More events in downtown Ft Myers

December 11-12, 2015

As I have mentioned before, the Ft Myers Downtown River District has some sort of event nearly every weekend.  On Friday, December 11, the event was Battle of the Arts, which featured a painting contest where the contestants had 3 hours to complete a painting.  Several streets were blocked off to give the artists plenty of room to work, and a couple of bands provided additional entertainment.

Band providing music on First street

There were several cutouts for photo opportunities

We arrived at 7:15 pm and walked around to see how the artists were progressing.

Then we went to Los Cabos to eat.  We sat at the bar outside in the courtyard while we waited for a table to open up.  There was a band playing there, so we were entertained by both music and people-watching.  Rob finally found some nachos that he liked since they were similar to Gem City nachos back in Quincy, IL.

Rob likes this sign

Charlie the Los Cabos bartender in courtyard.  The band is somewhat visible behind him.

Sasha stuck to drinking water

It was around 9 pm when we were finished eating, which was the time that the artists had to be done with their works.  All of the paintings had been moved to one of the street intersections so that they could be viewed and judged.

This painting particularly reminded us of Jaki

We didn't understand this one at all

So much in this painting

One of our favorites

Another favorite

This was a 3D painting, so you had to wear the glasses to get the full effect...pretty cool

They announced the winner at 9:30 and awarded the trophy and $1000 prize.

We really liked the winning painting too, of course

On Saturday morning, the Lee County Holiday Heart Walk took place in nearby Centennial Park, and the route came by our marina.  Sasha and I walked by the park as they were getting organized and by the time we were done with our morning walk, it was almost time for the walkers to start.  It was a beautiful clear morning with the temperature in the low 70’s, so I made myself some cappuccino, and then Rob, Sasha, and I went out to watch the walkers go by.  Then we walked back to the park where there was a local school drumline performing, as well as a kids jump rope team.

I have accepted a travel nursing position in Daytona Beach Florida, so we are starting to make plans for getting the boat moved there the first week or so of January.  We are planning to go to Halifax Harbor Marina there and hope that we can find as nice an area for evening entertainment as we have had here in Ft Myers.