Husband and wife team Dana and Isell Lopez were looking to open a second location of their Mexican restaurant Chicano’s. But then the plan changed.

“When we found this location we popped in thinking we were going to do Mexican food, but it was previously an Italian restaurant many years ago so it was already set up for Italian food,” Dana says. “My husband is 100% Mexican and I’m 100% Italian, so I always wanted to open an Italian restaurant eventually. When we walked in I was like, ‘This is my sign,’”

The duo opened Bella Vino & Cucina two years ago, and things were running along smoothly but they had a large upstairs area that wasn’t getting much use other than private parties. So they decided to revisit their original plan. Eight months ago they opened Tacos and Tequila in the same location. Upstairs, diners can enjoy cute and cozy Italian decor or take in a beautiful romantic view from the patio. Downstairs, diners can enjoy the laid-back modern Mexican vibe. No matter where you sit, you can order off of both menus. This unique hybrid approach is great for couples or families who can never agree on what they want for dinner.

While you’ll find traditional Italian fare on the Bella Vino menu and authentic Mexican food on the Tacos and Tequila menu, there are some dishes where the cuisines have collided, creating unique and delicious meals. A particular favorite is the Pork Osso Bucco, which features tender pork shank in a homemade mole sauce served with rice and sliced avocado.

This hybrid restaurant is also a great weekend brunch spot with unlimited mimosas, margaritas, or Bloody Marys for $30 as well as clever twists on classic brunch dishes. The Avocado Toast with fresh guacamole and pickled onion is light and refreshing, while the Tres Leches French Toast is rich and decadent.

Bella Vino & Cucina and Tacos and Tequila, 3983 Destination Drive, Osprey, 941-966-2365, tacosandtequilaosprey.com. 

Pictured: Margaritas and Italian food? Why not! Get the best of both worlds at Tacos and Tequila and Bella Vino. Photo courtesy of Tacos and Tequila.

The School District of Manatee County is hosting a hiring event from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, 2024. A variety of positions are available for job seekers with on-site interviews available. The hiring event is taking place at Wakeland Support Center, located at 1812 27th Street East in Bradenton. Open positions include Bus Drivers, Bus Aides, Cafeteria Managers, Custodians, Electricians, Food Service Workers, HVAC Technicians, Maintenance Workers and more. Interested applicants are encouraged to view openings and apply online. For more information or view a list of open positions, please visit www.ManateeSchools.net/Careers. 

Get ready to flip-flop your way into a tropical paradise because this one’s for all you Jimmy Buffett fans! Join us on Saturday, August 31, from 11 AM to 6 PM at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime for a sun-soaked celebration of the legendary tunes that make us all feel like we're on island time! Kick off the festivities with live music featuring the Hawaiian Shirts Ukulele Band at 11:30 AM, strumming those classic Buffett vibes, followed by Capt. John from 12:30 to 3 PM, and wrapping up with the BonFire Jam from 3 to 6 PM. It’s a musical journey you won’t want to miss! Get your adventure hats on for the Lost Shaker of Salt Scavenger Hunt happening all day inside The Bazaar—treasure awaits, and so do fabulous prizes! Plus, from 11 AM to 3 PM, meet the fabulous Kelly Stilwell, author of “100 Things To Do in Sarasota Before You Die,” for a book signing that’s sure to inspire your next escapade. And what’s a party without some delicious eats and drinks? Hamlet’s Eatery is serving up Cheeseburgers in Paradise, ice-cold $4 Landshark on draft, and $7 Margaritas to keep the vibes flowing! Don’t forget to swing by the Sarasota Bay Parrothead Club’s 50/50 Raffle, where you can help raise funds for Save the Manatee Organization. They’ll be there with goodies and info to help you make a splash for the cause! So grab your flip-flops, don your best Hawaiian shirt, and let’s make some unforgettable memories together—because it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere. The Bazaar is located at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information visit www.BazaaronApricotandLime.com or call 941-445-1938. 

Tammy Hauser, Founder & CEO of Discover Sarasota Tours (DST) announced that two new trolley tours of Venice, Florida will be offered on Tuesdays from January-April 2025. “We have been leading annual tours of Venice as part of our History Hop Week celebrating South Sarasota County for two years but are excited to bring Dolly The Trolley to Venice to lead a Venice City Tour on Tuesday mornings and our Circus Secrets of Venice tour on Tuesday afternoons during Season,” said Hauser. The tours will depart from the Venice Chamber of Commerce Building offering FREE parking and a convenient location. The ninety-minute narrated 10 AM Venice City Sightseeing Tour will focus on downtown history, architecture and things to do. It will be led in partnership with Venice Florida Tours. "We are excited to partner with Discover Sarasota Tours to bring a consistent trolley tour option to Venice. I hope this allows for more residents and visitors to learn about the history of Venice," said Ronnie Fernandez, Owner and Tour Guide of Venice Florida Tours. The 1 PM Circus Secrets of Venice tour will be led by Circus Historian and Guide, Bob Collins and includes a stop at the Venice Train Depot and the Ringling Train Car Museum (led by Venice Area Historical Society docents). “We tend to forget that for more than three decades Venice took the spotlight from the city of Sarasota as winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Join us on our tour, Circus Secrets of Venice, and you'll hear echoes of The Greatest Show on Earth® that still resonate throughout the community,” said Collins.

All daytime tours are $49.99 plus tax/handling fee and can be booked on the website: DiscoverSarasotaTours.com. 

During a city commission meeting earlier this week, the City of Sarasota and city commissioners officially declared August 19 as Sarasota Paradise Day in recognition of the team’s excellence and achievements this past season. Under the leadership of Marcus Walfridson and head coach Mirko Dakovic, Sarasota Paradise, a USL League Two team based in Sarasota, went undefeated in their last 11 games of the 2024 season, including significant wins against Miami, Tampa and St. Petersburg. For the first time in the team’s history, Sarasota Paradise was also named division champions and attended playoffs in Asheville, North Carolina, a remarkable accomplishment for the team, organization and the City of Sarasota. Launched in 2023, Sarasota Paradise is a men’s pre-professional soccer team that aims to bring high-level soccer to Sarasota and the surrounding community, with a commitment to nurturing local talent and providing a platform for aspiring players. Sarasota Paradise came to fruition when Walfridson, a devoted soccer entrepreneur from Sweden, fell in love with Sarasota and recognized the need for a local soccer team. Since then, the team has seen much success, including being named New Organization of the Year by the USL in 2023 and having its first player in the team's history be drafted into the MLS.