Out With The Old

When I posted this photo in December 2011, showing Sarasota Hardware and commenting that it had been a mainstay in downtown for 77 years, who knew it would be out of business within the year?!  Yep, the owners closed up shop this past fall.  Most people suspected "the big box stores" did the family business in.  Au contraire, said the owner.  In a newspaper article he stated it was a lack of development downtown which led to the closing.  Storefronts on Main Street are rarely empty for long.  Sure enough, within a couple of months, another business moved in.  Any guesses?  It's something that's been featured on SDP before....

A Tube Dube showroom is now there.  When I visited the place during a recent Saturday, it was busy with lots of people checking out Tube Dude golfers, sailors, photographers, mailboxes and pretty much anything you can dream up.  Business must be going well for the Tube Dude to open a showroom on Main Street.

Tube Dude Pets

Tube Dude artwork has been featured many times before on SDP.  (Click the label below to see previous posts.)  In the past, I've shown the standard smiling stick figures, which are pretty common to see around Sarasota nowadays.  But, these Tube Dudes, located in front of Bee Ridge Veterinary Clinic, caught my eye and prompted me to pull over for a photo opp.  This is Tube Dude waiting for Tube Doggie to take care of business apparently before seeing the doctor.  And, for those who are more feline friendly....

...here's Tube Kitty, having a good stretch on a flagpole just feet away from Tube Doggie.  Very clever indeed. The man behind the Tube Dude creations used to build yachts here in Sarasota but reinvented himself when the economy tanked several years ago. You can read his story by clicking here.

Psssst!

In case you've been living in a cave and haven't heard...it's Election Day!  While millions of Floridians opted to vote early (something like 4.2 million), lines at the polling precincts here in the Sunshine State are still expected to be long today.  One of the reasons is because of the sheer length of the ballot.  With 11 proposed state constitutional amendments, which are complex and lengthy, this is the longest ballot in state history.   When I heard about early voters in Miami waiting in line for up to 6 hours, I immediately presumed those voters hadn't reviewed their sample ballot and were actually trying to decipher the questions in the voting booth (which I cannot imagine!)  Of course, the item that everyone is talking about is at the very top of the ballot:  President of the United States.  As for me, I voted last Friday at 7:15 a.m. without too much of a wait.  

Bikin' Tube Dude

Look! Up in the air! It's Bikin' Tube Dude! I showed you photos of Tube Dudes when they first started popping up around Sarasota. Well, the concept has really taken off. (Click here to read about the founder who went from building yachts to creating Tube Dudes.)  I spotted these colorful ones high over the Sarasota BMX course recently.  In September, the company received a $100,000 economic incentive grant from Sarasota County with the stipulation it has to create 44 new jobs (although, I don't know over what period of time).  Who knows...you might see Tube Dudes in your area some day.

Tube Dude - Part Deux

Since I first introduced you to the Tube Dude several months ago, the concept has really taken off.  Tube Dudes are now showing up all over Sarasota.  I spotted this one, sporting a life jacket and canister of pool chemicals, waving to traffic outside a swimming pool supply store.  I just love 'em.  Check out the official Tube Dude website and learn how the recession led to the creation of the Tube Dude.  And, while you're there, look for Sarasota Daily Photo.  The SDP staff just discovered we're featured on the Tube Dude homepage.  Excellent!

Tube Dude

I encountered this clever bit of art situated in Burns Square near downtown advertising a spa.  A local artist is creating these metal figures which he calls Tube Dudes.  (With the turquoise high heels and flipped hair, I'm supposing this is a dudette.)  You can read more about it on the Tube Dude website.