SRQ DAILY Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity to be able to bring my creative vision to life in collaboration with the youth participants and the community."
In celebration of the festival of lights, Temple Sinai is proud to present Hands on Hanukkah, a community, family-friendly event taking place all around town during five of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Each of the events features arts and crafts, raffles and giveaways, food and photos, and live musical performances, and ends with a menorah lighting.
On Sunday, December 18th, celebrations begin at The Mall at University Town Center, 1st floor in front of Saks Fifth Avenue from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm where the Florida Studio Theatre will get you in the Hanukkah spirit. At 6:00 pm, Chazzan Cliff Abramson, and Bethany Leinweber will light the 1st candle.
On Monday, December 19th from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Selby Gardens Lights in Bloom will feature great holiday performances from The Players Centre. Mayor Erik Arroyo will light the 2nd candle at 7:00 pm.
Be sure to visit St. Armands Circle on Tuesday, December 20th from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm for holiday performances from Rise Above Performing Arts Centre. At 6:00 pm, Sarah Wertheimer, Executive Director of Embracing our Differences will light the 3rd candle.
Booker High School’s Modern band will be performing holiday favorites at Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch on Thursday, December 22nd from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Shep Englander, CEO of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, will light the 5th candle at 6:00 pm.
The Temple Sinai Hanukkah service and dinner, Latkes and Lights, will take place Friday, December 23rd from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Celebrate Hanukkah at Temple Sinai with an Erev Shabbat and Hanukkah service followed by a delicious dinner including potato latkes with applesauce and sour cream, cheese blintzes, tossed salad, tuna salad, and dessert. Following dinner, enjoy a festive Sarasota Jewish Chorale concert, special activities for the kids, and lots of prizes!
Hands on Hanukkah runs Sunday, December 18 - Friday December 23. 
Art Center Sarasota (ACS) has selected an artist to design a mural for a collaborative initiative it recently launched with the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County. Annie Dong, a student at New College of Florida, will design the wall mural and outline the major details of the design. Youth who attend the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County will then paint the mural, with supervision, over the course of four days in January. “This project fulfills two Art Center imperatives,” said Kinsey Robb, executive director of Art Center Sarasota. “To engage young people in the process of creating art and to foster public art. This initiative with the Boys and Girls Club, made possible through the generosity of Gwen and Joe Ziomek, offers a rare opportunity for young people to become intimately involved in an art project from conception to completion. The kids will get to learn how to paint a mural as well as learn about what conceptually inspired Annie’s design. Visible from The Bay’s “Mangrove Path,” this collaborative creation will be on public display to the many park and art center visitors for two years.” Robb envisions this project as a biennial event that demonstrates the important role art plays in childhood development and engagement. “This project is a perfect example of what can happen when organizations come together to inspire and support our youth.”
“It is an honor to be selected as the muralist for this project,” says Annie Dong, a self-taught artist who studies psychology and art at New College of Florida. “I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity to be able to bring my creative vision to life in collaboration with the youth participants and the community.” Dong has created two murals on campus and a third at the Kung Fu Tea Café in St. Petersburg and believes art has always been a vital outlet for her mental health and wellbeing. She hopes to get involved with public art projects after finishing her education.
Three Sarasota County teachers were surprised on Monday, December 12, when participants of a teacher tribute tour visited with exciting news: the teachers are finalists for the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year Award. This year’s finalists are: Elementary: Timothy Ferguson, Garden Elementary School. Middle school: Joseph Conner, Venice Middle School. High school: Courtney Smith, Booker High School. Participants of the teacher tribute tour honored these teachers in person at their schools with flowers and enthusiastic celebration that each school’s leadership planned. The tribute tour and announcement of the finalists is part of the annual Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Award Celebration, which the Education Foundation of Sarasota County sponsors in partnership with Sarasota County Schools. Participants in this year’s teacher tribute tour included Vigne; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brennan Asplen; Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer Chris Renouf; Elementary Education Executive Director Dr. Brandon Johnson; and Sarasota County School Board members Bridget Ziegler and Tom Edwards. In addition, principals Amy Archer, Tomas Dinverno, and Dr. Rachel Shelley, along with family members of the honorees, participated in their schools’ celebrations. This year’s Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Award Celebration will be held on Wednesday, January 18, at the Venice Community Center. All 40 school-based Teacher of the Year finalists will be honored, and one of the three finalists will be named the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year. The district Teacher of the Year will represent Sarasota County Schools at the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program and will serve as a spokesperson for and representative of the teaching profession at various events throughout 2023. This celebration is made possible because of generous sponsors. The Education Foundation is grateful for presenting sponsor Sunset Automotive Group as well as Publix Super Markets Charities and Suncoast Credit Union. For more information about the Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration, including ticket availability, visit EdFoundationSRQ.org/ignite.
During its 6:00 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the Sarasota County School Board voted 5:0 to appoint the district’s Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer – Mr. Chris Renouf – as Acting Superintendent. Mr. Renouf will serve in this capacity until the School Board appoints an Interim Superintendent. Mr. Renouf’s appointment comes as the School Board voted 4:1 to approve a separation agreement with the current Superintendent, Dr. Brennan Asplen III, and Mari Ellen Asplen. A Statement from Acting Superintendent Chris Renouf: “I’m incredibly honored and humbled to serve as the Acting Superintendent of the Sarasota County school system. In an effort to provide continuity and stability during this time of transition, I will continue to serve and support all of our extraordinary students, teachers, staff, leaders, families, and community partners that make Sarasota County Schools such an exceptional organization.” Before Mr. Renouf assumed his current position as Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer in July 2021, he served as the district’s Executive Director of Elementary Schools. From 1998 to 2017, he served in principalships at both Toledo Blade Elementary School and Ashton Elementary School. During both of his distinguished tenures as Principal, each school was recognized with honors.
The Out-of-Door Academy is proud to share two arts collaborations that add to the vibrance and connectivity of the Sarasota community.
The school partnered with Artist Tim Gibson on his nationwide Ten Thousand Flower Project. Participants allocate spaces on walls, fences, and buildings for a mural, for which Tim provides an outline. ODA’s murals wind up two stairwells – one on each campus. Students and teachers enjoyed working together, painting small sections of each large installation.
Students remarked that they were excited to have the opportunity to work on a project that would bring color and beauty to our school community and link our two campuses together, as well as connect Out-of-Door to many other communities across the country.
Middle and Upper School students also participated in the UTC Holiday Greeting Card Contest. During the month of November, students designed festive winter holiday-themed cards which they painted on oversized wood panels. After being delivered to UTC, the cards joined hundreds of others designed by area schools and community organizations set up along lighted walking trails down Cattleman Drive. Bring your family to view these wonderful works of art which will be displayed through December 31!
Middle Schooler Charlotte Foucher paints part of the vine in the Ten Thousand Flower Project at The Out-of-Door Academy.
The new year begins with a trip back in time to the Day-Glo glam of the 1980s as the Downtown Improvement District presents Back to the 80s on State Street. Headlined by South Florida’s premier 80s tribute band, Stereotomy, the evening’s live music will feature a mix of the era’s greatest hits. The six-piece band is fronted by Brad Raker and Heather Davis, who both have extensive experience sharing the stage with big names like Van Halen, Cyndi Lauper and The Doobie Brothers. They are backed by a great team of music makers that know how to channel everything from Madonna and Duran Duran to The Cars and Joan Jett. “The music of the 80s is so recognizable and fun, and it comes prepackaged with a look that we hope guests participate in,” says Next-Mark president, Joseph Grano, the event organizer and promoter. Encouraged attire includes acid-washed denim, sports jackets with plus-sized shoulder pads, neon-colored spandex and more. Most importantly, guests are encouraged to wear something they can dance in. But dancing to the greatest 80s hits is hardly the only recreation for the evening. The event will see the return of the popular cornhole sets to go along with a full-sized Pac-Man arcade game. Guests can sign up for a round on the arcade console and the highest score for the evening will win a prize. “A lot of people don’t realize just how prolific the 80s were when it comes to video games,” says Grano, “so this is a really fun wrinkle to add to the evening.” In addition, the block party will feature signature giveaways, and food/beverage offerings from downtown favorites, including Art Ovation Hotel, who have also signed on as event sponsors. The State Street parking garage will remain accessible from Orange Avenue and Ringling Boulevard. In addition, ample on-street parking is available in the surrounding area.
Sarasota Orchestra announced that it will update the format of its Edward and Ida Wilkof Young Artists Competition. Each year, up-and-coming young musicians from across the region gain valuable experience participating in the annual competition. Open to all instrumentalists residing in Charlotte, Manatee or Sarasota Counties as well as Sarasota Youth Orchestras participants from additional counties, the competition will now include both a Junior and Senior level with separate categories for piano, strings and woodwind/brass/percussion. Judges may select up to three winners in each category and age group. Cash prizes will be granted to the winners selected. The Edward and Ida Wilkof Young Artists Competition was established in 1966. The Wilkofs wanted to plant a seed in talented youth and encourage them to aspire to professional heights. The couple’s endowment is an outgrowth of Edward Wilkof’s longtime dedication to the Orchestra, having served many decades as a generous philanthropist and longtime member of the Orchestra’s Board of Directors. The competition is open to instrumentalists ages 9-14 (Junior Level), ages 15-19 (Senior Level). Interested participants may enter the competition by submitting a high-quality recording of the work to be performed, along with entry form and entry fee of $25. Submissions are due February 4, 2023. Final round auditions will take place at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center on February 25, 2023. Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org/Education for full details.
Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity is teaming up with students from Charlotte County JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) and State Farm agents to help repair homes damaged by Hurricane Ian. This effort is funded by a $20,000 disaster services grant from Habitat for Humanity International and State Farm. In the Charlotte County community, approximately 200 Habitat homes sustained damage. We will focus our efforts on repairing partner family homes that sustained minor siding, soffit and fascia damage. We are grateful for this grant because it allows us to quickly and immediately restore properties and lives. State Farm and Habitat for Humanity are providing up to $120,000 in grants for disaster recovery projects that engage youth. State Farm has been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity International's youth initiatives since 2007.
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
Willkommen to Kander and Ebb’s iconic CABARET, which transports us to 1939 Berlin and the dynamic and pleasure-filled Kit Kat Klub. As a dark shadow falls over the city and the power of the Third Reich begins to mount, the Klub’s performers and patrons must decide if they’ll wake up to the evil on their doorsteps or continue to escape to the alluring fantasy world of the cabaret. Since its debut in 1967, this classic musical has won countless awards, including the Tony Awards® for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Revival of a Musical. Packed with vibrant and beloved songs like “Willkommen,” “Maybe This Time,” “Money,” “Don’t Tell Mama,” and, of course, “Cabaret,” this timely masterwork will burst to life on stage under the direction of Broadway and Asolo Rep favorite Josh Rhodes.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
A Place in the Sun – A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, will begin playing in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret on November 16, 2022. The new music revue celebrates the legendary musician whose catalogue spans six decades and multiple musical genres, taking audiences through the beloved songbook of musical pioneer, Stevie Wonder. Created by Jason Cannon, Richard Hopkins, and Sarah Durham, this all-new Cabaret features such timeless hits as “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” “Isn’t She Lovely?,” and “Superstition.” Tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000.
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.
Wellen Park is lighting up the holiday season in its own signature style with a Bright Bike parade, lessons in mixology, the spirit of giving, a visit from Santa, and so much more. Throughout December, Wellen Park is hosting family-friendly and age-restricted events at its Welcome Center, which are complemented by CoolToday Park’s annual Braves Jingle Jam and Tomahawk 5K. “The holidays really capture the essence of Wellen Park and its emphasis on joy, heartfelt connections and community,” said Christine Masney, vice president of marketing of Wellen Park. “We have planned many fun, meaningful experiences that are unique to Wellen Park for families to create memories they will cherish for years to come.” The upcoming events take place in the Welcome Center, 12275 Mercado Drive, Venice, overlooking Downtown Wellen, where the first phase of the region’s newest gathering hub is nearing completion. From the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree, now through Dec. 4, to a fun-filled weekend of festivities, Dec. 16-17, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays at Wellen Park.December’s fun-filled calendar reflects the vibrant spirit of Wellen Park and foreshadows a full winter season of activities and events beginning in mid-January 2023 with the opening of Downtown Wellen’s outdoor amenities. Most activities are free and open to the public, with advance registration required for some events. For more information or to register, visit wellenpark.com/events.
Holiday roast pre orders are now open! You can now order everything you need for your holiday feast! Tenderloin, Wagyu and Rib Roasts, Tomahawks, Turkeys, six home made take and bake side items, sauces and Der Dutchman Pies! Also featuring our Warface Marinated Tenderloin Roast!
Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is hosting its annual golf tournament, Scramble for SPARCC, at the Laurel Oak Country Club on Monday, January 16, 2023. With the support of sponsors, community donations and golfers, this tournament raises funds to help provide life-saving, free and confidential programs and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Entry fee is $185.00 per person and includes green fees, individual carts, happy hour light bites, beverages (cash bar available) and player awards. Registration opens at 11:00 AM with a shotgun start at 12:30 PM to kick off the 18-hole scramble. In addition to the golf tournament, there is also a closet to the pin contest, closest to the line contest, golf ball launcher, 50/50 chance drawing, and awards celebration. Co-Chairs for this event are Sandy Fulkerson and Bonnie VanOverbeke.
Ernani is a Dramma lirico in four acts. Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. The bandit Ernani has lost his land, wealth, and title, and faces competing suitors, including the king, as he pursues his true love, Elvira. One of the greatest of Verdi’s early works encompasses love, honor, and tragedy with passionate choruses, emotional arias, and a stirring score. Sung in Italian with Translations in English. Runs March 11th-March 26th. For tickets visit sarasotaopera.org, Ph. +1 941 328 1300
Sarasota Opera , 61 N Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236
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.
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.
Create new family traditions this season at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota with holiday fun for the whole family. Throughout December younger guests will rejoice with opportunities to write and send letters to Santa via the resort’s magical mailbox. For a more direct line to Jolly Old St. Nicholas, kids can reach The Santa Hotline to receive daily updates on preparations from the North Pole. Also available, are resort-wide Holiday Gnome Scavenger Hunts, and surprise visits from Santa himself. Parents won’t want to miss the chance to get a holiday card-worthy family photo, with the resort’s beautiful holiday living room scene at the Healing Garden providing a scenic backdrop. Hanukkah and Christmas Tree Festive Bundles are also available to enliven guests’ in-room experience with holiday cheer and décor. Additional family friendly activities (available to resort guests, residents, members and local guests) include: Gingerbread House Decorating (Dec. 10, 10-11:30am): After donning chef’s hats and aprons, decorate a festive gingerbread house guided by The Ritz-Carlton’s pastry team; Polar Express Movie Night (Dec. 16, 5:30-8pm): Take a trip to the North Pole, complete with hot chocolate and s’mores, with a screening of this classic holiday film. Special characters will greet guests and each child will receive their own sleigh bell – just like in the movie. Families are encouraged to wear pajamas for extra coziness; Breakfast With Santa On The Bay (Dec. 17, 9am-12pm): Have breakfast with Santa himself. Children will enjoy fun, interactive activities including face painting, balloon art, cookie decorating and photos with Santa. The breakfast buffet will be served on The Bayview Lawn.
Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas. Directed by Peter Amster. Harrowing adventure, bravery, and friendship take center stage in Ken Ludwig's THE THREE MUSKETEERS, a thrilling adaptation of the popular novel by Alexandre Dumas. One of the world’s most enduring comedies, this classic tells the tale of a daring young man who finds himself in the company of the world’s greatest swordsmen, as well as some of the world’s most dangerous men and women. Directed by Peter Amster, who most recently directed Asolo Rep’s smash hit Murder on the Orient Express in 2020, this play promises to be a fast-paced, witty, swashbuckling good time. All for one, and one for all!
Asolo Repertory Theatre
At the turn of the 20th century, years before women had the right to vote, one woman’s breakthrough changed our perception of the stars. Full of wonder, humor, and heart, SILENT SKY is the remarkable true story of Henrietta Leavitt, one of the pioneering women astronomers working at Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s. You will be enthralled by the story of this extraordinary woman who took on the astronomy establishment in order to discover the mysteries embedded in the sky. Henrietta transcended the odds while navigating love, family, and the universe, going on to make a world-altering advancement to the field of astronomy that forever changed our view of the cosmos. Written by one of today’s leading playwrights, Lauren Gunderson, this mesmerizing drama is directed by Seema Sueko, who recently brought this work to life at Washington D.C.’s Ford’s Theatre.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Every 3rd Saturday from 10-3 The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime opens their outdoor space for guest vendors, dog rescues, and live music. Check out the 40 local creators and curators inside The Bazaar every Thursday - Saturday. Enjoy a delicious lunch and support local. Free, until you buy something amazing!
Always… Patsy Cline created and originally directed by Ted Swindley
Always…Patsy Cline is more than a tribute to the legendary country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963. The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. The musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation, includes many of Patsy’s unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight – 27 songs in all. Feb 2-12, 2023. 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
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