The Seabreeze on the dock

We ate dinner at the Seabreeze for the first time in 1988. It was quite good. But "time makes ancient good uncouth" as the old hymn goes, or things change over time. There were years when people would drive to Cedar Key to eat dinner at the Seabreeze. Not so much anymore. It's still a fun place, dining on the 2nd floor, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico. But it's not the same; the spark is gone.

Condos for sale or rent

Posted! Capital City Bank

Peek-a-boo!

On the road (to Cedar Key) again!

Cedar Key, being 24 miles from the nearest main highway, is a magnet for bikers and you'll find a number of motorcycles in town any time you visit.

Canteen Cuisine on Cedar Key

That Old Gang of Mine

This is where (at least I believe it is true) the old Cedar Key gang meets for coffee in the morning to chew the fat and solve the problems of the world.

Airboat in for repairs

It appears this airboat, parked at the Auto Repair Center, could use a little bit of work.  Airboats are common in Cedar Key as many of the waters are very shallow - they're called "flats".  Airboats fly across the surface without getting entangled in underwater growth or old stumps, etc.

Winter solitude

Cedar Key beach on a cool winter's day

Photo by Lois Anne.

Cedar Key Welcome Center

Twin Swings That Swing and Sing at Night

On a relatively cool day in the middle of the week, the beach area at Cedar Key is deserted. One might conclude that these twin swings get a bit lonely and bored sitting there baking in the sun with no one to get them moving.

There's a story told by Cedar Key natives that at night when all is dark and stormy and when there's no moon at all, the chairs party! They swing, boy do they swing. And when the swing, they sing. The natives say the singing is the voices of ghosts - those people who were driven off the island when settlers moved in to harvest the trees for pencils.

But others claim that's nonsense; it's just a legend that has no basis in fact and the singing swings are not really singing. What sounds like singing is noise from the wind blowing through the chains.

I think the native are right and the next time we stay overnight in Cedar Key I'm going to check it out if it's dark and stormy enough and there's no moon.

If I dare.

On a bathroom door in a gift shop on the Dock

I wasn't going to post this at first 'cause I thought it was a crappy sign, but then I came to my senses and did it anyway.

Lil Shark Park on the beach

Iconic Cedar Key Cottage

Three palms and a breeze

Patio dining at Tony's Seafood - downtown Cedar Key

Catching a few rays on a cool winter day

Cedar Key reflections

This magnificent photo was taken by Lois Anne!

A back bay

Abandoned and discarded

I don't know where it came from, but it was lying in this death position on the beach next to the Sea Breeze restaurant. So sad.

Rusty Rim - DOA

Some years back, we knew this place as the Captain's Table. It's gone through several incarnations, the latest being the Rusty Rim and Coconuts. Then there was a fire, which, while it didn't destroy the place entirely, left it badly scarred.

Not too many months ago, while visiting Cedar Key, it appeared the place was being restored. However, that restoration has either been stalled and halted.

Hopefully, someone will come along to finish the restoration and make this a viable eatery for Cedar Key.

Aeroplane at Cedar Key airport

The Cedar Key airport consists of one runway long enough for a plane this size to take off and land safely. Some of the people who live along the runway keep their planes in their driveway or front yard. This plane we found at the end of the runway.

Rusty Old Anchor

You may remember Hoyt Axton singing "Rusty Old Halo." It was a good song. Halos are probably more interesting than rusty old anchors, though, so I doubt if anyone has written a song about a rusty old anchor.

Hiding out at the police station

Ready and waiting

Waterfront Cottages

This tourist "camp" has been around for a long time; it still looks like it used to many years ago; it looks like "old Florida." I thought the infrared showed "old Florida" better than the color shot.

Seabreeze Restaurant on the Dock

Our first meal in Cedar Key was in this restaurant, in 1988.

Seating for Snowbirds

Honeymoon Shack fights for its life

Home across from the marina

This beautiful, iconic Cedar Key home is located directly across from the marina. It's a perfect location except for the noise generated by boats and people passing by.

The Island Condos - near downtown

The ugliest mermaid in the history of the world!

Cedar Keyside - on the Dock

Photographer caught in action

The City Daily Photo theme for March is "People on the street." These people are technically not on the street, they are on a dock connecting to the street trying to get a photograph of a little pin-headed duck or something similar. It was, as you can see, a cool day.

To see other takes on the theme, please click here.

The Cedar Key Playground

It was a cool day. Very few people were on the streets of Cedar Key. But on warm weekends, this playground is filled with kids and their parents.

Kayaks ready to go to sea

Warmer weather has arrived and these kayaks will soon be scooting about the Gulf of Mexico!

Deserted beach

There was no one on the beach on this sunny, but cool winters day.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Brown pelicans flying under the wire

SR 24 - the road to Cedar Key

From Otter Creek, at Highway 19 and SR 24, it is about 24 miles to Cedar Key. This is what SR 24 looks like.

Big Deck Bar

The Big Deck Bar, located on the Dock, has gone through many changes (name and otherwise) over the years. But it keeps on keeping on. In this latest incarnation, you enter through an orange door. Orange, of course, is one of many colorful colors that adorn this old building!

February's theme is "entry," and you can check out how other photographers portray that theme here.

Sailboat

Cedar Key scenic

Photo by Lois Anne. Nikon D40.

The Gathering Place

In 1988, on our first trip to Cedar Key, this establishment was known as Cook's Cafe.  Locals and visitors considered it the place to go for a decent breakfast!

Down through the years, it changed ownership several times and for awhile it stood vacant.  To see the site of many happy memories sit idle was unhappy for us.

Then, in October of last year, Michelle renovated the building and set up her own cafe, called The Gathering Place.  What a job she has done!  It is clean and neat and the food is "home-cooked" by a chef who wants nothing more than to tease your palate with delight!

We had lunch.  It was delicious.  And the staff could not be nicer.  Michelle was warm and friendly as was Donna Risker, a native of Cedar Key (pictured in the last photo).  Michelle is also a very fine photographer, and you'll note she's standing in front of two of her photos of the old "Honeymoon Cottage," a Cedar Key icon.  We remember when the cottage was mostly intact and it's sad to see it gradually disappearing into the water.  Now, it's almost gone.

By the way, Donna is a graduate of the Cedar Key School, a photo of which was posted yesterday.

You can check out their website here. 

Addendum:  Michelle saw this post and gave us a thumbs-up.  She also clarified some of the information and added to it.  I'm afraid we did not give enough credit to a couple of people, so I'm posting some of what Michelle said:

As far as the renovations here, they were actually mostly done by the building's owner, Beth Davis, who owns/runs the Quilt Shop in the building. We, my husband and I, just spruced the place up a bit ... added some more paint, the tablecloths, napkins, and the Caribbean Blue touches (napkins, window sides, etc). Beth also had the small partition brought in near her door up front.

The restaurant is actually my husband's baby who had been in restaurant for years, and I just came along for the ride. ;-). He's the cook and has all the knowledge.

 

Thank you, Michellle, and we wish you a long and happy career at The Gathering Place!