FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 18, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
Victoria’s
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Victoria
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A love letter from Sarasota, Florida
For me, Florida has always
held a sweet spot in my
heart — a place where love
has always surrounded me.
When I was a child, my favorite
aunts and cousins moved
to Miami and Miami Beach.
Previously, we had lived only a
block away from each other in
Brooklyn, growing up more like
brothers and sisters than cousins.
It became a family ritual
to visit them in Florida every
Christmas vacation.
A return to the state of my
childhood memories is always a
treat. And the sun shining every
day was just what my mind and
body needed.
Now, I go to Florida to visit
my “second” son Jon Yunis, his
beautiful wife Hilary and brilliant,
darling sweetheart Jillian
in their hometown of Sarasota.
Being with them fi lls me with
nostalgia and warmth.
Warmth, in this case, has multiple
meanings. Going there
would warm my heart and
body. Something in me
yearned to walk the talcum
soft beach and hear
the roar of the ocean.
So I booked a fl ight!
Even though I am
fully vaccinated, I
donned my double
N95 face mask and a
plastic face shield for
my Delta fl ight. I chose
Delta because they promise
to leave empty middle
seats in each row for extra
protection against COVID-19.
Aft er a successful fl ight, I
arrived in Sarasota, which has
been rated one of the best places
to live in the United States …
I know why!
Th ere is warm weather with a
slight breeze, and there are multiple
sites to see if you don’t want
to just do as I did this time — sit
on the beach before switching to
soaking in the sun while sitting
at the pool.
Th e city is the historic home
of the Ringling Brothers circus
family. Sadly, the circus has
changed dramatically, but the
impact of its founders is still felt
all over the city.
Th e Ringling family endowed
their property for an art museum
in 1927, including their mansion
on the massive grounds.
But at his death, John Ringling
was nearly bankrupt and only
aft er decades of court battles was
the property turned over to the
Florida State University (FSU),
which transformed it to a worldclass
art museum. Th e
museum’s board
of trustees has
worked hard
to engage the
community
and the museum
has since
grown to become
the 16th largest in our
country.
Th e mansion in
decay was restored, and now the
beautiful grounds off er a visitors
pavilion, which leads to
an education building housing
the Ringling art library
and Cuneo Conservation
Laboratory and a
Learning Center that
even has a miniature
circus! Th ere is always
an exhibit at the new
30,000-square-foot exhibition
center. What a great
place to spend a delightful
day!
My next favorite place —
aft er the beaches, of course —
is the Sarasota Jungle Gardens,
located in the heart of the city.
Lois Christie and I at the softsandy
Sarasota Beach.
As a kid, I remember falling
in love with the picture-perfect
pink roaming fl amingos! You
can get up close and feed them!
And what is a vacation without
a little shopping? Yes, there
is a mall with a Macys and Saks
Fift h Avenue, but for me the fun
of exploring St. Armands Circle
in Lido Key for shopping and
dining is must-do! Nearby, this
seaside paradise features a beach
that feels like walking on talcum
powder!
My hotel has a beach club,
but one must take a car there.
Next time, I’d stay at the
Sandcastle Resort at Lido
Beach because it sits on the
oceanside — aft er all, that’s
why I came to Sarasota! Th at,
and spending time with
my dear children, of
course! It doesn’t get
better than this!
Jillian with her farmfed
beef burger at
Indigenous, a restaurant
that prides itself on local,
healthy products.
You can feed the
breathtakingly beautiful
fl amingos at the Sarasota
Jungle Gardens.
I donned my N95 face
mask and a plastic face
shield for my Delta flfl ight!
Celebrating my
birthday with the
Yunis clan.
The stunning courtyard at The John and Mable
Ringling Museum of Art.
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