SRQ DAILY Jan 19, 2023
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"Drift Theory was born through capturing memories and moments around Sarasota and reconnects people with the smaller things in the world, helping them to see the bigger picture."
With picturesque beaches and tropical flora, Sarasota has captured the hearts of generations of tourists and locals. Danielle Ferrantino, owner, founder and lead artist of Drift Theory, empowers everyone to preserve their Florida memories in resin, a clear plastic-like substance. At Drift Theory, Ferrantino not only creates and sells resin jewelry and ornaments that preserve bits of nature like seashells and flowers, but also hosts beach resin workshops for people interested in creating their own resin keepsakes.
“Drift Theory was born through capturing memories and moments around Sarasota,” says Ferrantino, “and reconnects people with the smaller things in the world, helping them to see the bigger picture.” The beach workshops, for up to 10 people at a time, begin every Monday at 8:30 a.m. on South Lido Beach, although other days and times can be arranged. Ferrantino meets students on the beach with snacks and refreshments, then dives into the resin tutorial, where students learn about the material and begin the resin setting process. She then leads a nature adventure walk on the beach, teaching students about the various plants, shells and other materials that they can collect. After the walk, the students place their findings in resin, which must cure for 24 hours. Ferrantino arranges a time for students to pick up their finished pieces, which also include any necessary hardware, such as jewelry chains in their choice of metal.
“I’m happy to share the memory of students’ experiences in Sarasota captured forever in resin like a little time capsule” adds Ferrantino. She offers flexibility in her class offerings, encouraging students to make jewelry, ornaments, suncatchers and more. Drift Theory hosts workshops in collaboration with other small businesses to create custom pieces and welcomes students to bring their own materials to the classes for preservation.
In addition to the beach workshops, Ferrantino hosts classes at various locations around Sarasota-Manatee and frequents farmers' markets, where she’s eager to share her passion for nature with the community. “Half of our students are locals, and the other half are tourists,” she says, “and business is growing quickly.”
Beach Resin Workshops: Start at $75 per person, South Lido Key Beach Park on the Gulf, 2001 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota, Book through Airbnb Experiences https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/3255404. Learn more at https://www.driftheory.com/. 
Pictured: Students created resin pieces at a Drift Theory beach workshop. Photo courtesy of Drift Theory
The Florida Department of Education reported Monday that the graduation rate for Sarasota County Schools for 2021-22 was 88.9 percent, a slight decline from the prior year. The district remained well above the state graduation rate of 87.3 percent; the state graduation rate decreased by 2.8 percentage points over last year. When comparing to the 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduation rates, it is important to note that pursuant to Florida Department of Education Emergency Order No. 2020-EO-1 and Florida Department of Education Emergency Order No. 2021-EO-02, students in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduating classes were exempt from statewide, standardized assessment requirements stipulated in s. 1003.4282, F.S. Most districts experienced a decline 2021-22 from the prior year and rates are mirroring pre-pandemic graduation rates. In 2021-22, the State of Florida is calculating and reporting the Federal Uniform Graduation rate. Federal regulations require each state to calculate a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, which includes standard diplomas but excludes general equivalency diplomas, known as GEDs, both regular and adult; and special diplomas. The U.S. Department of Education adopted this calculation method to develop uniform, accurate, and comparable graduation rates across all states. The Federal Uniform Graduation rate is currently used in Florida’s school accountability system in the high school grades calculation.
In its 25th anniversary year, Sarasota’s hometown circus, Circus Sarasota, is ready to bring chills, thrills and laughs aplenty to audiences of all ages with “Circus Sarasota Legacy: 25th Anniversary Show” from February 10 through March 5, 2023. Featuring new and innovative acts, Circus Sarasota’s 2023 production will offer high-flying action, heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic antics, and acts that defy both expectations and the boundaries of physical limitations. Closing the show this year is a world-premiere performance by a duo straps act from Ukraine, featuring Maryna Tkachenko and Anastasiia Kornieieva. The Circus Arts Conservatory has joined numerous other members of the Global Alliance of Circus Schools to support circus artists from Ukraine by sponsoring visas and offering jobs so that they can work even while their country is at war with Russia. “Just as the circus provides patrons with an escape from reality, the circus is providing Ukrainian artists with an escape from the horrors taking place in their own country right now,” said Circus Arts Conservatory president and CEO, Pedro Reis. “The circus unites everyone under the Big Top – it’s a potpourri of cultures and life experiences; we are proud to support fantastic artists like Maryna and Anastasiia who are determined to carry on – to inspire and entertain people with their art – despite what is happening back home.”
Performances take place under the Ulla Searing Big Top on Nathan Benderson Park's Regatta Island (5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota). Show times vary (Wednesday-Saturday at 7 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m., Sundays and Monday, February 20 at 1 and 5 p.m.). Tickets are $20-$75. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit CircusArts.org or call the Box Office at 941-355-9805.
Pictured: Chu Chuan-Ho will present his thrilling brand of Tempo Diabolo. Photo courtesy of Circus Sarasota.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce that Corrections Sergeant Adam Sherman graduated from the Florida Leadership Academy, Class 52. The Florida Leadership Academy's goals are to train efficient leaders, prepare first-line supervisors, and grow integrity and character in the criminal justice professionals who attend this program. Sergeant Sherman graduated Friday, January 13, 2023, with a diverse group of 40 law enforcement professionals who all serve in leadership roles and represent criminal justice agencies throughout the state. Broward College Institute of Public Safety in Davie, Florida, hosted the attendees for four week-long sessions. They were prepared for future challenges as they learned the necessary skills to support the needs of their communities and agencies. Sherman joined the sheriff’s office in 2006 as a Corrections Deputy. He was promoted to sergeant in 2018 and graduated from the SCSO Internal Leadership Academy. He has been a member of the sheriff’s office Corrections Emergency Response Team for 12 years.
Pictured: Sgt. Adam Sherman and Capt. Debra Kiner. Photo courtesy of Sarasota County Sheriff's office.
Wellen Park is rolling out the red carpet with self-guided tours of more than a dozen professionally decorated model homes during its inaugural Model Home Showcase Sunday, Feb. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. The models highlight the variety of homebuying opportunities in Wellen Park, the newest neighborhoods, floor plans, and the latest in interior design ideas. Wellen Park’s first-ever Model Home Showcase features fully furnished one- and two-story homes within walking distance of the soon-to-open Downtown Wellen, the must-visit regional gathering destination for dining, shopping, entertainment and outdoor recreation, as well as CoolToday Park, the spring training home of the World Champion Atlanta Braves. Guests can register to attend the complimentary event by Friday, Feb. 3, online at www.wellenpark.com/modelhomeshowcase. From two-bedroom, two-bathroom attached villas to four-bedroom, three-bathroom single-family homes, the models range in price from $400s to over $1,000,000. After touring the model homes, guests are invited to a sneak peek of Downtown Wellen, where retail and restaurant merchants are preparing to open their doors throughout the spring season. The Model Home Showcase will allow guests to experience the new downtown area before its official opening, while enjoying live musical entertainment, instructor-led fitness classes, cornhole games, a playground immersed in natural play, children’s splashpad, and miles of lakefront trails surrounding the 80-acre Grand Lake. Select food and beverage options will also be available. To learn more about living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pictured: Showcase model homes by Neal Communities, a private local builder, include two single-family homes in Avelina such as the Sea Spray II model.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature announced yesterday that Mr. Andrew M. Sandall had been appointed the new CEO of the Museum. An experienced Museum executive, Mr. Sandall will succeed interim CEO Charles Zajaczkowski and assume his new responsibilities on March 6, 2023. Mr. Sandall is a longtime Museum professional, working in museums both in the united states and his native United Kingdom since 1992. Mr. Sandall is a former President of the Florida Art Museum Director’s Association and served on the board of the Florida Association of Museums for eight years. Most recently, Mr. Sandall has been the Executive Director of the Morris Museum in New Jersey, the state's only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum. While at Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach, Mr. Sandall oversaw the construction of the Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, as well as almost ten million dollars of construction projects to rebuild the main museum's West Wing, renovate the Root Family Wing, and modernize the museum's entry courtyard. Mr. Sandall received his Masters of Arts degree in Museum Studies from the Leicester University and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Environment, Leisure, and Heritage Management from University of York St. John.
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
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.
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.
Contemporary Realism First Friday Gallery Walk at the Dabbert Gallery. From 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, the Dabbert Gallery will host the First Friday Gallery Walk through its new contemporary realism exhibit. The exhibit runs through Jan. 31. For more information, visit dabbertgallery.com. Dabbet Gallery, 46 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota.
The annual Rainforest Masks exhibition showcasing handcrafted art from the Indigenous Boruca tribe of Costa Rica is now on view! Experience (and purchase) vibrant, hand-carved and painted balsa wood masks featuring flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest. With over 400 spectacular masks on display, this year's display highlights the common motifs of the orchid, butterfly, hummingbird, frog, sloth, jaguar, and warrior found in the work of the Borucan artists. Proceeds from mask sales support the Borucan village and also benefit Selby Gardens’ education, research, horticulture, and scientific work. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit selby.org.
The Sarasota Concert Association announces its 2023 Music Matinees concert series. These four free noon-time concerts showcase exceptional regional musicians performing a variety of musical styles, including classical and folk music. Scheduled this season: Passerine; Wednesday, January 4 at noon. With inventive vocal harmonies and song-writing skills, supported by the sounds of acoustic strings, Passerine offers a fresh take on traditional folk and bluegrass music, as well as a repertoire of original songs that range from ballads to contemporary Americana. Duo Pianists Michael Baron and Priscila Navarro; Wednesday, February 22 at noon; The Baron-Navarro Piano Duo performs a wide range of music, from classical to popular, for two pianos and piano four–hands with electric energy and melting lyricism. Their New York City debut as a piano duo at Carnegie Hall in March of 2022 was sold out and met with critical acclaim. Soprano Hein Jung and pianist Gregorios Zamparas; Friday, March 17 at noon Soprano Hein Jung has performed in recitals and with opera companies in major cities throughout the U.S, Italy and South Korea. She will be accompanied by pianist Gregorios Zamparas who has been praised for his versatility as a recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S. and Europe. Cellist Natalie Helm and Pianist Jesse Martins; Wednesday, April 19 at noon Principal Cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra, Natalie Helm is a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and educator. For this performance she will collaborate with pianist Jesse Martins, who also serves as conductor and vocal coach with the Sarasota Opera. The concerts are free but pre-registration is required and available 30 days before each concert at SCAsarasota.org. Performances take place at David Cohen Hall in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail. Visit www.SCAsarasota.org or call the box office at 941-966-6161.
"Birds of North America" runs January 6th-February 12th, 2023 at Urbanite Theatre. As birders, John and his daughter Caitlyn adore spending tender autumn days attempting to catch glimpses of elusive birds. But as seasons, the climate, and global politics change, the two find their connection as rare as a red-headed Woodpecker. In a lyrical and endearing family portrait, Birds of North America unfolds in delicate, detailed layers like the scattered leaves of each passing year. For tickets and information contact Ph. (941) 321-1397, Email info@urbanitetheatre.com, Website www.urbanitetheatre.com
Urbanite Theatre , 1487 2nd Street Sarasota FL, 34236
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
Get inspired to create your own ‘towers of tomorrow’ with over 200,000 loose LEGO® bricks available in hands-on construction areas. Young and old will be limited only by their imagination as they add their creations to a steadily rising futuristic LEGO® metropolis inside the exhibition. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit bishopscience.org.
Enjoy a free, outdoor movie at The Bay Park! Bring your blankets, chairs, family, friends and good dogs to enjoy a wonderful evening under the stars. The Nest, the new concession at The Bay, will be selling tasty food and beverages to make the evening a legit and fun movie-going experience for all. Click the above link to learn more.
The Same Source exhibit by Luca Molnar uses various media to explore the connection between historical figures and personal mythologies. The exhibit highlights the connection between private life, domestic spaces and memory. On Thursday, Feb. 16, Molnar will participate in an artist talk via Zoom from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The exhibit runs from Feb. 2 to March 11. To learn more, visit artsarasota.org or call 941-365-2032. Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
On these special open-campus, family-friendly evenings, come enjoy 8 compelling exhibitions and grab a bite from our food trucks, while discovering special arts interactions. The event will feature eight compelling exhibitions across campus, special art interactions, Simply Greek and Southern Smoke by JP Food Trucks, Live art performance by Larry Littany Litt and Live music by Liquid Pennies.
Ringling College Galleries and Exhibition, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Enjoy the music of Elton John and Billy Joel, performed by Michael Cavanaugh. The show will feature hit songs from both artists.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to The Mall at University Town Center on Saturday 1/21! Come say hello to us at the mall entrance near Kona Grill between 10am-7pm and pick up some super cute treats & merch, while supplies last! The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota.
Embracing Our Differences celebrates the start of its 20th anniversary with a free Grand Opening Celebration on Sunday, January 22, noon-3 p.m., in Sarasota’s downtown Bayfront Park. The event features live performances by Jah Movement, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and spoken word poets. Local arts and education organizations will have booths featuring interactive, kid-friendly activities. Miss Susie’s Newtown Kitchen, Big Blue Grilled Cheese, Kilik's Kitchen, and Krewe Du Snoball food trucks will be stationed at the event. EOD will also recognize many of the artists and quoters who had their works selected for display as well as honoring Best-in-Show award winners, including Best-in-Show Student Artist Alexis Lee, a 10th grade student from Irvine, CA.
Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota
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