Snook Haven Retreat and Restaurant Experience the Natural Beauty, Tastes, and Sounds of “Old Florida”

The Myakka River, one of Florida’s “Wild and Scenic Rivers”, acts as a backdrop for this unique dining and entertainment experience. A Venice fixture for over 50 years, Snook Haven is Old Florida at its finest. Take a backwoods drive onto E. Venice Ave off of River Road down the old dirt road canopied by Spanish oaks and palms and enter into life along the river.

With its quirky décor and paintings of alligators and turtles, Snook Haven claims to be the “Home of the Killer Turtles”, rumored descendants of extras used in the 1930’s movie shoot of Johnny Weismuller’s Tarzan film “Attack of the Killer Turtles”. The restaurant serves up some authentic Florida favorites like gator bites, grouper nuggets, Southern style Okra, Fried Grouper sandwiches, BBQ pulled pork, and Catfish along with the more traditional selection of steaks, pork cutlets, ribs, and burgers. An indoor dining area and bar offers an array of seating, but to really experience “Old Florida” sit at one of the picnic tables on the outdoor deck overlooking the natural beauty of the Myakka River.

Live entertainment kicks up on the outdoor stage almost every evening and weekend with local favorites such as Smoked Mullet, Skunk Monkey, and Bruce Nye the Elvis Guy. Experience the river firsthand by launching your boat at the boat launch, renting one of Snook Haven’s canoes or kayaks, or by taking a leisure boat ride with your own personal tour guide on Captain Terry’s River Tour.

Snook Haven is close to I-75 on Venice Avenue and is conveniently located a short distance from several golf course communities and is accessible by canoe or kayak from the Venetian Golf and River Club.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on any of the golf course communities or Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Casey Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Lido or Longboat Key. Call 941.350.5035

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

“Venice Yacht Club” Not Far from the Golf Course

Founded in 1951, the Venice Yacht Club has played an integral part in the Venice area boating community. Providing extraordinary services and facilities to its members, this private yacht club is one of the 13 original members of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs and is one of the few clubs situated right on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Conveniently located near Downtown Venice, there are many activities to enjoy at the Venice Yacht Club along with fine dining and the camaraderie of great friends. The Clubhouse offers two dining rooms both with expansive window overlooking the waterway. The marina has 47 slips for its members offering electric, water, and TV connections. There is an extra 300 feet of dockage for visiting yachts. The pool and its adjacent tiki bar provide a welcome relief after a long, hot day on the yacht.

The Venice Yacht Club also offers a Youth Program and the Venice Youth Boating Association which teaches beginning sailing and continuing education in sailing and racing techniques and emphasizes sportsmanship, seamanship, and water safety.

The Venice Yacht Club members are successful professionals and business people from our community and is conveniently located a short distance from several golf course communities including Venetian Golf and River Club, Pelican Pointe Golf and Country Club, Calusa Lakes Golf Club, Waterford Golf Club, Venice Golf and Country Club, Sarasota National Golf Club, and Plantation Golf and Country Club. Sarasota’s Barrier Island Casey Key is just North along the water and members often jump in their dinghies or boats and come down to the Venice Yacht Club for lunch or dinner.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on any of the golf course communities or Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Casey Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Lido or Longboat Key. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Mi Pueblo El Restaurante & Cantina The Taste and Spirit of Mexico

Whenever we think of authentic Mexican food and atmosphere in Sarasota, mi Pueblo comes to mind. What started as a tiny, store-front restaurant in a strip-mall on Bee Ridge Rd, is now a three location favorite for anyone with a taste for traditional Mexican flavors. The original location is still there, the second opened in the Brickyard Plaza in Venice, and the third at the University Plaza on the corner of University Parkway and Tuttle Ave.

A short drive south from our home on Casey Key, the Venice location has it all. The brick-paved courtyard with a Spanish-style fountain as its centerpiece welcomes you as you enter the Plaza and restaurant. The restaurant is reminiscent of a quaint Mexican pueblo (or village), complete with Spanish tile floors, hand-painted wall murals, and adobe brick archways and its Cantina offers a large bar with ample seating and some of the best margaritas in town.

Whether you choose an indoor table or one on the covered patio, you are immediately given a taste of what’s to come with a complimentary basket of crispy, homemade tortillas and fresh salsa. Nosh on these as you decide what to order. There are the tex-mex favorites of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, and quesadillas all made wonderfully with fresh ingredients. Or will you be daring and try the Pollo con Mole, a combination of chocolate and chile poured over a tender chicken quarter? Top off your meal with a margarita, cerveza, or a glass of sangria.

If all this is not enough to give you the feel of Mexico in Florida, the fun and lively sounds of the mariachi band are sure complete your evening. There is also a guitar player who will serenade you at your table and stroll around singing Mexican love songs.

When you think Mexican flavors in Paradise, think mi Pueblo in Venice, Florida.

Not far from mi Pueblo is Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club. This club has 27 holes (three nine’s), which helps speed up play and allows them to work on one nine and still have eighteen to play. There is a nice clubhouse with restaurant and bar, exercise room, meeting rooms, pro shop, swimming pool and tennis courts.

According to My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service there are 37 active single family and villas on the market priced from $197,900 to $699,900. There are 6 sale pending and 38 single family and villas have sold this year.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on any of the golf course communities or Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Casey Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Lido or Longboat Key. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Historic Spanish Point / Come Explore a bit of Florida History

Overlooking Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey, you’ll discover the wonderful 30-acre historical, archaeological, and environmental museum known as Historic Spanish Point.
The museum focuses on four main elements, known as “the 4 Ps of Spanish Point”: Prehistory, Pioneer, Palmer, and Plants.

Discover the prehistory of the gulf coast regions earliest people when you step into the archaeological exhibition, “A Window of the Past”. You will also get to see a 15-ft high prehistoric shell mound called a “midden”. The Hill Cottage Midden at Spanish Point is one of the oldest and largest ceremonial shell rings in the Southeastern US.

Pioneer life in Florida can be relived by touring the Webb Homestead, the Pioneer Cemetery, and Mary’s Chapel – where couples have been married in the past and still come today.

Stroll through the beautiful Pergola and Sunken Gardens created by Mrs. Potter Palmer, a Chicago socialite who made this area her winter estate in 1910. Over 50% of the tree species native to the region can be found on the property. The Butterfly Garden, created in 2004, is one of the largest in Florida and attracts many species of insects and birds, as well as avid photographers.

Historic Spanish Point offers many programs for all to enjoy. The museum hosts school field trips and a summer camps for area children. Adult education classes are offered in art, history, and boating. And our favorite program, Pups at the Point, held on the third Saturday of every month from 9 am to noon. You can bring your four-legged friend (we bring our little Bichon Frise “Kisses”) with you as you stroll through the history.

So pack your picnic lunch and enjoy some of Florida’s history and the gorgeous views of Little Sarasota Bay over looking North Casey Key or take a short stroll just south for lunch at Spanish Pointe Pub.

The Oaks Bayside is just North of Spanish Point and the Oaks Clubside is East of Tamiami Trail around the two golf courses and was part of Mrs. Potter Palmer’s cattle ranch; which covered all of Palmer ranch at one time. The Oaks also has a third area called the Preserve which has some single family and the Meridian condo overlooking the Bay and North Casey Key.

According to My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service as of this date:

Oaks Bayside: There are 16 active single family homes on the market for sale priced from $535,000 to $8,990,000. There is 1 sale pending and there have been 4 sold this year.

Oaks Clubside: There are 36 active single family homes on the market for sale priced from $695,000 to $3,600,000. There have been 6 single family homes sold this year.

Oaks Preserve: There are 11 active single family homes on the market for sale priced from $209,000 to $690,000. There are 2 sales pending and 1 single family has sold this year.

Oaks Preserve: There are 25 active condos for sale priced from $259,000 to $1,975,000. There are 2 condos sale pending and 4 condos have sold this year.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota Barrier Islands of Casey Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Manasota Key, and Island of Venice. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

The New Concession Clubhouse

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing Specialist held its two day Luxury Seminar at the John Cannon Complex in Lakewood Ranch. It was hosted by the Tierney Foster Team and Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Realty. The institute founder Laurie Moore-Moore was the guest instructor for the Luxury Seminar. There were forty-five agents which filled the board room at the complex. Some of the agents attending were from as far away as Littleton, Co and one even from Canada. After completing the course and meeting performance requirements you get your Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) Designation.

Thursday night we had a reception at the Concession. It took place in John Cannon’s The Royal Melbourne at the Concession with 11,200 square feet of living space. This was put on by Ed Bertha, Executive Publisher of REAL Magazine and Tierney’s Team of Keller Williams. They even had the same caterer Doug Hitchings that prepared our breakfast and lunches at the Luxury Seminar do different stations around the home.

They had two guest speakers Anne Weintraub, Esquire with Syprett, Meshad, Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheimer, P.A.. Ann spoke on “Tips: How To Handel Over The Top Clients” which was very interesting.

The other speaker was Pamela Hughes, President of Hughes Design Associates. Pamela spoke on the “Interior Design at The Concession Clubhouse, a Sneak Preview”. Pamela showed photos of the different rooms of the new clubhouse and told us about all the light fixtures being hand designed and built from antique fixtures, carpeting being made in Turkey and Axminster carpet from England in the locker rooms, and a lot of wood and fireplaces for accents.

The pro shop is the only room completed and it is even stocked with merchandise. The Concession is planning on having the Grand Opening in August of the new Clubhouse.

There are fourteen properties listed for sale in Mid-Florida Regional MLS they are priced from $1,495,000 to $8,400,000 and one property has sold this year.

If you would like to see any of the homes at The Concession please contact Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron, the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Sarasota Golf Course Homes

Some of the finest golf courses in the US are located in Sarasota, Florida. Ample sunshine, southern breezes and temperate climate create the perfect backdrop for all types of outdoor recreation.

Sarasota, Florida boasts a variety of public and private golf courses; many associated with resort style amenities and gated communities. Home owners enjoy twelve months of tee times, award winning greens and relaxed play. It is truly a “Golfer’s Paradise” with magnificent courses, beautiful year round weather, tropical foliage and lush greens have created a perfect environment for the avid golfer.

Voted among “Best Places to Play” 2008-2009 Golf Digest by their readers selected the Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch offers service and greens you would find at private world-class facilities.

Also at Lakewood Ranch is the Lakewood Ranch Country Club course which is a gated single family development. There 82 homes on the market for sale, priced from $274,000 to $3,500,000. Eighteen homes have sold so far this year and there are eighteen sale pending.

If your interested in looking at golf course homes at Lakewood Ranch or at any of Sarasota’s other great golf courses please call Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron, the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-350-5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Summer Golf in Sarasota

Ask any golfer and they will tell you it is always a good time to play golf in Sarasota, Florida. Well summer is here and most of the snowbirds are leaving so the golf courses are not as busy.

This is the time of year when the Golf Courses and Country Clubs put together their list of reciprocal golf courses. This is where the different courses agree on discounted golf fees with each other. It is a great time for golfers who belong to one club to have the opportunity to play other clubs in the area.

This is also the time of year that most of the golf clubs will be doing maintenance on their course. So if the golfer’s home course is closed for the day or has just been aerated they can play another course on the reciprocal list.

A lot of the public golf courses and some of the private Country Clubs also honor what is called the “Big Summer Golf Card”. The “Big Summer Golf Card” cost around sixty dollars, but will entitle the golfer to play at discounted rates. Some clubs will have different rates in the morning than if you play in the afternoon; usually cheaper in the afternoon. The golf courses are hopping to entice more play for their course and more revenue for the club.

There are all different golfing events that the golf clubs put on in the summer for their members. One event for couples is usually played on Thursday or Friday afternoon starting around four. It is usually a nine hole event with dinner following. It gets some interesting names, because you never know if it is going to get rained out or you are just going to get a little wet. One club that I know calls it “Thursday Thunder”. In Sarasota in the summer time we often get thunder storms in the afternoon. They may only last five minutes. It is the warm air currents crossing the state (land) and they come in contact with the cooler sea currents off the Gulf and we get our summer showers.

Summer in Sarasota is also a great time to buy in one of our many golf course communities. The Herron Group, Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron with RE/MAX Alliance Group (941-350-5035) would be glad to show you what great golf clubs we have to offer you in the Sarasota area.

You might even want to play a round or two with us.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine....Live the Dream