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Friends and Neighbors,

I hope that everyone who is reading this successfully navigated Milton. That storm was huge, scary, and aimed directly at Florida. We debated evacuating but ended up having evacuees here in Naples from the Bradenton/Sarasota area. We were very lucky. 

Stone crab season starts today! There’s no two people happier to hear that news than Jimmy Perry and me. He’s a true born-in-Naples local fisherman who was out the day after the hurricane trying to make sure he had traps in the water as early as possible. I am an expert stone crab consumer, and I called him yesterday to see if he’d have stone crabs the first day of season. it’s looking good! Call (239) 776-2770 if you’re looking for crabs this week, and read the post below for more info. 

Also in this issue, I finally made it (with my entire crew) to Cheesesteaks.com. This spot has been a viral (as much as anything is viral in Naples) phenomenon. The (unfortunate?) owner had my entire family visit two days after Milton hit. 

There’s a new movie in town from a local family that’s worth checking out. It’s nearly impossible to launch a venture like this, so read more below. 

Thanks for reading and please subscribe if you haven’t. Be kind to each other out there on the roads while traffic signals still aren’t working and power is being restored – we are all in this together. 

P.S. The results from last week’s “What is Your Favorite Month in Naples” poll were as I suspected. Your top two picks were the summer months (“it’s so nice to have the town to ourselves”) and December.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• Stone Crab Season Starts Today

• Cheesesteaks.com is Worth the Hype

• Monster Summer Debuts at Regal 20 in Naples

Stone Crab Season Starts Today

Stone crab season officially launches today in Southwest Florida, and I think we’re all ready for some good food and good news.  

I’ve always lived in places that heavily feature the local cuisine (Maine, New Orleans, New York City, etc), so when I started coming to Naples as a kid I was interested in what locals ate, well….locally…..before the advent of grocery stores and refrigerated transportation. In my search, I have to say that stone crab is certainly at the top of my list (close to smoked mullet dip and honeybell oranges). 

Who figured out that stone crabs can regenerate an entire claw? Who made stone crab the easy-to-sell-to-sustainable-fishing-friends standard? I hope they were rewarded. 

Jimmy Lee Perry is a born-in-Naples stone crab fisherman who took time out of his day last week to talk to me about the upcoming season – in the midst of a hurricane. Stone crab is an interesting (and probably difficult) catch to sell because the legs must be sold cooked. If you’ve read this far, you’re probably familiar with Naples and know that stone crab prices are expensive at most markets downtown. That’s why I found a local crab guy. 

Jimmy’s parents came to Naples half a century ago and settled in the Golden Gate Estates. Jimmy went to Palmetto Ridge High School, and later played college football. Like the majority of college athletes, he didn’t go professional, but did come back to Naples to coach. In the meantime, he built a commercial fishing business. He has the best stone crab and blue crab that I’ve had locally (without having to catch it myself). 

We’ve all been through enough with these back-to-back hurricanes. Don’t make it worse by overpaying for stone crab. Jimmy’s traps have been in the water since Milton cleared Florida and he offers delivery for cooked orders on Saturdays ($8 delivery fee in Naples, free for orders over $100). If you like blue crabs (did you know we actually export to Maryland?) those are available year-round, and he caters. Check out his Facebook page here for his current menu and availability and you can use the Messenger feature to contact him. You can also simply call/text his primary number at (239) 776-2770. Pickup is always available in person (call his number above for location), and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get to meet his parents. Jimmy’s mother Carolyn Perry is a true gem worth the trip alone – and her sweet potato pies around the holidays are excellent. 

Cheesesteaks.com is Worth the Hype

Full disclosure: I have never eaten the famous Philadelphia cheesesteaks you’re familiar with. In fact, I’ve never been to Philly. I have, however, darkened the doorstep of Naples’ own Cheesesteaks.com with two hungry children immediately after a hurricane. 

If you’ve read some of the hype about Cheesesteaks.com you’ll know that they offer traditional Philly cheesesteaks on seeded buns from Philly from 11AM to sell-out. They have the traditional offerings, plus the most delicious cheesesteak dumplings. After a little league game and half-of-a-half-of a cheesesteak I was ready for a nap. Get the “Junior” size. 

What makes a traditional Philly cheesesteak good? I have no idea (except from online research). However, I overheard half a dozen people from Philly order them and praise the authenticity. Is it a fantastic sandwich? Yes! Am I predisposed to liking Cheez-Wiz from my youth? Also yes! 

Mere hours after Milton, the owner had the place up and running as a cash business without internet (this was not lost on me with a name like “Cheesesteaks.com”). That’s the kind of attitude that will make a business successful in Philly and in Naples. Give them a try this season, and don’t forget an order of the dumplings. 

Monster Summer Debuts at Regal 20 in Naples

Naples locals have an exciting reason to head to the movies this week! The independent film Monster Summer has just opened at the Naples Regal 20, and it’s not just any movie—this film has strong ties to the Naples community. The Blanford family, who have called Naples home for more than a decade, played a major role in bringing this film to the big screen. John Blanford is the co-founder of Pastime Pictures, the production company behind the movie, and his father, Larry Blanford, served as the film’s executive producer. Monster Summer marks the first full-length feature from Pastime Pictures.

Set on Martha's Vineyard, the movie follows Noah and his group of school-aged friends as they navigate a summer turned upside down by a mysterious force. Teaming up with a retired police detective, the kids embark on a thrilling adventure to save their beloved island.

Monster Summer is already making waves, with an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and features well-known stars such as Mel Gibson and Lorraine Bracco. As an independent film, local viewership at Regal 20 will help determine how long it remains in theaters. If you're a movie fan and want to support local talent, now’s the time to grab some popcorn and catch Monster Summer!

Check out a recent interview with the Pastime Pictures cofounders here. 

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Why It Matters

These stories showcase the resilience and richness of our local community. From sustainable seafood traditions to family-run businesses and hometown films, they remind us of the importance of supporting local talent.

It’s these unique connections that make our area so special—and by supporting them, we’re preserving what makes our community truly one-of-a-kind.

Let’s keep these local treasures thriving!

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

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