Smart Move

Once you’ve bought your new sponges and thrown out the pizza boxes, it’s time to start exploring your new community. To guide you, we asked some local celebrities who’ve also relocated to our area what they think a newcomer to Sarasota should be sure to discover. Here’s what they had to say.

Funnyman Dick Smothers, half of the legendary sibling comedy team, The Smothers Brothers, is seriously taken with the town he adopted as his own after headlining several times at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

“This is a gracious town, and I love the beauty and variety of the neighborhoods: the Rosemary District, Burns Court, Harbor Acres, the flower streets near Southside Village, Siesta Key. Phillippi Creek is so beautiful; I love to jump in my boat, and if I time the tides just right I can meander all the way up to Bee Ridge Road past big oaks with hanging Spanish moss and rickety docks. The banks are sort of wild, and I can dock at the Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar for lunch.”

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale is as unabashed in his enthusiasm for this area as he is for his beloved hoops.

"When visiting the area, setting foot on the white sand beaches of Siesta Key is a must. A stroll along St. Armands Circle for some great dining and shopping is always a fun family evening. Also, be sure to check out the area's great golf courses in Lakewood Ranch and throughout Sarasota. But perhaps my personal favorite is to make sure to stop by the Broken Egg Restaurant in Lakewood Ranch for a great brunch; while there, be sure to look for me sitting at my favorite table outside. It's awesome, baby, with a capital A!"

Winner of the 2006 Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, Stuart Kaminsky is author of the Lew Fonesca, Abe Lieberman, Toby Peters and Inspector Rostnikov novels.

“The one place a newcomer should discover is Selby Gardens, not only for its flowers and vegetation, but its lush, quiet solitude. Sarasota may move slowly, which is the way I like it, but for pure peace of mind nothing beats a bench in the Selby Gardens looking out at birds, boats and blue water.”

Giuliano Hazan is a best-selling Italian cookbook author and recipient of the coveted 2007 Cooking Teacher of the Year Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

“One of Sarasota's treasures is the Saturday morning farmer's market downtown, where you can get locally grown produce and buy fresh shrimp from the back of the ‘shrimp truck.’"

Pioneering tree canopy scientist Meg Lowman, or Canopy Meg, as she’s know internationally to her admirers, authored the New York Times best-selling memoir, Life in the Treetops.

“The only public treetops walk in all of North America is suspended between oaks and palms in Myakka River State Park. This wonderful stroll through the Florida forest canopy is inspirational and always provides new insights into Mother Nature. Don’t miss it! This easy hike is great for young and old, but especially for families because it encourages kids to enjoy the natural world.”

Captain Jonnie Walker, host of ABC7’s popular “Gone Fishin’” segment, has been a fishing guide here for 35 years.

“People don’t think of Sarasota as a fishing destination, but we have some of the best sportfishing on the west coast of Florida: snook, redfish, tarpon, cobia, kingfish. The tarpon are really active in May, June and July, and you don’t have go to Boca Grande to catch them; you can catch them right here. Plus there are great places to eat on the water that you can go to by boat: Mar Vista, Marina Jack, the Dry Dock and the Old Salty Dog among them.”

Sarasota Magazine style editor Carol Tisch scouts the region scooping up great finds for her shopping and home design features.

“When you’ve settled in and begin furniture shopping, my advice is to head to Furniture Row. In the last few years all the big names have clustered along a section of Sarasota’s South Tamiami Trail that extends from Proctor Road to Central Sarasota Parkway. That’s where you’ll find local favorites like Kanes, Bacon’s and Robb & Stucky as well as national chains. Also check out custom furniture makers, Christe’s and European Traditions for great prices on high-quality made-to-measure wall units, cabinets and even carved bathroom vanities.”

Relocating? Here are some contacts to help you.

Sarasota County
Sarasota County government (941) 861-5000; www.scgov.net

Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce (941) 955-8187; www.sarasotachamber.com

Home Builders Association of Sarasota (941) 379-3306; www.buildingsarasota.com

Sarasota Association of Realtors (941) 923-2315; www.sarasotarealtors.com

Sarasota County Medical Society (941) 966-3134; www.sarasotacountymedical.com

Sarasota County Bar Association (941) 366-6703; www.sarasotabar.com

Sarasota County Arts Council (941) 365-5118; www.sarasota-arts.org

Manatee County
Manatee County government (941) 748-4501; www.co.manatee.fl.us

Manatee Chamber of Commerce (941)748-3411; www.manateechamber.com

Home Builders Association of Manatee County (941) 749-7035; www.hbamanatee.org

Manatee Association of Realtors (941) 747-1818; www.manateerealtors.org

Manatee County Medical Society (941) 755-3411; www.manateemed.org

Manatee County Bar Association (941) 741-4091; www.manateebar.com

Arts Council of Manatee County (941) 746-2223; www.manateearts.org

Charlotte County
Charlotte County government (941) 743-1200; www.charlottecountyfl.com

Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce (941) 627-2222; www.charlottecountychamber.org

Charlotte/DeSoto Building Industry Association (941) 625-0804; www.cdbia.com

Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port Association of Realtors (941) 629-8261; www.pgpcnprealtors.com

Charlotte County Medical Society (941) 625-6229; www.charlottecountydoctors.com

Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County (941) 764-8100; www.charlottearts.org