This weekend is sure to be filled with fun! Not only are we expecting gorgeous and sunny weather, perfect for a day at the beach, but it is also Mother’s Day weekend. Here’s a quick run down of what’s happening this weekend in our area: -Friday 5/7 Palm Avenue First Friday Walk - Downtown Saraota (6pm):  Enjoy gallery openings, dining, antiques, specialty shops and live performances as member...

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Head on down to Siesta Fiesta, Siesta Key’s annual street party in the Village! This Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm the streets of Siesta Key Village will transform into an all day street fair complete with arts & crafts booths, food vendors and live music. This party is a Siesta Key tradition and is not to be missed! The weather will be GORGEOUS...

The annual Easter celebration at the Beach Castle was a fun filled, sunny day of egg hunts and pool side cookouts. The warm weather gave the event that picturesque spring feeling and it was wonderful seeing everyone’s smiling faces! Thank you to everyone who attended - it was truly a memorable day! Property manager, Lissy LaFlamme, hosted the event and estimates that about 18 children hunted for 350 candy...

Held annually since 1999 in Sarasota, Florida, the Sarasota Film Festival has become one of the top ten independent festivals in North America. Held in April each year, the festival’s mission is “to present unique and high-quality cinema in a festival atmosphere for the purpose of educating, stimulating and entertaining audiences.” Here is a little bit of history on the festival: In July 1998,...

This Saturday, April 3, is the annual Beach Castle Resort Easter Picnic! The kid’s Easter Egg Hunt starts at 11:30am and will be immediately followed by the poolside picnic. Hot dogs, chips and soda will be provided. This is one of the busiest weeks at the Beach Castle and we anticipate a great deal of guests to attend. The weather for the weekend looks warm and sunny…perfect for an pool party!

This weekend hold’s one of the area’s most exciting food and wine events - Forks & Corks! Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, festival goers will be able to experience an array of palate-pleasing meals from 45 local restaurants and sample wines from visiting winery owners from across the world. Weekend events are as follows: Jan. 29 & 30 - Winemaker and Brewmaster Events at Participating Local Restaurants...

The Beach Castle Resort took 2nd place in Longboat Key’s annual “Light up the Keys” holiday decorations contest!! Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s Holiday Illumination and a special thanks to Lissy LaFlamme & Sarah, David & Annie Hale (shown left receiving their award) for their help!!  To read more about the contest go to The Longboat Observer’s...

Keep Manatee Beautiful takes advantage of its location on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico with SandBlast, a sand sculpture competition that pairs youth groups with local business sponsors to raise funds to support Keep Manatee Beautiful’s programs. To kick off the event, a team a professional sand artists, dubbed “Team Sandtastic,” built a huge exhibition sculpture at the BeachHouse restaurant,...

COMBINING THE JOYS OF THE GULF WITH THE CHALLENGES OF GOLF Written By: Maureen Florio   Most of our guests to Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key long for the warmth of the sun and beaches of the Gulf of Mexico particularly during the cold, dreary and long months of any given Winter Season.  Relaxing on the pristine beaches along the Gulf of Mexico is the perfect way to forget those cold days and make you the...

Explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits that showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. See sharks, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is a not-for-profit research and educational institution open to the public 365 days a year....