Grandeur Magazine April 2019 by Grandeur Magazine

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CONTENTS APRIL 2019

16 GRAND FACES

Sanibel writer Jennifer L. Schiff creates page-turners based on the competitive shelling scene and other aspects of island life. Bay Water Boat Club VP Adam Botana protects business by protecting the environment. Sue Moore planted the seed that became the Lakes Park Children’s Garden.

26 DINING

Dining on the water calls for a visit to M Waterfront Grille in the Village Shops on Venetian Bay in North Naples.

40 GETAWAY

Tropical blue waters span every hue of blue in the Exumas, where pigs swim, the snorkeling is fantastic and the water is oh-so-fine.

53 GRAND RIDE

The ultimate vehicle for the quintessential beach bum, hop aboard Fred Whisler’s 1955 Plymouth Belvedere.

63 OPEN DOOR

Veterinarian Lura Jones and landscape architect and urban designer Matthew Horton combine Old Florida style with modern design and amenities in their riverfront home.

IN THIS ISSUE

12 Editor’s Letter

29 Cover Story

50 Grand Case

14 The Colors Page

38 Pets

59 Make it a Double

22 Model Behavior

48 Shopping

68 Grand Times GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 7

HIGH STYLE FASHION LOW PRICES atLO

CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Part of the USA TODAY Network | Volume 17, Number 7

Publisher

William R. Barker

Editor | General Manager Kathryn Robinson Kinsey kkinsey@grandeurmagazine.com Art Director Lindi Daywalt-Feazel ldaywalt@grandeurmagazine.com Associate Editor Pamela Hayford phayford@grandeurmagazine.com

GIFT CARDS MAKE THE

Perfect Gift

Contributing writers

Gina Birch, Stephanie Borden, Cathy Chestnut, Sara Coggin, Jennifer Thomas, Andrea Stetson

Contributing photographers

Alex Diehaus, Morgan Hornsby, Amanda Inscore, Andrea Melendez,Kinfay Moroti, Ricardo Rolon, Brian Tietz, Andrew West

Vice President Advertising Sales, The News–Press

Nancy M. Solliday

Vice President Advertising Sales, Naples Daily News

Shawna Devlin

Dennis Wright drwright@grandeurmagazine.com

Production Director

Advertising Account Executive Nicole Holey nholey@grandeurmagazine.com Anthony Enright aenright@grandeurmagazine.com Director Circulation Distribution Jim Keeble jkeeble@gannett.com C O M P A N Y

S T O R E

Circulation Support and Logistics Manager

Cheryl Cushman ccushman@gannett.com

Distribution Manager Brian Franz bfranz@gannett.com

ON THE COVER

OVER

140 OUTLET STORES & RESTAURANTS UP TO 70% OFF RETAIL PRICES

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8 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

The iconic Sanibel Lighthouse is in clear view from the skies above the Sanibel Island Lighthouse Beach Park. In this month’s cover story we offer up six ways to dive in and enjoy our beautiful coastal attractions. Pages 29-36. DRONE PHOTO BY RICARDO ROLON AND KINFAY MOROTI Grandeur is published 8 times a year. Complimentary copies are home delivered to The News-Press and Naples Daily News subscribers in select neighborhoods throughout Lee and Collier counties. Subscriptions to the magazine are $24.95, and single copies are available at The News-Press and Naples Daily News 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

grand | ONLINE

You can now explore the Grand life anywhere you go with our new mobile-friendly website. It’s the same URL — grandeurmagazine.com — but a whole new experience with free access to all we have to offer. From galas and fine dining to the amazing homes of Southwest Florida.

Get social with Grandeur

Like us on Facebook @GrandeurMagazine

Read any issue of Grandeur on Issuu at issuu. com/grandeur2

grand | EDITOR’S LETTER

Finding my inner beach bum

PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ

Kathryn poses, on location at the Waterside Shops in Naples, wearing a round neck aline dress provided by Saks Fifth Avenue. Scarf accessory provided by Tory Burch.

12 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

vhen most of us think Southwest Florida the first things that come to mind are the swimming, fishing, boating, seaside dining and shelling. And we know what makes these wonderful activities possible — our abundant water ways and the vast Gulf of Mexico that anchor us locals to stay and draws visitors to explore our area year after year. As a native Floridian, I’ve always loved knowing at any time of the day I’m within minutes of being able to enjoy any of these water-related adventures. But with that came an unconscious complacency that a lot of us locals fall into. I grew up as a beach bum, enjoying the Gulf of Mexico whenever I wanted. Next I married into a family full of avid boaters and then raised my children in a home on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. But as I look back at each of these points in my life, I don’t think I truly appreciated the absolute beauty of the water that surrounded me. When I sat down to write this month’s letter, I thought I’d do a little research to find out exactly how many visitors came to our area to enjoy our shores, among other things, and

the number floored me. According to recent statistics over 6.5 million visitors came to Southwest Florida last year. Wow. Of course, I knew that number would be high. I sit in that traffic every day and I wait in the same lines for a table at our local restaurants, but what that also tells me is I need to stop taking for granted how lucky I am to have these opportunities and get out and reconnect with that inner beach bum that’s buried deep within me. With that in mind, this month we set out to offer ways to dive back into our beautiful waterways. From the 50-year-old iconic Rose Marina on Marco Island to the “Creative Coast” of Matlacha along the Southwest Florida coast, we take “On the Water” to you, pages 29-36. As for me, I’m setting a goal to get back to my roots and make time to dive into the Gulf of Mexico or start a new shell collection. My choices are limitless and so are yours. See you on the beach!

KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER

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Scott Greenberg, D.O. Orthopedic Surgeon Upper Extremity Trauma Shoulder, Elbow & Hand Specialist

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grand | COLORS

Liquid seduction

Pierce me

• Soft pale blue, meets punk-chic in the hardware treatment of the leather Disc crossbody bag by JW Anderson. Perfect for a day of waterfront shopping in Naples. $1,455 at Nordstrom, nordsrom.com.

• The waters surrounding the islands of the Bahamas are often compared to pools of aquamarine. This 26.63-carat aquamarine sits among 2.52 total carats of brilliant diamonds in a 14-karat white gold setting, $8,500 at The Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry on Sanibel Island. Dive in.

Queen of quirk • Not your ordinary chair,

the quirky femininity of the Clara is a conversation piece for sure. Available with swivel base or stationary legs, Hickory Chair Interior Design Showroom at Miromar Design Center in Estero. Price upon request.

Water

COLORS T

he sea calls to us, its gentle waves lapping at our shores. In restaurants, we jockey for the best seats overlooking the gulf and back bays. We marvel at tropical pools near and far. Indeed, water is a big part of who we are, both as physical beings and Southwest Floridians. It’s our identity. Here in Southwest Florida, water’s blue hues are always on trend. — PAMELA HAYFORD

Here, fishy fishy

• This seaside setting is perfect for entertaining on Southwest Florida’s warm summer days with its crisp whites and ocean blues. The Cellar’s Coastal Collection is available exclusively at Macy’s, macys. com. Set of four salad plates, $58. Fishnet melamine tray, $38. Blowfish pitcher, $59.

14 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Street shark • With a sleek exterior and luxurious interior, the 2019 Lincoln Navigator in Blue Diamond delivers

the ultimate in comfort and performance. Third-row seating and a tilt-and-slide second row allow you to transport the whole crew with ease. Onboard Wi-Fi enables 10 devices to connect at once. The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter engine produces 450 horsepower, and six drive modes help you switch from powerhouse to conservation mode. Starting price, $73,205. Choose Lincoln Black Label for an even more luxurious experience, starting at $96,395. Build your own at lincoln.com.

Move over, Elvis • All the fish in the sea will swim your way with these beautiful blue suede shoes by Christian Louboutin. And you thought Elvis had left the building. The Anjaline 85 suede pump features a 3.25-inch stiletto heel, padded insole and leather exterior sole. Made in Italy. $845 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Serenity now

• The soothing sound of flowing water washes away stress and delivers a sense of calm. Think babbling brook or even crashing waves. Fountains are often used by those who meditate to block out harsh noises and focus on their “white noise” aspect. Add this self-contained fountain anywhere an electric source is available for more serenity in your garden. $394 at R.S. Walsh In The Garden on Sanibel Island, rswalsh.com.

Pop of color

• Modern, functional and oh so blue, the Piccolo accent table pairs well with a favorite occasional chair. The foot of the table slides easily under most chairs and sofas, bringing the tempered glass top close to where you need it most. $169 at Scan Design in south Fort Myers.

Baby blues

• Bask in the vintage-starlet power of these Celine round sunglasses in transparent aqua. Despite their pale hue, the polycarbonate lenses offer 100-percent UV protection. $430 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 15

grand | FACES

shell story OF A

Sanibel writer Jennifer L. Schiff combines her passion for beachcombing and writing in a cozy island mystery series. STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT

anibel Island is a singularly irresistible lure for shelling enthusiasts, including writers the likes of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, who extrapolated and penned her life’s philosophies inspired by mollusks’ mysteriously perfect designs. No doubt that many a contemporary islander was initially drawn to its shores by nature’s delicate treasures. Count among them Jennifer L. Schiff, who has become a part-time Sanibel resident who is upping the island’s reputation as “the shelling capital of America” through her Sanibel Island Mystery series. Centered on entanglements sorted out by investigative reporter Guinivere Jones, her fourth crime novel in the series, “Bye Bye Birdy,” is due out this month. About seven years ago, Jennifer stumbled upon this slice of Southwest Florida paradise in an article in The New York Times extolling its shelling uniqueness. The lifelong beachcomber, with her husband, Kenny, and their teenage daughter, made a weekend trip during a spectacularly fruitful weekend of shellstrewn shores, perhaps the result of a recent storm. “It was shells everywhere. I thought it was always like that. From that moment on, I was hooked,” recalls Jennifer, 53, who began making regular short jaunts to the island. “It took me another six years to have another shelling day like that.” The Manhattan native had used her writing skills professionally for more than two decades, in textbook editing, internet news and e-commerce, and technical writing and marketing. In on-again, off16 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

again spurts, she tried her hand at fiction writing. “Every few years, I would try to come up with a nonfiction topic, write 3,000 words, get bored and frustrated, and shelve it,” she says. It took a temporary layoff during a corporate transition and a pep talk over dinner in May 2017 with her husband and a couple of close friends on Sanibel to encourage her to follow her dream. And that’s how it unfolded. Two weeks later, the idea for her antagonist, a female sleuth who relocates to Sanibel as a reporter and winds up solving local crimes, came to her “literally in a dream,” she says. She set a deadline to have a decent manuscript finalized by Labor Day — or return to her former grind. She succeeded: Her first book, “A Shell of a Problem,” was finished in three and a half months, followed by a month in proofreading and revisions, with the self-published thriller hitting the shelves by November (in time for holiday sales). It was, not surprisingly, an instant bestseller on Sanibel. “Self-publishing is way harder than the magazine articles or other people tell you,” she admits. “The first time, it’s overwhelming.” “A Shell of a Problem” introduced a reporter for the fictional Sanibel-Captiva Sun-Times, who springs into action to solve the theft of a prized golden junonia from the annual Shell Show and an ensuing murder. It also set the tone for incorporating real island venues, such as restaurants, cafes and shops, into the action — prompting readers to ask for recommendations. “The people are fictional, but almost all the places are factual or sometimes modeled after places that I would want to go,” she says. “I wanted the books to seem real.”

The day I saw my book on a shelf at Barnes & Noble in Naples, I almost cried. My mother was visiting us … it was a pretty great moment. — JENNIFER L. SCHIFF

Though the author doesn’t dispense recommendations, she readily praises the independent bookseller, MacIntosh Books & Paper, because it was the first to take a chance on her first book. She’s reciprocated the loyalty by holding her book launches at the 59-year-old island gem, though the titles are now available at national chains, online and through libraries and Kindle. “The day I saw my book on a shelf at Barnes & Noble in Naples, I almost cried. My mother was visiting us … it was a pretty great moment,” Jennifer says. (Her mother, a former Harvard University English teacher, is her proofreader.) Now empty-nesters, Jennifer and Kenny, a tech entrepreneur, find themselves spending more and more time at the condo they bought in 2016 on the west end of Sanibel. Both work out of separate home offices, meeting up most days in the kitchen for lunch together. Before sitting down at the computer, she walks the nearby beach or strikes out to popular spots, such as Bowman’s Beach and Blind Pass. “Every day is something different on every beach,” says Jennifer, who began beachcombing along the shores of North Hampton and Palm Beach as a child. She became a “shell ambassador” through the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and is a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. It didn’t take long for Jennifer to grasp the competitive nature of shelling culture, which is fertile ground for camaraderie and story ideas. She also realizes people are drawn to the island for other pursuits: golfing, fishing, relaxation, water sports and birding. “Bye Bye Birdy” features an “Indiana Jones of ornithology” and a photographer visiting on a lecture tour. “So many people have the same Sanibel story: They came on vacation and fell in love with it and said, ‘I want to live there,’” she says. “It’s crazy the number of people” — readers far and wide — “who have fond memories of Sanibel.” PHOTO BY DANIEL SULLIVAN GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 17

grand | FACES

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTO BY MORGAN HORNSBY

PROTECTING

NATURE, PROTECTING

BUSINESS

Adam Botana, vice president of Bay Water Boat Club in Bonita Springs, works to help nature, because nature helps him.

ed tide, blue-green algae and a growing population can all harm the waterways that Adam Botana’s business depends on. But the vice president of Bay Water Boat Club isn’t waiting for others to help improve this environment. Instead he is at the helm of plans to take care of the back bays of Bonita Springs and Estero. Adam recently donated $12,000 to pay for signs that will mark seagrass beds in Estero Bay as zones where no boats with engines can travel. The state had designated these zones for no motors many years ago, but never funded the signage. The Tamiami Sportsman’s Coalition, a group of six local boat captains, held fundraisers to help, but never attained enough money. “Tamiami Sportsman brought it to our attention that these permits are out there; they just need to be funded,” Adam says. “The Keys have a no motor zone by their seagrass. I don’t understand why we don’t have it. We’ve got to protect our areas. We just decided it would be a good thing for us to do. It is a good thing for the waterway. We have to protect what is left.” Billy Norris, one of the founders of Tamiami Sportsman, is grateful for Adam’s help. “It’s huge because it is difficult to raise money,” Billy says. “By next season these grass beds will be protected. It’s pretty awesome.” That is just the beginning of Adam’s quest to pro-

18 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

tect the back bays. In January he started free weekly educational tours of the local waterways in south Lee County. Anyone can take the free one-and-a-halfhour tour where Adam explains not only boating safety in these shallow areas, but how to protect the ecology. “It takes 10 to 15 years for that grass to regrow,” Adam says on a recent tour as he stops by a seagrass bed to educate those on board. “That is what we want to protect. If you cast a net, you will see how much is in that grass. There are baby sea horses, little grouper, starfish. This is where all the baby fish start. There is so much in there. It is mind-boggling. That is why we want to protect this.” Adam hopes more people will attend these Friday morning free tours that he plans to do year-round. “We invite anybody who wants to go out there and get familiar with the waterways,” he says. “We call it the local knowledge. A lot of times we go out there and I see people cutting across the bay, and they think they are in Lake Michigan or Lake Geneva. They are used to 80 feet of water.” Outside the channels, the water can be just inches deep. Those on the recent tour saw egrets and herons walking in the middle of the bay. “We were just trying to help people figure out where to go,” he says of the tours. “It doesn’t cost us much. It just takes a little bit of our time.” During the recent outing, Adam purposely left the channel and bumped bottom in a few inches of water.

PHOTO BY ANDREA STETSON

Adam Botana and his father, Omar, at is the Bay Water Boat Rentals.

“If you get stuck, don’t power through it,” he says as he demonstrates the best way to get off a sandbar. “This is a park. You need to treat it that way.” Adam was recently appointed by the governor to the Florida Boating Advisory Council. He is one of 18 people around the state who work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Economic Opportunity regarding issues that affect the boating community. “We go up there and discuss our big concerns,” Adam says. Adam has also helped the fun side of boating. When the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce decided to stop running the annual boat parade on the Imperial River, Adam stepped in. When he took over in

2008, he was put at the forefront of a parade that had dwindled to about six boats the previous year. “That was horrible,” Adam says. “I thought ‘We can do it,’ and it just kind of grew. Like anything else here at Bay Water, we push it to the extreme. We put some money in the pot and added some new themes and new ideas, and we put money into decorating our boats.” Since then the parade has grown in participation each year and had more than 40 boats in the event last December. “We are building it back up,” Adam says. “We are one of the biggest in Southwest Florida now. We are going to keep growing the best we can. We look forward to it every year. Anything we can do to help people in the water and bring attention to the water is

a big thing.” Adam was born in Naples and raised in Bonita Springs. He and his brother Derrick and their parents, Omar and Sherry Botana, began Bay Water Boat Rentals 14 years ago. They started Bay Water Boat Club 12 years ago. The club now has 397 members and 41 vessels, and there are an additional 15 rental boats. With being so water-dependent, Adam says red tide did hurt his business this past year. “We are down 20 percent on new membership sales,” he says. “Rentals slowed down in the summer and in the winter came back. But for the big investment, people are scared to put down the money for a boat or a membership. Red tide is a natural occurrence. It’s nature. It bounces back.” GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 19

grand | FACES

Sue grew What

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON

PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE

20 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Sue Moore is the birder who planted the seed for the Children’s Garden at Lakes Park. n a raised bed of dirt are the letters of the alphabet and a plant for each letter: from aloe to zucchini. The alphabet garden at Lakes Regional Park is one of the highlights of the Children’s Garden there, and its existence is due to the tireless efforts of Sue Moore. The tells of Parkinson’s disease barely show, as Sue moves around the garden rattling off information about what is there now, and her big plans for its future. The Children’s Garden at Lakes Park is not the only achievement for Sue who has volunteered more than 1,000 hours at the park over the past 20 years. She has given guided bird tours, helped establish the yearly Bird Fest, established the annual Scarecrows in the Park fundraiser and became a board member of the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation. She took gardening classes and began helping in the gardens. She volunteered in the Fragrance Garden and the Community Garden. Five years ago, she began her most ambitious project of creating the Children’s Garden.

“The inspiration for this came when I attended several garden meetings,” Sue explains. “I heard about children’s gardens, and we have a park that attracts all kinds of children. Most botanic gardens have to really work to get the children to come, and they are here. So I thought we should really think about a children’s garden.” Now the 2-acre Children’s Garden has the alphabet area of vegetables and herbs, a pollination station, butterfly garden, flowers and a storybook walk. Sue is working on plans to add an educational pavilion for story time and programs. “We have planned a learning grove under the big elm tree,” she says. “This is the biggest elm tree in Lee County. It is at least 100 years old.” She also has a dream of creating a giant sun and Earth sculpture to encourage children and their parents to care for the planet. “We don’t think about the fact that we are a speck in space going around the sun, and that is a concept that is important to give to everyone on Earth,” Sue says. “We are a speck, but it is our speck. It is where we live, and we have to visualize that we are just a miniscule particle of the universe. We have to take care of it.” To help children visualize this, she wants to create a giant sun with the seven colors of light and Earth circling it. “That will be here in the garden to remind us that we have to take care of our Earth and we are poisoning our Earth now,” she says. “The biggest construction will be the sun garden, because I want it to be visible from the playground, so

people will see it and say, ‘Oh, what is that? I want to see it.’” Erin White, the executive director of the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation, says Sue is an inspiration. “She is considered the visionary of the foundation,” Erin says. “It has been her fondest desire for many years to have a place in Lakes Park where families can go and not only play but learn. She’s absolutely incredible. Her level of dedication has not waned despite her physical challenges.” Being a part of children’s lives isn’t new for Sue. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in English literature and taught English in junior high and high school. She and her husband, Frank, have four children and five grandchildren. Yet Sue never planned to be ensconced in a children’s garden. She says she was not a gardener, but a birder. She and Frank moved to Fort Myers from Binghamton, New York, in 1998. “I was a very dedicated birder at that time, and I wandered in here not knowing what was here,” she says. When she saw all the birds, she offered to give bird tours at the park. That was the beginning of her love of Lakes Park. “When they got serious about the botanical garden, I helped plan the Community Garden,” she says. “The Community Garden is one of the most successful of the community gardens in Florida.” Wearing hot pink pants, a lighter pink sweater and a widebrimmed hat ribboned with pink flowers and a pink bow, Sue moves confidently around the Children’s Garden. She says being active in the garden has helped keep her healthy. When she had a stroke many years ago and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she had to give up flying the small planes she loved to pilot. “Having an interest has kept me going,” she says. “This is my ministry. God wants this children’s garden to be built, and he wants me to do it, and with his help, it will be done.” A party for her 80th birthday was held in Lakes Park from on March 30. In lieu of gifts, Sue is asked for donations to the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation. “I am hoping to get lots of people to come and to make donations to the gardens,” she says.

When they got serious about the botanical garden, I helped plan the Community Garden. The Community Garden is one of the most successful of the community gardens in Florida.

— SUE MOORE

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 21

grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

TREETOP

VIEWS With coastal sensibilities, the Sabbia model uses elevation to create beautiful views in all directions.

The new Sabbia at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club

22 APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON

PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE

argaret Antonier had a vision of people living among the treetops with sweeping views of the lake and sugar sand beaches. The president and CEO of Miromar Development has had many visions as she developed Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, and this newest one is bringing a unique look to the community. She says her inspiration for this special feature came from her travels in Europe. “The incredible views of the sea and beach from the Hotel Cala di Volpe on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda and from the pool at the Hôtel Cap Estel in the south of France,” she says. “I envisioned bringing the same feeling to our beach houses. Residents live right on the beach and have great views from the second and third floors.” The Seagate Development Group recently finished one of the first homes in the new Sardinia enclave at Miromar that embraces this treetop living. “Margaret came up with this concept that she wanted to create homes that you would find on Bonita Beach and create that kind of lifestyle for Miromar,” says James Nulf, partner at Seagate Development Group. “I don’t know of any gated community that offers product like this. Now you can see that vision come to life.” That vision features the living and entertaining space and the outdoor lanai and pool area all one story up. As you sit on the lanai, instead of seeing the trunks of the palm trees, you are at eye level with the fronds. The higher level also gives wider views of the lake and beach. “You feel like you are living up in the trees,” James says. “You are looking at the treetops and it really softens up the space. It is a different type of living from any home.” It’s that treetop feeling and sweeping views that Margaret was looking for. “Whether you’re in the bedroom, the main living room or the pool, every area in the house has incredible views,” she says. “You also see both sunrise and sunset. The water and the beach are so peaceful and inspiring.” The open great room has a living room that opens to the wet bar area and the nearby kitchen. “It feels big,” James says. “The living space is a 40-foot-wide spread from kitchen through the family room.” Hidden behind tall cabinet doors in the kitchen is a walk-in pantry with countertops, cabinets and a second refrigerator. “With bottled water and drinks and food platters, we feel that people don’t have enough space, so something we always incorporate into our plans is another refrigerator into the house, so you don’t have to put it in the garage,” James explains. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The master suite on the third floor has sliders that lead to a terrace overlooking the beach and lake. Seagate Development Group wanted to design the third floor as a master suite sanctuary with a huge master bedroom and a humongous bonus room next door. • Lucie Simmons, senior designer with Freestyle Interiors, wanted to highlight the big spaces while also creating intimate comfort areas with intricate design elements. • The kitchen has a huge pantry hidden behind cabinet doors. It is so big that it has cabinets and another refrigerator. The developer created the main part of the kitchen with lots of windows above to let in natural lights. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 23

grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The master bathroom has two water closets, a large shower and a stand alone tub. The nickel gap ceiling,found in most rooms in the home, is also in this master bathroom. • The master bedroom and the bonus room on the third floor lead to terraces that overlook the pool, beach and lake. • The home was created so that the family room, kitchen, dining area and most of the living space is on the second floor. • The family room is on the second story with sliders that lead to the outdoor living area.

Diffusers and lighting are hidden in the ceilings, which glow with lights at night. The nickel gap ceilings throughout the great room give it a coastal feel. Nickel gap is similar to shiplap but with a gap between boards the width of a nickel. Lucie Simmons, senior designer with Freestyle Interiors, says the nickel gap is one of her favorite design elements in the house. “I really like the great room ceiling,” she says. “We took the concept of nickel gap and turned it six different ways. Nickel gap is a very Florida thing. It is very coastal. It is a very clean feeling. It works in so many decors. It adds a lot without adding the price tag.” She kept that theme by using nickel gap on the wall behind the television in the family room. “It is a big volume of space, and you want to keep it intimate,” Lucie explains. “It helps to separate that space and give it some intimacy and separation without putting walls up.” Outside on the second story is the lanai with a pool, spa, fireplace, outdoor kitchen, eating area and sitting area. Screens and shutters come down at the push of a button to enclose the outdoor area that’s under roof. The second story also has two guest suites, each with 24 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

king-size beds and walk-in closets. Seagate likes lots of light in the rooms, so besides the large main window, the bedrooms also have smaller windows high above the bed. “We made a conscious effort to maximize privacy,” James says. “We have a lot of windows, but they are high and private, so we are creating a lot of privacy for the owner.” Lucie designed each bedroom to have the same thematic concept but used in different ways. “We try and do an overall concept and then make it unique by different artwork, texture and color,” she explains. “We try to give the client a variety of what it can feel like. They are all cohesive but a little bit different.” The floating staircase to the third floor has a huge picture window overlooking another lake at the front of the house. From the second and third stories, you have lake views in both directions. The staircase leads to a large bonus room with a wall of sliding glass doors that open to a terrace. This room has a bathroom and closet, so it could be converted into a large bedroom. The master suite begins with a morning bar that then leads to the bedroom. The bedroom has sliders to a lanai overlooking the lake. The nickel gap ceilings match the ones on the main floor. The bathroom has two water closets, sinks on either side of the bathroom and a large

shower and stand-alone tub. The guest room suite on the third floor could be converted into a den, making the entire third floor a master floor. The ground floor is left up to the buyer’s imagination. “This would be your living level in any normal house,” James says as he walks around a huge unfurnished room. “We purposely didn’t furnish that space. We felt that space could be a rec room, but it could be a movie theater, game room, yoga room, fitness room. We rarely do this, but we really wanted people to choose what to do with this space.” The large room has sliding glass doors that lead to a brick patio that has a spiral staircase leading up to the pool. The ground level also features another bedroom suite. The home, called the Sabbia, features five bedrooms, five full and two half bathrooms, a den and club room. The Sabbia spans 6,227 square feet under air and 9,636 total square feet. It is on the market for $4.65 million. “There is so much interest in this product,” James says. “It is not something that you see in the communities that are not on the water,” Lucie adds. “It is different. It is pretty cool.”

grand | DINING

Dining WITH A VIEW STORY BY GINA BIRCH

M Waterfront Grille embodies fine dining on the water.

hen it comes to waterfront dining in Naples, it’s hard to beat the location of the Village Shops on Venetian Bay and, more specifically, M Waterfront Grille. The Village was constructed in the ’70s with the charm of Mediterranean architecture. Opening in 1987 as Maxwell’s on the Bay, the restaurant was rebranded 11 years ago as the trendy and modern M Waterfront Grille. Adam Balavender has been a part of the family-owned business 26 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

on and off for 17 years, the last three as general manager. He says, “Comfortable fine dining embodies what we do here.” While the pet-friendly veranda at the front of the restaurant is popular, the glassed-in terrace is one of the most requested spots for dining. Overhanging the water with sliders that open to the bay, it’s also perfect for private functions. The space was recently updated with clean gray and white colors and modern light fixtures. Also new is a spiral staircase at the restaurant entrance. It leads to the temperature-controlled wine

attic where 5,200 bottles from around the world are stored. No matter where you dine in the restaurant, there is a view of the water, including the elevated bar where happy hour is hoppin’ with food and drink specials. Seafood plays a big role in this waterside restaurant. You’ll find salmon, sea bass, scallops, lobster and more. “We don’t serve any frozen fish, and we’re very proud of that,” says Executive Chef Adam Nardis. The yellowfin tuna melts in your mouth.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Every seat at M Waterfront has a view of Venetian Bay where you’ll often see dolphins at play. • Perfectly filleted yellowfin tuna encircles savory cashew rice for a satisfying and savory entree. • The most coveted tables are found on the glassed-in terrace with sliders for an open air feel. • The shrimp and watermelon salad with whipped feta is a seasonal delight. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 27

grand | DINING

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: A signature salad, this tower of beets is drizzled with pistachio vinaigrette, accompanied by balls of creamy goat cheese. • Start your meal with a blackberry Old–Fashioned or a refreshing cucumber daiquiri. • Combining land and sea, the veal and shrimp is one of M Waterfront’s most requested dishes season after season.

Five thick, creamy pieces of sushi grade fish surround a heap of mouthwatering cashew rice, topped with Korean barbecue stir-fried vegetables; ponzu butter adds a rich touch. Speaking of butter, chef churns his own daily, adds some sea salt and serves it next to olive tapenade with fresh bread before dinner. It sets the mood and the bar for what’s to come. If you want some turf with your surf, the veal and shrimp dish is wildly popular. Served with mushroomspinach risotto in marsala sauce, chef calls it “timeless.” The cuisine is not only modern contemporary but also seasonal. Chef Nardis changes the menu each spring, summer, fall and winter to capitalize on fresh ingredients. The only exception is the signature crispy Brussels sprouts. Crispy with bacon, honey and balsamic, they are year-round staples. “I let nature direct the menu,” Nardis says. “A lot of chefs say this is what I want and then go and look for ingredients. I draw inspiration from the ingredients themselves.” A good example is the shrimp and watermelon salad. Watermelon medallions are pressed with basil and placed around a mound of fresh greens drizzled in vinaigrette made with local honey. Perfectly grilled shrimp, olives and dollops of whipped feta complete the dish. It has color, texture, salt, sweet — a bit of everything. The hydroponically grown greens come from a local farm, still in the root ball, fresh, flavorful and crunchy. Salads figure prominently this time of year and so do preparations that include grilling. Just like the food menu, the cocktail menu has sea28 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

sonal selections such as a French-style daiquiri made with cucumber, lime juice, simple syrup and rum. It almost tastes healthful. The Lavender Gin Sour is bright and acidic. The addition of lemon curd makes it look viscous; it’s anything but. Floral and fresh, it’s garnished with a lemon slice covered in lavender salt. The Blackberry Old-Fashioned is one of the most popular cocktails on the list. Blackberries, orange and thyme are muddled together before Bulleit Bourbon is added. It’s comforting. Dessert is always a treat here with standards such as Key lime pie and creme brulee, but it’s the doughnuts and holes that make diners swoon. Three house-made doughnuts, along with their holes, are dusted with cinnamon sugar and served hot with a lip-smacking coconut cream sauce. “I’ve simplified things a bit,” Nardis says of the menu. “Earlier in my career I wanted to put as many techniques and ingredients on the plate as possible to show what I know. “The wow factor is still important, but execution and technique take more precedent now.” Going into the summer months, M Waterfront adds an early evening pre-fix menu, and there is always valet parking to make life easy. This is not just a restaurant with a view. It’s a restaurant with consistently good food and service. The chef and general manager praise their staff, many of whom

have been around as long as they have. “This is not just a special occasion kind of place,” Balavender says, “but a place where people can come as often as their heart desires and a place where we’ll remember your name.” — M Waterfront Grille is located at 4300 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., The Village on Venetian Bay, Naples. For more information visit mwaterfrontgrille.com or call 239-263-4421.

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water Six ways to dive in and enjoy Southwest Florida’s coastal attractions.

he sun and the sea — Southwest Florida’s ideal climate and unparalleled natural resources are the lifeblood of the place we call home and a draw for the throngs who visit each season. Water, water is everywhere, in a spectrum of shades, moods and gifts, from the Caloosahatchee to Pine Island Sound, from back bays to interior swamps. Here are some ways, dear readers, you can explore unique communities and find unexpected delights along the shore. STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT

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Marco Island:

There are a lot of superlatives Marco Island can tout, but a significant claim is its ideal proximity to the naturally rich and diverse fringes of the Ten Thousand Islands. This makes it a hotspot for year-round eco-tours and paddling adventures, sightseeing cruises and guided fishing excursions. The 50-year-old Rose Marina (951 Bald Eagle Drive) is a Marco Island landmark, long a destination for boat rentals and charter fishing and sightseeing excursions. Situated on three waterfront acres on Factory Bay, those seeking a day on the water can find anything to meet their needs: nautical provisions, coastal and high-performance clothes, boat repairs, refreshing beverages at Jack’s Lookout, thrills, or simple relaxation. The 109-slip Rose Marina is the seasonal home of the Key West Express, almost 30 charter boats and an array of eco-tours. One provider is Dolphin Explorer, a serious dolphin research vessel that also educates riders about local shells, birds, barrier islands and sea life. The marina has also been the base for Sunshine Tours & Charters since

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CRUISIN’ THE BACKCOUNTRY 1984, owned and operated by Lely High School graduate Capt. Rodger Parcelles. Sunshine Tours has staked its reputation for its sightseeing and fishing charter boats with enchanting names such as the Marco Island Princess (for lunch and dinner cruises), Miss Louise, Dolphin Express and Sunshine Express, a 1987 Bellcraft manufactured in Naples. “It’s been with us a long time,” says Rodger, 54, who earned his master captain’s license a year after graduating high school. Today, Sunshine Tours employs 27 people and has a fleet of five fishing boats. The latest is Reel Faster, a 36-foot Yellowfin with three Mercury outboards pushing a total of 900 horsepower, though the motors are quiet enough for conversation. It was built for offshore fishing tournaments, so it can carve a fast path to deep water. “You can get out farther and get there faster. You don’t lose fishing time by going out farther out. Guests like the boat ride — it’s a thrill ride,” he says. Sunshine Tours also offers fishing trips to Goodland and Everglades

City and backcountry fishing trips in Rookery Bay, Jonathan Bay, Tarpon Bay, Addison Bay, Unknown Bay, Charity Island and other locales, depending on the weather and the anglers’ goals and season. The protected, mangrovefringed bays are ideal for parties with young children or elderly members and visitors with limited time. An array of nature and shelling tours and fishing guides are based in Goodland at Calusa Island Marina (385 Angler Drive) and Goodland Boating Park (740 Palm Point Drive). Paddle Marco rents kayaks and paddleboards at Capri Paddlecraft Park (1295 Capri Blvd., Isles of Capris) and Caxambas Park (909 Collier Court, Marco Island). If you’re kicking it for a long stay-vacay, Paddle Marco offers free delivery and pickup to homes and condos. For those who have a need for speed, two companies offer guided WaveRunner tours of Ten Thousand Islands: Marco Island Water Sports (600 S. Collier Blvd.) and Capt. Ron’s Awesome Everglades Adventures (909a Collier Court).

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” — JACQUES COUSTEAU

WATERFRONT SHOPPING When we set our sights on shopping in Naples, there’s no doubt that the tony Fifth Avenue and Third Street South districts are high on the radar. Next time chart a new course to find Old Naples and new-millennium elegance. For 30 years, shoppers have been drawn to a laid-back waterfront enclave — The Village Shops on Venetian Bay — that features the charm of Mediterranean architecture. It is home to more

than 42 retailers, galleries, professional services, a French cafe and six waterfront restaurants. It’s so nice that eight tenants have remained since it first opened in 1988: Ben & Jerry’s, Fabec-Young & Co., M Waterfront Grille, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Robert of Philadelphia, Teruzzi, The Lutgert Companies and WM. Phelps Custom Jeweler. Locals often refer to this locale as Venetian Village (4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N.), a place

to sit waterside with a warm cappuccino and watch dolphins pass by or celebrate special events, holidays and charity fashion shows and fundraisers. On Saturday, May 11, celebrate mother with a complimentary photograph between noon and 3 p.m. Head over on June 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., for a Father’s Day antique car show. The historic Tin City (1200 Fifth Ave. S.) has been an offbeat destination for four decades — an authentic waterfront

Naples destination that began in the 1920s as a clam shelling and oyster processing plant. Today, it retains its nautical and rustic charm as the air-conditioned, year-round home of more than 40 shops specializing in clothing, collectibles, jewelry and artistic curiosities, in addition to food purveyors, restaurants and Pure Naples boat excursions. Free parking is available, in addition to valet parking during the peak winter months. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 31

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Bonita:

WORLDS APART AT LOVERS KEY STATE PARK 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from the parking area inside the main park entrance to the shoreline. The tram gives visitors views of the mangrove estuary habitat that draws a rich diversity of wildlife. Stroll the 5-mile Black Island Trail to seek out frequent visitors, including bald eagles, crested caracaras, West Indian manatee and alligators. Traverse a maritime hammock along the Eagle Trail and immerse yourself in the estuarine ecosystem. Considering the tranquil beauty and location name, it’s not surprising that the gulf-side gazebo is often booked for weddings and family reunions. Hurricane Charley’s serves soft drinks, hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and ice cream. Keep your load light. You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, bikes and water craft, purchase all types of sundries and bait, and book a guided tour through Lovers Key Adventures. No matter what you decide to do, you’ll feel worlds apart from the bustle of the urban core.

PHOTO BY ANDREW WEST

Lovers Key State Park is a consistently idyllic destination to visit no matter the season — an island paradise with many moods, habitats and recreational opportunities for everyone in your group. With 1,616 acres providing 2½ miles of undeveloped, pristine beachfront and back bays, Lovers Key (8700 Estero Blvd.) is a group of four barrier islands situated between Fort Myers Beach’s Big Carlos Pass and Bonita Springs’ New Pass. You can arrive by car, boat or LeeTran trolley. You can make it a simple trip to the beach or go hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, birding, shelling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Plan ahead by learning about scheduled events, such as ranger programs and morning yoga gatherings. The beach is unique in Southwest Florida — it is secluded on an outer island that’s two islands away from Estero Boulevard, the main road. A popular way to reach the beach is via the park tram. It loops every 15 minutes between

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Matlacha:

ART AMBLE THROUGH CREATIVE COAST

Pine Island is the largest island along the Southwest Florida coastline. It also stakes a claim as the last agricultural island in the state combined with commercial fishing — a wellspring for fresh tropical fruits as well as fish. It’s home to five communities boasting their own ambience: Pine Island Center, St. James City, Bokeelia and Pineland. Add Matlacha — an artsy world of its own, on its own island, that launched the community’s “Creative Coast” moniker. Matlacha is a gateway to Pine Island — albeit an optic-bright pink, yellow, green and blue gateway owing to the conversion of original fishing shacks and cottages into fun, funky art galleries, gardens and gift shops that invite visitors to delight their senses. Two can’t-miss galleries that have been around since the beginning of the transformation of Matlacha from forgotten dilapidation to unbridled creativity in the late 1990s are Wild Child Art Gallery (4625 Pine Island Road) and the next-door Leoma Lovegrove Gallery and Gardens (4637 Pine Island Road). Get the lay of the land and see the work of several local artists at the Pine Island Art Association (Matlacha Community Park, 4577 Pine Island Road). Don’t overlook Pine Island proper — home to many artists, authors, singers and other creative types — for home décor, gifts and even art lessons. For instance, Koucky Gallery & Gardens (5971 Bay Point Road, Bokeelia) enjoyed a good reputation in Collier County before relocating to the island and evolving into a working studio that offers beginning and advanced clay courses by Chuck Koucky. On the second weekend of each month from November through April, experience artist demonstrations, workshops, opening receptions, book-signings and live music during Florida’s Creative Coast Weekends. 34 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Fort Myers :

DINE & UNWIND There is a hard-to-define frisson that crackles while cruising over the Matanzas Pass Bridge. It must be a combination of the seagulls aloft in the briny air along with parasailers in the far-off distance and the thrum of sunburned tourists flowing to and from Times Square. Each island in the region has its own special niche. Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island is well-known as a haven for partying spring breakers, but many locals know it as a destination for breakfast, lunch or dinner — as a place worthy of a trek for fresh food (particularly the shrimp being landed at the docks). Many in Southwest Florida choose to make it a nautical adventure and arrive by boat to tie up at their favorite restaurant, says Jacki Liszak, president of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of people come down, especially local folks, to catch the sunset and have dinner,” she says. “And a lot of people like to come for breakfast and walk around Times Square, the pier — spend a few hours before they go back home.” A recent listing of favorite spots by renowned News-Press nom de plume food critic Jean Le Boeuf include: » Coste Island Cuisine at DiamondHead Beach Resort (2000 Estero Blvd.) for its gulf view, selection of small plates, sandwiches and trendy entrees at various price prints. » The landmark Dixie Fish Co. (714 Fishermans Wharf) with its freshoff-the-dock pink shrimp, hogfish and shrimp, local beers and live music is a hands-down favorite. » Flipper’s on the Bay (8767 Estero Blvd.), Le Boeuf notes, “is the rare place where the food matches the views” of Estero Bay, offering breakfast-to-dinner service. If you haven’t taken the tour de cuisine of Estero Island, make a note to check into Fresh Catch Bistro, Heavenly Biscuit, Tuckaway Café (for Belgian waffles), Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and last but not least Smokin’ Oyster Brewery. The name speaks for itself. “It’s a flip-flop kind of a place,” Jacki says of the latter, “but it has some of the best seafood on the island.”

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Downtown Fort Myers:

NIGHTLIFE HUB ON THE RIVER

Many residents and visitors may not realize that downtown Fort Myers, the city’s original business district, boasts the largest concentration of historic buildings in Southwest Florida today. We stroll some of the same streets as Thomas Edison, Tootie McGregor and other turn-of-the-century town founders. This thriving professional and governmental community by day evolves into a vibrant nightlife hub with 60 restaurants, bars and breweries, art galleries and shops. If dining and dancing isn’t enough, catch a show at the Florida Repertory Theatre in an historic arcade or get lost in a live classical ensemble or independent film at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. The River District Alliance organizes more than 52 events each year, including the monthly Art Walk and Music Walk, sparking nighttime culture. 36 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

To kick off the evening, toast the setting sun from any perch throughout the River District. Ascend the elevator to the Skybar at the Firestone Grill Room and Martini Bar (2224 Bay St.) or to the Hotel Indigo (1520 Broadway) rooftop bar for a panoramic view, or mingle riverside at Pinchers Crab Shack at The Marina at Edison Ford (2360 W. First St.). You don’t have to drop a dime to watch the sky blaze crimson from Centennial Park or the Fort Myers Yacht Basin. Survey the work of local artists or pick up a special gift during Art Walk on the first Friday of each month. Arts for ACT Gallery & Boutique (2265 First St.) features guest artists and regularly changing exhibits of all genres and mediums created by more than 50 artists. Another one-stop destination is The Franklin Shops (2200 First St.), which

houses upwards of 90 independent mini-boutiques selling clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, candles and soaps. The eye candy continues in the upstairs art gallery and artists’ boutiques highlighting an unexpected mix of talent and genres. When thirst beckons, Millennial Brewing Company (1811 Royal Palm Ave.) is a must-not-miss stop for its tap selection of artisanal beers. There’s always something interesting going on: Trivia Night, Millennial Game Night, college football broadcasts, and food truck samplings on Fridays. Coastal Dayz Brewery (2161 McGregor Blvd.) is a recent arrival to the scene and has become known for community events and bringing in guest food purveyors from area restaurants. Downtown Social House (1406 Hendry St.) invites downtown visitors to

#EatDrinkGetSocial with craft cocktails and its SoHo NYC-inspired garden bar atmosphere. The nearby Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro (2214 Bay St.) marries the delicacies of the adjacent, awardwinning Twisted Vine Bistro and touts more than 40 hard-to-find bourbons, a thoughtful tap selection, Sunday Jazz Brunch, and live music on most evenings. Day and night, The Standard (1520 Broadway) is open seven days a week for from-scratch American cuisine for lunch and dinner, indoors or outdoors, and Saturday and Sunday mimosa-enhanced brunch. Unique events include courses on making sausage and cocktails, drag queen bingo and karaoke. When revelers tire from covering so much territory, they hail down a free Nickel Ride in a smooth electric car.

grand | PETS

STORY AND PHOTO BY ANDREA STETSON

SHELTER PUP TO

Kona the golden husky boasts more sponsors than her

ona has a true rags-to-riches story. The golden husky mix was repeatedly abandoned and sent to local animal shelters. “I’m her fifth owner,” says Meg Bosi. “She was given up five times. She had quite the rap sheet.” When Meg first saw Kona at Lee County Domestic Animal Services in 2016, she knew the nameless dog was perfect for her. “When I walked in, she came to my knees and sat down,” Meg says. “She has a nice combination of submissiveness and assertiveness. She knows what she likes and doesn’t like.” What Kona didn’t like when she was adopted was the water. That didn’t work with Meg’s lifestyle, so she set out to encourage her new dog to enjoy the local waterways as much as she does. “I started paddling with her almost immediately after I got her,” Meg recalls. “That was a prerequisite. If you are going to be my dog, you are going to have to like water. The first time I took her to the river, she was extremely scared of water.” Meg was patient with her new canine. “It was a process,” she says. “I started just getting her in ankle deep water. I was just getting her used to the water and then getting her on the board, and then I would stand by the board and walk around the board. Then I would hop on the board with her. She would

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put all of her weight on my legs. After doing it almost daily, now she will walk all around. She is very comfortable doing it now. As soon as I put it in, she will jump on. She really does love it.” On a recent sunny afternoon, Kona, now 10, wags her golden tail as Meg splashes her paddleboard into the water at the Riverside Park launch in Bonita Springs. The dog immediately jumps on the board and sits down, ready to go. Meg paddles with Kona about once a week. She says her dog helps her train for the races she competes in. Meg is part of the Surftech Team of competitive racers. “I call her my drag suit,” Meg says. “She adds 60 pounds to my board, which is a lot more to push. She gives me a workout if I am training. Balancing out another source of weight and movement is extremely challenging for most people. It definitely adds to strengthening your legs. Most people struggle just with balancing and overcoming waves and tides and wind, and then having her as well it can definitely be challenging, but it’s made me a better paddler.” Paddleboarding is just one part of Kona’s life of riches. “She is kind of the do-it-all dog,” Meg says. “We skateboard, we bike, we road trip. She is a service therapy dog for Special Olympics Florida for stand-up paddleboarding and basketball. In Collier and Lee counties, the athletes absolutely adore her.” Meg is a chemistry teacher at the new Bonita Springs High School, but she also coaches paddleboarding and basketball for Special

paddleboarding human, Meg Bosi. Olympics and enjoys having Kona at her side. Kona goes to practices about once a week and to all the events that are accessible by car. “She acts as a service dog for them,” Meg says. “Children with autism and Down syndrome use her for comfort. Since she has been coming to practices, we have had minimal problems out on the water. The kids want to be near her. They will finish the workout for Kona. They really adore her.” Sponsors also adore her. “She has more sponsors than I do,” Meg says. Kona is sponsored by Pack Leashes, a brand specific for active dogs. She is also sponsored by the dog apparel company, Dog is Good. Kona Ice in Punta Gorda used her for an advertisement. “They actually reached out to us,” Meg says. “We go to a lot of shows for stand-up paddleboarding, and lots of people gawk at her. Even when I walk down the street, people are always stopping me to say how beautiful she is.” While Kona does not have her own Instagram page, most of Meg’s page is full of photos of her dog. When Kona was adopted, she did not have a name. Meg named her after one of her favorite places in Hawaii. Even the board that Meg now paddles on is appropriate for Kona. The brand is called Bark. Meg says she can’t believe so many people abandoned her golden bundle of joy. Kona is well-behaved, cuddly, gorgeous and just a great pet, Meg says. “Once they get in the right environment, they will act accordingly,” she says.

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grand | GETAWAY

blue

BIG ALL ABOUT THE

EXPLORE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF HUES IN THE EXUMAS.

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“The Exumas are surrounded by a kaleidoscope of translucent aquamarine and blue waters ranging from bonefish flats … to Atlantic Ocean blues. The waters surrounding these islands are every shade of blue and green,” describes Anita JohnsonPatty, spokesperson with Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. There are 365 islands, rocks and cays in Exuma, about 35 miles southeast of Nassau, and it’s divided into three areas: Great and Little Exuma and The Exuma Cays. Great Exuma is 37 miles long and, at its widest point, 7 miles across. Mandy Garland, of Fort Myers, visited Exuma with her family and friends. She often vacations

in the Keys and in Utah but was looking for something a bit different yet still in line with their water-based lifestyle. “We wanted to travel somewhere on our boat and love vacations that include the ocean,” she explains. “We figured we had seen enough of Key West and wanted to see something new.” Staniel Cay, Highbourne Cay (known as the gateway to the ultimate ephemeral islands — The Exuma Cays) and Little Farmer’s Cay were just a few of Mandy’s stops. She and her family swam with pigs and turtles, snorkeled, fished and even jumped 40 feet into a cave.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE ISLANDS OF BAHAMAS

he water of Exuma is so brilliant, it caught the eye of astronaut Scott Kelly, who described the region as “the most beautiful place from space.” Visitors flock to this chain of islands in the central Bahamas for fishing, scuba diving, sailing and exploring blue holes and barrier reefs. This sweet spot, also called the Exumas, is all about the water in its many shades of blue.

STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS

“Swimming with the turtles was amazing,” Mandy says. Anita offers her recommendations, too: a swimming with pigs tour, Chat ‘N’ Chill and Tropic of Cancer Beach. The official home of the swimming pigs is Big Major Cay, where guests can interact and feed the large animals and even hold a piglet. These creatures are used to being fed by humans, and when they hear the boat arriving an immediate welcome squad emerges to the vessels. “Our kids enjoyed swimming with the pigs, because it was out of the ordinary,” Mandy recalls. “You have to be cautious when swimming with them because they are hovering and following you for food and water, so they can get a bit snippy.” Chat ‘N’ Chill is a laid-back open-air beach bar on Stocking Island across from Elizabeth Harbour, where guests can swim with stingrays and other marine life, hike among the island dunes, engage in a game of beach volleyball and other activities. Travelers can only reach this destination via boat or seaplane. The Tropic of Cancer Beach, also known as Pelican Beach, is the longest beach on Little Exuma and is named after the meridian line that crosses through it. “This destination is miles and miles of exotic powdery whitesand beach with translucent blue-green waters,” Anita describes. “You can have this mostly secluded beach all to yourself.” The Bahamas waters are a snorkeler’s and diver’s dream for its variety of locations. “Some of the world’s most beautiful scenery can be found in the waters surrounding the Exumas,” Anita says. “There are countless reefs with colorful corals and beautiful marine life.”

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 41

grand | GETAWAY

One popular spot was featured in the James Bond spy thriller “Thunderball.” “Thunderball Grotto got its name from the James Bond movie that was partially filmed there. It is a hollowed mystical cavern teeming with marine life,” Anita says. “The ‘roof ’ of the cave has a natural skylight that some use for jumping when tide is high. Thunderball Grotto is great for snorkeling.” Thunderball Grotto was Mandy’s high school daughter Savannah’s favorite. “It was a little tricky climbing up, since it was so steep and sharp rocks, but once you got to the top, there was a little opening to jump through,” she describes. “Once you jumped through, you had to have your snorkel and mask on, but it was super blue and almost neon looking — definitely one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. To get out, you had to swim through a little opening under the water and rocks.” A fishing paradise, one popular species many seek

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to catch is the trophy bonefish. “There are 60 miles of bonefish flats on the south side,” Anita says. “Spotting the ‘Grey Ghost’ is easy in the shallow, clear waters for sportsmen, but catching them is the hard part as these creatures can be very elusive.” Mandy recommends fishing the shallow waters off Staniel Cay. “There are plenty of places to catch bonefish, and our friends went, and they actually caught some.” If a fresh catch is not brought back, Anita suggests dining at Santanna’s Bar and Grill by the beach in Williams Town, a favorite not just for the locals but visitors as well. “This establishment was a favorite hangout for Johnny Depp while filming Pirates of the Caribbean,” she says. Mandy, who traveled to the Bahamas via her family’s boat, stayed on Staniel Cay. “We rented a house on the water from VRBO

and rented a golf cart in order to get around the island as it is very small with no vehicles for visitors,” she recalls. “We met four other families from Fort Myers in Staniel in which we had all rented our own homes. Three of the families took their boats as well. Some of the family members flew over in a small plane and another family flew over and rented a yacht to sleep and cruise around in.” Mandy says Staniel Cay was breathtaking — very quiet and relaxing, and the locals were very nice. “It’s the type of place that you don’t even bother locking your doors and everyone knows you,” she says. “There were no big sandy beaches although everyone’s house had its own private beach.” During her stay and venturing via boat to different sites, Mandy says, “It seemed the farther you went into the Exumas, the clearer the water got, as if it could actually get any more clear. We can’t wait to return this summer.”

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The breathtaking view from the second-floor pool of the Sabbia in the Sardinia Neighborhood at Miromar Lakes.

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Miromar Lakes offers an exceptional lifestyle along the water At Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, water is the canvas and the masterpiece. Painting with bold blue brushstrokes, the 700-acre Lake Como provides a beautiful backdrop for three miles of white-sand beach, five-star amenities, leisurely and adventurous pastimes, and luxury homes. Here, in the #1 Community in the USA, the water inspires, sketching infinite possibilities residents fill with the vivid colors of their lives … every day. Many own a boat, often moored at their private dock – a convenience enhancing spontaneity for sunrise or sunset cruising, waterskiing or arriving at the Beach Clubhouse or open-air Blue Water Beach Grill via the water. “The big selling point to me was the lake,” says Josh Kirley, a longtime resident, avid boater and wake surfer. “It’s not crowded. I often have the lake to myself.” Time on and along the water takes on a more leisurely pace aboard a kayak or paddleboard, lounging by the 10,000-square-foot zero-edge infinity pool, or relaxing in beach cabanas. Marine Services offers

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maintenance, detailing and other services for ease in ownership plus fishing and sightseeing cruises, boat rentals and two marinas. “We routinely take advantage of the rental fleet for touring our family guests and friends around the community,” says Buzz Pishkur who with wife, Joyce, has lived in Miromar Lakes since 2016. “We also take leisurely boat rides around the perimeter of the lake to soak up some sun and enjoy a gentle breeze coming across the water. Our guests like to practice with the sailboats. The paddleboards presented a unique opportunity we would never have tried if they were not readily available.” The lake sculpts peninsulas and coves for waterfront living and intimate neighborhoods of Grand Estate Homes, Beach Houses, Estate Homes and Luxury Waterfront Villas. Some enclaves are surrounded by water; several offer mile-long views across Lake Como. Sardinia, a neighborhood of three-story Beach Houses, offers both sunrise and sunset views. For Mark and Paula Tichenor-Wheeler, Miromar

Lakes offers the idyllic waterfront lifestyle they originally thought they’d only find on Fort Myers Beach or Bonita Beach. “At Miromar Lakes we have the beach without the hassle of traffic or concerns that come with living on the Gulf of Mexico,” says Paula. “We love the beach. We take appetizers and drinks to the beach almost every night to watch the sunset.” As newly minted residents, the Pishkurs enjoyed their first year so much they sold their Cabo San Lucas vacation home. Blame it on the water … “The first time the gates opened and we saw the blue lake, we knew we were in a special place,” says Buzz. “We still feel that way.” Miromar Lakes also offers Golf Estate Villas along Southwest Florida’s only Arthur Hills Signature Championship golf course. Where will the water take you? Find out by visiting the Miromar Lakes Sales Gallery at 10160 Miromar Lakes Blvd., Miromar Lakes, Florida. Call (239) 425-2340 or (877) 809-9444 and visit MiromarLakes.com.

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 45

17 very special residences in the heart of Talis Park. The opportunity is limited, the choice is yours.

The Sonoma Model in the Isola Bella neighborhood at Talis Park

Talis Park’s Newest Single-Family Neighborhood Isola Bella Isola Bella, Italian for beautiful island, is a fitting description of Talis Park’s newest neighborhood. Isola Bella will reminiscence an Italian hillside -- peaking up at the alluring Vyne House and the grandeur of the Great Lawn at Talis Park. The highest homesites in Isola Bella will sit at about the same elevation as the Vyne House while the other homesites gradually terrace down two stories to the water’s edge. Every homesite in Isola Bella present spectacular water and golf course views and will accommodate estate residences from 3,500 to more than 5,000 square feet. Isola Bella is being developed and built by Seagate Development Group. “Because of its location and magnificent views, Isola Bella will be one of Talis Park’s most exclusive neighborhoods,” said Seagate Development Group Partner James Nulf. “The views from the neighborhood are truly one-of-a-kind. Residents will be within immediate proximity to the Great Lawn and to everything that the Vyne House has to offer. Kitson & Partners has created an award-winning lifestyle at Talis Park and Isola Bella’s residents will be in the heart of the community. It’s a highly unique opportunity for

luxury homebuyers.” Construction for two furnished models, designed by Rich Guzman at RG Designs, is scheduled to begin in April. The two models will provide buyers with a representation of the residences that can be designed on the homesites. Every homesite in Isola Bella is unique due to the varied elevations. Seagate has the expertise to work with each buyer to custom-design a home that compliments and takes advantage of the magnificent surrounding views. By focusing on being truly exceptional, bold and imaginative, Seagate is sure to make an impression with discriminating buyers at Talis Park. Talis Park is beautiful and has remarkable amenities, but it is the people living here that impresses new residents and buyers the most. “Just about every day, a new resident mentions to me or to my team that everyone at Talis Park is so welcoming” said Milt Flinn, Talis Park’s Chief Operating Officer. “With the community being relatively new, everyone is looking for golf and workout partners, walking buddies and new friends at the dog park.” To better understand how Talis Park has reimagined the Naples lifestyle, the community invites

prospective members to experience Talis Park with its Gold Pass program. The Talis Park Gold Pass allows the holder to have member status and access to the dining, exercise and sports complex for two consecutive days. One round of golf for two is offered to the holder at the member guest rate. Talis Park is a place built for the ages. Where home and tradition matter and where quality endures. Kitson & Partners, the developer of Talis Park, takes pride in its “new fashioned” approach that makes Talis Park one of the most extraordinary luxury home communities in Naples. Crafted by southwest Florida’s finest custom home builders, Talis Park has a variety of luxury resident ready homes and new home sites available throughout the community for future residents. Homes start in the high $600,000s and go up to $10 million. When Talis Park is completed, it will have approximately 580 residences. Currently, about half of those homes have been built. The Talis Park Garden House information and Sales Center is at 16980 Livingston Rd. Models Open Daily. Additional information at www. talispark.com

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Live where your heart leads you – Isola Bella – an island oasis in Talis Park. Limited, waterfront estate residences intertwined with Vyne House, Great Lawn and spectacular water and golf course views.

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Broker participation welcomed. Prices, plans and specifications subject to change without notice. Oral Representation Cannot Be Relied Upon As Correctly Stating The Representations Of The Developer. For Correct Representations Reference Should Be Made To The Documents Required By Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, To Be Furnished By A Developer To A Buyer Or Lessee. Not An Offering Where Prohibited By State Law. Photography In This Ad May Be Stock Photography Used To Depict The Lifestyle To Be Achieved Rather Any That May Exist.

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grand | SHOPPING

All’s ashore J Island Coastal Outfitters at Rose Marina has something for everyone onboard and on terra firma. STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT

essica Skibinski embraces her role as store manager and buyer at Island Coastal Outfitters at Rose Marina, and frankly, who wouldn’t envy a fresh-air, waterfront office view each day? Sure, she thrives on the Big Marco River ambience, but her true passion is for expanding the diversity of the ship’s store merchandise to meet the needs and tastes of hard-working fishing parties, fun-loving cruisers and local landlubbers. She takes pride in stocking the 6,000-square-foot warehouse-style

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store with the traditional and the unexpected — live bait, deli-fresh sandwiches, unique gifts, activewear, modern coastal fashions and paddleboards. The staff includes tackle specialists who provide one-on-one assistance, seven days a week. The merchandise is as diverse as the shoppers. They may be transient liveaboards at the Rose Marina who are stocking up for their next nautical journey, boaters filling up on gas and staples, fishing guides and clients, locals or seasonal residents, or passers-through embarking on a one-time, sightseeing cruise or the Key

West Express. The faces of first-time visitors “light up. They say, ‘This is the biggest ship’s store I’ve ever seen.’ They normally expect bait and tackle, and name-drop marina T-shirts, but we have full outfitter gear, and bait and tackle plus boutique styles,” Jessica says. “It’s such a unique place. You don’t have the same customer every day. Sometimes you see them once and it’s a great experience, and others we build relationships with and call when we have something, or they bring their dogs in. We get to see a different variety of people from all walks of life.”

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

grand | SHOPPING

The tackle section, featuring high-performance AFTCO gear, comprises about a quarter of the large retail shop, with another 25 percent devoted to women’s ready-to-wear. The men’s section makes up half of the inventory. For both men and women, the styles and brands run the gamut from classic to onthe-water outerwear and performance, to affordable, hip lines. Popular brands include Tommy Bahama, Columbia Sportswear, Cabana Life, Huk camo and prints, Bluefin USA, Fish Hippie (“a neat coastal prep”) and Florida-based Skinny Water Culture. Add to clothing the Shoe Shack, featuring brands such as Teva, Sperry, Crocs and Sebago. An 18-year retail veteran, Jessica is diligent about staying abreast of emerging brands and accessories. “I keep up with trends, so we put our best foot forward,” she says.

Many of the clothes are made of materials that allow the wearer to romp on the beach, rinse in a sink and air-dry, and don again for an evening restaurant visit, Jessica explains. Cabana Life, which is all50-SPF, specializes in the modern coastal, beach-to-town category, with “super soft” nylon/spandex fabrics that “are great to travel with,” she says. “We try to gear everything to the marina lifestyle. We have all the stuff you need for fishing for the day and you can be able to say, ‘We’re going to dinner tonight,’ so you can grab a great dress or top. And we have amazing accessories.” Anglers, yachters and sailors can find all the gear they need from “head to toe” and anything they need for the boat, too. Jessica has been focused on building and enhancing the marine section of the store since becoming manager and store buyer a year ago. The store and administrative officers were once housed in a little round building near the docks at the 50-year-old marina, so the modern, spacious relocation has allowed her plenty of space to expand this crucial section. It is also a place to find unique gifts, such as artistic Marco Island maps, totes, serving trays, sushi trays, picture frames, skin-care products, coastal jewelry and handmade holiday ornaments. The chicken salad, Italian and other sandwiches are made fresh each day at the nearby NeNe’s Kitchen. Four or five times a year, the store hosts tent events that feature sales and specials that generate a lot of buzz, including last year’s pig roast sponsored by a tackle vendor. Jessica, 32, is at home at Rose Marina. She began in retail as a teenager at a surf shop in the lively tourist town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where she worked and earned free surf lessons. She learned how to surf, as well as the ins and outs of retail buying and management. “I definitely love this location. You look out the window on to Factory Bay, the boats and the birds. It’s fabulous,” Jessica says. “But I also have a passion for what I do. I love merchandising and buying. And the staff — we’re like a work family. We try to have a great day every day. We’re so lucky.” GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 49

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grand | WINE

Wines for Earth Day S pring has sprung and as nature awakens and unfolds in all its glory, it makes perfect sense that Earth Day is recognized in April. There is a lot of talk about climate change, water quality and protecting our environment these days. Farming is a hot topic as well. Ask almost any grape farmer, aka winemaker, and they will tell you the foundation for an exemplary bottle of wine is in the vineyard. That being said, not all winemakers take as much care as others when tending to their vines, using pesticides and even adding chemicals to the juice.

All the wines selected for this month’s Grand Case are produced in ways that are respectful to the earth, the planet, the grapes and vineyard employees. This means winemakers and owners employ some kind of farming and/or production method such as organic, sustainable, biodynamic, SIP, etc. Environment is important to Shohreh Durkin, food and beverage manager of Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island. She has a reputation for hosting entertaining wine dinners and tastings at the historic waterfront lodge and joins me in putting together this diverse case of wine.

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Source of Joy Rose, Gerard Bertrand $25 » This wine just debuted in the US, and I was fortunate to be at the party in Miami to sip it with famed French winemaker Gerard Bertrand. The name of this wine is befitting on many levels. The bottle is feminine, voluptuous, and the Y is upside down, resembling the Eiffel Tower. Joy is meant to conjure ideas of the fountain of youth and natural origins. I’m not sure that I felt youthful from the blend of grenache, syrah and cinsault, but I enJOYed it immensely. It’s full, luscious, floral and spicy with a finish that keeps going. It’s going to be a spring staple for me.

–g

Massaya Reserve, Gold Label, 2011 $40 » This Lebanese blend is 50 percent cabernet sauvignon, 40 percent Mourvedre and 10 percent syrah. I really love a bold cabernet, but you often have to spend a lot of money for one. This is not only affordable, but it fills your palate from the beginning as it enters your mouth, to the end with its beautiful finish. Aged in new oak, it’s spicy and herbal, good with meat but not too big for proteins such as chicken or even seafood prepared in something like a tomato sauce. Once you open it, every sip is so different; it’s good for conversation. Eating, drinking wine, being with friends and family having good conversation, that’s what it’s all about.

GINA BIRCH

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

Keenan Chardonnay 2016 Napa 40th Anniversary, Spring Mountain $36 » This wine sees some French oak, but it’s not really buttery on the top of your tongue, just a fine amount around your tongue. It’s really good with food. It’s crisp, a little acidic and has a nice long finish. It also has this wonderful aroma of jasmine. I’m from Iran, and those flowering vines are everywhere. Jasmine reminds me of my childhood, even though I was not allowed to drink wine then.

–s

Rutherford Ranch Cabernet, Proprietor’s Selection, 2014 $55 » Sustainable farming is in play at Rutherford Ranch, and for a small production Napa cabernet, this one is a steal; it’s perfect for spring grilling, too. With notes of cherry, chocolate and even spearmint, it’s even better the next day, if there’s any left. Since only 586 cases were produced, if you can’t find it, look for Rutherford Ranch 2015 Napa Cabernet ($32) instead or in addition to; it’s approachable, ready to enjoy every day and is a tremendous value.

–g

SHOHREH DURKIN Guest columnist, food and beverage manager of Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island

Croix South Block Six, Platt Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2016 $110 » Pinot noir is a great spring varietal, and wines made from this grape come in all shapes and sizes. This is not your grandma’s pinot. It’s inky and sexy and represents everything a great California pinot should and could be. The latest project from charismatic Napa winemaker Kirk Venge, Croix is his foray into Sonoma, and it’s new to the Florida market. The grapes from the Platt Vineyard are organic with only 105 cases made. When you find some, buy two — one to drink now and one to age.

–g

Keenan Reserve Mernet, Spring Mountain, Napa $100 » I love this combination of merlot and cabernet. I first tasted it with Michael Keenan himself a couple of years ago, and he said it perfectly, when he compared the blending of the two grapes to that of a wedding. I’ve never had any cabernet and merlot blended to the perfection of this. Really, the 2012 is just perfect. It has high notes, a little sweetness and beautiful rich fruit; it’s just seamless.

–s

Hahn SLH Chardonnay, 2016 $25 » Hahn Family Wines does some pretty awesome things to be good stewards of the environment in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Central California. I rode around the vineyards with winemaker Paul Clifton a few years ago checking out the bat boxes, composting, water recycling and weather monitors, but one of the most fascinating things to me was the deer shield. The device emits sounds of a deer in distress, keeping other deer from coming into the vineyards and eating the fruit. This chardonnay smells like grapefruit, banana and cream. You can also taste those elements along with a lovely spice and some juicy stone fruit.

–g

Brooks Riesling 2016, Willamette Valley $20 » I don’t like riesling, but my God I love this one. Every time I tried riesling in Europe, they all seemed so sweet. This one from Oregon has some sweetness but not to the point that it is so noticeable. This is another perfect wine for sitting around the pool in the afternoon or on the boat. It’s good with cheese, too. I like it because it is summery, it is organic and it’s a great fit for drinking all afternoon at a gathering. I think it feels more like you are actually gathering with the bottle, rather than people.

–s

Massaya Rosé 2017 $15 » From Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, this rosé is made entirely from cinsault grapes and is one of the best wines to take boating. It’s a Frenchstyle rosé from organic vineyards, and it tastes smooth and refreshing. I am also a big fan of the brand. I know the owner and went to the winery in Lebanon last August. It’s beautiful with fresh herbs grown around the vines; their flavors come out in the wines. The rosé comes with a screw cap to make it even easier to enjoy when on the boat or by the pool.

–s

Domaine Bousquet Ameri, 2015 $36 » Only 500 cases of this wine are made, and it’s only made in the best vintages — this is one of them. A malbecdominant blend, it’s full bodied, brimming with red and black fruit, even some fig. Awakened by air the longer it sits in the glass, the wine rounds out with black pepper and has a nice long finish. Domaine Bousquet is a pioneer in the Uco Valley for its reliance on eco-friendly organic fruit. If you can’t find Ameri, the winery also makes a nice reserve cabernet that’s a bit rustic, with dark fruit, a little mint, mild tannins and an herbal finish.

–g

*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.

Bila Haut Occultum Lapidem, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France 2016 $30 » The first time I visited the Rhone Valley, I remember seeing steep, terraced vineyards with large signs in the middle reading “M. Chapoutier” and couldn’t wait to get to a tasting room to try. Winemaker Michel Chapoutier is not only a proponent of biodynamics, but he was also the first to include braille on his wine labels. I love stories like this, especially when the wine is equally good. At 50 percent syrah, 30 percent grenache and 20 percent carignan, it’s more spicy than fruity but still juicy. It’s round, with lots of flavor, texture and a pleasing finish.

–g

Ceretto Barbaresco, Bernadot 2013 $100 » Barbaresco is one of my favorite grapes, it reminds me of being in my late teens and 20s, traveling between France and Italy — I learned how to drink there, and I loved it. The owners of this winery came here 2½ years ago, and this Barbaresco was so different. It’s complex but not too complex, a little smoky and has flavors of anise. Made from the nebbiolo grape, you really don’t see it that much in people’s homes or outside of Italian restaurants. I think it’s one of those grapes that if people paid attention to would realize it’s worth every penny.

–s

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 51

FOR U O Y K N A TH

$1.9 MI L L I ON R A I S E D ! SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. is celebrating $1.9 million raised at the 11th Annual Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest! Thank you to our trustees, sponsors, chefs, vintners, volunteers, and donors for their overwhelming generosity and tidal wave of support.

We are especially grateful for those who gave to this year’s Fund-A-Cause raising $561,775 for vitally important local children’s mental and behavioral health services.

Additional beneﬁciaries of event proceeds include Golisano Children’s Hospital, Florida SouthWestern State College, Florida Gulf Coast University and nine more charities dedicated to building healthy minds and lives for our community’s children.

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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

52 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

grand | RIDE

COOL

STORY BY STEPHANIE BORDEN

I CAR Fred Whisler’s 1955 Plymouth Belvedere exemplifies the innovation of an era.

PHOTOS BY ANDREA MELENDEZ

t’s easy to see why Fred Whisler refers to his 1955 Plymouth Belvedere wagon as “She.” His rare classic wagon attracts admirers like the queen bee on a honey-sweet summer day. At a recent classic car show in downtown Fort Myers, Fred and his co-pilot, Lisa Moore, rewound time 64 years for classic car fans of all ages. In 1955, the dashboard radios in thousands of Belvederes from coast to coast purred out The Four Aces’ silky harmonies on their No. 1 hit “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” Bill Haley and his Comets made those radios shake, rattle and roll with the rhythm of their chart-topper “Rock Around the Clock.” Top ticket-selling movies that year included “To Catch a Thief,” “The Seven Year Itch,” and Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp.” Doris Day and Brigitte Bardot inspired rival Saint vs. Sinner fan clubs, but movie fans quickly forgot their differences after the show over 19-cent McDonald’s cheeseburgers sold for the first time that year. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 53

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1955 saw the invention of the microwave oven and the TV remote control, which Americans could operate from their den sofas to tune into the toprated shows of the season, including “The $64,000 Question,” “I Love Lucy” and “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Although the 1950s are generally viewed as socially conservative, there were plenty of bizarre news events that year, proving that truth can be stranger than fiction. When scientist Albert Einstein died in 1955, the Princeton University doctor who performed the autopsy kept his brain, taking it home for “research purposes.” Decades would pass before he returned it to Einstein’s survivors. That same year, Dr. Jonas Salk announced his decision to donate his polio vaccine to the human race “for the benefit of all mankind” giving up the rights to $7 million in potential profits. In 1955 Marlboro did some major gender bending by replacing ads for their “Mild as May” ladies’ cigarettes with commercials starring rugged “Marlboro Country” cowboys with heartthrob cheekbones. Sales puffed up 3,241 percent in one year. 54 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

In the 1955 automotive world, Car and Driver premiered its first issue. Later that year, the magazine’s reporters covered the historic Le Mans Disaster when pieces of a crashed race car slashed through the crowd of spectators, leaving 83 dead. Also that year, teen idol James Dean, who had riveted audiences in “Rebel Without a Cause,” proved to be only human, perishing while speeding on a country road in his brand-new Porsche 550 Spyder. He would have turned 25 on his next birthday. From Washington, D.C., then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower would launch the nation’s first freeway construction initiative the following year. Fred still remembers visiting a Pennsylvania car dealership with his father in 1955 and spotting a new Plymouth Belvedere there. The year before, the restyled Belvedere had replaced the Cranbrook as the brand’s top-line offering. Fred remembers that his dad bought a sedan instead that day. Time passed, as it will, with Fred spending the next few decades working as a mechanic and a machinist before acquiring and operating his own car dealership in Pennsylvania.

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He never forgot that new ’55 Belvedere, and he finally saw another one about 20 years ago at the annual Turkey Run at the Daytona International Speedway. It was in good shape with about 70,000 miles on its odometer. “I knew I had to have it,” Fred recalls. “I said to myself, ‘That’s MINE!’ So I bought it, drove back to Pennsylvania to get a trailer and picked it up the following week.” Fred worked on the restoration off-and-on for 10 years, handling most of the work himself. His wagon has a number of unique features, including the Chrysler PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission operated from a slim steel wand attached to the steering wheel. Fred describes the air-conditioning unit as “a metal cylinder you fill with dry ice and attach to the inside of the window. It’s open at the end, so air flows past the ice and into the car for cooling.” Two vintage surfboards mounted on the roof of his Belvedere multiply the ’55 wagon’s coolness factor, inspiring questions from a dreadlocked professional surfer visiting from Costa Rica who crossed the street at a recent downtown Fort Myers car show to question Fred about their history. Fred recalled his surfing days from the 1960s in California during his time in the military and later in Key West. “I had these boards for many years prior to obtaining the car,” he says. “They’ve been with me for a long time.” The 1955 models were the first Plymouths to feature the space-age design theme christened “The Forward Look” by Virgil Exner. Rear tail fins heralding rocket travel began modestly that year, growing dramatically higher over the next several seasons. In the heart of the trend-chasing public, however, that design detail had a brief shelf life. Exner’s 1960 Chrysler designs were nicknamed “jukeboxes on wheels” and the 1961 models have been labeled by automotive historians as “some of the ugliest cars ever mass-produced.” But the automobile editors of Consumer Guide strongly disagreed, writing that “the ’55 Belvedere made Plymouth much more competitive with Ford and Chevy. It was a great new car for the young at heart.” The Belvedere name survived until the end of the 1970 model year, replaced by the Satellite. That model evolved into the Plymouth Fury in 1975 when the longerwheelbase version became the Gran Fury. In recent years, Fred has seen only two other original ’55 Plymouth Belvedere wagons — one of them on display during the famous Hershey, Pennsylvania, car show. Fred’s very rare relic of 1955 Americana has won Best in Show and People’s Choice trophies in Pennsylvania and Maryland along with a top prize at a local show this season. “The car is all original except for the running gear,” he says. If you see Fred and Lisa with the Belvedere wagon on the road or on display during Southwest Florida’s car show season, step right up and ask them to share a memory or two about this very rare time capsule from a significant year in automotive history. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 55

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

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

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

NOW PATIENTS FOR PRIMARY CARE & SPECIALTIES

www.MillenniumPhysician.com Lee & Collier County Walk-in Medical Center Locations

Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Center 3571 Del Prado Blvd N, Ste 2 Cape Coral, FL 33909 Phone: 239-652-4711 Mon - Fri: NOON - 7 PM Sat & Sun: 8 AM - NOON

Fort Myers Walk-in Medical Center 13813 Metro Pkwy Fort Myers , FL 33912 Phone: 239-308-0005 Mon - Fri: 7 AM - 7 PM Sat & Sun: 8 AM - NOON

Bonita Walk-in Medical Center 9500 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Ste 101 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 239-498-9294 Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 6 PM Sat & Sun: 9 AM - 3 PM

Naples Walk-in Medical Center 400 8th St N Naples, FL 34102 Phone: 239-649-3333 Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 7 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM

grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE

Cocktails may have official names but they are often shortened in homage to the bartender who created them. Meet The Jeffrey. â&#x20AC;˘ BELOW: Bartenders at The Continental take great care in selecting the right ice to compliment the spirits found in each drink

Ice: THE SECRET INGREDIENT The cocktail experts at The Continental explain how the quality of this frozen wonder elevates your drink. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 59

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STORY BY GINA BIRCH

PHOTOS BY ALEX DRIEHAUS

t feels like you’ve stepped into a secret garden when you enter the beautiful courtyard of The Continental on Naples’ Third Street South. Trellises are lined with flowering vines, linen curtains drape from cabanas, and the alfresco bar is punctuated by hanging orbs full of spirits. With water taking center stage this issue, we’re exploring it in the form of ice at The Continental. “Ice is a hot topic. We use ice like chefs use fire,” says Ross Kupitz, beverage director for D’Amico. It’s important that ice for craft cocktails is clear, not like the cloudy cubes in your refrigerator, caused by both impurities and air. The Continental uses a Hoshizaki ice machine to compress air from the water as it freezes, making dense, clear cubes. Regular air-filled ice breaks apart when shaken for a cocktail, diluting the liquor, but these do not. Then there are large ice spheres and squares, to which Bar Manager Drew Martin explains, that larger ice surfaces dilute slower. “We don’t want to detract from the flavor of the cocktail, just add a chill,” he says. In the popular An Italian in NYC, the cocktail is stirred with ice to chill and slightly dilute, then served over a cube. It’s made with Bulleit Bourbon and Amaro Nonino that are infused together and stored in striking glass chemistry orbs. It packs some power, with layers of flavor. Crushed ice is ideal for high alcohol spirits like those used in Tiki drinks. When needed, bartenders fill a canvas “Lewis Bag” with Hoshizaki ice and pound it with a wooden hammer, old school. An Italian in NYC features a fusion of Bulleit Bourbon and Amaro Nonino from the orbs hanging above the bar.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Crab and corn fritters are the perfect appetizer to pair with many of The Continental’s craft cocktails. • The Kentucky Chocolate Julep is finished with Aztec Chocolate Bitters for a balance of both sweet and spice. • A mashup of The Last Word and the Martinez, this gin–based cocktail unfolds in layers of flavors, finished with orange oils. • The bar menu refers to the ‘cocktail lab’ and includes these unique, glass orbs full of infused spirits. • The smoked salmon flatbread is $7 during the daily happy hour.

Take for instance the Kentucky Chocolate Julep. Fresh mint is gently pressed with dark chocolate, brown sugar syrup before Buffalo Trace whiskey is added. Poured into a metal cup, it’s topped with a hand-molded ball of crushed ice and Aztec chocolate bitters creating a comforting cocktail that goes down easy.

Happy Hour offers good people watching and great prices on popular bar items, including appetizers such as crab and corn fritters and smoked salmon flatbread. The fritters have a near perfect crunch, a balanced blend of sweet and spice, and come with a delectably creamy remoulade. The flatbread resembles an every-

thing bagel with salty Nova yogurt serving as a base instead of cream cheese. Garnished with fresh herbs and thinly shaven radishes, it pairs well with the signature cocktail Take Him to the Beach, also known as “The Jeffery” after its creator. The refreshing drink consists of pineapple- and vanilla beaninfused Milagro Silver Tequila, lime,

cucumber, mint and ginger beer, and it does indeed make you want to put your toes in the sand. During the summer there is a series of Craftsman Dinners where bartenders really get creative. Just another one of those special touches that set The Continental’s cocktail program apart. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 61

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Designing

NEW FLORIDA The riverfront home of Matthew Horton and Lura Jones incorporates modern design features with Old Florida style.

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 63

STORY BY CATHY CHESTNUT PHOTOS BY ANDREA MELENDEZ

efore designing their own waterfront retreat, landscape architect and urban designer Matthew Horton and veterinarian Lura Jones put their creative energy into her two-story clinic — a modern marvel on south McGregor Boulevard. Opened in 2014, the distinctive McGregor Boulevard Veterinary Clinic was honored with a General Practice Hospital of the Year award by dvm360 — the only industry award for animal hospital design. “We broke a lot of rules about how vet clinics are supposed to be designed and built. It was designed by the two of us and was a real organic process,” says Matt, a principal at EnSite. The husband-and-wife duo started veering in the modern direction again for the home they were planning for a vacant property they had purchased in 2015 along the Caloosahatchee. Though they had lived in south Fort Myers since 1999, Lura and Matt had their eye on an historic neighborhood off McGregor Boulevard that was originally platted in 1929. The neighborhood includes wide sidewalks and generous public access along the river, leaving wide, unobstructed views and inviting sunset strolls and dog walks.

“We were patiently waiting for the right property to come up for sale,” Matt says. “We’ve always liked the neighborhood. It was very well done, the way they did things in the ’20s. Everyone here gets to enjoy the river view.” Soon into the design, Lura, 47, told Matt, “I don’t want a house that looks like my office. We did that once.” He puts it this way: “She made an executive decision to build something warmer.” They decided on modern Florida vernacular — a style echoing the wood-framed, turn-of-the-1900s originals with wide porches but with modern finishes and interiors. They applied a few concepts that Matt, 46, practices in his professional site and master planning projects and that they incorporated into the vet clinic: sustainability and colors and materials reflecting the local environment.

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Modern Florida The landscape was created with native and Florida-friendly plants that don’t require regular watering, and there’s no lush green lawn. With two sons and a passel of adopted dogs and cats, they opted for synthetic turf that holds up for many years under wear-and-tear,

allows rainwater to percolate into the ground, and doesn’t require pesticide or fertilizer. The artificial turf also doesn’t spark allergies for the humans or pets. For the strip of real grass in a public right-of-away, they use an electric mower — one way the family reduces their carbon footprint. There are other considerations many embarking on this type of project wouldn’t

consider, though a landscape architect does. The two-story, 3,000-square-foot home is thoughtfully built up nine and a half feet to meet flood codes, much of it from the foundation. Rainfall is captured onsite through an exfiltration system and shunted to the city drainage system, so it doesn’t flood neighbors’ yards. They designed the vet clinic to be energy efficient with extensive windows that allow in natural light, and their own home, too. Their home features a long-lasting metal roof and plenty of glazed windows that make artificial lighting in the day unnecessary, complemented by complete LED lighting for the evenings.

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Matt and Lura relax on the steps with Finn, an English bulldog, and Doc, a white boxer. Clean, modern lines and furnishings are juxtaposed with the warm, rustic ambience of the reclaimed-wood coffee table and cypress mantle and stone fireplace. The home office echoes the overall color palette inspired by naturally occurring hues in the region’s vegetation, limestone and water. The master suite reflects the couple’s connection with European minimalism in the bedroom, bathroom and closet. The detached garage and workshop is located near the chlorinefree pool that Matt designed with Artesian Pools. A reclaimed teak table artistically fills a vibrant living room corner. GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 65

This reduces their carbon footprint with added benefits — a reduced monthly electric bill. “The goal, like with the clinic, was to daylight the entire space. In the daytime, we don’t run lights. It’s unnecessary, even on an overcast day,” Matt says. Polished concrete floors on the ground level are low-maintenance and durable, without need of replacement. The home was built by Dan Dodrill, founding principal of the 25-year-old custom home building firm Daniel Wayne Homes. “He was instrumental in the design process. Dan’s experience with Old Florida homes and materials was absolutely key to how successful it was,” Matt says. They also worked with engineer Shawn Anderson, president of Select Structural in Fort Myers, “making sure it holds together for hurricanes.” It proved its mettle during Hurricane Irma, which roared through about three months before the family moved into their new, unscathed home. Being on the river allows the family to step into the backyard and onto their dock for weekend excursions on the 24-foot Hydra-Sports. Their two sons, Cael, 13, and Renn, 11, are active with the Edison Sailing Center and captain their own Boston Whaler. 66 | APRIL 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

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Subtle signatures A unique element that Matt etched into the home — which he applies subtly in all his designs — was the inclusion of “cardinal directions on the ground plane.” In other words, his design alludes to, or points out, the wayfinding directional signals on the compass: north, south, east and west. In their home, the “compass” is carried throughout the first floor, from

the kitchen to the home office to the master bedroom, in an abstract way that doesn’t dominate, a subliminal hint. Other details include a coffee bar separating a stand-alone freezer and refrigerator in the kitchen. The foyer and living room ceiling lifts 35 feet to the second floor, allowing in copious light. The upstairs landing is where a baby grand piano (a hand-me-down from a friend) takes center stage; Lura has played since she was a child and their sons take lessons. With the mas-

ter suite downstairs, the boys have their own realm upstairs, which includes their bedrooms, game room and study and dedicated art loft. Their rescue cats have their own amenity: a screened cat porch adjacent to Matt and Lura’s favorite spot, the veranda. The side porch has a TV and fireplace and relaxing views. Because the front of the home faces the river, it’s Lura’s favorite spot for her morning coffee wake-up and sunset unwind time. “We primarily like being outside,” she says.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The kitchen’s open plan includes a formal dining area with a glass-top table and a “common table”— a high bar perpendicular to the central island — for casual family meals. A coffee bar between the refrigerator and freezer is a convenient spot for morning gatherings. Sons Cael and Renn have a dedicated study hall and art studio. A baby grand piano, drum set and foosball table await action in the loft, which the family calls the music room. Pine floors in the study hall, music room and upstairs game room were naturally oxidized for an aged, rustic feel. The veranda is more like an outdoor living room, while the riverside fire pit is an ideal place to toast the sunset and roast s’mores.

GRANDEUR | APRIL 2019 | 67

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Fashionistas and philanthropists united for an afternoon of entertainment and fundraising at the 12th annual Colors of the Sea Fashion Show, which raised more than $90,000 to benefit the Regional Cancer Center. The midday affair, held February 27 at the Crowne Plaza at Bell Tower Shops in south Fort Myers, featured an awards luncheon, benefit auction and lively fashion show. Local models sported apparel by Sanibel Outlets, Razzle Dazzle and House of Wu, with proceeds benefiting the new integrative medicine program at Lee Health at the Regional Cancer Center.

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Photos by MICHAEL A CARONCHI | Special to GRANDEUR

COLORS OF THE SEA FASHION SHOW

1. Janine Krench, Tommy Schott and Dawn Strey 2. Anna Bergmann, Carolyn Veglia and Victoria Veglia 3. Zaynab Bakir and Anissa Ahmadi 4. Rose Kern, Maria Tully and Fran Leonard 5. Suzanne Mailloux and Dolores Brodesser 6. Rachel Kaduke and Karen Lock 7. Linda Beasley and Nancy Bullyan

Special Equestrians’ annual culinary extravaganza, Taste of Love was held March 10 at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon. “Taste of Love under the Stars” featured dishes from popular area restaurants and chefs, wine tasting, live and silent auctions and entertainment. Celebrity auctioneer Jay Severson was the auctioneer and award-winning radio and television personality Gina Birch was the emcee. Nearly 500 guests attended the event that raised $194,000 for the therapeutic riding and carriage driving program.

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1. Michael Gavala and Karen Gavala 2. John DeFranco and Lynn DeFranco 3. Mark Loren and Monica DiBella 4. Holly Raddon, Renda Bea and Anna Erickson 5. Terrilynn Dunford and Patty Clark 6. Martha Lovelace, Gina Bash, John Lovelace, Jody Mills, Chris Mills 7. Gina Delano and Theresa Clements

Photos by VANESSA ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY | Special to GRANDEUR

TASTE OF LOVE

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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINE & FOOD FEST SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. presented its 2019 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest on February 24, with live auction proceeds totaling more than $1.9 million in support of the nonprofit’s efforts to build healthy minds and lives for the children of Southwest Florida. More than 225 bidders came together for the Grand Tasting and Live Auction of the 11th annual event, with festivities held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs.

Photos by VANESSA ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY | Special to GRANDEUR

1. Maria Wiles, Katy Ciccarello and Elaine Hawkins 2. Co-chairs Brooke Denson, Christin Collins, Debbie Toler 3. Kelly and Jason Stephens 4. Nicole and Brian Roland 5. Robert Roop and Margaret Antonier 6. Jenn Pavich and Sonya Sawyer 7. Tina Gula and Donna Hanna 8. Fred Hawkins, Patrick Denson and Mark Anderson 9. Dave and Pat Gibbons 10. Karen Locke and Rachel Kaduk 11. Jeff and Susan Lagarce

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SECRET GARDEN GALA Kids’ Minds Matter raised more than $725,000 at its annual Secret Garden Gala, which attracted 350 guests for an elegant evening reception March 6 at Shangri-La Springs. Attendees sported floral patterns, bright colors and flowing fabrics as they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, an exquisite dinner and lively auction that featured far-away travels, fine wine, gourmet food and exquisite fashion. Proceeds support the pediatric mental and behavioral healthcare fund at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

1. Chris Simoneau and Kellie Burns 2. John Chomeau and Gayle Chomeau 3. Holly Boldrin, Nicki McTeague and Teri Hansen 4. Back row: Julia Hebenstriet, Kathy Courtnage, Larry Courtnage, Kim Reese, Ted Reese. Front row: Becky Antonucci, Larry Antonucci, Sharon Rooney, Shawn Rooney 5. Becky Antonucci, Larry Antonucci, Susan Goldy and Scott Spiezle 6. Kristi Parrish and Harlan Parrish 7. Serena Parisi, Jennifer Parisi, Sonny Parisi 8. John Howard and Marty Howard

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LIFELINE FAMILY CENTER DINNER The Lifeline Family Center Dinner with Billy Graham’s daughter and granddaughter, Ruth Graham and Windsor Dienert-Bauder, raised $157,111 and played to a sold-out crowd of 600. The funds will be used to help the nonprofit provide a home in Cape Coral for homeless young women in crisis pregnancies, to help them become selfsupporting through education, job training, parenting classes, professional counseling and spiritual guidance.

“An Evening for Better Tomorrows,” a fundraising event to support the center’s programs and services was held January 12 at the Royal Poinciana Golf Club. The event raised funds critical to providing Greater Naples seniors and families with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

Photos by CHARLIE MCDONALD| Special to GRANDEUR

NAPLES SENIOR CENTER SIGNATURE FUNDRAISER GALA

1. Windsor Dienert-Bauder, Ruth Graham and Kathy Miller 2. Ellen and John Sheppard 3. David Crowther and Karen Johnson-Crowther

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More than 460 supporters, donors and sponsors attended the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s 15th annual Magic Under the Mangroves gala March 7 at the Conservancy Nature Center in Naples. Presented by Northern Trust, Magic Under the Mangroves guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and a seated dinner. Silent and live auctions included trips to exotic destinations, elegant dinner parties, fabulous cruises, jewelry, artwork and oneof-a-kind nature experiences. Over 15 years, Magic Under the Mangroves has raised $12 million to fund scientific research, education programs, policy development, advocacy and wildlife rehabilitation programs.

Photos by REAGAN RULE AND DREW ATTANASIO | Special to GRANDEUR

MAGIC UNDER THE MANGROVES

1. Alison and Soren Christiansen with Rachel and Adam Kerlek 2. Charlie Kerwood, Merrill Fox and Pat Keesler 3. Maureen Lerner, Robin Hamilton, Lynne Shotwell, Carol Dinardo, Sue Dalton and Nancy White 4. Dawn and Lew Allyn 5. Katrina Kash 6. Sam Arner, Pam Sasser, Tim Thompson, Leslie Thompson and Nancy Varbedian 7. Robin Hamilton

WINE TASTING AT JENNIFER’S Jennifer’s boutique hosted a wine tasting March 21 with award-winning, radio and TV personality and self-proclaimed oenophile Gina Birch. Guests tasted wines from around the world and enjoyed handmade pizzas from Vesuvius wood-fired cooking.

4 1. Rex and Karen Stubbs with Kenny and Jennifer Williams 2. Gail and Keith Doxie and Katy Hannon 3. Phyllis Chard and Linda Manone 4. Robin Orr and John Potts 5. Amanda Hunter and Helen Sullivan 6. Diane Teti-Meyers and Gina BIrch 7. Frankie Margolin and Susan Glasser 8. Dan and Jill Delmont

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Photos special to GRANDEUR

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Photos by E. SUE HUFF | Special to GRANDEUR

BOOGIE BASH Friends of Foster Children Foreverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12th annual Boogie Bash fundraiser was held March 22 at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples. The event had more than 220 guests in attendance and raised more than $420,000 to benefit FFCFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one-onone educational mentoring programs for local foster children. The theme helped to celebrate FFCFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20th anniversary. The night included cocktails, dinner, dancing and an evening of live entertainment all produced by Pzazz Productions. Celebrity emcees for the evening were PJ Fuerstman-Myer and Brian Roland.

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1. Nan Henderson and Jim Henderson 2. Garrett Richter with Dee and Bob Almond 3. Michael and Andy Schroeder 4. Edee and Michael DeLuca 5. Joe and Jennifer Pavich 6. Rosemary Hammar and Dick Westfield 7. Mimy and John Valenti 8. Dr. Rebecca Lambert and Dr. Jon Sonne 9. Blake and Amy Owen

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MINNESOTA TWINS CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC 1

1. John Lane and Ryan Erhardt 2. Sue Robbins, John Gordon and Patti Chlipala 3. Twins players, coaches and alumni

ELMQUIST EYE GROUP OPENING

The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recently hosted its monthly “Lunch and Learn” seminar on March 26 at Vi at Bentley Village in Naples. The program highlighted best practices for capturing the attention of media. Panelists discussed current trends in connecting with regional reporters, how to tailor messages for various types of news outlets, the role of video and photos in pitching stories, and social media’s growing role in media.

Elmquist Eye Group recently held an open house reception to celebrate the relocation of its Fort Myers operations. The new 7,000-square-foot office is now open at 7970 Summerlin Lakes Drive in Fort Myers, introducing an expanded procedure room for patient care and enlarged optical boutique.

1. Pam Fultz, Julie Pedretti, Rachel Pierce, John Davis, Betty Wells and Catherine Bergerson 2. Russell Tuff, Denise Payton, Kathleen Burck, Marilyn Edwards and Danielle Flood 3. Louise Hawthorne and Kaydee Tuff

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Photos courtesy of PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY OF AMERICA, GULF COAST CHAPTER

LUNCH AND LEARN

2 1. Dianna Mangan, Joleen Darragh, Dr. Kate Wagner and Dr. Nina Burt 2. Dr. Trevor Elmquist, Dr. Vinod Bhavnani, Dr. Sarah Johnson and Dr. Aaron Judd

Photos special to GRANDEUR

Minnesota Twins players, coaches and alumni joined baseball fans and business sponsors at the 21st annual Minnesota Twins Celebrity Golf Classic, which raised more than $95,000 to support Lee Health programs at Regional Cancer Center. The Golf Classic was held February 15 at The Club at Gateway in Fort Myers and included lunch, hole-in-one prizes, cocktails, dinner and sports memorabilia offered through both silent and live auctions.

Photos by MICHAEL A CARONCHI | Special to GRANDEUR

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