Main street Sarasota

Southern Living, Jul 2003 by Thomas, Les

Sidewalk cafes, one-of-a-kind shops, tasty restaurants, and an easy pace make this downtown area an inviting place.

If you're looking for a welcoming small town to visit, there's a great one tucked away in the heart of down-town Sarasota, Florida. They call it Main Street.

It's the kind of place where chess players while away their afternoons sitting out in the sun in front of the hardware store, pondering their next move. Across the street, the toy store doesn't stock any video games, but it has plenty of marbles and kites.

"I think a lot of people long for small towns," says Caren Lobo. She and her husband, Dick, own Sarasota News & Books. Customers linger over newspapers and cups of rich Torrefazione Italia coffee in the bookstore at 1341 Main Street. The store often sponsors author readings and literary events such as the Sarasota Reading Festival.

Caren says the mix of one-of-akind businesses appeals to travelers as well as locals. "When you travel, you want to visit places you can't find in your own backyard," she says. "We have art galleries and gift shops and three very good bookstores."

The dining and retail district covers about 10 blocks along Main Street from the bayfront to the county court-house. It's an inviting place to walk.

Here are some highlights.

* Bayfront Park. Start with a stroll through the park where pleasure boats rock in the marina on Sarasota Bay. Then head up Main Street for shopping, dining, and sightseeing.

* If you're here for breakfast, join the locals at First Watch restaurant, 1395 Main Street; or treat yourself to French pastries at C'est La Vie! bakery and cafe located at 1553 Main Street.

* Check out the selection of shops and galleries. Look for educational toys and games at the Toy Lab, 1529 Main Street. There's a good selection of kites, if you're headed for the beach. See original art by Pablo Picasso, Peter Max, Joan Miro, and others at Gallerie des Artes, 1516 Main Street. Find bargains up to 90% off original prices at Main Bookshop at 1962 Main Street, one of the largest remainder bookstores in the world.

Shop for unusual china patterns, silver decorative items, and unique wedding gifts at Mary's on Main, 1454 Main Street.

* For lunch, catch up on the latest courthouse gossip at the Main Bar Sandwich Shop, which has been a fixture at 1944 Main Street for almost 50 years. Old photographs of circus entertainers line the walls, left over from the days when retired circus performers Thea and Antonio Borza owned the place. Have the famous Italian sandwich-ham, salami, provolone cheese, sliced tomatoes, chopped peppers, onions, oil, garlic, and spices-served on hearty, delicious toasted bread ($5).

* For dinner, there are many good choices. Try Two Senoritas at 1355 Main Street for flavorful Mexican dishes at reasonable prices. Locals like the fresh selections at Barnacle Bills Seafood at 1526 Main Street, where Bill likes to remind customers that he has no view, just seafood. For a special evening, the Bijou Cafe, just off Main at 1287 First Street, serves wonderful rack of lamb ($33) and some of the best Key lime pie ($6) around.

At the end of the day, Main Street seems like such a friendly place, you might be tempted to make your visit permanent. "When people are looking around town and they see Main Street," says Caren Lobo, "it's one of the things that makes them want to live here."