Good morning, Naples! In today’s edition: Caiman Cantina opens, Michael Connelly lecture series, Grumpy Old Men The Musical, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Newcomer sparks expansion buzz: Caiman Cantina has opened in North Naples, serving scratch-made home-style Mexican inspired by Jalisco in a casual, sunny setting, joining Phelan Family Brands as early momentum suggests potential portfolio growth — get all the details.

Bonita Springs National Arts Festival @ Riverside Park | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Think you can spot a real masterpiece between the kettle corn, folding chairs, and shade trees? Riverside Park becomes a top juried art show, free to attend, with serious artists, serious buyers, and zero pressure. Buy something, support scholarships and arts education, feel smugly civic — see the event listing.

Behind the fair tents: Southwest Florida’s outdoor art festival season is underway, with Naples kicking off last weekend. Bonita Springs events begin Jan. 10–11, as artists eye rising costs and hope nearby development boosts sales — see what’s planned and at stake.

Feuding neighbors find harmony: TheatreZone has launched its 2026 season with Grumpy Old Men The Musical, based on the 1993 film, featuring a crooner score with Curt Denham, Peter McClung and Karen Molnar Danni — get all the show details.

Friends of the Library series: Bestselling author Michael Connelly will headline the Nick Linn Lecture Series in North Naples, beginning Jan. 12 and running through March 23 with lunch, signings, and other mystery writers — check out the full lineup.

Community arts hub takes root: TWiST Art Gallery has opened in Naples’ Bayshore Arts District with studios, workshops, gallery space supported by sold-out events. Plans include micro-galleries, an artist-in-residence, and 2026 First Friday Art Walks — see what’s planned next.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🥃 Scotch & Chocolate @ Palm Cottage | Monday (1/12) at 4:00 PM – Prefer your local history with a wee dram and a truffle? Slip into Historic Palm Cottage for Society Scotch & Chocolate, where resident Scot Ross McLean guides you through Scotch heritage while pairing sips with artisan sweets. Intimate, indoors, $40, reservations essential, members save.

🎸 ACMA Songwriters @ Koreshan State Park | Tuesday (1/13) at 7:00 PM – A night at Koreshan State Park means real songwriters, stars overhead, and stories you actually want to hear. ACMA serves up original acoustic Americana that blends blues, roots, folk, and country; it’s ten bucks with parking, kids under 12 are free, bring a chair.

🛍 Shop and Share @ Sara Campbell Ltd | Wednesday (1/14) at 10:00 AM – Need an excuse to upgrade the closet and feel virtuous? Shop Sara Campbell on January 14, and a portion goes to Jingled Elves. Both 3rd St and Venetian Village are in, so twice the browsing, twice the good, kicking off 2026 ready to give back.

🌳 Vital Records & Genealogy @ Naples Regional Library | Wednesday (1/14) at 11:30 AM – Time to fact check Aunt Linda’s legendary stories with actual vital records. Genealogy pro Marie Overman breaks down primary versus secondary sources, shows you where to find them, and helps you turn family lore into proof. Registration required, call (239) 252-5135.

🎨 Art & Soul Night @ Shangri-La Springs | Wednesday (1/14) at 5:00 PM – Head to Shangri-La Springs for a free night of live music, an artisan market, and organic eats from Harvest & Wisdom, plus a cash bar. Browse local makers, pretend you planned it; vendors welcome, call the main line and ask for Amber, no imposters.

🎭 Beau Jest @ The Naples Players | Thursday (1/15) at 7:30 PM – Skip Netflix. The Naples Players bring Beau Jest to the Kizzie Theater, a warm, witty romp where a woman hires an actor to impress her parents, then watches the lie snowball into laughs, revelations, and heart. Tickets $42 to $57, see link for dates.

🌸 Wonder @ Naples Botanical Garden | Friday (1/16) at 10:00 AM – If you need a low-key way to pry kids off screens, the W.O.N.D.E.R. program at Naples Botanical Garden has hands-on activities that get families walking, observing, and drawing. It is drop-in, genuinely educational, and easy on grownups. Bring kids, or grandkids, and your curiosity.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Naples report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 81°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 3%

Sunny. High near 81, with temperatures falling to around 77 in the afternoon. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 3 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 79°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 5%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Most popular house this week

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