Downtown Sarasota has a small, walkable shopping and dining district a few blocks from the Sarasota Bayfront, east of Tamiami Trail. While Sarasota is a city, sidewalks are busy like most cities, unless there is a farmers market or the Arts Festival in downtown. So it feels more like a small town during the day. At night, however, downtown Sarasota alive with people out there, enjoying the many live music venues and restaurants.
Here's news from the various municipalities that make up downtown Sarasota.
first street
Sarasota Opera House, Selby Library, a Whole Foods Market Center to create a cultural and commercial spine along the first ulica.Opera House, in soft shades of peach and cream, was extensively refurbished last year. It sets the tone of classical European and very popular during the season. Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, First Street Chop House, Bijou Cafe, and Florida Studio Theatre (on Palm Avenue at the first street), all located in old buildings with character, creating a pleasing Center Theater District.
diagonally across the Sarasota Opera House is the Selby Public Library, designed by Hoyt Architects. She floats like a big white circus tent, elephant leg support column. At least that is how it looks to this observer. Inside is very modern, airy, natural light filled the library with plenty of Internet-capable computers, free Wi-Fi to use your own laptop, large children's section went through the exotic-FishTank archway, and a large collection of books, CDs, DVDs, magazines , fiction and non-fiction books.
Whole Foods Market Center includes upscale ground floor retail, upper floor building apartments, garages, and Whole Foods Market with lots of seating. This is one of the best places in the center of Sarasota to enjoy bite while watching the passing scene. There is a bar takeout food and indoor cafe, too. Whole Foods Cafe and the Main Street corridor, all offer free Wi-Fi in the center of Sarasota.
Main Street
extending from Rte 301 to the east, the Sarasota Bayfront in the west, Main Street is the spine of downtown Sarasota.Dijelu between Rte 301 and Osprey Avenue is the busiest day during working hours, as most of its business comes from office workers to relating to banking, law firms and courts, which are all concentrated in this part of town. At the corner of Main Street and Rte 301 is Hollywood 20 cinema complex. There Sarasota YMCA branches in the same building.
The Orange Avenue West at Gulfstream Avenue, you'll find an eclectic selection of international cuisine, from Greek into Spanish, Vietnamese to Thai, Chinese, Italian, American, French, Pan-Asian, and Fusion. There is a health food store with additions and branch Post, art galleries, the Apple store with a cafe, bakery and store of women's fashion apparel for Brooks Brothers.
during the season, Main Street hosts many arts and crafts festivals, biker rally, and celebrations of major holidays in the ride and food vendors.
In the evening, you can bar-hop around Main Street, checking out live music at many venues, such as Mattison City Grille, Sarasota vineyards, art cake, Box Social and Gator Club.
LEMON AVENUE
Every Saturday, from 7:00 to 1:00, year round, Lemon Avenue from First Street State Street is the epicenter of the Downtown Sarasota Farmers market, where about 50 vendors offering a large amount of fresh produce, including many organic, flowers and plants, arts and crafts, prepared foods to take home or take out, bakery products, gluten-free foods, meats and cheeses. This is one of the best people-watching and dog-parading events in the city.
The main bus depot in the center of feces (Sarasota County Area Transit) is located on the corner of Lemon Avenue and First Street.
State Street
It is easy to miss out on State Street, quietly located one block south of Main Street. Country Art Gallery shows the work of artists who are all local and single with art. Much of the work displayed is a large, museum-quality. On S. State Street, one block west, the European Focus is a colorful shop with lots of intriguing gifts by artisans in Europe. From "bouncies" - dolls that bounce up and down on springs - the French linens, the Bavarian "smokers", to ceramics and tours in Europe, this unique Sarasota stores. Next door is the European Focus Sarasota Candle, a local manufacturer that also has a booth at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers market.
PALM AVENUE
This is the heart of Sarasota's "Gallery Row", with everything from handblown glass to create jewelry to paintings, sculptures, and hats. This is the first Friday Artwalk, which takes place along Palm Avenue from 6-9:00, when galleries stay open late and offer refreshments and live music. Caragiulo restaurant on Palm Avenue, with indoor and outdoor dining. At the corner of Main Street and Palm Avenue, Epicurus was a favorite place to sit outside and relax with friends over lunch or dinner.
BURNS SQUARE
Burns Square, at the southern end of Pineapple Avenue, part of the city of Sarasota, but it is separated by two block walk to the non-descript office building, so it feels like a special district. She shared the first Friday Art walk from the center. Here the buildings are low and charming with bright colors and stucco replaced a number of intriguing shops. Awesome Orchids, Parkland Art Gallery, Malika imports, L-boutiques, Jack Vinales 20th century classics, and Citrus Cafe are all worth a look. Behind the Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota Burns Court reveals the art house film, Burns Court Cinema, and Owen's Fish Camp restaurant. On Saturdays, there is a small, independent, outdoor artists market Pineapple Avenue in Burns Square.
Sarasota Bayfront
In the far eastern end of Main Street, Marina Jack restaurant and marina link downtown Sarasota on Sarasota Bay.Restoran is surrounded by scenic Bayfront Park, which includes hiking trails, playground, O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Restaurant , lots of free parking, a yacht basin and the small beach for launching boats with oars. You can sit on a bench swing and watch the tide go in and out, look over the amazing John Ringling Bridge, or the famous Gulf sunset.