Popular Sarasota bakery opens on Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Bread Bandits combines a century-old sourdough starter with modern convenience at its new Lakewood Ranch store.

Lakewood Ranch's Elle Plotkin is a new employee at the Lakewood Main Street location.
Baby turtles may return to local shores this washback season. Experts recommend calling Mote Marine's stranding line if the turtles can't return to the water on their own.
  • August 10, 2026
Beachgoers reminded not to handle baby turtles
St. Pete aerialist, fire performer and artist Mala Vavourakis prepares to light up the canvas as violinist Candice Anderson performs behind her.
  • August 9, 2026
Art comes to life at fourth anniversary celebration for ArtLab
East County's Preston, Ashton and Clayton Nicholson are all eager to start their school year at Gene Witt Elementary School after attending the Back to School Bash at The Mall at University Town Center.
  • August 8, 2026
Back to School Bash hypes up local students for school year
Myracle Green, 13, her brother Prince Bell, 3, mother Chavon Williams and brother King Bell, 8, leave the tables with new backpacks.
  • August 8, 2026
Organizations team up to offer kids free backpacks ahead of school year

Arts + Culture

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Sheldon Rhoden stands in front of an image of the American flag as he sings Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner."
  • August 12, 2026
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe takes its Marvin Gaye show on the road
Lena Cambis is the co-founder of the Sarasota Music Conservatory.
  • August 11, 2026
A music conservatory grows in Sarasota
Rise Above Performing Arts Artistic Director Jacob Ruscoe stands in front of the theater company's new space.
  • August 5, 2026
Rise Above Performing Arts finds a new home
Grae Productions founder Stephanie Grae (center) is flanked by dancers who are part of her entourage of artists that create ArtLab parties.
  • August 3, 2026
ArtLab toasts its fourth anniversary in new venue
Fifth graders Eloise Vahn and Hannah Marco are the morning news anchors for the whole first week of school on the Wildcat News Network.
  • August 10, 2026
Joy and jitters fill first day of school at McNeal Elementary
Official kindergartner Avalyn Chavez, 5, hugs Ruby Chavez at the gate of Alta Vista Elementary School on Aug. 10. In an interview, Avalyn said she was excited to meet her teacher and wear her new sparkling shoes for the first day of school.
  • August 10, 2026
Families look forward to the future as kids return to school
St. Pete aerialist, fire performer and artist Mala Vavourakis prepares to light up the canvas as violinist Candice Anderson performs behind her.
  • August 9, 2026
Art comes to life at fourth anniversary celebration for ArtLab
East County's Preston, Ashton and Clayton Nicholson are all eager to start their school year at Gene Witt Elementary School after attending the Back to School Bash at The Mall at University Town Center.
  • August 8, 2026
Back to School Bash hypes up local students for school year
Myracle Green, 13, her brother Prince Bell, 3, mother Chavon Williams and brother King Bell, 8, leave the tables with new backpacks.
  • August 8, 2026
Organizations team up to offer kids free backpacks ahead of school year
Sandra Johnson, Connie DiMaggio and Linda Theuer put finishing touches on the lunch they and fellow Longboat Island Chapel volunteers provided to Longboat Island Police officers on Thursday. It is Longboat Key Fire Rescue's turn on Wednesday.
  • August 7, 2026
Community lunch recognizes Longboat's first responders
Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Finn Morris, who has been playing soccer for six years, likes competing at the Sarasota Paradise youth soccer camp.
  • July 31, 2026
Sarasota Paradise's 'language' brings kids together
Tanya Waxler and Eddie Balen enjoy Christmas in July in celebration of her book signing for "Santa's Extreme Dream Team and the Hospital Mission."
  • July 29, 2026
Local children's author celebrates Christmas early with new book
The Mah Jongg Weekend was filled with colorful, coastal mahjong sets provided by Event Organizer Rennee Fannin.
  • July 29, 2026
Paradise Center hosts first Mah Jongg Weekend fundraiser
Ernie Smith lines up trays of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for lunch at Resurrection House. He and nine other volunteers prepared a meal on July 23 as one of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church's monthly charitable events.
  • July 28, 2026
St. Armands volunteers put their cooking skills to good use
Lara Zoppe and Victoria Peddie, both of Lakewood Ranch, sing "No Reason" as Lydia and Delia in "Beetlejuice Jr.," at Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
  • July 25, 2026
Ovation School of Musical Theatre campers present 'Beetlejuice Jr.'
Jared Thomas, 8; Penelope Brouillette, 7; and Sebastian Meehan, 8, chalk the trail together.
  • July 24, 2026
Kids use sidewalk chalk to decorate the trail at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event
A cownose ray waves a wingtip at onlookers from the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort lagoon on Friday after caretakers introduced half a dozen pups to the enclosure. Resident rays had the babies in December, and experts released the adolescents into the Under the Sea Lagoon.
  • July 20, 2026
Half-dozen baby rays debut at St. Regis lagoon
Toby reaches up to greet a new helping of foam.
  • July 18, 2026
Dog Bar Sarasota celebrates one-year anniversary
Addison Gutowitz, 13, and Harriet Shore, 11, learn skills on electric guitar from 17-year-old Max Froemel in the guitar breakout session.
  • July 17, 2026
Campers come together at School of Rock Lakewood Ranch
A firefighter sprays the roof of a Dock on the Bay condo building Wednesday morning, July 15.
  • July 17, 2026
Fire engulfs Dock on the Bay condo units