Closer to Fine

January 21, 2016

The Indigo Girls

* photo by Mac Stone

Reverend and Breezy

Closer to Fine

It has been a busy week here on the island as season has really kicked into high gear and interesting activities happening almost every night, with some nights having more than one event. Kathy and I have had the good fortune to attend some great things this week and spend some good times with friends. This includes the annual visit by my friends and members of one of my favorite bands, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Breezy and Rev. Peyton have been spending their winter vacation between touring in Key West for thirteen years and were here once again.





While they do not play gigs while here, it is still always great to see them and since they finally played here last fall during Fantasy Fest, I can’t even complain. They spend a couple of weeks here, joined by some friends from Nashville, Indiana and seeing some of the many friends they have made here over the years.



They really, really enjoy fishing and always seem to have remarkable success, catching a veritable feast of fish yet again. Kathy and I had the good fortune to be invited to an amazing seafood feast where they grilled up the fruits of their catch and hosted a great party for their friends. It was such a joy to hear Rev. Peyton and his friends swapping stories from the road, fishing tales and just plain adventures. It was a remarkable mix of fascinating and incredibly nice people.



The weather was not all that great, it has been a little chilly, rainy, cloudy and windy since the start of the year, with thankfully a few of the more normal beautiful sunny days scattered in. It allowed Rev. and Breezy to get out for a few days of fishing. The good news for us is that with the onset of the busy season, there are a number of activities that are held in the warmth and comfort of indoor venues that make the threat of rain unlikely to affect us.





The first of these was yet another in a string of amazing shows at the newly renovated and beautiful Key West Theater. With backing from Tap Johnson, Michael Marrero has transformed the old run-down Eaton Street Theatre, which had been sitting unused and abandoned for years into what may be the best venue in Key West. Kathy and I have been supporters from the start, getting tickets for most of the events that they have hosted there. This week’s concert brought the fabulous Indigo Girls to Key West for an outstanding performance.





Closer to Fine

The folk-rock duo of Amy Ray and Emily Sailers has not performed in Key West together in the time that I have lived there, though Emily Sailers, who regularly vacations in Key West, did play a very rare solo show at The Studios of Key West that Kathy and I attended a few years ago. We have also seen the Indigo Girls play at Folks Fest, but it was awesome to have them playing two sold-out shows in the small intimate space that is the Key West Theater.

Romeo and Juliet

Kathy and I were at the first night of the pair of shows, at our regular table in the front row and had an excellent vantage point to watch this fantastic show. They played songs from throughout their career, which covers fourteen album releases to a wildly appreciative crowd. Many in the crowd were members of Key West’s Gay and Lesbian community who view the Indigo Girls as important role models for their long history of being open about their sexual orientation and the work they have done for the cause of equal rights. It was a special evening of amazing music.





Later in the week, I attended the annual meeting of the civic/environmental local organization Last Stand. Last Stand had as their featured speaker a great conservation photographer named Mac Stone. After the general membership meeting that reviewed the past year in Last Stand’s work, mostly their sadly unsuccessful litigation to fight against shallow injection wells for sewage in the Keys, the keynote speaker Mr. Stone was introduced.

*photo by Mac Stone

*photo by Mac Stone

*photo by

Stone delivered an hour long slide presentation of his incredible work, focusing on his recent book, “The Everglades” which is available through his website link below. I purchased a copy and would encourage anyone interested in the Everglades or photography to get one as well. His amazing efforts to capture unique and fascinating shots produce photos unlike anything I have seen, and I have seen a ton of great photos of the Everglades. I have included just a few of his magnificent photos that show the majesty and beauty of the Everglades and highlight his incredible eye and talent. I am telling you the book is incredible as was his presentation. I am so glad that I decided to take in the Last Stand meeting.

*photo by Mac Stone

*photo by Mac Stone

*photo by Mac Stone

The issue of wildlife in the Keys was brought in to national focus this week, when some residents of Islamorada awoke to find an eight foot crocodile basking in their swimming pool. Something that seems to be happening with more frequency these days. By the time Florida Wildlife Officers arrived and snapped a few photos (including the one below), the creature slowly sauntered out of the pool, across the beach and back into the Atlantic. It is funny that it took more than 20 years of living in the Keys before I ever actually saw a crocodile in the flesh and in the past few years, I have had multiple sightings. The Florida Panther is about all that is left on my South Florida wish list, as I have even seen a rare Ghost Orchid.

* Photo by FWC

  * photo by Mac Stone



At the end of the week, Kathy and I traveled up to Miami to catch the Madonna concert that had been postponed from last fall. It was a cold and blustery evening in Miami and Kathy and I actually walked around Bayfront trying to find a place that served Hot Chocolate if you can believe that. The concert, which will get its own blog posting was to be held at the American Airlines Arena and we drove up in the early afternoon to get there in time.







http://www.indigogirls.com/

http://www.thekeywesttheater.com/

http://www.macstonephoto.com/