Past Galas
2026
The Friends sold-out Annual Fundraising Gala on February 23, 2026 was an enormous success. Guest of Honor Ruth Reichl was endlessly interesting as she told us about her life and work. She spoke about how she came to have such an adventurous palate, the thrill of creation and renewal when she was editor of Gourmet, and the many hilarious disguises she wore — and personas she adopted — as the food critic for The New York Times.
The audience could have listened forever, but then Gala guests were invited outside, where they enjoyed drinks, appetizers, desserts, and music under twinkling lights in the beautiful Palm Garden. The weather was a little uncooperative, but guests clustered around the patio heaters and stayed to the end.
Thank you to our patron members, our business sponsors, the musicians, our board members, the fabulous staff of the Key West Branch. And thank you especially to those of you who came and supported our work. It means so much to the Friends, the library and the community.
2025
The 2025 Friends Annual Author Talk and Fundraising Gala is in the books! We sold out for the fourth year in a row. Thank you to all who participated, members, guests, library staff, our board, Books & Books, our sponsors, and especially Lucy Burdette and our fabulous guest author Ann Cleeves.
With mystery writer Ann Cleeves as guest speaker and honoree, the Friends of the Library’s fourth annual Gala, held on February 3, was a glittering success. The evening began with Ann greeting her audience for the talk portion of the evening at the library’s entrance. In answer to Friends president Roberta Isleib’s interview questions, Ann spoke of her many writing years toiling in obscurity. Her first Vera book, The Crow Trap, was discovered in a thrift store bin by a television producer, looking for something to read on holiday.
Ann Cleeves would, of course, become the New York Times bestselling author behind two hit television series — the BBC’s Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall, and ITV’s Vera, staring Brenda Blethyn. Recently, to her long list of awards, she added an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List, bestowed by the Queen, after cheekily insisting that the recognition go “for services to Reading and Libraries.”
Following the talk, the celebrated Gala honoree, our wonderful sponsors, and audience members stepped into the Library’s Palm Garden, which had been transformed into a fairyland. Plentiful hors d’oeuvres and libations were passed, while Ann charmed Friends who had gathered to celebrate their little pink library.
For their support of the event, we thank our sponsors: Preferred Properties, Local Guy Design, Truman & Company, Fautos Food Palace, The Mansion on the Sea, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Blue Marlin Jewelry, It’s Social Time Somewhere, Hands On Gallery, droneandphoto.com, and Ambrosia Inn, as well as the following individuals: Tom & Kitty Clements, John & Carolyn Sangston, Kathleen Bratton & Brian Wruble, Dennis & Judy Dutterer, Roberta Isleib & John Brady, Susan & Kevin McGreevy, and Pat Kennedy. Proceeds from the Gala support the library’s collections and services.
2024
2022 & 2023
Our 2023 guest was Carl Hiaasen and it was an incredible evening in Key West. In 2022, we hosted Sam Sifton, the founding editor of New York Times Cooking for a fabulous evening of talk and food and talk about food.
