The only museum in the world dedicated solely to women in sports is celebrating is long-awaited launch party this month. Women’s Sports Museum (WSM) will be revealing the preview center of the National Women in Sports Museum, to be built on Nathan Benderson grounds. The idea for WSM was sparked by a former All-American Girls Professional Baseball Player initially, to build a museum for professional women baseball players. But once WSM’s founding board members learned that there wasn’t a single museum in the world dedicated solely to women in sports, the concept shifted. The group of accomplished Sarasota-based women athletes, and their supporters, came up with the idea to not only to celebrate the achievements of women athletes, but also to inspire girls through the power of sport. The soon-to-come "living, breathing" museum will feature interactive, state-of-the-art exhibits that recognize the women—including former athletes of all abilities, broadcasters, referees, executives and coaches—who have defeated the odds in professional sports, defied gender stereotypes and lead all women to new heights. This year, Dr. Jen Welter—the first female coach in the NFL—was named WSM's 2019 honoree and recipient of the Trailblazer Award.

Now devoted to developing the next generation of young female athletes, WSM will share lessons learned through sports including teamwork, grit and hard work. As an institutional catalyst, the team at WSM plans to translate those lessons to every aspect of life, as well as celebrate annual trailblazers in history and present day who have achieved success in all different realms, far beyond the playing field. “We want to give girls the huge life advantage that comes with playing sports,” says President Beth Green. “The idea is ‘see it; be it.’ Though more and more girls are becoming involved in sports, there are many more who can benefit from learning about female athletes and their successes both on the field and in life.”

Although WSM will be the first-of-its-kind attraction in Sarasota, its focus on sports, culture, history and education makes it a natural fit for the active community of the Gulf Coast. The area continues to evolve into a sports hub—hosting numerous world-class sporting events, including the World Rowing Masters Regatta, World Rowing Coastal Championships, Sarasota Open (ATP), Puma Cup Soccer Tournament, USA Ultimate National Club Championships, as well as being home to elite training facilities such as IMG Academy. 

During Phase I of its five-year plan, the WSM team focused on raising awareness and supporting on a local level. The past three years, the team has hosted innovative programming to highlight and celebrate women athlete trailblazers, as well as creating and appearing with a pop-up museum at various events across Florida. They’ve also sponsoring local student athletes through the creation of a scholarship program. Now, with a launch party on the horizon for the museum’s preview center at University Town Center, WSM will celebrate the official start of Phase II, which will include securing a permanent location and initiating a capital campaign. Details of the effort will be announced at the event and money raised will help to achieve funding for construction 2020. 

Saturday, November 16, 6:30pm – 9:30pm at Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, @womenssportsmuseum 

Preview Center prototype courtesy of Womens Sports Museum

Eventbrite tickets to the Launch Party here.

Celebrating its 13^th year in 2020, Sarasota-Manatee Originals, organizers of Florida’s premier food and wine festival, recently announced details for its Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival this coming January. The multi-day epicurean event attracts foodies and winos from all over the state, to experience the showcase of top notch talents of locally-owned, independent restaurants of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, as well as an esteemed international cast of visiting winery owners and winemakers. “It’s time to get your taste buds ready,” says Sarah Firstenberger, Executive Director of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals. “The 2020 event will once again bring the Who’s-Who of the wine world to our sparkling Gulf Coast as we are assembling a stellar group of wine professionals from across the globe to spotlight alongside our area’s most passionate culinary professionals and restaurateurs.”

The festival is scheduled for January 23-27, and offers a world-class weekend of winemaker dinners, educational cooking classes, interactive wine seminars and wine tastings that culminates with the alfresco Grand Tasting event at the Ringling Museum Courtyard. The Grand Tasting is set to take place on Sunday, January 26, again in the historic courtyard and greenspace of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. Guests will be ablet to explore the grounds and try small dishes presented by over 40 Members of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals restaurant group, and sample from a collection of more than 350 wines from across the globe—all hand-selected and professionally tasted, then judged and recognized as medal winners. “A wine shop is also available, where patrons can purchase the various wines, making Forks & Corks one of only a few festivals in the Southeast to provide the opportunity to purchase varietals onsite that were showcased during the event,” added Firstenberger.

A limited number of Grand Tasting tickets are available each year and have historically sold out quite quickly. Tickets for the sought-after Grand Tasting, as well as the University Master Classes—three themed seminars, each led by a panel of winemakers and owners—went on sale to the public last night and will be available till the likely sell out. 

Photo courtesy of Sarasota-Manatee Originals

All ticket sales will take place online at EatLikeALocal.com

Igor Bilov, DMD, and Denis Monzin, DMD, will soon be offering dental services to the community of Bradenton at their brand new office, Dental Care at Lakewood Walk. The new full-service, state-of-the-art family dental practice is set to open on Thursday, November 14. Dental Care at Lakewood Walk will be fully equipped with the latest products and equipment available in the dental industry, offering Dr. Bilov, Dr. Monzin and their dental team the opportunity to provide the most up-to-date procedures and services to their patients. From routine cleanings and simple fillings to more in-depth restorative and cosmetic services, patients can expect individualized care to help them keep their teeth for a lifetime.

Dental Care at Lakewood Walk is located at 5921 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. in Bradenton. The office is now accepting new patients. Appointments can be made by calling 941-932-4187 or visiting DentalCareAtLakewoodWalk.com.    

Rendering provided by Firmo Construction.

Fifteen female students from local high schools and colleges—interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)—will have lunch and spend time with five local female surgeons who work in the STEM field. The surgeons are participating in the Doctors Hospital of Sarasota Women’s Health Symposium. Before the surgeons speak with the crowd, they will meet with students from Sarasota High, Riverview High, North Port High and USF-Sarasota Manatee. Five female surgeons will be having lunch, talking and sharing stories with 15 young female students from local high schools and colleges. Four of the surgeons are women of color. Many of the young girls attending are also minorities. After the lunch with the students, the five local surgeons will present a panel presentation on women’s health topics. 450 women are expected at the health symposium.

Women surgeons are very rare—according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, just 20.6% of general surgeons and 5.3% of orthopedic surgeons are women. The hospital has assembled a panel of five female surgeons who work in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The hospital hopes the surgeons will be able to inspire students to pursue a career in a STEM field and can share advice on careers, college and challenges.

 This Friday, November 8^th 11:30am-Noon at   Michael’s On East Restaurant Entrance, 1212 S East Ave., Sarasota. 

Approaching their 20^th Anniversary of relieving pain on the Suncoast in January 2020, the Ramos Center for Interventional & Functional Pain Medicine is celebrating the grand opening of their brand-new Venice office location with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to be held on Thursday, November 7 from 4pm-6pm. The Ramos Center first opened their Venice doors in January 2019 with the acquisition of Doctors Jeffrey Blood and David Haber’s practice on Commercial Ct. Their physicians and staff will bring the highest level of interventional treatments and procedures to the Venice area and will provide the finest care for the patients within the Venice community. St. Andrews Medical Park; 1370 E. Venice Ave., Suite 104, Venice, 941-504-2327. 

Icard Merrill has been named to the list of 2020 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. Firms included in the 10th edition of “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. In addition, Icard Merrill is regionally ranked in nine practice areas: Tier 1 in Construction, Land Use & Zoning, Construction Litigation, and Real Estate; Tier 2 in Family Law, Land Use & Zoning Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation; and Tier 3 in Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.