This season, Isla Bella’s town square will transfor m into a festive coastal marketplace with seasonal sips, cur ated shopping, and family-friendly fun. Explore artisan vendors, enjoy holiday tastings, and soak up the glow of str ing lights, illuminated palms, and a 15-foot Christmas tree!
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HOLIDAY DINING
Christmas Buffet
Thursday, December 25 | 5 - 9 PM
$129 per adult
$38 per child (12 & under)
New Year’s Eve Buffet
Wednesday, December 31 | 6 - 10 PM
$129 per adult
$38 per child (12 & under)
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Happy Holidays from your friends at Island Dental
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Warm wishes for the holiday season!
An island inspired treasure trove where fashion meets paradise. Nestled into the heart of Key West, we’re your go-to destination for splurge worthy finds and fashion forward essentials. Featuring the latest styles from Farm Rio, Alemais, Oliphant & many more.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, even here in the Florida Keys, where the only ice is in our drinks.
Keys calendars are filled with festive events, from Christmas concerts and craft fairs to lighted bike rides, beloved boat parades and pet pictures with Santa. Homes and hotels sparkle with the holiday spirit, while spirits of another kind will fill our ubiquitous insulated tumblers from now until the new year.
Our tropical holidays may not look like the winter scenes on cards and commercials, but when have the Keys ever worried about “fitting in” with someone else’s image?
Instagram feeds overflow with artificial holiday aspirations. So we filled this issue of Holidays in the Keys with the real-life wonder, not the manufactured merriment, of the holiday season. We embrace the authenticity of simpler times and the traditions that continue today.
Creative Director Stephanie Mitchell starts it all off with a holiday playlist, curated to connect us to the time before smartphones and social media. When Wham! sang “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,” and Lindsay Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” was the unmistakable theme for the National Lampoon’s vacation movies.
I took a nostalgic trip through Toyland and traced the top toys from each decade, recalling the roller skates and Big Wheels, Lite Brites and Strawberry Shortcake dolls of my Gen X era.
Keys sommelier Julie Kushel pairs the perfect wines with the game-day fare of football playoff season, and historian Brad Bertelli traces historic holiday traditions in the island chain. Carol Shaughnessy recalls a different Keys holiday tradition involving a different variety of fragrant greenery.
We’ve also included a list of Keyswide holiday events as well as local charities that could use our support over the holidays and throughout the year, while Jen Alexander and Jim McCarthy highlight local heroes who support and protect us all year long. These first responders do double duty during the holidays, ensuring a magical Christmas for thousands of kids.
And finally, our holiday magazine wouldn’t be complete without our gift guide — several pages of perfect holiday gifts, all available at local retailers throughout the Keys.
This holiday season, remember to enjoy what matters as you explore this warm winter wonderland we call home. From our families to yours, happy holidays.
— Mandy Miles,
editor
Publisher
Jason Koler
jason@keysweekly.com
Managing Partner
Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com
Creative Director
Stephanie Mitchell
stephanie@keysweekly.com
Art/Design
Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com
Editors
Mandy Miles
mandy@keysweekly.com
Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Alex Rickert
alex@keysweekly.com
Copy Editor
Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com
Account Executives
Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com
Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com
Manuela Mobley manuela@keysweekly.com
Production Manager
Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com
Art/Design
Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com
Jordan Baylis jordan@overseasmediagroup.com
Web Master
Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com
Executive Administrator
Char Hruska char@keysweekly.com
Financial Director
Carolyn Campell carolyn@keysweekly.com
Contributors
Erin Stover, Jen Alexander, Brad Bertelli, Julie Kushel, Carol Shaughnessy, Chris McNulty, Joe Mitchell
THROWBACK SOUNDTRACK | P.8 ‘THIS IS MY HOUSE; I HAVE TO DEFEND IT’ P.10 KEYS HOLIDAY CALENDAR | P.14
GAME-DAY WINE PAIRINGS | P.34 NO SURPRISES HERE. HALLMARK STRIKES AGAIN | P.38 A FEW OF OUR SOON-TO-BE FAVORITE THINGS | P. 42 - 47
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOUR 2026? | P.62
CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR YOUR WAY | P.66 WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE & SANE | P.70
HIGHLIGHTING OUR HOLIDAY HEROES P.18 & 30
BARBIES, ATARIS & RUBIK’S CUBES, OH MY | P.22 LET THERE BE LIGHTS — A SPARKLING HISTORY P.26
CELEBRATIONS WORLDWIDE | P.50 DON’T YOU DARE LOOK IN THAT CLOSET | P.54 ’TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE, GIVE, GIVE | P.58
By Stephanie Mitchell
CELEBRATE THIS SEASON ‘IN REAL LIFE’
Thanksgiving is here and Christmas is just around the corner, which means a New Year is nearly upon us as well. (Our parents weren’t kidding when they said time flies the older you get.) As I sat down to compile this year’s holiday playlist (which has become a new holiday tradition of mine), I thought back to my childhood and remembered all the sounds, smells and excitement that would fill our small Midwestern house.
The homemade Chex mix in the oven. Baking cookies to share with neighbors. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on the TV. Just the overall wholesomeness of the ’80s and ’90s, relatively speaking, of course. It certainly wasn’t the “Leave It To Beaver” 1950s, but compared to today, life was a lot simpler back before technology insisted on making everything easier. (I don’t recall ever struggling to operate a light switch, and yet someone deemed it necessary to simplify even that task with a smartphone app.)
Way back in the late 1900s, when I was a kid, no one shared and compared their holiday decorations online — we had to go to the “good neighborhoods” to see their spectacular light displays, and yet we never came away feeling lessthan, just more jovial and immersed in the holiday spirit. Those neighborhoods decorated their homes to share the festive mood, not to show off and show up their Instagram frenemies. (Hell, frenemy wasn’t even a word. And we used whole words and sentences, not emojis and acronyms.)
This holiday season, go easy on yourself and others. Adjust your expectations, because people aren’t perfect; Hallmark holidays only happen in Hollywood and online images are edited. Christmas isn’t an online competition for compliments (and criticism) from complete strangers. It’s not about filling your Instagram feed with filtered photos. (At least it shouldn’t be.)
It’s about filling your home and heart with the real-life laughter of the people we love. As the years fly by, the memories we make will mean more than any picture we post.
So this season, celebrate the magic you make in real life, messy as it may be — and have the happiest of holidays (however you celebrate), from our family to yours!
By Erin Stover
‘I MADE MY FAMILY DISAPPEAR...’
‘HOME
ALONE’ REMAINS A HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHT AFTER 35 YEARS
There were no “what the French call, les incompetents” involved in the making of “Home Alone.” No, that production team knew exactly what they were doing when they pitched the concept of a family heading to France for a holiday trip and leaving their child behind. Released in 1990, the film captured the attention of a generation of kids who watched Kevin McAllister’s wacky dilemma (what 10-year-old wouldn’t want a big house and “a lovely cheese pizza” all to themselves?) and carried it all the way through adulthood. Thirty-five years later, the movie is a generational holiday classic.
While the production team may have had the confidence of a child defending his house with mousetrap-style gadgetry, the studio was initially less convinced.
Directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes, who was just coming off the success of the prior year’s holiday hit, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the movie was granted a respectable but relatively modest budget of $18 million. So Warner Brothers was in for a pleasant surprise when the film grossed nearly that much in its opening weekend.
“Home Alone” showed no signs of slowing as it doubled the number of theaters in which it played, remained the No. 1 film in the country through February, and ultimately grossed $285 million at the box office.
The premise took root in Hughes’ mind as he was preparing for his own holiday vacation. He recounts going through his mental checklist. “I was going away on vacation, and making a list of everything I didn’t want to forget. I thought, ‘Well, I’d better not forget my kids.’ Then I thought, ‘What if I left my 10-year-old son at home? What would he do?’” Starting with the idea that kids would fear a burglary situation, he ran the concept through increasingly outlandish scenarios, writing the first eight pages of the screenplay before heading to the airport.
After settling a funding debacle with the studio upon his return, Hughes reached out to Columbus about the possibility of directing. The pair had worked together on “Christmas Vacation,” though Columbus had left the production early on due to conflicts with the star actor, Chevy Chase. “Home Alone” ultimately pulled together the ’80s dream team for a movie project.
Once the creative team was secured, the production cast the film. Hundreds of kids read for the role of Kevin McAllister, including John Mulaney, whose parents made him pass on the offer. Ultimately, the iconic character was played by Macaulay Culkin – the actor for whom the part was originally written. Having worked with him on “Uncle Buck,” with John Candy, Hughes knew the kid was the right pick. Culkin’s salary for the role — about $100,000 — reflected typical wages for a child star in the 1990s. Just two years later though, Culkin earned $4.5 million for his reprisal of the role in “Home Alone 2,” as well as an additional $13 million in profit sharing.
On the other end of the pay scale was Candy, who was paid exactly $414 to play the true hero of the film – Gus Polinski, leader of the polka band, the Kenosha Kickers. Candy offered his performance as a favor to his buddy Hughes, who in turn allowed Candy to improvise his entire scene.
Rounding out the cast were Hollywood greats Joe Pesci, who took the role of Harry after Robert DeNiro turned it
down, and Catherine O’Hara, who initially argued with director Columbus that her dialogue was too cruel.
Looking back, the cast and crew recall a mostly smooth production, but pointed out some memorable moments that would not be obvious to viewers. Those who keep “Home Alone” as part of their annual holiday film rotation will want to watch the classic with an eye out for some squirm-inducing moments. For arachnophobes, the most horrifying moment of the film becomes even less palatable knowing the tarantula that lands on a character’s face was actually venomous. Very little CGI technology was used in film at the time, and there was no way to humanely render the spider nonpoisonous. Filming proceeded with fingers crossed, the moment eliciting a real-life scream from the actor. Another genuine scream came from Culkin, who improvised the famous scene in which he’s experimenting with shaving, claps aftershave to his cheeks and lets loose into the camera. The moment was meant to be a blip, but the child actor played it to full effect, turning it into the most recognizable image from the film.
Sharp-eyed nostalgia seekers will also want to watch for signs of Culkin’s 30-year-old stunt double, a man who was the same height as the actor but 21 years his senior, and the moment in which Pesci threatens to bite off the young actor’s fingers, but accidentally takes things too far, biting him in real life, drawing blood and leaving a scar. The film also features a cameo by Macaulay’s little brother, and recent Academy Award winner, Keiran Culkin, and a (purported by conspiracy theory) glimpse of Elvis Presley as a turtleneck-wearing customer in line behind O’Hara at the rental car counter.
Despite its protagonist’s onslaught of attacks against the villains, “Home Alone” endures as a warm holiday classic. It’s refreshing for a film to not only hold up with audiences 35 years after its release, but also to remain a fond point of nostalgia for its actors and creative cast.
And of course, nothing quite says cozy Christmas like a tarantula, or a hot iron, to the face.
SANTA MEET
HOLIDAY MAGIC, ISLAND STYLE
KEY WEST
NOV. 26 - DEC. 31
- Key West Harbor Walk of Lights at the Historic Seaport
FRIDAY, NOV. 28
- MARC Christmas Tree Sale at 1401 Seminary St. Tree lot is open until Dec. 24 or until all trees are sold.
- Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza at Truman Waterfront Park 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, NOV. 30
- Key West’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Bayview Park. 5:30 p.m.
- “Messiah” concert at Key West United Methodist Church, 600 Eaton St. at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 2
- The ReMARCable Decorated Table Top Tree and Wreath Auction, Opal Key Resort. Preview at 5:30 p.m. Live auction at 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC. 4
- Pet Pictures with Santa at Key West Bight, foot of William Street. 6 to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
- Wesley House Holiday Village & Be-Lighted Bike Ride at Coffee Butler Amphitheater. Holiday Village 5-9 p.m. | Bike ride at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
- The Key West Hometown Holiday Parade leaves at 6 p.m. from Bayview Park, proceeds down Truman Avenue, then turns right onto Duval Street.
FRIDAY, DEC. 12
- Custom House Holiday Concert & Bazaar. 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13
- 17th Annual Rudolph Red-Nosed Run 5K benefiting A Positive Step of Monroe County. Begins & ends at Southernmost Beach Cafe. 8 a.m.
- 34th annual Schooner Wharf Bar/ Absolut Vodka Lighted Boat Parade, 202 William St. 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, DEC. 14
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Christmas on the Farm 1 to 3 p.m., 5501 College Road
- Key West Menorah Lighting at Bayview Park. 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
- New Year’s Eve ‘drops’ occur at:
- Sloppy Joe’s Bar with the conch shell drop.
- Bourbon Street Pub lowers female impersonator in a giant, red high-heeled shoe.
- Schooner Wharf Bar lowers a pirate wench from a schooner mast.
- Ocean Key Resort drops a giant lime wedge into an oversized margarita.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS IN THE KEYS WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS.
MARATHON
SATURDAY, NOV. 22
- Lighting of the Lighthouse & Fleet at Faro Blanco Marina. 6 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 2 - SATURDAY, DEC. 7
- Zonta Festival of Trees at Marathon Garden Club. Cookies with Santa and the Grinch on Saturday.
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
- Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus at Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co., 5:30 p.m.
- Key Colony Beach Lighted Boat Parade. 7th Street Canal at dusk.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
- Christmas Eve parade with Santa. Times and stops TBA.
UPPER KEYS
NOV. 29-JAN. 5
- Sea of Trees at The Protect Center, MM 82, bayside, Islamorada.
SATURDAY, NOV. 22
- 16th annual Light Up Key Largo from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government & Cultural Center, Key Largo.
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
- 21st annual Holiday Fest and parade presented by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce from 4 to 10 p.m. at Founders Park, Islamorada.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
- Lignumvitae Christmas begins at 10 a.m. at Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park.
- Annual Holiday Market presented by the Garden Club of the Upper Keys from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Francis Tracy Garden Center, Tavernier.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13
- Annual Key Largo Boat Parade presented by Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club at 7:30 p.m. at Blackwater Sound, MM 104, Key Largo. Boats can enter for free.
SUNDAY, DEC. 14
- Santa and helpers parade through Islamorada beginning at 5:10 p.m. on Lower Matecumbe and ending at 9:19 p.m. on Plantation Key at Bee Street.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
- New Year’s Eve celebration at Three Waters Resort, Islamorada.
Photos by: CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed, ROSS SMITH/Keys Weekly, FLORIDAKEYSPHOTO.COM/Contributed, ALEX RICKERT/ Keys Weekly, JAVIER EXPOSITO/Keys Weekly
By Jen Alexander
FULL-CIRCLE
GIVING
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office annual bike drive, now a beloved holiday tradition since 2008, is a massive countywide effort to deliver hundreds of bicycles to children and teens in need across the Florida Keys. MCSO uses its stations as collection points, leveraging its personnel and logistical resources – even involving inmates to assemble the bikes as a vocational skill-building opportunity.
Partnering to deliver the two-wheeled joy since 2009 is Leadership Monroe County (LMC) Class 20, which created the drive as its class project to mobilize community leaders, businesses and fundraising efforts. The collaborative approach streamlines the process, ensuring that every donated bike moves quickly from initial collection to its heartwarming final distribution.
“The bikes are given to kids from Key West to Key Largo,” said MCSO Capt. Jon Crane. “Whether it’s a big wheel for a toddler or a beach cruiser for a high schooler who needs one to get to a job, we provide bikes to kids of all ages.”
The success of the Keyswide initiative creates a powerful dual benefit for the Florida Keys community. While the most visible result is the hundreds of new bicycles being delivered to children in need, the program simultaneously provides meaningful rehabilitation opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
Working directly with the sher iff’s office maintenance crew, inmates are taught new tool and repair skills. This vocational training is a deliberate and proactive step by the
MCSO TEAMS UP WITH LEADERSHIP MONROE FOR ANNUAL TRADITION ON WHEELS
MCSO to equip participants with marketable skills necessary for securing employment, helping them avoid returning to jail and making a positive transition back into society.
“This partnership creates a deeply meaningful chain of service, where we teach individuals in custody practical skills like bike assembly and maintenance,” said Crane. “They immediately use that vocational knowledge to build and prepare the bikes that go directly to children in need across the Keys. This collaborative effort makes the giveback truly full circle, benefiting local youth while providing our participants with a positive, tangible contribution to the community.”
The bikes will be collected at the sheriff’s substations before distribution through local organizations like the Wesley House, SOS Kids Come First and Samuel’s House, with decisions on individual gifts left to those agencies.
“The sheriff’s office and Leadership Monroe do not choose which kids get the bikes,” said Crane. “We give the bikes to the organizations, and they gather the lists of children in need.”
The pairing was born 16 years ago, when LMC Class 20 selected the bike drive as its annual project. A unique project is a capstone requirement for each graduating class from the eight-month program, composed of monthly educational sessions that take deep dives into key sectors of the Florida Keys community like government, environmental concerns and education.
Projects typically range from one-time fundraisers to advocacy events as the program builds networks of informed, collaborative leaders, but few have stood the test of time quite like the bike drive. The holiday collection continues to honor beloved community members who have passed away, as their families donate bikes in their names each year.
“One of the driving members was a gentleman by the name of Barry Gibson, who has passed away due to cancer, but his wife and daughter donate a bike in his name every year,” said Crane. “This community is truly special and giving, and we appreciate all the support.”
As the holiday season approaches, it’s a perfect time to recognize the tremendous work of our local first responders and dedicated neighbors who serve our community year-round. From the daily sacrifices of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the tireless efforts of local volunteers and community leaders, these individuals consistently go above and beyond the call of duty – and their on-paper job descriptions.
Whether they’re protecting our safety, helping during emergencies, or organizing initiatives like the bike drive, their commitment is the foundation of a strong, caring Florida Keys community. Their service is a constant reminder of the goodwill that defines our home.
“Capt. Jon Crane’s efforts with the annual bike drive are a great example of positive community policing,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “The bike drive is a lot of work, but it helps bring joy to so many kids. I couldn’t be prouder of Capt. Crane and all my team members who go above and beyond.”
Anyone wishing to donate a brand new bike, e-bike, big wheel or scooter can do so by bringing the items to any sheriff’s office substation or arranging a pickup. Donations are accepted up until Christmas Eve, ensuring that kids of all ages throughout Monroe County have the opportunity to enjoy a new bike for the holidays.
More information is available at 305-293-7311, or by emailing Crane at jcrane@keysso.net (Lower Keys) or LMC Class XX member Maria Jones at maria.jones@fkec.com (Upper Keys).
By Mandy Miles
Unwrapping the past
TOYS THAT MADE CHRISTMAS MAGIC THROUGH THE YEARS
OK, so nostalgia marketing works. Good to know. I‘d never heard the term, but by the time I Googled “nostalgia marketing,” I was 16 hours into its grip. Honestly.
This article — about the timeless toys that topped kids’ Christmas lists over the decades — should have taken me about three hours to write. But thanks to what I now know is nostalgia marketing, it took me three days, as I clicked down rabbit holes, scrolled through images and immersed myself in rosy memories of Christmas wishes that had come true under the tree.
(I found myself growing nostalgic for a different, more recent era — the 17 hours before my reminiscent “research” began.)
I rediscovered scented Strawberry Shortcake dolls, all of Barbie’s pink belongings, the Rubik’s Cube, Atari 2600, that beeping, handheld electronic football game in which I never once managed to score.
As a child of the ’80s, having been born in 1976, I’m a proud Gen Xer whose life included, yes, Cabbage Patch Kids.
In 1983, an unexpected surge in demand for those strange-looking dolls — disproportionately large, hard plastic heads, yarn hair and squishy bodies — sparked retail riots in multiple cities, some of them on Christmas Eve. Seriously.
There’s an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the Cabbage Patch Kids Riots. It states, “Reports of vio lence included hitting, shoving and trampling, as well as some customers attacking others with weapons such as baseball bats in order to obtain a Cabbage Patch Doll.”
The Times Leader, a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, reported that at one store, “1,000 people showed up for a shipment of just 240 dolls, leading to fights and a near-stampede. Five women were trans ported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. A Kingston
woman suffered three broken ribs and a broken right leg, spending several weeks in a wheelchair. An assistant store manager stationed himself behind a counter and held a baseball bat for protection.”
A baseball bat? At Christmastime, really? I suppose nothing says ’tis the season like blunt force trauma in the toy department.
But let’s get back to those warm and fuzzy bits that make nostalgia marketing such an effective business strategy.
The tactic apparently works by “leveraging retro designs, classic branding and references to pop culture to evoke a sentimental longing for a bygone era, creating a powerful connection that can influence purchasing decisions,” according to a digital marketing company called Spin Tech, which also happens to practice the strategy on behalf of its clients. “This can involve reviving old products, using vintage logos or incorporating throwback aesthetics into new products and campaigns.”
For me, it involved scrolling through some of the must-have toys of the ’80s. Each image took me back to a specific time and place. I could still remember the ding of the plastic Fisher Price cash register, the tiny snaps on the back of a Barbie dress, the smell of Play-Doh.
But let’s go back a few decades before my time and take a look at the must-have toys that delighted millions of kids on Christmas morning. (Note: Some of the toys mentioned were invented the decade prior, but didn’t become popular until later.)
1950s: Barbie doll, Hula Hoop, Play-Doh, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Frisbee, Magic 8-Ball and Matchbox cars.
1960s: G.I. Joe action figures, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Ro bots, Twister, Etch-a-Sketch, Slinky, Easy-Bake Oven and Chatty Cathy dolls.
1970s: Big Wheels, LEGO, Barbie (still), Atari 2600 (in vented in 1977, but didn’t get hugely popular until 1980), Lite Brite, Spirograph, Hot Wheels. Star Wars action figures dominated the market in 1978 and ’79. Nerf balls also made their soft-sided debut, and changed the rules about “no playing ball in the house.”
1980s: Rubik’s Cube, Cabbage Patch Kids, home video game systems advanced, My Little Pony, He-Man action figures, Trans formers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Care Bears, scented Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Pound Puppies and Glo Worms.
1990s: Tamagotchi, Beanie Babies, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Skip-It, Super Soaker water gun, Furby, Bop It, American Girl dolls, Barney, Pokemon. And let’s not forget how a muppet called Elmo caused more retail mayhem when supplies of Tickle Me Elmo fell way short of demand.
2000s: Nintendo Wii, Silly Bandz, iPod, Dance Dance Revolution, Razor Scooter, Webkinz, Bratz Dolls, Pillow Pets, Star Wars Lightsabers, Xbox 360, Playstation 3.
2010s: iPad, Apple AirPods, Barbie (still, and the movie didn’t even come out un til 2023). All things “Frozen,” from the wildly popular movie. Furby relaunched. Doc McStuffins, Power Rangers and L.O.L Surprise! Dolls.
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By Brad Bertelli
MERRY & BRIGHT
A CHRISTMAS HISTORY STORY
Displays of colorful lights are a lovely holiday tradition. Come November, up and down the island chain, they glow and twinkle once the sun sets.
Extravagant designs adorn houses and businesses lining the Overseas Highway. Decorated boats chug along in lighted parades.
A few years back, a new holiday tradition began when a group of secret elves scaled the walls of the Pacet Channel Viaduct, a section of the Old Seven Mile Bridge, rigged up a generator and decorated the most famous tree in the Florida Keys, Fred.
Of all the holiday traditions — the Christmas tree, decorations, songs, egg nog, festive gatherings and fruitcake – the flickering holiday lights were the last to come into fashion. While some things have changed over the years, others have not, as revealed by a Dec. 24, 1925, story called “Christmas in Key West,” printed in a local newspaper. Though written a century ago, the description of Keys Christmas Eve celebrations strikes a familiar chord: “The night before Christmas, the fun begins for the merrymakers when they go house to house sipping wine and partaking of home made fruit cake, making hasty calls on their friends or stepping to quick jazz music where a party might be in progress.”
The holidays are still a time when friends gather to eat and drink and sometimes dance – though maybe not so much to jazz anymore. Like the food and the music, the holiday lights have changed, too. It used to be all about candles. Even Christmas trees were decorated with actual candles. In 1882, Edward Johnson, vice president of the Edison Light Co., was the first person to string a Christmas tree with electric lights. Two years later in 1894, the first official White House Christmas Tree was trimmed with electric lights.
In 1903, the General Electric Co. began manufacturing and selling strings of holiday lights, advertised as Edison Miniature Lamps. They were not cheap, so it wasn’t until the 1920s and 1930s that it became com-
mon practice to string colorful electric lights around the Christmas tree. Festooning the outside of the home and yard was growing in popularity, too. It started with the red, green and white bulbs outlining doors and windows. Holiday-themed cardboard silhouettes sometimes decorated the yard or the porch. In 1934, a blackand-white photograph of a spartan holiday scene in a Key West yard was news.
The use of candles did not flicker out overnight, though. Key West’s Chief Baker warned against the practice in a December 1938 newspaper article: “I particularly warn against the practice of lighted candles in the trees. Almost every tree is now decorated with strings of electric lights, but in some instances candles are still used and are dangerous.”
A Dec. 19, 1953, local newspaper story attempted to explain the globe-trotting itinerary of Santa Claus, and how he traveled around the world on a special plane that sounded a great deal like a helicopter. The article also delivered one of the classic “back when I was growing up” stories parents and grandparents like to tell: “You youngsters should be thankful that you live in this modern age of fast transportation and up-todate methods. We had to light our Christmas tree with colored wax candles, which would burn for only about 20 minutes. Then we had to put new candles in the tin candle holders.”
Festive holiday lighting is no longer just a string or two of red, white and green lights hung around a tree. Homes, yards, boats and even golf carts become holiday spectacles. Up and down the island chain, friends gather for food and drink, very little fruitcake and maybe a little dancing until their cheeks are glowing like Rudolph’s nose. At the end of the night, when everyone has gone home and it’s time to climb into bed, the festoons of colorful lights are turned off by a timer, a flip of a switch or a phone app, because we live in this modern age of fast transportation and up-to-date methods.
By Jim McCarthy
ISLAMORADA MAYOR & UPPER KEYS FIRE DEPARTMENTS
TAKE THE REINS
LOCAL HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE CONTINUES AFTER IT WAS IN DOUBT LAST YEAR
The spirit of giving is synonymous with the holiday season in the Florida Keys. From local food banks to nonprofit organizations, the island community and its residents step up in a time of need.
Such was the case last year, when word spread that the Toys for Tots Florida Keys drive through the Marine Reserve Corps was ending following 19 successful years collecting Christmas gifts for kids. GySgt. Lou “Gunny” Slagle USMC (Ret) headed up the Florida Keys Toys for Tots, with help from fellow coordinators. The drive received generous community support including from Islamorada Fire Rescue, which gathered un wrapped gifts during the annual tour Santa makes through the village.
Tens of thousands of gifts were delivered to homes from Key Largo to Key West in time for kids to open on Christmas morning. Between 2013 and 2023, roughly 88,000 children in the Florida Keys received a gift from Toys for Tots.
A lack of support staff at the Marine Corps Reserve brought an end to the Toys for Tots in the Florida Keys last year. But the reins to the toy drive in the Upper Keys were quickly picked up by some local heroes.
Islamorada Fire Chief Terry Abel and Islamorada Mayor Sharon Mahoney took control of the sleigh. Collecting numerous unwrapped gifts for kids in Islamorada and Tavernier, there were even enough presents to fulfill some of the needs in neighboring Key Largo.
“I took three truckloads up there,” Abel said.
Gathering lists from kids at schools, daycares and churches, the elves went to work. And this year, the local drive will again fulfill the wishes of kids in the Upper Keys through the fire departments in Islamorada and Key Largo, Abel said.
Fire departments in Marathon and Key West carried the torch on the toy drive in their respective areas last year. They’ll do the same again this year, Abel added.
“I called the fire stations last year and said, ‘Look, this has to continue but the Toys for Tots is no longer here.’ Marathon and Key West fire departments picked up the torch and ran with it.”
Abel said the donated toys, as well as any monetary donations, will stay in the Keys community.
The Islamorada Fire Department will handle the wishlists of kids from MM 94.5 to Layton, while the Key Largo Fire Department will fulfill the needs north of MM 94.5.
“It was an amazing outpouring of gifts we saw last year,” Abel said. “We covered everyone on the list and then some. This year, we’re going to do the same with the help of local businesses and the community.”
Those wishing to support the local toy drive can bring unwrapped gifts to the local fire departments. All gifts will stay in the Keys for excited kids on Christmas morning.
Left: A trailer full of unwrapped gifts for Christmas is gathered during the annual tour Santa Claus makes through Islamorada.
Top right: Islamorada Fire Rescue Lt. Erica Oliveira carries fishing rods, a basketball and a bag of toys into the Founders Park Community Center, as part of a local drive to fulfill the wishes of Keys kids last Christmas.
Bottom right: Islamorada Fire Chief Terry Abel stands next to Mayor Sharon Mahoney, right, as they and fire rescuers go through hundreds of toys collected at the Founders Park Community Center on Dec. 16, 2024. FILE PHOTO
POTATO SKINS
By Julie Kushel
WINNING WINES FOR GAME-DAY
Winter is here, which means there’s no shortage of sporting events that draw crowds to various televisions and fill a host’s kitchen island with game-day favorites. Sure, there’s always beer, but in our effort to always be helpful, we asked (only slightly selfishly), “What about wine?” Fortunately, Julie Kushel, a certified sommelier, answered our question and uncorked some great game-day wine pairings to complement the comfort foods found at every gathering. So next time you’re headed out to support your team, check this guide to see what to bring that will compliment each and every bite. Here’s what Julie suggests:
SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE DIP
Pinot grigio’s citrus and herbaceous notes compliment the creaminess, while the fuller body of Pinot gris can stand up to more savory styles. Artichokes are quite difficult to pair, so any wine higher in acid and salinity is a sure fit.
Syrah for the savory notes, especially with bacon. Also, a sparkling wine like Franciacorta from Italy helps temper the richness of any topping like cheese on a wonderful, earthy potato.
BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP
A chenin blanc from Vouvray balances the cheesy texture. Riesling is perfect for the dip’s heat and gives your palate a zest without fatigue of flavor.
PIGS IN A BLANKET
Rosé Champagne can stand up to the salt and the pastry of the wrap, especially with the acid.
CHILI
Malbec is perfect for a robust meat dish especially with that smoky and earthy flavor. A sauvignon blanc with the citrus also will mesh with the cilantro and jalapeno flavors.
CHEESE BALLS
California pinot noir plays with especially soft cheeses that have earthy and nutty flavors. If caramelized onions are incorporated, the decadence of a creamy, oaky chardonnay is perfect.
GATHERINGS
PHILLY CHEESESTEAK
Any varietal of a Bordeaux blend is perfect. They have components of bell peppers, black pepper ,and acid to pair any components to a Philly cheesesteak. Want something unique? Try a Prosecco to add to the toasty flavors of the bread.
SEVEN LAYER DIP
Grenache syrah mourvedre or a red Rhone blend for fruit & spice. Even a Beaujolais flare, enough to give layers of flavor with zero clash. A white German Riesling would also pair with the richness for a harmonious choice.
PIZZA
Keep it Italian with sangiovese from Chianti. It’s light and lively. For a more elevated style, pair with a barbera, which is still a robust style with versatility that can compliment tomato, sausage and even mushrooms without being too heavy. For a unique bubble to pair with a veggie pizza, try a pét-nat, which is short for “pétillant naturel,” a French term meaning “naturally sparkling.” A Lambrusco with a mushroom pizza or any topping such as ham or prosciutto is a great match.
BACON-WRAPPED JALAPEÑO POPPERS
BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS
A nice spicy red zinfandel would be perfect. A little bit on the sweeter jammer side. Lodi California pick. Bold and tangy
A spicy dish with savory elements and creaminess is perfect for a semisweet wine. Try a Gewurztraminer as well as a New Zealand pinot noir for a cherry note to compliment the bacon.
MOST IMPORTANTLY,
DRINK WHAT
YOU ENJOY & YAY, SPORTS.
Elevate
• MEN’S & WOMEN’S HEALTH & HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
• MEDICALLY MONITORED WEIGHT LOSS FOR OPTIMAL BODY COMPOSITION
• ADVANCED PEPTIDE THERAPY
• XEOMIN, BOTOX, DYSPORT, DERMAL FILLER & OTHER AESTHETIC INJECTIONS
• MORPHEUS8 MICRONEEDLING TREATMENTS
• LUMECCA IPL SKIN REJUVENATION
• OPTIMIZED HEALTH & WELLNESS PLANS
• FORMA FACIALS & BODY CONTOURING
• TRITON LASER HAIR REMOVAL
• FACIAL LIGHT THERAPIES
• IV INFUSIONS INCLUDING IRON AND REHYDRATION
By Joe Mitchell
Predictable plots & handsome hometown heroes:
A REAL GUY’S TAKE ON HALLMARK’S HOLIDAY FORMULA
Giant snowflakes fall silently from the heavens, landing on a group of carolers singing "Silent Night" in the middle of a charming town square. One also lands on the chiseled face of a 30-something man with kind eyes and broad shoulders covered in a tight flannel shirt. He sings with a full voice, yet somehow, we can sense an empty heart. Cut to the same snowflake falling through skyscrapers amid the blare of sirens and car horns. The snowflake lands in a muddy puddle as a taxicab sprays dirty water all over the tailored suit of an attractive woman in sunglasses screaming into her cell phone about a difficult client at a large law office.
Swap out singing carolers and a large law office with a family-owned hardware store and multinational big-box store. Do a quick gender swap. It doesn't really matter. Whatever the juxtaposition, you have all the pieces for another Hallmark Christmas movie. What does matter is that two people from two different worlds will somehow meet each other, hate each other, realize they really aren't that different, fall in love, save the town’s mill, bookstore, historic library or any other small-town entity, and live happily ever after.
It's a formula as old as time or at least as old as 1951, when the first Hallmark Christmas movie aired and America's love affair with a vanilla romance, thin plot line, elementary-school sex scenes and wishful thinking led women to believe their relationship is absolute shite when compared to the elegant beauty, magical emotions and deep passion of “real Hallmark love.” This allowed them all to filter their relationship through this flatscreen sieve and process all its shortcomings to provide some relief from it in the form of fictional impromptu snowball fights, hayrides or, if time allows, a meteor shower on a moonlit night while holding hands with a stranger.
Let me say that the annual viewing of the Hallmark Christmas movies is not just for women and heterosexual white couples, but this is the audience for whom it was originally constructed. Hallmark has dutifully moved along with the times so we can now find any manner of relationships with a mixture of races, ages and socioeconomic levels to please every viewer. So I apologize for any slight, real or imagined, misogynistic or otherwise as well as the obvious cliches.
This is where we wonderless rubes come in. As a modern man I feel emotion about as deep as one should or perhaps could in this rough and tumble world and I am not averse to a good cry when convention requires, such as the death of a loved one, or when prompted by a TikTok video of a formerly blind child seeing for the first time, or a yellow lab saving a kitten in a snowstorm. But the Hallmark algorithm is built for this specific purpose. Once the piffle has finished and the deluge of tears subsided, our wives look across the room at us eating a second dinner over the sink wearing just a t-shirt, in our full Winnie-the-Pooh grandeur and they can't hide their contempt at what might have been. But after 30 seconds or so, reality sets in, the fantasy dissipates and they realize they’ve once again been duped by the “Hallgorithm,” because in fact, their husband is simply a good guy with a warm heart and blissful indifference. But like every bad drug, they always want more, and their corporate dealer is happy to oblige and feed their habit.
Now I’d be happy to leave it there — with a few looks of disappointment and some polite suggestions about weight loss or more couples dates, because, frankly, I want that stuff, too. But if I could reach out to the dark lords of Hallmark, I would say, "What about us?"
What about the men of the world who would love to find a holiday-themed production that makes our hearts both sing and race. All I'm saying is there are scenes in which our hero is running through a pumpkin patch or a snow-covered country road after the woman he loves. Couldn’t Hallmark just as easily put him on a KTM 450 with a stage 2 Rottweiler power kit and a snowplow to jump over to pursue her? Also, there’s always the annoying and insensitive boyfriend in the city who half-heartedly tries to win the woman over and take her back to that beautiful uptown tri-split close to the park with a doorman. Why not arm him with some throwing knives, two Sig P229s tucked into a shoulder strap and a cute little McGuffin he hid on her key ring and must get back to a Russian madman who wants to destroy....okay, maybe that's too much. But Hallmark could truly save Christmas if they put couples back together during the holidays, watching movies together in bed, with cold drinks, snacks and warm fuzzy feelings — right out of a Hallmark movie.
Christmas Hallmark movie checklist
Unzipped coat despite freezing weather
Cutting down Christmas tree scene
Chance meeting with old friend/ flame
View of New York skyline
Lost item or child must be returned
Impending real estate deal
Decorating Christmas tree scene
Woman quits successful big-city job
Leading man drives pickup or tow truck
Main character bungles Christmas activity
Demanding boss only cares about money
Child makes a wish
Gift wrapping scene
Woman fixes bad holiday party
Main character lacks Christmas spirit
Making cookies scene
Vehicle breakdown
Canceled flight
Favorites KEY WEST
Local matters at the Keys Weekly. It’s what we cover in the news and it’s what we value as an organization. But we couldn’t do any of it without the local businesses of the Florida Keys.
Our annual Holiday Gift Guide highlights the locally-owned shops that are as unique as our island chain.
Online shopping is an undeniable convenience, but mix it up a bit this year. So many of our favorite and unforgettable gifts can only be found in the Keys.
In Key West, if you can wear it, read it, drink it or store things in it, it’ll be a huge hit as a holiday gift. This year, check out some of the coolest options from local retailers. From purses to perfume, books to bags, there’s something perfect for everyone.
TIJON
MEL FISHER TREASURES
Travel tumbler | $35
DIVE BAR SHIRT CLUB Limited edition tees from Real American Dive Bars starting at $24 per month
MARC Orchids & decorative pots of all sizes & varieties | prices vary
FLOAT
Julie Vos Bloom necklace | $325 and earrings | $185
AQUA D KEYS
Marquesa eau de parfum gift box | starts at $136
Key West weekender bag | $125
BOOKS & BOOKS
Judd Apatow Comedy Nerd: A lifelong obsession in stories and pictures | $50
BESAME MUCHO
Signature Siberian Fir candle & votives Large $38 | Votive $12.50
MEL FISHER TREASURES
Treasure Coins of the Atocha and Margarita Anniversary Edition by Carol Tedesco | $24.95
BOOKS & BOOKS
Vintage bookshelf games, assorted variety | $48
Baby’s Coffee small tote bag | $14.95 THE STUDIOS MUSEUM STORE Book 50 years of David Wegman | $40
BABY’S COFFEE
KIRBY’S CLOSET America & Beyond pink lemon bag | $94
KIRBY’S CLOSET
Assorted handmade headbands | $64
AQUA D KEYS
Emerald inside out hoops | $8,575
Favorites
MARATHON
Marine life rules in Marathon, and Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some oceanand island-inspired jewelry, decor, kitchen ware and clothing.
DK’S BEACH BOUTIQUE
Hat by Wyeth | $78
Dress by Gold and Silver in Paris | $82.99 Necklace by Tula Blue | $50
Slingshot Wakeboard | $339.99
THE TURTLE HOSPITAL GIFT SHOP A Sea Full of Turtles by Bill Streever | $32
LEDGE Outdoor Four in a Row | $60
D’ASIGN SOURCE
Seaglass Mirror | $836
ISLA BELLA / THE MARKET PLACE Aloha Travel Pouch | $44
SPARTINA 449 Crossbody | $98
GANAPATI Felt Holiday Ornaments | $16.99
PLUSH $ Don’t Feed the Worry Bug Book | $14.99
BAYSHORE CLOTHING Fred the Tree Cups | $32.95 - $42.95
Beachy sandals, straw hats and shipwreck coins are just the start of all the holiday gift options in the Upper Keys, a bastion of creative small businesses and boutiques. There are handmade ukuleles, skin care essentials and foodie favorites.
SHELL WORLD
Kala Ukulele, assorted colors | $69
BLUE MARLIN JEWELRY 14k Chrysopase Turtle Necklace | $6,535
CIAO BELLA ISLAMORADA | Juliette has a gun, iconic fragrances | $145
MISS MONROE Straw Slide Flatform Sandal | $58
WILD LILY BOUTIQUE
Poupette Mini Dress Blue | $320
ROBBIES MARINA Youth Hooded Performance Tee assorted colors | $34.99
THE ROOM NAIL BAR SALON Gift Card $25 and up
MISS MONROE
Jen & Co. Vegan Leather Bags | $68
Robbies Islamorada Straw Hat | $24.99
SHELL WORLD Cannes Demi Cuff, Iridescent Blue | $285
CIAO BELLA ISLAMORADA | Holiday Hydration/Repair Hair Gift Set
Thank you to everyone who has used Coast2Coast Mortgage, we closed over $100,000,000 in loans in 2025. Thank you to all the locals, investors, veterans and second home buyers who trusted us with their financing.
By Mandy Miles
CELEBRATE SOMETHING SPECIAL
WHATEVER IT MAY BE
“Not weird, just different.”
A third grade teacher gently reprimanded her class during a social studies lesson 41 years ago inside a small Catholic school in Ocean City, New Jersey.
We had our social studies books out, and were learning about some unfamiliar custom in a far-away country. Apparently, we had reacted with the maturity of 8-year-olds and immediately scorned what we didn’t understand.
Mrs. Perry’s admonishment followed a comment by James, a funny, red-headed boy who sat by the window. He declared (without raising his hand), “That’s just weird.”
“It’s not weird; it’s just different,” Mrs. Perry said, reminding us how other cultures might view some of the practices we considered “normal,” like placing a lost tooth under a pillow with the hope that a mysterious figure would sneak into our room while we slept and basically buy a piece of our skeleton.
How might third graders in Nepal react to our descriptions of a giant Easter Bunny hiding colored eggs (which come from chickens, by the way, not rabbits) to celebrate a religious holiday and Christians’ belief that a Jewish man was nailed to a wooden cross, and came back to life three days later.
I’ve not only remembered that four-word lesson for 41 years, but have repeated it more than once. So to those elementary-school teachers who occasionally feel that their efforts are futile and their words are worthless, just know that some things break through and stay with us.
Here I am, 41 years later, repeating those four words as we take a look at some unfamiliar — but never weird — holiday celebrations in faraway places.
Whichever holidays you celebrate, may they be meaningful and memorable.
ST. NICHOLAS
EVE
(SINTERKLAAS’ BIRTHDAY)
DEC. 5 OR 6
In Dutch, Sinterklaas or SintNicolaas is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Sinterklaas is one of the sources of the popular Christmas icon of Santa Claus.
St. Nicholas Eve and Christmas are separate holidays in The Netherlands. The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated with the giving of gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (Dec. 5) in the Netherlands and the morning of Dec. 6 in Belgium, Luxembourg, western Germany, northern France and Hungary.
ST. LUCIA DAY
DEC. 13 IN SCANDINAVIA AND ITALY
St. Lucia Day, also called St. Lucy’s Day, is a festival of lights most widely celebrated in Scandinavia and Italy. St. Lucia’s Day, a festival of lights, is celebrated in Sweden, Norway and the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland on Dec. 13 each year in honor of St. Lucia (St. Lucy). One of the earliest Christian martyrs, St. Lucia was killed by the Romans in 304 AD because of her religious beliefs.
HANUKKAH
NIGHTFALL ON SUN, DEC 14-MON, DEC 22 IN ISRAEL, U.S. & JEWISH COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE
Hanukkah this year starts the evening of Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025
and ends the evening of Monday, Dec. 22. Each year, Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the Jewish calendar. Hanukkah, which has many different spellings, is the eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees revolted in the 2nd century B.C.
Hanukkah offers eight nights of light, joy and celebration during the winter season. The festival carries themes of religious freedom, miraculous provision and the triumph of light over darkness.
LAS POSADAS
DEC. 16-24 IN SPAIN, MEXICO, GUATEMALA AND PARTS OF THE U.S.
Las Posadas (Spanish for “the inns”) commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. A religious festival traditionally held in Mexico and parts of Latin America, Las Posadas is an important part of Christmas festivities.
Las Posadas is celebrated between Dec.16 and Dec. 24, and was originally designed to teach the Christmas story to those who couldn’t read the Bible. Many countries celebrate the religious festival of Las Posadas, though the vast majority of the celebrations are in Latin America.
WINTER SOLSTICE
DEC 21, 10:03 A.M.
The winter solstice marks the official start to winter, when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day and longest night, and astronomically marks the beginning of lengthening days and shortening nights as spring and summer approach.
The pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world and is marked by widely varying regional customs and traditions.
BOXING DAY
FRIDAY, DEC. 26 IN GREAT BRITAIN, CANADA, AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Boxing Day is the holiday on which servants, tradespeople and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century it had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.
KWANZAA
DEC. 26-JAN. 1 IN THE U.S., CANADA, CARIBBEAN & WESTERN AFRICAN DIASPORA
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday celebrated in communities in the United States and Canada, as well as in the Caribbean and Western African Diaspora, to honor African heritage in AfricanAmerican culture and to highlight the importance of the pan-African family and corresponding social values.
THREE KINGS DAY
JAN. 6, 2026 IN MEXICO AND COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE
Three Kings Day celebrates the Three Kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) and their visit to baby Jesus after his birth.
THAI PONGAL
JAN. 14-17, 2026 CELEBRATED BY THE TAMIL POPULATION OF INDIA & SRI LANKA
Celebrated by an estimated 80 million Tamil people, mainly in India and Sri Lanka, Thai Pongal is a multiday Hindu harvest festival dedicated to the sun god, Surya. The traditional Tamil dish of pongal is prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with raw sugar. The dish is first offered to the gods and goddesses and is then given to cattle, which Hindus hold sacred, before being shared by families.
CHINESE NEW YEAR/ SPRING FESTIVAL
FEB. 17, 2026
The Chinese New Year celebration is Feb. 17, 2026, which starts a year of the Fire Horse. The Chinese New Year is associated with animals due to the Chinese zodiac, a 12-year cycle in which each year is named after an animal. Each animal represents different traits and characteristics, and the zodiac is believed to influence a person’s personality, compatibility and fortunes.
In Chinese culture, the Horse, also known as the Fire Horse, is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolizes vitality, speed and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted and independent.
Chinese New Year, often referred to as Spring Festival in traditional Chinese, or Lunar New Year, starts on the new moon that appears each year between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. The celebration marks the start of the spring and is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. Observances can last for the first 15 days of the new year
As a public holiday, Chinese people will get eight days off from work from Feb. 15-22, 2026. Customs and traditions vary widely among different regions in China, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
Most families thoroughly clean their house to sweep away ill fortune and make way for good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red paper
cutouts. Money is exchanged in red envelopes and fireworks are common.
EID AL-ADHA
TUE, MAY 26 – WED, MAY 27, 2026 IN MIDDLE EASTERN & ASIAN PACIFIC NATIONS
Eid al-Adha is the second of the two main festivals in Islam, alongside Eid al-Fitr. It falls on the 10th of Dhu alHijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. Celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the three following days, known as the Tashreeq days.
Also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha is an important Islamic holiday celebrated worldwide to honor the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his first-born son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God’s command. Eid al-Adha is the second and the largest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. It is celebrated with prayers, animal sacrifice, charity, social gatherings, festive meals and gift-giving.
DIWALI “FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS”
SUNDAY, NOV. 8, 2026 IN INDIA, NEPAL, SRI LANKA, MYANMAR & OTHERS
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual victory of Dharma over Adharma, light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
The festival celebrates both the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira, an Indian sage, and the death anniversary of Swami Dayanand, a Hindu religious leader.
The main celebration of Diwali takes place on the day of the new moon when the sky is at its darkest, so a big part of the celebration revolves around light. On the evening of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps, placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the night.
By Carol Shaughnessy
AN EVERGREEN CHRISTMAS IN KEY WEST 1981
THE BALE IN THE CLOSET
Maybe I could say Santa Claus left the bale of pot in the living room closet. My middle-class Midwestern parents would believe me if I told them Santa dropped it off by mistake, right?
Yeah, right.
Or maybe I could disguise it by wrapping it in giant sheets of holiday paper, adding a super-sized bow, and saying it was a Christmas gift for a friend — an oddly fragrant gift, though it didn’t smell like holiday evergreens.
Or I could just track down my wayward live-in boyfriend, who had promised to remove the bale several days before Christmas Eve but somehow never got around to it.
Instead, the evidence of his buddy Steve’s “profession” was still in our closet 45 minutes before my parents’ flight was due to land at the tiny Key West airport. The late-afternoon weather was rainy and damp, so they would undoubtedly be wearing jackets — jackets that, since they were staying with us, they’d expect to hang up in the living room closet.
My boyfriend (who we’ll call Paul) was nowhere to be found and probably out drinking. Steve had blithely gone away for the holidays, leaving his burlap-wrapped “product” stored with us despite my parents’ imminent arrival.
As well as their first trip to my beloved Key West, this visit would be their introduction to Paul. Though now living an island-hippie life, I was still a Midwestern people-pleaser when it came to my parents. I wanted their visit to be perfect.
Having a bale in the closet was far from perfect — but the damned thing was too big and unwieldy for me to move by myself.
Once the bale was removed, we went homeand decorated the tree. It might have been scruffy, but it was ours.
In those days before cell phones, most Key West bartenders operated a helpful “locator service” for local women seeking their wandering mates. Before leaving to meet my parents, I picked up the phone and activated the “service” in a lastditch effort to find Paul.
“No, he’s not here,” said John, the bartender at the Full Moon Saloon. “He left half an hour ago — pretty sure he was going to the Hukilau.”
“You just missed him,” the Hukilau bartender reported. “He and Mikey Dare were headed down to the Chart Room.”
But the Chart Room bartender hadn’t seen him, and I was out of time.
My parents greeted me at the airport with enthusiastic hugs, seemingly unfazed after their flight in a nine-passenger plane, and accepted my statement that Paul was out finishing holiday errands. Their carry-ons were full of wrapped presents, and they were indeed wearing jackets.
Until the bale was gone, I couldn’t take them home. But as we walked to my blue Toyota truck, the rain intensified from drizzle to downpour. With it came the inspiration for a delaying tactic.
“Since you guys are wet and probably chilly,” I babbled to my parents, “before we go to the house, we’ll stop at the Full Moon for a Christmas Eve drink to warm you up.”
The catchphrase “it takes a village” probably didn’t originate in Key West, but in those days it defined Key West — and my best friend Vic Latham, a silver-haired rogue who was part-owner of the Full Moon, was an unofficial village elder.
Walking into the Moon, with its wide horseshoe bar and clientele of friendly renegades, I spotted Vic and towed my
parents over to introduce them. As a waitress led them to a table, I pulled him aside.
“You have to help me,” I hissed. “I can’t take them home — Paul disappeared somewhere, and there’s a BALE in my living room closet!”
That’s when the “villagers” mobilized. Vic ordered Jamaican coffee for my parents, with substantial shots of dark rum and coffee liqueur, and sat down with us and started telling stories. Former Chicago Tribune journalist Phil Caputo, another good friend and the celebrated author of “A Rumor of War,” joined us — enthralling my father, who was an advertising writer and veteran of Chicago’s outlaw literary era.
An ongoing procession of colorful characters dropped by the table, warmly welcoming my parents and enfolding them in the magic that characterized Key West at its best.
When the third round of Jamaican coffee arrived, just as Vic ended another improbable story with his infectious laugh, my father turned to me.
“I see why you love this town so much,” he said. His words felt like a benediction.
Shortly after that, Paul ambled into the bar looking indecently cheerful. He kissed me (I may have growled under my breath in response), greeted my parents, and sat down at our table.
“I finished those last-minute clean-up chores at the house,” he said, winking at me before turning to my slightly tipsy parents. “Shall we all go home and decorate the tree?” With canine assistance, I opened a Christmas gift from my parents — a typewriter to support my dream of becoming a writer.
HOLIDAYS ARE FOR GIVING... HELP LOCAL CHARITIES HELP OTHERS
In the Florida Keys, fundraisers fill our calendars for good reason. Our island chain boasts an abundance of organizations committed to the Keys community and the people and animals that call them home.
Dozens of nonprofit organizations are facing acute financial challenges for the coming year, following a decision by county leaders to eliminate half of the funding it provides to Keys nonprofits. But donations don’t have to be financial and plenty of the worthy organizations here depend on volunteers who give their time and talent to help people, animals and the environment.
CHILDREN
• Bahama Village Music Program has inspired the aspirations of hundreds of kids in Key West over the past two decades by providing instruments, education and performance opportunities. bvmpkw.com/donations.
• Florida Keys Children’s Shelter is a haven for children in need and provides counseling services for youth. keysshelter.kindful.com.
• Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition aims to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women as well as children and families in Monroe County. keyshealthystart.org.
• Take Stock in Children provides Florida Prepaid college scholarships to qualified 6th to 10th graders in lowincome households in Monroe County. monroecountyedfound.com/about-takestock.
• The Educational Coalition for Monroe County helps students and families facing special circumstances with basic necessities, academic support, holiday wishes, weekend food bags and more. Email christina.belotti@yahoo.com.
• Presents in Paradise operates to make sure every kid in the Florida Keys experiences the magic of the holidays. presents-in-paradise.com.
• Voices for Florida Keys Children is dedicated to the betterment of abandoned, abused and neglected children in Monroe County. voiceskids.org.
• Wesley House Family Services provides foster and adoptive services for the entire county including parenting classes and daycare. wesleyhouse.org.
HUMANS
• A Positive Step of Monroe County has been serving Monroe County’s highest risk kids and their families since 1999. APSMC identifies unmet needs and provides services to meet them, including summer jobs, a fatherhood initiative and more. apsmc.org.
• Active Disabled Americans, based in Key Largo, provides accessible boating experiences to people living with physical and mental disabilities. activedisabledamericans.org.
• AH of Monroe County Inc. provides medical case management, affordable housing, health education, preventative services and linkage to care. ahmonroe. org.
• Autism Society of the Keys serves families in the Keys affected by autism. autismsocietyofthekeys.com.
• Baptist Health Foundation has many philanthropic opportunities that support health-care facilities and programs in Monroe County. baptisthealth. net/baptist-health-foundation
• Coldwell Banker Charitable Foundation is dedicated to helping Keys residents whose critical needs are not being met through other means. gooddeedsinthekeys.org.
• Burton Memorial Food Pantry provides a hearty hot meal and food items to the Upper Keys community. bmumc.net.
• Domestic Abuse Shelter provides victims of domestic abuse and their families with safe emergency shelter, safety planning, risk assessments, crisis intervention and other support and advocacy services at no charge. domesticabuseshelter.org.
• First Baptist Church of Islamorada Food Pantry provides residents with a sit-down, hot meal, grocery items and clothing. thecommunityministry.org.
• Good Health Clinic serves as a health-care home for low-income and uninsured residents of the Florida Keys. thegoodhealthclinic.org.
• Habitat for Humanity is a nationally recognized organization making a significant impact in the Florida Keys by building and financing homes for deserving local families. habitatupperkeys.org to support Islamorada, Tavernier and Key Largo; habitatmiddlekeys.org to support Marathon and habitatlowerkeys.org for the Lower Keys and Key West.
• KAIR is a certified food pantry based in Marathon that also provides needy families with rental and utility assistance, school supplies, transportation and much more. 305.743.4582
• MARC supports adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to understand daily community routines and learn social, self-care and vocational skills. marchouse.org.
• Queer Keys supports, educates, empowers and celebrates the queer community in the Florida Keys through special events, individual resources and a community center in Key West. queerkeys.org.
• Samuel’s House provides housing assistance and essential services to the
homeless men, women and families of our community. samuelshouse.org.
• SOS Foundation fosters a healthier Monroe County community by increasing food access and nutrition education. sosfoundation.org.
• The Salvation Army provides emergency financial assistance, disaster services and holiday assistance to individuals and families in the Florida Keys. salvationarmyfloridakeys.org.
• United Way of Collier and the Keys supports a number of organizations throughout Monroe County. uwcollierkeys.org/give.
• Womankind is a medical and wellness center providing family planning and health care to people of all income levels. womankindkeywest.org.
ANIMALS
• Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit research and education center that provides a home for dolphins, sea lions, parrots and tortoises. The center also operates a manatee rescue team for the entire Keys. dolphins.org.
• Dolphin Life (formerly Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder) leads and operates the only whale and dolphin stranding organization covering 10,000 square miles of marine habitat in the Keys. dolphinlife.org.
• Florida Keys SPCA is dedicated to the humane treatment of all animals through compassionate care, adoption, education, population control and humane law enforcement. The SPCA has campuses in Key West and Marathon. fkspca.org.
• Florida Keys Wild Bird Center rescues, rehabilitates, shelters and releases wild birds that have been displaced or harmed. keepthemflying.org.
• Forgotten Felines of the Florida Keys’ primary goal is to trap, spay/neuter and treat homeless and abandoned cats. The group practices the humane TNR method: trap, spay/neuter and
return. Adoptions of cats and kittens are offered when available. forgottenfelinesofthefloridakeys.com.
• Key West Wildlife Center provides a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center with a 6-acre park for viewing native birds in the wild. keywestwildlifecenter.org.
• Marathon Wild Bird Center’s sole purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and release both migratory and resident wild birds when they become sick, injured or orphaned. marathonwildbirdcenter.org.
• MarrVelous Pet Rescues provides care and treatment for abandoned and stray pets. mprescues.org.
• Pawsitive Beginnings provides a safe and happy home to foxes that have been saved from fur farms, all while supporting local children with a new animal therapy den. pawsitivebeginnings.org.
• Payton’s Promise Sanctuary provides a “soft place to land” for dogs that are homeless, have special needs, are nearing end-of-life or are otherwise difficult to adopt. paytonspromisesanctuary.org.
• The Turtle Hospital in Marathon is a fully-functioning veterinary hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. The center rescues, rehabs and releases sea turtles in the Florida Keys. turtlehospital.org
• Upper Keys Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that provides food, shelter, medical care and adoption services for unwanted abandoned animals. ukhsociety.org.
ENVIRONMENT
• Conch Republic Marine Army volunteers remove shoreline trash and restore marine habitats. conchrepublicmarinearmy.org.
• Coral Restoration Foundation restores coral reefs on a massive scale, educates on the importance of our oceans, and uses science to further coral research. coralrestoration.org.
• I.CARE brings together local businesses, residents and visitors in the restoration and maintenance of our coral
reef communities in Islamorada. icareaboutcoral.org.
• MarineLab uses education and adventure in the Florida Keys ecosystem to foster environmental awareness and stewardship. marinelab.org.
• Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the world’s leading marine science, research and education organizations and has a major presence and commitment to the Florida Keys. mote.org.
• Pigeon Key Foundation protects the cultural history of the Keys while serving as a marine science and education facility for youth locally and from around the world. pigeonkey.net.
• Plant a Million Corals sets out to ensure the survival of our reefs globally by reproducing fast-growing and resilient corals, and by providing education on coral reefs. plantamillioncorals.org.
• Reef Relief is dedicated to improving and protecting our coral reef ecosystem through research, education, advocacy, public awareness and eco-tourism. reefrelief.org.
• Reef Renewal USA is dedicated to improving and protecting our coral reef ecosystem through research, education, advocacy, public awareness and ecotourism. reefrenewalusa.org.
• R3EACH involves research, rescue and rehabilitation of threatened marine species and education and awareness for communities about the fragile marine habitats that make up the Florida Keys. floridakeysaquariumencounters.com (Click “Conservation” tab).
• Reef Environmental Education Foundation protects marine life worldwide through education, service and research. reef.org.
Scan the QR code for a full list of Florida Keys nonprofit organizations.
Welco m e Christmas. bring you r cheer
Cheer to a ll whos, fa r a nd nea r
Christmas Day is in ou r g rasp
So long as we have ha nds to g rasp
Christmas Day will a lways be
Just as long as we have we
Welco m e Christmas wh ile we sta nd
Hea rt to hea rt a nd ha nd in ha nd.
— Dr. Suess, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
Saloon Surf Shoppe
Island Style!
By Chris McNulty
Viewing the world
We live in a time of transition, from AI technology to geopolitics to spirituality and religion to the economy. While most of us are well aware of these changes, astrology may offer a wide lens to help us understand them. The years 2024-2026 are a largescale pivot, as all three outer planets change signs in these years. Pluto moved into Aquarius; Neptune is moving into Aries and Uranus is moving into Gemini. It’s incredibly rare for all of the outer planets to change signs in such a short time. The most recent similar occurrence took place between 1737 and 1739 — the period associated with the First Great Awakening and other redistributions in power, authority and technology. We are now in the midst of this change, and in 2026 these shifts will finalize and set the stage for a whole new structure of life
Amid these larger shifts, the biggest astrological event in 2026 is the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in mid-February. This happens every 36 years, with the last occurring in 1989. Saturn oversees authority, structure, boundaries and material organization, while Neptune is associated with ideals, symbolism, collective wholeness and hallucination. When these planets conjoin, we experience the end of old worldviews and the beginning of new ones. We will experience this change collectively, but each astrological sign will experience the changes in a specific part of their life.
These horoscopes for the year ahead are an offering to use the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in the most beneficial ways for yourself. There is so much in life we cannot control, and yet our free will gives us the ability to respond in healthy, meaningful ways.
Here are your 2026 horoscopes, read for your rising and sun signs.
Sagittarius
Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
Creativity is not just about selfexpression; it is also about sharing your unique take on the world-at-large so others can see it through your lens. In 2026 your personal creativity becomes a social message. Your perspective matters, and you can help others see the world differently. Find a creative outlet that offers the rest of us a new means of reflection.
Capricorn
Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
2026 is a year to tend to your roots. In a hyperactive world, investing in
home and family can be a radical act, and you will have the opportunity to hone in on your more private world. Know that what you do in private has ripple effects in the world outside as you strengthen your core values. Tending to your roots encourages strength in all facets of life.
Aquarius
Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Communication is constant in our modern world, and we are encouraged to be highly reactive to all forms of media. In 2026, you will reconsider your most effective means of communication and engagement, knowing
that how you communicate is just as important as what you communicate. Pay attention to what has become automatic in how you share yourself, and you will establish fresh methods.
Pisces
Feb. 19 – March 20
2026 is the year of refining your personal values to reflect your desired impact in the world-at-large. You will reconsider how you make and spend money, how you use your time, and where you place your energy to align with your value system in a changing world. Don’t be afraid to seriously investigate what you truly value, as it will reveal a clear path forward.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
2026 is a year to embody the highest ideal of your own self-image. However you dream yourself to be, this is the year you will enact that dream in your personality and outward presence. You will edit the parts of yourself that do not feel authentic. If all the world is a stage, 2026 marks your debut in a starring role to thunderous applause.
2026 YEAR-AHEAD HOROSCOPES
differently
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
In a world increasingly connected (and often divided) by social media, solitude and reflective repose are harder to come by, which makes them all the more important. 2026 is the year you discover your ideal meditative structure, which will provide balance for the rest of your life. You are offered the chance to hone in on your private relationship to the great everything, so find your inner yogi.
Gemini
May 21 – June 21
Hopes and dreams fuel us, and yet they remain fantasies unless enacted. 2026 is the year you begin to materialize your greatest life goals, taking initial steps to see them materialize. As you make meaningful moves, you will see the people in your life change, retaining supporters and losing those who don’t understand. Keep your eyes on your prize.
Cancer
June 22 – July 22
Your public reputation and career will start to go through marked chang-
es, but your only job is to maintain your integrity. If you feel your work in the public sphere is out of balance, you will find opportunities to correct course. If you feel in line with your inner compass, you will see new opportunities in your current field. Trust your internal navigation and you will find your success.
Leo
July 23 – Aug. 22
Your belief system or personal philosophy will determine what new experiences open up to you. 2026 is the year you will solidify your faith in what is good, true and beautiful, leading you to choose new adventures that align with your beliefs. You are charting new worlds of exploration or study, and it all begins by getting real about your fundamental faith. In 2026, get curious.
Virgo
Aug. 23 – Sept. 22
2026 is a year of divesting and reinvesting. You will reconsider how you share resources, coordinate your time with others, and collaborate in meaningful projects. Getting to the core of your own fundamental beliefs will guide you to new partners in your work, and you
will reconsider what you once thought of as taboo. This is the year of refreshing your mission.
Libra
Sept. 23 – Oct. 23
2026 is your year of partnership, either recommitting to important partners or finding new ones who share your worldview. As you reconfigure your life to the changing world, those partnerships will become fundamental. Lean on those who know you best and trust the outcome of the stress test. Love will show itself when you are honest about your needs.
Scorpio
Oct. 24 – Nov. 21
This upcoming year is about making changes in daily habits and routines by aligning them with your true inner compass. You will transform your health habits, daily schedule and work practices to reflect your orientation to the changing world. Hone in on what your body and mind need to feel strong and stable, and build practical rituals that encourage your well-being. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the right flow.
Eat, Drink & Give Thanks
THANKSGIVING DINNER
THURSDAY 11.27 | 2 PM - 7 PM
EXPERIENCE THE HOLIDAY MAGIC AT THE CAY THIS DECEMBER!
GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING DAILY HULA-DAY HAPPENINGS
TURKEY DASH
BENEFITING
ANDREW MIJARES
| 6 PM
POP-UP HOLIDAY MARKET Happy
Holidays
By Stephanie Mitchell
West & Cuba’s Museum Quality Regional Art Celebrating Cultural Resilience
CUBAN ART TOUR
Best way to celebrate NYE? YOUR WAY.
The beauty of being a full-on grownup is the pleasure of creating your own “rules” when it comes to partying.
I go to a lot of parties – just ask my colleagues. I’ve been to some unforgettable ones and a few I’d honestly like to forget.
That got me thinking about the big show on New Year’s Eve. So many options, so little time, but as the day approaches and the clock gets closer and closer to midnight, might I suggest doing exactly what makes your heart smile?
Pajamas and champagne: sounds perfect to me.
A playlist that continues to evolve as the night progresses: amazing.
Guests bringing a dish so the host can relax and enjoy too: yes, please.
An island filled with bottles of bubbles so we never run dry: indeed.
Laughter all night long: count me in.
This is your friendly reminder to focus on you and what makes you smile and if that’s going down to Duval, so be it. But I think this NYE a fur over a nightgown is exactly what this year and the doctor ordered.
However you choose to celebrate, put yourself, your sanity and your fun first and foremost on your to do list.
Cheers!
April 20-24, 2026
Opening March 21, 2026
Michael J. Harrell is a Florida-born painter celebrated for luminous watercolors and oils that capture coastal life. Trained in graphic design, he began as an illustrator before turning to ne art in the 1990s. His work—often set on coastal shores of Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and the Bahamas—echoes the realism of Wyeth and Homer, blending atmosphere, light, and narrative.
Michael Harrell
Conch Cottage, 20” x 24” Oil on Canvas
BOUTIQUE
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4
THURSDAY
Rebecca Baur, PA-C, RN, the owner of Destination Wellness has over 20 years of experience providing medical services. She is the ONLY certi ed provider of the NeoGen PSR in the area.
She possesses a keen artistic eye and attention to detail, making her a highly skilled injector. She prioritizes building personalized relationships with each client and is dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.
Located in Key West, Destination Wellness is a medspa that o ers cutting-edge treatments and services in a relaxed, patient-focused setting. Open by appointment only, o ering Medical Grade Care throughout our facility. Bioidentical hormones are also available. Book your appointment today to learn more. We o er an array of services dedicated towards focusing on your individual goals and budget.
THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE AN OVERWHELMING TIME FOR US ALL. BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND HELP IS AVAILABLE.
KEYS WEEKLY HAS COMPILED A LIST OF LOCAL RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED OF FOOD, FINANCIAL HELP, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION OR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
KEYS WEEKLY CARES...
DIAL 988
- SUICIDE & CRISIS
LIFELINE
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a suicide prevention network of over 200 crisis centers in the U.S. that provide 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 9-8-8. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
SOS MISSION FOOD PANTRY
• 5640 Maloney Ave., Stock Island.
• St. Justin Martyr Church, 105500 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo. For additional locations and distribution schedules, visit sosfoundation.org or call 305-292-3013.
GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH
• 24-hour suicide and mental health hotline: 305-434-7660, option #8.
• Guidance/Care Center provides mental health and/or substance abuse help regardless of ability to pay.
• Free services for youths and teens are available; no one is turned away for inability to pay.
• Psychiatrists and case managers speak English and Spanish (translation available for Creole, Russian, Czech and Polish). Contact 305-434-7660 option #4.
QUEER KEYS
An LGBTQIA+ community center, providing programs and services for queer youth, seniors and trans folks, including a Key West community center at 1100 Truman Ave. and weekly meetup for kids 12-18.The program provides a safe and affirming space for kids who may be questioning their identity or orientation and aren’t comfortable discussing it at home. The weekly activities and discussions are determined by the participants and facilitated by compassionate adults. Meets Thursdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 1100 Truman Ave. Contact info@ queerkeys.org.
SAMUEL’S HOUSE
Samuel’s House helps women, men and families in need of safe shelter due to domestic violence, substance abuse or incarceration. Visit samuelshouse.org for more information. Call 305-296-0240 or toll free 855-772-7800. After-hours emergencies: 305-296-0240.
WESLEY HOUSE HOLIDAY HELPERS
Wesley House Family Services helps Keys families provide a magical Christmas for the kids. Contact Wesley House for more information at 305-809-5000 or visit wesleyhouse.org.
FLORIDA KEYS
HEALTHY START COALITION
Can provide diapers, formula, car seats, bike helmets and transportation to prenatal appointments for new and soon-to-be parents in need. Apply online at keyshealthystart.org or call 305-293-8424 for more information.
PROJECT LIGHTHOUSE
The holidays can be particularly tough for homeless teens and runaways. Project Lighthouse, a division of the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, is a youth activities, resources and drop-in center in the heart of Key West. The staff helps runaway, homeless and at-risk street youths, many of whom have traveled throughout the country, locate appropriate and available services such as food and medical care. Through encouragement and engagement, staff can create opportunities to explore issues of safe living situations, employment and family contact or reunification. Open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 1102 Truman Ave. 305-292-0999. All services free of charge.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM RAMS HEAD PRESENTS - KEY WEST!
ANTHONY RODIA
LAUGH TILL IT HURTS TOUR
DEC. 11, KEY WEST THEATER
ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
JAN. 16, KEY WEST THEATER
TOMMY EMMANUEL
MAR. 22, KEY WEST THEATER
ROBYN SCHALL'S DAVID NIHILL TAKING TANGENTS TOUR
CORAL REEFER BAND
JAN. 16, KEY WEST AMPHITHEATER
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS APR. 2, KEY WEST THEATER
JAN. 11, KEY WEST THEATER
GABRIEL RUTLEDGE
DON’T READ THE COMMENTS TOUR FEB. 15, KEY WEST THEATER
