www.Keywestisland- ered friends. ■ the express written consent of Florida Media Group, LLC. A COZY UPSCALE CRAFTCRAF COCKTAIL BAR & LIQUOR STORE Every Sunday HAPPY HOUR 3-6 DAILY Taco Brunch 1/2 PRICE CAVIAR Happy Hour All Day! $10 STOLI ELITE MARTINIS & COSMOS $8 SELECTED WHITE, RED AND SPARKLING WINES $6 CRAFT COCKTAIL ON TAP WITH CLASSIC COCKTAILS, FINE WINE & SMALL BITES! FULL RETAIL LIQUOR SPECIALTY STORE, STOCKING LOCAL DISTILLED SPIRITS, FINE WINES, LOCAL FLORIDA BEERS, RARE FINDS ASK ABOUT DAILY SPECIALS! #WATERFRONTBREWS#WATERFRONTBREWS AWARD WINNING BEER CRAZY LADY HONEY BLONDE ALE This blonde ale brewed with local honey is good as it gets. A nice clean ale with a subtle honey-like sweetness that lingers just long enough. Very drinkable and smooth. Brewed in KeyWest, ISLANDISLAN LIFE AMERICANAMERIC LAGER StandardStandard American Lagers are the “r“regular”egular” sstrength versions of the light AmAmericanericcanan lagers. The style guidelines fforor tthishis bbeere are almost identical as Drank ththoseose for ththe light versions. in the Keys ! LAZYLAZYY WAYW IPA AMERICAN IPA A medium-bodied, lightly toasted IPA with a malt character and a balanced bitterness. The piney hop notes carry through to the flavor. Finishes crisp and fairly dry. BREWERYBREWERY TOURSTOURS 7+856'$<$1')5,'$<$7306$785'$<$1'681'$<$7305,'$<$7 30 6$785'$<$1'681'$<$7 30 BOOK ONLINEE AT WWW.THEWATERFRONTBREWERY.COMWWW.THEWATERFRONTBREWERY.COM On Draft at MELLOW CAFÉ AND GASTROPUB KEY WEST - THE WHISTLE STOP ISLAMORADA - LAZY DAYS SOUTH MARATHON www.THEWATERFRONTBREWERY.comWERYY.com • 305-440-2270305-440-2270 • 201201 WILLIAMWILLIAM STREETSTREET • KEYKEY WEST,WEST, FL A4 WEEK OF AUGUST 16-22, 2018 www.FloridaWeekly.com FLORIDA WEEKLY KEY WEST MAP IT OUT Getting around Key West 1. Southernmost Point sans, food carts, palmists and psychics. 8. Mel Fisher Maritime Museum 11. Audubon House and Garden The corner of South Street and 200 Greene St., Key West 205 Whitehead St. Whitehead Street 5. Truman Little White House 305-294-2633 305-294-2116 www.southernmostpointwebcam.com 111 Front St.