About Sarasota's Burns Square

Awesome Orchids Is . . . Well . . . Awesome! What's so awesome about Awesome Orchids? The awesome shop owners and partners who have a passion for people and a passion for what they do. This wonderful oasis in the historic Burns Square district in downtown Sarasota is a shopping experience you do not want to miss.

What began as a hobby ten years ago has blossomed into a vocation. Located at 330 South Pineapple Avenue in downtown Sarasota, Awesome Orchids Plants Pots & More is open from 10am to 6pm Mondays through Saturdays.

Upon entering this delightful shop chances are that you will be pleasantly welcomed by either Alan or Eve Howes or Martha Storey, possibly all three. They are the talented owners and operators of Awesome Orchids. In addition to the store, you will find Alan operating a booth at the Saturday Morning Farmers' Market on Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Stop by with your canine friends. Alan always has a full bowl of icewater for your thirsty buddies!

Obviously the shop is filled with colorful orchids ,but the shop also offers a variety of flowering plants, decorative pots of all sizes and shapes in a rainbow of colors, scented candles, decorative items and more all displayed in such a tempting way you may have a difficult time deciding what to take home with you. That's where the the talented shopkeepers have unlimited expertise in helping you decide what your needs are and can help find that perfect orchid, pot or whatever.

When in downtown Sarasota, be sure to make Awesome Orchids one of your "must see" stops. Even if just to browse. One way or another, you will be back, again and again. Even if just for the serenity you will experience here.

Awesome Orchids really is a special place that adds to the magic of Sarasota. Another reason to live, work and play in the most special little city in Florida.

Historic Burns Square - Shopping, Dining, Taking Care of Business or Just Relaxing in Sarasota's Historic Shopping District. A visit to the Burns Square neighborhood is another one of the many pleasures of living in Sarasota. This captivating and charismatic neighborhood will definitely call you back for repeated visits as you discover it's many delights. And who knows, you may even decide you want to make your home here!

There are literally dozens of varying businesses for you to discover in this entrancing district of one-story and mid-rise buildings, many of them dating back to the Ringling Era of the 1920's. For dining there is Owen's Fish Camp, which has quickly become one of Sarasota's 'must visit' restaurants. Or you can savor one of several other wonderful eateries including Bond, The Burns Court Cafe, Retropolitan, Galileo, Nancy's BBQ, or Fresh Start.

For shopping there is a wide variety of unique and fascinating shops to discover and return to over and over. Here you can shop for antiques, furniture, home accessories, designer clothing, orchids, designer eyeware and art just to name a few. Among the many choices for shopping there is Jack Vinales 20th Century Classics, August 3rd, Sarasota Trading Company, Ioptics, Awesome Orchids. The L Boutique, Gia Ventola and the 530 Burns Gallery among many others.

Burns Square is also home to the Sarasota Film Society, also known as the Burns Court Cinema, for the latest cinephile favorites. There are also a good number of spas and hair salons, attorneys offices, landscape architects, photography studios, financial planners and many more businesses. The Sarasota Magazine and SRQ Magazine are headquartered in Burns Square as well.

And for high end bargains, don't forget to check out the Women's Exchange. Their fascinating selection of consignment goods changes daily. The money they receive is donated to the local arts community. As you stroll the district be sure to look for the outdoor murals, a new and exicting addition to the ambiance of the neighborhood which is also home to the annual Sarasota Chalk Festival.

For living there are the historic Burns Court bungalows built by Owen Burns in 1926 that occasionally come on the market, the Burns Court Villas (two and three story luxury villas, some with elevators), condos at Kanaya, rental apartments and a few scattered single family homes. Prices range from the high $200's to the millions.

Historic Burns Square, just another wonderful reason to live in the beautiful Sarasota Area! For more photos please visit Keith Kropp Team/FrontGate Realty on Facebook.

Sarasota Chalk Festival finishes with a flair! The weather was perfection on Sunday, November 6, 2011 as the artists put their finishing touches on their magnificent creations at the Sarasota Chalk Festival. These ephemeral works of art are breathtaking and heartbreaking all at the same time. The hard work and creativity poured into these beautiful paintings on the asphalt of Pineapple, Dolphin and Oak Avenues were washed away by a team of pressure washers Monday evening after a final day the streets were closed to allow visitors to appreciate these treasures one more time.

The Fourth Annual Sarasota Chalk Festival was definitely the biggest and best yet. Other than one weekday morning of brief showers, the weather was Sarasota perfection. The streets were filled with crowds of appreciative onlookers. There was live entertainment, including live performances by the Sarasota Opera Company on a 3-D chalk set, jazz ensembles, rock bands, folksingers and others. The area restaurants and shops were bustling and the street atmosphere was upbeat and friendly.

The Sarasota Chalk Festival brought people from all walks of life with their children and dogs alike. Everyone appeared to have a good time and the vibrations of the whole event were joyous and sublime. The Sarasota Chalk Festival is definitely another jewel in the crown of Sarasota, the capital of Florida's Cultural Coast! Sarasota is far and away one of the best places to live in the country!

For a more complete photo gallery, visit me on Facebook at Keith Kropp Team/FrontGate Realty.

The crowds are building at the Sarasota Chalk Festival. Five days into the Sarasota Chalk Festival and the crowds are unbelievable. All the artists are here and working on their individual pieces feverishly racing towards the final competition. In addition to the artists there are street vendors and live performances all day long and going into the night.

Today the "little chalkers" were working on Oak Street, and there was a student competition near the Whole Foods Market. New this year is the vertical art on several buildings in the vicinity as well as Cellograph. The stores are all open, and the restaurants are bursting with hungry customers. The Sarasota Chalk festival has something for everyone!

Pictures speak louder than words, so most of this blog features pictures taken just today. Remember, these artists are creating these beautiful pieces of art in chalk on asphalt! I'll let the pictures do the talking today. Watch for future blogs with finished art. It is another beautiful day in Sarasota, especially to enjoy the Sarasota Chalk Festival!

Sarasota Chalk Festival, Day Four, The Excitement Is Building! As the Sarasota Chalk Festival enters day four the crowds are getting thicker. Pineapple Avenue is now blocked off all the way down to Orange Avenue and the 2-D artists have begun to create their works. The 3-D artists have been working since Tuesday. New this year is the vertical art and Cellograff. The Sarasota Opera set appears complete and ready for performances on their "chalk" stage this coming Sunday.

This highly unique and creative festival could only be here in Sarasota. The town of Sarasota is the cultural jewel of the State of Florida. This town is brimming with creativity. There is a bounty of museums, gallleries, art studios, theatres, performing arts centers, opera, musical theatre, local musicians, ballet, symphony and so much more. All this in addition to a tropical environment, the number one beach in the country, Siesta Key Beach, boating, fishing, restaurants, shopping and so much more. Who would want to live anywhere else?

The Sarasota Chalk Festival continues through Monday, November 7th. Stay tuned for more photographs of the Sarasota Chalk Festival. Or, if you are in the vicinity, come on down!