With the 2015 Modern Pentathlon World Cup 1 coming to a close this weekend, the Sarasota Bradenton Modern Pentathlon Organizing Committee (SBMPOC) is gearing up to celebrate with a weekend of events designed to engage more than Sarasota’s athletic appetite. With a celebration tonight with Circus Sarasota, another one tomorrow with Big Top Brewing Company and the closing ceremonies the following Sunday in Nathan Benderson Park, featuring presentations from six Sarasota artistic organizations, the SBMPOC wants Sarasota to remind the world that these events used to be about more than just athletics.

“When we were awarded this bid to have four Modern Pentathlon events here in Sarasota, one of the things that they asked us to do was to infuse arts and education back into this particular event,” said Elln Hagbey, Sarasota Bradenton Modern Pentathlon Cultural Affairs Director. “Prior to 1948, one of the disciplines of the Olympics was arts and education, and they gave out awards to that effect.”

The SBMPOC was sure that Sarasota could rise to the challenge and started contacting local organizations to contribute not only to individual events but throughout the entire production. For example, Ringling College of Art and Design, which provided a well-received logo for the events last year, continued its partnership with SBMPOC this year with students designing multiple aspects of the Pentathlon’s media campaign.

In an event fitting of Sarasota’s cultural history, tonight’s festivities feature a collaboration with Circus Sarasota, bringing some of Sarasota’s circus arts into the mix under the guidance of Guest Ringmaster Klaus Schormann, president of the International Union of Modern Pentathlon, and with an appearance from Nik Wallenda and the Flying Wallendas. Pentathletes from around the world will have the chance to see Sarasota’s circus traditions and even take part in their own way. “We wanted our athletes to have a local experience while they’re here,” said Hagney, and the following day over at Big Top Brewing Company, locals will have the chance to mingle with the athletes as they explore the growing craft brew culture here on the Suncoast.

To fittingly cap off the Modern Pentathlon with the closing ceremony at Nathan Benderson Park, the SBMPOC reached out to six cultural organizations in the community, including the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, the Jacobites Pipe and Drum Band and Sarasota Sailor Circus. “We selected groups that represented different aspects of Sarasota’s cultural side,” said Hagney. The ceremony opens with a presentation from Hermann’s Royal Lipizzans – the renowned stallion breed famously saved by General George S. Patton during World War II. As circumstance would have it, Patton would go on to become the US Army’s first representative to compete in the first modern pentathlon held for the 1912 Olympic Games. “It couldn’t be a more fitting organization to kick off our closing,” said Hagney.

The combination of high-end athleticism and quality cultural programming puts Sarasota on the map internationally as a venue for world-class competitions and events, according to the SBMPOC. “But more than that,” said Hagney, “we can be a beacon to other organizations through the Olympic movement to rethink how to bring arts and education back into the movement.”

The Pentathlon Night At Circus Sarasota begins tonight at 7pm at Nathan Benderson Park. The Pentathlon Night at Big Top Brewing Company begins Saturday at 7am at Big Top Brewing Company, ending at 10pm. The closing ceremony at Nathan Benderson Park on Sunday begins at 5:10pm. 

Start warming up for this spring’s unexpected trend: warm metallic in tones of decadent gold, demure bronze and lavish silver hues. Worried about putting too much pedal to the metal? Just add a touch of glimmer with brass hammered bangles from Cloverpost (one shown in the middle) featuring 14-karat gold plating that can be worn on their own or layered with other pieces, metallic or not. Available at Amanda Vincent Studio, Cloverpost jewelry is based in Nashville, where merchandise is handcrafted locally.  

Amanda Vincent Studio, 538 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-356-2037.

Chef Paul Mattison will team up with Sweetgrass Farms on Feb. 27 for a Farm-to-Fork event. For $125, you can attend the exclusive event at Sweetgrass Farms (if you make reservations now). But if you can't make it, the culinary icon shared with us this recipe if you care to try it at home.

Chef Paul Mattison's Bruschetta with goat cheese

Ingredients (for bruschetta): 2 pints of grape tomatoes, cut in half; ½ teaspoon garlic, minced; ¹/8 cup plus 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil; ½ small red onion, small dice; 1 tablespoon of green onion, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon fresh chives, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon of fresh basil, chiffonade; 1 baguette, thinly sliced and toasted in oven; ¼ cup pesto goat cheese; salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine tomatoes, garlic, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix and place on baking sheet. Bake tomatoes 3 to 5 minutes, until slightly softened. Cool. Mix tomatoes with oil, green onion, red onion, chives, basil, salt, and pepper. Take a sliced toasted baguette (crostini) and spread an even layer of pesto goat cheese on it. It helps if the pesto goat cheese is room temperature, add tomato mixture on top and finish with balsamic syrup. 

Ingredients (for pesto goat cheese): 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves; 2 cloves garlic; ¼ cup pine nuts; 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste;1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated; 1 small package goat cheese, room temperature

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth.Transfer to a small bowl, and add the Parmesan. Mix and season with salt and pepper to taste. Next, add 4 tablespoons of pesto to the softened goat cheese. Mix well. You will have extra pesto, which can be used in different preparations. 

Farm-to-Form Wine Dinner

Fitness studio Barre3 is bringing the concept of "a healthy body exhilarates the spirit" to Lakewood Ranch beginning March 2. Founded in 2008 by fitness and wellness expert Sadie Lincoln, Barre3 brings together the grace of ballet, the core strength of Pilates and the wisdom of yoga. The hour-long workouts incorporate dynamic movements with isometric holds and are tailored for those at any fitness level. Barre3 began as a single studio in Portland, Oregon and has expanded into more than 70 locations in the U.S.  

Barre3

Sarasota County's Solid Waste Division has promoted Larry Alexander to serve as the division's manager. Alexander has nearly 28 years of experience in waste management services and has been serving Sarasota County since 2004 as solid waste manager. The Syracuse, N.Y., native has lived in Florida since 1995, and has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Since working for Sarasota County, Alexander has been responsible for overseeing a $24 million operating budget, managing all solid waste collections programs, and serving 153,000 residential and commercial customers. 

Sarasota County

Realtor Becca Nye has returned to RE/MAX Alliance Group after three years with another real estate firm. A licensed Florida Realtor since 2007, Nye is a certified negotiation expert and OwnAmerica investment-certified professional with a 30-year background in banking, mortgage servicing, mortgage lending and title insurance. 

RE/MAX Alliance Group