Hi Sarasota, we made it to Thursday! In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Rowing championships, Italian evening of wine and cinema, and park pickleball upgrades + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.
Today's sponsor, SmartAsset, is helping people around Sarasota evaluate their retirement income strategy and plan for a retirement that could last decades. Their free quiz matches you with vetted fiduciary advisors who serve your area and are legally required to act in your best interests. -- take the quiz and find your match.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
National rowing showcase: USRowing Youth National Championships start today at Nathan Benderson Park, bringing over 4,000 athletes from 200-plus clubs competing through Sunday. Expect big crowds and a boost from roughly 10,000 spectators -- see the rowing championship.
Shaping downtown’s future: City of Sarasota is taking public input on three concepts to reimagine downtown Main Street from U.S. 41 to School Avenue, aiming for safer travel while addressing concerns over parking -- learn more about the plans.
Park upgrades take shape: Sarasota County unveiled a parks administration building, a 5,649-square-foot multi-purpose community building, and six ADA-accessible pickleball courts at Twin Lakes Park, plus refurbished tennis courts, in a $13.78 million project -- tour the new park upgrades.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill:If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor The free quiz matching 50,000 people a month with a fiduciary advisorIf you've saved $2.5 million, you're well ahead of most Americans. But how long it lasts depends less on the balance and more on the decisions you make with it. Take the 4% rule, a common benchmark. It suggests withdrawing about $100,000 your first year from a $2.5M portfolio, then adjusting for inflation over time. While it can be a useful starting point, it doesn't account for factors such as other income sources, taxes, spending goals, or changing market conditions. That's why many retirees choose to work with a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help build a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy around your situation, including how much to take from each account and when - so you have a clearer picture of how much you can spend each year. SmartAsset's free quiz matches you with vetted fiduciary advisors who serve your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest. The quiz only takes a few minutes. No cost. No obligation. Find your advisor match.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Small plates, big mood: Bohemios Tapas Restaurant - SARASOTA brings Spanish classics with Latin flair, think patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, and flaky empanadas, plus a legit wine list and sangria. Cozy vibe, occasional live music, and an easy excuse to text friends “tapas tonight?”
Your next great find: The Blue Heirloom Vintage turns 4,000+ square feet into a happy trap of mid-century furniture, quirky housewares, artwork, vinyl, and wearable nostalgia. Locally owned since 2018, it’s the kind of sustainable treasure hunt to slip into this week... you’ll swear you’re ‘just browsing’ until your trunk’s mysteriously full.
Your midweek culture boost: Tucked right in your backyard, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art packs 31 galleries into a pink Renaissance-style palace founded by the original circus magnate. Wander, reset, maybe pick a favorite piece then brag about your superior taste at dinner.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
You guard your wallet and lock your door. Your data deserves the same: You wouldn't leave your address and daily routine posted on a bulletin board downtown, but that's effectively what data brokers do, for anyone willing to pay. DeleteMe takes it down for you. Real people, not bots, find every listing, submit the opt-outs, and keep watch so brokers can't quietly relist you. 100 million-plus removals and counting. Readers save 20%. *Lock down your information →
The fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →
Plastic and wood are no good: Every time you use a plastic cutting board, microplastics end up in your food. You can’t see it, but it's happening and it’s gross. Wood isn't any better since it absorbs bacteria so deep into the grain you can’t get it out. More than 50,000 people have already ditched both for something better. *See what they're using instead →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both — 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), plus 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and up to 6% in a category you pick. No annual fee, and there's a $200 bonus after $1,000 in spending in the first 90 days. *Worth a look →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Sarasota for grown upsThe best events and nightlife experiences for adults this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🥂 Apéro @ Mademoiselle Paris (Main Street SRQ) | Thursday (6/11) at 5:00 PM – Apéro hour at Mademoiselle Paris means wine, nibbles, and an easy crowd of Francophiles who actually know where to find a decent baguette. Dust off your bonjour, trade travel stories, and linger like it’s a long lunch in Nice, minus the jet lag.
🎻 Sarasota Music Festival @ Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection | Thursday (6/11) at 7:00 PM – Get a $5 sneak peek of the Sarasota Music Festival at Art Ovation, with Festival fellows playing up close and sounding far bigger than the ticket price. Intimate room, serious chops, and the smug joy of saying you heard them first.
🎬 Italian Evening of Wine & Cinema @ SKIES Social Lounge | Friday (6/12) at 6:30 PM – Premium Italian wines, curated pairings, and The Godfather in a plush lounge, because sometimes movie night deserves real glassware. Expect velvety Barolo with your cinema, adult conversation, and zero sticky floors. Practice your best Don whisper, then leave the gun, take the cannoli.
🍽 Make and Taste Italian Croquettes @ Young Chefs Academy | Sunday (6/14) at 11:30 AM – Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on class making arancini, supplì, and potato croquettes, golden outside, rich inside. Chef Riccardo guides a cook-and-eat with appetizer, dessert, and BYOB wine or beer. Your air fryer can sit this one out, and there’s a gluten-free option.
🎭 Interpreted Show: Lady Disdain @ Asolo Repertory Theatre | Sunday (6/14) at 1:30 PM – Lady Disdain, Lauren Gunderson’s rolling world premiere, is hitting Asolo Rep with swoony voices, razor wit, and an ASL interpreted performance, so everyone’s in on it. Beatrice and Benedict bicker as rival audiobook narrators, delivering enemies-to-lovers spark, quick banter, and Sarasota-grade theater polish.
🍽 Tasting the City @ BMW | Sunday (6/14) at 8:00 PM – Skip the endless where-should-we-eat debate and taste the whole city instead. Tasting the City lines up bites from local restaurants and businesses, so you can graze with purpose, discover new favorites, and pretend it counts as meal planning. Quality time, well fed.
🎤 Billy Idol @ Burns Court Cinema | Monday (6/15) at 7:00 PM – Trade the usual true-crime binge for Billy Idol Should Be Dead, a dive into the punk kid who became a rock 'n' roll icon. Expect never-before-seen footage, personal interviews, and enough peroxide to trigger memories of your bleach job, all wrapped in that famous sneer. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Sarasota report Weather forecastToday — High: 91°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 37%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 104. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Heat index values as high as 99. West wind 1 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tomorrow — High: 91°F — Low: 78°F — Precip: 32%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northwest wind 1 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 78. West wind 1 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. This house is wildEstate F crowns the tower with sweeping Sarasota Bay and downtown skyline views from three exposures and three private terraces. The expansive great room spills onto outdoor space with a summer kitchen, while two guest suites share a roomy terrace overlooking the water and city lights. The primary suite adds spa-style comfort, horizon views, and two walk-in closets.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
