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 12th
and 13th.
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.
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