Although a small tropical island, far from the 'real world', we boast an amazing plethora of delicious, dynamic and progressive eateries.  One new addition to the restaurant scene is the eclectic, classy yet casual, Off The Hook grill.  Located in Old Town Key West at 728 Simonton Street this new restaurant is a winner. A small gem of a place off the beaten track it is offers a casul yet hip ambiance with an interesting and well crafted menu.  It is a small comfortable space and dinner reservations are a must.  Also serving breakfast and lunch locals are discovering their new favorite place to go.  The service is freindly and professional, they always feature creative and mouth watering specials and they offer several craft beers on tap as well as a substantial wine selection. Open 8am to 10pm daily (Closed Tuesdays) make sure to stop in an enjoy a great meal at a good price. It is well worth the wait and Off The Hook is quickly becoming 'the' place to go! To peruse the menu visit- http://www.offthehookkeywest.com/ your concierges Geri and Rebecca will be happy to make dinner reservations for you.

Florida Keys or Bust! A History of Tourism

The Keys have harbored pirates, secluded writers, hidden drug dealers and allured visitors from around the world to come and partake of the island magic.  Our grand Customs House Museum features an exhibit on the History of Tourism in the Keys, a history that has kept the little chain of islands thriving through the worst of economic times.  The Florida Keys have historically been an alluring travel destination for travelers around the world. With the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s, tourism in Key West was the lynchpin in warding off bankruptcy. The exhibit explores the history of tourism in the Florida Keys from the 1920s until the 1980s while focusing specifically on transportation, accommodation, travel brochures and postcards. Sponsored in part by Key West Business Guild, Westin Key West Resort & Marina and the Key West Art & Historical Society, this exhibit runs May through September. An opening reception is to be held Friday, May 16 from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Custom House Museum, 281 Front Street. A $10 donation to the Museum is suggested for non-members. Not only will the exhibit be filled with Keys history, but the Customs House Museum is a piece of historical art in itself. For more information on the exhibit visit: http://www.kwahs.org/ai1ec_event/florida-keys-or-bust-a-history-of-tourism/?instance_id=
or Contact: 305-295-6616.

The 12th Annual Harry S. Truman Legacy Symposium

The 12th Annual Harry S. Truman Legacy Symposium

It is no secret that this island city is rife with history. Key West's political history is thick with stories of dealings, scandals, wars and the list goes on.  Being a tropical oasis, numerous Presidents made Key West a vacation destination.  Each year the Harry S. Truman Little White house hosts a Symposium that highlights Key West's direct or indirect involvement in national and world politics.    The annual symposium is highlighted in panel discussions, a reception and tours of the Little White House where Truman spent many working vacations during his presidency. 2014 marks our 12th Annual Truman Legacy Symposium where we will examine the most controversial decisions of Truman's legacy, Truman's Atomic Energy Legacy. Friday, May 16th at the Truman Little White House Hibakusha Stories will be bringing atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha) Setsuko Thurlow and Yasuaki Yamashita to the annual Truman Legacy Symposium. Saturday, May 17th at the Marriott Beachside Conference Center a conference of prominent scholars will explore the decision to use the bomb and Truman's atomic energy legacy.  Tickets are $125 per person which includes Friday nights reception, Saturday presentations, and lunch. 20% Discount for members of the Key West Harry Truman Foundation.   The Symposium is a way to delve into parts of Key West history, meet with locals and scholars and visit the historical Little White House. For more information visit   for program description http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/key-west/harry-truman-symposium/index.htm or Contact: 305-294-9911.
 

Key West Songwriters Festival

The month of May is hot!  It is hot with musical magic that fills the tropical breezes.  Join in on the 19th-annual Key West Songwriters Festival, May 7-11th.  The festival America's foremost performing songwriters, with concerts staged in intimate, audience-friendly island settings. Highlights include chart-topping RCA recording artist Sara Evans; Jeff Hanna, founding member of the iconic Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; The World Famous Headliners, a rock band composed of five leading songwriters and musicians; and many more, including a May 8 Garden Concert Series. The island festival will take you around the island, in and out of different venues, listening to a variety of music and meeting lots of cool folk.  Join in on the fun and boogie the week away!  For the festival schedule of events go to http://www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com/