SRQ DAILY May 4, 2021
Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning
"You can find gourmet mushrooms in grocery stores but generally if they are not local, they will be sub-par quality and much more expensive. Gourmet mushrooms are an inherently local product. "
The menu of an average Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant consists of familiar iterations of corn tortillas with seasoned somethings—tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, flautas, quesadillas. But in a country that spans over 760,000 square miles of mountains, jungles and deserts, the permutations of masa run much deeper than that. So to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with something other than tacos, we turn our attention to the chicken tinga molotes from Reyna’s Taqueria.
Conceptually, molotes follow a similar formula to empanadas. But where most empanadas are flour-based, a molote is corn based. At Reyna’s, a doughy blue corn tortilla gets stuffed with shredded chicken tinga, Oaxaca cheese, chipotle peppers and onions, folded over into a half-moon and deep fried to a crispy exterior. The final product looks more like a calzone in scale than an empanada, which is usually small enough to eat two or three. The tortilla remains soft on the inside with a nice crunch on the outside, and the chicken tinga has just enough kick on its own to forgo the hot sauce that comes on the side. For best results, cut it down the middle to let it cool and dob sour cream and queso fresco onto each bite to balance the acidity. 
Everyone's favorite fungi–the mushroom, is a nutrious powerhouse. Filled with prebiotics, antioxidants, vitamin D and champion of the mysterious fifth taste umami it's a health-food dream. Differing from a plant in that it has no chlorophyl and produces spores instead of seeds, mushrooms are a special vegetable–they can even glow in the dark. Petrichor Mushrooms are offering a unique mushroom perfect for a plate with a springtime color-scheme; the Pink Flamingo.
SRQ: What is a pink oyster mushroom?
Petrichor Mushrooms: Pink oyster or Pleurotus Djamor is a fluorescent pink variety of the Pleurotus family which is the latin name for oyster mushrooms. Their beauty is matched by medicinal benefits in this mushroom, they contain fiber, potassium, copper, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate and ergothioneine (an antioxidant that may reduce cardiovascular disease by helping to prevent plaque build-up in the arteries).
SRQ: What is the flavor profile of a pink oyster mushroom?
PM: Similar to most other gourmet mushrooms the pink oyster has quite an umami flavor but it stands out from other oysters for its ham/bacon like flavor and especially meaty texture.
SRQ: How do they differ from mushrooms that you can buy in the grocery store?
PM: The vast majority of grocery stores carry mushrooms grown in massive industrial farms that grow on manure or an otherwise yucky environment. The varieties that they sell are chosen for their shelf life and travelability, whereas ours are chosen for outstanding quality, taste and beauty. You can find gourmet mushrooms in grocery stores but generally if they are not local, they will be sub-par quality and much more expensive than our mushrooms. Gourmet mushrooms are an inherently local product. In order to be of optimum freshness and quality they must be locally grown, hence the need for many many more small gourmet mushroom cultivators.
SRQ: How would you suggest people cook them? Any fun recipes?
PM: We recommend frying until crispy then glazing with some honey or maple syrup and you'll feel like it's Christmas morning. A fun recipe would be to cook the mushroom in this fashion and then use them as a ham replacement on eggs benedict!
With the generous support of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. will continue to reduce recidivism among high-need youth. Gulf Coast has awarded Teen Court of Sarasota a $15,000 grant, made possible through the foundation’s Criminal Justice Reform Initiative, will provide prevention services working alongside local law enforcement agencies. These funds will be utilized to focus on the youth referred to Teen Court in lieu of an arrest.
When state lawmakers approved a record $101.5 billion state budget today, it included $950,000 for the School District of Manatee County to expand a special STEM career pathways program named Woz-Ed. Named for Apple co-founder and Silicon Valley icon Steve Wozniak, Woz-Ed prepares students as early as elementary school for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Communication is always vital and even more so in this pandemic time. It represents many challenges, particularly for those with hearing impairment. Lip reading is an unconscious help in communicating for everyone, but very important to those with hearing issues. Hence, another roadblock arises with the mandatory need for wearing masks. To address these issues, we modified the communicator mask to boast a large plastic mouth cover and adjustable strings that go higher above the ear and lower on the back of the neck. The mask is comfortable, clear, and effective. One of Ear Research Foundation’s grateful patient donor got ERF's modified communicator masks for his peers so they can continue to remain safe, and still interact with their deaf friend during their study group sessions. His friend has relied heavily on lip-reading to communicate prior to the COVID-19.
Beautiful Bountiful Bowls is a juried exhibition of handmade bowls by outstanding contemporary fine craft artists. From around the state, 33 artists created 100 pieces in ceramics, fiber, glass, metal and wood. Community programming (virtual and in person) includes a singing bowl sound healing and demonstrations about creating bowls in clay and wood. Glass artist and gallery owner Duncan McClellan will present an in-depth look at glass blowing bowls. At the virtual opening and awards reception on Friday, May 14 at 6pm, people will have the opportunity to virtually meet the artists and the show’s judge Catherine Bergmann (curator of Dunedin Fine Art Center).
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is thrilled to continue its “Light Up the Night!” open-air concert series with “Sistas in the Name of Soul.” This celebration of the female soul and R&B artists of the ‘70s (and some from the late ‘60s) will run from Saturday, May 8 through Sunday, June 6. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm. “Light Up the Night!” tickets are $40/person with seating in socially distanced parties of one or two.
JFCS of the Suncoast has appointed Todd Garnier as its new Chief Financial Officer. In this new role, Garnier will recommend outcome-driven administrative and fiscal strategies, collaborate with the senior management team to develop a performance-based annual budget and oversee the staff in the finance department.
Manatee County Agricultural Museum, 1015 6th St. West, Palmetto, is pleased to announce they are welcoming visitors back, no appointments necessary! Hours will continue to be limited, Tuesday through Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM. The number of visitors is limited to 8 at one time. New exhibits at the Ag Museum include “Underwater Farms,” which examines aquaculture in Manatee County and “An Icy Enterprise,” an exhibit about local commercial ice manufacturing. While exploring, see the Museum’s 1924 Model-T in the Farm Shop & Garage and the 1950 Crosley Farm-o-Road.
Pictured: Ag Museum staff welcomes visitors back without appointments! (L to R) Curator Melissa Morgan, Maintenance Tech Al Hansen, Supervisor Diane Ingram.
The Gecko’s Hospitality Group, an award-winning independent family of restaurants co-owned by Mike Gowan and Mike Quillen since 1992 will be hosting In-House Job Fairs at two Gecko’s Grill & Pub locations during the months of May and June, 2021. “We are busy, we are expanding and we are hiring,” said Gowan of the initiative. Our initial priority was to bring back every employee who was temporarily furloughed during the pandemic crisis and we have accomplished that goal," said Quillen. Gecko’s Job Fair schedules will be as follows: First and third Thursdays in May and June from 2:00 – 4:30 pm, starting May 6 – June 17, 2021. Gecko’s Grill & Pub on SR 70 – Twelve Oaks Plaza, 7228 55th Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34203 and Gecko’s Grill & Pub on Clark Road – 5585 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota, FL 34233.
After nearly a year of planning, architectural design evolutions, and a delayed permitting process, the REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) has officially started construction to renovate their building at 2901 Manatee Avenue in Bradenton. Once completed, the building will be used as a member service center in Manatee County, in addition to the existing facility on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. The renovation project began on April 22, 2021, at a “wall-breaking” event. Representatives from RASM and Halfacre Construction Company, along with the project architect helped kick off the construction project with a ceremonial smashing of an interior wall.
Treat all the moms in your life to a special Mother’s Day at any one of three Mattison’s Restaurant locations on May 9. Dine in elegance at Mattison’s Forty-One with a delicious brunch featuring a 30 foot wall of pastries. Stroll along the Bradenton Riverwalk and stop by Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille for brunch, lunch or dinner. Enjoy open air dining at Mattison’s City Grille in Downtown Sarasota where an assortment of Mother’s Day specials is on the menu. All moms receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco. For reservations call the restaurant or visit
mattisons.com. Menus will feature delicious, chef crafted Mother’s Day specials using all-natural, locally sourced, and sustainable ingredients from small family farms and regional purveyors. Bottomless Mimosas and Signature Bloody Mary’s are a great way to start the celebration. Mattison’s is ready to spoil all the moms in your life. Options for Mother’s Day include dine in, curbside pick-up and to-go. Moms have been a big part of getting their families through the last year so show mom how special she is and thank her by spending Mother’s Day at Mattison’s. Call today for reservations and special Mother’s Day hours. Visit https://mattisons.com/mothers-day-with-mattisons/ for more information and to view menus.
The Gecko’s Hospitality Group, an award-winning independent family of restaurants co-owned by Mike Gowan and Mike Quillen since 1992 will be hosting In-House Job Fairs at two Gecko’s Grill & Pub locations during the months of May and June, 2021. Gecko’s Job Fair schedules will be as follows: First and third Thursdays in May and June from 2pm to 4:30pm, starting May 6 through June 17, 2021 at Gecko’s Grill & Pub on SR 70 at Twelve Oaks Plaza, 7228 55th Avenue East, Bradenton and Gecko’s Grill & Pub on Clark Road at 5585 Palmer Crossing Circle. Applicants can expect to meet with a hiring manager and will be advised of the many company benefits the Gecko’s Hospitality Group offers employees, including Health, Dental and Vision insurance, paid time off, company 401(k), flexible schedule, meal allowance and opportunities for bonuses, career advancement and community involvement.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is thrilled to continue its “Light Up the Night” open-air concert series with “Sistas in the Name of Soul.” This celebration of the female soul and R&B artists of the ‘70s (and some from the late ‘60s) will run from Saturday, May 8 through Sunday, June 6. Featured vocalists for the show are Ariel Blue, Syreeta Shonteé, Delores McKenzie and Stephanie Zandra. Audiences will enjoy hits by renowned artists such as Freda Payne, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Donna Summer and The Pointer Sisters. Favorites will include “I’m So Excited,” “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Respect,” “Bad Girl” and “Band of Gold,” among many others. The performance will be enhanced by brand new dance routines created by WBTT’s Resident Choreographer Donald Frison. The "Sistas" performers will be backed by WBTT’s electrifying live band: Brennan Stylez, music director/keyboard, Lynette Williams on auxiliary keys, Brad Foutch on guitar, Mathew McKinnon on bass, and Etienne “EJ” Porter and Mike Andrews taking turns on drums. COVID-19 protocols - temperature checks upon entry, distanced seating and mandatory masks - remain in place. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm. Tickets are $40/person with seating in socially distanced parties of one or two. Go to westcoastblacktheatre.org or call the Box Office at 941-366-1505.
Florida Studio Theatre opens its Summer Mainstage Series on June 2 and will run through July 7 with one of the most popular shows FST has produced to-date, Sophie Tucker: The Last of the Red Hot Mamas, featuring FST favorite Kathy Halenda. Created by Halenda along with the late Venice-based playwright Jack Fournier, Sophie Tucker tells the thrilling story of the legendary trend-setter who made waves in the first half of the 20th century with her dynamic performances of comedic and bawdy songs. With over 20 of Tucker’s best known songs, like “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” and “Some of These Days,” this sizzling show will run in FST’s Gompertz Theatre.
Next up on FST’s Mainstage is the NNPN Rolling World Premiere of My Lord, What a Night by Deborah Brevoort, an award-winning writer and a member of FST’s Playwright Collective. In 1937, after performing a sold-out concert in Princeton, NJ, internationally renowned singer Marian Anderson was refused a room at the whites-only Nassau Inn. With nowhere to go, Albert Einstein invited her to stay in his own home, sparking a lifelong friendship. Based on actual events, this insightful new play offers a rare glimpse into real-life struggles faced by two 20th century icons. Rolling World Premiere with the National New Play Network. Called “Stunning” and “Provocative” by BroadwayWorld, this historical drama begins playing in FST’s Keating Theatre Wednesday, June 30 and will run through August 15.
Bringing FST’s 2021 Summer Mainstage Series to a close is Rounding Third by Richard Dresser, an Off-Broadway comedy exploring fatherhood, friendship, and what it means to truly win. Rounding Third follows Don and Michael, two Little League coaches who battle over everything from character-building to shoelaces to misfired pop-flies. Called “Stellar” and “Hilarious” by Variety, this heartwarming two-hander begins playing in FST’s Gompertz Theatre Wednesday, July 28 through August 29. Little League coaches Don and Michael couldn’t be more different—Don believes in winning at all costs, while Michael just wants the team to have fun. From their first tentative meeting until the championship game, these two coaches battle it out over everything from character-building to shoelaces to misfired pop-flies. This Off-Broadway comedy is a heartwarming story of runs and errors, exploring fatherhood, friendship, and what it means to truly win.
In the Cabaret, FST will present the ultimate tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis: Great Balls of Fire. Created by Jason Cohen and Michael Schiralli, Great Balls of Fire brings the ivory-smashing superstar back to life, featuring “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” “Shake, Rattle, and Roll,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” This electrifying act will play in FST’s Court Cabaret beginning Tuesday, June 15 and will play through August 22. Jerry Lee Lewis was the original bad boy of Rock & Roll. Led by Jason Cohen, who has played Lewis in nearly 80 cities across North America, Great Balls of Fire brings the ivory-smashing superstar back to life. With hits from the ‘50s and beyond, including “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” “Shake, Rattle, and Roll,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” this electrifying act will have you dancing in your seat.
With three voices singing incredible songs like “Feeling Good,” “Moondance,” “Come Fly With Me,” “Home,” “Everything,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” and many more, Shades of Bublé: A Three-Man Tribute to Michael Bublé brings the swinging standards and pop hits of Bublé to the stage in an unforgettable high-energy concert event. Next up in the Cabaret is Shades of Bublé: A Three-Man Tribute to Michael Bublé, a high-energy concert event highlighting the swinging standards and pop hits of “The Modern Sinatra.” Since the show’s sold-out debut in 2015, Shades of Bublé has entertained audiences across the country with exciting three-part harmonies, smooth choreography, and sophisticated charm. Featuring songs like “Feeling Good,” “Moondance,” and “Home,” Shades of Bublé will play in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret starting Tuesday, July 13 and will run through September 19.
FST’s 2021 Summer Cabaret Series concludes with an all-new show from Sarasota’s favorite swing-era territory band, The Swingaroos. A jazzy new music revue, Jukebox Saturday Night features some of The Jukebox’s greatest hits: “Get Your Kicks On Route 66,” “Heart and Soul,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Jukebox Saturday Night will play in FST’s Bowne’s Lab beginning Tuesday, September 7 and will play through October 31. Countless musical genres emerged during the first half of the 20th Century, and there was only one place you could find them all: The Jukebox. In this jazzy music revue, The Swingaroos put a dynamic twist on the Jukebox’s greatest hits, including “Get Your Kicks On Route 66,” “Heart and Soul,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Tickets are no longer available for this show.
Try Your Hand at Poetry a Writing Workshop led by Doug Knowlton. Four Zoom sessions: Tuesdays, from 6pm to 8pm: May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25. Have you always wanted to write poetry, but thought the genre was just too difficult? This is your chance to give it a try using How to Write Poetry: A Guided Journal with Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination as a guide. Nourish your poetic soul with this instructive and inspiring journal. Whether you're just starting out or seeking ways to expand your skills, How to Write Poetry is a poetry journal designed to nurture creativity and deepen your understanding of this age-old literary tradition. Doug’s been writing poems and lyrics since the 1960s. He emceed the open mic at Java N’Jive Coffee House in Palmetto, 2002-2003. He was a regular at the Fogartyville Café Open Mic (Bradenton) 2002-2005 and hosted the Village Bookshop Poets and Writers from 2006-2011. Doug finds it especially fulfilling to encounter readers and listeners who are awakening to poetry’s vast potential. A fee of $22 is required for participation. This includes a copy of How to Write Poetry and all four sessions. The book can be picked up curbside or at the store (We will send you an email when the book is ready for pickup). The cost is $27.50 to have the book shipped to you via US Mail. More event info and registration at https://www.sarasotabooks.com/events or 941-365-7900.
Ringling Museum of Art's video exhibition Real This Time will showcase the work of artists including Bear Witness from April 23 until May 16. During this extraordinary time, video has become the key medium contributing to the public sphere. Video, often captured on cellphones and shared through social media, exposes social justice issues and matters of civic life to a global audience. For Real This Time features video-based works that examine the current state of American society and pose uncomfortable yet vital questions about personal and collective attitudes toward issues of race and inequality. The exhibition is presented in a sequence of individual screenings. Each work brings to light narratives of systemic racism and offers a unique inquiry that evokes historical exchange to illustrate the expansiveness of the issues affecting Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) today. For Real This Time opens up a space for deeper reflection on the common experience of resilience across cultures in order to create a shift in our psyches that inspires tangible and effective change.
Sculpture has long been an integral part of Sarasota’s cultural legacy. On this 90-minute trolley or van tour, you visit more than 50 of the city’s public art sculptures, monuments, and murals in charming neighborhoods and downtown Sarasota. Sit back and relax as painter and public art expert Jerome Chesley helps you see the city through new eyes. Get ready to discover beautiful public pieces you may have never noticed before! Admire Jorge Blanco’s “Bravo” on the roundabout at Ringling Boulevard and Orange Avenue. Catch a glimpse of John Henry’s “Complexus,” standing over 60 feet tall. Pass by Seward Johnson’s iconic bayfront sculpture, “Unconditional Surrender,” a larger-than-life recreation of the famous photograph taken on V-J Day in Times Square. Ready to learn more about what makes Sarasota a true arts mecca? See all this and more on this unforgettable public art trolley or van tour. Book your tickets online today. This tour is 90 minutes, open to ages 12 and up, departs from 1826 4th Street, from October to May. Tours with fewer than 10 guests will travel in our comfortably air-conditioned high-top van. Tour ticket includes FREE Parking.
This exhibition showcases the legendary Pop artist's screen prints based on Monet's world-famous paintings of waterlilies and haystacks from February 13 until June 27, 10am to 5pm. Lichtenstein's rarely seen Water Lilies and Haystacks provide an unexpected homage to a staple of the public imagination - Monet's paintings of his garden and home at Giverny that inspired them. The display of Lichtenstein's art in the midst of a horticultural evocation of Giverny creates a unique experience for more than 100,000 garden visitors. Selby Gardens, transformed into Monet's famed gardens at Giverny through the Pop Art lens of Roy Lichtenstein, includes iconic elements of Monet's garden such as the green Japanese bridge, trellises, and benches. This conjuring of Lichtenstein's world also serves as the dynamic backdrop to the lush plantings and mixed borders for which Monet's paintings were renowned. An avid gardener, Monet once said, "My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece." Marie Selby Botanical Gardens evokes this crowning achievement with a surprising Pop Art twist.
Since 2011, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature has partnered with the Toomey Foundation for the Natural Sciences to lead more than 50 Manatee County teachers on paleontology expeditions to the Nebraska Badlands, allowing them to gain hands-on experience they can bring back to their classrooms. Starting January 28, The Bishop will share these expeditions with guests through its newest special exhibition, Badlands to Bradenton: Lessons from the Field, which showcases some of the most fascinating fossil finds and tells the story of these summer paleontology digs and how they can support learning. Badlands to Bradenton: Lessons from the Field will be open through June 6 and visiting is included in the price of admission. Badlands to Bradenton also includes interactive features for smartphones and tablets, including 3D models of fossils and paleoart commissioned especially for the exhibition.
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 |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
