Anna Maria Island – Florida’s Beach Wedding Capital
Knot magazine has named Anna Maria Island's Sandbar and BeachHouse to its 2009 "Best of Weddings" edition. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG
By John Davis – Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Published: Monday, March 1, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 11:16 p.m.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island has carved out a niche for itself as a Florida destination for beach weddings and, in a down economy, the expense saved by getting married outside has been a draw to many couples.
“We’ve seen more people interested since the recession because a lot of the larger hotels like the Ritz and places like that, they price themselves so high that they put themselves out of the reach of many people,” said Michael Khouri of Classic Event Management in Bradenton. “But even though people have to keep it affordable, they still want something nice.”
According to Caryn Hodge, coordinator of the Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival, the island sees 1,000 to 1,500 weddings a year. Sunday marked the third wedding festival, drawing an estimated 800 people, mostly brides-to-be and their friends.
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All Aboard The Loveboat
The Floating Chapel Makes Its Way Down The Intra-coastal
By JANUARY HOLMES – jholmes@bradenton.com
Anna Maria Island — Call it the Love Boat.
Jill Chandler-Fisher and Orca Fisher’s vessel is not as big as the famous TV cruise ship, however, it’s cute, classically romantic and a little more churchy.
The Fishers are owners of the “Floating Chapel on the Bay” — a classic-looking church with stained-glass windows, cathedral ceilings, old-fashioned pews that seat up to 100 people and a steeple that’s as blue as the sea. It comes complete with a wrap-around deck, a bridal suite and twin engines to carry it through the Intracoastal waterway.
“The beauty of being able to cruise up and down the Intracoastal has literally stopped traffic,” said Jill Chandler-Fisher. “People get out of their cars. They wave, take photographs.”
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Segway Anna Maria Island
Becky Kramer and tour guide Craig Luloff
Tours of southern Anna Maria Island on a Segway i2 Personal Transporter are now under way.
Becky Kramer of Zegway by the Bay recently received seven new Segways, which are two-wheeled scooters on which riders can stand up and look around as they drive about.
The 90-minute tours cost $55 and will stop at Bradenton Beach’s Bridge Street, on Coquina Beach, at the Longboat Pass, among others places during the seven-mile tour.
“Nobody’s doing it out here,” Kramer said. “The tourism has been great here on the island and I figured this is a great addition to something that visitors can do.”
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Bradenton Scores Highest in “Emotional Attachment”
A Gallup survey ranking 26 U.S. communities found Bradenton scored highest of all in the category of “emotional attachment” as measured by social offerings, physical beauty and an open and welcoming nature.
Village of The Arts
That friendly vibe particularly permeates the Village of the Arts, an enclave where bountiful whimsy expresses itself in the district’s colorful cottages, studios, galleries, book stores and restaurants.
Bradenton is also home to the headquarters of Beall’s Department Stores, Tropicana and Champs Sports.
Just to the west, mile-wide Anna Maria Island is home to three laid-back island communities. Just to the east is Lakewood Ranch, one of Florida’s newest and hippest planned communities.
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The “Old Florida” Feel of Anna Maria Island
Beachside dining at the Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria
By Kitty Bean Yancey – USA Today
Unlike similar sunset celebrations in Florida tourist meccas such as Key West, there are no rowdy crowds, wall-to-wall bars or panhandlers. Also absent on Anna Maria are high-rise condos and chain hotels. You’ll have to drive off-island for a McDonald’s or Starbucks fix.
“We’ve been all over Florida, but we love Anna Maria Island because it’s so oldy-worldy,” says Glynis Bayles of England, who is here with her husband, Robert, a retiree. Europeans and the value-minded favor this getaway, where low-rise is the rule. (Just one condo complex stands more than three stories high, and no more tall buildings are allowed.)
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Islanders of the Year: Rhea Chiles, Ed Chiles
The Islander Newspaper named Rhea Chiles and her son, Ed, Islanders of the Year for 2009. The award recognizes individuals for their unselfish contributions and genuine concern for making Anna Maria Island an even better place to live. We congratulate Rhea and Ed for this most-deserving recognition of their unyielding support for our community.
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By Bonner Joy
The Islander – January 6, 2010
It was an idea of great joy to Rhea Chiles, and as it formed, evolved, mired and progressed, the idea became big.
Rhea Chiles
It meant something big for Anna Maria Island to be host to the first lady of Florida, to have her return here to live after a time in the governor’s mansion, after the death of Lawton Chiles very near the end of his last term.
Of course, AMI embraced Rhea.
But little did we know she had such a big idea for us, one that would bring us culture, education, arts and artists, and a sense of place in tune with nature and the beauty around us.
It came to be the Studio at Gulf and Pine, but it is a mirror of Rhea Chiles, a woman generous of her great intellectual gifts.
Ed Chiles
But take that gift and combine it with the generosity and vision of son Ed Chiles, who has developed his trio of restaurants into landmarks on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, and we have a legacy for the future.
Ed knows the value of investing in the community, of giving back to the organizations that help support youth sports, the elementary school and other worthwhile causes. Few, if any, who ask for help are turned away.
And while he may have competitors in business, none can argue with his generosity.
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Locals Gather for Annual Christmas Bird Count
Great blue herons are among the birds counted during Audubon’s 110th Christmas Bird Count last week.
BRADENTON BEACH – Something small and fragile is making noise in the mangrove bushes on Leffis Key as John Ginaven walks by, followed by a binocular brigade.
Coming to a silent stop like troops on patrol, they wait, listening and watching.
Ginaven makes the same noise they’ve been hearing, called “pishing.”
There it is again.
They whisper and point.
“Don’t point,” one whispers. “It scares them.”
Cameras are raised. Binoculars are focused.
The bird moves and the jig is up. Whispering turns into excited chatter, as David Williamson flips open a bird identification book to narrow the choices.
Can you see its belly? Is it yellow? How many bands are on its flank? Are there white circles around the eyes?
Is it a male or a female?
“Are you kidding?” one new birder asks in disbelief, unaware that colors alone can give away the answer
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Upcoming Events
Downtown Holmes Beach – Holiday Open House
Santa
Where: Downtown Holmes Beach – Marina and Gulf Drives
When: December 4 5:00-8:00 PM
What: Holiday walkabout with participating merchants in the area of Marina and Gulf dirves, including tree lighting at 5pm at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
Prize giveaways & refreshments. Join the Anna Maria Island Privateers, visit the Scallywag ship and Santa Sleigh at the Islander. Santa visits and treats for children. Sponsored and organized by The Islander newspaper.
Anna Maria Island Art League Winterfest
Where: Holmes Beach City Hall Fieldon Marina Drive
When: December 12 & 13
Living Statue - 2008 Winterfest
What: Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts featuring more than 100 juried artist and fine craftsmen.
Musical entertainment by Gumbo Boogie Band and Howie Banfield & the Anna Maria String Band. ”Young at Art” Children’s Exhibit.
Food Court featuring area restaurants. Prize drawings for over 50 pieces of original artwork.
Free admission and parking. Sponsored by Anna Maria Island Art League, The Bradenton Herald and Edward E & Lillian H. Bishop Foundation. For more information call 941-778-2099.
Anna Maria Island Privateers Christmas Parade
Where: Bayfront Park to Coquina Beach
When: December 12 at 10 AM
Other Notable Events
• Dec. 12, Holiday Boat Parade on Manatee River.
• Dec. 13, Pancake breakfast at St. Bernard Catholic Church.
• Dec. 19, Holiday open house and lighted boat parade, Bradenton Beach.
• Dec. 19, “Where’s Woody Candish” sidewalk art sale in the Island Shopping Center.
• Dec. 20, Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra holiday concert.
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Calendar Sales to Benefit Community Center
Holmes Beach/Lakeland resident Robert Harper is donating proceeds from his calendar “Sunrises and Sunsets featuring Anna Maria Island” to the Island Community Center. You can pick up a copy of the calendar at the Community Center or at Bark & Company Realty. Donation is $12.
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By Pat Copeland | sun staff writer
Community Center Executive Director Pierrette Kelly meets with calendar artist Robert Harper and his wife, Amy.
ANNA MARIA – Robert Harper captures the beauty of Florida sunrise and sunsets and is using this beauty to benefit the Island Community Center.
“A few weeks ago, I read an article in the newspaper that said the Community Center needed donations, and I thought about making a calendar of my oils and donating it to the Community Center,” Harper explained. “It came about really quickly.”
Harper and his wife, Amy, called the Center’s Executive Director Pierrette Kelly and the three met and made Harper’s gift a reality. All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will be donated to the Center.
Harper, who is from Lakeland, has a long history with the Island. From the age of eight, his family made it their annual vacation spot.
The Shining of North Shore - March 2010 (from the calendar)
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Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key – A Unique Vibe
Once again, a national publication (The Washington Post) is extolling the virtues of Anna Maria Island. This story contrasts the unique qualities of each island stretching from Anna Maria south to Venice and Manasota Key.
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Arial View of Longboat Key
By Andrea Sachs – The Washington Post
October 8, 2009
Anna Maria Island is Florida as a living diorama, with no chain hotels, a speed limit that never exceeds 35 mph and a building limit of three stories. It is also home to a genteel first lady.
“We are loath to go the route of Longboat Key, with condo high-rises,” said Rhea Chiles, the wife of former Florida governor Lawton Chiles, whose family has owned property here since 1958. “The look of the place has been passed down from one generation to another. It’s all of those words: quaint, neighborly, natural.”
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