Social Events
All social events are included in the conference registration fee.
Banquet, December 10th (Tuesday) 7:00pm-
The Conch Republic Seafood Company
631 Greene Street, Key West, Florida, 33040.
http://www.conchrepublicseafood.com/
Conch (pronounced "konk"), a large mollusk with a flaring pink shell, was once very common in the Keys (the islands). The residents admired it so much that they adopted its name for themselves. The word Conch refers to someone born in the Keys, which is affectionately known as the Conch Republic.
South Florida is blessed with tropical fruits, fresh vegetables year-round, and
seafood from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and the large Cuban and
Caribbean populations have made a strong culinary impact. The Florida Keys offer a
fantastic variety of cuisine. This open-air restaurant offers a spectacular waterfront
view, located at the Historic Seaport at Key West Bight and overlooking the Key West
Marina. At the conference dinner, we will sample the flavor of the Keys starting from
golden deep-fried conch fritters, and the finale of the island feast is the signature
dessert Key Lime Pie.
The restaurant is located about 30 minutes walking distance from Casa Marina. Parking
a car near the restaurant location is a bit difficult. Taking a taxi from the
hotel is easy. The outdoor temperature is expected to be around 72 F (22 C).
The cocktail bar (cash bar) starts at 7:00pm.
Reception, December 11th (Wednesday) 5:50pm-7:20pm
Casa Marina Grand Ballroom Patio
Sponsored by FEI
Excursion: Glass Bottom Boat Tour
December 12th (Thursday) 1:45pm at the boarding point
A two hour glass bottom boat tour (2pm-4pm) of the tropical reefs is
planned through Fury Water Adventures. We will
have the opportunity to see one of the few living North American coral
reefs, which are one of the most biologically diverse marine eco-systems in the world.
The glass bottom boat allows us to explore dramatic underwater vistas generally
reserved for scuba divers.
The boarding dock is located at the North end of Duval Street, about 35 minutes
walking distance from Casa Marina. Duval Street is a perfect strolling path, and there
are many restaurants and shops along. Parking a car near the boat departure location
is a bit difficult. Taking a taxi from the hotel is easy.
The boat drives 7 miles (30 minutes) out to the coral reef, and will be at the reef
for 50 minutes. During the boat tour, the air tempearture is expected to be around 77
F (25 C).
After the boat trip, you may want to hang around for the "Sunset Celebration" at
Mallory Square to watch street performers. There are many bars and resaurants in the
area, and many have live music entertainment. The sunset is at 5:40pm.
Quick Reference
Click here for a couple quick reference maps to FEIS 2013 event locations. Printable quick reference sheets for the events can be downloaded here in pdf format.