Anna Maria Island has long been a treasure trove of hidden culinary gems, and Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) is one of its crown jewels. John and Amanda Horne opened the first AMOB back in 1995 at the historic Anna Maria City Pier. Islander and mainlanders alike fell in love with their fresh and fun take on local seafood and over the course of nearly three decades the Hornes have gone on to open a handful of AMOB locations throughout the Bradenton-Sarasota area. In May, the Hornes and their Oysters Rock Hospitality group opened the sixth AMOB location, this one in North Port.

“The vibe is a balance between the traditions of the commercial fishing community that is the lifeblood of Cortez and Anna Maria with a more modern coastal contemporary chic kind of feel,” says Eleni Sokos, the Executive Vice President of Oysters Rock Hospitality, describing the new space.

One of the ways the new location pays homage to the roots of the AMOB tradition is through the use of two large-scale murals in the restaurant. One is a photorealistic digital rendering of a painting of the original AMOB on the Anna Maria City Pier which has since closed. The other is a photograph of the Bridge Street pier complex in Bradenton Beach which is home to another AMOB location. The space also features art by local artist Mike Parrott who paints subjects like sealife, beach scenes, and mermaids on reclaimed wood. These more nostalgic design elements are paired with more modern design choices, like the 56-seat bar adorned with shimmering fish scale tiles and capped with a concrete countertop.

“We’re kind of blending old and new in terms of reinventing the coastal ambiance,” Sokos says.

That same spirit of evolution can be found on the AMOB menu. The North Port location has the same menu as the other AMOB locations which features familiar favorites as well as some fresh and flavorful updates that have been added over time. If you like a classic fried seafood basket, there’s golden brown Fish and Chips. In the mood for something light? The Tuna Poke Bowl is packed with flavor. Feel like designing your own meal? You can pick a fish, a style, and a topping all geared to your taste. Sokos swears by the Open Blue Cobia, which is sourced from sustainable farmers in Panama, grilled and drizzled with tequila lime herb butter. Even if you’re not a seafood person, AMOB has incredible burgers and a tasty Tropical Chicken Bowl among several other non-swimming options. And of course, you have to check out the Gulf-fresh oysters. There’s truly something for everyone.

The Anna Maria Oyster Bar in North Port is now open Sundays through Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 10pm. To see the AMOB menu, visit the restaurant’s website at oysterbar.net

Anna Maria Oyster Bar, 14132 Tamiami Trail, North Port, 941-207-2662. 

Picutred: The concrete bartop at Anna Maria Oyster Bar in North Port has a trough dug in it that's filled with ice all day long, so you can enjoy freshly-shucked oysters in style. Photo courtesy of Anna Maria Oyster Bar.

Music Bingo is happening this Wednesday, May 29th  from 6-8pm at Hamlet’s Eatery with a total twist! Talented local musician, Sabrina McClenithan, will be hosting. She will be playing some of the songs LIVE! Come for dinner, stay and enjoy the tunes and win prizes! Doors open at 5pm for dinner! Music Bingo is similar to regular Bingo but instead of calling out numbers, music is played and you find the song title on your card. There will be four rounds and no charge to play. You can play one round or all four. Prizes for each round and you can Shazam it! Yes, “cheating” is allowed. Dinner is available featuring traditional and vegan options. There is Prosecco on tap and a great selection of craft beers and wine. Hamlet’s Eatery is located in the courtyard of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information call 941-445-1938 or visit www.HamletsEatery.com. 

The School District of Manatee County’s Food and Nutrition Services Department has partnered with the Summer BreakSpot program since 2007 to help provide meals to youth during the long summer months. Beginning Tuesday, May 28, 2024, meals will once again be provided at more than 60 sites across Manatee County. The meals are free for all kids and teens, ages 18 and younger, with no registration or application required. The Summer BreakSpot is a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services program that provides free meals to all children, who are 18 or younger.  This service is not based on income status. It was designed to ensure that children have access to nutrition during the summer months and gives them the opportunity to return to school in August - healthy, happy, and ready to learn. School District of Manatee County general funds are not used for this program. Free meals will be provided to students attending School District of Manatee County summer programs, as well as county summer camp locations, community centers, local parks, churches, and more. A new location this summer is Bradenton’s Riverwalk/Rossi Park. Three mobile feeding buses and two mobile “Caboose” food vehicles (provided in partnership with Tropicana), will deliver meals to multiple locations throughout Manatee County beginning May 28th. Buses have both indoor and outdoor seating options for kids to enjoy their meal. Meals must be consumed on-site. There are three ways to find the nearest Summer BreakSpot location: Call: 211; Text: “Food” to 304-304; Visit: SummerBreakSpot.org. For more information about the Summer BreakSpot, please contact the Food and Nutrition Services Office at (941) 739-5700 or visit ManateeSchoolFood.net. 

Angélica Castro and Marcela Vanegas, two accomplished performers, writers and directors, are unveiling their latest directorial endeavor, "VOCES de la Maternidad (Voices of Motherhood)," a poignant exploration of motherhood within the Latino community in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The performance, presented by CreArteLatino, consists of dramatic readings of narratives collected from conversations with community members, brought to life by an ensemble of actors. Following each performance, engaging discussions will be facilitated, involving the audience, directors, storytellers, and actors. “VOCES de la Maternidad” is May 30-June 1, 8 p.m., and June 2, 5 p.m., at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in the Bradenton Kiwanis Theater, 502 Third Avenue West, Bradenton. Audience members must be 17+. Tickets are $22. To purchase tickets, visit CreArteLatino.org. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce the return of the annual Sarasota Improv Festival, the premier Festival of its kind in the Southeastern United States. Founded by Rebecca Hopkins in 2009, the Sarasota Improv Festival has become a destination event, drawing thousands of people from across the state of Florida and beyond. The festival is back for its 14th year and will feature over 16 of the top improv troupes from across the country and as far as Chile. The 14th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival will be held on FST’s downtown Sarasota campus Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13, 2024. A full Festival schedule is included at the end of this release.
This marks the seventh year that FST has welcomed artists from around the world to its Improv Festival. Introducing Festival audiences and performers to a wider array of improv styles and approaches has always been a priority to Festival Producer, Rebecca Hopkins, and Festival Organizer, Will Luera. Past Festivals have drawn international talent from Mexico, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Making their festival debut this year is Lospleimovil, an improv group from Chile. Lospleimovil was created in 2000 under the direction of actor and director Claudio Espinoza, along with actress and theater pedagogue Lissette Villegas, with the intention of promoting and researching stage improvisation, a genre that had not been showcased as a final artistic event by any professional theater company in the country until then. Thus, they became the pioneers of improv in Chile. Returning for the Festival are several fan favorite troupes, including Available Cupholders (Austin, TX, and Los Angeles, CA), Big Bang Improv (Boston, Sarasota, and New York City), Dad’s Garage (Atlanta, GA), Parallelogramophonograph (Austin, TX), North Coast (New York City, NY), and of course, Florida Studio Theatre’s own resident improv team, FST Improv. 

BAKING BLISS | Find big, bold flavors at Artisanal Cravings, May/June 2024. 

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