Posted on Thu, Sep 23, 2010 @ 10:10
From CaptivaSanibel.com’s Arts & Entertainment Section:
Florida Gulf Coast University invites aspiring writers to attend the Sanibel Island Writers Conference, to be held Thursday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 7 at BIG Arts on Sanibel Island.
Participants can attend a variety of workshops, panels, lectures and readings presented by celebrated and experienced writers and teachers. The daily schedule is from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
According to Tom DeMarchi, director of the Sanibel Writers Conference and instructor in the FGCU College of Arts and Sciences, “The conference is open to any aspiring writer who wants to create new work or refine a project already in progress. We invite anyone interested in reading, writing, and publishing to attend.”
Attendees participate in a variety of morning workshops in fiction, poetry, online publishing, humor, screenwriting, children’s literature, memoir, songwriting, and creative nonfiction. Afternoon panels include workshops in publishing, freelance writing, journalism, obtaining a literary agent and the creative process. Each evening will feature readings and book signings with two to three authors, a keynote address from Augusten Burroughs, and a musical performance from Stanley Brinks.
Learn more about the Sanibel Writers Conference by visiting
www.fgcu.edu/siwc.
Posted on Wed, Sep 08, 2010 @ 09:24
Will you be vacationing on Captiva Island next month? Ever run in a road race? Friends in Service Here (FISH), a leading non-profit, non-sectarian, human services organization focused on “neighbors helping neighbors” on Sanibel and Captiva is hosting it’s second annual 10-K road race on Saturday, October 16th, and the entire community is encouraged to participate or simply cheer on runners.
Fast becoming the organization's most influential fundraising event, the race is held along Sanibel Island roadways and is expected to draw more than 500 runners, comprised of year round residents, snow bunnies, and vacationers in town for the week.
The race begins and ends at the Sanibel Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island, with a prompt 7:30 a.m. start time. FISH will be hosting an expo at the House from 7 a.m. to 12 noon with music and refreshments as part of the pre- and post-race festivities.
The entry Fee is $25.00 (pre-registration price) and Race Day registration is $30. Deadline for pre-registration is Friday, October 9 2010.
For more information on this road race that is growing in popularity, and helps fund a great local organization, visit www.fishofsanibel.com and www.ftmyerstrackclub.com.
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Posted on Fri, Sep 03, 2010 @ 08:26
Need something to do this Labor Day Weekend? With the forecast calling for sun and highs in the lower 90s, Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral is the place to be.
The park will be open all holiday weekend with fun festivities for the entire family, highlighted by the inaugural Plastic Duck Race down the Mainstream River on Monday. Organizers are hoping to sell 1,000 ducks with proceeds going to the Cape Coral Special Populations Community.
Individuals can buy tickets to purchase ducks for $5 each, six for $25 or 12 for $50. They can be purchased at Sun Splash, Four Freedoms Park and the Frieda B. Smith Special Populations Center at any point throughout the weekend. Participants will simply place their duck in the stream and hope for the best, watching it float down against hundreds of hopeful competitors.
Prizes include four family passes for the 2011 Sun Splash season, and a round of golf at the Coral Oaks Golf Course.
For more information on all activities taking place at Sun Splash Waterpark this weekend, visit www.SunSplashWaterpark.com or call (239) 574-0558. If you're traveling from our Captiva Island luxury vaction rental, make a day trip out of it with the family. It's just a one-hour drive away.
Posted on Fri, Aug 20, 2010 @ 11:01
Avid cyclists and casual bikers alike now have a newer, greener and safer way to visit Captiva Island
Yesterday, after months of construction and $320,000 of stimulus money, Lee County elected leaders cut the ribbon on the widened bike-lane, added to the Sanibel Causeway through the toll plaza, giving bikers and pedestrians an easier and safer way to traverse to the Island. Changes included a widened bike-lane and shoulder, and elimination of forcing cyclists to merge with traffic at toll plazas on either end of the bridge, an often times dangerous act.
County officials’ overall mission for the newest bike path was to encourage visitors to keep their gas-guzzling motor vehicles on the main land, and help reduce traffic along the Causeway during busy seasons, all while promoting a more active lifestyle. Given the quaint setting that is Captiva Island, exploring the area by bike can often times be a much more rewarding and conducive form of transportation, especially if you're just visiting for the day.
Have you taken a biking or walking trip over the new and improved Causeway? Share your experience with us. If you’re interested in visiting Sanibel or Captiva Island for the first time, learn more about Captiva Island beaches, as many offer miles and miles of preserved bike paths for you to enjoy.
Posted on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 @ 10:43
Whether you have vacationed at our Sanibel or Captiva Island luxury vacation rental, spent a winter or two in the area, or live on one of the islands year round, you undoubtedly have your favorite spots to eat, shop and indulge from time-to-time.
Running now through the end of August is the "Best of The Islands" contest, which aims to garner a consensus favorite for 86 topics that fall under the following eight categories
So if you're in the area, be sure to to grab the latest copy of the Sanibel-Captiva Islander, Island Reporter, and Captiva Current and fill out your ballot to give your vote for your favorite island attractions and spots.
To learn more, visit CaptivaSanibel.com. The winners will be announced in September.
Posted on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 @ 09:47
For the fourth year in a row, the Captiva Island restaurant Keylime Bistro has been recognized by Wine Spectator, receiving the magazine's "Award of Excellence," a distinction given to just 2500 restaurants across the country.
The distinction is awarded to restaurants that have a "well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style," according to WineSpectator.com.
Keylime Bistro boasts upwards of 200 wine selections, carefully picked to pair with entress on their extensive food menu, and was the only Captiva and Sanibel Island establishment to be recognized by Wine Spectator.
To read more about the award, check out a great write-up from CaptivaSanibel.com, and be sure to stop in to Keylime Bistro if you're staying at our Captiva luxury vacation rental.
Posted on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 08:52
Remember when Captiva Island’s South Seas Resort had nightlife? Well it’s back, with tonight’s grand reopening of the Holy Smoke Heavenly Barbecue and Better Burgers. Complete with a brand new pool hall and arcade, South Seas will celebrate the return of Holy Smoke tonight with live entertainment by Jeff Long. Long will begin nightly performances from 6 to 11 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday until Labor Day.
The new pool hall, adjacent to the original Holy Smoke building, will also feature a full bar, an arcade, a dance floor and the only public pool tables on the island. Also, there will of course be dining space to enjoy Holy Smoke’s divine menu of barbecue cuisine. Be sure to take advantage of the Holy Smoke daily special — everything from 50-cent wings to $9 bucket of beer.
Holy Smoke will also be running special redemption advertisements in local newspapers and magazines to entice people to check out the new space. Stop by tonight and get $5 of free tokens or a free pitcher of beer.
The newest Captiva Island restaurant, Holy Smoke is located at Chadwick's Square at South Seas Island Resort (5400 Plantation Road, just a 10-minute walk from our luxury vacation rental). For more information about the new Holy Smoke, call them at (239) 472-7559, or visit their webpage.
Posted on Thu, Jul 08, 2010 @ 09:29
Are you staying at our Captiva Island luxury rental, and interested in snapping pictures of some of the colorful and unique wildlife on Sanibel Island? Check out this clip from this week's Island Sun...
"July 15 marks the opening of the annual 'Ding' Darling Days Amateur Nature Photography Contest. The contest, sponsored by the 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Society- Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) and held in conjunction with 'Ding' Darling Days, October 17 to 23, honors the birthday of Jay Norwood 'Ding' Darling, one of the foremost conservationists in American history and driving force behind the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
Deadline for submission is 4 p.m. on September 15. For an entry form and other contest information, log on to www.dingdarlingsociety.org and click on 'Photo Contest,' or contact DDWS at dingdarlingoffice@yahoo.com or (239) 472-1100, ext. 233.
Winners will be announced and awarded prizes at Conservation Art Day on Saturday, October 23. Entries may be delivered in person to JN 'Ding' Darling NWR or by mail to 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Society, One Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957.
Only amateur photographers are eligible to enter. 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Society is a non-profit friends organization that supports environmental education and services for JN 'Ding' Darling NWR."
Posted on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 01:55 PM
The weekend is finally upon us. After receiving great news last week that Sanibel had indeed secured adequate funding (
mainly through donations from area residents and vacationers), the annual Fourth of July fireworks show will go on!
But that's just a slice of all the great week-end activities taking place here on Sanibel and Captiva Island. Check out this weekend's schedule of events and celebrate our nation's independence with your Island neighbors and friends.
Saturday, July 3rd
- 9:30 a.m. - Independence Day Parade (Parade route begins at Island Inn Road to Tarpon Bay Road to Periwinkle Way to Casa Ybel Road). Contact Trish Phillips at 246-2981 for additional information
- 10:30 a.m. - Bailey's Shopping Center (2477 Periwinkle Way) Fourh of July Backyard BBQ,
- 10:30 a.m. - Jerry's Shopping Center ( 1700 Periwinkle Way) Independence Day Festival
- Noon - Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club's 31st Annual Fourth of July Road Rally starts and ends at Timbers Restaurant (703 Tarpon Bay Road) Contact Richard McCurry at 292-4631 for additional information.
Sunday, July 4th
- 4 p.m. - The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club (949 Sand Castle Road) Independence Day Celebration
- Dusk - Fireworks to be launched from the north end terminus of Bailey Road. For the best vantage point, head to the bayside of Sanibel or to any of the Sanibel Causeway Islands.
Also, some of your favorite Island retailers have been permitted to hold a sidewalk sale:
- Periwinkle Place Shopping Center, 2075 Periwinkle Way
- The Village Shops, 2340 Periwinkle Way
- Tahitian Gardens Shopping Center, 1975-2019 Periwinkle Way
- Olde Sanibel Shoppes, 630 Tarpon Bay Road
- Seahorse Shopping Center, 362 Periwinkle Way
- Sanibel Seashells, 1544 Periwinkle Way
- Sanibel Square, 2240 Periwinkle Way
Posted on Wed, Jun 16, 2010 @ 08:04
Grab your son or your pops and get into the competitive spirit this Father's Day weekend, by participaing in a fun golf tournament at the South Seas Golf Course.
This nine-hole executive course, named as one of the "Top Five Short Courses" in the country, has views of the Gulf of Mexico from every tee-box, fairway, and green- a truly stunning track that challenges players of every skill level.
The Father's Day tournament will be held on Saturday, June 19th at high noon. Be sure to have your accuracy game in top shape, as competitions like "Closest to Pin" and "Longest Putt" will be held, with prizes including various golf accessories and apparel.
The entry fee for each father/son duo is $70, with golf carts and bottled water included in the cost. If you're interested in participating, but don't have your own set of clubs, the clubhouse can provide you with a set for an additional $25.
The South Seas Golf Course is located at 5400 Plantation Drive, just up the street from our Captiva luxury vacation rental. There's still plenty of space to celebrate Father's Day out on the links, so call (239) 472-5111 to pre-register or visit the course's web page for more information.