With an expanding resale inventory base (30 Listings as of this morning, according to the Sarasota Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service), The Founders Club is opening its gates again this weekend (third month in a row) for a special community-wide showcase open house event.

With homes from many of Sarasota's premier builders, including John Cannon Homes, Todd Johnston Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes, Pruett Builders, and Taylor Woodrow Homes, Sunday's showcase is a rare opportunity to tour The Founders Club at your leisure, visit the clubhouse and see the award-winning models, available builder inventory homes, and individual resales. The gates are open from 1:00PM to 3:00PM on Sunday, September 30.

Cork is one of the newer restaurants in Sarasota, having opened its doors earlier this year. The main restaurant is located on the upper level, overlooking the crowds on St. Armands Circle. And while you'll never mistake your surroundings for New York or L.A., Cork has a very contemporary, metropolitan feel. The lower level, The Bottleshop, is a wine bar and brasserie-type cafe, and is also open for lunch.

I've dined at Cork twice since the beginning of July. The first time, I started with the Heirloom Tomato Salad, and for an entree chose the Orange & Coriander Crusted Tuna. This past weekend, I started with the Foie Gras: Summer Suite and for the main course chose the Lamb and Gnocci. Cork is also one of the few restaurants in Sarasota to feature true Souffles on the dessert menu.

Everyone in our party had excellent experiences both visits.

It's been almost two years since Nicklaus Manor was first announced for the Concession Golf Club & Residences, the highly visible luxury country club community east of Lakewood Ranch & The Lake Club. The first model, The Muirfield , priced at $3,795,000 fully furnished, is now open for business. With interiors by the developer's design group, Landmark Design, the Muirfield features clean lines, a palette of greens and chocolates and big, bold fixtures.

Included in the purchase price of any Nicklaus Manor home is a golf-club membership, which is currently going for $125,000. Nicklaus Manor is exclusively marketed and sold by family-owned Golden Bear Realty. [Sarasota Herald Tribune]

With yesterday morning's autumnal equinox at 5:51AM marking the official end of summer and the start of fall - although, you'd never know it here with Sarasota's average high temp still hovering around the 90 degree mark - I thought we'd take a quick look at some of the highlights from this past summer.

In April, May, and June, Sarasota saw a steady increase in residential single-family sales, while July was down a few points (-4%), or essentially flat vs. last year. Official August numbers are due any day.

In storefronting news, Nordstrom's was announced as the first anchor for University Town Center. And this last week, Neiman-Marcus became the second anchor tenant for the exciting new lifestyle center.

With downtown condo inventory into stratospheric numbers, I've heard that The Atrium on Ringling died a quiet, unannounced death and The Quay's demolition began in May and now is a sandbox waiting for Sarasota Bayside's development to begin.

Oh, and Mr. Chatterbox over at Sarasota Magazine is bored and knocking back mojitos, while also teaching his readers the mysterious signals for senatorial restroom etiquette.

Summer's over. Season is around the corner.