When Florida Gulf Coast University overturned the soil Wednesday just outside a group of trailers that house the Bower School of Music, it effectively turned a new leaf for the school. The school’s students currently rehearse in modular trailers, but starting in the winter of 2010-11, they will have a state-of-the-art building for rehearsal and performance.
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Don’t give a fruit cake this holiday season. This is the time of the year when you show your love for someone – with presents. And sometimes good gifts can be hard to come by, but we’ve come up with a list of good ideas to get you going. Just remember, it’s the thought that counts! Full story »
Whether you are coming from Naples and going east or coming from Fort Lauderdale and going west, it’s hard to miss the signs for Billie Swamp Safari.
The first time I visited my parents in Southwest Florida, my plane landed in Miami. One of my most vivid memories of that trip is the brutal heat that engulfed me as I stepped out of the airport. After a few weeks of cool California weather, I was unprepared for temperatures in the 90s and humidity pushing the 85-percent mark. Full story »
She’s not a Dylan or a Lennon, but Inara George has a familial shadow hanging over her. Still, her father, Little Feat frontman Lowell George, was to thank for the introduction of her most recent recording partner, Van Dyke Parks.
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Since the dawn of time, college students have always been poor. And in the present, it’s still no exception. With the rising costs of gas and food, college kids around the country are feeling the burn of getting less bang for their buck (especially the students lucky enough to be living it up in the glamorous world of unpaid internships). There are, however, tons of creative and common-sense little ways for the academic entrepreneur to cut corners when it comes to basic, day-to-day living if you’re up to the challenge of being thrifty. Full story »
We live in a world inundated with Starbucks, Coffee Beans, etc.. A search of Fort Myers for Starbucks revealed 13 of them within about a half hour of each other.
Millions of Americans depend on these chains every morning to get their caffeine fix. With the introduction of a drive-through built in to most of these companies, millions of Americans can now get their caffeine fix right from the comfort of their cars without ever having to remove their Bluetooth headset.
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It all came down to one final putt for Naples native Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He had just gone toe-to-toe with the best golfer in the world during an 18-hole playoff that only decided that more golf needed to be played. Tiger had just tapped in for par on the 91st hole and Rocco needed to make his long par putt to continue on to the second sudden-death hole. But, as we know now, the putt stayed just outside of the hole and Tiger went on to win his 14th major Full story »
It’s finally starting to feel like summer. And with the onset of the oppressive heat it is only a matter of time until we are dealing with rain everyday around late afternoon. The best way to beat the heat and rain? Movies. Whether you prefer to stay at home and rent DVD’s or go out and see the brand new movies, there are quite a few films slated for release this coming month. Full story »
When I see Fort Jefferson appearing on the horizon in the bright midday sunlight I’m so astonished by its grandiose looks and massive size I am speechless. It took us 26 hours of motor sailing into the wind to get to the Dry Tortugas, the uninhabited islands 70 miles West of Key West, but the sight of the red brick giant in front of me is definitely worth the long trip. Full story »
Lots of people play golf. It’s a sport that anyone can enjoy, so incredibly difficult that you can’t help but be hooked after only a few rounds. I find professional golf fun to watch because the pros manage to make everything look so easy. Armed with what I believed to be a pretentious patience to being a spectator to the game of golf, I went along to watch my friend Kevin attempt to qualify for the Florida State Am.
Another aspect to golf often overlooked is the sometimes ungodly hours that we are willing to play; it is my understanding that the only thing happening in the world before 9 o’clock is golf. So I woke up at 7 to make it to his 8:30 tee time, upon arriving there I noticed everyone was riding around in golf carts. This might seem like a ridiculous observation to make, but most tournaments players, caddies, and spectators are relegated to walking the entire course. So when I saw that I would have my own golf cart I pictured myself sitting idly, sipping a drink while watching my friend play golf: all from the comfort of my moving umbrella.
However, when Kevin went to check in, he was handed a piece of paper describing the rules which stated that while players were entitled to carts, all spectators had to walk. My cushy round of golf vanished, but I wasn’t walking without a fight. Full story »
Dad is a good guy. He’s always there, ready to fix a leaky faucet or kill a spider on a moment’s notice. He’s always around to lift and move heavy objects, he’ll go out in the 100 degree Florida summer heat to mow the lawn, and he’ll risk his life on the roof to string up the Christmas lights. And through it all, he never complains. So, show Dad how much you appreciate all the jars he’s opened for you and all the money he put into your karate or ballet career in grade school. This Father’s Day, skip the tie or coffee mug and get him something that says “Thanks, Dad, for always being there to fix the sink. You’re the best!” Full story »
It’s no secret that the state of Florida boasts of some beautiful beaches. And, supposing you don’t want to drive for hours to reach the Florida Keys, and you want to lounge around seaside where you can catch a knockout sunset, then it’s Southwest Florida that you want. Unlike the crowded Keys, Southwest Florida offers some beaches that will grant you peace and solitude, and unlike the rambunctious East coast, Southwest Florida bears witness to spectacular ocean-view sunsets, painting the sky with every imaginable shade and hue.To make things easier for you, here’s a brief overview of a handful of the best beaches in Southwest Florida. You’re welcome! Full story »
Does the thought of summer approaching make you dread the shopping that takes place to prepare for the heat? This year put the summer insecurities in the closet for once and step out into the world in fantastic style! Summer shopping doesn’t have to entail throwing clothes around the fitting rooms, this year you can make summer shopping fun! Full story »
I’m going to be honest here: I have always had a somewhat snobbish attitude towards cruise ships and people that spend their money and time on them. But when I saw an online offer of an all-inclusive package with an ocean-view cabin, food and gratuities for a little over $300 per person for the whole vacation, I gave in. It was time to overcome my preconceptions and give this whole cruising vacation the old college try... Full story »
It’s summer, and for a lot of us that means a lot of driving. Whether you’re going to the beach, to a party, to work, or to a movie, you’re probably cranking up the AC to stay cool and barreling down the road to your destination. Memorial Day ranks just behind Thanksgiving as the biggest travel day of the year, the roads are swamped. And along with the rest of the driving population, you’re probably getting hit pretty hard by gas prices. Full story »
