Amber Bixby opened ALEUR Event Collective earlier this year, inspired by her past experiences and passion for connecting people. Aleur offers a private event space with planning, design and dining elements included as additional options. The venue is available for a variety of events, including weddings, rehearsal dinners, galas, corporate retreats and networking events.

With a “soft industrial” style, the venue has a neutral, bright main space with an additional library and garden, providing both indoor and outdoor spaces. Bixby notes that the neutral colors allow clients the flexibility to make the event their own.

Owned and operated by Bixby, her husband and her parents, Aleur brings a unique atmosphere to the Sarasota event-venue industry. “We were always on the lookout for a downtown industrial-type space,” she says. “So once we saw this building come up for sale, we acted on it quickly, and we just completely renovated the whole space.”

Bixby brings more than eight years of experience in the event venue industry, having previously owned a venue in Parish. “I definitely value making that personal connection with people,” she says. “These big events, especially with weddings, only happen once. So I try to make that personal connection and really work with them through the process. A lot of venues are very corporate, but we really walk our client through the whole process, through their whole event.”

Looking ahead, Bixby says she is excited to help clients make lifelong memories. “It’s wonderful to become a bigger part of the community now. Being downtown, we get to support all the other local businesses, help people with their missions and provide a space where they make core memories.”

ALEUR Event Collective, 1001 Central Ave, Sarasota, www.aleursrq.com 

Pictured: The venue offers both indoor and outdoor event space. Photo provided by Amber Bixby.

Two years after relocating to a larger storefront, Pineapple Lain has only continued to grow. The store outgrew its original 900-square-foot location on Pineapple Avenue and expanded to a 1900-square-foot space on Main Street, highlighting the boutique's hopes for the future.

This growth, however, was never a part of a rigid plan. “I just decided one day…I don’t want to do this for anyone else anymore,” says Aleshia Serianni, owner of Pineapple Lain Boutique. She explains that Pineapple Lain was more of a spontaneous decision.

Like many working parents, Serianni struggled to balance working full-time with being able to experience her children grow up. “I wanted to spend more time with my kids,” she says, “I just feel like I was never there.” After years of working long hours and missing moments with her family, Serianni took an impulsive leap and turned her online boutique into a physical storefront.

Over the years, Serianni has been working to refine the store’s identity. “You can’t sell to everybody…you kind of have to find your niche,” she says. Pineapple Lain now reflects the relaxed, coastal lifestyle of Sarasota, with styles that are “super casual…beachy, boho.” Serianni says it's important to focus on who the clientele actually is. “Our girl lives by the beach…or she’s on vacation to the beach,” she explains.

Still, what makes Pineapple Lain Boutique stand out is not just its clothing, but its atmosphere. “We want people to feel like they are returning home to a long-lost friend,” Serianni says, “We are super casual here, and laid back.” She explains that her goal is to get to know her customers by their first names and establish a rapport with them. She wants Pineapple Lain to be a store where “a woman would come in and feel welcomed.”

Now, in its larger space, Pineapple Lain is focused on building a strong team. “We need a lot more hands-on help…that way, it’ll be easier for us when we decide to grow in the future.” The move is a new chapter, but Pineapple Lain is still working to make customers feel at home.

1451 Main St, Sarasota, 941-330-8771, pineapplelain.com

Pictured: Pineapple Lain boasts a bright, modern interior with outfits for any beach day in Sarasota. Photo Credit: Pineapple Lain 2024.

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HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital is hosting a community event featuring the latest robotic technology surgeons are using in the operating room. Residents will get to try out the controls of one of the newest surgical robotics and hear from local surgeon Wesley Hendricks, D.O. on how he is using the technology in the operating room. Venice area high school students interested in medical careers have also been invited to attend the event and speak with operating room nurses and surgeons about careers in the medical field.

Wednesday, April 22 11:30am – 1:30pm Hotel Venezia, 425 US 41 Bypass North, Venice. 

Stephanie Conners, MBA, BSN, RN, president and CEO of BayCare Health System, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Louise Whitfield Carnegie Award for Leadership Excellence in Healthcare by the TIAA Institute. Sponsored by the TIAA Institute and presented in partnership with Becker’s Healthcare, the award, which will be given annually, recognizes a senior health care executive who is setting a higher standard through values-driven leadership, strong workforce practices and measurable community impact. 

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Up to half of heart surgery patients develop atrial fibrillation (AFib) following heart surgery, a common complication that increases their risk of stroke, heart failure and quality of life. Sarasota Memorial is working to address that challenge, joining 75 research sites in the U.S. and abroad testing a proactive surgical approach designed to prevent AFib from impacting patients after surgery. The local study is led by Jeffrey Sell, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon with SMH’s First Physicians Group, with the research team at SMH’s Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.  

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A newly released report shows 75% of lung cancers in an innovative early detection program at Sarasota Memorial are being diagnosed at the earliest, most treatable stages (I and II) -- greatly surpassing state and national averages. Please see our news release below explaining how human and artificial intelligence are working together to flag high-risk patients and “incidental” findings across more than 430,000 radiology tests at SMH each year – and dramatically improve patients’ chances of survival. For more information, visit: www.smh.com. 

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is set to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Prescription Drug Take Back Campaign on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will take place at the SCSO headquarters, located at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., Sarasota.This initiative addresses and draws attention to critical public safety, health, and environmental concerns, as studies indicate that most abused prescription drugs are sourced from family and friends, often through home medicine cabinets. The medication turn-in process is entirely anonymous, and the event will accept solid dosage medications, including prescription and over-the-counter tablets and capsules. Please note that liquids and needles are not eligible for disposal. The sheriff’s office maintains a permanent drop box in the lobby of its headquarters, available seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and at the SCSO south county office at 4531 Annex Rd., Venice, daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Other local law enforcement agencies with drop boxes will also join this national initiative to encourage and publicize proper medication disposal.  

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