Sports Festival

The inaugural Sarasota Sports Festival was held this past weekend in Payne Park in downtown Sarasota in conjunction with the opening of a new circus themed playground. What an event! Besides all the activity on the playground, a myriad of sporting events took place simultaneously including tennis, skateboarding, BMX and Strider biking, disc golf and exercise classes. This is a shot of 6-year-old Hayley playing Teddy Tennis, a program designed for kids ages 3-6, which teaches tennis skills through the use of teddy bears, pictures and music. (To learn more about Teddy Tennis check out this short video.)  The festival was so popular most likely it will return next year....maybe with even more sporting events.

National Night Out

After keeping you on pins and needles for the past 24 hours about today's post, here it is...(drum roll please)...the 27th annual National Night Out.  It was a night out for everyone throughout the nation!  It's an event designed to bring communities, neighbors and law enforcement together for a big block party to strengthen anti-crime measures.  A couple thousand people were at the event in Payne Park which featured face painting for the kids...

...adorable pooches working the crowd as part of their training to become a canine companion...

...free bike helmets (donated by the Florida Dept. of Transportation) which were properly fitted for youngsters as well as those with a few more miles under them...

...and, of course, random circus acts wandering the grounds.  

Stairwell With A View

This is the view from the sixth floor stairwell of the new Sarasota Police headquarters, which overlooks Payne Park in downtown.  (To see a photo of the $44 million building when it was still under construction click here.)  Earlier this week, it opened with much fanfare including a community open house where everyone had the opportunity to walk all six floors --- and check out this wonderful view.  The fire truck and tent were set up in the park for another big event, which I'll tell you about in Friday's post.  (Oooh, the suspense!)