One of the biggest things that draws people to Florida is our fresh seafood. From shrimp and shellfish to any and all fish, Florida has the biggest and the best. Dennis Henderson has been in the shrimping industry his entire life, eventually taking the reigns at his own company TriCo Shrimping, the largest shrimp fishery in SWFL. And he brought his passion for the freshest fish possible to Ft. Myers with a little dive called Skip One Seafood, named after one of his first fishing boats. During season, this little gem can have up to a 2 hour wait, but it is more that worth it.
What makes Skip One so special? Well, the fish of course! Dennis brings some of his best catch to Skip One for his chefs to prepare for your lunch or dinner. Most of the time what you are eating has gone from boat to plate in less than 24 hours. Second, they skip on the fancy décor and spiffy tables. This passes the saving on to you, with many large dinner portions under $15 per person. Expect, however, nothing but the best. The menu is simple. Other than a list of appetizers, including the best fried gator tail you will ever eat, dinners are listed as single or double proteins, made either blackened, fried, or grilled. Choose a couple sides. That's it. Sit back and enjoy some of the best fish you will ever eat. His grouper nuggets are something of legend around SWFL. Forget the large, fancy fillet of grouper that will cost you $30 at a fancy schmacy restaurant. Grab a huge order of these easy to eat (and easy to enjoy) nuggets of grouper delight, dip them in their homemade tarter sauce that is out of this world, and wash it down with a nice beer....and there is nothing better in this world!
Don't want to wait on dinner or feel like cooking from home? Check out Skip One's market inside the restaurant. Grab a piece of that spectacular grouper or some huge Florida pink shrimp and go home and make a dinner you won't forget. The market changes daily, because Dennis only sells the best in his fish market, so that day you only buy what's good, not just what's there. Stop by one of their 2 locations, the original on US 41 or their 2nd location on Ft. Myers beach, and see why they are the best of the best at the seafood game!
Theatre lives on in SWFL thanks to the Mann family. Barbara B. Mann, born Barbara Kingsbury Balch, spent her early years in Topsfield, MA and moved to Fort Myers, FL as a young child. After receiving her high school diploma from Thomas Edison himself, she went on to meet George T. Mann and got married. The Mann's owned a very successful contracting company. Barbara became something of a philanthropist in the area. The theatre on the campus of Edison College is no exception.
With seating for 1200+, the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall welcomes hundreds of acts every year, from local Florida orchestra's, to national recording artists, comedians, and a variety of other Broadway shows and events. They have a variety of ticket packages, from individual tickets, to season passes, and even become a member of the President's Club (Barbara herself was a president at one time) for exclusive perks.
Everyone remembers the real estate crash that started in 2004. Everything kind of fell apart. It's taken us almost a decade, but SWFL is crawling back to prominence. We are down in foreclosures, but most importantly, we are up in new building permits. That means that builders are building more new homes, because of a lack of real estate inventory out there now. New homes really show the power of an economy. The cities and counties really show growth by showing an increase in new buildings going up.
What does that mean for you? That means that opportunity is out there! Your options are growing, and banks are getting more lenient. That means more for you and, most importantly, more for your wallet! So get out there and get shopping! Considering new home purchases. Consider upgrading, or even downsizing if you need to. The new and old alike is out there for you to choose from.
