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🍦Gearing up for Christmas
Best Things To Do in SRQ: 12/18 - 12/21
Carson B
December 16, 2025
Happy Tuesday, Sarasota!
Did you get your Christmas shopping done yet? I know I still have a long way to go.
I was over at UTC and it was mobbed, so I might have to stick to Amazon as we get closer to Christmas day.
In today’s edition of the Sarasota Scoop:
Thanks for reading,
Carson
🧠 Think You Know Sarasota? Trivia!
which community organization opened a clubhouse in 1915 that played a major role in shaping Sarasota’s early civic life? |
📰 Local Headline Roundup
St. Armands Circle Faces Big Questions About What Comes Next
St. Armands Circle is at a turning point. Historic shops and restaurants that have defined this Sarasota favorite now face ever-worsening flooding after back-to-back hurricanes filled streets and even walk-in coolers with water.
Merchants and residents want answers on infrastructure fixes like better pumps and flood mitigation, and federal resilience funds are coming, but progress feels slow and tangled in bureaucracy. At the same time, talk has started about future development and whether changes in height or density should be part of the recovery.
Some city leaders want open community discussion before any big decisions, while property owners argue relaxed rules are needed to make repairs pay off. Locals worry about maintaining the Circle’s charm and safety for decades to come. Read the full article here.
Downtown Sarasota Keeps Growing Up
Downtown Sarasota is about to get a lot bigger. Right now nearly 1,000 new multifamily rooms are under construction and another 1,500 are moving through the approval pipeline. That could add thousands of residents over the next several years as cranes rise and new apartment and condo towers go up.
Most of the growth is rentals but there are plenty of luxury condos too. Some local real estate pros think demand might not keep pace with all this new space while others see signs the market is settling into something more balanced. The trend shows downtown expanding north and east of the core as older low rise buildings give way to bigger, denser projects.
🔦 Spotlight: Bad Ass Coffee
This week, I stopped by Bad Ass Coffee over in Lakewood Ranch. I immediately knew they had something special going on. The line was nearly out the door.
If you’re searching for a cozy, sit-and-linger local café vibe, this may not be your spot. But if really, really good coffee is what you care about most, this place delivers.
Think of it as a cooler, newer version of Starbucks. It was high-energy, well-run, and they’re clearly doing something right as these continue to pop up in locations all around the country.
Bottom line: worth the wait, and absolutely worth adding to your regular rotation.
Thursday
Holidays in Paradise: Bridge Street
📍Bradenton Beach Historic Bridge Street | 🕦 5pm | 🔗 details
Adult Drop-In Art: Mini Wreath Ornaments
📍16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details
Festive Photos with Santa
📍Lakewood Ranch Main Street | 🕦 6:30pm | 🔗 details
Friday
Wonderland | Believe
📍Big Top at UTC | 🕦 2pm | 🔗 details
Rink at UTC
📍210 North Cattleman Road, Sarasota | 🕦 4pm | 🔗 details
Lights in Bloom
📍Selby Gardens, Downtown | 🕦 5:30pm | 🔗 details
Sarasota Gymnastics
📍Robarts Arena | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details
Lights in Bloom
📍Sarasota Opera House | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details
Winter Nights Under the Lights
📍Palma Sola Botanical Gardens | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details
Sights + Sounds: Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble
📍Waterside Place | 🕦 6pm | 🔗 details
Show: Masters of Movement
📍5555 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota | 🕦 Multiple shows | 🔗 details
Mark Twain Tonight
📍Van Wezel | 🕦 Multiple shows | 🔗 details
Sounds of the Season
📍Venice Performing Arts Center | 🕦 s :30pm | 🔗 details
Saturday
Breakfast with Santa
📍Remy's on Main, Sarasota | 🕦 9am | 🔗 details
Sugarplum Fairy Festival
📍1670 10th Way, Sarasota | 🕦 10am | 🔗 details
Frosty 5K
📍6700 Clark Rd, Sarasota | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details
Coconut Ornament Painting
📍Cha Cha Coconuts | 🕦 3pm | 🔗 details
All is Calm: In Concert
📍Patriot Plaza | 🕦 3pm | 🔗 details
Christmas on Main
📍Lakewood Ranch Main Street | 🕦 4pm | 🔗 details
Rebecca Louise Law: Survival
📍Selby Gardens, Downtown | 🕦 See details | 🔗 details
Comedy Show: James Yon
📍McCurdy's Comedy Theatre | 🕦 Multiple shows | 🔗 details
Sunday
Sunday Polo
📍Sarasota Polo Club | 🕦 1pm | 🔗 details
Santa Visits South Siesta
📍1250 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key | 🕦 3pm | 🔗 details
Show: The Nutcracker
📍5555 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota | 🕦 Multiple shows | 🔗 details
Holiday Movies under the Stars
📍Mall at University Town Center | 🕦 7pm | 🔗 details
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