Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Naples Illustrated

In early February, Naples Jet Center, a full-service jet club offering a comprehensive range of private aviation solutions, officially celebrated the opening of the newly constructed Executive Jet Terminal at Naples Municipal Airport. Private jet travelers, aviation professionals, and business leaders were invited to experience the facility firsthand, enjoying tours, entertainment, refreshments, and a showcase of luxury aircraft. The state-of-the-art facility includes a passenger lounge and bar, advanced pilot facilities, personalized concierge services, expanded aircraft maintenance services, and a wraparound openair observation deck and event space on the second floor. The Naples Jet Center will be expanding its hangar capacity with 31,000 square feet of newly constructed space available for lease later this year. “We are excited to set a new standard for VIP aviation experiences in Naples and beyond,”…

When it comes to interior design and architecture, Italy is often a source of inspiration. The country, well-known for excellence in craftsmanship and design, was at the forefront of adopting a sleek, modern look in the kitchen with smooth-fronted cabinets, as well as the fusion of stone, metal, and wood—a trend that continues to grow worldwide. Those who wish to incorporate this design aesthetic in their home will be pleased to learn the Miami-based interior design studio ITALKRAFT opened a Naples showroom, IKSTUDIO, at 1673 Pine Ridge Road. The studio hosted a grand opening celebration to mark the occasion of the new Naples show-room, where guests were given a first look at a collection of contemporary kitchens, bathroom vanities, and closets—all made in Italy. The showroom features an interactive workspace…

In the words of John, Paul, George, and Ringo: “You say you want a revolution.” This Beatles hit was released in 1968, but had it come out today, the Fab Four could have been singing about this sleek new Sialia 57 weekender from Poland. How come? Its highly sophisticated hybrid-electric power train is quite the revolution. It might even convince a few of us Florida boaters to ditch fossil fuels in favor of zero-emission, plug-and-play power. Until now, electric boats have tended to be either small, surreyfringed, Duffy-style cocktail cruisers or bulky power catamarans with a roof full of solar panels. The Sialia shakes things up. This carbon-hulled marvel uses a bank of heavy-duty lithium batteries to juice a pair of beefy 400-kW electric motors that deliver a combined 1,000…

Naples Grande Beach Resort welcomes a well-seasoned chef to lead its culinary team. Executive Chef Juan Carlos “JC” Mendez brings an international approach to the job, which makes sense, considering the resort boasts an international array of dining options. Mendez directs all the property’s dining spots, including The Catch of the Pelican, its signature restaurant featuring Gulf Coast cuisine; Mantra, a lounge featuring sushi, bao buns, and cocktails; Rhode’s End, serving a Greek-influenced menu; breakfast spot Aura; the Gulfcoast Oasis Pool Bar; the Spressi Marketplace coffee shop; and the Sunset Veranda. Mendez moved from Mexico City to Minnesota to start his culinary career. After a decade spent learning and moving up the ranks, he returned to Mexico to study his native cuisine. He landed in Oaxaca, highly regarded as a gastronomical…

We have our neighbors to the southwest to thank for Cinco de Mayo. Celebrating the remarkable 1862 victory of the Mexican Army over the French in the Battle of Puebla, May 5 is celebrated with parades, food, drink, cultural displays, and the occasional battle re-enactment in Mexico. As with most holidays in the United States, the focus is squarely on the food and drink. Any Mexican restaurant worth its margarita-rim salt will host a Cinco de Mayo party—cerveza, tacos—you get the idea. For a Florida-style celebration, check out 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill at Compass Hotel By Margaritaville Naples (compasshotel.com). The festivities include complimentary salsa and chips with the order of a margarita flight. There will be festive music to enjoy as well. Unidos (unidosrestaurant.com) in Naples is commemorating the…

NCH now features a new medical technology for biopsies, becoming the first health care provider in Florida to offer the Van Gogh biopsy tool from Aquyre Biosciences. With this highly advanced technology, patients undergo normal biopsy procedures; however, the Van Gogh tool uses specialized imaging to identify cancer cells in just a few minutes. “One of the risks of biopsy is you don’t get the answer,” explains Dr. David Lindner, chair of pulmonary and critical care medicine at NCH. The Van Gogh technology can lead to shorter biopsy procedure times and a higher likelihood of targeting the correct areas and tissues to evaluate. Lindner says it can also provide immediate preliminary results for patients. “The worst part of a biopsy is not the procedure itself; it’s the waiting,” he says,…

Each meal offers an invitation to transform what can be just another part of one’s daily routine into an experience of joy and connection. For me, it begins by strollmarketing through the farmers on a Saturday morning, taking in the season’s lush array—the vibrant reds of ripe tomatoes, the deep greens of kale, and the sunny yellows of squash. I take inspiration from what looks most fresh and pulls me in. Beyond the shopping list, intuition plays a curious role. When I’m drawn toward beets, beets are on the menu. When I’m pulled toward a beautiful selection of greens, I know that some-where deep down that’s what I need. Of course, all these colors represent the wealth of what’s held inside—from antioxidant-rich berries to anti-inflammatory golden turmeric. Indulging in a…

Earlier this year, I was invited to Monte Carlo to attend the Forbes Travel Guide Summit, an event gathering a select few of the world’s most influential travel and hospitality professionals. Since I was near Paris, I took the opportunity to visit the celebrated city—a place that fabulously mixes the old with the contemporary. From its iconic architecture to its exquisite cuisine, the magical city marries the best of history and tradition with modernism and innovation. Should you find yourself here a few days, I suggest visiting these locales. 1 ROOMS WITH A VIEW In the city’s heart, just steps from the Louvre, stands the majestic Cheval Blanc Paris. Designed by architect Peter Marino, this 72-room art deco gem epitomizes Parisian culture. Rooms and suites feature a clean, neutral palette…

HOME SWEET HOME WHO: Youth Haven WHAT: Cherish the Children Luncheon WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón DETAILS: Speaker David Ambroz, author of A Place Called Home, recounted his early life of poverty and homelessness—and ultimately the joy of finding a home—for a captive audience who gathered to raise money for Youth Haven programs and services. MEDIA SPONSOR: Naples Illustrated FIVE-STAR DINING EXPERIENCE WHO: Naples Woman’s Club WHAT: Sip for a Cause WHERE: The Maddox, Naples DETAILS: Naples Woman’s Club’s inaugural charity gala at The Maddox involved two days of wine, gourmet food, entertainment, live auctions, and dancing, raising money for Harry Chapin Food Bank and Collier Senior Center. MEDIA SPONSOR: Naples Illustrated FESTIVE EVENING WHO: Naples Historical Society WHAT: Christmas Gala WHERE: Historic Palm Cottage, Naples DETAILS: Guests were invited to ring…

The thrill of the hunt can lead people to the farthest corners of the globe tracking down prized objects. Even closer to home, you will find eager collectors up before dawn or standing in line for hours in the hopes of discovering that one great treasure. In addition to physical tools of the trade, being prepared with the right knowledge can help you identify a great find and, more importantly, avoid a potentially costly mistake. Before venturing out, do your homework by consulting experts, reading up on the areas you are passionate about, or even watching Antiques Roadshow. In the world of collecting, knowledge is power, so arm yourself with these essential tips before your next big hunt. 1. KNOW YOUR SOURCE. Regardless of whether you’re at the Paris Flea…

After years of stark white kitchen cabinets, porcelain tile floors, and mostly chrome fixtures, today’s heart of the home is warming up with earthy tones, brass accents, and bold colors. Leading the way in this transition are natural wood finishes, a mixture of metals, and brightly hued backsplashes awash in texture. Read on, as five local designers share their thoughts about design in high-end residences and some of their favorite kitchen projects. DISCREET DECOR BEASLEY & HENLEY INTERIOR DESIGN Hidden behind a pocket door and blending into the wall paneling is this home’s butler’s pantry. “Butler’s pantries in my clients’ homes are based upon each client’s specific needs; the space must complement the interior of the home,” says Troy Beasley, principal designer and co-owner at Beasley & Henley Interior Design.…

Most people would fail to see any benefit in being grievously injured in a car-lift accident. Yet acclaimed chef and entrepreneur Brian Roland and his wife and business partner, Nicole, have found some positives in the years since Brian was critically injured while catering a grand-opening party at Ferrari of Naples. It happened on December 4, 2021, just three weeks after the birth of the Rolands’ baby, Remington (“Remi”), a healthy girl who helped ease the pain of three miscarriages. At the time, their company, Crave Culinaire by chef Brian Roland, was running at full speed, catering multiple events and holiday parties. Brian was working long hours away from his wife and baby. Then came the accident that changed their lives. During the party, Brian slipped through a gap between…

Now in the former home of Real Seafood Co. at the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, Bella Atalia Ristorante has taken up residence with chef/owner Kenny Purisic at the helm. If that name seems familiar, perhaps it’s because Purisic also owns and operates Molino’s and Manhattan Steakhouse in Bonita Springs. He decided to open a restaurant farther south largely because of his following in Naples. “I always wanted a place in Naples,” Purisic says. “I have a lot of customers here that can’t get up to Bonita with [heavy seasonal] traffic. Naples is not as seasonal as Bonita. People visit Naples even in the summer. In Bonita, people disappear for five or six months. In Naples, they disappear for about three months.” The restaurant offers a voluminous menu of Italian favorites…

If you don’t warm up before golfing, it’s time to start. It’s essential both to prevent injuries and to improve your game, notes Lisa Reed, an in-home and Zoom-based personal trainer and owner of Lisa Reed Fitness. She stresses warming up is particularly crucial for older adults since range of motion and balance decrease with age. “If you don’t move correctly or engage and activate the right muscles … you compensate, you create imbalances, and that affects your golf swing,” she explains. “It doesn’t matter how old you are; start now.” Reed recommends arriving at the course 20 minutes early to allow time for these golf-related exercises. (lisareedfitness.com) 1 Hip swings Hold the club in one hand at your side. Swing one leg forward and backward from the hip joint,…

Leading cryptocurrency firms pumped tens of millions of dollars into Donald Trump’s campaign, hoping his administration would favor the digital money industry. Circle, Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Robinhood made seven-figure donations. Bitcoin, the most common cryptocurrency, hit a record high of $109,000 the day that Trump was sworn in as the forty-seventh president. But it fell in the weeks after, including a significant dip in March following Trump’s executive order establishing a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve. Investors and enthusiasts of the digital currency originally forecasted that gains would double this year: in its 2025 Cryptocurrency Investor Trends Survey, financial services company Motley Fool found that 68 percent of respondents who are invested in cryptocurrency believed that Bitcoin would hit $200,000 by the end of 2025. But by mid-March, some analysts…

Every year, 12 horses provide thousands of hours of service at Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC), helping improve the lives of children and adults suffering from physical, social, and mental disorders and disabilities. Delta, a 25-year-old American Paint Horse and former barrel racer in Florida, joined the NTRC herd in 2022. Christian Vanorsdale, mini horse program coordinator and marketing and social media manager at NTRC, describes him as “an exceptional and invaluable therapy horse,” adding “he is steadfast, talented, and bonds easily.” According to Vanorsdale, a horse’s lifespan is between 25 and 30 years. While Delta is not quite yet a candidate for retirement, one day he will be offered the opportunity to live out his days at Camp Rusk, a 500-acre pastoral haven and nonprofit organization in Texas dedicated…

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve stretches across 110,000 acres of mangrove forest, uplands, and protected waters, making up approximately 40 percent of the Collier County coastline. Scientists at the research reserve protect the local waters, land, animals, plants, and community. Friends of Rookery Bay, incorporated in 1987, serves as the state-designated citizen support organization to the research reserve. Through outreach efforts, advocacy, and fundraising, the nonprofit organization champions coastal protection and preservation. Earlier this year, the citizen support organization received a $240,000 gift from the estate of Elizabeth A. McCarthy, an art teacher who retired to Naples in 1987 with husband Henry McCarthy. Elizabeth, who especially enjoyed canoeing Rookery Bay with friends and family, left monetary gifts to six nonprofit organizations around the country. The donation is one of…

Big news. No, really big news. The all-electric GMC Hummer SUV may look as gargantuan and ungainly as a Waste Management dump truck, but surprise, it might just be the most fun and feisty SUV this side of a Lamborghini Urus. A lot of that comes down to raw power. This thing is a Hoover Dam on wheels, a road-going Saturn V rocket. Three humongous electric motors—one up front, two in the back—deliver a combined 830 horse-power and an astonishing 11,500 pound-feet of stump-pulling torque. Engage the insane Watts to Freedom launch control—yes, as in WTF—and the Hummer’s super-computers prime the systems for max power. Now squeeze the brake pedal while stomping on the gas and prepare to yell, “Jeez Louise!” Big Daddy Don Garlits in his Swamp Rat dragster…

Lovers of culinary excellence, a beautifully set table, and great conversation find all that and more as members of the Naples Bailliage, or Chapter, of the international gastronomic organization, La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, (historically French for Royal Guild of Goose Roasters), claims more than 21,000 members spanning over 75 countries. Florida has 15 chapters, including those in Naples and Bonita Springs. The organization, whose name was bestowed by kingly decree, began in thirteenth-century Paris. One need not speak French to join this cordial group of gourmets, even though many of the titles and terms are foreign. The Naples Bailliage, founded in 1981, boasts about 90 members who come from a wide range of backgrounds, regions, and ages—from young professionals to longtime retirees. The…

Those looking for Real Seafood Co. in its accustomed location on Fontana Del Sol Way in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in Naples will find a new restaurant there. (More on that on page 105.) Real Seafood Co. has moved up the road, opening at Coconut Point in Estero. In this new space, diners will find a similar seafood-centric menu with 18 plates to share (or not). Crab guacamole, tuna tartare, blackened grouper bites, elote corn fritters, and NOLA grilled oysters are among the options. Heartier dishes include whole lobster with french fries, jambalaya, filet mignon, and paella Valenciana. Fish selections come from the Gulf, New England waters, and the Great Lakes. The indoor decor features ample dark oak, while the patio offers alfresco dining and a separate bar for…

The Everglades span 1.5 million acres of subtropical wilderness in South Florida. On the western portion, fewer than 50 miles northeast of Naples, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary—established more than 70 years ago—occupies 13,000 acres of the unique ecosystem. Visitors to the sanctuary are invited to meander a 2.2-mile boardwalk, journeying through pine flatwood and wet prairie to the largest stand of old growth cypress forest left on the planet. The impressive bald cypress trees are relatives of the redwood. Towering 130 feet into the sky with a girth of up to 25 feet, the trees feature massive branches draped in mosses, lichens, bromeliads, and ferns. From time to time, a ghost orchid makes an appearance. From May 1 through December 15, The Blair Audubon Visitor Center is open daily, 8…