SRQ DAILY Dec 31, 2019
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"I am looking forward to judging the top dogs from all over the country! It is an awesome thrill and honor to be officiating such a prestigious event."
The distinguised Westminster Kennel Club, established in 1877, remains America's oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. Among the judges of the 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Sarasota resident Sydney LeBlanc Good will be among the credible fleet. This will be LeBlanc’s first Westminster judging assignment, as she will officiate several breeds during the preliminary showmanship and competition, held at Pier 94 in New York City on February 9-11, 2020.
Good is assigned to judge Whippets, Chinese Cresteds, Italian Greyhounds, Miniature Pinschers, English Setters, Irish Setters, Vizslas, Weimaraners and Wirehaired Vizslas. All ‘Best of Breed’ winners she selects will go on to advance in the Hound and Toy Groups that following Monday evening, and the final Best in Show competition, held at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday evening.
For more than 60 years, Good has been involved in the sport of dogs. Her family, being very successful and prominent Doberman Pinschers breeders, participated in shows for years under the "Rockland" prefix. Additional dog experience was gained by working in the family boarding kennel and grooming facility until she started her career with the American Kennel Club. She was an AKC Executive Field Representative for more than 40 years, representing the AKC on average at least 125 events a year across the country and internationally. She is approved to judge numerous Sporting, Hound, Working, Toy and Non-Sporting breeds. Good’s vast experience has provided her the opportunity to observe a number of dogs with the utmost obedience, agility and pedigree, as well as have discussions with the world’s most renowned breeders.
She has personally owned multiple Doberman Pinschers, Poodles, Vizslas, Whippets, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Chihuahuas and Brussel Griffons. "I am looking forward to judging the top dogs from all over the country!" says Good. "It is an awesome thrill and honor to be officiating such a prestigious event." All Westminster Week events are presented by Purina Pro Plan®.
Photo courtesy of The Westminster Kennel Club.
"Where should we go to dinner tonight?" It's a question often asked from out-of-town guests to the all-knowing concierge of the front desk. It's heard 'round the world from inquisitive wives to their hungry husbands after a long day. Next time the universal question arises, the decision is easy. Merging Floridian, Caribbean and Mediterranean cooking techniques and flavors, Viento Kitchen & Bar introduces their take on "Floribbean cuisine." The signature restaurant of the cool and contemporary Zota Beach Resort recently released a refreshed and elevated menu with a hyper focus on locally-sourced ingredients and providers to ring in the New Year.
The newly concepted menu features lively small plate options such as octopus served over black bean silk and charred carrots, as well as steak tartare, sliced beef tenderloin in truffle oil and shaved seasonal truffle, accompanied with egg yolk and grilled ciabatta. Main dishes that catch the beholder's attention are chicken scaloppini, made with housemade basil fettuccini and eggplant caponata; seared scallops atop an edamame succotash and parsnip-squid ink silk with bacon larden in a tomato buerre blanc; and a half chicken glazed with Florida orange honey and served with a roasted sweet potato puree, rosemary chicken jus and orange sage chutney.
Meanwhile, Viento's extensive Old World and New World wine list is curated with renowned labels by the glass and bottle, as well as an option to BYOB with a corkage fee. Despite its location inside the waterfront Zota Beach Resort, the swanky kitchen and chic bar is not exclusive to hotel guests, but attracts residents from the left and right of Longboat Key.
Photo courtesy of Viento Kitchen & Bar.
Prolonged exposure to toxic or stressful environments can undermine a child’s sense of security and threaten her or his healthy development. To combat this crucial issue, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation recently awarded a $77,000 grant to Children First for improved building security at four of its locations. Access control doors and upgraded security cameras will be placed in every classroom and public space at the Dr. Elaine Marieb Early Learning Center, the Venice campus (a partnership with Suncoast Charities), Our Mother’s House (a childcare partnership with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice), and the North Port campus. The improved building security will be put into place to further enhance the safety of more than 250 children and their families each year, as well as hundreds of staff members, volunteers, and supporters. “With the technological landscape changing rapidly every day, this grant ensures that every parent can focus better on work and their own education with the assurance of their child’s safety, and that every child will have a secure space to develop the skills they need to thrive. We are deeply grateful to the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation for their vision of a community that is safe and sound for all,” says President & CEO Philip Tavill.
Pulte Homes has announced plans for Sapphire Point at Lakewood Ranch, a new family friendly community of approximately 472 single-family homes in the Northeast section of Lakewood Ranch. Featuring more than 60 acres of preserve and 35 acres of lakes, Sapphire Point at Lakewood Ranch will offer one- and two-story homes that combine Pulte’s signature quality construction and consumer-first design on 42-, 52- and 62-foot-wide homesites.
Located off State Road 70, on Uihlein Road across from Lakewood National or just past the Premier Sports Complex, Sapphire Point is close to everything a Lakewood Ranch homebuyer desires, including top-rated elementary and middle schools, shopping, local parks and convenient commuter routes. Sapphire Point is also situated near plentiful employment opportunities in and around Lakewood Ranch, Main Street Entertainment District and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Nearby, Premier Sports Campus hosts year-round sports and recreation activities on its 140 acres of celebration-seeded grass, including 23 FIFA-regulation playing fields.
“Sapphire Point at Lakewood Ranch provides homebuyers the ideal combination of Pulte’s flexible, modern-minded floorplans and the Lakewood Ranch lifestyle that offers something for everyone in the family,” said Richard McCormick, president of PulteGroup’s Southwest Florida Division. “Its convenient location, just 1.5 miles from A-rated elementary and middle schools and one mile from a future high school, coupled with all of the neighborhood amenities, makes it a great value.”
Models in Sapphire Point are expected to break ground in Spring 2020, and the community is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2020. Pulte’s exclusive single-family home designs will offer flexible floor plans, gourmet-inspired kitchens and versatile outdoor living spaces. Homebuyers can personalize their Sapphire Point selections with customizable options and smart home technology. Beyond the gates of Sapphire Point, residents will enjoy close proximity to Main Street, the downtown center of Lakewood Ranch featuring an exciting array of shops and restaurants as well as free special events, and concerts and festivals throughout the year. The neighborhood is also near the future County library and aquatics center. Sapphire Point at Lakewood Ranch will offer a resort-style pool and a clubhouse with a community room for neighborhood gatherings, along with a fire pit, basketball and pickleball courts and a playground.
Within a five-minute drive, residents will find The Green, a satellite town center that features include Earth Fare Specialty Grocer and LA Fitness among more two dozen businesses within 150,000 square feet of retail, office and restaurant spaces. Lakewood Ranch is ranked the first multi-generation community in the nation and the second best-selling master planned community in the nation.
Bradenton Christian School will host the Chick-fil-A Classic Basketball Tournament (formerly Smoothie King Classic) Wednesday, January 1st through the 3rd. Eight boys and six girls’ teams will compete in this three-day basketball tournament which pits some the area’s best high school basketball teams against one another. There will be Chick-fil-A give a ways during the halftime of each game courtesy of the Hoeksema Family, owners of the Chick-fil-A restaurant located in the Cortez Plaza off of 14th Street West. This will be the last basketball tournament held in the beloved BCS “Panther Den” gym before it gets torn down in the late summer of 2020 when the new 60,000 square foot sports complex and fields are completed for the school thanks to the generous donation of $15 million dollars plus an additional $2 million dollar match to equal $17 million dollars from the Pentecost Family Foundation. During the tournament you will be able to view the rapid construction of the new facility that Oden Hardy Construction and Sandhoff Construction have been working on since groundbreaking took place August 20, 2019.
The 2020 Classic begins at 11:30 am at Bradenton Christian School 3304 43rd St., West Bradenton. Tickets are $6 per day or $15 for a tournament pass for all 3 days. Concessions will be available with an assortment of snacks including Chick-Fil-A.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall regrets to announce that Il Divo’s performance on Sunday, January 5, 2020 has been canceled and is being rescheduled for Friday, January 15, 2021. One of the members of the group is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He is currently unable to walk, and his doctors are not allowing him to travel from Europe due to his injury. Alternative plans to honor the Van Wezel’s 50th Anniversary will be announced soon. The celebration of this milestone, including the Van Wezel Foundation’s pre-show event and the presentation of the Key to the City, will take place on a later date. Patrons who wish to attend the January 15, 2021 Il Divo performance should hold on to their tickets, which will be honored for the new performance date. Patrons seeking an account credit or refund should contact their original point of purchase.
Discounts for other shows purchased as part of a Variety Series package will not be affected by this cancellation. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. Further information can be obtained from the Box Office, or by calling 941-953-3368.
The City of Sarasota, in partnership with nonprofit financial institution Manatee Community Federal Credit Union, is offering a variety of financial services and programs that will benefit City residents who are unbanked, underbanked and underserved. Through the “Reliable Ride” program, residents will have an opportunity to open an account with the credit union and take advantage of low-interest vehicle loans in order to secure reliable transportation. Clients will also receive financial education and assistance in becoming financially stable. “This program is a key piece of the City’s strategic goal of expanding financial services within the north Sarasota community,” said Economic Development General Manager Steve Stancel. “Through ‘Reliable Ride’ and other services, we’ll be able to help low-income and credit-challenged individuals get on a path toward financial freedom and achieving their goals.” Credit union clients will be able to apply for business startup loans through participation in Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO) courses offered by the City and CareerSource Suncoast. They will also have access to a host of free banking services and transactions available online and via smartphones, at more than 90 ATMs throughout the City and in person at the First Street Credit Union, 1558 First St., and during weekly office hours and regular workshops at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th St.
Manatee Community Federal Credit Union has been certified by the U.S. Treasury to provide specialized credit and financial services to underserved areas and residents of Sarasota. For more information about the “Access to Financial Services” program, contact Redevelopment Specialist Rowena Elliott at 941-263-6284.
Born and raised in Mexico City, where he spent most of his career, Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902-2002) was one of the most important figures in 20th century Latin American photography. Although he took art classes at the Academy of San Carlos, his photography was mostly self-taught, but he was savvy to the emerging international artistic avant-garde. Considered to be one of the founders of modern photography, his work extends from the late 1920s to the 1900s. He was a key figure from the period following the Mexican Revolution—often called the Mexican Renaissance—in which arts and literature flourished. This “Renaissance” owed to the happy—though not always tranquil—marriage between a desire for modernization and the search for an authentic national identity with Mexican roots, in which archaeology, history and ethnology played an important role. Support for this exhibition has been provided, in part, by the Ringling Endowment at the Florida State University Foundation. Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens lights up the holiday season with Lights In Bloom. Over two million lights will illuminate the gardens and walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels. Visitors will have the opportunity to stroll through magical gardens filled with beautifully lit flowers, radiant rainforest butterflies, dragonflies and more. The tropical holiday paradise includes nightly visits from Santa (before Christmas Eve), children’s arts and crafts activities and games and special entertainment. Grilled foods will be available for purchase from the Michael’s on East grill including a cash bar. The Selby House Cafe will also be open with its full menu. In its 16th year, Lights In Bloom has become a tradition for residents and visitors to celebrate the holiday season in Sarasota.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Concealed and Revealed offers a unique selection of paintings by the artist, along with numerous objects from the Solomon Archive on view for the first time. Syd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) described himself as an “Abstract Impressionist” alluding to the fact that his work infused impressionism into the processes, scale and concepts of Abstract Expressionism. Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 with his wife Annie. His was the first work of contemporary art to be collected by The Ringling in 1962. His paintings were greatly influenced by climatic factors and reveal a fascination and concern for Florida’s aquatic environment. Solomon incorporated his experience as a camouflage designer during World War II into his painting. It is not well-known that he was also an accomplished graphic artist, who in his early years designed commercial signage for prominent hotels and businesses in Sarasota. Like his work in camouflage, Solomon’s calligraphic skill was essential to the development of his later gestural abstraction.
Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed is presented in partnership with the Estate of Syd Solomon and is accompanied by a 96-page publication with essays by former curator at The Ringling Michael Auping, George S. Bolge, Dr. Gail Levin, and Mike Solomon. The exhibition will include artworks from private collections and The Ringling’s permanent collection.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Each season, The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast hosts The Perlman Music Program (PMP) Sarasota Winter Residency. Founded by Toby Perlman, and with a world-renowned faculty led by her husband, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, PMP augments its seven-week summer school program in Shelter Island each December with a 17-day winter residency, December 21, 2019 - January 4, 2020, in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The residency provides valuable mentoring and performance opportunities for approximately 35 young international string musicians, ages 12-20+, and offers 20+ free and low-cost musical events on the campus of USF Sarasota-Manatee. Each year, the winter residency culminates with the Celebration Concert, January 4, 2020, with Itzhak Perlman conducting the PMP String Orchestra and Patrick Romano leading the PMP Chorus at the Sarasota Opera House.
USF Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 34243
Ring in the New Year at the Sarasota Bayfront Midnight Fireworks Spectacular! See one of the best fireworks displays Southwest Florida has to offer. Make your reservations now by calling Marina Jack at (941) 365-4232. Proceeds benefit Suncoast Charities for Children.
Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is proud to present Sarasota’s most sophisticated and diversely entertaining New Years Eve experience; a black-tie event featuring a private journey through tropical holiday light displays, passed hors d’oeuvres, a seated four course dinner, special performances by The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and Trainees from the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory and dancing at Michael’s on the Bay. The countdown to the New Year culminates with a champagne toast and a perfect view of fireworks overlooking Sarasota Bay. Celebrate the New Year in style.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Dabbert Gallery presents the exhibition "Local Color, Florida Style" to open at the First Firday Gallery Walk on Friday, January 3, 2020 and continues through January 31, 2020. Featuring six of the gallery's Florida artists including Arnold Desmarais, Martin Dunn, Bill Farnsworth, James Griffin, Joe Palmerio and Luke Steadman. Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm.
Dabbert Gallery, 46 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL
Holidays at The Point brings fresh new life to our past events, Holly Days and Mangrove Lights. Each day/night will bring you and your family new memories, experiences, and a wonderful new holiday tradition. Ring in the new year at Historic Spanish Point. Fun for the whole family – enjoy lawn games, hula hoop and dance competitions for the kids, s’ mores roasting, holiday treats, cash bar and music. Tickets for each event are $15 for adults, $7 for kids (aged 12 and younger). Tickets for Historic Spanish Point Members are $12 for adults, $5 for kids (aged 12 and younger).
Historic Spanish Point, White Cottage Lawn, 337 N. Tamiami Tr., Osprey, FL 34229
The Hospital Gala has raised more than $2.2 million to benefit Sarasota Memorial Hospital ER/Trauma Services and Cardiac Services. This year, proceeds will support Cancer Services to help the SMH cancer care team deliver the best life-saving care for you, your loved ones and those in our community.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
For the past several years, dazzling young bassist Xavier Foley has been thrilling audiences and critics alike with the stunning musical magic he makes with the essential but often overlooked double bass. Foley’s playing makes this largest and lowest member of the string family as important as any solo instrument. The Philadelphia Inquirer calls him a “spectacular player” and one who is “blissfully unaware that dazzling virtuosity is usually someone else’s job.” A native of Marietta, Georgia, Foley was also featured recently on PBS Thirteen’s NYC-ARTs and was named to New York WQXR’s "19 Artists to Watch” list for 2019. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and as a soloist with the Atlanta Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra, amongst others. Joining Foley will be pianist Kelly Lin, a sought-after accompanist whose groundbreaking collaborations with Foley have dazzled audiences and been hailed by critics for their “agile interplay between piano and bass,” as well as their “radical, riveting reinventions of old classics.” The duo will be performing their critically acclaimed program that includes Foley’s reinvention of Mozart’s Violin Sonata in E Minor, that transposes the violin part to a range comparable to a cello’s; Schubert’s “Arpeggione” Sonata, D 821, which showcases Foley’s vast range, utilizing every bit of the bass’s vast sonic capability; their phantasmagorical take on Glière’s Intermezzo and Tarantella; and original compositions by Foley.
Historic Asolo Theatre, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
The Key Chorale Chamber singers will present their fourth installment in their American Roots series January 11-12 with American Roots: Grassical. The 7-member DePue Brothers Band joins the singers in a program from the hills of Appalachia to progressive bluegrass sounds of today. These classical violin virtuosos, with blazing bluegrass chops, have pioneered the term “grassical,” a vivid blend of bluegrass, gypsy, and jazz. They have been the subject of a PBS documentary, named “Musical Family of America” by presidential decree and released 3 acclaimed CDs. Experience a one-of-a-kind program taking our popular bluegrass concert onto a new set of tracks. “This concert has become such an audience favorite that it is a challenge to keep raising the bar,” said Maestro Caulkins. “By adding such a polished ensemble like the DePue Brothers Band, along with brand new charts written especially for this concert, I am certain this will be an unforgettable experience.” Hear contemporary and old-time bluegrass from the Wailin’ Jennys, Emmylou Harris and Ricky Skaggs, to Flatts & Scruggs, The Foggy Mountain Boys and the immortal Ralph Stanley. Guest vocalist and audience favorite Madison Spahn, who joined us last year for American Roots: Digging Deeper, will be back again this year.
St. Boniface Episcopal Church (1.12) ; Venice Presbyterian Church (1/12), 5615 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key; 825 The Rialto, Venice
Join the Sarasota World Affairs Council for the next program in its 2019-20 Lecture Series, “The Politics of Hate Have Driven the U.S. and Iran to the Brink,” featuring Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council. Mr. Abdi will describe the background and mission of the Iranian-American Council, as well as provide an update on the current Iranian-American relationship and international efforts to establish prospects for peace in the region. Each SWAC lecture is followed by a members-only reception with the speaker in a historic building on Sarasota Bay. The lecture is free, but reservations are suggested.
Mildred Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Created and choreographed by Yin Mei, an artist of the Chinese diaspora who has been part of the New York dance scene since the 1990’s, this new dance theater piece for five dancers melds themes from the iconic Chinese literary work The Peony Pavilion and Yin Mei’s own life experience as a teenage government dancer during the Chinese Revolution. Highly visual and referencing a dense collection of letters she wrote to her family over two decades, the work is a dance painting that occupies the space between truth and dreams.
Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Choral Artists of Sarasota continues its 41st season with “Celebrating Sondheim,” Saturday, January 18, 4 pm, at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota. This tribute to Stephen Sondheim, who is celebrating his 90th birthday this year, features his music from such acclaimed Broadway shows as A Little Night Music, Company, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday in the Park with George. Renowned musical theater artists Ann Morrison, Amy Jo Connours, Michaela Ristaino, Ben Pattison, and Matthew Nall will join the 40 singers of Choral Artists of Sarasota in this concert. “In celebrating Sondheim in his 90th year, this performance allows us to present a retrospective of his most iconic works alongside some musical gems that will touch a chord in all of us,” says Joseph Holt, artistic director. “Sondheim has the gift to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.” Tickets are $28 to $45; $5 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.ChoralArtistsSarasota.org or call 941-387-4900. A free Concert Insights event, which offers audiences the opportunity to learn about the artistic director’s insights about the program theme and music—and a chance to meet soloist Ann Morrison —is Tuesday, January 7, 10 am, at Center for Arts and Humanity, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail. The event is free but please register online or by phone as seating is limited.
Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota
A lecture with Andrew Prince. Downton Abbey’s main characters sported a glittering array of tiaras, combs, earrings and necklaces. Prince was the artist behind these exquisite creations. His talk will explore the fascinating intersection of jewelry, fashion and history in the opulent era at the turn of the twentieth century. Tickets are $15. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at ncf.edu/new-topics, or by calling the New College events hotline at 941-487-4888.
Mildred Sainer Auditorium, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
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