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Happy Friday, Key West. In today’s edition: Nursing scholarship, lighted boat parade, children’s holiday concert, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Tribute to parents’ legacy: The College of the Florida Keys Foundation received an $80,000 gift from John D. Parce for a nursing scholarship, awarding up to $16,000 and prioritizing aspiring flight nurses — see how you can apply.
Arctic snap strains rare turtles: Twenty-five endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles rescued from New England’s cold waters are recovering at the Keys Turtle Hospital, receiving scans and antibiotics before release off Cape Canaveral — see the rescue and rehab.
Holiday cheer on water: Lighted boats themed The Grinch in the Keys sparkle on Key Largo’s Blackwater Sound for the 40th Key Largo Boat Parade on Dec. 13, with fireworks and $5,000 in prizes — get times, entry and viewing info.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.
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🫶 We got your back
Family reckoning onstage: Fringe Theater Key West premieres Personal Effects, a new play by local writer Chris Moore, at the Key West Armory, running through Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The drama follows adult siblings sorting their late father’s belongings, confronting the gap between his island-hero legend and their abandoned past. Reserved seats are $45 to $65. See showtimes and ticket info.
New eats, sips, and stays: Florida’s latest roundup spotlights 22 newcomers. Highlights: Latitudes Waterfront Grill in Cocoa opening mid-December, Outback’s new Lutz spot now open, Tampa’s Papi’s aiming a New Year’s Eve launch, Orlando’s Seasons of India opening any day, and The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne reopened after a $100 million makeover. Oak & Stone hits Cape Coral Dec. 17. Get all the details.
Beach-battered ends, begone: In Key West, Headlines Salon of Key West offers thoughtful cuts, color, and styling in an intimate, low-key space, plus waxing and wedding services when life gets fancy. They craft looks that suit you, not fleeting trends, so you leave polished and comfortably yourself.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.
Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🚆 Holiday Lights Conch Tour Train @ Sigsbee Community Center | Friday (12/12) at 6:30pm – Ready to trade traffic for twinkle? MWR rolls the Conch Tour Train for a one-hour spin through Key West’s holiday glow, military ID required. Liberty patrons can snag free seats, tickets are $14.25 otherwise, lap kids ride free, and yes, tip the trolley crew.
🏠 Home for the Holidays – MCT’s Annual Holiday Show @ Marathon Community Theatre | Friday (12/12) at 7:00pm – If you’ve been waiting to belt carols without judgment, this is it. MCT’s Home for the Holidays brings its annual cozy variety show, a community sing-along, and the kind of hometown cheer you cannot Prime, just neighbors, laughter, and festive nostalgia.
This weekend
🎉 2nd Saturday Celebration @ The Shops at Mallory Square | Saturday (12/13) at 5:00pm – 2nd Saturday calls. Skip the sunset scrum at Mallory Square, and head upstairs as Island Boy Arts, TooKEY’s, and Kemp Art Gallery host a hangout and silent auction. Bid there or online, and every dollar helps Keys AHEC fund medical and dental care for local kids.
🎤 December Duo Holiday Concert: Irie Monte and Crispin Campbell @ The Studios of Key West | Saturday (12/13) at 6:00pm – Need a holiday spirit boost that does not involve jingling lawn flamingos? Head up to Hugh’s View for Irie Monte and cellist Crispin Campbell, a rooftop string duo serving warmth, grace, and melodies. Island breezes, sunset glow, and music that makes you exhale, then smile.
🚤 34th Annual Lighted Boat Parade @ Schooner Wharf Bar | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00pm – Key West winter means boats playing dress-up and parading through the Bight while we cheer them from Schooner Wharf, cocktail in hand. Steel pans, salty air, and $40K on the line, so expect extra sparkle, fewer Grinches, and a Harbor Walk worth the stroll.
❄️ Snowy Days Children’s Holiday Concert @ Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden | Sunday (12/14) at 12:00pm – Nothing says Key West winter like a kids’ holiday concert at the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, with snow cones, crafts, and a singalong. Bring the grandkids, enjoy the shade, let them burn off sugar while you get in free, and support local education.
🚜 Christmas on the Farm Open House @ Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm | Sunday (12/14) at 1:00pm – This Christmas open house is the farm’s only December chance to wander the grounds, soak up the quiet, and dodge crowded stores. Free, donations appreciated, and it usually runs second and fourth Sundays, but this month it is just one because farmers deserve holidays too.
🎼 Keys Choral Arts: Annual Holiday Concert @ Tennessee Williams Theatre | Sunday (12/14) at 4:00pm – Skip the inflatable snowmen and let Keys Choral Arts do the decorating with rich harmonies, fresh takes on the carols you actually know, and the Conch Tones chiming in for good measure. Guest conductors pop up, arrangements sparkle, and Tennessee Williams Theatre does the rest.
Next week
🎨 Art Class @ Marathon Branch Library | Tuesday (12/16) at 9:30am – Trade your to-do list for a couple hours of pure creativity and play. This laid-back class lets you experiment with sketching, painting, and mixed media—no art degree (or perfectionism) required. Just show up, try something new, and let whatever’s on your mind spill onto the page in the best way.
☕ Café con Libros – Mary Lehman @ Key West Public Library | Tuesday (12/16) at 10:00am – Grab a seat in the Palm Garden at Key West Library for Café con Libros, where Mary Lehman talks Cappuccino Per Favore and you get coffee with your book chat. Meet local and indie authors, trade stories, sip tea, and snag a copy.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
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🏠️ Price is right – Key West edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Cardenas & Krug Team (Ocean Sotheby's International Realty)
Inside Truman Annex, this 4-bed, 4-bath compound blends Key West charm with modern polish. Bright, open living, luxe finishes, and a kitchen flowing into the lounge set an easy mood. Upstairs, a primary suite has a balcony over the backyard, plus another guest room and a main-level bedroom.
Out back, a wraparound covered deck, tropical landscaping, and a sparkling pool read like a pocket resort. A private 1-bed, 1-bath cottage boosts privacy and flexibility. Add a classic front porch for prime people watching, a rare carport, and quick access to beaches, the amphitheater, Old Town, and nightlife.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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