16 NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
FROM THE EDITOR
You had me at hello. And it wasn’t even the holiday season when affability
is expected. It was last February at the post office on Goodlette-Frank Road.
I was visiting Naples from Florida’s east coast, where I’d lived for decades,
and had popped in to mail a package to my niece in North Carolina. A woman
in line noticed the address and asked where I was from, and here’s what sur-
prised me: She was interested in the answer. A warm conversation ensued,
one that would foretell similar chats after I moved west, and I was intrigued
not only by the charm of this city but also by its generosity of spirit. December
may be a month of bow-topped boxes and wish lists, but Neapolitans give of
themselves all year round—to worthy causes that support the community and
to complete strangers asking for directions. That kindness, a blend of sincerity
coupled with self-assured achievement, is what captured me.
I grew up in a military family and have lived around the country, but I’ve
never moved anywhere on instinct until now. There’s an intrinsic grace here
that I craved—a willingness to wave someone into your lane rather than blare
the horn—and this relaxed civility is why many others have come to Naples,
too. National surveys repeatedly rank the area as among the happiest places to
live in the United States, but for me, it boiled down to gooey butter cake. This
decadent dessert, a St. Louis favorite dropped off on my doorstep by hospi-
table new neighbors, sealed the deal that my new home was the right fit.
Speaking of dessert, take a moment to feast your eyes on the festive cre-
ations whipped up especially for us by some of Naples’ top pastry chefs in “A
Very Berry Holiday” on page 82. From Lexie Ward’s naked berry drip cake
to Paw Mikkelsen’s tower of crepes, there are luscious layers to tempt every Neapolitan palate.
Meanwhile, if you feel Christmas colors are best left for berries, explore the subdued hues of “Des-
ert Bloom” dresses on page 62. From Gucci and Oscar de la Renta to Dior and more, designers
are pairing soft floral prints with bold Western accessories for an unexpected contrast, not unlike
Naples itself.
As editor in chief, I want to bring my passion for Naples—with its small-town camaraderie
and big-city cosmopolitan edge—to life in these pages. I welcome your input as my new journey
begins, and I wish you the warmest of holiday seasons.The Gift of KINDNESS
MEGAN DIPIEROLoretta Grantham
[email protected] MERRY ISTHMUS
I RECENTLY SET SAIL ON THE SWEET LIBERTY
CATAMARAN TO KEEWAYDIN ISLAND OFF THE
COAST OF NAPLES. THE 8-MILE-LONG ISTHMUS
IS BEST KNOWN BY NAUTICAL REVELERS FOR
ITS SOUTHERN TIP. FOR A LIST OF HOLIDAY
BOAT PARADES FROM BONITA SPRINGS TO
NAPLES, SEE AGENDA ON PAGE 127.