10 Reasons Living in Sarasota is Easier

Every time I return to Sarasota, FL, from a trip "up north", I appreciate how much easier it is to be living in Sarasota:

1. For basic shopping needs, it's only a 10 minute walk from my house. By car, I can find every kind of daily or special shopping I need within a 5-15 minute drive from my neighborhood. For example, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Earth Origins, Richard's Natural Foods, Joann Fabrics, Michael's Crafts, Walmart, Target, Ross Stores, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshall's, T.J. Maxx, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Macy's, Petco, Petsmart, Office Max, Pier 1 Imports, and numerous Publix supermarkets, CVS and Walgreen stores. . . all within 10-15 minutes. That's it. Up north, it seems any shopping expedition takes 20 - 45 minutes in the car . . . to each store. For fresh produce, prepared foods, plants, and artisan wares, Sarasota boasts 4 weekly farmers markets. For more elaborate shopping goals, the University Town Center is a huge new upscale shopping mall 20 minutes away, in Lakewood Ranch.
2. For live music, there are more musicians and venues here than one can count. To see the extent of this, check out gotonight.com, which lists most of them.
3. If Sarasota is your primary residence, you can request a Homestead Exemption, which deducts $50,000 from the taxable value of your house, as well as limiting by 3%/year the amount your property taxes can increase. There's also a further exemption for seniors 65 and older with limited income, as well as exemptions for widowed, disabled, blind, and veterans. For more info: Sarasota County Property Appraiser
4. This is obvious but bears repeating: NO SNOW!
5. Small but efficient Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is 20 minutes away, an easy, no-highway drive. 
6. It's only 15 minutes to 2 different world-class beaches, and another 15 minutes to beautiful and tranquil Anna Maria Island, with several more gorgeous beaches.
7. For culture -- theater, outdoor arts and craft festivals, special events and celebrations -- it's hard to beat Sarasota's ongoing roster of fun, people-filled activities. Herald Tribune Ticket
8. For a wide choice of various types of neighborhoods and lifestyle options, Sarasota is truly a community of neighborhoods. What I really like is that I can "hide out" in the peaceful quiet of my neighborhood, yet have easy access to busier districts with restaurants, nightlife, parks and events.
9. Sarasota creates--and maintains--beautiful parks, from extensive multi-acre environments, to dog parks, to vest-pocket parks carved into unexpected spots. 
10. All of the above is available within Sarasota. No need to ever get on a highway if you don't want to drive fast or far.

I'm sure there are more examples . . . and I'll add them as I think of them!

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.