PARTY CENTRAL
When the organizers of the Sarasota Film Festival last spring were looking for a knockout pool for the VIP lounge at their Lake Club party, they chose the Tradewind model by Marc Rutenberg homes. The dramatic stone pool made a perfect place for the likes of actor Edward Norton to hang out.

Flanked by magnificent sabal palms—uplit at night for maximum effect—and surrounded by more than 5,000 square feet of outdoor terraces, the pool overlooks one of the lakes for which this exclusive Lakewood Ranch community is named. A dozen people can easily fit into the hot tub, and a nook, ledge and waterfall provide ample privacy. A rock pathway behind the pool provides a beautiful view of the house.

The price tag for such liquid luxury: $250,000, according to vice president of sales and marketing Rita Ferrell.