The old pastime they share



A long pier seemed to disappear between Charlotte Harbor and the sky. A sole couple was out there around noon catching blue crabs. They had seven or eight trot lines tied to the railing, spaced out along the pier. About 12:30 p.m., with the sun total and complete on the Wednesday after Labor Day, “the crabs are running,” the woman […]

Beautiful Rooms for Beautiful Music

Faculty, students sing praises of new home for FGCU’s Bower School of Music

STEPPING ONSTAGE IN THE RECITAL HALL IN THE brand new home of the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University is like entering a sacred space.   You just intuitively know in your soul that beautiful music will be created here. The floor is made of light bamboo. So are the stage walls, which jut out at odd […]

Gallery Walk theme honors the sea



This month’s Gallery Walk in Punta Gorda carries the theme, “Sea you in September,” celebrating lives well lived on the waterfront. Gallery Walk will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in downtown Punta Gorda, featuring live entertainment at multiple venues, artists demonstrating their work, samplings of food and beverages and specials offered by local merchants. Attendees […]

Making a masterpiece of your arts career

ARTS COMMENTARY

Some people think “starving artist” is redundant.   Caroll Michels would like it to become an oxymoron. A career coach, artist advocate and author of “How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself Without Losing Your Soul,” Ms. Michels believes that it is possible to make a life for oneself as an artist. Her groundbreaking book was first […]

This week on WGCU TV



. THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, 10 P.M. Voces: Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music Bill Cosby, Marc Anthony, Geraldo Rivera, Jimmy Smits, Paquito D’Rivera and other family, friends and colleagues pay homage to the late mambo and Latin jazz legend. . FRIDAY, SEPT. 17, 8:30 P.M. Edge of the Everglades: Big Cypress National In 1974, a new park was added […]

Disturbing kittys fetch a pretty price

KOVELS: ANTIQUES & COLLECTING

Surveys show that pictures of cats are more popular than pictures of dogs or horses. So it is not surprising that ceramic cats are popular with collectors. A famous illustrator of the 1880s named Louis Wain created popular scenes of anthropomorphic kittens and cats. The cats did human things like walk on their hind legs, dress up in human clothes […]

Keep those lists coming

GIVING

As I sat down to begin this week’s column, I put in a CD of one of my favorite radio shows, “Car Talk.” The conversation between Tom and Ray Magliozzi contains not only great pieces of automotive advice, but even more entertaining exchanges of humor and wit between the brothers. This show opens with this comment from the Magliozzis: “A […]

HOROSCOPES



¦ VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A once-volatile situation should be settled by now, giving you a chance to refocus on a project you’ve been planning for. Look for an interested party to rally to your support. ¦ LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A business matter that unexpectedly turns into a personal situation could create complications. Best to […]

Some hot, some not:

The critic looks back at a summer of films

With summer behind us, it’s time to look back at the mediocrity (“Salt”), the ineptitude (“Dinner for Schmucks”) and the brilliance (“Inception”) that flustered and inspired moviegoers over the past four months. Here are my nominations: .. Most Shameful Sequel: “Iron Man 2” – Robert Downey Jr.’s charm wasn’t as fresh as it was in the original, and neither was […]

Local artist gives grill colorful new look



Margaret and Keyes Elmore, owners of the Gulf View Grill in Englewood, thought their restaurant looked too much like an office building. Their customers often remarked that the outside of the building didn’t reflect the welcoming second-story restaurant overlooking the beach. The Elmores turned to Punta Gorda artist Jane Dickinson for an exterior makeover that would reflect the attitude of […]