A nearly native Floridian, Ilene Denton has lived in Sarasota since her senior year in high school. Besides her long journalism career, she had a 10-year stint as deputy director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. (Ask her about some of her backstage shenanigans sometime.)

Coming to Lakewood Ranch

Taylor Morrison Announces Plans for 1,750-Home Community in Lakewood Ranch

Azario Lakewood Ranch will be located off State Road 64 on Lorraine Road.

07/03/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: July 5-10

Powerboat races, Splashin’ Saturdays at Selby Gardens, Play in the Park Day at CoolToday Park and more.

07/02/2019 By Ilene Denton

Just Add Water

Dive Into These Three Prize-Winning Swimming Pools

Thinking about building a backyard swimming pool? Before you take the plunge, take inspiration from these three Sarasota-area pools that took home awards at the 2019 Florida Swimming Pool Association Design Awards.

07/01/2019 By Ilene Denton

Treasure Hunter

How to Find Garage Sale Treasures

Garage sale guru Karin Gustafson shares her top tips.

07/01/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 8 Things to Do: June 27-July 4

Fireworks! Big racing boats! A kayak festival at Snook Haven! And much, much more.

06/27/2019 By Ilene Denton

Making Waves

Christina Unkel Believes in the Power of Sports

She is one of only three FIFA-licensed female referees who represent the United States Soccer Federation in the U.S., Canada and across South America and the Caribbean—even as far away as China.

06/27/2019 By Ilene Denton

Architecture News

Local Architects Win Awards in 2019 Florida/Caribbean Design Competition

Among them is a Siesta Key condo makeover by Halflants + Pichette.

06/24/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: June 20-26

Free outdoor concert at the Van Wezel, summer solstice yoga at the Ringling and more.

06/20/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: June 13-19

Ari and The Alibis at Selby Gardens, Father's Day "orienteering" at Oscar Scherer State Park and more.

06/13/2019 By Ilene Denton

Top Sale

Anna Maria Island Notches Highest Bayside Home Sale Ever

A Key Royale home in Holmes Beach sells for $3.725 million.

06/06/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: June 6-12

Summer Circus Spectacular, "Around the World in 80 Days" at the Asolo Rep and more.

06/06/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: May 30-June 5

Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week and the Sarasota Music Festival begin, and more.

05/30/2019 By Ilene Denton

Essential Intelligence

USRowing Nationals Returns to Sarasota

Fifteen hundred elite high school rowers from across the country will descend on Nathan Benderson Park this month.

05/30/2019 By Ilene Denton

And They're Off!

Free One-Mile Beach Runs Begin This Month

Hundreds of families turn out for the free weekly one-mile fun runs.

05/30/2019 By Ilene Denton

Grand Getaways

Grand Florida Hotels

Indulge at Florida's finest historic hotels.

05/27/2019 By Kay Kipling, Susan Burns, Cooper Levey-Baker, Megan McDonald, and Ilene Denton

Grand Hotels

The Don CeSar Recalls a Romantic Era

The "Pink Palace" is a wedding cake of a resort hotel that has towered over St. Petersburg Beach since 1928.

05/27/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: May 23-29

Memorial Day at the Myakka River Blues Festival, Patriotic Pops at CoolToday Park and more.

05/23/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: May 16-22

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s ‘70s Soul Party at Ed Smith Stadium, a jazzy Garden Music concert at Selby Gardens and more.

05/16/2019 By Ilene Denton

Sneak Preview

Manatee Rare Fruit Council’s Annual Rare Fruit Tree Sale is May 19

More than 5,000 trees will be available for purchase.

05/15/2019 By Ilene Denton

Architecture Events

“Unbuilt Rudolph” Exhibit Opens at Center for Architecture Sarasota

The exhibit runs through June 15 at CFAS’ McCullough Pavilion.

05/15/2019 By Ilene Denton