HEMINGWAY, STONE CRABS AND AFRICA

First, the weather. The cold front is gone. Key West is back to glorious weather. High 70’s by day, low 70’s by night. No air conditioning day or night. No humidity.

The sun is shining brightly this morning on the MTV house across the water from me. The house is multi colored. Yellow the basic color, with blue and pink trim. Really hues. Even the mangrove trees fronting on the water are a special green this morning.

The MTV house is reflecting full size in the water between our homes. A magnificent sight!

My day yesterday started early. A fasting blood test. The steroids screwed up my last one and so we are redoing.

Hemingway, stone crabs and Africa. All in one evening. In one place. The Chart Room.

Someone wrote in chalk on the blackboard at the end of the bar in large letters…..HEMINGWAY WAS NEVER HERE! A Chart Room question often asked. Did Hemingway hang out at the Chart Room? He could not have. Hemingway had been long dead when the Chart Room came into existence in 1965.

Emily was bartending. She lucked out. One of the Pier House guests and his wife had been stone crabbing in the afternoon. They brought Emily several (crushed) and the mustard sauce. Emily dined well!

Africa came into the Chart Room in the form of Amy Culver. Amy has lived in Key West forever. A prominent citizen. She visits Africa 2-3 times a year. Has been doing so for years. She arrived with two friends. One a former American Airlines attendant, the other a Baltimore-Annapolis realtor. I had a fun time chatting with the three. Especially the realtor. I forgot to get their names.

After the two visitors left, Amy remained and we talked alone a while.

Then to the Hot Tin roof for dinner.

The bar unusually busy.

A combination of locals and visitors. The dinning room full.

Many of the guests were power boaters. Power boaters are easy to spot. The women dress a bit more.The men generally in long pants. Two were wearing jackets. No one wears a jacket in Key West. Whatever they were wearing exuded affluence. As it should. Power boating is an expensive sport. Requires big bucks. Only the rich can afford to participate.

The issue of corporate taxes keeps coming up. Many corporations have become technically foreign based in order to avoid U.S. taxes. It was recently disclosed that Pepsi Cola, Fed Ex, and Proctor & Gamble are among those that do so.

What bugs me is that if the rich do not pay their taxes, how is this country run? The answer is obvious. It is run on the backs of the middle class and those of lesser economic status. The middle class has eroded, however. So the responsibility is that of the working poor and those fortunate to be a step up from them on the economic scale. Not right! Not fair! The tax laws must be fixed so those American dollars can come home.

Enjoy your day!

THE BEST OF KEY WEST

Key West has many beautiful, intelligent, today women. Two of the very best are Amy Culver and Jenna Stauffer. Both celebrated birthdays yesterday.

Amy’s bash was at Salute’s during cocktail hour. Jenna’s a dinner party later on at Tavern ‘n Town. I intended to go to both. Made it to neither. My apologies to the  ladies.

Amy and I have known of each other for many years. It is only recently we have become personally acquainted.

Amy’s background is dramatic. The only way to describe it.

Mangoes on Duval was her baby. She made it what it is. She sold the restaurant several years ago.

Amy is big into Africa. Somewhere along the way, she discovered Africa. Not the civilized portion. The deep dark jungles and the poor natives who reside in them. She visits Africa yearly. I fear some day she may not return. Her trips are somewhat dangerous because of the areas she visits. Amy is Director of the Busara Project, a not for profit to help Africans. Her African connection has also resulted in a business venture. She designs and organizes customized African safaris.

My friendship with Amy really developed with my interest in Dominique D’Ermo. I have been researching a book about him for more than a year. Amy knew D’Ermo well. So well that she was one of those asked to eulogize him at his funeral service in New York City.

Jenna, my love! Strikingly beautiful. Talented. The world her oyster.

Jenna is relatively young. She has accomplished much. Television her forte. She presently is General Manager of WEYW-TV in Key West, where she also hosts the Good Morning Florida Keys talk show. Prior to her time in Key West, Jenna was the sports anchor at WNCT-TV in Greenville, North Carolina. She always reminds me she wore heels while running up and down the football field interviewing people. No flats for her. She was woman!

Jenna and I became friends about the time she first arrived in Key west. She worked with me on the Key West Lou Legal Hour at KONK Broadcasting. Taught me some of the tricks of the trade. Later, she produced my television show at WEYW-TV.

One of you who follow my blog wrote and recommended a new restaurant on Duval for the best burger ever! Your name escapes me. I apologize. I went back through the multitudinous comments and could not locate yours. Thank you for suggesting it, however. I tried the restaurant yesterday.

Go! Run! Do not miss it! Once you go, you will return on a frequent basis. I intend to.

The place is called Burger Fi. A burger joint with a touch of class. Inside and out dining. A great place outside in the back. A bar. A full bar. Hard stuff, beer and wine.

The place could be a shack. Though it is not. The important thing is the quality of the burger. The best I have ever eaten! Puts 5 Guys to shame. I had a double Angus cheeseburger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Burger Fi sauce. Delicious! Plus a diet coke.

There is a 20 per cent locals discount. Big! My total bill was $7.47. You cannot eat cheaper and better!

I met Dougie. The bartender. He has been returning to Key West for ten years during the winter. He comes to Key West by way of California.

Burger Fi is located at 221 Duval. The same block and on the same side as Sloppy Joe’s. Across the street from the Bull.

Burger Fi also has several TV sets. I may do a Syracuse basketball game there.

Tonight, I am having dinner with friends I have not seen in months. Mike and Tina Mazzorana. Their Key West home is by the cemetery. Tina picked the place to dine. She says it has become her favorite. New. It is a small place on Simonton, near Gary the Plumber. Dueces Off the Hook. I look forward to the experience.

Forget not my book! The World Upside Down is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

AN ENJOYABLE EVENING

 

I had dinner last night at Square One. Third time in recent weeks. I must like it. I do.

The new owner Carmelo has done a wonderful job in remodeling. An interior of soft dark colors. Lights always dim. The atmosphere soothing. The food of course outstanding.

My rediscovery of Square One does not mean I am abandoning my other haunts of choice. Hot Tin Roof is still tops with me. In fact, I am having dinner with Cheryl and Roger there Friday night.

The new Square One does not serve breakfast or lunch. Only dinners. They have a children’s menu. Terrific! Everything between $5 and $7. Some night when I am watching Robert and Ally at diner time, I will  ring them. I would have us seated at the outside terrace. Robert and Ally do not need dim lights.

Dinner was with Amy Culver. We have known each other for years. Merely to say hello when we would see each other. Last night was the first time I ever had dinner with Amy or talked with her to any extent.

Amy was an excellent dinner companion. She is the former owner of Mangos. The jumping outdoor restaurant in the middle of Duval. She sold it several years ago.

Amy travels extensively. For the past 11 years, she has visited Africa for at least a month at a time. Sounds like my visits to Greece. She initially went 11 years ago on a trip/mission to help the Africans. Got so taken with the place that she returns yearly to continue.

As you are aware, even  though book one is done, I am working on two others. One is a biography of an international figure. I have been into serious research for six months regarding him.

Writing is very similar to the work I did as an environmental attorney. Tons of records need to be searched. Always looking for that small piece of information or paper that will lead to some thing of value. While I was digging, I came across the program handed to those who attended his funeral at a large church in New York City. The program listed something like 15 persons who gave eulogies. Lo and behold, Amy was one of them!

The purpose of last night’s get together was to start digging into Amy’s wealth of recollections. I learned much. Much I did not know. I thought I knew everything about the man and was using Amy to merely fill in the holes. She opened new doors to me. I anticipate Amy and I will be spending many hours together over the course of the next year.

I was pleased when I arrived at Square One to see my booce partner Frankie and his wife Sandy. They were with several friends having dinner. Guy, the owner of KONK Life, came in with his lady friend of many years, ML. That is what she is called. I know her by no other name.

The Christmas Parade is next Saturday evening. KONK Life has a float. I am supposed to be on it in a Santa hat throwing candy to the kids.

Met Suzette. A lovely tiny young lady. An intriguing accent. We talked a bit. She is from Russia. Served as hostess last night.

Met also for the first time our waiter. Amy knew him, however. Robert Perlow. He once was a writer for Jay Leno.

There is a wine bar between Square One and La Te Da. I do not recall its name. First time I was there. Amy dragged me after dinner. I am not a wine drinker. I had a bottle of water while Amy imbibed.

Diane May was there. I had not seen Diane in quite a while. We have mutual friends. Donna and Terri. Diane is a beaming charming woman.

I asked Amy if it was true that Christopher had sold Antonia’s. Restaurant and former restaurant owners know everything. Yes, it was true. What surprised me was that Christopher turned around and bought La Te Da. Wow!

Tonight at 9 is my blog talk radio show. If you are home, flip open the computer and listen in. It is only a half hour and a fast moving one at that. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Interesting topics tonight include courts gone crazy, Saudi Arabians beating their maids, future wars perhaps being fought over water, whether Black Fridays are the picture of how people will behave if there are food shortages, and my thoughts regarding Pope Frances’ recent Papal Mission Statement.

Enjoy your day!