Sunday, April 26, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: 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.*

Airport experience gets major boost: SRQ has added a new six-gate concourse, upgraded baggage systems, and new dining and shops to meet booming demand, aiming to make travel smoother for Sarasota and Bradenton flyers -- get all the expansion details.

Major furniture retailer expands: IKEA is set to open at University Town Center in late summer 2026, bringing a 48,000-square-foot showroom to Sarasota plus an As-Is section with gently used and discontinued finds -- get all the details.

Mixed-use district takes shape: Whole Foods Market is set to open a third Sarasota store in a Torburn Partners project adding 1,200 residential units and 530,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment -- get all the details.

The bill everyone over 50 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.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Vintage tiki escape: Whether you want a quick vacation without I-75, Bahi Hut Tiki Cocktail Lounge is Sarasota’s oldest tiki bar serving legendary Mai Tais since 1954, a retro hideaway where locals trade weather talk for island vibes and, yes, that famously sneaky second round.

Your midweek upgrade: When the week starts feeling like I-75 at rush hour, Calusa Brewing is the reset button. Rotating taps that actually rotate, plenty of crisp-and-hoppy to choose from, and a laid-back taproom vibe that turns neighbor catch-ups into mini staycations.

Serious wing cravings: When the group chat wants wings, cold beer, and a wall of TVs, Food + Beer - Florida Sports Bar delivers. Scratch-made wings with sauces from Garlic Parmesan to Memphis BBQ and PB&J, plus a rotating tap list, make it an easy go-to for Sarasota weeknights.

That patch of scalp that wasn't there a year ago: It's more common than most folks talk about. Especially in your 50s... hormones, stress, and nutrition all start pulling at hair density at once. Nutrafol is a drug-free daily supplement designed to work on those causes together — and in clinical studies, 93% of women said their hair looked healthier after six months. *Take a look →

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

📸 Workshop: Make Your Flower and Garden Photos Special @ Selby Gardens - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens | Monday (4/27) at 9:45 AM – Your bougainvillea deserves better than gray petals and blank skies. Join Suzanne Havens at Selby Gardens for a hands-on workshop tackling cluttered composition, tricky light, and flat color with demos and practice in the learning center, gardens, and conservatory, beginner to intermediate, any camera welcome.

🧘 Sunset Reset Experience @ Avida Luna Wellness | Thursday (4/30) at 6:30 PM – Sunset on the beach means one thing, a nervous system happy hour without the hangover. Expect an intimate, intentionally curated reset with sound, scent, touch, and breath, the ocean doing its thing in the background. Limited spots, bring your overworked self, and leave lighter.

🏺 Adult Hand-Building Pottery Clay Class @ The Makery SRQ | Thursday (4/30) at 7:00 PM – Thursday reset, clay, and a mess you do not have to apologize for. Sabine’s adult hand-building class at The Makery skips the wheel and teaches pinch, coil, and slab, leaving you with finished pieces, materials, firing, and glazing included. Bonus, Hamlet’s courtyard bar is nearby.

🎤 Sing-Along Trolley @ Discover Sarasota Tours | Friday (5/1) at 7:30 PM – Climb aboard the blessedly air-conditioned trolley for a rolling sing-along to the 70s and 80s hits we actually know by heart. It is car karaoke, but with better seats, fewer teenagers, and a bar stop at 99 Bottles to lubricate the harmonies.

🚗 Corvettes on the Circle @ St. Armands Circle Park | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Think you know your C1s from C8s? In its 28th year, St. Armands Circle packs 100-plus Corvettes, from 1953 originals to the newest rockets, all free to browse. Trophies and proceeds benefit Honor Flight of West Central Florida, so your chrome-ogling habit does good.

🎨 Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival @ Selby Five Points Park | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Feel like a stroll without the brunch wait? Sarasota's Craft Festival fills downtown with crafters and local and national artists, from sculpture and woodwork to jewelry and paintings, plus leashed dogs. Bring your discerning eye, comfortable shoes, and a tote you swear you won't fill.

🌈 Art for Action: Prism Party! @ Art Center Sarasota | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – This craft session at Art Center Sarasota turns beads and sunshine into good deeds for children facing cancer. Make suncatchers, donate them, or make-one-take-one for a $25 gift to the Benjamin Gilkey Fund benefiting Johns Hopkins All Children's, and call it your weekend good deed.

Gatsby Manor in Harbor Acres commands unobstructed Sarasota Bay views to Siesta Key from an estate-scale parcel with deep water. Over 8,000 square feet hold 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 22-foot ceilings, a two-story library, and a copper soaking tub. A speakeasy and 700-bottle wine room join a marble terrace, 25×60 saltwater pool, and dock with 20,000 lb lift.