“With society becoming impersonal,” says Terry Grobhofer, Manager of Earth Origins, “we are determined to bring the neighborhood back.” Grobhofer has been the manager of the Bahia Vista store for over four years now, a natural progression from her position as part-time supplement clerk two years prior. She explains what this looks like in practice. For one, each store gets to know the needs and desires of their customers. The Stickney point store caters to those specialty-foods-loving vacationers eager for a nice picnic or quick bite as they relax at [...]

Ringling Underground starts on the 6th (not the 7th). In my excitement and possible heat stroke I said the wrong date. It’s Labor Day weekend so being on the water for the 66th Labor Day Regatta at The Sarasota Sailing Squadron. It will be a great way to embrace the heat rather than fight it. Let me know how you’re going to spend your weekend embracing the heat. John and Mable Ringling Museum Ringling Undergroundhttp://www.facebook.com/events/450459731653794/Art Center Sarasota The Equines/Nota a Planet/Sparta Philharmonic/Physical Planthttp://www.facebook.com/ArtCenterSarasotahttp://www.facebook.com/events/273576429417568/Growlers Villanova Junctionhttp://www.facebook.com/growlerspubhttp://www.facebook.com/events/163541627115066/Brides Against Brest Cancerhttp://www.facebook.com/BABCTourSpectacular Fashion Event [...]

With its prime locations diagonally across from the Burns Court Cinema and in the center of Burns Square, Galileo Ristorante and Retropolitan are well-situated for an evening dining crowd. New ownership took control of the restaurants at the end of June and started making small changes  through the summer. I thought it was a good time to meet the new owners to find out what else is being planned. I recently spoke to Chad Weidner, one of the new owners, to learn more. Jack Littman-Quinn: How did you decide on [...]

Each year the Ringling International Arts Festival brings Sarasota closer to the forefront of the international art scene, where it joins Miami as a primary tastemaker and influencer in the performing arts sector. As a student of art history and museum studies at Florida International University, I had the great privilege of spending three years simmering in the arts-and-culture melting pot that is Miami, Florida. The choice to leave Miami’s culturally-diverse, vibrant and sophisticated art scene upon graduation was a difficult one to make, but I was fortunate to be greeted by [...]

- by Guest Contributor Sarah Felder. I grew up in a food-loving Italian family. My mother cooked homemade meals almost every day. I’m sure it’s how I came to slowly love cooking. Believe me, I had my unhealthy young and single days. But now as a mother of a two- and four-year-old, I’ve discovered a new passion for and fun with cooking like never before. One simple way to eat better is to find local, organically-grown foods. We spend time visiting local farms when they’re open, but the summertime can [...]

Who lives around me? What makes them amazing? How could knowing that be useful? This is what I’ll be exploring in a new series of blogs called “Amazing Neighbors.” My first interview is with someone I’ve admired since we first talked years ago: Don Hall, founder and Executive Director of Transition Sarasota, who lives about five blocks from my house off the edge of beautiful Gillespie Park. Don is a friendly guy about my age with bright blue eyes, sandy hair, and a wide smile. We met several years ago [...]