'Great starting point': Captiva's Green Flash to reopen in time to host Island Hopper fest

Friday, Sept. 22, is a good day to be a Southwest Florida foodie.

That’s when the iconic Green Flash on Captiva reopens for the first time since being damaged by Hurricane Ian.

It’s also the opening day of the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest — a 10-day event featuring more than 100 free performances by singer-songwriters at a variety of venues.

Sounds like a perfect pairing.

“We haven't been open since Hurricane Ian,” said Tim McGowan, who has co-owned the Green Flash with his wife Julie since Jan. 1, 2021. “We've been doing repairs for 90 to 120 days and the Island Hopper was our goal to reopen by. It just so happened to coincide with what we could get done and provided great incentive."

It’s the third consecutive year his restaurant will be hosting the singer/songwriters.

“It’s an awesome event and a lot of fun,” he said. "It's traditionally a slow time on the islands and the Island Hopper provides a boost. This will be a great starting point for us.”

The popular restaurant — known for its seafood-heavy, fine-dining, European-influenced menu — had four feet of water on the ground floor but, thankfully, no structural damage after the storm.

"We've freshened everything up," McGowan said. "New carpet, new paint, new table and chairs because ours floated away. The kitchen has been updated.

"But most important are the docks are open for those wanting to come by boat."

The Green Flash will open beginning at 11 a.m. Friday for lunch. McGowan said he plans on keeping the restaurant open from 11 a.m. to the last seating at 9:30 p.m. daily if all goes well.

"We will try to stay open every day through the first of the year," he said. "We used to close in the afternoons but we will be open all day now."

Keylime Bistro will be hosting as promised

While music and performances are the focus of the Island Hopper festival, it also brings well-deserved attention to various island venues in this trying off-season.

“I’m really looking forward to a great weekend on the island,” said  Sandy Stilwell Youngquist, who owns several Captiva restaurants as part of her Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group. “We’ve been part of the festival since its inception. They selected a month that’s always the slowest. This one weekend can make a difference in profitability or not.”

Her Keylime Bistro will be a hosting site beginning Friday despite still being closed due to damage from Ian. It’s expected to reopen in early November.

“The kitchen is not open, but the front deck is,” she said. “We will be making food in the Sunshine Seafood Café and running it over. I promised to be ready for Island Hopper and when I give my word, I’m going to do it. The tiki has been rethatched. We have two big tents and a few more to keep everyone comfortable and out of the sun.”

Her RC Otter’s restaurant joins in the fun as a host site Saturday.

“We want everyone to have the same island experience they did before the hurricane,” she said. “Enjoy the beauty of the island and the music. Take the weekend off and enjoy it.”

Tolls for the Sanibel Island bridge have been waived on Saturday and Sunday thanks to the Collaboratory and the Lee County Tourist Development Council. Once on Captiva, Stilwell Youngquist’s free S Car Go trolley will help get you to the venues.

“It will loop from South Seas down to Andy Rosse Lane, to Tween Waters and back,” she said. “It’s in the shop right now getting fixed — the snail got damaged. But it will be running all weekend during the festival.”

Parking information can be found at  island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com.

The festival takes place on Captiva and Fort Myers Beach and in Cape Coral and downtown Fort Myers. Many of our favorite places to eat are host sites, so it’s a perfect time to restaurant hop and listen to stories and music from the songwriters themselves.

On Captiva: Friday to Sunday

We’ve already mentioned The Green Flash, Keylime Bistro and RC Otter’s. Stilwell Youngquist’s Cantina Captiva, which features Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, is not hosting but is open. At Tween Waters, performances take place poolside and there’s a Songwriter Brunch (tickets are required) on Sunday at Old Captiva House. While there, check out the resort’s newest additions — The Shipyard and the stunning Crow’s Nest Steakhouse.

The Mucky Duck, another island favorite, is participating, as is South Seas resort with a performance tent and food trucks.

In Cape Coral: Monday and Tuesday

If you haven’t been to High Tide Social House, now is the time. Lobster Lady owners Mary Beth and Chris Keslinger opened Tarpon Point Marina’s newest restaurant in April. Its waterfront open-air dining room and bar, wrap-around porch and yard bar are ideally set up for live music.

Three other Tarpon Point restaurants — Gather, Nauti Mermaid and Pinchers — are also venues. Next Door (one of my all-time favorite restaurants) and Gulf Coast Fudge Company are also nearby and well worth visiting.

In downtown Fort Myers: Sept. 27-28

Five venues are hosting performers, including on The Luminary Hotel’s fourth-floor pool deck. Grab a bite or drink at Silver King Ocean Brasserie, Ella Mae’s Diner, Beacon Social Drinkery, or Chips Sports Pub while there. Oxbow Bar & Grill is across the street. City Tavern, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (with its rooftop bar), Social House and The Banyan Hotel (with its rooftop bar) are the other downtown venues.

On Fort Myers Beach: Sept. 29 to Oct. 1

The Pink Shell hosts the ticketed finale at 6 p.m. with headliner Chris Janson and guest Kristian Bush of Sugarland. It will be held poolside where food and drinks are available. Other island restaurants participating include Diamondhead’s upper terrace (poolside), Lighthouse Tiki Bar & Grill, Matanzas on the Bay and Yucatan Beach Stand (home to one of my favorite beachy drinks — the Frozen Spiced Mango Meltdown).

For more information, including times and all venues, go to island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com or download the Island Hopper app.

Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to rhgeorge@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Captiva's Green Flash reopens just as Island Hopper fest begins