Sometimes the best conversations begin in the Facebook comments.
I had shared a post about the Old Stone Church in Key West, and as people began asking questions and sharing their own memories, Dani Hoy jumped into the conversation.
She answered questions. She added details. She helped connect the history of the church with the people who are still part of its story today.
Naturally, I thought, “I need to talk to her.”
That Facebook conversation led to a live interview that covered two sides of Key West I absolutely love: the island’s incredible history and the creative people who make it such an interesting place.
Dani is a singer, songwriter, musician, artist, former graphic designer, member of the Old Stone Church choir, and part of the team helping the church share its stories and events online.
That is a lot of hats.
Fortunately, Key West is one of the few places where wearing several hats feels completely normal. Some of them may even involve palm trees.
You can watch our complete conversation in the video above, but for those of you who would rather settle in and read the story, here are some of my favorite moments.
Meet Dani Hoy
When Dani introduces herself, music usually comes first.
She and her boyfriend, Chris Ream, perform together as The Shanty Hounds. They play at bars, restaurants, hotels and other venues around Key West, along with performances at the Boca Chica and Sigsbee naval bases.
As Dani explained, most of her work is actually play.
The real work is setting up the equipment and tearing it down.
Everything in between is music.
Honestly, that sounds like a pretty good job description.
Dani sings, plays rhythm guitar, harmonica and light percussion. Chris handles more of the lead guitar work, and they both sing. Their sets include classic rock, blues, tropical music and a few unexpected choices.
You may hear Jimmy Buffett, Fleetwood Mac or the Eagles. You might also hear the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, Dire Straits or something a guest requested that afternoon.
They also perform Dani’s original music, which tells the story of how she found Key West, how she built a creative life and why she is very happy to have left the snow behind.
How Jimmy Buffett Helped Lead Dani to Key West
Dani’s road to Key West began, appropriately enough, with Jimmy Buffett.
She did not grow up as a major Buffett fan. She knew some of the songs, but her interest grew after joining a Parrothead club in Pennsylvania in 2003.
The club was called Parrotheads in Amish Paradise, which may be one of the most Pennsylvania names ever created.
Through the club, Dani discovered trop rock, a style of music inspired by travel, boats, rum drinks, warm weather and the idea that your regular life might benefit from an emergency palm tree.
She began taking writing classes, experimenting with songwriting and performing at open mic nights. People started asking her to play at events. Then someone asked whether she had a CD.
She did not.
So she made one.
Her first album, Tropigal, was released in 2012.
By then, Key West had already worked its way into her music.
Her First Key West Sunset Became a Song
Dani first visited Key West in 2010.
Her first sunset at Mallory Square was not exactly the postcard version. The weather was cold and gloomy, but it gave her a story.
That experience became the song “Drunk on Mallory Square.”
The song appears on her first album and remains her most popular track on Spotify. It has been added to numerous playlists and continues to connect listeners with Key West.
That feels very Key West to me.
The island does not always give you the moment you imagined. Sometimes it gives you wind, clouds, a strange character standing nearby, and a better story than the one you had planned.
Dani eventually moved to Key West at the end of 2013.
She had to build her musical presence slowly, playing different venues and introducing herself to new audiences. As she explained, establishing yourself in a new town takes time, talent and tenacity.
Eventually, Key West began to feel like home.
She had friends on the island, opportunities to perform and a sense that she could create a really good life there.
What Is It Really Like to Live in Key West?
People often imagine Key West as one long vacation filled with sunset sails, frozen drinks and Jimmy Buffett songs.
Those things are certainly available.
But living in Key West has its own rhythm.
There are busy seasons and slower seasons. There are snowbirds, summer heat, tropical weather and chickens.
A lot of chickens.
Dani compared the Key West chickens to living near farms in Pennsylvania. You would not move into farm country and then act shocked by cows and the occasional smell of fertilizer.
In Key West, you live with the chickens.
They were there first. They appear to know it.
More importantly, Dani wants visitors to understand that Key West is about much more than drinking, boating and fishing.
The island is filled with history, musicians, artists, writers, galleries, classes, community events and small places you might never discover if you only stay on Duval Street.
Her advice is simple:
Get a little lost.
Turn down a street you have never explored. Look for a small bistro, a courtyard, a gallery or an old building you have walked past without noticing.
Duval Street may be the main drag, but it is not the whole story.
That is advice I give people all the time. Some of the best parts of Key West are waiting one or two blocks away from where everyone else is standing.
How Dani Became Connected to the Old Stone Church
Dani’s connection with the Old Stone Church also began through music.
She and The Shanty Hounds were invited to perform at the church’s Old Stone Coffee House.
The coffee house takes place in Jones Hall, which is part of the church property. During the regular season, visitors can stop in on Sunday mornings for live music, coffee, breakfast, and conversation before the worship service begins.
There is no formal cover charge. Donations are welcome, but the purpose is to create a relaxed and welcoming way for people to connect.
After performing there several times, Dani got to know members of the congregation. She was encouraged to join the choir.
Later, the church needed help with social media.
Dani had spent years working as a graphic designer in Pennsylvania, so the role combined several pieces of her background.
Today, she helps manage the church’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, creates the bulletin, and works on the church website. She has also continued singing in the choir.
Music opened the front door, and Dani kept walking.
Inside Key West’s Historic Old Stone Church
The Old Stone Church sits on Eaton Street, and it is very easy to walk past without realizing how much history is tucked inside.
From the outside, the property may appear to be one large building. In reality, it includes several connected spaces.
Inside the sanctuary, visitors will find high vaulted ceilings, Dade County pine, stained-glass windows and a powerful organ.
Between the buildings is a memorial garden walkway lined with bricks dedicated to church members, pastors and local families. Orchids, trees and tropical plants surround the path.
The education building includes offices, music rehearsal space, historic photographs and displays telling the story of the church.
Jones Hall, also known as the Old Stone Coffee House, includes photographs of past pastors and serves as a gathering place for worship, music and community events.
The church’s history is also a story of resilience.
The building has been moved, damaged and rebuilt over time. During one rebuilding project, the new church was reportedly constructed around the old structure. Once the new building was completed, the old church was dismantled and carried out through the front doors.
Try to picture that happening.
You attend church inside the old building while a new church slowly appears around you. Then one day, the old building leaves through the front door.
Key West history rarely takes the straightforward route.
A Church Connected to the Key West Community
One thing that stood out when I originally shared my Facebook post was how many people had a personal connection to the Old Stone Church.
People commented that their family attended the church, that they had been married there, or that another family member had celebrated an important life event there.
The Old Stone Church is historic, but it is not frozen in the past.
It remains a working community church.
Dani described it as a loving church where all are welcome. The congregation supports and works with community organizations including Wesley House Family Services, Queer Keys, Habitat for Humanity, SOS Foundation and the Key West Immigrant Support Network.
The church also has a sister church in Cuba and helps provide food, electricity assistance and personal-care items when possible.
Other programs include art classes, community meals, special worship services, choir performances and seasonal events.
There is even a bell choir.
Its name is The Southernmost Ding Dongs.
I do not believe any additional marketing is required.
Can Visitors Attend the Old Stone Church?
Yes.
Visitors are welcome to attend Sunday worship services. The regular Sunday service begins at 11 a.m., with the doors generally opening around 10:45 a.m.
There is no formal dress code.
As Dani put it, this is Key West. Come as you are.
Shorts are fine. Dresses are fine. Vacation clothes are fine.
Clothes of some kind are strongly encouraged.
Visitors are greeted when they arrive, and services typically last about an hour. Music is a major part of the experience, with organ, piano, choir performances, congregational singing, and occasional appearances by the bell choir.
The church often welcomes travelers as well as repeat visitors who return year after year.
Some come specifically to worship. Others want to see the historic sanctuary or reconnect with a place that is part of their family story.
Current service information, office hours, and special events can be found on the Old Stone Church website.
Because schedules and building access can change, especially during renovations or the summer season, check the church’s website before visiting.
Can You Get Married at the Old Stone Church?
The church hosts weddings, vow renewals, celebrations of life, and other special services.
Couples interested in getting married at the Old Stone Church can begin through the church website. Wedding information and inquiry forms are available online, and the church office can help couples plan the details.
The church is also wheelchair accessible, and volunteers can help guests who need assistance.
If you have dreamed about being married in a historic Key West church, this may be one worth adding to your list.
Music as a Little Movie
One of my favorite descriptions on Dani’s website is her idea that songs are little movies that create images in the listener’s mind.
Her songwriting process often begins with a few words or a phrase. Those words suggest a rhythm, and the rhythm begins shaping the music and the story at the same time.
Some songs arrive quickly.
Others take more work.
Dani did not begin seriously writing music until she was in her 40s. One of her songs, “Better Late Than Never,” reflects that part of her journey.
Before becoming a full-time musician, she worked for years as a graphic designer. At some point, cubicle life began to feel too small.
During our conversation, I called that a Peggy Lee moment.
It is that moment when you look around and ask, “Is that all there is?”
For Dani, the answer was no.
There were songs to write, albums to create, art to make, and an island waiting at the end of the road.
Dani Hoy the Artist
Music is only one part of Dani’s creative life.
She is also a visual artist who creates paintings and drawings inspired by Key West and the tropics. Her subjects have included mangoes, island scenes, and the Key West police horses.
She also created the artwork for her own albums, drawing on her years of professional graphic design experience.
At the time of our conversation, one of her paintings was on display at The Studios of Key West as part of the Mango Madness exhibition. She has also shown work through the Key West Art Center.
Dani hopes to spend more time painting and is beginning to think about another music project.
One possible song for that future album is titled “Is It Too Early for Tequila?”
On behalf of Key West, I believe the official answer is probably no.
Where Dani Eats in Key West
Of course, I could not let Dani leave without asking a few very important questions.
These are not necessarily formal endorsements or a complete list of every place she loves. They were her rapid-fire answers during our conversation.
Favorite Key West Happy Hours
Dani mentioned:
- The Boathouse, especially for its variety of small plates
- Half Shell Raw Bar
- Onlywood on Caroline Street
Favorite Key West Breakfast Spots
Her breakfast list included:
- Two Friends Patio Restaurant
- Pepe’s Cafe
- Harpoon Harry’s
- Goldman’s Bagel Deli
Favorite Key West Dinner Spots
She enjoys:
- Clemente’s Wood-Fired Trolley Pizzeria
- The Grand
- Tavern N Town for special occasions
Favorite Key Lime Pie
Dani likes Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe and gave a special mention to the house-made key lime pie at Two Friends.
She also appreciates the famous mile-high meringue at Blue Heaven, although both of us admitted we are more interested in the crust than the towering cloud of meringue.
It is impressive.
It is also a lot of meringue.
Where to Hear Dani Hoy and The Shanty Hounds
Dani and Chris perform several times each week at venues around Key West.
Because performance schedules can change, the best place to see where they are playing is Dani’s online calendar.
You can find Dani’s music, performance schedule, and information at:
The Creative Side of Key West
My conversation with Dani began because she took the time to answer questions on a Facebook post.
It turned into a much bigger story about finding a new life, beginning a creative career later than expected, and becoming part of a community that welcomes people through music, art, history, and faith.
It also reminded me why I enjoy sharing these conversations.
Key West is not only a destination.
It is a collection of stories.
Some are preserved inside historic buildings. Some are written into songs. Some hang on gallery walls. Some begin in the Facebook comments.
And some involve a bell choir called the Southernmost Ding Dongs.
You really are not going to find that everywhere.
Be sure to watch the full interview with Dani Hoy to hear more about her music, her life in Key West, The Shanty Hounds and the Old Stone Church.
Plan Your Own Key West History and Key Lime Adventure
This conversation was sponsored by Tart Tales, where you can walk, laugh, and taste your way through Key West while sampling key lime treats and learning about the island’s history, characters, and stories.
Basically, it is history with pie.
Learn more and book through our link at FunInKeyWest.com/tart
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dani Hoy?
Dani Hoy is a Key West singer, songwriter, musician, and visual artist. She performs with Chris Ream as The Shanty Hounds and also works with the historic Old Stone Church.
When did Dani Hoy move to Key West?
Dani moved to Key West at the end of 2013 after first visiting the island in 2010.
What kind of music does Dani Hoy perform?
Dani performs original music, trop rock, classic rock, blues and tropical favorites. Her sets may include songs by Jimmy Buffett, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, the Grateful Dead and other artists.
What is Dani Hoy’s most popular song?
During our interview, Dani said “Drunk on Mallory Square” was her most popular song on Spotify. The song was inspired by her first sunset experience in Key West.
What is The Shanty Hounds?
The Shanty Hounds are a Key West musical duo featuring Dani Hoy and Chris Ream. They perform regularly at restaurants, hotels, bars, and other venues around the island.
Where is the Old Stone Church in Key West?
The Old Stone Church, officially Key West United Methodist Church, is located on Eaton Street in Key West.
Can tourists attend the Old Stone Church?
Yes. Visitors are welcome to attend Sunday services and other public programs. Check the church’s website for current schedules and access information.
Does the Old Stone Church host weddings?
Yes. The church hosts weddings, vow renewals, and other special services. Wedding information and inquiry forms are available through the church website.
Where can I listen to Dani Hoy’s music?
Dani’s music is available through her website, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms. Her current performance calendar is also available on her website.
