Things to do on and around Siesta Key
Siesta Key welcomes Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel
IBy Jane Bartnett
n the heart of Siesta Key, on an early Saturday morning in April, Siesta Village was abuzz with excitement. It was the grand opening day and the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel shop. As the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce prepared for the event at the store’s new 5125 Ocean Boulevard location, shoppers, friends and a large group of onlookers joined the party.
A large white cake with black writing, complementing the Tunaskin brand logo, was prepared for cutting. Champagne bottles chilled on ice and breakfast treats were enjoyed by those who came to celebrate the store’s entry into the Siesta Key retail community.
“I’ve always loved Siesta Key,” said founder Bill Bronsord. “It
Happy Campers
By Ned Steele
The county-run Turtle Beach
Campground – one of the region’s few camping sites directly on a beach – is back in business following a nearly five-month shutdown from 2024 hurricane damage.
After a late March soft opening to campers with existing reservations for that time period, the site fully reopened in early April to the general public.
The campground’s restroom/ bathhouse/laundry room structure, destroyed by Helene and Milton, is gone. It has been temporarily replaced by a portable restroom/ shower trailer (which, to the first visitors’ astonishment and delight, is air conditioned.)
But everything else is there: the campsites, picnic tables and gazebos, the beach – and lots of happy
campers and good times.
“I don’t think anything’s missing in terms of services. It’s a very pleasant environment,” said firsttime visitor Mary Ann Radnovich. “Everything works.”
She and her husband Michael drove their RV down from the Atlanta area for a ten-day stay in early April. They had been allowed to be included in the limited soft open – at 50 percent capacity – because their October 2024 reservation had been cancelled by the storms.
The couple had been attracted by the campground’s cozy size and lush greenery, not to mention its standout feature: “You can walk straight to the beach,” Mary Ann said.
It’s just a short stroll from the campsite to the sand, and as the couple made the walk, they met
fellow campers. Soon they had new friends. “It’s just relaxing,” Mary Ann said. “We met some wonderful people. We’re not seasoned campers. Having good neighbors when you’re camping is great.”
The Radnoviches have already booked for a November return.
Cancellation disappointment turned to satisfaction similarly for Kurt and Mary Ann Langheld of Springfield, Mass. Their third consecutive annual visit to Turtle Beach, originally scheduled for February and March, was wiped out. But they were among the first to show up in their 20-foot camper van for their rebooked trip on the first day of the soft opening.
“Whoever did the work did a lot,” Kurt, a retired engineer, said as he surveyed the scene. “It’s fine. I am
has a really nice feel and it’s our brand. We are people who love the outdoors.”
The upscale store is bright and welcoming and shoppers who were on hand for the big day were delighted at what they found inside. As they examined the large selection of high-quality performance outdoor wear for men, women and children, many commented on the soft touch of the Tunaskin fabric. Shirts, shorts, cover ups, sweatshirts and hats, as well as women’s dresses and kids’ wear were on display.
A beautifully designed selection of colorful, eye-catching, soft to the touch beach towels drew oohs and ahs from shoppers who admired the collection of Tunaskin towels. Designs depict Siesta Key’s iconic lifeguard chairs, the brand’s tagline, “live a crazy good day,”
sleek tunas swimming through the water, as well as tuna tails or finlets, the brand’s logo.
The majority of Turnaskin’s designs are made from recycled materials and sustainable fabrics with built-in sun protection.
“We do all of our design work at our Bonita Springs, Florida, headquarters and we manufacture in Honduras,” said Bronsord. The small Tunaskin team also handles color selection. Fabrics are dyed in a local dye house.
Along with the outerwear clothing, the sleek store also features can coolers, reusable totes, a selection of baseball hats and the brand’s Bermuda straw hat for women.
Private clients are also a key element of Tunaskin’s success story. The company’s design team
Mary-Ann and Kurt Langheld are happy to be at the Turtle Beach campground (Photo by Ned Steele)
It’s official! Tunaskin owners Dana and Bill Bronsord (center) cut the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce ribbon at the grand opening ceremony. Village Cafe owner Kay Kouvatsos (far right in blue) and Lauren Werfelman of Ascendia Group real estate (far right in white) joined the celebration. (Photo provided by Siesta Chamber of Commerce)
Arts on the Horizon
Shuffle Off to Buffalo
To shuffle is to walk in a low-key, drag-your-feet kind of way. You don’t even have to lift your shoes off the floor when you just shuffle along. Duke Ellington wrote a tune, Syncopated Shuffle, in 1929 and that was a bit livelier shuffling with a beat. But that music, produced on a 78 RPM disc, only lasted for two minutes and 45 seconds, not long enough to get your feet to tapping.
A great way to get your jazz moving is to keep “a hoppin’ and a boppin’” for an hour or more. That will really get you jazzed up. And tired beyond belief. A better way might be to sit in a comfortable seat and lean back and relax with just your feet keeping a beat. And maybe with your fingers snapping while you watch other feet do the tapping.
Sound like a good idea? Then watch the tapping with some really good sounds. Not in Buffalo but on Syncopated Avenue, a show now being performed through May 25 by the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe at their theatre on North Orange Avenue.
How were the reviews for this show when it played last year on Broadway? Oops, it didn’t play (yet) in New York, because this is another see-it-first-in-Sarasota World Premiere. This time it’s a tap dance musical with vocals set to jazz and swing from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s as well as from the 2020s such as old favorites by Duke
By Rodger Skidmore
Ellington, Eubie Blake and Irving Berlin and new tunes by Nate Jacobs, Lamont Brown and Louis Danowsky. Choreography is by Lamont Brown and Jason Bernard and the show is directed by Nate Jacobs.
There will also be some new faces in this dance taptacular as there will be some new feet keeping the beat, including those of triple threat Lamont Brown. More info at westcoastblacktheatre.com.
Voices everywhere
The Key Chorale has a nice program at the Sarasota Opera House on the 10th of the month at 4:00 PM. Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra features Glenn Priest on the keyboard. There are nice interludes with French horns and with bassoons. Some would say that the best way to follow such a full, rich and pleasing composition by Beethoven is with an even more powerful composition by Beethoven: his Ninth Symphony–at least it’s final movement, titled Ode to Joy. Of course, others would say, “Wow, that’s a lot of Beethoven.”
A fair compromise might be to slip in a bit of calmer Beethoven between those compositions, to sooth one’s ears. His Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage might just be right. Beethoven was inspired to write this work by two of Goethe’s poems, which when performed with Beethoven’s music, are soft, warm, and peaceful. Soloists for these works are Jamal Sarikoki, Bass; Blake Friedman, Tenor; Tatev Baroyan, Soprano; and Amy Jo Connours, Alto. More info at KeyChorale.org.
Stirring music on Memorial Day is an annual tradition. Another tradition seems to be the United We Stand:
Memorial Day Concert that is performed each year by the Choral Artists of Sarasota and the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble. This year the venue for this performance is the Church of the Palms at 4 p.m. on May 24.
Each war in which we are engaged seems to generate, besides sorrow and destruction, its own set of compositions, with and without lyrics. After 250 years of
America’s existence, we have quite a few from which to choose. The Choral Artists and the Wind Ensemble have picked a good selection of them, to which we should listen and then quietly reflect upon the lives of those service men and women who have paid the ultimate price to defend our stated ideals. Hopefully the chorale and ensemble won’t have any new compositions to perform for a long while. More info at choralartistssarasota.org.
A bunch of these and a couple of those
And maybe a pinch of this and a dash of that? No, not referring to an obscure recipe being demonstrated on some food channel cooking show, but to all things music. All, of course, is a relative term. All the tubas you want to hear at the same time might be two, or perhaps one. Yet, in an orchestra, 30 or 32 might be just the right number of violins. Or 42 if one considers violas to simply be fat violins. However, four violins in a string trio could be a bit much. Ah, but what about saxophones? Four soprano saxes? Please, no, your ears might bleed. But four saxophones of varying size? Some might think that is heaven, what with the different weavings of sounds, cutting corners around each other. Sure, one soprano sax, but also an alto, a tenor and a big, fat, tall baritone. Those four horns and the musicians who blow them make up the Sinta Quartet, which will be playing at First Presbyterian Church the afternoon of May 4.
The fact that this quartet has won Gold Medals in major competitions in 2012, ’13, ’17 and ’18 shows that they are not only good (or great) but are also long lasting. That the quartet is named after their mentor, a Saxophone professor at the University of Michigan, also shows that they have respect.
Continued
Cleaning Up
The Great American Cleanup is an annual nationwide day of community improvement activities and Sarasota County took part this year as in years past with Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, turning out volunteers on April 12 to clean Siesta Beach. It is one of three major cleanup events each year in the county, along with the Liberty Litter Clean-Up every July 5 and the International Coastal Clean-Up each fall.
News Briefs
Alvin’s Island opens in heart of Siesta Key Village
After more than a year of wondering and waiting, Alvin’s Island store opened its longawaited Davidson Plaza store in late March. The surf and resort wear store entry into the Siesta Key market has been a source of conversation and curiosity. Alvin’s Island stores are found in 38 locations throughout Florida and on the coastline of Alabama.
Who among us finds a visit to the beach to be a spiritual experience?
Quite a few of us, apparently.
It may be hard to see amid the flying frisbees, the frolicking and mischievous young folks, the determined walkers, and all the rest.
But it is there, and a certain subset of the beach population is very aware of it. There is the weekly Sunday evening drum circle, which for many
summonses up deep feelings of spirituality. There are the prayer tent folks, who sometimes set up near the pavilion and hand out prayer cards to those who appear to be receptive.
And then there is Linda.
Linda felt something. More meaningfully she found something, and now she held it in her hands.
“It,” of all things, was literally the skeleton of a fish.
No ordinary fish it was.
She’d found it strolling the
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it, is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere that will get you right into the Island Spirit. One of the things that set SKOB apart from the other restaurants in Siesta Key Village is that we have some of the best food on the Key.
shoreline one day. She bent over carefully and lifted it gently.
She was astonished at what lay in her hand: It was a depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, she declared.
And you could not quarrel with her description. The bony structure exactly took the shape of a cross. And upon it was a formation of bone that does appear to be a human figure.
Linda called it her “cross fish.” And she had collected
several of them, carefully scrubbing away all the flesh remnants to bare the elemental, undeniable reality: she was holding a replica of a crucifixion.
Science supports Linda’s perception.
She had found the species informally known by many as “the crucifix fish,” commonly called a sail catfish or gafftopsail catfish. Known to marine biologists as Bagre marinus. It is a saltwater catfish that thrives in the
Beach Spirituality on
By Ned
Gulf and other southeastern U.S. waters. Other than when people like Linda find it in the way that she found it, it is not particularly useful or liked.
It is the skull and vertebrae on the skeleton of a dead Bagre marinus that take the shape of the forms Linda had found, nestled in the sand between the green and the red lifeguard stands. The resemblance to a crucifixion scene is uncanny. On top of that (or underneath that), the reverse side to many appears
ACCOMMODATIONS
Beach Palms B-#74
Siesta Key Beach Resort & Spa Map-A #38A
ATM / BANKS
PNC ATM Map-C #61
Sun Trust Bank & ATM Map-E #4
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 Map-B #46
GAS STATION Circle K Store Map-E #6
GIFTS & SOUVENIRS Beach
Coffee Shop • Tea Room
the Beach
to resemble a Roman shield, which some signify to mean a Roman centurion who guarded Christ.
Linda related her find immediately to her personal religious views. “Jesus was a servant, and he is in this fish,” she said. “It is a very spiritual feeling not only to have this, but to be here on this beautiful beach in God’s creation.”
Linda’s friends in her beach crew were more interested at the moment in bocce, wading in the surf, and their lunch
sandwiches. But Linda is one of the spiritual people, and she tenderly wrapped her cross fish into a paper towel. Easter was coming, and so was her grandson, Thomas.
Thomas, age 8, was presented with the fish when he and his family showed up.
His mom knew just what to do.
“Take it home, and bring it to school,” she counseled the boy.
Home was in Wisconsin, and school was a parochial school.
Linda’s cross fish miraculously
survived the journey back north the following week intact, and Thomas eagerly presented it on the first day after spring break.
Neither the children nor their teacher had ever seen anything like it. Thomas’s “show-and-tell” was the highlight of the day. His classmates went home and told their parents, and some of them asked Mom and Dad, “Can we go to Siesta Key next winter so I can have one of these too?”
Circle K Store Map-E #6
Morton’s Siesta Market Map-C #25
MASSAGE
Hands of Light Massage Map-B #35
The Spa at Calle Minorga Map-E #74
MEDICAL - DENTAL
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
Tropical Sands Accommodations Map-D #67
RESTAURANTS / CAFÉS
Another Broken Egg Map-C #54 & 55
Blase Café Map-A #38
Bonjour French Cafe Map-C #47
Café Gabbiano Map-D #71
Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar Map-B #42-43 Flavio’s Brick Oven & Bar Map-B #29
Italiano Ristorante Map-B #30
Island Bar & Grill Map-B #33
House Bar & Grill Map-D #69
Pot Map-C #23
Linda holding the skeleton of “the crucifix fish” she found on Siesta Key Beach. (Photo by Ned Steele)
Tarpon
Tarpon fishing will take off during May as migratory fish arrive along our beaches. Resident tarpon is usually the first to show up as they make their way out of rivers and creeks. As migratory tarpon start to arrive this month, we should have schools of tarpon moving both north and south along our beaches. Early arriving tarpon may be more aggressive due to less fishing pressure early in the season. Set up in their line of travel and wait for tarpon schools to move past and cast a DOA Baitbuster, a 4” CAL Shad, a live crab or pinfish to them. Once you’ve seen the first school of fish, you can concentrate your efforts in that “lane” since other schools should be following the same route. When they aren’t showing well on the surface, a live bait under a float in their travel lane may score. I’ve also done well blind casting a DOA Baitbuster or Swimming Mullet when there wasn’t much showing on the surface. Be quiet and use your electric trolling motor sparingly. Even though your 4-stroke outboard sounds quiet, it is no substitute for an electric trolling motor. Give other anglers at least several hundred yards of space and keep in mind that fish can be moving either north or south so setting up too close to another angler may affect their flow of fish. Fly anglers should do well with a variety of baitfish or crab fly patterns fished on floating or intermediate sink tip fly lines. Staking out or anchoring in shallow water on their travel route should result in some shots at fish. The best angle is a “head on” shot, followed by a quartering shot. A perpendicular shot may work if it’s timed perfectly, although casting
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (941) 923-7799
too far beyond their line of travel will usually spook them. I use a push pole with an occasional assist from a trolling motor if I need to adjust my position to make a cast.
Passes and Beaches
Snook will be spawning this month so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them in a timely manner and handle them gently. Larger snook will mostly be females and should always be supported horizontally rather than hung vertically by the jaw. You’ll find them in passes and in the surf. They will also stage around docks and bridges close to passes. Casting CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms or DOA shrimp around docks and bridges close to passes should be effective. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, work well at night. One of the most fun ways to target snook is to walk the beach and cast CAL jigs, DOA Shrimp or flies to them in the surf.
Sarasota Bay
Higher tides this month will mean that reds will spend more time feeding on shallow flats. Look for them along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high and in potholes or along sandbars when the tide is low. When fishing shallow water for reds, be as quiet as possible. I prefer to use a push pole or wade. Reds are one of the most challenging species to catch on a fly. Since they can be very spooky, I often wade for them when fly fishing to keep a lower profile.
You’ll also find big trout in many of the same shallow areas that you find reds. They will be plentiful on deep grass flats. I prefer to cast CAL jigs and flies on sink tip fly lines for trout. A DOA Deadly Combo also works very well. Drifting and casting ahead of the drift is usually the most productive method. Look for flats
that have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow. Trout regulations in southwest Florida are currently 3 fish per person/bag limit and a 6 fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ . You may find pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on the same deep grass flats where trout are plentiful. They can be targeted in the same way as trout, but you may need to use wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader when toothy fish are around. You may also find Spanish and king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tripletail in the
coastal gulf. Keep your eyes open for surface activity such as diving birds, breaking fish or baitfish being forced out of the water which could indicate the presence of mackerel, blues or little tunny. Medium spinning tackle and 8 or 9-weight fly tackle should be heavy enough, although your tarpon spinning, and fly tackle is not too heavy for cobia. Look for cobia either swimming on the surface or around navigational markers or buoys. I have also found cobia swimming with schools of tarpon before. Tripletail may be found around crab trap floats or buoys, where they can be targeted with a DOA shrimp or CAL jig on spinning tackle. When fly fishing for tripletail, a floating line on an 8 or 9-weight fly rod with a shrimp
or baitfish fly pattern, like my Grassett Flats Minnow, should get the job done.
This is one of my favorite months of the year. If battling a big tarpon isn’t for you, you should have plenty to do on both shallow and deep grass flats or in the coastal gulf. I’ll be spending my time targeting tarpon in the coastal gulf unless conditions won’t allow it. There is something about casting a fly to a giant fish in shallow water! 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!
MAY 2025 TIDE CHART
Sarasota, FL - May 2025
There should be good action in the coastal gulf during May. Dan Reinhart, from VT, with his first tarpon caught and released while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous May. (Photo provided)
There should be good action in Sarasota Bay during May. Tyler Barrus, from MT, with a trout caught on a fly in a previous May while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett. (Photo provided)
Scott Heidler, from OH, with a red caught on a CAL jig, both caught and released while fishing shallow water in a previous May while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett. (Photo provided)
Arts
Continued from page 3V
FYI: There is no known record of a Mr. (or Ms.) Violin being the inventor of the violin, or of a Tom Bone being the inventor of that horn thing that slides, but there was a Belgian named Adolph Sax that invented the saxophone. And more power to him. The reason there are not more saxophones in orchestras is that the saxophone was not invented until the 1840s, after the structure of the orchestra was set (fossilized?) in stone.
It’s hard to say what will be on the program, but recently they have played tunes titled Volcanic Ash, Dvorak
American Quartet, Green Groves of Erin and Barber’s Adagio for Strings
Last year, Sarasota went through three hurricanes. Or, more exactly, three of them went through our fair city. What would have happened to a typical guitar duo playing a concert when one of those babies passed through? Well, to quote Paul Simon, The Sound of Silence. Not so with the Beijing Guitar Duo as they play acoustic.
Individually they’ve won numerous guitar competitions so to reduce stress they’ve joined forces to create one of the most sought-after duos on the concert circuit. (They were in Barrington, Illinois before Sarasota and will travel to San Francisco after). Catch them at the Sarasota Yacht Club on May 8.
Both these saxophone and guitar performances are presented by the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota. For more info, go to their website–artistseriesconcerts.org.
A drought in Sarasota?
Yes, but fortunately not of music (and, sorry, it is of the rain kind). But, with no rain forecast, there is a good chance that the two nights of Country Hits: Songs from Nashville will go on as scheduled at Ed Smith Stadium, May 2-3.
The two headliners fronting this show are Grace Leer (top 10 on American Idol) and Rick Brantley (singer, songwriter, hitmaker).
Hearing Brantley sing Folsom Prison Blues backed by the Sarasota Orchestra will be a sound to behold. Other selections, with orchestra, will be The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Always on My Mind, Wide Open Spaces and some Dolly Parton favorites like I Will Always Love You among others. Hot dogs and drinks will be available. Estofado de cabra is a nice goat stew but if you’re looking for G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) musical selections, as selected by Christopher Confessore, conductor of the program at Holley Hall May 7-10, you’ll have to go a bit more international. There will be, to name a few, Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, Freddy Mercury’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio, Offenbach’s “Can Can” from Orpheus in the Underworld, and others, from one end of the spectrum to the other.
If a concert was titled Vivaldi, Inspired, it would probably be an all Vivaldi show because, yes, he was inspired. But the program being performed at the Sarasota Opera House on May 17 has no comma in the title, thus the selections featured on this concert were written by composers that were inspired by Vivaldi. Stravinsky, Coleridge-Taylor, Holst and Respighi all came after Vivaldi, so they were followers in more ways than one. And, it is true, for some of their compositions, they harkened back to the style of the master himself. And, to put everything in perspective, they book-end the concert: starting with Vivaldi’s Spring and ending with his Summer. So, this concert goes from spring to summer in an hour and forty-five minutes while, outside of the Opera House, it takes Sarasota a full week to transition from one season the next. Assisting the change will be Amaryn Olmeda, the featured violinist with Kalena Bovell conducting.
Moving closer to the real beginning of summer, Holly Hall is the venue, on June 1, for the opening concert of the Sarasota Music Festival, Echoes Across Eras, which spans the years from Beethoven, Schubert, Bach and Scriabin to Namoradze. Namoradze, who is he? Well, on this program he plays a piano duet (Schubert) with Jeffrey Kahane and solos on the compositions by Bach, Scriabin, and Namoradze (yes, he also composes). After the concert, his is a name you will be saying to others who’d missed the concert. More info for all at sarasotaorchestra.org.
Sure, you love them, but......... Children and grandchildren are great
fun, but 24/7? It has been said, “Too much of a good thing is sometimes just too much of a good thing.”
There are certain things that simply must be done on time: income taxes, holiday shopping, catching a plane to visit your in-laws(?), and getting your kids and grandkids into their (or your wallet’s) choice of summer camps. Remember, after every 24 hours, a day has gone by....and there just aren’t that many days left before school ends, summer heat intensifies, and the little ones begin to get in your hair–if you’ve got any left.
And there are so many camps from which to choose–painting, film school, learning to swim, circus arts, music, computer coding, ballet and/or modern dance, glass making, theatre, and sure, why not, basket weaving. So, making that big decision means, first of all, knowing some of the real choices.
Florida Studio Theatre has Performing, Improv and Sketch Comedy sessions for ages 5-6, 7-12 and 13-17. Sessions run from June 2-August 8. Call 941-366-1350.
Art Center Sarasota has sessions for Creative Kids ages 6-9 and Emerging Artists for ages 10-14. Art supplies are included. They are also looking for teens, 15 and older, to volunteer as teaching assistants. This counts towards high school, Bright Futures, and National Honor Society requirements. More info at artsarasota.org/summercamp
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has a summer program for ages 11-18, June 9July 13, with final show dates July 12 and 13. Call 631-839-9293.
Out-of-Door Summer Academy has academic, sports, STEM, arts and day camps for ages 5-11 with full-day programs available. Info at oda.edu/student-life/ summer-academy-2025.
Sarasota Cuban Ballet School has made a big splash in the ballet world because so many Cuban ballet stars have entered that world. Their Summer Intensive is from June 16-July 19, ending with a performance at the Sarasota Opera House. Call 941-365-8400 to schedule an audition.
Opera Summer camp is not just singing, but also acting, sets, props, make-up, costumes and more for ages 8-10 and 11-18. Sessions run from June 9-27. Call 941-3281329.
Sarasota Art Museum - Ages 7-13. June 2-August 8. Designing/creating costumes, painting imaginary landscapes and making unique ceramic creatures. Call 941-3094300.
Circus Summer Camp at the Sailor Circus Arena is where campers ages 6-15 can learn
juggling, aerial acts, flying trapeze and more. Sessions run from June 2-August 1. Call 941-355-9335.
Or just google “summer camp Sarasota” for lots more info.
End of the World?
No, just end of the season. If you haven’t heard ensembleNewSRQ recently, or at all, the last time that they will be providing new contemporary chamber music until the fall is on May 12 at the Sarasota Opera House. While this will be the last day they will be playing until next season, what they will be presenting is a first-time thing–the Florida premiere of Jagden und Formen Free German lesson: und means and Formen translates to form and Jagden means hunt, as in Jägermeister (Huntmaster). Simple, right? Now everyone can speak German.
Yes, this composition was composed by the late German composer Wolfgang Rihm, utilizes 25 musicians and is filled with rhythmic energy and layered textures. Co-founder of enSRQ, George Nickson, conducts the performance. The featured pianist is Conor Hanick, accompanied by guest artists and enSRQ core players, including Samantha Bennett and Jennifer Best Takeda, violins; and Marcelina Suchocka, percussion. Conor Hanick has premiered over 200 pieces and has worked with such composers as Pierre Boulez, Steve Reich, Nico Muhly and Caroline Shaw. His is on the faculty of Juilliard, Mannes College and the CUNY Graduate Center.
Nickson has said that Jagden und Formen is “a restless, shape-shifting labyrinth of sound that explores the tension between structure and spontaneity. The piece unfolds as a continuous surge of musical gestures, at once volatile and meticulously sculpted, echoing the energy of pursuit and the complexity of form.”
In addition, a reception will be held in the Opera House courtyard, after the performance. More info at ensrq.org.
Tunaskin
works with private clients around the world to design outerwear, towels and accessories for special events, boats, businesses and organizations. With a minimum order of 40 units, a variety of budget, design and customizable color options are available. “For a fishing team owner in Dubai, we designed custom shirts. We’ve also done work for a marina in Puerto Rico, official apparel for the Key West Songwriters Festival and a large batch of custom towels for large sailboats and vessels,” he reported.
The Tunaskin brand name was decided upon when Bronsord and a friend were out on a tuna fishing expedition in 2009. “Tuna are one of the only fish in the ocean to have skin,” noted Bronsord. “They have no scales.” Their sleek bodies, he explained, allow them to swim very rapidly. The company name honors the majestic marine animal that the World Wildlife Fund calls “remarkable and impressive.” If tuna were to be compared to a car, the WWF stated, “tunas would be the Ferraris of the ocean.” In 2010, Tunaskin the company was born. Over the course of the past 15 years, Tunaskin, like the grand tuna itself, has moved quickly and grown. “We started online doing prototypes,” said the company founder. “We had a good response to our products and about 10 years ago, we opened our first brick
happy to see everything recovering.”
The couple planned to spend their time bicycling, enjoying the beach, swimming and bird watching. “This is number one of our favorite spots,” Mary Ann said. “We like it because at the end of the road you’re on the beach.”
The Langhelds will also rebook to return next year.
Several campers noted with approval that new greenery had been planted at several campsites to replace those washed away by the storms. One of those campers was Bill Benedict, who with his wife Carol, has been driving from Sterling, Virginia to Turtle Beach annually for 20 years. “We go to the beach,” he explained. “We’re real beach bums.”
“There was a lot more sand
and mortar store in Fort Myers Beach. A store in Key West on the famous Duval Street followed. A third Florida location opened in Sarasota, on St. Armand’s Circle, and five years ago, Tunaskin opened in Bonita Springs. The company’s online sales also continued to grow. In 2024, when hurricanes ravaged St. Armand Circle, the Tunaskin store, like so many of their neighboring retailers, was not spared. Although the merchandise was saved, the structure itself was badly damaged. Bronsord, who has a construction management background, made the decision to sell the building and move on. Impressed by the rapid recovery of the Siesta Key community, he made Siesta Key Tunaskin’s new Sarasota home. “Siesta Key is on its way. The recovery here has been tremendous,” he said.
the 2025 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting Festival. “We’re excited to report that we’ll be a vendor at the Classic.”
Partnering with local business groups and non-profits is part of Tunaskin’s corporate make up, taking part in beach clean ups and other community efforts in each community.
Looking ahead, Bronsord and his team have already begun working closely with the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. He wants the company to play a role in contributing to the success of
before,” he observed, “but it seems they’ve replaced the shrubbery.”
What didn’t need to be restored or replaced for the Langhelds were friends. They are part of a group of several couples and individuals who show up every year at the same time to enjoy good times together. Every night they gather on the beach to watch the sun set.
About half of the 44 campsites were open and occupied in the early days of the soft opening. County officials had wanted to ramp up gradually, to make sure that all systems were working properly.
The Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel store at 5125 Ocean Boulevard is open daily, Monday-Sunday from 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Visit online at: tunaskin.co. and #liveacrazygoodday. Call 239-3010541.
in toilets and showers.
Nonetheless, a permanent fix is coming: “Plans are underway to evaluate the site and begin planning for the relocation and rebuild of a new restroom facility that will be compliant with flood damage-resistant provisions of the regulations and/or code and accessible,” a county spokesman said.
For more information see www. turtlebeachcampground.com, email at turtlebeachcampground@scgov. net., or via phone at 941-861-2267 (CAMP).
Campers praised the temporary shower and restroom trailer, saying it was clean and comfortable, not to mention air-conditioned. Campers with larger RVs found the facility unnecessary; their vehicles had built
The campground office is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and weekends 9:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. Reservations are required to stay at the campground.
Dana Bronsord, Tunaskin co-owner, shows off the Tunaskin Siesta Key beach towel. (Photo provided by Siesta Chamber of Commerce)
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 (G-2) 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 (S-51): 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 (S-24) 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 (GG-37) 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.
