Just Keep Swimming

Mote Aquarium Will Reopen Tomorrow—and Introduce Lou, a New Manatee, to the Public

After eight weeks of closure due to the back-to-back hurricanes, Mote will open its City Island aquarium tomorrow at 9 a.m.

11/21/2024 By Megan McDonald

Information Overload

Why Was There So Much Disinformation After Hurricanes Helene and Milton?

Rumors and untruths proliferated as Hurricanes Helene and Milton destroyed communities. Why do we keep falling for them?

11/20/2024 By Megan McDonald

Up, Up and Away

Allegiant Adds Eight New Nonstop Flights From SRQ

Plus, SRQ's new Concourse A will open on Jan. 15, and the airport's longtime leader Rick Piccolo will retire next June.

11/20/2024 By Megan McDonald

Election 2024

Who Designed Our Cute 'I Voted' Stickers?

Sarasota and Manatee counties both held student design contests. You'll see the winning stickers when you go to the polls.

11/05/2024 By Megan McDonald

Sweet relief

Baking These Cookies Is Guaranteed to Make Your Election Day Sweeter

Take out your feelings on these cookies, which require you to slam down your baking sheet to achieve a magical ripple effect.

11/05/2024 By Megan McDonald

Essential Intelligence

Here Are the Authors Coming to Sarasota County's 2024 Off the Page Festival

Amor Towles, Chef Edward Lee, Curtis Sittenfeld and more.

10/21/2024 By Megan McDonald

Hurricane Milton

Photos: Downtown Sarasota After Hurricane Milton's Landfall

Longtime Sarasota Magazine contributing photographer Barbara Banks takes stock of the storm's aftermath.

10/10/2024 By Megan McDonald Photography by Barbara Banks

Hurricane Season

Where to Find a Hurricane Shelter

If you need to evacuate, here is a list of local shelters in both Sarasota and Manatee counties and what to do and bring before you go. All Sarasota County shelters are pet-friendly. Uber is also offering free rides to shelters with code MILTONRELIEF.

10/08/2024 By Megan McDonald

Disaster Relief

Property Tax Relief Available for Homeowners Who Lost Their Residences Due to Hurricane Helene

The Florida Department of Revenue will pro-rate property taxes for homeowners who apply for a refund and provide documentation that their home was uninhabitable for 30 days or more due to Helene.

10/02/2024 By Megan McDonald

Disaster Relief

What to Know About Hurricane Helene Recovery: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

From Manasota Key to Anna Maria Island, restaurants near the water are working tirelessly to reopen.

10/02/2024 By Megan McDonald

Impact Report

Ca' d'Zan Sustained Major Damage During Hurricane Helene

The rest of the museum campus made it through unscathed, but the mansion's dock was battered by untethered boats and its basement flooded, causing its mechanical systems to fail.

10/02/2024 By Megan McDonald

Disaster Relief

What to Know About Hurricane Helene Recovery: Monday, Sept. 30, 2024

The Town of Longboat Key asks that residents restrict wastewater usage, free medical services will be available in Manatee County this week, and debris clean-up begins.

09/30/2024 By Megan McDonald

Disaster Relief

What to Know About Hurricane Helene Recovery: Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024

Access to Bradenton Beach will begin tomorrow, plus updates on cleanup efforts, water restoration, emergency disaster declarations, small bridge loans and more.

09/29/2024 By Megan McDonald

Disaster Relief

Supply Distribution Locations Open in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Supplies available include water, ice, sports drinks, tarps, flood buckets, non-perishable food items and Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MREs).

09/28/2024 By Megan McDonald

Hurricane Season

Do You Know Your Evacuation Zone?

Use Sarasota and Manatee counties' interactive tools to find evacuation levels and routes, shelters and more.

09/24/2024 By Megan McDonald

Here Comes the Sun

George Harrison's Love of Gardening Is the Theme of Selby Gardens' Upcoming Exhibition

The late Harrison—the legendary lead guitarist of the Beatles—even dedicated his book "to gardeners everywhere."

09/16/2024 By Megan McDonald

Guide to Giving

Leaders of Local Foundations Tell Us About the Critical Needs Our Community Is Facing

Here's what they had to say.

09/01/2024 By Megan McDonald and Cooper Levey-Baker

Deep Dive

Jasmin Graham's New Memoir Shines a Light on Race, Sharks and Science

"Do science!" Graham says. "And if someone tells you that you can’t, don’t listen to them.”

08/28/2024 By Megan McDonald

Swish!

The Cleveland Cavaliers Will Hold Their 2024 NBA Training Camp at IMG Academy

Training camp will take place Oct. 1-6 and mark the official start of the Cavs' prep for the 2024-2025 NBA regular season.

08/26/2024 By Megan McDonald

Pedal Power

The Late Dr. Nik's Whimsical Bikes Have Been Saved from the Scrap Heap

A friend of the beloved local artist, who died in April, spotted the bikes on a flatbed trailer headed for the junkyard. The WSLR+ Fogartyville community rallied to save them.

08/23/2024 By Megan McDonald