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MargaritaShack.Com Hotter Than Hell Summer Sale

2011-07-24T05:54:00.000-04:00

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Big Dick and The Extenders

2010-08-16T14:31:00.000-04:00

Sorry Cowboy fans.

This blog is not about Jimmy Johnson dressing up in NASCAR garb promoting some male sexual enhancement product in order to subsidize his bayside resort in Key Largo...Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill.

It is however, about a famous three piece band that had performed at Woody's Saloon & Restaurant in Islamorada, Florida for God knows how many years.

Big Dick and The Extenders reminds me of ZZ Top...unplugged. A little ol' band from Islamorada Florida. "Every Place Else Sucks," says Big Dick and I whole-heartedly agree.

Last Saturday night in Port Salerno, at the Manatee Island Bar and Grill we got to see Big Dick and The Extenders rock out at the Tiki Bar. The lead guitarist, playing a vintage Fender Stratocaster, was so hot that he caught their main speaker on fire. No Shit! Right in front of me...

Manatee Island Tiki Bar

Manatee Island Bar & Grill

Our original destination was the Pirate's Cove Resort on the Manatee Pocket, to grab a few fish tacos and a cold beer or two. The outside bar has an outstanding view of The Pocket and Marina as well as the Hinckley Yacht Yard and Docks.

On Sunday afternoons they host one of the best Reggae Pool Parties this side of the Bahamas, from 2-6PM.

Pirates Cove Marina Resort

Big Dick told us afterwards that he had not performed at Woody's in over two years and that he had been asked to play at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.

Stranger things have happened I guess...if you know what I mean?

He has also been performing over on the Florida Gulf Coast at the Undertow Beach Bar.

Two Buck Coronas at The Undertow Beach Bar

It is a place where Big Dick says, "You can get sucked offshore" and "the Coronas are only two bucks!"

See you there next Saturday, 8-21-10. No tar balls allowed.

Cheers,

Margarita Steve

Put Me In Coach...I'm Ready to Play Today

2010-03-14T15:38:00.000-04:00

There used to be a day, as the legend begins, that I could throw the seed for fire...but those memories are as faded now as my favorite pair of Levi 501's.

Nowadays, those memories are re-lived at the neighborhood ballpark here in Jupiter,Florida otherwise known as Roger Dean Stadium. Roger Dean is the Spring Training Home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins; two major league franchises that have won a World Series in the last decade.

The ball park is tucked away in the neighborhood village of Abacoa, adjacent to Florida Atlantic University and Scripps Research Institute, just a hop, skip and a jump from our ocean-side home in the Bluffs.

In any event, unless you have actually attended a spring training game at such a venue and taken in the early spring "buzz" of "getting tuned up" for another turn at America's Game then the sensation will be hard for you to imagine, even for the truest of baseball bloods. It is kind of like being at the starting line of the Indy 500 when the call rings out, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines."

The only other experience that I can compare it to was when I rode the "L" down to Wrigley Field, back on a beautiful Spring Day in the Windy City in 1993. I stopped outside the famous stadium, slammed a couple Chicago Dogs and downed an Old Style beer or two before bounding across street from the Cubby Bear and into the arena for the very first time like a baseball virgin...WOW what a rush!

On this special occasion it was Bud Light, (my wife's favorite) and a couple of Nathan's Famous Dogs with yellow mustard, onions, relish and kraut.

We had great seats, just a few rows back from the Cardinal's dugout on the first base side. The weather was sunny and 75 with a slight breeze blowing out from right to left.

Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols was getting loose down the first base line and 2005 Cy Young Award winning pitcher Chris Carpenter was breaking off a few major league curve balls in the bullpen to our right.

Before I knew it we were standing at attention for the National Anthem and then the home plate umpire yelled out "Play Ball." I felt like we were on a mission from GOD riding along side of John Belushi and Dan Akyrod.

Carpenter trotted out to the mound and Pujols took first base. Each of them tossing warm ups to the catcher and the infielders respectively. The time was 1:05PM but in reality time was actually standing still as it does at the beginning of every baseball game regardless of Day Light Savings time or not. As far as I was concerned we had already sprung forward.

The Cardinals fans appear ready for another knockout season. They come every year like geese flying south for the winter to watch this year's version of the old 1934 Gas House Gang, led by 30 Game Winner Dizzy Dean. They faithfully drink their Budweiser Beer and hope for another World Series Championship.

In fact, as it turns out, the Cardinals have good reason to have hope in their souls each Spring since they have won more World Series (10) than any team in the National League and are second only to the Yankees (27) in World Series Championships in Major League Baseball history.

Their future Hall of Fame Slugger Albert Pujols, gives them the main reason in my opinion to flock south for Spring Training and then back to Busch Stadium for the 162 game trek. The big first baseman could be one of the finest hitters to ever lace up the spikes and take the field. He takes a wide stance at the plate, hands high and back, head down tucked under the closed left shoulder.

A couple of years ago I stepped into Roger Dean one afternoon and quickly took a seat down the left field line just in time to see him hit a line drive home run. I could hear the hum of the leather clad, red stitched orb rising through the tropical air in front of me as it left the yard on the back of a rocket launcher from NASA, so it seemed. If you wanted to see where that home run landed under the royal palms, I'd recommend packing a sack lunch...

On this day, he had a single, RBI double, and a walk before leaving in the fifth. After Albert exited the game, we hung around for a couple of more innings and then decided to head over to the ArtFest by the Sea.

I commented to my lovely wife as we were leaving, "used to be I knew a few guys that I had played with or against, now I'm so old I don't know anybody but a few of the coaches and managers." On the field today as such were Tony LaRussa, Lou Brock and Dave Duncan.

In the stadiums across South Florida today were the keepers of America's Greatest Pastime sitting alongside those with a field of dreams still beating in their hearts, waiting for their turn to take the stage.

Please put me in coach,
I'm ready to play just one more day...

"When You Say Nothing at All" performed by Bruce Isaacson-Hogs Breath-Key West

2010-01-13T23:28:00.001-05:00

One of the best singer-songwriters that you have never heard of plays this one to a T at Hogs Breath in Key West...Mr. Bruce Isaacson. Some of you may also be old enough to remember Keith Whitley?

Mark your calendars: FloriDUH's wackiest festivals for 2010

2010-01-04T09:49:00.001-05:00

Mark your calendars: FloriDUH's wackiest festivals for 2010

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Cabbage Key-I'm Just a Cheeseburger in Paradise

2009-09-08T19:56:00.000-04:00

Dateline: September 7, 2009 Cabbage Key, FL

"I like mine with lettuce and tomato...Heinz 57 and french fried potato, Big Kosher pickle and a cold draft beer, Good God Almighty which way do I steer....Jimmy Buffett 1978.

We met up with our host at The Tarpon Lodge just after sunset. We had driven west over the Florida peninsula from our home in Jupiter on the Atlantic Ocean to Pine Island, Florida about 40 Miles northwest of Ft. Myers on the Gulf Coast.

Adjacent to The Tarpon Lodge was the Pineland Marina where, by boat, the islands of Cabbage Key, Useppa, Boca Grande, Sanibel, Captiva, and the spectacular beaches on Cayo Costa lie like pearls on the turquoise water just a "stone's throw" away from the mainland.

By the way, for you fishermen, Pineland Marina is the gateway to the Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World, where you can literally walk across the backs of the colossal "Silver Kings" during the month of June. That is a story for an upcoming edition of my series "Tropical Trails and Fish Tales." Please stay tuned...

Our destination for the Labor Day Weekend was the tropical island of Cabbage Key. Some people claim that Cabbage Key is the destination that Jimmy Buffett wrote about in his famous song, "Cheeseburger in Paradise," and the only way to get there is by plane, helicopter or boat.

But before we get to all of that, I must tell you about The Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant. Tucked inside of a historic 1926 "Old Florida" fishing lodge is a fabulous Four Star restaurant that will take you back in time. In fact, this is my favorite way to "Time Travel" these days and I affectionately refer to these special destinations as the "New Old Florida."

There is a strong character that exudes from the old Florida pine floors and shiplap siding that has withstood the harsh salt water environment for almost 90 years and as recently as 2004 took one hell of a beating by category three Hurricane Charley.

That being said, I was hungry after the four hour drive and couldn't wait to get started with the house specialty Blue Crab and Roasted Corn Chowder. I was also a little thirsty so I washed it down with a lot of Crown Royal, straight up, like the Florida Straits. For an entree I had the "Fresh Catch" blackened, which was a delightful fillet of Triple Tail Snapper accompanied by a generous side of asparagus.

In any event, a dinner and in fact a stay at the Tarpon Lodge and Restaurant would have been just fine with me but we had a boat waiting to take us to Cabbage Key and it was well past dark by now. Our provisions had been loaded on the boat by the friendly concierge and we tipped him accordingly.

You need to know that there is nothing on Cabbage Key other than a few Conch Style Cottages & Cabins, a restaurant and bar and a marina dock and t-shirt shop that doubles as the Ship's Store.

Hell, there is not even a paved road nor a car to drive on it if there was, so we had picked up a few bags of provisions for our salt water adventures to Cayo Costa, Boca Grande and Captiva Island. Beer, chips, dip, cheese, wine, fruit, ice, sodas, water and the like...

We climbed aboard our Captain's 29' Mako Walkaround without trippin' over all of the supplies and were immediately astonished at the fluorescent glow of the water in the prop churn from the twin Yamahas. It was a phenomenon that I had never seen before and under the light of a full moon it was almost narcotic. Our trip into the bay on that balmy night quickly became a magical mystery tour as we slowly navigated our way to Cabbage Key like floating through stardust in the wake of the big Mako. I guess the official name of the magical light show is bioluminescence?

As I had previously mentioned, I had too many Crown Royals to worry much about the navigation and worryin' aint much my my style anyway. Someone once said that worrying was interest paid in advance on deposits that were never made in the first place and I for one could not have agreed more. "No Worries Mate" is my Motto and I am sticking to it, especially since our Captian had been there before. Don't try this at home for you home gamers.

The next morning we rose early, ate breakfast at the restaurant and geared up for a day on the gin clear waters of Cabbage Key Sound and the Florida Gulf Coast.

We stopped for a swim at Cayo Costa State Park and went a shore for a little beach combing and crabbin' and we also tossed the cast net in the tidal pools for a few mullets to use as live bait.

We even managed to catch a baby sea horse if you can believe it and we saw all kinds of wildlife from birds to babes.

We eventually made our way over to Boca Grande and docked at Whidden's Marina. Historic Whidden’s Marina, located south of channel marker #7 on Boca Bayou, has the distinction of being on the National Register of Historic Places. This is the way Florida used to be and neither my words nor the words of any famed author could possibly do it justice. In my honest opinion, only pictures can capture that lost moment in time...like deja vu, all over again.

After tying up at Whidden's Marina, we walked into town and had lunch at The Temptation, which is another place that has the "Olde Florida Charm" just drippin like cold condensation from the air conditioner vents. The Temptation serves fresh local seafood and prime aged steaks and has done so since the beginning of time, as far as I am concerned!

While waiting for my meal, I stumbled into the "Package Room/Bar" area, "aka" The Carribbean Room and found another one of my memories hangin' on the wall...again words can't describe a young boys first temptation.

Back at Cabbage Key the following evening after a day trip to Captiva Island, we had dinner at the famous restaurant known as the Old House.

We were sat in the back room of the Old House, where the walls are draped with dollar bills and here on Cabbage Key they are not "soggy dollars" like in Jost Van Dyke, in the Caribbean.

The Old House Restaurant has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to boaters on this island, which is mainly the remnants of an old Indian shell mound for over 60 years and if you come at lunch time you'll see what I mean and I don't mean maybe!

Tried to amend my carnivorous habits
Made it nearly seventy days
Losin' weight without speed, eatin' sunflower seeds
Drinkin' lots of carrot juice and soakin' up rays

But at night I'd had these wonderful dreams
Some kind of sensuous treat
Not zuchinni, fettucini or bulghar wheat
But a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat

Cheeseburger in paradise
Heaven on earth with an onion slice
Not too particular not too precise
I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

Heard about the old time sailor men
They eat the same thing again and again
Warm beer and bread they said could raise the dead
Well it reminds me of the menu at a holiday inn

Times have changed for sailors these days
When I'm in port I get what I need
Not just havanas or bananas or daiquiris
But that american creation on which I feed

Cheeseburger in paradise
Medium rare with mustard 'be nice
Heaven on earth with an onion slice
I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well good god almighty which way do I steer for my

Cheeseburger in paradise
Makin' the best of every virtue and vice
Worth every damn bit of sacrifice To get a cheeseburger in paradise
To be a cheeseburger in paradise I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

The Gardens Hotel Key West-A Room with a View

2009-08-16T19:58:00.000-04:00

Dateline: July 23, 2009 Key West, Florida

Sometimes I feel that if were not for bad luck, I would have no luck at all. But lately, it seems like I have been traveling with a lucky leprachan perched on my shoulder and a green three leaf clover tucked into my shirt pocket as I climb over the rainbow in search off my next pot o gold.

I had made reservations at the Gardens Hotel Key West for the 29th Annual Hemingway Days Celebration in Key West, Florida and my lovely wife's birthday. The Gardens Hotel Key West is located just a block off of Duval Street on Angela Street and is one of the most storied locations in Old Town.

We were also participating in the Hemingway Days Caribbean Street Fair on Saturday the 25th of July with our first MargaritaShack.Com exhibition in almost five years. I had been a little over whelmed with all of the prior week's preparations & provisioning so I was eagerly anticipating a little rest and relaxation at this famous Hotel that I had heard so much about.

Needless to say, it was all for a very good cause because the proceeds from the Caribbean Street Fair benefit HELPLINE, which is a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention, information, referral services, caregiver training and telephone reassurance to the elderly residents of Monroe County.

That being said, we rolled into Key West at a little past ten o'clock on Thursday night and our keys were out front taped to one of the columns supporting the massive front porch which ran the full length of the main house.

There was a note inside the little white shiny envelope saying that there had been some changes to our itinerary and that if we didn't mind, we could stay in the Master Suite for a few days.

My wife looked at me with those all to familiar words of "what have you been up to," and I said "Happy Birthday Baby! The Master Suite is awaiting our arrival." So without further adieu, we opened the front door of the stately mansion and marched up the steps to the Master Suite.

I quickly unlocked the door and stepped aside as my wife rushed in to see what I had been up to because she knows better. As she entered the Master Suite there was the fully appointed living room to her left with a flat screen TV, sofa bed, armoire, full bath, mini fridge and refreshments.

Further ahead down the wide, wood floor, entry hall was the bank of french doors leading to an expansive veranda overlooking the gin clear pool and an enormous king size bedroom suite with her favorite ceiling fan perched above the end of the bedposts. At the foot of the bed, across the room, was a professionally appointed desk/writing table with a Bose stereo perched on the corner. Nice touch.

The massive Master Bath was solidly appointed with white marble floors, matching marble counter tops, his and her marble vanities, a private bath with toilet and bidet and a huge shower with a man sized jacuzzi tub in the far corner.

And then, there was my favorite. Right there in front of my eyes, I had to look twice to believe it, was the first dry sauna that I had ever seen in a hotel room. WOW! I could not wait to unload our assorted sundries, take a dip in the moon-lit pool and then hit the jacuzzi, sauna and shower, not necessarily in that order.

After the Midnight Spa Treatment, whatever weariness that was lingering in my old bones after the road trip from Jupiter was vanquished from my soul like the remnants of a summer rain quickly evaporating on a white hot Texas sidewalk.

Hell, I felt like a young, vibrant high school track star as I raced up and down the steep wooden stairs in my bathing suit and flip flops in the middle of the night trying not to disturb the other guests.

The next morning we awoke early and were treated to an awesome Continental breakfast on the brick porch out back of the main mansion next to the pool. The aroma from the coffee was as sensuous as the morning dew perched on the purple orchids hanging from a statuesque Spanish lime tree standing next to us. It must have been there for over 200 years. I couldn't begin to imagine the stories it could tell...

Furthermore, since real men don't eat quiche, and fish gotta swim and hearts gotta bleed they say, I had to be a "they say" rule breaker again, and have some quiche. In fact, I love good quiche and I could tell that this one was warm, fresh and moist. The English muffins were crispy and hot with melted butter and strawberry jelly and the fresh fruit was succulent. I could get very used to this I thought to myself as I downed the last drop of my freeze squeezed Florida orange juice.

A short while later, as I finished my second cup of coffee, the grounds of this infamous island oasis that sits on over an acre of prime Key West real estate in the middle of Old Town began her beckon call. It was as if I was being led out of my chair by the hand of the creator of the Gardens, Mrs. Peggy Mills.

In the 1930's, Peggy Mills purchased The Gardens Mansion with a vision of creating a botanical garden that could one day be shared with the public. From that point of decision, with a clear goal in her mind, she began acquiring adjacent parcels of land and demolishing the existing structures.

She succeeded in assembling one quarter of a city block, then mostly barren after the demolition, except for the Mansion and Gate House. Her first seedlings were subsequently planted, rumored to be six coconuts, planted upside down.

From this inauspicious beginning until 1968 when The Gardens were first opened to the public she worked on her vision without exception. She imported plants from all over the world as well as over 87,000 century old bricks from Cuba, Honduras and England to line the shaded pathways of her dream.

Mrs. Mills became known locally as "The Lady of the Orchids" for her rare collection of Japanese and Hawaiian orchids that still flourish in the trees even after her passing in 1979.

From that point on, until 1992, the keys to the Gardens Mansion was passed on to a litany of owners until Bill and Corrina Hettinger had the idea of turning her into a Key West Luxury Hotel. With an ambitious renovation of the main house and the addition of two additional Bahamian style buildings that now serve as the Garden and Courtyard accommodations, seventeen rooms, suites and cottages now make up the grounds of Key West's most famous Gardens Hotel.

Kate Miano is now the proud owner and proprietor of this island oasis that sits within the Historic Key West estate of the Peggy Mills Botanical Gardens and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places for good reason.

If you appreciate history, beauty, architecture and fine living then a stay at Kate's place will be, as they say, "In a class by itself."

The 29th Annual Hemingway Days Celebration

2009-08-09T17:50:00.000-04:00

Dateline: July 25th, 2009
Key West, Florida

To have or have not. That is the question.

We'll let me tell you, from my point of view at least, it is far better to have than to have not and living well they say is the best revenge.

One person that I idolize for living well is the immortal American author Ernest Hemingway aka "Papa." It is widely known that he did some of his best livin' here in Key West during the 1930's. Who can blame him? I myself have done some good living here as well, during the lost decade and hope to "Laissez les bon temps roulez."

Papa moved here in 1928 from Chicago, after divorcing Hadley Richardson in 1927, with his second wife Pauline Pfeiffer. They lived in a beautiful house on Whitehead St. in what is now known as Old Town Key West. The Grand Victorian rests stoically today as a museum and tropical denzien to the descendants of Papa's six toed cats.

The Hemingway House was a gift from Pauline's Uncle and Hemingway purportedly spent his last penny adding on a $25,000 swimming pool out back. It is a must see part of Key West's history and across the street from the Key West Lighthouse Museum.

In 1929, shortly after moving to Key West "A Farewell to Arms" was published purportedly making Hemingway financially independent and certainly enough dough to purchase Pilar, in 1934. Pilar was his magnificant 38' Custom Sport Fishing Yacht, his nickname for Pauline and the rest they say is history.

Enough history apparently, for Key West to host the 29th Annual Hemingway Days Celebration July 21st-July 26th, commemorating Papa's 110th birthday on July 21, 2009.

Unfortunately, Papa himself committed suicide in Ketchum, Idaho via a double barreled shot gun blast to the forehead on July, 2nd, 1961. I guess it was his "Farewell to Arms," so to speak or maybe his time "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

In any event, the Pièce de résistance of the celebration is the fictionalized, Running of the Bulls depicting Spain's most popular event in Pamplona, that Papa immortalized in his novel, "The Sun Also Rises."

There is also a Hemingway look alike contest held at Sloppy Joe's, the famous bar at the intersection of Duval and Greene streets, that bears the world renown likeness of Papa himself. I hope to live long enough to have the "gray beard" necessary to be considered a serious contestant someday.

In the meantime, Lady Luck has smiled upon me once again as I find myself cradled in the lap of luxury in the Master Suite of The Gardens Hotel Key West.

And that my friends is a story for the next time we meet over a MargaritaShack.Com Margarita at "The Sunshine State of Mind."

Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa-A Room with a View

2009-07-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

Dateline: June 19, 2009 Key West, Florida

We were under no "Pier Pressure" when we left the Square Grouper in Jupiter, Florida under the watchful eye of the Jupiter Lighthouse on the Jupiter Inlet as we peeled out onto the Florida Turnpike, "Southbound & Down." We had fresh new Michelin rubber on the Lexus and MargaritaShack.Com Margaritas in the cooler.

Our destination was Key West, Florida and the World Renown Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, One Duval Street.

But first we had to make a pit stop for a late lunch at Craigs, in Tavernier, Florida just south of Key Largo and a little north of the Purple Isle also know as Islamorada. You see, Craigs is known for the World Famous Fish Sandwich and it has long been a favorite of ours. After about a two and half hour ride from Jupiter we were ready for the "Super Grouper."

The "Super Grouper" comes fried or grilled, but who in their right mind is going to fry a fillet of grouper? It is served on toasted bread, with melted cheese, a tomato and a juicy secret sauce that melts in your mouth, if not in your hand. If you get a cold draft beer and a some hot greasy fries you are good to go. Lets Roll!

So off we went, anxious to get to our destination and the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa. We had made our reservations at the last minute, with Susie, who is the owner of Key West Key, Inc. We found out about Susie through the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads, and boy are we lucky we did. Remember, it was Father's Day Weekend and we had waited until Thursday to make reservations for the weekend. Tell her Margarita Steve sent you.

In any event, we made our way through the Keys and over the Seven Mile Bridge (one of the seven wonders of my world) and down into Key West at about 6:00PM.

One of the best things about the Pier House is the location. It is right at the end of Duval Street and it has plenty of free parking to boot. For those of you who aren't in the know, Duval Street is to Key West what Bourbon Street is to the French Quarter in New Orleans.

We ripped right up to the front door and were met by the bellman who helped us unload our gear. At the front desk, I was introduced to Eric Van Hove, the Guest Services Manager, who immediately welcomed us with a complimentary upgrade to "A Room with a View."

The Room Eric set us up with was much more than words could describe. It was located in the "Beach House" building overlooking Sunset Key and Christmas Island, which were located right off our two balconies and the Florida Straits. The view was to die for and the room number is 212 if you want to request it on your next visit. In fact the room, which is in actuality a suite, was so nice you could actually live there.

It had a huge living area with a couch, two Caribbean style chairs and an entertainment center with flat screen TV and gaming controls. The separate bedroom had a king size bed, of course, and a large walk in closet. The bathroom was like a spa in and of itself, with slate tile floors, a separate dressing area and a luxurious stand-up shower with a sunflower shower head. All classically divided with white Bahamian louvered doors with etched glass. We were told that the resort had recently completed a multi million dollar renovation and it showed!

In addition, one of the features that I like best about the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, besides the aforementioned luxury accommodations and exclusive location, is their private label line of bath products, appropriately labeled the Pier House Spa Collection. Their Lemon Eucalyptus Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel and Body Lotion feels like an aroma-therapeutic spa experience every time you take a shower and it is available by calling the resort at 1-305-296-4600. It will remind you of the wonderful experience you had at the resort when you are back at the ranch in Texas or wherever, wishing you were back in the Islands...

That being said, we realized that we had a few minutes before the nightly Sunset Celebrations that occur at Mallory Square and the Sunset Pier, which were both within a few steps of our room. Or we could just stay in on one of our two lanais and watch the sunset, from the privacy of our suite at the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa. Na!

We opted for the Sunset Pier and the live music which was right next door. After witnessing an amazing technicolor display of the sun blazing into the horizon, we had another margarita and cruised over to the historic Key West Harbor Walk along Key West Bight, just a few blocks from the resort. This boardwalk along the historic harbor is a must see attraction. As we strolled along the Harbor looking at the Charter Boats and smelling the fresh seafood spilling out from the restaurants along the boardwalk, we made our way over to Schooner's Wharf for a hand rolled cigar, some more live music and a little Grand Mariner.

It was there that we met "Cayobo," or Cayo Jim, who had moved to Key West from Northern California when Jerry Brown became Governor & Ronald Reagan President, he declared.

He had bought and fixed up a little place in Old Town that is now worth somewhere shy of a cool million. He spends his time fixin' and takin' pictures with his Fuji Pro S5 DSLR Camera while his wife is a concierge at a local hotel. They also do a few weddings every once in a while and after looking at Cayobo's pictures on Flickr after we got home, I would highly recommend them if you are considering tying the knot on Bone Island...We did it back in March of 2007 and wished we had known Cayobo back then.

From Schooner's Wharf we made our way over to Duval Street, after nearly getting run over by the Pub Crawl Gang. We should have taken that as a sign because it was then and there that we looked up and saw Elvis.

I knew he was still alive! ELVIS LIVES!!! and he was standing out in front of the Bull and Whistle Bar, right on the corner of Duval and Caroline Street. Of course Sinbad, had to get her picture with The King of Rock-n-Roll and then I had to give him a few bucks for some jelly donuts. I thanked him for puttin' some air in her tires so I could ride her home later that evening as we went into the The Bull Bar on the first floor.

Now I know you are not going to belive this, but Sammy the Crown Royal drinking dog was ON THE BAR, lapping at the Crown Royal bottle and waggin' his tail to beat the band and I have the pictures to prove it.

As if that wasn't enough we had to go up to the third floor balcony club, called "The Garden of Eden" a clothing optional bar, the sign said, as if when the pretty girl coming down the stairs said, "Don't go up there," was not enough of a warning sign.

Why is it that when we are told not to do something that we always end up regretting it when we do?

We stumbled down the stairs and spilled out onto Duval Street laughing our asses off at the "Garden of Eden." If God had wanted it to be in Key West he would have came up with Adam & Steve instead of Adam & Eve...

On that note, we headed west down Duval towards Irish Keven's and Sloppy Joe's, both of which were so crowded you couldn't get a word in edge wise much less a cold beer to wash the taste of the garden out of your mouth. So it was across the street to Hog's Breath for a few beers, wings and an awesome cheeseburger to top off the mornin' as it was getting close to 2am.

Tell Brian the Bartender, who had worked there for the last eighteen years, that if he can't lie no better, he might as well tell the truth...

Needless to say the sugar sand beach and swimmer's lagoon back at the Pier House was deserted when we got back so we had the place all to ourselves for a clothing optional french dip, hold the au jus. We rinsed off back at the suite, had a night cap on the lania and fell asleep to the rhythm of the waves lapping at the foot of the resort's waterline below us, while the ceiling fan whirled away above our dreary wet heads.

The next morning, after breakfast at the Beach Bar & Grille at the resort, I informed Cindy that I had made her an appointment for a facial at the Caribbean Spa.

This gave me some time to explore the resort's tropical setting, Koi fish ponds and the Chart Room Bar, which is reputed to have hosted Jimmy Buffet's first gig in Key West upon his arrival in Jerry Jeff Walker's Packard automobile. In fact, did you know that Key West has more bars and "chuches" as my grandfather Curly used to say, per capita than anywhere else in the United States and that Schooner's Wharf has a happy hour at 9am?

I digress...the bottom line is this. The Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa is the self proclaimed "Flagship Hotel of the Key West State of Mind," and I for one would not disagree.

So the next time you are needing a little "Sunshine State of Mind" give Susie a call at Key West Key, Inc (1-800-881-7321) to make your reservations or call the Resort directly at 1-305- 296-4600 and ask for Eric in Guest Services. Tell him Margarita Steve, freelance photojournalist & travel writer, sent you from One Mans Florida, LLC "A Sunshine State of Mind."

Until next time, it has been a lovely cruise...

Capt Hirams Resort & Sand Bar on Dewars & Lures

2009-07-05T17:25:00.000-04:00

Dateline: July 4, 2009 Sebastian, Florida.

We time traveled back to the future of what I like to call "New Old Florida" today when we pulled into Capt Hiram's Resort & Marina at about 5 O'clock somewhere on a beautiful Fourth of July "Roadtrip from the Edge of the Atlantic."

Walkin' onto the Sand Bar at Capt Hiram's Resort on the western shores of the Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian, Florida with Margaritashack .com Margaritas in hand, we had the good fortune of finding a nice hightop table on the deck next to the water's edge at the entrance to the Marina docks and within earshot of the acoustic duo Tree Frogs, playing inside the restaurant.

"Hello there," came the call from the attractive couple sitting next to us before we even sat down. "I'm Capt. Jim from the Dewar's & Lures and this is my lovely First Mate Tamara," the skipper declared.

Capt. Jim was sporting a Panama Jack and drinking a Grey Hound and Tamara was wearing a red & blue patriotic number and drinking the same.

"We'll how do you do," I replied in my finest Texas drawl. Come to find out Capt. Jim is living aboard the Dewar's & Lures, a 44' Ocean Yachts Sportfisher, at the end of the "T" Dock at Capt Hiram's Marina. He told us he loves it there, after relocating from Blowing Rocks Marina a few years ago, in Tequesta, Florida.

Then Capt Jim proceeded to tell me why he moved up to Capt Hiram's Marina, and I almost flopped on the deck like a Kingfish in the cooler after being separated from the gaffe when I heard his reasoning. "I like it much better at this marina. I can find half-way intelligent people around here to talk to that have teeth." Ouch! Sad to say, but I know what he means about Blowing Rocks.

After that comment, I knew we would become good friends, since I like a nice smile and a sense of humor as much as the next guy.

Cindy and I proceeded to order a drink and some appetizers, after the introductions were over. She had a Rum Runner on the rocks with a floater and I had a "Top Shelf" Margarita with Patron Tequila and Grand Mariner. Our waiter, Punxsutawney Phil, suggested the Lobster Bites and the Sesame Tuna, so we said, "What are you waiting for, ground hog day?"

The Lobster Bites were lightly fried and sweetly succulent with a cream sauce on the side and the Sesame Tuna was fresh, thinly sliced and served with a generous portion of wasabi, ginger and soy sauce, just like we like it, sans the chop sticks though. I like to use the chop sticks whenever I can, just to show off a little, I guess.

After we finished off our appetizers, I ordered a Bahama Mama and Cindy got a Bud Light when all of the sudden Tamara asks if we would like to join them and a few friends out on the Dewar's & Lures to watch the upcoming fireworks show.

"Why hellyea, of course we would, wouldn't we honey," I replied. "We thought you'd never ask!"

Next thing we know we are paying the tab and off to the Lexus to fetch the rest of the Margaritashack.com Margaritas and on our way down to the end of docks. Upon our arrival Capt Jim gave us permission to come aboard so we hopped off the dock and joined the festive crew.

It was on the fighting deck of the Dewar's and Lures that we met Virgil and Suzy, as well as Tina and her girl friend, who's name escapes me at the moment.

The triple crown embroidered fighting chair was covered with an elegant white table cloth and all sorts of carefully prepared finger foods including boiled spiced shrimp, Swedish meatballs with pineapple, assorted block cheeses, mango and pepper salsas and white chocolate dipped pretzels as well as some premium bottles of fine red wine and Vodka. Great provisions for a Fourth of July Cruise!

My favorite was the white chocolate dipped pretzels of course. Like I always say, "hand over the chocolate and nobody gets hurt!"

In any event, after we cleared the dock lines, the twin engine diesel sportfisher had us out on the Indian River in no time and we anchored in a strategic position with a few other party boats from the marina and proceeded to share appetizers, drinks, jokes, laughs and gaffes (not necessarily in that order).

The nimblest among us jumped from boat to boat in order to sample the "aphrodisiac oysters" and the "backyard burgers" that our floating flotilla buddies had carefully prepared.

As the sun slowly faded into the horizon along with our inhibitions, we were ordered by the Captain to the bow of the ship so that we could watch the fireworks. As we all took our respective positions, the fireworks began to fly from all directions as well as the UUUUUUU's and AWWWWWW's from the front row. You would have thought that one of our slightly intoxicated crew members was about to have an orgasm or maybe two?

In reality, the bursting fireworks, the new friendships, the perfect weather and the patriotic atmosphere was certainly something to get excited about and I for one was grateful that we had been invited to the show onboard the Dewars and Lures. Capt. Jim could not have been a saltier dog and Tamara was certainly a most gracious and lovely hostess.

I was however, a little melancholy as we pulled up anchor and headed back to port so soon after the fireworks had descended. I could have stayed on the moonlit bay for a few more drinks and a little more chocolate, but I promised Capt. Jim that I would return with a bottle of Dewars 12 next time and he said that we were always welcome aboard his vessel.

So until then, it will have been a lovely cruise! Thanks again, Capt. Jim!

Cheers,

Margarita Steve