Nick Herron

Every coastal town has one of those places where the boaters can tie up their boats and come in their t-shirts and flip-flops for a great bite to eat. Along the Gulf Coast in Osprey that place is Spanish Pointe Pub & Marina. Located right on Little Sarasota Bay, just south of Historic Spanish Point, the Spanish Pointe Pub is a popular, laid-back eatery known by the locals for its delicious grouper sandwiches and cold beverages. Order at the outside window and sit at one of the many picnic tables adorned with red and blue umbrellas. Don't expect white linens and fancy silverware here as plastic baskets and utensils is the norm to serve up some of the best pub food on the water. Mushroom burgers, hot dogs, French fries, and cold beers are just some of the menu items to try out while taking in a spectacular view of the Intracoastal and North Casey Key.

When I first bought a home on Casey Key I lived up on the North end. I could look in my telescope and see if Spanish Pointe Pub was busy or not, then jump in the boat and go over for dinner or lunch. The Spanish Pointe Marina property has been sold and the new owners had closed down the Pub in anticipation of building condos. With the soft condo market they decided to put the condos on hold and re-open the Pub. With all of the development over the pass five years we have lost so many of these laid-back bars and restaurants on the water. Which I think was one of the best draws that attracted tourist and real estate buyers to the Sarasota area.

Just North of Spanish Point is the "Oaks," one of Sarasota's premiere Country Clubs offering two eighteen hole courses and some of the best tennis facilities. The Oaks community is divided into three areas. The Oaks Bayside is just North of Spanish Point on the Bay and the Oaks Clubside is across the street with single family homes around the golf courses. The Oaks also has a third area called the Preserve it is just North of Oaks Bayside and has some single family and the Meridian condos overlooking the Bay.

According to My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service as of this date:

Oaks Bayside: There are 16 active single family homes on the market for sale priced from $535,000 to $8,990,000. There is 1 sale pending and there have been 4 sold this year.

Oaks Clubside: There are 36 active single family homes on the market for sale priced from $695,000 to $3,600,000. There have been 6 single family homes sold this year.

Oaks Preserve: There are 11 active single family homes on the market for sale priced from $209,000 to $690,000. There are 2 sales pending and 1 single family has sold this year.

Oaks Preserve: There are 25 active condos for sale priced from $259,000 to $1,975,000. There are 2 condos sale pending and 4 condos have sold this year.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota Barrier Islands of Casey Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Manasota Key, and Island of Venice. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

The approach of the 4^th of July holiday weekend brings on a time of reflection. Reflection of the struggles we overcame to become the great nation we are today. Despite the economic hardships we face as a nation; despite the political, religious, and sociological differences we face as a people, we come together every year at this time to celebrate our independence.

The first Independence Day celebration was said to take place in Philadelphia in 1777. They held an official dinner, 13-gun salute, parades, picnics, fireworks, and decorated in red, white, and blue. Today we celebrate in much the same manner. Our cities and towns hold parades, our families get together for picnics and BBQ's, and then we all, in our own way, watch the fireworks. Whether it is out over the Statue of Liberty, over the Golden Gate Bridge, on the TV, or while sitting on the beach in paradise, we will watch the red, white, and blue bursts of light gleaming across the sky.

We will be watching from our own paradise listing (The Beleza on Venice Beach unit 704) as the fireworks burst over the Jetties. This year, as in all years past and all to come, those fireworks will bring on a renewed sense of how proud we are to live in this country, how proud we are of our service men and women who fight for our freedom, and how lucky we are to be living the American dream.

On the Island of Venice as of today according to MY Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service there are 84 active single family homes for sale priced from $97,800 to $2,700,000. There are 7 single family homes in sale pending and 33 homes have sold this year.

There are 153 active condos on the market priced from $64,900 to $1,599,000. There are 18 condos in sale pending and 59 Island of Venice condos have sold this year.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group / RE/MAX Alliance Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota Barrier Islands of Island of Venice, Casey Key, Siesta Key, Manasota Key, Longboat and Lido Key. Call 941.350.5035 or 800.789.6580.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

"Eclectic"

"Electric" is defined as selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles and the Curry Creek Café does just that. They take the best in various types of cooking styles and serve them up with a hometown feel.

Housed in a diner-style building on Tamiami Trail South in Nokomis, just South of Casey Key this little-known gem is anything but "diner style'. Once you get past the building and its dirt parking lot you will find some of the most outstanding food in Sarasota County.

The dining area is small but its charm is immediately felt with the vintage photos and memorabilia from the area. The food is nothing short than amazing. Chef/owner David Arbuckle is a Nokomis native who left the area to become an award-winning chef. His wife, Rofie, is from Indonesia, and though fairly new to the restaurant business, adds her signature to the menu with her wonderful egg rolls, coconut milk shrimp curry, jasmine rice, and traditional rendang (a beef stew).

Between Rofie's Indonesian dishes and Chef David's creativeness with the more traditional favorites such as meatloaf, lamb chops, and crab cakes, this is a restaurant not be missed.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group / RE/MAX Alliance Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota Barrier Islands of Casey Key. Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Manasota Key, Island of Venice, and Lido Key. Call 941.350.5035 or 1-800-789-6580

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

Another season comes to and end. We saw the last of the plays at the Asolo Repertory Theatre Friday night for 08-09 season. "Souvenir" is the last of the plays for this year. Souvenir will run through June 28 and I highly recommend Souvenir if you have time to go see it and can get a ticket.

"Souvenir" is a Fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins a musical play by Stephen Temperley directed by Vivian Matalon.

Florence one of many performers in the past fifty years that audiences can't get enough of. Reality television shows American Idol and Americans Got Talent bring this same idea into the present era.

Asolo Repertory is Florida's premier professional theatre, offers the highest quality in live theatre entertainment. Just another reason we say Sarasota has so much to offer.

And when it comes to making an offer there is no one better to make it for you than the Herron Group, Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-350-5035.

The Asolo has a unique partnership with Florida State University and is located right outside The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art. This is a lovely older area of Sarasota "The Museum Area" which is made up of Indian Beach and Sapphire Shores that run along Sarasota Bay just south of the Museum and North of Downtown Sarasota.

The Herron Group would enjoy showing you homes in this area and along Sarasota's Bay front and downtown condos which are all just a short distance from the Asolo and other wonderful happenings that Sarasota has to offer.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

Casey Key is laden with hidden treasures; gems of nature and community that makes this island truly home. Residents don't even seem to mind that the Blackburn Point swing bridge is out for repairs; it gives everyone a chance to drive the isle from tip to top-eight miles of beauty and neighbors; yards in full bloom; palm trees reminding us of the tropical delight that is Casey Key, Florida.

Just the other day, I took a guest for a joyride from one end of the island to the other. The sun was shining; breezes blowing; and Casey Key was looking her finest. Since the bridge was out, we turned the convertible around in the parking lot of the Casey Key Library. I'd never been inside before, so on a spur-of-the-moment impulse, we ventured in.

Neighbor and volunteer librarian Connie Davis was behind the desk, and her warm welcome made us feel right at home. We learned that the Casey Key Library is a not-for-profit corporation, founded by resident Marion Shaw in her spacious garage in 1984. This is a computer-free, friendly operation complete with a card catalog and self check-out. The library is stocked with hardcover bestsellers, most under two years old. A community room in the library hosts meetings and events. The library is open to residents of Casey Key who are members of the Casey Key Library Association, and has become a social gathering place for residents and friends.

The Casey Key Library not only keeps residents stocked with delightful reading materials, it also serves the community in many ways. The library board plans a few fundraisers each year, fine social events that raise funds for literacy programs and local schools. As we visited with Connie, I noticed on her desk a book by a local author and Casey Key resident Jack Perkins, formerly with NBC and A&E. It was the charming and visually stunning "Island Prayers," a collection of photographs and reflections that paid homage to nature and its creator. Such a fitting book to read later as I enjoyed another sunset on Casey Key, Florida.

Living on Casey Key, Florida, truly creates a lifestyle that dreams are made of, and the Casey Key Library simply adds to the dream of this welcoming, inspiring community. Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group RE/MAX Alliance Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota's Barrier Island of Casey Key. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream