Things to do on and around Siesta Key
Rent the fun at Robin Hood Rentals
Scooters, carts, beach gear and more — all in one spot
By Mackenzie Palmer
On Siesta Key, there are plenty of things to do — but not everyone wants to lug a surfboard or kayak on vacation. That’s where Robin Hood Rentals comes in.
According to its official website, “Robin Hood Rentals was born out of one man’s desire to make exploring and enjoying Siesta Key and the local area easier and more affordable for those that are visiting.”
Open since October 2009, Robin Hood Rentals has now been serving visitors for 16 years. Back when it launched, the peak season was primarily March and April. But ever since Siesta Key was named the best beach in America, the area has become busy nearly year-round. Today, Robin Hood Rentals also has locations in Anna Maria and Bradenton.
The fun and excitement is just beginning when you climb into your “Scoot
from Robin Hood Rentals. (Photo provided)
Located at 5255 Ocean Blvd., Robin Hood Rentals offers a wide variety of beach equipment and transportation options for rent. Visitors can also reserve gear online at robinhoodrentals.net or call (941) 554-4242.
A Siesta Key August tradition: CB’s annual 40% off clothing sale
By Jane Bartnett
Attention shoppers: the holiday season isn’t that far away. The countdown has begun! As tradition dictates, within a matter of months, Santa Claus will be making his way through Siesta Key Village. Another Siesta Key tradition known by savvy shoppers that takes place at the end of every August is CB’s Saltwater Outfitters annual 40% Off Clothing Sale.
Running this year from Thursday, August 21, through Sunday, September 7, it will offer shoppers at CB’s and sister store Fin Island Company, a chance to enjoy great savings on select clothing items at both stores. “It’s a great chance to start your holiday shopping,” said Aledia Tush, founder and co-owner of CB’s and Fin Island Company. “Jingle, jingle,” she said with a laugh.
Owner Mark Toomey moved to the area in 2007 from Nottingham, England — the legendary home of Robin Hood himself. Naming the business after the folklore hero seemed fitting for a company built on sharing resources with others.
Toomey said he always wanted to do something different and fell
in love with Siesta Key. One day, he bought a few electric scooters and launched the business. Since then, he has continued rotating his inventory and expanding his offerings.
After floods caused by hurricanes, Toomey lost nearly all of his equipment. In response, he gave away more than 100 bikes to local workers in the village — employees at restaurants and stores who were still on the job.
Following the storms, Robin Hood Rentals didn’t reopen until December.
“I had a guy outside the business renting golf carts, but the shop itself wasn’t repaired and open until late December,” Toomey said.
Continued on page 9V
Both CB’s and Fin have surprisingly large and spacious retail areas with excellent collections of warm weather clothing that can be right at home on a boat, at the beach, in the village or downtown Sarasota. The two shops are located at the foot of the Siesta Key south bridge, on Siesta Key. Tush began reminding customers of the annual sale event in July. “As
Continued on page 9V
Aledia Tush, founder and co-owner of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters with a display of casual dresses at CB’s. (All photos by Jane Bartnett)
Coupe”
Arts on the Horizon By
There’s more than one way to be alone
Being a teenager without a parent or two, a brother or sister, or other family members, are many ways of being alone. But they are all kind of the same–the missing of an individual relationship. And, if you’ve always been without that kind of contact, maybe you don’t consciously know what you’ve missing. Just that, deep within your being, there is a hole, of which you don’t even know its size.
Or a relative is physically there, but just not there for you. Or because you are you, other kids at school emit a “who are you” kind of attitude.
The play Dorothy’s Dictionary, currently playing at Florida Studio Theatre’s Keating Theatre thru August 10, is about just such a teenager. A traveling, uninvolved father; a school in which loosely unconnected others circle him; and an anger that understandably shouldn’t well up, wells up. How does he deal with the anger in his life, how do the courts deal with it, and how does the librarian in the hospital, who is the object of his court mandated public service, deal with it - and with him?
A different kind of being alone is never having read a book, other than some pages of math problems, or other school-imposed sets of words, which, because he didn’t choose them, left him a bit uninvolved. Books can take you places where you’ve never been, or, sometimes, never knew existed. Books can speak to you with many voices, so you won’t be alone, even if you’re alone when you read them. And, if you’re lucky, books can make you go to some of those places.
Rodger Skidmore
Alice M. Gatling and Ethan Jack Haberfield, the principals in this play, are everything actors need to be. Perfect for their parts, and perfect in how they play them. The set design is so simple that it takes you where the action is, perfectly.
Since it’s summer in Sarasota, one can be casual both in attitude and dress. And Don’t Dress for Dinner, at the Gompertz from the 6th to the 24th of August, is a play where the actors can play around in both attitude and dress. Alibi is Latin for “elsewhere” or “another place”, a word used in high crimes and misdemeanors and, as in this farce, in high jinks and misadventures. This play is an adaption of Pajamas for Six, by a French playwright, so you know where everyone seems to be heading. August is what it is–Too Darn Hot, which just happens to be playing at the Court Cabaret, right next to the Gompertz. This show is running through the 14th of September Carole J. Bufford, a darn hot singer, creates themed musicals which she takes all over the world. This one brings fresh life to classics by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and more: Steppin’ Out with My Baby, Fever, Summertime, Blame It on the Summer Night and others, with a good local trio backing up Ms. Bufford, whose voice is jazz tinged with a soft spot of soul. More info at floridastudiotheatre.org.
Hitchcock’s The Birds was a scary movie
Mean birds are scary because they are so different from those that we grew up hearing about: The Blue Bird of Happiness, When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin’ Along, etc.
But real birds come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and dispositions. Magpies target your head when you get too near their nest, blackbirds and crows steal bright shiny objects, and hawks and owls eat so many cute little woodland creatures. So maybe birds are kind of like people.
A great place to see a rogue’s gallery of these birds is at Selby Gardens new show The High Life: Contemporary Photography and the Birds running through September 14 at their downtown venue off Mound Street.
Some of the photos will be on display in their museum of Botany & the Arts with others scattered like birdseed throughout the gardens, along its paths and walkways. Why is The Selby hosting a photo show on birds?
Because birds live in trees, build nests out of twigs and grasses, eat insects that munch on leaves, pollinate flowers, and spread seeds for new growth around the world: aspects of their life which intersect with Selby’s world of flowers and plants. Besides, birds look great in all the varied habitat of our biodiverse world.
Like nature photos of all kinds of creatures and natural settings? And seeing them from your favorite easy chair? Have some great photos of your own? Then The Selby’s VIRTUAL 45th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition is right up your alley (or wherever it is that you go on your nature outings). You have until August 11 to submit your own click art and from August 28 until September 30 to see the best of this year’s best. Trivia question: What are gesneriads? Are they tropical flowering plants in the Andes of South America, among other places? Are 1/3rd of them epiphytic? Do they usually have five petals (and five sepals), with hirsute and sometimes fleshy flowers? More info on lots of stuff at selby.org.
Continued
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic, presented by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, is one of the most celebrated international sand sculpting competitions in the world. November will mark the 15th anniversary of the event.
The four-day festival of all things sand will open on November 14 and run through November 17 as Siesta Beach is transformed into a magical sand sculpture garden.
Online Tickets are now
Available
Advance online 2025 Crystal Classic tickets are available for purchase through the Siesta Key Crystal Classic website. Visit: https://siestakeychamber.
ticketspice.com/siesta-key-crystalclassic.
Adult general admission tickets are $20. Military and senior tickets are $18. Children’s general admission tickets (ages 5-17) are $12 each. Children under age 5 are admitted free. Four-day value passes are also available for $60 per person. Each admission ticket may only be scanned once, and the last ticket sales will be sold 30 minutes before the gate closes. Online sales will remain open until Monday, November 17 at 4:00 p.m., the final day of the Crystal Classic. All tickets purchased online through October 31 will be sold at a $2 discount. From November 1 through November 17, each online
the
The Siesta Key Crystal
ticket sold will be discounted by $1. Groups of 20 or more will receive a discount of $1 off each ticket when purchased by before 4:30 p.m. on November 14, the first day of the Crystal Classic.
This year’s tickets include one People’s Choice token. Visitors to the festival may use the token to vote for the People’s Choice award. That recognition will be announced along with the other honorees at the Sunday award ceremony.
Parking
Free Siesta Beach public parking is available at the Siesta Beach parking lot at 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. However, organizers anticipate that space may be limited.
VIP parking passes in the designated VIP parking area of the main parking lot at 948 Beach Road may be purchased online for $55 per day.
Public Transportation
Visitors to the Crystal Classic are urged to consider alternative transportation methods to get to the festival.
The free 77 Siesta Islander is an open-air trolley managed by the Sarasota County that travels up and down Siesta Key from Turtle Beach to Siesta Beach and Siesta Key Village from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Siesta Key Frog Hop is a private open-air trolley that provides free transportation
between Siesta Key Village and Turtle Beach. The trolley runs daily from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. To book a Frog Hop ride, call 844-FROGHOP or 844-376-4467.
Sarasota County Bus Route 33 also provides access to Siesta Beach for a fee. https://www.scgov.net/ government/breeze-transit/breezeroutes
24
Celebrated International Artists
The 2025 Siesta Key Crystal Classic will showcase the work of 24 award winning sand sculptors from around the world who will create large breathtaking sculptures and compete for numerous awards and recognitions.
/ BANKS
Trust Bank & ATM
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Blase Café Map-A #38
Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar Map-B #42-43
Gilligan’s Map-B #33 My Village Pub Map-C #53/54
Siesta Key Oyster Bar Map-B #45
The Beach Club Map-D #22
The Cottage Map-C #58
The Hub-Baja Grill Map-D #59
COFFEE SHOPS
Bean Coffeehouse Map-D #62
Mojo Risin’ Coffee Company Map-B #31
Project Coffee.....................................Map-D #9
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Beach Bazaar’s & Swin Shack Map-C #28
Blvd. Beachwear Map-B #30
Comfort Shoes-Birki & More Map-D #64
Foxy Lady Fashions Map-A #40
Gidget’s Coastal Provisions Map-B #44
Island Boutique Map-B #50
Island Style Map-C #53
Lilly Pulitzer Map-D #66
Sandbar Swimwear............................Map-B #50
Sea Shanty Map-C #24
Siesta T’s Map-B #30
Southern Tide.....................................Map-D #60 The Sandal Factory
GAS STATION
K Store
GIFTS & SOUVENIRS
Bazaar
Gilligan’s Gift Store
Trader
#28
#51 Sea Pleasures
Crystal Classic Returns
Artists who will vie for honors at the 2025 Crystal Classic will be coming to Siesta Key from six different states, Canada and Europe.
Before the event opens to the public, the 24 artists will join together to create a large “community carve,” that will be on display for the public to see when they attend the festival.
When the competitive sculpting begins on Friday, November 14, each sculptor will begin with a fresh pile of Siesta Key sand. They are allowed eight hours a day through Saturday to complete their projects.
be eight solo sculptures and eight team sculptures.
Amateur Sculpting Competition Returns
The popular amateur sand sculpting event judging will also take place at this year’s Crystal Classic on Saturday, November 15. Visit siestakeycrystalclassic.com to learn more.
Illuminated Sculptures on Saturday Night
On Saturday evening, November 15, Crystal Classic visitors can enjoy a walk through the sculpture garden and see the designs illuminated by dramatic colored lights until 9:00
Other highlights of the Crystal
Classic Festival include live bands that will be performing in the music tent throughout the festival. Dancing on the sand is highly encouraged.
The Vendor Village will feature 75 retail vendors and five food vendors. The Vendor Village is open to the public and does not require an admission ticket to enter.
To make plans now for one of the most exciting and dramatic events of the season that is fun for the entire family, check the Crystal Classic Facebook page for regular updates. For tickets and to see photos of last year’s dramatic sculptures visit the Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting Festival website at siestakeycrystalclassic.com.
Siesta Village Dentistry Map-D #63
Siesta Dental Map-B #49
Siesta Key Physical Therapy Map-D #20
MISCELLANEOUS
Prime Audio Video Map-E #1
Roberti Enterprises Map-A #39
Village Arcade Map-C #53
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Attorney Fleming Map-E #1
Edward Jones Investments Map-D #68
Smith Architects Map-E 74
REAL ESTATE / RENTAL SERVICES
Amy Robinson RE Map-E #1
Beach Palms B-74
Coldwell Banker Realty Map-D #20
EXP Realty Map-E #4
Judith Guzzi & Assoc Map-E #74
Keller Williams Real Estate Map-D #11
Michael Saunders Realty Map-E #72
ReMax Alliance Group Map-C #29
RentSiestaKey.com Map-D #9
Robasota Rentals & Real Estate Map-A #39
Siesta Key Rental Prop Map-D #10
The Ringling Beach House Rentals Map-D #9
Tropical Sands Accommodations Map-D #67
RESTAURANTS / CAFÉS
Another Broken Egg Map-C #54 & 55
Blase Café Map-A #38 Café Gabbiano Map-D #71
Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar Map-B #42-43
Flavio’s Brick Oven & Bar Map-B #29
Flavio’s Italiano Ristorante Map-B #30 Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill Map-B
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (941) 923-7799
Tarpon fishing will wind down during August, but you should still find a few adult, migratory tarpon in the coastal gulf early in the month. Drifting live baits or casting flies, DOA Baitbusters and DOA 4” CAL shad tails should all work. As tarpon thin out in the gulf, they will move to inside waters where you may find them schooling around bridges or rolling on deep grass flats. You should also find juvenile tarpon from 10 to 30 pounds in creeks, canals, turning basins and around dock lights. Your snook tackle will work fine for smaller tarpon although you’ll need a leader of 40 to 50 pounds to keep them from wearing through it. Fly anglers should score on juvenile tarpon with 8 or 9 weight fly rods and smaller tarpon flies. You’ll find snook around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW and in the surf.
Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DOA Shrimp or CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms should all work well in the surf.
Anglers fishing dock and bridge fender lights should do well with live shrimp, DOA Shrimp, CAL jigs with shad tails or fly fishing. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ .
Reds should school up during August. You should find them on shallow flats where they’ll be easier to find when the tide is low. Look for “nervous” water when it is slick calm or a slick patch of water when there is a ripple on the water. They may push a wake that looks like a boat wake and often also find big jacks, blues and other predators in the mix along with redfish schools. Top water plugs and fly poppers or Gurglers may draw some big bites. The DOA PT-7 top water bait and 4” CAL shad tail should both work well on schooling reds. You may find a big trout in skinny water at first light. Focus on mullet or bait schools to find them. Top water plugs, fly poppers or Gurglers should be very effective at that time of day.
Capt. Rick Grassett
• FFI (Federation of Fly Fishers) certified fly casting instructor (CI)
• Private and group fly casting instruction
• Fly casting instructor for CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing schools
• Hosted group destination fly fishing trips (Bahamas, Montana and more)
Capt. Rick Grassett (941) 923-7799
Email snookfin@aol.com www.snookfin-addict.com www.flyfishingflorida.net
I like the same areas for big trout that I like for reds. Later in the day, after water temperatures warm, you should find trout and more in 4’ to 8’ of water over grass flats. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on a sink tip fly line. Ladyfish may feed in glass minnow schools and, if they stay up long enough, it will attract trout, blues, mackerel and other predators. Wide profile plastic lures or
flies fished slowly around the edges of breaking fish will help keep ladyfish off your lure or fly and give you a chance to catch a tarpon. When blues, Spanish mackerel or sharks are in the mix, add 6” of heavy fluorocarbon. You may also find tripletail around crab trap floats, buoys or channel markers in inshore waters this month. A live or DOA Shrimp or my Grassett Flats Minnow fly with a weed guard should get the job done. Even though it is one of the hottest months of the
year, there are lots of options this month. An early start for snook or tarpon around lighted docks or bridges and then on to the flats for reds, trout and more is a good option. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
AUGUST 2025 TIDE CHART
Sarasota, FL - Aug 2025
LEFT: August is a great month to beat the heat by fishing at night. Bob Delano from Savannah, GA, with a snook and juvenile tarpon.
RIGHT: Raul Ortiz from Longboat Key, with a trout, all caught and released in a previous August on flies or DOA Deadly Combos. (Photo provided)
Robin Hood
“We were down for three months. I don’t think there was anybody in the village that wasn’t affected by it.”
Fortunately, business eventually began to bounce back.
“I was the first person to bring golf carts to Siesta Key,” Toomey said. “I have three-wheel scooter cars, scooters, bikes, kayaks, Segways — everything. But I was the first guy to start with two golf carts on Siesta Key.”
Toomey said more than 90% of his customers are tourists, though some locals use the service when they have out-of-town guests.
About 25% of bookings are made online, and the shop offers free delivery on most items — though Toomey encourages customers to confirm availability.
The most popular rentals are golf carts and three-wheel scooter cars.
Robin Hood Rentals also has a retail shop that sells Siesta Key merchandise, including hoodies, caps, shot glasses, beach balls and more. The store also offers henna
CB’s sale
tattoos, hair braiding, permanent jewelry, and other fun beach extras.
When Toomey stops in to check on the store and staff, he says he’s always reminded of why he loves
Continued from page 1V
soon as August comes around, it’s Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season. It will be here before you know it,” Tush said with a smile. “It’s a great CB’s tradition and a lot of fun.” Tush noted that during the annual sale, “all accessories in both stores are excluded.”
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
On Siesta Key and among the many fishermen and boaters from around the nation and the world who come to explore the waters of this barrier island, CB’s is well known as the go-to place for all things fishing and outdoors. It is the largest on-the-water bait & tackle shop in Sarasota. What many visitors and local residents alike may not be aware, Tush remarked, is that CB’s is also a great shopping destination for sportswear for men and casual items for women. There is a wide selection of stylish colorful dresses, skirts,
shorts, pants, tops and rain jackets on display in the spacious retail area. Many items are made with SFP fabric. Styles include items from many well-known labels that can be worn out on a boat, on the beach or around town.
“We’ve been holding this sale for over 30 years. I really look forward to seeing so many returning customers who come back year after year.” Her son Mason Tush, who is co-owner, said that the sale gives CB’s “the chance to get ourselves ready for the new season and make room for new styles.”
Fin Island Company
At Fin Island Company, found next door to CB’s Outfitters and adjacent to the Daiquiri Deck, shoppers will discover a great selection of fun beach and casual lifestyle wear for the whole family. Fin’s large collection of women’s clothing has a young, fashionable
his work.
“I’m working in paradise, and I get to meet people from all over the world,” Toomey said. “Everyone is happy, and Siesta Key in general
is just a happy place to be. When they come to Siesta Key, they’re in a great mood, and they just want to see a smiling face and receive some good service.”
beach vibe. Shoppers will discover skirts, tops, pants, coverups and bathing suits from many popular brands. These are styles that
So, if you and your family are looking for something fun to check off your Siesta Key bucket list, stop by Robin Hood Rentals and see what adventure awaits.
can go from the beach to Siesta Village to a night out in downtown Sarasota.
Guys will also find a good selection of casual clothes and beach wear that will be included in the sale. Children’s casual wear clothes include shorts, tops and bathing suits for boys and girls. For toddlers and babies, there are cute warm-weather outfits and bathing suits that will delight little ones. Hooded sun protection one piece baby outfits decorated with manatees and sharks make a perfect holiday gift. Accessories such as hats, bags, totes, keychains, sunglasses, shoes, and beach items are not a part of the sale at Fin Island Company.
When CB’s opened Fin Island Company in 2014, it was designed to be a one stop shop for all of those beach essentials and clothing needs that every family visiting Siesta Key could need. In the past 11 years, Fin has become a popular go-to shop for visiting families as well as locals who enjoy the great selection of clothing and beach necessities and the welcoming coastal atmosphere.
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters has been a Siesta Key landmark since opening its doors in 1959. Open seven days a week, from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., find CB’s at 1249 Stickney Point Road. Visit cbsoutfitters. com on Facebook and Instagram. Call 941-349-4400.
Fin Island Company at 1250 Stickney Point Road is open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Visit on Instagram and Facebook. Call 941-349- 3600.
At Fin Island Company, Hannah Garriott and C.C. Gorczynski add new items on the showroom floor.
Robin Hood Rentals is your one-stop shop for golf carts, scooters, bikes, paddle boards, kayaks, and more on Siesta Key. (photo provided.
Robin Hood Rentals is conveniently located in the heart of Siesta Key Village at 5255 Ocean Boulevard. (Photo provided)
Arts Continued from page 3V
Big show in town
“Big” is a relative term. A plum 3” in diameter is pretty big, but a 3” apple, not so much. And “sexy”, really hard to define. But “Big and Sexy,” that means only one thing, Nate Jacob’s Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue is back at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Donelly Theatre on North Orange from August 22
through September 7.
This show was a big hit when it premiered here in April of 2023, and it should be a great way to end the summer of 2025 (that is, if summer ever ends).
Fats Waller made a big splash back in the 1920s-early 40s with such hits as Ain’t Misbehavin’, Honeysuckle Rose, The Joint is Jumpin’ and, of course, Your
Feet’s Too Big. Leon Pitts, Ariel Blue and Jazzmin Carson will be reprising their starring roles as they interpret and showcase some of Waller’s extensive (over 400 songs) musical catalog. And dancin’ when your feet are big? No problem when Donald Frison is the choreographer. Waller’s further development of James P. Johnson’s style of stride piano, and Waller’s time at Juilliard, are brought to life by the jazz artists backing the singers and dancers. Info at westcoastblacktheatre.org.
Let there be light
It’s summer so light shines for a few extra hours each day. Just the kind of day that relates to Yoshida Hiroshi: Journeys through Light, an exhibition at the Ringling Museum running through January 11 of next year in the Citrin Gallery.
Hiroshi, born in Japan, traveled wherever the sun did shine–the Americas, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. He did not take photos but sketched the flat and angled buildings and sloped landscapes, as light and shade intermingled. The polychrome woodblock prints that he later created were not based on exactly what he had seen, but on his interpretations of what he had seen. A double withdrawal or a double introspection? Snow, bright blinding white or differing shade of gray, intermingled with varying tones of earth that poked through the drifts; multi-layered colors of canyon walls, formed over eons and variably colored by the sun–or the clouded lack of it; distant clouds, peaking over shaded mountains, colored into shades of rosy, pink. Info at Ringling.org.
DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE
With our map on the next page you’ll be able to navigate your way to our featured shops with ease.
The Shop SRQ (G2) offers flat-tops, fades, tapers, blowouts, razor cuts, and straight razor shaves. Owners, Erick and Dawn use a back to basics approach to grooming with a precise attention to personal detail. Their commitment to excellence has provided them with many loyal customers. They welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. Hours: Tues. thru Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Gulf Gate Barber Shop (G-7) has been an institution in the community for years, owned by Kyle Flannery. The super-clean barbershop’s clientele is comprised of primarily men, but the shop services children as well.
Scott Reich, formerly of the Siesta Key Village Barber Shop has relocated to this location.
Tony’s Chicago Beef Company (S-16) is owned and operated by true Chicagoans. Dedicated to deliver Chicago’s best food, Chicago style Hot Dogs wit’ the works ... dragged through the garden on poppy seed buns with fresh cut fries, Italian Beef Sandwiches anyway you like, dipped or dry, sweet or hot.
Solórzano’s Late Night Pizzeria (S-34): At every Solórzano’s, they offer an experience familiar to those who understand the importance of family and dedication. Their recipes and techniques have been perfected through three long generations based on the traditional simplicity of the methods used by their Italian ancestors. Dine
inside, outside, pick up, or DELIVERY anywhere on Siesta Key, or in Sarasota until 3:30 a.m. 6574 Superior Ave., 941-924-5800.
Gulf Gate Food + Beer (S51): Sarasota’s late-night hot spot for the service industry, night owls, and midnight snackers. It’s not your typical sports bar, offering unique menu selections for carnivores and vegetarians. Be sure to check out their menu online at: eatfooddrinkbeer.com.
Hours: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Sun.Thurs.) open until 2 a.m. (Fri & Sat.).
Roberts Realty, Inc. (M-5)
John Garner, Broker Assoc. & Diane Shane, Broker Assoc. have a combined 40 years’ experience in Sarasota of making dreams come true for our clients. For buyers, we have had great success in finding the right property for our clients because we listen closely to their wants and needs and matching that as close as possible. For sellers, over the years we have successfully listed and sold many, many properties throughout Sarasota County. Our philosophy is to have fun, enjoy the experience, achieve great results, make friends and receive referrals. We’re with you every step of the way! Call 941-924-2330 or drop by our office.
Only Eyes Optical (S24) brings a new, exotic, eclectic, eccentric, unique collection of vintage, hipster, contemporary eyeglasses and sunglasses to the community. Licensed and experienced optician available to fill your prescriptions. Only Eyes Optical has a large assortment of free frames with the purchase of new lenses. Call 941-444-7984 to set up an appointment with their
licensed optician.
Seascape Aquarium & Pet Center (GG39) Serving the area since 1975, this lively critter emporium features 10,000 feet of showroom, 25,000 gallons of freshwater, saltwater and coral, and adventures galore. Hours are Monday-thru Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 am. 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
Scandinavian Gifts Baked Goods and Grocery (GG37) A fixture in Sarasota for 32 years, Scandinavian Gifts offers an assortment of linens, glassware, cookbooks, jewelry, candles, food items, and Christmas collectibles. Located at 2166 Gulf Gate Drive, the store is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Taste of Spain (M13) We are a catering service specializing in authentic paellas and tapas, serving Sarasota, Manatee, and the Tampa Bay area in Florida. Treat your guests to the sight and aroma of Spain’s famous dish being prepared at your event. With exquisite Spanish cuisine, top-notch service, and customizable options, we ensure an unforgettable experience.
Munchies 420 (S-1) Sarasota’s legendary casual dining comfort food bar and grill is still setting the standard for food and fun in Gulf Gate. Now open for lunch at 12 p.m. daily and serving food until 3 a.m., locals and visitors alike flock to Munchies for live music, open air tiki bar vibes, and our worldfamous fat sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, handmade burgers, and mouthwatering wings! Takeout and delivery provided as well. 6639 Superior Avenue. 941-3033304
