An Insider’s Guide to Living the Good Life in Naples

The city of Naples will ring in 2009 with its annual fireworks show Wednesday evening.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Naples Pier, and is expected to last about 20 minutes.

The city is expecting more than 25,000 people to fill Naples’ beaches.

Mike Leslie, the assistant Community Services director for Naples, said today as long as residents take to the beach they’ll have a good seat for the show.

“You can really see them anywhere on the beach,” he said. “The best parts are closer, between Lowdermilk Park and the pier.”

There will be no shuttle service to the beaches, and the city has an open parking plan. That means people can park in the rights of way, as long as they aren’t blocking driveways or stop signs.

Kenny Perry and Scott Hoch held off J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekley to win the Merrill Lynch Shootout in Naples on Sunday.

Perry eagled No. 17 for the second day in a row, making a 15-foot putt that matched Weekley’s 18-footer to keep him and Hoch up four with one hole to play in the scramble format.

The eagle came one hole after Perry made an 8-footer for birdie after Hoch missed, keeping the duo comfortably ahead.

Weekley and Holmes, teammates with Perry on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, started the final round of the $2.9-million, 54-hole event trailing by four. They got to three back after birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 and an eagle on the 14th. Weekley had a birdie putt roll around the cup and come back at him on No. 15.

Perry and Hoch build birdied Nos. 16 and 18, and eagled No. 17 on Saturday to build a four-shot lead. Perry made eight birdies and an eagle on his own ball in the better-ball format, and followed it up with another strong round while Hoch battled a bothersome left wrist.

The 48-year-old Perry, who won the tournament in 2005 with John Huston, split $730,000 with Hoch.

The 53-year-old Hoch became the oldest to win the event in its 20 years. Raymond Floyd was 51 when he won it with Steve Elkington in 1993.

Founder Greg Norman and Camilo Villegas had the lowest round of the tournament with a 15-under 57. They finished third at 25-under. The 57 was two off the tournament record, held by three teams. Norman and Steve Elkington shot a 57 in 2005.

Source: Golf.com

Christmas in Naples. Time to stroll down Fifth Avenue and admire the decorations. Time to attend parties and exchange presents. But most of all, because we live in a boating community, it’s time to participate to the annual boat parade.

Whether you like boats, Christmas lights or both, this Neapolitan tradition brings the community together every year — and it’s a must see for both residents and visitors.

The Naples Bay Christmas Boat Parade will be held Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Naples City Dock. Both commercial and personal watercrafts will participate and, for the first time, a new category of restaurant-sponsored boats will float across the bay for your viewing pleasure.

Sponsored by the Marine Industries Association of Collier County, the 2008 theme is “Deck the Hulls with Holiday Lights.” Boat owners have shown incredible originality and ingenuity in past years, dressing up their boats as Christmas trees and Santa’s sleds among the others, and this year promises to be no different.

The boats will parade through Naples Bay in front of Tin City — a great spot to watch them go by and take some pictures and video — then back to the City Dock, where the parade judges will review the entrants and choose the winners. Want to have dinner or drinks while you enjoy the show? The Cove Inn, the Boat House Restaurant, Pincher’s Crab Shack, the Dock Restaurant and Riverwalk Restaurant all have great views of the path the boats will follow.

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It’s time to put up the Christmas tree, but you’re ready for a break from candy canes. What are the hottest new options for holiday trees this year? A quick foray around the most inspiring showrooms and stores of Southwest Florida brought inspiration by the sleigh-full.

Festively floral

“People automatically think garlands and a star on top,” says Norris Furniture & Interiors design consultant Cindy Hollon. “But you can incorporate so many different elements.”

Hollon cites floral design as a key component that’s useful in creating a new look for a tree. “Incorporate floral stems in sparkly red, green or silver for a signature impact,” she says. “Ornamental balls add another texture but are more of a minor component,” she says, comparing traditional hanging ornaments to stems easily found at floral and craft shops.

Old Time Pottery bears out what Ms. Hollon says, with bins and bins of stems, front and center in the tree section. Holiday-minded shoppers can choose from golden pomegranate stems; sparkly red or gold eucalyptus branches and Boston ferns; spray coral in a glittery brown or shimmery green; even festive roses and hydrangea. Any of these eye-catching stems can be easily inserted among a tree’s branches and to any degree of density; mix and match as it suits you. Priced from as little as $1.49 a stem, these floral touches are not a major investment, are non-breakable, easy to store, and completely transform a tree visually. Traditionalists can add stems with red poinsettia blossoms or wintry white branches with berries, blending a new look with a classic look.

LIBBY MCMILLAN / FLORIDA WEEKLY 
 
Go organic

Using florals is part of a larger 2008 trend that’s coming from furnishings, interior design and even clothing: organic shapes from nature are huge. The trick when decorating a tree organically is deciding whether to go all-natural (pine cones and cinnamon sticks, for example), or to rely on the cornucopia of amazing re-creations on the market today.

We found a boggling variety of components from nature, peacock features being perhaps the most tantalizing. Shoppers will find bird nests, branches and twigs, butterflies, bird feathers and even small antlers with which to adorn their trees. In a happy twist on Charlie Brown’s scraggly Christmas tree, less can now be more: some trees are built of twigs only, an alternative foundation for organic creativity.

Pheasant feathers are very popular this year,” says Ms. Hollon, of goods used as what she calls ‘tuckings’ . . . those items tucked in and among the branches. By going to nature for inspiration, one can incorporate elements meaningful in regard to time and place. Someone with meaningful ties to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, for example, might choose to highlight a tree with bleached starfish and sand dollars. (Add crystals or rhinestones to a starfish and it becomes a collectible holiday ornament). Dried chiles will harken back to a favorite New Mexico vacation spot.

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Pairings set for the 2008 Merrill Lynch Shootout!

Tournament Host Greg Norman recently announced 12 dynamic
partnerships that will compete in Naples ’ only PGA TOUR stop!

 Greg Norman & CamiloVillegas
 Scott Hoch & Kenny Perry
  
 Woody Austin & Mark Calcavecchia
 J.B. Holmes & Boo Weekley

 Paul Azinger & Rocco Mediate
 Zack Johnson & Scott Verplank
  
 Stewart Cink & Fred Couples
 Jerry Kelly & Steve Stricker 
  
 Chris DiMarco & Fred Funk
 Graeme McDowell & Ian Poulter
  
 Brad Faxon & Scott McCarron
 Nick Price & Jeff Sluman

Tickets to the 20th anniversary Merrill Lynch Shootout are on sale now!  For the 8th year in a row southwest Florida golf fans will have five great options to see the PGA TOUR’s best in action. 

1.  A Taste of WCI – Best Value! – $110

One (1) weekly pass to the Merrill Lynch Shootout (Wednesday –Sunday)
Over 50 rounds of championship golf for cart fee only!
2.  Weekly Grounds Ticket (Wednesday – Sunday): $75

3.  Daily Grounds Ticket (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday): $25 in advance / $30 at the gate

4.  Daily Pro-Am Ticket (Wednesday or Thursday): $20 in advance / $25 at the gate

5.  18th Green Reserved (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday): $60 (limited availability)

Call 888-66-SHARK, visit mlshootout.com, or stop by
Alf’s Golf Shop, Naples to purchase your tickets today!
 
20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge
 
Enjoy the Merrill Lynch Shootout from the prestigious
Greg Norman Wine Estates Shark Club!

Compete in the MLS Historical Trivia challenge for your chance to earn two (2) tickets
to the Greg Norman Wine Estates Shark Club.  This three tiered shared hospitality venue
includes a fully catered breakfast and lunch, a hosted bar and closed circuit television.

Here’s how to play:

    1. Answer the following ten (10) questions below.

    2. Submit your answers to Dan Gomez at tickets@gwse.com by Friday November 28th.  

Please include “Historical Trivia” in the subject

    3. The winner will be chosen based on the number of correct answers.  In the event of a tie a blind drawing will be done to select the winner.

GOOD LUCK! 

Name the three courses that have hosted the Merrill Lynch Shootout?
What is the Merrill Lynch Shootout 56 hole record and which team holds it?
Who was the last team to win the Merrill Lynch Shootout in a playoff?
Who has partnered with Tournament Host Greg Norman the most?
Aside from Greg Norman, who has made the most Merrill Lynch Shootout appearances?
In what year did the Merrill Lynch Shootout’s field become 24 players?
What is the 18 hole record and how many times has it been shot?
Which two-some has paired together more then anyone else?
Who won the inaugural Merrill Lynch Shootout in 1989?
Which four players have won the Merrill Lynch Shootout three times?

Hint: Visit www.mlshootout.com for some helpful information.

Source: Naples Daily News

Naples’ Rocco Mediate, a Calusa Pines Golf Club member, played in the Wendy’s Three-Tour Challenge on Tuesday in Henderson, Nev.

Mediate played with Kenny Perry and Stewart Cink. Helen Alfredsson, Natalie Gulbis and Cristie Kerr represented the LPGA Tour, and Jay Haas, Fred Funk and Nick Price competed from the Champions Tour.

Price had a 7-under 65 to lead the Champions Tour team to victory. Jay Haas was 6-under, and Fred Funk was 4-under.

Mediate had a 69, as the PGA Tour team finished second. Perry had a 66, and Cink shot a 67. Kerr and Gulbis also shot 67s, and Alfredsson shot a 78.

The event was taped and will be shown on Dec. 13-14 on ABC.

Source: Greg Hardwig, Naples Daily News

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Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and actress/humanitarian activist Mia Farrow are two of the speakers that will be participating in the Naples Town Hall 2009 lecture series “New Perspectives for a Changing World.”

This is the lecture series schedule:

– Mia Farrow-Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Acclaimed Actress & Humanitarian Activist

“The Darfur Crisis: With Knowledge Comes Responsibility”

– Newt Gingrich-Monday, February 16, 2009

Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives & Best-selling Author

“The Future is Bright: The Next Wave of American Exceptionalism”

– HRH Prince Talal of Jordan-Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Member of the Jordanian Royal Family & Special Advisor to HM King Abdullah II

“U.S. Middle East Relations: Advice from a Middle East Friend”

– P. J. O’Rourke-Monday, March 23, 2009

Leading Political Satirist & Best-selling Author

“Pirates in Neckties: Government vs. the Free Market… Which is Worse?”

Lecture Series tickets are $425 per person including tax for all four events and reserved lecture seating.

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Join our community this Saturday at 7am on Mooringline Drive for the annual Naples on the Run marathon event. For more information, contact George 239-434-9786.

Treat the special lady in your life…mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, or stepmother…to a tea party reminisent of her girlhood. Enjoy tea, nibbles, and quality time with your mom. All ages 3 and up are welcome.

Event Location:

Estates Branch Library
1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W.
Naples, FL 34120
239-455-8088

From www.news-press.com

Naples 5th Avenue South is the perfect backdrop for this craft event that features more than 100 of the nation’s best crafters. Handmade jewelry, 3-D acrylic paintings, ceramic planters, driftwood arrangements, glass votives and hand cut silhouettes are just some of the crafts you will find.

An expansive Green Market will offer plants, orchids, exotic flora and homemade soaps. All crafts on display are handmade in the U.S.A.

From the Naples News http://www.naplesnews.com/events/2008/apr/20/22266/