Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i Naples Illustrated

From the sky, the sprawling bushveld of the Phinda Private Game Reserve looks endless, the saturated green of its mountains fading as the peaks stretch to all points of the horizon. I can see the airstrip below, a thin band of red earth where the woodland gives way to dense grasslands. Our single prop plane banks to meet it. “Mom, do you think we’ll see a bush baby?” My daughter, Annie, has been poring over a South African wildlife book since I told her we were going on safari to celebrate her tenth birthday. “There’s a good chance,” I tell her, “but this isn’t a zoo. We’ll have to track it.” From the ground, the land looks very different. Acacias, the queens of the thornveld, sprout among golden grasses and…

SHOT BY NAPLES ILLUSTRATED ON LOCATION AT THE NORTON MUSEUM OF ART, WEST PALM BEACH…

1 White willow bark contains salicin, which is similar to aspirin. It has been used for pain relief and to reduce inflammation for centuries. “When you use natural, not-synthesized forms [of medicines] like aspirin, you have other inert chemicals that modulate how they work,” says Deborah J. Post, an ARNP at Wellbridges Health Center in Bonita Springs (wellbridges.com). These substances may reduce side effects, thereby making this bark easier on the gut. However, Post cautions that those with aspirin allergies shouldn’t use willow bark products. 2 Magnolia bark is believed to help detoxify the body, aid weight loss, and protect against allergic reactions. It’s been used to ease anxiety, reduce gingivitis, treat menstrual cramps, and improve respiratory health. While magnolia bark’s pharmacological benefits are broad, Andrea Romero, a licensed doctor…

When you’re heading straight from the courts to an upscale café for lunch, let Tasc’s flirty and functional skirts ($68) be your game, set, match wardrobe choice. Made from a super breathable material that is moisture-wicking, naturally odor-resistant, and affords UPF 50+ protection, these skirts offer crucial strategic features, like a small key or credit card pocket and inner compression shorts with phone storage, as well as a posh print guaranteed to create an active style moment. (tascperformance.com)…

In the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Rick Moranis accidentally reduces his onscreen children and a few of their friends to the size of a seed. During their microscopic adventures, they come face-to-face with a terrifying scorpion and a heroic ant named Antie. Fast-forward to 2019 and you don’t have to be downsized to get up close with insects thanks to the exhibit “Small Wonders: Insects in Focus,” on display at the Center for Visual Arts in Bonita Springs beginning September 2. Organized by Exhibits USA, this traveling photography show features images by Bob Sober, a Tulsa native who comes at the subject from an artistic perspective, creating human-scale photos of bugs that highlight their inherent beauty. Take the cottonwood borer (pictured below), for example. While this beetle…

©2019 Palm Beach Media Group North, LLC. All rights reserved. Naples Illustrated [ISSN 10996303] [USPS # 16626] is published monthly, except June and August, by Palm Beach Media Group North, LLC. Known office of the publication: 3066 Tamiami Trail N, Suite 102, Naples, FL 34103. Periodical postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Naples Illustrated c/o Palm Beach Media Group North, LLC., P.O. Box 3344, Palm Beach, FL 33480. Subscription price: $39.60 per year. Outside U.S. add $35 per year for postage and handling. Send subscription orders to: Subscription Department, Naples Illustrated, P.O. Box 3344, Palm Beach, FL, 33480 or e-mail: circulation@naplesillustrated.com, fax (561) 659-1736. Volume 22, No. 7, September 2019. Visit our website at naplesillustrated.com Naples Illustrated and Palm…

Colorful and inviting, the newly opened Aunt Janet’s House for Avow Kids bereavement and loss programs provides space for meetings, activities, and therapy. Financial support for renovation of the existing house on the Avow campus in Naples was provided by area philanthropist Janet Cohen, who also supports Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Fran Cohen Youth Center, named in memory of her daughter who died of breast cancer in 2010. Additionally, Avow recently received a $75,000 grant from the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Avow Kids has offered free bereavement services for Collier County children ages 5-17 for 36 years. “I value the grief process and believe in a supportive environment for children who have experienced loss,” says Cohen, the center’s…

Situated on a small lake in North Naples’ Pelican Bay community, this one-story, 2,800-square-foot home was blesed with a dreamy location that will never go out of style. But inside and out, the three-bedroom, circa-1984 residence showed its age and was in need of a renewal. Nan Wright, principal of Naples-based Wright Interior Group and an associate ASID designer, sought to transform this “big, white box,” into a modern abode composed of demarcated areas to suit the owner’s needs. “My client loves to entertain, so her home needed more delineation,” says Wright. “Outside, she wanted more hard surfaces so she could utilize the space in different ways. Now she has a transitionally styled home with more intimate spaces.” To quell the enormous open floor plan, Wright selected a soft gray-blue…

There’s more than wildlife in South Africa. Cape Town, one of the country’s three capitals, is rich in heritage, natural beauty, and plenty for kids to do. AndBeyond’s fantastic guides can help you negotiate the city efficiently and safely. Here are five must-dos: 1. Tour Cape Point, the peninsula that culminates in the Cape of Good Hope. Don’t skip the drive through Chapman’s Peak and stop at Boulders Beach (near Simon’s Town) to commune with hundreds of African penguins. (capepoint.co.za) 2. Stay at Cape Grace at the foot of Table Mountain, on the V&A waterfront. The views are as extraordinary as the hospitality. Family-friendly activities include a lovely high tea, seal watching from the rear terrace, and cookie decorating. (capegrace.com) 3. Visit Robben Island. Off the coast of Cape Town,…

Remember Toblerone? How could a true chocoholic forget? One nibble and that hedonistic concoction of milky cocoa, nougat, almonds, and honey will be imprinted on your taste buds forever. Even if you can’t recall the taste, you’ll certainly remember the distinctive pyramidic shape of each morsel. And how each triangle is squeezed perfectly into that yellow and red cardboard packaging. The candy’s most differentiating trait is all thanks to Swiss chocolatier Theodor Tobler, who came up with the unique form back in 1908. What, you may ask, has Toblerone got to do with the magnificent new 2020 Bentley Continental GT convertible I’ve been driving? More than you think. It seems to have served as the inspiration behind one of the coolest, surprise-and-delight features of this third-generation Continental. Press one of…

She was in her 90s and nothing if not an optimist. “This might be my last plane,” she told the interior design team at Embraer Executive Jets, “and I want to have fun. I don’t want to do beige.” What the spirited, Texas-based client wanted to do was color. Lots of color. So much so, in fact, that there initially were some raised eyebrows at Embraer, which builds planes in Melbourne, Florida. But once the staff embraced the flamboyance, they had a blast. And so, apparently, did the buyer. “It meant the world for us to be able to deliver what she wanted,” says Frank Chavez, Embraer’s director of interior design and customer interaction. “The fact that she had fun proved two things. It proved to us as a company…

Jim Kelleher founded The Kelleher Firm in Southwest Florida to ensure accident victims get the justice they deserve. With several decades of combined experience, the attorneys at The Kelleher Firm are proud of the many multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements they have obtained on behalf of their clients. They fight passionately for victims of serious injury, utilizing their skills, resources, and experience to obtain the best possible results in each and every case. Throughout his distinguished career, Kelleher has received numerous awards and has continually received the highest ratings for his work on behalf of his clients. He was awarded the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating offered and is based on reviews and evaluations by other practicing attorneys. His peers have continuously given him the…

Jonas Weatherbie is recognized locally as a legal expert in the areas of estate and tax planning and trust and estate administration. His experience includes working for both large investment firms and boutique trusts and estates law firms. He frequently holds forums with other professionals in an effort to provide individuals with a better understanding of estate planning, tax planning, and asset protection. A Dean’s List student and varsity letter winner at the University of Kansas, Mr. Weatherbie has also received the following degrees: Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctorate, and Master of Laws in Taxation. His education and qualifications demonstrate his dedication to and knowledge in these specialized areas of practice. He continues to stay connected in the community by dedicating his time to various causes and events, and…

Options for healthy eating in Naples are expanding all the time, with an emphasis on smoothies, bowls, and beverages such as kombucha and matcha. One category leader is The Bowl, which offers a menu that is 100-percent organic, vegan, and dairy-free. Owner Kylee Brinkman opened her first store on Pine Ridge Road in 2016, followed by a second location on Central Avenue. Both are run “as green as possible,” to include cups and bowls that are compostable. “I lived in California for a while, and when I moved back to Naples, I ealized what was missing here,” says Brinkman. “We try to create a happy and healthy environment. Beyond the food, it’s really a complete lifestyle.” The best seller among the açai bowls is the AB&J, which puts a spin…

Intermittent fasting for losing weight is trending. This diet strategy involves alternating between normal food and drink consumption and periods of total fasting or significant calorie reduction. A resulting negative energy balance purportedly leads to weight loss. The effects of intermittent fasting on health and metabolism are not fully understood, however, so NI reached out to Caroline Cederquist, MD, of the Cederquist Medical Wellness Center in Naples. At her practice, Cederquist, who is board-certified in bariatrics, customizes diet and lifestyle treatment programs to suit each patient. When it comes to intermittent fasting, Cederquist stresses that it’s not a diet but rather a pattern of eating. “One theory holds that fasting helps you lose weight because it decreases the amount of time your body is in the ‘fed’ state,” she says.…

From flinging axes in bars to solving puzzles in escape rooms, adventure-seeking adults are looking for creative ways to spend time together. Indoor trampoline parks and other unconventional businesses are trending across the country and in Southwest Florida, in part because they prioritize carefree fun and foster a sense of community. At Bounce! Trampoline Sports in Naples (bouncenaples.com) and Defy Fort Myers (defyfortmyers.com), adults and kids alike can find joy in the simple pleasure of jumping as high as gravity will allow. These attractions house dozens of large trampolines, some of which are angled on the walls for better leverage. They also often include foam pits, obstacle courses, extreme activities such as dodge - ball, and acrobatic features like aerial silks. Turn the page to discover more unique activities that…

GOOD VIBRATIONS Designer Minka McDonald of Jinx McDonald Interior Designs was given creative license to crank up the volume through the use of color. “Our goal for this room was to create a bright, happy, and energetic guest room to give visitors a fun Florida vacation spot,” says McDonald. “A painted turquoise Stanley nightstand and decorative mirror provide powerful pops of color, while the fun patterns and prints on the colorful bed pillows bring youthful energy to the room.” Naples (jinxmcdonald.com)…

New England’s largest city has solidified a starring role in the global gastronomic movement thanks to a surge in chef- and personality-driven restaurants helmed by both established and rising talent. Here, we present an eclectic handful of restaurants leading the race in Boston’s foodie marathon and throwing a Red Sox–worthy curveball into the once predictable culinary scene. HOJOKO Boston native Tim Cushman placed his hometown on the culinary map in 2008 when his freshman endeavor, the haute sushi restaurant O Ya, garnered nearly every accolade imaginable, including coveted spots on The New York Times’ and Food & Wine’s best restaurant lists and later landing a James Beard Award in 2012. Since then, Cushman has expanded to New York City and returned to Boston with another Japanese eatery, the funky and…

Shot on location at Aqua at Pelican Isle, Naples CLAUDIA DAL LAGO Founder and President, Ella Creations, Naples Like many young parents, Claudia Dal Lago and her husband, Mike, left a big city for a more family-focused quality of life. “We set our sights on Naples, where my brother and his family settled,” she says. “My husband received a job offer in Naples, and we have never looked back.” The public relations maven, who was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, says when she first visited New York City at age 7, she told her parents that one day she would work in “one of those skyscrapers.” She did, and with great success. After relocating to Naples, she opened her own agency to help businesses develop and execute effective…

My favorite color is sage green, and I paired it with beige and brown as I began envisioning the interior of my imaginary Praetor 600. I was anxious—I don’t spend $22.5 million every day—but if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that sage green is my favorite color. It ended up nowhere on the plane. Embraer interior designer Cathy Biegler, who gently steered me away from my earth-toned palette (“It looks too Girl Scout,” she jokes), says she’s seen this before. Clients often arrive with a firm idea in mind, and their own interior designer, then fly off in a different direction. Today I’ve embarked on what Embraer calls “the Melbourne experience,” which includes lunch with the design team in an elegant dining room worthy of Fifth Avenue…

Chris Vernon formed Vernon Litigation Group in Naples with the singular goal of helping businesses and individuals pursue successful results in legal disputes. For the last six years, the firm has been named in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” as a tier one firm for both commercial litigation and securities/capital markets. Vernon Litigation Group consists of lawyers who focus their practice on representing clients both locally and nationally in litigation, mediation, and arbitration, especially in financial disputes involving investment, business, construction, real estate, probate, hurricane damage, and financial employment matters. The firm now includes an Atlanta office, and as it grows, its areas of litigation practice grow as well. The latest practice addition involves representing businesses and individuals in disputes relating to identity theft and…

Benjamin H. Yormak is a board-certified expert in labor and employment law. His firm only represents employees, and much of his practice involves whistle-blower cases and cases involving fraud. In 2019, he was lead counsel in a nationwide fraud case that settled for nearly $90 million. In United States v. 21st Century Oncology et. al (2015), Yormak successfully represented a whistle-blower who challenged Medicare fraud, which resulted in a recovery of more than $25 million. Yormak has been recognized by Super Lawyers magazine each year since 2016, an honor bestowed upon only the top 2 percent of Florida attorneys as voted by their peers. He has also won the Avvo Client Choice Award each year since 2012. He has been recognized as a Lawyer of Distinction (2018) and honored by…

While the bundt cake originated in Central Europe—where it was called a kugelhupf—you don’t have to be German or Polish to enjoy one. They became popular in the U.S. after World War II, when the Nordic Ware company trademarked the name and began selling stain - less steel bundt pans. For Karen Vazquez, owner of the newly opened Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise in Goodlette Corners Plaza, the versatile dessert brings back nostalgic childhood memories. “I started baking in the kitchen with my grandma when I was very small,” says Vazquez, who previously ran Kakes by Karen in Naples and has appeared on the Food Network. “It feels like home to me, and we try to extend that feeling to everyone who comes in.” Fortunately, bundts are not a one-size-fits-all proposition.…

Boost your well-being with cocktails and camaraderie at the Wellness Wednesday Happy Hour at Coast in Naples’ Edgewater Beach Hotel. This midweek pick-me-up continues through October 30 and pairs special drinks and light bites with a soul-soothing view of the Gulf. The first Wednesdays of each month also come with the bonus of special wellness sessions. On September 4, release stress with a 10-minute chair massage, and return October 2 for a cocktail blind taste test. “Well-being has become a cornerstone of the Edgewater experience, including the culinary program,” says McKenzie Van Essen-Morris, director of food and beverage. “I wanted to incorporate that focus into our summer [Wednesday] happy hours. People might be surprised at the abundance of ingredients available for creating food and beverages that are pretty and flavorful…