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Longboat Key | Neighbors

Visitors and volunteers alike took a moment to enjoy the view at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium before it closed to facilitate a move to East County.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 9, 2025
Mote's final public days bring forward warm memories

City Island's Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium officially held its final day of being open to the public on July 6 as it prepares for its move to the new Mote Science Education Aquarium facility.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Emma Bailey Gaddy and Vivienne Hansen carefully line up their potato race car at Bird Key Yacht Club's Fourth of July festivities.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 7, 2025
Bird Key Yacht Club holds annual potato car races

Bird Key Yacht Club hosted its annual Fourth of July festivities, including the highly anticipated potato car races.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Grady family, including Jackson, Drake, Freya and Tina, join the Longboat Key Garden Club's butterfly release for the Fourth of July weekend at Bicentennial Park.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 7, 2025
July Fourth Longboat Key butterfly release continues post-storm

Freedom Fest might have been canceled, but community members joined in a butterfly release after the Fourth of July.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Charlie Metzler, Samantha Trotter, Mimi Kruk, JoDene Moneuse, Kelsie Rokicki and 6-month-old puppy Nova held out hope that Freedom Fest and other Fourth of July activities on Longboat Key would continue. However, lightning forced officials to cancel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 4, 2025
Lightning on Longboat causes Freedom Fest cancellation

Despite officials' best efforts, poor weather caused them to cancel the 'world's shortest parade' and other Fourth of July activities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Outgoing Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace and incoming President Terri Driver crack a smile after Wallace officially passes the gavel on June 24 at Hugo's II.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 1, 2025
Jan Wallace passes gavel to new Rotary Club of Longboat Key head

Community environmental projects are set to take a front seat under the leadership of new Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Terri Driver.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Madison VandenBrekel represented Longboat Key in this year's Miss Florida USA pageant.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 30, 2025
Debut Miss Longboat Key shares experience competing for state title

Madison VandenBrekel, who spent her summers growing up on Longboat Key, said she enjoyed connecting with fellow competitors at her first pageant of this scale.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The panelists at the June 25 luncheon were David St Pierre, SeaPort Manatee's senior director of public safety and security; Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Sarasota County's chief of emergency management; Abby Elliot, Oysters Rock Hospitality's senior director of operations; and Jodie Fiske, Manatee County's director of public safety. The moderator was Devaney Iglesias, the area manager of Florida Power & Light.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 30, 2025
Manatee, Sarasota experts share 'lessons from the eye of the storm'

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance partnered with Florida Power & Light to shed some light on how best to prepare for hurricane season.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manager Kate Ruh, Co-owner Michael Garey and Head Chef Sebastian Villaseca.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 27, 2025
Lazy Lobster is giving thanks and giving back in more ways than one

Lazy Lobster hosts its annual Thanksgiving in June to a packed restaurant and predicts to fill about three bins worth of food donations.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Fourth of July 2025 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 26, 2025
Fourth of July 2025 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch

From parades to the classic fireworks, check out these events to help you celebrate Independence Day right.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Visitors to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium began packing the house this week to pay their final visits before the City Island facility closes to the public, making way for expanded operations in East County.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 25, 2025
Visitors begin bidding farewell to Sarasota's City Island arm of Mote exhibits

After generations of visitors have enjoyed being entertained and educated at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, many took the opportunity to say farewell before operations shift to the new facility near University Town Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Chef José Martinez of Maison Blanche hops in the cab of a fire engine after he and Juan Gomez join the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in preparing a special thank-you lunch to members of Fire Station 2 with Longboat Key Fire Rescue.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 24, 2025
Maison Blanche continues pandemic-era firehouse tradition

The high-end French restaurant was one of several that joined the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in feeding the island's first responders.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Artist Darnell “Solo the Artist” Kirkwood shared his series "Discoveries Along the Way" with visitors at Cirque St. Armands Beachside during a pop-up event open to the community.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 24, 2025
Cirque St. Armands Beachside features pop-up abstract artist

The luxury hotel invited the public to enjoy the pop-up, and leaders said they hope to feature more community events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Greg Fiore, Sylvia Day, Maria Ray and Angela Bennick (not pictured) all boosted their brainpower with fun cognitive thinking exercises.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 24, 2025
The Paradise Center boosts brainpower with Brain Games

The Longboat Key Paradise Center Brain Games that took place June 17 was filled with laughing, singing and storytelling.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Shirley Pearson, executive director of Strength in Action, Inc., explains how Longboat Island Chapel's donation at the latest Gather and Give will support formerly incarcerated people successfully rejoin the community, among the group's other initiatives.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 22, 2025
Longboat church uplifts Palmetto partners to serve community

Longboat Island Chapel shined a spotlight on Palmetto's Strength in Action program that offers educational opportunities and other resources to those who need it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Heather Rippy, owner of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden poses after a successful first of the Season Summer Night Out.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 21, 2025
Summer Night Out has the Whitney Plaza buzzing with laugher and chatter

Artists and locals celebrate community and artistry at the seasons first Summer Night Out event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
« 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 »
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
The southern end of Longboat Key feature many mid-rise condo buildings including the Beaches of Longboat Key (right, built in 1984), Regent Place of Longboat Key (middle two buildings, built in 1995) and Longboat Key Towers (left two buildings, built in 1970).
  • April 1, 2026
Inspections show LBK condo buildings in sound shape but come at a cost
2
Garden Club President Melanie Dale helps lead efforts to beautify and support the Longboat Key community. Butterflies visit flowering plants cultivated to support pollinators, reflecting the club's focus on sustainable, Florida-friendly landscapes.
  • April 1, 2026
Longboat Garden Club's efforts help beautify and nurture a community
3
Harry's Continental Kitchens has been a local favorite for decades.
  • April 1, 2026
A staple of Longboat Key for over 40 years, Harry's Continental Kitchens keeps it fresh
4
The home at 590 Birdie Lane sold for $5.5 million. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,297 square feet of living area.
  • April 1, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for March 16-20 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
5
Artist Darina Bratkova, originally from Ukraine, is the creator of thought-provoking, water-based scenes that many visitors to St. Armands Circle first view when coming to the business hub. She shared how she got her start as an artist and her hopes for educating others in the future.
  • April 1, 2026
St. Armands artist shares insight into thought-provoking art

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