A Conch House Christmas

A Key West Conch House

One of the most fun Christmas holidays I've ever enjoyed, was back in the gilded 1980's~ when I drove down to Key West, Florida from North Carolina.  Key West still had a hand tinted post card glow then, and I always would stay in the old quarter, known as Old Town Key West~which has been home to luminaries such as Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, and many other artists.  Lilly Pulitzer would get her fabrics from Key West for her orange juice making shifts back in the sixties and seventies then.
So, back to my story.  I was playing tennis with a very good, rated player, and as I ran back to make my return shot (this is like Gloria Upson telling her Ping Pong ball story) I very unfortunately turned my ankle and landed on my left wrist! The courts were asphalt, so yes I had a fractured wrist.  Dr. Avery Plowden at the KW hospital put a nice cast on my arm, and gave me a prescription for Tylenol with codeine.  Later, but not too, I was on Duval Street enjoying dinner with a glass of wine, and if you've ever accidentally mixed a beverage with a codeine laced pill, you know that wonderful
naughty  floating sensation!  I just remember feeling so well,  and the little white lights were blurry in a wonderful way, and I wandered into this kind of gazebo, all lined in unfinished plywood.  In the middle of the vaulted ceiling going up up up was a beautiful plain evergreen Christmas tree, and all it had on it was the white lights.The utter beauty and raw simplicity made quite an impression on me, as the familiar thump of the disco-techno beat pounded away in the background. Whenever I think of a memorable Christmas holiday, this image comes to mind.  The breezes were making the palms sway, and rustle in the moonlight, and it was magical.  Merry Christmas, and hope you had a nice Chanukah too! Enjoy!  DF *****

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Carleton and the Colony

Image via the Colony Hotel site

Of course, I'm super excited that Billy and I are going back to the Colony Hotel, Palm Beach, to see Tommy Tune perform at the Royal Room~ Our friend and colleague, Mr. Carleton Varney, along with Brinsley Matthews and the CV team, have just completed an overhaul of the venerable old hotel.  It presides over the end of Worth Avenue, like a grand queen!

The Royal Room at the Colony, via the Colony Hotel site

We had just missed seeing Mary Wilson, of the Supremes, playing here right before the renovation closed the hotel.  What fun to see Tommy Tune perform!  Here he is (below) with Liz Smith.  

Tommy Tune, via NYSD

So, here come the holidays, once again!  Looking forward to staying in Naples this year.  One of the most enjoyable Christmas holidays I ever spent was in Key West~ back in the late 1970's !!! Imagine the excitement and the fun!  There were no big cruise ships coming in to the port then, so it was quite a different place from what it has become today. Enjoy!DF***** 

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A Key West Day Trip

This is the larger boat

This poster was in our chosen restaurant

Our old friends, Bob and David, from Melbourne, Fla. were recently in Naples for the Denison reunion, and had brought along some of their friends- George and Jerald, from Cocoa Beach.  They had the idea to visit Key West on the boat that leaves from Marco Island, and so, on Friday, that is what we did.  Yours truly had never actually been on this big old boat- and wasn't entirely knowledgeable about it- I was expecting a rustic old ferry trawler like the one I used to take from Sayville, NY to Fire Island Pines.

It was quite a bit nicer- called the Atlantia, and staffed by a crew of four sturdy and handsome young men.  We left early, around 8 or so- and arrived in Key West about three hours later...

Billy had the wonderful idea of renting this cute little electric car for our island tour- and I loved the faded lilac color- it was hysterical riding all over old town in this little bug.  Maximum speed - 25 mph ! We left the other guys at the marina as they wanted to do some other things, and went off on our own in this lavender Mercedes S 500 (key west version) :)  STRAIGHT TO LUNCH !!! as being on the water for over three hours makes one ravenous!

Above, the menu of the day at charming, tres' local, El Siboney - (the Pirate?) a little Cuban eatery on Catherine Street, just past the old cemetery.  Billy and I ordered the pollo con arroz, and I had a Budweiser Light with my simple - but delicious meal.  The last time we were on the island, we went here for dinner, and had fabulous roast chicken, which had a shredded texture- and black beans and rice, also with fried plantains- which were also served with our rice dish at lunch yesterday.  There was every kind of person there, from designer bagged girls, to laborers - and many languages were being spoken.  It's off the beaten path, and quite good, and cheap too.

After our simple lunch, we hopped back into la lavender, and headed over to the Casa Marina area, to see the old dock and the water on the Atlantic side.  I stuck my toes in and felt the slightly cool water- and saw this pretty girl snorkeling- something I had done around the coral reef, years ago, which at 160 miles, is the eighth largest in the world!  I did envy her the utter freedom and indulgence- like a fish she was, and no doubt as blissfully ignorant of any harm that may come her way ! :(

We got back in, and rode off, and I suggested getting an apres' lunch ice cream, which we did- and then wandered somewhat crazily back over to the Fleming Street area where I saw this adorable bicycle!  This is so artistic, and KW seems to have become a little haven for artists, old hippies, and eccentrics.  We also did a "drive by" of my fave antiques shop on the island, The Duck and The Dolphin.  The sun kept going in and out, and there were wonderful breezes...

Here, Billy strikes a very "Prada" pose- looking so cute in his stripe polo.  I took this shot of him on the dock where I had seen the girl snorkeling.  We both miss the old days (1970's) in KW, when there was a wild vibe of wanton sexuality to the place.  But, we also relished the idea of going back to civilization, i.e Naples- and nice clean condos!

How funny is this little plate on the front of la lavender?  It says Conch Electric Cars.  A wave of the future?
Or- the KW version of a Tesla?

Ah, alas, dear sailors, all good things must (quickly, and too soon) come to an end.  From the bow of the good ship Lollipop, I took this shot- we had a wonderful, leisurely day on the island- and we left with no heaviness in our hearts.  Farewell dear little key- we will see you again soon!  Cheers!  DF ***** 

Remembering Angelo in Key West



Richard Peacon House, Eaton Street, Key West, FL

Happy Memorial day weekend!  We were recently down in Key West for the weekend, and I couldn't resist snapping some of my favorite places in Old Town.  Above, the historic Peacon House, built in 1885, at 712 Eaton Street.  Angelo Donghia bought this in 1974, and had Fred Cole restore it in 1975.  It was then published in AD.  In the early 80's Calvin Klein bought it for the then huge sum of $975,000.00  I've always admired this house.

I tried to get close in to show the historic marker in the front garden...

This is the north side of the house, love the aqua colored shutters.  I think they were painted white when Angelo lived there.  This partially octagonal house is known in the vernacular of KW buildings as a "bow front" house.  Below, some other conch houses I was intrigued by...


 If you want to visit Key West, which is only 90 miles from Cuba, I suggest staying at the Marquesa Hotel, on Fleming Street.  It's directly across from the elegant Duck and Dolphin  Antiques, one of my favorite shops in Old Town.  ENJOY!  DF *****