JAN/FEB
WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS
Jan. 5-6 Hot Works Estero Fine Art Show Artists from as far away as Arizona and Vermont bring their work to Southwest Florida to present at the Hot Works Estero Fine Art Show. A great venue, JetBlue Park in Fort Myers easily accommodates the 175 artist booths brimming with paintings, jewelry, sculpture, clay creations and glass art. Musical performances complement the show, with competition drummer Ken Mazur blending electronic percussion with drum and bugle corps techniques and Valdimir Gorodkin introducing the audience to the tsimbaly, an instrument from Belarus. hotworks.org
BABY BOOMERS
Jan. 10-Feb. 23 Mid-Life 2!, Fort Myers Since you can’t stop the aging process, the next best thing is to humor yourself, and attending the production, Mid-Life2! at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, is one way to get your laughs. A follow-up to the hilarious Mid-Life the Crisis Musical, this witty revue tunefully travels through the twilight years with all the aches, pains, doctor visits and senior discounts along the way. Baby boomers especially will get a kick out of this show. broadwaypalm.com
RAISING HOPE
Jan. 12 Yachts of Hope, Fort Myers Here’s a fundraiser for the yachtsman in you. Held at the Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club in Fort Myers, the Yachts of Hope event starts with dockside cocktails and tours of impressive luxury vessels, complete with entertainment on board. Guests enjoy dinner before the excitement of a live auction, with bidding on travel packages ranging from five nights at a Santorini villa to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, as well as exquisite jewelry by local designer Mark Loren. The evening wraps up with music by the Brass Evolution Band and dancing till your feet hurt. Proceeds go to Hope Hospice. Tickets are $500. hopehcs.org/yachts
PAINTBRUSHES & GUITARS
Jan. 12-13 Cape Coral Arts & Music Festival Besides viewing quality artwork and high-end crafts on display at this
juried event, festivalgoers are treated to live music. The Cape Coral Arts & Music Festival, held on Cape Coral Parkway in the heart of South Cape, is a family-friendly event. Artists are often on hand to talk about their creations, and you can meander from booth to booth to look at and admire paintings, sculpture, photography and more—or get serious and buy a piece. A separate indoor venue houses musicians and bands that perform throughout the evening. The Music Walk, designed so you can experience a variety of genres, is a great way to enjoy the music part of the festival. capecoralfestival.com
POP LEGEND
Jan. 17 Cher, Here We Go Again Tour, Estero An icon of pop music, movies and culture, Cher goes cross-country at age 72 to entertain her fans. On Jan. 17 she kicks off her 2019 Here We Go Again Tour at the Hertz Arena in Estero. Back in the spotlight after her 2018 appearance in the move Mama Mia! Here We Go Again and her recently released ABBA tribute album “Dancing Queen,” the veteran performer once again joins the circuit. Niles Rodger and Chic, an American rhythm and blues band, are part of her musical tour. hertzarena.com
HONORING SANIBEL’S HISTORY
Jan. 23-March 25 Woodring 100th Anniversary, Sanibel The historic Woodring Home is the focus of a special exhibition at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Woodring 100th
Anniversary features artifacts and vintage black-and-white photos of the home, chronicling the landmark and the Woodring family’s lifestyle as it was more than a century ago. At the 9 a.m. unveiling of the exhibition on Jan. 23, Teddy Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegand makes a guest appearance, and Ralph Woodring recounts stories about growing up on the island in the two-story frame house. fws.org
ART FOR EVERYONE
Jan. 25 Off the Walls!, Bonita Springs The signature fundraiser for the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs is aptly named Off the Walls! Don’t expect any silent auctions and boisterous bidding. Instead guests’ tickets are entered into random drawings for artwork and collectibles valued from $275-$6,000. And surprisingly everyone goes home with an artful prize. Held in the centers’ Hinman Auditorium, the event is designed for browsing art displays while enjoying food and refreshments. Tickets are $150. artcenterbonita.org
DINING & DANCING
Jan. 25 1927 Gala Imagine, Sanibel The Sanibel Community House rolls out the red carpet for the 1927 Gala Imagine, A Night to Remember, fundraiser. Since 1927, the historic gathering spot has been the place where islanders found camaraderie and celebrated life’s milestones together with family, friends and neighbors. The evening event of fine dining and dancing island-style is an opportunity to show your support for the Community House and the vital role it plays in life on Sanibel—and have a good time doing so! Tickets are $150. sanibelcommunityhouse.net
AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC
Jan. 26 Bluegrass Jamboree, Cape Coral Come out to the Cape Coral Historical Museum for a day of bluegrass and barbecue. The 4th Annual Bluegrass Jamboree features both national and