Fun, Fun! "Divine Sister' Opens at the Red Barn

Key West has great theater.  The talented theater types that call this island a home are diverse, multifaceted and dynamic!  Enjoy a night in the quaint Red Barn Theater (a converted carriage house), see theater up close and personal and live Key West like a local.  The sassy, raunchy and fabulously funny 'Divine Sister' runs Jan 22- Feb 23, Tues-Sat, 7pm curtain. The Divine Sister, a gleefully demented comic homage to nearly every Hollywood film involving nuns, is filled to the brim with irreverent piety, outrageous sass and “R” rated humor. Female impersonator Randy Roberts stars as Mother Superior, taking his international renown to a heavenly plane. As Mother Superior he manages a swirling chaos of mystery, intrigue, holy miracles, surprising love interests, Russian dwarves and a sinister monk. A show that can't be missed!  Also ask your concierge, Geri and Rebecca about the dinner and a show package.  For $60 you not only get a great night of theater but 3 course dinner at the renowned Pier House resort. For more information, tickets and other shows visit http://redbarntheatre.com/. See you there!

The Key West Wine & Food Festival

Top chefs and restaurateurs showcase their culinary creativity and the Keys' indigenous cuisine in a tasty schedule of events for food lovers. Attendees can participate in food-related adventures during the savory celebration.  The week long event opens Tuesday Jan 22 at the Hospitality Suites on South Street and features wine tastings, a 'Kick off your Flip Flops' barefoot beach party, recepie contests, movies, and dinners.  The festival is about wine and food, wine and laughter, wine in a tropical setting and more wine.  To join in on the fun you can stop by the Hospitality Suites to register, or contact 800-474-4319; 305-292-1622 or e-mail info@keywestfoodandwinefestival.com.  To get more information and schedule of events go to http://www.keywestfoodandwinefestival.com.

The 8th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival

Eat, eat and eat some more!  The 8th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival is coming to town!  The FREE, family-friendly community event is a great way to indulge in fresh Keys seafood while enjoying drinks, marine-related crafts, youth activities and live music. The Seafood Festival will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Bayview Park (corner of Truman Avenue & Jose Marti Drive). Parking info: $5 per car at Horace O'Bryant Middle School parking lot, adjacent to Bayview Park.  If you have never eaten Conch Fritters, Conch Chowder, smoked fish dip, fish tacos and the all famous 'made while you watch' Conch Ceviche, you must head down to the festival and enjoy the local celebration.  See you there! 

KW Literary Seminar 'Writers On Writers'

Perhaps it is the tropical weather, the coconut palms and the cold margaritas.  Or perhaps it is the laid back lifestyle and the chickens, or the fact that Key West is isolated from the 'real world', closer to Cuba than to Miami.  Whatever the reason, it is fact that Key West has long been a haven for writers.  The island has a charm that lures writers to its rocky beaches and soon becomes their home.  It is fitting then, that Key West should host an annual Literary Seminar, heralding writers not only from Key West, but from the country.  This year is the 31st year of the Key West Literary Seminar and throngs of writers and enthusiasts gather to honor and learn.  The mission of the Seminar is to promote the understanding of important literary works and their authors and to support new American voices meanwhile preserving Keys West literary heritage.  This years focus is 'Writers on Writers'; leading contemporary writers are to offer insights into the lives and work of literary icons including Jack Kerouac, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, Gore Vidal, Ernest Hemingway, Walt Whitman and many more.  For the Seminar registrants there are dinners, cocktail hours, luncheons amid the the 4 day seminar.  Sunday afternoon January 13 at 2:00pm, and Sunday January 20 at 2pm there is a free session open to the public.  Poet Billy Collins and numerous visiting authors will read from works and open discussions.  For more information or to register for the Literary Seminar visit http://www.kwls.org. 

Geri LaGotta is Citizen of the Day!

At the Mermaid & The Alligator we all know what a wonderful hostess and concierge Geri is, so it is no surprise to us that she has been discovered and now the whole island knows it too!!  Congratulations to Geri on her Citizen of the Day accomplishment.  It is a well known fact among the locals that if you are Citizen of the Day on a special day, such as New Years Day, you will have luck the whole year!  Happy New Year to all, we wish you a healthful and happy New Year!