It’s been a little over a month since Post Kitchen & Bar opened, and already it’s creating buzz around the Shoppes at University Center. In one of the year’s most anticipated openings, the group behind two successful Apollonia locations (including one across the parking lot from Post Kitchen) is making a big betting that Sarasota’s tried-and-true date-night destinations can use a refresh.

My family stopped in for some quick bites recently, and were seated in Post Kitchen’s elegant dining room. You forget that you’re in a shopping center immediately as the interior carries more of a cosmopolitan super club vibe.

In the lead-up to its opening, owner Eddie Yzieri told SRQ Magazine, “We’re using high-quality local ingredients with global influence.” He continued, “It’s a huge challenge for me. I’m definitely stepping outside of my comfort zone here.”

If that was the case then, it would appear he’s confidently located that comfort zone rather quickly.

The menu focuses on seafood and steaks with an impressive raw bar that features fresh oysters, crudo, salmon, shrimp cocktail and sushi/sashimi selections. There are also a couple of grilled pizzas from which to choose, including the burrata with the tomatoes, basil and balsamic, which can make an entire table happy as an appetizer. Or, if you’re a burrata fanboy like me, it’s your entree and you guard it like an angry badger in the corner of your booth.

There’s an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection behind the sleek bar area, comfy outdoor seating, and pops of modern design throughout.

If you’re looking for your next special occasion spot — and let’s face it, the holidays are full of special occasions — then Post Kitchen & Bar should make your to-do list.

Post Kitchen & Bar, 8433 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park, (941) 259-4850, postkitchenandbar.com 

Pictured: Post Kitchen & Bar opened last month with an impressive lineup of steaks, seafood, and an extensive raw bar. Photo courtesy of Post Kitchen & Bar.

Lights in Bloom® is a repeat winner in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice contest for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. USA TODAY announced that Selby Gardens’ annual holiday light show earned sixth place this year out of the 20 botanical garden light displays across the country that were nominated. The national nominations were selected by an expert editorial panel in November, and the public then voted to produce the top 10 list of winners. This is the second year in a row and the third time in four years that Lights in Bloom has received this recognition. Last year, it earned the number eight spot on the list. During Lights in Bloom, the gardens and walkways at Selby Gardens’ 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus are set aglow by more than two million lights and adorned with other holiday and tropical decorations. Highlights of this year’s show include an array of colorful string-light trees along the Great Lawn, the gingerbread house-themed display on the façade of the historic Selby House, and a pair of illuminated butterfly wings ideal for photo ops in the Butterfly Garden. Returning favorites include the “Wishing Tree” on which visitors tie colored ribbons representing their personal hopes for 2023 and the Gardens’ signature bromeliad tree (constructed of nearly 800 live bromeliad plants) and “Florida reindeer” (larger-than-life pink flamingos with whimsical lighted antlers). In addition to the colorful lights, guests may enjoy a range of family-friendly activities plus food and beverages available for purchase, all in Selby Gardens’ world-class bayfront setting. Tickets for this year’s Lights in Bloom show are selling quickly, so anyone interested in seeing the award-winning display should purchase tickets soon. The event continues select nights through January 5, though some upcoming nights are sold out. Tickets start at $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers for general admission, with added-value options available. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended and can be made online at www.selby.org.

Firehouse Magazine—the nation’s leading firefighting publication—and The Architect’s Newspaper—a renowned design publication—recently announced Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors as the recipient of two annual awards for Longboat Key Fire Station #92. Firehouse Magazine awarded Sweet Sparkman its Career Stations 2 Bronze award, while The Architect’s Newspaper awarded the design firm the Editor’s Pick commendation in its 2022 Best of Design Awards for the Civic category. Headed by Todd M. Sweet, AIA, LEED AP, Sweet Sparkman co-founder and partner, and Jenna Albers, AIA, NCARB, Project Manager and lead architect, the team behind the Longboat Key Fire Station #92 incorporated the latest in fire station design while achieving a stylistically stunning structure. “This project represents the pursuit of architecture’s highest ideals,” says Sweet, “it’s functional, resilient, and a visual landmark. ”Also involved in the project design were Elizabeth Lee, Associate AIA, Project Designer; and Shirley Quinlan, Interior Designer. Together, the team at Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors collaborated closely with the Town of Longboat Key’s Fire Chief, Paul Dezzi, to ensure the final product met the emergency operation standards of the vulnerable barrier island. “Todd and his team came in early on in the process and did a thorough site assessment,” says Dezzi, “and when he gave a very compelling, honest presentation on their findings, it was an easy decision for our board and commission.” The early assessment yielded actionable design parameters for the firm, including site challenges like elevation. “Elevation is a critical component when you’re trying to design a building on a barrier island that’s only 3 feet above sea level,” says Sweet, “and it’s even more important to research the site considering the Fire Station serves as the base of operations for rescue and relief efforts following natural disasters like Hurricane Ian.” Other notable functional characteristics of the Fire Station are its cancer prevention strategies, which are focused on reducing a firefighter’s exposure to carcinogenic chemicals found in diesel exhaust and active fires. Diesel fumes are captured inside the apparatus bays, while firefighter equipment and PPE are corralled and cleaned in specialized rooms that are separate from the station’s living quarters. “Even as project costs fluctuated, Todd and his team found great solutions to keep these vital cancer prevention elements,” says Dezzi. Both inside and outside the station, the design team also found opportunities to make striking statements. “It was a real challenge keeping some of the bolder design elements incorporated while navigating the budget,” says Albers. But those challenges yielded the structure’s signature staggered aluminum-clad façade. The facade also reduces cooling costs while allowing natural light to filter into the main entrance. The visually appealing exterior complements the station’s public services, including a walk-in wound care facility and frequent community-wide health events. 

SeaSucker, a Bradenton, Florida-based manufacturer of vacuum-mounted accessories and racks for boats, RVs and automobiles, lit up the streets of Sarasota at the city's recent 26th annual holiday parade. To keep the holiday magic glowing, SeaSucker is offering schools, retirement homes and charitable organizations within Manatee and Sarasota Counties individual visits with its bedazzled '66 Volkswagen Bus and '72 Volkswagen Beetle. The classic vehicles are adorned with hundreds of lights and whimsical decorations. The request form is at www.bit.ly/SeaSucker2023Holiday. Made in the USA, SeaSucker accessories secure a multitude of gear and equipment to any clean, non-porous surface. Its latest no-drill product is Ridge Ready Monkey Bars, crossbars whose mounts boast 990 pounds of holding power and fit vehicles with roof ridges. The innovative device won two prestigious Best New Product awards at the 2022 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show. Contact SeaSucker, LLC, 1912 44th Ave. E, Bradenton, FL 34203. 941-900-1850. info@seasucker.com; www.seasucker.com; www.facebook.com/SeaSucker; www.instagram.com/seasucker.marine; www.youtube.com/user/SeaSuckerVideos. If you have questions about this press release or client, please contact us: Martin Flory Group, PO Box 360, Gurnee IL 60031, 847-662-9070; Fax: 847-336-7126, news@martinflory.com; www.martinflory.com. 

The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC) held its board meeting and an economic development tour at North Port’s Wellen Park on Friday. Dignitaries and officials from North Port, Venice, Nokomis and Englewood were joined by local business leaders and members of the EDC to highlight efforts around regional collaboration, south county’s economic growth and the pressing need for continued recovery and resiliency following the devastation of Hurricane Ian. North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher gave remarks at the meeting, noting that the up-and-coming master-planned community of Wellen Park serves as a gateway for people entering the City of North Port on U.S. 41. The board meeting concluded with an economic development tour of Downtown Wellen Park, where 55,000 square feet of commercial, retail and restaurant space is nearly built out in the fully leased Phase One that will begin opening in early 2023. Businesses opening in Downtown Wellen include its flagship waterfront restaurant The Banyan House, Villani & Co., Foxtail Coffee Co., Oak & Stone, Bright Ice Scoop Shop, Breakwater Home Fashions, Paint Nail Bar, Naples Soap Company, Kind Vibes Outfitters, Agility Physical Therapy, Florida Lakes Vein Center, Florida Lakes Spa, and Capstan Financial Consulting Group. The Yard, a food park and entertainment hub within downtown, will feature outdoor eateries Agapi, Atlanta Braves-affiliated Pop Dawgs, and Claw & Co., and a playground and splashpad area. An additional 300,000 square feet of commercial space is being developed along the US 41 corridor within Wellen Park for businesses including Costco, Bayside Pet Resort, Millennium Physician Group, and Casto Medical Office Building, with more to be announced. Wellen Park is also home to CoolToday Park, where the Atlanta Braves have their spring training facility and events are held year-round.