Zombeez

November 1, 2009







Zombeez

Michael & Kathy



The Zombeez float was scheduled to start 49th out of 55 entries in the big parade this year. Being at the end of the line gives you an extra hour or so after the official start of the parade to hang around and relax before getting going. There was time to tap a keg or two, to make final preparations on costumes and time to practice the dance routine that some of the Zombeez planned to perform to the strains of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at various stops along the parade route.

Howard





This year we had over 100 people dressed as Zombeez as part of our group, a good mixture of old familiar faces and newcomers who joined in this year. For the first time in ages there was no representation from perennial favorites and our cohorts at Lazy Dogs so we had a large contingent of crossovers from that group who joined in with us this year.

Randy, Kathy & Alison

Shannon, Tom & Terri

Elliot & Todd

It was a festive group and as much fun as we have had doing the float. We finally got going sometime after 8 and it was slow, slow going. The parade crept along in fits and starts at one point pausing in a single spot on Whitehead Street for almost 30 minutes as there was some sort of power outage along Duval Street. Even without that delay, the parade seemed to move along at a snail’s pace. It was hot too, with temperatures near 80, which makes for some sweaty costumes, but despite all of that, it was a great time.



Briget Marquardt

Rick & Eric



The crowd seemed much larger than the last few years, as there were no gaps at all along Whitehead as there had been the past few years. The crowd was great and mostly well behaved, during the parade itself at least. We did manage to see a lot of friends along the parade route, which is always fun. In all the chaos, it can be hard to spot people you know, but this year we encountered many people watching the parade that we know.









Howard & his wife Najada drove in the cab of the float and did an excellent job in what are often trying circumstances. As the parade goes on, many of the Zombeez got progressively tipsy as they went through the six kegs of beer. Kathy & I always refrain from imbibing during the parade, something about not wanting to use the porta-potty and also liking to keep clear headed to take everything in.





Ashley & Arlo

There are two official stops along the route, the media area in front of the La Concha Hotel and the judges stand which is inexplicably at the end of the parade route, translating (for our group at least) into a lot of drunk bees trying to organize themselves and perform the dance. It worked a lot better during the first stop, but was pretty good both times all things considered.

Jerian & Billy

Breanne & David





The parade didn’t end for us until around 11:30 and unlike past years there was very little post parade partying around the float at the end. Instead a large contingent of Zombeez headed to nearby La Te Da to celebrate and dance the night away. La Te Da is out of the zone of chaos that is lower Duval Street and offers a great location to unwind post parade.

Bill & Monica

At La Te Da

Suzyjo & Autumn

Debbie & Matt

Eliza

We ended up the late night at the Green Parrot where the crowd was actually as sparse as it had been all week. There was some activity in the street, but overall the mood was sort of somber and we didn’t stay too long. Heading home to try and recover after a long week.



Elio

Kathy & Gae

Fantasy Fest

November 1, 2009

Zombeez

Kathy


Fantasy Fest





In all the fun and frivolity that surround the biggest party of the year in Key West, there have been some troubling trends in recent years as the focus seems to have shifted away from the creative spirit and more towards a more raunchy celebration of drunkenness. By promoting Fantasy Fest with more focus on sex and partying (such as having as Grand Marshall a former Playboy Playmate) and having numerous officially sanctioned parties hosted by Porn Stars and Playmates perhaps it should come as no surprise that the nature of the crowd has changed, drawing a seedier element that has not been overly prevalent in the past.



Things came to a tragic head this year with the first homicide in the 30 year history of Fantasy Fest when a 23 year old local man was tragically knifed to death in a fight. Reports are that Marques Butler was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that he was not directly involved in the fight, rumored to be over members of one group taking photos of a woman in a different group. Whatever the details may be, there is no escaping the tragic loss of a young man who though I did not know personally, I spent many hours watching when he was a player for the Key West High basketball team. He was by all accounts a wonderful man.

Najada & Elliot

It cast a pall over the parade for many of us and our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and many friends here in Key West. Hopefully this tragic incident will lead to a shift away from the sordid focus that Fantasy Fest has had the past few years. If not, then I fear that this tragedy will become the first of many.

Steve, Suzyjo, Autumn & Rick



Kim

Of course the show went on, and we as always were there. Our float, sponsored by Blue Heaven restaurant and masterminded by our friend Rick Keith had the theme of Zombeez. Undead bees provided a unique theme and we, being way behind this year scrambled on Saturday to create our Zombie Bee costumes. Costume central was held at our friend Melissa Jean’s home and both Kathy & I were able to scramble and get our costumes done in time for the float marshalling time Saturday evening.

Miles

David & Martha

Esme



Our float this year was not one of finest efforts, we went for practicality rather than spending weeks building. It was fairly simple, yet provided the optimum of comfort with AC for our driver Howard and a comfortable back deck that was roomy enough for the sound system, our 6 kegs of beer, cases of beads and even a couch. We towed a porta-potty behind, thus having all the necessities for a comfortable float experience.

Steve

Paul

Martha

One of my favorite times of the week, is the gathering of floats just prior to the parade. As parade participants, it is really the only time we get a chance to see the other floats, many of which have been built by other friends of ours. This year there were a number of excellent entries, including great efforts by our friends Rich & Penny from the Key West Chevron Stations and an inspired entry by Cayman Smith-Martin and friends called “Smuggler’s Blues” that focused on the drug smuggling that was part of Key West’s seemy past.

Ian

Kim, Chris & Erin