The Tube Dude One of the most unusual sights in Sarasota—a modern day reminder of its artsy flair—is a tall and brightly colored metal stick figure that appears all around town in storefronts, on lawns, and on street corners. It’s the Tube Dude. Doing a double-take the first time we saw him, we began noticing him everywhere: wearing a baker’s hat at a bakery, carrying a toothbrush at a dentist’s office, holding a mailbox under his arm in front of a house and even sitting in a kayak at an outdoor sporting goods store. The Tube Dude is the brainchild of sculptor Scott Gerber who has been welding his big buddy and selling the sculptures to shop owners and residents since 2010. The Tube Dude has become so popular he is now something of Sarasota’s unofficial greeter and mascot. If you’re planning an RV trip to Florida, set some time aside to visit charismatic Sarasota.
a flock of flamingos, we held out our hands with approved treats, and in no time these ungainly pink creatures ran to our sides. They are accustomed to being fed, something kids love to do, and they didn’t hesitate to help themselves and also explore our hands and hair with their beaks in search of more treats. Much of the museum has sadly become run down, but the flamingos are still a great exhibit. To see some birds in a wilder setting, we took a trip to the Celery Fields a few miles east of downtown. This is a large parcel of “muckland” that was cultivated by Mrs. Bertha Palmer in the 1920s to grow celery and other vegetables. In 1955, Sarasota County acquired 360 acres of the land and set it aside for flood mitigation and wildlife habitat. They also built hiking and biking trails, boardwalks and viewing platforms where visitors can watch the birds and wildlife foraging in the ponds. We delighted in seeing long legged herons and many other waterfowl going about their daily business. On our way back to town, we stopped for a delicious afternoon brew at the Big Top Brewery.
For more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconditional_ Surrender_(sculpture)
https://sarasotafarmersmarket.org/
https://www.ringling.org/ https://tube-dude.com/
https://sarasotajunglegardens.com/
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and- profiles/2019/06/flashback-celery-fields-1930s
A trip to Jungle Garden made for a fun afternoon excursion..
You’ll get used to seeing the Tube Dude when visiting Sarasota.
SARASOTA
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 | 23
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