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Southwest Florida Living

Stay updated on local events in the SWFL area. Pro tips, local eateries and fun facts

10/12/2026

One of my favorite things about Southwest Florida is finding the spots that make this place feel like home. This week's spotlight is one you really have to see to believe.

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina sits right at the base of the Cape Coral Bridge, and here is the fun part. You can drive there or you can boat there. Thirty boat slips, a fuel dock, ten food trucks, a full-service bar, and sunsets over the Caloosahatchee that cost exactly nothing.

Local partners Gary Aubuchon, Jeff Miloff, and Scott Fischer poured years and close to nineteen million dollars into this riverfront dream, seawall and all, and it opened on July 4, 2025. Now thousands of visitors a week come for the live music, night markets, and waterfront events.

And this month it is packed with reasons to visit. A night market on October 15, a dog-friendly Pup or Treat night on October 21, a Full Moon Toga Party on October 26, and a Halloween Fright Night costume contest on October 31 with a $1,000 grand prize.

If you have been looking for a spot to spend a Southwest Florida evening, this is it. Pull up by car or by boat and enjoy the river.

Slipaway Food Truck Park and Marina
1811 Cape Coral Parkway E, Cape Coral
Open daily. Food trucks 11 AM to 9 PM.
slipawaycape.com

09/28/2026

Sometimes the biggest impact starts on a random Saturday.

Back in 2015, Anjali Van Drie and David Brown started a small Saturday program in Cape Coral to support autistic children and their families. No big plan, no press release, just people who saw a need in their own community and decided to do something about it.

Fast forward to today. That small Saturday program is now Family Initiative, a nonprofit with nearly 100 staff running daily programs across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, and Sarasota, with an expansion into Babcock Ranch on the way.

They offer sports, music, arts, free autism screenings, and even run a private school on their five acre Cape Coral campus. Real support, every single day, for families who often feel like they are figuring it out alone.

This year Anjali Van Drie earned the 2026 APEX Award from the Greater Fort Myers Chamber's Women in Business Committee for professionalism, philanthropy, and leadership. Well deserved does not begin to cover it.

The award has her name on it, but the real story is what happens when someone notices a need and simply refuses to leave it unanswered. That is Southwest Florida at its best.

Family Initiative is located at 3221 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral. Learn more at fi-florida.org.

If you know a family who could use their support, or if you just want to support the work they are doing, this is a good place to start.

Want me to generate the graphic for this one now, or do you want to see the caption sit for a bit first?

09/07/2026

Featured business: Wild About Popcorn, Cape Coral

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about walking into a popcorn shop and being greeted by the smell of freshly popped goodness. 🍿

This week’s Southwest Florida Living community spotlight is Wild About Popcorn in Cape Coral, a colorful local shop with 46 fresh gourmet popcorn flavors, from Sea Salt Caramel and Movie Night to Jalapeño Cheddar and Zesty Dill Pickle.

The story behind the shop is pretty special, too. Owner Julie Caracappa spent 30 years as a pediatric emergency room nurse before creating a place centered around joy, creativity, and simple treats that make people smile. Every batch is popped fresh, and visitors can mix and match flavors for their own popcorn adventure.

📍 1311 Del Prado Blvd, Suite D/E, Cape Coral
📞 (239) 829-0527

If you’re looking for a fun local snack, a thoughtful gift, or something different for your next gathering, this is a Cape Coral stop worth trying. What flavor would you choose first?

Please note: their website lists the shop as closed Sundays, with hours Monday–Thursday 10 AM–5 PM and Friday–Saturday 10 AM–7 PM. Check before visiting, especially around holidays.

09/05/2026

Labor Day Weekend is here, and there's no shortage of ways to close out summer around Southwest Florida. Here's where to go:

🌊 Fort Myers — Hit the beach at Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, or Captiva, or cool off at Cape Coral's SunSplash Family Waterpark. Catch the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels' final home games of the season, with Bark in the Park Saturday and fireworks Friday night.

🎶 Bonita Springs — Head to The Center Bar at The Promenade at Bonita Bay for live music, or soak in the resort poolscape at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point.

🍹 Naples — Jimmy Buffett Day takes over Compass Hotel by Margaritaville all weekend, with live music, yard games, and drink specials. Tap 42 at Mercato is running a Labor Day brunch through Monday with bottomless mimosas.

🌳 Naples (nature side) — Walk the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for a quieter way to spend the day, home to the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America.

⛵ Cape Coral — Grab a bite waterside at Cape Harbour Oyster Bar, then watch the boats come in as the sun sets over the marina.

Wherever you land this weekend, soak it in. Summer's last hurrah deserves it. 🌅

Tag the spots you're hitting this weekend!

08/24/2026

Some businesses start with a plan. Tamu Cupcakery started with a dream, literally. Owner Monica saw the whole concept come to her while she was sleeping, and she's been baking it into reality ever since. What started as treats for kids in the Head Start program and her grandmother's sweet potato pie recipe has grown into one of Cape Coral's most loved bakeries, with almost three thousand fans on Facebook and a 2024 Best of Florida award to prove it. Her cookies and cream and caramel apple pie cupcakes have become local favorites, and every order carries a little bit of that original dream forward. Find her at 311 Del Prado Boulevard South, Suite 6, in Cape Coral, open Tuesday through Saturday, ten to six. Stop in, and tell her Southwest Florida Living sent you.

08/21/2026

🎶 Fort Myers — August Music Walk, Friday 6–10pm in Historic Downtown Fort Myers (First & Hendry). Free monthly street festival with bands, DJs, and soloists all along the River District.
🎷 Naples — Naples Jazzmasters Dixieland/Swing Band, Saturday 1pm at Norris Community Center. 1930s-style jazz from the Naples Jazz Society, all ages welcome.
🥓 Cape Coral — South Cape's BaconFest Pub Crawl, Saturday 7pm at the Cape Coral Entertainment District. A South Cape tradition if you're looking for a night out downtown.
🎨 Punta Gorda — Punta Gorda Art & Craft Fair, Saturday 10am on Sullivan Street. Local artists, handmade goods, a great reason to wander historic downtown.
🎶 Bonita Springs — Live performance at Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, Sunday 7pm. A perfect way to close out the weekend.

Tag someone you're dragging along to one of these. 👇

08/17/2026

📍 Business Spotlight: Blue Dog Bar & Grill, Matlacha

If you haven’t stopped by Blue Dog Bar & Grill yet, it’s time. Serving up fresh, local seafood since 2015, this is the kind of neighborhood spot where the focus stays on the small things, good food, a friendly face, a seat by the water.

Even their logo tells a story. The dog on their sign wears white boots, locally known as “Pine Island Reeboks,” a nod to the commercial fishermen who’ve worked these waters for generations.

Grab a seat on the patio, order something fresh off the boat, and let the island pace do the rest.

📍 4635 Pine Island Rd NW, Matlacha, FL
🌐 bluedogmatlacha.com

Tag someone you’d bring here! 🐾

08/03/2026

This week’s spotlight goes to Cristof's at Mc Gregor, tucked into a bright yellow home with a wraparound porch that’s been a Fort Myers favorite since 2011. Chef Cristof Danzi brings Mediterranean and Italian influence to every plate, from fresh seafood to house-made pasta, with a menu that leans into comfort without losing polish. If you haven’t tried the braised pork shank or the key lime pie yet, add it to your list. 📍 10231 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers

07/28/2026

There’s a reason Lavender Cafe & Bistro Naples out the moment you pull up. That soft purple awning, the marble tables, the little pops of greenery, it’s a whole mood before you even sit down.

And can we talk about the falafel? Genuinely one of the best I’ve had in Southwest Florida. Crispy, seasoned just right, the kind of dish that makes you order it again before you’ve even finished the first round.

Tucked right here in SWFL, they serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all-day brunch, so whatever time you’re craving something good, they’ve got you covered.

If you haven’t stopped in yet, add it to your list. The vibe is beautiful, but the falafel is the real reason to come back.

📍 Lavender Cafe & Bistro
🕐 Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • All-Day Brunch

Address

7370 College Pkwy
Fort Myers, FL
33907

Telephone

+12392936513

Website

http://Heartofsouthwestflorida.com/

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