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Sarasota Magazine

News & City Life

The Heart of Art

Artists Return to Burns Square Streets

Artists and community leaders are working to “bring the heart of art to the heart of the city” through daily public painting, spontaneous performances and community connection.

05/21/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Tourism Update

Sarasota Tourism Rose in March. Visitor Spending Didn’t.

More travelers came to Sarasota County during peak season, but shorter stays and softer restaurant and entertainment spending kept March’s economic impact nearly flat.

05/20/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Parking Pain

Update: Sarasota Will Implement Longer Paid Parking Hours Downtown

City commissioners approved a plan on Monday, May 18, that will extend meter enforcement to 8 a.m. through midnight, seven days a week—minus Sundays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.—and raise many fines.

05/18/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Suncoast Searchlight

Drought Drains Southwest Florida Water Reserves, but Officials Say Supply Is Secure

Environmental advocates, however, warn that continued withdrawals from the already depleted river could have lasting consequences for wildlife and native habitats.

05/15/2026 By Emily Andersen/Suncoast Searchlight

Don't Bug Out

Sarasota County Launches First-of-Its-Kind Malaria Surveillance

A new building in Nokomis puts Sarasota at the forefront of mosquito-borne disease prevention, launching what officials say is the first malaria surveillance program of its kind in the state—and maybe even the country.

05/14/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Complete Streets

What Should the Future of Downtown Sarasota’s Main Street Look Like?

The downtown corridor’s long-range makeover is moving into its next phase, and the city wants the public’s input May 21.

05/14/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Grant Report

Bishop Museum Receives $450,000 Grant to Support Manatee Rehabilitation Work

Plus, Laurel Civic Association receives a $100,000 impact grant from the Plantation Community Foundation, and more.

05/11/2026 By Staff

Fast Track

Sarasota Chamber VP Named Florida Association of Chamber Professionals’ 'Professional of the Year'

Plus, Gulf Coast Community Foundation announces its 2026 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute class, and more.

05/11/2026 By Staff

Education

The Fate of University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Will Be Decided Soon

Business organizations and community leaders are urging lawmakers to save USF-SM instead of handing the campus to New College of Florida.

05/07/2026 By Susan Burrns

In Their Own Words

Dancer Siara Delmar Hernández on Performing at the Super Bowl with Bad Bunny

“Being able to represent my people and my community is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly."

05/05/2026 By Megan McDonald

Flashback

Photo: American Legion War Memorial Dedication Ceremony, 1941

Two local sailors who were home on leave hoisted a flag dedicated by Bertha Palmer, and Sarasota’s town band played “The Star Spangled Banner” while the crowd sang along.

05/05/2026 By Megan McDonald

Stats

Statewide and Local Migration Has Slowed From Its Pandemic High

Looking at population patterns.

05/04/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Flock Is Watching

The City of Sarasota Is Experimenting With Surveillance Technology

Is the loss of privacy worth more safety?

05/04/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Sarasota Confidential

The Locals' Guide to Sarasota

Whether you’re visiting, new to town or just need a refresher on the joys of living here, explore our only-the-locals-know guide to our region.

05/04/2026 By The Editors

Did That Really Happen?

Recent You-Can’t-Make-Them-Up Headlines From Sarasota and Beyond

A dolphin named Gerald leading an underwater development project, our local billionaires and a very strange find on Longboat Key.

05/01/2026 By Kim Doleatto

The Marvelous Mrs. Palmer

Locals Know Bertha Palmer for Her Modest Sarasota Ranch Life, but in Chicago She Defined Gilded Age Luxury

While she helped legitimize Sarasota as a destination for America’s elite, her own elite life was in Chicago, where she was known for her extravagant tastes and influence.

05/01/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Smooth Operator

New City Manager Karie Friling Prepares to Step Into City Hall

Friling, the first woman selected for the job, talks about growth, local control, stormwater, housing and why her first year will begin with listening.

04/29/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Fast Track

Sarasota Woman Receives Zonta International Women in STEM Award

Plus, the Manatee Young Professionals announce the winners of the sixth annual MYP Awards.

04/27/2026 By Staff

Fast Track

Satchel's Last Resort Raises $47,000 for Rescue Dogs and Cats

Plus, CareerEdge Funders Collaborative announces a $3.85 million in economic impact for 2025.

04/27/2026 By Staff

Still Laughing

Remembering Samuel Ray, the Neighbor Behind Central Cocoanut’s Laughing Buddha

After Ray’s unexpected death, Sarasota’s Laughing Buddha stands as a reminder of the Central Cocoanut neighbor who gave the landmark its watchful place in the community.

04/27/2026 By Kim Doleatto

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