from the KEY WEST ART & HISTORICAL SOCIETY 281 FRONT STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 295-6616 Fax: 295-6649
Attention: News editors, news directors, features editors and programming directors. Please use the following item as a news story, public service announcement or community event. Pix available. For immediate release. Nov. 30, 2004.
This year you can do a lot of your holiday shopping while helping to support an important Keys' community cultural institution by visiting the gift stores at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, the Key West Lighthouse Museum and the Fort East Martello museum. "Although they don't advertise, our three shops offer an array of unique merchandise, much of it not found elsewhere in the Keys," said Lori Reid, museum stores manager for the Key West Art & Historical Society, "especially the Custom House gift shop." "Except for a few frequent customers, people don't realize what we have. Not only is it different, but much of it is very educational, especially things geared to young people. It's stuff that can't be found at K-Mart, Walgreen's or outlets on Duval "We've got toys for kids who like sea creatures, fish, birds and dinosaurs. These educational sets for grade school children that have been endorsed by the Smithsonian Institution. Each one has a stuffed toy, such as a sea turtle or a manatee, accompanied by a book that tells how the animal fits into its particular ecological system. For older children and adults there are books on practically everything: pirates, reef fish and oceanography, Flagler's railroad and all of Florida Keys history, Key West writers-especially Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams-and dozens of books on art and artists, including some very beautiful coffee table volumes," she said. "Probably our most important art for sale is not available anywhere else," Reid said. "It's our Mario Sanchez lithograph prints. Next February the Custom House will present a major retrospective of Mario's work called Listening to our Ancestors, which will exhibit many of his original works. So now is a good time to get these prints, both signed and unsigned, because they are somewhat limited in number. A Sanchez litho makes a terrific present for anyone on your list, whether they are familiar with Key West or not," she said. "Oh, also on our bookshelves are several cookbooks, including the Key West Women's Club Cookbook, and I think we are the only store that stocks Eat Smart, The Nutrition Cookbook You Can't Live Without, the latest book by local nutritionist Jean Carper. "For the adult who has everything, you can buy a small bronze replica of the new life-size Hemingway statue that will mounted in front of the Custom House in July. Each one is hand crafted by Sculptor Terry Jones sculptor in a very limited edition. It's expensive, but it is a piece of art that will last forever and probably will become more valuable over the years," Reid explained. "There also is a ton of other Hemingway-related material -note cards, daybooks, journals, clothing. "And did you say 'roosters?' We have them in ceramic, wood and paper and even an iron one to use as a doorstop. And cats too. "I want to emphasize that this not just souvenir stuff. All of it relates in some way to our museums and a lot is educational. Everything is neatly boxed or packaged, and we can ship any place in the U.S.," she said. "We try to keep our prices within reason: All our profits go toward keeping our museums operating, " she said. Members of the Key West Art & Historical Society can receive discounts of up to a 20 percent, depending on their type of membership. "Whether you are tourist or local, a member of the Society or not, it's very worthwhile to stop in our stores to see what we have," Reid said.
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