If you enjoy classical music, the Impromptu Classical Concerts are perfect for you and your Valentine! Ukranian-American pianist Marina Lomazov will be the featured artist on February 12 at St. Paul’s Church, 401 Duval Street; the performance begins at 4:00pm. Ms. Lomazov is an international performer who has received multiple awards for her performances. Her style is described as passionate and charismatic; the perfect accompaniment for a night of enjoyment with the one you love. Tickets to the performance are available on KeysTix.com or at the door on the day of the event.

For those interested in history, the Civil War Heritage Days event at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park will be fun and exciting. Over 100 re-enactors will provide an inside look at life at Fort Zachary in the 1860’s, including artillery demonstrations, campsite visits, sea battles, land skirmishes, and other performances. The event is free with park admission and runs from February 10-12, 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. The park is located at 601 Howard England Way, at the end of Southard Street on Truman Annex.

Art lovers will enjoy artist Fran Decker’s beautiful Key West scenes. Her work is featured at the “Journey” with Fran Decker event at the Frangipani Gallery, 1102A Duval Street, from February 3-15. Fans can meet the artist at the opening night reception, February 3 from 6:00 to 9:00pm.

The beautiful Curry Mansion Inn will host the 29^th Annual Valentine’s Day Gala benefitting Wesley House Family Services on February 14 from 6:30 to 9:30pm. The event stars Master of Ceremonies Howard Livingston and features music by Raven Cooper and Honey Mouth. Activities include dancing, a fabulous dinner buffet, open bar, and the island’s largest silent auction. Event tickets are available at KeysTix.com.

The people of Key West know that our island is special. Our beautiful landscape has attracted a unique mix of musicians, artists, historians, and others, all of whom have blended into our warm, friendly culture. This is good news to everyone who lives on our island paradise, because there is always something fun and interesting to do in Key West! If you would like to live on a beautiful island full of happiness for you and your special Valentine, Contact me today by phone at Margarita Villoch, 305-304-8505, by email at margarita@isellkw.com, or on the web at www.isellkw.com. I have spent over 25 years matching couples – as well as singles and families – with their perfect island paradise home!

One Key West organization that has supported that spirit for years is the American Red Cross. Its Key West Chapter was founded in 1917 by Florence Spottswood and has been saving lives in the Florida Keys ever since. This year’s Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year Award Gala will take place on Saturday, February 4 at the Marriott Beachside Resort Key West. All contributions for this evening of fun, food, and music will benefit the lifesaving programs of the Red Cross in the Florida Keys.

On Saturday, February 18, the 200 block of Duval Street will be dedicated to the American Cancer Society’s Rockin’ Away Cancer event from noon to 6:00pm. I hope that you are able to join the party and support this important cause.

For those interested in American history, there are several upcoming events that benefit the Harry S. Truman Little White House museum. The Presidential Families Presentation: First Ladies Speak event will be held on Saturday, February 25 on the lawn of the Little White House. This is a unique presentation by presidential family members as they speak of the First Ladies as mother and grandmother. A fundraising cocktail party hosted by Clifton Truman Daniel will follow the presentation. On the following Monday and Tuesday, February 27 and 28, the Little White House will present Sentimental Journey, The Songs of the Truman Era, a benefit for the museum featuring singer/pianist Bobby Nesbitt and singer Carmen Rodriguez performing songs from the Truman era, 1945-1952. The Little White House is located at 111 Front Street in Key West; for more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Little White House website.

The people of Key West create a supportive community full of fun, commitment, and charity. When you live in a beautiful island paradise, it is easy to be appreciative; we all work together to help all those in need and to preserve our history for the enjoyment of future generations. I have been helping people join this community for over 25 years, and I never tire of hearing cheerful stories from those who have found their warm and supportive home in Key West. Contact me today by phone at Margarita Villoch, 305-304-8505, by email at margarita@isellkw.com, or on the web at www.isellkw.com, and become part of the Key West spirit!

Key West

For those interested in wine tasting, the Wine Tasting Seminars with Candela Prol will be held in the evenings at Studios of Key West, 600 White Street. Attendees will learn how to assess various types of wine along with learning the vocabulary of wine tasting. Enjoy one or all three seminars; ticket prices for a single session are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. For more information, please call 305-296-0458. 

On Thursday, you will not want to miss the Kick off Your Flip-Flops Barefoot Beach Party at the Southernmost Beach Café, 508 South Street. Enjoy a party on the beach featuring fresh island cuisine, Barbancourt rum cake bites, and music provided by DJ Jimmy Jamz. Tickets are $40 at the door and advance tickets can be purchased at Etix.com or at the event’s Hospitality Suite.

If you love gourmet food, you will not want to miss the 18th Annual Master Chef Classic on Sunday, January 29 from 4:00 to 7:00pm. This premier culinary competition and tasting will be held at the Westin Key West Resort & Marina Pier at 245 Front Street. Competition categories include appetizers, entrées and desserts, so those attending will have a fantastic assortment of food to taste! This event sells out fast, so be sure to visit Keystix.com soon to purchase your tickets. 

Shrimp lovers will love the Shrimp Boil 2012 at Hogfish Bar & Grill, 6810 Front Street, on Saturday, January 28. This event features a fabulous wine selection, delicious shrimp appetizers and live music; the chefs will prepare an old-time classic shrimp boil with fresh Key West shrimp and all the trimmings! Tickets are $35 at the door or $30 in advance at KeysTix.com.

These are just examples of the many fabulous events scheduled for the festival; check out the Key West Food and Wine Festival 2012 brochure for more information.

As you can see, Key West is the place for fabulous gourmet food and wine events with an island twist; there is never a shortage of fun things to do on our island paradise! For over 25 years, I have helped people find their perfect Key West home so that they, too, could be a part of our exciting island life. Contact me today by phone at Margarita Villoch, 305-304-8505, by email at margarita@isellkw.com, or on the web at www.isellkw.com, and I will match you with the perfect home for you so that you can join the party, too!  

 The quaint Red Barn Theatre is located at the rear of 319 Duval Street. Its Forbidden Broadway production runs through January 14 and features satirical spoofs of popular Broadway show tunes, plots, and characters using smart, snappy lyrics and fabulous costumes. This production has been seen in over 200 domestic cities as well as London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney. Red Barn Theatre’s production of the 2010 Tony-award winning play Red will run from January 18 through 28. Red, a portrait of master abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and his young assistant, candidly demonstrates the inescapable link between ambition and vulnerability. Tickets range from $30 to $65 per person for each performance and can be purchased on the Red Barn Theatre website.

August: Osage County has just a few shows left before its close January 14 at the Waterfront Playhouse, 312 Wall Street. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize as well as the Tony Award for Best Play, August: Osage County is a hilarious and stinging look at the American family as they gather for an evening reunion filled with secrets and extremely inappropriate behavior. Tickets range from $20 to $50 per person and are available on the Waterfront Playhouse website.

Art lovers can enjoy fabulous exhibits on Duval Street at the Key West Gallery (601 Duval Street) or Wyland Galleries of Key West (623 Duval Street). The Key West Gallery specializes in investment-quality originals, collectible hand-embellished limited editions, and selected bronze work by over fifty internationally published artists. Wyland Galleries of Key West features fine art by Wyland and other well-known contemporary artists. Upcoming events for the Key West Art Center include the 27^th Annual Key West Craft Show on January 28 and 29; the center is located at 301 Front Street and is open daily with free admission.

There can be no better lifestyle than that of a fun, relaxing island paradise paired with the finest in world-class cultural activities; this is Key West! After over 25 years of matching people with their island paradise home, I never tire of the smiles I see when people discover that Key West is the perfect place to find happiness. Contact me today to find your island paradise, by phone at Margarita Villoch, 305-304-8505, by email at margarita@isellkw.com, or on the web at www.isellkw.com.

The center of the action is on Duval Street, which is closed to traffic so that tens of thousands of New Year’s Eve revelers can party well into the first morning of 2012. The mild weather here in the Keys means celebrating island style; you can even join the party right off the beach, still wearing your swimsuit and flip-flops!

This year, Sloppy Joe’s Bar will host the 19^th Annual Dropping of the Conch Shell. Stop by early at 201 Duval Street in Key West and join the celebration! Live entertainment starts at noon on December 31 and includes Nick Norman, The Pete and Wayne Show, and the Hyjinx Band. All eyes will be on the rooftop as the clock strikes midnight and the Conch Shell is finally lowered – confetti, streamers and lights fill the night sky! There are no reservations taken for this event and a door charge is in effect for patrons of Sloppy Joe’s.

If your tastes lean more toward the fashion scene, you will not want to miss the World Famous Shoe Drop at the Bourbon Street Pub/New Orleans House at 724 Duval Street. At the stroke of midnight, world famous drag queen Sushi will descend in her giant high-heeled red shoe! Live entertainment and special guest appearances happen all night. With a VIP Pass, a lucky few will join the VIP party on the balcony for a New Year’s Eve to remember! Balcony tickets are $100 and sell out very quickly; if interested, phone 305-293-9800.

The history buff should not miss the celebration at Key West’s Historic Seaport. Here the New Year’s Eve Madness celebration gives a nod to the seafaring history of our island; midnight on the ship America 2.0 brings the lowering of the pirate wench to a background of cannon fire and cheers from the ship’s pirate crew. Live music and dancing happen all night at Schooner Wharf Bar, 202 Williams Street. There are no reservations required and everyone will feel at home at the “last little piece of Old Key West.”

There are so many fabulous New Year’s Eve parties in Key West that it is impossible to experience them all in a single night. Why not join the party every year by making Key West your home? You will experience not only the best in celebrations but also the peace and serenity of an island paradise filled with caring people. I have over 25 years of experience matching people just like you to their perfect Key West home; give me a call today and I will help you make this your island paradise! Contact me by phone at Margarita Villoch, 305-304-8505, by email at margarita@isellkw.com, or on the web at www.isellkw.com.

Tomorrow, November 23^rd, the Turkey Doubles Shoot Out will take place at Hawks CayTennis Garden from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Admission is free to club members and $20.00 for non-members. If you want to avoid cooking all day, Hawkes Cay is putting on a great Thanksgiving dinner. It is strongly recommended you make reservations. You can do so by calling 305-743-7000.

On Thanksgiving Day you can get yourself a “two-fer” by participating in one of the most popular Keys events of the season … the annual Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk. All proceeds of the event go to benefit the American Cancer Society under the auspices of the Relay for Life. Get healthy, work off a bit of chub, make room for that turkey feast and donate to those less fortunate than ourselves.

The event will take place at the Indies Club at Hawks Cay Resort. Registration starts at 8:30 AM and the race will begin at 9:30 AM. Participants donate a $12.00 entry fee and will receive an event t-shirt. You’ll also improve your own health! If you have any questions you can call
305-289-4906.

This is planned to be a weekend full of fun for everyone, no matter what your preferences are in the way of activities.

After the Relay for Life Run/Walk there will be a Paddleboard Competition in the Lagoon at noon, a Pie Eating Competition at the Lagoon at 4:00 PM and a Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Indies Club at 4:30 PM.

Think you’ll need to work off some of the calories after the good night’s sleep brought on by all that turkey tryptophan? No problem! Friday has a good schedule of events to help with that! There will be a Frisbee Challenge at the Hawks Cay Resort Pool starting at 11:00 AM. At 6:00 PM you can participate in a Sunset Bike Tour of Duck Key. At 7:00 PM there will be a “Kids Night Out” at the Indies Club, followed by “Teen Night Out” at 8:00 PM at the same place.

Key West just might be the right place for you. Please let me know how I can assist you. If you have any questions you can reach me, Margarita Villoch, at 305-304-8505 or online at www.isellkw.com.

If you’re in the

Children will be delighted with the costumes and the authentic re-enactments. They can participate in the costume contest, the coloring contest, and
various other activities planned for the younger set.  It’s a good way for their absorbent minds to acquire a grasp of the maritime history of Key West and surrounding areas.

For those who enjoy drama, “The Pyrate Tryal Re-enactment of Anne Bonny and Mary Read” is a must-see.  There are also Tall Sea Ship Battles, with real cannon and small arms displays.  You can sail on a ship and get a taste of how life at sea was in days gone by.

As you walk through the authentic Pirate Village and Thieves Market, you’ll encounter realistic characters like Captain Henry Morgan, Blackbeard, Calico Jack and other blackguards.  Goods, foods and drink of a wide variety are available.  You can stop at the pub for some great spirits and entertainment.  Arts, crafts and music are available, also.

The attractions are too many in number to mention all of them in this space.  We must call attention, though, to the celebration of the official end of the hurricane season, complete with the ceremonial burning of the hurricane flags.  To those living in Key West, this is a special moment.

If adventure and an authentic maritime historical atmosphere are what you want, Key West just might be the right place for you. Please let me know how I can assist you. If you have any questions you can reach me, Margarita Villoch, at 305-304-8505 or online at www.isellkw.com.

If you want to delve into the secret and mysterious life of

The tour is conducted by guides who are thoroughly familiar with the secrets and mysterious goings on in the Key West area.  Groups are purposely kept small, so that everyone can hear the tales that flow from the tongues of these master storytellers.  The tours are interactive, so if you have questions they can be answered right away.  You will actually enter some of the sites highlighted in the tour.

Many years of research have yielded a rich variety of tales from “the other side.”  From the strange rapping on windows to ectoplasmic manifestations, you’ll get a detailed report on the mysteries of Key West.  Guests are encouraged to bring cameras and take pictures throughout the tour.  At the end, they are asked to share any strange experiences they may have encountered along the way.

The Key West Ghost and Mysteries Tour has received a lot of coverage on TV.  The Learning Channel has featured it, along with Discovery, CNN Travel, Biography Channel, and Public Television.  This lends some credibility to some of the fantastic stories you will hear on the tour.

A few of the places you will visit include Key West’s Oldest Graveyard, Haunted Pubs, and the Original Hanging Tree.  You’ll hear the bizarre story of Count von Cosel and Elena Hoyos.  After all the ghost-seeking, you may be glad to imbibe some real “spirits” in the pub at the end of the tour.

If mysteries and rich history appeal to you, Key West is the right place for you to call home. So, contact me now, MargaritaVilloch, at 305-304-8505 or online at www.isellkw.com  and start packing!

Tune into the Travel Channel this month and see three of our favorite

As far as I’m concerned, Key lime pie is the ultimate dessert. Musician Vanilla Ice, who is a Key West resident, along with show host, Adam Richman, sampled the famous Key lime pie at our Blue Heaven restaurant and I’m sure they agree with me! This favorite restaurant has been in Key West for 18 years and even Charles Kuralt once said that Chef Dan’s scallop sauce “would make cardboard taste good.”  Enjoy a glimpse of Blue Heaven.

Another favorite restaurant of mine is the Hogfish Bar & Grill, and there Adam Richman feasted on the “Killer Hogfish,” a sandwich of hogfish that is caught fresh each day off Key West. The “Killer” is piled with Swiss cheese, onions, and mushrooms and served on fresh Cuban bread.  My mouth is watering as I write!  The Hogfish Bar & Grill is located across the Cow Key Channel Bridge on Stock Island.  It has the benefit of being located right off the fishing docks in Safe Harbor Marina.

Conch fritters are also featured on the show. The Key Largo Conch House is the setting and holds a Conch Republic Fritter Eating Contest.  Adam Richman coaches a newcomer to the contest, but you’ll have to watch to see who ate the most conch fritters in 15 minutes.

Check the Travel Channel to see the schedule for our Key West episode times. According to the schedule posted online, it will be shown on July 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18, but the times vary.

Take it from one who knows and loves the food in Key West, this island can’t be beat for fresh seafood and Key lime pie! Add the natural beauty and unique lifestyle and you have all the perfect reasons to make Key West “home.” Let’s get started with your real estate options.  Give me a call today. Margarita Villoch 305-304-8505.

Photo purchased from iStock Photo.com

All things Ernest – - – Hemingway that is- – - will come together July 19-24 in Key West.

Ernest Hemingway called Key West home throughout the 1930’s.  He actually discovered the wonderful lifestyle of Key West by accident.  Hemingway took a ferry from Havana, Cuba to pick up a new Ford car at the dock in Key West; however, the car had not been delivered.  The car dealer invited Hemingway to stay in an apartment above the dealership.  Ernest soon developed a schedule much to his liking.  He wrote on his current novel during the mornings and explored Key West in the afternoons.  He developed friendships with locals and became enthralled with the sport of big game fishing.

The novel that Ernest Hemingway worked on while living in the apartment above the car dealership was Farewell to Arms.  Later he wrote other well-known works while living in the Key West home he and his wife, Pauline, purchased on Whitehead Street.  These included For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber. Hemingway’s famous novel, To Have and Have Not used depression-era Key West as the setting.

Besides touring Hemingway’s House, it is great fun to “walk in his shoes” throughout the areas he made famous in Key West. One of the best known is Sloppy Joe’s Bar which was owned by his good friend, Joe Russell.  Joe was a charter-boat captain as well as a speakeasy operator and served as the inspiration for the character Freddy in To Have and Have Not. After Hemingway’s death in 1961, royalty checks that had never been cashed and parts of the novel’s original manuscript were found stored at Sloppy Joe’s.

Ernest Hemingway’s circle of friends, affectionately known as his “mob,” not only spent many entertaining hours at Sloppy Joe’s Bar but also at Mrs. Rhoda Baker’s Electric Kitchen on Fleming Street.  She served “club breakfasts” that cost 20 cents.  The corner of Thomas and Petronia Streets in Key West, which today serves as the address for the Blue Heaven Restaurant, was once an open-air arena where Hemingway refereed boxing matches.

Our annual Hemingway Days Celebration pays tribute to this great author and legend with a round of events from literary competitions to the “Papa” Hemingway look-alike contest. The festivities start on Tuesday, July 19, with a book release party for author David Sloan who will sign copies of his new book, The Key West Bucket List.  On Friday, July 22, winners of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition will be awarded.  This completion started in 1981 with Ernest’s granddaughter, Lorian, and a few other judges reading a few dozen entries.  Today this competition attracts around 1000 entries from all over the world.

The look-alike contest will be a great hit when over 100 stocky, bearded men compete at Sloppy Joe’s Bar for the honor of being the 32^nd Papa Hemingway Look-Alike.  Anyone interested in applying?  You have one month to grow the beard – get your application at Sloppy Joe’s!

Believe me; you have not seen a real “bull” competition until you see the Running of the Bulls at the Hemingway Days Celebration.  This is a rather off-the-wall salute to Pamplona’s running of the bulls.  Did I mention that the Key West bulls are man-made?  The list of events goes on with such activities as arm wrestling at Sloppy Joe’s, a 5k race, the Key West Marlin Tournament, and a fun and crazy street fair on Duval Street.  Of course, there are serious tributes also such as an exhibit of rare memorabilia from Hemingway’s life, tours of his home, and literary competitions.

Ernest Hemingway loved Key West and left a wonderful legacy for us.  Many celebrated authors have followed in his footsteps to make our island a literary haven.  To me Hemingway represents the unique blend of creativity and craziness that makes Key West a great place to call home.  I’m ready to assist in your search for the perfect Key West home.  Give me a call today. Margarita Villoch 305-304-8505.