Lots of condos for rent in Sarasota!

Sarasota is one of my absolute favorite vacations spots! Over several decades I have come to the conclusion that renting a condo near the beach is the way to go! Recently I visited a beautiful condo there and I wanted to share it with you. If you'll click on http://www.vrbo.com/201463 you'll see a beautiful home that you can rent for as little as $600 per week in off season! Imagine going there with family a friends and being just 3.5 miles from the gorgeous Siesta Key Beach. You could easily accomodate 6-8 people there for a week, a month or even 3 or 4 months!!

I was there in early March of 2008 and the weather was spectacular. If you're interested click on this link http://www.vrbo.com/201463 or contact me and I'll connect you to the right folks! Enjoy!

How to Have Fun in Sarasota!

Having fun in Sarasota doesn’t require a lot of money. In fact, many things to see and enjoy in Sarasota are absolutely free. With 35 miles of beautiful beaches and six barrier islands, near-perfect weather and a variety of fairs, concerts, arts and cultural events, Sarasota offers a fun and inexpensive getaway. I'm going to share just a few of those with you!
1. Life's a Beach! Put on your bathing suit, grab your towel and head to one of Sarasota’s 35 miles of beautiful beaches, all open to the public, and perfect to body surf, play in the sand, collect seashells and bask in the sun. As you contemplate the crashing waves, the magnificent blue green Gulf provides you with a clearer mind, lighter heart and stronger spirit.
2. Follow a different drum. Siesta Key Drum Circle. Watch the magnificent sunset and listen to the drummers on Siesta Key Public Beach Sunday evenings just before sunset, and going till the wee hours of the morn... located just south of the main pavilion between lifeguard stands 3 and 4 on Siesta Public Beach. This is not a commercial event but local phenomenon that began sponteneously and now has a life of its own. Park in the public lot, and follow your ears.

Exhibit features nature's finest in Sarasota

Last updated Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 7 a.m.
From the time she was a child, Kelly Cioffi would sit for hours watching wildlife. While some young girls are afraid of bugs, she found them fascinating.
There will be an artist reception from 1 to 3 p.m. July 5 in the Juliano Room in the North Port Library, 13800 Tamiami Trail. The event is free and open to the public.
Now, the Venice resident has turned her lifelong interest in insects and wildlife into photographs that are winning prizes and gaining attention.
An exhibition of her work "Natural Encounters" will be shown throughout July in the Juliano Room of the North Port Library, 13800 Tamiami Trail.
"Florida residents tend to enjoy wildlife and Kelly captures native wildlife with a compelling style and fresh eye," said Janis Russell of the North Port Library.
When she saw Cioffi's photography at the Arts Alliance of Lemon Bay in Englewood, Russell said she immediately saw "something different" in the photography and thought it would be a perfect fit for the monthlong exhibit.
"I'm always on the lookout for unusual local artists, authors and musicians," Russell said. "It gives an added bonus to library patrons."
This is not the first time Cioffi's photography has been in the spotlight. For the past two years she has exhibited in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens annual Juried Photographic Exhibition and has won awards of merit from Selby. She is also a field photographer for "Nature Photographer" magazine.
The surprising thing about Cioffi is that it has only been two years since she picked up a camera, and she has never taken a course in photography.
"But I've been a student of nature all my life," Cioffi said. "I can sit for hours watching a bird or alligator. I take hundreds of images then I come back and do it all over again."
Besides patience, paying attention to light and shadows is the most important attribute for a photographer, Cioffi said, "because photography is nothing but writing with light."
Indeed, what makes her subjects "pop" is her dramatic use of light and the unusual patterns she captures.
"People think I use Photoshop to create interesting patterns, but I don't manipulate photos," Cioffi said. "It's all done with a slow shutter speed and waiting for the light to hit the subject in a certain way."
A macro lens is what she uses to create another special effect, unusual closeups that detail one part of her subject. "If I could only use one lens, it would be a macro," she said.
"You can get all sorts of special effects with one."
Alligators are her favorite subject, followed by insects.
"I creep around at night looking for spiders and insects to photograph," she said.
Cioffi believes beautiful photography is easy to come by in Southwest Florida because of the area in which we live.
Her advice to those who want to do nature photography: "Sit quietly and you'll be amazed at what you see."

The Sarasota Opera

We all know that Sarasota has gorgeous beaches, fabulous luxury hotels and scrumptious restaurants, but did you know that Sarasota also has an award-winning opera house with a full season of operatic masterpieces? Check this out:
Now fully restored to its original beauty, the Sarasota Opera House has become the cornerstone of Sarasota's Theater Arts District. The Sarasota Opera has come to merit accolades from all over the world. Thanks in no small part to the generosity of the community of Sarasota, the Sarasota Opera House, once shabby and neglected, now stands like a proud beauty. The original chandelier from the movie "Gone With the Wind" hangs brilliantly in its lobby. Meticulously and lovingly renovated, FLORIDA HERITAGE Magazine, the official magazine of the Division of Historical Resources in Tallahassee, lauded it as "one of the most successful renovations of a historic building in Florida." Complete with an added education wing, and library complex at her side, the Opera House has earned its own accolades:
"In the winter, it would be hard to beat the pleasantly laid-back resort town of Sarasota on Florida's west coast, with its warm and sunny weather, excellent restaurants, and a delightful 1000 seat art deco Opera House, whose acoustics are superb." OPERA, London
"With the dimensions of the Opera House, which almost guarantee an engaging experience between audience and singers, and DeRenzi's full throttle approach to each work, whether he's conducting it or not, a dull performance at the Sarasota Opera is hard to come by." OPERA NEWS, New York
"Sarasota Opera - A Gem on Florida's Gulf Coast...The theater's interior configuration and acoustics make audience members feel they are sitting in the center of the sound..." THE BLADE, Toledo
"Over the last decade, the output has been first-rate, blending traditional with adventurous programming...an acoustical jewel." BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE
Today the Sarasota Opera House plays host to everything from opera, symphony and classical ballet to film festivals, popular music concerts, comedy shows and clowns. The Opera Complex features a new Pavilion with a spacious, multi-purpose banquet/performance facility; the Peterson Great Room, which can seat up to 390 people. Private meeting space, as well as private rehearsal rooms are part of the pavilion. The Opera House theater seats 1033, with 740 on the first floor and 293 in the balcony.
Let's go!!

Sarasota: City of Art Lovers

Did you know that Sarasota has "Art Walks" On the first Friday of each month? Here's the scoop:

Art Walks on Palm Avenue First Friday of the Month 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Palm Avenue hosts a monthly Art Walk on the First Friday of each month. Browse the fine art galleries, jewelers, and restaurants of Palm Avenue while enjoying dancing, live music, and refreshments. A mainstay in Sarasota for many years, monthly special events make this a must-do.Location: Palm Avenue in Downtown Sarasota

Beaches of Sarasota

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I love the beach at Siesta Key! I was there last month and already I'm missing it and trying to think of how I could get back there. The beach is so white and powdery and the water is clear and tropical blue. There are so many fun things to do there and you see lots of kids skim-boarding and building sand castles. It's a real family beach and on many Sunday nights (if not every Sunday night) there's a big community drum circle that anyone can participate in! Check it out at the main public beach!

Top Two Luxury Hotels in Sarasota

Ritz Carlton Sarasota
Sarasota, FL, United States
Style: Classic Luxury
Experience Hospitality As Refreshing As A Bayside Breeze At A Hotel As Charming As The Destination Itself: the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota....

Longboat Key, FL, United States of America
Style: Classic Luxury
Longboat Key Club and Resort is set like a jewel on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, just...

Back from another fabulous trip to Sarasota

I spent most of this past week in my favorite Florida location...Sarasota! While there I visited with friends old and new and had just a wonderful time! I also checked out some homes and condos and seriously began to look into whether I might be able to move there! Who wouldn't want to live in Paradise?? I even came back with a little suntan and a little sunburn! Of course coming back to a virtual blizzard made the memories of Sarasota all the sweeter!!

Music Opportunities in Sarasota

Sarasota is fantastic community for music! What is today known as the Artist Series of Sarasota was conceived in 1996 by Co-Founders Jerold Ross and Lee Dougherty Ross.
Jerold enjoyed a business career that included top management positions. His background in arts management includes service as a key member of the Board of an opera company and ownership of a classical music radio station.
Lee Dougherty debuted at age twelve as a piano soloist with the Norfolk, Virginia Symphony Orchestra and later performed the Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto with the Eastman Rochester Symphony. She graduated from Eastman School of Music with a double major in both piano and voice. She often accompanies guest artists on the Artist Series.

Going to Sarasota!!

Next week I'll be in Sarasota and I am so excited!! I've just always loved the tropical (or sub-tropical) climates...ever since my parents took us to the Bahamas for 3 weeks in 1961. To me, palm trees, the beach, the ocean, flowers year round and warm sunshine are just magical! I'll be visiting several friends while down there, including one that I've never met so it should be lots of fun.

Of course I'll take my digital camera and send lots of pictures with my daily blog posts so let me know what you'd like to see! Meanwhile, I'm trying to lose a few pounds before I slip into my bathing suit!! ;-)

Alice

Siesta Key...My Favorite Beach

When I go to Sarasota there are so many choices for which beach to visit. I love the beach at Siesta Key because it has the most beautiful white sand and wide, wide beach that I've ever seen. I could spend weeks on that beach and never get tired of walking in the surf in the morning and the evening. It's a great combination of plenty to do and peace and quiet. There are restaurants and shops within easy walking distance and you can rent bikes as well as lots of beach equipment, chairs and umbrellas. Even on Siesta Key there are three or four different beaches to choose from including Turtle Beach. The beach I like though is actually the main public beach. Check it out!

Welcome to Sarasota Luxury!

I've been going to Sarasota on a regular basis for about 12 years now and I am absolutely in love with the area! I have dear friends and family there now and have enjoyed exploring the area beaches, restaurants and shopping! The music and arts there are fabulous and there is quite a growing community of complementary and alternative medicine practitioners.
This blog is intended to aquaint people with the area and give you a good idea of the many options for vacationing or living there.
I do hope you'll enjoy it, comment on it and add your own questions. Have fun!