SRQ DAILY Apr 6, 2021
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"A bright spot we have found during the pandemic is the creativity it has inspired, in terms of reinventing and pivoting events and celebrations,"
By the time I got to St. Armand’s circle on Easter Sunday, I was still only halfway there. It would be another ten miles up the narrow key, a straight-ish and scenic shot past golf courses, lush banyan trees and enough waterfront mansions to make me think I’m in the wrong profession. But once the county line was crossed into Manatee, the homes got a little older, the vibe more fishing village than retirement resort. And there, on the sleepy northern half of Longboat Key, I found a restaurant so perfectly matched with its Old Florida context that it seemed as though I might find Hemingway seated inside, working on a third cocktail and grumbling about his bad luck fishing that morning.
Decorated in coral and teal pastels, the late morning light bounces off the tiled and polished surfaces of Whitney’s like the dreamy glow of a Rockwell painting. Massive garage doors on both sides of the establishment create a gentle cross breeze that sneaks in through the dense landscaping that surrounds this little oasis. The brunch menu features an assortment of items with recognizable names, but always with a little twist to let you know the year is 2021 and not 1950. The egg sammy comes with over medium eggs, thick and crispy bacon, cheese, garlic aioli and tomato slices, with fries served on the side. Simple enough, to be sure, but the cheese used is manchego. Nutty and creamy, the manchego also honors the Spanish roots of the Bay Area while the garlic aioli offers just enough punch to make it exciting. The bacon, cooked to the perfect crispiness, breaks up the soft textures of the eggs and bread. Generously salted, the fries complement a peach bellini about as well as anything could. 
Whitney's, 6990 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key
Thanks to a librarian in South Carolina, the seafood boil can be traced back to the ‘60s, when a shrimper named Richard Gay threw his daily catch and a bunch of leftovers into a pot–calling it a day and unknowingly starting a time-honored tradition. The summer classic varies from state to state, some adding beer, others dousing in Old Bay seasoning but the tried and true trifecta seems to be agreed upon: corn, potatoes and an assortment of local seafood.
The King’s Boil Boat at Philippi Creek Oyster Bar and Restaurant starts with corn and potatoes and just keeps the seafood coming. Lobster tails, king crab legs, peel & eat shrimp and mussels are piled sky-high and served unironically in the only vessel large enough to fit it all–a mini boat. It would appear their chef made a delicious decision regarding the seafood element that diners shouldn’t have to settle for just one featured fish. Swimming in a veritable sea of sweet, melted butter, garlic and parsley, the boil is fit for a table of four or one King Triton. Garnishing the top of this mullusk mountain is an entire baguette of garlic bread and more melty butter is provided to dip your hard-earned king crab.
The perfect end to a day out on the water, bring a table full of friends and some clothes you don’t mind getting messy and set sail on the tastiest boat ride you’ll ever have–on land. Philippi Creek Oyster Bar is open everyday from 11am to 9pm.
Philippi Creek Oyster Bar, 5353 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Representatives of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals have announced details for the 2021 Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival taking place April 26 through May 2, 2021. This year’s 14th annual event has been reimagined to offer guests a menu of specially-curated and controlled experiences designed to showcase the talents of the area’s brilliant and resilient, independent food & beverage operators. “A bright spot we have found during the pandemic is the creativity it has inspired, in terms of reinventing and pivoting events and celebrations,” said Veronica Clinton, SMO Event and Community Outreach Director. “While the look and feel of this year’s Festival will be different, we are confident that we will honor our beloved local restaurateurs by bringing the 2021 Forks & Corks to the community."
Geri Silber has recently launched a dessert business, "Because I Thought of You." A direct-to-door baker, Silber's custom birthday cakes, decorated cookies and a vast array of made-to-order speciality desserts are sure to fulfill anyone's sweet tooth. From a Barbie-doll-dress-cake to the classic cookie cake, or carefully crafted chocolate chip cookie shot glasses with rainbow-sprinkled rims, Silber's dessert creations will be tailored to meet your special event needs.
Save Our Seabirds will present a free virtual event entitled “A Day in the Life at Save Our Seabirds,” from April 7th through April 11th. It will include fascinating, up-close encounters with some of their permanent resident birds, rare behind-the-scenes footage inside their avian hospital, and an introduction to a very special new team member. Save Our Seabirds, Inc., is a Sarasota-based non-profit organization whose mission is to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured birds, releasing as many as they can, while educating their community about avoiding injuries and preserving habitats.
It was so successful, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime is doing it again. Meet 20 local entrepreneurs all under the age of 17 selling their wares on April 10 from 10-3pm. From bakers to artists, you will be impressed with the creativity and skills these young people offer. Free to attend outside in the courtyard of 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota. Live music all day from students with the Music Compound. Hamlet’s Eatery will be open as well as the 30+ local vendors inside The Bazaar.
Local and state officials said local water supplies are in no danger from the Piney Point water breech which right now is flowing controlled into Piney Creek and Tampa Bay. "I want to say that Manatee County Utilities customers can rest assured that our drinking water is completely safe to drink," said County Commission Chairman Vanessa Baugh. "The water distribution system is a closed system without any way for flood water to enter. There is also no threat at all to our primary source of drinking water, Lake Manatee."
The School Board of Manatee County is seeking civic-minded community members to serve on the Citizens’ Financial Oversight Committee. The Committee currently meets the first Wednesday of every other month, or more frequently as warranted. Those interested in serving are encouraged to send a letter expressing interest and resume to Manatee County School District, Attn: Board Agency Clerk, P.O. Box 9069, Bradenton, Florida 34206-9069.
It was so successful, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime is doing it again. Meet 20 local entrepreneurs all under the age of 17 selling their wares on April 10 from 10am to 3pm. From bakers to artists, you will be impressed with the creativity and skills these young people offer. Free to attend outside in the courtyard of 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota. Live music all day from students with the Music Compound. Hamlet’s Eatery will be open as well as the 30+ local vendors inside The Bazaar. For more information visit www.BazaaronApricotandLime.com.
Representatives of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals have announced details for the 2021 Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival taking place April 26 through May 2, 2021. This year’s 14th annual event has been reimagined to offer guests a menu of specially-curated and controlled experiences designed to showcase the talents of the area’s brilliant and resilient, independent food & beverage operators. In addition to wine seminars and a food stroll, a world-class Online Auction is planned as well as a week-long schedule of “food & wine experiences” taking place at restaurants throughout Sarasota and Manatee’s Gulf-coastal communities. Tickets for Forks & Corks events will be sold online at EatLikeALocal.com. For more information on Forks & Corks and to purchase tickets, visit EatLikeALocal.com. Follow Forks & Corks on Facebook and Instagram.
Honoring its Mexican heritage with some added contemporary spice, El Melvin Cocina Mexicana will be bringing downtown Sarasota to life with its annual Cinco de Mayo block party on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Highlights of the day-into-night fiesta include lunch service which begins at 11am with DJ Nando spinning tunes inside the restaurant starting at 1pm, the block party starts at 4pm and continues until midnight with live music, food and drink stations, with live music and food and drink stations, spanning the block from El Melvin Cocina Mexicana to Palm Avenue. Food and drink specials include a preview of the upcoming debut of El Melvin’s new street taco enterprise, Taqueria Azul, as well as street corn and guacamole, chips and salsa stations. Margarita and beer specials will also be offered throughout the day.
Eager to bridge the void of excellent jazz performances created by the pandemic, WSLR+Fogartville and The Jazz Club of Sarasota joined forces to present the Bridge Series - four concerts featuring some of the best jazz talent in the area. The third concert in the Bridge Series will feature Fred Johnson with the Michael Ross Quartet on Thursday, April 15. The concert will be livestreamed and there will be limited in-person seating. Doors will open at 7pm and the concert will begin at 7:30pm. Livestreaming tickets are $10 for The Jazz Club of Sarasota and WSLR+Fogartyville members, $15 for non-members, and $25 for those that will host a watch party. In-person seats are being sold in tables of four - $60 for members/$80 for non-members. Tickets are available at www.wslr.org.
Classic Albums LIVE returns to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Friday, May 14 at 8pm for a limited-capacity performance on the main stage. The group will bring Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon to life on stage – note for note, cut for cut. Tickets are $32-$72 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10am and 4pm. To view a full listing of upcoming events, visit www.VanWezel.org.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall announces Bay Music Live. On Saturday, May 8, Yesterdayze brings the high-energy music of the ’60s to the Van Wezel’s lawn and terrace for an outdoor, socially-distanced performance. The event starts at 6pm with music at 6:30pm. Lawn spaces and tables will be pre-arranged for social distancing, and guests can enjoy fresh air and a stroll on the Mangrove Bayou Walkway. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 9 at 10am. Lawn spaces on the grass accommodating up to 4 guests are $70. Guests reserving lawn spaces are encouraged to bring seating or blankets for their respective spaces if they do not want to sit directly on the grass. Spaces will be pre-arranged and marked by Van Wezel staff. Table seating for up to 4 guests is available for $100 per table. “Burgers on the Bay” crafted by Mattison’s (hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken-burgers and veggie-burgers) will be available for purchase at the event. Yesterdayze is a high energy ‘60s show band, recreating your favorite songs from the magical era that changed modern music forever! Performing together for over 15 years, Yesterdayze delivers a non-stop blast-from-the-past you'll never forget with hits from The Beatles, The Monkees, The Animals, The Temptations, The Supremes, CCR, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, The Rolling Stones and more! All band members have toured worldwide, and can’t wait to bring an upbeat, family-friendly show to the Van Wezel this May.
On Tuesday, April 6th at 7pm A Talk about Florida and Southern History with journalist Ben Montgomery and novelist James Chapin. Ben Montgomery is the author of the historical investigation A Shot in the Moonlight: How a Freed Slave and a Confederate Soldier Fought for Justice in the Jim Crow South. James Chapin is the author of the debut novel Ride South Until the Sawgrass, a Western tale transplanted to the Florida frontier. Ben Montgomery is a former reporter for the Tampa Bay Times and founder of the narrative journalism website Gangrey.com. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting and won the Dart Award and Casey Medal for a series called "For Their Own Good," about abuse at Florida's oldest reform school. James Chapin is a writer from Florida. His work has been published in Slate, The Millions, and the Tampa Bay Times. There is no charge for this event. There is an optional fee of $7.00 to help defray the cost to the bookstore. Reservations required for Zoom link.
In a series of virtual presentations by Circus and Cultural Historians whose research has brought them to The Ringling, learn about the experiences, contributions, and documentation of women in the circus and allied arts. This particular edition, with Kristin Lee, will take place virtually on Tuesday, April 6 at 10:30am. This event is $5 for non-members and free for members. Tickets for Virtual programs are available 30 days prior to each program.
Discover the practice of sound meditation. Guided by numerous sounds with varying frequencies and vibrations, these tones lead you into a relaxed state of awareness in which healing can take place. Lucy, a certified sound therapist, will be your guide in our tranquil garden atmosphere. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat or towel as you may sit or lie down during your “Sound Journey.” Session IV dates include April 6, 13, 20, 27 with instructor Lucy Tight from 9am to 10am at the Downtown Sarasota Campus. Fee per session of four: $75 ($55 Members).
Anna Maria Island Privateers will be hosting their annual Thieves Market on Saturday, February 20, Saturday, March 20 and Saturday, April 17 from 8am to 3pm. This year we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary and are working very hard to make each Market more spectacular and fun. Booth space will be 14’ wide x 35’ deep. Coffee and a continental breakfast will be provided by the Privateers for our vendors to enjoy. Vendor set-up begins at 6am. All to be held at GT Bray Recreation Center. We will try to accommodate special requests for medical necessity, but most spots are on a first paid first served basis. Donation per spot per Market is $50 and there are no refunds. Online registration and payment are requested and recommended should you want a spot reserved or you can pay by check or cash if using a paper application, the link to that is below.
Choral Artists of Sarasota Presents “Marching to Freedom” Live Performance: February 3 at Historic Spanish Point Streamed Online: February 14-March 14. “You’ll Never Walk Alone" Streamed Online: March 11- April 9. A “Concert Insight” with Artistic Director Joseph Holt is February 18. The ensemble’s 42nd season continues with two concerts in February and March. Choral Artists of Sarasota’s 42nd season, entitled “Rise Up” continues with two live and in-person outdoor concerts in February. “Marching to Freedom” pays tribute to racial injustice through music composed by Black Americans. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” showcases uplifting songs from Broadway musicals. Both programs are presentations by Selby Gardens.
Dabbert Gallery presents "Spring's Promise" Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm March through April, 2021. As winter gives way to natures renewal, nine Gallery Artists explore the wonder of Spring's Promise. Featured artists include Kasia Bruniany, Arnold Desmarais, Bill Farnsworth, James Griffin, Candace Knapp, Barbara Krupp, Joe Palmerio, William Suys, and Tom Swimm.
Nya, a dedicated inner-city public high school teacher, is desperate to give her only son Omari, opportunities her students will never have. When a controversial incident at his private school threatens to get him expelled, Nya must confront his rage and her own choices as a parent. Pipeline, running from March 3 until Apil 11, 2021 at 2pm and 7:30pm, is an unforgettable story of a mother's fight to give her son a future - without turning her back on their community.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 North Orange Avenue
An ArtCenter Manatee curated exhibition featuring master watercolor artists from around the world from March 9 through April 9 at the Kellogg Gallery. The International Watercolor Society has chapters in over 110 countries, and gathers together one of the largest and most diverse group of watercolor artists and art lovers alike. Being of many nations, cultures, and backgrounds, it provides a platform for the continual development, learning, and sharing of the art of watercolor. In addition to the exchange of ideas between artists in the field and industry, it advocates and supports the next generation of artists with the events and exhibitions that are difficult to come by for many. This is the inaugural exhibition of the recently formed IWS Florida USA Chapter at ArtCenter Manatee.
Join New College creative writing professor Dr. Emily Carr for this four-part Zoom workshop series is offered from 5pm to 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month: January 13, February 10, March 10, and April 14. A fee of $95 is required for participation. This includes a copy of the required text, The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life by Jessa Crispin, and all four Zoom sessions. This mixed-genre, all-levels workshop includes a basic introduction to the Tarot, generative writing exercises, storytelling tips and tricks, unique Tarot-inspired provocations for creativity in times of crisis, and a discussion of the various ways writers might use the Tarot in their work. This workshop is open to writers at all levels, working in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Together, we'll explore a series of Tarot-inspired writing activities designed to offer you strategies for using the cards to 1) start a new poem/story/essay 2) inject new life and surprising stakes into a poem/story/essay you're already working on and/or 3) breakthrough imaginative blocks - in this particular historical moment.
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