KWDave

Welcome to Key West, The Bar at the End of the Universe

Welcome to Key West, .!

My name is KWDave, and I have lived in Key West, Florida, for fifteen years. During those fifteen years we have experienced Georges, Charlie, Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and Ivan, a standing record for both frequency and severity of hurricanes. I have learned some very interesting things about weather.

You can find us on the world map at 24° 33' 19" N / 81° 46' 58" W, just above the Tropic of Cancer. We're Tropical. (Almost.)

Key West, Florida, is the Southernmost City in the continental United States. We have to say "continental" because the Big Island of Hawaii has us beat by five degrees of latitude - but you can't drive to it.

Celebrations for 2012

Annual Conch Republic Days

In 1982, the Federal Government decided that the free-wheelin', drug-dealin' days of the Florida Keys were over. They set up a roadblock at the entrance of the Overseas Highway, and started checking each and every car that went through for drugs and illegal aliens. This caused real headaches with traffic, as you might imagine.

Civic leaders in Key West decided that this was intolerable, so they declared war on the United States and seceded from the union. The new Conch Republic then attacked the U.S. government, in the person of a Navy Officer, with a loaf of stale Cuban bread. The assailant immediately surrendered to the officer, ending the conflagration. The Conch Republic government then filed for war reparations.

It was a publicity coup in the days before the Internet, and the blockade was soon removed.

Each year in April we celebrate Conch Republic Days. Our official motto is, "We Seceded Where Others Failed."

17th Annual Key West Songwriter's Festival 2012

Sponsored by BMI, this is the most under-advertised, best-attended music festival of the year. Songwriters from all over the country kind of sneak into town and treat us to the best of new music.

It's not uncommon to be having a beer in my local and find out that the quiet, unassuming guy sitting on the next stool has written four or five gold record songs, and it's very surreal.

Check out the schedule and see this year's performers at Key West Songwriter's Festival. Prepare to be amazed and delighted.

Almost Like Being Here

You can discover some of the hidden corners of Key West and the Florida Keys by visiting The Key West Diary blog.

If you are curious, you can see a live cam view of several of our most notable locations on The Key West Cam. Note that there is a start button, which brings up a pull-down menu, and you can pan from location to location.

For those who are interested in seeing drunken monkeyshines live from Duval Street, check out The Sloppy Joe's Cam. Note that it is most entertaining on the days when there are two or more cruise ships in town. And yes, in broad daylight! It takes a moment to load; if it does not, right click in the window and select your system's movie player to view.

Ancient History on h2g2

There are still some references to my original UI in edited guide entries. Check out U154077 which was before Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma taught us a few lessons in 2004.

Participating in h2g2

When you contribute, you help to build h2g2. If you participate in the fun projects listed on the Front Page, you get badges! January 2012 featured 42-Word Short Short Short Stories

And Finally...

In Key West, it is our tradition to take time out from whatever we are doing and watch the sunset. It's not that we have the only sun that sets, it's just that it makes us take a minute to pause and reflect on all the good things we enjoy in our lives.

Welcome to Key West! See you at Sunset!