It was a strange day in Key West,

What's was so strange about it was that it had been raining since I woke up a several hours earlier, and showed no signs of letting up.  It was very dark and very gloomy...what I imagine "up north" must be like in the winter.  And it really is nice to have days like this once in a while. I love Key West, but I hate the heat.  And a rainy day to me always says "Curl up and read a book" if I'm home - without feeling guilty for not doing all the things I should be doing  but most of all it make me say "Thank YOU" to the powers that if I'm off work that day. 

I love my job as a concierge, and it can be fun, most days. Only problem is, rainy days often bring out ....well...the worst in some people.

I try very very hard to see things from other peoples point of view.  The nice me understands that these people have often waited, and saved, and planned for this vacation and prayed (and often expect) that things would work out a certain way. No rain, just beautiful sunshiny days..   But to curse at the concierge (and believe me it's happened) because it's raining?  And you can't tell them when "IT" will stop. Exactly when? Wow.

Several months ago I had a guest that couldn't decide whether or not to rent a bicycle.  45 minutes spent at my desk, trying to decide...yes or no?  Yes or NO?  You see it looked like it "could" rain.  To pass the time (and because, if you haven't guessed I like to talk.....alot!)  I carried on a conversation with this person and asked a few questions.... Guess where he was from?  Miami. But better yet, guess what this persons occupation was??  Bet you guessed it... A meteorologist!  Oh Well, at least it made me feel better for not being able to "predict" the weather.....because you never know for sure..."Will it Rain?"

Smiles

XO

Toni

Have you eaten at Blue Heaven? It's in Bahama Village, on the corner of Petronia and Thomas streets and it reminds me alot of the Bahamas...and in addition to it's amazing food it's also famous for it's chickens, yes chickens that may be roaming around along with cats and people and all the other things that live in harmony on this little rock.

The entrance is on Petronia. It used to be on Thomas St. but it outgrew that side.  The custom gate gives you an idea of what to expect....

There is a lovely walkway into main restaurant dining area...

With colorful signs to lead you along...

Over the years the restaurants reputation has grown and grown. Which very often results in a wait.  But there's lot's to distract you and your party - starting with the fully stocked bar....

Where you can get a beautiful and tasty Bloody Mary like this...(Thank you to my hand model Joe Gingrow!)

And there/s plenty to see and read and do. Some of those things include..ping pong, a lovely fountain where I see many have tossed coins....

A horsie kids can climb on, hula hoops, a gift shop and lots and lots of art to look at...

I remember when Blue Heaven first opened.  It was an entirely different option in an unfamiliar part of town for a lot of people, and frankly sounded a little too "adventurous" for some.  Which means it totally fit for Daddy. Ever the champion of the underdog he began by eating there often, having one of his "big" birthday parties there and then bringing every travel writer that came to see him there too.  He just loved the owners Richard and "Su" , and of course baby Ricky too...he still called Richard and Su his "Little Hippies" till the end. Even though they became wildly successful and have two restaurants now (Salute on the Beach -Italian- is the other), Richard and Su were always the same to him. One of Daddy's best virtues to me.

The restaurant has really grown over the years, and this picture was taken in "off season" and look how busy!

And this is why. In addition to all of the "entertainment" for what may be a wait, especially in season, the food is amazing. This is my neighbors Egg Benedict with sirloin and and asparagus.....

And shrimper gal that I am I settled for the Shrimp and Grits with scallions and white cheddar.  And of course the famous banana bread for toast...so SO good! I actually ate till I couldn't eat anymore. Blue Heaven is famous for it's breakfasts, but quite honestly it's the dinners that keep me coming back...you can check out the menu here - http://www.blueheavenkw.com/#!dinner/c12wq in addition to all the other menus, and pictures taken by a REAL professional photographer. 

So if you are a visitor to Key West, and haven't tried it, I highly recommend it.  And slip on your "Key West laid back flip flops".  You are in Key West now,and  when you go...there may be a wait but enjoy yourself, because that's why your'e in Key West in the first place isn't it? As the bumper sticker says "Slow Down, this ain't the mainland"!

Smiles,

XO
Toni

******DISCLAIMER!!!****** I am NOT a restaurant critic! I just went there the other day and realized how much I missed the place, NO one has influenced or reimbursed me in any way..altho' Thank You Miss Charley and Mr. Joe Gingrow for breakfast! I had a lovely time with you and your Krewe....

I know I have been absent here for awhile but I just had one of those Years!!!  But I just had to share this with you. I was at my daughters job the other night and as we were sitting there talking I thought I heard a chicken, it sounded really close, in fact it sounded like it was INSIDE with us! So I said "Is that chicken in here?" And my daughter tells me a really cute story about how her bosses son emptied his toy chest and hid the chicken from his Mom, who of course found it.  So I tried calling it, and after a few minutes....

THIS comes walking out of the back!

Now I have seen alot of chickens in my day, but I have never, ever seen one that looked like this...

I honestly didn't know whether to run from it or pick it up and hug it. It was really tame and friendly and you could tell it was used to people...

And the feet! The hair! Were they feathers? Or fur? And the head, the comb was triple most roosters even.

Turns out when my daughter talked to her boss on the phone later her boss was shocked that the chicken was there. Apparently she had put it out to try and let it learn to be outside. And she told my daughter to put it out when she closed the office. Only problem with that is the office is right next to a busy main road...and of course I can't take it home, my landlord is very anti chicken and I have 2 cats so no hiding it inside...

So with minimal begging and pleading my sweet sweet daughter took it home

I swear it looked at me with gratitude!  Will keep you posted...........

Smiles,

XO

Toni

A long long LONG time ago my Dad and Mom decided to run away.  They were going to give up the lives they lived in New Jersey and go  to a magical place called "Key West" where they would survive off of oranges and bananas and fish.  They would sleep in the car till they found jobs and saved enough money for a place to live.

There wasn't much there but they loved it.  The first job they had was heading shrimp for 25 cents a bucket.

And then the hard work payed off..Daddy actually got a job at ON a shrimpboat and they let his beautiful wife come along.

Daddy became quite good at sewing net,

And Mommy helped pick the shrimp out of the pile.  Although both Mommy and Daddy admitted to me she mostly liked picking all the neat creatures and shells out, just like me when I went shrimping. An old Shrimp boat captain  that Daddy and Mommy worked for said Daddy paid hell with the infections in his hands from the shrimp. But he never complained, and told some great stories and Mommy cooked and fed them like kings.

And of course Mommy's FAVORITE thing to do was handline. All was well In paradise, they had beds to sleep in and food to eat and enough money for cigarettes.  But then Mommy was expecting a little one and couldn't handle the diesel fumes anymore.  So Daddy found her a place to live on land and continued to shrimp....

Until one Thanksgiving.  You see the weather had gotten really really rough and rather than travel the 70 miles back to Key West from the Dry Tortugas the Captain decided to just tie up in the shelter of the fort.  Problem was, he had NEVER gone without his Thanksgiving Turkey before and wasn't about to now just because of some storm.  And once alcohol became involved he decided the next best thing would be roast pelican.  Daddy tried and tried to talk him out of it, but he couldn't - and just as Daddy warned.....it turned into a lumpy sodden hard black ball of grease. Daddy said the smell alone was enough to make him want to swim home...

And so Daddy quit shrimping.

But it all worked out for the best. You see Daddy got a job as a mate on a "Head" or "Party" boat, a boat that took several tourists out at a time. And not only did Daddy know how to catch fish, he just loved people and people were crazy about him and someone lent him the money to buy his first boat.

Mommy got all dolled up and advertised that business for all it was worth.

The pelicans hung out and were fed every day.

And the business grew......pelicans were part of the draw, got in on the act and the tourists loved them.

The boats got bigger...

And so did the pelicans...

But it wasn't till about the time II had a Shrimp Boat of my own.....

That I learned pelicans can fish for their OWN fish just fine! I had just never seen them do it because Daddy and Mommy loved them so much, I guess I thought they were pets. But whenever I see one it makes me think of Thanksgiving and how they helped Daddy become a charter boat captain.




Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I Hope you have a wonderful pelican free Thanksgiving!

Smiles,

XO

Toni

Please excuse the pictures on this particular post, because they are pretty old and it took quite a big of digging to find them.

But if you look at them closely, they tell a very interesting story about Key West and the people that live here.

Many years ago, there was talk, serious talk, about drilling for oil off of the Keys. I can't remember what year it was, late 80's, early 90's either way I felt inspired to post this.

The oil companies involved finally agreed to give us an open mike at a public meeting at Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center

And as we knew when they were coming to town, we decided to welcome them by showing them just how we felt. Daddy gave me and my friend Lisa a day off a few days before the meeting was scheduled....and we drove around the whole island asking people to hang something, ANYTHING black outside their businesses to show solidarity against drilling. And I started by choking the jewfish with black oily garbage bags...........

The picture above is my stepmom and my little brother TJ, and my friends Lisa and Deon. And if you look real close, in the lower picture is Freddie doing his part with one of his famous banners..

Ed Knights Realty, Tasty Trash, Louie's Backyard...

Sorry these are crooked but you get the picture....(Don't know how to separate the scan!)

My two favorite here are Charter Boat Row, and East Martello, I was really impressed with the effort East Martello put out.

The actual site of the "Town Hall Meeting" was a mob scene. People, animals, you name it - all smeared in oil or dressed in black, and just about everyone waving signs and reporters everywhere.

Kids and adults,

You have just got to love the guy above with the dead fish all over him, and to those who remember, yep, that's the famous Marion Stevens on the right. All in all it was a wonderful experience, we WON! (That time) And for now we just got another major win...

So Thank you everyone that voted against the dredging study on October 1 of THIS year! It's so good to see that Key West may change, but the people that love Key West stay the same!!!

XO
Smiles,
Toni

This is my neighbor Miss Myrna, a lovely lady with a bright green thumb!

She works at one of the best restaurants in Key West

But her real talent lies in the beautiful garden she grows

In a small space, she has created an oasis that all of the neighbors enjoy. It looks wonderful at first glance...

But  when you look closer

It looks even better

There are little surprises everywhere you look

Vignettes that no matter how different the elements

All work together beautifully

and never fail to bring a smile.

Little Surprises, like a happy wabbit (yes I said wabbit) on a swing

Frog musicians

A bench to sit and read

Budda and elephants...

A iguana with really hot lips...

Dreamy ladies...

Steps the cat...the unofficial gatekeeper

Dolphins and Hippos...everytime I go outside I notice something different

And of course my favorite, Toni Tiger!  The cool thing is, you never know what you will see, she is constantly changing and rearranging to keep the plants happy. New things, and plants pop up all the time. All I DO know is all of the neighbors love her for it, she really puts a lot of time and love and lucky us, we get to enjoy her efforts. Thank you Myrna!

XO
Smiles,
Toni

I got out of the car at the post office the other day, and threw some chips into the grass.  These chickens ran so fast all the way accross the parking lot that it was funny, almost scary, but funny. As they ran towards the car I really wish I had taken a video, they run really fast on those crooked little legs!

Huh?

Yea? Is what this one was seeming to say...it was hanging out in the bouganvilla behind Salute on the Beach. 

I didn't even realize till several years ago that they even hung out above ground, till I lived downtown and there was a tree where dozens settled every night

What a wattle!

This one was quite at home at the shopping center, right on top of someones brand new car...as most of them are, he was happy to pose...I was afraid to shoo him because he might have scratched the paint..it looked like he forgot where he parked his car and was trying to get a better view to find it.  Ever done that?

This one BEGGED to have it's picture taken, I was happy to oblige, and I apologized for being out of chips

These two were having quite the conversation over lunch

Then she told him to go back to work....

And Grampa took a nap....

But they do like to pose

Guess it's part of thier job to 'Smile for the tourists'

Some are just Mommies,  who I'm sure hope that when the kids are teens...

They don't go to extremes with the hair...whoops, I mean feathers....

And some just look good enough to eat, check out those breasts!

I love our Chickens, some people hate them because they don't always crow at the right time.  Anyone who lives here for any amount of time has had to deal with that off and on, including me.  Believe me when I bartending I cursed more than one of them myself.  This one was shopping downtown, after holding up traffic as he leisurely crossed the street, several times....

Time to go, see a sucker in the distance with some cuban bread, see ya'll later!

XO
Smiles,

Toni

Do you remember when you were a kid, and could easily be embarrassed by the type of car your parents drove? 

Daddy specialized in that. And the crazier the better. This is an electric car, the first one any of us in this little town had seen, and it went (or at least it felt like) 3 miles an hour and not only did Daddy insist on driving us around in it, he also had his FACE on it.....kept saying he was "ahead of his time", we thought that was SO funny...I mean really, what did he know?

This is a view from the other side...see how amazing the artwork is?  There was an airbrush artist named Bill Miller, and he was also the artist that did the picture on Daddy's famous black and white poster.  And I was lucky enough to be gifted with lots and LOTS of Tiger shirts..

Pardon the quality of the above photo, but there were also Lincolns, lots of Lincolns. I loved the Lincoln's because the rule was that i got the Lincolns on Saturday night, even if we just got the new Lincoln that day..I'm beginning to think that maybe I was spoiled? But on the other hand just how much can you get away with when your fathers face is on the car you are driving?  So here is Daddy posing with 2 of our dogs, Cutty Sark, J and B, and Bruce the Goose.  His favorite passenger to ride around in the lincolns though was Ruff, our goat.

Daddy loved nothing more than to pull up to some poor unsuspecting people in the Lincoln, and they would all Smile and say "Look - it's Capt. Tony", and then Daddy would roll down the passenger side window and Ruff would stick his head out and go MMMEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH! at them....quite the shocker, and conversation starter, and always got a laugh.  And that does not include the Dune Buggy, Army Jeep, and the actual Hearse that he had for quite awhile. He would let the boys on the dock make a little extra money cleaning the hearse  while warning them to "just shove any spare body parts you may find out of the way"...Oh yes, he loved to tease. I also had someone tell me Daddy just threw him the keys to his brand new convertible once, and told him to "take it for a spin".  It was something the "kid", now a grown man has never forgotten, and sounds just like Daddy. The guy was only 16 at the time.....

 As he "grew up" somewhat in his later years, he calmed down a bit with the car thing, but that may have only been because now Cape Air had captured his likeness on a plane no less..that's my adorable nephew Blake, and niece Brooke taken when the plane was first launched

It's still in use, and whenever I see it flying overhead it never fails to make me smile....usually when I need it the most...any of you have any unusual vehicle stories in your life?  Or better yet, any Capt. Tony's vehicle stories? Would love it if you feel like sharing!

XO
Smiles,
Toni

I was so excited to be invited to go fishing last week, I felt sorry for these little fellows but you gotta have bait!  You may not be able to see them but my favorite bait, shrimp,  are swimming around in there too.

Got to pass my old boat on the way out, she's looking good - riding nice and high...as you can see it was a little hazy that early in the morning......

I caught alot of these guys, yellowtails, it felt so good to catch some fish again.

And here is an old conch favorite, the Grunt.  Daddy said you could always tell which ones were the girls because they had lipstick on! 

And a teeny baby black (grouper), I want to eat his Granddaddy

And of course birds.  These cormorants were really raising hell, I never realized how NOISY they are..I guess because you mostly see them zooming by the front of the boat, or diving.  But they were talking, and arguing and cooing and carrying on. 

I swear they sounded like sea lions!  I didn't know they talked that loud, or if I did I forgot, which is ENTIRELY possible...

I made a new friend too! Not the barracuda, although I like him just fine...but this girl here..she is a Concierge also and any girl that will get up that early to go fishing is going to be a lifelong friend...Do you ever meet someone and just know? 

Aaaahhh...and HERE'S the real beach.  If you are on vacation and can budget it I highly recommend chartering and boat and coming out to one of our "islands". This is Boca Grande. I know some really great guides and you can do it all, fish, swim, snorkel.  It may cost a little more, but you feel like you are on your own private island.  I'd be happy to help you with that...

Isn't it beautiful here?  I grew up playing and camping and exploring and swimming on the islands up and down the Keys and it never gets old. Boca Grande is about 14 miles to the west of Key West

Here is an Osprey - giving us the evil eye...sorry the picture isn't real clear, salt on the lens I think

Flapping alot but not taking flight..

And this was why.  Isn't the nest beautiful?  A work of art....

Which is why we have these, which are NOT so beautiful, but I'm sure necessary...

Headed off the island fished a little more...nice sized bull shark...released of course...

Then sadly time to head back home...horrible commute, isn't it?

Goodbye open water!

Back to  Key West/Stock Island ....

And this handsome fellow, waiting just for me.  You don't think he loves me for my fish, do you?

XO
Smiles,
Toni

These are mangrove flowers, growing on the incredible plant that grows into islands

These are the seedlings from tiny to large

Before they drop from the tree

Here is one floating along looking for a great place to rest...if you gather a bunch and put them in a glass of water they will grow, believe it or not, and regular tap water will do. I feel it's fair to warn you though that they are under federal protection so that if you grow your own island it will probably be illegal to live on it.

These have found a good home already, new ones in the background, older in the front. They are wonderful for preventing soil and beach erosion, that's why they are protected.  Although they mysteriously dissapear down here from time to time.

They support everything from starfish to regular fish, birds to people

And make a great buffer from the wind when you are walking along the beach.

These are on South Roosevelt, everyone recognize them? 

And this bad little boy was out at the "Fort", or the Dry Tortugas, it is wonderful to know that this little tiny plant is so resilient.  I just love them, they are a perfect example of adapting, in just about any condition.  Putting down roots and making a home just about anywhere...just like people...

XO
Smiles,
Toni