The Original Sloppy Joes Photo

Photographer’s Note

I toured the Ernest Hemingway home today and this guy was definitely a character but a talented one. The time frame that Hemingway was in Key West was 1931 to 1940, the depression years, or at least the first depression years.

The shots of Soppy Joe’s Bar I posed a few days ago are of the second location. Seem that in 1936 Joe was told his rent was going up at the original location on Green e Street, two doors away from the current location on the corner of Duval and Greene.

This link shows the area and Sloppy Joe’s Bar is on the southeast corner of Duval and Greene. Capt Tony’s is the second building southwest of the same corner.

The story goes like this. Moving out starts within minutes of getting the word the rent was increasing (Joe might have already locked in the Duval location but no one is talking about that). Not only were all the tables and other furniture items removed, so were all the fixtures, lights, toilets, everything. At the Hemingway home there is one of the urinals (laid horizontally) that still acts as a watering trough for the 45 six toed cats that roam the Hemingway property, many of these are decedent from the “Snowball” original his son brought down in the ‘30s

bakes888, gunbud, asajernigan, pablominto, fulvio52, lrw1966, stego, mumek, dareco, fanni, thor68 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

emka (21177) 2009-03-12 17:15

Hi Greg, I like the picture, it is very nice, with good colours, but the note I find extremely interesting. I did not know this story about cats.I have heard about polydactyls but I had no idea Hemingway had such cats. Is Hemingway still read nowadays? He was very popular many years ago. I still remember how I was shocked reading about his shooting himself. This street looks still like it could be in his times.

Regards

Malgorzata

bakes888 (18055) 2009-03-14 0:12

Hi Greg. Ernest Hemingway spent time fishing over here also and arguable kick started out our Big Game Fishing industry. Great photo, good colours and well framed and timed. The tourists add life to the scene. Nice capture and thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

Longroute (9133) 2009-03-14 2:03

Interesting street scene and appealing yellow bar. It really depicts this famous city very well giving a touch of local folklore. Interesting note too.
Have a nice week end,
Donato

gunbud (27741) 2009-03-14 7:27

Hi Greg,
You really do a fine job of catching the lazy mid-March pace of tropical Key West life here.
The colors are vivid with a fine frame of old time lamp post and plam tree.
Flip flops are a distant memory in these parts.
Your note is a wonnderful journey down memory lane.
Regards, Tom

asajernigan (14054) 2009-03-15 14:37

Greg,
Nice shot of this great spot in Key West. I remember spending a couple of hours in this place a few years back. Well, my memory is a little fuzzy but that is what happens in Key West! The main thing I remember about this watering hole is that the rafters were covered with tags and bras.
Your composition and POV are nice here showing the buildings from a good angle to create depth and direction. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF.
TFS,
Asa

pablominto (40364) 2009-03-16 0:57

Hello Greg,

An interesting documentary from the streets of Key West!
Is this far from his residence?
The point of view works well in adding good lines to the composition, and the colours are very well reproduced!

Greetings,
Pablo -

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-03-16 1:47

Hi, Greg.
A bit late, but I took those online problems as an excuse, dropped it all for a couple days and concentrate on other things. Well, the location looks just like as I left it, and that's a long time ago. On top of its unique, colorful architecture I reckon Key West charm also lies in it timelessness, all of which is on display in your shot. Excellent presentation, and it brings back great & greatly fuzzy memories too! LOL!!! Have a good day out there. Enjoy your vacation, I'll be seeing you.
Fulvio.

zmey (7244) 2009-03-16 8:06

hi Greg
I know this place; somehow this yellow fasade has stuck in my memory from my visits to the Keys. Yeah, the place must have had quite a different feel at the time Hemingway used to live there... It has changed a bunch (for the worst) even since I visited it first in 1994. The 'aborigines' are being forced out by skyrocketing real estate prices, etc. The place is turning into just another crowded tourist spot unfortunately.

best,
K.

lrw1966 (1630) 2009-03-16 15:20

Greg, Hi:

Wonderful you Daily Life scene. Thanks for the notes, as well.

Congratultions, very nicely done
Larry

stego (22350) 2009-03-17 10:21

Hi Greg,
A pleasant view with an inviting holiday atmosphere. The colours are quite charming and the life is well captured. Maybe the WS has an even better compo, but on the other hand I like much the street here.
Interesting stories, those of the note.
Regards, José.

mumek (17468) 2009-03-19 3:44

Hi Greg!
You captured a very nice street scene from Key West. Great colorful homes with walking people on the sidewalk. I was`in December 3 weeks in Miami Beach, but I didn't have time to visit Key West. Thanks for informative and intersting note.
regards
ziggy

bracasha75 (21900) 2009-03-30 5:44

Helo Greg
Key west is by my opinion match atractiver than California or other place with 24 H . sun
I would like to visit America sometime and under that Key west to
Thanks for sharing
Bratislav

dareco (17100) 2009-04-07 9:49

I love buildings like this, and especially the bright paint job!!! Cute and very welcoming. An interesting note and picture. TFS

fanni (8733) 2009-05-08 5:52

Hello Greg,
good capture, I like it very much :) I like this street daily life scene which includes not only the main yellow building but also the people walking by. The motorcyclist on the right is a very good balance to the left side of the image.
Very good perspective. And an interesting Workshop additional photo, too :)
Have a nice weekend!
best regards,
Elena