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Hey Sarasota, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A smiling baby moon, a Led Zeppelin tribute, and a Parisian-inspired marketplace + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Sarasota protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Strengthening the childcare pipeline: The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County received a $15,000 Gulf Coast Community Foundation grant supporting its tuition-free apprenticeship for early childhood educators, addressing turnover and covering instructional costs — learn what the grant supports.

New direction for a familiar site: A longtime Sarasota bar property at 975 Cattlemen Road sold for $3.5 million as investor Frank Giuffre plans to revitalize the building and develop the adjoining lot, not reopen a bar — learn what’s ahead for the site.

Folklore behind the lunar curve: The Baby Moon’s smiling crescent returned to Sarasota skies, about 15 percent lit and nicknamed wet or dry moon. The lunar show peaks today, March 3, with the full moon — learn the moon’s nicknames.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Experience wearable art, support Peace for Girls
• Experience a powerful Led Zeppelin tribute
• Sip and shop with J.McLaughlin for conservation
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Small-room pasta magic: Craving pasta that tastes like someone’s nonna snuck into Sarasota? At Marcello Ristorante Italiano, homemade pappardelle, a shifting menu, and an intimate room let the chef’s nightly creations steal the spotlight… the kind of midweek victory lap you’ll actually brag about.

Time-travel your closet: Canned Ham Vintage keeps a playful mix of men’s and women’s vintage in motion: ’60s shifts, breezy boho, broken-in denim, and those cowboy boots you swore you didn’t need, plus barware and mid-century accents. Ideal when your wardrobe wants personality that algorithms can’t pick.

Cold comfort, locally: Craving quicker recovery or a contouring nudge? Cryo Studio Sarasota serves up sub-zero solutions: Cryo Slimming, Cryo Toning, Cryo Cellulite, plus pressotherapy and muscle-building TEC, all efficient upkeep for bodies that live for beach days and pickleball, with results that feel fresh, not fussy.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🧘 Yoga @ Bayfront Park | Tuesday (3/3) at 5:30 PM – Free outdoor yoga by the bay with Erin Collins, weekly, all levels, and actually free. Swap deadlines for sea breeze and a kind stretch, then leave a little taller, a lot calmer, and quietly proud you showed up. Bring a mat, water, and your off-switch.

🖼 Four New Exhibitions: Opening Reception @ Art Center Sarasota | Thursday (3/5) at 5:00 PM – Opening reception alert: four fresh shows under one roof, from community roots to feeling at home anywhere, resilience, and a juried parade of spectacle. Admission is free, the art is for sale, and the people-watching is priceless. Come nod thoughtfully, then actually buy something.

📚 One Book One Community Author Event: Patrick Bringley @ Selby Library | Friday (3/6) at 7:00 PM – Whether you’ve worn out your museum membership, or just crave a behind-the-scenes story, catch Patrick Bringley, the Met guard turned bestselling author of All the Beauty in the World, via the library’s One Book program. Free talk and signing, books available, first come, parking’s tight.

🐶 Farmers Market First Saturday @ Sarasota Farmers Market | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 AM – First Saturday at the Sarasota Farmers Market means shade on State Street, and free dog kisses that won’t judge your morning breath. Swing by to meet sweet, adoptable pups, soak up neighborly vibes, and maybe leave with a new walking buddy, not another houseplant.

📚 Pop-Up Library and Storytime @ The Oval | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Grab the kids and swing by The Bay for the free Sarasota Mobile Library, stocked with reads for everyone, plus a librarian-led storytime. Get a library card you swear you still have, browse themes like Friendship and sea creatures, and donate gently used kids’ books.

🛍 Le Marché Parisian-Inspired Marketplace @ Five Points Park | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Skip TSA and find Paris at Five Points Park, as this 18th go-round fills downtown with local art, curated gifts, and indulgent treats. It is free to wander, easy to linger, and perfect for supporting our artists, people-watching, and pretending your high school French stuck.

🚴 Taco Ride on the Legacy @ Legacy Trail | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Take a break from yard work and roll the Legacy Trail for tacos, beer, and smug cardio. It is a free Sunday ride with routes from quick brewery hops to the full Sarasota to Venice tour, you pick the distance, the salsa, and the humblebrag.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Sarasota report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 83°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 7%

Sunny. High near 83, with temperatures falling to around 78 in the afternoon. East northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East northeast wind around 7 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 85°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 28%

A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 85. East northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This north-end Siesta Key estate spans two lots at the tip of a peninsula, ringed by water and facing parkland. A three-structure compound with 6 beds and 6 baths includes a main home, guest house, and waterfront cabana with bath. Curated finishes, an infinity-edge pool with swim-assist and waterfall, two docks with double lift, and a hot tub over water.

Take a peek inside →