First European, Ponce de Leon...
by Tolik
First European, Ponce de Leon arrived in Florida on Easter Sunday in 1513 near present-day St. Augustine at the Atlantic Coast, christening his discovery “La Florida”. It was in that same year that the legendary adventurer explored the tiny stretch of Anna Maria island a few miles north from the future Sarasota. A few miles away, near the mouth of the Manatee River Hernando de Soto came ashore in 1539. Three hundreds years later, a log cabin stood on land that would eventually be fronted by the Tamiamy Trail, a highway linking Tampa to Miami. This cabin was the home in 1842 of William H. Whitaker, the first permanent white settler in what is today the city of Sarasota. Whitaker married Mary Jane Wyatt, daughter of Col. William Wyatt, in 1851. They raised a family that would include Furman Whitaker, who became the first area native to became a doctor, practicing from 1896 until shortly before his death in 1945. Sarasota also attracted attention from British developers, who helped establish the city of Sarasota in 1880s. Later, in the 1920s, circus magnate John Ringling and his wife Mable made this unique area on Florida’s west coast their home and a trove for their legacy of art and architectural treasures
Farm Market
by grasshopper_6
Here's a great way to start off the weekend. The Sarasota Farmer's Market is every Saturday 7 am - noon at the intersection of Main st and Lemon ave. (Roads closed to traffic). Merchants offer produce, meats, seafood, art and more. A great place to meet the local folks!
It's hard to find, but it's very good . . .
by sarahjayn about Bangkok Thai
Bangkok Thai is the first place I ever went out to eat as a college student. I think that the orientation staff took us there because (as I would find out as a future orientation staffer) they were instructed to give us experiences that would make us want to stay at that particular college and reasons to want to live in Sarasota.
The food / people here are amazing. Everyone is really dedicated and hardworking, and that comes out in the food they serve. Also, it’s not so expensive or overpriced that you have to feel like it is a totally irrational treat you are giving yourself to eat here. The carrot crane and radish rose on every plate just make me smile, too.
It was voted best Thai something like eleven times in a row in the local paper, too. It's worth wandering off of US 41. I really like their red curry with thai vegetables. It's not runny and overcooked like a lot of curry dishes.
aoslo theatre
by doug48
pictured is the entrance to ringling home and museums. just to the right of the visitor center and ticket office is the historic aoslo theatre. originally the aoslo was a 17 th century italian theatre that was acquired by john and mable ringling and was shipped to sarasota as part of their collection of italian art. the aoslo has evolved into a complex of three theatres, the modern cook theatre, the 1905 mertz theatre, an opera house imported from dunfermile scotland, and the aoslo. the aoslo repertory company was founded by the faculty of florida state university and began performing plays under the name of the aoslo theatre festival. today fsu students perform at the aoslo as well as professional theatre companies. for lovers of theatre this is a must do spot when in the sarasota area. check out their website for performances and dates.
circus museum
by doug48
the ringling brothers circus museum is located on the grounds of the ringling mansion and museum. the museum was established in 1948 and has an interesting collection of circus wagons, costumes, and john and mabel ringling's 1905 private railroad car.
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SARASOTA SKYLINE (NORTH END)
John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art
van wezel performing arts hall
Historic Bridge Street
