Daily
Sarasota
Thursday, October 23rd, 2025
Good morning, Sarasota. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 23rd of October.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Residents of Mallory Park in Lakewood Ranch celebrate Halloween by turning their quiet neighborhood into a spooky display of skeletons and witches—each home showcases creative decorations and fun family traditions—bringing a unique excitement to the season. Observer
- ➤ Schroeder-Manatee Ranch President Rex Jensen will get the 2025 Humanitarian Award on Nov 13 for his work to build Lakewood Ranch into a community that values giving and conservation—he helped create schools, parks, and homes for many families. His 31 years of work built a place where over 70,000 people can live well and care for each other—showing that strong community makes a difference. Observer
- ➤ Greenbrook Adventure Park now has a new steel pavilion and fireproof restrooms built after the old pavilion burned in July 2023 due to fireworks. A private ribbon cutting was held on Oct. 18 and the community will see the pavilion open to the public on Nov. 22 — marking 25 years of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. Observer
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Flambo, a new family-run Caribbean restaurant, has opened on St. Armands Circle and offers Trinidadian dishes like lemongrass soup and shrimp in tomato sauce. The owners plan to host a grand opening in early November — with a flamenco dancer and fun events — to bring fresh energy to the street. Observer
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Local entertainment events fill Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key with family-friendly arts and music activities from today through Wednesday, Oct. 29. Highlights include a community adaptation of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' at the Sarasota Polo Club, live screenings, musical shows and festivals—offering choices for all ages. Observer
- ➤ Florida Studio Theatre will break ground on its new McGillicuddy Arts Plaza on Oct. 29 with events starting at 10 a.m. in The Green Room Café, a welcome ceremony at 10:30 a.m., and a shovel ceremony at 11 a.m. on the construction site—this expansion will add a new mainstage, extra cabarets, parking, and artist housing to meet the growing needs of the theatre. Observer
- ➤ A theater critic has outlined fall season picks that offer a mix of shows on Sarasota stages—highlighting productions that range from a musical satire with a Black preacher to eerie monster comedies and modern retellings of classic dramas. Observer
- ➤ A Sarasota building that was open as Galloway Furniture for five years (later home to Vision Works) now displays a mural by Mr. Fingertips honoring its Tropical Modernism past (designed by Victor Lundy). An interior exhibit on its history is on display at Architecture Sarasota until January 23, 2026. ABC 7
- ➤ Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key declined Sarasota County’s $172,258 offer for hurricane damage repairs and chose to have the county fix the campus—citing future liability risks. The county must now wait at least a year for A Squared to design and carry out the repairs following county and FEMA protocols. Observer
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Former Broadway star Darian Sanders visited Lakewood Ranch High School on Oct 6-7 and shared his journey from church minister to playing Simba in The Lion King; he inspired students with advice on hard work and adaptability & encouraged them to pursue their dreams. Observer
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Forecasters say Tropical Storm Melissa is less than 1,000 miles away and will strengthen into a hurricane today while its track remains uncertain—models predict it will likely pass east of Florida but could drift west into the Caribbean, possibly affecting South Florida next week. Residents are advised to closely monitor weather updates as no watches or warnings have been issued. Sarasota Herald-Tribune
- ➤ Suncoast Waterkeeper—a nonprofit that monitors water quality—filed a notice of intent to sue U.S. Recycling for violating the Clean Water Act by letting stormwater runoff carry pollutants into Hog Creek, which flows into Sarasota Bay near Pioneer and Centennial Parks. The group said the facility must work with engineers to update its stormwater management plan. Observer
- ➤ Since 2020, Dave Tomasko has worked to improve Sarasota Bay’s water quality and will hand over his role as executive director to Ryan Gandy on November 17th. He leaves behind strong results—like a 19% increase in seagrass and 20% lower nitrogen levels—and will join Environmental Science Associates in California while staying connected to the local community. Observer
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ On Nov 8, the Florida Inline Skating Marathon will be held at Nathan Benderson Park as the largest inline skating event in the state, with the main race starting at 8 a.m. and 25K and 13K rounds following at 9:30 a.m.—international competitors and local figures join founder Mike Mason and veteran Debbie Rice to mark its five-year anniversary. Observer
-
Repticon Reptile and Exotic Animal Show
10:00 – 11:30 AM — Sarasota Sahib Shrine — Admission varies — Explore reptiles and exotic animals while connecting with suppliers and enthusiasts.
-
Dovydas Concert
6-11 p.m. — Big Top Live — Tickets from $45 — Experience an unforgettable performance by Dovydas in Sarasota.
-
Live Music with Bri Rivera
5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Enjoy captivating performances from a rising star in the local music scene, inspired by her Puerto Rican roots.
-
Ryan Faraday Live Performance
5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of live music with professional guitarist Ryan Faraday and his eclectic band mix.
-
Live Music with Scott Curts
5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of eclectic music and captivating performances by accomplished artist Scott Curts.
-
Bri Rivera Live Performance
6-10 p.m. — Marina Jack — Cost Info Not Provided — Enjoy the vibrant sounds of Bri Rivera, a standout vocalist from Puerto Rico, in the heart of Sarasota.
-
Live Music by Justin Layman
4-8 p.m. — Munchies 420 Cafe Tiki Bar & Grill — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of Folk, Rock, and R&B with local talent Justin Layman.
-
Bri Rivera Live Performance
5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Experience the vibrant sounds of Puerto Rican musician Bri Rivera in the heart of Sarasota.
-
Ryan Faraday Live Performance
5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Entry details not provided — Experience the soulful tunes of a Berklee-trained musician now performing in Sarasota.
-
Scott Curts Live Performance
5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Experience the unique loop styling of accomplished singer-songwriter Scott Curts and his loyal companion, Apollo.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The only way to become excellent is to be endlessly fascinated by doing the same thing over and over.
~ Ryan Holiday
About Daily Sarasota
Welcome to the Daily Sarasota, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Sarasota, Florida community. If you like the Daily Sarasota, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Sarasota.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Sarasota and across Florida. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Sarasota
A free Sarasota community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailysarasota.com/sitemap