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11-05-2009, 08:21 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Punta Gorda and Maryland
2,397 posts, read 1,267,110 times
Reputation: 265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smiledoc1
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Welcome back down Smiledoc!! Sounds like you aren't going to waste a minute! |
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11-05-2009, 11:41 AM
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The prelude to Terrapin
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: FL
2,585 posts, read 1,962,366 times
Reputation: 668
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Welcome back!  |
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11-06-2009, 09:09 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
401 posts, read 258,197 times
Reputation: 71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladywithafan
Welcome back! |
Thank you LWF and BH,
We saw Contact last night at the Asolo and thoroughly enjoyed it. The first vignette was a bit slow but the second half of the show was great. Tonight we see the Then Tenors at Van Wezel. Tomorrow the arts festival in Venice. Then some friends from Boynton Beach are visiting us for a few days beginning tomorrow night so we will do the Ringling Museum on Sunday and St. Armand's and Siesta Key on Monday.
We went to Munchies last night around 10:30 PM but it wasn't Mrs. Smiledoc1's kind of place. There was an outdoor food stand that was more her cup of tea. The fellow said that the Gulf Gate area was mobbed Halloween night and comes to life on the weekends after midnight. We're not big party people, but it might be worth a look. |
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11-06-2009, 03:53 PM
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Livin' it
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ♥State of the heart♥
1,058 posts, read 1,150,429 times
Reputation: 593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smiledoc1
Then some friends from Boynton Beach are visiting us for a few days beginning tomorrow night so we will do the Ringling Museum on Sunday and St. Armand's and Siesta Key on Monday.
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We'll be in Siesta Key one day later, on Tuesday. Gee Smiledoc, whenever I read your posts, I learn about even more cool things to do in the Sarasota area. Cannot wait for our trip!
You and Mrs. Smiledoc have a wonderful time! |
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11-06-2009, 04:56 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Punta Gorda and Maryland
2,397 posts, read 1,267,110 times
Reputation: 265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smiledoc1
Thank you LWF and BH,
We saw Contact last night at the Asolo and thoroughly enjoyed it. The first vignette was a bit slow but the second half of the show was great. Tonight we see the Then Tenors at Van Wezel. Tomorrow the arts festival in Venice. Then some friends from Boynton Beach are visiting us for a few days beginning tomorrow night so we will do the Ringling Museum on Sunday and St. Armand's and Siesta Key on Monday.
We went to Munchies last night around 10:30 PM but it wasn't Mrs. Smiledoc1's kind of place. There was an outdoor food stand that was more her cup of tea. The fellow said that the Gulf Gate area was mobbed Halloween night and comes to life on the weekends after midnight. We're not big party people, but it might be worth a look.
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The Arts Festival in Venice sounds kinda fun! Maybe we'll check that out! |
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11-09-2009, 02:52 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
401 posts, read 258,197 times
Reputation: 71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big House
The Arts Festival in Venice sounds kinda fun! Maybe we'll check that out!
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We enjoyed the Venice Arts Festival on Saturday. Good crowd and nice weather. On Saturday PM our friends came and we went to Mattison's on 41 for dinner after some wine and cheese here in VW. All four of us were disappointed in the food. I thought it would be superior to what it was. Four people, no drinks or appetizers or dessert came to $130 tax and tip. My steak, though tasty, was tough. The other three meals were just fair was well. Not terrible, but just fair.
Sunday AM we had some manly quiche for breakfast and the usual breakfast fare, courtesy of Mrs. Smiledoc1. Then we did the Ringling Museum for 5 hours. We skipped the art museum as my guests were wearing out a bit. Then we did a Longboat Key ride. They wanted to see Longboat Key, but perhaps I don't know the right spots to go as there isn't much to see from the main drag. We did go along some side streets. They were expecting something like Collins Ave in Miami. If anyone can educate me as to where to take guests to see Longboat Key, please enlighten me.
Then we did St. Armand's circle where the women poked into all the stores and us men folk sat and chit-chatted. A quick walk to see the sunset at Lido Beach, but the clouds made for a less than impressive view. Sad, because we really wanted to show our friends from Boynton Beach that SWF has spectacular sunsets. From there we went to Columbia for dinner. The atmosphere was nice, but I was again a bit disappointed in my meal. The food was good, but not great. I was angling for Cafe L'Europe, but the menu of Columbia appealed to the others. $170 including tax and tip for 4 meals, one pitcher of Sangria and 2 appetizers. I thought for the price, the food was just good, but not great.
Today after breakfast we hit Siesta Key Beach. The winds from tropical storm Ida were up to 30 MPH. But the sand was beautiful. Our friends aren't real beach people. Wind or not, I could have sat by the beach all day. We did a short walk on the beach. Then a ride to the Hillview area and the houses in that neighborhood. Those are some really spectacular houses. From there a ride to Yoder's and I tried to entice our friends into having a slice of pie, but Mrs. Smiledoc1 fed them heartily for breakfast. had I been able to worm them to the pie counter, I am sure I would have forced myself to get a piece.  Then a quick ride to Ed Smith Stadium to show them where the Orioles will be next spring training. I was under the impression that the stadium was to undergo a rehab, but it doesn't look to me as there is any action going on there. We returned back to VW around noon and they headed back to Boynton Beach.
Mrs. Smiledoc1 overbought on the food, so it looks like lots of cheese, eggs, olives, etc for the next few days. Then sadly back to cold central MA.
But only 7 more weeks until I am back again. Mrs and daughter driving down mid-December, son flying down XMas, daughter flying back just before New Years, me flying down after daughter comes back, here for a week plus and then driving back with Mrs and son. I hope I can hold out for 7 weeks. If you don't see a post from me after Xmas, then you know I didn't last.  
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11-09-2009, 05:12 PM
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Real Estate Agent
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: North Port
2,922 posts, read 2,031,206 times
Reputation: 505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smiledoc1
We enjoyed the Venice Arts Festival on Saturday. Good crowd and nice weather. On Saturday PM our friends came and we went to Mattison's on 41 for dinner after some wine and cheese here in VW. All four of us were disappointed in the food. I thought it would be superior to what it was. Four people, no drinks or appetizers or dessert came to $130 tax and tip. My steak, though tasty, was tough. The other three meals were just fair was well. Not terrible, but just fair.
Sunday AM we had some manly quiche for breakfast and the usual breakfast fare, courtesy of Mrs. Smiledoc1. Then we did the Ringling Museum for 5 hours. We skipped the art museum as my guests were wearing out a bit. Then we did a Longboat Key ride. They wanted to see Longboat Key, but perhaps I don't know the right spots to go as there isn't much to see from the main drag. We did go along some side streets. They were expecting something like Collins Ave in Miami. If anyone can educate me as to where to take guests to see Longboat Key, please enlighten me.
Then we did St. Armand's circle where the women poked into all the stores and us men folk sat and chit-chatted. A quick walk to see the sunset at Lido Beach, but the clouds made for a less than impressive view. Sad, because we really wanted to show our friends from Boynton Beach that SWF has spectacular sunsets. From there we went to Columbia for dinner. The atmosphere was nice, but I was again a bit disappointed in my meal. The food was good, but not great. I was angling for Cafe L'Europe, but the menu of Columbia appealed to the others. $170 including tax and tip for 4 meals, one pitcher of Sangria and 2 appetizers. I thought for the price, the food was just good, but not great.
Today after breakfast we hit Siesta Key Beach. The winds from tropical storm Ida were up to 30 MPH. But the sand was beautiful. Our friends aren't real beach people. Wind or not, I could have sat by the beach all day. We did a short walk on the beach. Then a ride to the Hillview area and the houses in that neighborhood. Those are some really spectacular houses. From there a ride to Yoder's and I tried to entice our friends into having a slice of pie, but Mrs. Smiledoc1 fed them heartily for breakfast. had I been able to worm them to the pie counter, I am sure I would have forced myself to get a piece. Then a quick ride to Ed Smith Stadium to show them where the Orioles will be next spring training. I was under the impression that the stadium was to undergo a rehab, but it doesn't look to me as there is any action going on there. We returned back to VW around noon and they headed back to Boynton Beach.
Mrs. Smiledoc1 overbought on the food, so it looks like lots of cheese, eggs, olives, etc for the next few days. Then sadly back to cold central MA.
But only 7 more weeks until I am back again. Mrs and daughter driving down mid-December, son flying down XMas, daughter flying back just before New Years, me flying down after daughter comes back, here for a week plus and then driving back with Mrs and son. I hope I can hold out for 7 weeks. If you don't see a post from me after Xmas, then you know I didn't last. |
Well there isn't a whole lot to "see" on Longboat. Most of it is walled off homes and condos. If you wanted to go out for a very nice dinner you could go to Euphemia Haye about midway down the island. Then if you went all the way down to the north end you could turn right on Broadway and drive around through the village. They have peacocks that roam the street down there. Then at the end of Broadway is Moore's Stone Crab on the bay and The Mar Vista. Two nice restaurants. Also on the north end if you go left on Broadway instead of right off Gulf of Mexico Dr, is Conrad Beach and Beer Can Island. That's about it for LBK not a whole lot to do.
If you want to sight see some nice homes go over in Harbor Acres next to downtown. It's around Hillview where you were. Also Casey Key has some pretty nice abodes as well.
Did you go into the Venice Art Center while you were at the festival? I just found out they had a show going on and my daughter won "best in show" for a painting she did.
Sounds like you've had a really great time while you were here 
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11-09-2009, 05:40 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Punta Gorda and Maryland
2,397 posts, read 1,267,110 times
Reputation: 265
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Smiledoc,
You've been pretty busy! That's great! I love having friends down. I get a lot of pleasure showing them all around, and taking them to see the sunsets, and enjoy the beaches, food, and wine!
I'll be heading back in little over a week, on and off again till Christmas. I'll be back after New Years for a till summer. I still want to catch up with you and your wife sometime.
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11-10-2009, 10:37 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
401 posts, read 258,197 times
Reputation: 71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SoFLGal
Well there isn't a whole lot to "see" on Longboat. Most of it is walled off homes and condos. If you wanted to go out for a very nice dinner you could go to Euphemia Haye about midway down the island. Then if you went all the way down to the north end you could turn right on Broadway and drive around through the village. They have peacocks that roam the street down there. Then at the end of Broadway is Moore's Stone Crab on the bay and The Mar Vista. Two nice restaurants. Also on the north end if you go left on Broadway instead of right off Gulf of Mexico Dr, is Conrad Beach and Beer Can Island. That's about it for LBK not a whole lot to do.
If you want to sight see some nice homes go over in Harbor Acres next to downtown. It's around Hillview where you were. Also Casey Key has some pretty nice abodes as well.
Did you go into the Venice Art Center while you were at the festival? I just found out they had a show going on and my daughter won "best in show" for a painting she did.
Sounds like you've had a really great time while you were here |
SoFlGal,
Thank you for the pointers about LBK.
We did drive around Hillview. We were on Flower St. and some of the other streets. Very nice houses, but I suspect the upkeep is off the charts. Of course, if you have to worry about upkeep, you can't afford the house anyway  .
I was not aware of the Venice Art Center. Can you enlighten me? Congrats to your daughter on her award.
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