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.)

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: June 7-13

Openings for the Sarasota Music Festival and Summer Circus Spectacular, and more.

06/07/2018 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: May 31-June 6

Jungle Book at the Asolo Rep, Savor Sarasota starts and more.

05/31/2018 By Ilene Denton

Why I Care

Blood Donor Bill Pooley Reaches the Remarkable 100-Gallon Milestone

Pooley is one of fewer than 150 100-gallon donors in Florida out of millions of donors since World War II.

05/30/2018 By Ilene Denton

Bravo!

Art Ovation Fills an Empty Corner Downtown

The hotel is creating buzz on a corner of downtown that has been vacant for years.

05/30/2018 By Ilene Denton

My Five Favorite Things

My Five Favorite Things: Selby Gardens Horticulture Director Mike McLaughlin

Horticulture director Mike McLaughlin lovingly tends the 15-acre Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

05/30/2018 By Ilene Denton

Sneak Preview

Public Can Soon Tour the Twitchell/Rudolph Cocoon House

Sarasota Architectural Foundation to launch tours of the famed midcentury modern residence this summer.

05/29/2018 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: May 24-30

Myakka River Blues Fest, a sunset kayak tour, Memorial Day parade and more.

05/24/2018 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: May 17-23

Battle of the Garage Bands at Historic Spanish Point, Ari and The Alibis plays Selby Gardens and more.

05/17/2018 By Ilene Denton

On the Homefront

New Homes in West Villages, Founders Club and The Islands on the Manatee River

News and notes from the real estate industry.

05/17/2018 By Ilene Denton

High Points for Style

Design Takeaways from the Spring High Point Furniture Market.

From the Romanza Interior Design team and London Bay Homes.

05/17/2018 By Ilene Denton

Downtown Update

The Rosemary District Continues to Grow

Twenty-eight residential and commercial projects are on the books, half already built, in just three years.

05/16/2018 By Ilene Denton

Top Sale

Longboat Key Bayfront Residence, Acqua Vita, Sells for $7 Million

It’s the highest price paid for a bayfront home on the key in 10 years.

05/16/2018 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: May 10-16

The Sarasota Orchestra plays Ed Smith Stadium, Art Center Sarasota’s Beaux Arts Ball, Harvey Milk Festival and more.

05/10/2018 By Ilene Denton

Oh, Baby

A Lakewood Ranch Mom’s Baby Nursery Goes Viral

It was the No. 1 viewed nursery of 2017 on the website Project Nursery.

05/03/2018 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: May 3-9

Tony Danza at the Opera House, Sand Sculpting on Siesta Beach and more.

05/03/2018 By Ilene Denton

Top Sales

Late April Sees Record-Breaking Residential Sales on Lido, Longboat Key

Three beachfront properties go for $7 million, $5.4 million and $5 million.

04/30/2018 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 7 Things to Do: April 26-May 2

Ragtime opens at the Asolo Rep, Yanni visits the Van Wezel, Siesta Fiesta and more.

04/26/2018 By Ilene Denton

Lean on Me

Finally, LGBTQ Seniors Have Support for Issues of Aging

Finally, LGBTQ seniors have support for issues of aging.

04/26/2018 By Ilene Denton

Why I Care

Gail Clifton Teaches Therapeutic Horseback Riding to People with Special Needs

Clifton was the executive director of the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) for 17 years.

04/26/2018 By Ilene Denton

Memory Lane

Home Tour: A Hollywood Casting Director Replicates Her Family's 100-Year-Old Cottage

Lora Kennedy—whose hits include Wonder Woman and Argo—has fond memories of her grandparents' Bradenton Beach vacation home.

04/26/2018 By Ilene Denton