SRQ DAILY Apr 30, 2024
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"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."
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.
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.
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.
Siesta Key Rum runs free year-round tours for guests to learn the story of the craft distillery, the awards they have won and the secret to how they make their rums taste so good. During our 30-45 minute tour we will discuss the following topics: history of Siesta Key Rum, an overview of the awards our small company has won, what makes our rums taste so good, the rum-making process from mashing and fermentation to distillation, barrel aging and bottling of our rums. After the tour, we welcome you to sample a freshly made Siesta Key Rum cocktail, stock up on your favorite rums and browse our gift shop. 2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota.
Join Geckos on Hillview Street in Southside Village the first Saturday in May for our Run for the Roses Party. We will have plenty of prizes for the best Derby Bonnet and Bow Tie, plus specialty cocktails, all the racing of The Oaks on Friday and Derby festivities on Saturday. This annual event promises tradition, surprises, all the action from the fastest two minutes in sports racing and a celebration befitting the 150th Kentucky Derby…and of course, juleps. This is the kickoff event of the Triple Crown, so join us for all the racing parties. www.GeckosGrill.com.
Celebrate Mothers Day amid Mother Nature at Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus. Enjoy a delicious brunch buffet catered by Michaels On East with a special performance by the female vocal trio The Vocalitas at each brunch seating. Tickets to Mothers Day Brunch grant you full access to our Downtown Sarasota campus to view our Spring Exhibition Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia OKeeffe before and/or after brunch. Check-in opens at 10:00 a.m. outside of the Welcome Center. Mothers Day Brunch takes place inside the Event Center. To learn more, visit selby.org.
Treat Mom to a special meal at Amore Restaurant, which will be open from 5 to 9 pm on Mothers Day. Enjoy their regular menu and live music with Eddie Tobin, the former music director of Engelbert Humperdinck. To learn more, visit amorelbk.com.
Friday Fest, the free, outdoor summertime concert series at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall returns with an exciting lineup of bands who will bring the audience to their feet. This year the festivities kick off in May. Each event runs from 5-9 p.m. on the lawn of the Van Wezel overlooking beautiful Sarasota Bay. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take in the music and the sunset, and enjoy food and beverages from local vendors. Bringing in food, beverages and coolers from outside Friday Fest is prohibited. For additional information, visit VanWezel.org.
Join the Geckos Hospitality Group family of restaurants to celebrate the culinary creativity of your favorite Geckos Grill and Pub Chefs during the annual Geckos Hospitality Group Iron Chef Challenge. From May 13th to June 9th and June 10th to 16th each of our six Geckos will participate in a weekly special Iron Chef Menu, with several of our Chefs designing delectable and inventive fare, plus some tried and true favorites with a creative twist. The contest is a weekly competition between Geckos Kitchen Creatives, and guests may sample what the GHG kitchen pros have up their Chef Jacket sleeves. Whichever Iron Chef Special Menu is the favorite of our GHG guests for the week wins the Iron Chef title for that week and a cash prize with the Iron Chefs named after the competition knives have been cleaned and put away in June. There will be a Championship Final the week of June 10-16th, with the winning GHG location being crowned the Geckos Hospitality Group’ Iron Chef 2024 Champ. www.GeckosGrill.com.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Jimmy Failla to Sarasota on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 8pm. Tickets for the Everybody Calm Down Tour go on sale this Friday, February 23 at 10am EST. Tickets start at $20.70 and can be purchased at www.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. Pre-show dining is available through Mattisons at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
The inaugural season of the Manatee Music Series continues with Trevor Bystrom and Zion Albert, who will perform at the Amphitheater on April 18. Paul Fournier is on the bill for the May 16 concert. In addition to the outdoor concerts in this beautiful tree-covered section of the park, located at 2811 51st St. W. in Bradenton, there will be family-friendly activities by local community partners and crafts sponsored by Bayside Church. Visit mymanatee.org to learn more.
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.
Attention all business professionals. Join us for a productive and inspiring coworking event every Tuesday at Out and About Coffee in downtown Sarasota. Take advantage of this opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow professionals in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Limited spots available, so register now on Eventbrite. O and A Coffee Supply, 1316 Main St., 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.
Attention all business professionals, join us for a productive and inspiring coworking event at Panera Bread at the UTC Mall every Friday. Take advantage of this opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow professionals in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Limited spots available, so register now on Eventbrite. Panera Bread, 215 N. Cattlemen Road, 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.
Longtime friends Chef Charles Amherst of Chaz 51 Steakhouse in Venice and Barbara Gerdeman, co-founder of Creative Liberties Artist Studios in Sarasota, have joined forces to create a series of interactive live art dinner showcases called A Taste of Art. The first of these events takes place Thursday, February 1, 5:30-8 p.m., at Chaz 51 Steakhouse, 549 US 41 Bypass N, Venice. The events will continue on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Guests who visit Chaz 51 on these evenings will be able to witness the creation of captivating works of art in real-time. To make a reservation, call Chaz 51 Steakhouse at 941-484-6200. To find out which artists are scheduled for February, check out the calendar at CreativeLiberties.net.
Kids and kids at heart can enjoy fun art and nature activities on Saturday mornings, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on March 23, April 27, and May 25. Activities will run from 10 a.m. to noon each day, and participation is included in admission to the Gardens, which is always free for Selby Gardens members. These Family Saturdays celebrate the current exhibition on view, Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia OKeeffe. Several activity stations with different art-focused projects will be set up in the Ann Goldstein Childrens Rainforest Garden during each monthly event. The goal is to invite kids of all ages to explore the artwork of Yayoi Kusama and Georgia OKeeffe through activities that also connect them to the natural environment. Admission to Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus is $26 for adults, $11 for ages 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and under. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at selby.org. Selby Gardens members always receive complimentary admission as well as discounts for guests. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit selby.org.
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