The house was dated, uninviting, and not at all what its future owners had in mind. They bought it, anyway, mesmerized by Gulf of Mexico views and estate-sized grounds that evoked images of the idyllic family retreat they dreamed of sharing with their two teenagers and big network of family and friends. Set on nearly five [...]

Art Venice Art Center. A show of Landscapes and Seascapes closes here Oct. 4; it’s followed by an exhibition of abstract art, Oct. 10 through Nov. 1, accompanied by a solo show featuring acrylic/abstract artist Linda Larisch. 485-7136. Selby Gallery. On view here through Oct. 11: the annual Ringling College Faculty Exhibition Part I, highlighting [...]

Red and lots of it is the right shade for a steakhouse, as anyone who has made the pilgrimage to Bern’s in Tampa, the Bay area’s reigning homegrown, over-the-top exemplar of the form, knows full well. Hyde Park Steakhouse in downtown Sarasota (the mother ship is in Cleveland) employs a more subdued and varied interior [...]

Its superb location and gorgeous water surround make Bird Key one of the area’s most upscale residential communities. Situated between downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle, Bird Key is a boater’s dream, with deep-water canals and a private yacht club that attract professionals, affluent families, retirees and even a few celebrities. Davie Lindsay Worcester of [...]

Dick and Maggie Bechtold’s house in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch speaks to them and lights up when they get out of bed. The entire home is totally automated, yet there’s just one electric switch in a footprint of 7,678 square feet. Everything, including lighting, security, audio, fire alarm and video systems, is integrated [...]