Grandeur Magazine February 2020 by Grandeur Magazine

| CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

FEBRUARY 2020

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| INSIDE |

FEBRUARY 2020

CONTENTS 16 GRAND FACES

As the head tennis pro at the Port Royal Club, Franco Mata is a consummate professional when it comes to celerbrity clients’ privacy but readily shares his passion for the game. Internationally acclaimed ice dancer, choreographer and coach Marina Zoueva guides champions at Hertz Arena.

24 DINING

The Azure Restaurant charms diners with its energy and French cuisine with Southern flair.

29 COVER STORY

One of Southwest Florida’s best attributes is its great outdoors, and we’ve got grand ideas to enjoy it to its fullest.

54 PETS

A regular at Veterans Community Park, Finn the goldendoodle loves a good game of pickleball.

57 OPEN DOOR

Avid boaters, the Kollmanns give us a tour of their new home in Town and River.

62 MAKE IT A DOUBLE

10K Alley serves up adult fun with high-tech games and delightful spirits.

ALSO INSIDE 12 Editor’s Letter 14 The Colors Pages 20 Model Behavior 38 Wine & Spirits 40 Ride

47 Getaway 50 Style 66 Events 69 Grand Times 74 Next Month

24 GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 7

| T & CONTRIBUTORS |

CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

ON THE COVER The Sweet Liberty drops passengers off to enjoy the beach and search for sea shells along Keewaydin Island. Read more about the Southwest Florida Sporting Life on page 29.

VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4 | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Editor | General Manager Art Director Associate Editor Production Director Contributing writers

Kathryn Robinson Kinsey, kkinsey@gannett.com Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, ldaywalt@gannett.com Pamela Hayford, phayford@gannett.com Dennis Wright, drwright@gannett.com Gina Birch, Jennifer Thomas, Anne Reed, Lance Shearer, Andrea Stetson Contributing photographers Jon Austria, Amanda Inscore, Chris Tilley, Brian Tietz, Andrew West VP Regional Sales William R. Barker President Sales, The News-Press Nancy M. Solliday President Sales, Naples Daily News Shawna Devlin

Director Circulation Distribution Jim Keeble Distribution Manager Brian Franz, branz@gannett.com Distribution Coordinator Madeline Cordero

PHOTO BY JON AUSTRIA

Grandeur is published 8 times a year by The NewsPress, a Gannett company. Complimentary copies are home delivered to News-Press subscribers in select neighborhoods throughout Lee and Collier counties. Copies are also inserted into Sunday editions of The News-Press in Collier county â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in newsstands only. Subscriptions to the magazine are $24.95, and single copies are available at The News-Press offices and at various locations throughout Lee and Collier counties. To read the free e-edition visit grandeurmagazine.com. To advertise: 239-335-0457 To subscribe: 239-335-0211 To reach the editor: editor@grandeurmagazine.com

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GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 9

| ONLINE |

You can explore the Grand life anywhere you go with our mobile-friendly website. From galas and fine dining to the amazing homes of Southwest Florida.

WINE ON TAP?

THERE’S A TRUCK FOR THAT!

ubbles Mobile Bar launched last month in Naples. The event-catering service includes two vintage Italian trucks that will serve beer and sparkling wine on tap. Patti Genko owns Bubbles.

She said the idea came during a trip to London in 2017. “Everyone was so fascinated by a company that serves sparkling wines on tap,” she said. Here’s how it works: Genko has two trucks, one white 1965 Innocenti Lambro 200 and a blue 1963 Piaggio Ape D.

Drinks are served from kegs, which each hold 26 bottles of wine. Alcohol can’t be served off a truck unless there is a caterer or restaurant license, so businesses can pay to rent these trucks and use their liquor licenses to purchase and serve alcohol.

— STORY BY SARAJANE SULLIVAN

Visit grandeurmagazine.com/food-drink/bubblesmoveilebar to read the full story.

10 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

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| EDITOR'S LETTER |

Kathryn poses in a Carolina Herrera, leaf printed balloon sleeve shirtdress provided by Saks Fifth Avenue, Waterside Shops, Naples.

ebruary is universally known as the month of love. As many of us have figured out, love means more than a box of chocolates, a fancy meal or a bunch of roses. We know to show love, we need to be more observant of what others want, need or expect from us. The more energy we put into loving, the more love we will get in return. It’s really that simple. This also applies to how we love ourselves. One of my goals this year was to kickstart a more active and healthier 2020. I’m determined to make this the year I achieve my fitness and weight-loss goals. If you think about it, I really have no excuses to keep me from this goal. One of the advantages of living in “paradise” is having the opportunity to enjoy our perfect winter weather and get outdoors. With crisp, humid-less days and chilly nights, this affords me the opportunity to enjoy all that this area has to offer without sweating through it. In our cover story this month, “The Sportin’ Life,” we share these local activities that encourage our northern neighbors to escape the dipping temperatures and flock to Southwest Florida, page 29. While we’re on the subject of staying fit, you’ll meet Naples tennis coach Franco Mata, who’s happy to share his passion for the game but doesn’t reveal his celebrity clients, page 16, and you’ll meet worldfamous ice dancer, choreographer and coach Marina Zoueva, who guides champion skaters in Southwest Florida, page 18. Lastly, don’t forget to check out our Grand Events, page 69, for an abundance of gatherings throughout Southwest Florida. As I continue to work towards reaching my fitness goals, I hope to also see you enjoying our beautiful Southwest Florida weather. Until next month.

MAKEUP BY: Ina Zeineddine PHOTO BY: Brian Tietz LOCATION: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa

KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER

12 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

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GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 13

| THE COLOR PAGES |

For your ensemble only

• There’s something about having a statement piece that no one else has. This one-of-a-kind pendant showcases an antique dragonfly glass button accented with black coral and a teardrop amethyst. The chain is made of “Fools Gold” pyrite beads. $2,750 at Mark Loren Designs.

Cute and cuddly • Is it

rude to cuddle your purse? We want to give this Tory Burch satchel, with its chevron quilting on the softest leather, a big squeeze. The Kira bag features a top handle and optional crossbody strap. In crazy pink, it’s crazy cute. $498 list price at toryburch.com

BEAUTIFUL Joyful rocking • The Collins rocking chair by Joybird gets rave reviews. Each piece is handcrafted with responsibly sourced wood, and thought is put into every detail, from the perfect height to the supportive cushions. You’ll want one in every room. $1,109 list price at Joybird, joybird.com.

BERRY On Valentine’s Day, Americans spend more than $52 million on f resh strawberries. Berries, whether strawberries, blackberries, elderberries or boysen, whether dipped in chocolate or plucked from a bowl, stand as one of our favorite gestures of love. So what does it mean when you combine that berry power with some of our favorite luxury brands? We’re in love. — PAMELA HAYFORD

Summer is coming

• As spring heats up into summer, you’ll be cool and comfortable in this flowy A-line dress with mini floral print. $188 at Jennifer’s in The Design Center, 13251 McGregor Blvd., Suite 111-1, Fort Myers. jennifersfortmyers.com

14 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| THE COLOR PAGES |

A fine vintage

• Like a fine wine, the BMW M8 Gran Coupe pours over the soul with a combination of pure pleasure and exhilarating excitement. This new addition to the lineup pays utmost attention to luxury and performance. It’s 600-horsepower engine propels its crew from 0-60 in 3.1 seconds. Shown in Ametrin Metallic. Starts at $130,000, bmwusa.com.

Subtle and sexy

• The plaid in the Konan Italian wool sport coat by Ted Baker London is subtle and sexy, the trim fit complemented by classic notched lapels. Talk about dressed to impress. $698 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.

Double duty

• It’s a foam roller. It’s a water bottle. No, it’s the Firecracker by Mobot, a foam roller water bottle with an 18-ounce capacity that you can take with you anywhere. Now that’s double duty. $39.99 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.

We’re cookin’ now

• With its retro styling, you’ll want to keep the KitchenAid Artisan mixer on display front and center, especially with colors like Bordeaux and Boysenberry. The KSM150PS model includes a flat beater, wire whip, dough hook, pouring shield and 5-quart polished bowl with ergonomic handles. Its powerful 325watt motor tackles even the toughest dough and batter. $474.99 at Macy’s, macys.com.

Berry beautiful • Hira, as a name, means diamond, and the Hira

mule by Jimmy Choo could certainly be considered the diamond of mules. Slim and sensual, they add a beautiful pop of magenta, and the ultra-luxe suede feels as rich as its color. $695 at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com.

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 15

| FACES |

Franco Mata the head tennis pro at Port Royal Club in Naples

STORY BY ANNE REED | PHOTOS BY JON AUSTRIA

THE PROFESSIONAL

TENNIS PRO

Franco Mata doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t coach and tell when it comes to his celebrity clients, but he is eager to share his passion for the game. amous faces attract a lot of attention. Celebrity spottings last year included Oprah in Naples at a food festival and Rob Gronkowski enjoying a yoga class in Estero. Stick around Southwest Florida long enough and you are bound to have your own brush with fame, or at least know someone who has a story to share. What is rare, though, is finding someone who has stories and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell tales. 16 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

Such is the case with Franco Mata, head tennis pro at Port Royal Club in Naples. He may have just walked off the court after a session with a famous politician or retired athlete, but his lips are sealed. Part of that is because he truly is vested in helping his clients meet their own goals, regardless of who they are off the court. And part of it may be his own brush with celebrity at a young age on the tennis world stage.

| FACES |

Franco’s story starts over 8,000 miles away from Naples in his birthplace — Mozambique, a country in southeast Africa. Like most children, he played several sports, including soccer and basketball. When he was 9, he started playing tennis. “In today’s terms that is late,” he says. “My parents thought tennis was a good no-contact sport where I wouldn’t get hurt.” By the age of 13, Franco began taking tennis more seriously. More time on the courts led to competitions and success. He moved to Portugal and Spain when he was 16 years old to train and compete across Europe. A full-ride scholarship to play on the tennis team at Florida Gulf Coast University brought him to Florida in 2000, and he has lived here ever since. “It’s hard to leave Southwest Florida once you’ve lived here,” Franco says. He earned his degree in business management with a minor in Spanish. Shortly after graduating from college, Franco began teaching full-time as a tennis pro. “I still remained a semi-professional tennis player,” he says. “I would teach some, then play some. Financially, unless you are at the very top level, it’s tough to make a living. It would be the equivalent in baseball of playing in the major league versus playing TripleA.” His passion for the sport and work on and off the court led to representing Mozambique on its Davis Cup team as a player and captain from 2014 to today.

“I was just on a Davis Cup trip two months ago, representing my country in Kenya,” Franco says. “Next year I’m scheduled to go to Madagascar in June for the same thing.” Franco has traveled and competed throughout Europe and Africa. His favorite places he’s played tennis? “Egypt, Morocco, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Portugal, France, Spain,” he says. “The list goes on and on.” Travel has been a large part of his sports career and has had a huge impact not only on his tennis career but on his personal life. “It’s an eye opener,” Franco says. “Sports is an escape. People block out everything and really put their energy into supporting their country. There is no place they would rather be right then than doing that. It’s a real experience. It’s not scripted — it’s a feeling.” Those feelings extend to what Franco himself experiences when he steps on the court. “Playing in front of big crowds at important matches – that is exciting for any player,” he says. “It’s having those butterflies before going into the arena.” And while he does love the excitement of an event, his favorite part is the preparation. “I love the process of preparation,” Franco says. “The event itself is great; the process is unbelievable. The diets before my tournaments, the training, the discipline, the workouts, ice baths, massages — all of those preparations help you stay focused.” He also enjoys the critical thinking involved in

competition and compares tennis to chess. The preparedness and focus needed for success as a player has played a key part in his role as a coach. Franco works with players of all ages at Port Royal. “There is passion in players of all ages,” he says, “and they all have different goals. As long as I understand what their goals are, I try to help them reach those. I try to make them the best they can be based on their age and ability. With the young ones, we try to inspire them and help them play at higher levels or at the recreational level.” Speaking of young ones, Franco has two children of his own, ages 12 and 9. He co-coaches them with other area coaches and is passionate about helping them develop their games to the best of their abilities. “It’s difficult to be the parent and the coach. During the day I’m dad first and coach second or third. At times it’s hard to separate the two. I never lose the No. 1 thing, which is being a father.” Being a parent on the sideline is a new role for Franco, one that has almost brought him full circle in his sport. “It’s enjoyable and painful in a good way. I’ve always told parents to relax, it’s just a game, but now I’m like, wow, I guess it’s hard to relax!” he says. “Now I can put myself in their shoes, and it’s nervewracking and exciting.” He pauses and adds, “It’s a wonderful journey.” For Franco, tennis isn’t just a large part of his life — it’s a sport that prepared him for life, lessons he hopes he passes on to his own children. “Determination, perseverance, dedication, work ethic — the list goes on,” he says. “Tennis taught me a lot of that.” The sport also opened doors for him and led to incredible experiences, like being the hitting partner for a former No. 1 tennis player as he trained for the U.S. Open. His children share his passion for the game, as do his clients at Port Royal. But Franco hopes to reach out further and help more people find everything he loves about tennis. “This sport has given me so much,” he says. “I’d like to help more and expand the game into Immokalee and other areas that don’t have as much access to tennis. I’m from a country not known for its tennis, so I’d like to go back to my country and teach a bit and show how the sport is played here in the U.S.” He hopes to teach everyone some of what tennis has taught him. “Through the game of tennis, you can do whatever you want from the lessons they learn,” Franco says. “You lose a lot, so you learn a lot. In any area that you are going, the experience you are getting on the courts is going to help you for the rest of your life.”

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 17

| FACES |

ICE & SUN World-famous ice dancer, choreographer and coach Marina Zoueva guides champion skaters in Southwest Florida.

arina Zoueva spends most of her day bundled up in a heavy jacket, feeling cold. Yet she loves the sunshine and the heat. So this world-famous ice dancer, choreographer and instructor knew Estero was the perfect place to be. “I am on the ice all day,” Marina says.

“It is a little bit easier here, because I know when I go out it will be warm. After work I will go home and go to the beach and walk on the beach. If the weather is OK, I go to the swimming pool and swim 45 minutes every day. It is so beautiful here.” It’s quite different from her skating life of the past. Marina, 63, began ice skating when she was 6 years old in her hometown of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, in Russia.

“In Russia there were no private lessons,” she explains. “It was just group lessons, and all kids skate together. It was outdoors.” Her instructors noticed a special talent in the young skater. “In the Soviet Union, it was a selection for kids,” she describes. “They look at your parents, they test how you hear the music and how you fit the music. Then they fit you for the sport, because no one paid. The kids who had a talent were chosen.”

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY CHRIS TILLEY

18 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| FACES |

Marina Zoueva works with Daniel Brykalov and Adrienne Carhart at the Hertz Arena

She began as a singles skater. Marina says there was no ice dancing in her town. “I always loved the pairs, but I was too tall for pairs,” she says. “But when I did the singles, I was always dancing, and another coach took me for ice dancing and moved me to Moscow. “I couldn’t sit when music played,” Marina says. “I always moved when music played. The coach sees this and says, ‘Marina you have to be a dancer.’” Marina was about 15 years old when she began ice dancing and she excelled in the sport. She and partner Andrei Vitman represented the Soviet Union and began winning medals. They won two national bronze medals at the Soviet Championships. They finished fifth at the 1977 European and World Championships, sixth at the 1978 European Championships and seventh at the 1978 World Championships. Marina retired from ice dancing in 1980 and became a coach and choreographer. “I was the first in Russia to have this title,” she says. She received degrees in sports at St. Petersburg University and arts from Moscow University. In 1991 Marina got a contract to teach at a skating club in Canada. The contract was with a Russian company and the skating club, but five months after she got there everything changed. “There was a revolution in Russia and all systems were broken,” she says. Marina became a Canadian citizen and continued to teach in Canada. Her son became a Canadian junior ice skating champion. She stayed there until 2001 when she moved to Michigan to coach. She got a green card and remained in Michigan for 17 years. During her career she was the choreographer for two-time Russian Olympic pairs gold medalists Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov. She also coached Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir who got Olympic gold in 2010 for Canada. She coached the U.S. team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who got the Olympic gold medal in 2014 and silver in 2010. Meryl and Charlie also won two World Championships and six national championships. More recently she coached Maia and Alex Shibutani, who received Olympic bronze in 2018. In January 2019, she relocated her International Skating Academy to Hertz Arena in Estero. She believes that the climate will help her make even more champions. “I started to think about bringing something new for skating,” she says. “It was really difficult in Michigan because of the weather. You can’t

use different sports. I had the idea to use the environment for the sports.” Her training now not only includes time on the ice but time participating in outdoor sports from kayaking and tennis to swimming and volleyball. “Sun makes people happy,” she says. “Warmth makes the body more functional.” She looked at skating rinks all around Florida but found Hertz Arena to be the perfect place. She says its proximity to the airport and Florida Gulf Coast University is a big plus. One of the biggest factors is that she not only gets to use the practice rinks, but the main rink. That rink gives her athletes experience skating in a large venue with lots of seats. “It feels like a competition, which is very, very important,” she says. Marina coaches her students from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. five days a week on the smaller rinks. “Plus afternoons in the big rink when it is available and open,” she adds. Her days are long, but she loves every minute. Marina wakes up every morning at about 4 a.m., feeds her Lionhead bunny, her cat and two dogs. She drinks some coffee and then leaves her North Naples home and heads to the rink to begin work by 6 a.m. She is currently teaching skaters from seven countries, including the United States, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, France, Israel and China (Hong Kong). “In the summer, it is about 25 students,” she says. “Right now in the season everybody is traveling for competition, so it is a little bit different.” She paired Ukranian skater Volodymyr Horovyi with American Helena Carhart and expects big things from them. “He is a famous Ukrainian ice dancer and really talented,” she says. “He is an exceptional skater, because they skate together only three months and got silver in the novice U.S. Nationals. That is how good the team is.” Marina says there is no secret technique to coaching and choreographing for champions. She says it is all about the attitude and the atmosphere. “You put in all you have to offer,” she says. “If you love your job and you have enough education, that is what makes it work. I see my skaters are very happy and healthy and can do more stuff on ice. And I feel much better. In Michigan, you go home and that is it. “Here I go home and go to the beach, swim every day, enjoying the sun and it makes me feel happy.”

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 19

| MODEL BEHAVIOR |

This $2.05 million model home in the Residences at Mercato spans 3,075 square feet under air. It has three bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. This model is in walking distance to all the shops and restaurants at Mercato.

20 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| MODEL BEHAVIOR |

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY JON AUSTRIA

CITY ACCESS WITH

SPACE This model in the Residences at Mercato features big city conveniences and luxuries while providing plenty of room and privacy.

tanding in the loft that overlooks the great room gives one an overview of the luxury, the details, spaciousness and uniqueness of a model home in the Residences at Mercato in North Naples. It’s the look of a home found in big cities, sprinkled with some local flavor. Sales Associate Amelia Russell Hoyt says the model is different from those in other communities. “I think just the departure from all of the coastal aesthetics that you see everywhere,” she begins. “This seems a lot more clean. This look attracts a lot of Europeans, a lot of people from larger cities. I just had a person from Miami here that loves this. It feels a little bit art deco and it reminds you of South Beach. What we try to do with all the models is make them different, so you can reach a broader audience.” The three-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom home also has a cabana and an oversized two-car garage. The selling price is $2.05 million. The home spans 3,075 square feet under air. Although it is in a more urban setting, the home also has a large outdoor area. “The other incredible thing is this massive outdoor space,” Amelia continues. While the homes in the community are close, the setbacks, walls and landscaping give each homeowner a secluded lanai and pool. Sliding glass doors from the family room, cabana and master bedroom lead to the lanai. Amelia touts the cabana as another coveted feature and one that has evolved over time. In earlier models, the cabana was only accessible from the lanai. Now it has doors from both the lanai and home. “People use it for every imaginable use,” Amelia says. “I have seen people do a bar, game room with a pool table, lots of offices. I have seen people do an office with a murphy bed, so if they have more guests they have more space. I have seen a man cave and some people use it as intended, as a cabana off the pool.”

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 21

| MODEL BEHAVIOR |

In the model, the room is set up as an office with a table, chairs and built-in bookshelves. “Every time we furnish one of these, they want to furnish it in different ways,” says Rebekah Errett-Pikosky, an interior designer with Clive Daniel Home who created the design with Charlie Hansen. “That one is more like an office area, but it has great views of the pool. It shows the versatility of the space.” The great room soars two stories high with an inset wall of white wood that houses the television and breaks up the tall wall space. “We did a tile detail in the back of it to kind of highlight the whole wall,” Rebekah explains. “It has such grand ceilings that you have to have something to anchor that wall.” A white couch and chairs form a half circle around the coffee table. The pendent light in the half bathroom matches the chandelier lights over the kitchen island. The master bedroom has a king-size bed decorated in white with a navy trim and navy pillows that match the long navy curtains. Rebekah likes how the unique and upscale details aren’t just featured in the great room or master bedroom. “The nickel gap on the stairwell, it is kind of a cute detail,” she says. “It gives a little romance and finish. We use it in places where it is less than expected, and we thought the stairwell was a great place, and it repeats in the foyer where you walk in.” Upstairs the loft has two white couches with navy pillows. The chandelier in the loft looks like a bird’s nest. “What I love about this space is you really get to enjoy this architecture detail,” Amelia says. The guest rooms are upstairs, and each has its own design. One has a queen-size bed done in a soft aqua color. White leaf prints decorate the walls. The second guest room is decorated in gray and white. Sliding glass doors lead to a balcony railing. The home has natural gas, which is desired for cooking but also has additional benefits during a hurricane. “It is rare in this area,” Amelia says of the gas. “It heats the pool, spa and tankless water heater to instant hot. We stayed in a model during Hurricane Irma. That is when we realized the value of natural gas, because we never lost hot water and we could cook.” The room with all the electronics that make it a smart house is in a walk-in closet under the stairs. The room is so large it can also be used for storage. Maintenance fees for the homes in Residences at Mercato are $2,800 per quarter. That includes weekly maintenance of the pool and landscaping, exterior pressure cleaning of the home every year, bi-annual window washing, pest control, exterior painting every six years, water, sewer, cable and Internet. “Not only is it an incredible deal, but the attraction is it gives them that lock-and-leave condominium feel. They don’t have to manage all the vendors. It is just done on a schedule.” 22 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| MODEL BEHAVIOR |

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While Amelia lists the wow factors in this model, she says one of the biggest benefits is the location. The home is set in a gated community just beyond the shops and restaurants of Mercato. “That’s the draw and that’s the buyer,” Amelia says. “They are people from cities. They are people who are not accustomed to getting into the car. A lot of the buyers are buyers of the condos here that are spending more time in Naples and want more room, but don’t want to leave Mercato.” Amelia says people love the flavor of city life in a smaller environment. “It is like a little village,” she says. “It is such a community here. The retailers all get to know the residents. They offer them happy hour specials and there are just those relationships. It is like built-in friends. It feels very safe.” Mercato will have 45 homes at build-out. Amelia says there is only one lot left, so this might be the last model home there. There are two model homes in the community and two spec houses. “It has a really nice warm community feel,” Amelia says. “That is the reaction I get every time someone comes in. They had no idea this was back here.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The loft area offers a spectacular view of the family room below and also of the inlay details in the ceiling. • This may be the last model to be built in the Residences at Mercato. The community will have 45 homes at build-out and there is only one lot left. • The open floor plan allows people in the kitchen to also have views of the outside. • Even though the houses are close to each other, the lanai and outdoor space is very private. Walls and greenery separate each lot and provide a lot of privacy. • The decorator tied the colors of the home together by using lots of neutral shades with pops of navy. • The great room soars two stories high. To break up the tall length of the wall the decorator designed an inset wall, of white wood to break up the large space. It also creates a spot for the television.

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| DINING |

THE CHARM OF

ZURE Azure Restaurant in south Fort Myers serves up French cuisine with Southern flair.

Foie gras is seared, placed on cornbread and served with mango chutney.

24 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| DINING |

STORY BY GINA BIRCH

our years ago, Lee Riley and Eddy Garces relocated to Southwest Florida from London and purchased a small 38-seat restaurant on McGregor Boulevard between Iona Road and Gladiolus Drive. “We originally wanted to open a fish-n-chips restaurant but are so glad we stuck to what we know. We just love it here,” Lee says. The result: Azure Restaurant in south Fort Myers. Calls are fielded almost daily asking, “Where exactly is Azure?” Even Lee admits to having trouble finding it when they first visited. That obscurity is part of its charm, so are Lee and Eddy. They are gracious hosts of this sophisticated, yet welcoming space.

It has tangibly good energy, and when it’s full, it almost buzzes. “People love sitting at the bar, watching the chefs work,” Lee says. “It’s like a show. They are so in sync with one another.” The open kitchen allows for the kind of interaction with the chefs that many diners enjoy; by all accounts, the chefs appear to enjoy it, too. Azure’s menu is French European with a Southern flair, and everything is cooked to order. The kitchen is led by talented chef Joe Pittman. From Alabama, he says, “I put my heart into cooking. I cook from what I know, a lot of French but also low country.” Some of those Southern-inspired favorites on the small plates menu include frog legs, fried quail and a coddled egg that regulars rave about. Made with Creole cream sauce, the dish has gulf shrimp, Nueske’s bacon and corn. Chef cracks an egg on top, sprinkles it with Parmesan and bakes it. On the French side, try the foie gras, escargot or a timeless French onion soup served in a crock dripping with baked Gruyere cheese. Pittman’s coq au vin has become a signa-

ture entree at Azure. Made in the classic style, chicken thighs are braised in red wine with mushrooms. Served with fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables, it’s savory, warming and comforting. Moroccan lamb ragout is another hearty favorite. The lamb comes from New Zealand and is massaged with herbs and spices before being braised for several hours. Served with housemade pappardelle and ratatouille, the spices are more aromatic than hot. On the opposite end of the spectrum is a pasta dish that is simple and delicious, Cacio e Pepe. On the small plates menu, the bowl is filled with thick Roman-style noodles. Like pieces of treasure, intertwined in them are small chunks of salty pork cheek and sprinkles of their crispy bits for texture. The fish of the day changes regularly, and while the preparation can as well, a flavorful green Thai curry makes a regular appearance. Other fish dishes not to miss include Snapper en Papillote. American red snapper is wrapped in parchment paper with shallots, olives, tomatoes and Dijon, then steamed to perfection in the oven.

THIS PAGE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Coq au vin is a signature entree at Azure: chicken thighs braised in red wine. • French onion soup comes in a crock dripping with baked Gruyere cheese. • The roasted beet salad is highlighted with frisee, goat cheese and cashews tossed in a citrus vinaigrette.

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 25

| DINING |

ABOVE: Burrata salad with heirloom tomatoes is a popular special. LEFT: Plateaux Duo is Azure’s version of a cheese and charcuterie board.

A light salad full of delicate greens, the East Fork Creek Lettuces features mild buttermilk blue cheese, thin slices of pears and toasted pecans with balsamic dressing. Plateaux Duo is a beautiful presentation of cured meats and epicurean cheeses served on a cake stand. A side tray is filled with small ceramic bowls containing candied pecans, local honey, housemade pickles and marinated blueberries that pop with flavor. Desserts range from a creamy vanilla pod creme brulee to a lovely bananas Foster tart and beignets with apple compote and housemade vanilla ice cream — save room. The menu experiences seasonal changes, and summer wine dinners sell out. They start again in July. The wine list has numerous French selections, along with those from around the world, and the beer comes from France and Belgium. First-time diners quickly become regulars as Azure checks all boxes in the overall dining experience, including that sometimes-elusive personal touch. “We remember people,” Eddy says. “We get to know them by name and listen to their stories. Giving customers what they want is fun, and we enjoy doing it.”

26 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

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| COVER STORY|

E H T ’ N I T R O SP E LIF E Y LANC STORY B

SHEARE

e participat o t t n a w you a Whether t Florida is s e w h t u o e te, S ’s paradis n or specta a m o w s ’s or sport under the moniker “The Paradise Coast.” The portsman

outhwest Florida offers a mindboggling assortment of ways to while your leisure time away with a roof over your head. From high tea at The Ritz-Carlton, to symphony orchestras in Fort Myers and Naples, national touring companies of Broadway shows and an endless array of fine dining, there is a lot to do here that involves staying indoors. But to fully appreciate the region’s special nature, you need to get out — off the couch, out of the car, out into nature — and enjoy the natural beauty and amenities that have made it such a sought-after destination. This area really is a tropical paradise, to the point where Collier County’s tourism arm advertises

vast majority of people who live here came from somewhere else, and it’s a fair bet that the “somewhere else” was colder, particularly during the winter. Southwest Florida residents, and the visitors who come down from those frozen climes to see them, or just escape the cold, want to get out into the beautiful Florida surroundings and balmy breezes surrounding them — and they’re in luck. With ideal weather conditions prevailing while Frost Belt denizens scrape ice from their windshields, Southwest Florida can accommodate a wide range of passions in outdoor activities, from tennis, golf and pickleball to boating and inshore, blue water or freshwater fishing, or the chance to follow Major League Baseball teams during spring training as they gear up for their season. Here are a few ways to enjoy our version of winter weather. GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 29

| COVER STORY |

YOUR

LINK

LINKS Golf Club, ArrowHead Golf Club, The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s course (newly renovated and the oldest in Naples) and more. You can even play golf at night on the lighted Links of Naples course. For some fun and a family outing, miniature golf layouts include Golf Safari in Bonita Springs, Castle Golf and Jungle Golf in Fort Myers, Tropical Breeze Fun Park in Cape Coral, Coral Cay Adventure Golf in Naples, and Marco Golf and Garden. If you’d rather watch the pros play, and “leave the driving to us,” as well as the putting, come watch some of the greatest legends of golf in the Chubb Classic, a PGA TOUR Champions event. Being held in February for the second consecutive year on the Classics Country Club at Lely Resort in Naples, the Chubb Classic is marking its 33rd year in Southwest Florida. From the inaugural winner Gary Player to Arnold Palmer, many of the game’s marquee names have teed it up in the Chubb. Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed the 2019 Chubb Classic title. Quail Creek Country Club in North Naples has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the host site for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, bringing top female golfers from around the country to the tournament in April.

Arrow Head Golf Club

FILE PHOTOS

Lee County, home of Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sanibel, boasts over 95 golf courses, and Collier County, home of Naples and Marco Island, adds another 90-plus. This puts our area as the destination with the most golf holes per capita in the entire United States. Many of the exclusive members-only country clubs require you to pony up a sixfigure initiation fee before you can book a tee time at their courses, or alternatively you can score an invitation to fill out a foursome from a club member friend. But golf is easily available for anyone in Southwest Florida — there are numerous excellent public and semi-private courses, many of them affiliated with resort hotels, which can get you out on the links. Options include challenging public layouts, such as the 6,700-yard Eastwood championship course in Lee County, ranked among the Top 50 public courses in the country by Golf Digest with a four-star rating. One of the newest area courses open to the public, Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs debuted in 2001 as the first resort course in the U.S. to receive Audubon International’s Gold Certificate. Top public courses in Collier include the TPC Treviso Bay, the Flamingo Island and Mustang championship courses at Lely Resort Golf & Country Club, Panther Run

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB

THE

30 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| COVER STORY |

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

Spectators watch the Chubb Classic at Lely Resort.

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

Quail Creek Country Club and Golf Course

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 31

| COVER STORY |

32 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| COVER STORY |

THE

FILE PHOTO

BOYS SPRING OF

For fans of America’s national pastime, Fort Myers hosts not one but two Major League Baseball teams for spring training in what is jocularly known as the Grapefruit League. Both the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox play in the American League, and both play their preseason games here, giving fans the chance to get an early look at their heroes, with more of a chance to get up close and personal than during the regular season. The Tampa Bay Rays hold their spring training at the Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte. Pitchers and catchers report mid-February, and by late February and through March, the teams play a full schedule against other major league franchises. When the major league players move on to their summer homes and “the show,” professional baseball still has a home in Fort Myers. The Mighty Mussels, newly rechristened after decades as the Fort Myers Miracle, are the Twins’ Class A Advanced Minor League Baseball affiliate and play in Hammond Stadium, the Twins’ spring training home, starting in April. The Rays High A farm team is the Charlotte Stone Crabs. The Red Sox, 2018 World Series champions, play their spring training games at JetBlue Park, aka Fenway South. The two major league teams will play a mini “shuttle series” during February and March, with five games between the Fort Myers-based clubs. Florida Gulf Coast University in the Estero area plays NCAA Division I baseball and has produced five MLB players, including 2018 World Series champion pitcher and seven-time American League All-Star Chris Sales. If hockey is your thing, Estero is home to the East Coast Hockey League’s Florida Everblades, who play their home games at Hertz Arena.

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 33

THE

WATER Sometimes it seems Southwest Florida is divided into two tribes — the golf people and the “Gulf people.” Those who remain landlocked in their sporting pursuits are missing some of the most fabulous experiences the area has to offer. Beautiful as the world here is on shore, sometimes the most fun is to leave it behind and see it from a distance. This is a boating community, and for many people, relaxation and boats are synonymous. The area offers a plethora of choices for water-based recreation. In addition to canoes, kayaks, parasailing, personal watercraft and stand-up paddleboards, you can rent a runabout, pontoon or deck boat to skipper yourself, hire a captain and go fishing, take an excursion boat cruise, or leave the area altogether on day or overnight cruises to Key West. You can even go beyond the state of Florida’s jurisdiction and gamble aboard “a luxury yacht you can bet on.” For complete calm and relaxation, go to sea in a sailboat — with someone else hauling on the lines and watching the wind. Sweet Liberty, a 53-foot sailing catamaran, makes three daily trips out from the Naples City Dock, unless they’re booked for a special event like a wedding, and they’ve “tied the knot” for well over a hundred couples. Chartering the whole boat costs $1,200 and up, but you can take a “three-hour tour” — that sounds familiar, somehow — aboard Sweet Liberty for around $30 or $40, with child’s fare $20. In Fort Myers Beach, Sunset Boat Tours will take you out for the nightly sun show,

34 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

a chance to see the famous “green flash,” and guaranteed sighting of the Sanibel Lighthouse. Fort Myers Beach also hosts Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise, 90 minutes of “interactive friendly pirate fun” that families “arrgh” going to love. Back at the small boat end of the spectrum, airboat excursions into the Everglades offer a chance to see the wilderness, and alligators, in a way that is possible nowhere else in the world. Wooten’s “WorldFamous” airboat tours have been showing the backcountry to city folks since 1953, and you will pass additional airboat operators as you drive along the Tamiami Trail heading to Everglades City. If you’re not familiar with the unique craft, airboats use airplane engines and propellers, up above the back of the boat, allowing them to operate in extremely shallow water and even skim over grass and mudflats. Alligators are routinely sighted, but not guaranteed. If you’re looking for your own private “dreamboat,” boat shows are a great place to start. The massive 2020 Miami International Boat Show runs February 13-17 at Miami Marine Stadium on Key Biscayne. Closer to home, Bonita Springs hosts two shows back to back: the in-water Bonita Bay Boat Show from February 28 to March 1 at the Bonita Bay Marina, followed by the 31st annual Bonita Springs Boat Show at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track from March 2 to 5. For some, it isn’t boating unless they’re holding a fishing rod. Anything from private deep-sea charters for upwards of a thousand dollars, to “head boats” in the

Gulf with a score of other anglers, and backwater charters of all types are as close as your telephone and your credit card. On a charter boat, you will be covered by the skipper’s blanket charter boat or captain’s fishing license. As a Florida resident, you can stand on the shore and throw in a hook, but you still need a nocost saltwater shoreline fishing license, and it doesn’t cover you on an island you reached by boat. There are additional categories, exemptions, stipulations and fees for snook and spiny lobster, closed seasons, bag limits and length requirements — the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, is happy to get into them all at myfwc.com. April brings a spate of fishing tournaments, some with prizes in the thousands of dollars. Annual events include the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament, the Flatsmasters Hooked on Habitat Redfish Tournament (and Junior Fishing Tournament) and the LCEC United Way Fishing Tournament. Also that month, Boca Grande becomes the unofficial tarpon fishing capital of the world, with “silver kings” from 90 to 200 pounds giving anglers the thrill of a lifetime. Many visitors don’t really believe they’ve been to Florida until they get their toes in the sand, and perhaps a seashell in their hand. While there are literally thousands of swimming pools in Southwest Florida, up to and including the Sun-n-Fun Lagoon in Naples and Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral with their soaring water slides and lazy rivers, being here at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, with some of the country’s most beautiful and highly rated beaches, you owe it to yourself — and your kids — to hit the shoreline. From Marco Island in the south to Sanibel and Captiva, the coast is one long strip of sugar sand beach, broken only by passes to allow the boaters to access the Gulf. The possibilities are nearly endless. Take advantage of our subtropical surroundings. The glorious slice of nature that is Southwest Florida is all around you — get out and enjoy it!

PHOTOS BY JON AUSTRIA

| COVER STORY |

Capt. Shane Chaplin sails the Sweet Liberty back to the Naples City Dock, after a one hour excursion to Keewaydin Island.

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 35

| COVER STORY |

Academia Sรกnchez-Casal

Academia Sรกnchez-Casal 36 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

U.S. Open Pickleball Championships at East Naples Community Park

Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center

| COVER STORY |

SPOT

E N O Z E THEATR SEASON

FILE PHOTOS

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ACADEMIA SÁNCHEZ-CASAL

TENNIS

CONCERthTeS Lights:

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The game of tennis claims many adherents in Southwest Florida, both as participants and spectators. Every country club and resort hotel, countless condominiums and many private homes feature tennis courts, whether hard courts or clay, and recreational leagues abound. Municipal and club courts throughout Collier and Lee counties, including city, county and YMCA facilities, make it easy for interested players to raise a racquet. How many tennis courts there are in Southwest Florida is a matter of conjecture; just one facility, the Academia Sánchez-Casal in Naples, boasts 38 courts. The United States Tennis Association runs a full schedule of recreational leagues for amateurs at all levels, and tennis teaching professionals compete in a series of team events through the Southwest Florida Pro League through April in Lee and Collier, wrapping up with the Clay in May at the Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center, the annual City of Naples Tennis Championship. Across Alligator Alley, the 2020 Miami Open brings the top echelon of professional tennis to South Florida for the 10 days straddling the end of March and the beginning of April. To give you an idea of the caliber of player, Roger Federer is the reigning men’s singles champion, with Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl all having taken the crown. Serena and Venus Williams, who are part owners of the Hard Rock Stadium where the tourney will be played, have both won here multiple times. Multiple wins were also notched by Kim Clijsters, Martina Hingis and Monica Seles. The tourney’s first three years, the women’s singles were won by Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf. Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, the game of pickleball has “picked off ” many former tennis players, and the national tournament, the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, will be held in April at East Naples Community Park, with television coverage by the CBS Sports Network.

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GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 37

THE

PASSION This month’s picks reflect wine and spirits made with great love.

ebruary is the month most associated with love, a feeling that is not limited to your significant other but also includes wine. Ask almost any winemaker or small winery owner and they will tell you that it’s not just about money; a heck of a lot of passion goes into making wine. Those of us who consume it on a regular basis can often feel it in the glass. Like myself, Bruce Nichols has had a long-term love affair with wine. As owner of The Wine Store in Naples, he searches for wines with great stories and those made with love. Love of the process, love of the earth that yields the vines and love of the people on their team. Together, Bruce and I list wines to make you swoon this month.

Gina Birch Gina Birch is the wine columnist for The News-Press in Fort Myers. Follow her social media here: Twitter: @ ginabirch Facebook: GinaBirch

Bruce Nichols

Guest columnist and owner of The Wine Store in Naples

GINA’S WINE PICKS

BRUCE’S WINE PICKS

| WINE & SPIRITS |

Tensley Wines ($20$56) • Chardonnay, cabernet, syrah and everything in between, seriously, Joey Tensely is a yet-to-be discovered Santa Barbara rockstar winemaker, even with a 99-point score from Robert Parker for his Colson Canyon Syrah a few years back. Small-production (well under 10,000 cases), family-farmed (wife, kids, niece, all chip in), handcrafted and minimal intervention in the winery — these are wines “made in the vineyard.” Tensley is a master of the syrah grape, his value-driven chardonnay and cabs rock, and the “Fundamental Red and White Blends” are insanely good for twice the price.

Alara Grenache ($45) • Alara Cellars is a boutique winery in the Santa Clara Valley AVA of California that only produces about 1,200 cases; the juice in the bottle is just as elegant as the fashion sketches on the label. Years before becoming a winemaker, Janu Goeltz established a clothing line and called on designer Malene Grotrian to sketch a dress for the label using the wine as inspiration. A gorgeous, glamorous, blue gown graces the grenache, and it’s perfect. The wine is elegant with dark juicy fruit, a bit of tobacco and baking spices, and a hint of chocolate. Only 96 cases were made.

Lesimple Sancerre ($27) • One of my favorite white wines, owner Gilles Lesimple’s vineyards in the tiny village of Chavignol are expressions of the three soil types of Sancerre, giving sauvignon blanc its complexity. Meyer lemon dominates the nose and palate with typical minerality for wines of the region and a hint of tropical and stone fruit. There’s just this luscious creaminess to the wine that sets it apart from the acid-driven sauvignons from New Zealand or the herbaceous varieties of California. As an aside, Chavignol is the goat cheese capital of the world, which is the quintessential pairing for Sancerre.

Bruno Paillard Rosé Première Cuvée ($60) • It’s pink, it sparkles, it’s from France — it’s the perfect expression of love for Valentine’s Day. It’s also a personal favorite of mine after spending an afternoon at the Champagne house in Reims, France, sipping through a number of Paillard’s creations. The winery is modern, pristine and the Paillard family is serious about making premier Champagne. This wine is a blend of 25 vintages dating back to 1985. It’s sophisticated with an endless stream of tiny bubbles, smells like strawberry, tastes fresh and has a long, happy finish.

Lingua Franca Avni Pinot Noir ($42) • From Oregon’s Willamette Valley, master sommelier Larry Stone partnered with the legendary Burgundy producer Dominique Lafon to craft Old Worldstyled pinot noir and chardonnay. I just love the interplay of the red and black fruits, the smoky, savory nuance and balance. It has weight and texture without any hint of cloying extraction and comes in at a mid-13% alcohol range. Looking for the perfect food and wine pairing? Lingua Franca and grilled salmon.

Lucienne Pinot Noir Doctor’s Vineyard, 2017 ($50) • I brought this wine to a holiday dinner and smiled when my pinot-loving friend sitting across the table took a sip, closed her eyes and exhaled with delight. I did the same. It has everything we both love in a pinot noir, including 100% pinot noir fruit, no zhuzhing with syrah or other grapes to boost color and/or structure. From the Santa Lucia Highlands in Central California, it’s well balanced and elegant, earthy with ripe cherry and a lingering spice. (Wine prices may vary.)

38 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| WINE & SPIRITS |

COCKTAIL PICK

ust when you think you’ve tried everything, comes something like Singani 63, a Bolivian spirit made by distilling grapes. It’s a passion project of Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh. A fragrant, clean and crisp spirit, singani is considered the national drink of Bolivia. It’s made from Muscat of Alexandria grapes grown at a minimum altitude of 5,250 feet in the Andes Mountains. Missionaries are said to have introduced the grape to Bolivia in the early 1500s. Soderbergh was introduced to

singani while shooting the movie “Che” in Bolivia. He fell in love with the spirit that no one in the United States was importing, until now. The filmmaker partnered with Casa Real, one of the largest singani distilling companies, and six years later introduced his beloved spirit to the American market. In Bolivia, singani is enjoyed straight up or commonly with ginger ale and lime. Singani 63 is indeed smooth enough to sip over ice. Floral with a pleasing musk, there is a touch of heat on the backside and a finish that is reminiscent of rose petals. It’s so unique that when you try it for the first time, it’s hard to put down as you discover its many nuances.

SINGRONI

• 1 ounce Singani 63 • 1 ounce sweet vermouth • 1 ounce Aperol

METHOD

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add all ingredients and stir. Garnish with an orange twist and serve.

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 39

| RIDE |

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LANCE SHEARER

LABOR OF

LOVE Keith Pershing turned his love of cars into a lifelong career.

lot of guys who collect cars get into it after a life spent doing something else, often something that provided the dollars to fund their obsession. Keith Pershing was able to turn his passion into a business, which in turn created a way of life. So for the past 40 years, Keith has been immersed in the world of cars. Over time, his business, Island Automotive on Marco Island, has devoted more and more of its efforts toward classic, antique and exotic rides, restoring them and keeping them running. When he opened his shop in 1979, there were no traffic lights on Marco Island, Keith recalls, just a blinker where Collier Boulevard, the main drag, met what would become Bald Eagle Drive â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at the time, it was named Lee Avenue.

40 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| RIDE |

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Some, not all, of Keith Pershing's classic VWs. • Keith's 1966 Mercury Monterey 390 GT. • Vicki Pershings' personal favorite car is their 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak. • A 1974 Volkswagen Thing. • Customers and friends show up for Island Automotive's 40th anniversary party. Keith has turned his love of classic cars into a living, and a lifestyle, owning many collectible cars and working on many more.

“There were zero stop lights on the island, and the speed limit on Collier Boulevard was 65 miles per hour,” Keith says. “There was a lot of wide open space. It was a tiny town, and now it’s a full-blown city.” Today, the island-wide speed limit is 30 mph, and during season, you are lucky to reach it at all. While Keith gets the thrill of getting under the hood of a never-ending and always varied stream of his customers’ autos, he has also built up quite a collection of his own. It starts with the first car he ever owned, a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle he bought “a year or so old.” Taunted that a vintage “bug” like that might not have been able to exceed that 65-mph speed limit on the island back then, Keith begged to differ. “I turbocharged that Beetle. It would

do 65 mph in second gear, and 105 mph in third. In fourth gear, I wasn’t looking at the gauges.” He says he did “a little unofficial hot rod street racing — back then when it wasn’t a felony.” Keith’s collection features additional classic VWs, including a ’59 “barn find” Beetle, with rusty shell and tattered upholstery; a ’63, “Herbie’s girlfriend, Hottie,” which technically belongs to his daughter; a 1974 Volkswagen “The Thing”; a 1978 Super Beetle, and a 1980 Scirocco. Plus a ’73 VW engine dune buggy. Lest you think he has neglected American manufacturers’ products, he also owns a 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak, as well as a 1965 Mercury Monterey 390 GT convertible, and a 1973 Ford LTD, plus a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica as a “daily driver” for his wife, Vicki. GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 41

| RIDE |

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Memorabilia in a case at Island Automotive. • Keith peels out in his 1966 Mercury Monterey 390 GT. • Keith's E-Type Jaguar, "rusting in peace," is a some-day project. • This '63 VW Beetle belongs to Keith and Vicki's daughter.

In his garage at home, under a mound of accumulated auto parts, fishing rods, boat cushions and cardboard boxes, he has a 1964 Jaguar E-Type he says is a long-stalled project, “rusting in peace” and waiting till he has time to get to it. This is the car that Enzo Ferrari declared the most beautiful auto ever made, although you would be hardpressed to see that right now. So Keith understands the automotive passions of his customers. “New cars, even if they’re nice, are just a way to get somewhere,” he says. “An old car, over time, becomes a member of the family.” As a case in point, the Pershings get a little misty when talking about their ’49 Pontiac. “The Silver Streak — that’s special,” Vicki says. “We used that for our wedding, and after being born, our daughter came from the hospital in it. And then we drove it for her wedding.” Keith used the ’65 Mercury to make the point that to him, cars are meant to be driven, and not just sedately to 7-Eleven. Tooling around the back streets near his house to find a spot for a photo, he brought the enormous boat-like convertible to a stop. Then, while firmly pressing the brake pedal with his left foot, he revved up the 390-cubic-inch engine with his right. When he released the brake, the car shot forward with a growl and a squeal of tires, leaving an impressive plume of smoke in its wake. “These are not just museum pieces,” he says. “Besides, the tires just rot out” if left to only gentler handling. Well versed in the technical aspects of the issue, he expounded on the physics of speed 42 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

and acceleration, explaining that “an engine has no power at idle speed. You have to get it up to a power band” — theory that he put to practical use in his drag racing days. One thing the same on Marco in 1979, Island Automotive was fixing islanders’ cars and keeping them running. That’s the year Keith established the first mechanic shop on the island. Then, as now, Island Automotive was a full-service auto business, but over the years, working on antique and exotic cars has become a larger and larger portion of the shop’s work. While Keith has become adept at finding parts for models and entire manufacturers long-since vanished from the automotive scene, sometimes the needed part simply does not exist. “For an old Packard, or an ’06 Cadillac (1906), there are no parts available.” So he and his technicians machine the parts themselves. And then they often make a couple extras. “When you spend 10 or 20 or 30 hours engineering it, the second one is a lot quicker,” Keith says. So he becomes a source for antique car parts, and buys, sells and swaps all over the world. On a Saturday morning in December, Keith and the Island Automotive staff, including Vicki, who acts as office manager, hosted a brunch and get-together at their shop to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Customers with antique, exotic or muscle cars were invited to bring them to the shop, so the event became an impromptu car show. A wide range of gorgeous motor vehicles filled the parking spaces out front, many of which were

antiques even 40 years ago. A lineup of antique Fords included a ’31 Ford “Woody,” a 1930svintage Model A in forest green, John Carroll’s yellow 1929 replica Model T, and the actual 1922 Model T formerly owned by the Naples Daily News, which donated it in 2009 to the Marco Island Historical Society. Attendees sat down for breakfast at tables arranged on the shop floor, surrounded by automotive memories. There were classic T-Birds, Mercury Cougars, vintage Mustangs, a ’32 Ford with a V-8 and a rumble seat, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster, a late ’60s Chevrolet Malibu Super Sport, and a 1932 Cadillac with a 355-cubic-inch flat-head V-8, in the shop for its 75-year checkup and to have its fuel pump rebuilt. One car that is always at Island Automotive draws a lot of attention. The sawn-off front end of a classic red Jaguar appears to be bursting out of the front wall, up in the air above the office. Asked about it, Keith Pershing had an answer that came out with a well-rehearsed delivery. “A customer asked me for a discount — so I gave him 20 percent off,” he quipped. Actually, he says, the car had a terminally blown engine, so he figured it might be good as a promotional display. Keith emphasizes that Island Automotive spends plenty of time — about half — working on customers’ modern cars, especially during the winter season. “If you’re just down here for two weeks, and you’ll be going back up north, we have to get you done right away. In the summertime, we tackle big projects,” he says. Maybe even that E-Type Jag.

WELLNESS DIRECTORY

Millennium Physicians Group The new alternative to the busy Emergency Department

Frantz Eye Care Redefine your vision with PanOptix

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 43

There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department Feeling sick during the week or weekend and can’t get in to see your primary care doctor? There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department. Millennium’s Fort Myers & Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Centers are now open late and weekends to better care for you during all of life’s minor emergencies. There are no appointments necessary and wait times are much shorter than a typical Emergency Department or Urgent Care Center. The Walk-in is now accepting new patients, and you don’t have to be an established Millennium Physician Group patient to utilize the convenient services. Most insurance plans are accepted and

self-pay patients are always welcome. Millennium’s family-friendly Walk-in Medical Center provides treatment for all of your urgent care needs, such as colds, sore throats, flu, rashes and earaches. Our physicians also treat non-life threatening emergencies like sprains, abrasions, and burns. Our Walk-in Medical Center teams know that when you visit our Centers, you want to feel better quickly and without a lot of hassle. No need to wait in an emergency room or wait to schedule an appointment with your physician, the Walk-in Medical Center can see you today. Skip the Wait. No need to wait hours at a local

Emergency Room or busy Urgent Care Center. Millennium’s Walk-in Medical Centers now have a feature to allow you to view all of the wait times at their Walk-in facilities. You simply “skip the line” by pre-registering for a time that you would like to be seen for the day and essentially you get to “skip the line” when you arrive. If the provider is running behind you will receive a text message letting you know to come in a few minutes later, reducing any wait time. Log-on to www.MillenniumPhysician.com and select “Skip the Line” at the top of the webpage. View the wait times and get in line to feeling better today. To learn more about Millennium Physician Group, please visit www.MillenniumPhysician.com.

357 44 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

Wellness Millennium_46_47_November.indd 68

10/24/19 3:35 PM

NOW PATIENTS FOR PRIMARY CARE & SPECIALTIES

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ing lens implant in the world to correct impaired vision at three different focal lengths. The PanOptix IOL can help patients experience the benefits of cataract surgery by greatly reducing the need for glasses for reading, using smart tablets, and watching television as well as the outdoor convenience of clear range of vision from the golf tee to the putting green. See effortlessly without blurry vision. The PanOptix lens can provide you with the better vision you need to enjoy the lifestyle you once had. Leading cataract specialist,Dr. Jonathan Frantz and the team at Frantz EyeCare want you to experience a more complete and fulfilling life because of this breakthrough technology. If you are interested in learning more about the PanOptix IOL, please visit BetterVision. net, call 239.418.0999 or dial **2020 from a mobile device to schedule your complimentary screening. The first step is yours to take, so find out if you are a candidate - Today!

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| GETAWAY |

STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS

DESTINATION

ROMANCE

Two dream international locales and two Southwest Florida resorts offer an array of romantic getaways. Santorini

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 47

| GETAWAY |

Amalti Coast

ne of the top reasons for travel is romance, whether a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or just a grown-up trip away. Imagine a couples’ massage beachside, raising a glass to views of Santorini or a private dining experience. Whether travelers embark to some of the most famous romantic destinations such as Italy and Greece or find romance at resorts here in Southwest Florida, being intentional and planning a few romantic experiences sets the mood. Teresa and Doug Pierce, of Fort Myers, selected Greece to celebrate their honeymoon in 2019, visiting Athens and Santorini. “Everything we did felt romantic, but something very special was that we had dinner at Caldera Romantica with an amazing sunset view over the Aegean Sea,” Teresa recalls. “We also enjoyed a sunset dinner in Fira at Idol. And our favorite was the sunset catamaran cruise where we saw the volcano, red beach, black beach, white beach, the lighthouse, Fira, Oia and more. Dinner was prepared on board and was amazing. The entire trip was unforgettable.” The couple stayed at the Athens Gate Hotel directly across from the Temple of Zeus the first night and then at the Neptune Luxury Spa Suites in Akrotiri on the island of Santorini (also called Thira) for the remainder of the trip. “We arrived in Athens late in the day, so were unable to tour the Acropolis, but we were able to wan48 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

der the historic district, including the Temple of Zeus. We dined at our hotel’s rooftop restaurant, which offered an amazing view of the Acropolis lit up at night,” Teresa says. “While in Santorini we rented a car and explored the entire island. We explored the frequently photographed town of Oia, known for its amazing sunsets, spent hours at the ancient dig site in Akrotiri, visited the Akrotiri Lighthouse, the monastery located at the highest point on Santorini, the popular cruise port town of Fira, Red Beach, Black Beach and more. We also toured the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum, which is below ground in a cave.” The promise of romance in Greece did not disappoint. “We found romance in everything we did. Our room featured a plunge pool on the balcony overlooking the Aegean Sea and they had breakfast delivered to our room every morning and set it out on the balcony, or inside if it was too windy. We started every morning with a leisurely breakfast while taking in the beauty and peacefulness of the island,” she describes. “Wandering through the small whitewashed villages, stopping at sidewalk cafes, absorbing all of the ancient Greek history was all so romantic.” Teresa says her favorite things about Greece were the people, the weather, the views, the history and the food. Greek hospitality (in Greek philoxenia means “guest friendship” or “friend to a stranger”) is what surprises visitors the most, says DiscoverGreece.com spokesperson Mikela Mandalenaki. “It’s not only about the warm welcome or the top-level customer service at, say, a beachside tavern. Philoxenia is part of Greece’s history and mythology, as the main role of the Greek god Zeus, sometimes called Zeus Xenios, was to protect the guests,” she

explains. “In modern history, Greek philoxenia is the hospitality and courtesy shown to visitors who come from afar. The word comes from philos, which means loving in ancient Greek (and friend in modern Greek), and xenia, meaning hospitality in ancient Greek. For visitors, it translates as showing friendship and warmth — even being invited into a home and sharing a home-cooked meal.”

AMORE IN ITALY Shannon Dodge, of Fort Myers, travels frequently on romantic soirees with her husband, David. In 2018, the couple ventured to Italy and visited Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Positano, and Venice. “We loved experiencing the history and beauty of Rome, like standing on 5,000-year-old stones, the culture and warmth of the people,” Shannon says. “We really found romance in navigating the tiny alleyways with cafes and restaurants, just roaming around and exploring, and the bed and breakfasts.” Marzia Bortolin, spokesperson with the Italian Government Tourist Board, says Italy is continually ranked as one of the top romantic travel destinations due to the country’s natural and man-made beauty, hospitable people and fantastic cuisine. “Italy is one of the most magical and romantic places to be,” she says. “The architecture, the people, the food, the wine, the smells, all emanates romance. Every place in Italy is unique and has something special. Mediterranean coastline, countryside, vineyards, charming cities and fabulous food — you can’t go wrong.” First-time visitors most often select the popular art cities — Rome, Florence, Venice — followed by the Amalfi Coast — Lake Como, Cinque Terre. However, visiting smaller, less popular towns like Lucca, San

| GETAWAY | JW Marriott Marco Island South Seas

Gimignano and Orvieto will provide travelers with a romantic experience without the crowds, Marzia recommends. “Some places are more luxurious than others. Capri, Portofino, Positano, Lake Como, Venice and Sardinia are popular luxury destinations,” she says. “They offer hotel accommodations with spectacular views in a very romantic atmosphere, private boat, helicopter and whatever you can afford. It all depends on your luxury budget and your preference.”

CLOSER TO HOME For romance-seekers not planning to travel internationally but craving a romantic getaway, amore is accessible in Southwest Florida. Two resorts in particular, South Seas Island Resort on Captiva and the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, offer that individual, enamored touch for guests. JW Marriott Marco Island spokesperson Mady Dudley says couples who dream of a luxurious romantic getaway overlooking pristine white beaches, crystal blue waters and glorious Gulf sunsets need look no further than the JW Marriott Marco Island, especially with its newly added adult-exclusive Paradise by Sirene experience, part of a recent $320 million renovation. Paradise by Sirene, an enclave of 94 guest rooms and suites within the resort, expertly interprets the personal predilections of guests ages 21 and older through a selection of exclusive amenities. “Here, Sirene’s treasured guests enjoy exclusive access to the rooftop pool and sun deck, as well as the full use of a personal beach butler who will cater to their every whim as they relax by the water,” Mady says. “Sirene’s personal vacation planner is always on hand to arrange exclusive access to the resort’s scenic golf courses, premium spa treatments, thrilling local

excursions and much more.” The resort has a few romantic recommendations for couples. “Enjoy a sunset cocktails dinner at rooftop lounge Tesoro. Named after the Italian word for ‘treasure,’ Tesoro is an atmospheric adult-exclusive dining experience showcasing inspired Mediterranean cuisine served tapas style, highlighting the flavors of France, Italy, Spain and Greece,” Mady says. “Sirene encourages you to lounge around the sleek indoor-outdoor bar and sip on cocktails utilizing rare Mediterranean liqueurs, Sangrias served with a modern twist, an array of Spritzers created with housemade sodas, as well as an impressive wine selection from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Lebanon and Israel.” Romance is synonymous with spa, and Mady suggests delving into intimacy at the resort’s Balinesestyle spa. “The Spa at the JW Marriott Marco Island offers guests a relaxing and individual spa experience with treatments specifically designed by world-renowned experts inspired by the tropical environs,” she says. “The Balinese-style spa, with its elegant yet laid back setting, features a mineral tub overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, salon services and a Spa Shop.” The resort has experienced an increase in guests celebrating romantic occasions. “We have noticed a significant increase in the number of guests traveling to us for milestone anniversaries, babymoons and engagements. While we have always been a sought-after spot for honeymooners, it’s nice to see so many celebratory travelers coming to us now that we have an adult-exclusive offering. I would say that 50% of guests staying in the Sirene experience are celebrating a romantic occasion,” says Jada Shigley, director of reservation sales at JW Marriott Marco Island.

South Seas is also a popular destination for engagements. “We even have an offering for sand sculpting and sand art (will you marry me?) for proposals,” Mady says. Located on Captiva Island, South Seas Island Resort has carved out numerous opportunities for romance. “For the active couple, we have parasailing, kayaking, Jet-Skis and yoga on the beach. For the relaxed couple, taking a stroll on the beach or taking a dip in one of our over 20 pools. You can be as active or as laid back as you’d like here,” says South Seas spokesperson Korey McCaffrey. “Anyone looking to add romance can add on one of our romantic experiences. Guests often will opt for a private beach dinner or Romantic S’mores Experience on the Beach for two, or couples will reserve a private cabana poolside.” Other romantic experiences include celebrating spectacular sunsets either on the beach with a cocktail in hand or aboard a sunset cruise with dolphins jumping in the wake, Korey adds. For those seeking a couple’s massage, Korey suggests reserving this treatment at on-site Kay Casperson Spa. When booking for two nights or more, the resort offers romantic-themed packages that feature 20% off, and guests receive a complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival, a discount at food and beverage resort outlets and a discount for spa services. “South Seas Island Resort has always been a romantic destination. We often see couples who get married here come back year after year, or their parents got married here or even grandparents,” Korey says. “We are a prime destination for engagements. Our 2.5 miles of pristine, white sand beach along Florida’s gulf coast is the perfect backdrop for romantic getaways and celebrating special occasions.” GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 49

| STYLE |

INTERVIEWED BY ANNE REED

WALLACE Even after a tough workout, you can still be stylish. Athletic super couple Dr. Tasha and Darren Wallace talk about their run and post-run styles. WHO THEY ARE: TASHA : “I’m a wife, mother, physician,

PHOTO BY JAIME CARROLL, SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

DR. TASHA &DARREN

entrepreneur, three-time Ironman finisher and 11-time marathon finisher.” DARREN: “I’m a husband, father, former college football athlete, director of information technology for Henderson Franklin, marathon finisher and eight-time half-marathon finisher, member of the board of directors for ACT and basketball coach for my son’s teams.”

WHAT ARE THEIR FASHION INSPIRATIONS: T: “ I don’t consider myself to be stylish, but

when it comes to fitness, I definitely have wardrobe preferences. I set my clothes out every night for what I’m doing for my workout the next day, so I give it more importance than what I wear to work. Comfort is important. If you can coordinate colors and look good, it’s an added bonus. For my inspiration, I follow professional athletes on social media.” D: “When I first started running, I thought I was being stylish by running in my basketball shorts. I thought I looked cool, like a crossover athlete. I started doing longer runs, and I would sweat a lot. I realized that the long shorts would be drenched and felt like they weighed five pounds. I told Tasha I needed a different type of short, and she said, ‘You need ranger panties.’ Those are the short shorts you see guys wear with the slits on the side. She spoke to one of her running buddies, Wes, and ordered a few different pairs and the difference was night and day. So, I guess I look to other runners for inspiration.”

THEIR FASHION TIPS: T: “Neon. Runners love neon; it makes it easier to be seen.

TOS FILE PHO

50 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

If it has anything reflective on it, that’s an added bonus.” “I agree. Anything that is a brighter color. I feel lighter and I feel like I look better in brighter colors, which makes me perform better.” D:

| STYLE |

Tasha & Darren’s

FASHION ESSENTIALS

FOR A GREAT RUNNING DATE:

For long workouts, Tasha grabs a visor to help wick some of the sweat away. “Your cap gives you the added ability to add some style or individuality or identity.” She and Darren usually run very early in the morning, so there isn’t much need for sunglasses; but after a race, she’ll grab a pair of Goodr glasses for post-race celebrations. 1 THE OGS SUNGLASSES, $25 AT GOODR.COM

Thanks to the ever-present Florida heat and humidity, Darren runs shirt-free. Tasha looks for a triplethreat sports bra — something that looks good, has a high amount of compression and can hold her water bottle. “A pocket in the front is a bonus to hold my phone,” she says. The Brooks Rebound Racer is her current favorite. “I’ve got one in every color.” Of course, if brunch is in the post-run plan, a sports bra or shirtless husband simply won’t do. Tasha grabs a lightweight hoodie to toss on before she heads anywhere for breakfast. 2

Tasha was converted to the running brief several years ago by friend Cara Chiappetta. “I’ve tried every brand, and my favorite right now is New Balance. It has a low-cut waistband and it’s not too cheeky.” And for post-race or postmorning-run brunch dates? She grabs a pair of Lululemon shorts to pull over the briefs. Darren’s favorite shorts are from New Balance. “They are 2 or 3 inches in length. The shorter, the better,” he says. “It’s all about comfort level. The 2-inch ones feel better on my legs when I’m running.” 3

NEW BALANCE IMPACT SPLIT 3-INCH SHORTS, $40 AT NEWBALANCE.COM

DARE CROSSBACK RUN BRA, $60 AT NEWBALANCE.COM

For tracking miles, heart rate, speed and more, Tasha and Darren use different Garmin models. Tasha has the lightweight Garmin Forerunner 935XT in black “so it matches everything.” Darren likes his older model — the Garmin Forerunner 920XT. “I like to keep my data to myself, because I’m not as fast as Tasha,” he jokes. “The watch really helps with knowing your mileage, and I like to try and run faster with each mile during a workout.” 4 GARMIN FENIX WATCH, $900 AT NORDSTROM. COM

Tasha is a long-time fan of the Newton Distance running shoe. “It provides good support and stability and reaction. They’re comfortable and speedy.” Darren wears the On Cloud running shoe both on and off the road. “They’re very light and reactive. Sometimes I even throw them on with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt to go out, and people comment on how much they like the shoes.” 5

ON CLOUDFLOW RUNNING SHOE, $140 AT ON-RUNNING.COM GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 51

At Talis Park, The Vyne House suits members to a “T” Talis Park’s youthful spirit and fresh approach to Naples living attracts homebuyers to the vibrant golf and lifestyle community. That modern-minded attitude is also in full force at The Vyne House, the community’s award-winning clubhouse, where Talis Park’s dedicated staff is committed to club members’ satisfaction from the dining room to the Great Lawn. Talis Park Chef Rob DeFrancesco, who has headed Talis Park’s culinary team for more than four years, is especially adept at accommodating member’s preferences and needs, including vegetarian and vegan diets, gluten sensitivities and food allergies. Recently, Talis Park joined the Southwest Florida Blue Zones Project – a community-wide wellness initiative sponsored by the NCH Healthcare System that encourages people to live a longer, healthier life. Chef Rob created a special Blue Zone Menu with options for members who want to continue their healthy habits in the Talis Park dining room. Guests can order Quinoa Bowls or a Roasted Cauliflower and Faro Salad. Plant-based “Beyond Beef ” is available in tacos, as a hamburger on a bun of choice with all the fixings, or atop the spinach and kale-based Wellness Salad. Half portion meals are always available, and children’s menu items are accompanied by a selection of fresh, seasonal fruit in place of the usual French fries. “Blue Zone dining encourages members to think before they order,” said Chef Rob, adding “Whether they are ordering a Blue Zone meal, or selecting something from our traditional menus, we are committed to serving our members and to keep it exciting and interesting every time they dine with us.”

52 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

Friday Pasta Night is still a clubhouse favorite and a tradition among Talis Park families and friends. “We offer gluten-free pasta and zucchini noodles, so there truly is something for everyone,” he added. After several successful seasons of creating innovative menus for Talis Park club members, Chef Rob has identified three keys to success. “It really comes down to communication with our culinary team and members, personalization and preparation, and creativity,” he said. Of course, creativity isn’t limited to Talis Park’s kitchen. Throughout the year, Membership and Activities Director Nancy Muschong plans a full menu of activities and events with a special, from Chef ’s Cooking Classes to Night Golf, where club members play a round under the stars using special lighted golf balls and glow-in-the-dark accessories. Upcoming concerts on the Great Lawn featuring popular favorites Hard Drive Horns and the Robert Williamson Band will have members dancing the night away. While Talis Park residents Marc and Donna Kozin enjoy playing golf and tennis, and they also appreciate the variety of classes, clubs and events offered in the community. “Sometimes we have trouble picking what we’re going to do because there are so many things to pick from,” said Donna. “It’s a lot of fun.” “The level of activity is great,” Marc added. “And Talis Park’s staff is fabulous. They do a great job making us all feel at home.” Talis Park is offering a limited number of nonresident, full equity golf memberships that provide members with the exclusive

use of one of Florida’s highest ranked golf courses – an 18-hole design that is one of only two Norman/ Dye collaborations worldwide. Non-resident members will also have access to all Talis Park’s award-winning amenities. Talis Park’s neighborhoods are situated just a short walk, bike ride, or golf cart ride from the community’s heralded Great Lawn and Vyne House. A full offering of move-in ready and to-be-built opportunities from the high $600,000s to $10 million await future Talis Park residents – whether you crave the convenience of coach, terrace or penthouse living in Corsica and Viansa, opt for a move-in ready home in Watercourse with views of Lake Il Corso, or choose to build a dream home in the exclusive Isola Bella neighborhood, Talis Park’s very own “beautiful island.” Isola Bella’s two new elegant model homes nearing completion from Seagate Development Group preview the possibilities within the intimate, 4.5-acre enclave that offers 17 water and golf course view homesites to accommodate custom estate residences from 3,000 to more than 6,000 square feet. Since every Isola Bella homesite is unique, homebuyers may choose from a selection of five stunning floor plans – or custom design one that suits their personal needs and style. For a limited time, Isola Bella homesites will include a golf membership valued at $97,500, with year-round access to enjoy Talis Park’s championship golf course. Visit the Talis Park Information and Sales Center at 16980 Livingston Rd. Models are open daily. For more information, visit www.talispark.com or call 239-449-5900.

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DROP THE FORMALITIES, SHALL WE? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fooled by the grand entrance, exquisite details or nationally renowned golf course and club. Indeed, Talis Park is refinement at its best. But every last indulgence is matched by a welcoming spirit and unique, youthful charm. Formalities and strict dress codes cease to exist. We prefer a relaxed, sophisticated lifestyle unlike any other in Naples.

Luxury Residences From the $600s | 239.449.5900 | Naples, Fl | TalisPark.com

Broker participation welcomed. Prices, plans and specifications subject to change without notice. Oral representation cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For correct representations reference should be made to the documents required by section 718.503, Florida statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. Not an offering where prohibited by state law.

| PETS |

Sharon Brown (at right) runs the pickleball courts at Veterans Community Park in Naples. On most days she brings Finn, her goldendoodle dog. Finn hangs out and socializes with players at the busy courts.

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST

PICKLEBALL

CHAMP Finn is a regular at the Veterans Community Park pickleball courts.

54 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

hen Finn sees his owner, Sharon Brown, put on her hat and sneakers, he knows it’s time to go to work. Yet for Finn work is play time, socialization time and time to meet all his admirers. Sharon Brown works at the pickleball courts at Veterans Community Park in North Naples as manager and pickleball coordinator, and she says it’s the perfect place to bring her pet. Getting to bring a dog to work was one of the things that finally convinced Sharon to get a dog. Sharon’s daughter, Morgan, 12, had been begging for a dog for years. Last year her dream finally came true.

| PETS |

“He loves coming here. He sees me put the hat on and he sees the shoes and he just knows.”

— SHARON BROWN

“I was debating whether or not I was going to get a dog,” Sharon says. “I finally broke down. It is great because I was allowed to bring him to work. That also helped in the decision to get a dog.” It was a much easier decision on

what type of dog to get. “I knew I wanted the goldendoodle because it doesn’t shed,” Sharon explains. “I was going to get a white one, then I saw him on Facebook and he was gorgeous. This is a beautiful color.” She adopted the dark orange gold-

endoodle from a breeder in Ohio when the dog was 11 weeks old. “She (the breeder) has a daughter that lives in Fort Myers, so he came down with her,” Sharon says. “I named him Finn because I just like the name.” Sharon was surprised at how easy it was to have her puppy. “He’s very docile,” she says. “This breed is also known not to counter surf. I can put a piece of food on the counter and he won’t eat it. He is very good. I am very lucky.” Even when he was a puppy, he never chewed on anything except his toys and didn’t have accidents. “After a bath he gets very energetic and he jumps from couch from couch,” Sharon says. “Otherwise he is pretty calm.” “I like to play tug-of-war with him,” Morgan adds. At home Finn likes to cuddle with Sharon and her family. He likes sitting on the couch, but not the bed. “This breed gets hot, so they would rather be on the tile,” Sharon explains. “At night I do put a blanket down and he will lie on it for about a half hour, and then he will slide under it.” Finn also enjoys watching television, especially shows with dogs in them. “He is just sitting there totally engaged,” Sharon describes. While Finn loves snuggling with the family at home, he also loves work. He begins his morning at about 7:30 a.m. playing ball on one of the pickleball courts. “He likes to go on the court, and I throw the ball,” Sharon says. “In the morning we use a pickleball. He also likes tennis balls. The retriever part is showing. He will sometimes bring it to me, but he likes to be chased, too. He just likes to run.” After playing with his pickleball, Finn lies contently in the office, getting up when people come by. Sometimes he sits by the tables where people wait

for a court. “He greets everybody,” Sharon says. “He has certain people here that he has bonded with. He is just very social. That is why I am blessed that I could bring him to work, because he got to be very social.” When Morgan is off from school, her dog watches her play pickleball. “He always jumps on the fence and watches me play,” Morgan says. Morgan also enjoys walking her dog by the courts. “He likes to walk, and he likes to be social, so he gets to say hi to all the people there,” she says. There was just one thing Finn didn’t like at the pickleball courts. One day an advertising banner for the Naples Zoo with a big photo of a lion was hung on the fence. “He was walking down the walkway and he was acting really skittish and he was barking,” Sharon describes. Finn barked and barked and skirted away from the banner for a while, until realizing it wasn’t scary. Now he will play ball on the court with the lion banner. “He loves coming here,” Sharon says. “He sees me put the hat on and he sees the shoes and he just knows.” Finn has also gone to a few pickleball tournaments when Sharon or her daughter Morgan have competed. “We try to take him everywhere we go,” Sharon says. At night Finn sometimes goes with the family to Menchie’s. “He gets a bowl with a tiny bit of vanilla in there,” Sharon describes. “We go to the drive-thru like at Starbucks and he knows he is getting his own little cappuccino.” Finn just turned 1 in January and now weighs 69 pounds. “I didn’t expect him to be this big,” Sharon says. “I wanted a mini, but when I saw him on Facebook, he was beautiful and I wanted him. I said, ‘That’s my Finn.’” GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 55

| OPEN DOOR |

Chelsea Lehnea Musetta

56 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

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ALL ABOUT THE VIEW

Boaters come to the water’s edge for a Town and River home.

The home opens onto the covered lanai, the zero-edge pool with its fountain, the boat docks, and beyond the canal, the Caloosahatchee River beyond.

ccording to the old saw, the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location. For Pam and Kevin Kollmann, that translated to convenience, boat docks and view. Avid boaters who had long resided in Gateway, the Kollmanns were early pioneers there, and built a second home when their family outgrew the first. “We were the second family to build in Gateway, and our son Will was the first Gateway baby,” Kevin recalls. They kept their boat, and then their boats, at Pam’s parents’ waterfront home in Fort Myers’ Town and River section, but over time, they realized that they, and not just their watercraft, could make their home on the nautical side of town. STORY BY LANCE SHEARER PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 57

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“Town and River is an older neighborhood — it was developed in the ’50s, but because of that, these are deep-water canals, and this one is 100 feet wide,” Kevin says. They found what seemed to be the perfect homesite, where an earlier residence had been razed, and went to work to make it fit their needs, and make their wishes fit the site. They really did work; Kevin and Pam designed the two-story, 6,877-total-square-foot home themselves, along with Marvin Homes President Richard Durling. “We met over and over for six to nine months,” Pam says. “Our fingerprints are all over this house.” “It’s a very unique lot, one in from the river,” says Kevin, which meant they could still have long water views without every passing vessel throwing a wake at their dock. “There are some great views down the river, but we had to work at it to be sure we took advantage of them. The sunsets are what sold us on this house.” “There were nice views, but the home presented a design challenge,” Richard says. “We sat down and designed the home from scratch.” To fit the desired living spaces onto the lot, the team went to two stories, and some of the home angles back on itself in unusual fashion. RIGHT: Pam and Kevin Kollmann at home in their great room. BELOW: With its coffered ceiling, the master bedroom offers convenient access to the waterfront and the view.

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THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The stately entrance and facade are designed to be Mediterranean, but not fussy or ornate. • The dining room is augmented by a kitchen table, and another for eight on the lanai. • Kevin programmed the zero-edge pool to provide soothing sounds at night, and a brisker tone from the fountain by daylight. • The kitchen is integrated into the great room, with an extra-deep island providing work space.

“We knew the general concept. We wanted that zero-edge pool; we needed two boat lifts,” Kevin says. A 40-ton lift that will accommodate the couple’s 40-foot Tiara convertible motor yacht is placed at the inshore side of the waterfront, so the boat, when it’s hoisted out of the canal, will not block the view. So far, the hoist hasn’t been installed, and the boat is still at Pam’s parents’ dock — but now that’s just down the street instead of across town. In addition to his and hers garages for their vehicles, Kevin, a serious fisherman, added a “boat garage” with an overhead door opening out onto the dock area, stuffed with rod holders and maritime gear. The Kollmanns are used to working together

and making decisions as a team. They own two businesses, Estate Landscaping and Lawn Management and Triple J Trucking & Grassing, a sod, trucking and heavy equipment company. Kevin is president and CEO, Pam is CFO, and their new home is much more convenient to the office. The two have been a team since they were high school sweethearts at Cypress Lake High School in south Fort Myers. When they went off to college, Pam transferred to Auburn University to remain close — more about that in a moment. Despite the notorious pitfalls of being in business with your spouse, the affection and togetherness between the two is palpable, they seem to enjoy being business partners as well as life partners, and the Kollmanns are preparing to become first-

time grandparents in the coming weeks. “We make a lot of decisions together,” Pam says. Some of those had to do with the kitchen, which with its two islands flows directly into the great room and becomes the heart of the home. “We knew we wanted a great room plan,” she says. The outer kitchen island has an extra-wide shelf, deliberately designed to provide a working space. Although Kevin has a complete office setup on the second floor, he more often finds himself with his laptop working in the kitchen. A room just off the kitchen that Pam calls her “secret place” holds computer equipment, printers and business supplies. Storage was a priority, and the 14-foot ceiling height provides the numerous closets with shelves extending high into the air.

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The great room features coffered ceilings with indirect lighting, and the uncommon 135-degree-angled sliding glass doors pocket out of the way to give an unobstructed view down the Caloosahatchee. Hunter Douglas motorized blinds close smoothly to provide privacy and block the sun when that becomes prioritized over the view. Techno guy that Keith is, he can control those, along with a host of other systems, from a variety of platforms, including his phone and iPad. “They lower themselves at 10 in the evening, and open again in the morning,” he says of the blinds. “Everything is focused on that view. My favorite thing is watching sunsets from the pool.” He has the infinity pool programmed to offer a soothing waterfall sound at night, along with blue underwater lights, while a fountain makes a more energetic splashing during the day. By turning around in the pool away from the sunset, the Kollmanns can also watch television, including large screens above the gas fireplace on the lanai, over the summer kitchen, and another in the great room. What do they watch? The No. 1 category is football, specifically college football, and more specifically, Alabama’s Auburn University. Pam, says her husband, is really a bigger football fan, and there is no doubt which is their favorite team. Before they take you upstairs, Pam and Kevin start telling, or warning, about the “Auburn room.” The alma mater for both, Auburn is where the otherwise rational Kollmanns show a level of devotion little short of fanaticism. The Auburn room came virtually unchanged from the Kollmanns’ previous home. The pumpkin orange walls assault the senses, and if you look down, you see you’re standing on wall-to-wall carpeting emblazoned over and over again with Auburn’s “A-U” symbol. Plaques, stadium photos, pennants, stuffed tigers, Auburn caps and footballs fill the room, along with a selection of shakers at hand for rooting on the team — even the basketball team. “We were there during the glory days, with Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley,” Keith says. “See this flag? That’s from when we went to the national championship in 2010. We love Auburn.” The upstairs also holds two bedrooms, one an office and one dedicated to the upcoming grandkid(s), plus a terrace with the best river views in the house. With the master suite, kitchen, great room and major living areas on the ground floor, “we’ll never have to go upstairs when we get old,” says Pam, although that does make you wonder if they will pine for the Auburn room in their golden years. In the master suite, situated for the view, the expansive walk-in closet and dressing area is designed so Kevin can get up and out of the house without disturbing Pam. 60 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Ceiling height soars to 24 feet in the foyer and dining area, with custom wrought iron railings matching the entry doors. • The “Auburn Room” is a shrine to Kevin and Pam’s alma mater and its triumphs on the athletic field. • A bedroom slated for the grandchildren opens out onto a second floor terrace – and the view.

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“I go in to work early. I don’t want to wake her,” he says. On the way up to the second floor, the staircase features custom wrought iron railings, the same pattern as the decorative ironwork on the massive front doors and the half-moon transom above. Between a pair of classical columns, the archway above the covered entry echoes the curve of the transom. In the foyer and dining room, when you first enter the home, the ceiling height soars to 24 feet, and enormous chandeliers hang over the dining table, and another in the foyer next to the stairs. This area is the pride and joy of the fourth member of the design team. Working with Cottage & Loft interior design and company partner Lisa Green, designer Miranda Craddock collaborated with the Kollmanns and Durling to ensure all the home’s multiple elements blended together into a harmonious whole.

“It’s exciting, because everyone had input,” Miranda says. “It had to have a Mediterranean look, but clean, not too ornate. This was the best kind of collaboration, where we all heard each other.” Kevin Kollmann says they never considered any other builder other than Richard Durling, whose Marvin Homes built their two previous residences, as well as one for Kevin’s parents. “I had a ton of people who could’ve built this house. But we really appreciate how Richard works. When you build a house, there’s always going to be a problem somewhere. But Richard deals with it, and never gets ruffled.” “We want people to know what a great job Richard Durling did — he’s so trustworthy,” Pam says. “We love sharing this house with people.” When the Kollmanns look at their home, or from the home along the river, they clearly like the view.

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 61

| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |

STORY BY GINA BIRCH PHOTOS BY CHRIS TILLEY

FUN,

GAMES AND

SERIOUS

SPIRITS

10K Alley is a grownups’ playground.

Alley at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort is a sophisticated, high-end playground for adults that delights spirits aficionados with hard-to-find, highly allocated selections. It’s dimly lit but bursting with energy from the glow of both nostalgic and high-tech games that range from virtual reality zombie hunting to glowin-the-dark mini golf and everything in between, all while sipping spirits that can top $100 a pour. Don’t worry; there are more affordable cocktails as well. In the center, a circular bar surrounds a large periscope-looking structure, giving the feeling that you’ve left the beach for the basement of a boat or submarine with all its metal accouterments. 10K Alley has clout, as evidenced by its 80 kinds of bourbon and whiskey, including coveted Pappy Van Winkle, Old Forester Birthday, WhistlePig FarmStock Rye and more.

62 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Lemon Rosemary Spritz is a clean and refreshing vodka– based cocktail. • The bar is designed to make you feel as if you are underwater, in the engine room of a boat or submarine. • The Southern Mule comes in a Champagne flute, its brilliant color from butterfly pea flower syrup. • While you can get a traditional mojito, this one comes with Old Forester bourbon. • Besides televisions showing sports, patrons can participate in virtual sport and nostalgic arcade-style games.

“We have a lot of spirits that are considered collectors’ items,” says JW Marriott Beverage Director Nusrat Jahan. “We only get a few bottles a year of some.” The beverage team also crafted a signature JW Woodford Barrel Select from blending, to aging and barreling. They are about to receive their second cask and also craft a barrel with the highly acclaimed Blanton’s Bourbon. “It’s a pretty big deal and really cool thing for us to offer guests,” Nusrat says. Bourbon and whiskey are not only enjoyed straight up and in tasting

flights, but also in many specialty cocktails, including a refreshing Southern Mojito. Mint leaves are lightly bruised with fresh squeezed lime juice and brown sugar. The brown sugar complements the Old Forester bourbon, bringing out caramel flavors without adding too much sweetness. “I don’t like to use straws,” says Nusrat as she slides over a Southern Mule. “I want you to get in there and smell the cocktail.” Served in a flute, the ginger and lime garnish is incredibly aromatic, adding depth to the cocktail and sipping experience. GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 63

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THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tea–brined chicken bites get a kick from spicy honey seasoning and thin slices of serrano peppers. • JW Marriott Beverage Director Nusrat Jahan also experiments with tinctures and flavors to liven up her new “mocktails.” • Bourbon aficionados swoon at the number of limited production, highly allocated selections found here. • Tot Nachos in a cheese and béchamel sauce, topped with bacon, pickled onions and avocado are high-end comfort food. • 10K Alley is found in the new Lanai Tower at the JW Marriott, open to both guests and the public.

It’s made with Woodford Reserve, ginger beer and a dash of butterfly pea flower syrup, creating a striking purple color. “I love working with butterfly pea flower,” Nusrat says. “It has antioxidants, but it doesn’t have a distinct flavor, so it doesn’t really affect the taste of a cocktail. It just adds this beautiful color.” The Bourbonroni, a rye-based negroni, features Aperol instead of Campari, along with housemade 64 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

hibiscus syrup; a squeeze of lemon brightens it up. There’s a hint of bitter, some heat from the rye, and enough sugar to balance it out. Besides a wide selection of bourbon, there are some 40 beers on tap, many from Florida. One is even used in a cocktail. A spin on a traditional flip, in 10K’s version El Jefe takes the spot of brandy, aquafaba replaces egg whites and guava syrup instead of sugar. Accompanying the many cocktails

| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A spin on a negroni, rye bourbon is added to Campari drink with a dash of hibiscus syrup. • More than 40 beers are found on tap, and tasting flights are available. • Nashville hot sauce spice mix makes these Brussels sprouts come alive. • Mini bowling is one of the many sporting games patrons play near the bar at 10K Alley.

Accompanying the many cocktails is a gastro pub menu full of grown-up versions of childhood favorites such as tater tots. Drizzled in a sauce of bechamel and American cheese, Tot Nachos are topped with avocado, smoked bacon, creme fraiche and pickled red onions for a little kick. Crisp on the outside, creamy in the middle, it’s the ultimate combination of sophistication and comfort. Nashville Hot Brussels are served in the traditional style of hot chicken, in a spicy hot sauce over white bread

toast, topped with housemade bread-and-butter pickles to cut the heat. These are the kind of veggies you wished for growing up. Don’t pass on the Pub Fries with Unicorn Sauce; it’s purple, thanks to butterfly pea flower, and happily addicting. For 2020 Nusrat is experimenting with mocktails and caviar bubbles for cocktails that add bursts of flavors. She says, “This is like a grown-up playground. I love it here.” GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 65

| EVENTS | Artwork by 2020 Child Artist Ellie O’Neal

WINE, FOOD & CHARITY A vibrant preview of the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest

WFL Children’s Charities Inc., the beneficiary of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, is dedicated to saving children’s lives by supporting the region’s growing pediatric health care system. Since 2008, the organization has been raising money to help dozens of organizations 66 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

that serve area children in health care, hunger, mental health, education and other areas. Nearly $23 million has been donated since 2008, but there is more to do. SWFL Children’s Charities invites Southwest Florida to paint a difference by putting kids first at the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest. This year’s auction supports three beneficiaries: Golisano

Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College. The wine and food festival includes intimate vintner dinners. a grand tasting and a live auction February 21-22 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Estero.

| EVENTS |

CHEF VINTNER DINNERS | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21

The two-day Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest kicks off with seven Chef Vintner Dinners on Friday, February 21. The intimate dining experiences unfold in luxury venues throughout Southwest Florida, each featuring the culinary talents of a celebrated chef and wines from renowned vintners. One of the seven vintner dinners is Rockin’ the Riviera for Pediatric Health Care. Turning up the volume with an Italian Riviera-themed Chef Vintner Dinner, experienced hosts Sandy and Tim Youngquist and Maria and Wayne Wiles treat about 40 guests to dinner at the Youngquist home in St. Charles Harbour. Local celebrity band Deb & the Dynamics take the stage as Chef Dustin Valette sets the table with gourmet cuisine from his namesake restaurant in Healdsburg, California: Valette.

Notably, guests will enjoy the prestigious honor of tasting wine poured by the Honored Signature Vintner of the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest — Paul Hobbs Winery — as well as Amizetta Estate Winery.

amazing children’s hospital, but as the region grows, so must our support. It’s going to take our best effort to keep making the progress we want to see for Southwest Florida’s children.”

“As the chair of this year’s event, I’m very passionate about what we’re doing to engage donors to support local pediatric healthcare,” says Sandy Youngquist, who is also a SWFL Children’s Charities trustee and president of the board of directors. “Southwest Florida is blessed with an

“The dedicated team at Golisano Children’s Hospital can always do more, and we want to help them,” Maria Wiles adds. “Yes, we’re having a fabulous time at these dinners, but it’s really about supporting the lifesaving work they do every day. That’s what really rocks our boat!”

GRAND TASTING VINTNERS Paul Hobbs Winery (Honored Signature Vintner) • Ackerman Family Vineyards • Amici Cellars • Amizetta Wines • Arista Winery • AXR Napa Valley • Benovia Winery • Bricoleur Vineyards • Celani Winery • Cimarossa Wines • Gemstone Vineyard • Hunnicutt • Scarbolo Winery • Saint Helena Winery • Thompson 31Fifty • Vérité Winery • Williams Selyem Winery

GRAND TASTING & LIVE AUCTION | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

GRAND TASTING CHEFS

Festivities continue with The Grand Tasting and Live Auction on Saturday, February 22 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, where guests savor chefs’ signature creations and taste wines from participating vintners. Auction-goers raise their paddles during the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s spirited live auction. SWFL Children’s Charities has revealed 38 auction lots up for bid, including exquisite wines, luxurious travel packages and exclusive event access. Preview more auction lots at swflwinefest.org.

Osmany Acosta, Seminole Casino • Sean Deckter, CIBO • Allen Fisher, Harvest & Wisdom Organic Dining at Shangri-La Springs • Alex Ivanisevic, Roy’s • Norman Love, Norman Love Confections • Jay Mendoza, The Club at Barefoot Beach • Adam Nardis, M Waterfront Grille • David Orochena, Crave Culinaire • Brian Roland, Crave Culinaire• La Playa Beach & Golf Resort • Andreas Singer, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa

ESCAPE TO BELIZE A private island getaway for 10, this vacation is an opportunity to experience the very essence of privacy and luxury — a four-night stay on the only private island in Belize. Exclusively available to one guest party, accommodations include three villas for a total of five suites. Complete with a full staff that includes an island chef and concierge, the package allows guests to fully enjoy this tropical paradise. Boasting the second largest barrier reef in the world, Mayan ruins, the Blue Hole and activities from cave tubing to zip lining, Belize is an eco-tourist’s dream.

MAGNA ON THE DANUBE This 12-day Danube River land and sea cruise entails a journey from Vilshofen, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary, for two people on the AmaMagna. The adventure includes three nights in Prague, a seven-nights cruise through Germany and two nights in Budapest. Travelers can indulge their passion for awe-inspiring architecture, timeless music, breathtaking landscapes and culinary delights with a beautifully curated itinerary specifically designed for the AmaMagna.

YOUR CITY, YOUR SPORT, YOUR WAY The highest bidder picks their favorite Titletown and is on their way to Boston, Chicago or Philadelphia to see their favorite team with three friends. The ultimate sports getaway includes two rooms for three nights at The Ritz-Carlton in the winner’s chosen city and four premium tickets for the regular-season MLB, NHL, NBA or NFL game of their choice. A standout steak dinner with wine, luxury SUV with chauffeured transportation, and two-pieces of collector’slevel autographed memorabilia complete this fun package.

PAINT NANTUCKET RED Labor Day weekend, a group of 10 lucky friends will enjoy the very best of “Coastal Living” in Nantucket, New Hampshire. In fact, for seven nights —September 6-13 — they’ll stay in a five-bedroom, five-bath house that is centrally located just two blocks from the harbor, kids’ beach, shops and dining. In addition to these luxurious accommodations, the group will have their very own personal

Nantucket expert at their beck and call. This concierge will help them customize their trip with special dinner reservations or private chef services — whatever it takes to make their stay extra special.

TRUTH & TERRIOR IN SONOMA On a wine lovers’ adventure in picturesque Sonoma County, two couples will experience dramatic vineyard sites, including the Verité Winery estate grounds where they’ll indulge in a rare 100-point wine tasting followed by a conversation with the winemaker over a private lunch overlooking the lake. Then for dinner, guests will experience exquisite cuisine at SingleThread Farms, a three-star Michelin restaurant between the Russian River and the historic San Lorenzo Ranch in Healdsburg. On Day 2 of the Sonoma tour, they’ll venture on a wine excursion to the top of one of Sonoma’s mountain vineyards for a lovely picnic and wine pairing as they gaze at the vast vineyards below.

IF YOU GO 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest • When: February 21-22 • Where: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs • Website: swflwinefest.org • Tickets: $1,500

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 67

Join us

as SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. paints a difference to provide lifesaving health care and educational programs for the children of our community. CHEF VINTNER DINNERS

Friday, February 21 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINE & FOOD FEST

21-22

February 2020

HYATT REGENCY COCONUT POINT RESORT & SPA

Creatively hosted in luxury homes across the region, experience artful cuisine created by celebrated chefs expertly paired with vintners from some of the finest and most exclusive wineries. THE GRAND TASTING & LIVE AUCTION

Saturday, February 22 Festivities continue with chefs’ signature creations and renowned wines. Then, raise your paddle at our spirited live auction and help fund a children’s cause! Benefiting Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College.

239.433.4260 | swflwinefest.org/GD2

SWFL CHILDREN’S CHARITIES, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7252) TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. FEIN: 26-2302491/FL REG: CH 35035

68 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

| GRAND TIMES |

WISHMAKER’S BALL

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR MAGAZINE

The 2020 “Wishmaker’s Ball,” presented by First Horizon Foundation, was an evening of dinner, drinks, live entertainment, dancing, and auctions. The event’s theme was a ‘World of Wishes’ and 100% of the net proceeds will go toward granting lifechanging wishes for local children who have critical illnesses.

TARGET ROOFING & SHEET METAL Target Roofing & Sheet Metal hosted a grand opening event on January 21 to celebrate the completion of its new headquarters in Fort Myers. 1. Jeff Brown and Laurie Hume 2. Jared Traum and Devan Livingston 3. Teri Hansen and Margo Crowther

GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 69

| GRAND TIMES |

YOUTH HAVEN’S CELEBRITY STARTENDER NIGHT A Celebrity Startender Night at Dorona, benefitting Youth Haven, was held December 11. It was an evening of fun, networking and philanthropy. More than $1,300 was raised to support the children and teens that rely on Youth Haven.

4 1. Marie Christine St. Pierre, Ingrid Aielli and Brenda Ruth 2. Sarah Geroy and Katherine Chirgwin 3. Tammara Boxx, Philip Douglas, Doug Olsen, Jinx Liggett, Brenda O’Connor and Jacqueline Ressa 4. Jacqueline Ressa 5. Brenda O’Connor 6. Jinx Liggett and Jackie Balandra

6 70 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

| GRAND TIMES |

VIPS WELCOME ‘MIGHTY MUSSELS’ BASEBALL TEAM More than 150 elected officials, community and business leaders, corporate sponsors, and media and baseball fans attended the official launch of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. Held December 3 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers and co-hosted by the Fort Myers Miracle and Minnesota Twins, Zawyer Sports CEO Andrew Kaufmann announced that the Miracle have been rebranded as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

4 1. John Gordon, Johan Santana and Toby Gardenhire 2. Dana Brunett and Pamela Johnson 3. Bob Ohrablo, Andy Kaufmann, Matt Hoy and Judd Loveland 4. Julius Rooyen and Marinda Kitchen 5. Chris Nyce and Tommy Bohanon 6. Susan Schuck and Ken Schuck

6 GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 71

| GRAND TIMES |

29th ANNUAL CAROL SING

4 3

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1. Katherine Galloway Dougherty and Tom Dougherty 2. Sherryl Ford, Larry Ford and Amanda Ford Cochran 3. Kathy Galloway and Sam Galloway Jr. 4. Linda Quick and the Rev. Roger Peterson 5. Rebecca Hayes and Larry Mendenhall 6. Barbara Peterson and Marc Collins

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR MAGAZINE

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

Residents who attended the Christmas Carol Sing at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers on December 17 contributed food and funds to help The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative. An excess of 2,800 pounds of non-perishable food along with generous financial contributions were collected at the annual event

| GRAND TIMES |

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR MAGAZINE

JENNIFER’S BOUTIQUE CELEBRATES

Jennifer’s boutique celebrated 37 years in business with a customer appreciation event. Jennifer Williams opened her Fort Myers boutique in November 1983. Jennifer’s is located at 13251 McGregor Blvd. in The Design Center and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Call 481-8582 or visit Jennifer’s online at jennifersfortmyers.com or on Facebook or Instagram.

1. Jim and Deb Penuel 2. Duan Dessak and Jennifer Williams 3. Ellen Fox and Crystal Miller 4. Jamie Gates and Lori Frantz 5. Maria Gervacio and Marie Taschner 6. Gail Doxie and Anne Marie Lavalle 7. Bryan and Lauren Wesolek with Jennifer Williams

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amescapmgmt.com • 941-378-5000 • info@amescapmgmt.com 4419 Samoset Drive Sarasota, FL 34241

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GRANDEUR | FEBRUARY 2020 | 73

| NEXT MONTH |

STYLE

ICONS

74 | FEBRUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com

We all know someone like this, those who walk through life as if they were on a fashion runway. Every stitch of their ensemble coordinates with the next and every accessory complements each piece with just the right flair. In our March issue we feature those local style icons who live, work and play among us.

Relationships. Teamwork.Technology.

On today’s wealth management journey, the most important thing is connection. For 40+ combined years, we have consistently guided and empowered clients through every stage in life with customized solutions that serve generation after generation. And while we aim to continually innovate, we’ll always provide that personal, local connection our clients hold dear. Whether you are just beginning your journey or well on your way to leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come, we invite you to connect with Chlumsky Wealth Management. Meet our team and consider joining our family of clients today. We’re all about the power of connections and serving you.

Nick Chlumsky CFP® First Vice President-Investment Officer 12140 Carissa Commerce Court #100, Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 479-7979 chlumskywealthmanagement.com

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. • 1219-01857 Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value

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