James Street

James Street is two blocks long and busy as a hive of bees with traffic at certain times of the day, the rest of the time its in its own torpor. Its the sort of street that visitors pass by a dozen times a week and never notice. For people who know the area, James is a short cut from Eaton via Frances or a way of avoiding Caroline Street around Conch Harbor and the Ferry terminal. It's residential so it doesn't do to behave badly on this street but in winter its a nice way to avoid snowbirds queuing at the light on Eaton at Grinnell. James Street is cut in half by Grinnell and that is the home to one of the nicer Irish pubs in Key West, in my opinion. Perhaps that's because when I lived on a boat it was a short hop from the water to a pint of Guinness and they used to welcome my Labrador too in the days before some people got fussy about dogs in bars:
They are building next to the pub and I'm betting someone is going to be complaining about the noise down the road:The luxury development is called Ocean Breeze and would it sadden you to know this lot used to be a nursery filled with all those plants we decorate our yards with. I remember too there used to be the graffiti on the fence here "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot" from the Joni Mitchell song. I guess it was referring to the huge Park and Ride building across the street (the subject of a future essay) but it goes well with the current state of construction. Tara meets manufactured housing:McMansion anyone? You can't have this one, carriage lamps and all because it must belong to:I need to remember to do that; put my name on my parking space at home. I'm sure my wife would be delighted. The dog from Finnegan's Wake seemed indifferent in the heat:And so did this spectacular tree:But people still keep hoping, they don't give up and just stand there, they put bumper stickers on their cars and hope for better times:I like a quiet street with a few of those cute little homes they specialise in around here:Were you to have had breakfast at say Harpoon Harry's and resolutely turn your back on the waterfront, after a block you'd see this relatively rare tree in Key West:And up James street in the shade of another tree there is this final example of a mid century shed, or garage, moldering gently in the humidity. Its been mouldering there for years, as long as I can remember:The sign says no parking so one assumes the red car belongs to the owner. Be careful when parking in Key West, doing as others do can lead you to a ticket or a $200 tow if you park wherever you feel like. I used to use the open space in back as a secret parking lot which may account for the fence: The times they are a-changing because from the upstairs at the parking building I saw a lawnmower standing by to keep the place in apple pie order: Across the street I saw a Key West sized car, a Suzuki convertible that used to be seen on the road and now seems to be doing its own bit of moldering:This was where i saw a guy striding up the sidewalk carrying a bag of golf clubs. Which in itself shouldn't have caught my eye but his rather dressed down look prompted speculation:Key West is home to casual dress but I wonder what the minimum requirement is at the golf course on Stock Island? Flip flops and a tank top?

The other half of James Street is residential on one side:While Keys Energy, the Lower Keys public utility company dominates the other side:Light industrial chic:Or for a hardcore urban industrial look check out the Checkpoint Charlie gate that lets the lumber trucks in and out of the back of the yard:All this could be on your front door steps for more money than you can imagine:Fixer upper needs some tender loving care. Don't we all?