SRQ DAILY Mar 3, 2025
Monday Business Edition
"What you really want in a downtown is the benefit of being able to ride down the elevator, which is a form of public transit, and walk to get your fresh food, your groceries, your hardware. It's part of what I call the urban contract - you're asking people to trade their backyard and their media room in the basement for urban downtown living."
SRQ Magazine celebrated its 2025 Home of the Year on Friday evening, unveiling the winners during an awards ceremony at Architecture Sarasota. Each year, homes are submitted to the competition by home builders, architects, landscape architects and interior designers in the Sarasota and Manatee region, representing projects from Siesta Key to Myakka, Anna Maria to Downtown Sarasota. A panel of judges from around the country jury the entries and award the Home of the Year Platinum, Gold and Silver awards.
Wes Roberts, SRQ Magazine’s executive publisher and host for the evening opened the program by thanking all who participated in the competition. “The Home of the Year Competition celebrates Gulf Coast homes in the region that articulate superlative architecture and design form and function, from the integrity of the space to the design process,” he said. “We are passionate about engaging our readers in the incredible architectural work that you have cultivated in our beachside community."
Judges for this year’s competition were Mark Rudolf, the principal of Vellum Architects in Asheville, North Carolina, President of the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, Michelle Horn, who also serves as a principal at Hord Coplan Macht in Denver, Colorado, David Poorman of David Poorman Architect in Naples Florida, Designer and Architect, Candace Wong of cwA+D in Austin, Texas and Brad Tomcek, the principal of Tomacek Studio Architecture in Denver, Colorado.
The event was sponsored by SmartHouse Integration and light bites and cocktails were provided by Pier 22 Catering. Awards were given for all things home-related, including best kitchen, bathroom and interior design, with the TROP Architecture and DSDG Architects sharing the Platinum prize for Best Overall Home Over $4 Million.
Congratulations to all of the stunning entries and winners in the 2025 Home of the Year Competition.
For a complete rundown of winners, winning projects and judges’ comments, pick up the March issue of SRQ Magazine, available next week. 
Pictured: (l-r): Brigitta Wagner Sultana and Mary Allen of DSDG Architects and Steffani Drass of TROP Architecture. Photo by Daniel Wagner or Wagner Visuals.
On February 25, Architecture Sarasota hosted Brent Toderian as part of their lecture series, Downtown Sarasota: Beyond Our Borders. Toderian is a prominent urbanist and former chief city planner of Vancouver and consults cities worldwide on matters such as urban planning, downtown revitalization and urban change management. Below is an excerpt from the full Q&A interview that will appear in the May/June 2025 issue of SRQ Magazine.
SRQ: Sarasota is in the midst of preparing a new downtown master plan. What are the attributes of a strong downtown?
Toderian: There are two different ways of looking at the role of a downtown. One is that it continues to be the magnet, the destination for the city. There’s the strategy that says we have to do everything we can to make downtown the best magnet that it can be. That’s place-making and having great streets, great retail opportunities and great entertainment that create a fun experience for visitors. That’s about bringing people in from the outside, however. The other half of the strategy revolves around creating a rich, dense, urban neighborhood downtown, which has become particularly important since the pandemic. That’s not just about creating housing units, however, it’s about creating an area where people want to live and to stay. What you really want in a downtown is the benefit of being able to ride down the elevator, which is a form of public transit, and walk to get your fresh food, your groceries, your hardware. It’s part of what I call the urban contract—you’re asking people to trade their backyard and their media room in the basement for urban downtown living. The only way that it’s a good trade is if you replace those suburban amenities with public parks and amenities so that you never have to get in the car for anything. It’s about creating public sector offerings like the farmers market that takes over downtown Sarasota on the weekends.
Photo by Wes Roberts
In a remarkable achievement, Coldwell Banker Realty's Longboat Key office reported sales totaling over $1.3 billion in 2024, outperforming all other single offices by any brokerage in Sarasota and Manatee counties. This marks several consecutive years for this office to be No. 1 in sales performance for Sarasota/Manatee. The Longboat Key location, led by managing broker Ellen O’Day, is comprised of more than 100 sales associates serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
Sarasota County received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. This marks the 35th consecutive year the Sarasota County Office of Financial Management has been recognized for excellence in government budgeting.
Nautilus Homes, a leading Sarasota-based luxury builder, has achieved an unprecedented milestone: winning national awards in two consecutive years—a first for the city of Sarasota. After earning five NAHB awards last year for its "Island Breeze" project, the company has again secured six prestigious honors from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for "Watersound," a 5,700-square-foot residence in Cherokee Park and En Pointe, a new five story condominium mid-rise on Golden Gate Point. These accolades were presented at the 2025 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas on February 26, spanning both The Nationals and the Best in American Living Awards (BALA), two of North America’s most esteemed homebuilding recognitions.
Sarasota County has issued its first round of homeowner rehabilitation, reconstruction and reimbursement award notices through the Resilient SRQ Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program, marking a key milestone in helping residents rebuild and recover after Hurricane Ian’s impact in September 2022. “Providing this long-awaited assistance to our homeowners has always been a top priority for our county and contractor team,” said Steve Hyatt, Resilient SRQ Division Manager. “These first award notices are a significant step in helping homeowners rebuild their lives.”
Morgan Stanley announced today that Aimee Cogan, a Managing Director, Financial Advisor in the Firm’s Sarasota, FL Wealth Management office, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s list of Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State for 2025, listed on forbes.com. Aimee ranked #1, for the north Florida region and #50 in the nation. Forbes’ “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State” is a select group of individuals who have a minimum of seven years of industry experience. The ranking, developed by Forbes’ partner SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors and weighing factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews.
Paul Chupka, D.O., is the new chief medical officer (CMO) at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. Dr. Chupka comes to Sarasota from HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, where he has been the CMO since 2018. During his time in Englewood, he led quality initiatives and provided leadership for infection control, risk management, patient safety programs and medical staff credentialing. Dr. Chupka earned his doctorate from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. He started his internship training in internal medicine at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, and completed his internal medicine training at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Sarasota Memorial has been recognized among the world’s best hospitals today in Newsweek’s seventh annual global ranking of hospitals. It is the only hospital in southwest Florida to ever make the list, and has been recognized every year of its publication. To determine the 2025 rankings, Newsweek and global data firm Statista ranked more than 2,400 hospitals across 30 countries. The list is based on patient care quality metrics and surveys of patients and peers, including thousands of doctors, healthcare professionals and hospital leaders. SMH-Sarasota is one of 412 hospitals in the United States and 20 in Florida to be recognized. The “World’s Best Hospitals” list has included SMH-Sarasota every year since the global rankings began in 2019. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.
HCA Florida Englewood Hospital will hold an in-person hiring event on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Suncoast Auditorium, 779 Medical Drive in Englewood. Registered nurses (RNs) experienced in cardiac catheterization and cardiac specialty, emergency, medical/surgical, speech therapists, cardiac catherization technicians, and Computed Tomography (CT) technicians are being sought to join the HCA Florida Englewood Hospital team. Register now to schedule an interview time with a recruiter. At this event, you may have the opportunity to interview hiring managers and learn about the many benefits of joining the HCA Florida Healthcare team. Sign-on bonuses are available for select roles. To learn more about HCA Florida Healthcare careers, visit our hiring event page.
BayCare, West Central Florida’s leader in behavioral health services, celebrated the opening of its behavioral health urgent care center, the first of its kind in Florida. The new outpatient facility, which offers walk-in and same-day appointments for Pasco-area adults in urgent need of mental health and substance use services, began treating patients earlier this month.
Next-Mark, a Sarasota-based marketing and communications firm, has once again proven its creative excellence, earning 11 ADDY® awards at the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) 2025 ADDY Awards. Among these accolades, the agency was honored with the prestigious Judge’s Choice Amy Award for its Film, Video, & Sound Single Entry :60 Seconds.
Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce that the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Crime Scene Unit (CSU) is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation in the Forensic Inspection field. The agency received its official notification of the ISO 17020-2012 accreditation on Tuesday, February 25, after completing a rigorous process of review covering procedural compliance, assessment, and training that started over four years ago. To accomplish this goal, the SCSO CSU policies and procedures were built, including the writing of quality and procedures manuals and Standard Operating Procedures. The adherence to these processes brought the lab into compliance. Additional training educated members on the accreditation process and how it applies to the CSU. All CSU members received training to ensure an understanding of how and why accreditation applies to the unit’s operations.
Tuesday, January 28th, SRQ Magazine hosted the annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Philanthropic Awards Luncheon. Local nonprofits, foundations, corporate donors, individuals and civic leaders came together to celebrate the community's spirit of giving and recognize leaders in philanthropy. Attendees were invited to share their “giving wishes” on behalf of area nonprofits by writing their wishes on gift tags and hanging them for display on the SRQ Giving Wish Tree.
Suncoast Charities wishes to create more opportunities for volunteers to help with different agencies. To fulfill this wish, reach out to Lucy Nicandri (lucy.nicandri@suncoastcc.org).
Impact 100 wishes to inspire the nonprofits in Sarasota and Manatee counties to create transformational initiatives that benefit our community. To help achieve this goal, reach out to them (info@impact100srq.org).
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School wishes to expand their Alumni Association, volunteers and board members. To help expand this community, reach out to Dana Mitchell (dmitchell@cmhs-sarasota.org).
Walk a Teacher to Poland wishes for donations to send a teacher to Poland to learn and share awareness about the Holocaust. To make this happen, reach out to Katherine Adams-Love (theoaksend@aol.com).
The Senior Friendship Centers wishes to create a Senior of the Year community collaboration. To help facilitate this, reach out to Kathy Pappas (kpappas@friendshipcenters.org).
Toss some fun into your Thursday! Join us at Waterside Place for a fun morning of Casual Cornhole! Whether you’re a cornhole pro or a newbie, don’t miss this chance to show off your tossing skills and have a blast with friends! Grab a partner or go solo, we’ve got enough beanbags and boards to keep everyone entertained!
Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch, 7500 Island Cove Terrace Lakewood Ranch , FL 34240
SCFD is proud to welcome the community into the fire stations, continuing the tradition of open houses. These open houses are a wonderful opportunity for residents to engage directly with neighborhood firefighters. Visit our website to view the open house schedule.
Multiple Location, Multiple Locations
Longtime friends Chef Charles Amherst of Chaz 51 Steakhouse in Venice and Barbara Gerdeman, co-founder of Creative Liberties Artist Studios in Sarasota, have joined forces to create a series of interactive “live art dinner showcases.” Join us every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings from 5-8:30 pm.
Chaz 51 Steakhouse, 549 US-41 BYP, Venice, FL 34285
The Wellen Park Night Market returns the second Thursday of each month from 6-9pm offering an evening of shopping, live music and dining under the twinkling lights of Downtown Wellen. The Night Market features independent artists and makers specializing in art, jewelry, boutique fashion, home decor, bottle art, wood designs and specialty food items set up along Wellen Park Boulevard with 50 rotating vendors. Food items included rum cakes, desserts, lemonade, barbecue and vegan fare.
Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd
Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources is excited to announce the return of the popular sunrise beach walks.The walks will be held every Wednesday and Thursday at Siesta and Nokomis beaches. Walkers are asked to check in with staff before or after their walk between 8-9:30 a.m. Enjoy a fun and energizing start to the day with this community-favorite event. For just a one-time registration fee of $5, participants will receive a punch card and have an opportunity to receive an event T-shirt and gift from the Florida Department of Health.
Siesta and Nokomis Beaches, Various Locations
Celebrate the women who have captivated the world with their dynamic personalities and fierce vocals. Starting in the 1960’s, female artists such as Cher, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion have been pushing boundaries and shattering records with hits such as, “Turn Back Time,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “My Heart Will Go On.”
John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 1st St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's 25th anniversary season, titled "25 Years of Black Heritage," continues through May 25. The remaining shows in the season are "Fences" (through February 23), "Five Guys Named Moe" (March 5-April 6), and WBTT's first-ever, world-premiere tap dancing musical revue, "Syncopated Avenue." Visit westcoastblacktheatre.org to learn more about WBTT and to purchase tickets. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Determined to win the heart of the beautiful Rosina, Count Almaviva enlists the help of Figaro, the barber of Seville, to steal her away from her guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Hilarious complications ensue to some of opera's most delightful music. The Barber of Seville is one of the most beloved comedic works in the operatic repertory.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236
Twyla Tharp celebrates her 60th anniversary with a coast-to-coast tour featuring her Olivier-nominated “Diabelli,” set to Beethoven’s masterpiece Diabelli Variations, and a new dance titled “SLACKTIDE” to a reimagining of Philip Glass’s iconic Aguas da Amazonia, arranged by Third Coast Percussion. Showcasing Tharp’s uncanny and witty use of music to create work of startling originality and beauty, the two dances once again ensure Tharp’s place as one of the great artists of our time.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Having adapted famous literary works of mystery and imagination, The Gothic Library will now conjure the Golden Age of Radio. On the first Friday of each month, classic Radio Theater favorites will be performed live. Our premier performance is a dynamic double bill featuring a tough-as-nails Western yarn and a chilling supernatural thriller.
Bookstore 1, 117 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Works by Dominic Avant, a professor at Ringling College, the artist and educator blends impressionism and realism to create dramatic, light-filled works. The exhibit is part of “Beyond Regional Boundaries,” an initiative created to amplify the voices of Black artists across the Sarasota-Manatee region. Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative’s (SBAC) “Beyond Regional Boundaries” initiative continues its powerful exploration of Black artistry with a dynamic exhibition, “Celebrations of Form and Grace." An opening reception, with the artist, is Monday, March 10, 5-6:30 p.m., in the Selby Lobby.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236
Join us for a season of big feelings, big ideas, big energy. A poignant evening of Mendelssohn, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s tour of Spain, jaw-dropping violin prowess, and a festival that fires on all cylinders.
Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231
Join us for our Tropical Soiree | Peace, Love, and Plants Market. Embrace yourself in nature while shopping local under the big oak trees!
The Meadows, 5041 Ringwood Meadow Sarasota, FL 34235
Continuing the story of The Barber of Seville, Count Almaviva's eye has now wandered and his current objective is Susanna, Figaro's fiancée. The distressed couple, along with Rosina (now the Countess Almaviva) conspire to reveal the count's lechery, despite the many obstacles thrown in their way. Mozart's musical genius, along with Lorenzo DaPonte's witty libretto make The Marriage of Figaro one of opera's masterpieces.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota FL 34236
Joim us to celebrate community and culture at a reception befre our performance of Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacci. Include will be a passionate performance of two iconic operas, light bites, a cash bar, and great company. All are welcome. Open to ticketholders for the evening's performance.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236
Join us for an interactive culinary experience led by Chef Greg Campbell! This engaging, classroom-style event is designed to elevate your kitchen confidence as you learn how to shop smarter, cook fresher, and eat better—all while enjoying an expertly prepared meal.
Grove Ballroom, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
Think while you drink! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes, specials and FUN!
Gecko's Grill & Pub, Multiple Locations
Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) is pleased to announce its annual Spirit of Manatee Awards Celebration, set for Wednesday, March 13, 2025, at the new Palmetto Marriot Resort, presented by The Milestone Financial Group at Morgan Stanley. This year’s special event will honor the generosity and resilience that define Manatee County. Departing from the traditional awards format, it will celebrate the unsung heroes who stepped up to meet the challenges of the past year.
Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, 600 US Highway 41, Palmetto, FL 34221
Wrap up the Sarasota Opera's 2025 Winter Festival with an unforgettable evening at the DaCapo Society Reception before the performance of Verdi's Stiffelio at the Sarasota Opera House on Thursday March 20 2025. Begin your night with an exclusive pre-performance reception at 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop where you can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere delicious drinks and light appetizers all while mingling with fellow opera enthusiasts and Sarasota Opera performers. Don’t miss out on this perfect opportunity to enjoy a night of world-class opera and great company!
99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join us on April 1st for the official 2025 Hurricane Season Forecast, where we’ll break down what to expect and how to prepare. No fooling, this is the forecast that matters. Hurricane season is no joke, and while we’re announcing our official 2025 forecast on April 1st, we can promise you, it’s a forecast that you can count on! With our proven track record of accuracy, this is the forecast you can trust.
University of South Florida - Sarasota-Manatee Campus, 8350 N Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243
Selby Gardens presents an exciting exhibition that explores the deep and meaningful connection between musician George Harrison – best known as the lead guitarist of the legendary rock band The Beatles – and the pastime of gardening, which became his greatest passion. The resulting multi-sensory experience highlights George’s connection to nature and celebrates his life and legacy through the power of plants!
Downtown Sarasota Campus, 1534 Mound Street Sarasota, FL 34236
Circus Sarasota is back with an ALL NEW show in 2025 featuring awe-inspiring artistry from around the world. Your hometown circus returns under our NEW BIG TOP at Nathen Benderson Park this winter. Limited tickets are available for this annual tradition – book today!
Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Cir, Sarasota, FL 34235
Tenor Hak Soo Kim is renowned for his performances at Sarasota Opera and other stages. In addition, he is certified sommelier and has worked at some of New York City's finest restaurants includin the last three years as head sommelier at James Beard Award winner Thomas Keller's restaurants Per Se. This extraordinary wine dinner feature wines selected by Mr. Kim paired with a sumptuous four-course dinner prepared by Michael's on East under the direction of Exective Chef Jamil Pineda.
Michael's Wine Cellar, 1283 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl 34239
Join us for a delightful evening of music mingling and unexpected moments at the DaCapo Society Reception before the performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the Sarasota Opera House on Thursday March 13 2025. Start your night with an exclusive pre-performance reception at Rose & Ivy a beautiful local venue where you can enjoy delicious drinks light bites and good company. Inspired by the timeless themes of Mozart's opera we’ve planned a few surprises that are sure to add to the charm of the evening.
99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St, Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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