🔥 Backyard BBQ Opens, 🎉 Mullet Fest Fun, ⛳ Golf Tops Poll, ⏳ Is Season Slower?

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Friends & Neighbors, 

It looks like the polar vortex is set to let up later this week. In the meantime, how has that long-neglected heat been working? Did you get past the point where it still smells funny? 

In this issue, travel along with my family to the brand new Backyard Chick-N-Ribs to hear about the fun atmosphere, solid fire-grilled BBQ, and remarkable creamed spinach (yes, creamed spinach can be “remarkable,” as you’ll learn below). 

We also take a look at this week’s Top 7 Events, which range from an upscale garden tour ($400 for remaining 8am bus) to the 41^st Annual Mullet Festival at Stan’s in Goodland ($3 for Bud Light Happy Hour drafts). Check out some fun places to go and things to see below. 

Thanks for telling us your favorite outdoor activity in last week’s poll. We had a bigger response than usual, so I’ll be sure to feature more outdoor activities and events this year. Check out the poll’s results below.

How does Season 2024-2025 seem to you so far? I’ve been hearing some feedback that January is a little slower than usual, so I wanted to reach out to readers to see what you think. If you have a moment, please add your thoughts on this season in the comments. 

Thank you for supporting this locally-written publication and this local author. If you have any feedback or thoughts for future issues, please email me at [email protected]. 

Best,

P.S. Check out The Naples Florida Review’s entire archive by 

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Table of Contents

• Take Your Backside to Backyard Chick-N-Ribs

• Top 7 Events This Week

• Golf Reigns Supreme for Our Readers

• Does Naples Seem Slower than Usual This Season?

  • Advertise with us

Take Your Backside to Backyard Chick-N-Ribs

Coated in a layer of chlorine after an exhausting long weekend stay at the Great Wolf Lodge – complete with an impossibly large gaggle of children under 10 – my family of four literally stumbled upon opening night January 20th at Backyard Chick-N-Ribs on our bleary-eyed journey home. 

“I think it’s open,” Manny tentatively said, quickly turning into the parking lot in the Neapolitan Plaza, “let’s try to see if we can get in so the kids stop asking for snacks.” After an extensive perusal of the impossibly small parking spaces in the Neapolitan Plaza lot, we parked a little ways away near Larry’s Lunchbox. 

Walking through the relatively nondescript entrance, I was shocked at how unique and fun the décor was inside. When you walk in you are facing a counter where you can order menu items that are displayed on a large board above along with select beer, wine and soda. Nearby the seating area is meant to look like you’ve stepped into the backyard of someone’s home, and they really nailed it with the design and detail. 

“Mommy,” my eldest said tugging at my hand, “look, they have gutters and a drainpipe over here!” I swiveled in my seat, and sure enough, they had made one wall look like the exterior of a single-family home, complete with gutters and a downspout. There is a large tree in the center of the seating area, and I found the booths to be very comfortable. Very cool. 

We arrived (again, totally randomly) just as they were opening for their first night, and we were the second table seated. They were clearly going for a soft opening – people trickled in gradually as they tested their product and systems—and I was grateful to be somewhere that wasn’t swarmed after our weekend. 

I was unsurprised that they faced a few glitches in their first half-hour of opening: the ordering system was a little glitchy and their order of steak knives hadn’t arrived. The management and staff were beyond gracious, however, and they took our order at the table, dug up a perfectly fine knife in the kitchen for Manny, and gave us free dessert to celebrate their first night. 

While we waited, I flipped over the menu and was interested to find that Backyard is the brainchild of the Karakosta family that founded the nearly adjacent Mr. Big Fish and nearby Mel’s Diner – favorite spots for locals. Mr. Big Fish is always slammed with customers, so I took that as a good omen for Backyard. 

The menu is straightforward, featuring grilled meats and seafood served simply. The majority of the menu items and combos come with two of their many delicious-sounding sides, so I was excited about that in the current climate of high prices (and having to pay for bread and ice cubes at some places).  I picked the Rib Combo #3 with shrimp ($24), Manny had the Rib Combo #1 with wings ($24) and the kids split a Beef Tenderloin Skewer ($24, which also came with sides) and the Kids Ribs (one side included for $11). The ribs came out hot and I found the meat to be very well seasoned and nicely cooked. The shrimp and wings were great, and you could really taste the fact that everything had been fire-grilled. The tenderloin skewer was an ample portion and the kids took no time polishing it off along with the ribs. 

But the sides! Honestly, have you ever been to a BBQ place and left talking about the sides?!? Have I lost it? Well, this is my first review that features sides – which I usually find to be unremarkable (especially at a BBQ place – so I’d say that’s a pretty big recommendation. Let me be the first to say it: the sides at Backyard are excellent. 

I am somewhat of a creamed spinach connoisseur, and the creamed spinach at Backyard is in my top five of all time. Better than the steakhouses you’re thinking of right now. Why? It has texture. Have you ever ordered creamed spinach only to receive tired, wilted, greasy, sad, over-sauced goop? I’ve had them all. Backyard’s is perfectly seasoned, perfectly textured, and all-around delicious. You know what else was excellent? The citrus coleslaw is a vinegar-based, crisp, and delicious concoction that will make you wish the cup was bigger. My kids were soon begging me for more buttered corn (excuse me?!?) and I was a couple of forkfuls deep into Manny’s potatoes au gratin. The sides were one of the stars of the night. 

We finished with our first-night complimentary chocolate bomb, which was also delicious. As I took the last few bites, I realized that the table behind us in the corner of the restaurant was full of the owners’ family members and they were excitedly chatting about the opening. They seemed like a close-knit bunch, and they smiled and waved at my kids on the way out. 

It was a wonderful experience, and near the top of my current to-do list is simply: “call Backyard re: will they sell creamed spinach by the pint?” So, if you’re looking for a deliciously-wonderful locally-owned spot to support this week, head on over to Backyard. You might run into me hoarding creamed spinach, and you will be certain to experience one of the most fun new restaurants in town. 

Top 7 Events This Week

Wednesday, January 29^th – Sunday February 16^th @ 7:30pm, The Play that Goes Wrong

Where? 701 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102

Tickets Here

The Naples Players will be running their production of The Play That Goes Wrong through February 16^th, and you can catch it this week at the newly-renovated Kizzie Theatre on 5^th Ave. There are still seats and tickets start at $50.

Here’s the premise: The Play That Goes Wrong is a comedy about the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society's attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery play. The production is plagued by technical difficulties, misplaced props, collapsing sets, and mistakes by the cast and crew. The play is structured as a play-within-a-play, showcasing the group's escalating challenges as they struggle to complete their performance. Check it out in the new Gulfshore Playhouse! 

Thursday, January 30^th – Sunday March 2^nd, Various Times, The Lehman Trilogy

Where? 100 Goodlette-Frank Road South
Naples, FL 34102

Tickets Here

A play about the collapse of a financial empire? Sounds pretty interesting to me. The Lehman Trilogy – a play that follows the arrival of the Lehman Brothers in America up until the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 – has its opening night on January 30^th. There are still some tickets available this week if you’re looking for a different kind of theatre production. 

Friday, January 31^st to Sunday February 2^nd, Times Below, 41^st Annual Mullet Festival

Where? Stan’s Idle Hour, 221 Harbor Pl, Goodland, FL 34140

Stan’s Idle Hour, the iconic seafood restaurant/bar / local hangout in Goodland will be hosting the 41^st Annual Mullet Festival this weekend. Celebrations kick off on Friday at 1pm with live music by The Man of Many Hats, and the kick-off party commences at 6pm with music from Rock Republic. On Saturday, the band Iconic will play from 12pm to 6pm and on Sunday the Shane Duncan Band will play the same 12pm to 6pm spot. The classic Buzzard Princess Contest will be held at 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. It should be wild, check it out! 

Saturday, February 1^st, 9am to 2pm, Henry Ford Estate Annual Antique Car Show

Where? Lawn of the Ford Estate 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Tickets Here

If you haven’t made it up to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, this event is a great excuse. Each year, more than 100 classic cars (the requirement is 1980 and older) are displayed on the Ford estate lawn as part of a tribute to Henry Ford's contributions to the automobile industry. The event also features music, food trucks, and access to the gardens, museum, laboratory, and historic homes.

The event is free for Edison Ford members. Non-members can attend with a $25 admission fee, which includes a self-guided tour of the site and access to the car show. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket counter.

Saturday, February 1^st, 8am, 2025 House & Garden Tour

Where: Board Bus Tour from the Naples Botanical Garden Parking Lot

Tickets Here

The House & Garden Tour is The Naples Garden Club’s biggest annual fundraiser and tickets typically sell out instantly. This year, however, there are still several tickets available for the 8am bus this Saturday. 

Want to see some of the most extraordinary gardens at the most extraordinary homes in Naples? Scoop up one of the last tickets and enjoy the tour! 

Saturday, February 1^st , 10am to 1pm, 2025 Youth Business Fair

Where: Event Lawn, Mercato Naples 

The event is complimentary but sponsorships are still available

This sounds cool (and probably very entertaining): this Saturday, the event lawn at Mercato will be filled by mini entrepreneurs aged kindergarten through high school. Stroll around and let Naples’ youngest entrepreneurs pitch you their best business ideas in an open-air setting. The 2025 Youth Business Fair is the perfect opportunity to see the best and cutest ideas from the next generation. Take a stroll around Mercato and check it out! 

Saturday, February 1^st, 10am to 4pm, Art in the Park

Where? Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Blvd, Naples, FL 34102

Get some fresh air, check out some local art, and let the kids play on the newly renovated playground. Art in the Park is an outdoor art fair established in 1957, and it is now a seasonal event showcasing local and regional artists. On February 1, the fair will be held at Fleischmann Park, featuring artists curated by the Naples Art Institute.

Golf Reigns Supreme for Our Readers

Last week’s reader poll sought out your favorite outdoor activities in Naples, and one emerged as the clear winner: golf! 

My clubs are collecting dust, but I love the sport and the exercise you get from walking a course on a beautiful morning. Once my life slows down a little (good luck with a 4 and 6 year old…), maybe I’ll see you out on the links! Until then, here are the results of last week’s poll along with a key link to local courses where no membership is required. 

Here’s a link to local, public courses from the Naples Daily News. We hope this list helps to get you out on the greens this season. 

Does Naples Seem Slower than Usual This Season?

This week’s poll is a deceptively simple yes or no question – but – my ask is bigger. 

I’ve heard feedback during January from servers, fellow parents, employees of local attractions and others that Naples seems slower this season. I’ve heard many theories on this that vary: we just had an election, we had an unusual number of hurricanes this fall, more people that used to visit are now locals, unusually cold weather, too many new restaurants – to name a few. 

Others think that things are bound to pick up as we move into February, and that the slowdown can be attributed extra-long holiday vacations. 

From my point of view, traffic is still very busy, and I now have to sign up for tennis and Pure Barre days in advance to get a spot. I have noticed that there seems to be a deluge of new restaurants that isn’t letting up. As an experiment, I looked for reservations this morning for Saturday February 1^st at 7pm on 5^th Avenue and was surprised at how many options I could still find. Maybe the Season 2024-2025 Skeptics are onto something.

So, please answer “yes” or “no” below, but, more importantly, share your thoughts on what you’ve observed this season in Naples in the comments section. You guys always have thoughtful (and sometimes hilarious) feedback, so I can’t wait to see what you think. I’ll share some select reader comments in next week’s issue. 

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Why It Matters

It’s easy to get caught up in routines, sticking to the same restaurants, same plans, and same weekend spots. But sometimes, the best experiences happen when you take a detour—whether it’s a last-minute dinner stop, a quirky local event, or an unexpected conversation with a stranger who becomes a friend.

That’s what this week is all about: stepping outside the usual, finding something new, and remembering that the best stories often start with, “We weren’t even planning on going, but…”

So go ahead—take the detour. You never know what you’ll discover.

Carolyn Cervoni
Editor-in-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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