Grandeur Magazine - Summer 2019 by Grandeur Magazine

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CONTENTS SUMMER 2019

16 GRAND FACES

Samantha Nunez raises support for Down syndrome families with Gigi’s Playhouse. Naples Zoo’s Tim Tetzlaff leads exclusive trips to the wilds of Africa.

24 DINING

From Hurricane Irma’s destruction of the Oyster House emerges a culinary delight: The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant..

29 COVER STORY

Cool ways to enjoy summer in Southwest Florida, from frozen treats to resort daycations. Let us help you look cool, play cool, feel cool and stay cool.

46 GRAND RIDE

James Moss drives automotive history lessons at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.

61 OPEN DOOR

Keith Durling and Elly Hagen open the doors of their beautiful home along the Caloosahatchee, where friends quickly turn into family.

IN THIS ISSUE

12 Editor’s Letter

36 Pets

52 Shopping

14 The Colors Page

38 Getaway

56 Make it a Double

20 Model Behavior

50 Grand Case

66 Grand Times GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 7

HIGH STYLE FASHION LOW PRICES atLO

CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Part of the USA TODAY Network | Volume 17, Number 8

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

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

Perfect Gift

Production Director

Dennis Wright drwright@grandeurmagazine.com

Advertising Account Executive Nicole Holey nholey@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

Voted the Best Factory Outlet Mall, Best Shopping Experience and Best Place to Buy Shoes in Southwest Florida Play at our newest attractions: Amazing Things and the Rock Climbing FunWalls. Party Packages available at MiromarOutlets.com/play.

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8 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Chill out with 12 ways to keep your cool in Southwest Florida this summer and a watering hole that serves cocktails with a cool summer vibe. On the cover: a mango mule from Cavo Lounge. PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS

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

Gems from the Sea... in Precious Gold with Brilliant Diamonds

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.

Tahitian Gardens 1993 Periwinkle Way Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 Telephone: 239.472.2876

Get social with Grandeur

Toll-free: 800.749.1987

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grand | EDITOR’S LETTER

Keeping cool this summer

s a local, and more importantly a born and raised Floridian, the heat has never bothered me. I know all the tricks for keeping my cool. I dress in lightweight fabrics, always seek places that provide the gift of air conditioning, keep myself hydrated with plenty of water, and of course, frozen cocktails and a hat and sunglasses are my best friends. Summer in our area also brings a slower pace that we look forward to once our seasonal residents have left, and fewer tourists make the trip down as this heat and humidity rises. Now’s the time for those of us who live here year-round to really savor all the great things the Gulf Coast offers. Get out there and enjoy nature as you stroll along a quiet beach, fire up the grill and prepare that just-caught fish, mix up some cool summer cocktails and sit back and enjoy. We don’t have long waittimes at our favorite eateries, no more traffic backups as far as the eye can see and none of that rushed feeling each time we leave the house. As you read through this month’s cover story “Tips for a Cool Summer,” page 29, we’ll offer up ways to dive in and enjoy our coastal attractions. From looking cool in a Cimi Bikini bathing suit to playing cool with a road trip to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park where you can experience the famous mermaid show in an air-conditioned theater, we have something for every taste. As the print version of Grandeur takes our traditional summer break, make sure to check back with us often at grandeurmagazine.com, where we will continue to highlight the grand things of Southwest Florida. See you in October!

PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ

Kathryn poses, on location at the Waterside Shops in Naples, wearing brocade v-neck dress provided by Saks Fifth Avenue.

12 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER

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grand | COLORS

Life of the party

• Add a little fun to your fiesta with the Reise sandal by Donald Pliner. The raffia fringe is trimmed in supple suede, and the footbed is padded for comfort. $178 at Macy’s, macys.com.

Dramatic detail

• Few accessories add glam quite like a big, beautiful hat. The floppy Drama straw hat shades your entire upper body with its 9-inch brim. An adjustable inner band keeps it secure. $49 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.

TROPICAL

TREATS

ush green foliage, striking

sunsets of red and orange, waters of blue and aquamarine. We live in a

tropical paradise that’s both relaxing and pulsating with life. Draw on that paradise in your home, your wardrobe — and wherever you assert your personal style.

Made in the shade

• The Swaying Palm Carlye slipper chair reminds us of the view one might have looking up from a hammock stretched between two palms, while its modern silhouette and tapered espresso legs keep this custom-made gem on trend. $629.99 at Cost Plus World Market, worldmarket.com.

14 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

— PAMELA HAYFORD

Out to sea • This chambray ankle

pant is far from ordinary with a mix of tropical themes and muted colors. It offers a fabulous fit with no buttons or zippers to add bulk. $140 at Jennifer’s in The Design Center, Fort Myers, jennifersfortmyers.com.

Pink cotton clouds • Reflecting the

colors of a summer sunset, these two-tone neutral sunglasses offer a modern take on vintage Hollywood glamour. $49 at White House Black Market.

Delicious

Feel the heat

• Tropical climes are hot, but the 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 supercar is even hotter — particularly the special edition Sebring Orange Design Package shown here. With 755 available horsepower, it’s the fastest, most powerful ’Vette ever built. Autoweek Road Test Editor Jake Lingeman compared it to a rocket slingshotting around the moon for Mars, or time travel, thanks to its ability to go from 0 to 60 in a heart-pounding 2.85 seconds and 212 mph to zero in 8.7 seconds. We’re in love. The ZR1 starts at $123,000.

Protecting paradise Up your game

• Take beach volleyball up a notch with the Monogram Giant volleyball by Louis Vuitton. A highly collectible piece, it’s great for a match on the beach or an ornament at home. $2,650 at louisvuitton.com.

• The que Bottle collapses for portability, is lightweight and completely plastic-free. It’s made with foodgrade silicone. Plus, every bottle purchased helps the Rainforest Trust protect an acre of land in the Peruvian Amazon forest. $19.95, quebottle.com.

• Add a tasty pop of color to your lanai this summer with this tropical fruit replacement umbrella canopy. It spans 9 feet for maximum shade. $69.99 exclusively at Cost Plus World Market, worldmarket.com.

Destination anywhere •

Durable and organized, the 29-inch Trips check-in spinner suitcase created for Macy’s protects your gear with a strong Super Matte Makrolon polycarbonate shell and ensures an organized interior with extra pockets and removable laundry bag. Available in eight colors, including Coastal Blue. $300 at Macy’s, macys.com. GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 15

grand | FACES

STORY BY GINA BIRCH

RAISING SUPPORT FOR

DOWN SYNDROME FAMILIES Samantha Nunez brought Gigi’s Playhouse achievement center to Southwest Florida.

hen Samantha Nunez was pregnant with her first child, she knew her diabetes put her in a high-risk category, yet all tests came back negative for complications. The tests were wrong. “My doctors were in shock. They’d never seen the test fail. I was the one in a million,” she says and jokes that she now plays the lottery. After a traumatic labor, her daughter was rushed out of the delivery room. Scared, Samantha remembers, “A couple hours later, the doctor came in and said, ‘We think there is a chromosomal abnormality.’ I said, ‘What does that mean?’ And he says, ‘We think Down syndrome.’ I had not even seen her yet.” Little Sofia spent five weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. Samantha and husband Sergio were bombarded with doctors spouting statistics about everything that could go wrong. “One nurse even told me there was a chance she would not survive when there was absolutely no indication of that. It was a horrendous experience,” says Samantha, one of the founders of Gigi’s Playhouse Fort Myers. The center offers support and therapy for Down syndrome families in Southwest Florida. Eventually, she says, “I woke from my haze and realized that there’s nothing in this world done without reason.” She began calling specialists, searching for accurate information and help, but receiving little more in return than negative comments and bad news about the future and her daughter’s quality of life. She was shocked at the lack of support for families and children living with a condition that had been around for decades. Then she found Angela Rosenberg, a mom blogger in Cape Coral whose son has DS. The two formed a friendship that eventually lead to establishing a Gigi’s Playhouse in Southwest Florida.

16 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

“We choose Gigi’s because we wanted more than a support group or an organization to raise community awareness,” Samantha says. “We also wanted a physical place for kids and adults to get more support and a place where they could be celebrated.” To open a local chapter, the national organization has guidelines that include raising $100,000 and proof that the moms could sustain its operation. It took 3½ years to get the money, but in July Gigi’s celebrates its two-year anniversary. A founder, past president, and now board member of Gigi’s, Samantha says, “There are a million different nonprofits around here. We were just a bunch of moms that were irritated with everything about how our diagnosis went. We all had a bad story, and that is not the way a child should be brought into this world.” The playhouse offers occupational therapy for adults such as cooking and exercise. Samantha hopes to eventually add a café operated by adults with DS. Art and music programs, speech therapy, and math and literacy tutoring are

some of the things offered to children, all at no cost. Sofia has made tremendous gains thanks to the tutoring. She is now 6 years old, reads, takes ballet lessons, rides horses and attends public school. She also has two younger brothers, 3-year-old Carter and Sebastian, a newborn. “Twenty years ago, there really wasn’t a lot of avenues for kids and adults with Down. Even now there’s not a lot but it’s getting better,” Samantha says. “I’m 33, and if I was born with Down syndrome, my parents’ options would’ve been to keep me at home and hide me or put me in a home.” That stigma still exists in some segments of the Southwest Florida population. There are even challenges within the medical community, but those are getting better thanks to the efforts of people like Samantha and Gigi’s administrators. To-

day there is greater awareness, better information and support for new parents and babies with Down syndrome in Southwest Florida. Having a special needs child “changes your perspective,” Samantha says. “The little things just don’t matter. Life is hard enough. Let’s celebrate the time we are given.” The mom of three wrote a letter to Sofia on her first day of kindergarten. Here is an excerpt: “I’m raising you to change the world. No parent should ask so much from their kindergartener. For the next 20 years you’ll be in school (including college), and I can’t wait to see who you will become. You’re not a unicorn amongst horses, you’re a Pegasus. Fly, my love.”

GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 17

grand | FACES

SHARING

WILD AFRICA Tim Tetzlaff, director of conservation at the Naples Zoo, leads exclusive safari trips from Southwest Florida to the vast expanses of Tanzania wilderness.

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON hen Tim Tetzlaff takes Southwest Florida residents on exclusive trips to Tanzania, he wants people to get more out of an African safari than just seeing their bucket-list animals. “With safaris, people are always interested in the big five: elephant, rhino, lion, Cape buffalo and leopard,” says Tim, 18 | SUMEMR 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

director of conservation at the Naples Zoo. “What I try to communicate is, ‘Try not to have just that one thing that you must see,’ because Africa is going to give you something incredible.” Besides the big five, Tim says guests often see giraffes, zebras, hippos, the unusual pink and blue agama lizards, hyrax and occasionally servals. They also see an array of interesting birds. “The birds are usually a surprising delight for people,” he says. “They don’t think about

birds when they think about Africa.” They see the ostrich, kori bustard, secretary bird and others. “Some of the small colorful birds people get fascinated by once they start getting pointed out,” Tim says. “You can have a landscape which at first glance you think, ‘Oh, no elephant,’ but pause a little bit and see what else is happening.” Matt and Melissa Meyer enjoyed a Tanzania trip with Tim. Melissa says Tim’s philosophy of enjoying the whole experience helped

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TIM TETZLAFF

about it as being a life changer, and it really was.” “I feel like it really expanded my knowledge of the world,” Melissa adds. “It was a more symbolic way to understand my own place in the world and how precious life is. Tim, in particular, really helped provide the philosophical background for that.” Tim or his expert colleagues at the zoo lead two trips a year: in September and October. Tim builds the itinerary, chooses the lodges and details the experiences. The 18 guests on each trip pay $10,000 to $11,000 plus airfare. “It is for just under two weeks,” Tim says. “That is the sweet spot. You don’t want to travel halfway around the world for a short trip, but at some point, you are traveling long enough.” He has been leading these trips since 2010. They are so popular that the 2019 trips were sold out within a month. “We try to create a sense of community,” Tim says. “Everyone has a Naples connection. When you go on a general tour, you have people from all over. On safari you have a way of creating really good friends, and when you come back home, you have made connections with people that you can be friends with. After the safari we have a reunion party.” Tim creates these connections even before the trip. “There are pre-meetings,” he explains. “They meet each other. That way instead of meeting a bunch of strangers on the first Tim enjoys leading tours to Tanzania with people from Southwest Florida. day, or bumping into someone in the As the director of conservation for the Naples Zoo, Tim brings a wealth of experience to the tours and encourages people to help with conservation. airport, you already know someone, and you have that immediate connection.” Tim says it’s also preparation that makes the trips special. “They can ask their questions in person to someone who has been to that area,” he says. “We do a pre-safari photo class, everything from ‘I am thinking of getting a camera,’ to a point-and-shoot, to people who want magazine quality photographs.” Those who have taken the trip say the best part is having someone local lead the way. “For me having Tim and Liz (Liz Harmon, director of animal programs), who both knew so much about animals and birds, was just a special treat,” Nadine says. “The guides were excellent. They knew where to look and what to look for, but Tim and Liz just gave us extra perspective on the animals. And Tim could give us extra information on conservation. It made it really special. Tim’s heart and soul is in this, and you can tell it.” “Probably the biggest thing was them,” Matt adds. “It was the knowlher focus on her entire surroundings. “I didn’t go in expecting the big five,” she says. “So I didn’t have the expectations of anything, but what I was surprised by was the birds. I have never been a birder, but I was just amazed by the beauty and the amount of birds I saw on that trip.” Tim encourages people to look beyond the animals and embrace the experience. “When I talk to the people before they go on safari, they all talk about the animals and then the landscape,” Tim says. “The hidden marble is getting to know the people. It is a good thing for your world view to meet people around the world.” Nadine and Chuck Uplinger discovered that when they traveled with Tim. “I think it was the total immersement into the African culture,” Nadine says. “I felt like I was communing with nature, and just seeing all the animals in their natural habitat. We got to see more than most people get the opportunity to see. We saw animals on the prey and pounce and kill their meal. At one point it was like being in a panoramic cinema to see the zebras and the wildebeest running together. There were just hundreds and hundreds of them, and taking a picture would not do any justice, because they were all around you. We saw leopards in the trees. We saw elephants and baby elephants. It was an amazing experience. People talk

edge, the conversation, the personal touch.” That’s important to Tim. “They just feel that comfort,” he says. “They have the added expertise of someone who knows the wildlife and has seen it through their eyes before as a visitor but has the history here with animals. It is a nice complement to what the guides offer.” Tim leads the trips with a wealth of experience. His parents, Larry and Nancy Jane Tetzlaff, founded the Naples Zoo, then called Jungle Larry’s Safari, in 1969. Later he and his brother David ran the zoo, until Collier County took over in 2004. Tim grew up with the zoo and its creatures and helped expand the facility from being a place to see animals to a leader in conservation. In December he traveled to Brazil for a meeting to help protect giant anteaters and giant armadillos. He also attended a conservation conference in Taiwan. This year he has plans to visit Sri Lanka for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. “The whole idea is to protect species from going extinct through international trade,” Tim explains. He is also heading to Germany for a Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group meeting. Tim says the zoo has spent more than $1 million saving animals and plants in the wild in Florida and outside of the United States. “Years ago a lot of our conservation was check writing,” Tim says. “We still do that, but we have more direct connections with those programs because of that travel.” Tim hopes guests on the African safaris become more invested in these rare creatures and join the effort of conservation. “All of our conservation projects are tied to the species they see,” Tim says. “It is an opportunity for them to see some of those conservation programs. When they write a check to support them, they have seen it.” Tim has his own bucket list. Topping it is visiting the Congo. “It is one of the wildest places left on the planet,” he says. “And ‘Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad is one of my favorite books. But it is not a safe place. I would like to set foot in the Congo before I leave this earth, but I don’t want to be in the Congo when I leave this earth.” Tim also enjoys traveling for pleasure. He was especially excited about his trip to Madagascar. “Lemurs, that is one of my favorite animals,” he says. He also enjoyed Namibia. “I wanted to appreciate a different side of Africa,” he explains. “It was fabulous. You could see animals 6 to 10 meters away. It is great when you can be a meter and a half away from a black rhino.” His favorite place is Tanzania. “That is why I keep going back,” he says. “That is the place I have the most visas in my passport. That checks the boxes for people’s dreams.” GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 19

The entry opens to a dining room on one side and a den on the other. The focal point of the entrance is the staircase with its glass sides.

20 SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

he two-story home on a secluded street, backed up to a lake just half a block from Fifth Avenue South, is like two houses in one. Downstairs is a master suite, family room, kitchen, den and laundry room. Upstairs is another master suite, three guest rooms, a living room, loft, bar area, laundry room and two wide terraces.

O TW E ON

STORY BY ANDREA STETSON

While most of the rooms are decorated in sophisticated whites and blues, there are a few rooms like this one decorated with flamingos that add splashes of fun color.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WHITE HOUSE REAL ESTATE

This downtown Naples manse features master suites and living space upstairs and down.

“I really designed it, because it was a house I considered keeping for myself,” says developer Scott Walker. “I designed it for my own lifestyle. I began designing it when I was nearing retirement.” As you walk into the entryway, you can see straight back to the lake. “The view is just fantastic,” Scott says. “It is a one-of-a-kind view.” To the left of the entry is the dining room. To the right is the den. A glasssided staircase is like a modern piece of art drawing attention in the foyer. The home then opens to the family room,

kitchen and eating area all near sliding glass doors or windows that open to the lanai. “I also love the entryway. It is very unique,” Scott says. “It is open on three sides. I tried to make it a little bit more modern than the competition.” The family room ceiling is formed with white wood beams that make a wide checkerboard pattern. Below are white oak hardwood floors. The kitchen features a six-burner, 48-inch duel oven and griddle gas Wolf stove without the customary red knobs. GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 21

Glass subway tiles with a hint of light blue form a backsplash behind the stove and countertops. The refrigerator and freezer are hidden behind white doors that match the rest of the cabinets. A large island has room for seating and a huge sink. The gourmet kitchen also features white shaker maple wood cabinets, quartz countertops, a built-in Miele coffee system, a built-in microwave drawer and a walk-in pantry. A pass-through serving buffet with a wet bar leads to the formal dining room. On the other side of the kitchen is a breakfast nook nestled beside bay windows that overlook the lake. The den is more like another sitting room. There are no desks. Instead there’s a couch and coffee table, cushy chairs and a huge round ottoman. The downstairs master suite is set up in two big rectangles. One section has the king-size bed that faces the sliding glass doors and sits beside a wall of windows. The second section is a sitting room with two plush blue chairs and a dresser. “The master bedroom I like a lot because it has two very clear rectangles, so you have the bedroom and the sitting area,” Scott says. The master bathroom has a glass shower, stand-alone tub, sinks on either side of the tub and a special area for applying makeup. “I spent a huge amount of time on the master bathroom downstairs,” Scott says. “I was very careful to have good symmetry with the shower and floor tiles and the tub and the closets that are right off the room. I designed it so the woman of the house has her own space. I also put in full-length glass shower doors so when the lady is sitting at the make-up area she can see all the way back to the lake.” Upstairs is almost like a second house. The master bedroom on the second floor has a glass door that leads to a wide terrace. The king-size bed sits on white oak hard22 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

wood floors and faces large bay windows. The master bathroom has his and her sinks, quartz counter tops, a make-up vanity and an enclosed water closet. “I also like that it has two master suites,” Scott says. “More and more people have a family member, that could be parents or adult kids, that are there for an extended stay. That makes the house very flexible.” There are three additional guest bedrooms upstairs along with a living room, loft and wet bar. There is also another laundry room on the second floor. When the house first came on the market, it was unfurnished. Mary Catherine White, of White House Luxury Real Estate, thought it would sell better as a furnished model. Her first idea was to use a furniture staging company to furnish the home. When she realized it would cost about $32,000 to furnish the downstairs for five months, Mary Catherine decided to do it herself. “Color and design have been in my bones since I was a little girl,” Mary Catherine says. “I used to sew pillows to enhance our home when I was maybe 8. I have always studied magazines and kept up with current design, which changes quite often. And my daughter, who is a designer, keeps me educated.” As soon as she walked into the home, Mary Catherine knew what she wanted to do. “I saw that beautiful sea glass blue in the pool and I saw they replicated it in the glass tile in the kitchen, so I went looking for sea glass touches,” she says. “So the

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WHITE HOUSE REAL ESTATE

grand | MODEL BEHAVIOR

decor picks up on that.” Deep teal-colored chairs are around the kitchen island. Lighter blue throw pillows are on the couch. There are light blue ottomans at the foot of the off-white couches and a pale blue sitting bench nearby. An aqua vase sits on a pedestal in the dining room and matches the aqua in a painting on the wall. The downstairs master bedroom has pale blue pillows and a blanket that match the blue in the chairs in the sitting area. The upstairs master bedroom is decorated in navy and white. Mary Catherine also wanted to show her fun side when decorating. She created one guest room with a flamingo pattern. The king-size bed has pillows with a flamingo design that matches the design in a footstool. Bright pink coral on the night table also picks up on that color. Another guest room is done in very bright neon

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: This informal dining area has sweeping views of the pool and lake. • The family room opens to the lanai. The decorator uses artwork on the wall instead of a flat-screen television, but the electronics for a TV are behind the painting, so a homeowner can easily add a flat-screen. • The upstairs is almost like a second house with another master bedroom, a living room, guest rooms, a loft and terraces. • The home also has an upstairs master suite.

coral colors. The bedspread and pillows are all shades of coral and match the colors in a painting above the bed. A wooden surfboard in light greens and blues softens the room and matches the softer blues in the night tables. “Every room to me needs an element of surprise,” Mary Catherine says. “I learned that from my daughter. I really loved doing the flamingo room, because it takes on a personality. But I can also see an adult couple with the king bed.” The final guest room is decorated as a children’s sitting room and features soft gray and pink shades. There’s a little chair with a stuffed unicorn next to a basket with a stuffed bunny and lamb. While this room is small, Scott says bunk beds could be put in to make it

a place for children to sleep. “It is a very flexible room,” he says. “It could be used for grandchildren. It could be a hobby room. It is a useful and creative room even though it is a very small room. I tried to make all the bedrooms unique, so they each have a different style.” The lakefront house has a spacious lanai with an under-roof area that stretches along the living room and breakfast nook. It has an outdoor kitchen with a sink, refrigerator, fireplace and grill. There is a sitting area around a table. Screens and shutters come down at the push of a button. Beyond the roof area is the pool and spa that overlook the lake. Upstairs are another two outdoor areas: a back terrace and a smaller front balcony. Mary Catherine says

the back terrace can be used to watch the sunset and the front terrace faces the sunrise. “It is on a quiet secluded street that nobody knows about,” Mary Catherine says. The five-bedroom-plus-den house has five full and one half bathroom. It spans 4,773 square feet under air and a total of 6,293 square feet of living space. It also has a two-car garage and an elevator. The house is listed for $5.689 million. The home is located a half block from Fifth Avenue South, five blocks from the beach and two blocks to Third Avenue. “I designed it for my own lifestyle,” Scott says. “I won’t keep it on the market forever. We will see how the season goes, and then I will decide what to do.” GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 23

grand | DINING

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Phoenix STORY BY GINA BIRCH

OF THE SEA The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant rises from the Oyster House.

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

hat is packaged inside of a rough oyster shell? A shiny pearl. The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Naples is a restaurant phoenix, rising from the rubble of the former Oyster House in Everglades City. Hurricane Irma destroyed the iconic Oyster House two years ago, and while owners Bob and Patty Miller wanted to rebuild, they have yet to receive any insurance compensation. “We were gung-ho to reopen, but we couldn’t wait for two years to get the cash,” Patty says. “The community was so devastated by the storm that we decided maybe we should move on.” The couple bought the Oyster House in 1992, and over 25 years went from outsiders to family, affectionately known as Papa Bob (a big personality) and Miss Patty (the calming force). Looking for a new opportunity to serve food fans and family, the duo, along with their children Jillian and James, turned the vacated Stonewood Grill restaurant on the corner of Airport Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads into The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant. They opened up the bar area to allow for more light and put a beautiful blue epoxy coating on the floor to give the illusion of walking on water. The booths are covered in beige and blue fabric with images of coral and the spaces between adorned with statues, alligator jawbones and a variety of art. “My husband can’t control himself,” Patty says with a laugh. “He still goes down to the Oyster and goes through the rubble. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Fried green tomatoes topped with pork belly make for a mouthwatering appetizer. • The peach and burrata salad is a seasonal favorite. • Shrimp and grits is a carryover dish from the former Oyster House in Everglades City.

GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 25

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR

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ABOVE: The Pearl’s bar area is open and welcoming, serving Florida-themed craft cocktails. • BELOW: Pastas such as the Pearl Primavera are loaded with fresh seafood.

He always manages to find some treasure and sneak it in here without us realizing.” Executive Chef Gillian Kogan, aka Chef G, originally interviewed as a pastry chef, but when the Millers realized her talent, they gave her the leading kitchen role. Desserts are still her forte and Key lime doughnuts a signature. The cake doughnuts are served warm with a scoop of toasted coconut ice cream and sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs. Locals know to also ask for the decadent oven fried bread pudding, it’s not on the regular menu, but if you call ahead, Chef G might just make it for you. When coming up with The Pearl’s menu, James and Chef G wanted to put their spin on classics, to be different from surrounding restaurants. Take for instance the calamari. Pearl’s comes Buffalo style. Topped with blue cheese crumbles and thin curls of celery sliced from a mandoline, it has a kick. The fried potatoes come as flats instead of shoestrings, almost like potato chips. Carryover dishes from the Oyster House include New England clam chowder, oysters, grouper bites, coconut shrimp, house smoked barbecue ribs, the fried seafood platters and the infamous Firetail Gator. 26 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

The gator is local, only white tail meat is used, “so it’s not gamey,” says chef. Dredged in buttermilk and breading then lightly fried until crisp, the chunks of tender meat are then tossed in Sriracha sweet chili sauce. Meaty and flavorful, it’s great gator, an appetizer must. Steaks and other meats come from Strassburger, a family producer in New York. Chef G has forged a relationship with the butcher that enables her to customize cuts. The ribeye is simply seared to perfection, no fancy sauce, and is full of rich flavor. While herbed salmon is a favorite fish dish, the

tripletail is quite impressive. A huge filet is blackened on a flat top grill (fried by request) and served with fresh vegetables and couscous. With stone fruits back in season, the peach and burrata salad is also back, and it’s beautiful. Juicy fresh peaches, Santa Sweets golden and red grape tomatoes surround a creamy mound of burrata, drizzled with balsamic. The spacious bar is well suited for making new friends. Specialty cocktails include clever concoctions such as Swamp Water, made with Myers’s dark rum, ginger beer and mint, and Afternoon Thunderstorm. It features muddled blackberries, St. George Gin, simple syrup and soda, and goes down smooth. The Pearltini looks and tastes sophisticated — Pearl vodka, white cranberry juice and peach liqueur, dotted with a single pearl of lime-infused ice. The Pearl is a family restaurant in more ways than one. The Millers treat their staff like family and the feeling can’t help but carry over into the dining experience. The Pearl’s first anniversary arrives with the 2019 hurricane season. If a storm threatens, Chef G says there will be a hurricane party to celebrate The Pearl, perseverance and community.

grand | COVER STORY

cool SUMMER TIPS FOR A STORY BY ANNE REED

Dive in and enjoy Southwest Florida’s coastal attractions.

ummer is here. Our northern friends might be rejoicing while dipping their toes into the icy ripples of their swimming pools, shivering in their bikinis as they praise Mother Nature for returning the sun after a long winter.

Not us. We’re left staring at our wardrobes, searching for a perfect outfit that can tolerate jungle humidity and afternoon showers while also handling hurts-your-face heat and a sun that burns through the highest SPF you can buy. If you’re looking for ways to stay cool, look cool, feel cool or play cool this summer, we’ve got you covered.

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Look COOL Thanks to social media, trends in body positivity like @IWeigh, everyone has a bikini body. And since we live in the land where everyone vacations, why not buy our bikinis from local designers? Enter Mia and Callie Longo, the duo behind Cimi Bikini & Cimi Boutique, an online shop that specializes in resort wear and swimwear and features the sisters’ own swimsuit designs. Mia and Callie grew up in Southwest Florida and spent much of their time on the beaches. “We know what the trends are in bathing suits because we live in them,” Mia notes. The suits designed by the sisters are made in Fiji and include the best-selling two-strap Cora bottom and the Ellie top, both in a vibrant blue that pairs perfectly with poolside playtime or sand-sprinkled sunsets. (cimibikini.com) Another option for clothing that is high on the keeps-you-cool factor is Tara Grinna resort wear. The brand started 32 years ago and is available online and in seven boutiques, one of which is in The Promenade at Bonita Bay in

Bonita Springs. The boutique opened five years ago and offers a selection of the brand’s swimwear, hats, coverups and dresses, all well-suited to the year-round warm weather of Southwest Florida. Online shoppers will love the range of swim separate options including suggestions for different body types, while those who prefer to shop in-person can feel the quality of the swimsuits’ Italian fabrics and build an entire posh poolside look, right down to the halter dresses that double as cover-ups. (2695 S. Bay Drive, Bonita Springs; taragrinna.com) Once the sun sets and it’s time to rest up for the next day’s adventures, a good night’s sleep starts with the perfect set of pajamas that’s equal parts cute, comfy and cool. Soma’s Cool Nights line features their signature fabric that feels cool against your skin. The soft, drapey fabric is offered in a variety of prints and a slew of styles, from tie-shoulder camisoles and matching shorts to sleep chemises and short robes. (soma.com)

Cimi Bikini & Cimi Boutique

Soma

Tara Grinna

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A Weeki Wachee Springs State Park mermaid performs.

Play COOL No time for a vacation? Not even a staycation? Then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for a muchneeded daycation. Summer is the perfect time for road trips and nothing feels more like a vintage summer postcard than Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. The famous mermaid theater re-opens mid-June after the completion of renova-

tions, just in time for the always-sold-out Sirens of the Deep adult mermaid camp. Floridians playing tourist for a day can catch a mermaid show in the airconditioned theater, which was built in the 1950s and is truly one-of-a-kind. Guests are approximately 15 feet under the surface of the water while seated and watching the mermaids swim through the

crystal-clear springs. To complete your road trip daycation, plan on a little after-show fun riding the slides at the spring-fed Buccaneer Bay or exploring the Weeki Wachee River by paddleboard (weekiwachee.com) For folks that are looking for ways to stay cool close to home, consider spending the day at a local resort. GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 31

grand | COVER STORY

Riitz Calton Beach & Golf Resort

Thanks to ResortPass (resortpass.com), an online booking site, you can score a poolside cabana and spend your day lounging locally. If three acres of water attractions, including five waterslides and a lazy river, sound like a great way to keep cool this summer, grab a day pass for the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. The resort also offers spa passes for those who would prefer to use the sauna, indoor mineral soaking pool, steam room and receive discounts on treatments. The ultimate daycation option: the Lazy River Cabana package, which includes up to six day passes, a shaded cabana with a sectional and two lounge chairs, flat-screen TV, refrigera32 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

tor, towels, bottled water and more. For a quieter daycation, opt for the day pass at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort’s Mediterranean-style pool. The pass includes access to the adults-only pool, family pool, towel service and discounts on poolside drink service — just in case your daycation includes a few daytime frozen libations. If staying cool with trips to the pool isn’t quite your cup of iced tea, consider heading out on the water for an afternoon adventure. According to Evelyn Stewart, a Sanibel resident of over 30 years and one of the owners of Adventures in Paradise, it’s usually 10 degrees cooler out on the water. And with as hot as our summers get, we’ll take every degree we can.

Adventures in Paradise offers a variety of cruises, including the Sea Life Encounter Excursion. The tour takes guests out to a deserted island where they net specimens in the shallow gulf waters, then transfer the sea creatures to touch tanks and study them with the help of the on-board marine biologists. From there, the captain takes guests out to deeper water, where the nets haul in marine life from a different ecosystem. Stewart’s family has been hosting this eco-tour since 1989, and she notes they may be the first in the area to do this kind of trip. “It’s totally based on the ecology, what we have in these waters and why it’s so important to take care of it,” she says. (adventureinparadiseinc.com)

Stay COOL Marine adventures and poolside playdates aren’t the only ways to stay cool this summer. The Southwest Florida art scene doesn’t take the summer off and you shouldn’t either. The Laboratory Theater of Florida kicks off its 11th season with the Southwest Florida premiere of “The Legend of Georgia McBride” by Matthew Lopez. The show follows a young Elvis impersonator who becomes a lip-synching drag queen after learning his wife is pregnant and being fired from his job. Artistic director Annette Trossbach says, “‘Georgia’ is a showstopping comedy with heart and over-the-top glamour.” The show runs June 7-30 on select evenings. (1634 Woodford Ave., Fort Myers; laboratorytheaterflorida.com) For more air-conditioned art, check out the David Bowie tribute show, “Live on Mars,” coming to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on June 14 at 8 p.m. The show combines Bowie’s legendary music with a light show, animation and state-of-the art visuals. The set list includes “Fame,” “Ziggy Stardust,” “China Girl,” “Let’s Dance” and, of course, “Life on Mars.” (8099 College Parkway, south Fort Myers; bbmannpah.com) Building on the space theme, the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra presents its Star Wars Summer Family Concert at 1 p.m. June 23 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. It’s a cool (and air conditioned) way for people of all ages to explore the instruments of the orchestra in the Music Discovery Zone before the performance and celebrate the music of the Star Wars franchise. And if you’re wanting to feel particularly frosty, just imagine yourself shivering on the icy planet Hoth when they play selections from “The Empire Strikes Back.” (8099 College Parkway, south Fort Myers; bbmanpah.com)

Alex Thomas plays David Bowie in the tribute show “Live on Mars.”

Laboratory Theater of Florida

GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 33

Bloody marys at Rosy Tomorrows

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grand | COVER STORY

Feel COOL Ice cream is the perfect summer treat, and it’s even celebrated with its own food month: July. Local favorites like Love Boat Ice Cream and Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream are long-time favorites. This summer, there’s a new kid in town — and she’s brought tea cups. Sylwia’s Ice Cream opened in Cape Coral two months ago, serving ice cream handmade by Brad Mills. Brad, an engineer, and his wife, Sylwia, a registered nurse, love ice cream and decided to follow their passion and learn how to make really great ice cream from the best ingredients they could find. The shop is decorated in a European style, according to the couple, and is a nod to Sylwia’s early life in Poland. The ice cream is served in tea cups she has collected through the years and she continues to search for more unique cups to add to the store’s inventory. Their top selling ice cream flavors are coconut almond joy, butter pecan and peanut butter chocolate swirl. For summer, though, Brad suggests sorbet. He’s working on several flavors, including banana, but Sylwia says one customer has visited seven times just to have Brad’s mango sorbet. (3571 Del Prado Blvd. N., Unit 6, Cape Coral; sylwiasicecream.com) For ice cream so fresh you can feed alfalfa treats to the sweet-tempered grass-fed Jersey cow Brie, which provides the milk, a weekend visit to Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm for lunch or brunch is a must. The elegant and rustic open-air barn features screened windows that give a panoramic view of the pastures and an industrial ceiling fan that keeps the room cool on the hottest days. The ice cream flavors change weekly and, like the other menu offerings, reflect the bounty of the farm and the flavors of the season. Past flavors include blueberry cardamom swirl; crystalized ginger and turmeric; wildflower honey peanut butter with dark chocolate chip, and candied pineapple. Summer brings the return of Champagne slushies, which owner Rose O’Dell King introduced two years ago. “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a Champagne slushy, and that’s kind of the same thing,” King says. The farm’s hibiscus cooler, brewed with cranberry hibiscus, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice leaves from the garden, is frozen and served along with a split of organic Tiamo prosecco. King notes that, yes, technically that makes it a prosecco slushy, but Champagne rolls of the tongue in a more pleasing manner. The Champagne slushy can also be made with Rosy Tomorrows’ best-selling basil lemonade, featuring Thai basil from the garden. (239-567-6000 for reservations; 8250 Nalle Grade Road, North Fort Myers; rosy-tomorrows.com) If your summer isn’t complete without a good old-fashioned frozen beach drink, head to The Turtle Club in Naples. You can sip on classics like piña coladas, daquiris, rum runners and the Miami Vice — a piña colada layered with strawberry daquiri. It’s the perfect, frozen, classic way to cool down after a hot summer day on our glorious beaches. (9225 Gulf Shore Drive N., Naples; turtleclubnaples.com)

Sylwia’s Ice Cream

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grand | PETS Jack enjoys getting off the boat on Keewaydin Island off the southern coast of Collier County.

boat The

boys Riley and Jack help captain the Hemingway Water Shuttle six days a week, spotting dolphins and entertaining passengers.

36 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANDREA STETSON

s soon as the engine starts, Capt. Riley heads to the front of the boat, hops on the seat and takes his post as the dolphin finder. With his shaggy copper-color fur blowing in the breeze, Riley is usually the first to spot dolphins playing in the teal-blue water as the Hemingway Water Shuttle journeys from Rose Marina on Marco Island to Keewaydin Island six days a week. Riley loves boats and searching for dolphins so much that he found himself the job on the Hemingway boat two years ago. The 8-year-old

labradoodle used to spend his days on the Dolphin Explorer with his owner Chris Desmond. “He’s been on the boat since he was 8 weeks old,” Chris says. Riley spent six years on the Dolphin Explorer. Then Chris retired. Riley wasn’t ready to retire. So two years ago, just four weeks after Steve and Val Hemingway started their water shuttle, Riley followed them on board. He’s been taking two trips a day, six days a week ever since. “Riley adopted us,” Steve says. “He thinks he owns the boat now.” “He loves boats,” Chris says. “He’s got the life of Riley. He gets

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two boat trips a day, and he gets out on the beach. He loves people. He’s met over 100,000 people. Everybody knows Riley. It is really important for dogs to feel they have a job. And having them socialize as much as possible with people is a wonderful experience.” Steve and Val love having Riley on board so much that a few months ago they convinced their son to adopt a puppy labradoodle. Now Jack, 14 weeks, joins Riley on the Hemingway Water Shuttle and is learning the ropes. “Jack rides all day six days a week and has since we brought him home when he was 8 weeks old,” Steve says. “They have such a sweet disposition. Jack sits there and greets people, and Riley has it all down.” As passengers board the 30-foot, 22-passenger pontoon boat, Jack sits in the captain’s seat and Riley stands on deck wagging his tail as customers greet him. Once the engine starts, Jack hops down to greet people and Riley takes up his post in the front looking for dolphins. When he spots them, he wiggles in excitement and follows them from one side of the boat to the other. “He can not only smell them and see them, but they have a connection,” Chris says. Jack is very tranquil for a puppy and enjoys lying on the deck as the boat chugs to the island. “He is very calm and enjoys people and being on the boat,” Steve says. “They don’t shed, so it’s nice for the boat. He is just starting to get interested in the

dolphins. We are letting him go at his own pace.” Passengers enjoy petting the wavy fur as the dogs come by to lie near their feet. “I think it’s great. I think it’s awesome to have it dog-friendly. It is the main reason we decided to go with them because they are dog-friendly,” says Tim Dieterle, of Bonita Springs, who brought his tiny dog Lucy for the ride to Keewaydin. “This is the highlight of our trip down here,” says Beth Garvey, of Massachusetts. “I think it’s great. It’s our third time on board,” adds Jim Hagman, also of Massachusetts. Riley is 70 pounds. Jack is 28 pounds but expected to reach about 80 when full grown. At the island, the dogs get about 10 minutes to walk on the sand and enjoy the water. Riley stands in chest deep water fixated on dolphins, while Jack runs from the water to the sand running for as far as his long leash will let him. By the time Jack gets back on board, he is exhausted. “Jack sleeps by my feet going home every time,” Steve says. Riley, however, keeps doing his job as dolphin spotter. “He has two passions in his life: dolphins and food,” Val says jokingly. Riley also likes his routine. As soon as the boat returns to the dock after the second trip of the day, Riley races over to the shrimp sellers for a treat. Then Chris picks him up to go home. “At home he likes to play,” Chris says. “Many people who have been on the Dolphin Explorer and the Hemingway boat Riley gets bring him toys, so he has excited when baskets full of toys.” he spots Jack continues riding dolphins. the boat for the last two trips of the day. He loves boats so much that on his day off, Sunday, he goes fishing with his owner. Then it’s home to rest up for another week of work. Steve and Val are ecstatic to have boat dogs. “Our condo association doesn’t let us have them, so this is the best of both worlds,” Steve says. “We didn’t really expect to have the dogs on board, but it is a super addition.”

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MAJESTIC STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS

ALASKA

Photos provided by barberstock.com

Visitors find riches in the natural splendor of the state, from awe-inspiring Denali to icy blue glaciers.

38 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

grand | GETAWAY

or people living in Southwest Florida, traveling to Alaska cannot be more different in topography, wildlife, views and experiences. Just imagine glaciers, whale watching, gold panning and dog sledding. This year, the nation’s 49th and largest state celebrates its 60th anniversary of statehood. Alaska has something for everyone who wants to experience the great outdoors and see a place that has untouched beauty at every turn, according to Sarah Leonard, president and chief executive officer of Alaska Travel Industry Association. Like Florida, Alaska is an angler’s heaven. “Alaska is a dream place for anglers looking to reel in a big salmon. From freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing and ice fishing, Alaska has it all,” Sarah says. “There are five types of salmon but only three are typically kept during a sportfishing trip. Those are kings, silvers and sockeye/reds.” One thing that might surprise Florida travelers is Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined. Alaska also has nearly four times more coastline than Florida. “Some visitors to Alaska say a trip here feels like they are traveling to a far away, overseas location, but Alaska also feels familiar because it is still located in the U.S. Visitors will notice Alaska’s vast landscape full of awe-inspiring mountains and icy blue glaciers. Plus, the temperatures are mild and lots of sunshine in the summer,” Sarah says. Fort Myers resident David Agin traveled to Alaska last summer via cruise with his immediate and extended family, including kids. “Alaska was a good choice for our group of about

15. We had people of different ages, interests and physical abilities. There was something for everyone,” he recalls. “I think everyone had fun experiencing the mystique and scale of Alaska.” Alaska cruises offer different itineraries, some northbound or southbound (originating and ending at different cities), some Inside Passage or roundtrip (departing and returning to same city, like Seattle). Review the different options to see what is most appealing to you. David enjoyed his ports of call, including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. “All of the ports offered a menu of activities, ranging from sightseeing tours to kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, helicopter rides. So, there were plenty of options for everyone,” he says. “However, my favorite port was Skagway. We went on a horseback riding excursion. The guide took us through trails on federal land and told us the history of the area: It once housed thousands of miners who would head into the mountains looking for gold. She shared folk history regarding some of the characters who lived here. She showed us some remnants from the town. Once the railroad was built, the town disappeared because there was now an easier way to get into the mountains.” With the railroad home in Skagway, Sarah describes the train tours available to travelers. “Skagway is home to White Pass & Yukon Route, one of the most popular shore excursions for cruise passengers. Passengers on this route ride 67 miles through the White Pass and along the shores of Lake Bennett from Skagway to Carcross Yukon Territory. Passengers are treated to panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and tunnels from their vintage rail car. The train trip climbs from sea level

in Skagway to almost 3,000 feet at the summit in just 20 miles and features steep grades of almost 3.9%,” Sarah says. “The railway is also an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It shares that designation with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.” During the visit to Juneau, David and his family took a bus to the Mendenhall Glacier. “We toured the visitor center and took a short hike down to the water to view the glacier. The view was spectacular and accessible for everyone in our group,” he says. “After viewing the glacier, we went on a whale watching boat later in the afternoon. We saw several whales while cruising through a beautiful fjord. It was very enjoyable.” Whales can be spotted from the northernmost town of Utqiagvik to the bustling city of Anchorage and beyond, according to Sarah. “Numerous whale-watching tours are available from the waters of Resurrection Bay, Prince William Sound and Alaska’s Inside Passage. Every spring and summer, day cruises are packed with locals and visitors for a chance to see species like orca, humpback, gray, beluga and more.” Juneau is the beating heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage and the state capital, Sarah says. “It is rich in Alaska native history, art, music and is a paradise for people who love to be around water. Some even say it is the most scenic capital city in the U.S. as it boasts both mountain and coastal views,” she outlines. “A visit to Juneau should include time exploring local hiking trails. The city has 250 miles of maintained walking trails, so there is sure to be a path that can fit any ability level.” In Ketchikan, David and his group visited the historical center for the Tlingit tribe. GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 39

“We viewed a tribal dance in a traditional long house. We observed Tlingit craftsmen making totems and other items,” he recalls. “We attended a lumberjack show which everyone, particularly the kids, enjoyed. Ketchikan has some nice shops. It is a good ‘walking around’ town with lots to see.” Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s first city due to its location at the southern tip of the Inside Passage. “It is the first city visitors reach as they cruise north. The city features lush forests and mountain views that will make a visitor want to spend more than just a day here,” Sarah says. “A favorite activity is spending time walking the shops along historic Creek Street and taking time to view the totem poles found around the city. These totems make up the largest collection in the world and are an important part of the culture and history of the town.” During David’s cruise, the ship sailed into Glacier Bay early one morning. “Passengers were on deck before dawn vying for the best viewing spots. Most everyone was on deck as we neared the glaciers,” he says. “My wife, Cheryl, was in the spa/solarium at this time, and she thought it was great because it was quiet and she could see everything. I watched from the balcony of the cabin with our son. He successfully held a huge glacier in the palm of his hand.” Glaciers have ebbed and flowed in the Glacier Bay region for thousands of years. As recently as 1750, a single glacier thousands of feet thick filled what is now a 65-mile long fjord, according to the Alaska National Park Service. Cape Coral resident Ann Cash also traveled to Alaska last summer with her family. In addition to the cruise, they embarked on a land trip. They visited Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. The Cash family started their trip in Fairbanks and visited Denali before they took the train to Whittier. “We actually booked our trip to arrive a day earlier in Fairbanks so that we could tour on our own before the cruise-booked excursions began. We rented a car and prearranged to visit a working reindeer farm personally owned by a local family in Fairbanks,” Ann recalls. “The tour was incredible. The family spent several hours with us giving us a behind-the-scenes tour of their daily lives raising reindeer. Also, we visited a local dog sledding place called Touch of Magic, and the owner gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of her dog sledding operation. We spent several hours visiting with the owner and her dogs. My girls loved spending so much time with the sled dogs.” In Fairbanks, Ann says they officially started their cruise-booked excursions and kicked off the day with a tour of the trans-Alaska pipeline and then hopped aboard a train replica of the narrow-gauge Tanana Valley Railroad, which took them to tour Gold Dredge 8, a national historical monument, where they panned for gold. 40 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Photos provided by barberstock.com

grand | GETAWAY

“From there, we boarded the only remaining authentic Alaskan sternwheeler for a cruise along the Chena and Tanana rivers. Along the way, we saw a bush pilot take off and land, watched a dog sled demonstration and visited the old Chena Indian Village on land for a glimpse into their Alaskan life and history,” Ann says. Then the Cash family ventured to Denali National Park and Preserve, where they took a national history tour with a stop at Savage Cabin within the park to learn about the local native culture. “We, of course, were on the lookout for any wildlife we could see along the way,” she says. “We did see several bears, but it wasn’t until we just about exited the park that we saw a female moose standing under a tree right beside the sign entrance to the park.” Denali is one of Alaska’s most iconic landmarks and is a big reason why people come to the state on vacation. “Visitors want to experience both the park and the peak. When the mountain (Denali is the tallest peak in North America) appears on a clear day, it still amazes even longtime Alaskans who stop and stare at its mass,” Sarah says. “Inside the park, visitors have to spend some time looking for the big five. Those are the big animals found inside the park: moose, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears. There is also the chance to complete the ‘pick six,’ which is seeing all five of the big animals found inside the park as well as Denali.” Planes, trains and automobiles were part of the Cash family vacation. “Next, we boarded the Wilderness rail to Whittier. When I discovered how long the train ride was going

to take to get to Whittier (9 1/4 hours), I couldn’t even imagine how we were going to pass the time. We were a traveling party of nine, including three teenagers and my 6-year-old nephew. I have to say that the train ride ended up being my nephew’s favorite part of the whole entire Alaska trip as well as a couple of other members of my family,” Ann says. “The scenery was absolutely incredible. You literally could not take your eyes away from the windows for a second. We saw moose and bears running away from the noise of the train approaching alongside a river while we ate lunch on the train.” Once aboard the cruise ship, Ann had arranged for a variety of activities in each port. “We were a party of nine for this Alaskan trip, so different family members ended up doing different excursions in some ports,” she says. “For example, in Skagway, my mom took two of my girls horseback riding on a tour through the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park of Dyea Valley; whereas, my sister, brother-in-law and nephew rode the White Pass Scenic Railway. My husband, Jimmy, and third daughter Makayla went ziplining, and I personally took the tour to see the Kroschel Wildlife Refuge. I loved this tour, because I love animals. I got to see up close and personal the native animals of Alaska.” However, in Juneau, nearly the entire traveling party went on a tour of the Mendenhall Glacier by native canoes. “We loved this excursion. We literally canoed right up to the glacier on Mendenhall Lake. We also stopped near to the glacier on land next to a waterfall,” she says. “The scenery was beautiful.” Seeing the glaciers were a vacation highlight for Ann and her family. “Glacier Bay was breathtaking. We had incredible views as we were literally the first cabin at the front of the ship in a family suite, so our balcony was huge. We didn’t have anything blocking our view to the whole front and side of the ship where we were located,” Ann recalls. “I can’t imagine going on an Alaskan cruise without seeing Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay.” Ann is already hoping to book another trip to Alaska. “We all loved everything about every aspect of Alaska,” she says. “I think what I personally love the most about Alaska is how untouched and serene the beauty of not only the landscape is, but also seeing nature in its purest form.” Ann is not alone in wanting to return to Alaska. “Research has shown that nearly 60% of repeat visitors to Alaska say they are very likely to return to Alaska within five years,” Sarah says. “We recommend people visit a new region of the state on a return trip. Many first-time visitors will cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage, so on a return trip they could try bear viewing in Southwest Alaska, travel to Denali National Park in the Interior, riding along the Railbelt in Southcentral Alaska or even visit to the Arctic region to see the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.”

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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

42 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

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

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Cape Coral Pkwy Walk-in Medical Center 1708 Cape Coral Pkwy, Ste 2 Cape Coral, FL 33914 Phone: 239-333-3333 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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

Estero Walk-in Medical Center 10201 Arcos Ave, Ste 105 Estero, FL 33928 Phone: 239-333-2273 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 9:00 AM - 4:00 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

Dr. Michael J. Collins is the medical director and founder of Collins Vision, with offices in Fort Myers and Naples. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed his eye surgery residency at Emory University. He finished his advanced fellowship training in cornea and refractive surgery at Hunkeler Eye Institute in Kansas City under internationally acclaimed ophthalmologist, Dr. Daniel S. Durrie. As a fellow, Collins was active in ophthalmic research and played significant investigator roles during numerous FDA clinical trials. He specializes in refractive cataract surgery, where the goal is to remove a patient’s cataract and their bifocals at the same time. Refractive cataract surgery is an advanced procedure that goes above and be-yond traditional cataract surgery to deliver exceptional results designed Dr. Stephen A. Jones is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery at Collins Vision, with offices Fort Myers and Naples. He is dedicated to helping his patients see, look and feel their very best. His expertise combines the use of surgical techniques of the eyelids and eyebrows with non-surgical treatments such as laser, Botox and fillers. What sets Collins Vision apart? “Many practices are able to offer premium cataract surgery or oculofacial plastic surgical care; our practice is able to offer both under one roof,” says Jones. “When patients choose us, they know they don’t have to choose between great outcomes and a great experience.

to fit patients vision and their lifestyle, something very important to our active Southwest Florida residents. What sets Collins Vision apart? “At our practice, every little detail matters,” says Collins. “Our goal is to exceed your expectations and create a unique experience where you are greeted with enthusiasm, taken care of in a timely fashion and given personalized care throughout your visit with us.” Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he has received national recognition and honors for his work in the field of vision correction. His work has been published in several professional medical journals and his expertise makes him a sought-after speaker and teacher at national and international meetings.

Most have been referred to us by their friends or family members who have assured them that we’re going to deliver on both. They know that each and every one of our surgical plans is customized depending on the patient’s goals and the health of their eyes”. After earning his medical education at Ohio University, Jones completed his residency in ophthal-mology at Michigan State University. Following his residency, he continued his training with a two-year fellowship in oculoplastic surgery at Novus Clinic, under one of the top ophthalmologists in the country. Jones is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

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CollinsVision.com Nicole Alessi, OD • Jay Rosen, OD, FAAO • Michael Collins, MD, FACS • Stephen Jones, DO 44 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Radiology Regional Center FAQ on BREAST MRI SCREENING Radiology Regional Center facts and questions on Abbreviated Breast MRI Screening for Dense Breasts.

What Is Breast Density? Breast tissue is composed of fibrous, glandular and fatty tissue. Dense breasts have much more fibrous and glandular tissue compared to fatty tissue. About 50% of women have dense breast tissue. Why Is Breast Density Important? Dense breast tissue makes it much more difficult to find cancer on a mammogram by hiding an early cancer when it has the best chance for cure. Depending on how dense your tissue is, dense breast tissue may moderately increase your risk of breast cancer. How To Find Out If I Have Dense Breasts? Breast density is determined by the radiologist who reads your mammogram. This information is included in your mammogram report that goes to your health care provider. Dense breasts are classified as either “heterogeneously dense” or “extremely dense”. Florida Breast Density Legislation passed in March 2018 mandates patient notification of breast density effective July 2018. What Is AB-MR Screening? Abbreviated Breast MRI (AB-MR) Screening is a new low cost, shortened version of the standard breast MRI exam. The AB-MR has been developed specifically for screening women with dense breasts. AB-MR does not have radiation or breast compression, but has the same accuracy as the standard breast MRI exam when

used for screening. Breast MRI has been recommended for many years as an additional screening for women at risk of developing breast cancer. Studies have shown that supplemental imaging can find cancers that cannot be seen on a mammogram. Breast MRI is the most accurate supplemental imaging. •Mammography detects 4-5 cancers per 1000 women •Ultrasound detects an additional 2-4 cancers per 1000 women •Breast MRI detects an additional 16-23 cancers per 1000 women

What Should I Do If I Have Dense Breasts? If you have dense breasts, please talk to your health care provider. Together, you can decide if additional screening is right for you. AB-MR is being offered for screening dense breasts only, at an out of pocket cost. Do I Still Need To Have Mammograms? Based on current scientific information, it is recommended that you continue with mammograms (preferably 3D) every year, starting at age 40, in addition to any other screening that you may undergo. What About False Positive Test Results? No breast cancer screening test is perfect. There will be times when something is found that requires further testing, including possibly a needle biopsy, to determine if there is truly a cancer present. If it turns out that no cancer is present, it’s called a false positive. Fortunately, when read by expert breast imaging radiologists, the false-positive rate for AB-MR is relatively low and similar to mammograms.

Do I Need A Prescription? AB-MR is only a supplemental screening exam for dense breasts, therefore, a physician prescription is not necessary. You will need a referring physician to receive the report at the time of your exam. We will offer a list of accepting physicians, if necessary. Can I Have AB-MR Screening Having Implants? Yes. The FDA recommends that women with silicone gel-filled implants have routine breast MRI exams to evaluate for silent implant rupture starting at 3 years after the implants have been placed, and every 2 years thereafter. We offer a special abbreviated breast MRI exam, called AB-MR Plus, that screens dense breasts for both cancer and silicone implant rupture (the price is higher than a regular AB-MR due to the additional time involved to evaluate the silicone implants). If you have saline implants and dense breasts, you may have the regular AB-MR because saline does not require special MR sequences.

GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 45

grand | RIDE

CURATING AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY James Moss at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates is a wealth of knowledge about antique automobiles.

STORY BY STEPHANIE BORDEN | PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE

earn to do by DOING — That is my favorite principle in education.” — Henry Ford “Many failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Thomas Edison Despite their 16-year age difference, these American innovators were both blessed to the brim with the bare wits and self-discipline required to explore new concepts and invent products destined to revolutionize daily life for middle-class and elite Americans alike. Henry Ford spent two warm weeks each

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winter at his Fort Myers retreat adjoining Edison’s land and home on what is now known worldwide as the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. At the historic enclave, you can rewind time 103 years to imagine Edison and Ford motoring along Florida’s trails and roadways in the 1916 Model T Southern Trail touring car Ford gave Edison that year for his birthday. Today, as the automotive curator at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, James Moss cares for that antique automobile and the other historic vehicles on the property. “The quality of the cars back then was a whole lot better than today,” he says, “because they were made of steel and had no electronics issues.”

James was born in 1955 in the tiny town of Magness, Arkansas. “Our town had a population of about 140 people back then,” he says with a smile, “and today it’s still about the same size.” As the grandson of a mechanic who earned his living repairing Model A and Model T Fords, James was enthralled with cars and trucks from an early age. After growing up and leaving Arkansas, James spent 30 years in Southwest Florida teaching high school automotive classes at Immokalee and South Fort Myers high schools. He also volunteered at the Estates before joining the staff five years ago in his current role.

James Moss cares for the antique automobiles and the other historic vehicles at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.

These days, James is on site with the Estates’ historic automobiles every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sharing his hands-on knowledge and experience with visitors in a folksy, welcoming way that’s more flapjack than crêpe suzette. He even offers his personal phone number to visiting car collectors, inviting them to call him for repair guidance or tips on tracking down decades-old original parts they need to authentically restore their own four-wheeled relics of American innovation.

When it comes to Ford automotive history, James really shines. He tells Estates visitors everything there is to know about that 1916 Southern Trail Model T that Ford gave to Edison for his birthday. It cost $427.75 at the time and was shipped to Fort Myers from Tampa by rail, James says. “I clean the car, and every month we rotate the wheels and tires so everything stays lubricated,” James says. It weighs about 1,200 pounds and is powered by Ford’s 4-cylinder 177-cubic-inch engine. It was nothing fancy. GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 47

grand | RIDE

James removes the front seat to demonstrate the multistep process of filling the 10-gallon tank with gasoline, then turning the crank by hand to start the engine (below).

The speedometer, windshield wipers and rearview mirror were all options that cost extra. During the weekly automotive tour that James leads every Monday at 10:30 a.m., he removes the front seat to demonstrate the multistep process of filling the 10-gallon tank with gasoline, then turning the crank by hand to start the engine. Learning to drive wasn’t easy in those days. There were three pedals on the floor. The right pedal for braking, the left pedal to go forward and the center pedal for reverse gear. The emergency brake lever on the driver’s left takes up so much room that the driver’s side door was never designed to open, except on Canadian models. “The carburetor is lower than the gas tank,” James says, “so if you started up a steep hill, the gas couldn’t reach the carburetor. So in some mountainous states, laws were passed allowing drivers to back up hills so that wouldn’t happen.” 48 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

The Model T had one of the first planetary transmissions, James adds, “and that’s basically what your transmissions are today.” Model T’s were manufactured from 1908 to 1927, and during that time the price was lowered from $850 to $250. Because he wanted his autoworkers to drive the cars they made, Ford introduced the concept of credit, James says. “Ford sold cars to the line workers for $5 down and $5 a week. By this time, they were making $5 a day, and their shifts were limited to 8 hours a day. Then Ford added two more shifts, so the plants could run around the clock.” There’s much more to learn from James Moss. His Monday automotive tours also include a 1906 Cadillac, a 1923 Ford touring car, a 1929 Model A and Ford trucks from 1917 and 1921. For details, motor over to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates website at edisonfordwinterestates.org/visit/tickets-tours/ or call 239-3347419.

GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 49

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grand | WINE

11 minutes in love A look at the best rosés of the season

his time of year, my refrigerator always has a bottle of rosé, or two, chilling. While some rosés can be weak and flabby, others are fascinating, made from so many different grapes. When writing this column, I always have a glass of something by my computer and can’t resist telling the story of this one. Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosé ($20) is made mostly from Corvina, with some syrah, Trebbiano di Lugana and Carmenere grapes grown around Italy’s Lake Garda. The winemaker says the ideal length of time for contact between the juice and skins of the grapes in this wine is 11 minutes, hence the name. Then there

is the philosophy of the ancient Roman poet and local hero Catullus, whose family had property around Lake Garda: 11 minutes is the optimal time for physical contact between lovers. Hmm. Some might be disappointed, others relieved. Nevertheless, the wine is a lovely ballet slipper pink. The oval bottle is beautiful, with a peephole featuring a photo of Catullus’ mistress. It was a happy accompaniment to my workday. A fellow wine lover who also enjoys the stories behind the bottles is Harold Balink, chef and owner of his eponymous Fort Myers restaurant. I asked him to share a few of his stories in this month’s Grand Case.

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Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga $65 » I picked this one because it’s what I like best in the world; Barbaresco is amazing. It’s made from 100% nebbiolo grapes grown in Piedmont in northern Italy. I really believe that nebbiolo should be considered one of the socalled noble grapes as it continually shows balance, elegance, acidity and long life. The grapes in this wine are grown in an area in Piedmont that gives off the most unique Italian “dirt” aroma. It’s also a great food wine.

–h

Herdade dos Grous Moon Harvest 2017 Alicante Bouchet $25 » I love saying this grape — alicante bouchet — it sounds so fancy. The grape is actually red inside and is often used in blends for its deep color. This Portuguese producer handpicks the grapes when the moon has the most magnetism (think biodynamics and Farmer’s Almanac) hence the name Moon Harvest. It has great fruit, dark berries, and the finish is herbal with a hint of spearmint. While it’s good on its own, it deserves to be enjoyed with food and friends, on a clear night and under a beautiful moon.

GINA BIRCH

–g

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

Carneros Highway Chardonnay Nueva $20 » Not all wines have to be particularly compelling to love, and this is one of them for me. It’s easy drinking after a long night or even before a meal. The Carneros AVA stretches between both Napa and Sonoma, and the grapes in this one come from the Sonoma side. Chardonnay from this area has a very distinct fruit characteristic. This one is barrel fermented, has nice tropical fruit and good acid.

–h

Elements Rosé, Dobbes Family Estate $26 » This is the time of year for rosé, and if you have one that sparkles, well I’m giddy. Elements Sparkling Rosé is 100% Oregon pinot noir, only 320 cases produced, and the bottle is beautiful. Every year, 10% of all proceeds go to a different preservation cause. The 2017 element is fire and benefits the National Forest Foundation’s Eagle Creek Fire Restoration Fund. The bubbles are fine; the wine is dry and full of strawberry notes.

–g

HAROLD BALINK

Guest columnist, chef and owner of Harold’s in Fort Myers

Isole e Olena Cabernet Sauvignon $80 » I’ve been drinking the Isole e Olena Chianti for years; the winery has quite a reputation for producing outstanding Chianti. However, the cabernet just blew me away. WOWZERS! You can tell it’s Italian by the nose, when you put your face in the glass and smell it. But then it has this great structure and acidity with nice big fruit, much like a Napa cabernet.

–h

The Prisoner 2017 $47 » This wine was first produced in 2000, and there were less than 400 cases. The brand has since been sold a couple of times and is now one of the most recognized red blends on the shelves. Somewhere along the way it got lost in the shuffle for me, although it would still catch my eye. I picked up the new vintage thinking it was time to reacquaint over some grilled meats and barbecue. It was a great date. A blend of zinfandel, sauvignon, petite sirah, syrah, and charbono, it’s jammy with ripe red fruits and a touch of spice. A good pick for summer grilling season, or with berries and dark chocolate for dessert.

–g

Vajra Barolo Albe $38 » I love Barbaresco, but Barolo is better suited for a bigger meal. It’s also made from nebbiolo grape grown in northern Italy. However, the region is much older, the soils are different, and the wine is aged a minimum of three years, where Barbaresco is only required to age two years before being released for consumption. If Barbaresco is the female, then Barolo is the male, muscular, firmer and usually accompanied by a bigger mouth feel. This is a classic-style Barolo, and best of all, it doesn’t break the bank

Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley, 2017 $80 » Pahlmeyer just released its 30th anniversary bottling of their Proprietary Red, a mouthwatering Bordeaux blend. It’s sitting on my shelf begging to be opened. But instead I went for the new vintage of chardonnay with dinner recently. Slightly floral when just opened with a hint of toffee, it’s sophisticated on the palate with a little smoke on the finish. I actually had a little left the next day and tasted more nuts and melon. The evolution of open wine is so cool. A nice balance between rich and lean, there’s a reason it scored 96 points.

–g

–h

Chateau Montelena Riesling Potter Valley $27 » When most people hear the name Chateau Montelena, they think of the historic, awardwinning Napa Valley chardonnay or cabernet made here. But when was the last time you heard about the riesling? I recently tasted it and all I could think about was biting into a tropical pastry. A drier riesling, it has a bit of that typical petrol. It’s full and bready, with vanilla, stone fruit and a slightly tart finish. The acidity in this wine makes it a good match for food.

–g

Ouible, Booker Winery $90 » There are some amazing Rhonestyle blends coming from wineries in the Paso Robles area of Central California. In French, “ouible” means “forgotten” in honor of the counoise grape, it adds a peppery note to blends. Not much of it is planted throughout the world, although it is one of the grapes allowed in the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This blend does indeed have counoise in it, along with grenache and mourvedre. It’s ridiculous — rich and smooth with dark blueberry.

–h

*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.

Booker Winery “White” $53 » A blend of marsanne and roussane, it’s the only white wine that Booker makes, and it is ridiculous. It’s funky, much like white Hermitage but at a much lower price point. I met the owner, Eric Jensen, years ago and was boring him with my love of (winemaker) John Alban’s Rhonestyle wines, especially his roussane. Then Eric shut me up with this wine. I can’t give you enough adjectives to describe how good it is.

–h

Besserat de Bellefon 1843 Champagne $300 » Named for the year the revered Champagne house was founded, it’s also the limited quantity produced, only 1,843 bottles. The new cuvee has just been released in the U.S. with a matte finish and new stylish design reminiscent of summer and sailing. Looking at the bottle, its packaging, reading the story, my expectations were high when popping this cork — and they were met. It’s an elegant, seamless wine from start to finish with an infinite number of tiny bubbles racing through the flute. I never wanted the experience to end. When you find one, grab it as fast as you can.

–g

GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 51

grand | FASHION

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SANDALS The sea calls to us, its gentle waves lapping at our shores. In restaurants, we jStrappy, sexy and very summery, sandals come in a wide variety of styles that take us from a day of shopping to a night out on the town. — PAMELA HAYFORD

Monogram me • Louis

Vuitton takes a playful approach to the iconic Monogram pattern in the Formentera flat sandal, part of the Summer 2019 collection. $855 at Louis Vuitton, louisvuitton.com.

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Dress up a casual look with the woven striped I.N.C. Kivah sandal created exclusively for Macy’s. A block heel and memory foam padding add comfort. $89.50 at Macy’s, macys.com.

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• Eye-catching studs add subtle glamour on the Normandie rope flat by Christian Louboutin. $695 at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com.

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Sophisticated and elegant, these black-andwhite stunners attract attention with a tortoise shell heel. They’re sure to stop onlookers in their tracks. $125 at White House Black Market.

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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’s design recalls 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 presents 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 distinctive 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. The two-story Sonoma model will feature 3,983 air-conditioned square feet with a large outdoor living area offering covered conversation and din-

ing areas, a fireplace, outdoor kitchen, a pool bath and a spacious deck surrounding a custom pool and spa. The first floor of the open-concept design will include an impressive entry and an elegant foyer, a great room and dining area opening to the outdoor living area, an island kitchen with walk-in pantry, a powder bath, and a VIP guest suite. A wine room and bar are features in the home’s great room. The second floor, serviced by an elevator, will feature a grand master suite with two walk-in closets, a sitting area opening to a covered deck, and a bath with separate vanities, a free-standing tub, and a walk-in shower. Two guest suites, one of which opens to the deck, a comfortable loft with a morning bar, and a private study or exercise area are also included on the second floor. The Sonoma plan also features a three-car garage. The two-story Monterey model will offer 4,328 square feet under air and include a wide foyer leading to a sitting area, wine room, powder bath, VIP guest suite, and an elevator. The home’s primary living space will include a great room, dining area with wet bar and built-in cabinetry, and an island kitchen with walk-in pantry. The great room and dining area open to a massive outdoor living area with fireplace, outdoor kitchen with an L-shaped bar, covered conversation and dining areas, pool bath, and multi-level deck with a spillover pool and spa. Upstairs, the master suite and a spacious loft replete with powder bath open to a party sundeck. The master suite features two large walk-in closets and a bath with separate water closets, separate vanities, free-standing tub, and walk-in shower. Two guest suites with private baths and a second laundry room are also included upstairs. The Monterey plan also features a three-car garage. Talis Park is beautiful and has remarkable amenities, but it is the people living here that impress 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 Talis Park’s president Milt Flinn. “With the community being relatively new, everyone is looking for golf and workout partners, walking buddies and new friends at the dog park.” New in 2019, Talis Park now offers non-resident, full equity golf memberships. Talis Park is looking for a select number of people to experience Talis Park’s new flavor of luxury and the amazing lifestyle our owners enjoy. This membership provides non-residents exclusive use of one of Florida’s highest ranked golf courses, an 18-hole Greg Norman/Pete Dye-designed golf course, one of only two Norman/Dye collaborations worldwide. Non-resident members will also have access to Talis Park’s epicenter of activity, the award-winning Vyne House clubhouse. 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. For more information, on the Gold Pass please call (239) 449-5910. Discerning homebuyers have embraced Talis Park’s vision and continue to make Talis Park one of the most coveted communities in Southwest Florida. Talis Park has a full offering of move-in ready and to-be-built opportunities for future residents. Homes range from the high $600,000s to $10 million. When Talis Park is completed it will have approximately 580 residences. Currently, about half of the community’s homes have been built. The Talis Park Garden House Information and Sales Center in Naples, is at 16980 Livingston Road. Models Open Daily. Additional information at www.talispark.com

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TP_

Introducing

ISOLA BELLA The Sonoma Front

Beautiful New Homesites

The Sonoma Rear

In the

of Talis Park

Live where your heart leads you – Isola Bella – an island oasis in Talis Park. 17 unique waterfront estate residences just steps away from Talis Park’s celebrated Vyne House and Great Lawn, offering spectacular water and golf course views. Terrace elevation floor plans from 3,500 to more than 5,000 square feet. The Monterey

HOMES FROM $2.5 MILLION

PRE-CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES Garden House Information & Sales Center • 16980 Livingston Road 239-449-5900 • TalisPark.com A KITSON & PARTNERS COMMUNITY 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.

TP_GrandeurShuttleFullPg_May2019.indd 1

4/24/19 2:59 PM

STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTOS BY ALEX DRIEHAUS

FOR

SUITED summer With indoor and outdoor bars and cocktails that taste like summer, Cavo Lounge is the perfect spot to spend an evening.

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grand | MAKE IT A DOUBLE

LEFT TO RIGHT: A Bluebini, made with Stoli Blueberi vodka, blueberries, a lemon wedge, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne. • A charcuterie board and a mango mule, made with Ketel One vodka with rosemary and lime, mango puree, and ginger beer. • Assistant General Manager Crystal McNamer makes a chocolate raspberry truffle martini, made with Ciroc red berry, Godiva chocolate, and Chambord liqueur at Cavo Lounge in Naples.

t 3:30 every day, the shutters roll up at the huge indoor-outdoor bars of Cavo Lounge. Occupying a prime corner on the southwest side of Mercato in North Naples, the open design allows patrons to enjoy fresh air and tropical weather no matter where they sit. “This is why we are in Southwest Florida,” says Crystal McNamer with a smile. Cavo is celebrating its fourth anniversary this summer, and Crystal has been there since the beginning, starting as a bartender, now the assistant general manager and events manager.

She says about the seasonal cocktail menu, “Our bar staff loves Champagne.” It shows by the selection of sparkling cocktails, such as Bluebini. It begins with Stoli Blueberi vodka and muddled berries. A dash of simple syrup is added, then it’s topped with Veuve Clicquot Champagne for a deliciously festive and refreshing beverage. Crystal cautions, “Remember there is vodka in there.” Then adds, “I’m obsessed with the Sparkling Cosmo; it’s danger.” A twist on a classic cosmo, instead of vodka, this drink is made with prosecco, St-Germain liqueur, cranberry juice and lime. A perfect summer beverage, it’s floral with a touch of sweetness and it goes down a little too easy. GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 57

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A chocolate raspberry truffle martini and a sparkling cosmo. • Cavo Lounge in Naples can offer an accomodating space for large parties and special celebrations. • Red sangria

Also well suited for summer are the local Ketel One Botanicals cocktails. Choose from grapefruit and rose, cucumber and mint, or peach and orange blossom. Add some soda water and you have a thirstquenching cocktail cashing in at only 73 calories. Mules also figure prominently on the menu and not just the kind with vodka. Other versions feature tequila, gin, whiskey; and they are only $5 on Wednesdays. One of the most popular is the Mango Mule. With Ketel One vodka, rosemary and lime are muddled in mango puree. Once the ginger beer is added, a sprig of rosemary is ignited to release its oils, then used as a garnish — herbal, sweet and nicely balanced. The red sangria at Cavo is made in small batches and served on tap for a twist. On the culinary side, the restaurant/bar

is known for its tapas, but with a new chef, changes are on the way this summer. Some of the signature items are staying, but getting a makeover, and more entrée items are being added. If you like wine, you’ll be ecstatic over happy hour. Prices aren’t just reduced on cheaper house varieties, like many places, but on higher-end selections as well as bottles, an unusual find. Happy hour is just the beginning when it comes to the entertainment scene, as some of the area’s most popular DJs keep the party going late into the night. It’s an accommodating space for large parties, special celebrations and even festivities catering to the gay and lesbian crowd with a Tea Dance Brunch every third Sunday of the month. Crystal says, “We have a great crowd and something for everyone, no matter what time of the afternoon or night.” GRANDEUR | SUMMER 2019 | 59

grand | OPEN DOOR

WHERE friends

family TURN INTO

A stunning home situated on the Caloosahatchee River is the draw, but the couple behind it is the reason people keep coming back.

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grand | OPEN DOOR

STORY BY TRICIA O’CONNOR

PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE

hances are if you show up at Keith Durling and Elly Hagen’s rural Alva home — whether invited or as a surprise visitor — you won’t be the only guest. People may come for the stunning riverbank vista provided by the home’s sprawling sliding glass doors that span from kitchen nook to the living room, but they stay because Keith and Elly make everyone feel like family. “We love our location; living on the Caloosahatchee River is peaceful and beautiful,” Elly says. “We have great neighbors and we enjoy being a gathering place for our friends and family.” That warm feeling starts with a tight hug from Elly and a bright smile from Keith, and it builds as they lead you from the home’s 1,200-square-foot front porch through the entryway (beware the giant alligator mounted above you!) into a 3,700-square-foot coastal craftsman home modeled loosely after the Captiva Model by Marvin Development in Naples Reserve. That model, just like this house, which is nestled on 2.5 acres, was built by Richard Durling, Keith’s brother. He lives next door, also on a 2.5-acre lot. Construction wrapped on Keith and Elly’s home about seven months ago, but the plot of land has been owned by the Durling brothers for 30 years. “This stretch between here along the river and Alva is the most beautiful in Lee County,” Richard says. “It’s truly Old Florida.” Although Keith was working for the federal government and living in Maryland at the time, Richard managed to convince Keith to go in on a large piece of land with the goal of living side by side in their retirement years. 62 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Construction wrapped about seven months ago on Keith Durling and Elly Hagen’s 3,700-square-foot coastal craftsman home in rural Alva. • Near floor-to-ceiling white custom kitchen cabinetry by Affordable Custom Closets and Cabinets by Vincent Mastrodonato offer a bright pop when paired with acacia wood flooring. • Keith and Elly loosely modeled their home after the Captiva Model by Marvin Development in Naples Reserve. The layout of the master bathroom featuring a freestanding tub is one of a few changes the couple made. • An entire wall of pegged walnut wood creates a stunning backdrop to Keith’s home office. • Wrought-iron fencing from a post-Katrina New Orleans cemetery is mounted in a guest bathroom. • The milled trunks of two live oak trees Keith had to take down on the property became the breathtaking post and header for the home’s bar. • Keith and Elly were friends at Bishop Verot High School and reconnected four years ago.

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“I am very happy he talked me into it,” Keith says with a chuckle. The brothers slowly stripped the land of invasive Brazilian peppertree and began inviting family and friends out for riverbank camping parties when Keith was in town. Folks would come for bonfires, picnics, potlucks and karaoke jams. Ten years ago, Elly, an old friend from Bishop Verot High School, was one of the guests. “As two of the older Fort Myers families, the Hagens and Durlings have been friends for years,” explains Beth, Keith and Richard’s sister. “Keith was pretty shy and never pursued Elly back then.” Four years ago, the two reconnected. Both with grown children from first marriages, and Keith with two grandchildren, the couple knew it was time to finally build a home on this land that already meant so much to their friends and family. “Family is such a big thing to us,” says Shannon Durling, Keith’s 24-year-old daughter who visits every weekend her schedule allows. “My dad was so excited it will be the party house. I was so excited for him to build his dream house.” Keith and Elly welcomed 200 guests to their 64 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

housewarming party in February. “It was so fun because some of these people have been coming to parties here for 20 years and now they finally get to see a house on the property,” Elly says. The home has the features and comforts of a modern masterpiece, but the character of an old house. “We want people to walk in and not be sure how long it’s been around,” Keith says. The couple accomplished this with a clever mix of structural and architectural enhancements combined with an eclectic collection of decor. White tongue-and-groove ceilings with exposed beams reclaimed from an old barn in Iowa in the kitchen and living room provide airiness and depth. Deliciously different Spanish tile decorates each bathroom (the couple traveled to Havana, Cuba in 2017 and was inspired by the Hotel Nacional de Cuba). And lightly stained acacia wood flooring throughout the main rooms anchors the eye. A stunning inlay in the entryway showcases the handiwork of Keith’s high school friend Mike Keough, who did all the wood floor installations.

grand | OPEN DOOR “When I started laying it out and making sure it went seamlessly from the foyer into the living room, I was kicking myself,” Mike says with a laugh. “Why did I decide to make it harder on myself ? But I knew I was going to be coming here for many years to party with my friends and I wanted to make sure I was going to be as happy with the work as much as Keith was.” The eclectic decor is sourced from a variety of historic places. Columns in the master bedroom come from the Lord-Higel House in Venice (it was being restored), the mantle in the bar is from an estate in Atlanta, and stained glass from old churches dots various windowsills. They rewired old light fixtures, installed refurbished dressers or buffets as vanities in three of the bathrooms, and mounted old wrought-iron fencing from a post-Katrina New Orleans cemetery. Plentiful ship models delicately crafted by Keith’s father punctuate certain rooms. Other additions from the original model

include a breezeway between the garage and the house. At the end of the breezeway is Elly’s office, where she operates her public relations and marketing business; her son’s library room; and Keith’s woodworking and pottery workshop. A bar just off the living room features live oak post and header beams culled from the property and milled in Buckingham, another way for Keith and Elly to bring the outside into their home. Future plans include installing a pool, boat lift, and polishing up the landscaping. Their favorite room in the home is the main living room, lined with those massive 24-feet by 9-feet floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. “When we sit, it’s only 350 feet from our house down to the river. It’s so nice and breezy, and the boats are going by,” Keith says. “People come out here the first time and say, ‘We never knew Alva was like this.’” And just like that, they’re welcomed into Keith and Elly’s family.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The view of the Durling-Hagen home from the Caloosahatchee River. • “Keith found the FREE letters at one of his favorite antique shops in Kensington, Maryland,” says Elly. If the font looks familiar, it’s because the letters are from an old Firestone sign. • Acacia wood flooring installed by Michael Keough continues throughout the house, including in the master bedroom. • The open air kitchen nook can be used all seasons thanks to a walled-in fireplace. • An 8-foot, 4-inch alligator hunted by Keith’s daughter, Shannon, hangs in the entryway. • Keith is a big Pink Floyd fan and also an accomplished potter. The band used inflatable flying pigs at its concerts. Keith made this pig that’s perched in the kitchen nook. • Deliciously different Spanish tile decorates each of the home’s four bathrooms. Wayne Wiles did all of the tile installation, both flooring and showers.

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grand | TIMES

GRANDE DAMES TEA

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1. New and past Grande Dames 2. Karen McClain, Cheryl Kurdna, Trish Sullivan and Darlene Medler 3. Donna Lee Manning and Donna Caruso 4. Betty Jo Ferguson, Farrah Hussey, Noreen Rafferty and Brandie Fennell Buncan 5. Anna “Boots” Tolles, Sally Jackson and Susan Bennett 6. Susan, Mark and Gracen Blust 7. Jacke McCurdy and Arden McCurdy

R.S. Walsh Landscaping Premier Landscape Architecture & Design Firm

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Design • Installation • Custom Maintenance

•

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Photos special to GRANDEUR

Pace Center for Girls, Lee County raised $54,000 at its 11th annual Grande Dames Tea, which celebrated the unique perspectives and powerful insight that women gain throughout their life journeys. With a theme of “The Wisdom of Time – Honoring the Female Spirit,” the Grande Dames Tea was held March 26 at Broadway Palm dinner theater in Fort Myers and honored three Southwest Florida women for their roles in business, community and philanthropy: Linda Brown, Doris Colgate and Mary Fischer.

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LOVE THAT DRESS KICKOFF EVENT Pace Center for Girls, Lee County launched its Love That Dress! collection series with a celebration of fashion and giving April 11. The kickoff event at Fort Myers Infiniti featured appetizers and a special performance from the girls and young women of Pace. Sponsors of the event included Fort Myers Infiniti, Naples Flatbread, New Beginnings Events and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and Boost Creative. The 2019 Love That Dress! is set for August 21 at Embassy Suites by Hilton in Estero.

Photos special to GRANDEUR

1. Sam Lewis and Noelle Casagrande 2. Kevin and Cynthia Kernick with Paul and Cheryl Wurst 3. Kelly Lawrence and Jeanne Mikkelsen 4. Karen Ramos and Sally Jackson 5. Nancy Finch and Paula Kamberos 6. Linda Brown and Pat Streckfuss 7. Jennifer Pfenninger and Bryan Avery 8. Jodi Newsom and Abbi Newsom 9. Wendy S. Aguilera, Dina Holland and Nina Azwoir 10. Meg Geitner and Alextianna Thompson 11. Dena Hines and Shelley Starner

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2019 BUSINESS HALL OF FAME Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida inducted Dave Copham, founder of Liberty Check Printers, and Scott and Diana Willis, owner-operators of Jasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deli of Southwest Florida, into its 2019 Business Hall of Fame, Lee County during a dinner and awards ceremony on April 18 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. The prestigious award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who serve as role models for youth through their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community. Copham and the Willises join a distinguished group of individuals who have been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame since its founding in 1999.

2 1

1. Julie and Gary Griffin 2. Monica DiBella, Mark Loren, with Karen and Gary Tasman 3. Mark Neids, Julie Harmon, John Agnew, Talisha Faber and Brandon Box 4. Scott and Diana Willis with Dave Copham 5. Fred and Elaine Hawkins, Smira Beckwtih, Gail Markham and Doug Meurer 6. Jerron Hull and Jason Brewer 7. Gary Bryant, Lou and Steve Pontius

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www.floridacoastaldermatology.com 68 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com

Photos by MICHAEL A CARONCHI | Special to GRANDEUR

grand | TIMES

WALK 4 HOPE

HIGH TEA AT GREY OAKS Decked out in a colorful array of hats and fascinators, more than 200 ladies attended afternoon High Tea at Grey Oaks Country Club, April 15. Hosted by Diane McCaw, Linda Meak and Suzanne Costa, the afternoon included fabulous table settings and high tea delights as well as a fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue. Proceeds from the tea benefited The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.

2 Photos special to GRANDEUR

Photos special to GRANDEUR

To kick off National Parkinson’s Awareness Month, more than 200 walkers and supporters participated in Walk 4 Hope at Lakes Regional Park and raised nearly $10,000 for Hope Parkinson Program.

1. Hostesses Suzanne Costa, Diane McCaw and Linda Meak 2. Lane Wilkinson, Patti Krupp and Mary Lottes 3. Erika Aron and Charlotte Tarr

1. Michelle Martin, Cathy McPeak, Jack Field, Barbara Field and Brittany Pabon 2. Gislaine C. Dhaiti and Helen Belisle 3. Emma and Jodi Hoines

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grand | LOOK

A thunderstorm produces lightning during sunset off New Pass in Bonita Springs near Dog Beach.

PHOT O BY AN D REW WEST

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