SRQ DAILY Sep 14, 2026
Monday Business Edition
"This space is more of a collaborative space for folks to come in and create new ideas, and for us to create content for them."
Next-Mark is beginning its next chapter in a new space. The Sarasota-based marketing agency officially moved into a new office in downtown Sarasota at 2033 Main Street after many years on Palm Avenue. A September 10 open house ushered in this transition, and Next-Mark president JT Grano says the new office is designed to reflect where Next-Mark is headed as an agency.
“We’re very excited to welcome our home to everyone,” Grano says, praising the new office’s central location. “We have more space to work with, and it’s a larger footprint from an office perspective.”
At this full-service marketing agency, Grano leads his team from both a client success perspective and a sales perspective. He says Next-Mark’s process begins with a client audit to review progress and goals, followed by creating a plan of action and assessing the client’s digital footprint and social media presence.
“We do everything from email campaigns to website-building, and we do everything in-house,” Grano says.
One of the biggest additions to the company’s new Main Street location is a dedicated in-house green screen filming studio, which gives the team a space to create content for clients right in the office. Grano says this studio space promotes opportunities for video and podcast content.
“We’re excited to stay in downtown Sarasota,” he says. “This space is more of a collaborative space for folks to come in and create new ideas, and for us to create content for them.”
Next-Mark, 2033 Main St., Sarasota, 941-587-1055, next-mark.com 
Pictured: On September 10, Next-Mark celebrated its new downtown Sarasota location with an open house. Photo by Next-Mark.
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP), which is advocating for the preservation and rehabilitation of the historic Blackburn Point Swing Bridge in Osprey, FL, has released a technical review examining rehabilitation as an alternative to Sarasota County staff’s proposed replacement of the nearly century-old bridge. The review, conducted by a national historic bridge restoration firm, concludes that the bridge can instead be rehabilitated—and at substantially less cost to taxpayers. Sarasota County transportation staff and consultants cite the bridge’s condition, the difficulty of repairing the aging structure and public safety concerns, including the need for more space for pedestrians and cyclists, as reasons for recommending replacement. SAHP contends that rehabilitation of the existing bridge has not been adequately considered.
Provided photo.
Sarasota County Schools is proud to announce that Sarasota County Schools Police Department (SCSPD) Chief of Police Tim Enos has been appointed to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse Advisory Board (MEPICAB). Created in 1996, the MEPICAB’s original focus was to address issues involving Florida’s missing children. In 2008 legislation expanded the MEPICAB’s scope of work to include missing endangered adults and seniors. “I am honored to join the MEPICAB,” said SCSPD Chief of Police Tim Enos. “Their vision aligns with that of our school district; we each lead in our respective fields and strive to ensure that the children, families, and communities we serve receive the absolute best care. I look forward to collaborating with, and learning from, fellow members as we work together to protect Florida’s citizens.”
Suffolk, one of the most innovative and successful builders in the country, has strengthened its Gulf Coast leadership team with the promotions of Robert “Trey” Black to Executive Vice President of Gulf Coast Operations and Matt Smith to Chief Operating Officer, Central Florida, along with additional promotions within its Tampa and Sarasota operations. The appointments strengthen Suffolk’s leadership at a pivotal time for the region, as sustained population growth and investment drive demand for new healthcare, education, transportation and commercial development. These leadership advancements within the organization reflect Suffolk’s ability to attract experienced industry leaders, develop talent from within and create long-term career opportunities for the exceptional people who drive the company’s success.
Provided photo.
Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families thrive and keeping children out of foster care, has received an $8,000 grant from the Kayjan Charitable Fund of Manatee Community Foundation to support its Better Families program. The grant will help Better Together continue providing mentoring, coaching, connections to meaningful work opportunities, short-term care for children and other support services that strengthen families facing challenges such as unemployment, housing instability, social isolation and other barriers that can place children at risk. “Community partnerships are essential to helping families overcome obstacles and build brighter futures,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together.
Sarasota Opera’s Food & Wine Festival is an annual festive community event onstage at the historic Sarasota Opera House featuring a variety of local favorite eateries and bars offering tasty food samples and libations tastings! The event also include a live DJ, dancing, raffle, and a performance from our Youth Opera members. All in support of our nationally recognized Sarasota Youth Opera. At the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, Saturday, September 26, 2026. VIP Early Entry: 12:30 PM | $150 Per Person (Limited)General Admission: 1 PM | $75 Per Person in Advance | $85 Per Person at the Door
New College of Florida has announced the Fall 2026 schedule for the Markovitz Socratic Stage, its premier public speaker series. Designed to foster rigorous, open debate, the season connects audiences with leading intellectuals, scholars, jurists and national figures taking on the most consequential questions in American and global life. The series is more than a lecture series. It is a forum for conversation and civil discourse, where challenging ideas are presented, questioned and debated in an atmosphere that values free inquiry and thoughtful dialog. This fall, the season takes up America’s 250th anniversary, the history and law surrounding Israel, American education, artificial intelligence, family and human relationships, leadership and the legacy of Andrew Jackson.
Provided photo.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) celebrated a major milestone on Friday, September 4, with the 20th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast. The morning brought together community leaders, supporters, Club members, alumni, and partners to look back on two decades of leadership and look ahead to the next generation. Held at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, the IPG Leadership Breakfast highlighted its legacy in our community and the lasting impact it has had on young people. Since its beginning in 2006 with Community Youth Development (CYD), the IPG Leadership Breakfast has brought the community together to support one shared belief: when we invest in young people, we invest in the future of our community.
This long-term installation in Gallery 10 of the Museum of Art showcases five outstanding examples of 17th-century Dutch painting on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Featuring a dramatic seascape, an expansive landscape, and captivating portraits set in detailed interiors, this exhibition offers a window into the vibrant artistic production of the Netherlands as the small nation rose to global prominence in the 17th century. The five exceptional paintings from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, complement The Ringling's holdings of Dutch art and provide additional perspective on the artistry, historical significance, and continuing appeal of Dutch painting from this period.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Think while you drink! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes and specials each night. Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm. Gecko’s on Clark – Monday ; Gecko’s on SR64 & Stickney Point – Tuesday ; Gecko’s on Hillview – Wednesday.
Featuring works by such acclaimed modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Maria A. Guzman Capron explores the complexities of identity through vibrant figurative textiles. Drawing inspiration from her own multicultural heritage, the artist creates layered portraits of exuberant, multi-faceted characters.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Ever wonder what goes into creating a circus? The Ringling's Canvas City exhibit offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people who make the spectacular entertainment venues come to life, from tentmakers and photographers to costume designers. See over 1,500 pieces, including circus costumes, leotards, band uniforms, animal blankets and more. Costumes on view will be rotated throughout the year as museum registrars review the collection and add notes and new photography to their records.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Win prizes while you think, drink and enjoy fresh seafood and signature cocktails at Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar when Trivia Nation hosts Trivia Tuesdays. Test your knowledge across a variety of categories, bring your friends, family and coworkers, or jump in and join a team when you arrive. Win a $100 gift card every week and the admiration of your smartest friends.
Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar, 428 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota
From the smooth soul of Motown to the irresistible hooks of pop and R&B, this dynamic tribute spans the greatest classics from the 1960s through today. Relive beloved hits made famous by icons like The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Four Seasons and The Temptations. Featuring tight harmonies and charismatic showmanship, this energetic revue delivers constant hits and fresh takes on old favorites.
Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N Palm Ave., Sarasota
FST's resident improv team returns with Out of Bounds, an audience-favorite competition where two teams battle for laughs in a fast-paced series of games. Every scene is inspired by audience suggestions, and the winning team is up to the spectators to decide–and the method of voting is applause! This no-holds-barred comedy showdown runs 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
Bowne's Lab, 1265 1st St., Sarasota
Every Saturday and Sunday, Cask and Ale on Main Street lifts a toast and taps a toe to a delicious brunch with a diverse chef-prepared menu. Try the rotating chef's special menu, bottomless mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. On Sundays, hear live jazz music from 12pm-4pm.
Cask and Ale, 1548 Main St., Sarasota
Enjoy a delicious brunch offered every Sunday at Tripletail Seafood and Spirits on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room. The menu features a variety of dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent creme brulee French toast, steak and eggs, lobster benedict, crab and shrimp omelet and the Tripletail brunch burger. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or mimosa with the purchase of any entree.
Tripletail Seafood and Spirits, 4870 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
As Art Sarasota Center closes its centennial season and begins another century, it welcomes four artists and their works for the upcoming August and September season. Molly Duff-Clarke will showcase Home for Dinner, and curator Alecia Harper will present Shaping Sarasota: A Century of Art, which presents a chronological visual history spanning 100 years of creativity. Antoine Williams presents a new body of work that reimagines Black southern cultural folklore and traditions with Putting Breath in the Body. Finally, juror John Pirman presents the juried show, Icons.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
More than 30 Creative Liberties artists come together for a group exhibition showcasing the range of talent, styles and perspectives within the Creative Liberties community. An opening reception will be held on September 16 from 5pm-7pm.
Creative Liberties at ARCOS, 340 Central Ave., Sarasota
Facilitated by poet Doug Knowlton, Bookstore1Sarasota hosts an advanced poetry writing workshop every Wednesday this September. Expect close reading, generative exercises and thoughtful critique in this five-session, five-week program. Participants should come ready to share work and engage seriously with others' writing in a collaborative and supportive space. Tickets include a writing journal.
Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
A pioneering artist, world traveler and champion of women in the arts, Yoshida Fujio was one of the first Japanese women to receive formal training in Western-style painting and build an international career. Yoshida Fujio: Secret Gardens is the first exhibition in the southeastern United States devoted to this remarkable artist. It brings together a selection of woodblock prints and one painting spanning key moments in Fujio's long career, from her early naturalistic works to the striking abstractions of her later decades.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Dogs Inc invites the community to stop by 99 Bottles to grab a pint, meet future service and guide dogs and learn how to help change a life as a puppy raiser. Guests can talk to volunteer puppy raisers, hear from a local guide dog recipient and discover how they can play a role in Dogs Inc's life-changing mission. This is not a pet-friendly event.
99 Bottles Craft Beer and Wine Bar, 1445 2nd St., Sarasota
This two-week dining event at University Town Center features delicious deals from your favorite restaurants and dessert shops. Enjoy three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, plus sweet specials you won't want to miss. Participating restaurants include Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Blu Kouzina, Florence and The Spice Boys, Mademoiselle Paris, Selva Grill, Norman Love Confections and more.
University Town Center Sarasota, 210 N Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota
Celebrate 31 years of Anna Maria Oyster Bar's five-star fun for everyone with Rollback Day, bringing back throwback prices for one day as a thank-you to the guests and community who have supported AMOB for more than three decades. Guests can enjoy lighter-bite fish and chips, lighter-bite popcorn shrimp, hushpuppies, domestic drafts and house margaritas.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Locations
Back for its seventh year, the 2026 Modern Works Festival is a two-week celebration of new play development and women in theater. With a festival pass, you gain all-access entry to the work in progress, including staged readings of finalist plays, a kickoff celebration, guest speaker events, artist performances and post-show conversations that bring audiences and creators into direct dialogue. Tea Time by Erika MacDonald is this year's headlining production.
Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St., Sarasota
Don't miss William Shakespeare's timeless comedy of love, identity and finding yourself in unexpected places. The play delivers one of The Bard's most hopeful messages: people can change, grow and discover who they truly are. Experience wit, romance and how theatre can be a place where humanity explores itself.
The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
SCS College Night brings together colleges, universities, technical programs and military representatives from across the country to help students and families explore postsecondary options. This event is open to all high school students, grades 9-12, and their families. Meet with admissions representatives, learn about financial aid, explore career and technical education pathways, discover careers in the military and ask questions about admissions, housing and campus life.
Suncoast Technical College, 4748 S Beneva Rd., Sarasota
Play for a cause this September in support of the Venice YMCA with this charity golf classic. Golfers of all skill levels are invited to tee off with a shot gun start at 8:30am, with lunch to follow. Build community and camaraderie with fun games and prizes throughout the day. Proceeds support children, families and individuals in the Venice community.
Plantation Golf and Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd, Venice
Sketch, sip and socialize at Art Center Sarasota's Evening Figure Drawing, launching this September as part of the new Creative Happy Hour series. Spend a relaxed, inspiring evening sketching from a live, costumed model in a welcoming atmosphere. All experience levels are welcome. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Join Keep Manatee Beautiful at River Club Golf Course for a tournament that brings together local businesses, community leaders and golfers. The event features 18 holes, on-course contests and prizes, food, refreshments and networking opportunities. Proceeds from the tournament will support Keep Manatee Beautiful's year-round programs, including community cleanups, tree plantings and environmental education.
The River Club, 6600 River Club Blvd, Lakewood Ranch
Get up close and personal with some adorable capybaras—meet them, feed them and snap some photos! Enjoy a free coffee or beverage served by Rise N Grind Coffee Co., as well as a free pastry or breakfast treat. This event has limited availability and sells out fast.
Big Cat Habitat, 7101 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota
Help protect Sarasota's coastal wildlife from one of the deadliest forms of marine debris. The cleanup welcomes boaters, kayakers, students and community volunteers to target discarded fishing lines, hooks, lures and other fishing debris that can entangle and kill seabirds and marine wildlife. Students can earn community service hours, and a light lunch will be provided to registered participants. Wear heavy, closed-toed shoes that can get wet, and opt for clothing that covers your arms and legs to ensure comfort and protection.
Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota
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