Key West Conch Traders

2011-10-27T17:56:00.002-04:00

Today we are offering Free Shipping on any order from now until the end of the year. Go to conchtraders.com and just order. The free shipping is automatic. Thanks for shopping with Key West Conch Traders

2011-01-30T11:37:00.009-05:00

If there's any doubt that Winter is upon us, a quick glance out the window will waylay that doubt. In the midst of the cold and the snow what could possibly help more to make things better than to curl up with a good book from your favorite spot indoors and just spend the day “watching” the storm from there.

When you have the chance to do just that why not make that book about your favorite warm destination. "The Streets of Key West - A History Of Key West Through Its Streets” by J. Wills Burke is a fascinating recollection of how many of our streets were named after the founders and characters of this beautiful island. It’s an easy-to-read and interesting take on an old topic – History.

And while you’re reading, how about enjoying a nice warm cup of your favorite tea and a slice of one of our most popular and delicious desserts Key Lime Cheesecake Pie.

By the way, while you’re busy relaxing, take heart – you have only 50 days left till Spring! Oh, and you can order these treats and much more on our website at www.ConchTraders.com.

2011-01-06T14:57:00.006-05:00

It's hard to believe that the holidays are over for 2010 and actually that 2010 itself is over! Many people we know are saying "Thank goodness!"

We're excited about a new year starting -- Welcome 2011! We hope you're a good year.

We have lots of cruise ships coming into port this month - about 45 to be more precise - sometimes 4 in 1 day. That adds lots of folks to our little 2 x 4 island and we love to see you!

We hope that, if you have a chance to stop over in Key West (whether on a cruise, a road trip from up the Keys, or staying in town for awhile), you'll take the opportunity to come in and say HI at our booth in Clinton Square Market. We're the only Mall in Key West. We're air conditioned and within walking distance of all of the Downtown attractions. Our booth is right inside the front door and our address is 291 Front Street (between the Custom House and the Aquarium).

Of course you can always visit us vicariously through our website at www.ConchTraders.com. In the meantime, we hope for health and prosperity in this New Year to all of our friends out there.

Thanks for keeping up with us!

2010-11-10T17:07:00.003-05:00

Fantasy Fest is over and the annual pilgrimage of the Parrotheads for 2010 is a thing of the past. But we're not through partying yet! Hey, it's Key West - We're never through partying! The Powerboat Races are in full swing here and the air is filled with high-energy and "roostertails".

Our little Key West Shrimper isn't even close to a Powerboat but we love it. It's loaded with authentic details and is a fascinating replica of the specialty boats that provide us with the freshest of the fresh seafood. If you're a collector, you have to have this one. Check it out at http://www.conchtraders.com/.

2010-10-24T14:01:00.006-04:00

The goodies that we ordered from the 2 shows we attended this Fall are starting to come in. We've created a new section on the http://www.conchtraders.com/ website called NEW ITEMS. And our new findings are beginning to appear there. Watch in the coming weeks for many more new things. We're excited about all of them!

Remember too that our Rob O'Neal 2011 Keys Calendar is available now and at a special price. They're going out the door so don't wait!

2010-10-03T15:49:00.007-04:00

It's hard to believe that we're into October already and the end of 2010 is in sight! We're VERY happy to tell you though that our 2011 Key West Calendars have arrived and are in stock now. You can get yours on our website -- here's a link: 2011 Calendars. Remember that they make a GREAT gift for family and friends ~~ something that they'll be able to use and enjoy all year long!

Our favorite Key West photographer, Rob O'Neal, has outdone himself on this year's edition. For a very short time we are offering his calendar at a special low price of $19.95. Be sure to order yours now before the soon-to-happen price increase to $24.95.

By the way, we had great success at the Las Vegas Souvenir and Gift Show - (sorry to report that we can't say the same about our turn at the slot machines! Vegas has them screwed down tight.) We did find lots of new and exciting products to offer in the coming months so stay tuned!

2010-09-19T14:09:00.008-04:00

Life IS Good! The lazy days of Summer are quickly coming to an end and already the air feels less humid and the temperature a little cooler - 87 in Key West today! Our trip to Fort Lauderdale's Gift Show was successful and a good practice run for our staff. By that I mean that on Tuesday we're heading out West to the HUGE Las Vegas Souvenir and Gift Show. We'll report on our success there in the next Blog.

In the meantime, this week we're featuring Key West Hitch Covers and gorgeous new Glass Jellyfish Paper Weights on our Home Page at specially reduced prices. Check them out at http://www.conchtraders.com/

If you think you might be interested in having your own copy of "Life Is Good" at the top, it's available in our Don Sullivan Gallery along with many others of his classic photos.

Have a great week and shop till you drop -- on our website that is!

2010-09-01T16:23:00.004-04:00

If you've ever longed to experience Key West the way we Locals experience it, September is the month to do it! This is the "Off Season" in Key West. The Island is quiet and we have more time to check out the bars, restaurants, and the sites - like the Hemingway House, The Lighthouse, the museums and many water sports - that we don't normally have the time to visit and at bargain prices. Sure it's hot but we're surrounded by water so you can go for a swim or take a ride on a boat and enjoy the ocean breezes. Come join us. We'd love to see you.

In the interest of preparing for "Season" Key West Conch Traders sent a crew to the Trade Show in Fort Lauderdale this past weekend and found some new and exciting products that we know you're going to enjoy. They'll be up on our website -- http://www.conchtraders.com/ -- in time for Christmas so keep checking back in the next month or so. We will also be offering a new variety of affordable Gift Baskets in the near future.

Don't forget to check the special sale prices on our Home Page Featured Products and these change each week. And remember we're sending a Free refrigerator magnet with each order. They are high-quality Key West Sunset Calendars for the whole year.

2010-08-23T16:37:00.004-04:00

Be sure to browse through our Art Galleries when you visit our website. And check back often because we'll be adding many new prints by our local Key West artists including Ray Rolston, Fran Decker, Susan Thomas, Don Sullivan, Herbert Hofer, and many more.

We're trying something new on our website -- We are featuring two products from our line on our home page. They will change every week. And they will be on sale for that week. So be sure to check back regularly to save a little when you shop!

Remember too that we are automatically sending a Key West Sunset Calendar with each and every order. It's a refrigerator magnet and it's FREE! Be sure to visit us at www.ConchTraders.com.

2010-08-15T11:36:00.003-04:00

Although we wouldn't recommend it (Quitting your job and moving on down), it is a romantic idea! Lots of our visitors say they long to just chuck it all up North and move here once they've experienced our beautiful and layed back island.

This great book by Christopher Shulz and David Sloan really is a complete guide if you decide to cast your fate to the wind. From the time you make the decision to leave town and tell your boss to shove it, to finding a place to live and blending in with the local color, this guide has it all! Nearly 3 million people visit Key West each year but only about 26,000 live here full time. You could be number 26,001.

Check out our entire book section at www.ConchTraders.com - There is SO MUCH to learn about our little Island Paradise.

2010-08-08T09:08:00.004-04:00

This weekend marks the beginning of Lobster Season in the Keys. We here in Key West celebrate by holding our annual Lobsterfest ~~ chefs from over 20 restaurants prepare specialties featuring the fresh crustaceans caught by local lobster fishermen. And we get to enjoy their creations - everything from appetizers to traditional lobster dinners with all the trimmings.

At www.ConchTraders.com we are pleased to feature hand-painted lobster trap floats by Keys artist Barrie Wolfson. For years locals have decorated their homes with multi-colored floats because of their beauty and to pay tribute to the generations of watermen who make their living trapping lobster in the Florida Keys.

Just a reminder that, for the month of August, we are sending a FREE refrigerator magnet featuring a Key West Sunset Calendar with every on-line order!

2010-08-01T12:36:00.003-04:00

Early this morning we learned some very sad news - Jim Bean, owner of the Green Parrot Bar, died last night of a sudden heart attack. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Linda and to the entire Green Parrot family.

On a much lighter note, we are very pleased to offer every Key West Conch Trader customer a FREE Key West Sunset Calendar Magnet with any purchase. It will automatically be shipped with your order. This offer is good through the month of August! Go to www.ConchTraders.com .

2010-07-25T12:56:00.002-04:00

The 2010 Hemingway Days tribute to a great writer and one-time much sought after resident of Key West is over. This year's celebration marked Hemingway's 111th anniversary - Ernest Miller Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899. He wrote many of his best works here in Key West in the 1930's -- and many of them at his home on Whitehead St. His home is now a beautiful museum and has become a favorite destination of our many tourists who visit our island each year.

We here at Key West Conch Traders have much ado about Hemingway at our kiosk in Clinton Square Market (291 Front St.) and on our ever growing website - www.ConchTraders.com. We have books about the life of Hemingway and paintings that are relative to him by many of our great local artists. Just a quick reminder: There are only 6 days left for you to take advantage of our Anniversary Special -- Free Shipping on your entire Conch Traders order. For U.S. residents, plug in Coupon Code 4july31 when you check out. Dont Miss Out! And keep a watchful eye on our site for many new and exciting Keys Related Products coming soon!

2010-07-17T11:27:00.003-04:00

After a couple of stormy, cloudy, and rainy days here in the Keys, we're blessed today with a beautiful Saturday filled with Sunshine and Heat!

Business has been brisk at our little Kiosk at Clinton Square Market - 291 Front St in Key West. We've had lots of visitors who are staying in town or who came down from the Mainland for the day. Those who made a day trip are always sorry they didn't plan to spend more time because there is so much to do and see. They vow to come back. We also have lots of Cruise Ship folks who swear this is their favorite port of call.

Hemingway Days begins this week on Tuesday the 20th. The Key West Museum of Art and Historical Society at 281 Front St. will be displaying many rarely exhibited Hemingway photographs and memorabilia.

It's a favorite annual event and runs this year between the 20th and 25th of July. It will feature such favorites as the Key West Marlin Tournament which includes over $50,000 in prizes, the Papa Hemingway Look-Alike contest at Sloppy Joe's Bar, the "Running of The Bulls", the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, an open-air Caribbean Street Fair, the Hemingway Days 5k Sunset Run through Old Town Key West and so much more.

Remember to take advantage of our anniversary special for U.S. residents! It's running until the end of July and features FREE SHIPPING on your entire order at http://www.conchtraders.com/. All you have to do is plug in 4july31 in the Coupon Code section at checkout and your Key West goodies will be shipped at no cost to you!

Have a great week. Stop by our site and check us out.

2010-07-11T15:37:00.002-04:00

Happy Sunny Key West Sunday to all of our Conch Traders friends. We've added a new feature to our website that lets you sign up for our Mailing List. You just submit your e-mail address and you'll receive periodic notices of Special Offers - like the Free Shipping offer that we have going to the end of July. Remember, if you're a U.S. resident all you have to do it to plug in Coupon Code 4july31 at checkout and you will not be charged for shipping via USPS Priority Mail!

We'll also let you know when new items have been added to the site. You'll always have the option to unsubscribe anytime you like but why would anyone want to do that? We will never share your information with anyone - ever.

Did you know that when you order something from our great Art Galleries you now have the option to order your prints framed? Why not take a few minutes now to look around the site: www.ConchTraders.com and have a great day!

2010-07-06T09:16:00.003-04:00

I hope you all had a GREAT Independence Day celebration wherever you are. We spent some time with friends at a beach picnic - very relaxing and a lot of fun!

The 4th of July is a very special day for us here at Conch Traders. Seven years ago on that day we pressed the "GO" button that set the website wheels in motion. The look has changed recently from our beginning days. Check us out: www.ConchTraders.com.

To celebrate our 7th Anniversary, we are very pleased to be able to offer FREE SHIPPING on Domestic orders! From now until the 31st of July U.S. Customers can use Coupon Code 4july31 at checkout and receive FREE SHIPPING on their entire order. Take advantage of this SPECIAL OFFER now.

2010-06-23T08:42:00.001-04:00

Hi Key West Conch Traders Fans. Today I posted a Coupon for all our loyal followers at FaceBook but I thought that if you're planning to buy any Key West or Tropical goodies in the near future you might want to save 10% off your next order so here's the link for the Coupon (use coupon code CCD1):

http://conchtraders.com/index.aspx?dc=CCD1

2010-06-21T15:16:00.003-04:00

Hi Key West Conch Trader fans. This is myself and my Husband enjoying our aniversary day in Key West. We had a great day and thanks for all the congrats we got on my facebook page.

http://www.conchtraders.com/

2010-06-20T13:14:00.000-04:00

Hi from Key West on this Sunday which happens to be my Husband and My 24th Wedding Aniversary. We were married off of Key West on June 20th 1986 on a 62 foot Schooner and here we are 24 years later still loving the little isand we call home. If you've never been here I'd say it was time for you to make a trip down to see the incredible beauty of this part of the Country. Some of the attractions here are the Light House, Hemingway's House, The Audobon House, Truman's Litte White House and of course The Southernmost Point (No You Can't See Cuba) but it is only 90 miles from that point. Then if you have any time left you could go out on the water and do some fishing or just snorkel around.

Then come on down and see us at Clinton Sq Market at 291 Front St Key West FL or visit our web site at
http://www.conchtraders.com/

2010-06-13T12:18:00.000-04:00

Hi from Key West Conch Traders on a great day here in Key West. We have some exciting news about our new and inproved web site. Its Here!! We have some new products and some of the old standards covering the Florida Keys, Key West and even a little bit of the Caribbean. We also have a little gift for all of our customers new and old. For our Grand Opening we will give you an automatic 10% off on your purchase in our on-line store through June 19th 2010. So stop on by our new web site at http://www.conchtraders.com/ and see if you can find that treasure you've been looking for. Thanks for shopping with us at Key West Conch Traders.

2010-05-22T16:58:00.001-04:00

Hi there from Key West. We're at our office in the middle of Old Town - filling orders for all of you fans of our Key West Products. It's a great day here! We're wondering how it is out there in the "real world". Why don't you make a comment to this post and let us know how you're doing. We'd love to hear from you! Become a FAN of Key West Conch Traders on FACEBOOK... See you there!

2010-05-11T16:33:00.001-04:00

Well, Key West Conch Traders has finally come into the 21st century with a Face Book account. So if you love Key West and want to be a part of our KWCT family go to our face book page and become a fan and post your Key West Pics. We're always happy to hear from you.
Remember to find the product that reminds you of your good times in Key West go to www.ConchTraders.com or if your in Key West come by our Kiosk in Clinton Sq Market 291 Front St Key West FL & say Hi. Thanks again for listening!

2009-12-24T08:38:00.001-05:00

Good Morning from Key West and Key West Conch Traders

It's Christmas Eve and the island is getting crowded for the holidays. We always have a lot of people here for the week between Christmas and New Years. Families decide that it would be better to swim than shovel so they come and hang out with us. The island is all lit up with holiday cheer. All our friends are looking forward to a great New Year and at Conch Traders we're looking forward to bringing you new and exciting products from local artists and authors along with other tropical items.

So here at www.ConchTraders.com We wish everybody a Happy Holiday Season and hope that the New Year brings you and your family Health and Happiness.

2009-12-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

Good Morning from Key West where it's only 67 degrees, yes it gets a little chilly this time of year but it only lasts for a short time. By Christmas which is 5 days from today it's supposed to be back up into the upper 70's. Speaking of Christmas you still have 4 days left to get that unique gift from www.ConchTraders.com but the only way would be to ship it UPS 2nd day Air by Tuesday.

Remember if you love Key West or you have a love one who loves our little island nothing would make their Christmas more special than a gift from Paradise. If you call our toll free number 1-888-592-6624 by Monday Dec 21st & mention this blog we'll send your order UPS 2nd Day Air for flat rate of $15.00 or you have until Wed Dec 23rd to order by Phone and pick up your order at our Kiosk in Clinton Square Mall at 291 Front St Key West.

Thanks for your loyal support and have a great holiday season.

2009-12-17T10:45:00.004-05:00

Good Morning from Key West & ConchTraders.com. It's the Holidays here in the Keys and we think it's time for a little celebrating.

Here at ConchTraders.com we have a lot a products that if you love Key West can make your Christmas at home just as much fun as coming to the Keys. So if you want to bring a little bit of the tropical feel into your household for the Holidays take a look at our web site: www.conchtraders.com. We have lots of gift ideas like Ornaments by Michael Dennis that brighten up any tree, Conch Republic Flags that will make any Keys Outpost look authentic and many other tropical products (except for the Sunshine) to make your environment a little more pleasant for the holidays. You still have a few days left to get your gift there before Christmas so give our web site a look or if your in Key West come and see us at our Kiosk in Clinton Square Market 291 Front St where we sell Local Art Prints and Local Books by Local Authors. If you call us with an order at 1- 888 - 592 - 6624 we can have your order waiting for you at our Booth.

We want to thank all of our customers that we've had over the past year.
We wish them & their families a happy and safe Holiday Season. We look forward to seeing you the next time your in Key West.

From

The Staff of Key West Conch Traders Inc

2008-09-20T08:44:00.009-04:00

It's Bike Week in Key West ~~ the Harley's are roaring into town and we're very happy to see them. Take a walk on Duval Street near Greene Street and you're going to get an eyeful... some of the most beautiful bikes you could ever imagine. And, no two are ever exactly alike.

The same can be said for our Barrie Wolfson Lobster Floats. She paints each one by hand. It's a well-known tradition for locals to hang them in and around their homes, paying tribute to the generations of watermen who make their living trapping lobster in the Florida Keys. Take a boat ride anywhere around the islands and you'll see the colorful markers floating in the water. Take a look at ours and I know you'll be impressed.

Fall is just around the corner ~~ in fact, it starts Monday giving us only two more days of summer. Actually, in Key West, that means even more beautiful weather than normal because it will be a little less steamy.

That also means that the holidays are just around the corner. It's not too early to start thinking about gifts for loved ones. Take a look at our gift baskets for some great ideas for those special people in your lives!

We have a favor to ask. Go to www.ConchTraders.com and look around. Then tell us what you'd like to see that's not already there. Perhaps you've been in Key West or have read about it and would like to have something tropical for your home or as a gift. Write to us at info@conchtraders.com with your ideas. We'll appreciate it! Take Care.

2006-12-28T10:47:00.000-05:00

We're halfway between Christmas (Yep, Heaven forbid! I actually used the "C" word!) and the New Year. We'd like to THANK YOU all for giving us a very busy mail-order season. We know you're very pleased with your purchases ~~ as are the recipients of those beautiful gift baskets and things.

You still have time to order your 2007 "Key West & The Florida Keys" Calendars ~~ although I must warn you they've been selling like hot cakes and we only have a few left.

We want to send our early wishes for a Healthy, Happy and Safe 2007 to you. We also hope you'll have the opportunity during the coming year to come down to our beautiful tropical island and visit with us at our booth in Clinton Square Market on Front Street.

Watch for our next post early in the new year!

2006-11-20T14:26:00.000-05:00

It's an exciting time here in the offices of Key West Conch Traders! You, our fans, have been asking for months about when our World Famous Logo Tees will be available for purchase ~~ the time is now!! Check them out on our website. Here's a link: Conch Trader Tees For Men and Conch Trader Tees For Women.

On top of that, we've been getting ready for the hooplah that's about the hit all of us ~~ The Holiday Season! Check out our new Themed Gift Collections (we're featuring a "0" Mile Marker collection, a "Conch Republic" collection and a "Southernmost Point" collection. We've also added some new stuff just for kids - it's a collection of Kids' Cookie Kits!

While you're at it, don't forget to order your new 2007 Key West and the Florida Keys Calendar ~~ they're going fast!

That's about it for now! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there from us here in Key West!

2006-10-16T10:22:00.000-04:00

Cooler breezes are blowing into Key West from the North these days and the change is welcome. We've had a quiet Hurricane Season this year (knock on wood ~~ it's not over till the end of November) and a very quiet visitor season. It's hard to imagine that Fantasy Fest starts in about a week and the holiday season begins.

We at Conch Traders wanted to let you know that our 2007 "Key West and the Florida Keys" Calendars are in stock and ready to ship ~~ it's never too early to start planning for the new year. You can use this link KEY WEST SPECIALTIES to check it out. Just click on the calendar and you'll be right there. It's a 14 month calendar with lots of warm pictures, great tropical recipes and plenty of room to make notes on each day. Order as many as you'd like but keep in mind that supplies are limited.

While you're there, check out our other great Key West products. Some of them will positively make great Christmas gifts! It'll be here sooner than you think!

Speaking of Christmas gifts, watch for a whole new line of gift baskets that will be available at www.ConchTraders.com in the near future. Take care and stay warm...

2006-10-05T13:38:00.000-04:00

I was enjoying a cocktail with a good friend of mine recently when she reminded me that it's been well over a year since I posted a new Blog! She managed to shock me back from a fog into which I'd let myself become enveloped.

I've thought a lot about it since then and finally realized just how much has gone on down here in the past year ~~ let's see... 4 hurricanes, the worst storm surge to hit this island since 1919, most of my friends lost everything, Key West turned brown, cruise ships cancelled stops, business went to hell, hmmmm...

We at Conch Traders were so incredibly lucky as to have been physically untouched by all of this. Emotionally is another story. But, Key West and the people who live here are a resilient bunch and things are getting back to normal. The trees are green, the hisbiscus, the bougainvillea, and our other beautiful flowers are in bloom. The home appliances and the cars that were destroyed by the salt water have been hauled to their respective resting places and the weary residents are beginning to smile again.

We've been very lucky this year so far (hurricane-wise) and I'm sure I can be heard knocking on wood! Our visitors are still shy about making plans to come down during hurricane season and business is still slow. That will change with time and luck.

In the meantime, now that I've "broken the ice" and come back from the fog, I'll write again soon about the latest happenings and goings-on here on our beautiful paradise island ~~ as well as update you on what's new at Key West Conch Traders! Happy Day All!

2005-08-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

We recently read a comment about our Blog stating that the reader came in expecting to read about our store and the items we sell but instead discovered that this was where we, as the owners of the store, write about our life in Key West. In way of response, let me explain that there isn't much that needs to be written about out store per se. If you go to www.conchtraders.com you'll discover pretty quickly that it's extremely user friendly and completely self-explanatory. It's basically a place where you can purchase items that are made in and/or related to Key West and the Florida Keys. To be more specific, we sell prints by local artists, books by local authors and music by local musicians. In addition, we sell key lime products and other reminders of fun trips to Key West.

In the meantime, our visitors to our kiosk in Clinton Square Market (at 291 Front St. next to The Old Customs House) and to our on-line store continuously ask us about what life in Key West is like. People are very curious about what it's like to live on a Caribbean island and yet still be in the United States. They want to know what it's like to live where the weather is the same year-round. (It isn't) And they want to know how we can live where there are no "seasons". (There are.) They want to know why everybody they meet here is so friendly and happy. So, I'll continue to write about our life here in Key West. And I'll continue to mention new and exciting additions to our website.

So there you have it. Now you know why I do what I do on this particular Blog. If you want to make a comment any time I'd love it. In the meantime, I have to go sit on my front porch and soak up my daily dose of Vitamin D.

2005-05-07T12:34:00.000-04:00

It’s been too long since I’ve updated my blog ~~ I have a good excuse! In March Ron and I had the opportunity to add a new component to our On-Line Store and we jumped on it. We bought the portion of Joy Gallery that sells prints by local artists at Clinton Square Market. We now have a physical location here in Key West as well as our website!

When you come to visit Key West now you will be able to stop by and say Hi. We’re Key West Conch Traders at Clinton Square Market. We have the first Kiosk inside the front door of Clinton Square Market. The building is at 291 Front St. at the foot of Whitehead right next to the Customs House. We’re open 10 till 6 every day of the week and most days one or the other of us is in the booth.

For the time being, we will be selling only prints (matted or matted and framed) by local artists. And I must say that our prices are very reasonable. In the near future we will be adding books by local authors and/or about Key West as well as note cards to our items for sale in the mall.

In the meantime, while you’re waiting for that all important trip down to this beautiful island, be sure to satisfy that Key West craving with a little something for your home from Key West Conch Traders on-line ~~ www.conchtraders.com.

2005-02-11T15:45:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to celebrate! my birthday. Now, birth”days” don’t exist in my world ~~ in my world they are birth”months”. I love them and I don’t care how old I get I just can’t seem to stop. This year my niece, Kerry, came down from the frozen tundra up North to visit. My husband and niece and a bunch of friends from the Green Parrot went out on a fishing trip aboard Capt. John’s Greyhound IV for an afternoon of hilarity and came back with more fish than any of us could believe. What a meal we ate that night!

The next day we went with another group of friends from Square One Restaurant on a bus trip to the Navy Base on Boca Chica for several hours of bowling for charity! This trip benefited the Key West Pops. No one on our team had bowled in 20-30 years and we were sure we’d be the laughing stock. As it turned out for us, bowling is like riding a bike ~~ our team won overall high score and we all came home with our trophies -- Golden Bowling Pin Bottle Openers! We were ecstatic! (Plus, Kerry won Highest Score Overall and Most Strikes. She went home with strict orders to keep her frequent flyer miles on the ready for our next bowling date!)

Overall over several days we had loads of fun and, in fact, wore Kerry out. She went back up North looking forward to going back to work to recuperate.

2005-01-11T13:55:00.000-05:00

We've had a very busy Holiday Season and I'm not just talking about filling orders for our wonderful customers and fulfilling our own family holiday traditions. I'm talking about meeting new artists and putting their prints up for you to see and enjoy. You have the opportunity now to choose from several variations of some of the most popular Key West landmarks. And you just can't beat the prices considering that every print is matted and ready to pop into your favorite 8" x 10" frames. How cool it is to include these in your Key West Collections?!

Laura Black has been with us for some time and now we are very pleased to be able to offer prints by local artists Ray Rolston, Maggie Latham, and Fran Decker. Their work is scattered throughout our Art Section.

Keep an eye on our site because we'll soon be showing posters by Sharon Wells, the famous Key West artist who is also responsible for the ever popular Key West Walking Tours.

STAY RELATED TO THE KEYS!!

2004-12-20T16:33:00.000-05:00

In case it's been awhile since you've emerged from under your rock, there are FOUR ~~ yes, that's FOUR! ~~ shopping days left until Christmas! There's still time to check out our Conch Traders Christmas site ~~ here's a link: Christmas Shopping On The Web.

This year in Key West it feels a little more like Christmas than normal. We've had an early cold snap with temperatures dipping into the 60's. Now, don't laugh you folks up North. It may sound silly but, when you're used to temps in the 80's, the 60's are cold!

Don't forget to check out our new Cats Section. We have lots of Cat prints and other feline items ~~ including some phenomenal home grown Catnip. It's called Cat-Ah-Tonic Catnip. Our cats go wild for it!

Katie & Scruffy (Our Cats) and Ron & I want to wish all of you the best for this Holiday Season and we hope you have a Great New Year all year long!!

2004-11-12T07:24:00.000-05:00

The city of Key West is a model of diversity showing the power of cultures coming together to make the individual pieces stronger. In 2003, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag the originator, Gilbert Baker, constructed an 8,000 foot 3 ton Rainbow Flag to build on the concept of city officials for a Sea-to-Sea flag. It became the metaphor for both the community and diversity itself.

This 64 minute documentary on DVD, Key West - City of Colors, tells the stories of struggle, heartbreak and triumph as it celebrates Key West as home to all ~~ a place where we are judged not by what we earn or who we “are”, but by what is in our hearts.

Thousands of us stretched that flag from the Gulf of Mexico, the entire length of Duval St., to the Atlantic Ocean. It was an incredibly awe inspiring experience and one which reminded us deeply that we are truly One Human Family.

Reserve your copy by ordering now. The DVD, Key West - City of Colors, becomes available to us on November 23rd. Key West Conch Traders, www.conchtraders.com, will ship it to you as quickly as we receive our copies. . .

2004-10-27T14:25:00.000-04:00

Living here in Key West I'm always amazed at how many people "up North" are unaware of Fantasy Fest. I have to remind myself that, even though I visited(usually in the summertime) for 20 years before moving here, it was several years before I became fully aware of it.

Now, considering that by the end of this week there will be well over 75,000 visitors on this little 2x4 island you'd think it would be more loudly advertised out there in the "real world". (We locals know better than to think for a moment that we live in the real world. We venture "out there" once in awhile and can't wait to get back to our abnormal lives.)

What is Fantasy Fest? It's a week long celebration of the zanyness of Key West in all its silly splendor. This year marks the 26th anniversary of this festival that rivals Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Every day during this week is filled with costumed and painted bodies in a variety of crazy activities. It all starts with the Royal Coronation Ball. Every year candidates for king and queen of Fantasy Fest spend 9 weeks competing to earn the most money for AIDS Help, Inc. and the top winners are crowned at this event. They then participate in as many of the special events as possible ~~ everything from Dungeons & Dragons (an adults only peep show) to the Headdress Ball, to the Precocious Pets Parade, to the Homemade Bikini Contest, to the Pretenders In Paradise (the most extravagant costume contest), to the Masquerade March, through the Street Fair (a Bizarre Bazaar) and, finally, culminating in the fantabulous Fantasy Fest Parade with over 70 outrageous floats all of which include lots of bead tossing.

We at www.conchtraders.com will be taking loads of photos so keep watching our site where we'll be posting as many of them as possible after the party!

2004-09-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Ivan ~~ On Friday, Sept. 10th, a mandatory evacuation notice was posted for all Florida Keys residents. We at Key West Conch Traders, weighed our options and made a decision to stay put. Like most everyone else here who decided not to leave, we boarded up our house, stocked up on flashlights, a battery operated radio, extra batteries, propane for our coleman stove, canned goods, bottled water and everything that we thought we might need if the power was out for any length of time after the storm. We made arrangements to move to a friend's condo that's in a concrete building with hurricane shutters and then sat tight and glued ourselves to The Weather Channel.

When we couldn't stand to see the same pictures of Grenada and Jamaica or hear the same sensationalization of the approaching storm any longer, we headed for the Green Parrot to be with friends and tip a few. People who stayed are starting to display frayed nerves. Everybody is acting a little more wacky than normal for Key West. But now we're also breathing a little more easily.

Today, Sept. 13th, the evacuation notice has been lifted since the path of Ivan took a turn West and it no longer looks like we'll get more than tropical winds and rain. We're not completely out of danger yet and will know for sure once Ivan passes Cuba. But we're really glad we decided to stay. Of course, hindsight is 20/20. Who knows what we'd be reporting if we'd been hit! Now we worry about our fellow Floridians up in the Panhandle.

2004-08-27T10:07:00.000-04:00

The 2004 Key West Food & Wine Festival Cookbook contains a collection of mouth-watering recipes from some of the most popular restaurants in Key West including Mangoes, Paradise Cafe, Square One and more. It also includes recipes from some of the more colorful residents here including Jimmy Weekley (our Mayor), Reef Perkins (Rear Admiral, Conch Republic Navy), Ginger King (Candidate for 2004 Fantasy Fest Queen) and Charlene Bell (Owner of Key West Conch Traders).

When you buy this book, you're not only contributing to your taste treat delight but also, $20 from the sale of each book is automatically donated to Pro Start which is a culinary program at Key West High School. This is a National Restaurant Association program aimed at preparing high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors for a career path in the hospitality industry.

You can get a copy for your collection in the Books, Videos, & DVD's Section of our website www.conchtraders.com.

2004-08-16T10:54:00.000-04:00

August 8th was the day for Fun In The Sun as the 11th annual Battle of the Bars took place in Key West near Schooner Wharf Bar. This event is a Locals' favorite!! Bartenders and their fellow workers from more than 40 bars competed in a relay race that kept spectators jumping and participants running.

Team members (7 on each team) had to mix a perfect Margarita, serve it, drink it, bus the table, tap a keg, fill glasses with beer, walk them across a balance beam, serve the beer, and drink the beer as fast as they could. Needless to say, things got a little tipsy before the race was over. The team from Turtle Kraals, TK's Trouble, won this year's event for the second year in a row.

2004-07-20T11:40:00.000-04:00

Today begins Hemingway Days, a celebration of the 105th anniversary of the birth of Ernest Hemingway, his zest for life and his literary genius. For 5 days tourists and locals alike will immerse themselves in scores of fun and funny activities! including:

Hemingway's granddaughter, Lorian Hemingway's announcement of the winners of the 24th annual, internationally recognized, Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition winners
The ever-popular "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest (every year more than 150 stocky, bearded hopefuls enter the competition for a shot at fame and mostly fun ~~ it's held at Sloppy Joe's Bar, Ernest Hemingway's favorite Key West watering hole
A world-premier art exhibition on the grounds of Hemingway's former home
The world-class, three-day Key West 2004 Marlin Tournament with $250,000 in available cash prizes for top catches of marlin and other fish
An offbeat "Running of the Bulls"
A lively Caribbean crafts festival held along Duval St. and the Hemingway Days Southernmost Hotel 5k Sunset Run through historic Old Town.

You can bet the Conch Traders will be there to enjoy all of the crazyness.

You can read more about Hemingway and his life in Key West by picking up any of several books at www.conchtraders.com ~~ go to our Books, Videos & DVD's section. These include The Hemingway House, Hemingway's Key West, and Ernest Hemingway In Key West. If you'd like to come down to our Paradise Island and get involved in the activities with us, why not read Quit Your Job & Move To Key West, or watch The Key West DVD, or pick up one of our handy pocket maps ~~ Key West City Streets.

2004-07-02T10:16:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago our friends, Kate and Mary in Tarpon Springs FL, opened a new store called "Our Key West". They're selling Key West related goods and we are helping supply them with many of the items that we carry at www.conchtraders.com like Zero Mile Marker Signs, Lobster Trap Frames, Key West Coffee Mugs, Conch Republic Flags and much, much more. Their slogan is "Have a Keys Kinda Day!". So far, their new venture has been a huge success!!

A new feature on our website is products made by Pixie Key West. These are all natural personal care products like, Sugar Scrub, Lip Balm, Spa Bath Salts, Lotion Bars, and Tea Lights. They come in yummy flavors like Cucumber Melon, Key Lime Pie, Vanilla Creme, and others.

Check out these new products by clicking the links and GET RELATED TO THE KEYS!

2004-06-03T10:45:00.000-04:00

We spent some quality time this past weekend cheering on contestants in the 13th annual Minimal Regatta in the Key West Bight sponsored by the Schooner Wharf Bar. What a HOOT! Each 6 member team had to build a boat seaworthy enough to stay afloat for the entire race course. The catch---the boats are made of plywood, fasteners, duct tape and 2'x4's.

At least one member of the team must be at the helm of the little boat at all times during the race, and personal flotation devices are required for safety. A shotgun start by Captain Morgan and the "Morganette Girls" officially opened the craziest regatta ever. Out of 42 entries, the oldest competitor - Capt. Dave Muenzel, sponsored by The Western Union, proudly waved Conch Flags as he crossed the finish line to take first place. You too can have your very own Conch Flag to wave any time you feel like it by going to Key West Specialties and ordering one on-line!

You can see some photos that we took of the activity if you go to Destination Key West on our website www.conchtraders.com.

2004-05-06T12:03:00.000-04:00

Key West is in Spring mode now and, with the breathtaking color of the flowers in bloom, the island is more beautiful than ever. We just finished celebrating Conch Republic Independence Days. You can read about the beginnings of the Conch Republic in my very first Blog in the Archives. Or you can get the story in much more detail by reading The Conch That Roared from our Books section on-line. There were all the usual goings on last week as part of the festivities... We enjoyed everything from the Drag Races, the Battle for Key West Harbor, the Bed Races, the Fiddlers' Contest, and on and on all over town.

Our friends, Pete and Diane Cooper, had one helluva party at their digs on Saturday night ~~ there was food, and beverages, and music (check out the CD's by Rockin' Jake and One World in our Music section), and dart contests, and so much laughing our sides hurt. It was well into Sunday before everyone finally went home.

Don't forget to check out our new Personal Care products in our Pixie Key West section which is now open. Mother's Day is just around the corner and these would make great gifts from the Keys for that special Mom.

2004-04-12T15:26:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that we're almost two weeks into April already and that Tax Day is almost upon us! This past Saturday the Key West Conch Traders, Ron and Charlene Bell, walked in the 8th annual Earth Day 5K Run/Walk which started and ended near the White Street Pier. Charlene won overall Women Walkers with a time of 45:09! That was a first! All of the winners won an earth-friendly, recyclable, giant sugar cookie ~~ whooo-hooo. Ron, although he didn't win in the Men's division, came in a full second faster than Charlene. It was a lot of fun. Watch for a picture of the winner and her prize to be posted soon at www.conchtraders.com in the Destination Key West secton. That's all for now ~~ See you next time!

2004-03-26T13:40:00.000-05:00

Rockin' Jake was in town Weds. and Thurs. this week. From New Orleans he and the rest of the Rockin' Jake Blues Band pack the Parrot everytime they're in town. You can pick up his CD's in the Music section of our website. Country Fried singer/songwriter Clint Bullard is at Hog's Breath Saloon until April 4. This Nashville-based performer has been filling the Hog for more than 5 years with his storytelling, humor and repertoire. No matter what the weather here, he sings and plays his guitar barefoot. Well, it's the weekend ~~ TGIF!! Happy Hour at the Green Parrot starts at 4 p.m. and we'll be there...

2004-03-19T16:04:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon from Key West. While the folks up North are shoveling out the last of the Winter snows, we're down here in the tropics soaking up the sun and adding lots of new and exciting products to our Conch Traders collection of local merchandise. We've met a great new artist, Laura Black, who paints awesome pieces featuring some of the most recognizable landmarks in Key West. If you go to our ART page in the Shopping section, you'll see Sloppy Joe's, Blue Heaven, The Southernmost Point, Capt. Tony's, The Green Parrot and more.

We've also added about a dozen new books from which to choose. There's Mandy Bolen's "Tan Lines", Michael Suib's "Confessions of a Key West Cabbie", "Kayaking The Keys", "Exploring The Florida Keys", "Diving and Snorkeling The Keys", June Keith's "Key West and the Florida Keys", and lots of others. In the Shopping section of our site, go to BOOKS, VIDEOS, & DVD'S.
See you in my next Posting!

2004-03-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

Good Morning on a Sunny but "Chilly" day here in Key West ~~ It's only 72 degrees! We're all recovering from the BIG PROTEST in Old Town yesterday. It seems that some of the people who live here forget what Key West is all about ~~ that we're a major tourist town and most of us make our livings tending to the needs and wants of the folks up North who come to get away from the cold and day-to-day life and blow off a little steam. They also forget that nobody's forcing them to live here. So, they encouraged the locals to go downtown in their cars and make more of a traffic mess than already existed because of the influx of Spring Breakers and the thousands of passengers from the many ships all docked at the same time. Those of us who remember to appreciate how lucky we are to live on such a beautiful, tropical island and still call ourselves US Citizens ignore these rantings and proudly fly our Conch Flags in front of our homes and thank our lucky stars that we are here. By the way, those Conch Flags are available to you too on our website in the Key West Specialties section of our on-line Store. I'll get off my soapbox now and get to work. See you next time!

2004-03-06T16:20:00.000-05:00

Hi From Key West! Check out our page Destination Key West and see some pictures from the last Green Parrot Happy Hour Fishing Trip. I'll be posting pictures from events around the Island. See you soon.

2004-03-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

Hi Again from Paradise! I just wanted to let you know that we have lots of new products coming soon to our web site so if you've ever been to Key West or if you want to know more about it you'll have fun browsing through our selection. That's all for now. By the way, the fish last night at Half Shell Raw Bar was incredible!

2004-03-04T13:14:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon from Key West! Our Friends Pat & Bruce went fishing on the Capt. John's Greyhound Fishing Boat yesterday and caught a variety of good eatin' fish (24 in all!!) and we've been invited to go with them to the Half Shell Raw Bar at Land's End (they'll cook your catch for a nominal fee) tonight to enjoy Fresh Grilled Fish. Our mouths are already watering!!!

2004-03-03T09:25:00.000-05:00

If you’re planning a trip to Key West, this is a “Must Have”! The Complete Key West Dining Guide 2003-2004 is a handy, 100-page, pocket dining guide to a great many of the best eateries in Key West and the lower keys. It is so well-written, it had our mouths watering! It's very up-to-the-minute. Plus you'll get a little history of each restaurant as well as their price range and an idea of the menu availabilities ~~ The best part is it's only $7.95. You’ll find it on our site in the Books section.

2004-03-01T09:41:00.000-05:00

Good Morning From Key West! It looks like another great day here in The Keys. I would like to welcome you to the official Blog of www.conchtraders.com. We'll be trying to bring some of the news from Key West and The Florida Keys and also some of the fun stuff that happens here on a regular Basis. We are a very diverse community full of fun People with stories to tell. So I'll be trying to relate some of those stories to you. Please stop by our Web Site and check out all the great Items we've found on this Island.

2004-02-28T12:07:00.000-05:00

Check Out Our Website

2004-02-28T11:07:00.000-05:00

A Short History of the Conch Republic
By Brooks White

In 1982, the United States Boarder Patrol established a military style roadblock on the Overseas Highway, where all northbound traffic was stopped and searched for illegal aliens and drugs. The ensuing well-publicized traffic jam effectively stymied Key West's tourism industry.

Mayor Dennis Wardlow, along with five local businessmen, hatched a scheme to save the Key West economy. The "Conch Republic" was created, declaring its independence and war on the United States, and then immediately surrendering and applying for foreign aid. The roadblock was discontinued, and the economy was saved.

Today, the tradition of the Conch Republic revolution continues with a yearly celebration, and appointment of various Conch Ambassadors. To many Key West locals, both natives and transplants alike, the event symbolizes both the intense individualism of the Island's people, and also the keen sense of humor they enjoy.

2004 Conch Republic Celebration is scheduled for April 23rd to May 2nd