SRQ DAILY Dec 11, 2020
Friday Weekend Edition
"My life feels deep and meaningful when my voice and actions serve a multitude of people and purposes. Being of service to others has helped me emotionally thrive during the shattered moments of my life."
After searching all over the city for an outdoor venue to host a COVID-safe production, Asolo Repertory Theatre came up empty. Selby Gardens, Ed Smith Stadium, a bevy of public parks—none of these places had everything the theatre needed, whether it was space for seating and parking, the right number of outlets or amenities. In the end, home is where the heart is, but it’s also where the infrastructure is.
Next weekend, the theatre unveils a holiday production from its own front door—literally. With a massive stage built flush with the box office’s landing and a structure of trusses loaded with lights and speakers, the outdoor production of “We Need a Little Christmas” looks poised to scratch the itch of show-goers that have gone months without a full-blown Asolo production.
“We’ve never done a full-scale outdoor production like this,” says Vic Meyrich, Director of Production and Operations. Meyrich remembers the productions he helped put together for Joe Papp’s “Shakespeare in the Park” series in New York City before Delacorte Theater was built. In those days, the productions were staged from a repurposed tractor-trailer. “But this is equivalent to an outside rock-and-roll concert,” says Meyrich.
The efforts of Meyrich and his team were all aimed at helping to instill in the audience the dual sense of entertainment and safety. “With all the different unions involved, we end up dealing with the same issue multiple different ways,” says Michael Rodgers, Associate Production Manager. Actor, theatre and carpenter unions all had their own set of parameters for safe operation, and the result is a production in which production staff, performers and audience members can all reasonably expect their health has been taken into account. “At the end of the day we have to keep people safe,” says Rodgers, “and whether we address that through social distancing or masks, we have to do everything we can.”
Meyrich and Rodgers are proud not only of their team’s ability to get the production up to snuff, but their ability to remain safe while doing so. “Most of our team has worked with each other for 10-15 years,” says Meyrich, “we have some maturity and were all very careful in our outside lives to stay safe.” As for challenges leading up to the December 17 preview and December 18 premiere, the two agree there’s a common enemy. “In Florida, the weather changes every 20 minutes,” says Meyrich, “just between building the stage and dress rehearsal, we’ve had heat, the coldest night of the year, and rain."
As of today, the forecast for next weekend “promises” cool weather with a small chance of rain. But rain or shine, the stage stands as a beacon of ingenuity and adaptability. “We Need a Little Christmas” runs from December 17 to January 3rd, with tickets starting at $25. 
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, 941-351-8000
If your thumbs and eyeballs are tired of scrolling Pinterest for recipe and dish ideas for the coming holiday dinner parties, we have one right here to "pin" for later. Solomon Shenker, aka Chef Sol, is the executive chef of Bridges Restaurant located on the 8th floor of Downtown Sarasota's new Embassy Suites hotel. He's conjured up a hot and cozy Butternut Squash Bisque recipe to share with our readers for the beloved season of all things butternut, cinnamon and nutmeg. “Fall flavors are definitely my favorite," says Chef Sol. "They warm up the soul.”
Ingredients:
- 4 butternut squash, peeled and diced
- 1 stalk of celery, diced
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 4 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 gallon chicken stock
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 quart heavy cream
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Dash of nutmeg
- granulated garlic
- granulated onion
- salt and pepper
Directions:
- Combine vegetable ingredients and pour quarter cup of melted butter on a sheet pan over the veggies.
- Place in the oven at 350* until nicely roasted (approx. 30 min)
- Then take 1 gallon of chicken stock (boxed is fine from the store) pour in a pot on the stove medium-high heat. And place the oven-roasted veggies in the pot as well. Cook for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Add one teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and salt and pepper to taste to the pot. Bring to a boil.
- With a burr mixer blend it all together and add one quart of heavy cream.
- Garnish with pumpkin seeds and cilantro sprig or sage leaves.
- Serve and enjoy!
Photo courtesy of Bridges Restaurant, 202 N Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-536-9107
La Musica International Chamber Music Festival has released “La Musica at Home: Derek Han,” the second film in its monthly series of documentaries exploring the personal lives, musical passions and performances of its renowned musicians. The documentaries are available through multiple online platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and La Musica’s website, LaMusicaFestival.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has celebrated this milestone by changing its name to better reflect its area of impact, launching major initiatives and, now, welcoming four prominent community leaders to its 2020-2021 Corporate Board of Directors. The new appointees include David Arch, Chairman and CEO of Blistex Inc.; Michael Martella, President of Boar’s Head; Carolyn Mason, former County Commissioner; and Kelly Wade, CEO of Crown Roofing.
The community has generously donated more than $1 million to this year’s Season of Sharing campaign, helping families and individuals in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties who are in crisis get back on their feet. This expeditious milestone triggered The Patterson Foundation’s second $100,000 gift to Season of Sharing, totaling $200,000 given to the annual campaign in a matter of weeks. Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation said, “While this has been a difficult year for many families and individuals, it is inspiring to see our community coming together and supporting each other through this time-tested, trusted resource."
Join the conversation on social media using #SeasonOfSharing.
For the fourth year in a row, hundreds of families in Sarasota County will have an exclusive opportunity to experience Marie Selby Botanical Garden’s Lights in Bloom®: An Open-air Holiday Light Show during Family Togetherness Night thanks to support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “During a year when teachers and school staff have been responding to challenge upon challenge month after month, we felt this was one small way to thank them for the care they have given their students,” said Nicole Light, Education Officer at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “We hope this opportunity will bring teachers and school staff much-needed cheer and joy to brighten their holidays. For us, Family Togetherness doesn’t get much brighter than that.”
This year, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah began at sundown on December 10. While Hanukkah is typically a very social and festive occasion, COVID-19 has made the traditional observance of the holiday more difficult. Leaders at Hershorin Schiff Community Day School – with the support of several generous community partners – has planned advance activities as well as in-person and virtual celebrations during the holiday's eight days in order to enable school families of all faiths to share in the joy and fun of the holiday while keeping everyone safe and distanced.
Pictured: Carter (left) and Allison Cornell with school mascot Menschy, during the Hanukkah distribution.
Ryntal Property Management’s, Adam Wagenhauser stated, “On behalf of Ryntal, we are very pleased that Justin has accepted his new role as a Maintenance Supervisor. His dedication and experience will enhance and build upon Ryntal’s philosophy focused on extraordinary levels of service for our clients.”
Visit Sarasota County (VSC) is proud to announce it received two 2020 VISIT FLORIDA Silver Flagler Awards in November for marketing efforts that portrayed outstanding Florida tourism marketing in 2019-2020. The winning entries were “Niche Marketing Category: Sarasota's Newtown Lands on U.S. Civil Rights Trail” and “Rural County Marketing Category: Farm Guide of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.”
Buddy Foy, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, joined by other Foy family members, announced today they are opening The Chateau Anna Maria in the luxurious Waterline Marina Resort property on Anna Maria Island, Florida. The Chateau Anna Maria will serve walk-in breakfast and lunch and reservations recommended for dinner. Additionally, the restaurant will have several dock slips making it possible for guests to arrive by boat. “The Chateau and Waterline brands share a divine synergy wrapped in excellence, beauty and class,” said Buddy Foy, Jr. “With our fine dining coupled with the property’s breathtaking water view and high style, we know this will be a very successful pairing.”
Empath Health and Stratum Health System announced today that their Boards of Directors have formally approved the merger of the two organizations, pending regulatory approval. The merger will create the country’s largest not-for-profit health system delivering non-acute care and services through its skilled, significant medical and holistic programs to individuals with chronic, advanced and terminal illnesses. Rafael Sciullo, president and CEO of Empath Health said, “Today, we humbly come together to commit to combining our organizations in a thoughtful and meaningful way which will create positive impact across the communities we serve, the business partners we engage and the larger industry as a whole."
Best kid-friendly gifts around town.
Click here to read the full article from SRQ's December 2020 edition.
Relax, stretch and enjoy a free fulfilling yoga session every Saturday from November 21 until December 26, 2020 from 9:30am to 10:30am on the Sarasota’s scenic bayfront while instructor Erin Hurter guides you along the way. Participants should plan to bring their own yoga mat and water bottle.
Van Wezel Lawn
Please join Ringling College of Art and Design and Madeby Gallery for the Eleventh Annual Student Zoom Art Show. The Zoom Opening Reception; a juried show of innovative and creative artwork by Ringling College of Art and Design Students. The show gives students the opportunity to experience the procedures for submission of their artwork, the jury process, preparing their artwork to be gallery ready, exhibiting their artwork, and attending the Zoom Opening Night event. All Zoom guests have the opportunity to purchase original artwork, digital art design prints, and fine crafts by the students. The Student Show runs through Friday, December 11.
Madeby Gallery, 2700 North Tamiami Trail
WAR PAINT: Profiles of Courage was created as a tribute to the bravery of veterans who have served and those currently serving our country. Ringling College of Art and Design students, faculty, and local artists will create portrait profiles of veterans in variety of mediums. The images tell stories from WW ll, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and current enlisted troops that will enrich the Ringling College community for years to come. This exhibition will be held at Ringling College’s newest gallery, Project Space 340 (abbreviated to PS340), located in the Arcos Building at 340 Central Avenue, in the heart of Sarasota’s historic Rosemary District. The exhibition, War Paint: Profiles of Courage, was organized by the Galleries of Ringling College and Matthew Troyer, president of the Ringling College Veteran’s Club. Matthew is a combat veteran, former combat photographer, and is currently majoring in Photography and Imaging. Admission is free and open to the public. This exhibition is open Monday through Friday, 9:30am to Noon and by appointment. It is also available online at warpaint.gallery.
Project Space 340, Arcos Building, 340 Central Avenue
Please join Michael Murphy Gallery, Tampa’s premier fine art gallery, for the opening reception of Rythmique: a solo exhibition of the works of world-renowned contemporary abstract artist Sara Conca. Sara's museum-provenanced work graces international & celebrity private art collections, luxurious European chateaus, & venerable municipal collections throughout the globe. Her natural mixed media paintings, flecked with gold and dynamically textured, invite the viewer into their colorful movements. Sara will be making a very special live appearance on December 5, 2020 & available for private appointments to discuss her work and private commissions on December 4, 2020. Gallery curators are onsite and private curatorial tours are available. All artwork will be on exhibition and available for acquisition beginning December 5, 2020 through January 5, 2021. An in-gallery reception is planned for Saturday, December 5 from 5pm- 9pm. This event is complimentary and open to the public with RSVPs recommended at 813-902-1414 or gallery@mmgart.com.
Michael Murphy Gallery, 2701 South MacDill Avenue, Tampa
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s Education & Community Engagement Department is thrilled to announce a free streaming of TheaterWorksUSA’s Charlotte’s Web from December 7 through 20. Based on the popular children’s book, this performance was set to be the final Schooltime Performance of the 2019-2020 school year and was canceled this past spring due to COVID-19. This free program for all schools will be available for streaming from December 7 through 20. Complimentary live Zoom workshops with teaching artists are also available at no charge. Topics include mood/setting, character traits and more. The program is recommended for grades K-5, and teachers can register now on a first come, first served basis.
The lights are bright and the halls are now decked at the UTC District with dozens of holiday trees as part of the first-ever UTC Festival of Trees. Now through December 20, visitors can walk through a winter wonderland of whimsical and elaborately decorated trees by nearly 40 local charities. The Festival of Trees is open nightly from 6:30pm to 9:00pm in the West District of UTC, at 125 North Cattleman Road. Admission is free. Visitors can purchase $1 tickets to vote for their favorite tree, or bid in the silent auction for a chance to take one home. All of the ticket and silent auction sales benefit the participating charities, and additional prizes will be awarded to the top three charity-trimmed trees with the most votes. In the same location as the Festival of Trees will be the Gingerbread Festival presented by the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. On display December 11-20, this year’s 12th annual event features more than 150 gingerbread houses created by local schools, youth groups, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
The Sarasota String Quartet throws a 250th birthday party for the irascible master Beethoven, born December 16, 1770. To celebrate, our foursome will present two of his most treasured quartets from December 10 until December 13, 2020, from two vastly different periods in the composer’s life. The Quartet No. 4 was included in the very first set of string quartets Beethoven published, and he had toiled continuously for over two years to complete the set. The high drama that would come to be a hallmark of Beethoven’s music is already evident here, and the work is among his most popular. Nine years later the mature Beethoven produced his good-natured Quartet No. 10, nicknamed “Harp” due to the unusual usage of pizzicato string writing. Spend an hour with the birthday boy and marvel at the drama and energy of his glorious string quartets... certainly a cause for celebration in any year. $10 Streaming Access from December 17 through 22.
Holley Hall, 709 North Tamiami Trail
ARISE is inspired by the cycles of nature, the dawn of a new day, and the emergence of joy through the lens of visual art. Featured artists include Kathe Fraga and Laura Varich who explore symbolism in their paintings. The exhibition will run from Friday, December 11 through January 8 2020. Consider the smell of fresh flowers blooming in the garden and love birds chirping sweet songs. Kathe Fraga creates romantic paintings inspired by vintage chinoiserie. Emerging from her work are layers of pattern, botanicals, color and hidden motifs. Kathe says her work is “a resting place for the eye, a welcome peaceful voice as something reinvented emerges: gentle old meets dynamic new.” Laura Varich is an abstract oil painter based out of Mount Dora, Florida. She takes inspiration for her dynamic and colorful pieces from her early childhood, living among the natural and beautiful open spaces of the California landscape. Using energetic, bold brush strokes and striking color, Varich takes traditional subject matter of floral landscape and fuses it with the abstract, calling forth the symbols behind these elements of nature.
Join the Van Wezel on Friday, December 11 and Saturday December 12, 2020 at 7:30pm. Tables for up to 2 guests are $40 and tables for up to 4 guests are $80. Whitney James pairs incredible vocal skills with intimate, meaningful interpretations. She brings to the bandstand a flawless intonation, a broad range of colors, sounds, and an instrumentalist’s sensibility. She trained in opera and musical theater before focusing on a career in jazz and became a protégé of master jazz vocalists Jay Clayton and Sheila Jordan. Early in her career, she opened for Nina Simone and Betty Carter as well as pop giants Earth, Wind & Fire and Macy Gray. She was featured on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz Rising Stars on NPR hosted by Jon Weber in 2012. Her album, The Nature of Love, has been acclaimed by US and International jazz press. She currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Jazz Vocal Performance at University of North Texas.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Trail
Lakewood Ranch High School senior Brandon Wilson, whose stage name is "Wilson B.," will release his EP, "Wilson Branded," on his 18th birthday. Two days later on December 11, 2020 at 7:30pm, he will present a livestream concert from the stage at Sarasota music school Music Compound, where he has been a student for several years. The event opens with rapper Boogie 10x - who is a junior at Lakewood Ranch High - and then Wilson B. will perform tunes from his album, which he describes as a mix of R&B and hip hop. Cost for access is $5 per device; Wilson will also be gratefully accepting virtual tips through his GoFundMe page, "Wilson Branded Campaign."
A Unique, Outdoor, Open-Air, Walk-through Circus Experience for The Entire Family on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13 from 10am to 6pm at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds. The Showfolks Of Sarasota has announced that in lieu of their annual indoor Showfolks Circus – a Sarasota tradition for over 50 years, they will be presenting an outdoor, open-air walk-through Circus Festival. Dozens of local and international circus artists will come together to present their acts to the Sarasota community for 2 full days of fun and excitement. Attendees are welcomed to walk through the festival grounds and enjoy a full range of circus continuous performances scheduled throughout the day, exhibits, food vendors, arts & crafts, flea market booths and family friendly activities. Additionally, the kids can meet Santa Claus.
Join Hamlet's Eatery for a Jazz Brunch on Sunday, December 13 in the gorgeous outdoor courtyard of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime. Relax under the covered patio at 821 Apricot Avenue, Sarasota from 10am until 2pm. Menu options will include both traditional and vegan dishes from build your own omelettes with fresh organic eggs to tofu scrambles. Free mimosa with entree. Starting at 10:30am until 1:30pm, enjoy live jazz music featuring Nancy Pastore and Danny Hoefer. Stay afterwards for A Christmas Carol presented by The Players Centre for Performing Arts. Showtime at 2pm and tickets are only $20 available through The Players.
A Come Together Holiday is a virtual one-hour celebration of music for the holidays on December 14 at 6pm. Featuring the Chamber Singers, Section Leaders Ensemble and soloists Jamal Sarikoki, Amy Connours, Lorraine Murphy, Michelle Caulkins and Mark Wagstrom. Special performances also by violinist Daniel Jordan and clarinetist Laura Petty. Viewers can also be part of the performance with eight singalongs such as Joy to the World, Winter Wonderland, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Jingle Bells and more. So grab your cup of eggnog, or hot chocolate, and enjoy the joy and peace of the season with Key Chorale. This one-hour concert is perfect to watch and sing along with family and friends from the comfort of your home.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens brings you Lights in Bloom: An Open-air Holiday Light Show on December 12 to 23, 26 and 31 and January 1 and 2, 2020 from 6pm until 9pm. More than two million lights illuminate the gardens, and walkways are transformed into sensory light tunnels. Stroll through magical gardens filled with beautifully lit flowers, radiant rainforest butterflies, dragonflies, and more. Lights in Bloom: An Open-air Light Show has become a tradition for residents and visitors to celebrate the holiday season in Sarasota. Masks are required for entry. Access each evening is limited. Selby Gardens will monitor the number of visitors to ensure appropriate social distancing and safety for all. Santa will not be visiting this year and interactive games will not be available. Instead, we will be offering a special, free photo opportunity for you and your guests. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at a variety of locations throughout the Gardens, including the Selby House Cafe. General admission is $20 for members and $25 for non-members, early access is $30 for members and $35 for non-members, and four night passes are $80 for members and $100 for non-members.
WBTT lovingly presents its Christmas card to the community, Langston Hughes' Black Nativity. The show is a celebration of the Nativity story, with gospel, blues, spiritual and Christmas music paired with the poetry of Langston Hughes and the creativity of WBTT. Children and adults alike will be enthralled by this high-energy, inspiring show. The show will run at 2pm and 7:30pm from December 2, 2020 until December 27, 2020.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 North Orange Avenue
For over 70 years, students ages 8-18 have amazed audiences with an incredible spectacle of youth circus arts. See them flip, fly and soar to new heights in this annual holiday production daily at 2pm and 7pm, Sunday at 1pm and 6pm and Thursday at 1pm from December 26 until December 31, 2020. The entire family will enjoy acts showcasing beautiful aerial artistry, heart-stopping acrobatics, incredible acrobatic roller skating, lightning fast juggling and more.
Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista Street
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