I am not as big a fan of this place as many other people are. I like the building, the service is good, the food is okay. I am on the wrong side of public opinion (again) as this restaurant is the object of raves most places, but when i think of eating out, ever less these days, this is not on my list. 
Yet the block of Southard Street between Duval and Simonton Streets is always appealing to me. This white block across the street is the telephone exchange of Ma Bell, as was. 
And on a summer afternoon with the sun dropping in the sky the white American Telephone and Telegraph building looks like a wedding cake compared to the rest of the diminutive buildings on the block. 
Samuel L Southard lived from 1787 to 1842 and most likely got this street named for him thanks to his service as Secretary of the Navy, according to J. Wills Burke's book The Streets of Key West, an indispensable tome if you want to understand the city's history. People who don't know how to pronounce the street call it South-hard, where it is actually Suth-'ard. It is a one way street towards Whitehead Street and very useful it is too for one who wishes to approach Duval from White Street. A social service office has moved and left behind some helpful bumper stickers.
One might like to extrapolate a downturn in the economy from a sign like this one below. Businesses come and go, some move some leave. It happens all the time in Key West, even in this economy, when you might be surprised home some hopeful is still ready to start up an indispensable new business. 
This used to be a Spanish language station broadcasting at 1500 AM. Konk-AM on White Street now uses that frequency and this place is no longer a radio station. Konk-AM is a funky community radio worth a listen, unpolished and heartfelt and all about Key West.
Dust catcher alert! 
I have photographed this store window previously. I love the notion of a "put on" store, but that is exactly what happens- Ramona puts logos on clothes. And does it very nicely too.
Back across the street next to the defunct radio station we have the cell phone tower that serves downtown. The other cell tower is on Stock Island. Plans to put a tower on North Roosevelt near Albertsons foundered over community opposition. 
My wife and I recently divorced ourselves from Big Banking and left Bank of America for First State Bank. I enjoy the contrast between the big bank and the struggling local credit union on Southard. 
the middle of the block is actually quite picturesque. The gap between the buildings is Key Lime Square.
Back across the street is a stalwart of the vegetarian scene in Key West. This is a place this omnivore likes to eat. Southern fried tofu is astonishingly good as are their cold noodles.
Next door is a drop in project for young people. What this sign means precisely I shall have to ask. I loiter a great deal with my camera. 
The project is part of the Florida Keys Children's Shelter and they do good work. http://www.fkcs.org/index.cfm 
And next door to the Lighthouse is another beacon- the place where pizza is served almost 24 hours a day. It is a place where many late night drinkers come for a bite to eat in the early hours. Cops too. Not dispatchers if their wives find out.
And back across the street the former Dunkin' Donut turned Papa Java's has folded. Krispy Kreme doughnuts can now be found in many convenience stores and that will have to do. 
I heard it said that immigration raids found undocumented workers much to Dunkin Donuts' displeasure. And without those eastern Europeans doughnuts aren't commercially viable. Too bad. Everyone needs a hit of fried dough now and again. With coffee. Yum! Southard crosses Duval and local merchants have tried to turn the tide of aimless shoppers off Key West's main thoroughfare.
When riding Duval one looks for this landmark, lately showing accurate time, which marks Southard.
September is the slowest month of the year in Key West. Europeans are headed home after prolonged summer vacations, American families are long gone and snowbirds are still enjoying leaf changes Up North. With no hurricanes in sight this week I am kicking back and enjoying warm ocean waters and empty streets. 
While it is quiet it isn't completely dead. Some restaurants close and hospitality workers who have set aside some money from the busier times of the year are getting a break. Others who weren't so careful are struggling to pay the rent. 
The art deco Pegasus Hotel:
Money makes the world go round. 
I am grateful for my year round government job this time of year more than ever.
Yet the block of Southard Street between Duval and Simonton Streets is always appealing to me. This white block across the street is the telephone exchange of Ma Bell, as was. And on a summer afternoon with the sun dropping in the sky the white American Telephone and Telegraph building looks like a wedding cake compared to the rest of the diminutive buildings on the block. Samuel L Southard lived from 1787 to 1842 and most likely got this street named for him thanks to his service as Secretary of the Navy, according to J. Wills Burke's book The Streets of Key West, an indispensable tome if you want to understand the city's history. People who don't know how to pronounce the street call it South-hard, where it is actually Suth-'ard. It is a one way street towards Whitehead Street and very useful it is too for one who wishes to approach Duval from White Street. A social service office has moved and left behind some helpful bumper stickers.
One might like to extrapolate a downturn in the economy from a sign like this one below. Businesses come and go, some move some leave. It happens all the time in Key West, even in this economy, when you might be surprised home some hopeful is still ready to start up an indispensable new business. 
This used to be a Spanish language station broadcasting at 1500 AM. Konk-AM on White Street now uses that frequency and this place is no longer a radio station. Konk-AM is a funky community radio worth a listen, unpolished and heartfelt and all about Key West.Dust catcher alert! 
I have photographed this store window previously. I love the notion of a "put on" store, but that is exactly what happens- Ramona puts logos on clothes. And does it very nicely too.Back across the street next to the defunct radio station we have the cell phone tower that serves downtown. The other cell tower is on Stock Island. Plans to put a tower on North Roosevelt near Albertsons foundered over community opposition. 
My wife and I recently divorced ourselves from Big Banking and left Bank of America for First State Bank. I enjoy the contrast between the big bank and the struggling local credit union on Southard. 
the middle of the block is actually quite picturesque. The gap between the buildings is Key Lime Square. 
Back across the street is a stalwart of the vegetarian scene in Key West. This is a place this omnivore likes to eat. Southern fried tofu is astonishingly good as are their cold noodles.Next door is a drop in project for young people. What this sign means precisely I shall have to ask. I loiter a great deal with my camera. 
The project is part of the Florida Keys Children's Shelter and they do good work. http://www.fkcs.org/index.cfm And next door to the Lighthouse is another beacon- the place where pizza is served almost 24 hours a day. It is a place where many late night drinkers come for a bite to eat in the early hours. Cops too. Not dispatchers if their wives find out.And back across the street the former Dunkin' Donut turned Papa Java's has folded. Krispy Kreme doughnuts can now be found in many convenience stores and that will have to do. I heard it said that immigration raids found undocumented workers much to Dunkin Donuts' displeasure. And without those eastern Europeans doughnuts aren't commercially viable. Too bad. Everyone needs a hit of fried dough now and again. With coffee. Yum! Southard crosses Duval and local merchants have tried to turn the tide of aimless shoppers off Key West's main thoroughfare.When riding Duval one looks for this landmark, lately showing accurate time, which marks Southard.September is the slowest month of the year in Key West. Europeans are headed home after prolonged summer vacations, American families are long gone and snowbirds are still enjoying leaf changes Up North. With no hurricanes in sight this week I am kicking back and enjoying warm ocean waters and empty streets. 
While it is quiet it isn't completely dead. Some restaurants close and hospitality workers who have set aside some money from the busier times of the year are getting a break. Others who weren't so careful are struggling to pay the rent. 
The art deco Pegasus Hotel:Money makes the world go round. 
I am grateful for my year round government job this time of year more than ever.
12 comments:
If you'll indulge just one external link here, take a look at another picture of the Pegasus as it looked in January 1990...
I am trying to get into the 21st century and link when appropriate. I am now trying to remember to link while refusing to twit. Tweet. or Facebook.
Where's my horse and buggy?
I'll take the word of local way over the word of tourists. Keep sharing the KW secrets.
Did you mention your new Credit union owned by the Spotswood? It reminded me of recently watching a cooking show (No Reservations) and (I think first name was Jim) Jim Spotswood was hosting the party a pretty swanky keys palace. His quote was something like "Guys have 40,000 acres in the mountains, but I have a million acres" as pointed to the ocean. From the look of the party, there were like multiple generations of the family there.
KW royalty I take it?
Dear Sir:
I can understand your frustration with Sarabeth's. One has to wonder how mediocre restuarants get by on fickle public opinion. A new Mexican joint just opened in West Chester, and the lines were out in the street. Everything I had there simply sucked. Yet there's a joint on the other side of town, with a largely Mexican clienntele, tht can't get a line of ink... And their stuff is great. One is trendy, and the other is a storefront shithole — with a great kitchen, and 2/3 less cost.
The presence of increased small business failures and failed small franchises is the new plumage of the United States. I am especially sorry to see them in Key Werst, Lake Placidm, and West Chester Every strip mall around here has two or three vacancies in each, and the prospects of filling them are not good.
I have it on good authority that my position is to again be eliminated and find it difficult to live under this constant fear. Yet I have my irons in a smoldering fire and wonder what 2011 will bring. I have no other option than to write a couple of best-selling books or a great screenplay now.
Fondesat regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Sarabeth's isn't bad- it just doesn't have an angel that lights my fire. especailly as lines ar eout onto the sidewalk in tourist season.
The economy sucks. It's not coming back. We are trrying to get Wells Fargo to hear us and they aren't listening. I foresee a future living on a boat again. The future is the past.
bobskoot wants to buy a guest motorcycle. I don't think he is paying attention to our pain as housing bubbles across canada are getting ready to burst.
meanwhile i am taking picture sof key west. I don't know what else to do.
Actually, Canada's economy didn't tank. They can't use their houses as ATMs like we did, and you needed more than just a pulse to get a mortgage loan. I'm going to Canada this weekend, so maybe I'll run into bobskoot, even tho he sold his scooter.
The fascination with Krispy Kreme donuts has largely ended in this neck of the woods. Fetishized $3.50 cupcakes are the sugar fix of choice in the PNW.
__Orin
Scootin' Old Skool
Mr Conchscooter/ & Orin:
HEY, wait a minute . . . I still have two scoots. A 70cc Vino not currently insured but I started it a week ago, runs fine, and a Kymco Herism 150cc on consignment since last June, which I could use in a pinch.
Mortgage requirments in Canada are different than the USA. You actually have to have a down payment, and you have to qualify for the monthly payments through a formula. If the bubble bursts, which it may, it will only affect the ones who are underwater.
Krispy Cremes are closing up here due to our healthy lifestyles. Too much money for a dozen doughnuts. (Donuts to you down there). Up here we have our Tim Hortons . . .
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
Properly regulated banks are one reason Canada (and Australia and New zealand) haven't tanked. But when house prices resemble speculation and not value (as a proportion of rental values)then the potential for a bubble bursting is there. No one was underwater until the bubble burst and we put 140,000 down on a 5.875% fixed rate mortgage. Now we are 200,000 underwater more or less. Thats what it looks like when a bubble bursts in an affluent community like Key west or Vancouver.
All I'm saying is that if you were paying attentr]ion to what has happened in the biggest economy in the world you would be guarding your cash. Or not. Perhaps canada can trade with other partners and ride out the storm.
Note to Orin:
There is place in town here called Gourmet Cupcakes. I waddled in 8 weeks ago, and ordered six assorted. The woman bagged them up and said, "That'll be $24." I busted out laughing, paid the money, and rolly-polly-ed out to the car. The cupcakes were the most average confections I had ever tasted. I went on my altered lifestyle a week later.
I'd burn that cash before I pissed it away on cupcakes now.
Riepe
It was very interesting for me to read that post. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.
Bella Smith
@Riepe - so $4 a cupcake? Wow. I concur the economics are piss poor, but to pull a British line, "Stay calm and carry on". It is about all you can do. That and reduce consumption.
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