Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to Halloween!

When hinges creak, in doorless chambers. And strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker, where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present. Practicing their terror, with ghoulish delight!  Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to Halloween!

The above words may be from the Ghost Host at Disney's Haunted Mansion, but on Halloween night they apply everywhere including Venice FL.  So keep your wits about you this night or you may end up as some ghouls delight!

Halloween Flag

Halloween for so many is associated with the Fall, leaves that are turning shades of yellow, red, and orange and falling from the trees, if most aren't already gone.  It is also strongly associated with New England and stories of witches in Salem Massachusetts and the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.  So lush green palm tress in Florida makes for a contrasting setting for this jack-o-lantern flag.

100th Post

Today celebrates my 100th Venice FL Daily Photo posting.  Well it hasn't quite been daily but pretty close.  I thought that an overall view of town from above was a good way to mark the occasion.  Most of what we see here is trees though which I really like, I think that's exactly the way it should be.  Cities, towns, suburbs should always be filled with an abundance of trees.

This view is from one of the beach side condo towers looking straight towards downtown.  The three towers in the center are just past downtown along the bank of the inland waterway on the other side of the island.

Laid Back Sunday

Life these days can be so stressfull that I thought I'd share a relaxing image from the beach today.  Our beaches here can indeed be very quite, calm, and relaxing.  A perfect place to just relax and let stress melt away.  If you can't make it here in person focus in on this photo for a while.  Hear the seagulls, hear the surf, feel the cool breeze and relax, you deserve it.

Venice FL Consumer Expo

Yesterday and today there is a Consumer Expo at the Venice Community Center put on by the Chamber of Commerce.  Lots of great information from Chamber members.  I was especially glad to see several companies with green products such as solar.  I also really enjoyed the motor homes outside.  It runs today until 3pm, so check it out if you are in the area.

By The Waterside

The Marker IV Oyster Bar Restaurant has a great casual Florida beach or island vibe.  It sits right on the water front of the Inland Waterway and has the feeling one thinks of when looking for a Florida experince in a restaurant rather than a resturant that you can find anywhere. The waterside atmosphere is enhanced by loads of outside seating and decks. 

Family Beach Fun

The beaches in Venice FL are great places for families like this, one of the reasons is they are less crowded than many other beaches another is all the interesting shells and discoveries like fossilized sharks teeth.  Our beaches here are considered one of the best place in the world for finding sharks teeth.  It looks here like perhaps the boy has found something and mom and dad are looking.

In this photo I think I captured well a family and others nearby enjoying themselves at one of our beaches, I also really like the composition.

Cat in the Grass

My friends cat Clancy was in the fountain grass very attentive to something when I was able to capture this image.  Clancy is a wonderful cat who can be a bit of a challenge when trying to get a good photo, just when you think you've got a good one the moment is gone before you can get it. But we are all very pleased with this one, it even got framed and hung, I hope you enjoy it too.

Seeing Red

Some of my friends here have a wonderful backyard with all kinds of plants that are local to the area. Such plants creates a very lush yard while using very little water, FAR less water in fact than the plain grass lawns most yards are filled with.  Personally I think such low-impact landscaping should be required.  It doesn't look low impact, it looks stunning, such as this Swamp Hibiscus.

Cheeburger, Cheeburger

The fun at the Sun Fiesta continues today, if you are in the area check it out.  There is lots of good food and entertainment.  Some of the food venders are very entertaining themselves.  That was certainly the case at this cheeseburger place.  The people working there where clearly having a lot of fun, and they make good cheeseburgers too!

Fiesta Bunny

This weekend is the Sun Fiesta in Venice, one of the biggest events of the year.  I missed the parade but still got a good shot of this fun pinata style bunny truck float.  Don't know what was on the back during the parade but the float is a lot of fun.

Third Thursday Stroll

Downtown Venice really comes alive on the 3rd Thursday evenings. The stores are open later, with several having sidewalk sales. There are also artists, magicians, and lots of music. Most of the music is from performers set up in front of stores, some of which (like a barbershop chorus) wonder from store to store. One very entertaining group in the photo above, wonders the streets on a flatbed pulled by an old steam car!

Third Thursday Strolls are sponsored by Venice Main Street check their events for more Venice fun including the Sun Fiesta this weekend, one of the biggest events of the year.

Peacocks in the lobby

Yesterday I showed the courtyard of Summerville at Venice a local retirement and assisted living community inside of one of Venice Florida's most beautiful and historic buildings. Today I thought we would go inside. While the whole place is very impressive there is one thing that I particularly wanted to show you. That is the stunning Peacock light fixture/sculpture. This photo was taken on a tour a couple years ago and I actually should go back to find out more about them. (Notice one in the background by an open door as well.) I've never seen peices quite like these before and thought they are very beautiful.

Fountian Court

In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful buildings in Venice. Originally it was built as the Venice Hotel today it is Summerville at Venice a retirement and assisted living community. The building features this lovely courtyard and the inside is even more elegant. There is an abundance of dark hardwood ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a massive fireplace in the lobby area giving it an aura of sophistication.

Once there was another hotel very similar in design to this building, for a while it had been converted to a hospital, later it was torn down and replaced by a very unimpressive modern post office. To me that is one of the greatest losses of Venice history. How wonderful it would be today if that building was still here. The community is very fortunate that this one is.

Camping

If you enjoy RV Travel I highly recommend Oscar Scherer State Park in the Venice area. It has very beautiful secluded campsites and lots to see and do including 15 miles of trails.

For me this photo is inspiration for my goal of getting a Motor Home and seeing more of this great country. From more charming small towns like Venice to natural wonders and big cities.

Beach Sunset

I'm much later than usual getting my daily photo posted (missed yesterday) in fact it is close to sunset. So what better to post than a sunset?! This one is at Mannasota Key Beach with silhouettes of park shelters, trees, fence, and a couple on a bench enjoying the view.

Glory on the Beach

When I went out to the Beach at the Beachcomber in Venice (yesterdays post) I saw some flowers I hadn't seen at other area beaches. They looked like Morning Glories but I thought the beach was an odd place for them. Turns out they are in fact Beach Morning Glories also known as Railroad Vines. Thank you Alice for helping with that.

Normally I only post one photo a day, but I thought this close up should be accompanied with a larger view.

Mid-century Modern on the beach

If the Rat Pack ever wanted a quiet beach front hideaway this could have been been it. One of only two beach front motels in Venice the Beachcomber in Venice reminded me of mid-century Palm Springs or Las Vegas the first time I saw it. I'm sure this is much smaller than any place Frank, Dean, and Sammy ever performed at, but I could see them chilling out here.

Yesterday I posted a view of the back from the pool on my Venice Small Business Blog along with more information on the Beachcomber in Venice. Check that out if you'd like a cool place to chill on the beach in Venice Florida.

Treasure Aplenty

I've enjoyed this shop from the first time I set foot in it. If you are looking for sea side souvenirs from sea shells to t-shirts, to coffee table light houses and mermaids this is the best shop not only in Venice but for miles around.

Pocket Park

Small pocket parks like this are one of the things I love about the planning and design of Venice. There are several of these around town nestled between streets and they really add a lot of character to the community. In many towns things like this don't even seem to be considered, I certainly haven't seen them in other communities in this area.

Yacht Club

Taken at a small park across from the Venice Yacht Club. I am struck by the interplay of blue and white between the boats and the building. The building is clearly very appropriate as a Yacht Club it serves very well as an extension of the boaters lifestyle.

Pretty in Pink

This splash of pink is a Rangoon Creeper, seems well a creepy name to me for such a pretty flower.

Saturday Market

This is a reminder for any local people following this blog that the Farmers Market is tomorrow. It's right downtown in Centennial Park and it's a great opportunity to get some fresh locally grown produce and support local growers. It's also a great opportunity to get out and socialize, you never know who you might meet at the farmers market.

Contrast

It's the 1st and theme day in the City Daily Photo community. Today's theme is Contrast. Normally a bridges support structure will be in shadow and the water will be bathed in light, so I though the support structure being bathed in light with the water in shadow made for a good contrast.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in today's City Daily Photo theme day.