Life In Bonita Springs

Bingo at TGIF at Coconut Point | 296/365 Things to Do

So we were sitting at TGIF having a burger (it’s one of our only happy-medium spots) and I noticed a billboard on the wall about Bingo. We’d had this server before so I asked her about it.

Apparent, the Bingo at TGIF has been going on for a while and by the looks of the $400+ jackpot there wasn’t a winner at the last game.

So, here’s the long story short.  Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. is bingo at TGIF.  Our server told us the seats start filling up at 7:30ish. The Bingo at TGIF at Coconut Point is wildly popular.

If you’re looking for fun things to do Bingo at TGIF seems like a fun thing to do in the Estero, Bonita Springs area.

Annual Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival | 295/365 Things to Do

The longest-running Celtic festival in Southwest Florida is held right here on the banks of the beautiful Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida.  The Celtic Festival is continuous music and family friendly! Enjoy authentic Celtic food and drink, merchandise & jewelry sold on premise. 

The Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival is produced by the City of Fort Myers, Florida Recreation Division, in conjunction with Celtic Heritage Productions, Inc. It’s always the fourth Saturday in January so if you don’t see it this year you can attend future events.  This is a family friendly event, kids under 13 admitted free; please NO pets.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Fort Myers visit the Celtic Festival  at Centennial Park in Downtown Fort Myers, Florida.  

You can learn more at their page: www.facebook.com/pg/CaloosahatcheeCeltic/

Naples Annual Swamp Buggy Races  | 294/365 Things to Do

As a staple in the community, SWFL have thrived for 71 years on the back of our beloved historic sport of Swamp Buggy Racing. The Naples Swamp Buggy races began in 1949 as an event to help raise awareness for the City of Naples and Collier County, Florida.  The tradition continues with 2019 being the 71st year of the annual event.

You can learn more and get current events including the swamp buggy parade and future swamp buggy races by visiting www.SwampBuggy.com. This years races are November 9th, 10th, 2019.

If you are looking for different and fun things to do in southwest Florida consider attending a swamp buggy race.  At the very least you should google Swamp Buggy Queen and see how they celebrate her by tossing her in the swamp!

National Donut Day in Bonita Springs | 293/365 Things to Do

November 5th is national donut day so we thought we’d let you know where to find some great donuts in the Bonita Springs and Estero Florida areas.  The local favorites vary from person to person so don’t get upset if your donut favorite doesn’t make the list. You can add them in the comments of this thread.

1.  Trackside Donuts has the best apple fritters on the planet. They’re located at Old 41 and Bonita Beach Rd.

2. Duck Donuts at Coconut Point Mall in Estero.

3. Dunkin Donuts in Bonita Springs on Tamiami Trail.

4. Krispy Kreme on Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers.

5. Peace, Love & Little Donuts in Naples, Florida.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels

The Saloon at Coconut Point | 292/365 Things to Do

The Saloon at Coconut Point is one of the newer dining establishments in Estero, Florida. Located at Coconut Point Mall it is located in the space where Blue Water was once located.  To describe the Saloon is difficult, it’s sort of an upscale western theme.  It’s very sophisticated and both casual and upscale at the same time.

The Saloon is part of the Culinary Concepts group so some of their other restaurants may sound familiar – Chops, Yabba, Pazzo, to name a few.  You can learn more about all of their fine dining establishments at Gr8food.net.

I love Saloon because they do use the Open Table app which is a life saver during tourist season.  Also, there are great meals for the meat eaters and the non-meat eaters alike.  There is a great salad available with a little bit of everything (hold the bacon) for me and Jerry had the brisket the last time we went. If anyone from Concepts happens to read this I really do miss the Lil' Kim Impossible burger and I am lobbying here for it's return to the menu.

We’ve gone up to watch a game or two because it’s a nice atmosphere and we aren’t sports bar people.  There are high tops in the bar area plus bar seating.   In the dining room there are a variety of tables and booths.  The artwork on the walls are classic western oil paintings and even a few ‘dogs playing poker’ vibe paintings.

Valet parking is available which is nice during crowded tourist season.  There is also a new gelato store a few doors down so you can have an ice cream after dinner.

Wynwood Walls & Diner | 291/365 Things to Do

Wynwood Walls is known as a unique outdoor destination featuring colorful street murals by artists from around the globe. Established in 2009 by the developer Tony Goldman in cooperation with the art dealer Jeffrey Deitch to launch Wynwood Walls as a large permanent collection of outdoor museum and international street art. It is an incredible display of the human mind and artistic expression. Wynwood is now one of the city’s most happening districts. There is no entrance fee to see such creative and amazing talents.

Private walking tours are available daily for groups of all ages, large and small. Great restaurants, bars, and clubs with music that pleases all ears are nearby.

The Wynwood Walls are located in Miami’s Art District at 2520 NW 2^nd Ave., Miami, FL 33127.

While visiting Wynwood Walls, located in the heart of Wynwood, Wynwood Diner is an indoor/outdoor concept, proving a much-needed, central gathering place for Miami’s most creative neighborhood. With three district yet harmonious spaces, from the diner to the café to the outdoor patio, each area flows into the next, inviting guests to wake up with coffee, host a lunch meeting, or end the day with a dinner and cocktails with friends. The diner with its European charm, serving all-day breakfast & modern classics, plus cocktails & craft beer.

A trip to Wynwood is a little over an hour across Alligator Alley and then south into Miami. If you’re looking for fun things to do or just a day-cation this would be a great trip. Plus you can always drive through Homestead/Krome Avenue to see the orchids. 

Read also: A Day Trip to Homestead For Orchids 30/365

The Wynwood Diner is located at 2601 NW 2^nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127.

Florida International Air Show | 290/365 Things to Do

Every year like clockwork at the Charlotte County Airport the Florida Air Show takes off.  (pun intended)  There’s a long list of fun activities and events that are available to see at the Florida International Air Show.  This year the Thunderbirds are performing daily in addition to the great scheduled events that included aerial acrobatics and parachute jumpers.

Outside food/drink is not permitted and neither are pets so be sure to leave the critters at home.

https://www.flypgd.com/event/airshow/ is the official webpage so you can find future events going forward. If you’re looking for fun things to do in SWFL, Charlotte County is only about an hour away from the Bonita Springs area.  It’s a great place to take the kids, too!

While you’re in the Punta Gorda area stop by Ana’s European Bistro for a quick bite.  There is also a Vietnam Memorial Wall in Punta Gorda at Lashley Park.

- photo courtesy of Terry Moore, Bonita Springs, Florida resident.

Bonita Springs, FL Real Estate Update Sept 2019 Stats

Seventy percent of the sales in the Bonita Springs and Estero Florida area are under $400,000.  What that means to you as a home buyer is that the closer you are to zero the more competition you have when looking at homes and placing offers.  Depending upon the neighborhood and the size/style of the property there could be fierce competition. Keep in mind that if you come to town to look at homes or condos to purchase and you look at seven units you will easily see the spectrum in quality and condition of the home for sale. If you see one gem in the bunch you need to recognize that there are other home buyers in Bonita Springs who are also looking and when they see the gem they will pounce before you have a chance.

Now, some neighborhoods have inventory and choices and there isn’t urgency so it is important to understand what the real estate market conditions are for the type of home or condo you are going to buy.

We are still seeing a lot of cash in the real estate market but it has been higher.  We have few FHA and VA mortgages here partly due to the loan limits and the fact that some of the affordable homes in the area may be low lying and require costly flood insurance or the homes are in need of repair and do not quality for the loan program. 

If you’d like to learn more about purchasing a home in the Bonita Springs area reach out to Angela via call or text at 239-727-7599.  If you’re interested in listing your home for sale call or text Chris at 239-273-7430.

Art Night at The Cottages Riverside Park | 289/365 Things to Do

Art Night at the Cottages starts in October every year.  Generally it is on every 4^th Wednesday of each month from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.  All of the Artists Cottages are open and will display pottery, paintings, pine needle weaving, beaded jewelry, wood crafts, ceramics, and much more.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Downtown Bonita Springs visit the Art Night at The Cottages.  The Historic Society often has a tent set up near the Liles Hotel so you can visit with members and learn more about Bonita Springs  history, too.

The Cottages are located at 27300 Old 41 Road – Riverside Park Cottage, Bonita Springs, FL 34135

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About the author. Gisela Chamberlin is a Bonita Springs resident and an art enthusiast.

Restoratives Café in Estero| 288/365 Things to Do

We get to mix a little business with pleasure regularly so when I had to pick up a lock box and listing signs from Country Creek in Estero I offered Jerry lunch to keep me company.  It had been a while since we had visited Restoratives Café so that was our lunch choice. It’s one of the few places we can both get something to eat. I tend to lean to the healthy side of eating and he is a meat, potatoes kind of guy.

To my surprise I noticed a vegan menu on the table, in addition to the regular menu. I ordered off of the vegan menu but corrupted my black bean burger with a little bit of cheese.  Jerry ordered an omelet and a cinnamon roll to go (for the next day).  Everything, per the usual was delicious.  I had two clients who I sold a home in Belle Lago who saw my post about it they went the next day.  They were pleased with their lunch, too.

I texted a photo of the menu to my daughter who is watching her carbs and she suggested that she would order the black bean burger on lettuce to cut out the wheat.  Great idea!

Restoratives Café is located in Estero Florida on US 41 just north of the light at Broadway.  You can read their menu here: www.restorativescafe.com