In The News: Suncoast View
Thank you to ABC7 WWSB and the team of Suncoast View for inviting us to speak about our Top 5 Favorite Buildings and the Lovably Local Podcast. Watch the interview here.
Complete Top 5 Old Buildings Lists
In celebration of old buildings in Sarasota that are still in use, we decided to each curate a top five list. Although, it was difficult to narrow it down to just five, we hope that you enjoy our final selections, complete with blog posts and our own fan art! Andrea's Top 5 Mimi's Top 5 5 Binz Warehouse 4 Sarasota Times Building 3 Sarasota High School [...]
Mimi’s Number One: Sarasota Opera House
Well dear friends, here it is. My number one most favorite building still being used as a building. Researching, writing, and assembling these posts has been a lovely reminder of how many historic buildings are still around (if you're willing to pay attention), and it was tricky to narrow the list down and then prioritize. But I think this particular building will always hold a special place [...]
Andrea’s Number Two: S.H. Kress Store
S. H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Store 1442 Main Street Architect: Edward F. Sibbert Builder: G.A Miller Built: 1932 Samuel Henry Kress opened his first "stationery and notions" store in Pennsylvania in 1887. By 1896 this had turned into a chain of S. H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Stores (yes, 25 cents too!). I am a big fan of five and dime history and could [...]
Mimi’s Number 2: Municipal Auditorium
There are certain buildings in Sarasota that would truly devastate me forever to see gone. This is one of them. The Municipal Auditorium is likely a building that you've driven past hundreds, if not thousands, of times before if you live in Sarasota. Maybe you've been inside for a special event, like a wedding, fundraiser, or (my annual favorite) Atomic Holiday Bazaar. This half-barrel building on the [...]
Andrea’s Number Three: Sarasota High School
#3 Sarasota High School 891 S Tamiami Trail Built: 1927 Architect: M. Leo Elliott I love learning, I love academia, and I love Collegiate Gothic Architecture - although I didn’t know that’s what it was called until I began researching Sarasota High School. Postcard of 1927 Sarasota High School. Image courtesy of Florida Memory. Sarasota was booming during the early 1920s which meant that the [...]
Mimi’s Number Three: The Orange Blossom Hotel/American National Bank
Orange Blossom Hotel postcard from Mimi's personal collection. When we first discussed doing this blog series, I knew this building had to be on my list. It's one of those historic buildings that make Sarasota feel like home. I've driven past it countless times. Stared up at it in wonder. Designed by Francis Palmer Smith (no relation to Bertha Palmer) in a neo-Classical style, and [...]
In The News: Sarasota Magazine
Thank you to Sarasota Magazine and Serafina Murphy-Gibson for your article about Compass Rose History Experiences! Check out the full article here.
Mimi’s Number Four: The Blue Pagoda Building
Blue Pagoda Building 655 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 Architect: Victor Lundy Completed: 1956 Photo Credit: Magnum Builders My Number 4 of my Top 5 Favorite Buildings Still Used as Buildings is the Blue Pagoda, located near the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Boulevard of the Arts. The celadon tiles of Victor Lundy's Blue Pagoda building can be seen in some [...]
Andrea’s Number Four: The Sarasota Times
The Sarasota Times Building 1216 1st Street, Sarasota FL 34236 Architect: Dwight James Baum Builders: Ricketts and Haworth Construction Began 1925 Completed 1926 Don’t let the 1899 that is carved above the entrance at the Sarasota Times Building fool you. That was the founding of the newspaper, construction on this building began in 1925. Founded in 1899 by C.V.S. and Rose Wilson, The Sarasota Times was the [...]