Parrot Key Resort Blog

The confetti on Duval continues to be cleared away, the memories of a drag queen being dropped in a high heel shoe are still fresh in everyone’s mind, and all across the island people are already beginning to break the resolutions they made last night. That means one thing: it can only be New Year’s Day in Key West.

After the lowbrow parties of last night, why not start 2013 off with a little highbrow culture?

Tonight at the Tropic Theatre, everyone’s favorite independent Key West movie theatre, catch a screening of La Scala’s “The Magic Flute,” presented as a part of the Opera in Cinema Series.

This riveting opera masterpiece runs 164 minutes plus one intermission, and happens only tonight at 7:00pm. Head on over to the Tropic, located at 416 Eaton St., and start your new year off right!

On Saturday, January 19th from 11:00am until 8:00pm, Bayview Park will be transformed into a festival of mouth-watering seafood, with live music, games, prizes and more!

This annual celebration is a favorite of locals and visitors alike, celebrating all the fresh and delicious seafood that Key West has to offer. All seafood served will be caught by local fishermen…no vendors or packaged fish allowed! Just fresh, delicious seafood, live music, and an open air atmosphere. As far as Key West events go, this one is not to be missed.

Specialties include grilled lobster, fried fish, Stone Crab claws, Key West shrimp, smoked fish dip conch fritters, conch chowder, conch salad and more– this is the perfect time to try our island’s mascot, the conch, in all of its delicious glory.

Featuring arts & crafts, marine life exhibits, and even a special “fun zone” for kids, this 100% FREE festival is family-friendly and super fun.

Make sure your calendar is marked for the annual Key West Seafood Festival: January 19th!

January is shaping up to be a busy month here in Key West, with a number of exciting events that historically draw huge numbers of visitors from across the world!

We’re especially excited for these:

Jan. 4-5: Ragnar Relay Florida Keys Race. This 199-mile race takes runners throughout the Florida Keys to the southernmost island in the continental U.S. on a route beginning in Miami and ending in Key West. Visit www.ragnarrelay.com/race/floridakeys for more details. Many Ragner runners choose to stay at our Key West hotel after the race every year. We think our quiet resort is the perfect place to cool your heels after such a grueling run!

Jan. 19: Florida Keys Seafood Festival. This family-oriented feast features fresh local Keys seafood, drinks, marine-related crafts, youth activities and live music. The free-admission annual event is held at Bayview Park, just a short cab or bike ride away from Parrot Key! Visit www.fkcfa.org/Pages/SeafoodFestival.aspx or call 305-872-9026.

Jan. 20: Key West Half Marathon. In its 15th year, this run attracts more than 1,000 annual participants and has been recognized by Runners World magazine as one of the 10 great half-marathons of the winter season. The 13.1-mile course through Old Town Key West passes Key West landmarks and includes the scenic waterfront. Visit www.keywesthalfmarathon.com or call 305-240-0727.

Jan. 20-25: Key West Race Week 2013. Key West. Elite racing yachts and crews from around the world compete for class championships in one of the most prestigious regattas on the international sailing circuit. Visit www.premiere-racing.com or call 781-639-9545.

Jan. 24-27: Key West Food and Wine Festival. Key West. Top chefs and restaurateurs showcase their culinary creativity and the Keys’ indigenous cuisine in a tasty schedule of events for food lovers. Attendees also can participate in food-related adventures during the savory celebration. Visit www.keywestfoodandwinefestival.com or call 800-474-4319.

As always, be sure to check out our specials page– we’ve got some great deals coming up that perfectly coincide with the above events.

Our Key West hotel isn’t the only one with decorations up for the holidays!

Presented by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, the Key West Holiday House Tour is a wonderful way to see some of our little island’s best dressed holiday homes and learn about their various interiors and exteriors! With only two dates –December 27-28– you’ll want to grab your tickets to this event now.

The tour runs from 4-8 pm, with tickets ($30) available for purchase by calling 305-294-9501 or going online to www.oirf.org
Tickets also available at: Key West Oldest House, Capital Bank: Old Town, N. Roosevelt, Big Pine & Marathon, Audio Video in Paradise, and Royal Furniture (at Publix).

Wishing you joy, peace, and a year of perfect beach days on this Christmas morning! We can’t wait to see you in the new year.

…From all your friends at your favorite Key West Hotel, Parrot Key! Merry Christmas.

The tree is trimmed, the lights are twinkling and the eggnog is definitely flowing. But if you’re like us, there’s one last minute present you haven’t purchased yet. We can’t tell you what to buy, but we can encourage you to take advantage of the free metered parking and public transportation rides being offered all day today in Key West. An effort to encourage shoppers to support local businesses, this early Christmas present from the city is a great way to make sure you have plenty of places to park when you’re zooming around town cursing your tendency to procrastinate. (We feel your pain.)

Here at Parrot Key Hotel and Resort, we have an announcement to make: we do not think that tonight is the end of the world. We know it’s an unpopular opinion to have, but we’re coming clean. There’s just too much fun stuff going on this season for the world to end. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love a good apocalypse party now and again.

So, join us at Cowboy Bill’s tonight for their End of the World Party, hosted by 104.9, The X Radio and WEYW 19, is definitely the place to be tonight– regardless of whether you believe it’s your last night on earth.

This Western-themed Key West bar features everything you’d want for your last night alive– because riding a mechanical bull before the apocalypse comes is definitely not negotiable. With live music, prizes, drink specials and dancing, you’d be silly to miss this celebratory bash. So head on over to Cowboy Bills, located at 618 Duval Street, and prepare to party.

Mayan costume optional, of course.

For those of you staying with us here at Parrot Key Hotel and Resort in Key West, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a number of holiday parties happening on island tonight– and you’re invited.

First up, Tom Oosterhoudt and Mary Ann Worth have invited the community to a Holiday Open House at Casa Antigua at their stunningly beautiful home on Simonton Street, “Casa Antigua.” This historic home features a storied history and a lush interior courtyard that is normally only open to paid tours. Tonight, from 8:00pm to 11:00pm, Casa Antigua is opening its doors to the public for free, with food & drinks, music, and general merriment promised to all. Head to 314 Simonton St (enter through the Pelican Poop Shoppe) and prepare to be dazzled!

Next up, The Green Parrot Bar is hosting its annual Christmas Party tonight at 9 p.m. With live music and a great, this iconic bar is the place to be tonight. Get into the spirit in true Conch style at this infamous batch!

Finally, the Key West Nutcracker has a performance tonight, and while online ticketing has closed you are still welcome to purchase tickets at the theatre before the show. A twist on the classic ballet, the Key West Nutcracker is an enchanting marine-themed wonder to behold. Children and adults will be charmed and mesmerized by the stunning costumes and performances at this beautiful show. The ballet begins at 7:00pm at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. For more information, visit www.keystix.com or www.nutcrackerkeywest.com

We know you’ve already booked your next trip to Parrot Key Hotel & Resort through the fabulous rates being offered with our Spring Fling special (if you haven’t yet, check out the great deal here: http://bit.ly/ZPlMbl).

Now that you’ve taken care of that, you’re going to want to check out this: The Key West Lighted Bike Parade (not to be confused with its marine counterpart, the Key West Lighted Boat Parade.)

The Lighted Bike Parade is a fun-filled charity event during which a parade of bicycles– decked out in their flashiest holiday lights– makes their way through the island, spreading holiday cheer as they go.

The parade begins at the gazebo in Bayview Park at 6:00pm. Participants are asked to ring an unwrapped toy for a toy drive event at the Key West Aquarium benefiting Samuels House and the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, to be presented enroute.

This is a great way to get your family in the holiday spirit while getting some exercise and giving to a good cause!

We’ll see you out there.