SRQ DAILY Jan 14, 2025
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"We sell empanadas, churros, Jarritos drinks and, of course, authentic street tacos."
Jamie Albano was part of the first wave of business owners in Downtown Wellen Park. Along with his wife Tracy, he opened Kind Vibes Outfitters on Grand Lake, where residents and locals can rent bikes and kayaks and pick up other outdoor equipment. They went on to add the Hydration Station to the shop, where you can quench your thirst with anything from cold soda to local craft beer and fine wines. Next, the family opened Lakeside Bites, an eatery in The Yard, a food court adjacent to the outfitters with restaurants based in repurposed shipping containers. And on December 19, the Albanos opened a second concept in The Yard called Lago Tacos. While Lakeside Bites has an eclectic menu, Lago Tacos has a more singular focus.
“Lago Tacos is focused just on Mexican food,” Albano says. “We sell empanadas, churros, Jarritos drinks and, of course, authentic street tacos.”
The street tacos are already a big hit with Wellen Park residents. Served on flour or yellow corn tortillas, the tacos can be stuffed with brisket, chicken or pork. They’re topped with cilantro and white onion in the traditional street taco fashion. Tacos come three to a tray, so you can stick with one favorite flavor or sample multiple fillings. While Albano is partial to the slow-smoked beef brisket, the chicken tacos have a fresh Florida-friendly flavor thanks to a citrusy pollo asado marinade.
“My staff eats whatever isn’t sold at the end of the night, so we rarely have leftovers,” Albano laughs.
Though Lago Tacos has been open less than a month, business is already booming with plenty of repeat customers. But it’s not just the great flavors and friendly service that keeps people coming back.
“We’re receiving great feedback about our pricing,” Albano says. “Everyone from moms with strollers to high school kids are saying how much they appreciate good, affordable food.” 
Pictured: The chicken street tacos at Lago Tacos are fresh and flavorful. Phot courtesy of Lago Tacos.
Get ready for a weekend packed with flavor, fun, and fantastic live music at the 4th Annual Punta Gorda Seafood & Music Festival, taking placeJanuary 17, 18 & 19, at beautiful Laishley Park. Admission is FREE, so bring your appetite, your love of music, and your festive spirit! For more information, visit Paragon Festivals.
January 17-19, 2025, Laishley Park, Punta Gorda, Admission: Free.
Kick off your weekend with the perfect blend of fresh flavors, fantastic tunes, and family fun at the 6th Annual Englewood Seafood & Music Festival, happening January 31 – February 2, 2025, at Dearborn Street Plaza (348 W. Green Street). Admission is FREE, so bring your appetite for fun!
January 31 – February 2, Dearborn Street Plaza, 348 W. Green Street, Englewood, Admission: Free.
This year, the ambitious students of the Business class organized two exhibitions, simultaneously: Jack Davis: Legacy of Laughter, a retrospective of drawings and ephemera featuring the widely recognizable, if not infamous, works by the Mad magazine cartoonist, and Nothing New: Archives of Affection, a historic collection of daguerreotypes of male couples from the early and mid-19th century. Located in the Willis Smith Gallery, Archives of Affection presents 300 tiny portraits of queer love in a dimly lit, soft pink painted gallery, full of cozy furniture and offering an intimate atmosphere. The museological setting situates the portraits, not in a cozy intimate space of the era of their making, but in a contemporary home, as if they were cherished portraits of family members or queer ancestors who paved the way for future gay and trans folks to experience loving relationships.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) announced today that The Ringling Museum of Art will host the first public showings of the original commissions resulting from the 2023 Hermitage Greenfield Prize (HGP). Los Angeles-based visual artist Sandy Rodriguez’s exhibition Currents of Resistance will be presented in the Keith D. Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art and represents the latest in a series of exhibitions featuring Hermitage Greenfield Prize-winning visual artists at The Ringling, beginning with Sanford Biggers’ 2012 exhibition Codex. Rennie Harris, the first HGP recipient in the field of dance and choreography, will share the first public presentations of his original work Losing My Religion at the Historic Asolo Theater on April 4 and again on April 5, with his dance company Rennie Harris Puremovement. The premieres of these original Hermitage commissions will coincide with the Hermitage Greenfield Prize Weekend, culminating in the Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner on Sunday, April 6.
The Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota is one of Florida's few professional chamber orchestras. Its mission is to present extraordinary repertoire in small, elegant venues. The orchestra will present “Sparkling Virtuosity " at its February 13 concert. Pianist Inna Faliks will perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The program includes Rossini, Bach, and Johann Strauss music. On March 20, the orchestra will present the Florida premiere of “Anne Frank’s Tree” by American composer Victoria Bond, narrated by Alexa Scharf. The concert opens with Korngold’s “Much Ado About Nothing Suite” and concludes with Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto featuring George Maxman. Concerts are performed at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St. Robert Vodnoy is the music director.
Off The Charts is currently playing in the Court Cabaret through February 9, 2025, and will return to the Keating Theatre for a limited engagement from February 27 through March 9, 2025. Known for its high-energy performances, this cabaret celebrates unforgettable chart-toppers like “Can’t Hurry Love,” “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “The Greatest Love of All,” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” Now extended through April in the Goldstein Cabaret, 59th Street Bridge captures the essence of folk and rock’s golden age. Set on an intimate stage illuminated by twinkling lights, the cabaret features soulful ballads like “Annie’s Song” and “Both Sides Now,” alongside upbeat tracks like “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Tickets for both shows are available now. For more information, visit floridastudiotheatre.org or call the FST Box Office at (941) 366-9000.
Kids and kids at heart can enjoy fun art and nature activities on Saturday morning, January 18, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. This is the first of five monthly “Family Saturdays” coming to Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, with similar events scheduled for February 22, March 29, April 26, and May 31. Admission to Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus is $28 for adults, $12 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. Family Saturdays are part of the Ann Winslow Donelly and Norbert P. Donelly Family and Community Engagement Series and is sponsored by Beverly Koski and the Koski Family Foundation.
The Wellen Park Night Market returns the second Thursday of each month from 6-9pm offering an evening of shopping, live music and dining under the twinkling lights of Downtown Wellen. The Night Market features independent artists and makers specializing in art, jewelry, boutique fashion, home decor, bottle art, wood designs and specialty food items set up along Wellen Park Boulevard with 50 rotating vendors. Food items included rum cakes, desserts, lemonade, barbecue and vegan fare.
Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd
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.
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.
"Unveiled Strength: Portraits of Intimacy and Vulnerability," featuring evocative works of award-winning Bradenton-based artist Gary LaParl, will be on display from December 15, 2024, to January 16, 2025, at the Lexow Gallery at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota. This collection of portraits explores complex themes of male relationships and vulnerability, inviting viewers to engage with deep, often overlooked aspects of masculinity.
Lexow Gallery at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232
On Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 12:00-2:00 pm, the community is invited to visit Sarasota Opera House for a wide variety of free activities and offerings. Visitors can enjoy art songs, ensembles, and arias sung throughout the opera house, a raffle, backstage tours, wig and makeup demonstrations, a display of select pieces from our extensive collection of over 50,000 historic opera costumes, special ticket offers, and complementary refreshments.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota FL 34236
The 34th National Juried Exhibition showcases the best representational paintings produced across North America. With nearly 200 juried artists and many invited Master Signature artists, it serves as a showcase for both up-and-coming talent and some of the most celebrated artists working today. The exhibition does not focus on a single style or theme but instead celebrates the diversity and art produced within the representational oil painting tradition. The exhibition & opening is in conjunction with the OPA National Convention, which features numerous lectures, painting demonstrations, and social events geared to artists and collectors.
ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St West Bradenton, FL 34205
ArtCenter Manatee once again joins with the School District of Manatee County to showcase the work of K-12 visual arts students. By partnering with ArtCenter Manatee, that commitment is furthered by giving these young artists a 'voice' - three museum-quality galleries, where their work can be professionally displayed and where the artists can receive positive recognition by a wider audience.
ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St West Bradenton, FL 34205
The 27th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival is a three-day event held Feb. 14-16, 2025 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds that benefits Suncoast Charities for Children. National Headline Acts include Blue Öyster Cult (Friday – Feb. 14), Grand Funk Railroad (Saturday – Feb. 15), and Creed Fisher (Sunday – Feb. 16). The Festival features continuous live music, vendors, daredevil acts, a charity motorcycle ride, bike show, a motorcycle “sound off” competition, biker games, and much more! On-site camping is also available. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the gate (12 and under free). Limited VIP tickets are also available. Over the past 26 years, the Festival has raised over $2.8 Million for charity.
Sarasota Fairgrounds
Be the first to experience our elevated new menu offerings in our stunning, one-of-a-kind restaurant. The festivities will also include cocktails and live entertainment for an unforgettable evening in celebration of our new Sarasota UTC location. RSVP by Friday, January 20th.
Fleming's Sarasota UTC, 8306 Tourist Center Dr. Bradenton FL 34201
Enjoy a wonderful 4 courses dinner paired with 4 glasses of wine, great ambiance, live music and friendly staff. $89 pp
Mademoiselle Paris UTC & Anna Maria Island, Various Location
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
Teachers + Tuesdays = 1⁄2 OFF Pie’s at Pie On Main! Every Tuesday Teachers with School ID enjoy 1/2 off Pizzas when you Dine-in with us! Convenient parking in our lot behind the restaurant. 1/2 off Pizzas with purchase of any beverage, excluding personal pizzas.
Pie on Main, 1507 Main St Sarasota, FL 34236
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.” Join us every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings from 5-8:30 pm.
Chaz 51 Steakhouse, 549 US-41 BYP, Venice, FL 34285
Join us on the Bolger Campiello for live music and dancing. Food and beverage will be available for purchase on the bayfront. One chair per person will be available. No outside food, drink, coolers, chairs or pets are permitted. Members please note: $20 tickets are limited to one for Individual Memberships and two for all other Membership levels.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Join us as we dive into principal cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra, Natalie Helm's Kentucky roots alongside her collective group of star musicians radiating the beauty of the Midwest while illuminating sound and movement that will glisten the stage.
Sarasota Contemporary Dance, 1400 Blvd of the Arts Ste 300, Sarasota FL 34236
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