How Weather Shaped Our History

Plus, meet the visionary women of 2018. How weather shaped our history; plus, nine extraordinary women who are transforming Sarasota-Manatee (and the world).

In this issue:

Arts & Entertainment

Only in Sarasota

Only in Sarasota: Blackburn Point Bridge

It's one of the few remaining swing bridges in Florida.

06/27/2018 Illustrations by John Pirman

Make 'Em Laugh

Improv Companies from All Over the World Return to Sarasota This Month

The 10th annual fest—featuring FST's own improv troupe—is onstage July 12-14.

06/27/2018 By Kay Kipling

Best of Sarasota

Female Factor

These Nine Extraordinary Women Are Transforming Sarasota-Manatee (and the World)

Nine trailblazers with big dreams and fresh ideas.

06/27/2018 By Staff

Weather Report

How Weather Shaped Our History

Pam Daniel and Robert Plunket consider the sunshine factor, hurricane havoc, fatal freezes—and more.

06/27/2018 By Pam Daniel and Robert Plunket

Eat & Drink

At Your Service

Hungry for Dinner, But Too Lazy to Leave the House? There's an App for That.

Here's the lowdown on three popular restaurant delivery apps.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Review

Gulf Gate's Tiny Tokaj Offers Big Hungarian Flavors

In this intimate, 40-seat eatery, you'll find authentic Hungarian dishes.

06/27/2018 By Marsha Fottler

Fashion & Shopping

Travel Savvy

Seven Must-Haves For Your Summer Vacation

Everything you need for your next trip.

06/25/2018 By Heather Dunhill

News & City Life

Tracking Irma

How Cuba Saved Florida From a Category 5 Hurricane

Weather expert Bob Bunting’s presentation shows how close the monster storm came to hitting Sarasota.

07/01/2018 By Bob Bunting

Angola's Ashes

A Newly Excavated Settlement Highlights Florida’s History as a Haven for Escaped Slaves

Called one of the most significant historical sites in Florida and perhaps the U.S. by Florida historian Canter Brown Jr., Angola is a story of struggle, tragedy and, ultimately, survival in the quest for freedom.

06/27/2018 By Isaac Eger

Going Naked

This Cortez Resident Lives Without Air Conditioning. Yes, Really.

"We do fine," she says.

06/27/2018 By Pam Daniel

The Weather Man

Bob Harrigan Reflects on Three Decades of Sunshine and Storms

“People come to Florida for the weather. It’s a big factor in what they do every day. It’s also a point of pride—they love to tell friends back home about the weather.”

06/27/2018 By Pam Daniel

What I've Learned

From Tech Pioneer to Repairing the World, Entrepreneur Nelle Miller Shares Her Career Trajectory

"My liberal arts education taught me how to write and communicate, skills that have been enormously beneficial in business."

06/27/2018 By David Hackett

Female Factor

11 Political Newcomers Jump into the 2018 Election Cycle

A record 527 women were running for Congress as of April, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, most of them Democrats. Florida—and Sarasota and Manatee—are following the trend.

06/27/2018 By Megan McDonald

Female Factor

Kelly Romanoff Wants to Help Babies Thrive During Their First 1,000 Days

A child's first two years are crucial to his or her development. First 1000 Days Sarasota County wants to help make them the healthiest they can be.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Female Factor

A Lifelong Passion for Sports Led Beth Green to Help Build the Women's Sports Museum

The museum will celebrate women's roles in athletics—and help girls and boys see the struggles women have faced.

06/27/2018 By Kay Kipling

Female Factor

With Her Emerge Sarasota, Samantha Gholar Wants to Bring Together Minority Young Professionals

Emerge Sarasota began with a handful of members but has grown to about 80 participants who attend the organization’s social mixers, arts outings and volunteer and charity events.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Female Factor

Stephanie Fraim Kight Takes the Reins at Planned Parenthood of Central and Southwest Florida

Fraim Kight is not new to the organization—or the fight for social justice.

06/27/2018 By Susan Burns

Female Factor

Jennifer Rominiecki Harnesses Selby Gardens' Flower Power

Since Rominiecki's appointment in 2015, visitorship has jumped 36 percent, annual revenues have risen 26 percent and memberships have grown 29 percent.

06/27/2018 By Ilene Denton

Female Factor

Giti Javidi Wants to Bridge the Gender Gap in STEM Fields

"My ultimate goal is that all of us in these fields can change the future for girls. Tell them they belong, you fit in, you have a place here.”

06/27/2018 By Susan Burns

Female Factor

Erinn Muller is in a Race to Save Florida’s—and the World’s—Coral

Muller—one of a small percentage of women to get an advanced marine science degree—won a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Mote that gave her two years to build her own coral research program.

06/27/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Female Factor

Gina Ford and Susannah Ross are the Design Leaders of Sarasota’s Biggest Cultural Improvement Project in 50 Years

Called The Bay, the project will transform 53 acres of underutilized city waterfront that, up until now, has mostly been a vast parking lot for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

06/27/2018 By Ilene Denton

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox Goes Bar Hopping

Our humor columnist on the pleasures of hotel bars.

06/27/2018 By Robert Plunket

Buzz Kill

Medical Marijuana Usage is Soaring, But Arrests for Recreational Pot Are, Too

Arrests for recreational usage (under 20 grams) have soared in Sarasota County, up nearly 35 percent last year compared to 2010. And so far this year, arrest rates are still rising. What gives?

06/27/2018 By David Hackett

Gone to the Dogs

Service, Support and Therapy Canines Go Everywhere—and Not Everyone is Happy

Dogs that aren’t adequately trained cause problems for legitimate service dogs and their owners.

06/27/2018 By David Hackett

My Body, My Self

Two Sarasota Women Become Outspoken Voices in a National Debate About Gender Equality and Outdated Views of the Female Body

Bailey Davis and Lizzy Martinez grabbed headlines in The New York Times and the Washington Post—among other national media—earlier this year for, well, having female bodies.

06/27/2018 By Dyllan Furness

Climate Catastrophe

A Historian Looks Back at Transformative Florida Weather Events

In the Sunshine State, epic hurricanes and killer freezes have wrecked economies and changed the landscape. Here are some that stand out.

06/25/2018 By Gary R. Mormino

Travel & Outdoors

Good Day, Sunshine

Why Does Sarasota Usually Avoid a Direct Hit From Major Hurricanes?

Because of the shape of Florida’s land mass and atmospheric factors related to the rotation of the earth, hurricanes tend to make landfall to the south and travel east across Florida, or to curve north and hit the northern Gulf Coast.

06/27/2018 By Pam Daniel

Good Day, Sunshine

Golden Heat Built Our Fortune, Inspired Our Art, Plagued Our Summers and Made Us Who We Are Today

You could argue that everything good that’s happened here has been tied to our glorious weather.

06/27/2018 By Robert Plunket

A September to Remember

Thanks to Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria, There's Never Been a Hurricane Season Like 2017

Though conditions were favorable to storm development all summer, September was the month everything changed.

06/27/2018 By Pam Daniel

From the Editor

Why Hurricanes Don't Scare Us Away

“Human psychology doesn’t give much weight to low probability with serious consequences.”

06/25/2018 By Susan Burns