My opinion. The little bar is a ton of fun -- like stepping back 20 years or so. The only problem is it's a great place to get smashed -- but the better part of an hour, well 45 minutes anyway from downtown Naples. The food is OK, but you go for the atmosphere.

I've been to BhaBha which friends rave about. I've found it generally just OK, but awfully overpriced. Although you are supposed to clip coupons or go for various early bird specials when it becomes fairly priced. I'll admit I'm not a Persian food expert, but it all tastes so bland to me, and the meats they use all seem so fatty or tough, not great.

Thanks Patrick.

I trust your opinion so Bha! is out of the question for the few nights that we are in Naples. Why waste any of them!!

I think I was actually at the Little Bar years and years ago. I may still have a t-shirt somewhere! Do they serve loster, fresh seafood?

I was in Naples once about, oh, 17 years ago! All I remember was sneaking into the Ritz to hang out by their pool and have drinks at the bar.

Will Bice be open by beginning of December? If so, please post your opinion. Thanks.

Bice is supposed to open in November I think. They are working fast and furious. A friend went to apply to work there,but he's not so sure. He's been at Pazzo since they opened seven years ago or so. It will certainly be a great place for drinks if nothing else -- also open for lunch, and right across the street from Escalante.

I'm also really anxious about the new Campiello place -- Lurcat? I think.
It opened last night. It's just about a block away from Escalante on Fifth.
And a sort of funky new place opened along there today called "Fuel Cafe". It's very small and modern and they serve breakfast, including outside. That's all I know.

This place is turning into restaurant overload!!

And yes, Little bar serves mainly seafood, peel and eat shrimp, lobster, etc.

Bar Lurcat is superchic place for Minneapolis trendoids with great wine by the glass and lots of grazing food. Sounds like it was made for Naples.

Let us know your opinion when you go there Patrick. I have a business meeting this week at Sugden so I think I might have to try this place. LMF

Patrick, also wondering about theatre, etc. in Naples.

I also heard that the museum is good (modern art?)

Thanks.

I'm ashamed to admit I've not yet been to the art museum (adjacent to the Philharmonic Center for the arts). In Cambier Park right off Fifth Avenue South is the Von Leibig Center for the arts for local artists. They have displays and galleries. And there are about a zillion fine art galleries in Naples, open house all the time.

At the Phil, there are a number of events, some theatre, more concerts. www.thephil.org for the full season.

I'm proud to be a member of the Naples Players at the beautiful Sugden Theatre on Fifth Avenue South. If you were coming in Jan. or Feb. you could see me in ART. In December we will be doing 1940's RADIO HOUR on the main stage, but our studio theatre will be dark.

There is also a Naples Dinner Theatre which will be doing Mame during December.

So Patrick....I'd love to know whom you play in "Art". I was supposed to see this some years ago and had to let my tickets go to my sister. Are you the dentist or dematologist?

LMF

Actually I am hoping to come down (to Marco Island) with my family and a friend and her family sometime in January. Maybe we'll leave the husbands and kids and see you in ART!!

Actually there is no dentist. The guy who buys the all white painting is a dermatologist named Serge. I play the guy who starts all the trouble. I'm Marc, who is an aeronautical engineer -- a "new-style intellectual, who is not only an enemy of modernism, but takes some sort of incomprehensible pride in running it down". Thirty lashes to the first person who says this won't take acting on my part! The third character is a textile salesman who is now working in his fiancee's father's stationary business.

My part is the one Albert Finney did in London, and Alan Alda originally played in New York. Don't expect Albert or Alan, but I've got my work cut out for me for the next couple of months.

By the way, you can't book on line, and the season is primarily sold on subscription, but visit our website at www.naplesplayers.org. There will also be box office numbers there.

Thanks. I'll check out the web site.

One more brain-picking question:

1.Any bars in Naples where one may enjoy live jazz?

How about coffee places - anything better than Starbucks?

Thanks.

Coffee:
On Fifth Ave. S. at the corner of Fifth Street is The Naples Coffee Company (formerly called PJ's).
On Fifth Ave. S. at the corner of Eighth Street is The Cafe with good coffee drinks.
Starbucks is on Fifth Ave. S. just west of Eighth Street.

The best thing about all three is they have outside tables to enjoy the hopefully wonderful Naples weather.

Jazz offerings are hit and miss as venues change pretty frequently. Witches Brew up fairly far on 41 was pretty neat jazz Sunday nights. And the pleasant sort of outdoor Island Club in the Park Shore area does jazz by the pool a couple nights a week.
Campiello does jazz a couple nights a week in season -- not sure when that might start. And I would look for music, maybe jazz at their new Lurcat.
Tommy Bahamas has music at nights outside -- but generally more "island" than jazz. Still a great place to pass a late evening.

Thanks again.

Speaking of weather...what can we expect first weeks of December. I am assuming about 75 F. Am I totally off?

Re: Naples dining.

Just checking out the dining archive from naplesnews.com and noticed 2 entries for "Syrah".

There seems to be a "Syrah" and a "Petite Syrah" which serves sushi? Are they the same?

Petite Syrah is immediately behind Syrah. Sort of a cafe and take-out place. I dropped by to do a light dinner by myself one evening and discovered it was closed at night -- pretty much for lunch.

Thanks, yet again, Patrick!

One more question (at least for now), is Baleen at La Playa strictly a dinner spot or can we just go for late afternoon drinks and nibbles?

I figure this way we can catch the sunset.

Patrick

You've helped me greatly in other posts regarding my honeymoon next July.
I'm intrigued that you are in the Naples Players - as a person involved in theatre in the UK (next show Jesus Christ Superstar next Feb), I would be very interested in seeing one of your productions when I'm over. I've checked the website but it doesn't go up to nexy July. Do you have any idea what you will be doing next July (16th-26th)?

Thanks

Martin

You could definitely go to Baleen for cocktails and sunset. The food there is wonderful, but 5:30 is a little early for dinner. You can check out Baleen at laplayaresort.com. Have a wonderful trip!

christm, good to hear from you. Where in the UK? We've done a couple of exchanges with The Company of Ten in St. Alban's. I was a proud member of the cast of Social Security which we took to them and did for 6 or 7 performances about six years ago. They have brought two shows over to us.

You are in luck -- normally the big summer musical opens the middle of July, but no we haven't decided yet what it will be. Our double season runs June to June, so the announcement for the summer should come out about January.

Also clients of mine called this morning. They want to take us to dinner next Wednesday and asked where we'd like to go. I mentioned Baleen and they said great -- they ate there once last season and had a great meal. Funnily they said although they knew the manager from another restaurant, when they got there they said they'd like to sit outside and have a drink first. He was very hesitant saying it was going to be real busy, but OK, he'd save their table inside. After being at the bar outside for about 10 minutes he came and got them and said he'd really like to seat them. (It was around 7 PM). They sat almost by themselves all night in the dining room. What was that all about they wonder?

Patrick

Great - we'd love to see a musical.
Any ideas when it might be announced?
We're doing Superstar in Scotland. In Ayr (about an hour drive from Glasgow).

Thanks

Martin

We should know by January as they like to send the subscription renewals out by Feb.1 with the season.
Post here in Jan under "Naples Players" and I'll find it.