SRQ DAILY Oct 20, 2020
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"We use techniques and ingredients from all around the world. But we would best be described as Modern American, in that we put a twist on everything."
“Vegan baking” sounds like an oxymoron, doubly so if affixed with the label “gluten-free.” How can someone make a sweet treat worth eating without flour and dairy? What is a croissant without butter, a cake without eggs, a mousse without whipped cream or a graham cracker without graham flour? If these questions were posed to Lila’s well-loved and sorely missed late pastry chef, Arthur Lopes, Jr., the answer would probably be “delicious.”
The restaurant’s raw chocolate tart, both vegan and gluten-free, leaves nothing to be desired for those with expectations that dessert items should be dense and decadent. Served chilled, its raw chocolate filling is velvety smooth, with a similar texture to chocolate truffles. The crust, firm but flaky, serves as an ideal hull for this delightfully subversive homage to healthy labels. Dollops of mango puree form a checkered grid on top, and a visually balanced garnish of cocoa powder and toasted coconut surrounds the tart like an offering to the deities of dessert.
Many thanks to Arthur Lopes, Jr., whose inventiveness, skill and passion made Sarasota’s food scene a little sweeter, one dessert at a time. 
Lila, 1576 Main Street, Sarasota, www.lilasrq.com, 941-296-1042. Photo credit Andrew Fabian.
“What do you want to eat?” is a deceptively dangerous question. What happens when everyone at the table wants something else. She wants Greek and he wants spicy and they want fried but then he also wants tacos. Finding a menu to tick everyone’s culinary checklist– that’s also delicious, fresh and made-to-order– is near impossible unless you’re ready to settle in one respect (I’m looking at you Cheesecake Factory - no menu should double as a chapter book).
For The Spice Boys Food Truck, however, a multicultural, eclectic and always changing atlas of menu items is the norm. Head Chef Steven Schmitt and manager Carl Kolber are dishing out plates of food with origins in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. The night I visited their colorful tropicana truck the menu had everything from fried chicken sandwiches to acorn squash hummus. A veritable smorgasbord for your tastebuds.
The Kerala Fried Chicken Sandwich featured thigh meat with a radish pickles, tangy slaw and a Japanese okonomi sauce. To call this sandwich flavorful would be the understatement of the century. Zesty, zingy, tangy and decadent; each component of construction sang in perfect harmony to balance every bite.
As Kolber explained of their inspiration and process, “We’re hard to define. We use techniques and ingredients from all around the world. But we would best be described as Modern American, in that we put a twist on everything.”
Take the Chicken Shawarma Pita Taco (say that three times fast). A lovechild of Mexico and Turkey with nods to Yemen (zhug sauce) and South America (banana peppers) this perfectly inventive mashup is another flavor-bomb for the senses. Topped with an interesting yet delicious addition of hard-boiled egg wedges, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more unique meal from your next week-night treat.
You can find The Spice Boys at Calusa Brewery Thursday nights from 5pm to 9pm and various locations around Sarasota. Follow them on Instagram @spiceboyskitchen for updates on their weekly locations and changing menu available for pre-order (highly recommended they sell out fast!)
@spiceboyskitchen
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is hosting its annual kid friendly Wild-O-Ween Halloween event October 31. The events will be held during normal admission times from 12pm to 4pm, for the regular admission prices of $20 for adults and $10 for children ages three to 12. Children under two and active military and veterans are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at https://bigcathabitat.org, https://www.facebook.com/BigCatHabitat/ and at the door. Special events include costume and mummy wrapping contests, a live animal demonstration and pony rides. Children also can participate in pumpkin bowling and pumpkin painting.
The 2020 National SOURCE Awards were yet again dominated by Ringling College of Art and Design Interior Design students. A total of seven students were recognized by the prestigious, national competition for their achievements and outstanding designs: 1 grand prize winner, 4 honorable mentions, and 2 awards of recognition. Three of the award winners were from Ringling College: Winner: Stefanie Voinea, Mini Metropolis Honorable Mention: Yin Weng, Cyber Bar Award of Recognition: Chloe Harlan, The House of Sage. Kraig Kasler, President of Cooper Lighting Solutions said, “We’re excited as this new approach gives us the opportunity for the first time, for our talented student winners to participate and talk about their award-winning projects, as well as the inspiration behind them.”
Composer, jazz trumpeter, santur player, and vocalist Amir ElSaffar will preview the premiere of a new piece scheduled to debut in New York. ElSaffar’s piece, commissioned by the Jazz Coalition, uses the currents of electronics as they’ve never been used before. The Sarasota audience will be the first to hear this brand-new work. At Selby Gardens' Downtown Sarasota Campus October 23rd at 6pm.
1534 Mound Street Sarasota FL 34236
The Sarasota Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, the oldest women’s interdisciplinary arts non-profit in the country, kicked off their 2020-2021 season with a Garden Gratitude Party, held on the grounds of Villa Serena, the home of Lynne Wilson, co-president. With 400-year old oaks in the backyard and 200 feet of bayfront, members and guests, each donned with a mask and hat, shared their gratitude for the outgoing Board and welcomed the new officers, something they’d been longing to do in person since April. They heard plans for the season which culminate with a Performance Luncheon where monetary awards are given to high school seniors in Sarasota and Manatee talented in Letters, Arts, and Music.
Comcast invites Black-owned small businesses in Sarasota to apply for its newly launched RISE program. The Comcast RISE Program will help thousands of small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the next three years with resources such as grants, marketing and technology upgrades, including media campaigns and connectivity, computer and voice equipment, as well as free marketing insights to all applicants.RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment” and brings together two of the company’s brands, Comcast Business and Effectv, to empower business owners with the tools, expertise and resources needed to navigate the economic effects of the pandemic.
Michael Saunders & Company is pleased to welcome Margie Cooper to the Main Street Sarasota office. Margie can be reached by calling 860-625-2196 or visiting the office located at 1605 Main Street.
Check out SRQ Magazine's new November 2020 issue featuring stories on Smoquehouse BBQ, Goodwill Bargain Barn, Artist John Sims and more.
Click here to read the full November 2020 edition of SRQ Magazine.
Earling voting Monday, October 19th through Sunday November 1st from 8:30am to 6:30pm. At the following locations:
- Terrace Building 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota 34237
- RL Anderson Building 4000 Tamiami Trail S., Venice 34293
- Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port 34287
- Sarasota Square Mall 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 34238
- North Sarasota Library 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota 34234
- Fruitville Library 100 Apex Rd., Sarasota 34240
- Shannon Staub Library 4675 Career Lane, North Port 34289
- Bee Ridge Park 4430 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota 34231
There is nothing more meaningful than the referral from a respected peer. The doctors and nurses who have been honored in the Fall 2020 prestigious SRQ TOP DOCTORS | PEER REVIEW program have received the overwhelming support of colleagues in the medical professional communities of Greater Sarasota including Palmetto and Palmetto Bay, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Venice and North Port, Florida.
Published in the SRQ November magazine, the SRQ Top Doctors feature is now available to view and downloand online. Congratulations to this year's honorees!
This digital exhibition features recent work by accomplished faculty currently teaching at Ringling College of Art and Design. Featuring a dizzying array of media and artistic styles that reflect the breadth of art practices, this exhibition provides an important opportunity for art faculty members to share their work with students, colleagues, and the community.
Ringling College Galleries, Online—this exhibition is being hosted online.
Mote’s Learning Labs are a series of virtual, interactive college and career preparatory labs that will provide students the opportunity to develop and hone professional skills for future STEM careers. Participants will gain basic knowledge in marine science concepts and experience in lab/field work. Additionally, marine science professionals will introduce participants to a variety of career opportunities and conduct career explorations. The intention of this program is to offer participants a head start toward their future goals in STEM and advance the next generation of STEM professionals. Learning Labs take place monthly on Wednesdays from 5pm to 8pm, via secure Zoom webinar. Registration for each Learning Lab is $10 and covers all necessary materials for your session.
The year the land for Selby Gardens' Downtown Sarasota campus was purchased is also a momentous one in women's history. The dynamic display in the Tropical Conservatory celebrates the Suffrage Movement and the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The Museum of Botany & the Arts will showcase our preserved plant collections. Our Historic Spanish Point campus Gazebo will also receive the Orchid Show treatment and pay tribute to Sarasota pioneer Bertha Palmer. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the official opening of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Downtown Sarasota campus. To celebrate, the Orchid Show will honor founder, Marie Selby, and highlight the accomplishments of the many notable women who have built on her legacy and helped to make Selby Gardens home to the best scientifically-documented collection of orchids in the world. The year the land for Selby Gardens' Downtown Sarasota campus was purchased is also a momentous one in women's history. The dynamic display in the Tropical Conservatory celebrates the Suffrage Movement and the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The Museum of Botany & the Arts will showcase our preserved plant collections. Our Historic Spanish Point campus Gazebo will also receive the Orchid Show treatment and pay tribute to Sarasota pioneer Bertha Palmer.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound Street Sarasota, 34236
After 47 years of teaching, Susan MacManus retired as Distinguished Professor Emerita of the department of Government and International Affairs at the University of South Florida-Tampa. She is author and co-author of over a dozen books and a sought-after nationally-known political analyst and noted commentator on state and national television news.
In the past, seniors have been America’s most dependable voters and were coveted by political can-didates because they historically voted at the greatest rate in elections. Nevertheless, the country has been undergoing an upheaval that has hard-ened political views and is causing the electorate to make decisions based more on personality than on political competence. Will the 2020 election bring unprecedented younger voters to the polls based on political issues, a trust of the principles of democracy, and a desire to see America regain its prominence in the world?
Called the “most-quoted political analyst in Florida,” Susan MacManus returns to Einstein’s Circle to share her experienced insight with us. She will talk about voting history, changing de-mographics in Florida, and what the numbers are telling us about the outcome of this very conten-tious race.
Online.
Carving a pumpkin is old news - join Fab Lab and laser etch your pumpkin just in time for Halloween! Use CorelDraw to make any design imaginable and then the high-tech laser cutter will etch the design in your pumpkin. A $35 registration fee includes two children and one parent/guardian. Pumpkin included. Hour long slots available from 2-7pm. Only 6 slots per hour due to COVID-19 social distancing.
For over three decades, AIA Florida Gulf Coast Chapter has hosted the Sarasota Design Conference, a unique event in a unique city. The Conference aims to be motivational for both attendees and speakers and has created a history of featuring design-innovative speakers both established and up-and-coming who are able to interact with their attendees in a casual setting that encourages dialog and learning. This biennial event is well attended by industry professionals, primarily architects in the Florida Caribbean region. Registration for virtual attendance is open now through October 25, 2020
Come trick or treat at The Bazaar. Enjoy interactive experiences from 21 Century Shakespeare Theatre company. Every hour they will be performing Halloween inspired skits outside in the courtyard, also Let's Create Art is hosting a coloring contest with prizes.
Please join in celebrating the architectural legacy of Carl Abbott FAIA at this year's SarasotaMOD.
Orphaned children from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) collaborate to craft a collective fairytale drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Their fictional character, Liyana is brought to life through animated artwork as she embarks on a perilous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. As the children’s real and imagined worlds converge, they must choose the kind of story they will tell, both in fiction and in their own lives. This genre-defying film weaves their animated hero’s journey with poetic documentary scenes to create an inspiring tale of perseverance that reveals the strength of the human spirit and the healing power of storytelling. Liyana has won more than 35 jury and audience awards and has been screened at more than 100 film festivals around the world. Moderator: Julie Cotton.
Online
Back by popular demand, SCD continues to bring their collaborations to a nuevo level with renowned harpist, Ann Hobson Pilot. This performance is originally choreographed by Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, inspired by la música of Astor Pantaleon Piazzolla. Pilot’s arrangement for the harp, violin, and bandoneon, inspired by Piazzola’s compositions, infuses the composer’s melodías into a contemporary mix of música de tango with jazz and classical influences. Through an invigorating visual and emotional experience, SCD brings a passionate and poignant performance to the Historic Asolo Theater with Piazzolla from November 19, 2020 until November 22, 2020. Performances at 7:30pm, except Sunday at 2pm.
Two outdoor concerts featuring songs celebrating nature and accompanied by piano will take place on Tuesday, November 17 at 5:30pm at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota and on Thursday, November 19 at 5:30pm at Historic Spanish Point. The musical program will be identical at both garden locations. Attendance at each concert will be limited to 100 people, with tickets at $35.
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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