Sarasota Magazine

“Wonder,” says Elizabeth Doud, PhD, Currie-Kohlmann Curator of Performance at The Ringling, “lives in the collective witnessing of something ephemeral, unrepeatable, and alive.” ✨

Of the things the nearly-a-century-old museum is known for, evoking a sense of wonder is high on the list. It’s a natural byproduct of the space itself, but it’s also intentional. The Ringling just launched a three-year Wonder Initiative (complete with the hiring of a Wonder Interpreter,) and the upcoming Arts of Performance season will offer a vivid illustration of Doud’s idea.

See what’s in store for the 2026-27 season at the link in the comments below 👇

The Celery Fields is known for many things. Sweeping vistas, world-class birding, its distinctive agricultural history… and the tug-of-war between conservation and development it ignites 🌳

That ongoing dispute developed last week after county commissioners rejected a settlement proposal that would have allowed D.R. Horton to develop a 126-home subdivision on the property. The votes open a path toward public ownership of roughly 51 acres along Raymond Toad, but they don’t authorize a purchase, establish a price or resolve the litigation.

Read more at the link in the comments below 👇

For the Suncoast, Isaias is mostly a rain story. But what a rain story 🌧️

Sarasota’s hurricane expert gives us the latest update on what to expect at the link in the comments below 👇

This week, Sarasota lost a true architectural giant.

Carl Abbott was the last surviving member of the original Sarasota School of Architecture, with groundbreaking designs that were built with a deep reverence for nature, light and movement.

Read about his life and works at the link in the comments below 👇

“Equipping people with skills helps manage their emotions, makes them deliver better care, and also means that there are fewer people that might need therapy,” says Essence Deming-Rivers🧘‍♀️

Through the Deming-Rivers Social Club, she’s shaping how we connect, manage burnout and foster deep, inclusive relationships within our community.

Get to know her and the other changemakers equipping Sarasota to thrive at Sarasota Magazine’s Unity Awards luncheon taking place Thursday, Oct. 15. Read her story and get your tickets at the link in the comments below 👇

From pumpkin festivals and racing corgis to a zine fest and chili cook-off—this week’s lineup pairs fall traditions with a few welcome surprises 🍂

See what to put on your calendar over the next week at the link in the comments below 👇

What does the future hold for Sarasota’s remaining green space? 🌳

As development continues to boom across the Suncoast, two county measures ask voters to extend the long-running Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program through 2049 and authorize bonding up to $250M to buy land before its developed.

Voters will also decide on Amendment 3—a statewide property-tax measure designed to lower tax bills for homeowners, but one that local experts warn could shrink the property-tax base funding local conservation by up to 25%.

Read more about the ballot items and how they might interact at the link in the comments below 👇

Don't miss Program One.

Three extraordinary choreographers. One unforgettable weekend.

Get tickets today.
www.SarasotaBallet.org/productions/p1-program-one/

For more than 20,000 young Americans every year, turning 18 isn’t a celebration—it’s an eviction. When youth age out of Florida’s foster care system, society expects them to figure out adulthood overnight—often without a safety net, a home, or a stable adult consistently in their corner 🏠

Missy Parmenter is trying to change that. In 2020, she founded Harbor58, a nonprofit that provides trauma-informed mentorship, financial literacy education, housing and wraparound support for young adults aging out of foster care. Now, she’s building a campus to provide residents with a place to live while they receive services to give them the support they need to make the transition.

Get to know Parmenter and the other leaders opening doors for the next generation at Sarasota Magazine’s Unity Awards luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 15. Read her story and get your tickets at the link in the comments below 👇

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