Urban Reef Sarasota

Grand opening ceremonies for one of Sarasota’s newest restaurants will be November 12th. The new restaurant, Urban Reef is located at 1888 Main Street in downtown Sarasota.

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival

My wife Opal and daughters attended the 18th Annual Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival this weekend. If you are looking for “Old Time American Fun” you need not look any further than the Pumpkin Festival. The annual festival has something for everyone in the family. You will enjoy circus acts, petting zoo, a giant corn field maze, magic shows, frog jumping contest, rock climbing wall, pumpkin canon, craft show, pioneer village, hayrides, live music, food and much more. Click here for more information about the festival.

Big Olaf Creamery, Lakewood Ranch

Anyone who has every been to the Big Olaf Creamery in Siesta Village could tell you about the fresh made waffle cones and great ice-cream. The store which has always been one of the areas favorite ice cream shops is now open on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street. The original owners of the Big Olaf have opened the new store in the place previously occupied by Brusters Ice Cream. The store’s opening is a welcome addition to Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street shopping district and marks a recent resurgence in leasing in the area which has seen declines in the past year.

Lido Key Restaurant

This weekend we enjoyed a very nice dinner atop the Holliday Inn on Lido Key. My lovely wife Opal, our two daughters and a friend all were taken back by the amazing view. I took the picture seen above with my iPhone. The sunset was spectacular. The views are 180 degrees panoramic from north to south.  When you go try the macadamia nut encrusted grouper.

Flemmings Restaurant Sarasota

The other day my wife Opal and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Flemmings Steakhouse.  We wanted to thank our client that sent us the gift certificate.  I am blessed to have a wife like Opal and also to live,work and play in a town with so many excellent restaurants and things to do.  The Sarasota life style is great.

Bill Clinton in Sarasota

Bill clinton is scheduled to be here in Sarasota on September 30th to speak at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as part of the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall lecture series.  For more information visit, www.rclassociation.org

Sarasota Baseball

Major League Base Ball Spring Training has been a Sarasota tradition since 1924.  Our town has hosted  many of base balls best teams.  With the Cincinnati Reds heading further south, Sarasota has been in talks with the Baltimore Orioles. Sarasota has been seeking to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium lure the Orioles.   The state of Florida has recently agreed to provide a $7.5 million grant to be used to help pay to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium. The new stadium which is expected to cost $31 million.  The following is a brief history of Base Ball in Sarasota.

• 1912 The Sarasota Baseball Team was organized to “furnish amusement during the summer months and also to advertise the town by having a good baseball team.” The team’s colors were blue-grey trimmed with red. 
• 1923 Payne Park, the original stadium for the city of Sarasota, was built on a portion of 60 acres of land donated by Calvin Payne and his wife, Martha. 
• 1924 – 1927 The New York Giants held spring training in Sarasota. John Ringling is credited with scoring the Giants for Sarasota.
• 1933 – 1958 The Boston Red Sox called Payne Park their spring training home (with a four-year hiatus during World War II).
• 1959 The Los Angeles Dodgers used Sarasota’s spring training facilities for one year. 
• 1960 – 1997 The Chicago White Sox called Sarasota their spring training home.
• 1989 Ed Smith Stadium was built and named to honor the hard-working, multi-year president of the Sarasota Sports Committee – Ed Smith.
• 1990 Payne Park was demolished in November 1990, after standing for 65 years. History of Sarasota’s Baseball Tradition 
• 1998 – Present  In 1998, the Cincinnati Reds began their spring training and minor league operations at Ed Smith Stadium.
• 2007 Payne Park reopens on Oct. 6, 2007.

Fourth of July

This weekend our family celebrated the fourth of July Holidays in the mountains of nort Georgia.  Those that celbrated the holiday here in Sarasota had many things to do and enjoy including the Suncoast Off Shore power boat races which are always a major part of the weekend festivities.  If you did not see the races you may want to check out the video highlights at: http://www.suncoastoffshore.org/video.php

Florida Winefest, Sarasota

If you are looking for something to do this weekend you might consider taking part in the 19th Annual Florida Winefest & Auction.  Activities will include food and wine sampling, an auction dinner and dance, seminars and a brunch on Sunday.  Events are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Most of the activities will be taking place at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. 

For more information visit:

• www.floridawinefest.org
• www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Sarasota

New Park on Myakka River

Sarasota County has just purchased land along the Myakka River at Tamiami Trail just above North Port. The new Park will provide boat launches to access the river. The 7.1 acres of land for the park were purchased for $2,000,000. The site was previously slated for condominium development.

Click here to visit the Myakka State Park and learn more about this Sarasota attraction.

Sarasota Pet Friendly Places

If you love spending time with your dog like we do with our Pug, Zoe you will enjoy some of these places in Sarasota. In the Lakewood Ranch area, you can enjoy outdoor dinning at McAllisters on Main Street. You dog can find that they are the center of attention at Woof Gang Bakery. This bakery located in the Publix shopping center on Market Street in Lakewood Ranch has gone totally to the dogs. If you are visiting the Sarasota area, your dog is welcome at the new Sarasota Airport Holiday Inn. The Sea Star Cafe is another fine restaurant that will cater to your “best friend”. You will find many restaurants along Main Street in Downtown Sarasota and St. Armand’s Circle on Lido Key that offer outside dinning for patrons with dogs. Sarasota also has a dog park on 17th Street. Paw Park in the Greenbrook neighborhood of Lakewood Ranch is a local favorite.

Sarasota Ferraris and Exotic Cars

Because exotic cars and rare and helping children shouldn’t be, the Florida region of the Ferrari Owners Club and the Child Protection Center will be hosting their annual events to benefit the Child Protection Center. This weekends events will include a Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port Reception at Rectrix Aerodrome, on Friday. Ferraris and Exotic cars will be on display on St. Armands Circle on Saturday followed by a tropical Beachside dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club. On Sunday there will be a Road Rally sponsored by Rolls-Royce followed by brunch at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Though Ferraris and exotic cars are no rare sight in Sarasota, thee will be no better place to view these beautiful machines than this Saturday on Lido Key. For more information visit ferrarisandexotics.com

The Perlman Music Program Winter Residency

Today marks the beginning of  The Perlman Music Program Winter Residency in Sarasota.  For more information visit the official website.  The program developed and taught by Itzhak Perlman will showcase the talents of some the world finest young musicians.

Royal Lippizan Stallions

Today marks the start of the winter training season for Hermann’s Royal Lippizan Stallions at the Hermann family ranch in Myakka City. It’s a remarkably intimate way to meet these magnificent show horses, whose history dates back to 16th-century Austria. Showtimes are Thursdays through Fridays at 3 p.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Bring lawn chairs.

Click here for more information.