Larry - Island Real Estate Blog

June 4, 2014January 22, 2021

Wildlife, Inc. – Animal Rescue Anna Maria Island

This animal rescue Anna Maria Island is small but the tireless dedication of Gail and Ed Straight is huge.

The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit organization for the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife located in Bradenton Beach.

Animal Rescue Anna Maria Island

Since 1988 they have cared for thousands of animals every year. 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. They also supply medicine, food and surgeries for injured or orphaned animals until they can be released to the wild. Their mission is supported by an all-volunteer staff. During the course of a week 10-15 volunteers are helping to achieve this goal alongside the two primary operators Ed & Gail Straight.

All funding comes from donations and occasional grants. Springtime is usually the busiest for them, but they are always in need of supplies and funding. The next big fund raiser for Wildlife, Inc is the upcoming 14^th Annual Blood Drive on Saturday, June 7 and 8, 2014 at 9 am – 4 pm, Saint Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S Harbor Dr., Holmes Beach. Please visit this link to stay informed about the organization’s activities.

If you find an animal in distress or like to get involved please call the center at 941-778-6324.

Larry

Meet Larry Chatt. Larry is the Broker/Owner of Island Real Estate – and has owned Anna Maria Island investment property while residing in New England, Ohio, Colorado, Iowa and across Europe. He and his family have been on the island for decades and Larry has served his community in various roles with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce

May 28, 2014November 20, 2020

Have You Been to Island Time?

Bradenton Beach – Anna Maria Island is known for having fantastic locally-owned restaurants like Island Time! One of my favorite places to go on the island is Island Time Bar & Grill in Bradenton Beach. This is an open-air restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. You are right across the street from the beach to see the sunset too! While enjoying some of their delicious food, cocktails and live music, you’ll love the atmosphere!

Island Time

They have live music 5-7 days a week. Have you ever been to a bar or restaurant and the band/singer starts performing and it’s just no good? It’s a bummer because it can potentially kill the good vibe going on. Well, Island Time always has great bands/singers that everyone enjoys! This restaurant is both family oriented and fun for a night out.

Island Time has awesome food. Every time I’ve eaten there, I’ve always liked what I ordered! They have an awesome 7 layer dip for an appetizer along with other great choices. You’ll also find really good sandwiches, lobster bisque, burgers, and much more! Don’t be afraid to try something new – you will love it!

I know when I’ve been at the beach all day I love to walk across the street to Island Time to get an ice cold drink! Island Time’s bar staff is all very nice and attentive. It’s no fun when you have to wait forever to get a drink! The staff is great and they acknowledge you as soon as you get to the bar. Check out some of their drinks specials below!

Happy Hour

Mon. – Fri. 11:30am to 4pm

$2.50 Domestic Bottles

$6.00 Signature Cocktails

$2.00 Bud & Bud Light Drafts

$5.00 Frozen Drinks

In the mood to dine outside? Check out more information on outdoor dining on Anna Maria Island.

Larry

May 22, 2014January 22, 2021

Anna Maria Island Drinks to Aid in Relaxation

Here is a list of Anna Maria Island drinks to get you relaxed island style! When you are thinking of an Anna Maria Island beach vacation what complements the tropical breezes better than a delicious tropical drink! There are so many to choose from, but these are by far my favorites.

They will complement any palate, occasion or any meal for that matter. I have listed them below with their recipe that anyone can master! Also there are a few places to purchase your favorite liquors right here on the island… Hurricane Liquors or Walgreens Liquor Store. I hope this makes all of your stays on Anna Maria Island a little more relaxing…

Mojito:

You Will Need:

2 tablespoons (1 ounce) freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
8 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup (2 ounces) white rum
1 cup ice
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) club soda
lime slice for garnish

Directions:

Add lime juice, sugar and eight mint leaves to a cocktail shaker. Use the end of a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler to bash (or muddle) the mint into the lime juice and sugar. This releases oils from the mint and helps the sugar dissolve into the lime juice.
Add rum, stir well then pour into a glass filled with ice, leaving about an inch of room then top with club soda. Garnish with extra mint leaves and a lime slice.

La Paloma:

You will need:

2 ounces blanco or repesado tequila
6 ounces fresh Jarritos Grapefruit soda (if you can’t find Jarritos don’t make this drink)
1/2 ounce lime juice
Salt for rimming (optional)

Directions:

Rim a glass with salt.
Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice.
Top it off with grapefruit soda.

Strawberry Daiquiri:

You will need:

2 ounces light rum
1/2 ounce triple sec orange liquor
1 ounce lime juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 cup ice
5-10 strawberries (to taste)

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a blender.

Dark & Stormy:

You will need:

2 ounces Gosling’s Black Seal rum
3 ounces Barrit’s Ginger Beer
Lime wedge for garnish

Directions:

Pour the ingredients in a glass one at a time filled with ice cubes.
Garnish with the lime wedge.

Margarita:

You will need:

1 1/2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce triple sec(Cointreau is recommended)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
Salt or sugar to rim the glass (optional)

Directions:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well
If desired, salt the rim of a chilled glass.
Pour contents, with ice, into the glass.
Garnish with the lime wedge.

Larry

May 15, 2014January 22, 2021

Rules to Live by During Anna Maria Island Sea Turtle Season

This is our list of rules to live by during Anna Maria Island Sea Turtle Season! Every year between May 1st and October 31st hundreds of turtles crawl up onto the Anna Maria Island beaches and lay thousands of eggs. Once these eggs hatch tiny turtles emerge, scurry to the water, and begin the unimaginably difficult journey through gulf waters. If they are lucky to survive these early stages of life, females of the five Anna Maria Island turtle species will come back each year to lay their own eggs. Here are some important rules to follow to make sure they aren’t disturbed as they start their lives.

Anna Maria Island Sea Turtle Season

– Turn off outdoor lights that are visible from the beach at night. They can be disorienting to nesting and hatching sea turtles.

– Don’t aim camera flashes at the Sea Turtles.

– Don’t use flashlights or other light sources at night on the beach.

– Remove chairs, umbrellas, tents, grills and all objects from the beach at night.

– Fill in holes dug in the sand so that nesting and hatching turtles don’t get trapped.

– If you see a nesting or hatching turtle, be quiet and don’t touch it under any circumstance.

– Again, don’t touch the Sea Turtles.

– Watch for Sea Turtles and Manatee’s while boating.

– Stay away from the staked nesting areas along the beach.(This applies to the staked bird nesting areas too)

– Don’t chase the birds.

– Dispose of fishing line, hooks, plastic bags and other trash.

– No fireworks, balloons or sky lanterns from the beach. The debris is dangerous to the turtles, birds and other wildlife.

For emergencies or questions about Sea Turtles, birds and other wildlife, call the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization at 941-778-5638, or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922.

Larry

May 5, 2014November 20, 2020

Island Real Estate Resource Link Guidelines

This is the Island Real Estate Resource Link Guidelines. The Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island website is a valuable resource for locals and visitors to our Island. Our site has more than 500 webpages of information that supplies fantastic insider information to those visiting IslandReal.com. We are often supplemental links for informational purposes. The goal of this webpage is to supply Anna Maria Island information. Therefore you can determine if Island Real Estate benefits from your listing your services. The following are some guidelines to help understand if you should contact Island Real Estate to let us know of your service.

Island Real Estate Resource Guidelines

1) Island Real Estate lives and breathes Anna Maria Island, as most would expect, we feel the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is passionate about ensuring our local resources continue to service locals and visitors. We ask you become an Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce member.

2) We require our link appear on your website. Also, “Anna Maria Island Real Estate and Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals” is provided as anchor text in the hyperlink.

One of the two items above is required to be linked on our local scene of our website however if you do have both we generally try to provide premium placement on our website. Of course non Anna Maria Island related businesses will not be linked. For example vacation rentals in Italy or a business to business service like servicing photo copiers will not be linked. The service needs to support local tourism as well as the clientele Island Real Estate works hard to service in our area.

If you have questions you can email us or call 877 778 6066 and request the marketing department. Have a wonderful day and thank you for patronizing Island Real Estate.

Larry

February 14, 2014November 20, 2020

Olympic Skating in Florida

While our visitors come to Anna Maria Island to escape the cold, my daughter and I couldn’t wait to see the ice. The ice, that is, of the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex and the pairs skaters who will be representing Team U.S.A., Team Canada and Team Great Britain in the Olympics in Sochi this month. These teams train in Ellenton and are world class athletes. My daughter was excited to see Nathan Bartholomay and his partner Felicia Zhang, who captured the silver medal in the U.S. National Figure Skating competition in Boston last month, earning them a spot representing the United States in the Winter Olympics.

A few weeks ago, we went as a family to the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex for the public skating, which is held daily. My son, in his rented skates, made a valiant effort to make his way across the ice. He was focused and moved his feet in impossibly little steps as he circled the rink. He was most delighted in the Zamboni machine as it resurfaced the ice. Meanwhile, my daughter, glided across the ice- gracefully, existing in a state somewhere between pure joy and pure beauty that made me want to sign her up for lessons immediately.

When we returned home, the boy fell asleep early- which makes me want to take him back again and again. The girl showed off her bruises- some spectacular black and blue ones on her knees- and asked if we could watch the skating competitions on television. I told her that I could do one better, that I would take her out of school early to watch the young Olympians as they practiced before their trip to Russia.

Together we braved the cold inside the arena to watch the skaters perform spins, jumps, fancy footwork and overhead lifts. We were delighted and amazed as we cheered on our Olympians. We took photos for our British and Canadian friends too, and rooted for them all to perform a flawless program. When the event was over, the athletes gave television interviews, and made time to meet a ten-year-old fan named Bella from Anna Maria Island who came to cheer them on. Best of luck Team USA! We will be watching you as you compete, and be ready to greet you when you come back home to your little spot of winter ice in your sunny Florida home.

The Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex is Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida, (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75). The 115,000 square foot “igloo-like” complex is a state-of-the-art facility on the Florida Gulf Coast offering recreational and entertainment activities for all ages. Public Skating is offered daily.

Still need to get more of your “ice” on? You might want to check out a Tampa Bay lightning game if in season. What fun!

Larry

January 7, 2014January 22, 2021

How to Use the Island Real Estate Remote Entry System

The island Real Estate remote entry system is easy to use and convenient too! Our manual key box and wireless remote entry systems are something new. We’ve implemented this to help you get started with your vacation as soon as possible. No driving through traffic and waiting in our office to get your key, just head to your vacation haven, take your shoes off and start relaxing on Anna Maria Island.

Island Real Estate remote entry system:

The code to enter your property is automatically fed into the remote lock and is ready to use at 4:30 PM EST on the day of your arrival. It also stops working at 10AM on the day of your departure. This is automatic and there is no human intervention required. Simply enter the code and you are set to go.

Manual Box Entry:

The key to your property will be stored in a manual lock box on the property. At 4:30 PM on your day of arrival, enter the code into the Manual Entry Key Block and retrieve your property key. Upon your departure, just return the keys to the Manual Key Box and head on your way. Simple!

Larry

November 7, 2013November 21, 2020

Delicious Anna Maria Island Breakfast Spots

Anna Maria is well known for its white sandy beaches and amazing Gulf front dining. But dinner is not the only time to discover one of the island’s culinary gems; breakfast IS the most important meal of the day after all!

It would be impossible to pick “the best” breakfast restaurant on the island, as each has a unique personality. Southern Living touts Ginny’s & Jane E’s at the Old IGA for a special breakfast experience, the fabulous Morning Glory muffin and the funky beach chic boutique. Sink your toes in the sand at the Sandbar during their Sunday jazz brunch. While visiting one of Forbes List of America’s Prettiest Towns, try the Donut Experiment on Historic Pine Avenue. For an international flair, the Island Creperie French Bistro located on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach serves up a myriad of selections. In the mood to eat alot of pancakes? Try the all you can eat pancake breakfast at the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe.

Local favorites include the home style of Peach’s in Holmes Beach, the “specials board” is always something special! Minnie’s is a great little breakfast and lunch spot. A petite restaurant offering great service, an intimate setting and nice portions…be sure to bring cash, because Minnie’s, as well as several other local favorites are still cash only!

Discover your favorite breakfast spot by exploring the flavorful delights Anna Maria Island has to offer!

Larry

October 7, 2013January 22, 2021

Anna Maria Island Beaches information

Here on Anna Maria Island we have beautiful beaches and all of the Beaches along the Gulf of Mexico on Anna Maria Island are public. There are private entries and Public Beaches with lots of parking but once you get to the sand and Gulf waters, the beaches are everyone’s to enjoy. You can find a beach access point almost anywhere on the island, just look down the street from your house.

There are three main Public Beaches on Anna Maria Island: Bay Front Park, Manatee Public Beach, and Coquina Beach. Bay Front Park is located at the north end of the Island in the City Of Anna Maria. At Bay Front Park you will find quite beaches, spectacular views of the Sky Way Bridge, and offers lots of free parking, covered picnic tables, grills, public restrooms, and a play ground on the beach for children.

Manatee Public Beach is located in Holmes Beach where Manatee Avenue runs right into the Gulf of Mexico. Manatee Public Beach has free parking, picnic tables, public restrooms, a playground on the beach for children, a café right on the beach with food and drinks, and a lifeguard on duty.

Coquina Public Beach is located in Bradenton Beach just south of Bridge Street at the south end of Anna Maria Island. Coquina Public Beach has lots free parking, picnic tables, grills, public restrooms, a play ground on the beach for children, a café right on the beach with food and drinks, and a lifeguard on duty.

We hear many questions regarding, which beach is the best to go to? All of our beaches have white sugar sand with some shells on the beach depending on the rise and fall of the tide. The number of people on the beach can be dramatically different depending on where you are. Anna Maria City beaches are the quietest followed by Holmes Beach then Bradenton Beach. When comparing our beaches to most other Florida beaches we are VERY quiet.

There is plenty of entertainment to be found on our gorgeous beaches, Shelling, Bird Watching, just walking along the beach or searching for the perfect vacation rental or “peace of paradise”. Going to the beach is the perfect way to relax and enjoy the moment!

Larry