I mentioned last week I was in Marathon for three days of classes. One day we took lunch at what is frequently described as the best place to get seafood in the city.
The restaurant and marina is located on the Gulf side (the north side) of Highway One at the end of 35th Street which is behind the Switlik School and the Florida Highway Patrol Offices. It's a busy place.
Karl and Kristi were looking for one of the attractions here, the tarpon looking for tid bits. None were available when we were there.
The restaurant exudes the sort of Florida Keys picturesqueness people queue up to enjoy.
I was sorely tempted by the lobster mac and cheese, a very popular fad currently sweeping the islands but I thought it would be too heavy for an afternoon's class work yet to come. The "Name a TV Show" suggestion is part of the shtick here.
To place an order the staff require each customer to name something, in this case a program on television. I've been there when they wanted the name of a tune or an actor or some other thing. 
It's a gimmick that really gets people going. Karl opted for "South Park" and Keith took "fantasy Island." That got the lady to giggle at the window. I chose "Northern Exposure" the only TV show that left me bereft when it ended. I still watch the collection of discs my wife bought me years ago. This category could have been a problem for me as I have no TV connections outside my Netflix subscription.
Keith started to give me a hard time when I took his picture but I wanted to illustrate the place with something a bit more lively than static photos. 
Outdoor seating was the thing in this weather- sunshine and a light cool breeze and no humidity. From the left, Karl, Kristi ("Jersey Shore") and Lisa ("The Flintstones").
I expect this sign gets as ignored as any other. 
Bird feeding isn't allowed either though judging by the pelicans attitude they have expectations...
...as did this bird, imitating the posture of the tourist in the distance. 
Keys Fisheries is a big place, causing Fred to pause and ponder as he waited for his order. I forget which show he picked though there was some discussion about the choices.
They sell knick knacks in the store and I quite liked these t-shirts.
My grilled mahi mahi (dolphin) over Caesar salad was ready before I knew it. My colleagues were shouting "Northern Exposure " at me several times before I twigged that my food was ready.
Karl got shrimp and they looked excellent.
Lisa got the Lobster Reuben which came with sauerkraut and it was enough to feed two. I will have to come back with my wife and soon, as she loves lobster. The stuff really is fresh too, as you might imagine.
Ray had a fish sandwich and he was happy as a clam enjoying the Keys experience. He'd lost the formal looking tie by this stage in the class. he never did show up in a Hawaiian shirt as promised.
The last day of class the Monroe County Sheriff's Office put on lunch and they did us proud. But for a visit to Marathon and when out hunting for fish I would come here:
It's a full service kind of place.
The colors of winter are outstanding.
And then back to reality along Highway One, here looking south towards the traffic light at 33rd Street.
Considering we had excellent hamburgers at Burdine's on 15th Street the day before we ate pretty well during our stay in the Middle Keys.
The restaurant and marina is located on the Gulf side (the north side) of Highway One at the end of 35th Street which is behind the Switlik School and the Florida Highway Patrol Offices. It's a busy place.Karl and Kristi were looking for one of the attractions here, the tarpon looking for tid bits. None were available when we were there.The restaurant exudes the sort of Florida Keys picturesqueness people queue up to enjoy.I was sorely tempted by the lobster mac and cheese, a very popular fad currently sweeping the islands but I thought it would be too heavy for an afternoon's class work yet to come. The "Name a TV Show" suggestion is part of the shtick here.
To place an order the staff require each customer to name something, in this case a program on television. I've been there when they wanted the name of a tune or an actor or some other thing. 
It's a gimmick that really gets people going. Karl opted for "South Park" and Keith took "fantasy Island." That got the lady to giggle at the window. I chose "Northern Exposure" the only TV show that left me bereft when it ended. I still watch the collection of discs my wife bought me years ago. This category could have been a problem for me as I have no TV connections outside my Netflix subscription.Keith started to give me a hard time when I took his picture but I wanted to illustrate the place with something a bit more lively than static photos. 
Outdoor seating was the thing in this weather- sunshine and a light cool breeze and no humidity. From the left, Karl, Kristi ("Jersey Shore") and Lisa ("The Flintstones").I expect this sign gets as ignored as any other. 
Bird feeding isn't allowed either though judging by the pelicans attitude they have expectations...
...as did this bird, imitating the posture of the tourist in the distance. Keys Fisheries is a big place, causing Fred to pause and ponder as he waited for his order. I forget which show he picked though there was some discussion about the choices.They sell knick knacks in the store and I quite liked these t-shirts.
My grilled mahi mahi (dolphin) over Caesar salad was ready before I knew it. My colleagues were shouting "Northern Exposure " at me several times before I twigged that my food was ready.
Karl got shrimp and they looked excellent.Lisa got the Lobster Reuben which came with sauerkraut and it was enough to feed two. I will have to come back with my wife and soon, as she loves lobster. The stuff really is fresh too, as you might imagine.Ray had a fish sandwich and he was happy as a clam enjoying the Keys experience. He'd lost the formal looking tie by this stage in the class. he never did show up in a Hawaiian shirt as promised.
The last day of class the Monroe County Sheriff's Office put on lunch and they did us proud. But for a visit to Marathon and when out hunting for fish I would come here:It's a full service kind of place.
The colors of winter are outstanding.
And then back to reality along Highway One, here looking south towards the traffic light at 33rd Street.
Considering we had excellent hamburgers at Burdine's on 15th Street the day before we ate pretty well during our stay in the Middle Keys.
10 comments:
Conch:
I prefer boats to motorcycles any day. I did not grow up in the shadow of the Appenines. You spent a considerable amount of your life on the West Coast of the U.S. whereas I have been an East coast Floridian my entire life. I enjoy fisghing trmemendously, whereas you largely see it as a grand waste of time. I prefer pictures of scantily clad women of all shapes and sizes over pictures of tourists on cell phones and "keep out" signs, whereas you, well...you know.
All this notwithstanding.. finally, FINALLY we have a commonality. NORTHERN EXPOSURE! I think I may have shed a small tear when I knew that I would no longer see Fleischman and Maggie, and Maurice..How I loved me some Maurice! (I can't remember the Inuit secretary's name, but she was great). As far as I'm concerned TV has been on a steady decline since then. (except for "Modern Family"....you should give it a try--extremely well written)
Have a delicious Monday...I got guilted into taking the day off by my wife who still buys into the Valentine's day drivel.
Fleischman's secretary was Marilyn Whirlwind. Little did I know that Conch & I share Northern Exposure as a significant TV favorite. The short lived series "Key West" was similar for me.
Burdine's fries are terrific with their lemonade. I'll have to try Keys Fisheries next time I'm forced up to Marathon.
Thank god for Northern Exposure. I suddenly got worried about exposing young Kristi to more comments.
I see that young Kristi chose Jersey Shore, quite possibly the worst excuse for programming to be viewed on TV. My wife is an avid viewer of it and the housewives shows. I want to punch myself in the ears when she has control of the remote.
As for Northern Exposure, I remember some of it from my teens and I actually enjoyed it. Like Keith, Key West was a brief favorite of mine. I'm still waiting for it to be available on Netflix, as badly written as it was and Jennifer Tilly was quite the tart back then.
A viewing of the movie "Network" (early 1980s, I think) will remind you that Paddy Chayefski hit the nail squarely on the head, though I don't think the movie was strictly intended to be a preview of TV, circa 2011.
I used to work in a cubicle farm that was just down the street from the industrial park where "Northern Exposure" had its sound stage (interiors were filmed there, exteriors in Roslyn, Wash.). I liked the first season, but it seemed to me the writers were running out of ideas after that...
__Orin
Scootin' Old Skool
Blasphemy! Northern Exposure was great for all six seasons. If Orin ever hobbles down here I will strap him down and make him watch all the discs of all the seasons.
Dear Rob: see? Kristsi has feet of clay.
I'm a big fan of Northern Exposure.
I'm afraid I agree with Orin. 'Northern Exposure' was good the first season then lost... something. And the last few seasons just got silly. I'm not sure it's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as 'Key West' though...
Key West, despite a few charms, was a poorly written show. Northern Exposure was inspiring for network TV and often tackled abstract subjects with humor and grace.
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