Tabla de contenidos para September 2020 en Naples Illustrated

Those who have traveled to private islands know the allure well. Being on a sliver of beach with 360 degrees of water between you and civilization feels like a Crusoe-esque fantasy, with the added advantages of hyper-attentive service, indulgent cuisine, and accommodations with a true sense of place. Beyond the obvious luxe factor, isolating from the world and all its distractions, not to mention distancing from others during a pandemic, feels urgent right now. But where to go? The Maldives? French Polynesia? The Fijian archipelago? Between health concerns and travel restrictions, private island dreams are being shelved, but they don’t have to be. Not when there’s Little Palm Island, in our own Florida Keys. Even given a choice of exclusive islands worldwide, this reimagined gem should be at the top…

The sheer splendor of every new Chris-Craft is encapsulated by its steering wheel. Just look at the thing. Better yet, touch it. The upper part is a rich, dark mahogany, varnished to perfection. The lower section is covered in a creamy, embossed leather with contrasting crisscross stitching. This isn’t just any steering wheel. It comes with a true surprise-and-delight feature: The mirror-polished central hub is weighted to keep the Chris-Craft logo level at all times, a parlor trick Rolls-Royce employs on the hubcaps of its $450,000 Phantom. Right now, that lovely wheel is being put to good use as we dodge crab traps—at 50 mph, blasting across Sarasota Bay—in Chris-Craft’s exquisite new Launch 28 GT, a top-seller in the 146-year-old boat-builder’s ever-expanding lineup. This one’s a little different though. After…

Greg Wetzel was just 14 when he got his first job as a golf course attendant back in Montana. His professional connection to the sport lasted more than 35 years, turning into a career working with community developers to build and manage clubs. Then, at 50 years old, Wetzel decided to make a change. He earned a JD and now practices property law for a firm in Naples. But he couldn’t stay away from the links for long. While golf is no longer his job, he does engage in weekly games with a group of a dozen neighbors in Olde Cypress. These gettogethers continued even earlier this year, during a time when it seemed every other social engagement had been canceled. Wetzel, like many other Neapolitans, realized that taking a…

Few Florida restaurants survive more than a decade, and many close long before that. Kelly’s Fish House, founded in 1953, is the oldest restaurant in Naples and a genuine slice of Old Florida. “My stepfather was a commercial fisherman,” says Kelly Ellis, the current owner. “He bought the seafood business from Bob and Pat Combs in 1957 and acquired the restaurant in 1971.” It has remained basically unchanged ever since, relying on an unbeatable formula: fresh, highquality ingredients and warm service, combined with a view of the Gordon River. Netting drapes the walls, and the glass-topped tables are filled with sand and shells. Menu highlights include pristine Gulf shrimp and snapper, Apalachicola oysters, and an assortment of the best catch. “We buy from independent fishermen who work for us on…

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cupro pink dress with ruffle ($865), Max Mara, Waterside Shops, Naples PAGES 62-63 Cupro green gown with ruffle ($1,190), green leather heels ($695), Max Mara, Waterside Shops, Naples; goldenrod strapless mini dress with side drape ($2,990), Carolina Herrera, Saks Fifth Avenue, Waterside Shops, Naples; pale apricot camoscio tone-on-tone Rockstud Flair pumps ($995), Valentino, Marissa Collections, Third Street South, Naples. PAGE 64 Cupro pink dress with ruffle ($865), Max Mara, Waterside Shops, Naples PAGE 65 Pink puffy-sleeve dress ($2,890), Valentino, Marissa Collections, Third Street South, Naples; teal Colibri lite heels ($950), Fendi, fendi.com. PAGES 66-67 Yellow double-breasted heavy-lace coat ($6,490), pale apricot camoscio tone-on-tone Rockstud Flair pumps ($995), Valentino, Marissa Collections, Third Street South, Naples PAGE 68 Cupro blue jacket with ruffle ($1,450), cupro blue pants ($575), Max…

STYLE NOTES MIX MATERIALS: This fall focus on luxe leather, cashmere, and suede. SKIN IS IN: Opt for one shade and wear as a monochromatic look. SAFETY FIRST: Stay stylish (and safe) by matching your face mask to your ensemble.…

Michael Walker At just 23 years old, Michael Walker already bears the hallmarks of a professional athlete: The second-year wide receiver and return specialist for the Jacksonville Jaguars always shows up early and ready for anything. With six older brothers and an older sister, Walker is the youngest of the brood and a lifelong Naples resident who graduated from Naples High as a celebrated football captain before going on to play at Boston College. “I was the only one of my siblings to go to college outside of Florida, and it was a huge step,” he says. “I learned a lot about myself and who I am.” Although he grew up in a bustling household—nicknamed Hotel Walker for the steady stream of kids pouring in and out—Walker admits that he…

Linguine alle vongole is one of the most recognizable and classic Ital - ian pasta dishes that can be found in regions throughout the country. “I’ve been eating this dish for as long as I can remember,” says Vin - cenzo Betulia, chef and partner at Osteria Tulia. “It’s one of the most popular items at the restaurant, so we rotate it in and out of the menu with different variations, sometimes changing the pasta or adding pancetta, chorizo, breadcrumbs, or pecorino cheese.” The prepara - tion starts with olive oil, garlic, white wine, and a pinch of pepperon - cini, along with the juices from the clams as they cook and open. “I use Manila clams because they’re the perfect size and open quickly,” Betulia explains. “At the end,…

Pickling, canning, and preserving food were important survival skills on the American frontier. David McCone of the Naples Canning Company is committed to bringing them back into our daily life. “I became fascinated with pickling because of the unlimited ways you can change a product,” says McCone, who grew up in a rural part of Northern Michigan. “A white wine vinegar will give you a different taste than a Champagne vinegar, and tweaking the spices in a recipe can yield a completely different result.” McCone worked in restaurants before opening his business last October. When the pandemic closed the Third Street Farmers Market, he shifted his focus to e-commerce and now offers free local delivery. Bread and butter pickles are his most popular item, followed by garlic dills and wildflower…

Nearly 40 years ago, professor Linda Bartoshuk’s research into the physiology of taste electrified the wine world. She determined that certain people have a higher concentration of taste receptors on their tongues, and she designated those individuals as “supertasters.” She also found that supertasters are more likely to be women. If you accept the theory that women are better tasters than men, why aren’t there more female winemakers? The simple answer is that the wine business has historically been a boys’ club. This tends to be true in Europe even today, where many female winemakers owe their position to family ownership and a lack of male siblings. Starting in the 1980s in California, however, some women began to rise to superstar status: Helen Turley (Marcassin), Eileen Crane (Domaine Carneros), Heidi…

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time when Barbara’s Friends celebrates its supporters and accomplishments. This year marks 25 years of helping children with cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, the region’s only children’s hospital. Like many nonprofits, Barbara’s Friends has seen a significant drop in donations due to the pandemic, but the need is very much still present. “We’ve had 23 children diagnosed with cancer since March 1, more than expected,” says Emad Salman, MD, regional medical director for Golisano Children’s Hospital and a pediatric oncologist. “The families’ needs are greater with the pandemic and loss of jobs, yet we’ve lost about half our philanthropic funding due to canceled events. The need is there; cancer didn’t go away because events stopped.” More than half of the…

Did your book club go on hiatus? The pandemic lockdown didn’t put the Ladies’ Book Club at Naples Yacht Club on the shelf. Carol Girardin, the hostess for the April discussion of Next Year in Havana (Berkley, 2018) by Chanel Cleeton, visited the club and videotaped her presentation for a virtual meeting. In it, she provides a lively introduction, vibrant modern and historic photos, and mood-setting Cuban music. She also draws a connection between the book’s events during the Cuban Revolution and yacht club member Nydia Tranter, who was attending a 1958 New Year’s Eve party for diplomats in Cuba the night Fulgencio Batista was ousted from the island in a coup led by Fidel Castro. Along with 80 others, Tranter took refuge in the Chilean embassy alongside her 3-month-old…

BOSTON RED SOX TEE OFF FOR KIDS’ MINDS MATTER WHAT: Twenty-seventh annual Boston Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic and Tee Party WHERE: The Forest Country Club, Fort Myers SUPPORTS: Pediatric mental and behavioral health services at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida DETAILS: Celebrity Red Sox participants included Andrew Benintendi, manager Ron Roenicke, Jason Varitek, and Hall of Famer Jim Rice. Golisano Children’s Hospital pediatric “celebrities” included Jack Bell and Felix Diego Santiago Colon. GUADALUPE CENTER BUDDIES UP WHAT: Twenty-eighth annual Buddy Day WHERE: Hideaway Beach, Marco Island SUPPORTS: Guadalupe Center’s after-school tutoring DETAILS: More than 125 second graders were paired with local volunteers to explore Southwest Florida’s unique coastal habitat through environmental workshops, arts and crafts, outdoor games, and other learning activities.…

KIDS’ MINDS MATTER AT GOLISANO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHAT: Secret Garden Gala WHERE: Southwest Florida Event Center, Bonita Springs SUPPORTS: Pediatric mental and behavioral health services at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Funds raised will be used to add more care navigators in local schools, establish an autism testing center, expand mental health clinics in the region, and provide counseling sessions for under- and uninsured children. DETAILS: The gala featured keynote speaker and best-selling author Kevin Hines. It was sponsored by Naples Illustrated. CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHAT: Sixteenth annual Magic Under the Mangroves WHERE: Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center, Naples SUPPORTS: The conservancy’s scientific research, education, policy development, advocacy, and wildlife rehabilitation programs.…

Creating a dream home from scratch is exhilarating and exhausting, especially if you’re doing it from a distance. Despite being several hours and miles away, the owners of a Grey Oaks new build found it easy to frequently communicate with Michael Scott, senior design director at Naples-based Romanza Interior Design. Scott’s goal was to keep his clients from being overwhelmed with all the decisionmaking, while pushing them out of their conservative design box during the construction of their idyllic seasonal home. Situated in the Estuary at Grey Oaks in Naples, the magnificent but relaxed six-bedroom, 8,000-square-foot residence rests on a site overflowing with organic beauty. A color palette of various shades of sand and splashes of aquatic blues and greens augments the grand home’s waterfront style. Natural stones and crèma…

To fully prepare for the face-melting experience of piloting the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, skip the dealer test drive and head to Daytona Beach. Here, behind the gates of the thrill-seeker’s paradise that is Screamer’s Park, you’ll find the Daytona Slingshot. It’s right next to the aptly named Vomatron. Pay $25, strap yourself in, and get ready to feel the thrust of 40 tons of spring pressure as you catapult 365 feet into the air. This vertical acceleration of up to 5 G’s is not for the faint of heart. Those who survive, however, will be more than ready to tackle the equally explosive GLE 63 S SUV. To enjoy this 603-hp beast in all its glory, simply engage Sport+, press hard on the brake pedal with your left…

For buying information, turn to page 124. For buying information, turn to page 124. For buying information, turn to page 124. For buying information, turn to page 124. For buying information, turn to page 124. Models: Tt’Shauna Lightbourn, Meisheng, Select Model Management, Miami; Lauren Layne, w360 Management, New York; Colby Milchin, Next Models, Miami. Fashion assistant: Roxy Rooney Hair: Gianluca Mandelli, Creative Management, Miami Makeup: Heather Blaine, Creative Management, Miami Digital tech: Orlando Noah…

Although it may be intimidating at first, paddleboarding is a great sport for athletes of all levels. Jennifer Khosla, a certified stand-up paddleboard yoga teacher based out of Lean and Green Body in Naples, recommends beginning with a lesson to go over proper form, foot placement, and balance tips. “The awesome thing about paddleboarding is that you can always sit down, with your legs crossed, or go onto your knees, especially when starting,” says Khosla. This paddleboarding pro teaches clients from 8 to 80-plus years old, with customized experiences available for individuals and groups. She says knowing how to swim is essential and advises anyone with a bad back or other injuries to get cleared by a doctor before participating. Paddleboarding is a great workout for the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes,…

We’ve all adjusted our fitness routines as a result of the coronavirus. Not everyone is ready to return to their favorite gym or studio, but would you feel differently if you could go back by appointment and work out with fewer people? Better yet, what if you can do it all in under 20 minutes? This is a concept that Tom Wooden, owner of The Exercise Coach, a personal training studio in Naples, has been utilizing, much to the happiness and health of his clients. “Because we do everything by appointment, we essentially control our environment,” Wooden says. “We can schedule one, two, three people at a time, depending on what the sensitivities are of our clientele and the availability of our coaches.” Typically, Wooden says, there are no more…

“READING IS A DISCOUNT TICKET TO EVERYWHERE.”—MARY SCHMICH Robin Cook and Janet Evanovich are just a couple of the renowned authors who chose to make their homes on the Paradise Coast. On September 16, Christina Cush, Naples Illustrated editor in chief and coauthor of Twin Set: Moms of Multiples Share Survive and Thrive Secrets (Penguin Random House, 2008), will host a webinar entitled “Under the Covers: Neapolitan Authors Share What it Takes to Make a Book” at 5:30 p.m. Check naplesillustrated.com for details. Continued uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 has prevented most local arts organizations and venues from confirming the public events that we traditionally feature in this section. We will return to covering the arts scene when it blooms anew. Until then, grab your readers and set out for new perspectives…