Ringing in the New Year

The Mermaid & The Alligator wishes a happy and healthy holiday season to all. Key West is bustling with visitors from all over the world, enjoying the warm tropical breezes and readying for the New Year. The last week of 2011 is filled with all sorts of fun island style activities. Here is a list of some of the events that you must fit into your schedule and end 2011 having a blast! December 27 & 28 is the 52nd Annual Key West Home and Garden Tour. For tickets and information go to http://www.oirf.org/page.php?p=tours. Bayview Park is hosting the Arts Festival December 27-31, open 10-5pm daily. Great art, jewelry, photos and more. And on December 31st join in on the 7th annual Key West Dachshund Parade, starts at noon on Fleming St at Duval. Family friendly and full of fun! Of course New Years Eve will be filled with revelry and cheer. You can join on on fabulous New Years dinners (see concierge for more information), and then join in on the fun on Duval and watch the dropping of the Conch Shell, or the dropping of the Red Slipper or the dropping of the Wench (at the Historic Seaport), all set to count down the last minutes of 2011. Happy New Year!!

Thank you Chamber for voting us the winner of the 'Island of Lights' competition!

The Mermaid & The Alligator is the proud first place winner of the Chamber of Commerce 'Island of Lights' holiday competition for the second year running. It goes to show that Dean and Paul's hard work, along with their exuberant holiday spirit paid off. However, it was not an easy win, our little island city is ablaze with fabulous holiday decorations and the creativity and ingenuity of its' citizens really shines. From a little conch cottage with a sleigh on the roof, to a grand condo with candy canes striped in lights, palm trees lit up in glory, and a lighted tricycle sitting on the roof of the local bike shop, the award truly goes to everyone who participates to make our island so spectacular over the holidays. Thanks to the Chamber for your recognition and we wish everyone a joyous and happy holiday season!

Lighted Boat Parade

This Its that time of year again! It is time for the annual Schooner Wharf Lighted Boat Parade and it takes place this SATURDAY, December 11th at 8pm, in the Key west Bight and Harbor. Lighted and decorated vessels (from rowboats to tall ships) parade around Key West’s Historic Seaport and harbor showing off their creative and imaginative holiday decorations. Holiday revelers can watch and applaud this magical display of holiday spirit from bars, restaurants and resorts in and around the Historic Seaport while listening to the favorite sounds of the holiday season Key West style.

Past years have seen gingerbread men, the Grinch, doves of peace, dancing candy canes, toy soldiers, and of course Santa’s sleigh. Full choirs and steel bands grace the decks throwing candy and beads to the delight of spectators. It’s an unforgettable magical night — a definite highlight of the Key West holiday season!

For more information, please visit Schooner Wharf Bar online or contact 305-292-3302. See you there!

Thanks for a GREAT Parade Party!

Thanks to all who participated in our Parade Party on Saturday night. It was an affair to remember. Dean and Paul, once again, outdid themselves, and the Inn was dressed in its full Christmas glory, welcoming people to join in on the parade fun and support the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. Being the gracious hosts that they are, they fed guests with wine and delicious food and meandered among the throngs greeting and chatting. Both Geri and Rebecca, with their natural elegance and grace welcomed the parade goers and made everyone feel at home. Our Mermaid guests joined in on all the fun and are the fabulous people that make the Mermaid feel like home! All together we cheered on the parade, singing Christmas songs, meeting new people and fully embracing the spirit of the holiday season. Thanks to all!

The Holiday Historic Inn Tour

Key West is truly an enchanting place to visit over the holidays. Known for its historic homes and inns, Key West comes alive with a celebratory spirit as the old homes boast holiday lights and stand tall adorned in wreaths, bows bells and more. Join in on the Holiday Historic Inn Tour and view some of Key West finest Inns decorated for the season, featuring art, fine food and refreshment. Touring dates are Friday, December 9th or Saturday December 17th, between 6-9pm. Tickets are $25 per person for one of the touring evenings of your choice. The Inns are within walking and biking distance of one another, however if you want transportation to the Inns, you may purchase a VIP $40 ticket which provides transportation to the Inns via the Holiday City View Trolley and includes caroling while en route! When visiting an Inn, the tours are self guided, so you may explore at your leisure, enjoy the festivities and get into the spirit of the holidays. The Mermaid & The Alligator is once again proud to be one of the fine Inns featured on the Friday tour. We love this time of year and enjoy showing off the home in all its grandeur. In fact, The Mermaid & The Alligator was featured in Florida Travel & Life Magazine as a 'Keys Hot Spot' for the holidays; to read the article go to http://www.floridatravellife.com/articles/holiday-hotspot-key-west-florida. We hope to see you this year on Friday December 9th! To purchase tickets for the Historic Inn Tour and to see a list of Inns and schedule, visit http://www.kwholidays.com/index.php/holiday-historic-inn-tour.