little theater, big heart
The Purple Heart Theater opens on Fort Myers Beach after a four-year labor of love
Carl Conley believes in building a home for the arts on Fort Myers Beach, one brick at a time. He started by presenting one performance at a time, and estimates that over the past eight years or so, he's brought 45 or 50 events to the Beach. Full Story
'Nutcracker' performed at BIG ARTS on Sanibel
Gulfshore Ballet, Southwest Florida's non-profit classical ballet school, will present two performances of "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Schein Hall at Big Arts on Sanibel Island. The Christmas classic will feature Mirelle Hassenboehler and Simon Ball, principal dancers with The Houston Ballet. Full Story
THE MUSIC GOURMET
Music to their ears: Gifts of CDs to please both giver and receiver
I am frankly obsessive when it comes to listening to the same CD over and over — sometimes for days (or even weeks) on end. Why? Because, if I like a particular recording, or a specific track by a specific performer, it gives me great pleasure to hear it so often it virtually becomes integrated into my soul. Full Story
WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO
This week's theater Love Loves - "Love Loves a Pornographer," a contemporary comedy of manners by Jeff Goode, opens at Theatre Conspiracy runs through Dec. 13. Lord Loveworthy has a problem. His only daughter is soon to be married. And the only way to pay for her wedding is to blackmail the vicar who's seducing his wife. Full Story
"Indian Blood" is what theater is all about
ARTS COMMENTARY
Maybe you haven't spent much time, if any, contemplating the sex life of Glinda, the Good Witch from "The Wizard of Oz." But Eddie has. Eddie's a 16-year-old boy, and, as is the case with all 16-year-old boys, his hormones are going berserk. Full Story
What happens if I don't attend the event tonight?
GIVING
In September, I attended the annual conference of the National Committee on Planned Giving in Denver, Colo. The four-day educational event featured workshops and keynote speakers on the topic of planned giving. It was attended by more than 1,000 planned giving professionals and vendors from all over the country. Full Story
COUCH THEATER
[ DVD PREVIEWS & RELEASES ]
PICK OF THE WEEK . " Mamma Mia!" - If you're looking for the Ultimate Karaoke Chick Flick of 2008, then look no further. Based on the hit Broadway show, "Mamma Mia!" isn't so much a musical as it is a contrived story that puts the cast in situations that allow them to belt out old ABBA hits. Full Story
Blood Island
By H. Terrell Griffin (Oceanview Publishing, $24.95)
A finalist for the National Best Books 2008 Awards, Longboat Key author H. Terrell Griffin's "Blood Island" is a fast-moving murder mystery that gets off to a rousing start. Mr. Griffin's protagonist, Matt Royal, a retired lawyer, discovers a nude corpse in the Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary on City Island in Sarasota. Full Story
Cypress Square hosts arts and crafts fair
The first Cypress Square Arts and Crafts Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Cypress Lake Square, 13391 McGregor Blvd. (corner of McGregor and Cypress Lake Drive). Full Story
FGCU music major wins major competitions
Hyae-jin Hwang, a junior music major at the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University, has been selected as winner of the "Ars Flores Young Artists Concerto Competition" for university and music conservatory students up to the age of 25. The competition attracted a strong field of contestants throughout the United States and Canada. Full Story
'Countess Pigula' author/illustrator on local tour
Karen Freysinger, author and illustrator of the children's book series "Adventures of Countess Pigula," has scheduled several signings and story times at area locations as part of the release of the second book in the series. Full Story
Special prices offered for four concerts at Shell Point
Shell Point Retirement Community is offering a special price on the remaining four concerts in its seventh annual Fine and Performing Arts Concert Series. The concerts are: . Full Story
Gallery reception on Sanibel
Hirdie-Girdie Art Gallery will hold its annual Christmas reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15. The public is invited to join in the celebration. The gallery, a cooperative of award-winning island artists, is at 2490 Library Way (corner of Library Way and Tarpon Road) on Sanibel. For more information, call 395-0027 or visit www. hirdiegirdie.com. Full Story
Florida West Arts calls for artists
Florida West Arts is accepting entries for its Artescape Florida West 2009 Juried Fine Art Exhibition Series held at the Florida West Arts Showcase at the International Design Center in Estero. Two- and three-dimensional artworks are eligible. Full Story
Leoma Lovegrove helps trim the White House tree
When Matlacha artist Leoma Lovegrove was asked to create one of 350 ornaments for the White House Christmas tree, she happily obliged, painting a red, white and blue fish with the words "Pine Island, Fla., The Creative Coast. Full Story
Pavilion in preserve will also be art
A 100-foot-long architectural interpretation of the great blue heron will be translated into a pavilion at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers. Architect Renzos Avila is designing the project that should be completed in January 2009. Full Story
Art Dollar Challenge: Art programs for at-risk youth
The Fort Myers non-profit group ArtFest has launched its Art Dollar Challenge to raise money for arts education programs throughout Lee County. As ArtFest receives more donations, the organization will support art programs that target at-risk youth. Full Story
ART BASEL
Miami Beach hosted the seventh edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, the celebrated international art show, last week. More than 250 leading galleries from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia took part. Full Story
'Macbeth' comes to the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center
Something wicked comes to the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center when the reborn Federal Building downtown host its inaugural theatrical production, Shakespeare's "Macbeth," Jan 7-17, 2009. Full Story
New Year's Weekend Art Fair returns to Fifth Avenue South in Naples
The Downtown Naples New Year's Weekend Art Fair returns for its 13th anniversary on Dec. 27-28. Admission is free and open to the public. Full Story
An old world tradition rings in the New Year at the Mann Hall
Welcome the New Year in traditional Viennese style when "Salute to Vienna" returns to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, with the music, song and dance of Johann Strauss Jr. and his contemporaries. The old world tradition has been embraced by new world audiences. Full Story
Opera star adds her voice to 'Messiah and More'
Celebrated opera singer Eleni Matos is the featured soloist with the Southwest Florida Symphony's "Messiah and More" concert performances this weekend. Mezzo soprano Ms. Matos is the winner of 33 national and international vocal competitions. Full Story
This week on WGCU TV — Cable channel 3
. André Rieu: Live in Vienna - Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir perform in the square of the imperial Hofburg Palace in the heart of Vienna. . Full Story
Gulf Coast Symphony presents Tchaikovsky
The Gulf Coast Symphony, Southwest Florida's premier community orchestra, presents the first of its acclaimed Classical Access Concerts on Saturday, Dec. 13. The concert features 18-year-old Chinese pianist Brian Lin, winner of the 2007 Virginia Warring International Piano Competition. Full Story
BIG ARTS news
The Winners' Circle Exhibit in Phillips Gallery, a bi-annual Art Council of Southwest Florida event, presents the paintings, collage, photography and sculpture who have won major awards in the previous two years at BIG ARTS Phillips Gallery. Full Story
Luzerne Trio performs Dec. 14
The Luzerne Trio performs at BIG ARTS Phillips Gallery Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $31, and can be purchased at BIG ARTS box office. Full Story
13th Medieval Faire at Lakes Park next month
The Riverdale Kiwanis have set their annual Medieval Faire for the weekends of Jan. 10-11 and Jan. 17-18 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers. This is the 13th year for the event, which is expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees. Full Story
Sign up now for young artists talent show
The Young Artists Awards is now open for student audition registration. The Young Artists Awards, Inc. is a performing arts education, audition, performance, and scholarship program for students from throughout Southwest Florida ages 8 to 21. The project recognizes the area's top talented students in the performing arts. Full Story
Alliance plans 'Walk Through the Arts'
"Walk Through the Arts," a campuswide interactive expo that showcases the arts throughout the Southwest Florida community, takes place at the Alliance for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 10. Full Story
Gavin DeGraw will headline Edison Festival stadium show
Gavin DeGraw will headline the stadium and fireworks show as part of the Edison Festival of Light on Saturday, Feb. 21, in Edison Stadium at Fort Myers High School. Mr. Full Story
Arts & Entertainment News RSS feed |
Click Here for PDF of Print Edition 
| FEATURED CONTENT |
 Weather
Current weather in your town or anywhere in the world. |
 Horoscope
Is there love in your future? Money? Check what's in store for you today. |
 Lottery Numbers
Are you a winner? Find out here. |
 Gas Prices
Find or report the lowest gas prices in your town. |
 Crosswords
Play our daily puzzle to kill time between projects. |
 Celebrity News
News and photos of all your favorite celebs. |
 Money Matters
Track the markets and your own investments in our money section. |
 Daily Recipe
Find a great recipe for dinner tonight. |
 Free music
Create a playlist and enjoy tunes all day. |
|
If you have any problems, questions, or comments regarding www.FloridaWeekly.com, please contact our Webmaster. For all other comments, please see our contact section to send feedback to Florida Weekly. Users of this site agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Copyright © 2007—2009 Florida Media Group LLC.
 Twitter |  Facebook |  RSS
|
|
