Hurricane Helene hit St. Armands hard. At Café L’Europe, four feet of water climbed to the bottom of the bar—tables, chairs and kitchen equipment, all unsalvageable. Jason Simpson, Assistant General Manager, got the call after Christmas: two weeks to reopen. “We were faced with a really difficult decision after such a tragic event,” he says, “on a quick turnaround.”

After 52 years as Café L’Europe, a special occasion staple, the storm forced an evolution. Simpson and Eleni Sokos, his life and business partner and Executive Vice President of Oysters Rock Hospitality, had run Kefi Streetside Cafe in Bradenton before taking the reins. “We didn’t want to lose our legacy,” Simpson says. “It was important to a lot of people.” Legacy dishes, like the French Onion soup and Grouper Toastie, stayed. Café on St. Armands opened in January 2025 with a vibrant, modern menu, a walk-up coffee bar to boot. Ninety-five percent of staff returned.

Bistro chairs face foot traffic, turquoise umbrellas shade the lively patio, doors open to the renewed circle beyond. The menu travels the Mediterranean coast from Sicilian caponata to Greek souvlaki, Lobstercargot to Moroccan sliders. Flatbreads share space with Benedicts at breakfast. For refreshers, try a Negroni-Aperol cocktail or endless mimosas with blood orange and prosecco.

Sundays bring the OG. Each morning, they slow roast a prime rib in a Dijon rub loaded with an aromatic Tuscan blend of thyme, sage, juniper, rosemary, fennel and lavender. By 11 a.m., the crust is mahogany, crackled at the edges, the interior a flushed pink. Served with mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels, horseradish and au jus, the plate arrives homey. The beef is mineral, fat gone silky from three hours in the oven.

“Sunday roast has always been a thing in many families, “ Simpson says. The Café’s offering was conceived for residents looking to go out without forgoing the comfort of a Sunday dinner. “We’re hoping this will catch on and become something that people count on.”

Café on St. Armands, Tues-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-9pm, 431 St. Armand’s Circle, Sarasota. 

Pictured: Prime Rib at Cafe St. Armands. Credit: Oysters Rock Hospitality.

Wahlburgers, the iconic burger brand founded by brothers  Mark, Donnie and Chef Paul Wahlberg, recently opened on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Sarasota  Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), bringing its crave-worthy menu and heartfelt hospitality  to travelers on the go. Inspired by the flavors the brothers grew up with, the menu celebrates their shared passion for comfort food done right. Guests can enjoy burgers made with 100% Certified Angus Beef®,  including favorites such as The Our Burger, O.F.D. Burger (Originally from “Dorchestah”), The  BBQ Bacon Burger, and the Crispy Chicken Ranch, alongside with breakfast offerings. Whether grabbing a quick bite before boarding or settling in to relax, Wahlburgers delivers an airport dining experience that goes well beyond the usual grab-and-go. For more information, visit wahlburgers.com. 

Sarasota County has once again been recognized for its commitment to environmental stewardship, earning designation as a Tree City USA community for the 42nd consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information on Sarasota County tree protection programs, dial 311 or visit www.scgov.net 

Spring continues with a vibrant mix of art, community and creative exploration at Creative Liberties, beginning with Art Crawl Trolley Night on Friday, April 10, 3–6 p.m., when the organization joins the citywide art crawl through Sarasota’s Limelight District. Guests will gather at Creative Liberties’ studios at 901B Apricot Avenue and 927 N. Lime Avenue before boarding the trolley for an afternoon of art discovery. Complimentary beer or wine will be available before boarding for guests age 21 and older, with wine and appetizers served at each gallery stop. Along the way, visitors can explore working studios, meet artists and perhaps discover the unexpected piece of art they didn’t know their home needed. Tickets and details are available at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.  

Please join us for a lecture by Lara M. Evans, PhD (Cherokee Nation) on abstraction and its application both in works of art and beyond the gallery walls. Lara M. Evans, PhD will explore the question “What does abstraction do?” in the context of current exhibition and catalog Ancestral Edge: Abstraction and Symbolism in the Works of Nine Native American Women Artists. Ola Wlusek, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, will provide an introduction and moderate a discussion following the talk.

Museum of Art | Chao Lecture Hall, $10 | $5 for Members. 

For ticket information click here.

The Sarasota Film Festival has set DEEP WATER, directed by Renny Harlin and produced by Gene Simmons to open the 2026 edition of the festival on April 10, 2026 with both set to attend the festival in person. The film, which opens in theaters on May 1 , features a cast led by Aaron Eckhart and Sir Ben Kingsley, alongside Molly Belle Wright, Angus Sampson, and Kelly Gale. In DEEP WATER, a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai goes down in the middle of the Pacific. After surviving the crash, the survivors soon discover they’re not alone and they must survive the shark infested waters. A full lineup and additional honorees will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the festival will be available for purchase beginning March 20 online and at the in-person box office at 332 Coconaut Avenue, (Corner office on cocoanut and 4th) open daily from 12PM-6PM until the commencement of the festival. Visit https://www.sarasotafilmfestival.com to purchase tickets and for further information on the 28th annual Sarasota Film Festival and all year-round programming. 

La Musica Chamber Music continues its 40th anniversary season with “Virtuosos: All Skill, All Heart, No Net,” on Monday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. Tickets are $65-70. A pre-concert talk with Wu Han and the musicians is 6:45-7:15 p.m. and is free for ticket holders. To purchase, call 941-347-9656 or visit LaMusica.org. This lively program showcases the dazzling artistry, spontaneity and expressive range that define chamber music at its finest. Audiences will enjoy Mozart’s sparkling "Flute Quartet in D Major," Haydn’s playful "Surprise Symphony” in an intimate chamber arrangement, Brahms’ spirited "Hungarian Dances" for piano four hands and Mendelssohn’s exuberant "Sextet in D Major." 

Grapevine Communications took home seven ADDY Awards from the Suncoast Chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) at the 2026 American Advertising Awards, held recently at the Ringling Sound Stages. The event celebrated excellence and creativity in advertising across multiple platforms. Grapevine earned an ADDY for every entry submitted, including Gold for a sales recruitment piece created for Preferred SHORE Real Estate, headquartered in Sarasota. The integrated marketing and communications agency also received Silver ADDYs across a diverse mix of categories, including website design, events, social media, and film, video, and sound. The American Advertising Awards attracts nearly 35,000 submissions annually through local AAF club competitions. Local winners advance to district-level judging among 15 AAF clubs across Florida and the Caribbean, with top honors moving on to the national competition.