Summer Night Out builds community between new and longtime Longboaters

When booking her hair appointment at Design 2000 Salon, former Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren took into account the date of the August Summer Night Out. 

"You can take the girl out of the chamber, but you can't take the chamber out of the girl," said Loefgren.

After getting her hair done, Loefgren joined the crowds perusing the businesses at Whitney Plaza and seeing her good friends from Longboat Key. Even in retirement, she keeps busy working on home projects and staying involved on the Paradise Center board.

Loefgren loved seeing her chamber friends at Summer Night Out, including Brad Marner, Andrew Vac and Irina Bronstein. 

Whitney Plaza businesses stayed open late Aug. 22 offering free samples and a place for residents to meet their neighbors during the off-season on Longboat. Cultivating this bond between new and longtime Longboaters is what Summer Night Out is all about.

Residents started at the north end of the plaza at Donuts By Design to try the variety of food Gary Hagen makes, such as donuts, cheesecake, chicken pot pie and shaved ice. Design 2000 provided a place to mingle while eating free pizza from Ventura's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. Next door, Driftwood Beach Home and Garden offered free champagne while attendees browsed through Heather Rippy's unique assortment of locally made trinkets and clothing. 

Sips Coffee and Gelato shop finished off the tour of Whitney Plaza with free samplings of its gelato. Many residents then headed to Ventura's to have dinner and enjoy its happy hour specials. 

New Longboat residents Lorraine and Tommy Rheinlander said Summer Night Out was a great testament to the strong community on Longboat Key.

"We love how involved everyone is here on the island and how welcoming they are," said Tommy Rheinlander. "This night was a great way to support the small businesses and see what is out here."