By Jacob Alexander: Man About Town
February is fast approaching and with at least 2 days of below-70-degree weather, one can only hope the sun gods bless us this month. All frostiness aside, February is, for many, the best month of the year. It brings us The Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, and Mardi Gras!
Key West is no stranger to lavish celebrations and we need no excuse to, as we say in New Orleans, laissez les bon temps rouler! If you’re in town for any of the revelry, check out as many of these events as you can:
Sunday 2/5: The Lady Gaga concert with special guest, Football, (otherwise known as The Super Bowl) will air at 801 Bourbon with drink specials and snacks throughout the game. Kickoff is at 6:30pm
Tuesday 2/14: Valentine’s Drag Show at 801 Cabaret, show times at 9pm and 11pm
Thursday 2/23: Queen of Mardi Gras Pageant at 801 Cabaret, 8pm
Friday 2/24: Masked Underwear Party at Bourbon St. Garden Bar (all-male), 10pm-close
Saturday 2/25: Let the Good Times Roll Pool Party at the Garden Bar (all welcome), 12pm-5pm
King of Mardi Gras contest in the main bar at Bourbon St., 10pm
Monday 2/27: Lundi Gras Beer Blast at Bourbon Street, 10pm-close
Tuesday 2/28: Mardi Gras Pub Crawl to benefit Sister Season Fund – starts at the Garden Bar at 5pm, procession will be led by the King and Queen of Mardi Gras.
So now you know if you’re in Key West during the shortest month of the year, you won’t have any shortage of entertainment! But before you go to any of these events you’ll need to put some food in your stomach.
If you’re familiar with Leather Master, you’ll notice a new restaurant has popped up next door. Mary Ellen’s offers interesting takes on grilled cheese sandwiches. Try The Doris if you want something truly unique.
This next restaurant is not a new find. In fact, it’s one of the first places I ate at when I visited Key West for the first time. Long before I knew anything of El Siboney’s addictive and intoxicating bread, a dear friend took me to dinner at Juan Loves Lucy. Tucked between two buildings on the 100 block of Duval, this Cuban restaurant offers a warm and comfortable experience. If the beautiful courtyard with the lush canopy above doesn’t put a smile on your face, the family treatment you’ll receive from the staff sure will. I recommend the seafood platter with a carafe of their sangria [sharing optional].
So go forth into this, the coldest month of the year, keep yourself warm with dancing and good company, and get ready to usher in spring in no time at all! As we embark on a new year, I’m reminded of a quote by the great Oprah Winfrey that rings true now,
“When I look into the future, it’s so bright it burns my eyes.”
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