HARPOON HARRY’S

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Big day yesterday! Ate at Harpoon Harry’s twice. First time for a business luncheon. In the evening, I was scheduled to take Robert and Ally ti dinner. I let them decide where. They wanted to go to Harpoon harry’s. I tried to dissuade them. Finally relented. They had their hearts set on Harpoon Harry’s. So it was back to Harpoon Harry’s for a second time.

There was a special reason re Harpoon Harry’s. Robert and I are on the search for the best Philly cheese sandwich. So far, it is No Name Pub. Harpoon Harry’s had recently added the sandwich to its menu. Our evaluation was that it was only fair. Too dry.

Whatever, the three of us had a good time. We sat inside next to open windows. We could hear and see the Caroline Street activity.

The public parking lot across from Harpoon Harry’s was full at lunch time. It was full again at dinner time. I had to drive around each time looking for a spot on the street. The number of tourists in town is amazing! I have never seen this many at this time of year.

Fortunately, the weather was better . It got up to 76 degrees.

I took the Southern Boulevard route home. To avoid the traffic. Out on the horizon, I could see the sails of a number of sail boats. At least twenty. A beautiful sight! I suspect they were part of Quantum Key West which has begun. A big time Key West sailing event!

Tonight is my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine o’clock. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Join me for a fast moving half hour of interesting topics. Tonight’s program will include the Christopher Columbus lie, electric bills in Greece, White Castle burgers, increasing police brutality, and more.

Enjoy your day!

 

MARY AND MIKE FROM BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

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Sean Kinney likes to write. It is his career, his job. He is the Miami Herald’s man in Key West.

I met Sean’s parents yesterday. Second time. Last year, also. Mother Mary and I chatted at the bar. I could see Sean in her. Her mind, her love of  reading, etc. She was interested in my recently published book The World Upside Down. Had me write the title on the back of a bar bill so she could order it. Love you, Mary!

Met Sean’s Dad at the table. Unfortunately, we only had time for a quick hello. Sean and Katherine were taking Mary and Mike to dinner at the Conch Republic.

Mary and Mike reside in Biloxi, Mississippi. Mary said she caught my blog talk radio show a few times in Biloxi.

That was last night. I spent most of Sunday writing this week’s KONK Life column. Guaranteed you will enjoy! It is a mixture of Columbus, Ferdinand and Isabella, Plato, and Aristotle. The story of a gigantic lie perpetrated on us by ignorant politicians.

I planned on meeting Peter Max yesterday. He was at an art gallery from 1-4. My day was too full. Never made it. By the time I finished the KONK Life column, it was after 5.

This is Quantum Key West Week. Top shelf sailing. The world’s finest professional sailors crewing for captain’s of industry. Big money sport enthusiasts. As exciting as the sailing may be, it is going to be especially uncomfortable out on the cold Atlantic and Gulf. No matter how well dressed everyone may be!

Busy day today. Sloan at 10. Lunch with Guy de Boer. Dinner with the grandkids. I am taking Robert and Ally out. Just the three of us.

My blog talk radio show tomorrow night at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Topics will include a stupid Florida gun law, Hawaii battling genetically modified foods, the NSA bugging Congress, a further example of bank hypocrisy, the Christopher Columbus lie, the NSA being able to get your medical records without authorization, and more. Revealing information!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

HEART FAILURE!

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These Syracuse basketball games can be too much! Yesterday was one of them. Syracuse beat Pittsburgh by 5 points. 59-54. With 4 minutes to go, I was sure Pitt was going to win. So did everyone else I am sure.

An example of the kind of game it was. Ten minutes into the second half, Syracuse was up by 10. In 1 minute and 9 seconds, Pitt makes three 3s in a row. All by the same player. Now only a one point game.

I watched the game at Don’s Place with Dan and Michael. Michael is Dan’s friend from Syracuse. Michael mentioned he was reading my book The World Upside Down. I was thrilled and thanked him. After the game, he told me he was going back to the house to continue reading it. Go Michael!

Tino came in with Tom after the game. First time I have seen Tino in almost two years. He was looking well. Tino never changes. It was good to see him again.

Angus was a the bar watching the game. One of the best people in Key West.

After the game, I had a drink with Grant and Jeff. Today is Grant’s birthday. Twenty nine! Congratulations, Grant!

Late morning, I visited with Alyson and Chuck from the Boca Raton area. Alyson is a loyal blog reader. Love her! That is how we met. The three of us spent a pleasant hour together at the Plantation Coffee House.

Alyson and Chuck are looking to relocate to Key West. They are searching for a business to buy. If anyone has anything, let me know. I will pass the information on to them

One of my favorite spots to eat is No Name Key Pub. If you have ever been there, you understand why. In one of Mark Howell’s writings this week, Mark made mention that No Name Key was the rugged training grounds for the anti-Castro forces prior to the Bay of Pigs. I did not know. Another piece of information from Louis’ collection is that during World War II, the upstairs of the No Name Pub building was a brothel.

It’s called history!

Big tournament of sorts this afternoon. At Don’s Place. Don’s Annual Rib Cook Off. A delicious place to be. There will be many entries. Don also sponsors a chili cook out. Another winner.

I mentioned yesterday that Peter Max was in town. I wanted to meet him. My plate was full yesterday. Hopefully, this afternoon. Between writing this week’s KONK Life column and the rib cook out.

Enjoy your Sunday!

MISS VIETNAM

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It was manicure time yesterday. Tammy at Lee Nails. Tammy has a new hairdo. Outstanding! Frames her lovely face perfectly.

I have always had a soft spot for Asian women. Why, I do not know. I find them attractive. Perhaps a bit mysterious.

Tammy is short and thin. Tiny better describes her stature. A sweet face to go along with a sweet disposition. A mere 32. Looks 18.

Tammy was lovely before her new hairdo. More so now. So good, I would label her Miss Vietnam!

I spent a good two hours at the Plantation Coffee House yesterday morning. Got involved in the New York papers. I find it relaxing to sit and sip and read. The atmosphere at the Coffee House is conducive to a quiet time experience.

Chart Room big last night! Key West continues to be packed. I feel sorry for the tourists. It has been 80 degrees for months. Now we are into our first week of cold. The weather does not keep the vacationers down. They are in the bars, restaurants and coffee houses having a good time. A simple change of venue for them from the beach to indoors.

There was a buzz in the Chart Room. CNBC was in town. Some reality show. No one knew exactly which one. I was told the show helps businesses. The show people were working with one of the key lime businesses.

Kevin sitting at the end of the bar. I enjoy his company. Sheila and Peter at the bar, also. Jim Cox was back. The last one whose ashes will be placed in the bar rail.

We talked about Jim’s Dad, Jim Cox also. He was a banker. Made money when the savings and loans went under in the 1980s. Retired thereafter in his 30s to Key West. Retirement bored him. As it did me. He went into business. He designed and had made a special men’s pants. Billowy, open on the sides. Attached to the pants was a whistle. Ergo, the pants were known as whistle pants. He sold them in stores. He would also ride around on his bicycle selling them on the streets.

The senior Jim Cox became known as Whistle Pants. Similar to my being known as Key West Lou. Mr. Cox’s name appears on the bar rail as Whistle Pants.

I met Sandy from Wichita, Kansas. She was looking for a book store. Wanted to get some local books to read. I directed her. Told her also about The World Upside Down. She was very interested. Wrote down for her that it could be ordered from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. I also recommended she read The Shack. She gave me the name of a book she thought I would enjoy reading.

I liked Sandy. Hope I run into Sandy and her husband again before they leave.

Dinner was at the Hot Tin Roof with Jim Cox. An enjoyable time. Talked of many things.

I had a simple meal. I did not wish to over eat. Shataki and mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes at the Hot Tin Roof are special.

Big basketball this afternoon! Syracuse/Pittsburgh. Syracuse remains undefeated at 17-0. Pittsburgh has lost only one game and is 16-1. Syracuse will be tested as it was against Villanova a couple of weeks ago. Though Syracuse is a 7.5 point favorite, I am uncomfortable. I plan on watching the game at Don’s Place at 4.

Enjoy your day!

PETER MAX / CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS / TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

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What a combination! Peter Max, Christopher Columbus and Tennessee Williams! The three are totally unrelated. They just happened to come up for comment on the same day.

Peter Max will be in Key West this weekend. Exciting! I have three of his works. Used to have four. Gave one years ago to one of my daughters.

Max will be appearing on saturday and sunday at the De Rubeis Gallery at 511 Duval. See the man and his work! I hope to.

Tennessee Williams will be appearing. However, not live. He left us long ago.

Williams lived in Key West some 30-40 years. His Key West home was on Duncan, one block from Lisa’s. He is known for his writings. It is not the writings which bring him to our attention at this time. It is his paintings!

I did not know that Williams painted. He did in his later years. The Custom House presently has on exhibit of  his paintings. Another must to see!

While sitting at the Plantation Coffee House yesterday, it dawned on me how tourists dress when Key West is cold. They throw anything on that they can find. Nothing matches. They don’t care. Just trying to keep warm. None would ever dress that way back home.

Stopped first at Don’s Place last night. Enjoyed David and Jeff’s company. Grant showed up just as I was leaving. Briefly chatted with Jimmy. Joanie rebuked me for passing her by without saying hello. She was correct. It was not intentional. My mind was somewhere else. She gave me a kiss and hug after hollering at me.

Especially enjoyed my evening at the Chart Room. The place was packed. Locals and tourists. Emily earned her keep last night. She was moving!

Sheila, David and Peter were there, also. I like David. He keeps telling me we are going to play billiards together. I think he is just talk (not meant offensively). I can never pin him down for an actual game.

Jim Cox was at the Chart Room. I had met him some two years ago briefly. Last night, we talked for quite a while. He is an attorney who works in house for a Dallas bank. Capital One Bank. He had a court appearance in Key West on a mortgage foreclosure case.

Jim is important? Special? I am not sure how to describe his claim to fame. Simply stated, he is one of the two remaining persons who has a  hole ready in the Chart Room bar rail for his ashes when he dies. The other is Che. The rest are gone.

Jim’s Dad Jim is already there. The two are the only father/son combination.

I suspect Jim will be the last to make it. He is about 45 years old. Che is 80.

We got into my recently published book. The World Upside Down. I suspect he is going to buy it. I told him to check Amazon.com and Barnesandnoblecom.

I read in one of the New York papers this morning that the National Security Agency bugs and stores 2 million texts a day. A disgrace! What bothers me is very few seem upset with this sort of thing. It is part of the ongoing erosion of our freedoms. Once lost, they are difficult to get back.

I started working on this week’s KONK Life column. It is going to be about Christopher Columbus. Revealing. You will not believe what I will be sharing with you. Aristotle and Washington Irving are involved also.

Enjoy your day!

 

MY 15 MINUTES UP

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My 15 minutes of notoriety are gone. This week’s KONK Life hit the stands yesterday. There is a new face on the cover.

I once again thank Guy de Boer for featuring me on last week’s cover. Every where I went, people mentioned it to me.

I wrote about condoms and government waste yesterday. I spent time researching the issue in detail yesterday afternoon. My thought was to do next week’s KONK Life column on condoms and government waste. The research educated me. I learned a few things I was previously unaware of. I also realized there was not enough background material upon which to build a newspaper article.

Some pieces of unrelated information stuck out. Permit me to share them with you.

1. The grant was made to a Georgia condom manufacturer. I tried to figure out the name. Turns out there are several condom  manufacturers in Georgia. Maybe Georgia is the condom capital of the world.

2. Trojan manufactures 75 percent of all condoms. Whether in the United States or world wide, I could not figure out.

3. Trojan produces 1 million condoms a day. I did not realize there were that many in use.

4. China and India are the biggest users of condoms in the world.

5. The government grant was to design condoms in various sizes. Like 95, I read some where. I thought this better fit thing was baloney. Turns out it is not. There is a problem. Especially among African-American men. It is claimed they have more problems with fit and feel than Caucasians. The result is condom failure while in use.

I babysat late yesterday afternoon and into the early evening. Robert had fallen behind in his homework. Lisa’s marching orders to me were to keep him working at his homework…..do not believe him if he says he’s done. I did not have to follow instructions. Poor Robert stayed buried at his desk working hard. Ally had no homework. She watched TV with me.

Jake got into the picture. He likes me. He was up on the couch lying next to me. Of course, I had to rub his head and back.

Stopped at Don’s Place afterwards. Several people commented in effect that my picture was all over town. I suggested they should buy the book.

Chatted a bit with Don, Jimmy, Hershel, Rob, Frankie, and Grant. Grant is the Bad Boy Burrito cook. Soon to be famous when the cooking show that filmed him airs.

You can tell bocce is around the corner. It is THE topic of conversation. We have too many players, who should play the first game, do we want to win or have a good time, etc. Don, Frankie and I had the discussion last night.

It was an early evening. I was home in bed by 9.

Enjoy your day!

THE PERFECT FITTING CONDOM

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I did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. One of the topics was concerned with wasteful government spending. Condoms the issue.

We live in a time when the House of Representatives has voted to cut back food stamps $40 billion over ten years, $9 billion already cut this year for failure to renew a different  food stamp  program. Congress continues to fail reauthorizing the $300 per week to the long time unemployed. During the last government shut down, the milk for babies program and school lunches came to a halt. Republicans clamor to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

The federal budget is gigantic. A lot of room in its pages for small stupid things to be buried. Wasteful items. The perfect fitting condom is one of them.

Congress authorized the National Institute of Health to award a $224,000 grant to a Georgia based condom company. The purpose of the grant was to create the perfect fitting condom. Stated another way, condoms for every size and shape. The goal of the study was to come up with 95 different sized condoms. The number 95 is amusing. From shirts to pants to dresses to blouses to skirts to shoes, none has 95 different sizes. Not even close.

Part of the study included coming up with a method by which the penis could be measured. We don’t want anyone purchasing the wrong size!

For those who may be unaware, condoms presently come in two or three sizes. Regular and maxi. I am not sure if small.

Congress stated there was a legitimacy to the study. Apparently condoms are not being used enough by men. The reason alleged is that they are uncomfortable. If properly sized, the problem would disappear. A medical reason was involved, also. The greater use of condoms would result in a  reduction of STDs.

We actually pay our Congressmen to come up with such goodies! We really do!

I suspect the real reason might be that a political favor was owed to the Georgia company which resulted in the grant. Or maybe the study is a legitimate scientific one. You decide.

The weather. Getting cold. Sixty nine degrees at the present time.

It will be 62 during the night. Through sunday, the temperature will be in the 60s by day and 50s by night.

Cold!!!!!

I know. I should not complain. Better than the  -20 they are experiencing up north.

Enjoy your day!

I FORGOT

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Show time! My blog talk radio show tonight at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me for a quick half hour of eye opening revealing topics. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

This evening I will be discussing the Japanese purchase of Jim Beam, $224,000 Congress authorized for a federal study re making custom fit condoms, Congressional wealth, Nixon’s electronic surveillance of private citizens, the French taxing CEO’s who make in excess of 1 million euros 75 per cent, and more.

Heat up some pop corn, sit back and enjoy!

Sloan and I spent a hard two hours working yesterday afternoon. It was her teaching me how to use the computer more efficiently.

Went to Don’s Place first last night. I was looking for Keith and Jimmy. They are always there. Except the one night I needed to talk with them. Instead, I enjoyed a brief chat with Frankie the Plumber. One of the best.

Then to the Chart Room. Chatted with Mary, Peter, and Che. Mostly with Che.

Che hit me with…..I see your face all over town! He was referring to my cover picture on KONK Life which in effect was advertising my book The World Upside Down. Che wanted to read the book. Buy it, I told him. Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Turns out as smart and well read as Che is, he cannot operate a computer. Che is 80, which should mean nothing. I am 78 and do.

One way or another, Che will come up with the book.

I got into David Wolkowsky who I blogged about yesterday. I was curious if the present Chart Room is the original built by Wolkowsky. I thought Che might now. He has lived in Key West more than 40 years. Not long enough to know, as it turned out. No one seemed to know. Che and the Chart Room go hand in hand. Che is one of the last two persons living who when dead will have their ashes placed in the bar rail.

Che and I covered Italy, Greece, and London. Che is seriously considering leaving Key West after all his years here. That is how we got into European locations.

I stopped at Tavern ‘n Town on the way home for a bite to eat. A small pizza. I sat at the bar and was enjoying the Duke/Virginia game. All of a sudden, information regarding the Syracuse/Boston College game flashed across the bottom of the screen. I had forgotten about the game! I thought it was wednesday night! When I got home, I learned Syracuse had won by 10 points. Syracuse was behind several points with 10 minutes to go in the game and went on a 15-0 run. Pittsburgh saturday. I will not forget. It will be as big as the Villanova game. Pittsburgh has only lost one game this season.

The bartender looked familiar. He said I looked familiar to him. Once I told him my name, he remembered. He used to work for Great Events back when. Great Events used to do my big parties. One hundred fifty to two hundred people. His name is Andrew. We had an interesting time recollecting the parties and the fine work Great Events did.

I may have missed the Syracuse game. I finished the evening on a high note, however. I watched a 1936 movie with two great stars. Eddie Cantor and Ethel Merman. Strike Me Pink was the name of the movie. A funny musical with a happy ending.

A final reminder. Watch my show tonight. I guarantee you will find it interesting.

Enjoy your day!

DAVID WOLKOWSKY

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Jimmy Buffett was in Key West friday night. He attended David Wolkowsky’s annual cocktail party which has become a part of the Key West Literary Seminary. The Seminary is on going this week. The party was held on the roof top of the Kress building. Better known to most as the building which housed Fast Buck Freddy’s for years.

There was a picture in yesterday’s Key West Citizen of Buffett and Wolkowsky at the party. Buffett and Wolkowsky are business partners. Buffett also proudly tells all that Wolkowsky was the first person to hire him.

The old timers in Key West know of Wolkowsky. Some of the newer residents perhaps not. Most of the tourists not.

I want to share with you David Wolkowsky’s story.

Wolkowsky is 94 years old. He is a legend in his own time. A quiet unassuming millionaire. He is responsible for much of what is Key West today. He worked diligently to preserve the best of old Key West. He was primarily responsible in the prevention of high rise buildings on the island.

He is known as the American Developer. Not for his efforts in Key West alone, but also for the significant preservation work he did in his younger days in Philadelphia.

His grandfather came to Key West in the late 1880s and opened a fine clothing store on Duval Street. Wolkowsky was born in Key West. The family at some point moved to Miami. Wolkowsky later went to college at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, he settled in Philadelphia. He was best known in those years for the renovation and preservation of what once had been Philadelphia’s best neighborhoods.

He was financially successful. In 1962 at the age of 40, he retired to Key West. Soon after, he started developing Key West real estate.

Today’s Captain Tony’s stands because of Wolkowsky’s efforts. This goes back to when it was Sloppy Joe’s and Hemingway’s first hang out. The building had been condemned. Wolkowsky saved it.

In 1967, he built a 50 room motel and restaurant at what would be 0 Duval today. It was called the Pier House Resort Motel. The forerunner of today’s Pier House.

My favorite haunt the Chart Room was a part of Wolkowsky’s Pier House. Here is where Jimmy Buffett comes into the picture. Wolkowsky was the first to hire him and it was at the Chart Room.

Wolkowsky built a dream home some eight miles off Key West on Ballast Key. He entertained often at both the Pier House and Ballast Key. He entertained the likes of Truman Capote, Tennesee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Rudolf Nureyev, and Lillian Hellman. The Rockefellers,  Mellons and Vanderbilts were his guests, as well as British Prime Minister Edward Heath.

Wolkowsky entertained at Ballast Key with a menu consisting of hot dogs, white wine and potato chips. For which he was famous.

Another significant accomplishment was his construction of the Reach Resort.

Wolkowsky  could be seen over the years driving around Key West in a golf cart or his beloved 1926 Rolls Royce.

A man for the ages. Key West is fortunate that he settled here and his family before him. Conchs all in every sense of the word!

Enjoy your day!

 

QUIRKY SATURDAY

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Saturday is normally out on the town for me in the evening. Not yesterday.

My whole away from home experience yesterday was watching the Syracuse/North Carolina game at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub from noon to 2.. I went home intending to attend to a few matters and head out again around 5. Never made it. I started researching what will be this week’s KONK Life column. By the time I finished, it was after 7. I did not feel like going anywhere.

The column will involve a recent federal court decision declaring Florida’s law requiring welfare applicants to get a drug test unconstitutional. Pee in the cup is no longer or until and if a higher court decides otherwise. The article also includes Governor Scott’s involvement and support for the law. He pushed drug testing for welfare recipients. You will find his interaction most interesting.

Syracuse, my Syracuse! Wow! Beat North Carolina yesterday 57-45. It was Syracuse all the way. North Carolina was never in the game, except for the first few minutes. Syracuse did a typical game start. North Carolina was up 8-2 before the ‘Cuse got rolling.

32,000 watched the game at the Carrier dome. For 20 years, I watched every home game at the Carrier Dome. Exciting years with each game an exciting experience.

Jim Vitale announced. Syracuse fans all were thrilled with his presence. Said with tongue in cheek. I have never heard Vitale say anything good about Syracuse or Boeheim. Some place way back, he and Boeheim must have had a run in.

It was different yesterday. Vitale could not say enough good things about Syracuse and Boeheim. He ventured that Syracuse was a championship game team. He also thought Boeheim was Coach of the Year thus far. He could not say enough nice things about Syracuse.

Skaneateles Dan and I watched the game together.

There is an interesting person in Key West today. His name is Kenneth Morris, Jr. He is the great, great, great grandson of Frederick Douglas and also a descendant of Booker T. Washington. His presence is sponsored by The Little White House.

Morris has been described as a modern day abolitionist. Today’s human traffic is one of his concerns. It is the topic he will be addressing.

Enjoy your Sunday!