This week: A lovely detail shot of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. We love the symmetry and the vibrant colors, and Sarasota Bay reflected in the windows and doors. Photo credit: Chris Gladdue

Nokomis Beach Plaza, Sarasota County’s very first beach pavilion, was completed in 1956 by architect Jack West, a member of the Sarasota School of Architecture. For years, it provided shade and bathrooms to beach-goers, but over time fell into disrepair. Happily, a renovation project completed in 2007 restored the structure to its former glory. In [...]

The Sarasota Succulent Society has long been known in the area for its beautiful collections of cacti, aloes, and many more. You might almost think you were in Texas, looking at this photo! P.S.: Look for more on succulents, including tips for growing your own at home, in our October issue. Photo by Richard Clapp

Settlers were living in Florida long before the days of air conditioning and running water on Osprey’s Historic Spanish Point. When the wealthy Palmers bought the homestead in the 1910s, Ms. Bertha Palmer built shell aqueducts to carry water through her scenic gardens. Those structures are still trickling beautifully through the paths today. The homestead [...]

Thousands of exotic postcards advertising “air conditioning and TV in room” were sent from Florida to loved ones during the fifties and sixties. These little pieces of paradise must have brought some sunshine into the Northern winters then, and they bring a little nostalgia to us now. Just look at that nice, cool blue pool! [...]

This morning, we got a sneak peek of the new Trader Joe’s, set to open tomorrow–that’s Friday, September 7–to much fanfare. When we arrived, the employees were still busy stocking shelves with everything from fresh produce to specialty cheeses, but store manager Linda Moffa, who’s been with the company for 32 years, took a few [...]

The Plaza Restaurant opened on First Street in 1928 and quickly became a popular gathering place for Sarasota’s political, business and financial elite, as well as a group of writers who met at the restaurant every Friday for lunch for 30 years. Liar’s Poker became part of the Friday lunches at some point in the [...]

When we first met Tony D’Souza, 38, back in 2005, he was waiting tables at the old Metro Café on Osprey Avenue and about to publish his first novel, Whiteman, based on his experience with the Peace Corps in Africa’s Cote d’Ivoire.   Fast forward a few years and D’Souza has gone on to publish [...]