Summer Night Out hosts local shoppers for community bonding

Summer Night Out at Whitney Beach Plaza provided an opportunity to support local small businesses and mingle with neighboring Longboat residents. 

Driftwood Beach Home and Garden and Design 2000 Salon hosted the monthly event on July 20 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Irina Bronstein, co-owner of Design 2000 Salon, shared that the first one went wonderfully so they will continue Summer Night Out each month. 

“The way it started was somebody was shopping in (Driftwood Beach Home and Garden) and said, ‘I’m new to this area so it would be nice to meet more people and have things to do in the summer. It's so quiet. There's really not a lot of events,’" said Bronstein. "So we thought, this would be good for the shopping center and it would be good for people to make new friends, find out who their neighbors are and shop and have some food in the process.” 

The neighboring shops partnered with other businesses in Whitney Beach Plaza. Visitors began at Driftwood Beach Home and Garden where they were served prosecco and homemade cookies made by owner Heather Rippy's daughter, Lark Rippy. 

Then they walked to Design 2000 Salon to chat and eat pizza from Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar and cheesecake from Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor. In honor of the event, Ventura’s Italian Kitchen extended its happy hour until 9 p.m.

Customers filled the two businesses with laughter and friendship. 

Barbara Gurchiek has lived on Longboat Key for 23 years and brought along her close friend that she has known since high school. Gurchiek said that she is friends with Heather Rippy and loves to attend these events that showcase the value of community in Longboat.

“I love to share what I like with my community,” said Heather Rippy. "A lot of people move here and don't know anybody. So events like these are a really neat place to meet people who share common interests. It's kind of different.”