The Island Jazz performs in the BIG ARTS Bolar Garden on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 during the winter months. They regularly draw over 200 Jazz enthusiasts to their free concert. The band, comprised of talented amateur, semi-professional, and professional musicians, performs Big Band and Dixieland-style music.. In case of rain, the concert will move to the Gainer Veranda. Bring your own chair and arrive early as Jim and Mary Lou Lewis did this past Sunday. These wonderful concerts are provided free, so be sure to stop by and enjoy the music!

BIG ARTS now presenting live, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”!! If you have not seen this performance currently playing at the BIG Arts Herb Strauss Theater, you have until February 11th to reserve your ticket to see an absolutely wonderful, laugh out loud show.

The cast of 13 are all professional performers with a wide array of credits to their resume. To quote one New Yorker “I saw this play in New York City, and this was a much more professional and entertaining performance than I saw in the big city”. As I left the theater all I could hear were comments about how great the cast is and that this is the best show to ever be done on the island! Reserve your tickets now and don’t miss one of the highlights of the year!

I am reserving a spot again to make sure I see it a second time before it ends. Pictured above are a few of the Ocean’s Reach gang during intermission!

Andy

Learn about shells and more at this month’s beach walk sponsored by The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. Meet at Gulfside City Park/Algiers Beach (east side of Ocean’s Reach) on Tuesday, January 31 at 9 a.m. at the parking lot. Leave your car at Ocean’s Reach and walk or bike next door to start your tour. Fun and fascination for the whole family. You can never learn enough about our special island’s trove of shells and eco-treasures.

On Thursday, January 19th, Ocean’s Reach hosted 30 staff and volunteer guest service representatives of the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce. We all met in the Grove for a brief presentation before giving them a tour of the complex.
Our own Lisa Williams, who works at the Chamber two days per week, led the tour. We were told by the Chamber that of all the complexes that they visited ours was rated at the top!
They toured the Grove, the shell cleaning station, viewed the Osprey nest, our new web cams, the grounds, the units and the proximity to the beach of every unit, and gave us rave reviews, listing our complex as best on the island!

Taking a 3 1/2 mile walk from Ocean’s Reach to the Sanibel Lighthouse is a cake walk when you can rest your legs half way along on this beach bench. Look for this long, innovative bench constructed in front of the A frame condos.

Are you considering bringing your own boat to use while here on vacation? The boat ramp right on Sanibel next to the entrance to the Causeway can make it easy to launch! Arrangement for storage of your boat can be made at the Bait Box on Periwinkle. The Bait Box posts updated fishing info to keep all of the anglers well informed. The January 11th report is as follows:

Whats New
Fishing Report January 11, 2012
by Dave Godfrey, Manager on 01/13/12

The Bait Box supports Seafood Savvy at Seafood Watch – Monterey Bay Aquarium. We always love to hear more stories and see more pictures.

The birding tours every Thursday morning at Ocean’s Reach have been a huge success. Guest meet at the Grove and then head to the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve. The next trip will be held this coming Thursday, the 26th. Walt, an informative Park Ranger, conducts the tours and everyone that has attended raves about his knowledge and the enjoyment they experienced while on the trip!

Remember to call the office or stop by and make your return reservations for the next January outing! January is “Birding Month” at Ocean’s Reach!

In order to help us all with long range trip plans, Arthur Frommer has just listed his favorite top ten vacation destinations in the world and Sanibel Island is his #1 favorite!!!

Someone left their mark on the beach in front of Ocean’s Reach! What would your mark look like if you could leave one? Lots of beautiful nature on the beach to spark your creativity!

A beach seems to be a lovely and romantic destination for a wedding, and the beaches of Sanibel fit that description perfectly! Recently, the Hughes family from Ohio, held the wedding for their daughter and new son-in-law on this beautiful Sanibel beach. This had long been a dream of the couple as they had both vacationed here many times as children.

If you are dreaming of a beach wedding on Sanibel, Ocean’s Reach has a lot of helpful information to help you make the perfect decisions!