Don't Dream It - Be It.

March 23, 2012



Liz



* photo by Nick Doll

Don't Dream It - Be It.

Years ago, back when I was in high school and in to my college years, I spent many, many late Friday & Saturday nights attending the Midnight showings of, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. In fact most weekend nights when there wasn’t a party of some sort, I joined a group of friends at the Castleton Square Mall theatre on the Northside of Indianapolis to take in the show.

Chris & Erin



Erin, Layla & Nick

It was a ritual of sorts, a reason to stay out until two or three in the morning, we would often enjoy a post movie meal at Denny’s or Waffle House or some other 24 hour place. I was not much in to dressing up, though many of my friends did. I certainly knew all the lines and my timing was impeccable. I lost count of the number of times I saw the film at somewhere around 125, but whatever the number it was a lot.







Since that time, I still occasionally attend the Rocky Horror show whenever I get the opportunity. I have probably seen it less than a handful of times since moving to Key West but I still enjoy it mostly for nostalgic reasons. I have tried watching the DVD, but it really isn’t anything like the experience of seeing the film in a crowd of enthusiastic and hopefully knowledgeable fans.









A few months ago, the Tropic cinema here in Key West hosted a viewing of the cult classic and for some reason Kathy & I could not make it. So when I received notice that they were hosting another viewing on Sunday evening, I made sure we got our tickets early. Good thing because once again, it was a quick sell-out. I should have guessed as much given the crazy, creative and eclectic Key West audience.









While Kathy & I did not dress up, we were in the definitive minority as probably seventy-five percent of the packed sold-out house was in costumes and the raucous and surprisingly knowledgeable crowd was right on in shouting out lines and responses and participating in the film. It was incredibly fun and exciting to see so many of our friends so in to Rocky Horror.

Frankie







For the uninitiated, the movie no doubt makes little sense, but it is probably the most popular cult film of all time and seeing it in a theatre packed with fans is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Kathy & I had an amazing time and want to thank the organizers including Frankie and Dan & Lori at the Tropic for putting up with the mess created at every showing. We hope they show it again soon.









“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure
Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh
Erotic nightmares beyond any measure
And sensual daydreams to treasure forever
Can't you just see it?”



* photo by Nick Doll

Pog Mo Thoin

March 21, 2012









Pog Mo Thoin



The 34th annual St. Patrick’s Day bar stroll took place this past weekend and for the first time ever, Kathy & I got to participate together. For the past few years, I have taken photos for the founder and organizer of the event, our friend Rick who has been there since the beginning when the stroll was actually a race, known then as the St. Patrick’s Day Suds Run. The competitive nature and increasingly number of ill participants who could not handle running over a mile and downing beers at a series of a dozen or more stops precipitated a move to a more leisurely and popular bar stroll a few years in and it has been one of the largest events of the spring in Key West ever since.

Deb

Richard



Traditionally held on the Saturday that is closest to St. Patrick’s day itself, the event actually fell right on March 17th this year. We gathered at the starting location along with perhaps a thousand other revelers, both official participants and those who simply tag along, often pulling wagons, kegs and small homemade bars along with them on the route.







The weather was perfect and the crowd, which was a diverse mixture of locals, spring breakers, old-timers and young kids almost all wearing green, either the t-shirts from the event or some other manner of festive St. Paddy’s gear. At noon sharp the beer started flowing at the Southernmost Beach Café as Rick gave the official starting command. Kathy & I had two large groups of friends that we sort of took turns hanging out with in a very disorganized meandering as we headed down Duval Street, stopping at every official stop for our free beer plus a number of unofficial stops that were not actually part of the organized stroll.

Melissa, Rhett & Kathy

Liz





With-in a few stops the mass of participants was strung out along the length of Duval Street, a green-hued parade of happy people enjoying the day. Stops included the Tiki Bar at the Southernmost Hotel pool, Sweet Tea’s, McConnell’s Irish Pub, Cowboy Bill’s, Jack’s Seafood at the La Concha, Kelly’s, The Bull, Rick’s and the Schooner Wharf Bar.







Kathy & I made additional stops at the likes of the Green Parrot and Grunt’s as well and we stopped with our friends in front of the Court House for their annual St. Patrick’s Day pyramid photo, which is always fun. In fact the entire day was fun, a lot of fun. I’m sure that I had a few too many, but Kathy was there to keep me on the straight and narrow.





Kelly



One of the traditions of the stroll is for pairs to perform wheelbarrow walks across Duval Street in front of Rick’s & Sloppy Joe’s. The police actually stand there and stop traffic for the generally drunken strollers to perform this feat, which often has hilarious spills and thrills as drunken wheelbarrowers often face plant into the asphalt.





Buco & Michael





We completed the entire stroll and additional stops and then, not having enjoyed enough St. Paddy’s shenanigans, headed over to the huge annual party at Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub, where we ate a delicious meal of corned beef and cabbage to complete the day. Thanks to our friend Mark, who kindly gave us a ride back across town to where our bikes were waiting, I sort of doubt that I would have made it back across the island. It was a fun time and a happy St. Patrick’s day.



Breanne



Rick & Cindy