Beginning last night with the opening of renowned glass artist Michael Taylor’s latest exhibition, Particles: Something Out of Nothing at Alfstad& Contemporary, the second annual Art Glass Weekend has arrived. Bringing a whole host of events and displays across the community, from exhibits at Alfstad& to curated collections at The Ringling Museum, the Longboat Key Center for the Arts remains the epicenter of Art Glass Weekend, with a new exhibit, guided tours and an international auction of studio glass. If you haven’t already, get ready to RSVP.

Start the day at Alfstad& Contemporary, where Taylor enjoys his first solo show in Sarasota, showing off his signature style with 10 new cold-cut pieces alongside five previously displayed and a collection of digital prints created in collaboration with the studio gallery. “Michael Taylor is a pioneer,” said Sam Alfstad, founder of Alfstad&, calling the work “instrumental” in elevating glass in popular opinion from a craft to an art. According to Alfstad, Taylor’s participation in Art Glass Weekend “shows that Sarasota is becoming—as the American Art Collector Magazine claimed last year—the ‘new art glass Mecca of America.’ ” The exhibit runs until Feb. 26.

Over at LBKCA, the mid-day tours exploring the glass collections of three private collectors have been sold out, according to director Jane Buckman, but there’s still a bit of room for the potential bidder at tonight’s international glass auction, Masterworks, hosted by LBKCA and curated by Habatat Galleries of Royal Oaks, Michigan. The second such auction created in partnership between LBKCA and Habatat in as many years, this year's show focuses on studio glass artists recognized for significant contributions to the movement through the latter portion of the 20th century. It is inherently educational, Buckman noted, but also an opportunity for both “the seasoned collector to add noteworthy pieces to their collection or for a new enthusiast to catch the fever.” The preview begins at 6:30pm and the bidding an hour after. All auction items can be viewed online as well, and participants unable to attend can bid either online or via phone.

And Art Glass Weekend participants have a packed Saturday, beginning with a few stops at the Ringling College of Art and Design campus. With the 2016 Basch Glass Exhibition open in the school's Basch Gallery, more than 30 pieces of glass art stand on display. Curated by Mark Ormond, Nature in Glass gathers them under a common theme, but the styles and technique remain as varied as the environment inspired. After lunch, The Ringling Museum offers a special showcase of glass from the Kotler and Coville collections on display in the Astor Galleries. Top the night off back at LBKCA, where 21 artists lay bare their inspiration and process in Commentaries: Stories Told In Glass, an exhibition marrying sculpture and written statement from the artist.

End the weekend with Commentaries’ complement, Beauty In The Abstract, a pop-up exhibition curated by Habatat Galleries and designed to spur the imagination. Opening at 10:30am in The Whitney Plaza, meet the artists, enjoy a light brunch and begin the long wait to Art Glass Weekend 2017. 

Pictured: Glass by Dale Chihuly on display at the Basch Gallery. Courtesy of: Ringling College of Art and Design

I was excited to stumble into Revelry Pub & Grill on University Parkway on a recent frigid evening. The gastropub’s interior is cozy and convivial and truly reminds me of an English pub. There’s a roaring fire in the bar lounge, the bartender is charming without being ingratiating and the menu is a delightful mélange of pub favorites, fresh salads and brick oven pizzas. The owners believe in utilizing only the best ingredients including wild caught seafood and naturally raised chicken, and their attention to quality extends to the craft beer available on tap and the extensive gluten-free menu. My friend Nicole Leffler, who suggested we try Revelry, doesn’t eat meat, so we shared the Cheesy Artichoke Dip. It was one of the best I’ve tried—hot and creamy and well-seasoned. We also tried the Rev Veg Pizza with roasted vegetables, goat cheese and a housemade San Marzano tomato sauce and the Shrimp Avocado Salad (pictured) with orange vinaigrette and sweet chili sauce drizzle. The 12-inch pizza was more than enough to share but we couldn’t stop eating the salad. The ‘cucumber noodles’ were a textural marvel; I’ve never experienced the sensation of twirling a salad onto my fork like spaghetti. I do a lot of shopping on University Parkway and now I think I’ll be doing a lot of eating there too. 

Revelry Pub & Grill, 3005 University Parkway, 941-355-1218.

The chefs at JPan always bring cuisine to an art form. Now Chef Daniel Dokko has created a roll inspired by Eleanor Merritt’s Harmony. This recipe was developed for the annual Dish Art 5X5 presentation for LUX Life, an annual publication of SRQ Media Group. See the source art and dishes from all of our participating restaurants in the new issue, available today at SRQ’s corporate headquarters. And from Feb. 26-28, stop by JPan and order a plate yourself. 

Harmony Roll

Ingredients: 1/2 cup sushi rice; 1 sheet of nori; 2 large shrimp; 1/4 avocado; 2 oz. fresh salmon; 2 oz. kanikama (imitation crab); 1tsp. garlic chips; 1 tsp. spicy mayo; panko bread; cream cheese

Spread sushi rice evenly in seaweed.Roll shrimp, avocado and cream cheese.Coat roll with panko bread and fried.Mince salmon, kanikama and garlic with spicy mayo.Top each slice of roll with mixture and garnish with sesame seeds and scallion. 

JPan, 3 Paradise Plaza, Sarasota, 941-954-5726.

Kathleen Croteau accepted a conditional offer to become Sarasota County's new building official. Croteau joined Sarasota County in 2011 as the deputy building official. She has served as the county's interim building official since September. The county building official is responsible for the administration and coordination of the Florida Building Code, including permit reviews and inspections for the Planning and Development Services department. Croteau is vice president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Building Officials Association of Florida. 

Sarasota County

TRIAX Precision Manufacturing has located in South Manatee County, according to the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation. TRIAX is a world-class manufacturing partner focused in the aerospace, industrial equipment, marine and general machining markets. The company acquired Sarasota-based Hi-Nu-Tec Inc. in 2015 and is expanding that operation in 14,000 square feet on Commerce Boulevard North near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The company provides machining, engineering, welding and assembly capabilities using advanced software and process controls. 

TRIAX Precision Manufacturing

In a stretch of Sarasota that is home to more chain restaurants than perhaps any other, Madfish Grill stands out. And for more than one reason. The colorful logo and signage on Cattlemen Road seem to nod to the bold flavors on the menu, carefully considered by head chef Ben Gough. A firm believer in doing things the right way, Gough exudes a sense of pride when he speaks about the restaurant not unlike the mixture of care and pride you’d expect when hearing someone talk about an old friend. At Madfish Grill, the customer is at the very heartbeat of every decision they make, from preparing a weekly brunch menu (known for its almond encrusted French toast and crab cake benedict and $1.99 Bloody Marys and mimosas) to special events like a Wine Dinner this weekend. Featuring a selection of wines from a Sonoma County winery, the menu will combine flavor profiles that enhance and compliment each pairing. Reservations are recommended. Daily, Madfish Grill offers a menu that “follows the fish”, sourcing local seafood that is bought whole for a fresh selection of fine ingredients. A Massachusetts native, Gough takes pride in serving whole belly clams, which are brought in fresh from the east coast of the northern state and quickly sell out. “We serve them golden and fried,” says Gough with a smile, “the way they’re supposed to be.” 

Madfish Grill is a member of Nosh, the SRQ Magazine content marketing program for local restaurants. 

Madfish Grill | 4059 Cattlemen Road | 941-377-3474 | MadfishGrill.com 

Yesterday, the morning's dreary weather did not deter the faithful from receiving a healthy dosage of inspiration at SB2: Investing in the Arts. The shared talent of local panelists and the event's keynote speaker, Julia Forster of Spoleto Festival USA made for a morning conversation that seemed to lift the clouds a shed light on a very relevant topic for our community: growing, supporting, protecting and preserving the rich cultural attractions along the Gulf Coast. Panelists Jedediah Shoemaker (Sarasota Film Festival) and Anna von Gehr (John & Mabel Ringling Museum of Arts) provided insight on the organizational side of growing donors and staying true to their respective missions, while Tom Luzier (Dunlap & Moran, P.A) and Brian Mariash (Mariash Lowther Wealth Management) spoke to the power of dedicated board service. A full recap on what we learned from the event and a photo gallery will be posted on Inside the Brand. Special thanks to Mariash Lowther Wealth Management, event sponsor, and CS&L CPAs, The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, season sponsors of SB2. For information on upcoming breakfast symposia, visit SRQSB2.COM.