TAVERN ‘N TOWN…..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO…. 12/2…the always terrific, FRANK PIKU, FIZZ RETTEW, GREGG MCGRADY, SAMMIE MAY, and ANGELA DAVILA 12/3…..artist, VERA VASEK. 12/4…green Queen, ERIKA BIDDLE HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO… 12/4…darling couples, ERIC COLE & JOE MCMURRAY…and CHRIS & SHARON SANTRY!!!   THE JEWELRY BAR OPENS ON 12/9… Barb Grob opens this new store at 510 Fleming St….a temporary Pop Up showroom of one of a kind and rare jewelry, art & accessories…Clients get to “drink” free!… 6 to 9 PM….lots of special savings too.  The store will be open daily from 11 AM until 7 PM and it is only open on a temporary basis right now.  Call 304-9001 for more info!   ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE AT SCHOONER WHARF…. From Thurs. thru Sun., it’s Michael McCloud performing from Noon until 5 PM….. 12/2…from 7 to 11 PM, it’s Sam Ramos & Peachey. 12/3 & 4….The Paul Cotton Band from 7 until Midnight. 12/5…Tree Trimming Party at 5 PM…all invited. 12/5…The Doerfels perform from 6 to 11 PM. Frank Everhart’s magic is from 9 to 1 AM every night of the week!   NANCY NELSON IS THANKFUL ON THURSDAY…. Nancy and Roger’s son, Daniel was united in marriage to Erin on 11/27, and it was a magical day from beginning to end.  Nancy writes that “We thankfully enjoyed every moment of the event…the wedding, reception,  etc.  I am thankful that my 94 year “young” Mother was able to be there…and that she danced until midnight when my sisters and I finally had to make her sit down!  I am so blessed to have raised happy children and that we share such happiness with them….and am thankful that I now have a daughter!!!!”   AT THE PIER HOUSE…. 12/3 & 4…Larry Smith performs his jazz and original numbers….guest always join in! 12/5….The Sunday Showcase at 9 PM is singer Jerilyn Barack….accompanied by Larry, Gordy Michael, Georges Hemund, and Roger Van Zant CHRIS THOMAS SCHEDULE….. Chris will be entertaining at the Hog’s Breath on Sunday, Dec. 5th, 5:30 -9:30 PM….and will be at the Lazy Gecko on Duval St., 12/6 from 7 to 11:00 PM!!!!  SCHOONER WHARF BAR LIGHTED BOAT PARADE….12/11… …at 8 PM….Lots of great prizes…fun for the whole family….If you want to enter your boat there is a $25 registration fee…come to a meeting on 12/10 on the upper deck of Schooner Wharf.  For more info call 292-3302.    HOLIDAY GIFT SUGGESTION… Books are always a great holiday gift!  Why not consider Joanna Schmida’s book, “The Woman at the Light”…set in Key West, it is a real page turner!  You can call Joanna at 292-1426 to order.   PARAPROSDOKIAN SENTENCE FOR THE WEEK! If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some people have more than one child?   HOLIDAY PARADE IN KEY WEST….12/4…. This is one of Key West’s most delightful parades….Fun for the entire Family!  Begins at 7 PM…..from Truman & White till the reviewing stand at Fleming & Duval Sts.  More than 50 groups will be participating….Bring bags for all the candy and beads you will collect!   PIRATES IN PARADISE IN TOWN…UNTIL 12/5… This festival has a million events…continues thru Dec. 5th…activities every day….To find out more go to www.piratesinparadise.com or call 296-9694.  This is for all interested Pirates and Wenches!!!!   KEYS CHORALE, 12/ 3 & 4…. This  21st annual Event will take place at Tennessee Williams Theater on Stock Island….Under the direction of Dean Walters, there will be great holiday music from all over the world!  11/3, the show is at 8 PM and tix are $30 & $20.  On 12/4, it is a Matinee at 2 PM, and cost is $20, general admission.  Call 296-1520 or go to www.keystix.com for tickets!   KEY WEST BURLESQUE…12/2, 8, 9, & 10…. We were all there for the opening night of the Key West Burlesque and their Holiday Show and it was a hoot and a holler!!!   A bevy of buxom beauties…and some cool dudes…..At Kelly’s Upstairs at 301 Whitehead St…..Marky Pierson and TaTah DuJour have a super Country Christmas Show….Join them plus “Uncle BRUCIE MOORE” who will be appearing in this festive showcase……Buy tix at www.keystix.com or call the box office at 295-7676.  Showtime is 9 PM….doors open at 8:30…seats are first come first serve.  Shows this season will be Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, & 10!!  You will have Titillating Time!!!!   DID YOU KNOW???? Giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrae in the neck….7….the giraffe’s are just much larger!!!   MARC HOUSE SELLING TREES NOW THRU CHRISTMAS! Come one and all and buy your Trees at The MARC House at 1401 Seminary St…..All sizes…a gorgeous array…..wreathes, poinsettia, garlands, etc.!!!  Open 9 AM to 9 PM!!!!!   APOCALYPTIC BUTTERFLIES AT DOWNSTAGE….12/2… This play will be presented on 12/2, 3 & 4 at 8 PM….at Downstage, the People’s Theater, located at 3340 N.Roosevelt….free parking….Sun,  12/5matinee at 2 PM.  Tix are $25…tix in advance call 294-6813.  Support Community Theater!!!  Show runs thru Dec. 19th.   Note that on Mon., Dec. 6th at 8 PM, they are doing a special presentation and at a Pay What You Can admission!    CAROLINE ST. ART & DESIGN DISTRICT WALK…12/2… This is the Holiday Open House and all are invited….Just about all the shops, restaurants, etc. will be open…treats, music, Santa Claus…..from 6 to 9 PM on Thursday evening!   CHRISTINE CORDONE ART SHOW AT ART@830 ….12/2… Christine Cordone is a teacher, musician, singer, songwriter…but she is also an artist!  Her plein air watercolors will be featured at 830 Caroline St. from 6 to 9 PM.  Her work is inspired by the late, great artist, Sanford Birdsey.  All invited!!!!…during the Caroline St. Art Walk!!!   CABARET NIGHT AT D’VINE WINE GALLERY….12/2…. This super duper Wine Bar at The GARDENS Hotel, features the always superb, BOBBY NESBITT is at the piano and singing from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.  The Gallery is open from 5 till 10 PM.  12/5….Sunday, JAZZ in the Gardens features sultry jazz singer, LIBBY YORK, just back from performing in NYC.  She will be joined by Mike Gillis & Lonnie Jacobson from 5 to 7:30 PM! on Sunday Dec. 5th!!!   WINE TASTING AT DON’S PLACE…12/2…. Vicki Roush is having a wine tasting at Don’s Place, 1000 Truman Ave.  They will be offering $2 off each bottle of wine…and $20 off wines by the case.  Also, Nancy Pastore will conduct her BEADS of LIFE Jewelry show…jewelry from Uganda…all jewelry benefits the women of that country….profits used to support & educate poverty stricken children.  5:00 PM…All invited!!!   TERRI WHITE SHOW ON 12/2 AT LATEDA… Terri White, she of the Broadway stage….and of that amazing voice…will be presenting her one-woman shoe, LIVE FROM BROADWAY at 9 PM on Thurs., Dec. 2nd!  Call Lateda at 296-6706 for tix.   This show will vary from show to show….Michael Thomas is at the piano….We saw Terri on Nov. 25th, and it was a fantastic evening of musical entertainment!  She is the BEST!!!  Her other shows in the Crystal Room will be on Dec. 16, 22,27, and 29 & Jan. 1st!  Make sure you see Terri White while she is in town!   AT CONCH REPUBLIC SEAFOOD ON 12/2…. Black & Skabuddah perform from 6 to 10 PM at The Conch Republic Seafood Company at the end of Greene St. at the historic seaport!   QUESTION TO PONDER…. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?   KEY WEST WOMEN’S CLUB OPEN HOUSE…12/5… at 319 Duval St…Annual Christmas Open House from 6 to 9 PM.  Admission is an unwrapped gift for a child.  Melody Cooper will be entertaining….The house was decorated by Joe & Beth Pizzo and it is stunning…as is the beautiful interior.  All are invited!   MCC CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR!!!…12/5…at AQUA… This is a gala benefit for the ministries at the MCC Church!  A great show is planned starring Joe McMurray, Eric Cole, Deja, Raquel, Desiray, Gugi, Smyrna, Jody Rae, Miss D, Aurora, Sassy, and a zillion more!  A special performance by Broadway Star, TERRI WHITE, will also take place!!!!  Showtime is  6 until 8 PM! General Admission is $20….VIP Table seating is $100 for a table of 4…call Michael Citro at 292-8530.  Silent Auction….50/50 raffle….Great fun for a good cause!  We all love the MCC Church…their ministries are amazing!   WE PRAY FOR…. Jennifer O’Lear, Margie Randall, Doug Childs, Roger Harmon, Carol Schenck, Katherine Raney, Sr. Phyllis McMurray…..Bless them all!  Just a note of Hope…. I received a message that Fr. John Baker & Jennifer O’Lear’s father visited her, and they feel certain that Jennifer said Hello to them!  We cling to all the hope we have in our hearts.  This would be a glorious Christmas Miracle!   KEYS KIDS PRESENTS BROADWAY SANTA….12/2 TO THE 5TH!!!! Get in the spirit of the season with this Keys Kids Show also starring Michael McCabe as Santa and Kathleen Peace as Mrs. Santa!…in the High School Auditorium…Go to www.keystix.com for tix…or at the door.  Call 509-1370 for more details.  Showtime is 12/2 at 7:30 PM…12/3 at 7:30 PM…12/4 at 2 PM..12/5 at 2 PM!!!  Congrats to Mimi McDonald, director, Nora Revelin, Musical director, and Penny Leto & Carolyn Cooper, choreographers!  This will be adorable!!!!  I guarantee it!C   HUBERT RUTKOWSKI IN RECITAL ON  12/2… Classical pianist, and award winner,  Hubert Rutkowski will be performing  works by some of the great masters…Thurs., Dec. 2 at 7:30 PM at St. Paul’s Church at Eaton and Duval St.  $10 donation is requested.  There is a $10 suggested donation.  This will be a magnificent concert….Cuban flavored works plus Chopin and Leschetzky, and others.   CAPTAINS OF IMPROV SCHEDULE…..12/3-10-17…. This comedy improv group will perform upstairs at Hog’s Breath, 400 Front St. on Dec. 3, 10, 17,…two shows at 8 and 10 PM.  Call 360-9822 for more info.  These comics are saving the world, one laugh at a time!   ALL YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST…12/5… ….The Knights of Columbus at St. Mary Star of the Sea,  prepare a dynamite Breakfast once a month, and this Sunday is when it is happening again!  All are invited to partake.  From 8 AM until Noon, in the Sacred Heart Hall on the Windsor parking lot area….ONLY $8. for adults and $4 for kids…it’s a read deal meal!!!  Biscuits, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, grits, ham, sausage, pancakes, OJ, coffee bread and donuts galore!  Take out containers are available.  This benefits the many charitable events at St. Mary’s Parish.  It is delish!   HOWARD LIVINGSTON AT GEIGER KEY….12/5… Howard & The Mile Marker 24 Band will perform from 5 to 9 PM at the Grand Opening of Geiger Key Smokehouse & Grill at Mile Marker 10.5…from 5 to 9 PM!!!  New owners… new menu…new hours!!!  294-1230 for info!   TREE TRIMMING AT SCHOONER WHARF BAR….12/5… All welcome to attend…starting at 5 PM….Bring an ornament for the live tree at the Schooner!  All Trimmers will receive a free cocktail, Evalena’s Swedish Glogg, made with red wine, Absolut Vodka and spices….amongst other drink choices.  All ornaments will be entered in a contest in various categories.  Rob O’Neal will be sell ling his calendars and author Terry Schmida will have autographed copies of his book on sale.  Bring a donated toy for Toys for Tots & receive an additional drink free.  Call 292-3302 for more info.   CABARET KEY WEST AT LATEDA…12/5… At 9 PM, it’s Cabaret Key West starring BRUCE MOORE, BOBBY NESBITT, and GAYLA MORGAN!  This dynamite trio will be performing in the Crystal Room at 8 PM!  Call 296-6706 for tickets!!!   WESLEY HOUSE BENEFIT AT THE TOY FACTORY…COSMO DAY…12/5.. Come to The Toy Factory on Clinton Square Market, 291 Front St., from 1 until 3 PM for the first ever COSMO Day….(That’s Cosmo the Boat Cat…not Cosmo the Drink!!)  A portion of all sales will go to the Wesley House.  Face painting, games, craft making, and Cosmo photo ops….Illustrator & creator of the book, Sherry Sweet-Tewell will be there to read and sign her book.  Bring the kids to the FREE event and you will all have a grand time!  “Cosmo the Boat Cat” can also be bought online at www.cosmotheboatcat.com along with other Cosmo Items.  Call Sherry at 859-533-1874 for more information!   TURNABOUT AT AQUA…BENEFIT FOR WESLEY HOUSE…12/6…. The Staff & Friends at Aqua Nightclub put on an hilarious show like no other in town, to raise money for the Wesley House!  9 PM….All invited to attend!  Let’s insure that all the kids in town have presents for the holidays!!!   BENEFIT FOR FLW KEYS OUTREACH COALITION…12/7… …at VINO’S on Duval, 810 Duval St….from 7 to 9 PM…Sample all the dishes & vote for your fave…$5 per vote…all funds benefit the FKOC.  Bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to their Toy Drive!   SHARE THE WREATH PARTY AT LATEDA…12/9… Join Queen Mother, XXVII Gugi Gomez for this annual auction of amazing and unique wreathes…doors open at 6:30 and show starts at 7:30…all proceeds go to AIDS Help…$5 open seating….All invited!   POPS YULETIDE FEAST on 12/10…. You are invited to attend this benefit for the POPS Orchestra in KW…at the beautifully decorated holiday home of Dennis Beaver and Bert Whitt, 1207 Whitehead St….a 20 course Italian Buffet…includes open bar….Come and raise a toast to the Season and support the POPS!  To RSVP, call 296-6059.    NUTCRACKER KEY WEST IN THE LIGHTED BOAT PARADE, 12/11…. Join cast & crew of the KW Nutcracker on a floating holiday boat parade like no other!….7:30 to 9 PM….Tix are $39 and include your drinks and light food.  There are only a limited number of tix being sold.  ALL proceeds go to benefit The Nutcracker KW.  (The dates are Dec. 17-19 and 21-22 at Tennessee Williams Theatre).  You can buy tix for both the lighted boat parade on the Sebago or the Production by going to www.keystix.com, or by calling 295-7676.   TONIGHT… We did the march to the White Street Pier where the reading of THE NAMES took place….a very moving evening on World AIDS Day!  I got teary when I hear Robbie Whitney and Roy Himmelberger’s names read.  Then we went to Lateda for the lighting of the Tree of HOPE….Very well attended….ALL the bears on the tree were sold, and the names of all who were remembered, are now on the Tree. Mark Barauck, who  loved this event, was with us all in spirit!  Those who were not there, missed a special evening!   HUMANITY TRIP TO CUBA PLANNED FOR FEB.5-13, 2011… This trip will be conducted thru the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanic Garden…If you are interested in going contact Carolann Sharkey at sharkeyfun@aol.com for details.  Deadline is Dec. 5th.   Love to YOU…and Remember…. Give yourself some space!  Look at the walls surrounding you.  Real or imaginary, they limit your potential.  Push through them  by using your downtime wisely.  Expand your horizons.  Visit new places.  Develop new skills.  Enrich yourself.  Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you! Lynda