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Café Baci in Sarasota strives to perfectly recreate the full Italian experience. From the moment you walk through our door, you sense the difference and you feel the culture. The atmosphere here is enchanting and peaceful, the Italian cuisine reminiscent of that created by some of the greatest Italian Chefs.
We had an excellent meal here last week before heading to the Van Wezel for a show. Even though they have been around for many years they still have a very loyal clientele and wonderful food. We were warmly greeted upon our arrival and seated promptly. We did have a reservation which I highly recommend as they were full by 6pm on a Tuesday night!
The waiter was so attentive and personable. After we placed our order they brought out fresh bread with olive oil dipping spices and an antipasto for the table. Our meals were three different fish dishes (salmon, flounder and snapper) and each was really tasty. The entrees included a starch and perfectly cooked green beans on this night. Salads with the meals are at an extra cost but the portions of the meals were plenty without it. They have an excellent wine selection as well as some scrumptious sounding desserts.
They are open Monday through Friday for lunch and every day for dinner. Relax and enjoy a delicious meal at Café Baci. Savor the delicate flavors….you’ll feel you are in Italy, if but only for a moment.
To view the menu visit Cafe Baci.
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The Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo is held annually in Arcadia, located in DeSoto County. First held in 1928, it is Florida’s longest running and largest rodeo event. The rodeo has evolved from its pioneer beginnings (when competing cowboys and ranchers matched their skills for the entertainment of local audiences) to a national sport drawing top cowboy athletes from all over the nation. Cowboys who compete for purses and points are aiming for the “Super Bowl” of rodeo: the National Finals held annually in Las Vegas.
The schedule of events are Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Bareback Bronc Riding, Calf Roping, Team Roping, Barrel Racing and Bull Riding. Their are no finals. All contestants compete for money and points for the whole weekend. The order of event will stay the same but the stock and contestants change each day.
The event runs from Thursday, March 8th through Sunday, March 11th. Gates Open at 11:00 a.m. Shootout performs at 1:00 p.m. Mutton Bustin at 1:30 p.m. Rodeo action starts at 2:00 p.m.
My kids still talk about going to this event when they were very young so if you haven’t been I encourage you to check it out!
For more information visit ArcadiaRodeo.com
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Circus Sarasota boasts an impressive roster of international artists pushing human boundaries and leaving audiences awestruck. This year’s performance, titled Ovation, honors the legacy of the circus arts and those who have impacted the artform. Included in an international lineup of all-stars are Russian quick change masters the Smirnovs, unbelievable hand balancers Duo KVAS, and Swiss juggling master Kris Kremo. Also featured in the show are the tempting tricks of the Juju tight wire act, Sylvia Zerbini and her masterful horses, AJ Silver and his laser-sharp lasso act, Italian clown Luigi Folco and Portuguese rola bola artist Dany Daniel. Completing the cast are those daring young men and women on the flying trapeze, The Flying Cortes.
Circus performances start on February 9th and continue through March 4th at the Big Top located behind the UTC Mall behind Dillards.
SAVE TIME! Purchase your tickets ahead of time Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Circus Box Office, 2075 Bahia Vista St. Big Top Box Office hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 140 University Town Center Dr. 34243 Beginning February 9 – March 4th, the Big Top Box Office will be open 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. until one half hour after last show begins.
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The Sarasota Manatee Realtors Association reports that a strong market continues in the area, as indicated by December 2017 statistics. Compared to December 2016, combined numbers show an increase in closed sales, median sales price and pending sales.
Overall, closed sales in December showed an increase from December of 2016. Closed sales for single family homes in Manatee County increased by 4.1 percent to 511, Sarasota County increased by 3.6 percent to 639. Sarasota condo sales increased by 9.7 percent to 327, Manatee condo sales increased by 0.5 percent to 221.
Pending sales are indicated by the number of listed properties that went under contract during the month. Manatee single family homes increased by 0.5 percent in pending sales, while Sarasota increased by 4.3 percent. Condo pending sales show improvement in Sarasota with a 26.1 percent increase, however, Manatee County condo pending sales decreased by 9.2 percent.
Median sales prices continue to grow. Single family homes in Manatee increased by 11.4 percent to $317,500, while Sarasota increased by 4 percent to $275,000. Sarasota condo prices increased by 15.2 percent to $250,000. Manatee condos increased by 5.4 percent to $195,000.
Inventory for single family homes in Manatee County increased by 1.2 percent from last year, while Sarasota decreased by 8.4 percent. Condo inventory experienced a 3.3 percent increase in Sarasota, while Manatee decreased by 2.1 percent. As for month’s supply of inventory, properties remain in a sellers’ s market. Sarasota condos are close to a balanced market with a 5.3 month supply, while Manatee condos are at a 4.5-month supply. Manatee County single family homes are at a 4.2-month supply and Sarasota single family homes are at a 4.1 month supply.
New listings, or the number of properties put onto the market during the month, showed a decrease in December as buyers wait to list their property for the upcoming season. Combined in the two counties, new listings showed a 28.3 percent decline from last month, as well as a 12.9 percent decrease from last year.
With fewer and fewer distressed sales, the market is healthy and median sales prices stay up. In December 2017, distressed sales for single family homes and condos in both counties experienced a 27.1 percent decrease from December of 2016. Respectively, the traditional sales (non-distressed) in the two-county area experienced an increase of 5.9 percent. According to a recent report from ATTOM Data Solutions, foreclosure filings in the U.S. dropped to the lowest level since 2005.
Monthly reports are provided by Florida REALTORS® with data compiled from My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service. To view the full report with statistical charts click here.
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With our winter season in full swing, the calendar is full of many different events in Sarasota. Here are just a few for you to consider:
Call us when you are ready to make your move! To search for homes in the area go to ViewHomesontheGulfCoast.com. We’re here to help you every step of the way…call us today!
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Oak & Stone restaurant features craft beer and artisan pizza. We had occasion to dine there for a casual night out recently and were happy to find this great spot in the University Parkway/Honore Avenue area of Sarasota.
They have created a place that is suitable for a boys night, a date night, or a family dinner with a warm and welcoming space for all ages. There is an open air kitchen, dining room, full bar, and a variety of seating options including an outside patio area outfitted with gas heaters for this cooler weather, billiards table, corn hole and large screen TV’s with the latest sporting events.
Their artisanal wood-fired pizzas are the star of the menu…handcrafted with dough that undergoes a 36 hour fermentation process with triple filtered water and topped with sauce that will keep you coming back for more. Whether you are partial to B.Y.O.P. (build your own pie) or selecting one of the many custom craft pizzas. The standard tavern fare is elevated with options such as Sticky Porter BBQ Sliders, Pretzel Crusted Tuna Sashimi, or Triple Cheddar Pale Ale Mac. Fresh offerings such as delicious salads and hummus plate round out the menu. We opted for the BBQ chicken pizza to share along with a salad and this was plenty for two.
You can’t forget the beer as Oak & Stone boasts the largest RIFD technology self-serve brew wall in the region, with 56 taps of golden beer goodness that you can pour by the ounce. Showcasing local and American craft breweries. The great thing about this is that you can try a sip before choosing a beer to accompany your meal.
The next time you’re in the mood for a casual night out check out Oak & Stone!
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One of the mainstays in casual dining in Sarasota is Anna’s Deli. They have been around since 1971 and currently operate two locations: one on Siesta Key and one in the University Park area of Sarasota. They are consistently winning “Best Of…” awards in Sarasota.
They do have your typical deli fare but what sets them apart is their specialty sandwiches. I stopped in for lunch recently and had their famous “Surfer” sandwich which features thinly sliced turkey, ham and cucumber with swiss cheese and their special sauce. This is served on your choice of bread which is always fresh. The sandwich easily feeds two people and at around $8 is a real bargain!
The restaurants are open from 10:30am to 4:00pm daily. You can eat in or take out from either location. To view the menu and locations visit www.annasdelis.com or call 941-349-4888.
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The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee reports that November statistics indicate a healthy market in the area. Combined numbers show an increase in sales, new listings and prices.
In November 2017, closed sales for single family homes in Manatee County increased by 7.5 percent, while Sarasota County decreased by 3.3 percent. The condo market stands out this month, with a 26 percent increase in Sarasota sales and a 16.3 percent increase for sales in Manatee.
Pending sales for single family homes increased by 13 percent in Manatee County and by 4.5 percent in Sarasota County. Condo pending sales also show improvement with a 21.4 percent increase in Sarasota and a 16.5 percent increase in Manatee. Pending sales can be a good indicator of future closed sales.
The median time to contract for condos in Sarasota is at 37 days, a 17.8 percent decrease from this time last year. However, condos in Manatee are spending more time on the market with 59 days reported in November, a 55.3 percent increase from last year.
As for single family homes, the median time to contract is up in both counties. Sarasota homes closed in 52 days, a 48.6 percent increase, while Manatee homes closed in 51 days, a 45.7 percent increase.
The median sales price for condos in Sarasota increased by 22.1 percent to $240,000. Manatee condos increased by 12.9 percent to $181,250. Single family home prices in Sarasota increased by 7.5 percent to $285,000 while Manatee increased by 3.6 percent to $289,000.
Inventory for single family homes in Manatee County increased by 1.1 percent from last year, while Sarasota decreased by 5.3 percent. Condo inventory experienced a 4 percent increase in Sarasota, while Manatee decreased by 2.4 percent.
The number of properties put onto the market during the month improved in both counties. New listings for condos increased by 22.8 percent in Sarasota and 9.6 percent in Manatee. As for single family homes, new listings decreased by 0.7 percent in Sarasota and increased by 8.8 percent in Manatee.
Monthly reports are provided by Florida REALTORS® with data compiled from My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service. For comprehensive statistics dating back to 2005, visit www.MyRASM.com/statistics.
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The 3rd Annual Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival will be held on January 20-21, 2018. This year the event will take place at Gulfstream and Main near JD Hamel Park. General admission and live musical performances are free, as is parking downtown on the weekends.
Select from exquisite foods cooked on site incorporating the freshest ingredients by local restaurants and food purveyors. Choose from seafood dishes using grouper, mahi-mahi, stone crabs, oysters, shrimp, soft-shell crabs and more. Meat entrees and a variety of vegetarian and rice dishes also are offered. Choose from a selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.
While enjoying your meal, sit back and relax to some of Florida’s top musical groups performing live onstage in such genres as R&B, rock, soul, jazz and Caribbean. For dessert, enjoy shopping in a marketplace of arts, crafts and fine products.
Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. General admission to the event and musical performances is FREE.
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Kick off the new year by enjoying one or more of the many events and adventures in and around Sarasota! Check out just a few of the activities happening during the month of January:
Call us when you are ready to make your move! To search for homes in the area go to ViewHomesontheGulfCoast.com. We’re here to help you every step of the way…call us today!
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