We send big licks and lots of barks out to our wonderful guests that voted us, Caya and Havanna, Lanier’s Cutest B&B Mascot award! We wholly agree that we are the cutest and the most lovable. We enjoy bringing you our well chewed toys and have you throw them for us. We love the belly rubs, the occasional doggie biscuits and we send giant slobbery kisses to the recent guest that took us for long walks, you know who you are!
It is quite an honor to have won, not one but two of the Lanier’s Best B&B awards. The first award, The Best Vegetarian Breakfast, was a feather in our cap; but the second award, The Cutest B&B Mascot award, speaks to the familiar, comfortable and relaxing atmosphere that makes the Mermaid & The Alligator a favorite. We look forward to the return of our former guests and hosting our new guests at our wonderful home.

In honor of our Mascot Award it seems only right to feature a Pet Friendly restaurant this week. Our pick of the week is Sarabeth’s. The open air patio is open to pets and humans too! This elegant Old Town restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (closed Monday night and all day Tuesday). Fresh, updated classic American cooking, this charming Key West restaurant is well worth a visit.
Warm Regards from The Mermaid & The Alligator

Dinner and a Show

With so much to do in Key West it is hard to decide what to do. Why not start your evening dining at the elegant Harbor View Café and then head out for a night of wonderful Key West Theatre? The Red Barn Theatre of Key West and the Pier House Resort have melded their talents and are offering a great ‘Dinner and a Show’ combination making for a fabulous Key West evening. When you purchase your Red Barn Theatre ticket ask them for the ‘Dinner and a Show Package’ or go on-line and book the ‘Dinner and a Show’ option. A $48 ‘Dinner and a Show’ ticket includes a sumptuous dining experience at the Harbor View Café. Enjoy a three course meal from a select menu while overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. After relishing in a fine meal, take a leisurely stroll over to the Red Barn Theater and take in a show. The Red Barn Theater is local theater at its finest. As you squeeze under one tin roof, into the small barn-like theater, prepare to have your socks knocked off. Huge, professional and dynamic productions, you will be swept away into the Key West night.
For more information and Red Barn schedule visit: http://www.redbarntheatre.org/ . You will need to make your dinner reservation at the Harbor View Café, we recommend 6pm so you have plenty of time to get to the 8pm show. Don’t forget to ask your concierge, Geri and Rebecca, to help you with any reservations you may need.

Warm Regards from the Mermaid & The Alligator

St. Paddy's Day in Key West

It’s time to celebrate the Irish in all of us. This upcoming weekend is Key West’s 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bar Stroll. A St. Paddy’s day parade like no other, the stroll takes you into notorious Key West Bars starting at the Atlantic Ocean and ending at the Gulf of Mexico. The stroll is not for the weak of heart (or stomach), as you will visit 9 bars in total and drink green beer at all of them. The event is on Saturday, March 13th, and begins at the south end of Duval Street at the Southernmost Beach Café. Participants gather between 11-12 noon, beer starts flowing at noon (you may want to fill up with a hearty breakfast before the event, the Southernmost Beach Café serves great breakfast). The tickets for the stroll are $30, and can be purchased this week at any of the participating bars. For more information visit, http://www.stpatricksdaybarstroll.com/. If you want to enjoy the parade but aren’t quite sure you can manage the bar stroll, just go down to Duval Street and watch the very green and often very drunk contenders and cheer them on!

Don’t forget the last Home and Garden Tour of the season, is this weekend, March 12-13. The tour features architecturally unique Key West homes and shows off their interior design as well as the gardens. http://www.oirf.org/.

Our featured restaurant this week is Finnegan’s Wake, Irish Pub and Eatery. Not only does Finnegan’s have a selection of fabulous beers, to make any Irishman happy, they also have fantastic ‘pub food’. Nothing like a tall pint of Guinness and a plate of their Sheppard’s pie; great ambiance, great music and Daily Happy Hour from 4-7pm and 12-2am. Key West has so many wonderful restaurants make sure to talk to your gracious concierge, Geri or Rebecca and they can recommend the best of Key West.

Warm regards from the Mermaid and The Alligator!

The Cuba/Key West connection

It was our lovable pooch Havana who let us know about The Cuban Cultural Exposition at the Key West Botanical Gardens this month. Although she has never been to Cuba, she feels her name is reason enough to have a fondness for the island. Did you know that Key West is closer to Cuba that it is to Miami and that our histories have been entwined for centuries?

Celebrating the Cuban/Key West connection, the Key West Botanical Gardens is hosting The Cuban Cultural Exposition March 7-13. Sunday March 7, 2-4pm come to the Gardens and view the intriguing photography of Cuban refugee vessels. Monday, March 8, 6-8pm come and learn how to make Paella. Tuesday, March 9, 6-8pm enjoy a presentation on A Cuban Botanic Experience. Wednesday, March 10, 6-8pm listen to compelling stories of Key West citizens and their early lives in Cuba. Thursday, March 11, 6-8pm come and take Salsa lessons and dance under the stars. Each of the weeks’ events cost only $10. Culminating the celebration, Saturday, March 13, is the Hot Havana Nights party. 5:30-8:30pm eat a traditional Cuban dinner while enjoying the lively Tropicana show. 7:00-11:00pm Hot Havana Soul perform their renown Salsa beat on the Courtyard Stage, dancing encouraged. $100 for dinner and both shows, $25 general admission for Salsa show only. The show will sell out so book today! keystix.com, or call the Garden at 305-296-1504 or email kwbgs@kwbgs.org.

And although Havana admits that Black Beans & Rice are not her favorite dish (but Caya likes them), our featured restaurant this week is El Meson de Pepe. A family owned and operated Cuban restaurant, located at Mallory Square, this restaurant has a diverse menu with authentic Cuban foods and more. Enjoy a mojito, a delicious meal and listen to, Caribe, the local Salsa Band, play live every night at sunset. See you there!

Warm regards from the Mermaid & The Alligator