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A Natural Talent
Designing With Vodka
Keeping History Alive
In The Bag
WRITE ON!
Five local fiction authors share the stories behind their books
 For many people, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book, whether it’s in the air-conditioned comfort of their living room or after a refreshing dip in the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you live in Southwest Florida year-round or are just visiting for a while, diving into the latest page-turner is one of the best ways to pass the dog days of summer. But for some Southwest Florida residents, there’s nothing better than writing a good book.
CHANGE IS GOOD 
A glimpse into the recent business of art
“Change is always necessary in good and bad economies in order to stay in business,” says Marcus Jansen, an urban expressionist painter based in Fort Myers. “I tried to look at the downturn as an opportunity to be more creative, not just in my work, but also in my day-to-day strategies.” Change has been a common theme among artists and galleries these past two years, as it has been for many Americans. The economic downturn has...
LAKE WALES WANDERINGS 
Spend a weekend exploring this Central Florida city
Some people come to Lake Wales, Florida, for its history or natural beauty. I came for the free orange juice. OK, that’s not exactly true. But I did start my visit to Lake Wales at the Grove House Visitor Center, where I happily sampled some Florida’s Natural juices. I waited until after my husband and I checked out the site’s exhibits, though, filled with artifacts, historic photos, and videos telling the story of the company’s nearly eight decades of operation in the area.
TOO HOT TO EXERCISE?
That's no excuse for forgoing fitness
during the summer months
 Temperatures are predicted to be extremely hot and humid this weekend. So what’s a dedicated exerciser to do? Most of the year, we’re blessed with amazing weather and are able to stay active outdoors without a problem. But for a couple of months in the summer, when the heat can make it absolutely brutal to exercise outside, we’re a bit restricted.
ODDBALL HIGHBALLS
New Orleans has a history of good spirits
The breakfast menu lists twenty-three bottles of wine and champagne plus fifteen hard-liquor quaffs under the heading “Eye Openers.” And we’re not just talking Bloody Marys here, although there is a Creole version and a Bloody Bull (with beef bouillon). Brennan’s famous breakfast menu kicks the day in with brandy, gin, and those trademark tipples of the French Quarter, Sazerac and absinthe. Cuba may have its mojito and Brazil its caipirinha. But in NOLA, the signature...