Larry - Island Real Estate Blog

October 29, 2012December 14, 2019

Island Players Theater Anna Maria

Join the Island Players Theater
of Anna Maria Island for an evening of fun while you are on the island!

The theater, located on the corner of Gulf Dr and Pine Ave in Anna Maria, offers a season of theatrical events.

Performances are evenings at 8pm and Sunday matinees are at 2pm.

Box Office telephone: 941-778-5755

The 64th Season started with the show Postmortem which was performed October 4-14.

4 more shows will round out the season:

Continue reading “Island Players Theater Anna Maria”

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

October 16, 2012March 18, 2024

Anna Maria City Pier Grill and Bait shop

The Anna Maria City Pier Grill and Bait Shop is a great place to take a stroll and wash your cares away. The small walk up and order restaurant is on one of the two piers in Anna Maria City. The Grill and Bait shop is at the end of what used to be known as the Anna Maria City Public Pier prior to 2017 when weather damaged the pier and made it unsecure. Since then, the pier has been rebuilt and contains the grill, a bait shop and the free Mote aquarium exhibit. There are seats along the pier to sit and relax and take in all the sites to see.

If you walk around the outside of the building you will bump into plenty of folks fishing. Some are fishing for smaller game while I have seen plenty fishing for sharks. One other great thing I love about the pier is the outdoor area where the musicians play right on the dock. Sit down and relax and grab a beverage and watch the fishing, drinking and music.

The Anna Maria City Pier Grill serves breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks. Since the restaurant is at the end of a pier they tend to have easily prepared food such as fries, burgers, salad, eggs, soups as well as some desserts and ice cream from Dips. On the East side of the building there is a walk up window where you order your food or beverages. They do have coffee, tea, beer as well as soda. When your name is called you go grab your food and find a spot at a picnic table or some of the smaller tables under cover. Unless you are an adrenaline junkie I wouldn’t suggest visiting the Anna Maria City Pier Grill and Bait shop in inclement weather. It gets quite windy.

We have another great information blog written on the Anna Maria City Public Pier. Click here for more information on the Anna Maria City Public Pier.

City Pier Restaurant
100 South Bay Blvd
Anna Maria City, Anna Maria Island, FL
34216
(941) 779-1667

Larry

October 1, 2012January 22, 2021

In Cahoots Bar On Manatee Ave In Bradenton

Looking at it from the outside nothing seems all that special about In Cahoots. It’s not a stand-alone bar in a distinct building, but one of about a dozen tenants in Pebble Springs Plaza on Manatee Avenue West (State Road 64) just about six miles from Anna Maria Island. Its bright red sign glows enticingly at night, but from the parking lot on a recent Saturday evening all appeared quiet. Inside it was a different story with two games of pool and a stage where the karaoke was well underway!

Continue reading “In Cahoots Bar On Manatee Ave In Bradenton”

Larry

September 15, 2012November 28, 2020

Scuba Diving Anna Maria Island or Free Diving- Where to Go

There are two spots where divers can get their fill of Scuba Diving Anna Maria Island. The best news of all is both diving spots are just a few hundred yards off the coast of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, Florida.
The first spot is called Spanish Rocks. You can Google that spot as there are lots of professional diver websites that talk about exact locations. A quick synopsis is to drive on to Anna Maria Island using State Route 64 otherwise known as Manatee Avenue. Travel to the South along Gulf Drive, the locals call this stretch “Old Gulf Drive.” Pull over at 33rd street off Gulf where the beach access dead ends into the Gulf. Walk South 6 houses, not an easy task with all your gear but at the sixth house head directly West into the Gulf about about two hundred yards. You will pass by a sandy bottom and you are getting close. The ledges are just 15 – 18 feet down. On a clear day you can catch the rocks from the surface but on a rough day it is very easy to miss. The limestone ledges range from 1 foot to a maximum of 5 feet. Below is a video of what can be found while diving on the Spanish Rocks.

Continue reading “Scuba Diving Anna Maria Island or Free Diving- Where to Go”

Larry

September 14, 2012January 22, 2021

WHY ISN’T MY FRIDGE COLD?

WHY ISN’T MY FRIDGE COLD?

Why isn’t my fridge cold? Refrigerator concerns are some of the most frequent calls into the Island Real Estate maintenance department. We often find that even properly functioning refrigerators are not easily capable of meeting the demands of vacation rental. Here are a few common issues:

FOOD STORAGE INCREASE: Your refrigerator’s internal temperature may noticeably increase if you add a large load of food to it all at once. (This is especially common when adding warm, or room-temperature liquids such as beer or soda) Remove any excess or unnecessary items and wait a few hours, and see if the refrigerator’s temperature has returned to normal. If it still isn’t cold enough, check to see if any of the food is blocking the refrigerator’s air vents where the cold air enters the compartment. Move it out of the way, so air can circulate freely through the refrigerator and check the temperature again in a few hours.

CONTROLS SET INCORRECTLY: Your refrigerator may not be cold enough if you do not have the controls set properly. Refrigerators feature either a dial or a digital key pad to adjust the refrigerator’s temperature. If you feel that your refrigerator is too warm, turn the controls to one setting higher. Turning it all the way to the highest setting will not cool your refrigerator any faster, and moving more than one level at a time may damage the refrigerator. Let it sit at the new level for approximately 24 hours so the temperature has time to stabilize before checking to see if it is cold enough. If it is still too warm, adjust it another level.

DOOR LEFT OPEN: When you refrigerator’s door is left open for a prolonged period or frequently, warm air may enter the compartment and raise the temperature. Try to open your refrigerator only when necessary to minimize the warm air that enters. In addition, make sure that you always shut the door firmly when closing it.

Why isn’t my fridge cold? If your refrigerator is without power, making loud noises or not functioning properly for a period beyond 48 hours, please call our office at (941) 778-6066.

Larry

September 14, 2012January 22, 2021

WHY ISN’T MY WIFI WORKING? – Anna Maria Island Rentals

WHY ISN’T MY WIFI WORKING?

Why isn’t my wifi working? Wireless internet can be frustrating at times. Simple fluctuations in power are often the cause for issues with internet modems and routers. Most modems in Island Real Estate rental units are provided by Bright House Cable. They can be located anywhere in the house including kitchens, bedrooms, closets, living spaces, and garages. To locate you modem, look for a small black or gray box connected to a coax cable. A quick power recycle will solve most issues. DO NOT push the reset button, as this will often cause additional trouble.

To reset a modem or a gateway (modem-router combination):

Unplug the modem’s power cord.
Remove the battery (usually concealed by a panel in the back or side of the modem). Note, some modems have batteries and others do not.
Wait 15 seconds and put the battery back in place, and plug the modem back in.
Wait 45 seconds for the cable modem to initialize.
- Your modem is initialized when the lights for power and Internet connectivity are on (solid, not blinking). To find out which lights indicate this on your particular modem, see What do the lights on the front of my modem mean?
Attempt to browse the Internet again.

A wireless router is a small box that receives the internet signal from the modem and broadcasts it throughout the Anna Maria Island home. If your rental has a router, it may need a simple power recycle as well.

To reset both a router and a modem:

Unplug the router’s power cord.
Unplug the modem’s power cord.
Remove the modem’s battery (usually concealed by a panel in the back or side of the modem). Note, all modem’s do not have a battery.
Wait 15 seconds and put the battery back in place, and plug the modem back in.
Wait 45 seconds for the cable modem to initialize.
- Your modem is initialized when the lights for power and Internet connectivity are on (solid, not blinking). To find out which lights indicate this on your particular modem, see What do the lights on the front of my modem mean?
Plug the router back in.
Wait 45 seconds for the router to initialize.
Attempt to browse the Internet again.

If this does not solve your problem, please call our guest services staff at Island Real Estate (941) 778-6066. We may need to send one of our technicians to your rental unit, or schedule a service call with internet provider.

Larry

August 7, 2012November 28, 2020

Ocean Star Sushi Located in Anna Maria City

Ocean Star sushi is well known by island residents and visitors who have come to Anna Maria Island year after year, and rightfully so. The food is absolutely to die for!

Ocean Star provides fantastic sushi, or you can go for the hibachi option and watch them prepare your meal before your eyes. The restaurant has seating for about 100 and in high season there can be a significant wait. The dining area has wooden booths, tables, a liquor bar and outdoor seating right on the water. Of course no restaurant should serve Sushi if they don’t have a bar area where you can sit and watch the chefs prepare sushi. The seating at the bar area is about 15.

Ocean Star has a strong take out business as lots of folks call in their sushi order and pick it up to eat at home or an Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental.

Insider tips – be sure to check the specials board for sushi. For children that don’t like sushi try out the chicken tempura. Some of my favorite sushi choices – volcano, Hawaiian, spider and caterpillar. Don’t forget to get yourself some sake where they fill a square glass up to the rim, as full as it can get.

Where: 902 S Bay Blvd, Anna Maria, FL 34216
Phone: (941) 251-6940
Hours: Open everyday of the week from 4pm – 10pm

Maybe Sushi is not your thing? View our top ten lists for lots of suggested restaurants.

Larry

August 6, 2012November 28, 2020

Rosa Fiorelli Vineyard and Winery in Bradenton, Florida

(Now Manasota Vineyards)

Anna Maria Island is known for it’s beaches but we are slowly showing island visitors that we have lots to offer in the way of eco-tourism. One such visit would be the Rosa Fiorelli Vineyard and Winery located about half an hour from Anna Maria Island just in Bradenton, Fl.

Rosa Fiorelli Winery is located in Eastern Manatee County and is family owned and operated. The winery and vineyard have impromptu tours most of the year and as of this writing is open 10 Am through 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday and Sundays Noon – 5 PM EST. Sorry they are closed on Tuesdays each week.

When you take a tour of the vineyard it takes about half an hour to 45 minutes and the walk is fairly light and would guess the walk in total is a few football fields. The winery suggests calling ahead to be sure they are having tours and sneakers are fine to wear. I would not suggest going on a rainy day.

At the end of the vineyard eco tour you walk into the small shop where the guide takes you through about 6-10 wines so you can find the wines you love. The Rosa Fiorelli winery has produced over 100 award winning wines.

The winery is fairly easy to get to. Just take State route 64 otherwise known as Manatee Avenue, East until you get to County Road 675 where you take that South and look for the winery at 4250 County Road 675.

Rosa Fiorelli Vineyard and Winery
4250 County Road 675
Bradenton, FL 34211
(941) 322-0976

Maybe you just want some wine from the grocery store? Don’t fret, there is a grocery store on Anna Maria Island as well as a few liquor stores.

Larry

July 17, 2012November 28, 2020

Nature Parks Near Anna Maria Island – Manatee County

There are many nature parks near Anna Maria Island. Most visitors to Anna Maria Island know about Robinson’s Preserve located just a few minutes to the East of Holmes Beach. It has fabulous nature trails, a sky high tower that overlooks the park as well as the Tampa Bay. But, all are not aware there are lots of other Parks and Nature Preserves in Manatee county. Additionally, there is even Leffis Key right on the island!

Below is a list of Manatee County nature parks.
Take a look and let us know which park you enjoy the most!

Nature Parks Near Anna Maria Island

Robinson Preserve
1704 99th Street, NW
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 745-3723
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

De Soto National Memorial – Near Robinson Preserve.
8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy
Bradenton, Florida 34209
941-792-0458
Open daily from dawn to dusk. Parking lot closes at 5PM.

Riverview Pointe Preserve – Adjacent to DeSoto National Memorial.
8250 DeSoto Memorial Highway
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 745-3723
Open daily and hours vary on season

Jiggs Landing
6106 63rd Street East
Bradenton, FL 34203
(941) 745-3723
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Emerson Point Preserve
5801 17th Street West
Palmetto, Fl 34221
(941) 721-6885
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Rye Preserve
905 Rye Wilderness Trail
Parrish, FL 34219
(941) 776-0900
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Duette Preserve and Headwaters at Duette
2649 Rawls Road
Duette, FL 34251
(941) 776-2295
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Leffis Key at Coquina Bay Walk – located at the south end of Anna Maria Island in Bradenton Beach.
2351 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Anna Maria Island, FL 34217
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Neal Preserve
12301 Manatee Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 742-5923
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Perico Preserve
11700 Manatee Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 737-2254
Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Larry