Naples Illustrated July 2024

HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN GOOD SPIRITS A NAPLES COUPLE SHARE THEIR NEW HAMPSHIRE HIDEAWAY EXPLORING DISTILLERIES IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

SUMMER TRAVEL

Guy and Christina Inslee

CIALOMA

Northern

By Cathy Chestnut

By Jules Aron

By Daphne Nikolopoulos

DEPARTMENTS

Soirees from the social

A newly opened art gallery showcases diverse works from a single artist

28 AROUND TOWN

Harbor Springs Mattress Co. comes to Florida, an architectural firm sets up shop in Naples, and more

33 IT LIST

Must-haves for popping in to the hottest Hamptons pop-ups

34 THE LOOK

Get nauti with refreshed seafaring styles

36 THE EDIT

Patriotic pieces sure to add sparkle to any celebration

Seeing red with ruby-set stunners

Summer scents that transport

45 AT HOME WITH...

Mike and Kelly Mahigel, creators of PDA Gallery in Naples

48 SHOWCASE

From dated condo to chic coastal retreat

54 ELEMENTS

Alfresco accents to make your patio pop

56 DESIGNER DEFERENCE

Tina Twigger achieves balanced, harmonious interiors with an elevated aesthetic

JOURNEYS

59 WANDERLUST

Four ways to swim (safely) with sharks

62 QUICK TRIPS

Soak up Southern charm at Montage Palmetto Bluff

64 FLORIDIANA

A golf and tennis paradise awaits at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

66 HIGH ROAD

Lightning strikes in Maserati’s first luxury electric convertible

68 HIGH SEAS

Day-trip in style aboard the Wellcraft Flagship 435 Performance Cruiser

EAT + DRINK

95 HAPPENINGS

A popular beachside spot reopens following a long recovery forced by Hurricane Ian

96 LOCAL BITES

Crunchy snacks from a Naples resident, a new Lake Park Diner location, celebrating the mighty mango, and where to take in taco time

102 MINDFUL MIXOLOGIST

Cheers to 70 years of the piña colada

BALANCE

105 BACK CARE

Straight facts on scoliosis treatment, including who might benefit

106 HEALTH & FITNESS

Hang-gliding opportunities in Florida and how to maintain workout motivation

108 TRENDING

Freezer-friendly beauty tools

110 GOOD NATURE

Making the most of your summer travel

SCENE

113 TOP BILLING

Check out an otolaryngologist by day, comic by night at an upcoming event

114 CALENDAR

What to see and do this month

LAST WORD

120 REAL TALK WITH...

Stylest founders Joyann King Michael, Alia Yahia-Bosworth, and Chrissy McCurdy

Publisher Meegan Wyatt

Editor in Chief Jane E. Enos

Creative Director Olga M. Gustine Executive Editor Mary Murray

Managing Editor Allison Wolfe Reckson

Senior Editor Gaylene Salomons

Copy Editors Kelley Marcellus, Kat Smith

Dining Editor Karen Feldman Libations Editor Jules Aron

Fashion Editor Katherine Lande

Automotive Editor Howard Walker Travel Editor Paul Rubio

Web Editor Abigail Duffy

DESIGN

Senior Art Director Ashley Meyer

Art Directors Airielle Farley, Jenny Fernandez-Prieto

Digital Imaging Specialist Leonor Alvarez-Maza

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Cathy Chestnut, Kristen Desmond LeFevre

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tammy Fender, Erika Klein, Alexandra Owens, Liza Grant Smith, Mary Thurman Yuhas

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Gyorgy Papp, Nick Shirghio, Danielle Sykes, Diana Todorova

SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Charlie McDonald Photography, Helen Werner Photography, Reagan Rule

ADVERTISING

Account Managers

Kathleen Beuttel, 239-298-7506, kbeuttel@naplesillustrated.com; Jennifer Dardano, 561-472-1905, jdardano@palmbeachmedia.com; Dina Turner, 561-472-2201, dturner@palmbeachmedia.com

National Sales Director Deidre Wade, 561-472-1902, dwade@palmbeachmedia.com

Digital Account Manager Ryan Hollihan, 561-472-2208, rhollihan@palmbeachmedia.com

Advertising Services Coordinator Elizabeth Hackney

Marketing Manager Rebecca Desir

PRODUCTION

Production Director Selene M. Ceballo

Production Manager Lourdes Linares

Digital Pre-Press Specialist George Davis

Senior Designer Jeffrey Rey

Advertising Design Coordinator Anaely J. Perez Vargas

Production Coordinator Ileana Caban

Digital Marketing Manager Tyler Sansone

OPERATIONS

Accounting Specialist Mary Beth Cook

Accounts Receivable Specialist Ana Coronel

Distribution Manager Judy Heflin

Logistics Manager Omar Morales

Circulation Manager Marjorie Leiva

Circulation Assistants Cathy Hart, Britney Stinson

Circulation Promotions Manager David Supple

IT Manager Omar Greene

SUBSCRIPTIONS 800-308-7346

Group Publisher Terry Duffy

Editorial Director Daphne Nikolopoulos Chief Operating Officer Todd Schmidt

In Memoriam Ronald J. Woods (1935-2013)

HOUR MEDIA, LLC

CEO Stefan Wanczyk

President John Balardo

PUBLISHERS

Florida Design Sarasota • Florida Design Sourcebook • Palm Beach Relocation Guide

Southwest

Relocation Guide • Fifth Avenue South • Palm Beach 100 Naples 100 • Pinnacle: Jupiter Medical Center Foundation • Art & Culture: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County • Waypoints: Naples Yacht Club Naples on the Gulf: Greater Naples Chamber • Jupiter • Stuart • Aventura • Vero Beach Magazine • Community Report: Collier Community Foundation Advances: Tampa General Hospital • Naples Realtor: Naples Area Board of REALTORS • Annual Report: Woods Charitable Trust

Naples Illustrated

3066 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 102, Naples, FL 34103 • 239-434-6966 • Fax: 239-435-0409

Naples Illustrated is a registered trademark of Palm Beach Media Group North, LLC

Corporate Headquarters: P.O. Box 3344, Palm Beach, FL 33480 naplesillustrated.com

OUR ADVISORY BOARD

CHAIRWOMAN,

Naples Illustrated Advisory Board

Johnsonville Foods, president/co-owner

UBS Private Wealth Management, executive team assistant

Method & Concept, creative director, managing partner

NCH Healthcare, marketing and communications director

Aurora Investment Managers LLC, partner and portfolio manager

CLAUDINE LEGER-WETZEL

Stock Development, vice president, sales and marketing

Naples Botanical Garden, president and CEO

NCEF,

SHELLY STAYER

DONNA MCGINNIS

MICHAEL WYNN

Sunshine Ace Hardware, president

CHAD JENSEN

VICKI BAKER

BRENDA MELTON Celebrity Martini Glass Auction, founder

ASHLEY GERRY

trustee; CMON, board member

SHAWN MCCONNELL

ASHLEY SMITH

KARL ROUWHORST

FROM THE EDITOR

TIMELY TRAVELS

For me, age is merely a measure of time. And thus, I have no problem telling anyone—dare they query a middle-aged woman—that I’ve orbited our sun nearly 48 times. Of course, all this means I’ve surveyed 48 summers, too, most of which I recall fondly. I grew up in a small town in Southern Illinois, the daughter of parents who believed in working hard and playing hard. I spent many mornings doing some type of yard work or home improvement project alongside my younger sister and my father—who like us—had his summers off. Though we started our chores early, dad would usually excuse us by noon, just in time to sate our growling bellies, cool off with a swim, or play an afternoon round of golf. Summers weren’t completely carefree, but because they were well-balanced, they were fun—and gratifying.

I suppose balance plays an important factor in all our lives. For many Neapolitans, this means striking an equilibrium between time and space, as part-time residents enjoy ideal Southwest Florida weather in the winter months while summering in Northern regions that offer cooler temps, dissimilar landscapes, and—quite often—different social circles. Indeed, the change of venue is a welcome one for most.

This is certainly the case for the couple on our cover: Guy and Christina Inslee, who spend summers at their recently renovated historic New Hampshire farm. Many will recognize Chris, who is a familiar face at many local philanthropic events and a vital member of The League Club in Naples, an influential nonprofit organization serving our area. Though she and Guy are both busy wealth management advisors, they have a knack for home restoration and have created an ideal retreat at Hillside Farm, where rests their impressive home chock-full of colonial charm. Read more on Guy and Chris’s summer residence and how they balance life between Naples and New England, beginning on page 70.

In keeping with the travel theme of this issue, we also spotlight a few excursions worth investigating. For a spirited outing, flip to page 80, where Libations Editor Jules Aron highlights several Florida-based distilleries and also shares several related cocktail recipes. If you prefer to reconnoiter the Sunshine State by air, explore a few hang-gliding opportunities (including where to learn the sport) from Erika Klein, a frequent contributing writer, on page 106. And finally, read about a different type of luxury cruise as Editorial Director Daphne Nikolopoulos relates her unique travels aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a Polar Class 2–rated ship capable of slicing its way through thick ice and making its own “ports,” as it takes travelers (and scientists) to largely unexplored territories in the Arctic. Learn more about this substantial, sustainable ship and the many eco-experiences available on this one-of-a-kind expedition, starting on page 88.

Whether the next couple months hold travel plans or not, we hope you enjoy this issue, meant to provide a handful of lesser-known places (and activities) to appreciate and consider.

Bon voyage!

Jane E. Enos jenos@naplesillustrated.com

RSVP

A BLACK-TIE EXPERIENCE

WHO: Path2Freedom

WHAT: Red Gala

WHERE: Northern Jet Hangar, Naples

DETAILS: This elegant and fun evening included cocktails, dinner, music, dancing, and silent and live auction experiences raising funds for survivors of human trafficking.

MEDIA SPONSOR: Naples

1. Corinne Fanta, Amie and Kip Fanta

2. Tatiana Diaz Hess and Preston Hess

3. Meegan Wyatt, Amy West, Ana Stevenson, Kathy and Jeff Beuttel

4. Murray and Jess Morris 5. Vinny Martino, Gayle Repetto, Samantha and Robert Kiffney 6. Jennifer Urness, Allison Rainey, Karol Smith 7. Ryan and Jillian Young, Chris and Audrey Curran, Jacqueline and Eric Gallus 8. Rachael Williams, Yesi Gervith Hennessey, Kim McDonnell 9. Jon and Ana Stevenson 10. Vicky Cardone, Jan Hoffman

$7,500,000

$6,595,000

SHOPPING NICK MELE’S WORLD

WHO: Neapolitan Enterprises WHAT: La Bonne Vie: The Good Life WHERE: Camargo Courtyard, Naples

DETAILS: A curated array of clothing designed by Ala von Auersperg, custom pieces from Well Made Home and A Mano, and an exhibition of Nick Mele’s photographs were on display and for purchase February through March at a specialized pop-up shop on Third Street South; a portion of sales proceeds was donated to the Women’s Foundation of Collier County to help unhoused senior women.

1. Nick Mele, Joan Tobin, Matt Kragh 2. Alexis Tobin, Elizabeth Bonner, Melanie Mount, Abby Chadburn, Payton Matthews, Millier Waller 3. Teri Kuhn, Ala von Auersperg, Linda Malone

Susan Magrino, Nick Mele 5. Ian and Laura Tobin 6. Danielle Vigliotti, Daisy Prince, Joan Tobin 7. Kristen Schonwald, Nick Mele 8. Erin Mullaney, Meghan Houde

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864.523.8608 cliffsliving.com/naples

THE POWER OF EDUCATION

WHO: The Immokalee Foundation WHAT: 2024 Charity Classic WHERE: The RitzCarlton Naples, Tiburón

DETAILS: The popular annual event raised over $2.3 million—the highest total ever achieved—to support the foundation’s diverse programming designed to transform young lives and support the educational needs of more than 1,300 students in Immokalee.

1. Leslie Ricciardelli, Brian Goguen, Claudine Leger-Wetzel, Jay Rasmussen

2. Pat and Brenda O’Connor, Sandra Lee and Reg Buxton 3. Alex Howard, Kristen Dimas 4. Janet and Jerry Belle

5. Don and Ellen O'Neill 6. Ryan and Amy Carter 7. Amy and John Quinn

8. Students and tutors 9. Brian and Eileen Voynick, Noemi Perez, Carol and Tom Joseph

Five Stars. A Few Miles from Home.

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· Private beach access with complimentary use of beach chairs & umbrellas

· Complimentary bicycle rentals and use of non-motorized water sports

· Unlimited Access to 24-hour Fitness Center and complimentary Fitness classes (based on availability)

· Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort

*Complimentary kids club from May 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024. Teens always complimentary.

TRAVEL TALKS AND TRENDS

WHO: Preferred Travel & Company WHAT: Ruby

Reflection: A Journey of 40 Years WHERE: Artis—Naples DETAILS: More than 300 guests connected with some of the world’s top vendors at the annual travel showcase presented by Preferred Travel & Company. This year, Guadalupe Center received a $25,000 donation that will help support transformative education programs for more than 1,900 students in Immokalee.

1. Charisse Thomas, Esther Alvarez 2. Jackie and Henk

Morelisse, Lisa Spiller 3. Steve Hiatt, Linda Walker, Diane Hiatt 4. Dale Harris, Bo Gover, Ross Harris 5. Kit Mathews, Sarah Fields, Saul Fonseca 6. Tammy Richelieu, Kelly Krupp, Dawn Montecalvo, Vanessa Ainba 7. Nick Murawski, Vanessa Hamann 8. Angela Garner, Julia Glick 9. Patrick Anderson, Marina O’Leary 10. Jill Hanlon, Frank Del Rio, Nikki Upshaw 11. Sandy Cotter, Ronald Amati

OLD DOMINION

DECEMBER 14th, 2024

Goo goo Dolls Lauren Alaina

❘ 5 - 10 PM

TIBURÓN GOLF CLUB AT THE RITZ-CARLTON NAPLES , TIBURÓN

THE INSIDE TRACK TO NEAPOLITAN LIVING

A MASTER OF ART

The Newman Art Gallery, showcasing the work of Brooklyn-born artist David Newman (1927-2005), is now open in the Third Street South shopping district. Newman’s work, described as abstract expressionism, has been displayed at galleries worldwide. Daughter Nikki Newman along with granddaughters Brigitte and Alison Chapman decided to launch a family-owned and -operated gallery exclusively devoted to David’s extensive body of work, which Nikki labels as “progressive, unique, and timeless.”

David’s collection contains approximately 5,000 works, of which 1,000 are placed with collectors, corporations, and museums. His art has been represented for decades in galleries spanning the globe—from New York to Chicago to Paris, France, to Florence, Italy. Naples Illustrated spoke with Nikki about her father’s creativity; turn the page for a brief Q&A. (newmanartgallery.com) –Gaylene Salomons

Untitled by David Newman

Eagle by David Newman

Ink Rose 4 by David Newman

NAPLES WELCOMES A MASTER OF ART (cont.) X

NI: What formal training did David receive?

Nikki Newman: While he held a Bachelor of Arts from Pace University in New York, acquired later in life, it is safe to say he was self-taught. As a young man, he was the protégé of American sculptor Malvina Hoffman and studied at various art schools in New York, including the Art Students League, the Clay Club, and the National Academy of Design, as well as Syracuse University (with Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrovic).

David eventually moved to France and Italy, enriching his knowledge at European art schools, such as Beaux-Arts of Paris, and with Romano Romanelli in his studio at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (the Florence Academy of Fine Arts), which houses Michelangelo’s David. He was invited by the Accademia Carrara to carve marble from May to October each year as a guest.

for a one-man show of sculpture and drawings at the now Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach.

During the winters, Vatican sculptor Antonio Berti provided studio space in Sesto. During this period David carved Il Pugno, Torso, and L’Oppresso in marble. How did he develop this talent?

He was a meticulous observer. He drew his conclusions from attentive analysis of the works he admired. The practice of drawing would remain a constant through his life, culminating in an enormous number of watercolors upon ink created since 1979. He had a strong sense of self-criticism and measured his works against the familiarity he had for those he considered “the great ones.”

Why Naples for the gallery’s location?

After several years in France and Italy, David decided to return to America. He selected Florida, where he was welcomed and respected as a young sculptor and artist. Founders of the now Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach commissioned 34 bronze busts, as well as works

David and his French wife and muse, Michèle, loved the region. After she passed in 2022, we selected Florida and the art-enriched community of Naples for a homecoming of David’s opus.

What will visitors learn from a visit?

The gallery has been curated to reflect six decades of art revealing parallelism, despite tremendous differences in colors and subjects, as well as techniques and mediums. We hope our visitors enjoy the intellectual figurative work that is provocative and humorous; find peace in the family and religious works; and [find] joy in the abundant use of color and whimsical designs.

Regular visitors will establish links and be able to recognize a Newman. They will see the filiations of each work, the complexity of character—serious, classic, and austere and then mischievous, humble, and generous. David had a keen intellect and was very humorous, saying, “I never change a line or shape. Even if the paint drips down the canvas, I don’t wipe it up. I respect it to such a degree that I’ll never touch it again.” G.S.

AN ALL-NATURAL SLEEP

Harbor Springs Mattress Co. opened its first location outside of its home state of Michigan in downtown Naples in late spring. The small company, with showrooms in Harbor Springs, Traverse City, and Rochester, creates all-natural mattresses. Rory Karpathian founded the company in 2004 after decades of working in senior positions at major mattress manufacturers throughout the United States. The showroom, located on the corner of Ninth Street North and First Avenue South, was designed as a gallery. The relaxing space,

which includes a coffee and spirits bar, showcases photos of the artisans who create the mattresses. Visitors will be able to see and touch all the materials that go into making the beds, from the freshly spun woolen batting washed in natural soap to the unbleached cotton that retains tiny specks of the cotton’s boll.

Mattresses from the company are hand-cut, hand-layered, handtufted, and handsewn. This artisan method follows the tradition of creating luxurious comfort for longevity. “We spare no expense toward making a mattress last 25 years,” says Dar Charlebois, president and co-owner of the company. (harborspringsmattress.com) G.S.

From left: The Newman Art Gallery is now open in the Third Street South shopping district; Kaleidoscope Moon by David Newman.

PARK SHORE

OLD NAPLES

WELCOME

INNOVATIVE

ARCHITECTURAL FIRM

OPENS DOORS IN NAPLES

A Sarasota-based architectural firm specializing in residential, commercial, and hospitality designs recently opened a Naples office on Pine Ridge Road. Mark Sultana, owner and principal architect of DSDG Architects, began his career designing some of Naples’ most iconic structures, including the Bay Colony high-rise towers within Pelican Bay, Artis—Naples, and the Inn on Fifth. He launched DSDG in Sarasota in 2001. The full-service firm has consistently won awards in categories of design, sustainability, renovation, and interior design throughout the Sarasota and Bradenton areas.

“The work of DSDG Architects is

based on the philosophy of designing for the client,” explains Sultana.

“Our style of architecture ranges from traditional to warm modern, and our projects range from custom one-of-akind estates to multifamily high-rises, clubhouses, and hotels.”

DSDG’s latest creations enhance the environment throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Lido Key to Punta Gorda to Sarasota to Anna Maria Island. About the choice to open a Naples office, Sultana remarks, “Our expansion is based on the need for something new and fresh in the market and repeated requests for our services in the area.” (dsdgarchitects.com) G.S.

SHOPPING for Women

Although women rarely need an excuse to enjoy a little retail therapy, Waterside Shops provided good reason in March. In honor of International Women’s Day, the open-air mall invited women to enjoy live music, a Champagne bar, and an informal fashion show while they shopped. The annual global holiday celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and is a public observance in several countries. Shoppers visited many of the newly opened boutiques in the mall, including Jenni Kayne, Trina Turk, and Frances Valentine. A portion of the day’s sales was donated to the Women’s Foundation of Collier County, a field-of-interest fund for the Collier Community Foundation dedicated to changing the lives of women and girls in Collier County through grantmaking, advocacy, and education. (internationalwomensday.com) –G.S.

RYAN GAMMA

RYAN GAMMA LANE

WILKINSON

The Travel Edition

IT LIST BE IN THE KNOW ON SUMMER’S HOTTEST POP-UPS IN THE HAMPTONS AND WHAT TO TAKE TO GET YOU THERE

BY KATHERINE LANDE

1. Never lose your things (or your mind) with the ultimate travel tote: I Am a Plastic Bag In-Flight Tote ($1,550), Anya Hindmarch, us.anyahindmarch.com | 2. Fly in striped style: La Ligne x Away capsule collection (prices vary), La Ligne x Away, lalignenyc.com, awaytravel.com | 3. Take your game (and your opponent’s money) on the road: Métier leather travel backgammon set ($875), Abask, abask.com | 4. Stay protected and hydrated under the summer sun: Body Sun Ritual SPF 30 hydrating mineral sunscreen ($48), Saint Jane, saintjanebeauty. com | 5. Check out these summer must-haves from three sartorial Hamptons hot spots: Coco Beach Collection’s woven raffia tote bag ($7,000), Chanel, East Hampton, chanel.com; Gucci Lido Summer Collection’s Gucci Bamboo 1947 small top-handle bag ($4,500), Gucci, East Hampton, gucci.com; Exclusive Beach Collection’s terry cotton bathrobe ($1,775), Dolce & Gabbana, Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, dolcegabbana.com

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STYLE

CRUISE CONTROL THE LOOK

NAUTICAL GOES NOUVEAU WITH A REFRESH ON THIS SIGNATURE CLASSIC

LOUIS VUITTON

SUMMER 2024 CAPSULE COLLECTION

Menswear-inspired silhouettes add an updated edge to the French seaside look.

BY KATHERINE LANDE

ROPE ME IN

CASTING LIGHT

Shrimp earrings in lapis and 18-karat yellow gold ($4,350), Seaman Schepps, seamanschepps.com

Phare handbag ($6,450), Louis Vuitton, Naples, us.louisvuitton.com

PONY UP

Horse-bit print swimsuit ($720), Gucci, Naples, gucci.com

SEA BEADS Embroidered Dolce box handbag ($6,345), Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com

STYLE NOTES X

RED, WHITE & BLUE:

Stick to the standard color palette; add pop with metallic accents.

AHOY MATE:

Invest in a sailor stripe— it will be in style forever.

MODERN DECK:

Play with shape and size proportions to modernize your look.

STEP LIGHTLY

Valentino Garavani Rockstud slingback flats ($1,090), Valentino, Marissa Collections,Naples, valentino.com

SPARKLER EFFECT

CHANGING COURSE

Reversible shopper in Pequinstriped and light blue FF fabric ($1,950), Fendi, fendi.com

Métiers d’Art 2024 bracelet ($1,975), Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Naples, chanel.com

DAY WHITE

Cinch small handbag ($1,295), Jimmy Choo, jimmychoo.com

BELT IT OUT

C’est Dior belt (price upon request), Dior, dior.com

Belle Vivier slingback pumps ($950), Roger Vivier, rogervivier.com

COLOR BLOCK

THE EDIT

LONE STAR

Wish Star boots ($960), Golden Goose, goldengoose.com

Is there anything that says American chic more than the perfect cowboy boots? Whether you wear this pair with a boho maxi dress or with classic denim, the platinum star inlay and firework-like embroidery will lend your July an extra pop of patriotism. —Kristen Desmond LeFevre, contributing editor

Stars and Stripes

SUMMER SALUTE

PUT A CHIC SPIN ON PATRIOTIC ATTIRE WITH EDITOR-APPROVED CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

La Medusa striped canvas tote bag ($1,650), Versace, neimanmarcus.com

Why not add a bit of Italian flair to this year’s Independence Day celebration—or to a day at the beach—with this pragmatic (and pretty) navy and white canvas tote? —Jane E. Enos, editor in chief

Babe bandeau one-piece ($178), T-shirt bikini top ($118), and sidetie bikini bottom ($94), Robin Piccone, robinpiccone.com

NIGHT SKY

Étoile des Vents earring ($1,650 each), Dior, dior.com

Christian Dior had a fascination with stars, and so do I. Wear a rose gold and diamond celestial talisman on your lobe for daily good fortune. —Gaylene Salomons, senior editor

COLOR-BLOCKED

Narin high-rise button-front pants ($375), Alice + Olivia, aliceandolivia.com

Old Glory never looked so stylish. Alice + Olivia’s Narin pants display the colors of the flag in a bold color-blocked pattern that’s bound to turn heads at July Fourth parties. Trimmed with a navy waistband and gold buttons, the pants read both nautical and patriotic—the perfect complement to summer. —Daphne Nikolopoulos, editorial director

I’m excited to debut Robin Piccone’s Babe bikini in this iconic color combo on the Fourth and to add other pieces from the collection to my summer wardrobe, such as the bandeau one-piece.

—Allison Wolfe Reckson, managing editor

SEEING RED

Melissa Mary Jane flats ($268), Reformation, thereformation.com

Whether it be denim cutoffs and a tee or a breezy summer wedding guest ensemble, these scarlet Nappa leather slip-ons offer a darling pop of color to any outfit. —Abigail Duffy, web editor

LINES OF DUTY

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8 7 9 1 2

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Radiant Rubies

MAKE A RED-HOT STATEMENT WHEN YOU DON JULY’S FIERY BIRTHSTONE

BY MARY MURRAY

1. SHINE SO BRIGHT Yvel earrings with rubies and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, price upon request. (yvel.com)

2. SEEING DOUBLE Kwiat necklace with rubies and diamonds set in platinum, price upon request. Marissa Collections, Naples (marissacollections.com)

3. LOVING HIM WAS RED Lugano Diamonds ring with an oval ruby and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold with red ceramic, price upon request. (lugano diamonds.com)

4. CRIMSON AND CLOVER Provident Jewelry twostone ring with a Burmese ruby and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, $49,500. Provident Jewelry, Naples (providentjewelry.com)

5. RED, WHITE, AND YOU Aletto Brothers invisibly set ruby dome earrings with rubies and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, price upon request. (greenleaf crosby.com)

6. LOVE ALL AROUND Davidor L’Arc Deco bangle with Davidor arch-cut diamonds, arch-cut rubies, and diamonds set in platinum, $98,500. (davidor.com)

7. STAR CROSSED Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. earrings with rubies set in 18-karat gold, $3,850. Select Tiffany & Co. locations (tiffany.com)

BIJOUX (graff.com)

8. FANTASTIC FRINGE Graff necklace with rubies and diamonds set in platinum, price upon request.

9. CONNECT THE DOTS Picchiotti Xpandable bracelet with Thai oval rubies and diamonds set in 18-karat gold and white gold, $99,000. Bigham Jewelers, Naples (bighamjewelers.com)

Scents of Adventure

This summer, Europe is calling. Evoke Mediterranean splendor with these aromatic selections: L’Objet Kérylos Eau de Parfum, bursting with yuzu, mandarin, and grapefruit, and grounded by earthy white musk, sandalwood, and wild herbs ($160 for 1.7 fl. oz., l-objet.com); Grace de Monaco Danse Étoilée Eau de Parfum ($220 for 3.38 fl. oz.) and Promenade Sur Le Rocher Parfum, a fragrant celebration of Grace Kelly and the French Riviera that transforms from white florals to sensual amber, woods, musk, and vanilla ($560 for 1 fl. oz., gdmonaco.com); Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle Tiare Eau de Parfum, evoking the breeze of a beachside escape with cédrat, tiare flower, grapefruit, honeysuckle, gardenia, and citrus ($150 for 1.7 fl. oz., aerin.com); Parfums de Marly Paris Althaïr Eau de Parfum, an ode to the Bourbon vanilla introduced under Louis XV’s reign ($365 for 4.23 fl. oz., us.parfums-de-marly.com); and Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum, a headturning infusion of bergamot, pear, pink peppercorn, rose, jasmine, vanilla, patchouli, and cedarwood ($118 for 1.7 fl. oz., Ulta Beauty, Naples). —Abigail Duffy

Rarely does an opportunity arise to own a beachfront villa with unparalleled views of the Gulf of Mexico. Tastefully remastered in coastal chic style, capturing the essence of beach living. Secluded outdoor courtyard provides tranquility and relaxation. Generous additional entertainment space, a private elevator, and an air-conditioned two-car garage. Nestled within the exclusive gated community of Villa Mare, just moments from Venetian Village. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a prime Gulf-front villa. Offered at $5,490,000.

Stunning 2.5-acre equestrian property in Livingston Woods, owned by a professional golfer. Features a bunker, putting green, high ceilings, wood-look tile floors, custom wine wall, impact windows, and 2019 tile roof. Saltwater pool with picture-frame screen. Three-car garage with AC and golf simulator-ready space. Equestrian facilities include a riding arena, three-stall center aisle barn, fly spray system, AC tack room and paddocks. Fully fenced and gated. Beautiful landscaping with outdoor lighting and fire pit. Offered at $3,490,000.

VILLA MARE AT PARK SHORE

4720 VILLA MARE LANE | NAPLES, FLORIDA

LIVINGSTON WOODS 6720 DANIELS ROAD | NAPLES, FLORIDA

RESIDE

DESIGN AND DECOR FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

AT HOME WITH...

MIKE AND KELLY MAHIGEL

IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THEIR HOME THAT COUNTS FOR A DYNAMIC COUPLE WHO RECENTLY RELOCATED TO NAPLES

BY GAYLENE SALOMONS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK SHIRGHIO

A beguiling assortment of avant-garde furniture rests within the walls of an unassuming Mediterranean-style home located around the corner from the bustling strip of Fifth Avenue South. The collection belongs to Mike and Kelly Mahigel, who opened

PDA Gallery—focusing on avant-garde and vintage design—in the Naples Design District last November. Their home functions as an extension of their gallery. “Here,” says Mike, “we can show how we live with art.” That art is appropriately labeled “collect-

ible design,” a term coined about 20 years ago to describe furnishings, products, and objects characterized by artistic expression and limited production. Often more form than function, the items—think vases, chairs, sofas, console tables, and benches—

depart from convention and expectation in their realization.

Mike’s enthusiasm is fervent for the growing collectible design trend. The multisyllabic names of the international artists—many from Japan, Italy, and Northern Europe— and their works roll off his tongue with ease. He and Kelly have hundreds of pieces in their collection, many from the 1970s and 1980s—an era of focus for the couple and one that Mike describes as “ostentatious minimalism.” For examples, he points to the Nirvana chair by Shigeru Uchida from 1981, with a steel-squiggle base, an upholstered seat, and a solid gold tube armrest (one of four known vintage examples) that tucks under an Eero Saarinen pedestal table in their dining area.

Every room in their home plays host to collectible design items—from the 1970s to present day. In the primary bedroom, a red lips–shaped sofa by Studio 65 (Italy, 1970) is placed behind a cork coffee table by Jader Almeida (Brazil, 2013). The living room in their home showcases colorful matching Ettore Sottsass cabinets (Italy, 1985), a wood slat bench by Carl Fredrik Svenstedt made for Issey Miyake (United States, France, Japan; 2009), a Gastone Rinaldi sofa (Italy,

1970) that Mike explains was a piece “Kelly fell in love with and had to have,” and chrome sofa chairs (Japan, 1982) and lamps (Japan, 1972) by Shiro Kuramata.

Mike has never completed any formal art or design studies and jokes that his early furniture transactions involved flipping his parents’ Broyhill furniture on Craigslist for beer money. He spent 10 years in asset management, staying in his hometown of Minneapolis. When he met Kelly, also born and raised in the City of Lakes, she had done stints in advertising and accounting and was “into real estate.” She reveals she has always been obsessed with art and interior design. Together Mike and Kelly bought and sold homes and further honed their personal design style while cohabitating and having to choose furniture they both liked and could live with.

It was around this time that Mike realized that design for him was “very much a drug.”

Although he dislikes that analogy, his interest in collectible design became a gateway to a passionate livelihood. He traveled the world, filling containers with unique and rare pieces that he shipped to and stored in a 6,600-square-foot warehouse space near his home. As his collection grew, he began

Clockwise from top left: Alessandro Guerriero’s Filosofo cabinet; Mike, Ezra, and Kelly sit on a Gastone Rinaldi sofa; a rubber Gaetano Pesce vase rests on an Eero Saarinen table placed between two Shigeru Uchida chairs.

networking with dealers, buying and selling the unique pieces. He says the collectible design market exploded during COVID. He was hooked.

For the past 10 years, the couple had been visiting Naples. They decided to make a full-time move south in July 2023 with their two boys, Arlo (5) and Ezra (3), and their design collection. Their flourishing resale business helped them realize an opportunity to share their carefully curated collection here—in the form of a gallery.

“We need to see more of this art in Florida,” says Kelly, a place that is “ready for some color and fun.” The couple, admittedly, are “throwing people in the deep end,” with their gallery and infectious exuberance for collectible design.

While they buy what they like, Mike says they also look for “things we think will age well.”

The pieces—being vintage or limited in production—offer an attractive green aspect and are ultimately “liquid assets,” says Mike. The couple continue to travel the world looking for treasures and are avid readers of books on contemporary designers. Already they are noticing influences from past and current designers upon younger artists; they enjoy the process of anticipating what will become more valuable over time.

Best of all, the Mahigel family get to live with what they find—even if it’s only for a short while, epitomizing living the dream. «

Kelly sits on a floral velveteen Hana wingback chair by Simone Bonanni.

A BOATER’S PARADISE

A

NAPLES VACATION HOME IS REMODELED TO BEST REFLECT THE PICTURESQUE SURROUNDINGS

BY MARY THURMAN YUHAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIANA TODOROVA

When Jill and Bill Howard attended their sons’ high school benefit gala, the avid boaters made the winning bid on a luxury vacation in Windstar on Naples Bay—a gated golf community with a private deep-water marina and direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.

The newly retired couple (Bill owned an agricultural marketing company where Jill also worked) had been searching for a

vacation home where they could relax for one or two months out of the year. Fortuitously, the condominium next door to the property they visited just happened to be for sale.

When they walked into the first-floor entrance of the two-story dwelling, Bill and Jill were unimpressed. When they made their way to the second floor of the threebedroom residence, stunning views of the

emerald golf course and the azure Gulf greeted them. It was a wow moment for the pair, and they immediately made an offer. “That’s what sold us,” Jill recalls. “It also has a 1,300-square-foot lanai overlooking the marina that was very appealing.”

Because of their busy schedule, the couple sought a seasoned interior designer who could manage an extensive renovation with minimal direction from the homeowners. Their contractor, Vincent Iannuzzi at ICI Iannuzzi Construction Company, recommended Nan Wright, principal and CEO at Wright Interior Group.

Wright updated the entire space. “We removed walls and nonload-bearing columns throughout the space and raised the ceilings to 11 feet,” says Wright. “We even moved the air conditioning ducts. The result is an open and airy modern coastal feel with large windows and sliders to bring in the view.”

Today, a nautical rope banister on the stairwell—requested by the clients—welcomes visitors, introducing the home’s coastal style. (Everyone who visits dotes on this charming addition.) The oil painting on the stairwell wall is from the clients’ personal art collection. Unseen is the home’s elevator.

Interior designer Nan Wright peaked the entire ceiling in the great room (above), adding a beam for architectural interest; at right, a glossy blue wall in a chevron pattern welcomes guests to the secondfloor landing of the condo.

A glossy blue wall in a chevron pattern on the second-floor landing, bold white baseboards, and white oak flooring emulating a sandy beach create an appealing color scheme that carries throughout the residence. Coastal elements are seen throughout the home, including oyster-shell chandeliers, jellyfish-shaped sconces, rope-back chairs, abstract fish prints, and bluegrass cloth. “Custom bone inlay doors on the media table give a nod to the natural elements in a modern way,” details Wright.

Wright peaked the entire ceiling in the great room (for symmetry) and added a beam detail for architectural interest. All furnishings are new; in the main living area, the sofa and chairs are covered in Crypton fabric. “Our clients wanted comfort and low maintenance and gave us almost carte blanche,” notes Wright.

Expanding the kitchen to add storage space was a must, as were the addition of Bosch appliances for Jill, who loves to cook and bake. Inspired by the couple’s enthusiasm for bourbon, Wright had a table made from a bourbon barrel for the wet bar area. Wooden strips were placed at different angles (some even with burn marks) under a shellacked surface; large nail heads hold the leather-strap edging in place. “My clients

Coastal elements are seen throughout the updated condo overlooking the marina at Windstar on Naples Bay (top left) and include a chandelier made of dangling oyster shells in the kitchen (above); at left, a custom table made from a bourbon barrel was inspired by the couple’s love of the libation.

were ecstatic [with it],” says Wright.

The best seats in the house are found on the large lanai overlooking the marina where the seasonal residents spend most of their time. Both designer and owners are extremely pleased with the project. “We maximized the space and made the home more livable,” says Wright. “The clients love it and are thrilled with some of the unique modifications. It is the vacation home they wanted.” «

At left: A soothing color palette in the primary bedroom does not depart from the condo’s coastal motif; the reconfigured guest bathroom (above) now accommodates two vanities and a shower.

10’ x 86’ x 54”

STAINLESS STEEL

ROOFTOP POOL & SPA WITH GLASS DIVIDER & AUTOCOVER. POOL HAS TWO GLASS BOTTOM SECTIONS FOR POOL VIEWING FROM BELOW & GLASS WALL AT END.

Custom Stainless Steel & Copper Aquatic Products

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL HOSPITALITY

Spas Swimming Pools Glass-Walled Pools & Spas

Energy-Efficient Portable Spas Swim Spas Tile-ready Pools & Spas

Water Features Cold Therapy Pools

Luxury Custom Indoor & Outdoor Bath Fixtures

SPECIALIZING IN ELEVATED / ROOFTOP POOL & SPA INSTALLATIONS LIGHTWEIGHT & DURABLE

SOPHISTICATED ARTISTIC SUSTAINABLE

SHIPPING WORLDWIDE SINCE 1996

Diamond Spas Pools

Take it Outside

ELEVATE THE PATIO EXPERIENCE WITH ALFRESCO ACCOUTREMENTS

BY LIZA GRANT SMITH

TILE STYLE

Handmade by Miami craftsmen, Luxe Dominoes’ El Rumi rummy tile game ($350) is a modern design take on the family favorite. BRuno, Naples (239-261-9806)

SEA WORTHY

STRAIGHT FIRE

The Ooni Frya 12 portable, wood pellet pizza oven ($349) has a stone floor that prepares a rustic Neapolitan-style pie in a minute flat. Sur la Table, Naples (surlatable.com)

TOUCH AND GO

(fabecyoungcompany.com)

APP-ILY EVER AFTER Merritt Designs serves up an ace with a pickleball melamine appetizer plate ($6). Wilford & Lee, Naples, Bonita Springs (wilfordandlee.com)

Designer Jenny Provost van Rensburg of K2 Design Group let the ocean and its storms act as a muse in this project for seafaring clients. “In developing the design for the exterior ceilings, I created a three-dimensional hurricane tracking chart,” she says. “The legs on the shaped outdoor kitchen represent tornadic waterspouts and, since I knew the hood for the grill would become a focal point, I opted for an upsidedown fish. The mosaic tiles on the wall behind it all form large fish to play into the concept.” Bonita Springs (k2design.com)

One touch turns on Zafferano America’s fully dimmable Home Pro light ($159), which glows for 12 hours thanks to its induction charging base. Fabec Young & Co., Naples

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

A portable Bluetooth speaker (starting at $120) from Bose is waterproof for soirees in any kind of weather. Best Buy, Naples, Estero (bestbuy.com)

THROWING SHADE

LOUNGE SINGER

Playing with textural contrast, Couture Jardin’s Kokoon daybed ($7,197) is the perfect place to chat or chill. Zing Patio, Naples (shopatzing.com)

Keep the sun at bay but the style bright with Tuuci’s Ocean Master M1 Cupola parasol (starting at $2,580). KB Patio and Home Decor locations (kbpatiofurniture.com)

NAPLES ILLUSTRATED

• Heavy duty protection

• Designed for coastal climates

• Prevent water intrusion

• Minimizes floating

• Mildew and rot resistant

• Ultraviolet light resistant

• Rodent resistant

• Reusable for many seasons

• Keeps your car clean

• Easy to use

• Avoid vehicle insurance claims

• Variety of sizes to fit your needs

DESIGNER DEFERENCE

NATURAL INTUITION

ACHIEVING VISUAL BALANCE AND HARMONY IN INTERIOR SPACES COMES EASILY FOR THIS BICOASTAL TALENT

BY GAYLENE SALOMONS

tectural acumen on jobsites throughout Orange County, while working for a design company based in Irvine. “I was a sponge,” she says, as she recalls loving every minute learning “from the best.”

Twigger embraced these and set to work refreshing the home.

“I’m a different kind of designer,” says Tina Twigger. “I fix plans to make houses work. I have been blessed with a natural ability.”

Born and raised in Southern California, Twigger relays she’s always been passionate about design. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in architecture and interior design classes and discovered she had a knack for computer-aided design. Although circumstances prevented her from formally completing her studies, she honed her archi-

In 2006, she opened her own firm— Twigger Design—to focus on interior architecture. “Things have taken off since,” she adds. Twigger has assembled a small team and markets her services through a website but admits she has never advertised. Her portfolio boasts custom homes (and a few retail spaces) from Malibu to Laguna Beach and Dana Point. “There is so much more competition among designers in California because there are so many more people and so many great designers; you have to differentiate yourself,” she states.

In 2022, the Twigger family (Tina and husband Brian, along with their twin daughters) moved to Naples. They purchased a distinctly Mediterranean-style home in the golf course community of Mediterra when the trend was, according to Twigger, “no longer in vogue.” Not surprising, the wellbuilt 2,200-square-foot residence contained numerous Mediterranean elements, such as ornate columns, arched doorways, transom windows, high ceilings, and lots of tile.

“I think the Mediterranean look that evolved and developed here should be respected. We should stay true to it,” says Twigger, who considers the details beautiful. In her opinion, however, it should be done with real plaster, limestone and travertine, European light fixtures, and natural

NICOLELEADBETTER

MILA EUGENIA

woods. “There is a way to make it fresh and give it a coastal update,” she states.

Twigger’s strength lies in reconfiguring spaces, adding to the original design, and adhering to a simple color scheme. About her aesthetic, she remarks, “I do not design on trend.” Instead, she aims to realize creations that represent her clients, keeping a timeless sensibility, following architectural rules, and marrying infrastructure with interior design.

Twigger cites a recent remodeling project in Bay Colony: “I kept many of the owner’s classic pieces but went light and airy, turning the inside a soft contemporary and taking the yellow out of the walls.” She labels the resulting look French Coastal. “Basically,” she explains, “I refined the design.” Twigger says she sees great architecture in Southwest Florida and notes Neapolitans

are, more and more, seeking sophistication in their designs.

Driven by the challenge of designing any space she encounters, she continues to work on projects in SoCal (and now SoFlo), tweaking plans to make houses work for the special people who inhabit them. She mentions the reconstruction of an entryway she just completed in a Mediterra home. “It was a tough project but worth it.”

Then there’s the time a lunch with a girlfriend led to a serendipitous meeting with a local builder, who after learning of Twigger’s talents, sought her advice on his project and

then promptly hired her to capture a very California look in a home nearing completion in Royal Harbor—with 130 feet on the water. “I’ve had to say no to many projects as I want to work on special [ones] with great people and still be a mom,” she says. Perhaps someday Naples will command her full attention. (twiggerdesign.com) «

MILA

EUGENIA

COASTAL ELEGANCE, SERVICE

JOURNEYS

YOUR PASSPORT TO THE MOST FASCINATING CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

SWIMMING WITH SHARKS

DIVE, OBSERVE, AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ELUSIVE WORLD OF THE OCEAN’S MOST CAPTIVATING RESIDENTS

BY PAUL RUBIO AND ALEXANDRA OWENS

While many people are content to limit their interaction with sharks to HD screens and aquariums, a niche market has grown for extreme marine safaris where humans no longer call the shots. Submerged beneath the waves, all anthropogenic borders disappear, as you quickly learn that this is a shark’s world and we’re just swimming in it. Here,

we share four experiential encounters with these misunderstood rulers of the ocean.

Scalloped Hammerheads

The scalloped hammerhead shark’s distinctive antenna-like head (or cephalofoil) and elusive nature are hot topics among shark biologists. While much about this shy

and enigmatic species remains a mystery, we do know that they travel in schools by day, engaging in complex social interactions, and separate by night to hunt stingrays, squid, fish, and other fruits of the sea.

A prime spot to swim with scalloped hammerheads is the aptly named Hammerhead Triangle, an imaginary geometric destination

A school of scalloped hammerheads passes by at Darwin and Wolf in the Galápagos.

formed by Costa Rica’s Cocos Island, Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, and Colombia’s Malpelo Island. These dive sites are populated by migratory schools of scalloped hammerheads that range from 100 to 300 individuals. In the Galápagos (which are home to the highest concentration of sharks in the world), divers are practically guaranteed sightings of the resident hammers around the magical islands of Darwin and Wolf. Here, the sharks gather in large schools, slowly drifting past divers at a wary distance. To sneak a closer look, you can wait at a cleaning station,

where the sharks stop by—mouths gaping— for tiny fish to freshen up their pearly whites.

Divers can expect to spot other species here, too, depending on the season, including whale, tiger, silky, Galápagos, and various reef sharks. Visiting this remote destination, which is nearly a full day by boat away from the rest of the Galápagos, requires booking a liveaboard. One great choice is Galápagos Sky (galapagossky.com), a 16-passenger luxury yacht that works closely with the World Wildlife Fund and other partners to protect these critically endangered sharks

from illegal fishing and finning by industrialscale boats, ensuring that the Galápagos Marine Reserve will remain a treasured sanctuary for years to come.

Great White Sharks

There’s no doubt that the 1975 thriller Jaws solidified our fear of great whites—and sharks in general. While these pelagic hunters rule the deep blue as the world’s largest predatory shark, only 351 human attacks have been documented globally since 1580. (To put that in perspective, hippos are estimated to cause nearly 3,000 deaths per year in Africa.)

Given the international protected status of great whites and country-specific laws, the required permits to cage dive with these creatures are few and far between. Previous great white hot spot Guadalupe, Mexico, is now off limits due to conservation concerns, while the South African population has largely dispersed due to predation by orcas.

That being said, there remains a Holy Grail for immersing in the world of the white shark year-round: South Australia’s Neptune Islands. Here, Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions (rodneyfox.com.au), a leader in white shark

ANDREW FOX

GALÁPAGOS

GALÁPAGOS

RODNEY FOX SHARK EXPEDITIONS

Clockwise from above: a glimpse above the sea at Darwin and Wolf in the Galápagos; adventures on the Galápagos Sky include shark diving and taking in stunning landscapes; the MV Rodney Fox arrives at the Neptune Islands; a great white investigates the surface cage; great whites seen from the seabed.

RODNEY FOX SHARK EXPEDITIONS

research, offers the only liveaboard boat with access to this shark-filled paradise. The outfitter is famed for its founder, who invented the shark diving cage after surviving a harrowing great white attack.

White sharks are shy animals that must be enticed to the surface with chum and tuna parts thrashed around on a line to imitate prey. But don’t be surprised if the shark bumps and bites at the cage bars—it’s simply trying to assess the situation. If you’re lucky, a great white will come close enough that you can notice its eyes. They aren’t black, but rather a mesmerizing deep blue.

Looking for more of a thrill? Intrepid scubacertified divers can choose to descend nearly 70 feet in the world’s only ocean-floor shark cage to come face-to-face with great whites on their own turf. As you see them peacefully gliding over the seabed, any fear you had will transform into a newfound respect for these powerful yet vulnerable animals.

Whale Sharks

The name can be confusing, but Earth’s largest living fish species is in fact a filter-feeding shark and not a whale at all. Reaching up to 40 feet in length and nearly 40,000 pounds, whale sharks follow migratory patterns and can be found in tropical seas across the globe. Given the whale shark’s gentle nature, slow pace, and aweinspiring presence, swimming with these endangered giants has grown into a trendy bucket-list activity.

Small outfitters pop up seasonally across much of the sharks’ preferred stomping grounds, namely off the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Here, you can discover the largest known congregation of whale sharks feasting on plankton blooms around Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres from mid-May to mid-September. During this sea-

son, tour company V.I.P. Holbox Experience (vipholbox.com) leads daily snorkeling trips into prime whale shark real estate.

Your first moments within breathing distance of the shark’s 5-foot-wide mouth may evoke mental imagery of Pinocchio being swallowed alive. But this is far from the case. The sharks aren’t interested in you and they don’t like it if you get too close. Respect nature and keep a minimum distance of several feet to avoid spooking the shark and facing the consequences of accidentally being struck by its incredibly thick tail.

Tiger Sharks

Named for its distinctive dark stripes, the tiger shark is the planet’s second largest predatory shark species, reaching up to 18 feet in length and 2,000 pounds.

Fuvahmulah, a pristine island in the Maldives, has emerged as a year-round tiger shark diving destination for the eco-conscious (eschewing the more controversial

and dangerous practices at Tiger Beach off Grand Bahama Island, where the tiger sharks are often fed by hand). Here, fishermen have unintentionally been attracting tiger sharks for generations by cleaning their daily catch near the shoreline. Only recently did local divers become aware of this unique ecotourism opportunity and start to stage dives by hiding tuna heads under rocks for the sharks to sniff out while tourists watch from behind a safety wall.

While it’s rare for a shark to approach a diver, professional dive instructors are watching at all times to gently redirect tigers that don’t know the meaning of personal space. If you happen to notice that a few of the sharks are exceptionally large, you aren’t wrong; many of the female tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah are pregnant and possibly rely on the easy food scraps from the island to nourish their growing young.

Pelagic Divers Fuvahmulah (pelagicdivers fuvahmulah.com), a Maldivian-owned dive center with local guides, has become a leader in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering small guide-to-guest ratios and helping travelers navigate life on an island that’s new to tourism. Those at the center are also investing in tiger shark conservation, hiring their own onstaff marine biologist and hosting scientists to learn more about these sharks, more than 200 of which have been identified and named.

Clockwise from above: the coastline of Holbox; swimming with a tiger shark in Fuvahmulah; snorkeling alongside a whale shark in Holbox.

QUICK TRIPS

The High Points of Lowcountry

MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF HUMS WITH ACTIVITIES, OFFERING A CLASSIC SOUTHERN RETREAT AMID A NATURAL WONDERLAND

BY JANE E. ENOS

almetto Bluff, a thriving 20,000-acre residential and recreational preserve, rests within the solitude of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, just west of Hilton Head Island. Within this vibrant expanse sits a halcyon escape: Montage Palmetto Bluff. If you arrive by car, expect about a 5-mile jaunt in from the main road. Though long, it’s a drive to savor, as the ecosystem is abuzz. Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles soar above, and eastern fox squirrels scurry across fecund ground. And that’s just the beginning as far as wildlife goes.

Upon first glance—and all others, for that matter—the property oozes an august Southern charm. While the resort (called the Inn at

Palmetto Bluff before Montage’s acquisition) was constructed within the last 20 years, its coastal Georgian architecture melds with its surrounds seamlessly, including the Spanish moss that dangles from the many spidery live oak trees on-site. The ambience beckons languid days and glasses of lemonade, which you can sip each afternoon upon the main building’s porch.

The best way to absorb the thousands of acres of lush maritime forest, miles of paved trails, and contiguous residential neighborhoods and villages is by bicycle. These are complimentary for guests of the resort and available for pickup just a short walk away at the Carriage House in Wilson Village.

There are two villages to explore at Palmetto Bluff: Wilson and Moreland. The first draws its name from Marion and Richard T. Wilson Jr. and the ruins of their winter estate, a four-story manse completed in 1915. Though the home caught fire in 1926, the bases of its massive pillars and steps remain and decorate what is now called the Wilson Village Green, a great place to take in views of the May River and a popular site for wed-

Clockwise from bottom: a stately lobby welcomes guests; the adult-focused pool; the Wilson Village Green with remnants; an ideal fishing spot.

dings. There are dining options and shops to explore within both Wilson and Moreland. Those venturing to the latter won’t want to miss the first and largest of the on-property tree houses, which occupies five stories and presents amazing miles-long vistas.

Montage Palmetto Bluff offers guest rooms, suites, spacious cottages, and even residences, all of which are well-appointed and make good on the brand’s commitment to impeccable hospitality. And these accommodations uphold the remainder of the property’s aesthetic, too. Design is stately yet comfortable, elegant but not extravagant.

The resort is rich in amenities, making it a marvelous spot for families or those traveling alone. Freshwater and saltwater fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and boating are options. If you prefer land activities, book a tennis or pickleball experience or enjoy a game of bocce ball. Croquet, anyone? There’s a court for that, too. If you’re looking for links, play a round at the 7,171-yard May River Golf Course (a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course) or take aim at The Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club, where National Sporting Clays Association–certified instructors share their expertise. For more leisurely living, enjoy the multiple pools on property or indulge in a day of relaxation at Spa Montage, where a full complement of services awaits.

In addition to its amenities, Montage Palmetto Bluff offers a diverse and ever-changing lineup of enrichment programs. Its Well

Living series operates from a theme that varies month to month. During my stay in April, Well Living focused on honoring Earth Day, giving guests multiple opportunities to interact with the local environment, as well as the resort’s resident naturalist, Cassie Beato. My time with Beato included a nature walk and inland waterway ecotour, where she dropped some serious knowledge about the area’s mixture of flora and fauna, including the May River’s protected oyster population. For July, Well Living activities will center on celebrating the summer in Lowcountry and incorporate Independence Day–related events, a nature-based scavenger hunt, and the flavors of the South. August’s programming will pay homage to artists who reflect the landscape and cultures of the region.

A day of activity at Palmetto Bluff generates a healthy appetite. For lunch, Fore & Aft serves Mexican-style fare along with pristine views of inland waterways. Breakfast, lunch,

and dinner are available at Octagon, which is located inside the main building and specializes in seasonally inspired cuisine accented by flavors of the Carolinas. I highly recommend a visit to The River House in Wilson Village—an upscale option offering an array of Southern-style surf and turf—followed by a nightcap downstairs at Hush, an intimate haunt with a speakeasy vibe.

And what better place to close an afternoon in Lowcountry than around a firepit with s’mores? This tradition—one of many at the resort—presents the perfect chance to relive the day’s discoveries and discuss happenings on the horizon. (montage.com) «

Clockwise from above: a sampling of accommodations; a bird’s-eye view of the resort; the intimate library; one of the on-property tree houses to explore.

MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF

FLORIDIANA

IN FULL SWING

THE HISTORIC PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB OFFERS ACTIVITIES GALORE—ESPECIALLY FOR GOLF AND TENNIS LOVERS

BY JANE E. ENOS

Nestled along both sides of a quiet street in Ponte Vedra Beach, about 20 miles away from Jacksonville, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has been providing guests an amenitypacked seaside escape since 1928. Steeped in tradition, the property occupies approximately 300 acres, several of which are beachfront. In fact, many of the resort’s accommodations afford front-row seats to an expansive, walkable stretch of sand and the powerful yet pacifying sounds of the Atlantic breakers.

While visitors, especially those vacationing with families, could put together a memorable string of beach days at The Surf Club, the resort proper emanates country club vibes—and for good reason. After all, it intro-

duced the region’s first golf course nearly a century ago. Today, guests can hit the greens of the two 18-hole tracks available: the Ocean Course and the Lagoon Course. The par-71 Ocean Course—the older of the two links— comprises 6,718 yards and features expansive fairways, challenging bunkers and lagoon placements, and newly designed greens. Water dominates throughout the Lagoon Course. Though this par-70 course plays a bit shorter at 6,022 yards, tall pines and sprawling oaks—in addition to water hazards—make straight ball striking imperative.

If you prefer yellow balls to white, The Racquet Club awaits. To better your backhand (or any other part of your game), book a private lesson with Aleco Preovolos, director of tennis, or another member of the seasoned tennis

staff. Should you be seeking group tennis activities, you’ll find a bevy here, including myriad clinics, mixers, and instructional programs. Worth noting, the resort has plans for multiphase renovations that include adding pickleball courts, among other features. To accommodate this, starting this month, the tennis program will temporarily move off-site; transportation to and from this facility will be provided by the resort.

After a morning on the course or court, grab lunch at the Golf Club Dining Room, which overlooks the Ocean Course and serves savory soups, salads, and specialty sandwiches. For dinner, don’t miss the Seahorse Grille, which features a wine selection of more than 300 bottles and a variety of pastas, seafood, and meat selections.

Those traveling to the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club without clubs or rackets should find plenty to enjoy, too. A day of relaxation and pampering can be had at the on-site spa. For many, however, the biggest draw will be the natural beauty that abounds. The blues of the ocean and sky create a seascape that can be appreciated from miles of shoreline. (pontevedra.com) «

PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB

Clockwise from left: an island green from the Ocean Course; one of several heated pools; a scenic stretch of white sand beach; a superior beachside room; exterior of the main building.

ALWAYS going above & beyond.

We are transforming premier comprehensive care in Southwest Florida.

Expect more firsts, bests and onlys from one of the top 2% in the nation in clinical excellence.

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OHM RUN

MASERATI DEBUTS THE WORLD’S FIRST LUXURY ELECTRIC CONVERTIBLE

BY HOWARD WALKER

Say it with me: “Folgore.” It’s Italian for lightning, but it’s also how Maserati is branding its bold initiative to go all-electric by 2028. The Trident carmaker has already revealed its electric Grecale Folgore midsize SUV and GranTurismo Folgore two-door coupe. There’s talk too of a Folgore electric version of the MC20 supercar sometime next year. Watts not to love about that?

But for me, the most exciting and electrifying of Maserati’s newest Folgore offerings is the spectacular GranCabrio Folgore convertible. When it arrives early next year, with a price tag expected to kick off at a nontrivial $220,000, it’ll be the world’s first and only luxury electric roadster.

Just look at the thing: it has more curves than a Tuscan backroad, a front end that pouts like a moody 6-year-old, and a windshield more raked than an Aspen ski slope. See it on the street—preferably Rome’s Via Condotti—and it would reduce grown men to tears.

It’s brimming with lovely detailing, too, like the aero-style, diamond-cut wheels and badging painted in a rich, dark copper. I also love the trademark Folgore paint color, which is a stunning shade called Rose Gold Liquid Metal.

That styling alone would be enough to make you want to deplete your eldest’s college fund to acquire the keys. But this is an EV GranCabrio, powered by a trio of electric motors delivering up to 818 horsepower. Stomp on the right pedal from standstill and you’ll hit 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and 120 in 9.1. For the full 818 hp, you’ll need to tap the MaxBoost button. In less stimulating driving, you’ll have to make do with a mere 751 hp.

And while you’d think that this new GranCabrio Folgore would be a scion of silence—as there’s no gas motor under the hood—you’d

POWER FILE

PRICE: $220,000 (EST.) MOTORS:

3 X 300-KW ELECTRIC POWER: 818 HP WITH MAXBOOST

TORQUE: 996 LB-FT 0-60:

2.7 SECONDS TOP SPEED: 180 MPH RANGE: 250 MILES (EST.)

LENGTH/WIDTH: 195/77 INCHES

WEIGHT: 5,300 POUNDS WHY WE LOVE IT: BECAUSE BEING THE FIRST IS ALWAYS THE MOST FUN.

be wrong. Maserati has given the car a muted, synthesized soundtrack that replicates the rumble of one of its old-school V8s.

If there’s a potential shortcoming amid all this electric motivation, it’s range—or lack thereof. There are no official EPA figures yet, but Maserati quotes Europe’s perennially optimistic WLTP number of 280 miles. Expect closer to 250 in real-world driving.

However, the car’s 800-volt architecture means it can fast charge at up to 270 kW. That’s enough to add 60 miles of range every five minutes or go from a 20

to 80 percent charge in 18 minutes.

Electric power will be the icing on the torta for this ohso-sexy Italian stallion. It’ll give Tesla Plaid–style, rockout-of-a-catapult acceleration, coupled with on-rails cornering. All enjoyed top down, with the wind in your hair.

Speaking of top down, the GranCabrio’s roof can drop in just 14 seconds and at speeds of up to 31 mph. There’s a choice of fabric top colors too, from black, blue, gray, and red to what Maserati calls “greige.”

Inside, there are seats for four in a luxurious interior typical of Maserati. While leather is available, the standard upholstery is EcoNyl, which is created from recycled nylon with laser-etched perforations to give it texture.

If you’re not quite ready for an electric GranCabrio, Maserati will gladly sell you one with its fabulous 542hp Nettuno 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, similar to the power plant in the MC20 supercar. It’s not quite as zippy off the line as the Folgore electric version, but it’ll run zero to 60 in 3.4 seconds. It’s less pricey, too, at $203,000. But for the sheer uniqueness and awesome bragging rights of driving the very first luxury EV convertible, it has to be a Folgore. It’s the future. Capisce? «

V FOLLOW HOWARD WALKER’S THE WHEEL WORLD BLOG ON NAPLESILLUSTRATED.COM

HIGH SEAS

FORMULA FOR FUN

MICHIGAN-BASED

WELLCRAFT HAS A NEW FLAGSHIP 435 PERFORMANCE CRUISER THAT MIGHT BE THE ULTIMATE WEEKENDER

BY HOWARD WALKER

Talk about a boat with global credentials. Wellcraft’s new 435 performance cruiser was shaped by an Italian, has a hull designed by a Floridian, and is being built in France for a company based in Cadillac, Michigan. Ooh la la.

Wellcraft has been in operation for almost 70 years and is responsible for the Scarab 38KV that Don Johnson piloted in the hit ’80s series Miami Vice. This new 43-foot 435 is the builder’s biggest model ever. A year ago, Wellcraft stepped out of its 24- to 35-foot center console fish-catcher comfort zone to create its new 355 performance cruiser. Last fall, it supersized the 355 and made the resultant 435 its new flagship model.

Its oh-so-sexy lines are off the drawing board of Genoa-based Camillo Garroni, best known for his sleek

Jeanneau and Prestige motor yachts. He gave the Wellcraft a dramatic axe-like bow, soaring hull sides, and a low-slung superstructure with a military-grade, reverse-angle windshield. Even at anchor, the thing looks like it’s slicing waves at 42 knots.

And the 42 knots part is correct. With a trio of 350-hp Mercury Verado V10s hanging off the transom, Wellcraft says this new 435 can hit 42 knots flat out and cruise serenely at 28.

Part of this impressive velocity comes down to a wave-cleaving hull designed by Michael Peters, a naval architect extraordinaire who resides in Sarasota. Peters knows a thing or two about hulls: more than 40,000 boats have been built over the past 40 years using his 500-plus production designs.

For the Wellcraft 435, he came up with a hull that’s not only fast but supremely comfortable, especially in grisly seas. It’s highly maneuverable, too, capable of turning 360 degrees at speed in one boat length. Your average Lamborghini or Ferrari couldn’t pull that off.

The 435 itself is a bit of a jack of all trades, as I discovered when I stepped aboard at this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show. Part family-fun day boat, part comfortable weekender, part long-distance

cruiser, the 435 checks an Amazon delivery center’s worth of boxes.

When starring in its day-cruiser role, the boat’s cockpit is the headliner. At anchor, fold down the oversize balconies on each side and get your splash on courtesy of twin dive platforms— which all but double the width of the cockpit for spacious entertaining. There’s also an L-shaped sofa and a wooden fold-out table. Full-height sliding glass doors open to the smallish saloon and well-equipped galley. Light cascades into the entire saloon (courtesy of a power-sliding glass sunroof and second glass panel over the galley) and, at the touch of a button, a large awning glides out of the hardtop to shade the aft deck.

For those who plan to use the 435 as a weekend cruiser, there are twin en-suite double cabins, either of which would make a perfect owner’s suite. I’d pick the full-beam, big-windowed, midship cabin, with its double bed off to one side and comfy sofa opposite—not to mention its huge bathroom shower. And full marks to designer Garroni for not trying to squeeze in a third claustrophobic bunk cabin.

The big contribution by Wellcraft’s French owners, Groupe Beneteau, is the use of classy materials, rich woods, marble-like surfaces, and sheer attention to detail. I love the light-colored, linen-like fabric on the seats.

A nicely equipped Wellcraft 435, with standard features like a generator and air-conditioning, stickers at $1.17 million, though with the optional extras you can’t live without, you’re looking at closer to $1.4 million. I’m sure Miami Vice’s Sonny Crockett would approve. «

HEIRLOOMPsis

Guy

and

Chris

Inslee unleash their creativity preserving historic homes in New England

By Cathy Chestnut

Photography by Danielle Sykes

rom the pastoral woodlands of New Hampshire to the contemporary shoreline of Naples, Guy and Christina “Chris” Inslee enjoy the best of two starkly different worlds. Here, they drink in panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico and Naples Bay from their perch on Gulf Shore Boulevard. “It’s like an alter ego—I kept pinching myself for the first 10 years we lived in Naples,” says Chris. “I’m glad to have the combination of historic New England and a modern high-rise.”

Near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sits a thoughtfully—sometimes painstakingly—restored 1790s farmhouse called Hillside Farm nestled among maple, oak, and tulip trees on five and a half acres studded with granite boulders. It’s where they also relax and reconnect with their grown daughters, Blair and Paige, though they are never truly far apart. All four Inslees work together at their Inslee Wealth Management office in Portsmouth—one of the earliest family advisory practices at Merrill Lynch—founded by Guy and Chris in 1986. Chris was named among Forbes’ national list of the top 10 “Best-InState Women Advisors” for 2024.

For years, Guy and Chris worked from

Shot on location at Hillside Farm, residence of Guy and Christina “Chris” Inslee, Kensington, New Hampshire

“ It was important to us to restore with the right sensibilities—to have a sensitive eye toward restoration.” Chris inslee

Clockwise: The front porch is one of Chris’ favorite spaces on the property; the English barn, originally a cider house, contains hand-hewn beams and a working apple lift; one of Chris’ handmade baskets; the Inslees’ restored late eighteenth-century farmhouse.

both locales while Paige attended Community School of Naples. Today, their daughters conduct business from the Portsmouth office, though the firm has clients along the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the country.

“The bicoastal connection we have is special,” Chris says. “We love both places equally. That’s our new problem,” Guy adds.

Relevant Restorations

Guy and Chris have immersed themselves in historic properties—and learning how to restore them—since they married. In the 1990s, they traveled all over—think Monticello, Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, and many more— to learn about period proportions, sizes, materials, and colors. “It was important to us to restore with the right sensibilities—to have a sensitive eye toward restoration,” she says. “We wanted to learn the obligations and the benefits of living in an older home. It wasn’t point, click, and ship.”

The couple lovingly restored a 12,000square-foot Vermont home—a Federal brick stagecoach stop—with a guest cottage and extensive formal gardens where the family resided for 25 years. Known as Coach Hill, it earned a statewide historic architectural installation award for the hand-turned, custom woodwork created by Guy and a talented local carpenter. Chris is the first to praise Guy’s creative genius. “He’s the driver of this,” she notes.

When the couple wanted to live closer to his sister in Portsmouth, Merrill Lynch welcomed an office in the quaint city. In New Hampshire, they owned the third floor of the historic Custom House, where 27 chests of tea delivered by the British East India Company were hidden in 1774 in the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party. In 2021, they bought Hillside Farm in the Kensington community after it immediately caught Chris’s eye—and captured her heart. At one time, it was home to 100 beehives and five acres of apple or-

chards surrounded by a stone fence. A 102foot barn had connected it to the neighboring farm during the contentious presidential election of 1800 (Thomas Jefferson versus John Adams). The neighbors shouted political arguments to each other across the property in support of their opposing candidates, according to a local history book. That barn is no longer extant, though a white English barn with a stone foundation that was built into the hillside as a cider house remains, in addition to a circa-1860 yellow equipment barn attached to the house.

“The natural beauty is something we fell in love with the first time we visited the property,” Chris says. It also had the characteristics they’ve come to appreciate in centuriesold homes, including a covered porch with a swing, a welcoming kitchen, pine plank flooring, and bucolic vistas.

From day one, the hands-on Guy faced an arduous task, and though the home and

The two-room kitchen with a four-sided fireplace and sitting area is the central hub of the home where each day is planned out over a steamy cup of coffee.

grounds are an elegant picture of refinement, restoration of the barns is not complete. “This is the fifth old home renovation that I’ve lived through, and they’re never done,” he says wryly.

As with any mature house—especially one that’s more than 230 years old—many changes were made through the decades. Guy undid less-than-favorable modifications and added some of the couple’s own. “Someone had made the kitchen into two rooms with two fireplaces,” he says. Guy and his helpers took down an unworkable three-story chimney with a hammer and chisel, saving the bricks for a careful rebuild. “I took them down one by one,” Guy says. He also designed the pool and patio and collaborated with a hardscape designer to move 8,000 cubic yards of dirt. “Along the way, we found 3,000 to 4,000 stones” buried in the ground, he says, noting that New Hampshire’s moniker is, after all, the Granite State.

From sketching and drafting ideas on graph paper to refining plans with a computer-aided design program to swinging a sledgehammer, Guy is always actively involved in the structural work. At one time, he was chief painter, but he’s relinquished that role. “I might have been an architect if it wasn’t for what I do,” he says. “[Home restoration] helps get creative juices going.”

Guy believes the home, located at the top of a hill, was originally four rooms: two on the bottom and two on top. With changes made over time, it’s now “north of 5,000 square feet,” he estimates, and it has four fireplaces.

Two of the Inslees’ thoughtful transformations have made the home a true retreat. Guy designed a bedroom wing off the second floor of the library; it has a fireplace and wraparound French doors that provide spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset and the valley below. The restoration of the kitchen and its four-sided fireplace make it the home’s central hub.

“On mornings at the farm, I make coffee, and we wander the property,” Guy says. “We

Left: An antique pine table for two in the kitchen set with vintage Blue Willow porcelain plates atop pewter chargers. Right: Chris says the Wolf rangetop and dual stacked ovens were “a guilty pleasure.”

“ This is the fifth old home renovation that I’ve lived through, and they’re never done.”

Guy Inslee

The 1950 wedding portrait of Chris’ mother graces the family room, the oldest room in the house.

will see six or seven turkeys; we have foxes, deer, bobcats.”

Through the Generations

Guy has long been guided by the unseeable tug of his family’s rich ancestral line that’s intertwined with the earliest days of America’s founding. “My family came over at a variety of different points but all very early,” he says, noting the earliest ventured to the New World via the Caledonia and Mayflower. His people traversed the tides of history; they were inventors, naval commanders, soldiers, and farmers. His ancestor, Dr. James Craik, was Surgeon General of the First Continental Army during the American Revolution alongside General George Washington, later becoming his friend and personal physician. Guy also is a descendent of Major General Alexander Macomb,

Commander in Chief of the United States Army from 1828 to 1841 and recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor.

He grew up in a house that his great-grandfather built in the late 1800s, and his parents went on to buy and rehabilitate a historic property. “I got the love for old homes from them,” he says.

Before they met, Chris had become adept at basketmaking, and her creations hang throughout the New Hampshire home; some are four decades old. On their team, she is the colorist and the decorator. In their Vermont home, which had an incredible 80 windows, she created all the window treatments with historic-print fabrics. She will do so again at Hillside Farm.

The home is full of heirloom antiques and portraits of Guy’s storied ancestors. “Most of

The Inslee home is filled with antique furnishings, heirloom portraits, and maritime paintings that recall Guy’s family history. Opposite page, lower left: In the library, a gift of Scottish claymores takes the place of Inslee ancestral swords that reside in the Naval Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

The warmth of original pine floors, candlelight, family crests, ancestral oil portraits, and vintage, silver-plated water pitchers filled with florals greets houseguests.

“ I want to live here; I don’t want to live in a museum. We wanted a place where we can gather and stay connected as a family.”

Guy Inslee

the portraits were handed down. Some we found at auction. In some way, shape, or form, they are somewhat significant to me,” he says.

As an associate member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in New Hampshire, Chris is also fascinated by—and appreciative of— the people, places, and events that shaped America. The couple revere the past through the homes that have stood sentinel as they sheltered so many ancestors and have done their part to restore them and bring them into the twenty-first century.

There’s a balance between keeping the old and upgrading to the new, Guy says. “I want to live here; I don’t want to live in a museum,” he says. “We wanted a place where we can gather and stay connected as a family.” «

The home’s pool and patio area, which Guy helped design, is one of many locations on the property the couple enjoy with family.

AT HOME IN NAPLES

efore the Inslees moved to Naples more than two decades ago, Chris had a well-established track record of community volunteerism and leadership. “I have been on boards consecutively for 40 years with one interest or another in philanthropy.”

While living in Vermont, she was involved in several organizations. One of the highlights was serving as president and founding member of the Junior League of

Champlain Valley. She naturally embraced The League Club in Naples, a 630-member organization comprising past and current members from Junior League chapters around the globe. “It has such a range of interests and such support for the community,” she says.

Chris jumped into the local organization, becoming a board member and vice president of communications, then public relations chair. She’s also served as public relations chair for the club’s popular Naples

Tables fundraising event since the tablescaping extravaganza’s inception in 2019.

Guy, too, spends his time in service on various boards. He served on the Park Plaza board during two hurricanes and was president when Hurricane Ian struck. When they joined the Country Club of Naples, he sat on the membership committee for two years during the COVID pandemic.

“It’s important to give back and know where your talents can be beneficial,” Chris reflects about the couple’s charitable endeavors.

DISTILLERIES Worth e Drive

Travel by tipple through the Sunshine State’s burgeoning craft spirits scene

BY JULES

ARON | COCKTAIL PHOTOGRAPHY BY GYORGY PAPP

Cypress Distill y

Steel Tie Spirits Revenge Rum

Chainbridge Distill y Tropical Distill s

The craft distillery trade in Florida has exploded in recent years in the wake of regulation changes that have paved the way for independent distilleries to thrive. Counting nearly 50 independent businesses across the state—with more ramping up—many of these small batch distilleries are gaining recognition for their innovative approaches. Award-winning liqueurs and spirits like vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, and even moonshine are crafted using locally sourced ingredients and plenty of homegrown lore. To boot, many Florida distilleries are a destination unto themselves, offering tastings, tours, cocktail classes, and more. Take a tour with us of some of Florida’s most creative distilleries and raise a glass to cocktails crafted with spirits made right here in the Sunshine State.

STEEL TIE SPIRITS

Ben Etheridge, co-owner and head distiller at Steel Tie Spirits in West Palm Beach’s Warehouse District, creates the brand’s signature Black Coral rum using pure molasses derived from sugarcane crops harvested in Clewiston. The rum is aged in new American white oak barrels and then filtered through coconut husks. The distillery’s spiced rum is flavored with real Madagascar vanilla beans, while its black rum gets its dark hue and robust profile from the addition of raw blackstrap molasses and spices. Visitors can take a tasting tour or order a cocktail from the in-house bar’s seasonal cocktail menu; stop in on Thursday nights for karaoke or on Fridays for food truck night. (steeltiespirits.com)

REVENGE RUM

Crafted in a historic firehouse in West Palm Beach (retrofitted to offer a tasting room and tours in addition to a distillery), owner Chris Bold’s Revenge Rum is a crisp white rum perfect for cocktails. The spirit is made using reverse-osmosis pink Himalayan salt, mineral water, grade A American molasses, and a secret blend of yeast nutrients. After fermenting for seven days in temperature-controlled vessels, the concoction is run through

a 1,000-gallon copper stripping still and then again through a 600-gallon copper pot spirit still. Finally, the rum is chill-filtered at 18 degrees Fahrenheit and bottled. Not surprisingly for a spirit named Revenge, Bold says it’s “best served cold.” (revenge.com)

CHAINBRIDGE DISTILLERY

Specializing in palinka—an eau-de-vie style of fruit brandy—Bela Nahori crafts noteworthy spirits at this Oakland Park distillery. Chainbridge’s 80 proof spirits— in flavors from plum to beet to blueberry—contain no added sugars, artificial flavors, colors, extracts, or preservatives. Each batch rests for a minimum of three months before undergoing filtration and bottling. The distillery—which welcomes visitors for tours or tasting room tipples—has been recognized by both the American Craft Spirits Association and American Distilling Institute for its Williams Pear Brandy, its Florida Basil Vodka, and its unique Carrot Spirit. (chainbridgedistillery.com)

Tropical Distillers

Steel Tie Spirits

Meet the Mak

Fernando Plata, Head Distiller at Big Cypress Distillery

A U.S. Army veteran, Fernando Plata started Big Cypress Distillery in 2015 with his brother and brotherin-law. With a background in software, Plata is a selftaught distiller who loves a challenge. “Becoming an expert in this field is nearly impossible,” says Plata. “Since I’m a stickler for quality, the process keeps me engaged.” Plata loves English-style rums because, “they have so much character,” he says. He also enjoys working with botanicals. “The distillery is currently working on several aperitifs; one that’s low-bitter and low-proof, and another that’s very bitter and high in alcohol. And we’re always making fresh fruit liqueurs,” he explains. When asked about the awards his products have garnered, Plata’s response is humble. “I love seeing my private label clients succeed,” he says. “For example, our all-natural, premium American aperitif for Munyon’s Paw Paw has been a huge hit.” A strong supporter of Florida’s craft movement, Plata takes pride in his place as an innovator.

TROPICAL DISTILLERS

Tropical Distillers’ J.F. Haden’s small-batch citrus and mango liqueurs are made from locally grown fruit. They also craft their special Twin P Whiskey brand created by co-owners Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, former NFL All-Pros. Tropical Distillers’ 8,000-square-foot facility in Miami (appropriately decked out in palm trees and pastels) closes to visitors in the summer months but will reopen for tastings and tours this fall. (tropicaldistillery.com)

BIG CYPRESS DISTILLERY

Miami’s Big Cypress Distillery creates a variety of spirits and fruit liqueurs using a hybrid pot and column still. Try their sloe gins, their spiced rum, and their award-winning, semi-dry Magic City Gin—made from 11 botanicals. Big Cypress’ Munyon’s Paw Paw is made from a recipe based on the historical formulations of a local homeopathic doctor. Book a reservation in advance to guarantee a spot at the lounge, where you can sample barrel-aged cocktails, mixed drinks, and a gin and tonic bar Thursday through Saturday evenings. (bigcypressdistillery.com)

PAPA’S PILAR RUM DISTILLERY

Paying homage to writer Ernest “Papa” Hemingway and his beloved boat, Pilar, this Key West rum distillery crafts dark, blonde, sherry cask, and rye-finished varieties. Seventh-generation master distiller Ron Call hand selects rums from places like Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela, Lakeland, and Key West. Visit the distillery for a wide range of experiences—from traditional tours and tastings to cocktail classes to a journey through Papa’s most iconic novels in a library-like setting. (papaspilar.com)

Ingredients

1 oz. Magic City

Cool as a CUCUMBER

XXI Gin from Big Cypress Distillery

1/2 oz. Munyon’s Paw Paw from Big Cypress Distillery

3/4 oz. fresh pressed cucumber juice

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

3-4 oz. tonic

2 dashes celery bitters

Cucumber and grapefruit slice for garnish

« Add ingredients to a glass with ice and stir.

« Garnish with a cucumber rose and a slice of grapefruit.

Big CypressDistillery

Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery

WICKED DOLPHIN

Cape Coral’s Wicked Dolphin crafts an awardwinning rum made from local sugarcane, handcrafted in small batches and distilled in Florida’s largest copper pot. Then it’s aged—for 3 to 14 years—in American white oak bourbon barrels. If you’re a fan of flavored rum, this is the place to try—from key lime to mango to cold brew coffee. Visitors can tour Wicked Dolphin to see their production process and taste current spirits (and even concoctions still under development). (wickeddolphin.com)

LIST DISTILLERY

Founded by Thomas and Renate List (the latter boasting family ties to Jägermeister), Fort Myers’ List Distillery is home to Mr. Tom’s Spirits, a product line using only locally sourced, natural ingredients. The small batch distillery

turns out a host of spirit types including vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, whiskey, and even cream liqueurs. A standout includes the United States’ first certified 100 percent sugar- and gluten-free vodka, as well as the world’s only certified 100 percent sugar- and gluten-free gin. Contact List Distillery ahead of time to set up a tour and tasting. Make your visit memorable by selecting a spirit to buy and having the bottle customengraved as a keepsake. (listdistillery.com)

EVERGLADES DISTILLERS

Located in Immokalee, Everglades Distillers is Collier County’s first and only distillery. This veteran- and family-owned distillery specializes in whiskeys, rums, and flavored vodkas (think: Watermelon-Pineapple, Orange-Passionfruit, Cucumber-Lemon, and Jalapeño) made from Florida sugar. Try their Honey Whiskey, made with a blend of three types of local honey. (evergladesdistillers.com)

Ingredients

2 oz. 25/80  Everglades Honey Whiskey from Everglades Distillers

1 tsp. orange blossom honey

2 dashes angostura bitters

1/2 slice of Florida orange

Pinch of cinnamon sugar (1/2 cinnamon, 1/2 cane sugar)

Culinary torch

« Add whiskey, honey, and bitters to an empty cocktail glass and stir.

« Place large ice cube into an old-fashioned glass. Add the cocktail.

« Place the orange slice on top of the ice cube and add a pinch of cinnamon sugar to the slice of orange. Use the torch to caramelize and brûlée the sugar.

List Distillery

Wicked Dolphin

Meet the Mak

JoAnn Elardo, Co-Founder of

Wicked Dolphin

DRUM CIRCLE DISTILLING

Drum Circle Distilling is a family-owned rum distillery located in Sarasota. Known for its line of small-batch Siesta Key rums (including varieties infused with toasted coconut and coffee), their flagship product, Siesta Key Gold Rum, is pot-distilled from Florida molasses and aged in used bourbon barrels. Distillery tours here run seven days a week, but note that it’s best to make reservations ahead of time to ensure availability. Stop by their Infinity Room bar post-tour for spirit pours, cocktails, and mixed drinks. (siestakeyrum.com)

ALLIGATOR BAY DISTILLERS

Run by brothers Alex and Ben Voss, Alligator Bay Distillers produces award-winning rums and whiskeys. Their 3,000-square-foot facility in Bonita Springs houses old-fashioned

copper pot stills. Of note: the distillery’s Alligator Bay White Rum—double-distilled from Floridian blackstrap molasses sourced in Clewiston—earned a silver medal in the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits competition. (alligatorbaydistillers.com)

LOADED CANNON DISTILLERY

Named among USA Today’s top 10 new distilleries, Bradenton’s Loaded Cannon Distillery is the first distillery in Manatee County. Though the spot is a relative newcomer, it has held the Best Flavored Vodka Distillery in Florida title from guidetoflorida.com for two years running. Try the Anney’s Blade jalapeño vodka (made in a 500-gallon copper still nicknamed “Anney”). Tours of Loaded Cannon’s facilities include education on production, fermentation, and bottling, followed by a five spirit sampling session. (loadedcannondistillery.com)

For JoAnn Elardo, the inspiration to start a distillery began with a cocktail. “I had some interests in the sugar industry,” she recalls. “While having a cocktail that tasted like suntan lotion, I looked at the bottle and saw it was being made in Canada. I thought, ‘We are growing most of the sugarcane in the U.S. right here in Florida. Why are we not making rum here?’ It was the start of Wicked Dolphin distillery.” It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that Elardo’s favorite spirit these days is Wicked Dolphin’s Barrel Aged Rum. “Or, if I’m at the beach,” she adds, “it’s our Wicked Dolphin Coconut Rum.” Next up in the distillery’s pipeline are explorations of cane juice distilling and incorporating innovative fruit combinations.

“[Florida’s] local produce and fruit inspire so many ideas,” Elardo says. “We love bringing that energy back into our products.”

Everglades Distillers

Drum Circle Distilling

21stAmendment

21st AMENDMENT DISTILLERY

This distillery in Vero Beach pays homage to the era of bootleggers and speakeasies. The name refers to a 1933 act of Congress that repealed Prohibition, which had been the law of the land since 1920. Founder and former U.S. Marine Jeff Palleschi celebrates the American spirit with a range of bourbons, plus rye, rum, and agave. Our favorites? Their 21AD Bourbon Whiskey, Term Limits Vodka, and Min Pin Gin. Tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday and include a spirit sampler. Afterward, stay awhile in the Speakeasy cocktail lounge to enjoy craft cocktails and local bites. (21st-distillery.com)

INDIAN RIVER DISTILLERY

You’ll find a variety of craft liquors, including vodka, gin, and rum produced by Ray and Mandy Hooker at Vero Beach’s Indian River Distillery. Try the Ashley Gang Moonshine Corn Whiskey (honoring the “King of the Everglades,” swamp bandit John Ashley), Treasure Fleet Rum Silver, or the Vero Beach Vodka—all of which start life as a 100 percent neutral spirit distilled from sugarcane. (indianriverdistillery.com)

WINTER PARK DISTILLING COMPANY

Just north of Orlando, Paul Twyford and Andrew Asher built their distillery on a humble handmade 50-gallon still and a collection of old whiskey reci-

pes. The pair take pride in their commitment to high quality at an affordable price—bottling their vodka, whiskeys, bourbons, and rums in wine bottles to keep costs low. (wpdistilling.com)

FISH HAWK SPIRITS

Ocala’s Fish Hawk Spirits is committed to a farm-to-bottle process—growing the corn used in their whiskey on fields adjacent to the distillery, harvesting fresh fruit from their own groves, growing their own herbs and botanicals for their infused spirits, and even pumping their water from wells fed by the Rainbow River watershed for use in their mash and blending processes. Far from the trend of industrial warehouses or bougie tasting rooms, Fish Hawk still does things the oldfashioned way: distilling their 27 award-winning spirits (including whiskey, rum, vodka, absinthe, and brandy) in a farm shed, using hand-built stills. (fishhawkspirits.net)

e Moon & THE SEA

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. Indian River Ashley Gang Moonshine Corn Whiskey from Indian River Distillery

1/2 oz. passion fruit puree

1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz. orgeat 1 oz. butterfly pea and lavender tea Coral lace tuile for garnish

« Add the first four ingredients to a shaker with ice. Strain into a highball glass. Wait for the drink to settle, then top with the tea. Garnish with a coral lace tuile.

coral lace tuile Ingredients

1/3 cup flour

2/5 cup water

2/5 cup oil

1/2 tsp. powdered food coloring

« Emulsify the ingredients and add to a hot nonstick pan on medium high. Once the lace tuile has formed and the liquid has cooked off, gently pry it from the pan and place on a towel-lined plate to cool and dry. Store in an airtight container. Use within a week.

Dist i l lery

Fish Hawk Spirits

Coth man Distilling Company

Kozuba & Sons Distill y

St. Pet sburg Distill y

Gambl s Bay Distill y

Meet the Mak

Warren Gardner, Master Distiller at St. Petersburg Distillery

Warren Gardner sees his vocation as a matter of destiny. A chance meeting with a fourth-generation master distiller more than a decade ago inspired Gardner (who was working as a mechanic) to try a new path. Today, Gardner says the artistry and craftsmanship involved in distilling continue to inspire him. “I am motivated by the opportunity to create unique, high-quality spirits that reflect our local culture and traditions,” he says. As for his favorite spirit St. Petersburg Distillery is currently producing? “Agave,” he says. “It’s a chance to produce something that’s so sought after, [but something that has been] outside our reach until now,” he explains. “To finally taste years of progress, it makes you get excited for the next batch of spirits.”

Tampa BAY

GAMBLERS BAY DISTILLERY

GamblersBayDistillery

Tampa’s Gamblers Bay Distillery makes Florida-centric spirits following Romanian family recipes that date back 120 years. Their Florida Farm Vodka, made from 100 percent Florida corn, was awarded double gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Try their other award-winning products, including Florapina Guava Rum and Citrus Tree Floridian Gin. (gamblersbaydistillery.com)

COTHERMAN DISTILLING COMPANY

Located just six miles north of Clearwater Beach in Dunedin, this husband-and-wife-run distillery crafts its 727 Vodka from 100 percent malted barley, plus a vapor-infused Half Mine Gin and a whiskey made from unhopped and unboiled beer. (instagram.com/cothermandistillingco)

KOZUBA & SONS DISTILLERY

Kozuba & Sons is a family-run distillery in St. Petersburg. The trio of father and sons specialize in small-batch spirits including a wheat and barrel aged vodka, two flavored vodkas in lemon and orange, a rye malt whiskey, a white whiskey, and two cordials. (kozubadistillery.com)

ST. PETERSBURG DISTILLERY

From gins and vodkas to rums and whiskeys, St. Petersburg Distillery focuses on “grains to glass” distilling. Try their Tippler’s Orange Liqueur made from Florida oranges and filled with notes of citrus, apricots, peppermint, and smoked oak. Visits to this distillery include interactive classes on making the perfect old-fashioned, a tasting of samples of four different spirits distilled on site, and even an immersive tour led by master distiller Warren Gardner. (stpetersburgdistillery.com)

TICKLED Pink

Ingredients

1/2 oz. Chainbridge Sour Cherry Spiced Rum from Chainbridge Distillery

1/2 oz. simple syrup

1/2 oz. lemon juice

Candied rhubarb stalk for garnish

« Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake well.

« Strain into a glass and garnish with a candied rhubarb stalk.

Kozuba & Sons Distillery

St. Petersburg Distillery

ST. AUGUSTINE DISTILLERY

Built in a restored 1917 Florida Power & Light ice plant, St. Augustine Distillery was founded by 20 local families. It holds the title of most visited craft distillery in America. Perhaps that’s due to its outstanding spirits, which have won six awards in the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including a gold medal for Florida Straight Bourbon. Besides spirits, St. Augustine has created a line of mixers including old-fashioned, Florida mule, grapefruit hibiscus, and tropical tiki. Seven days a week, visitors can embark on a self-guided tour or opt for a more in-depth adventure with a guided tour and tasting flight. Add on the fillyour-own-bottle experience to step behind the production lines and personalize your own bottle of cask-strength bourbon distilled in-house. (staugustinedistillery.com)

MANIFEST DISTILLING

Jacksonville’s Manifest Distilling is North Florida’s only full-scale organic distillery. Though not every product Manifest makes is organic, its facility is—keeping a chain of custody on every raw material purchased, using nontoxic sanitation and pest control practices, and isolating any products that aren’t organic. Their product lineup includes a non-GMO potato vodka, Florida citrus vodka, organic gin, organic barreled gin, organic rye whiskey, and 100 percent rye whiskey. Their Florida Botanical Gin is steeped in Florida-friendly

flavors that highlight the local terroir. Visit for a brief distillery tour or a longer distillery experience that takes a deep dive into the science and art of distilling spirits—concluding with tutored tasting focused on sensory perception, nosing, and even blind tasting. (manifestdistilling.com)

TIMBER CREEK DISTILLERY

For a unique farm-to-bottle experience, look no further than Timber Creek Distillery in Crestview. Located on a family farm, the distillery’s surrounding crops fuel the handcrafted rye, rum, whiskey, and vodka they create. Don’t miss their VIP Tour and Bourbon Blending Experience for an insider’s look at Timber Creek’s process. (timbercreekdistillery.com)

COPPER BOTTOM CRAFT DISTILLERY

DARK Tropics

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. Revenge Rum

3/4 oz. J.F. Haden’s Espresso Liqueur

1 oz. espresso

1 oz. freshly pressed pineapple juice

1/2 oz. orgeat

Coral-shaped cookie for garnish

« Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a coral-shaped cookie.

Holly Hill’s Copper Bottom Craft Distillery produces handcrafted, award-winning spirits with no artificial colors, flavors, or sugars added. All of Copper Bottom’s spirits—a variety of rums and a single vodka—are made from raw sugarcane. Tours with the knowledgeable head distiller run Wednesday through Saturday, offering industry secrets and insights into Copper Bottom’s unique process. (copperbottomspirits.com)

St. Augustine Distillery

Manifest Distilling

To the Ends of the

LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT SAILS DEEP INTO THE POLAR REGIONS, OFFERING A GLIMPSE OF FROZEN LANDSCAPES—AND LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES— NEVER BEFORE ACCESSIBLE TO PASSENGER TRAVEL

BY DAPHNE NIKOLOPOULOS

Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant’s newly built Polar Class 2 icebreaker, travels to the most inaccessible regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. The expedition ship is capable of breaking deep multiyear ice, going further than any passenger ship has gone before.

une 14, 3 a.m. It’s a summer night but you wouldn’t know it sitting on this balcony, shivering inside a parka and trying to make sense of the vast frozen desert that stretches toward an indeterminate horizon. The Arctic fog has whited out the sun, which normally would be high and bright at this hour, and what remains is a strange light—Uranian, volatile, opaque. If Crayola made a crayon this color, its name would be Cold. It seems like madness to sit out here, needled by a bitter chill, when two inches of down await on the other side of the sliding glass door. But there’s something bewitching about this icy wilderness off Greenland’s northeast coast, a part of our planet so remote that the only trace of human habitation is hundreds of miles away. To lay eyes on a place that so few have seen is a privilege I hesitate to squander by sleeping.

Near 74 degrees North, the pack ice forms a single white mass crisscrossed by pressure ridges formed when glacial ice floes collide. Everywhere there are hummocks, or ice mounds, that look like giant heaps of

shaving cream—perfect camouflage for polar bears on the hunt. I scan the terrain through binoculars, but I don’t know how to read the ice, especially in fog. The icescape is so unknowable that it might as well be on another planet.

I listen for movement—a crack in the ice, the beating of a wing—but there is nothing. This far above the Arctic Circle, the stillness is profound. It presses against you, makes you uncomfortable. The tendency is to want to do something—to look for a polar bear, say—but you quickly learn that you have no authority here. Nature makes the rules. You trust. And when you do, this world opens up to you.

Three years ago, passenger travel to these icebound regions wasn’t even possible. The ice is too thick and complex to penetrate without a formidable icebreaking hull. Enter Le Commandant Charcot, an expedition ship launched in 2021 by French cruise company Ponant for travel deep into the polar regions, including to the geographical North Pole. Named after French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Ponant’s newest ship has a Polar Class 2 (PC2) ice rating, which means it is capable of routinely navigating through 10-foot-deep sea ice, though it packs

power far beyond that. (In sea trials it pushed through a nearly 50-foot-deep ice ridge in Greenland.) To put it into perspective, the only other PC2 vessels out there are used for research or military operations.

Because it sails into some of the most sensitive environments on the planet, Charcot was built as the first luxury icebreaker ship running on a mix of battery and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to minimize emissions and environmental impact. Electricity produced by the LNG-powered engines is stored in batteries whose use reduces fuel consumption and allows the ship to run, for almost an hour at a time, so quietly that even the bears don’t hear it coming.

The ship is the epitome of sustainability at sea. Ponant’s protocols for Charcot go beyond what is necessary, to include 100 percent elimination of singleuse plastic on board, 60 percent recycling rate (compared to an industry

“All of humanity is sensitive to how the climate is changing, and its impact is powerfully felt in the Arctic. We can’t wait to conduct these experiments [until] the ice has diminished or disappeared altogether. [Research] is not a choice; it’s a mandate.”

standard of 20 percent), and chemical-free wastewater treatment to allow for clean discharges. The idea is to balance luxury travel with eco-responsibility, so you can feel good that your meal at the ship’s Alain Ducasse restaurant came from a short supply chain (one night we had musk ox meat sourced from Inuit hunters at the village of Ittoqqortoormiit), or that the water in your refillable bottle was produced through reverse osmosis of seawater and microfiltration.

“We have made adaptations that are responsible, for the sake

of these fragile environments,” says Navin Sawhney, Ponant’s CEO Americas. “Combine [this] with luxurious style and the ever-present science facilitated onboard to carry out research and conservation, and there isn’t another ship like it in the whole world.”

Le Commandant Charcot is unique in that it’s a platform for the scientific community. Researchers specializing in the polar regions are granted access to the onboard lab and transportation to the field to facilitate their studies, and the resident science officer conducts ongoing testing for ice quality and the effects of climate change, for which the Arctic is ground zero. According to the journal Nature, climate models show the Arctic is warming at least twice as fast as the rest of the planet. And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s most recent Arctic Report Card asserts that Summer 2023 was the Arctic’s warmest on record and sea ice continues to decline.

“All of humanity is sensitive to how the climate is changing, and its impact is powerfully felt in the Arctic,” says Sawhney. “We can’t wait to conduct these experiments [until] the ice has diminished or disappeared altogether. [Research] is not a choice; it’s a mandate.”

The net-net of the conversation: the time is now to bear witness to these wild places.

y morning the fog has lifted and the ship is pursuing an ideal spot for an ice landing. Under the pressure of Charcot’s massive hull, blocks of ice the size of an SUV break and flip, revealing their aquamarine undersides. The sea beneath is steel gray and, I imagine, spectacularly frigid. Still, a couple dozen passengers have signed up for the polar plunge and the bragging rights that come with a baptism into some of the coldest water on Earth.

The rest of us are content to explore on dry land. When Charcot “docks,” it’s a surreal sight. The ship pushes into a slab of fast ice (solid

Passing Scoresby Sound (below), Charcot lands on fast ice outside the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit on its first stop en route to Greenland’s northeast coast. Here, dog sleds are the preferred mode of transportation. Opposite page, clockwise from top: The Blue Lagoon, patterned after Iceland’s geothermal baths, offers the opportunity to ice-gaze in toasty comfort; a solitary walk on fast ice; kayaking in a polynya.

ice that is attached to land), stops, and drops down a gangway. The menu of activities includes polar hiking into snow-covered mountains, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing for a more intimate connection to the ice. When conditions are clear and we find a polynya (open water between ice floes), there is also kayaking and zodiac cruising among icebergs, in seal and walrus territory.

Today it’s snowshoes. We go out as a small group accompanied by a naturalist who’s also a gunner, because you never know. To keep us safe, there are lookouts from the ship and along a perimeter manned by other naturalists trained in reading the nuances of ice. So we trudge on through a pristine ice field, aiming for an iceberg that could be 100 feet or a mile away. On the ice, you lose any sense of distance. And time. For an hour, or so it seems, we walk to a soundtrack of snow crunching beneath snowshoes and a chorus of labored breathing, transfixed by coins of light shimmering on the whiteness or by spots of melting ice like blue thumbprints.

By no means is this a leisurely sailing. “The intent is to engage you in every possible way,” says Sawhney. “Through native encounters, understanding the Inuits’ lifestyle or how they study and greet ice, scientific research, and wildlife and natural history encounters, you get trans-

Clockwise from left: Kayaking affords wildlife sightings at close range; a polar bear hunts at the ice’s edge; Weddell seal in Antarctica; snowshoeing in the midnight sun. Opposite page, counterclockwise from top: Ittoqqortoormiit is the northernmost village on east Greenland; ice fishing; Charcot slices through a vast expanse of sea ice.

IAN DAWSON

formed. [The Arctic] becomes a part of you.”

Through native encounters, understanding the Inuits’ lifestyle or how they study and greet ice, scientific research, and wildlife and natural history encounters, you get transformed. [The Arctic] becomes a part of you.”

Out here, wildlife encounters are indelible. As the flagship species of the Arctic, the polar bear creates a powerful impression on those lucky enough to see it. This most charismatic of bears is often objectified for its cuteness, but in reality, the massive carnivore is a lonesome and vicious predator forever prowling the icy wilds in search of food.

Which is why, when the naturalist’s radio crackles with the news of a sighting, we double-time it back to the ship. From the safety of the promenade deck, we wait. The juvenile male approaches, stopping in front of the starboard side. He sniffs some now-faded tracks and makes his way to the edge of the ice. He studies the water, slides in with barely

a splash. It’s going to be some seal’s unlucky day.

Before I set off on this journey, several people asked me “Why the Arctic?”, implying that there’s nothing there. But there is. At least a dozen polar bear encounters, a closeup with a walrus on the water, the gilded light of the midnight sun, citizen science, and ice fishing with Inuits are transformative experiences. Most important is the ice. To witness the living ice as it shifts, splinters, and breathes, and see firsthand how many species it supports, is to understand its importance to the health of our planet. If, according to the World Wildlife Fund, the Arctic could be icefree by 2040, one day I will describe the frozen North to my future grandchildren’s wide-eyed wonder. It’s bragging rights I never care to have. «

NATHALIE MICHEL

EAT+DRINK

BOLD FLAVORS, COOL COCKTAILS, AND LOCAL FAVORITES

HAPPENINGS

AN ICON REOPENS X

Time seemed to crawl over the 19 months that The Turtle Club , a Naples fine dining institution, was closed. The popular Gulffront restaurant at Vanderbilt Beach Resort finally reopened

for business May 6, much to the delight of those who have long celebrated special occasions there. The club sustained heavy Hurricane Ian storm damage just after a remodeling project had

been completed, but owners Mike Moore and Peter Tierney persevered. Let the beachat-sunset marriage proposals commence! (turtleclubnaples. com) –Karen Feldman

NICK SHIRGHIO

CRUNCH TIME

Cracker Macks

A NAPLES RESIDENT BITES INTO THE SNACKS MARKET, OFFERING HIGHPROTEIN, GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS

BY KAREN FELDMAN

No member of the Macks family of Naples can recall how they snacked before Ellen Macks created the crunchy seed crisps now known as Ella’s Flats. “As soon as we had them in our home, we could not do without them,” Macks says.

The recipe came from a family friend. Macks tinkered with it until she arrived at a blend that resulted in a more uniform shape. Family and friends urged Macks to approach local markets to sell the crisps commercially. With some coaching from entrepreneur Rebecca Maddox (then-owner of Three60 Market) and buyers from other local stores, she honed her marketing. Oakes Farms, Wynn’s Market, Ada’s Natural Market, and Lucky Supermarket put them on the shelves. Lucky stores soon stocked them regionally, and then came Amazon.

Ella’s Flats come in six flavors: caraway, sesame, hemp, cumin, spicy, and everything.

Flats available in more brick-and-mortar stores across the country. It’s likely that Neapolitans will taste the newest products before anyone else because Macks plans to continue testing her products in Naples, where her support began.

They are available nationwide through Amazon and at the local markets aforementioned, some Publix locations, and other purveyors.

“It’s a premium product you can treat yourself to every day with no sacrifice,” Macks says. Made entirely of seeds and spices, the crisps are gluten-free and vegan. Because they are high in protein and fiber and low in carbohydrates, they help prevent blood sugar spikes, support digestive health, and are rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. That makes them compatible with low-carb, keto, paleo, and Whole30 diets. All that nutrition is baked into a cracker that tastes good, satisfies the eternal need for crunch, and goes with just about everything.

Macks is especially proud that women own the company. The owners include Macks, her two daughters, her daughter-in-law, and her sister. While the company develops new products, the current focus is making Ella’s

“My retail contacts here have been my biggest support system,” she says. “Because we have these wonderful independent stores, they made their own decisions and agreed to try them. That wouldn’t necessarily be true in other places.” (ellasflats.com)

Ella's Flats come in a variety of flavors and pair well with an array of fare, from meats and cheeses to salads to fruits.

TWICE as Nice

Lake Park Diner , which grew out of a food truck known as Smith Organics in 2019, has expanded to two Naples locations. The new one recently opened at Founders Square, bringing its “diner with a conscience” philosophy and food to North Naples.

The second location offers an indoor/outdoor bar and a pet-friendly patio, as well as the same chef-driven menu that’s been so popular at the original location. Favorites include Adam’s Fish & Chips, Mediterranean chopped salad, rotisserie chicken, shakes (with or without a shot of liquor), and craft cocktails and mocktails, among many more creative, satisfying dishes.

The diners are owned and operated by Naples-based Paul Fleming Restaurant Group. CEO Jody GoodenoughFleming says of the Founders Square location: “This new diner is not just another eatery; it is a testament to our vision and commitment, fostering spaces for friends and family to gather and enjoy their favorite dishes.” (thelakeparkdiner.com) –K.F.

NI ’s curated dining guide for Greater NAPLES

THE LISTINGS

The Naples area is packed with an abundance of great eateries, serving up food and drinks to satisfy every palate. Naples Illustrated has rounded up details on can’tmiss places for dining delights.

AMERICAN

THE 239 NAPLES Family-owned and located in Mercato, this restaurant touting Southwest Florida serves up many locally sourced provisions and offers an array of gluten-free options. 9108 Strada Place, Naples (the239naples.com)

BISTRO 821 A longtime Old Naples favorite, thanks to a diverse menu that fuses Asian, European, and domestic flavors. 821 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (bistro821.com)

THE CAVE BISTRO & WINE BAR With stellar food, a unique setting, and a wine list to satisfy even the most discerning of oenophiles, this creative eatery offers a dining experience not to be missed. 2343 Vanderbilt Beach Road #604, Naples (thecavenaples.com)

COOPER’S HAWK WINERY Signature dishes paired with Cooper’s Hawk wines in a casual setting. 11905 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (chwinery.com)

EJ’S BAYFRONT CAFÉ An extensive breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu served daily in a pet-friendly environment on Naples Bay. 469 Bayfront Place, Naples (ejsbayfrontcafe.com)

FUSE BBQ Stop by for Texas-style brisket, Memphisstyle ribs, and Carolina-style pork. 2500 Tamiami Trail N. #114, Naples (fusebbq.com)

GOLDIES RESTAURANT For reliable Americana cuisine and friendly service, look no further than this hidden gem. 5400 Taylor Road, Naples (goldies restaurant.com)

THE HANGOUT BY TWO GUYS Brothers Peter and Larry Falisi dish out a relaxing vibe with Italian dishes based on family recipes and “secret ingredients.” 2360 Pine Ridge Road, Naples (hangoutnaples.com)

HAROLD’S PLACE Classic burgers, seafood, salads, and more in a tropical setting. 2555 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (naplesharoldsplace.com)

HOBNOB Elevated comfort food and sophisticated fare in a modern yet warm atmosphere. Beef and fish are brought in fresh daily and filleted on site. 720 Fifth Ave. S. Unit 101, Naples (hobnobnaples.com)

KC AMERICAN BISTRO As the name implies, regional American cuisine is on tap. 885 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples (kcamericanbistro.com)

THE LOCAL Fresh, healthy meals dominate the menu, and its brunch is one of the best in town. 5323 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples (thelocalnaples.com)

M WATERFRONT GRILLE Contemporary decor, fine cuisine, and views of Venetian Bay. 4300 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples (mwaterfrontgrille.com)

MICHELBOB’S CHAMPIONSHIP RIBS & STEAKS Family-run since 1976, Michelbob’s offers a full bar and comprehensive menu of barbecue favorites. 371 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples (michelbobs.com)

MIDNIGHT TAVERN This laid-back gastropub serves American favorites along with live music three nights a week. 2800 Davis Blvd., Naples (midnighttavernfl.com)

OLD NAPLES PUB AND THE VILLAGE PUB Both of these local favorites feature an array of handhelds and finger-friendly foods perfect for the casual setting. 255 13th Ave. S.; 4360 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples (naplespubs.com)

OLD VINES SUPPER CLUB This modern version of a supper club features the New American cuisine of chef Brooke Kravetz. The seasonal menus change weekly. 2795 Davis Blvd., Naples (oldvinesnaples.com)

RIDGWAY BAR & GRILL Chef Tony Ridgway continues wowing diners with classic American cuisine. 1300 Third St. S., Naples (ridgwaybarandgrill.com)

SEVENTH SOUTH CRAFT FOOD + DRINK Owner Barry Larkin and chef Jay Schrednitz offer a locally and globally sustainable seafood program, hand-cut steaks, house-made pastas, and reimagined cocktails, along with a Sunday brunch. 849 Seventh Ave. S.; 2891 Bayview Drive, Naples (seventhsouth.com)

Lake Park Diner opened a second location in North Naples, offering customers another spot to enjoy its popular offerings.

EAT+DRINK

ROAD TRIP

THE FAIR MANGO

Southwest Florida is known for its stone crab claws and pink Gulf shrimp, but it also produces a bountiful summer harvest of luscious tropical fruits, so it makes sense that Pine Island celebrates the local abundance. Since it’s prime mango time, consider taking a 50-mile jaunt north to Pine Island off the Lee County coast on Saturday, July 13, to take part in the annual tropical fruit fair known as MangoMania

The festival features recipe contests and a competition for the largest mango, plus mango-based games and contests for kids, mango and tropical fruit specialties and beverages, alcoholic drinks, planting seminars, and live music.

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Bokeelia. Many of the island’s tropical fruit experts will be on hand with products for sale and mango-growing advice. (pineislandchamber.org) –K.F.

SOUTH STREET GRILL Inspired by the bars and clubs on the Philadelphia street of the same name, South Street pairs home-style specialties with live music, and craft beers and cocktails. 1410 Pine Ridge Road Ste. 4, Naples (southstreetnaples.com)

TAVERN ON THE BAY This popular sports bar boasts huge televisions, great comfort food, and a lovely view of the Gordon River. 489 Bayfront Place, Naples (tavernonthebay.net)

TOMMY BAHAMA RESTAURANT & BAR Born in Naples, the Tommy Bahama laid-back lifestyle is full throttle in its original festive eatery and bar at 1220 Third St. S., Naples; and Coconut Point, 23150 Fashion Drive #101, Estero (tommybahama.com)

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN The eclectic menu features anti-inflammatory dishes that will make you feel good from the inside out. 5375 Tamiami Trail N. Ste. 15, Naples (truefoodkitchen.com/naples)

TWISTED SHEEP PIZZA & BREW Artisanal specialty and custom pizzas and inventive hand-helds and small bites, local brews, and “stubborn soda.” 3802 Tamiami Trail E., Naples (twistedsheeppizza.com)

THE WAREHOUSE A menu dotted with fresh, local ingredients complements an award-winning cocktail program. 9010 Bellaire Bay Drive, Naples (thewarehousenaples.com)

YARD HOUSE With unique and plentiful tap options, Yard House offers an electric atmosphere and array of hearty American entrées. 4251 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (yardhouse.com)

SEAFOOD

THE BAY HOUSE Overlooking the Cocohatchee River, this eatery features a beautiful dining room plus Southern-inspired seafood. 799 Walkerbilt Road, Naples (bayhousenaples.com)

BAYSIDE SEAFOOD GRILL & BAR This Venetian Bay favorite boasts grand water views, prime grilled meats, and seafood specialties. 4270 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples (baysideseafoodgrillandbar.com)

FISH RESTAURANT Fabulous views of Venetian Bay complement the outstanding seafood. 4360 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples (fishrestaurantnaples.com)

GROUPER & CHIPS The grouper is spectacular, as are the crab cakes, fish tacos, and bouillabaisse. 338 Ninth St. N., Naples (grouperandchipsnaples.com)

HOGFISH HARRY’S Showcasing the Gulf Coast’s bounty, Hogfish Harry’s serves up signatures such as monkfish bucco and, of course, grilled hogfish. 600 Neapolitan Way, Naples (hogfishharrys.com)

LA PESCHERIA A creative, stellar eatery that honors the culture of Italian fish markets. 474 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (lapescherianaples.com)

MR. BIG FISH This family-friendly eatery specializes in delicious chowders and locally caught seafood dishes. 754 Neapolitan Way, Naples (mrbigfish.com)

OCEAN PRIME A delectable seafood and steak menu, luxe cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere. 699 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (ocean-prime.com)

PINCHERS CRAB SHACK Pinchers serves fresh, local seafood in a casual, family-friendly setting. 1200 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 591 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island; 28580 Bonita Crossing Blvd., Bonita Springs (pinchersusa.com)

RIVERWALK AT TIN CITY The menu brims with innovative interpretations of salads, sandwiches, pastas, and steaks, as well as seafood entrées. 1200 Fifth Ave. S. Ste. 45, Naples (riverwalktincity.com)

SAILS This bona fide “pescatarian’s haven” features exquisitely fresh seafood prepared to perfection. 301 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (sailsrestaurants.com)

SEA SALT Chef Fabrizio Aielli is a master at marrying organic local produce, wild-caught fish, naturally raised meat, and poultry with modern cooking techniques. 1186 Third St. S., Naples (seasaltnaples.com)

SWAN RIVER SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Seafood— Southern and Northern varieties—stars at this longtime favorite, while its fish market is popular with home chefs. 3741 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (swanriverseafood.com)

TRULUCK’S SEAFOOD, STEAK & CRAB HOUSE

Truluck’s owns local fisheries, so the catch is always fresh in this fine-dining restaurant. 698 Fourth Ave. S., Naples (trulucks.com)

USS NEMO UNDERSEA CUISINE & ADVENTURES Everything is a cut above, but the signature misobroiled sea bass is a must. 3745 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (ussnemorestaurant.com)

STEAK

THE CAPITAL GRILLE Fine dining with an array of dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood, and an extensive wine list. 9005 Mercato Drive, Naples (thecapitalgrille.com)

CHOPS CITY GRILL A modern take on the traditional, with prime aged steaks and local seafood. 837 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 8200 Health Center Blvd. Ste. 100, Bonita Springs (chopscitygrill.com)

THE CONTINENTAL This D’Amico restaurant is a stylish steak house and gastropub. 1205 Third St. S., Naples (damicoscontinental.com)

DORONA Local culinary superstars Fabrizio and Ingrid Aielli have excelled again with this modern Italian steak house. 2110 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (doronanaples.com)

THE GRILL Luxurious dining in The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples (ritzcarlton.com/naples)

JIMMY P’S CHARRED Known for its Wagyu beef, the popular butcher shop’s steaks and other fine foods are served in the restaurant next door. 1833 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (jimmypscharred.com)

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE Sophisticated decor, prime meats, and fine seafood. 23151 Village Shops Way, Bonita Springs (ruthschris.com)

SHULA’S STEAK HOUSE In the winning tradition of late NFL coaching icon Don Shula, the “Shula Cut” is one of the best steaks in town. 5111 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (shulasnaples.com)

FRENCH

BISTRO LA BAGUETTE This traditional French bistro serves classic combinations like coq au vin and chateaubriand and offers cooking classes for various group sizes. 3560 Tamiami Trail E., Naples (bistrolabaguette.com)

BLEU PROVENCE Authentic dishes from the South of France are paired with wines from the vast, award-winning selection. 1234 Eighth St. S., Naples (bleuprovencenaples.com)

CHEZ BOËT FRENCH HOME COOKING Delicious French classics in a warm, homey atmosphere. 755 12th Ave. S., Naples (chezboetnaples.com)

CÔTE D’AZUR Intimate bistro in the style of Provence serves standouts like Maine lobster roasted in a clay pot. 11224 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (cotedazurrestaurant.com)

THE FRENCH BRASSERIE RUSTIQUE Rustic French cuisine and lighter fare with desserts prepared by an in-house pastry chef. 365 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (thefrenchnaples.com)

TARTINE & TARTELETTE Authentic, homemade French cuisine with wine pairings as sweet as the restaurant’s name. 11121 Health Park Blvd., Naples (tartinetartelette.com)

MEXICAN

FELIPE’S MEXICAN TAQUERIA Casual, familyfriendly eatery serving fresh classics plus handcrafted cocktails. 4255 Tamiami Trail N.; 2220 Logan Blvd. N. Ste. 810, Naples (felipestaqueria.com)

ROCCO’S TACOS AND TEQUILA BAR Every day is Cinco de Mayo at this high-energy eatery. The signature tacos are a hit, along with the savory guacamole, made fresh tableside. 9123 Strada Place Ste. 7135, Naples (roccostacos.com)

TACOS & TEQUILA CANTINA The many varieties of tacos are made with fresh, local products and handmade tortillas. 4834 Davis Blvd.; 8971 Tamiami Trail N., Naples; 10952 Eagle Village Drive, Fort Myers (tacosandtequilanaples.com)

ITALIAN

ALBERTO’S ON FIFTH Chef Alberto Varetto cooks fine dishes in his elegant restaurant. 868 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (albertosonfifth.com)

ANGELINA’S RISTORANTE A place for a special night out, with elegant cuisine and a 4,000-bottle wine tower. 24041 Tamiami Trail S., Bonita Springs (angelinasofbonitasprings.com)

BAR TULIA This late-night brother of Osteria Tulia serves outstanding pizzas and a variety of irresistible small bites, among other delicacies. 462 Fifth Ave. S.; 9118 Strada Place Ste. 8150, Naples (bartulia.com)

BARBATELLA Pizzas and pastas are delish, but don’t overlook offerings like the grilled salmon. Save room for the signature Nutella pizza. 1290 Third St. S., Naples (barbatellanaples.com)

CAMPIELLO RISTORANTE & BAR This mainstay on Third Street South is a perennial gathering place for great food and people-watching. 1177 Third St. S., Naples (campiellonaples.com)

CASA NERI From the owners of Molto Trattoria comes its cutting-edge cousin, featuring homemade pastas, extensive charcuterie boards, and chef-crafted fare. 382 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (casanerinaples.com)

DEROMO’S GOURMET MARKET & RESTAURANT

Dine on home-style dishes, then shop for gourmet items to take home. The Promenade, 26811 S. Bay Drive, Bonita Springs (deromos.com)

GRAPPINO This latest venture from Ingrid and Fabrizio Aielli celebrates Fabrizio’s Venetian roots and houses one of the country’s most comprehensive grappa bars. 90 Ninth St. N., Naples (grappinonaples.com)

THANK YOU FOR

Believing in Girls

THANK YOU to all our generous sponsors, supporters and attendees for making the Pace Collier at Immokalee annual luncheon a success. We look forward to celebrating with you next year on MONTH, DATE, YEAR – save the date!

Denise

& Brian Cobb Diermeier Family Foundation

EAT+DRINK

GLOBAL GOURMET

SEASON’S EATINGS

Summertime, and the living’s steamy. When the Gulf feels like bathwater and the sand scorches your feet, it’s time to head someplace out of the sun for well-chilled cocktails and easygoing light bites you can eat sans utensils—like a tasty taco. These four Naples establishments do a fine job of slinging frosty drinks and stuffing tortillas, adding good service and a casual atmosphere that’s also perfect for the season. K.F.

TURCO TACO. This popular spot serves seasoned meat cooked in the vertical rotisserie style known as Turkish doner (aka shawarma in its Arabic version, gyros in Greek, and al pastor in Central Mexico). Vegetarians find great options here, too. The Immokalee Road location offers indoor seating while the downtown location has mainly outdoor tables. (theturcotaco.com)

K-RICO MEXICAN GRILL. Mix and match street tacos—perhaps one with marinated roastedtomato sofrito pulled chicken paired with the slow-roasted boneless beef short rib version—at this open-air venue in Bayfront. Or sample house specialty tacos, such as blackened grouper; El Chupacabra, with New York strip steak, lobster, and shrimp; or the Bandolera, with corn-crusted Buffalo-style cauliflower. (kricosmexicangrill.com)

MEGA SABOR MEXICAN. There’s no air conditioner, but this Celebration Park food truck serves handmade corn tortillas, street food, and tacos,

including a vegan option, alfresco. Cool off with icy adult beverages that can be found nearby. (239-986-1214)

TAQUERIA SAN JULIAN. Unassuming is perhaps the best description of this establishment’s exterior, but it bears no resemblance to what’s inside. Enter and discover a brightly decorated dining area and tacos with nine choices of expertly executed fillings, including tongue, tripe, shrimp, pork, and sausage. (taqueriasanjulian. restaurantwebexpert.com)

LA TRATTORIA Old-world charm abounds at this Neapolitan-style pizzeria, where pie options are divided between rosse (red) and blanche (white). 878 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (latrattorianaples.com)

MINO This casual eatery specializes in pizza and trattoria dishes, including freshly made pastas and appetizers like the ever-popular arancini. 1100 Sixth Ave. S., Naples (minofl.com)

MOLTO TRATTORIA The homemade pasta, sauces, pizza Napoletana, and home-style cuisine are all topnotch. 368 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (moltonaples.com)

OSTERIA TULIA Chef Vincenzo Betulia’s authentically rustic venue and “peasant” cuisine are delizioso. 466 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (osteriatulia.com)

PARMESAN PETE’S Chef and owner Peter Della Rocca creates meals that taste like a “big bite of Brooklyn.” 7935 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples (parmesanpetes.com)

PAZZO! CUCINA ITALIANA The “friendly neighborhood” restaurant has been serving dishes using made-from-scratch sauces, pastas, and desserts for more than 20 years. 853 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (pazzoitaliancafe.com)

ROMA ITALIAN BISTRO Pizza and Italian specialities made with ingredients imported from Italy and fresh organic produce. 655 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (romaitalianpizzeria.com)

ASIAN

21 SPICES BY CHEF ASIF Chef Asif R. Syed offers contemporary Indian cuisine created with his special collection of spices. 4270 Tamiami Trail E. #21, Naples (21spicesdining.com)

AZN AZIAN CUIZINE Pan-Asian cuisine and an expansive sushi rolls menu, including specialties like Surf & Turf with blue crab, tuna, beef filet carpaccio, and cucumber. 9118 Strada Place, Naples (aznrestaurant.com)

FUJIYAMA STEAK AND SEAFOOD HOUSE Enjoy steaks and seafood prepared with Japanese flair at Fujiyama’s hibachi table. 2555 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (naplesfujiyama.com)

I LOVE CURRY Mumbai native “Chef Di” shares his professional skill and passion for traditional, authentic Indian cuisine through a popular food truck, restaurant, and catering operation. 2740 Bayshore Drive Unit #11, Naples (ilovecurry124.com)

LE INDYA Having grown up on India’s southern coast, chef Suman Chaniyil creates authentic classics rich with flavor and finesse. 975 Pine Ridge Road, Naples (leindya.com)

NAMBA Named for a district of Osaka, Namba specializes in aburi sushi, a style of nigiri where the fish is partially grilled on top. 8847 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (nambanaples.com)

PJK NEIGHBORHOOD CHINESE RESTAURANT

Paul Fleming and Jody Goodenough-Fleming serve a coastal Chinese menu with locally sourced seafood, plus dim sum and craft cocktails. 835 Fourth Ave. S., Naples (pjkchinese.com)

SUSHI-THAI Presenting traditional dishes from Japan, as well as sushi and Thai classics. 869 103rd Ave. N.; 7935 Airport-Pulling Road N.; 7211 Vanderbilt Beach Road Ste. 1; 898 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 25101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs (sushithaitoo.com and sushithaidowntown.com)

ZEN ASIAN BBQ A rustic Japanese pub serving fantastic sushi, Korean barbecue, ramen, and more. 10823 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (eatatzen.com)

GLOBAL

BHA! BHA! PERSIAN BISTRO Michael Mir’s popular restaurant serves up savory lamb dishes and a wide choice of colorful and delicious Persian specialties. 865 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (bhabhabistro.com)

BODEGA OLÉ Tapas, paella, and other flavors of Spain are showcased along with live music at this elegant restaurant. 965 Fourth Ave. N., Naples (bodegaole naples.com)

THE BOHEMIAN Global influences, a focus on technique and quality, and a vibrant decor underpin this chef-driven restaurant featuring many sharable selections. 27975 Old 41 Road Ste. 104, Bonita Springs (thebohemianbonita.com)

CELEBRATION PARK NAPLES This waterfront bar and food truck park has something for everyone, from Maine lobster and Greek gyros, to Asian fusion and Southern barbecue. 2880 Becca Ave., Naples (celebrationparknaples.com/food-trucks)

COAST Enjoy a candlelit dinner indoors or watch the sun set over the Gulf on the terrace as you savor the globally influenced cuisine. 1901 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples (edgewaternaples.com)

DEL MAR This Fifth Avenue South fave offers seafood, family-style shareables, Turkish flatbreads, and wood-fired entrées, such as lamb shank and ribeye, infused with the flavors of the Mediterranean coast. 494 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (delmarnaplesrestaurant.com)

GIUSEPPE AND THE LION The spot long known as Noodles has changed hands and names, but it still serves up Italian food, some sushi, and live shows. 1585 Pine Ridge Road, Naples (giuseppeandlion.com)

JANE’S CAFÉ ON THIRD Having worked in places such as London, Hong Kong, and Frankfurt, the owners of this popular downtown spot offer a world of breakfast and lunch choices. 1209 Third St. S., Naples (janesgardencafe.com)

KEEWAYDIN’S ON FIFTH It’s always island time at this vibrant downtown spot that boasts bold Caribbean flavors paired with sweet tropical ingredients. 711 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (keewaydins.com)

LAMORAGA Spanish cuisine with an international twist is served along with a wide selection of fine wines. 3936 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (lamoraga restaurant.com)

LE COLONIAL Discover the French-tinged flavors of Vietnam at this chic outpost that marries Parisian sultriness with tropical modernity. 445 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (naples.lecolonial.com)

MEDITERRANO This restaurant serves up authentic dishes like Mediterranean sea bass with figs, apricots, and raisins. 336 Thirteenth Ave. S., Naples (mediterranonaples.com)

NOSH ON NAPLES BAY Small plates, or noshes, are the specialty at this fine-dining establishment, the latest venture from its award-winning chef, Todd Johnson. The Grilled Octopus Nosh is a fan favorite. 1490 Fifth Ave. S. Ste. 101, Naples (noshon naplesbay.com)

PETAR’S RESTAURANT Chef Petar’s internationally inspired fare is superbly fresh. 3300 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs (petarsrestaurant.com)

SIMIT FRESH MEDITERRANEAN From the hummus to the simit, falafel, and baklava, Simit offers traditional Middle Eastern standards in a fast-casual setting. 1230 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples (simitfresh.com)

A TABLE APART Chef Jarrod Davis carries on the sustainable practices and high standards for his Hawaiian fusion cuisine established by founder Jeff Acol. 4295 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs (atableapart.com)

VERANDA E The signature restaurant at Escalante hotel offers an eclectic fusion of Asian and French-influenced flavors in a romantic tropical setting. 290 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (hotelescalante.com)

INTRODUCING FACES OF NAPLES

Naples Illustrated magazine presents a unique opportunity to show the faces behind successful businesses in Naples. Distinguished by artistic black-and-white photography, “Faces of Naples” is an editorialized, photo-driven special advertising section in the December issue of Naples Illustrated. The section provides an eye-catching platform for you to share your message with our 185,000 readers.

FRANCESCACOVIELLO

MINDFUL MIXOLOGIST

Invitation to Escape

A CLASSIC VACATION COCKTAIL THAT’S PERFECT FOR SUMMER

BY JULES ARON

Few cocktails are more evocative of a summer escapade than the iconic piña colada. Immortalized in song, the refreshing frozen concoction of rum, coconut, pineapple, and lime conjures a tropical oasis in a glass.

In Spanish, piña colada means “strained pineapple,” and a version of the drink (without coconut) appeared in print in a 1922 edition of Travel Magazine. While the piña colada’s true origins remain a bit sticky, with at least three Puerto Ricans—Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez, Ricardo Garcia, and Portas Migot—claiming the invention, the blended drink rose to popularity in the 1950s in Puerto Rico, where it was dubbed the national drink in 1978.

Variations on the recipe abound, but this summer, we’ll be celebrating with the 1950s classic.

XPiña Colada

Ingredients

2 oz. white rum

1 oz. coconut cream

1 oz. heavy cream

6 oz. fresh pineapple juice

1/2 cup crushed ice

«

Mix rum, coconut cream, heavy cream, and pineapple juice together in a blender. Add ice and blend for about 15 seconds or until smooth. Serve in a 12-ounce glass and garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.

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BALANCE

YOUR BEST SELF: FITNESS, NUTRITION, MINDFULNESS, WELL-BEING

NUTRITION, MINDFULNESS, WELL-BEING

STRAIGHT TALK

You’ve probably heard of scoliosis. Perhaps you or your child may even be living with this abnormal spinal curvature. Treatment may not have been recommended if you have a mild curve, especially once you’ve stopped growing. However, the curve can still become worse over your lifetime and may eventually cause pain, says T. Foster Bryant, a chiropractor, head clinician at ScoliCare Naples Florida, and member of the International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment. He explains the different positions we find ourselves in daily change the spine over time. “You have babies, you work, you sit, you bend,” he says.

To prevent curves and even correct them, Bryant focuses on the use of modern bracing technology, all with the aim of avoiding

surgery. Starting sooner versus later is best, and he suggests a free app, ScoliScreen, that parents can use to check their kids for possible scoliosis symptoms. Still, he notes that bracing and specific exercises may help adults, too. “Not many adults get a brace for scoliosis because the thought process has been [that] you can’t really change it once you’re an adult,” he explains. “That’s not true—we fix adult scoliosis frequently.”

Scoliosis may be diagnosed in adults through X-rays or MRI. If you were told you had scoliosis as a child but were never treated, Bryant encourages you to have your spinal curvature measured. He adds that it comes down to the right treatment at the right time, with lesser curves in earlier cases being easier to correct. (scolicare.com) –Erika Klein

BACK CARE

BALANCE

RECONNECTING

FLYING FREE

TAKE TO THE AIR WITH THESE HANG-GLIDING OPPORTUNITIES IN FLORIDA

BY ERIKA KLEIN

Ever wanted to escape it all and fly away like a bird? You can in a hang glider—and you may find a new sense of calm and connection to nature along the way. “For a lot of people, it’s pretty spiritual to be up there, just floating around on the currents,” explains James Tindle, owner and instructor at the Florida Ridge Airsports Park (thefloridaridge.com) in Clewiston. Hang gliders don’t have engines and remain aloft by circling in columns of warm rising air, like birds do. At 2,000 feet above ground, Tindle adds, “You don’t have any real outside noises—you don’t have the motor, you don’t have the stereo—just the sound of the wind

and the smell of the different citrus blossoms.”

If you want to reconnect to the natural world from the sky, the Florida Ridge Airsports Park makes for a good day or weekend trip. Tindle started his hang-gliding operation in 1988 in Miami but has been based at the current location for the past 15 years. There are no mountains around, but that’s no barrier as the hang gliders tow up behind a small plane.

The Florida Ridge offers tandem flights to give you the experience alongside a certified instructor. Or, lessons are available for those working toward becoming a pilot and flying on their own. Anyone can learn; Tindle has taught 12-year-old kids through adults in their 80s. He’s even done tandem flights with people older than 100 and has completed tens of thousands of tandems throughout his time in the business. Launching and landing on wheels across wide grassy fields makes hang gliding in Florida accessible for all. And when you’re done flying, camp or stay in a rental cabin on-site and reconnect with your surroundings on the ground through hiking or swimming.

If you choose to learn to fly, the sky becomes not only your sanctuary but also your playground. Solo pilots can often fly for

over an hour depending on the weather. The records at the Florida Ridge, according to Tindle, are just under 8 hours for flight duration and more than 200 miles for distance. Personal reactions to hang gliding have kept him in the sport for decades. “People get off the glider and come over and hug me,” he says. “I hear them say, ‘I’ve never done anything like this. This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done.’”

If summer plans are taking you to the Orlando area, there’s two flight parks nearby to tap. Paradise Airsports (paradiseairsports. com) allows adventure seekers to fly tandem or take lessons (to hang glide solo) from Wilotree Park in Groveland. The park also offers camping, swimming, and kayaking in a small lake, as well as other activities. Founded in 1991, Wallaby Ranch (wallaby.com) is another option providing tandem hang gliding and instruction. This site, located about 30 minutes from Orlando, also offers camping, hiking, and additional amenities.

Hang gliding helps reconnect with the natural world, providing an exhilarating respite from daily life and the sensation of becoming a bird.

ERIKA

KLEIN

Motivation TO MOVE

We all know fitness is important, and we each have our own workout goals. But sometimes, motivation is an issue. If you struggle with getting or sustaining the motivation to exercise, you’re not alone. “Even the fittest people wake up some days and don’t want to work out,” notes John Williams, owner and lead trainer at Galaxy Fit Lab in Naples. If you’re experiencing a lack of fitness motivation, don’t sweat it. Instead of focusing on a goal like your ideal beach body, Williams suggests finding motivation in potential negatives, such as joint pain or low energy caused by insufficient exercise. Once those have helped jumpstart your fitness routine, he

advises refocusing on positive outcomes and tracking metrics you care about— such as your mile time or weight.

Williams also recommends working out with friends to maintain motivation over time. “There simply is no better way to do hard things than to do them with others,” he says. If you don’t have a workout community yet, find it at a gym that hosts group classes or a local running club.

“Get moving, move with others, and do it on the days when you really don’t want to,” instructs Williams. “You’ll always feel better afterwards, and your future you will thank you.” (galaxyfitlab. com) –E.K.

John Williams, owner of Galaxy Fit Lab in Naples, offers several suggestions to keep people on the move, including finding a workout community and tracking certain metrics.

TRENDING

FROZEN ASSETS

MAKE ROOM IN YOUR FREEZER FOR THESE CHILLED BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT DELIVER GLOWING

BY LIZA GRANT SMITH

GLOBE-TROTTER

RESULTS

POP MUSIC

Love and Pebble

For a cryotherapy-inspired boost to your at-home facial routine, try the Aceology Ice Globe Facial Massager ($64). This tool can be placed in a bowl of ice or in the fridge for 10 minutes and then used for either a lifting massage (to stimulate blood circulation, oxygenate the skin, and boost elasticity) or lymphatic facial massage (to relieve tension, reduce future breakouts, and release toxins). (aceology.com)

ICY RECEPTION

Enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid, the Skin Proud Frozen Over: Gel-to-Ice Hydrator ($21) can be applied straight from the freezer to battle tired and puff y skin. (iamproud.com)

’s Beauty Pops ($43) are super-

foods—papaya, banana, turmeric, and aloe vera— face masks that you freeze. Mix the powder with water and freeze the concoction in the tray mold for three to four hours. Rub the resultant pop all over your face like a traditional mask and let it exfoliate, tighten, and nourish your skin. (loveandpebble.com)

TASTY TREAT

NICE GOING

Is your skin in need of some TLC? Formulated with glycerin, niacinamide, green tea extract, and ashwagandha, the Nice Ice Toner Pods ($68 for pack of 12) from Sofie Pavitt Face aim to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and revive the skin. Use the frozen pods on breakouts, after laser treatments and receiving injectables, before doing your makeup, or following a night on the town. (sofiepavitt face.com)

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT NUTRITIONAL SNACK TO COMPLEMENT YOUR FROZEN BEAUTY ENDEAVORS?

TRY THE VIRAL SHAVED FRUIT TREND. CUBE OR CHOP YOUR FAVORITE FRUIT (SOME IDEAL OPTIONS ARE STRAWBERRIES, MANGOES, AND WATERMELON) AND PUT IT IN THE FREEZER OVERNIGHT. THEN USE EITHER A MICROPLANE ZESTER OR A REGULAR FINE GRATER TO SHAVE THE FRUIT. ENJOY IT ON ITS OWN OR WITH TOPPINGS LIKE SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK OR TAJÍN SEASONING.

BALANCE

GOOD NATURE

ON THE ROAD

TIPS FOR HOW TO GET THE MOST WELL-BEING BANG FOR YOUR TRAVEL BUCK

BY TAMMY FENDER

One of the things I love most about summer is the freedom to travel and explore. As much as I rely on a steady routine, it feels so good to break out of my homebound habits in order to discover what’s new and emergent. Following the open road, indulging in a little wanderlust, and honoring curiosity rejuvenates the soul.

Travel opens the senses in beautiful ways and activates new

neural pathways. Trying new foods, falling into the rhythms of another culture, and taking in the colors and sounds of somewhere out of the ordinary is enlivening. I can still recall the beautiful scent of roses that surrounded me in a medieval French garden or the taste of the chanterelles we foraged during a family trip to North Carolina. Our family loves to take classes and workshops whenever we travel. We

also seek out opportunities to experience nature—from botanical gardens and nature preserves to hiking trails and hot springs, which we’ve plunged into in Fiji, Ojai, and Costa Rica.

Because I want to remain open and present for each moment, I pack several essential oils that help ease the impact of travel. Lavender encourages sleep and calm, which is especially useful when jet-lagged. Sweet orange can ease the nerves when things don’t go as expected, instilling a sense of buoyancy. Rosemary can stimulate clarity when it’s time to clear the travel fog and make your way through a new environment. It’s wonderful to pack a journal, too, so that you’re ready to record your impressions as they come. I also like to carry small totems from home (such as beads or a stone necklace)

that help me feel oriented no matter where I am.

From a wellness perspective, all the wonderful sensations that travel evokes—the excitement and curiosity—are ultimately very beneficial for the whole being. Research shows that taking a vacation relieves stress and immersing yourself in a new culture or environment can help you hit the reset button. Travel has also been linked to improved memory and enhanced creativity. Furthermore, it provides a fundamental mindset shift that can make changes back at home easier. After all, bringing a freshness to all that is familiar is the ultimate goal. «

Vacation travel awakens the senses and the soul. Experiences may be enhanced by immersion in nature, recording impressions in a journal, and packing essential oils.

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The 4th Annual Stars and Stripes Gala

FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 8, 2024 at 4:30pm

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Keynote Speaker Presentation by Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2) Nick Lavery

Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2) Nick Lavery

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Our Impact in 2023

Provided PTSD workshop programs to hundreds of Veterans through Spectracare Foundation

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Purchased a home which today is housing five (5) Veterans who prior were “living outdoors” through Heaven on Earth for Veterans

Provided equine retreats for thirty (30) Veterans at Quantum LEAP Farm.

Training & placement of one (1) service dog with a Veteran through Southeastern Guide Dogs

Covered costs for thirteen (13) Veterans in Outpatient Clinical Care including 12 sessions of behavioral health therapy, medical management, social work & SUDS counseling through Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Care

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Helped serve 524 families with ~ 5,400 hours from September 2022 - August 2023 at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic

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SCENE

THE HOTTEST CULTURE AND COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

TOP BILLING

THE BEST MEDICINE

Vien Phommachanh claims he is “the No. 1 Laotian ear, nose, and throat doctor/comedian in Southwest Florida.” And, as a practicing Sarasota ENT by day who likes to make people laugh at night, he’s probably right. “I’ve always been funny with friends since childhood,” recalls Phommachanh, who came to the United States with his family from Laos at age 3 as a Vietnam War refugee. Phommachanh graduated from Tulane School of Medicine, but it wasn’t until he was 40 that he took a class at a comedy club as “a bucket-list thing” and “was hooked by the

adrenaline of making people laugh.”

His comedy career continues to grow, with stand-up gigs, comedy festivals, and even TV appearances across the country and world. Which of his jobs does he like better? “Both are very satisfying,” he says. “It’s surprisingly hard to do stand-up, and the study of the craft is immensely challenging and rewarding, much like it is in medicine.” The doctor will perform August 16 as part of the comedy series at the Arts Center Theatre on Marco Island; tickets are $25. (marcoislandart.org) –Gaylene Salomons

An ear, nose, and throat physician by day, Vien Phommachanh likes to make people laugh at night.

JULY/AUGUST 2024

ARTS & EVENTS

JULY GOINGS ON & PERFORMANCES

2 42nd Street, The Naples Players performs the classic tale, Kizzie Theater, Naples, to July 21, tickets start at $50. (naplesplayers.org)

Birding in the Garden, take a morning walk through the 90-acre preserve and discover the avian species that call the garden home, Naples Botanical Garden, also July 9, 16, 23, and 30, included with regular garden admission. (naplesgarden.org)

4 Fourth of July Fireworks, a magical half-hour show along the beaches of Naples, free. (fifthavenuesouth.com)

Fourth of July Parade, from Broad Avenue South to down Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street South, Naples, free. (fifthavenuesouth.com)

Above and top right: Works on display at East West Fine Art include Sous La Tonnelle by Laurent Parcelier and glass sculptures by Cathryn Shilling. Right: Art After Hours at The Baker Museum; far right: learn the essentials of digital photography at a Rookery Bay workshop.

6 Tasting the Tropics, a festival of the garden’s fruits, Naples Botanical Garden, included with regular admission. (naplesgarden.org)

8 ARTScool2024, students ages 5 to 17 take part in handson art activities, Naples Art Institute, to Aug. 2, $150 weekly for half-day classes, $300 weekly for full-day classes. (naplesart.org)

9 Burmese Pythons, biologist Ian Easterling explains the effects of the invasive Burmese python in the Everglades ecosystem, Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples, free. (colliermuseums.com)

Jonathan Kite, Off the Hook Comedy Club, Naples, to July 11, tickets start at $25. (offthehookcomedy.com)

11 Evening on Fifth, live musical performances along Fifth Avenue South, Naples, free. (fifthavenuesouth.com)

13 Ice Cream Social Family Day, dive into a sundae bar, Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples, free. (colliermuseums.com)

Summer at the Cottage, play croquet and cornhole on the lawn, Historic Palm Cottage, Naples, free. (naples historicalsociety.org)

Supercars and Espresso, sports car enthusiasts come together to share their passion for exotic cars, Lamborghini Naples, free, reservations required. (lamborghininaples.com)

SUN-KISSED DELIGHTS

The Southwest Florida climate is well-suited to growing many of the world’s favorite fruits. At the Naples Botanical Garden, fruiting plants—ranging from coconut and jackfruit to mango and pineapple—grow in nearly all their designed landscapes. On July 6, the Tasting the Tropics festival invites visitors to enjoy live demonstrations, special tours, and themed programs while exploring the many tropical fruit plants in the garden. During the hot and humid summer months, the garden is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is included with regular garden admission. (naplesgarden.org) –G.S.

2

PICKS

THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE IS A NAPLES TRADITION. FIND A SEAT ANYWHERE ALONG BROAD AVENUE SOUTH, FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH, OR EIGHTH STREET SOUTH AND CELEBRATE AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. FLOATS DRIVE BY STARTING AT 10 A.M. (FIFTHAVENUESOUTH. COM)

BRING THE FAMILY TO NAPLES’ OLDEST HOUSE JULY 13, FOR SUMMER AT THE COTTAGE, AN AFTERNOON OF CROQUET, CORNHOLE, AND FROZEN TREATS. HISTORIC PALM COTTAGE, A 3,500-SQUARE-FOOT HOME TURNED MUSEUM, WILL BE OPEN FOR SELFGUIDED TOURS. (NAPLESHISTORICAL SOCIETY.ORG) G.S.

16 Watercolors & Wildlife: Painting with Jan, capture the beauty of coastal Naples, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples, also July 18, $85. (rookerybay.org)

18 2024 Natural Reflections: Annual Art Reception, join exhibiting photographers for the closing reception, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, free. (rookerybay.org)

The Skunk Ape—Florida’s Favorite Cryptid, engage in a discussion about the veracity of the ape-like creature, Museum of the Everglades, Everglades City, free. (colliermuseums. com)

19 Comedy Series, Kevin White, Arts Center Theatre, Marco Island, $25. (marcoislandart.org)

20 Essentials of Digital Photography Workshop, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples, $55. (rookerybay.org)

25 Cactus Tate, Off the Hook Comedy Club, Naples, tickets start at $25. (offthehookcomedy.com)

Zach Bartholomew: Balancing Act, album release concert, Performing Arts Center, Arts Bonita, tickets start at $35. (artcenterbonita.org)

26 Pottery—A Night on the Wheel, learn the basic techniques of throwing on the wheel, Visual Arts Center, Arts Bonita, $70. (artcenterbonita.org)

31 Art After Hours, a fun evening of art and entertainment for audiences of all ages, The Baker Museum, Artis—Naples, free. (artisnaples.org)

THESE EVENT DETAILS ARE CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME, BUT PLEASE CONTACT THE VENUE OR PRESENTER FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.

SCENE

AUGUST GOINGS ON & PERFORMANCES

1 Essence of the Estuary Eco-Cruise, threehour nature cruise through the backwaters of the Rookery Bay Reserve, to Aug. 31 (no Monday or Tuesday tours), $99 per person, $499 for six, ages 3 and up. (rookerybay.org)

Mercato Nights, rock out to live music by Unlimited Devotion, event lawn at Mercato, Naples, free. (experiencemercato.com)

3 Farmworker Appreciation Day, Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch, free. (colliermuseums.com)

6 Birding in the Garden, take a morning walk through the 90-acre preserve and discover the avian species that call the garden home, Naples Botanical Garden, also Aug. 13, 20, and 27, included with regular garden admission. (naplesgarden.org)

10 Supercars and Espresso, sports car enthusiasts come together to share their passion for exotic cars, Lamborghini Naples, free, reservations required. (lamborghininaples.com)

14 LOL Laugh Online, join an hour of virtual improv with Craig Price, The Naples Players, free. (naplesplayers.org)

15 JP Sears, Off the Hook Comedy Club, Naples, to Aug. 17, tickets start at $30. (offthehookcomedy.com)

16 Comedy Series, Vien “Comicdoc” Phommachanh, Arts Center Theatre, Marco Island, $25. (marcoislandart.org)

17 Essentials of Digital Photography Workshop, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples, $55. (rookerybay.org)

20 Summer Homeschool Day: History of Florida Fishing, Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples, free. (colliermuseums.com)

21 Preschool Program: Pioneer Playtime, preschoolers play pioneer games, Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples, free. (colliermuseums.com)

22 Ryan Niemiller, Off the Hook Comedy Club, Naples, tickets start at $25, (offthehookcomedy.com)

28 Art After Hours, a fun evening of art and entertainment for audiences of all ages, The Baker Museum, Artis—Naples, free. (artisnaples.org)

Florida Folklore

Over the years the legend of the skunk ape has grown exponentially, becoming the foremost facet of Florida folklore now firmly rooted in popular culture. Engage in a lively discussion during The Skunk Ape—Florida’s Favorite Cryptid July 18 at 2 p.m. at the Museum of the Everglades. Watch a video from 2000 purportedly showing the ape-like bipedal humanoid running through the saw grass and decide for yourself if the creature is real. (collier museums.com) –G.S.

VISUAL ARTS & GALLERIES

The Baker Museum at Artis—Naples.  “Tradition Interrupted,” to July 28; “Andy Warhol Portfolios: A Life in Pop/Works from the Bank of America Collection,” to Sept. 8. (artisnaples.org)

Arts Bonita, “Call of the Wild,” themed exhibition exploring the natural world, to July 18; “Opening into the Unknown,” art by Dominick Tascher, to July 18. (artcenterbonita.org)

East West Fine Art, Naples. “Gonna Wrap You Up in my Love,” glass sculptures by Cathryn Shilling, to July 22; “Crème Brûlée and Champagne,” French artists Laurent Parcelier and Hervé Lenouvel, Aug. 6 to 27. (eastwestfineart.com)

Marco Island Center for the Arts, “Fiberlicious: A Textile Lover’s Feast,” to July 2; “Celebrating Imagination,” July 5 to 30. (marcoislandart.org)

Marco Island Historical Museum. “Key Marco Cat Smithsonian Exhibition,” through April 2026. (themihs.org)

NICK SHIRGHIO

SETTING THE STANDARD

Palm Beach Media Group is a renowned publishing company with print publications representing a mix of proprietary titles and custom magazines, along with digital solutions, serving the entire state of Florida and more.

art&culture: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Time and Treasure: Guide to Better Giving Florida Design

LAST WORD

What’s the concept behind Aqualingerie?

Chrissy McCurdy: It all started at a pool party in Millbrook, New York, in 2020, when I shared I was wearing a bra under my J. Crew swimsuit for added lift and support. As former fashion editors, stylists, and buyers, we were inspired by this styling hack for moms and came together to create Stylest, a sculpting swimwear line featuring the firstever collection of Aqualingerie, bras engineered for the water and designed to be worn under your swimsuit.

How was the idea born?

Joyann King Michael: As moms loving mid-life, our lifestyles and bodies were evolving, but our wardrobe options weren’t keeping up—especially when it came to finding a decent swimsuit. We created the swimwear pieces that were missing from your swim wardrobe—ultra-flattering swimsuits and innovative cover-ups that work their magic from the kiddie pool to the beach.

Tell us about the swimsuit that’s gone viral.

Alia Yahia-Bosworth: Our Dream-

REAL TALK WITH...

Stylest

The

creative trio of Joyann King Michael, Alia Yahia-Bosworth, and Chrissy McCurdy dish about their collection of sculpting swimwear and its newest innovation: Aqualingerie

BY KATHERINE LANDE

Sculpt Square Neck Tank is a customer favorite. All our swimwear is cut from luxurious French compression fabric that targets key problem areas, giving a sculpted feel without being too tight. Our suits have four times more compression than other swimsuits, built-in shapewear that smooths and sculpts, a 360-degree shelf bra for ample chest lift, and the requisite ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50-plus.

Ultimate warm weather look?

CM: DreamSculpt Bodysuit and Ralph Lauren striped button-down.

JKM: DreamSculpt Push-Up Plunge with vintage Pucci maxi skirt.

AYB: DreamSculpt Tank with dressy shorts and a big necklace.

Favorite summer destination?

CM: Nantucket

JKM: Capri

AYB: St. Barth

Dream collaboration?

CM: Taylor Swift

JKM: Valentino

AYB: Blake Lively

Joyann King Michael, Alia YahiaBosworth, and Chrissy McCurdy design a collection of swimsuits with built-in shapewear.

Interior Design by Jill Kersey

JOSE M. HORAK, DMD

PATRICK J. CARRIGAN, DMD

KURTIS P. HUSSEY, DMD

EDWARD A. SCHERDER, DMD, JD

ROBERT C. HEDGEPATH, DMD