Fantasy Fest Countdown

October 17, 2006

India at Dog Beach

Janine, Kathy, Neal, Bonnie & Gae



Fantasy Fest is the biggest event of the year in Key West. More than a week’s worth of parties and frivolity culminating in the huge parade featuring crazy costumes, beads and floats. This year marks the 28th anniversary of Fantasy Fest and once again, Kathy & I will be joining our friends to build a float. The theme of this year’s party is “Key Weird on the Dis-Oriented Express” and it fairly accurately depicts not only Fantasy Fest but life in Key West in general.

The past week or so, we have been busy planning and getting ready for the big event, as well as trying to go about the normal crazy Key West life. This past week has actually been relatively subdued. As always there is a plethora of things to do here and we had enjoyed a little “Conchy” life by attending both the Key West High School homecoming parade and the football game on Friday night. The Fighting Conchs defeated the evil team from Ft. Lauderdale, with the assistance of some fortuitous calls by the hometown refs much to the chagrin of the parents and fans of the opposition who had to be restrained by police to keep from physically attacking the officials.

Homecoming Queen

Conch Football

We also entertained some friends from Massachusetts, Kathy & Steve Fields (who own a rental place here), and were down for a little getaway from the rapidly chilling Northeast. And yes Al, they did get the bathroom tour. I also had took our dog India for a nice morning romp at Key West’s small but awesome Dog Beach, a beach reserved for canines, where she was able to frolic in the water with the collection of dogs who are almost always present. The weekend was also the eighth birthday party for our good friend’s Bonnie & Neal’s daughter Lauren. We attended her pool party on Saturday and spent a fun afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather poolside. Speaking of birthdays tomorrow is my mother Marta’s birthday….she is 39 in case you were wondering. We just finalized plans for her to come down next month to attend the Miami Book Fair, one of the premier literary events in the nation. Happy Birthday Marta!!

Kathy, Steve & Kathy



Finally we went out to a final farewell dinner for Janine, who is actually leaving tomorrow. Sadly just in time to miss all the Fantasy Fest excitement. She is moving on to brighter pastures, literally I think, in Wisconsin. No doubt she will become a world famous architect and will forget and deny all her silly Key West friends. Good Luck J9. Now we need to get busy on the float. You can check out the design idea for the float at the lazy dog link below.


On a sad note, the infamous birthplace of punk rock, CBGBs in New York City closed this week after 33 years. Home to such rock Legends as the Ramones, Richard Hell, Lou Reed & others this institution closed after a final blow out show with the legendary Patti Smith. They hope to reopen in a new location after the landlords refused to renew their lease.

CBGBs


Fantasy Fest Official Website

2006 Fantasy Fest Float Concept

http://www.miamibookfair.com