Lobster Fest is one of those events put together to fill a summer weekend in a town that needs a constant flow of visitors to survive the summer doldrums of the tourist industry. Chuck was thinking about his road trip to Maine, the place where some people say, one goes to get real lobsters, not Florida's crawfish...
Chuck and Wayne weren't setting out on the road with the deliberate intent of snubbing Florida lobster, though there was a fair bit of lip smacking going on at the mention of New England lobster rolls. At our house they fortified themselves with blue corn pancakes and fruit salad and chicory coffee before their long drive Up North.
After that my wife and I somehow resisted the afternoon heat and stayed home. I was going to work at 6pm, she did some work during the afternoon with fellow teacher Josh, preparing for the new school year which starts August 23rd.
Cheyenne napped, exhausted from her morning walk. I played with my camera until it was time to leave. Duval Street, an hour before my shift started, was a different world. Commerce under the sun.
The Key West Citizen reported lobster fishermen in some cases decided to get their catch to the festival in an effort to get slightly higher prices. 
I don't mind the flavor or texture of lobster but I find it hard to get enthused about eating an animal that, left unmolested, might live 120 years. What that has to do with it, I couldn't really say, but since I found out how long these harmless, defenseless creatures live, I have found it hard to eat them. An Italian ice looked like a good idea to me.
There did not seem to be vast, overwhelming crowds on Duval Street this year.
There were enough people around to keep this guy amused.
The tower on Old City Hall had some competition. I prefer the tower to the bottle as a symbol of the city.
Or the bare chested cyclist, of which there were several stalwarts on hand to represent the southernmost city.
I thought this sign was more than usually harsh. Not every vacationer wants to move here. 
The idea of the electric car as recycling bin held some appeal for me. I wish these vehicles could be allowed to drive just a tad bit faster on city streets.
Happiness was beer and lobster for some. 
Lots of lobster.
Seen this way the poor thing looks like the alien from the movie of the same name. Creepy.
I just don't see the pleasure of standing around in the sun balancing a paper plate and struggling with bendy plastic cutlery. If it's lobster I want I would pay to sit in comfort and eat it. 
I am in a minority of one in this heresy.
The dust catcher stalls lined the street.
A Key West event without a parrot (another excessively long lived animal) is not a proper event. 
Lobster appeals to everyone. 
St Paul's looking magnificent in the afternoon sun.
I think in a month or so Duval will be home to the swarms of Bike Week. I don't know how I will amuse myself till then.
Chuck and Wayne weren't setting out on the road with the deliberate intent of snubbing Florida lobster, though there was a fair bit of lip smacking going on at the mention of New England lobster rolls. At our house they fortified themselves with blue corn pancakes and fruit salad and chicory coffee before their long drive Up North.After that my wife and I somehow resisted the afternoon heat and stayed home. I was going to work at 6pm, she did some work during the afternoon with fellow teacher Josh, preparing for the new school year which starts August 23rd.Cheyenne napped, exhausted from her morning walk. I played with my camera until it was time to leave. Duval Street, an hour before my shift started, was a different world. Commerce under the sun.
The Key West Citizen reported lobster fishermen in some cases decided to get their catch to the festival in an effort to get slightly higher prices. I don't mind the flavor or texture of lobster but I find it hard to get enthused about eating an animal that, left unmolested, might live 120 years. What that has to do with it, I couldn't really say, but since I found out how long these harmless, defenseless creatures live, I have found it hard to eat them. An Italian ice looked like a good idea to me.There did not seem to be vast, overwhelming crowds on Duval Street this year.There were enough people around to keep this guy amused.
The tower on Old City Hall had some competition. I prefer the tower to the bottle as a symbol of the city.
Or the bare chested cyclist, of which there were several stalwarts on hand to represent the southernmost city.I thought this sign was more than usually harsh. Not every vacationer wants to move here. 
The idea of the electric car as recycling bin held some appeal for me. I wish these vehicles could be allowed to drive just a tad bit faster on city streets.Happiness was beer and lobster for some. 
Lots of lobster.
Seen this way the poor thing looks like the alien from the movie of the same name. Creepy.
I just don't see the pleasure of standing around in the sun balancing a paper plate and struggling with bendy plastic cutlery. If it's lobster I want I would pay to sit in comfort and eat it. 
I am in a minority of one in this heresy.
The dust catcher stalls lined the street.
A Key West event without a parrot (another excessively long lived animal) is not a proper event. 
Lobster appeals to everyone. 
St Paul's looking magnificent in the afternoon sun.
I think in a month or so Duval will be home to the swarms of Bike Week. I don't know how I will amuse myself till then. 
10 comments:
Conch:
Though I'm a fan of outdoor festivals to a degree...I agree with you on the annoyance of flimsy plastic cutlery. It is hard for me to come to terms with the fact that prisoners can fashion a shank out of a god damn bar of soap that can kill you, but yet we cannot somehow develop plastic utensils able to cut through a mid-rare ribeye without snapping in two.
Also, while I will defend arduosly the virtues of our "crawfish". I did just return from enjoying lobster rolls in Boston and I do have to admit that I would just slap my mother in order to have another.
I have heard that lobster rolls are a food worth eating but so far it has been my fate never to taste one. I'd like to do it sitting on the edge of a freezing cold ocean in maine wearing three layers of clothing and feely smug about how Florida lobster at least gtet to live life in warm waters before they get their heads cut off.
Mr Conchscooter:
lobsters are so expensive up here that they are a delicasy
http://lobsterman.com/catalog/13
basically unavailable to the common man. We can only dream of lobster rolls
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
Serious question Conchy. Do Conch Republic natives plan their calendar around the festivals? You know, is like the Strawberry Festival in Central Florida. When teh SF happens I know spring is in full bloom and Spring Training baseball is here.
Though I used to make a substantial part of my income from festivals such as this, I can honestly say I have never warmed to embracing the events as weekend diversions. Crowds are interesting, but open space is preferable.
Maine or New England lobster, on the other hand, is to be coveted indeed!
Really? 120 years? I might have to change my attitude about eating them too. Well, maybe not.
On a side note, there is nothing like taking some of the leftover lobster meat the next morning and having a cheddar, green onion, and lobster omelet. Mmmm...
Jeffrey, via Mr Conch:
now you're making me hungry. I love omlettes, and with lobster it would push it over the top
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
Frankly...i dont get the lobster rolls...cold lobster..with mayo..on a hot dog bun???? Gross.... I cant understand you not wanting to eat lobster....you didnt seem to have a problem when you ate dinosaur...that is alligator...Maybe your just getting old....
Buffalo Bill
Dear Sir:
There is nothing like sitting on a beach in Maine, sampling lobster that is only a few years old, but has only gone from the Atlantic to the pot in minutes. I hear that in the current economy, with the current crop of dopes in Washington, most lobsters don't want to live.
Then again, I like lobster that has claws like a fund raising chairman from a Washington, PAC.
Surely, there must have been someplace in this damned festival where a person could sit indoors, under a ceiling fan, eating lobster in comfort, along with a huge Planters Punch?
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Buffal Bill:I eat lobster.I just feel bad baout killing such a long lived animal./ the alligator was good and it was all your fault I ate it. So there.
riepe. soon you will be so tyhin you won't needing ceiling fans....
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