10 Best Nights Out

Let’s cut right to the chase: almost nothing interesting happens at your house. Sure, that’s where your TV is, but if you sit through another marathon of Ice Road Truckers, there is a very real possibility your muscles will atrophy and you’ll fall off the couch while reaching for a bowl of popcorn. It’s a sad existence that we don’t want for you. Our advice: stay active and get out of the house. To that end we’ve taken it upon ourselves to plan 10 of the best nights out you can hope to have in Southwest Florida. Almost none will require the eventual use of a bail bondsman.*

1

BAR HOPPING AT FORT MYERS BEACH

*OK, we were wrong about not needing a bail bondsman. Sometimes life gives you second chances, and if you think back to your college spring break experiences and can’t actually piece any of it together, you need to get yourself up to Fort Myers Beach to relive it (without the alcohol poisoning and pregnancy scares). Start at the Junkanoo (pronounced John-Canoe) for some tiki-style liquid refreshments in plastic cups—recognizing that mispronouncing the establishment name is more or less the theme of the evening. Then move north to the Lani Kai to hear some reggae before wrapping up the night bathed in the warmth of the neon lights at the bars in Time Square. Get your hair beaded and a faux tattoo, then feel free to make some bad decisions. Junkanoo, 3040 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, 463-6139, fortmyersbeachrestaurants.com; Lani Kai Resort, 1400 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, 463-3111, lanikaiislandresort.com

2

DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS

The city of Fort Myers doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Truth be told, it has all the same amenities of Naples, but with the added specter of history. (Seriously, you feel like the ghost of Edison might tap you on the shoulder at any moment.) Start things off with dinner at the Veranda (finish it off with their warm pecan praline tart) followed by a stroll through Music Walk, left, on the third Friday of every month. Local bands and music fans take over the downtown area starting at 7 p.m. Wrap things up with drinks at Space 39, an art gallery with a liquor license. The Veranda, 2122 Second St., Fort Myers, 332-2065, verandarestaurant.com; Fort Myers Music Walk, fortmyersmusicwalk.com; Space 39, 39 Patio de Leon, Fort Myers, 690-0004, spacethirtynine.com

3

A NIGHT AT MERCATO

We’ve tried to make these nights out as convenient as possible so that you can get as much bang for the buck without wasting a lot of time traveling from location to location. And things don’t get much more convenient than a night at Mercato. (You could, literally, live there if you wanted.) Start early with some window shopping along the avenue. (Consider purchasing a large white lacquer deer head from Z Gallerie and carrying it around for the rest of the evening.) Then wander over to The Capital Grille for a Delmonico before hitting Silverspot for the best movie-going experience you’re likely to have. (Did we mention there is a full bar in the lobby?) From there take a stroll over to Burn for a banana nut bread martini and a mild cigar. Mercato, Strada Place, Naples, mercatoshops.com; The Capital Grille, 9005 Mercato Drive, Naples, 254-0640, thecapitalgrille.com; Silverspot Cinema, 9118 Strada Place, Naples, 592-0300, silverspotcinema.com; Burn, 9110 Strada Place, Naples, 653-9013, burnbyrockypatel.com

4

THIRD STREET SOUTH

Did you honestly think we were going to have a list of the best nights out without having you take in a sunset at the Naples Pier on 12th Avenue South? Umm, no. Waiting for the elusive “green flash” is as productive as a snipe hunt, but it does give you a chance to people watch. From there, work your way to Campiello for appetizers (fried calamari and Sicilian meatballs do a body good—but ask if you can sit in the private courtyard behind the restaurant), dinner at Sea Salt (get served at the bar for the ultimate in see/be seen convenience) and after-dinner wine at Tony’s Off Third patio bar. This is one of the few “best nights” where you can mix and match to your liking once you’ve piered, as Third Street has myriad bar/restaurant/live music options. Campiello, 1177 Third St. S., Naples, 435-1166, campiello.damico.com/locations/fl_naples.asp; Sea Salt, 1186 Third St. S., Naples, 434-7258, seasaltnaples.com; Tony’s Off Third, 1300 Third St. S., Naples, 262-7999, tonysoffthird.com

5

SPORTING

Ladies, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do a little something for your guy. Tonight’s the night. In an effort to embrace his inner (and outer) guyness, head to Estero for an afternoon of exploring Bass Pro Shop at Gulf Coast Town Center (no, we are not kidding). Check out the 19,000-gallon freshwater aquarium (with two-story waterfall) and test drive a kayak on the adjacent 22-acre lake. Grab a bite to eat at the Islamorada Fish Co. Restaurant (which is conveniently located inside the massive Bass Pro) and then head to Germain Arena to catch an Everblades game. Hang out before the game between sections 113 and 114 to high-five the players as they head to the ice, but get seats 2 through 7 in section 101 to heckle the opposing team. Call the front office ahead of time to check on an opportunity to ride the Zamboni. You can also meet the team after the game upstairs in the Breakaway Sport Pub. Bass Pro Shop, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers, 461-7800, basspro.com; Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero, 948-7825, floridaeverblades.com

6

ROCK ALL NIGHT