Your Life. Your Lens.

Do you love being on the Gulf Coast as much as we do? No one can paint the picture of our incredible lifestyle as well as you can. If you spend time in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte County, or beyond, we invite you to be part of [...]

Who doesn’t love spending time on one of our Gulf beaches? Dipping your toes in the warm water, reading a good book on the white sands, listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves, or simply standing there and watching the sunset… To enjoy endless days of [...]

In most places across the United States, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of a short-lived summer. Here on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it means there are just a few more weeks of balmy 90 degree temperatures before the climate cools to the luxurious 70's. Nevertheless, we don’t need an excuse to fire up the grill, take a dip in the pool and [...]

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 [...]

With school almost back in session, this weekend marks the return of Florida’s tax-free holiday. From August 1-3, shoppers will save on school supplies, clothing and some electronics, and with the array of retail options throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, you’ll be top of the class in no time! Here’s what you need to know to make the most of this 72-hour shopping extravaganza: [...]

Now onto part three of my Florida island hopping adventure. The day began almost seven hours earlier at the Cape Haze Marina where I departed with my friends from the Freedom Boat Club on a quick voyage to Useppa Island (read the first blog here). Then, we trekked to Boca Grande for lunch before being "castaway" on Little Gasparilla Island (read the [...]

“Look at your shopping centers.  Are they going down?  Or coming back?” With this simple query, Todd Mathes—the director of development for Benderson Development—prefaced his recent update on the retail market in Sarasota-Manatee before an audience of over 200 agents from [...]

In my last blog post, you read about the start of my island hopping adventure with the Freedom Boat Club. We began our day at the Cape Haze Marina and voyaged to a very enchanting Useppa Island. Now, we continue the journey on to two nearby barrier islands. Beloved Boca Grande Within fifteen minutes of our departure from Useppa, we were floating through the captivating canals of [...]

Sometimes you are so close to something that you can’t entirely understand its worth. This is never as true as it is for those of us who live in Florida and take our slice of paradise for granted. We grow complacent - never quite appreciating how turquoise the Gulf is, how easy it is to reach the beach, or the countless colors in a [...]

A lot can be said about summers in Florida – the most obvious being that it’s hot. And while I would certainly agree with that, I am a huge fan of being in Sarasota during the off-season. Here are 17 splendid reasons why: 1. Crazy Cool Sunsets. Our summer sunsets are truly awe-inspiring to behold. The weather patterns over our warmer [...]