This Week on the Island 11/05/2006

'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The Weather: It was beautiful the first of the week with the rain moving in on Wednesday just in time for the Parrot Head Convention. Windy on Friday and Saturday.

This week's book was "Jimmy Buffett, The Key West Years' by Tom Corcoran. A great little book with a picture of the first 'Margaretville' at #4 Lands End. (Before the move to Duval).

What do you do when 3,500 of your friends come to town? PARTY! This week was MOTM (Meeting of The Minds) the annual flocking of Parrot Heads (Jimmy Buffett fans) to Key West. The whole thing is planned and executed by PHIP (Parrot Heads in Paradise) the governing body for all 215 Parrot Head Clubs. The Key West Parrot Head Club is just one of many represented and since we live here, all we have to do is show up and have a good time.

The center for the convention and most of the activities was the Casa Marina. It is on the Atlantic side of the island and was built by Henry Flagler (the guy that built the railroad from Miami to Key West). It is a beautiful setting with a pool and a nice sandy beach on the ocean. Many individual clubs also had parties around the island and many of the bars/restaurants had special events to attract the Parrot Heads to their places. I believe a fun time was had by all.

The Meteor Smokehouse next to the Green Parrot is going to close and reopen as a 'fu-fu' restaurant. I really enjoyed their bar-b-que ribs.

There is an escape artist, at sunset celebration at Mallory Square. He wraps himself in chains and hangs upside-down in a straight jacket and escapes. He did a special stunt Tuesday night. He jumped into the waters at the end of Mallory Square while wearing a straight-jacket. They still have not found the body. Tuesday night was Halloween and the 80th anniversary of Houdini's death. (The guy was later arrested in a motel with his girlfriend and his dog. He would not tell how he escaped.)


Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conky Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5597N, Long 81.8016W


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