Kacey’s Top Ten list of things to do on Anna Maria Island

1.    Lay out in the sun is the top thing I’d do!!!
2.    Karaoke out on Siesta Key Captain Curts
3.    Dinner at Waterfront restaurant
4.    Site seeing on Mystic Dolphin
5.    Deep sea fishing – Used to use Flying Fish Fleet before they moved to Marina Jack’s in Sarasota
6.    Mote Marine
7.    Shopping at St. Armand’s Circle
8.    Dinner at the Columbia House Restaurant on  St. Armand’s
9.    Ride the Trolley with no set destination
10.    Breakfast and coffee at Ginny and Janie’s

Cold Stone Creamery – gourmet ice cream just of Anna Maria Island

Looking for gourmet ice cream?  Try Cold Stone Creameryjust off Anna Maria Island.  It is on the corner of Cortez

and 75th Street West in Bradenton, Florida.  It shares the same building as Starbuck’s.  Cold Stone’s claim to fame is there great creamy ice cream as well as creating special mixes within their ice cream.  They use an ice cold slab to mix up ice cream with your favorite mixings.  Berries, peanut butter cups, cookie pieces, M & M’s, you name it.  The staff takes their great ice cream and with two scoops manually mixes in the extra’s.  Our family loves the Birthday cake mix special which you guessed it, tastes just like birthday cake.  It is fantastic.

So if you are looking for a special treat and can wait a few minutes for the staff to delicately prepare your custom order of ice cream with mixins, try a quick drive off Anna Maria Island to Cold Stone.  Cold Stone sells ice cream cakes pre-made as well as a few other ice cream treats including ice cream cookies and drinks.   Of course you can purchase larger servings of your custom order ice cream.

Cold Stone Creamery
7476 Cortez Road West
Bradenton, Fl, 34210
(941) 761-3252

McCurdy’s Comedy Club – Sarasota, Florida

If you are visiting Anna Maria Island, Longboat, Bradenton, or Sarasota then McCurdy’s could be just what you are looking for.  McCurdy’s is a great comedy club that is sure to get you laughing.   They bring in great comedians all year around.  The night we attended was a to be announced week which is very unusual for this comedy club.  The opening acts warmed up the crowd well and the club finished up the night with some improvisation which was fun and got the crowd involved.

The Sarasota comedy club has plenty of showtimes and it is always suggested to buy tickets prior to showtime by calling the box office for reservations… (941) 925 – 3869.  At the time of this post McCurdy’s has show times Wednesday through Sunday with lower weekday show prices and higher rates for Friday and Saturday shows.  One great option for McCurdy’s is many of the comedy shows are NON-SMOKING.  In addition, they rate each show with a brief description of what kind of jokes and profanity the comedian will use.  This is helpful for larger families traveling to Anna Maria Island.

Some quick rules of the comedy club… There is a two item purchase minimum per person.  They of course have beer, mixed drinks, non-alcoholic drinks and offer a quick bite to eat if you need a snack.  The average cost of a drink is about $8 plus tip and taxes.  I would not call their food a meal so plan on grabbing a full meal before or after.  All visitors of the comedy club must be at least 18 years of age.

Be careful with Google directions as it tried to take us off Tamiami to the comedy club and McCurdy’s is directly right off Tamiami only about 15 or so blocks to the South of the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport.

McCurdy’s Comedy Club
3333 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, Fl, 34234
(941) 925-3869

Chipotle Mexican Grill is quick, fresh and cheap – Mexican

Chipotleis a national chain however Anna Maria Island is lucky enough to have one in Bradenton, Fl.  Chipotle is the Subway of Mexican.  Just on Cortez Chipotle is only a 15 minute drive from Anna Maria Island.  If you are looking for an inexpensive, healthy, quick bite to eat for lunch of dinner then look no further.  In the same plaza as Lowes, Dicks and Best Buy there is plenty to do before or after eating.

You walk in to Chipotle to an industrial atmosphere that is very simple but comfortable.  Walk up the glass domed bar and order up your favorite burrito.  They serve vegetarian, Pork, Chicken or steak.  Most of the dishes are served with a soft tortilla however you can take it “naked.”  They put everything in a dish and you eat it like a salad.  Choose your meat then grab black beans, pinto beans, grilled onions, grilled peppers, fantastic white long rice with what

 appears to be Cilantro mixed in with sour cream, cheeses, and three salsas to choose from.  Mild, Medium, or hot.  I love the medium because it is a corn salsa and really hits the spot.  Don’t forget to grab a bag of nachos with some salsa, guacamole or sour cream or what the heck, your on vacation – all three!  They have a fountain drink machine or plenty of specialty soda’s to choose from.  Most can eat for less than $10 and you are in and out within a half an hour.

My favorite is a Carnita – Buritto bowl.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.   Take a look at the picture supplied, it is most of the menu.

Chipotle
1608 Cortez Road W
Bradenton, FL, 34209
(941) 752-0425
(941) 758-5926 Fax

Chipotle – Sarasota
97 N. Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL 34243
(941) 359-6757
(941) 355-8728 Fax

Need to drive in to Sarasota – No worries there are a few Chipotle Mexican Grill’s in Sarasota, too.  Just a 20-30 minute drive from Anna Maria Island.

3rd Annual Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival -February 2010

For the past several years Anna Maria Island has become a popular choice for a destination wedding and is called “The Beach Wedding Capital of Florida”. Two Island restaurants, the Sandbar and the BeachHouse Restaurant , were 2009 picks for The Knot’s Best of Weddings magazine, a coast-to-coast guide to top wedding-related businesses. New York based, The Knot Web site is recognized as the number one wedding Web site and The Knot magazine, published in more than 40 key cities across the United States, is the most trusted wedding resource for brides to be.
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is holding their annual Wedding Festival on February 28th 2010  which is a strolling-style, island-wide, fun and informative day. You can visit over 60 wedding professionals in the natural settings of their businesses whose goal it is to make all your wedding dreams come true. There will be a complimentary Trolley and Limo service to each vendor site, morning brunch,  live entertainment, fashion shows and a sunset celebration finale. You can even enter to win one of the fabulous prize baskets totaling over $10,000 in prizes.

Tickets are $7 for preregistration or $10 at the door.

For more information and to preregister visit www.amiweddingfestival.com

Find other valuable information to plan an Anna Maria Island Beach wedding by clicking on the following links:

Island Real Estate has a great selection of properties to accommodate your wedding guests. Please visit our vacation rental site for more information.

Information as of January 2010.

Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce – February Music Festival

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is firing up their Friday Festivals right on schedule.  If you have never made it to a Friday “Fest” you are missing a real treat.  The first Anna Maria Friday Festival of 2010 is scheduled for Friday February 19, 2010.   The time starts at 3 PM and the Music and vendors stop at 10 PM.

The Festival is held up on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria City at the EAST end by the public pier.  Most folks park on Pine Avenue as they find a spot traveling EAST along Pine Avenue.  There is some serious parking at the church and the market across from the Roser church on Pine Avenue.

The Friday Festivals held by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce are always a good time because there are lots of arts and crafts booths as well as food booths to wet your appetite with our local flavors of food.  The Chamber offers alcohol to patrons.  I have been told by many it’s the coldest beer you can find on a Friday night at just $3.00 for a good size beer.  There is also white and red wines available as well as in the past a mixed drink like a rum-runner.  While you are having some great eats you can listen to some great local bands with live music.  The best of all – the EVENT is FREE.  Yes, it is FREE.

So if you are an Anna Maria Island Visitor or live here year long it is a fabulous event for young and old.  Go check out some great live music outside with the Tampa Bay in the background at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Friday Festival.

Be careful, if you are a visitor you may never go back and don’t worry, if you have to miss the Friday festival in FEB there are plenty more throughout the entire year!

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce presents:
Island Music Festival    FRIDAY FEST
Date: Friday February 19, 2010        Time: 3pm to 10pm
Location: Pine Ave & Bay Blvd     Village of Anna Maria

Featuring: Koko Ray & The Soul Providers and Bootleg

Proceeds to benefit The AMI Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund; Participating Island Businesses and Local Not for Profit Agencies.  If you are interested in participating in future Friday Festivals as a music venue, craft booth, or eatery just email the Chamber of Commerce.

For a location of the event see the map below and it is on the NORTH WEST corner of Pine Avenue and Bay Blvd.

View Friday Festival in a larger map

Silhouettes at Sunset ~ 1~10~2010 ~ Sandman and Sunsets

If you are a snow bird who has ventured to Anna Maria Island in search of sunshine and to thaw your extremities, these last two weeks have offered more of the same weather as what those north of us are experiencing.  As the picture of the sandman suggests, there was some confusion about building a snow man instead of a sand castle. Though he looks somewhat out of place, it is more conducive to the weather we have felt coming in from the north. But the beautiful thing about Anna Maria is that if you stick around the weather will show its warming trend and offer plenty of sunshine and warmth. We are expecting to be back in the mid-70’s by the weekend. The locals have to dig deeply to find those gloves and scarves packed in boxes that are rarely opened. The tune we hear at Island Real Estate by the visitors is “you should feel the weather we just left!” They seem happy to be here surrounded by all of the beauty offered on the Gulf Coast on Anna Maria Island. The sunsets are to die for and with colder weather and the changes in the atmosphere we witness some magnificent sunsets. While walking this last week I was fortunate to have my camera and capture such an amazing sunset. I have never seen one quite so dramatic with the sun’s rays streaming through holes in the clouds as though there were many different sunsets. This unbelievable sunset rates as one of my all time favorites, so please enjoy the sunset! Click on the gallery pictures to enlarge them!

Written by Melinda Bordes ~ 941-705-0146 ~ melinda@annamariasunset.com  ~ Whether buying or selling on or around Anna Maria Island please feel free to contact me with all of your real estate needs. We were voted one of fourteen of the most favorite Islands in the world and noted as “Best Quaint Island”! That will help to improve property value! If you are an investor or just looking for the perfect second home the time is now to purchase on one of the most beautiful “family” Islands in the world! Come and see for yourself!

Horse Feathers Grill & Lounge in Downtown Sarasota

Horse Feathers Bar and Grill is a great way to spend a night in downtown Sarasota. Horse Feathers Bar and Grill is about a 40 minute drive from Anna Maria Island. Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, it is truly a hot spot for the younger spirited crowd. (Ages 21 and up, of course!) Bar Specials are available Monday-Friday 4-7pm, and Ladies night is Thursday nights.

Horse Feathers club has music Wednesday-Saturday consisting of Jazz and DJ’s. The interior has a very contemporary look with a large dance floor and bar. There is a dress code, no jeans are allowed and collared shirts are preferred. This is a very popular place to be over the weekend, so if you are not into fighting through crowds to get to the club dance floor, this may not be the place for you!

There is Valet Parking or self-parking.  Horse Feathers is across the street from other local bars allowing you to spend your evening exploring the Downtown Sarasota Nightlife.

Live Music & DJ’s Wednesday night through Saturday night. Thursday night is Ladies night. Sunday, Horse Feathers club is closed.  Please be sure to call or visit their website before making the drive from Anna Maria Island, Florida.

Please visit the Horse Feathers website for more information and a menu.
1923 Ringling Blvd
Sarasota,FL 34236
(941)955-9179

Olive Garden is a great Bradenton restaurant

Olive Garden is a great economical place to eat if staying on Anna Maria Island or in Bradenton, Florida.  The Bradenton

Olive Garden Restaurant has outdoor seating for the great balmy nights of the West coast of Florida.  The restaurant has a bar for waiting or just to eat or have a quick cocktail or bit to eat.  Typically the Olive Garden is a great place to eat for busy nights on Anna Maria Island.  The restaurant is about a 20 minute drive from Anna Maria Island.

The Olive Garden is primarily Italian although they do have a few traditional dishes.  Beef, Pork and Fish dishes.  The restaurant often offers all you can eat bread as well as soup or salad.

The Olive Garden has great spaghetti, chicken Parmesan, heck anything Italian is good.

Olive Garden Restaurant
4420 West 14th Street
Bradenton, Fl, 34207

Banana Cabana Caribbean Seafood and Grill

The Banana Cabana is a Caribbean Seafood and Grill Restaurant in Bradenton Beach, the most southern city of Anna Maria Island. Open every night at 4pm you can choose between evening sandwiches, Caribbean night time specials or seafood entrees all served with a Caribbean island flair. All entrees come with your choice of Caribbean rice or fries and vegetables. The special Bahamian Bread will be served on request.
You can listen to live entertainment on Friday and Saturday while dining at the Banana Cabana. By the way, you will be in good company. Actor Denzel Washington enjoyed their Caribbean food while shooting a movie in neighboring Cortez. The Banana Cabana also serves a large selection of Caribbean beer and reasonably priced wine.

Gifts are imported from the Caribbean Islands and are for sale. Also all artwork in the restaurant is for sale. The artwork is made out of 55 gallon steel drums from the Caribbean.

Check the Banana Cabana website for coupons and save a couple of bucks….

Catering Service for parties or weddings available.

Banana Cabana hours:
Weekdays 4:00p.m. – 9:30p.m.
Friday – Saturday 4:00pm – 10:30pm (with live entertainment)
Sundays 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Closed on Tuesday for the month of October

Banana Cabana Caribbean Seafood and Grill
103 Gulf Drive N.
Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Phone (941) 779-1930

All information as of December 2009. Please call restaurant directly to verify times and prices.

Ps.. if you are looking for a vacation rental close to the Banana Cabanna then look no further.  Gulf View 101 is just across the street!  Click here for more choices of Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals.

— Older Entries