SRQ MAGAZINE | Living Lakewood, Spring 2026

LIVING LAKEWOOD

VIBRANT SALADS

ALLSWELL FLOWER CHILD

FORKED AT WATERSIDE GROVE

LIBBY’S

FIVE LAKEWOOD RANCH EATERIES PROVE THAT CLEAN EATING CHANGES WITH THE LIGHT.

A Salad’s Many Hours

LAKEWOOD RANCH EATS CLEAN, BUT CLEAN LOOKS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE OCCASION OR EVEN THE HOUR. Five restaurants scattered across the neighborhood prove that healthy eating—namely, the salad—has range. At noon inside Flower Child, which specializes in guilt-free meals, regulars call out their orders before hitting the counter. Others, fresh from a workout, weigh chicken against tofu to crown their ancient grains or “forbidden” rice. Two friends split the turkey avocado cobb, its edges spilling organically, to save room for a chocolate chip cashew cookie. Rattan lights dangle from high ceilings as a bright pinkand-turquoise mirror bears the message: “Reflect Goodness.” The Ginger Miso salad delivers a sweet, peppery crunch: carrot zoodles mingle with ribbons of zucchini and cabbage while fresh mint and cilantro cut the tangy Asian dressing flecked with sesame. Start with a vegan and gluten-free base, then add grilled shrimp or salmon if you choose. Fox Restaurant Concepts invented this formula elsewhere, but after nine months in Sarasota, it already feels native.

Down the road at Waterside Place, where sidewalks lead directly to eatery doors, the pace softens. Enter Forked, and greenery bursts over the walls as a bold, scripted bulb sets the tone: “Be the reason someone

smiles today.” The Steak by the Ocean arrives with slices of grilled beef fanned atop Arcadian blend lettuce, roasted pecans and dried cranberries. Avocado and red onion glisten with champagne vinaigrette. Perch at the small bar, watch the game and order the steak as you prefer—even rare, the way Bourdain would. Grilled pita makes scooping each bite easy. Co-workers linger at al fresco cafe tables, tucking into chicken chilaquiles; families settle into booths for French toast beneath exposed ductwork. Forked’s adventurous but approachable salads might accompany a breakfast crepe or stand alone for lunch. By 7pm, those same diners appear at Allswell gastropub with permission to indulge. Sipping house-crafted cocktails, they declare steak on iceberg a proper dinner. The 60-degree Wedge delivers: draped in applewood-smoked bacon, crumbled blue cheese and chopped chives, a balsamic drizzle awaiting crisp valleys. Tender slices of petite filet mignon skirt alongside. Art Deco meets mid-century modern: a long wood bar, tufted leather banquettes, gilded ceiling coffers floating above saturated teal walls. Bottles of liqueur glow behind glass like an apothecary. Or choose the Tavern Salad: shredded kale and shaved Brussels cradling kalamata olives, crumbled feta, drunken cherries,

LIVING LAKEWOOD

Below: left to right: Signature Tavern Salad on Allswell’s wooden bar; A sweet, crunchy Ginger Miso at Flower Child. Flower Child, 6652 University Parkway, Sarasota, 941-373-0199, iamaflowerchild.com. Forked at Waterside, 7600 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota, 941-355-3672, forkedeats.com. Allswell, 7500 Island Cove Terrace Suite 102, Sarasota, 941-233-5448, allswellsarasota.com. Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, 941-893-4321, groveLWR.com. Libby’s, 8445 Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch, 941-357-1570, libbysneighborhoodbrasserie.com

craggy granola. Pair either with a Marie Selby signature (vodka and prosecco with hibiscus and elderflower) or a Cold Brew martini crafted with neighboring Duck Donuts coffee. “We’re happy to be here,” says owner Tory Delany, who hails from Ireland via New York. “We’re the new kid on the block, and we’re putting our best foot forward.”

Grove, meanwhile, takes a classical approach with an innovative chef guiding flavor. Refined but understated, intimate booths surround a square bar where patrons gather for happy hour. Outside on the patio, a fire pit wards off the evening chill. The Tuna Niçoise does France proud: seared tuna tataki laid over sharp arugula and haricot verts cooked crisptender, with fingerling potatoes adding substance. Tangy, house-made olive tapenade punctuates each bite. The Seafood Cobb is a showstopper of mixed lettuces supporting jumbo shrimp, lump crab and lobster tail with peas, avocado, cherry tomatoes and onion rings. Hearty enough for two. The bread, made in-house daily, is an enticing accompaniment. A Blackberry Bramble Fizz—blackberry purée, fresh mint, house-made

sour, sparkling soda—cleanses the palate between bites.

Libby’s, a Sarasota mainstay five years into its Lakewood Ranch presence, offers comfort without pretense. Brasserie-style, it’s a place to get comfortable and wave to familiar faces. The Santa Fe, piled plentifully high in a tower with tortilla strips like kindling, “features grilled corn cut fresh from the cob, locally sourced tomatoes, ripe avocado, and our signature cilantro lime vinaigrette,” says Executive Chef, Alex Castillo. “We use only the freshest ingredients,” he adds. The result is piquant and vibrant, but for Cajun-heat, add blackened Gulf shrimp. It’s all about local, seasonal produce with minimal fuss and just enough drama to make the experience fun. A salad in Lakewood Ranch evolves with the hour: your post-workout fuel at noon, a brunch companion near the water, that elegant wedge beneath Art Deco coffers, a seafood showcase at a bustling bar, the Southwestern tower for settling in. Same clientele, different appetites, all fulfilled within a few miles. LL

Where Pets Play and Shop

FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND MORE FOR YOUR PETS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH.

AS LAKEWOOD RANCH CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, the area is not only increasing its residents but also the number of pets in the community. With this growth, Lakewood Ranch is super pet-friendly, with thoughtfully-designed dog parks, specialized food stores and tailored training programs for pets of all sizes, ages and breeds.

Bob Gardner Community Park

Bob Gardner Community Park and its caninefocused corner, Bob Gardner Dog Park, are standout spots in Lakewood Ranch for owners and dogs to visit to enjoy sunshine, space and social time. Tucked into a scenic, 40-acre community park lined with wetland preserves, walking paths, playgrounds and sports fields, the dog park adds a layer of pet-focused fun to the area. The fenced park is designed for off-leash play in a secure setting, letting dogs roam freely while owners relax or mingle. Beyond the fenced zones, the community park’s extensive nature trails and open fields make it easy to turn a dog park visit into a longer outdoor adventure, with shaded paths for peaceful walks through Florida’s natural landscape. Bob Gardner Community Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd, Lakewood Ranch

Greenbrook Adventure Park

At the heart of the Greenbrook Village community in Lakewood Ranch, Greenbrook Adventure Park brings together outdoor fun for families and pets alike. Known for a mix of sports fields, trails and playgrounds, one of the

park’s standout features is its dedicated dog area, a place for pets to run, play and socialize. Set within a spacious, fenced-in section of the park, the Greenbrook Adventure Dog Park is thoughtfully designed with separate areas for large and small dogs, allowing pets to burn energy safely. Water stations and shaded seating make it comfortable for both dogs and their owners, while agility equipment adds an extra element of play and challenge. The atmosphere of the park is just as much about community for owners as it is for dogs—meeting other regulars while dogs enjoy time playing provides the opportunity for social gatherings. Whether it’s a spirited round of fetch or a laid-back chat on a bench, the dog park provides a vibrant destination for local visitors. Beyond its fencedin dog park, the adventure park’s trails and open green spaces invited leashed dogs and humans to explore together. Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure PI, Lakewood Ranch

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue

Over nearly two decades, Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue has quietly become one of Lakewood Ranch’s most powerful forces for animal welfare. Founded in 2008, the organization

has grown into a large-scale rescue operation saving thousands of dogs and cats each year.

Development Director Rob Oglesby notes that Nate’s Honor focuses on pulling animals from overcrowded rural shelters across North Florida and Georgia, where euthanasia for space is common and spay-and-neuter resources are limited. “We’re really their only hope of getting out,” he says. “These animals don’t have a chance of making it out unless we pull them.”

Nate’s Honor currently adopts out around 1,500 animals annually—a number that Oglesby expects to double in the coming year as major facility expansions near completion. “We’re just about doubling our dog capacity, and we’re going to widely expand our cat capacity,” says Oglesby.

Beyond rescue and adoption, Nate’s Honor is investing heavily in prevention. “All the shelters are at capacity,” says Oglesby. “There are too many animals. So what we can do to resolve that is to keep animals in their homes in the first place.” He notes that three main reasons pets are surrendered to shelters are because families cannot afford food, training or veterinary care. To combat these challenges, Nate’s Honor maintains a pet food bank and offers low-cost training. Later this year, the organization will also open a veterinary clinic to provide care to pets in need. Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, 4951 Lorraine Rd, Bradenton, nateshonoranimalrescue.org

DOGPerfect

DOGPerfect, a locally-owned pet supply and grooming business, features a carefully curated selection of pet food and toys. Focused on personalized nutrition and pet health, the store offers expert advice about the right food for your pet and toys to enrich pets’ daily lives.

Owners Rob and Linda Emery founded DOGPerfect to provide a dog-friendly, destination shopping location for local pet owners. The storefront is designed with dogs in mind—it features wide aisles for pets to explore and pass each other comfortably, as well as lower-height displays and a play area for dogs to socialize. “In most pet stores, you find very tall racks of dog food that you cannot see past or through. And we wanted it to be more open and engaging,” says Rob. “We just tried to set it up in a way that people could move around easily, maintain a happy environment and really encourage people to bring dogs to the store, which is what we really love.”

The Emerys focus on providing high-quality food to customers, and their team is trained to provide nutritional consultations and advise owners on the best plan for their pets. Rob says that they focus on selecting only the best products and providing a range of options, including frozen, gently cooked and freezedried foods. “Just because the food is super high quality doesn’t mean it’s expensive,” he notes. “There are always opportunities for people to get great quality nutrition for reasonable prices.”

“I love when I’m in the store and dogs come in and our team greets and knows the dog because its owner is a regular,” Linda says. “I love seeing when a dog is super happy to be in the store.” DOGPerfect, 11605 FL-70 E, Lakewood Ranch, dogperfect.com

Woofdorf Astoria

Leaving pets at home for work or vacation is always a challenge, but the Woofdorf Astoria provides resort-style daycare and boarding for dogs. With 24/7 care, every day of the year, expert staff are always on-site to ensure pets are safe and comfortable. The facility features 10,000 square feet of artificial turf

and both indoor and outdoor play areas. General Manager Kelsie Phaneuf notes that the Woofdorf Astoria began as a concept focused on offering a more fun, engaging and enriching experience for dogs than typical boarding facilities. “Our resort operates with a structured environment that prioritizes animal interaction and supervised play,” she says.

All-day group play for boarding and daycare dogs features outdoor splash pools and separate spaces for small and large dogs. “Woofdorf was established as a full-service dog daycare and boarding resort offering play-all-day daycare, supervised indoor and outdoor play areas, and overnight boarding in comfortable rooms,” says Phaneuf.

If boarding dogs are not comfortable with group play, they’ll receive six daily walks as a replacement activity. Staff members are trained in pack management, canine communication, body language and behavior, as well as canine health education focused on first aid, bloat and heat risks.

The Woofdorf Astoria also offers grooming and bathing services tailored to dogs’ unique needs—including breed-specific styles and custom coat-maintenance plans. Services range across full groom, haircut and mini-

groom options. Woofdorf Astoria of Lakewood Ranch, 10615 Technology Terrace #104, Bradenton, www.woofdorflakewoodranch.com

The K9 Kamp

At The K9 Kamp, any age, size or breed is welcome to attend specialized training camps. The business offers “stay & train Kamps,” private lessons and puppy programs to teach owners how to communicate and strengthen trust with pets while also addressing negative behaviors. Owner Miles Little says he saw a need for trustworthy and effective family dog training when he moved to the area, and hopes to serve Lakewood Ranch families looking for training.

The K9 Kamp offers a customized program tailored to individual pets and goals, and all training begins with an initial consultation. Little has spent more than 19 years in the dog training industry and offers expertise in a range of training areas and breeds. “The most rewarding part for me is when people see their dogs’ transformations,” he says. “A lot of people struggle with training their pets, so it’s great to show them that change can happen and see their peace of mind increase with that.”

Little’s training philosophy focuses on meeting individual needs and using positive reinforcement methods. The K9 Kamp includes overnight boarding, small group playtime, individual and group training sessions and field trip options, all held within the 5,000 square foot facility. Little also offers private lessons at clients’ homes.

Programs also focus on owner education and follow-up training to support long-term, sustainable training. “Consistency is key,” says Little. “Even if we’re really consistently training for a few weeks and doing the boarding and training, there’s still an aspect that as the owner, you have to be consistent with everything and be able to put the pieces together. So we do a lot of follow-up with that.”

The K9 Kamp, 8130 Lakewood Main St Suite 103 #347, Lakewood Ranch, thek9kamp.com LL

WRITTEN BY BARBIE HEIT | PHOTOGRAPHY

BY WES ROBERTS

Giving Back in Lakewood Ranch

THE LAKEWOOD RANCH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WORKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

NOW IN ITS 26TH YEAR, THE LAKEWOOD RANCH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED on the fundamental belief that a thriving community requires a mechanism to support its residents, cultivate culture and address evolving needs. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people in the Lakewood Ranch area through local charitable giving. Recognizing that rapid expansion can sometimes overshadow certain community needs, the Foundation serves as a vital channel, enabling residents and businesses to invest in meeting these needs—even those that are not immediately apparent.

Executive Director Kate Mulligan brings 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience. She has led the Foundation since 2024, shortly after it became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2023. Mulligan explains that the organization transitioned from operating under a fund at the Manatee Community Foundation to support its growth and better distinguish its mission.

As Lakewood Ranch grew, she says, it became clear the community needed a standalone nonprofit focused exclusively on the needs of people in and around the region.

Mulligan has big plans for expanding the Foundation’s impact in the coming months.

“We’re going to give $250,000 away this year, and that’s fantastic, but I want to be able to do more and I’ve been looking for ways that we can really help our nonprofits—not just the ones we give grants to,” she explains. “My new campaign for 2026 is going to be matching people who want to volunteer with nonprofits that need people.”

She says the most common request she hears comes from newcomers looking to volunteer, build connections and make a difference in their community. She also frequently learns of teenagers seeking community service hours to qualify for college scholarships. “I want Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation to be a one-stop shop for all,” she shares, noting that when people consider moving to the area and visit the Lakewood Ranch Information Center, they are introduced to the Foundation, which is a great way to increase involvement.

“We’re really going to focus on our volunteer campaign, so hopefully, even before people move here, they’re going to contact the Foundation for opportunities.”

When selecting the nonprofits the Foundation supports, the Foundation first prioritizes organizations serving local people. They then evaluate the impact of the service, considering whether it makes a deep impact on a few people—such as the Mark Wandall Foundation’s camp scholarships for children who have lost a primary guardian—or a broader impact on many people, such as supporting Neuro Challenge’s new program in Lakewood Ranch.

In addition to monetary support, Mulligan seeks ways to connect nonprofits with other resources, such as raising awareness for donations like turkeys during the holiday season. “Thanksgiving seems like it’s a long way away, but we can be talking now about how we can offer support,” she says. “That’s different than just saying we’re going to write you a check. Let’s get the community together. Let’s give people opportunities to give back. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of people who want to help, but we have to get the word out.”

In speaking on disaster relief, Mulligan recalls that her early tenure at the Foundation was marked by the impact of hurricane damage. Demonstrating their ability to respond swiftly during a crisis, the Foundation, thanks to its committed and smaller board, quickly distributed $10,000 checks in October 2024 to three organizations that were in critical need of repairs. Deeply committed to engaging the next generation of community leaders and philanthropists, Mulligan recently spoke to the Out-of-Door Academy’s Thunder Grants Committee about philanthropy, grant evaluation and pathways to future community and board involvement. The Foundation

also sponsors a Junior Humanitarian of the Year award, awarding college scholarships to students. In February, Tom Bergerat, a student at Out-of-Door Academy, was named as a 2026 recipient. He was honored at the Polo with the Pros event on February 8 at the Sarasota Polo Club. Born in France and fluent in multiple disciplines, Bergerat excels academically, musically, athletically and in theater. He is an active volunteer on and off campus and a dedicated community advocate who believes small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.

In addition, Mulligan is working to identify local organizations—such as therapeutic horseback riding programs like SMART and STEP—that welcome high school students seeking to complete required volunteer hours through the Foundation’s volunteer match process. LL To learn more, visit lwrcf.org/