Starting tonight, area residents and visitors from Venice to Anna Maria Island will have a chance to indulge their inner gourmand with multi-course dinners and special-guest wine pairings.

Winemaker Dinners—part of the programming for the 17th annual Forks & Corks Food and Wine Experiences—is a food and dining event produced by Sarasota Manatee Originals and comprising its member restaurants. The Winemaker Dinners begin this evening and runs through Monday, January 27.

At each participating restaurant, executive chefs prepare special menus to pair with visiting winemakers from around the world. Cabernets from Napa Valley, bordeauxs from Château D'Aiguilhe, zinfandels from Paso Robles, champagnes from France—all of it gets matched with flavor profiles that complement and enhance the wines.

Why are food and wine pairings such a big deal?

Our mouths are a complex array of biochemistry and taste buds. Everything we eat or drink alters that chemistry and stimulates the receptors that sense flavors—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. A good pairing is like alchemy, creating new flavor experiences that transcend the individual parts.

But there are an infinite number of flavor profiles in wine based on the grape, the location of the vineyard, the amount of rain that year, and other nuanced facets of climate and geography. Similarly, a dozen different chefs might prepare a cordon bleu from the same recipe and yield slightly different results based on the altitude, relative humidity, cookware, or source of the ingredients.

To achieve those transcendent pairings requires lots of know-how and experience. Winemaker Dinners brings together the folks who know food and wine best: the chefs and vintners who make them.

For a full list of participating restaurants—and to learn which vineyards have partnered with them—visit the Winemaker Dinners landing page, where there are also links to purchase tickets and reserve a spot.

Or, to further enrich your wine knowledge with some “hands on” learning, sign up for one of the few remaining spots in the Forks & Corks University classes being held at Michael’s on East this Saturday, January 25. 

Photo by Andrew Fabian

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory is a free, K-12 public charter school open to all. We're excited to remind the community about our enrollment period through Jan. 31st. Register your child now to be in the lottery for admission for the 2025-26 scholastic year. 

To learn more, visit

For a second year, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is holding its 5K/10K run across the iconic Ringling Bridge. The event, officially named the Education Foundation Ringling Bridge Run, will take place on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in a show of community support for students and teachers in Sarasota County. The race attracted 1,250 runners in its inaugural year, who were cheered on with local bands along the route from Booker High School, Riverview High School, and Woodland Middle School. This year it is expected to draw over 2,000 participants. “In January, many of us are looking for ways to turn our New Year’s resolutions into action. This is a great way to get ready and go further while championing an important cause,” says Education Foundation President & CEO Jennifer Vigne. “Students and teachers in Sarasota County need to know that their community is here for them. The run shows them that we are behind them every step of the way.” 

More information and registration can be found here.

Williams Parker, Sarasota’s largest law firm, is pleased to announce Daniella Barone as the winner of the 2024 Holiday Card Design Contest in partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design. This marks the seventh year of collaboration between the law firm and the college in seeking creative designs from students for their annual holiday card. As part of the recognition, she has been awarded a cash prize to assist with her school-related expenses. As she continues to make her mark on the vibrant artistic community at Ringling College, Williams Parker eagerly anticipates the next chapters of Daniella Barone’s artistic journey. 

The Players Studio is thrilled to present our talented middle school students in the musical 13 Jr. with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The Musical is a coming-of-age story that follows Evan Goldman, a 12-year-old who moves from New York City to a small town in Indiana just before his 13th birthday. Facing the challenge of fitting in at a new school, Evan sets out to make his upcoming Bar Mitzvah the coolest party ever to win over his peers. The musical humorously explores the ups and downs of adolescence—friendship, first crushes, peer pressure, and the quest for acceptance.

Jan. 24-26, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

Photo courtesy of The Players Studio.

MITER Foundation, the charitable arm of MITER Brands, a residential window and door manufacturer that produces a portfolio of window and door brands for the new construction and replacement segments with an owner-operated, family-first approach, is hosting a wildfire relief donation drive to help individuals and families affected by the devastating wildfires in California, including members of the organization’s Simi Valley plant. The foundation is seeking household items such as blankets, sleeping bags, bedding and towels; toiletries and personal hygiene items; clothing; baby formula and diapers; and pet food and supplies. Those interested in donating are encouraged to attend the donation drive, or if they cannot attend but are interested in supporting, they can shop through an Amazon Wishlist.

Friday, January 24 - Sunday, January 26 from noon to 4 p.m., PGT-WINDOOR Plant, 104 Triple Diamond Blvd | N. Venice. 

You are invited to attend an Open House at MindSpa where you will discover how to prioritize your well-being in today's fast-paced world. Come meet our team of expert practitioners who specialize in Neurofeedback, Nutrition, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Addiction Counseling, and more. All dedicated to helping you heal, relax, and thrive. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and light bites as you tour our welcoming space, and explore our holistic wellness services. Don’t miss this opportunity to embrace a healthier, happier you! 

To RSVP click here

Sarasota Paradise, a USL League Two team based in Sarasota, recently announced the return of several key players and coaches for the upcoming 2025 season, as well as announced the official date for player tryouts. Returning players to this year’s roster include 2024 captain and defender Felipe Rojas, who graduated from University of Central Florida; defender Andrew Hollenbach, who attends and plays at Purdue University Fort Wayne; midfielder James Maxwell, who attends and plays at Northern Kentucky University; forward Fabrizio Bernal, who attends and plays at Xavier University; forward Kai Tamashiro, who attends and plays at Liberty University; and defender Enzo Panozzo, who attends and plays at Southern Methodist University. Those interested in playing for Sarasota Paradise for the 2025 season can attend player tryouts on February 8 - 9, 2025 at Premier Sports Campus. Tryout payment must be submitted in advance online to participate. 

To learn more, visit

Welcome Weekend returns. Get ready to welcome back your Atlanta Braves and join us on Saturday, February 15th from 10am-2pm for our free open house. New merchandise, kids and family activities, new concessions items and more. Then get ready to raise up those red solo cups! The Toby Keith tribute band- Beer for my horses- performs on the plaza at 7pm. Gates open at 5pm. 

For ticket information click here.

This weekend marks the final days of  the Selby Gardens annual Rainforest Masks of Costa Rica exhibition and sale! Rainforest Masks showcases art from the Indigenous Boruca tribe of Costa Rica, for whom traditional mask-making is a way of life. Guests will experience (and be able to purchase) vibrant, hand-carved and painted balsa wood masks featuring the stunning flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest.