Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Going Home?

I am headed back to Sarasota for a book signing this weekend.  I called Sarasota home twenty years before a new job opportunity for my groom took us to cooler, mountain climes.  It will be fun to see old friends, but I confess, I am not looking forward to the midsummer heat.

It's no accident that Jane's story starts in Sarasota.  Like Jane, I raised my children there and made a home that was mostly happy and always chaotic.  Just in case you are considering a trip to the Gulf Coast of Florida, Sarasota is a great place to stop and visit a while.  Stay on Siesta Key (the best, most Bohemian of the various beach communities).  Must sees are the beautiful white sand of Crescent beach and no visit to the village is complete without a trip to Big Olaf's Creamery--my son's favorite for many years was "green" ice-cream (mint chocolate chip).  We used to take the kids across the street from our condo on summer evenings and let them exhaust themselves running n the beach and splashing in the water.  Sometimes we'd head down to Point of Rocks to visit the tide pools, a guaranteed way to wear them out as it was a long walk.  After sunset (watch for the flash of green as the sun dips below the horizon) we would head back with them in the trusty radio flyer, stopping by the pool to toss them in for what passed for a bath in those days.

On the mainland, Marina Jack's is a nice spot to spend the cool of the morning or the evening, watching the bay and the boats.  Mote Marine on City Island is a rite of passage for all kids raised in the area.  Nearby is the little sailing club where my kids learned to sail (one of them VERY reluctantly).    The Old Salty Dog is an old mainstay for beer and local seafood.

St. Armand's Circle is a chi-chi place to shop and worth the trip--but not really Jane's style (or mine).  However, the Columbia Restaurant serves up great Cuban food.  Years ago there was a waiter who used to entertain the diners with his ventriloquism--he could "throw" a bird whistle all around the dining room.  Kids especially loved. it.

Heading north along the bay, you'll see the Van Wezel concert hall--a giant purple building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  If more conventional architecture is your style, head up to the Ringling Museum and John Ringling's home Ca' D'Zan.

But just don't spend any time looking for Jane's Victorian in the vicinity of the local hospital.  It isn't there.   On the other hand, if you find a likely looking candidate for Jane's digs (or Kiki's)--send me an image!

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