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It’s Friday, Sarasota! Let’s finish this week strong.
In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Reel Equals International Film Festival opens, iconic Umbrella House tour, and El Greco Kitchen & Market reopening + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.
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📰 In the news
Spotlight on teen excellence: Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties announce 2026 Youth of the Year today at Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, with a 6 p.m. reception and celebration — get all the details.
Gender equity on screen: Reel Equals International Film Festival opens today with in-person screenings at the Sarasota Art Museum and online, showcasing 25 films from 12 countries and local documentary The Bond That Broke — get all the festival details.
New chapter for a classic: El Greco Kitchen & Market, a downtown favorite, will reopen soon at 4035 Clark Road in the Expo on Clark plaza, bringing a beloved name back for Sarasota diners — read the full story.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Organic, raw, delicious: Ionie Organic Cafe keeps things light and satisfying, with bright taco salads, uncooked lasagna layers, and smoothies that reset your day. Craving cleaner eating without losing flavor? This spot turns “maybe tomorrow” into this week, making feel-good food simple and vibrant.
Your next treasure hunt: Whether you’re after a statement credenza, a glittering vintage bauble, or that quirky piece you didn’t know you needed, Antiques & Chatchkes brims with handpicked antiques, mid-century gems, and estate jewelry. New arrivals land daily… so the floor is always a fresh little hunt.
Brows that actually stay: Tired of penciling in twins that turn into distant cousins? At DK Brows, microblading, nano, and powder techniques create soft, natural-looking arches that actually stick. Wake up to believable brows, skip the daily redraw, and reclaim a few extra minutes every morning.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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.
🎬 Reel Equals: Opening Night Celebration @ Ringling College of Art and Design | Friday (3/6) at 5:00 PM – Kick off Through Women’s Eyes with Reel Equals opening night at Ringling College, where visiting filmmakers mingle, a film screens, and a quick chat follows. Heavy apps, wine, beer, and desserts are included, so bring your partner, friends, and snowbirds. Valet’s on duty, you watch.
🍷 Garden to Plate Wine Dinner @ Selby Gardens – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – At Selby Gardens’ downtown campus, the good life is served alfresco in casually elegant style, with Michael Klauber curating the pours and Phil Mancini plotting a multi-course menu that actually earns garden to plate. Think bayfront breezes, real plates, fine wines, and zero rubber-chicken flashbacks.
📚 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.
🛍 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.
🛶 Ride & Paddle @ The Bay | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Craving quiet water time? Come and go for a 20 to 30 minute paddle through The Bay’s restored mangroves, looping the rookery like a local. Registration helps but isn’t required, kids ride with adults, and parking is free, with a modest construction detour.
🏠 Umbrella House Tour @ Umbrella House | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Think you know Sarasota modernism? Step inside Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House, the mid-century marvel AD calls one of the five most remarkable. Marty Hylton leads the tour, the rebuilt shade canopy steals the show, and yes, street parking is your friend.
🧪 Family Saturdays: Spectacle Lab @ Art Center Sarasota | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Trade the tablet for a little optical mischief at Family Saturdays: Spectacle Lab, where you’ll make agamographs, those clever images that change as you walk by. Kids and grown-ups build, tilt, and giggle, exploring perspective, motion, and the magic of visual illusions together.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 Sarasota report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 86°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 24%
A slight chance of rain showers between 3pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny. High near 86, with temperatures falling to around 82 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tomorrow – High: 86°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 24%
A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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