Weekly Tails From Southeastern Guide Dogs

Southeastern Guide Dogs is in Sarasota too!

Typically this column talks about the goings on at Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Palmetto Campus. But this week, we wanted to turn the focus south to our Sarasota location.

September 2010 saw the expansion of Southeastern Guide Dogs into a new area: Sarasota.  Southeastern took over the building formerly inhabited by Scoop Management, where, unfortunately a number of locals were the victims of Art Nadal’s nefarious business practices.  And really, what better way to change the karma in a building than making it the home base of a non-profit? Southeastern Guide Dogs Sarasota Training Center and Dog Boutique now serves as a place where the general public can come and learn about guide dogs and the amazing work they do.  A new program is launching April 10th that will allow participants to “Shadow a Guide Dog Trainer.”  This fun, informative weekly workshop will explain the methods used to train guide dogs and …

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Weekly Tails From Southeastern Guide Dogs

Holiday Gift Giving Has Gone to the Dogs

The holidays are upon us! Have you done your shopping yet? If not, here are some gift ideas that may not have crossed your mind.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now faint memories, we bet there are still people on your list that you haven’t checked off.  Whether it is that uncle who has everything or your boss, shopping can be difficult.  So why not avoid the lines and mayhem and do something for the greater good instead? Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Palmetto campus has a fabulous Gift Shop!  Visitors can shop in a homey atmosphere for a wide variety of pet-centered gifts, but the best thing…all proceeds go toward funding Southeastern’s mission. For those of you to our south, the unique pet boutique in our Main Street location in downtown Sarasota is chock-full of goodies for the four-legged family members and those who love them.  You are sure to find a great gift …

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Ellenton Premium Outlets Details Midnight Madness

Black Friday will begin as early as 9 p.m. Thanksgiving night and will continue through Nov. 25.

Ellenton Premium Outlets is getting ready for thousands of shoppers expected to descend on the outlet mall after Thanksgiving dinner next week. Snowbirds, area residents and visitors are all expected to begin their bargain hunting during the midnight madness sale Friday through Sunday. The outlet stores will be offering early bird specials, doorbusters and weekend long savings. Several shops at Ellenton Premium Outlets, 5461 Factory Shops Boulevard, will open as early as 9 p.m. Thanksgiving night and they have already released a list of some of the deals offered to shoppers. Sales will continue Saturday through 10 p.m. and then again on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Shoppers can sign up for the Free VIP Shopper Club to save even more. Those…

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Small Business Saturday Deals In Bradenton

We're compiling a list to help you find the best Small Business Saturday Deals.

Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses their community thrives on. This year, Bradenton Patch is putting together a list of local Small Business Saturday deals. If you are a small business owner, leave your deal in the comments section below, and it will be added to the list.  American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is great to support local small businesses that rely on neighbors like us in order to thrive. Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by …

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Retailers to Begin Black Friday Sales on Thanksgiving

Walmart, Target and Kmart included in turkey day sales.

If you have a black belt in Black Friday shopping, listen up: Area big-box retailers are gearing up to dazzle bargain hunters even earlier this year — starting Thanksgiving Day. Walmart, Target and Kmart are planning all-out holiday shopping assaults. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, Walmart will offer holiday gifts for the entire family, while supplies last. That includes an electric scooter for $79, a steam mop for $39 or men's jeans for $9.50. Target's deals begin an hour later, at 9 p.m. According to an ad leaked online, the best deals will be for a Nook, TV and Nikon camera. Kmart's mega-deals will begin in-store throughout the day on Thanksgiving, with special deals beginning at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day continuing …

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University Town Center Mall Breaks Ground

The upscale $350 million in University Park is slated to be open Oct. 16, 2014.

In two years time, Manatee and Sarasota counties will have a shared destination for high-end shopping. Officials ceremoniously broke ground with confetti guns a blazing Monday afternoon on the 888,000-square-foot Mall at University Town Center located north of Nathan Benderson Park. "The Mall at University Town Center solidifies the University area as the premier shopping destination in Southwest Florida," said Randy Benderson, president of Benderson Development Company. "The shopping center, in conjunction with the Nathan Benderson Rowing Facility, will be a world-class destination and a tremendous community benefit for generations to come." The $315 million mall is a partnership between developers Taubman Centers and University Park-…

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Weekly Tails From Southeastern Guide Dogs

Holiday Gift Giving: Countdown

With just two weeks left for holiday shopping, here are some gift ideas that may not have crossed your mind.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now faint memories, and just two more weeks left before Christmas, we bet there are still people on your list that you haven’t checked off.  Whether it is that uncle who has everything or your boss, shopping can be difficult. So why not avoid the lines and mayhem and do something for the greater good instead? Newly expanded and opened on Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Palmetto campus has a fabulous Gift Shop!  Visitors can shop in a homey atmosphere for a wide variety of pet-centered gifts, and the best thing…all proceeds go toward funding Southeastern’s mission. For those of you to our south, the unique pet boutique in Southeastern’s Discovery Center on Main Street in downtown Sarasota is chock-full of goodies…

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What's Your Holiday Tradition?

A Bradenton resident speaks about her family's gift-giving tradition Dec. 15 at the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton

As far as holiday traditions go, giving the gift of a silver coin is pretty unique. Jo Newberry, a Bradenton resident, said Dec. 15 at the Ellenton Premium Outlets that her family has been doing just that for generations. But, she said, it's becoming an expensive tradition to keep up.

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Holiday Musings

Tips For Holiday Shopping And Events In Bradenton

From one-of-a-kind gifts for kids, to the 1910 Florida Cracker Christmas, here are some tips on making the most of the holidays.

Years ago, when my kids were toddlers, my next door neighbor tucked her little boys to bed wearing their t-shirts for the next day under their blanker sleeper. We lived in Buffalo and for those of you who wonder what is a blanket sleeper, it is a combo blankey and pajamas. Very cozy. I propose that this is the time of year we should all sleep in our clothes so we can hit the ground running. There is shopping, decorating, parties, more shopping, wrapping, writing cards and then shopping again. My son once confided to me that he saved his shopping for the day before Christmas because then he rushed for only one day because no matter when you start, he concluded, you always end up rushing!  So, where to go? For shopping, two of my all-time …