Happy Friday, Sarasota. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Sarasota Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Kids exploring bird care at a local farm workshop, Asolo Rep unveiling a dynamic new season, and volunteers mapping Sarasota Bay mangrove canopies — catch up here.

State-level stories: Washington weighs making Florida’s springs a national park, coastal parks get ATVs and trackers for turtle patrols, and Orlando lands among top retirement cities — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Mortgage rates are trending down, investors catapult gold above 3500 an ounce, and a tropical wave eyes the Antilles — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Boost small business marketing with AI
• Find your voice with Toastmasters
• Rock for charity at Ozzy tribute
• Celebrate District Days with free Ringling admission
• Anxiety about debt? Get a free consultation

🫶 We got your back

Food: Sarasota isn’t just about sunset beaches… it’s a burger town at heart. These burger joints flip everything from messy melters to chef-crafted wonders.

Nightlife: From neon-lit dance floors to beachside dives, check out party spots that prove you can party till sunrise.

Taqueria: From perfectly charred tortillas to fillings that demand a double order, Bitia’s Taqueria brings the kind of flavor that requires extra napkins and zero regrets.

Bargain shopping: The best finds aren’t always on store shelves. Amazon’s Deals Page is like a never-ending treasure hunt where the good stuff costs less, with new discounts dropping daily.

Save: The average driver pays $175 a month for car insurance, but most of us are paying way more than we should. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool may save you hundreds.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

Own or manage a local business? Thousands of your future fans read our emails and advertising with us is as easy as it gets. Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

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Today

🎨 Artwalk Weekend @ Village of the Arts | Friday (9/5) at 6:00pm – Swap your usual Friday-night Netflix for a leisurely stroll through the Village’s gallery-lined streets, where pastel storefronts double as impromptu art museums and hole-in-the-wall eateries await your verdict. Parking’s free on Friday nights, so no excuses, see you at the garage on 12th and 8th.

🌈 Joseph’s Coat: Skyspace @ Ringling Museum of Art | Friday (9/5) at 7:25pm – Whether you’re sneaking off from weekend errands or just need an excuse to stare at the sky, that James Turrell skyspace has you covered at dusk. It’s part high-tech light show, part secret zen zone. Bring a yoga mat, and a sweater.

This weekend

🧘‍♀️ Preserve Paddleboard Yoga @ Robinson Preserve | Saturday (9/6) at 10:30am – Robinson’s Preserve just raised the bar on finding your center by doing it on a paddleboard. Crystal from High Vibe Studio leads land demos, then we paddle before sinking into an anchored yoga flow, with beginner tweaks and pro-level challenges to keep you afloat.

🎨 Artists of Palmer Ranch Exhibit @ Arts Advocates Gallery | Saturday (9/6) at 2:00pm – Take a stroll through Sarasota’s creative side with this free showcase from the Artists of Palmer Ranch. From dreamy watercolors to bold sculpture and everything in between, you’ll get a taste of the community’s eclectic talent. It’s the perfect Saturday stop for art lovers who like their inspiration local and their admission free.

🐾 Satchel’s Giving Day @ Big Top Live | Saturday (9/6) at 6:00pm – Your dog’s shot at fame comes with a heartstring tug: Satchel’s Giving Day Pawscars Party rolls out the red carpet for his birthday fundraiser, for the medical fund we adore. Expect live music, food trucks, beer discounts, raffles, and tail wags that’ll steal the show.

🌴 Tropical Garden and Food Forest | Sunday (9/7) at 9:00am – Think your sad potted palm is exotic? Come explore a real tropical garden and food forest in town, teeming with exotic orchids, rare natives, and glossy-leafed showstoppers. This breezy 40-minute tour swaps your usual lap around the block for genuine jungle vibes.

🍅 Farmer’s Market @ Waterside Park l | Sunday (9/7) at 10:00am – Nothing beats a lakeside Sunday hunt through 90-plus local vendors, from organic produce and fresh bread to quirky pet trinkets and handmade jewelry. Live tunes soundtrack your snack-and-shopping spree, kids get an art corner to wreak creative havoc, and low-key yoga cures weekend inertia.

🍹 Ross David at Lido Beach @ Lido Island Grill | Sunday (9/7) at 1:00pm – Unplugged beach vibes under the blue-sail pavilion at Lido Beach Bar & Grill, where Ross David breezes through Jason Mraz, John Mayer, the Eagles, and originals that’ll make you wonder how you spent weekends before this. And it’s free, so your wallet says thanks.

Next week

🍸 Cocktails + Culture @ Sarasota Art Museum | Monday (9/8) at 5:30pm – Cocktails + Culture is turning the art museum into a cocktail lab, where Brad Coburn walks us through two Art Deco inspired sips with enough flair to make Gatsby jealous. Light bites keep the chit chat fueled, extra drinks await your daring side.

🎙️ Fogartyville Songwriter Series @ Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center | Monday (9/8) at 7:00pm – Head to Fogartyville’s cozy listening room, where Taylor Opie shepherds Briana Lutzi and Jamie Tremps through in-the-round sets, swapping songwriting secrets between tunes. Tickets are $10 ($8 for members), and yes, this is zero cover-band filler, just hometown talent.

🐾 Wisdom from the Wild: Leadership Tales with Tails @ Bookstore1 | Tuesday (9/9) at 5:30pm – Think you’ve heard every wildlife leadership anecdote? Plot twist: the Henrys, Julie, Tasman, and Kepler, will outdo your uncle’s fishing tales in an interview, Q&A, and book signing, so bring a pen and your best “wow” face.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 9/5 Dave Fazio @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 1 pm
• 9/5 Black Thorn Rose @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 6 pm
• 9/5 Bri Rivera @ Marina Jack – 6 pm
• 9/5 Occasions @ Gateway Live – 8 pm
• 9/5 Nick Hoff @ McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre – 8:50 pm
• 9/5 DJ TA @ The Gator Club – 10 pm
• 9/6 Chris Connely Band @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 1 pm
• 9/6 22N @ Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse – 7 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Sarasota edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Holly Winkle (WINKLE AND COMPANY LLC)

A showstopper in Tuscana, this Lee Wetherington custom home serves up smart-home swagger and a serious sense of occasion. Ten-inch crown moldings, custom millwork, and intelligent lighting mingle with a climate-controlled wine cellar that holds over 900 bottles. The kitchen’s glass tile backsplash and glass-front cabinetry set the stage for culinary theatrics, while a sleek linear fireplace and automated shades keep things cozy and cool.

NanaWall-style folding glass doors vanish to reveal a travertine pool deck, saltwater pool and spa, and a 500-square-foot cabana with a 30-foot summer kitchen. PGT windows, thermal-sensing cameras, and a whole-house generator keep everything secure and serene, all tucked inside a private, walled oasis minutes from Sarasota’s best schools.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →