01 January 2022
KEY WEST, Fla. -- New Year's Eve partiers in subtropical Key West enjoyed offbeat warm-weather takeoffs on New York City's famed Times Square "ball drop" -- including the 24th annual "drop" of a drag queen perched in a supersized red high-heeled shoe.
Outside the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex, people on Duval Street watched Gary Marion, portraying drag diva Sushi, "drop" in the giant ruby slipper.
Wearing a multicolored self-designed gown inspired by graffiti, Sushi presided over the night’s festivities and live entertainment from her high-heeled “throne” suspended above the spectators.
While the final seconds of 2021 ticked away, she was lowered in the shoe from the complex's balcony toward the street below.
As the audience erupted in cheers, she landed and toasted the crowd with a glass of champagne. Confetti and lighting effects added to the spectacle.
Revelers also celebrated in Key West by watching a gigantic manmade conch (pronounced KONK) shell, the symbol of the Florida Keys, descend to the flat roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar. In the city's Historic Seaport, a pirate wench was lowered from atop the mast of the tall ship America 2.0 beside the Schooner Wharf Bar.
In addition, spectators applauded a huge replica Key lime wedge splashing down into a larger-than-life margarita glass during a waterfront gala, and the “landing” of a flight attendant in a replica aircraft section at a spot called the birthplace of Pan American World Airways.
Activities elsewhere in the Florida Keys included waterfront fireworks, other lighthearted “drops” and parties to welcome 2022.
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Story: 'Drag Queen/Red Shoe Drop' Highlights Key West New Year's Eve
Locator Super: Key West, Fla.
Video: Video can also be downloaded from the Florida Keys News Bureau's FTP server (download details below). Video can also be accessed via Google Drive Link here.
B-roll of "drag queen/red shoe drop" and revelers celebrating New Year's Eve in Key West.
TRT: 01:15
Filename: KeyWestNYE.mp4
Video source: Florida Keys News Bureau
Outside the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex, people on Duval Street watched Gary Marion, portraying drag diva Sushi, "drop" in the giant ruby slipper.
Wearing a multicolored self-designed gown inspired by graffiti, Sushi presided over the night’s festivities and live entertainment from her high-heeled “throne” suspended above the spectators.
While the final seconds of 2021 ticked away, she was lowered in the shoe from the complex's balcony toward the street below.
As the audience erupted in cheers, she landed and toasted the crowd with a glass of champagne. Confetti and lighting effects added to the spectacle.
Revelers also celebrated in Key West by watching a gigantic manmade conch (pronounced KONK) shell, the symbol of the Florida Keys, descend to the flat roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar. In the city's Historic Seaport, a pirate wench was lowered from atop the mast of the tall ship America 2.0 beside the Schooner Wharf Bar.
In addition, spectators applauded a huge replica Key lime wedge splashing down into a larger-than-life margarita glass during a waterfront gala, and the “landing” of a flight attendant in a replica aircraft section at a spot called the birthplace of Pan American World Airways.
Activities elsewhere in the Florida Keys included waterfront fireworks, other lighthearted “drops” and parties to welcome 2022.
###
Story: 'Drag Queen/Red Shoe Drop' Highlights Key West New Year's Eve
Locator Super: Key West, Fla.
Video: Video can also be downloaded from the Florida Keys News Bureau's FTP server (download details below). Video can also be accessed via Google Drive Link here.
B-roll of "drag queen/red shoe drop" and revelers celebrating New Year's Eve in Key West.
TRT: 01:15
Filename: KeyWestNYE.mp4
Video source: Florida Keys News Bureau
FTP Information
Host: ftp://216.194.165.19
UserID: floridakeys@news.fla-
Password: islands
Folder: News Video
Filename: KeyWestNYE.mp4
It is best to access and download files from the FTP site using a dedicated FTP software package such as Fetch.