Post your Tropical Storm Debby photo on Facebook to share! Stay safe out there!

We hear week-in and week-out about all the stuff wrong with the world. Most of it gives you the sense that we’re pretty much screwed as a species: economic collapse, “choose the lesser evil” political campaigns, pollution, poverty … cannibalism!? Seriously depressing, right? (I often wonder why no one seems to consider this as one of the potential symptoms “causing” depression for so many folks. But I digress.) On the flip-side, there are  great innovations going on: local movements for sustainability, national shifts toward better rights for the GLBTQ community and [...]

With Sarasota’s seemingly endless supply of arts and culture, festivals, attractions and shenanigans, those of us at This Week in Sarasota who make a living by pressing the letter buttons to make words happen have plenty of material to work with right here in our own backyard. Sometimes, though, we emerge from our cocoon to venture 20 minutes north into the great unknown, to the actually-not-so-distant city of Bradenton, home to a bountiful wealth of culture just begging to be explored.   As of late, I’ve been spending quite a [...]

Introducing Matt’s List, an Owner’s Guide to Sarasota. In this installment, TWIS Founder Matt Orr gives five tips on five Sarasota-based portals to gorgeous. 1) Belly Burning — When you live in a city where the beach body season lasts all year, you need to know where to find the flab busters. My advice? Let Matt Freeland hand your ass to you three days a week. Training with Matt gets you three one-on-one sessions a week, three exercises you are required to do on your own (he calls you to make sure you did them), [...]

I’m hallucinating again. I blame the bath salts. Last month, I heard all the cool kids and zombies were taking them so I took a trip to Bath & Body Works to smoke anything that appeared soapy white. Perhaps that’s why I’m having visions. I mean, this June 20 letter from the Outdoor Event Office regarding “Special Events” can’t be real. The Sarasota City Commission is considering an additional fee for events in the downtown core? This must be a hoax. I was at the June 6 ”Zoning Enclaves and Special Events” [...]

I’m keeping it short and sweet this week … you’re going to stay so busy with all the Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix kickoff parties, you won’t want to waste a second in front of your computer screens. – Something catch your fancy? Here are links to Kirsten’s mentionables: – Mr. Beery’s Crazy (Magic) Hat Partyfacebook.com/events/417843361582282/mrbeeryssrq.com/ – Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prixsuncoastoffshore.org