The Gilliam Blog - All the Blog While Its Blog

Sarasota is considered the cultural gem of Florida. First incorporated in 1902, it is a city rich in the arts, thanks in large part to circus impressario John Ringling -- of the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus fame. Ringling built a 30-room Venetian-style mansion in the 1920s on Sarasota Bay and filled with priceless art from around the world. Upon his death, the Big Top magnate left the estate and its contents to the state of Florida and it is now a renowed museum and art gallery. The circus remains a vital part of Sarasota's culture as several circus companies are located in the area -- not to mention an assortment of bearded ladies. . . . . More than 2.5 billion corndogs are consumed in the U.S. each year.