Man on the street: Secret Sarasota

Question: What is the best-kept secret in Sarasota?

Mary Houlihan
 “The 17th Street Goodwill. I have bought some designer things in there — you would die.”

Caroline Gallais and Tom McNally
McNally: “One of the best-kept secrets is the fact that you can walk all through Sarasota and get enough shade. There are enough roots, shade and building shadows, and we have a great walk the whole way. Contrary to what people believe here, you don’t need the A/C to stay cool. You miss the great city of Sarasota if you stay in.”  
Gallais: “Yes, and we have a great view while we’re walking, too.”

Dan Brady
 “All of the theaters in the community. There are so many wonderful ones to go to. You have the Asolo, the Golden Apple, the Sarasota Opera … ”  

Joette Muscatell, of The Gourmet Market, on Main Street
 “Main Street. Come down and shop locally.”

Julia Brown
“Marina Jack. I have met so many wonderful people there, and they really cheered me up. You get to pet the dogs there, too. Also, the Resurrection House for all that they do for the homeless and for the donations that they give is another best-kept secret that not many people know about.”

John Malone
 “In the summer it’s hard to find a comfortable place on a hot day. So, if you go under the John Ringling Causeway on the east side of the bridge and sit on those benches, there is a breeze everyday. That area funnels the wind.”

Wendy Getchell, owner of Lotus and Knickers, on Main Street
“All of downtown; the heart of downtown. It’s the center of the arts community and you have fashionable shops — independent and national — world-class opera, professional theater, book stores, great restaurants. If you live here, you don’t have to get in the car. You can do it all downtown. A lot of people who visit here think that St. Armands is all there is to Sarasota, but there’s much more downtown.”