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Brass Monkey Lounge

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Keysy
Keysy
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5 out of 5
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1
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Brass Monkey Lounge

  • May 9, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Keysy from Florida Keys, Florida
Brass Monkey Lounge

Almost everyone who has been to the Florida Keys has an opinion about the Brass Monkey Lounge. And those opinions vary dramatically between people who have actually been there and those who have just heard about the place. One customer called it "the heart and soul of Marathon". Another said, "If you sit at the Monkey's bar long enough, eventually you'll meet everyone in town". Certainly an interesting variety of people—locals and visitors, famous and infamous—pass through its portals. The legendary watering hole, located just around the corner from K-Mart on Sombrero Beach Road, is also known as the "Funky Monkey", the "Brass Monkey Center for the Performing Arts", the "In Place of the Out Islands" or just the "Monkey".This late-night rock and pool joint attracts a fun-loving, friendly group of regulars. If you like to people-watch, this is the place for you. If you like good, basic, loud, classic rock-n-roll from the 60s, 70s and 80s, Freddie Bye and his band (Scotty on bass, Rich on drums) deliver the Real Thing every Friday and Saturday night. Freddie goes solo on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, and Rich performs on Tuesday.

If you enjoy the spirit of the holiday season, there's no need to wait until December. The Brass Monkey throws its annual holiday celebrations on consecutive Fridays at the end of July. The Monkey's Christmas in July and New Year's in July parties rival those of the real holiday season, complete with hats, horns, noisemakers, free late night buffet, dance contests, and prizes tossed to the crowd by emcee (and former mayor) John Bartus. Where else but the Keys can you celebrate the holidays in mid-summer, complete with a spirited countdown to welcome in the new year?Lunch is served at the Monkey Monday through Friday from 11am to 2pm, and call-ahead take-out orders are welcome. The daily Happy Hour is 4pm to 8pm, and Happy Hour prices are extended to lunch as well. On Saturdays and Sundays you can get a free hot dog with your drink. The package store is next door, also open 7 days a week.The Monkey is a late-night place, so many of its patrons go there after other bars have closed. If you aren’t accustomed to the late-nightlife scene, here's a tip. First take a nap, with your alarm set for around 11pm. After a cold shower, you'll be refreshed and ready to party until the wee hours. Taxis are always nearby, so you don't have to drive to enjoy the Monkey.Brass Monkey Lounge, mile marker 50, K-Mart Plaza, Marathon. Lounge: (305) 743-4028, package store: (305) 743-5737.

From journal Dining in the Florida Keys

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