Sanibel Island Blog | Whats Happening Locally

Luminary Festival 2018

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Sandalfoot Team

Sanibel and Captiva Islands have a very special way of launching the holiday season – the annual Luminary Festival, or festival of candlelight. At dusk on the evening of Friday December 7^th candle lanterns will line the bike path along Periwinkle Way. On Saturday, December 8^th lights will be placed along Andy Rosse Lane and Captiva Drive in Captiva. Both evenings celebrate the Islands and local businesses.

Luminary Festival is a much-anticipated event for the first weekend in December, and is the real start of the holiday season on the Islands. Luminary nights begin at 5:30 and last until 9:00 and the Sanibel route stretches from one end of Periwinkle Way to the other. Local merchants, restaurants, churches, and businesses all join in the fun. Major sponsors for Luminary 2018 include the Bank of the Islands and Periwinkle Place.

Luminary is hosted by the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce and the theme of this year’s event is Holiday Stroll. This community-wide holiday event brings together residents, visitors, businesses and organizations, to promote goodwill and holiday spirit and to enjoy the season. Some Sandalfoot guests come year after year to enjoy the event.

As you stroll the trail, check out the Chamber-provided map for the many fun places to stop and enjoy. There will be Santa visits, photos with Santa, a live nativity scene, music and activities for the entire family. Many of the stores and businesses offer snacks and refreshments and Periwinkle Place will feature live music by the Children’s Choir of the Islands, Malibu Duo and Megan Rose Duo.

The Chamber of Commerce created Luminary Festival to offer recognition to island businesses, help promote local shopping, and to have a holiday event that the entire family could enjoy. It has been a tremendous success for 33 years and this year’s event will be no exception. Come out and enjoy the decorations, the beautifully lit walkways and the company of friends.

Sincerely,

The Sandalfoot Team

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Located on the east end of Sanibel Island, just one mile from the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, our vacation rental condo community is nestled beachfront on the Gulf of Mexico. Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium has been consistently ranked #1 and #2 in our category by TripAdvisor, also receiving their Certificate of Excellence three years in a row. Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium. So much more than a room with a view!

Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium
1-800-725-2250
www.SandalfootCondo.com

Logo and ‘Sandalfoot’ are Service Marks of: Sandalfoot Condominium Association, Inc.

Posted in Beach Vacation, Christmas on the Beach, Florida Beach Rentals, Florida Beaches, Florida Vacations, Luminary Festival, Merry Christmas, Sandalfoot Beach Rentals, Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium Events, Sanibel Beach Rentals, Sanibel Island, Sanibel Island Events, Sanibel Island News, Southwest FL, Southwest FL vacations, Vacation, Vacation Beach Rentals, Winter Vacation Spots | Leave a comment

Sanibel Writers Conference 2018

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Sandalfoot Team

The 13^th annual Sanibel Writers Conference is being presented on the island from November 8 to November 11 at the BIG ARTS center on Sanibel. The conference features workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, manuscript consultations, readings, panels, concerts and book signings. The conference is sponsored by Florida Gulf Coast University and the website address for information on the Writer’s Conference is www.fgcu.edu/siwc. A complete schedule for the four-day event can be found on the website.

The cost of the conference is $550 ($440 for BIG ARTS members and $300 for full-time students). General registration is first come, first served. For out-of-town attendees, lodging is available at discounted rates at area hotels or inns.

The keynote speaker for 2018 is fiction writer Ann Hood. Among her fiction works are The Knitting Circle, Comfort: A Journey Through Grief, An Italian Wife, Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine, Morningstar, and The Book That Matters Most. She is a New York Times bestselling author.

After graduating with an English degree from the University of Rhode Island, Ann worked as a stewardess for TWA, getting fodder for stories to come. Her first book, Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine, was written on international flights and published in 1987. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, the Paris Review, O, the Atlantic Monthly, and Real Simple. Her most recent work, She Loves You (yeah, yeah, yeah) is a young adult novel published in June of 2018.

Faculty and visiting writers include poet Major Jackson, fiction writer Julianna Baggott, non-fiction writer Steve Almond, screenwriter Mark Evan Schwartz and agent Christopher Schelling of Selectric Artists. For a complete list of participating faculty and visiting writers go to www.fgcu.edu/siwc. To reach the conference director, email Tom DeMarchi at tdemarch@fgcu.edu.

Sincerely,

The Sandalfoot Team

Connect with us:

Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium
1-800-725-2250
www.SandalfootCondo.com

Logo and ‘Sandalfoot’ are Service Marks of: Sandalfoot Condominium Association, Inc.

Posted in Art Show Sanibel Island, Florida Vacations, In the News, Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium Events, Sanibel Island Events, Sanibel Island News, Southwest FL, Vacation | Leave a comment

Domingo Nieves Wins Coveted EAwards Honor of Distinction

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Sandalfoot Team

Lee County’s EAwards were held August 30^th to announce Outstanding Service Awards in the hospitality industry. The awards acknowledge excellence through extraordinary customer service and dedication to tourism throughout Lee County. The “Superheroes” themed Awards were presented by the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau and the Fort Myers News Press.

The awards ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs and celebrated local customer service professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. More than 670 nominations were received from residents and visitors from around the world recognizing the exceptional service and caring offered to visitors who come to Lee County.

Honor of Distinction Winner

Sandalfoot Condominium is beyond proud to announce that one of its own, Domingo Nieves, was honored with the top award, the Honor of Distinction. Winners of this award exhibit exemplary service, leadership, work ethic, job knowledge, performance skills, familiarity with the destination and assistance during an emergency.

Domingo received a number of nominations for this award. One nominator described him as “one in a million.” Another described him as “tireless, self-sacrificing, humble, compassionate and an all-around exceptional human being.” In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria that devastated Puerto Rico last year, Domingo was quick to respond. As a native to the island, Domingo sent six generators, at his own expense, to help people in his uncle’s neighborhood.

Another nominee says he visited a guest in a local hospital every other day for a month while they were on Sanibel and he frequently cuts fresh flowers for guests’ special occasions. Domingo assists elderly guests with getting around on the property and attending special events held here. He gives guests rides to the grocery store if they don’t have a car, and lends his own fishing equipment for guests’ enjoyment. Domingo also helped people living on Sanibel prepare for Hurricane Irma and helped clean up after the storm.

Anyone who knows Domingo is aware that this award is richly deserved. We at Sandalfoot are honored to share this information and honored to know Domingo. He truly is a caring, compassionate individual who always puts everyone’s needs ahead of his own. Congratulations Domingo!

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Bailey’s General Store

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Sandalfoot Team

Bailey’s General Store has been an Island fixture since 1899 when Frank Bailey Sr. started the Sanibel Packing Company to provide groceries and supplies to Island residents. The business operated on a wharf on San Carlos Bay where mail boats and passenger ferries docked. The family business was shipping fruits and vegetables grown on Sanibel, and the company’s specialties were tomatoes and limes.

Once the first Causeway opened in 1963, the business was soon located to its present location at the corner of Periwinkle and Tarpon Bay Roads, since there was no longer a need for the ferries or the mail boats to stop at the wharf.

Since its beginnings 119 years ago, the family has been about serving the community and offering products and services for Island residents and visitors. Today, the store has become a community hub, offering a full selection of meats, seafood, fresh produce, a deli, world-famous pastries, and a staff ready to meet every customer’s needs.

As shoppers’ needs have evolved, so too have Bailey’s offerings. They have a full line of gluten-free and organic products and a deli that offers hot foods and pre-cooked meals for convenience. Bailey’s will also do the shopping for you and deliver to your vacation destination. A full selection of wine and beer adds to the shopping convenience. Sanibel Catering Company by Bailey’s has been launched to be the go-to caterer for events large and small.

Perhaps most importantly is Bailey’s commitment to the community. After Irma, for example, Bailey’s fed workers free-of-charge who had come to the island to help restore power. It is just one example of many where Bailey’s has given back. Their General Store is such an integral part of the community that it is impossible to imagine Sanibel without it. Make sure to visit Bailey’s on your next island vacation!

Sincerely,

The Sandalfoot Team

Connect with us:

Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium
1-800-725-2250
www.SandalfootCondo.com

Logo and ‘Sandalfoot’ are Service Marks of: Sandalfoot Condominium Association, Inc.

Posted in Beach Vacation, Florida Beaches, Florida Vacations, In the News, Sandalfoot Beach Rentals, Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium Events, Sanibel Beach Rentals, Sanibel Island Events, Sanibel Island News, Southwest FL | Leave a comment

Fun at the Shell Museum

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Sandalfoot Team

Shell Museum

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is a busy place in the summer, with many activities directed to visiting families. The museum is open seven days a week and offers a different program daily in its “New Day, New Adventure” series. In addition, there are live Tank Talks, and Shell Arts & Crafts in the afternoons. The museum is also offering guided Beach Walks for visitors to learn about the most commonly found shells on our beaches.

Making these activities more affordable is a discount being offered to summer visitors, a buy-one, get one half off on every admission and beach walk. Regular admission prices are $15 for adults, $9 for ages 12 – 17 and $7 for 5 – 11. Children aged 5 and under are admitted free. The Museum is open from 10 until 5 and is located at 3075 Sanibel Captiva Road.

The live Tank Talks are held four times a day, at 11:00, 12:30, 2:30 and 4. In addition to discussing live mollusks, presenters talk about Florida’s live shelling ban.

Beach Walks are led by the museum’s shell experts and take visitors on one-hour walks starting at 9:00 am daily from the Island Inn at 3111 West Gulf Drive. Advanced registration is required and the walks are open to 6 people at a time. Beach Walks prices are the same as admission costs, and registration is available by telephone at (239) 395-2233 or at www.shellmuseum.org.

The Shell Museum is a wonderful resource to have right here in our community. It offers visitors a chance to learn more about the beach and to have a better appreciation of the shells. The museum has something for everyone during the summer and is a not-to-be-missed activity for all visitors to Sanibel.

Sincerely,

The Sandalfoot Team

Connect with us:

Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium
1-800-725-2250
www.SandalfootCondo.com

Logo and ‘Sandalfoot’ are Service Marks of: Sandalfoot Condominium Association, Inc.

Posted in Beach Shelling, FL, Florida Beaches, Florida Vacations, Junonia Shell, Sandalfoot Beach Rentals, Sandalfoot Beachfront Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium, Sandalfoot Condominium Events, Sanibel Beach Shelling, Sanibel Island, Sanibel Island News, Sanibel Shelling, Southwest FL, Southwest FL vacations | Leave a comment

Luminary Festival 2018

Sanibel Writers Conference 2018

Domingo Nieves Wins Coveted EAwards Honor of Distinction

Bailey’s General Store

Fun at the Shell Museum

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