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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At a recent luxury home marketing conference sponsored by the Institute For Luxury Home Marketing, a nationally recognized interior designer, Kay Green, identified some new and persistent trends in housing decor and design. These emerging trends exist across homes of all price ranges in the United States. Let’s take a look:

• Non-colors are hot. White on white. Cream on cream. White on cream. You get the idea. It’s almost a layering of the neutrals.
• Blacks, whites, creams and grays are everywhere.
• Splashes of colors. In the non-color look, it’s becoming popular to have an accent wall or accent piece that introduces the only splash of color in the room. The splash could be pillows, a piece of art of furniture
• Faux finishes are out.
• Kids study areas are in. Imagine a full wall mini-office or extended peninsula near the kitchen where the kids use their computers and do homework. This affords parental assistance with homework and supervision while they are using their computers. 
• Oversized multi-function laundry rooms. Needs to have plenty of elbow rooms so as to stage the kids before leaving the house. Also, they’re great for messy tasks like craft-making.
• Spa baths. Still in.
• Outdoor architecture. Elaborate, functional relaxation areas are hot. Outdoor kitchens. Pergolas. Outdoor fireplaces

Ten years ago Saturday, a new $4.3 million von Liebig Art Center was christened in Naples, during a ceremony marred only by the day’s intermittent rain.

Pianist Toby Blumenthal and her late husband, cellist Bert Phillips, entertained a standing-room-only gathering, a who’s-who collection of the local art scene that included Clyde Butcher, Phil Fisher, Jonathan Green and Jerry Vallez.

“It’s just remarkable to see how progressive Naples has been over the last five years,” said executive director Barbara Anderson Hill at the time. “We’re all simply thrilled. It’s been a dream come true for me.” The von Liebig Art Center was named after Naples seasonal resident Suzanne and the late William J. von Liebig, noted cultural and medical research philanthropists.

Today, changing exhibitions of contemporary American art, with a focus on Florida art, are offered for free and open to the public, seven days a week throughout the year. Their education program provides adults and youth with non-credit, enriching art courses, lectures and workshops.

The building and the Naples Art Association have contributed to the high quality of life in Naples, providing a respected and vital cultural resource, recognized for bringing excellence in the visual arts to the Southwest Florida community.

Source: Elizabeth Kellar, Naples Daily News

There will be music with art.

Naples City Council this morning approved a live entertainment permit for Six Degrees Exhibition, a new art gallery at 1100 Sixth Ave. S. The permit will allow the gallery to have up to three performers to play indoors from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The performances are intended to accompany exhibit openings.

The art gallery will feature local artists and performers, according to a city staff report. This is one of the first times council has approved a live music request for an establishment that is not a restaurant.

Source: Naples Daily News

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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Due to the global credit crunch a UK based developer has launched the biggest property competition of all time. In association with Great Ormond Street Hospital, MIA Developments Ltd is giving away a block of apartment in Central London valued at $14 million.
 
It’s got to be one of the most innovative fundraising ideas ever - a luxury apartment block worth $14 million is up for grabs in the UK’s biggest ever property competition…
 
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity has teamed up with London property developers MIA Developments Ltd to launch WinALondonPad.com - the biggest free prize draw in the UK .
 
Tickets are priced at $120 and each entrant will also receive a 4GB MP4 player worth $150. Entrants have a one in 200,000 chance of winning - and never having to work again.
 
Limited to 200,000 tickets available at WinALondonPad.com, the winner will scoop an entire development consisting of eleven luxury serviced apartments worth in excess of $14 million.

Source: TheMoveChannel

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The Humane Society Naples will host its popular afternoon tea and pet fashion show fundraiser from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Hilton Naples.

The fundraiser will feature a delightful afternoon tea, champagne and other accompaniments in the tradition of an afternoon English tea.

The event will also feature a live and silent auction and a wide selection of vendors offering pet-themed gifts for forward-thinking holiday shoppers.

Diva Doghouse will provide pet fashions while Jami’s of Naples will offer up the latest in “people clothes.”

Cost of the event is $100 per person. Tickets may be ordered online at HSNaples.org, by mail or by contacting Patricia Connell at The Humane Society Naples (239-643-1880 ext. 18). The Naples Hilton is at 5111 U.S. 41 N. in Naples.

Source: Naples Daily News