Skip to content

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

A nonstop out of Naples? American says December

Get tomorrow’s brief free — in your inbox by 7 AM.

Muggy and topping out near 92, with the usual afternoon storms stacking over the Gulf by mid-afternoon — pure locals'-season July. The quiet surprise this week: you can finally book a nonstop out of our own Naples airport instead of hauling up to RSW.

Today

Fireworks from any beach you like Saturday

Naples and Marco both light up at 9 p.m. Saturday, free, and you can catch them from nearly any stretch of Gulf sand. Red tide's reading all-clear at the Pier, Marco, and South Point right now, so the water's fair game — just beat the afternoon storms.

Give the shorebirds their space this Fourth

Audubon Florida is asking us to skip the personal fireworks and keep 100 feet from nesting least terns and black skimmers on our beaches — the booms scatter the chicks. Easy fix: let the city's show do the work.

Local News

A nonstop out of Naples — for real this time

American just put Naples–Charlotte tickets on sale for a Dec. 2 start, which would mean scheduled commercial service out of little Naples Municipal, not RSW. Fine print: it still hinges on TSA sign-off and terminal work, so don't cancel the RSW backup yet.

Waterside lines up six new names for summer

Dior and Vuori are moving in, Eddie V's is bringing dinner, and there's free lemonade in the meantime — the open-air center is clearly courting us locals now that the snowbirds have flown north.

Stained glass to light up across from City Hall

Council green-lit a $1.2 million, nine-panel window project for Naples Community Church and waived the $27,800 public-art fee. The panels will glow every night, turning that downtown corner into a small landmark.

Wind in the Willows keeps its Fifth Avenue address

After 25-plus years on one of downtown's best corners, the boutique slid three doors north into a smaller, brighter space rather than leave Fifth Avenue South — a rare hold-the-line story as rents climb.

Food & Drink

The Dock turns 50 on Naples Bay

Half a century of chalkboard menus and canoe races at Crayton Cove, through hurricanes and new owners — still the spot to watch the boats come in over a grouper sandwich. Worth a summer visit before the crowds are back.

Red, White & Rosé before the booms

Sea Salt is pouring rosé with oysters and live music on the 3rd Street South patio Saturday ahead of the fireworks — a civilized way to do the Fourth in Olde Naples without fighting for a beach spot.