SRQ DAILY Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"A lot of the works relate to figure drawing, and when you talk about drawing the human figure, you are telling the story through the human body."
The Fox Mercantile on Anna Maria Island is the creative brain-child of Southern California native Ashley Petrone and has become the perfect whimsical escape from the day-to-day–a destination where visitors can sip an excellent cup of coffee while shopping a carefully curated selection of goods hand-picked by Petrone herself, or just stop by for a relaxing afternoon spent with a good book and pleasant company.
After moving to Anna Maria Island three years ago with her husband, Dino, and four children, with the hopes of giving the kids a slow and peaceful beach-town life, Petrone was initially hoping to open a coffee shop. That eventually turned into the creation of The Fox Mercantile, an online-only store that carried homeware, gifts and paper goods. “It really came from coffee at first, I just wanted really good coffee. And then I decided to open up a store and that started online. I had that for about a year and it kind of made sense to just marry the two together and create a store and coffee shop all in one,” Petrone says.
Plans for the future of a brick and mortar store and coffee shop fell into place when the old Sea Hagg store’s building became available on Anna Maria Island. The set-up of the property, with its dual indoor and outdoor spaces, made Petrone’s vision of a welcoming and warm gathering place for both locals and visitors possible.
The store officially opened on June 8th and now offers a vast variety of gifts, many of which are locally made and support Floridian vendors including artists, jewelry designers and, of course, coffee from Leatherback Roasters, which is based outside of Orlando. What makes The Fox Mercantile stand out is that the whole store is a carefully crafted collection of goods that can be effortlessly combined to make a cohesive gift, since every item is selected by Petrone herself. “It's all my favorite things and everything is curated in a way that it all goes together. It makes it really simple for a shopper to come in and make a table setting or make a gift for somebody.”
But the storefront is not based on trendy aesthetics and Instagram-worthy photo-opts alone. The core of Petron’s mission is to facilitate genuine hospitality for all who visit the Fox Mercantile store or coffee shop. “I wanted people to feel like they're not just getting coffee or shopping when they walk through our gate, because you can go anywhere and do that.” Petrone adds. “Lately, customer service has gone down the drain, so I just wanted us to be set apart in the way that when you come here, you just feel good. You’re having a whole experience.” Whether that means a conversation with a barista or getting advice from an employee within the store, The Fox Mercantile offers genuine connections to everyone who walks through the door.
The Fox Mercantile, 12304 Cortez Rd W, Cortez, @thefoxmercantile, thefoxmercantile.com 
Pictured: Ashley Petrone inside The Fox Mercantile's brick and mortar location. Photo courtesy of Brooke Papp.
When most people doodle during a meeting or sketch out a quick image during a game of Pictionary, they don’t ponder what will become of their finished works. Perhaps they’ll be tossed into the trash, or someone will save them, preserving the drawings for years to come. At The Ringling Museum, 500 Years of Italian Drawings from the Princeton University Art Museum invites guests to consider the role of the collector in safeguarding these pivotal art history building blocks.
The Ringling’s Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections Sarah Cartwright encourages visitors to view Italian Drawings alongside the Guercino’s Friar with A Gold Earring: Fra Bonaventura Bisi, Painter and Art Dealer exhibition, which focuses on Fra Bonaventura Bisi. Bisi facilitated the collection of art for important figures like the Dukes of Modena and Leopoldo de’ Medici. Stepping into Bisi’s world allows guests to understand why he prioritized collecting drawings, like those in the Italian Drawings exhibition.
“The collection covers 500 years of Italian drawings with a concentration on the 16th and 17th centuries,” says Cartwright. “Through the mid-fifteenth century, aspiring artists were instructed to make copies after drawings in a model-book, a compendium of motifs, human figures, flora and fauna, passed from one generation to another, ready to be inserted into paintings or illuminated manuscripts,” reads the exhibit’s walk text. Like children’s fashion design toys, in which the user rubs their selection of textured fashion plates to transfer a pre-made template onto paper, this process overlooked artists’ exploration of individual expression. This pattern began to change as artists took inspiration from other sources like prints, plaster casts and ancient sculptures, and drawing focused more on celebrating the hand of each artist who used the medium to achieve certain goals. “Some drawings were sketches of ideas and were taken further to become finished drawings. Some nailed down composition and shading and might have been presented to a patron. Others are working drawings, used to transfer to other mediums,” Cartwright adds. “They support composition and disegno.” Disegno is the intersection of drawing and design, where the mental process of conjuring up and developing an idea meets the practice of executing it in a physical medium.
Through disegno, artists like Guercino, Amadeo Modigliani and Michelangelo, all featured at Ringling, honed their craft. Many works in the exhibition focus on the human figure. Drawing allowed artists to explore how the human body expresses various emotions which the works reflect, urging the viewer to consider how the artist might have conceptualized their idea and determined the best way to showcase it on paper. “People still draw on paper. Most people doodle on notepads at work or draw at school. We know what it’s like to have a pen and paper, which is what the artists were doing. It’s a basic human thing to make marks on paper,” Cartwright says. “A lot of the works relate to figure drawing, and when you talk about drawing the human figure, you’re telling the story through the human body. People can relate to that because that’s the world we live in.”
500 Years of Italian Drawings from the Princeton University Art Museum is on view at The Ringling through January 21, 2024. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 941-359-5700, ringling.org.
Pictured: Study for Queen Semiramis Receiving News of the Revolt of Babylon, 1624. Pen and brown ink on cream-laid paper, by Guercino. Photo Courtesy of Princeton University Art Museum.
Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that Venice Elementary School’s Dr. Kirk Hutchinson has been selected as the district’s 2024 Principal of the Year, and Sarasota High School’s Mrs. Lindsay Gallof has been selected as the district’s 2024 Assistant Principal of the Year. Dr. Hutchinson and Mrs. Gallof are now in the running for Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year, respectively, at the state level. Per the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), the Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership [Principal of the Year] was established in 1988 to recognize Florida principals for their contributions to their schools and communities. The FLDOE’s Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award [Assistant Principal of the Year] was established in 1997 to honor assistant principals that have utilized teamwork and leadership to increase student achievement and improve school environments. FLDOE Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. will announce three state-level finalists for each award in spring 2024. The overall winner for each state-level award will be revealed in summer 2024. Sarasota County Schools has received two prior overall Florida Principal of the Year awards. Alta Vista Elementary School’s Dr. Barbara Shirley (ret.) received the honor in 2014, and Booker High School’s Dr. Rachel Shelley received the honor in 2017.
Pictured: SCS 2024 Principal of the Year (L to R): Rachael O'Dea, Deputy Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer; Kirk Hutchinson, Principal of Venice Elementary School; Chris Renouf, Chief of Staff.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium was pleased to recognize a room of over 220 local science and elementary teachers from Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties at its inaugural Toast to Teachers appreciation event on Friday, Oct. 6. Teachers spent the night gathered in Mote’s beautiful Courtyard and enjoyed complimentary cuisine, cocktails, dancing, raffle items, and entertainment, all generously donated by local businesses and community members. Mote’s Education Department provides STEM education through a wide variety of on-campus, regional outreach, and virtual education programs. Mote Education currently serves over 10,000 students through its community engagement with underserved and underrepresented youth. In total, Mote Education serves over 35,000 participants annually. Donations were also raised to benefit Mote Education with a total of $60,000 raised for the ‘Toast to Teachers’ Education fund, which provides local counties with access to Mote’s Education programs.Guests also heard the latest updates on the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) and the science education programs that will be available once construction is completed.Mote SEA will provide informal science education and enhanced levels of ocean literacy to much larger and more diverse populations from around the world. Notably, Mote SEA will serve as a regional hub for expanding marine science and technology education and inspiration to every K-12 student in our community—Oceans for All. The new science-focused facility will provide informal science education to a larger, more diverse audience, including 70,000 students from Sarasota and Manatee County schools – free of charge. If you are interested in supporting Mote Education, please contact Andria Piekarz at apiekarz@mote.org.
The team members from Music Compound's Sarasota and Bradenton locations gathered in late September for the 2023 Music Compound Awards and Retreat. This is an event that Music Compound, led by owner Jenny Townsend, hosts annually to celebrate its team members' efforts and reinforce their commitment to the company's mission – "Inspire. Collaborate. Educate." – and community. Nearly all of Music Compound's 34 team members attended the event, which included team building (and fun) at Escape Rooms Unlocked and lunch at Djonisi's Family Restaurant. During the event, Music Compound leaders acknowledged milestones such as the surging book-reading totals through the Rock Your Summer Reading initiative, the company's new and/or expanded programs, and new hires. Leaders also shared ideas for new potential words of the year to replace last year's word, "quality"; after a company-wide vote, the word “believe” was selected as the word for the coming year. Additionally, every team member shared their own, personal "A-ha!" moments and highlighted a fellow staff member or two who contributed to their success and well-being this past year. "We have found that having a unifying and inspirational word guides and unites our team," said Townsend. "I am grateful every day for the opportunity to work with our incredible staff and especially proud of this year’s worthy honorees." Music Compound Awards were presented to: Inspirational All-Star: Iain Harris, multi-instrumental instructor, Collaboration All-Star: Taylor Galford, guitar, drums and piano instructor, Educational All-Star: Alicia Schiavone, multi-instrumental instructor, Summer Camp All-Star: Cody Vanslake, multi-instrumental instructor, Rising Star All-Star: Riley Cullather, Kidz Rock instructor. The Music Compound – now with locations in Sarasota (1751 Cattlemen Road) and Manatee (4740 SR 64 East) counties – provides an environment to inspire, collaborate and educate children and adults in pursuit of their love of music. Private and group lessons are available on a wide variety of instruments as well as programs such as Kidz Rock (ages 4-7), Junior Rockers (ages 8-11), ukulele and guitar groups (ages 8-12), the Musical Theatre Program (ages 7-14), Songwriting Series (ages 15+), Adult Jam Sessions, the Gulf Coast New Horizons Music program for adults ages 50+, and more. Visit musiccompound.com for more information.
Warm Mineral Springs
Relax, unwind and soak your roots in the only publicly-accessible hot spring in Florida. Warm Mineral Springs in North Port is also the largest natural mineral water spring in the world. Temps remain around 85 degrees (give or take) all year long, making it easy to enjoy the 51 healing natural mineral properties in the water. There is plenty of parking and grassy areas to set your chairs on for a day of soaking.
12200 San Servando Ave., North Port.
USF Sarasota-Manatee's Brunch on the Bay, the campus’s annual marquee fundraiser, returns on Nov. 5. Attendees will enjoy delicious cuisine from dozens of local restaurants and caterers, with proceeds supporting student scholarships and campus initiatives. The event will take place against an exciting backdrop: The construction site for a new student center and residence hall set to open in fall 2024.
Sunday, Nov. 5 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus
PROSPERITY SHERPA | Leisa Peterson is an inspiring wayfinder on the journey from scarcity mindset to mindful abundance, October 2023.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat announces that world-renowned and Grammy Award-winning string quartet ETHEL will headline the Hermitage’s signature fall fundraising event, “The Artful Lobster: An Outdoor Celebration!” on Saturday, November 11th from 11:30am to 2pm at the Hermitage campus on Manasota Key. This is the first time in many years that all four members of ETHEL – Ralph Farris, Kip Jones, Dorothy Lawson, and Corin Lee – will be reuniting at the Hermitage to celebrate this milestone anniversary of the event. This year’s Artful Lobster will also feature a performance by new Hermitage Fellow Emi Ferguson, a celebrated flutist and performer. For more information about the Hermitage and upcoming programs, visit HermitagArtistRetreat.org.
Children wearing their Halloween costume at any of the South Florida Hooters restaurants on Tuesday, October 31 will receive a free kids meal. Kids meal choices include grilled cheese, wings, boneless wings, burger sliders and mac & cheese. Kids meals include a side and beverage. Deal is for children 10 and under wearing a Halloween costume on October 31. One free kids meal per paying adult, for dine in only. For more information, visit hootersflorida.com.
Due to popular demand and the success of the past three years, The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, SCSO, is pleased to announce its Fourth Annual Halloween Drive-Thru on Saturday, October 28, from 6-8pm,, at the agency’s Sarasota headquarters. “While this event originated due to the pandemic, it has grown and become a highly anticipated annual event,” commented Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. “It is easy to attend, quick, safe, and fun for families and allows our agency members to interact with the community.” For information about the SCSO Halloween Drive-Thru, connect with the sheriff’s office on social media or contact the Community Affairs Office at 941.861.4005 or visit SarasotaSheriff.org.
Join The Bishop and other community partners for safe, family fun at Boo! At the Bishop on October 28 from 6-8pm. Trick-or-Treat within the Museum while visiting with local community members. Light activities will also be provided for children to explore with our Education Department. Child-friendly costumes are encouraged. You will leave with candy and plenty of great memories! Tickets are $5, children under 2 can attend for free. For more information, or to register visit bishopscience.org.
Sarasota Orchestra and Star Wars fans alike will be able to experience the scope and grandeur of this beloved film in a live symphonic concert experience on October 27 and 28 at 7:30pm at Van Wezel. Be there as your Orchestra performs the Oscar and GRAMMY winning score live to film as the movie plays in its entirety on the big screen. You’ll feel spaceships thunder in the timpani, thrill to the brass heralding Darth Vader’s fearsome presence, and vibrate to the Force’s awakening with ethereal flute and harp. Concert goers are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Star Wars character for the show. For more information visit sarasotaorchestra.org.
The Bay Turns One! Community celebration provides free, exciting, and diverse programming for the entire community to enjoy. With more than 30 free events over the 5 days, there’s something for everyone, including family-fun activities, headlining musical acts by Journey former lead vocalist Steve Augeri and Sarasota’s own Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, food and cultural festivals, a one-year community celebration party, Boo! at The Bay Halloween, dancing, nature explorations in nature and more! For more information, visit thebayturnsone.org.
The cultural phenomenon continues on the big screen! Immerse yourself in this once-in-a lifetime concert film experience with a breathtaking cinematic view of the history-making tour. Taylor Swift Eras attire and friendship bracelets are strongly encouraged! Tickets available for October 13-15 and October 19-22. For more information visit filmsociety.org.
Kicking off Friday, October 13, naturally, our popular Halloween-inspired light show is back for a second year! The show will run from October 13-31 with entry times at 6:30pm and 7:45 nightly. Don't miss the chance to see our Historic Spanish Point campus transformed into Spooky Point where you can follow an eerily lit path and encounter fantastic creations and boo-tanically-themed decorations along the way. Equal parts campy and cute, this walk-through show is fun for all ages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged, buy yours soon to secure the dates and times of your choice. To purchase tickets at the member price, you must log in to your Selby Gardens member account. For more information visit selby.org.
Sarasota Opera presents 2023 Summer Classic Movies at the Opera House. The Classic Movies at the Opera House series will feature The Addams Family, on October 27 at 7:30pm. Throughout the summer and into the fall, featured movies will include films ranging from the 1930s to the 1990s. Tickets are $12. Sarasota Opera, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, sarasotaopera.org.
Experience some of the best food and flavors of the region with more than 100, and still growing, curated vendors. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has fast become a favorite weekly tradition for people from all over the region seeking farm-fresh produce, delicious prepared foods, and specialty items and gifts. Aside from all the goodies you can shop at the Farmers Market, find your flow in a free yoga class or have the kiddos get creative during weekly-hosted workshops. 1561 Lakefront Dr., Lakewood Ranch.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Rick Springfield back to Sarasota on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726.
Featuring over 70 Food Vendors, and coinciding with the Grand Arrival of Santa Parade held at UTC. 140 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota.
Join us in bringing hope and healing to the fight against child abuse in our community. Night of Hope and Healing will feature a wide selection of tastings from crowd favorite restaurants, fantastic live and silent auctions, and most importantly, you will leave the event knowing that you are bringing change, protection, and hope to the most vulnerable children of our community. Sponsoring this event will expose your business to a compassionate, caring, and loyal community while providing the necessary support to give local children access to life saving services. These partnerships provide hope in raising awareness, hope in bringing comfort and joy, and hope in building a world where kids can just be kids. We look forward to seeing you there. Plantation Golf and Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd., Venice, https://cpcsarasota.org/events/night-of-hope/.
Creative Liberties Family Art will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9am to noon. Bring the whole family and participate in free art projects led by professional artists. In a special edition of FAD, artist Judy Levine will team up with Art In Common Places co-founder and poet Teresa Carson to lead families in making story bracelets and poetry. For more information, visit creativeliberties.net.
The Bradentucky Bombers are excited to announce their last home game of 2023 on Saturday, October 21st against Orlando Roller Derby, a team out of Orlando. This will be a double header. They will be hosting the game on Saturday, October 21st at Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex at 5:00 p.m, doors open at 4:30pm. Second game begins at 7pm. Tickets are available! Presale-$10 online; Adults at the door-$15; Kids 6-12-$10 at the door; Kids 5 and under free! Your ticket gets you into both games. For more information visit www.bradentuckybombers.com.
Speakers have been announced for the next 10x10 taking place from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 26th at the Sarasota Art Museum. Presentations will start at 6:00pm. The informal and fast paced 10x10 event is intended to showcase and introduce a diverse group of leaders and creative minds from our community. Three times a year, 10 speakers are invited to present 10 images of their work, interest, or inspiration. Slides advance automatically every 30 seconds with brief introductions between speakers. The event series, organized by architect Michael Halflants and painter Tim Jaeger, regularly draws 300 participants. Admission is $25 online or at the door. Students are admitted free. The event will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The event is open to the public. Additional details and admission can be found online at 10slides10speakers.com
This monthly gathering of car enthusiasts brings together automobile lovers from every walk of life, not to mention a wide array of spectacular cars. Bring your own vehicle (all makes and models are welcome) to show off, or check out the hundreds of cars on display. Each month, the event sponsors a different charity, and attendees are encouraged to donate $10 to benefit the charity. The event, occuring on the second Sunday of each month, will feature live music, complimentary coffee and more. To learn more, visit facebook.com/carsandcoffee941. Sarasota Cars and Coffee, The West District at University Town Center near Ford’s Garage, 295 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota.
Visit Fresh Harvest, the newly launched weekly farmers market in Downtown Wellen. Fresh Harvest offers a selection of local goods from nearly 40 local vendors. Fresh Harvest takes place every Sunday in Downtown Wellen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can peruse different vendor booths and stock up on a variety of goods. Vendors will offer a wide variety of locally grown and produced food, including herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, syrups, baked goods, pickled foods, fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs, milk and prepared food and beverages. A limited selection of craft vendors also participate in the farmers market. For a listing of participating vendors and more information on Fresh Harvest Farmers Market, visit wellenpark.com/events/fresh-harvest-farmers-market. Downtown Wellen, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice.
Join Sarasota Art Museum for Jazz Thursdays featuring live jazz music, contemporary art, and sips and bites from Bistro. Hosted by the Jazz Club of Sarasota. Jazz Thursday happens on the second Thursday of each month, 5:30-8 p.m. Galleries, Bistro, and SHOP open. FREE for Members, $20 for Not-Yet Members.
Head out to Waterside Place for a rocking evening as part of the Lakewood Ranch Sights and Sounds Program. Enjoy a live concert in partnership with Easterseals and EveryoneRocks, featuring artists who are rocking their spectrum. This event is free and open to the public; there is limited seating at the Plaza, but attendees are welcome to bring their own seats. Food and beverages will be available from numerous Waterside Place merchants. For more information on shows, dates, and times, visit lakewoodranch.com/sights-sounds/. Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Dr., Sarasota.
Connect with local business owners at every Thursday at Oscura. Lets Connect is a community of collaborative business professionals from the Manatee and Sarasota County areas. RSVP on Eventbrite to attend, admission is free.
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