The free kick-off concert at Ocean Key Pier features Howard Livingston & The Mile Marker 24 Band. I can testify that this group will instantly put you in a Key West party mood! They are an all-original, crowd-pleasing tropical island band which was voted “Florida Keys Band of the Year” in both 2009 and 2010. In the same years, Howard was named “Entertainer of the Year.” Take a break now, and enjoy a preview: Mile Marker 24 Band. I hope you can join us to hear the group in person on April 27 from 6:00 – 8:00pm.

There’s something for everyone at the Key West Song Writers Festival. Besides more than a dozen concert offerings at some of our favorite waterfront locales, restaurants, and bars, you can check out two stages of music, an artist demonstration area, a youth art competition and exhibition, a canine disc dog contest, and, of course delicious food.

A Key West resident, Charlie Bauer, who owns the Hogs Breath Saloon, started the Songwriters Festival in 1995. He says that the first year was small, but memorable. The next year, Broadcast Music, Inc. got involved with the festival, and it quickly grew to a world-famous event, with hundreds of songwriters performing more than 30 shows around Key West.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation. This foundation, started in 1998 by the world’s largest business music provider, has a mission to redefine and expand the scope of music education. They provide new and exciting ways to help students realize their dreams in the music business.

The Songwriters Festival is an event you won’t want to miss. Put it on your calendar for April 27 – May 1, and come to the “music mecca.” Of course, Key West is a mecca for many things in my book, including beautiful homes. I’m prepared to show you many outstanding Key West properties that could be your next “mecca.” Give me a call today. Margarita Villoch: 305-304-8505.

The colorful history of Key West includes many legends of pirates, shipwrecks, and battles.

Fort Zachary Taylor was constructed in 1845 by the US Army, to protect the harbor of Key West. It was originally located 1,200 feet offshore but in the 1960s the water surrounding the fort was filled with land from dredging projects, and the fort became landlocked. Today, the fort has a moat around it which gives the original feel of being surrounded by water. It also provides an attractive divide between the fort, the surrounding land, and the beach.

When the Civil War broke out, Federal troops were already living in the Key West Barracks, and they moved into Fort Taylor. The fort remained in Union hands for the duration of the war. The military history of Fort Zachary Taylor continued, when it was used as a coastal artillery installation during the Spanish-American War, and a training facility for the US forces during both World Wars. In 1947, the fort was removed from active duty and turned over to the US Navy to be used for storage.

In 1968 Key West resident Howard England started to excavate Fort Taylor, and discovered many Civil War artifacts and a rare desalination plant. In 1973, the fort was declared a National Historic Landmark. In 1976, the state of Florida and its park service obtained ownership of the property. Fort Zachary Taylor was officially opened as a state park in 1985. Check out the slideshows provided by our local Friends of Fort Taylor.

When I walk through this Key West landmark, I can imagine the action when the fort’s cannons were fired during the Civil War to prevent ships from running the blockade to supply the Confederacy. I am fascinated by accounts of the shipwrecks that were part of our past. Key West became the richest city in Florida in the 1890s, with the salvaging of wrecked ships being one of the economic drivers. Although pirates may not have attacked the fort directly, we relive the days of Key West pirates during the annual Pirate Fest held at Fort Taylor in December. In fact, the first outpost established by the US Navy in Key West was a small depot in 1822 to rid the area of pirates!

I could go on and on about the intriguing history of Key West, but it’s much more fun to come and see for yourself! I am ready to show you the options and opportunities to make Key West part of your history. Give me a call today. Margarita Villoch: 305-304-8505.

In 1890, Key West had a population of nearly 18,800. It was the largest – and wealthiest – city in Florida. Half of the residents were said to be of Cuban origin; Key West regularly had Cuban mayors. Cubans were reportedly actively involved in 200 factories in town, producing 100 million cigars annually. Beginning in 1891, Jose Marti made several visits to seek recruits for Cuban independence, and Marti founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party during his visits to Key West.

Did you know that Pan American Airlines was actually founded in Key West? It was originally developed to fly visitors to Havana in 1926. And, before the Cuban revolution in 1959, we had regular ferry and airplane services between Key West and Havana.

Our connection with Cuba runs deep, and we celebrate it in March!

There will be food, music and entertainment – all with strong Spanish influence that we love so much. Cuban food relies a great deal on roots and tubers, such as malanga, potatoes, boniatos, and yucca. Other starchy foods include plantains, bananas, and rice. Some dishes you might recognize are moros y cristianos (black beans and rice), lechon asado (slow roasted pork), and pollo en salsa (chicken in sauce). Also, a tortilla in Cuba is a simple egg omelet, and is not at all similar to a Mexican tortilla. Cubans love pizza, too – some favorite toppings include ham, chorizo, and onion. Yum!

Music will be Latin – and hot – but we feel confident that the weather will be perfect as usual! Cuban music has been immensely influential in other countries. It contributed not only to the development of jazz and salsa, but also to tangos from Argentina, Ghanaian high-life, West African Afrobeat, Dominican Bachata and Merengue, Colombian Cumbia and my favorite – the Spanish Nuevo flamenco!

For information about the Cuban Cultural Exposition & Hot Havana Nights, please call 305-296-1504. And to find your dream home in the Florida Keys, call me – I’ll be happy to show you the perfect Key West property!

The Botanical Gardens’ annual plant sale is an island favorite, as South Florida’s top nurseries showcase gorgeous orchids, bromeliads, palms, fruit trees, and native tropical flowers. Those attending Gardenfest can take advantage of workshops on landscaping, learn how to build native gardens, shop through garden supply booths, or take advantage of purchasing arts and crafts from local artists. Informative lectures and demonstrations, along with docent tours, will be offered.

Botanical Garden members are invited to attend a special Friday night preview between 5 and 8 pm. Not only will they get first pick, but they will receive a 15% discount. New members are welcome to join at the door. Call (305) 296-1504 for additional information.

For those of you unacquainted with the phrase “hardiness zones,” plant hardiness zones are a guide to help you know which plants or trees will grow where you live. This will help you to avoid the mistake of planting an orange tree in northern Minnesota, for example! I’ve always used the USDA map as reference, when I decide what plants to try in the Florida Keys – which is Zone 11. The USDA plant hardiness map divides North America into 11 hardiness zones. Zone 1 is the coldest; zone 11 (that’s us!) is the warmest.

I love the smell of the gardens and attend GardenFest each year for ideas. I’ve found that the trick to growing veggies is to plant them at the right time. Our summers are far too hot and humid for most peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. You’re better off growing squash and cucumbers during the summer. The rest of the veggies can be grown in the fall, winter, or spring.

What always thrives when “re-planted” here in the warm, sunny Florida Keys are “northerners!” “Re-plant” a northerner, and they immediately begin to start relaxing and smiling. If you are a northerner who would like “growing instructions” for a new life in the Florida Keys, contact me and I’ll show you properties where you can put down roots for a long, long time!

It’s not too late to snag your 2011 VIP pass! This year your 2011 VIP Pass will allow you to enjoy:

• Wednesday VIP Welcome Party
• 90 miles from Havana Barefoot Beach Party at the Southernmost Beach and Café (very fun!)
• Your choice of one neighborhood stroll (quite romantic!)
• Your choice of one seminar throughout the weekend (you’ll learn something to take home!)
• Bess & Harry’s Grand Tasting (yum!)
• Coconut Bowling & Coconut Recipe Contest
• Duval “UNCORKED” Seafood Shakedown at the outdoor WINE MARKET Key West
• VIP Gift Bag (love it love it love it!)

Every year, I start at the Key West Food and Wine Festival Hospitality Suite. This year, the Hospitality Suite will be open now through Sunday, January 30 from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm daily.

After you’ve enjoyed your stop at the Hospitality Suite, join me at Key West’s “South Beach” to kick off the 2011 Key West Food and Wine Festival. Check your flip-flops at the door, and start the party! Whet your appetite for the Festival with “island favorites” cuisine, wine, and music – all overlooking the shimmering water of the Florida Straits under a bursting moon. This is a favorite spot from which to enjoy the sunset while you mingle with the locals – like me! 5:00pm-7:00pm Cost: $35.00

Pastry is my weakness, and this year we have a world class event scheduled right here in the Keys! Imagine a scene never before witnessed, as we have 16 French pastry chefs gathered for three intense days of mixing, piping and sculpting everything from delicate chocolates to six-foot sugar sculptures. This is the MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) competition, the ultimate recognition for every pastry chef – it is a dream and an obsession for the chefs, and a delight for us observers!

This year, I’ll wind down with some food, wine, and music at historic Truman Little White House at 111 Front Street in Truman Annex. This promises to be a truly memorable Grand Tasting with a sense of history. The Truman Little White House, built in 1890 as a home for the navy commandant and paymaster, has been enjoyed by six US presidents during their visits to Key West. President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess, used this house for 175 days, as his Winter White House during his administration. The Grand Tasting takes place from 5:00pm-7:00pm; cost is $95.00 per person.

When you are in town, call me and I’ll share more than great food, wine, and history with you. I’ll show you why Key West is the best place to be in 2011…and 2012, and beyond!

I would like to thank you for your encouragement and support of me in 2010. Without this support, I could never have accomplished my personal and professional annual goals. It’s people like you who have made my chosen profession immensely enjoyable and rewarding. You see, if it weren’t for the effort you put forth in recommending me to people you know, I would not have reached the level of success I was fortunate enough to attain this year!

Key West continues to be a destination point for visitors, and a wonderful nesting place for our full-time residents. Art, music, boating, fishing, beautiful water, and warm sunshine are at our fingertips – 365 days of the year. The creative atmosphere is electric for writers and artists. Eco-tourism is growing, and the islands are being maintained in pristine condition, not only for the present, but for future generations to come.

I sincerely appreciate your past encouragement, and thank you in advance for your continued support in the upcoming year. In this very busy world of ours, we sometimes forget to take time to express our appreciation for the efforts of those who help us in so many ways. I want to make certain you know how appreciative I am.

So, I would like to thank all of my special friends and family. May you all enjoy continued good health and happiness in the upcoming New Year!

“With salt or without salt,” here’s to a wonderful 2011!

Respectfully,

Margarita

The Nutcracker Ballet is full of pageantry, and joins a professional corps de ballet with our local residents, including children and community leaders. It is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” as written by E. T. A. Hoffman. Although the stage performance differs in details from the original story, the basic story remains wonderfully the same. The story is based on a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince, and thrills with a fierce battle against a Mouse King. A revision of the original story by Alexander Dumas has become what we know and love as the Nutcracker Ballet.

The Party Scene introduces the characters and features staging with the Stahlbaum home – a grand house and even larger Christmas tree.  The holiday festivities are in full swing. The children retire to their sleep, and that is when the magic begins! There is a Prince and toys that come to life, as well as an army of mice. The Land of Snow is my favorite part, and the dancing snowflakes are simply delightful!  You’ll be mesmerized when the Sugar Plum Fairy entertains with a celebration of dances culminating with a beautiful Pas De Deux.

I won’t tell you the ending – you’ll just have to come and share what is not only a tradition around the world, but is found right here in the Keys! We only get to see this production every two years – so book your tickets early for a very limited run of six shows… because The Nutcracker Ballet will not be performed again until 2012!

Please note that no children under three are admitted, so please get your babysitters booked in advance!

For event tickets go to: http://keystix.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=327

Margarita Villoch and her team are the local experts on what Florida island living has to offer. Whether you are seeking a second home or a year round permanent residence, contact Margarita and you’ll know what we already know – Key West is a great place to live!

As one of our local residents, you will be entranced with the furnishings, design and amenities possessed by these grand old «girls». They will hearken back to a time when hats and gloves were de rigueur – oh, if these walls could talk!

When you are here, don’t just stop at the tour… make arrangements to stay in one of our inns and absorb the luxuries of a by-gone era made new!

We have something for everyone… there are rooms with kitchenettes such as those at the Ambrosia and the Ocean Breeze Inn.  If you want more pampering and a continental breakfast, check out the accommodations at the Conch House, the Cypress House and Simonton Court.

If you want to be just steps from nightlife, book a room at Rose Lane Villas – you’ll find a private pool and a fully equipped kitchen… and great parking also!

Large families gather to celebrate the holidays here in the Keys, but rooms for large groups can be difficult to find.  You don’t want your whole family scattered around town – you want to stay together!

Suite Dreams Inn is a lovely inn, located in the middle of the Casa Marina area, close to the beach and a nice walk to Duval Street.  It offers 1, 2, 3 and, yes, even 4 bedroom suites!  You’ll have a private entrance, living rooms, kitchens or kitchenettes, king and queen size beds with oh-so-soft premium linens and even flat screen tv’s – if you have the time to watch tv that is!

Bring your newspaper and a cup of coffee, and relax in the lush gardens or swim in one of the heated pools.

Rose Lane Villas is the place I recommend for wedding parties, and it’s where I book my out-of-town family when they come to visit.  There are also laundry facilities, free parking, in-room safes, central air and ahhhhh… cozy, comfortable robes for everyone!

The only problem I have is no one wants to leave!  If you find this is true for you, call me when you’re in town. I’ll show you why you’ll want to unpack your suitcases and make your new home in Key West.

Margarita Villoch and her team are the local experts on what Florida island living has to offer. Whether you are seeking a second home or a year round permanent residence, contact Margarita and you’ll know what we already know – Key West is a great place to live!

Pennekamp was dedicated Dec. 10th, 1960. Little did anyone realize the scope of the State park, as it now attracts more than a million visitors annually!

The event planners have been busy, and no one has been left out for this gala celebration! Divers, snorkelers and outdoor enthusiasts will all be included in this historical event.

A few highlights of the 11-day celebration include:

Dec. 1: 50th Anniversary Photo Contest Begins. This is a juried competition and you are allowed up to six images – specifically portraying the natural beauty of Key Largo. Stephen Frink, one of the world’s most published underwater photographers and a longtime Key Largo resident, will be one of the judges.

Dec. 4: Snorkeling Record Attempt. We want to set a Pennekamp Park world record for the largest number of snorkelers in the water at one time. Visit flakeys.com/pennekamp50 and click “Event Highlights” for more details.

Dec. 6-9: Protect the Reef Days. The Coral Restoration Foundation would like some extra pairs of hands to help with an environmental clean-up on December 6^th at 10:00 a.m. If you canoe, kayak or walk on the beach – we need your participation. This is a great project for children, as it teaches them responsible management of our fragile resources.

Dec. 10: Underwater Rededication Ceremony. Marking the 50th anniversary of Pennekamp’s original dedication, the rededication is planned at one of the park’s most famous offshore sites, the 9-foot-tall bronze “Christ of the Deep.”

I plan to attend the Educational fair and Environmental Expo on December 11th. Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pennekamp, this event underscores the island-wide celebration with conservation-minded educational vendor booths and exhibits. I’ll be there, enjoying the park’s popular water activities during the event, such as viewing the reef on glass-bottom boat tours, canoeing, kayaking or fishing. Entrance into the park will be waived for this event!

I’ve noticed that quite a few Key Largo area businesses, restaurants and lodging properties are rolling back their prices for this 50^th anniversary celebration. If you need more information and event highlights, visit fla-keys.com/pennekamp50.

Nowadays people in The Keys, like the folks 50 years ago, take even greater interest in our ecosystem and want to preserve it for generations to come. If our kind of “green” lifestyle appeals to you, contact me while you are here and I will help you make your vacation here permanent!

Margarita Villoch and her team are the local experts on what Florida island living has to offer. Whether you are seeking a second home or a year round permanent residence, contact Margarita and you’ll know what we already know – Key West is a great place to live!

This event is actually very near and dear to our heart.  We participated last year for the first time.  It is something that we will be doing every year as long as it is in existence. The mix of people that participate, the support, the message, all of it…it is an amazing thing. Riders and crew range in age from 18 to 73. Many are HIV/AIDS positive, some have lost someone dear to HIV/AIDS and over half know someone living with HIV/AIDS. If you care about others, it is just the right thing to do.

There are six HIV/AIDS agencies that benefit throughout the state of Florida. These include Miami, Broward County, the Tampa area, Orlando, and of course here in Key West.

Each rider and crew member is required to pay an $85 registration fee, and each rider is committed to raising a minimum of $1250.  The one major difference between this ride and other rides that happen around the country is that for this ride, 100% of the money raised goes back to the benefitting agencies to be used for direct services to their clients.  Direct services would be things such as housing, medication, medical treatment, food, etc.  The ride is coming up very quickly.

If you can’t ride but you wish to help out with a pledge, an agent in my office, Charles Zalepeski, is riding this year. Just go to the SMART Ride website, click the “Pledge” link at the top of the page, in the space for “Rider/Crew Number” enter the number 86, and then just follow the prompts.

Come join us and help cheer us out during Ride Out on Friday, November 19th, in Miami and as we ride onto the AIDS Memorial Pier in Key West on Saturday November 20th. If you can’t join us, stay tuned as there will be a live web broadcast. Details of our schedule and web broadcast can be found in the November 2010 Spoke-N-Wheel.

Margarita Villoch and her team are the local experts on what Florida island living has to offer. Whether you are seeking a second home or a year round permanent residence, contact Margarita and you’ll know what we already know – Key West is a great place to live!