Duval Street

Friday October 17, 2008
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Walking up
DUVAL Street
Key West, Florida 33040

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico

As I leave my humble abode in the Atlantic Shores Resort at 510 South Street, Key West, Florida - I walk Westward past the Diner Shores breakfast Shoppe and continue on by the Southernmost Hotel to the Duval Beach Club at 1405 Duval Street. This is the Southernmost end of Duval Street, right on the Atlantic Ocean .. and just two blocks from the Southernmost tip of the continental United States of America.
This where I have a Mango Martini and begin my journey Northward, up Duval towards the Gulf of Mexico.

Crossing South Street, there is the Butterfly Museum on the left hand side (West side). Since the beginning of time man has been fascinated by the ‘flowers of the sky...’, the butterfly. Many have tried to reproduce their beauty with palette and brush, words or music; but few have ever truly captured the magnificence of their fleeting beauty .. until now. Here.

Crossing United Street, there is the Chicken Store, immediately on the right hand side (East side). The Chicken Store is the home of the Rooster Rescue Team, a volunteer group devoted to preserving the gypsy chickens of Key West. They take in orphaned peeps, nurse sick or wounded chickens, relocate nuisance Roosters and introduce the birds to visitors and children. Farther up the block on the right is the Gingerbread Gallery, Key West’s premier and oldest Art Gallery

Crossing Catherine Street, we pass by the La Te Da Hotel on the right. Patrons can choose from the elegant Piano Bar, the breezy Terrace Bar or the charming Crystal Bar and enjoy live entertainment and fabulous drinks.
There are, still, more Galleries and Clubs and even an Ice Cream parlor on this block.

Crossing Virginia Street, there’s Square One Restaurant on the right. The ambiance at Square One suggests a comfortable party thrown by a gracious host, who has shined the silver, starched the cloths and arranged flowers in your honor. The lighting is low and flattering. The staff is alert to every detail and request. Live piano music trills like a sigh of relief, but playful tunes interspersed with romantic crooning keep the mood light.
Pizza and Sushi can be enjoyed on this block as well as furniture and jewelry shopping and there’s a quaint little Bed & Breakfast and, of course, an Art Gallery.

Truman Avenue is the next street crossing and is, also, known as U.S. Route 1 which runs from just a few blocks to the West all the way to the Canadian border, traversing over 2000 miles. The Key West Business Guild is located at the Northwest corner of Duval and Truman. Here, you can obtain information on the fabulously friendly island: how to get here; where to stay; what to do on the land or on the water; the delicious dining and eclectic shopping options; famous events and renowned nightlife. They make it easy to find a luxury Hotel, intimate Inn or relaxed Guesthouse in all-welcome accommodations. Key West provides a beautiful and unique venue for weddings and commitment ceremonies, too.
There are several Restaurants and Lodging accommodations in this block and, of course, another fine Art Gallery. Also, The Tikal Trading Company is located here with Souvenirs galore.

Oliva Street is the next crossing and houses several quaint Bars, several Bed & Breakfast locations, several Pet Shops and several more Galleries.

Next comes the Petronia Street block which has classy Bars, old town Pubs, Lodgings, Scuba equipment stores, Pizza places, Restaurants and .. yes, a Gallery. My favorite eating establishment is in this block; a two story monstrosity known as Crabby Dick’s. You can’t miss it, it has a second floor terrace hanging over Duval Street with a cutout of a giant Crab, the size of a Buick.

Angela Street is the next crossing. This is just three blocks West of the Key West Cemetary. In this block, you can purchase shoes, clothing, boating equipment, Mexican, Greek, Island, and Italian fare and Pizzas.
You can receive tourist information and get a tattoo and .. yep, you can buy Art and even Art supplies. There is a Realty Company that sits a few buildings down Angela to the West where it never fails that I see a Rooster and a Cat sitting on the porch, side by side. They’re real, too. I can never figure out which one is guarding the other.

Then comes Southard Street where we see our first Duval Street Church. There’s, also, a Theatre and educational Institute located here. Of course, there’s food, clothing, lodging, bars, Bath & Body Works and Jimmy Buffett’s own Margaritaville Café. There’s a Walgreen’s .. and yes, an Art Gallery.

Now, we come to Fleming Street where the extravagant Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church sits on the corner and fills the block all the way to Simonton Street. We see our first Starbuck’s and our first Bank, as well. There’s more bars, more eateries, more clothing stores and a Hotel or two.

We find ourselves just four blocks from Key West Bight and the Historic Seaport Harbor, just off the Gulf of Mexico here at Eaton Street. There’s Prudential Realty, Fat Tuesday’s, Red Barn, Hard Rock Café, a Museum, a Woman’s Club, a jewelry store, theatre, a Columbian Coffee enterprise, two Galleries and the Southern Cross Hotel. This Hotel is the island setting for Kix Kanyon and Songbird Bogey in the epic novel, The Island written by yours truly.

Caroline Street is next and this block houses the famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar & Grille. This, of course, made famous, originally, by Ernest Hemingway who frequented this waterin’ trough near nightly. That’s two extremely talented writers that we’ve touched on that found inspiration, here in Key West. Well, one damn good one .. and one .. one .. ok, ok .. one. Fine. :lol:
Also, in this popular block just minutes from where the Cruise Ships dock is Rick’s, Dirty Harry’s, Bear Bottom Teasers, The Whistle, The Bull, Capt. Mario’s, Cheeseburger, Irish Kevin’s and Lazy Gecko.

Greene Street is next and runs directly beside Sloppy Joe’s. Another famous Pub - Hog’s Breath Saloon is located in this block with Banks, Biker shops, eateries, lodging, Ripley’s Museum, several Art Galleries and more Bars.

The last street is Front Street and dead ends at Glassbottom Boats. The Conch Tour Train has it’s station here as well as Billy’s Fish House and a CVS Pharmacy. Just off to the water side is Mallory Square where at Sunset, each evening a Circus of freelance performers take over and individually present a spectacle unlike any seen anywhere, anytime.

There you have it; a walk from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico .. in about 45 minutes to an hour and a half .. depending on stops along the way.

LARRY CURTIS SPURLOCK

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