The eagle that graced the cover of Longboat Keys News last month recently gave birth to Longboat’s newest residents. Their penthouse is located mid-key along the waterfront

Longboat Key’s future. In many ways, the words are both a beginning and an end. Like Longboat Key literally, our community is an island apart. For years we were perceived as an insular wealthy community with overwrought strict codes, an anti-development attitude and a complete desire to control every aspect of public life.

If your holiday shopping isn’t finished yet but your energy level is, perhaps shopping close to home is the answer. Whether your list is short or long, with everyone on it from young to old, for friends or family, Longboat Key offers pleasurable shopping with plenty of options.

Durante Park, on Longboat Key in the 5000 block, features walking trails, a playland, large gazebo and best of all—a viewing platform looking out across Sarasota Bay. Longboater Mary Lou Johnson caught this visitor casting away in the morning hours.

This Mid-Key eagle looks out over the golf course and water hazards

On Thursday’s balmy evening Longboaters came out to Harry’s in support of the Longboat Key Garden Club, the island’s oldest organization. Harry and Lynn Christensen along with their son, Hal, and his wife, Natalie, and their daughter, Ella, greeted Garden Club members and their guests.

The serenity of Longboat Key’s Broadway Beach boardwalk captured Longboat resident photographer Mary Lou Johnson’s artistic eye.

Sea oats at Longboat Key’s mid-island open stretch of beach. CREDIT: Mary Lou Johnson

A Longboat Key Club golf course water hazard is this pelican’s home.

What did you do for lunch on Thursday? Business owners and community members were “Brown Bagging It” at Longboat Key Center for the Arts in the historic Longbeach Village at the north end of Longboat Key. The lunch served a full entrée of local artists, business owners hob-knobbing and community members working out plans to continually make Longboat Key the place to be.