Happy Birthday Rhett!

June 14, 2012

Rhett, Melissa & Wyatt

Kathy & Michael

Happy Birthday Rhett!

Our friends Rhett & Melissa have a schedule that matches ours as far as being busy and hectic and spending a lot of time outside of Key West. Rhett is an airline pilot and is flying every week to some far off destination and that combined with our own crazy schedule makes our opportunities to hang out with them a lot less than  we might otherwise like.

Melissa & Wyatt

Kathy & Michael

When we received an invite for a birthday pool party and cook-out to honor Rhett’s birthday, we were excited to see that we would actually be in town and able to attend. Rhett’s birthday shindigs are legendary and it has been a few years since I was able to make it and even then Kathy was out of town and did not make it. That one ended with a crowd of tipsy revelers huddling in the center of the pool as a wicked thunder and lightning storm passed by. 

Randy & Michael

Mike, Randy & Wyatt

Rhett & Greg

This was slightly more tame, but easily just as fun as we were able to catch up with not only the host and hostess, but a number of our friends who were in attendance. Rhett is an accomplished grill-master and prepared his usual fall off the bone tender delicious ribs and chicken and of course the libations flowed freely as we hung out in the pool, ate and drank to abandon.

Mike & Beth

Melissa & Gretchen

As a special bonus (especially to the women in attendance), Melissa’s hunky younger brother Wyatt and his friend Mike (both in their early twenties), a pro golfer on the Canadian PGA tour were in town visiting and were happy to receive all the attention from the slightly older women at the party. It was all in good fun and it was certainly a great time with good friends and food.

Beth, Gretchen, Melissa & Kathy

Rhett

The weather was much better and there were no storms this time and somehow things did not reach the crazy level that they had previously, though I must admit the party was still in full swing when Kathy & I called it a night and headed home, who knows what happened once we left. Whatever the case we want to thank Rhett & Melissa again and wish Rhett many happy returns and lots more wonderful parties as well.

Now I am busy preparing for yet another trip, this one for my job at RPM Nautical, when I head to Europe next week, visiting Albania for the first time. RPM has been working in Albania for a number of years and this will mark my first opportunity to go over and check it out. I am looking forward to it immensely.

Finito

June 4, 2012

Cheeky Derriere



Effie & Lee

Michael, Nick & Steve

Finito

The past five years have seen the establishment and huge growth in popularity of burlesque in Key West. The talented and fun troupe has built up a solid foundation and a large fan base of both locals and visitors alike and have performed on just about every stage and in many venues over the course of the past five years. Partners Tatah duJour and Marky Pierson started and have overseen the incredible growth and development of what has become a staple of the Keys arts community.

Frankie

Erica

Suzanne & Kathy

It was a bittersweet announcement when we heard the news that Marky will be stepping away to pursue other projects and that he would be producing his final Burlesque show for Key West Burlesque, fittingly entitled “Finito”, at the Red Barn Theatre. Kathy & I have been big supporters of Key West Burlesque and Marky in particular because he has always produced wonderful light-hearted, sexy without being raunchy, fun shows.

Marky

We were at once saddened and excited to see what he would come up with for his final outing and we weren’t to be disappointed. As show sponsors, we had the opportunity to see multiple performances and as we have for the past few shows, we selected to attend opening and closing night. In addition I was able to take once and future RPM Nautical interns, Lee & Effie to the show the night before closing night as a part of my continuing effort to corrupt the youth of Key West.



Lee, Velvet Garcia & Effie

Nancy NoPants & Mucho Macho
 

The show was wonderful, even on opening night when technical glitches were an issue that rather than be a damper on things actually added to the frivolity. The show featured a ton of video interactive elements including a virtual host Frankie, who appeared only on screen and was actually sitting in the audience with us heckling his own image on closing night.

Cheeky & Nancy Nopants

Liz & Michael



Marquee Von Phister

The show featured performances from many of Key West’s most popular and talented performers including Pinky Starlight, Golly G, Mucho Macho, Nancy NoPants, Buffy L’Orange, Velvet Garcia, Darknstormy, Hunny Bunz, Rocky Bottom, Skittles, Marquee VonPhister, Moana Amour, Cheeky Derriere & The Bunny Man. It was a chance for them to showcase their talents once more under the guidance of Marky P and to celebrate the conclusion of an epic five year run.

Rocky Bottom * photo by Nick Doll

Moana Amour * photo by Nick Doll

Kathy & I and Lee & Effie and just about everyone else who saw the saw enjoyed it immensely. The parody of the movie Dirty Dancing featuring Mucho Macho as baby and the talented dancer Nancy Nopants as Patrick Swayze was one of the funniest things I have seen on the Key West stage ever, that along with the Opossum skit from the recent Short Attention Span show at the Red Barn were laugh out loud that you are almost in tears hysterical.







Lee & Effie

The rest of the show was wonderful as well and the sold-out crowds were receptive, loud and appreciative each night that we attended. It was a wonderful time and a great way to mark the end of a great era. Burlesque will go on in Key West, in fact now there will be two groups carrying on the tradition. Tatah duJour will continue the mantel of Key West Burlesque and Frenchie will be hosting her own Monday night series as well, both at Mango’s upstairs – so there will still be plenty of opportunity to experience the shows. It just may not be exactly the same without Marky and his wacky input. Thanks for everything Marky and good luck with all your future ventures.





Effie, Mucho, Liz & Michael