A Moment in Time

Last night, our team heard photographer Clyde Butcher talk to a room of environmental warriors at the Everglades Foundation’s gala. Clyde was funny and candid as he shared stories of capturing his first black-and-white image, Moonshot, in 1986; taking President Jimmy Carter on a swamp walk; and learning to love the Everglades. The day before, we were at Naples Botanical Garden, gathered with 700 Neapolitans in the name of conservation (and, maybe also for the Oscar de la Renta fashion show). The week prior, I was in Picayune Strand State Forest with Charlette Roman from the South Florida Water Management District, learning about the mammoth efforts to heal our waterways.

When I think about ‘the best of the Gulf,’ it’s the experiences that come to mind—from tramping through swamps to sitting down at dinner parties where every element is considered to being part of the infectious energy in a fundraising room for a cause we care about. Thanks to the distinct landscape and the fascinating personalities filling our shores, Southwest Florida offers a wealth of moments like this.

In this issue, we dig into unparalleled experiences. Take Suzanne and Norman Cohn and their table art collection

(“A Table for Friends,” p. 92), in which every piece—from the Les Lalanne flatware to the recovered heirloom knives her father hid during the Holocaust—tells a story and carries meaning. They use the pieces in intimate dinners, meant to stoke deep conversations and thoughts.

I recently toured the Naples Art Institute’s Miradas de Mujeres: Isabelle de Borchgrave and The World of Frida Kahlo exhibit with the Cohns and the institute’s executive director Frank Verpoorten (“Refashioning Frida,” p. 272). Stepping into the gallery Frank and his team built for the show is like walking into another world—Isabelle and Frida’s worlds of color, passion and creativity. Frank’s understanding of and vision for the arts makes me thrilled for what’s to come.

We also see this fresh energy in people like dynamo Elysia Dawn, who recently returned to her Naples hometown to catapult the United Arts Collier into its next chapter (“United in Art,” p. 58). You may have already seen some of the immersive events she’s been creating. UAC’s February Love for the Arts combined forward-thinking visual, performing and culinary arts at Cambier Park. If you’re into art and haven’t met Elysia yet, make it a point to go see her.

We hope that her story and the rest of the people, places and ideas in this issue inspire you to celebrate the best of what the Gulf has to offer now.

Stephanie Granada Editor in Chief

What is Paradise?

Since my wife, Retta, and I moved to Naples 25 years ago, we have constantly heard, “Living here is like living in paradise.” Well, I have always wondered what that phrase really means. So, at a recent Gulfshore Life Community Advisory Board meeting, I posed the question to my fellow board members and received many different answers.

Board president Denise Cobb recalls the dictionary definition of the word and how it encapsulates our hometown: a very beautiful, pleasant or peaceful place that seems to be perfect. “I find that paradise is being able to sit on the beach and watch a spectacular sunset with friends and a glass of wine in the dead of winter,” she says. For Fort Myers native Sandy Stilwell Youngquist, paradise is Captiva Island, where she’s long owned several businesses. “It’s a feeling of contentment mixed with gratitude,” she says, adding that she’s thankful to have found the place that brings her peace.

Of course, everyone appreciates the beaches, warm weather year-round and vast opportunities to get out in nature. “The enriching botanical gardens and outdoor activities, like boating and fishing, keep my children eager to learn and help them appreciate their environment,” Jennifer McCurry says.

Adria Starkey says the phrase ‘living in paradise’ stems from the Garden of Eden. “It is where all of your needs and wants are satiated,” she explains. That is certainly the case here, where our members agree we have not only the fantastic setting, weather and culture but also great food and even better people. Mark Loren summarizes it as “a mosaic of beaches, weather, vibrant people, food and a generous community.” Mary Susan Clinton believes our paradise shines most when we’re called to prove our resilience, as with Hurricane Ian. “We united to support each other and rebuild, proving once again this place we call home is extraordinary and unique,” she adds.

The more I pondered the term and our members’ responses, the more I wanted to dig into the subject. I asked my spiritual guide, Rabbi Adam Miller, for his take. Thinking beyond the region’s immediate charms, he senses a deeper reason for the allure. “‘Paradise’ tends to resonate for many with the imagery of the Garden of Eden—a metaphor for a time in life when things felt simpler, more joyful and less stressful,” he says, adding that a visit to Southwest Florida when you’re semi-retired or retired leaves you feeling young and carefree, thanks to the wealth of engaging activities and social opportunities. “Viewed through this lens, Southwest Florida is truly paradise, lifting one’s spirits and delivering a life full of blessing and hope,” he says.

I like that: A life full of blessing and hope. That’s what so many of us find in this well-kept, safe area where people really enjoy life. Simply paradise.

Elliott Singer Managing Director and Founder, Fairview Advisors Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation Member-at-Large

Gulfshore Treasures

Art can be even more meaningful when it’s functional, as is the case in Suzanne and Norman Cohn’s Mystique penthouse. The couple often hosts intimate dinner parties, where all dinnerware—down to the smallest of spoons—is handcrafted by an artist and selected with intention. Pieces of the Cohns’ table art are currently featured within Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum’s Naples Collects show, running through October 15. We dive into the duo’s penchant for beauty and fellowship on p. 92.