Blending Old Urbanism with New Urbanism in Sarasota FL - Part I

Sarasota FL, a lush and quirky small city on Florida's Gulf Coast, is trying to use principles of New Urbanism to weave its various charming "old urbanism" districts into a cohesive live-work-culture-nature experience.

Blessed with a gorgeous location, nestled alongside the mid-Gulf Coast, an hour south of Tampa, protected by even more gorgeous barrier islands--here called "keys"--including Longboat Key, Lido Key, St Armands Key, Bird Key and Siesta Key--Sarasota is also the arts and culture capital of Florida.

In its very walkable and compact downtown, you'll find theatres, a beautiful opera house, a soaring modern library, a purple-painted waterfront concert hall, a municipal auditorium, upscale shops and restaurants, Whole Foods Market, and many art galleries.

Main Street, downtown Sarasota

A few blocks away, across the only scenic section of Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41), is the magnificent Sarasota Bayfront Park, lined each winter season with modern sculptures, and featuring a lovely tree-shaded walking path and park, impressive yachts, and two restaurants, one upscale and one of the sea-shack variety.

Sarasota Bayfront Park

Several blocks south of Main Street, separated by a non-descript, pedestrian-indifferent office-building-zone, there is a charming antiques district, called Burns Square, along Pineapple and Orange Avenues, with restaurants and boutiques, an art movie house, and a neighborhood of artist studios offering monthly Friday night studio/gallery strolls.

Burns Square, Sarasota

Crossing Tamiami Trail and south a few blocks more, is the tiny retail crossroads called Southside Village, surrounded on one side by a lush neighborhood of old residental streets and on the other by the expansive Sarasota Memorial Hospital Center. Southside Village has been undergoing "upscaling" in recent years, and it's a delightful mix of lux gift shops, gourmet markets, restaurants featuring international cuisines, as well as cozy neighborhood bar-restaurants, bakery-cafes, hair salons and boutiques.

Continued in Part II

Southside Village Shopping District in Sarasota

Known by locals as "Hillview Street", Southside Village is a shopping, dining, and Sarasota live music district located at the intersection of Osprey Avenue and Hillview Street, behind Sarasota Memorial Hospital just west of Tamiami Trail. During the day, Southside Village is a popular lunch spot for hospital staff, tourists, and locals driving through. At night, it's a magnet for socializing, with dining, dancing, and drinking choices for various tastes.

Morton's Market, on Osprey Avenue, is a cornucopia of gourmet treats, from fresh-made hot foods, deli, salads, and soups to grocery items, baked goods, meats and cheeses. Across from Morton's, Libby's restaurant is a destination for lunch and dinner, with lots of outdoor tables along Osprey, perfect for seeing and being seen. 

On Hillview Street, Pacific Rim has a loyal following, with its menu of pan-Asian specialties. Closer to Tamiami Trail, on Hillview Street, Gateway to India transports you to the exotic east, with its colorful decor and delish menu of Indian cuisine. A few doors down, Chutney's, celebrating 22 years in this location, competes with Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. In Southside Village, there are also restaurants offering French and Italian cuisines, American deli, coffee and lollicakes, as well as a Hungarian tea house on Hillview Street. The Serving Spoon, on Osprey Avenue, is a popular breakfast and lunch diner.

There are several boutiques in Southside Village. For instance, you can accessorize the outfits you find at Fifi's Consignment shop on Osprey Avenue with with jewelry from Silver Obsession, on Hillview Street near Pacific Rim. 

If you're a knitter or needlepointer, you'll find a store full of colorful yarns and supplies at Eye of the Needle on Osprey Avenue.

In addition to the shops and restaurants, Southside Village is a convenient location to get your hair styled at one of several salons on Hillview Street.

At night, Hillview Street gets lively with rock and blues music floating out the door of the 5 O'Clock Club. Other nightspots come and go, but the 5 O' provides the backbone of live music and dancing in Southside Village. On Monday nights, the Blues Jam draws talented musicians from all over town, who take the stage to show off their chops. Thursday night is reggae night with Democracy. You can arrive in casual or fancy dress to dance in front of the band. The volume is loud, so get there early and bring ear plugs if you're sensitive. Nevertheless, it's fun to join in the fun.

Sarasota Farmers Markets

For a small city, Sarasota is very well served by a diverse array of farmers markets. Each one has its special features and appeal. It's definitely worth checking them all out. Here's your 2014-15 guide to Sarasota Farmers Markets:

Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market - SATURDAYS

Open from 7AM to 1PM every Saturday, year-round, this is the oldest market in Sarasota. It's also by far the largest, including over 100 vendors selling produce, flowers, prepared foods, meats, fish, baked goods, teas, coffees, organic skin care products, as well as artisan crafts. Live music at several locations in the market. It runs along Lemon Avenue from 1st Street at Whole Foods to the purple fountain one block south of State Street, and on two blocks of State Street. Leashed dogs welcome.

Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market - WEDNESDAYS (new)

Open from 9AM TO 2PM every Wednesday, located at Five Points Park (intersection of Main & Pineapple, in downtown Sarasota). No information yet on when it will open or what vendors will be present. More later . . .

Siesta Key Farmers Market - SUNDAYS

Open from 9AM to 2PM every Sunday, year-round (9AM -1PM in summer), this is a small-scale yet surprisingly complete market. Available products have developed in response to its mostly-tourist customer base, with about 20 vendors setting up during winter season. There's a large selection of produce, breakfast foods cooked to order, Jamaican patties and desserts and hot lunch, organic teas, organic skin care, soaps, fine art, photography, clothing, jewelry, and artisan crafts. Live music every week by popular local musicians. Easy parking because it's on Sunday mornings. Located in the Davidson's Pharmacy parking lot at 5124 Ocean Blvd in Siesta Key Village. Leashed dogs welcome.

  

Phillippi Farmhouse Market - WEDNESDAYS

This is Sarasota's mid-week farmers market. It has a balanced array of produce, prepared food, plants, and crafts. Approximately 50 vendors set up on the expansive front lawn of the Phillippi Estate on Tamiami Trail (Rte 41), at the corner of Constitution Blvd. Every Wednesday from October through April, from 9AM to 2PM. Live music every week. Leashed dogs welcome. In fact, the Sarasota Humane Society brings their adoptable dogs and pets van to the market every other week during winter season.

Central Sarasota Farmers Market - SATURDAYS

This is Sarasota's newest market. Open from 8AM to 1PM on Saturdays, it's only been up for three weeks. So far there are about 10 vendors, including produce, knishes, baked goods, flowers, and several food trucks with interesting offerings. Live music every week. Very easy parking, because it's located just off Proctor Road near the corner of Beneva, in the parking lot of Sarasota Community Technical College (SCTI). There's room for 70 vendors, so this market is just beginning. If you patronize it now, your attendance will help it to grow. Leashed dogs welcome.

Downtown Sarasota Shopping Streets

Downtown Sarasota FL offers several shopping streets, each one with its own character. 

There's a lot to discover at Whole Foods Market Centre on First Street, which is a mixed-use complex with stores and restaurants on the ground floor and condominium apartments above. 

Looking east from Selby Public Library, you can stop into each shop along the way to see what's new and interesting.  

At the end of the block is Whole Foods Market, with convenient parking on ground level across from the entrance.

You can select tasty items from the hot, cold, and soup bars inside and enjoy eating and people-watching from the cafe tables located out front. 

Main Street is a multi-block Sarasota shopping district that runs from the Sarasota Bayfront Park to the west, to Rte 301 (Washington Blvd) to the east.  

The blocks in the immediate downtown area are lined on both sides with local shops and international restaurants.

Sarasota is an outdoor cafe town, from the ever-popular Mattison's City Grille at the corner of Main and Lemon,   

to Pastry Arts diagonally across Main, to Epicure at the corner of Main Street and Palm Avenue.

Lemon Avenue is the site of the weekly Downtown Farmers Market on Saturdays from 7AM to 12PM, year-round. 37 years old, this popular market is chock-full of fresh local produce, including a lot of organics, flowers, crafts, prepared foods, baked goods, live music, etc. 

During Season, to add variety to your Sarasota shopping , there are numerous arts and crafts shows on Main Street, as well as street fairs and festivals.

Palm Avenue, which runs perpendicular to Main Street, is the center of the gallery scene in Sarasota FL, with a regular First Friday evening art walk that takes place during Season. 

Bookstores in Sarasota

I know, I know, who reads books anymore, what with e-books all the rage. And yet, sometimes you just want to relax and browse in a real bookstore. Along with the requisite Barnes and Noble, Sarasota has a nice selection of independent bookstores, too:

A. Parker's Books 
1488 Main St, Sarasota FL 34236
Located in downtown Sarasota for more than thirty years, A. Parker's Books specializes in rare and antiquarian books. Since merging with Book Bazaar, which was located next door, the shop also offers used, out-of-print and scholarly books.

Bookstore1Sarasota 
1359 Main St, Sarasota FL 34236 
At Main St & Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota, Bookstore1Sarasota is relatively new on the scene. It has the feel of the traditional independent bookstores that used to be the norm. In addition to books in all categories and a small magazine section, look for author signings and other events.  

Elysian Fields 
1273 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34239
This shop combines personal and home decor gifts with a fully stocked metaphysical and spiritual bookstore. Comfortable reading area and special events. Located in the Midtown Shopping Center on S. Tamiami Trail at Bahia Vista Street. Elysian Fields entrance is around the corner from Panera Bread.

Barnes & Noble 
4010 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
The book superstore with cafe.

Books-A-Million 
591 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236
A plain-Jane version of Barnes & Noble and the now-defunct Borders Books, Books-A-Million has comfortable chairs for reading, a spacious kids book area, a large magazine selection, and a cafe. Located in the Sarasota Pavilion shopping center in Gulf Gate neighborhood, around he corner from Panera Bread.

Brant's Books 
One of a chain of independently-owned used bookstores in Florida. Brant's Books actively buys, sells and trades books. Located on N. Lime Avenue, north of Fruitville Rd. (N. Lime is  between Tuttle and Rte 301).

Sushi in Sarasota

It's so healthy, tasty and artfully prepared. When you have a hankering for sushi, here's where to find it in popular Sarasota shopping districts:

Siesta Key Village

JoTo Japanese Restaurant

5218 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota FL 34242

A cozy, friendly restaurant located in the heart of Siesta Key Village (next to 7-11). Great for replenishing after an active day at the beach.

Paradise Plaza

Jpan Restaurant

3 Paradise Plaza, Sarasota FL 34239

Hip, high-tech vibe, spacious seating, convenient neighborhood setting. Do your grocery shopping at Publix, get your hair done at Aveda, then relax with sushi dinner afterwards. 

Downtown Sarasota

Yume Sushi

1532 Main Street, Sarasota FL 34236

Low lighting, sophisticated atmosphere, extensive menu, accommodating wait staff. Not just sushi, this restaurant features "Asian fusion" cuisine.

Gulf GateVillage

Kazu's Sushi 2.0 Restaurant

6566 Gateway Ave, Sarasota FL 34231

Tiny space, yet somehow it works. (This is a new location. Kazu's was previously located on Siesta Drive.) 

Shopping Malls in Sarasota

You can shop at two indoor malls in Sarasota, both operated by Westfield Shoppingtown:

Southgate Mall 3501 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34239
This is a small upscale mall anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and Dillard's. There are only two restaurants in the food court, one with Italian food and the other is Toojay's, which has a large menue of excellent quality New York deli style items.

Sarasota Square Mall 8201 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34238

Anchors include Macy's, Sears and JC Penney. There is a large food court, with an AMC multiplex cinema inside. This is a typical mid-range mall.

Just over the John Ringling Bridge from downtown Sarasota, you'll find the world-renowned outdoor, upscale shopping mall called St. Armand's Circle:

St Armand's Circle St Armands Circle, Lido Key, Sarasota FL 34236
The "circle" is composed of short streets that form a circle around a small park with tall shade trees. Many clothing, gift and jewelry shops, as well as restaurants on every street, serving a wide variety of cuisine. Popular with tourists and one of the best places in Sarasota to people-watch.

Along S. Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41), between Siesta Drive to the north and Gulf Gate Drive to the south, are several convenience shopping strips. These are particularly useful:

Paradise Plaza w. side of S Tamiami Trail,1 block south of Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota FL 34236Anchors include Publix supermarket, CVS, Petco, as well as Hallmark, UPS Store, Aveda salon, J-Pan sushi, Monterey Grille, TCBY frozen yogurt, Einstein Bagels, tailor and cobbler, optician.

The Landings 4910 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231Anchors are Joann Fabrics, Office Depot, Petsmart, Publix supermarket,with Radio Shack, Dollar Store, and Massage Heights. Eateries include Gecko's, Olive Garden, Sweet Tomatoes, Peach's, and Corkscrew Deli (try the inexpensive and tasty daily special sandwich).

Sarasota Pavilion 6543 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL34231

Handy for clothing and housewares shopping. Anchors include Ross Stores, Marshalls, Bealls, Bed Bath & Beyond, Michaels Crafts. Also Publix supermarket, Steinmart, Books-a-Million, discount shoes, opticians. Grab a bite at Panera or get takeout at the Chinese restaurant around the corner from Ross. Wrapping around Sarasota Pavilion is an old low-rise shopping village called Gulf Gate, where you can find local one-of-a-kind shops and many restaurants and bars. Gulf Gate is a destination for international cuisine, with restaurants and cafes representing many cultures.

Natural Foods in Sarasota

In addition to traditional supermarkets like Publix, located in many shopping strips around town, Sarasota supports a variety of medium and large natural foods markets. Interestingly, Whole Foods hasnotturned out to be a category-killer in this area. Here's a sampling to select from:

Earth Origins (formerly The Granary)

• 1930 Stickney Pt Rd near the SW corner of S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
• 1279 S. Beneva Rd, at Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota FL 34232

Richards Food Emporium

• 2856 Ringling Blvd at Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota FL 34237
• 8207 Cooper Creek Blvd, University Park, Sarasota FL 34201
• 3226 Clark Road, east of Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota FL 34231
• 4053 Cattlemen Road at Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233

Whole Foods Market

• 1451 1st St at Central Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236

Super Value Nutrition

• 4892 S.Tamiami Trail, The Landings, Sarasota FL 34231
• 5842 Bee Ridge Rd near Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota FL 34233

Trader Joe's (technically, a "specialty retail grocery store", rather than a health food store, Trader Joe's offers many healthful shopping options and the best prices in town to judge by its instant popularity)

• 4101 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231