September-October 2015

ontheGulf

Celebrating the Abstract

Lee County’s Alliance for the Arts will present its fall fundraising extravaganza, ‘ABSTRACTION’ on September 26. This annual art party will celebrate the abstract movement while supporting the 40 year old nonprofit’s new effort to convert its 10-acre campus into a true cultural hub for the entire community to enjoy. The evening will feature interactive art elements, live music, art installations, and distinctive tapas provided by some of Southwest Florida’s finest chefs. New 2D & 3D abstract works created by artists from around Southwest Florida will be unveiled.

NEWS & PREVIEWS

The evening begins at 7pm. Ticket proceeds will match the $50,000 Rauschenberg Foundation Challenge Grant supporting the new Alliance Campus Enrichment Plan.

The Alliance for the Arts campus and galleries are located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. Call 939-2787 for information.

Eco-Fest at ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge

The 26th annual ‘Ding’ Darling Days, held at the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge, October 18-24, 2015, devotes one day each to Family, art, eco-innovation, Calusa culture, trails, pollinators, and beach and water. The event honors National Wildlife Refuge Week and celebrates the 139th birthday of the refuge’s namesake, father of the Duck Stamp, on October 21.

The week-long birding and ecofestival begins with Family Fun, featuring free activities including narrated refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, kids nature crafts, a touch tank, a butterfly house, and archery lessons.

Heather Henson’s Ibex Puppetry returns to perform Wild Puppets! with life-sized puppets portraying endangered and other refuge animals throughout the Day.

The Duck Stamp Artist presentation is the highlight of the final day of the celebration, Conservation Art Day, on October 24. The day’s events and activities also include cartooning,

a photography tram tour, and nature art activities.

Throughout the week, from 9am-5pm, guests can join free biking and birding tours; enjoy discounted tram, kayaking, and nature boat excursions; and attend free lectures and presentations. A special exhibit of this year’s Federal Duck Stamps will be on display in the Education Center auditorium throughout the week.

‘DING’ DARLING DAYS

Oct. 18 – Family Fun Day

Oct. 19 – Pollinator Day

Oct. 20 – Beach & Water Day

Oct. 21 – Eco-Innovation Day

Oct. 22 – Calusa Day

Oct. 23 – Trails Day

Oct. 25 – Conservation Art Day

The ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge is located at 1 Wildlife Dr. on Sanibel. Call 472-1100 for information.

Songwriter Fest Returns to SWFL

The second annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest returns with dozens of performers appearing at various venues throughout Captiva Island, Fort

Myers Beach, and historic downtown Fort Myers from September 17-27. Singersongwriters who have penned #1 hits for such artists as Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, and Lee Ann Womack will perform at multiple venues during the festival. The festival kicks off September 17-20 on Captiva Island. Downtown Fort Myers will host midweek performances. The festival closes the weekend of September 25-27 on Fort Myers Beach.

Festival-goers can celebrate American roots music while enjoying the fare at local restauarnats including ‘Tween Water’s Crow’s Nest, Key Lime Bistro, and Doc Ford’s at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva; as well as Nervous Nellie’s, The Beached Whale and Matanzas on the Bay on Fort Myers Beach.

The line-up, which includes some of Nashville’s biggest hitmakers, boasts more than 70 performers and 138 performances at 24 venues throughout The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida.

The 10-day festival has added four headliners including Kristian Bush, one half of the multiplatinum, Grammy-winning country duo Sugarland, who kicks off the festival with a concert

Southwest Floridian Chloe Friedman is one of 70 singer-songwriters performing at the Island Hoppers Songwriting Fest at various venues throughout Captiva, Fort Myers Beach and downtown Fort Myers.

September 17 at South Seas Island Resort. Other artists appearing at the festival include Parmalee, a country rock group with a #1 hit; Jana Kramer, a country singer and actress on One Tree Hill; and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Terry Sylvester, who replaced Graham Nash in The Hollies; as well as Even Stevens, who wrote the #1 hit, ‘I Love a Rainy Night’; Academy Award nominated Bob DiPiero; Bonnie Bishop, who wrote Bonnie Raitt’s Grammywinning ‘Not Cause I Wanted To’; Dylan Altman, who has written hits for Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins; and Kylie Sackley, who has written hits for Faith Hill, Leann Rhimes and Alan Jackson; as well as Southwest Florida’s own Chloe Fried,man, Brian Sutherland, Jeff Prince, and Sheena Brook.

For more information, call 338-3500.

Ringling Arts Festival FocusesonAsia

The Ringling International Arts Festival will feature contemporary Asian art and culture with seven different stage productions ranging from a circus founded by performers orphaned by war to a composer known for combining traditional music with

experimental imagery. RIAF 2015 opens on October 15 with the choice of one of three simultaneous performances in the Courtyard of The Ringling Museum of Art by Tom Lee, the Cambodian Circus and Ronnarong Khampha at 7pm. The evening will culminate with fireworks over the bay.

The performances in the Historic Asolo Theater and the Mertz Theatre will include dance, theater, music and curcus arts.

Tom Lee will present ‘Shank’s Mare.’ Employing the traditional Kuruma Ningyo puppetry of Japan, with video and live music. Performances will be at 7pm on October 15, 8pm on October 16 and 5pm October 17 in the Historic Asolo Theater.

Orkes Sinten Remem, led by the Djaduk Ferianto, transform traditional Indonesian folk music into a mélange of modern musical sounds. Performances will be at 5pm on October 16, 2pm on October 17, and 5pm on Oct 18 in the Asolo Theater.

Phare: The Cambodian Circus perform dance, circus arts and music.

Performances will be 2pm on October 16, 8pm on October 17, and 2pm on October 18 in the Mertz Theatre.

Tao Dance Theatre is one of China’s premiere contemporary dance companies, combining theatrical impact with technical virtuosity.

Performances will be at 8pm

on October 16, 2pm on October 17 and 5pm on October 18 in the Mertz Theatre.

In the Cook Theatre, three soloists will perform original works.

Ronnarong Khampha is trained in the traditional dances of Thailand. Performances will be at 7pm on October15, at 5pm on October 16 and 2pm on October 17.

Peni Candra Rini, an Indonesian composer and singer, evokes the mysterious through music, movement, and imagery. Performances will be at 2pm on

October 16, 8pm on October 17 and 5pm on October 18.

Jen Shyu, an American-East Timorese-Taiwanese jazz artist plays lutes, zithers, and percussion instruments, combining movement, acting, and singing. Performances will be at 8pm on October 16, at 5pm on October 17 and 2pm on October 18.

The Ringling is located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd. in Sarasota. For information, call 941-360-7399 .

Photography Exhibit in Everglades City

The Museum of the Everglades is hosting an exhibition of photographs by JohnBob Carlos titled ‘Healing Totem.’ Carlos explains the title, “The exhibit is titled ‘Healing Totem’ because of the desire to move people to want to find healing for themselves, our water, the Everglades, and Florida’s nature. It is the search to find this balance, restoring it, and extending this to everything around us. The Totem is a being, an object, or a symbol representing an animal, a body of water, land, or plant that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, group, lineage, or tribe, reminding them of their ancestry (or mythic past). My hope is that you find an image that will serve as a Totem to inspire healing in your life, and perhaps be

Jen Shyu, an American–East Timorese–Taiwanese musician performs in the Cook Theatre at The Ringling during the Ringling Internatioanl Arts Festival, October 15-18 in Sarasota.

The photographs of JohnBob Carlos are on view in the exhibition, ‘Healing Totem’ at the Museum of The Everglades in Everglades City, thru October 31.

extended to the Everglades, and throughout Florida’s nature. May these images serve as a reminder of the natural beauty that is here now and can still be saved for future generations.” The exhibit is on view through October 30.

JohnBob Carlos is a native Floridian and photographer capturing images of Florida’s wildlife, landscapes, cultures, and waterways. It is his way of creating a voice for Florida’s nature and preserving Florida’s culture. The public is invited to meet the artist at an openhouse reception on October 17, from 1-3pm.

The Museum of the Everglades is located at 105 West Broadway in historic Everglades City, three miles South of US 41 & SR. It is open Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm. Call 695-0008 for information.

Portrait & Figure Painters Expo

The 2015 Art Expo by the Portrait & Figure Painters Society of Southwest Florida opens at The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center on September 4, from 610pm, during Art Walk. The 2015 Art Expo will be on display through September 24.

The exhibition showcases paintings that follow the rich tradition of classical artwork that grew out of the Renaissance. There will be an opening night reception at the Davis Art Center on September 4, with live music by Love Hunter.

The artists will also host an Art Talk on September 8 at 7pm. Both the reception and Art Talk are free.

The exhibition will consist of 10 professional, award-winning, classical Fine Artists: Dorothy Salcedo, Hugette Haaland, Patricia Dunker, "Nadi" Renate Reuter, Julie Dean Griffin, Javier Martinez, Wanda Carter, Cathy Beard, Vanessa Morris, Victoria Hamachek.

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St., in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District. Call 3371933 for information.

Wayne’s World at the Rauschenberg Gallery

Florida SouthWestern State College will host an exhibition of paintings, drawings and a newly-commissioned, sitespecific installation, ‘Wayne

WHITE: Here Comes Mr. KnowIt-All ‘at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery from September 11November 7..

Los Angeles-based, internationally-acclaimed artist, Wayne White won three Emmy Awards for his set design and puppeteering on the landmark children’s TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse, creating iconic characters including Randy, Cool Cat, Chicky Baby and Dirty Dog. Wayne White will be in residence at Florida SouthWestern State College for a week in advance of his show to work with FSW students to create a super-sized puppet/sculpture of Lee County resident artist and Gallery namesake Bob Rauschenberg.

‘Wayne WHITE: Here Comes Mr. Know-It-All’ will also include a selection of the artist’s now iconic and often ‘laugh-outloud’ humorous ‘Word’ paintings and a series of recent watercolor drawings and collages (on subjects including local environmentalist, author and political cartoonist Ding Darling) produced during Wayne White’s month-long Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Residency on Captiva Island in 2013.

There will be an opening reception, featuring a performance by Wayne White, at the gallery on September 11, 6-8pm.

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery is located on the Lee County campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. The gallery is open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 11am3pm. Admission is free. For information, call 489-8313.

W ANTED pre-teen & teen actors

The Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs is seeking actors ages 12-19 for their Teen Theater production of Hairspray Jr. Auditions are September 1 & 2, from 5-7pm, at the Center for the performing Arts, located on 10150 Bonita Beach Rd. in Bonita Springs.

The Center for the Arts is also seeking actors ages 10 and older for their Youth Theater production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . Auditions are September 1 & 2, from 5-7pm, at the Center for the performing Arts, located on 10150 Bonita Beach Rd. in Bonita Springs.

For the audition all actors should be prepared to sing, dance and act. You must bring in 16 bars of a prepared song, CD accompaniment is allowed without lyrics, or you can sing without music. Nothing complicated or fancy is necessary – they just need to hear you sing. Be prepared to read from the script. No advance monologue preparation is required. Come dressed to dance (no dresses or skirts).

Rehearsals for Hairspray Jr . will be from 5-7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from September 9January 28.. Performances are January 29, 30 & 31.

Rehearsals for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer will be from 5-7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from September 9November 12,. Performances are November 13-15.

Call 495-8989 to reserve audition time.

• writers &poets

The Gulf Coast Writers Association is asking writers from Southwest Florida to enter their Annual Writing Contest. Original works of

The Portrait & Figure Painters Society of Southwest Florida’s 2015 Art Expo is on view at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers thru September 24.

fiction, nonfiction, children’s stories, and poetry will be awarded cash prizes for first, second and third place in each category. The contest is open to members and non-members who will be 18 years old or older by March 15, 2016. Fiction, nonfiction and children’s works must be no more than 1500 words. Poetry is limited to 40 lines or less.

Final deadline for submissions must be postmarked by December 1. Winners must be present to receive their awards at the February 20, 2016 meeting.

Entry forms and rules can be found at www.gulfwriters.org

• artists & crafters

The Downtown Fort Myers Saturday Art Fair is looking for artists and crafters to set up on 1st St. in downtown Fort Myers’ historic River District to sell their works. Acceptable works include fine art, jewelry, ceramics, designer wear, unique fine crafts, and prints from original works. Art vendors will have a 9 ft x 3 ft space reserved located along First St., between Royal Palm Ave. & Dean St. There is a fee to reserve a spot

on the sidewalk. The Saturday Art Fair is held the 3rd Saturday of each month, November -January, from 10am-5pm. For more information, call 337-5050.

•

equity & non-equity actors

TheatreZone is seeking Equity and non-Equity performers for their 11th season. Auditions for principle actors and chorus will be held by appointment from 10am-6pm, September 12 & 13, at the professional theatre group’s home in the G&L Theatre on the campus of The Community School, located at 13275 Livingston Rd. in Naples. TheatreZone’s season opens with Xanadu, October 1-11. The production, a combined production with Florida Gulf Coast University Bower School of Music and the Arts, stars Eddie Mekka, and will be performed at the FGCU TheatreLab.

Their season continues with Sweet Smell of Success (December 28-Jan 17), The Boy From Oz (January 25-February 13), Into The Woods (March 3-13), and

Dames at Sea (April–May 8).

Actors are asked to prepare 32 bars of a song and a contrasting selection ready, if requested. An accompanist will be provided, but actors must bring own sheet music and be prepared to dance. A current photo and resume is also required.

For information and appointments, call 561-602-5529. Equity Members without appointments will be seen throughout the audition day as time permits. Call 888-966-3352 for information about TheatreZone.

student photographers

The ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge is hosting the ‘Ding’ Darling–Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest.

High school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties are invited to submit photographs.

Only digital images are accepted. They must be shot from any outdoor venue in the state of Florida, which may include parks, refuges, backyards, and other open spaces. Panoramic images are not allowed. Filters, cropping, enhancements and boarders are permitted. However, adding any elements not existing in the original scene will not be allowed. Each participant may enter up to two photographs.

After the images have been submitted electronically, they will be printed out for judging. The winners of the contest will have their images matted and displayed in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center.

A writing component to the contest requires entrants grades 912 to submit a 100-word description of the ‘moment’ captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to the photographer. Deadline for submissions is January 1, 2016. Prizes will be awarded the winners.

Call 472-1100 for more information.

actors

The Naples Players will hold auditions for the comedy, The Foreigner, beginning at 2pm. on September 19 at Sugden Community Theatre, located at 701 5th Ave. S. in downtown Naples.

Five men are needed for this production: four age’s 20-50s and one age 16-30. Two women are also needed: one in their 20’s-40’s and one age 50s - 80s. Southern and British accents are a plus.

Rehearsals begin October 12. Performances are November 25December 20, (closed Thanksgiving Day). Perusal scripts are available at the box office with a $20 deposit. The box office is open Monday-Friday, from 10am-4pm. For more information, call 434-7340..

• filmmakers

Submissions are being accepted for consideration for the 2016 Fort Myers Film Festival to be held April 7-10, 2016 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Alliance for the Arts, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, and Regal Bell Tower.

Entries in the categories of Feature, Documentary, Short, Short Short, Strictly Local, and Student are being accepted through January 31, 2016. Call 810-6323 for information. •

artists

Storytellers Creative Arts is inviting professional visual artists in Southwest Florida to submit artworks for a juried art exhibition as part of its annual Evening of Music & Arts Concert and Awards Ceremony. The event will be held on November 6 at Covenant Church of Naples, located at 6926 Trail Blvd. in Naples. The deadline for submission of artworks is October 20.

The art exhibition will be held in tandem with the Storytellers Creative Arts Conference, held November 13-14 at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, and will feature artworks that inspire – all based on the theme ‘Chrysalis, A New Creation.’ Works can include abstract and representational art and should be available for sale.

Jurors will include Cheri Dunnigan, the 2014 Art Expo Curator; master goldsmith and landscape painter; painter Arturo Samaniego; and Marco Bronzini, painter and sculptor, who is also the curator for the show. There will be cash awards for professional and community artist divisions.

For information, call 250-1822.

Eddie Mekka, Carmine ‘The Big Ragu’ from Laverne & Shirley, stars in TheatreZone’s production of Xanudu, performed with students of FGCU’s Bower School of Music and the Arts, October 1-11, at FGCU’s TheatreLab.

Hollywood’s History in Florida I

N THE EARLY 20th century, Florida’s subtropical mystery rivaled California as a place for movie making. For a colorful stint, classic oddities with names like Tarzan, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Tartu came creeping out of the state’s gin-clear springs and entangled mangrove coastline. Outlaws, run-aways, schemers and big dreamers have long been traditional characters that wound up hiding out in the shadows of the remote Sunshine State.

George Romero’s classic horror film, ‘Day of the Dead,’ was filmed in downtown Fort Myers and on Sanibel Island in 1978.

Part of that history — the dramatic promotional posters and lobby cards that compelled the curious and the just-a-wee-frightened into movie houses — are on display in the new exhibit, ‘Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters,’ at the Southwest Florida Museum of History in downtown Fort Myers.

Each striking image with bold lettering evokes an era, a mood, but one will stand out for sure in Lee County: the announcement for George Romero’s Day of the Dead , filmed in downtown Fort Myers and Sanibel Island in 1978 (though it wasn’t released in the United States until 1985).

The production drew throngs of locals to play cameos, of course, to make up the massive swarm of zombies taking over the world. It was a thrilling time for movie-goers and the locals who participated in the filming, coming off two other Romero successes. “First there was Night of the Living Dead then Dawn of the Dead and now the darkest day of horror the world has ever known,” was a frightful tagline for the cult classic that inspired the annual Zombicon each October in Fort Myers. (Prepare your gloom for this year’s ‘Fallout: 1985’ on Saturday, October 17, from 4pm-midnight in downtown Fort Myers’ Historic River District.)

“The museum has always enjoyed exploring all aspects of our area’s rich history, and film can give perspective to and highlight some interesting facets of our culture,” says Southwest Florida

by Lynn Gilmore

Museum of History Director Shelby Baucom. “We chose this particular movie poster exhibit because it’s a fun slice of Florida history and it dovetails perfectly with Zombicon, an event that is making history locally.”

Hollywood has come to Southwest Florida for sweeping panoramas, diverse natural beauty and a striking likeness to other subtropical locales. The Southwest Florida Museum of History’s ‘Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters’ exhibit is a selection of posters that advertised films made in Florida from the early 1920s to the present. Here’s a look at some of the titles filmed in Collier and Lee counties: Distant Drums Gary Cooper is a federal soldier during the Seminole War, battling with tribal warriors over a fort. Much of this 1951 classic was filmed in Everglades National Park, which required a special ‘swampmobile.’

The Barefoot Mailman. “By 1890, the last frontier of America was not in the West, but in Southern Florida,” this 1951 film’s prologue entices. The adventure comedy follows a con man’s adventures across Southwest Florida.

The 1958 W ind Across the Everglades stars Christopher Plummer and Burl Ives and features the Smallwood Store on Chokoloskee. Set in the early 1900s, Plummer plays an Audubon warden hunting a poacher. Ives is an Everglades outlaw known as Cottonmouth.

Exterior shots for 1970’s Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon were shot at Fort Myers Beach.

Thunder and Lightning. Segments of this 1977 film, starring David Carradine and Kate Jackson as moonshiners threatened by the mob and other thugs, were shot in Naples.

The 1995 Warner Bros. flick Just Cause was filmed at several locations in the region, featuring Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Blair Underwood and Kate Capshaw. It features the federal courthouse in Fort

The exhibition, ‘Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys’ features posters that advertised movies filmed in Florida from the early 1920s through the present.

Myers, the Registry Hotel (now Naples Grande Resort) and the community of Copeland in eastern Collier County.

Gone Fishin’ is about two fishing buddies whose boat is stolen. Comedy stars Danny Glover and Joe Pesci made a buzz when they came to the area for the 1995 shoot (released 1997). U.S. 41, the Gulf and the Rod & Gun Club in Everglades City will be familiar to local audiences.

The Big Year (2001) includes shots from Clyde and Niki Butcher’s spread in Ochopee as Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wi lson’s characters throw it down in a birdspotting competition.

A Florida police chief must solve a vicious double homicide before he himself falls under suspicion in Out of Time (2003), filmed around Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island and starring Denzel Washington, Sanaa Lathan and Eva Mendes.

Carl Hiaasen’s bestselling novel, Hoot , about a middle-school boy — whose family relocates to Florida where he becomes enmeshed in protecting a colony of endangered owls — was turned into a 2006 movie partially shot on Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island.

The 2009 docu mentary, Immokalee

USA , by Georg Koszulinski, looks into the lives of a social worker, farm owner, homeless immigrant and migrant workers.

Other features that showcase parts of Southwest Florid a include:

The Fat Spy (1966) — Cape Coral

Death Curse of Tartu (1966) — Everglades National Park

Cotton Pickin’ Chickenpickers (1967) — Lehigh Acres Night Moves (1975) — Sanibel Island

A Flash of Green (1986, American Playhouse, Season 5, Episode 11) — Fort Myers

Coupe de Ville (1990) — Cape Coral and Fort Myers

Captiva Island (1995) — Captiva Island

Sweet Home Alabama (2002) — Captiva Island

Escape from Cuba (2003) — Pine Island, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island

Still Green (2007) — Fort Myers Beach, downtown Naples and Bonita Beach

Hybrids (2014) — Ave Maria

‘Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters,’ a selection of posters that advertised films made in Florida from the early 1920s to the present, will be on view at the Southwest Florida Museum of History thru November 12. The Museum is located at 2031 Jackson St, in downtown Fort Myers’ Historic River District. For more information, call 321-7430. •

Making Movies in Naples

by Julie Clay

NAPLES. BEAUTIFUL NAPLES. Beaches, palm trees, and as it turns out, a great place to film movies. That’s what happens when the locals pool their talent, talk to their movie people, who in turn make things happen with their people. Next thing you know, contracts are signed, locations are secured, and excitement builds as Hollywood descends upon our not so quiet, sleepy town. Such is the atmosphere surrounding Smothered by Mothers , a movie which filmed over the summer in various locations around Naples and Bonita Springs. The initial plan is a 2016 release of the movie and placement in several film festivals to create a buzz.

W ritten by locally-based sports comedy writer Kurt Weichert, Smothered by Mothers is a fictionalized story about a real person, all-star NFL kicker Bobby Davis, who loses all of his money due to his agent’s malfeasance. Unfortunately, Davis’s sister, mother, grandmother and future mother-in-law also mortgaged their homes to invest with the disreputable agent and lost all their money. Plus, two additional women — both impregnated by Davis — show up looking for support promised to them in a confidential financial deal arranged by his crooked agent. Davis turns to his loyal best friend and former college football teammate, Charlie Brazie to help locate the absent agent and retrieve the missing money themselves.

Director Brian Herzlinger describes Charlie as having a great sense of humor and a ready laugh, “He loves women and women love him and no matter what is going on in Bobby’s life, Charlie was always part of the deal. So much that he traveled from team to team with Bobby.”

The local tie-in begins here, with the part of Charlie being played by InTroubleZone Productions

co-owner Chuck Ardezzone. Naples-based InTroubleZone has been around since the early 2000’s, producing television commercials, independent films and reality TV shows. Chuck’s involvement in the film harkens back to his acting roots in New York. A SAG/AFTRA performer with over 15 years’ experience, Chuck has appeared in print ads, commercials, films and TV shows such as Law & Order, Third Watch, As the World Turns , and Burn Notice . He explains, “Kurt Weichert knew us and tailored the movie for me.” The story is based on people Kurt knew while growing up. “We helped him along to get it done. It was a six month casting process.”

Ardezzone adds, “We’ve really assembled a great team and a great cast. ITZ is an associate producing company. Weichert Media is producing the movie in association with ITZ Studios.”

Smothered by Mothers also features well-known Hollywood names, including Burt Young ( Rocky ) and Heather Matarazzo ( The Princess Diaries ), along with actors from television shows The Big Bang Theory and Parks & Recreation . Director Herzlinger has three years directing The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to his credit, as well as movies including My Date with Drew , Baby on Board and Meet My Valentine . Producer Jonathan Yaskoff is also an actor currently cast in Captain America 3: Civil War and Allegiant PART 1, both filming next year. All this west coast weight descended upon Southwest Florida over the summer to shoot the film.

Yaskoff says, “It’s a pretty electric cast and fantastic script. People will be grabbing bellies laughing!”

Shannon Brown, starring as Bobby Davis, is excited to be involved as well, recounting, “I read the script and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Kurt We ichert wrote one hell of a script.”

Ardezzone explains, “When you put 30-40 people together you never know what’s going to happen. It was a long day, but it went really well. We literally handpicked the top people in Southwest Florida, as well as a lot of talent from Miami.”

Ardezzone admits that a number of favors were called in to secure a mansion and use of Porsches and Ferraris for the movie.

Chuck Ardezzone, stars in and is an associate producer of the independent film, ‘Smothered by Mothers.’

Locals will be able to spot familiar places in the movie, which was shot on Fifth Avenue in Naples and around a mansion on Bonita Beach. Ardezzone admits that a number of favors were called in to secure the mansion and use of Porsches and Ferraris for the movie. He says, “In New York people are sick of shooting, but here they will give us a nice break on a location or a car. The mansion where we shot would have been expensive. We got a great rate here.”

With a string of locally shot reality shows under his belt, Ardezzone hopes Smothered by Mothers will help keep the excitement of filming in Southwest Florida rolling. He says, “We have a TV show on the CW, Billionaires Coast , and this is our second movie. Last year we did Hybrids with Paul Sorvino ( Goodfellas ). We’re going to shoot movies every four or five months.”

Ardezzone finds that the biggest obstacle to making movies here is the lack of tax incentives. “You’re talking 30% of a budget

and that makes people shoot in other places,” he explains. “They don’t realize how much we’re pumping into the local economy. Rick Scott isn’t getting the value

that’s there. If we get one TV series based here we can create hundreds of jobs.”

Yaskoff agrees that our locale is top-rate and ready to happen for filming. “Naples is the Beverly Hills of Florida,” he asserts.

InTroubleZone already has a few projects in the works in addition to Smothered by Mothers. Ardezzone divulges, “We have four other scripts, a show called Miami Live, a 10-part series but all principle scenes were shot around Naples. We’re working with Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) on one of our projects, Lure, a 10-part series on the smuggling of drugs in the Everglades in the 70’s & 80’s. These are all real projects we’re pitching in LA now.” He adds, “We finance a lot of our own movies now. We would love investors and we’re always looking for great scripts.”

He continues enthusiastically, “We want to make this a film community. Here we are in the slow season and we’re bringing in jobs. We can make it a year round thing. We love this coast.” •

“We literally handpicked the top people in Southwest Florida, as well as a lot of talent from Miami.”

Cruising at the Keyboard A

BOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, Naples resident Arleen Alleman decided to fulfill a life-long dream. Since the age of fourteen, ever since reading Edgar Allen Poe’s stories, she thought it would be wonderful to work anywhere and create fanciful scenarios and characters. In high school young Arleen discovered journalism, which almost became her career path.

In college, she followed her love for science and pursued a biology degree. Then came twenty plus years as an analyst for the Government Accountability Office where she wrote on a myriad of subjects, all in the form of GAO Blue Books to the Congress. The work was akin to investigative journalism, and it taught her a great deal about research and project planning.

After retiring from the GAO, she explored silver jewelry manufacturing and running her own boutique. She and her husband began cruising about ten years ago, and it was during a cruise around Cape Horn that she finally decided to try writing fiction. She needed a special niche within the murder mystery genre to distinguish her work for readers and booksellers. Alleman liked the idea of setting the stories in different world locations drawing upon her first-hand knowledge of cruise ships and seaports. She began her shipboard adventure series in 2009, working on Currents Deep and Deadly. It took a year and a half to complete the book and get it published.

For her most recent title, A Current Deception , Alleman drew upon five weeks spent in Australia about eight years ago, updating her memories with research. The fictional cruise motif carried on the theme from previous books in the series, which were set in South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

by Philip K. Jason

This adventurous author prepares for her eventual novels by taking notes and photographs during trips, as well as by doing much additional research. Her notes and sources help her develop a story flow, which she makes graphic by creating a large whiteboard diagram connecting various characters with subplots. This practice gives her a feel for the whole story and keeps the various parts straight in her mind. Alleman then transfers the main elements to a document, forming an outline.

The outline is essentially a list of chapter headings, which build the story from different characters’ perspectives until she has a first draft.

Alleman finds that getting started with a new story is the hardest part of writing. She doesn’t like to start things over. That’s why she works so hard on the preliminaries, down to devising a possible conclusion, before she begins writing. The details change along the way, but the main premise carries through to the final product.

Like many authors, she does not enjoy the necessary marketing and advertising required to sell books today. She finds this the hardest part of the total process.

What does she enjoy? Alleman likes bringing characters to life: literally giving them bodies, purpose, relationships, hopes, and problems, so that they seem real to her. She gives a lot of thought to how freelance journalist Darcy Farthing, her main character in the series, will grow and change even if she has to leave some relationships behind.

She likes writing stories that have some educational value, maybe even providing readers food for thought about social issues. Of course, entertainment is her main goal. Darcy is a vehicle to express some edgy and controversial themes, which is another way to set these murder-mysteries apart from the thousands published each year.

When asked about her habits as a writer, Alleman said “I am constantly revising. I have a habit of returning to the last couple of chapters I wrote to

For her most recent book, ‘A Current Deception,’ Alleman drew upon five weeks spent in Australia.

It was during a cruise around Cape Horn that Arleen Alleman decided to try writing fiction.

edit them before moving on to the next. Sort of a two steps back for every one forward process. This helps me figure out the details and flow for the new chapter. I edit the final draft many times, and make changes after receiving helpful comments from several manuscript reviewers. Then the manuscript receives professional copyediting by my publisher, Xlibris.”

Alleman is an avid reader and lover of mysteries. There are hundreds of authors who probably influenced her over the past five decades. Every writer, if you are a predatory reader, teaches something about the craft. One author Alleman particularly admires is Diana Gabaldon. Gabaldon’s Outlander series greatly influenced her, although they are not mysteries per se — they are great adventures. She admires the way Gabaldon weaves real historical events

and geography through the stories and develops totally compelling characters, some with controversial lives.

The novelist and her husband moved here from Colorado in November 2013. They wanted a change from the mountains and they knew that living in Florida would be handier for taking cruises. They loved Marco Island after vacationing there several years in the 1980s and often talked about living there. As it turned out, they have a home very close to the island in unincorporated Collier County.

Alleman believes that her non-fiction writing on diverse topics like endangered species, elder care, satellite systems, atomic clocks, plant biotechnology, postal operations, and government operations to name

a few, helped prepare her for life as a novelist. Also, learning how to do the research, interviews, and analyses required to thoroughly learn a completely new subject every six months or so helped tremendously. She wants each book to include technical, biological, social, or scientific elements, and that characteristic of the writing is directly related to her science education and GAO career.

She is now working on a sixth Darcy Farthing novel, which takes place in Las Vegas and does not involve a cruise. It tackles the horrendous problem of teens living on the street and becoming prey for human traffickers for prostitution. There will be a seventh book set here in Southwest Florida, where Darcy investigates crimes involving missing Florida panthers. After that, the series may or may not come to an end.

However, she has a plan for a book that is not part of a series. It is a futuristic novel set in the western United States at a time when groundwater resources are completely depleted, and the disastrous impact on people, animals, and society that inevitably follows. •

Keep up with Arleen Alleman by visiting www.arleenalleman.com.

Alleman believes that her non-fiction writing on diverse topics like endangered species, elder care, satellite systems, atomic clocks, plant biotechnology, and postal operations helped prepare her for life as a novelist.

by Cindy-jo Dietz

have driven all over Florida, and many times I have passed by the 74,000 acres Babcock Ranch Preserve. Somehow, up until this point, I have neither had the time to investigate, or just plain forgot it was there when I thought about getting outdoors. Like most Floridians I’ve been to DisneyWorld a million times. My parents even brought us kids to visit various gator farms. I’ve ridden airboats and scuba dived. I’ve visited tribal centers and even bought a little saltwater taffy a time or two. All the typical tourist stuff you do in a place like Florida. I sometimes think I have seen it all growing up here. I sometimes think, I’m done discovering new places among the reeds. But recently I had the pleasure to finally visit Babcock Ranch, and take the Babcock W ilderness Adventure Tour. I was not disappointed. This tour should be on the top of your list next time you feel like getting out there and experiencing a little of old world and natural Florida. Babcock Ranch is a working farm —meaning one of the things they do to sustain the ranch is sell the beef cattle they raise. The deep history of cattle ranching is ever present on the property. It’s one of the last places you can still have the opportunity to get a feel and understanding of the Florida Cracker heritage. Florida Crackers were cowboys who traditionally used whips instead of lassos to herd cattle in Florida in the early 1800’s. The sound of the cracking whip could be heard for miles — thus the term ‘crackers’ was popularized. The Wilderness Adventure Tour takes you straight through the ranch’s grazing land and past the Cypress Lodge, where you can get a glimpse of yesteryear and today’s

Our buggy took us through four different ecological systems: oak hammocks, cypress swamp, fresh water marsh, and piney flatwood.

ranching lifestyles. The cattle are so used to the tour going through their pasture, that occasionally one or two have been known to come right up to the bus and say hello.

Upon my arrival, I immediately questioned my preparedness for the heat of the day. My suggestion to visitors is to bring plenty of water. Luckily, if you forget, there are beverages available to purchase at the gift shop.

From the parking lot it’s a quick walk to the tour area, where you can see live snakes, birds, and Lulu the famous 3 horned cow.

There is also a museum which displays trinkets and tools from back when the ranch originated, information about Florida history and past ranching operations. One of the Ranch’s claims to fame is its link to the movie Just Cause. Sean Connery and Scarlett Johansson shot part of the movie on location at Babcock Ranch. The museum has a couple of items on display featuring members of the cast, reviews, and marketing materials.

There is also a gift shop, where you can buy honey produced directly at Babcock Ranch, and the gator Shack Restaurant (open only in season).

We loaded into a camouflage open air buggy for the 90 minute tour. As the group climbed in, the enthusiasm began to build for what was to come. I visited in summer, so most of the other passengers completing the tour with me were European. I imagined their anticipation in seeing a gator for the first time. It must seem so exotic to people from other places coming to such an extreme environment.

Cheryl Dierken was our guide for the day. She is from Ohio, but has been in Florida over half of her life, and with the Babcock Adventure Tours for the past twelve years. Previously she worked at Pelican Man’s, a wildlife rehab center in Sarasota. You can tell that she is passionate about her work with the ranch and is extremely knowledgeable about native birds, animals and plants.

Our buggy took us through four different ecological systems: oak hammocks, cypress swamp, fresh water marsh, and piney flatwood. We saw what seemed like a hundred different species of birds along the way. A highlight to the trip was getting to pet a baby alligator Cheryl has helped hand raise since he was only weeks old. She carries him around the bus to let everyone get a chance to pet him. Another part of the tour takes you to an enclosure where they house Osceola, a handsome Florida panther. He has grown up in captivity and is keen on making a visit right up to the enclosure

fence when Cheryl comes round with tourists. She says a big reason she came to Babcock was to work with the Florida panther and it has been an incredible experience.

The Babcock Wilderness Adventure Tour will soon be taken over by the Florida Parks Service, part of a public-private deal made when the Babcock family sold their ranch to Kitson & Partners, a land developer. The Connservancy of Southwest Florida partnered with other organizations to help secure almost 80% of the vital wetlands and wildlife habitat to be preserved. The remaining 20% will become a new city appropriately named Babcock Ranch. This development will be considered a self sustaining city. Partnering with Florida Power & Light, Kitson & Partners is in the process of creating one of the first solar powered cities in America, having the largest photovoltaic power station in the world.

I asked Cheryl how the development might effect the ecology of the preserve. She believed it wouldn’t have much of an impact. Where development is occurring is on the part of the property where they had previously been mining, meaning much of the trees on that part of the property have already been cleared prior to the building of the community.

While Kitson & Partners creates its development of the future, the Florida Park Service will be overseeing ecological tourism on the remaining 74,000 acres starting in 2016. Cheryl says her team is eager to see how the Park Service will change or not change much of what they do on the ranch once the takeover is complete. She hopes the tour will stay mostly the same as it has been, maybe with needed improvements. For Cheryl and the staff its business as usual until further notice.

Babcock Wilderness Adventures is one of Florida’s hidden treasures. Of all the places I have gone in Florida, all the tours I have been on throughout my life, this has got to be one of my Top 10. There were incredible photo opportunities, chances to see incredible natural landscapes and animals. The tour brings you back to a time when Florida was wild —a time when cowboys and the landscape worked together, when the wildlife flourished and the neighbors were far away. •

Babcock Wilderness Adventures is located at 8000 State Road 31 east of Punta Gorda. From downtown Fort Myers you drive east on State Road 80 about 8-10 miles to State Road 31 North for about 9-10 minutes — about 25 minutes total. For more information, call 800-500-5583.

PHOTOGRAPHATLEFTBY C HERYL D IERKEN , PHOTOGRAPHSABOVEBY C INDY- JO D IETZ

‘Oh Beautiful Beer’ is part art history book and part historical record.

All About Beer

by Dean Simms-Elias

Oh Beautiful Beer

The Evolution of Craft Beer & Design

by Harvey Shepard

(COUNTRYMAN PRESS / W.W. NORTON & CO.)

The recent craft beer boom has led to the emergence of many new breweries. With so many options available it takes more than taste to stand out. The visual identity of the brand is oftentimes just as important. Oh Beautiful Beer is an illustrated history of beers’ visual history and the many evolutions in bottle shapes and label designs. Combining aspects of an art history book and historical record, the book will be particularly interesting for any craft beer lover who is also a geek for graphic design.

The author takes you through the brewers’ process and public responses to the unique label and logo designs developed to distinguish certain products and their brewers. The book tells the story of how brewers created a stronger customer relationship through sculpting the beer’s brand identity. With photographs and product designs, Oh Beautiful Beer explains how the application of art to beer marketing accelerated the growth, commercialization and admiration of local breweries and their values. You gain insights into the development of beer brands and how graphic design added a new dimension to the drinker’s relationship with beer and its brewers. Ranging from beer in tin buckets through prohibition to the rise of craft breweries and gastropubs today, Oh Beautiful Beer is a gorgeous

casual read that educates you about the history of the brewing industry and its generational product styles and brand art.

Beer Bites

Tasty Recipes and Perfect Pairings for Brew Lovers

by Christian DeBenedetti & Andrea Slonecker

(CHRONICLE BOOKS)

Beer Bites is a handy book of cooking inspiration for beer lovers and food enthusiasts alike. Containing dozens of unique recipes for appetizers, snacks and meals, it directs you to the only way to better your dining experience —mixing food with a properly paired brew. This guidebook educates you about why certain foods pair so well with certain craft beers. Containing overviews of the diverse characteristics of beers and its many types, the book includes instructions for easy do-it-yourself meals that you can compliment with just the right beer.

This cookbook is organized into chapters pairing culinary concepts such as ‘Fruit and Spice,’ ‘Hoppy and Herbal,’ ‘Crisp and Clean,’ etc.. Recipes include Chicken Peach Zucchini Kabob with Salsa Verde, Pork & Shrimp Vientamese Crepes, Kimchi Quesadillas, and not-so-crazy twists on favorites like dips, wings, nachos, and popcorn.

The authors lead you through each recipe step-by-step, adding comments about the intentional combination of flavors and mixology, all while encouraging you to experiment with your own culinary ingenuity.

A great coffee table book for craft beer bars, cafes or your home, Beer Bites provides creative and intoxicating twists on conventional food fare. It is chock full of tasty ideas that

‘Beer Bites’ is full of tasty ideas that will elevate any dinner party.

will elevate any dinner party. From traditional plates to exotic appetizers, Beer Bites can be the go-to guide for sophisticated cooking and drinking for anyone who appreciates culinary and craft beer excellence.

The Brewer’s Tale A History of the World According to Beer

by William Bostwick (W. W. NORTON & CO.)

The Brewer’s Tale, written by William Bostwick, beer critic for GQ and the Wall Street Journal, takes you on the historical adventure of how humans made, drank and celebrated beer. Part travelogue, part history and part culinary escapades, Bostwick discovers the tales and fails of brewing over the ages and collects a range of wild recipes and stories of how brewing techniques came about. Written like a travel log and instruction manual, Bostwick imparts his wealth of knowledge about beer like an encouraging pal while connecting ancient brewing insights to modern day practices.

The Brewer’s Tale is full of fascinating facts about brewing and its historical transformations. Through his extensive research and world travel, Bostwick explores the 5,000 year old quest for

beer magic through historical lenses such as ‘The Shaman,’ ‘The Monk’ and ‘The Patriot.’

From the redwoods of Sonoma County to medieval monasteries in Britain, he comically narrates the mysterious, outlandish and ingenious stories of how humans brewed and drank beer through the ages.

An intoxicating book for craft beer lovers and home brewers, The Brewer’s Tale leads the reader through time to better understand where the inspiration for modern beers came from.

Beer Pairing

The Essential Guide to Tasting, Matching and Enjoying Beer & Food

by Julia Herz & Gwen Conley

(VOYAGEUR PRESS)

Beer Pairing playfully educates the reader about what makes beer and food taste so great together. Taking a scientific approach, it illus-

trates the biological and chemical phenomena that enable taste and aroma to pleasurably engage your senses. Reading this book will give you a comprehensive understanding about how your taste buds interact with food and beer and the chemistry that creates unique culinary experiences.

Beer Pairing gives you thorough lessons in both conventional and creative ways to combine craft beer and food when at home or out and about. This book takes you through the best traditional methods of pairing as well as how to go about discovering exotic collaborations. Full of dinner ideas and recipes for craft beer infused food, it provides interesting insights into how to enhance your dining experience. •

ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS

10091 McGregor Blvd. • Fort Myers 239-939-2787

www.artinlee.org

MON-FRI, 9AM-1PM & SAT, 9AM-1PM

The Alliance for the Arts has been connecting people to the arts from its 10-acre Fort Myers campus since 1975 by presenting and hosting exhibitions, concerts, festivals, classes, and other art and culture programs for all ages.

BABCOCK WILDERNESS ADVENTURES

8000 State Road 31 •Punta Gorda 800-500-5583

www.babcockwilderness.com

THRU DEC 31 TUE-SAT, JAN 3-MAR 20 MON-SUN TOURTIMESVARY

Babcock Wilderness Adventures offers a narrated ninety minute tour of our working cattle ranch, eco systems, and local wildlife. The seasonal Gator Shack Restaurant, wildlife exhibits, Florida Panther, kids area and gift sh op, featuring our Saw Palmetto Honey, are open year round to add to your adventure.

BIG ARTS

www.BIGARTS.org

BIG ARTS CENTER

Schein Hall – Phillips Gallery – Founders Gallery

900 Dunlop Rd. • Sanibel

239-395-0900

MON–FRI 9AM–4PM, 1 HOURBEFORERECEPTION

STRAUSS THEATER

2200 Periwinkle Way • Sanibel 239-472-6862

BOX OFFICE: TUE–FRI 10AM–2PM, 1 HOURBEFORESHOWS

Your Home for All the Arts, BIG ARTS stages a wide spectrum of professional performing arts events, including music, dance, film, and live theater; exhibits visual arts by local and nationally r enowned artists; and offers more than 250 workshops and seminars. There’s always something creative to experience at BIG ARTS!

CENTERS FOR THE ARTS OF BONITA SPRINGS

www.artcenterbonita.org

MON-FRI 9AM-5PM & SAT 9AM-4PM

CENTER FOR VISUAL ARTS

26100 Old 41 Rd. • Bonita Springs

CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

10150 Bonita Beach Rd. • Bonita Springs 239-495-8989

Two Centers-One Mission: Arts for All. The Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs is committed to enrich the culture of our diverse community by providing opportunities for artistic expression, education and appreciation in a supportive and nurturing environment. Centerfor Visual Arts offers instruction in: Glass, Painting, Dance, Drawing, Sculpture, Metal, Acting, Singing & Photography and local and National Exhibitions. The Center for Performing Arts offers, Lectures, Theater, Music, Comedy, Films and Dance Performances.

COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUMS

www.colliermuseums.com

MON-SAT 9AM-4PM

COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUM

3331 Tamiami Trail E. • Naples

239-252-8476

The Museum’s permanent exhibits offer a capsule history of Spain’s early exploration of Southwest Florida, as well as an in-depth look at the Calusa Indian culture that thrived here centuries before Columbus sailed for the New World.

NAPLES DEPOT MUSEUM

1051 5th Ave. S. • Naples

239-262-6525

Set in Naples’ first passenger train station, the restored Naples Depot Museum takes visitors back to Florida’s railroading heydays of the Roaring 20’s and tells how technology and transportation helped Naples grow from a village of 300 to today’s Gulf Coast resort.

MUSEUM OF THE EVERGLADES

105 W. Broadway • Everglades City

239-695-0008

First opened in 1927 as a commercial laundry for workers building the Tamiami Trail, the museum’s exhibits provide visitors with a look at over 2,000 years of human history in Southwest Florida’s ‘River of Grass’ and tells the story of the pioneers who settled America’s last frontier.

MARCO ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

180 S. Heathwood Dr. • Marco Island

239-642-1440

The museum’s permanent exhibits feature a walk through a recreated Calusa Indian village and an extensive display of artifacts, including shell tools, ceremonial items, weapons and household utensils, as well as finds from the Hamilton Cushing expedition in 1895-96.

IMMOKALEE PIONEER MUSEUM AT ROBERTS RANCH

1215 Roberts Ave. • Immokalee 239-658-2466

This 15-acre living history museum offers a rare glimpse of daily life on an actual Southwest Florida pioneer homestead from the early 1900s. Displays and nineteen carefully restored original buildings tell the story of the pioneers, farmers and cattle ranchers who tamed the wilderness on the edge of the Big Cypress Swamp.

ENGLEWOOD ART CENTER

Ringling College of Art + Design

350 S. McCall Rd. • Englewood 941-474-5548

www.ringling.edu/eac

TUE 9AM-9PM, WED-SAT 9AM-4PM

The Englewood Art Center is pleased to present an ever 'green' 2015-2016 season of classes, workshops, exhibitions and events dedicated to showcasing art that is inspired by and impacts our natural and built environment. EAC invites artists, art enthusiasts, and anyone whosupports the creative community in Englewood to join us this season.

GOLISANO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF NAPLES

15080 Livingston Rd. • Naples 239-514-0084

www.cmon.org

MON & TUE, THU-SAT 10AM-5PM, SUN 11AM-4PM

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples believes it is a privilege to share life with a child, and is committe d to nurturing bonds among families and generations. We celebrate the natural curiosity of children by offering an educational dynamic space that encourages exp loration and discovery.

FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE

Historic Arcade Theatre

2267 First St. • Fort Myers River District 239-332-4488

www.floridarep.org

SHOWS TUE-SATPM; WED, SUN & SELECT SAT 2PM

BOX OFFICE: MON-SAT 10AM-5PM & 1 HOURBEFORESHOWS

Celebrating 18 years of excellence in live professional theatre, Florida Rep is Lee County’s largest non-profit arts organization and services over 80,000 people annually –including over 18,000 young people with its active Educational Programming. Called ‘One of America’s Top Repertory Companies’ by The Wall Street Journal, Florida Rep produces a wide variety of work — comedies, dramas, To ny and Pulitzer winners, and musicals — throughout its October-May season. Free Parking.

THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

4760 Tamiami Trail N. • Suite 7 • Naples 239-263-9200

www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org

JAN-APR TUE-SUN 12:30-5PM, MAY-DEC TUE-SUN 1-4PM

The Museum ‘makes history personal’ through the individual stories of local residents who are Holocaust Survivors and WWII Liberators and Veterans. Our Education programs reach an annual average of 15,000 K-12- college/university students. Handicap accessible. TripAdvisor and Best of the Gulf Shore awards. Open year-round.

IMAGINARIUM SCIENCE CENTER

2000 Cranfod Ave. • Fort Myers 239-321-7420

www.i-sci.org

TUE-SAT 10AM-5PM, SUN 12-5PM

Making science fun for everyone! Dig for dinosaurs, touch a cloud, feed a stingray, navigate a river, experiment with forces and motion, engineer an airplane, and explore nanoscience. See a 3-D movie, catch a live animal show, and enjoy aquariums with alligators, sharks, fish, and turtles.

NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN

4820 Bayshore Dr. • Naples 239-643-7275

www.naplesgarden.org

DAILY 9AM-5PM, TUE 8AM-5PM

Stroll through 170 acres of lush tropical cultivated gardens and native preserve. Enjoy a garden paradise that features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Florida. A Children’s Garden along with 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitats, walking trails and a Butterfly Garden offer something for everyone.

LABORATORY THEATER OF FLORIDA

1634 Woodford Ave. • Fort Myers River District 239-218-0481

SHOWS THU-SUN 2 & 8PM

The Laboratory Theater of Florida celebrates its 7th season. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the theater is dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, through live performance, education, community outreach, experimentation and the development of ensemble work. The company features ensemble productions, produces classic works, takes artistic risks and features and challenges local performers of various skill levels. Stay up to date with its news and events on Facebook and Twitter @LabTheaterFL. Free parking.

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS

1590 Goodlette Frank Road, Naples 239-262-5409

www.napleszoo.org

daily 9am-5pm

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a full day of fun presentations and a wild cruise through islands of monkeys, lemurs, and apes. And don’t miss our two new exhibits! Learn about the endangered Florida panther and an invasive Burmese python w hile you can see them in person.

PURE FLORIDA

www.purefl.com

docked at Historic Tin City 1200 5th Ave. S. • Naples 239-263-4949

www.purenaples.com

docked at The Marina at Edison Ford 2360 W. 1st Street • Fort Myers 239-919-2965

www.purefortmyers.com

‘Seas the Day’ with Pure Florida sightseeing cruises, eco-shelling tours, fishing trips and charters, jet ski and boat rentals and more! Reservations for private and group excursions are available seven days a week in two convenient locations in Naples and Fort Myers. Our knowledgeable, accommodating te am brings Southwest Florida within re ach for an unforgettable ex perience on the water!

SEMINOLE CASINO HOTEL IMMOKALEE

506 S. First St. • Immokalee 800-218-0007

www.seminoleimmokaleecasino

24 HOURSADAY 365 DAYSAYEAR

The all-new Seminole Casino Hotel is SWFL’s premier g aming destination. With 1,300 slots, it is home to Florida’s largest jackpots and loosest machines. The casino features 38 table games, including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow and Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker. When it’s time to cash in, dine out at one of the delicious aw ard-winning restaurants, or visit the Zig Zag Lounge for a cocktail and nightly live entertainment.

SALTY SAM'S WATERFRONT ADVENTURES

239-463-7333

www.saltysams.com

SALTY SAM'S PIRATE CRUISE

2500 Main St. • Fort Myers Beach 239-765-7272

www.floridapiratecruise.com

HOURS & CRUISETIMESVARY

Step into a 90 minute interactive comedy adventure aboard the Pieces of Eight, a 65 ft. replica Spanish galleon. Ye will be sworn in as pirates, have live cannon rounds, a mutiny against the Captain, games and nautical nonsense! Don ye pirate garb and join us as we navigate the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

SIGHT SEA-R CRUISES

2500 Main St. • Fort Myers Beach 239-765-7272

www.sightseaflorida.com

HOURS & TIMESVARY

Explore Fort Myers Beach and the surrounding islands from the water aboard our spacious, comfortable catamaran. Enjoy luxurious waterfront homes, dolphins, and other marine wildlife as you sit back and take in the incredible views. With a bathroom and a bar on board, there is no better way to experience paradise.

SHELL FACTORY & NATURE PARK

Soaring Eagle Zip Line

2787 Tamiami Trail N. • North Fort Myers

239-995-2141

www.shellfactory.com

DAILY 10AM-DUSK

The world's largest collection of rare shells, sponges, coral, fossils and sea life specimens. Thousands of gifts and unique displays, exhibits and collections including the year-round Christmas House, Natural History Exhibit and Money Museum. Capt'n Fishbones offers seafood and steaks, cocktails and children's menu. Water wars, bumper boats, miniature golf, playgrounds, Groovy Stop Video Arcade, and Soaring Eagle Zip Line. The Nature Parkpresents many species of animals, birds, r eptiles, and fish; two aviaries, a butterfly garden, petting farm, touch center, eco-lab, a botanical trail, gemstone mining, and picnic area.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MUSEUM OF HISTORY

2031 Jackson St. • Historic Fort Myers River District 239-321-7430

www.museumofhistory.org

TUE-SAT 10AM-5PM

The Southwest Florida Museum of History is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of history and traditions, with particular emphasis on Fort Myers and Southwest Florida.

H oused in the former Atlantic Coastline Railroad depot, the Museum is home to the history of Southwest Florida, including Paleo Indians, the Calusa, the Seminoles, Spanish explorers, early settlers, the Fort, the cattlemen, turn of the century, and the agriculture, boating and fishing industries in Fort Myers.

THEATREZONE

G & L Theatre Community School of Naples

13275 Livingston Rd. • Naples

888-966-3352

www.theatrezone-florida.com

In 2005, the non-profit Equity theatre group was founded on two concepts: an affinity for the stage and the intimacy of live audiences. Co-founders, Artistic Director Mark Danni and his wife, actress and choreographer Karen Molnar, shared a vision to produce innovative musical productions of classic 'lost treasures of Broadway' with professional actors. TheatreZone is in residence at the intimate 250-seat G & L Theatre housed on the campus of the Co mmunity School of Naples.

VENICE THEATRE

140 W. Tampa Ave. • Venice 941-488-1115

www.venicestage.com

BOX OFFICE: MON-FRI 10AM-5PM; SAT 10AM-1PM; 1 HOURBEFORESHOWS

Located just an hour north of Fort Myers, Venice Theatre is the second largest community theatre in the country! Their 66th Season features musicals, comedies, dramas, concerts and cabarets including: Church Ba sement Ladies; Hair, directed by Ben Vereen; Sweeney Todd; The Rocky Horror Show; Ragtime; J ames and the Giant Peach; The Capitol Steps and much more.

SEPT 1

TUESDAY

•Art Reception: Harbour View Gallery: 5789 Cape Harbour Dr, #104, Cape Coral. 6-8p.Free. 5405789.

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

5

•Teen Theater Auditions: For ‘Hairspray Jr.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 5-7p. Free.495-8989.

•Youth Theater Auditions: For ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 5-7p. Free.495-8989. 2

WEDNESDAY

•Ask the Curator: Ford Flathead V-8. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 1p. 334-7419. 3

THURSDAY

•Art Reception & Gallery

Talk: FGCU Arts Complex, 10501 FGCU Blvd S., Ft Myers. 5-7p. Free. 5907199.

•Ellie Lee & Blues Fury: Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7p. 282-3232. 4

FRIDAY

•Art Reception: Davis Art Center, 2301 1st St, Ft Myers. 6-10p. Live music. Free. 333-1933.

SEPTEMBER OCT0BER

whatGoeson

•Art Reception: Arts for ACT Gallery, 2265 1st St, Ft Myers, 6-9p. Free. 3375050.

•Art Reception: Arts for ACT Gallery, 2265 1st St, Ft Myers. 6-10p. Free. 3375050.

•Art Reception: Cape Coral Arts Studio, Rubicond Park, 4533 Coronado Pkwy, Cape Coral. 5-7p. Free.574-0802.

•Art Reception: Unit A, 1922 Evans Ave, Ft Myers. 6-10p. Free. 340-6467.

•Art Walk: Receptions, exhibits, demos, live music at severalgalleries & studios. Downtown Ft Myers’ historic River District. 6-10p.Free. 855732-3836.

•Betty Fox Band: Blues concert. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 6:30 & 9p. 5971900.

•Fort Myers Miracle vs Charlotte Stone Crabs: Hammond Stadium, 14400 SixMile Cypress Pkwy, Ft Myers. 7p. 800338-9467.

•Mart Stokes & The Captiva Band: Bert’s Bar & Grill,

SATURDAY

•Improv Café - Youth Improv: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Veach Rd, Bonita Springs. 3p. 495-8989.

•Improv Tonight: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 8p. 4958989.

•Marine Science Cruise: For Kids grades 1-7. Pure Florida, the Marina at Edison Ford, 2360 W 1st St, Ft Myers. 10:30a. Reserve. 793-7529.

6

SUNDAY

•Fort Myers Miracle vs Charlotte Stone Crabs: Hammond Stadium, 14400 SixMile Cypress Pkwy, Ft Myers. 4p. 800-338-9467.

•Jazz Brunch: Father Al & the Jazz Congregation. Matanzas on the Bay, 416 Crescent St, Ft Myers Beach. 11a-3p. 463-3838.

7

MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ‘Like Water for Chocolate.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

•Independent Film: Screening & discussion hosted by Ft Myers Film Fest. Davis Art Center, 2301 1st St,Ft Myers. Happy Hour 6:30p, film 7p, talk after film. 3331933.

8 TUESDAY

•Art Talk: Exhibition & discussion. Davis Art Center. 2301 1st St, Ft Myers. 7p. 333-1933.

9

WEDNESDAY

•Ask the Curator: Edison & the Ediphone. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 1p. 334-7419.

10

THURSDAY

•A Feast of American Songs: U Tobe Recital Hall, Music Bldg, FGCU, 1051 FGCU BlvdS, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 745-4268.

•Art Reception: Visual Arts Center, 210 Maud St, Punta Gorda. 5p. Free. 941-6398810.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

•Dick Hyman – Big Bands & Combos: Concert.Shell Point, Village Church, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 454-2067.

•Naples Philharmonic

Chamber music. Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples. 11a. Free. 597-1900.

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. South Regional Library. 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy, Naples. 5p. Free. 5971900.

•Robbie Brooks: Live music. The Hut at the Peace Tropical Gardens, 5150 Buckingham Rd, FtMyers. 6:30-9:30p. Free. 2250907.

11

5833Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 7p. Free. 5971900.

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Dr, Naples. 3:30p. Free. 597-1900.

12

FRIDAY

•Art Reception: Performance by Wayne White. FSW State College, 8099 College Pkwy SW, Ft Myers.6-8p. Free. 4899313.

•Betty Fox Band: Concert. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 9p-12a. 693-7111.

•Mike Imbasciani & The Bluez Rockerz: Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 2823232.

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. Baker Museum, Artis–Naples,

SATURDAY

•24 Hour Festival: FGCU TheatreLab. Parking garage #2, near FGCU Arts Complex , 10501 FGCU Blvd S, Ft Myers. 8p. 5907268.

•Art After Dark: Receptions, 9392787.exhibits, demos,music at several galleries & studios. Crayton Cove, Naples City Dock,8th St S & 12th Ave S, Naples. 6-9p. Free. 8211061.

•Art Reception: Cape Coral Library, 921 W 39th Terrace, Cape Coral. 12:302:30p. Free. 533-4500.

•Art Reception: Visual Arts Center, 210 Maud St, Punta Gorda. 5p. Free. 941-6398810.

•Auditions: TheatreZone’s Sweet Smell of Success, The Boy from Oz, Into the

Woods, Dames at Sea. G&L Theatre, Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Rd, Naples. 10a-6p. 888-966-3352.

•Craft Beer & Music Festival: Beer, food, live music. Bell Tower Shops, 13499 US 41, Ft Myers. 37p. Free. 489-1221.

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Crayton Rd, Naples. 3p. Free. 597-1900.

•Race to Space Exhibit Opening: In partnership with Kennedy Space Center. Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Rd, Naples. 10a-4p. 514-0084.

•Song of the Jasmine: Ragamala Dance Co., music & dance from India. BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 481-4849.

•The Goldtones: Venice Theatre, 140 W Tampa Ave, Venice. 8p. 941-4881115.

SUNDAY

•Bluegrass Concert: Paddle Faster,Captain Joe & the

John Prine will be performing at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers on September 17. Call 481-4845 for information.

Bottomfeeders, The Bugtussle Ramblers. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 2p 939-2787.

•SWFL Chamber

Symphony: Concert.Shell Point, Village Church, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 454-2067. 14

MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ’13 Tzameti.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 4958989. 15

TUESDAY

•Historical Lecture: The Story of Chine –Prehistory & Early Times. Shell Point, Grand Cypress Room, TheWoodlands, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Myers. 10a. 489-8472.

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. Collier County Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples. 2p. Free. 597-1900.

•Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers: ‘I Will Dance.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 4958989.

16

WEDNESDAY

•Ask the Curator: Edison the Gardener. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 1p. 334-7419.

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave, Naples. 3p. Free. 597-1900.

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues on Captiva. Afternoons and evenings.

•Rodney Carrington: Country music concert. BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 7p. 481-4849.

FRIDAY

•Dinosaur George Live: Fossil exhibit. North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall,15000 Livingston Rd, Naples. Mon-Sat, 10a-4p. 2528476.

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues on Captiva. Afternoons and evenings.

•Music Walk: Live music & dancing at several cafes, clubs &galleries. Downtown Ft Myers’ historic River District. 610p. Free. 855-732-3836.

19

SATURDAY

•Auditions: Naples Players’ ‘The Foreigner.’ Sugden Community Theater, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 2p. 434-7340.

•Dinosaur George Live:

Fossil Exhibit & Presentation North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall,15000 Livingston Rd, Naples. Mon-Sat, 12-4p. 252-8476.

•Guide Tours: Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. 9a-5p. 992-2591.

•Gulf Coast Writers Association Meeting: Zion LutheranChurch, 7401 Winkler Rd, Ft Myers. 10a12p. Free. 247-4515.

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues on Captiva. Afternoons and evenings.

•SummerJazz on the Gulf: Late Night Brass. Free waterfront concert on Watkins Lawn. Naples Beach Hotel, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd N, Naples. 6:30-9:30p. 261-2222.

•The Beauty of the Oboe: U Tobe Recital Hall, Music Bldg, FGCU, 1051 FGCU BlvdS, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 745-4268.

20 SUNDAY

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues on Captiva. Afternoons and evenings.

21 MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ’Deflowering of Eva Van End.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

•

24

Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Historic downtown Ft Myers River District. Afternoons and evenings.

22 TUESDAY

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Historic downtown Ft Myers River District. Afternoons and evenings.

23 WEDNESDAY

•Ask the Curator: Estates Furniture Preservation. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 334-7419.

• I s l a n d H o p p e r S o n g w r i t e r Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Historic downtown Ft Myers River District. Afternoons and evenings.

THURSDAY

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Historic downtown Ft Myers River District. Afternoons and evenings.

•New Works Festival: ‘ Embalmed, Buried, Gone’ play reading. Gulfshore Playhouse. Norris Center, 755 5thAve S, Ft Myers. 8p. 866-811-4111.

•Robbie Brooks: Live music. The Hut at the Peace Tropical Gardens, 5150 Buckingham Rd, FtMyers. 6:30-9:30p. Free. 2250907.

25 FRIDAY

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Ft Myers Beach, Afternoons and evenings.

•Kings & Queens of Comedy: Just Don, Sheena Reagan & John Charles. Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd, Cape Coral. 7p. 574-0575.

•Mike Imbasciani & The Bluez Rockerz: Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 2823232.

•New Works Festival: ‘Ariadne on the Island’ play reading. Gulfshore Playhouse. Norris Center, 755 5thAve S, Ft Myers. 8p. 866-811-4111.

26 SATURDAY

•New Works Festival: ‘Other Than Honorable’ play reading. Gulfshore Playhouse. Norris Center, 755 5thAve S, Ft Myers. 8p. 866-811-4111.

27 SUNDAY

•FGCU Bower School of Music Wind Orchestra Concert: Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 3p. 745-4268.

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Ft Myers Beach. Afternoons and evenings.

•New Works Festival: ‘White’ play reading. Gulfshore Playhouse. Norris Center, 755 5thAve S, Ft Myers. 3p. 866-8114111.

28 MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ‘Buena Vista Social Club.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

30

WEDNESDAY

•Ask the Curator: Edison Fish Stories. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 1p. 334-7419.

OCT

1

THURSDAY

•Naples Philharmonic: Chamber music. FGCU, 10501 FGCU Blvd S, Ft Myers. 4p. Free. 597-1900. 17

•Abstraction: Art party fundraiser. Art exhibit & installations, live music, food. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 7p. RSVP. 9392787.

THURSDAY

•Bald Eagle Program: Audubon of SWFL. Masonic Lodge, 10868 Metro Pkwy, Ft Myers. 7p. Free. 410-6971.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

•Dinosaur George Live: Fossil exhibit North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall:15000 Livingston Rd, Naples. Mon-Sat, 10a-4. 252-8476.

•Exhibition Reception: Naples Depot Museum: 1051 Fifth Ave S, Naples. 6-8p. Free. 262-6525.

•Fall for the Arts: family festival of music, art, dance, theater, food. 10a3p. Free. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers.

•Ask the Curator: Morning Tea with Mina Edison & Clara Ford. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 10:30a. 334-7419.

•Auditions: The Marco Players’ ‘2 Across’ and ‘Rose’s Dilemma. Marco Players Theater, Marco Town Center Mall, 1089 N. Collier Blvd, Marco Island. 404-5198.

•Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Singer/Songwriters perform at various venues in Ft Myers Beach. Afternoons and evenings.

•National Estuaries Day Celebration: Guide boat tours, live animal shows, educational presentations, kayaking, art show, etc. Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Rd, Naples. 9a-4p. Free. 5305977.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

2 FRIDAY

•Art Reception & Open House: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 26100 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs.68p. Free. 495-8989.

•Art Reception: Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 5-7p. Free. 939-2787.

•Art Reception: Arts for ACT Gallery, 2265 1st St, Ft Myers, 6-9p. Free. 3375050.

•Art Reception: Unit A, 1922 Evans Ave, Ft Myers. 6-10p. Free. 340-6467.

•Art Walk: Receptions, exhibits, demos, live music at severalgalleries & studios. Downtown Ft Myers’ historic River District. 6-10p.Free. 855732-3836.

3 SATURDAY

•Art Reception: Englewood Art Center, 350 S. McCall

Ellie Leee & The Fury will be performing at Bert’s Bar & Grill in Matlacha on September 3. For information, call 282-3232

what Goes on

Rd, Englewood. 2-4p. Free. 941-474-5548.

•Bark on the Ark: Cruise along Caloosahatchee River to Picnic Island with your dog. Pure Florida, the Marina at Edison Ford, 2360 W 1st St, Ft Myers. 8a. Reserve. 919-2965.

•Free Family Activity Day: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 26100 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. 1:30-3:30p. Free. 4958989.

•Improv Café - Youth

Improv: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Veach Rd, Bonita Springs. 3p. 4958989.

•Improv Tonight: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 8p. 4958989.

•John Cleese & Eric Idle –Together Again At Last for the Very First Time: Comedy & music. BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 4814849.

•Tas Cru & His Tortured Souls: Concert. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 9p-12a. 693-7111.

4 SUNDAY

•FGCU Bower School of Music Symphony & Jazz Band Concert: TBD. 3p. Free.745-4268.

•Jazz Brunch: Father Al & the Jazz Congregation. Matanzas on the Bay, 416 Crescent St, Ft Myers Beach. 11a-3p. 463-3838.

5

MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ‘The Aura.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 4958989.

•Independent Film: Screening & discussion hosted by Ft Myers Film Fest. Davis Art Center, 2301 1st St,Ft Myers. Happy Hour 6:30p, film 7p, talk after film. 3331933.

6

7

WEDNESDAY

•Ikebana Meeting & Workshop: Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Dr, Naples. 9a.254-9999.

•Lunch & Learn Lectures: Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. 9a-5p. 992-2591.

8

THURSDAY

•Art Reception & Gallery Talk: FGCU Arts Complex, 10501 FGCU Blvd S., Ft Myers. 5-7p. Free. 5907199.

•Art Reception: Wine & cheese. Cape Coral Art League, 516 Cultural Blvd, Cape Coral.5-7p. Free. 772-5657.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

•FGCU Bower School of Music Symphony Orchestra Concert: U Tobe Recital Hall, Music Bldg, FGCU, 1051 FGCU BlvdS, Ft Myers. 7:30p. Free. 7454268.

9

FRIDAY

•Art Reception: Cape Coral Arts Studio, Rubicond Park, 4533 Coronado Pkwy, Cape Coral. 5-7p. Free.574-0802.

•The Jewish Soul: U Tobe Recital Hall, Music Bldg, FGCU, 1051 FGCU BlvdS, Ft Myers. 7:30p. Free. 7454268.

10

SATURDAY

•Art After Dark: Receptions, exhibits, demos,music at several galleries & studios. Crayton Cove, Naples City Dock,8th St S & 12th Ave S, Naples. 6-9p. Free. 8211061.

•Family Archeology Day: Crafts, educational programs.Marco Island Historical Museum,180 S Heathwood Dr, Marco Island. 9a-4p. Free. 6421440.

TUESDAY

•Art Reception: Harbour View Gallery: 5789 Cape Harbour Dr, #104, Cape Coral. 6-8p.Free. 5405789.

•Historical Lecture: The Story of Chine – The Qin to the Han. Shell Point, Grand Cypress Room, TheWoodlands, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Myers. 10a. 489-8472.

•Here Comes The Mummies: Concert. Seminole Casino Resort, 506 S 1st St, Immokalee. 7:30p. 800-218-0007.

•Little Mike & The Tornadoes: Concert. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 9p-12a. 693-7111.

•Strolling Science Seminars: Florida’s Fabulous Spiders.CREW Marsh Hiking Trails, 4600 Corkscrew Rd, Immokalee. 9a. Register. 657-2253.

12 MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ‘Me, You, Them.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

13 TUESDAY

• B u d d y G u y & S h e m e k i a Copeland: Blues concert. BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 8p. 4814849.

• H i s t o r i c a l L e c t u r e : The Story of Chine – From the Han to the Mongols. Shell Point, Grand Cypress Room, TheWoodlands, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Mye rs. 10a. 489-8472.

• S o u t h e r n C i r c u i t T o u r o f I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m m a k e r s : ‘1971.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 4958989.

15

THURSDAY

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 2823232.

•Ghosts in the Garden: Decorated ghosts created by local artsist and students. Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. 9a-5p. 992-2591.

•Ringling Int’l Arts Festival Opening Night

– Bollywood Dreams: Performances by Tom Lee, Cambodian Circus, Ronnarong Khampha start 7p. Ringling Museum of Art,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 6p. 941-3595700.

16

FRIDAY

•Florida Everblades vs Gwinnett Gladiators Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 7:30p. 948-7825.

•Jazz Sunsets on the Bay: The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5-8p. 941-3595700.

•Jen Shyu – Solo Rites, Seven Breaths: Jazz concert.Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 8p. 941-359-5700.

•Music Walk: Live music & dancing at several cafes, clubs &galleries. Downtown Ft Myers’ historic River District. 610p. Free. 855-732-3836.

•Orkes Sinten Remen: Indonesian folk music. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5p. 941-3595700.

•Peni Candra Rini: Indonesian music & dance concert.Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2, 5 & 5p. 941-359-5700.

•Phare – The Cambodian Circus: Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Mertz Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5p. 941-359-5700.

•Ronnarong Khampha: Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore

LutheranChurch, 7401 Winkler Rd, Ft Myers. 10a12p. Free. 247-4515.

•Jen Shyu – Solo Rites, Seven Breaths: Jazz concert.Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5 8p. 941-359-5700.

•John Prine: Americana concert. BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 8p. 481-4849.

•Orkes Sinten Remen: Indonesian folk music. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2 & 8p. 941359-5700.

Rd, Sarasota. 5p. 941-3595700.

•TAO Dance Theater: Chinese dance group. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Mertz Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 8p. 941-359-5700.

•Tom Lee – Shanks

Mare: Japanese puppetry. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 8p. 941-3595700.

•Who Killed the Rabbit –Murder Mystery Brunch: CFABS Community Players. Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 6:30p. 495-8989.

17

SATURDAY

•Backyard Bluesfest: Joe Moss, Long Tall Deb, Tommy Lee Cook & The Wildbunch Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 2p-12a. 693-7111.

•Boo at the Zoo: Trick-ortreating, costume contest. Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples. 9a-5p. 262-5409.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Concert. Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 8p. 495-8989.

•Florida Everblades vs Gwinnett Gladiators Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 7p. 948-7825.

•Free Family Activity Day: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 26100 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. 1:30-3:30p. Free. 4958989.

•Gulf Coast Writers Association Meeting: Zion

•Peni Candra Rini: Indonesian music & dance concert.Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2, 5 & 8p. 941-359-5700.

•Phare – The Cambodian Circus: Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Mertz Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2 & & 2p. 941-359-5700.

•Ronnarong Khampha: Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2p. 941-359-5700.

•TAO Dance Theater: Chinese dance group. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Mertz Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2p. 941-359-5700.

•Tom Lee – Shanks Mare: Japanese puppetry. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5p. 941-3595700.

18

SUNDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: Family Fun Day. Ecoactivities for all ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc.. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a-6p. Free. 472-1100.

•FGCU Bower School of Music Chamber & University Choir Concert: U Tobe Recital Hall, Music Bldg, FGCU, 1051 FGCU

Monty Python alumni Eric Idle (left) and John Cleese perform at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers on October 3. For information, call 481-4845.

BlvdS, Ft Myers. 7:30p. Free. 745-4268.

•Jen Shyu – Solo Rites, Seven Breaths: Jazz concert.Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2p. 941-359-5700.

•Kodaly & Debussy: Chamber music. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 3p. 597-1900.

•Orkes Sinten Remen: Indonesian folk music. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5 8p. 941359-5700.

•Peni Candra Rini: Indonesian music & dance concert.Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Cook Theatre, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2, 5 & 8p. 941-359-5700.

•Play Readings: Naples Players Etc... Readers’ Theatre new play contest winner It’s About Time. Tobye Studio,Sugden Community Theater, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 2p. 263-7990.

•TAO Dance Theater: Chinese dance group. Ringling Int’l Arts Festival. Mertz Theatre, The Ringling,5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5p. 941-359-5700.

•Tom Lee – Shanks Mare: Japanese puppetry. Ringling Int’l Arts

Festival. Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 2p. 941-3595700.

•Who Killed the Rabbit

– Murder Mystery Brunch: CFABS Community Players. Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 11:30a. 495-8989.

MONDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: Pollinator Day. Ecoactivities for all ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a-6p. Free. 472-1100.

•Films for Film Lovers:

‘Snow Cake.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

TUESDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: Beach & Water Day. Eco-activities for all ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc.

‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a6p. Free. 472-1100.

•Historical Lecture: The Story of Chine – The Great Ming Dynasty. Shell Point, Grand Cypress Room, TheWoodlands, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Myers. 10a. 489-8472.

21

WEDNESDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: EcoInnovation Day. Ecoactivities for all ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc.

‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a6p. Free. 472-1100.

•Florida Everblades vs Norfolk Admirals. Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 7:30p. 9487825.

•Lecture: Weeds & Seeds –A history of Dining in SW Florida. Collier County Museum,3301 Tamiami Tr E, Naples. 2p. Reserve. Free. 774-8476.

•Tab Benoit: Concert. Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

22

THURSDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: Calusa Day. Eco-activities for all ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a-6p. Free. 472-1100.

•Ax Plays Brahms: Naples Philharmonic. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 8p. 597-1900.

23

FRIDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: Trails Day. Eco-activities for all

ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a-6p. Free. 472-1100.

•Brandon Santini: Concert. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 9p-12a. 693-7111.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

•O Som Do Jazz: Bossa Nova. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 8p. 597-1900.

24 SATURDAY

•’Ding’ Darling Days: Conservation Art Day. Ecoactivities for all ages, tram tours, wildlife presentations, crafts, puppet shows, birding, kayaking, etc. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 1Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 8a-6p. Free. 472-1100.

•Amazing Kreskin: Mentalist, live sceance. Seminole Casino Resort, 506 S 1st St, Immokalee. 7:30p. 800-218-0007.

•Ax Plays Brahms: Naples Philharmonic. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 8p. 597-1900.

•Lisa Lampanelli: Comedy. BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 8p. 481-4849.

25 SUNDAY

•Jazz Concert & Fundraiser: Danny Sinoff, Dan Miller, Alex Albanese, Todd Betz. Benefits SWFL Symphony Society. Crowne Plaza, Bell Tower Shops, 13051 Bell Tower Dr, Ft Myers. 4-7p, •So You Think You Can Dance: BB Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft Myers. 7:30p. 481-4849.

26

Ming to the Republic. Shell Point, Grand Cypress Room, TheWoodlands, 15101 Shell Pt Blvd, Ft Myers. 10a. 489-8472.

28 WEDNESDAY

•All That Jazz: Gary Smulyan concert. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 6 & 8:30p. 597-1900.

•Florida Everblades vs S Carolina Stingrays Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 7:30p. 948-7825.

•Halloween Ghost Train: Speak Easy of Murder. Dinner, show & costume contest. Murder Mystery Dinner Train Theater, 2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 6:30p. 275-8487.

29 THURSDAY

•Halloween Ghost Train: Speak Easy of Murder. Dinner, show & costume contest. Murder Mystery Dinner Train Theater, 2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 6:30p. 275-8487.

•Jerry Herman – Broadway Legacy Concert: Naples Philharmonic. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 8p. 597-1900.

30 FRIDAY

•Art Reception: BIG ARTS Center, 900 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel. 472-9700.

•Damon Fowler: Concert. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 9p-12a. 693-7111.

•Deb & The Dynamics: Blues band. Bert’s Bar & Grill,4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 7:30p. 282-3232.

•Florida Everblades vs S Carolina Stingrays Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 7:30p. 948-7825.

MONDAY

•Films for Film Lovers: ‘Monsieur Hire.’ Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 4958989.

27

TUESDAY

•Baroque Chamber Orchestra: Naples Philharmonic & Philharmonic Chorus. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 8p. 597-1900.

•Historical Lecture: The Story of Chine – From the

Best Flamingo costume contest. Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. 9a-5p. 992-2591.

•Halloween Ghost Train: Don’t Cry for Me. Dinner, show & costume contest. Murder Mystery Dinner Train Theater, 2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 6:30p. 275-8487.

•Halloween Spooktacular: Family concert. Artis–Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 3p. 597-1900.

ongoing theater

Murder Mystery Dinner Train,2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 2758487.

•Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest: Oct 27Nov 18. Florida Repertory Theatre,2267 1st St, Ft Myers. 332-4488.

•Bakersfield Mist: Sep 25Oct 11.Let’s Put On a Show Productions, Golden Gate Community Center, 5701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 389-9192.

•Calendar Girls: Oct 2-17. Laboratory Theater of Florida,1634Woodford Ave, Ft Myers. 218-0481.

•Church Basement Ladies: Oct 2-25. Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-488-1115.

•Don’t Cry for Me: Sep 426, Oct 2-31, Nov 6-21Fri & Sat.Murder Mystery Dinner Train,2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 275-8487.

•Halloween Ghost Train: Don’t Cry for Me. Dinner, show & costume contest. Murder Mystery Dinner Train Theater, 2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 6:30p. 275-8487.

•New Play Contest

Fundraiser: Theatre

Conspiracy reception & readings. Allaicne for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 7p. 936-3239.

•The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Film screening. Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

31

SATURDAY

•Halloween at the Wonder Gardens: Best Alligator &

•Exit Laughing: Sep 29-Oct 18. Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice. 941488-1115.

•Fancy Nancy the Musical: Oct 22-Nov 20. Broadway Palm Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti: Oct 8-Nov 1. Florida Repertory Theatre,2267 1st St, Ft Myers. 332-4488.

•Les Miserables School Edition: Sep 11-20. Cultural Park Theatrer 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. 772-5862.

•Million Dollar Quartet: Oct 1-Nov 21. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Never Saw Another Butterfly: Sep 10-20. Venice Theatre, 140 W.

Tab Benoit performs at the Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs on October 21. Call 495-8989 for information

what Goes on

Tampa Ave, Venice. 941488-1115.

•Second Chances – The Thrift Shop Musical: Sep 24-Nov 7 Off Broadway Palm Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Some Enchanted Evening: Thru Sep 26. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Something Afoot: Oct 14Nov 8. The Naples Players. Blackburn Hall, Sugden Theater, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 263-7990.

•Speak Easy of Murder: Sep 30-Nov 26 Sun, Wed, Thu.Murder Mystery Dinner Train,2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 275-8487.

•Spinning Into Butter: Oct 28-Nov 21. The Naples Players. Tobye Studio, Sugden Theater, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 263-7990.

•Toys in the Attic: Oct 2-18. Theatre Conspiracy. Foulds Theatre, Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 9363239.

•Wake Me at Midnight: Oct 16-25. Cultural Park Theatrer 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. 7725862.

•Xanadu: Oct 1-11, starring Eddie Mekka & FGCU Bower School of Music students. TheatreZone & FGCU Theatre Dept. FGCU TheatreLab, Arts Complex, 10501 FGCU Blvd, Ft Myers. 888-9663352.

THEATERS

•Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre: Thru Sep 26: Some Enchanted Evening;

Oct 1-Nov 21: Million Dollar Quartet.1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers.278-4422.

•Broadway Palm

Children’s Theatre: Oct 22-Nov 20: Fancy Nancy the Musical. 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Florida Repertory Theatre: Oct 6-Nov 1: I

Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti; Oct 27-Nov 18:

Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest. ArcadeTheatre, 2267 1st St, Ft Myers. 332-4488.

•Murder Mystery Train: Colonial Station, Colonial Blvd & Metro Pkwy. ThruSep 13: A Moroccan Affairl;Sep 4Nov 21: Don’t Cry for Me; Sep 16 - Nov 26:

Speak Easy of Murder;Nov 27 - Dec 24: A Scrooged

Up Murder.Wed-Sun evenings. 275-8487.

•Off Broadway Palm Theatre: Sep 24-Nov 7:

Second Chances – The Thrift Shop Musical. 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•The Laboratory Theater of Florida: Oct 2-17:

Calendar Girls. 1634 Woodford Ave, Ft Myers. 218-0481.

•Theatre Conspiracy: Oct 218:Toys in the Attic. Foulds Theatre, Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 936-3239.

•TheatreZone: Oct 1-11:

Xanudu.G & L Theatre, Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Rd, Naples. 888-9663352.

•Venice Theatre: Sep 10-20: Never Saw Another Butterfly; Sep 29-Oct 18:

Exit Laughing. Oct 2-25: Church Basement Ladies; 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-488-1115.

exhibitions

•Alliance for the Arts: 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. Thru Sep 9: Dog Days. Mon-Fri 9a-5p & Sat 9a-1p. Free. 939-2787.

•Art Council of Southwest Florida Co-Op Gallery: Coconut Point Mall, 8074 Mediterranean Dr, Estero. Oct-Apr Tue-Thu & Sat 10a-6p, Fri 11a-7p, Sun 125p, May-Sep Thu & Sat 10a-6p, Fri 11a-7p, Sun 125p. Free. 267-3049.

•Art League of Fort Myers: 1451 Monroe St, Ft Myers. Sep 4-30: Photography exhibit; Oct 2-30: Cornucopia. Free open painting Wed 9:3012p. Mon-Fri, 11a-3p & 69p 1st Fri of month. Free. 275-3970.

•Arts For ACT Gallery: 2265 First St, Ft Myers. Sep 4-28: Rachel Moorman, Rob Goldey, Justin Markley;Oct 2-26: The Hall Brothers ‘Family Plot,’ Jean Crenshaw, Alisha Koyanis;Mon-Sat 11a-4:30p, 1st & 3rd Fri 11a-10p. Call for Sat hrs. Free. 337-5050.

•Arts of the Inland Gallery: Keiser U at the Forum, 9100 Forum Corporate Pkwy, Ft Myers. Members exhibit. Mon-Thu 8a-8p, Fri 8a-5p, Sat 9a1p. Free. 277-1336.

•Baker Museum: ArtisNaples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. Sep 5-Nov 8: Weegee by Weegee; Sep 5Oct 11: Jan Yoors Retrospective;Sep 5-Jan

31: Celebrating 15 Years of Collecting; Sep 5-Jul 24: Dawn’s Forest – Sculptures of Louise Nevelson; Sep 5Nov 3: Schrenk Student Photography; Sep 5-Nov 3: Through the Lens. Tue-Sat 10a-4p & Sun 12-4p. 5971900.

•Beth Sistrunk Fine Art: 5760 Shirley St, # 15, Naples. Tue & Thu 1-4p. Free. 293-4904.

•Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery: 4332 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. Sun & Mon 10a5p, Tue-Sat 10a-7p. Free. 283-1335.

•BIG ARTS: 900 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel.Main Gallery–Oct 14-Nov 27: Sculpture. Phillips Gallery– Oct 14Nov 27: Pauline Healy. Mon-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 3950900.

•Bob Rauschenberg Gallery: FSW State College, 8099 College Pkwy SW, Ft Myers. Sep 11-Nov 7: Wayne White –Here Comes Mr. KnowIt-All.Mon-Fri 10a-4p & Sat 11a-3p. Free. 489-9313.

•Cape Coral Art League: 516 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral.Oct: Color Our World.Mon-Thu 11a-4p. Free, 772-5657.

•Cape Coral Arts Studio: 4533 Coronado Pkwy in Rubicond Park, Cape Coral. Thru Sept 24: Aquarium 2015; Oct 2-29: Tina Kraus Photography.Mon-Fri 9a4:30p. Free. 574-0802.

•Cape Coral Library: 921 39th Terrace & SW 9th Ct, Cape Coral. Sep 2-29: Art by the disABLEd. 9a-5p. Free. 533-4500.

•Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs: 26100 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. Oct 2-Dec 31: Sandy Scott Retrospective. Mon-Fri 10a-4p & Sat 1-5p. Free. 495-8989.

•Clark Art Studio: Mercato, 9155 Strada Place, #5155, Naples. Mon-Sat 11a-9p & Sun 1-9p. 616-260-1533.

•Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery: 52388 Tamiami Tr MM 54.5, Ochopee. Daily 10a-5p. Free. 695-2428.

•Clyde Butcher’s Venice Gallery & Studio: 237 Warfield Ave, Venice. Mar 21: Open House. Tue-Fri 10a-4:30p. Free. 486-0811.

•Collier County Museum: 3301 Tamiami Tr E, Naples. Educational programs, Wed, 2pm. MonSat 9a-4p. free. 774-8476.

•East West Fine Art: Bigham Galleria, 2425 Tamiami Tr N, #102, Naples. Mon-Fri 11a-4p & Sat 11a-2p.220-7503.

•Emily James Gallery: 720 5th Ave Sm # 111, Naples.

Mon-Wed 12-5p & Thu-Sat

12-9p. 777-3283

•Englewood Art Center: Ringling College of Art & Design, 350 S. MaCall Rd, Englewood. Ken Mitchell

Gallery – Sep 8-Oct 28:

Erik Groff + Michael

Wyshock. Loranger Gallery

– Sep 15-Oct 30:

Abstract.Mangrove

Gallery – Paul Findley’s Fire in the Night. Members Gallery – Sep 12-Oct 30:

artist TBD.Tue 9a-9p & Wed-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 941474-5548.

•Florida Gulf Coast University Art Galleries: 10501 FGCU Blvd S., Ft Myers. Main Gallery

– Thru Sep 24: FGCU

Faculty Exhibit; Oct 8-Nov

14: Yesterday It Was Sunny

–T.L. Solien solo exhibit.

ArtLab – Sep 17-Oct 1:

Capturing 24-Hours 2015; Oct 15-Nov 5: Reunion –Courtright Davis. Main Gallery in Arts Complex, ArtLab in Library. MonFri, 10a-4p & Thu 10a-7p. Free. 590-7199.

•Fort Myers Beach Art Association: 3030 Shell Mound, Ft Myers Beach. Oct-May Mon-Sat 10a-3p & Sun 12-3p, Jun-Sep Wed & Thu 9a-12p. Free. 4633909.

•Gallerie du Soleil: 393 Broad Ave S, Naples. MonSat, 10a-6p & Sun 12-5p. Free. 417-3450.

•Gallery on Fifth: Mercato, 9115 Strada Pl, #5130, Naples. Mon-Sat, 10a-6p & Sun 12-5p. Free. 821-9459.

•Gardner Colby Gallery: 386 & 365 Broad Ave S, Naples. Mon-Sat 10a-5:30p & Sun 12-5p. Free. 4037787.

•Grand Illusion Gallery: 2443 First St, Ft Myers. Mon & Fri 10a-5p & Sat

11a-3p, 1st Fri of month

10a-10p. 461-7245.

•Guess-Fisher Gallery: 1187 8th St S, Naples. Mon-Thu 12-5p, Fr & Sat 12-9p, Sun 1-5p. Free. 263-3417.

•Harbour View Gallery: 5789 Cape Harbour Dr, #104, Cape Coral. Sep: Pat Cleveland, John Capanna; Oct: Irma Backelant, Kathryn Bickford. Daily 11a-8p. Free. 540-5789.

•Harmon-Meek Gallery: 599 9th St N, #309, Naples. Mon-Fri 10a-5p. 261-2637.

•Hirdie-Girdie Art Gallery: 2490 Library Way, Sanibel. Oct-May Mon-Sat 10a-5p. Free. 395-0027.

•Howl Gallery/Tattoo: 4160 Cleveland Ave, Ft. Myers.

Sep: Brian Reedy; Oct: Dylan Garrett Smith; Nov: Anchors Away – Nautical Theme; Dec & Jan: The Devil’s Reign group show

Mon-Thu 11a-8p, Fri & Sat

12-10p,1st Sat of month 711p.Free. 332-0161.

•HW Gallery: 1305 Third St S, Naples. Daily 10a-5p. Free. 263-6640.

•Island Visions: 4643 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. Daily10a-5p. 282-0452.

•Jo-Ann Sanborn Sunshine Studios of Marco Island: The Esplanade, 760 N Collier Blvd, #102, Marco Island. Wed-Fri 10a5p & Sat 10a-2p. 404-9179

•Kathleen Bradford Studio/Gallery: 4259 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. Oct-MayTue-Sat

11a-5p, Jun-Sep by appt. Free. 776-6844.

•Lovegrove Gallery & Garden: 4637 Pine Island Rd NW, Matlacha.Daily

10a-5p.Free. 283-6453.

•Marco Island Center for the Arts: 1010 Winterberry Dr, Marco Island. Tue-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 394-4221.

•Marco Island Historical Museum: 180 S Heathwood Dr, Marco Island. Thru Sep 23: Multiple Dimensions. Tue-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 6421440.

•Marianne Friedland Gallery: 359 Broad Ave S, Naples. Mon-Sat 10-5p. Free. 262-3484.

•Museum of the Islands: 5728 Sesame, Pine Island Center. 283-1525.

•Naples Depot Museum: 1051 Fifth Ave S, Naples. Thru Oct 24: Through My Eyes. Mon-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 262-6525.

•Nora Butler Designs: Crayton Cove, 800 12th Ave. S, Naples. Tue-Sat 11a-6p. Free. 403-8287.

•North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall: 15000 Livingston Rd, Naples. Sep 17-19: Dinosaur George Live. Mon-Sat, 9a-5:30p. Free. 252-4060.

•Phil Fisher Gallery: 810 12th Ave S, Naples. MonThu 11a-5p, Fri & Sat 11a9p. Free. 403-8393.

•Rene Miville Gallery: Franklin Shops, 2200 1st St, 2nd fl, Ft Myers. MonSat 10a-8p & Sun 12-7p. 333-3130.

•Ringling College of Art + Design Galleries: Ringling College of Art + Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Tr, Sarasota. Sep-Apr Mon-Sat 10a-4p; May-Aug Mon-Fri 10a-4p. Free. 941-3597563.

•Ringling Museum of Art: 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. Thru Sep 13: Builder Levy Appalachia USA, Trenton Doyle Hancock; thru Oct 9: Back & Forth –Thinking in Paint; thru Oct 25: FSU –Painting Faculty; Sep 25Dec 6: Paul Rudolph – The

Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Fort Myers presents

Beautiful.Mon-Fri, 9a-4p & Sat 10a-2p. Free. 951639-8810.

•Watson MacRae Gallery: 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.Mon-Sat 10:30a5p. Free. 472-3386.

attractions

•Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum: Seminole Tribe of Florida Museum. Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, 34725 W. Boundary Rd., Clewiston. Daily 9a-5p. 877-902-1113.

•Babcock Wilderness

Adventures: 8000 State Rd 31,Punta Gorda. TueSat. Reserve for tours. 800-500-5583.

•Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum: 3075 SanibelCaptiva Rd, Sanibel. Raymond Burr Memorial Exhibit,Deep-Sea Mollusks, Henry DomkeNature Photographer. World Record-Sized Shells. Daily 10a-5p. 395-2233.

Guest Houses;Oct 9-Jan 3: Royal Taste.Ongoing: New Acquisitions, 20th CenturyAbstract Art, Asian & Cypriot Art. Gardens of Ringling Guided

Tour: Thu 10:30a. Circus

Museum-thru Sep 7: From the Four Corners of the Globe;Sep 11-Nov 30: Clowns. Daily 10a-5p, Thu 10a-8p. 941-359-5700.

•Rosen Gallery & Studios: North Line Plaza, 2172 J & C Blvd, N Naples. Mon-Sat, 12-6p. Free. 8211061.

•Shangri La Springs: 27750 Old US 41, Bonita Springs. Thru Sep 28: Water. MonFri 10a-3p. Free. 9490749.

•Sheldon Fine Art: 460 Fifth Ave S, Naples. 10a10p. Free. 649-6255.

•Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center: 2301 First St, Ft Myers. Sep 4-24: Portrait & Figure Painters Society of SWFL.Mon-Fri 10a-5p & 6-9p & 1st Fri of month. Free. 337-1933.

•SWFL Museum of History: 2031 Jackson St, Ft Myers. Thru Nov 2: Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys – Florida Movie Posters. Tue-Sat 10a-5p. 321-7430.

•Space 39 Art Bar & Lounge: 39 Patio de Leon, Ft Myers. Tue-Sat 5:30close.Free. 204-9949.

•Sweet Art Gallery: 2054 Trade Center Way, Naples. Nov-AprMon-Fri 10a-5p, 1st Wed 5-8p, 3rd Fri 6-8p, Sat by appt; May-Oct MonFri 11a-4p & Sat by appt. Free. 597-2110.

•The Lady from Haiti: 110 10th St N, Naples. Mon-Sat 10:30a-5p. 649-8607.

•The von Liebig Art Center: Naples Art Association. 585 Park St, Naples.Thru Sep 4:

Gareth Rockliffe: The Great American Coastline; Members Gallery:Olde

Naples: Works from the Legacy Collection;Sep 21 - Oct 22: Your Choice

2015; Sep 21-Oct 26:

SWFL Fine Craft Guild’s Art Attack.. Mon-Fri 9a4p. 262-6517.

•Tower Gallery: 751 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel. Daily 10a-9p. Free. 340-6467.

•Two Newts Gallery: 2502 2nd St, #104, Ft Myers. Tue-Fri 10a-6p, Sat 10a-4p, Sun 12-4p. 332-2300.

•Union Artists Studios: Alliance of the Arts, 10051 McGregor Blvd, #202, Edwards Bldg, Ft Myers. Free. 826-3861.

•Unit A: 1922 Evans Ave, Ft Myers. Art by Marcus Jansen. Receptions 1st Fri of month 6-10p. By appt. Free. 240-1053.

•Vallez Studio: Crayton Cove, 784 12th Ave S, Naples. Free. 262-0381.

•Veron Ennis Modern Art: 10051 McGregor Blvd, # 201, Ft Myers. Sat 9a-1p & by appt. Free.849-7772.

•Visual Arts Center: 210

Maud St, Punta Gorda.Sep

8-24: Self Portraits; Sep 8Oct 8: Taking the Scenic Route; Sep 25-Oct 26:

Earth Matters – Florida

Suncoast Watercolor Society; Oct 12-Nov 5:

Color –Bold, Bright &

Tr E, Naples. Educational programs, Wed, 2pm. Mon-Sat 9a-4p. free. 7748476.

•Conservancy of SWFL: 1495 Smith Preserve Way off Goodlette Frank Rd. 9:30a-4:30p. 430-2466.

•Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: 375 Sanctuary Rd W, Naples. Blair Audubon Center, Boardwalk Exploration & Exhibits. Daily 7a-5:30p. 348-9151.

•CREW: Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. 23998 Corkscrew Rd, Estero. Guided walks: 1st & 3rd Tue & 2nd Sat, Nov-Apr, Marsh Hiking Trails, 4600 Corkscrew Rd, Immokalee. Trails open sunrise-sunset. 657-2253.

Immersion Cinema. Daily, 10a-5p. 941-388-4441.

•Museum of the Everglades: 105 W Bwy, Everglades City. Tue-Fri

9a-5p & Sat 9a-4p. Free. 695-0008.

•Museum of the Islands: 5728 Sesame, Pine Island Center. 283-1525.

•Naples Botanical Garden: 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples. Closed Sep 14-30.Daily

9a-5p, Tue8a-5p. Jul 6Sep 13 8a-3p, closed Sep 14-30. 643-7275.

•Naples Depot Museum: 1051 Fifth Ave S, Naples. Thru Oct 24: Through My Eyes. Mon-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 262-6525.

•Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: 1590 GoodletteFrank Rd, Naples. Daily 9a-5p. 262-5409.

•Shell Factory & Nature Park: 2787 N Tamiami Trail, N Ft Myers. Shell exhibits, Animal exhibits, petting farm, Christmas House, Natural History Exhibit, Money Museum, water games, video arcade, miniature golf, playgrounds, Soaring Eagle Zip Line. Daily 10a-5p. 995-2141.

•SWFL Museum of History: 2031 Jackson St, FtMyers. Thru Nov 2: Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys – Florida Movie Posters. Historical walking Tours Wed & Sat 10:30a thru Apr 30. Tue-Sat 10a5p. 321-7430.

parks

•Baker Museum: ArtisNaples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. Sep 5-Nov 8: Weegee by Weegee; Sep 5Oct 11: Jan Yoors Retrospective;Sep 5-Jan 31: Celebrating 15 Years of Collecting; Sep 5-Jul 24: Dawn’s Forest – Sculptures of Louise Nevelson; Sep 5Nov 3: Schrenk Student Photography; Sep 5-Nov 3: Through the lens; Nov 7Mar 6: Yves Saint Laurent + Halston. Tue-Sat 10a-4p & Sun 12-4p. 597-1900.

•Burroughs Home & Gardens: 2505 First St, Ft Myers. Living history tours daily 11a & 1p, 5-9p. 3370706.

•Butterfly Estates: 1815 Fowler St, Ft Myers. Sun & Tue-Th 10a-5p, Sat 10a-7p. 690-2359.

•Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium: 3450 Ortiz Ave, Ft Myers. Museum, butterfly aviary, trails, live animal shows daily, Planetarium shows, WedSat. Bluegrass concerts 2nd & 4th Thu 12-4p. 10a5p & Sun, 11a-5p. 2753435.

•Cape Coral Historical Museum: 544 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. Wed, Thu & Sun 1-4p. 7727037.

•Children’s Museum of Naples: North Collier Park, 15080 Livingston Rd, Naples. Special hours for children on autistic spectrum: Breaking the Barriers, 2nd Sat of month 8-9a & Sensory Night, 4th Tue of month 5-8p. Register. 514-0084.

•Collier County Museum: 3301 Tamiami

•CROW: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife. 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Rd, Sanibel. Healing Winds Visitor Education Center. Wonders of Wildlife: Nature presentations MonFri 11a. Tue-Sun 10a-4p. 472-3644.

•Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge: 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. Sat-Thu 7a-7p. Education Center: May-Dec 9a-4p, Jan-Apr 9a-5p. Wildlife Dr closed Sat.472-1100.

•Edison & Ford Winter Estates: 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. Thru May 15: Art in the Gardens. Thru May 28: Founding Females. Daily 9a-5:30p. 334-7419.

•Everglades Wonder Gardens: 27180 Old 41 Rd, BonitaSprings.Botanical gardens, animals, art gallery.Daily 9a-4p. 9922591.

•Holocaust Museum & Education Center of SWFL: Sandalwood Square, 4760 Tamiami Tr N, # 107, Naples. Thru Sep 27: The Faktor Investigation JanApr Tue-Sat 12:30-5p, Sat & Sun 1-4p; May-Jul & Sep-Dec Tue-Sun 1-4p. Guided Tours: 1:30p. 2639200.

•Imaginarium Science Center: 2000 Cranford St, Ft Myers. Mon-Sat 10a-5p & Sun 12-5p. 321-7420.

•Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch: 1215 Roberts Ave, Immokalee. Mon-Fri 9a-4p. Free. 658-2466.

•Marco Island Historical Museum: 180 S Heathwood Dr, Marco Island. Thru Sep 23: Multiple Dimensions. Tue-Sat 9a-4p. Free. 6421440.

•Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota. Eco-boat tours daily.

•Palm Cottage Museum & Norris Gardens: Naples Historical Society, 137 12th Ave. S, Naples. Walking tours of Naples Historic District: Wed 10a; Guided garden tours: 1st & 3rd Thu of month 10a. Tours: Tue-Sat 1-4p. Free. 2618164.

•Pure Naples: Sightseeing, unset & eco-cruises. Departs The Marina at Edison Ford, 2360 W 1st St, Ft Myers, 793-7529 and The Dock at Tin City, 200 5th Ave S, Naples, 4945595.

•Ringling Museum of Art: 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. Thru Sep 13: Builder Levy Appalachia USA, Trenton Doyle Hancock; thru Oct 9: Back & Forth –Thinking in Paint; thru Oct 25: FSU –Painting Faculty; Sep 25Dec 6: Paul Rudolph – The Guest Houses;Oct 9-Jan 3: Royal Taste.Ongoing: New Acquisitions, 20th CenturyAbstract Art, Asian & Cypriot Art. Gardens of Ringling Guided Tour: Thu 10:30a. Circus Museum-thru Sep 7: From the Four Corners of the Globe;Sep 11-Nov 30: Clowns. Daily 10a-5p, Thu 10a-8p. 941-3595700.

•Rookery Bay National Research Reserve: Environmental Center, 300 Tower Rd, Naples. Daily programs: 11a & 2p. Guided kayak trips Tue & Th 10a & 1p. Mon-Sat 9a-4p. 5305940.

•Sanibel Historical Museum & Village: 950 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel. Wed-Sat, 10a-4p. 472-4648.

•Seminole Casino Resort Hotel: 506 S 1st St, Immokalee. Jul 18: Corvette Car Show. 800218-0007.

•Bonita Beach Park: 27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs. 533-7444.

•Bowditch Point Regional Park: 50 Estero Blvd, Ft Myers Beach. 463-3764.

•Bunche Beach: 18201 John Morris Rd, Ft Myers. 7076794.

•Caloosahatchee Regional Park: 18500 North River Rd, Alva. Guided walk: 1st Sat & 3rd Tue of month 9a. 693-2690.

•Collier-Seminole State Park: US 41 (Tamiami Trail), S Naples. Guided walks: Sat 10a. Hiking trail, self-guided boardwalk nature trail, exhibits, camping, fishing, boating canoeing. 394-3397.

•Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park: 11135 Gulfshore Dr, Naples. Beach, fishing, picnic areas. 597-6196.

•Estero Park: 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero. 248-1609.

•Everglades National Park: Gulf Coast Visitor Center,815 Oyster Bar Ln.Everglades City. 9a4:30p. 695-3311.

•Hickeys Creek Mitigation Park: 17980 Palm Beach Blvd, Alva. Guided walks: 1st Tue 9a. 693-2690.

•Koreshan State Historic Site State Park: US Hwy 41 & Corkscrew Rd, Estero. 992-0311.

•Lakes Regional Park: 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Ft Myers. Halloween Festival: Oct 1731, weekends 10a-9p, weekdays 6-9p. Guided walks: 1st Sat 8:30a, Garden tour: 2nd Sat. 5337575.

•Lovers Key State Park: South of Ft Myers Beach. 463-4588.

•Lynn Hall Park: 950 Estero Blvd, Ft Myers Beach. 229-7356.

•Manatee Park: 10901 Palm Beach Blvd, Ft Myers. 8adusk. 690-5030.

The Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs presents Improv Tonight on September 5 and October 3. For information, call 495-8989.

what Goes on

•Matanzas Pass

Preserve: 119 Bay Rd, Ft Myers Beach. 707-3015.

•Myakka River State Park: 13207 SR 72, Sarasota. Canoeing, camping, wildlife tours by air-boat & tram, scenic drive, guided walks. 3616511.

•North Collier Regional Park: 15000 Livingston Rd, Naples. 252-4060.

•North Ft Myers Park: 2021

N Tamiami Tr, N Ft Myers. Yoga: Wed 6p. 6524512.

•Rutenberg Park EcoLiving Center: ‘FloridaFriendly’

Garden/Landscape

Workshops: Wed 10:30a. Free. 533-7515.

•Six Mile Cypress Slough

Preserve: 7791 Penzance Blvd, Ft Myers. 533-7550.

•Veterans Park: 55

Homestead Rd, Lehigh Acres. 369-1521.

•Wa-Ke-Hatchee Park: 16730 Bass Rd, Ft Myers.

Flow Yoga & Mat Pilates: Mon-Thu 9a; Yoga & Meditation: Tue 4:30p; Tai chi: Wed 1p; Laughter

Yoga: Wed 6:30p. Classes free. 432-2154.

live music & comedy

•Americana Community Music Association

Listening Room: All Faiths

Unitarian Congregation,

2756 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 691-4069

• B e r t ’ s B a r & G r i l l : 4271

Pine Island Rd, Matlacha.

Live Tue-Sun. Tue: Scott

Bryan 6:30p; Thu: Deb & The Dynamics 7:30p; Sep

3: Ellie Lee & Blues Fury

7p; Sep 4: Marty Stokes & The Captiva Band

7:30p; Sept 5, 12 & 19:

Insider w Jeff Walker 7p;

Sep 6 & 20: Gary & Kerri

3p; Sep 11 & 25: Mike

Imbasciani & The Bluez

Rockerz 7:30p; Sep 23: Jim Morris 6:30p. 2823232.

•Buckingham Blues Bar:

5641 Buckingham Rd., Ft Myers. Open blues jams

Wed 8-11p & Sun 3-6p, free. Sep 11: Betty Fox

Band; Oct 3: Tas Cru & His

Tortured Soul; Oct 10: Little Mike & The

Tornadoes; Oct 17: Backyard Bluesfest; Oct

23: Brandon Santini; Oct 30: Damon Fowler. 6937111.

•Freds Food, Fun & Spirits!: 2700 Immokalee Rd., Naples. Live music

Wed-Sun. 431-7928.

•Laugh-In Comedy Café: 8595 College Pkwy, Ft Myers. Live comedy Fri & Sat. 479-5233.

•Matanzas on the Bay: 414 Crescent St, Ft Myers Beach. Live music nitely

6-9p. 463-3838

•Red Rock Saloon: 2278

First St, Ft Myers. Live music Tue, Fri, Sat. 6898667.

•Reserve Cigar & Wine Bar: 10950 S. Cleveland Ave, Ft Myers. Live music Fri & Sat. 210-0300.

•Roadhouse Café: 15660 San Carlos Blvd, Ft Myers. Live music. 415-4375.

•Seminole Casino Resort Hotel: Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S 1st St, Immokalee.800-2180007.

•Space 39 Art Bar & Lounge: 39 Patio de Leon, Ft Myers. Live music WedSat 8:30-11p. 204-9949.

•Teri-Tini’s: 7050 Crystal Dr, Ft Myers. Live music nitely 7:30-11pm. 2775475.

•The Dek Bar: 4704 SE 15 Ave, Cape Coral. Live music nightly. 542-3745.

•The Hut at the Peace Tropical Gardens: 5150 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. Thu-Sat: Harry Cassano 7:30-9:30p, free.225-0907.

•The Joint at Cape Harbour: 5785 Cape Harbour Dr, Cape Coral. Live music Tue, Fri, Sun. 542-0123.

•The Veranda: 2122 Second St, Ft Myers. Piano Bar Tue-Sat 6:30-9:. 332-2065.

•World of Beer: Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S Cleveland Ave, Ft Myers. Live music Thu-Sat. 437-2411.

•Yabo: 16230 Summerlin Rd, Ft Myers. Live music. 225-9226.

farmers market

THURSDAY

•River District Farmers Market: Centennial Park, 2000 W First St, Ft Myers. 7a-1p. 321-7100.

FRIDAY

•Bayfront Farmers Market: 465 Bayfront Pl, Naples. 4-8p. 293-9703.

•Bonita Springs Fresh Food Market: SWFL Performing Arts Center, 11515 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Bonita Springs. Oct 9a-1p. 3896901.

•Friendly Farmers Market: Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 3-7p. 786942-8300.

•Government Complex Farmers Market: 3335 US 41 E, Naples. 11a-2p.

•Lakes Park Farmers Market: 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Ft Myers. Nov-Apr 9a-1p. 691-9249.

•Shoppes at Vanderbilt Farmers Market: Collection at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Naples. 12-4p. 273-2350.

SATURDAY

•Alliance for the Arts’ GreenMarket: 10091

Wine& Dine SWFLDININGGUIDE

BERT'S BAR & SEAFOOD GRILL : 4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. 282-3232. DAILYFROM 11AM. Million dollar waterfront view and quality food at reasonable prices. Casual dining on the dock. Featuring grouper, Gulf shrimp and certified angus burgers. Live entertainment. 'All-U-Can-Eat' Fish Fry Wed & Fri 4-9pm. www.bertsbar.com

BROADWAY PALM DINNER

THEATRE: 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft. Myers. 278-4422. W ED -S UN

5:30PM DINNER & 7PM SHOW, WITH S ELECTED C HILDREN ’ S M AT INEES

11:45AM LUNCH & 1:15PM SHOW.

Southwest Florida's premier Dinner Theatre, is a great destination for those looking for quality entertainment and a delicious buffet at a great price. www.broadwaypalm.com

EL GAUCHO INCA : 4383 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 275-7504. MONTHU 11:30AM-9PM, FRI 11:30AM10PM, SAT 12-10PM, SUN 12-8PM. Highest quality and freshest foods, always prepared to your desired taste. Three-country cuisine style and professional service with a personal touch. Special occasions, rehearsal dinners, business meetings, company parties, and more. www.elgauchoinca.com

FOGG CAFÉ : Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples. 643-7275. DAILY 9AM-5PM Unique and creative food using local, sustainable and seasonal products including items from the Garden itself. Menus are changed seasonally, focusing on

McGregor Blvd., Ft Myers. 9a-1p. 939-2787.

•Bonita Springs Farmers Market: The Promenade Shoppes, 26811 South Bay Dr,Bonita Springs. 7a-12p. 495-8464.

•Bonita Springs Lions Market: Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track parking lot,10601 SE Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7am12:30pm.992-4011.

•Cornerstone Farmers Market: Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 8200 Immokalee Rd, Naples. Oct 8a-1p.

high quality. In addition to incorporating an exciting garden-totable inspired menu, Fogg Café offers some of the most beautiful dining views in the area. www.naplesgarden.org

IL POMODORO : 9861 Gladiolos Dr, Ft Myers. 985-0080. LUNCH: MON-FRI 11AM-2PM, DINNER: MONSAT 4:30-9PM. Quaint and colorful family-owned restaurant specializing in home-cooked Italian cuisine and fine wine. From chicken, veal and seafood to pizza and pasta, they use only the freshest ingredients and flavors worthy of anyone's grandmother. Daily specials. Catering available. Located around the corner from the Health Park Medical Center. www.ilpomodororestaurant.com

MURDER MYSTERY TRAIN

DINNERTHEATER: 2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 275-8487. WED-SAT 5:45PM & SUN 4:45PM.A unique dining experience. Enjoy a fun murder mystery show while the chef prepares your five course dinner on board. Train takes you on a 3 1/2 hour, 40 mile round trip journey across the Caloosahatchee River. Special holiday events. www.semgulf.com

THE HUTat the Peace Tropical Gardens : 5150 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers. 225-0907. T UE -S UN 11:30AM-CLOSE. Extraordinary dining experience at Florida’s most exceptional entertainment destination. Enjoy our stunning surroundings as you delight in all-new menus from a quick meal to an evening of casual paradise dining. www.hutrestaurant.com

•Friendly Farmers Market: Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 9a-3p. 786-942-8300.

•Naples Green Market: 2150 Goodlette Rd, Naples. OctApr 8a-1p. 594-9358.

•Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt Farmers Market: Collection at Vanderbilt, Airport Pulling Rd & Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Naples. Oct 8a-1p. 2732350.

•Third Street Farmer’s Market: 1220 Third St S, Naples. 7:30-11:30a. 6496707

SUNDAY

•North Naples Green Market: Ole Towne Center, 8020 Grand Lely Dr, Naples. 12-4p. 5949358.

•Pine Island Tropical Fruit Market: Stringfellow Rd & Ficus Tree Ln, Bokeelia. 10a-3p.

•Pine Ridge Farmers Market: Pine Ridge Rd & Airport Pulling Rd, Naples. Oct 9a-2p. 2004401.

•Sanibel Island Farmers Market: Sanibel City Hall, 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel. 8a-1p. 691-9249.

Captain Joe & the Bottomfeeders perform at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers on September 13. Call 939-2787 for information.