Cultural Catches
A selective guide to area and regional arts and events.
BY LUIS OTERO, WITH THE UNITED ARTS COUNCIL OF COLLIER COUNTY
ART & MUSEUMS
Art League of Bonita Springs—Trip to Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, May 7; Student Showcase, opening reception, May 9, exhibit through May 15; 239-495-8989.
Art League of Marco Island— …scapes, juried exhibit reception, May 4, exhibition through July 13; Home School Art Program, reception May 20, exhibit May 19-23; 239-394-4221.
Artists of the Historic Cottages at Riverside Park, Bonita Springs—Open every second Friday of the month or by appointment; 239-949-6262.
Blue Mangrove Gallery—Rosemary Mazzola Abstracts, May 5-31; Meet the Artist: Rosemary Mazzola, May 7; 239-393-2405.
Collier County Museum—Second Annual Ag Ventures, agricultural activities, Immokalee Pioneer Museum, Roberts Ranch, May 15-16; 239-658-2466.
Fifth Avenue South—Gallery Walk, May 11 and June 8; 239-435-3742.
Gallery at Bayfront—Multiple Artists Exhibit, June 1-30; 239-513-2796.
Harmon-Meek Gallery, Naples—Gary Akers, May 1-2; 239-261-2637.
Marco Outdoor Artists—Paint-Out, May 7, 14, 22, 28, and June 4, 11, 18, 29, various locations; 239-392-4221.
Naples Botanical Garden—Amazing Amazon, Orchid Show and Wings of Brazil, through May 11; Dora the Explorer, in partnership with Comcast Cares Day, May 3; 239-643-7275.
Naples Historical Society, Palm Cottage—Seminole Exhibit, May 1-20; Tours of historic Palm Cottage and Norris Gardens, 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays in through October, Naples Historic District Walking Tours, May 7 and June 4; docent-guided tours of Norris Gardens, first and third Thursdays by reservation; 239-261-8164.
Naples Museum of Art—Pablo Picasso: Preoccupations and Passions, and Jerome Tupa Painting the Pilgrimage: From Paris to Compostela, through May 18; Leaders in American Modernism and Modern Mexican Masters, through June 29; 239-597-1900.
Naples Preserve—Nature talks, Tuesdays in May; 239-261-4290.
Naples Zoo—International Migratory Bird Day, May 10; Mother’s Day, mother’s enjoy a free day at the zoo with an online children’s ticket purchase, May 11; 239-262-5409, napleszoo.org.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve—Photography Annual, juried by Clyde Butcher, through May 3; 239-417-6310.
Rosen Studios, Naples—Underground Art Wednesday Night, May 7 and June 4; Multiple Artists Exhibit, June 1-30; 239-821-1061.
Sweet Art Gallery, Naples—Hanging Together, reception, May 2, exhibit through May 6; Expended Media, reception May 9; exhibit through May 19; 239-597-2110.
The von Liebig Art Center, Naples—Art Encounter 2008, reception, May 9, juried awards exhibition, May 10-June 29; Pastel Society meeting, May 20; 239-262-6517; naplesart.org.
CHILDREN/TEENS
American Red Cross-Collier County—Be Red Cross Ready Boot Camp, first aid and other training for ages eight-10, and Babysitting Boot camp, for ages 11 to 15, June 2-6, at the American Red Cross in Naples; 239-596-6868, ext. 11.
Fleischmann Park, Naples—Parents Night Out, an evening of activities for kids aged three and a half to 10, May 5; Middle School Dance, School’s Out Edition Luau Party, May 16; Fred McCrary’s Fifth Annual Family Fun Day in the Park, sponsored by the City of Naples, sports, games, contests and more, May 24; 239-213-3020.
Naples Botanical Garden—Dora the Explorer, in partnership with Comcast Cares Day, May 3; 239-643-7275.
Naples Museum of Art—Free Family Day, activities for children, May 10; 239-597-1900.
Naples Philharmonic—Magic Carpet Concert Series: Strings, May 17; Percussion, May 24; Brass, May 31; 239-597-1900.
River Park, Naples—Friday Night Family Snack & Swim, May 9; Water Safety Day, June 21; 239-213-3037.
FOOD, WINE & FASHION
Downtown Naples Association—Evening on Fifth, May 8 and June 12, shopping, dining and entertainment along Fifth Avenue South, Naples; 239-435-3742.
German American Business Chamber of Southwest Florida—Tanz in den Mai Stammtish, German food, beer, dancing and live music, Old Europe Bistro, Naples; 239-643-3273.
Naples Tomato—Winesday, every Wednesday live entertainment, drink specials and free appetizers; 239-598-9800.
Roy’s Restaurant, Bayfront, Naples—Lei Day, specially designed dinner to immerse guests in the rich tradition and culture of Hawaii, May 1; Mother’s Day Brunch, May 11; Cooking Class with Chef Javier Pasques, May 13; 20th Anniversary dinner with founder Roy Yamaguchi, May 23; 239-261-1416.
Third Street South, Naples—Thursday on Third, shopping, dining and entertainment in the Third Street South area, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 31, June 19; 239-434-6533.
The Village on Venetian Bay, Naples—Sidewalk sale, May 2-4; Village Nights, live music, waterfront dining and shopping, June 5; 239-261-6100, venetianvillage.com.
FILM
Cambier Park—Outdoor Family Movie Night, May 24; 239-213-3058.
Collier County Public Library—Annie, May 7-8; Avalon, May 21-22; Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? May 28-29; Cold Comfort Farm, May 14-15; call for times and locations; 239-593-0870.
MUSIC
Art League of Bonita Springs—An Evening With...the Quintus Quintet, May 14; 239-495-8989.
Bayshore Coffee Co., Naples—Dinner and live jazz every Saturday night; 239-775-5676.
Cambier Park, Naples—Music Makers Show Band, May 4; Naples Daily News Jazz Band, May 11; 239-213-3058.
Gulf Coast Symphony—Brahms and Bernstein, featuring mezzo Janelle McCoy, May 18, Santini Center for the Performing Arts at Bishop Verot High School, Fort Myers; 239-489-1800; gulfcoastsymphony.org.
Naples Philharmonic Center—Modern Broadway, May 1-4; Youth Chorale, May 5; From the New World, May 9-10; Patriotic Pops, May 15-17; Magic Carpet Concerts, May 17, 24, 31; Major/Minor Concert, May 18; Piano Quintets, May 20; Chamber Variety!, May 27; Music Takes You There, June 1; Festival of Great Organ Music, June 8; The Piano Men 2, starring Jim Witter, June 28; 239-597-1900.
Naples Music Club—Student Scholarship Winners’ Recital, student musicians perform classical selections, May 4, Golden Gate High School Auditorium, Naples; A Sentimental Journey with Chopin, benefit scholarship concert with pianist Richard Bosworth, May 11, Naples United Church of Christ; 239-775-6867.
Norris Center, Naples—Naples Opera Society Concerts, May 13 and June 17; 239-213-3058.
Riverside Park, Bonita Springs—Evening in the Park, with music and refreshments, May 9; 239-297-7227.
SummerJazz on the Gulf—23rd annual free outdoor concert series, performers TBA, June 21, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club; 239-261-2222.
SPEAKERS/SEMINARS
Art League of Bonita Springs—Demonstration and seminar with Ken Austin, Make Your Paintings Come Alive, May 11-16; Business of Being an Artist—Your Ability to Connect, last in a four-part series of round-table events, May 21; 239-495-8989.
Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce—14th Annual Business to Business Expo, Three Oaks Banquet & Conference Center, Estero, June 12; 239-992-2943.
Collier Building Industry Association—Green Applications as it Relates to Remodeling Compared to New Construction, Naples Hilton & Towers, May 29; 239-436-6100.
Autism and Co-existing Mental Health Disorders Conference—Sponsored by David Lawrence Center, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, May 9; 239-590-7771.
English Speaking Union, Naples Branch—Annual Meeting & Luncheon, Country Club of Naples, May 6; 239-597-2844.
Florida Gulf Coast University—The General Imperative: Bridging the Generation Gaps in the Workplace & Community, featuring generational expert Chuck Underwood, co-hosted by the Southwest Florida Leadership Foundation, Three Oaks Banquet & Conference Center, Estero, May 9; 239-590-1095.
SPECIAL EVENTS
May 1—Official History Month for the City of Naples Kick-off Party, sponsored by Naples Cultural Landscape Fund Third Street South and Broad Gazebo; 239-514-2978.
Village Nights, live music, waterfront dining and shopping, The Village on Venetian Bay, Naples; 239-261-6100, venetianvillage.com.
May 3—Appraisal Day, Naples Art Association, the von Liebig Art Center, Naples; 239-262-6517.
Derby Day Party, benefit for The Confident Image life-skills education program for girls, Stoney’s Sports Café, Estero; 239-285-3591.
May 4—25th Taste of Collier, annual fundraiser for local charities, features 30 restaurants and live entertainment, presented by the Collier County Chapter/Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Bayfront; 239-272-1809, bayfrontnaples.com.
May 5—Annual Fashion Show and Masquerade Ball, Women’s Council of Realtors Naples-On-The-Gulf Chapter, International Design Center Atrium, Estero; wcrnaples.com.
May 6—Golden Apple Teacher Celebration, benefiting the Education Foundation of Collier County, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples; 239-643-4755.
May 8—Youth Haven’s 2008 Frances Pew Hayes Child Advocate of the Year luncheon, honoring Sheriff Don Hunter, Naples Sailing & Yacht Club; 239-774-2904.
May 10—Great Dock Canoe Race, amateur canoe races and decorated canoe contest, sponsored by the Dock Restaurant, Crayton Cove; 239-263-9940.
Lee County Heart Ball, a gala event to raise funds to combat heart disease, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Estero; 239-495-4913.
May 14—Sixth Annual Collier County Tourism Week Celebration and Tourism Star Awards, Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort Golf Club & Spa; 239-252-2384.
May 16-18—10th Annual Southwest Florida Soapfest, charity weekend with actors from popular daytime TV shows, Marco Island; soapfest.com.
May 17—Bye-bye Turtle Festival, Conservancy of Southwest Florida; 239-262-0304.
Tree-Cutting Ceremony, celebrating the new campus and 10th Anniversary, Royal Palm Academy, Naples; 239-594-9888.
May 18—PLAG (Parents, Friends & Families of Lesbians & Gays) Interfaith Convocation, Temple Shalom; 239-261-4888, pflaginterfaith.com.
May 22—Winged Foot Scholarship Awards Banquet, sponsored by Winged Foot Scholarship Foundation, dinner and athlete/scholar awards program featuring special guest Lou Holtz, Naples Grande Beach Resort; 239-262-7171.
May 30—First Annual Paradise Coast Corporate Quest–A Teambuilding Adventure presented by The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Sports Council of Collier County and Adventure Training Concepts; 239-537-0350.
May 31—Greater Naples Chamber Annual Dinner, Naples Grande Beach Resort; napleschamber.org.
SPORTS
May 1-31—39th Annual City of Naples Tennis Championships, Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center, Naples; 239-213-3060.
May 2—Annual Spring Swing Tournament, Naples Chamber of Commerce, The Estuary at Grey Oaks; napleschamber.org.
May 3—Annual Golf Tournament benefiting Literacy Volunteers of Collier County, Quail West; 239-262-4448.
Derby Day Party, launching The Confident Image, Stoney’s Sports Café, Estero; 239-285-3591.
Ninth Annual Golf Tournament benefiting Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Lely Golf Resort; 239-658-3560.
May 4—Lance & Jimmy Meyer Fund Golf Tournament, benefit for 15-year-old Jimmy Meyer, The Rookery at Marco; 239-389-6606.
Tropicool, 5K race, sponsored by Gulfcoast Runners, Old Naples; 239-434-9786.
May 9-10—Bricks & Sticks Inshore Benefit, Lee Building Industry Association, Tarpon Point Marina; bia.net.
June 1—Naples Fitness Challenge Triathlon, Gulfcoast Runners, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club; 239-434-9786.
June 6—American Red Cross Third Annual Golf Tournament, The Club at TwinEagles; 239-596-6868.
June 7—Fifth Annual Executive Women’s Golf Association Naples Ladies’ Pro-Am to benefit the PACE Center for Girls and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort and Tiburon Golf Club; naplesewga.com.
THEATER/DANCE
Naples Opera Society—Trip to Miami for Florida Grand Opera production of Julius Caesar, May 3; 239-594-1248.
Naples Music Club—2008 Scholarship Winners’ Recital, Golden Gate High School, May 4; A Sentimental Journey with Chopin, a Mother’s Day Benefit Recital, Naples United Church of Christ, May 11; 239-777-5727.
Naples Players—Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, through May 17; Twelfth Night, Etc. Readers Theatre, May 4; The Secret Garden, June 27-Aug. 2; Wit, May 21-June 14; Sugden Community Theatre, Naples; 239-263-7990.
Pelican Players—Tender Lies, comedy by Nancy Pahl Gilsenan, May 2, 9, 16, Norris Center, Naples; 239-213-3049.
Stage 88 Theatre Inc.—The Trading Post, comedy by Larry Ketron, through May 17, Bonita Springs Community Hall; 239-513-8600.
TheatreZone—Hair, June 12-22, G&L Theatre, Community School, Naples; 239-449-2323.
