The laid-back resort ambiance of the Gulfshore hides a delightful secret: a calendar brimming with symphonic, pops, Broadway, dance and opera performances. Our two impressive indie film festivals grow larger each year, and our live theater companies keep getting rave reviews by The Wall Street Journal and other top critics.
Whether your taste runs to black-tie evenings, karaoke clubs or something in between, the Gulfshore cultural scene is bursting at its seams. See and be seen on opening nights at our impressive performing arts halls, and then savor the casual feel of the street music, food and craft booths at our many cultural festivals.
“The Bard” is alive and well here, presenting excellent Shakespeare productions, and we enjoy two world-class symphony orchestras, the Naples Philharmonic and the Southwest Florida Symphony.
Thousands bring their lawn chairs on Sunday afternoons to Naples’ Cambier Park to hear the Naples Concert Band. And there’s lots more, including evening jazz concerts at the Lee County Alliance for the Arts, free concerts in Fort Myers’ Centennial Park and the Riverside Park band shell in Bonita Springs.
Here’s a sampling. Check your current issue of Gulfshore Life for show times all along the Gulfshore, all year long.
MARCO ISLAND
Performing Arts
THE MARCO PLAYERS, 1055 N. Collier Blvd., (239) 642-7270. Provides theatrical productions that benefit the community, volunteers and local organizations. themarcoplayers.com
Live Music/Dancing
SNOOK INN, 1215 Bald Eagle Drive, (239) 394-3313. Casual entertainment or live music daily. Check website for schedule. snookinn.com
STAN’S IDLE HOUR, 221 Goodland Drive, Goodland, (239) 394-3041. stansidlehour.net
NAPLES
Performing Arts
ARTIS—NAPLES, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., (239) 597-1900. Home to the Naples Philharmonic. Hosts more than 300 events per year, including concerts, performances, exhibitions and educational events. artisnaples.org
CLASSIC CHAMBER CONCERTS, (239) 434-8505. Provides world-class musicians and concerts at the Sugden Community Theatre. classicchamberconcerts.org
GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE, 755 Eighth Ave. S., (866) 811-4111, (239) 261-7529. Offers educational opportunities and high-quality theater, from classics to contemporary works. gulfshoreplayhouse.org
THE NAPLES PLAYERS, 701 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 263-7990, (239) 434-7340. Creates and performs high-quality, affordable amateur theater. naplesplayers.org
OPERA NAPLES, 2408 Linwood Ave., (239) 963-9050. Stages operas with professional artists and supports opera education for local artists. operanaples.org
THEATREZONE, 13275 Livingston Road, (888) 966-3352. Professional equity theater company presenting musicals and world premieres. theatrezone-florida.com
Live Music/Dancing
BITES in the Lobby Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 598-3300. Live music 7-10 p.m. nightly, 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. ritzcarlton.com/resortsofnaples
BLUE MARTINI, 9114 Strada Place, (239) 591-2583. Live music, drink specials, dancing, outdoor patio bar, stage room and VIP area. bluemartinilounge.com
CAMPIELLO RISTORANTE & BAR, 1177 Third St. S., (239) 435-1166. Live jazz music throughout the week. campiello.damico.com
NOODLES ITALIAN CAFE & SUSHI BAR, 1585 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 5, (239) 592-0050. Latin night on Fri- days from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Nooshi Lounge on Saturday nights. Provides live entertainment. Stylish dress, two full bars. Outdoor seating and lounge. noodlescafe.com
RUSTY’S RAW BAR & GRILL, 2700 Immokalee Road, Suite 13, (239) 263- 9464. Provides live entertainment.
SOUTH STREET, 1410 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 4, (239) 435-9333. Live music throughout the week. Karaoke on Tuesdays, reggae on Sundays and open-mic on Thursdays. southstreetnaples.com
SUNSET BEACH BAR & GRILL at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 261-2222. Solo guitarist Wednesday through Saturday.
YABBA ISLAND GRILL, 711 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 262-5787. DJ and dancing Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. yabbaislandgrill.com
BONITA SPRINGS
Performing Arts
CENTERS FOR THE ARTS BONITA SPRINGS, 26100 Old 41 Road, (239) 495-8989. Provides art expression and education, featuring eight studios, an art library and two galleries. artcenterbonita.org
Live Music/Dancing
SNEAKY PETE’S, 3465 Bonita Beach Road, (239) 498-8887. Live entertainment seven nights a week, including karaoke on Mondays. sneakypetesbonita.com
THE STAGE, 9144 Bonita Beach Road, (239) 405-8566. Dining and dancing. Open Thursday through Saturday. thestagebonita.com
CAPE CORAL
Performing Arts
CULTURAL PARK THEATRE COMPANY, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., (239) 772- 5862. Live performances, adult and children’s educational programs. culturalparktheater.com
Live Music/Dancing
THE JOINT AT CAPE HARBOUR, 5785 Cape Harbour Drive, Suite 108, (239) 542-0123. Waterfront cabana bar with live music Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
MONKEY BAR AND STEAKHOUSE, 1428 Lafayette St., (239) 549-8800. Live entertainment seven nights a week. monkeybarandsteakhouse.com
FORT MYERS
Performing Arts
BARBARA B. MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL, 13350 Edison Parkway, (239) 481-4849. Presents a variety of touring productions, including Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs, and concerts. bbmannpah.com
BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE, 1380 Colonial Blvd., (239) 278-4422. Features buffet dining and Broad- way’s best musicals in a 450-seat dinner theatre. Includes Off Broadway Palm Theatre, a 100-seat black-box theater. broadwaypalm.com
FGCU THEATRELAB, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., (239) 590-7268. Florida Gulf Coast University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts stages productions in this black-box theater. theatrelab.fgcu.edu
FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE, 2267 First St., (239) 332-4488. Professional regional theater company that produces Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning comedies, dramas and musicals. Named “one of America’s top repertory companies” by The Wall Street Journal. floridarep.org
GULF COAST SYMPHONY, (239) 277- 1700. Community orchestra that performs a variety of classical and pop performances at local venues. gulfcoastsymphony.org
LEE COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (239) 939-2787. Facilitates and nurtures the creation and education of arts and culture, and promotes area artists and organizations. Live performances, monthly art exhibits, festivals and other events. artinlee.org
SEMINOLE GULF RAILWAY, 2805 Colonial Blvd., (239) 275-8487. Theatrical troupe presents a murder mystery aboard a moving train; guests help solve the crime while enjoying five courses. Reservations required. semgulf.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY, 8290 College Parkway, Suite 103, (239) 418-1500. Performing since 1961, presenting classical and pops concerts November through April. swflso.org
THEATRE CONSPIRACY, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (239) 936-3239. Performs works including world premieres and Southwest Florida premieres. theatreconspiracy.org
Live Music/Dancing
BUDDHA BAR, 12701 McGregor Blvd., (239) 482-8565. Live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday starting at 10 p.m. Ages 21 and older.
CITY TAVERN, 2206 Bay St., (239) 226- 1133. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. mycitytavern.com
CLUB 1527, 1527 Hendry St., (239) 770-8368. Open Wednesday through Sunday 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
GROOVE STREET GRILLE, 8595 College Parkway, Suite 300, (239) 437-2743. Open Thursday through Saturday. groovestreet.com
THE INDIGO ROOM, 2219 Main St., (239) 332-0014. Karaoke and dancing. Open until 2 a.m.
SPIRITS OF BACCHUS, 1406 Hendry St., (239) 689-2675. Late nights Monday through Saturday. spiritsofbacchus.com
Comedy
LAUGH-IN COMEDY CAFE, 8595 College Parkway, Suite 300, (239) 479-5233. Featuring national touring comedians. 21 and up. laughincomedycafe.com
FORT MYERS BEACH
Live Music/Dancing
THE COTTAGE BEACH BAR & GULF- SHORE GRILL, 1250 Estero Blvd., (239) 765-5440. Live music Monday through Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. for the over-21 crowd. gulfshoregrill.com
DOC FORD’S FORT MYERS BEACH RUM BAR & GRILLE, 708 Fisherman’s Wharf, (239) 765-9660. Live bands every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. docfordsfortmyersbeach.com
SMOKIN’ OYSTER BREWERY, 340 Old San Carlos Blvd., (239) 463-3474. Live music from 6-10 p.m. on the outside deck. smokinoyster.com
VALERIE’S LOUNGE & LIQUORS, 17264 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 466-7788. Live entertainment from local and touring bands. valerieslounge.com
SANIBEL/CAPTIVA ISLANDS
Performing Arts
BIG ARTS CENTER, 900 Dunlop Road, (239) 395-0900. Schein Performance Hall, 409-seat concert hall, galleries, sculpture garden, classes, workshops, concerts, speakers and more. bigarts.org
BIG ARTS HERB STRAUSS THEATER, 2200 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-6862. The 164-seat theater presents shows ranging from comedy and vaudeville to musicals and drama. bigarts.org
Live Music/Dancing
THE JAC BAR, The Jacaranda, 1223 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-1771. Live entertainment nightly. jacarandaonsanibel.com
KEYLIME BISTRO, 11509 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, (239) 395-4000. Live entertainment seven days and nights. captivaislandinn.com
RC OTTER’S ISLAND EATS, 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, (239) 395-1142. Live entertainment daily. captivaislandinn.com
