Shady Pictures

We were flattered and honored to learn this week we were named the number one dive bar in the South by Southern Living magazine.
We know that of late, "dive bar" has become a wildly misapplied and overused appellation and, we also know that, for a few reasons some may even feel that the Green Parrot may have strayed too far from our roots to qualify.
For example, some say a true dive should never appear in print unless it is closing, or mentioned as a crime-scene.
Others say that a clean, safe, well-run joint, (which we are), without the sense that shit could get dangerously strange at any moment does not qualify.
It should also be noted as other potential disqualifiers that we no longer have a condom machine in the restroom, nor are there discarded whippits strewn about.

While we do have a pinball machine and a great jukebox, as well as having a string or two of year-round Christmas lights, all dive staples, we do understand and concede that just having them doesn’t make you a dive.

What we do understand however, and here’s where I think we do qualify, is that a dive bar is one of society’s best accidentally-created things ever and we believe it’s clear to even the most casual observer that no one could ever have planned this place.
In reality, dive bars are, put simply, neighborhood places that serve reasonably-priced simple drinks with no pretense and have no-nonsense attitudes where, to name just one example, it's patently understood you can choose to be social, or can choose to be left alone to drink in private.
These are the places that pretty much say, “don’t F*** with anyone here and everything will be fine.” Our decor was once described as being whatever the clientele was wearing that day, and we acknowledge that our clientele is motley and changes according to the time of day.
In the words of local author Joy Williams, "The Parrot has an engagingly louche clientele, a pool table and a dart board, odd art, and an attitude best described by the sign over the booze shelves: 'No Sniveling'”
#southernliving #divebars #greenparrotbar #localsbar #keywest #keywestlife #joywilliams#divebar#keywestbars #divebarlife #corner-bar ...

Green Parrot Bar, Key West, Florida
#greenparrotbar #keywestflorida #keywestbars ...

We are looking ahead to October and what is shaping up to be yet another month of great music and cultural activities here on our little corner of Franklin and Einstein.
First up, Spred The Dub, Awarded “Best Reggae Band” by Broward-Palm Beach New Times as well as a win in the “Best Band” category from Miami New Times. Look for another dose of infectious ska-fueled shenanigans and plenty of that “Good Time Reggae” we all know and love.
Next four-time Grammy-winner Trae Pierce and his 9-piece bass-driven mix of funk, hip-hop, blues, and rock, who all but tore the roof off the place on his last Green Parrot visit.
Following right behind Trae don't miss Miami Blues-Rocker Albert Castiglia.
Next we host the "Your Favorite Band!", Siberian Surf-Rockers Igor and The Red Elvises, returning with their unique blend of Russian folk music, 50’s rockabilly, and surf. rock. The month wraps up with Xperimento, the Grammy-Nominated Latin/Rock Fusion troupe that promises to turn up the heat on the dance floor for two steamy nights.
There's 100% for Charity Bingo every Monday Night, Live Jazz on the first Sunday of the month and on the first Wednesday of the month it’s Green Parrot Ukulele Night, Key West's only Uke-powered jam session.
We present as well local talent that continue to mix blues, rock, reggae, and jam, supplied by Andy Westcott's Electrified Trio, Tony Baltimore's Wilde Awake, as well as inspired performances by Key West chanteuse Claire Finley, Myles Mancuso and Jason Lamson, jam-rocker Jesse Wagner, and Key West's King of Soul Robert Albury. Look for Rolando Rojas' "Mojito" to create a Salsa dance party and be here as we introduce a some late night sets with DJ Sanaris, fresh off his Bubba's People Choice award as Key West's Best D.J.
The Green Parrot Bar: "No Cover, No Minimum, No Wonder", free popcorn, spine-tingling cocktails, great live music, classic jukebox, pool, darts, and pinball, all for the price of a beer, Your Southernmost Center for Culture of All Kinds.#greenparrotbar #localsbar #bestbar#bestlivemusicvenue#divebar #nocovernominimumnowonder #firstandlastbaronus1#keywest #keywestmusic@greenparrotbar ...

open credits on the juke box unless the hudaks hog them all @jimfossumphotos #greenparrotbar #bestjukebox ...

home of the root beer barrel #keywestnightlife #rootbeerbarrels #greenparrotbar #cornerofsouthardandwhitehead #keywest #nighttimephotography #jimfossumphotos ...

A special thank you and a big hug to Janet and Kevin Life from The Angelina guest house around the corner for their annual holiday delivery of their homemade cinnamon ring (of course delivered still warm).
It seems they’ve outdone themselves again this year with a family size ring Kevin dropped off and we still remember very well a few years back, when there was not a single tree to be had on the entire island, their donation of an awesome Christmas tree saved Christmas for The Parrot and we now use that tree every year!
Angelina, we love you and Merry Christmas from all of us.
Love you guys!
Great neighbors in a great neighborhood!
#keywestpeople #keywest #greenparrotbar #greatneighbors #angelinaguesthouse#merrychristmas #christmastree #christmasspirit ...

No need to walk to get to your favorite spots around the island, Barefoot Billy’s has you covered with bike rentals! 🚲

Bike bar hoppers spotted at greenparrotbar 🍻 Book your bike rental today at barefootbillys.com!

#rental #bike #bikelife #cruising #keywestrestaurants #keywest #barefootbillys #historic #getoutside #bar #greenparrotbar #greenparrot ...

Happy Birthday Bob Marley
#greenparrotbar #bobmarley#bobmarleybirthday#bobmarleybongos #reggae #rasta#rootsreggae #rastafari #onelovepeace #irie #dancingshoes #greenparrotmemorabilia#exodus#legend#redemptionsong#ninemile#jamaica ...

Thinking once again of National Poetry Month at The Green Parrot and recalling something that happened here during Jack Hackett’s “One for the Road, a Poem-a-Day” that demonstrated to me the magic that can be created by the spoken word in the simple but rich setting of a barroom.
Before the band started their 5:30 Soundcheck set Jack Hackett read his poem, Trombone Solo by Stoddard King and when he had finished, he invited anyone else who had something to read to do so.
I said, by way of encouragement, "Who's next? I know there are some folks out there who have a poem that they'd like to share, one either committed to memory, banging around in their head somewhere, or maybe folded up on a scrap of paper they've carried around for years tucked away in their wallet".
Well, up to the microphone stepped Amy, a local patron, who said she had a poem she would like to read, and it was indeed a poem that she in fact had kept for years folded up in her wallet, given to her by her mother some four decades ago.
She unfolded the tiny, deeply-creased scrap of paper and, with her mother seated at the bar just a few feet away, listening, began to read the poem.

Armor by Ann Reichmann:

You don't know it
But I never really leave you
behind.
When I go off to work
I tuck the warmth of you
under my sweater.
I fold the sound of you
into my mind.
I roll up your smile and
hide it behind my eyelids
so every time I blink
I laugh with you.
I paint the touch of you
On every spot that may be vulnerable,
And just before I walk into the world
I raise the parasol of your love
over me
Safe-until I'm home again

#armor#annreichmann#jackhackett#sailorpoet#barroompoet
#poemaday#omiami #keywest#poetry #barroompoetry #greenparrotbar #divebarpoets #localculture #localcolor #irony #spokenword#greenparrotsoundcheck#omiamifestival ...

Green Parrot Bar, Key West, Florida
#greenparrotbar #keywestbars #keywest ...

One of these photos was taken in The Brown Derby over 50 years ago and the other one was taken in The Green Parrot just a few years ago..
If you look behind them as well as over their left shoulders you can see it was taken in front of the corner windows of the Parrot with the overhang visible over their left shoulders through the open front door.
While not to be this year, typically on this day would see, around parade time, sailors and other military stepping into the bar for a quick one, either before or after the Veterans Day parade on Duval. But the lack of a parade this Veteran's Day, will not deter all of us here at The Green Parrot Bar from taking the time to thank the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces and express our gratitude for all the sacrifices the vets have made.
Today and every day, we couldn't say thank you enough.
To Matt, Greg, and Steve, those seaman pictured before the Veteran's Day parade in Key West in the recent bottom photo, stay safe, God bless, and thanks for all you do.
#thankavet #veteransday #keywest #armedforces #greenparrotbar#brownderbykeywest #submarineservice #submariners #keywestnavalbase ...

Thomas and Petronia, Blue Heaven, Bahama Village, circa 1990s Photo 1950s Minolta Autocord Twin Lens Reflex w/ 400 ASA 120 roll film #greenparrotbar #minolta @greenparrot #minoltaautocord #keywest #blueheaven#analogphotography#filmphotography #kodak#440#kodak400 #keywestlocals#keywestrestaurants ...

Thinking once again of National Poetry Month at The Green Parrot and recalling something that happened here during Jack Hackett’s “One for the Road, a Poem-a-Day” that demonstrated to me the magic that can be created by the spoken word in the simple but rich setting of a barroom.
Before the band started their 5:30 Soundcheck set Jack Hackett read his poem, Trombone Solo by Stoddard King and when he had finished, he invited anyone else who had something to read to do so.
I added, by way of encouragement, "Who's next? I know there are some folks out there who have a poem that they'd like to share, one either committed to memory, banging around in their head somewhere, or maybe folded up on a scrap of paper they've carried around for years tucked away in their wallet".
Well, up to the microphone stepped Amy, a local patron, who said she had a poem she would like to read, and it was indeed a poem that she in fact had kept for years folded up in her wallet, given to her by her mother some four decades ago.
She unfolded the tiny, deeply-creased scrap of paper and, with her mother seated at the bar just a few feet away listening deeply, began to read.

Armor by Ann Reichmann:

You don't know it
But I never really leave you
behind.
When I go off to work
I tuck the warmth of you
under my sweater.
I fold the sound of you
into my mind.
I roll up your smile and
hide it behind my eyelids
so every time I blink
I laugh with you.
I paint the touch of you
On every spot that may be vulnerable,
And just before I walk into the world
I raise the parasol of your love
over me
Safe-until I'm home again

#armor#annreichmann#jackhackett#sailorpoet#barroompoet
#poemaday#omiami #keywest#poetry #barroompoetry #greenparrotbar #divebarpoets #localculture #localcolor #irony #spokenword#greenparrotsoundcheck#omiamifestival ...