SRQ DAILY Oct 4, 2024
Friday Weekend Edition
"We want to support whatever an area arts organization's mission is."
In just under six weeks, Sarasota will experience something that it never has before. Yes, the city that is home to Florida’s Cultural Coast™ has had art festivals before. The Ringling International Arts Festival was a beloved tradition. The Sarasota International Chalk Festival returns this November, larger and with more variance in its programming than ever before. The Sarasota Film Festival continues to live on.
But the people of Sarasota have yet to immerse themselves in the spectacle that is the upcoming Living Arts Festival. From November 10-17, the festival, produced by the non-profit Sarasota Rising, will engage nearly all of the area’s arts organizations in an effort to promote and cement Sarasota as the cultural hub of Florida’s Gulf Coast. “The idea was to make it as simple as possible. We don’t want to make organizations jump through hoops and produce something special for the festival. We want to support whatever an area arts organization’s mission is,” says Jeffery Kin, Executive Director of Sarasota Rising. “We want more people to walk through their lobbies, more butts in their seats, more people in the restaurants, more heads in beds. Really, we’ve realized, over the course of the two years, that we’re almost more like an arts movement. We’re more than a festival, more than a street fair, more than a kids art day, it's a movement of helping us all come together, celebrating who we are, what we are and enjoying what makes us so unique and different as a city.”
In its inaugural year, the Living Arts Festival will feature a bevy of produced events for attendees, special premieres of works from established organizations and even specially produced work by some of the organizations for the festival. The fun starts two days before the official opening of the festival, with a pre-festival “Living Arts Festival Fete” on Friday, November 8 and a family-focused free arts exhibition on November 9. The party officially kicks off on November 10, with the opening rooftop bash, “A World of the ARTS”, celebrating the global influences within the Sarasota art scene. That event is followed by “Our Embrace Reimagined”, a “super collaboration” between a number of local organizations, featuring a performance walking tour through Marie Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus. “All Roads Lead to Venice” will highlight the plethora of arts organizations in the city of Venice and “Arts Roulette” will allow participants to spin the roulette wheel to win tickets to events of the festival’s participating organizations. The festival will close in the Circus Arts Conservatory’s (CAC) Sailor Circus Arena with “Sarasota Rising –Celebrating Our Youth”, a massive, highly orchestrated production from the CAC and Key Chorale that will feature performances from many of the participating organization’s youth programs.
The Living Arts Festival takes place November 10-17, 2024. 
Several arts and cultural venues in the Sarasota area are undergoing repairs after sustaining damage from Hurricane Helene. The storm caused widespread disruptions, with strong winds and flooding impacting historic theaters, galleries, and performance spaces. Local arts organizations are working swiftly to restore these vital cultural hubs, aiming to reopen and continue their programming as soon as possible.
Photo courtesy of The Ringling.
Sarah Wertheimer, the executive director of Embracing Our Differences, recently announced that the organization has received a $50,000 Empowering Arts Grant Award made possible through the Charlotte Ellis Charitable Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant will support various aspects of the organization’s year-round educational initiatives and strengthen its mission.
Pictured: Students from area schools partake in EOD’s Make-A-Day-of-It! program, which offers free bus transportation for thousands of students and teachers to visit EOD's annual outdoor exhibition and other arts and cultural venues.
Between the colors red and blue lies a range of vibrant hues that makes up the wild and wonderful world of purple! Immerse yourself in purple flowers and foliage at this year’s Orchid Show at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, showcasing the magnificence and majesty of the royal family of plants. The Orchid Show 2024: PURPLE! presented by Better-Gro, will combine a stunning display of purple orchids in the Tropical Conservatory with a dynamic exhibition of botanical books, prints, photographs, and other materials in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. The conservatory will be filled with masses of purple orchid flowers and other plants with purple foliage. Selby Gardens members get exclusive first access to explore the entire exhibition before the show opens to the public on Saturday, October 5!
Art Center Sarasota’s 2024-2025 exhibition season opens with four exhibits, October 10-November 16. In “Echoes of Belonging,” Gabriel Ramos explores identity, community, and cultural heritage, bridging personal narratives with shared history to inspire reflection and connection. (Artist Talk is Saturday, October 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.) In "pouring, storing and ore-ing," Amy Sanders employs utilitarian objects, focusing on vessels designed for pouring and storing. These everyday items are imbued with layers of meaning beyond their functional roles. David Fithian’s exhibition, "Faces & Places," presents a series of paintings and drawings deeply rooted in Cubism and Abstract Illusionism, where divergent and eccentric perspectives converge into dynamic compositions. (Artist Talk is Friday, November 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m.) The open, juried exhibit: "Euphoria!" invites artists to express their exuberant selves and explore diverse interpretations of the theme, capturing the essence of euphoria in a myriad of creative forms. The juror is Leslie Butterfield, an artist and designer. (The Juror’s Critique with Leslie Butterfield is Tuesday, October 22, 4 p.m.).
Pictured: David Fithian's Cosmic Navigator. Photo courtesy of Art Center Sarasota.
Arts Advocates is pleased to announce its schedule of November events, which includes Robert C. Manteiga’s street photography exhibit, Sarasota Ballet and Van Wezel tours, Holly Freedman’s “Listening to Women” art talk, and a luncheon celebration of Arts Advocates’ milestone 55th anniversary with a chance to win an original painting by Martha Hartman. Unless otherwise indicated, registration is required at ArtsAdvocates.org.
This week, Sarasota Orchestra announced six exhibitions at the Orchestra’s Harmony Gallery to take place during the 2024-2025 season, including a collaboration with Booker High School featuring works by students from the school’s venerated Visual and Performing Arts program. The exhibit will also feature a special spotlight on Sarasota African American Cultural coalition artists. The Harmony Gallery features local artists showcasing their work in solo exhibitions throughout the Orchestra's season. These juried exhibitions feature artists with mediums ranging from painting to pastels to mixed media. Twenty-five percent of all proceeds from the sale of the artwork benefit Sarasota Orchestra. The exhibits invite patrons to explore the collaboration between the visual and performing arts.
Recovery continues after Hurricane Helene and we are happy to share the following updates on local businesses beginning to reopen:
Crescent Beach Market is now open.
New Pass Grille and Bait Shop is now open.
Poppos Taqueria on AMI will be open starting Saturday for limited hours, respecting the islands curfew.
Shore on St.Armand's is hosting a sip for a cause this weekend: Friday-Sunday 100% of all sangria sales will go towards rebuilding efforts within the community.
Siesta Key Watersports now has their vessels back in the water.
Summerhouse Steak & Seafood is open in Siesta Key Village for lunch with a value driven menu ranging from $14-20
The Porch Restaurant AMI is re-opening Oct 4th with limited hours, 12 pm - 8 pm until further notice.
Turtles on the south end of Siesta Key is now open.
As we come together to help our community members in need, Realize Bradenton will be accepting disaster relief supply donations at the @bradentonpublicmarket in collaboration with @mealsonwheelsplusofmanatee and @obricks. Donations can be dropped off Saturday, October 5 between 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Meals on Wheels Plus van on the corner of Old Main Street and Manatee Ave or in the tent in front of O'Bricks (427 12th St W). Supplies needed include: Cleaning Supplies, heavy duty trash bags, shovels, brooms, rakes, batteries & portable chargers, buckets & storage tubs, hand carts & dollies, bottled water.
As the community continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, the City of St. Pete Beach is working diligently to restore normalcy and address the pressing needs of its residents and businesses. Debris Collection Progress: The city has mobilized a comprehensive debris collection effort, with six trucks operating on designated routes to clear the extensive debris left in the storm's wake. Collection times and drop locations have been carefully planned to ensure efficient removal of debris, which includes: • Debris Collection Routes: Neighborhood by neighborhood ensuring service to all private residents (noncommercial), ensuring that every neighborhood is serviced. • Collection Times: Debris collection is scheduled for 7 am – 7 pm, with crews working tirelessly to meet the community's needs. Sand Removal and Beach Renourishment. In addition to debris collection, the city is addressing the critical issue of sand removal. The county's renourishment contract has been re-tasked to facilitate sand removal, ensuring that our beaches are restored to their former beauty and safety. This effort is crucial for both environmental and economic reasons, as our beaches are a vital part of our community's identity and economy. Mayor’s statement: "The recovery from Hurricane Helene is a top priority for our city. We are committed to supporting our residents and businesses through this challenging time. Our debris collection and sand removal efforts are just the beginning of our comprehensive recovery plan," said Mayor Adrian Petrila. "We appreciate the patience and resilience of our community and are working diligently to restore our city to its full vitality." City Manager Frances Robustelli
For the most current recovery information please go to https://stpetebeach.org/813/Post-Helene Recovery-Updates.
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.
The inaugural exhibition, Shopliftable, will feature artworks small enough to steal by 50 of Sarasota's favorite artists, highlighting the gallery's commitment to innovative and engaging presentations. Marilyn Anderson, Mark Anderson, Joseph Arnegger, Jorge Blanco, Don Brandes, Matteo Caloiaro, Thomas Carabasi, Tom Casmer, Omar Chacon, Tylor Trobaugh Christian, Jessie Clark, Keith Crowley, Ian Dean, Jack Dowd, Linda Driggs, Regan Dunnick, Joe Fig, Gale Fulton-Ross, Sheryl Haler, Nancy Hielscher, Christina Hess, Virginia Hoffman, Cassia Kite, Keith Losh, Mike Marsicano, Noelle McCleaf, Jenny Medved, Joseph Melancon, Janna Millstone, Brooke Olivares-Caloiaro, Meg Peirce, George Pratt, Mary Grandpre, Vicky Randall, Taylor Robenalt, Jared Robison, Marina Shaltout, Eszter Sziksz, Tom Stephens, Steven Strenk, Rob Tarbell, and Rose Marjanneke Williamson.
502 Gallery, 502 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota
Since we opened in January, SRQ is getting to know us for our hand-tossed & crafted Pie's, Calzones, Sammies & Salads + our tasty beverages. Now you can join your buddies for what some call 'the most wonderful time of the year' - FOOTBALL SEASON! Drop in when you're strolling on Main to catch your team or join your buddies for Pie On Main's Game Watching parties, featuring Happy Hours from 4-7:00 Daily, plus our Special Sub of the Day and extensive selection of Domestic and craft taps. Ask your friendly barkeep about our Tuesday Karaoke or our sister restaurant, 3.14 Pi in Siesta Village. Convenient parking in our lot on First Street.
Pie on Main, 1507 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Cask & Ale on Main Street lifts a toast to our fabulous Jazz Brunch every Sunday from 11:00-3:00. We offer a diverse chef-prepared menu with a full spread of Brunch delectables + our rotating Chef's Special menu, Bottomless Mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. And of course, sharing the good vibes of live Jazz with you from Noon-4:00!
Cask & Ale, 1548 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Do you feel a slight change in the air? Kick off your Fall festivities with Season Four of Fresh Fridays! Celebrate the vibrancy of downtown Sarasota and say farewell to those hot summer months. OctoberFresh will take place on Main Street between Palm and Pineapple Avenue. You will find the stage for the evening adjacent to First Watch Restaurant and our lineup of hospitality vendors placed along lower Main Street!
Main Street - Downtown Sarasota, Main Street between Palm and Pineapple Avenue Sarasota FL
Exhibition Opening Reception: Friday, October 4, 2024, from 6-8 pm. Featured Artists: Valerie Eickmeier, Christy Vonderlack, Tammy Keller. This season, get ready to discover the freshest talent, landing at Burns Gallery on Palm. Paintings range from mystical abstraction to water inspired works.
Burns Gallery, 80 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
In addition to the live music, attendees can enjoy an exclusive silent auction featuring a variety of unique items, including everything from hotel stays and fishing charters to gift cards and bottles of wine. The event will also include a raffle, Taste of the Beaches ticket sales, and delicious food and beverages available for purchase." You can join us for the inaugural Kickoff party at 6 p.m. in Horan Park. This free event is open to the public and will feature a live music performance in collaboration with the City of St. Pete Beach's October Concert series, making it a perfect evening for locals and visitors. In addition to the live music, attendees can enjoy an exclusive silent auction featuring a variety of unique items, including everything from hotel stays and fishing charters to gift cards and bottles of wine. The event will also include a raffle, Taste of the Beaches ticket sales, and delicious food and beverages available for purchase.
Horan Park , 7701 Boca Ciega Drive St. Pete Beach, Fl 33706
Euphoria is defined as an intense feeling of well-being or elation that may be sparked by exercise, music, art or even mania. Inherently, euphoria is often associated with other fierce emotions in an excited state. This exhibition invites artists to display their excited selves and their diverse reactions to the theme of euphoria
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with UnidosNow and The Ringling at the third annual NocheUnidos, a collaboration between The Ringling and UnidosNow. This elegant evening, held in the magical Museum of Art Courtyard, features dining, dancing, music, and fellowship that honor the rich and dynamic cultures that have influenced our Gulf Coast community, including the African diaspora, Indigenous America, and Europe. The event kicks off with festive Puerto Rican rhythms from Bomba Yemayá and parades into the night with an upbeat Mardi Gras spirit captured by the New Orleans-based 79rs Gang. Dress in white to call in the season with elegancia as we come together to honor unity and the riches of our region.
Historic Asolo Theater (HAT), 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Presented by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, BooFest is our biggest and most popular annual event that the community screams for! This year, you can expect a fantastic lineup of food and drink vendors, a Kids Korner for fun activities, a live DJ, a full schedule of dance performances, and MORE! Plus, there will be plenty of trick-or-treating! Join us on Lakewood Main Street on Friday, October 25th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for a fun-filled Halloween night you won’t want to miss!
Lakewood Main Street, 8100 Lakewood Main St Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
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.
David Fithian’s exhibition, "Faces and Places," presents a series of paintings and drawings deeply rooted in Cubism and Abstract Illusionism, where divergent and eccentric perspectives converge into dynamic compositions. Fithian's structured approach invites viewers on a visual and intellectual journey, challenging both the eye and mind to explore new dimensions of perception.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236
Don't miss the chance to see our Historic Spanish Point campus transformed into “Spooky Point" where you can follow an eerily lit path and encounter fantastic creations and bootanically-themed decorations along the way. Equal parts campy, creepy, and cute, this walk-through show is fun for all ages.
Historic Spanish Point, 401 North Tamiami Trail Osprey, Fl 34229
Season subscriptions and individual tickets are going on sale for Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's highly-anticipated 25th anniversary season, titled "25 Years of Black Heritage." The season features four mainstage productions - "Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition," "Fences," "Five Guys Named Moe," and WBTT's first-ever tap dancing musical revue, "Syncopated Avenue"; holiday show is "A Motown Christmas." Visit westcoastblacktheatre.org to learn more about WBTT and to purchase tickets and subscriptions.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Angie Cruz' most recent work "How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water" was chosen for The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2022 and The Washington Post 50 Notable Works of Fiction. Presented in partnership with Sarasota County Libraries and Ringling College of Art and Design, put your toes in the sand on the Hermitage Beach and hear from this gifted writer as she reads from her work, shares thoughts on the creative process, and opens insights into what is next for her.
Hermitage Artist Retreat, 6660 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood
Put on your SunHAT and roam The Ringling for unexpected, interactive, and delightful Eco-Performance. EcoPerformance celebrates the creative force of the non-human and our connection to the natural world while addressing climate emergencies through artist-driven stories. The audience will be delighted by site-specific-fungi dance, engaged in artist talks under the banyans, raving to vegan rap, and laughing with water-conscious clowns. For professional tree huggers and recreational eco-enthusiasts alike, this festival will honor our beautiful coast and green spaces, investigate climate realities, and dream up resilient Florida futures. Artists and collaborators include national and international line up of performers, scholars, and speakers. Join local Herbalist and Acupuncture Physician Bob Linde for an indoor/outdoor talk on the common understanding of food/nature/medicine that mixes bioregional plants with traditional knowledge. After a brief lecture, we will enjoy a short stroll to discover what plants already exist in the Bayfront Gardens, the brave will engage their senses, smelling and tasting various plants along with great stories.
Historic Asolo Theater (HAT), 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
The Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. The ensemble believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and seeks to redefine and reimagine the classical music experience. They have toured widely throughout the United States and abroad, including sold-out performances in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. This program includes music by Gershwin, Piazzolla, and Ravel. Tickets are $43 & $63 and the event will be held at the First Presbyterian Church. For more information, visit Artistseriesconcerts.org.
Calling all lovers of the expressive French horn! Sarasota Orchestra’s co-principal horn Hugo Bliss disjointed by a fellow superstar, Milwaukee Symphony’s hornist Scott Sanders whose career also began in Sarasota. Together with Joesph Holt on piano, they offer a cornucopia of remarkable music for this most magnificent instrument. The program includes Beethoven’s mighty sextet for two horns and string quartet. The performance will be held at the Sarasota Yacht Club on March 13, 2025 at 11 am. Tickets are $70. For more information, visit Artistseriesconcerts.org.
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