Keys Style, Featuring Meg Cabot

KEYSStyle

2017

| SPRING EDITION |

PEOPLE • EVENTS • FEATURES

KEY WEST'S

meg CABOT

COMPL

COPY

IMENT A RY

$3.95 US

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ABOUT THE COVER Author Meg Cabot is shown at her home in Key West with family member Allie Cat and a sampling of the more than 80 books she has written.

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A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE CELEBRATING THE UNIQUE LIFESTYLE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

SPRING 2017

CONTENTS

19 COVER STORY

MEG CABOT | Photo by Brian Basham |

Princesses Rule 26 Get Cultured

6 Searching for Answers

In Key West

Scavenger Hunts in the Southernmost City

14 Count Von Cosel

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This Edition: Art Gone Wild Gallery

32 Animal Attractions

Dolphins and Turtles and Birds - Oh my!

42 Nothing Fishy Here

Romantic Eccentric or Morbid Maniac?

Cupcake Sushi Finds Sweet Success

46 Keys Wide Event Calendar

| PUBLISHER Paul A. Clarin | ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Melanie Arnold | EDITOR Kay Harris | CREATIVE MARKETING STRATEGIST Dannielle Larrabee | WRITERS Kay Harris, Mandy Miles, Gena Parsons, Sarah Goodwin | PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Basham, Rob O'Neal | ADVERTISE 305.292.7777 sales@keysnews.com | FRONT COVER Photo by Brian Basham |

A Cooke Communications Florida LLC Publication

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K W Searching For Answers In

EY

EST

S C AV E N G E R H U N T S IN THE SOUTHERNMOST CITY

By Gena Parsons

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| Do you know where this awesome sign is? A photo from Southernmost Scavenger Hunt sightseeing tour |

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nyone can find Mallory Square, the Hemingway House or the Southernmost Point Buoy. But how about a flamingo named Pinky, a public outdoor shower or the most colorful cocktail in Key West? Scavenger hunts challenge participants to learn, over the course of a couple of hours, more about a city’s history, culture and character with cellphone photos passing as official documentation.

Apps, like those available for most touristy cities, guide smartphone users on a relatively basic sightseeing tour, while a local company crafts clues to better suit clients desiring more of a challenge. For example, to score points in the Southernmost Scavenger Hunt, photos might be required of contestants recreating a locally famous sculpture or finding the cleverest way to consume the island’s signature pie.

“They see the sights and learn about everything one-on-one,” said Graff Kelly, Southernmost Scavenger Hunt creator and owner.

“People also love the idea of scavenger hunts. It takes them back to their youth in a fun and creative activity.”

While most first-time visitors see Key West’s sights from a train, trolley or bus, scavenger hunters walk, bike or drive electric carts on their off-the-beaten path adventures. In keeping with the competitive nature of the riddle-solving contest, teams can choose to wear matching t-shirts, caps or bandanas. The bonding experience proves perfect for families, friends, employees, wedding parties, club members and cruise groups.

Photo by Dannielle Larrabee

“We’re competitive with each other,” shared Mike Ellis, who brought his high school teammates to Key West for their annual scavenger hunt. The 1976 New Jersey state baseball champions had reunited for similar experiences in Las Vegas and New Orleans. “It’s good friends getting together and having fun.”

| Opposite Page: Contestants recreating a local sculpture | Top: Teams receive 50 points by capturing Pinky, the Southernmost Scavenger Hunt’s flamingo mascot | Bottom: Corporate employees illustrate their most unusual way of consuming a Key Lime pie | Photos Courtesy of Southernmost Scavenger Hunt

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hunts] “[Scavenger take them

BACK to their youth�

Photo by Gena Parsons

- Graff Kelly, Creator of Southernmost Scavenger Hunt

| Above (clockwise): "You are here" sign is a stop on the Southernmost Scavenger Hunt sightseeing tours | | A bachelorette party stopped by the Southernmost Buoy to take a team selfie | The Best of the Bars adventure hunt includes the Chart Room | | Former New Jersey state baseball championship teammates and their spouses opt for Key West after participating in scavenger hunts in Las Vegas and New Orleans for previous reunions | Photos Courtesy of Southernmost Scavenger Hunt

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Left: Scavenger hunts challenge participants to learn more about the city’s character like a public outdoor shower.

Below: Contestants are tasked with finding hidden treasures, just like this sign located at a local favorite coffee shop.

Clues are crafted to match each group’s objective and the answers cannot be found by asking Siri. A classic walking tour may only cover a four or five block radius while a biking or driving challenge takes those more familiar with Key West into nooks and crannies unknown even to some locals.

Also, there’s a whirlwind adventure centered on the abundance of purveyors of potent potables – kind of a thinking man’s bar crawl – that takes thirsty teammates to

places they might otherwise overlook like the Chart Room or The Porch.

“We spend a lot of time planning each hunt and finding out exactly what they want from it. We customize clues and create new challenges on a daily basis based on what the customer wants,” Kelly emphasized.

of time. The tougher the clue - the more points for finding the answer. Hidden gems add up to victory and bragging rights. KS SOUTHERNMOST SCAVENGER HUNT

(305) 292-9994 www.keywesthunt.com

Hunters are urged to read the clues carefully before strategically charting their course to cover the most ground in the least amount

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{ Romantic Eccentric or Morbid Maniac? } German-born

CARL TANZLER

VON COSEL (who referred to himself as a Count) arrived in Key West in 1927 to serve as a pathologist and radiologic specialist at the U.S. Marine Hospital.

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t was there that he was called upon to diagnose Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, a young Cuban woman, whose lovely vision, he claimed, had come to him since childhood. A decade later, Count von Cosel would be imprisoned for living with her corpse.

“Charges had been brought against me that I was a violator of the grave, a ghoul, a fiend of society. There was an avalanche of misrepresentations, of sensational press stories, which accused me of being a sexual pervert, a necromancer, and a maniac,” von Cosel recalled in a 1947 issue of the now-defunct pulp comic Fantastic Adventures and reprinted by David Sloan in “The Lost Diary of Count Carl von Cosel.”

As a boy, von Cosel insisted the ghost of Countess Anna von Cosel foretold his marriage to an exotic, dark-haired woman. Following World War I, and a brief hold in an Australian concentration camp, von Cosel joined his sister in the Tampa area where he married and had two daughters.

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Apparently seeking a fresh start, he abandoned his family for Key West, where the heavy Cuban population involved in the cigar trade rekindled hopes of finding his dream girl.

When von Cosel confirmed through blood tests and X-rays that Elena had tuberculosis, he attempted to cure her through radiation, electrical treatments and diet. As she improved, he professed his love and showered her with gifts. Elena’s family, uncomfortable with a nonHispanic suitor, pushed him away. When he was finally allowed to return to her bedside, it was too late. Elena died Oct. 25, 1931.

Von Cosel contended that Elena had asked him to take care of her after death and the family

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

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| Count Carl von Cosel at his beachside laboratory where he harbored the body of the woman he loved |

| Elena's mausoleum was built with a metal vault to hold her body because he feared water was destroying her shallow grave | | Von Cosel, talking to reporter Earl Adams and, mortician Bennie Sawyers on the left |

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allowed him to make funeral arrangements, then later to move her body into the mausoleum he constructed. During daily visits to the Key West Cemetery, von Cosel began to believe Elena was speaking to him, expressing her desire to live with him. During the darkness of a new moon, he spirited her away to his beachside hometurned-laboratory. “I sank gently into the coffin to her and kissed her as if she were alive. Long I lay thus, holding her closely to me, the living and the dead united in love,” he wrote.

Von Cosel’s account of his restoration efforts included sealing her body with silk, wax and plaster, dousing it in perfume and “feeding” it with fluids and vitamins. No one knew of the passion-fueled experiment until October 1940 when Elena’s family discovered the morbid secret and alerted authorities. The sheriff remanded the rotted corpse to a funeral home where the strange spectacle drew thousands of gawkers.

“Worst of all, they had removed Elena’s body, that body which I had treated, first to preserve it in its unearthly beauty, and then to reunite with its soul,” von Cosel wrote.

The bumbling Dr. Frankenstein garnered an amazing amount of public support sympathetic to the scientist so consumed with love that he would go to such extraordinary lengths. News stories chronicling the strange love affair abounded. Although arrested and ruled sane, von Cosel was never convicted. Elena’s body was buried in a secret location. There have been rumors that the mausoleum he built for her exploded and burned the night he left Key West.

Von Cosel returned to Central Florida where he died in 1952. Reports say a plaster replica of Elena rested by his side, or was it? KS

| Von Cosel preserved Elena’s body with silk, wax and plaster |

| Portrait of Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos |

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meg

By Kay Harris

PRINCESSES RULE

CA B OT

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he may have a tiara at the ready for any emergency, or book signing, but Meg Cabot is much more than the bestselling author of the wildly popular series, The Princess Diaries. She’s also the author of at least 80 other titles, including several additional series – and an avid reader, cat lover, and natural performer – she can recite all 50 states alphabetically in about 30 seconds (which she demonstrated in our interview, despite drinking only water- neat).

through travel and time spent living abroad.

She started writing at age 7 and by age 11, “I was writing fan fiction (Star Wars, Princess Leia), making up my own stories, until I realized that I’d never be published writing about someone else’s characters.”

I would be remiss in not mentioning her ‘grasp’ of the English language following several years spent as a romance author writing about carnal embraces with a variety of euphemisms (which she demurely declined to share and which I wisely will refrain from attempting to emulate here).

Her first foray into writing fiction for money and publication was as a historical romance novelist under a pseudonym, reducing the embarrassment for any family members who might be offended by the spicy language.

For those who love her novels, Meg Cabot is everything you think she’d be - a delight to engage in conversation with a wicked sense of humor, and fiercely private and protective of her immediate family, which includes Benjamin, her husband of more than 20 years, and the newest addition to the cat friendly household, Allie Cat. As a child, Meg was blessed with a vivid imagination and parents who encouraged and fed it

She started making up her own heroines, typically “princesses, empowered women, who ruled their own planets.” Her first attempts at being published while in college “were rejected brutally,” but also helped her to find her own voice.

After graduating from Indiana University armed with a Fine Arts degree, basically guaranteeing a life of ease - or perhaps not- she moved to New York City to find work and quickly found that being an illustrator was not the lucrative career she hoped, so while continuing her writing (and many rounds of rejections from publishers), Meg took a job at New York University as the assistant manager at a dorm.

Not only did she gain a tremendous amount of fodder for her novels, including her Heather Wells mystery series, she was also able to take any classes she wanted or had time to.

| Opposite Page: Meg Cabot relaxes on her veranda at home in Key West | | Above: The newest member of the family, Allie Cat rests comfortably on Meg's lap |

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“Princesses,Empowered Women, W H O R U L E D T H E I R O W N P L A N E T S.”

And then, in a relatively short period of time, Meg married a childhood friend, finally got published at age 30, and with the release of The Princess Diaries in 2000 and subsequent movie

by Disney productions in 2001, went from relatively unknown aspiring writer to accomplished, renowned and in high-demand author.

Along the way, she unfortunately lost her father suddenly when she was 26. Although she dealt with his loss resiliently, she was less than thrilled, or in her words “horrified and disgusted,” when her mother began dating, of all things, one of her former high school teachers- ewww, right? Yes, they are still a couple and yes, she borrowed this experience for character Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, although in the book version, Mia’s parents are divorced. In the movie, however, producers killed the father’s character- but for a good reason.

Initially resistant to the idea, after they told her it was because they had lined up a famous actress to play the grandmother and wanted to expand her role, Meg said she was fine with altering the story. “Julie Andrews was a childhood idol, so of course I said it was okay. We got to hang out during the filming- she is the coolest person.”

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hen asked about title character Mia’s portrayal by Anne Hathaway, Meg was equally as complimentary, saying she was “the nicest person” as was everyone she worked with on the movie.

And sorry, spoiler alert!!! Princess Diaries 3 is in pre-production now!!

A dedicated writer, Meg must write five pages by 5 p.m. every day or send $5 to a charity she hates- a pact with fellow author and bestie Rachel Vail – who will be in Key West on Feb. 28 for a joint discussion and book signing at Books & Books at the Studios.

Although they kept an apartment in NYC, the move to Key West was and continues to be a dream for Meg and Benjamin. He left his job on Wall Street after 9/11 and went to culinary school to fulfill a lifelong

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dream, and the couple made the leap to the far south about 10 or so years ago.

Any qualms they might have had about making the move were quelled their first night in town. “We went to a restaurant (that has since closed) and were eating dinner. A very drunk man at the bar kept kicking his dog when it whined.” The bartender told him if he did it again, he’d punch him- long story short, he kicked the dog, got punched, went and got a police officer who ended up arresting him for animal cruelty after “everyone in the bar told police that they hadn’t seen a thing except him kicking the dog.” The dog went home with the bartender, the drunk went to jail, and Meg and Benjamin went home thinking, “This is so great! It’s like the Old West- vigilante justice.”

A non - driver who walks or bikes everywhere she needs to go in town, Meg

is happy knowing that her fans love her writing because it makes them feel good, and it makes her feel good too. Her heroines are strong women who rule kingdoms, and her books are happy escapism, with happy endings, which hopefully empower her readers to want to change the world.

Although it takes a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to create fairy tales, it seems they really can come true. She may not be the crown princess of Genovia, but Meg Cabot rules. KS

| Above: Meg Cabot drew on her art education to illustrate the characters in her new book, “From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess� | | Megs books are available at Books & Books at the Studios |

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| Painting by Artist D. Arthur Wilson |

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| Contributed Photo |

get

CULTURED

By Sarah Goodwin | Photos by Brian Basham

THIS EDITION:

ART

GONE WILD galleries

Paintings of a goofy ostrich head takes up half the wall space in Art Gone Wild gallery on 619 Duval Street. With a wry smile, artist D. Arthur Wilson recalls his first few ostrich paintings.

“When I told my mother this ostrich head was my new thing, she was supportive, but I could tell she thought I'd gone nuts. But I had noticed people responded positively to the ostrich. Using the bird, I could get away with saying things that might have offended otherwise. It wasn't until 19 years later I finally gave him the name, Rhupert!”

Rhupert's appeal is undeniable. People walking by Art Gone Wild often glance in and smile, sometimes stopping to take a picture or point out the ostrich to their companions. What is so charming about this inquisitive ostrich, sticking his lanky neck into other paintings, as if Rhupert

| Opposite Page: Rhupert “photobombing” Vincent van Gogh's famous Sunflowers still life | | Above Top: One of the unique gear art pieces by Dale Matthis | Bottom: D. Arthur and Lisa Wilson in their gallery, Art Gone Wild | 27

| Contributed Photo |. SPRING 2017 28 . KeysStyle

| Opposite Page: Wilson’s interpretations of various famous works of art are shown with Rhupert | | Below: Lisa Wilson's “Abstract Expressionist” piece |

is “photobombing” the Mona Lisa, or an Andy Warhol soup can, or even the Welcome to Key West mural in front of Cuban Coffee Queen? According to Wilson: “Rhupert reminds us not to take art, or life, too seriously.”

Rhupert knocks the pretentiousness out of the grandest scene. He seems to peacefully challenge authority. He gets in your face--but he's so cute you don't mind. Though Rhupert may act cartoonish, Wilson's detailed paintings are far from child's play.

Says Wilson, “I learned so much about the masters copying them for Rhupert pieces. The hardest was Birth of Rhupert, trying to copy Botticelli on a relatively small canvas. If you look closely, you'll see I added my own touches to the master's work. In And There Was Rhupert, in the details within Michelangelo's Creation of Adam behind Rhupert, you'll see light comical touches, obviously mine. Someone might take this as poking fun of the divine, but I think it reminds us that humor is a divine part of nature.”

Rhupert may be Wilson's most popular creation, but Wilson doesn't limit himself to paintings of his iconic ostrich. He also creates vibrant animal portraits. In one impressive painting, an elephant confronts the viewer, a Goliath of dynamism and bulk. In another, an almost electric jungle cat reclines on an invisible perch. A chimpanzee gazes out curiously as a jet ski roars in the blue sea behind him. Wilson calls this style “Wildlife Expressionism.” He explains, “I wanted to show the personality of the animals as opposed to making them look completely real. Unlike typical wildlife painting, I didn't worry about displaying them in their natural environment.”

The work of Lisa Wilson, D. Arthur's wife, decorates several walls of Art Gone Wild.

“We're one of the few working studios on Duval Street,” Mr. Wilson states proudly.

“Definitely the only husband and wife team working together in a studio here. But Lisa's work is totally different from mine. She paints her feelings.”

Lisa Wilson's “Abstract Expressionist” pieces show dreamy, dramatic colorscapes. Unlike her husband's whimsical paintings, Ms. Wilson's are earthy and sensual. They create synesthia, using colors that appear flavorful. Says Wilson, “We use extra space, especially floor space, to display other artists we like. We've carried 15 different artists over the years.” Currently, two other artists are on display at Art Gone Wild.

Dale Matthis's clunky sculptures incorporate gears, pistons and spinning parts. Some are usable furniture, such as a table and an office desk. He describes his work as “Surrealism

“Rhupert reminds us not to take art, or life, too seriously.” - Lisa Wilson 29

meets Mechanicalism.” His urban vision provides contrast to the work of the fourth artist on display at Art Gone Wild, Colorado sculptor Chad Awalt.

Awalt's sensuously carved, classical male and female torsos melt the beauty of youth with the immortality of nature. Depending on the color and texture of the wood they're carved into, each torso feels utterly unique.

Sometimes subversive, often irreverent, and at moments, downright silly, a painting or sculpture from Art Gone Wild gallery is sure to catch the eye and start a conversation.

It might even make you smile. Bring your sense of humor and your love of nature and come take a look. KS

| Left: Rhupert “photobombing” Gustov Klimt's, "The Kiss" | | Above: A sculpture celebrating the human form by gallery artist Chad Awalt |

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BY KAY HARRIS

DOLPHINSAND TURTLES AND BIRDS

OH MY!

Everyone has heard about the “wild life� of the Keys, with events such as Fantasy Fest dedicated to those who want to walk on the wild side for a few days, but there are many other types of wildlife in the Florida Keys that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Rare bird species, aquatic animals, butterflies, and much much more are all a vibrant part of the Keys, and the preservation and conservation of the natural environment are essential to those who live and play here. From Key Largo to Key West, there are a number of facilities and attractions dedicated to protecting the native life and helping to foster a love for animal life in children and adults.

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| Below: Current patient out for a swim at the Marathon facility |

the turtle hospital The Turtle Hospital is dedicated to rehabilitating injured sea turtles and returning them to their natural habitat. Several times each year, the hospital returns a rehabbed turtle to the sea with great fanfare and typically hundreds in attendance.

More than 1,500 have been treated and released since the hospital’s founding in 1986.

The hospital, which is also a fully functioning veterinary clinic, also works to educate the public, and assists with research and legislation to benefit and protect sea turtles, their nests and their habitats.

W H E R E : Located at Mile Marker 48.5 on the Overseas Highway in Marathon E N T RY: Admission is $11 for ages 4-12; $22 for adults.

B E S T T I M E T O G O : Open year round, tours are offered every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

I N F O R M AT I O N : 305-743-2552 www.turtlehospital.org

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key west aquarium The aquarium first opened in 1935, but hurricanes and other issues intervened. However, it’s been in continuous operation since the mid-1940s, and is now home to sharks, turtles, stingrays, and numerous tropical and other various fish found in the waters off Key West.

W H E R E : 1 Whitehead Street in Key West E N T RY: $8.50 for ages 4-12; $15 for adults; $13 for seniors; online discounts B E S T T I M E T O G O : Open year round, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

INFO R M ATIO N: 888-544-5927 www. keywestaquarium.com

| Above: One of the aquariums touch tanks where guests have the unique opportunity to touch a live shark on the tail. |

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| Below: The Sea lion performance at the Theater of the Sea in Islamorada is popular with guests |

theater of the sea One of the oldest continuous mammal attractions in the country, the Theater of the Sea experience has wowed and welcomed visitors since the 1940s.

Considered a pioneer in animal interactive programs, including dolphin and sea lion swims, as well as parrot shows, a bottomless boat ride, a beach, and tours showcasing sharks, fish, seas turtles, stingrays, alligators and crocodiles, with audience participation encouraged.

WHERE: Mile Marker 84.5; 84721 Overseas Highway in Islamorada ENTRY: General admission is $22.95 for ages 3-10; $33.95 for 11 and up.

BEST TIME TO GO: Theater of the Sea is open year round, 365 days a year.

INFORMATION: 305-664-2431 www.theaterofthesea.com

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dolphin research center The Dolphin Research Center focuses on fostering interactive experiences between visitors, dolphins and sea lions. General admission allows visitors to observe the animals, and the various packages which are offered for extra fees include swimming with the dolphins, a VIP experience, a researcher experience and even painting with a dolphin.

W H E R E : Mile Marker 59, 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key E N T RY: General admission is $25 for ages 4-12; $28 for adults; military discounts; does not include the interactive attractions; online discounts B E S T T I M E T O G O : Open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed some holidays I N F O R M AT I O N : 305-289-1121; www.dolphins.org

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tarpon feeding AT ROBBIE’S MARINA The tradition began in 1976 when Robbie and his wife nurtured an injured tarpon, who continued to return to visit after he healed and was released back to the water near the harbor. Soon, the tarpon brought his friends and a tradition was born.

Feedings are daily and the fish often linger for hours, giving everyone ample opportunity to toss a baitfish to them, with some rising up from the water to take it from your hand- although don’t get too close to their teeth!

Robbie’s has a lot of other activities, a restaurant and more to offer, but this marina near Islamorada is best known for feeding the fish.

WHERE: Mile Marker 77.5 bayside, 77522 Overseas Highway ENTRY: Each bucket of fish is $3 plus tax and admission to the dock is $1 per person.

BEST TIME TO GO: Always open INFORMATION: 877-664-8498; www.robbies.com

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| Photo by Rob O'Neal |

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key west butterfly and NATURE CONSERVATORY A very popular attraction in Key West, the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory features hundreds of living butterflies and colorful birds.

Visitors walk through the climate controlled, glass enclosed habitat and typically see 50 or more different species from around the world of the “flowers of the sky.”

The butterflies are farm raised for the conservatory and visitors can also visit the learning center to learn all about butterflies.

WHERE: 1316 Duval Street in Key West ENTRY: General Admisson is $8.50 for ages 4-12; $12 for adults; seniors and military is $9 BEST TIME TO GO: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily INFORMATION: 305-296-2988; www.keywestbutterfly.com

marathon wild bird center A small facility that is part of the Crane Point Hammock Museum & Nature Center, children and adults alike can view the various birds that have been or are in the process of being rehabilitated at the center.

WHERE: Mile Marker 50 at Crane Point Hammock in Marathon ENTRY: Donations welcomed BEST TIME TO GO: Day time hours INFORMATION: 305-743-8382; www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org

key west wildlife center The Key West Wildlife Center is located inside the 7-acre Indigenous Park in Key West.

Open seven days a week, the center’s primary responsibility is wild bird rescue and rehabilitation.

The Center provides 24-hour emergency assistance and rescues over 1,400 wild birds annually along with assisting other agencies with the rescue of sea turtles, tortoises and other land and aquatic mammals.

WHERE: 1801 White Street in Key West ENTRY: Donations welcomed BEST TIME TO GO: Open every day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

INFORMATION: keywestwildlifecenter.org;

KS

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NOTHING FISHY HERE:

Sushi CUPCAKE

FINDS SWEET success

2 2 F L AVO R S I N C L U D E

SNICKERS SALTED CARAMEL RED VELVET KEY LIME AND MUCH MORE 42 . KeysStyle . SPRING 2017

BY MANDY

MILES

| Below: A sampling of cupcake sushi rolls from the permanent kiosk located at 431 Front Street | Photo by Brian Basham |

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oseanne Hoban squealed with delight upon discovering the cozy, little booth tucked in at the busy corner of Front and Duval streets, where a glass display case shows off a colorful and artistic assortment of bite-sized cupcakes, wrapped in buttercream and designed to look exactly like various types of sushi rolls.

“Oh my God, my girlfriend and I are ‘sushi partners’ back home in Chicago,” Hoban said, her eyes devouring the decadent drops of dense cupcake morsels, the perfectly proportioned layer of award-winning buttercream and the thin chocolate shell on the outside. “We go to all the sushi places in our town in the suburbs of Chicago. I’ve got to get her some of these,” Hoban said, her enthusiasm wavering for just a moment when she learned the sushi cupcakes require refrigeration. “But we can ship them anywhere,” said

the woman behind the counter, a newly trained expert on the handrolled dessert that’s wrapped and cut with the same bamboo mats and the same theatrical flourishes as a master sushi chef. “Perfect,” Hoban said with a definitive nod.

Her reaction and delight is what it’s all about for Cupcake Sushi creator Lori Shubert, who doesn’t hesitate when asked about her favorite part of the business. “The interaction with our customers is the best part of it all, without question,” said Shubert, who launched her unique business in 2012 at Key West’s Mallory Square during the nightly Sunset Celebration. “I get such a rush out of seeing people’s reactions as they watch the product being rolled, and then again when they actually taste it and realize it’s not just a pretty confection, but actually tastes as good as it looks.”

Shubert owned a café in Fairhaven, Massachusetts before moving south, and her buttercream recipe won her multiple awards. She says the concept behind Cupcake Sushi was born more out of necessity than anything else. “I was tired of the paper wrapper that holds traditional cupcakes absorbing the moisture and drying out the cake,” she said.

“Everyone knows the interior middle of the cupcake is the best part, so I wanted to find a way to produce a cupcake morsel that stayed as moist and rich as the ‘heart’ of a traditional cupcake.

As a lover of both sweets and sushi, Shubert tried imitating the process by which sushi chefs wrap pieces of fish in white sushi rice and a seaweed wrapper, then slice the resulting product into rolls. “We have a few patents pending on both our products and our process,” she said, eager to franchise the concept to other parts

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| Cupcake Sushi has 22 flavors to choose from | Photo by Brian Basham |

of Florida. “Franchisees wouldn’t even have to do the baking. We’ll provide the baked cakes, and they’ll receive training on the assembly process as well as a business plan and marketing materials.”

Shubert’s walk-up retail booth at 431 Front St. is a new venture. The mainstay of Cupcake Sushi has been live rolling demonstrations from a specially designed cart. Shubert takes her sweet show on the road for weddings, parties and other special events. “Weddings are my favorite, because everyone lines up to see us rolling and cutting the Cupcake Sushi, and it offers the perfect conversation starter and ice breaker for wedding guests

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from separate sides of the family,” she said. “Even though they could easily grab one of the pieces from the table displays, they’re all happy to wait in line to watch it happen.”

pistachio, pumpkin and maple bacon.

The possibilities are endless and sushi has never tasted so sweet – or successful for Shubert.

For more information, mail orders, Described on their website as “elegant, prices and scheduling a live-rolling bite-sized pieces of art,” Cupcake Sushi demonstration, go to cupcakesushi.com bites are sold separately for $2.50 each, or step into 431 Front St. KS or in the traditional sushi bento boxes, which are sold at the Front Street booth as well as in several local retail locations.

There are 22 different flavors to choose from, including Snickers, salted caramel, red velvet, key lime, double chocolate, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate/vanilla,

Roll on...

| Contributed photos |

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EVENT CALENDAR KEYS WIDE

MARCH 10

FIVE TO TRY

STUDIOS OF KEY WEST PRESENTS:

BEN PEGG AND KYLA PISCOPINK

KEY WEST

APRIL 21 - 30

CONCH REPUBLIC INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION The Conch Republic’s 10-day birthday party showcases the independent and eccentric spirit that characterizes the Florida Keys.

MAY 5 - 7

PAPIO KINETIC PARADE The sculpture parade features sculptural floats, tricycles with costumed riders, decorated bicycles all powered by human effort.

MARATHON

APRIL 1

SEVEN MILE BRIDGE RUN A field of 1,500 runners participate in the annual foot race across the longest bridge of the Florida Keys.

MAY 20

BATTLE IN THE BAY DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL A boat race that involves 20 paddlers moving in unison in a combination of strength and teamwork.

ISLAMORADA

APRIL 1 - 2

FLORIDA KEYS ISLAND FEST Music, art, food and fun complement this annual art show with nearly 100 artists and crafters, live music and a “Taste of the Islands” foodie competition.

46 . KeysStyle . SPRING 2017

KEY WEST

MARCH 3 - 27

RANDY ROBERTS LIVE!

Female impersonator extraordinaire Randy Roberts brings a one man, all live tribute to some famous and infamous women of stage and screen. Join Randy for an evening with “Bette Midler”, “Cher”, and Randy’s signature lounge act. Hilarious comedy, gorgeous costumes, and voice that never fails to thrill!

Show dates online. www.lateda.com

MARCH 4

CONCH SHELL BLOWING CONTEST

An island tradition for over 50 years, this unique contest celebrates the historic importance of conch in the Keys and features contestants in several age categories attempting to make “music” with fluted conch shells.

Contest located in the garden of the Oldest House, 322 Duval Street, free and open to all ages.

Registration begins at 10 a.m., contest starts at noon.

305-294-9501 www.oirf.org

MARCH 4

KEYSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Crowds are expected to gather at Truman Waterfront for an evening musical event that in the past has hosted Grand Funk Railroad, Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night and Huey Lewis & the News. No coolers or lawn chairs day of show. Headliner: Eric Burdon & the Animals

305-745-1079

www.keystix.ticketforce.com

MARCH 7

KEY WEST THEATER PRESENTS:

MARC COHN

Joined by an all-star band, Marc will be performing his Grammywinning record in its entirety, from start to finish. From the iconic opening track “Walking In Memphis,” to the album closer “True Companion,” fans will hear a sequence of songs that have surely stood the test of time.

305-985-0433

www.thekeywesttheater.com

Local talents Kyla Piscopink and Ben Pegg join forces for a night of original music and choreography.

The innovative founder of Dance Key West, Kyla tells stories through a combination of structured movement and improvisation. Ben Pegg’s smooth vocals recall the late Jeff Buckley and his virtuosic guitar playing. www.tskw.org

MARCH 12

KEY WEST IMPROMPTU PRESENTS:

INTERSECTION TRIO

The typical Intersection program is an irresistible blend of classical, jazz. Latin, Broadway/film music, vital new commissions and the group’s own original compositions and arrangements. Show starts 4 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 Duval St. www.keywestimpromptu.org

MARCH 13 - 16

MARCH MERKIN INVITATIONAL PERMIT TOURNAMENT A charity flats-and-fly-only tournament with a twist-in addition to catch and release, anglers earn extra points for tagging their caught fish. Held at the Key West Yacht Harbor Marina on Stock Island.

303-888-4546

marchmerkin.com

MARCH 17 - 18

57TH ANNUAL KEY WEST HOUSE & GARDEN TOURS

Tour a series of elegant and unique private homes of Key West, ranging from exquisite restorations to creative renovations, and the interior design that complements each. March tours are offered 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Transportation between homes NOT included. Tickets are $30.

Proceeds help benefit the Old Island Restoration Foundation.

305-294-9501 www.oirf.org

MARCH 20

KEY WEST THEATER PRESENTS: JOHN HIATT

John Hiatt’s songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt (“Thing Called Love”), Emmylou Harris, Iggy Pop, Rosanne Cash (“The Way We Make A Broken Heart”), the Jeff Healey Band (“Angel Eyes”), and even the cartoon bear band of the Disney film, The Country Bears. He earned a Grammy nomination for Crossing Muddy Waters, while B.B. King and Eric Clapton shared a Grammy for their album Riding With The King, the title track from which is a Hiatt composition. Performance at 8 p.m.

305-985-0433

www.thekeywesttheater.com

MARCH 20

SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY PRESENTS:

AND THE TONY GOES TO...

The symphony tips their hat to Broadway in a homage to Tony award-winning musicals. Performance will be held at 7:30 p.m., Florida Keys Community College, Tennessee Williams Theatre. www.southfloridasymphony.org

MARCH 21

KEY WEST THEATER PRESENTS:

GET THE LED OUT

Led Zeppelin’s days of reunion touring may be over, but Get the Led Out’s Zeppelin tribute show hits all the right notes for fans looking to reminisce over the iconic band’s heyday. Handpicked

by Jimmy Page himself to perform at one of his charity’s fundraising events, Get the Led Out have the band’s sound down to a tee. Event is age 21 and over.

305-985-0433

www.thekeywesttheater.com

KEY WEST

Warren G. Harding. An easygoing satire of politics and history, it draws upon quotes and biographies to paint a realistic and far-from-sugarcoated picture of this trio.

305-296-9911

www.redbarntheatre.com

APRIL 2

4TH ANNUAL COW KEY CHANNEL BRIDGE RUN

MARCH 26

KEY WEST IMPROMPTU PRESENTS:

IMANI WINDS

Internationally acclaimed, Imani Winds is a Grammy-nominated quintet that has established itself as one of the most successful chamber music ensembles in the United States. Performance is at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 Duval St. www.keywestimpromptu.org

Feel like running across a bridge in the Florida Keys without waking up early or breaking a sweat? Join zany-dressed participants for the world’s only Zero K across one of the shortest bridges in the Keys. The event is free to watch. www.cowkeybridgerun.com

tarpon, permit, bonefish, barracuda, marlin and sailfish. Awards also for anglers under age 15.

305-294-8843

keywestfishingtournament.com

APRIL 12 - 29

WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS:

GOOD PEOPLE

by David Lindsay-Abaire. An insightful dark comedy, this recent Broadway hit asks why some people manage to escape from the situations into which they are born-and some don’t. Funny and surprisingly touching. Performances at 8 p.m.

305-294-5015

www.waterfrontplayhouse.org

MARCH 28 - APRIL 15 RED BARN THEATRE PRESENTS:

CAMPING WITH HENRY AND TOM

Bristling with humor, this delightful play is fictionally based on a 1921 camping trip taken by Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and President Warren G. Harding. An easygoing satire of politics and history, it draws upon quotes and biographies to paint a realistic and far-from-sugarcoated picture of this trio, whose private personas often differed from the exemplary personalities known to the public.

305-296-9911

www.redbarntheatre.com

MARCH 31

STUDIOS OF KEY WEST PRESENTS:

ANTILLES MUSIC ENSEMBLE

Seven or eight musicians strong, the Antilles Music Ensemble charts a course through early 20th century Caribbean dance music, with an eye toward the islands, an ear for French Creole rhythms and a scholar’s appreciation for the earliest forms of Jazz. We challenge you to stay in your seats for this one! www.tskw.org

MARCH 28 - APRIL 15 RED BARN THEATRE PRESENTS:

CAMPING WITH HENRY AND TOM

Bristling with humor, this delightful play is fictionally based on a 1921 camping trip taken by Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and President

KEY WEST

APRIL 4

APRIL 20 - 23

UNTAMED SPIRIT

CONCH REPUBLIC, THE MUSICAL ... RE-VISITED!

SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY PRESENTS:

Enjoy Peter Schickele: P.D.Q. Bach: of Concerto for Simply Grand Piano and Orchestra.

Featuring Jeffrey Biegel, piano.

Performance will be at 7:30 p.m., Florida Keys Community College, Tennessee Williams Theatre. www.sflso.org

APRIL 5

STUDIOS OF KEY WEST PRESENTS:

CATIE CURTIS

With 14 albums under her belt and over 20 years as a perennially popular headliner Catie Curtis has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the White House. www.twkw.org

APRIL 7 - 9

KEY WEST FISHING TOURNAMENT KICKOFF

Traditionally, 15 target species and $5,000 in cash prizes await anglers.

Participants vie for cash awards for catching the heaviest dolphin, kingfish, cobia, blackfin tuna, mackerel, mutton snapper, wahoo, mangrove snapper and grunt. In addition, cash awaits boat teams that score the most releases of

FRINGE THEATER PRESENTS:

You LOVED Conch Republic, the Musical. We did, too! So we’re bringing it back, with a twist here and a tuck there. Learn the story of how the Conch Republic began. It will be an evening of song, dance, and plenty of flags -- which is in truth HOW the Conch Republic began! Join us as we celebrate our heritage. You can even sign-up for our Conch Republic Costume Contest - awards nightly!

Performances at 7 p.m., The Studios of Key West at 533 Eaton Street.

305-731-0581 www.twkw.org

APRIL 21 - 30

35TH ANNUAL CONCH REPUBLIC INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION With activities ranging from wacky bed race to a lighthearted sea battle featuring tall ships, the Conch Republic’s 10-day birthday party showcases the independent and eccentric spirit that characterizes the Florida Keys.

305-296-0213

www.conch-republic.com 47

APRIL 21 - 22

HARRY S. TRUMAN LEGACY SYMPOSIUM

Key West’s political history is highlighted in panel discussions, a reception and tours of the Little White House where Truman spent many working vacations during his presidency. The 2017 theme is Harry S. Truman’s Legacy on Latin and South America. Located at 111 Front St.

305-294-9911

trumanlittlewhitehouse.com

APRIL 25 - 30

THE FINAL SAIL

This four-day challenge is the ‘grand finale’ of the 4-leg Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series. Team cash prizes include up to $50,000 for first place and $18,000 and $10,000 to second- and third-place anglers, plus trophies, respectively. Early entry fee is available. www.bluewatermovements.com

“Sailing” made Cross a superstar -as well as a broad range of his latest work - the songs where his heart (and his art) truly lies.

305-985-0433

www.thekeywesttheater.com

MAY 10 - 27

WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS:

FOREVER PLAID

Forever Plaid is one of the most beloved musicals of our generation.

One stormy night, four eager singers known as “The Plaids” meet their untimely ends. Miraculously they return from the afterlife to do the show they never got to perform.

The boys deliver an unforgettable show that will have audiences tapping their toes to the great pop hits of the 1950s - including “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Heart and Soul,” “Sixteen Tons,” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.”

Performances at 8 p.m.

305-294-5015

MAY 17 - 27

and walkers, and pageants to select Mr., Miss and Ms. Key West Pride.

SHIRLEY VALENTINE

305-294-4603

FRINGE THEATER PRESENTS:

Shirley might as well talk to the wall for as much as anyone listens to her. So she does. Talk to the wall. Constantly. Don’t miss this delightful celebration of life as an ongoing adventure. Performances at 7 p.m., at Parish Hall behind St Paul’s Episcopal Church at 401 Duval Street.

305-731-0581

www.fringetheater.org

MAY 19 - 21

KEY WEST CO-ED MAHI MASTERS

In this challenge, cash prizes are awarded to the male and female angler scoring the highest total combined weight of three dolphin catches. There is no limit on the number of participating boats.

305-296-0364

www.waterfrontplayhouse.org

APRIL 25 - MAY 13 RED BARN THEATRE PRESENTS:

SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE

What do you get when you take a company of actors, directors, and filmmakers and mix in fresh, fun, 10-minute plays? Short Attention Span Theatre, that’s what!

This evening of shorts typically includes lots of laughs and incredible talent. A high-octane evening of fun for everyone!

305-296-9911

www.redbarntheatre.com

APRIL 27 - 30

KEY WEST PADDLE CLASSIC

Presented by Lazy Dog Adventures, the challenge includes a 12-mile Elite Race around the island and a 4-mile open race. Other events include a kick-off registration party, paddleboard clinics and races for kids.

305-304-4259

www.lazydog.com

MAY 6

KEY WEST THEATER PRESENTS:

CHRISTOPHER CROSS

Enjoy smoothly sophisticated ballads including the #1 hit, “Sailing,” and more from Christopher Cross’ 1980 self-titled debut album with the lead single “Ride Like the Wind” rocketed to the #2 spot -- the massive success of the second single 48 . KeysStyle . SPRING 2017

www.keywestpride.org

BIG PINE JUNE 2 - 4

ORIGINAL BIG PINE & LOWER KEYS DOLPHIN TOURNAMENT

The Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce presents its 24th annual event, where anglers contend for more than $35,000 in cash prizes and awards. A special cash prize of $20,000 is awarded for the largest dolphin over 50 pounds. Additional prizes await winners in the open, ladies and youth divisions.

800-872-2411

lowerkeyschamber.com

MAY 5 - 7

MARA THON

PAPIO KINETIC SCULPTURE PARADE

If one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, then the late Key Largo folk artist Stanley Papio was a treasure hunter extraordinaire. The Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade features colorful sculptural floats, tricycles with exotically costumed riders, fantastically decorated bicycles - all powered by human effort alone - the length of Key West’s Duval Street.

MARCH 3 - 5

11TH ANNUAL SOMBRERO BEACH RUN

305-295-6616

www.papioskineticparade.com Photo by Carol Tedesco

MAY 10 - 14

KEY WEST SONGWRITERS’ FESTIVAL The 22nd annual showcase of musical magic features America’s foremost performing songwriters, with concerts staged in intimate, audience-friendly island settings.

305-304-0814

keywestsongwritersfestival.com

JUNE 7 - 11

KEY WEST PRIDE

Key West shows its Pride every day, and this is your chance to be a part of the celebration! The five-day schedule includes daytime pool and beach parties, late-night drag shows, on-the-water adventures ranging from snorkeling and kayaking to glass-bottom boat tours, a street fair, a 10k relay for tutu-wearing runners

Each year, several hundred racing circuit runners are attracted by a weekend filled with sunshine and athletic fun. Stocked with food, drinks, music and entertainment, the event is to be staged at Sombrero Beach at the end of Sombrero Beach Road, mile marker 50. Awards are given to overall finishers in the 10k run, 5k run and 5k walk.

305-743-4582

www.sombrerobeachrun.com

MARATHON

strength and teamwork. Sombrero Beach provides a pristine setting and unique, direct-from-the-beach launch for the sleek, 40-foot-long race boats.

The festival is free and open to the public. Food, beverages, merchandise and a variety of entertainment are to be available shoreside.

813-426-3544

battleinthebaydragonboat.com

JUNE 10 MARCH 9 - APRIL 8

MARATHON COMM. THEATER PRESENTS:

CABARET

APRIL 29 - MAY 3 TARPONIAN TOURNAMENT

305-743-0994

For enthusiastic tarpon anglers, silver kings mean springtime.

This high-energy, three-evening tournament mandates that teams fish with a different captain each evening. Teams also rotate among the three major bridge channels in Marathon, so any potential “hot spots” are shared among all anglers.

www.marathontheater.org

215-542-1492

MARCH 11 - 12

MAY 4 - 20

Leave your troubles outside: In Here Life is Beautiful! Come to our raucous Kit Kat Klub in 1930 Berlin where the Emcee welcomes you to forget your troubles at the Cabaret.

Come hear the music play: Cabaret, Mien Herr, Money Song, Maybe this Time.

ORIGINAL MARATHON SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

MARATHON COMM. THEATER PRESENTS:

BATHROOM HUMOR

marathonseafoodfestival.com

From the authors that brought you Love, Sex, and the IRS, comes a play that takes the fun, gossip and shenanigans at a house party away from Pictionary and cold pizza rolls and brings it to the bathroom. Wait until you see what really happens at a party full of co-workers, a down on his luck Elvis Impersonator, and an old man who just has to “go” in this hilarious farce.

APRIL 1

www.marathontheater.org

One of the middle Keys’ signature family events, delicacies from the waters of the Florida Keys highlight this annual event. Sponsored by Organized Fishermen of Florida and Marathon Chamber of Commerce.

Florida Keys Art Guild also hosts an open-air art show at entrance to the festival.

305-743-5417

36TH ANNUAL SEVEN MILE BRIDGE RUN

A field of 1,500 runners participate in the annual foot race across the longest of the 43 bridges that help comprise the Florida Keys Overseas Highway. Sponsored by the Marathon Runners Club.

305-395-7040

www.7mbrun.com

APRIL 22

THE MARATHON GAMES PENTATHLON

Join a five-event, Keys style Pentathlon, featuring swimming, kayaking, standup paddling, driving frozen “golf” balls and a footrace.

Hosted by the Florida Keys Country Club. Up to five-person team athletes can register. Starts at 8 a.m.

305-587-9830

www.marathonflorida.com

305-743-0994

MAY 5 - 7

MARATHON OFFSHORE BULL AND COW DOLPHIN TOURNAMENT

Over $30,000 is cash and prizes awaits the top anglers with the largest bull and cow combined, while other prizes are awarded to anglers catching the largest dolphin, wahoo, tuna and tripletail.

305-481-0495

www.marathonoffshore tournament.com

MAY 20

BATTLE IN THE BAY DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

The waters off Sombrero Beach are to be transformed into a swift racecourse for a day of dragon boat racing that involves 20 paddlers moving in unison a combination of

MARATHON COMM. THEATER PRESENTS:

TAH DANCE!

Join an evening with the theater’s ninth annual community dance showcase. Performance at 8 p.m.

305-743-0994

www.marathontheater.org

ISLAMORADA

MARCH 7 - 10

JIM BOKOR’S ISLAMORADA ALL-TACKLE BONEFISH & REDFISH SHOOTOUT

Anglers vie for top-honor trophies for catches of bonefish and redfish in this newly formatted event, appealing to a broader spectrum of anglers. Divisions in the tournament’s new format include bait, artificial and fly. Awards also are to be given for total release points for each species and to the high-point angler for each day. An overall grand champion is to be named for both bonefish and redfish in the three categories.

305-587-1460

MARCH 25

OUTDOOR POPS-IN-THEPARK; VIVA FLORIDA! AND TROPICAL TUNES

A free outdoor concert at the ICE amphitheater at Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside. Performances are outdoors; no chairs provided, bring blankets. Starts at 4 p.m. Music from paradise! Conch blowing contest!

Come dressed as a pirate!

MARCH 26 BAYJAM 23

This music and art festival features local and guest artists performing on the shores of Florida Bay at the ICE Amphitheater at Founders Park, mile marker 87 on U.S. 1. Attendees can savor the sounds from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from the hammock-like performance center set against the aqua waters of Florida Bay.

305-394-2765

www.keysice.com

APRIL 1 - 2

26TH ANNUAL FLORIDA KEYS ISLAND FEST

Music, art, food and fun complement this annual art show with nearly 100 artists and crafters, live music and a “Taste of the Islands” foodie competition.

Free admission, festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Founder’s Park, mile marker 87 bayside on Plantation Key. On-site parking for a $5 donation. Sponsored by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce.

305-664-4503

www.islamoradachamber.com

305-853-7294

keyscommunityconcertband.org 49

ISLAMORADA

APRIL 22

FREE OUTDOOR POPSIN-THE-PARK: YOUNG MUSICIANS CONCERT

A free season-closing concert at the ICE Amphitheater at Islamorada’s Founders Park, Bayside, MM 87, Plantation Key. Performances are outdoors; no chairs provided, bring blankets. Starts at 4 p.m. Presented

by Keys Community Concert Band.

Talented local students join the band!

305-853-7294

keyscommunityconcertband.org

APRIL 28 - 30

ISLAMORADA SPRING CLASSIC

A family-formatted boat tournament that features nine target gulf and backcountry species. Trophies are to be offered top boats in weight and release categories, as well as private vessel and charter divisions.

A junior release division is also planned for anglers up to age 10.

305-522-4868

www.islamoradaclassic.com

APRIL 30 - MAY 3

CHEECA LODGE AND SPA TARPON INVITATIONAL

A challenging new tournament, fly anglers use only a tournamentfurnished tippet not greater than 16-pound test to land tarpon that must measure at least 48 inches and up.

305-587-1460

MAY 5 - 7

NICK SHEAHAN DOLPHIN RODEO

A tournament honoring the memory of Nick Sheahan, a Florida Keys student, funds from this event benefit a namesake community scholarship fund. Hosted at Tavernier Creek Marina, cash prizes and $25,000 to the angler with the dolphin that beats the state record.

Hosted at Tavernier Creek Marina,

50 . KeysStyle . SPRING 2017

entry fee for adults is $185, $50 for juniors.

305-393-3733

www.nicksheahan.com

MARCH 8 - MARCH 11 JIMMY JOHNSON’S NATIONAL BILLFISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Hosted by Jimmy Johnson, two-time Super Bowl winning coach and former head coach at the University of Miami, this prestigious billfish championship benefits the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a South Florida-based cancer-related research, diagnosis and treatment facility. All anglers on the winning boat receive authentic, customdesigned Jimmy Johnson’s NBC Championship rings.

305-255-3500

www.jjfishweek.com

MAY 21 - 24

LOOP GOLDEN FLY INVITATIONAL TARPON TOURNAMENT

Special flies, accurate casts and a bit of luck are the recipe for winning this prestigious challenge, using only a tournament-furnished tippet not greater than 16-pound test.

Eligible tarpon must measure at least 48 inches in length to earn release points, and weigh at least 70 pounds for weight points.

305-587-1460

JUNE 2 - JUNE 4 SECOND ANNUAL GUITAR FESTIVAL

Enjoy three concerts throughout the Keys: June 2 in Islamorada at Coral Isles Church; June 3 in Marathon at the Florida Keys Country Club; and June 4 in Key West at the Key West Theater. Festival features virtuoso guitarists Larry Baeder, David Feder, Mike Emerson and Mateo playing blues, jazz. flamenco and classical concerts. Festival also includes arts & crafts street fairs and the John Bartus Songwriters Festival. floridakeysguitarfestival.com

JUNE 5 - JUNE 10

DON HAWLEY TARPON FLY TOURNAMENT

The world’s top fly-rod anglers endure a five-day test of patience and finesse, fishing Keys waters using fly tackle and 12-pound tippet.

Named for the late fly fisherman and conservationist Don Hawley, the annual tournament benefits the Guides Trust Foundation, assisting professional fishing guides and supporting backcountry fishery conservation programs. www.guidestrustfoundation.org

KEY LARGO

MAY 18 - 21

JUNE 2 - 4

Enjoy the food, entertainment and ambiance of Key Largo during this singers and songwriters event.

Multiple “on the water” venues feature Nashville’s hit songwriters and musicians as well as unique local entertainers. Presented by the Upper Keys Business Group.

This tournament is headquartered at Skippers Dockside Restaurant (former location of Coconuts), behind the Holiday Inn. A kickoff and final registration party is planned Friday, June 3; fishing days are June 4 & 5; cash prizes over $60,000 include a first-place prize of $25,000. Prizes for top six teams as well as lady and junior anglers.

KEY LARGO’S ORIGINAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

305-394-3736

keylargooriginalmusicfest.com

MAY 27 - 28

THE LONG WALK HOME FISHING TOURNAMENT

Headquartered at Key Largo Fisheries, events include a Pirate’s Treasure Raffle, music, silent auction, two days of fishing, and awards dinner. Cash and trophy prizes are to be awarded. Proceeds benefit the Long Walk Home Veterans Charity Community Outreach.

305-504-3795

www.thelongwalkhome.org

SKIPPERS DOLPHIN TOURNAMENT

305-522-4868

www.skipperstournaments.com

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52 . KeysStyle . SPRING 2017