Photo by Cliff Roles. You know me as Blonde Out of Water, a single gal trying to find her way in this quirky little town by the sea. I have a group of girlfriends who have few precious hours unchained from their desks, and we have decided we’re tired of Little Black Dress night! Blonde faithfuls know I hosted a girls’ night out at the Half Shell Oyster House on Valentine’s Day, and it was a complete success. I met a fabulous new shoe-shopping buddy, and it didn’t hurt that [...]

Kathleen Kim will debut as Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti on Saturday at The Sarasota Opera House. The beautiful and vivacious performer sits across from me smiling and a little breathless. She’s been rehearsing and I’ve had the pleasure of her voice as background music during my previous interviews.   Dining Diva: Where are you from? Kathleen Kim: Seoul, South Korea. I left when I was 17.   DD: What is your favorite food from home? KK: It’s all delicious but specifically the street food. My favorite is a [...]

If you live in Sarasota and are a sushi fan, you have most likely been to J-Pan. This super yummy sushi and Asian/Brazilian fusion restaurant is getting ready to open a second location on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. We decided to talk with Jane, one of the owners, and of course sample some sushi. I can tell you this: Lakewood Ranch is in for amazing flavors and great service with this new addition! Check out the video, but warning: DO NOT WATCH IF YOU ARE HUNGRY.

As Sunday’s late afternoon creeps into the crepuscular hours, a young woman named Sarah Cendejas sits before an antique Corona mechanical typewriter in the middle of a warehouse parking lot, tapping pensively at the keys and occasionally adjusting the paper that spools through the carriage. She shuffles her feet from time to time across the Persian rug beneath them as she surveys the commotion around her, all the while wearing a patiently expectant expression. Directly behind Cendejas, a plastic Virgin Mary and Joseph—who appear to have been liberated from a suburban [...]

Kirsten was definitely on a mission to find Sarasota’s sweetest spot last weekend. Here are some hot clips from the Candy Kisses fashion show, as well as some footage from one of the best little bars in town, the Shamrock Pub, as they hosted the Milkshake. Come back on Friday to see where Kirsten and Stephen might pop up this weekend! See you out there.  

Reflex … the word conjures up images of sitting in my doctor’s office as a toddler as he/she pulls out a weird-looking hammer. It is has a shiny metal shaft and on the end sits a triangular-shaped rubber head. Excitement used to brim within me as I hoped my reflex would be dramatic. I knew there was nothing conscious I could do to influence the outcome, so I would focus intensely on “hoping” my knee would bounce back so strongly that my leg would stretch out completely straight. It felt [...]