Weekend of May 16th '09: Gulfshore Life's top five

Hundreds of dogs will strut their stuff this weekend at the Lee Civic Center. Dog lovers, don't miss the Greater Fort Myers Dog Club All Breed Show this weekend at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers. The official American Kennel Club event features more than 150 breeds, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It includes conformation, obedience, rally trials and junior handling both days, plus Saturday's puppy match and good citizenship testing. Call 945-2776 or visit www.fortmyersdogclub.com for details.

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Be the first to see National Art Encounter 2009—a juried awards exhibition featuring new works in ceramics, enameling, fiber art, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, metal and stone sculpture, and woodwork—during a preview reception and awards presentation from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Friday at The von Liebig Art Center in Naples. The opening reception is free for Naples Art Association members; $10 for non-members. The exhibit is on display through July 12. Call 262-6517 or visit www.naplesart.org for details.

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Run (or walk) in the Fourth Annual Turtle Trot 5K Race at Lovers Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach on Saturday. This unique course winds through a shady maritime hammock on a hard-packed, shell path and ends at a pavilion overlooking the beach for refreshments and awards. Registration is at 7 a.m.; race is at 8 a.m., open to competitive runners, first-time participants and walkers. The $25 fee benefits Friends of Lovers Key. To register, call 463-4588 or visit www.friendsofloverskey.com.

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Choices, choices. Great performances by Concerto Competition winners—both Sunday night at 7 p.m. The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and Youth Orchestra perform their final Major/Minor Concert of the season at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples (597-1900 or www.thephil.org). And Michael Hall conducts the Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra in Colors in Sound at Fort Myers High School, 2635 Cortez Blvd., Fort Myers 418-1500 or www.swflso.org

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An easier choice for golf lovers. On Saturday, head to The Club at TwinEagles in North Naples for the 16th Annual West Coast Golf Tournament, a four-person scramble to benefit United Way of Collier County. (Call 248-0200 today only to register.) Then on Sunday, swing your clubs at Renaissance Golf & Country Club in south Fort Myers for "Swings Against Cancer" Fundraising Golf Tournament to benefit 21st Century Cancer Assistance Research and Education. (Call 936-3756 or visit www.21stcenturycare.org to register).

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Dodge your way to fun and excitement at open Dodgeball Nights every Monday from 6–8 p.m. at the Sanibel Recreation Center. Enjoy lighthearted battles against other teams in a competition of speed, strength and balance using soft Nerf-style balls. For details, call 472-0345 or visit www.mysanibel.com Moms won't want to miss Amy Wilson's one-woman show, Mother Load, a mix of motherhood, comedy and true confession at the Phil in Naples at 7 p.m. Monday. An exposé of the fruitless and ever-challenging quest to be the "perfect" mom, the show is appropriate for ages 12 and older. For tickets, call 597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org or www.motherloadshow.com Join a park ranger for a three-quarter-mile Beach-Nesting Bird Walk along the beach at Lovers Key to learn about the beach-nesting birds at 10 a.m. Wednesday on Fort Myers Beach. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair from the park. Call 463-4588 for reservations

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