2-22-22

 February 23, 2022

2-22-22

The history of the infamous Tutu party is a glorious one. It started about 12 years ago, the inspiration of Key West bon vivant, bar owner and all-around silly guy, Chris Schultz, who was looking to start a party during Fantasy Fest week that catered not to drunken, raunchy tourists but to the creative, fun and interesting local population, basically his friends.

Thankfully Kathy and I were among that relatively small and select group who were invited to and attended the very first Tutu party that was held at Martin’s restaurant and which had only a single requirement, that all attendees must be wearing a Tutu to get in. What started as a reaction against what Fantasy Fest had become at that time, the party was held during the festival yet like the also zany and creative Zombie Bike ride was not affiliated with and something of the anti-Fantasy Fest.

Since that time many things have changed. The Tutu party exploded in popularity for one thing. Outgrowing Martin’s it moved to Mangoe’s then to the Waterfront Brewery and finally the past few have been held at the complex that included General Horseplay. It grew and grew and yet the party maintained for the most part, the wacky, creative and mostly local vibe throughout its history.

I have had the good fortune to attend every one and they rank among the very best Key West parties that I have ever attended. When the leadership at Fantasy Fest changed a few years ago and the creative team led by our friends Nadene and Marky took over, they made the obvious decision to bring the Tutu Party and Zombie Ride into the official Fantasy Fest fold and focused on the creative and fun aspect of the events which had become the model for what Fantasy Fest once was and hopefullhy would be again.

Then Covid happened and Fantasy Fest was canceled in 2020 and much reduced in 2021. The Tutu party went dark and there was concern that it had run its course, never to return- at least in the way it had traditionally been held. Last year much of the creative force behind the Tutu parties shifted to the wonderful Glow Party, but something was certainly missing.

Enter the crew at the Tutu loving bar 22&Co, led by Jenn Stefanacci Portier and her husband Grant who vowed to bring back the party to celebrate, not during Fantasy Fest but on the one-time special date of February 22, 2022 (2-22-22) which happened to be a Tuesday. They enticed much of the Aqua complex into hosting the party, including 22&co, Sidebar and Poke in the Rear and the Tutu party was back.

Since it wasn’t held during Fantasy Fest, and Tutus were, as always, required for entrance, the party was like a throwback to the early days and best Tutu parties. I almost did not go, even though I had ordered tickets as soon as they went on sale, I just wasn’t feeling it at the time, but boy am I glad that I did.

It was an amazing return to form and one of the best times that I have had in ages at a Key West party. The vibe was fantastic and the crowd was an eclectic mix of the moist fun and creative locals who went all out in developing their Tutu ensembles.  I saw so many friends that I had not seen in ages and everyone was just in the best mood, having the most fun and enjoying what was truly an old school Fantasy fest style party to celebrate the ultimate Tutu Tuesday.

The success of the party virtually guarantees that it will return in October during its traditional Tuesday night slot of Fantasy Fest and if you plan on being in Key West, then you should start planning to be there if you want to experience the island at its most creative, fun and funky.