Sarasota Livin'

Winter Park is a very nice "small town" in the metro Orlando area. It really has the Sarasota feel there and to top it off where we had the clowns they have arty gators!

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Excuse the poor resolution ... they were from my blackjack phone with the crappy camera.

It was a great morning for a race. There were lots of people seeing Payne Park for the first time. I think everyone was impressed.

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Some on city board criticize downtown project's design

By Roger Drouin
Published Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

SARASOTA — Three members of a redevelopment advisory board on Monday used the words "cheap," "institutional" and "flat" to describe a project proposed for city-owned land on Palm Avenue.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune story of the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board meeting was "entertaining" but unfortunately I have to laugh at my own "expense" .... really is my expense as a taxpayer... I don't have an opinion on the building as I didn't see them.... and we sort of I guess maybe need the parking spaces .. I am sure the local arts community will like them when the dust settles someday.

I just had the pleasure of meeting "Carla" of Carla's Clay she will be featured in the next Arlington Park Newsletter ....

I didn't get to see her workshop but I really like the nice teapots she makes.

I have been subscribed to SRQ Magazines Page 1 probably since it started. I read it most every day and usually find something of interest. Like this notice about John McKnight speaking in Newtown. Truer words .....

McKnight Urges Newtown Change

This past Saturday, the city of Sarasota, along with residents of Newtown, hosted a public workshop at the Booker T. Washington Middle School. The goal was to shed some light on the unique challenges facing that particular community, and attempt to advance the dialogue between its residents and those outside of the community.

Titled as a "New Day in Newtown," many leaders from the city, staff and the community showed up to contribute to the nearly four-hour long workshop that covered such topics as economic development, law enforcement, neighborhoods, social services and youth services.

Professor John McKnight was asked to speak at the event because, for nearly three decades he has conducted research on social service delivery systems, health policy, community organizations, neighborhood policy, and institutional racism, which are many of the challenges facing Newtown today.

He ended his speech by saying, "Nothing will work in a neighborhood unless the neighborhood is willing to change."

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Today was the 20th Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts !!

It was pretty big with lots of really nice art. I saw a few signs "no pictures" which I mostly respect but there was some "new stuff" that was interesting. It went from Orange Ave all the way to Five Points on Main St and filled the park...

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I rode all the way up to New College this morning. It's easy to forget that Florida State University has a real presence here in Sarasota. I don't know the story of how it happen but they run the Ringling Museum, Ca d Zan and the Asolo Theater.