Tabla de contenidos para May/June 2021 en Naples Illustrated

Way back in 2000, I was the executive editor of Modern Bride. At the time, I was inundated with real-life wedding stories about things that went kerflooey during the planning phases, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, ceremonies, receptions, and honeymoons. A year prior, I was pulling up to the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City on a 102-degree afternoon in mid-July, having just heard the news in the limo on a Lite FM station that John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her sister, Lauren, had gone missing in a plane off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. I knew that our church had been the site of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ funeral mass and thought it all a strange coincidence. Walking down the aisle, my…

DRAMA RAMA Command attention in a stylish showstopper that suits your personality SHEER CHIC The big reveal is lacy, not racy, with fabulous floral details HEM GEMS Boldly pair a glam front with a statement-making train MIGHTY MINIS These dance-ready lovelies are short yet sharp and no less a dress BOWED OVER Tie the knot for a striking exit with sweet, sculptural accents FINE FEATHERS Wing it with this ultra-fun alternative to routine ruffles GREAT CAPES Float down the aisle for your fashion superhero moment…

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. ⋆ - NI’s Dining Hall of Fame* *Dining establishments that have won three or more Dining Awards in the same category are inducted into NI’s Dining Hall of Fame. AMERICAN 7TH AVENUE SOCIAL Eclectic Southern fare and craft cocktails with an outdoor patio and live music. 849 Seventh Ave. S., Naples (7thavenuesocial.com) ALEXANDER’S The tastes of farm-to-table American and European cuisine commingle at this fine dining establishment. 4077 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (alexandersnaples.com) ALICE SWEETWATER’S BAR & GRILLE An institution of more than 25 years, this local’s favorite serves a large array of lunch and dinner…

Months and months of working from home during the pandemic may be affecting your mental health. Distractions, having children in the house, and juggling several roles at once can lead to stress and anxiety, says Molly Modzelewski, a licensed mental health counselor and co-owner of Serenity Counseling Associates of Naples. Besides the loss of boundaries between work and home, she adds that feeling isolated from coworkers can be another struggle. Those challenges may then affect your performance, potentially leading to depression that further impacts your ability to work. When your office is closed, coworking spaces can provide a good alternative. One such space in Naples, Collier Capital Club (colliercapitalclub.com), offers memberships for desks in a shared area as well as those for private offices and conference rooms. If you keep…

NAPLES ART SCENE TO BE SEEN WHAT: Scene to be Seen: A Live Art Exhibition and Red, White, & Bubbles Reception SUPPORTS: Art education programs WHERE: Naples Art DETAILS: Thirteen local artists and designers created avant-garde fashions showcased by 32 models. MEDIA SPONSOR: Naples Illustrated YABBA ISLAND GRILL TWENTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY PARTY WHAT: Restaurateur Skip Quillen celebrated the twenty-first anniversary of Yabba Island Grill with friends, staff, media, social influencers, and patrons. The 250-seat Yabba, located on Fifth Avenue South overlooking Sugden Plaza, still serves its original Rasta Pasta, which includes shrimp, littleneck clams, mussels, and king crab in a white wine sauce. Quillen’s Culinary Concepts also owns and operates Pazzo! Cucina Italiana on Fifth Avenue South, Chops City Grill in Bonita Springs, and The Saloon at Coconut Point Shopping Center in…

Located on Fifth Avenue South, Arabesque of Naples is a fine stationer and gift shop celebrating its twenty-first year in Naples. From parties to weddings, the company specializes in exquisite invitations, working with local brides as well as those from around the world. They have built long-standing relationships in the foil and letterpress industry and are the preferred vendor for The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. With COVID restrictions loosening, Arabesque owner Sheryl Sashin says she’s receiving invitation requests for more than standard Saturday weddings. As venues open up, couples are scrambling to rebook delayed events, which means more weekday ceremonies—and more invitations to send out. “Mostly we are doing classic with a modern twist,” says Sashin, who adds that young brides are loving letterpress. She notes a trend in combinations of letterpress…

STYLE NOTES FLOWER POWER: Opt for a statement shoe in a vibrant floral print. COLOR 101: The classic combo of black and white makes a bold return. SHINE BRIGHT: Add character to your look with whimsical accessories.…

A Naples resident since 2016, when his job moved him and his family from Massachusetts, Felipe Pereira is an outgoing internal audit manager who volunteers as the international relations director for the Brazilian Federation of American Football. He uses his marketing savvy locally through a social media campaign, Live with Felipe, where he spotlights Naples-area business owners. Currently working for Generali, a large insurance company based in Italy, he audits six North American locations and assists in Brazil, where he was born. Over the course of his career, which launched in 2006, he says, “I have traveled to over 30 countries, some for work and some for pleasure.” A devoted family man to wife and high school sweetheart Keriann and their two young kids, Mila and Julian, Pereira appreciates the…

On a stunning November afternoon in Southwest Florida, Contessa Gilman walked down the aisle and took her groom’s breath away. “I thought, ‘Whoa, she’s gorgeous,’” recalls Ethan Williams, who first met Contessa while they were both in high school in small-town Kentucky. Ever patient, Ethan waited to date her until she was ready to graduate. But by then, in 2015, Contessa was committed to studying community health and biology at Florida Gulf Coast University. Though they were young, their love survived the long distance, eventually pulling Ethan to move to the Naples area to be closer to Contessa. He wasn’t the only one who saw the appeal of her new surroundings, as her parents and siblings relocated to Naples, too. After completing an emergency medicine rotation at NCH and wrapping…

One day, Christa Hartz will tell her grandkids about how she was a “pandemic bride” who got married in November 2020. Although the world was topsy-turvy, her love for her husband, Cortland “Cort” Hartz, never wavered. “I spent most of Spring 2020 having a glass of wine while watching the nightly news, worrying what was going to happen with our wedding,” says Christa, who works at Arthrex as an organizational specialist in development and is pursuing a master’s degree at Florida International University. “There were times I thought we’d have to just do it at the courthouse.” Christa’s doubts grew after two friends postponed their celebrations, so she looked into rescheduling for 2021. “We were shocked how quickly the 2021 calendar booked up,” she says. “Most available dates were on…

Naples is now the home of Florida’s only three-star Michelin chef. Eli Kaimeh, who spent seven years as chef de cuisine at Thomas Keller’s celebrated Per Se in Manhattan, arrived in February to oversee culinary operations for the Sails restaurant group—soon to include The Butcher and Sava. The collaboration is the result of a seven-year relationship between Kaimeh and the owners of Sails, Veljko Pavicevic and Corinne Ryan. “Per Se had a great impact on Corinne and me,” says Pavicevic. “We went a number of times, and each visit exceeded our expectations. Eli wasn’t ready to leave New York when we first met, but we stayed in touch with him because we realized he was the person we wanted.” Kaimeh will work with Darren Veilleux, executive chef at Sails, to…

Jill Backman is a renaissance woman: an art historian, a renovator of historic homes, and a passionate devotee of chocolate, cheese, and other artisan foods. Last year, she joined her husband, Bruce Nichols, at The Wine Store and established Jill’s Provisions, a curated portfolio of gourmet items designed to accompany wine purchases. “I wanted to better understand Bruce’s love of wine,” she explains. “To find a way to relate to what he was doing, I started with chocolate. Like wine, chocolate is a fermented product with a long history.” An extension course in chocolate Backman took at Harvard ignited her interest. She followed that up by attending two cheese camps, at Murray’s and Jasper Hill Farm. During the past year she has added charcuterie boards, Castelvetrano olives, and bread from…

Rich butters, soothing oils, and energizing scents are the stars of these heritage-rich, naturally derived finds from Black-owned businesses in South Florida and beyond: Soaps By Jah soap bars in Ginger + Lemongrass and Apple Cider Vinegar + Yogurt ($10 each, soapsbyjah.us); Butter By Keba Almost Unscented body butter ($20, butterbykeba.com); Bea’s Bayou Skincare Good Biome Get Glowing face mist ($14, beasbayouskincare.com); Hey Humans body wash in Rosewater Ginger ($6, Target); So Supple Organics Ghana Butter shea butter mousse ($21) and Sweet Cream Double Cleanser ($22, sosuppleorganics.com); and Nyakio Maracuja & Yangu Rescue Oil ($40, Target).…

MAY GOINGS ON & PERFORMANCES 1 Calendar Girls, presented by The Naples Players, Blackburn Hall, Sugden Community Theatre, Naples, to May 23, $47. (naplesplayers.org) John Housley Guitar Flamenco Nuevo Guitar, The Norris Center, Naples, $25. (naplesgov.com) The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs, $27-$39. (artcenterbonita.org) Open-Air Farmers Market, Neapolitan Parking Lot, 255 Thirteenth Ave. S., Naples, also May 8, 15, 22, and 29, free. (thirdstreetsouth.com) Preservation Month Observed, Historic Palm Cottage and Norris Garden, Naples, buy-one-get-one-free admission, $13. (napleshistoricalsociety.org) Star Wars at C’mon, dress as your favorite Jedi, meet iconic characters, build a lightsaber, and join the Jedi Academy, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, $25. (cmon.org) With This Ring, presented by The Marco Players, Marco Town Center Mall, to May 9, $36. (themarcoplayers.com) 2 Thirty-fifth…

More than 23 years ago, Loretta Spezio came to Naples from Rochester, New York, and dug into the community by volunteering to help friends plan events and fundraisers. “I love parties,” Spezio says. “If friends needed planning assistance, I had ideas tucked away that I wasn’t using personally and wanted to share. If I saw something on Instagram or Pinterest, I thought, ‘I could do that.’” Though these projects satisfied her caring heart, her creative and business-minded brain wanted more. Last summer, while hunkered down at home during the pandemic, Spezio decided to launch Ascent by Loretta, a custom boutique balloon business. From baby gender reveals to marriage proposals and weddings, Spezio has been able to share her passion while enhancing the aesthetics of her clients’ biggest life moments. On…

RUFINO HERNANDEZ, GARDEN DISTRICT At the beginning of COVID-19, Hernandez says it felt like 300 bridal parties were competing to reschedule dates. In response, couples became more flexible in considering Friday night rather than Saturday weddings. Hernandez has noticed that younger brides have gravitated toward earthy green elements, whereas more mature brides are interested in large flower arrangements. Hernandez likes to add details like custom monogram napkins, charger plates, and glassware to tie in with the florals. While future weddings are trending toward ornate, early 2021 weddings have felt intimate, like a gorgeous dinner party ripe with close friends and relatives. “We’re not doing the big numbers, but we’re still doing beautiful productions,” Hernandez says. (gardendistrictnaples.com) MICHAEL LONGO, NAPLES FLORAL DESIGN This company normally decorates 100 weddings a year, but…

Expert: Lisa Radlovacki, Lisa London Weddings & Events This luxury event production company specializes in exclusive soirees of all sizes and styles. Director Lisa Radlovacki believes weddings should look beautiful, sound unbelievable, taste divine, and leave the couple and their guests feeling like they’ve been part of something fantastic. Now Trends: With the lockdowns and uncertainty in other states, Radlovacki says she’s quickly filling slots for 2022 in Southwest Florida. She has also noticed many weddings using more architectural structures, including hexagonal arbors and oversized wooden gazebos. Next Trends: Radlovacki predicts that contrasting textures, such as combinations of dark woods with light, airy fabrics, are here to stay. Farmhouse tables, for example, can be draped with soft linens, multicolored florals, and candles running down the center—a change from formal white…

Sukie’s Wine Shop has added another dining option to The Village Shops on Venetian Bay with the debut of its outdoor wine bar and patio. Located adjacent to the main entrance of Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar, the elegant space opens at noon and uses Bayside’s kitchen and menus. It provides eight stools at the bar and additional seating at a combination of regular and high-top tables. “We wanted to make use of an underutilized space,” says Caroline Ridgway, marketing director for her family’s restaurant group. “Shoppers now have another option for a quick lunch or a snack and glass of wine.” Bayside’s award-winning menu, designed by executive chef Able Gonzalez, features classic fare such as salads and sandwiches, along with interesting touches like Cuban black bean soup and Florida…

If you want to visit a distillery, there’s no need to hop on a plane to Louisville and drive across the Bourbon Trail. Around 40 distillers currently belong to the Florida Craft Spirits Association, and they produce everything from rum and vodka made with local ingredients to aged expressions of whiskey. Here, we present a subjective list of the best. Florida Farm Distillers: Marti and Dick Waters craft their award-winning Palm Ridge Reserve whiskey on a small cattle farm outside Umatilla. This bourbon-style spirit is handmade in small quantities, aged in charred-oak barrels, and bottled at 90 proof (“whiskey the way it’s supposed to be,” according to Dick). Despite the low production, Palm Ridge Reserve is available at select Florida retailers. (palmridgereserve.com) Manifest Distilling: Located in downtown Jacksonville’s Sports District,…

Strong relationships are vital for reducing loneliness and depression—and they’ve become more important than ever during the pandemic. Local author Daniel Solin’s recent book, Ask: How to Relate to Anyone, explores the science behind forging deeper connections and offers evidence-backed tips to help improve relationships. The key takeaway, Solin says, is shifting from sharing information to eliciting it instead. He references studies showing that when people talk, particularly about themselves, the brain’s prefrontal cortex lights up to indicate pleasurable activity. He explains that when you ask someone about themselves, show genuine interest, and ask relevant follow-up questions, that person will feel good about themselves and about you. “People are interested in telling you their story,” he adds. “They’re not that interested in hearing your story.” This works for family bonds…

The Paradise Coast Sports Complex recently opened in Naples and offers far more than just sports fields. One of the more impressive amenities is a pavilion called The Factory, which includes a fitness court and a running trail with workout stations. An outdoor classroom in the same space is the setting for classes hosted by local fitness professionals, from Zumba to strength training to yoga, with more being added each week. With a paid membership, guests also gain access to an open-air weight room and the MoveStrong obstacle course. This popular feature provides a full-body workout as you swing between rings, climb across nets, jump over barriers, and overcome other obstacles to complete the course. Paired with Southwest Florida’s sunny weather, the area “creates a completely different workout environment than…

Cullen Daane grew up in Old Naples, adventured to the International University of Monaco to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration, then later pursued a career in fine jewelry and received a Graduate Gemologist certification from the Gemological Institute of America. In 2009, she launched Pierre & Harry, her own collection that allows her to create beautiful pieces of jewelry and affords her the flexibility to care for her sons Briggs, age 3, and Russell, an infant, and her two dogs, Kramer and Sandy. “My husband, Andrew, and I both grew up here and are grateful to be rearing family here, too,” she says, knowing she’s fortunate to have grandparents close by as well. Daane, who lives in Lake Park, also appreciates the close-knit community in Naples, a place…