Sage Auto Studios presents the annual Exotic Cars on the Circle this weekend.
This free car show is the first of the season taking place on St. Armands Circle, and organizers plan to feature everything from rare supercars to classic McLarens and plenty of other luxury vehicles.
Proceeds benefit the Flight to the North Pole charity, supporting Sarasota and Manatee County-based families with terminally ill children with some holiday-based cheer.
It all takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 at St. Armands Circle Park. Attendance is free, and registration to show a car is $10.
To register, call 941-239-4921 and select 1 for the Lakewood Ranch office, or email Info@ SageAutoStudios.com.
Warehouse closed for month
Those looking to visit the Lord’s Warehouse will have to wait a month as staff do a deep clean of the second-hand store before reopening for the season.
The thrift shop located at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive opened to wide acclaim in February after Hurricanes Helene and Milton badly damaged the facility.
Members of Longboat Island Chapel run the shop, and proceeds go toward supporting community members in need of assistance. Items not immediately sold go toward helping nonprofit organizations in Palmetto.
Dana Kampa
Val Evanko and Joyce Mazurek run the counter at the Lord’s Warehouse.
Christ Church of Longboat Key pastor Julia Piermont addresses attendees of the 2025 edition of the fish fry on Aug. 27. When Piermont moved from the Midwest, her husband said she needed a pirate hat and a pirate name — she chose Longboat Julia and a peacock-feather-adorned hat.
WEEK OF SEPT. 4, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
2,000
“Sarasota Bay is one of the only places in Florida where the water quality is better than it was five years ago.”
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko.
Read more on page 3
Cortez Bridge work moving along
Work continues on a bridge connecting Bradenton Beach to the mainland just north of Longboat Key, with construction on 127th Street West wrapping up recently, according to an update from Manatee County Friday.
A 20-inch water pipe and 24-inch sewer force main pipe are both being relocated by the county to make way for a new bridge which will be constructed by Florida Department of Transportation.
Road closures west of Cortez Bridge are expected to continue through spring 2026 with temporary lane closures expected during construction with flagging operations possibly causing delays. Construction is expected to be completed next summer.
On the east side, construction at the intersection of 127th Street West and Cortez Road is complete and the road is now open to traffic. Other side streets on the south side of
Cortez Road from Avenue A to 124th Street West remain closed while work continues. Pedestrians and cyclists are being asked to use the north side of Cortez Road. Cortez Bridge is the closest connection to Bradenton, South Bradenton and Palmetto for north-end Longboat Key residents. The closest parallel bridge to the north is Anna Maria Island Bridge, which crosses the north end of Palma Sola Bay.
Traffic
stop leads to drug arrests on
Longboat Key
A traffic stop on the north end of the island Sunday night led to the arrest of three people on drug charges on Longboat Key, the town reported. In a news release, Longboat Key authorities said an officer on routine overnight patrol pulled over a vehicle on Gulf of Mexico Drive after noticing its brake lights and running lights were not working.
The town reported the officer detected the smell of marijuana when approaching the vehicle. When back up arrived, a vehicle search uncovered cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, MDMA tablets, THC vaping devices, an imitation handgun, a digital scale and packaging materials, more than $1,200 in cash and multiple cell phones.
Among the charges faced by the trio, which the town did not immediately identify, is possession with intent to distribute.
Swimmer drowns off Anna Maria Island
The body of a 20-year-old swimmer was recovered by a Longboat Key Police Department boat unit Monday, Sept. 1, after the man was pulled out to sea while swimming Sunday.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that two swimmers were seen struggling in the water about 100 yards off shore of Bean Point on Anna Maria Island at about 7 p.m. Sunday. One of the two swimmers was rescued, but a multiagency search ensued to find the other missing swimmer.
“Coast Guard and partner agency crews searched by air and sea for covering approximately 172 square miles, about half the size of Dallas,” a Coast Guard news release states.
On Monday, the Longboat Key Police Department recovered a body, which Manatee County Sheriff’s Office identified as Abhigyan Patel, 20. Rescue efforts were a joint project by multiple agencies across the region, including the Coast Guard.
Sidewalks and shoulders of Cortez Bridge are experiencing closures during Manatee County’s utility relocation project, expected to be complete in summer 2026.
WATCHDOGS OF THE WATER
Volunteers, mangrove health, tech all lead to better water quality.
LESLEY DWYER AND S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITERS
The water has always been an important part of Rusty Chinnis’ life. He grew up fishing off the North Carolina coast with his father in the ’50s and ’60s and has recreationally fished since. Now, Chinnis is using his free time to advocate for the health of the water surrounding his home on Longboat Key.
“I like to fish. I love spending time on the water. None of that works very well if the water isn’t right,” Chinnis said. “We’ve seen more stormwater runoff, algal blooms, water degradation and fish kills. It makes you realize that if we’re not careful and don’t pay attention, we will lose something very valuable.”
Chinnis, who moved to Longboat Key in 1981, got involved with Suncoast Waterkeeper because he said he wanted to give back to the water that has given so much joy to him.
He has consistently been involved, volunteering with the Florida Conservation Association before he worked with Suncoast Waterkeeper.
Chinnis said as board chair for the organization, he does a lot of behindthe-scenes work, educating people about the issues facing Sarasota Bay and lobbying local governments to pass policies that protect it.
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko said local governments have stepped up to protect local waterways, investing heavily to enhance water treatment systems to ensure what is discharged doesn’t greatly harm water quality. That includes the city of Sarasota, Manatee and Sarasota counties, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
“We are seeing $300 million worth of investments in the past five to 10 years. Concurrent with that investment, our water quality got better,”
Tomasko said. “And that’s not a coincidence.”
Tomasko said Sarasota Bay is in a select group of bodies of water monitored by the state that have shown decreased levels of chlorophyl-A levels. Just 15% of those water bodies have shown decreased levels, which are a key indicator of the health of the water.
“Sarasota Bay is one of the only places in Florida where the water quality is better than it was five years ago,” Tomasko said, while in the midst of driving to Key West to talk to a group about that achievement.
Suncoast Waterkeeper has a mission of “defending our local waters and achieving swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for all.” This is done via regular water testing, education, environmental advocacy and litigation when necessary, according to the Suncoast Waterkeeper website. And recently the organization has delved into not only the health of the water, but the health of ecosystems that contribute to the health of that water — mangroves, for instance.
“They’re vitally important for the Suncoast, so that’s why we started being proactive in monitoring them,” Suncoast Waterkeeper executive director Abbey Tyrna said. “Mangrove rangers take a proactive approach.”
PLANT PROTECTORS
Mangroves play an important role in the health of coastal bodies of water, especially in Sarasota Bay. The saltwater-tolerant trees play a multifaceted role. The tangled root systems of the trees dampen the strength of waves, and when densely packed can also reduce the effects of storm surge.
“A hurricane can come through and devastate a protected area (of mangroves). But it’s really nice to know the wind and the waves that were quelled by those mangroves,” Tyrna said. “They were the first line of defense against those hurricanes.”
They provide habitats for small fish, and mangrove forest islands are a favorite hangout spot for seabirds like pelicans, spoonbills and
2025 SARASOTA BAY MANGROVE MAPPING RESULTS
(Mangrove Health Index Scores. Higher numbers indicate a healthier mangrove canopy.)
n Protected site: 59
n Site 1: 63
n Site 2: 36
n Site 3: 88
gulls. Tomasko said another mangrove benefit is that tannins released into the water from the tree’s leaves release hydrogen peroxide, which combats harmful algal blooms.
With all these benefits in mind, Suncoast Waterkeeper is in year two of its “Mangrove Rangers” program. The mission of this effort is to determine the health of mangroves in Sarasota Bay and Palma Sola Bay. Volunteers go out on the bay in teams of four to check on the health of mangroves. A drone pilot takes pictures from above while a boat owner drives and a spotter keeps their eyes peeled for hazards to the drones, which Tyrna says are mostly birds. Once the overhead images are taken, a data manager uses software to evaluate the tree canopy of eight mangrove forests — four in Sarasota Bay and four in Palma Sola Bay.
Middle school teacher Keith Paynter is utilizing his drone pilot’s license to aid in the Mangrove Rangers’ mission. He got his license in 2023 because he wanted to start a drone program for his students at Sugg Middle School in Bradenton. He started teaching sixth and seventh grade science at Braden River Middle School this year.
“I wanted (the students) to learn about drones and what they could do with them,” Paynter said, “They can get (a license) at 16, so in high school, they could have a job making money with drones already.” Drone pilots are in demand for Suncoast Waterkeeper. Tyrna said they assembled five
teams this year, but each year, the program has been limited by the number of drone pilots. Suncoast Waterkeeper provides the drones, but the pilots need to have a license through the Federal Aviation Administration.
With data from two years now logged, there are positives and negatives to note in Sarasota Bay. One site showed a 46% decrease in the canopy caused by the double-whammy of hurricanes that hit in 2024. Others saw improvements, with one site scoring an 88 on the Waterkeeper “mangrove health index score” which is on a scale to 100.
Another site in Sarasota Bay was among the least healthy mangroves to be documented in 2024 because a sewer pipe broke near the site in 2022.
However, those mangroves showed an 8% increase in canopy volume over the past year, and the site received a health score of 63, which is higher than the preserved site this year.
Trimming of mangroves is a concern for advocates.
“Trimming is not great. Our takeaways were that our trimmed mangrove areas are the least healthy of all the mangrove systems that we survey,” Tyrna said.
Chinnis said education about what is allowed when trimming mangroves is an important function of Suncoast Waterkeeper.
He used an example of a real estate listing where the Tealtor wrote that mangroves bordering the home would be removed, which would be against the law.
He said he aims to spread the word about the important functions of mangroves and what is allowed to those who may not be familiar with the benefits of the tree, which grows exclusively in coastal wetlands, tidal estuaries and low energy coastal areas in tropical climates.
“We should be all in this together,” Chinnis said. “Developers shouldn’t be pitted against residents. Mangroves benefit everyone. It’s hard to overemphasize their importance.”
“I like to fish. I love spending time on the water. None of that works very well if the water isn’t right. We’ve seen more stormwater runoff, algal blooms, water degradation and fish kills. It makes you realize that if we’re not careful and don’t pay attention, we will lose something very valuable.”
Rusty Chinnis
S.T. Cardinal
In Sarasota Bay, patches of mangroves commonly dominate small islands, providing habitat for small fish in the trees’ root systems or for seabirds in their branches.
File image
Longboat Key resident Rusty Chinnis is the board chair of the Suncoast Waterkeeper.
Lesley Dwyer
Mote Ranch's Keith Paynter is putting his drone pilot’s license to good use as a volunteer mangrove ranger for Suncoast Waterkeeper.
S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER
It’s been almost a year since Hurricanes Helen and Milton battered Longboat Key, and residents are still rebuilding.
As the process of building back continues amid delays of varying reasons, residents on the north end are asking for an extension of the town’s permit fee waiver.
The town passed an ordinance to waive permit fees for storm damage property repairs, which was originally set to expire in April, and which has since been extended to the end of September. A group of north-end residents has requested to extend that deadline once more as struggles with FEMA, insurance claims and contractor availability have delayed repair work.
things happened. For one, some were close to that FEMA 50% mark, so they weren’t sure for a while whether they could rebuild or tear down. Then you had other folks where they had significant damage, they submitted to insurance and got a first payout, but then wouldn’t get a second payout until a contractor is signed.”
Town Manager Howard Tipton said the number of permit applications for storm-related repair work has decreased more than 90%, but that he understands there are residents who are having issues.
“On behalf of LBK North, we respectfully request that the Commission allow for a special exception waiver beyond September 30th for properties that can demonstrate good-faith efforts to comply. Evidence might include attorney correspondence with insurance companies, documented FEMA-required assessments, or verification from Planning & Zoning staff regarding extraordinary review requirements,” reads an email signed by the LBK North co-Chairs Paul Hylbert, Jim Haft, Jeff Driver and Maureen Merrigan. “Such an extension would directly support those residents for whom the waiver was originally intended — those under the greatest financial and logistical duress as a result of unprecedented hurricane damage.”
Merrigan said if she had to guess, she would say about a dozen northend residents are still rebuilding from the hurricanes.
“I think most people, most folks are on their way, but we definitely heard from a handful of folks that said this September 30 cutoff is too tight,” Merrigan said. “A couple
“Through no fault of their own they’ve been going back and forth with their insurance companies, and it’s been a longer process than anyone anticipated,” he said. “So we are taking a look at carving out a fee waiver for folks in that situation to see if that’s possible.”
Although the town extending the fee waiver again is being considered, Tipton said the move can’t be indefinite. The town’s building department is funded by fees and waiving them for repair work means the town has had to dip into a reserve fund to operate the department.
informed the town that the signs would be removed later that week.
Longboat Key will hear public comment on potential street name change in October.
Now that the Florida Depart-
ment of Transportation has removed street signs marking Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key, the town is planning a public meeting to discuss a potential renaming of the town’s main thoroughfare.
Recently passed state laws specify that the body of water to the west of Sarasota shall be referred to as the Gulf of America, a move prompted
by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to change the name of the body of water. The state law reads in part that “each state agency shall update its geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation of the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America.”
Documents obtained by the Longboat Observer show discussions regarding removing road signs bearing the name Gulf of Mexico began in late July with a phone call to Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman. On Aug. 25, an FDOT representative
“One evening this week, our Traffic Management Contractor (TransCore) will come to the island and remove the “Gulf of Mexico Drive” street name signs that are on the signal mast arms. Based on our discussion, the street name signs that are pedestal mounted, blue with white letters, are property of the town and appear to be out of the right of way. We would like to know what the town’s plan is for those signs,” said FDOT District One Director of Transportation Development Nicole Mills in an email to the town.
On Aug. 26, the green road signs affixed to stoplights were removed, leaving empty brackets. Town Manager Howard Tipton said the blue street name signs, which are governed by the town, will remain for the time being.
Tipton stressed residents don’t
need to take any action following FDOT’s actions and the road is still known as Gulf of Mexico Drive by the U.S. Post Office and locally.
“How the state looks at any reference is the only thing that’s changed,” Tipton said.
The town set up a frequently asked questions page on its website detailing what the FDOT removal of the signs and any potential renaming of the road would mean for residents.
Whether there will be a change to the name of the road will be discussed at a public meeting on Oct.
20. Tipton said FDOT signaled they would not print any replacement signs for the intersections until the town makes a determination on the local name of the road.
“If we want to name it anything other than Gulf of Mexico Drive, they will put a new sign up,” Tipton said.
“But if we keep it as Gulf of Mexico Drive, they will put up a sign that
says State Road 789.”
George Reenstra, a 12-year Longboat Key resident, shared with the town in July that he thought the road should change names to Gulf of America Drive. The suggestion then led to discussion of the potential cost to the town and businesses, but the suggestion didn’t seem to carry weight with commissioners. Reenstra said he was pleased when he heard about FDOT removing the signs, saying he thought it was time for the road name to change.
“Without trying to be political, the president, who was duly elected by our people, has changed it to Gulf of America. That’s what it’s called, whether you like it or not. Google Maps changed it. Aviation maps changed it. In my opinion, it’s called Gulf of America Drive now,” said Reenstra. “I think it gets us on board with how Florida and America is feeling right now. This is our country, and I guess the real question is why not change it.”
The town writes that a detailed cost analysis will be done to determine any potential costs of changing the name of the road before any vote is taken.
Some residents are speaking out against the idea of potentially renaming Gulf of Mexico Drive, with many reaching out to the town voicing their opposition to the idea. The costs to the town, residents and business owners, and the possibility of the body of water being renamed back to Gulf of Mexico three years from now are some of the cited reasons. Greg Parris lives on the south end on Gulf of Mexico Drive and is against the idea of changing the name of the road. He said he thinks doing nothing would be the best course of action for the town.
“I think that resources would be better spent doing things that are more value — added to the residents having to go through changing driver’s licenses and all that,” Parris said.
“We’ve been Gulf of Mexico Drive since before I was born, and I see no reason to change it now. From the township’s point of view, doing nothing is an option. They would have to take affirmative steps to change the name from Gulf of Mexico Drive to something else. In my judgment, if they just did nothing, that would be better than the alternative.”
S.T. Cardinal
A street sign marking the 6000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive owned by the town will remain for now as discussions on whether to rename the main thoroughfare are underway.
St. Armands home lists for
$17.5 million
Casa del Carnevale was built in 1936 in John Ringling Estates.
Abit of classic architecture with its own contemporary flavor and a whimsical name — Casa del Carnevale — was recently listed for sale in John Ringling Estates, priced at $17.5 million.
The marketing and sale of the home at 139 S. Washington Drive is being handled by Judy KepeczHays of Coldwell Banker affiliated Kepecz-Hays Team.
In marketing materials, the Longboat Key-based agent called the property “a rare and exquisite blend of history, elegance, and modern comfort.”
Originally built in 1936, the home was renovated and expanded from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet under roof — 7,800 square feet are under air. Set on three lots with an eastern view of what is now Sarasota’s skyline, the property predates the across-thewater vista of a developed Bird Key to the east, which was only to take place about 20 years later.
An elevator connects two levels of the home that is being sold furnished. There are five bedrooms and six full baths, along with a half-bath.
The 65-foot saltwater pool overlooks the 171 feet of bayfront.
If the home sold for the asking price, it would tie for fourth in the hierarchy of Sarasota County residential price points.
In July, a Longboat Key mansion sold for $30.3 million, Kepecz-Hays represented the buyer in the sale.
In 2024, a condo in the St. Regis Resort on Longboat Key sold for $21 million, the highest price paid on Longboat for a condo.
An 11,275-square-foot waterfront home on Hillview Drive sold in 2024 for $20 million. And an 11,500-square-foot house a couple of blocks down on Hillview sold for $17.5 million in 2022.
Courtesy images
The home at 139 S. Washington Drive in John Ringling Estates is listed for at $17.5 million.
Bay views and the Sarasota skyline are visible from the backyard saltwater swimming pool.
A Century Old Story
A story that began over 100 years ago and is still being written today. Once a beloved landmark, now an enduring icon reborn. Mira Mar is the future of luxury living in Sarasota, grounded in the grandeur of its past, and offering an unparalleled residential experience in the heart of downtown.
One of Sarasota’s few remaining flagships of the great Florida Land Boom of the 1920’s, it is with great pride that we restore the Mira Mar to it’s rightful place as a gleaming icon of Sarasota.
Rising elegantly above South Palm Avenue, the revived and resplendent Mira Mar presents a limited collection of 70 estate-style residences across two 18-story towers. Each home is designed to the highest standards, with sweeping views, refined interiors, and private access to best-in-class amenities.
Mira Mar is more than a residence — it’s a return to grace.
MYSTERIOUS MASTERWORKS
Sarasota Piano Trio hosts ‘(Un)Known’ performance at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.
The Midsummer Music Festival was held at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church because many performing arts organizations go on hiatus during the summer.
Yet the public was still in search of music on Aug. 27, when the series concluded with the “(Un)Known” performance by the Sarasota Piano Trio, to a mostly full auditorium.
The theme of the series is classical music with a twist, and the trio of Jessé Martins on piano, Milene Moreira on violin and Nadine Trudel on cello highlighted some of the "unknowns" in the music world, focusing on lesser-known pieces and in some cases composers.
“We really wanted to play mu-
sic that you don't get to hear a lot, or often, or sometimes ever,” Martins said, describing an area of emphasis for the group since it was formed.
The program consisted of “Sonatensatz” by Franz Schubert, “Lento from Piano Trio” by Cecile Chaminade, “Suite for Piano Trio” by Paul Juon, and "Miniatures" by Frank Bridge.
The trio, comprising three Sarasota Opera members, frequently offers free concerts in the local area.
“It gave me chills. It was absolutely phenomenal,” said attendee Jane Whittlinger. “I wasn’t prepared for something this outstanding.”
— IAN SWABY
“If
of
for the
is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com
Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@YourObserver.com
Staff Writers / S.T. “Tommy” Cardinal TCardinal@YourObserver.com; Dana Kampa, DKampa@YourObserver.com
Digital News Analytics and Marketing Strategist / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com
Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com
Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana
Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com
Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com
Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com
Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com
Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com
Observer Media Group Inc. is locally
Photos by Ian Swaby
Milene Moreira, Jessé Martins and Nadine Trudel
Milene Moreira plays the violin.
Milene Moreira and Nadine Trudel turn the page to the next piece.
Attendees Linda Kenner and Jane Whittlinger applaud the performance.
Jessé Martins takes a bow.
Nadine Trudel packs away her cello, an antique from the year 1770, made by Joseph Hill.
Sarasota area on list of America’s ‘boomtowns’
Lending Tree puts metro area just behind Austin, Orlando.
MARK GORDON BUSINESS OBSERVER
Boomtown is in the eye of the beholder.
That’s a key takeaway from a new report from online financial marketplace LendingTree. Its boomtown report ranked and scored the 100 largest metros across eight metrics grouped into three categories: people and housing; work and earnings; and business and economy. Florida, and in particular three metro areas on the west coast of the state including the Sarasota area, is booming, at least statistically and in comparison to other parts of the country. Of course, that boom, while trumped by LendingTree in the report and celebrated by economic development leaders, has come at a cost, exacerbating affordable housing and cost of living issues in many parts of the region.
The flip side, as LendingTree points out, is that being a boomtown presents opportunities for business — in both potential customers and the hiring pool.
“An influx of business growth may mean greater competition, which could help lower some of the costs of running your business,” says LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz in the report. “It could also mean greater opportunity to partner with other companies when it comes to marketing, training or other aspects of business. It could mean more networking opportunities. The list goes on and on.”
The report looked at data from 2021-23, averaging out each category for a final score. Austin, with an overall score of 72.1, edged out Orlando, at 72, for the No. 1 spot. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton was No. 3, while Cape Coral-Fort
BOOMING
The South, led by Florida, dominated LendingTree’s Boomtown report
1. Austin 2. Orlando
3. North PortSarasota-Bradenton
4. Nashville 5. Cape Coral-Fort Myers
6. Colorado Springs
7. Charleston, South Carolina
8. Lakeland
9. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach
10. Denver
Myers was No. 5 and Lakeland was No. 8. The Deltona-Daytona BeachOrmond Beach MSA was No. 9, giving Florida five of the top 10. (New Orleans, Cleveland and Worcester, Massachusetts occupy the bottom three on the list, for slowest growth.)
The Sarasota-Manatee region, with North Port in south Sarasota County, has some significant growth even among other boomtowns. That includes.
n An 11.8 gain in GDP, fifth-highest nationally
n A 6.5% increase in housing units, 11th-highest nationally
n A 5.9% increase in population, seventh-highest nationally and a larger gain than Austin
The Town of Longboat Key is accepting applications for appointment to the following
All applications must be submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on September 24, 2025. All applicants must be registered voters of the Town of Longboat Key. Appointed individuals will be required to file a financial disclosure form annually. Please call the Town Clerk’s office at 941-316-1999 for an application or if you have any questions. Applications are also available online at www.longboatkey.org. Completed applications may be submitted to:
Town of Longboat Key – Office of the Town Clerk 501 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key, FL 34228
Stephanie Garcia, Deputy Town Clerk II Published: 09-03-2025, 09-17-2025
File image
The downtown Sarasota Farmers Market is one of the region’s big attractions.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
LEAVING THE PODIUM
The Sarasota Music Festival begins its search for a new music director after Jeffrey Kahane steps down.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When Sarasota Orchestra President and CEO Joseph McKenna returns to his office after the long Labor Day weekend, he will have his work cut out for him. He and a committee will begin the search for a new music director of the Sarasota Music Festival following the exit of Jeffrey Kahane on Aug. 25.
Kahane, a Los Angeles-based conductor, pianist, educator and scholar, recently became music director of the San Antonio Philharmonic. During his nine years as music director of the Sarasota Music Festival, he raised its stature and introduced new artists and genres of music.
A summer program of the Sarasota Orchestra, the Sarasota Music Festival has been bringing together internationally recognized faculty members and pre-professional musicians, known as fellows, for 61 years.
Kahane’s departure coincides with the closing of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the de facto campus of the Sarasota Music Festival for 40 years.
In the wake of Kahane’s departure, the festival will be scaled back from three weeks to two in 2026, when it will run from June 1-13. It will be curated by its faculty members. Fellows will be housed at the Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota.
“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to lead the Sarasota Music Festival,” Kahane said in a statement. “The Festival holds a unique and vital place in the musical landscape, and I’m proud of what we’ve created together — especially the extraordinary faculty and transformative experiences we’ve offered our fellows.”
Held each June, the Sarasota Music Festival offers dynamic, innovative
concerts in Holley Hall and the Sarasota Opera House. Its star faculty members play alongside festival fellows, often performing in public for the first time.
In the classical music world, unexpected departures and last-minute schedule changes are a fact of life. Most artists are booked at least two years in advance, but life happens.
“We’re thrilled that Jeffrey gave us nine wonderful years. His work in San Antonio appears to be evolving, and we understand that. Now, it’s time to imagine the future,” Sarasota Orchestra President and CEO Joseph McKenna said in an interview.
A NEW START IN SAN ANTONIO
Kahane is the third director in the festival’s history, following co-founder Paul Wolfe and Robert Levin. But his life has gotten a lot busier since he was first appointed music director of the Sarasota Music Festival in 2016. Kahane was named music director of the San Antonio Philharmonic beginning with the 2024-25 season. It is not uncommon for conductors to hold key positions at more than one institution, particularly if they have different performance schedules, but Kahane’s new job is quite
“The festival holds a unique and vital place in the musical landscape, and I’m proud of what we’ve created together — especially the extraordinary faculty and transformative experiences we’ve offered our fellows.”
Jeffrey Kahane
SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL TIMELINE
There have only been three music directors in the festival’s 61-year history.
1965 Sarasota Music Festival cofounded at New College of Florida.
1984
Florida Legislature designates the Sarasota Music Festival as the “Official Teaching and Performing Festival of the State of Florida.”
1977 Festival expands to three weeks.
1985
Sarasota Music Festival merges with Florida West Coast Symphony.
2006
2008
Florida West Coast Symphony rebrands in 2008 as Sarasota Orchestra.
2016
demanding. The San Antonio Philharmonic was formed in 2022, following the dissolution of the San Antonio Symphony, and it is attempting to build on the city’s legacy of classical music while reflecting its diverse population. In 2025, the orchestra moved into its new home, the Scottish Rite Auditorium.
In addition to his duties in San Antonio, Kahane is a faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he teaches small classes of gifted students and coaches. He also accepts guest conducting and piano solo engagements at orchestras around the world.
Finding a music director who is the right fit for a festival or an orchestra can be a painstaking affair. It took the Sarasota Orchestra two years to locate a successor to Music Director Bramwell Tovey. The beloved conductor died unexpectedly in 2022, less than a year after he was hired to the position. As they vetted candidates for the maestro job, the Sarasota Orchestra brought potential music directors to town as guest conductors to see how they interacted with musicians and audiences. In 2024, the pow-
2017
2020 Festival canceled due to COVID-19.
2024
2025
Courtesy images
Jeffrey Kahane spent 20 seasons as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra before being appointed music director of the Sarasota Music Festival in August 2016. He currently leads the San Antonio Philharmonic.
Robert Levin succeeds Paul Wolfe, who retires as artistic director of the Sarasota Music Festival.
Paul Wolfe dies.
Paul Wolfe was co-founder the Sarasota Music Festival. He was also music director of the organization now known as the Sarasota Orchestra for 34 years, retiring in 1996.
Photo by Rachel O’Hara Robert Levin was the second director of the Sarasota Music Festival.
Jeffrey Kahane becomes music director of the Sarasota Music Festival, succeeding Robert Levin, who continues to teach, lecture and perform at the festival.
Sarasota Music Festival celebrates its 60th birthday.
Jeffrey Kahane steps down as music director.
Jeffrey Kahane
Sarasota Music Festival 2023 fellows Ellen Hayashi, Ray Wyant, Melanie Chen and Daniel Itzkowitz relax with their instruments.
ers-that-be
The 2025-26 season will mark Guerrero’s first season as full-time maestro in Sarasota. Last year, the charismatic conductor, who spent his childhood in Costa Rica, held the title of music director designate. He is the seventh music director in the Sarasota Orchestra’s history.
All of which is to say that Kahane will not be replaced overnight. The search committee will include Sarasota Orchestra management, board members, musicians and other stakeholders, McKenna says.
In addition to steering the Sarasota Music Festival through the COVID-19 shutdown, which resulted in the loss of the 2020 festival, and managing the festival’s recovery from the pandemic, Kahane expanded the roster of faculty members. He also recruited internationally known chamber ensembles to perform, collaborate with and coach festival fellows. Among those ensembles are the Attacca, Calidore, Borromeo and the Pacifica string quartets, as well as the Montrose Trio.
Kahane expanded the festival’s agenda to include the teaching and performance of world music, jazz and folk music, with violinist/fiddler Tessa Lark and cellist Mike Block taking center stage during the past two summers.
“As we celebrate the past success of the festival, we also come together to envision our next chapter based on the solid foundation built by a rich legacy of artistic leaders: Paul Wolfe, Robert Levin and Jeffrey Kahane,” said Tom Koski, Sarasota Orchestra board chair.
In addition to co-founding the Sarasota Music Festival at New College of Florida in the mid-1960s, Wolfe spent more than three decades as artistic director and conductor of the Florida West Coast Symphony, which rebranded in 2008 as the Sarasota Orchestra. The festival and symphony merged in 1985. Wolfe died in 2016.
Levin, the festival’s second music director, has been a faculty artist since 1979 and delivers an annual lecture that bears his name. He is
considered one of the world’s leading experts on improvisation in classical music, which he has demonstrated in recent years during his concerts at the festival, with the encouragement of Kahane, an advocate of improvisation.
Kahane is also a passionate champion of new, or contemporary, classical music, loosely defined as having been composed during the past 50 years.
A native of Los Angeles, Kahane is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano. After private studies with John Perry, Kahane went on to be a finalist in the 1981 Van Cliburn Competition, and his piano career began in earnest after he won the Grand Prize at the Arthur Rubinstein International Competition in 1983. Following that achievement, he began making solo appearances both in recitals and with major orchestras around the world.
Kahane made his conducting debut in 1988, at the Oregon Bach Festival. He was the music director of the Santa Rosa Symphony for 11 years and the Colorado Symphony for five years.
For two decades ending in 2017, he served as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Among the career highlights Kahane cites in his official online bio are concertos with the New York Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony, recitals with Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua Bell, European tours conducting the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and collaborations with the Emerson, Miró, Dover, Attacca and Calidore String Quartets.
A FATHER-SON COLLABORATION
Recently, Kahane has been collaborating with his son, Gabriel Kahane, on “Heirloom,” a three-movement concerto written by the younger Kahane that honors the history of their family, beginning with the escape from Nazi Germany of Jeffrey’s mother.
When “Heirloom” was performed at the 2025 Sarasota Music Festival, Gabriel conducted the festival orchestra while his father played piano. On Oct. 10, Nonesuch Records will release a recording of “Heirloom” made at Carnegie Hall in May 2024. Jeffrey Kahane played
“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to lead the Sarasota Music Festival.”
Jeffrey Kahane
piano in that concert along with The Knights, a Brooklyn-based orchestra collective, under the direction of Eric Jacobsen.
Even though he is stepping down from the Sarasota Music Festival, Kahane has agreed to be a guest soloist with the Sarasota Orchestra in the 2026-27 season. McKenna says he is “confident” that Kahane will return to the festival in the future as a teacher and a performer.
Coming back home to the Sarasota Music Festival is a tradition of sorts.
Fellows often return as faculty members as their careers evolve. Among the alumni who have recently come back to teach and perform are violinists Sandy Yamamoto and Elena Urioste and cellist Karen Ouzounian.
Some festival fellows are even asked to join the Sarasota Orchestra.
Among them are Hugo Bliss, who joined the orchestra as co-principal horn player in the 2024-25 season.
One reason the Sarasota Music Festival is so popular with arts patrons is that its master classes and rehearsals are open to the public and can be attended for as little as $5.
Well-wishers from the community often deliver food to the fellows to
keep them well fed as they rehearse in Holley Hall at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, a pleasant stroll from the nearby Hyatt Regency.
“We really lost what felt like a campus when the Hyatt closed,” McKenna says.
The location of the Sarasota Music Festival will also move with the arrival of the Sarasota Orchestra’s new Music Center.
The project near the intersection of I-75 and Fruitville Road is expected to break ground in 2027 and open for the 2029-30 season.
An anonymous $60 million donation has been pledged to the project, estimated to cost between $375 million and $425 million.
While the Music Center will contain state-of-the-art facilities for the Sarasota Orchestra, its children’s programs and the Sarasota Music Festival, it will not offer housing for visiting artists.
“Housing is a problem for everyone in Sarasota right now,” McKenna says, adding that when the time comes, beds will be found for festival fellows near the new music center.
Image courtesy of Jason Quigley
Gabriel Kahane conducted his concerto "Heirloom," during the 2025 Sarasota Music Festival, while his father played piano.
Jeffrey Kahane performed, conducted and taught during his nine years as director of the Sarasota Music Festival.
No one will ever call comedian Mike Paramore a loser. Winning is his thing. He’s the winner of Laughing Devil Festival in NYC, the Laugh Fest’s Best in the Midwest competition and Best of the Fest Big Pine Comedy Festival. He’s been featured on AXTV’s Live at Gotham in NYC, and is a featured comedian on FOX’s hit show “Laughs.”
OUR PICK
MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT THE CABARET
The sounds of Brazil will waft through the Court Cabaret as drummer Thomas Carabasi leads a group of accomplished musicians in interpreting the music of Jobim’s homeland, as well as perform American straight ahead jazz classics. Carabasi’s travels have taken him to the land of bossa nova to learn about its music and culture. He will be joined by Patrick Bettison on harmonica, John O’Leary on piano, Alejandro Arenas on bass and Allison Nash on vocals. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and beverage service.
IF YOU GO
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8
Where: FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265. First St. Tickets: $39 and up Info: Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.
‘BIG SEXY: THE FATS
WALLER REVUE’
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. 1012 N. Orange Ave. $52; students younger than 25 and active military, $22 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatreTroupe. org.
Don’t let this summer cabaret show pass you by. “Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue” is not part of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s subscription series, but it’s got a lot of bang for the buck. The show tells how the life of Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller inspired WBTT leading man Leon S. Pitts II. With no less than 30 songs, “Big Sexy” recreates the days of rent parties and speakeasies in Harlem and brings the eternal mating dance to life with the catand-mouse antics of Pitts and diva Ariel Blue. Through Sept. 7.
‘A BAND CALLED HONALEE’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 Palm Ave. $39 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
The subtitle to Florida Studio Theatre’s last cabaret show of the season is “A Tribute to Peter, Paul Mary … and Friends,” but any selfrespecting folk rock fan can spot the play on words in the name “A Band Called Honalee.” ICYMI, it refers to the mythical land made famous by the children’s song “Puff the Magic Dragon.” The incarnation of the Band Called Honalee appearing in Sarasota includes Brian Ott, a veteran of FST’s “59th Street Bridge,” who has been touring with the group since 2019. Also on stage are Michael Grieve, Geoffrey Neuman and Sigrid Wise. Runs through Oct. 26.
‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether she’s singing songs made famous by
Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she leaves the audience with something they never knew before. What’s more, her cool costumes evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.
‘DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $42 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Even the best laid plans for adultery can go awry, especially when a jealous wife sees an opportunity for a little hanky-panky of her own with her husband’s best friend. Written by Marc Camoletti (“Boeing-Boeing”) and Robin Howdon, “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is a high-speed farce sure to shake anyone out of their summer torpor. Runs through Sept. 7.
FRIDAY
‘DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL’
7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice $40 Visit VeniceTheatre.org.
By popular demand, Venice Theatre revives its tribute to TV theme songs, Roger Bean’s “Don’t Touch That Dial,” which uses a gameshowwithin-a-gameshow format. If you’re the kind of person who remembers the opening song to “Hawaii Five-O,” this one’s for you. Runs through Sept. 14.
MONDAY
FOGARTYVILLE
SONGWRITER SERIES
7 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $10; $8 for members; $5 for students WSLR.org.
VH-1 had “Behind the Music.” Well, our very own Fogartyville has a series that gives music fans the chance to hear singers playing in the round, sharing stories and describing their artistic process. Taylor Opie hosts featured artists Briana Lutzi and Jamie Tremps.
DON’T MISS
‘THE HIGH LIFE: CONTEMPORARY
PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE BIRDS’
Organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, the exhibition features 70 breathtaking works of birds in a variety of locales, including the wild, the studio and the museum. The show is curated by William Ewing and Danaé Panchaud, the same team that brought “Flora Imaginaria” to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 2022. The photos are displayed in the Museum of Botany & the Arts and outside throughout the gardens, where some appear right at home in Selby’s tropical paradise overlooking Sarasota Bay. Runs through Sept. 14.
IF YOU GO When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6
Where: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. Tickets: $28; $23 online Info: Visit Selby.org.
TUESDAY
‘ART DECO: THE GOLDEN AGE OF ILLUSTRATION’
10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
The Sarasota Art Museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the exposition that kicked off the Art Deco movement. More than 100 eyecatching posters from the Crouse Collection, as well as industrial furniture, home furnishings and other objects loaned by the Wilsonian-Florida International University are on display. Through March 29, 2026.
BLUE MAN GROUP–BLUEVOLUTION WORLD TOUR n .......... Tue-Wed | 1/13-14/26 | 7PM
REVISITING CREEDENCE n ... Thur | 1/15/26 | 7PM KANSAS n ........................................ Fri | 1/16/26 | 7PM
SOME LIKE IT HOT n ............ Wed-Sun | 1/21-25/26
RIVERDANCE 30–THE NEW GENERATION n .......... Tue-Thur | 1/27-29/26 | 7PM THE BEAT GOES ON n ................. Sun | 2/1/26 | 7PM MJ: THE MUSICAL n ................. Tue-Sun | 2/3-8/26 THE CHOIR OF MAN n ............. Wed | 2/11/26 | 7PM CHRIS BOTTI n ............................. Tue | 2/17/26 | 7PM
RENÉE FLEMING n ........................ FRI | 1/9/26 | 7PM
MUTTS GONE NUTS–UNLEASHED n ................... SAT | 1/10/26 | 1PM/5PM
TANGO AFTER DARK n ............. SUN | 1/11/26 | 7PM
2/25/26
Photo by Matthew Holler
Joseph McGlennon's 2021 photo "Pollen 1" is part of "The High Life" exhibition at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
Jazz Club of Sarasota names first development director
The Jazz Club of Sarasota has appointed Danielle La Senna as its first director of development. The new position will focus on expanding the Jazz Club’s reach, building partnerships and acquiring resources to sustain and expand its programs.
Freeway, an online portal that makes it easy for filmmakers to submit their productions to a variety of film festivals.
Among the Higher Realm Festival’s selections are the documentary “Bill W. Conscious Contact,” about the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, “Nature Provides,” a doc about the healing power of plant stem cells, and “Earth Wisdom Spirit Call,” a cri de coeur for humans to live in harmony with the planet.
BRIEFS
“This role is essential to deepening our community connections, fostering meaningful partnerships and ensuring the support needed to keep jazz thriving for regional audiences of all ages,” said Jazz Club President Ed Linehan in a statement.
Founded in 1980, Jazz Club of Sarasota produces the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival and presents jazz performances in collaboration with Florida Studio Theatre (Monday Night at the Cabaret), Unitarian Universalists of SRQ (Jazz at Two on Fridays) and the Sarasota Art Museum (Jazz Thursdays at SAM).
Linehan notes that the appointment of La Senna followed an extensive search and that experience as a Jazz club board member was a plus.
A vocalist and arts administrator, La Senna earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and a master’s in arts education from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
She began her career performing jazz, musical theater and classical music in New York City, and was director of adult education at The Juilliard School for more than a decade.
Since moving to Florida in 2019, La Senna has overseen operations for continuing studies at Ringling College of Art and Design and directed arts education at Sarasota Art Museum.
Most recently, she was executive director of the Choral Artists of Sarasota, where she focused on marketing and development, and facilitated the group’s recent merger with Via Nova Chorale.
“I’m delighted to be working with the Jazz Club in this new role,” said La Senna in a statement. “There’s so much potential to further its mission — bringing jazz to the community and supporting musicians of all ages.”
With La Senna on board to lead fundraising, the Jazz Club is also expanding its physical footprint. On Sept. 1, the organization will move into new headquarters at 2000 Webber St., a first-floor office complex with parking, meeting space and room for future growth.
New film festival planned for Burns Court Cinema
There is a huge market off the beaten path of Hollywood blockbusters and violence-driven franchises, and the inaugural Higher Realm Festival wants to tap it.
The festival will debut Sept. 17-18 at Burns Court Cinema. It is the brainchild of Higher Realm Ministry, a husband-and-wife team that claims to have created a community of “Divine Love, Light, Healing and Connection for all.”
The Higher Realm Festival is being presented in partnership with Film
“Cartapesta: Carnival of Fano,” a 90-minute documentary about an Italian form of papier mache, will capture the imagination of those with an interest in arts and crafts.
The tent of the Higher Realm Festival is a big one indeed, as long as the content is uplifting. Ticket prices are $10 per film, but festival passes are available.
For more information, visit HigherRealmSarasota.com.
Debbie Durham’s “Peter Pan Into the Light” won Best in Show in Selby Gardens’ 45th annual juried photography exhibit.
Selby Gardens announces winners of juried photo exhibition
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 45th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition, presented in partnership with the Observer Media Group, is now online in a virtual gallery that can be viewed by visiting Selby.org and YourObserver.com.
The show includes nearly 300 photographs taken by photographers at Selby Gardens’ two campuses, one downtown and the other at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey.
Prizes were awarded to top photographs in the exhibition, with the Best in Show honor going to Debbie Durham and her photo, “Peter Pan Into the Light.” The virtual exhibition will remain on view through Sept. 30.
Jennifer Rominiecki, president & CEO of Selby Gardens, said in a statement, “We’re deeply honored that nearly 300 gifted artists chose to express their vision of the natural beauty found in our two bayfront sanctuaries. This virtual exhibition offers a stunning glimpse into the diverse landscapes and living art that make Selby Gardens such a special place.” In addition to Best in Show, awards for first place were given in each of the five exhibition categories:
n Living Art: “Natural Curves,”
Allyson Galuska
n Make a Splash: “Harmonic” Joseph Sidenberg
n Plant Portraits: “ Life in the Water,” Stan Jernigan
n The Birds and the Bees:
“Sunflower Story: Reflections of a Pollinator,” Jessie Williams
n Black & White: “In Harmony with Nature,” Lisa Harris
Courtesy images Danielle La Senna
TRUCK DRIVES
FAMILY TRADITION
St. Armands Italian restaurant uses a food truck to rebuild from storm damage.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Two thousand meatballs.
That’s how many the kitchen team at Buonissimo Mobile Italian Kitchen prepared for the food truck’s first event, and that’s how many they sold.
The Italian food truck is a venture the Salustri family undertook to help them move ahead with rebuilding and reopening an iconic St. Armands Circle restaurant under a new name.
Many Longboat Key families have made indelible memories over Christmas dinners and wedding receptions hosted at this Circle institution. Umberto Salustri opened Le Colonne Italian restau-
rant in 1998, and over the decades, he and his family have taken pride in feeding residents and visitors dishes inspired by their heritage from the Anzio region south of Rome.
Like many neighboring businesses, the restaurant sustained catastrophic damage from back-to-back
Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
As Salustri’s daughter-in-law
Amber Mayner describes, the floodwaters were strong enough to completely flip over a 1,000-pound stove.
“When we first came in, the damage was just shocking,” she said. “The windows were blown out, and grease overflowed from the flooded traps. Furniture was everywhere.”
But somehow a plate of her sisterin-law’s homemade cookies survived up on a ledge.
The storms were a significant blow to the restaurant, which had already started investing in rebuilding by the time Milton hit less than two weeks later.
However, Mayner and Umberto’s
son, Simone, decided they wouldn’t let his 86-year-old father’s legacy fall by the wayside.
They came up with a creative way to financially rebuild the brick-andmortar location. They opened up a food truck under the name Buonissimo Mobile Italian Kitchen.
“We realized we weren’t going to reopen right away, and Simone’s whole life was here at the restaurant,” Mayner said. “We didn’t know what we were going to do. But we used to joke around about food trucks all the time.”
She continued, “But then, we did have some friends who had a food truck and encouraged us to try it out.”
Longtime supporters of the business helped the family secure the food truck, and the pair jumped into the venture.
She said they prepared approximately 2,000 meatballs and countless other ingredients for their first event, the New Year’s Eve Downtown Sarasota Pineapple Drop.
“It was crazy. We were there from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m.,” she said. “We prepared for an army.”
They managed to sell out.
“It was then that we knew we were going to make it,” Mayner said, attributing the success to Simone’s skills in the kitchen.
It wasn’t necessarily an easy undertaking. But it gave them the boost they needed to move forward with renovating the previous Le Colonne location at 22 S. Boulevard of the Presidents. Rebranded as “Nōnnō Umberto,” the Italian restaurant will now focus on being a seafood and steakhouse.
Simone, who was 18 when the restaurant first opened, said he aims to keep the classic charm of the original location while incorporating a fresh look and new dishes.
“The atmosphere is always going to be family oriented,” Simone said.
“When we opened, this used to be the fine dining of Sarasota. People would fly in from New York just to eat here. We’ll always be a high-end Italian place, but we’re shifting focus to highlight the seafood and the steak, and make it more contemporary.”
When the restaurant opened in 1998, it started out in one unit in the Circle.
“It was a tiny restaurant, and it was always packed,” Mayner said.
Years later, it expanded to three units in total, with plenty of space for family events, neighborhood meetings and more.
Umberto’s sisters eventually traveled from Italy to help at the restaurant, Mayner said.
“Simone’s father was always busy making the pasta by hand,” she said, noting it was a mix of Northern and Southern Italian dishes — balancing Umberto’s favorites with what diners were willing to try at the time.
Shrimp cocktail with a special sauce, veal chops, homemade lasagna and osso buco topped the list of customers’ favorites.
“Everything is still done the classic way,” she said.
Simone said Nōnnō Umberto will still feature large tables for catering events, and the brick oven installed by a Neapolitan master artisan years ago. Simone said it was the first such oven built in Florida.
“That will be here long after me, longer than all of us,” he said with a laugh.
Though Umberto has retired, Simone said he knows his father is looking forward to the reopening day. The family is still working with contractors on the timeline, but they hope to open before Christmas so they can once again welcome longtime friends to partake in a holiday meal.
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY BUONISSIMO MOBILE ITALIAN KITCHEN
The food truck often frequents Lakewood's Ranch Nite Wednesdays and other events. Check Facebook.com/EatOrganicoAuthenticItalian. For booking, contact Buonissimo Mobile Italian Kitchen at 941-263-9809.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Simone Salustri and Amber Mayner started a new food truck, Buonissimo Mobile Italian Kitchen, to keep the family legacy of serving Italian food to the community, while they work to rebuild the former Le Colonne.
ARTFUL CONNECTIONS
Networking event showcases recently renovated space in St.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Abusiness networking event on Aug. 28 boasted a striking backdrop.
“Everything is so beautiful,” said attendee Nancy Taussig of Wright Accounting as she browsed the works inside Wyland Gallery.
During Off the Clock Networking at Wyland Gallery, the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce invited its members to network and connect in the gallery on St. Armands Circle.
Attendees had the chance to browse the works of art, including those by artist Robert Wyland, who is known for his outdoor murals of whales and other sea life.
The event allowed the gallery to showcase its recently renovated space, which gallery owner Guy Vincent called the “perfect” platform for the event.
Vincent said the damage during Hurricane Helene provided the first opportunity for the gallery to be fully renovated after 27 years.
The black floor, pedestals and ceiling were replaced with lightercolored material, and new features. Vincent says after the renovation proved popular, it was performed in the Key West location he also owns.
Ellen Thomas, the chamber event coordinator, said the organization has been looking to make its events
interesting for its members, and “maybe a little different” from what it has done in the past.
“It’s such a creative environment and such a great vibe, and I saw smiles on most people’s faces,” she said, noting guests also had the chance to learn about the art. “I think it was really an added element, and I think Guy went out of his way to make it that way.”
Andrew Vac of Re/Max introduces Guy Vincent.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Nancy Taussig looks at the artwork.
Maria Aguilar and Sheila Lee
Lyndie Parks and Jen Braden look at Katlyn Deak’s prize.
REAL ESTATE BY REAL EXPERTS
ADOPT DON’T SHOP
Full Mouth Implant Dentistry
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4 PREP YOUR SANDBAGS
8-11 a.m. at the Broadway Beach Access, 100 Broadway St. The peak of the hurricane season is typically in early September, and Longboat Key is playing its part in helping home and business owners be prepared to guard against flooding. Those with proof of residency on Longboat Key can get 10 bags of sand per household or shop. Participants can bring their own containers as well. Contact Public Works at 941-316-1988 with questions.
RECURRING EVENTS
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-6493.
TUESDAYS
POP-UP LIBRARY
10 a.m. at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. The Sarasota County Pop-Up Library hosts services on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with story-time beginning at 10:30 a.m. and other services available from 10-11:30 a.m.
BEST BET
SUNDAY, SEPT. 7
YOGA IN THE PARK
9-10 a.m. at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle.
Returning for the season, this slow-flow yoga class focuses on stretching, relaxing and strengthening skills. Designed for all experience levels. Those younger than 18 need an adult companion. Free and open to the public. Bring a mat or towel and water. Email Paige@ YogaWithPaige.us or visit YogaWithPaige.us for more information.
SATURDAYS RUN CLUB
7 a.m. at Sips coffee shop, 6830 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Join this newly formed community running club for a morning jog at your own pace. The group is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
Seaside of Longboat Key condo tops week’s sales at $3.3 million
ADAM HUGHES
RESEARCH EDITOR
Josephine Shoulson and Richard Friedrich, trustees, of Devon, Pennsylvania, sold the Unit 2 condominium at 4473 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Robert and Debra Jensen, of Longboat Key, for $3.3 million. Built in 1959, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,943 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.85 million in 2007.
Mark and Sally Jean Hale, trustees, of Phoenix, sold the
at 2450 Harbourside Drive to Sandra Kamin, trustee, of Chicago, for $1.55 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 2,830 square feet of living area. It sold for $1 million in 2019.
THE AQUARIUS CLUB
Kim Cerullo and Robert Geist, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 5-B condominium at 1701 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Mario and Ann Marie Govic, of Los Angeles, for $1.5 million. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,551
SEAPLACE Leonard Dale Guyer and Valerie Guyer, of Fishers, Indiana, sold their Unit M1-515-G condominium at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Sarah Wise, of New Rochelle, New York, for $625,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,076 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2018.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
Image courtesy of Realtor Roger Pettingell
The Unit 2 condominium at 4473 Gulf of Mexico Drive was built in 1959 and has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,943 square feet of living area.
COD DOWN
astor Julia Piermont donned a peacock-feather-adorned blue pirate hat as she addressed church members before they dug into their plates of fried cod at Christ Church on Aug. 27.
Piermont prayed, thanking God for the people who came to the annual social event, for nature and, of course, the fish. “You had some experience with fish,” she said during the prayer, alluding to Bible tales like “the miraculous catch of fish.”
Christ Church also has experience with fish. Mark Huber, George Rauch, Sally Rauch and Lucia Eihlein served the fish from behind a counter before attendees fixed their plates with side items from mac and cheese to pasta salad. The four have been fixtures at the annual fish fry, which dates back to 2012.
When the fish fry was still new and small, George and Mark would go out on the water and catch trout for the social event. As it grew, they switched to storebought cod, which shined thanks to Huber’s recipe and frying talent.
“The best way to fix Florida fish is to use flour, roll it in flour, then eggwash, then Japanese bread crumbs, then saute it in butter and olive oil and season it with Old Bay,” Huber shared.
After dinner, church members helped themselves to an array of cakes and pies baked by Jim Seaton, a crowd favorite.
— S.T. CARDINAL
Photos by S.T. Cardinal
Eleanor McConnell fixes her plate at Christ Church of Longboat Key's annual fish fry.
Joe Deugenio and Patty Buck
Joyce and Jerry Fox
Chris and Cheryl Mills
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6 High:
TIDES SUNRISE /
MOON PHASES
MIND YOUR MANORS by Dylan Schiff, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.
