Birthday Double Shot

March 13, 2009

Jim & Joanna Cooper

Joanie & Chad

Birthday Double Shot



Tuesday we had the good fortune to be invited to two birthday party celebrations for a pair of our friends which thankfully overlapped so that we could attend them both. Jim Cooper hosted his party at Higgs Beach during sunset while Chad Newman celebrated his with a party at the Bottlecap Lounge later in the evening and we were able to attend them both and double the fun.

Higgs Beach

Jim & Rob

Kathy, Jeri Sue & Rita

Jim Cooper and his wife Joanna are famous for their legendary parties, so much so that they were featured on an episode of the current season of the ABC TV show “Wife Swap”. Joanna switched places with a wife from Utah whose main passion in life is “Sweeping” which is a lifestyle devoted to entering contests and sweepstakes. If you get a chance, watch the episode which will be re-airing in April, which manages to capture the humanity, charisma and fun-loving nature of the Coopers. I have posted a link below where you can watch the teaser about them on video.

Shawna at the grill.

Nicole & Mike

The birthday party was a family friendly, All-American celebration at the recently spruced up Higgs Beach with grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and a beautiful sunset thrown in to boot. It seems the success of Salute restaurant and the recently improved security has reduced the homeless population and suddenly Higgs is a happening place to be again.





It was a great party and a really fun, beautiful and relaxing setting. The beach provided a great setting for the large contingent of kids to cut loose, or hang out, depending upon the age set. Kathy was even able to connect with two kids that she had taught as preschoolers who are now teenagers.

Jeri Sue, Kathy & Kaya



There were many kids at Chad’s party at the Bottlecap lounge which was a much more adult, yet no less entertaining party to celebrate Chad’s hitting the big 4-0. Chad had mentioned that the milestone 40th birthday was something that he wasn’t exactly relishing, but to all appearances, he has a pretty damn good thing going and I think her will find that his forties will be pretty damn exciting.

Jolly, Runi, Chad, Walter & Joanie



A ton of his friends turned out to help him celebrate and it was a great get together, one that lasted well into the evening after we had departed. Chad’s video production company, Digital Island Media produces some of the best videos made in Key West and we often see Chad & his business partner Steve out filming fun events. They even produced a DVD that highlights the work that we do at RPM Nautical.



Kathy & Renee



Coopers on Wife Swap

Digital Island Media

We’ve Got the Keys

March 10, 2009

We've Got the Keys staff

Rob & Suzanne

We’ve Got the Keys





Our friend Nadene has one of the coolest businesses in Key West, an amazing event planning business that she started herself and has built into the premier business of its kind in the Keys. If you have a corporate event to plan or want to have your destination wedding in Key West, they are the ones to call. It has been fun watching them grow and develop over time and Kathy and I were thrilled to be invited to a party they hosted at the Conch Republic Seafood Company during happy hour last Friday.

Rhett, Trevor, Jim, Fiona & Tracy





Nadene & her crew know how to throw a party and there was a fantastic array of food and fun for those clients, friends and well-wishers who were there to celebrate. The fact that the company has been undergoing growth and success at a time when many other businesses have been folding up shop is a testament to the skill and professionalism that Nadene & her staff bring to every endeavor.

Tracy, Rob, Kathy & Beth

Jim & Chad

Part of the reasoning behind the party was to welcome new staff members, including the mysterious Trevor “Shooter” Orr and after the official party was concluded, we joined Nadene, Shooter and the rest of the WGTK crew at Finnegan’s Wake and continued the celebration by listening to the wonderful sounds of Suzanne Moore (who was joined this week by our accordion playing pal, Rob Distasi).

Megan, Kristin, Nadene & Tracy

Beth, Fiona & Kathy

Wendi

Sharona's Fish

It was another wonderful Key West evening, which was followed the next day with a visit to the Open Air Art Show that is held each year along lazy way in the Key West Bight. The art show has grown from a small little locals art exhibit into a really nice and respectable show that features an ever increasing roster of talented artists and exhibitors.





Gae & Kathy

The weather could not have been more perfect and we had a great time perusing the exhibits and galleries along lazy way. There was a large crowd which no doubt contributed to the separation of two tiny baby chickens from their mother. Kathy managed to capture them both and secreted them away in her purse as we enjoyed drinks at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Her loudly cheeping purse, barely drew notice in the bar- just another day in Key West. After a bike ride home with the chicks, we took them over to Wildlife Rescue where they were able to join with other rescued chicks in relative comfort.



Srea, Gae, Kathy & Melissa



We've Got The Keys Site

Sculpture Key West & Stephen Marley

March 8, 2009



Ribbon Cutting -Sculpture Key West

Sculpture Key West & Stephen Marley



When I first moved to Key West many years ago, one of my favorite things to do was to attend the frequent Reggae concerts that were held here at various venues many of right on the beach at places like the Pier House or the Reach resort. Key West was a stop on every major Reggae band’s itinerary and we were constantly getting to go see the likes of the Wailers, Third World, Steel Pulse, Pato Baton, Mutabaruka and Alpha Blondy. Then suddenly it all just stopped and for years, few if any bands were coming here.



Todd & Lisa

Now it would seem things are heading back in a positive direction as we attended our second Reggae concert in the past 6 months, with yet another one already announced for next month. This time it was a show by the second son of Reggae legend Bob Marley, Stephen Marley. It was held on the pier at the Ocean Key House and the place was packed.

Esme & Cayman

Stephen Marley has been performing onstage since joining the Melody Makers at the age of seven. He has been performing and producing ever since, most recently producing two Grammy nominated CDs for his younger brother Damian. He has finally stepped out into the solo spotlight, releasing his solo debut CD, “Mind Control” and going on this tour to promote it.



The show was great, the weather perfect and the entire evening was amazing and enjoyable musical feast. I have included a youtube video of a different Stephen Marley live show so that you can get a feel for it.



The other big event that I went to was the opening of the Sculpture Key West 2009 exhibit at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park. The annual sculpture exhibit is a juried show of art from all over the US that is exhibited at various locations throughout town. The Ft. Zack portion provides wide open spaces for the sculpture to be featured.







I must admit that I was somewhat disappointed by this year’s selection. While there are some very cool pieces, overall the show lacks the punch it once had and really only 4 or 5 really caught my attention. The opening was held on a blustery and unusually cold day which actually helped out my favorite sculpture, “Threshold” by local artist and friend Lauren McAloon who created huge flutes from rudders from the makeshift boats used by Cuban refugees. The piece is beautiful both to the eyes and ears.

Lauren





Other hi-lights for me included works by local artists Anja Marais and John Martini as well as a wonderful piece by a young couple from Memphis called “Post Consumer Suffocation 1: Greenhouse”. The piece is a green house which is made up of sealed plastic bags with dirt and seeds planted that will change over time as the plants grow and eventually die from suffocation. It is a wonderful, interactive piece that will have me returning to watch its progress. There was also a piece made entirely of salt licks which will disintegrate over time that will be fun to watch change.



Greenhouse artists Nathaniel Hein & Jennifer Gonzales







Finally a great new restaurant opened last week and we had to be among the first to give it a try, Braza Leno- a traditional Brazilian Steak House. The place has a fixed price for the magnificent salad bar and 17 cuts of meat that are brought by Gauchos throughout the meal and sliced to individual taste. It was a fantastic and fun evening of eating.

Jim Kilroy at Braza Lena

Stephen Marley

Sculpture Key West