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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 […]
By John Morton The idea of 52 vendors on a 60-acre estate is a big thing, but it’s the little things that make the Phillippi Farmhouse Market so special. For starters, it’s run by volunteers. And Fred and Grace Whitehouse have served as managers of this massive production for 11 of its 12 years. “We […]
“Eyewear is jewelry for your face,” said Darlene Tomasiello, owner of the new Eye Style Optical Boutique in Crescent Plaza. Style experts, actors and anyone interested in changing their look will agree that the right pair of glasses can be transformative. Think back to Superman. When soft-spoken newspaper reporter Clark Kent removed his heavy black […]
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 […]
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 […]
Despite losing some parking spots, owners at the Toasted Mango Cafe erect a tent each morning because of the demand for outdoor seating. (photo by John Morton) By John Morton When city rules were temporarily loosened to encourage outdoor seating at restaurants due to the pandemic, the eateries at Crescent Plaza got a taste of […]
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 […]
By Lisa Codianne Fowler ‘Tis the season to showcase your style. Are you a sophisticated Foxy Lady, or a sandy-toed Gidget? Perhaps your tastes run toward Provence chic – ethereal, feminine, and timeless. On the Key, you can express all three, depending on your mood and the event at hand. No need to feel pigeon-holed […]
By Rachel Hackney Brown, SarasotaNewsLeader.com Given the Second District Court of Appeal ruling for Sarasota County this summer in the Siesta Promenade lawsuit, the SNL took the opportunity to ask county staff about the status of the mixed-use development planned for the northwest quadrant of the Stickney Point Road/U.S. 41 intersection. On Aug. 6, county […]
