In fact, Sarasota Magazine began life in 1979 as something called Clubhouse, which was sent free to the membership lists of the town's top clubs. Most of the social life revolved around dinner dances and fashion show luncheons at the various golf and yacht clubs. They were, literally, the social media of the day. Everybody knew everybody, and they all read columnists Helen Griffith and Marjorie North in the Herald Tribune. What were the people like? In a word, great. Things changed in 1987 when the city banned nudity and toplessness, after much public debate about "areolas" and "anal clefts." Phil Donahue-remember him?-even did a show about it. You'd see the naked people and the fully clothed Amish, co-existing side by side. To make things even stranger, the beach was most popular with the Amish and Mennonites was directly to the south, since it was the closest-by city bus-from Pinecraft. On a good day you could see actual nudity. Yes, it's hard to believe now, but North Lido permitted topless sunbathing and the wearing of those new-fangled thongs. But you'll probably start hearing rumors about our nude beach. Siesta, then as now, was the choicest, with its famous sand. What to do? Back in those days, people came to Sarasota for one reason-the beach. Oh, the fun we used to have, particularly after a few drinks. And to make it even more exciting, the salad bar also revolves, but in the opposite direction. It's on the Intracoastal-you can arrive by boat-and the entire restaurant revolves. But I suggest a more fun vacation-type dining experience, like Pete Reynard's up on Anna Maria. Hopefully, he'll point you to one of the "gourmet" restaurants-Euphemia Haye, the Colony, Café L'Europe-some of which are still going strong. Your only recourse is to read the ads in the paper or ask the desk clerk. And the lack of Yelp and social media meant you had no idea where to eat. Back in those days, there were a few good restaurants, but no one ever came to Sarasota for the food. A room will cost around $25, kind of pricey, but we'll be right on the beach. It has a late Art Deco vibe and the best tiki bar in town. Places were built on Siesta and Lido, fondly remembered hotels and motels like the Lido Biltmore, the Three Crowns, and the Gulf Beach. The beach was a place you went to for the day. Where to stay? Back in the old, old days tourists used to stay at those motels on the North Trail, or in hotels downtown. So unlike today, where us old people look so young and vibrant. This was before the days of fitness regimens and cosmetic surgery, and the old people really looked their age. The general impression of the populace is lots of white hair, moving very slowly. If you think Sarasotans are old today, you should have seen them back then. The second shock you'll receive is the people. It's like an airport from another century-which, come to think of it, is exactly what it was. Look around and you'll see plenty of DC-3s. It's an ugly shoebox of a building, rather like a bus station, where you have to walk outdoors to get on and off the plane. The first shock you'll receive when landing in Sarasota is the airport.
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