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Hi Key West, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: A $1.1 million homebuying leap, gravestone-like welcome signs drama, a worm moon bike ride, and more.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Inside a Down Payment Diaries journey: A 54-year-old writer left Michigan and bought a $1.1 million home in Key West for the arts scene. After years searching, she prioritized proximity to New Town and a pool — read the full story.
Sun-seekers’ picks revealed: Key West tops 2026 spring break searches across 17 states, luring visitors with beaches, nightlife, and tropical vibes. The analysis also highlights rising rivals South Padre Island and Lake Havasu — see the top contenders.
Contract extension debate heats up: Key West commissioners approved a $20,000 raise for City Manager Brian L. Barroso earlier this month, and they rejected proposed welcome signs that one commissioner said looked like gravestones — see what commissioners decided.
Mounting environmental and safety risks: Severe drought is gripping South Florida, with a water shortage warning in place for Monroe and Miami-Dade as the Biscayne Aquifer drops. Burn bans are active in several counties — see where warnings and bans apply.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why precious metals are back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
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.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Guardians of ocean reptiles: Just up U.S. 1 in Marathon, the Turtle Hospital continues to rescue, rehabilitate and return endangered sea turtles to the wild. Over 40 years, staff have logged more than 3,000 successful releases, including patients like Didgeridoo, helping safeguard the Keys’ marine life. Read the full story.
Key West staple since the 1980s: Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop on Elizabeth Street sells out of its signature pie every day. Open daily 10 AM to 9:30 PM, the island-casual spot serves free samples and offers cookies, candies, and frozen treats. Parking is limited nearby, so walking or biking is preferred. Read the full story.
Dock-to-dish dinner plan: If your week needs a Keys reset, Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar serves fresh-caught plates, seasonal sides, and marina views that make Tuesdays feel like Saturdays. Easygoing and quietly excellent, it’s very much Key West… a local-love lineup without the fuss.
Kitchens made easier: From smart layout tweaks to full overhauls, Royal Furniture & Design brings Keys-local savvy to design, cabinetry, countertops, and all the finishing details. If your drawers stick or your backsplash screams 2009, take the hint and give your kitchen the refresh it deserves.
What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.
Take control of your credit card debt: High interest can keep you stuck paying more than you need to. A balance transfer card with 0% intro APR until 2027 and no annual fee gives you time to pay down what you owe without interest working against you. By transferring your balance, more of your payment goes toward the principal so you can actually make a dent in what you owe.
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📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🧹 Early Bird Clean Up Simonton & South Streets @ Southernmost Beach Resort | Friday (2/27) at 8:00 AM – If your morning stroll could use a conscience, spend an hour tidying Simonton and South with Southernmost crew. Meet in South Street lot between Simonton and Duval, next to Le Mar and Dewey, grab a vest, bucket, and picker, then earn breakfast and cleaner streets.
🎨 Plein Air: Painting with Vibrant Color Workshop @ Key West Art Center & Gallery | Friday (2/27) at 4:00 PM – Whether your easel’s been sulking or you’re stalking roosters, this three-day plein air workshop with Sarah Lorentz digs into color, harmony, and painting over a vibrant ground in Key West light. Expect demos, feedback, and two finished pieces, geared to painters with some miles.
🐚 Food: Celebrating Conch Cuisine Exhibition Opening @ Key West Art & Historical Society | Friday (2/27) at 5:00 PM – Trade Duval chaos for a Smithsonian-approved dive into Conch cuisine at the Key West Museum of Art & History. Interactive displays, artifacts, and oral histories map Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, Cuban, and Bahamian roots into the food we call home, and the opening reception is free.
📚 Hemingway in a Funny Way @ Comedy Key West | Friday (2/27) at 5:30 PM – Trade Duval’s chaos for a smarter buzz as Comedy Key West skewers, salutes, and laughs through the funny side of Hemingway, just down the street from the House and its judgmental six-toed cats. Expect sharp jokes, local lore, and zero marlin to gut.
🎰 Gatsby Keysino Night @ Marlin Bay Resort And Marina | Saturday (2/28) at 6:00 PM – Channel your inner Old Sport at Marlin Bay’s Gatsby Keysino, where $125 gets you a welcome cocktail, live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and 2,500 chips to lose with swagger. Secret speakeasy, real laughs, pretend money, and proceeds benefiting the Stacie Kidwell Memorial Scholarship.
🎶 Howard Livingston & MM24 Band @ Sugarloaf Key / Key West KOA Holiday | Saturday (2/28) at 6:30 PM – Craving a Keys night without the Duval chaos? Howard Livingston and the MM24 Band hit Sugarloaf KOA at MM20 with no cover, a full bar, a dance floor, grill-side burgers and dogs, and a short stroll from parking. Your hips will remember.
🏳 Drag Queen Bingo @ 22&Co | Sunday (3/1) at 5:00 PM – Whether you go for the bingo or the boas, hit Drag Queen Bingo with legend QMitch every Sunday, benefitting Sister Season Fund. Expect hoots, hollers, and charity done right, helping cover rent or utilities for our hospitality folks when life brings illness, accidents, or hurricanes.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Key West report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 79°F – Low: 70°F – Precip: 9%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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Tomorrow – High: 81°F – Low: 70°F – Precip: 19%
A slight chance of rain showers before 7am. Sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
This house is wild
On a rare double corner lot in Key West’s Casa Marina, this 1958 gem blends privacy and classic island character. The main home plus a studio above the garage deliver 3 bedrooms and 4 baths, with legal rentals. Lush grounds offer room for a pool, a prized Lignum Vitae, and a Jamaican Dogwood near Higgs Beach and White Street Pier.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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