Issue No. 11 | Spring 2024 | Special Edition

CONTENTS

10 Publisher’s Letter

11 Special Edition – Celebrating Ten Beautiful Issues of Bradenton Magazine and Its Contributors

16 Realize Bradenton – Music in the Park by Emma Taylor

18, 42 Recipes by enRich Bistro, Harry’s Continental Kitchens

20 Forks & Corks: A Premier Food & Wine Event in Our Own Backyard by Kelly Stilwell

Gopher Tortoise

Photo courtesy of Manatee County Government

by Sarah Fish

MISSION support local

CELEBRATING TEN BEAUTIFUL ISSUES OF BRADENTON MAGAZINE…

As I sit down to write this for our 11th issue, I’m filled with gratitude, nostalgia, and a sense of pride. What started as an idea has evolved into a magazine that captures the talent, stories, and successes of our community.

None of this would be possible without the talented artists and photographers creating and capturing such amazing covers, writers that love putting to paper the stories of our community, and the advertisers who give their support and find our content worthy of their trust.

The thrill of finalizing covers, reading each new article that comes through, designing each issue to flow and be visually appealing captivates me. The anticipation of getting each issue in my hands is unmatched, and I love that every conversation and encounter translates into new ideas and content for the magazine.

In this issue, I wanted to bring back each cover and the artist to remind everyone of the talent that has graced the cover each issue. Each artist/photographer is a local talent and met this challenge with enthusiasm and dedication to bring something everyone wanted to pick up. Many people say the cover is what they can’t wait to see, and I have even heard people frame it. What a compliment!

As we step into a new year, we invite you to continue the journey with us, share your thoughts, and let us know what you love, and what you want to see more of. Your feedback fuels our growth, and we are committed to delivering content that resonates with you.

Cheers to the many more years of Bradenton Magazine producing beautiful covers, great storytelling, community celebrations, and exciting growth.

Cover Artwork: Mark Gagnon

Monark Custom Framing and Art Gallery

https://monark-custom-framing-and-artgallery.business.site/

Publisher + Editor -In-Chief

Cover Artwork: Shelby Counihan

Instagram: @shelbycounihandesigns

Cover Photo featuring C ponies: Paula Wright

Bradenton Magazine

Cover Photo: Adrianna M Photography

Cover Photo: Megan Barry

Orange Grove Artwork

Instagram: @orangegroveartworks

Cover Photo:

David X Tejada

Tejada Photography Inc. davidtejada.com

Photography displayed at Island Gallery, Bradenton

Cover Artwork:

Susan Coulis

Tropical Art Chick tropicalartchick.com

Instagram: @susancoulis

Cover Artwork: Stephanie Troxle

Little Blue Designs

Instagram: @littlebluedesigns

www.littlebluedesignsus.com

Cover Photo and Flag Carving: Lorenzo Liberti heroicflags.com give-a-buck.org

Cover Artwork: Lisa DiFranza lisadifranza.com

Artwork displayed at Island Gallery, Bradenton

REALIZE BRADENTON – MUSIC IN THE PARK

BY EMMA TAYLOR

Realize Bradenton’s Music in the Park series will be returning to the Riverwalk in March for its 11th year of bringing residents together for scenic entertainment. The Friday night performance series is free, familyfriendly, and offers an eclectic mix of artists catering to different musical tastes. Our beautiful riverfront park and Bradenton’s impressive roster of local musical talent make a divine pairing for a springtime event!

The Eric Von Band will be kicking off this year’s performances on March 22. Band leader Eric Von is no stranger to Music in the Park — 2024 will be his third time playing the event. The fifth-generation Florida native was raised in Cortez Village and has been a vibrant voice in the Manatee County music scene since he was a teen.

From Orlando to Nashville, Von’s music has taken him many places over the years. After about five years in Tennessee where he was averaging 200 shows a year, Von realized his capacity for success could easily translate in his hometown. Ultimately, it was the people and the opportunities in Bradenton that led him back to where it all started.

“I don’t call the audience fans. I call them friends,” Von said earnestly of his following. “I love making music, but the coolest thing I think it’s done for me is that it has allowed me to help people and make lasting connections. Music is about people coming together for a common cause, and often, the music is just the catalyst for the good that comes from community,” he elaborated.

Initiatives like The Bradenton Market, Winter Wonderland, the Bradenton Blues Festival, and Music in the Park provide residents with different activities throughout the year, but the very special thing they all have in common is the attendees. Providing opportunities for residents to commune in joyful environments breeds connection and can even serve as launching pads for shared ideas or new career paths. The beginning of Von’s musical journey itself is evidence of the power of such gatherings.

Lead guitarist for the Eric Von Band, Tim Chandler, caught Von eyeing his finger work at a celebration of life more than 20 years ago and approached him to ask if he played. At 14 years old, Von only knew a handful of tunes, but the response to his performance and support from Chandler helped to spark Von’s 24-year career playing country rock around the U.S.

In addition to the musical nudge, Chandler’s advice has helped to form Von’s outlook on the business by stressing the importance of deep and lasting personal relationships — a constant undercurrent for Von when discussing his purpose and love of his craft. He places great emphasis on the grassroots power that goes hand-in-hand with live music — noting that it’s one thing to help out a large cause, but he feels the most powerful support comes from identifying with individuals.

With more than two decades as a performer behind him, Von has done it all, including the sometimescurated shows that can be very rigid. “Truthfully, we’re just messing around and having a good time,” he says in favor of the more relaxed atmosphere.

“If the audience is having fun, we’re having fun!”

The positivity that’s born from collective events is at the core of Realize Bradenton’s mission, making the enthusiastic and good vibe-centric Eric Von Band an excellent choice for this year’s first headliner.

Andrea Knies, Realize Bradenton’s Director of Communications, said of the project, “At Realize Bradenton, we strive to bring people together. And what better way to do that than through music! Thanks to generous grants and community support, we’re able to produce these free concerts featuring local musicians along our stunning Riverwalk. Music in the Park is a showcase of the talent, beauty, and generosity that make Bradenton such a special place.”

Bradenton has always been a special place, but the work of Realize Bradenton in recent years has helped immensely to highlight that fact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have been able to showcase Bradenton’s latent beauty and talent that may have otherwise been left wanting for an opportunity to shine.

As Von pointed out, we live in a place with a rich musical past. “Let’s not forget the incredible artists that have come out of Florida and even Bradenton! I mean, from Dickie Betts to the Allman Brothers, you have some real legends that have history here,” he enthusiastically recalled.

Realize Bradenton doesn’t need to fly in talent from all around the country, nor do they need to erect new

forums for performing. The creative energy is here in the residents. They just need a platform and enough people who like free music, and the magic happens naturally.

This year’s Music in the Park series will be taking place on Friday nights from March 22 to April 26. More information and the lineup can be viewed on realizebradenton.com. A list of local shows and booking information for Eric Von can be found at ericvonmusic. com.

Bring a chair or blanket, friends, and your leashed pups to this free, family-friendly music series.

Fridays, March 22–April 26, 2024, 6–8 p.m.

At the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion

452 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

2024 Music in the Park Schedule & Lineup:

March 22: Eric Von Band (Country)

March 29: soulRcoaster (Rock)

April 5: Glass Onion Beatles Band (Beatles Tribute)

April 12: SweetFleet (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)

April 19: Monkey Finger (Rock)

April 26: Kristopher James (Singer/Songwriter)

Photos courtesy of Realize Bradenton

RED BEET & GOAT CHEESE HUMMUS FLATBREAD

Ingredients for the Flatbread:

Flatbread - I like naan the best

Beet & Goat Cheese Hummus (see recipe)

Prosciutto, hand-torn

Asparagus - I used only the tips

Sugar snap peas - cut into smaller pieces

Goat cheese crumble

BBQ roasted pistachios, crumbled - I used the Wonderful brand Extra virgin olive oil

Recipe for the Hummus:

1 - 15 oz can Roasted red beets

2 - 15.5 oz cans Chickpeas

3 oz Goat cheese

3 each Roasted garlic

1 Tbsp Tahini

2 Tbsp Fresh thyme, picked

2 tsp Fresh lemon juice

*3 tsp Kosher salt

*1 tsp Fresh-cracked black pepper

Assembly for the Flatbread:

*Season with salt and pepper according to your taste. Open and drain both the chickpeas and beets. Discard liquid. In a food processor, combine all ingredients including the chickpeas and beets. Blend until smooth and adjust your seasoning to your liking.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take your freshly made hummus and spread across your naan flatbread, making sure to avoid the very edges.

Next, tear your prosciutto into pieces and place onto the flatbread, leaving some space for the rest of the toppings.

Now sprinkle on your asparagus tips and sugar snap peas. Then crumble a little goat cheese on top.

*When the oven reaches 425, drizzle some EVOO onto the flatbread and place on a sheet tray. Put on middle shelf and cook for 15-18 minutes or until desired doneness is met. Take out and let cool for just a few minutes then TOP WITH YOUR CRUMBLED BBQ ROASTED PISTACHIOS and enjoy!

*If your oven has a convection setting and you decide to use this option, your cooking time may be decreased.

Executive

Chef Larry Lane

FORKS & CORKS: A PREMIERE FOOD & WINE EVENT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

BY KELLY STILWELL

Florida has no shortage of food and wine events. In fact, every single month there is at least one festival made for foodies and oenophiles in the Sunshine State. From Amelia Island all the way down to the Keys, Floridians love to eat and drink. Lucky for those of us in the Sarasota Bradenton area, we have one of the best right here in our backyard. Forks & Corks is a premiere food and wine event featuring wineries from around the world along with some of the top restaurants in our area.

If you missed the 17th annual Forks & Corks event in January, I’m sorry. Truly. It was a party for the ages. Though this was my first time attending the sold-out Grand Tasting, I hear it gets better every year. It’s held in the magnificent courtyard of the world-famous Ringling Museum in Sarasota, and Mother Nature delivered the bluest of skies and warm temperatures for partygoers sampling delicious bites from 40 restaurants along with 350 different wines.

The event started with the sabering of a few bottles of champagne which you could sip along with Sterling Caviar with traditional toppings. What a way to start the day! For those who also enjoy cocktails, they were flowing, too. Harry’s Continental Kitchens passed out their award-wining Passiflora cocktail from last years Set the Bar competition, made with habanero and blood orange-infused vodka and juices with a tajin rim. The South of the Border tent served Mexican specialties and cocktails with a lively mariachi band. A beer garden was serving cold local beer, as well. There really was a perfect pairing for every dish.

The 62 member restaurants which make up SarasotaManatee Originals are all locally owned and independent. When you’re looking for a place to dine, the website is a resource sharing how to Eat Like a Local in the Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Longboat, and Palmetto areas. You can search by name or by the map if you’re looking for something close to home. Going to a show or event? Simply click on the map of the venue and you’ll find a SarasotaManatee Originals restaurant close by. From dinners to fine dining, there really is something for everyone’s palate.

The Originals is a nonprofit which helps keep the member restaurants locally owned and sustainable. When the organization was started 20 years ago, who knew of the challenges restaurants would face today? By eating at these local restaurants, you are supporting local small businesses. The Forks & Corks event is their biggest fundraiser of the year. The event gives restaurants in the Sarasota-Manatee Originals the chance to show off their cuisine to over 4,000 guests. And show off they did. After sampling dishes from many restaurants, I’ve personally visited three in the last week since discovering them at Forks & Corks!

But the Grand Tasting is only one of the events. Forks & Corks actually starts six days earlier with a high-end online auction. For almost a week, guests bid online for items like bottles of wine, wine tastings, a private dinner for 12 at Michael’s Cellar, and restaurant gift certificates.

For three days before the Grand Tasting, dinners are held at Sarasota-Manatee Originals restaurants featuring hand-picked wines by visiting winemakers and winery representatives. From a seasonally inspired six course dinner at Chef Christoper Covelli’s Sage restaurant paired with ZD Wines to a night of wine, food, and fun with Willamette Valley Vineyards at Harry’s Continental Kitchens, these dinners leading up to the Grand Tasting are always popular and often sell out, as well.

On Friday and Saturday, retail wine tastings are offered at various wine shops in the area. This is a great way to find new wines to add to your collection. Some events include light bites along with the tastings.

Some of the most popular events are the wine master classes, where guests learn from a panel of world-class wine experts. These seminars range from exploring Bordeaux wines to learning about the relationship between the land and the wine produced from it.

Once dates are announced for the 2025 Forks & Corks, you’ll want to clear your schedule and get tickets before they sell out. This self-proclaimed foodie is already looking forward to it!

QUARTERLY CATCH-UP

An Overview of Bradenton’s Recent Events

BY SHELLY WEST

As we step further into the new year, bundled up against the lingering winter chill, the Bradenton area is already abuzz with notable developments. From exciting new projects to much-anticipated openings, the community is bustling with activity and looking forward to a year packed with progress.

Links on fire

What an exciting way to start their 100th year! Bradenton Country Club hosted the LPGA Drive-One Tour Championship over the last weekend of January, the 25th through the 28th. Bradenton native and Olympic Gold Medalist Nelly Korda took home the win after a bumpy start, making this win her 9th LPGA tour victory. The ladies’ golf event hosted 120 players competing for the $1.75 million purse.

Creating a refuge

Manatee County opened its Gopher Tortoise Resort at Duette Preserve in December 2023. With 452 acres dedicated to the tortoises, this new project will house over 800 Gopher tortoises, a threatened species in Florida. The burrows created by the Gopher tortoises, usually found in dry sandy-upland habitats, provide refuge for more than 360 other types of wildlife. Because of developmental changes in their natural habitats, many of these turtles have been uprooted, but now the displaced tortoise will have a haven to burrow.

Photo credit: Chris Seman

Photos courtesy of Manatee County Government

Everyone is welcome!

Manatee County is beginning construction on its first ADAaccessible playground at Tom Bennett Park. The park is a $1.2 million playground project joint venture between Manatee County and the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. In honor of celebrating the club’s 100th year, they wanted to do a unique project to benefit the community. The club, which donated over $780,000 to the playground project, wanted to provide a play area for children of all abilities, thus allowing them to use every piece of equipment on a playground. As a result, the new 13,000-square-foot playgrounds will include some cool features like ramp accessibility onto the play structures, multiple slides, a climbing wall, climbing nets, built-in sensory and cognitive activities, zip lines with accessibility seats, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, shade covers, and synthetic turf ground. The park construction is expected to be completed by this spring. It will be located at 400 Cypress Creek Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.

All aboard!

The much-anticipated Gulf Island Ferry has finally opened and is running. The ferry, called the city-to-sand water shuttle service, provides a water shuttle from the Bradenton mainland to Anna Maria Island. The new ferry service operates Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Park downtown Bradenton, then catch the ferry at the Bradenton Riverwalk. The stops will be at the hour at downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Be sure to check the schedule. In case of inclement weather, the ferry will not be running. Also, plan ahead and purchase tickets online.

Photo credit: Mac Aldrich

Record highs continue

The numbers are in, and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) has reported another year of significant growth. With the spike in travel recorded nationwide, it is no surprise that the airport experienced an increase of over 12% from last year’s numbers of around 3.8 million in 2022 to a whopping 4.3 million passengers in 2023, which is a 215% increase over 2018 and 3 million more passengers than the 1.3 million passengers from five years ago. This means a demand for more infrastructure, which has already been tackled significantly. Future airline schedules show an increase in inbound and outbound seats at SRQ. In addition, construction has already been underway on a new concourse with five additional aircraft gates, expanding the ground transportation area and adding new food and beverage concessions. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the new gates opening in early 2025.

Photo provided by SRQ airport

MENTORING:

30 minutes a week during the school year is all it takes!

Change a life with your life experience. You guide, you coach and you train a youth up. With a 62% poverty rate in Manatee schools our need is great.

Take Stock in Children Manatee achieves success through an innovative multi-year program model of mentorship, college readiness, accountability, and a college scholarship.

Who we serve:

We are serving the underserved students from low income homes.

They are incredibly smart; they just need help to break the poverty cycle with education. We provide tuition based scholarships to technical trade schools, colleges and universities.

Every scholarship dollar is matched by the Florida Prepaid Foundation.

GAMBLE CREEK FARMS

Nurtured with the vision of serving as a community hub and source for fresh produce, Gamble Creek Farms is a 26-acre, organic-certified farm in Manatee County that sources fresh and locally grown produce for Chiles Hospitality’s three waterfront restaurants: Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, Beach House Waterfront Restaurant and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub. Through its Farm Market, open seven days a week, the farm provides the community with fresh produce, meats, seafood, mushrooms, and baked goods.

Gamble Creek Farms is also essential to Chiles Hospitality’s environmental initiatives and its owner, Ed Chiles, whose goal is a circular economy model. Its mission is to close the food loop through sustainable farming methods, promote other like-minded local farms in the market, and educate the community through farm tours and events. Managed by a dedicated team, the farm’s sustainable farming practices include composting, mulching, and worm casting to reduce food waste and contribute to a healthier environment along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

During Florida’s most active growing season, from December to April, Gamble Creek Farms grows an array of crops, including lettuce, kale, squash, edible flowers, pumpkins, mulberries, microgreens, roselle, radish, beets, and turnips. During the warm summer, the farm grows eggplant, papaya, sweet potato, marigolds, red pole beans, microgreens, okra, and more.

Photo

Essay By: David X Tejada

The Chop Shop

When did you start the business? Why?

My aunt and uncle, Pat and Steve Stivers, started The Chop Shop in 1971. Business was booming so they asked my father to come down from Kentucky in 1973 to help with the business. Shortly thereafter, our family moved here to Florida so my father could join the business permanently. My brothers and I all began working in the business as teens, eventually becoming part owners in the business. Our family has always wanted The Chop Shop to sell quality foods with excellent customer service with a hometown feel.

What is your background? Is this business a result of your passion?

Over the years, I was fortunate enough to work alongside my father who was a brilliant businessman and taught me so much. He was passionate about this business and watching him as I grew up sparked a passion for this business in me as well. I have watched our customers grow their families and they have watched mine grow. We know so many of our customers by name, which is how we have always wanted it to be.

Doug and Carolyn Stivers

Doug Stivers (gone but not forgotten)

Original Owners Pat and Steve Stivers (gone but not forgotten)

Susan Higbee

Susan Higbee

Are the sacrifices worth it?

My family sacrificed so much to start this business and keep it running for so many years, I am grateful I am able to be a part of that and continue their legacy. Every sacrifice has been worth it! This business has helped us to raise our families and has helped so many of our employees who are like family to us.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I can only hope that I will be able to continue to serve our community and our customers in a way that will make my family proud. Our customers have always been our number one priority.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

We love our customers, and we love what we do. Watching generations of families shop with us is such a privilege. And we are also lucky to have amazing employees. They

make the working environment pleasant, and we truly love our employees like family.

What makes your services unique?

We have been in business for over 50 years, and we are the only full-service butcher shop in Bradenton. We carry only the best prime meats, fresh pork, chicken, and so much more! We have many specialty, hard-to-find items as well.

What advice would you give someone starting their own business?

The advice I would give to someone starting a new business would be to choose something you are passionate about, write a solid business plan, and hold on and enjoy the ride!

When did you start the business? Why?

We, Luca and Monica, always dreamed about moving to America so when we moved from Italy to Bradenton and then opened Tiramisu on November 6, 2014, we were pursuing our American dream.

What is your connection to Bradenton?

Monica’s father moved to Bradenton in 2001 to open a restaurant. We moved from Italy to Bradenton.

Luca and Monica Tiramisu Ristorante Italiano

What

is your background? Is this business a result of your passion?

We have a background in the restaurant industry and are passionate about Italian cuisine. Monica’s parents were cooks, and Luca’s brother had a restaurant in Livorno. Luca, who grew up in Livorno, not far from Pisa on the Mediterranean Sea, is the restaurant’s wine connoisseur, while Monica, who hails from a small mountain village near Bologna, is Tiramisu’s food expert.

What were your drives to start up?

We wanted to share our love of Italian cuisine with others. We hope to accomplish the goal of providing our customers with authentic Italian cuisine in an intimate atmosphere at affordable prices.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

We most enjoy the opportunity to share our love of Italian cuisine with others.

Has it been everything you expected?

We enjoy what we are doing. It has been hard to start, but much better now. But still have a lot of work and some hard days.

What makes your services unique?

Tiramisu of Bradenton’s services are unique because we offer classic dishes, specialty homemade fresh pasta, great wine, and an intimate atmosphere at affordable prices. We also have live violin music once a week.

What advice would you give someone starting their own business?

Just do it. If you never try, you’ll never know what you are capable of.

CHEERS TO 45 YEARS!

BY KENDRA GEMMA

What started as takeout dinners back in 1979 has evolved into a two-block radius of what is known as “A Longboat Key Landmark” –Harry’s Continental Kitchens – Restaurant, Gourmet Deli and Bakery, Catering, and your local Corner Store.

Back in February 1979, Harry and Lynn Christensen leased a building to house their Continental Kitchen at 5440 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The hard-working couple made their delicious takeout dinners as well as scrumptious sandwiches, salads, party specialties, and desserts.

“I wanted to make these dinners the same as you would get in a fine restaurant,” Harry recollects, “but it’s takeout. My customers could savor a gourmet dinner without leaving the comfort of their homes.”

By 1982, the Christensens had proof that their gourmet takeout was an idea whose time had come. Growing pains pushed them to the current location a few blocks north on St. Judes Drive. By now, the Christensens were realizing they had a talent for catering as well as takeout.

One would think all of this would be enough work for anyone, but something was missing. “Harry always longed for his own restaurant,” says Lynn, “a dining room where he could see people enjoy his food. We decided to make his dream come true.”

In 1985, the Christensens added the wonderful restaurant we all know and love... Harry’s. In 1998, Harry and Lynn added a full bar to the restaurant.

“Every year, we kept investing in ourselves,” Lynn explains. “We kept on going without looking back.”

Today, Harry’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in their gardenstyle dining room and on the tropical outside patio.

Harry’s has been a family-run business from the beginning. In fact, both of the Christensens’ sons grew up in the restaurant. Now, eldest son, Hal, and Harry are certified sommeliers creating an exceptional wine selection that complements the diversified menu. Hal’s wine programs include wine tastings, wine dinners, and tremendous value on retail wines in the deli.

“We have seen generations of families come through Harry’s. We’ve catered their christenings, weddings, reunions, and now our next generation of Christensens gets to experience the same for generations to come,” says Harry.

Harry and the business have won many restaurant and wine awards over the past 45 years. His cooking has earned him a spot among Florida Trend’s top 500 restaurants, and, thanks to his knowledge of wine, he’s received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1979, amongst others.

Harry also has a passion for giving back. He has mentored many young chefs and sent them on their way to further their own careers. Harry believes his early training with European chefs gave him a solid background in classical cooking, which is part of every new and creative dish he and his staff create. His love of Longboat Key, where he has lived for 50 years, has prompted him to be involved in many community services, from sponsoring and coaching Little League and other children’s sports to serving on board and committees, including Longboat Key Mediation Committee, Commercial Zoning Committee, Longboat Key Communication Committee, Longboat Key Community Center Board, Longboat Key Historical Society Board, and Public Interest Committee Board.

“It’s been a roller coaster, but it’s been a good roller coaster,” Harry says of their 45 years in business. Come join them all year long as and check out their website and follow them on Facebook as they have many things planned to celebrate this milestone, including a four-course, prix-fixe menu for $45! Longer-term, watch for an expansion and renovations of the restaurant. You can also continue to count on their high-quality service and cuisine, and fresh menu items.

So, let’s all raise a glass and wish Harry’s Continental Kitchens Happy 45th anniversary and here’s to another 45 years of delicious meals, fine wine, and warm hospitality!

HOT SNAPPER AND SPINACH SALAD

Serves 4

1 cup olive oil

2 lbs. snapper filets (or preferred fish), cut into 12 uniform pieces

2 Tbsp finely chopped shallots

4 whole medium tomatoes, cut in wedges (quarters)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh basil

1.5 lbs. fresh baby spinach

4 Tbsp toasted sliced almonds

Flour, salt, and pepper for dredging

Wash and dry spinach. Divide spinach into four serving bowls.

Season snapper filets with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.

Sautee fish in hot olive oil until lightly browned, turning once, while cooking thoroughly and brown evenly.

Remove from hot oil and arrange pieces over spinach.

Add shallots to the hot oil remaining in the pan, stir a few seconds, and add tomatoes, lemon juice, sugar, and basil. Stir and reduce together. Add white wine.

Cook on high heat one to two minutes. Tomatoes should be cooked through but remain firm. Spoon dressing over and around fillets and spinach.

Garnish with toasted almonds and tomato wedges.

Serve hot for a first course, luncheon entrée, or a light supper.

WHERE CREATIVITY BLOSSOMS

BY KENDRA GEMMA

This spring, discover your inner creator or learn how to keep your plants alive. Manatee County’s own Fancy Leaf Plant Company, Pilea Plants & Things, and Mindful Blooms Farm all host crafty classes and plant-care workshops to help you and your leafy friends thrive.

SEEDS OF INSPIRATION

All three businesses sprouted in the past few years, and all arose from a passion for living things.

“I fell in love with working with nature and growing something beautiful with nature,” says Sophie Wettstein, owner of Mindful Blooms Farm. She started the organic flower farm in Myakka City nearly three years ago because she saw a need in the community and felt one in herself. Now she not only provides unique, locally grown wildflowers to her customers, she also feeds their souls and her own.

“I have found a lot of healing in farming,” she says. Wettstein shares the cathartic aspect of farming and being with nature in the retreats and workshops she hosts on her property. They often combine flowers and mindfulness in some way.

Pilea Plants & Things owner Taylor Robison began her business in 2022 as an online retailer but soon realized she had a responsibility to be out in the community. “That kind of pushed me to get that mobile plant shop,” she says. Her plant trailer, named Polly, travels to markets like Oscura Friendly City Market, as well as to popup classes at local shops and to other locations for private workshops.

Mindful Blooms Farm

Photo by Annelise Adams

Robison’s focus is on affordability and accessibility, so her plants are low-cost and low-maintenance, and her shop is mobile. Why? Because she believes in the power of plants. “Even if it’s one plant, it brings vibrance to the space that nothing else can,” she says.

Libby Bolles, who co-owns Fancy Leaf Plant Co. with her mother, first bought plants to clean the air in her old home. Now she’s obsessed. “Once you get a plant, you can’t stop,” she says, and she and her mother have a mission to encourage others to start collecting plants. “We really enjoy getting to know our customers and helping them on their plant journey.”

Her Palmetto store stocks indoor plants that are easy to care for, along with local and upcycled products. The store also holds crafty workshops, from candle-making to pottery painting, in the store’s back room.

SPRING SESSIONS

Throughout the year, you can join these plant entrepreneurs’ classes and events that let you get your hands dirty and cultivate your creativity. But this season is a prime time for getting in touch with nature.

“In the spring, everything starts to pop,” says Wettstein. “There’s so much abundance in the field and life in the soil.”

She’s hosting several retreats and workshops at Mindful Blooms Farm during the next few months to share the good vibes with everyone.

“I love seeing the joy that blossoms out of people when they’re on the farm,” she says.

Among her planned events for the spring are the Bloomtreat Flower Retreat on March 16, co-hosted with the Roaming Petal. Spend the day picking and picking and arranging flowers, doing flower yoga, sage bundling, and dining on a vegan lunch, among other activities. On March 10 and April 28, Wettstein, along with flower pressing service Flower and Flames, will hold eco-printing workshops that use flowers to naturally dye and decorate linens.

You can see all the spring workshops on www. mindfulbloomsfarm.com. If you would like to partner with Mindful Bloom Farms on a workshop, email Wettstein at mindfulbloomsfarm@gmail.com.

Pilea Plants & Things offers a variety of private workshops for four to 30 people, and they can create moss wall art, make a succulent wreath, or learn propagation. None of the projects requires prior knowledge or special skills.

“A lot of people have no plant knowledge whatsoever,” Robison says. “They’re scared that they can’t keep anything alive and aren’t crafty. Seeing their confidence afterward is so rewarding.”

Pilea Plants & Things, Photo by Phoebe C. Photography

Besides private workshops, she also co-hosts classes with local businesses, who provide a location and often refreshments. If you have a café or other space and would like Robison to bring one of her classes to your establishment, get in touch with her at info@pileaplantsandthings.com. Follow Pilea Plants & Things on Instagram for her current class schedule.

Like Robison, Bolles of Fancy Leaf Plant Co. started out with a plant trailer, and she had pop-up events at other businesses. Now she invites local owners to use her shop for their classes. “We’ve been helped by others, so this is our way of paying it back,” she says.

Bolles enjoys building relationships with her customers and other local establishments through these classes, and the customers leave them feeling good, too.

“Participants get to know like-minded people and make something and take it home,” she says.

Her spring workshops include a candle-making class on March 9 with Blossom and Burn Co and a charcuterie class on March 30 with Rima Cheese and Charcuterie. Keep up with the current schedule at Instagram.com/FancyLeafPlantCo. If you want to hold a class at the shop, email fancyleafplantco@ gmail.com.

Our area is blessed to have these vibrant women and their flourishing businesses. Do yourself a favor and enroll in a class or two so you, too, can bloom and grow this spring.

THE PORCELAIN DOGS

BY LIZ REED

A son’s mom recently passed away, leaving a major, sad hole in the family. His father could not care for himself, so his son and his sisters made the decision to put him in memory care as they prepared to clean out their house. All of the “kids” and their families took what they wanted from their parents’ possessions, but it seemed nobody wanted one item: a set of vintage porcelain dogs. The son explained that while he had no idea how long the dogs had been in the family, by tradition they were always passed down to the youngest daughter. His great aunt had them, but having no daughter or granddaughter, she passed them on near the end of her life to her youngest niece, his mother. They should have gone to the younger of his sisters or her daughter to maintain the old tradition, but both refused. The dogs are eyeless, a little cracked and faded, and, frankly, a little creepy but the son’s wife convinced him to set them aside for them to have.

The couple lovingly and jokingly referred to them as “the devil dogs” due to their creepy appearances. They’ve sat for so long in his parents’

china cabinet that his wife couldn’t bear to see them thrown out or given away. They had only recently put them on display in their home when some strange occurrences started happening. When they unpacked the dogs, they still looked creepy, not having any eyes, but their familiar shapes were comforting, and they felt that his mother would be pleased that her dogs were still with family. Shortly after they placed them in their china cabinet, they began to notice odd phenomena around their apartment.

At first, they began experiencing electrical problems. Lights would flicker, they regularly lost Wi-Fi access at certain times (always the same time) of the day, and, in one single day, they had to replace three lightbulbs in their kitchen practically all at once: refrigerator, stove hood, and one bulb in the overhead fixture. They just blew off these anomalies as “rough luck” and never gave them a second thought.

Next, they noticed cold spots in various places in their apartment and one closet in their bedroom, located along the south wall, seemed to be the coldest of all. Granted, they do keep their bedroom ceiling fan running all the time, but it seemed odd that this closet would be so cold when they usually keep the door shut. Again, they thought it remarkable but easily put it out of our minds.

One morning, they heard a knock on the front door but, when they opened it, there was no one there, no packages or notes left or anything like that. Plus, they didn’t hear any evidence of anyone walking around or going up or down the stairs as they usually can. After

a half an hour or so, they again heard knocking and, again, nobody was there. This occurred off and on that day.

On another morning, His wife was putting away dishes in the cabinet and she happened to glance at the dogs. She noticed one of the dogs had a bit of red down its front. Both dogs have red-painted mouths, but this was unusual, and she didn’t know where it came from. It looked as though red paint had been dripped on it. As she stared at the dog, she smelled a disgusting odor for the briefest moment. She looked around, and when she looked back at the dog, the odor was gone and the red disappeared.

They began to experience sleeping issues. They use a white-noise Kindle app that helps them sleep and since they displayed the dogs, they would hear whispering but could never fully hear any words. One night, the wife was awakened by someone lightly pulling her hair. That same night, she felt something brush her forehead and stroke her hair when she was facing away from the fan current. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, they would smell strong cigarette or cheap cigar smoke as if it were blown in their faces. Another time, they smelled something like rotting food in an oil fryer as if the fryer were right next to their faces. At times, they would smell a strong, almost sickly sweet smell of flowers. The wife felt a sense of deep sadness whenever she experienced that particular odor, for some reason, but all of these odors were enough to wake her up and make her gag.

She did smell an odor during this time that was a little more pleasant; it reminded her of her late father who used to smoke a pipe when she was young. He enjoyed very fragrant, fancy tobacco and she felt a sense of warmth in that moment. At the same time she was beginning to question her sanity because her husband didn’t always experience the same things.

Their cats began behaving oddly. They would (and still do on occasion) wake them up at all hours of the night, nudging and meowing at them. They

usually curl up with them to sleep and rarely disturb them. One night, they were jolted awake by one of the cats growling and hissing. She had been sleeping by the wife’s knees but they found her standing on the end of the bed with her fur on end, swollen tail, arched back, and her ears laid back. She was looking towards the upper part of the bedroom door frame. The husband reached out to calm her, but she snapped and swiped at him. Their other cat had been on the floor but, in the dark, they were able to see her in the same position, looking towards the door. She was growling and hissing as well and also making “sing-song” yowls as if to warn whoever was there (nobody was there) that she was about to strike. All of a sudden, both cats bolted from the room. The husband jumped out of bed and followed them. He found them pacing by the bolted and chained front door, still growling a little. When they noticed him, they demanded treats and came back to bed as though nothing had happened.

They were awakened the next night with an almost-faithful performance of the night before, except that this time, one cat was standing in the hallway outside the bedroom door, looking in. Her gaze was directed upwards as though looking at someone very tall. Both cats were making “singsong” warning yowls this time. As they did the previous night, they suddenly raced to the living room where, this time, they were found pacing back and forth by the glass sliding door to the balcony. Again, they received treats, but they both chose to stay in the hallway outside their door as if on guard after that.

They still experience occasional oddities but nothing as frightening as the two nights with their cats. Could the dogs be a gateway, perhaps meant for his mother to pass through to watch over them (and occasionally make her presence known with flickering lights, knocking, etc.), but also as a way for a threatening spirit to enter their home? What if they didn’t have their cats to protect them and chase away anyone who would do harm to them?

LIZ REED CO-FOUNDER OF PSOBFL AUTHOR OF HAUNTED MANATEE COUNTY OWNER OF DOWNTOWN BRADENTON GHOST WALK

paranormalsocietyofbradenton.wordpress.com

SPRING INTO SELF-CARE

BY AMANDA GRAY

Investing in your health and yourself should never be limited to just one season, but look no further than Bradenton during the springtime for creating the ultimate self-care bucket list. The signs of spring are a little less pronounced in Florida, but dormant plants and flowers will indeed spring back to life, baby turtles will make their way to the ocean, and there will be more light hours in the day than dark. It’s the perfect time to feel a sense of renewal and energize yourself, and plenty of local small businesses can cater to your best spring self.

SPEND A DAY AT THE SPA

Whether you’re looking for a single treatment or an all-day event to treat yourself, your first stop should be the Blue Door Spa Here, you can spend the day taking full advantage of a personalized pampering plan, from massage to facials to waxing and hair and nail services, and you’ll enter a state of bliss that will leave you feeling

ready for a nap on the beach or dinner out on the town looking and feeling your best. Stay up to date on spa events and happenings. From “Girls Night In” spa packages to later evening hours a few times a week, the Blue Door team makes your experience as personalized as possible.

START A NEW RITUAL

Rituals and routines are essential for developing and maintaining your self-care. So, if you want to go below the surface of traditional spa modalities like massages, Magnolia Wellness Center offers an alternative experience with deeply therapeutic services. Try reflexology or a cranial sacral massage and feel the pressures of everyday life melt away. And if you’re looking for retail therapy, they’ve got you covered with locally curated inventory that will lift your spirits. They occasionally even have food trucks visiting outside their urban oasis, which is a great way to taste the local flavors and treat your tastebuds. Word on the street is that they also sometimes accommodate house calls, so you can skip the traffic if you have a room with a view that you’d prefer not to leave.

STRENGTHEN YOUR MIND-BODY CONNECTION

You might find yourself with a little more physical energy once the sun sets later in the day and it’s warmer all around. Salty Buddha Yoga on Anna Maria Island offers beach, studio, and stand-up paddleboard yoga. Combat the stress in your life with breathwork and all-levels yoga that will help you cultivate more balance in your day-to-day. Studio classes often incorporate reiki and sound,

while stand-up paddleboard yoga allows you to access peace and serenity while floating under the sun. Beach yoga is not to be missed, and the hourlong class is the perfect start to a day of self-care practices. While you’re out on the town on Bridge Street, take a peek at their studio headquarters to see a class and workshop schedule.

SUPPORT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

There is plenty of vitamin D in Bradenton all year, but the sun is out later, and the flowers smell even more fragrant during peak spring. Soak it all up and sustain your good health while walking around the area’s neighborhoods, beaches, and parks. It’s also easy to boost your vitamin and mineral intake by stopping by Bayshore Nutrition smoothie and juice bar for a nourishing, nutrient-packed drink or snack! A local favorite, this gem of a shop offers delicious flavors that are good for you and will leave you happy, energized, and whole.

ACHIEVE BLISS ON A BUDGET

Self-care might bring to mind the spa and studio, but if you’re on a budget or a tight schedule, there are many ways to invest in your health. Start your day with a mindful walk on the beach by leaving the phone at home and consciously focusing on your surroundings. Grab a journal and start a gratitude practice, listing three daily things you’re

thankful for. Browse the Bradenton Public Market for fresh fruit, flowers, and juice while supporting local vendors. Lastly, taking 5 to 10 minutes to take the sunset in at the beach is sure to provide an unbeatable, breathtaking, and free moment of peaceful solitude.

MAKE SELF-CARE A PRIORITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

BY SARAH FISH

March is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a great opportunity to make self-care a part of your daily routine to manage stress. Everyone experiences difficult times but learning to stay mindful and showing yourself some love can help make a bad day easier.

If you have been feeling overwhelmed by minor stressors, lacking sleep, or feeling like you don’t have enough time for the things you really want or need, then you are in desperate need of some self-care. This doesn’t necessarily mean a day at the spa, but it certainly can. What it does mean is taking meaningful action to prioritize the small things that keep your stress level in check. A couple extra minutes enjoying your morning coffee may be all it takes to set the tone for the day, and carving out that time to enjoy each sip is self-care.

“Jumping into react mode first thing in the morning can be oh-so-tempting. But once you’re there — responding to emails, looking at texts — regaining a sense of intention and spaciousness is tricky,” according to Headspace.com, a website dedicated to helping users practice selfcare with guided meditations, programs that help ease stress, and tips on how to handle new challenges with greater ease.

Simply taking a few minutes each day to focus on your own needs and making choices that prioritize your happiness is all it takes to perfect the art of self-care.

Mindfulness is key to managing stress. This means utilizing your five senses and being attuned to what you’re feeling and the real-time sensations you are experiencing. In moments of stress or worry, remind yourself to remain grounded by using your five senses. Focusing on things you can see, touch, hear, taste, or smell will help you stay in the present and not let negative thinking blind you from the moment you’re in. To sum it up, stop and smell the roses.

In Bradenton, you can find yourself surrounded by flowers of all kinds at the Palma Sola Botanical Gardens. Schedule a walk through the gardens and let yourself get lost in the beauty of nature. Pay attention to the colors and sounds as you allow yourself some time away from the hustle and bustle of busy Bradenton.

“There is mounting evidence that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well¬-being,” says Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, who studies connectedness to nature. “You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.”

According to a study reported by the American Psychological Association, people who had spent at least two recreational hours in nature a week experienced significantly greater health and well-being. This pattern was also found in older adults and people with chronic health problems, with the same effects whether the time was in one 120-minute experience or spread out over the course of the week (Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2019).

Self-care also means taking care of your body. A busy, stressful day can mean falling into a pattern of a lack of sleep, low-quality food, and too much coffee, but staying hydrated, eating well, and getting enough sleep are important

to maintaining good mental health. Ellisha Mcintosh, a Bradenton entrepreneur who started her own business, Pressed 4 Health, was inspired by the need for self-care and knows all about it.

“I went from catering sweets and heavy food, now launching my Pressed 4 Health business, which is all encompassing of self-care! Showing my journey of aligning with my truth, sacrificing my wants for my needs, and making sure that I am healing and loving myself from within,” she says.

Mcintosh says it’s more about the “internal world than the external world” and her journey through entrepreneurship has made her face things within herself that she didn’t even realize were there.

“Repressed emotions, childhood wounds, and so much more. In order to be exactly who I’ve grown to be and am meant to be within business I had to do the work on ME first,” she says. “Self-care to me is sitting quiet during those times when I would like to distract myself from how I’m truly feeling inside. Allowing myself to dig deep within my being. Feeling those deeply rooted wounds and experiences from childhood that helped shape me into who I grew to be.”

With her company, she offers different freshpressed juices and herbal tea blends to aid in kickstarting the journey of healing from within. She says her goal is to connect repressed emotions to illnesses like blood pressure, cancers, and those such things that people suffer from every day and actually heal the body, not suppress them with medicines.

“I’ve been doing self-study and using the herbs myself so that I can be a more effective and knowledgeable healer for others. Juicing and consuming herbs has allowed me to physically release things that I was holding onto, so I hope to be able to encourage others to do the same!” Mcintosh says. “If we do a little bit for ourselves every single day, it shows back up on the outside of us.”

Ellisha Mcintosh