A walk around the north end of Anna Maria early last Saturday night and you could have been forgiven for thinking you were in South Beach, Miami not on North Shore Drive, Anna Maria.
A Sarasota trolley bus running around the streets of Anna Maria full of people caught our eye. Apparently it was ferrying guests from a wedding on Bean Point to Siam Gardens.
We came to Fir Avenue and a rental duplex. 12 trucks parked up, a balcony heaving with young people and music blasting out. A cop car was on the scene.
Moving up North Shore we came to 717 North Shore. Cars parked everywhere, a catering van outside in the street, portable restrooms in the driveway. A large sign in the entrance way announcing the wedding. From way down the street heavy rock music could be heard originating from 717. Two cop cars on the scene trying to get people to move the cars that had parked in the street. (Many were wondering why the road markings had been changed outside 717 - please don’t tell me they were to accommodate the wedding parties?)
We returned a few hours later to see how things were progressing. The wedding was winding down, the catering truck still in the street (the next day revealed that a verizon infrastructure pole had been driven over and was completely destroyed), a large van advertising ‘tents’ by now on the scene obviously to remove a tent which had been erected for the wedding.
Moving down to Fir there were no such signs of anything winding down. In fact the party appeared to be just beginning with the music pulsating - what a nightmare for all around.
A search of the internet revealed that both of these properties are owned by Mike and Lizzie Thrasher who go under the name of www.Pineapplefish.com. A look at their website reveals some interesting reviews of 717 North Shore (Cherryfish):
"Myself and my now wife rented the property for our wedding and reception. Everything was beautiful. The views of the beach are amazing and we definitely recommend this place for a getaway/vacation/wedding". Jon & Stacey. Date of stay: 18th September 2009. Posted 12th October 2009
"We had our wedding and dinner here and it was absolutely perfect and gorgeous! Our family from out of town stayed at the house all week and thought it was amazing! I would definately recommend this house" Beth and Brett Kuehling. Date of stay 21st November 2010. Posted 12th February 2010.
Whilst there is a link to weddings on their web site there is no direct reference to actually being able to hold a wedding at one of their properties.
You have to look a little further for that….
I found Cherryfish on www.HomeAway.com (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p457204) where it stated ‘Cherryfish is also very popular for weddings and honeymoons with Anna Maria Island regarded as the No.1 beach wedding destination in Florida.’ There was a photograph of an evening reception being held inside the house.
We read about the Thrashers, their properties and their plans for Pine Avenue practically every week in the papers. Is Saturday night their vision for our residential community in Anna Maria? By all accounts last Saturday night was not an isolated incident at either of these properties.
Monday, May 24, 2010
3 comments:
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As if on cue Mike and Lizzie Thrasher have an advert in the paper this week to present their ‘historic green village’ at a public meeting, offering refreshments, at the Anna Maria Community Center. Maybe they are just being courteous but in all honesty if their plans are within our codes and ordinances they do not need the approval of the residents. History has shown on Pine Avenue that those seeking the approval of the residents are normally asking for something outside of our codes.
ReplyDeleteThe artist’s impression looks most attractive. Mr Aubrey’s impressions always look most attractive which is quite understandable as on the two occasions I have seen them used in Anna Maria - PAR and now the Thrashers - they are done to ‘sell’ us the concept. There is just one problem. One the first occasion - the PAR project - the finished buildings bore no resemblance to Mr Aubrey’s artist impression.
Additionally these drawings are never to scale - in fact they are quite misleading - they give the appearance of Toy Town - until they are built!
In order to highlight the plus points much of the ‘boring’ detail is omitted. The first ‘impression’ I saw of the ‘green village’ - completely left out Tarpon Street - a minor detail I guess. The one in this weeks’ paper shows very little in the way of cars and parking. A hot topic right now in the City of Anna Maria. It did not go unnoticed that Commissioner Mattick said a few weeks ago that the City would have to compromise on the parking for this 'village' to work. Let’s hope that is not as ominous as it sounds. Looking at the drawing there appear to be multiple retail units and and an outdoor café - if the business’s are going to succeed and our residential side streets are not going to be used for overflow parking then this ‘village’ needs to allow plenty of space for its own parking.
I attended Wednesday evening's presentation by Ms. Thrasher and found it well presented and totally transparent. It is clear to me that the event was held in an attempt to avoid the pitfalls other developers have suffered. And yet I can see from the previous post that nothing will stop tongues from wagging in Anna Maria!
ReplyDeleteThe Thrashers have already helped our struggling local economy by investing in numerous AMI properties and hiring LOCAL talent for practically every aspect of their restoration. They have partnered with local experts (an accomplished preservation architect, local builder and green energy expert) to ensure that their project reflects the interests of the community where they, too, live. There is nothing sinister in that! Let's remember that the son of Anna Maria Island's first inhabitant, George W. Bean, developed Pine Avenue specifically to attract tourists from Tampa. The Thrasher's plan does NOT take the town from residential to resort -- we've ALWAYS been a resort where some of us are lucky enough to live year round. Let's make sure it's a beautiful, well-planned resort and not a tacky dump, but let's not fool ourselves that we'll ever be a purely residential area!
If their plan brings us more of life's necessities so that I never have to leave my beautiful island, I say "bravo" to the project.
Oh, and there was nothing sinister in the offering of a can of soft drink and a General Store cookie!! The implication in the previous post that it is is quite a stretch.
From "Chapman":
ReplyDeleteThis is my home. It is also a resort.
Like many, we vacationed here, returning year after year until we made our dream of living here a reality.
The imperfections were the draw. I remember riding my bike to Ato's (now the Waterfront Restaurant) bringing our wine with us, getting a breakfast sandwich at the Pine Avenue Marina while filling the boat with gas, putting the purchase on our "account". I loved walking to the local video store, getting a movie and sometimes a tomato. I wish the streets had never been paved. Tacky, I call it character and I loved it.
I did not mind traveling to the Publix on Manatee Avenue, near St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, the closest at the time.
I leave the Island regularly to save a few bucks on resort prices for "life's necessities."
I get my car serviced, my hair cut, my nails done, my prescriptions filled and patronize many restaurants on the Island. My off Island excursions save me money. Each time I return home I am reminded how lucky I am to be living here.
I am not on vacation anymore.
The Thrashers have every right to pursue their dream, make efforts and invest their resources to develop their vision.
"....if their plans are within our codes and ordinances..."
We have elected officials to ensure our laws are adhered to.
It is right for us to be skeptical, to not stick our heads in the sand, to wag our tongues if necessary. We have been down this path before only to realize too late, we took a wrong turn because the direction became vague.
Marlane, your Facebook profile indicates you live in Holmes Beach, are "friends" with Mike Thrasher, and local developer/realtor currently involved in a controversial project and other "friends" have signed the recall petition against Commissioner Stoltzfus.
Perhaps if you lived in the city of Anna Maria you would have a more balanced opinion.
By the way, it is my beautiful island also.
Chapman