2) Sunset at Siesta Key Beach. Siesta Key Beach is consistantly on everybodys list of the top 5 beaches in the world. The sand is like pure flour and the sunsets never dissapoint. While I was in school and when I would get stressed out because of so much to do I would go to Siesta Key beach and watch the sunsets in total silence. I always felt so gratefull and it always calmed my mood.
3) Walkable Downtown. Six out of seven years that I lived in Sarasota I was fortunate to live in the downtown area. Everything you needed was in walking distance. Restaurants galore, movie theaters, bars, shopping, WHOLE FOODS, theaters, opera. It was wonderful to have such a thriving downtown scene. Unlike the pit of dispair that is Downtown Syracuse.
4) Whole Foods. Certainly no Wegmans, but fabu all the same!
5) El patio! El patio was an old mediterranean revival apartment building built in the 1920's. It had 11 apartments surrounding a lush plant filled courtyard that had a fountain in the center. It was a real life Melrose Place and this is where I lived for 5 years. This is also where I met some of the most wonderful people I have ever met and I call most of these people friends for life. The Spring parties, Halloween parties (minus the stabbing), the many nights just sitting outside around the fountain or firepit, the dinners on the roof, etc. I was so fourtunate to have lived there and it is an experience that will stay with me for life.
6) Ringling College of Art and Design. When I moved to Florida I had no intention of going to school. It was by wonderful fate that I ened up at Ringling to study Interior Design. It is one ofn the most prestigious art schools in the country offerin bachelors degrees in animation, computer animation, photography, Interior design, fine arts and graphic design. I LOVED BEING IN SCHOOL. Though at times it was very hard and Ill being paying back my student loans untill Im dead, I will never forget the sense of accomploshment I felt while being there and of course all the wonderful, creative people I met.
7)Georgies Alibi!!! Ok, this is a gay bar that is actually in St. Petersburg, but it is the most fun bar i have ever been too. I judge bars on the music they play and going to Georgies was like plugging in my ipod to a giant sound and light system. The bar is 45 minutes north of Sarasota, but it is well worth the drive. Ive had some of the craziest nights of my life at Georgies (luckily Im not naming any names). It was fun, it was clean, and everyone and their mother went there. Gay, straight, young, old. I miss it.
8) The weather. a-duh. Especially summer into fall. Florida is just the oppsoite of Syracuse in this way. In Syracuse you have the house all shut up during winter and then Spring comes around and you open the windows and it feels so good. In Sarasota, it is the opposite. Because its so hot in the summer you keep the house all closed up and the air conditioning on. Then when the weather cools down around October you can open the windows and let the fresh air in. Being from the north, I always got the feeling of spring in the fall. Get it?
9) The arts!!! Sarasota is a culturally diverse place to live. There is so much to do when it comes to the arts. There are tons of theaters, museums, art galleries, symphonies. Sarasota even has its own opera house. As much as Sarasota loves itself (they have many magazines about the city and the hoity-toities in it) they sure put on a good show.
10) MY FREINDS!!!!! The best thing about Sarasota was the people I was so blessed to be friends with. I have made friendships that most people would be envious of. I love and miss you all. Till we meet again.
