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By Jane Bartnett Casa Smeralda, a Siesta Key women’s clothing boutique whose name translates into a house on the emerald coast of Sardinia, Italy, will celebrate its second anniversary on the Key this spring. Formerly of St. Armand’s Circle, the shop is situated in the heart of Siesta Key Village at 5121 Ocean Blvd. Specializing […]
By Emma Shaughnessy The holiday season is in full swing, which means it is the prime time to start shopping for gifts. One of the best parts of the holiday season is getting to spend time with loved ones. After a long, stressful year, gift giving is a special way to express gratitude and love […]
By Jane Bartnett ’Tis the season for holiday shopping! We’re dedicating this month’s column to highlighting a number of local specialty stores right in our own back yard. We’ve discovered some hidden gems that hold quite an array of unique offerings for your holiday gift giving. Why not play Santa to yourself while you’re at […]
It’s August and the kids will head back to school this month, but we still have many long summer days ahead. When a welcome evening breeze slips in to end our warm days, one of the best things to do is to treat yourself to a delicious cup or cone of frozen yogurt or ice […]
We say ‘shell yeah!’ to a local artist and volunteer Q: You are a vendor at the weekly Siesta Farmers Market, selling your shell-themed decor you call a Little Piece of Paradise. The shells you use are found right here on the island. For starters, what first brought you to Siesta Key? A: I moved […]
By Jane Bartnett This is a tale of two neighborhoods. As the Siesta Key region grows, two distinctly different shopping and dining centers that serve the area — The Landings Shopping Center and the Gulf Gate business district — are both experiencing a rebirth. During the past four years, The Landings has seen a rapid […]
By Jane Bartnett Scientist, educator, arts advocate, and the 2014 Riverview High School and Sarasota County High School Teacher of the Year. And now, store owner. Yet, this lofty list barely begins to describe Katrin Rudge, the new co-owner of Coastal Flow Ocean Inspired Gifts & Decor on South Tamiami Trail. This spring, when Katrin […]
Have you heard about The Point? It’s a wonderful waterfront restaurant and lounge on Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey that opened its doors in October. If you’re coming from Siesta Key, head south on Tamiami Trail and at Bayview Drive drive a short distance toward the water and be prepared for a pleasant surprise. […]
Key Casuals has a new look, a new owner and a new line of women’s clothing.“Our motto is, dress like you’re on vacation,” said Melissa Grossenkemper, the store’s new owner and buyer. “Vacation clothing designed to appeal to women age 25 to 45 who are visiting or living on or near Siesta Key is what […]
By Jane Bartnett Artists are naturally drawn to the shimmering blue-green translucent water that caresses the soft, white quartz sands of Siesta Key. Jeweler Monica Galfre, owner of the Silver City Sarasota jewelry store on Midnight Pass, is one of those artists. When Galfre and her husband George Rysko, a Swiss-trained watch specialist, decided to […]