Grandeur Magazine - January 2018 by Grandeur Magazine

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CONTENTS | JANUARY 2018

FEATURES

IN THIS ISSUE

16 GRAND FACES

Editor’s Letter

The Colors Page

Learn how FOX 4’s Patrick Nolan finds balance, and meet Theo and Maddie Dahl, son and daughter-in-law of the famous children’s author Roald Dahl, and see how they continue to help children in Southwest Florida.

20 Grand Pets 22 Dining

31 GRAND INSPIRATIONS

27 Model Behavior

Whether or not you made a New Year’s resolution, you’ll find the advice of these Southwest Florida experts invaluable. Learn how to set clear intentions and affect lasting, positive change in your life.

44 Shopping 47 Getaway 50 Grand Case

37 MAKE IT A DOUBLE

53 Grand Ride

Celebrate all year long with 12 creative cocktails made with the finest ingredients. They’ll keep the party going.

57 Arts 70 Fashion 73 Grand Times

65 OPEN DOOR Explore the sprawling manse of Laina and Tom Kennedy, who created a home that meets sophisticated adult standards yet includes kid-friendly whimsy and comforts.

84 Behind the Benefit

14 GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 7

grand | CONTRIBUTORS

CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4 | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

Publisher

Editor | General Manager

Art Director

Associate Editor

William R. Barker Kathryn Robinson Kinsey, kkinsey@gannett.com Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, ldaywalt@gannett.com Gina Birch, Stephanie Borden, Patricia Carlson, Cathy Chestnut, Sara Coggin, Jennifer Thomas, Andrea Stetson

Contributing photographers

Liam Doyle, Amanda Inscore, Katie Klann, Kinfay Moroti, Logan Newell, Ricardo Rolon, Brian Tietz, Andrew West

Vice President Advertising Sales

Nancy M. Solliday

Niche Team Coordinator Editorial Imager Coordinator

Advertising Account Executive

Director Circulation Distribution

Circulation Support and Logistics Manager

Dennis Wright, drwright@gannett.com Nicole Holey, nholey@gannett.com Jim Keeble Cheryl Cushman

1250 Third Street South Olde Naples, FL 34102 239-262-4791 NP-0000946205

Blu Sushiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indulgence martini.

Photo by Brian Tietz

Pamela Hayford, phayford@gannett.com

Contributing writers

8 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

ON THE COVER

Grandeur is published 8 times a year by The News-Press, 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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grand | EXTRAS

Congress Jewelers

Annual Designer Show

Make Valentine’s Day memorable... surprise your Valentine to an amazing display of fine jewelry. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres as she browses these exquisit collections for that perfect piece.

Grandeur online, on your phone, in your hand Get the good life in the palm of your hand all month long. Tour Southwest Florida homes. Discover luxurious finds. Meet the people who shape our community. Get all that Grandeur Magazine has to offer and more at grandeurmagazine.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Featuring:

Yvel • Nanis Bez Ambar• DeHago Meet Designers Laura Bicego of Nanis and the renown Bez Ambar.

Monday & Tuesday February 12th & 13th Periwinkle Place Shops Sanibel 10am-6pm

Grandeur Advisory Board The board is a group designed to help ensure that our coverage of the good life in Southwest Florida reaches the high expectations we always strive to meet.

Susan Bennett

President, Susan Bennett Marketing & Media

™

SEALIFE FASHION DIAMONDS ESTATE

Periwinkle Place Shops • Sanibel Island 239-472-4177 • CongressJewelers.com 10 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

Gail Markham

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.

Dwayne Bergmann Principal/ Designer Dwayne Bergmann, LLC

Larry Norris

Founder, Norris Furniture & Interiors

Karen Johnson– Crowther

Principal, Director of Retail Services, Colliers International

Robbie Roepstorff President, Edison National Bank

CORRECTION: Don and Linda Doggett were not properly identified in the December issue.

Tracey Galloway

CEO of Community Cooperative

Jennifer Williams

Owner, Jennifer’s Inc.

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grand | EDITOR’S LETTER

New Year – fresh start

Location provided by: ModShop Contemporary Furniture, Miromar Design Center.

ust days into the new year, and our resolutions are still fresh. We want to take control of our lives and shape up or take off to unusual destinations. We want a promotion, or we want to retire and relax. We want to reconnect and disconnect from all the electronic devices and social media that fills our everyday lives. We want something different. And that could be just about anything – your face, your body, your mind, your life. The best thing is it’s never too late to change whatever needs changing. And now might be time to do it. Grandeur’s experts this month can help people like me and readers like you. In our cover story, we tap a group of insightful Southwest Floridians for advice on how to get out of a rut, reinvent yourself, look ahead/plan ahead to make changes, conquer fear, accept change and more. What they have to say could change your approach to 2018 (pages 31-34). Speaking of taking control. After many years of suffering through severe back pain, local FOX 4 news anchor Patrick Nolan decided managing this mystery ailment wasn’t an option. By practicing yoga he found this ancient exercise was not only good for the body, but the soul (pages 16-17). Theo and Maddie Dahl, son and daughter-in-law of famous children’s author Roald Dahl, open up their hearts to raise money to help children after Hurricane Irma destroyed their library (pages 18-19). But the issue isn’t all about serious change. It’s about serious fun, too. The ArtFest Fort Myers marks its 18th year in 2018. We share a sample of some of the works and artists that will be on display at the February event, which is always a favorite to attend mid-season. Pages 57-58. We also keep the New Year’s party going with 12 of Southwest Florida’s most festive cocktails made with fresh ingredients, house-made syrups and infusions. Of course you need to sample each to pick which is your favorite. Pages 37-42. Whether it’s focusing on your health, your career or your overall happiness, the options are endless. Put your mind to what is most important to you and enjoy the adventure. Grandeur is right there with you. Until next month,

PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ

12 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER

Have you thought about what you will do if, someday, your heart needs help? We’d like to suggest that you (and your heart) turn to us. Our dedicated cardiac care team works for you. We can help you prevent heart disease. And, if you ever need the tools, techniques and talent to meet a complex situation head on, our doctors are right here. Every day. For you. Take our new heart risk assessment at HeartHealthPRHS.com to get heart health tips and information you can share with your physician. Or, we can introduce you to a member of this team.

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GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 13

grand | COLORS

Bold blockers

• The extralarge Costa Bloke sunglasses are tough, dependable and definitely sea-worthy. Available through Elmquist Eye Group in south Fort Myers starting at $169, these sunnies feature cam action pin hinges and bilateral fusion technology ensuring a chip-proof finish. Anglers, paddle-boarders and other water enthusiasts will love the Hydrolite nose and temple pads that keep the glasses firmly on the face in rough waters.

Blue whale • What do

you see in these brilliant drops of 18-karat gold custom paisley sapphire, blue diamond and tourmaline earrings? While their shape may bring plenty of objects to mind, we can’t help but liken their beauty to the most majestic creature on earth — the blue whale. Robust sapphires identify the eye and tail, while a spray of multi-hued jewels represent the whale’s mouth. Sea lovers everywhere would love to take a swim in these. Price available upon request. Port Royal Jewelers, Naples.

BIG BLUE T

Two-faced • When your New Year’s

resolutions get the best of you, sink into the Nemo armchair for a facelift. You can hide away from the world while still putting your best face forward — it just so happens you’ll be sitting inside it. Available at Richlin International in the Miromar Design Center in Estero, this sculptural piece of furniture comes in blue denim, white, black, red, gray or lacquered red, fixed (indoor/ outdoor use) or swivel (indoor use only). 14 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

he blue of 2018 is striking and relaxing. Confused? So were we, until this delicious array of products invoked both wanderlust and the desire to cozy up at home. Jewelry and sunnies call us to the sea, while fireplaces and chaises beg us to lounge. What are we to do? Find the perfect connection between our desires bolstered by a backdrop of blue. Welcome to a new year and new look at life. — PATRICIA CARLSON

Crystal blue persuasion

• Controlled heating is just a fingertip away with the Napoleon Azure Vertical 38-inch electric fireplace. This stunning statement piece provides ample warmth for up to 400 square feet, without the need for venting. The clever remote system covers flame and ember light colors, heater power and temperature level, decorative light colors, control lock and timer. Cycle through a variety of colors, or just hold steady on this vibrant blue. Available for $800 at Design Studio by Raymond, 990 First Ave. N. in Naples. For details, call 239-2781334 or visit designstudiobyraymond.com.

Budding Buddha

Stealth luxury

• Backed by the best-in-class warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles, the all-new 2018 XJ is the pinna-cle Jaguar sedan. It’s beautifully designed, well-connected with integrated technology and has high-level performance. Choose from three engines; a state-of-the-art 8-speed automatic transmission is mated to all of them. Build your own from a base MSRP of $75,400 at Jaguar Fort Myers.

Cool bag • Hot

color. Cool bag. That sums up this tough and modern T Stud Satchel. Outfitted with gold hardware, the royal navy color pops against most silhouettes. Clean lines keep the look classic, while an optional cross-body strap and enough room for a tablet and an iPhone give the bag modern functionality. $598 at Tory Burch, Waterside Shops, Naples.

• These beautiful cobalt blue glazed stoneware planters and Buddha are the perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor space. Fill the pots with your favorite succulents or an orchid and watch your space transform into an oasis. Small planter $14, tulip planter $39, Buddha head $59. Available at R.S. Walsh In The Garden on Sanibel Island.

Flock it to me • Whether you pair this luxe duster with jeans and a tight T-shirt or a solid cocktail sheath, you’ll be the hit of the party. With gorgeous detailing along the neckline and removable faux-fur cuffs, Chico’s flocked pattern cardigan ($159 at chicos.com) is a fabulous statement all on its own. Made of cotton and nylon, simply slip into this cardigan and you’re ready to go. No accessories needed.

Put a ring on it

• This stunning platinum 15-carat emerald-cut sapphire ring is vintage Hollywood glamour at its best. From the incomparable Oscar Heyman jewelry house known for its indisputable quality, this ring is bound to bedeck a famous finger or two on Oscars night in early March. Available through Bigham Jewelers in Naples; visit or call 239-434-2800 for details.

Velvet under me

• Plush, soft and silky. Take comfort in the stunning Blue Velvet Providence armchair by Zuo Modern. It’s poly-silk/velvet upholstery cradles you in luxury. Stainless steel feet add modern finesse. $1,058 list price. Find yours at Miromar Design Center, Estero.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 15

STORY BY GINA BIRCH PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE

Finding

BALANCE

e’s brought authority, entertainment and information into the homes of Southwest Floridians every night for the last 15 years on FOX 4, but news is not Patrick Nolan’s only passion. The evening news anchor is also a certified yoga instructor, dedicated to a discipline that helps provide balance in both his personal and professional life. When he was 30 years old, Patrick suffered from severe back pain. “I went to a couple of doctors, they did X-rays and MRIs, and they said I had the spine of a 90-year-old man,” he says. Having suffered no traumatic injuries, his condi-

16 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

tion was a mystery. Living in Houston at the time, he sought out the best physical therapists and doctors. “They all said you could do surgery, but you really just have to just manage it,” he says. “I didn’t want to manage it. I wanted to fix it. I wanted to make it go away.” Patrick’s brother, an occupational therapist, had three words for his younger sibling: yoga, yoga, yoga. “I signed up for a Saturday class at Rice University and immediately hated it,” Patrick says. “It felt like such a waste of time, I was like why are you telling me to breathe? I can breathe without thinking.” About a year later, he moved to Southwest Florida, and his back flared up again. He found the Wellness Center in Cape Coral. “It had an indoor pool. I’m a swimmer and wanted to swim.” A certified Red Cross swim instructor, Patrick ended up getting hired to teach the center’s swim classes. Free yoga was included in the deal.

FOX 4’s Patrick Nolan finds truth not only in his chosen profession but his passion: yoga.

It still didn’t click. Then he discovered hot yoga. “I’m such a busy and active guy, I was searching for a yoga that was busy and active, but it was bringing me further out of balance, even though it was something that I liked.” Years later, circumstances led him to a yoga ashram in the Bahamas where the seed of teaching yoga was planted. Now a certified instructor, Patrick leads a couple of regular classes but mostly travels around Southwest Florida as a guest teacher. He has also led yoga trips and retreats to places like Peru, Greece and Sicily. “I’m a teacher, because I’m certified, but in yoga we’re all just sharing and learning together in the process of self-discovery,” Patrick says. He pauses, smiles and continues, “I giggle when I hear myself say stuff like that, because I’ve heard it for so long and was so dismissive when other people would say it.”

grand | FACES

Looking back from where his yoga journey began and where he stands today, his back is better, he has become a vegan, and he has embraced meditation. “The tools I have to meditate are probably the most valuable things I’ve been given in life.” He laughs. “Mentally I’m still nuts so many times of the day, but yoga gives me regular glimpses of who I truly am.” Comparing yoga to news, he says, “I’m in a vocation where we seek the truth, and finding that can be very difficult. Yoga does the same in an intimate way.” The discipline helps him stay present during intense work situations, and he credits yoga for keeping him from burning out, both in his job and in life. The anchor is quick to add, “I want to be clear that I don’t think there is some nirvana thing, and I suddenly picked up a pair of rose-colored glasses, and this is the answer to all of my invented problems. It comes back to what those doctors said, ‘You won’t be able to fix it, but you can manage it.’” The headlines may be full of natural disasters and terrorist attacks, however, “there are plenty of things to celebrate in the news,” Patrick says, “but they might not be getting your attention and energy, so you might not remember them.” His theory is that people see the things they are mentally dialed in to. If all you see is negative, it might be “a reflection of the diet you are feeding yourself,” he philosophizes. It’s a sentiment that can be applied to relationships and almost anything in life. “I feel very humble in my position (at FOX 4), and the longer I’ve been there, the more humble I feel. I don’t know that I could’ve come to this in my heart without yoga. It’s made me conscious of not just bringing balance to the news but being the balance that I want to see.”

I’m a teacher, because I’m certified, but in yoga we’re all just sharing and learning together in the process of selfdiscovery. I giggle when I hear myself say stuff like that, because I’ve heard it for so long and was so dismissive when other people would say it. — PATRICK NOLAN

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 17

grand | FACES

The

Theo and Maddie Dahl — son and daughter-in-law of famous children’s author Roald Dahl — open their hearts to raise money to help children. STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTO BY KATIE KLANN 18 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

ecades ago across the ocean, Roald Dahl introduced children to the whimsical world of an unusual chocolate factory, a big friendly giant, witches that turn into mice, a girl with magical powers, a giant peach and more. Now his son Theo and Theo’s wife, Maddie, are spreading that joy of reading and imagination here in Southwest Florida while raising money for several worthy causes. Theo, Maddie and their daughter, Alexa, 12, live in North Naples and enjoy overseeing the Roald Dahl Day festival each year. This is the ninth year of the event, which takes place at Royal Palm Academy in Naples and raises money for the school. “The library there was hit by the hurricane,” Maddie says. Some 1,500 books were destroyed. “When I heard that, I knew we had to step up our game for Dahl Day. It breaks your heart to think of a library not having books because of a hurricane.” Theo and Maddie will be at the event to autograph books. They are also giving every child at the school, all 260 students, an autographed copy of one of Dahl’s books. This year it will be “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.” “The head of school always thought it was an unread book and more people should read it, because he loves it,” Maddie explains about this year’s book choice. The festival will feature bounce houses, giant slides, bungee jumping, carnival games, a duck pond, food, candy and tables full of unusual Dahl gift items for sale from England. “Last year we raised close to $10,000, and that is a lot for a small school,” Theo says. “The key word that I can share from the heart is that Theo and Maddie have hearts of gold,” says Scott Baier, head of school at Royal Palm Academy. “It’s just the outpouring of generosity and their willing to serve our community.” He says the loss of books during the hurricane had a big impact on the small school. “At about $10 a book, for a small private independent school, that’s a lot,” the head of school says. “We don’t

receive any sources other than tuition and some donations … so it was a big hit for us. So this will be a big help for us. It will be a huge help to recoup the damage and to make it even better than it was before the storm.” The Dahl Day festival is just one of the many ways the Dahls give back to the community. For several years they were part of a Willy Wonka event at Mercato. “We would take books and sign books and donate money to a group for low-income mothers,” Maddie says. Every Christmas, the Dahl’s decorate their home with more than 50 trees stuffed with ornaments. Shelves and walls brim with stockings, Santas and rare holiday decorations. Sometimes they share that holiday vision for a charity. “We did open our home to the children’s hospital two years in a row to raise money for the children’s hospital,” Maddie says. “We raised over a half million. I would pay for the party, and people would come and enjoy the party and donate.” Theo and Maddie also do book signings and events both here and in England and give 10 percent of their income to The Roald Dahl Museum and Roald Dahl’s Marvelous Children’s Charity, which helps children with serious illness and helps promote literacy. “Three years ago, there was an auction, and we were the prize,” Maddie says. “It was so funny. We escorted families that won around the gardens and had tea with them. The money was raised for the Marvelous Children’s Charity.” Theo grew up in Great Missenden, England, in a home they called Gypsy House. “It’s a very small town,” he says. While he knew his father was famous, he did not lead the life of the famous. “I grew up in the countryside,” he says. “My father would buy old cars and allow us to drive them around the fields.” Theo says the scenery around him and the people he met inspired many of

Roald Dahl’s books. “’Fantastic Mr. Fox,’ that book revolved around where we used to live,” Theo says. “’The BFG’ was made up from a good friend that had really big hands and fingers like bananas, and he was a total replica of the BFG.” Theo says his father was very superstitious and would hang witch’s balls from the ceiling in his children’s room and around the house to keep away witches. That was the inspiration for the book “The Witches.” “Theo would go walking with his dad, and his dad would make up stories to tell his kids,” Maddie adds. “It really was a whimsical childhood,” Theo says. Roald Dahl’s first grandchild, Sophie, was the inspiration for “Matilda.” “If you look at the book, she looked like Sophie at that age,” Maddie says. The author paired that with his experiences with tyrant-like teachers at the boarding schools he attended to get the Agatha Trunchbull character in the story. Theo says his favorite book is “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which his father dedicated to him. Theo reveals other interesting facts about his famous father. “My father was very handy and he would make model airplanes and fly them in the field with a remote control,” Theo says. “He also would collect homing birds, and he would breed them. It was kind of cool. There were competitions in the town about who grew the biggest onion. He grew onions, and my father also grew orchids. At one time he had 3,000 of them.” Theo moved to Naples in 1995 and married Maddie, a Chicago native, whom he met while visiting his sister on Captiva. While the family does travel to England once a year and does charity work there, they do most of their work in Southwest Florida. Their favorite is the Dahl Day festival. “It is about literacy and making children happy,” Maddie says. “It is just so nice to do something for somebody.”

The library there was hit by the hurricane. When I heard that, I knew we had to step up our game for Dahl Day. — MADDIE DAHL

Roald Dahl Day A festival to celebrate the life and work of children’s author Roald Dahl • Where: Royal Palm Academy, 16100 Livingston Road, Naples • When: 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 26 • Cost: Free • For details: 239-594-9888 or royalpalmacademy.com GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 19

A AND

Abigail, a dogfight survivor, shares her affection with others in need of unconditional love. STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT | PHOTOS BY KINFAY MOROTI

20 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

grand | PETS

bigail’s life ostensibly sounds like one full of glitz and glamour. She has, after all, attended a gala in a Beverly Hills ballroom, mingled with celebrities and been featured on NBC’s “Today” show. The white pit bull with doughy brown eyes has a never-ending wardrobe of bedazzling bonnets and 26,000 Facebook followers. If anything, hers is a Cinderella story — one that almost ended prematurely with euthanasia after her left ear was ripped out during an illegal dogfighting match in the Miami-Dade area. Moved to action, Victoria and Brock Frazier of Lehigh Acres, who run the nonprofit Love is Furever Dog Rescue, took her in for eight months to stitch her body and soul back to health. During her highly publicized rehabilitation, Fort Myers resident Megan Contreras fell in love with the orphan. “Something about her eyes spoke to me. I remember going home one day, a week or two after following her progress, and telling my husband, ‘I think I’m meant to be this dog’s mom.’ I knew I wanted to be the one to show her the unconditional love she always deserved to feel,” she recalls. The couple already had a Labrador retriever-pit bull mix, Tala, at home, and “we were in talks of adopting another dog. Tala was getting a little mischievous.” But they were renting where only one dog was allowed per household. Megan’s husband, Jason Steinke, immediately suggested they buy a home where no such rules applied. “All of the pieces of the puzzle went together perfectly,” and the couple adopted Abigail in July. Jason, a Lee County sheriff ’s deputy, had worked in the K-9 narcotics unit and closely trained Abigail in both obedience and tricks. Her personality has blossomed. “Seeing Abigail grow into her own unique self has been the most exciting,” Megan says. At first, Abigail ran slowly and couldn’t catch a ball or “do things a normal dog should be doing,” Megan says. Now, she’s a speedy runner who catches balls midair. She’s “a playful dog who loves all dogs and all humans,” Megan says. Abigail thrives on attention and

doles it back in return. Both Abigail and Tala have gone through intensive training to earn their dog therapy certifications. They cheer residents of the memory care unit at Brookdale Cape Coral each Saturday and have made rounds with patients undergoing cancer treatment, veterans and residents in Immokalee recovering from Hurricane Irma. A big honor came in September when Abigail was nominated in the Emerging Hero category in the American Humane’s national competition — and came out on top with the overall title of Hero Dog of the Year. The gala was filmed and broadcast on the Hallmark Channel, and Abigail was featured on “Today” and in the pages of Star magazine with “Wonder Years” actress Danica McKellar. “It’s the Oscars for dogs,” Megan says. Abigail’s $7,500 award was donated to Dogs on Deployment. Walking the red carpet, Abigail “thrived. She loves the spotlight,” Megan says. “She loves attention. At the airport, she was looking around, wondering why people walking by weren’t petting her.” During Abigail’s surgery to mend the place where her ear once stood, an awareness campaign was launched to decorate large tufts of gauze holding Abigail’s wound closed with bows, dubbed bonnets. These days, Abigail rifles through an assortment of hundreds of bonnets and chooses one for the day — worn now as a symbol of change and hope against animal cruelty and dogfighting. “Tala will wear them on occasion to show she supports her sister,” Megan says. “I always say that Abigail is teaching the world love, kindness and forgiveness.” GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 21

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grand | DINING

STORY AND PHOTOS BY GINA BIRCH

ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF SAVORY The Other Side Bistro may be just next door, but its offerings compete with the best.

ABOVE: Half portion of the balsamic demi glazed pork medallions. OPPOSITE PAGE: Lobster shrimp fettuccini, a signature pasta dish at The Other Side Bistro GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 23

grand | DINING

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The bar is perfect for a quick meal and good glass of wine if time is limited. • The Other Side Bistro features an eclectic mix of wines from around the world. • The rooted golden beet salad is just big enough to share.

hen chef and restaurateur Brian McCarley acquired the space on the “other side” of Bonita Springs’ British Open Pub in 2013, it was already named, and he was on a shoestring budget. He shrugs. “The restaurant didn’t have great reviews but nothing terrible either, so I kept it,” he says and jokes, “Do you know how much money it costs to change a sign?” Although some marketing gurus might take issue with the idea, Brian says, “It’s just a name.” What makes The Other Side Bistro certainly is not the name; it’s Brian, his cooking and the atmosphere he has created. A Southwest Florida native, Brian grew up in the restaurant business. His mom ran a dining establishment on Sanibel where he worked through the ranks. Moving to Orlando, the future chef studied environmental science in college, and after a few years working in the field, he says, “I hated it.” It wasn’t until he moved to Chicago with his soonto-be wife, Barbara, that he made it official: culinary school. When you walk through the tropical patio of The Other Side Bistro (bonitaspringsbistro.com), you start to forget you’re in the middle of a strip mall parking lot. When you enter the cozy space, you anticipate good things to come. 24 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

The walls are adorned with wine-themed artwork and a coveted Wine Spectator Award. The tables have white linens, and the glasses are polished. Brian once owned a place called Good Soup, so long-time followers expect him to make it — good soup. Enter the restaurant’s signature baked five onion soup ($7), served in a crock topped with melted Swiss cheese — savory and comforting. Made with five kinds of onions, vegetable stock and red wine, he calls it, “Super simple and old school. It’s my vision of an 18th century peasant soup.” Also simple and delicious is the escargot ($12), served in a classic style with garlic, butter and bread to soak up all of that goodness. Another noteworthy appetizer is the stuffed artichoke bottoms ($10) filled with goat cheese, spinach, roasted tomatoes and quinoa, with sundried tomato coulis. The roasted beet salad ($10) has thin slices of golden beets as a base. Fresh greens tossed in house vinaigrette are piled high in the middle, topped with blue cheese and candied pecans. Sweet and salty, crunchy and soft, a bit acidic, it has all the right stuff. Entrees come in half portions, not just because not everyone wants heaping plates but also because it’s the way Brian likes to eat. “When I go out I want to try everything, an appetizer, a soup or a salad, an entrée.” Smaller plates make it easy to try more.

The half portion of the balsamic demi-glace pork medallions ($16/$24) is plenty filling and hearty. Served with perfectly cooked couscous in a savory balsamic reduction, and with a side of seasonal vegetables, it is especially well-suited for this time of year. The lemon cream sauce of the lobster shrimp fettuccini ($22/$30) will make you want to lick the plate. Tomatoes and spinach add extra flavor and color. Brian loves wine and has an enviable selection of small producers along with well-known names. Even better, he prices them to sell, no extravagant markups. He has an affinity for those originating from France. “I have a refrigerator full of dry rosé.” That’s both at the restaurant and at home. Brian seeks quality products and puts them together in classic fashion, no tweezers needed for plating. “People come here to eat what we make. It has to be good. They’re coming here for a dining experience, not just a meal.” With only 11 tables inside, eight outside and nine seats at the bar, it’s that time of year when a reservation is needed to score a space for dinner. Lunch is also served. — The Other Side Bistro is located at 24630 US41, Bonita Springs. For more information visit bonitaspringsbistro.com or call 239-992-7433.

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grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

The ceiling in the great room is quite unusual. It is made to look like grass cloth but is actually a veneer plaster. Twenty foot sliders lead to the lanai.

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY KATIE KLANN

PRIVACY IN THE CITY The Chelston model capitalizes on landscaping and design features to make a home in town feel like a private getaway. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 27

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Interior designer Melissa Allen says the dining room table is her favorite piece. While the tabletop is a simple round piece of glass, it is the base that is so unusual. It is made of two thick slabs of glass shaped like the letter C and pushed together. The table gives a hint of contemporary in a house that is more of a British Isles style. • The Chelston is close to downtown Naples, but with the greenery surrounding the home it is quiet and secluded. • Upstairs one of the guest rooms is designed with an alligator pillow and splashes of orange. This is quite different from the second guest suite that is more subdued in color.• The beach theme is seen throughout the home in the artwork that includes prints of beach scenes and driftwood sculptures.

28 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

HIGH STYLE F O R

he two-story house sits in the heart of Naples. It’s not far from the bustle of Fifth Avenue and the beaches. It’s also surrounded by other houses. Yet as you sit on the lanai, you see nothing but greenery and hear nothing but birds. The Chelston model was designed to look and feel like a home that’s far from the city, while actually being very close. The linear lanai is surrounded by Areca palms that block the view of the houses just beyond. Elephant ear plants add more greenery and depth.

“You have to set the house aside at first and see how quiet it is,” says Toby Cloutier, sales executive with London Bay Homes. “You go and enjoy Fifth Avenue and the beach, and then you come here and it is so private. The privacy of the backyard is very rare.” It’s so private that the master bathroom has floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that lead to a second shower outside just beyond the glass. That shower is surrounded by walls and plants in a private courtyard. Over the master bath’s double sinks, mirrors are suspended in front of a large picture window that looks out to the private courtyard. “The master bathroom is a showpiece,” says Melissa Allen, senior interior designer with Romanza Interior Design. “The glass, the shower, it all opens it up. I love how open it all is. What is nice about these homes is they are not large rooms, but the way the master bathroom is designed to include the outside, it almost doubles the space. It is bringing the outdoors in.” The indoors and outdoors meld

again in the great room where 20 feet of sliders lead to the lanai. Motorized screens by the sitting areas can easily be drawn down to ward off bugs, sun and heat. There’s a long lap pool, a fire pit, sitting area and outdoor kitchen. Sliding glass doors lead from the kitchen in the house to the outdoor grill, refrigerator and sink. The master suite also leads to the lanai with French doors that overlook the waterfall. A canopy bed of dark wood matches the dresser and floor in the master bedroom. The dresser’s wavy front gives it a coastal look. Melissa says the most interesting piece of furniture in the house — and her favorite — is the dining room table. A glass top sits on two large pieces of blue glass shaped like two C’s pushed together. “The house has that clean British Isles look, but the table has that more contemporary look,” Melissa says. “It is that unexpected piece.” Melissa also points to the kitchen cabinets as another favorite.

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grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

“I really love the two-tone kitchen cabinets in there,” she says. “They are white framed with the door frame around the glass with the darker frame.” The interior designer also works hard to add unusual touches, as with the ceiling fans. The fan in the den has only two blades, somewhat like an airplane propeller. “I am particular about fans,” she says. “I never put a normal fan in a room. Fans are a practical feature, but they stand out in a room. I don’t want to it be just a general fan. They become almost accessories in a room.” For her biggest achievement in the Chelston, Melissa points to the ceiling. Originally, she put a grass cloth on the ceiling of the great room and the dining room, but when light hit it, the seams showed. So Melissa came up with her own creation to make it look like grass cloth. “I was pushing (London Bay) into the unknown,” Melissa says. “We came up with this grass-look veneer plaster. They named the finish after me.” For 10 days, workers lay on scaffolding to complete the ceiling. “They were literally on their backs, and they were patient,” she says. “They are artists.” The first floor of the Chelston also features a study with white shiplap boards on the wall and a light décor. The view from the desk is of a water feature near the home’s front door. London Bay Homes paid close attention to placement, such as the pantry near the garage to make it easy to get in the house and put groceries away. There is also a little desk between the laundry room and kitchen to add another nook for paperwork or arts and 30 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The two-story Chelston features lots of light even on the stairs. Prints of beach scenes adorn the walls along the staircase. That theme continues in the loft upstairs. • The linear shaped lanai is surrounded by Areca palms that offer lots of privacy. The pool and fire pit are both created in a long rectangular shape. • The interior designer says the two tone kitchen cabinets were some of her favorite creations in the Chelston. While there is a dining room the model home also offers lots of seating in the kitchen.

crafts. Heading up the stairs, large beach scene prints cover the wall. The theme continues in the loft, where a table that looks like silver driftwood is nestled behind the couch. On the coffee table are large balls made of oyster shells. The two upstairs bedrooms are decorated for adult children and young grandchildren guests. One room is white with splashes of green and orange. A long thin pillow has prints of alligators. The other bedroom is more sedate in white and gray. Toby says the way the home is laid out makes it perfect for a retired couple who have children and grandchildren or other guests who visit. “You can live on the first floor,” Toby says. “There is 3,000 square feet on the first level, and when they have

guests come, upstairs they have their own space.” The three-bedroom-plus-study, three-and-a-half bathroom home spans 4,227 square feet under air and 5,255 square feet of total living space. The award-winning home has been on the market for more than a year, and the price is now reduced from $4.375 million to $4.275 million. The Chelston won multistate Aurora Awards, including the Golden Aurora Awards Best in Show and the Grand Aurora Award, from the Southeast Building Conference in the Best Single Family Detached Home category. It also won Best Bath in a home over $2 million and Best Interior Merchandising of a Home. Romanza Interior Design won a Sand Dollar Award for the interior design of the Chelston.

grand | INSPIRATIONS

Cast aside stale resolutions. Become inspired to truly reinvent yourself. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 31

grand | INSPIRATIONS

STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT

et’s be honest: It’s too easy to cast resolutions aside as January draws to a close. Why is it that the turn of the calendar signals a need to change? Did we know we were in a rut of some type back in June or October? This time, stick with it. If a new year means a new you, we asked a few experts in the community to explore what it means to set clear intentions and affect lasting change with Grandeur readers:

Rabbi Bruce Diamond,

Christine Sherlock, is the Chief

D.D., of The Community Free Synagogue in south Fort Myers, has been a rabbi for 40 years. A recipient of the Jewish National Fund’s Distinguished Leadership Award, Diamond has also served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve.

Image Officer and owner of Image Matters in Fort Myers. A color specialist and consultant for 30 years, Sherlock helps clients throughout Southwest Florida get that polished look.

What would you tell someone who came to you and said they were feeling like they were in a spiritual rut?

What would you tell someone who wants to update or change their image but doesn’t know where to start?

Of course, I would ask them to tell me what they meant by that. I might explain that a “spiritual rut” is an oxymoron akin to a “round square,” since by definition a “rut” is when you are stuck in the Earth, or in this case, mired in earthly things, while “spiritual suggests freed from earthly snares. I would urge them to drive to a remote mountain top or take a boat to the open seas, turn off the lights, lay back and stare at the starry skies. Let them experience the smallness of their earthly condition against the backdrop of the splendor and vastness of the heavens, in order to put what they feel to be their problems in the proper perspective. If that is impractical, I would en-

32 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

courage them to volunteer in a local hospital to sit and hold the preemies. Let them remind themselves just how precious and tender life is, and how it must be treasured no matter what.

Your first resolution is that there should be no resolutions. Please explain.

My beloved late uncle Herbert Stern, both a rabbi and a psychiatrist, told me that, in the final analysis, “People do what they want to do and don’t do what they don’t want to do, and everything else is chin music (idle chatter).” Making resolutions is a silly game we play with ourselves and a poor substitute for ongoing action. If it’s something we really want to do, we wouldn’t feel the need to make resolutions about it, since we’d already be doing it.

The easiest and most effective way to update/improve your image is with color. Color is the first thing anyone notices about you. A color that flatters your hair color, skin tone and eye color will help you look younger, healthier and more confident. The “wrong” color can make you look sallow, tired or dull. And for a practical reason, it makes sense to start with color. Color is the only thing you don’t pay for when you buy a garment. You will pay for the label/brand, you will pay for the quality of the material, you will pay for the quality of the workmanship, and you will pay for the details such as trim, buttons, etc. But you won’t pay for color. Almost every garment is offered in more than one

color, and you aren’t charged a different price based on color. What’s the most important outcome or reward of polishing one’s image?

Everyone recognizes that when we look better, we feel better. Improving one’s image isn’t about vanity; it isn’t even about fashion or style. The most important reason for improving one’s image is because taking that step will also improve your attitude and the way others respond to you. When you know you look your best, you smile more, you stand up straighter, and you are more likely to engage in positive exchanges with others. Simply put — when you look better, you have a better day. And don’t you deserve to have a great day every day? Who doesn’t want that?

Laura Streyffeler, Ph.D., is a licensed mental health counselor and

Jason Ferrara is the Pelican Bay

board-certified expert in traumatic stress. She is a credentialed expert in domestic violence and forensic counseling and the author of the new book “Wife Beater Shirt Optional.” Streyffeler maintains a private counseling practice in Fort Myers.

Fitness Center and Spa manager and has been at Pelican Bay for 12 years.

Are there common issues attendant with midlife changes? If so, what is your basic advice to someone hitting midlife?

The drive to perform physical workouts is one that needs motivation. When we think of the young high school student who is wanting a sports scholarship, we see his motivation. When we see a middle-aged man who just had a beautiful baby girl, we see his motivation to want to be there to walk her down the aisle. When we see a person who has had their first heart attack, we see their motivation to want to live as long as they can. When someone comes to me for the first time, I always ask them what made them come see me today. What was their motivation to begin a workout program? The first thing you need to do is ask yourself why you are reading this article. Was it for pure entertainment or what is the underlying factor to provoke you to read something that inherently you know deep down inside, “it’s time.” If you know in your heart you want to begin an exercise regimen, then you need to be realistic with your goals. And you need to find a venue that motivates you to begin. A good, experienced personal trainer is always a good start.

Society often stereotypes midlife as a time when men experience “a midlife crisis” and women “go through the change” (with the focus being more on the hormones than the life stage). In reality, midlife is so much more than both of these stereotypes. It is a time for evaluation and transition. Midlifers often begin to think, “I am about half-way though my life. How do I want to spend the rest of it?” They wonder, “What is really important to me and what am I willing and ready to let go of ?” Midlife is a time when men and women begin to take inventory of what and who is important in their lives and begin to focus on those things and relationships. As life goes on, priorities and perceptions shift and change. For many, midlife is a time where children graduate, go off to college and/or “leave the nest.” It is a bittersweet time for empty nesters who for the first time in decades have less parental responsibility and more freedom. Many subscribe to the mantra, “My kids are grown. It’s

my turn now!” Beliefs, behaviors and relationships that worked in a person’s youth, often become outdated, stale and no longer apply. They have to be reinvented or removed. Partners should be willing to change, grow and flourish. Those who do not often find themselves stuck, miserable or left behind. Midlife is a time where people feel like they have no time to get things done, no time for themselves and no time to relax and refresh. When you do not have time, make it. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot pour from an empty cup. Put 20 minutes a day on your calendar for you. Treat it like an appointment and do not reschedule it. You are worth it.

Naples-based chef/educator Ruth Fehr, MBA, is a certified holistic nutrition consultant who frequently assists individuals facing a medical crisis. Your specialty is culinary nutrition. What would you rank as the top five “superfoods” people can easily include into their diets? I am not a big subscriber of the superfoods concept for two reasons: It gives people a false sense of protection, that eating these will keep them healthy or live a long life; and “overdoing it,” the more they eat these, the better, so they end up with an overload of just a few superfoods. What we really need is variety of food and variety of color. What you will hear me say over and over again is to eat a variety of food and variety of colorful food, as it is in the color of the food that we find most of the phytonutrients — those health protective nuggets of gold. Top-ranking foods to include in your diet are whole foods, fresh, in-

season, local, organic as much as possible and colorful foods. Think of greens, reds, purple, orange, yellow, browns, and the list goes on. Diet is important, but it is only part of the story of good nutrition. The other part is who we are as eaters, how we think about food, how we bring ourselves to the table. You can be eating the healthiest diet in the world, but if you are not in the right state of mind for digestion and assimilation, then, no matter how nutrient-dense your food, you might not just get all its healthgiving effect.

What encouragement or strategies can jumpstart someone who loathes physical workouts or truly needs to start some type of regimen?

What about someone who is limited due to medical or physical issues?

Recently, a member came into the club who just turned 94 years young; unfortunately, he broke his hip a few months ago. He was using a walker, because he was still not stable enough to walk on his own. After talking for a while, he said I was taking time away from his workout and he needed to begin. He walked up and down the gym to work his hips and legs, and, yes, he broke a sweat. I couldn’t stop watching him in admiration and respect. There are people I know half his age who have given up on exercise, yet he is giving it all he can. I have days like anyone else that I don’t want to exercise, but since I have seen him, I think about him and I instantly become motivated. If Chester can do it, so can we. Your pace and the amount of exercise should be at the level you feel is adequate for you. The bottom line is that we all have two choices. You can give up or you can get up. Remember: We all fall, but believe in yourself and get right back up and give it your all.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 33

grand | INSPIRATIONS

Heather Christie, J.D., C.S.P., is a former partner of a large law firm in

Madeline Ebelini established

Chicago, where she practiced as a lobbyist. In 2005, she moved to Southwest Florida and founded her business and executive coaching firm, Evolve Global. She also is a professional leadership speaker.

Integrative Mindfulness in Bonita Springs five years ago. She holds a master’s in transpersonal psychology, is a certified yoga teacher and is qualified to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

You consult with high-level executives and business owners. What are the top two traits you most often see in high-functioning individuals or leaders? They are habitual goal-setters and goal-achievers. We only work with high performers and top achievers, and the No. 1 thing that is consistent among all of them is that they habitually set their vision for the results that they are after, along with a step-by-step action plan for how to get there. Many will see a high achiever and think that they got there by luck. It’s not about luck, it’s about intentional goal-setting and persistent action and follow through. The beautiful thing is that anyone can do it if they create these great habits. Most people will not be so committed, which is why top performers stand apart from the crowd. The second trait that is most common is that they have a very clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. In every case that we have studied, everyone is very good at doing some things, and they will struggle at doing others. Once someone is in touch with their weaknesses (or what we call “blockers”), only then can they learn how to lessen their impact and intentionally stay focused on their strength zone. Making an intentional shift away from blockers and into strengths is the No. 1 strategy for improving performance. Is there a common denominator (issue) that you consistently see in a board or management team that is stagnating? Yes. Most people just show up as they are; we spend 95 percent of our day in our habitual way

of being. This means most people are not adapting to their environment as needed to maximize their results. If you have an executive who is very dominant, there are incredible strengths that go along with this dominant style. They are great decisionmakers, very results-oriented and independent. However, they also tend to be poor listeners and can get impatient with others. The key to leading a board or management team is what we call “dynamic adaptation,” which is all about adapting your natural style to be who you need to be based on the current situation. Oftentimes, when teams are derailed, it boils down to simple communication issues. By virtue of the different roles people play in any organization, they think differently, they are motivated differently and they communicate differently. When a team is stagnating, they are not recognizing, appreciating or respecting those differences by dynamically adapting to what is needed in the moment.

The world is wild with nonstop news. How can we best tame the intake? If we don’t pay attention, we can cause damage by constantly exposing ourselves to bad news and violence, both of which make up the bulk of our media diet lately. To protect ourselves, it is important to stay in touch with how you are physically experiencing the input of negative news. This requires a shift out of the news story and into the present moment. How is your body responding? Do you feel your chest tightening, a twisting sensation in the stomach, faster breathing or heart rate? Notice also the types of thoughts, emotions or moods generated while watching the news. Do these feel healthy for you? Once you’ve checked in, ask yourself, “What’s called for now? Do I need to take care of myself by changing the channel or turning off the TV?” Often, when I check in with body and mind while watching the news, the answer is “yes.”

Peggy Sealfon, is a personal development coach, author and motivational speaker who has integrated a blend of Western and Eastern traditions into her life coaching system for more than a decade. How does one know when they are in a rut and how can they break the rut? You know you’re in a rut when you awake each morning feeling tired and dreading the day ahead. You’re overwhelmed with too much to do, and each challenge seems like a

34 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

burden. You’ve become a bystander in your life, like a robot on auto pilot going through the motions of living without truly being present in each moment or being able to enjoy all that you have. You’ve lost the zest of inspiration or motivation. Breakthrough

happens when you become aware of your malaise. In the instant you recognize your fears and anxieties, such adversity propels you to find the way to change yourself and find a more integrated state of being, with ease and enthusiasm.

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grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE

IN THE

12 cocktails that keep the party going all year long. STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ

Martinis at Blu Sushi. From left: Blusberry, Aloha Mr. Edison, Indulgence and Coco Pink Channel.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 37

grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE

Not all cocktails are savory, but this one is like dessert in a glass. Appropriately named Indulgence ($10), the beautiful martini from Blu Sushi in Fort Myers comes in a glass lined with dark and white chocolate, then filled with a mix of Godiva liquor and vanilla vodka. Don’t wait until after dinner, have one both before and after.

The S’mores Martini ($6) is a special offering now through the beginning of February at Duffy’s Sports Grill. Supporting the Girl Scouts, Duffy’s is purchasing 1,500 boxes of cookies for the specialty drink that uses Pinnacle Whipped vodka, Kahlúa, crème de cacao and half ‘n half served in a chocolate and graham cracker rimmed glass. It’s served with a s’mores cookie on the side.

38 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

Photo by BRIAN TIETZ

orget New Year’s resolutions of going cold turkey on everything from gluten to alcohol, that’s no way to welcome in the next 365 days. We like to keep the party going and have found some of Southwest Florida’s most festive drinks to help do the job. These creative cocktails are made with great care, using the best ingredients, including house-made syrups and infusions. They not only look enticing, but they all taste fantastic. There is one to try for each month of 2018 — that is if you can wait that long.

Mangroves, the main bar at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, has undergone a complete remodel. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just have a new look but some sexy new drinks like the Beach Bum Martini ($12). A striking red color, this one is made from Grey Goose La Poire vodka, Cointreau, fresh mint for a fresh kick, a splash of cherry bitters and fresh lime juice.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 39

grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE

Bourbon is hot on cocktail lists and so are drinks that smoke, literally. Put the two together and you have the 1792 Small Batch Bourbon, smoked (price varies by brand.) The presentation is half of the fun and any bourbon or scotch can be smoked at the redesigned Mangroves bar at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the craft experience.

You often order cocktails according to your mood but they can also put you in a mood. Apparently this one from LYNQ in Fort Myers makes you want to move a little, too. The Get a Wiggle On ($10) is made with Hana peach sake, citrus vodka and fresh kiwi. Sake martinis are big here.

The Berries & Bubbles ($14) turns heads when poured at Ocean Prime in Naples. Citrus vodka, cassis, house-made sour and dry ice are strained from a shaker, into a frosty martini glass, then topped with sparkling wine and marinated berries. It smokes and bubbles, and is the most photographed drink at the bar. Best part, it tastes amazing and is fun to drink.

40 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

Photo by BRIAN TIETZ

Cocktails are an important part of the culture at Society, Fort Myers newest hotspot. Bartenders took a fun jab at a surrounding neighborhood with the creation of the Real Housewives of McGregor. It’s a smooth concoction of Grey Goose La Poire Vodka, fresh pear and lychee juice, a little spice from jalapeno and a bit of pizzazz from prosecco. You don’t have to be a housewife or live on McGregor Boulevard to love this one.

We’ve teamed up two of the more popular drinks according to the crowds that “gather” at Gather in Cape Coral. You don’t have to make two trips, but once you sit at this waterfront gem, you’ll want to return. In the rocks glass is the Black Bandana, Sweet Louisiana ($10). Made with black rum, Drambuie, absinthe mist and creole bitters, it will have you dreaming of booking a flight to the Big Easy. Also at Gather, the show-stopping Blood, Sugar, Sex and Magic ($10) with black rum, house-made Falernum, pineapple-infused pisco, pineapple juice, orange juice, angostura bitters and lime juice. If you’re wondering if the spark in the photo is included, yes, the cocktail is briefly set on fire when served tableside or at the bar. Get your camera ready.

The Bittersweet Valentine ($14) is a specialty at The Continental in Naples. Fresh strawberries are macerated for 72-hours in a bottle of Tattersall Bitter Orange; it’s an update from the strawberry-infused Aperol that had previously been used. Other ingredients are Old St. Pete Rum & Spice, Vya and rhubarb bitters. It looks like a sophisticated party.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 41

grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE

The Diabolita de Masa ($13) was a wildly popular cocktail at the former Masa restaurant in Naples, now made at Lurcat on chic Fifth Avenue South. Made in small batches, letting all of the ingredients steep together is key to its success; house-infused habanero tequila, Licor 43, ginger, lime, blood orange and pomegranate. The result is a sweet and spicy mix, with flavors of citrus and vanilla

Tiki drinks are the rage and Roy’s in Bonita Springs has plenty of them. Paradise Found ($15) is quite substantial, served in a heavy brass pineapple with a straw stuck in its side. The drink seems large and not just because of what it’s served in, but ounces as well. It’s a refreshing blend of Absolut Elyx vodka, fresh pineapple juice, Monin almond, Angostura bitters, ginger beer and fresh lime.

42 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

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grand | SHOPPING

fit

Beautiful tough. Powerful pretty.

• Life is about contradictions — so is the It Girl bag by Sol and Selene. This durable and reversible tote features a shimmery metallic fabric on one side and a smooth neutral nylon on the other. This split personality bag offers ample room for everything you need to transition from belle to beast in the gym. It also includes a detachable pouch to store whatever you need to go from sweat to your best ‘it’ look. $90 at Jennifer’s, jennifersfortmyers. com and 239-481-8582.

FOR THE

GODS

New Year’s resolutions beg for us to be stronger, feel better and get fitter. That means getting a little sweatier and pushing our comfort levels a little further — but rugged and strong doesn’t have to mean trading out style for sport. Tackle those goals in 2018 with luxurious new products that will have you looking good while you feel good. — SARA COGGIN

Lifting to a new you • You have a heart

of gold, now you can work on those muscles, too. This 40-killogram LOFT dumbbell set comes with sleek racks for practical storage. The rack is made of solid walnut, finely ground and oiled. Its shelves are crafted from Safeglide non-marking stainless steel and designed to protect against finger pinching. $6,675. Available from Hock Design, shophock.com. Feeling super luxurious? Check out the exclusive and rare 18-karat Golden Dumbbells, also from Hock Design, made with real gold and Grenadilla wood.

44 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

Inner islander • Center yourself and bring your training down to earth with the Fiji yoga mat from the Elements Collection at La Vie Boheme Yoga. This extra thick mat will keep you comfortable in those deep stretches and bends, while its island greenery design will remind you to relax and ground yourself from the bustle of the day. Lightweight yet heavy-duty, it’s free of latex and heavy metals. $86 at laviebohemeyoga.com.

Striking performance •

Perform your best and know it with the fēnix 5S. It has built-in activity profiles, Elevate wrist heart rate technology and personal performance metrics. Be ready to go with navigation functions and incredible outdoor sensors such as GPS, GLONASS satellite reception, 3-axis compass with gyroscope and barometric altimeter. This sleek Garmin watch is compact and light but will pack a punch while you deliver your A-game. Shown in Rose Goldtone Sapphire with white band. $699.99 list price at Garmin.com.

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• Jumpstart your cardio. Jumping rope is not just pastime play; it can be a powerful tool for getting fit. Now it can also be fashionable with the Jump Rope Christopher. This workout essential is crafted by Louis Vuitton and features leather strand and handles, wrapped with dark Monogram Eclipse canvas, and comes with a signature pouch to easily take with you. $545 at us.louisvuitton.com.

Quench and conquer •

Durable and equipped for the day — just like you. The Yeti Rambler is a 26-ounce bottle made with stainless steel and insulated with a doublewall vacuum. Grab, go and stay hydrated with this handy bottle in DuraCoat colors. $39.99 list price. Available at all Sunshine Ace Hardware locations.

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Locked-down and loaded • Hit the floor with shoes that are ready for the stronger you. The Nike Zoom Train Command men’s training shoe is lightweight and features Zoom Air and foam cushioning that responds quickly to your workouts. An inner sleeve gives sock-like comfort, and a midfoot wrap improves stability. It has all the things we look for in a shoe: comfort, responsiveness, stability and, of course, looking good. $110 at Nike.com.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 45

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grand | GETAWAY

Photos by JACK AFFLECK | Courtesy of VAIL RESORTS

STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS

DREAMING OF S N O W– C O V E R E D M O U N TA I N S A skier’s paradise, Vail has winter fun for everyone.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 47

re you anticipating next month’s Winter Olympics, perhaps already setting the channel to watch the US Ski Team conquer the mountains of PyeongChang? Consider hitting the slopes of Vail, Colorado. Whether your comfort level is with heli-skiing, black diamond runs, moguls or the bunny hills, Vail is an alpine winter wonderland for everyone — full of skiing splendor, ice skating, sleigh riding, snow tubing, and more all at a top elevation of 11,571 feet.

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Springs and Keystone. “I prefer the skiing and the village of Vail for restaurants and activities,” she says. “Skiing, eating and relaxation describe Vail.” With 5,289 skiable acres, Vail has something for everyone, according to Vail Resorts spokesperson Maggie Meisinger. In addition to skiing, she recommends ice skating on the Alderhof Ice Rink in the heart of Vail Square, snowshoeing and other winter activities at Adventure Ridge, a snow park that offers ski bikes, a kids’ snowmobile track, tubing and more. Vail is also a perfect setting for drinking hot chocolate as you overlook the bowls at sunset. For those not in the know, bowls are wide, bowlshaped slopes. Vail is famous for its seven Back Bowls. For the skier, Maggie recommends

Belle’s Camp in Blue Sky Basin

Photos by JACK AFFLECK | Courtesy of VAIL RESORTS

“Vail is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen. It is beautiful in winter and summer,” says Fort Myers resident and Coast Elite Gymnastics Academy Co-Owner Catherine Curtis, who frequently travels to Colorado. “I try to get to Colorado once or twice a year, since I have a daughter and a nephew who reside there, along with a gymnast who competes for the University of Denver.” In fact, her next trip to Colorado is in February as the gymnastics club competes in Denver, where she and the team will also watch their former Coast Elite gymnast Nikole Addison, a senior at the University of Denver, compete in a collegiate meet. Catherine says she’s planning to ski Vail a few days prior to the meet. Catherine has skied the mountains of Vail, Breckinridge, Aspen, Steamboat

grand | GETAWAY

Photo courtest of THE SEBASTIAN VAIL RESORT

The Sebastian Vail resort

traversing Riva Ridge and Poppyfields. “Riva Ridge is the longest run on Vail Mountain, stretching 4 miles,” she says. “Poppyfields gives you groomed access to Vail’s legendary China Bowl. We have committed to grooming 30 percent more in the Back Bowls this season. This will open the door for more beginner and intermediate skiers and riders to experience more of the mountain.” For first-time skiers, Maggie recommends booking a private lesson with the Vail Ski and Snowboard School. The ski school student can customize their day, which is ideal for a family, couple’s escape or friends’ getaway, and you gain immediate access to the slopes due to the exclusive ski school lanes, which means more mountain time for you. You can also explore the mountain with a personal concierge/coach, Maggie says. “Learn about local knowledge, trivia and secret stashes you’d otherwise miss.” Vail has also updated 10 chairlifts in the last 11 years. When off the slopes, soak in Vail and

relax. Catherine’s favorite place to stay is The Sebastian Vail resort. A boutique property brimming with character, The Sebastian is infused with a strong sense of place while offering a modern sophistication to Vail Village, says resort spokesperson Kristin Yantis. “Highlights include the haute bistro and tapas bar Leonora, the chic and progressive Frost bar, the full-service Bloom Spa and a mountain-view pool with four steaming hot tubs,” she says. “Base Camp is The Sebastian’s year-round slope-side adventure center for ski-in, ski-out access to Vail Mountain in the winter and bike rentals and outdoor activities in the summer.” “The ski lift is almost out the back door,” Catherine says. Kristin recommends getting a spa treatment after a day of skiing. “I have had both massage and facial at Bloom Spa on property, and they were great,” Catherine says. Vail does not disappoint for culinary lovers. “After a day of play in the mountains, skiers and snowboarders also can retreat to Frost bar for a new après ski experience from 4 to 6 p.m. daily,” Kristin says. “Enjoy a new, interactive raclette experience with warm cheese accompanied by hearty fixings. Bubbles are available for $7 a glass during après, and drink specials include 50 percent off draft cocktails, draft beer and select wines by the glass. The drink menu at Frost has been completely re-vamped and features cocktails on draft made with tequila and mescal. Frost also features a selection of house-made, nonalcoholic sodas in flavors such as hibiscus, ginger-honey and spiced cran-apple. The bar also serves the property’s popular Sebastian Signature Hot Chocolate and a series of other warm specialty drinks.” Outside of the resort, Catherine’s favorite dining experiences include Matsuhisa sushi, Campo de Fiori for Italian, and her go-to breakfast spot, The Little Diner. “The Haagen-Dazs store in Vail’s Lionshead Village is owned by a Florida resident and lifelong friend Ric Almas and is a fun stop for either yummy treats or hot chocolate,” she adds. “If you have never been to Vail, leave time to enjoy the day and nighttime vibe of the village, soak up the clear crisp air and enjoy the peaceful quiet sounds.” GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 49

FREE JANUARY SEMINAR Volumizing Facelift: Fat vs Fillers Join us for a light lunch and presentation, followed by a valuable Q&A session with SW FL’s Facial Expert, Dr. Prendiville. He will explain the benefits of the volumizing fillers and other aesthetic procedures. Also, find out the latest information on minimal incision surgeries, injectable facelifts, wrinkle reduction, skin smoothing techniques, and our newest fat dissolving treatment, SculpSure ®.

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grand | WINE

Time to restock Replenish your wine cellar supplies with some tried-and-true vintages.

oing into the New Year, your wine collection may be a little depleted from parties, guests and general entertaining over the holidays. Time to restock. I turned to Jenni Robinson, sales director for Fairways Wine Vault in Naples, for some help in putting together this month’s Grand Case. Wow, has she come up with some great ways to spend those

holiday gift cards with selections that have stood and will continue to stand the test of time. If you are on the opposite end of the spectrum and looking at bills or elevated credit card balances, and you’re starting the New Year on a tight budget, I’ve come up with some affordable buys ($25 and under) that will get the job done. Together, we have the spectrum covered.

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Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, Russian River ($50) » Made from grapes grown in the center of the Russian River appellation in Sonoma, California, this wine shows an amazing vibrancy and juicy fruits such as pears, apples, white peaches and tangerines. What I like most about this wine is that after vintners aged in new French oak, they then bottled it without filtration. You can actually taste this nuance when you drink it, and it’s awesome.

Blass 2016 Reserve Release Cabernet Sauvignon ($15) » The best way to categorize this is an easy drinking affordable red wine. Australian winemaker Wolfgang Blass was known to push boundaries and be a bit unconventional in many ways. That spirit continues in the winery today. With dark fruits like plum, blackberry and cherry, the wine has a hint of spice that warms the back of your palate and throat. The tannins are soft, the finish is longish, and it’s got nice structure for the price point.

GINA BIRCH

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

Peachy Canyon Westside Zinfandel 2015 ($22) » This family-owned winery in Paso Robles, California, is best known for its zinfandels, and this is one reason why. It is made from a selection of grapes originating from nine sites on the west side of Paso where the weather is hotter. The wine smells a bit like a spice drawer with some cocoa thrown into the mix. Cocoa carries over onto the palate where it is joined by vanilla (perhaps from its 16 months in the barrel), luscious strawberry and blackberry.

Chateau d’Yquem 1996, Sauternes ($400) » From France, this one is often described as the greatest sweet wine in the world. Some 150 skilled workers handpick only fully botrytized fruit (a fungus that removes water from the grape, sometimes called noble rot). The yields are so low that each vine produces only one glass of wine. It is sweet with toasted nuts and has a creamy palate with orange marmalade. A good collection should always have a good dessert wine.

JENNI ROBINSON Guest columnist and sales director for Fairways Wine Vault in Naples.

Maison Nicolas Perrin Syrah 2013 ($20) » Put your nose in the glass, and in one sniff, you can tell this is an Old World wine. From France, this wine is full of red fruit, a touch of blueberry and lots of herbs. With soft tannins, the finish has spice and even more herbs. A little viognier is added to give this bold red wine a bit of finesse and a fuller body. It really needs some food to do it justice. Try some grilled meat with just a bit of char.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose, Champagne ($81) » So crisp and ever so slightly sweet, this is one of the oldest Champagne houses in France, and it is spectacular. The making of this particular Champagne leaves only a hint of brioche to it, setting itself apart from others. The bubbles are so elegant, a great representation of what many people love so much about Champagne. It is the best bottle to be popping not only going into the New Year, but all year.

Qupe Marsanne, Santa Barbara County ($20) » It might be winter, but our local cuisine is never shy of shellfish and seafood. This wine fits the bill for those meals. Qupe winery is considered a pioneer in California’s Central Coast for growing grapes that make superb Rhone blends, especially syrah. Then there is this luscious white. 75-percent marsanne, the rest roussanne, the wine is a beautiful mouthful of minerals, citrus and tropical fruits; I even tasted some coconut. Its finish is a long refreshing one.

Vega Sicilia Unico 1990, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($400) » Both past and future generations of this vineyard strive for excellence. They say the best wine is still to be made. With a blend of tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon, this wine serves up a palate of leather and cured meat. Its nose is that of dark fruit and spices. When tasting this wine, you really can taste the pursuit of excellence. It’s something pretty special.

Langlois Cremant de Loire Rose ($25) » It might not be Champagne, but it’s from France, it has bubbles, and it tastes like a celebration. Part of the famous Bollinger Champagne house, it has the same great quality of its sophisticated and more expensive parents. This sparkler is made from 100-percent cabernet franc and has a pretty, pale salmon color. Even though it is dry and crisp, the fruit really comes through, think strawberries and raspberries. It’s creamy, delicious and a great substitute for expensive Champagne.

Penfolds Grange, Magill and Barossa Valley ($750) » From its beginning in 1844 to today, the merging of science, art and innovation has driven the team at Penfolds to become one of Australia’s most famed and respected winemakers. And Grange is one of the producer’s most highly acclaimed, most sought after wines worldwide. Its bouquet is that of green tea, mocha and tobacco. Masses of tannins and integrated oak will keep this wine for years to come. This is a true collectors’ wine in every aspect.

*Prices listed can vary. Some of these wines can be found in local wine shops, others are limited production and may require shipment from the producers themselves.

La Sirena Pirate TreasuRed 2008 ($65) » When I first held a glass of La Sirena Pirate TreasuRed up to my nose, it made me close my eyes. And when I did, it took me somewhere I had never been: the inside of a pirate ship. No joke. It was woody with black fruits. It hit me on the nose, but delicately ran over my palate. It is a big bold blend of cabernet, syrah, merlot, grenache, cab franc, petit verdot, petite sirah, and it isn’t from Spain or anywhere you might expect pirates to have sailed: it’s from Napa Valley.

75 Wine Company Sauvignon Blanc ($16) » With the legendary name of “Beckstoffer” on the label, I immediately expect something good, and this one delivers. There is no mistaking from the nose that this is a sauvignon blanc. But after that, things aren’t exactly what you might anticipate. The thing I like most about it is that for a sauv blanc the wine is not super acidic, super citrusy or super anything, well, accept super good. Besides citrus, this California refresher has some peach and melon in it. Nicely balanced. NP-0000947505

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 51

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grand | RIDE

1948 Buick Super convertible owned by Tristan Leslie of Cape Coral

CADILLAC A

‘Once we saw it, the rest is history.’

fter two years of scouting classic car shows and auctions and scanning “for sale” ads online and in vintage car magazines, the treasure hunt finally paid off for Alva car couple Tom and Tina McCuiston. They found their dream car last April, a rare two-door 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville listed for sale on Craigslist by a private party in a small Tennessee city. After a series of email and photo exchanges with the owner, Tom and Tina borrowed a car hauler and drove up to see the iconic Cadillac. It was love at first sight. “It was amazing that I stumbled on the car the way I

did,” says Tina. “Once we saw it, the rest is history.” Their dream car was in superior condition with an odometer reading of only 39,000 miles. In 1959, the light wood rose coupe sold for $5,250, a huge investment for the time. Its profile is undeniable, its scale massive with a length of 225 inches and a weight of 4,720 pounds. GM’s 390 V-8 engine rumbled under the hood, and the car came loaded with luxury options, including factory air conditioning and power steering, brakes and windows. The General Motors Cadillac division made 13 models that year, and for 1959, says Tom, “it was all about the fins.”

STORY BY STEPHANIE BORDEN | PHOTOS BY RICARDO ROLON GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 53

54 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

grand | RIDE

GM design legend Harley Earl first put fins on a Cadillac in 1948 as a tribute to the P-38 World War II fighter plane credited with winning the aerial war. Its ability to fly higher, faster and farther than any other aircraft led to the annihilation of more Japanese fighters than any other warplane. After the war, once Cadillac retooled its plants to make luxury cars instead of military tanks, America’s attention turned to the promise of jet engines and space travel. Earl’s fins grew higher and sharper with each new model year. Although he retired from the GM design studio in 1958, his successors took the fins to their highest point ever in the 1959 Cadillacs — over 15 inches tall. From 1960 on, Cadillac designers reduced the fin size as buyers began to prefer a more refined silhouette. Safety was also a factor. The extreme angle of the 1959 fins led to the first time in American automotive history that a parked car was blamed for causing human injury. In two separate law-

suits, parents filed claims against GM for injuries suffered by their young sons who were stabbed by the fins when they lost control of their bicycles and crashed into 1959 Cadillacs. Another styling detail Tom and Tina love to point out is their Coupe de Ville’s red doublebullet tail lights, designed as a single bulb in previous model years. And at car shows, where the Caddy seems to have a magnetic pull over the crowd, Tina tells admirers to “walk all the way around the car and show me where you get to the gas tank.” To most folks, it’s a mystery until Tina leads them to the rear of the car and opens a small rectangular door concealed just above the chrome bumper. Strangers have approached the Alva couple with requests to use their ‘59 Cadillac in a movie or to rent it for a wedding, but Tina and Tom are content keeping it all in the family. However, when it comes to the extended family of drivers who originally purchased their

Coupe de Ville new in 1959 and everyone who owned it in the years that followed, the couple is challenged by the fact that no ownership records were provided by the Tennessee gentleman who sold them his Cadillac last year. That is an unusual circumstance in the world of antique and classic cars when an automobile is in such beautiful condition. Elvis Presley bought many Cadillacs during this time, keeping some for himself and giving away many more to family members and friends. Could their Coupe de Ville have an Elvis connection? It is a mystery Tom and Tina would love to solve, so if you want to see their 1959 showstopper or share your own tips for tracking the trail of previous car owners, you will find the couple most Mondays at the Merchants Crossing Classic Car Show in North Fort Myers. Or you can write to me at fivespeedink@ gmail.com.

The 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville sports the tallest fins of any Cadillac — over 15 inces tall. • Tina and Tom McCuiston

Visit the resort for Sunday Brunch, a romantic dinner, cocktails and jazz, or a treatment at Stillwater Spa.

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GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 55

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grand | ARTS

WHAT’S ON YOUR PALETTE? ArtFest Fort Myers draws a diverse crowd moved by art, community and inspiration.

A sample of work from some ArtFest artists. Clockwise from top: Jewelry by Jonathon Stopper • Painting by Sergei Orgunov • Mixed media by Christine Peloquin • Metal by Kristin DeSantis and Marc Kreiwaldt • Ceramic by Michael Cho • Watercolor by Gregory Strachov GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 57

grand | ARTS STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT

LEE COUNTY’S PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

MASTERWORKS POPS SMALL STAGE SYMPHONIES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Maestro Nir Kabaretti

ow many have been inspired while strolling ArtFest Fort Myers? May as well ask. There will be 206 artists plying every medium — from woodcarving and furniture-making to blown glass to paintings in different genres — in the same location. Creativity is inspired in unexpected ways. One high school festival volunteer became intrigued with a ceramist’s work that included fossils in finished pieces, and he changed his course of study. He became an archeologist. “It’s cool to think that his, or that kind of, interest was sparked at an art festival,” says ArtFest Associate Director Jeanne Seehaver. The weekend-long event “provides an unparalleled art experience to the entire community, stimulating the creativity of children and adults. I always look forward to seeing the artwork of 200 artists chosen from more than 900 who applied. It refreshes my soul and inspires me,” says ArtFest Executive Director Sharon McAlister. ArtFest continues to expand. It begins on Friday evening, February 2, with a sneak peak of about 65 artists open to the public and a VIP reception. The show runs Saturday and Sunday, February 3 and 4, along the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers. Whether you are a practicing artist, first-time or long-time collector, or simply want to stroll in fresh air amongst artisanal finery, ArtFest draws a diverse crowd. Going into its 18th season, it’s a place where families can create together. Interior designers head over with a detailed list of clients’ vacant niches and open walls they are looking to fill with to-scale works that may fill out the palette, texture or theme of a room. (Home designers do this, too.) Teenagers

A mixed media sculpture by Susan Griggs.

can confab: They are performing live performances scheduled throughout the weekend, have work exhibited in the Art Under 20 show or are participating in the sidewalk chalk-art display. Collectors augment their assemblage; browsers and buyers exchange ideas with artists on their process and perspective.

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specific piece, rule No. 1 is to measure the space. Looking for a trunk, lamp, chandelier, two-dimensional artwork or three-dimensional sculpture? Measure first. Seehaver says artists are typically willing to bring a piece or two to an interested party’s (or client’s) home to see if it works.

Families: If you have high-school

teens, there are many opportunities to get them engaged — and build a portfolio of artwork, resume and, perhaps, earn cash prizes. For those with young children, the Publix Art Yard is full of hands-on projects provided by creative and expressive nonprofits and businesses, face

painting, performances and a public art project featuring “roly-poly characters and critters.” The Young Art Collectors booth is a kids-only zone where children can pick out whatever strikes their fancy for $5. “They can certainly go visit the artist afterward. We are creating art collectors of the future,” Jeanne says.

Collectors: You can visit artfest.org to see a listing of the participating artists, broken down by medium. A program with a listing and map of the festival layout (in addition to other programming) is also provided; cut-through paths allow visitors to make a beeline to their destination. “The beauty of ArtFest is that it’s a very walkable show. I have been to some where there are 300 to 400

exhibitors, and it’s tough to do that in a day,” Jeanne says.

Newbie collectors: The biggest draw of ArtFest is the wide range of work at a wide range of price points. You can purchase something that speaks to you, a limited-edition giclée or reproduction at a lower price than an original, or something utilitarian. Jeanne says she brought home a wood-turned piece that her husband turned into a repository for his shelled nuts. The artist didn’t stipulate its use: the consumer did. A painting she bought in California was first shown in their son’s room and has moved to the family room, then breakfast nook. “If you find a piece you love, you can find a place for it.”

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The Cristale estate home model by Stock Custom Homes. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 59

Stock Custom Homes: Building Excellence Quail West is one of the most prestigious and beautiful luxury communities in Southwest Florida, offering world-class golf and a resort-lifestyle. From the lush, tropical canopy at its approach, to its streets winding through majestic preserves and past manicured fairways and pristine lakes, Quail West is unmistakably unique to the real estate marketplace. Its 70,000-square-foot clubhouse, with casual and formal dining, glass-enclosed heated swimming pool, and lounge areas, is undergoing a major expansion and renovation and will debut in the Winter of 2018. A new golf pro shop, a market café, and an expansive indoor/outdoor seating area is already open. Behind the privacy gates of Quail West, Stock Custom Homes’ new estate home model overlooks the manicured 11th hole of the community’s pristine Lakes course. The Cristale is a four-bedroom plus library/fourand-a-half-bath home with 4,427 square feet under air and 7,190 total square feet, including two, two-car garages with a porte-cochere and motor court. The grand estate also features a parlor greeting area, a formal dining room, a double-island kitchen and family room, a master bedroom with its own covered lanai, and an outdoor living area measuring 876 square feet and featuring a summer kitchen, fireplace, pool, and spa, all overlooking the golf course and lake beyond. The Cristale features an interior by Diana Hall and Laurie Walter, of Cinnabar Design. The interior’s transitional design includes traditional lines and cool white and soft gray backgrounds with accents of silver gray and aqua. Flooring throughout the living areas is medium toned cerused European oak. A crema marfil and travertine mosaic stone flooring inlay greets visitors in the foyer, which opens to a parlor that includes bumped out feature walls clad in a backlit wood panel detail. In the dining room, an earthy rectangular wood dining table is surrounded by upholstered chairs, while a sliding wooden barn door opens to a passageway leading to the kitchen. The dining room itself is served by a butler’s pantry and a walk-in wine room with a horizontal bottle display. In the double-island kitchen, the counter surface on the islands and perimeter is Carrara Quartzite and there is a built-in window seat in the breakfast area. Oversized furniture pieces convey a relaxed look in the family room. The room also has a coffered tongue-

60 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

in-groove ceiling detail that mimics the treatment over the islands in the kitchen. Ninety-degree pocketing sliders open to the outdoor living area. A tonal cream, beige, and off-white color palette creates a spa-like feeling in the master bedroom, which features a smaller, square within a square ceiling detail in a sitting area that includes a chaise, and a small drink table.

Three walls surrounding the master bath’s freestanding tub are clad with a running pattern of 12-by-24-inch Carrara marble. A seaglass and Carrara marble tile mosaic inlay under the tub portrays a carpet, and the shower walls mimic the inlay. In keeping with Stock Custom Homes’ penchant for creating remarkable outdoor spaces, the Cristale’s outdoor living area includes a fireplace wall with pavers and a television set across the top and a hefty, six-inch rustic driftwood mantle. Facing the fireplace, a conversation area is outfitted with two sofas and a cocktail table. The Cristale is priced at $3,580,105, including furnishings. Visit Stock Development online at stockdevelopment.com or call 239-592-7344.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

CLASSIC HOMES | SIGNATURE HOMES | CUSTOM HOMES

Classic Priced from the $400s.

Siggnaturee Priced from the $700s.

Custom

Excellence

Priced from $2 million.

THREE TIERS OF

With a legacy of award-winning design and a keen understanding of the Florida lifestyle, Stock builds a unique range of exceptional masterpiecesâ&#x20AC;¦ from quality-built Classic Homes to masterfully crafted Signature Residences to uniquely inspired Custom Estates. Choose from an impressive collection of move-in-ready homes or let us create the dream you've been envisioning. NAPLES | MARCO ISLAND | SARASOTA | FORT MYERS | PALM BEACH

For directions and complete listings of all our models & communities please visit

StockDevelopment.com

2639 PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE | SUITE 101 | NAPLES, FL 34119 | 239.592.7344 BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS 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. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

FLStockDevelopment

Award-winning homes, new-fashioned lifestyle Award-winning luxury homes, thoughtfully-designed amenities, and Talis Park’s engaging way of life are all on display this weekend as the December Luxury Home Tour kicks off Saturday, January 6, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and continues Sunday, January 7, noon to 3:00 p.m. The tour features a variety of new furnished and unfurnished residences including penthouse-style condominiums and terrace homes by Lennar, resort-style coach homes by FrontDoor Communities, single-family villas by Distinctive Communities, single-family residences by Harbourside Custom Homes, Frizone and Iron Star Luxury Homes, and showcase estates by Gulfshore Homes, M Development and Sunwest Homes. Talis Park’s numerous national, regional and local industry accolades reflect developer Kitson & Partners’ commitment to eschewing traditional country club models. Its “come-as-you-are” atmosphere encourages homeowners to maintain active social connections and live the best versions of their lives among exclusive privacy and second-to-none service. Residents Jim and Barbara Simmons were attracted to Talis Park because of its newer, more youthful

62 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

atmosphere and many opportunities to enhance the active lives they enjoy. “There’s just an energy to the place,” said Jim. “There’s always people moving and energetic; it’s just a ton of fun and an easy place to meet folks.” The Simmons family, like many other Talis Park residents, enjoys a full range of social events created and managed by Membership Director Nancy Muschong and the Talis Park team. From daily fitness classes, sports clinics, bocce nights and cooking classes to themed costume parties, movies and concerts on the Great Lawn, and the ever-famous weekly Happy

Hour, the Vyne House clubhouse’s social calendar offers something for everyone. Talis Park homeowners now also enjoy complimentary daily beach access via the Beach Runner, the community’s exclusive new beach shuttle. The hub of activity within Talis Park is its award-winning Vyne House and 18-hole Greg Norman/Pete Dye-designed golf course, one of only two Norman/Dye collaborations worldwide. Vyne House offers formal and casual indoor and alfresco dining, two fitness studios, spa, fullystocked wine room, resort-style pool with spacious pool deck and rotunda, and more. Comfortable outdoor gathering areas, highlighted by a double-sided stone fireplace overlooking the 18th green, make Vyne House a perfect place to enjoy Naples’ temperate climate and legendary sunsets with friends and family. The Casa Cortese sports pub, next to the driving range, is a great spot for sports enthusiasts. Also within easy access is a sports complex with six lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, tennis pro shop, bocce courts, lap pool, and playground. The Talis Park Luxury Home Tour begins at the community’s Garden House Information & Sales Center, 16980 Livingston Road. For details, call 239449-5900 or visit talispark.com.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 63

...Three. Two. ONE.

The countdown to your new life begins here.

With spectacular views of the Caloosahatchee River and just a short stroll from historic downtown Fort Myers, discover ONE. This 18-story tower, with two- and three bedroom residences, will provide luxury living for a fortunate few. Celebrate your new life with: • 28 exclusive waterfront residences • 1,500 to over 5,000 sq. ft. • Private entrance elevators • Natural gas ranges • Chef-inspired kitchens and quartz countertops • Floor-to-ceiling windows and so much more

Priced from the low $500s to over $2 million, ONE is one in a million.

Sales Gallery: 1300 Hendry St., Fort Myers, FL 33901 239-500-5294 Ext. 1 • OneFtMyers.com

All dimensions, terms, specifications and prices are subject to change without notice. All images are conceptual renderings and developer reserves the right to make modifications without prior notice.

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The Kennedy home in Talis Park is large and elegant, yet it has a lot of kidâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; friendly touches.

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY LIAM DOYLE

Laina and Tom Kennedy created a sprawling home that meets sophisticated adult standards but with kid-friendly whimsy and comforts. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 65

t more than 10,000 square feet, the Kennedy home in Talis Park is a sprawling mecca of luxury. There are six bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, two playrooms, two dens, and gorgeous detail and design. But woven throughout the house are also homey, whimsical and fun touches that make it the perfect place for children to call home. So while the dining room table looks like it belongs in a castle and the white couches are spotless, there’s still a kid-welcoming look with a little plastic teal and yellow table full of crayons that sits prominently between the kitchen and family room where the Kennedy’s 5-year-old son colors while his mom cooks. “We wanted to make it very comfortable living-wise and not something you can’t live in,” Tom Kennedy says. “It has a luxurious look if you want it, but it also has more of a home feel.” Laina and Tom Kennedy created the home with special touches throughout for them and the four children. Laina’s most notorious touch is a 10-foot pink couch. “We have a sitting room in the master bedroom that has a couch from my sorority house from when I was in college,” Laina explains. “It is a very large pink couch, and my husband is very nice to accommodate that.” Tom’s special touch is an 1886 Steinway piano. “It is an antique,” Tom says. “We wanted to find a place to put it, so we designed the living room around it.” Tom enjoys playing holiday songs and modern rock. “It belonged to my mom. She passed it down to me,” he says. “There are usually 88 keys on a piano, but that one has 87, so it is a unique piano, because it has one less key.” For the children, there are two playrooms. The downstairs one doubles as a theater room and has a big screen television and lots of comfortable sitting areas. “I like the theater room, because of the big screen,” Tom says. “I can watch games on the big screen while the 5-year-old can play with his toys.” Double glass doors from that room lead to the large fenced backyard. “I love the yard, because the kids can play soccer out there and catch a football,” Tom says. “In Naples, it is hard to find yards where kids can play.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Kennedys in their Talis Park home. • Splashes of orange and a plastic kid table are a contrast to the elegance of the family room at the Kennedy home. The Kennedy’s enjoy watching television and hanging out together in this room. • A 10 foot pink couch is in the sitting area of the master bedroom. The couch was from the sorority house that Laina belongs to. When the home was designed, she wanted a room for that special couch. • The oldest son loves soccer so his room has a mural of a soccer stadium and soccer décor around the bedroom. • A stand-alone tub by a window gives a serene view from the bathroom. • The master bedroom leads to a sitting room and to his and her bathrooms and walk-in closets. • The Kennedys’ youngest son has a bedroom with a tent and a bathroom with loads of bath toys.

66 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

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The upstairs playroom/game room has a Pac-Man arcade game, a shelf of board games, a table and an area for video games. It also has doors that lead to a terrace overlooking the pool and golf course. While it might seem extravagant to have two playrooms, Tom says it is perfect for his family. “With our kids with ages 5 to 16, they have various needs,” he explains. “The boys can play downstairs. The girls can go upstairs and get away from the little kids and have their privacy.” Each child was also given a special bedroom that matches their interests. Their youngest son has a teepee and piles of books. His bathroom wallpaper dons cars and trucks, and along his bathtub are bins of tub toys. The three older children spend every other weekend and the summer at the house. The 11-year-old loves soccer, so he has a mural of a soccer stadium covering one wall. A soccer blanket covers the bed, and an orange locker-like dresser brings a splash of color to the room. The 14-year-old is a dancer, so one wall of her room has floor-to-ceiling mirrors and a ballet bar. Flowery wallpaper covers another wall. “She’s the more girly one,” Laina says. The oldest has a more sophisticated room with a simple white design on her king-size bed. A swinging wicker seat and an old-fashion record player are her special items. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 67

“The kids’ rooms I love,” Laina says. “I tried to do something different in the kids’ rooms. I really wanted their rooms to be personal to them.” Yet while the home is inviting and welcoming for the children, it is also luxurious for the adults. The two-story entry sets the theme for the home with dark wood floors and bright white walls. The staircase with its glass panels under the bannisters makes the steps a focal point along with the piano just below. Just inside, the living room overlooks the pool and golf course. Farther into the house is the family room. “That is where we hang out in the morning and where we watch TV,” Laina says. Nearby, a long sleek white counter with stools leads to the spacious kitchen, which then leads to a family dining nook. Laina says most family meals take place there. For special occasions, there’s a formal dining room. A long table with eight settings stretches along the center of the room. Velvet plush blue chairs surround the table. On top, tall ceramic candle holders and a magazine-worthy table setting give the dining room the look of something from a palace. Along the wall are huge framed scrolls from France. “I love our formal dining room,” Laina says. “I know now it is trendy to go away from a formal dining room, but it is really nice for special dinners. It makes it feel a little more special.” Nestled between the dining area and the kitchen is a butler’s pantry. There’s also a glass wine closet. The downstairs guest room has a king-size bed and large closet. Nearby, Laina and Tom’s dens are a vision of contrasts. Tom’s den has dark wood shelving built into the wall, a dark desk and dark brown chairs. Laina’s den is bright and white. The chair, rug and built-in shelving are all white. Nestled in the shelves are whimsical items, such as a Dr. Seuss metal lunchbox featuring a scene from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.” There are family photos and other special items. 68 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Kennedy home is 10,000 square feet with even more space outdoors. Laina Kennedy says it is the boys who especially enjoy the swimming pool. • Laina and Tom’s dens are a vision of contrasts. Here Tom’s den is dark and masculine while Laina’s is white and bright. • The Kennedys’ youngest son has a bedroom with a tent and a bathroom with loads of bath toys. • The kitchen in the Kennedy House is elegant and sleek, yet nearby is a colorful plastic table for their youngest son to do arts and crafts while his parents cook. • The hallway is full of family photos of this blended family that includes three older children that spend every other weekend at the house and their youngest son who always lives there.

grand | OPEN DOOR “It has a lot of kid mementos,” Laina says. It also has a little bed for their Chihuahua Tido. The master suite is another one of Laina’s favorite places in the house. “My closet, I love the space,” she says. The closet is about as big as a bedroom with floorto-ceiling shelves. The top shelf rack lowers at the push of a button. Her bathroom has a large round ottoman and a pink poof stool. There is also another dog bed for Tido there. Tom’s bathroom and closet are a bit smaller but still spacious. The master bedroom, with its king-size bed and light colors, leads to the sitting area with the 10-foot pink couch. “I had my wedding pictures taken on it. It’s very special,” Laina says. Just outside the bedroom is the lanai. The infinity-edge pool with its zero entry looks like it is flowing right into the golf course. “The boys love to swim,” Laina says. The lanai also features an outdoor kitchen with two flat screen televisions. Laina says the dual TVs are needed so she can watch University of Oklahoma football while Tom, a Tulane graduate, watches his favorite team from Notre Dame.

There’s also an outdoor dining space and a sitting area along with a pool table and ping-pong table. The entire outdoor area overlooks the golf course. “Ironically none of us play golf, but it is pretty to look at,” Laina says. Even without golf, the Kennedy family has lots to do in Talis Park. It was the combination of the property and the amenities that attracted them there. “We wanted some land, which is hard to find in Naples,” Laina explains. The property is just over an acre. And it’s near the amenities center. “It is very welcoming for kids,” she says. “We can say, ‘Hey, can we do a movie night for the kids,’ and they say, ‘When do you want it?’” A quick walk or golf cart ride to the amenity center and they can enjoy the pool, tennis, gym, bocce and more. “It feels like you are on vacation. There is so much to do,” Laina says. It took two years for the Kennedy home to be built. They moved in March 2016. The custom house was built by Borelli Construction. “We love them,” Laina says. “I don’t know many people that can say they love their builder after the process, but we do. They were great to work with.”

Yacht and Country Club YACHT and COUNTRY CLUB

• Security Gated Waterfront Community in South Ft. Myers

• Just 5 miles from the Sanibel Causeway and Ft. Myers Beach Bridge

• Over 20 neighborhoods with homes ranging from $200,000 to $6 Million, Country Club, Golf course, Tennis courts and two Restaurants

• 186 Slip Marina with ﬂoating docks, Gas and Diesel, Marina Center & Lounge, Staffed 7 Days a Week

Choose Gulf Harbour Properties for EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & RESULTS! We specialize in real estate services for the Gulf Harbour community.

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15301 McGregor Blvd #2, Fort Myers, FL 239-565-2766 | GulfHarbourProperties.com RealEstate@GulfHarbourProperties.com GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 69

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Cold weather cutie • Charm in chilly

Chill Fringe for frost

• Wrap yourself in this Boho-chic Minnie Rose fringed poncho. This beautiful blue wrap is made from 100-percent cotton, which makes it super cozy, lightweight and travel-friendly. Whether it’s a drafty room or a walk in the park, wrap yourself up and go anywhere in warmth and style. The fringed poncho is priced at $131 and can be found at Jennifer’s in Fort Myers.

weather with this adorably sophisticated knit beanie by Kate Spade New York. Made from a warm wool blend, it features a feminine grosgrain bow in the center. This knit cap is playfully pretty yet prim, and great for staying warm on cool-weather days in the park or on the town. Priced at $48. Available at Nordstrom, Naples.

STYLE Florida may shine rather than snow, but it isn’t without cold weather altogether. There are days when that windy chill seeps in from the sky and sea and seems to go straight to the bone. That’s when the right warm and fashionable find will make all the difference. — SARA COGGIN

All laced up

• Step into gorgeous Lace-Up Booties when the air is crisp and you are looking to feel sharp. These stacked heel boots feature lace-up backs and almond toes. Made in Italy by Jimmy Choo, this fresh suede and leather boot design is sure to impress, all the while saving those toes from the chill. Priced at $995. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Naples.

70 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

Shimmer softly • Wrap and

warm your neck with this silky, sophisticated green scarf by Louis Vuitton Paris. The woven Monogram pattern uses shine yarn to give its soft signature Lurex shine. The Monogram Shine Shawl offers just the right amount of lightweight comfort and will polish any day or evening look. Priced at $675. Available at Louis Vuitton, Waterside Shops, Naples.

Sweater, and a dress

• A perfect combination for the chill. Feel comfortable, confident and warm with this romantic inspired tiered-sleeve sweater dress from White House Black Market. The heather gray pullover shift offers stretch-knit blend fabric for an easy and appealing fit and features ruffledtiered bracelet sleeves, mock neck and a modest above-the-knee cut. Perfect whether love or a chill is in the air. $94 at whitehouseblackmarket.com.

Preppy and prepared • With Prep that packs the heat. The Moncler Stripe Donegal Crewneck Sweater is densely knitted from a hearty blend of wool to keep the guys ultra-warm this winter. This imported designer men’s sweater features a classic chevron stripe in Moncler colors and ribbed cuffs and hem, lending to its refined and functionally cozy style. $755 at Nordstrom and nordstrom.com.

Hot fashion

• For a sleek look this winter, slip on this gorgeous Velvet Moto Jacket. Beautiful softto-the-touch velvet brings sophistication and classic elegance to its moto silhouette design and will leave you feeling cozy-glam, day or night. The collarless, lined jacket was created for Macy’s by ITC International Concepts and features zip-up side pockets and front. Available for $119.50 from Macy’s, Fort Myers.

Invested in warmth

• Chico’s fauxshearling vest lends a posh profile that’s comfortable and chic. $139 at chicos.com.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 71

-0000952497

In town. On the water. Beyond the ordinary.

THE ISLES HAVE IT!

WATERFRONT LIVING. ON NAPLES BAY, 5 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN AND THE BEACHES.

LUXURY VILLAS, COACH HOMES & SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FROM THE MID $300s TO OVER $1 MILLION From poolside parties and beach picnics to kayaking and pickleball, The Isles of Collier Preserve is a place where nature, neighbors and free-spirited fun come together like nowhere else. A place where award-winning homes overlook miles of scenic waterways and preserves. Come see why, “The Isles have it” over any other community in Naples!

Available membership at adjoining Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club with deepwater access to the Gulf of Mexico • Classic Old Florida Clubhouse • Resort-Style Pool • Event Lawn • Lap Pool • Cabanas • Fitness Center • Pickleball & Tennis Courts • Kayak & Paddleboard Launches • Overlook Bar & Grill Coming Soon

(888) 347-0540 • MintoUSA.com • 5445 Caribe Avenue, Naples, FL 34113 Located on US 41/Tamiami Trail East, just south of Thomasson Drive For location, hours of operation and further details about our award-winning communities, visit MintoUSA.com.

© Minto Communities, LLC 2018. Not an offer where prohibited by state statutes. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Artist’s renderings, dimensions, specifications, prices and features are approximate and subject to change without notice. Minto, the Minto logo, The Isles of Collier Preserve and The Isles of Collier Preserve logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. CGC 1519880. 1/2018

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GIVER CHALLENGE To kick off its 10th anniversary, Charity for Change hosted its fifth annual Giver Challenge at Quail West Golf & Country Club on November 4. The event featured a cocktail hour with silent auction, interactive trivia-style games, dancing and dinner. The annual fundraising event raises funds to support Charity for Changeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to provide character education and community engagement programs to students throughout Southwest Florida.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1 3

1. Suzanne Todd, Amanda Jaron, Yvonne Bourk, Stacey Herring, Sonya Sawyer, Giselle Calleja, Rosanna McCarron, Jackie Calandra and Jessica Santella 2. Steven and Dr. Oleysa Karakosta with Sandy Bluesmen, Gewn Greenglas and Debi Greenberg 3. Steve and Patty Culling with Nancy and Tom Cusack 4. Tyler Bednar, Rebecca Rosenberg and Tara Rosenberg 5. Ed Wollman and Giver 6. Chad Oliver, Karen Conley, Sonya Sawyer and Florida Sen. Kathleen Passidomo

UNCORKED The fourth annual Uncorked was held November 10 at Mediterra Beach Club in Bonita Springs. The wine pairing event featured signature wines from Darioush along with food, music and silent auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit Youth Haven.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1. Evelyn McKoan, Erin Brahmns, Allen Papp, Lisa Fenda Wallace, Danielle Dejthai and Jennifer Michetti 2. Giselle and Jorge Calleja 3. Michael and Autumn Speicher 4. Claire Hila, Allen Papp and Jerry Galeana 5. Dana Debski, Greg Debski, Victoria Guenther, Josh Rudnick, Morgan Hila, Jennifer Michetti, Michael Michetti

5 GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 73

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RED GALA The second annual Red Gala was held at The Hilton of Naples on November 11. The evening featured cocktails, dinner, dancing and auctions. The event raises funds for Path2Freedom, an organization aimed at helping human trafficking victims and survivors.

Whether you are emptying or re-organizing your home, buying new furniture, moving to a new home, changing offices, cleaning up a construction site, Junkluggers eco-friendly junk removal and donation process could not be simpler!

1. Schedule a free no obligation estimate with the Junkluggers guarantee. 2. They safely take your items away and donate! 3. Your tax-deductible receipt can sometimes off-set most or even all of the cost of their services depending on the items they donate on your behalf!

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1. Jon Stevenson and Ana Stevenson with Dudley Goodlette 2. Danielle Stevenson, Lauren Stevenson, Ali Stevenson, Sharon DeLaura, Stacey Herring, Shirley Watral, Sonya Sawyer and Sterling Lund 3. Don and Michelle Hashman 4. Ana Munoz, Aritza Campins, Aliette Pettay

SalusCare celebrated the grand opening of its first “recovery residence” on December 12. SalusCare Place is located on the campus of SalusCare’s Transitional Living Center in central Fort Myers and offers men who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction a place to live to maintain sobriety.

1 1. Madelyn Isaacs, Sue Ackert, Carole Green 2. Don Pine, Spencer Roach and Todd Cordisco 3. Don and Lizabeth Pine

The Junkluggers of Collier & Fort Myers

239-307-2979 www.junkluggers.com

74 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

Photos special to GRANDEUR

SALUSCARE PLACE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE Experience the awardwinning cuisine at IL CIELO. Located on Sanibel Island, this fine dining restaurant, which name translates to “the sky,” offers a dynamic culinary experience in a friendly environment. Featuring creative American

cuisine with internationally inspired specials made with the freshest ingredients including Florida caught fish, meats, produce and delectable desserts made in-house. The IL CIELO knowledgeable staff prides themselves in unparalleled customer service with approachable team members who will guide you every step of the way. Join us for our nightly Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the lounge featuring signature small plates, appetizers and halfpriced house wines, domestic beers and

well drinks. Select from our carefully curated wine list or enjoy a local craft beer. Featuring live piano music by Scott McDonald Tuesday through Sunday nights beginning at 7 p.m. Gift Cards are available all year round for birthdays, anniversaries or any other special occasion.

IL CIELO Creative American Cuisine

1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island ilcielosanibel.com • 239-472-5555

The unspoiled beauty of Sanibel Island and Southwest Florida is the inspiration for the unique and creative jewelry designs found at The Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry. Established in 1975, they are known throughout the world for their unusual collection of sea and nature themed jewelry as well as innovative one of a kind in–house creations. Their experienced and talented master goldsmith is available to work with you to create that magnificent custom piece you have always wanted. See why this Island gem has been a favorite for both locals and visitors for over 42 years.

The Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry

1993 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island 239-472-2876 CedarChestSanibel.com

“Escape the Island Way” features the best goods and services located on Sanibel Island. For more information, or to advertise, contact Nicole Holey at 239-344-4696 or nholey@gannett.com

Savor the season. The next issue of Grandeur will be available starting February 3, 2018.

GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 75

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RED SNOOK CATCH AND RELEASE CHARITY TOURNAMENT The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s 2017 Red Snook Catch and Release Charity Tournament took place November 3-5. The tournament featured the Friday Night KickOff Party at the Conservancy Nature Center, two days of fishing and a celebratory awards ceremony for anglers and guides at Community Foundation of Collier County in Naples.

Location. Location.

Shell Point.

Waterfront Resort Retirement Lifestyle and the Assurance of Lifecare

EX P LORE TOD A Y!

Call (239) 228-4071 or visit shellpoint.org/seminars.

Unparalleled setting. Unparalleled lifestyle. Shell Point is located in Fort Myers on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River just 2 miles from the Islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Shell Point is a nonprofit ministry of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Foundation, Inc. ©2018 Shell Point. All rights reserved. SLS-3522-18

76SLS-3522-18 | JANUARYGrandeur 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com Ad JAN2018.indd 1

12/19/17 9:17 AM

4 1. Loral and Ray LeBoeuf with Van Williams 2. Stephanie and Gary Parsons 3. Jessica Bendo, Aldo Musico, Luca Musico, Kelly Musico and Joey Benko 4. Jay Tomkins, Bob Scott and Matthew Scott 5. Mokey Shea, Rob Moher and Henley Shotwell.

Photos by special to GRANDEUR

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JENNIFER’S ANNIVERSARY Jennifer’s boutique and Hightower Advisors celebrated the boutique’s 35th year in business with a client appreciation party featuring Black Salt Culinary and music by Emmy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated composer and flutist, Kat Epple.

THE TREVETT EXPERIENCE Works to meet your financial goals Is centered around you Understands your needs, values and dynamics 3

Focuses on the accumulation and preservation of your legacy We are the ideal financial partner for families and individuals, entrepreneurs and executives, throughout generations. To learn more about our boutique-style approach, contact us at 239.689.7180 or visit us at trevettcapitalpartners.com.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

5 1. Jack and Kellie Ann Thomas 2. Frankie Margolin and Susan Glasser 3. Back: Docile Gucmeris, Jennifer Williams, Jill Castiglione and Cindy Call. Front: Danielle Cassette and Maria Gervacio 4. George and Anne Marie Lavaliere 5. Beverly Fuller and Joann Orr 6. Trisha Bachman, Karla Davis and Barbara Carlin

A Busey Business

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WFL Children’s Charities, Inc. is delighted to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest! Dedicated to the advancement of local pediatric health, 100% of auction proceeds support primary beneﬁciaries – Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College – plus four new recipients – PACE Center for Girls of Lee County, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, SalusCare, Inc. and The Heights Foundation!

Friday, March 2, 2018

Saturday, March 3, 2018

CHEF VINTNER DINNERS

THE GRAND TASTING & LIVE AUCTION

Experience world-class cuisine created by local and national celebrity chefs expertly paired with vintners from some of the ﬁnest and most exclusive wineries.

Savor chefs’ signature creations, exquisite wines, and join the excitement of the live auction followed by Dessert After Glow with Norman Love and friends with a Mark Loren gift.

H o n o r e d S i g n at u r e Vi n t n e r Barbara Banke, Chairman and Proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, featuring The Spire Collection

CREIGHTON CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT | HOMETECH | MARKHAM NORTON MOSTELLER WRIGHT & COMPANY, P.A. JASON’S DELI | WOLF, METZGER & MAURILLO WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS

239.433.4260 | swflwinefest.org 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

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THE REAL HOUSEPETS OF NAPLES The Humane Society Naples held The Housepets of Naples Luncheon and Fashion Show on November 22 on The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.

3 2

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1. Christina Chambers and Antonio Davis 2. Pamela Sasser 3. Kirsten Ferrera, Al Rupp, Patty Baker, Kizzie Baker, Linda Malone 4. Sarah Baeckler Davis (Humane Society Naples executive director), Krista Fogelsong 5. Doug Olsen, Louis Bolin, Wayne Smith and Philip Douglas

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UNIQUE

UNEXPECTED

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BOOTSTRAP BOOGIE The 12th annual Bootstrap Boogie Barn Dance was held in the riding area at the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center. The event featured live music, dancing, pony pie bingo, mechanical bull rides and barn tours. The event benefits therapeutic riding and other equine-assisted activities and therapy programs for children and adults with special needs.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1 1. Carly Steinbrenner, Brad Fisher, Sanya Lolly and Ryan Lolly 2. Anthony McClure, Kerry McClure, Sara White, Josh White and Gary Sharpe 3. Brigid SoldaviniClapper 4. George and Mary Lu Wassmer 5. Jimmy Brantley and Brooke Theriault

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WINE ON THE WATERFRONT Matanzas on the Bay hosted its inaugural Wine on the Waterfront fundraising event, raising $6,000 to support the mission of Operation Open Arms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in military personnel. The Veterans Day event featured a food and wine tasting on the outside deck of Matanzas on the Bay.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1 1. Candy Lynde with Tony and Anitra Coppolino 2. Bill Casagrande, Noelle Casagrande, Steve Weaver and Danielle Easton 3. Jack and Janet Sigman 4. Audrey Brooks, Jennifer Shannahan, Capt. John “GiddyUp” Bunch and Noelle Casagrande 5. Bill and Kerry Constantine 6. Capt. John “GiddyUp” Bunch and Tony Coppolino 7. Elliot and Emily Golden, Sarah and Jordan Hoogerhyde and Melissa Cofta

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SIGNATURE VITNER DINNER SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. hosted its Signature Vintner Dinner on November 28, honoring Barbara Banke of Jackson Family Wines as the Honored Signature Vintner of the 2018 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest. The two-day 2018 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest will take place March 2 and 3 at Quail West Golf and Country Club.

Photos by AMANDA INSCORE

1 1. Trustees mingle at the Signature Vintner Dinner 2. Erik Ackerman with Vicki and Richard Pitbladdo 3. Brooke Denson, Erik Ackerman and Elaine Hawkins 4. Sandra Stilwell, Brooke Denson and Maria Wiles 5. Doug Meurer and Gail Markham

ART OF APPRECIATION Guadalupe Center, a nonprofit organization focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through education, thanked more than 130 of its donors during the annual Art of Appreciation, on November 14 at The Baker Museum at Artis-Naples. During the evening, attendees had the opportunity to view works of art created by students from Guadalupe Center’s educational programs. In addition, Guadalupe Center’s Tutor Corps high school students were on hand to greet donors and narrate the artwork.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1. Jeanie Nealon and Susy Warren 2. Linda Yost, Helen Midney and Jorge Perez 3. Andy Arena, Jim Ledinksy and Tony Nicholas 4. Dawn Montecalvo with Sue and Fred Hagemann 5. Joe Baughman, Linda Macartney and Barbara Baughman 6. Dennis and Colleen Tasler 7. Bunny Salisbury, Barbar St. Fleur and Charlie Salisbury

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Beverly Fewster is photographed in the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Myers.

Deep roots for helping hands Longtime advocate Beverly Fewster chairs this year’s Storybook Ball.

ver the years, Ronald McDonald House Charities has helped numerous children and offered hope to families through grants, homes for care, family rooms and mobile care. By building better resources and connecting families to what they need, they pave smoother roads toward healing — together. The 24th annual Storybook Ball is held in February to benefit the charity. The 84 | JANUARY 2018 | grandeurmagazine.com

black tie event offers a magical evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing, special tribute and live auction. It will delve into the world of childhood imagination with this year’s theme of “Mary Poppins.” Longtime advocate Beverly Fewster is this year’s chair for the event and has been part of Ronald McDonald House and its charities for more than 25 years, from owning a McDonald’s franchise to becoming a volunteer and board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Beverly offers us great insight to this special event:

NEW THIS YEAR I can honestly say this event never disappoints. With a different storybook theme every year, there are always a few surprises and something quite magical about the evening. This year, we’re honoring Kathy Bridge-Liles, recently retired CAO of Golisano Children’s Hospital. A member of the Lee Health family for over 27 years, Kathy led a three-year journey with architectural firms and a team of more than 160 hospital staff to design the recently opened 300,000-square-foot Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. We’re looking forward to a very special evening in Kathy’s honor — we certainly have a lot to celebrate.

grand | BEHIND THE BENEFIT

THOUSANDS OF HOME PRODUCTS

24th Annual Storybook Ball • When: 6 p.m. February 17 • Where: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs

CONNECTIONS I have a personal connection to Ronald McDonald House Charities, and therefore a personal connection to the Storybook Ball. My husband Tom and I have attended the Ball most every year since the beginning. It’s the signature event of RMHC and we wouldn’t miss it for the world.

EVENT ROOTS This is my first year to chair the Storybook Ball, although it’s the 24th for RMHC. My predecessor, Heidi Frederic, chaired the Storybook Ball for many years and produced an incredible event each and every year. My mother-in-law, Barbara Fewster, also served as chair many, many years ago — so I’m really quite honored to have the opportunity to share the title and experience with some amazing women.

THE CALLING I absolutely love this organization. I’ve been involved since before the doors opened in 1996, but it’s been since my recent retirement that I’ve had the opportunity to spend more time at the new Golisano Children’s Hospital, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room. Then of course, there are the events… I’ve always enjoyed working the golf tournament that dates back to well before the House opened. When I was asked to chair the 2018 Storybook Ball, I was

hesitant at first… I started to get used to my new “stress-free retired way of life” but the RMHC staff convinced me that it would be a collaborative effort and promised me we would have a lot of fun. They were absolutely right.

MOVING FORWARD My family and Tom’s family have been involved with the Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Charities for nearly four decades. Our parents instilled in us the importance of giving back. After we sold our McDonald’s franchise, we couldn’t just give up all that we did with and for our community during our 24 years in business. I am now afforded the grace of time to volunteer, shoulder to shoulder with Tom, our daughter Kiley and our son Connor at this heartwarming place. It’s been wonderful to see and be a part of the growth of this amazing organization. Witnessing the Ronald McDonald House open its doors in 1996; the Ronald McDonald care Mobile Program, first hit the road in 2008 in Collier County; the Ronald McDonald Family Room opening in May of this past year; and a second Care Mobile arrived in mid-December and will be serving children in Lee, Charlotte and Hendry counties beginning this year. My vision and my hope is to do whatever I can to help raise the funds and awareness necessary to maintain and sustain these vital services to the children and families of Southwest Florida.

Kitchens & Baths • Art • Flooring • Furnishings • Appliances • Tile • Closets • Windows & Doors • Electronics • Lighting • Outdoor Living • Designers • Architects • Builders • Remodelers & Much, Much More!

Friday & Saturday – January 19 & 20, 2018 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ritz-Carlton ® Golf Resort 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples

Corner of Airport-Pulling Road & Vanderbilt Beach Drive

Presented by:

ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING 9756THAVENUESOUTH,NAPLESFL34102

$10 admission benefitting

Scholarship Fund

For more information & tickets please visit:

STORY BY SARA COGGIN | PHOTO BY LOGAN NEWELL

www.HomeAndDesign.net or call: 239.598.4826 GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2018 | 85

24TH ANNUAL STORYBOOK BALL

JJn us at The St�yb�k Ball, the signat�e event of RRald McDRald H�se Ch�ities® of S�thwest Fl�ida Honoring Kathy Bridge-Liles Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa 5001 Coconut Road | Bonita Springs Room Reservations 888.421.1442 Cocktail Reception I Silent & Live Auction I Dinner & Dancing I Black Tie Reservations & Sponsorship Opportunities 239.437.0202 | info@rmhcswﬂ.org

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