Morning View - Island House

All is quiet at this early hour at the Island House. As usual there are some JMG readers here this week: two self-proclaimed "flying monkeys" from Minneapolis, Mike from Atlanta, Russ from Manhattan, and a boisterous bear couple from Surrey, England. Say hello, boys!

New From The Island House

Staffers here at the Island House let me know that they've created a bear-centric parody of a recent underwear commercial partially filmed on their property.

The Island House Key West extends a warm welcome to all types of gay men, regardless of body type! Unlike our wonderful friends at Andrew Christian, we don't all have chiseled abs and perfect pectoral muscles. So here's our fun-filled parody video showcasing some of the fun and outrageousness that is welcome by anybody on an average day at Island House!

Morning View: Delivery Dogs

Father Tony and I arrived in Key West yesterday for our annual sojourn at the Island House. This morning I spotted these guys perched aboard the delivery scooter for the Old Town Bakery, my favorite breakfast spot on the island. The Mad Maxian delivery dude came out with an order, the pooches hunkered down, and off they zipped.

Key West's Island House Is For Sale, Owner Jon Allen Hopes For Gay Buyer

As many of you learned several weeks ago, Key West's famed Island House resort is for sale following the December death of Martin Kay, who owned the business with Jon Allen (above), his partner of 23 years. Knowing that I have made annual pilgrimages to the Island House for the last several years, I've been getting messages from JMG readers who are fearful that yet another of Key West's dwindling number of gay guest houses will fall into straight hands. I held off on writing about about the sale until our own Father Tony could interview Jon Allen himself. Tony's story appeared this week in South Florida Gay News.

What will become of Island House? The asking price of $13.5 million has proven to be reasonable given the excellent condition of the property, the constantly low vacancy rate, the well-trained and harmonious staff, and a clientele so fiercely loyal that upon announcement of the offering, bookings for March went up 67 percent over last year. Often, such an announcement will cause customers to hesitate. Allen wonders if the increase is because his customers could not bear the thought of never again visiting Island House. Serious offers have been received in the first week of the listing. Almost all interested buyers are former Island House guests who know the property well. Allen says that his strongest wish for Island House is that it should remain a guesthouse for gay men. For him, Island House contains wonderful memories, and he often describes his work by saying, “In my workday, I am surrounded by happy naked men and a wonderful staff that know how to solve problems.”

Allen, 70, says that he can't bear to remain in Key West, where reminders of his late partner appear at every turn. After the sale is concluded, he will move to a gay retirement community near the Russian River area north of San Francisco.

Even if the Island House is acquired by longtime patrons who change nothing and run the business  with the same high standards that have earned countless glowing reviews, the new owners will be challenged to maintain the genial "every kind of gay man is welcome here" atmosphere created by Martin Kay and Jon Allen, who greeted and treated new guests like old friends.

Morning View - Blogging Station

I spent some time blogging from that yellow chair, but then things went nuts with New Mexico and Utah and I had to retreat to my room. Too many distractions!

Morning View - Island House Cafe

The Island House has been sold out all week, but the patrons rarely seem to make it to breakfast at the poolside cafe.

Morning View - Spanky

The unflappable Spanky monitors the front desk at the Island House.

Afternoon View - Island House Pool

OK this is really only a hint of the pool, but you know, discretion.

Afternoon View - Island House

Father Tony and I have arrived at Key West's fabulous Island House for our annual visit. I'll be blogging poolside for the next week, so expect more typos than usual.

The Saddest Sign In Key West

Another fabulous week in Key West gone in a dizzying blur. Father Tony and I scarcely left the gorgeous Island House this time, except to revisit one of our favorite restaurants, El Siboney (twice!), and hit the charmingly ramshackle seafood joints like Bo's Fish Wagon (cracked conch!) Huge thanks to Island House owner Jon and his very friendly team. I already can't wait to return. Next stop on this trip: Orlando.

Morning View

Early and quiet.

Quote Of The Day

Yesterday, as an older couple situated themselves poolside at the Island House in Key West, I overheard a young, muscular handsome boy say something quite disparaging regarding their arrival.  Those ugly words had hardly left his lips when the apparent leader of his coterie of five equally beautiful men chastised him angrily, poking a finger in the subject's chest: "Darling, if you are very, very lucky, you can only hope that one day, maybe, you and I and all of us will be around to enjoy a place like this when we are their age. Don't throw shade, honey. See yourself in them." The speaker's friends nodded vigorously and first boy cast his eyes downward in embarrassment.

I wanted to hug all of them. Minus one.

Morning View

Two furry little guys wandered into my Island House room this morning, wrestled around a bit, then laid staring disinterestedly at me.  Same as it ever was.

Afternoon View

Morning View - Harry

The Island House has added two more cats since my last visit. This is Harry snoozing at the front desk. His brother William is scampering around under the pool chairs. I haven't yet seen my favorite, Oliver.

Morning View

The clubs in Key West close at 4AM so only the totally responsible adults like Father Tony and myself were at the Island House restaurant early this morning. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Yup.