Archive: Dec 2015

Locals and tourists alike have loved shopping, dining and entertainment in St. Armands Circle for decades.  Yet, few know its storied past.  It all started with a typo.  Yes. That’s right, a typographical error. Frenchman Charles St. Amand bought roughly 132 acres for a whopping $27.71 in 1893.  He made the land habitable, enjoyed fishing in the bay and growing produce that he would bring to City Pier in Sarasota to sell.  When St. Amand registered the land deed, his name was misspelled.  And that’s why we call it St. Armands today. Enter circus magnate John Ringling.  In 1917, he purchased the property with grand plans to transform the key into a residential and shopping area.  He envisioned the shops ringing a circle in the area.  Back then, there were no causeways to bring people from the mainland to St….

Get ready!  Key Culinary Tours is ready to unveil the very first outing in historic St. Armands Circle.  Bring your walking shoes and your appetite.  Key Culinary Tours will launch the tour program in January.  This unique excursion will highlight four to six premier restaurants around the Circle that was designed and developed by circus magnate John Ringling in the 1920s. We’ve found the best local and qualified tour guides to explain the relevance of St. Armands… from its history to the fine cuisine that has been delighting locals and tourists for decades. One of our tour guides, Robert, has guided tourists through heavenly culinary walking tours in Italy.  He brings the same passion and excitement to St. Armands, which speaks to the area’s European influences. This locally designed and owned tour company offers a lunch tour that runs from 11am-2pm (Wednesday-Saturday) and…