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CONTENTS

SUMMER 2017

FEATURES

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LWR LIFE

HAPPY CAMPER The great outdoors provides an escape from life’s chaos.

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DISH IT OUT Succulent salads perfect for a refreshing summer meal.

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LWR MOMS It takes a village to raise a child — or maybe a whole community.

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DEPARTMENTS 18 FROM THE EDITOR

40 50

23 BUZZ Lakewood Ranch reaches a milestone in development, learn more about the medical school that calls the area home and say hello to the new community activities director.

40 CLASS ACT High school senior Carling Landeche is out to change the world — one cause at a time.

44 CHARITY SNAPSHOT Her husband’s death brought grief, but it also brought Melissa Wandall her life’s mission.

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50 CALENDAR See all the events Lakewood Ranch has cooking this summer.

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56 STYLE How four fashionistas create their signature styles.

77 HAVEN A behind-the-screens tour of some of the area’s top outdoor oases.

88 GARDENING Planting a community garden takes more than soil and seeds.

Get organized to ensure a successful harvest.

94 RANCH SCENE Lakewood Ranch Community Fund Gala celebrates philanthropy.

98 PARTING GLANCE

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LWR LIFE

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LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Just like the good ol’ days

Happy campers in Lake Manatee State Park.

O

ften times, I hear parents lamenting about the good ol’ days, when we grew up without many of the pressures today’s youngsters face.

No Facebook or social media. No cell phones. No high-stakes tests or packed schedules.

Things have changed.

That’s why I found the two stories from Managing Editor Heidi Kurpiela in this issue so refreshing.

In the first (“Happy Camper,” Page 60), she relays a few moments of bliss as she takes her kids out of the chaos of her St. Petersburg home to experience the great outdoors in Lake Manatee State Park.

Aside from simplifying things during her brief reprieve with pancakes on the grill for dinner and a bedtime process that just required blankets and cuddling, it also provided a break from the grind we experience in our daily urban lives.

These changes of pace can help us

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LWR LIFE

Lakewood Ranch Moms Group member Cassie Boyle with son, Mikey.

appreciate some modern conveniences, yes, but they also remind us of how much we can be out of sync with nature (Kurpiela rightly cites Thoreau’s “Walden”).

Luckily, Lakewood Ranch makes it easy to get reconnected. You don’t have to go to Lake Manatee (although we highly recommend it). You can explore ponds and trails in the backyard of your very own neighborhood.

It’s also still a place where kids can play on their streets and sidewalks like we used to growing up. Like little gangs of tiny people, we would roll through the neighborhood on our bikes like we owned the place. In our minds, we did.

Of course, it’s also good to know when you have free-range kids that someone is keeping an eye on them. That leads us to Kurpiela’s second story (“Maternal Instincts,” Page 72), about the Lakewood Ranch Moms Group.

This group of women — 300 members strong — comes together to alternately find ways of keeping children occupied, contribute to causes and be a communal source of knowledge to

help navigate the many mysteries of child-rearing.

But its most significant purpose and role is to provide a place of support for fellow mothers. This takes many forms, including giving a mom a break for an hour, lending an understanding ear or even providing meals for those who could use an extra hand.

These are the things that transform a development into a community, a group of streets into a neighborhood, a house into a home. Although we look at things like floor plans, amenities and cost when we choose where to live, sometimes these intangibles become the most important factor in enriching our day-to-day lives.

Susan Meyers, one of the moms in Kurpiela’s story, put it best: “In a way, the group becomes your family,” she says. “When you find a group a people who say, ‘Yep, me too,’ it’s like finding your tribe.”

What’s a better intangible than that?

Kat Hughes Executive Editor

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BUZZ

NEWS, HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE

Lakewood Ranch continues its transition from cows to communities.

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23

BY THE NUMBERS

86

Height, in feet, of the observation deck on the top floor of the finish tower.

$5.8 million

Cost to develop the tower, paid for by the Nathan Benderson Family Foundation

8

Days the building will be used for the 2017 World Rowing Championships

6

Floors of the finish tower, including roof

25,745

Total square footage of the finish tower structure

9,000

Square footage of the tower that’s air conditioned

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Ready, Set, Row

BY LWR LIFE STAFF

J

ust like the athletes competing in the 2017 World Rowing Championships, construction crews and members of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates are feverishly preparing to make sure they’re ready for the event in September.

The most visible of those efforts is the six-story tower that overlooks the finish line at Nathan Benderson Park, where the championships will be held Sept. 24 through Oct. 1. Work began on the tower nearly two years ago, when SANCA, the nonprofit that manages the park, broke ground on the project Aug. 20, 2015.

Aside from providing the park with a practical structure in which to judge the races and accommodate spectators, the finish tower is a symbol of the world-class approach SANCA has taken to the park and the event.

Nearly complete, the 25,745-square-foot, Guy Peterson-designed building with blue-tinted glass stands gleaming on the island beach of the lake.

“We wanted to create something iconic to the park,” said Bob Whitford, director of facilities and operations for SANCA, during a tour of the tower in March.

In addition to serving as the command center for the World Rowing Championships event, the tower will host SANCA offices and have several spaces available for rent to the community. From meeting rooms to floors with reception areas and balconies, the tower is flexible enough to be used for a variety of gatherings, officials say.

“This gets us to a new level,” said Bob Sullivan, SANCA president, during the March tour. “This is where you want to be. This is the Yankee Stadium.

We are setting a standard for the rest of the country to follow.”

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25

Photos by Berkley Mason

Agricultural uses, such as cattle grazing on land off Lorraine Road, will become rarer as Schroeder-Manatee Ranch continues to develop its 50 square miles of land into housing.

THE NEXT PHASE Lakewood Ranch is abuzz with building activity, but it is only one-third through its plan for completion.

BY JAY HEATER | CONTRIBUTOR

E

arly in the morning, a hint of fog rises from both sides of Lorraine Road where it cuts across Lakewood Ranch. Although more cars have discovered the north-

south corridor as the roads to the west get busier during rush hour, Lorraine Road remains a scenic trail that emphasizes this area, indeed, had been more connected with lumber, beef and citrus than lanais and granite countertops.

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Along the roadway are a tree farm, a cattle ranch and a sod farm, among the many agricultural entities. If you spend too much time looking at the scenery, chances are you might run into a wild pig as it darts across the road. Wild turkeys gather in one field until the rush of cars begins to interrupt their peaceful morning.

As Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch continues to complete the development of its more than 31,000 acres, these are the next pieces of land slated for change.

At a Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance luncheon March 29, SMR CEO and President Rex Jensen revealed the next steps as the Continued on Page 28

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MILESTONES Continued from Page 26 community works toward completion.

Jensen says three builders signed contracts to develop the northeast quadrant of Lakewood Ranch, an area running between State Road 64 and State Road 70, east of Lorraine Road.

Taylor Morrison, Lennar and Kolter Homes will erect new neighborhoods, and a fourth builder is in negotiations.

Since 1994, those who live in the Manatee-Sarasota counties area have been used to such announcements.

But the words Jensen said following his announcement might not have been expected.

When those developers finish their work, Jensen said “much of the Ranch will be spoken for.”

Although it could take 15 years or more, in the end, SMR will be finished transforming the Ranch’s 50 square miles of land from agriculture to what is consistently ranked one of the top master-planned communities in the country. In 2016, 778 homes were sold in Lakewood Ranch, making it the fourth fastest-selling, master-planned community in the United States.

“The ranch is gradually disappearing,” Jensen says of the ranch’s agricultural operations.

FROM FARM TO HOMES

The next major transformation will come with the Lakewood Ranch Waterside development, which will include more than 5,000 homes.

Between the new contracts in the northeast quadrant, along with the Lakewood National and Del Webb communities, another 11,500 homes are on the way.

Lakewood Ranch at build-out is expected to be more than 30,000 households, including homes, apartments and senior living.

Of course, all that development is going to take some time. It has taken 23 years for Lakewood Ranch to go from breaking ground to selling 10,026 homes as of January.

Although the plan to develop the remaining SMR land isn’t new, the scale of the community is a lot to imagine from where it started.

“I sit back and look at Lakewood Ranch,” says Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who with

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1922 — The Uihlein family, founders of the Schlitz Brewing Co., purchase the SchroederManatee Ranch from its longtime owner, John Schroeder.

1994 — Ground is broken on the first neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch and it opens the next year.

2005 — From 2005 and beyond, every village, home and business has used eco-friendly products and building techniques to ensure environmentally responsible homes 2017 — In January, SMR announced it sold its 10,000th home, with plans to add about 20,000 more housing units before development will end.

her husband, Don, owns Vanessa Fine Jewelry on Lakewood Main Street.

“It’s hard to think the majority of the land is spoken for. I can’t believe it has happened this quickly.”

The primary concern for both public officials like Baugh and SMR’s Jensen is ensuring infrastructure keeps up with the community’s growth.

“We are used to seeing roads built eight years after they are needed,” Jensen says. “We build them before they are needed … We ask, ‘What will we need?’ Roads, schools, parking, a library, workforce housing, fire protection.”

Jensen says the overall development of Lakewood Ranch was too big a job for the government, or the private sector. “We needed to have partnerships on schools, and water.

We paid for our own infrastructure.”

That continues today. Jensen says SMR will construct 28 miles of roads in the Lakewood Ranch area over the next four years in preparation for the new developments. He also is negotiating with Manatee County School District on a possible land swap so a new high school could be constructed just east of the Premier Sports Campus.

As Jensen looks back on the vision the real estate development took, he says SMR’s ownership has been patient as he and previous leaders did what they thought was best for the property.

“The whole thing is about the evolution of a key piece of property,” Jensen says. “We have gone with things that have worked here.”

Land along Lorraine Road used for growing trees will eventually house neighborhoods as Lakewood Ranch approaches full build-out.

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1/16/17 6:28 PM

Ranch Rx

Forget polo horses and exclusive golf courses. Lakewood Ranch’s best-kept secret is its med school.

BY MARK GORDON | CONTRIBUTOR

L

akewood Ranch has never billed itself as a college town, but don’t tell that to the hundreds of budding doctors, dentists and pharmacists who attend Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. You can catch a glimpse of this elusive group of students at the Starbucks on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, where they nurse lattes and pore over thick anatomy books.

LECOM’s Lakewood Ranch campus is situated on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between State Road 70 and State Road 64, in the heart of the town’s next great development surge. It occupies two buildings — about 229,000 square feet — across the street from Central Park and several apartment complexes, including Lost Creek at Lakewood Ranch and Creekside.

The first building opened in 2004 and houses the School of Pharmacy and the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which studies the treatment and diagnosis of illnesses through the manipulation of joints and bones.

(Osteopathic physicians are equivalent to M.D.s, and are fully licensed doctors.) The second building opened in 2012 and houses the School of Dental Medicine.

LECOM, founded in Erie, Pa., in 1992, expanded into Florida primarily to address the state’s population boom in the early 2000s. “It was one of the states hit hardest by the physician shortage,” says Dr. Robert George, associate dean of Academic Affairs. “We wanted to address that need.”

Heading toward its 15th year in the region, the school now has a second goal: to raise its profile beyond the bounds of Lakewood Ranch. “We do seem to be a best-kept secret,” says Dr. Mathew Bateman, dean of LECOM’s School of Dental Medicine.

Continued on Page 32

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The lab at LECOM offers a hands-on opportunity for all dental students.

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Continued from Page 30 “We want to get out in the community more, and we want more people to know about us.”

In February, the college increased its visibility by inking a 15-year naming rights agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the team’s spring training facility in downtown Bradenton. The stadium, formerly known as McKechnie Field, is now LECOM Park.

The dental school is also reaching local residents through its discounted teaching clinics, where dental students, supervised by professors, are able to work on actual patients. According to Bateman, LECOM charges about 70% less than a traditional dentist in exchange for a patient’s willingness to sit for long teachable moments in a dentist’s chair.

LECOM might fly under the radar in Lakewood Ranch, but it wields a lot of buying power in Manatee County.

According to an independent study cited by LECOM, in 2013 it generated a $91 million economic impact in Bradenton. (Manatee County paid LECOM about $175,000 in jobs-based incentives to expand the dental school, in addition to more than $100,000 in transportation impact fee incentives.)

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Executive Director Heather Kasten says LECOM’s impact on the area stretches beyond the multiplier effect of students who rent apartments, buy groceries and go to restaurants.

It has also been active in supporting community and civic events. “I think the school is really a hidden gem,” says Kasten. “They are a phenomenal community partner.”

LECOM prides itself on its problembased learning philosophy. Students take their time navigating complicated situations, deepening their knowledge and skill set as a team, rather than independently jumping to an immediate solution. “They may have no understanding of it as an individual,

Dr. Robert George, associate dean of Academic Affairs

but as a group they learn to present solutions,” Bateman says.

The college is also gaining traction because it’s affordable. Aspiring doctors are flocking to Lakewood Ranch — the only LECOM campus located outside of Pennsylvania — because it’s economical. A year of tuition to study osteopathic medicine is about $30,000, around half the cost of what other schools charge. “We are very sensitive to students graduating with as low a debt as possible,” says George, who holds a degree in osteopathic medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience.

George has worked in osteopathic medicine for more than 40 years.

He spent the first half of his career practicing in Ohio before joining the LECOM staff in 2003. He helped open the first Lakewood Ranch building 13 years ago. “It’s been like watching a child grow,” he says.

Photos by Dex Honea

Dr. Mathew Bateman was appointed to dean of LECOM’s School of Dental Medicine. A new East County resident, Bateman closed on his house in mid-April, in a community near State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. The well-traveled teaching physician has lived in Utah, Philadelphia, Idaho and Brazil. Globe-trotting aside, he says Lakewood Ranch has always been at the top of his relocation list. Says Bateman, “I’ve lived all over, and this is a really lovely area.”

LECOM’S STUDENT BODY, BY THE NUMBERS

190

School of Osteopathic Medicine, class of 2017; 198 in class of 2019

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138

School of Pharmacy, class of 2017; 146 in class of 2019

100

School of Dental Medicine, class of 2017

72

Master’s degree of medical science

16

Master’s of health service administration, two cohorts, class of 2017; 39 in class of 2018.

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BY JAY HEATER | CONTRIBUTOR

W

hen Keith Pandeloglou took over as director of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. in March, he spent every waking hour concentrating on the organization’s annual Easter egg hunt, Eggstravaganza. Siphoning all his planning and organizational skills, Pandeloglou reached out to the event’s key players, starting with its most important vendor: the port-apotty company. Less than two weeks on job and already Pandeloglou — a 35-year-old business executive who last year made the Business Observer’s 40-Under-40 list — was getting a crash course in public sector drudgery.

When Eggstravaganza arrived, Pandeloglou looked on like a mother hen as a thousand frenzied children, dressed in their Sunday best, charged the starting line, snatching eggs from hidden crevices like trained pickpockets, instinctively using one hand to deflect oncoming body slams and the other to scoop eggs. Pandeloglou had never seen such pandemonium and dexterity at an egg hunt. In three and-a-half minutes, all 24,000 eggs had been gathered.

“It was just the magnitude of everything,” Pandeloglou says. “We drew about 1,600 people (counting Continued on Page 36

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File photos

Keith Pandeloglou watches over his first Eggstravaganza.

Change of Pace

Business executive Keith Pandeloglou is putting his management skills to the ultimate test as Lakewood Ranch Community Activities director.

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Continued from Page 34 the adults). It was something, to learn what it takes to put out 24,000 eggs.

It was a month of planning for threeand-a-half minutes. Also, I learned that port-a-potties aren’t cheap and how hard it is to close a road.”

Pandeloglou threw the local business community for a loop when he decided to apply for the position after previous director Kyanne Merrill resigned. The move was a head-scratch for some, who had seen Pandeloglou open a pair of Cowork offices in Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota, in addition to launching several other startups.

“What I found is that the Community Activities’ and Cowork’s missions were the same,” says Pandeloglou, whose workload now consists of supervising eight major events presented by LWRCAC and the affairs of more than 50 other social clubs. “The organization’s mission is to foster a sense of community and friendships.

Part of that is the 50 social clubs we do.

That is not something I had growing up in New Jersey. I like it.”

He learned about the job opening by chance. The Community Activities’ office was going to close at Summerfield Park, and Pandeloglou had space at Cowork. Merrill showed up at the new Cowork office and Pandeloglou was intrigued.

“I love Lakewood Ranch, and part of my goal is for it to be the No. 1 (master-planned) community. It’s like No. 4 now (as ranked by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors). So I hope to take what Community Activities has done and enhance it. If I can be a small part of Lakewood Ranch being No. 1, that’s great.”

Pandeloglou, a Lakewood Ranch resident for seven years, still owns Cowork, but his main emphasis right now is Community Activities. He finds his new responsibilities more gratifying than climbing the corporate ladder. A connector and people-pleaser, he says his skill set is a better fit for public service — and the community agrees.

“He’s the perfect fit for the job and our future,” says Marie Gowgiel, president of the LWRCAC’s Board of Directors. “He takes a lot of pride in Lakewood Ranch. He volunteered a lot for us before the job was even

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The events we put on need to be world class.

More is not always better.”

KEITH PANDELOGLOU, director of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities

available. He’s extremely energetic and has a lot of good ideas.”

Some of his ideas involve resurrecting Festa Italiana, which isn’t slated to happen this year, with a fresh look and location. He’d also like to plan some events for the summer, a notorious dry spell for activities.

“We’ve had strategic planning sessions on a Splash Bash, or something to that effect. What about an adult Splash?”

Pandeloglou asks.

A lot of clubs disband in the summer because of travel commitments.

Pandeloglou would like to find a way to keep the community hopping through the dog days. “I know a lot of (snow birds) leave the area,” he says. “But we have a good percentage of people who stay. We want to try something, but it would have to be well attended.”

Like any earnest public servant, Pandeloglou is on a mission to make a difference out of sheer passion. “I am going to do this for as long as they will have me,” he says. “I love the power of our community. I like to consider myself Mr. Lakewood Ranch.”

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Class act

Photos by Dex Honea

Out-of-Door Academy senior Carling Landeche is the president of the school’s Key Club, captain of the girls lacrosse team and a decorated cross-country runner.

Ahead of the Class Go-getter Carling Landeche is leaving Out-of-Door-Academy determined to ‘fix the world’s problems.’

BY ERIC SNIDER | CONTRIBUTOR 40

LWR LIFE

M

eet Carling Landeche — high school senior, intimidator. As a member of the student admissions team at Lakewood Ranch’s Out-of-Door Academy, Landeche gives tours to prospective students and their parents.

“Parents come away from tours with Carling very impressed with her,” says Michael Salmon, ODA’s director of middle and upper school admissions. “In fact, some of the parents have expressed misgivings, fearful that their kid could not measure up to being like Carling.’”

Salmon laughs at this notion, as if to indicate this is a good problem for the school. Landeche is ODA’s Incidental Intimidator, unnerving parents and setting high standards for incoming students in one afternoon visit.

The 18-year-old Summerfield resident is a top Continued on Page 42

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Continued from Page 40 student, a peer tutor, captain of the girl’s lacrosse team and a cross-country runner who made it to regionals.

If she had to single out a single passion project it would be Key Club, of which she is president. A student-led branch of Kiwanis International, Key Club’s mission is to serve the public, and under Carling’s leadership it has done just that — and then some.

This year, the club supported a variety of causes, including Children with Hair Loss, All Faiths Food Bank, the Giving Closet and Make-a-Wish Foundation, for which members made decorations to benefit a prom for disabled teens.

Key Club has ballooned to about 75 members in its four years at ODA —

one quarter of the high school student body. Landeche presides over weekly meetings in the school’s black box theater, and delegates the management of subcommittees and programs to a handful of high-energy allies.

Her predecessor, Lauren Redington — the club’s founding member and ODA’s resident altruist before Landeche took over the title — anointed Landeche on her way out the door. Upon graduating, Redington laid out a kind of manifesto for the club going forward. “We met for lunch a week before school started,” Landeche recalls. “She gave me a binder of things. She FaceTimed in for our first meeting. It’s Lauren’s special project, and hopefully I’m living up to her expectations.”

This seems likely given that no one

I want to get a global perspective.

See the world. Fix the world’s problems.”

CARLING LANDECHE

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expects more from Landeche than Landeche herself. A sales associate at American Eagle Outfitters at the Mall at University Town Center, Landeche often works five- to seven-hour shifts on weekends. Although she likes to earn spending money, it’s the job that has proved most valuable. It has changed her perspective.

“I’d always looked at the mall as a place to go shopping,” Landeche says.

“But working there reminds you that there are people who do the dirty work. Not just at a store, but cutting grass, doing maintenance. It gives me a better appreciation for all kinds of people who do all kinds of work.”

Her days at ODA are equally long.

Salmon, who is also the school’s swim coach, says Landeche routinely turns up at school plays and sporting events to root for fellow students. “She’s gone above and beyond to back our swimmers,” Salmon says. “She’s traveled to meets that are pretty far away from the school ­— shows up with signs and cheers us on. At an away meet, our swimmers really notice and appreciate that.”

If ODA has cliques, Landeche is not joining. She’s not inclined to exclusivity. “I’m a senior, and my best friends are in a school musical,” she says.

“But I have friends who are in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics students). I have friends who are seventh-graders.”

This fall, she’ll head to Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York. “I want to study international affairs,” Landeche says. “Where that takes me specifically, I don’t know. But I want to get a global perspective. See the world. Fix the world’s problems.”

Carling admits that sometimes she simply takes on too much and ends up giving a project short shrift. Does she ever feel overwhelmed? “Oh yeah,” she says, laughing. When that happens, she allots herself a rest day so she can binge on Netflix or read for pleasure.

How often does she grant herself permission to lounge? “About one day a semester,” she says without hesitation.

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Charity snapshot

The Mourning After Melissa Wandall channeled her husband’s death into a life of grief advocacy.

BY ERIC SNIDER | CONTRIBUTOR

A

parent loses a child.

Our biggest fear? One of them, at least. Parents aren’t supposed to outlive their children. But what happens when a child loses a parent?

Where does he or she go for support?

Melissa Wandall wondered the same thing, so she made it her life’s mission to advocate for bereaved kids.

Why grief advocacy? Because on Oct. 24, 2003, Wandall’s husband, Mark, was killed by a driver running a red light at State Road 70 and Tara Boulevard in Bradenton. The couple’s only child, Madisyn, now 13, was born three weeks later.

Wandall was at once a widow and a first-time mom.

She slipped into a different mode, leaving her job as a hotel sales director and, keeping afloat with life insurance, launched a nonprofit to aid grieving children, while tirelessly lobbying for traffic safety in Tallahassee.

“Right after Mark’s death, right at that intersection, I made the decision Continued on Page 46

Photos by Dex Honea

In addition to running the Mark Wandall Foundation, Melissa Wandall serves as a public speaker, life coach and president of the National Coalition for Safer Roads.

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LWR LIFE

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Continued from Page 44 to rise out of it,” Wandall says. “I couldn’t get stuck in the grief. I knew it would just take me down and that wouldn’t do my daughter any good. I chose to embrace the love I had been given and not the loss.”

The Mark Wandall Foundation helps children who are grieving the loss of a family member or guardian.

The centerpiece of the foundation is its participation in Comfort Zone Camp, a three-day bereavement program for children that’s part of a national organization of grief camps.

In late April, the foundation held its third annual camp in Apopka. Fifty children ages 7 to 17, along with more than 75 “big buddies” and support staff, gathered for bonding, counseling, consoling, catharsis, kickball and barbecue. Madisyn was there. Now a seventh-grader at Out-of-Door Academy, she’s attended all three camps.

Says Wandall, “We have children whose dads have passed away (who are told), ‘You’re in charge now. You’re the man of the family.’ They think that’s what the kid needs. That kid needs permission to cry, to scream, to laugh, to go to the surviving parent and lean on them.”

That’s something Wandall did not do as a 12-year-old when her sister died of bone cancer at age 14. “My parents were incredible, but everything changed; they didn’t talk to me like they used to,” Wandall recalls. “If anything was going on with me, I didn’t want to take it to them. They were already grieving, and I didn’t want to upset them further. My friends didn’t know how to treat me. I was really alone. After my husband passed away, I knew that I wanted to connect kids in grief so they would have an opportunity to grow together.”

The charity is a one-woman operation with some help from volunteers.

Backed by local sponsors, it brings together past Comfort Zone campers and other grieving kids for a social “reconnect” every other month.

It gets by on $70,000 a year, which, according to Wandall, is not enough to qualify for substantial grants. To keep the coffers padded, Wandall cobbles together donations of $2,500

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LWR LIFE

Madisyn Wandall, 13, was born three weeks after her father’s death.

I chose to embrace the love I had been given and not the loss.”

MELISSA WANDALL

or less. Her primary fundraiser is a golf tournament, which is held each fall at Legacy Golf Club in Bradenton.

Wandall would love to open a youth center for grieving youngsters, a place for kids to engage in activities and find support. Though not a pipe dream, the center is still just a loose concept.

Nearly all of the foundation’s money and Wandall’s energy is channeled into running its Comfort Zone Camps. (“We’re small and we don’t have the resources or the manpower to seek out grants,” Wandall says.) Right now her main focus is on ramping up donations to facilitate two camps a year.

When Wandall is not steering the foundation, she’s helping organizations and businesses develop grief advocacy programs. She earns her income by serving as a consultant and public speaker. “I’m such a nonprofit person that sometimes it gets forgotten that I’m for hire,” she says, without a trace of rancor. “My calling is nonprofit, but I still need to take care of my daughter.”

It took Wandall five years to pass the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, a controversial measure that gives cities and counties the option to install red-light cameras at high-risk inter-

sections. Many municipalities have introduced them; some have dropped them. Despite the program’s good intentions, some drivers and public officials argue that it’s quick revenue grab. Although the law went into effect in 2010, Wandall still goes to Tallahassee every year to fight for it.

“Every year the House tries to repeal it,” she says. “That body has a lot of representatives who do not believe in government intrusion. It saves lives, and if you want to put it in economic terms, one red-light fatality crash costs our state $6 million.”

If Wandall is dogged by grief, it’s impossible to tell by talking to her.

Outwardly, she’s energetic, warm and articulate — an open book. Her years of perpetual motion, while enriching so many lives, have taken a toll on her own grieving process.

“I’ve always asked people in grief to pause, to really nurture themselves and give themselves permission to grieve,” Wandall says. “But I never allowed myself to grieve. I look back on my life and I have no regrets. I’ve given a lot of love, but I forgot to love myself in the process. I’m learning to do that now.”

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MAY MAY 28 BLUE STAR MEMORIAL MARKER DEDICATION The Gardeners Out East Garden Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12055 invite the public to the dedication of a Blue Star Memorial Marker at 2 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. n For information, call 907-0202.

MAY 28 TRIBUTE TO HEROES MEMORIAL DAY PARADE The community celebration led by the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. kicks off at 6 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The parade will start on the end closest to Polo Grill and Bar and work its way toward Lakewood Ranch Cinemas.

The parade will feature the Lakewood Ranch High School Marching Band, along with other music, face painting, vendor booths and more. Proceeds from the parade benefit Manasota

Operation Troop Support, or MOTS. Bring a toiletry or nonperishable food item to donate. n For information, call 757-1530.

MAY 29 MYAKKA BLUES FEST Enjoy live music, with new performers on stage every hour, and craft beers from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. at Snook Haven, 5000 E. Venice Ave., Venice.

Entry costs $20. n For more information, call 485-7221 or visit Myakkabluesfestival.com.

Continued on Page 52

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Robert Fearon of the National Guard and his son, Connor, ride in the Tribute to Heroes parade and give out beads.

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LWR LIFE

51

JUNE JUNE 2 MUSIC ON MAIN Enjoy a free concert from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The Smokey Sessions Band will perform its sounds of country, R&B and more. Proceeds benefit the Circus Arts Conservatory. Guests can bring chairs, but no coolers. n For more information, call 9079243 or visit lakewoodranch.com.

JUNE 3 SUNCOAST INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Dragon boat teams will race in 200-meter, 500-meter and 2,000-meter heats from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park.

Parking costs $5. n For information, visit suncoastdragonboatfestival.com or call 904-534-3266.

JUNE 3 DAIRY DAY FESTIVAL Celebrate National Dairy Month with Dakin Dairy Farms, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the farm, 30771 Betts Road, Myakka City. The event features carnival-style games, family-friendly activities and plenty of dairy drinks and food for attendees. Farm tours will be available for an additional $10. n For more information, call 322-2802.

JUNE 10 STAR STORYTELLING THEATRE AT THE RANCH The Players Centre for Performance Arts hosts Star Storytelling Theatre at the Ranch, a series for children ages 5 to 12. The series runs from 10 a.m. to noon one Saturday a month, June 10 through Oct. 14, at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. Actors from The Players Centre will read some of their favorite children’s stories and act through some of the scenes. The series costs $15 per child and includes a book. n Spots can be reserved by calling 365-2494 or by going to theplayers. org.

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JUNE 16 SUMMER MOVIE NIGHT Bring the whole family for a night of fun at the Music Compound’s annual Summer Movie Night, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Music Compound, 1751 Cattlemen Road. Enjoy a musicthemed movie with lots of popcorn and singing outdoors. Bring your own chairs, food, drinks and blankets. Admission is $5, with complementary popcorn. n For information, call 379-9100.

JUNE 25 CAR SHOW The Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival will host a car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Entry fee the day of the show for vehicles is $20. Preregistration is not required. n For information, visit sarasotapowerboatgrandprix.org.

Continued on Page 54

The monthly Music on Main concert series features live music and benefits charity.

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LWR LIFE

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JULY JULY 1 BRADENTON MARAUDERS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Gates open at 4:30 p.m. at LECOM Park, where the Marauders will take on the Florida Fire Frogs. The event features a patriotic-themed baseball jersey auction and a free shirt giveaway to the first 1,500 fans to enter the stadium. A firework show will follow the game. n For more information, call 747-3031.

JULY 4 PALMETTO FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVAL The festival, held by the Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency, features music by country artists Oak Ridge Boys, Boss Hog and Carol Cole.

Family-friendly activities start at 1 p.m. at Sutton Park. Performances start at 4 p.m. and Oak Ridge Boys performs at 7 p.m. Attendees can stay in their seats or walk down to the Manatee River for the fireworks show, which starts at 9 p.m. Admission is free and there is food and drink available for purchase. n For more information, call 723-4988.

File photo

Candice Powell (right) organized Candy’s Circus Run to raise money to help end childhood cancers.

AUGUST AUG. 4 MUSIC ON MAIN Enjoy a free concert from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The event is hosted the first Friday of each month. Patrons will enjoy live music with event proceeds benefiting a local charity. Guests can bring chairs, but no coolers. n For more information, call 907-9243.

JULY 7 MUSIC ON MAIN Enjoy a free concert from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The event is hosted the first Friday of each month. Patrons will enjoy live music with event proceeds benefiting a local charity. Guests can bring chairs, but no coolers. n For more information, call 907-9243.

JULY 15 SPYDER BROUSSARD FISH FRY AND SHRIMP BOIL This 10th annual event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Polo Grill and Bar. Price include a Cajun-themed buffet dinner and live entertainment by the Gumbo Boogie Band and a Cajun-themed buffet. n Call 782-0899 for reservations.

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The Spyder Broussard Fish Fry and Shrimp boil features a plethora of Cajun-inspired cuisine.

AUG. 12 CANDY’S CIRCUS RUN Starts at 8:30 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. This run benefits CureSearch for Children’s Cancer by raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer. The 5K fun run starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 1-mile fun run starts at 8:45 a.m. Check-in will open at 7 a.m. n For information, visit candyscircus. org.

226997

style

Style Stars of LWR The ladies of Lakewood Ranch

know a thing or two about style.

We sat down with four of the most fashionable to get the scoop on how they keep their looks fresh.

BY NIKI KOTTMANN | CONTRIBUTOR

LEISA WEINTRAUB

Vice President of Marketing for Neal Communities Leisa Weintraub knows clothes, not only as a woman who has a unique flair for fashion, but also as someone who designs and sews “a good portion” of her own wardrobe.

Weintraub, who is from Battle Creek, Mich., and moved to Florida as a high schooler in the ’70s, learned how to sew from her mother, who made her clothes growing up. With that knowledge and some self-teaching, Weintraub crafted her first project — a velvet evening gown — at 17. This fashionista has embraced design challenges since, evident by the 35 pounds of fabric she bought in New York City in October. “I like to look at a piece of fabric and visualize what it will be best as,” she says. “It’s like therapy for me. I like the creative process.”

Dress: Weintraub loves mixing solids with patterns, and she’s particularly interested in the placement of her patterns. Where a pattern falls affects how flattering the garment is, she explains. This black dress she made

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Photos by Niki Kottmann

ERIN DUGGAN

I like to look at a piece of fabric and visualize what it will be best as.

It’s like therapy for me.

I like the creative process.”

LEISA WEINTRAUB

is an example of what she considers her conservative style with a twist — she likes the continuity of the stripes and how the vertical and horizontal lines meet.

Watch: Weintraub is a big fan of incorporating vintage jewelry into her outfits, and she’s always on the lookout for new pieces when traveling. This watch was a gift from her husband, who picked it up at an antique store on a trip to New Orleans.

Shoes: Weintraub is all about variety, so she doesn’t stick to strictly heels or flats. However, she does prefer to wear solid-colored shoes most of the time. “I think it’s that Midwestern upbringing,” she says of her practical habit of mainly buying shoes that she’ll wear with several different outfits. She travels to New York City at least once a year and loves to do her shoe shopping there.

Vice President of Visit Sarasota County Erin Duggan grew up in Sarasota, and her job promoting the county causes her to draw most of her style inspiration from the state she still calls home. “I literally try to dress like Florida,” Duggan says. Most of her closet consists of colorful pieces from J. Crew, Tory Burch and Ann Taylor that convey the fun and cheerfulness of Florida.

Necklace: Duggan loves chunky jewelry, especially statement necklaces paired with her go-to sheath dresses. She prefers to keep her earrings simple but elegant — she likes lightweight real gold or diamond studs that she’s willing to splurge on — whereas her necklaces are usually from stores like Nordstrom Rack where she can find pieces that make a big impact without costing a large sum. She also keeps an eye out for jewelry with color, especially greens and yellows that pair nicely with navy outfits.

Shoes: “I’m the queen of nude pumps,” Duggan says. “I think they elongate your legs, whereas prints create a stopping point.”

Even with a black dress, she usually opts for nude shoes, choosing to save black pumps for pants that already provide a natural break in the outfit. Some of her go-to shoe brands are Jack Rogers, Michael Kors and Cole Haan.

Dress: When it comes to describing her favorite dress style, Duggan doesn’t have to think twice. “I travel at least once a month, so I usually wear a sheath dress — something tropical.” The straight dress style fits her slim figure flawlessly. Her secret to keeping her look fresh?

She admits that she owns somewhere between 40 and 50 J. Crew cardigans in varying colors, so she rotates through them to provide her dresses with another pop of color.

Continued on Page 58

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Continued from Page 57

DEBORAH O’MARA

Deborah O’Mara, a Realtor at Michael Saunders & Co., says she loves people, and the way her words spill out in a thick New England accent accompanied by an ever-present smile proves her point. “I’m very high energy — I’m never down,” she says. “People have a lot of fun with me, and that’s kind of my legacy.” The Boston native’s personality is reflected in her wardrobe, which is full of simple but lively clothing.

Dress: O’Mara describes herself as a “fun, creative dresser” who keeps things interesting but never outrageous, and this dress is the perfect example. The piece was a birthday gift from her husband in April, which he purchased at Dillard’s. It proved to be the perfect Easter dress. She loved the “bright and cheery” pink hues and the feminine shape of it, but the absolute best part is that it has pockets. Her philosophy on dress buying — other than pockets always being the right choice — is simple. “It has to be dynamite on me or I won’t put it on again.”

Jewelry: O’Mara says the right bling help ensure she never has an average “run-of-the-mill outfit.” In this ensemble, she pairs a sparkly anklet with an Erwin Pearl necklace and earrings, the latter of which she bought during on vacation in Zurich, Switzerland.

Bag: O’Mara loves funky purses, and this floral-lined Betsey Johnson handbag was a prize she won after putting all of her raffle tickets toward it at a Women’s Council of Realtors fashion show (one of several fashion shows she’s attended and been told that she should be the model, which she’s done a couple times).

Shoes: These Nine West heels were already in O’Mara’s closet, so when her husband presented her with the colorful floral dress, she was ecstatic to find that she had the perfect shoes to go with it.

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Pantone 322 C Pantone 179 C

CATHLEEN STUDDIFORD

Still a newbie to Lakewood Ranch (she and her family moved here a year and a half ago from New York City), Cathleen Studdiford channels her city roots when she’s dressing for the upscale philanthropic events that she enjoys attending. The Boston native frequents New York Fashion Week every year and draws a great deal of inspiration for her “effortless chic” style from the runway. She loves to take a classic look and add a twist such as a funky belt or statement jewelry, whether she’s at a glamorous gala or enjoying a low-key day with her kids.

Dress: Studdiford loves this print Ted Baker London dress that she donned at the Humane Society of Sarasota County’s Paws on the Catwalk event on April 20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, especially after seeing how popular florals were at the designer’s runway show. She says the look echoes the romanticism of 1940s fashion, and she was attracted to it because of its feminine and demure nature.

Shoes: Studdiford completed her feminine look at Paws on the Catwalk with Christian Louboutin bowtie heels, but she says that she’s more often spotted strutting around Lakewood Ranch in her favorite Stella McCartney flat sandals, which she loves to pair with Hudson jeans and a Gabriela Hearst blazer.

Jewelry: Just like her philosophy on dresses, Studdiford enjoys jewelry with subtle graphic elements and refined embellishments. At Paws on the Catwalk she wore Oscar de la Renta earrings, an Hermès cuff and Celine ring.

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LWR LIFE

238421

It has to be dynamite on me or I won’t put it on.”

941-229-1225 • 8378 Market St. Bradenton, FL 34202

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My 5-year-old son Henry, drawing en plein air.

60

The Happy Camper When the going got tough at home, I escaped for three days into the East County wilderness with my kids.

BY HEIDI KURPIELA | MANAGING EDITOR

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61

Clockwise, from left: My rugged second-born, Chip was an early walker. At 14 months, he was plenty sturdy enough for his first camping trip. Despite its name, Lake Manatee is not home to a single sea cow. A dam keeps manatees from entering the reservoir. Pancakes are a quick and easy camping dish, no matter the time of day. We had ours for dinner.

U

pon famously living life in the woods, Henry David Thoreau declared that he could never have enough of nature. “Heaven,” he wrote, “is under our feet as well as over our heads.”

For his thoughts on solitude and his piercing insight on minimalism, Thoreau has always been my guiding star. A native upstate New Yorker, I spent many cold nights sleeping in a tent in the woods, and I admit I’ve burned books to stay warm. “Walden” was never one of them.

But here’s the thing about Thoreau, the patron saint of daydreamers, loners and tree huggers: He never had kids. He never harangued his 5-year-old for kissing the neighbor girl. He never yanked a dirty diaper out of his dog’s mouth, or used tweezers to pull paper out of his toddler’s ear canal. He never burned rice because he was fishing Legos out of the toilet, and he was never roused at 6 a.m. by a light saber blow to the face.

Thoreau didn’t need to go to woods to find solace. He already had it. Trust me.

My life — once the bohemian, writerly existence of an adventurous 20-something — is now an endless chain of spilled cereal, pediatrician visits, time-outs, laundry, car vomit and drivethru chicken. As the harried mother of two boys, ages 5 and 1¹/², I have come to recognize that in between the nuggets, vomit and time-outs, are beautiful, fleeting moments of peace. The pioneer

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woman in me has always believed that these rapturous flashes happen when I’m outside with my kids. Maybe it’s because I have feral boys. Maybe it’s because I’m feral myself. Maybe it’s because I’m sick of duct taping all the broken stuff in my house and gorging on Advil amid the cacophony.

Whatever the impetus, I decided on a whim, during spring break, to take my kids tent camping (alone) in East Manatee County. My husband, after spending one maddening Saturday consoling our older son, Henry, after our younger son, Chip, bit his brother and leveled his pillow fort, gave his enthusiastic blessing. “You know what you’re doing,” he said. “Have fun.”

AN ENCHANTED FOREST

I committed to my plan with the fervor of a runaway teen. My children were driving me crazy. I felt claustrophobic in my own house, a cramped St. Petersburg bungalow in which my family no longer fits. To relieve this stress, most mothers would escape to a hotel on the beach with a girlfriend and a pitcher of sangria. Not me.

I booked a tent site at Lake Manatee State Park and packed the trunk of my compact car with provisions for a three-day sojourn in the woods: rubber boots, sleeping bags, an old tent that’s missing its fly, a rusty tabletop grill that my grandmother exhumed from a Dumpster and a brown grocery bag stuffed with peanut

butter, jelly, bread, bananas and a lot of diapers.

“If Uncle Pete even suggested camping, there’d be divorce papers in his future,” my husband’s aunt mused. The fact that the weather was forecasted to drop into the 30s at night further solidified my insanity.

A resident of the Sunshine State for 13 years, I’ve pitched a tent in many Florida parks, including the isolated Ocala National Forest. I knew nothing, however, about Lake Manatee State Park, except that it was one of the only campgrounds from Hillsborough to Charlotte counties with a vacancy during spring break.

“How far away is this place?” Henry asked as we barreled along State Road 64, passing housing developments, vegetable stands, cows and a lone diner called the Buckaroo Roadhouse. “Is it a secret place ordinary people can’t see? Like a wizard campground?”

I smiled in the rearview mirror, locking eyes with my son, who is obsessed with Harry Potter.

“It’s a muggle campground,” I replied. “But wizards like us are allowed.”

Within 15 minutes of exiting the interstate, we were idling at the guard gate, where much to Henry’s delight, a friendly ranger greeted us with a British accent. “Mama,” my son whispered as we waited to be flagged in. “He was definitely a muggle.”

At 556 acres, Lake Manatee State Park is

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

From left: We made gourmet s’mores using German chocolate bars. Henry took his responsibilities as campfire marshal very seriously.

located along three miles of shoreline surrounding Lake Manatee, a reservoir 10 miles east of the interstate off State Road 64. The 7.5 billion-gallon basin, which was created in the 1960s when a dam was built across the Manatee River, supplies drinking water for more than 250,000 residents in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Coming upon this Caribbean blue reservoir in the middle of the dusty bucolic wilds of East Manatee County felt a little like conjuring a mirage. Chip was asleep in his seat and Henry was craning his head out the window. The frustration that had dogged me within the confines of my house evaporated with each breath of fresh air.

There’s no place like away from home, I thought as Henry let out an enchanted sigh like a child entering Walt Disney World for the first time.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

We unpacked the car while Chip slept. At home, I have to beg my oldest son to help me with a task. With nothing to distract him outside, he immediately pitched in, lugging tent poles and stacking firewood.

Lake Manatee is not heavily wooded. The park’s vegetation consists of mainly pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub, marsh and a smattering of hardwood trees. All 54 campsites are large enough to accommodate RVs. We got one of the sunniest, which seemed like a strategic move

given the impending cold snap.

“I’m going to make a cozy place to sit and draw,” Henry said, spreading out a large straw mat in front of the tent. “Can you bring me my sketchpad and crayons?”

Shrouded by high tangles of palmetto brush and bathed in warm sunlight, I cooked us pancakes and sausage for dinner. Henry sat and drew sea monsters and Chip toddled around dropping rocks into a bucket. The weather cooled and we threw on sweatshirts. I built a fire and Henry kept it going, stoking it with pinecones, pine needles and Spanish moss. The atmosphere was so tranquil, for a second I forgot I had children.

A man walked past with two large dogs and upon seeing our camp, stopped to chat for a while. Chip made a beeline for the pooches, patting their heads as they tried to lick flecks of sausage off his cheeks. “It’s going to get cold tonight,” he said. “I hope y’all packed a lot of blankets.” I assured him we had plenty of blankets, plus a small electric heater.

By the time I shooed both boys into a nearby bathhouse they were covered from head to toe in sand, dirt and melted marshmallow, traces of a good day and some fine s’mores. The temperature was dropping fast, so we showered under piping hot water, slipped on two layers of pajamas and trudged back through the nightfall, Henry dangling a lantern like a wizard’s wand

to light our path.

“Just like in the Great Hall at Hogwarts,” he said, staring up through an opening in our tent at the starry sky.

We burrowed into the bedding, a nest of quilts and sleeping bags piled on top of an air mattress.

I clicked on the heater and rocked Chip to sleep, sitting cross-legged with Henry nuzzled into my side. Neither boy had to be goaded to sleep; no white noise was needed to keep them from waking. We simply fell asleep pressed against one another on a silent night, like the cave family I always knew us to be.

THE BIG CHILL

All three of us were up before sunrise with the mockingbirds. Chip flashed me a wily grin and clambered over Henry, who threw off his covers and tugged on a pair of rubber boots. “Time to get up,” he announced with the assertiveness of a camp counselor barking into a megaphone.

I reached for my phone to look at the weather.

It was 35 degrees out. Oblivious to the arctic chill that awaited them, my kids unzipped our womb of a tent and flung themselves into the icy pink dawn. Like any sissy Floridian, Henry immediately lost his mind. My transcendental camping experiment went south as soon as my Continued on Page 64

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Continued from Page 63 Walden got cold. The Zen from the previous day devolved into melodramatic shivering and insufferable whining.

I tossed Henry a pair of gloves, a scarf and a winter hat. “Put these on. I’ll build us a fire,” I said, yanking a knit cap over Chip’s head.

“I’m f-f-f-reezing,” Henry moaned. “I can’t put on gloves! My hands are too cold!”

“Just relax,” I said. “It’ll warm up soon. I’ll make us oatmeal and you can sit by the fire and get toasty.”

Henry was convulsing like he had just stepped into a cryogenic freeze chamber. “I don’t even know how to put these on!” He cried, throwing the gloves to the ground in a huff.

I looked over at Chip in his fleecy footed pajamas, frozen in his tracks, seemingly stunned by the weather. His cheeks were rosy; his lips were purple. Snot was running down his face.

“You cold, baby?” I asked, scooping him up and wiping his nose on the sleeve of my sweatshirt.

He ripped off the knit cap and sniveled.

I surveyed the campsite. It would take at least 30 minutes to get a good cooking fire started and by then we would have woken the entire campground. The truth was, I was cold too. I

motioned for Henry to come to the car.

“What,” he asked, sulking.

“Want to drive to IHOP for breakfast?” I asked. His eyes twinkled. A smile spread across his goose-pimpled face. He shook his head yes.

“Get in the car.”

I buckled both kids into their seats, blasted the heat and pulled out of the campground, driving past the muggle ranger station and toward civilization. We arrived at IHOP around 7 a.m. in pajamas, rubber boots and unkempt hair. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have cleaned up; run a comb through my hair. That morning, I didn’t care. We slid into a booth behind a gaggle of truckers and ordered a gluttonous amount of food.

In those thawing moments, as I watched Henry mow down bacon in a Harry Potter scarf, I wondered how the self-righteous Thoreau would have fared in this situation. He probably would have bailed before bedtime. He certainly wouldn’t have been able to enjoy his coffee while playing tic-tac-toe with a 5-year-old and fielding eggs thrown by a toddler. I took in the scene, caffeine settling into my system. I let Henry get three Xs in a row. I let Chip eat a straw wrapper.

I’m never really out of the woods, I thought. And I’m OK with that.

A rare moment of Zen: me at peace, hanging with my youngest son in front of our tent.

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Franchise opportunities available. ©2017 Massage Heights Franchising, LLC MM#30303

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5275 University Pkwy, Ste 110 Bradenton, FL 34201 941.351.5135

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Crews will soon begin construction on the area’s most eagerly awaited downtown address – The Mark. But breaking ground isn’t the only thing that’s groundbreaking!

For a limited time, Kolter is offering a special release on its popular Landmark residences, featuring 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths + den, NOW from the mid $600,000s!

Stylish residences and elevated club level amenities provide a luxurious, private resort lifestyle – all just moments to the world-class arts, boating, and beaches that make Sarasota the crown jewel of Florida’s West Coast.

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LUXURY RESIDENCES | PROMENADE SHOPPING & DINING | EXECUTIVE OFFICES Broker Participation is welcomed and encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at 235931 any time without notice.

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Lettuce Rejoice Still think salads

are rabbit food? Try sinking your teeth into these lush entrées.

BY SHELLIE TERRY | CONTRIBUTOR

S

ummertime doesn’t have to be all burgers and French fries every day. The humidity is rising, appetites are waning and clothing is getting sparse.

It’s time to pass on the meat and potatoes and order a crisp, green entrée instead.

Your beach body will thank you — trust me. In the spirit of eating green, we combed our favorite East County kitchens for the tastiest, prettiest salads. The sumptuous dishes we found will have the staunchest of burger mongers turning over a new leaf.

TOO PRETTY TO EAT The Farmers Market Salad at Spice Lakewood Ranch-based Chef Louis Robinson brought his San Francisco aesthetic to the Gulf Coast eight years ago when he launched his pop-up restaurant, Spice. A personal chef, Robinson’s food is refined, sophisticated and gorgeous. His Farmers Market Salad puts a tangy Floridian spin on a crunchy California favorite. “We start with a green for that tart, crisp flavor and pair it with a soft fruit like grapes or sugar plums,” Robinson says. “There’s nothing better than cold fruit to refresh the palate.” Choosing the freshest available ingredients changes the salad from day to day. Adding an unusual item or two helps keeps the dish lively and inventive. “We want ingredients that have bright colors,” he says. “We consider color an ingredient.” A little salt and pepper make it pop. Robinson’s dressing — a blend of olive oil, champagne vinaigrette and juice extracted from whatever fruit is in season — gives it Latin-Caribbean flair, Robinson’s sigChef Louis nature style.

Photos by Dex Honea

Robinson/Spice Pop-up Restaurant SpiceFlorida.com for upcoming events Market Price

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BREAKING THE MOLD Heirloom Caprese Salad at Carmel Kitchen

thick slices of heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. The fixings: lemon arugula, marinated artichokes and roasted red pepTradition is great and all, but why, pers. The flavor twist: red onions, when you can get your hands on capers, basil and a balsamic drizzle. the plumpest heirloom tomatoes in The taste is at once familiar and Florida, would you toss them with unexpected. “You definitely hit all of the same old fixings? Kudos to Carthe different spectrums of the flavor mel Kitchen for elevating the flavor palate with this dish,” says kitchen profile of its Heirloom Caprese Salad, manager Josh Mikesell. “The capers a vegetarian staple that so often provide saltiness and the red gets the same treatment onions give you a little at every restaurant. bit of that bite on the Carmel Kitchen The foundation of back end. The basil 8433 Cooper Creek Blvd. the dish: generous, rounds it all out.”

Carmel-Kitchen.com $9.99

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Seasons 52 170 University Town Center Drive, Seasons52.com, $16.90

SALAD AND A SHOW Sesame Grilled Salmon at Seasons 52 All those picture-perfect Mason jar salad recipes you find on Pinterest pale in comparison to the dramatic presentation of Seasons 52’s Sesame Grilled Salmon Salad.

The dish is served on a large white plate for effect and anchored by a hefty fillet of salmon that has been grilled over an open oak fire. Next to the fish is a tall, clear cylinder filled with organic greens, mango

and jicama, topped with a lemongrass aioli sauce and toasted sesame dressing. “The salad is layered in the cylinder tower and when the server pulls it off, it all lands perfectly on the plate,” says Sinead Magennis, sales manager at Seasons 52. “It’s a beautiful, fresh salad for summer.” At only 450 calories, the dish is a dieter’s dream, and you don’t have to feel guilty about pairing it with a glass of sauvignon blanc, or indulging in the restaurant’s decadent mini Key lime pies.

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Fresh Kitchen 8491 Cooper Creek Blvd., #101, EatFreshKitchen.com, $13.99

BEST LUNCH IN A RUSH Surf & Turf Summer Salad at Fresh Kitchen

The Surf & Turf Summer Salad at Fresh Kitchen is a quick and hearty answer to your time-squeezed lunch hour. True to its name, Fresh Kitchen prepares all its ingredients in-house, including the mixed greens, which are lightly coated with a lemon-basil vinaigrette. For this particular dish, customized for us by Managing Partner Russell Leone, the greens were topped with roasted Brussels sprouts and broccoli, and paired with ahi tuna and shoulder cut steak. A mound of chopped avocado and a side of coconut Sriracha dressing give this grab-and-go salad even more oomph.

“The idea is to provide quick service and make food fun,” Leone says. “It’s all build-your-own-bowl, and you’ll never get sick of it.” We suggest grabbing one of Fresh Kitchen’s cold-pressed juices to go and a rich zucchini brownie to get you over the afternoon hump.

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Even though summer beckons for lighter fare, sometimes our bellies disagree. For salad lovers with ravenous appetites, we suggest Station 400’s Grilled Sockeye Salmon Chopped Salad. (Even the name is a mouthful!) The newly revised recipe calls for a 6-ounce grilled salmon fillet, chopped romaine lettuce, spring greens, veggies, tomatoes, toasted pumpkin seeds and edamame.

Rustic, robust and filling, the salad is chopped and mixed so well that General Manager Jeff Grobleski promises you’ll taste “every flavor in every bite.” If you’re really famished, ask for the restaurant’s new mandarin orange sesame dressing.

It gives the dish a sweet Asian twist and satisfies your dessert cravings.

Station 400 8215 Lakewood Main St., Suite P103, Station400.com, $13.95

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Call Suzanne Gile at (941) 556-0782 or sgile@palmaire.net

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www.palmaire.net 227454

PUT SOME MEAT ON YOUR BONES Grilled Sockeye Salmon Chopped Salad at Station 400

Country Club

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MATERNAL INSTINCTS Lakewood Ranch is home to the mother of all mom groups.

BY HEIDI KURPIELA | MANAGING EDITOR

T

he next time you see a group of moms in yoga pants, kvetching over to-go coffees and corralling small children at a park, remind yourself of this: Mommy

play dates are not a contrived invention of modern society. Mothers throughout history have always had each other’s backs. Cave mommies gathered in clans.

Pilgrim mommies gathered in colonies. People say it takes a village to raise a child because hundreds of years ago it actually did.

And it still does, sort of. The women who belong to the Lakewood Ranch Moms Group Inc. are evidence of that. A kind of Mom Nation in East County, the group is the 21st century equivalent of a sewing circle with all the cogs of a well-oiled institution. Founded over 10 years ago, the group boasts 300 members, an executive board and multiple subcommittees tasked with organizing day trips, playgroups, mommy nights out, charity fundraisers and seasonal fetes, all fervently documented on the group’s private Facebook page.

“We have members who haven’t even moved here yet,” says President Jill Bennett. “You know how moms are. They want to know the best soccer program, the best pediatrician, who has kids

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Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

the same age. They want to connect with moms before they even move here. They’re planners.”

Bennett herself is a highly organized planner.

A self-described “type A multitasker,” she previously restructured failing medical practices for a living before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her two boys, ages 4 and 2. Much like her predecessors, the 35-year-old Boston native is the quintessential no-drama mama, a doer that fellow member Leslie Toscano describes as a “super mom who just gets stuff done.” She joined the group in 2013, shortly after relocating

The group has hundreds of members, multiple committees and a packed social calendar.

with her family from Punta Gorda to Lakewood Ranch. “I walked into Town Hall to pick up my homeowner’s manual and (the clerk) asked if I was familiar with the mom’s group. I said, ‘No, but count me in.’”

Bennett says most members are in their mid30s with kids still in diapers. She estimates that 60% of them are stay-at-home moms. Many of them work as consultants for direct sales companies, selling skincare products, makeup, accessories and clothes. Bennett is an independent distributor for LuLaRoe, an online clothing out-

let famous for its leggings.

“We do have moms with regular full-time jobs,” says Bennett, now pregnant with her third boy. “We’ve got teachers, IT professionals, moms in marketing and moms who are small business owners. The woman taking over as president next year (Victoria Dominguez) is a business owner. I know she’ll run a tight ship.”

The recent influx of young families to Lakewood Ranch has caused the group’s membership Continued on Page 74

We get stuff done and we get it done quickly.”

PRESIDENT JILL BENNETT

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Part of the reason I’m in the group is so other kids can run my kids ragged,” PRESIDENT JILL BENNETT jokes.

She is due with her third son in August.

Continued from Page 73 to double over the past five years. Its popular moms-night-out excursions, once quaint happy hour gatherings, are now major events drawing 50 to 60 women at a time. A recent manicure and pedicure night was so packed women were divided into groups of 15 and pampered in onehour shifts.

“I wouldn’t say there’s never drama,” Bennett says. “With 300 women that would be impossible.

It never escalates though, which I find amazing.

It surprises me how well we all get along.”

The group has become a formidable entity in the community, on par with other LLCs, not just because it can juggle a 50-woman spa party, but also because it tenaciously rallies for local causes and families in need.

Two years ago, when member Karen Moore’s 2-year-old daughter, McKinley, was diagnosed with leukemia, the group responded by filling a wagon with food, gift cards and toys for McKinley and her brother. When Moore quit her job to shuttle her daughter to and from treatments at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St.

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Mom of three Janira Sustache takes time with daughters Naomi and Natalie at a play date in Adventure Park.

Petersburg, the group organized a meal train — something it regularly does for moms who have had babies or surgery — and agreed to stretch it well past its typical two-week period.

Last September, the group held its first fundraising gala to benefit Love McKinley Inc., a nonprofit Moore created to help fund a Life Care Specialist at All Children’s and support local families with children in treatment. In one night it raised $23,500 for the cause. Bennett says 95% of the attendees were members and their spouses.

“My girlfriend refers to them as a mom army,” says Moore, whose daughter is still undergoing treatment. “The way they’ve embraced our family and lifted us up, I can’t even describe it. When McKinley was diagnosed, everything flipped upside down, and they immediately stepped in to pick up the pieces. I’m in awe of them.”

Longtime member Susan Meyers, 41, says the group has always been an army, even in its early

days. A member since 2006, Meyers, a former accountant from Atlanta, has seen membership ebb and flow along with the real estate market.

She feels its strength and staying power comes from the fact that so many of its members are transplants. “In a way the group becomes your family,” Meyers says.

Although she’s not as active as she once was — her kids are older and their schedules are more hectic — her closest friends are still the same women she met when her son was a baby.

“When my kids were little, I remember feeling like I’d lost my identity,” Meyers says. “Everything was mommy, mommy all the time. When you’re a mom, there’s that common denominator.

We understand what each of us is going through.

If you don’t have those women to bounce stuff off of, motherhood can be a lonely place. When you find a group of people who say, ‘Yep, me too,’ it’s like finding your tribe.”

My girlfriend refers to them as a mom army.

The way they’ve embraced our family and lifted us up, I can’t even describe it.”

KAREN MOORE

The group hosts monthly “Preschool Picasso” crafting sessions at area parks and establishments. Members gathered in March for egg painting in Adventure Park.

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MY

Aviva Experience...

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SPOTLIGHTING LIFE ON THE RANCH

From pools to patio furniture, look no further for outdoor inspiration. PAGE 78

After a day of warm embraces over Clare and Don Murphy’s Lake Club home, the sun bids adieu for the evening ... until tomorrow.

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The massive outdoor space in the Murphy’s home offers a 10-person hot tub, a fire pit and plenty of spots to salute the sun.

Made in the Shade

Entertaining is a summer breeze in these pictureperfect outdoor spaces.

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BY SHELLIE TERRY | CONTRIBUTOR

F

lorida’s greatest asset is its sunshine. People move here so they can spend their time outside, which is why a home’s outdoor living is as important as its indoor living — maybe even more

important. Homeowners want to relish the warm nights, light breezes and breathtaking sunsets. Lakewood Ranch residents have proven you don’t have to live near the beach to have a tropical paradise in your backyard. These three outdoor spaces are much more than lanais and pool decks. They’re private retreats. With ample room to roam, cook and swim, these yards were made for alfresco schmoozing.

WIDE-OPEN SPACES

After living for a spell in Europe, artist, property developer and philanthropist Teresa Lee-Kay landed in downtown Sarasota. An energetic socialite, Lee-Kay found her footing in small city life, but raising her 10-year-old son, McKay, in a condo just didn’t feel right after a year.

Wishing her son had more room to run, and other kids to play with, Lee-Kay set out to find a large home in family-friendly Lakewood Ranch. “At the time, people said, ‘You’re going to move away from the water?’ like that was a crazy idea,” Lee-Kay says. “But the night this property came on the market, I said, ‘I think we found our house.’”

She found what she was looking for in the Lakewood Ranch and Country Club. Lee-Kay’s Lee Wetherington-designed home is modern and eclectic on the inside, blending seamlessly into the outdoor space. “Lee built this as a one-off model home, and I liked that it was unique,” Lee-Kay says. “He was starting a pool company at the time too, and wanted to showcase what he could do.”

The pool is definitely a marquee feature, sprawling through the screened lanai with its grouted stone pavers and cozy conversation corners. An open gazebo overlooks several charming sitting areas, including a hammock and fire pit, where Lee-Kay has been known to enjoy a quiet tête-à-têtes with a friend or coffee in the morning.

Beyond the lanai, privacy landscaping encircles more seating on the patios and by the lake.

“This is a great area for either socializing or meditation,” Lee-Kay says. “It’s just such a peaceful, multiuse space. I have three grandchildren who live in Summerfield, and we’re out here a lot. I just couldn’t be in a house that didn’t have a backyard.”

Continued on Page 82

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LIVING & LOVING LAKEWOOD RANCH Lifestyle Specialist

The genius of Teresa Lee-Kay’s Country Club home’s outdoor design is the multiple sanctuaries for private chats, open areas for parties, and blissful spots for morning meditation both inside and outside the screened lanai.

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Barbara Najmy has been representing the finest properties in Lakewood Ranch for over 15 years. With an affinity for exceptional service, attention to detail and ar tful negotiation skills, she has established a tradition of excellence that is endlessly beneficial to her customers.

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ROOMS WITH A VIEW

When people say they want to “bring the outdoors inside,” they should consult with the Reid family. The exterior of Rick and Victoria Reid’s Country Club East home is as open, inviting and stylish as its interior.

The Pittsburgh natives settled in Lakewood Ranch last year after exploring Sarasota and Naples. They connected with Peregrine Homes to create a spacious, open floor plan with a classroom for Victoria to homeschool their children, Jessica, 18, and Stryker, 15.

Victoria knew she and the kids would need a proper outdoor refuge after spending so much time inside, so she suggested each room open to the 2,200-square-foot lanai.

“We definitely wanted to utilize as much of this view as we could,” Victoria says. “Anywhere in the house, you can see the lakes and the golf course beyond. All the doors fold all the way back and out of view, so when you walk in you see the pool and this view; it feels like you’re always outside.”

Her design choices add to the indoor-outdoor play. The beachy, Mediterranean color scheme and travertine floors seamlessly blend from the indoor rooms and outdoor seating areas to create a cohesive flow. Even the aquarium window choices highlight the outdoor view.

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“When you first walk into our home, there’s all view with no obstruction with the glass against glass,” Victoria says. “Everything from the building to the landscaping is intentional. I just love the brightness of the sunshine and all the colors with the flowers in bloom. This is just a little slice of heaven on earth.”

Continued on Page 84

Builder Peregrine Homes went to painstaking measures to ensure the lake and golf course views of Victoria and Rick Reid’s Country Club home were highlighted from any interior spot, such as the formal living room.

Now, that’s a ONE LEADING BUILDER. 12 MODELS NOW OPEN. You can tell just by looking it’s a Stock Signature Home. For 15 years, we have created exceptional award-winning residences along the Gulf Coast that make masterful statements and are irresistibly inviting to live in.

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Taupe and dark wrought iron furnishings complement the Murphy’s interior design while not distracting from the intricate landscaping.

OUTDOOR PARTY PAD

Clare and Dan Murphy were once snowbirds, splitting their time between a home in Lakewood Ranch’s Greystone neighborhood and careers in southeast Michigan. After deciding to make the move to Florida full time, the couple set their sights on the Lake Club with one caveat — a bigger lanai.

“A bigger lanai is just more conducive to living here full time,” Clare says. “We looked and looked … and when we walked in and looked through open doors, it’s just exquisite. That’s really what sold us on this house.”

Continued on Page 86

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Snooty the manatee Museum Diplomat

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Planetarium shows & manatee presentations daily Florida’s Story from the Prehistoric to the Present.

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Continued from Page 84 The airy back patio is dressed up by wroughtiron furniture, expertly arranged in lounging and entertaining areas surrounding the shaded outdoor kitchen. The arrangement is ideal for small parties, says Clare. Last Thanksgiving, she comfortably hosted 20 people out back.

The décor’s warm taupe colors and dark accents are mimicked inside the home. Huge cement planters border the pool and 10-person hot tub; a tall bronze sculpture of a woman holding a bird’s nest looms over the scene. “I bought her in France 20 years ago,” Clare says.

“I call her My Lady. She spoke to me. I just loved her.”

The screened-in space faces a sprawling, well tended yard designed in the style of an English garden, complete with a circular brick path and lakeside bench. “We’ll often sit out there and watch the sunset, or we’ll sit in the hot tub or go to the fire pit in the evenings,” Clare says.

“What’s not to like about this house?”

Not ones to miss the sun’s daily show, the Murphys placed a wooden bench at the end of the circular brick pathway in their yard beyond their lanai.

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Beautiful Floor Coatings That Last A Lifetime!

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Gardening

Share Cropping The community that gardens together grows together.

W

LORI WALKER CERTIFIED MASTER GARDENER, VICE PRESIDENT OF LAKEWOOD RANCH GARDEN CLUB

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hat’s better than having one green thumb? Having a whole hand!

Community gardens are cropping up in big cities and small communities all over the country. Lakewood Ranch established one last February adjoining the Paw Park at Greenbrook Adventure Park. The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club, for which I serve as vice president, leased a plot. We harvested our produce and donated it to Stillpoint House of Prayer’s food pantry in Bradenton.

Community gardens are a joy to cultivate.

They are often more successful than individual gardens because they unite people with a common purpose: to reap what they sow.

Gardeners are notoriously solitary creatures; communal plots encourage social interaction, nurture collaboration and foster a sense of belonging. They allow people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to intermingle in way they wouldn’t under ordinary circumstances. They revitalize blighted neighborhoods and thwart crime. Some studies show a 56% decrease in crime in areas with more community gardens.

They allow suburban horticulturists the opportunity to get their green on in deed-restricted developments that prohibit backyard gardens.

They support sustainable local agriculture and improve health and nutrition. For ultra-crunchy organic eaters, they are a trusted source of pesticide-free fruits and veggies. They reduce food costs, yielding on average a half-a-pound of fresh produce per square foot.

Still not convinced? Maybe you’re more interested in the physical fitness component.

Group gardening is like the new CrossFit. All that bending and weeding works your glutes and biceps. Just like any other workout, some of us do better with a buddy. If you commit to gardening with a friend, you’ll be more likely to stick it out.

If you’re interested in starting a community garden, there are several things to consider.

First you must organize a planning committee of

enthusiastic people. Next you’ll want to determine if it’ll be a vegetable bed, flowerbed or both? Be sure to search for grants to help offset your costs.

Community sponsors are another good way to save money on soil, plants, fencing and seeds.

It’s also important to know the etiquette. Members of a community garden are usually required to put in a designated amount of volunteer hours.

Your committee will determine these rules. Outline a solid means of communication. An email distribution list works well, as do regular meetings.

Lastly and most importantly, pick a good piece of land. Your parcel needs to get at least six hours of sun a day and have access to water.

Bonus points for setting aside space for children to garden. They are, after all, the earth’s most important seeds.

DIG IN! Lakewood Ranch charges Phase 1 residents $25 a year for a plot in its Community Garden at Greenbrook Adventure Park. All other residents pay $40 a year. To lease a plot, call 941-907-0202. For more help on establishing a garden in your neighborhood, call the Manatee County Extension Service at 941-722-4524.

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DEDICATED to a lifetime of WOMEN’S health care Gynecology / Cosmetic Gynecology Obstetrics - Pregnancy On - Site 3D & 4D Ultrasounds Menopause & Hormone Replacement

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Directions from I-75: Head East on Fruitville Road. Take the first left onto Coburn Road, then left onto Richardson Road and follow the road as it curves to the right — you will then be driving parallel with I-75 on your left.

Continue on this road until you pass the Church of Hope and then turn right onto Jesus Way.

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CYSTIC FIBROSIS LUNCHEON FRIDAY, MARCH 24, AT LAKEWOOD RANCH GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Lakewood Ranch’s Charisse May and Deborah Jones served on the committee that helped organize the event.

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Bob and Kelly Hamm, of River Strand, chat with Diane and Howard Germon, of the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

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TROPICAL NIGHTS ‘SUNSETS IN PARADISE’ BENEFITING MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS OF MANATEE, SATURDAY, APRIL 22, AT THE SARASOTA POLO CLUB

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Ron and Joy Beck, of Lakewood Ranch

East County's Ravi and Kripa Soleyn

Adria and Matthew Jensen, of Lakewood Ranch

June 7–July 1

GREAT FOR THE

Join us for Family Day, June 17

WHOLE FAMILY

“A feast for the senses.

This is brilliant theatre.”

ASOLO REP Joy McCann Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial Foundation Culverhouse Charitable Trust Trust

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By CRAIG FRANCIS and RICK MILLER Based on the book

by JULES VERNE Produced by KIDOONS/WYRD PRODUCTIONS from Montreal, Canada

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES,TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NO FEDERAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THIS PROPERTY. ALL PRICES AND FEATURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL DRAWINGS ARE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS AND DEVELOPER EXPRESSLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS.

LAKEWOOD RANCH COMMUNITY FUND GALA SATURDAY, MARCH 19, AT THE LAKEWOOD RANCH GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Photos by Jay Heater

Above: Mark and Violeta Huesman and Denise and Robert Pope Left: Lakewood Ranch’s Heather Black and Starla Armstrong

River Club’s Eric Rathfelder and Shirley Hirons

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Whole Child Pediatrics Whole Child Pediatrics Pediatrics Call To Schedule Your Appointment

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Most insurances accepted including Medicare & Medicaid 94

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6040 53rd Ave. East, Suite B Bradenton, FL 34203

BLU MANGROVE

BLU MANGROVE

A slice of upscale tropical heaven! Located in Riviera Dunes Marina along the beautiful Manatee River.

Visualize yourself sipping on a fabulously crafted cocktail while your eyes are mesmerized by the panoramic marina views of yachts, swaying palm trees and beautiful sunsets.You have arrived in PARADISE! Feast on the FRESHEST seafood, chef-prepared entrées, super-fresh raw bar, hand-rolled sushi and so much more. From lite bite snacks to a full course meal, BLU MANGROVE has something to satisfy everyone’s craving!

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10719 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.0400 | facebook.com/edstavernlwr

FULL BELLY STUFFED BURGERS

8742 SR 70 East, Lakewood Ranch 941.727.7111 | fullbellystuffedburgers.com

LV14131

Come check out this family owned & operated “foodie” joint. A one-of-a-kind concept serving up Award Winning STUFFED Burgers like the acclaimed maple bacon & peanut butter burger, unique appetizers such as the belly buster & side dishes (truffle tots anyone?) alongside local cold craft beersit’s a can’t miss! Proudly voted “Best Burger”,“Best New Restaurant” & “Best Kept Local Secret” in our first year, now 4 years later, we continue to bring fun back to the bun. Visit us today or we can come to you with our new full service FoodTruck.

It ain’t a party ‘til someone has a Full Belly!

Open 7 Days: Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat 11am10pm, Sun 12-8pm. HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri 4-7pm

DINING OUT

A Jersey Joint in Lakewood Ranch, Ed’s Tavern is the perfect blend of local neighborhood sports bar and family friendly restaurant right in the heart of Main Street (next to the movie theater). The only lakefront dining in Lakewood Ranch! The menu has something for everyone! From Southern favorites like pulled pork and fried pickles to our authentic New Jersey classics like open-faced sandwiches and disco fries. Our newly remodeled full-service bar now includes 20 ice cold draft selections plus over 20 flat screen TVs. Daily Specials, Trivia every Wednesday and Thursday. Live Music every Friday & Saturday night. Mon - Thur 11am - 12am, Fri - Sat 11am - 2am, Sun 11am - 11pm.

239662

OPEN DAILY AT 11AM • Lunch • Dinner • Happy Hour • Special Events Complimentary Valet after 4pm: Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun

239093

RAW BAR • SUSHI BAR • FRESH EXOTIC SEAFOOD • HAND SELECT STEAKS

HALF SHELL SEAFOOD HOUSE Our award winning restaurants are known for local Gulf oysters & a variety of Gulf Coast seafood with a New Orleans flare.The New Orleans influence extends throughout our menu featuring steaks, chicken, Big Easy favorites such as gumbo, shrimp & grits & royal reds.Try our fresh, hand shucked oysters over an open flame with special herbs, mushrooms & seafood mixture- Spicy New Orleans style buttery BBQ sauce, or Rockefeller.You’ll love our French Quarter ambiance, including murals, antique fixtures, wrought iron railings & antique wooden doors right from New Orleans.

Enjoy Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch, Happy Hour & Savory Monthly Specials!

Mon -Thur: 11am - 10pm, Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm, Sun: 11am - 9pm 239010

FRESH OYSTERS | SEAFOOD SPECIALTIES STEAKS | PASTA | PO-BOYS | SALADS

5231 University Parkway, #109, Sarasota 941.952.9400 | halfshellseafoodhouse.com

HANA SUSHI LOUNGE Combining art with traditional Asian cuisine and service to create a unique culinary experience in Lakewood Ranch is what we at Hana Sushi Lounge strive for each day.

With a fusion of artful sushi, inspired kitchen items and handcrafted cocktails, there is always something for everyone to enjoy.

No matter the occasion, our friendly and knowledgeable staff look forward to making your visit special every time.

228886

8126 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.1290 | facebook.com/HanaSushiLounge

LITTLE GREEK FRESH GRILL At Little Greek Fresh Grill, we start each day focused on preparing the most flavorful Greek food possible.

We offer a variety of tasty and affordable Greek menu items to suit any appetite.

Each dish is lovingly made to order using fresh, high-quality ingredients and served with our warm and attentive customer care.

Although we are best known for our amazing Greek salads and gyros, we also have some of the best Greek desserts found anywhere!

Visit us for our fresh, flavorful and fabulous Greek cuisine.

240618

8310 Market Street, Lakewood Ranch 941.210.4560 | littlegreekrestaurant.com LV14132

DINING OUT

Happy Hour Every Sun - Thurs, 4pm - 7pm.

MACALLISTERS Owners Greg and Tina Bliss invite you to experience their newly renovated Tavern. With over 26 years of experience, they are committed to fresh ingredients and quality service.

Their new menu features local favorites: Fish n’ Chips and Shepherd’s Pie, plus new dishes sure to please everyone!

From the bar, enjoy a large selection of Scotch and local craft brews on draft. Daily happy hour.

238826

MacAllisters is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. 11:30am - 10pm Sun - Thurs and 11:30am - 11pm Fri & Sat. We also offer patio dining. Kids welcome!

8110 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch 941.359.2424 | macallisters.com

MAIN STREET TRATTORIA

PINCHERS Since 1997, Pinchers has local fishermen and crabbers leave our shores and guide their boats out into the Gulf of Mexico each morning. They return each night with the best that the Gulf has to offer and bring this precious catch to our local seafood facility - The Island Crab Company located on Pine Island. From there it is delivered to our Lakewood Ranch restaurant.

We deliver the best seafood in town to your table each and every visit. “You Can’t Fake Fresh!®” Hours: 11am-10pm 7 days a week.

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 All Day, All Night KIDS EAT FREE!

240830

10707 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch 941.922.1515 | pinchersusa.com

LV14132

8131 Lakewood Main Street #101, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.1518 | mstrattoria.com

DINING OUT

228890

Opened in 2010 by owner Gary Fennessy, Main Street Trattoria in Lakewood Ranch features fresh Italian cuisine including their signature bruschetta focaccia, chicken milanese and hand-tossed thin crust pizza. Make sure you save room for homemade tiramisu and cappuccino for dessert.

Mr. Fennessy created a one-of-a-kind experience for friends and family to gather and dine together. Enjoy our inside/outside bar including our outdoor dining area. You will find live music every Wednesday-Saturday 6-10pm and Sunday 4-8pm. Happy Hour Daily 2-7pm. Takeout and Kids menu also available.

PARTING GLANCE Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club member Paula Dulski took this photo at the Maasai Mara Preserve on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. It won Best in Show at a recent State College of Florida photo contest.

98

LWR LIFE

STEP INTO BALLET Ages 4-6 June 12-17

CHILDREN’S SUMMER WORKSHOP Ages 7-10 June 12-23

SPRING INTO SUMMER Ages 11-18 May 15-June 23 238792

sarasotaballet.org/education

941.225.6520

LAUGH SPLASH UNWIND PLAY Where you LIVE matters.

CONNECT THE HOMES AT INDIGO: Lakewood Ranch is one

of Southwest Florida’s most thoughtful and connected communities—and Indigo is one of its most sought-after villages!

With gated entry, a community pool, an array of activities and amenities, and a variety of stunning Neal homes, you’ll find everything that matters to you at Indigo. And that matters a lot.

AT L A K E W O O D R A N C H

12916 Deep Blue Place Lakewood Ranch | FL 34211

• Floorplans from 1,407 to 2,980 sq. ft.

• 3-5 Bedrooms and 2-3.5 Baths • 2 & 3 – Car Garages • Recreation Center with Spa, Fitness Room and Classes

64

N

LORRAINE RD

LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD

• Low Community Fees, with Maintenance Included

44TH AVE

70

I-75, exit 217A. Route 70 East.

Left on Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Right on 44th Avenue.

• Pickleball and Bocce Ball Courts

TOUR 4 MODELS TODAY! INDIGO AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

Southwest Florida’s Most Experienced Home Builder For Over 40 Years

Single-Family Homes from Prices and availability subject to change without notice.

CBC1256375

237807

Call 941.229.1197 or visit NealCommunities.com

the Low $300s – Low $400s