Youmay Restaurant

 

This old abandoned restaurant on Olde 41 in Bonita Springs has murals in the place of windows and a modern sculpture in front. 

Miromar

 I wanted some new shoes, so I went to a factory outlet not far away.

It always surprises me that the developer included lovely fountains at each intersection.

This is a favorite.

Cassandra (and Mary)

 Originally from New York, Cassandra is an artist who pays the bills by working in the gift shop of the Baker Museum in Naples.

Cassandra is exuberantly friendly and outgoing.  The museum currently features an exhibition of works by famous black and white nature photographer Ansel Adams.  So, Cassandra dresses in black and white to mirror the black and white books, postcards and other Adams memorabilia in the shop.

Cassandra was a willing subject for a few photographs.

I was at the museum with my longtime friend Mary.  Cassandra and Mary are both small and slim and have short hair.  But, Mary is a retired head of private girl schools.  She dresses simply and conservatively.  Cassandra and Mary posed for me in the black and white atrium.  I love the contrast.

Another Outdoor Art Show

 There are outdoor art shows nearly every weekend "in season," which means roughly from November through April.  I don't go to all, but I do go to many.  Last weekend I went to one in Bonita Springs.

This time I didn't visit as many  individual artists.  Sometimes I stepped back and enjoyed the scenes.

Riverside Park in Bonita Springs has some good sculptures.  They look good among the artists' tents.

But, of course, I did talk with some artists.  This is John T. Crutchfield, an idiosyncratic man who calls his practice Metal Arts Graphics.    

And the proud owner of this magnificent beard is John D. Anderson, a wood turner from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He produces very fine pieced wooden bowls, vases and other works.

Bayshore Art District

 Bayshore is a district to the east of Olde Naples.  It is working hard to develop an identity as n arts district.  Many buildings have murals.  A. Jaron operates a jewelry store with one-of-a-kind custom jewelry and limited edition, curated collections in gold, platinum, diamonds, gemstones and silver.

Melissa Blazier

Melissa Blazier is Collier County's Supervisor of Elections.   She oversees elections for the City of Naples and for the county.

She and her office do more than 250 voter registration drives and outreach events every year.  They reach 5,000 students annually through high school registration programs.  I attended a recent talk.

This is an overwhelmingly Republican and white county.  It also skews heavily older, with a shocking 43 percent of registered voters being 66 years old or older!

Florida is tightening its already tight election policies to tilt the state even more strongly in favor of Republican candidates.  (My words, not hers.)  For example, voters must submit new vote-by-mail requests every year.  Ms. Blazier is a registered Republican but administers the office in a nonpartisan manner.    

Ridgways

 Ridgways Bar & Grill is a very popular restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining options at the intersection of Third Street South and Thirteenth Avenue South.