Longboaters meet to sip and shop during summertime event

By Carlin Gillen
| 5:15 p.m. June 26, 2026

Ellen Waugneux, Heather Rippy and Stephanie Troxler at the first Summer Night Out of the summer season.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

The Summer Night Out event welcomed back Longboat Key locals and summertime visitors with shopping, good food, bubbles and something brand new.

Heather Rippy, owner of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden, and Design2000 Salon co-owner Irina LaRose brought back their seasonal Summer Night Out event June 18. The monthly event is a chance for businesses in Whitney Plaza to connect with residents and visitors during the slower summer season.

Shoppers were able to enjoy pizza from Ventura's Italian Kitchen and prosecco provided by Driftwood Beach.

This year Rippy and LaRose decided to add something new, a chance to meet and engage with the local artists and merchants who sell their work at Driftwood Beach and Design2000.

At Design2000 Tryla Brown Larson showcased her Herb Methodology booth, where she offers natural remedies and teas. The business was inspired by her grandmother's knowledge of all the medicinal properties plants have to offer.

A few stores down at the Driftwood Beach studios guests met two featured local artists from the shop, Stephanie Troxler of Little Blue Designs and Ellen Waugneux of Vintage Key. Both artists credited Rippy with building a community at the store that brings them together and connects them with their collectors.

"(It's) just kind of surreal. And I'm just really grateful to Heather for carrying my work since the very beginning, and then inviting me out to this event in the community," said Troxler.

Driftwood Beach features work from over 50 local artists, and Rippy plans to have two or more artists come to showcase their work at each event. Rippy goes on to talk about the community and the impact that it has had on the store.
"A lot of people say this is their happy place, that they come here when they want to be cheered up, or when they want to chat or when they want to be inspired," said Rippy.

Rippy hopes that events like these will encourage more people to shop and support local, especially during the summer season.

Michelle Romine, Ellen Wuagneux and Caroline Nielubowicz were three of the featured vendors at Summer Night Out.

Heather Rippy attends to customers during the first Summer Night Out of the 2026 summer season.

Customers peruse the products at the Herb Methodology booth at Design2000.

Irina LaRose, co-owner of Design2000, poses with featured Little Blue Designs pieces at The Studio.

Irina LaRose, co-owner of Design2000, and Heather Rippy, owner of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden, show off a few favorite items.

Driftwood Beach Home and Garden is filled with gift ideas.

Back: Barabara Bellamente, Karen Pashkow, Linda Herrick, Abbe Catapano, Jerry Herrick and Gina Spillers. Front: Jane Hunter, Joyce Hecklau, Tina Lyall, Darlene Sedlock and Connie Dimaggio.

Heather Rippy serves guests bubbly drinks while they shop and look around her shop, Driftwood Beach and Garden.

Shoppers browse through offerings with their prosecco and bubbles.

Featured artist Stephanie Troxler displays some of her recent work.

Tryla Brown Larson introduces Summer Night Out attendees to her Herb Methodology booth at Design2000.

author

Carlin Gillen

Carlin Gillen is an intern reporter for the Observer. Originally from Lakewood Ranch, she studies journalism and English at the University of Mississippi. She loves photography, writing and finding a story to tell within everyone.