Three national mentions in just one week? Awwww, we’re blushing
Getting Google alerts is a good thing sometimes, because you can see what other people are saying about you. Take this week, for instance, when our island made not one, but three national magazines.
The first was in Moneyinc, a periodical for those into finance and real estate, talking about how we are, once again, in the top 10 Florida zip codes for luxury living. This is a “gimme,” so to speak, as we make that list almost every year. Still, it’s nice to be noticed.
You will find us sitting pretty at number 2, wedged between Anna Maria Island at number 3 and Fisher Island at number 1.
The second mention was in Sport Fishing magazine’s online edition for November. The article was about Costa sunglasses donating $50,000 to the Captains for Clean Water hurricane relief gala on November 4.
A Costa representative was quoted as saying, “The full donation will go toward the organization’s Emergency Disaster Relief Fund to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian get back on their feet,” and specifically mentioned Boca Grande.
The third mention just came out this week, and it was quite an honor. It was a full spread in Southern Living magazine on The Gasparilla Inn & Club, which is kind of a big deal. They have some beautiful photography and great writing, but there’s only one problem. This is a biggie, too, and you’ll get it if you’ve ever worked in the print industry.
The article was written prior to Hurricane Ian, so there is no mention of the damage at The Inn … and there’s a chance that some of the scenes photographed may not look quite the same as they do in the magazine spread.
Luckily, The Inn is scheduled to open mid-December, so those Christmas decorations pictured in Southern Living won’t look quite so awkward. They are on track with their repairs, too, said Inn General Manager Jon Reecher.
The writer spoke with The Inn’s Operations Assistant Tina Malasaics, prolific botanical designer Ian Prosser, Kemble Interiors founder Mimi McMakin and her senior designers, Cece Bowman and Mackenzie Hodgson and a few others. The article covers a good bit of history of The Inn, as well as their 2020 renovations.
It’s a well written piece, and it’s easy to tell that the writer actually spent some time at The Inn as she gives several accounts of incidents she witnessed (including gentlemen being turned away from the bar for wearing shorts after 6 p.m., and guests eagerly waiting to be first for tea time to get the best pastries).
Southern Living is a great magazine, so we’re rooting for the fact that this year’s holiday turns out to be just as beautiful as the periodical portrays … Hurricane Ian or not.
Well done, Mary Shannon Wells.
