on the gulf
NEWS & PREVIEWS
George Harrison
Exhibit at Marie Selby Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens presents ‘George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life’, at their 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus. The exhibition will explore the deep connection between Harrison and the pastime of gardening, which became his greatest passion.
George’s love of gardening was an integral part of his identity. In an interview in Rolling Stone magazine in 1979, the renowned singer-songwriter described himself as “just a gardener.” His strong association with gardening was further illustrated in his 1980 autobiography, I Me Mine, dedicated “to gardeners everywhere.”
George’s approach to gardening combined creativity, spontaneity, whimsy, humor, and joy. This approach has inspired the exhibition, which will combine a display of objects and ephemera in the Museum of Botany & the Arts with stunning horticultural vignettes in the Tropical Conservatory and throughout the gardens of the Downtown Sarasota campus.
Featured throughout the exhibition will be a selection of George’s music and lyrics, as well as excerpts from Came the Lightening, a book of poems by Olivia Harrison dedicated to George and reflecting on their time together.
A selection of special programs will be scheduled throughout the run of the exhibit. A highlight will be ‘An Evening with Patti Smith Dedicated to George Harrison’ on February 12 at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus featuring a performance by Smith, Selby Gardens’ Artist-in-Residence.
The Garden’s annual Lecture on Art and Nature, featuring a luncheon and conversation with film producer and Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, and Robin Lane Fox, renowned gardener, author, and historian, is on Tuesday, February 11, at 11am at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. Olivia Harrison will be signing copies of her book of poetry, Came the Lightening.
‘George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life’ is on view February 9-June 29. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus is located at 1534 Mound St. The Gardens is open daily 10am-5pm. For information, call 941-366-5731.
Reading Fest
Returns to
River District
Twenty-five acclaimed and bestselling authors will be appearing at the 26th annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival on March 1 at the Fort Myers Regional Library in downtown Fort Myers Historic River District
Internationally recognized authors for adults, teens and children will feature author presentations, readings, book signings, activities for teens and children, drawing lessons, demonstrations of the latest library technology, youth writing awards, entertainment, crafts, food trucks and opportunities to meet authors. Plus, every child and teen attending the event will receive a free book of their choosing.
The day-long event celebrates the power of reading, promotes literacy and library services, and encourages a communitywide culture of reading for recreation and personal development.
This year’s line-up brings in festival favorite Debbie Macomber and other adult authors like Reed Farrel Coleman and Lisa Genova. Featured youth authors include Megan McDonald, creator of the Judy Moody Stink series, along with Molly Idle and Renée Ahdieh.
Authors of mystery, crime thrillers, fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, humor and memoirs will be appearing at the Festival, including Tracy Clark, Alison Gaylin, Julie Soto, Kate Hannigan, Kate Messner, and Angela Montoya, among many others.
'An Evening with the Authors’, the reading festival’s featured fundraiser, is February 28. The ticketed event gives attendees a chance to meet and mingle with the authors as part of an unforgettable dining experience at the Burroughs Home and Gardens. The evening also includes a silent auction with proceeds supporting the festival.
In conjunction with the Reading Festival, authors will be visiting library branches ahead of the festival include. These include: Jennifer Coburn (February 17 at Cape Coral Library), Libby Fischer Hellmann (February 13 at Lakes Library in Fort Myers), Jean Kwok (Estero Recreation Center) and Terrie Farley Moran (February 14 at Fort Myers Library in downtown Fort Myers & February 15 at East County Library in Lehigh Acres.).
The Southwest Florida Reading Festival is open 10am-4pm. Admission is free.
Fort Myers Regional Library is located at 2450 First St. in the Fort Myers River District. Burroughs Home & Gardens is located nearby at 2505 First St.
For information, call 479-4636.
Opera Festival
in Cambier Park
Opera Naples presents their 5th annual ‘Festival Under the Stars’, February 27-March 15 in downtown Naples’ Cambier Park.
Festivalgoers will enjoy three fully staged operas featuring internationally renowned artists, plus collaborative evenings with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, San Francisco Opera’s Adler Program, Festival of the Arts BOCA and Gulfshore Ballet.
The season includes performances of La bohème, The Magic Flute, The Mikado, Don Pasquale, and Sleeping Beauty.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Feb 27: The Luciano Pavarotti
Foundation Pavarotti’s Voices Concert
Feb 28: The Magic Flute, by Mozart
Mar 1: Family & Community Day
Mar 1: The Luciano Pavarotti
Foundation Pavarotti’s Voices Concert
Travels to Boca
(in Mizner Park, Boca Raton)
Mar 2: The Magic Flute, by Mozart
Mar 3: The Luciano Pavarotti
Foundation Celebrates
Luciano’s 90th Anniversary:
Reflections from Nicoletta Pavarotti
(Wang Opera Center)
Mar 6: La bohème, by Puccini
Mar 7: The Mikado, by Gilbert
and Sullivan
Mar 8: La bohème, by Puccini
Mar 9: The Mikado, by Gilbert
and Sullivan
Mar 15: Sleeping Beauty, by Tchaikovsky,
performed with Gulfshore Ballet
The Pavarotti Celebration on March 3 at the Wang Opera Center and the performance of The Mikado are at 7:30pm. March 15 performances of Sleeping Beauty at the Wang Opera Center are at 2 & 6pm.
‘Festival Under the Stars’ performances are held on the Cambier Park softball field, located at 755 8th Ave. S. in downtown Naples. Wang Opera Center is located at 2408 Linwood Ave. in Naples.
The Family & Community Day on March 1 features activities and special performances for the whole family. Children’s themed opera performance by Opera Naples Resident Artists at noon, plus fun activities and games, bounce house, face painting and balloon artistry. Admission is free.
For information, call 963-9050.
Zimbawean Sculpture
Exhibition
in Punta Gorda
ZimSculpt, a renowned exhibition of Zimbabwean stone sculptures, returns to Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, February 8- April 20. The Gardens will host over 2,000 hand-carved stone sculptures.
The exhibition features 100 contemporary sculptures created by Zimbabwean artists, with each piece crafted using the traditional Shona stone carving technique. The collection showcases work from the original founders of Shona sculpture all the way through the fifth generation of sculptors.
New sculptures will be rotating through the exhibit on a weekly basis, creating a fresh display throughout the run of the event. There will also be a marketplace with handmade baskets, jewelry, and other artisan crafts.
Two artists will be on-site daily, demonstrating their craft and sharing insights into the stone carving process.
Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is located at 5827 Riverside Dr. in Punta Gorda.
The Gardens is open daily 9am-4pm. For information, call 941-621-8299.

Lee County Sports Complex
HAMMOND STADIUM
14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy.
Fort Myers
800-338-9467
Feb 22: vs Atlanta Braves *
Feb 25: vs NY Yankees *
Feb 27: vs Pittsburgh Pirates *
Feb 28: vs Baltimore Orioles *
Mar 2: vs Tampa Bay Rays
Mar 5: vs Baltimore Orioles
Mar 7: vs Atlanta Braves
Mar 8: vs Boston Red Sox
Mar 10: vs Philadelphia Phillies
Mar 13: vs Pittsburgh Pirates.
Mar 14: vs Tampa Bay Rays *
Mar 16: vs Boston Red Sox
Mar 18: vs Detroit Tigers
Mar 20: vs Boston Red Sox *
Mar 22: vs Toronto Blue Jays
Mar 24: vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Mar 25: vs Colorado Rockies
all games start 1pm except *6pm

The exhibition, 'George Harrison:
A Gardener’s Life,' is on view
February 9-June 29 at
Marie Selby Botanical Garden’s
Downtown Sarasota campus.

The SWFL Ag Expo is at the Lee County
Civic Center in North Fort Myers,
February 27-March 9.

ArtFest Fort Myers returns
January 31-February 2, to the
downtown Fort Myers’ riverfront.

The Annual Immokalee
Cattle Drive & Jamboree
is March 8.

Avenue of Giants will be screened
February 11 during the
Jewish Film Festival of SWFL.

Children’s author, Kate Hannigan
will be appearing at the
SWFL Reading Festival, March 1
in the Fort Myers River District.

Opera Naples’ ‘Festival Under the Stars’
returns to Naples’ Cambier Park.

ZimSculpt showcases modern sculpture
from Zimbabwe.

The 35th annual Mrs. Edison's Sing
is February 4, during the
Edison Festival of Light.

HERTZ ARENA
11000 Everblades Pkwy • Estero
948-7825
Feb 5: vs Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Feb 7: vs Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Feb 8: vs Greenville Swamp Rabbits *
Feb 19: vs Tahoe Knight Monsters
Feb 21: vs Tahoe Knight Monsters
Feb 22: vs Tahoe Knight Monsters *
Feb 26: vs Orlando Solar Bears
Feb 28: vs South Carolina Stingrays
Mar 1: vs South Carolina Stingrays *
Mar 12: vs Savannah Ghost Pirates
Mar 14: vs Savannah Ghost Pirates
Mar 26: vs Jacksonville IceMen
Mar 28: vs Jacksonville IceMen
Mar 29: vs Jacksonville IceMen *
Apr 9: vs Atlanta Gladiators
Apr 11: vs Atlanta Gladiators
Apr 12: vs Atlanta Gladiators *
Games 7:30pm – except * 7pm

PARADISE COAST
SPORTS COMPLEX
3940 City Gater Blvd. N. • Naples
933-5335
Mar 8: vs Chattanooga Red Wolves
Mar 15: vs Forward Madison
Mar 29: vs Portland Hearts of Pine
Apr 12: vs Richmond Kickers
Apr 19: vs One Knoxville
Apr 26: vs Charleston Battery
May 25: vs Union Omaha
Jun 14: vs Chattanooga Red Wolves
Jul 4: vs Tampa Bay Rowdies
Jul 12: vs Westchester
Aug 6: vs South Georgia Tormenta
Aug 9: vs Texoma
Aug 30: vs Westchester
Sep 6: vs Greenville Triumph
Sep 27: vs AV Alta
Oct 18: vs Spokane Velocity
Oct 25: vs Charlotte Independence
game times tba
SWFL Ag Expo
at Lee Civic Center
Southwest Florida Ag Expo is February 27- March 9 at the Lee County Civic Center Complex.
The family-friendly event features interactive exhibits, rides, food, an up-close look at agriculture, Crafting & Creative Living displays, live music, and livestock exhibitions and events, including the popular goat agility show opening night and horse awards on the last day of the Expo, March 9.
Daily shows include: Agricadabra Magic Show, Comedy Hypnosis, Cowboy Camp with Cowboy Poetry & Storytelling, Trinity Heritage Ranch (kids get hands-on experience making butter, ice cream and soap using historic tools and machinery, east Knoll Pottery ceramics demonstrations, Tinsmithing demonstrations, wood Bowl Turning demonstrations, Eudora Farms’ interactive exotic animal petting zoo with camel and pony rides, Pirate Man Dan’s magic and acrobatics, Moogician comedy & storytelling show, Pork Chop Revue animal show, Kids Foam Zone play area, and Marc Dobson, the One Man Band.
CONCERT SCHEDULE
Feb 27: Deb & The Dynamics (6-9pm)
Feb 28: Rosada Project (7-10pm)
Mar 1: Thunder Beach (2-5pm)
Mar 1: Pure Country (7-10pm)
Mar 3: Billy Rice Band (7-10pm)
Mar 4: Trop Rock Junkies (7-10pm)
Mar 5: The Holy Rocka Rollaz (5-7:30pm)
Mar 7: Hairdaze (7-10pm)
Mar 8: Kettle of Fish (7-10pm)
The Southwest Florida Ag Expo’s Creative Living Gallery will showcase local talent and expertise. Creative Living displays include: Fabric & Threads (quilts, embroidery textile art), Handcraft (woodworking, jewelry making, wearable art), Fine Art (paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography), Tablescape (table settings & décor), and Home Gardening & Horticulture (floral arrangements, potted plants & garden designs).
In addition, new this year are: Cottage Food (food entrepreneurs showcase their products while learning how to operate a cottage food business, and S.T.E.A.M. (showcasing the intersection of science, technology, engineering, art & mathematics)
The Lee County Civic Center Complex is 11831 Bayshore Rd. in North Fort Myers. The Expo is open February 27, 3:30-11pm; February 28, 4-11pm; March 1 & 7, 11am -midnite; March 2 & 9, 11am-10pm; March 3-6, 4-11pm; March 8, 1pm-1am. For information, call 533-7275.
Annual Cattle Drive
in Immokalee
Collier County Museum’s Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch presents the annual Immokalee Cattle Drive & Jamboree on March 8.
The days’ events are free and begin with a pancake breakfast fundraiser at 7:30am, a cattle herd driven down Main St. in Immokalee at 10am on their way to Roberts Ranch, and a jamboree with live entertainment, craft vendors and food trucks from 11am-3pm.
Immokalee Pioneer Museum is located at 1215 Roberts Ave W. in Immokalee. Call 252-2611 for information.
ArtFest Celebrates
25 Years
ArtFest Fort Myers, the largest free outdoor fine art festival in Southwest Florida, returns to the riverfront in Fort Myers on Saturday & Sunday, February 1 & 2. There is also an Opening Night party Friday, January 31, where patrons can meet and mingle with artists.
The outdoor art fair features works by 200 professional artists from 39 states to downtown Fort Myers: works in ceramics, glass, jewelry, and wearable art, as well as paintings, drawings and sculpture.
Opening night, January 31, features ‘Symphony on the Sound’, a free pops concert by Gulf Coast Symphony from 7-8:15 at the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater across from the Luminary Hotel.
VIP tickets for ArtFest are available.
ArtFest Fort Myers is open Sat & Sun, February 1 & 2, 10am-5pm. Opening night activities are 6-9pm. Entrance to ArtFest is on Edwards Drive in the Fort Myers Historic River District.
Call 768-3602 for information.
Jewish Film Fest
in Fort Myers
The Jewish Film Festival of Southwest Florida is celebrating its 29th year, February 2-23, with a diverse selection of acclaimed Jewish films from several countries that examine Jewish history, heritage, and culture. Eight films will be screened at the Regal Belltower Theaters on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3 & 6:30pm, throughout February, with a special noon matinee screening on Friday, February 7.
A special discussion is planned after the screening of Colleyville on February 20 with film director Dani Menkin and Jeff Cohen, the survivor in the film.
FILM SCREENING SCHEDULE
Feb 2: Running on Sand – drama
(Hebrew – subtitles) 3pm
Feb 4: Hope Without Boundaries
— documentary (Hebrew -subtitles)
6:30pm
Feb 7: Guns & Moses – (English) 12pm
Feb 11: Avenue of the Giants – drama
(English) 6:30pm
Feb 13: Bad Shabbos – comedy
(English) 6:30pm
Feb 18: Kidnapped – documentary
(Italian, Hebrew, Latin – subtitles)
6:30pm
Feb 20: Colleyville – documentary
(English) 6:30pm – post-screening talk
Feb 23: Stronghold – drama
(Hebrew – subtitles) 3pm
There is open seating at all films for general admission tickets. Reserved seating available with sponsorships.
The Regal Belltower Stadium 20 Theaters are located at 13499 Bell Tower Dr. in Fort Myers. Call 481-4449 for information.
Sanibel Shell Show
Returns to Marriott
Resort & Spa
The annual Sanibel Shell Show, March 6-8, will include a large number of both artistic and scientific exhibits on display, as well as 70 vendors offering shells and shell-related items, a silent auction, and a raffle, and a free bag of Sanibel shells for each attendee.
The show will be held at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, located at 17260 Harbour Pointe Dr in Fort Myers, just before the Sanibel Causeway.
The show will be open March 6 & 7, 9am-5pm, and 9am-4pm on March 8
Proceeds from the Sanibel Shell Show benefit causes and organizations, such as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, and supports local university research into mollusks and water quality.
For information, visit the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club website, sanibelshellclub.com.
Mrs. Edison's
Hymn Sing
Celebrates 35 Years
The 35th annual Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing, an official sanctioned event of the Edison Festival of Light, will be held February 4, at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers.
Because of the overwhelming popularity of the event, two performances are planned at 1 & 4pm. Admission is free, but organizers are requesting that attendees bring cans of non-perishable food and a voluntary cash donation, if possible, to benefit Sam’s Community Kitchen & Cafe of Community Cooperative.
This year’s event will feature the First Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir and many other singers, along with a piano-organ combination.
The First Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Second St. & Lee St. in Fort Myers’ Historic River District. For information, call 334-2261.

JETBLUE PARK
1500 Fenway South Drive
Fort Myers
888-733-7696
Feb 21: vs Northeastern U. Huskies
Feb 23: vs Toronto Blue Jays
Feb 24: vs NY Yankees
Feb 26: vs Tampa Bay Rays
Mar 1: vs Minnesota Twins
Mar 2: vs NY Mets
Mar 5: vs Tampa Bay Rays
Mar 7: vs Miami Marlins
Mar 9: vs Atlanta Braves.
Mar 11:vs Philadelphia Phillies
Mar 12: vs Minnesota Twins *
Mar 15: vs Atlanta Braves
Mar 17: vs Baltimore Orioles
Mar 19: vs Detroit Tigers
Mar 21: vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Mar 23: vs Minnesota Twins
all games start 1pm except *6pm

CHARLOTTE
SPORTS PARK
2300 El Jobean Rd.
Port Charlotte
888-326-7297

COOLTODAY PARK
18800 West Villages Pkwy.
Venice
941-413-5000

ED SMITH STADIUM
2700 12th St.
Sarasota
941-893-6300

LEECOM PARK
1611 9th St. W.
Bradenton
941-747-3031