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Sarasota Magazine

November 2025

Sarasota Then and Now

100 years of history. Plus: Our annual Season Preview, peak birding season, six 1920s houses you can buy, a review of downtown Sarasota's glitzy new Sugar Champagne Bar, and more.

In this issue:

Arts & Entertainment

100 Years of Art

Art Center Sarasota Celebrates Its 100th Birthday This Year

In its century-long history, Art Center Sarasota has often led the way in our visual arts community.

11/04/2025 By Kay Kipling

Building the Future

Sarasota’s Arts Scene Sets the Stage for What’s Next

A number of building projects and high-profile capital campaigns with combined fundraising goals of $975 million are on the horizon.

11/04/2025 By Kay Kipling

Final Frame

Artist Keith Crowley Captures the 'Surprise of Light'

"The west coast of Florida and its specific characteristics of light have had a large impact on my work," Crowley, the senior preparator at The Ringling, says.

11/01/2025 By Keith Crowley

Eat & Drink

Turkey Talk

How Not to Ruin the Holidays

Etiquette tips for keeping the peace.

11/26/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams

Sugar Champagne Bar Is an Exercise in All Things 'Camp'

But is it good? Our eat and drink editor aims to find out.

11/04/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Let's Eat

From Sandwiches to Supper Dances, Sarasota's 1920s Dining Scene Offered a Buffet of Options

From the elegant Fountain Room at the El Vernona Hotel to an eight-course dinner for 75 cents, there was something for every appetite.

11/03/2025 By Jeff LaHurd

Fashion & Shopping

Hop To It

Rabbit Rabbit Owner Amanda Gilliland Hand-Selects Each Item for Her Rosemary District Eco Gift Shop

“At its core, Rabbit Rabbit is a gift store, but one that prioritizes healthy production practices. It’s about thinking about what we are buying, why we are buying it and where it is coming from.”

11/04/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Home & Real Estate

Going Up

Sarasota's Skyline Rose in Stucco and Barrel Tile

The results left Sarasota with a built environment that was theatrical and forever marked by the speculative optimism that evaporated when the boom went bust in 1926.

11/03/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Still Standing

Take a Self-Guided Tour to See These Favorite 1920s Downtown Sarasota Landmarks

Despite the ever-changing skyline, there's still plenty of historic architecture to admire.

11/03/2025

News & City Life

Did That Really Happen?

Recent You-Can't-Make-Them-Up Headlines From Sarasota

Truth is stranger than fiction.

11/04/2025

Stats

Sarasota County School Vouchers and Their Impacts

The state-funded scholarships have cut enrollment in public schools, which decreases state funding for each district, affecting teachers, administrators and students..

11/04/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Burning Question

What Does Florida’s New Beach Access Law Mean?

Coastal rights attorney Pepper Uchino weighs in on the sand wars.

11/03/2025 By Isaac Eger

The 1920s

Sarasota and the Roaring '20s

Historian Jeff LaHurd describes the transformational decade that shaped Sarasota forever.

11/03/2025

School Style

Architect M. Leo Elliott Designed Four Iconic Sarasota Schools in 1926 and 1927

Elliott was a well-known Tampa architect.

11/03/2025 By Jeff LaHurd

Well Platted

The Birth of Venice

Even before the land boom hit Sarasota, world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Fred Albee saw the potential for development in Nokomis and Venice.

11/03/2025 By Jeff LaHurd

Black History

In the 1920s, Sarasota Was Small, Southern and Segregated

But the very inequities meant to contain the Black community spurred a parallel world—self-sustaining, rooted and determined to endure.

11/03/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Circle of Dreams

John Ringling's Vision of St. Armands Circle Lives on Today

Ringling planned to turn the tiny, isolated archipelago into a grandiose European-style residential and shopping destination.

11/03/2025 By Jeff LaHurd

The 1920s

The Land Boom Decade That Changed Sarasota Forever

Promises of paradise, get-rich-quick promotions, buying, developing and reselling are the threads that weave throughout the entirety of the Sunshine State’s history, including Sarasota’s.

11/03/2025 By Jeff LaHurd

In Their Own Words

Public Media Host Dalia Colón Is Always Hungry for Stories

"Sometimes all roads lead to Sarasota.”

11/03/2025 By Lauren Jackson

The Return of the Atala

Against All Odds, Florida’s Iridescent Atala Butterfly Makes a Triumphant Comeback

The Atala was considered extinct as recently as 50 years ago, the ill-timed consequence of urbanization and the overharvesting of its host plant. Now it's back—and thriving.

11/03/2025 By Kendall Southworth

Travel & Outdoors

In Fine Feather

It’s Peak Birding Season Look for These Migrating 'Lifer' Birds Making a Stop in Sarasota

At the Celery Fields and in woodland areas like Pinecraft Park, you’ll spot numerous kinds of birds, from jaw-droppingly colorful painted buntings to chicken-like soras and flashy scarlet tanagers.

11/05/2025 By Megan McDonald

At Sarasota Magazine, we celebrate Sarasota’s vibrant culture, rich history, and bright future with award-winning, high-quality content that captures the spirit of our community.

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