This Sunday, May 5, from 10:30am to 12:30pm, unleash your inner juror at Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Twelve Hangry Men Who Cook brunch event. This fundraiser for the Asolo Repertory Theatre will satisfy your appetite and honor the upcoming Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical. You’ll enjoy delicious eats cooked up by 12 amateur chefs and have the opportunity to sit on the voting jury for best chef and best table decor.

“The idea is that we get up to 12 amateur chefs together, from community partners from different businesses to anyone who’s an avid cook and wants to do it. They will create an entree of their choice to serve everyone. They have to make about 30 plus portions and then break it up into smaller bits,” says India Marie Paul, the Asolo’s Special Events Manager. “Everyone gets to eat and enjoy, and have a mimosa because we’re doing it for lunch, and then vote on their favorite entree and their favorite table decor. Every chef will have a table that they’re responsible for decorating. They pick linens, and napkins and can add any extra flair that they want.”

Among the cooks scheduled to make an appearance is Jon Thaxton, the Senior VP of Community Investment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, one of the event’s sponsors, who will be cooking Shrimp Etouffee. Omar Guevara Soto of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, the husband of Peter Rothstein, the producing artistic director of the Asolo and the director of Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical, will serve up Salsa Verde Tamales. “There will be two different ways to vote, and we are fundraising so you can buy more tickets, and right at the end, before we announce the chef winner, we will have a live dessert auction. We have eight desserts that have been donated to us from some of the people who are attending and some staff members who are donating their baked or dessert goods,” Paul adds. “It’s kind of a fun taste around the world. We have a lot of really cool dishes this year, and it gets community people together, so it’s going to be really fun.”

Twelve Hangry Men Who Cook, Sunday, May 5, from 10:30am 12:30pm, Margot and Warren Coville Rehearsal Hall at Asolo Rep Robert and Beverly Koski Production Center, 1009 Tallevast Rd., Sarasota. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit asolorep.org. 

Pictured: The flyer for Twelve Hangry Men Who Cook. Photo Courtesy of Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Asolo Repertory Theatre

Amore will be open from 5 to 9 pm on Monther's Day. They will be serving their regular menu and offering live music with Eddie Tobin (former music director of Engelbert Humperdinck. Free parking is available.

Amore Restaurant , 180 N. Lime Ave, Sarasota, 941-383-1111. 

For full menu click here

Forestar Group Inc. ("Forestar"), one of the largest single-family community developers in the nation, celebrated the phase one opening of The Resort Club, the first amenity campus for Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch. The Resort Club grand opening was held on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Star Farms homeowners enjoyed new amenities, food, refreshments and each other. The social hub of Star Farms, The Resort Club is an innovative, amenity-rich campus including a hospitality-staffed clubhouse, where members explore interests, stay active and connect with friends. The first phase features a resort-style pool and spa, poolside cabanas and beach areas, pet park, Trade Route Coffee Shop, Star Fit Wellness Complex - Fitness and Performance Centers, community lawn, courtyard and golf cart parking. A poolside bar and grill, outdoor activities area, event center, The Terrace – Chef’s Patio and a mail kiosk are planned for future phases. Upon completion, Star Farms will offer four resort campuses: The Resort Club, Junction Place, Adventure Retreat and Cabana Corner, in addition to greenways and trails. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Southwest Florida, Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch is a multigenerational lifestyle community that offers a unique experience tailored to residents. The thoughtfully designed, 700-acre, gated village is a resort ranch hometown featuring 1,500 single-family homes, paired villa retreats and townhomes with a variety of amenities, clubs and hospitality services. Positioned within the award-winning master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch, Star Farms is minutes from dining, shopping and cultural activities as well as top-rated beaches. Whether exploring new adventures, discovering new passions, meeting new neighbors or finding new ways to connect with nature, Star Farms is an extraordinary place to call home. Visit www.starfarmslwr.com and join the VIP Club for the latest information. 

Pictured: Aerial of The Resort Club and a photo of the homeowner guests at The Resort Club grand opening event.

In June 2023, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and City of Sarasota selected Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) as Design Architect for the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center. The project will be built in The Bay, Sarasota’s signature public park. After evaluating nearly thirty candidates for the role of Architect of Record, RPBW has selected Sweet Sparkman Architects. Based in Sarasota, Sweet Sparkman Architects has been practicing for 22 years. Their completed cultural and community projects include The Bay, Center for Asian Art at the Ringling Museum of Art, Ringling College of Art and Design: Basch Visual Arts Center, Asolo Repertory Theatre Koski Center Campus, Venice Theatre, and Siesta Key Park and Pavilion. “We selected Sweet Sparkman not only for their proficiency and local knowledge of the construction industry, but for their spirit, and the team they put forth. We see them as our partners in this adventure, and we strongly believe their qualities, values, and experience will be key to the project’s success.” – Renzo Piano Building Workshop. 

On Thursday, May 23rd, the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber will host its Annual Tourism Week Event at TradeWinds Island Grand (5500 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach). This year’s luncheon will actually be a brunch, setting the fun tone for a morning full of celebrating and promoting tourism. Attendees get to hear from keynote speaker Peter Yesawich, hospitality marketing professional about his insights for "Decoding the Future: Emerging Travel Trends". As the Co-Founder of MMGY Global, Yesawich spearheads the largest integrated marketing communications firm for travel, leisure, and entertainment industries. Having worked on marketing plans for big name brands like Hilton International, Marriott Vacation Club International, Disney Parks & Resorts, Universal Studios, U.S. Olympic Committee and many, many more, Yesawich has lots of useful knowledge to pass onto listeners. Cost to attend is $65 per Member, $75 per Non-Member or you can sponsor your own exclusive table of 10 at the front of the hall for $750. Business expo registration, event sponsorship details and tickets are available at www.tampabaybeaches.com/annualevents. For more information, please contact Robin Miller at info@tampabaybeaches.com or visit TampaBayBeaches.com.

 The Young Leaders Alliance (YLA) is pleased to announce the Inaugural YLA Next Gen Awards. The Finalists and community can find out who the winners are at the annual signature event, The YLA Next Gen Awards, on Thursday, May 16th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, at The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. The YLA Next Gen Awards recognize YLA members for their remarkable talents, character, and commitment to the organization and the community. These awards honor young professionals in the Lakewood Ranch region who strive towards the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, devote time and energy to our community, and forge paths of leadership for others to follow. Tickets are $60 for members and $75 non-members. Registration is now open at https://members.lwrba.org/yla-events-calendar/Details/2024-yla-next-gen-awards-1082654?sourceTypeId=Website 

“IT’S PRIMARY" is a vibrant exploration of the elemental power of color in art. Liz Cole has created a  collection of paintings that invites viewers to experience the energy and intensity of red, yellow and blue, as  well as the rich nuances created when these colors are combined. The result is a body of narrative works  done in her signature style of acrylic and handmade collage. Liz is a storyteller with a paintbrush, who reaches back into memory moments and brings them into her  paintings. Known for her intense colors, she brings joy and energy to the whimsical narratives she paints.  Her paintings have layers of color and patterns of markings that invite the viewer into an imaginative world  of images. “I have always had a passion for color and construction since my early years of art making. Throughout my training as a painting major in college, I consistently found myself developing layered surfaces of color held  together through line work and rich, subtle patterns. You will never find empty spaces in my canvases. It’s as  if I need to give every inch of my painting a definitive response and a nod to its presence in my artwork.” 

Pictured: Red Door. Courtesy of Liz Cole.

The North Port Library will undergo upgrades and enhancements to the library entryway. The library will be closed Monday, May 6, through Saturday, May 11, to allow work to be completed. During this temporary closure, access to the exterior book return will be unavailable. Patrons are asked to return borrowed materials to an alternative location or extend their due date by calling 941-861-1110 during normal operating hours. The North Port Library is located at 13800 S. Tamiami Trail, North Port. Library patrons are encouraged to visit neighboring libraries for full library services: Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice; Shannon Staub Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port. The North Port Library is closed on Sundays but will resume normal operations Monday, May 13. For additional updates and information, please visit www.SarasotaCountyLibraries.org or call 311.