Sarasota|News|
Pirate Pup Parade, Running With The Rays, Art Shows: FL Weekend Events
Looking for something fun to do? Sarasota Seafood & Music, Dunedin Film Festival, Tampa Bay Barbecue Fest, Plantapalooza, Anime Fest

Born and raised in New York, I’ve been living in the Tampa Bay area for the past 10 years. I've spent the majority of my career in community journalism on Long Island and in Florida.
Prior to Patch, I worked as an editor for Tampa Bay Newspapers in Pinellas County for eight years. Locally, my work has also appeared in La Gaceta, Creative Loafing, Watermark, Creative Pinellas and The Tampa Free Press.
I’m also the founder and president of Wordier Than Thou, a literary arts nonprofit that creates fun, engaging events for Florida writers and readers.
As a field editor for Patch, I’ll be covering the St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton and Miami areas. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to connect with me at Tiffany.Razzano@patch.com or 516-906-2140.
Looking for something fun to do? Sarasota Seafood & Music, Dunedin Film Festival, Tampa Bay Barbecue Fest, Plantapalooza, Anime Fest

A GA inmate who was part of a jury duty scam received pre-paid phones in prison via drone, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
A man was arrested for making online threats against the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, the sheriff’s office said.
Among the 66 Macy's stores closing in 2025, seven are in Florida. Check out which locations are shutting down in the Sunshine State.
Daiso, a Japanese bargain store, is expanding into Florida and will open its first store in Tampa in early February.
Hundreds of manatees seeking refuge from the polar vortex are gathering at Florida springs and other warm-water havens this week.
“Only Murders in the Building” stars Steve Martin and Martin Short canceled FL tour dates as LA-area wildfires continue to ravage the area.
A man was arrested for smashing the windows of vehicles parked at a 34th Street Publix and stealing items from them, St. Pete police said.
A doctor from the Bradenton area pretended to be a 19-year-old man on Reddit and asked a 14-year-old UT girl for nude photos, MCSO said.
Fort, dog beach, fishing piers reopen at Fort De Soto Park after damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Pinellas officials said.
The shooting happened Dec. 27 at The Alley at Southshore in Riverview, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Enrique Tarrio, a former Proud Boys leader from South FL, is serving 22 years for charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
Credit card skimming devices were found on ATMs at two 7-Eleven stores in Tampa, police said.
Restaurant openings, closings in Sarasota, Bradenton: MADE, Portillo’s, Toasted Yolk, Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar, The Peach Cobbler Factory.
Matt Gaetz said that he’s “starting to think about running for governor” in FL after turning down a role in Trump’s cabinet, a report said.
Two injured people and their dog were rescued after their boat hit a wake from a cruise ship near Gadsden Park and sank, HCSO said.
A St. Pete man was accused of abusing two disabled residents at a Dunedin nursing home, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.
A 15,000-square-foot freestanding Sarasota Memorial Emergency Room opened Tuesday in Lakewood Ranch near Interstate 75.
The Real ID Act of 2005 was originally supposed to take effect in 2008 but has been delayed for multiple reasons.
A section of Manatee Avenue in Bradenton is blocked after a vehicle carrying a crane overturned and damaged power lines, police said.