How's Sarasota?

**Wyody** · 02-14-2007, 04:46 PM

It's been many years since I visited the Gulf Coast of Florida. I was a much younger man and remember the area as being primarily for the retirement-set and I remember beautiful trees and old cars.
Can anybody fill me in on the area round Sarasota these days? I'd like a few perspectives if I can get them. Thanks

TalmudTemple · 02-15-2007, 02:45 PM

My recommendation is to visit numerous on-line resources or subscribe to either of two magazines : Sarasota Magazine, or a magazine called simply "SRQ".....I prefer Sarasota Magazine because it provides the true flavour of the area.

Sarasota is no longer a sleepy SW FLorida town. It tends to be fairly sophisticated and is known as The Cultural Coast...

There's a lot to know, but know this: it's nothing like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Orlando....and certainly nothing like Destin

**Wyody** · 02-15-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalmudTemple

My recommendation is to visit numerous on-line resources or subscribe to either of two magazines : Sarasota Magazine, or a magazine called simply "SRQ".....I prefer Sarasota Magazine because it provides the true flavour of the area.

Sarasota is no longer a sleepy SW FLorida town. It tends to be fairly sophisticated and is known as The Cultural Coast...

There's a lot to know, but know this: it's nothing like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Orlando....and certainly nothing like Destin

Thank you Mr. Temple. I'll check out the mags. I'm not familiar with Destin at all but was familiar with the 'Glades, Florida City, the Keys, Homestead and in general, Lauderdale south including the Miami area. If I find Sarasota Magazine to be online, I'll post the link. Thanks again.

*additional note: Seems my memory had placed Sarasota farther south than it actually is. Glad this came up - looks like I need to plan a trip in the future just to refresh my memory-banks!

RAINBOWWAVES · 02-15-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyody

Thank you Mr. Temple. I'll check out the mags. I'm not familiar with Destin at all but was familiar with the 'Glades, Florida City, the Keys, Homestead and in general, Lauderdale south including the Miami area. If I find Sarasota Magazine to be online, I'll post the link. Thanks again.

*additional note: Seems my memory had placed Sarasota farther south than it actually is. Glad this came up - looks like I need to plan a trip in the future just to refresh my memory-banks!

My sister lived in Sarasota for 10 yrs...she moved back to Jersey because of hurricanes and rising taxes...like Jerseys taxes are better...LOL

**Wyody** · 02-15-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAINBOWWAVES

My sister lived in Sarasota for 10 yrs...she moved back to Jersey because of hurricanes and rising taxes...like Jerseys taxes are better...LOL

I suppose I was lucky. I helped sandbag Miami Beach three different times - and every time, the hurricane took off and went elsewhere. Since then, Florida has been buzz-sawed several times!

TalmudTemple · 02-16-2007, 11:13 AM

A lot of people ran to FL during the early 90s and late 80s...some landed here in Sarasota.

Florida is said to attract either the winners or the losers. The recent exodus of people in "the Sarasota area" has actually come more from the Manatee County area (esp cities like Bradenton, and around the outskirts).

Lower income to mid-level income people in some cases have cashed out huge gains in rather mediocre properties and have run out "back up north", or to 'Goobervilles' in north GA, east TN, and SC, where they can live within their means. That's their choice. My opinion is that they probably didn't belong in MSA's like Sarasota in the first place. It's not a place for people that are struggling financially.....of course the same thing can be said about many cities, e.g. upper East Side NYC, LaJolla., West Montreal, and even expensive southern suburbs like Mountain Brook Alabama.

Everybody can't live 'on the beach', or near the ocean....that's just a fact of economic liife. That's why there are the plains, and folks who live in the rural mountains. That's why they make Bentleys, Chevrolets, and Hyundais.

The Sarasota community is quite a different sort of enironment, but again, I would not recommend it for the 'economically challenged'.....neither would I recommend Fifth Avenue !

**Wyody** · 02-16-2007, 12:01 PM

Quite true, Talmud. Even in the early '70's, the Gulf coast was known as the "money coast" except for the Tampa area. Had a friend who was living down on Marco Island (is that right?) but it wasn't on her own money - it was on a wealthy relative's!
I wonder if the hurricane seasons aren't as much responsible for the exodus to cities far inland? It's one thing to try to cope in a top-end economic environment ... yet another to try and rebuild after devastation!
Thanks for all the info folks. I'm continuing my re-education on the area.

TalmudTemple · 03-02-2007, 10:17 AM

Hey Wyody..come on down it's going to be 80..a little golf and taking out the boat if the wind calms a bit

**Wyody** · 03-02-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalmudTemple

Hey Wyody..come on down it's going to be 80..a little golf and taking out the boat if the wind calms a bit

Okay. Just a minute. Be right there! (Uh, plane-tickets haven't shown up in the mail yet). Sounds like a wonderful day! Really tans my hide that I had a great set of clubs put together in Ohio - where I first learned to play - and left them there with my son - who played in school and vows to never play again! Really liked my spring-loaded, rocket-powered driver!
Perhaps if you get the chance to jump in the boat, go on ahead without me - I'll catch up when I can.

Enjoy it! Sounds like a wonderful day in paradise.
Gad, I'll be glad when I finally win this stinkin' lottery! I can start hanging out with the (He) Brews-Brothers! HaHaHaHaha ... okay - where's my disclaimer?
[This is in no way intended in any negative way towards people, living or dead, of the Hebrew, Shebrew or microbrew persuasion or toward any other peoples suffering from edema or other brewsing nor is it intended to advocate the use or non-use of any product containing or not containing alcohol (two please)]

TalmudTemple · 03-02-2007, 10:59 AM

hey Wyody-

Yep the fog has just burned off, this morning was pretty bad, but now just a gorgeous, mostly clear day...with a chance of rain though..

Tough life...terrible area too....too many goobers too...LMAO

**Wyody** · 03-02-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalmudTemple

hey Wyody-

Yep the fog has just burned off, this morning was pretty bad, but now just a gorgeous, mostly clear day...with a chance of rain though..

Tough life...terrible area too....too many goobers too...LMAO

Say Talmud? When I lived in FL, there were always a few things to do that were standard. For example: Parrot Jungle by Miami - where they had parrots of course ... and an island full of pink flamingoes. Coral Castle which was a virtual fortress carved and built by one man from Latvia ca. 1920. The Keys, of course. Marineland farther to the north, etc. This was all just about the time DisneyWorld was being built.
What sort of interesting "tourist-trap" type of places are near Sarasota? Is the Safari within easy driving distance? Do y'all ever get out in the Glades from over your way? Is the area "twist-trendy" like southern Cal and on the wild-party side ... or is it more laid-back?

02-14-2007, 04:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wyody arrgh, me buckoes Join Date: Jan 14th, 2007 Posts: 2,142	How's Sarasota? It's been many years since I visited the Gulf Coast of Florida. I was a much younger man and remember the area as being primarily for the retirement-set and I remember beautiful trees and old cars. Can anybody fill me in on the area round Sarasota these days? I'd like a few perspectives if I can get them. Thanks

02-15-2007, 02:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
TalmudTemple Member Join Date: Jan 26th, 2007 Location: anywhere I can rake off the top ! I was talk by Ivan Boesky, Mike Milken, Jeff Skilling and many mor Posts: 148	Re: How's Sarasota? My recommendation is to visit numerous on-line resources or subscribe to either of two magazines : Sarasota Magazine, or a magazine called simply "SRQ".....I prefer Sarasota Magazine because it provides the true flavour of the area. Sarasota is no longer a sleepy SW FLorida town. It tends to be fairly sophisticated and is known as The Cultural Coast... There's a lot to know, but know this: it's nothing like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Orlando....and certainly nothing like Destin

02-16-2007, 11:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
TalmudTemple Member Join Date: Jan 26th, 2007 Location: anywhere I can rake off the top ! I was talk by Ivan Boesky, Mike Milken, Jeff Skilling and many mor Posts: 148	Re: How's Sarasota? A lot of people ran to FL during the early 90s and late 80s...some landed here in Sarasota. Florida is said to attract either the winners or the losers. The recent exodus of people in "the Sarasota area" has actually come more from the Manatee County area (esp cities like Bradenton, and around the outskirts). Lower income to mid-level income people in some cases have cashed out huge gains in rather mediocre properties and have run out "back up north", or to 'Goobervilles' in north GA, east TN, and SC, where they can live within their means. That's their choice. My opinion is that they probably didn't belong in MSA's like Sarasota in the first place. It's not a place for people that are struggling financially.....of course the same thing can be said about many cities, e.g. upper East Side NYC, LaJolla., West Montreal, and even expensive southern suburbs like Mountain Brook Alabama. Everybody can't live 'on the beach', or near the ocean....that's just a fact of economic liife. That's why there are the plains, and folks who live in the rural mountains. That's why they make Bentleys, Chevrolets, and Hyundais. The Sarasota community is quite a different sort of enironment, but again, I would not recommend it for the 'economically challenged'.....neither would I recommend Fifth Avenue !

02-16-2007, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wyody arrgh, me buckoes Join Date: Jan 14th, 2007 Posts: 2,142	Re: How's Sarasota? Quite true, Talmud. Even in the early '70's, the Gulf coast was known as the "money coast" except for the Tampa area. Had a friend who was living down on Marco Island (is that right?) but it wasn't on her own money - it was on a wealthy relative's! I wonder if the hurricane seasons aren't as much responsible for the exodus to cities far inland? It's one thing to try to cope in a top-end economic environment ... yet another to try and rebuild after devastation! Thanks for all the info folks. I'm continuing my re-education on the area.

03-02-2007, 10:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
TalmudTemple Member Join Date: Jan 26th, 2007 Location: anywhere I can rake off the top ! I was talk by Ivan Boesky, Mike Milken, Jeff Skilling and many mor Posts: 148	Re: How's Sarasota? Hey Wyody..come on down it's going to be 80..a little golf and taking out the boat if the wind calms a bit

03-02-2007, 10:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
TalmudTemple Member Join Date: Jan 26th, 2007 Location: anywhere I can rake off the top ! I was talk by Ivan Boesky, Mike Milken, Jeff Skilling and many mor Posts: 148	Re: How's Sarasota? hey Wyody- Yep the fog has just burned off, this morning was pretty bad, but now just a gorgeous, mostly clear day...with a chance of rain though.. Tough life...terrible area too....too many goobers too...LMAO