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Weekend events celebrate Mom
Whether it's a seasonal encore or because of Mother's Day, it's another big weekend for activities in Southwest Florida.
We have the Great Dock Canoe Race at Crayton Cove, which is always a lot of fun. The inaugural performance of the Southwest Florida Ballet, our first and only pre-professional ballet company, takes place this weekend in Naples. Saturday is a free family day at Naples Museum of Art and Mother's Day is full of fun things to do with mom Sunday. And we even have animal-loving events with lizards, dogs, birds and manatees.
FRIDAY, May 9
• Southwest Florida Ballet's inaugural performance, 7 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. Saturday, Lely High School’s auditorium, East Naples. The not-for-profit Southwest Florida Ballet Inc. is a pre-professional ballet company, the first of its kind for Southwest Florida. This weekend will be the first opportunity for members of the fledgling ballet company, which provides classical training for serious dancers ages 13 and up, to show off their talents. Company members along with Roque, who is a professional classical ballet dancer, will perform contemporary and classical works including "Flames of Paris," "Flower Festival," and two pieces not often performed in the U.S. – "Fairy Doll" and "Majissimo." Tickets – $20, adult; $15, student – may be purchased at the door, or by calling The Ballet Institute at (239) 285-3000.
• "From the New World," with Jorge Mester conducting and pianist Joyce Yang, 8 p.m. Friday, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. $48, adults; $20, students. 597-1900.
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SATURDAY, May 10
• Great Dock Canoe Race, 11a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Crayton Cove, Old Naples. The competitive Naples community canoe race, featuring the theme of "Whatever Floats Your Boat," draws thousands of spectators both on land and water. The free, 3-mile event starts at 11 a.m. at Crayton Cove, circles the City Dock, and heads north to the Riverwalk at Tin City and back. After the race, a post-race party takes place at Hurricane Pass/Little Marco area with hundreds of boaters.
• Southwest Florida Ballet's inaugural performance, 6 p.m. Saturday, Lely High School’s auditorium, East Naples. The not-for-profit Southwest Florida Ballet Inc. is a pre-professional ballet company, the first of its kind for Southwest Florida. Tickets – $20, adult; $15, student – may be purchased at the door, or by calling The Ballet Institute at (239) 285-3000.
• "From the New World," with Jorge Mester conducting and pianist Joyce Yang, 8 p.m. Saturday, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. $48, adults; $20, students. 597-1900.
• Storytelling, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Norris Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Free, but registration required. 213-3058.
• Free Family Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Naples Museum of Art, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Event includes bilingual storytelling, face painting, temporary tattoos, portrait sketches, hands-on art activities, treasure hunt, juggling clowns and art exhibitions. 597-1900.
• International Migratory Bird Day, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Celebration of the long-distance feathered travelers presented by the J.N. "Ding" Darling, Florida Panther and Ten Thousand Islands, $18.75, adults; $17.75, seniors; $10.50, children 3-12; and free, children under 2. 262-5409.
• Pamper Your Pooch, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. Activities for dogs will include the Lee County Animal Shelter spay station, pet bakery, grooming, animal hospital, micro chipping, dog fashions and contests. VIP bags will be given to the first 50 dogs.(239) 948-3766. www.MiromarOutlets.com
SUNDAY, May 11 – Mother's Day
• Moms free at Naples Zoo on Mother's Day with a coupon from the zoo's Web site and the purchase of a child ticket, opens at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Naples Zoo, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, across from Coastland Center, Naples. Take mom to see the zoo’s newest mom, the Solomon Island Skink, who gave birth to large lizard twins. $18.75, adults; $17,75, seniors, $10.50, children 3-12; and free, children under 2. 262-5409. www.napleszoo.org. Click here for the Mother's Day online coupon
• Edison & Ford Winter Estates' free admission for mothers with a child’s admission, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Includes a tour of the homes, botanical gardes, museum and research laboratory. $20, adults; $11, children. (239) 334-7419.
• Manatee Eco Tour, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, out of Port of the Islands Marina, Double R’s Fishing and Tour Co., 525 Newport Drive, Naples. Half-price for mothers; $55, adults; $35, children. Reservations required. 642-9779.
• Naples Daily News Jazz Band concert, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Cambier Park, Old Naples
• Mother’s Day Recital, 3 p.m. Sunday, Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Crayton Road, Naples. The performance features pianist Richard Bosworth performing "A Sentimental Journey with Chopin," Benefits the scholarship fund of the Naples Music Club. Admission $25; free for students.
• "Children of Hope," Mother’s Day performance, 3 p.m. Sunday, Cypress Lake United Methodist Church, 8570 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. $18. (239) 418-2500.
• Mother's Day Brunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. Brunch at Rivals Sports Kitchen with WTLT 93.7. A la carte menu for Mother’s Day includes french toast, omelets of choice, Waldorf chicken salad, fresh fruit plate with yogurt and granola and breakfast sandwiches. The first 50 moms will receive a flower and a special gift(239) 948-3766. www.MiromarOutlets.com
• Water Ski Show, 4 p.m. Sunday, lakeside near the restaurant piazza at Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. Free. The Southern Extreme Water-Ski Team performs an exciting show every Sunday. (239) 948-3766. www.MiromarOutlets.com
The Naples Daily News asked readers to help us build an interactive map of Mother's Day greetings from around Southwest Florida and you responded! The majority of our responses were from Collier County, but we received Mother's Day messages from all over the United States, including Louisiana, Arizona, Tennessee, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia and Missouri, as well as locations on Florida's East Coast. 
Tired of being stuck behind that cement mixer? Wondering if you need to buy stock in Bob's Barricades? 
Comments
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The canoe race is to celebrate that the snowbirds have gone home, and that the locals get their roads and resturants back.
#1 Posted by RockfordGrad on May 9, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember the first canoe race. My parents were visiting from Tampa and I was taking my dad out to lunch (while my late wife was taking both mothers to lunch somewhere) at the Dock Restaurant. I had no idea that the race was going on and when we got to the parking lot and saw all the people I kept going and we ended up eating at the old Sutton House Pizza Restaurant! Good memories!
#2 Posted by biomanogt on May 9, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The turnout seems to be getting smaller and smaller each year in comparison to the early nineties. Used to be you couldn't hardly walk in that circle area in front of the Dock, now it's no problem.
Maybe more people are going to Keewaydin Island post party instead.
#3 Posted by Opinionated on May 10, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Opinionated:
No, it's a drink fest.
So people are sick of the drunken stuper half of the canoe enthusiasts are in.
Where are the kayakers?
Where's the viewers?
Not at Keewaydin....but maybe at home, because the whole race is a big yawn and a hang over for those who are in it.
#4 Posted by beetlejuice on May 11, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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