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: Art Deco exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum, a 270000 United Way grant boosting benefits assistance, and community scallop surveys in Sarasota Bay — catch up here.

State-level stories: South Florida beaches face dangerous rip currents, students with disabilities lose any formal credential, and a vast Everglades fire scorches nearly 20,000 acres — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Celebrate District Days with free Ringling admission
• Join SCUBAPRO for reef restoration dives
• Learn simple tips for green living
• Join Music Compound’s free back-to-school bash
• Explore virtual art adventures with Ringling Explorers
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

🫶 We got your back

Plants: Dreaming of a tropical escape or tracking down that rare orchid? These plant nurseries make it easy to bring the rainforest home.

Travel: From Disney photoshoots at sunrise to shell-strewn Gulf beaches by afternoon, Florida has it all. Check out our family vacation ideas that range from splurge-worthy thrills to wallet-friendly escapes.

Kitchen: Skip the $800 behemoths that could probably blend your iPhone and the $30 clunkers that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts through the hype so you end up with a blender that actually works without leaving you $200 poorer.

Chocolatier: From silky truffles to bars you’ll 100% hide in the back of the pantry (sorry, not sorry), Pavé Chocolatier is here to fuel your cocoa-fueled happiness. Just remember: sharing is optional, and “just one piece” is a myth.

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

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

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📆 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.

Today

🇨🇺 Hot Havana Nights @ The Sarasota Modern | Friday (8/22) at 7:00pm – Hot Havana Nights at The Sarasota Modern is rescuing you from your cocktail rut with mojitos, Cuban jazz, and enough tropical swagger for the strictly 18-plus set, right here. Think of it as a cheeky island escape, just snag your tickets before they vanish.

😂 Friday Comedy Show @ Sun Lab Brewing Company | Friday (8/22) at 8:00pm – Take a break from counting sips to counting punchlines at Sun Lab Brewing this Friday, when St. Pete Stand Up rolls into town. Expect local comics riffing on everything from traffic headaches to craft-brew obsessions, plus cold pints and genuine laughs.

This weekend

🏙️ District Days @ Ringling Museum of Art | Saturday (8/23) at 10:00am – Nothing says ‘family fun’ like wandering through art with the kids while pretending you understand Greek statues. The Ringling’s handing out free admission, resources, and a decent excuse to ditch Netflix, so just grab your district ticket, show up, and soak in some culture.

🤠 Saloon Concert @ Cadillac Jack’s Honky Tonk Saloon | Saturday (8/23) at 8:00pm – Think you’re too worldly for a honky-tonk Saturday? Swing by Cadillac Jack’s for Ricky Valido’s live set, where the neon glow, rickety floorboards, and heartfelt twang beat any polished concert hall. Bring your boots, a crisp drink, and your best two-step.

🎤 Doug MacLeod @ Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center | Saturday (8/23) at 8:00pm – Summer evenings are for chilled beers and award-winning blues, especially when a certain guitar wizard spins tales as vivid as your weirdest neighbor sightings. Doug MacLeod returns to Fogartyville’s stage, cracking jokes, conjuring characters, and bending strings like he’s auditioning for a magic show.

🍅 Farmer’s Market @ Waterside Park l | Sunday (8/24) at 10:00am – Put down the cereal and mosey lakeside every Sunday for 90+ local artisans hawking everything from organic produce to freshly baked loaves. Enjoy live tunes, an art corner where pint-sized Picassos steal the show, and yoga that politely excuses your second coffee.

🎷 Bradenton Blues Brunch @ Bradenton Riverwalk | Sunday (8/24) at 11:00am – Nothing cures last-Sunday boredom like live blues on the Riverwalk paired with local, sustainable brunch bites at Mattison’s City Grille. There’s no cover charge, just good tunes, eggs benedict, and enough scenery to shame your sad couch.

Next week

♻️ Green Living @ Selby Library | Monday (8/25) at 5:30pm – Embracing greener habits is surprisingly doable when UF/IFAS Sarasota County laid out bite-size tips for energy, water, waste, transport, and food that work, and no kale smoothies required. You’ll walk away with a personalized action plan, local resources, and a smug sense of eco-righteousness.

🎸 Rodney Shenk @ Gilligan’s Island Grill | Monday (8/25) at 6:00pm – Kick back with a cold drink and let Rodney Shenk’s live tunes set the mood for your Monday night. From beachy vibes to soulful grooves, it’s the perfect soundtrack for an evening by the water. Grab a seat, order something tasty, and let the music do the rest.

🎨 Ringling Explorers: A Virtual Art Adventure @ Ringling Museum of Art | Tuesday (8/26) at 9:00am – Whether your homeschooling crew thinks glue sticks are medieval torture or they live for glitter explosions, this free Zoom adventure by Dr. Keller delivers fresh themes each week, from origami to close looking activities, so you can finally claim you’re educationally enriching them from home.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Chris Connely Solo @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 1 pm
• 8/22 Bre Hopkins Acoustic Duo @ Siesta Key Palms – 5 pm
• 8/22 Justin Black Band @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 6 pm
• 8/22 Funky Bonez @ Joyland – 9 pm
• 8/23 Aurora 5 Returns @ Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse – 7 pm
• 8/23 Dirty White Boys FL @ Papa Joes – 8 pm
• 8/24 Zion Albert and more @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 1 pm
• 8/24 Alan Grant Band @ Gilligan’s Island Grill – 6 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: Daniel Dabrowski (DALTON WADE INC)

A crisp, modern vibe runs through this custom Sarasota stunner, where 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths meet a chef’s kitchen with sleek, integrated appliances and an island big enough for serious snacking. High ceilings and massive glass sliders keep things bright, while each guest suite gets its own private bath for maximum comfort points.

The primary suite feels straight out of a boutique hotel, with a spa-worthy bath and dual walk-ins. Out back, a sparkling pool, elevated spa, and outdoor wet bar set the scene for year-round fun. The three-car garage and roomy driveway mean everyone gets a spot, even the toys.

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