Happy Holidays
From The Downtown Improvement District
|
|
Seasons Greetings from DID!
With the holiday season in full swing, the Downtown Improvement District is proud to be able to offer our friends and neighbors a vibrant downtown where they can savor the holiday spirit with the best shopping, dining, and entertainment in the area for the whole family.
As a downtown business owner and resident, I look back on my year as the Downtown Improvement District Chair with satisfaction for the many things we have accomplished and excitement for the coming year’s possibilities. I would like to invite everyone to “Shop. Stroll. Sing!” on Friday, December 2nd to support our downtown businesses, then join us on State Street at 7 PM for our holiday “Fresh Fridays” event.
On behalf of the DID Board, I wish everyone a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year. We look forward to continuing our support for a vibrant downtown.
Sincerely,
Eileen Hampshire
Downtown Improvement District Chair
Owner, Art to Walk On Inc.
|
|
Downtown Business Spotlight |
|
The Downtown Improvement District is excited to launch a new program designed to promote the outstanding downtown Sarasota business community. Downtown businesses are a critical economic driver for the City. Not only do they create jobs, but they also foster community pride and create a unique sense of place. It is only when we partner with a businesses that the DID can fulfill its mission to make downtown Sarasota a vibrant district, unique in character and history, and a desirable place to live, work and play.
All business owners within the Downtown Improvement District are eligible to have their business featured on the DID’s social media channels and in the monthly newsletter. To sign up for a merchant spotlight, contact us at DowntownDID@SarasotaFL.com for more information.
|
|
The DID typically meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 AM at City Hall, City Commission Chambers, 1565 1st Street, Sarasota. During these meetings, ongoing and new initiatives are discussed and voted on. These meetings are open to the public and allow for public comment. The next DID meeting is:
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Discussion includes the Downtown Tree Lights and FY 2022-23 Budget.
View the full schedule and past meetings here.
|
|
Revitalizing Downtown For The Holidays
|
|
|
|
The DID invested over $90,000 to “revitalize” the trees throughout downtown by adding/repairing over 12,000 lights throughout Selby Five Points Park, State Street, Lemon Ave., Main Street and Palm Ave.! The DID provided a $2,000 grant to the Sarasota Downtown Enrichment Association to support their efforts in decking out the DID with all of the holiday decorations. The Downtown Holiday Tree is located in Five Points Park and will be officially lit on Thursday, December 1st.
We hope to see you in the heart of downtown for some holiday shopping. With some of the best galleries, home goods merchants, restaurants, clothing stores, and more, the DID has some of the best locally-owned businesses in the region. Support local this holiday in the DID.
|
|
The DID & City of Sarasota Present
|
|
The Downtown Improvement District and the City of Sarasota recently renewed our popular Fresh Fridays event series. Here's what's up next on Friday, December 2nd.
|
|
Shop. Stroll. Sing! | Friday, Dec. 2nd | State Street | 7-10 p.m.
Get into the holiday spirit with the return of "Shop. Stroll. Sing!" Get some holiday shopping done in the DID and you'll have an opportunity to enter a raffle to win a gift basket from select retail merchants in the DID. Then join us on State Street for some holly jolly holiday karaoke, sweet treats, and a bit of "snow" that the whole family will enjoy. Brandon Wardell will host the festivities.
The retail merchant raffle works like this: shoppers who visit a DID retail merchant the day of the event will receive a raffle card from the merchant. The paying customer then fills out the raffle card and brings it with them to State Street during SHOP. STROLL. SING! where the winner of the gift basket will then be announced at 9 p.m. If you're a retail merchant that would like to contribute to the gift basket, please reach out to freshfridays@next-mark.com, but you don't need to contribute to the gift basket to receive a stack of raffle cards to hand out the day of the event.
|
|
What would YOU like to see the DID do?
|
|
If you have some ideas for new initiatives for the DID or if you would like to comment on existing programs, please reach out to the Business District Manager to let us know!
|
|
Thank you Ron Soto!
After joining his father in the eyeglass business, Ron Soto would eventually become a long-time feature of Downtown Sarasota as the owner and operator of Soto’s Optical Boutique. Voted “Most Talented” upon graduating from Sarasota High School in 1975 on the strength of his musical skills, it's no surprise that Ron became an avid proponent of vibrant downtown events, campaigning for notable annual events such as the Pineapple Drop on New Year’s Eve and Thunder by the Bay.
As a DID board member, he's worked tirelessly to maximize the pooled resources of commercial property owners, which has translated into The Light Fantastic, Downtown in Bloom, Landscape Upgrades, Fresh Fridays and more. Having served his full term limits on the DID board, we’d like to show our gratitude for his energy and commitment to the DID. As the DID continues its run as the most vibrant destination in the region, it’s thanks to people like Ron Soto.
|
|
If you’d like to continue receiving DID updates electronically, please subscribe to our newsletter HERE by filling out the sign-up form. In addition, please feel free to follow our social media channels, @DowntownSarasotaDID on Facebook and Instagram to ensure you stay informed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
