Hello Friends,

Nothing compares to spending the holidays in Sarasota, where the soft Gulf breeze carries the scent of pine and salt air. Mornings start slow with coffee on the lanai, watching the sun glitter across the bay while everyone argues over who has to brave the kitchen for cinnamon rolls.

By afternoon we’re piled into boats or sprawled across Siesta Key, barefoot and laughing, building lopsided sandmen wearing Santa hats while the kids hunt for shark teeth instead of snowflakes. Evenings bring the glow of boat parade lights dancing on the water, parties on St. Armands, and tables filled with stone crab, smoked mullet, and way too much pie.

In Sarasota, this time of year feel less like a season and more like one endless, sun warmed hug from the people you love most—no coats required. Does it get any better! From my family to yours, may you enjoy every moment of this holiday season.

Debbie McHardy

FEATURED LISTINGS

CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS ON ANY OF THESE PROPERTIES.

VILLAGE GREEN OF BRADENTON

902 68TH ST. W., #902 • BRADENTON, FL 34209

2BR/2BA | 1,450 SF | $344,000

Discover effortless Florida living in this stunning fully updated 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa located just minutes from the Gulf beaches and the vibrant charm of Anna Maria Island.

Contact me for more information.

FAIRWAY BAY

1928 HARBOURSIDE DR., #1403 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228

2BR/2.5BA | 1,590 SF | $745,000

Are you looking for a RESORT home with spacious rooms, fine finishes, vaulted ceilings and the convenience of a condo community with bay and beach access? Look no further. Luxury and style

await in this beautifully updated townhouse, located behind the gates of the exclusive Bay Isles resort.

Contact me for more information.

WINDWARD BAY

4976 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #18 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228

3BR/2BA | 1,900 SF | $735,000

This spacious waterfront villa lives like a single-family home yet offers the ease of maintenance-free

living! Enjoy breathtaking Sarasota Bay and canal views from this 1,900 sq. ft. residence—the largest

in the community.

Contact me for more information.

MARKET UPDATE

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Local development group Jebcore Companies and WMG Development, in partnership with Hilton, have announced plans for the Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota, an 18-story luxury residential tower. The project, located at 1390 Main Street and 40 South Pineapple Avenue, will involve the demolition of the 12-story Zenith Building—a structure built in 1972 that has long drawn criticism for its bulky profile and deep setbacks. WMG Development acquired the 1.19-acre property, including its attached parking structure, for $24 million in 2023. The new tower, designed by ODP Architecture & Design with interiors by Workshop/APD, will feature 86 private residences, spanning one- to five-bedroom units and penthouses. It will introduce the Waldorf Astoria brand to the Sarasota market for the first time. Sales will officially launch in late January 2026.

AROUND TOWN

Selby Announces Groundbreaking on Phase 2

With fundraising nearly complete for the second phase of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ master plan, groundbreaking is planned on Dec. 2 on the penultimate stage of the Downtown Sarasota campus’ reimagining. Forming the centerpiece of the latest phase, the new Conservatory Complex will serve as a hub for more than 20,000 plants from Selby’s research collections. The building will broaden public-viewing access to the collection from a sliver currently to nearly its entirety. The Learning Pavilion will feature enhanced facilities for all of Selby Gardens’ education programs.

Hart’s Landing to be Rebuilt…

After serious damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year, the City’s popular waterfront bait shop, Hart’s Landing, was razed earlier this week. The City’s intent is to restore the docks and rebuild the Hart’s Landing structure. Environmental protection and resiliency will be key components, requiring design plans and the permit approval process with several agencies. The history of Hart’s Landing dates back to the 1920s when the Hart family operated a bait shop. In the early ‘60s, it was located in the Golden Gate Point area. With bridge construction expected to displace the bait shop, the City of Sarasota agreed to build a new structure adjacent to the Ringling Bridge Causeway with a formal agreement that the Hart family would operate it. Hart’s Landing has been a fixture in our coastal community for a century. Many of us have fond memories fishing and boating there and more recently, enjoying it as a live music venue.

Mote Reports Record Sea Turtle Nesting Numbers

Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) documented a historic nesting season in 2025, with 5,735 total nests recorded along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches, from Longboat Key to Venice. This marks the highest number of nests ever recorded in Mote’s 43-year monitoring history. Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), a threatened species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, made up the vast majority of nests (5,384), followed by green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), which accounted for 351 nests. Sarasota County occasionally hosts rare nests from Kemp’s ridley and leatherback turtles as well. And in an uncommon occurrence, the STCRP team found nests incubating into November this year.

The Annual Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights is a not to be missed signature Sarasota event. The crowd-pleasing parade was started in 1986 and takes place December 13th, around 7 p.m. The Parade route starts at City Island, cruising across Sarasota Bay to south under the Ringling Bridge and across Sarasota’s Bayfront park. About 25 spectacularly decorated and lighted boats make their way to delight and help brighten the holiday mood of those on shore and will parade in front of Marina Jack and Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota.

December 4, 2025: Celebrate the holiday season at The Ringling during Holiday Splendor and help support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Repeats December 11, 2025. Courtyard, Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota.

December 5, 2025: 47th Annual Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armand’s Circle and illumination of the Christmas Tree – 5:30 PM.

December 6, 2025: The 29th Annual Sarasota Holiday Parade in downtown Sarasota kicks off at 7 p.m. The Parade route runs along Main Street.

December 6 – January 3. 2026: More than two million lights shine and twinkle brightly during the Selby Gardens annual “Lights in Bloom”. Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound Street, Sarasota.

December 13, 2025 : Annual Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights  at 7 p.m. and starts at City Island, cruising across Sarasota Bay to south under the Ringling Bridge and across Sarasota’s Bayfront park.

December 14, 2025: Enjoy the 14th Annual Taste of Chanukah Food & Music Festival, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

December 30 – 31, 2025: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in downtown Sarasota! Annual Sarasota New Year’s Eve Pineapple Drop, beginning at 10 a.m. Selby 5 Points Park. The annual downtown celebration is estimated to attract more than 20,000 – 25,000 guests. Downtown Sarasota.