Key Life Summer 2023

THE BARRIER ISLANDS’ COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE

KEYLIFE SUMMER 2023

SWEET DREAMS

Cool treats for the hot summer days ahead.

ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

#1

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to 2023 in Sarasota! We are enjoying a busy real estate season, and we have exciting new homes to show you. The Sarasota real estate market continues to be strong. Buyers recognize how wonderful our beautiful city is, with our gorgeous beaches, dining, shopping, and world-class culture all woven into a mid-size, friendly community.

Please contact us to help you search for your Sarasota dream home, or to sell your home with our award-winning marketing strategies.

Best Roger Pettingell

Owned

97

$11,500,000

Experience this stunning bayfront estate in person! Just a sunny walk from famed St. Armands Circle. Situated on two lots in a corner location, spanning more than a half-acre, this impressive 5BR residence is set among lush, professionally managed greenery on the deep water of Sarasota Bay.

www.97SouthWashington.com

$6,995,000

Direct beachfront opportunities are a rarity on Siesta Key! This lovely beach home offers more than 100’ of water frontage and is waiting for you to add your custom touches, or move right in. The three leveled, nearly 4,000 SF of living space welcomes you with walls of glass, clean lines, cathedral ceilings, Olympic pool, and beach in the backyard. www.1172HorizonView.com

This spectacular Siesta Key beach home is a one-of-a-kind experience! Directly overlooking the coastal landscape of the Gulf of Mexico, this private estate rests on more than an acre, with 172’ of beach! Designed to highlight the sparkling Gulf and striking sunset vistas you can enjoy from any room of this gorgeous beachfront estate.

www.7652Sanderling.com

$2,195,000

An ideal Bird Key lifestyle is immediately ready to enjoy at this charmingly updated, contemporary garden home. Renovated by Ampersana Construction in 2014, the 3BR layout encompasses nearly 2,500 SF of light and bright living space to make your own. Just a sunny walk or bike ride from the bayfront Bird Key Park.

www.217BirdKeyDrive.com

Move right in and begin enjoying the panoramic, direct views of Sarasota Bay, Harbourside golf course, Moorings Marina, and downtown abounding throughout this lovely 3BR, corner residence.

www.GrandBay346.com

Sunny bay views welcome you to this 5th-floor Antigua residence, featuring a open concept, 3BR layout waiting for you to add your personal touches. Includes two deeded parking and private beach club access.

www.GrandBay251.com

Gorgeous Gulf-to-bay views are the star of the show as soon as you enter this 3BR beach retreat. Behind the exclusive gates of Longboat Key Club, you will appreciate making this getaway your own.

www.ThePierre603.com

SOUTH WASHINGTON DRIVE

1172 HORIZON VIEW DRIVE

455 LONGBOAT CLUB ROAD #603 $2,295,000

217 BIRD KEY DRIVE

7652 SANDERLING ROAD $10,880,000

3030 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #346 $2,795,000

3040 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #251 $2,495,000

Blend life and style beautifully, on your terms. Blend life and style beautifully, on your terms. Blend life and style beautifully, on your terms.

Spending time with loved ones, passing on traditions and sharing memories are what makes a house a home. Nowhere but here can you blend life and style beautifully, on your terms, and unique to your family.

Spending time with loved ones, passing on traditions and sharing memories are what makes a house a home. Nowhere but here can you blend life and style beautifully, on your terms, and unique to your family.

Spending time with loved ones, passing on traditions and sharing memories are what makes a house a home. Nowhere but here can you blend life and style beautifully, on your terms, and unique to your family.

Michael

Michael Saunders & Company is family-owned and locally rooted that consistently makes us the unrivaled and trusted choice for real estate services in the region.

& Company is family-owned and locally rooted that consistently makes us the unrivaled and trusted choice for real estate services in the region with $4,796 billion in sales volume in 2021.

Michael Saunders & Company is family-owned and locally rooted that consistently makes us the unrivaled and trusted choice for real estate services in the region with $4,796 billion in sales volume in 2021.

Brian Loebker & Jonathan Abrams Sarasota | A4450740 | $3,890,000 Melba Jimenez | 941.356.3970

Siesta Key | A4564288 | $9,980,000 Cindy Fischer | 941-465-1124

Siesta Key | A4460292 | $4,199,000 Brian Loebker & Jonathan Abrams |

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2023

62

INTO THE FOREST

An exploration of Lido’s mangrove tunnels reveals the heart of our coastal ecosystem.

FEATURES 74

CHILL OUT

It’s about to get steamy. Here are some cool treats that guarantee smiles.

88

VISION TO REALITY

The Bay Park begins to take shape — and it’s just getting started.

Photo by Heidi Kurpiela

DEPARTMENTS

18 FROM THE EDITOR

27

HOT TOPICS

Meet Longboat Key’s new town manager, honor a Siesta Key icon with this new rum and dig into Longboat’s history.

42

KEY PEOPLE

The former CEO of Pepperidge Farm shares her tales of success — and why retiring on Bird Key is the sweetest part.

46 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Save Our Seabirds takes off on expansion plans for the nonprofit.

42

50 CALENDAR

Enjoy life on the keys to the fullest with these summertime events.

97

56 STYLE

For your summer update, take your cues from the hues all around us.

97 OASIS

This famous Siesta Key property shares the tale of two houses — one of which is legendary.

110

ART AND ABOUT

Culture isn’t just for adults. These summer camps are guaranteed to get kids hooked on the arts early.

122

BEHIND THE MENU

The owner of Pop’s Sunset Grill honors his restaurant’s roots — and its shrimp Rangoon.

128

KEY ENCOUNTERS

INTEGRITY • Tenacity • EXPERIENCE

It’s an honor to be ranked among the top 1.49% of all Realtors ® nationwide, Stacy’s work ethic and reputation have earned her this designation along with your support and referrals.

Specializing in luxury properties in both Sarasota and Manatee counties, Stacy’s award-winning service gives you the results you require and the experience you expect.

Connect with Stacy Haas today to discuss your goals. Her professionalism and commitment remain unmatched.

• #1 Michael Saunders Agent Lakewood Ranch 2022

• Five Star “Best in Client” Award 2007-2023

• Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

• Master Certified Negotiation Expert

• Million Dollar Guild Elite (GUILD) Recognition by the Institute of Luxury Home Marketing®

• Over 30 Years’ Real Estate & Interior Design Experience

, ,

941.587.4359

StacyHaas@michaelsaunders.com

StacyHaas.com

SUMMER CAMP

JUNE 5 – AUGUST 4 (1 and 2 week sessions)

Join us for the most unique summer camp around!

Ages 6-15. Kids will:

• Test their balance

• Increase confidence

• Try multiple circus disciplines

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR

FRI JUNE 9 – SAT AUG 12

An all-star international cast presented in partnership with The Ringling, in the Historic Asolo Theater. See the hilarious comedians “Dick Monday and Slappy” seen on tv and film. Be amazed and awed by the strength of the Alexis Brothers – hand balancers of Cirque du Soleil fame. And much much more!

CIRCUS ARTS CLASSES

It’s never to late to join the circus! Whether you’re super fit, or just getting back into shape, we have the perfect class for you!

• Train with professional coaches

• Single classes or series offered

• Youth sampler, aerial silks, flying trapeze

KEYLIFE

THE BARRIER ISLANDS’ COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE

President and Publisher Emily Walsh

EDITORIAL

Executive Editor and COO — Kat Wingert

Managing Editor — Su Byron

Design — Melissa Leduc and Nicole Thompson

Contributors

Amy Bentley, Lesley Dwyer, Marty Fugate, Nancy Guth, Kelly Fores, Mark Gordon, Robert Plunket, Lori Sax, Harry Sayer and Abby Weingarten

ADVERTISING

Director of Advertising — Jill Raleigh

Advertising Managers —

Kathleen O’Hara, Penny Nowicki and Lori Ruth

Advertising Executives — Richeal Bair, Beth Jacobson, Jennifer Kane, Honesty Mantkowski, Toni Perren, Laura Ritter and Brenda White

CREATIVE SERVICES

Director of Creative Services — Caleb Stanton Creative Services Administrator — Marjorie Holloway

Graphic Designers — Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin and Shawna Polana

CONTACT KEY LIFE

To submit story ideas or calendar listings, contact Kat Wingert at KWingert@YourObserver.com. For advertising inquiries, call 941-366-3468.

For Tickets or More Information, go to CircusArts.org

The Circus Arts Conservatory is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts educational organization.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

As a Colorado native, I must admit, I used to scoff when I heard people talk about how they love Florida for its nature.

For me, “nature” meant big snow-capped mountains, ridges filled with trees as far as you could see, and big, scary beasts ranging from bears to bison wandering around.

But while Florida may not have the people-free views a mountain that spends most of its year covered in snow can offer, I have realized something in 15-plus years of living in Sarasota: Upon a closer inspection, it’s every bit as wild.

Although our landscape is a bit more crowded with homo sapiens and their creations, it has another thing going for it: We barely have to leave home to be immersed in nature — especially on the keys.

As contributor Lesley Dwyer’s story on Lido Key’s mangrove tunnels shows (Page 62), you don’t even have to leave town to escape to another world, one in which you’re surrounded by nature.

These tunnels show how living on a coast means the ecosystem that supports our living things is all around

us. Which is also why we have to work to keep it protected and healthy.

On that front, our area is home to numerous organizations dedicated to protecting this ecosystem and everything in it. Contributor Eric Snider highlights one such nonprofit, Save Our Seabirds, which specializes in saving animals of the winged variety. Read all about how its post-pandemic recovery and plans for expansion on Page 46.

Another is The Bay Park Conservancy, which is restoring natural areas on Sarasota’s bayfront (Page 88). With the completion of its first phase, the organization removed feet of toxic silt from the bayou, improved stormwater filtration and planted Florida-friendly flora. In doing so, it fulfilled another one of its goals, which is to increase access to these wild areas so the public can learn about them and enjoy them. So the next time you feel like you need to get away, you need not go far to get your nature fix. Just pause and look around — you’re surrounded.

Kat Wingert Executive Editor

Photo by Heidi Kurpiela

The mangrove tunnels off the south end of Lido Key are home to all kinds of critters, including this tricolored heron, affectionately named “Henry” by a local guide.

BETSY DE MANIO & JACKIE EBERLEY

Betsy, the number one agent in the Siesta Key office for 29 years, and her daughter Jackie are both Certified Waterfront Specialists and Global Luxury Specialists. By building client trust through integrity, dedication, communication, and determination, they are amongst the top 3% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. Their extensive market knowledge and strong negotiation skills ensure favorable outcomes.

201-233-1959 | JACKIE@JACKIEEBERLEY.COM

DEMANIOEBERLEYGROUP.COM

TOM "WOODY" WOODWARD

Born in Columbus, Ohio and now a resident of Siesta Key, I have been serving my clients for more than 30 years. I am true people person, and I have a passion to help my clients and ensure the transaction is as seamless as possible. I am the Realtor you can trust to keep it Real.

614-348-8578 | TOM.WOODWARD@CBREALTY.COM

WOODYSELLSSRQ.COM

LINDA REN

Originally from Michigan, I moved to Sarasota in 2005. I am a licensed real estate broker in Florida and a Certified Waterfront Specialist. Most of my career in Michigan was spent in the real estate and mortgage industry, managing our family-owned mortgage brokerage for over 20 years. Exceptional customer service is my goal!

941-928-1393 | LINDA.REN@FLORIDAMOVES.COM

LINDARENSELLSSRQ.COM

JULIA MONTEI

I am best known for my winning attitude, connections throughout the country and proven track record. I am Certified Waterfront Property Specialist, Global Luxury Property Specialist and achieved Guild recognition through Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. I use my knowledge, keen business sense and negotiation skills to get the job done for my clients.

941-702-3098 | JULIA.MONTEI@CBREALTY.COM

JULIAMONTEI.COM

©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

JULIE PONDER

Sharing time between Park City UT and Siesta Key FL, I am uniquely positioned to help beach and mountain lovers find their perfect home or investment property. A decade in consulting and 30 years of real estate experience honed my distinct skill set to better serve my clients. I'm thrilled to be in the top 3% of CB agents worldwide, I would love to talk to you about your real estate journey!

714-675-0739 |

JULIE.PONDER@CBREALTY.COM

JULIEPONDER.COM

CHRISTA SPALDING

Siesta Key’s Biggest Fan! After visiting many of Florida’s gulf coast towns, I decided to trade in the chilly Maryland winters for year-round sunshine and sparkling white sand beaches. I would love to share my experience and personal knowledge of the Sarasota area with you. Global Luxury Specialist • Resort, Second Home & Investment Property Specialist • Certified Waterfront Specialist

941-529-6978 | CHRISTA.SPALDING@CBREALTY.COM

SIESTAKEYDREAMHOMES.COM

JOHN MCSWEENEY

Raised in Michigan, my first visit to Siesta Key was at my Grandparents condo as a child in the 70's. I've now been a resident of Siesta Key for 25 year and there's no place I'd rather be! With a degree in business and major in marketing, I made the switch over to real estate 10 years ago. I love bringing my expertise and local knowledge to the home-buying/selling process.

248-917-7329 |

JOHN.MCSWEENEY@FLORIDAMOVES.COM

JOHNMCSWEENEY-CBFLORIDA.SITES.CBMOXI.COM

JESSICA ARENS

Having lived in Wisconsin, Mississippi, Missouri and Florida, I'm no stranger to relocating. My personal knowledge, coupled with attention to detail and a servant nature, drives my passion for creating the best possible home-buying/ selling experience for my clients. Let's start the journey of finding you the perfect home that fits your lifestyle!

941-952-8979 | JESSICA.ARENS@CBREALTY.COM

JESSICAARENS.COM

Siesta Key

SERVING SARASOTA & ALL THE KEYS

Get There in a Hop, Skip and a Splash

The Easy Way Around the Beaches and Downtown

Hop on, kick back and enjoy a scenic cruise. Then hop off to relax on beautiful beaches or explore the Bradenton Riverwalk, museums, galleries and more. It’s the fun and easy way to get around the beaches and downtown.

HOT TOPICS

TIMELY PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

Siesta Key Rum dives into more success with its recent release. PAGE 32

Siesta Key Rum’s limited-edition “Scooter of the Beach” variety of its Toasted Coconut rum honors legendary Siesta Key lifeguard Scott Ruberg.

Managing Paradise

Longboat Key’s new town manager, Howard Tipton, measures the success of his weeks by the number of sunsets he gets to see.

BY LAUREN TRONSTAD CONTRIBUTOR

Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton is reveling in what he considers a dream career move — working in paradise.

Tipton took over from Tom Harmer, who held the position for five years. Prior to his move to the barrier island, Tipton had served as the St. Lucie county administrator since 2014. When Harmer announced to the Longboat Key Town Commission his plans to retire, commissioners tasked him with finding his own replacement — someone he believed would be a good fit to fill his own shoes.

Harmer was given criteria the commission hoped the chosen candidate would meet. This included someone who was a seasoned public administrator, had experience working in a coastal area in Florida and who could continue developing the relationship between Sarasota and Manatee counties. Howard Tipton checked off every box.

Previous work experience in Brevard County led to the pair knowing each other for over 20 years even without formally working side by side.

Tipton’s first day on the job was Jan. 30. When he’s not working, he says he likes to fish, swim and travel. Since starting his new life on the island, he has been measuring the success of his weeks by the number of sunsets he gets to see. So far, he has averaged

Continued on Page 30

Photo by Lori Sax Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton is spending the first months of his new job listening to staff and evaluating systems.

Continued from Page 28

five per week. We recently sat down with Tipton to discuss his background, plans and first impressions.

First impressions of your team?

I continue to be impressed. They are all strong, talented people. The commissioners are motivated for the right reasons, and they’re incredibly bright and intelligent. We’ve been able to have good conversations. I’ve run out of superlatives, but it's a marvelous place. I’m fortunate because many of our team members don’t have a chance to live here. It’s one thing to work in paradise; it’s another to get to work and live in paradise.

What goals are on your mind?

It’s a great time to just ask questions and listen. Are there any course corrections to make to technology, efficiency, goals and values? There’s a plaque outside of Town Hall that says: “Longboat: Key to Happiness.” Another sign says: “Premier community, exceptional service.” It’s kind of a vision statement, which had me thinking: What does that mean for us? It’s one of the things I want to talk through in the budget process. How do we resource appropriately to provide that exceptional service?

How are you approaching hurricane season as it nears?

We want to get everybody in the chair we need them in and identify roles that everybody can play — and then ensure everybody has been trained to do those jobs. We want to make sure our utilities are in good shape, our water tanks, our storage, our backup generators — all those things. When the storm hits, or right after the storm hits, is not the time to make sure plans are in place and relationships with contractors are still good. It’s kind of like training for a marathon. You’re not going to show up on the day of the race and that be the first time you’re putting running shoes on.

You often sign your emails as “Tip.” Where did that nickname come from?

Tip is a name my father and grandfather have gone by. My dad was Howard Tipton and so was my grandfather. It

was a family nickname that was handed down. I love it because “Howard” to me always meant I was in trouble.

“Tip” is just much more relaxed.

Tell me about your family. What did they think of your decision to move to Longboat Key?

My wife, Marion, and I have been married for 38 years. She knew we were eventually going to make a change in something, we just didn’t know what it was yet. She’s always been supportive. We hadn’t spent much time on Longboat Key, so our level of excitement got higher after being here. It started with it sounding like a good idea to becoming more: Holy cow, this is great.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Working in the public sector has been a Tipton family affair for generations.

Tipton’s father was a highly decorated public servant, who served primarily at the federal level. His sister has worked in different city positions for 35 years. His daughter, Michelle, serves as a senior budget analyst in Leon County and her husband is the assistant to the county administrator.

It’s kind of like training for a marathon. You’re not going to show up on the day of the race and that be the first time you’re putting running shoes on.”

Fun with Rum

Siesta Key Rum recently released the second batch of a limited-edition label in recognition of the celebrated Siesta Key lifeguard ‘Scooter of the Beach.’

BY ERIC SNIDER CONTRIBUTOR

Troy Roberts didn’t know the first thing about distilling spirits when he founded Siesta Key Rum in May 2007. He had just come into a financial windfall by selling a collection of sports car forum websites that he’d founded with

a friend.

Roberts considered retiring. Briefly. “Theoretically, I could have,” he says.

“I did well on the sale, but it was not the kind of money that would support the type of retirement I wanted. I like nice things, and I like traveling.”

He was 41 at the time. “Really, I was looking for something to do,” he adds.

Roberts liked baking, so he consid-

ered making rum cakes and selling them online. But he realized he’d have to think bigger. “I got interested in owning my own rum brand, and that sent me down a whole new rabbit hole,” he says. “My timing was good. The craft spirits movement was just getting started.”

Continued on Page 34

Troy Roberts and Scott Ruberg show off the new batch of limited-edition “Scooter of the Beach” rum.

Photos by Lori Sax

Marybeth sailing photo credit: Jennifer Joy Walker

Continued from Page 32

BACKSTORY

Roberts moved with his father from Plainfield, Illinois, to Siesta Key in 1979. He attended Riverview High School, and skipped plenty of classes to hang out on the beach. After graduating in 1982, he came down with a serious bout of wanderlust. Roberts spent time in Colorado, where he worked as a parking valet at a resort to support his life as a ski bum. He opened a frozen yogurt store in Portland, Oregon, that, Roberts says, “failed miserably.”

Because Roberts had to learn distilling and the booze business from the ground up, he didn’t issue his first bottles of Siesta Key Rum until 2010. Since then, he and his team have built a brand that’s now available in 29 states and sells in “the hundreds of thousands” of bottles per year. The company makes and packages its product in a large warehouse in an industrial section of north Sarasota. Visitors can take tours and sample rums in the facility’s tasting room.

Siesta Key Rum offers four main flavors or, as they say, infusions. These are Silver, Coffee, Spiced and Toasted Coconut — plus an aged Distiller’s Reserve. Toasted Coconut is the best seller. That’s what the company uses for its Sarasota-centric Limited Edition Label series. It includes Midnight Pass, Bahi Hut and one that recognizes Siesta Key lifeguard and local celebrity, “Scooter of the Beach” (his real name is Scott Ruberg), who has manned his “Magical Green Lifeguard Tower” on Siesta Key Beach for 28 years.

The first batch of 2,000 bottles, which rolled out last year, sold out. The company recently released a second run of 2,000. For every Scooter bottle sold, Siesta Key Rum donates $1 to Sarasota Bay Watch, a grassroots environmental nonprofit.

“It’s magic,” says Scooter with his customary effervescence. “All I wanted was the green lifeguard tower on the label, and it came out full on Scooter of the Beach. I went crazy. It came out gangbusters.”

Roberts makes his rums from the finest ingredients available, and

MEET SCOOTER!

Siesta Key Rum has a regular booth at the Siesta Key Farmers Market. On Sunday, May 21, Scooter of the Beach will hang out at the booth and do what comes naturally: schmooze passersby, pose for pics and sign bottles of Scooter of the Beach Limited- Edition Label Toasted Coconut rum.

sources from Florida as much as he can. “Not knowing how to do it at the beginning turned out to be an advantage,” he says. Rather than adopting standard industry practices, he did his own research and made the best smallbatch rums he knew how.

Case in point: Toasted Coconut. While mass-market coconut rums simply pour flavoring into the spirits, Siesta Key Rum’s product results from a far more exacting process. “Most coconut rums smell and kind of taste like suntan lotion,” Roberts says. “We get the coconut shredded and toasted and use a process I developed to essentially force our own silver rum over the coconut, extracting all the flavor out of it. We ended up with a product very different from anything out there.”

It’s safe to say that you won’t mistake Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum for something you want to rub on your shoulders.

IF YOU GO

To tour the facility and tasting room, visit SiestaKeyRum.com.

Then, “when I was 25, I decided to do something real,” Roberts says. He got into computer programming and landed a job in California at a small company called Centura Software. When the company was acquired by Compuware, Roberts moved to the corporate headquarters in Detroit and ultimately rose to the title of director of product management. He left that job in 1999 and collaborated with a friend to start CorvetteForum. com. It took off — fast. The partners formed more forum sites dedicated to different sports cars.

Roberts had never completely put Siesta Key behind him, so he returned to town in the early 2000s. He reunited with his girlfriend from his senior year in high school, Nanci Vatovec. They married in 2015 and between them have six sons. The family lives on the north end of Siesta Key overlooking Big Pass.

Troy and Nanci like to take extended off-road trips in their custom-built Jeep into some of the most remote places in America. In February of last year, the couple spent two weeks in California’s Death Valley, venturing down desolate trails that found them 60 miles from the nearest human being.

Needless to say, they brought along plenty of Siesta Key Rum.

CEO Troy Roberts issued his first bottles of Siesta Key Rum in 2010. Since then, he and his team have built a brand that’s now available in 29 states.

“I got interested in owning my own rum brand, and that sent me down a whole new rabbit hole.”

TROY ROBERTS

Grand Opening of Wild Blue at Waterside

First Phase of Luxury Homes Just Released

Announcing the release of the first phase of luxury homes at Wild Blue at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch by Stock Development. This new waterfront community features oversized homesites and luxury single-family homes by some of the region’s most notable builders. Residences range from 2,300 to over 4,000 square feet, with nature and waterfront views, and floor plans that include expanded outdoor living spaces to enjoy the best of the Florida lifestyle.

Wild Blue at Waterside’s unparalleled lifestyle includes the 13-acre Midway Sports Complex with 6 tennis courts, 8 pickleball courts, kayak launch, miles of walking trails and so much more. The 25,000-square-foot social clubhouse features indoor and outdoor dining, two pools, movie theater, fitness center and a lifestyle director to organize social events.

VISIT OUR SALES CENTER TODAY!

8307 Lake Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 l 941.313.3852

WildBluelwr.com

Residences

Featuring homes by:

BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. ALL RENDERINGS AND PLANS ARE PROPOSED CONCEPTS SHOWN ONLY FOR MARKETING PURPOSES AND ARE BASED ON THE DEVELOPER’S CURRENT PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, REVISE OR WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN DEVELOPER’S SOLE DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTICE. NOTHING HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO OBLIGATE THE DEVELOPER, OR ANY AFFILIATE OF DEVELOPER, TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT OR OFFER ANY OF THE PROJECT FOR

Longboat Key Historical Society Gives New Life to the Past

The organization’s new location at Longboat Key’s Town Center will serve as a museum showcasing archives, artifacts and historical objects.

BY PATRICIA HORWELL CONTRIBUTOR

Michael Drake’s dream of finding a permanent home for the Longboat Key Historical Society’s collection of artifacts has finally come true. The organization has moved and is planning to be open to the public in Town

Center on Bay Isles Drive by summer.

“The Historical Society’s been packed up in boxes for the better part of 10 years,” says Drake, the society’s president. Historical documents, photographs, books and other memorabilia have been collected and preserved for 37 years by the Historical Society, which was founded by Ralph and Claire Hunter, the founders and origi-

nal owners of the Longboat Observer

Sometime around 2017, after the Longboat Key Center for the Arts in Longbeach Village was sold to local developer Jim Clabaugh, Drake wondered what would become of the last two historic Whitney Beach cottages on the 2.3-acre site. Built in the late

Continued on Page 38

Michael Drake, the Longboat Key Historical Society’s president, stands in front of the cottage that now houses the organization’s extensive collection of artifacts.

Photos by Harry Sayer

HOT TOPICS

Continued from Page 36

1930s, the two cottages were among the original structures of the Whitney Beach Resort. Clabaugh offered to donate the cottages to the Historical Society. “And lo and behold, the town carved out a niche for us with a rent of $10 a year,” Drake says.

To raise much-needed funds, the Historical Society sold the larger of the two cottages to restaurateur Ed Chiles. The smaller of the two, formerly the linens cottage of the former resort, was moved to its new home at Town Center in 2017 and nestled into a lush oak hammock. “The neat thing is that it fits in so well it looks like it’s been there forever,” Drake says.

It cost about $30,000 to move the buildings and begin the renovation process. Drake says the money came from the organization’s coffers — mainly from the proceeds of the cottage sold to Chiles. From hurricane-proofing to electrical upgrades to disability compliance, the building needed plenty of repairs.

HUMBLE ROOTS

In its early days, the collection had been displayed in the Historical Society’s office at Whitney Beach Plaza. As the rent increased and the organization’s bank account decreased, the materials were moved to a climatecontrolled storage unit. As finances continued to diminish, private homes became the new storage facilities.

Pamela Coleman, former president of the Historical Society, had stored many of the archives in her home. Drake had also kept part of the collection, as did a few board members. In the past few months, Drake has been opening boxes and rediscovering a past that had been sealed up for years. Besides books, photos and newspaper articles, he’s made some interesting finds — a mounted eastern diamondback rattlesnake skin, trophies from the days of the volunteer fire department and a portrait of Longboat Key’s first police chief are just some of what visitors will see. At one time the Historical Society had a huge boat anchor, which Drake hopes he can acquire again.

“I’ve received numerous calls from people who want to donate items but

so far have held off. I have names and numbers of people to call back,” he says.

Before he died, Ralph Hunter gave the Longboat Key Historical Society the rights to his book, “From Calusas to Condominiums: A Pictorial History of Longboat Key,” written in 2002. The organization can now print and sell the book in perpetuity.

How far back does the Historical Society’s collection go? Drake says he’s still researching that, explaining that the society had commissioned a historian, Mickey Harding, to put together a historical diary of Longboat Key. Drake says she researched the area as far back as 500 BC.

“My goal is to basically take the records back to when there were three different Indian tribes that inhabited Longboat Key and then work toward the present.” He says the new space will be a “walk-through” where guests can view the entire history of the key.

Moving ahead, Drake hopes to bring back the annual fish fry fundraiser that dates back to the ’50s and used to be run by the Longboat Key volunteer fire department. He also hopes to build up his corps of volunteers and build a board of directors. “We’ve been privileged to have dedicated volunteers for the past 37 years,” he says.

All of this takes money, and Drake has mounted a fundraising campaign to finance this major project. He is also keeping a running list of potential vol-

unteers. Those interested in giving their time, should contact the Historical Society.

As of press time, the organization expects to be open by May 15.

IF YOU GO

For more information about the Longboat Key Historical Society, visit LbkHS.org. The new space is located at 555 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key.

Above: An ADAcompliant ramp and handrails were recently installed on the exterior of the cottage.

HIGH TIDES

THE HEART OF COMMUNITY ON THE KEYS

Retirement looks a little different for this former executive.

PAGE 42

Irene Chang-Britt

The former CEO of Pepperidge Farm is living her dream life on Bird Key.

BY LESLEY DWYER | CONTRIBUTOR

Irene Chang-Britt’s story is a tale of personal growth and reinvention. She’s a highly accomplished former Fortune 500 C-suite executive, with a long track record of transforming businesses to achieve industry-leading growth.

Chang-Britt’s resume includes serving as president and CEO of Pepperidge Farm and leadership positions with Kraft Foods/Nabisco and the Campbell Soup Co. While at Campbell’s, Chang-Britt, 60, ran the nonsoup division and grew the 75-year-old brand by 30% annually.

But let’s get back to Chang-Britt’s backstory.

After her freshman year at the University of Toronto, she and her older brother, Howard, were both unemployed that summer. The siblings were competitive cyclists and investigated opening a high-end bike shop. The concept looked lucrative and, with hardly any capital, they launched the shop. Their concept worked. By the end of three years, they had a million-dollar grossing business. During that time, Chang-Britt earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology — but her grades had suffered along the way. She knew her GPA alone wouldn’t get her into the prestigious Richard Ivey School of Business in Ontario, Canada, so she included the startup’s profit and loss statement with her application. Needless to say, the “Harvard of Canada” accepted Chang-Britt and she graduated with honors.

Her next feat was climbing the corporate ladder as a wife and mother of two. Chang-Britt specialized in corporate turnarounds — which meant long hours and unpredictable, 24/7

Continued on Page 44

Photos by Nancy Guth

Irene Chang-Britt’s story is one of personal growth and reinvention.

Continued from Page 42

demands. Thanks to a supportive husband and a helpful mother, ChangBritt didn’t put her career on pause. Since then, she’s made it her mission to help other women do the same. Twelve years ago, she and a few other powerful female colleagues launched Women in America, a professional development and mentoring program whose goal is to enable promising female executives to fulfill their highest potential.

Eight years ago, Chang-Britt and her husband Tony decided to retire and move to Florida and are now living their dream life on Bird Key. Well, “retirement” might not be entirely accurate. Thanks to her game-changing perspectives on corporate governance, Chang-Britt is in high demand. She currently serves on the boards of several national companies, including Brighthouse Financial and Victoria’s Secret. Chang-Britt is also a soughtafter speaker on the best practices of corporate governance.

Chang-Britt recently sat down with Key Life to discuss everything from bad bosses to Tai Chi. Here’s some of her pearls of wisdom.

An anthropology degree lets me think laterally, which is very interesting. I didn’t grow up in business.

My mom grew up thrust into poverty by the war. She said, “The woman on the street with her little kids begging is no better or worse than the guy being chauffeured around. They just have different circumstances.”

I had a fairly horrible boss once. He knew the daycare opened at 7, so he started the team meetings at 6:45 a.m. I said the way I’m going to get through this is to shield my team from him. I thought of myself as an umbrella. We did a fabulous turnaround, and no one was demoralized on my team. I was pregnant with my daughter at the time, and she grew up well adjusted, despite the emotional strain from the abuse from that boss.

Corporate people often say, What are you talking about, why can’t you “normal?” I’ve been lucky enough to have some fabulous sponsors and mentors over my life who let me be “abnormal,” thinking differently than everyone else, which has allowed me

to achieve the business turnarounds that I have done.

When you use humor, perspective and a little bit of humanness, you get to a deeper truth.

Success is building something that matters to others. That transcends business and is also part of giving back.

When choosing a board, I start with a skills matrix. Then, I want the Rooney Rule like in the NFL. I want a diverse slate. I want male, female, people of color; I want to see them all.

Tai Chi helps me ground myself and live in the present moment versus what’s the next thing.

My husband gave up his career for me and the kids, and we’re better for it. He would take none of their whining and complaining when they were little. I would’ve been a pile of mush and given them everything.

The fun fact I read about Sarasota was that per capita, we spend second only to New York on the arts. When we got here and saw there was opera and ballet and the Van Wezel and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and The Ringling, we were thrilled. We live on one of the canals. It’s amazing to put the kayaks into the water and go paddling through the mangroves whenever we feel like it.

“When you use humor, perspective and a little bit of humanness, you get to a deeper truth.”

Bird Key residents Irene Chang-Britt and Tony Britt love exploring the region’s rich arts and cultural offerings

Where Birds Go to Heal

Aaron Virgin, the new CEO of Save our Seabirds, has big plans for the avian sanctuary.

BY ERIC SNIDER | CONTRIBUTOR

When Aaron Virgin came on board as CEO of Save Our Seabirds in summer 2021, the small attraction and avian rescue center on City Island had been closed to the public for 16 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My predecessor felt it wasn’t safe, even though it’s an outdoor facility,” Virgin says. “A lot of people I talked to were shocked that we were closed.”

By contrast, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium — SOS’s much larger next-door neighbor — was shuttered for just two months. One of Virgin’s first priorities was to reopen the gates, which happened the first week into his tenure. And it came with a significant change: free admission.

“There was this real false impression that we were a part of the Mote property and by asking people to pay an extra $10 a lot of them would walk away,” Virgin explains. So, the facility set up a donation box in lieu of a ticket booth. The result? In 2022, 116,000 people came through to view the 120 resident birds — nearly twice the attendance of the last pre-pandemic year. The donations amounted to roughly $50,000, about 30% more than the pay model. “Not to mention the good will,” Virgin adds, “which is priceless, plus all the people who had never previously come through here.”

Free admission was just one early move in an ambitious program that

signals a new future for SOS. The nonprofit was founded in 2008 on the site of the longstanding Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary, which closed two years prior due to lack of funding. The three-acre facility is well into replacing its aging aviaries — made of wood and wire mesh — with longer-lasting ones constructed of aluminum and coated nylon mesh that makes for better bird viewing.

Concurrently, the leadership plans to build a new bird hospital, with an X-ray machine and fully equipped operating room. SOS brought on its first full-time avian veterinarian, Dr. Maria Passarelli, in fall 2020. An updated and expanded hospital will allow her to perform more complicated surgeries.

The master plan also includes a new administration building and expanding the workforce. As of late February, SOS employed eight full-time staffers and has about two dozen volunteers, most of whom are on call to pick up injured birds and bring them to the rescue center.

Virgin has set 2026 for completing the nonprofit’s multipronged makeover.

The CEO, who prior to taking the helm at SOS was a philanthropic officer at Mote, knows that bringing in money is a priority on his to-do list. In 2021, the facility operated on a budget

Continued on Page 48

Photos by Lori Sax

A former philanthropic officer at Mote, CEO Aaron Virgin knows that bringing in money is a priority.

One of Aaron Virgin’s first priorities was to reopen the gates, which happened the first week into his tenure. And it came with a significant change: free admission.

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(941) 842-0111 | 81oaks.com

Continued from Page 46

of $800,000. That figure will have to increase at least five-fold, Virgin says. He doesn’t sound concerned. “The great thing about Sarasota is there is a lot of wealth, and a lot of philanthropy and more dollars per capita than New York and Miami.”

SOS is currently in the non-public or “quiet” phase of a $15 million capital campaign. Virgin plans to use the first new aviary as a kind of “model home” to show off to potential donors. The CEO had his fundraising chops put to test last fall when Hurricane Ian caused $180,000 worth of damage, mostly to the aviaries. SOS resumed caring for birds after two days and was closed to the public for 27. Virgin and his board members raised $140,000 in 40 days, mostly via social media outreach and e-blasts. As of February, the repairs were completed and the cleanup nearly done.

MISSION MOMENT

As much as SOS is an inviting place for people to behold birds — from pelicans to parakeets — the facility’s primary business is helping to revive ailing ones. The expansion takes place at a time when birds face increasing danger from a fast-growing human population and accompanying development. According to Passarelli, the biggest threats to the feathered set in the Sarasota area are fishing hooks and line; collisions with boats and cars; orphaned babies; poison from red tide and other toxins; and attacks, often by cats.

Most of her work involves removing fish hooks, providing fluid and nutritional support, medications for infec-

tions and dressing wounds. A better equipped hospital would enable her to do surgeries for broken bones, internal hook removals and other more complex procedures.

Passarelli occasionally encounters cases that linger in her mind. Last summer, two baby chimney swifts, each weighing about 10 grams (think two nickels) had fallen out of a local chimney and arrived at SOS on the brink of death. Passarelli and her staff initiated a stabilization protocol — warming them up in an incubator, for starters. Once it was clear the birds were likely to survive, they had to be fed “every 20 to 30 minutes during the daytime,” Passarelli says. “That species mostly eats insects, but we also had to administer seven different vitamins and supplements.”

Staff members took turns bringing the birds home to care for them overnight. After six weeks, they were healthy enough to return to the wild. But there was a catch: To survive, the youngsters would need to be released into a colony of chimney swifts. A few blocks from the SOS compound lives a bird enthusiast who knew of such a colony near his home. He offered up his roof for the release.

An hour before dusk, a group of chimney swifts showed up and started flying around in circles. Virgin, Passarelli and the homeowner were on the roof waiting for them. Passarelli opened a box and the revived chimney swifts flew to meet their airborne comrades.

“It was such a beautiful moment,” she says, “to release these birds that had come in on death’s door.”

In 2022, 116,000 people came through to view the 120 resident birds — nearly twice the attendance of the last pre-pandemic year.

As much as SOS is an inviting place for people to behold birds — from pelicans to parakeets — the facility’s primary business is helping to revive ailing ones.

Free admission is just one early move in an ambitious program that signals a new future for SOS.

SUMMER 2023

May 4

MOONLIT PADDLE

Take your kayaking adventures to the next level with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island. Explore the coastal waters while discovering the Sarasota Bay nightlife — wildlife, that is. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Cost is $45 or $40.50 for Mote members. Begins around 7:30 p.m., depending on sunset.

n Visit Mote.org.

‘HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES’

The Island Players presents the play “‘How the Other Half Lives,” a farce of misunderstandings and complications between three married couples when two characters try to cover up an affair. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 14 at The Island Players, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Tickets are $27 online or $25 at the box office.

n Visit TheIslandPlayers.org.

6

6-7DOWNTOWN SARASOTA SPRING CRAFT FAIR

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 5 Points Park, 1 Central Ave., Sarasota, photography, paintings, clothing and more will be on display and for sale. Admission is free.

n Visit ArtFestival.com.

8

CORVETTES ON THE CIRCLE

View more than 100 classic American cars at Skyway Corvette Club’s annual Corvettes on the Circle. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Armands Circle. Registration is $50 to show a car. Admission to view is free.

n Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com.

ANNA MARIA BEACH CLEANUP

Help keep the beaches clean with The Center of Anna Maria Island. Meet at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, at 9 a.m. Trash bags, gloves, water and a snack will be provided.

n Visit CenterAMI.org.

SIESTA KEY FARMERS MARKET

From 8 a.m. to noon at Siesta Key Village, 5104 Ocean Blvd., the Siesta Key Farmers Market features a variety of vendors selling produce, rum, bread, wellness products, artwork, natural candles and more. Continues every Sunday.

n Visit SiestaKeyFarmersMarket.org.

20

AMI

HOGFISH SWIM

The Speedo Salt Series returns to Anna Maria Island for the fourth annual Hogfish Swim. Race in a 1.2-mile or 2.4-mile open water swim. The races are open to all skill levels — whether it’s your first open water swim or you’re training for a triathlon. The weekend also includes an unofficial meetup swim and a happy hour. Registration is $70 for the 1.2-mile or $75 for the

ALL ANGELS FEATURED ARTIST: S. GIBLIN

All Angels Gallery presents a one-woman show of artist S. Giblin through June 28. All Angels Gallery, 563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to noon Sundays. Visit AllAngelsLBK.org.

2.4-mile for adults, $60 or $65 for youths, and includes a swim cap and welcome gift.

n Visit SaltySportsSociety.com.

20-21

DIG THE BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Dig the Beach comes to Siesta Key Beach for a weekend of volleyball. Divisions include open amateur coed adults, amateur, semi-pro and professional, as well as various youth

File photos

More than 150 corvettes were on display at the 2019 Corvettes on the Circle

Continued from Page 50

divisions. Registration is $150.

n Visit DigTheBeach.com.

21

MORNING PADDLE

Start your day on the water with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island. Morning kayak tours, from 8:30-10 a.m., are guided through Sarasota Bay and across seagrass beds. Keep an eye out for dolphins, manatees and other wildlife that make up the bay’s ecosystem. Participants must be at least 12 years old. Cost is $45 or $40.50 for Mote members.

n Visit Mote.org.

JAZZ ON THE WATER

Board the Marina Jack II for an afternoon cruise to hear Jazz Club of Sarasota perform. The cruise leaves at 3 p.m. from Marina Plaza, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota.

n Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

27

SRQ VETS 5K MEMORIAL HIKE

SRQ Vets returns for its eighth annual Memorial Day hike, in which veterans and civilians will honor those fallen with a 5K through Sarasota. The hike starts at 9 a.m. from J.D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. Registration for ages 13 and older is $30 or $35 after May

14 and includes a T-shirt, a lunch ticket and a beverage ticket.

n Visit SRQVets.us.

27-28

ST. ARMANDS FINE ART FESTIVAL

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Armands Circle, browse jewelry, paintings, mixed-media, photography and more from artisans from across the U.S. Admission is free.

n Visit ParagonFestivals.com.

June 3

THE GRAND

CARNIVAL

Project Pride SRQ kicks off Pride month with the return of its Grand Carnival fundraising gala. Ada Vox of “American Idol” and “Queen of the Universe” and Zee Machine, who was nominated for Breakout Musical Artist at The Queerties Award, will perform. There will be an open bar and light bites. The gala, themed “Diamond Are Forever,” begins at 7 p.m. at The Circus Arts Conservatory, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. General tickets are $75, and VIP tickets are $125.

n Visit PPSRQ.org.

BEACH YOGA

n Anna Maria Island: 8:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays year-round and Wednesdays through May. Donations accepted. Near the Pine Avenue beach entrance. Visit ThriveYogaFit.com.

n Longboat Key: 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays year-round. Donations accepted. Near the 100 Broadway St. beach entrance. Visit ThriveYogaFit.com.

n Manasota Beach Park: 8:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays yearround. $3 donation requested. At 8570 Manasota Key Road, Englewood. Visit YogaManasotaBeach.com.

n Nokomis/North Jetty: 9 a.m. daily year-round. $3 donation requested. At 1000 S. Casey Key Road, Nokomis. Visit YogaManasotaBeach.com.

n Nokomis Beach Park: Wednesday mornings year-round; times vary. Donations accepted. Near the beach access by the large parking lot. Visit SCGov.net.

n North Jetty Park: Every morning yearround; times vary. Donations accepted. Near the beach access from the north parking lot. Visit NokomisBeachYoga.com.

n Siesta Beach: From 9-10:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. $10. Between the green and blue lifeguard stands. Visit YogaOnSiestaBeach.com.

n Siesta Beach: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and at sunset Wednesdays. Donations accepted. Between the green and red lifeguard stands. Visit SiestaKeyYoga.net.

n Turtle Beach: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. $5 donation requested. In front of the stairs/ramp on the north side of the parking lot. Visit ChesapeakeYoga.com.

n Venice Beach: and 7 p.m. weekdays year-round. Donations accepted. At the Venice Beach Pavilion. Visit YogaWithElin.us.

Continued on Page 54

Members of VFW 3233 play Taps at the 2022 SRQ Vets 5K Memorial Hike.

We Treat:

• Chr onic Pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Peripheral Neuropathy

• Nerve Pain

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6

KIDS’ SUMMER BEACH RUNS, SIESTA BEACH

Kids ages 1-17 exercise on the beach with the summer favorite 1-mile run at Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. Participants receive a ribbon after each run and a T-shirt after their fourth run. The beach runs are free. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the race at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday through July 25. There is no beach run July 4. n Visit SCGov.net.

KIDS’ SUMMER BEACH RUNS, NORTH BROHARD PARK

Kids ages 1-17 exercise on the beach with the summer favorite 1-mile run at North Brohard Park, 1400 S. Harbor Drive, Venice. Participants receive a ribbon after each run and a T-shirt after their fourth run. The beach runs are free. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the race at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday through July 26. There is no beach run July 5. n Visit SCGov.net.

SILVER PRIDE SARASOTA

Project Pride SRQ and Senior Friendship Center celebrate the LGBTQ age-50-and-up community with its inaugural Silver Pride Sarasota event. Enjoy live music, local

vendors, food trucks and more from noon to 5 p.m. at Senior Friendship Center, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota. Admission is free.

n Visit PPSRQ.org.

10-11

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE CRAFT FESTIVAL

The 21st annual Craft Festival returns to St. Armands Circle from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Browse jewelry, pottery and more crafts from artists from across the U.S. Admission is free.

n Visit ArtFestival.com.

17-18

DOWNTOWN VENICE CRAFT FESTIVAL

The 30th annual Craft Festival returns to downtown Venice from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Browse photography, stained glass and more crafts from artists from across the U.S. Admission is free.

n Visit ArtFestival.com.

n Longboat Key’s Freedom Fest and Hot Diggity Dog Parade kicks off the festivities with the annual 15-minute parade along Bay Isles Road.

n The Anna Maria Island Privateers bring swashbuckling fun to the Fourth of July with its annual public parade.

n Venice, Siesta Key and Sarasota host fireworks shows each year for the Fourth of July, typically launching around dusk.

n Keep Sarasota County Beautiful’s Liberty Litter Cleanup picks up litter July 5 from areas heavily used for Fourth of July celebrations.

Stay tuned at YourObserver.com for details.

Casper Gruters got a popsicle after completing a Kids’ Summer Beach Run on Siesta Key.

YOUR HOME SHOULD REFLECT WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE

Anyone who has lived in a home that does not have enough counter space, storage, room for guests, lighting, etc… knows the frustrations of being in a home that just isn’t working. Most people can tell you exactly what isn’t working but they are not sure how to fix it.

Designing a home that is right for you goes far beyond the number of bedrooms you need. A good design should address your family’s lifestyle, needs, and wants.

Your home should reflect who you are and how you want to live.

Brian Phipps of Phipps Home Design believes in this philosophy and has been turning wish lists into reality for more than 25 years.

Each one of the 1,700 luxury homes that he has designed in Longboat Key, Bird Key and Anna Maria is distinctive because the owners, all living the island life, have different wants, needs and ideas of the perfect home.

Phipps distinguishes himself from architects by focusing solely on residential projects.

“We’re a lot more efficient than a lot of architects,” Phipps says. “Some take two years to design a home. We can get the construction started in just months as opposed to years.”

Regardless of whether the project is a brand-new family home or a refresh, Phipps Home Design prides itself on their streamlined process. Phipps says, “People are busier than ever. It is important that we get the design done right and that we are efficient in our approach to the project.”

The design process begins with the clients sharing their dreams and requests for each room. Early in his career, Phipps recalls receiving paperfilled files of magazine pages from his clientele. These days, inspiration often comes in electronic form, from social media pins and posts. Either way, Phipps infuses his own ideas with the clients’ to arrive at “workable” ideas. While the wish list holds a lot of importance, the house site is also a primary factor. In fact, Phipps walks the property with the clients to determine the size of home that the lot can accommodate, as well as how to best take advantage of the views and natural light.

From there, he gets down to the details, going over all his clients’ preferences –including the kitchen sink.

Architecturally, Phipps leans toward the aesthetic of Palm Beach and Boca Raton, where he cut his teeth in the business. “East Coast stylization has worked very well on the West Coast,” he says.

His clients agree, and they appreciate his creativity and efforts. He’s been hired by several of his past clients to remodel the homes he originally designed decades ago.

“It’s nice to be able to walk into a house 25 years later and nothing has changed,” Phipps says. “It was that nice to begin with.”

Besides comprehensive design packages, Phipps Home Design also offers assistance in selecting and working with other professionals, including builders, landscape architects and interior designers. The result is an exquisite home, inside and out, that complements its surroundings.

Turn to Turquoise

This summer, take your color cues from the Gulf of Mexico’s blue-green hues. The color turquoise is believed to radiate peace, build confidence and recharge the spirit. Who can’t use that?

BY KELLY FORES | CONTRIBUTOR

Swim City

3170 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key 941-383-2288

SwimCity.com

Wear all the colors of the Gulf in your bathing suit. Bleu Rod Beattie’s shirred Cool Breeze style in “deep water” provides plenty of coverage and yet is glamorous and flattering. Guys can’t go wrong with a classic boardshort; Billabong’s gradient stripe echoes the water as the sun goes down.

Bleu Rod Beattie one-piece $135; Billabong Fluid 21-inch boardshort $55.95

Garden Argosy

30 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota 941-388-6402

Garden Argosy recently changed hands and moved to a different spot on St. Armands Circle, but it offers the same diverse selection as the former shop. There’s so much to look at, you might miss the colorful sleepwear section. Don’t. The pajama pants, robes, and two-piece short pajama sets come in a bunch of soothing prints — perfect for a soothing sleep.

Mahogany robe $52.99; Mahogany pajama set $52.99

The Beach House

351-353 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota

508-474-2954

The Beach House has you covered as far as cover-ups go. The tie-dyed tank dress is a flirty little number in a cool rayon blend dressed up with embroidery. For chillier nights, stay cozy in Mud Pie’s striped sweater. The weave is great to keep the daytime rays off your skin, too.

Raya Sun dress $34.99; Mud Pie sweater $69.99

Sea Glass Lane

380 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota 941-388-4646

SeaGlassLane.com

Sea Glass Lane is the destination for upscalecasual clothing, like this simple, bright turquoise linen-blend dress, and elegant “deep sea” square neck dress. You’ll also find cute and easyto-wear tops, skirts, jackets, delicious cashmere sweaters and accessories to complete the look. The fabrics and colors are dreamy.

Sea Glass Lane short jersey linen dress $84; Inizio long linen dress $152

Silver City Sarasota

6539 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota 941-349-5030

SilverCitySarasota.com

Silver City Sarasota is a gem of a store (no pun intended) in a small strip shopping center near Siesta’s south bridge. Its exclusive Siesta Key Watercolor Gemstone collection is stunning and expansive. The alluring color infusion of these quartz gemstones perfectly captures the essence of the sea.

Ring $249; Pendant $279; Bracelet $369

Tropical resort-like environment

On 118 feet of protected water frontage offers generous indoor-outdoor living spaces for relaxation, recreation and unobstructed Sarasota Bay views. Nearly one acre of serene paradise ensconced in countless palms and lush gardens behind private gates. 13,000-lb covered boat lift & expansive Brazilian Ipe decking is ideal for fishing and launching kayaks/paddleboards. Stunning pool/spa, tiki huts w/multiple expansive decks & terraces perfect for large scale entertaining.

Three beautifully designed homes, include 6 bedrooms 7.5 baths, to comfortably accommodate plenty of family and friends. The three-story main residence of 4,486 sf showcases refined craftsmanship w/ numerous unique features and designer finishings, including a full chef’s kitchen. The “Pool House” at 1,020 sf includes a full kitchen, covered cabana with an outdoor TV, travertine terrace and space for up to 10 guests, including four retractable bunk beds. The separate three-story “Owl’s Nest” provides space for additional 4-6 overnight visitors.

Outdoor recreation day or night on a lighted putting green, driving net, chipping green, sand wedge area, and a bocce ball court.

For the fisherman, a climate controlled, professionally configured “equipping area” with remarkable amenities. And car enthusiasts will delight at the free-standing tool garage, 3+ climate controlled garages, parking for multiple vehicles & accommodation for full-height lifts.

MLS #: A4564882 10216 46th Ave West, Bradenton, FL 34210 $9,000,000

LIFESTYLE YOU DESERVE WITH THE REALTORS WHO DELIVER

PADDLING THE WILD

Key Life’s intrepid reporter encounters

Florida’s unique ecosystem on a kayak tour through Lido Key’s magical mangrove tunnels.

BY LESLEY DWYER | CONTRIBUTOR

It’s Thursday afternoon, and I’m kayaking through tunnels carved out of mangrove branches off south Lido Key. The canopy of leaves fights off the blazing sun outside, and the rays can only reach my skin in specks. The air feels about 10 degrees cooler, and the office feels about 1,000 miles away.

My assignment is to take a kayak tour from Ted Sperling Park, where Sarasota County oversees the operation of seven kayak concessionaires that offer rentals and tours, through the mangrove tunnels just offshore. The company I’ve selected to lead my tour is Kayaking SRQ.

Even in a group of 15, the excursion is slow-paced and peaceful. The tunnels are narrow, so the kayaks glide along single file. Minnows swim alongside, and every so often, a fiddler crab breaks the silence by shuffling up a branch.

If you get lucky, you’ll see starfish. I only saw two on this tour, but in 2016, my family rented kayaks to ring in the new year. There were so many starfish we couldn’t count them. They were blanketing the mangrove roots like presents under a Christmas tree.

Continued on Page 64

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela Mangrove forests are one of the most threatened tropical ecosystems in the world. Florida’s estimated 600,000 acres of mangroves contribute to the overall health of the state’s coastal zone in addition to providing some of the best kayaking experiences.

Continued from Page 62

My mother was 66 years old at the time, and my son was only 3. Perhaps a baby who can’t sit up on his own yet shouldn’t be brought along, but outside of that, the tunnels are fit for any age. In a worst-case scenario and the kayak tips, the surrounding water is only about two feet deep.

“If anything weird happens, you guys need to put your feet down,” our tour guide Steffan Simmons says. “Otherwise, I will embarrass you. I’ll do an open water rescue in two feet of water, and it gets pretty dramatic.”

Simmons also lets us know that there’s no cool way to get into a kayak, so we’re instructed to “plop and pivot.” It may not be graceful, but again, anyone can do it. I plop my butt in the seat, swing my legs over the side, and with a little push from Simmons, I’m off.

Our group gathers in an open area after kayaking through the first tunnel, which is routine for each passage. The water is still shallow outside the mangroves, but there’s no shield from the sun, so make sure to pack sunscreen.

But where’s our tour guide? Simmons is suddenly nowhere to be seen.

Just as another kayaker wonders aloud if we’ve been abandoned, Simmons emerges from the tunnel with a paddle in one hand and a snake wrapped around the other.

“Paddling with one arm holding a snake is very difficult. My forearm is on fire right now,” he yells while slowly making his way over to the group.

KAYAKING SRQ

Kim and Greg Gregory opened Kayaking SRQ in 2017. Within a year, their company earned the number one spot on TripAdvisor and they have kept that title ever since.

“We’re pretty picky about who we hire,” Kim says.

Aside from superstar guide Steffan Simmons, the kayak outfitter has six other tour guides at the park. Fishing, eco, paddle board and private tours are also offered.

Info: 941-799-1863 or visit KayakingSrq.com.

Simmons jokes that the snake is rubber. But it’s very much alive — a rust-colored mangrove marsh snake. Ted Sperling Park Ranger Pete Garcia said it’s unusual to see snakes in the park because it’s filled with so many predators, especially osprey. Plus, the thick maze of mangrove roots provides a plethora of hiding spots.

Surprising us with a live snake over his head Tarzan-style pretty much sums up the experience with Sim-

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Left: Simmons has pet names for the rotating cast of aquatic critters he sees daily. He named this tricolored heron, “Henry,” pictured here holding court outside the mangrove tunnels. Above: The piercing teal-blue eyes on this stoic double-crested cormorant wowed passing kayakers.

The first manatee of the season breaks the surface of the water during Simmons’ second tour of the day.

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mons, who is a self-described “unicorn” because he was born and raised locally. He doesn’t hesitate to scoop up a snake or jellyfish and is incredibly knowledgeable about the surrounding area. He’s the perfect mix of tour guide, historian and science teacher.

Simmons points to the snake’s tail and explains that males have long, narrow tails and females have short, stubby tails. Then, he calls her a beautiful little lady and gently releases her back into the water.

The waiting areas outside of the tunnels are not considered “open water” because they’re still within the protective barrier of the bay and mangroves. We make a brief pit stop on a tiny island and get a panoramic view of the Gulf of Mexico and the history of John Ringling from Simmons, but it’s too windy to venture any further that day.

“When I see whitecaps out in the channel, I don’t do the open water no

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Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Kayaking SRQ tour guide Steffan Simmons surprises the kayakers with a rust-colored mangrove marsh snake. Right: Simmons waits for stragglers to arrive for his noon paddle through the Lido Key mangrove tunnels. Before working as a kayak guide, the Bradenton native led swamp buggy tours at Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda.

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Continued from Page 66

matter what direction the wind is,” Simmons says. “Even if you get stuck in one gust at 30 miles an hour for 10 seconds, it can completely alter your course.”

After seeing birds, fish, sea hares, jellyfish, sea urchins, starfish and a snake, it didn’t feel like I’d missed out on anything on the tour. But then I heard from our Key Life photographer, Heidi Kurpiela, that a manatee swam up to her kayak in open water while she was shooting this story. So, I asked the park ranger if it’s common to see manatee in the mangroves.

“You could point out every yellowcrowned night heron or ibis, but people are here to see the manatees,” Garcia said. “And they get really excited, for some reason, when they see a racoon coming to the other side. That is the highlight of their trip. Racoons are the most talked about at the end of the day, especially if they’re with little babies.”

I was especially interested in the jellyfish, partly because Simmons picked

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Mangroves help prevent erosion and provide a crucial barrier during storms. They also serve as filters. The shrub’s ability to desalinate water is so unusual it inspired Yale researchers to build a device to mimic the process.

The manmade Lido Key mangrove tunnels surrounding Ted Sperling Park on South Lido Beach were established decades ago to increase water flow and decrease the local mosquito population.

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one up with his bare hands, but also because they used to be so plentiful outside the tunnels. They’re called Cassiopea or upside-down jellyfish. This was the first kayak trip I’d taken where they weren’t hugging the bottom of the bay like a layer of oversized snowflakes.

“When Irma came through, we had more jellyfish in this park. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium was down here doing a study. They felt that this area, because of its size, had more jellyfish in one immediate area than anywhere else on the Gulf Coast of Florida,” Garcia said. “After Ian, it seemed to have sucked these jellyfish out into Sarasota Bay again, so we don’t see the jellyfish like we used to after Irma.”

There are four main tunnels used by guides, plus seven ancillary tunnels. The ancillary tunnels are open to tours and the public, but there’s less room to navigate. Prices start at about $60 but vary depending on the kayak, tour and company.

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In 1996, the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act was passed. The legislation cited that “mangroves play an important ecological role as habitat” and provide “shoreline stabilization and storm protection.”

Kayakers spot the first manatee of the season off the coast of Lido Key in Sarasota Bay.

SINCE

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Continued from Page 70

IT ALL STARTED WITH MOSQUITOES

In the 1950s, the Lido Casino was the key’s main attraction. The area known as Brushy Bayou, where the tunnels are now, was a retention area to control stormwater. When it became infested with mosquitoes, the solution was to dig ditches.

“The Army Corp of Engineers used this system for many, many years in many different areas,” Garcia said. “It allowed the transfer of saltwater into that body, turning it into a brackish system and making it impossible for the mosquitoes to breed.”

Seven decades later, the tunnels are a tourist attraction, and the mangroves are protected. Efforts to protect mangroves started in 1984 when Senate Bill 986 directed the Department of Environmental Protection to “adopt general permit rules for protecting mangrove trees or plants from alteration, removal, etc.”

In 1996, the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act was passed. The

legislation cited that “mangroves play an important ecological role as habitat” and provide “shoreline stabilization and storm protection.”

“The mangroves are protected because they don’t grow as fast as the normal trees,” Sarasota County Arborist Dewey Bullock said. “If we don’t protect them, we’re not going to have any shoreline left.”

Mangroves help prevent erosion and provide a crucial barrier during storms. They also serve as filters. Most plants can’t live in saltwater. The shrub’s ability to desalinate water is so unusual it inspired Yale researchers to build a device to mimic the process.

The “mangrove device” was unveiled in 2020. As the science advances, its target is flooding. If a building were to act as a mangrove during a flood, not only could it sustain the rising water, but it could also help filter out contaminants.

IF YOU GO

Ted Sperling Nature Park, 190 Taft Drive, Sarasota; 861-5000.

Most tours running through the Lido Key mangrove tunnels are capped at about 15 kayakers or fewer. During season, the kayak guide company launches about 120 boats a day.

Jake’s Ice Cream on Siesta Key

Photo by Nancy Guth

the latest scoop

No need for screaming. There are plenty of places on the keys to satisfy your ice cream cravings.

BY SU BYRON AND MARTY FUGATE | CONTRIBUTORS

he weather’s heating up. As Eddie Cochran famously observed, “There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.” We beg to disagree. The cure exists, and ice cream is the prescription. The following proprietors of sweet frozen treats will help you keep your cool in the sweltering weeks ahead. Their chilly choices add up to more than a month of sundaes.

JAKE’S ICE CREAM ON SIESTA KEY

n 2018, Jake Best stepped away from the corporate grind. He loaded up his minivan and eventually moved the family to Sarasota, the hometown of his childhood. What was he looking for? “I needed creativity. I always felt like an artist without a medium — and I prayed to find a mentor to pass along his wisdom.” In 2019, Best’s prayers were answered. It seems Dennis Yoder (Big Olaf’s founder) was looking for a mentee. He’d just opened Siesta Creamery but had nobody to share his ice cream artistry with. Once Yoder and Best

teamed up, that changed. Best is still grateful for the lessons Yoder passed on to him. “He was 86,” he recalls. “He was a local ice cream legend and the world’s kindest man.” Because of the pandemic, Siesta Creamery closed for two months in 2020. After that, Yoder stepped away and Best stepped up. He reopened the shop — and rechristened it “Jake’s Ice Cream on Siesta Key” in 2022. Needless to say, everything worked out for the best. “I operate in gratitude for that gift every day and put that love into every scoop — the ice cream itself, and also the way we serve it to our guests,” says Best.

IF YOU GO 6575 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota; 941-554-4632; JakesIceCreamOnSiestaKey.com

JAKE BEST MUSES ON JOY, MEMORIES AND ICE CREAM

Top lesson he learned from his mentor, Dennis Yoder

We’re not in the ice cream business. We’re in the making-people-feel-good business. Nobody comes in to satisfy their hunger. They come in to experience joy and, hopefully, the best ice cream they’ve ever tasted.

How would you describe Jake’s?

It’s an emotional experience! We focus on creating that beautiful moment for customers. We want the shop to feel light and clean and cozy, with an energy that’s buzzing with joy. We love the process. We enjoy taking people on tasting tours and helping our guests find a flavor they not only love but connect to emotionally.

You call your ice cream “handcrafted.” Why?

Let me start by saying I craft ice cream with my whole body, not just my hands. I make every

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“We’re not in the ice cream business. We’re in the making-peoplefeel-good business.”

Courtesy photo Jake Best (left) and Eric Mathis enjoy taking people on tasting tours and working with their guests to find a flavor they not only love but connect to emotionally.

Photo by Nancy Guth

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tub and every scoop of ice cream we serve. It starts with our dairy. I get the richest, highest quality local dairy products, delivered fresh twice weekly. It has a higher butterfat content than any ice cream I know of. That obviously has a premium cost, but I can create a fuller flavor profile with the aroma. It also allows me to create a sequence of flavors like varieties of wine. I also spend a lot of time preparing other ingredients like the fruits, chocolates, roasting nuts — or inventing something of my own. If I can make the ice cream better, I do it. It’s just like life: It all comes down to going the extra inches it takes to turn good to great.

You’ve said memories are fundamental to your ice cream creation. Could you share some of those memories?

Each of my ice creams tells its own story. Once I know how people connect to a particular flavor, I turn up the volume on that specific detail and

build the ice cream around it. The inspiration might be a specific ingredient, or something more abstract like “romance” or “warmth.” I made Beach House Cherry for Valentine’s Day and we just kept making it. It’s amarettoinfused vanilla ice cream made with cherries and toasted sliced almonds. The word “amoretto,” in Italian signifies “little loves.” The ice cream is white for purity; the cherry represents the heart and passion; the snap of the almond symbolizes love’s delicate nature. Fortunately, it all came together beautifully.

What’s your favorite flavor?

During the day it’s a cake cone with vanilla on bottom and strawberry on top. Any other time, my butter pecan (Dennis’ recipe) and I are really having a moment right now. It’s the best butter pecan on planet Earth!

What key fact should Key Life readers know about Jake’s?

Our staff makes all the difference.

Eric Mathis, my operations manager, deserves as much (or more) credit than I do. Everything that isn’t ice cream is basically his work. Eric gets great people and trains them to serve at the level that our guests deserve. He deals with the consistency, the process, employee manuals, compliance, and regulations — all of the “nerd stuff” that stresses me out. I can’t give him enough praise. We met as executive coaches before I’d opened the shop. Eric saw how much I needed him, so he took me on as a client and also assumed his current role. God just keeps putting the people in my life that I need to run the race. It’s all about people. Our only mission is to deliver an environment for great memories to be made. Everything else is just tools, material, and details.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT TASTING

Best’s Rum Raisin ice cream. He infuses giant raisins in spiced rum for a month and turns them into “rum grapes.” He then gently folds them into an ultra-smooth butter rum ice cream and pairs it with toasted coconut. According to Best, “You won’t find this flavor anywhere else in the world.”

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HARRY’S CONTINENTAL KITCHEN

rea foodies flock to Harry’s for its famous crab cakes, vichyssoise, roasted duck and celebrated brunches. Ah, but what about dessert? If you have any room left, try Harry’s “Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae,” co-created by co-owners Harry and Lynn Christensen. What makes it ultimate? According to Harry, “Because we loaded it with chocolate chip cookies, Harry’s famous brownie, homemade hot fudge and topped it with whipped cream.” He adds that the ingredients inspired their signature sundae’s recipe, not the other way around. “We had all this great stuff lying around at Harry’s,” he says. “We thought it’d make the ultimate desert if we put it all together.” Plenty of Harry’s regulars clearly agree; the “Ultimate Sundae” is a hit.

IF YOU GO 5600 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0777; HarrysKitchen. com.

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Photo by Nancy Guth Harry and Lynn Christensen share an Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae with a Brownie Sundae on the side.

TYLER’S GOURMET ICE CREAM SHOP

long with sweet stuff to savor, this ice cream shop has a sweet history. Larry and Geri Tyler founded the original Cortez location in 1984 and it soon became a mainstay for all who scream for ice cream. In 2008, they put the shop up for sale and it caught the eye of Rob Alderson’s father. Rob Alderson and his wife, Laura, flew from their home in Minnesota to check it out. “We were looking for a business to buy — but Florida wasn’t on our radar,” says Alderson. “But once we saw it, we knew it was meant to be. It was one of those magical things where everything lined up. Our kids were young and hadn’t yet started school, so it was the perfect time to make a move.”

How did he learn how to make ice cream? “It’s not rocket science. I have a background in the culinary arts, so I’d worked with food before. And we were lucky because the previous owner, Larry, showed me the ropes — and even gifted us with the

FUN FACT

Each batch at Tyler’s is handmade in small, 5-gallon quantities to ensure distinct taste and freshness. More than 300 flavors have been created since its founding.

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Photo by Lori Sax

Rob Alderson, the owner of Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream, says that ice cream is the ideal Florida business.

State of the Art Facility

original metal tin recipe holder with all the original recipes.”

Since then, the Aldersons opened another location in Bradenton and, in 2017, partnered with Michael Garey and Bob Fracalossy, the Lazy Lobster’s owners, to open a third location right next door to their landmark restaurant in the Centre Shops on Longboat Key. They also deliver their ice cream to several area restaurants.

“Ice cream is the ideal Florida business,” says Alderson. “People who come to the key are always in an ice cream mood — even during cold snaps.” Alderson makes all of his ice cream on-site. His proud description of his own handiwork? “It’s the best ice cream in the land.”

BONUS SCOOP

Favorite flavor according to Rob Alderson?

“French vanilla is our top seller. I use high-end vanilla extract — it’s the litmus test for great ice cream.”

Most exotic flavor?

“Our maple bacon ice cream with real bacon bits. It’s hard for people to get over the fact that there’s actually meat in ice cream.”

Most unique flavor?

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“Mississippi Mud, which is coffeeflavored with Oreo cookies and a fudge swirl.”

Photo by Lori Sax Benjamin Hull finds his bliss at Tyler’s.

Extra Scoops!

Here are a few more key spots to satisfy your urge for ice cream.

After an afternoon of adult window shopping on St. Armands Circle, it’s time to treat the kids to something scrumptious at Kilwins. They’ll find dozens of different flavors of brainfreezing delight — along with enough permutations of homemade fudge and chocolates to put a smile on Willy Wonka’s face. How to find it on the Circle? It’s the shop with the long line of people outside waiting patiently for their sweet dose. 312 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Key; 941-3883200; Kilwins.com.

Cones, milkshakes, or malteds?

Whatever your taste, ice cream from Orange Octopus Ice Cream Co.

can deliver the chill. They take their time creating their handmade, slowchurned treats. The wait is worth it — and how cool is the name? 1220 Old Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key; 941-346-0202; OrangeOctopusIceCream.com.

Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream makes tasty treats with the power of science. They instantly flash-freeze their ice cream with -320 degrees F. of liquid nitrogen. It’s fun to watch, and even more fun to eat. They’ve got a range of sizes and flavors — and vegan options, too. 219 Avenida Madera, Siesta Key; 941-349-4062; SubZeroIceCream.com.

Made In Rome Organic Gelato’s gelato is not actually made in Rome — but the owners hail from Rome, so it’s the next best thing; their frozen fare is as authentically Italian as you can get. Using the processes and equipment found in Italy’s finest gelaterias, they create small batch, allorganic concoctions of organic milk, cream, eggs, sugar, fruits and nuts. (They also offer vegan and sugar-free options.) Their latest flavor? Red Tide, with chocolate, red peppers from Italy and strawberry topping. 5204 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; 960-5344; MadeInRomeGelato. com.

BAY WATCH

An aerial shot of The Bay shows its position alongside Sarasota’s iconic bayfront.

BY MARK GORDON | CONTRIBUTOR

The most talked about park in at least a generation in Sarasota was born on a bus. (We’ll get back to that in a minute.)

That park is The Bay. The elegantly simple name defies the occasionally angsty decade-long process to get to Oct. 14. That’s the day phase one of the park, which sits on 53 acres of bayfront property west of Tamiami Trail between Boulevard of the Arts and 10th Street, officially opened. More phases of The Bay are forthcoming over roughly the next decade, in what will be a $150 million project — the first-ever public-private partnership of its kind the city has ever been involved with.

“This is a tremendous project,” Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown says. “I’m so excited for the city.”

That excitement, and the park overall, can be traced to a handful of integral people and important moments, which, at various levels and a variety of times, proved indispensable to moving forward with The Bay.

In interviews with more than a half-dozen of those people, two key themes emerged. One is that every decision about The Bay has to enable, foster or in some way enhance access to the park for everyone, including people of all ages, socioeconomic status, race and physical ability.

The other is transparency. Not only because of Florida Sunshine Law, which, given it’s a public-private partnership, requires it. But also, says The Bay Park Conservancy Chairwoman Jennie Compton, they wanted to know that even if “people disagreed with the decisions we made, they could never disagree with the process.”

But back to the bus. And a trip local restaurateur Michael Klauber, then chairman of Visit Sarasota County, took to Nashville in 2013 with 30 other city and county leaders. It was a behind-the-scenes look at how the Music City handled a slew of challenges, from housing to recreation.

The founder and co-owner of Michael’s On East, Klauber recalls he was “fired up” when the group was taken on a tour of Riverfront Park, a mixed-

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Photo by Dylan Jon Wade Cox, @djwcphoto

A core group of business, civic and philanthropic leaders in Sarasota came together over the past decade for one common cause: to turn a parking lot into a world-class park.

Continued from Page 89

use waterfront project on the banks of the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville. He got back on the bus for the next stop and his mind wandered: “There are 75 acres in play in Sarasota,” he thought, “and no one was looking at the big picture.”

BACK ON THE BUS

Jon Thaxton, who back then was fresh off serving three terms as a Sarasota County commissioner, sat next to Klauber on the bus. He vividly recalls his friend’s energy and enthusiasm. “If Nashville can take a ditch and build it into a world-class waterfront project,” Thaxton recalls Klauber saying, “why can’t Sarasota take a parking lot and build a world-class park?”

The next decade proved to be an up-and-down, high-and-low and sometimes sideways undertaking. It included millions of dollars in donations from private citizens, five community foundations and area businesses. It included hours-long city council meetings with dozens of questions. It included some 400 meetings with neighborhood groups — from breakfasts in high-rise buildings to Sunday suppers in Newtown.

It also included multiple conversations with city leaders. While the city was, in general, in favor of the idea, the details were complex. “Nothing is easy when you are dealing with the government,” says Rob Lane, managing shareholder at the consulting firm Kerkering, Barberio & Co. in Sarasota, and treasurer of The Bay Park Conservancy. That belief was echoed by many others who worked with The Bay, including Thaxton.

FIRST RESULTS

Phase one of The Bay, under construction since 2019, includes more than 15 acres of revitalized greenspace; a colorful children’s playground with two larger-than-life ibis sculptures; common ground lawns, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway; an outdoor reading room; an ADA-accessible paddle launch; a restored and preserved mangroves

MONEY MATTERS

Phase one total cost: $40 million

$30 million for park development

$8 million for design/engineering/environmental and all outside consultant support $2 million for project management/planning/administrative support

90% of the cost for phase one was funded from private sources, including foundations, philanthropists, businesses, and Friends of The Bay. The city of Sarasota contributed $3 million. The project also received small government grants totaling about $1 million.

Phase two estimated cost: $65 million

$48 million will come from a TIF-backed city bond; $17 million from government grants.

Cash and commitments to date have come from...

Government sources: 35% Continued on Page 92

Private philanthropic sources: 42%:

Foundations: 23%

n Among the largest donors are The Patterson Foundation, Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the William G and Marie Selby Foundation. Among the larger business donors are Michael Saunders and Co. and the Sarasota Bay Club.

n 100 individuals and family foundations have donated $5,000 or more.

n More than 100 businesses have donated.

The Bay’s winding paths are perfect for children to explore nature.

KEY PEOPLE

None of this would be possible without a core group of people behind The Bay, an All-Star list of Sarasota’s business, civic and philanthropic leaders. (In full disclosure, Emily Walsh, Key Life publisher and Observer Media Group president, joined the BPC board in 2019 and was named secretary earlier in 2023.) A partial list includes:

JENNIE COMPTON

An attorney and managing partner of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, Compton was asked to join an early planning group for The Bay. After initially demurring, she drove by one day during lunch, in 2014. The Sarasota native recalled how as a kid she would take a yellow school bus to the “purple building” (the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall) and have lunch while sitting on the orange curbs. She drove up that afternoon and found the same thing: students

arriving in a yellow school bus for a field trip and lunch on the orange curbs. “You look at all this and you see all this,” Compton says, referring to the water and views and location, “and you think ‘we can do better.’” Compton thought she would be involved for at most two years. A decade later she’s still there. “I firmly believe this will greatly impact our community over the next 50 to 100 years,” she says.

A.G. LAFLEY

The founding CEO of the BPC, Lafley is the person multiple people involved in the Bay site as the project’s quarterback. The former

president and CEO of Procter & Gamble, Lafley worked on a massive waterfront redevelopment project in Cincinnati, P&G’s headquarters. Sizing up The Bay opportunity, Lafley quickly realized, he says, that the group needed two things: talent and money. The talent side was taken care of with the board and others, including design, planning and construction firms like Sasaki, Haskell and Jon F. Swift Construction. The money? Roughly 100 people gave at least $5,000, he says, in

addition to the region’s five core community foundations, which, in total, gave more than $1 million. “If you have all the foundations,” says Lafley, “then you have a critical mass.” (Lafley will soon step away as founding CEO. In a move BPC officials announced March 24, the new CEO will be Stephanie Crockatt, who was previously executive director of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy in upstate New York.)

CATHY

LAYTON

A retired commercial real estate broker who has been

Continued on Page 92

Courtesy photo

Continued from Page 91 and shorelines; and a concessions spot dubbed The Nest.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Phase two of The Bay, at a projected cost of $65 million, includes multiple parts to expand the offerings, such as the Canal District, Cultural District, Sunset Pier and Western Shoreline. Nearly $50 million of the funding comes from a Tax Increment Financing district arranged by the city of Sarasota. Another aspect of The Bay, which remains in flux, is a performing arts center. The crux of a debate around that project: whether to replace or refurbish the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Sarasota officials — the city owns and manages the iconic purple theater complex — held several meetings in March to discuss options as passionate groups on both sides jockey for public support. The Bay Park Conservancy doesn’t control the Van Wezel or the decision.

PARK PLAYERS

Outside of the headlines, many others in Sarasota played important roles in the formation of The Bay. The list includes:

VIRGINIA HALEY

The Visit Sarasota County president, along with Gulf Coast Community Foundation executive Jon Thaxton and Michael’s on East co-owner Michael Klauber, made up what many behind The Bay refer to as the Three Musketeers of the early days of the project.

DEBRA JACOBS

The CEO of The Patterson Foundation, Jacobs provided advice and inspiration to Michael Klauber and others in the beginning days. The foundation’s multiple sixfigure donations also paced the giving of other foundations and groups, say Lafley and Klauber.

SHAUN MERRIMAN

Retired banking executive and founder of Gateway Bank, he recruited several people early on to be part of The Bay.

SHANTEL NORMAN

Now VSC group director of sales, Norman, say several with The Bay, was the glue who kept everything together in the early days. That’s especially true for when the group was holding multiple neighborhood meetings a month.

JASON SWIFT

President of Jon F. Swift, which handled construction of The Bay. The Bay Park Conservancy CEO A. G. Lafley says Swift’s calm under pressure, such as when Hurricane Ian pounded the region, was an example for everyone in the project.

Key People continued from Page 91

on numerous nonprofit and civic boards, Layton, like Compton, was hesitant to join The Bay early on. But also like Compton, Layton, while not a native, moved to town with her family in 1970 and saw what it was and what that site could be. With phase one complete, Layton, chair emeritus of the BPC, has spent multiple afternoons in the park, watching and seeing how people use it. Seeing The Bay principles in action is a reflective and proud moment for Layton, thinking back to the early days. “We really started on a wing and a prayer,” she says. “There was no map to guide us. There was no staff. There wasn’t even any furniture.”

MICHAEL KLAUBER

Klauber was relentless in the early going, say several others closely connected to the park, with one core message: What are people going to say 50 years from now about the opportunities we have and the decisions we are making? In fact, Klauber is so invested in The Bay he will soon live there. Or almost. He and his wife, Terri, are selling their downtown Sarasota condo and plan to buy a condo in One Park, an 18-story building going up on the corner of Tamiami Trail and Boulevard of the Arts. “I want to be able to open up the front door, walk into the park and watch it grow and have an opportunity to be outside and be around the park all night,” Klauber says. “Heck, yeah, that’s what I want. I want to spend my next 30 years here.”

The Urban Conga is one of two “playable” art installations in the park.

Photo by Christopher Brickman

Home with historic architectural roots continues to draw reverence.

PAGE 98

OASIS

INSIDE THE ISLAND LIFESTYLE

Every house has a story or two to tell. But this home on Siesta Key has so many it’s hard to tell where to begin.

BY ROBERT PLUNKET | CONTRIBUTOR

At Home with History

Photos courtesy of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

The original Revere Quality House now serves as a guest house and pool pavilion for a newer 4,755-square-foot “companion house” built in 2007. Similar design motifs unify the two structures to create a lavish Siesta Key estate. At upper left, the view from the Revere House out to the pool.

Is it a historically important example of the Sarasota School of Architecture — the first moment when the style came into focus and attracted the world’s attention? Is it the struggle to save the house after it had fallen into disrepair — a struggle that ended with a triumphant second act? Or is the personal drama of the three iconic architects who created it?

As a property it is very much an anomaly. A 75-year-old house (935 square feet) paired with a 4,755-squarefoot modernist mansion built in 2007. They occupy an idyllic setting on Bayou Louise, at the north end of Siesta Key. At first glance, the place seems se-

cluded; you are surrounded by a green lawn, and clusters of mangroves and soaring bamboo. But from the upper levels of the newer structure a view appears — over the bay, out to the keys. At the gate — yes, the property is gated — you’ll find a plaque announcing the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As architectural critic John Howey put it, “Literally millions of homes incorporating aspects of its design have been built across the southern United States.”

Back in the 1950s, the smaller house was the most famous in Sarasota. It was one of the heavily publicized Revere Quality Houses, a collection of eight homes spread through the

country. The Revere Copper Co. had sponsored a competition to build the perfect post war home — something new and modern — to appeal to the millions of returning G.I.s and the families they were starting to raise. And if it featured Revere products, like pipes and wiring, so much the better.

Ralph Twitchell, at the time the town’s most prominent architect, entered the competition, along with his new junior partner, a young man just out of the army and eager to start his career. Paul Rudolph was a Southerner by birth but had studied at Yale with Walter Gropius. His viewpoint meshed

Continued on Page 102

“As a property it is very much an anomaly. A 75-year-old house (935 square feet) paired with a 4,755-squarefoot modernist mansion built in 2007.”

The main living area of the newer home is located on the second level and features walls of glass looking out over Bayou Louise. Terrazzo floors and built-ins create a timeless modernist look.

Continued from Page 100

well with Twitchell’s; the give and take between the two produced what may well be the first fully realized example of what was to become known as the Sarasota School of Architecture.

The house they designed was a little shocking for its time but it still captured people’s imagination. Over 16,000 came to see it during the year it was open to the public. Articles appeared in magazines all over the world, and it was the star of a major advertising campaign.

It certainly had star quality. A just under 1,000-square-foot rectangle, it had glass on both sides. You could see through it. Sliding glass doors and jalousie windows could be opened to bring in breezes from the Gulf; wide overhangs protected it from the sun. Wooden built-ins were everywhere, giving it a detailed, custom look. And talk about bringing the outside in — it had a screened patio with actual grass.

Historians argue over which archi-

Continued on Page 106

Ipe wood from Brazil warms up the main hall of the newer structure. There is an elevator to the left; the circular staircase at rear leads to a roof deck with a lounge area.

“Enter the perfect group of saviors. Developer Howard Rooks and local entrepreneur Doug Olsen purchased the property and enlisted contractor Pat Ball and architect Guy Peterson to come up with a plan.”

Architect Guy Peterson designed the kitchen of the newer home to be both practical and elegant. Open to the main living area, it provides a contemporary open concept plan.

Continued

tect did what, but most give the edge to Rudolph. You can actually see a young architect finding his vision. Still, the home’s heart belonged to Twitchell. It would change his life forever.

It seems that a Siesta Key neighbor named Regina Finney fell in love with the house and purchased it after the exhibition year was up. She also fell in love with Twitchell. So strong was the attraction that the architect left his family and moved into the Revere House with Regina. They eventually married and raised a family in the house. It is where Twitchell was living when he died in 1978.

Continued on Page 108

A copper hood, courtesy of the Revere Copper Co., crowns the rounded fireplace in the Revere House. The ceiling preserves the original sky-blue color that Twitchell and Rudolph specified when they designed the home in 1948.

Continued from Page 106

much started, is on the bucket list of every lover of architecture.

By 2004 the home had fallen into disrepair. Twitchell’s third wife, Paula Behnke, died in 1994 and the home, somewhat altered over the years — the carport had been turned into a bedroom — was sitting empty and forlorn, a likely candidate for demolition. The land it stood on had exploded in value; it seemed that any day the house would disappear and yet another Med-Rev McMansion would be springing up.

Enter the perfect group of saviors. Developer Howard Rooks and local entrepreneur Doug Olsen purchased the property and enlisted contractor Pat Ball and architect Guy Peterson to come up with a plan. It was a tricky challenge on all levels — financial, aesthetic and historic. Should it be remodeled? Enlarged? Torn down? Peterson knew immediately where he stood: “We had to rescue that house.”

His plan was both simple and audacious. A much larger “companion house” would be built. It would have to be magnificent to justify the price of the project. Peterson envisioned a long and narrow home, three stories high, overlooking the Revere House, which would be perfectly restored to its original design and would now func-

“In the 1950s, the smaller house was the most famous in Sarasota — one of the Revere Quality Houses, a collection of eight homes spread through the country.”

The crisp modern lines of the Revere Quality House helped define the look of what was to become known as the Sarasota School of Architecture. Ralph Twitchell lived here until he died in 1978.

tion as the larger home’s guest house/ pool house.

Designing a home to match the iconic Revere House was not intimidating, but “it was a huge challenge,” Peterson remembers. “Thank God I had a great house to learn from.”

Peterson studied the techniques and design strategies of Rudolph and Twitchell and adapted many for the new house. The use of wood, for instance. In the older home it’s striated plywood, a mid-century staple no longer made. In the new home it’s Ipe wood from Brazil. Likewise, built-ins are an important part of the design. In the Peterson home they are carefully crafted and detailed, adding to the beautifully proportioned interior. Like its older sibling it is a house of horizontal lines, all different and all in perfect harmony.

The biggest difference between the two companions is one of scale. The Revere House is compact; the newer one is anything but. The main living area — located on the second level — is 60 feet long. The lavish scale continues on the third level. It’s entirely devoted

to a primary suite with an office, vast closets, a Zen-like bathroom and a view over the Revere House across the bayou to the Cocoon House, another early Rudolph masterpiece that was built for Regina Twitchell’s father.

It’s not surprising that the current owner, Dave Zaccardelli, is both knowledgeable and passionate about Sarasota’s architectural heritage. He’s been generous in allowing scholars and students to view the home. He even brought Peterson back for some features planned but never built, most notably the roof deck, up a sculptural spiral staircase that leads to a seating area complete with outdoor kitchen and a firepit.

Here he observes his domain — but not for long. The property is now on the market, with a $6.8 million price tag. “It’s time for a new steward,” Zaccardelli says. The Revere House and its guardian angel are a rare combination of history and art. But this is Siesta Key, don’t forget. History and art have rarely been this sublimely luxurious.

The copper hood in the living room extends into the kitchen to vent the stove. The meticulously restored space retains the original mid-century design.

Kids Just Wanna Make Art

These summer camps make it possible.

BY SU BYRON AND MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTORS

Some people are lifelong art lovers. That love spans artistic creation, appreciation or support — and sometimes all three. Ask art mavens when the muse stole their hearts and many will reply “childhood.” If they think a little more, they’ll often narrow it down to summertime art programs. And that’s when a flood of happy childhood memories return. Transcendent violin lessons. A dance class that revealed new possibilities of movement. A figure-drawing class that opened their eyes. The lifelong love that’s born in childhood may lead to a career as a working artist or a deeper grasp of others’ artistry. Either way, it’s a more fulfilling life. The following artful summer camps will all provide these eye-opening moments, along with happy childhood memories.

SARASOTA YOUTH OPERA

Opera is magic, and this camp reveals its magic secrets. Adult creative professionals teach talented young kids and teens all they need to know to participate in Sarasota Youth Opera’s summer camp, which is available for every skill level and also provides scholarships. The sessions target two age groups. Kids (8-10) and pre-teens and teens (11-18). Either way, it’s a great start for future opera stars or a great experience for kids who don’t want to make a career out of it but want to enjoy opera’s magic. 941-366-8450; Ext. 249; SarasotaOpera.org/summer-camp

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE

FST offers one-week and three-week camp experiences open to young people

between the ages of 5 to 17. They’re all winners, but here are three selections: Little Theatre (5 and 6) is all about creating songs and storytelling for the stage. In the end, the kids put on a show for family and friends. Children’s Performing Arts Camp (7-12) is a supportive boot camp for acting, voice, improvisation and dance skills. (Self-esteem is an added bonus.) Teen Improv (13-17) boosts creativity, self-expression and empathy. Teens also learn to create hilarious, unscripted comedy. How cool is that? 941-366-1350; FloridaStudio Theatre.org/fst-school-youth

Continued on Page 112

Kids and teens discover the magic of opera at Sarasota Youth Opera’s summer camp. Photo by Rod Millington

Courtesy photo There are dozens of stage experiences available for kids and teens at Florida Studio Theatre this summer.

Continued from Page 110

ART CENTER SARASOTA

Family owned , we are a full service agency with the markets and experience needed to handle your specific insurance needs.

If you are looking for a complete insurance solution, we are your best choice

of “Dungeons and Dragons.” Miniature Worlds (11-14) immerses kids in theatrical design. Each camper gets to build their own fantastic realm from everyday materials. (We’re not sure if fantasy author George R. R. Martin got his start that way. But we wouldn’t be surprised.) 941-351-8000; AsoloRep.org/ summercamp

HOME, CONDO, AUTO, WATERCRAFT, UMBRELLA, FLOOD, EXCESS FLOOD, BUILDERS RISK, SMALL BUSINESS AND CONDO ASSOCIATIONS

CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY: CIRCUS SUMMER CAMP

According to Pablo Picasso, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he/she grows up.” Just in time for summer, ACS offers a solution for kids and teens — three, actually. Creative Kids (6-10) lays a foundation for artistic expression. Emerging Arts (11-15) builds on that foundation. Stop Motion Boot Camp (11-15) proves that every child is also a motion picture artist. Budding auteurs learn the basics of filmmaking — and make their own short film in the process. 941-365-2032; ArtSarasota.org/summercamp

Here’s what some of our customers are saying about us:

ASOLO REP

Courtesy photos

“Sandra Smith* and the staff at Secur -All are there to help people manage the risks of everyday life. They have helped me with my ocean front NJ home and my LBK condo. Sandra is there with you every step of the way! “

Lynn Walters

Asolo Rep’s creative camps make a dramatic difference in kids’ lives. There are many sessions to choose from. Here’s three: Artistic Adventures (67) releases young artists’ imagination and self-expression with performance, story-building and creative play. Courageous Creating (8-10) takes kids on an epic journey of role-playing, character-building, and strategy in the spirit

Thanks to Circus Arts Conservatory, local kids don’t have to run away to join the circus. The Conservatory’s Circus Summer Camp is right in our own backyard. The camp’s teachers have deep roots in Sarasota’s circus history and are seasoned circus professionals who know the ropes. Their lessons in circus artistry include acrobatics, clowning, juggling, silks, Hula-Hoops and multiple permutations of the flying trapeze. In the process, they finetune students’ coordination and spatial awareness. (That stuff’s boring to kids, so you might not mention it.)

Continued on Page 114

Left: Asolo Rep’s creative camps make a dramatic difference in kids’ lives.

“When I moved to Longboat Key in 2014 i t was my 15th move as an adult and 20th in total. I have lived in 3 countries and 8 states. One of the hardest things about moving is the need to find new friends, new doctors and professionals and new business people who will be trusted advisors. I lucked out seeing the Secur all sign, walked in, met Sandra Smith and her team; which was the beginning of a great relationship. Of all the places I have lived Sandra is the most professional and best provider of all my insurance needs. She and her team are always working for their customers. They take care of EVERYTHING big and small. They never say call your insurance carrier, they say we will call them and call you back. They ALWAYS have your back and everything they do benefits you. I am really fortunate to have them in my corner. ”

Judith Berson

Family owned, we are a full service agency with the markets and experience needed to handle your specific insurance needs.

“After meeting Sandra Smith almost 2 years ago, I started referring her and her services to my customers who were needing a reliable, trustworthy, efficient, and competitive insurance agent. Sandra has outperformed my expectations each and every time. Feedback, I consistently hear, are attention to detail, accessibility, responsiveness, knowledge of the market and an overall can -do attitude. In my business of luxury real estate, building trusted relations hips with likeminded professionals like Sandra is not just a convenience but a necessity. Sandra has earned my trust and I will continue to recommend her knowing that she provides the same level of service that is expected by customers. Five stars each and every time.” Rich Polese - REALTOR® Fine Properties Sarasota

Sandra Smith, Branch Manager/Broker has lived on Longboat Key Since 1996. She knows the island where you live and has the coastal products for hard to place risks.

14 Years

If you are looking for a complete insurance solution, we are your best choice.

has the coastal markets for hard to place risks.

Above: Art Center Sarasota offers a wide selection of summer art experiences for children and teens.

Continued from Page 112

941-355-9805; CircusArts.org/programs/ circus-summer-camp-2CircusArts.org/ programs/circus-summer-camp-2

CREARTE LATINO

Whatever form it takes, the language of art empowers creative expression. (To put it another way, when Carlos Santana has a song in his heart, he knows how to play it.) CreArte Latino’s bilingual art courses make sure nothing’s lost in translation. Its Bilingual Acting Workshop (8-10) immerses young actors in the impact of two distinct cultures and languages on their characters. The young artists of its Bilingual Paint & Fun (6-10) join forces to create a painting together. They start with a creation dialogue in Spanish and English. Their bilingual brainstorming results in a joyful, collaborative image celebrating Independence Day. 941-732-7191; CreArteLatino.org

SARASOTA BALLET

Ballet has an intentionally designed movement vocabulary. As language

learning comes easily to kids, Sarasota Ballet wants to get them on their toes early. Its Summer Intensive (11-22) is the place to be for young dancers who want to achieve fluency in ballet’s wordless communication. Students are guided through a comprehensive curriculum, including classical and

modern techniques, variations, repertoire and pas de deux. There are three sessions (June 26-July 29; July 10-July 29; and June 26-July 8). At the end, students show off what they’ve learned in performances called “InMotion,” which are open to the public. 941-2256520; SarasotaBallet.org.

Mrs.

Courtesy photo Camper Kenneth Dahl learns about the dramatic arts at CreArte Latino.

Photo by Matthew Holler Young dancers learn technique and artistry at Sarasota Ballet’s Summer Intensive.

BENEFITING

Photos by Sidra Wali

Mary Lou Johnson, chair, Aaron Virgin, CEO, and Judy Kozlowski

Bill Mitchell, Bill Gordon, Maria Gordon, and Andy Kinnecom

Kimberley Pelyk, Harry Jannetta, and Sandi Jannetta

Photos by Harry Sayer Pam Revels, Cornbread and Axel Traught

Alyson Lutes and Luca

Right: Carly Norris, Amanda Conner and Jenny Dwyer

Top-right: Linda Axelrod as Joan Rivers with Executive Director Anna Gonce

Photos by Harry Sayer

Renee Thomas-Freeman and Angel Wynn

Ashley and Ryan McIntyre with Mike and Cassie Boyle

Grace Frederico, Annette Guile, Bethany Lynch and Maria Jawarowicz

6838 Gulf of Mexico Dr. | Longboat Key, FL 34228 941.217.5068 | driftwoodbeachhome.com

Thoughtfully curated, clothing, gifts, jewelry, orchids, linens, & colorful goods from near and far. Featuring clothing collections by Emerson Fry & Sigrid Olsen.

@DriftwoodBeachHome

Joe Farrell of Pop’s Sunset Grill

Great team. Great food. Sensational views and location.

BY MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Joe Farrell is a successful entrepreneur with a superhuman gift for multitasking. The Casey Key resident’s long list of national and global projects includes a winery in Napa Valley, a resort in the Bahamas, film production, and serving on a board at Harvard University that’s devoted to curing Alzheimer’s disease.

Out of all his ventures, Pop’s Sunset Grill, on the Intercoastal Waterway across from Casey Key, holds a special place in Farrell’s heart. It was originally called Urbanek’s Fish House and Pop’s Tropigrill Restaurant and Farrell, as part of a consortium, bought both places in 2001. Under his ambitious leadership, Pop’s has expanded to encompass three bars, indoor and outdoor dining, two kitchens, a gift shop (Pop’s Bou-Tiki), stages for live entertainment and even a place to park your yacht.

Farrell, who lives just down the road from the restaurant, recently shared some insights into his love for all things Pop’s.

We’ve honored the former Pop’s Tropigrill and Urbanek’s Fish Market legacy by …

Keeping the things people loved from that history. Our menu has the calling-card items from both restaurants — like the seafood steamer pot from Urbanek’s. We kept the familyfriendly ambiance, affordable pricing and hours.

Continued on Page 124

The secret of Pop’s success is no secret at all.

Joe Farrell with general manager, Stephanie Brown, and Kristen Farrell.

Photos by Harry Sayer

Pop’s Punch, packed with pineapple juice and rum, is a powerful people pleaser.

The original Urbanek’s seafood steamer pot brims over with shrimp, mussels, Andouille sausage and corn on the cob.

Mission: The Paradise Center is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life on Longboat Key by promoting accessible healthcare and providing year-round lifestyle enrichment programs.

Continued from Page 122

Our first major changes included … While keeping the family orientation, we upgraded the atmosphere — no more paper plates and plastic forks. And it seemed crazy to offer waterfront dining and not specialize in fresh fish. We now have fish delivered six days a week. That meant a major change in our infrastructure.

The impact of adding breakfast in 2022 ...

That was definitely a big change. We had to create another kitchen to do it. But it’s really been a hit with customers. You can have an omelet anywhere. Why not have it at Pop’s and watch the dolphins go by?

The secret of running Pop’s so smoothly is … It’s no secret! And the truth is, I don’t. The general manager, Stephanie Brown, does a fantastic job of running the business and she has a great team that re-

ports to her. I have oversight, but I don’t get into the nitty-gritty details. I’m just the guy at the bar who looks like me.

The secret of Pop’s popularity is … Aside from amazing food and a friendly environment, we’ve got front-row seats on the narrowest part of the Intracoastal Waterway. The waters are alive with wildlife. We have manatee and dolphin sightings every day.

We hire employees who … Fit into the Pop’s family.

Don’t leave Pop’s without trying … Our shrimp Rangoon. It’s the classic shrimp Rangoon with a twist of sweet chili sauce and pineapple teriyaki glaze. It wins appetizer of the year often and I think it’s well deserving. Our grouper Ruben is another signature dish. We invented it; others have copied it.

The favorite Pop’s cocktail is … Pop’s Punch. It’s rum-based and it really packs a punch.

When my wife and I travel, the kind of restaurants we seek are … Italian. We’re in Italy right now, and we haven’t been to a non-Italian restaurant yet. My wife’s favorite food is Mexican. By the end of the vacation, she may change that to Italian!

Who is (or was) “Pops,” by the way? Legend has it that “pop” is the sound a snook makes when it breaks the surface of the water.

IF YOU GO

Pop’s Sunset Grill

112 Circuit Road, Nokomis 941-488-3177

PopsSunsetGrill.com

Pop’s shrimp Rangoon is served with a twist of sweet chili sauce and pineapple teriyaki glaze.

EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC FLORIDA HOSPITALITY

Chiles Hospitality is a family of three incredible waterfront restaurants, an organic farm with 26 acres of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and a full bakery. With sustainability at the heart of everything we do, all of our teams work together to provide the best dishes for our guests and the environment.

CHILESHOSPITALITY.COM

CAFE GABBIANO

There’s an intimate dining getaway located on Siesta Key, Café Gabbiano brings a mix of classic and modern Italian dishes. Chef Paolo Di Costanzo, hailing from Ischia Italy brings you a diverse seasonal menu including local fish, handmade pastas, ravioli and Allen Brothers Meats. Certified sommelier, Marc Grimaud, has 200 wines on-site and specializes in pairing the perfect wine with your food. A diverse cocktail program including crated cocktails and bourbon and whisky tastings. Enjoy intimate dining in one of our wine rooms or choose outdoor seating in our climate-controlled patio. This is Italy’s best loved restaurant on Siesta Key.

5104 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key

941-349-1423 | www.cafegabbiano.com

CAFÉ L’EUROPE

This season marks Café L’Europe’s 50th year on St. Armands Circle. Whether celebrating life’s most meaningful moments, or simply a Tuesday, we welcome lovers of food and drink for a five-star experience inspired by Europe’s finest bistros. Spring 2023 brings a reimagined restaurant interior and new dining menus. European culinary tradition inspires scratch-made dishes using local, sustainable ingredients. An exquisite Old World-meets-New World wine list, craft cocktails, and live piano music greet you from our chic lounge.

We aim to celebrate the legacy of our iconic space and honor beloved traditions of Sarasota families, while welcoming new visitors to our beautiful destination.

431 St Armands Cir, Sarasota

(941) 388-4415 | www.cafeleurope.net

CHEF ROLF’S NEW FLORIDA KITCHEN Restaurant, Tiki Bar, Fine Dining & Ballroom

Chef Rolf offers the perfect location at the CASEY KEY RESORTS MAINLAND for your private event and can accommodate up to 200+ people.

Enjoy all of Chef Rolf’s Amazing Dining Experiences:

• The TIKI BAR serving lunch and dinner daily from 12-9pm, happy hour & live music.

• INSIDE DINING ROOM now open for dinner Thursday, Friday, Saturday & brunch on Sunday.

• CORAL ROOM FINE DINING now open Wednesday - Sunday.

• THE OSPREY CAFE serving Breakfast daily 8-11am and Sunday Brunch 11-2pm.

21660 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey

941.966.2121 | www.ChefRolf.us

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN 2023

@Kellysroastbeef_FL

KellysRoastBeef.com

EUPHEMIA HAYE

It’s the perfect time to enjoy an evening out at Euphemia Haye! Located in an historic Longboat Key cottage nestled in a tropical garden with palm trees studded in twinkle lights, Euphemia Haye is known for impeccable service, outstanding & eclectic menu, extensive wine list, and indulgent desserts. A longtime favorite of locals and visitors alike, reservations are strongly recommended for the downstairs fine dining but walk-ins are welcome upstairs in the Haye Loft lounge & dessert room.

5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key 941.383.3633 | www.euphemiahaye.com

KELLY’S

For more than 70 years, Kelly’s Roast Beef has been the staple of the North Shore of Boston, renowned for its thinly sliced “melt-in-yourmouth” roast-beef sandwiches and generous platters of New England seafood. Enjoy fried whole- bellied clams, lobster rolls, scallops, homemade clam chowder along with our traditional customer favorites. 100% of our menu can be made gluten free!

Open Every Day 11am-9pm

5407 University Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34201 East of CVS Pharmacy 941.263.1911 | www.kellysroastbeef.com

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it, is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere that will put you in the Island Spirit. Our food is just one of the reasons we are #1 on the Key!

From Raw Oysters and Fresh Seafood to All-Natural Burgers and Chicken Wings, there is something for everyone on the menu.

With over 21 beers on tap including Local Craft Beer, Domestic and Specialty Imports plus a variety of creative Specialty Cocktails you will not go away thirsty!

We have live music every day and night with some of the best local musicians around.

So, the next time you are in the heart of Siesta Key Village and want to relax with a frosty beverage, enjoy some fantastic food, or listen to great live music, stop by SKOB, the Hot Spot in Siesta Key. You’ll be glad you did!

5238 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key

941.346.5443 | skob.com

KEY ENCOUNTERS

When you think of Longboat Key, a postcardperfect scene of sugary white beaches stretching for miles alongside the turquoise Gulf of Mexico probably springs to mind. It’s an accurate picture. But this island has another side. Joan M. Durante Park is a slice of subtropical paradise along Sarasota Bay. If you’re seeking a key encounter with Florida’s luscious flora and fauna, look no further. This 32-acre park boasts

thriving wetlands and a coastal hammock ecosystem. In this magical space, the pace of life slows down. You’re on nature’s time with zero stress and infinite possibilities. There are miles of walking trails, a children’s playground and a boardwalk that winds through mangrove forests and leads to a killer view of the bay. Your destination is up to you. Meditate beneath a gumbo limbo tree. Sit by the pond and watch water birds sweep down for their afternoon sip. Wander down any path with no particular direction. Wherever you go, you’ve clearly arrived.

JOAN M. DURANTE PARK

PHOTO BY NANCY GUTH

Starts Here