Sarasota is Florida's Arts and Cultural Epicenter

  It will come as no surprise to most people that Sarasota Florida, recently named the "#1 Small City in the Nation for the Arts", is the center of Arts and Culture of Florida. The arts scene in Sarasota rivals the arts environments of much bigger cities in other parts of the country.

  The genesis of involvement in the arts in Sarasota began with John and Mable Ringling who built their magnificent 56-room Venetian Gothic mansion, Cà d’Zan. Having amassed a significant collection of art and art objects, the Ringlings built the 21-gallery Ringling Museum of Art to house their collection in 1931. John Ringling bequeathed his collection and the Cà d’Zan mansion to the people of Florida at his death in 1936. After a tumultuous decade, the Cà d’Zan mansion and the Ringling Museum were taken over by the State of Florida in 1946, rehabilitated and eventually opened to the public.

  Performing arts of all kinds thrive in Sarasota. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents travelling shows ranging from musical acts to Broadway revivals. The Asolo Repertoire Theater, which opened in 1960 as a summer acting studio is now a full repertoire theater where more than 100,000 people attend its diverse repertoire of theater experiences. The Sarasota Orchestra, the oldest continuing orchestra in the state of Florida, has been entertaining music lovers for over 60 years. The Sarasota Ballet has featured several world-premieres under the direction of internationally-recognized Ian Webb and a half-dozen smaller theater companies perform comedies, dramas and the like on a variety of stages. Live music from contemporary to jazz emanates from Downtown Sarasota pubs and clubs virtually every night.

  The Ringling College of Art & Design hosts a thriving community of visual artists who display their craft at many school-sponsored exhibits. S/aRt/Q is a non-profit group of Sarasota artists who engage the community with unique visual and print art experiences in numerous galleries around Sarasota.

  Sarasota's rich artistic atmosphere has spawned a host of festivals. Film arts are highlighted at the Sarasota Film Festival in April and the Sarasota Film Society Cine-World Festival in November. The Sarasota Music Festival brings together the best young musicians from around the globe for three weeks each June. Ringling Museum, in conjunction with the New York-based Baryshnikov Arts Center presents the Ringling International Arts Festival which brings together performers from around the world for a celebration of art in all forms. The Sarasota Blues Fest in September and funky arts and crafts highlighted at the annual Atomic Holiday Bazaar in December are two more popular events while the St Armands Arts Festival in Janaury and the Siesta Fiesta in April bring top-notch arts and crafts talents to Sarasota.

  In next-door Bradenton, the Village of the Arts is a vibrant community of artists living and working together in Florida’s largest art community. Over 30 galleries, studios, cafes, and jewelry, fashion and book stores fill a charming neighborhood of restored 1920's and 30's cottages.

  Whether the arts and cultural aspects of your life have been mainstream or a passing fancy you've just never quite had the time to pursue, Sarasota has something to awaken your interest and provide the atmosphere in which your artistic side can blossom and expand. If a lifestyle steeped in the arts is something you would enjoy, there no better warm and sunny place to live than Sarasota Florida.

  Contact Me at your convenience for more information, or for a more immediate response, call me at 941-266-1799.

Siesta Key's Secret, Some of Sarasota's Most Luxurious Homes

    Siesta Key is one of the major barrier islands off the Sarasota Florida mainland.  It is separated from the mainland by Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway and toward its southern end by Roberts Bay.

    On the Gulf side of this 8-mile long island, Siesta Key has some of the whitest and softest beaches in America.  Dr. Beach (aka Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research) who has rated America's beaches for 23 years, declared Siesta Beach the "#1 Beach in America" for, he said, " its world-famous soft, white, powdery quartz sand, unsurpassed anywhere in America in its beauty."

On the inland side, Siesta Key is bordered by dense mangrove forests where residents and visitors enjoy boating and fishing om protected waters.

    Mid-island, Siesta Village is a funky sort of place where artists and crafters operate galleries, dining spots and boutique shops featuring all sorts of casual fashions, beach accessories and souvenirs.   With all these casual, fun-provoking amenities, it is sometimes overlooked that Siesta Key also has some of the most exclusive and opulent homes in the Sarasota Florida area.

    As examples of the luxurious homes on Siesta Key, here are just three of the opulent homes currently available.

    $10,900,000 will bring you a home poised along shimmering Gulf of Mexico waters. This 6,300+ sqft, 5 bedroom with 4 1/2 bath residence invokes distinctive Asian-inspired aesthetics achieving a unique harmony with nature. A feeling of tranquility prevails as this private sanctuary rests on two acres from the white sands of the beach to a calm lagoon.

    Embellished with walls of glass and a dramatic open floor plan to accentuate its extraordinary beachfront placement, a calming impression permeates this estate home adorned with a modern French motif and striking Polynesian touches.

    The property includes the main residence plus a 2-story guest house and a lush Japanese garden.  Floor-to-ceiling glass doors in the huge master suite offer panoramic views of Gulf waters.  The home with its open courtyard pool and summer kitchen enveloped by wood decking is perfect for undisturbed reflection or entertaining with a sense of seclusion and quiet elegance.

    Priced at $8,990,000, this 9,200 sqft home with 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths and 4 half-baths makes a stunning statement of refinement and comfort on nearly an acre at the north end of Siesta Key directly on the water.  Spectacular living quarters, exquisite finishes, state-of-the-art systems and resort-like amenities; all within a private, walled and gated property.

    Venetian Gothic fuses with Mediterranean flair to create a gulffront haven that is distinctively stylish and tastefully eclectic.  Built in 2007, this gem is perfect for indulgent relaxing or entertaining.  An extraordinary master suite, expansive living/dining quarters, an exquisite kitchen, a home theater and a 2-story office with elegant stone, stained glass and painted murals throughout.  Outdoors there's 8 porches/patios with incredible views, a rooftop garden-terrace accessed by elevator, and a glamorous pool and cabana with a waterfall, spa, slide, and stage for entertainment.

    $ At $6,650,000 on a heavily treed 2.8 acre bayfront lot, this 7 bedroom home with 5 full and 2 half-baths is on one of the most wonderful locations possible.  This is truly "Old Florida" from the architecture to the ancient oaks.   Concrete block construction and solid poured floors make this an especially well-built home by renowned builder B.W. Saba.

    The 8,600 sqft of interior space melds casual and formal living spaces with its several outdoor terraces where you'll enjoy evenings by the fire and incredible Little Sarasota Bay views.  Interior appointments include intricate moldings, 4 fireplaces, elevator, wine room, a private master suite, and his & her offices/dens.  The grounds have century-old oaks, a lagoon style pool with a water fall. With a private dock and extensive grounds, there's still room for a tennis court. You must see this fine home.

If you're looking for an elegant Sarasota luxury home, Siesta Key is clearly a location you should see as you consider where to buy that "Little Piece of Paradise" you’ve been dreaming about. Call me at 941.266.1799 for an appointment to view these or other luxury homes for sale in Sarasota Florida.  I'd be plesed to be of service to you.

Introducing the Rosedale Golf & Country Club Community in Bradenton Florida

By Rich Stover

The beautifully landscaped entryway and manned gatehouse welcome you to a master planned golf and country club community which, while spacious, is small enough to feel neighborly.

Rosedale's signature boulevard of 80-foot tall pines and ancient oaks leads to captivating homes overlooking lakes and fairways and the magnificent country club clubhouse, which is the heart of the Rosedale golfing community.

Winding its way among sparkling lakes and woodlands, the 18-hole championship Rosdale golf course offers both challenge and breathtaking scenery to the lucky few who get to call Rosedale their home community.

The community offers:

• Just minutes from I-75 and convenient to Bradenton, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota
• Gated entrance manned 24 hours/day
• Detached single family homes
• Maintenance-free neighborhoods
• A challenging and well-maintained 18-Hole championship golf course
• Elegant clubhouse with a full-service restaurant
• Fitness center, tennis courts, junior Olympic pool and bocci courts

If you would like to know more about the Rosedale golf course, the maintenance-free golf course homes available, or its many other amenities, I would be delighted to show you around this cozy Bradenton Florida golf course community. Providing you with Manatee County and Bradenton FL real estate information on golf course homes and condos in all price ranges is my goal.

I invite you to learn more about the several great Bradenton FL golf course homes and communities on my website. Contact Me today. or for an immediate response, call me on my cellphone at 941-266-1799.

Anna Maria Island - An Unnoticed Island Paradise

If you've ever dreamed about life in a secluded and peaceful island paradise where the average temperature year-round is in the 70’s, you’re surrounded by soft, white beaches and warm waters and where the natives are as friendly as any you’ll ever meet, you should definitely get to know about Anna Maria Island.

Anna Maria Island is one of several barrier islands on the west coast of Florida; this one off the coast of Bradenton, in Manatee County. The island has only less than 9,000 permanent residents although it's population grows considerably during winter months. The strangest thing about this delightful little island may be how few Americans know about it. Europeans and Canadians, however, have certainly noticed it.

Anna Maria Island is a narrow strip of land about 7 miles long, stretching from the waters of Tampa Bay on the north, the Gulf of Mexico on the west, by Longboat Key to the south and Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay on the east. Anna Maria Island is comprised on three cities; Anna Maria to the north, Holmes Beach in the center and Bradenton Beach on the southern end. Each of its three cities boasts spectacular beaches and great areas for fishing and scuba diving but each city also strives to preserve the “Old Florida beachcomber lifestyle.” They do it by limiting the size and height of buildings that can be built. You’ll find no high-rise condo developments on this island. In fact you'll see nothing more than three stories high.

Whether you would like a multi-million dollar waterfront estate, a restored older beach cottage, a maintenance-free condo, or, yes, an upscale home in an golf and country club community, Anna Maria Island can fulfill your fantasy so long as you want to fulfill your dream in a secluded place where the term “laid back” really means something very special; where even the giant sea turtles choose to come ashore to build their nests and give birth to the next generation of baby sea turtles.

That golf course community we mentioned is called Key Royale. Within the city limits of Holmes Beach, Key Royale is one of Florida’s most prestigious waterfront golf country club communities. Actually a small island of its own attached to Anna Maria Island proper by the small bridge, Key Royale is something you'd never expect to find on a placid barrier island. If, in addition to enjoying a round of golf on a 9-hole par 32 course and its lovely clubhouse, you are also an avid power boater or sailor, this may your paradise. Virtually every home in Key Royale is either directly on the waterfront or has canal access to open waters.

The city of Holmes Beach, itself, is the largest of the 3 communities on Anna Maria Island and boasts three miles of gorgeous white, sandy beaches. While there's been serious pressure in recent years to take advantage of tourism, the city works to maintain its rustic flavor through attention to the types of buildings and homes permitted to be built. Home types in Holmes Beach include single-family homes, maintenance-free condos and villas offered in architectural styles from Old Key West to Bimini and Grand Cayman.

At the other end of the island, Bradenton Beach is ideal if you want the casual ambiance of a secluded waterfront village. Gulfside homes enjoy gorgeous Gulf of Mexico sunsets while those facing onto Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay are separated from the waters by natural mangroves. Between is a charming village famous for its ultra-casual "beachcomber" lifestyle.

On the northern end of the island, the city of Anna Maria is a quiet, serene place most of the year with narrow roads and almost no street traffic beyond the local trolley. The entire city of Anna Maria is a protected bird sanctuary. While swimming or scuba diving in the waters off Anna Maria, you are as likely to run into a manatee as another swimmer.

For transportation, most locals get around Anna Maria Island on the trolley that runs the length of the island with connections to the bus service on both Longboat Key and across the causeway to Bradenton. Should you wish to leave the island, there are three bridges to the mainland; one at the southern end of the island connects to Longboat Key, another connects Bradenton Beach to the mainland at Cortez and the third connects Holmes Beach to the mainland in the Palma Sola section of Bradenton.

When you wish to liven up your days or evenings, you are a short bridge and causeway drive from the mainland city of Bradenton Florida, the largest city in Manatee County. In addition to being home to several of the best golf courses in Florida, Bradenton also offers every type of boating, fishing and sailing activity imaginable. There is also a constant flow of activities and events going on that will entertain the youngest to the oldest members of your family. Bradenton is as bustling and vibrant as Anna Maria Island is serene and laid back. Bradenton is also home to two major health care facilities, Blake Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital.

We believe that after a single visit to Anna Maria Island, you, too, will refer to Anna Maria Island as "that Little Island Paradise in the Sun.”

My goal as a Sarasota real estate professional is to help you find that one home or condo here in the Sarasota - Bradenton area that fits your needs and desires perfectly whether its on the mainland, on Longboat, Lido, Bird, Siesta or Casey Key or on Anna Maria Island. Please call me with your questions or inquiries at 941.266.1799.

Misty Creek Golf Course Home For Sale Now

By Rich Stover

This 2,788 sq. ft home in the gated community of Misty Creek is a nature lover's retreat complete with lakes, wildlife, mature trees, and sidewalks throughout the community. Golf and tennis are optional. This community has no CDD fees.

This meticulously well kept and recently updated home is move in ready featuring an amazing master bedroom and bath and walk-in closet plus dual shower and sinks with a lovely garden tub. You'll entertain in the beautiful dining room and living room or, as you cook in the comfy gourmet kitchen. Stainless steel appliances, granite, tile, and tons of cabinets. A large laundry room has plenty of storage space.

The family room has a wood-burning fireplace with built in bookshelf and glass shelves. The two guest bedrooms and bath have a pocket door for privacy and there's even a fourth bedroom which could be used as a study or in-laws quarters with it's own private bath and exit to the lanai and pool. Crown mouldings and tray ceiling add a touch of class to this home.

Enjoy swimming in the heated pool and relaxing in the hot tub with amazing lake views during the sunset hours while deer and sand cranes wander by.

The oversized garage has room for your own private golf cart and the price includes a one-year free golf membership . Available turnkey furnished on a separate bill of sale. Siesta Key beach is just a short drive as are shopping, restaurants, doctors, hospitals and St. Armand's Circle.

The Misty Creek 18-hole golf course and country club offers an endless array of activities for its members. For those few who need a break from golf, the social amenities at this active country club include dances, parties, dining facilities, bar and lounge, snack bar, and 4 tennis courts.

Come see this one an fall in love with it today for $569,000 today. Call me today at 941-266-1799 for an appointment to see this gem!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

By Rich Stover

    It was back in 2009 that the Baltimore Orioles made the decision to relocate their Spring Training baseball camp from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota Florida.  A lot has happened since then.  This year will mark the fifth year the Baltimore Orioles have been here and their fourth year in the renovated Ed Smith stadium.

   Today, the Ed Smith Stadium, located at 2700 12th Street at the corner of 12th and Tuttle in the northeastern part of Downtown Sarasota, is a facility the city of Sarasota can be proud of and it has been drawing large crowds to the Orioles home games.  During the 2013 Spring Training season last Spring, the Orioles set an all-time record with 120,455 attendees.  The Orioles also set a franchise record in 2013 with 9 sellouts, including an Ed Smith Stadium single-game record of 8,797 fans.

    Ed Smith Stadium is a great place for baseball enthusiasts to catch a few pre-season games.   Unlike some spring training camps, there's plenty of parking available right at the stadium.  There are lots of concession stands, an on-site team shop, and, for those so inclined, a several suites that can be purchased by celebrities and businesses to watch games with friends or business associates.  While there are some who complain about the small size of the Ed Smith stadium, it is just about the right size if you're one of those who likes to get "up close and personal" with the team's players.   You can almost touch them from the front row seats.

    Today, February 14th, marks the first official day of spring training workouts for Orioles pitchers and catchers.  Baseball fans who've been waiting for this can watch the team work out on the back fields of the complex for free every day until home games begin.  The first full-team workout will be on Wednesday, February 19th.  Thereafter, the team will work out from about 9:15 a.m. to noon each day until the first home game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, March 1st.

    For security reasons, no umbrellas, hard-sided coolers, thermoses, glass bottles, cans or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the stadium.  Non-alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles are permitted in the park although all items will be checked at the gates and any beverage which has been opened or partially consumed prior to entry is subject to confiscation if it is thought to contain alcohol.

    So, what if you're not a big Orioles fan.  Come on out anyway. You can watch the Orioles play against visiting teams including the Tigers, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and, of course, the local favorites, the Tampa Bay Rays.  Individual game tickets have been on sale since the end of January, but tickets can often be purchased on the day of the game as well.

    The Orioles have been very charitable toward Sarasota.  Since moving year-round operations to Sarasota from Fort Lauderdale in 2010, the Orioles have donated more than $1.3 million in cash and in-kind contributions to our community. And, the team has on-going out-reach programs in place year round.

    Whether you are a seasonal visitor or a permanent resident of the Sarasota Florida area, you may want to take in a Baltimore Orioles spring training camp game.  Like other sporting venues being developed all around the Sarasota area, like the Competitive Rowing Facility being built at Nathan Benderson Park, spring training baseball games provide yet another truly pleasant way to enjoy the sunny Sarasota Florida lifestyle.

    If you are in the market for a home or condo here in the Sarasota real estate market, call me today at 941.266-1799.  I’d be delighted to answer your questions and offer suggestions on where we can find the property that best matches your needs and desires here in sunny Sarasota Florida.

Trends Suggest a Banner Year for Sarasota Home Sales in 2014

Residential home sales in the Sarasota real estate market continue to exhibit strength as we enter 2014.   During the year 2013, 11,184 homes and condos were sold, the second highest total since home and condo sales have been tracked.  And if current trends continue as they look likely to, 2014 will be an even bigger year.

Sarasota Association of Realtors President Peter Crowley reported that “December was a great month for Sarasota residential sales. Many of our seasonal residents and visitors appear to have  decided to buy this year." This trend has been attributed to higher mortgage interest rates expected in 2014”  Others suggest that the substantial rise in the stock market during the past year has made more people willing and able to consider buying a second home here in Sarasota.

Existing homes are selling well in both Sarasota and Manatee County and out on the popular Barrier Islands.  Home sales in Lakewood Ranch, for example, have been particularly strong in upscale neighborhoods and in Esplanade, the all-new "active adult lifestyle" community.  Of the 573 homes sold in Lakewood Ranch last year, nearly 350 of them were new-consruction homes.  The limited number of existing homes for sale has led builders across the area to become aggressive in buying lots and raw land to meet the expected high level of demand for homes in 2014.

Sarasota area luxury homes and condos on the Sarasota waterfront and on the Barrier Islands were also being bought at a rapid pace as 2013 closed out.  The luxury homes recovery is occurring predominantly in the $500,000 to $2 million categories where sales increased in 2013 over 2012 by 39%. Luxury porperties priced above $2 million have continued to be stalled although with a few outstanding exceptions.

In addition to the high level of existing home sales, there has been a very noticeable uptick in new construction just about everywhere lots and open land are available.   Builders and developers spent more than $60 million purchasing nearly 1,250 acres of raw land and 294 building lots from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch to Punta Gorda in December alone. Builders buying up land locally include all  the major players including Neal Homes, Taylor Morrison, DR Horton,  Ashton Woods and many others.

The demand for new homes isn't limited to modestly-priced homes.  And, the demand for luxury homes is not limited to just  Sarasota condos along the waterfront and out on popular Barrier Islands like Longboat and Siesta Key.  New luxury homes are in demand and being built in many other Sarasota communities like The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch.  Back in 2006, when that gated, Tuscan-inspired community opened, its 10 opulent, estate-sized model homes carried price tags of $3.5 to $8 million. Then, during the housing slump of 2008, ’09 and ’10, activity slowed to a crawl.  That has now changed.   Of the 34 new-construction homes sold in The Lake Club in 2013,  the average price was over $1.2 million.   Today,  there are 28 more ultra-luxury  homes in the 7,000+ square foot range being built in The Lake Club, but not as spec homes.  All of them are already sold.

With all this new demand, Neal Homes President, Past Neal, was quoted as saying  “Land prices are going up and so are the prices of drywall, framing labor and concrete. Pretty soon home prices will have to start going up too.” 

So trends suggest that 2014 will be a record-breaking year for Sarasota real estate sales, and with the cost of everything from the land to labor and materials rising, if you’ve been thinking about buying a home, a villa or condominium here on the Sarasota Sun Coast, you should contact a Sarasota Realtor very soon and get started.  The bargain prices on short sale and foreclosure properties of yesterday are largely gone, but there is still time to buy that dream home or condo before prices rise further.

If you are in the market for a Sarasota luxury home or condo, call Rich Stover today at 941.266-1799.  I’d be delighted to answer your questions and offer suggestions on where we can find the property that best matches your needs and desires here in sunny Sarasota Florida.

There's Alway Something Happening in Sarasota

    One of the things that attracts so many people to certain areas of the country is the number of things to do.  Annette Fuller, editor of Where to Retire magazine says, “There are many reasons Baby Boomers are being drawn more to metropolitan areas like Sarasota.  A major reason for this is that these areas have lots of things to do including sports team to support, museums to visit and university classes to attend."

   Sarasota Florida area is one of the most popular retirement areas in the United States for many reasons. In addition to its many Sarasota waterfront homes and condos Sarasota golf course homes that draw people to our area, its popular also because of the almost constant flow of events and activities keeping residents entertained and informed.  This is particularly true during the months when the colder climates up North bring more people to our area.  Let's explore just a few of the events and activities afoot during the month of December, 2013.

    For those who enjoy viewing public art, a drive down Sarasota’s Gulfstream Avenue will bring you to the free biennial exhibition of sculptures along Sarasota’s bay front.  At Island Park and Bayfront Park, from now through May, 2014, Sarasota's "Season of Sculpture" association is presenting Season VII’s "Shared Ground: Eight Artists - Eighteen Installations," a sizable collection of large-scale sculptures in Sarasota’s various waterfront parks.

  A satellite exhibit of smaller works will also being presented beginning in January, 2014 at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune building on Main Street. This indoor exhibit includes wall-hanging, free-standing and pedestal works by the same artists whose work is presented in the waterfront parks.  The Season of Sculpture not-for-profit group not only brings this nationally acclaimed International Invitational Exhibition to Sarasota each year, but it also provides opportunities for visitors to learn more about the works themselves and the artists who created them.

    Visitors are always impressed by a visit to the Ringling Museum and its 21 galleries of European paintings, Cypriot antiquities and Asian, American, and contemporary art objects that were collected by John Ringling, , one of the 5 original circus kings of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and his wife Mable during their lifetime.

   From now through February 4th, 2014, there is also a unique exhibition of original posters printed between 1890 and 1950 announcing the Wild West shows great Wild West shows from Buffalo Bill to the 101 Ranch.  Much like circuses of the day, Wild West shows traveled from town to town on rails, bringing cowboys, sharp shooters, Native Americans and a variety of animals to audiences around the country.  The exhibit is in the Poster Gallery of the Circus Museum Tibbals Learning Center.

    Ca' d'Zan, John and Mable Ringlings' splendid Venetian Gothic mansion built between 1924 and 1926 and since restored to its original state, is also open for tours.

    For fun for the the whole family, everyone enjoys visiting the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens at 811 S Palm Ave in Sarasota. Right now through February 27th, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is presenting a new art exhibit called Tropical Splendor in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. The exhibit showcases two artists’ fascination with Selby Gardens.  The exhibit features beautiful garden paintings by Anna Mason and Tom Stephens. Their styles represent a broad range of interpretation from grand vistas to detailed close-ups all depicting popular Selby scenes and plant specimens.  The exhibit runs daily through February 27th from 10am to 4:30pm.

Selby Gardens is also currently presenting their holiday "Lights in Bloom" light show. This is a chance to see the new Children’s Rainforest Garden decked out with holiday lights for the first time.  There will be festive live music to enjoy while dining on grilled entrees, kids’ “Merry Meals,” and holiday snacks while Santa and his elves make an appearance each night. A great thing to do with visiting children and grandchildren.

    The city of Sarasota Florida has a deep commitment to lifelong learning.  The Lifelong Learning Academy (LLA) is celebrating its 15th year of operations.  Registration began on December 11th for the Winter 2014 Semester of the Lifelong Learning Academy.  Classes will be held at the USF Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) campus, at the Anna Maria Island Community Center and at the State College of Florida at Lakewood Ranch.  Each non-credit, university level course lasts six to eight weeks, with most classes meeting for one hour and twenty minutes each week.  There are no grades or tests.

    Students of all ages may attend classes, participate in discussion groups, and attend special lectures and events.   Tuition is only $75 per class.  Payment for one course during an academic year entitles students in the program to privileges such as access to the USFSM campus, use of the high-speed wireless Internet connection, use of the university library and discounted prices at the campus bookstore.

    On December 14th, Suncoast Motorsports hosted the 9th Annual "Porsches in the Park" event at the beautiful St. Armands Circle. Some of the most spectacular Porsche cars from all over Florida were on display in the center of the circle for public viewing while that same evening, the 28th Annual Sarasota Christmas Boat Parade of Lights was held. On the very next day, on December 15th, Bernadette Peters, one of Broadway’s brightest stars presented a gala evening of songs from her Broadway shows and Grammy Award-winning albums at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

    On December 17th, Wynton Marsalis, the acclaimed jazz and classical trumpeter, entertained his audience with holiday music including a never-before heard holiday tune that Marsalis said he has been carrying around with him for about two decades. And, on December 20th through the 22nd, the Sarasota Ballet presented "Ringling’s Circus Nutcracker," always a holiday favorite.

    This constant flow of interesting and exciting events and activities, along with baseball Spring training camps and so much more make the Sarasota Florida area, including Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch as well as Siesta, Lido, Bird and Longboat Key one of the favorite places in the United States for Americans as well those from Canada, Europe and more recently Asia and Latin America to buy homes and condos. I'd be delighted to help you find that one home or condo on the Sarasota real estate market that perfectly matches your needs and wishes.

Don't Miss the St Armands Circle Art Festival on Janaury 25th and 26th

    If you're a Sarasota resident, a visitor or just someone passing through Sarasota, you should mark your calendar for the 11th Annual St. Armands Circle Annual Arts Festival coming Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, 26th, 2014 from 10AM to 5PM.

    For those two days, festival goers will get to see and enjoy, in addition to the eclectic boutiques and eateries for which St Armands Circle is so famous, the works of some of the most talented artists/crafters from around the United States.  Some longtime favorite crafters will display their most recent works alongside the works of some of the up-and-coming new talents on the contemporary craft scene.  One-of-a-kind jewelry, fabric arts, photography, pottery, planters, serendipidist items. sculptures and more will be on display and for sale.

    This festival is a competitive event limited to 180 exhibitors who have been chosen by a jury of experienced, 2D and 3D artists and crafts people.  Works of the selected artists will be displayed in an array of media including just about every arts media; digital, fiber, glass, oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, photography, print making, metal and wood sculpture.

    Visitors to the Art Festival and serious art collectors will get to meet and speak with the participating artists and have the opportunity to purchase their original art objects.  There is no charge for admission to this outstanding arts festival.

    This annual St. Armands Circle Art Festival will likely once again be included on the Sunshine Artist magazine's top art shows in the United State.  Again this year, the St Armands Circle Festival is being presented by Howard Alan Events & American Craft Endeavors, a well-known and respected producer of juried arts and crafts festivals.

    If you are new to Sarasota, to get to picturesque St Armands Circle, from I-75, exit 210, which is Fruitville Road go west and turn left onto the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41). Then then turn right onto Gulfstream Blvd. and across the John Ringling Causeway and Bridge to St Armands Circle.

    If you are a seasonal visitor, I would advise you to take a day while you're here to tour the rest of St Armands and Lido Key.  Lido Key is one of Sarasota's larger barrier islands where you'll find elegant homes and luxurious Sarasota condos separated from the Sarasota mainland by St. Armands Circle and the Ringling Causeway.  A short bridge will take you to Longboat Key.  All of the homes and condos on St Armands Circle and Lido Key are either directly on or a short walk or bike ride to the white sands and warm waters of gorgeous Gulf of Mexico beaches.

  If you'd be interested in touring any of the homes or condos on St Armands or Lido Key, I would be delighted to show them to you.  For more information on other home and condominium options throughout the Sarasota - Bradenton area, including Sarasota golf course homes, please visit my Sarasota real estate website and then call me with your questions at 941.266.1799

Have You Visited PepperTree Bay on Siesta Key

    Located directly on Siesta Key's beaches, Peppertree Bay sits on 16 acres extending across the width of Siesta Key from the Gulf of Mexico to Sarasota Bay.  Peppertree Bay consists of garden homes, 2-story townhomes, and five high-rise buildings.  PepperTree Bay consists of two sections, Gulfside and Bayside.  The Gulfside section is located directly on Siesta Key's world-famous Crescent Beach and the Gulf of Mexico while the Bayside section on the other side of Midnight Pass Road, faces Sarasota Bay and the Downtown Sarasota mainland.

    Peppertree Bay includes 362 units, in five floor plans, with most units ranging between about 975 and 1,550 square feet.  Some Gulfside units are directly on the gulf beach.  Others face either Sarasota Bay or well-maintained garden areas. Some units have private garages and there is also plenty of room for guest parking.  This Siesta Key condo property, though built in the early to mid 1970's, is exceptionally well-maintained.

    Most Peppertree Bay units are sold on a turn-key, furnished basis.  Units sell in a range from the high $200's to over $500,000 with units on higher floors and closer to the waterfront selling at higher prices, but, owners of all units enjoy a complement of features including two swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, barbeque facilities and a gorgeous private beach.  There's even a fishing pier on Roberts Bay for those so inclined.  There is also an on-site rental office to assist those wishing to rent their units. Units may be rented for a minimum term of 30 days up to four times a year. Pets are not allowed.

    Peppertree Bay residents enjoy a carefree and casual lifestyle within a comfortable walking distance all of the eclectic shops, boutiques and casual dining experiences for which Siesta Key is so well-known.

    If you would like to know more about Peppertree Bay, other Siesta Key or Sarasota waterfront real estate opportunities, it would be my pleasure to assist you. Please visit my Sarasota real estate website or, for an immediate response to your questions, call me today at 941-266-1799.