DaleAnn Clancy Photography
I love the urban lifestyle. It’s all about convenience, spontaneity, partaking in cultural pleasures, delicious dinners, and being part of a live/work/play community.
Central to this vibrant way of life, a new development has broken ground and is poised to take advantage of one of the most beautiful walkable neighborhoods on the Gulf Coast, Venice Island. Called Island Court Venice, this new construction project is perhaps the first of its kind to appear in Venice in over a decade.
Rendering of Island Court Venice
These elegant townhomes are two bedroom, two and half bath with den, designed in an architecturally distinct Venetian style. Providing the luxury of space and storage not often found in the urban setting, these floor plans also include a private two car garage, high ceilings, and a spacious 1,813 SF floorplan. Phase I is completely sold out and has already broken ground while phase II is now taking offers.
An aerial of Phase I – already broken ground.
And if I lived at Island Court Venice among its urban amenities and island lifestyle, I would imagine that this is how I would spend my day:
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A map of all the places I visit through out the day.
I awaken early – like 7:00am – because Nolen (my golden retriever named after the Venice town planner John Nolen), jumps on the bed insisting on walk time.
I hobble out from under the covers, almost run into the door (cause I bump into all sorts of things at 7:00am), and begin my day with a strong cup of tea. The loose leaf brand is from one of my favorite spots, 3 Sisters Tea, just down the road. It smells sweetly of raspberries and vanilla.
My husband, Jonathan, is already up and has made us breakfast – cut fruits and vegetables, toast and eggs over easy. (His skill cooking eggs is legendary.)
Nolen has been following me around nonstop during our morning routine. After breakfast is done, he and I hop into my black Chevy Volt and take off for Paw Park and South Brohard Beach.
A Penchant for the Paw Park
Exactly four minutes later, we are parking along the sand. Paw Park is the only beach in Sarasota county where dogs are permitted. Nolen is ridiculously excited as we walk out to the sound of the waves and approach the warm Gulf waters.
Together we stroll along the sand. He loves to play in the waves. He also loves to chase seagulls. I always end up chasing after Nolen.
Living Local
On the way home, Nolen and I stop at The Venice Farmer’s Market.
Maggie’s Seafood is a favorite vendor of mine – of course I get the fresh, local, wild caught shrimp (because once again my shellfish allergy is nonexistent in this fantasy day). Then we head over to Joy’s Gourmet where the tangerine flavored dressing ignites my daily salads with a crisp, citrine flavor.
A short while later I am back home, parking in our garage.
I worked up a little bit of a sweat in the morning so I decide to take a dip in the pool. I swim eighty laps (why not?) then relax on a lounge chair and read The Can’t Cook Book by Jessica Seinfeld.
After twenty minutes of reading I am completely ravenous but instead of cooking…
Visiting Venice Main Street
We walk from home to enjoy a late lunch in town at Made in Italy. I get the Margherita pizza cooked in their wood burning oven. Jonathan orders the homemade fettuccini with meat sauce. Delish!
Pizza Margherita. Photo courtesy madeinitaly-venice.com
Then, no imaginary day would be complete without shopping. Jonathan and I split up. He heads off to polish our vintage boat (he actually enjoys doing that stuff) while I meet my friend, Michelle. She has brought along her adorable daughter who is only 6 months old.
The three of us walk a block from the restaurant to Seaside Chic. I find a shell-inspired necklace (for my mom’s birthday gift) and Michelle buys matching picture frames for the photos she just had taken of her daughter on the beach in a baby shark costume.
Photo courtesy Marci Shattuck
We check out several consignment stores and finally visit Sun Bug, where we each splurge on a bathing suit.
After saying our goodbyes, I head home to recharge for a bit before Jonathan and I spend our evening out.
Dinner and a Show
A local landmark and in business since 1987, we have dinner reservations at Sharky’s on the Pier. It offers amazing food, fantastic sunsets, live entertainment, and an island atmosphere that makes every visit feel like a vacation. The view of the Venice Pier is wonderfully picturesque and when we have time after eating, Jonathan and I like to go hunting for shark’s teeth on the nearby sand. (Venice is known as a hotspot for collecting prehistoric shark’s teeth.)
Jonathan orders the Aruba Style Pier Pasta with creamy Alfredo style sauce with garlic, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, lobster, shrimp, and scallops. Meanwhile, the Spicy Seafood Nachos pretty much makes my evening.
After stuffing ourselves seafood silly, we drive three minutes to the Venice Theatre.
A part of the community since 1950, this iconic island institution is the third largest community theater in the United States and the largest per capita. This weekend their Summer Cabaret Festival is going on. We take in a delightful show and each enjoy a glass of Chardonnay.
After the performance, we are home within two minutes. It’s been a long day. I help myself to a little chocolate we bought from Kilwins (also just down the street) and head to bed.
Tomorrow, we are taking our boat up the Intracoastal to Sarasota. I dream of dolphins and donuts.
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For more information about Island Court Venice, visit the website, contact Michelle Hupp at Michael Saunders & Company, or speak with your real estate agent.
If you enjoyed this blog, learn more about another impressive development on Longboat Key here: How I Would Live My Life at Infinity Longboat Key (and What I’d Wear).
What do you love to do in the city of Venice? Let us know in the comments!