Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency
Dear colleagues and community partners,
 
We are excited to share this monthly communication dedicated to Arts & Culture activities within our redevelopment areas. The Fort Myers CRA with its numerous community partners have supported arts and cultural developments in the City of Palms since 1984. We invite you to share and participate in these events. Your support is invaluable to our community.
 
For questions related these activities, or to share a community art or cultural event occurring within our redevelopment areas call (239) 321-7100 or email us at cra@cityftmyers.com.
River District Alliance
The mission of the River District Alliance (RDA) is to promote and enhance the continued development of the historic Fort Myers River District as a hub of economic, social and cultural activity.

As one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, the RDA strives to preserve the essence of downtown while promoting the growth of the business and economic sectors that make the area thrive.

Location: 1401B Lee Street

Dec. 4, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 18, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 1 - 30, Safe/Socially-Distant Non-Event Activities

  • Dec. 1, National Christmas Lights Day
  • Dec. 2, Holiday Nights at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates
  • Dec. 3, National Sock Day Tomorrow
  • Dec. 4, Art Walk, Festival of Trees, and The Blues Brothers Soul Band
  • Dec. 5, National Candle Day and Santa’s Block Party
  • Dec. 6, Brunch
  • Dec. 7, As the Countdown Begins…NYE
  • Dec. 8, Pamper Yourself...
  • Dec. 9, Florida Rep, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
  • Dec. 10, Hanukkah Begins
  • Dec. 11, Eight Reindeer Monologues Virtual Show at Lab Theater
  • Dec. 12, True Tours
  • Dec. 13, National Ice Cream Day
  • Dec. 14, Holiday House at the Burroughs Home
  • Dec. 15, Salt Cave Experience
  • Dec. 16, Wine Dinner Hosted by Gourmet with Blakely
  • Dec. 17, Two Great Flavors
  • Dec. 18, A Very Chimytina Christmas
  • Dec 19, Mark your calendar Music Walk, Dec. 20
  • Dec 20, Christmas Caroling with Santa Cruise
  • Dec. 21, Art Downtown
  • Dec. 22, Day of Wine and Charcuterie
  • Dec. 23, Festivus
  • Dec 24, Last minute gifts…
  • Dec. 25, Christmas Cruise on the Caloosahatchee
  • Dec. 26, Kwanzaa begins
  • Dec 27, Coffee
  • Dec. 28, Dining out
  • Dec. 29, Pure Florida
  • Dec. 30, Pizza Night
  • Dec. 31, National Champagne Day

Happy New Year…. Welcome 2021!
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Edison and Ford Winter Estates is the internationally-known winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Visitors will enjoy touring 20+ acres of historic homes, buildings and gardens, the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory and the Edison Ford Museum.

Location: 2350 McGregor Blvd.
Phone: 239-334-7419

Dec. 1 - Jan. 3 (Closed Christmas Day), 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., $20 Adults, $10 Teens (13-19), $2 Children (6-12), No Cost Members

Dec. 5-6, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 8, 1:30 p.m., $35 Members, $50 Non-Members

Dec. 12, 10 a.m., $10 Members, $15 Non-Members

Dec. 12, 11 a.m., $45 Members, $55 Non-Members

Dec. 12, 1:30 p.m., $20 Members, $25 Non-Members
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
Top: Festival of Trees. Middle: Ocean Treasures Art Collection. Bottom: Jazz Concert: A Very ChimyTina Christmas.
The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (SBDAC) was founded in 1997 by Jim Griffith as Florida Arts, Inc. SBDAC hosts concerts, theatrical performances, art exhibits, dance, independent film, cotillion, and arts education. Its mission is to nurture innovation and excellence in the visual and performing arts through these events and community outreach programs.

Location: 2301 First Street
Phone: 239-333-1933

Dec. 1-30, 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays
(Arrive 15 minutes early to register), $16

Dec. 3, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Dec. 4, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., Dec. 5, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Dec. 6, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Raffle Drawing Dec. 6, 4 p.m., Admission $2

Dec. 4 - Dec. 21, $1 (Opening Dec. 4, 6 p.m.)

Dec. 4, 7 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., $6 Children's Workshop

Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 7, 7 p.m. , $10, $8 Students (Doors open 6:30 p.m.)

Dec. 17, 8 p.m., $10 (Doors open, 7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. , $45 General Admission/$50 Day of Concert,
$10 Students (Doors open 6:30 p.m.)

Upcoming Event Schedule
Jan. 21, Chamber Concert: Dover String Quartet
Jan. 22, Tribute Concert: Forever Orbison
Jan. 29, Jazz Concert: Glenn Crytzer Quartet
Feb. 11, Chamber Concert: James Ehnes & Orion Weiss
Feb. 12, Jazz Concert: Dan Miller/Lew del Gatto Quintet
featuring Wendell Brunious
Feb. 26, Chamber Concert: American Virtuosi
Mar. 12-13, Art Walks the Runway
Mar. 17, Bluegrass Concert: Sierra Hull
Mar. 19, Tribute Concert: Hotter than July-Stevie Wonder Tribute
Apr. 9, Bluegrass Concert: The Barefoot Movement
Apr. 16, Tribute Concert: Turnstiles- Billy Joel Tribute
Paris Market Antique Mall
Paris Market Antique Mall is more than a place to shop. It features a wonderful selection of fine art and vintage furnishings, jewelry, and accouterment that nourish the eye and the soul. Paris Market's events are a celebration of all things beautiful!

Location: 2212 Cleveland Avenue
Phone: 239-476-8817
Website: http://www.parismarketantiquemall.com/

Dec. 1 - Dec. 31, Tuesdays - Saturdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., No Cost for Admission
Florida Repertory Theatre
Florida Rep is committed to providing a first-class regional theatre for Southwest Florida; to creating, nurturing and developing an ensemble of theatre professionals who will develop long term relationships working on a wide variety of plays; to helping improve the quality of life in our community through all the arts; and to making the arts, especially theatre, accessible to all.

Location: 2267 First Street
Phone: 239-332-4488
Dec. 4 - 6, 9-13, 15-19, 7 p.m., $60 - $120 for 12' X 12' Square
(Safe & Socially-Distant Outdoor Seating, Masks Required, Free Parking)

Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Live Reading On Zoom, $10
Dec. 4 - 7, On Demand Streaming, $10

Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Live Reading On Zoom, $10
Dec. 11 - 14, On Demand Streaming, $10
Arts for ACT Gallery
Top Left: Morning Glory by Shah Hadjebi (watercolor). Top Right: Amaryllis by Sue Dunham (acrylic). Bottom: Frat Boys by Donna Chase (acrylic).
Arts for ACT Gallery is the non-profit art gallery, studio and boutique owned by Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. (ACT), the domestic violence, sexual assault and Human Trafficking Center.

Location: 2265 First Street
Phone: 239-337-5050

Dec. 4 - 28, No Cost (Opening Dec. 4, 6 p.m.)
Dean Park Centennial Celebration
Top Left: Historic Postcard of Dean Park. Top Right: Dean Park Founder John Morgan Dean.
Bottom Left: Map of Dean Park. Bottom Right: Dean Park today. (Images courtesy of Dean Park Historic District, Inc.).
Fort Myers history lives on in Dean Park, which was founded by Rhode Island businessman John Morgan Dean and once was home to many well-known local figures: the founders of the Robb & Stucky furniture store, clothing store owner M. “Flossie” Hill, legendary hardware store owner Edward Evans, Judge George Whitehurst, beloved local physicians Dr. Gordon Henry and Dr. William H. Grace, steamship captain Neil “Bo Gator” Storter and many others, including a lively collection of entrepreneurs riding the 1920’s Florida real estate boom. Just one mile east of downtown Fort Myers, Dean Park was designated as a historic district in 1997 and was named on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The subdivision’s official birthday is May 1, 1920, the date on which John Morgan Dean recorded his map entitled “Dean’s Subdivision” with the Lee County Clerk of the Courts. He named the streets Rhode Island after his home state and Providence after his hometown. 

Location: One Mile East of Downtown Fort Myers
Phone: 860-488-0849

Dec. 5 - 25, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., No Cost
DAAS Co-Op Gallery at the Butterfly Estates
We are Southwest Florida’s premier Art Gallery, featuring some of the best artists of our area. Our gallery operates in a cooperative system, which means that we all participate, collaborate, coordinate and tend to all business matters. DAAS stands for David Acevedo Art Studio. Acevedo is the founder, curator and director of the venue.

Location: 1815 Fowler Street, Unit 3
Phone: 239-590-8645

Dec. 6 - Jan. 2, No Cost (Opening Dec. 4, 6 p.m.)
Ollie Mack Gentry Photography
Ollie Mack Gentry Photography Studio & Gallery is a full-service photography studio, offering the highest quality images and service for a variety of different occasions. From individual headshots and family portraits to iconic people, places and things.

Location: 1528 Jackson Street
Phone: 239-440-0061

Dec. 1 - 31, No Cost (Ongoing Exhibit)
Laboratory Theater of Florida
The Laboratory Theater of Florida is dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, through live performance, education, community outreach, experimentation and the development of ensemble work.

Location: 1634 Woodford Avenue
Phone: 239-218-0481

Dec. 10-12, 17-19, 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., Live/North Patio,
$10 Suggested Donation
The venue below is located near our redevelopment areas
but not within them. We feature them as a partner in the arts to the Fort Myers CRA and other venues within the redevelopment areas.
Alliance for the Arts
Top Left: Parallel Lives. Top Right: Hwy 41 South Bluegrass. Bottom Left: The Reckless Saints. Bottom Right: Weekly Green Market.
The Alliance for the Arts is a vibrant and welcoming nonprofit visual and performing arts center located in the heart of southwest Florida. The Alliance is creative space that spurs and supports self-expression, imagination and equity.

Location: 10091 McGregor Boulevard
Phone: 239-939-2787

Dec. 5, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., No Cost

Dec. 3 - 12, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., $12.50 - $50

Dec. 13, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., $25

Dec. 17-19, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., $25

Dec. 27, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., $12.50 - $50

Ongoing, Cost Varies

Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., No Cost for Entry
#REDEVELOPMENTWORKS
Stay connected and learn more about your CRA!

See our 2019 Annual Report or Click the Video Link Below