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FEATURES

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HOME IN THE HARBOR Plymouth Harbor’s long legacy is reflected in its remarkable residents.

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THE DOCTOR’S IN Gary Kompothecras has been called many things.

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CONTENTS

97

DEPARTMENTS 18

FROM THE EDITOR 25

HOT TOPICS New leader takes the helm of Longboat’s chamber of commerce; Lourdes Ramirez leads the fight against large-scale hotels on Siesta; and a library is next on the list for Longboat’s town center.

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KEY PEOPLE Sarasota’s architecture more than inspired Janet Minker’s home. It inspired her to preserve it for others.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE Got any Sunday Undies? How one church and its pastor inspire its members to give back.

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CALENDAR From vow renewals to beach yoga, don’t miss any of spring’s ample events.

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54

STYLE Bring a little bling to your life with these local jewelry finds.

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OASIS Designer Ben Baldwin had a vision for his Siesta Key home that remains safe with its current owners — down to every detail.

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ART AND ABOUT Opera is not just for the elite. Check out one of this season’s productions and see for yourself.

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BEHIND THE MENU The family behind Miguel’s Restaurant work to keep its long — and tasty — legacy alive.

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KEY ENCOUNTERS

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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate. Source: Real Trends 2023.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

File image

Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier cuts the ribbon for the Karon Family Pavilion in November 2023. The pavilion, which faced funding shortages, was made possible by a gift by Paul and Sarah Karon (left of Schneier).

SMALL TOWN LIVIN’

F

or those of you who may be new to our area, there’s something you should know about the SarasotaManatee community: Don’t let our growing population fool you — we are a still a small town.

By that, I mean that the longer you’re here, the more you’ll hear the same names, places and issues come up.

Despite all our new arrivals to the area, this community is still largely shaped by our most active and passionate residents, of which there are many.

Two such residents are in this issue, although they are currently on opposing sides: Lourdes Ramirez and Gary Kompothecras. While Ramirez is heading up the fight to prevent large hotel development on Siesta Key (Page 30), Kompothecras is one of a few developers looking to give the Key what they feel is a much-needed amenity in a larger-scale hotel (Page 82). Both have deep roots in the area and both are passionate about their cause.

No matter which side you fall on, battles like this are commonplace in our community, which is a good thing.

Because it means not only do residents feel passionate about where they live, but they are also willing to invest their time, money and energy into making it better. They just happen to have different definitions of what “better” means.

Another point in case: Longboat Key’s new Town Center, complete with the Karon Family Pavilion (Page 34).

When the project, which began in 2019, needed funds

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to create an amphitheater-like space to serve as the focal point for the center, Paul and Sarah Karon stepped forward to make it happen. Their generosity, along with other donors and foundation’s efforts, prevented the project from stalling and allowed it to move on to its next phase, which will include a county-run library.

It’s a big step toward creating a community space that Longboat has longed for since its first attempts at building a community center in the early 2000s.

Although new things are great, sometimes preserving the things that make us special is just as important. Janet Minker (Page 40) understood this in her work to protect Sarasota’s architectural gems.

Likewise, Brad and Sandy McCourtney see themselves as stewards of the iconic Siesta Key home designed by Ben Baldwin (Page 98).

Any longtime resident knows that activism, philanthropy and volunteerism are the building blocks of our area’s DNA, going all the way back to the Ringlings.

Amid all the changes in recent history, we’re not sure what our area will look like in 10 or 20 years. But here’s the best thing about a small town: If you’re so inclined, you have the ability to change it. These individuals are living proof.

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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!

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HOT TOPICS T IM E LY PEOPLE, PL ACES AND THI NGS

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s new leader brings her beach town expertise to the keys.

PAGE 26

The Longboat Key Chamber’s new president and CEO, Kim Verreault, is no stranger to how best to do business in a beach community.

Photo by Lori Sax

KEY LIFE

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HOT TOPICS

Beach Town Savvy As the new president and CEO of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, Kim Verreault is a hands-on leader with a knack for community building.

BY EMILY LEINFUSS | CONTRIBUTOR

K

im Verreault’s first day as president and CEO of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce was Oct. 9, 2023, but beach town business savvy is clearly embedded in her DNA. She grew up in the seaside town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where, as a teen, she worked summers at her parents’ seasonal camping resort. She later operated seasonal hospitality businesses there with her husband, John, while serving on the board of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce for 11 years.

In 2015, Verreault was appointed the chamber’s executive director and spent four years leading it. The couple moved to Sarasota in 2019 to be closer Photo by Lori Sax

Continued on Page 28

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In 2019, Kim Verreault and her husband moved to Sarasota to be closer to her parents, who have lived in the area for 17 years.

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Kim Verreault’s priorities for to her parents, who have lived in the the Longboat Key Chamber of area for 17 years. Verreault spoke with us recently about the role chambers Commerce include updating of commerce play in today’s world, challenges facing businesses in the Longboat Key area, and her favorite How has the LBK Chamber marketing platforms, partnering Longboat Key hangouts. embraced advancements in technology?

What inspired you to accept this Interestingly, I have a meeting with with community organizations position? our web specialist tomorrow to discuss The Old Orchard Beach Chamber is this and make some minor changes and building membership.

Continued from Page 26

where my love for the chamber world began. Ever since relocating to Florida, I’ve kept my eyes open for similar opportunities. This opportunity stood out because it shared commonalities with my previous experience: both towns experience seasonal population shifts, possess comparable town government structures, and boast active chambers dedicated to making a difference. What struck me most was the enthusiasm of the board, employees and members.

employees to operate successfully. In 2022, I convened local businesspeople and legislators to go to bat for us to increase the number of workers with H-2B visas for the winter season. We were successful.

right now. It will take time, but we plan to be very proactive. For example, we’re researching a new member database program that would make our website a more fully functioning What book do you think every tool for members. business leader needs to read?

What are the most pressing “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. The challenges facing island businesses? book is not strictly business-related; Extending the season is one. This it’s more about a way of thinking. is what I hear from our business It presents a series of examples of members: “We would love for you to individuals and groups who don’t, at put your marketing dollars into finding first, fit into our normal understanding ways to get more people here during of achievement.

Are chambers of commerce still the off-season.” Another goal is to relevant in the online age? amplify the chamber’s role as both Is there one business leader, either Without a doubt! Brick and mortar a visitors bureau and a resource for alive or dead, whom you most chambers remain exceptionally residents. We already get tourists and admire? relevant. Chambers play a pivotal new residents asking about activities, Without intending any political role by fostering relationships, dining options and to learn more connotation, my spontaneous choice uniting businesses and elevating the about the community. Our objective would be George H. Bush and his community. It promotes networking, is to foster an even greater sense of wife, Barbara. Having lived near marketing and advertising and bridges community by linking them with local them in Maine, I saw how they business and residential sectors businesses. One way we already do genuinely immersed themselves in through events. Chambers offer that is by acquiring the names and the community. That’s who I want to be education programs and advocate and addresses for new residents and as a leader: someone who is very quiet contribute to economic and tourism sending out a welcome packet monthly. behind the scenes but very powerful when it comes to bringing community development. In the year ahead, our team will strategize to ensure our How does the LBK Chamber together. chamber’s continual relevance and strategize to enlist new members? progress.

To bolster engagement, we consistently The chamber’s jurisdiction covers organize monthly events, featuring a Longboat, Lido and St. Armands Do you believe one way chambers networking luncheon and an “Off the keys. What are three of your favorite remain relevant is through pro- Clock” evening that provides a platform places in this area? business advocacy on the state and for members and nonmembers to The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill has national levels? connect. We are also bringing back been a family favorite. Quick Point I do think a chamber of commerce is an our Ambassador program where new Nature Preserve is a place I go to arm for that. At Old Orchard Beach our business members are assigned an for a moment of peace. I also enjoy tourism businesses’ biggest challenge ambassador who will check in with the picturesque ride from one end of Longboat Key to the other and am was not being able to acquire enough them at certain intervals. fascinated with the natural history of the banyan trees along the way.

I’ve always loved the vibe of St. AT A GLANCE Armands Circle and paddle boarding The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce covers three keys with a total in the mangrove tunnels of Lido Key of nearly 350 member businesses. Visit LongboatKeyChamber.com. is fascinating.

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HOT TOPICS

Her Line in the Sand Siesta Key resident and neighborhood advocate Lourdes Ramirez is committed to safeguarding Siesta Key from out-of-scale development.

BY ANDREW WARFIELD | CONTRIBUTOR 30

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S

ince 2016, Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez has been the face, and the lightning rod, of the fight against Sarasota County government and developers to prevent high-density hotels from being built on the barrier island.

At great personal and financial risk, she has been named as the only plaintiff in court battles — in which she has prevailed — at the Division of Administrative Hearings and 12th Circuit Ju-

dicial Court levels. Although her name stands alone as plaintiff, she says she represents a significant number of fellow islanders struggling to maintain the quaint beachside character of Siesta Key. More than a matter of doing what’s right, Ramirez says keeping high-rise hotels off the island is also a matter of public safety.

Continued on Page 32

Photo by Andrew Warfield

Lourdes Ramirez is the face of the fight against Sarasota County government and developers to prevent high-density hotels from being built on Siesta Key.

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ABOUT LOURDES

Recognizing coming changes in the composition of the County Commission in 2012 — changes she perceived as not in the best interest of Siesta Key residents — she ran her first of three unsuccessful campaigns for a seat on the board.

“I first ran because I really felt that the neighborhoods needed to be represented,” Ramirez says. “I saw the writing on the wall, and I was worried about who future county commissioners were going to be, and I started to see how the developers were too influential. I wanted to be sure that the residents were represented and everything was fair.”

Her fears, she says, were realized.

“We’ve seen it go downhill since. We haven’t had a good County Commission that represented the people, and we’re seeing it get worse and worse.”

The 2021 approval of two hotels on Siesta Key by the County Commission was the flashpoint, one that has brought two ill-fated attempts by many Siesta Key residents to incorporate the Key into its own town, and to her lawsuits against the county.

Through her attorney, Ramirez successfully argued that special exceptions made to approve a 170-room hotel in Siesta Village and a 120-room hotel at Old Stickney Point Road were in violation of the county’s 1989 comprehensive plan. In December, a 12th Circuit Judicial Court judge ruled that her legal fees were recoverable from the county, but not from the developers who joined the defense as intervenors.

Although she says she has “several dozen” supporters who are helping cover her legal costs, going in she knew all the risk was hers, and hers alone.

“I’m just one of those stubborn people who really believes in the justice system, who really believes in right versus wrong, and I was determined,” Ramirez says. “I knew it was a big risk.

Nothing’s ever guaranteed, but I really felt it needed to be done.”

Had she not prevailed, she faced the prospect of having to pay the legal fees for both sides. “Had I lost, it would have all been on me because I was the only named plaintiff,” she says.

Even as her lawsuits were active,

Lourdes Ramirez has a long history as a neighborhood advocate, starting in 2002 when, “A neighbor, Ann Kaplan, left a flyer in my mailbox about how the county allowed small cottages built on conforming lots to be torn down and two huge homes were built on the parcel,” she says.

“She started a new Siesta Key group called TASK (The Alliance for Siesta Key) and I became the vice president in 2002.”

Her civic work includes leadership in the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations and Siesta Key Association, serving as president of both; and is cofounder of the Barrier Islands League in 2009.

The 61-year-old holds an MBA from Iona College and is a small business owner specializing in business and nonprofit development consulting and business development consulting in semiconductors and retail. She is also a grant writer for local charities and organizations.

She is president of the Republican Women’s Club of Sarasota.

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I’m just one of those stubborn people who really believes in the justice system, who really believes in right versus wrong. Nothing’s ever guaranteed, but I felt it needed to be done.”

LOURDES RAMIREZ

Ramirez ran for the County Commission District 2 seat in 2022, falling short in the primary to now-Commissioner Mark Smith. She says she wouldn’t accept any developer campaign contributions, not that any were offered, because of continuing concerns that the development community holds too much sway with the board, influence that puts the residents at risk.

Siesta Key has two evacuation points — both two-lane drawbridges — and only two-lane roads to empty the island in the event of an emergency. Adding the density hotels would bring, Ramirez says, will only exacerbate the danger.

“It comes down to public safety. I’m a strong believer that the government must have a narrow focus, and it does a lot more than it really should do,” she says. “The number one role of government is public safety, and when they’re starting to push that aside to please special interests and big developers, that is the most frightening thing I’ve ever seen. That is what makes me more motivated in this fight because we’re talking about people’s lives.”

Despite prevailing in litigation, Ramirez’ fight is not over. The County Commission has approved a study of a Benderson Development’s proposal to reclassify hotel rooms as non-residential with unlimited density, providing that hotel use is limited to 15% of the commercially zoned property on the Key. That application included a plan to build a 210-room hotel in Siesta Village at a height of 85 feet. The site includes

the strip center that includes Flavio’s restaurant and a retail center across Ocean Boulevard that is fronted by Bonjour French Cafe.

If successful and upheld in the litigation that is certain to follow, Ramirez says the pressure for additional hotel development will only intensify. And if the amendment is affirmed in court, she believes more hotel plans will follow that the county cannot prevent on the basis of property rights versus the 15% limit proposed by Benderson.

“The county is going to lose those suits going forward,” Ramirez says.

“If Benderson can build theirs, when others argue their property rights are being violated the county won’t be able to justify that.”

Ramirez is already involved in opposing the Benderson plan. Her attorney has sent a letter to the county urging it to deny any and all applications to amend the comprehensive plan ostensibly for the purpose of building hotels on Siesta Key. And she is once again willingly exposing herself to another round of legal fees on behalf of her fellow islanders.

“A lot of people have been very upset about this, so it’s not just me,” she says.

“I just happened to have the most experience in zoning code issues, but I am not the only one out here fighting the cause. I went down the legal challenges route because I just knew that some of the groups were afraid to go to litigation, but I knew I was right and I knew what we are fighting for has to be defended.”

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HOT TOPICS

Courtesy images

The Karon Family Pavilion is the setting for a variety of events, including performances by area-based arts groups.

In the Center of it All Longboat Key’s Town Center Green is set to become a lively hub for community gatherings, festivals, performances and educational opportunities.

BY MARK GORDON CONTRIBUTOR

F

or a town filled with people who have spent time in communities big and small worldwide, Longboat Key has long been missing something that’s vital: a dedicated public community center.

That’s changing with the new Town Center Green.

The multimillion-dollar, three-phase project, littered with curves, hiccups and funding shortfalls, is at least six years in the making. Now, with the first two phases complete and a third phase coming into focus, the project — on a 4.81-acre town-owned site located at 600 Bay Isles Road, near the Shoppes of Bay Isles, the Publix and Town

34

KEY LIFE

Hall — is primed to be what leaders have hoped for. Features include a 1,500-square-foot bandshell and performance stage, space for food trucks and outdoor festivals and, possibly by 2026, a new state-of-the-art library with an auditorium and classrooms.

“This will be a center point for the community,” Town Manager Howard Tipton says.

While many people played an important role in pushing the concept forward, one who stands out is former Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown.

The town’s mayor from 2011 to 2015, Brown, an architect when he lived in Washington, D.C., has lived on the Key since 1999. He was pivotal in launching the Longboat Key Foundation, which in 2013 became part of the Commu-

nity Foundation of Sarasota County and has been raising money for island projects ever since. It subsequently became its own nonprofit organization in 2020.

Brown recalls that, several years back, he convened a group of residents to evaluate what Longboat Key needed. The lack of a medical center and a town center kept coming up. The Longboat Key Foundation was able to raise the funds for the medical center —and then turned its focus on the town center.

One of the first iterations of the town center project was a partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design, which included fundraising. When that Continued on Page 36

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HOT TOPICS Continued from Page 34 failed to come to fruition, the foundation stepped into place to raise the needed funds. Almost immediately, Brown’s call to action led to one donation of $100,000 and a second donation of $500,000. That second gift came from Longboat Key residents Sarah and Paul Karon for a performing arts pavilion.

Unveiled in November as the Karon Family Pavilion, the structure stands at the center of the park-like surroundings. Brown and others have already been planning its various uses.

“Getting on and off the Key during season is one of the key complaints we get from residents and visitors,” says Brown. Nearly seven in 10 residents and snowbirds in the most recent town survey, for example, cited traffic on the bridges to get off the Key as a major headache.

“Bringing performing arts events to the Key is one of the solutions,” says Brown, adding that interest from Sarasota-based arts groups to perform on Longboat Key is high.

The Karons — Sarah worked as a reporter and editor for newspapers and magazines and Paul was an insurance executive — have had a home on Longboat for about a decade. They moved here from Minneapolis, after, like so many others, discovering Sarasota mostly by accident. They spent time thinking about where to live — island or mainland, bay or gulf. Longboat kept coming to the top. And while they loved the Key, they realized it was missing a neighborhood vibe they had in Minnesota — a strong central gathering spot.

“It will be great to have all that togetherness there that we haven’t really had,” Sarah Karon says. “It will be beautiful to see this grow.”

The Karons’ donation represents about 15% of the overall cost of phase two. And it was well-timed, too. Costs for the project, thanks primarily to supply chain shortages and inflation, had risen dramatically. “We’ve been blessed to have the financial resources to support a lot of things,” says Paul Karon, who was CEO of Benfield Inc. for 10 years, among other career posts.

“We look forward to all the activities

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KEY LIFE

Longboat Key residents Sarah and Paul Karon are major investors — and believers — in the concept of a lively town hub.

It will be great to have all that togetherness there that we haven’t really had. It will be beautiful to see this grow.

SARAH KARON

there. We think it’s going to be a blast.”

Phase three of the project — the library — is being assembled in collaboration with Sarasota County, the town of Longboat Key, the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, the current Longboat Key Library and the Longboat Key Foundation. Sarasota County set aside $1 million in this year’s budget for the library, which would be the county’s first on a barrier island.

There currently is a library on the Key, dating back to 1972. But it’s showing its age, with a decaying roof among the issues. A new library would also incorporate modern technologies and

classroom spaces and an auditorium.

Brown explains that the Longboat Key Foundation hopes to raise additional funds, if needed, to pay for anything that goes beyond the county’s budget.

One last big win? Tipton explains the project is receiving financial support from Sarasota County and a little bit from Manatee County. Longboat traditionally pays an outsized share of property taxes given booming property valuations. “We are a feeder community for Sarasota and Manatee counties,” Tipton says. “This is an opportunity for some of those tax dollars to come back to Longboat.”

DON’T MISS! The third Festival of the Arts will be at the Town Center Green, Feb. 24 and 25, featuring dozens of local vendors selling art, jewelry, photography and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free.

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HIGH TIDES T H E H E ART OF COMMUNI T Y ON THE KEYS

Sarasota’s special architecture inspired this couple to become some of its biggest advocates. PAGE 40

KEY LIFE

39

KEY PEOPLE

Modern Love Lido Shores resident Janet Minker is known for her advocacy and passion for Sarasota’s architectural legacy.

BY ERIC SNIDER | CONTRIBUTOR

W

hen Janet Minker and her husband, Elliott Himelfarb, moved to Sarasota from their longtime home in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2008, they had originally planned to buy an old house and remodel it. But then they discovered Lido Shores, the historical epicenter of the Sarasota School of Architecture. The movement, which emerged in the 1940s under the aegis of local architects Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph, combined post-World War II modern design with elements that addressed Florida’s climate.

The style became known worldwide. In thrall of the Sarasota School, the couple purchased an empty lot on Lido Shores, hired architect Jonathan Parks, and invested three years into building their dream home — a stylistic marvel that upholds the neighborhood’s modernist tradition.

Minker went on to become a tireless advocate for, not just the Sarasota School, but for preserving Sarasota’s historical buildings — and, by association, the city’s character and charm. Minker and Himelfarb joined the Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF), which raised awareness about Sarasota architecture, offered tours of landmarks like the Umbrella House and the Cocoon House, and presented lectures and other events.

Minker, Himelfarb and their friend Dan Snyder ended up leading the group. Under their direction, it founded the Sarasota MOD Weekend, which celebrates Sarasota architecture and its prominent historical figures. The 10th annual MOD took place in November.

For her efforts with SAF, in 2017, Minker won the Bob Graham Architectural Awareness Award from the Florida-Caribbean Chapter of the American Photos by Lori Sax

Continued on Page 42

40

KEY LIFE

Janet Minker’s love of architecture is rooted in her career as a graphic designer.

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KEY PEOPLE Continued from Page 40

a report card that shows all the city commissioners and our city manager Institute of Architects. It’s the organi- and rates their performance after each zation’s highest award for non-archi- meeting. tects. That same year, Minker stepped down as board chair. SAF ultimately I’m active on Instagram, and I post a merged with the Center For Architec- lot about architecture. Several years ture, which is now known as Architec- ago, I got messages from Pee Wee Herture Sarasota. man — Paul Reubens — and we deMinker’s love of architecture is veloped this nice correspondence and rooted in her career as a graphic phone conversations. He grew up in designer. A minister’s daughter, she Sarasota. He lived in this Japanesemoved around a lot, mostly in the mid- style home. He said, “Janet, I don’t Atlantic. She worked as a designer for know the architect, but maybe you can Tetrad in Annapolis in the latter half find out.” I discovered who the archiof the 1970s, then became a creative tect was [Erwin Gremli] and he was director in the Georgetown office of all excited. He was quite a wonderful, the Porter Novelli PR firm. lovely person and just kind of unique, While there, she helmed print cam- you know. paigns for the USDA’s food stamp program and the first breast cancer One of my favorite rituals is taking awareness initiative mounted by the a morning three-mile hike down Lido National Institutes of Health. In 1983, Beach, which I started during the panshe formed Minker Design, which is demic. It’s still a great joy. still active, although Minker says she now does exclusively volunteer work. Mote Marine is right near our house, Minker and Himelfarb marked their and it’s one of our favorite organiza40th wedding anniversary in Decem- tions. Every year we adopt a turtle ber. She turned 70 on New Year’s Eve. nest to help their research program, which monitors and protects endanBuilding our house was a tough en- gered nests. That’s a very cool thing, deavor. I’m so happy we did it, but I and it’s kind of fun to walk along the don’t know if we’d ever do it again. beach and you see your nest sitting The house is so perfect for us. Not a there. day goes by that we’re not happy we’re here.

We like to go to Crab & Fin on St. Armands Circle, just a mile from here. We I’ve certainly become more politi- walk there and Gracie, our dog, can sit cally minded here in town. I’m not outside with us. a politician, but I believe strongly in voting for people who are passionate Definitely marry your best friend. about caring for the city and not want- That’s the most important thing. And ing to just tear it all down and become marry someone who’s a good cook. a mini Miami.

That’s what I did, and it’s been a fabulous gift.

Our first major initiative at SAF was advocating for the appropriate My husband and I are very similar in rehabilitation of the Paul Rudolph- a lot of ways. We love gardening and designed addition to Sarasota High so forth. But it works better if someSchool. It was under great threat. times we do things separately.

The school board was going to do some drastic changes and was even The design studio I worked for in considering demolition. With the help Annapolis was all males. I was the of architect Carl Abbott, my mentor, token woman. But it was, you know — we fought hard and we saved it.

I had a wonderful time. I was a good designer, so people respected what I’m the architectural advocate for I created, and it seemed to work out an organization called CityPAC pretty well.

Sarasota. They’ve developed a thing called the City Hall Monitor. It’s like

42

KEY LIFE

Janet Minker is a tireless advocate for preserving Sarasota’s historical buildings — and, by association, the city’s character and charm.

Elliott Himelfarb, Janet Minker and their beloved dog, Gracie.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Sock It To ’Em! Under Rev. Brock

Patterson’s leadership, Longboat Island Chapel continues to offer vital support to area outreaches — with grace and a touch of humor.

BY ABBY WEINGARTEN CONTRIBUTOR

B

efore Rev. Brock Patterson became the lead pastor of Longboat Island Chapel, he served for 10 years as the founder and lead pastor of FaithSpring Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. When that fellowship merged with another, he decided to take a sabbatical. After a few years on the sidelines, Patterson was ready to resume his ministry. Why not minister in warmer climes? But which subtropical church was seeking a beach pastor?

A Google search brought up Longboat Island Chapel. It shared his opendoor policy and commitment to philanthropy and community involvement.

As an added plus, the chapel was in a beach community. Although Patterson had never heard of Longboat Key, after doing his research and speaking to the chapel’s board, he thought it was a perfect fit. The chapel’s board clearly agreed — it chose him over the 344 other applicants. In late 2020, Patterson loaded up his truck and moved to Longboat Key with his faithful dog, Pippa, right by his side. He’s been moving the chapel forward ever since. How does he describe that journey?

Photo by Harry Sayer

Continued on Page 46

44

KEY LIFE

Rev. Brock Patterson found his perfect fit at Longboat Island Chapel.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE Continued from Page 44 “I arrived on Longboat Key with little knowledge of the community’s needs or what resources we could draw on to support individuals and organizations,” Patterson says. “I’ve been blessed to serve this chapel for three years now. I have some measure of knowledge today. It’s thanks to the selfless, committed, giving people who’ve been at my side.”

After three years of chapel leadership, Patterson’s knowledge isn’t theoretical. Philanthropy is more than a philosophical principle now. It’s part of his daily job.

Stillpoint Mission is one of Longboat Island Chapel’s key charitable partners.

“The work Stillpoint does is vital to our community,” says Patterson, explaining that Franciscan Sister Nora Brick (aka “the Mother Theresa of Bradenton”) founded Stillpoint Mission in 1998. He notes that her aim was to provide basic supplemental assistance to migrant families, the poor and the homeless. And it has been supplying clothing, diapers, hygiene items, home goods, children’s books and financial assistance to the community ever since.

Patterson adds that Longboat Island Chapel helps Stillpoint do this good work “in any way we can. Our focused monthly drives are our most visible means of support. These supply specific items that people need.”

That sounds like serious business.

But the chapel’s monthly Stillpoint support campaigns take a lighthearted, creative approach. “Sock It To ’Em and Tie ’Em Up” was one recent drive.

(The drive’s witty title refers to socks and shoelaces, not fisticuffs.) Other jocular titles include: “Baby it’s Cold Outside” (a winter quest for coats and sweaters); “Wipe It Clean" (toilet paper); “Carry Me Home” (equipping foster children with duffel bags); and “Sunday Undies" (a call for underwear).

The comical shift occurred in tandem with Patterson’s arrival. As Karen Pashkow, a member of the chapel’s charitable outreach committee for five years, explains: “We used to have monthly donations for a particular

46

KEY LIFE

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Longboat Island Chapel’s giving campaigns include: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” gathers coats and sweaters “Pens, Papers, Pencils, OH MY!” collects teacher supplies for Daughtry Elementary teachers.

“Carry Me Home” collects duffel bags for foster children.

Photo by Harry Sayer

“Clear the Cupboards” is a food collection for local food banks.

Longboat Island Chapel’s “Support the Girls” campaign provides bras for Turning Point Missions.

charity, but after we had a change in clergy about three years ago, congregant Lesley Rife and I started making posters — for example, coming up with funny slogans like ‘Sunday Undies’ to collect underwear,” Pashkow says.

Patterson stresses that these examples are part of a long list. “The chapel’s been helping Stillpoint every year for more than 20 years,” he says. “Our support goes on throughout the year.”

Helping the Stillpoint Mission team help others is always the goal of these drives.

And the dedicated people on that team have noticed.

Gene Tischer is one of them. As the president of Stillpoint Mission, he relies on the chapel’s generosity.

“Longboat Island Chapel’s campaigns have provided tremendous support for our clients,” Tischer says.

“We serve over 400 families a week.

The chapel helps us serve them. That’s truly been a blessing.”

As Patterson sees it, charitable results matter most. Philanthropy isn’t about you. The help you give to others is the point. That said, the act of giving transforms the giver.

Pashkow agrees. “We do visits to the

charities we help,” she says. “And when you go out and see where the collections are going and how they’re helping people, it really brings it all home about how lucky we are and how important it is to help others.”

The chapel’s philanthropy doesn’t end with Stillpoint.

Patterson says in the past year, the chapel has also assisted shelters, a foster agency, municipalities and other nonprofits.

Patterson adds that education is another philanthropic priority. “Our college scholarship program is a lifeline for local high school graduates.

Schools and education-related providers are always in need. Budgets are often strained in our local educational system. It’s imperative that the chapel stand in the gap.”

The chapel does a lot of good under Patterson’s leadership. To be fair, he’s leading a highly motivated team with a network of connections and resources.

How much good could a single individual do?

“Plenty of needs exist in our community,” Patterson said. “If you want to make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t need to look too far.”

“Oh, Baby” collects diapers for the Cyesis Teen Parent Program at Riverview High School.

“Father Knows Best” gathers men’s clothing, socks and underwear for the Mt. Carmel Resource Center.

“Wipe It Clean” collects toilet paper for Stillpoint Mission.

“Sock It To ’Em and Tie ’Em up!” provides socks and shoelaces for Stillpoint Missions.

“Sunday Undies” gathers underwear for Turning Point Missions.

“Support the Girls” provides bras for Turning Point Missions.

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ANNA MARIA FARMERS MARKET From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through May 7, the Anna Maria Farmers Market at the City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, features a focus on Southwest Florida-based goods and produce. n Visit AnnaMariaIsland.com.

LIDO SUNRISE BEACH WALKS From 8-9:30 a.m. every Tuesday through March 26, enjoy a selfguided beach walk along South Lido Beach, 2201 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Lido Key. Register for $5 at the Ted Sperling Park playground before walking at least 1 mile. After completing four walks, participants receive an event T-shirt. n Visit SCGov.net/parks.

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COQUINA BEACH MARKET The new Coquina Beach Market is year-round at South Coquina Beach, 1800 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. n Visit CoquinaBeachMarket.org.

File photos

Ruby Brown meets the Easter Bunny at the 2023 Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt.

SPRING 2024 February

4

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.

NEIL DIAMOND: ‘HITMAN!’ The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a performing arts program. Hear the music and stories of music icon Neil Diamond. The program is from 3-4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Champagne reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Registration is $45 for members or $55 for nonmembers. n Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

SIESTA SUNRISE BEACH WALKS From 8-9:30 a.m. every Wednesday through March 27, enjoy a self-guided beach walk along Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. Register for $5 at the main pavilion before walking at least 1 mile. After completing four walks, participants receive an event T-shirt. n Visit SCGov.net/parks.

12

THE MARKET ON LONGBOAT KEY From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, browse the wares of dozens of local vendors, including produce, art and home goods. Admission is free. Continues March 11 and April 15. n Visit Facebook.com.

18

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

Continued on Page 50

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KEY LIFE

I t's only Natural

EXQUISITE DESIGNER DECORATED MODELS NOW OPEN The appeal of Wild Blue at Waterside by Stock Development is perfectly natural. With its prime Lakewood Ranch location, incredible amenities, and luxury single-family homes by some of the area’s finest builders, this waterfront community is the perfect blend of back-to-nature fun and resort-style living. Discover outdoor adventures at the 13-acre sports complex, and relax at the social clubhouse, with indoor and outdoor dining, two pools, a movie theater, fitness center, and a 9-hole premier putting course.

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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 Proudly presented by 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 SALE, AND NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED A GUARANTY OF ANY KIND. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SALE OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY.

20 YEARS

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LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES • STOCK LUXURY HOMES • STOCK CUSTOM HOMES

CALENDAR Continued from Page 48 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. Continues March 10 and April 14. n Visit Mote.org.

14

SAY ‘I DO’ AGAIN The annual tradition of love returns to Siesta Beach and Nokomis Beach Park for couples looking to renew their vows of love.

The event includes a certificate, a gift, a flower, music and refreshments. Check-in starts at 4:30 p.m.

Registration is $15 per couple. n Visit SCGov.net/parks.

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25

‘THE MAN I LOVE: THE STORY OF GEORGE GERSHWIN’ The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a concert of popular George Gershwin tunes intertwined with the story of his life. In the perspective of Gershwin’s muse, musician and public speaker Sarah Moulin tells the story of their 10-year love affair. The program is from 3-4:15 p.m. and costs $25 for members or $30 for nonmembers. n Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

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. Continues March 24 and April 22 and 23. Begins around 5:30 p.m., depending on sunset. n Visit Mote.org.

23

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ NIGHT Kid Dutch returns to the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, with guest jazz artists. The event begins at 8 p.m. and is $20 for members or $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is recommended. n Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

24-25

March

BRADENTON GULF ISLAND CONCERT Enjoy a concert by The Guess Who Alumni at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Doors open at 6 p.m. with an opening act at 7 p.m. and the headliner at 8 p.m. Tickets from $59. n Visit CenterAMI.org.

FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS The third Festival of the Arts will be at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Dozens of local vendors will be selling art, jewelry, photography and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free. n Visit ArtFestival.com.

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HOME AND GARDEN TOUR The Longboat Key Garden Club’s Home and Garden tour returns. Details will be announced closer to the event date. n Visit LBKGardenClub.org.

3

A TRIBUTE TO UKRAINE The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a classical concert of music from Jewish composers. Cellist Steve Kramer tributes the concert to his family and all musicians who are immigrants of Ukraine.

The program is from 2-3:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Champagne reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Registration is $45 for members or $55 for nonmembers. n Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

7

BEACH UNIVERSITY Learn about the local beaches and coastal ecosystems with the Siesta Beach Ambassadors. Beach University runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. every Thursday in March at the main pavilion on Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. Admission is free, and the seminars are open for ages 10 and older. n Visit SCGov.net/parks.

7-24

‘COMMUNICATING DOORS’ The Island Players, at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, presents the play “Communicating Doors,” a time-traveling comedythriller where a woman travels between 2014, 1994 and 1974 in a race to prevent murders in the decades

Continued on Page 52

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The Women’s Guild of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church holds its rummage sale every year.

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CALENDAR Continued from Page 50 prior. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m.

Sundays. Tickets are $28-$30. n Visit TheIslandPlayers.org.

8-9

ROYAL RUMMAGE SALE Shop for a variety of new-to-you items at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Details to come. n Visit StMaryLBK.org/WomensGuild.

10

‘SIMPLY THE BEST!’ The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, hosts a performing arts program. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will perform music from the 1970s including Diana Ross, The Four Tops and Stevie Wonder. The program is from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Champagne reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Registration is $45 for members or $55 for nonmembers. n Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

15-17

COQUINA BEACH SEAFOOD &

MUSIC FESTIVAL Enjoy a three-day extravaganza of seafood and music at Coquina Beach’s North End. The festival is 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. n Visit ParagonFestivals.com.

17

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE The Center of Anna Maria Island hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Details to come. n Visit CenterAMI.org.

22

DINNER AND A MOVIE The Longboat Key Garden Club Party hosts its annual movie under the stars at Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Details will be announced closer to the event date. n Visit LBKGardenClub.org.

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30

EASTER EGG HUNT Children ages 1-6 are invited to the annual Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt, which begins at 9 a.m. at Siesta Key Chapel, 4615 Gleason Ave., Siesta Key. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos, and all registered children will receive a goody bag. n Visit SiestaKeyChamber.com.

April

6

RUN FOR THE TURTLES Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium hosts its 38th annual 5K and 1-mile races to support sea turtles at Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key. The 1-mile fun run begins at 7:30 a.m.; the 5K begins at 8 a.m. An award ceremony will follow the 5K. Registration details will be available closer to the event. n Visit Mote.org.

BRADENTON GULF ISLAND CONCERT Enjoy a concert by Al Jardine, a founding member of The Beach Boys, at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with an opening act at 7 p.m. and the headliner at 8 p.m. Tickets from $59. n Visit CenterAMI.org.

BEACH YOGA

n Anna Maria Island: 8:30 a.m. Saturdays and

Sundays year-round and Wednesdays from October through May. Donations accepted. Near the Pine Avenue beach entrance. Visit ThriveYogaFit.com. n Longboat Key: 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays year-round. Donations accepted. Near the 100 Broadway St. beach entrance. Visit ThriveYogaFit. com. n Nokomis Beach Park: Wednesday mornings yearround; times vary. Donations accepted. Near the beach access by the large parking lot. Visit SCGov. net. n North Jetty Park: Every morning year-round; 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 through Saturdays and at sunset Wednesdays; morning sessions begin at 8 a.m. during daylight saving time.

Donations accepted. Between the green and blue lifeguard stands. Visit YogaOnSiestaBeach.com for information on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday morning sessions. Visit Facebook.com/ TranquilityByTheSeaSiestaKey. 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: Every day year-round; morning and evening times vary. Donations accepted. Near the main beach access. Visit YogaWithElin.us.

6-7

COQUINA BEACH SPRING ART & CRAFT SHOW From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Coquina Beach, 2651 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach, browse jewelry, ceramics, mixed media, bath and body products, and other work from artisan vendors. n Visit DaniellesBlueRibbonEvents. com.

19-21

SUNCOAST BOAT SHOW Boat enthusiasts will assemble for the annual boat show in Sarasota Bay to admire cruisers, motor yachts and other types of watercraft on display.

Admission is $18; military and children 15 and under are free. The show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Marina Jack, 2 Marina

Patrick Scialabba congratulates Ayden Scialabba on a job well done after the Run for the Turtles on April 1, 2023.

Plaza, Sarasota. n Visit SuncoastBoatShow.com.

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STYLE

Adorn Yourself

The keys hold plenty of jeweled treasures, including sleek and simple staples, stunning statement-makers, modern classics and fabulous vintage finds.

BY KELLY FORES | CONTRIBUTOR

Dana Tyler

17 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota 941-321-2191 DanaTyler.com For everything from classic chains and colorful pendants to showstopping statement pieces, step into Dana Tyler.

These stunning, lab-grown sapphire chandelier earrings are sure to draw attention. The flamingo cuff bracelet features 22K gold leaf and Swarovski crystals.

Earrings: $1,475 Bracelet: $408

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Sea Glass Lane

380 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota 941-388-4646 SeaGlassLane.com Sea Glass Lane offers an abundance of easy, effortless style in a palette borrowed from the sea, which is perfectly suited for island life.

The go-with-everything Paloma bracelet and Bali leaf earrings both exude simple elegance.

Earrings: $45 Bracelet: $42

Silver City Sarasota

6539 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota 941-349-5030 SilverCitySarasota.com Silver City Sarasota is the perfect resource for pieces that exhibit pride of place. Its exclusive Siesta Key Watercolor Gemstone collection is sublime. The 14K gold and diamond seahorse pendant is exquisite. It also carries a line of Siesta Beach white sand jewelry.

Siesta Key Watercolor Gemstone bracelet: $269 Pendant: $430

Steff’s Stuff Antiques & Treasures

5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key 941-383-1901 SteffsStuffLBK.com Vintage jewelry lovers will have a blast at Steff’s Stuff. Find things like this green turquoise and sterling cuff bracelet by Navajo artisan Lydia Begay, mid-century thermoset earrings with matching bracelet, a 1930s Czechoslovakian bee pin, or a Coro bug pin from the 1950s.

Thermoset earrings with matching bracelet: $55 Bee pin: $36 Coro bug pin: $38 Men’s cuff bracelet: $850 KEY LIFE

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STYLE

Foxy Lady

209 Beach Road, Sarasota 941-349-6644 481 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota 941-388-5239 FoxyLadySarasota.com Foxy Lady carries designs from around the world, not the least of which is French Kande. Featuring vintage French medallions and found objects uncovered during the designer’s travels through France, each piece offers its own unique history and captures the style and attitude of French culture.

Price range for items shown: $288-$526

“It’s a happy place... we’ve never looked back!”

— Gary Wolf, Carol Vickers

Former Longboat Key Residents Find Happiness In Their New Life At Freedom Village Bradenton Gary Wolf and Carol Vickers enjoyed living on Longboat Key for years before deciding to move to Freedom Village of Bradenton, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

“We lived on Longboat for 25 years and it was a real pleasure.

But age has a way of catching up. Steps became difficult, simple maintenance became a chore, traffic was a nightmare, and hurricanes were a big problem. We looked at six or seven CCRCs and this is the best place for us, we have never looked back. We have everything we need: excellent food, plenty of activities, and convenient healthcare. We couldn’t have found a better place to live. It’s a happy place.”

6406 21st Ave W | Bradenton, FL 34209 | FVBradenton.com 56

KEY LIFE

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To learn more about Gary and Carol’s story visit us today at FVBradenton.com/lifestyle/photo-gallery or call 941-798-8122.

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KEY LIFE

59

on the

Heaven Half Shell

Oysters are a shellfish pleasure. No shuck! Here’s the raw deal on where to find and eat ’em.

BY SU BYRON AND MARTY FUGATE | CONTRIBUTORS

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Photos by Lori Sax

“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.” —JONATHAN SWIFT

L

egend has it that oysters are the food of love. Scientific study has yet to confirm that, though science does note oysters’ high zinc

content, which is one of testosterone’s key building blocks. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)

Science does assert, however, that oysters are low in calories and packed with vitamins A and B12. But their flavor can’t be isolated, graphed and charted in a lab. These bivalve mollusks taste like the sea. That’s why so

This page: The oysters at Mar Vista are as fresh as a Gulf of Mexico sunrise. Right: Chef Marco at Pop’s brings a platter of oysters fresh from the sea.

many people crave them. Here’s the lowdown from three oyster experts with restaurants on the keys.

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TROY TORMAN, EXECUTIVE CHEF, CRAB & FIN My first experience with oysters was smashing them open with a rock on Point Connet in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, and using them for bait. Culinarily, I started with a baked oyster. I can’t remember exactly what or where it was, but I do remember not being overly impressed. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. It wasn’t until I started working at Crab & Fin 10 years ago that I developed a taste for them.

The most adventurous oyster I’ve ever eaten was a batch of monster Glidden Points from the Damariscotta River in Maine. I haven’t seen them like that since. These things were at least eight inches by five inches and 8 ounces or so, shucked. I remember slurping one down, whole, and I almost choked to death. Given the opportunity, I may or may not attempt it again!

If I had to pick my three favorite oysters, I would go with Massachusetts Duxburys, Rhode Island Dutch Islands and Sukoshi Kumas, a petite Kumamoto out of Humboldt Bay in California. I’m not a big fan of most west coast oysters because they are creamier and can be a bit more vegetal, but those particular oysters are nice and clean tasting, not as creamy, have a nice pop and good brine for a west coaster. I prefer oysters with a buttery, salty, meaty flavor like most of the oysters from the New England and Prince Edward Island areas.

As far as toppings go, I like to eat my oysters straight up naked. Just shuck ’em and suck ’em. We serve cocktail sauce with freshly grated horseradish, a black pepper-champagne mignonette and lemon with our oysters, as well as crackers and hot sauce upon request, but once you go adding all that stuff, you don’t even know you’re eating an oyster. Those powerful flavors can easily drown out all the nuances that a plain oyster with nothing on it has to offer.

Tips for shucking: Make sure you have a strong, sharp, pointed oyster Continued on Page 65

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Chef Troy Torman of Crab & Fin’s favorite oysters are Massachusetts Duxburys, Rhode Island Dutch Islands and Sukoshi Kumas.

“I like to eat my oysters straight up naked.

Just shuck ’em and suck ’em.” CHEF TROY TORMAN, CRAB & FIN

Crab & Fin’s oysters are sourced from Alaska, British Colombia and all the way up the east coast into Canada.

OYSTERS FOR BEGINNERS: BASIC VARIETIES ■ Pacific oysters have a briny, sweet flavor.

Varieties include Kumamoto and Miyagi.

■ Atlantic oysters have a milder, less briny taste. Popular options include Wellfleet and Blue Point.

■ Gulf oysters are harvested from the Gulf of Mexico. Their taste ranges from mild and sweet to robust and briny.

■ Kumamoto oysters are a type of Pacific oyster with small, deep-cupped shells.

They’re cultivated in Japan and the USA and have a sweet, fruity taste and creamy texture.

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“It makes sense to me to pair oysters with a bloody mary.

If you think about it, cocktail sauce is like the little sister to bloody mary mix.”

STEPHANIE BROWN, POP’S SUNSET GRILL

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Pop’s Sunset Grill is a hopping spot for oyster tasting.

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Stephanie Brown, general manager of Pop’s.

knife, like the Providence knife or the R. Murphy Duxbury knife — my personal favorite. The sharper the knife, the less likely you’ll be to slip and cut yourself. When they’re blunt, you’ve got to push harder, and that’s when bad things happen. All you have to do is get the tip of the knife snugged in at the hinge and give a little twist, while prying upwards slightly. It helps to put the oyster on a towel that’s doubled over on one end, so you can put the oyster on it, effectively raising it a little higher off your work surface so you have a little room to push the handle down, giving the tip that slight upward pressure. Also, make sure to cut the abductor muscle from the shell, and check for any little broken pieces before eating or serving. If you’re not in a hurry, flipping the oyster upside down in the shell makes it look much prettier.

JAN 17 –FEB 24

STEPHANIE BROWN, GENERAL MANAGER, POP’S SUNSET GRILL While I enjoy the salty brine of a fresh raw oyster, I also love baked oysters. And Chef Marcos at Pop’s does a great oyster nacho special on occasion. Imagine oysters battered and fried, then topped with pico de gallo, cotija cheese and queso fresco. Delish!

I squeeze a lemon on the oyster and swallow it from the shell. Then I chase it with a cracker topped with a dollop of cocktail sauce and a hint of horseradish.

FEB 7 –MARCH 29

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I love pairing oysters with Champagne. Chandon by The Bay, a blanc de blanc, is a favorite.

A chardonnay or the Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc are also great choices. A bloody mary is another great choice if you aren’t in the mood for wine. It makes sense to me to pair oysters with a bloody mary. If you think about it, cocktail sauce is like the little sister to bloody mary mix.

Continued on Page 66 KEY LIFE

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SETH KONDOR, EXECUTIVE CHEF, MAR VISTA My first oyster-tasting experience was in culinary school. As a kid, I was a very picky eater. Going to Johnson & Wales opened me up to food I’d never experienced before. We were learning about shellfish, and part of that experience was learning how to open an oyster. After the first bite I fell in love with them.

I love grilled oysters with a simple compound butter created with garlic, lemon, herbs and cheeses. My second favorite way to eat oysters is a twist on a Rockefeller. I shuck the oysters first and let them sit in buttermilk with a couple dashes of hot sauce. Then I make creamed spinach with some of Gamble Creek Farms Organic spinach grown here in Manatee County. Stuffing that back in the oyster, I take the oyster meat and dredge it in a mix of cornmeal and seasoned flour and fry them for 30 seconds. Then I place the fried oyster back in the

shell. The creaminess of the spinach and the texture from the fried oyster is a great pairing.

A brute sparkling wine like Champagne goes great with oysters. The Longboat Light Lager from Motorworks is also great — a light and refreshing beer. And I love our Lola Chardonnay or rosé with oysters.

The first step to eating an oyster is to take a cocktail knife and make sure the abductor muscle is loosened from the oyster shell. From there, place your toppings — but only a little so you don’t mask the flavor of the raw oyster. Next, pick up the oyster, without losing the liquid, which is the best part. Then place it to your lips and slurp it back. I typically like to take one or two chews into the oyster and then swallow.

Above: Seth Kondor is the executive chef at Mar Vista.

Left: Enjoy a crisp Lola rosé to accompany your oyster tasting at Mar Vista.

Continued on Page 68

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PERFECT PAIRINGS: OYSTERS AND LIBATIONS

Six key places to slurp briny bivalves

Elevate your oyster experience with these libations.

■ Champagne and sparkling wines: Bottles of bubbly complement oysters’ briny taste.

Their crisp acidity cleanses the palate between bites. Consider brut or extra brut styles for a perfect pairing.

■ White wine: Light, crisp white wines enhance oysters’ delicate flavor. Look for wines with high acidity and citrus notes. sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, and muscadet are smart choices.

■ Craft beers: Light, refreshing craft beers like pilsners, lagers, or wheat brews go great with oysters. Maltiness cuts through oysters’ sometimes overpowering richness.

■ Mineral Water: Sparkling or still mineral water cleanses the palate and lets the natural flavors of the oysters come through.

DRY DOCK WATERFRONT GRILL

Simple math has kept this Longboat Key landmark thriving for more than 30 years. The equation? Spectacular waterfront views + flopping fresh seafood = the perfect Florida-style dining experience. And the oysters? They come two ways — raw and baked. Grab something crisp to sip and then sit, chill and slurp. Repeat a dozen times.

If you go: 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0102; DryDockWaterfrontGrill.com

MAR VISTA DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT & PUB

Mar Vista’s been a fixture for decades on the tip of north Longboat Key on Sarasota Bay. Buttonwood trees shade a constellation of outdoor tables; inside, the recently renovated bar is bustling with island camaraderie. And did someone say oysters? Mar Vista only offers the righteously

Baked oysters at Pop’s.

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raw variety. According to Seth Kondor, the restaurant’s executive chef, “We’re very selective about where we buy our oysters. Our vendors buy directly from the oyster farmer; we only order what we need for the time of year.” When you indulge in oysters at Mar Vista, you can be assured they’re as fresh as a Gulf of Mexico sunrise.

If you go: 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key; 941383-2391; MarVistaDining.com.

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CRAB & FIN

Sidewalk dining at Crab & Fin on St. Armands Circle combines the pleasures of people-watching, stargazing and brasserie-style gourmandizing. And nothing beats a starry night feast of oysters on the half shell. So, raise a refreshing glass of crisp white wine or a cold brew (or a Pellegrino with fresh lime and cranberry juice — Chef Troy Torman’s beverage of choice) and commence your briny journey. Where to start?

Chef Torman recommends the grand oyster tasting. “That lets you taste all the differences,” he says. “Our menu typically has at least three types of oysters. I source our oysters from all over North America, from Alaska and British Columbia down to Virginia, and all the way up the east coast into Canada.”

If you go: 420 St. Armands Circle; 941-388-3964; CrabFinRestaurant.com.

POP’S SUNSET GRILL

With three bars, a Tiki hangout, indoor and outdoor dining, two kitchens, a gift shop and live entertainment stages, Pop’s is a hopping, bopping spot for oyster tasting. Pop’s serves them up raw and also offers its own version of Oysters Rockefeller — baked and topped with creamy spinach, Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Stephanie Brown, general manager, says that the oysters hail from a variety of places depending on the time of year. Blue Points from Long Island and oysters from Virginia are their top sources. And don’t miss Chef Marcos’ occasional oyster nachos dish.

If you go: 112 Circuit Road, Nokomis; 941-488-3177; PopSunsetGrill.net.

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When a restaurant has “oyster” in its name, you know you can’t go wrong. Baked oysters are their specialty (with a multitude of toppings), but they also have a raw bar. Don’t miss their Big G’s Oyster Happy Hour deal (3-6 p.m. daily) where raw or steamed oysters go for a buck a piece per dozen. Flout tradition and go for one of SKOB’s signature drinks, including a lavenderinfused mojito, pear spritz (Absolut Pear and elderflower, club soda, topped with prosecco) or their version of a killer bloody mary called I Only Brunch with Mary.

If you go: 5238 Ocean Blvd. Sarasota; 941-3465443; SKOB.com

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Plymouth Harbor is home to people who have

enjoyed distinguished careers in business,

medicine, law, academia and, especially, the arts.

BY ERIC SNIDER | CONTRIBUTOR

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KEY LIFE

THE PEOPLE PLACE Photos by Lori Sax

Located on the edge of Sarasota Bay, Plymouth Harbor offers stunning water and city views.

KEY LIFE

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T

ake just one step into the capacious lobby of Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay and your eye will be drawn to the rear of the room where floor-to-ceiling windows offer a lovely view of blue-green water. Now imagine someone

continuing on the tour, past the roomy Mayflower restaurant, with more stunning water views, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and tastefully appointed hallways and common areas. You can just hear them saying, “I could get used to this.”

Our imaginary person or couple had better not dawdle, though. There’s a long waiting list. And this person had better have a fat nest egg or some serious passive income. The entrance fees and monthly charges are not cheap.

Plymouth Harbor’s resident population brims with people who’ve enjoyed distinguished careers in business, medicine, law, academia and, especially, the arts. Many, if not most, are avid community volunteers, and they

enjoy a vibrant social life inside and outside the property. “They come for the location and the views, they stay for the people,” says CEO Jeff Weatherhead.

And once you check in, you can stay for the remainder of your days. In addition to independent living, Plymouth Harbor has residences and facilities for assisted living, memory care and Continued on Page 74 Plymouth Harbor is one of the region’s most desired addresses for retirees.

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and Choosing the RIGHT Dealer is Never Black & White.

However, after you eliminate all of the marketing hype and sales traps, buying Gold and Silver can be much less complicated.

My name is John Maben and I am the owner of Pegasus Coin & Jewelry. I've been in the business of buying and selling precious metals along with rare coins and unwanted gold jewelry full time since 1978. I was the owner of an internet based coin and precious metals company that had 42 employees with over 100 million in sales annually until I sold that business in 2015. I was also a grader at PCGS and a grading Finalizer and Vice President at Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). As a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) since 1985, I sat on the board of that organization for two years and was instrumental in creating the PNG sub-organization - Accredited Precious Metals Dealers (APMD) of which I am a founding member.

Enough about me, but if you want to learn more Google me and look at our Google Reviews.

During times of uncertainty, inflation, and questions surrounding the ability of the U.S. Dollar to retain its place as the world currency of choice, more and more people are turning to Gold, Silver, and Platinum to better balance their portfolio. The biggest questions are, “Where do I go?” and “Who do I trust”? Unfortunately, many immediately turn to the companies they hear advertising on the radio and cable networks assuming they are legitimate and reputable because they are on air and often have paid celebrities - even the show hosts themselves - attesting to their practices.

BE CAREFUL!!! Also, NEVER put precious metals into an IRA until you know the reasons why you should not do so!

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I have been around a long time and I know just about everyone, but I don’t know 95% of the countless companies advertising heavily on air.

It is well known among insiders that the vast majority claiming to be #1, trust verified, the largest, are none of the above. They are marketing companies with dozens of scripted salesmen who sit in a room filled with cubicles. They may or may not be commissioned but they all have high pressure sales goals and we’ve had clients tell us they will

where most bullion transactions should yield between a 2% and 10% profit to the dealer.

Why trust a stranger in another state who you’ve never met that works for a company that is a BIG UNKNOWN? Along with my staff of experts, we have over 150 years of combined buying and selling experience.

Large transactions are our specialty, but we don’t shut anybody out. We routinely will price match two of the largest precious metals online dealers but our buy and sell prices are usually better in the first place. Many clients drive from all parts of Florida because they like our prices and the way we do business. The environment is safe and first class inducing an immediate comfort level when you enter our conveniently located store.

When buying or selling bullion or a coin collection, stop in or call us at 941-725-6100 say almost anything to potential clients, especially what they want to hear in order to gain trust. Most have almost no hands on or earned knowledge, in fact you could be speaking with someone that was working in a convenience store or selling cars the week before. These companies will typically do a fair deal on the first transaction and then relentlessly hound the customer to make more purchases that are far higher yielding in profits.

We’ve seen instances of pricing that by industry norms were 40% to 100% too high in a business

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Continued from Page 72 more. Those places have great views, too.

Anyone fortunate enough to reside in Plymouth Harbor is buying into a significant piece of local history. The complex was the brainchild of the Rev. John MacNeil, a Massachusetts native who took over as pastor of Sarasota’s fledgling First Congregational United Church of Christ in 1957. He quickly threw himself into civic life. The clergyman hatched the idea and played a major role in the founding of New College of Sarasota. Establishing a retirement community was next on his to-do list. In 1961, the Plymouth Harbor Board of Trustees was born, with a vision of building a nice place where low- and middle-income people could retire.

MacNeil and his cohorts arranged to purchase and rezone Coon Key, between Bird and St. Armands keys, and then managed to push through a plan for a 25-story tower that dwarfed the city’s existing 35-foot height limit.

They enlisted two prominent local architects who designed a structure not previously dreamed of in Sarasota.

Total cost: $5 million.

The groundbreaking took place on July 4, 1964, and the first denizens arrived in January 1966. After the tower was built, enough locals complained about quaint Sarasota going the way of Miami that the city commission passed a height restriction limiting buildings downtown to 18 stories, ensuring that the tower will always be among the tallest buildings in town.

Initially, Plymouth Harbor consisted of mostly small studio apartments. By the late 1980s, with the nonprofit facility in iffy financial straits, that concept was no longer sustainable. So, the braintrust shifted its focus to a more upscale clientele and reconfigured the interior to include larger living spaces.

“It’s what the market wanted,” Weatherhead says. “We didn’t leave the lower-income market; it left us.”

Meet four of Plymouth Harbor’s more active and esteemed residents.

Their stories will illustrate why the facility is one of the region’s most desired addresses for retirees.

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Judy Liersch

87, RESIDENT SINCE 2011 Judy Liersch’s paisley blouse, red lipstick and high-wattage smile reflect her personality. Vibrant, colorful, quick with a laugh, snappy with a quip. Asked if she has any sage advice about aging, she says, “Don’t fall. It really screws things up.”

Liersch and her husband, Allen Jennings, left their home in Nokomis to live in a “wonderful corner apartment with a balcony” on the ninth floor of the tower. Her face saddens slightly as she tells me that Allen had to move into the memory care wing. “It’s hard,” she says. “But it’s seven minutes from my apartment — in a covered passageway.” She now resides in a smaller apartment on the 16th floor.

Liersch grew up in Montreal and attended Cornell University, where she majored in cultural anthropology. That set the stage for a life that took her to a variety of places and included an array of jobs. She programmed first-generation computers for IBM in New York City. Taught second grade at a boarding school in Kobe, Japan. Earned a master’s degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Worked for five different federal agencies in Washington, D.C. Had a management position at the National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was there that she met Allen. They married in 1988, when Liersch was 52.

She has never regarded her retirement residence as a cocoon. “I have a rich life inside Plymouth Harbor,” she says, “and I have a rich life outside Plymouth Harbor.”

Liersch gets around town in the BMW that she and Allen bought in 2015.

She attends the opera and orchestra and sits on the board and serves on two committees for the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, which supports and advocates for public libraries. Not long ago, she joined a Plymouth Harbor bridge club, “much against my better judgment,” Judy says. “I’m not very good, but I’m having fun with it.”

Judy Liersch’s career has included working for five different federal agencies in Washington, D.C. She now serves on the board of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County.

Courtesy photo

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Roy Truby 84, RESIDENT SINCE 2017

Roy Truby was the state school superintendent for Idaho and West Virginia and the executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board.

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Before moving to Plymouth Harbor, Roy Truby and his wife, Golden Clifton, lived in a condominium in downtown Sarasota. “We didn’t know the people next door,” he says with a little shake of his head. That’s not been a problem at Plymouth Harbor. The couple has plenty of friends, and you can see how folks are drawn to Truby. He stands about 6-foot-2 and routinely flashes a radiant grin. For our interview, he’s nattily dressed in a pastel-checked shirt.

“This a much more progressive community than I expected,” he says, “with people attracted to nonprofits and backgrounds in the arts and culture.

I’ve gotten to know people here who have seen the world.” On that count, Roy and Golden have already booked a two-month stay in Croatia next year.

Truby grew up outside Louisville, one of six children. His father was a factory worker with an eighth-grade education. Truby was the first in his

family to go to college. “When I first got [to University of Kentucky] I wondered, ‘Why do they have two forks at the table?’” he says with a mischievous smile. He later earned a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Idaho.

Truby spent his career in the education field. He’s been the state school superintendent for Idaho and West Virginia. From 1989 to 2002, he lived in D.C. and was the executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the Nation’s Report Card.

Truby served his appointed position under two presidents, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. These days, Truby volunteers at the Glasser/ Schoenbaum Human Services Center.

He’s a regular at Plymouth Harbor’s morning group fitness program. “They don’t treat us like old people,” he says.

The couple’s move to Plymouth Harbor was driven by his wife. “She said, ‘It’s like a resort,’” Truby recounts. “I said, Yeah, but it’s the last resort.’”

It would appear that resort life suits him.

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KEY LIFE

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Stop in for fresh seasonal produce, prime cuts of meat and seafood, and hot-from-the-oven baked goods. Choose from our tempting array of chef-prepared deli and gourmet to-go items, as well as fine wines, exotic cheeses and cut flowers. Think of us for your catered events, holiday menus and gift baskets too.

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Joy McIntyre 85, RESIDENT SINCE 2014

Courtesy photo

Plymouth Harbor has endured as one of the city’s architectural landmarks.

SMART DESIGN In the early 1960s, when the young architect Frank Folsom Smith and the Rev. John MacNeil began collaborating on a new retirement residence that would become Plymouth Harbor, they had to figure out how a high-rise would promote social interaction.

Both men considered that vital to the project’s success. They understood that many prospective residents would be from small-town or rural backgrounds, and the idea of living in a tall building might seem foreboding.

Smith’s team of architects solved the issue by dividing the tower into nine living areas of three floors each, stacked on top of each other, with the lowest level including a lounge. These sections were called “colonies.” The design was a marked contrast to most retirement homes of the era, with their dark hallways and closed doors.

The colony concept more than succeeded and lives on to this day.

Additionally, the tower has endured as one of the city’s architectural landmarks. Its exterior manages to evoke both grandeur and simplicity. The building, which is made of unpainted concrete and has no steel frame, has won a number of architectural awards and is regarded by critics as the pinnacle of 1960s elegance. The Plymouth Harbor tower has been slotted by some into the “Brutalist” architectural style, which strikes an ironic ring, especially when you consider how cushy its residents have it.

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Doesn’t every upscale life plan community in an arts-savvy town need a retired opera singer?

Perhaps not. But Plymouth Harbor happens to have one in Joy McIntyre.

Residents don’t hear her belting out arias in the halls, however. She retired from performing 15 years ago and that was that. “I don’t even sing hymns in church anymore,” she says in a mellifluous voice with impeccable elocution that suggests she could easily burst into song if she had a mind to.

Asked why she no longer sings in public, McIntyre says, “Singing was my profession, for which I had certain standards to meet. It’s not an avocation.”

McIntyre, who is single, lives in a two-bedroom unit on the fourth flower of the tower. She’s been an avid volunteer in town for nearly 20 years, and currently serves on the boards of the Sarasota Music Archive, for which she gives lectures, and Sarasota Concert Association.

The Kansas native attended Oberlin College, where she studied music education and vocal performance, spending a year in Salzburg, Austria. After graduating, she earned a Master of Music at the New England Conservatory.

McIntyre won a scholarship and returned to Salzburg, then spent the next two decades singing soprano for various opera companies and performing at opera houses throughout Europe. From there, she began a career in academia, teaching at Utah State University and Boston University, where she served as chair of their voice departments. She retired in 2002.

McIntyre lived in a house in Palmer Ranch for a dozen years. Her move to Plymouth Harbor largely resulted from getting tired of “driving up and down 41 twice a day, 40 or so miles to downtown,” she says. “I was on a bunch of boards and lecturing and had all kinds of activities, so it was much better to do it from here. And as a single person, the sense of community is ideal.”

Photo by Lori Sax

A former opera singer, Joy McIntyre spent two decades singing soprano for various opera companies and performing at renowned opera houses throughout Europe.

Courtesy photo

Citing just one example of the benefits of living in Plymouth Harbor, she says, “You don’t have to worry about buying something for dinner. You just have to worry about making the deadline to get downstairs [to eat].”

Dining at Plymouth Harbor reflects resortlevel cuisine and ambience.

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Sarah H. Pappas 83, RESIDENT SINCE 2017

Remarkably, Plymouth Harbor made it onto Sarah Pappas’ radar 40 years ago.

“I was on a statewide humanities board and was talking with a woman who said she was on the waiting list at Plymouth Harbor,” she says. “From then on, I’ve always wanted to live here because I love the idea of communal living.”

Want to get Pappas’ dander up? Start talking about Plymouth Harbor as an old folks home. “It’s a life plan community,” she says, leveling a stern glance.

“When I told my friends at [age] 77 that I was coming here, you’d think I was going off to die.”

A 44-year educator, Pappas — who holds a doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University — capped off her career with an 11-year tenure as president of what was then Manatee Community College (now State College

Photo by Lori Sax

Sarah Pappas served as president of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.

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of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota). After that, she served as president of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.

Pappas worked for a paycheck until she was 78 and “loved every minute.”

These days, she directs her energies toward charitable pursuits. Pappas serves on The Ringling’s board of trustees. She supports the Innocence Project of Florida and is in the midst of a program where she’ll match, dollarfor-dollar, donations of up to $500,000.

When we talked in November, she was winding down a term as past president of the Residents Association of Plymouth Harbor.

In 2017, Pappas moved into a brand new two-bedroom apartment in the Northwest Garden with her husband, artist and educator George Pappas.

Eleven years her senior, he experienced cognitive decline and died of prostate cancer in 2021 at age 92. George ended his days in the skilled nursing unit under hospice care, never having left Plymouth Harbor. “I got to be with him all the time because he was right downstairs,” she says, then adds: “When I went back up to the apartment [after

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KEY LIFE

From Long Island to Longboat Key Insuring families since 1963 he died], I had four neighbors come anda full service agency with the markets and experience needed to handle your specific Family owned, we are hug and kiss me and order pizza.”

Butinsurance Pappas has good news. “I have a needs. new boyfriend,” she says with a glint in If “We youdon’t arewant looking for a complete insurance solution, we are your best choice. her eye. to live together, but he wants to move here so we can be within walking distance of each other.”

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They come forsome the of our customers are saying about us: Here’s what location and the “Sandra Smith* and the staff at Secur-All are there to help people manage the risks of everyday life.

They they have helped me with my ocean front NJ home and my LBK condo. Sandra is there with you every step of the way! views, Lynn Walters stay for the people.

“When I moved to Longboat Key in 2014 it was my 15th move as an adult and 20th in total. I have lived in 3 countries a PLYMOUTH HARBOR 8 states. One of the hardest things about moving is the need to find new friends, new doctors and professionals and ne CEO JEFF business people who will be trusted advisors. I lucked out seeing the Secur-all sign, walked in, met Sandra Smith and h WEATHERHEAD team; which was the beginning of a great relationship.

Courtesy photos Of all the places I have lived Sandra is the most professional and best provider of all my insurance needs.

She and her Plymouth Harbor’s lively, light-filled public spaces are filled with art and distinctive furnishings. 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 relationships with likeminded professionals like Sandra is not just a convenience but• aUMBRELLA necessity. Sandra has earned my trust and I will HOME • CONDO • AUTO • WATERCRAFT • FLOOD continue to recommend her knowing that she• provides same level of thatASSOCIATIONS is expected by customers. Five st EXCESS FLOOD • BUILDERS RISK SMALLthe BUSINESS &service CONDO each and every time.” Sandra Rich Polese - REALTOR® Fine Properties Sarasota Smith, Branch Manager/Broker has lived on Longboat Key Since 1996.

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KEY LIFE

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The Doctor is In Siesta Key resident and entrepreneur Gary Kompothecras may be larger than life, but he’s also down to earth.

BY MARK GORDON | CONTRIBUTOR

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B

y simple biography, he’s a husband to his wife, Beth, and father of six kids, ages 12 to

28. He’s a chiropractor-turnedbusinessman, who owns everything from a pioneering and wildly successful accident attorney referral service to a Siesta Key bar to a bottled water business. A resident of Siesta Key, he’s a landowner and real estate developer, seeking to bring a first-of-its-kind hotel to the Key in the face of vocal opposition. Any quick glance at Gary Kompothecras’ bio would also have to include philanthropist and political donor, given he supports and backs a range of causes, from mostly Republican candidates to charities that work with and help children with autism and their families. (Two of his adult children have autism.)

Continued on Page 84

Photos by Lori Sax

Gary Kompothecras and his family live in one of the largest houses on Siesta Key — a three-story, 13,560-square-foot estate on Point of Rocks Road.

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83

Continued from Page 83 And, at some level, even at 62 years old, Kompothecras remains something else: a lifeguard who grew up poor in Queens, N.Y., and has lived most of his adult life with an Olympic pool-sized chip on his shoulder.

“He’s a guy’s guy,” says Sarasota entrepreneur Jesse Biter, who has known Kompothecras for more than a decade. “He’s like the Jay Leno of Siesta Key, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.”

One last easily applied label? Kompothecras is rich.

That can be seen in what’s one of the largest houses on Siesta Key — his three-story, 13,560-square-foot estate on Point of Rocks Road. The mansion, which Kompothecras built over seven years, is on a 31,702-square-foot lot and was valued at $18.38 million in 2023. The house and land cost around $10 million to build, and originally included a bowling alley, which has since been taken out.

Continued on Page 86

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Gary Kompothecras is a man of many labels, including wealthy entrepreneur, physician, hotel developer, TV and film producer, family man and visionary.

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That house is known not only locally but also to a global audience as a goto spot on the hit MTV reality show “Siesta Key.” The show debuted in 2017 and starred Kompothecras’ son Alex for 42 episodes in the first three seasons. (The show is now called “Siesta Key: Miami Moves,” and mostly takes place in South Florida.)

Kompothecras championed and bankrolled the show in its early days.

Adding another label, that of producer, Kompothecras has since dabbled in other movies, including the forthcoming flick, “The Man in the White Van,” based on the true story of a stalker in a small town in Florida in the 1970s.

The movie stars Madison Wolfe, Ali Larter and Sean Astin, among other Hollywood names.

“People call me a serial entrepreneur,” says Kompothecras, who goes

by Dr. Gary with a last name pronounced kom-PAHTH-uh-kras. “I don’t have hobbies. I don’t like golf.

I just like creating stuff and creating businesses. I don’t want to run things, but I like to create businesses and let other people run them.”

Attaching a label to Kompothecras that goes deeper than wealthy serial entrepreneur, controversial developer or owner of a huge house requires an ability to dance in and around the varying circles of his life.

One big circle? Success. That’s come in waves, mixed with a few setbacks.

A notable business success is the ubiquitous 1-800-ASK-GARY line, an accident attorney and medical referral service. Kompothecras founded that company in 1996. According to him, it now has 28 offices in three states, making some $100 million a year in revenue with a payroll of several hundred employees. The business has spawned multiple competitors. It’s also attracted multiple detractors, such as the Florida Bar, which once investigated the practices of 1-800-ASK-GARY and similar attorney referral firms.

Kompothecras came up with the idea for 1-800-ASK-GARY after spending several years running a multidisciplinary medical clinic in Florida that treated people after auto accidents.

Continued on Page 88

While success hasn’t always come easily to Kompothecras, he does have a knack of putting himself in the right place at the right time, by ideas, guts, vision or some combination of all three.

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Continued from Page 86 He saw a gap in what patients knew about the auto insurance process and what medical work should be covered.

1-800-ASK-GARY has since filled that gap for hundreds of thousands of people, and Kompothecras earns a fee with every lawyer referral.

Asked how he came up with the idea to concentrate the referral business around a 1-800 number, Kompothecras says, “some of that is trade secrets, but it was really easy to get that 1-800 number. I just wanted to have something that people could remember easily.”

RIGHT PLACE AT RIGHT TIME

While success hasn’t always come easily to Kompothecras, he does have a knack of putting himself in the right place at the right time, by ideas, guts, vision or some combination of all three.

There was the time, soon after he graduated from USF in the 1980s, when Kompothecras says a lot of people were becoming stockbrokers,

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so he thought he would, too. He found a bank he wanted to work for in Sarasota, cold-called a manager there and said, “There’s a really great guy you have to hire; he’s really hungry for this job.” The manager asked Kompothecras who this person was. “I said, ‘it’s me,’ and I got the job.”

Kompothecras did well as a stockbroker, earning enough to buy a BMW. For someone who grew up with nothing, sleeping on an old couch at his grandmother’s house, that was a big deal. He later started a shipping business — but that went bankrupt when he was 30. Up next? Chiropractic college. That led him to start his medical clinics, and later, 1-800-ASK GARY. More recently, Kompothecras bought a bar: In 2019, he acquired the Crescent Club, a 70-year-old institution on Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key. That purchase has led Kompothecras to push forward on other real estate ideas, including his big dream of building a hotel attached to a global flag. That project, approved by Sarasota County commissioners in 2021, would be a sevenstory, 120-room hotel on a 1.17-acre site on Old Stickney Point Road, near the south bridge to the Key. He would also build a five-story parking lot on an adjacent site.

The hotel project, which remains in legal limbo, has brought Kompothecras another label: greedy developer. That’s the gist of dozens of Facebook and other social media posts when a local media publication writes a story about the project.

Other opposition is more organized, and in some cases, the legal side is led by Lourdes Ramirez, a Siesta Key resident and former Sarasota County Commission candidate.

Ramirez sued Sarasota County, alleging commissioners violated the county’s comprehensive plan when it approved the Kompothecras proposal and another hotel project on the Key. Ramirez cites density and infrastructure issues in her opposition. “There are a lot of reasons why we shouldn’t have mega hotels,” she told the Siesta Key Observer in August. “We can have hotels out here, but keep it reasonable.”

Kompothecras bristles at accusations he’s not looking out for the Key or is a carpetbagger, or any of the

other accusations. He notes, for one, that he’s lived on Siesta Key since 1983 — longer than most and more devoted to its future.

“I want to build a world-class hotel on Siesta Key,” he says. “I’m determined to get this done. I’m not going to let them derail me from building this hotel.”

One more Kompothecras jab, against some opposition from Siesta Key condo owners who complained about his hotel’s proposed height.

“They’re not entitled to that view for the rest of their lives.”

FRIENDSHIPS MATTER

Kompothecras has even more labels.

Another is generous. His longtime friend, Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett, a former state senator from Bradenton, has known Kompothecras for decades.

Bennett says during the crux of the 2008-09 real estate recession some deals he was a partner on went sour.

He needed a loan of about $1.3 million or faced foreclosure of a property.

Banks were no longer an option. Bennett mentioned it to Kompothecras — not for a handout, but more as a vent. “Gary said, ‘Consider it done.

I’ll lend you the money. When do you need it?’” Bennett recalls. “I asked what he needed as collateral. He said, ‘I trust you.’”

“People only know him because of his hotel development,” adds Bennett.

“It’s a shame because he’s really an amazing guy.”

Another example? Kompothecras has often hosted pool parties for 100-plus kids who played in a flag football league sponsored by Evie’s Tavern & Grill in Sarasota. Evie’s owner Mike Evanoff has been to many of those events, witnessing the dropped jaws of the young attendees. “These kids would never get a chance to be at a house like that,” Evanoff says. “They would never get an invite like that.”

The flipside to Kompothecras’ generosity and loyalty: Don’t cross him. “You don’t burn him in a business deal,” Bennett says, “because if you do, he will light you like a short match.”

I don’t have hobbies.

I don't like golf. I just like creating stuff and creating businesses.

GARY KOMPOTHECRAS

Continued on Page 92 KEY LIFE

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CURRENT

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ALWAYS ALL IN

His generosity, meanwhile, is seemingly only matched by his gregarious nature.

There was the fundraiser Kompothecras hosted for Gov. Ron DeSantis before the last gubernatorial election at his Siesta Key home. Not content with the usual party favors, Kompothecras brought a live elephant — the symbol of the Republican Party — to the event.

David Ramba, a Tallahassee lobbyist and longtime friend of Kompothecras, recalls another scene. It happened several years ago when Ramba joined Kompothecras on a trip to the Bahamas. Kompothecras spent all day in the pool with his kids. Then the pair played blackjack from 10 p.m. to sunrise. The wins and losses mostly evened out, never going deep either way, but the hours were raucous. “Every card was a cheer or a jeer,” Ramba says. “Gary is always all in.”

The all-in label applies to Kompothecras when he works on political causes, too. That’s especially true for

his efforts on childhood vaccinations in the late aughts, which stems from his belief that his children’s autism came from an ingredient in vaccines they received when they were infants.

(Multiple science publications have published articles debunking the vaccination-autism theory.)

“When you’re in Tallahassee with Gary, you are not doing anything else and not doing any work,” says Ramba.

“You are with him all day long. He wants to get answers. He’s like a bulldog. He’s not going to back down from anyone, and he’s not scared to pitch anything to anyone.”

All in has occasionally brought Kompothecras some unwanted attention. He was charged with driving under the influence, for instance, in an early morning police stop in February 2018. Authorities alleged he was driving a silver Porsche 100 mph on Interstate 75 in Manatee County around 2 a.m. Those charges were dropped six months later in a case where Kompothecras’ attorney says his client was innocent — not merely a dropped case for lack of evidence on a technicality.

Kompothecras, taking all the ups and downs of his life, above all labels himself a positive person who advises others to fail forward and always look for what’s next. “When something bad happens, you have to keep working,” he says. “Keep going.”

Asked how he came up with the idea to concentrate the referral business around a 1-800 number, Kompothecras says, “I just wanted to have something that people could remember easily.”

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OASIS IN SI DE THE I S L AND LI FEST Y LE

Owners of this Siesta Key home preserve its modern lineage. PAGE 98 Ben Baldwin’s home was designed with unlimited detail — right down to the front gate bearing his initials.

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Photos by J. B. McCourtney

KEY LIFE

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This is the home of an influential, yet hard to peg, designer named Ben Baldwin. He was part architect, part decorator, part horticulturalist — an elegant gentleman whose goal in life was to create beauty in which to live.

He has the misfortune in popular culture to be confused with Billy Baldwin, a high society decorator of the same era. Both were excellent at what they did, but it is Ben’s work that has had a far greater impact.

Baldwin’s furniture designs have become classics and can be found in such places as the Metropolitan Museum and the Louvre. He was the preferred interior designer that more famous architects — Louis Kahn, Edward Durrell Stone and Eero Saarinen — would rely on to make their buildings come to life. He had so much commercial work, including hotels and corporations, that his homes are few, which makes Sarasota’s two — the other belongs to Den-

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Brad and Sandy McCourtney have kept the home true to Baldwin’s vision.

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The view over the lagoon includes sightings of great blue herons and ospreys and the sounds of strands of bamboo knocking in the wind.

Continued from Page 100 nis and Graci McGillicuddy — all the more unique. That, and the fact its current owners, J.B. (“Brad”) and Sandra McCourtney have kept the home true to Baldwin’s timeless vision.

Baldwin moved to Sarasota as a winter resident in the mid-1970s. He made an exhaustive study to find the perfect place and considered North Africa and the Caribbean before realizing that Sarasota had the perfect climate for the garden he was already planning in his head.

Finding a house was difficult; he knew exactly what he wanted: privacy, southern orientation, water on at least one side of the property, and a lot that would accommodate his garden. The house itself wasn’t that important. He knew that a total remodel would be necessary.

It took a year, but he finally found it.

And yes, it needed work — a lot of it.

He would later describe what would become his dream home as “glittercovered concrete blocks, windows that were too high, bright blue trim, and an unpleasant odor.” Inside were “plastic Continued on Page 104

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Sitting out on the terrace is a magical experience.

The mangroves hide the neighbors; the only visitors are the seabirds, an occasional mullet leaping from the water, and the manatees that come to nurse their young.

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Continued from Page 102 vines in planters, a living room with a pool table and dirty shag carpet, a cathedral ceiling that was much too high, and a fireplace that was a designer’s nightmare.”

Baldwin set to work, and in a mere five weeks, the house was transformed.

The footprint was barely changed, but several of the rooms were reconfigured, and the kitchen was relocated.

The walls were built to create niches for shelves, a long banquette was installed in the dining room, and all the windows were removed and replaced with sliding glass doors. Every room opens out to the gardens.

The most dramatic change was the addition of a second-floor workroom at the south end of the home, accessible via a spiral staircase. This provides a separate office area and gives the home its signature façade, which manages to be classic modernism combined with timeless simplicity.

Baldwin’s insistence on a perfect location has paid off. The living room looks out on the peaceful lagoon, ac-

cessible via a hidden canal that leads to the bay. Sitting out on the terrace is a magical experience. The mangroves hide the neighbors; the only visitors are the seabirds, an occasional mullet leaping from the water, and the manatees that come to nurse their young.

But the home’s most unique feature is the series of outdoor rooms that line each side of the house. Here Baldwin created living spaces with trellises, hedges, cypress fencing, and water features, using his extensive knowledge of tropical plants to create an oasis that might be found in North Africa or China. Bamboo became one of his favorite elements. “Like a gentleman it View from bedroom to the outside arbor. bows to the storm but rises again and always remains green.”

Brad McCourtney had never heard of Ben Baldwin back in 1984 when he was hired by a local magazine to take pictures of the reclusive designer. He was certainly the right person for the job. His portraits of Floridians, some famous politicians, some waitresses and farm laborers, would later grace

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the walls of the Sarasota County administration building.

McCourtney remembers the assignment that changed his life.

“Ben was a real gentleman, quiet, reserved, very dignified. But with a sly, subtle sense of humor.” The two men shared an aesthetic and had the same taste. It turned out that Baldwin had designed the studio of Richard Avedon, who just happened to be McCourtney’s professional role model. And, as for his house, “I had an immediate feeling for the place. I wanted to live in a house like this someday.”

As Baldwin began to work on his book, “An Autobiography in Design,” he hired McCourtney to take photos of his home. The two men continued to be friends until Baldwin’s death in 1993. Someone else bought the house, but almost immediately sold it — to Brad and Sandy McCourtney.

Now, 30 years later they have kept it true to Baldwin’s vision. The crisp, white interior is flooded with sunshine and there’s still an extra-long dining Continued on Page 108

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The home’s most unique feature is the series of outdoor rooms that line each side of the house.

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table like the one Baldwin had. Everywhere you marvel at some detail that delights you. Astonishingly, the home’s original charcoal grey industrial carpet is still in the bedrooms (Baldwin hated the cold terrazzo on his bare feet). It looks none the worse for wear after decades of hurricanes and family living.

With their sons Wilson and Matt grown and off on their own lives, the McCourtneys are finding that their house is more of a refuge than ever. For Brad much of it is a labor of love. He maintains the garden himself. (Baldwin employed two full-time gardeners.) “It’s like a second job,” he notes.

Sandy prefers gazing out over the lagoon. “I sit out there with my morning coffee and the New York Times. Egrets and great blue herons feed in the shallows. You can hear the great strands of bamboo knocking in the wind and an osprey whistle as he dives for another morsel of seafood. Every day I realize how blessed we are.”

Everywhere you marvel at some detail that delights you.

One of Ben Baldwin’s numerous garden statuary.

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ART AND ABOUT

On with Opera!

Sarasota Opera’s winter season spans timeless classics and forgotten gems — and it’s all happening right now.

RICHARD RUSSELL Sarasota Opera’s general director shares insights on the company’s current season and opera’s enduring appeal.

Photo by Herb Booth

BY SU BYRON MANAGING EDITOR Opera. There are some people who can’t get enough of it. There are others who think the art form is snooty and elitist. But Groucho Max was an opera buff, and snobbery just wasn’t his style.

As his character in “Night at the Opera” once said, “And now, on with the opera. Let joy be unconfined. Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons and necking in the parlor.”

Does that sound elitist to you? No. Me, either. And consider this: Sarasota is one of less than 200 communities in the United States to have a resident company with its own dedicated opera house. So what are you waiting for?

Never been and want to try? Sarasota Opera’s Winter Opera Festival is here.

Here’s a quick glance.

‘CARMEN’

Music by Georges Bizet; libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.

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“Carmen” is everybody’s favorite opera (and a great one to start with if you’re new to opera) about a fickle gal and a jealous bullfighter’s unfortunate love for her. As this opera’s iconic song, “Habanera,” points out, “Love is a rebellious bird no one can tame.” No bull.

(Feb. 17-March 22)

‘LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR’

Music by Gaetano Donizetti; libretto by Salvatore Cammarano.

A bride in Scotland takes the low road when she’s promised to a nobleman and not the man she loves. Murder, madness and music ensue, aye. (Feb. 24-March 23)

‘LUISA MILLER’

Music by Giuseppe Verdi; libretto by Salvatore Cammarano.

Luisa and Rodolfo are unlucky in love and tragedy is their fate. What did you expect in an opera? A happy ending?

(March 9-24)

Sarasota Opera’s 2018 production of Carmen.

Sarasota Opera has presented “Carmen” five times before. Will its 2024 production have a new take?

Yes, in many ways. Victor DeRenzi will be conducting this production of “Carmen,” and he always takes a fresh approach.

He’ll be doing a few things differently with the musical text. We’ll also have an all-new cast, and the singers will bring something of themselves to their roles. With any new ensemble of artists, there’s always a new chemistry.

Why did Sarasota Opera decide to present Haydn’s “Deceit Outwitted?”

Because we want our audience to experience works they might not have seen. Although Haydn is a major composer, his operatic work isn’t well known.

“L’infedeltà delusa” languished in a castle library until after World War II. It wasn’t until the 1950s and ’60s that it was performed, and the last professional performance was in 1979.

So, many people will be seeing it for the first time on our stage.

What’s your underlying criteria for putting a season together?

We always seek out relatively popular works. We also look for operas we haven’t done too frequently and that our audience See Russell on Page 112

See Opera on Page 112

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ART AND ABOUT Opera from Page 110

‘DECEIT OUTWITTED’

Music by Joseph Haydn; libretto

by Marco Coltellini.

Sandrina’s in love with a poor peasant, not the rich farmer her father wants her to wed. In Haydn’s comic opera, love conquers all, for a change. (March 15-23) If You Go: 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota; 941-328-1300; SarasotaOpera.org.

Photo by Matthew Holler

say you don’t like something before trying it at least once. Of course, this art form is a lot to take in for a newbie. Opera can be overwhelming to the senses initially. It’s really the first multimedia experience because it encompasses music, drama, sets, costumes, and sometimes dancing — as in the case of “Carmen.”

That reminds me of something the late June LeBell observed as might not have seen. At the same The Observer’s music critic. She time, we don’t want these selec- said the word “opera” derives tions to cover the same ground. from “to work” in Italian. So, It’s like putting together a big when you go to an opera, you puzzle, because we run the four literally get “the works.” winter operas simultaneously.

That’s a great way to put it! I miss June. She was a great lady Let’s say somebody can’t — and she’s absolutely right. stand opera — although they’ve never actually seen one. How I assume that you and Maestro would you change their mind?

DeRenzi have a wish list of operas I firmly believe that you can’t for the Sarasota Opera stage?

Russell from Page 110

OPERA ETIQUETTE: WHEN TO APPLAUD Operas employ silent pauses to build dramatic tension, so exercise caution when applauding. If uncertain about when to clap, simply watch the audience and follow its cues. Otherwise, applaud post-overture, following an outstanding aria or duet, at the culmination of a particularly emotive scene and when singers are on stage for a bow or as the final curtain falls.

Yes, and it’s a long one. There are so many great operatic works that we’d be thrilled to do — or bring back. We’d love to do Verdi’s “Otello” again — and several other Verdi works, as well. Sarasota Opera hasn’t done Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West” in a long time, and we’d definitely like to reprise that. But, again, we have to make our choices work in our big puzzle of a season.

What’s the biggest opera myth that you’d like to debunk?

The myth that opera is elitist. Although the very first operas were written for noble families, it became a form of popular entertainment in Italy and Germany by the 19th century. Everybody went out to the opera back then. And everyone should in our century.

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DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with CELLIST ALISA WEILERSTEIN Jader Bignamini, conductor Monday, Feb 19, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel MICHAEL ABELS Emerge ELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

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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.

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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.

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BEHIND THE MENU

Daniel Garcia of Miguel’s Restaurant Miguel Garcia had a vision for continental cuisine on Siesta Key. His sons keep that vision alive.

BY MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

all-around dining experience. Miguel’s tableside creations are very popular — we make many things right in front of Miguel’s Restaurant was the brainchild our guests. Service is number three. of Miguel Garcia, who was originally We strive to take care of our customers from Málaga in Spain. This cosmo- and always go the extra mile. politan creator also lived and worked in France and Canada before he came Don’t leave Miguel’s to Sarasota. Garcia opened Miguel’s without trying … in 1983 on Siesta Key. The restaurant … our Caesar salad. It’s one of our tahas been renowned ever since for its bleside items. You absolutely have to continental cuisine and French clas- experience it. Our chateaubriand is 20 sics. Miguel’s sons, Gabriel and Dan- ounces of USDA prime center-cut filet. iel Garcia, are keeping their father’s We carve it right in front of you with a legacy alive today. Gabriel, executive whole bouquet of vegetables. Our slowchef, attended culinary school at John- roasted duck is also fantastic. son & Wales and is also a sommelier.

Daniel serves as general manager. He The secret of Chef Gabriel’s recently shared his thoughts about wine selection is ... why Miguel’s consistently receives Knowledge and passion. He’s very into wine, and he tries many different wines critically acclaimed ratings. to find the selections on our list. Our Our father’s core concept vintages are unique — you won’t find for Miguel’s was ... them anywhere else in the region. … to open a French-based restaurant that was also very continental, with When I’m not working, I’m … many different culinary influences. He … well, I’m almost always working was born in Spain and lived in France (laughs). On the few days I’m not, I for many years, so he always took a like to spend time with friends, try new cosmopolitan approach. Dad wanted restaurants, have a glass of wine, and a diverse menu with French cuisine experience new things. I also do a little at its core. That’s what we have at bit of traveling.

Miguel’s to this day.

The three secrets of Miguel’s popularity are …

My culinary inspirations/ heroes are…

… my father and my mother. When . . . our amazing food — that’s first and we were growing up, they let us try so foremost! We have the highest stan- many different foods. Every year, we’d dards and zero compromise. We make travel through Spain and get a taste of Photos by Heidi Kurpiela everything in-house from scratch and Continued on Page 118 Daniel and Gabriel Garcia always have excellence as their standard at Miguel’s. use all the best ingredients. Second, the

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FRESH BEACH DINING SINCE 1993 Scan to see our menu

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BEHIND THE MENU

BY CHARLES FULLER DIRECTED BY CHUCK SMITH

JAN 18 to FEB 18, 2024 Continued from Page 116

LIVE OAK, FLORIDA, 1952.

Spanish cuisine. My dad really opened up our culinary tastes. My mom was a great, great chef. My grandmother in Spain had taught her the art of cooking.

The top restaurants in the world I’d love to visit include ...

… Pétrus in London was a fantastic, Michelin-starred restaurant. But I’m more interested in discovering new places than working on a bucket list of world-famous venues. I like to go off the beaten path to restaurants that create their own authentic food. That’s where my heart is.

THE STORY BEHIND THE SCANDAL. A WORLD PREMIERE

LYRICS BY MICHAEL JACOBS | BOOK BY NATE JACOBS & MICHAEL JACOBS MUSIC BY NATE JACOBS, NEHEMIA LUCKETT, BRENNAN STYLEZ & ANTONIO WIMBERLY | DIRECTED BY NATE JACOBS

How does Miguel’s menu honor your father’s vision?

FEB 28 to APR 7, 2024

My dad wanted a very traditional restaurant — and our menu still reflects that. You’ll find a lot of things you can’t find in modern corporate restaurants.

Our rack of lamb has been on the menu from day one. Our Chicken Champagne was one of Dad’s first chef’s recipes.

Chef Gabriel took the menu to a new level, but we’ve stayed faithful to our father’s core vision. Yes, we’ve added to his legacy. But we’re still walking the path he laid out for us.

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Top: The restaurant’s Les Escargot Bourgogne appetizer comes with toasted crostini and imported French snails prepared in garlic butter, fine herbs and brandy.

Above: Miguel’s Mixed Grille entree consists of three tender lamb chops with mint sauce, veal with Bordelaise sauce and filet mignon with Bearnaise sauce, along with cauliflower, grilled mushrooms and duchess potatoes.

IF YOU GO Miguel’s Restaurant: 6631 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key; 941-349-4024; MiguelsRestaurant.net

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3NATIVES 3Natives - Acai & Juicery takes a healthy twist on the “fast food” mindset by serving healthy and convenient food at an affordable price. This healthy lifestyle cafe is well-known for its fresh and flavorful acai bowls, smoothies, salads, wraps, cold-pressed juices, and more! With 30+ locations and growing, 3Natives is excited to welcome the newest Sarasota area location at The Landings, just opened early November. If you are looking for a healthy, easy, and fast meal, this is the restaurant for you!

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CAFÉ L’EUROPE

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Old World meets New World in a Five-Star-Fun hospitality experience.

Inspired by Europe’s finest bistros, Café L’Europe delivers outstanding hospitality and delicious shareable fare infused with classic technique in a historic setting.

Café is now home to The Wet Bar, our chic lounge where an award-winning wine list and friendly mixologists crafting cocktails greet you over a soundscape of funk-infused jazz.

Café L’Europe is owned by Oysters Rock Hospitality, whose vision of hospitality means ensuring that everyone at their table knows that they belong. Oysters Rock Hospitality also includes the nationally-awarded and locally-beloved Anna Maria Oyster Bars.

431 St Armands Cir, Sarasota (941) 388-4415 | cafeleurope.net

CAFE GABBIANO

5104 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key 941-349-1423 | www.cafegabbiano.com

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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.

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.

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

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FORKED AT WATERSIDE Discover the taste of Forked at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch where every bite is a forkful of flavor. Conveniently located in Waterside Place, at Forked, we have a fun neighborhood feel with an urban, upscale vibe. All of our food is prepared with the freshest and highest quality ingredients. We offer a generous menu selection consisting of traditional American, Hispanic and a French flare. Some tasty menu options include omelets, skillets, tamales, fluffy pancakes, stuffed French toast, sweet and savory crepes, burgers, salads and of course our famous chicken and waffles. Indulge in our innovative cocktails as we have an amazing full bar selection to offer as well!

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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!

NOW SERVING BRUNCH 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM every Sunday

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KEY ENCOUNTERS ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NANCY GUTH

This bronze statue of John Ringling by Tony Lopez stands at the edge of St. Armands Circle overlooking his former kingdom. The figure is balanced on a pedestal, holding a cane in his right hand, a hat in his left. If you could see the world through Ringling’s eyes, what would it look like? The fruits of his labors, that’s what. In 1917, the circus magnate and developer bought every square inch of St. Armands Key, envisioning an upscale shopping plaza around a circular roundabout. Today,

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more than 100 stores and restaurants surround that Circle like a ring of jewels. Ringling’s vision for St. Armands wasn’t limited to commerce; art was at the heart of it. In the 1920s, he had originally brought 16 stone and bronze statues to the Circle. Twenty-one new statues personifying the Sarasota spirit were added in 2007. Ringling is quoted as saying, “Though life is short, art is long.” If he could see the artful legacy he left behind here, we think it would put a smile on his face.

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