Featured Restaurant/Bar/Resort: Skippers Dockside

A new addition to Key Largo this season, Skipper's Dockside has been welcomed by locals and tourists alike.  The renovations to the property are spectacular (especially for those of us who remember the prior establishment!)  

With several bars, a huge tiki bar, gorgeous views, live music every night, and top quality food and specialty drinks, Skipper's is a very welcome addition to the upper Keys.

The menu is largely seafood dishes, but there are also plenty of choices to please the land-lubbers.

The specialty drink menu contains the usual suspects like margaritas, mojitos, shipwrecks, and daiquiris.  But, it also contains some interesting twists on your favorites as well some new and, in some cases, quite different flavor combinations.  

My personal favorite is the "Reel 'Em In." 

Mezcal, cilantro, serrano chili, cucumber, lime and sugar cube... it is the most unusual, and one of the most delicious and drinkable cocktails I've ever had.  

They go down waaay too easy!

Skipper's features some of the upper Keys best musicians 7 days a week: Scott Youngberg, Lee Sharp, Bob Bonnen and Reggie Paul just to name a few.

If you haven't been to Skipper's Dockside yet, do yourself a favor.  Go for dinner, drinks, and music in a relaxed and fun setting.  You'll be glad you did!

Skipper's Dockside  528 Caribbean Dr., Key Largo, (305) 453-9794

http://www.skippersdockside.com

Featured Movie: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

I finally saw "Birdman," and it definitely lived up to it's reputation.  What an amazing movie.

It was great to see Michael Keaton.  He looks good and his acting was superb.  He plays an aging actor, best known for his portrayal of a comic book hero, Birdman, 20 years ago.  Trying to prove himself as a serious actor and reinvent his acting career, he is writing, directing and starring in his own Broadway play.  Days away from opening night, he is beset with problems, from firing and replacing his leading actor; dealing with the ego and eccentricities of his new lead; working with his daughter recently hired as his assistant and recently released from rehab; an ex-wife he's still in love with and a girlfriend who may or may not be pregnant.  

Add to all of that, the character of Birdman who talks to him frequently, and even starts to materialize, advising him to forget the play and return to the superhero character.

The entire cast is fantastic, including Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts and Emma Stone.  

The filming and camera work were very interesting.  

I read that it was the directors idea for most of it to appear to have been filmed in a single shot.  

There are some twists along the way, and I'm on the fence about the ending.  But, over all I thought it was a great movie.  

What did you think of "Birdman" and what are your thoughts on the ending?

Bay Jam Turns 21 Today!

It's Bay Jam 21!

All Grown Up with Music to Prove It

Authentic New Orleans jump boogie, a grooving hipster blues band from New York City, an edgy Portland Oregon Americana folk duo, a Philadelphia-based Jazz/Funk band, Keys local Scott Youngberg, and an all-star band are highlights of the 21th annual Bay Jam Outdoor Music Fest. 

Gates open at 11 a.m. and music starts at noon, Sunday April 19. Held at the ICE Amphitheater in Islamorada Founders Park, MM 87, suggested admission donation is $10 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. 

“We’re 21, all grown up, and this year we’ll celebrate with great bands from around the county,” said David Feder, president of ICE. “But we never forget our roots. So we’re putting together an all-star band with some favorite Keys musicians from the last 20 Bay Jams too.” 

Deb's Celebration Of Life - TODAY!

With great sadness, we learned that our very own Debbie Hawkins passed away on Easter Sunday, after fighting her battle with cancer.  Debbie and the Hawkins family have been part of the entertainment community in the Keys for more than 30 years. One of Deb's last wishes was for her family and friends to gather one more time for a day of music, friendship and fun, so Deb's Day was planned for today.  Unfortunately, Deb didn't make it.  But, the party will go on.  The Florida Keys loves and takes care of it's own.

The Hawkins family has stepped up many, many times for the community and now it’s our turn to step up for them.  Deb had requested her family and friends get together one more time to share a day of music and fun, and that is what we will do in her memory.  We will also raise money for Jimmy and the family with auctions and raffles of items donated by businesses in our generous community.

Come out and help us support the family and celebrate the life of this great lady.

1:00 - 8:30 @ The Caribbean Club.

What are your favorites memories of Deb?

Relay For Life

Today is the Upper Keys Relay For Life.  Come walk with us anytime from Noon to Midnight at Founder's Park.  Make donations, support the cause, show your love to cancer survivors and caregivers.

There is a Survivors Brunch at 11:00 a.m.

Music starts at 2:00.  Scott Youngberg has put together a great line up of players today.  Some of the upper Keys favorites will be entertaining the walkers.

2 - 3  Robby McClung
3 - 4  Rob Smith
4 - 5  Kenny Channels
5 - 6  John Mavis
6 -7   Bill Todd
7 - 8  Scott Youngberg

Around 8:00, Scott will be making a speech about how much the American Cancer Society helped him (us.)  

Then the beautiful lighting of the luminary will occur as the sun goes down.  Live music ends at 8, but the music will continue with specially selected inspirational tunes for the remainder of the night.

Click the button for information about donating and supporting this great cause.

Come walk with us!

Featured TV Series: Orphan Black

Orphan Black is a Canadian show, aired on BBC America.  Tatiana Maslany is incredible, playing multiple characters who are, in fact, clones.  

Each clone is different with distinctive mannerisms.  They all have different ways of walking, even very different ways of talking, and sometimes it’s easy to forget they are all played by the same actress.  This is especially true when the scene brings 2 or more clones together and even more so when one clone has to impersonate another.  Tatiana is absolutely amazing portraying both characters simultaneously.  One of the clones has even become a man!

Matt Frewer is great as usual, playing the scientist who would do anything for the cloning project.  Exploring the ethical and moral implications of human cloning, the show raises issues including a radical religious movement regarding the creation of human life.

The entire cast is fantastic; the show is well written and intelligent.  The third season premiers on April 18.  I am currently re-watching season two as a refresher before the new one.  Definitely go back and catch this one from the beginning.

Have you been watching Orphan Black?

Happy Easter - With Florida Keys Style

Happy Easter From The Fabulous Florida Keys!

Watcha Watchin'?

There are actually a lot of good shows running on TV right now.

Here's a list of what is currently on my DVR:

"12 Monkeys" - Based on the movie by the same name, this show is a good ride.  They have made some changes to the original movie plot, but kept the gist of it.  It's gritty and dark, but the characters are developing well.  The girl who plays Brad Pitt's character from the movie is amazing...she had to have studied his mannerisms because she acts just like him!

"Archer" - I never wanted to like Archer, but, yeah, well... It's crude, silly, down right ridiculous sometimes, but there it is on my DVR.  It makes me laugh.

"Dig" - I've just started watching this one and haven't really made up my mind about it.  Anne Heche has never been one of my favorite actresses, but she is pretty good in this.  The whole prophesy of the red heifer is kind of silly to me, but if you buy into it, the show seems like it might be pretty good.

"Doctor Who" - Don't judge me...

"Drunk History" - If you aren't watching Drunk History, you don't know what you're missing.  Each week, a semi-famous to famous actor proceeds to get shit faced drunk while being filmed and telling historically factual stories.  While they are drunkenly telling the story, you also get to watch other semi-famous to famous actors act it out, including drunken slurs and inappropriate comments.  It's a hoot!

"Gotham" - This one snuck up on me.  The story centers around Bruce Wayne as a child of about 12, and young detective Gordon.  Gordon is busy trying to clean up the corrupt Gotham police department, while Bruce is trying to find out who murdered his parents.  The two begin to form a friendship.  Other future Batman characters are shown young, such as The Penguin, CatWoman (a young street urchin,) Poison Ivy, The Riddler and more.  Jada Pinkett Smith is absolutely amazing...It's almost worth watching just to see what fabulous dress she will be wearing.

 "iZombie" - A new show that I think has potential.  It's light and silly, but a fun ride.  A young doctor is killed and wakes up as a zombie.  To satisfy her hunger for brains, she transfers to the morgue.  She soon learns that she takes on the memories and personality traits of the person the brains once belonged to, and uses that ability to solve murders.  Like I said, light and silly, but I'm enjoying it so far.

"Marvel's Agent Carter" &

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." - Both of these shows are spin-offs of The Avenger's Movie.  I love the movie, and I LOVE Joss Whedon, who wrote the movie and produces the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  I like how they are developing the Marvel universe.  Agent Carter is cute because we get to know Howard Stark (Tony Stark's father) back in the day.  S.H.I.E.L.D. is a little more serious. If you didn't already love Agent Coulson from the movie, you will after watching the show.

"Downton Abbey" - My guilty pleasure.  I love this show.  It's just so English.

"Supernatural" - My go-to show.  They currently run the past seasons on TNT every day, and I can watch them over and over and over.  Watching Dean and Sam Winchester basically grow up on this show has been a great experience.  I normally don't like shows that deal with god and the devil, angels and demons, good and evil, black and white.  What I like about Supernatural is how they deal with these issues, but they are not black and white at all.  Some demons are good guys, and most angels are dicks.  Probably my favorite show on tv right now, I love me some Supernatural.

"The Americans" - I featured this one a while back:  Featured TV Show-The Americans.

"The Last Man on Earth" - This one was a silly find!  Will Forte is funny in this dark comedy.  Not very high brow, but it's worth a chuckle.

"The Walking Dead" - Oh yeah baby.  There was a time when my friends considered this show to be rated "NS" for No Suzi.  I don't usually like overly gory or bloody shows.  But, I have been hooked on The Walking Dead since watching the first episode.  It is so dark, so gruesome, and yet so very human.  It's one of the only shows that consistently causes me to yell at the TV!

"Vikings" - I featured this one a while back: Featured TV Show-Vikings.

"Weird Loners" - Haven't even watched this one yet.  I think they have only run one episode.  The ads looked quirky.  We'll see...

What's on your DVR?

Live Music For April

Click on the image to go to the Calendar.

No, it's not an April Fool's Day joke.  The Upper Keys Live Music Calendar has been updated for the month of April.  Please let me know if there are any musicians/bands that you want to see on the calendar.  If you are a musician/band and want to be added to the calendar, please just send me your schedule and I'll get you on there!

(You can always find the Live Music Calendar in the right hand column of The World According To Suzi.)

Please support live music wherever you are!