Thinking about buying a vacation home or condo? Take a look at some of the great values to be found on Longboat Key. We have not seen prices like this in several years. You can now buy a nice beachfront 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo in the $300,000’s. For those who are not familiar Longboat Key is a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. It 11 miles long and half the island is in Sarasota county while the other half is in Manatee county. The beaches are gorgeous and the waters usually very clear. It is a great place to unwind and escape the daily grind.

Longboat Key Fun

There is plenty to do on and around Longboat Key. You can also choose to do nothing. It is a very relaxing environment. Some of the fun things to do include:

• Walk the beach
• Go fishing
• Take a cruise on a boat
• Golf
• Swim
• Tennis
• Dine in any one of several fine dining or very casual restaurants
• View marine life at Mote Marine
• Go to a play at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center
• Shop at St. Armands Circle or downtown Sarasota
• Take a long bike ride on Longboat Key

This is not like Disney World. When you leave Longboat Key there is a good chance that your knots will be untied and you will be very relaxed.

Longboat Key Real Estate

There are many options for today’s Longboat Key home or condo buyer. However, inventories are decreasing. It seems like a bottom has set in. There are very few foreclosures and short sales on the island to drag prices down further. Visit my Longboat Key real estate page to view the latest real estate offerings. Give Marc Rasmussen a call at 941.812.6272 if you are interested in buying or selling a home or condo on Longboat Key.

We just had dinner at Mattison’s City Grille in downtown Sarasota. Locals won’t be surprised to hear that she thought the food was great (salmon salad), the atmosphere was fun and the wait staff was attentive. Although the main dinner plates can seem a bit pricey for the ambiance, if you stick to lighter fare you’ll call it a bargain. I think their hamburger is one of the best in town!  Stop by early to enjoy a really good happy hour with great bar food, too.

We arrived late enough to slide right into the live music of the evening in full swing. I love the life that Mattison’s open air dining and live music brings to Main Street seven nights a week. Tuesday night features Jennifer Leigh & New Digs, Motown, 60s, and R&B music from 7:30-11pm, and I’m old enough for that to be nostalgic! I love that a different band “owns” a nightly slot at Mattison’s, which means that each night of the week develops a following and its own personality.

Find the daily music line up and more about the Mattison’s empire (here’s a surprising factoid for you: Mattison’s does kosher catering?!) at their website:

www.mattisons.com

If you don’t know what German cuisine is, I’ll give you the low-down.  Unfortunately Heinrich’s doesn’t have an online menu but don’t let that stop you!

• Wiener schnitzel is one of the most popular dishes – wiener meaning Vienna, schnitzel meaning cutlet.  This boneless entrée is typically veal, although Heinrich’s offers pork and chicken as well.  It’s pounded thin, coated in breadcrumbs and fried.  The schnitzel in Austria was the size of two hands spread out – Heinrich’s isn’t that big but it’s a very generous portion!  Many varieties of schnitzel are offered – plain with a wedge of lemon, covered in mushroom sauce, with an egg on top, you name it!   
• “Spätzle” is Heinrich’s homemade pasta.  It’s normally shaped to look like mini dumplings – made with flour, eggs, and water.   I’ve tried to cook spätzle and it’s not easy so I’d recommend getting it where you know the chef’s a pro. 
• Goulash is a stew originating from Hungary.  It consists of beef, onions, and paprika – yummy. 
• Bratwurst – german sausages
• Potato pancakes – with apple sauce, sour cream and/or mushroom sauce – soooooo good! 
• And the usuals such as red cabbage, sauerkraut, potatoes, etc. 

If you like different beer, Heinrich’s is the place to go!  You can get a ½ liter, 1 liter or “das boot” which is 2 liters of beer in the shape of a boot!  Come on, how cool is that?!?  Minus the fact that it might get warm if you don’t drink it quick enough… 

Prost!! (cheers in German)

8420 Lockwood Ridge Road

Sarasota, F 34243

941-355-5453

I have a not-so-secret weakness for pie. Others may have their cake and eat it too, but I’m a pie fanatic. I love the contrast between the flaky crust and the gooey filling. The natural affinity for a scoop of vanilla ice cream is an added bonus. In Sarasota, a favorite destination for pie lovers is Yoder’s Amish Restaurant.

The existence of a vibrant Amish-Mennonite community in Sarasota ensures what might otherwise seem like an odd coupling: beach/tourist town and old-fashioned Amish cooking. The menu at Yoder’s does have a few “healthier” choices, but this is mostly stick-to-your-ribs, comfort, high-carb and high-fat food. It’s pretty much uniformly delicious, consistent and tasty…..but the pies!

Mrs. Yoder understands pie. Don’t skimp on the fillings, use great ingredients, and take care with the crust. Hers are flaky and lightly golden; no overcooked or overworked crusts here. The fillings are PILED in and then gilded with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

There are 25 varieties all told, but my current favorite is the peanut butter cream. I’m told the chocolate-peanut butter is richer, but I’m truthfully not sure I could handle it! I’d be embarrassed to have to ask the nice ladies at Yoder’s to carry me to my car.

After indulging in a piece of pie, I waddled the short distance across the parking lot to Yoder’s Farm Market and picked up a bunch of fresh vegetables for an extra healthy dinner. I might be able to make a weekly Yoder’s pie habit work if I have their farm-fresh vegetables for dinner as “penance.” I am QUITE sure a Yoder’s peanut butter pie will be on the menu for Thanksgiving!

Yoder’s Restaurant

www.yodersrestaurant.com

2009 Yoder’s Restaurant Inc.
3434 Bahia Vista St.
Sarasota, FL 34239
Hours – 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon – Sat
Telephone – 941-955-7771

Learn a little more about the Amish-Mennonite in Sarasota:

http://bahiavista.fl.us.mennonite.net/Home/History

Thinking about buying or selling a home in Sarasota, Florida? Take this Sarasota MLS listings search for a test drive. This property search is updated daily with new listings. Here you can find virtually all homes, condo and land for sale in Sarasota, Bradenton, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key and Lakewood Ranch. Property pages contain multiple photos, virtual tours, Birdseye views, Google maps, Realtor descriptions and area demographics.

Are you thinking of selling your home? The Sarasota MLS search can give you all of your competition. To sell a home in today’s market you need to create more value than your competitors. Buyers simply will not overpay for a home. Using this Sarasota MLS search will help you price your home wisely so you can sell your home quickly and easily. Remember, price is EVERYTHING when selling a home. Sellers hate to hear that but it is the truth.

Need help buying or selling? Give Marc Rasmussen with Michael Saunders and Company a call at 941.812.6272.

It’s a great hobby to get some fresh air, exercise and feel excited everyday when you see something new sprouting or budding.  My garden is starting to grow zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, snap peas and lettuce.  And my pots are growing green beans, tomatoes, basil and cilantro. 

Below are a few steps for vegetable garden planning and growing – I guarantee you’ll find it rewarding, especially when you can just pick from your garden instead of heading to the store! 

1. Try to pick a site that offers at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.  This spot should ideally be located close to a water source and offer proper drainage.  Prepare your soil at least three weeks before planting. 
2. Most soil does better with the addition of organic matter – animal manure, rotted leaves, compost, coffee grinds, etc.  Composting includes anything from lawn/yard waste to kitchen scraps.  You never know, you may grow something you didn’t expect – after composting her garden all summer long, my mom discovered five unexpected acorn squash! 
3. If number two isn’t up your alley – buy some soil meant for growing vegetables.
4. Use organic plant feed or fertilizer – these contain essential nutrients that encourage plant growth
5. Watering – young plants need frequent but light irrigation.  Crops that have matured need more water but less often.  Raised planting beds allow for better drainage.
6. Try to steer clear of pests by perfecting your soil.  If you have problems, use an organic spray.  I’ve heard that cinnamon does the trick as well! 

More about Captain Curt’s Restaurant

Captain Curt’s is a lot more than Clam Chowder. If you are looking for that “Old Florida” place to take the family, a place that will take you back in time to an era where good, fresh seafood was a standard, look no further…Captain Curt’s Crab and Oyster Bay is just that place.

It’s a place where reasonable prices, a casual family atmosphere and courteous service still exist, too. Besides the great food and prices, Captain Curt’s serves up a slice of Old Florida character almost impossible to find elsewhere.

Captain Curt’s

1200 Old Stickney Point Rd
Sarasota, FL 34242-3407
(941) 349-3885

A small selection of the available toppings.

The real draw of Whiteberry, however, is the delicious yet healthy non-fat frozen yogurt. Available in four delectable flavors (original, green tea, chocolate and raspberry) all the flavors contain live and active cultures. For those not familiar, live culture yogurt is unlike any other yogurt, combining the sweet and tart tastes into one unforgettable experience for your taste buds. The live cultures also mean that the yogurt is one of the tastiest and healthiest things you can do for your body, so when you start to develop a yogurt addiction you can feel good about it. Whiteberry also offers a very wide assortment of toppings ranging from standards such as fresh and dried fruits, chocolate chips and sprinkles, all the way to Fruity Pebbles cereal and mochi, a kind of puffed rice ball that’s tangy and chewy. The combinations are endless, and each one a tasty experience.

In addition to the addicting yogurt, Whiteberry serves home-made gourmet cupcakes, smoothies, and French iced coffee and iced tea. They offer a little something for everyone. Whiteberry also has plans to host events and Birthday parties, so don’t hesitate to call and inquire if you have an upcoming special occasion.

If you’re craving something different to tame that sweet tooth with less guilt afterwards, then Whiteberry is the place to be.

1473 Main Street, Sarasota, Florida 941.366.5050