Culture Vulture /  Love  Those Folks In Uniforms . . .

 

By C.S Gillbert

 

The 2013-14 Season is beginning to wind down, although still-exhausted and stuffed culture vultures with a couple of delicious, meaty offerings every single day may find it hard to believe. Lynda Frechette and I met three times in one day — I had to tease I was stalking her.

 

 

 

The last event we shared was bittersweet: The Bobby Nesbitt/Carmen Rodriguez tribute to the USO closed at the Truman Little White House. These wonderfully entertaining history lessons are a delight and, as demonstrated many times including the LWH Wild About Harry show last season, Rodriquez and Nesbitt have a special, comfortable chemistry that enhances whatever they do together. I expected that. The surprises were Nesbitt’s range (where did that baritone come from?) and the considerable talent of his “girl singer” (a running joke) to channel Marilyn Monroe and nail the characterizations of several other USO sweeties. We’ll be looking forward to next year’s show, moving into the 1950s, a nod to Dwight D. Eisenhower titled, I Like Ike (about time for the GOP, they said).

 

 

 

The various neighborhood evening cultural open houses that caught on about a decade ago, initiated as I recall by Walk on White, are interesting in their waxing and waning. The oldest is still hanging in there, although smaller than in its heyday; falling off one by one were Three-Legged Dog, The Wave 1 and 2, In One Era (relocated to Bahama Village), now, soon, the Coffee Mill which, we are told, is headed to the Harris School. Rock solid in the center are Harrison Gallery and Stone Soup. The headliner became The Studios of Key West, itself set to move next fall to its new Art Deco home at Eaton and Simonton.

 

 

 

There’s also a new kid around the corner: DB Design Studio at 600 Frances presents on March 20 from 5 till 8 p.m. the distinctive artwork of Scott Gruppe, with refreshments by Uva Gourmet Shoppe and net proceeds to benefit A Positive Step of Monroe County.

 

 

 

But as Walk on White shrinks (calms down a bit, is more apt) the monthly Art Stroll on Duval (nee Howl on Duval) heats up, offering music, wine, craft beers, cigars and heaven knows what else from Truman to United on First Fridays.

 

 

 

Helpful hint: the best way to build a notable collection of local art is to patronize art auctions; many of my favorite pieces were acquired that way, truly doing well by doing good. The annual Anne McKee is the granny of them all, but the venerable, now 24th annual, AIDS Help Art Auction is especially interesting because every artist is asked to interpret a single theme, which changes each year. This year it’s Out of the Box on Saturday, March 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Studios of Key West. Prebids are accepted; for details and preview, phone (305) 296-6196.

 

 

 

The Custom House Speaker Series continues on (usually) the second and fourth Thursdays on March 27, 6 till 7:30 p.m., with Carl Grooms on the History of Rums — “Includes tastings!” promises the brochure. Info: www.KWAHS.org.

 

 

 

Now for the culinary and beer-crafting arts: Kelly’s Caribbean is partnering with Bone Island Brewing for a Beer Dinner on Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. and while the beers are unfamiliar — Belgian Lace Velvet Wit and Richard Burton’s Pale Ale are two of the five — the food sounds wonderful: Sea scallop wrapped with yellowtail snapper and New York strip Stroganoff, plus salad, cheese and dessert courses.

 

 

 

Beer Sommelier Jim Brady “is a certified Cicerone and a nationally ranked beer judge. He is the 2013 recipient of the Florida Brewers Guild’s John G. Doble III Memorial Scholarship” as well as being “the Conch Republic (Beer) Ambassador to Ninkasi and founder of the  Conch Republic B.U.B.B.A.s — Brewers United Brewing Better Ales, a local homebrew club.” Brady “is also the brewer/president of Bone Island Brewing” and “partner/owner of The Beer Gurus, beer education and food pairings. In addition, Jim brews right here at Kelly’s Caribbean.” For over 20 years, they conclude, Brady “has been an award winning local brewer.”

 

 

 

Dinner is served upstairs at Kelly’s relatively new cultural space, The Muse. The tab’s $55; call (305) 293-8484 for reservations.

 

 

 

This is a little different — but in keeping with our intended future exploration into what culture really means. Congregation B’nai Zion has for several years hosted monthly combos of Friday Night Services, a special lecturer and a lavish Shabbat dinner prepared by Rebbetzen Nadia Dudai, usually three during the Season. They dubbed the event the Feed Your Mind, Feed Your Soul Series. This year’s finale is particularly unique: On Friday, March 28, native son, biographer, poet and literary seminar administrator Arlo Haskell, who is writing a history of Key West’s Jewish Community, will speak after the 6 p.m. service. The cost is $25 and interested community members are welcome. RSVP by March 23 to Kenny Weschler at (305) 292-1920 or [email protected].

 

 

 

That’s it for now — gotta fly!

 

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