Around The Islands With Anne Hop Over To Next Island For A Change Of Pace; Summer Sale Offered At Billy’s Bikes

by Anne Mitchell

As picturesque as Sanibel is, its sister island – Captiva – exudes a more relaxed, tropical vibe. And it’s fun for Sanibel locals and tourists to go island hopping (by bridge, of course) once in a while.

Even on an overcast Monday lunchtime this week, the Andy Rosse Lane section of Captiva was alive with live music, color and a sense of fun and good times.

Paul Rozmuss’ delightful flute music was drifting with the breeze as he played under a palm-thatched roof entertaining outdoor diners at Keylime Bistro. Misters sent out a cool fog to help keep

the outside diners cool as they sat under bright umbrellas and sipped frozen drinks, a bistro specialty.  

Keylime Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a large menu that covers the gamut from appetizers and sandwiches to soups and salads to a selection of seafood, meats and pastas.  The breakfast dishes – served from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. – sound yummy and are surprisingly inexpensive. For example, Bistro Benedict with breakfast potatoes and fresh fruit is $9 and huevos rancheros with salsa and guacamole is $8. A short stack of pancakes is $5.

There’s a Sunday Jazz Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phone 395-4000 if you need more information.

Across the street is sister restaurant RC Otters, where on the same day, Royce Allgood was strumming his guitar and singing Jimmy Buffet tunes, islandstyle favorites and a selection of music for

all tastes. “I try to cover it all,” he said. “I throw in old-time songs and country as well.”

RC Otters serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with tables inside and out. Black beans and rice is available by the cup or bowl ($3.99/$5.99) and you can make it a meal with the addition of Portobello

mushrooms, chicken or pan-sizzled steak for $3.99.

Other menu items includes sandwiches, salads, steamed seafood pots, oysters, shrimp, steak, ribs and barbecue, to name just a few. There’s a kids’ menu too – and the always popular ring game

to tantalize customers young and old.

RC Otters can be reached at 395-1142.

Another “family” member is Cantina Captiva, located around the corner at 14970 Captiva Drive, phone 472-0248.

This picturesque place sits amid a tangled tropical garden blazing with colorful blooms. Inside, you can order Mexican and Southwestern dishes, margaritas and various beers and wines. It has a very casual atmosphere and is “decorated” with signed dollar bills. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

NOTE: You can get 10 percent off your bill at these three restaurants – as well as at Island Eats and Captiva Pizza – with a coupon from the Sun Dollars, the discount coupon book published by the Island Sun. The book comes with your newspaper each week, or you can pick up a copy at the Island

Sun office in the Lime Tree Center on Sanibel, phone 395-1213.

If watching the Tour de France on television gives you the urge to get out on two wheels again, note that Billy’s Bike Shop is having a summer sale with 10 percent discounts on fitness and mountain bikes.

In addition, Billy’s is selling off its old fleet of rental bikes, asking $550 instead of $750 for Fuji road models.

Also on sale – with 20 percent off – are wireless cycle computers. The Micro Wireless model, normally $65, and the Urban Wireless, $50, are on sale for $52 and $40, respectively. They nifty little gadgets measure top speed, average speed, mileage, total time, distance and have other functions including being a handy clock.

Billy’s ad in the Sun Dollars July coupon book will get you 10 percent off all

cycle helmets and 10 percent off Segway tours.

For more information, call Billy’s Bike Shop, 1509 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, phone 472-3620.

LIVE ON THE ISLANDS

Traditions on the Beach at the Island Inn has live entertainment most nights. This week’s lineup includes: Friday, dancing to Joe McCormick and singer Barbara Smith; Saturday, Joe McCormick and singer Marvilla Marzan; Wednesday, Prime Rib & Prime Jazz with the Traditions All Star Jazz Band; Thursday, dancing to Joe McCormick with popular favorites and smooth vocal stylings, R&B, jazz and pop. Traditions is at 3111 West Gulf Drive, phone 472-4559.

Sweet Melissa’s Café features Michael David playing light acoustic background music Wednesday through Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sweet Melissa’s is at 1625 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, phone 472-1956.

George & Wendy’s Sanibel Seafood Grille has live entertainment as follows: Friday, July 20, Anthony Wayne; Wednesday, July 25, Bill Metts; Thursday, Karaoke; and Friday, July 27, The Marty Stokes Band. The restaurant is at 2499 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, phone 395-1263.

The Jacaranda has entertainment nightly from 7 to 11 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, various artists are featured. On Sunday, it’s Jamaica “Dave” & Co., reggae and dance; Monday, Renata, jazz, contemporary music and dance; Tuesday, Steve “Scooter” Reynolds, acoustic guitar, contemporary music and dance; Wednesday, Buckeye Ken, contemporary, Top 40 and blues; Thursday, 2 Hot, contemporary, reggae and dance. The Jacaranda is at 1223 Periwinkle Way, phone 472-1771.

Traders Store & Cafe features music by Chris Workman Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. and Danny Morgan and Friends on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. Traders is at 1551 Periwinkle Way, phone 472-7242.

The Mucky Duck on Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, features music by Mark Dupuy on Mondays; Rich Lancaster, Wednesdays; Gene Federico, Thursdays and Saturdays; and Buckeye Ken, Fridays.

The Crow’s Nest at ’Tween Waters Inn has live music Fridays, Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Taylor Stokes is playing Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24 and 25. Crab races are Mondays and Thursdays. The Crow’s Nest is at 15951 Captiva Drive, phone 472-5161.

The Island Cow on Periwinkle way has live entertainment on Friday with Dan Confrey; Saturday, Diana Lynn; and Sunday, Buckeye Ken. Phone 472-0606.

RC Otter’s, 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, has live music daily with dining inside and out, phone 395-1142.

Keylime Bistro features live music days and nights seven days a week. New to the line-up is Ken Limeri playing jazz sax from 6 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday. The bistro is at 11509 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, phone 395-4000.