www.SiestaKeyFitness.com
New Monthly Section Serving the Nation’s #1 Beach WORD ON THE BEACH PAGE 3 SARASOTA WATERS PAGE 4 ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC
MEET THE NATIVES PAGE 22 FEATURED ARTISTS PAGE 11
ISLAND BEAT PAGE 20 WATER WORLD PAGE 14
FEBRUARY 2012 | 941.539.0205
www.SiestaKeyIslander.com
|New Business...
|Looking for an Jackpot Sarasota Incredible Adventure? Are you feeling lucky today? Janet Zuknick of Sarasota sure did after winning a 42inch HD T.V. from Jackpot Sarasota recently. You can bet that she’s told all her friends about her good fortune and will be back for more. Jackpot Sarasota opened its doors on January 14, 2012, and is the collaborative efforts of a trio of young entrepreneurs. These long-time friends have known each other since WKHLU ÁDJ IRRWEDOO GD\V DQG \V DQG have talked about going into business together just as long. Asked why they decided on an internet sweepstake café, Mark Ellis, president of Jackpot Sarasota, indicated that they wanted to get into a fun, exciting and entertaining business. “We pride ourselves on providing top notch service to all our customers and we feel this platform allows us the opportunity to interact with them on an individual basis. We strive to create an inviting atmosphere so our patrons look forward to returning”, he said. Located in the South Bridge Plaza, this little cafe boasts 40 deluxe computer stations and an extensive selection of casino-style games with the most advanced graphics on the market. Continued on page 22
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Incredible Adventures before. The company has been around since 1993 and its adventures have been featured on countless TV shows and in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles worldwide. Although best known IRU DUUDQJLQJ 0L* ÀJKWHU MHW ÁLJKWV LQ 5XVVLD and great white shark dives in San Francisco, Incredible Adventures offers everything from tank driving in Minnesota to skydiving over Everest. Many are surprised to discover the international adventure company is based right here on
6LHVWD .H\ 7KH FRPSDQ\·V 6LHVWD .H\ RIÀFH LV almost as top secret as its Covert Ops fantasy spy camp, which was recently named one of the “World’s Best Fantasy Camps” by “American Way” magazine. Incredible Adventures has never seen a need for a sign outside, since few clients ever make their way to the company’s VPDOO VHFRQG ÁRRU RIÀFH DERYH D UHDO HVWDWH ÀUP $OPRVW DOO RI WKH FRPSDQ\·V VDOHV DUH made by telephone, fax or email. Customers ÀQG WKH FRPSDQ\ WKURXJK LWV LQWHUQDWLRQDO print and internet advertising, media coverage and word-of-mouth.
“The few who do show up at our door are usually checking to make sure we’re for real,” said Incredible Adventures President Jane 5HLIHUW ´0D\EH RQH RU WZR D \HDU ZDQW WR PHHW us before trusting us to deliver their dream adventure, but most of our clients are content to talk to the references we provide or read all the press that’s been written about us. We’re never offended if someone is skeptical. Even we have a hard time believing all the incredible things we can arrange.”
|Meet Christy Neff - Island Realtor Christy Neff moved to Siesta Key as a child and, despite her forays around the world, she still calls Siesta Key home. Even better, as a realtor with Michael Saunders & Company, Christy Neff helps others make Sarasota home as well. Christy Neff works with home buyers and sellers from Siesta Key to Manasota Key and beyond. Christy adds, “I love the Sarasota School of Architecture homes, as I was friends with several of the children of these architects when I was growing XS 7KHLU VW\OH LQÁXHQFHV PH WRGD\ µ +HU 6DUDVRWD background helps her find special Siesta Key properties, especially those on the water. “I grew up here and know the area. I’m constantly on the lookout, whether by car or boat.” When a client mentions water property, Neff takes the time to GLVFXVV VSHFLÀFV ´7KHUH·V D ELJ GLIIHUHQFH LQ SULFH
between deep sailboat water with no bridges to the bay versus boating water on a canal...or maybe the FOLHQW PHUHO\ ZDQWV D ÀVKLQJ SLHU µ She loves the fact that Sarasota is considered the cultural capitol of Florida. But that is not all; Siesta Key is now rated as having the #1 Best Beach in WKH 86$ $$53 KDV DOVR MXVW UDWHG 6DUDVRWD LQ the top ten as a “best place” to retire. As a result Sarasota has had the busiest tourist season ever. So once Christy gives her clients a personalized tour of the area, it is easy for them to fall in love and subsequently relocate. Now is the right time to buy, because of amazingly low interest rates, great value in property prices and the ability to enjoy our wonderful outdoor weather 365 days a years. Continued on page 18
Continued on page 10