Life In Bonita Springs

Walking at Bonita Beach

Don't you wish this was you? I know I wish this was me. The weather in Bonita Springs has been really beautiful lately. This photo was taken at about 7:00 p.m., on Bonita Beach behind Docs, and it was just a little cloudy over the gulf. You could still see Sanibel Island in the distance, though. People line the beaches at about 6:00 p.m. getting ready for the sun to go down. Some of the people are there every day, just in case they hadn't seen the most spectacular sunset *ever* and today was going to be that day.

Bikers roar in on their Harley's, kids drive up on their bikes and cars park at the access. Everyone scurries to the waters edge and just sits there really silently. It's almost like a circle of people around a campfire totally mesmerized.

See, that's all we need for peace in the world. Everyone just needs to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

Bonita Springs Lawn Care Abuse

These homes are located in Bonita Springs, Florida. I'll spare one of the home owners the indignity of mentioning which of the Bonita Springs communities it is located in. For months I've watched in horror and amazement as the exterior of the house on the left has "evolved" to what it is today. Just when you think it can't get much worse it does. If you didn't know better you'd think the house was abandoned or on the verge of foreclosure. Sadly, this home owner is just unskilled at lawn care. They keep trying and trying and it is just getting worse. They're lovely people, I like them alot, but they must have never heard that Clint Eastwood line, "A man's got to know his limitations".

The neighbor that actually has grass in his yard is one of those "gardening" types. He's consistently working on his yard, the flower beds, fertilizing, you name it. I am sad for him to have to look at the neighbor's yard. The only thing either of them have going for them is that neither of them has their real estate for sale. The poor guy on the left of "dead grass house" does have his for sale. I wonder what the people that look at it say about "dead grass house".

So, what can a person do to cure an eyesore like this? I am not really sure, but I am going to take a stab at it:

• It can't hurt to at least check into code enforcement. www.CityofBonitaSprings.org I don't know if there is a law that you must have grass, but there may be rules regarding the debris mixed in with the dead yard and trees.
• There's a neighbor on each side of this Bonita Springs home. Lawn services run $75-100 per month - worst case scenario? Each neighbor kicks in $150 for three months of lawn service as a gift. After three months, it has to start looking better or at least good enough for them to get hooked on professional lawn care.
• Just talk to the neighbor and ask if there is anything you can do to help. Maybe they'll let you help or give them advice. When you have a lawn like you see on a Scott's commercial you have advice to give.

So, I got busted taking the photo by the "live grass house". He asked if I was putting the photo in my Naples Daily News column. I had to explain that it wasn't really news worthy until lightening strikes and ignites the dead grass. I'll just keep it on my little old blog. Hey, rainy season is about to begin in Bonita Springs, that grass just might perk up. Until it starts raining, that lot is officially the most raggedy piece of Bonita Springs real estate in town.

All Ready Crazy For Stir Crazy

If you're looking for things to do in Bonita Springs and Estero and a great way to have fun, listen up. This is a great low cost event and a fun way to get out and meet other Bonita Springs and Estero residents. Why wait until the Taste of Bonita for a chance sample Stir Crazy. <nudge>

Stir Crazy, is a new Asian Grill at Coconut Point Mall that is going to be opening on August 4th at Coconut Point in Estero. The cuisine is bold and delicious Asian food, cooked from scratch, everyday. They have a fun, open kitchen, full bar and great kids menu. They even have food for picky eaters just like me! Stir Crazy looks like it will be an interesting and great place to eat for just about anyone.  

Don't miss getting in on grand opening day action. There will be Taiko Drummers starting at 6 p.m. on the opening night- Monday, August 4th.

Space is limited, so you should sign up right away. Here's a map to Stir Crazy: Map to Stir Crazy. If you just want to wing it, Stir Crazy faces US 41 and is located in the area of Panera Bread, Barnes and Noble Book Store.

Next, if you cannot attend the grand opening events, or even if you can, you're invited to enter the Grand Opening Giveaway. Everyone who signs up with us before we open will be entered into a drawing to win:

• A $500 Stir Crazy Gift Card
• A Tasting Party at Stir Crazy for 10 people

Best of all, Stir Crazy will make a $5.00 donation to a terrific local charity for everyone who attends one of these events. The terrific Stir Crazy partners:

• Barbara's Friends, the Children's Hospital Cancer Fund at Lee Memorial Health System
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Florida
• Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida

The only way to book a table for this special events is to sign up online at:

Take a look at the inside of Stir Crazy:

I can hardly wait, see you at Stir Crazy!

Just a little flower growing in Bonita Springs.  I see this flowering bush out my kitchen window in my neighbors back yard.  I found my way to take a photo while the sun was going down today.  I've been a little under the weather the last few days and haven't written much.  Tomorrow is a new day. I'll hit the sheets early and try to get back on track.  Thanks for reading.

Bonita Springs is Gonna Get Ripped

If you're like me and you're tired of choking on bugs while you're riding your bike or running there is salvation behind those doors. LA Fitness opened last Friday and I'm wearing out the treadmills, not choking on gnats and enjoying seeing a whole bunch of friendly faces from my last gym.

A word to the wise if you're heading in to the new LA Fitness to work out. Do not wear a cobalt blue shirt and black pants. It had not occurred to me until halfway through my workout that I was being stared at and followed around because everyone thought I was a trainer. Uh, muffin tops would have been the first clue that I wasn't a trainer, but that's my own private Idaho.

See you at LA Fitness. I'll be the one not wearing blue.

Absorption Rate of Bonita Springs Homes For Sale

The Vernazza Floor Plan

If you have been researching condos for sale in Rapallo, take a look at the Vernazza model. The Vernazza is the smallest floor plan model available in the carriage homes at Rapallo at Coconut Point of Estero, Florida. The Vernazza offers 1,966 square foot of living. Gracious living area, as far as condos go, in Estero, Florida or even Bonita Springs, for that matter.  The three bedroom, two bath, two car garage, Vernazza model offers ground floor level living for easy access and no stairs to struggle climbing.

At this time there are a wide variety of homes for sale in Rapallo but only a limited amount of Vernazza models available. The current list price for the Vernazza model is from the mid $300,000's to about $400,000.

Most condominium homes in Rapallo offer water views, but they all offer the great amenity package that Rapallo offers. Don't forget that community beach shuttle that is included with home ownership. It's a keeper and a great asset for homeowners and resale purposes.

Enjoy the images of Rapallo, home of the Vernazza model at Rapallo.

To learn more about the community of Rapallo read also: Rapallo at Coconut Point | Estero Florida

Alternate carriage home floor plans at Rapallo include:

• Vernazza - 1,966 Living
• Levanto - 2,016 Living
• Monterosso - 2,492
• Rio Maggiore - 2,584

Retirement in Naples - Marco Island - Bonita Springs

This must be the week for Southwest Florida making top ten lists. Just a few days ago I found out that Lover's Key Beach Was Voted One of Florida's Best Beaches and now I just found an article that reads that the Naples - Marco Island area was nominated as one of the top ten "Healthiest Hometowns" by AARP Magazine.

Here's the link to the entire story:

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/healthiest_hometowns.html

The part about Naples is on Page 2 of the article.

Since Bonita Springs is the next village north of Naples, that means we're in! <wink> Don't you just love how I invited myself to that party. Why? Because we have beaches just like Naples and Marco Island, simply a few miles north. Plus, the only downside mentioned in the article was, "The downside is high housing prices and a high cost of living. Naples has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis-but that means you might be able to find some bargains here." Might find bargains? I'm sure you can find bargains, including retirement bargains. I'm even more certain that you can find great deals on Bonita Springs real estate because I see them with my own eyes every day.

The Bonita Springs real estate market has calmed and has maintained at adjusted levels of pricing while inventory is slowly being absorbed. Check out the last few months of absorption of Bonita Springs real estate:

• Bonita Springs Real Estate Market Report - June 2008
• Bonita Springs Real Estate Market Report May 2008
• Bonita Springs Real Estate Market Report April 2008

Just a little bit at a time, it's getting picked away. Watch those interest rates. If the prices are no longer going down your next challenge will be interest rates rising. You do want to move here, right? You'll live longer! AARP says so. An average of 80.97 years worth of longer. This just might be a great place to check into real estate if you're looking for a retirement destination.

Friday is For Dolphis and Tall Ones

Recently, I joined Rotary International. I'm having a great time meeting so many new people and getting involved with the community. Why did I join Rotary? To serve the community and to get out and meet people. Real people, not just the one's living in my computer. A little human interaction. What task does Rotary immediately assign me? Writing programs and newsletters. It seems I can't escape the written word or the computer. Not that I was *really* trying.

Yesterday, at noon Rotary which is held at Spanish Wells Golf and Country Club, our guest speaker was Dr. Aswani Volety. The big kahuna in charge of marine science at FGCU. He announced that August 9th at Carl Johnson boat launch volunteers are able to participate in rebuilding oyster beds. You see, the professor heads up a program where old oyster shells from restaurants are bagged and put in the bay at *just the right time* and in *just the right place* to make baby oysters grow. The oysters are needed to keep our water systems balanced and healthy. The marine program is feather in the cap of Bonita Springs. There is nothing like it anywhere else in Southwest Florida. It's located on Fish Trap Bay on Bonita Beach Road.

So who is this "Tall One" and what does she have to do with this? She liked this mailbox and has an interest in Marine Science. So I decided to tribute this Fridays mailbox series to all things marine and those who enjoy mariney things.

If you're looking for things to do or a way to get involved as a volunteer, stay tuned about the Oyster rebuild project. I'll have more detail on how to get involved soon.

Oh, and the mailbox is on Hickory Blvd. on Bonita Beach. It's one of many, there's a theme going on there.

Tijuana Flats is In Naples and *Now* Bonita Springs

Yesterday, to do something different I headed out for a bite to eat at a new, local Bonita Springs restaurant and then took in a movie. The new restaurant I *finally* tried was Tijuana Flats. Tijuana Flats is located in Bonita Springs but it might be Estero. It’s right in that gray area to me. At any rate, it’s across the street from the North gate of Pelican Landing near The Colony sales center entrance right on US 41 – Tamiami Trail. (Pssst, there's a picture of the building so you'll recognize it when you drive through Bonita Springs.)

I snapped a few photos to add to this page because I thought the restaurant was so darn fun inside. I’ve never been to the other Tijuana flats in Naples, so I had no idea what to expect. When you walk in you order at a counter – after you get done looking around at all the great hand painted art on the walls. After you collect yourself and order you then take a seat and your order is brought to you.

The weather has really been sunny in Bonita Springs and it was super bright out so most of the photos were hard to wrangle, but I saved a few for you. At any rate, you’ll get the gist of how fun the place is. I bet kids would love it. When I was there it was quiet with only a few other tables filled. I had the black bean nachos and ate myself to discomfort. That dish is enough for 3 or 4 people to share.

Tijuana Flats is open for lunch, too. You can get in and out fast if you’re a local looking for a lunch place. I’ll be dragging my crew up there from our Keller Williams real estate office this week, for sure.

The actual address is 8350 Hospital Drive, Bonita Springs, Fl 34135 and their phone number is 239-948-8820.

Their official website is: www.TijuanaFlats.com you at least have to visit to read the “Tijuana Flats Manifesto”. That will at least explain some of the graffiti on the restaurant walls. The hot sauce bar is a work in itself with dozens of sauces with unique names like "smack my sweet ass and call my sally". It's worth a read even if you don't partake in the zip.

I sure hope they participate in the Taste of Bonita Festival !!

Oh, and the movie I ended up seeing was “Wall.e” What a fun flick! We saw it at the Prado a the Regal Cinema Theater. 'Member that theater?