Newsletter 253

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST …..

DOWNTOWN BOOM: $780M OF CONSTRUCTION

Inside the nearly 15 square miles of usable real estate in the city of Sarasota, several construction cranes soar high above downtown, remaking the skyline with large new buildings. The sites under construction — along with others planned for the near future — could add more year-round residents than at any other point in the last 40 years, inviting a population influx that could soon see 1,000 more people living in Sarasota’s urban core. The new development won’t just add traffic and people to the city center. It could pave the way for more rental housing, as two large projects in downtown will add more than 650 apartments. While there have been several recent examples of successful luxury condo towers, the addition of 420 rental units in Aster & Links next to the downtown movie theater on Main Street, and another 240 in The Quay’s Cordelia Apartments, could be the proof of concept that spurs even more such projects, depending on how quickly they fill with tenants. Together, apartment projects account for more than half of the total new units in the construction boom reverberating in downtown Sarasota. A review of construction projects reveals a minimum of 1,900 residential units across more than a dozen projects, totaling an estimated construction cost of $786 million, according to active city building permit data. The new rental units are a departure from past trends and could be spurred by Sarasota’s metro area experiencing some of the fastest rent cost increases in the country following the COVID pandemic. Besides the development projects far enough along to need building permits, another 20 for about 1,550 apartments and condos have submitted plans with the city’s Development Review Committee. The combined impact could be transformative, as proposed projects aim to bridge Main Street’s walkable, retail-centric environment — currently centered around several blocks largely west of Orange Avenue — all the way across Washington Boulevard in the proposed Park District, where recently implemented density bonuses have the potential to unlock hundreds of units of affordable housing. But the development also faces pushback as some residents fear overdevelopment and the impact projects could have on the city’s livability. It’s not always been boom times in downtown. Back in 1983, the city of Sarasota first surpassed 50,000 people living inside city limits. Since then, Sarasota County’s population has more than doubled from about 220,000 to more than 460,000 people. The population of North Port stood at just 7,661 four decades ago. Now, the city is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the country with a population of 86,556 — an almost unbelievable 1,030% increase over that same 40-year span. For more information on this story, courtesy of Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Downtown Construction Boom

SARASOTA COUNTY’S 211 PROGRAM ON THE LINE

The Sarasota County Commission is scheduled to discuss the fate of 211 at its regular meeting this Tuesday following an announcement this month by United Way Suncoast that the helpline will go offline on April 1 for county residents due to the county cutting funds for the program. Commissioner Mark Smith, who had opposed those cuts last fall, has put the item on the agenda in the hopes that his fellow commissioners will reconsider and agree to restore funding in time to maintain a program that helps more than 10,000 county residents every year. “I believe we have the financial wherewithal to make it happen,” Smith said. Following 20 years of support for 211, the commission voted during September’s budget talks to eliminate funding for it this fiscal year amid a confusing overhaul of the way it distributes money to social services. In cutting 211, it went against the recommendations of its own human services advisory council, which had highly ranked the program and proposed granting it more than $109,000 this year. That amount makes up almost a third of the helpline’s operating costs under 211 Suncoast Care, whose service area includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Manatee County pays an almost equal share as Sarasota, while United Way Suncoast has covered the rest – slightly more than a third. After Sarasota County’s shortfall cuts, United Way Suncoast said it could not merely make up the difference by encroaching on other funds already committed to donor-supported programs. As a result, 211 would have to be closed to Sarasota County residents starting on April 1, the nonprofit’s leaders said. After that date, Sarasota County callers will be diverted to the county’s 311 information line. But Smith said he worried that county staff would soon be overwhelmed – not only by the number of calls diverted from 211, but by their nature, too. The two lines are vastly different: While 311 only operates during weekday business hours and only informs callers about county services, 211 is available around the clock, every day of the week, and its trauma-trained operators can refer callers in crisis to hundreds of programs offered by area nonprofits. To read more please click here: 211 Program On The Line

HOUSING MARKET FINALLY TURNING A CORNER?

The following is a recent Op-ed from Budge Huskey, CEO of Premier Sotheby’s International. Among the most significant characteristics of the real estate industry in recent years has been the consistent and ongoing decline in new listings entering the market and corresponding available inventory for sale. On a national level, what was historically considered a balanced market (approximately six months of standing inventory) dropped to just over two months in early 2022. Even with the lowest level of closed sales nationally since 2008 last year with fewer buyers competing, available inventory nationally remained incredibly low. In so many markets around the country, it is possible to drive by entire neighborhoods and not see a single “For Sale” sign. Quality homes coming on the market continue to receive numerous showings and even multiple offers. Brokers within these markets state they have far more buyers than available homes despite the challenges of higher mortgage rates. The truth is two-fold. First, there appears to be a systemic shift in migration trends, leading American homeowners to remain in their residences for longer periods than before. There are simply fewer people moving each year and, therefore, fewer new listings. Second, there is speculation about the impact of higher mortgage rates on owners looking to find their next home but not wanting to exchange their historically low rate for one twice as high. There is merit to the premise, yet its true impact is uncertain – there are many owners with small mortgages or who own their homes free and clear. Throughout much of Florida, including nearby markets such as Tampa and Orlando, standing months of inventory remain comparable to national levels and are moving in tandem. However, in Sarasota and Naples, we are witnessing something far different, which implies we have turned a corner. In both cities, the number of homes currently on the market has increased approximately 60% since January 2023 and between 300% to 500% over January 2022. Months of inventory have risen to approximately six, indicating we are becoming balanced once again. Yet within those numbers, there is price stratification: moderately priced homes come in at around three months while multimillion-dollar residences top over one year. In essence, if no other home entered the market, the latter would take over one year to sell the current inventory, assuming consistent demand levels. The reality is that markets such as Sarasota and Naples tend to be far more elective in nature with a high degree of second-home activity. Accordingly, they are subject to greater swings in both demand and supply and tend to overshoot in either direction. In addition, we may surmise that for the first time in three years, the upward pressure on prices may be subsiding. There’s more on this story here: Housing Market Turning A Corner?

SIESTA BEACH RANKED TOP 5 IN US & TOP 10 WORLD

Sarasota County’s most popular beach has again been ranked among the best in the state, country, and world by a national website. Tripadvisor, which bills itself as the world’s largest travel guidance platform, recently announced its Best of the Best Beaches for 2024 list as part of its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards. The rankings are based on an analysis of all the reviews left on Tripadvisor for beaches globally over one year, with the award revealing “the highest-rated beaches by real people who recently visited,” according to the Tripadvisor press release. Beaches received glowing reviews for their breathtaking views, cleanliness, watersport-friendliness, and best overall experiences. Siesta Beach on Siesta Key in Sarasota County ranked No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 9 in the world. Tripadvisor notes it’s good for sunbathing and families and that “fall is a great time to visit Siesta Key to snag lower hotel prices and enjoy post-summer sunshine.” Ka’anapali Beach in Lahaina, Hawaii, is the No. 1-ranked beach in the U.S. with several other Florida spots making the national ranking including Hollywood Beach, in Broward County, placing fourth and Clearwater Beach at No. 12. In the U.S., winners were from eight different states this year, from Maine to Oregon. However, Hawaii and Florida had the most award-winning beaches, with Hawaii leading with 10 winners, including the top spot. “Whatever your taste and style, these lists are the perfect jumping-off point for spring-break plans that haven’t been yet cemented, summer trips that bring together the whole family, and even those far-off winter holidays that beg for a beachy reprieve,” said Sarah Firshein, Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor, in a statement. Siesta Beach has been ranked No. 1 in the U.S. twice by Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman and appeared in a Wall Street Journal story in 2022 about the best beaches in Florida. When Sarasota landed on Time magazine’s list of The World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2021, the blurb ran with a Siesta Key sunset photo and a subhead that read “The growing Gulf Coast scene.” Siesta’s wide public beach features soft sand made almost exclusively of pure quartz, which remains cool on the feet even when baked in the Florida sun. There’s also the pavilion that’s home to Siesta Beach Eats operated by concessionaire Venice Pier Group, which also owns Sharky’s on the Pier and Fins at Sharky’s on the Venice Fishing Pier at Brohard Park, as well as Myakka River spot Snook Haven. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Siesta Beach New Rankings

36 HOURS IN SARASOTA

Often overlooked in favor of Tampa to the north and Miami to the south, Sarasota, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is a laid-back city that seems content to keep its white-sand beaches out of the spotlight. The city of 55,000 has long been home to the Ringling museum complex, set on a picturesque bay, where visitors can find artworks by Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and El Greco, and a circus museum. There’s plenty for nature lovers, too: Spot alligators, manatees and dolphins; meander beneath stately banyan trees; and take a kayak for a spin through the wild mangroves. These days, the city is abuzz with developments, including an expansion of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the opening of a 1920s house-museum in Newtown, the city’s historic Black district.

The following is an itinerary of exciting things to do in and around Sarasota.

Get a view of Sarasota’s sweeping bay from the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens downtown campus, where walkways are shaded by towering banyans, tunneled ficus and tangled mangroves (entry, $26). The Gardens recently completed the first phase of an expansion. Additions include a welcome center that mimics a tree canopy; a restaurant, the Green Orchid, that uses produce from a rooftop garden maintained by veterans; and a gallery with specimens from the Gardens’ collection of 35,000 preserved living plants, some more than 100 years old. At the onsite Museum of Botany and the Arts, the exhibition “Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe” explores the artists’ mentor-mentee relationship via letters they exchanged, photographs and one of Kusama’s original artworks (through June 30). Part of Sarasota’s charm is the high-low vibe: Picture a retiree wearing a Rolex happily working through a bucket of icy Coronas on the beach. Meliora captures that spirit with its unfussy decor of plain wood tables and prints of fish on the walls. Show up in a Hawaiian shirt and no one will bat an eye. But the food is complex and inventive, like a recent special of cured, pickled and grilled mackerel from the Gulf of Mexico ($21). Menu regulars include Japanese milk bread in the form of pull-apart buns ($8), and a cabbage salad brightened with Meyer lemon vinaigrette and cheese that’s soaked in beer before aging ($14).

To read more, please click here (subscription required): 36 Hours In Sarasota

LEGACY GOLF CLUB CHANGING COURSE

A Virginia-based company now controls four golf courses in Lakewood Ranch, including a public course which will shift to operating as a private club starting next week. Heritage Golf Group announced the acquisition of the three private Lakewood Ranch courses — Cypress Links, Kings Dunes and Royal Lakes — that form Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club in a news release, but only sent emails to the annual passholders at the public course, Legacy Golf Club, offering refunds for members who had annual passes. “Effective immediately, we have made the decision to reposition Legacy Golf Club to a fully private club,” the email provided to the Herald-Tribune said. “With this in mind, we plan on closing the club on Monday, March 18, to begin a comprehensive renovation to the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.” The transition of Legacy Golf Club to a country club model sparked some concerns among longtime residents of one of the fastest selling master-planned communities in the country being over Lakewood Ranch without a public golf course. Lakewood Ranch now has more than 66,000 residents living in the 33,000-acre development. Heritage said in the email to Legacy passholders the “multi-million project will include rebuilding greens, tee boxes, fairways, bunkers and cart paths. “We expect this restoration to be completed and the course to reopen in the fourth quarter of this year.” Heritage also offered refunds to the annual members impacted by the course becoming private. A representative of Heritage Golf Group was not available to comment by publication time. “Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is the crown jewel of the Lakewood Ranch community, and we are proud to become its new steward,” Mark Burnett, Heritage Golf Group CEO, said in a news release. “We are honored that SMR selected Heritage Golf Group to continue building on its noteworthy tradition and impeccable nationwide reputation as the premier country club and lifestyle community. The continued growth of our network of clubs will only further enhance the member and guest experience as well as offer additional career growth for our employees.” Please click here for more: LWR Legacy Golf Club Changing

FDOT STUDIES REPLACING LBK BRIDGE TO AMI

Plans to replace the aging draw bridge that connects Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island are in the works, and the Florida Department of Transportation seeks public input before project design moves forward. During a virtual workshop recently, Project Manager Patrick Bateman said the existing bascule bridge was built in 1957 and is past the intended service life. He said it needs to be replaced before costly repairs become necessary. FDOT officials emphasized that the bridge has been evaluated and remains safe. FDOT will host a second workshop on Thursday evening in Longboat Key to request public input on the project. “We are past the intended service life, so as time progresses there are more costly and more disruptive repairs that will be needed,” Bateman said. “Over time, eventually, larger scale projects would be needed to keep the bridge open, such as replacing (the) deck. When we replace (the) deck, the bridge is closed, so it’s either a very long detour or a very costly temporary structure is built next to the existing bridge.” The effort is in the Project Development and Environment Study phase, which establishes the need for the project, design alternatives, and environmental impacts. The bridge currently consists of a two-lane road with a five-foot sidewalk to each side, and although there are bicycle lanes on roadways leading to the bridge there are none on the bridge itself. The new bridge would be built slightly west of the existing bridge to minimize impact on existing traffic. Proposals include options for another low-level bascule bridge with 23-foot-minimum vertical clearance, a mid-level bascule bridge with 36-foot-minimum vertical clearance, or a high-level fixed bridge with 78 feet of minimum vertical clearance. All three alternatives include plans for a 12-foot lane in each direction, a 12-foot shoulder adjacent to the travel lane, and a 12-foot shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. FDOT will present its preferred alternative at a formal public hearing planned in 2025. Please click on the link for more: FDOT Studies Replacing LBK Bridge

OFFICIALS REMOVE BEACHED WHALE IN VENICE

A group of friends trudged through the sand at the Service Club Park to avoid being turned away by law enforcement who blocked the main entrance of the beach. They came to watch the sperm whale last Monday, and they’re hoping to see the deceased whale be removed from Venice beach. “I know a shortcut,” one of the men said as a pair of binoculars swung from his neck while he carried two beach chairs. The group joined more than a hundred people on Tuesday who gathered behind police caution tape to take a glimpse of the deceased whale being pulled 10 to 15 miles away from the shore. Officials from the Mote Marine Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association confirmed that the whale died at around 3 a.m. on Monday after it was spotted on Venice Beach on Sunday. Officials confirmed that the 44 feet-long, 70,000-pound whale died of natural causes. The age of the whale isn’t clear, but Kathryn Gentile, Mote Marine Communications Coordinator, said that based on the condition of his teeth, it would’ve been an older whale. While the beach isn’t officially closed, a swim advisory has been placed, and officials are asking residents to stay out of the water in case any predators visit. As of yet, no sharks have been sighted, just a couple of sea birds, Gentile said. Venice officials are expected to visit the beach again on Wednesday to decide if the advisory should be lifted. Just over 20 people between Mote Marine, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Seatow, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Venice Police worked to pull the deceased whale away from the shore. Gretchen Lovewell, manager for the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program, said there’s a sense of relief in finalizing the removal of the carcass. “We’re all exhausted,” Lovewell said. “It’s been a long, hard few days, but we also have an amazing team out here.”At around 1:30 p.m., a bulldozer began digging a trench so that the beached whale could be towed away from the shore. FWC and Mote Marine officials attached two thick ropes to the whale’s body, and the ropes were attached to different towing boats. Lovewell said that the whale will be towed to an undisclosed location. She reminded residents that sperm whales are protected species, and it is illegal to tamper with the carcass. Her team has collected a host of samples that will test everything from pathology, toxicology, genetics and life history. It’ll be weeks to months before they can give final answers on the whale’s death. There’s more on this story here: Beached Whale Removed In Venice

MALL PLAN ADVANCES DESPITE PROTESTS

An hour of unanimous opposition from the public wasn’t enough to sway the Sarasota County Planning Commission against approving major steps toward redeveloping Sarasota Square Mall. Despite significant pushback, the commission unanimously approved five requests, clearing the way to transform much of the mall into a mixed-use development. Illinois-based developer Torburn Partners plans to demolish a majority of the mall and replace it with residences, businesses, restaurants and other enterprises, which opponents fear will add excess traffic and noise to an area ill-equipped to handle it. The five applications to rezone parcels on the site from residential to commercial uses include the Sarasota Square Mall in the U.S. 41/Beneva Road Critical Area Plan, designate the mall as a Development of Regional Impact and grant a special exception to allow outdoor entertainment. The changes are “cleanup” amendments that will allow commercial development and activity to continue within development guidelines. While the approvals represent a step toward construction, final approval is still several months and meetings away. The new zoning designations clear the way for Torburn to submit applications for building permits and conduct the necessary surveys of traffic and wildlife, but the developer still has to draft and submit a site development plan and gain county approval before anything becomes official. Torburn —which acquired the property for $35.3 million in a series of purchases starting in 2021 — envisions the finished development as a smaller University Town Center or Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch, with a “focal point” of commercial activity in the center of the site and businesses, offices and residences within walking distance. Bob Horne, principal at Torburn Partners, said he hopes it will fill in retail and business gaps for the area. The mall redevelopment is still in its early stages, but a draft proposes buildings, sidewalk paths, bike trails and other installations across 94.3 acres within the lot. The area’s Costo, AMC Theaters and JC Penney will remain, but the rest of the development will consist of 692,500 square feet of non-residential space and an eight-story apartment complex with a minimum of 500 units and a maximum of 1,200. There’s more on this story here: Sarasota Square Mall Plan Advances

FAIRGROUNDS FUTURE UNCLEAR

This week the Sarasota County Fair marks its 100th birthday, celebrating the agricultural lifestyle and providing anyone who enjoys fair foods and rides an opportunity for funnel cakes and Ferris wheel views. But the question of how many more fairs will take place next to Robarts Arena is murky after the Sarasota County Commission late last year made it a priority in 2024 to examine the “highest and best use, and best future use” for the 58-acre property that previous county leaders transferred to a nonprofit organization nearly eight decades ago. That organization is governed by a board that includes more than 20 members ranging, from agricultural industry stakeholders, government officials and other community members. Rory Martin, president of the Sarasota County Agricultural Fair Association, said county employees showed up in February requesting access to the property, although he had been aware of the county’s focus about a week after the County Commission’s priority-setting December meeting. He said communication with county officials has been limited for years. “I don’t know what they (county commissioners) plan,” he said. “But they haven’t talked to me.”

Commissioner Mike Moran started the board’s fair property discussion as members discussed numerous community issues in a wide-ranging almost six-hour discussion about what county government should focus on in 2024. He sought a staff report that implied county influence over the fate of the fairgrounds property. “It’s a really specific ask here, but I think it should be a priority, is staff coming back to us with all of the above options for administration and our legal departments to deal with the leadership of the fairgrounds,” Moran said during the meeting’s final half-hour. He later clarified his demand by noting he wanted the report to focus on the “highest and best use and best future use” for the property as well as “all the options” from the legal and administrative departments to deal with the leadership at the fairgrounds. County Administrator Jonathan Lewis then told Moran that he would “have to get creative” given the county doesn’t own the property and that the land − as well as authority over what development or activities are allowed there − along Fruitville Road east of Tuttle Avenue rests with the city of Sarasota. “You can get as crazy as you need to, I don’t care if it’s 50 pages long,” he said. “But that’s my thought.” Other commissioners also saw the property as a priority and worthy of county focus. Click here for more: Fairgrounds Future Unclear

LWR SEEKING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMANDS

Lakewood Ranch, the largest multi-generational master-planned community in the U.S., has spent its 30 years in the Manatee-Sarasota region tailoring its development to what home-buyers want. Proximity to nature has been a constant, senior Vice President Laura Cole said, but trends have come and gone since the master-planned community first broke ground. Wide open space, proximity to neighbors, bigger houses, smaller ones — every layout has had its moment in the sun. But these days, Cole said buyers don’t just want one thing: They want everything. Catering to the modern consumer is as much about shopping centers and office space as it is about the area’s beloved nature trails and green space. “When I want the activity, I want to have it, but I also need to decompress in this world,” Cole said. “We don’t shortchange that.” That’s where development is headed in 2024 and beyond, Cole said. As Lakewood Ranch looks to expand into the new year, it’s keeping lifestyle at the forefront, building all-encompassing communities that service all its residents’ needs. Current development trends point to a preference for new urbanism, an approach that promotes walkability and accessibility by placing a variety of lifestyle components close together. Put simply, people want to work, shop, eat, exercise and socialize where they live, and a recent uptick in mixed-use development proposals reflect that desire. Mixed-use developments like Waterside Park — an 8-acre community on Kingfisher Lake — emphasize this access, with restaurants, office buildings, nature trails and stores adjacent to townhomes. Master-planned communities like Lakewood Ranch saw this trend coming, Cole said, and prepared accordingly. “You have a plan and a vision and principles, but you also have to be adaptable to market changes,” Cole said. “This is a perfect example of the flavor that we’re offering.”Lakewood Ranch has nine new neighborhoods and villages in progress — including the multigenerational Saddlestone, the age-restricted Del Webb and the Calusa National Golf development. Erickson Senior Living, a national retirement community developer, will also break ground on the 1,200-unit Emerson Lakes development. The new developments come as Lakewood Ranch caps a sixth consecutive year as the best-selling multigenerational master-planned community in the U.S., as designated by real estate consulting firm RCLCO. Its 33,000 acres house 67,000 residents across 42 neighborhoods, as well as 2,800 businesses with more than 20,000 employees. Last year also saw more than 2,000 home sales: a figure that’s held steady, Cole said, for the past five years or so. More than 26,000 single-family homes, townhomes, apartments and other living spaces are either built or under construction in Lakewood Ranch to keep up with demand. Please click here for more: LWR Seeking To Keep Up With Demands

SARASOTA ART MUSEUM SHOWCASES HERMITAGE

The 10 artists whose work will be represented in a new exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum have little in common other than that most of them are still living and working and have enjoyed residencies as Hermitage Artist Retreat fellows.

Curator Dan Cameron studied the list of about 100 visual artists who have spent time at the Hermitage on Manasota Key since it opened slightly more than 20 years ago. He selected 10 of them who had work that would be available from the artists or from galleries, museums and private collections for display in “Impact: Contemporary Artists at the Hermitage Artist Retreat,” March 10-July 7. The exhibit features two winners of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize – Sanford Biggers (2010) and Trenton Doyle Hancock (2013) – along with Diana Al-Hadid, Chitra Ganesh, Todd Gray, Michelle Lopez, Ted Riederer, the late John Sims (a Sarasota artist), Kukuli Velarde and William Villalongo. Their work touches on a variety of media, including sculpture, painting, installation, video, photography, printmaking, ceramics and textiles. Cameron said he knew more than half of the artists who have been fellows, and researched the others. “I started with artists who I wanted most to give a shout-out to, for what they’ve done since the Hermitage. That’s important because there are artists who arrived there in the relatively early part of their career and now they’re superstars. This is an excuse to let us share that superstar’s work with the Sarasota audience.” Biggers and Hancock were the first two visual arts winners of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize, and Biggers has said the nature of his work shifted after his time at the Hermitage. Andy Sandberg, the Hermitage CEO and Artistic Director, said the show will give Sarasota area residents a first chance to see completed work by a range of artists who have been inspired by being in the community. All Hermitage fellows are required to present public programs during their residencies, and visual artists, along with others selected as fellows, either display or demonstrate work in progress or talk about their work. Cameron said some artist retreats have a production aspect to them where artists are expected and want to show their work. At the Hermitage, “retreat is a word that really matters. Some artists choose to work a little less, immerse themselves in the work a little more. These are artists who are beneficiaries of their time at the Hermitage,” he said. There’s more to read here: Sarasota Art Museum Showcases Hermitage Works

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

From the start there was confusion about the name, but whatever the Sarasota Orchestra was called at its debut in 1949, it has grown over the last 75 years from a small local amateur ensemble into one that is considered among the best regional professional orchestras in the country, attracting international conductors and guest soloists. According to a history of the organization by Margery Derdeyn prepared for its 50th anniversary, initial press releases called it to the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, while others called it the Mid-West Coast Symphony Orchestra. After its first concert, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune used Florida West Coast Symphony, which is how most people in the community came to know it until it was rebranded as the Sarasota Orchestra. The orchestra celebrated its anniversary and acknowledged the 18 musicians who have been playing here for 25 years or more during its annual gala in February. But that celebration jumped the gun by a few weeks. It was March 12, 1949 when the orchestra made its debut in a concert at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium under the direction of Lyman Wiltse, its first music director. David Cohen was the first concertmaster, and Robert Kimbrough, a longtime Sarasota Orchestra board member and supporter, was recruited from his high school band to perform. A review in the Herald-Tribune described the concert as a “minor miracle” and looked forward to the future, adding, “If the tree grows as the twig was included Saturday night, Sarasota can boast of an important asset in the cultural life of the Florida west coast.” The orchestra is marking another anniversary with its sixth Masterworks concert of the year “Rhapsody in Blue @ 100,” which will feature pianist Michelle Conn playing Florence Price’s Piano Concert in One Movement” with guest conductor Peter Oundjian leading the orchestra. But it will be principal clarinet Bharat Chandra, a relative newcomer after 23 years in Sarasota, playing 17 of the most famous notes in music. The Masterworks concert also includes Rossini’s Overture to “The Thieving Magpie” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Oundjian said Sarasota Orchestra has not performed the Tchaikovsky piece in a long time “and people should hear it occasionally. Symphony No. 5 and 6 are so moving and profound and important symphonies of the romantic period. I would never shy away from putting it on a program if they can.” There’s more on this story here: Sarasota Orchestra Celebrates 75 Years

VAN WEZEL SEASON IS STACKED

As she prepares to welcome a near sold-out, two-week run of the hit musical “Hamilton,” Mary Bensel, executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is revealing the Broadway, dance and classical programs that she hopes will help keep the center busy in the 2024-25 season. Bensel said she wasn’t trying to top the current season, which also included week-long runs of “Hadestown” and “Ain’t Too Proud.” “I don’t think there is another show out there that has ‘Hamilton’s’ cachet right now, so I was not looking to top this season but I was certainly looking to complement it.” And that starts with the national tour of the musical “Moulin Rouge,” which won 10 Tony Awards in 2020 and is still a sold-out hit on Broadway. “That is a huge get for us, so early in its run, and it’s a huge spectacle,” she said. The season also includes national tours of “Beetlejuice,” the return of “Les Miserables” and the recent Broadway revival of “Funny Girl.” Other shows that are new to the hall include “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” and “Clue” a play based on a board game and movie. Returning shows include “The Addams Family” and “Come From Away.” There are nine Broadway shows in all, in addition to eight other theatrical productions, including “Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’,” a sequel to a show that has been popular at theaters across the country. There are several returning favorites, such as the Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, Neil Berg’s 115 Years of Broadway and violinist Itzhak Perlman in concert. Twyla Tharp Dance will mark its Diamond Jubilee, and the Branford Marsalis Quartet will perform in concert. The full 2024-25 season will be announced in the fall. Please click on the link for more: Van Wezel Season Is Stacked

MYAKKA’S ALLIGATOR HOLE IS AN ADVENTURE

It’s barely 8 a.m., and the sting of disappointment has already deflated whatever high spirits we woke up with. We’ve checked into the ranger station at Myakka River State Park to hike to the alligator-abundant Deep Hole on Lower Myakka Lake. On its best days, it’s an alligator haven — tens, dozens, sometimes a hundred-plus in heaps along the shoreline, lazily soaking up the sun or drifting across the water. The ranger on duty tells us today is not one of those days.

The ranger says this year’s El Niño, a periodic weather event that can disrupt an area’s seasonal rainfall, is probably to blame. The sinkhole’s water level is usually lower than the rest of the lake, making it a popular gator gathering spot for protection and reprieve, but recent rainfall has filled it in. That means Deep Hole is neither deep nor much of a hole these days, but that hasn’t deterred tenacious tourists from making the trek. If everything above sounds enticing, it shouldn’t turn you away either: Deep Hole, even sans an unbelievable alligator attendance, is a worthwhile destination. (And if you tapped out at the words “alligator haven,” feel free to live vicariously through us instead.) Everything you’ve heard about Deep Hole is pretty much true, including the early arrival. Yes, people do line up before the park opens to secure one of 30 permits allotted to visitors each day, and crowds have been known to grow so big rangers must turn people away. To avoid any unfair advantages for eager explorers, rangers are habitually hush-hush on the whole affair, so it’s tough to pin an optimal arrival time. We shoot for the earlier end between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and are comfortably first in line. By the time the park gates swing unceremoniously open at 8 a.m., there are only a few cars behind us, and minutes later, it’s just us and the trail. Myakka River State Park — home to the state’s first designated wild and scenic river — prides itself as real Florida. You can catch bobcats, otters and more than 100 species of birds across 58 square miles of protected nature. Endangered species like the Florida burrowing owl have made their home on the dry prairie: a self-sustaining ecosystem unique to three areas north and west of Lake Okeechobee that makes up half of the park.

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