SRQ DAILY Feb 8, 2024
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"What makes this library unique is the fact that it is truly a world-class, innovative community center versus a traditional library."
In January, Lakewood Ranch celebrated the much-anticipated opening of Manatee County’s newest library, the Lakewood Ranch Library. At this modern and inviting facility, the community can come together to read, work and participate in a myriad of programs, including rooftop yoga and workshops.
“From concept to design, build and completion, the library is proof that collaboration results in a far superior result than an original vision,” says District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner. “Willis Smith Construction, Fawley Bryant Architecture and Manatee County staff worked together making sure nothing was missed, so the outcome would be as impressive as it is.” While the second floor is still in progress, the first floor of the library is expansive, with several large conference rooms for events. There are designated sections for children and teens, as well as a wide selection of books from all genres, including many books in Spanish. The bright and airy space boasts a tranquil lake view and offers plenty of seating areas and computers for patrons’ use. Seating is varied, from high-top workstations to cozy nooks. The reading room offers a quiet place to work, study or get lost in a book. Patrons can also make use of a maker space where various programs are held. Additionally, children can enjoy the outdoor play area, a wonderful family feature.
“What makes this library unique is the fact that it is truly a world-class, innovative community center versus a traditional library. It was meticulously designed to accommodate a full spectrum of programs and events, from rooftop birthdays, weddings or team-building events, to sales meetings, training programs and community groups of all kinds,” Turner adds. “This is a community center and adds what every community desperately needs, a safe place to come together, network, connect and learn. The staff has cultivated relationships with valuable associations such as the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, making it possible for new residents to connect quickly, existing businesses to network and scale, and new businesses to have a platform to launch from.”
Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Pkwy., Bradenton, 941-742-4500, mymanatee.org. 
The new Lakewood Ranch Library is the perfect place for reading, studying, remote work or participating in a class or workshop. Photo by Caio and courtesy of Pexels.
CoolToday Park, the Spring Training Home of the Atlanta Braves, is excited to kick start Spring Training with the Welcome Back Weekend event on February 17, 2024. This exciting event will celebrate the Braves’ return to North Port for the 2024 Spring Training season. The celebration includes various free activities for the whole family from 11a.m. to 3p.m., followed by a ticketed concert. The activities will take place on the plaza out front as well as inside the stadium, and will include: Budweiser Clydesdale parade- 1p.m: First look at spring merchandise: Interactive game & contests: 50/50 Raffle Sales and more. All concession stands will be open, serving up the best in ballpark fare and craft beer. The Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill will also be open, serving drinks only. The night of Saturday, February 17, the B Street Band will grace the stage with their #1 Rated and Longest Running Tribute to the Boss, Bruce Springsteen. Gates open at 5p.m. with a showtime of 7p.m. General admission tickets are $15. VIP squares are also available and come with four (4) seats and four (4) canned beverages for $120. All concert tickets are available on ticketmaster.com. For more information on Welcome Back Weekend, the BStreetBand, or CoolToday Park, visit cooltodaypark.com.
Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s (SILL) hard-hitting “Global Issues” series runs through March 29 at locations in Sarasota, Venice and Lakewood Ranch and features 24 internationally renowned experts discussing a vast range of domestic and global issues. February’s lectures feature front-page issues examined by leading speakers, including renowned scientist, businessman and entrepreneur Bob Bunting, discussing global climate issues; historian, educator and author Jeremi Suri, who will explore American’s shifting attitudes about government; author and Georgetown University professor Bruce Hoffman, who speaks about terrorism and insurgency; and Carla Koppell, vice dean for the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and managing director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, who will discusses strategies to mitigate conflicts and promote peace and prosperity.
CR Fitness Holdings, the leading franchisee of Crunch Fitness, is thrilled to announce a notable $2.5 million renovation and expansion at its Lakewood Ranch gym location. The enhanced facility is now open for workouts, and a Grand Reopening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, February 10th, from 11 am to 2 pm. Join us at Crunch Lakewood Ranch, located at 8475 Heritage Green Way. Since its inauguration in October 2018, Crunch Lakewood Ranch has experienced major success, centrally located amidst businesses, dining establishments, shopping centers, family-friendly residential communities, and the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. The extensive renovation includes a substantial investment of $500,000 in new equipment, expanding the club to nearly 40,000 square feet. The expanded space now features a new Ride Studio, Boxing Studio, and Crunch Kids Club. The Crunch Kids Club officially opened on February 5th, while Ride Classes commence on Tuesday, February 6th, and Boxing classes kick off on Saturday, February 10th. CR Fitness Holdings LLC. is led by industry veterans Vince Julien, Geoff Dyer, Tony Scrimale, and Jeff Dotson, who combined have more than 150 years of experience in the fitness sector. The CR Fitness Holdings team currently operates 62 locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas with plans to have 100 gyms open by 2026. Don't miss the chance to be part of the Grand Reopening celebration and experience the upgraded facilities at Crunch Lakewood Ranch. We look forward to welcoming you on February 10th for a fitness, fun, and community-filled day.
Key Chorale’s 9th annual presentation of “Tomorrow’s Voices Today,” a unique collaborative choral festival featuring Key Chorale and Sarasota County high school choir students takes place on February 20th at Riverview High Performing Arts Center. Each year, Maestro Caulkins inspires music making at the highest levels, planting seeds that will ripen throughout these students’ lives with an eclectic program from classics to contemporary. This year, the choirs from Booker High School, Riverview High School, and Sarasota High School will join the voices of Key Chorale to create a festival chorus of over 200 voices of all ages. Led by directors Alexander Zickafoose, David Verdoni, and Kirby Sanders and the choirs of Booker, Riverview, and Sarasota High Schools, respectively, will perform some of their favorites from this season as well as performing with Key Chorale. The Festival Choir will be joined by Sarasota Conservatory faculty, students and guests who will provide instrumental accompaniment for the festival choir pieces. In order to make the “Tomorrow’s Voices Today” concert collaboration accessible to all, Key Chorale has a ticket price of just $10 to allow the entire community to celebrate choral music together. Then, on March 4th at Westcoast Black Theatre Mainstage, Key Chorale’s Student Scholars will present classical and musical theater selections demonstrating the culmination of their studies with voice teachers and masterclasses with guest artists. The Key Chorale Student Scholar Program is designed to prepare gifted juniors and seniors for college-level success in music. Student Scholars sing a full performance season with Key Chorale as well as part of several other performance opportunities and master classes held throughout the season. All experiences are made available at no cost to the selected participants. Come support and cheer our musicians of tomorrow while enjoying great music along with bubbly and light bites.
Performances takes place: Tomorrow’s Voices Today: High School Choral Festival - Tuesday, February 20, 7:30pm, Riverview High Performing Arts Center, Tickets $10. Tomorrow’s Voices Tonight, Student Scholar Soirée - Monday, March 4, 5:30pm, Westcoast Black Theatre Mainstage, Tickets $25.
The Van Wezel Education and Community Engagement Department is thrilled to announce the second annual Technical Theatre Summer Camp for children ages 12-18. The camp weeks are June 17-21 and June 24-28. In partnership with the stagehands’ union local #412, teens will work with skilled union technicians in hands-on activities that will open their minds to the complexities and possibilities of a life in the theatre that’s behind the scenes. With unprecedented access to the corners of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall that the audience never sees, participants will learn from the people who truly know the “business of show.” Each day will focus on a specific stage craft, and the campers will build their tech toolbox, with both information and actual tools of the trade. The five areas of focus will be carpentry, electrics, flys, audio/visual, and wardrobe/hair/makeup. This year there will be two, one-week camps. The Explorer Camp will run from June 17-21. This camp is designed for the younger student, who is interested in learning more about the technical theatre career. The Advanced Camp will take place June 24-28, and is designed for students who attended a previous camp or who can demonstrate an advanced knowledge of backstage crafts. Each day, the camp will run from 9am-3pm. The cost is $200 per week, and financial aid is available. Teens who are interested in attending both weeks can do so at a reduced rate of $375.
New and returning students who want to live in USF Sarasota-Manatee's new residence hall when it opens this fall, are eligible for up to $4,000 in scholarships to take their place in USF history as “trailblazers” who will help shape the campus’s first residential community. USF has been accepting applications to live in the building since last fall, and on Jan. 22 began accepting applications for the scholarships, which will be for up to $4,000 over two semesters in 2024-25. The scholarships are made possible by the generosity of community donors. The priority deadline to apply for the scholarships is Feb. 14. To ask questions about the housing scholarships, email sar-housingscholarship@usf.edu. USF announced the scholarships during a celebratory event on Jan. 22 marking the progress in the construction of the six-story student center and residence hall overlooking Sarasota Bay, the first major expansion of the Sarasota-Manatee campus since it opened in 2006. The first two stories of the 100,000-square-foot building will be a student center that will include a ballroom, dining facilities, a bookstore, a game room and study lounges, as well as offices for USF World, student government and other student organizations. The top four floors will be comprised of suites and apartment-style residents. Some students will be members of an interdisciplinary Living Learning Community with peers who share similar academic, career and co-curricular interests. Residents of the new building are scheduled to move in on Aug. 23. Kemker also touted what the student center will bring to campus.
The Manatee County School Board has closed on the 30-acre parcel to build the future North River Ranch Middle School serving North River Ranch and the surrounding area. The new North River Ranch middle school will be located within the community on North River Ranch Trail, off Fort Hamer Road.The School Board announced construction of the new middle school is scheduled to begin this month and is projected to be completed in July 2025, for the 2025/2026 school year. North River Ranch is the award-winning, master-planned community of local land developer Neal Land & Neighborhoods. The new prototype middle school is designed to be a state-of-the-art learning environment providing classrooms, labs, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and a music department. Outdoor features include playfields, basketball courts, a covered play area and open spaces. Neal Land & Neighborhoods contributed $450,000 to provide the school with additional funding to enhance the school's programs, curriculum, special ad hoc awareness and education opportunities.With the elementary school, high school and future State College of Florida campus located within walking distance of the new home community, North River Ranch will provide convenient proximity to schools from kindergarten to high school and up. In addition to an educational hub, North River Ranch is undergoing the development of the wellness-focused Village Center offering access to medical services, fitness, and natural spaces that reflect the active and healthy lifestyle of the community. HCA Florida plans to break ground on the new North River Ranch Emergency Center later this year.To learn more about North River Ranch, visit www.northriverranch.com. For more information on Neal Land & Neighborhoods, including the company’s latest development news, visit www.NealLand.com.
Suncoast Technical College invites students to a captivating evening at its "Casting for Your Career" Spring Open House on Wednesday, February 7, running from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sarasota Campus (4748 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL 34233). The Open House promises an immersive experience for prospective students, offering a firsthand look at the diverse educational opportunities available at Suncoast Technical College. Discover over 30 programs tailored for diverse interests and career paths, ranging from healthcare and technology to arts and business. Engage with our passionate instructors who are committed to guiding students towards success. Take a tour of our top-notch facilities, showcasing the cutting-edge resources that make learning practical and hands-on. Adding a culinary delight to the evening, a selection of food trucks will be on-site, providing attendees with a delightful array of options to savor during the event. To add a touch of excitement, three scholarship raffles will be awarded to three event attendees. This unique feature makes the Open House not only an exploration of educational possibilities but also an opportunity to potentially fund one's academic journey. "We believe that education is a journey of exploration, and our Spring Open House is designed to provide students with a taste of the exciting possibilities that await them at Suncoast Technical College," says Micah Crosby, Marketing and Communications Manager at Suncoast Technical College. Prospective students can visit our dedicated webpage at http://tinyurl.com/4pszrr6x for more information. We look forward to welcoming students to the "Casting for Your Career" Spring Open House, where they can explore, connect, win, and savor the vibrant atmosphere of Suncoast Technical College!
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.
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.
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.
Realize Bradenton is happy to announce the return of the Bradenton Market to its weekly schedule. This beloved community gathering will be held Saturdays through May 25, 2024 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm on Old Main Street in Bradenton. Founded in 1979, the Market has expanded to include more than 90 local vendors. In addition to the weekly shopping and music, the Market hosts special event days throughout the season. Halloween at the Market will be held on Saturday, October 28. This family-friendly event includes trick or treating with vendors, face painting with Manatee School for the Arts Academic Team from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, and a dance performance by Slick Motion Studios at 10:00 am. For more information, visit RealizeBradenton.com.
Clyde Butcher: Nature Through the Lens will be on view through August 31, 2024 at the Historic Spanish Point campus. Selby Gardens is excited to present the extraordinary imagery of photographer and conservationist Clyde Butcher throughout the grounds of the Historic Spanish Point campus. Large-scale prints on aluminum of Butcher’s beautiful photographs of plants, animals, and habitats of Florida will be exhibited amid the natural landscape of the 30-acre waterfront preserve, enabling the public to engage with the artist’s work like never before. In the tradition of earlier landscape photographers like Ansel Adams, Butcher captures the beauty and majesty of America’s natural treasures in dramatic black and white. The unique environments of Florida have been subjects of particular interest to Butcher since the 1980s, when he was first introduced to the magic and mystery of sites such as Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. Nature Through the Lens will include Butcher’s photographs of regional locales such as Myakka River State Park and Casey Key. This exhibition is presented in partnership with the Clyde Butcher Gallery & Studio in Venice, Florida. For more information, visit selby.org.
Join your friends, after-work buddies and the team at Geckos for our new Late Night Happy Hours. Every Friday and Saturday from 10 pm to Midnight, we will offer food, wine, cocktails and beer specials sure to prolong your weekend fun. Join us and ask your friendly barkeep or server about our Late Night Happy Hours. ONLY at Geckos on Hillview Street in Southside Village. GeckosGrill.com.
Join us for our Coffee With A Scientist series, a free public event held on Tuesdays in Boca Grande and hosted by Mote Marine Laboratory. Hear from Mote scientists on January 16, February 13 and March 26 as they share with you the latest in their groundbreaking research and their plans for the future with a Q and A session to follow. On Visit mote.org/pages/coffee to sign up and for more information.
Enjoy the extraordinary opportunity to experience the work of contemporary artist Shinique Smith in conversation with the collection of European art at The Ringling. Unfolding across six galleries of the Museum of Art, the exhibition creates a series of unique stories that together form an abstract narrative of the parade as a metaphor for life. Well known for her monumental sculptures created from an array of materials, including luxurious textiles, personal clothing, dyed fabrics, ribbon, and wood, and for her abstract paintings of calligraphy and collage, Smiths work in this exhibition speaks to various facets of the European artistic tradition, such as classical drapery and religious iconography, while foregrounding notions of Black femininity and the history of the circus. Learn more at ringling.org.
Registration is open for the 2024 winter semester at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, OLLI, at Ringling College, which offers noncredit educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives. The semester, which runs Jan. 8-March 1, 2024, features more than 50 courses, workshops, lectures, and special presentations covering a wide variety of topics, including arts and entertainment, history, music appreciation, health, literature, philosophy, religion, and science. Semester highlights include Searching Dr. Google. What Should I Believe, The History of Psychiatry: Winners and Losers; Voting Behavior and the Electoral Process; Glass: The New Hot Contemporary Art Form; and The Historic First Federal Prosecution of a U.S. President. Classes are offered at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; and online via Zoom. To register, or for more information about becoming an OLLI member, visit www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org or call 941-309-5111.
Ugly Lies the Bone is a compelling drama by Florida native Lindsey Ferrentino. The play follows Jess, a female veteran who returns to her hometown after three tours in Afghanistan. She brings vivid memories of war and painful burns with her and faces months of physical rehabilitation. Jess begins to transition to civilian life, soon realizing that things in Titusville, FL, have changed even more than she has. Through a new form of computer-simulated therapy, Jess finally finds a way to escape her pain, but can she find the strength to not only survive but actually thrive, in the real world? For more information and to purchase tickets, visit floridastudiotheatre.org.
Please join us to experience this unique exhibition featuring father/daughter local artists, Pamela Olin and Richard Olin. This premiere exhibition features three-dimensional works that offer a glimpse from the perspective of two distinctly different generations. The pieces address the transitions they have experienced over the last several years, making them relatable to all ages. As a duo, this public exhibit is both a curiosity and an insight into the self-expression of two generations of artists linked by DNA. Plymouth Harbour Gallery, 700 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Visit www.pamelaolin.com and www.olinrich.com to learn more.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College, OLLI, presents its fifth annual Listening to Women, a six-session series that recognizes women whose brilliance and fortitude have reshaped industries and who are making a difference in our communities. The series takes place on Thursdays at 1 pm, from Jan. 18-Feb. 22, 2024, at Sarasota Art Museum, the Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Registration for the complete series is $81 for OLLI Gold Members and $90 for OLLI Silver Members and general admission; register at www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org.
Embracing Our Differences celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. Visit the exhibit at the downtown Bayfront Park in Sarasota. The winning artworks combine a deep understanding of both medium and message. Awards are given for Best-in-Show Adult, Best-in-Show Student, and Peoples Choice categories, with the last chosen by visitors to the exhibit. Adult winners each receive $2,000, and students receive $2,000 to be split with their school’s art or writing program. The statements accompanying each artwork are also vital and provide insight into our common humanity as well as the differences that make us all unique. For more information, visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.
Seashell collectors and enthusiasts, beachcombers and artisans of all ages are invited to attend the 2024 Sarasota Shell Show. The Sarasota Shell Show offers a great way to learn about seashells and the critters that created and inhabited them, plus view unique shell art and learn from scientific exhibits. Visitors will enjoy a variety of vendors who display and sell common, exotic and rare shells, rocks and minerals, shell-inspired jewelry, clothing, shell crafts and art, and more. There will be a raffle for shells and coastal-inspired prizes. The annual Sarasota Shell Show will be held Feb. 9 and 10, 2024 at the Robarts Arena in the Potter building, 2896 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Guests receive a free bag of shells with their $5 paid admission fee. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult and the fee is half-price for students ages 12-18. The Sarasota Shell Club always welcomes new members. Club activities include monthly meetings with guest speakers, exclusive shelling excursions, and social events. Learn more about the Sarasota Shell Show and the Sarasota Shell Club at www.sarasotashellclub.com.
The SRQ Social Valentines Formal on February 10th will be held in the exquisite Sarasota Art Museum lobby. This exclusive event promises an enchanting evening filled with waltzing, live music, and sophisticated entertainment, creating a classy affair with formal attire, a live violin performance, a photo booth, delectable food and drinks, and even a touch of poker. SRQ Social is a group dedicated to building a vibrant community of young adults in Sarasota. To learn more, visit facebook.com/groups/srqsocial or instagram.com/srq.social.
Join us for a brunch benefitting ALSO Youth, a local non-profit organization serving the LGBTQ youth community in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, at Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024. Enjoy incredible food courtesy of Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi, a unique auction, and live music during this event supporting our mission to empower LGBTQ youth and allies and create inclusive communities. Learn more and purchase tickets at alsoyouth.org.
The Perlman Music Program Suncoast presents The Carr-Petrova Duo and their new album, HERS, in a special evening of music comprised entirely of works by female composers. Featuring violist and PMP alum Molly Carr, the newest member of the acclaimed Juilliard String Quartet, and Bulgarian educator and pianist Anna Petrova, the duo will premier HERS in Sarasota. This concert vibrantly celebrates the vision, strength, resilience, and vital contributions of the female sex throughout history. Through music and storytelling, the Carr-Petrova Duo will lead the audience through the inspirations, battles, and incredible accomplishments of eight fearless women, from Hildegard Von Bingen in the 12th century to Beyonce, and share centuries of heartbreak, struggles, and triumphs that comprise the female experience. The concert is Sunday, March 3, at The Harvest, 3650 17th Street, Sarasota. The event begins with an artist talk at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at PMPSuncoast.org.
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