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 22-28

Diana Ross returns to the Van Wezel, Shark Days at Mote, a new exhibit at The Ringling and more.

06/22/2017 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 7 Things to Do: June 15-21

Friday Fest at the Van Wezel, a Circus Sarasota send-off, Father’s Day at Oscar Scherer State Park and more.

06/15/2017 By Ilene Denton

Interior Design Awards 2017

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Announcing Our 2017 Interior Design Awards Competition!

The competition is open to area design industry professionals; winners will be published in the October issue of Sarasota Magazine. But hurry! The deadline to submit is July 14.

06/12/2017 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: June 8-14

The Sarasota Music Festival opens, summer family beach runs start, Bello Nock premieres his summer circus show at the Historic Asolo Theater and more.

06/07/2017 By Ilene Denton

Top Sale

A Bird Key Home is Sarasota County’s Priciest Residential Sale of 2017

The Mizner-influenced estate sold for $6.35 million on June 1.

06/06/2017 By Ilene Denton

Offers They Couldn't Refuse

Seaward Development Buys Out Tiny Downtown Condo Building

The price was right for former owners at downtown’s Versailles.

06/01/2017 By Ilene Denton

Top Sale

A Ritz-Carlton Residences Condo is May’s Highest Residential Sale

The 14th floor unit sold for $3,495,000.

06/01/2017 By Ilene Denton

Real Estate Preview

A Sneak Peek at Lakewood Ranch’s Newest Village, Waterside

South of University Parkway, it eventually will have 5,144 homes.

06/01/2017 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: June 1-7

For families, Asolo Rep presents Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea; Savor Sarasota kicks off; World Oceans Day at Mote and more.

06/01/2017 By Ilene Denton

Star Circus

Circus Sarasota Heads to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Our hometown troupe headlines this month’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

05/31/2017 By Ilene Denton

View Master

Home Tour: A Sleek New Golden Gate Point Condo

It’s all about the vistas.

05/30/2017 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 7 Things to Do: May 25-31

Idina Menzel at the Van Wezel, Memorial Day parade and concerts, Myakka River Blues Fest and more.

05/25/2017 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 7 Things to Do: May 18-24

Frankie Valli at the Van Wezel, a free Joys of Jazz concert in Venice, a musical tribute to Bob Dylan and more.

05/18/2017 By Ilene Denton

Village of Cortez

New “Cracker Cottage” Community Proposed for Historic Cortez

Plans for Hunter’s Point Resort & Marina have been unveiled.

05/17/2017 By Ilene Denton

Gardening

Eight Summer Classes to Sharpen Your Plant-Care Skills

How-to workshops at Selby Gardens, Historic Spanish Point, Crowley Nature Center.

05/17/2017 By Ilene Denton

Neighborhood Guide

Where to Live on St. Armands, Lido and Longboat Keys

Looking for a home on one of these beautiful keys? Here’s some inside info on neighborhoods to browse—and some of the neighbors, too.

05/15/2017 By Robert Plunket, Ilene Denton, Susan Burns, and Cooper Levey-Baker

Neighborhood Guide

What to Do on St. Armands/Longboat Key

Hit the beach, meet some manatees, admire outstanding architecture, sample some culinary treats and share our circus history.

05/15/2017 By John McCarthy, Ilene Denton, and Abby Weingarten

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: May 11-17

Sarasota Orchestra plays at Ed Smith Stadium, the Harvey Milk Festival, Family Day at the Ringling and more.

05/11/2017 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 6 Things to Do: May 4-10

A world premiere musical at the Asolo Rep, the inaugural Venice Seafood & Music Festival and more.

05/03/2017 By Ilene Denton

Top Sale

April's Top Sale: $6 Million for a Harbor Acres Estate

The 6,000-square-foot home took a year to build.

05/01/2017 By Ilene Denton