An expertly curated, luxuriously produced compendium of all things Naples, Naples Illustrated brings to life personalities and takes you inside the exclusive homes, parties and interests of the world’s most affluent and influential people.
When we lived in Darien, Connecticut, Michael and I often welcomed either side of the family, or sometimes both together, into our home for the holidays. We hosted Thanksgiving a few times during the 13 years we lived there, and some were more memorable—or disastrous—than others. There was the year when one of the twins crawled toward the crackling fireplace at a rapid pace, as my brother-in-law, who’d volunteered to watch them while I cleaned up in the kitchen, snored in an armchair. Another year, we went to the annual Turkey Bowl football game to watch our high school battle its rival, and we lost one of our kids in the crowd for a few minutes and freaked out, until we realized that she’d gone to sit with her cousins.…
Best-selling author Randy Wayne White is a man of many accomplishments. Whether he is writing one of his trademark Doc Ford books, spearheading baseball trips to Cuba, opening restaurants, or developing conservation initiatives, he carries on with a dedicated, collaborative, and infectious energy. White lives on Sanibel Island with his talented wife, Wendy Webb, a well-known singer and songwriter. He’s very close with his two grown sons, Lee Wayne and Rogan, and three “delicious” grandchildren, who all live nearby. NI recently caught up with White to discuss his artistic contributions to the area and more. randywaynewhite.com NI: What’s your newest book and what drives your writing success? White: Stingers, part of my middle grade series, will be out soon. I’m working on the twenty-seventh Doc Ford novel right now. I…
1 Sarah Frey’s story of perseverance begins on a poverty-ridden farm in Illinois, where she grew up alongside her large family. In The Growing Season (Ballantine Books, 2020), Frey details her path from her difficult upbringing to accomplishments in agriculture. At 17, she began working with the nation’s biggest retailers, becoming so legendary that Harvard Business School published some of her deals as case studies. Today Frey Farms is one of America’s largest fresh produce growers and shippers, operating farms in seven states. With a goal of reducing food waste, Frey began producing beverages from the “ugly fruit,” or fruit with imperfections that otherwise wouldn’t be likely to sell. Watermelons are the biggest part of Frey’s business in Florida, and so she has developed and sells watermelon juice as a…
Rising Tide Explorers delivers rental kayaks to clients before sunrise. This could be a reason why the Naples business was recently ranked the No. 1 kayaking tour company in the country by a USA Today poll. In addition to kayak rentals, Rising Tide offers guided kayaking tours or boat tours through thriving estuaries in Naples and Marco Island that are home to dolphins, manatees, wading birds, hundreds of species of fish, unique invertebrates, and more. Kayak adventures can include exploring mangrove tunnels, oyster reefs, and hidden bays, as well as sunset tours of Rookery Bay Reserve, where hundreds of birds rush in for the night. For owner and founder Ryan Young, his company’s dedication to science education is what sets it apart. His guides study the biology of the animals…
In a time when the world has slowed down, art continues to blossom—with Naples being no exception. While it maintains an identity as a classy coastal town with plenty of eclectic personality year-round, these newest additions to outdoor areas have added fresh washes of color and caused passersby to appreciate art on-the-go. *The Naples Design District collaborated with the digital media design program at Florida Gulf Coast University to select one student to create street banners to decorate what is known as Southwest Florida’s creative quarter. Winning artist Aracelly Peralta, a graphic design student, credits the victory to outrageous use of color with an eye-grabbing and unexpected flair. *The Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee and the Marco Island Center for the Arts chose 11 winning artworks from 190 submissions by…
With more than 100 shops to explore, this pedestrian-friendly retail zone in downtown Naples offers some - thing for everyone. Here, we highlight a few of the treasures that await. COCOON Mitchell Siegel travels the world and collaborates with artists to create one-of-a-kind pieces for his nature lover’s dream store. He also offers furniture made in his Greenwich, Connecticut woodshop, like Thailand’s exotic, live-edge, acacia wood table with sun-bleached finish ($4,800). (cocoonnaples.com) PEACH TREE DESIGNS Judy Collins founded Peach Tree Designs in Cape Cod, but this family-run boutique has been a downtown Naples fixture since 1997. Room vignettes display a thoughtful selection of home accessories, fine furniture, gallery-quality artwork, eclectic lighting, and gifts. Use these handcrafted, mini porcelain ceramic pieces ($25-$98) as vases or standalone sculptures. (peachtreedesigns.com) KAY’S ON THE…
