This past week, Nathan Benderson Park proved once again why it is one of the top rowing venues in the sport. From March 26 to 28, Nathan Benderson hosted the 2026 Sarasota 2K – Sun, Rowing, and Rivalry, a regatta featuring some of the top men’s and women’s collegiate rowing programs.

“This is probably the best course in North America,” says Paul Cooke, Men’s Crew Head Coaching Chair at Brown University. “To be able to come down here to this venue, to race against this level of competition in such fair conditions is special. Even the practices are better—the guys are excited to race.”

The Sarasota 2K, previously known as the IRA Sarasota Invitational, was the launching pad for Nathan Benderson Park’s reputation as a world class rowing venue. Originally catering to a smaller number of Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) schools, the Sarasota 2K has blossomed into a regatta that tests the mettle of the nation’s top teams. This year’s regatta featured a slew of Ivy League powerhouses such Brown, Harvard and Yale as well as former national champions and current contenders like the University of Washington, Stanford, Northeastern University and more. Florida powerhouses University of Central Florida (UCF), University of Miami and Stetson University also competed in the Sarasota 2K.

“This is the first original event that ever happened at the park,” says Bruce C. Patneaude, COO of Nathan Benderson Park. “It started out as a FIRA event and has only grown since then. What’s different about this regatta is that most of our events are youth-sports focused and this is actually collegiate. This is the next-level of competition that youth rowers get to see firsthand.”

With the competitive, “championship” stretch of the collegiate rowing season running from March to late May, the Sarasota 2K offered the chance for coaches to get an honest assessment of where their programs stand at this point in the year. Both the men’s and women’s competition featured repeat winners from 2025, with Washington winning the Benderson Cup on the men’s side and UCF taking home the trophy for the women.

Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, 34235 

Spectators watch the Sarasota 2K from the beach at Nathan Benderson. Photo by Joe Meischke Jr.

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Speakers from local, state, and federal agencies will lead the Community Conversation: Hurricane Preparedness on Saturday, April 11, hosted by Sarasota County at Riverview High School, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota. Speakers will share vital information on disaster preparedness, hurricane season forecasts, and insights from previous seasons. Speakers include: Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief, Kevin Guthrie, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director, Daniel Brown, National Hurricane Center Hurricane Specialist Unit Branch Chief. More information on the speakers can be found at scgov.net/CommunityConversations.  

This beloved classic has delighted audiences across the globe for over six decades. Tevye, the village milkman, is trying to provide his wife and their five daughters a life filled with prosperity, faith, and tradition. But more than one revolution is on the horizon and everything they have come to cherish hangs in the balance. One of the most beloved musicals of all time makes its long-awaited debut on the Asolo Rep stage. New York Sunday News calls it “One of the great works of the American Musical theatre. It is a work of art.” 

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Since the hurricanes, Sea Horse owners and staff have been thoughtfully renewing the quiet, 36-unit boutique resort—merging a new look and amenities with old Florida charm and hospitality. The Sea Horse is a great place for peaceful morning beach walks, sunset watching, poolside lounging, and fully unwinding. Every unit is literally on the Gulf – you cannot get closer to the surf anywhere else on the island. Amenities include a heated Gulf-side pool, private beach access, local partner discounts, and much more. The Sea Horse features fully equipped studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units to call your own. 3-night minimum. 941.383.2417. 

Celebrate Earth Day with us this Saturday, April 4th, from 11–3pm at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime!  We’ve got a beautiful lineup of local eco-heroes joining the fun. Take a stroll across the street for a guided tour of the Limelight Community Garden and snag a sweet little seeded pot (while supplies last). The Butterfly Club will be fluttering in with live caterpillars on display plus butterfly-friendly plants for sale. You’ll also get to connect with amazing organizations like Friends of Myakka River, Suncoast Waterkeepers and Save Our Manatee. Come soak up some sunshine, listen to live music with Suzanne Lucas, learn something new and celebrate this lovely planet with us! www.BazaaronApricotandLime.com 

On Monday, March 30, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School (CDS) first graders hand-delivered 50 care bags across town to reach some of the community's most vulnerable kids and families. The 16 kids who made the delivery assembled the bags with the help of other grades earlier this month during "Mitch-vah Day," CDS's annual day of service held in memory of Mitch Blumenthal, a beloved former CDS Board of Trustees President known for his generous spirit. The bags they assembled included toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, and other hygiene items, along with a handmade calming jar—a glitter-filled sensory tool that kids could use to settle nerves. Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast placed the bags from CDS directly into the hands of children and families in need. JFCS of the Suncoast serves children, families, seniors, and veterans across the region. The care bags will be distributed to children currently receiving services through the agency. 

The Reid House Kids Book Fair will bring together families, authors, and community members for a celebration of literacy, culture, and creativity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 at the historic Leonard Reid House, located at 2529 N. Orange Avenue. The event is in conjunction with Newtown’s annual Spring Fling Easter parade along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The book fair highlights the importance of reading while uplifting Black stories and storytellers. Featured activities are live entertainment, spoken word performances, storytelling, face painting, bounce houses, vendors, an Easter egg hunt, and opportunities to meet local authors. Free books and holiday treats will be distributed to children.
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Book donations are welcome. For more information please call Melanie Thomas (941) 744-7314 or email aaccsrq@gmail.com. 

On April 7 at New College of Florida’s Sainer Pavilion, William Von Hippel, bestselling author as seen on The Joe Rogan Experience, and New College professor Cory Clark join the Socratic Stage to ask a foundational question: Did the human mind evolve? Blending evolutionary theory with modern psychology, the discussion examines what natural selection may explain about cognition, behavior, and social life and where the evidence remains contested. The event offers a lively, inquiry-led forum for anyone curious about what shaped the way we think. 

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Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is thrilled to announce that A Night with Janis Joplin, an electrifying concert-style celebration of the legendary singer and the artists who inspired her, has been extended again by audience demand. Created and written by Randy Johnson, this Tony-nominated musical will now run through April 26, 2026, in FST’s Keating Theatre. Subscriptions and single tickets are available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling 941-366-9000. 

Due to ongoing drought conditions, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Governing Board voted on Tuesday, March 24 to declare a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, which requires all Sarasota County residents to irrigate under limited hours. Sarasota County residents should continue to only water on their assigned watering day and watering hours are reduced to 12:00 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows. Additionally, beginning on Friday, April 17, SWFWMD has directed Sarasota County and all other counties affected to begin issuing citations without warning to protect remaining water supply.  

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Wellen Park was named the best overall development in Sarasota and Manatee counties during the 2026 Suncoast Builders Association Parade of Homes. The annual event, which celebrates innovation and beautiful home design across the region, also recognized multiple neighborhoods and builders within Wellen Park. Brightmore, the 55+ neighborhood within Wellen Park was named best overall community, and 11 model homes earned best overall honors in their price ranges. Model homes in Wellen Park are open daily. Check hours of operation for each builder on wellenpark.com.

360 Orthopedics announces the addition of orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. George S. Ibrahim, who begins seeing patients on March 30, 2026. He specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, disc replacement, and the treatment of neck and back conditions, with a focus on addressing the root cause of pain and restoring function. The practice has recently expanded its physician team with the addition of interventional pain management specialist Dr. Douglas Constant and orthopedic joint surgeon Dr. William A. Mahoney. Dr. Gregory Farino has also returned as an affiliate provider, now seeing patients for hand and wrist care. With specialists across spine, joints, pain management, and hand and wrist, 360 Orthopedics offers a complete continuum of orthopedic care across its Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice locations, improving access to coordinated treatment for patients throughout Southwest Florida.

360 Orthopedics, 5741 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 400, Sarasota, 360-orthopedics.com