marconews.com Stories: Island Entertainment

The Movie Dude: The 'Answer' to a dull romantic comedy

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:37:00 -0000

Part of what I love most about writing this column every week is getting to write about a newer movie, especially when it’s one I’ve never seen before. Don’t get me wrong, nothing beats a classic movie, but even those classic movies were new at one point. I’m sure even “The Godfather” had a few pessimists at first who are now kicking themselves.

American Idol blog: Naples native Paige Miles lands in bottom 2 but survives cut

jfoerster@naplesnews.com (JONATHAN FOERSTER) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:07:00 -0000

Miles, a 24-year-old teacher and Naples-native, has had a mixed run on the show. After not getting more than a few seconds of air time during the first few weeks, she got a high complement from notoriously cranky judge Simon Cowell who said she had maybe the best voice in the competition.

The Phil’s popular professor, Elaine Newton sees colors in words as much as in art

lianeedixson@hotmail.com (LIANE EDIXON) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:26:00 -0000

Elaine Newton is the professor literature lovers never knew existed. If they did, there would be even more pages of people waitlisted to hear her. It’s been happening at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts for nearly 20 years.

Naples Players goes to the dogs – and comic con men — for coming season

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:18:00 -0000

The Naples Players is planning on a “ruff” season in 2010-2011. It has scheduled two dog-prominent stories: “Sylvia,” A.R. Gurney’s comedy of life with a conflicted couple from an adopted female mutt’s perspective; and the musical “Annie,” in which Sandy, the famous orphan’s canine companion, is always in tow. There are also dastardly con men, vintage marrieds, young connivers and a classic ghost tale.

American Idol: Rolling Stones tunes supply surprises

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:27:00 -0000

Singers who were bashed by the judges during semifinals seemingly surprised the panel with their respectable renditions of Stones songs. Among them: 17-year-old high school student Katie Stevens with "Wild Horses," 23-year-old waitress Didi Benami with "Play With Fire," and 16-year-old high school student Aaron Kelly with "Angie."

Review: Cirque Dreams Illumination lights up Fort Myers

cwsilk@naplesnews.com (CHRIS SILK) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0000

Cirque Dreams Illumination thrills, chills and even spills - water that is. The show takes off from a fictional train station with a singing reporter and ends with acrobats spinning twelve feet up in the air. In between, there's leaping, whistling, tossing, tumbling, balancing and a lot of clapping. You'd think "Jersey Boys" was back in town.

Marco Island Art Walks transform empty Esplanade storefonts into mini galleries

leigh.tahirovic@scripps.com (LEIGH TAHIROVIC) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:43:00 -0000

Everglades landscape artist Jo-Ann Sanborn was used to cramped quarters for her working space, sandwiched into her second bedroom with paints, brushes, unfinished canvases and other framed works nearly closing in on top of her. But on one fateful trip to the Esplanade, Sanborn had a brainstorm: open a studio and gallery in its unoccupied retail space. “I came one day and saw there were a number of empty storefronts (at the Esplanade),” explained Sanborn, who thought that space would be especially suited for an artist’s gallery and working studio.

‘Jukebox’ heroes Foreigner to headline Naples Music Festival

kelly@kelly-gray.com (KELLY MERRITT) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:08:00 -0000

For the countless couples who forged love affairs dancing to their 1981 anthem, “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” Foreigner’s arrival in Naples for the Naples Music Festival this Sunday is really the first day of spring. The band will play the last segment of the festival from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on Stage A at Broad Street and Third Avenue.

American Idol blog: ‘Paige is back’; Laryngitis doesn’t stop Naples native from hitting big notes

jfoerster@naplesnews.com (JONATHAN FOERSTER) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:59:00 -0000

Laryngitis kept Paige Miles from rehearsing in the days leading up to her Tuesday performance.

Appointment: Kenneth Stroud joins Marco Art League board

webninjas@naplesnews.com (VIA PRESS RELEASE ) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:21:00 -0000

The Board of Directors of the Art League, Marco Island’s Center for the Arts, announced that Kenneth Stroud has been appointed to the Board, in a prepared release on Monday night.

American Idol: Naples native Paige Miles ready to prove she belongs in final 12

jfoerster@naplesnews.com (JONATHAN FOERSTER) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:12:00 -0000

The 24-year-old school teacher has made it farther than any “Idol” expert would have you believe. The past two weeks, writers from the New York Times, MTV, Entertainment Weekly and more have predicted her demise.

Review: "Streetcar" glows with great performances

cwsilk@naplesnews.com (CHRIS SILK) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:00:00 -0000

"A Streetcar Named Desire" rumbles into Cultural Park Theatre in Cape Coral on a cloud of magnolias and liquor and cheap perfume. It rumbles back out, depending not on the kindness of strangers but a trio of superb performances that glow when lit by words from Tennessee Williams' masterwork.

Review: Why read the 'Great Books' when you can laugh at them?

cwsilk@naplesnews.com (CHRIS SILK) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0000

If you've only ever read a book, you'll laugh - even if that one book was Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight." If you've read more - Kafka, Twain, Whitman, Dickens - you'll roll in the aisles, gasp for breath and scream with delight as the library shelf gets the Marx brothers treatment in "All the Great Books (Abridged)," playing through March 27 at Theatre Conspiracy.

PHOTO GALLERY: Fine Art & Craft Festival

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:17:00 -0000

Island residence and visitors took advantage of the sunny warm weekend weather to attend the Fine Art & Craft Festival at Veterans Community Park.

Gala: 'Under the Mangroves' elegant gala goes indoors this year

svdorr@comcast.net (SUZY DORR) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:12:00 -0000

Staged within a vast white tent rising from Gulf Bay’s Cap d’Antibes mangrove-fringed property in Pelican Bay, the sixth annual Magic Under the Mangroves gala was declared its largest, most successful ever. The event, which funds 15 percent of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s annual operating budget, drew a gathering of 450 into the heated indoors on a chilly March 4 evening. While enjoying aperitifs, hors d’oeuvres and cheeses provided by restaurateur Tony Ridgway, supporters bid on a vast array of silent auction items including crucial Fund-A-Need possibilities and unique Fund-a-Vet donation opportunities to help the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

Gala: ‘Space Odyssey’ takes Neighborhood Health Clinic fundraising to new heights

svdorr@comcast.net (SUZY DORR) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:09:00 -0000

At last year’s Neighborhood Health Clinic Block Party, James Bond and the Bond Golden Girls were featured guests of honor. Just in time to blast off for this year’s 7th annual gala, Captain James Lovell, Apollo 13 commander, one of only three men to travel to the moon twice, somehow made his way to Naples Luxury Imports on Feb. 27 with a trio of space aliens in tow.

Gala: Hope Hospice gala draws 400 supporters

svdorr@comcast.net (SUZY DORR) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:06:00 -0000

The annual Hearts of Hope Hospice fundraiser came to Naples this year — 400 people strong — to support the Hope Hospice service group of inpatient care, caregiver relief, counseling and grief therapy.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Irish eyes smile during Naples' St. Patrick’s Day parade

tmclaughlin@naplesnews.com (TARA E. McLAUGHLIN) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:01:00 -0000

Thousands of revelers lined the streets, adorned with anything and everything green -- green sparkling bowler hats, green beaded necklaces, green shamrock-print pants -- to take in the 32nd annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Review: Strong cast, but 'Relatively Speaking' never satisfies

cwsilk@naplesnews.com (CHRIS SILK) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:47:00 -0000

Florida Rep's "Relatively Speaking" looks like it should power through two hours of mistaken identities, double entendres and farcical frippery with ease. It doesn't - though the veteran cast does their best to turn the polite titters into laughs and the chuckles into howls. Scenes that purr like a comedy Kawasaki don't make up for the ones that sputter - yet.