Sarasota Comic Con

Beat the heat this summer on August 13th, at the Carlisle Inn and Conference Center, the SarasotaCon - Pop Culture show will be on display from 10:00am to 5:00pm. What better way to indulge in your favorite comic book and pop culture fandom than at Florida’s truest comic convention that features attractions for fans of all ages and genres. Admission to the event is $20 and children 11 and under are let in for free - the convention will have panels and sessions with people such as comic book artist Graham Nolan - the creator of Bane - famous TV vehicles including ‘Baby’ from Supernatural, a cosplay contest, and over 80 vendors and guests. Click for more. 

Selby Gardens: Seeing the Invisible

This summer, explore a whole new world - a world that fits inside the palm of your hand, yet is only visible when on the Historic Spanish Point Campus of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Sounds impossible? That’s because it should be. On view at the Selby Gardens until August is Seeing the Invisible - an augmented reality exhibition that features art works of 13 contemporary artists, including Refik Anadol, El Anatsui, Pamela Rosenkranz, and Ai Weiwei, superimposed on the Garden’s verdant grounds. Seeing the Invisible was initiated by the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens and Outset Contemporary Art Fund, and is co-curated by Hadas Maor and Tal Michael Haring, with support of the Jerusalem Foundation. While Selby Gardens is one of 12 botanical gardens around the world showcasing this augmented reality exhibition, the size, scale, and curation of the works are tailored specifically to Selby’s campus. Visitors can view the art through an app on their smartphones or hand-held devices - magical windows to transport you to an entirely different world. 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236 and 337 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229.

Suncoast Summer Fest



This summer, decide to be a part of something bigger than yourself - to give back to your community and to those around you. Giving back doesn’t have to mean giving up, however. With the Suncoast Summer Fest, which runs from June 24th to July 10th, there’s no need to give up on all that the area has to offer - participants can indulge themselves in the splendors of our local paradise while still contributing to a good cause. Proceeds from the Suncoast Summer Fest go towards Suncoast Charities for Children - charities that provide direct financial support to several local non-profit agencies that run programs and services to children, teens, and adults with special needs. Start the week off with the July 4th Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular before joining the weekend fun at the Blast on the Bay Charity Fun run on Friday July 8th and attending the Waves and Wheels party on Saturday evening, July 9th. The Blast on the Bay Charity Fun Run features power boats racing to five different locations on the Sarasota Bay to collect “poker hands”, the five best of which are awarded a cash prize after the event. In the past two years alone, the Fun Run has raised over $80,000 dollars for Suncoast charities for children. Click for more.