Blog

Announcing the 2021 – 2022 Music Series at the Mansion. A series of six concerts. We attended a few of the Howey Music Concerts on the lawn last year and each was a treat. This year there is a mix of concerts, some in the great hall and some outdoor on the front lawn or in the courtyard. If the show is in the Great Hall you are in for a treat as the Hall has been lovingly restored and is a fabulous venue for a concert. If you choose one, or all, of the outdoor concerts, you will not be disappointed, the grounds are tree lined and lovely. With the Mansion as the backdrop each of these concerts will be a treat for all your senses. The series runs from October to April of 2022. Attend one show or buy tickets for them all. The music ranges from Classical to Opera to Blues and Jazz. It is always nice to give yourself a treat to look forward to. Plan brunch or a nice lunch on the day of the concert and head to the show. The Howey Mansion has been beautifully restored and is in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, an easy day trip drive from Solivita. If you want to make an overnight trip, this is a great destination and very simple to plan. Book a night at the Mission Inn, it is across the street from the Howey Mansion, drive up, check in and enjoy a great time surrounded by the beauty of central Florida and rolling hills that make this area special. Pre or Post show enjoy the beauty of the Mission Inn Property, the flowers are always in bloom and this area of Florida will really give you the sense of being away. The Mission Inn is on a lovely property and has nice spots to enjoy an “after concert” cocktail or a delicious dinner. The rooms are simple but comfortable, the golf courses are good, and you will return from your mini vacation feeling refreshed and relaxed.

The beauty of Life in Central Florida is we are “Central to it all”, about 1 hour and 15 minutes from an east coast or a west coast beach. Lee and I prefer the east coast beaches as the beaches are usually empty, the water is refreshing, and a day at the beach is a day that is hard to top. You can swim at the Florida Beaches year-round, but Lee and I especially love the beaches in the fall and winter. We both enjoy the beaches in the Coco Beach Area. Coco has clean, comfortable, with lovely beaches, surrounded by great spots to enjoy fresh fish and is an easy drive from Solivita. The summer heat is turned down, the water is the perfect temperature, and once summer is done, the sand temperature is nice under your toes. Our beach day is simple, two beach chairs, an umbrella, towels, a small cooler, and off we go. Another great Florida Get Away from Solivita, close enough for a day trip, yet far from the storms that pummel the coasts and damage our homes and property.

Far from Fancy, but a nice, easy dining experience, enjoy the wrap around porch under the trees and on the lake. The farmhouse is old, weathered and rambling, but you are greeted warmly and made to feel welcome. Once seated at your table, you waitress or waiter explains the menu. The best bargain and a fun option is the picnic basket lunch, soup, salad, sandwich and dessert. Plenty of offerings for everyone, even for gluten free and vegetarian folks. You can dine in the farmhouse or choose to dine on the deck, both options are nice. Indoor dining is adorable and outdoor dining on the raised deck is lovely as you have a view of the pond and the lovely trees overhanging the property. The day we dined on the deck the outside temperatures were in the 90’s but the deck temperature was comfortable. The deck is covered, fans were moving the air, and we had a nice, safe lunch in the fresh air while enjoying the pond view. We even had a gator rise to the top of the pond and float by while we were dining. The barn also offers beer and wine in addition to soft drinks and tea. After lunch, we shopped in the garden store, it too is adorable, and wandered thru the Stable Home Décor Shop. The barn antique store closes every summer for a few months but in October, when the owners return with new old merchandise, be prepared to be amazed at the variety of beautiful, interesting, and unusual antiques for sale. Kick back and relax this is Old Time Florida and a nice get away from the usual. A nice spot to spend the afternoon away from it all. You can virtually visit the Back Porch at www.thestablehomedecor.com and choose the Back Porch Tab to view the restaurant.

Cooler Weather Is on the Way. It has been a Hot, Steamy, Solivita Summer but the heat has not dimmed anyone’s spirits, our community is active, out having fun, and enjoying all the benefits life in Solivita has to offer. Truth be told, Lee and I look forward to the cooler weather as we are still working and enjoy the afterwork hours of the Cooler Central Florida Weather. We like to kick back on our lanai, enjoy the sounds and scents of the conservation, while sharing stories of our day. Life in Solivita has been good to us, our clients, friends, and neighbors. I am always happiest when a former client calls, sends me a note, or stops me in the neighborhood and shares stories of how joyful their life is in Solivita. We don’t only sell homes, but when you purchase a home in Solivita you get to enjoy the bonus of a healthy, happy lifestyle in a lovely community.

On Sundays, in the cooler weather, we head over to Celebration to visit the Farmer’s Market and choose our produce, honey and items fresh from the farm. You never know what you may find, beeswax candles, a special craft, plus the freshest produce around. With Covid19 not yet in our rearview mirror we feel it is safer to participate in outdoor activities and for us a Farmer’s Market is a great way to go. Lots of local farmers showcase their produce, food and crafts and we usually come home with a good mix of items to make an easy Sunday Dinner from our finds.

Last week we purchased some local honey, lemons, and fresh Arugula, came home, and enjoyed a beautiful salad. Easy, Fresh, and well balanced. Great with a grilled piece of fish or a chicken breast.

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice and Zest from 2 Lemons
1 Tsp. Dijon Mustard
2 Squeezes of honey to taste. (If your lemons are sweet use one squeeze, taste and see if you need more).
½ tsp fresh chopped thyme optional
Salt and Pepper to taste.

I combine all the ingredients in a mason jar. This dressing will keep up to 5 days in an airtight container. You can use this dressing as a marinade too and you can substitute the honey for maple syrup if you did not pick up honey at the farmer’s market.

Solivita is a planned community in the center of Florida, and I like to say in the “Center of Everything”. There are lots of reasons to reside in a planned community and I would like to share a few with you.

Planned Communities have lots of Open Space. Solivita has 4,500 acres of space within our gates and tons of green space dedicated to conservation preserving the beauty of our area forever. Our community provides well maintained outdoor spaces with plenty of room for fun, exercise, and, during this pandemic, plenty of social distancing space.

Social Clubs. Solivita has over 200 clubs to join. You name your interest, talent, ability, or your desire and we probably have a club for you. Take up a new skill, learn a new language, join an investment club or a wine club. Be assured Solivita has a club for you. You can join any club that interests you, not only will you have a chance to learn something, but a club is a great way to build friendships and have fun too.

Sense of Community. The beauty of life in a Planned Community is almost everyone has moved from somewhere else, making our community a welcoming place.

Walkable Community. Lee and I came from a crowded city environment, where most folks only walked to a commuter bus or train! Solivita has a network of sidewalks wrapped around our ponds and homes with lovely tropical views and smiling neighbors who wave as you walk past. Plus, Solivita is gated, and our community is guarded 24/7 providing a sense of security.

Solivita allows you to live a healthy lifestyle. Many amenities are offered to help you remain fit, from our State-of-the-Artwork Out Facilities, tennis, pickleball, pools, golf, fitness classes and trainers, Solivita has your fitness needs covered!

Beautiful Homes set among Lush, Tropical Landscapes. Our HOA assures our community green space, our community infrastructure, and our homes are nicely maintained, providing us with a lovely community.

Our Community Organizations offer every resident a chance to give back. Now that most of our residents are retired they have time to give back to our community, share their time and gifts with others, volunteer at a local food pantry, assist the homeless, donate time to our veteran’s organizations, volunteer to work with children or pets. Now you not only have the time but the perfect environment to volunteer your gifts and share your generosity with folks in need.

If the beach in August is too hot for you, take a visit to the The Ca’ d’Zan Mansion in Sarasota in the afternoon and hit the beach at sunset. This Mansion is the former winter home of one of America’s eccentrics and very wealthy couples, John Ringling, of the Ringling Brothers Circus, and his wife Mable. The Ringling’s started building the mansion in 1924 for a price tag of $1.5 million. After they died, the estate was given to the state of Florida to be preserved and enjoyed by all. Unfortunately, the costs to maintain this mansion left the Ringling’s home in disrepair but in 2002 this home was officially revived by the state and opened to the public. A tour of this lovely residence provides a glimpse into the opulent private lives of the Ringling family, with spectacular views and extravagant rooms that once hosted gatherings for the elite. If you are a movie buff and familiar with Hollywood’s remake of Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations”, Ca’d’Zan was used as a location for an abandoned mansion in this 1996 movie.

Sarasota is only about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Solivita and an easy drive. It is a world away from our quiet, perfect community but always a good diversion. So, if you feel like enjoying a bit of history and want to feel the cool breeze of the gulf, Sarasota is a great place to enjoy a day trip or to spend the weekend. Lots to do with gardens, museums, beaches, great seafood, and shopping.

Westview is a new Master Planned Community separate from Solivita. The residents of Westview will not be using Solivita Infrastructure but instead will be an entirely new community opposite our gates. Taylor Morrison has filed a subdivision plan for Westview, seeking approval for 1,844 detached home lots in five sizes, more than 50 acres of parks and amenities, an 11.5-acre commercial lot and 616 townhomes plus amenity space including parks, pools, tennis, a clubhouse, soccer fields, basketball, and baseball/softball fields. In addition to the recreation provided in the project, the western 36 acres of wetland will be preserved as passive open space.

Westview will be a multi-generational master-planned community and will include one of Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade Branded Active Adult, Resort Style Communities.

As this exciting new Taylor Morrison Project progresses I will continue to advise each stage of the build, be ready, as these new homes are planned to start selling by the end of 2022. It is exciting to see new neighborhoods planned and built bringing in new families, new neighbors, and new opportunities continuing to add diversity to our greater community.

Florida is a Tax Friendly State with an average property tax rate that is 10% below the national average. Life in Florida has many benefits including a Homestead Exemption of up to $50,000 in assessed property values, a low sales tax rate, plus Florida does not charge an estate or inheritance tax. Florida has no state income tax, nor does it tax income from pensions, IRAs, 401K plans, or Social Security Benefits. Think about how much more disposable income would end up in your pocket if you did not pay State Income Taxes.

Solivita welcomes new residents seeking to live in an upscale retirement community with resort style amenities that are enjoyed year-round. We are proud to be a culturally diverse community with residents flocking to live within our gates from all 50 states, plus we have quite a few snowbirds wintering with us from countries near and far. The closer you look at Florida the more you will see how much this state has to offer. If our weather and tax structure does not lure you in, we have breathtaking beaches, pristine blue lakes, amazing wetlands, wonderful wildlife, a diverse bird population, countryside settings, suburban enclaves, and major metropolitan areas. Enjoy world class entertainment, unique cultural experiences, and farm-fresh dining. Florida really does have something for everyone, plus, our Weather offers 12 months of fun and outdoor enjoyment. If you are seeking an active lifestyle, look no further, you have found your home in Solivita.

4 Corners Tavern in Champion’s Gate, a good stop for a burger, a brew, brisket, ribs, salmon, or even just a soup and a salad, plus it is only 15 minutes from our gate. Lee had a black bean burger, and I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with a side of coleslaw. My pulled pork sandwich was tender, juicy, and ranked up there with one of the best I have had. Cold Beer on Tap, a decent wine list, a full bar, and Vegetarian and Gluten Free Options are offered too. Great for a casual meal any time of the day, but if you are out late, 4 Corners is the perfect spot, as they have a menu for dining after 10 pm. I only let you know this as for most of Solivita our days of dining at 10 pm are over, but when the kids and grandkids visit they are up early, out all day, and just starting to think about dinner around 9 pm making 4 Corners Tavern a Good Option for you to share with them. The space is open, modern, clean, and the food is good. The wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive. Champion’s Gate is a hop, skip and a jump down Poinciana Parkway, and a fun place to dine. On separate visits, we sent our younger cousins and children there, they all returned happy, full, and shared rave reviews with us. Try this spot during the day and remember this is a great late-night spot when the kids are in town.

Preparing for Hurricane Season is simple but important. On a trip to the grocery store pick up some extra gallons of water, batteries for your flashlights and radio, battery operated candles, matches, some canned goods, dried fruit, nuts, and snacks that you enjoy. While in hurricane season, keep your car’s tank gassed up and maintain propane or charcoal for your grill. Just in case you lose electric, you will be able to cook out of your freezer and fridge for a few days on your grill. Solivita has an extensive infrastructure that includes underground wiring, therefore Solivita cannot experience a loss of power due to a pole coming down or a lightning strike in our community, but unfortunately we cannot control the electric grid outside of our gates.

If Lee and I are heading out of town during hurricane season we always put our outdoor furniture away and place our lawn ornaments out of harm’s way. Of course, if a hurricane is predicted in our area, and we are home, we stow our outdoor items in our garage, check our wine inventory, and get ready to hunker down for a few days.

The Beauty of Life in Central Florida is that we are away from the coastal areas leaving us less vulnerable to storms and storm damage, having said that, in hurricane season it is better to be prepared and be safe, rather than to be sorry. Lee and I have lived in Central Florida for over 20 years and have weathered a few hurricanes. You can feel safe living in Solivita, our homes are block construction, our roofs are strapped to our foundations, our trees are well maintained, the pond levels surrounding our homes are controlled by our HOA and we have emergency services around the corner from our community, therefore anyone lucky enough to call Solivita Home can head into hurricane season worry free.