Lido Shores: "Hot Dogs on the Beach" Draws Record Crowds

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

"Hot Dogs on the Beach" Draws Record Crowds

After days of dark skies and occasional torrential downpours, Sunday dawned, and remained, a perfect Sarasota day — perfect timing for LSPOA’s annual “Hot Dogs on the Beach” neighborhood gathering.

Scheduled to coincide with the Suncoast Speedboat races held off Lido Beach, this “4th of July” holiday staple in LSPOA's social calendar is a perennial favorite with Lido Shores families. Almost 70 LSPOA members, families and their friends gathered in the late morning to grab a good spot on the beach for watching the speedboats exit New Pass and head out to the race course. This may have been a record turnout — and given that the Wimbledon men’s finals were live on TV at the same time with many Andy Murray fans in the crowd — the allure of Chicago-style hot dogs, ice cream treats and Grand Prix speed boats provided notable competition. (Of course, it didn’t hurt to have Murray beat Djokovic in just three sets!)

Patiently waiting for a hot dog with all the fixins.

Earl from Tasty Takeout serving up Chicago- style dogs.

Bob Lifeso & Bob Essner

"Miscreant scofflaws"…the Essners park in the "No Parking" zone!

Stuart Cassell & Dick Robbins

Miriam Cassell, Joan & Larry Reinebach

Peggy Robbins, Sue Lifeso & Lisa Morris

Wayne Freed & Ann Essner

Elliott Himelfarb

The Gulf was a delightful 83 degrees.

LSPOA members welcomed three new families to the neighborhood:
Daniel Jittu and Martina Stewart (1340 Westway Drive)
Mark and Laura Mattia and kids (1150 Morningside Place)
Alan and Linda Stewart (336 Morningside Drive)

And our most recent “former” neighbors, Dick and Peggy Robbins, returned to see old friends.

Despite the long-running debate regarding whether “Chicago-style” hot dogs were better than Nathan’s franks (you have to hail from the Midwest or the East Coast to get in on that one!), 84 hot dogs were consumed — along with onions, sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup and pickle relish (requested as “that atomic green stuff” by Suzanne Roger when she ordered). Daniel Jittu declared that he had been waiting for this event “for months” (no argument from him about which hot dog style is best!). After the hot dogs, everyone got ice cream treats. Even with a cooler, the hot weather presented a challenge to all things frozen: Bob Essner resorted to rolling the cooler down to the beach to get the popsicles, Nutty Buddies and ice cream sandwiches distributed before they melted. He says all he needed was a little bell to get peoples’ attention; maybe next year.

A BIG thank you to Anne Essner for organizing this festive event and to Ken Cox and Janet Minker for taking and sharing photos. If you weren’t able to be with us, plan on joining us next year! ~ AE