Here & Now

But here’s the thing. I’m not talking about lobster. Actually, I’m thumbing through the fashion pages of Gulfshore Life, and there it is: the perfect traveling ensemble absolutely made for me. A luscious Yves Saint Laurent chocolate-brown silk-chiffon blouse over matching leggings (oh yes, they’re back, and they’re yummy!) topped with a flirty yet sophisticated little jacket in chocolate and cream with a touch of red. It is so mine. So I check the caption for the shopping information. Which reads: "Carolina Herrera plaid jacket, price available upon request." As one of my most fashionable girlfriends likes to say, "Welcome to Naples."

It’s not just about lobsters and Carolina Herrera jackets, either. Take that most venerable of institutions, Girls’ Night Out. This season—have you noticed?—there are more chic watering holes than ever, perfect for sipping an icy margarita or a pineapple-laced flirtini late on a Friday afternoon. Now comes the newest (if you’ll excuse the term) wrinkle in happy hour indulgences: an artsy lounge tucked into an alleyway one block off Fifth Avenue South. At the Nail Lounge, we can slip onto our bar stools, wriggle out of our snug high heels and extend our dainty little pinkies to the "bartenders"—first to accept that tropical martini, then to be drenched in lotions and potions in a matching flavor, followed by an oh-so-decadent spa manicure. While our polish is drying, we settle into the posh leather pedicure banquette, where knees-to-toes get smoothed and silkened with herbal soaks, essential oil scrubs and massages before the enamel goes on. How does a pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon scrub sound, finished off with a sensuous vanilla lotion while you sip a hot spiced (and spiked) cider? That was last November’s special. Around the holidays it was fresh cranberries and sugar on the skin; fresh cranberry juice and vodka on the lips. Uh huh. Happy hour.

If your appointment is too early in the day for the exotic bar beverage, there’s complimentary cucumber/lemon water, coffee or a respectable glass of red or white wine. The tab? About twice the cost of a mani/pedi (without the martini) at my favorite Asian nail salon. Welcome to Naples.

The martini does seem to be a Naples kind of beverage. The Diva Martini Bar in the Mangrove Café at the eastern end of Fifth Avenue South, and Bice, at the western end, shake some of the best in town. The Lemon Tree Inn’s Citrus Sensation Package includes, among other goodies, a bottle of Absolut Citron, a full body citrus oil massage, and a sugar lemon manicure and pedicure served with a lemon drop martini. At LaPlaya Resort’s SpaTerre, your happy-hour martini comes with a spa pedicure, including a paraffin footbath with heat therapy. True, it’s $95, but for no extra charge you can while away a few hours at the beach, beneath an umbrella at poolside, or lazing on the porch in an overstuffed rattan sofa, room service available. Definitely Naples.

Ok, we’ve got the Naples kind of couture, the Naples kind of pedicure, and the Naples kind of martini. Which begs the next question: What exactly might be a Naples kind of event? This month’s Winter Wine Festival at $7,500 per couple—or a bargain $20,000 for a table for four—definitely qualifies. As does next month’s Bill Blass black-tie fashion affair at Saks Fifth Avenue, at $1,000 per person and completely sold out. Imagine the entire Saks showroom stripped bare —shoe salon, jewelry counters, clothes, display racks gone—just to be transformed for a single night of way-over-the-top glamour. These two single events will raise close to $13 million for children. Welcome to Naples.

So naturally the question arose, at the recent directors meeting of the Downtown Naples Association, what if Elvis were to show up in his blue suede shoes and launch into some gyrations right on Fifth Avenue South? What if—try to visualize this—10 or 12 Elvises showed up and the gyrations went on for three hours along the entire stretch of Fifth Avenue South? Wouldn’t this sort of thing be better suited for, say, Cleveland, or even one of those towns on the East Coast? Apparently not, for in fact, Elvis (and Elvis and Elvis and Elvis and Elvis, etc.) have been showing up once a year since 2001 for one of the popular Evenings on Fifth, and it’s more fun than a ’56 pink Cadillac with the top down. Well, rock ’n’ roll fans, on Thursday, Jan. 11, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. you can have both, because members of the Cool Cruisers typically show up too, cruising along the Avenue in their classic ’50s and ’60s cars. There’s sure to be a poodle skirt or two in the crowd.

The acknowledged King of the Elvises is 30-year-old Joe Marino (below), former high school music teacher, band leader, accomplished musician and owner of the aforementioned pink ’56 Caddy. Maybe you’ve seen him doing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens or a mean Jerry Lee Lewis at a club, restaurant or private party around town. In any case, bring your camera, your sock hop shoes and your laid-back attitude to the most gyrational Evening on Fifth all season. The price? It’s free. Welcome to Naples.

Till next time, savor the moment.