SRQ DAILY Jan 10, 2019
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"The industry as a whole is shifting and changing, and we'll continue to evolve the service based on demand."
You’ll never be stranded or without wheels in Downtown Sarasota—Gotcha’s got ya—with its multimodal transportation firm headquartered in Charleston, SC. Newly branded from its former iRide service, Gotcha officially launches on the streets today. Owner Sean Flood started the original Gotcha 10 years ago at FSU as a student-based ride sharing amenity around campus. Flood believes that the fresh business model will have an overall positive response in Sarasota from all passenger demographics, because of its unbeatable price, convenience, dependability, safety and personable service.
Its 16 locally-based drivers are personally vetted and trained, and the cost will be a flat fee of $3 per ride, in and around a 2 mile radius of Downtown Sarasota/the Rosemary District. The new-age mobile service can be ordered via it’s user-friendly ride app or by “flag-down”, through a “cashless” transaction, accepting credit cards on the app, or the chip reader machine in the car if passengers hailed the ride from the street. “You’re paying for your particular seat in a defined area for a predetermined price,” he explains. “So the user can enjoy being in the vehicle, and not ever have to worry about surge pricing or anything like that. You’ll know that no matter what, you can get anywhere within this service area for three bucks.”
No longer cruising around in the iRide shuttles donning logos of paid advertisers, Flood had the seven vehicles revamped into 6-passenger, 100% electric roadsters, sporting its sleek black and teal color scheme and new logo. “We actually added some pretty cool things to it technology-wise too,” he adds. “We’ve got a battery system that allows them to go 100 miles per charge, and we’re the only company that has it, so it’ll be pretty cool to role that out in Sarasota.” Gotcha’s electric fleet will be offering free rides all day today, with Flood himself and the corporate team in Sarasota for the launch to get the name and brand out there, while educating passengers of the inauguration of Gotcha transportation.
“The industry as a whole is shifting and changing,” he says, noting Gotcha's growth to 50 different universities and cities throughout the country. “And we’ll continue to evolve the service based on demand.”
The city is currently encouraging passengers to use the micro-transit service, along with other modes of transportation, to promote sustainability, unclog the roads, reduce congestion and help commuters get to their destinations with ease. “There’s a real demand for it,” Flood said. “We’ve built a very loyal group of folks who utilize this type of reliable service around downtown. The ridership is very robust and this will give us the opportunity to continue to serve that.”
Gotcha rides will operate Sunday through Thursday, 11am-9pm, and Friday through Saturday, 11am-10pm. By continuing to collaborate with the city, Flood plans to evaluate and expand the program’s service area as it continues to grow—across the bridge to St. Armands Circle and out to the beaches. Also currently in the works, are possible plans of integrating Gotcha’s shared bike fleets and e-scooters in the future here as well. 
Photo courtesy of the Gotcha Group.
Two competitive Calls to Artists issued by the City of Sarasota for sculptures within roundabouts are now open for submissions through February 28. Both Calls to Artists are posted, and artists are required to submit proposals via the website. Each location has a separate Call to Artists, but artists may submit entries for one project or both. One is for the roundabout at 10th Street and US-41, and the other is for the roundabout at 14th Street and US-41. Submissions must complement the specific roundabout location and meet the required criteria detailed in the Call, including height, lighting, non-interactive form and the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. The budget for each sculpture is no more than $150,000, which will be funded by developer contributions to the Public Art fund. Selected finalists will make in-person presentations to the Public Art Committee and the selected piece will be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation for review and approval. Find the calls at the Call For Entry website below. Registration for artists to use Call For Entry is free, and there is no cost to submit proposals to the City of Sarasota.
Taylor Morrison, a leading national homebuilder and developer, is bringing new homes to a 200-acre community, The Heights, in Bradenton in 2019. Taylor Morrison will be bringing its signature Esplanade resort lifestyle community to The Heights and will also build a second community of single-family homes with premium views of a 255-acre lake, called Grandview at The Heights.
Esplanade at The Heights will offer brand-new homes with California Tuscan inspired architecture. Planned amenities exclusive to Esplanade residents include a resort-style pool and spa, fitness center, cabana area, lighted tennis, pickleball, bocce ball courts, a dog park and more. Grandview at The Heights will offer a selection of spacious floor plans with chef’s kitchens, luxurious owner’s suites and flexible upgrade options with views of Ward Lake and the surrounding wooded wetlands and lush landscape. Residents of Grandview will have access to planned amenities including a sparkling pool and cabana area, splash park, grilling area, basketball court and more.
Venice pain medicine physicians, Dr. Jeffrey Blood and Dr. David Haber have entrusted their medical practice to the Ramos Center for Interventional and Functional Pain Medicine, a well-established pain medicine practice whose physicians have served the Sarasota/Bradenton areas for the past 19 years. The Ramos Center physicians and staff will bring their known level of interventional treatments and procedures to the Venice area and will provide such care for the patients within the Venice community. Dr. Patrick Grace, DABA, DABA-PM will be attending to patients at the Venice Ramos Center location as well. All Ramos Center physicians are Board Certified in Interventional Pain Medicine, offering multiple modalities to include basic and advanced interventions (such as Kyphoplasty, Spinal Cord Stimulators and the mild procedure to treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis), physical therapy, mental health counseling and clinical hypnotherapy.
The Ramos Center for Interventional and Functional Pain Medicine
This rollicking, music-filled farce, which premiered in 1879, includes home-town references to our own Pittsburg Pirates. At eight years of age, Frederic was apprenticed to a group of fun-loving, soft-hearted pirates. Now 21, he decides to leave the pirates to lead “a blameless life.” He makes it his goal to eradicate these pirates. Fun and mayhem follow.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W, Bradenton
In the black of night, a Salem village reverend discovers a group of teenage girls dancing devilishly around a fire in the woods. When his daughter exhibits strange catatonic symptoms the following morning, the townsfolk are frenzied with rumors of witchcraft. Deep-seated jealousy, deadly accusations, and seething resentments pit neighbor against neighbor as a deeply religious community is thrown into turmoil, in this Arthur Miller classic.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.
“Who Stole the Mona Lisa?” is a whimsical and imaginative animated film that offers a delightful, multimedia, classical music performance presented in synchrony with a live performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Suite from “The Firebird.” Live and visual pairings of “Babar the Elephant” and “Pictures at an Exhibition” complete the program. Alexandre Moutouzkine mans the piano while Edward Alley narrates.
Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Join for a film screening of “Nadie”, directed by Cuban filmmaker Miguel Coyula. Coyula will be there to introduce the film and take questions from the audience. “Nadie” (Nobody) tells the story of Rafael Alcides, a writer for the Cuban Revolution who became increasingly disillusioned as it progressed.
Chao Lecture Hall, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Join Ringling staff for a two-part workshop which includes a classroom session to learn about fertilizers and their use in the landscape, followed by an outdoor session. The program includes a talk and discussion in the Museum of Art, Chao Lecture Hall followed by a walking tour tailored to the topic. Please wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes.
Bayfront Gardens , 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Artists are local, national and international, and Art Center Manatee is one of only five venues in the country to host the exhibit. Admission is $5. In a neighboring gallery, and on display for the same period of time, the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society will also be showing work from its member-artists.
ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St. W, Bradenton.
“Welcome to the 60s” where Tracey Turnblad, a pleasantly plump teenager dreams of fame and fights to racially integrate the Corny Collins Show. This winner of eight Tony Awards (including “Best Musical”) is based on the John Waters film and proves that “You Can’t Stop The Beat.”
The Players Theatre, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
This exciting new series taught by Lululemon Ambassador Ashley Stewart Yoga will offer three classes in different locations throughout the estate in January, February and March 2019. After the class, explore the galleries and visit with friends at the Art After 5 lounge which features a cash bar.
Museum Galleries, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Jane Brody is coming to Sarasota! The "High Priestess of Health," New York Times Columnist and American Author is the keynote at ITN SunCoast's annual luncheon. Health and wellness exhibits, and giveaways will precede the sit down lunch and "Jane Brody on Living Well to 100". Seating is limited. Tickets are $50.
The Carlisle, 3727 Bahia Vista, Sarasota
Through movement, mime, and comedy, a veteran solo artist recalls and recreates the indelible memories from thirty years of touring twenty-five nations.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
In the final scene of Ibsen’s 1879 masterwork, Nora Helmer slammed the door on her marriage and family life, leaving her family. This sequel imagines her 15 years later as a successful writer and independent women, but she must return home to the one man who can help her. Universally acclaimed during its recent Broadway run, this new comedy raises questions about marriage and the roles of women have—and have not—changed.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
The Ringling Art Library’s Special Collection includes a number of 17th to 19th-century travel books, many of which are extremely rare. This presentation from Elisa Hansen, Head of Library Services, will explore these fascinating journeys and the authors who wrote about them.
Chao Lecture Hall, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Adapted by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s novel of the same name , Christopher is exceptionally intelligent, but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an ear-shattering discovery.
Join SRQ Magazine for SB2 for the State of the Economy at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota with a panel of regional experts from small businesses, economic development, finance, hospitality and real estate including Jacki Dezelski of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Cooper of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Drayton Saunders of Michael Saunders and Company, Mark Huey of the EDC of Sarasota County, Philip Rich of Seaside Bank, Jeff Mayers of The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Sharon Hillstrom of the Bradenton Area EDC. The winners of the 2019 Localpreneur of the Year Competition will also be announced and recognized during a special awards program. Tickets are $55/person, $250 for a half table of four and $500 for a table of eight. Registration begins at 11am. The program runs from 11:30am to 1pm. Ticket online at SRQSB2.COM.
Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, Florida 34236
In Gallery 1, Sarasota Visual Artists Studios will present an exciting exhibition featuring the work of Andrea Dasha Reich, Barbara Banks, Bill Buchman, Duncan Chamberlain, Grace Howl and Larry Forgard. A collaboration between Jen Nugent and Jack Arbough uses drawing, collage and video to address competing impulses to conserve and explore in Gallery 2. In Gallery 3, the Manasota branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History highlights African-American artists from Sarasota and Manatee counties. And Gallery 4 features an open, juried exhibition.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
Kicking off 2019 with a bang, Program 4 features a world premiere from Sarasota Ballet’s Resident Choreographer and Principal Dancer, Ricardo Graziano, alongside David Bintley’s Four Scottish Dances and the company premiere of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Varii Capricci. This will be the eighth full work choreographed by Graziano for the Company.
FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
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