Top 5 Things to Do in Naples This November, a Hardware Store With Heart, and Late-Night Fun Returns 🌙

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Friends and neighbors,

The results are in from last week’s reader poll and we were excited to learn that the majority of readers like reading Top Five Lists and learning about Naples Hidden Gems. This issue will offer both, so thank you for taking the time to vote and comment. I enjoy reading each and every comment and email. It is you – the readers – who have made our first five months so successful. 

Looking for fun things to do in November? We’ve got some ideas for you in this issue that range from a chic cocktail at the newly “refreshed” and reopened Dusk to a fun day at Southern Fresh Farms. Check out our list of 5 Things to do this November below. 

Also in this issue is a review of a local hardware store with heart. It might be the first hardware store review you’ve read – it’s certainly the first I’ve written – but I’m confident it’s worth a look. 

Finally, we take a quick look at the reopening of late-night spot The Alley after their failed launch earlier this year. This new addition to The District has a fun and unique vibe and serves food until 1AM. Very unusual for Naples. 

Thank you for reading The Naples Florida Review and sharing it with your friends. If you haven’t, make sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss an issue. 

Best always,

P.S. - P.S. Your comments and emails are always appreciated. As always, feel free to reach out with your ideas and suggestions by replying to this email or emailing me at [email protected].

Table of Contents

• Top 5 Things to Do Starting at Dusk

• Naples Hidden Gem: Sunshine Ace Hardware

• The Alley Opens for Good this Time

Top 5 Things to Do Starting at Dusk

1. Visit the newly-reopened Dusk at the Ritz Carlton on Vanderbilt Beach Road
   Location: 280 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Naples, FL 34108

Dusk, an upscale sushi restaurant/bar at the Ritz on Vanderbilt Beach Road reopened last Friday after a recent “refresh” to the space. I was there with a group of friends to investigate. What’s different? The bar was extended to wrap around the room from the main bar to the sushi bar, allowing for more seating. They also added several new additions to the sushi menu as well as several new cocktails on the bar menu. 

What didn’t change? The important stuff. The space has a cool, moody vibe and the sushi is incredibly fresh. We had drinks all around and most of what is currently on the sushi menu. The service and quality of the food was outstanding. One of the more interesting cocktails I saw was called the Sashimi Martini, Dusk’s play on the dirty martini made with Beluga Vodka, ponzu, simple syrup and yuzu juice and garnished with raw tuna. My favorite dish was the yellowtail sashimi served simply. Head on over and check out the renovated space and updated menu. 

2. Visit Southern Fresh Farms for Holiday Fun

Location:  8500 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers, Florida 33912

Southern Fresh Farms may not be in Naples, but you won’t regret the short drive to Fort Myers to experience this local treasure. Southern Fresh Farms is part farm, part animal rescue and part brewery. Events year-round include the indoor/outdoor farm stand, opportunities to feed and interact with the animals, and events/music at on-site Crazy Dingo Brewing Co. 

The holiday season is an especially fun time to visit Southern Fresh Farms because of their regularly scheduled Santa photo appearances, breakfast with Santa and frequent live music events at Crazy Dingo Brewing Co. 

Bring the whole family. Admission is free and the farm is pet friendly. The holiday activities at Southern Fresh Farms are a great excuse to take an afternoon drive and see a different part of Southwest Florida. 

3. Check out the 13th Annual Brew-Ha-Ha Craft Beer Festival at Mercato

Date and time: November 16^th from 5PM to 8PM

Tickets: Purchase ahead  for $50 online or pay $55 at the event

Head on over to Mercato mid-November for a fun event that returns year after year: the Brew-Ha-Ha Craft Beer Festival. Admission provides you unlimited tastings of more than 50 beers from local craft breweries along with “bites” along the way from Only Doubles and Chef Global’s Kitchen. While I have yet to sample Chef Global’s Kitchen, Only Doubles has arguably one of the best burgers in town and is definitely worth a try. 

4. Catch Anything Goes at the Gulfshore Playhouse’s Stunning New Location

Location: 100 Goodlette-Frank Road South Naples, FL 34102

Tickets: Runs from November 1^st through November 24^th and tickets are here

The Gulfshore Playhouse has kicked off their season with Cole Porter’s masterpiece “Anything Goes.” Experience the Tony Award winning classic at the Gulfshore Playhouse’s newly-opened location on Goodlette Frank Road. 

The new building is visually stunning outside and inside and locals have been eagerly watching construction for the last few years. Standard seating starts at $104, but there are some “value” seats available at select shows for as little as $44. Deeper discounts are available with a student ID. Anything Goes is a wonderful show and the new Gulfshore Playhouse is a must-see new destination. Tickets are available on their website today. 

5. Check out the Annual Official Tree Lighting on Third Street South

Date and time: 6:00PM on Monday November 25^th

A favorite local tradition in Naples, the annual Christmas tree lighting on Third Street South is one holiday event you don’t want to miss. I’ve been to a number of tree lightings over the years, but the Third Street event stands out as best locally. 

At 3PM on November 25^th the city will close the street to vehicles and it will slowly fill with visitors who stroll around freely enjoying live musical performances, beautiful holiday décor and snow! (Ok, the snow is really a white foam, but it looks really cool under the streetlights once it gets dark.) Santa will make a grand entrance at 6:00PM and the actual lighting of the tree will occur around 6:20PM. Bring the whole family for a fun evening downtown. 

Naples Hidden Gem: Sunshine Ace Hardware

Location: 141 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL 34102

If this is the first review of a hardware store that you’ve ever read, you’re not alone. This is the first one that I’ve read or written. There’s something special, however, about the Sunshine Ace Hardware that is attached to Wynn’s Market near downtown Naples.

Reading the history of Sunshine Ace Hardware and the Wynn Family provides a window into the history and development of Naples itself. From founder Peter Parley Wynn’s arrival in Naples in 1938, to the founding of the first Sunshine Hardware in 1953, to the establishment of the current location we’re reviewing on U.S. 41 in 1964, it’s an incredible legacy. 

Sunshine Hardware became Sunshine Ace Hardware in 1964, joining the enormous Ace Hardware collective. But, before you’re tempted to tell me that a single store of a massive retail cooperative like Ace can’t be a hidden gem – let me clarify. It is not the physical store and contents that make our Sunshine Ace Hardware a hidden gem – it’s the employees. 

From the moment you walk into Sunshine Ace Hardware, you’ll feel somehow like you’ve been there before and that the people there recognize you. It is simply old-school service with a smile. The employees tend to skew older and tend to have plenty of local knowledge. I’ve gotten updates on popular fishing spots (and places I should check out), advice on Christmas gifts and had more spare keys made than I care to remember. The employees have an amazing gift of knowing when to materialize and ask if you need help, while giving you plenty of space to peruse.

Are many of the items cheaper at Home Depot? Yes. But have you ever felt the warm embrace of local knowledge and tradition inside a Home Depot? When I leave Home Depot I mostly feel frustrated. When I leave Sunshine Ace Hardware, I feel like checking out the prepared foods case at Wynn’s next door. 

So head on over to Sunshine Ace Hardware and wander the aisles – you never know what you’ll find. Afterwards, go next door to Wynns and pick up some of their pesto bow tie pasta salad with peas. I bet you’ll be back again.

The Alley Opens for Good this Time

Am I the only one who didn’t realize that The Alley, which is one segment of the multi-restaurant experience called The District, was only open for five days in January? I remember pictures on social media from those early days and thinking, “now this is a bar aimed squarely at my generation.” A payphone, graffiti, drinks with a twist, a strong 90s vibe and food that is served past bedtime – now that’s something you don’t see much of in Naples. 

Well, some sort of zoning issue with the city shut them down as quickly as they opened, and they were finally able to reopen on October 25^th. Initial reviews have been positive, and I, for one, am excited to check it out sometime soon. 

A warm welcome back to The Alley – we know how painful the permitting process can be here in Naples and we’re glad you made it through! 

To read more about The Alley’s reopening, check out this article in Gulfshore Business.

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Why It Matters

These stories and experiences are the threads that weave together the fabric of our community.

From the heartbeat of local gems to the moments that make you feel like a part of something bigger, it’s about embracing what makes our area uniquely vibrant. Supporting these events and places doesn’t just fill your calendar—it enriches your life, fuels local pride, and builds connections that last long after the season ends.

Dive in, explore, and be part of what makes this place unforgettable.

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

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