Around the Islands with Anne

Restaurant-As-Art-Gallery Trend Keeps Growing; Traders Adds Free Valet Parking; Antiques Show This Weekend

By Anne Mitchell

Il Cielo has joined the growing number of island restaurants that offer space for artists to display and sell their work.

Besides highlighting the glass creations of Sanibel artist Lu Century, Il Cielo also displays vibrant and colorful prints by Jupiter, Florida artists Carmen Lagos and Gustavo Castillo, all of which are for sale.

A focal point of Il Cielo, is Century’s original curved glass work called Cloud 9, which is 20 inches tall by 30 feet long and divides the bar from the dining room. More than 15 of Century’s individual pieces are also featured throughout the restaurant and are available for purchase.

General manager Bruce Ronty’s vision was to bring the island’s vibrant tropical foliage inside, said Suzanne Lurie, Sanibel resident and retired interior designer, who curated the artwork for Il Cielo. “As soon as he saw their work, he knew it was exactly the look he wanted.”

Lurie, who owns a number of Lagos and Castillo’s prints in her Sanibel home, brought one of own giclees of a banana leaf by Lagos and hung it in the restaurant’s foyer. She helped Ronty select the additional 15 pieces from Lagos and Castillo’s catalogue. The limited edition prints, which were personally framed by the artists, range in size from 30 inches by 40 inches to 50 inches by 70 inches.

Castillo and Lagos, who are married, will be displaying at the juried Bonita Springs National Art Festival at The Promenade on January 12 and 13.

Menu items at Il Cielo range from $4 to $38. Hours are daily from 5 to 10 p.m. Il Cielo is located at 1244 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel, phone 472-5555.

In the same vein, The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club is currently showcasing art by locals Myra Roberts and Andi McCarter as part of its Meet The Artist series. Some six to 10 local artists will be featured through the winter season, in additional to the monthly display of artwork from students of The Sanibel School in the foyer.

Paintings from Roberts’ Florida Vintage Collection and sculptures by McCarter can be seen in the lobby and clubhouse.

“The Dunes is wanting to play an active part in the art community of the island, as a tribute to all the talent that we have here,” said Leilani Sivsov, the club ‘s general manager.

On Saturday, January 19, The Dunes will host a Meet The Artists luncheon with Roberts and McCarter at 1 p.m. Cost is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. Call 472-3355 for reservations.

The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is located at 949 Sand Castle Road, Sanibel.

Meanwhile, over at George & Wendy’s Sanibel Seafood Grille, art is also in the news.

In the tradition of big sales for Black Friday, artists Stacie Krupa of the Grille Gallery at George & Wendy’s Seafood Grille, posted on Facebook that all of her paintings would be available for $2,000 each on that one day only. John  and Cheryl Carrigan, regular customers of the Grille, didn’t hear about the sale until it was over. They were disappointed that they had missed it because they had their eyes on the elephant painting and had been debating a purchase for several weeks.

So, John Carrigan made an offer: the painting for $2,000 plus a $500 donation to charity. Krupa agreed and the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, which normally gets five percent of every are sale from the Gille Galley, got a check for $500.

A couple of weeks later, the Carrigan family met the artist. Cheryl Carrigan commented, “We love the different textures, but the frame made the piece.” The unique frame is made of Jamacian dogwood. This elephant is now in its new home at the Carrigan house above the above the television in their family room.

Other paintings by Krupa can be seen at The Grille at 2499 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, phone 395-1263.

Traders Store & Café is now offering complimentary valet parking Tuesdays through Saturdays now through Easter.

“It’s to assist our valued customers get to their reservation on time,” said Traders owner Joe Archambault. It’s on me. Come visit us soon and take advantage of this new service that takes you to and from our front door,” he adds.

Traders is at 1551 Periwinkle Way, phone 472-7242.

The Sanibel Island Antiques and Jewelry Show returns this weekend, featuring exhibitors and dealers from many states, some from as far away as Maine. They bring a diverse collection of items for sale including small pieces of furniture, postcards and comics, bronze statues, carved ivory miniatures, vintage furs, gold jewelry, oil paintings and watercolors, and Asian art and antiques. There will also be lots of silver and painted porcelain, Victorian glass and art glass.

The prices will be just as varies as the items, according to the organizers. They say whether you collect military medals, fishing lures, French bronzes or Lalique, there will be something for everyone.

Former Sanibel resident Pete Clapp of A Silver Chest has operated the show for 14 years. It runs three times a year in January, February and March. The January dates are this Saturday and Sunday, the 12^th and 13^th.

The show has been held on Sanibel for more than 30 years and takes place at The Community House.

LIVE ON THE ISLANDS

Traditions on the Beach at the Island Inn has live entertainment most nights. This week’s lineup include: Friday, Joe McCormick and singer Barbara Smith; Saturday, Joe McCormick and singer Marvilla Marzan; Sunday, Dusk Duo with Dean & Kathy Winkleman from Milwaukee on piano, guitar and vocals; Wednesday, Wood Brubaker on the piano, saxophone and vocals; and 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.

Traders Store & Café features music by Chris Workman on Sundays and Wednesday 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.

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 & Wednesday’s Sanibel Seafood Grille has live entertainment every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well as every other Tuesday. Karoake is on Wednesdays. Robbie Hutto, guitar and vocals, is the entertainer Thursday from 9 p.m. to midnight, and Friday it’s Bill Metts, folk guitar and vocals. 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, 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.

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

The Crow’s Nest at ‘Tween Waters Inn has live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Crab races take place 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 with Ken Limeri playing jazz sax from 6 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday. The bistro is at 11509 Andy Rosse Land, Captiva, phone 395-4000.

CLICK HERE for the Team Petel website.