Listen to the Music!

Live Music for the Family  The Mercato Shops located at the corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road offer live music on the green across for THE PUB  and PURE~URBAN OASIS the first Friday of every month.  Tomorrow they are sure to have great music that can be enjoyed by the entire family.  Bring the kids and enjoy Pizza while listening to the music.  Let the kids enjoy themself with others their own age while they run on the green and dance to the vibes.  Bring a chair or a blanket if you prefer to sit instead of stand since it is an open green that doesn't provide seating unless you choose to enjoy a cocktail or bite to eat at one of the many establishments in this area of the Mercato that offer an outdoor dining option.  You can have a full meal, a lite fare, pizza, yogurt, a burger and much more.  It is a great family activity that doesn't have to cost you a penny.  The entertainment is free.  Your only expense is if you choose to support the local businesses at Mercato that have arranged for the entertainment.  So if the weather is permitting tomorrow evening between 6 & 9 pm, why not come out with the kids and enjoy some great live music.  I have had the opportunity to listen to many of bands throughout the year and I cannot say I have heard a terrible one yet.  In fact most of them are quite good.  So why not get out and enjoy the music with friends, family or even by yourself.  What else do you have to do?

Night Time Entertainment

If you miss the live music at Mercato, you can catch some great tunes at the BLUE MONKEY located on the corner of Collier Boulevard (951) and Vanderbilt Beach Road.  You can get bite to eat, have a few cocktails, enjoy a night out with your spouse, friends, date or by yourself.  Meet some new friends or meet a group of those you already have.  Enjoy yourself!  Dance to the beat, if you choose.  The music is always great on Friday and Saturday nights.  Usually begins about 9 pm but the service can be a little off from time to time.  Just take it upon yourself to get the waitress when you can.  Once the band starts the place is a bit dark, busy and the music is awesome.  Check it out if you haven't or come out and join in the fun again if you have.  You are sure to have a great time~ even the designated driver will enjoy themself with the music being played.

Other places in Naples that often offer live entertainment are THE PEWTER MUG;  SOUTHSTREET . . .  Will talk about others in future postings.  Have a great week!

Build or Remodel a House in Naples with ONLY the BEST!

A. VERNON ALLEN BUILDER, INC.  has been building houses in Naples since 1951.  Who could ask for more experience?  Not only do they build and remodel existing homes, they do the BEST work in town!  They are well-known for the details to every level of construction fine tuning every element to meet the owners expectations and needs. 
They not only build the home of your dreams but they will take care of you and the work they have done well into the future.  Unlike many builders that purchase a menial insurance policy to cover the workmanship of their construction, AVA stands behind their workmanship for years to come.  The people who work for AVA are their to make you feel at ease through every step of the process and help you make the decisions needed to build and create a home that will endure for many years.  They have been well-established in Port Royal and Downtown Naples for over 60 years now and have built amazing structures.
 I have had the opportunity to see their work from plans, pilings, foundations to the final decorator touches and the workmanship is outstanding.  You will not find better workmanship in Southwest Florida. 
You may find that the owner is a bit eccentric but you will find that he has nothing but your best interests at heart.  He can be a bit overwhelming but again he has and will continue to build and stand behind the product that they have built for ages.  They have even been hired to go in and clean up the messes that other contractors in the area have created with poor workmanship and the inability or wiliness to guarantee the work.  That is one thing you will never have to worry about with AVA, they will always be there to complete the project with excellent workmanship and a guarantee offered by no other.
 You are a fool, if you go with the cheapest bid in this area because you will get just what you paid for, substandard workmanship.  You need to consider what years of guaranteed quality workmanship will provide you from day one.  And I know if you do, you will have no doubts about choosing the ONLY QUALITY CONTRACTOR in Collier County.

For more information on A. VERNON ALLEN visit their website at
http://www.avernonallenbuilder.com/index.php   There website will share a gallery of homes built by this quality contractor as well as remodeled (special projects) homes with before and after pictures.  From this site you will also find more background on the company, links to sites in Naples and contact information for AVA. 

Thinking about building or just remodeling~  Want quality with a guarantee~ Contact them today!

Sunny Naples

Beautiful Sunny weather in Naples today.  A great day to take in the beach with clear baby blue skies laying on sugar white sand listening to the sound of the tide washing in and out while reading a new suspense novel enjoying my solitude followed by a long walk along the south shore of Naples along the beach backed by Gordon Drive all the way to point where you can see Keewaydin in the distance.  Then the walk back to 16th South, a dip in the Gulf, a bit more sun to dry off before loading up the car and heading home.  This is the life in Naples when you are unemployed but enjoying the life while you can.

 The beaches in Naples are beautiful and anyone who visits the area needs to make sure they spend some time walking the shore that is not completely contaminated with condominiums common in many other areas of the coast but homes to millionaires.  I've had the opportunity to see many of the homes decorated and just built through the years and it is never the size that amazes me, it is often the furnishing or decor.  You look at them and you would agree with me I am sure, who lives here.  No one who takes their shoes off and just sits down.  No one who puts their feet up on a table or the sofa.  There are decorative statues or in one carousal horses set out but there were no personal items, keepsakes or decorative pieces on the kitchen counters.  Nothing seems out of place anywhere.  In fact, many of the furnishings look like museum pieces and you might wonder as I do~ just where do you put your feet just to watch the news.   There are walls decorated in cloth or marble floors that clearly need polishing daily to eliminate any foot prints.  At least if I lived there they would. I don't know about you but I like walking around in my bare feet;  I like to put my feet up on the furniture once in a while.  Don't get me wrong, I like everything in it's proper place in my house  and I like my home clean, tidy and decorated.  However, I also like to feel like it is a home; that someone lives there; that you can touch things; or set something down.  I think my home is better (sure smaller than the monstrosities) and it feels lived in.  It's okay to put the paper on the table for the day or hang clothes to dry in the laundry, put bananas on the counter, or forget to make the bed once in a while.  My home has breakables and items I don't want others touching all the times but you can just sit, enjoy yourself, relax, recline and take a nap in comfort.  I think I prefer mine over theirs.  You?

Family Fun!!

Naples has many entertaining, educational and fun activities to offer your whole family.  You may find the beach or swimming pool will hold the interest of the kids most of the time but your visit will be less monotonous when you take the time to plan and explore some of the other family-friendly activities available to you in Southwest Florida.  Oh don't get me wrong, you want to some of your time on our beautiful beaches with the white sugar sand, palm trees and mild currents.  You may experience a dolphin sighting; enjoy a bit of shelling; take a refreshing swim in the gulf; or build a memorable sand castle as a family.  And don't forget to take advantage of our majestic sunsets.  Although you may hear these common words - "I'm bored!" from your children if you don't mix up the activities a bit. 

Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your stay--

•  Coral Cay Adventure Golf:  spend the morning or early evening (when it's not so hot in the summer) to take in a game of putt-putt (adventure golf).  It's great fun for the whole family.  Coral Cay offers two different courses, open 10 am- 11 pm daily and is only minutes east of downtown Naples at 2205 Tamiami Trail East ~  239-793-4999 ~ coralcaygolf.com
• King Richard's Family Fun Park:  Everyone will find something to enjoy at King Richards! It features a variety of games, entertainment and services including laser tag, batting cages, go-kart race track, Dungeon Drop, rock climbing wall and an huge game room.  It's a great place to take children 8 and older since many of the activities may have height requirements.  It's conveniently located between Vanderbilt Drive and Pine Ridge Road on Airport Road (6780 N.) ~ 239-598-2042~ kingrichardspark.net
• Sun-n-Fun Lagoon:  This enormous water park is located off Livingston Road in North Naples in the North Collier Regional Park and is filled with many water features to keep everyone busy for hours.  Enjoy shooting water pistols or dumping buckets on one another while you keep yourselves refreshed in one of the four pools; floating in the lagoon; sliding on one of the large slides.  There is also a tadpole pool for little ones.  Spend the day and enjoy lunch at the snack bar.  Call for hours of operation.  15000 Livingston Road ~ 239-252-4021 ~ colliergov.net
• Naples Pier:  The Naples Pier has been a community landmark since 1888.  Enjoy the view of the beaches for miles from the vantage point of the pier or fish from the pier that extends 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico anytime of the day.  Frozen bait is available on the pier and you do not need a license to fish from the pier but you will need your own gear.  You may catch a small shark, red fish, grouper, catfish, snapper and . . . . This is also a great place to watch one of our memorable sunsets.  The Pier is located at 25-12th Avenue South ~ 239-213-3062
• Naples Botanical Gardens:  Be inspired and captivated by 170 acres of tropical garden features designed by some of the finest landscape architects in the world.  You will find gardens cultivated from Brazil, Asia and the Caribbean as well as a Water Garden filled with water lilies, papyrus and lotuses plus 90 acres of restored natural Southwest Florida habitat.  Your children will enjoy the interactive children's garden with it's two story tree house or the Butterfly house where butterflies may actually land on your shoulder or taking a walk through the preserve and trails.  This is a beautiful place and one of a kind.  You will want to plan a whole day of fun around this amazing Florida natural experience.  4820 Bayshore Drive ~ 239-643-7275 ~ naplesgarden.org
• Naples Zoo and Carribean Garden:  This is no ordinary walk-a-bout zoo.  Your family will enjoy hand feeding the giraffes; coming eye-to-eye with apes, zebras, tigers and bears; or participate in alligator feedings; watch a show; or cruise through the island of monkeys in the tropical jungle of this historic botanical garden originally created by Jungle Larry himself.  Located across from the Coastland Mall and Fleishman Park at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road ~ 239-262-5409 ~ napleszoo.org
• Everglades Island Airboat Tours and Totch's Island Tours:  Take a guided airboat tour in a small airboat with cushioned elevated seats through the back country seeing the natural wild habitat of the everglades or an open water trip to the private island of Totch's for shelling and lunch.  For reservations and information contact 1-866-626-2833 or 239-695-2333 ~ Evergladeairboat@aol.com ~ www.airboateverglades.com ~ 929 Dupont St. (off State Road 29 just before the Everglades Bridge)
• Cruise Naples- JetSki Tours:  See dolphins, manatees, pelicans and more.  Journey through the vast mangroves on a guided tour through Naples Gordon River and the Coastal Waterways that can be customized to meet your needs with beach picnics, water and shelling adventures.   Older children may prefer to explore on their own enjoying a day on the open waters.  Located at 1200 5th Avenue S.  ~ 239-263-4949 ~ cruisenaplesflorida.com
• Naples Boat Charters:  Reserve a day of private sightseeing, fishing or a sunset cruise for up to 6.  See Naples from the water.  A spectacular experience for all.  For reservations contact 239-593-7475 ~ www.naplesboatcharters.net
• Tour Naples by Trolley, Sedway or Sea:  Naples Trolley offers different tours at different times of year.  You will need to contact them for more information but it is a treat to see Naples in an old fashion trolley.  Or tour on a Sedway while wearing a wireless headset for a safe, fun and informative tour of historic downtown Naples.  Or spend the entire day on an airboat touring the Everglades enjoying the natural wildlife and habitat.  Located at 1010 6th Avenue S.  ~ 239-262-7300 ~ www.experience-naples.com.
• Boat Rentals at Park Shore Marina:  Rent and captain a high quality cruise or fishing boat if you enjoy exploring on your own.  Or the marina offers offshore and backwater fishing charters and guided sightseeing tours as well as kayak rentals, ship store, fuel dock, bait, tackle and sundries.  Conveniently located on the north side of the Village of Venetian Bay at 4310 Gulfshore Blvd. N. ~ 239-434-0724 ~ www.naplesflboatrentals.com

As you can see there is quite a bit to do in Naples without even venturing to Marco, Fort Myers or many of the surrounding Southwest Florida areas.  We also invite you to enjoy the shops and restaurants on 5th Avenue South; Third Street South and the Mercato in North Naples.  You may also want to spend a morning on one of the many golf courses in our town or take the children to one of our Community Parks which all include playgrounds and other activities.

If you are not planning your trip this year, you will want to add the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples (C*MON) to your list.  It is scheduled to open in February 2012.  It will be an educational interactive museum for children that will encourage exploration, and enhance curiosity in an engaging meaningful fun way for all those who visit.  www.cmon.org ~ 239-514-0084