SRQ DAILY Dec 8, 2022
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"As a Manatee County owned historic site and a Manatee Clerk run museum, the Florida Maritime Museum is free all year to help educate and enrich the lives of residents and visitors, but there are still so many locals who do not know we exist."
The Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) invites you to get in the holiday spirit with their second annual Christmas in Cortez festival! This free family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, December 10th, from 1 pm until 4 pm.
On the grounds, festival-goers can enjoy bounce houses, face-painting, and a funhouse maze big enough for the whole family! Additionally, this year’s festival will include giant games like Jenga and Connect 4, and more food options than last year, with the Cortez Village Historical Society grilling up hot dogs and brats, cookies, and more from the Anna Maria Bake House and frozen treats by Kona Ice.
Inside the museum, visitors will experience a special meet and greet with Santa. Local non-profits, including Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum, Crystal River Boat Builders, Manatee River Pram Fleet, Cortez Village Historical Society, and Soar in 4 (a community initiative facilitated by non-profits Manatee Education Foundation and Manatee Community Foundation) will also be on-site with fun activities, nautical demonstrations and lots of freebies. Make-and-take crafts, and performances by local elementary students will round out the fun and free offerings.
“As a Manatee County-owned historic site and a Manatee Clerk-run museum, the Florida Maritime Museum is free all year to help educate and enrich the lives of residents and visitors--but there are still so many locals who don’t know we exist,” says Tori Chasey, Supervisor of the Florida Maritime Museum. “We see this event not only as a way to get our name out there, but also as a gift to the community that supports us. There are so many events where admission might be free, but you have to pay to park, pay to play a game, and pay for an armband for the bounce house. It’s not that we don’t like to support those events, especially when they are fundraisers for great organizations, but this time of year it can be particularly hard for families when all those costs add up. I have been that parent going through hard times who decides to take their kids to a free festival, only to hope that the kids don’t notice the bounce houses or the games because I can’t afford them. Christmas in Cortez is supposed to be the opposite of that, where all of the activities are free. We created this festival as a gift to our community and we’re really trying to keep that in mind with each step of the event planning.”
Event parking is free at the F.I.S.H. Preserve located at Cortez Road and 116th Street (directly east of FMM). There will be no parking of any kind available on-site at the museum. The museum will be closed on Thursday and Friday, December 8th and 9th, while the elves make their final preparations; Saturday the museum will be open only during event hours.
“We couldn’t pull this off without sponsorships through the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum.” adds Chasey. “We wish to thank our 2022 Christmas in Cortez sponsors the Bradenton Herald, Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage as well as our Platinum sponsors Chiles Hospitality and the AMI Islander.”
The Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th Street West in the historic fishing village of Cortez. 
Pictured: A behind-the-scenes photo of the Florida Maritime Museum crew, taken after they just finished testing out their new face painting supplies. Photo courtesy of FMM.
On Friday, December 9th, individual tickets for the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium will go on sale. While this might seem like an innocuous announcement, as the games being played are merely of the Grapefruit League and not of regular season Major League Baseball, it is not for a variety of reasons.
The first of which is that Spring Training baseball – and the ensuing Florida Complex League games occurring over the remainder of the spring and summer – are the lifeblood of baseball on Florida’s gulf coast in every town other than Tampa Bay. Nine out of the thirteen Grapefruit League stadiums span the gulf coast, making it the perfect region to catch an early springtime ball game.
The second reason is that Spring Training is a place of new beginnings, where teams and fans alike generate excitement for what lies ahead. In 2022, the Baltimore Orioles showed plenty of reason for fans to be excited this coming season. This year, the Orioles made one of the most improbable turnarounds in recent MLB history. They finished the year at 83-79, their first winning season since 2016, and far better than their 52-110 record in 2021. Adley Rutschman, the first overall selection in the 2019 MLB Amatuer Draft, had a breakout season, proving to be a superstar in the making. Perhaps even more exciting are the prospects that will be prominent at this year’s Spring Training games – third baseman Gunnar Henderson, the second-best prospect in the country according to MLB.com, and starting pitcher Grayson Hernandez, the fourth-ranked prospect in America.
The 2023 Spring Training will be the Orioles 14th season at Ed Smith stadium and will feature 17 games, twelve of which will be in the afternoon and five held at night. The promotional schedule spans the length of the season and features several special event days such as Heroes Day and Youth Sports Day in addition to various giveaways. Kids Run the Bases will occur after every Sunday home game and Seniors Stroll the Bases will return after every Monday home game.
Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St, Sarasota, 941-893-6300.
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Manatee County 4-H’s Youth Rabbit Show on December 3rd was a success with 49 exhibitors from local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters. Top award winners were: Best in Show - Lukas Drao with his Silver Fox, First Reserve in Show - Zavier Israel with his Polish, and Second Reserve in Show - Lilly Wolfe with her Holland Lop. Showmanship winners were: Junior - Lily Wolfe, Intermediate: Emma Hakes; and Senior - Kali Kamiya. Participants in the 4-H Rabbit Project develop skills in animal care, record keeping, and public speaking by purchasing, caring for, and keeping records on their animals, doing public demonstrations, and competing in showmanship competitions. Many former members also come back to teach workshops to younger youth and serve as judges. For more information on 4-H rabbit and/or 4-H poultry programs, please contact the Manatee County 4-H Office at 941-722-4524. 4-H youth programs are open to all youth (ages 5 -18) without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin or disability.
Construction will begin in early January on US 41 between Preto Boulevard and West Villages Parkway as part of an improvement project led by the Florida Department of Transportation, the West Villages Improvement District and Wellen Park. The planned improvements will reduce traffic speeds and enhance safety in a rapidly growing residential and commercial area along US 41. Extensive planning has been done to ensure there will be minimal traffic impacts. During the construction process, US 41 will be temporarily reduced to a single lane of traffic in each direction and the speed limit will be reduced to 45 miles per hour in the work zone, in accordance with Florida Department of Transportation regulations. Digital display signage will be visible along US 41 to notify drivers of the construction. During Phase 1, a roundabout will be created at Wellen Park Boulevard, the main entrance of Downtown Wellen located between Preto Boulevard and West Villages Parkway. Additionally, extensive landscaping and sidewalks will be added along the roadway during this phase. Traffic will be reduced from two lanes to one lane on the current northbound side of US 41. A crossover lane will be created to redirect traffic onto the temporary lanes between Preto Boulevard and West Villages Parkway. Then, traffic will be redirected to northbound lanes to allow the southbound work to be completed. After the lane work is completed, the roundabout will be constructed. Construction will take place Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional evening or night hours as needed. Once construction is completed in 2024, the speed limit will be 45 miles per hour to maximize pedestrian and cyclist safety to residents crossing US 41. Reduced speed will also help mitigate noise impacts associated with traffic. The planned improvements are being funded by Wellen Park. There is no fee or cost impact to homeowners for the initial planning, design, permitting and construction of the planned improvements. The new landscaping along US 41 will be regularly maintained by the West Villages Improvement District at the same level of service it maintains in front of IslandWalk and Gran Paradiso.
The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 90 curated vendors of the region’s best food and flavors, located at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. It takes place every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at Waterside Place. It’s your weekend destination for organic produce, meat, poultry, seafood, bread, pasta, juices and prepared foods. Stay up to date on vendors and events by visiting TheMarketLWR.com.
Jazz Thursdays at Sarasota Art Museum will runs through January 12, 2023 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. FREE for Members, $20 for Not-Yet Members. Sarasota Art Museum invites you to be our guest at our first Jazz Thursday at SAM, featuring Hot Club of SRQ. Sarasota Art Museum is partnering with the Jazz Club of Sarasota for Jazz Thursdays. Join us for our special late-night performances on the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza. Jazz Thursdays will occur on the second Thursday of each month until January 12, 2023. Galleries + Bistro + Shop will be open.
A Decade of Collecting brings together a survey of artworks acquired for the permanent collection over the past eleven years. As the State Art Museum of Florida and a division of Florida State University, The Ringling’s collections are constantly expanding to provide our state and local community with access to current contemporary works in all media and thoughtful additions to our historic collections. Though the core of the collection has always been the works acquired by John and Mable Ringling, the museum’s holdings have been expanding ever since the State of Florida took full possession of the bequest in 1946. In the early years, these additions were mainly in pre-1800 European art and circus-related material, but over the second half of the 20th century, directors and curators also began acquiring works by modern and contemporary artists. A Decade of Collecting presents a unique snapshot of how The Ringling’s collection continues to evolve, allowing us to tell new stories of the past, present, and future. Visit ringling.org to plan your visit.
Museum of Art Searing Galleries
This walking tour led by volunteer guides will introduce you to interesting botanical specimens on the estate while providing a historic overview of the development of the estate. The Ringling Arboretum has been accredited at Level II through ArbNet and there are over 2350 trees within the arboretum representing native, exotic, historical, and culturally significant trees. Garden Tours are available Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays and take place entirely outdoors. It is 90 minutes in length and covers approximately 1 mile. We encourage visitors to bring bottled water, and wear appropriate footwear, preferably closed-toe, sunblock, and hats. There will be a maximum of 10 participants per tour. Tours are subject to weather conditions. Please check it at the Visitors Pavilion prior to your tour. Tickets will be available 30 days prior to each tour.
Join The Players in their 93rd season with Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play. Adapted from the 1947 Lux Radio Broadcast by Lance Arthur Smith. Original Songs and Arrangements by Jon Lorenz Original Songs and Arrangements by Jon Lorenz. When a department store Santa claims he’s the real Kris Kringle, his case gets taken all the way to the Supreme Court, and a little girl’s belief makes the difference in the ‘miracle.’ With live Foley effects and a score of holiday carols, Miracle on 34th Street is a beloved musical radio version of the classic film that will melt even the most cynical of hearts. December 1-11, 2022. For tickets visit theplayers.org, Ph. 941-365-2494, email BoxOffice@ThePlayers.org
The Players Centre For Performing Arts, Performance Venue & Box Office The Crossings at Siesta Key 3501 South Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 Sarasota, FL 34239
Celebrate the holiday season and help support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, serving Sarasota and Manatee counties. Local schools will provide musical entertainment on the Bolger Campiello. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. All venues will be open for self-touring, including the Museum of Art, Ca' d'Zan, and the Circus Museum. Admission to this event is free with one unwrapped toy per person. Regular admission will apply without a toy donation. $15 Adult / $5 Child. Guests are encouraged to shop in the Museum Store, which has a large selection of toys under $20. Please enter through the Visitors Pavilion.
Michael Murphy Gallery, Tampa’s premier contemporary art space, presents, in a limited engagement presentation, Christmas with Kinkade. This is a new exhibition from Thomas Kinkade Studios featuring Disney, Marvel, DC and Star Wars characters. Works will be on exhibition and available for acquisition at the gallery from December 2 through December 11, 2022. Four not to be missed receptions with Zac Kinkade are planned for Friday, December 9 from 5-7pm, Saturday, December 10 from 12-2 pm and 4-7 pm as well as Sunday, December 11 from 12-3 pm. Bring the kids to a special fun-filled children’s event on Saturday, December 10 from 11am-noon. All events are complementary and open to the public. For additional information about this exhibition, contact 813-902-1414 or email gallery@mmgart.com.
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota will present three concerts in December: Double Feature with violinists Blake Pouliot – performing the Southeastern premiere of Derrick Skye’s “god of the gaps” – and Simone Porter on December 6 at the Sarasota Opera House; The 442s, a genre-defying St. Louis-based acoustic quintet, on December 13 at the Historic Asolo Theater; and Vision Duo, featuring award-winning musicians Ariel Horowitz, violin, and Britton-René Collins, marimba, on December 15 at the Sarasota Yacht Club. For more information and tickets, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202.
www.shstheater.com. “The story includes some of my personal experiences, as well as [those of] my students. There’s really nothing like creating art with other humans – being able to share in the experience of sharing our own personal stories will always be one of the greatest things I’ve been able to do as a teacher” – Lacey Knispel (the play’s director and author, and a Sarasota High Theatre teacher). Date: Thursday, December 8 – Saturday, December 10; Time: 7:00 PM (each night); Location: Theater at Sarasota High School (2155 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota FL 34239).">
In this touching and relevant play about teen issues of the early 2000s, the script follows Alex and her friends, Corinne and Ben, as they try to navigate life and find their ways back home. Dealing with issues like grief, parent illness, loneliness, financial struggles, and even war, the story may sound sad, but there is a poignancy in the dealings with what it means to be human, and the fact that our shared human experience connects us more than we can imagine. Tickets are available online at www.shstheater.com. “The story includes some of my personal experiences, as well as [those of] my students. There’s really nothing like creating art with other humans – being able to share in the experience of sharing our own personal stories will always be one of the greatest things I’ve been able to do as a teacher” – Lacey Knispel (the play’s director and author, and a Sarasota High Theatre teacher). Date: Thursday, December 8 – Saturday, December 10; Time: 7:00 PM (each night); Location: Theater at Sarasota High School (2155 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota FL 34239).
The Southside Village Business Association invites our community, neighborhood residents and visitors to the annual Southside Village Holiday Stroll on Friday, December 9, 2022 from 5-9 p.m. The free, family-friendly annual celebration will feature a snow slide, bungee trampoline, bouncy house, hot cocoa, face painting and a holiday concert by Music Compound. Additionally, there will amazing raffles donated by local SSVBA business, a visit from Santa, festive activities and crafts organized and hosted by area businesses, plus a Southside Village storefront decorating contest to help guests catch the holiday spirit. Businesses will hold extended hours to welcome guests.Event proceeds will benefit Girls, Inc. of Sarasota County, the local affiliate of a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Participants from Girls, Inc. chorus will perform and volunteer at the event.The Southside Village Holiday Stroll will be celebrated throughout the business district surrounding the intersection of Hillview Street and Osprey Ave in Sarasota. Free Parking is available courtesy of Sarasota Memorial Hospital in the south parking garage located at the intersection of Hillview and US 41.Guests are encouraged to follow the Southside Village Holiday Stroll Facebook page for updates about the event.
This Friday, Dec 9 from 5-8pm it’s a Paw-ty! The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime will open their doors for after hours shopping. Satchels Last Resort and Tender Heart Charities will be bringing adoptable dogs. Dog-centric vendors will be joining Hamlet’s Eatery outside. Have a bite to eat, enjoy a craft beer or glass of wine while listening to live music by Jsanti. Creative Liberties across the street from The Bazaar will also be open. Great time to get your holiday shopping done. 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information visit www.Bazaaronapricotandlime.com or call 941-445-1938.
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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