Naples Illustrated March 2022

Naples offers a nearly perfect amalgam of small-town feel and big-city appeal. This is a distinguishing charm of the city and certainly one of the traits that lured me here—and entices countless others. When I first arrived to Naples, I was surprised to learn about its population. According to 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of Naples residents hovers only around 20,000. Of course, this figure explodes more than tenfold “in season,” as our city welcomes part-time residents and excursionists from around the globe. While it’s always rousing to talk about who’s flying in and out of Naples and what celebrities you may be sitting next to at dinner along Fifth Avenue South, there’s plenty of the more local to share. And in this issue of Naples Illustrated, we’re excited…

WHAT: Grand opening of East Coast luxury fashion boutique WHERE: The Royal Poinciana Plaza, Palm Beach DETAILS: Marissa and Burt Hartington, who founded the acclaimed Marissa Collections in Naples in 1975, hosted a grand opening of their second boutique with their son Jay Hartington, marketing, jewelry, and menswear manager, in early December.…

WHAT: Table Wars WHERE: Silverspot Cinema at Mercato DETAILS: Award-winning, Naples-based interior designer Wilfredo Emanuel gathered friends and colleagues for the screening of the premiere episode of HGTV’s new seven-episode series, Table Wars. He was selected from thousands of contestants to appear in the competition series featuring eight contestants charged with designing the best-themed dining environment, which was judged by Martha Stewart, Tamera Mowry-Housley, and Chris Hessney.…

WHAT: Women Rock Philanthropy WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples DETAILS: Twelve local, inspiring women leaders who are making a difference through philanthropy and civic engagement were honored. SUPPORTS: Helping to meet the needs of local at-risk women and girls through Women’s Foundation grants.…

WHAT: Groundbreaking for new, permanent center DETAILS: The 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building being raised on a 13.7-acre site on Autumn Oaks Lane in North Naples is expected to open by the end of this year. Local philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker donated $5 million to the $30 million capital campaign. SUPPORTS: One-stop emotional, educational, wellness, and social services for 1,400 seniors.…

WHAT: Groundbreaking for the Baker Theatre and Education Center WHERE: Corner of First Avenue South and Goodlette-Frank Road DETAILS: More than 300 attended the event, including local officials and lead donors, with performances by Lora Lee Gayer, Nick Duckart, and Michael Hicks. The building—with two performance venues, an educational wing, rehearsal spaces, and a café—is projected to open by fall 2023.…