If you like to look inside other people’s houses, you are about to hit the jackpot. This year the Sarasota Orchestra, instead of its annual decorator show house, has gathered together a spectacular collection of luxury real estate that is currently on the market, and has arranged for these homes to the open to the public for two days only, March 4 and 5.

Here’s how it works: you buy a Masterworks Showcase ticket for $50. The first day, March 4, comprises of five waterfront and golf course homes in The Oaks and on Casey Key. The next day, Saturday March 5, we shift to Bird Key and St Armands. Each house is listed at well over $1 million, and they are all handled by Michael Saunders. In addition to snooping around, you will see “Luxury Lifestyle Experts” at each home. They include people like Giuliano Hazan, the famous chef and cookbook author, plus photographers, decorators, jewelers, yacht brokers, fashion experts from Saks, and even performances by members of the Orchestra.


Just to give you a preview of what you’ll be seeing, here’s one of the Casey Key homes, a beachfront four-bedroom, four-bath modernist mansion designed by Carl Abbott. It has four levels, including a roof top terrace reached by elevator. It’s priced at $4,995,000.



And there’s also this 15,000-square-foot home, also beachfront. It has a gym, indoor lap pool, theater, walk-in wine cooler, putting green, tennis court, etc. etc. It’s just been reduced, you’ll be glad to hear—down to $12 million from $20.


On the St. Armands segment, my favorite is this 8,600-square-foot home on Tyler Drive. It’s gated and has 148 feet of bayfront, skyline views and an elevator. It’s listed at $4.2 million.

Remember that it’s cheaper if you buy your tickets in advance, so go to sarasotaorchestra.org for more information, plus parking details, etc. See you there.