The voting round for the 2022 Best of SRQ Local Competition has only been open a week, and we already have over 28,000 votes! Yes, you read that number right! Keep voting for your favorites now until February 9, 2022.

35 Under 35 Honorees

Honoring bright entrepreneurs and young professionals from our region in our inaugural 35 Under 35 Competition.

Vernacular Design

For a modern abode on the Bayou, the Japanese word “shibusa” became the entire ethos and identity for Hive Architects’ newly-finished project.

Holidays Unwrapped

Find eight eye-catching themes and over 50 gift ideas for just about everyone on you holiday shopping list. From boutiques at the tip of Anna Maria Island to downtown Venice and a grab bag of local gems in-between, you’re sure to find a few hot ticketed items to wrap up in paper and tie with a bow.

SRQist

Teen competitor Enzo Deferrari Wilson gains fame as the youngest American Ninja Warrior in history. Celestron Telescopes’ Ed McDonough brings childlike wonder for all ages through his lens at The Bishop Museum. Busker and YouTube phenom Dovydas claims St. Armands as his stage.

• Hitting the Buzzer
• Talking Telescopes
• Like and Subscribe

Culture City

Seeing the latest creations from ceramicists Morgan Janssen, Andrew Long and Taylor Robenalt.

• Playing in the Mud

Living Bradenton Area

Explore the charm and operations of one of the last small coastal fishing villages – Cortez Village. Celebrate the holidays with eclectic goods from local Bradenton boutiques. Old Florida gets a little fancy at The Porch on Anna Maria Island. Seeking out local produce and artisans at our local farmers’ market from Anna Maria Island to Downtown Bradenton.

• Living Bradenton Area

Giving Coast

Co-founder and Vice Chair of Save our Seabirds, Ann Anders on sees philanthropy take flight. The pandemic expanded the number of students turning to telehealth services for mental health care.

• In the Wings

RocketKids

Learning how to raise resilient children in an interview with Forty Carrots’ 2021 Community Speaker Dr. Tina Payne Bryson.

• RocketKids

After a year of postponements, cancellations, experiments and half-measures, Sarasota’s arts and culture scene rebounds with a season full of world premiers, big ideas and joyous reunions of old friends. Culture Primer highlights not-to-be-missed performances for the 2021-22 season.

• Season Preview

SRQist

In an industrial playground, Marianne Chapel and a band of local artists build SPAACES. A year of service with Miss Florida 2021, Leah Roddenberry, as she looks o represent in the 100th Miss America Competition. Meet Janus and Iclyn at The Bishop Museum’s newly-renovated and expanded manatee rehabilitation exhibit.

• Miss Sunshine
• Making SPAACES
• Underwater Therapy

Culture City

The newly-created Rosemary Art + Design (RADD) finds fresh identity at the intersection of history, art and space-making.

• RADD + Proud

Cargo

From boot, baggy, flare and straight-leg cut, this is your denim jean trend guide. Delight your sensibilities with Kenzie Fisher’s ELU Parfums, inspired by the Mediterranean coast of the French Riviera.

• Denim Heaven
• From Provence, With Love

Forage

The rich history of the Aegean coastline comes plated at Venice’s Bodrum Restaurant. Savoring the leafy, pungent basil herb in a multitude of ways.

• Appetizing Aegean
• Basil or Bust

SRQ readers set a record in last year’s Best of SRQ Local Competition—coming out in greater numbers than ever before to show all the love for their hometown favorites. Can we set another record this year? Nominations for the 2022 Best of SRQ Local Competition are officially open! The people and places garnering the MOST nominations during the first phase of the competition make it to the voting playoffs in January. 

So spread the word and get those nominations coming in to get you on the voting ballot!

SRQ MEDIA is thrilled to announce SmartHouse Integration as a Presenting Sponsor for the 2022 Home of the Year Competition.

SmartHouse Integration was founded in 1998 to answer the call for technology in the home builder market. It is the only choice for those who desire the best performing and most innovative designs in Home Electronics, Security and Home Management Systems. With 20 years of experience, a team of professionals and a true common sense approach to home system design, SmartHouse Integration is featured in some of the finest homes in Florida and across the United States.

We are now accepting submissions for the 2022 Home of the Year Competition. Submission Deadline is Friday, December 10, 2021. Click here to learn how to participate.

SRQ MEDIA is thrilled to announce the addition of three interns, as well as welcome back former interns as freelancers. The internship program at SRQ MEDIA was developed in July 2001 for college students, high school juniors and seniors and post-secondary graduates. Since then, it has provided professional industry experience for over 130 individuals in the areas of editorial, event production, photography, design, marketing, business operations and advertising.

“Real-world experiences guide our interns in cultivating pathways that truly engage their professional passions with the workplace,” says President and CEO Lisl Liang. “ We embrace a truly collaborative spirit where our interns spark inspiration and challenge us to synthesize new perspectives that ultimately amplify our mission.”

Creative Production Intern Shpresa Mehmeti is a student from Kosovo at Ringling College where she is studying Business of Art and Design. She works closely with our video production and marketing teams to plan and execute our videos on SRQ TV. Graphic Design Intern Nilyana Rodriguez is a student at the University of South Florida, Sarasota Manatee studying graphic design. She supports our marketing and design teams by creating editorial layouts and imagery for community engagement programming. Edorital Intern Chloe Cuyler is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a BA in Communications. She works closely with Senior Editor Britt Mattie on our digital platform, SRQ Daily.

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Former SRQ interns Gabriella Alfonso and Winona Nasser are returning as contributing freelancers, and will work with team members on a part-time basis. Having participated in the virtual 2020 SRQ MEDIA Summer Internship Intensive Program, they were invited to join the team as they continue their education at local Florida colleges: Gabriella Alfonso as Client Services Associate working with mentor Associate Publisher Ashley Ryan Cannon on client traffic and advertising and Winona Nasser as Graphic Design Associate crafting client print and digital banner creative assets.

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SRQ MEDIA is growing its strategic marketing capacity with the addition of Digital Marketing and Engagement Manager Hannah Peterson.

Hannah manages the company’s strategic digital marketing, communications and engagement across all platforms. She works with CEO/President Lisl Liang to develop, strategize and implement marketing programming to support the company’s Women Who Roar and SB2 | Giving Coast Symposia community engagement programs and events as well as the many notable reader competitions produced by SRQ MEDIA such as Best of SRQ Local, Home of the Year, Good Hero and the newly launched 35 Under 35 Awards. With her background in broadcast, Hannah also engages with the video production team to launch new series that extend the storytelling reach of the company’s programs. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Hannah graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Electronic Media and Broadcasting. In college, she interned for WDIV in Detroit and afterwards worked for an international women’s nonprofit organization doing digital marketing and event production.

SRQ MEDIA is growing its editorial management capacity with the addition of Managing and Branded Content Editor Barbie Heit.

Barbie oversees the copy for the editorial and branded content divisions of SRQ MEDIA. She works closely with CEO/President Lisl Liang to develop the company’s branded content programs including In Conversation and BrandStory in collaboration with clients to produce stories in print and online. Barbie also strengthens and facilitates  key facets of editorial production including deadlines, pitching and the copyediting and fact-checking of SRQ Magazine and its sister publications. Originally from the New York/Connecticut area where she raised her four children (two sets of twins), Barbie relocated to Sarasota, FL in September 2020. With over 30 years of experience as a children’s book writer and editor, she is thrilled to begin this new chapter in her career at SRQ MEDIA.

Do you know a local philanthropic hero? SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. We will recognize our annual Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipients at the SB2: Philanthropic Agenda Luncheon and Good Hero Philanthropic Awards Luncheon on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

Nominate your hero by September 17th!