Free Stuff to Do: Urfer Family Park, Sarasota

SARASOTA- At the corner of Bee Ridge Road and Honore Avenue is the Urfer Family Park. With three children’s play areas (segregated by age), nature trails and a LifeTrack outdoor workout station, it is the perfect free activity for a family on vacation who has had way too much of expensive entertainment.

The C. B. Wilson house, moved from downtown, is a restored early 20th century gem with echoes of the Arts and Crafts style. C.B. Wilson was a noted Sarasota physician and early resident of the city; his life and medical practice are depicted inside. The house was moved by Sarasota County, and includes two original palms from its original location downtown.

Quiet Luxury at Ritz-Carlton Sarasota

SARASOTA – The flagship luxury hotel here is the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, which is downtown on Sarasota Bay. The hotel, opened in 2001, has a golf club and beach club, the latter on nearby Longboat Key.

The restaurant Vernona is the hotel’s gourmet eatery; a deluxe deal is their poolside restaurant Bayview Burger Bar. Parking for diners is easy, and out front. Read more

Key Largo Scuba Shack Grows Burpee Vessel

KEY LARGO – Scuba Divers can now explore more of the dive capital of the world with the Key Largo Scuba Shack. The Scuba Shack now offers dive vessel service in their Burpee dive vessel that accommodates six to ten divers. The vessel also allows them to customize a planned charter for morning, afternoon or night dive excursions. Call (305) 735-4313 or visit www.keylargoscubashack.com.

St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum

ST. AUGUSTINE – The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum opened last fall, and is located just a short walk from the Castillo de San Marcos, marking the historic battle grounds for Spanish soldiers’ centuries ago. This interactive, educational attraction features archeological finds, replica pirate ships, and pirate artifacts. www.thepiratemuseum.com

Sarasota’s Burns Court Cinema

SARASOTA – One of the charms of this Gulf Coast town is the serious way that its citizens and regular visitors approach films, especially the Burns Court Cinema.

Tucked into a cozy side street in downtown, Burns Court Cinema is the flagship of the non-profit Sarasota Film Society. Opened in 1993, the three-plex is one of two facilities of the Sarasota Film Society, the other being the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas.

Find out more, including movie times, at filmsociety.org

Cool Art in St Augustine

ST AUGUSTINE – A fun bit of Spanish style tile relief art in
The nations oldest continually inhabited city.

Anita Bryant’s Florida Orange Juice Ad

Most Americans will remember the Florida Sunshine Tree of Anita Bryant. Above, the classic Florida juice ad from Bryant. What do you think?

Bowling in Sarasota Near Siesta Key

SARASOTA – If you like old style bowling try the AMF Gulf Gate lanes near Siesta Key.

Call (941) 921-4447 or at 7221 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231

Palm Avenue Sarasota Art Galleries

Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota is a nice walk with galleries.

Saturday Night Funk on Tampa’s WMNF with DJ CenFlo

TAMPA – While in the Tampa Bay region on Saturday nights, do listen in on WMNF to the Saturday Night House Party.

It’s great 1980s funk, with a smither of 70s and quite a broad reach. Those who were at University of Virginia in the 1980s will be reminded of The Party Authority on WUVA (or was it TJU?)

But back to the Tampa show. It is hosted by DJ CenFlo, and its described as a “funkafied trip back to the music of yesterday.” On their website, they listed some recent artists. (Just FYI, DJ CenFlo does Sugar Hill Gang.)

We particularly like the D-Train.

You can listen online as well, and send out shoutouts while the show is live. Or put some cash into their tip jar. It’s public radio, after all.

See WMNF.

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