Florida Tourism and Travel

Key West, Florida Keys - The schedule includes readings and presentations, a book signing by author and illustrator Edward Hemingway, a world-premiere play reading and the announcement of the winners of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition.

Lorian Hemingway, critically acclaimed author of “Walking Into the River,” “Walk on Water” and “A World Turned Over,” also is a journalist whose work has appeared in publications including “GQ,” “Rolling Stone” and “Esquire” magazines.

A granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, she has directed the short story competition since its inception in 1981. The literary contest was created to recognize and support the talents of emerging writers.

Lorian Hemingway plans to announce the winners of the Hemingway Days 2008 at 8 p.m. Friday, July 18. The first-place writer is to receive $1,000, while second- and third-place winners are awarded $500 each and others receive honorable mentions.

The awards announcement reception is scheduled to take place at Ernest Hemingway’s first Key West residence, Casa Antigua, 314 Simonton St. Completely restored since Hemingway’s era, the property is a showplace with a soaring central atrium garden open to the sky. Owners Tom Oosterhoudt and his mother, Mary Ann Worth, are longtime supporters of the arts who open their home each year to sponsor and host the short story events.

The awards reception is to include a reading of the winning entry, a presentation on Casa Antigua’s unique history by Tom Oosterhoudt and tours of the property. Admission is free.

Another scheduled Hemingway Days literary highlight is a book signing and reception celebrating the release of “Bump in the Night,” a children’s book written and illustrated by Edward Hemingway, Ernest’s youngest grandson.

The event is set for 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, in the colorful outdoor courtyard of Key West’s landmark Blue Heaven restaurant and bar, 729 Thomas St. Blue Heaven is located on the former site of a boxing ring where Ernest Hemingway refereed neighborhood matches when he lived in the The Hemingway Home In Key West Florida.

“Bump in the Night” features blue-hued retro-style illustrations, an appealing young hero, humor and a reassuring message that debunks childhood fears. Edward Hemingway’s previous writing and illustrations have appeared in “Gourmet,” “GQ” and “Nickelodeon” magazines, among other outlets.

The Blue Heaven reception will feature light refreshments. Admission is free to kids, grownups and everyone who wants to find out why there’s no need to fear a “Bump in the Night.”

Writers and photographers whose work has been influenced by Key West are to star at an evening of readings, presentations and discussions Wednesday, July 16. Scheduled for 8 p.m., the literary evening is hosted by Wyland Galleries of Key West and takes place at Wyland’s 623 Duval St. gallery.

Notable participants include Lorian Hemingway, treasure-diving photographer and writer Don Kincaid, who played a pivotal role in the discovery of the shipwrecked Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha off Key West; author/photographer and expert angler Jeffrey Cardenas, whose books “Sea Level” and “Marquesa: A Time & Place with Fish,” blend natural history and fishing reminiscences; and writer, artist and writing coach Cricket Desmarais, editor of Key West’s acclaimed literary/art annual “the secret of salt: an indigenous journal.”

“Voices, Places, Inspirations” features a reception where attendees can mingle with presenters and discover the work of marine life artist Wyland and his creative contemporaries. Admission is free.

The world-premiere reading of “Storm Surge” by Southern playwright Hubert Grissom is planned for Thursday, July 17. The offbeat comedy-drama touches on drag antics, the Hemingway family legacy, struggles with relationships and addiction, a set of mismatched twins and the puzzle of gender identity.

An attorney as well as a playwright, Grissom is a longtime Hemingway Days in Key West contributor. In 2004, the festival schedule included a reading of “Code BapBomb,” his best-known Civil Rights-themed play.

The curtain goes up on the reading of “Storm Surge” at 8 p.m. Thursday at Key West’s Red Barn Theatre, 319 Duval St. Admission is free.

For information about the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition and other literary events during Hemingway Days, call (305) 294-0320.

For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539).

Key West, FL - Internationally acclaimed pianist Andreas Klein and rising opera singer Yuriko Nonaka are to appear with the Key West Symphony during the orchestra’s final master series concerts of its 10th anniversary season.

The symphony is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, 5901 W. College Road on the Florida Keys Community College campus.

During the symphony’s April concerts, Klein is to display his artistry on Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor.” The symphony also is to perform excerpts from Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” with Nonaka singing the role of Butterfly.

Nonaka recently won a prestigious European opera competition for her portrayal of Butterfly. She prepared for the challenge in part during master classes at an opera seminar presented by the Key West Symphony.

A native of Germany, Klein is a premier interpreter of works by Beethoven, Mozart and Robert Schumann, among others. He has performed as a soloist in leading venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as with internationally acclaimed orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic.

For each concert weekend, the symphony’s nationally recognized conductor and musical director Sebrina Maria Alfonso brings together more than 70 professional symphonic musicians from around the country.

Alfonso’s musical credits include stints as guest conductor for the Prague Radio Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic, among many others. In addition, she was the first Cuban American ever invited to conduct and hold a permanent guest conducting position with Cuba’s premier orchestra.

In addition to the Friday and Saturday evening concerts, the symphony’s schedule includes two free daytime concerts for Florida Keys students. The young people’s concerts are a component of the symphony’s ongoing educational outreach program. Each season, the symphony provides up to 3,000 Keys students the opportunity to hear and explore the world of classical music.

Symphony fans that want to delve deeper into April’s featured musical selections are invited to attend a “Symphony Chat” with scholar and lecturer Dr. Edward Pitts. He is to speak at 7:15 p.m. both concert evenings in the grand foyer of the Tennessee Williams Theatre.

Following the symphony’s performance Friday, April 4, attendees can meet the musicians and the conductor at a reception in the theater’s grand foyer.

Concert tickets are $32 to $75 per person based on seat location. They can be purchased online at www.keystix.com or by calling the Tennessee Williams Theatre box office at (305) 296-1520.

For more information, visit www.keywestsymphony.com or call (305) 292-1774.

For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539) or visit the Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

Key West, Florida Keys - The Banyan Resort and the Gardens Hotel Thursday became the Florida Keys’ first certified members of the Green Lodging Program, created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recognize and reward environmentally conscious lodging facilities in the state.

The two Old Town Key West properties were awarded “one-palm” certification for their environmental commitment in ceremonies attended by State Representative Ron Saunders, Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, Stacey Mitchell, director of sales for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and Laura Comer and Gus Rios of the DEP.

“These businesses are stepping up to recognize how important our environment is to the Florida Keys, and how important it is to protect what we have,” said Saunders.

The Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources. Properties are evaluated in categories including water and energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality and communication of green practices to guests. They must also have goals for continued improvements that can earn them “two-palm” and “three-palm” certification.

At the ceremonies, McPherson, who is also a TDC board member, encouraged implementing green initiatives to safeguard Key West’s environment for future generations.

“I’m excited about businesses taking part in these initiatives,” he said.

Environmentally friendly aspects of the Banyan Resort, a 38-suite property at 323 Whitehead St., include a towel and linen reuse program, a recycling program, energy conservation through solar roof panels for pool heating and high-efficiency compact fluorescent lighting, and purchasing products with recycled content such as plastic lumber used for courtyard decking.

The Gardens Hotel, an 18-room property at 526 Angela St., has implemented an environmental policy to communicate green living to guests as well as elements including low-flow faucets to conserve water and energy, a linen and towel reuse program, an automatic door closer and energy-efficient garden pump, a recycling program and purchasing products with recycled content and reduced packaging. In addition, four electric cars were purchased for staff errands around Key West.

“In working with the Green Lodging program and getting more lodging properties certified, we are encouraging sustainable and responsible environmental practices throughout the tourism industry,” said Mitchell. “We’re not doing this for ourselves - we’re doing this so future generations will benefit from practices we put in place today.”