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.
Like anything else, the idea of home can differ—shaped by our experiences, emotions, and shifting perspectives. It can feel warm and simple, as in that wistful phrase from The Wizard of Oz, or more complex, fleeting, and bittersweet, as Thomas Wolfe reminds us in You Can’t Go Home Again. Whether we view it a steadfast sanctuary or mutable milieu, home holds many meanings, and this issue of Naples Illustrated reflects some of this breadth. Our cover spotlights Neapolitans Mike and Janie Yag, a couple who have built a comfortable life on Shore Acres Farm, an equestrian complex they established on the east side of Naples. The Yags own more than two dozen Selle Françias (French saddle horses), while Shore Acres boards another approximate two dozen steeds. In addition to impressive…
STYLE MEETS PURPOSE WHO: Community School of Naples Veterans and First Responders Fund WHAT: Flight of Fashion WHERE: Private hangar, Naples Airport DETAILS: To honor and support family of the community’s active service members, veterans, and first responders, guests came together for an evening of fashion and fun, raising money for students of those who have served our nation. MEDIA SPONSOR: Naples Illustrated UPLIFTING AND INSPIRING LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO: The Education Foundation of Collier County—Champions For Learning WHAT: Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers WHERE: Naples United Church of Christ DETAILS: More than 400 members of the community attended the thirty-fifth annual Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers to honor the very best of Collier County’s educators. This year’s honorees included 54 teachers of distinction, seven teachers of the year, and four…
Luxury sports car enthusiasts have a new place to gather in downtown Naples at Porsche Studio Naples. The fifth studio of its kind from the high-powered brand, the new space is located on Fifth Avenue South and opened in June. Highlights include a Porsche racing simulator straight from Germany, a coffee bar, a boutique with Porsche apparel, and other features. Porsche Naples Director of Marketing & Operations Danielle Greenberg explains the purpose of the studio is to provide opportunities for immersion within the Porsche brand without the pressure of buying a car. “Porsche is more than a car,” Greenberg says. “It has become more of an experience and a lifestyle. So, that’s why with our studio, you can come and grab a coffee. Or, you can race on the simulator.…
The Third Street South shopping district welcomes a new addition this month: Books on Third. Founders and Neapolitans Shan O’Fee-Byrom and Lindsay Smith met through their children; they have six between the two of them. As their children got older, the mothers felt ready for new pursuits. Both are avid readers, and O’Fee-Byrom had always wanted to open a bookstore, though not alone. Since December of last year, the two have been planning this new chapter of their lives. Together they scoured the town and found what they believe is the perfect location for their independent bookstore: the balcony space above Tony’s Off Third and Ridgway Bar & Grill. “We fell in love with Third Street,” says O’Fee-Byrom. “There is an old-fashioned charm about it. It feels like a community.”…
Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, Home Base Florida, part of the large national nonprofit Home Base, continues to provide healing opportunities for local veterans and military families impacted by the often-invisible wounds of war. Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center, a captive-bred exotic animal rescue center in east Naples, once again collaborated with Home Base Florida’s Adventure Series program, an initiative aimed at strengthening bonds with veterans and their families through a variety of free events. Veterans were invited to the sanctuary and introduced to Shy Wolf’s rescued animals, which often come from abused, abandoned, and neglected situations. As the animal encounters take place in a peaceful and natural environment, veterans and animals are given the opportunity to experience unconditional love and courage. Following the animal encounters, the veterans…
Maria Thimothy has always loved languages. The native Spanish speaker, who immigrated to Chicago from Mexico, studied French at Northwestern University; she learned Italian to help her while traveling as a young graduate. Later, as an assistant director at a French institute in the Chicago area, she developed a Spanish-immersion preschool and kindergarten program for the organization’s sister school. Thimothy and her husband moved to Naples seven years ago with their children. As a mother committed to maintaining bilingualism in her own home, she saw a need in the area for Spanish-learning resources. With her background in language and at her husband’s prompting, she founded LingoStars, an organization offering full immersion workshops combined with fun activities to help more area children learn Spanish. Thimothy believes learning another language is a…
