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.)

Gardening

Mark Your Calendar for These Six Fall Plant Fairs

The Sarasota Succulent Society’s fall sale, a Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Fair and more.

09/19/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: Sept. 12-18

A Venice Oktoberfest, Payne Park yoga festival and more.

09/12/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 7 Things to Do: Sept. 5-11

Passerine at the Blue Rooster, $7 Saturdays at Mote Aquarium and more.

09/05/2019 By Ilene Denton

Architecture Events

Halflants + Pichette Spotlighted in New Center for Architecture Sarasota Exhibit

Opening reception is Sept. 12; Gallery Walk is Sept. 26.

09/03/2019 By Ilene Denton

Guide to Giving

Nonprofit Expert Bob Carter Shares His Tips For Choosing a Charity

Sarasota County is overflowing with nonprofits—2,154 of them, to be exact.

09/02/2019 By Ilene Denton

Guide to Giving

The Lost Pet Services 941 Facebook Page Reunites Lost Pets With Their Owners

“That’s the goal: to be the one place people can go to, so that no pets fall through the cracks.”

09/02/2019 By Ilene Denton

Books & Beyond

New Public Libraries Chief Renee DiPilato Says Libraries Are “The Great Connectors”

“The library was always a stable presence in my life,” she says.

09/01/2019 By Ilene Denton

What Your Money Can Buy

What $280,000 Will Buy in Lakewood Ranch

Plus, a $7.5 million mansion on Lido Key.

09/01/2019 By Ilene Denton

Home View

Trend Report: What Today's Home Buyers Want

When it comes to what home buyers are requesting from the area’s upscale builders, there are a few surprises.

09/01/2019 By Ilene Denton

Flashback

Flashback: Westgate Publix, 1956

When it opened on April 3, 1956, it was the very first Publix in either Manatee or Sarasota counties—and the 34th in all of Florida.

09/01/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: Aug. 29-Sept. 4

A musical tribute to Frankie Valli, Labor Day savings at Sarasota Jungle Gardens and more.

08/29/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: Aug. 22-28

A classic movie at the Opera House, live music at the Blue Rooster and Fogartyville, and more.

08/22/2019 By Ilene Denton

Architecture Events

Sixth Annual Sarasota MOD Weekend Celebrates Sarasota in the Sixties

Tickets on sale now for the midcentury modern architecture fest Nov. 8-10.

08/21/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: Aug. 15-21

Friday Fest at the Van Wezel, flutist Robert Mirabal and more.

08/15/2019 By Ilene Denton

Awards

Area Home Builders Win Aurora Awards at the 2019 Southeast Building Conference

They competed against home industry pros in 12 Southeast states and the eastern Caribbean.

08/15/2019 By Ilene Denton

Real Estate

Taylor Morrison To Build Townhomes at Phillippi Landings

Twenty-nine luxury townhomes are set for the site on Tamiami Trail along Phillippi Creek.

08/15/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: Aug. 8-14

Mote’s Fins and Fun Family festival, Woodstock Revival party at the downtown farmers market and more.

08/08/2019 By Ilene Denton

On the Homefront

Talon Preserve Coming to Palmer Ranch, New Model Homes in Lakewood Ranch and The Founders Club, and More

Real estate industry news and notes.

08/08/2019 By Ilene Denton

Top Sale

Ohana Estate on Longboat Key Sells for $11.4 Million

The Polynesian-inspired family compound had been on the market six years.

08/05/2019 By Ilene Denton

Weekend Planner

Your Top 5 Things to Do: Aug. 1-7

Last chance to catch the Summer Circus Spectacular and more.

08/01/2019 By Ilene Denton