2025
January
21,
2025
|
17:25 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Islamorada artist Susan Jankowski, who teaches art classes at the Ocean Reef Art League, is a true Keys free spirit who paints impressionistic works and hosts groups for private paint nights.“I’m fast and loose and free. If I’m feeling it, I’m …
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January
09,
2025
|
16:05 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Johnny Vance, concierge extraordinaire, utilizes his deep radio-host voice and passion for urging visitors to get out on Florida Keys waters to provide custom, white-glove service to his clients.“I’m a firm believer that the one thing that makes …
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2024
November
25,
2024
|
20:32 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Rich Welter founded Sunset Watersports Key West, celebrating its 40th birthday this year, in 1984 — during a period when, in his mid-20s, he slept in a tent on a parasail platform on the former Houseboat Row.Today, Sunset Watersports bills itself as …
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November
06,
2024
|
21:41 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
When Isis and Tony Wright moved to the Florida Keys 10 years ago, a career in the restaurant industry was the farthest thing from their minds — but in 2020, they found themselves moving in that previously unconsidered direction. The birth of their …
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September
25,
2024
|
18:51 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Dee Dee Vaughan Smause, co-founder of Plant a Million Corals alongside her parents, Dr. Dave Vaughan and Donna Vaughan, is passionately committed to restoring coral reefs and preserving marine biodiversity in the Florida Keys. Her efforts have …
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Armando “Mandy” Rodriguez is co-founder and chief operating officer of the Middle Keys’ famed Dolphin Research Center, celebrating its 40th birthday as a nonprofit sanctuary, research facility and forever home.Rodriguez is the patriarch of 27 …
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Craig McBay, who owns Islamorada’s Florida Keys Brewing Co. with his wife Cheryl, is a busy man — operating the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery, its beer garden and tasting room; and overseeing a wide range of branded merchandise.The colorful and …
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June
19,
2024
|
00:24 AM
Europe/Amsterdam
Christian Ledwith is the 30-year-old chef at Chef Michael’s, the popular 60-seat restaurant in Islamorada that’s nearly always packed. He grew up in the Upper Keys, graduating from Island Christian School in 2011.That same year, father Michael …
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Nick Doll, who lives by Key West’s official philosophy that all are members of “One Human Family,” has become one of the island’s best-loved residents.With an extensive background in photography, Nick honed his craft by shooting weddings and bands …
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Alexander’s Guesthouse in Key West is known to the LGBTQ community and its allies as a “home away from home,” thanks to general manager Laura Zequeira-Smith.While working for the Mandarin Oriental in New York City, Laura was offered the position by …
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Adam Gonzalez and Camron Martinez met in Reno, Nevada. Adam was in banking and Camron was in baking. They both joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and their eventual military careers brought them to Key West in 2018. They’ve called the island home ever …
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Pedro Aviles, the creative spirit behind the popular dishes at Key West’s Nine One Five restaurant, is a Key West local who has been a Florida Keys resident for 14 years.Aviles was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. He graduated from Johnson & Wales …
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Key West fire show artist Renita Kavallieros, 38, known as “Andromeda Fyre” after the galaxy Andromeda, is a dancer extraordinaire who began classical dance at age 3 in her hometown of Fort Madison, Iowa.She’s a world-renowned fire dancer, belly …
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2023
Jack Micciche, 28, who owns the funky and eclectic Mother Ocean Key Largo Marine Consignment store with dad Carmine, describes the vintage, quintessentially Keys outlet as “nautical Narnia.”Mother Ocean, which also could be called an adult mariner’s …
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Key West entertainer Christopher Peterson, one of the island city’s most popular female impersonators, is the Florida Keys’ newest New Year’s Eve icon.Peterson is to “drop” in a giant glittering red high-heeled shoe at the stroke of midnight, …
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October
26,
2023
|
22:06 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Dan Cornell, who owns Cruisin’ Tikis Key Largo with wife Laurie, operates three Tiki boats that depart from Snooks Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki Bar and Sundowners restaurant in the Upper Keys.The couple launched their Cruisin’ Tikis Key Largo …
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Chef Paul Kapsalis and wife Kris Kubik are owner-operators of South of the Seven restaurant, tucked inside the gulfside 1950s-era Sugarloaf Lodge at mile marker 17 on Sugarloaf Key.Popular fare includes local Rosefish fried whole with Thai chile …
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Key lime pie is synonymous with the Florida Keys, and just about everyone can describe their favorite slice. But if Key limes themselves were to have an ambassador, that person would likely be Kermit Carpenter.Visitors may not know his name right …
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Fishing is in the blood of charter captain Nick Stanczyk of Islamorada, who is known as a Florida Keys swordfish fishing pioneer. The legendary Stanczyk family has owned and operated Bud N' Mary's Sportfishing Marina since 1978.Nick, 38, is the son …
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Scott Dekle, vice president of Marathon's Keys Fisheries for the last 18 months, grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, spending endless hours on and in the water.At age 8, Dekle began working in the family food service and cold storage business with …
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Richie Moretti - founder of the Turtle Hospital as the world's first state-licensed veterinary hospital for sea turtles - has rescued, rehabilitated and released between 2,000 and 3,000 sea turtles.The eclectic entrepreneur's fascination with …
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Maria Wevers opened Key West's Grand Café in 2002 when son Kieran, now 23, was just a toddler. Today, Wevers remains a hands-on restaurateur whose venue at 314 Duval St. is acclaimed for gourmet dining, well-priced happy hours and hosting events …
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Naturalist, guidebook author and eco-guide Bill Keogh, a 43-year Big Pine Key resident, operates Big Pine Kayak Adventures offering daily mangrove tunnel kayak tours and private motorboat excursions to the Florida Keys' backcountry wilderness.
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Lisa Mongelia has been the executive director of Islamorada's one-of-a-kind History of Diving Museum since 2014. A diver for more than 40 years, she's deeply passionate about the Florida Keys' underwater world and its protection.Born in Missouri and …
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2022
As the hands-on general manager of Key Largo's boutique Kona Kai Resort for the last five years, Kathryn Lyons always knew "the business world would be my jam."Lyons - a warm, welcoming Upper Keys personality - is a friendly, humorous and …
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