The Fort Myers Dowtown Rotary is assising with parking as they did last year.  Avoid the Fuss Ride the Buss.

Park you cars downtown across from  Fist Watch in the old Boulevard Plaza.   There are buses every 15 minutes running downtown.

Thanks

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier art festival takes place downtown Fort Myers on February 4 & 5, 2012 from 10 to 5 each day. Each year Fort Myers’ only free, two day art extravaganza, decorates our downtown with exceptional artwork, entertainment and children’s art activities.

Attendees enjoy and purchase artwork in a variety of mediums and prices from nationally recognized artists from across the country and around the world.

Its better than a gallery – there is lots of variety – you can talk to the artists – you can view the work of over 200 fine artists in a single weekend – you can introduce your children to the magic of original art.

Enjoy this amazing opportunity to see some of the most creative and exciting artwork to be exhibited anywhere in Florida this season.

ArtFest Fort Myers artists are rarely seen at other local art festivals. Their work is refreshing and new. It’s a perfect time to find that one of a kind piece for your home or collection!

Edison & Ford Holiday Nights

 

Holiday Nights, December 2 – December 31
Closed December 24 & December 25

5:30PM – 9:00PM
Guided Tours at 6PM and 7PM

Estates Members: FREE
Adults: $15.00
Students 13-College (Must present valid ID): $8.00
Children (6-12 years): $1.00
Children (5 and under): FREE

During the holidays the homes and gardens of Thomas and Mina Edison and Henry and Clara Ford will be seasonally decorated and visitors will have the option of a self guided tour or a guided tour with an Estates site historian.

Edison & Ford Holiday Nights includes nightly entertainment by school and community groups, culinary demonstrations, book signings and appearances by artists, and the “Children’s Tree Trail” a forest of trees decorated by Lee County Students. The Estates Museum and Edison Botanic Research Lab will also be open during the event.

Tickets for a self guided tour are $15 for adults and $1 for children (6 -12); guided tours are $20 for adults and $1 for children (6 -12).  Groups may schedule guided or unguided tours from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and will receive a discounted group rate.

Groups are required to make advanced reservations. 
Holiday Guided Tours & Behind-The-Scenes Holiday Tours -subject to availability. 

Creative Cottage

This year “Creative Cottage,” located in the Edison Caretaker’s House, will feature elements of an Old Florida Christmas and will include the artwork of Florence Sansom, Megan Kissinger and Buell Lee Whitehead.  Traditional Florida foods will be available for tasting and purchase celebrating the Edison Caretaker’s House, an original Cracker House built in the 1870s.

Creative Cottage will be open 10 AM – 5 PM daily until December 2.  During, Edison & Ford Holiday Nights hours will be expanded to 9 PM.  Members are FREE and a “shoppers pass” may be issued at the main ticket office to visit the Creative Cottage.

Contact the Estates at 239-334-7419 for more information on the “Edison & Ford Holiday Nights”.

Advance tickets on sale  at SouthWest Captial Bank,Vincents Salon , Tan USA,Finemark Bank at Riverwalk and the Franklin Shops

A good friend of mine Jen, told me about the friendly forest walk that is going on from 2-5pm for the little ones.   Don’t show up after 7:30 with the little ones because this looks pretty scary.  In the past they have only had the Friendly forest walk this year they added the Carnival Frightmare for those that wish to jump and scream in the woods.  You choose which one for your family

Our Haunted Walk 2011 is entitled Carnival Frightmare!!! This brand new event features a series of fright stations, including the Blood Butcher Shop with brutal victims, the Unfriendly Clown section, our traditional cemetery scene, and a new features-the Sensory Deprivation Tunnel, complete with fog machines and strobe lights.                                                                                                                                             The Sensory Deprivation Tunnel, where we deprive you of your normal senses and prey on the others!

This event is Adult-oriented, minimum customer age is 13 years old. 12 Scary Nights!

Dates: Thursday, Oct. 20 thru Halloween night, Oct. 31

Times: 7:30PM to 10:00PM

Location: Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

                 3450 Ortiz Avenue

                 Fort Myers, FL

                239-275-3435

              www.calusanature.org

Admission charge: $10/customer

My good friends Stephanie Ink and Kimber Cook wanted me to let you know about this great event.

Fort Myers High School celebrates one hundred years of excellence at the inaugural Green and White Ball scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22.

The public event will take place at Harborside Event Center and celebrates all past alumni and supporters who have contributed to the academic and athletic success of one of the most established schools in the state. The evening includes a welcome reception at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and an awards tribute at 6 p.m.  

Fort Myers High School will also pay homage to past “Greenies” and award the Greenie of Distinction honor to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated excellence in his or her professional life, service to the community and to FMHS.

Guests will enjoy a silent auction, performances by the Fort Myers High School Band and Riptide dance team, and presentation of colors by ROTC.

Currently ranked as the 72nd best high school in America by Newsweek magazine and the 90th best high school in America by The Washington Post, Fort Myers High School past alumni include distinguished citizens such as Sam Galloway, Barbara B. Mann, Berne Davis and political leaders U.S. Congressman Connie Mack and Representative Nick Thompson.

Proceeds from the event benefit the athletic, band and ROTC booster clubs, and the founding of an alumni association.

Individual tickets for the Green and White Ball are only $55 each; tables of eight can be reserved for $550.  For more information, email greenandwhiteball@gmail.com.  

There have been others like Gone Fishin, Trans, and Pose down just to name a few. If you know of others let us know.

The American Cancer Society Relay
for Life volunteers held Paint
Downtown Purple in the Fort
Myers River District from February 20
to 26. The event honors survivors, caregivers
and those fighting cancer.
Thanks in part to participating restaurants,
the event was a big success. Many
of the area businesses donated some of
their proceeds to Relay or allowed volunteers
to paint the windows of their businesses.
This year’s Downtown-River District
Relay for Life begins at 6 p.m. on Friday,
May 6 in Centennial Park.
For more information, call Don
Molloy, event chairman, at 980-1077 or
go to www.relayforlife.org/downtownriverdistrictfl

Chocolate Festival

This Saturday

At The Butterfly Estates

From 10:00am until 2:00pm

$10. Members      $12. Guests

Bring your sweetie