Kimberly Buggeln (on Siesta Key): Lots of room. Safe and away from the water. Outdoor showers, volleyball nets and beautiful sunsets with the drum circle. Jerome Chesley (on Lido Key): Safe, shallow and beautiful! Alejandra Valdesy (on Turtle Beach): Always plenty of space, and they have a cool playground. No deep hike to the water like Siesta, which is great when you have to carry stuff. Platinum Winner- Siesta Key Beach / Gold WinnerLido Key Beach / Silver Winner- Turtle Beach / Bronze Winner- Bradenton Beach.
BEST DAYCARE
Woodlands Early Childhood Center Kids are the future, and there’s no better way to ensure a great future than putting them in the hands of engaging and interesting early learning which is why our readers were so passionate about their picks for Best Local Daycare. Bringing up a baby is a breeze with these local favorites. WOODLANDS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER is the top pick earning Platinum place, while PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT LAKEWOOD RANCH TOWN CENTER scored Gold. LILY SCHOOL FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT comes in at Silver and THE LEARNING COTTAGE PRESCHOOL was named the Bronze champion. Readers also loved Honorable Mentions Faith Early Learning Center and Shining Stars Learning Center. -AC Martha Barfield (on Woodlands): My grandsons are getting the best of care at Woodland. They are happy to go and happy when they come home. That says a lot. Jason Laureano (on Primrose School): New location for this institution in Lakewood Ranch. Great staff. Brittany Bryant (on Lily School): The Lily School for Child Development is one of the only inclusive preschools in the area. The resources that they provide to children and families are unmatched. Not only do they provide educational services, but they also provide physical, occupational, speech and language and behavioral therapies. They host extracurricular activities such as yoga, Spanish, art and music. Best preschool in town, hands-down. Kristen Vento (on Learning Cottage): We switched our toddler to The Learning Cottage this past summer due to the current pandemic. The only thing I regret is not finding this school earlier. What initially impressed me the most during my tour was how immaculate the classrooms appeared. My daughter loves her teachers, and because of them, we have seen so much developmental growth in the nine months she has been in attendance. The staff truly pour their hearts into these kids, and it is so comforting knowing that my child is safe, loved and well taken care of while my husband and I are at work. Ariadna Loyo: (on Faith Early Learning Center): Awesome communication, organization, and daily activities. Tracy Fusillo: (on Shining Stars): Shining Stars Learning Center was an amazing experience for my son when he attended. They taught him to learn in different ways that made him a step above other students when he started kindergarten. Hats off to Dr. Sonja and her program as my son, Niko, still has 108 | srq magazine_ APR21 live local
fond memories of his time there. He is still an honor roll student to this day, and I attribute this to his mere beginnings at Shining Stars. Platinum WinnerWoodlands Early Childhood Center / Gold WinnerPrimrose School at Lakewood Ranch Town Center / Silver Winner- Lily School for Child Development/ Bronze Winner- The Learning Cottage Preschool.
BEST LOCAL TOY STORE Toy Lab The easiest way to instantly feel like a kid again? Take a trip to your local toy store. Suddenly you’re six years old, awestruck at the colors and shapes, noises and shelves of toys. Dinosaur figurines, Operation, baby dolls, plush teddy bears—you don’t need to be young to enjoy the wacky and whimsical joys of our readers pick for Best Local Toy Store. TOY LAB proved to be a jack of all trades, slinky-ing into Platinum for Best Local Toy Store, while it didn’t take our readers long to puzzle together Gold place, choosing local franchise LEARNING EXPRESS TOYS. -AC Catherine Lafuente (on Toy Lab): In an era where so much shopping is done at chains, Toy Lab gives shoppers that exciting, toy-filled experience as a mom-and-pop operation. Rubber chickens are important, after all. Melanie Martin (on Learning Express Toys): Learning Express Toys is fantastic because the staff is so helpful. For example, if I go in and say I need a gift for a seven-year-old girl, they never fail to show me fantastic options that are a big hit with the gift recipient. Plus, they gift wrap for free. Platinum Winner- Toy Lab / Gold WinnerLearning Express Toys
BEAUTY, HEALTH &WELLNESS BEST LOCAL HAIR SALON Nuovo Salon NUOVO SALON triumphantly blows out the
competition and keeps its Platinum title this year. Meanwhile, INTREPID SALON snips its way with splitting hairs for Gold. THE CONFIDENCE FACTORY dyes for the Silver place. Sweeping up the rest of the votes in this voluminous category is SPA ALEXAUNA. Trimming closely to the winners are Yellow Strawberry and Spa Hollywood locations, earning Honorable Mentions. -BM Joy Carde-Stanulis (on Nuovo): Nuovo Salon has made it their top priority to keep me safe during the pandemic by having an employee at the door, taking the CDC recommended steps as soon as you walk in: mask, temperature check and hand sanitizer. Nuovo hair products work amazingly well, and the hairstylists are top-notch. I’d like to personally take the time to thank Sharlene. She has “mastered” getting my hair healthy again. Love her. Barbara O’Connor (on Nuovo): I found this salon when I moved here in 2004 and am still a loyal fan. Best stylists, colorists, and they have a great training program. I’ve watched many “students“ become wonderful stylists on their own. They keep a positive attitude and have gone above and beyond for their client’s protection during this challenging
pandemic. Love them. Lynne OKeefe (on Intrepid): New business, opened during Covid. Melissa Miller has countless clients to appreciate her incredible hair expertise and professionalism while being extremely warm and welcoming. She is a master at her craft, and her shop is spotless. Sheryl Kruger (on Confidence Factory): If you have hair/color gone wrong, Lynn will make it right. If you want to make a change, she will make it happen. And will give her honest and professional opinion if you’re making a good decision or not. Her work is her passion, and it shows in the results. Her colorist talent is truly amazing. Gigi Easton (on Confidence Factory): Lynn, who owns and operates this salon, is not just an artist of her trade; she also supports and encourages women by making them see their own worth and inner beauty. She will be your biggest fan and always tell you the truth. Yvonne Parmann (on Spa AlexAuna): Feeling great head to toes every time I leave here. Platinum Winner- Nuovo Salon / Gold Winner- Intrepid Salon / Silver Winner- The Confidence Factory / Bronze Winner: Spa AlexAuna.
BEST LOCAL SPA / DAY SPA Flow Massage and Wellness
Readers dub FLOW MASSAGE AND WELLNESS as the experts for rubbing out the ol’ knots and treating limbs post surgeries, earning the Platinum spa treatment. SIRIUS DAY SPA in Lakewood Ranch enters the competition by pampering enough clients for a firm Gold. Perspiring into Best Of Silver for the first time is PURIFY: AN URBAN SWEAT LODGE for knowing how to heat up a room. L.SPA’S services and essential oils lands them the Bronze, while Spa Hollywood and Elements Massage garnered well-todo voting for Honorable Mention. -BM Sondra Fox (on Flow): Samantha Haynes is LMT but so much more. I was referred to her for a mysterious edema issue (no explanation from medical tests). She did Lymphatic Drainage/Body Therapy along with psychologist Dr. Richard Shulman, and it opened up so much for me physically and emotionally. Katie Emmons (on Flow): I went to Flow after two of my surgeries. Samantha was amazing at lymph massage and helped my body heal faster. She also has several other areas of expertise and is a wealth of knowledge. Lisa Lawler (on Sirius): I met Karen through networking, and at every event, she is so passionate about what she does and how her spa helps change lives. Anything from feeling pretty on the outside to feeling confident on the inside. Elizabeth Topp (on Purify): Sam, the owner of Purify, is truly committed to the wellness of our community through opportunity and education. She partners with other wellness companies for unique experiences. Purify is always clean and ready for their next guest. I love detoxing at Purify and resetting my body and mind. Sheryl Vieira (on Purify): Purify is my go-to detox, rest, relaxation destination and when they happen, migraine remover. The service provided is more than you pay for, and the vibe is “purely” spa-like. Cynthia Carr (on L.Spa): L. Spa is hands down the