Arts and Entertainment

The sprawling TECO Arena in Estero provides a venue for big-name stars such as Elton John and Sting as well as ice hockey with the Florida Everblades and basketball with the Sea Dragons.

Elsewhere, two dinner theaters offer a meal and a popular show, and several smaller theater groups also have their own stages, including Florida Repertory Theatre at the historic Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers.

Other forms of amusement include a plethora of multi-screen movie houses and clubs serving up comedy, country music, rock, jazz, folk and even an Elvis show.

There's hardly a weekend throughout the winter season without at least a couple of festivals celebrating some local specialty or quirk. Among the annual fetes are the Mullet Festival in Goodland, the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival, Greek Fest, Mango Mania, American Sandsculpting Festival and the big one, the Edison Festival of Light, honoring the inventor around his February birthday.

BONITA SPRINGS

Live Music/Dancing

Jade Island, 8951 Bonita Beach Road, (941) 992-8881. Friday-karaoke. Saturday-dance music with DJ.

CAPE CORAL

Performing Arts

Cape Coral Cultural Park Theatre Company, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., (941) 772-5862. Home of the Cape Coral Community Theatre, the Cultural Park Theatre Project, the Southwest Florida Craft Guild and the Cape Coral Council for Arts and Humanities. The facility offers a variety of programs including live performances, art exhibitions and classes. Call for specific programs and scheduling information.

FORT MYERS

Performing Arts

Colonial Station, four miles west of I-75 on Colonial Boulevard, (941) 275-8487. A local theatrical troupe presents a murder mystery aboard a moving train Wednesday through Sunday nights. Guests help identify the murderer and solve the crime. The drama includes a five-course dinner served in vintage cars. Reservations required.

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 8099 College Parkway S.W., (941) 481-4849 or (800) 440-7469. Home of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (941-418-1500). Variety of quality touring productions including Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs, as well as concerts and other performances by national touring groups. bbmannpah.com.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., (941) 278-4422. Southwest Florida's most entertaining destination with buffet dining. Shows include popular comedies, dramas, musical revues, specialty concerts and children's programs. A theater-theme gift shop is located in the lobby, where local artwork is also exhibited. The Playbill Bar offers pre- or post-dinner cocktails; the Café Cabaret is open for special engagements and is available for private parties and business functions.

Florida Repertory Theatre at the Arcade Theatre, historic downtown Fort Myers on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry streets, (941) 332-4488 or (877) 787-8053. Professional theater presenting six productions during the winter season and three during the summer from classics to the hottest Broadway shows.

Lee County Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (941) 939- 2787. Featuring the 12,000-square-foot William R. Frizzell Cultural Centre, housing galleries, classrooms, offices and a gift shop; the 175-seat indoor Foulds Theatre and its resident company, Theatre Conspiracy; the outdoor Margaret Morrow Frizzell amphitheater, and the 8,000-square- foot Edwards Professional Building. Numerous arts groups, jazz concerts, live theater performances, monthly art exhibits, area festivals, classes/workshops and other events.

On the Edge Improvisational Theatre, (941) 332-7992. Performs custom murder mysteries and other theatrical productions for private groups and resorts.

Southwest Florida Symphony, 4560 Via Royale, (941) 418-1500. Celebrating 41 years of music. Presenting classical and pops concerts November through April. Also presenting Symphony on Sanibel. Call for schedule information and tickets.

Theatre Conspiracy, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (941) 936-3239. Non-profit group that performs classics to cutting edge, world premieres, avant-garde theater. Kids Conspiracy performs children's plays. www.theatreconspiracy.org.

Live Music/Dancing

Buddha Bar & Grill, 12701 McGregor Blvd., (941) 482-8565. Live entertainment Tuesday through Sunday. 21 and up.

Club 1527, 1527 Hendry St., (941) 461-9744. Wednesday-ladies night; Friday-DJ music; Saturday-DJ party; Sunday-kings of the underground. 18 and up for ladies, 21 and up for men.

Dena's and Slicks, 17687 Summerlin Road, (941) 267-2200. Skate park six nights a week, Monday closed. Saturday-teen night for 13- to 19-year-olds. Friday-rock 'n' roll all ages, beer and wine, live bands.

Groove Street Grill & Discotheque, College Plaza Shopping Center, corner of College Parkway and Winkler Road, (941) 437-2743. Thursday-ladies night; Friday and Saturday-'70s disco, '80s dance music and Top 40 music.

Indigo Room, 2219 Main St., (941) 332-0014. Live local, regional and national bands Saturday night. Alternative rock, '70s and '80s dance music. Theme nights. Over 100 varieties of beer. 21 and up.

Liquid Café, corner of First and Hendry streets, downtown, (941) 461-0444. Monday-singles game night; Tuesday-open mike; Wednesday-lyricists' lounge; every other Thursday-meet the artist; Saturday-live music.

LJ's Lounge, 16500 S.R. 31, east Fort Myers, (941) 694-4287. Wednesday sing karaoke style with live music accompaniment; Friday and Saturday-live entertainment. No cover charge.

Ricochet, 3853 S. Cleveland Ave. in the Kmart Plaza, (941) 277-5700. Country music. Tuesday-coin night; Friday-ladies night; Saturday-balloon drop prize night.

The Beat Club, 1528 Hendry St., downtown Fort Myers, (941) 461-9300. Wednesday-ladies night; Thursday-coin night; Friday-the party zone with B103; Saturday-ultimate dance party. 18 and up for ladies, 21 and up for men. www.thebeatclub.com.

The Brick Bar, above Peter's La Cuisine on the third floor, 2224 Bay St., (941) 332-2228. Jazz and blues nightly starting at 9:30 p.m. Known touring groups and respected, regional bands are typically featured. Comedy club at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Limited gourmet menu available. Sky Bar, located rooftop, features DJ playing Top 40 tunes Wednesday-Saturday.

Varian's, 33 Patio de Leon, downtown Fort Myers, (941) 461-2727. Live DJ club/techno music Monday-Saturday. Three bars, indoor dance floor and outdoor patio. Special events monthly. 21 and up. Dress code.

VIP Club, 16520 S. Tamiami Trail, Island Park Shopping Center, (941) 437-2177. Monday-Reunion duo; Tuesday-Elvis impersonator; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday-live entertainment; Thursday-singles night.

Comedy

Laugh-In Comedy Café, College Plaza Shopping Center, corner of College Parkway and Winkler Road, (941) 479-LAFF. Featuring national touring comedians every Friday and Saturday at 8 and 10 p.m.

FORT MYERS BEACH

Live Music/Dancing

Channel Mark, 19001 San Carlos Blvd., (941) 463-9127. Live jazz 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

MARCO ISLAND

Performing Arts

Marco Island Players, 1055 N. Collier Blvd., Towne Center, (941) 642-7270. A full season of one-act plays and musical revues. A variety of plays are performed, including murder mystery productions. Call for show information.

Live Music/Dancing

The Bombay Club, 695 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, (941) 389-9100. Features single and national acts as well as DJ music seven nights a week in season. 18 and up. Billiards and large screen TVs. Dress code.

NAPLES

Performing Arts

The Naples Dinner Theatre, 1025 Piper Blvd., (941) 514-7827 or (877) 519-7827. Professional dinner theater offering Broadway caliber entertainment with sumptuous buffet dinner.

The Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., (941) 263-7990. Long-running community theater troupe presents an average of 20 productions a year (winter and summer seasons). Comedies, dramas and musicals. Educational programs offered throughout the year.

Ever So Often Park Players, Norris Center, Cambier Park downtown, (941) 434-4690. Professional theater duo presents original musical revues, usually with a topical, humorous and satirical edge.

Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., (941) 597-1111. The Phil is home to The Naples Philharmonic, an 85-piece symphony orchestra, and a 45-piece chamber orchestra. The Philharmonic Center Chorale is comprised of 110 voices and the Youth Chorale has over 100 members. A broad cultural season at Hayes Hall includes concerts by visiting symphony orchestras, Broadway shows and internationally acclaimed dance companies. Florida's West Coast home to the Miami City Ballet, which presents three series each season, plus performances of "The Nutcracker." The Phil also presents 410 events in two auditoriums, four art galleries and two sculpture gardens. The Collector's Corner offers a variety of art and gifts for sale.

Live Music/Dancing

Club Zanzibar, located at The Registry Resort, 475 Seagate Drive, (941) 514-3777. Thursday-ladies night. Friday and Saturday-DJ dance party. Special monthly events. Must be 21.

Johnny T's, 2950 N. Military Trail, (941) 430-9491. Live entertainment nightly. Family atmosphere. Comedian Wednesday-Saturday in season.

Liquid Café, 815 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Pavilion Shopping Center, (941) 514-1700. Monday-poetry jam; Tuesday-open mic; every other Thursday-meet the artist; Friday-Latin dance night.

Naples Beach Hotel, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (941) 261-2222. Sunday night pool parties featuring live entertainment, beginning at 6 p.m.

Seawitch Restaurant and Lounge, 179 South Bay Drive, off Vanderbilt Beach Road, (941) 566-1514. Live entertainment, featuring two- and three-piece bands, Wednesday-Saturday in season, Friday and Saturday off-season.

The Club at The Ritz-Carlton, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, (941) 598-3300. Nightly (closed Sundays and Mondays). Light jazz and live entertainment. Business casual attire.

The Spot, 5555 Golden Gate Parkway, (941) 353-2250. Tuesday through Saturday-country music; Tuesday and Wednesday-karaoke; Sunday-techno night.

Witch's Brew, 4836 N. Tamiami Trail, (941) 261-4261. Top 40 dance bands throughout the week. Sunday and Tuesday-early afternoon jazz.

Zoe's, 720 Fifth Ave. S., (941) 261-1221. Enjoy dinner then dance the night away from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. Live DJ 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday. Must be 21.

SANIBEL ISLAND

Performing Arts

The Old Schoolhouse Theater, 1905 Periwinkle Way, (941) 472-6862. Home of the Off Beach Players, (941) 481-9111, and Encore Productions. The 90-seat theater presents performances ranging from comedy and vaudeville to musicals and drama.