Solares Hill

Morning has Broken

Prior to the Kennedys, [Lou Harris] had a couple of mentors, two social scientists who recognized he could grow his polling business into the commercial sector and become a millionaire. "Taut something else is eating you,' they told me. They could see I was being led toward social reform because of discrimination against minorities. And they told me that when I'm old and gray and ready to die, the problem would still be with us." [Barack Obama]'s election, said the veteran poll-taker, "is the...

Side by Side On Simonton

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts presents "Side by Side on Simonton" today, Nov. 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at two locations just a (free) parking lot apart. The celebrations feature visual art and performing arts as well as food and libations. In the Gato Building, 1100 Simonton, the opening reception for a portrait show titled "One Human Family" by the ReMARCable Citizens of the MARC House art program begins at 4 p.m. The show features portraits of many local politicians and celebrities both f...

'Inspired by the Depression,' Heritage House Features Season of Recollection

"Key West - The Island City of the Sea," an etching by F. Townsend Morgan, is one of several restored works to be exhibited in "WFA Artists: Inspired by the Depression" at Heritage House. Reproductions of this etching and other images from the collection will be available for purchase. Morgan, who won the Talbott Award for this detailed etching, lived and worked in Key West under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Art Program during the Great Depression. The series opens with "WPA Artist...

Creativity Sparked by the Great Depression

The WPA art program was designed to inspire artistic renditions of Key West as a tropical paradise that would lure visitors whose dollars would feed the local economy. And while it is apparent that there were artists living and working in Key West prior to the program, the amount of art created, exhibited and reproduced between 1934 and 1936 was phenomenal, the artists inspiring each other's creativity.

Second Sundays at the Studios of Key West

For the debut Second Sunday event, The Studios of Key West has assembled a dynamic mix of creative Key Westers. The inaugural showcase features music by an up-and-coming ukulele ensemble fronted by Cayman Smith-Martin, and excerpts from nonfiction by local author and journalist Terry Schmida who will read from his two published books, "True Crime Stories of Key West and the Florida Keys," vols. 1 and 2. He will also unveil pieces from a forthcoming third edition of local crime stories and a s...

Paradise Big Band's First Concert of the Season

That chair used to be filled by Clint Semels who died several monhs ago. Semels, who also played clarinet and a variety of unusual reed instruments, was one of only three members of the band since its beginning in 1998 as a spinoff from a chamber orchestra backing up the Keys Chorale. The concert is offered in his memory, and a special arrangement of Ellington's "Mood Indigo" was written in his honor, because of the affection felt by all of the musicians in the band for a fine man. It is expe...

'When in Rome' Concert and Festa Italiana

Marjorie Paul Shook has organized an Italianthemed concert that will be held at the KWHS Auditorium on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. The event features many of Key West's finest musicians including Bruce Moore, Bobby Nesbitt, Vicki Rousch, Peter Diamond, Carmen Rodriguez, Rob Distasi, Joe Dallas, Maj Johnson, Cliff Sawyer, Michael Truhán, Ashby Goldstein, Danny Weathers, Shook and more. The talented students from the high school jazz band, wind ensemble and marching band will also perform.

Interactive Children's Theater at the Waterfront

Originally written in 1989 by Kyle Caskey and his touring company, Kaleidoscope Children's Theatre, "The Red Head Dilemma" toured Chicago schools for eight years and reached thousands of children grades K-8. With a desire to revive his thought-provoking production, Caskey teamed up with [David Black] and formed the Key West Children's Theatre Company, the Florida Keys' newest adult troupe dedicated to presenting theater for children. They were fortunate to tap Michael Fauss who has created th...