Key West Chronicle - Key West Blog

Parking Meters Removed from Smathers Beach!

2012-04-26T10:38:00.000-04:00

Remains of a parking meter. All parking meters have been removed from South Roosevelt Boulevard, the road adjacent to Smather's Beach, Key West's largest stretch of sandy beach. The meters were originally installed, to the dismay of many locals, in 1997. Two years later it was pointed out that the road is actually the property of the State of Florida, and the City of Key West had no

Coming Soon: Hemingway Hotels & Resorts

2012-04-19T12:18:00.000-04:00

The family of Ernest Hemingway has licensed the Hemingway name to developers of a new chain of hotels based on the famous writer's personality. Hemingway Hotels & Resorts is now seeking hotels interested in being part of the newly formed brand, and is actively seeking submissions from their website. Qualifications include: hotel locations must have a connection with Hemingway (like obvious

Report: Key West Has Highest Average House Prices in Florida

2012-03-03T10:33:00.001-05:00

A report just released by Lender Processing Services, a leading provider of mortgage services and data about the real estate industry, shows that Key West has the highest average price for homes in the State of Florida. According to the report, the average home price in Key West was $358,000 during November 2011. Key West was the only community in Florida to have an average price above $300,000

Who is Representative David Rivera? Oh my.

2012-02-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

Florida politics is a messy business, with all the greasy special interests, hypocritical posturing, and plain old corruption. Which brings us to the redistricting maps of Florida. The Florida Keys are about to get a new Representative in Congress if the new redistricting maps are approved by the courts. Out will go Representative Ros-Lehtinen, and in will come Representative David Rivera. So

Schooner Western Union Closer to Becoming Florida's Official Flagship

2012-02-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Florida legislature took another step towards making the Schooner Western Union the official flagship of the state. The Senate, in a unanimous vote passed SB326 known as State Symbols/State Flagship and sponsored by Senator Bullard, which states: Official state flagship.—The schooner Western Union, a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship class, built in Key West and first

Key West Dog Crowned King of New Orleans Parade

2012-02-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

A Key West dog has been crowned the King of the Mystic Krewe of Barkus, the New Orleans' pet parade held during Mardi Gras. The 3-year old "golden doodle", meaning half Golden Retriever and half Poodle, is named Wally and, after serving in the crewe last year, was anointed King for this year's parade, the largest parade of its kind. Here is a video of the fun. Wally is visible riding the

North Roosevelt Closure, Traffic Pattern, and Planned Upgrades

2012-02-01T14:47:00.000-05:00

It is coming. Once this winter tourist season is over, North Roosevelt Blvd, the main route that Old Town residents and visitors use to leave the island, will be closed for outbound traffic during its reconstruction by the Florida DOT. Between the entrance to Key West and Eisenhower drive, traffic will only be allowed inbound (meaning heading West). Outbound (meaning heading East) traffic will

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's Cold-War Cuba View Out of Step with Florida Keys

2011-07-23T12:58:00.002-04:00

How out of whack is the Florida Keys' representitive Ileana Ros-Lehtinen when it comes to Cuba policy? She, along with the rest of the hardline, anti-Castro community, want to repeal the rights of Cuban Americans to travel to Cuba to visit their family, along with their ability to send money. Somehow she is convinced this will help Cubans and punish Castro. Locals in the Florida Keys - by

Key West's Borders Bookstore to Close

2011-07-21T11:32:00.000-04:00

Border's Bookstore, which entered bankruptcy in February of this year, was hoping that a buyer would step forward and save the company. No buyer has emerged. The auction scheduled for this week has been cancelled. As a result, Borders has announced they are closing all stores - including the Key West location. The local Borders, actually a scaled-down version named Borders Express, was a

When to See the Last Shuttle Flight Over Key West

2011-07-19T12:12:00.000-04:00

Key West is one of the few places in the United States where you'll have a chance to see the last flight of the space shuttle as it travels in the night sky. The shuttle may be visible low over the horizon and only for a few minutes. Here is the schedule for viewing here: THE FOLLOWING SHUTTLE SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM MON JUL 18 TO SUN JUL 24 IN KEY WEST:

Spiderman to Face Charges in Key West Court Today

2011-06-29T11:55:00.000-04:00

Call it one of those "only in Key West" stories. Spiderman is due in court today to answer charges that he violated local Key West ordinances. According to a City of Key West complaint, Spiderman is being charged with interfering with the passage of a vehicle and bringing his performance out on the street. What did he do? Apparently Spidy attached himself to the side of a tourist electric car

Woman Plans to Paddleboard from Cuba to Key West!

2011-06-14T11:40:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, June 15, 2011, Cynthia Aguilar will attempt to be the first solo person to paddleboard non-stop from Cuba to Key West. If successful, the 130-mile route will be the world record for the longest distance ever travelled by paddleboard by a single person. In 2003, a four-woman team known as The Millennium Woman Paddleboard Team successfully paddled from Cuba to Key West, in a combined

MTV Real World: Key West House For Sale

2011-05-28T12:03:00.000-04:00

Real World: Key West. Who doesn't remember it? Alright - do you even remember it? Filmed at an uber-swanky waterfront home on Key Haven, the show featured a cast of island newcomers who were oddly tasked with opening a spray-on tanning salon in one of the sunniest places: Key West, Florida. Yes, it does get cloudy in Key West - at least 10 days a year. And tanning is a lot of work - with all

Woman Plans to Swim from Cuba to Key West

2011-05-26T10:57:00.000-04:00

Sure, you can fly to Key West. Or drive. Or even arrive by boat, cruise ship, and ferry. But swim? Sometime this summer, when conditions are determined to be perfect, Diana Nyad will attempt to swim from Cuba to Key West - a distance of 103 miles, across the Straits of Florida and the Gulf Stream. It is estimated that this unbelievable journey will take two days of continuous swimming and

Key West's Schooner Western Union to Become Florida's Official Flagship

2011-05-01T12:26:00.000-04:00

A bill to designate the Schooner Western Union as the official state flagship has passed in the Florida Senate. The magnificent ship is the current official vessel of Key West, its home port. By unanimous vote on April 29, the Florida Senate passed bill SB726, detailed below: Florida Senate - 2011 SB 726 By Senator Bullard 39-

Key West Real Estate Market Update - February 2011

2011-02-16T11:21:00.000-05:00

What a wild, wild ride Key West real estate has been on for the past 10 years. Speculators drove prices through the roof, realtors sang the praises of an invincible real estate market, and locals were either swept up or swept away in the frenzy. The Key West Chronicle blog warned in 2005: Speculative Bubble in Key West Real Estate Due to Pop. No one believed it. Thankfully, it all came to an

Florida Is Only Snow-Free State, Including Hawaii!

2011-01-12T16:34:00.002-05:00

If you are looking to avoid snow there is only one state in the United States without the white stuff on the ground: Florida! This map is from the NOAA website - showing current snow coverage for the United States. Check out all-green Florida. Doesn't it just look warm and inviting. Of course it has never snowed in Key West. Not even close. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Key West

Overseas Eye-way is Watching

2010-11-04T10:33:00.001-04:00

Often, when visitors ask how long is the drive between Miami and Key West, knowledgeable locals usually reply "3-hours - without traffic". But how do you know if you are about to face a big delay on US1/Overseas Highway due to traffic? Do what Big Brother does and check in on road conditions by viewing the 36 cameras set up by the Florida Department of Transportation along US1. There is a

Exactly What Jobs Has Morgan McPherson Created?

2010-10-27T17:26:00.001-04:00

It's election season and the mailboxes are filling up with political propaganda. I couldn't help but notice the District 120 Florida House race - pitting incumbant Ron Saunders with former mayor Morgan McPherson. Today's McPherson mailer states: "Morgan McPherson is a successful small businessman and job creator with the real-life business experience we need in Tallahassee." The mailer lists

YouTube Video: Family Films Fish Being Fed on Snorkel Trip

2010-08-19T15:02:00.000-04:00

Hearing of Michelle Casasola's severe injury while snorkeling is so sad and unusual. Locals and visitors have snorkeled countless times - nearly all without incident. So what happened? The family claims that the crew was throwing food, namely bagels, in the water to attract fish. Allegedly as a result, a three-foot barracuda attacked the nine-year old's hand - likely mistaking it for a

McPherson's Bold Plan? Go Backwards

2010-08-04T11:41:00.001-04:00

First off, you really just have to watch it for yourself. This video is so full of vague and strange statements, one has to wonder is he serious. Most of what he said/read sounded like it was produced by the tea party, Sarah Palin, and Glen Beck. Or maybe Tina Fey lampooning all three. Declaring at an Upper Keys Republican Club that he was the candidate to take us "backwards", Morgan

Humor: Green Flash at Sunset Explained

2010-07-20T10:16:00.000-04:00

The "Green Flash" is an atmospheric phenomenon which occasionally occurs at sunset in Key West - when the last bit of sun disappears below the horizon and a brief green glow is observable. This is usually explained by the refraction of light at that angle appearing green and is only visible during specific atmospheric conditions. Or, you could believe something else causes it. XKCD, the

US & Cuba Ready to Make-Up?

2010-07-08T15:52:00.000-04:00

The dance between Cuba and the US continues further. With a little Cuban cooperation the Obama administration just might reconsider the embargo. All that is required is a gesture by the Cuban government that gives a not to democracy and freedom of expression. That news may have just occurred. According to reports, Cuba is preparing to free 52 of their 150 political prisoners. The pending

No Oil in Key West (Fingers Still Crossed)

2010-05-20T11:04:00.000-04:00

If you haven't heard the latest, let's make it clear: There is no oil on the beaches of Key West. Tar balls found earlier in the week were tested and shown not be from the BP leak. While oil from BP's Gulf oil leak has not arrived on the Florida Keys, residents and volunteers are not acting complacent. Reports that a small finger of oil has entered the Loop Current has locals already

Think It's Cold? Here Are The Numbers.

2010-02-26T15:40:00.000-05:00

Brrrr. It's chilly. Yet, suprisingly, when you look at the statistics, the past two months in Key West are only six degrees colder than normal. Take a look at this chart of Key West's typical weather, with the 2010 stats added for comparison (statistics provided by NOAA/NWS). 2010 is definitely off to a cold start. January 2010 saw an average high temperature of 69.4, and an average low