Good morning, Sarasota.

On Nov. 1, St. Armands Circle hosted Ferraris on the Circle where about 60 Ferraris were shown to support Flight to the North Pole—an event raising funds to bring holiday cheer to families with children facing terminal illnesses.

Jim Friedman made his debut at the show by displaying his 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia to an excited crowd.

Residents can explore downtown Sarasota on a self-guided tour that highlights 1920s landmarks such as the Ace Theatre, Payne Chapel, and Palm Tree Playhouse — each telling a part of the city's history.

The tour also visits sites like the Sarasota Times Building and Mira Mar to show how early architectural styles meet modern updates.

In the 1920s, Sarasota grew as architects like Dwight James Baum and developer Owen Burns built landmark structures such as Ca’ d’Zan and Broadway District buildings—symbols of a boom that ended in 1926.

Urbanite Theatre is showing its new play Monsters of the American Cinema which looks at scary themes of prejudice.

The play uses horror — from onstage monsters to real issues — to show how discrimination affects people and will run until Dec. 7.

During the 1920s Florida Land Boom, Sarasota County hired Tampa-based architect M.

Leo Elliott to design four schools in the area. Bay Haven School, Southside School, Sarasota High School and Osprey School were built in 1926 and 1927+ they remain in use as a magnet, elementary, museum and historic site.

Sarasota County Schools is preparing a Future Focused Strategic Initiative that will repurpose unused classrooms for district offices, childcare centers, and community partnerships — a move aimed at strengthening public schools amid rising competition from charter operators.

The board is set to review the proposal on November 7 as the plan includes converting four elementary schools into K-8 campuses with new STEAM programs and community partnerships.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune launches its new Students of the Month program to honor high school students in Sarasota County Schools for academic success, leadership, and community service +nominations are due by Nov.

6+. Student profiles will appear in print and online each month.

Once nearly extinct from urbanization and overharvesting of its host plant, the Atala butterfly is now doing well in Sarasota’s medians and downtown sidewalks.

Local conservation efforts and eco friendly landscaping have helped restore the coontie plant essential to its life cycle—marking a remarkable comeback for this native butterfly.

Concrete panels on the Bayfront Park seawall now shelter barnacles, seaweed, small fish and starfish across 300 feet of living seawall.

The $500,000 project—funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and built by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Longboat Key Public Works—aims to improve water quality and may serve as a model for future seawall projects.

Due to the government shutdown, Florida’s DCF cannot issue November SNAP benefits, leaving nearly 40,000 people at risk in Manatee County.

Local groups in Sarasota and Manatee counties are offering free meals, groceries, and support during this time—recipients should bring ID and check distribution schedules.

Sarasota-Manatee hospitals were ranked in Healthgrades’ 2026 evaluation of 4,500 hospitals nationwide, with Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Venice campus earning an 83% patient experience score.

HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital and HCA Florida Blake Hospital received awards for specialty services — showing strong regional performance.

Kolter Multifamily LLC has started building Alton Sarasota, a new 256-unit apartment complex at 6350 Prospect Road near I-75 and University Parkway in Manatee County.

The project will open for residents in winter 2026 and will offer modern units with 9-foot ceilings—about 25% of which are set aside for households earning up to 120% of the area median income.

John Ringling bought the Cerol Isles in 1917 and planned to build a grand European-style residential and shopping area known as Ringling Isles—he dredged channels and filled land to create a circle of shops with tropical landscaping and Italian statues.

The ambitious project ended by 1926 after the real estate boom faded and the Great Depression began, yet some original 1920s Mediterranean Revival homes still stand in St. Armands Circle.

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.

Bri Rivera Live Performance

6-10 p.m. — Marina Jack — Visit Artist's Website — Experience the vibrant sounds of Bri Rivera, a talented musician hailing from Puerto Rico.

St. Armands Circle Art Festival

10 AM – 5 PM — St. Armands Circle — Free entry — Explore a vibrant gathering of local artists and their unique creations in a scenic island setting.

Scotty Wright Quintet Concert

7:30-9:30 p.m. — John C. Court Cabaret — Tickets on sale September 1 — Experience an evening of captivating jazz with Scotty Wright and his talented quintet.

Bri Rivera Live Performance

5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Experience the vibrant tunes of Bri Rivera, a rising star in the Sarasota music scene.

Ryan Faraday Live Performance

5-9 p.m. — Marina Jack — Free entry — Experience the musical talents of Ryan Faraday, a seasoned guitarist and vocalist from Sarasota.

Off the Page: Isaac Eger

6-7:30 p.m. — Selby Library — Free entry — Author Isaac Eger explores Florida's ranching history and the significance of the Great Florida Cattle Drive.

Bri Rivera Live Performance

6-10 p.m. — Marina Jack — Admission details unavailable — Experience the vibrant sounds of Bri Rivera, a talented musician from Puerto Rico, in the heart of Sarasota.

2025 Sarasota Shark Tank SCM Meet

4 AM – 4 AM — Selby Aquatic Center — Entry fees apply — Compete in annual short-course meters meet featuring exciting 25-meter sprints and relay events.