Tabla de contenidos para December 2022 en Naples Illustrated

By day, our beaches are populated with sunbathers; by the light of the moon, from March through October, female sea turtles lumber through the sand to lay their eggs. One of the oldest creatures on earth, the sea turtle is an endangered species, with only one in 1,000 surviving to adulthood. In addition to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, Florida statutes afford protection to the species, as well as to the habitat of the marine turtle. Even with laws in place, saving sea turtles has become a community endeavor. The Collier County Parks and Recreation Sea Turtle Protection Program surveys more than 22 miles of beaches daily from May 1 to October 31, monitoring sea turtle activity. A report of its efforts is compiled every year and available…

CHILL OUT Rabbit offers a cool option for the Southwest Florida heat with its freezable cocktail maker ($40). Fill the silicone carafe with cocktail ingredients—anything from a margarita to a piña colada, Moscow mule, or frosé—cover with the lid, and place in the freezer overnight. When you’re ready to drink, wrap the carafe with the neoprene sleeve and squeeze the sides with your hands until the desired consistency is reached. Sur La Table, Naples (surlatable.com) SECOND NATURE Give fruits and herbs a second life with Salut’s botanical drink infusions ($32). Each bottle contains a curated combination of 100-percent natural functional dried fruits, flowers, and herbs known to have health benefits—without any added sugar. Add liquor, wine, or water to the container and infuse for one to five days in…

Seven inches. Doesn’t sound like much, right? It’s around the length of a standard pencil. Or two credit cards placed end to end. Or four golf balls laid side by side. But when you add 7 inches between the axles of Bentley’s Bentayga SUV, the result is quite remarkable. It takes the tall-riding four-door from luxury sport-ute to an astonishingly spacious-in-the-back, super-luxe flagship. This is the new Bentayga EWB, short for extended wheelbase. It’s stretched by precisely 7.1 inches to take the wheelbase to an elongated 125 inches and overall length to a nontrivial 208.9 inches. And all 7-and-a-bit inches go into creating more space in the back seat and rear doors that could have come off a barn. It means more room to stretch out, kick off your shoes,…

Businesses along Third Street South will treat visitors to a new event as the street marks 45 years of celebrating the season: a Traditional Holiday Stroll December 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. The festivities will offer an elevated experience in Old Naples. People are invited to make merry by donning festive attire and reveling in the holiday spirit with Christmas carolers, sparkling lights, and decorations as they sip gourmet cocktails and tackle their gift lists. For shoppers’ convenience, stores will be open until 9 p.m., with teams of “elves” ready to assist. Restaurants will be creating special holiday menus or drinks. (Guests are required to book dining reservations in advance.) Stores will make this an evening to offer drinks or holiday cheer, gift wrapping, and other incentives for shoppers.…

You likely know the story: You gather with family and friends over the holidays, and old disagreements often arise. “Whatever communication patterns have been practiced over time will continue to emerge around the holidays,” explains Dr. Libby Badillo, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Shoreline Therapy & Consulting in Naples. These may include passive aggressive communications or contentious topics like parenting styles or politics. If a problem topic is brought up, Badillo recommends listening but also having a plan to set boundaries if needed. “You can show empathy for the other person without needing to agree with the content,” she points out. However, if “the discussion is beginning to stray into a precarious realm, note your own feelings first, avoid statements that put the other person on the…

If you notice you’re having trouble reaching and hitting the pickleball or you’re overextending when grasping objects, you may have issues with hand-eye coordination. This ability declines with age and may go hand in hand with other health issues, like balance and even dementia. Even if you don’t play sports, hand-eye coordination is important because it can affect your independence and activities, including driving. Sean Wells, a physical therapist at Wells Physical Therapy in Naples, says it doesn’t have to be this way. “Some older adults just feel like as part of aging, they just accept the fact that they can no longer do things,” he says. “With training, the right attitude, and obviously motivation, you can improve it.” He recommends exercise as the best medicine, including strength training and…

SAND DOLLAR AWARDS 2022 EVENT: Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA) 2022 Sand Dollar Awards WHAT: The Timeless Twenties-Past-Present-Future WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples DETAILS: The building industry gathered together for an evening gala celebrating 32 years of excellence in the construction industry honoring 64 companies with awards for their contributions. IT’S ALL FOR THE KIDS EVENT: Toast to Southwest Florida Children’s Charities WHAT: Private reception, check presentation, and tours of the pediatric intensive care unit and the adolescent and young adult oncology lounge WHERE: Golisano Children’s Hospital, Fort Myers DETAILS: Southwest Florida Children’s Charities celebrated the honor of becoming the top donor to Golisano Children’s Hospital and Lee Health in the organization’s more than 100-year history by raising more than $23 million since 2008 to support children’s health care…

Famous for its lustrous coat of gold, the golden retriever is one of America’s most popular dog breeds. The American Kennel Club describes the golden retriever as intelligent, friendly, and devoted. The flattering descriptions continue: outgoing, trustworthy, eager to please, and easy to train. In other words, goldens are the perfect companions. And that’s why many are bred for a life of service, including assisting wounded veterans and children with life-changing disabilities as part of Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs. Following Hurricane Ian, Golden PAWS sent out a crisis team of dogs and handlers to visit, comfort, and console first responders, senior living facilities, and families who lost everything. The nonprofit organization was founded in Naples by Jeannie Bates in 2012. As Florida is home to the third largest wounded veteran…

‘Tis the season to embrace outdoor living. Although only subtle changes in temperature occur during the winter months in tropical climates, on the shortest day and the longest night of the year—also known as the winter solstice—there are a full three hours and 21 minutes less daylight. Throughout the winter, invite friends and family to assemble in intimate settings on your lanai or in your backyard, whether under the trees, under the stars, or around a firepit. LIVING LUXURIOUSLY OUTDOORS Morgan Bratcher, lead interior designer at Design West in Naples, notes that “clients are looking for sophisticated and elevated design when it comes to their outdoor areas.” To address this need, her firm is “creating more outdoor living spaces that fully embrace the concept of indoor-outdoor living,” incorporating “luxury design…

Can a boat be a rock star? It can if it’s a VanDutch. Celebs such as Leonardo DiCaprio, David Beckham, and most of the Kardashian clan have, at one time or another, been spotted lounging on one of the boat’s cushy sun pads. And like a good rock star, it hangs out in all the cool places. Head to Monaco, Palma, or Saint-Tropez, and seemingly every few minutes a racy-looking VanDutch 40 or 48 will burble serenely into the harbor to offload or pick up some tragically hip party crowd. The newest epicenter of VanDutch coolness is Miami, where the boatbuilder has just set up its latest VanDutch Center in the River District. As you’d expect, there’s a fancy sales office and a lineup of demo boats. But you’ll also…

Is there very little white space on your calendar from the end of November through the first week of January? From attending holiday concerts and cocktail parties to booking hair appointments, buying gifts, and ordering the holiday feast, do you feel overwhelmed? Does your throat constrict and heart race when you think of all the preparation required for the most wonderful time of the year? Whether it’s a car swerving into your lane on U.S. 41 or reviewing a daunting to-do list, the reaction in the body is similar. According to the Mayo Clinic, when humans encounter threats—or even minor hassles—the hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of the brain, prompts the adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. This is a normal human…

Pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, stuffing—these delicious foods are likely to grace the holiday table, though we sometimes feel guilty about eating them. If you’re worried about managing your diet during holiday celebrations, you may be setting yourself up for “food guilt,” which is “feeling bad about eating a particular food or type of food that breaks the rules you have set for yourself around eating,” explains Emily McDonagh, a certified eating disorder specialist and licensed clinical social worker in Naples. “This leads to the diet cycle of trying to make up for the uncomfortable emotion by becoming more strict and rigid around food, leading to overeating.” For a few tips on approaching food in healthier ways—both in and out of the holiday season—turn the page. (emtherapyofnaples.com)…

Jennifer Johnson likes to talk. “I’m all about connecting and public speaking,” she explains, sharing that before podcasts were a thing, she hosted a radio show. Since launching The Fashionista Life podcast in July 2022, Johnson has already recorded 20 episodes, discussing such topics as interior design, beauty, parenting, and finances. Johnson is the owner and founder of Florida’s largest lifestyle consignment store, True Fashionistas, located in the Galleria Shoppes in North Naples. Along with her husband, Brad, she opened the store in 2011 and quickly grew it to a more than 13,000-square-foot consignment store with online sales. The motivation for her podcast was born from her desire to connect with her loyal customers and from her belief that “the spoken word is more relatable and connectable.” She also comments…

Rivaling a five-star resort, this sophisticated estate in Port Royal, nestled amid all the pleasures coastal living offers, was designed for easy living. Situated at the northern tip of Runaway Bay, the home features long canal views and affords direct Gulf access by boat. The impressive home conveys luxury from the dramatic front elevation to the expansive outdoor living area at the rear of the home. As is often the case with coastal properties, this parcel of land—a reverse pie-shape with ample street acreage and only narrow water front-age—came with its own set of challenges. “Turning negatives like the angled side property lines into positives proved to be the best solution,” says John Orgren, residential studio director at MHK Architecture & Planning in Naples. “We angled the master wing and…

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Think of the Middle East and towering sand dunes and sweltering heat likely come to mind. While these stereotypes certainly apply to Oman, they form but one backdrop in a lesser-known country that surprises and delights with eclectic natural beauty. Case in point: Al Jabal Al Akhdar or “the Green Mountain,” a highlight of the Al Hajar Mountains range and a nexus of Oman’s dramatic canyons, shrub-speckled plateaus, and emerald wadis (ravines), located two hours southwest of the coastal capital city of Muscat. At the core of this splendor rises Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, a property that takes full advantage of an unparalleled location—and a cool climate—to deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences. As the highest luxury resort in the Middle East (with an elevation…

“Creating beautiful, timeless spaces to be lived in and enjoyed.” Those are the pragmatic words Shelley Johnstone Paschke has lived by and has committed to throughout most of her 30-year career as a designer. “Any designer can make things look pretty,” explains Johnstone Paschke. “I try to create spaces where memories can be made; I want places to be livable. There’s little point to having pretty things if they can’t be useful.” When she’s not traveling the country for speaking engagements, design-related events, or client projects, Johnstone Paschke splits her time between her home in Lake Forest, Illinois, and her Bay Colony residence in Naples. While she does design work for clients back in Illinois—and in several other states, too—she relates that more than half of her business is Naples-based…

1. Avoid labeling food as good or bad. “Foods are just foods,” says McDonagh. She points out that both a salad and a chocolate fudge sundae have nutritional value. “They both have things in [them] that our brains and bodies need and also that bring us emotions, such as joy,” she notes. 2. Try intuitive and mindful eating. These practices involve being present in the moment during meals, eating when you’re hungry, paying attention to when you’re full, and being kind to yourself. 3. Don’t restrict food or engage in overexercise. You may plan to avoid food earlier in the day to over-indulge later, but McDonagh advises against it. “I think being able to regularly and consistently nourish your body and not falling in the trap of engaging in restrictive…

There is almost nothing as glorious as a sunrise. What an invitation to relax on the sand as the sky lights up at the horizon. And it all happens in an instant. When I leave for work early, sometimes I just have to pull over to enjoy it. Time stops in the stillness, and my worries melt away. Then, I’m off again, completely restored. While so many of us move from one busy week to the next, living surrounded by such a wealth of nature offers a rich opportunity to stay grounded and in the present. You don’t need a formal meditation practice; simply walking on the beach at sunrise supports a contemplative state of mind. Tuning into the lap of the waves and taking in long, deep breaths of…

Birds inspire and delight daily. The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, located in east Collier and Lee counties, is a 13,450-acre home for a wide diversity of birds—some are year-round residents, others are seasonal, and some pass through during migration periods. Guided tours are a great way to enjoy the sanctuary and its birdlife. However, if you choose to walk the 2-mile-plus boardwalk without a guide, passionate naturalists are readily available along the way to answer questions and point out the sights and sounds of the swamp. This month, register for a birding walk with a naturalist, taking place from 8 to 11 a.m. on December 6 and 13. Those on the walk (which is limited to 10 participants, 16 years or older) will learn how to identify birds and about…

Florida-based photographer Jerry Rabinowitz shot these vibrant poppies at Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet (the House and Gardens of Claude Monet) in Giverny, France. A resident of Florida for 22 years, he relates that photographing in this picturesque environment was incredible, especially since Monet himself drew profuse inspiration from the garden for many of his paintings. Rabinowitz enhanced his original photograph of the poppies with a technique that involves layering the same image over itself. The result, which is on display here, is a more saturated, obscured image elevating the mystique and mood. Rabinowitz, who can often be found shooting places and faces in Naples, studied photography at Boston University; he also trained with celebrated photographer Lee Friedlander. (jrabinowitz.com; @jrabinowitzphotography)…