Happy Tuesday, Sarasota. In today’s edition: Sarasota holiday parade, fresh wreath workshop, breakfast with Santa, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Easier evidence storage ahead: Sarasota County approved a build-to-suit, lease-to-own 26,295-square-foot court records facility near Main Street, placing it closer to downtown than the Northgate site, with a purchase option after the first year — get all the details.

New rhythms for retailers: Black Friday on St. Armands Circle was quieter as Monkee’s reopened after hurricanes. Newcomer Le Shop reports booming business, and merchants prepare for Dec. 5 lighting and Dec. 18 deals — see what’s planned.

Homeownership for essential workers: Palmetto commissioners recently approved a 20-home Habitat for Humanity townhome project near downtown, with design through 2026 and construction expected in 2027-2028, after addressing parking and safety concerns — see plans, timeline and approvals.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per 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.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Shop handmade at Atomic Holiday Bazaar
• Register now for Sarasota Holiday Parade
• Learn hands-on composting with UF/IFAS Extension
• Play bingo to support SPARCC
• Celebrate the season with A Celtic Christmas
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

A haven for movement: Foundry Collective SRQ just opened in November in downtown Sarasota, blending a curated athleisure shop with a wellness lounge and Pilates. Owner Holly Kuri spotlights women-owned and hard-to-find brands, inclusive sizing, a wall of grip socks, and free mat Pilates classes through December, with more pop-ups and programming on the way. Read the full story.

High-visibility retail opportunities: Sarasota’s Midtown Plaza has three openings totaling nearly 15,000 square feet. Available: a former Panera (4,025 sf) at $40/sf per year, a 5,300-sf former Truist with a drive-thru and vault, and a 5,500-sf inline space at $32/sf per year. Traffic averages 58,000 daily. Nearby, a former Winn-Dixie site is being eyed for mixed-use redevelopment. Get all the details.

Serious burrito comfort: Craving saucy, made-from-scratch warmth? El Toro Bravo serves bean, meat, and shrimp fajita burritos that hit just right. Christmas style blankets them in both red and green chile. Satisfying and perfect for a weeknight reward.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

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.

This week

🌱 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™: Foodscaping for the Suncoast @ Fruitville Library | Tuesday (12/2) at 10:30am – Your yard can do more than host lizards and HOA drama. Learn how to foodscape for the Suncoast with fruits, nuts, and subtropical staples that actually thrive here, save a little on groceries, and flex that Florida-friendly green thumb.

🔬 Science Stories From Your Community @ Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) | Wednesday (12/3) at 8:00am – Think you know your mangroves from your manatees? Free community science event at Mote with local scientists on wetlands, reefs, seagrass, and oysters, plus hands-on demos. Attend, then nab next-day field excursions, aquarium or research park tours, and a Sarasota Bay boat ride.

🌿 Breaking the Rules with One Seed! – Herb Trio @ Osprey Library | Thursday (12/4) at 10:30am – Why commit to just one herb when you can juggle three like a garden overachiever? This laid-back class dives into growing and using a special trio of edible herbs that spoil both you and the pollinators. You’ll snag free seed packets, swap ideas with fellow plant nerds, and pick up tons of practical resources.

🔭 Sidewalk Astronomy @ The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to look up, this is it. The Bishop hosts a free night with LGDSO’s telescopes, planets, maybe a nebula, plus local bites, drinks, and $5 planetarium shows, free for members. Gift shop open, because holiday shopping sneaks up.

🎄 Fresh Wreath Workshop @ The Roaming Petal | Friday (12/5) at 6:30pm – Trade screen time for pine time and build your own lush, fresh holiday wreath from scratch. You’ll get hands-on guidance, all the greens and goodies you need, and a finished piece that looks straight out of a boutique window. Grab a friend, sip something festive, and leave with a front-door glow-up that smells amazing too.

This weekend

🎅 Breakfast with Santa on the Bay @ The Ritz-Carlton | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Santa’s trading the North Pole for the Bayview Lawn, serving a buffet breakfast while the kids go wild with face painting, cookie decorating, and photos. It’s the Ritz, so reservations are required on OpenTable, bring actual shoes, and brace for grown-up pricing.

🐞 Buggy Baubles: Insect Ornament Workshop @ UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Make a holiday ornament that won’t scuttle off the tree while learning about the local bugs that actually run this town. Family-friendly, $10, cricket cookies and cocoa included, and advance registration via 4-H Online. UF/IFAS Sarasota County folks keep it fun, nerdy, and surprisingly tasty.

🥂 Sip and Scent| Saturday (12/6) at 5:00pm – Build your own signature scent, sip something bubbly, and unleash your inner artist—all without leaving your cozy nest. This Phemie Beauty experience blends a fragrance bar, sip & paint fun, and brunch bites into one luxe night in.

🎄 Sarasota Holiday Parade| Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – If you’ve been itching to CELEBRATE SARASOTA, the downtown holiday parade is your annual excuse to camp on Main, wave at marching bands, and judge floats with your coffee. It rolls from U.S. 301 to J.D. Hamel Park. Want in the lineup? Register at SarasotaHolidayParade.com.

🛶 Morning Kayak Tour @ Mote Marine Laboratory on City Island | Sunday (12/7) at 8:15am – Nothing beats gliding over Sarasota Bay’s seagrass flats in the morning, spotting dolphins, manatees, and bossy birds while someone else supplies the kayak, paddle, and how-to. Easy guided tour, cheaper than therapy, and blessedly early before the boat traffic. Members save, 11+ with adult.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/2 Canadian Brass @ Sarasota Opera House – 7:30 pm
• 12/2 Come From Away @ Asolo Repertory Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/3 Justin Layman @ Siesta Key Oyster Bar – 1 pm
• 12/3 Ryan Faraday @ Marina Jack – 5 pm
• 12/3 Joe Bonamassa @ Van Wezel – 8 pm
• 12/4 Scott Curts @ Marina Jack – 5 pm
• 12/4 Detroit Mike Duo @ JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe – 6 pm
• 12/5 Bri Rivera @ Marina Jack – 6 pm
• 12/6 Andy Mauerman @ Tarpon Bay Grill & Tiki Bar – 6 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Dianne Anderson (COMPASS FLORIDA LLC)

Storybook, a 3-bed, 4-bath treetop sanctuary by Sarasota architect Richard G. Allen, blends sustainable swagger with serene craft. Set at the end of a canopied road in Arlington Park, it surveys native landscaping and protected wetlands. Soaring ceilings, exposed beams, and maple floors meet clerestory light, a wraparound screened porch, and a treetop pool.

Inside, a spiral stair climbs to a light filled loft and a custom library. Zen-inspired suites include one behind a hand-carved door. Downstairs adds a private guest suite, big laundry, storage, oversized two-car garage with EV, plus Tibetan gates and a tranquil pond.

Take a peek inside →