Walking through the numerous themed gardens at Selby is like taking a trip through the looking glass into nature’s wonderland. We live in a fertile part of the world…Selby Gardens provides an opportunity to leave our hectic lives behind for an hour or two and let our senses reconnect with thousands of varieties of local flora.
It’s flat, the weather is amazing, it has plenty of public bike racks…so why aren’t more Sarasotans riding bikes? Bicycles can play a huge role in the livability of a place. They provide mobility to citizens of all ages and income, keep people fit, promote social connections, and don’t require a drop of gasoline. Cities and towns around the world are realizing that the more their people are on bikes the healthier, happier, and safer they’ll be. Research even confirms that cities that prioritize bikes reap economic benefits.
The oil vigil held in Ken Thompson park earlier this month was a great success, connecting Sarasota with hundreds of other communities around the country in support of clean energy. We here in Laurel Park and the rest of Sarasota are fortunate to have year round access to white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The deepwater horizon tragedy has reminded us all how fragile these gifts really are.
If you’re new to the Whole Foods experience or simply looking to bone up on healthy living skills, the Whole Foods Market Summer Tour Series provides great tips at the perfect price—free! Laurel Park residents can walk or bike to WFM, located at 1st and Lemon in downtown Sarasota.
We are expecting nearly 200 people at tonight’s vigil. I know we can mobilize to make this the largest BP Gulf Disaster vigil in Florida. If you have not already rsvp’d, please go to the link below and register. Please forward this to your friends & network. I am getting feedback that this is a “button pusher” for a lot of folks. Everyone wants to do something, but knowing the best thing to do is hard right now. THIS is going to be a GIANT step in the right direction. Please come out and show your support.
The vigil will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 pm
City Island, Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota
To RSVP, go to http://pol.moveon.org/event/oilspillvigil/103936
You don’t have to be a meteorologist to know that summer has arrived here in Southwest Florida. Just because the heat is back, however, doesn’t mean the city’s going to sleep until the snowbirds return! There’s much going on in Sarasota. Here are a few things that might be of interest:
Sure, Laurel Park is a historic neighborhood known for its restored Arts & Crafts and Florida Cracker cottages and its proximity to Main Street and downtown Sarasota—not to mention Burns Square and the Sarasota Bayfront. And sure, as the epicenter of Florida’s cultural coast Sarasota is well known for its fine arts. But did you know that Laurel Park also boasts one of the best comics and gaming shops you’ll ever find? The Dark Side, located at 408 S. Washington Boulevard (in a small plaza alongside a yoga studio and barber shop, among several others) is both a comic book shop and the home of Sarasota’s biggest gaming community.
Current Laurel Park residents have probably noticed a caravan of Segways passing by from time to time. They are participants on a guided tour of Historic Laurel Park courtesy of Florida Ever-Glides. According to their Web site, “Florida Ever-Glides Inc. originated the Segway Guided Tour concept in the United States in August 2003. With over 25,000 tour guests, this has made us the #1 mid-market Segway Guided Tour experience nationally!”
“Our dog hates going to the vet, always has,” says Laurel Park resident Josh Grigsby. “But sometimes when we’re out for a walk she’ll insist on going to see Dr. Gary.” Dr. Gary Reinhardt of Vet Center Sarasota isn’t your run of the mill veterinarian. I swear he can speak dog, cat, bird, ferret, whatever. A multilingual pet whisperer and healer rolled into one. And for 25 years, Sarasota’s pet population has been the beneficiary.
The Sarasota area has been a tennis hotbed for many years, with the Nick Bollitieri/IMG Academy just up the road and numerous pros and former pros choosing to make Sarasota their home. The Sarasota Open, held at the Longboat Key Club in a brand new $4.5 million facility, is the premier tennis event on Florida’s gulf coast. Local pros seek to defend their home turf as everybody gets tuned up for the year’s second Grand Slam event, the French Open, which immediately follows.
