Table of contents for September 2021 in Naples Illustrated

Last September, I was thrilled about Naples Illustrated’s cover story on football pro Michael Walker and his Naples upbringing. We packed that issue with stories of inspiring Neapolitans under the age of 35, but we’ve upped the ante with this 2021 version. I had a blast at this issue’s cover shoot with the five fabulous standouts from Naples, whom we carefully selected. Their energy and excitement was palpable. This year, there was more overlap between portrait time slots and more mingling behind the scenes, which made the shoot so much more vivacious. Wait until you see what these amazing young people have to offer! Their stories begin on page 66. A quick note on our cover guy, Dominic Blanco: We sent him and our other young gentleman in the feature,…

The stylish fashion and jewelry brand Kendra Scott opened a store in the Waterside Shops in April 2021. Loyal customers were eager to shop in person rather than online, while shoppers unfamiliar with the brand were interested to see what it was about. Sarah-Butler McKinney, marketing and philanthropic manager of Kendra Scott, says, “The great thing about Kendra Scott is we have products that appeal to 15-year-olds and 80-year-olds, so there is something for everyone.” Naples is an ideal location for this store because of the brand’s philanthropic focus. “Naples has a heart for philanthropy,” McKinney says. “Making ourselves an integral part of the community through philanthropy and retail is exciting, as is finding a customer base that feels as passionate about giving back as we do.” One unique aspect…

STYLE NOTES PRINT ON PRINT: Logos designed in repeated patterns create a sartorial statement. The ABCs: Opt for accents with bold monograms for an updated take on the trend. THE CLASSICS: Elevate your look by sticking with an overall neutral color palette.…

Since opening its doors in late 2020, the White Elephant Palm Beach has become a modern classic. It’s not because of its hip vibe or design-forward aesthetic, but rather because it honors a significant part of Palm Beach heritage even as it reimagines it for a new era. Before it was acquired by New England Development, the 1924-built property—originally a landmarked hotel servicing Colonel E.R. Bradley’s gambling casino—was an aging architectural gem. NED chairman (and part-time Palm Beacher) Stephen Karp saw potential in its terraces, arcades, and outdoor staircases and immediately envisioned the sister hotel to NED’s White Elephant Nantucket. Elkus Manfredi Architects, specialists in restoring historic properties, transformed the original Mediterranean Revival structure into a 32-key boutique hotel with a residential feeling, down to the thoughtfully curated art. Though…

Barry Larkin and Adam Nardis first met in 2014, when Larkin opened The Continental as bar manager and worked with Adam’s wife, Erin. Both men wanted to open their own restaurant, and their friendship blossomed. They realized that dream last year, when they unveiled Seventh South Craft Food + Drink in the space formerly occupied by Seventh Avenue Social. “We wanted a place that was both comfortable and consistent,” says Larkin. “We’re off the beaten track, so our goal was a restaurant with a neighborhood feel. We wanted someplace with reasonable prices that people could visit every week, not just on special occasions.” Nardis’s innovative menu contains starters such as white asparagus soup and an ahi egg roll; his most popular entrée is tagliatelle with seven-hour ragout and his grandmother’s…

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’t-miss 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 THE BEVY Everything old is new again at The Bevy (short for beverage). Be sure to try the Blackberry Collins speciality cocktail, a riff on the Tom Collins. 360 Twelfth Ave. S., Naples (naplesbevy.com) BISTRO 821 A long-time favorite, thanks to executive chef Jesse Housman’s Natural Fusion menu. 821 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (bistro821.com) ★ BOKAMPER’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL Kim Bokamper may have retired from…

A new trail will give Naples residents and visitors a dedicated area to walk, run, and bike. Naples Pathway Coalition (NPC), the nonprofit working to create the Paradise Coast Trail, envisions a 70-plus mile track connecting Naples, Bonita Springs, Collier Seminole State Park, and other Collier County locations. “This is a significant need for the area,” says Michelle Avola-Brown, executive director of NPC. “If you look at trail maps of Florida, it’s like they forgot Southwest Florida.” Avola-Brown explains that besides promoting wellness, the trail should provide a safe and environmentally friendly transportation alternative for residents, as well as increase tourism, jobs, and property values of nearby homes. The trail is currently undergoing a feasibility study and environmental reviews, which will likely take around 14 months to complete. While there…

PAGE 76 Dark blue-azure-silver jacquard piquet geometric GG stitch crew-neck long-sleeve cardigan ($1,980), dark blue-azure-silver jacquard piquet chevron stitch sleeveless vest ($980), dark blue-azure all-over plissé jacquard piquet chevron stitch midi skirt ($1,800), Gucci, Waterside Shops, Naples, gucci.com; Two for T double-sided scarf ($128), Tory Burch, Waterside Shops, Naples, toryburch.com. PAGE 77 Silk scarf ($395), bomber jacket ($1,790), cashmere skirt ($645), leather heels ($885), Max Mara, Waterside Shops, Naples, maxmara.com; Yellow Graffiti acetate sunglasses ($315), Alexander McQueen, alexandermcqueen.com. PAGE 78 Duchess crushed flower gown ($12,990), Oscar de la Renta, Marissa Collections, Third Street South, Naples, oscardelarenta.com; necklace (price upon request), Dior, dior.com. PAGE 79 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS Beige-multicolor all-over GG canvas single-breasted coat with self-fabric belt and tone-on-tone contrast velvet details ($4,200), dried ortensia wool armure midi skirt with…

STARABILITY FOUNDATION WHAT: Dining for the STARs SUPPORTS: Programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities DETAILS: Small dinner gatherings were held in 19 local homes and restaurants while a live virtual program connected nearly 700 participants near and far COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF NAPLES WHAT: Angel Ball SUPPORTS: Need-based financial aid for academically successful students who would not otherwise have the means to attend the private school WHERE: The school’s new John N. Allen Family Stadium…

Joaquin Acuna has been playing soccer since he was five years old in Argentina, where he practiced in his backyard with his family. Now, this Golden Gate High School graduate is off to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville to play Division 1 college soccer. “My dedication grew once my dad told me I had something special,” Acuna says. Other family members also shaped Acuna into the player he is today and continue to fuel his drive to improve with healthy competition. “My brother and my cousins push me to play and dedicate myself more,” Acuna says. Putting in countless hours per week training, practicing, and conditioning, Acuna received interest from multiple colleges but chose to stay in-state. “UNF is for me,” Acuna says. “They embody the way…

Callhan Soldavini has deep roots in Naples—she went to Lake Park Elementary, Gulfview Middle School, and Naples High School—and is now married to Neapolitan James Matthew Soldavini, whom she started dating right before college. A graduate of Stetson University, Stetson University College of Law, and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Soldavini works tirelessly as a human rights lawyer as a staff attorney at Legal Aid Service of Collier County. She also serves on the board of directors for Naples Pride and Pads 4 Refugees, Inc. In college, the Lake Park resident and avid traveler spent time in Europe and China and has had many global adventures with her spouse. “My travel regularly takes me to cultures and places that intensely contradict Naples,” she shares. “Most often, they are not nearly…

When you take your dog for an evening walk, watch for cane toads, also known as bufo toads. These non-native amphibians secrete toxins that can sicken or kill animals that bite or lick them, such as dogs. “Curious pets are most often at risk,” explains Dr. Sterling Sigmond, a veterinarian at Naples Coastal Animal Hospital. She recommends being watchful of pets that love to explore their environments, like terriers and retrievers, during times that toads are particularly active: during the summer, after it rains, and from dusk to dawn. To reduce the risk, Sigmond suggests keeping your pets inside at night and making your yard less attractive to toads by keeping your grass short, covering swimming pools, filling holes around structures, and turning off outdoor lights that attract insects (a…

Oliver Mikkelsen, age 28, son of Elizabeth and Paw Mikkelsen, owners of their eponymous bakery and pastry shop, grew up in Naples with his two sisters. However, he headed to California after college to learn his age-old trade—winemaking. Mikkelsen, a proud graduate of Barron Collier High School, is currently assistant winemaker and ranch manager at Villa Creek Cellars in Paso Robles (villacreek.com). Between checking on grapes and barrels, he took the time to share his insights with us on being a young winemaker. NI: What made you decide to be a winemaker? Mikkelsen: My mother is from England and my father is from Denmark, so I grew up appreciating food and wine and the pairing of both. In high school, I had a friend who owned a winery in New…

For buying information, turn to page 141.…

Naples native Colette Wetzel founded Cultured, her charcuterie board business, shortly after moving to Austin in 2016. “My mother is French-Canadian and she was one of ten children,” she recalls. “I grew up participating in big family celebrations. I loved having a part in hosting them, and it inspired my passion for food and entertaining.” She specializes in arrangements of artisan cheeses, cured meats, fruit, and organic produce for groups ranging from 40 to 200, along with small boxes and DIY grazing platter kits for individual consumers; olives, capers, jams, and savory spreads such as hummus round out the presentations. While she hopes to expand her business in the years to come and partner with national companies, she says she remains focused on her goal of helping people to “experience…

In Florida, we’re fortunate to be able to grill nearly year-round. Most masters of the barbecue gravitate toward burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and steaks; grilling vegetables, however, requires precision, care, and some specialized knowledge. “With meat and fish, you would typically salt [it] before putting it on the grill,” says Jeff Mitchell, owner/chef at The Local. “Salt leaches out the moisture from vegetables and makes it difficult to get good flavor from them, so salt them after cooking. Remember that vegetables also have sugars, which will make them caramelize.” Mitchell’s tips for the home cook are simple: preheat the grill; keep it clean; brush it lightly with grapeseed oil before putting anything on it; and oil your vegetables. Know where your hot spots are; vegetables are more likely to burn…

You’ve probably seen small, delicate bunches of greens atop soups, pizzas, and salads. Microgreens, the young form of vegetables, do more than provide decoration and a tasty crunch: According to a study in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, these superfoods contain more minerals and nutrients than their full-grown versions. Humberto Quintero, owner and grower at The Naples Micro-Farm, started off growing microgreens for himself and his family several years ago. (Learn more about The Naples Micro-Farm on page 122.) Now, his company offers nine varieties of microgreens, all grown to order in seven to 10 days for freshness. If you’re new to microgreens, he recommends starting with broccoli or cabbage. Whichever microgreens you try, he says, “they will enhance flavors, make dishes look beautiful, and are way healthy.”…

Elegant, inimitable, and timeless, the iconic Chanel N°5 celebrates its centennial this year. In 1921, Coco Chanel and renowned perfumer Ernest Beaux crafted a fragrance for the modern woman that Chanel had been “waiting for.” Thus, N°5 was born. In the 100 years since, N°5 has remained a staple for sophisticated wearers around the globe, with hints of jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and vanilla warming the famously clean top notes. To celebrate captivating the senses for a century, the fashion house released the Factory 5 Collection, a whimsical limited-edition capsule designed to capture and layer upon the unforgettable scent. Join in on the fragrant fête with The Shower Gel ($75), The Sparkling Body Gel ($85), The Soap ($45), N°5 Eau de Parfum ($138 for 3.4 fl. oz.), and The Bath Tablets…

Samantha Bloom was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, and grew up in Georgia, Massachusetts, and Hamilton, Bermuda. “After 10 years of living here, Naples is a combination of all the most extraordinary places I have been,” she says. She’s married to James Bloom, who has worked in the community for 28 years and is currently the undersheriff for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, and they have three kids: Gavin (23), who also works in the Collier County Sheriff’s Office; Cassidy (17), a junior at Community School of Naples and a nationally ranked volleyball player; and Maille (12), a sixth-grader at Community School and a dog whisperer to their three pooches. Within a 10-mile radius, Bloom can access her parents, in-laws, and siblings. A proud alumna of Florida Gulf Coast University, Bloom’s…