Shawn Diehl and John Kuemmel first met in the corporate world when they worked together and had neighboring offices. Over time they went their separate ways professionally–Diehl took a job with Ernst & Young, while Kuemmel served as the CIO at IRONMAN–but they maintained a friendship. Both had busy schedules but they managed to meet up one Thursday night when they were both home in Tampa to have a beer and catch up at a corporate chain restaurant. The company was great, but the rest of the experience was underwhelming.

“John and I had a couple of beers and we were sitting there and we noticed the service was terrible, the music was terrible, three of the TVs didn’t have anything on them, they were just dead,” Diehl recalls. “I said, ‘We could probably do a better job,’ and he said, ‘You know, I think we could,’ and all of a sudden we were signing the lease on the building.”

That lease was for the original location of The Fat Rabbit Pub, which opened in New Tampa in 2017. Neither Kuemmel or Diehl had experience owning or running a restaurant. However, as frequent business travelers who dined out a lot, they knew what they were looking for in a dining experience and felt confident they could bring that to their own customers. Namely, a restaurant with good vibes, friendly staff, and a menu with a limited number of items all prepared exceptionally well. They translated all of that into an upscale neighborhood pub concept that quickly became a beloved local mainstay in New Tampa. In May of 2024, Diehl and Kuemmel opened a second Fat Rabbit location on Main Street in downtown Sarasota.

What corporate restaurants lack the most is a sense of identity or personality. That can be found in abundance at The Fat Rabbit, from the decor to the menu. In addition to installing a high-quality sound system, Diehl personally curated a music playlist for the restaurant with over 4800 songs. The walls are adorned with vintage memorabilia from groups like The Pretenders and The Go-Go’s, much from Diehl’s personal collection.

“John Hughes, the filmmaker from the eighties, used to say Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was his love letter to Chicago,” Diehl says. “The Fat Rabbit is my love letter to my adolescence, to my youth.”

The Fat Rabbit is well-known for a few menu items. One is their wings, which are unbreaded and fried, then tossed in your choice of scratch-made dipping sauce. You can crank up the heat with Cayenne Horseradish, or go tart and tangy with Key Lime Mustard. People also love the ½ pound burgers which are made with short rib and brisket and served on a brioche bun. Don’t forget to check out the Spuds section of the menu, which is entirely devoted to potatoes. And of course a pub isn’t a pub without a drink menu. In addition to wine and draft beer, The Fat Rabbit has creative craft cocktails including their signature Sugar & Smoke, which is their take on a classic old fashioned cocktail.

The Fat Rabbit in Sarasota is open from 11am through 11pm Sunday through Thursday and from 11am through 1am Fridays and Saturdays. It’s the perfect place to grab a late night snack or an after-dinner drink, but it’s equally great for a low-key lunch.

The Fat Rabbit Pub, 1359 Main Street, Sarasota, 941-780-1151. 

Pictured: At The Fat Rabbit, the 1/2 pound burgers are made with short rib and brisket and served on a brioche bun. Photo courtesy of Fat Rabbit.

NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties this week partnered with First Watch – the Bradenton-based Daytime Dining concept – and its restaurant leaders across 530 locations throughout 29 states to foster open dialogue related to mental wellness in the workplace. Beth Walters, CRPS, peer development manager with NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties presented, “Take the Moment: Fostering Open Dialogs, Cultivating Empathy and Understanding,” via a webinar that was recorded and viewed across First Watch’s internal network on May 29. The session focused on providing restaurant and Home Office leaders with information on how to give mental health support to those in need. Kate Kennedy-Lynch, director of external relations for NAMI National, also provided information during the webinar on how local NAMI affiliates are a resource in communities throughout the country. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. As a local affiliate, NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties provides a variety of programs locally to raise awareness and provide support and education to individuals, families, and caregivers on their journey to mental wellness. “We were happy to be part of First Watch’s initiative to reach its restaurant leaders with information on how they can support their teams as it relates to mental wellness,” said Colleen Thayer, executive director of NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties. “Having the right workplace culture is a key ingredient toward fostering mental well-being among both employees and customers, and we are glad they asked us to be part of their initiative by providing this training.” With headquarters in Lakewood Ranch, First Watch is an award-winning daytime dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients and fostering a culture that puts its employees first. As a part of its “You First” culture, First Watch operates on one-shift-a-day, “No Night Shifts Ever” approach which allows its teams to enjoy their evenings and an improved quality of life. Because of these efforts, in 2023 and 2022, First Watch was named a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, First Watch focused its “Be a Better Human Learning Series” on mental health by offering a variety of presentations and resources to its employees. For more information about First Watch, visit FirstWatch.com. For more information about NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, visit NAMISarasotaManatee.org.   

The Sarasota Players is proud to present the winner of the 2023 Players New Play Festival, Happy Dale by local playwright Dan Landon, in a full production running June 13-23 at The Crossings at Siesta Key (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239). Synopsis: Due to outlandish behavior following his wife’s death, retired English teacher Ben Lieberman is remanded to “Happy Dale”, an assisted living facility. Lieberman is a natural rebel, and he quickly upsets Happy Dale’s dull routines and staff, turning his new friends and frenemies into accomplices and confidants. Can Happy Dale provide Ben with the education he doesn’t think he wants? Dates: June 13-15 and 20-22 at 7:30pm; June 16 and 23 at 2pm.

3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota, Please park and enter the mall by Connor’s Steak and Seafood. 

For ticket information click here.

Join us for 9 weeks of creative fun where campers ages 6 - 14 will explore their creativity, learn about art, and create original masterpieces. (Select weeks are sold out. Please check website for availability.) June 3 - August 2, 2024, M - F, 9am - 3pm | Before and after care is available. Members: $275/week | Nonmembers: $350/week. Scholarships are available! Contact Holly at youtheducation@artsarasota.org if you feel you may qualify. 

To learn more, visit.

Limited spots remain open for a unique summer day camp that offers children and young teens a chance to learn more about nature and science while taking field trips to Sarasota County parks, preserves, beaches and more. Combining hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, exploration and other outdoor adventures with an array of indoor, hands-on, science-themed activities, the “4-H Exploring Your Environment" camp from UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County aims to help youth connect with and better understand the outdoor world. Studies have shown a marked decrease in the amount of time children spend in outdoor, natural settings. Having positive experiences in the natural environment, though, has been shown to benefit physical and mental well-being, as well as increase the desire to protect and preserve key ecosystems and settings. The “4-H Exploring Your Environment" camp, offered June 17-21 and open to youth ages 10-14, provides key steps on that journey. Camp runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with before- and after-care available), starting each day at the Extension office in Twin Lakes Parks. From there, campers will travel to locations like Oscar Scherer and Myakka River state parks, Manasota Beach, and Mote Aquaculture Research Park for a day of outdoor experiences, before returning to the Extension complex. During field trips, planned outdoor adventures will showcase elements of nature, along with scientific methods to study and learn more about the experiences. Arts and crafts activities, food tastings, scavenger hunts and other youth development hands-on activities to further engage campers. Camp spots are limited, and advance registration is required. The five-day camp costs $200 per participant (scholarships possible), and includes activities, travel to and from field locations, and snacks during camp hours. For an additional fee, after- and/or before-camp care also is available. Learn more and register at https://srq4-hcamp2024.4honline.com, or get more information by emailing 4h@scgov.net or calling 941-861-9833. 

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Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) has been honored with a 2024 National Association of County Parks and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) award, recognizing their outstanding achievements in 2023. PRNR was awarded the Outstanding Support Organization Award in acknowledgment of the invaluable support provided by Sarasota County’s Friends of Phillippi Estate Park. This group has devoted significant time and effort to preserve the historical legacy of the 60-acre Phillippi Estate Park, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Nicole Rissler, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, expressed gratitude for the Friends of Phillippi Estate Park’s commitment, “We are honored and delighted that the Friends of Phillippi Estate Park was recognized for their dedication and continuous support. Through a variety of fundraising efforts, they have contributed over $250,000 toward preservation of the history at the park.” The award is presented to an organization that has made significant contributions benefiting park and recreation programs, facilities, operations or organizational support. Friends of Phillippi Estate Park, a chapter of the Friends of Sarasota County Parks, is a nonprofit organization that promotes community support for Sarasota County’s parks. The awards ceremony took place during the NACPRO Annual Meeting on June 2, in San Diego, California. NACPRO, a nonprofit professional organization, advocates for official policies that promote county and regional park, recreation, and conservation initiatives. NACPRO is affiliated with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).  For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 311 or visit scgov.net.