Whitney Plaza businesses host mingling event for new and longtime Longboaters

Crammed into local boutique Driftwood Beach Home and Garden, eight ladies from Longboat Harbor Condominiums heard there was a 40% off sale on their favorite dresses. 

They just finished catching up with Irina Bronstein at Design 2000 Salon over a slice of pizza from Ventura's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. Owner Heather Rippy hands each of them a glass of prosecco while they scour through the colorful dresses and unique trinkets from local vendors. 

Resident Joyce Hecklau just found her new favorite dress on the racks. Just as it has been every month this summer, Hecklau gathered her friend group from the condominium on Sept. 19 to support the small businesses of Whitney Plaza at Summer Night Out.

"Us ladies will start the night with some shopping and catching up with our friends at Whitney," said Hecklau. "Then, we meet the guys over at Ventura's for dinner. This has been our favorite summer tradition this year to get everyone together and just go out around the island when there isn't a lot going on."

Design 2000 Salon and Driftwood Beach Home and Garden started the event in the summer of 2023 to provide an organic way for Longboaters to support their local businesses and meet their neighbors. This year, other businesses in the plaza joined the event by providing free samples and staying after hours.

The tour of Whitney Plaza begins at Donuts By Design to try Gary Hagen's various sweet treats and food items. Then, residents head next door to Design 2000 and finish off with shopping at Driftwood. Ventura's invites people to continue mingling after the event with its extended happy hour specials. 

"We got to meet some new people today and say hi to our old friends as well," said Irina Bronstein from Design 2000. "That is what I love about this event. Most people never know who they are going to run into. Usually, it's someone you know or someone who you really click with and end up becoming really good friends."