The Official Tourism Council Web Site for the Florida Keys! Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys, Key West

enowned for its all-embracing diversity, Key West is to welcome as many as 5,000 women during the 22nd annual Womenfest, set for Tuesday through Sunday, Sept. 2-7.

Headlining performers include the high-energy all-female band Sister Funk, hip-hop and soul artists God-des & She, dance sensation Lori Michaels and singer, songwriter and funny woman Lisa Koch.

Sister Funk and God-des & She are to share the stage at Dancing on the Beach, set for Friday, Sept. 5. Gates open at 7 p.m., with music scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Comedienne Lisa Koch is slated to present Laughing Out Loud at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St., at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.

Special guest Lori Michaels is scheduled for multiple appearances including an "unplugged" Friday happy hour performance at Aqua Nightclub, 711 Duval St.

The week is to begin with an opening night party featuring Sister Funk, set for 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Chelsea House, 709 Truman Ave.

On-the-water excursions for festival participants include women-only sunset sails, jet ski tours, kayaking, parasailing, reef snorkeling and dolphin watching.

A sizzling nightclub scene invites women to explore the provocative side of Key West. Women-only dance parties include body painting at Club Zu, 422 Appelrouth Lane, go-go dancers at Aqua and outrageous late-night pool revelry at Bourbon St. Pub, 724 Duval St.

Women-only pool parties at Pearl's Rainbow, 525 United St., and the Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St., dominate the weekend days.

Other standout events include a "nurse your hangover" party hosted by GIRL Radio at Pearl's Rainbow; two country evenings featuring dancing and sexy competitive "bull riding" at Cowboy Bill's Honky Tonk, 610-1/2 Duval St.; a performance by Lenore Troia at the Bottlecap Lounge, 1128 Simonton St.; a Texas Hold 'Em Poker Party at Aqua and a group commitment ceremony and champagne brunch at Pearl's Rainbow.

Womenfest is to conclude with a "floating tea dance" aboard the catamaran Fury, featuring DJ Harmony and God-des & She.

For a complete festival schedule, event prices, ticketing and lodging, visit womenfest.com.

antasy Fest 2008 means virtually nonstop revelry Oct. 17-26, but seasoned fest-goers pace themselves to ensure maximum enjoyment. Outlined below are some "hot list" highlights of the fabulous festival themed "Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals." For details including costs, contacts and ticketing, visit the official Web site at fantasyfest.net.

Friday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. • Royal Coronation Ball
Help select the king and queen of Fantasy Fest 2008 at this benefit for AIDS Help Inc.; La Te Da, 1125 Duval St.

Monday, Oct. 20, 9 p.m. • Dungeons & Dragons
This leather fetish party is definitely not for the timid or shy! 801 Bourbon Bar, 801 Duval St.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m. • 26th Annual Headdress Ball
Elaborate headdresses star at this gala presented by the Key West Business Guild at the Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St.

Thursday, Oct. 23, 10 p.m. • Pajama and Lingerie Party
This sultry soiree features a sexy "Playboy" model, guest DJs and a Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe look-alike contest. Mangoes, 700 Duval St.

Friday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m. • Fairvilla Megastore Masquerade March
Dress up (or dress down) and parade through Key West's Old Town with music and noisemakers. Thirst quenchers are provided at selected guesthouses along the procession's route.

Saturday, Oct. 25, Noon • Bourbon St. Pub's Tea in the Street
This street dance party offers a taste of New Orleans decadence in Old Town Key West with live entertainment and booze, beads and boys. 724 Duval St.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. • Capt. Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade
Join 70,000 exuberant partygoers for Fantasy Fest's highlight — a parade of "Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals" rolling down Whitehead and Duval streets, featuring glittering floats, marching bands and lavishly dressed dancing groups.

Sunday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m. • 'The Fat Lady Sings' Tea Dance
DJ Junior is to provide the music for Fantasy Fest's last hurrah while local celebrity Sushi passes out free Jello shots and beads. La Te Da, 1125 Duval St.

hy has Key West been so popular with the GLBT elite since Tennessee Williams' arrival in the 1940s? Find out during a unique, fun-filled trolley tour that spotlights the history, contributions and landmarks associated with the island city's flourishing GLBT community.

Created by the Key West Business Guild, the 70-minute tour departs at 11 a.m. every Saturday on the Old Town Trolley. Passengers can board at 10:50 a.m. at the trolley's new departure point — the city hall parking lot in the 600 block of Simonton Street between Angela and Southard streets.

Hop aboard the rainbow-decorated trolley and learn about the legendary Monster Bar, official (and unofficial) hot spots and the local and visiting characters that make Key West so colorful.

Tickets are available at the Key West Business Guild, 513 Truman Ave., by phone at (305) 294-4603 or at the departure site before each Saturday tour.

If the images below are not displaying, click here to view this newsletter online.



Key West's hot-pink taxis have gone "green." Five Sixes Taxi now has 10 environmen- tally friendly hybrid vehicles as the first step to convert its entire fleet. According to officials at the Taxi, Limousine and Paratransit Association, Five Sixes is the first taxi company in Florida to roll out hybrids. The cab company's officials project that the new fuel-efficient vehicles will get about 38 miles per gallon in the city, compared to their previous vehicles' 12 to 13 miles per gallon. "Going hybrid will reduce our emissions factor by 80 percent," said Five Sixes' president Jan Doelman. The company plans to replace its other 13 sedans with hybrids by March 2009, and replace its 23 seven-passenger Maxi Taxis when a suitable hybrid van becomes available. For more information about Five Sixes Taxi, visit keywesttaxi.com. Key West's Island House Resort for Men, offering more than 30 guest rooms, suites and apartments in a private tropical compound at 1129 Fleming St., recently became a certified member of the Green Lodging Program. The program was created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recognize and reward environmentally conscious lodging facilities. To earn the "One Palm" certification, properties must implement green practices including water conservation measures, energy efficiency and waste reduction. Also evaluated are each property's indoor air quality, communication of green practices to guests and ongoing environmental goals. Amenities at the property include a large heated pool and whirlpools, health club with gym and spa area, poolside café and full bar, clothing-optional second-level sundeck and daily happy hour. For information and reservations, visit islandhousekeywest.com. Key West's Holiday House Tours, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26-27, are self-guided strolls showcasing exquisitely decorated Key West homes and tropical gardens festively dressed for the holidays. Proceeds benefit the preservation of Key West's architecture and cultural heritage. Tickets are $25 per person and advance reservations are not necessary. For more details, visit the Old Island Restoration Foundation's Web site at oirf.org. New Year's Eve in Key West means Sushi — not the Japanese delicacy, but the delicious drag queen who stars in Key West's outrageous takeoff on Manhattan's famed "ball drop." Join the crowd outside the Bourbon Street Complex in the 700 block of Duval Street to watch Sushi entertain, sitting in a super-sized red high heel suspended above the audience — and celebrate as the spangled shoe descends at midnight. For more information, visit bourbonstpub.com. *With less than a minute until the dawn of 2008, female impersonator Gary Marion, transformed into "Sushi," begins to descend to Duval Street in Key West.*		enowned for its all-embracing diversity, Key West is to welcome as many as 5,000 women during the 22nd annual Womenfest, set for Tuesday through Sunday, Sept. 2-7. Headlining performers include the high-energy all-female band Sister Funk, hip-hop and soul artists God-des & She, dance sensation Lori Michaels and singer, songwriter and funny woman Lisa Koch. Sister Funk and God-des & She are to share the stage at Dancing on the Beach, set for Friday, Sept. 5. Gates open at 7 p.m., with music scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Comedienne Lisa Koch is slated to present Laughing Out Loud at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St., at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Special guest Lori Michaels is scheduled for multiple appearances including an "unplugged" Friday happy hour performance at Aqua Nightclub, 711 Duval St. The week is to begin with an opening night party featuring Sister Funk, set for 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Chelsea House, 709 Truman Ave. On-the-water excursions for festival participants include women-only sunset sails, jet ski tours, kayaking, parasailing, reef snorkeling and dolphin watching. A sizzling nightclub scene invites women to explore the provocative side of Key West. Women-only dance parties include body painting at Club Zu, 422 Appelrouth Lane, go-go dancers at Aqua and outrageous late-night pool revelry at Bourbon St. Pub, 724 Duval St. Women-only pool parties at Pearl's Rainbow, 525 United St., and the Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St., dominate the weekend days. Other standout events include a "nurse your hangover" party hosted by GIRL Radio at Pearl's Rainbow; two country evenings featuring dancing and sexy competitive "bull riding" at Cowboy Bill's Honky Tonk, 610-1/2 Duval St.; a performance by Lenore Troia at the Bottlecap Lounge, 1128 Simonton St.; a Texas Hold 'Em Poker Party at Aqua and a group commitment ceremony and champagne brunch at Pearl's Rainbow. Womenfest is to conclude with a "floating tea dance" aboard the catamaran Fury, featuring DJ Harmony and God-des & She. For a complete festival schedule, event prices, ticketing and lodging, visit womenfest.com. antasy Fest 2008 means virtually nonstop revelry Oct. 17-26, but seasoned fest-goers pace themselves to ensure maximum enjoyment. Outlined below are some "hot list" highlights of the fabulous festival themed "Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals." For details including costs, contacts and ticketing, visit the official Web site at fantasyfest.net. Friday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. • Royal Coronation Ball Help select the king and queen of Fantasy Fest 2008 at this benefit for AIDS Help Inc.; La Te Da, 1125 Duval St. Monday, Oct. 20, 9 p.m. • Dungeons & Dragons This leather fetish party is definitely not for the timid or shy! 801 Bourbon Bar, 801 Duval St. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m. • 26th Annual Headdress Ball Elaborate headdresses star at this gala presented by the Key West Business Guild at the Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St. Thursday, Oct. 23, 10 p.m. • Pajama and Lingerie Party This sultry soiree features a sexy "Playboy" model, guest DJs and a Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe look-alike contest. Mangoes, 700 Duval St. Friday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m. • Fairvilla Megastore Masquerade March Dress up (or dress down) and parade through Key West's Old Town with music and noisemakers. Thirst quenchers are provided at selected guesthouses along the procession's route. Saturday, Oct. 25, Noon • Bourbon St. Pub's Tea in the Street This street dance party offers a taste of New Orleans decadence in Old Town Key West with live entertainment and booze, beads and boys. 724 Duval St. Saturday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. • Capt. Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade Join 70,000 exuberant partygoers for Fantasy Fest's highlight — a parade of "Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals" rolling down Whitehead and Duval streets, featuring glittering floats, marching bands and lavishly dressed dancing groups. Sunday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m. • 'The Fat Lady Sings' Tea Dance DJ Junior is to provide the music for Fantasy Fest's last hurrah while local celebrity Sushi passes out free Jello shots and beads. La Te Da, 1125 Duval St. hy has Key West been so popular with the GLBT elite since Tennessee Williams' arrival in the 1940s? Find out during a unique, fun-filled trolley tour that spotlights the history, contributions and landmarks associated with the island city's flourishing GLBT community. Created by the Key West Business Guild, the 70-minute tour departs at 11 a.m. every Saturday on the Old Town Trolley. Passengers can board at 10:50 a.m. at the trolley's new departure point — the city hall parking lot in the 600 block of Simonton Street between Angela and Southard streets. Hop aboard the rainbow-decorated trolley and learn about the legendary Monster Bar, official (and unofficial) hot spots and the local and visiting characters that make Key West so colorful. Tickets are available at the Key West Business Guild, 513 Truman Ave., by phone at (305) 294-4603 or at the departure site before each Saturday tour.


HOME \| FISHING \| DIVING & SNORKELING \| ARTS & CULTURE
Florida Keys Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Key West, FL 33040 1-800-FLA-KEYS This e-mail address was subscribed to this newsletter by the recipient on fla-keys.com. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.