The spring semester at FGCU always arrives with a strange hunger. Hunger towards graduation or the kind that comes from wanting to feel relaxed after syllabus week, sunburnt and briefly unburdened.
On a recent escape to Fort Myers Beach, I found myself at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. It’s the sort of place that promises a soft breeze and tropical drinks that sound like dares. Doesn’t exactly feel like fine dining and that’s because it’s not meant to be.
Doc Ford’s is wrapped around with water, with boats bobbing close enough to feel like you have an invite. At night, the place shifts. The entire roof lights up and live music slips into the background just enough to fill the silence without stealing the moment. The view does a lot of the work for you, but so does the energy, which can quickly tip from lively to intensely crowded. Let’s stop making reservations for 8 p.m. and start making them for 5 p.m…