Wednesday, January 9, 2013

A Brave New World...of Blogging


Hello! Bonjour! Ciao! Здравствуйте! ¡Hola! Xin chào!

Welcome to my foray into blogging! Up until this moment, I have been 100% anti-blogging...mostly because I really didn't want to subject other people to my incessant ramblings about this or that (I have a terrible habit of telling "you had to be there" stories), but also because I thought "Really? Who cares?"

Well, it turns out that I have actually stumbled upon a topic that I think people really do care about! I'll give you a little background; then if you decide you want to stick around and see what else I have to say, please be my guest. There's even a handy little button I managed to add to this page so my chatter can be delivered straight to your email (and of course, if you're super tech savvy  you can add this blog to your Google Reader and read every post the second I publish!).

So back to the topic at hand, here's the story of my blog...


A Brief History In Time

I have lived several places in the short 31 years I've been on this planet. From the beginning to current day:

Woonsocket, RI
Tampa, FL

London, UK















Atlanta, GA







Cleveland, TN










Sarasota, FL











It honestly doesn't seem like too many places to me, but apparently, it is more than the average person. Every location has been distinctly its own, and in each area I have been completely absorbed with finding the secret little places that only locals seem to know about. I've seen the "things to do in..." websites & I do love checking out the events, restaurants, locations, etc, on those lists, but what I really look for are the things that DON'T make the list. That's where this blog comes in.

The Justification

I know it seems almost sacrilegious to "expose" these locals-only places to the masses - and I'm sure people will think that doing so will make these establishments overrun with tourists who will "ruin" the enigmatic appeal. But these places are what makes our city by the Gulf so perfectly "Sarasota"...why would we want to keep them a secret?

So there you have it! Now you can buckle up, power up your smartphone map app and get ready to start living like a local!

Happy Trails!

Steph

11 comments:

  1. Stephanie, This is a great blog! You are so talented and knowledgeable in Social Media, and many other things. I thank you for the assistance you have provided me so far, and look forward to gaining more knowledge from you. :) And thoroughly enjoy reading your blog. I, too, love looking for the local out-of-the-way places when I am in new towns and cities ... stay away from the chains; find out what the locals have to offer! Thank you! M

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    1. Glad you like it, Maura! I know you work downtown...any suggestions for a good lunch spot?

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  2. Stephanie, Great topic for a blog. I'm looking forward to tips on places to go locally.

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    1. Thanks, Dr. Kirk! I'm looking forward to it too. I definitely don't have a problem trying new restaurants, going shopping or spending time exploring in the name of "research"!

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  3. Yes, you have definitely lived in many more places than I have! I moved from Bradenton to Sarasota a few months ago, and it's not that far but I've never had to venture in this area before. Would love to see what you'll find.

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    1. Which part of Sarasota did you move to (e.g. University Pkwy, Gulf Gate, Palmer Ranch, Hillview, Downtown, Lakewood Ranch, etc)? I'm trying to hit spots all over the city, so I'll make sure I highlight a few near you!

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  4. Yoder's PIE!!
    Pepperonata fresh pasta and empanadas at the downtown farmers market:
    http://www.peperonatapasta.com

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    1. I used to work with a guy who RAVED about Yoder's Peanut Butter Pie...I swear he even ate it for breakfast! I've yet to try a slice, but it's definitely on my list. And Pepperonata's sounds amazing! I'll have to hit Fresh Market or the Siesta Key farmers market on Sunday and check them out. Thanks for the tips, Erica!

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  5. I love this. I've lived in Bradenton for 25 years (2 in Tallahassee) and I feel like you're going to teach me a lot about this place I should know like the back of my hand!

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    1. I hope I don't disappoint! :) I'm really looking forward to my food-ventures. Some of them will be places I've already gone to and love, but others will be recommended from long-time Sarasotans. With any luck, we'll ALL find some new favorite places!

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  6. Awesome post Local Places. Its so much informative for the followers. I like the way you describe this post. Its really helpful for the users of this site. I am also searching about these type of sites now a days. So your site really helps me for searching the new and great stuff. This site contain all my specifications. Thanks for sharing. Keep it up. I am waiting for your more posts like this or related to any other informative topic.

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