Staycation Central

It’s time for summer vacation, but you can’t even afford a pup tent (not that you’d even want to go camping in the Florida wilderness, with mosquitoes the size of condors). Still, the lure of sitting dockside with a frozen drink in your hand while Bob Marley tunes play in the distance is very strong. We have a suggestion: Head to Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill (3301 Rickenbacker Cswy., Key Biscayne) for an awesome happy hour that re-creates that experience seven days a week. Legend says Whiskey Joe, a fictitious sailor who travels the Caribbean with his pet alligator in search of fresh fish, cold beer, and a good time (think: the most interesting man in the world goes barefoot), founded this indoor-outdoor compound of fun. Joe loves a good party, so he instituted one hell of a happy hour at Whiskey Joe’s. From 4 to 7 p.m. daily, enjoy half-priced appetizers such as gator tail, coconut shrimp, and chicken wings. Peel-and-eat shrimp and freshly shucked oysters straight from the Gulf of Mexico cost just a buck apiece. And those oysters are so fresh that some come with angry little barnacles attached to them. Thirsty? How about half-priced beer, wine, and well drinks? That means happy-hour prices for beer range from $2 to $4, and $2.50 for the well drinks. If you’re into boat drinks, check out the strawberry margaritas, made from scratch. Regularly $9, margaritas (and all other specialty drinks) are $3 off — plus they come with those little umbrellas. So put your feet up as the live reggae band plays, and make yours a Hurricane. That’s what Jimmy Buffett would do. After all, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
Tue., July 31, 4-7 p.m., 2012