CEO & President
CEO & President
Circus Arts Conservatory
Circus Arts Conservatory
Also in this issue:
■ Waterside Farmers’ Market
■ Exploring Phillippi Estate Park
■ Sarasota Opera’s Season Begins
■ Spring Training is Back
Editor and Publisher
Louise M. Bruderle
Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net
Contributing Writer
Carol Darling
Contributing Photographer
Evelyn England
Art Director/Graphic Designer
Kimberly Carmell
Assistant to the Publisher
Mimi Gato
West Coast Woman is published monthly (12 times annually) by LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, President. All contents of this publication are copyrighted and may not be reproduced. No part may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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Address: P.O. Box 819 Sarasota, FL 34230 email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net website: www.westcoastwoman.com
Sarasota Opera’s season gets underway this month with classics like La bohème, Il trovatore and the Merry Widow. A first-time opera will be Susanna by a Florida composer
100 diverse vendors turn out every Sunday and they come in all sizes from small, tented booths to food trucks the size of large campers and everything. Meet three unique vendors.
this
Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival
The village of Cortez and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.) welcome the public back to the shores of Sarasota Bay for the 44th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival Feb. 14-15.
It’s Christmas 2025 and you’re with your family - that is unless your daughter is performing with the trapeze artists known as The Flying Caballeros in Amsterdam with Wereldkerstcircus. There you’re seeing your daughter soar above the crowds on a trapeze before reaching for outstretched arms to catch her.
It’s not that hard when the mom is Jennifer Mitchell. After all, she runs Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) and her daughter, Emma, is a graduate of the Sailor Circus Academy.
Jennifer joined The Circus Arts Conservatory in 2008 when it was known as Circus Sarasota. She came on board as Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator then became managing director and now she serves as the CEO and President—18 years in total
During Jennifer’s tenure the nonprofit acquired the Sailor Circus, the nation’s longest-operating and largest youth circus training program, and was expanded to become the Circus Arts Conservatory.
This is a busy time for CAC. February 14-March 8 is when the big top is up and the circus performs. Then there’s lots going on in March: Cirque De Voix, a theatre production called Naga-Mandala, Cirque Vogu, Next Gen SRQ, and in April, Sailor Circus Spring Show.
We were fortunate to find time on Jennifer’s schedule and I think you’ll enjoy learning about her career as well as the future of CAC. Find more information at www.circusarts.org.
Women In Philanthropy and Gulf Coast Community Foundation (WIP) have made a $100,000 capping grant to Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast), completing a campaign that raised more than $600,000 to combat food insecurity across the region this holiday season.
The funds were raised through WIP’s annual soirée in response to heightened need during the holiday season, when many families face increased financial strain and food insecurity. Of the total grant, $75,000 was allocated to Gulf Coast’s Area of Greatest Need Fund, while $25,000 was directed to support All Faiths Food Bank.
The funds were immediately deployed to local nonprofits to help families facing increased need to put food on the table and experience the comfort and connection that shared meals bring during the holiday season.
The $100,000 grant served as the capping gift in a broader November campaign to address food insecurity across the region. The effort included two separate matching challenges that together galvanized more than $600,000 in support of local hunger-relief efforts.
The campaign began with $100,000 in matching funds from Gary and Barbara Rodkin, the Strohl Family Foundation, and Bob and Lin Williams to benefit All Faiths Food Bank – a challenge that was fully met in less than 48 hours.
As momentum grew, three additional donors (the Strohl Family Foundation along with two anonymous donors) stepped forward with a second $150,000 match to support Gulf Coast’s Area of Greatest Need Fund, helping smaller nonprofit partners who provide meals and food assistance.
Learn more about Women in Philanthropy of Sarasota at womeninphilanthropyofsarasota.com.
Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key will hold its third annual Repro Shabbat service on February 20 at 5:30 p.m. Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates will deliver a sermon that explains Reform Jewish views on reproductive freedom and the biblical basis for these views. Members of the Social Action Committee will participate in the service.
A special Oneg Shabbat reception with a Mediterranean theme will follow the Shabbat service. All are welcome to attend both the service and the reception.
Temple Beth Israel is located at 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. For more information, call the Temple office at 941-383-3428.
It’s hard to choose just one event to highlight, so we’ve chosen two:
Ever been to Cortez? The 44th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival runs February 14-15. It’s a time to visit one of Florida’s last true fishing villages to celebrate the cultural history of the region and to honor the men and women who supply us with fresh local seafood.
The village of Cortez and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.) are set to welcome the public back to the shores of Sarasota Bay for the 44th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
After almost 150 years of weathering every challenge that the tide brings, one thing is clear: Cortez continues to provide fresh quality seafood, from their boats to area markets. The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H) invites you to experience a real working waterfront community dedicated to preserving Florida’s fishing way of life.
Play Ball! Spring training is back. And there are lots of options to take in some games and bask in the beautiful sunny weather. Our local team, the Baltimore Orioles, open Februar 20 at Ed Smith Stadium, while the Atlanta Braves start on February 21 at CoolToday Park in North Port.
There are even more teams to the south of us.
The Boston Red Sox play at JetBlue Park that has its own Green Monster. They’re in Fort Myers
The Minnesota Twins have called Fort Myers their spring destination since 1991. Watch them play at Hammond Stadium within the larger Lee Health Sports Complex inspired by Louisville’s Churchill Downs.
Find all the details in this month’s issue.
Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | westcoastwoman@comcast.net
We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue. You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com.
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▼ Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key will hold its third annual Repro Shabbat service on February 20 at 5:30 p.m. Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates will deliver a sermon that explains Reform Jewish views on reproductive freedom and the biblical basis for these views. Members of the Social Action Committee will participate in the service.
A special Oneg Shabbat reception with a Mediterranean theme will follow the Shabbat service. All are welcome to attend both the service and the reception.
Temple Beth Israel is located at 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. For information call the Temple office at 941-383-3428
▼ AGAMI has Market Nights in the Holmes Beach shopping center at 5414 Marina Drive. Light refreshments will be available. Many AGAMI members with art on display in the gallery.
Market Night Dates:
• February 13, 5-7 pm
• March 13, 5-7 pm
• April 10, 5-7 pm
The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island Gallery is at 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
▼ Celebrate 30 years of Artist Series Concerts with Michaela Ristaino, soprano; Amy Connours, alto; Justin Gomlak, tenor; Jesse Martin, bass; Joseph Holt, piano, on February 24, 5:30 pm performance followed by gala dinner at Selby Gardens
A vocal quartet from Choral Artists of Sarasota, with Joseph Holt at the piano, will perform popular operetta selections including music from Showboat and Porgy & Bess. Enjoy cocktails pre-performance, then continue the evening with dinner, more music, and other surprises. www.artistseriesconcerts.org
▼ The 28th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motors Festival returns to the Sarasota Fairgrounds February 13-15. The festival, organized and benefitting Suncoast Charities for Children, promises a weekend packed with fun and entertainment. Featured headline acts include Night Ranger, 38 Special and Montgomery Gentry
Additional live music performances include Maiden Cane, “Given To Fly” (Pearl Jam Tribute), Bobby Friss, and Crossfire Creek. The festival also welcomes Paul Teutul Jr., of Paul Jr. Designs, star of the Discovery Channel’s American Chopper. Festival attendees will have a chance to meet the man behind the metal of some of the most awesome motorcycle builds ever created.
The event continues with live music, vendors, a bike show, a motorcycle rodeo, and great food. For tickets and information, visit: THUNDERBYTHEBAY.ORG
▼ Program Five runs February 27-March 2 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Each year, The Sarasota Ballet presents a visiting company as a part of its Season to provide audiences with a different insight and connection to the art of dance.
The Martha Graham Dance Company is marking the 100th anniversary celebration of their founding. It is the oldest American dance company, founded in 1926 by contemporary dance legend Martha
PMP Alumni Events presents Ariel String Quartet presenting “Beethoven!” on February 22
Tickets: PMP suncoast.org
Graham. Many of the great 20th and 21st-century modern dancers and choreographers began their careers with this prestigious company, including Merce Cunningham, Pearl Lang, and Paul Taylor. Info: www.sarasotaballet.org
▼ Coming up at Sarasota Orchestra : The Masterworks series has Variations on America on February 12 at Neel PAC; February 13-15 at the Van Wezel. Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor with Clayton Stephenson, piano, perform Adolphus Hailstork – An American Port of Call, Gershwin –Concerto in F, Ives/arr. Schuman – Variations on “America” and Dawson – Negro Folk Symphony Rite of Spring runs February 27-28, March 1 at the Van Wezel. Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor with Benjamin Beilman, violin performing Joan Tower – 1920/2019, Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 5 (Turkish) and Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring The Pops series performances take place at the Van Wezel. Next up: When the Saints Go Marching In – March 13-14 with Byron Stripling, conductor and Crystal Monee Hall, vocals Great Escapes performances take place at Holley Hall. Next up: Love Notes – February 4-8 with Matthew Troy, conductor. Dance the Night Away – March 4-8 with Rei Hotoda, conductor
The Chamber Soirées Chamber Soirées performances take place at Holley Hall. Next up Miniature Masterworks on February 19 with Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor performing Stravinksy – Danses concertantes, Wagner – Siegfried Idyll and Schoenberg – Chamber Symphony No. 1. For more information, visit www. sarasotaorchestra.org
▼ The Sarasota Concert Association Music Matinee Series features free concerts by regional artists. Music Matinee concerts are at a new location : St. Andrew United Church of Christ, located at 6908 Beneva Road in Sarasota. The Sarasota Concert Association has Dr. Jonathan Godfrey on February 11. Godfrey is an
acclaimed guitarist and composer who will present a program of classical and contemporary works accompanied by a pianist.
On March 25, Sarasota Opera Studio Artists will perform a delightful selection of arias and duets that will be presented in their upcoming season. The season ends on April 15 with a performance by Hot Club SRQ. The dynamic Gypsy Jazz ensemble will perform a mix of Gypsy Jazz, Latin, BeBop, modern jazz, and classic American standards.
Admission to all Music Matinee concerts is free, but reservations are required. Register at www.scasarasota.org or call the SCA Box Office at (941) 966-6161
▼ Their Great Performers Series has the Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director, on February 16, at the Van Wezel performing Brahms Symphony No. 2 and Brahms Symphony No. 4
The Danish String Quartet is on February 24 at Riverview Performing Arts Center performing the Beethoven String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130 and Arrangements of Norwegian folk songs.
Pianist Alexander Malofeev is on March 10 at Riverview Performing Arts Center performing works by Sibelius, Grieg, Prokofiev, Scriabin and Stravinsky. Website
▼ Upcoming events:
• February 22: The Four Freshmen are like barbershop with a swing, their style ranges from dreamy ballads to up-tempo arrangements that pack the punch of a big band. Timeless yet fresh, their music charms longtime fans and new listeners alike—offering a blast from the past with a modern edge.
• February 28: Acclaimed jazz guitarist Nate Najar and Grammy-nominated stride pianist and vocalist Judy Carmichael team up for an evening of swing, sultry rhythm, and sophisticated charm. Najar brings classical guitar mastery and deep jazz roots to the stage, while Carmichael’s virtuosity and wit have captivated audiences from Carnegie Hall to Venice.
• March 12: Badlands: Bruce Springsteen Tribute Alex Shillo, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, brings the spirit of Bruce Springsteen to life with his band Badlands—while also sharing a few original songs of his own. Backed by musicians from the Northeast who’ve played with Clarence Clemons, Aretha Franklin, and The Temptations. Visit www.gpactix.com
▼ February 17—Chris Botti
• February 18— The Price Is Right Live!
• February 19—David Foster and Katharine McPhee
• February 20-22— The Tina Turner Musical
• February 24—Il Divo by Candlelight
• March 8—Stayin’ Alive – A Bee Gees Tribute
• March 10—Get the Led Out Tickets at VanWezel.org , by calling the box office at 941-263-6799
▼ Fogartyville has these concerts/ performances:
• Adam Ezra Group is on February 12 . Without resources, connections, or any kind of clue how the music world works, Ezra began playing shows over 20 years ago. When music venues wouldn’t hire him, he played bars, bookstores, fields, and parking lots, often raising money for causes he cared about; a practice that grew into his nonprofit organization RallySound.
• Goldpine is on February 132 . and have harmonies straight from Nashville. Goldpine’s brand of “aggressive Americana” is a channel for their bold and reminiscent compositions. Husband and wife of 16 years, Goldpine has just released their third album, appropriately titled Three, which collects stories of sorrow, tested-love and space-trips. Fogartyville is located at 525 Kumquat Court in Sarasota’s Rosemary District. Box Office: 941894-6469 or visit www.wslr.org/ fogartyville.
▼ Top Shelf Tuesdays has James Ehnes, violin; Andrew Armstrong, piano; Daniel Jordan, violin;
Stephanie Block, viola; Nathan Frantz, viola; Natalie Helm, cello; Bjorn Ranheim, cello on February 10 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 S Euclid Avenue, Sarasota Ehnes returns for an encore performance joined by long-time recital partner pianist Andrew Armstrong. The pair will play Elgar’s expansive Violin Sonata and assorted violin showpieces. After intermission Ehnes will be joined by violinist Daniel Jordan, violists Stephanie Block and Nathan Frantz, and cellists Natalie Helm and Bjorn Ranheim in Arnold Schoenberg’s harmonically lush string sextet, Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night).
Lunch and Listen has ArcoStrum with Strauss Shi, violin and Tengyue Zhang, guitar on March 5, 11:00 am performance followed by luncheon at Sarasota Yacht Club.
ArcoStrum presents innovative chamber music that blends multiple genres, eras, and cultures. The duo champions unique concert programming through original transcriptions of beloved classical repertoire, progressive rock, and traditional Chinese instrumental music featuring the erhu and dizi.
Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202
▼ PMP Alumni Events presents Ariel String Quartet presenting “Beethoven!” On February 22 at Holley Hall in Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, Sarasota. The Ariel String Quartet returns with a program filled with music from their new albums of Beethoven Quartets as well as exhilarating works that highlight their virtuosity, probing musical insight, and impassioned, fiery performances. Tickets: PMP suncoast.org
▼ The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art has: Juana Romani: Forgotten No More runs to May 31, 2026. This small exhibition, drawn from The Ringling’s permanent collections, highlights the newly acquired painting by Juana Romani, Woman on a Red Background, and situates it within a group of closely related works from the museum’s collection of late-nineteenth-century French art. Ancestral Edge: Abstraction and Symbolism in the Works of Nine Native American Women Artists, curated by Ola Wlusek, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art brings together works by nine contemporary Native American artists making significant contributions to the field of abstraction, including Teresa Baker (Mandan/Hidatsa), Natalie Ball(Klamath/Modoc), Kiana Bell(Seminole), Elisa Harkins (Cherokee/Muscogee [Creek]), Erica Lord (Iñupiaq/Athabascan), Sarah Sense (Chitimacha/Choctaw), Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos), Marie Watt (Seneca/German-Scot) and Dyani White Hawk (SiÄáŋǧu Lakota). Ancestral Edge will be on view in the Keith D. Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art in the Museum of Art to April 12, 2026
Tickets: ringling.org The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.
▼ On February 6-7 they have Viva Venice!, a vibrant celebration of Spanish and Latin music. Experience
the passion of Chabrier’s España, the elegance of Márquez’s Danzón No. 2, and the soulful Concierto de Aranjuez with Grammy-award winning guest artist Sharon Isbin on guitar. Grammy-award winning guest artist Sharon Isbin on guitar.
On February 15 they have Salut D’amourVenice Symphony Violin, Flute and Harp Trio. This concert makes for the best romantic date night for Valentine’s weekend. Held at Venice Community Center326 Nokomis Ave S, Venice
February 27-28 Lights, Camera, Music! Experience the music that made the movies with a selection of Hollywood classics. Includes music from Fiddler on the Roof, The Avengers, My Fair Lady, The Greatest Showman, and more. Guest artist is famed Hollywood violinist Roger Wilkie. Held at Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave building 5, Venice. www.thevenicesymphony.org
▼ Next up with Key Chorale:
• On February 7, Key Chorale presents “Mendelssohn’s Elijah.” Mendelssohn’s powerful choral masterpiece brings to life some of the most dramatic moments in the Old Testament. Soloists Jamal Sarikoki, Olivia Vote, David Tayloe, Jessica Beebe, and Key Chorale will retell the story of a man’s devotion in one of the greatest oratorios ever written.
• On March 13-15 they have Cirque des Voix , a collaboration with The Circus Arts Conservatory, featuring The Venice Symphony. This year’s show is titled “Superheroes vs Supervillains” and it’s all under the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park. Visit www.keychorale.org
▼ The Sarasota Players has Arthur Miller’s The Crucible running March 25-April 5. It’s a gripping, cautionary tale of mass hysteria and the power of speaking truth to fear—proving that some voices, no matter how persecuted, cannot be silenced. The Sarasota Players: www.theplayers.org
▼ Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has “How I Got Over: A Gospel Revue.” This show celebrates the music of singers like Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Staple Singers, James Cleveland, and other gospel greats. It features traditional songs like “Travelin’ Shoes,” “Amazing Grace” and “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” combined with more upbeat, popular tunes such as “Elijah Rock,” “Oh Happy Day,” and “When The Saints Go Marching In.” Created, adapted and directed by Nate Jacobs. Runs from February 18-March 29 Held at: The Donelly Theatre at WBTT, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. Visit: westcoastblacktheatre.org
▼ The Asolo has Primary Trust to February 11. Eboni Booth’s new play is about a middle-aged man scraping by in small town America. Kenneth spends his days working in a quiet bookstore and his evenings sipping Mai Tais at the local tiki bar, but when he loses his job, he’s forced to confront a world he’s long avoided. A deceptively ordinary story about the extraordinary possibility inside each of us.
Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d runs to March 14. One of the Queen of Mystery’s most celebrated novels finally makes it to the stage in this new adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff.
The Unfriend runs February 18 – March 22 in the Mertz Theatre. After twenty years of marriage, Peter and Debbie are enjoying a cruise and a break from their annoying teenagers, when they meet an eagerly friendly, but perhaps dangerous, fellow passenger named Elsa. Before you know it, she’s taken up residence in their suburban home.
Visit AsoloRep.org
▼ Sarasota Jewish Theatre has “Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski” by Clark Young and Derek Goldman running February 4-15
Features Michael Raver portraying Polish World War II hero and Holocaust witness Jan Karski.
Karski risked his life to carry his report of the Warsaw ghetto from wartorn Poland to the Allied Nations and the Oval Office, only to be met with inaction and disbelief. This story of moral courage and individual responsibility is a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and the ways in which a self-described “ordinary little man” can become a true hero.
Runs February 6, 8, 11, 13, 15 at 1:30 p.m.; February 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m. Presented at The Sarasota Players, Players, inside the Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Tickets: theplayers.org or at 941365-2494. For information, visit SarasotaJewishTheatre.org
▼ Venice Theatre, Inc., has these shows in the Raymond Center.
• The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash runs to February 8. A charming con man promises rain and stirs hearts in a drought-stricken Depression-era town. The Rainmaker is a tale of hope, love, and self-discovery, as independent Lizzie dares to dream of something more.
• February 12: a Tribute to the Allman Brothers Celebrating the unique combination of rock, blues, jazz and Texas Swing, this 7-piece band plays the catalog of The Allman Brothers Band. Held at Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave., Venice.
them. Performances through February 8 in FST’s Court Cabaret.
Savor swingin’ favorites like “Come Fly With Me” and “It Had to Be You,” fresh hits like “Home” and “Moondance,” and numbers such as “Stuff Like That There” and “Me and Mrs. Jones.”
• A Tailor Near Me runs to February 15 in the Keating Theatre. In this heartwarming tale, a man visits a tailor to have his suit pants let out after realizing he’s gained some weight since he last wore them. What starts as a simple alteration turns into a transformative journey. Through their deepening conversations both their lives are altered.
• Th ree Pianos is an original revue created by Rebecca Hopkins, Richard Hopkins, and Sarah Durham, with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser. From rock rebels to soulful storytellers, this cabaret celebrates the legends who turned 88 keys into a mystical, musical force.
From Billy Joel to Alicia Keys, from Ray Charles to Freddie Mercury, Three Pianos celebrates piano legends who refused to play by the rules. Enjoy favorites like “Crocodile Rock,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “I’m Still Standing,” and “Beautiful.” Runs through March 29 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret.
Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key has its third annual Repro Shabbat service on February 20 with Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates For information call the Temple office at 941-383-3428
music and lyrics by Janis Joplin and book by Randy Johnson, is on March 11. This music-filled production unleashes one of the world’s most fiery voices in a high-voltage celebration.
For more information, visit www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org
▼ At Manatee Performing Art Center:
• Once Upon A Mattress runs to February 8. Once Upon a Mattress flips the classic fairy tale upside down in this high-energy musical that’s bursting with charm, cleverness, and contagious fun for all ages. With toe-tapping tunes, outrageous characters, and non-stop laughs, this is a royal romp that will have you grinning from start to finish. This production is brought to life by a joyful cast of dedicated volunteer performers, whose passion, time, and talent shine in every scene. Once Upon A Mattress is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
the human spirit. MPAC is located at 502 Third Avenue, West, Bradenton. www.manatee performingartscenter.com
▼ Here’s what’s coming up:
• February 9: American Celebration: From Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” (for piano, four hands) to the varied styles of John Adams, Amy Beach, and Sousa, this vibrant program celebrates America’s diverse musical voice—just in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At Riverview Performing Arts Center.
• March 2: Wind Fest: An exuberant showcase for wind instruments featuring works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Strauss, Klughardt, and Emmanuel—performed by a stellar wind ensemble from Lincoln Center, including Michael Stephen Brown, piano; Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Juri Vallentin, oboe; David Shifrin, clarinet; Peter Kolkay, bassoon; Tickets: www.lamusica.org/
▼ Elevate! The Music of Joy is on March 6, 7 p.m. With music by F. J. Haydn, Morten Lauridsen, John Legend, and more. This uplifting concert takes an inspiring stand—joy is the way forward. At First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St., Sarasota. Tickets ViaNovaChorale.org. For more information, call 941-263-2086.
▼ The Venice Concert Band has Dance With Me on February 23. Whether you enjoy dancing a mambo, a waltz, or a swing, they have the perfect concert for you. Or maybe you enjoy the “Can-Can” or an old traditional American dance. The Band is sponsored by the City of Venice. Concerts are held at the Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Avenue, Venice. Tickets: www.Veniceconcertband.com/
▼ Next up is Retrospektiv on February 23. Marking a decade of artistry, enSRQ looks back on the works that have inspired both musicians and audiences over the past 10 years—while also showcasing exciting new voices.
▼ At Urbanite Theatre: It’s January, 2020. Jane has been placed on leave from her Big Tech job after a viral workplace incident. She’s hell-bent on returning, but first, her assigned therapist, Loyd, needs to authorize it. Loyd suspects her work might be doing more harm than good. Runs to February 15. This is a tightly wound psychological thriller, JOB zooms in on two careerists of different generations, genders, and paradigms to examine what it means to be a citizen of the internet and our obligation to help the people who need it most. www.urbanitetheatre.com/season
• February 13—The Ultimate Doors It’s not just a tribute...it’s a time machine. Held at the Venice Community Center.
• February 20-March 8—The Cake When a beloved family friend asks for a wedding cake—only it’s for a same-sex marriage—Della, a devout Southern baker, must examine her long-held beliefs. Held in the Pinkerton Theatre at Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W., Venice. Tickets: VeniceTheatre.org
• Fol lowing is The Blue-Sky Boys, a creative comedy by Deborah Brevoort in the Gompertz Theatre. This two-act play dives into the minds of the maverick engineers who stopped at nothing to put a man on the moon. The Blue-Sky Boys explores the men behind one of humanity’s greatest achievements, reminding us that the sky isn’t the limit: it’s just the beginning.
• Temps, Tops, Supremes & Smokey: a Motown Revue with the Soul Sensations runs February 10-12 in Stone Hall. The Motown Sound is now over 60 years old but it remains current and brings excitement and unforgettable memories. The unique style of these groups composed of golden voices, extraordinary musicians and memorable choreography represent the very best of Hitsville and Detroit, MI. All net proceeds benefit the Manatee Performing Arts Center.
• February 26, “Romanticism Throughout the Ages: An Expresout and about continued
▼ Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has Feeling Good, an original revue. Featuring hits from Michael Bublé to Bette Midler, this show celebrates modern crooners making waves today – and the greats who inspired
• Making its Florida premiere is Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk by Catherine Bush, which starts February 4. In her golden years, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood called her family and said she was “going for a walk.” Conveniently, she forgot to mention her walk was over 2,000 miles and passed 14 states. She became the first woman to hike the newly formed Appalachian Trail – alone.
• A Night with Janis Joplin, with
• The Cemetery Club runs February 19 – March 8. Heartfelt, humorous, and deeply human, The Cemetery Club invites you into the lives of three lifelong friends navigating love, loss, and life after saying goodbye. Blending poignant emotion with laugh-out-loud moments, this beautiful play reminds us that friendship can be both a lifeline and a mirror—and that new beginnings often come when we least expect them. Performed by an incredible ensemble of local volunteer actors, this production is a tribute to the power of storytelling and the resilience of
Caroline Shaw’s “Entr’acte” reframes the elegance of classical form through a contemporary lens. A new co-commission from Che Buford arrives as part of the Cross-Country Chamber Consortium, brimming with fresh ideas and vivid color.
Roger Zare’s “Finding Equilibrium,” a world premiere, pairs string quartet with bass clarinet in a balance of lyricism and energy. Closing the evening, Kevin Puts’ “And Legions Will Rise” sends violin, clarinet, and marimba into an exhilarating, uplifting culmination. Held at First Congregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota. Tickets: www.EnSRQ.org
▼ On February 14, “Romanticism Throughout the Ages: An Expression through Music, History & Literature” with world-acclaimed piano virtuoso, Eleonora Lvov takes place at Selby Public Library at 2:30 pm. Free but registration required Call 941-3580235 www.eleonoralvov.com
In the Artist Series Concerts (ASC) of Sarasota’s offices, on the desk of executive director Keren Shani-Lifrak, sits a photo of ASC’s beloved founder Lee Dougherty Ross. In the photo, Ross is handing a scholarship check to a young Sarasota musician named Roger Zare — the very first winner of the Suncoast Music Scholarship Competition 30 years ago
Zare went on to study music at the highest level, compose works performed around the world, and even grace the stage of Carnegie Hall. Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Christopher Rouse wrote, “Roger Zare writes for orchestra like a real natural. It’s a medium that seems to be in his blood.”
The celebration begins with a concert in the garden of popular operetta selections performed by singers Michaela Ristaino, Adelaide Boedecker, Amy Connours, Justin Gomlak, and Jesse Martin, with Dr. Joseph Holt at the piano. The evening includes cocktails during and following the performance, dinner in the ballroom, a live auction, a wall of wine, and more music by Suncoast Music Scholarship Competition winners Colin Leonard and Matrick Thorpe
In 2025, Zare contacted Artist Series Concerts to say he would like to pay it forward. Zare will premiere his latest piece, Gamma for string quartet, right here in Sarasota — performed by DragonBoot Quartet, a young, all-female group who are current students in the Honors Chamber Music Program at the Juilliard School, on April 12, 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
ArcoStrum presents a Lunch and Listen concert on March 5, 11 a.m. at Sarasota Yacht Club. Strauss Shi and Tengyue Zhang redefine the violin-guitar art form, performing innovative chamber music that blends original transcriptions of classical repertoire, progressive rock, and traditional Chinese instrumental music featuring the erhu and dizi.
On March 15, 6 p.m. at The Bay Sarasota, ASC invites concertgoers of all ages to Beethoven, Beats and Beyond, a free, family-friendly concert featuring the Upward Notes classical string ensemble and DJ Karim Manning, an award-winning educator and beatboxer. Bring blankets or chairs and the whole family to this outdoor concert along the shore of Sarasota Bay.
The multi-instrumental quartet Invoke performs a dinner concert on March 17, 5:30 p.m. at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice. Invoke weaves together classical, bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, jazz, and minimalism into a contemporary repertoire featuring original works composed by and for the group.
It’s a full-circle moment, from scholarship student to celebrated composer, from gift received to gift given.
Between now and Zare’s world premiere, ASC has other exciting events happening on stages around Sarasota County: The Golden Age of Broadway and Operetta, February 24, 5 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, celebrates the 30th anniversary of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, with founders Lee Dougherty Ross and her husband Jerry serving as honorary chairs.
The Lasting Impressions concert — April 6, 4 p.m. at the Fischer/Weisenborne Residence — showcases violinist Michael Turkell, cellist Victor Minke Huls, and pianist Maria Parrini
The delicate beauty of impressionist music forms the heart of this captivating program that includes violin and piano sonatas by Enescu and Fauré, and Ravel’s duo for violin and cello.
As ASC celebrates their 30th anniversary season, they welcome the community’s help to continue their legacy of inspiration and impact. A donation to Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota not only nurtures the arts, but shapes futures.
To learn more about Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202
sion through Music, History & Literature” with Eleonora Lvov at the William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Ave S., Venice. Experience a performance and discussion with concert pianist Eleonora Lvov. Lvov has achieved world-wide acclaim as a piano virtuoso and popular recording artist with numerous CDs and DVDs.
A winner of many international competitions, she performs as a soloist with major orchestras and in recitals throughout the US, Europe and Russia. www.eleonoralvov.com
▼ “Now You See Us,” an art display by the Petticoat Painters, has been refreshed with all-new artwork. The updated exhibit features 46 new artworks throughout the lobby at City Hall, 1565 First Street.
The Petticoat Painters, an allfemale art group founded in 1953, is one of the oldest continuously exhibiting women’s art groups in the country. The collective was formed at a time when women struggled to find venues to display their art, seeking to showcase the talents of female artists despite the challenges of the time. From their first show, held at a local Sarasota gallery, through today, the Petticoat Painters provide a platform for women to display and be celebrated for their artwork.
The refreshed “Now You See Us” exhibit is free and open for public viewing at City Hall during regular business hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. For information on the Public Art Program, Visit sarasotafl.gov/PublicArt
▼ Women Contemporary Artists annual exhibit runs to March 13 at Art & Frame of Sarasota’s Gallery Hall, 1055 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10-5 p.m., Sunday, closed, Free Admission.
Women Contemporary Artists announces its annual Member Exhibition will be held until March 13. The exhibition is at Art & Frame Gallery Hall, 1055 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
Women Contemporary Artists (WCA) is a strong local organization of professional women actively engaged in the visual fine arts. WCA’s more than one hundred artists share the mission of providing visibility, encouragement, and inspiration to women artists. In addition to its annual juried exhibition, the WCA provides lectures and demonstrations featuring prominent people in the arts at meetings held from November - May, hosts monthly critiques, and an annual retreat. Visit womencontemporaryartists.com
▼ Island Gallery and Studios’ Jsland Gallery and Studios’ February featured artist is Marge Williamson Exhibition: The Beauty Around Us Runs February 1-28. First Friday artist reception is on February 6, 5-7 p.m.
A former Midwesterner now settled on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Williamson is an artist inspired by the natural world. After a successful career in advertising, she redirected her creative energy into painting, embracing the spontaneity and expressive clarity of self-taught, realistic watercolor and acrylic art.
Marg creates her artwork en plein air and from her own photography, capturing Florida’s unique flora, fauna, and coastal landmarks, as well as scenes from her travels across Europe and the Caribbean. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Southwest Florida—
including Sarasota, Bradenton, Pine Island, and Naples—and is held in both national and international collections.
Island Gallery and Studios, 456 Old Main Street, Bradenton.
▼ Sarasota Orchestra’s Harmony Gallery has David Meadow – “The Human Experience” to February 23 Reception: February 18, 5-6:30pm.
Meadow’s fascination with how people interact with each other and their surroundings is a constant source of inspiration. Whether on a city street, conversing in a cafe or communing with nature, the human subject sparks infinite possibilities.
Meadow aims for his viewers to be emotionally drawn into his paintings, to question the motivation of the person on the canvas, weave their own story about the artwork and totally immerse themselves in the painting. Meadow has exhibited in juried shows in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida, and his artwork belongs to many private collections.
The Harmony Gallery is in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
▼ At Art Center Sarasota they have their Annual Juried Members Show on view to February 21. The show celebrates the depth of talent within Art Center Sarasota’s member community. Unbound by a theme, this exhibition offers an open invitation into the diverse creative worlds of our artists.
What sets this exhibition apart is its inclusivity: every member artist who submits is guaranteed a place in the show. This democratic approach highlights our commitment to accessibility and artistic equity, while creating a rich and varied visual dialogue. This year, in honor of their Centennial, the exhibition expands to fill all four gallery spaces.
• The Art Center has The legendary Beaux Arts Ball—first launched in the1940s—will be the crown jewel of the Centennial Season, dazzling Sarasota once again on March 21
The revival, located at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, will blend spectacle, costume, creativity, performance, and celebration–bringing a historic tradition roaring into the present.
Location: 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Info: www.artsarasota.org
▼ At SPAACES: Subterranean Voices: The Ground Beneth,a five-week artist residency and exhibition by Sabrina Small that transforms the gallery into an immersive, hybrid space—part living studio, part evolving installation.
Rooted in themes of identity, transformation, and resistance to digital efficiency, Subterranean Voices explores the tension between outward persona and inner consciousness through hand-stitched and drawn works that celebrate slowness, tactility, and imperfection. Small’s symbolic figures—both monstrous and tender—serve as avatars for deeply personal narratives.
Opening night reception: February 13 Exhibition dates: February 13-March 21 Panel Discussion: AI, Culture & Connection is on February 28
SPAACES presents a special morning event featuring a creative breakfast and a thought-provoking panel discussion inspired by Subterranean Voices, the exhibition by artist-in-residence Sabrina Small and moderated by SPAACES founder Marianne Chapel the conversation will explore themes at the intersection
of artificial intelligence, digital culture, meditation, reflection, and the connective power of food.
SPAACES, 2051 Princeton St, Sarasota. www. spaaces.art/
enSRQ has Retrospektiv on February 23
enSRQ looks back on the works that have inspired both musicians and audiences over the past 10 years while also showcasing exciting new voices. Tickets: www.EnSRQ.org
▼ Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) is has launched a monthly live music event series, After Hours February 24: Traditional Irish Music and Dance featuring The Band TrinityIn addition to live music, select programs will also include a 30-minute introductory dance lesson in the style of the night’s theme. Throughout the evening, attendees are invited to relax and enjoy the music or join in on the dance floor.
After Hours is on the last Tuesday of each month in the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza at Sarasota Art Museum. Tickets are now on sale at SarasotaArtMuseum.org/After-Hours
▼ February 9: Short & Satisfying Book Club discusses Lace & Pyrite: Letters from Two Gardens, a collaborative book from the two authors who will be featured at this year’s PoetryLife: Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Ross Gay. Led by Georgia Court.
• February 11: Poetry Book Club features Andrea Gibson’s You Better Be Lightning. Led by Doug Knowlton.
• February 12: Best Adapted Book Club discusses Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty. Led by Roxanne Baker.
• February 16: At Florida Studio Theatre, it’s PoetryLife’s annual Favorite Poem Reading. Members of the community read their favorite poems (not their own) in front of an audience at FST. Local residents are invited to apply to be readers and 17 are selected to be part of the program.
• February 16, Best of the Backlist Book Club reads The Color Purple by Alice Walker, winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Led by Georgia Court.
• February 23: A PoetryLife event at Bookstore1. “Wonder, Joy and the Writing Life” is the focus of a discussion with New York Times bestselling authors, Aimee Nehukumatathil and Ross Gay.
• February 24: Banned Book Club discusses The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Led by Bryn Durgin.
• February 26: Mysteries to Die for Book Club reads And Then There
Amalgam (2023), was created specifically for Sarasota Art Museum. Consisting of more than 450 earthenware plates hand-painted in white, blue, and gold luster, the abstract lines and shapes in Amalgam are drawn from a variety of historical ceramics from around the globe.
• Jillian Mayer: Slumpies runs to September 2026. Mayer explores the relationship with technological devices and the impact device usage has on our bodies through her interactive sculpture series, Slumpies. Blurring the line between fine art and functional objects, Slumpies invites viewers to sit, climb, slump, and curl up, using these sculptures much like furniture. In doing so, visitors explore how Mayer’s objects provide support for the various postures we assume while using technology.
• Step into a world in which interconnectedness and resilience abound with “Janet Echelman: Radical Softness,” on view to April 26, 2026. Echelman’s solo exhibition traces more than four decades of her path-breaking career, offering an intimate look at her artistic evolution through drawings, paintings, textiles and the artist’s monumental, netted sculptures and sculptural dance performances.
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Bookstore1Sarasota 117 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. 941-365-7900 www.sarasotabooks.com
▼ February 7 – Masterwork Mendelssohn’s ElijahMendelssohn’s Elijah . Mendelssohn’s powerful choral masterpiece brings to life some of the most dramatic moments in the Old Testament. Fire comes from the heavens, storms gather, and the people cry for vengeance. From the prophet’s curse of drought, to confronting an evil queen, to an ascent into heaven on a fiery chariot, Elijah is an extraordinary musical experience. Soloists Jamal Sarikoki, Olivia Vote, David Tayloe, Jessica Beebe, and Key Chorale will retell the story of a man’s devotion in one of the greatest oratorios ever written.
Visit www.keychorale.org or call (941) 552-8768
▼ Robert Louis Stevenson: A Child’s Garden of Verses is on view to August 30, 2026 at the Historic Spanish Point campus. The exhibition celebrates childhood and the imagination of youth through the words and images of A Child’s Garden of Verses, the beloved book of poetry for children by the celebrated Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. The exhibition will feature photographs of pages from a vintage edition of the book, combining Stevenson’s poetry with illustrations by the notable American artist, Alexander Dobkin. Accompanying the photographs will be simple interactives that draw their inspiration from Stevenson’s poems and enhance the visitor experience. An audio recording will enable visitors to hear the poems read by Selby Gardens’ Artist-in-Residence, Patti Smith Tickets and info: www.selby.org
▼ Molly Hatch: Amalgam runs to April 26, 2026 . Hatch’s newly commissioned “plate painting,”
The exhibition also marks the debut of a series of cyanotypes created from 3D models and photographs made during her design process, translating her monumental forms into a new photographic medium that uses the environment — sunlight — as both method and subject. Echelman is best known for her larger-than-life sculptures that marry design, architecture and engineering. Often choreographed by the wind, the aerial networks of knotted netting demonstrate interconnectedness and unity. When any part of the sculpture billows, all the surrounding elements are impacted, including the visitors underneath. Info: sarasotaartmuseum.org/visit
▼ Arts Advocates has Talkback Tuesdays, a monthly series designed to spotlight Sarasota’s arts and cultural scene. The series features in-depth interviews, conducted by Nanette Crist, with local creatives, educators, journalists, and nonprofit leaders who are shaping the city’s dynamic creative community.
Hosted in the Arts Advocates Gallery, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (in the Crossings at Siesta Key mall), Talkback Tuesdays take place from 4-6p.m.; admission is free for Arts Advocates members and $5 for nonmembers. Registration is required at ArtsAdvocates.org
• February 10, Dasha Reich - The Flag: Nine Artists, Nine Flags
• March 10, Ronnique HawkinsRoots & Radiance: Learning Their History
• April 7, Justin Gomlak - From Broadway to the Classroom: Building Creative Futures
To learn more, visit ArtsAdvocates.org
Have you sent your season schedule yet?
We’ve received lots of them so far, but do we have yours?
If you want coverage in West Coast Woman, make sure to send your schedule to: westcoastwoman@ comcast.net
Senior Friendship Centers Alumni Association Social & Service Club
“We build vibrant communities by advancing wellness, connection, and enrichment throughout the journey of aging.”
For more information visit our website at www.friendshipcenters.org/alumni-association Or call Georgann Nugent at (941) 556-3216. ALL are welcome! Join today! We have FUN on purpose
Sarasota Opera’s season gets underway this month. It’s “an interesting mix” according to Richard Russell, General Director of Sarasota Opera, with classics like La bohème and Il trovatore and the popular romantic operetta the Merry Widow which returns to the Sarasota stage after a long hiatus.
Sarasota Opera always offers something new every year and this year it’s the opera Susanna, an opera in two acts by American composer Carlisle Floyd.
Floyd wrote the libretto and music while a member of the piano faculty at Florida State University. He adapted the story from the apocryphal tale of Susannah and the Elders, though the latter story has a more positive ending.
The story focuses on 18-year-old Susannah Polk, an innocent girl who is targeted as a sinner in the small mountain town of New Hope Valley, in the Southern American state of Tennessee.
Expect top notch performances, beautiful sets and costumes in the intimate setting of the Sarasota opera House.
Puccini’s La bohème opens the 2026 Winter Festival on February 14, bringing a timeless story of love, friendship, and loss to the stage.
Soprano Ashley Milanese returns with her expressive lyricism and dramatic sensitivity to sing the role of Mimì. She made her acclaimed company debut in the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor in 2024 and has since performed with Opera in the Heights, Opera Philadelphia, and Komische Oper Berlin. She sang the role of Nedda at Sarasota Opera in last season’s Pagliacci.
Tenor Woo Young Yoon makes his Sarasota debut as Rodolfo. A rising star on the international stage praised for his “soaring high notes” by OperaNews, Yoon has performed with San Jose Opera and New York City Opera. Bass Young Bok Kim, marking over two decades with Sarasota Opera, will sing Colline. A native of Korea who has sung with the National Opera of Korea and Seoul Metropolitan Opera, he has performed roles such as Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), and the title role in Attila with Sarasota Opera.
Kim will also sing the role of Ferrando in Il trovatore. Bass Brian Kontes, noted by OperaNews for his “dark bass and strong dramatic energy” who has appeared with Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Colorado, and the Metropolitan Opera, will perform Benoit, as well as the role of Elder McLean in Floyd’s Susannah. Bass-baritone Hans Tashjian, whose voice has been described as “rumbling and lush”, will sing Alcindoro. He has performed previously with the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Baltimore, and Houston Grand Opera.
The production will be conducted by Victor DeRenzi and directed by Stephanie Sundine. sung in Italian with English translations for 12 performances February 14-March 28
Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow opens February 21, bringing elegance, romance, and Viennese charm to the stage. Soprano Raquel González, who made her Sarasota debut as Cio Cio San in 2023’s Madama Butterfly, will sing the lead role of Hanna Glawari. Hailed by OperaNews as a “true artist,” González is a recipient of the Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence and has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Soprano Sara Kennedy, who has performed with Teatro Grattacielo and Florida Grand Opera, sang Lola in Sarasota Opera’s Cavalleria
rusticana last season, will sing the role of Valencienne.
Tenor Patrick Bessenbacher makes his Sarasota debut as Camille.
Praised by OperaNews for his “purity of tone and ardent, youthful stage presence”, Bessenbacher has performed with Opera San José, the Florentine Opera, and Opera Birmingham.3 This new production will be conducted by Anthony Barrese and directed by Katherine M. Carter. Sung in English with English surtitles for nine performances. February 21-March 27
Giuseppe Verdi’s Il trovatore opens March 7, delivering fiery passions, unforgettable melodies, and one of opera’s most gripping tales of vengeance and fate. CanadianItalian soprano Aviva Fortunata, praised for her “velvety timbre” and “gleaming tone,” will sing Leonora.
A graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, her signature roles include Norma, Tosca, Donna Anna, and Elvira in Ernani, which she performed at Sarasota Opera in 2023.
Returning for her 11th role at Sarasota Opera, mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez will sing Azucena, the haunted gypsy woman at the heart of the opera’s mystery. Described as possessing a “plush storm of a voice” and “commanding the stage at every moment,” Chavez has performed with New York City Opera and Opera San José. She wowed audiences last season in Sarasota with her performance as the shunned Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana.
Tenor Victor Starsky will sing the role of Manrico. He returns to Sarasota Opera following acclaimed performances as Don José in Carmen and the title role in last season’s Stiffelio. Starsky has also sung the Duke in Rigoletto, Radamès in Aida, and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with companies across the U.S. and is known for
his powerful voice and dramatic intensity.
Baritone Ricardo José Rivera will perform the role of Count de Luna. Lauded by The New York Times for a voice “powerful yet capable of softness,” Rivera is a sought-after Verdi interpreter, debuting major roles last year as Macbeth at Teatro Nuovo and as Stankar in Stiffelio at Sarasota Opera.
The production will be conducted by Victor DeRenzi and directed by Marco Nisticò, sung in Italian with English translations for seven performances March 7-29
Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, a powerful American opera of innocence and judgement that premiered in the state of Florida, will open March 14 as the final production of the Winter Opera Festival. Floyd would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2026, along with the Opera House.
Soprano Hanna Brammer will sing the title role, bringing her expressive stage presence and vocal agility to one of the most iconic roles in American opera.
Bass-baritone
Jason Zacher, praised for his “an alluring persona” and “resonant voice” by OperaNews, will portray the fire- and-brimstone preacher Olin Blitch in his Sarasota debut. Tenor Jeremy Brauner, described by Opera Wire as having a voice of “unbridled power”, returns to the Sarasota stage to sing the role of Sam.
The production will be conducted by Jessé Martins and directed by Martha Collins. sung in English with English surtitles for five performances March 14-28 Sarasota Opera’s season extends into April as the company will have a commemorative concert and gala dinner celebrating 100 years of the historic Sarasota Opera House. The events include an open house on April 10, a concert onstage at the Opera House on April 11, followed by a gala dinner at Michael’s on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
For more information, visit www.sarasotaopera.org, call 941-328-1300, or visit the Box Office at 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.
Clients come to me because they are in physical pain such as neck, back, pain and TMJ as well as for chronic headaches and migraines.
Fascia (strong connective tissue) encases all our muscles, organs, brain and spinal cord. Whenever fascia shortens any place in the body, the entire network of fascia creates an increased tension affecting the functioning of our physical body as well as our organs, our brain and spinal cord.
Our body is the history of every major trauma we have experienced physically and emotionally beginning with birth issues, falls, head trauma, car accidents, childhood abuse issues, death, divorce and other emotional issues. Our body tries to minimize each trauma by shortening fascia to isolate the energy
coming into the body from that trauma. Shortened fascia results in pain, loss of mobility and range of motion, organs becoming less efficient and with parts of the brain and spinal cord becoming stressed.
To keep the brain functioning, the body transfers some of your functional work play energy (7:00 AM-10:00 PM) to the brain resulting in less energy to make it through each day. As we age, the accumulation of all the tightened fascia, from every major trauma in life, begins to restrict every aspect of our body’s functions resulting in pain, loss of mobility, mis-functioning organs, loss of energy, as well as our brain losing some its sharpness.
The Craniosacral Therapist creates a safe place, with gentle holding techniques, that engages your body’s ability to self correct, reorganize and heal itself with the release of some of that tightened fascia during each session. As the Craniosacral Therapist engages your body, you will feel fascia releasing. As the fascia releases, pain begins to decrease, range of motion and mobility improve, organs begin functioning better and with less stress on the brain feels, it returns the energy it borrowed at the time of each trauma resulting in an immediate increase in your energy levels. Rarely does anyone leave from my first session not feeling better.
Eighty-five percent of my clients have one of their legs pulled up 1/2 to 1 by shortened fascia. The tension from short leg syndrome on the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae at bottom of the spine) is transferred up the dural tube that encases the spinal cord into the lower and upper back, the neck, the cranium and
■ Our little boy Leo, four years of age, had a difficult birth and at 7 months was put on antibiotics for an ear infection and as a result developed c-diff. His development came to a stop.
At 3 years, with the help of an OT, he started to walk and talk. In spite of the improvements, he was unable to answer questions and his communication skills were very poor. Leo had very poor muscle tone, a lot of stress in his body and physical activities such walking, jumping and climbing were difficult for him.
Beginning with the first session with Terry, he began showing improvement and with each following session. Everyone from his teachers to his grandparents noticed an increase in his
■ “I was in awful pain and the MRI showed 2 pinched nerves and stenosis. I scheduled surgery. My daughter suggested Craniosacral therapy. After only 2 visits the pain was reduced to about 80% and I canceled the surgery. I went for a 3rd visit and I am about 90% better.”
■ “Simply Amazing! One visit was all it took for Terry to relieve 85% of my year long, nagging (sometimes severe) neck/shoulder tightness/ pain!! My breathing improved tremendously.”
physical strength, as well as improvements in comprehension, speech and communication skills. For the first time, he started participating in class lessons and interacting with his classmates. Terry has made a huge impact on getting Leo to a place a little boy should be at age four. We cannot thank Terry enough.
■ Terry’s treatment helped our 6 week old baby boy from recent hospitalization into the first series of healthy bowel movements when seemingly nothing could help. Our son was able to latch onto the breast and for the first time completed his feeding. He was much calmer after working with Terry.
The physical stress in bodies caused by shortened fascia (connective tissue) shuts down energy flows to certain organs. Short leg syndrome by ½ to 1 in (where one leg is pulled up by shortened fascia) shuts down energy flow to the spleen (an important part of your immune system) and the small and large intestine. With the release of that shortened fascia, energy returns to these organs.
the brain. Headaches, migraines, TMJ and neck problems can originate from the fascial stress in the sacrum.
Releasing this sacral stress increases energy in the bladder, sex organs, kidneys and the chakras as well as releasing major stress in the upper part of the body.
A great majority of the clients who come to me for various problems are also shallow breathers. Fascial stress in the diaphragm restricts the depth of breathing by restricting energy flow to the lungs, the pericardium
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and the heart. With the release of fascial diaphragm restriction, the client immediately starts breathing deeply and energy is restored to the pericardium and the heart. Shoulder blades that are cemented to the body also restricts how much the rib cage can open and thereby also restricting depth of breath. Without proper breathing, your cells do not get enough oxygen. Everyone, especially people suffering from bronchitis, asthma and COPD as well as shallow breathing can benefit when the fascial stress is released.
Just as the body physically gets stressed from physical and emotional trauma, the functioning of the brain is also affected by fascial stress. For our brains to remain healthy, we need dynamic production of craniosacral fluid which performs the important function of bringing nourishment to all the cells in the brain and spinal cord as well as cleansing all the metabolic wastes given off by those same cells. Once the craniosacral fluid cleanses these metabolic wastes, efficient drainage of these metabolic wastes into the lymph system is absolutely necessary. Research has shown, that at night, craniosacral fluid cleanses amyloid plaques from the brain. If the drainage is inefficient, then the brain is being bathed in a toxic slurry. How does 15 or 20 years of your brain being bathed in a toxic slurry affect you: senile dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other brain dysfunctions?
A Craniosacral Therapist, who has received training in working with the brain, can reverse that stress on the brain that eventually can result in those brain dysfunctions. As we all know, the proper functioning of the body is dependent on a healthy functioning brain
■ Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy
B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049. Terry has specialized in Craniosacral Therapy since 1994 when he began his training at the Upledger Institute. Described by his teachers, clients and colleagues as a “gifted healer”, Terry’s intuitive sense and healing energy provides immediate and lasting relief from injury, pain, mobility issues as well as dysfunctions of the body and the brain. Part of Terry’s ongoing education, he has completed 4 craniosacral brain and peripheral nervous system classes which enables him to work at a cellular level and with brain dysfunctions.
Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy, B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049 advanced craniosacral therapy
■ “He was able to relieve tension that I have been carrying around for 15 years or more. I left his office table with more energy than I have had in years.”
■ “I began working with him because I was dealing with anxieties, depression and lots of emotional pain inside and out. You don’t realized how much stress can cause damage to your body, mind and soul. I can say Terry was a big help.”
Call 941-321-8757 for more information, Google Advanced Craniosacral Therapy
■ “On a recent vacation to Siesta Key, I re-injured my back. I found Terry online. I can say with complete joy that was the best decision I made in the history of my back pain. I have sought many modalities and visit a CST regularly and never have I had such a healing in my entire body.
After 3 sessions, I made a 16-hour drive home with no pain or discomfort in my entire body. Unbelievable. My body has a sense of moving freely and that is completely new. I’m
so grateful to Terry for his knowledge, for his sensitivity to my needs and his kind generosity in healing my body. I will see him when I return next year.”
■ “I am a snowbird who spends 7 months in Sarasota. I have had back problems for 25 years. Terry’s techniques have led to a great deal of release and relief in areas that have been problematic. I have been seeing him over the years when my body says ”it’s time”. Usually after a few sessions, I can tell a huge difference.”
A sample of French toile patterns
And yes, wallpaper can be playful and fun as seen in patterns by Studio Lisa
that
• www. scandinavianwallpaper .com • Phone: 941-499-7997
1803 Glengary Street, Sarasota
WWallpaper is currently experiencing a significant resurgence in popularity. And if you want better-made wallpaper with a real artistic feel, then Scandinavian Wallpaper is the place to go. The showroom is off the beaten path a bit, nestled behind Best Buy on Tamiami Trail, south off Bee Ridge.
Stripes, flowers - yes, in abundance and what you might expect. But with a strong Scandinavian design aesthetic, there’s also a whole variety of patterns, colors and textures. Some are classic and look right out of a cottage on Cape Cod, while other patterns hard back to centuries past while others offer contemporary designs with bold floral or animal patterns.
And yes, wallpaper can be playful and fun as seen in patterns by Studio Lisa Bengtsson, one of Sweden’s most interesting designers that Scandinavian Wallpaper features. Her bold and whimsical patterns of things like tigers, shoes and floral bouquets are what you can imagine in a hip boutique hotel in London.
Owner Kim Florens started Scandinavian Wallpaper in 2015.Hailing from Sweden, she and her husband are expats. Kim had worked in the financial field prior to wallpaper—a career change for sure. She
first started her business online and then moved to a physical location in 2021 and then another move two years ago to where she is now at Glengary Street.
Unlike in the U.S., wallpaper never went out out of style in Scandinavia. But it is experiencing a resurgence here for its ability to add a different atmosphere to any room - including bathroom and kitchens.
The showroom is open to all. Some people come in with their interior designers or simply turn it over to that interior designer to come in and go through the books.
Kim notes that since most interior designers don’t have offices, they offer a private work area to review patters with or without their clients.
All patterns are produced in Sweden. And the paper itself is much easier to use and apply. And it’s eco- friendly Kim explains, “They’re made of nontoxic dyes and there’s no vinyl.”
Scandinavian Wallpaper is the only reseller in the U.S. to offer the popular Duro brand, a family-owned company from Sweden and “And even though we’re small, that’s pretty cool,” Kim notes. Founded in 1930, it’s the leading Swedish wallpaper brand.
When Kim first started, her business was strictly online, but “It’s hard to see online and there are 1500 designs” that she offers adding, “People don’t buy rolls without seeing the rolls.”
Can you just come and look? Sure and you will be able to views dozens of sample books. What helps is a variety of installa tions of a variety of patterns so you can visualize your choices. But you better block off a few hours, however, since the showroom and patterns are beautiful.
Scandinavian Wallpaper works with com panies that do the installation. Customers come from around the country. Frequently her paper is sold to upscale neighborhoods in New York City and California, but also to places like Kansas and Idaho showing that, “The trend [for wallpaper] has spread to all consumers.”
Kim adds that HGTV and the Property Brothers have also helped boost wallpaper’s profile. Then there’s the fact there are so many patterns to choose from - it’s almost overwhelming it if weren’t so beautiful.
And be sure to check out the French toile patterns with their pastoral settings from the 18th century that look amazingly well suited for modernist furniture. The mixing and matching can be quite fun. Today’s wallpaper is peel and stick - a no mess process. It is being used creatively in spaces like kitchens, bathrooms—even ceilings, enhancing the overall design of a home.
Kim notes that some Florida homes have an open floor plan, meaning there are not a lot of walls in some homes for papering. Instead, buyers can choose to decorate an
accent wall in a living room or bedroom. What trends is Kim seeing? Large scale, made to fit patterns are popular, also “dark, moody wallpaper” as well as coastal colors in stripes with maybe a faded blue linen look. In summary, wallpaper can help you the ability to create spaces like never before.
unique wallpaper. “And people want something new.” And don’t forget Scandinavian patterns with their nature scenes that include rabbits, deer and forests that reflect Norway and Sweden and its enjoyment of outdoor living.
In the showroom, they have 30 wallpaper designs displayed on their walls, with hundreds more available on rolls for a closer look.
From her website, Kim says, “When I started Scandinavian Wallpaper, it came from a simple place — a love for the Scandinavian homes I grew up around and a desire to share that feeling here in the U.S. Every brand we offer is one I’ve chosen because it brings a sense of warmth, calm, and thoughtful design. My hope is that when you bring our wallpapers into your home, they bring you joy every day and help create spaces that feel meaningful, welcoming, and truly yours.”
Embracing New Beginnings with Confidence.
How to Refresh Your Life, Routines, and Living Space at Any Age
Every day offers a fresh start—an opportunity to reimagine your life, refine your goals, and take meaningful steps toward the future you want. Whether it’s January or July, the best moment to make a positive change is the one you’re in right now. New beginnings don’t have to be dramatic or tied to major life events.
Often, they begin quietly with a choice, a new habit, or a simple question: “What do I want the next part of my life to look like?”
A recent poll found that nearly 80% of Americans feel “stuck” in their routines, a feeling that can become more noticeable as we grow older. Our priorities shift, our energy changes, and our lifestyles evolve, yet our habits often stay the same. While change can feel intimidating, it is never too late to redefine what is possible. Many people find that later life provides more clarity and confidence about what truly matters. At Caring Transitions of Sarasota & Bradenton, we believe in supporting individuals through these transitions so they can move forward with purpose and peace of mind.
Breaking Free from Routine “‘Someday’ is not a day of the week. Just commit, make the plan, and do it.” If you are considering a fresh start, think about ways to bring new energy into your life:
• Try Lifelong Learning: Take a course, learn a craft, or write the book you’ve been imagining.
• Build Connections: Join a walking group, volunteer locally, attend a class, or reconnect with neighbors.
• Prioritize Wellness: Gentle exercise, stretching, nutritious meals, and outdoor time support health and vitality. Small changes can create meaningful momentum.
Another powerful way to refresh your life is to re-evaluate your living environment. A home that once felt perfect may no longer match your needs. Perhaps the space is too large, maintenance is overwhelming, or daily routines would be easier if you lived closer to family. Sometimes, a new home brings not only comfort and safety but also a renewed sense of independence. Options such as downsizing, relocating to a smaller home, moving closer to loved ones, or joining a 50+ community can support your evolving lifestyle and open the door to new opportunities. However, transitioning to a new home involves much more than choosing where to live. Sorting belongings, organizing years of memories, and coordinating logistics can feel overwhelming. That’s where Caring Transitions of Sarasota & Bradenton steps in. We specialize in senior relocation, downsizing, estate
cleanouts, and comprehensive planning.
Our personalized process honors your belongings and your history while guiding you through every step of the move.
One of the most meaningful ways we support clients is through our Day One Living approach. Instead of arriving at a new home and facing boxes, clutter, or uncertainty, many clients walk into a fully set-up space that feels familiar and functional from the very first day.
Our team ensures that:
• Bedrooms are organized and ready
• Kitchens and bathrooms are arranged for immediate use
• Everyday essentials are placed where you expect them
• Closets and storage areas are thoughtfully designed around your routines
This thoughtful preparation allows individuals to settle in quickly and comfortably. Families are often surprised by how seamless the transition feels. Instead of spending weeks adjusting, clients can begin enjoying their new home almost immediately.
The perfect time to begin a new chapter isn’t yesterday or some distant moment— it’s today. Whether you want to explore new interests, build new connections, or transition to a home that better supports your lifestyle, this is the ideal moment to take the next step.
When you’re ready, Caring Transitions of Sarasota & Bradenton is here to walk with you. Our team provides compassionate, professional support during life’s biggest transitions. You don’t have to navigate downsizing, relocation, or estate planning alone. With careful attention and a commitment to your peace of mind, we can help you move forward with confidence.
Proudly Serving Sarasota, Bradenton and surrounding areas.
Start Your Next Chapter Today , call 941-225-8114 or visit CaringTransitionsSarasota.com
CEO & President
he’s the CEO and President at Circus Arts Conservatory and has been with the organization for 18 years through a period of tremendous growth and transition. CEO & President
Arts Conservatory
Arts Conservatory
This is a busy month for the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC). The bigtop is up for performances that run February 14-March 8 at Benderson Park, replete with aerialists, comics, juggling and balancing acts, cyclists, and assorted talented daredevils who will make you say, “How did they do that?” while your eyes are fixated and you’re holding your breath.
It’s a winter tradition that CAC performances delight locals, their houseguests as well as tourists for an annual show that changes every year - but with the same top quality acts.
Managing the complicated logistics, planning, promotion and scheduling is a team that works behind the scenes to make it all happen. And the person leading that team is Jennifer Mitchell, CAC’s CEO and President. She assumed that new title in 2024, taking the reins from founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs who have stepped back from day to day operations, but are still involved.
Jennifer knows CAC well having been with them 18 years. In 2008, she came on board as Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator and was promoted to Managing Director in 2013, before becoming CEO and President. Back in 2008, CAC was much smaller and had an operating budget of $900,000. Now it’s more like $6-7 million.
She and her team weathered after effects from the turbulent storms of 2024 starting with flooding from Debbie on June 11, and more flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton, causing the admin offices to have to vacate due to extensive damage. Luckily, the Sailor Circus Arena remained intact, but five buildings had to be torn down.
But the show must go on as they say, and it did, as they were still able to produce their Sailor Circus, Circus Sarasota and Cirque des Voix shows.
In addition to her loyalty to CAC, it’s also been personal for Jennifer. Her daughter, Emma Clark, became involved with CAC’s long-standing Sailor Circus and trained there for 10 years. Just this past holiday season, she performed with the trapeze artists known as The Flying Caballeros in Amsterdam with Wereldkerstcircus. Jennifer traveled there to see her perform, posting online about being a “proud mama.”
“We’ve been on this journey together,” she says of her and her daughter’s involvement with CAC. When Jennifer decided to come on board with the circus, she says she loved the nonprofit and “saw its potential,” but that she “fell in love with it” when Emma became involved.
For Jennifer, it was “seeing a child build confidence.” Now 20, her daughter is an accomplished performer. The cover of CAC’s 2025’s annual report has a beautiful image of a female aerialist and it happens to be her daughter.
Jennifer points out that Sarasota is one of the few circuses with a school - that is, “a living, performing circus,” and it’s the longest-running youth circus training program in America where student performers ages 6-18 perform each year as they did this past December. It sold out four times and there were 150 local students involved in the show.
During Jennifer’s tenure, CAC acquired the Sailor Circus and it was expanded to become the Circus Arts Conservatory. The Sailor Circus, she feels, “lends itself to so many things. They learn stage presence, self confidence and how to present yourself.” With technology, the kids can also view themselves and learn even more. In addition, CAC also has an education
program that’s instructed more than 30,000 students in 32 elementary and middle schools since 2012. This past January they presented “Marvelous, Miraculous Circus Machine,” a circus performance created to complement their fifth-grade educational curriculum.
There are many circuses active in the U.S. but the difference with CAC is, “We give back to the community,” Jennifer points out.
More than 2,000 fifth-grade students from Sarasota and Manatee county schools attended this performance that brings to life the STEAM concepts they’ve been studying in the classroom. The show, inspired by Rube Goldberg machines, features professional circus artists demonstrating scientific principles through various circus disciplines. And she notes, it’s “using an artform to educate.”
CAC uses circus arts as an educational tool that makes academic concepts tangible and interesting for students while promoting an appreciation for the circus arts.
CAC artists demonstrate principles of science, engineering, art, math, technology, communication, and theater. It’s about “Helping students recognize the importance of science, technology, and mathematics, we provide a kinesthetic learning experience,” according to their website, and it sounds like a wonderful way to learn science and other abstract subjects.
Away from the big top, CAC provides year-round outreach programs in the community: approximately 80% of their ticket revenue supports their community outreach programs serving children through the Education Program, but also the elderly and those in care facilities through the Humor Therapy Program and the Sailor Circus Academy.
Jennifer says she doesn’t reflect on how busy they are. “All the growth is within our strategic goals.” She says they have created a new long-range strategic plan “that requires staff and talent to share CAC’s vision.” And like any growing entity that means “We have to pivot, adapt - like performers - and be very flexible.”
With her “highly motivated staff” she knows how important it is to host shows with international talent and “keeping Sarasota on the map internationally.” Sarasota, she explains is seen as “a leader in the [circus] artform.”
And that’s all part of what the founders, Pedro and Dolly intended, she explains. Pedro is the production and artistry strategist and has produced the annual winter Circus Sarasota. Dolly continues to work with Sailor Circus students and is a spokesperson for the organization and has been, “a great influence” on her daughter, Emma.
Through Jennifer’s father’s career as a TIME magazine executive, her childhood included international travel and a degree in international business at Oxford in England. His job also allowed her to see the Big Apple Circus in New York City where, you guessed it, both Dolly and Pedro were performing.
Prior to CAC, Jennifer worked with several nonprofits including the Red Cross, Ringling College of Art & Design (where she produced the popular “Avant-Garde” event), G-Wiz, Miss America Teen and others. She’s a first-generation American and, with her husband Ryan Clark, who’s an assistant principal, they have four children.
Jennifer says she works, “because I love it. How lucky I am to be keeping the circus tradition going.” Find out more about CAC at www//circusarts.org/
STORY and IMAGE: Louise Bruderle
Aren’t we lucky? We have farmer’s markets from north in Palmetto to south in Venice, west in Siesta Key and east in Lakewood Ranch, with even more in between in Sarasota and Bradenton.
Heading east is the Waterside Famers Market in Lakewood Ranch where they have over 100 vendors every Sunday, 10 to 2. And the vendors come in all sizes from small, tented booths to food trucks the size of large campers and everything in between due to the large space they have to work with.
Waterside Waterside Place is a 36-acre lakefront town center within Lakewood Ranch. It’s off University Parkway and is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Sarasota since Sunday early morning traffic isn’t quite so heavy. They have plenty of parking, plenty of room to sit in comfy outdoor furniture and listen to live music and give the dog some exercise.
Judging by the early lines forming, people were into baked good and coffee while
the hot foods were just getting started. They have yoga classes each Sunday at 9 a.m. and music by local musicians. The Kids’ Zone @ The Yard features weekly educational and artistic activities for the little people.
You could have breakfast, buy lunch or dinner, get plants for your yard, take care of your skin, experience wild mushrooms, buy some Florida breezy casual clothes and get produce. A few of the vendors are also at the Sarasota Farmers Market, but the majority are here alone.
There’s something to be said about farmer’s markets that goes beyond cookies, barbecue and cheese curds. These are people living a dream of many types. Most want to be their own boss, call their own shots, choose how hard they want to work and see that hard work come back as a good paycheck. Some are starting over, quite a few are leaving jobs behind, some are motivated by personal health issues. Talking with these vendors gives you insights not just of their products and services, but why they chose to work at a farmer’s market.
Addison at Verve Bakery has found a niche judging by the shoppers seeking gluten-free baked goods. She’s seen her share of lousy gluten-free baked goods - some with poor or unappetizing flour substitutes, while others, over-compensate with too many sweeteners.
She has hit the right flavor notes with her baked goods that many people buy not knowing (or caring) that they’re gluten free. Her market days start early so that all her baked good are fresh—and because she has a six month old baby.
To those disappointed to see her inventory cleaned out, she does sell to a few coffee shops in Bradenton. Coffee shops selling Verve products: Orange Blossom Coffee (Bradenton), Banyan Coffee (Palmetto), Back Alley Treasures (AMI) and C You Boutique and Coffee Bar (LWR)
According to Verve’s website, “I never use any artificial ingredients, seed oils, dyes, or preservatives. I use real and natural sugars, while also baking exclusively gluten free. I also offer several dairy free and paleo options.”
Verve offers the following gluten-free items: mini cakes, cinnamon rolls, df pop tarts, muffins, bread, protein cookies, granola, pastries as well as dairy-free pastries, protein bites. And they never uses any artificial ingredients, seed oils, dyes, or preservatives and as well as real and natural sugars. Addison also cannot tolerate gluten so that was a major reason for creating Verve. She’s been GF for 9 years. Don’t disappointed - she suggest that you order in advance and then pick up at the market or, get there super early.
Verve Bakery with Addison Frazee Instagram: verve.bakery www.vervebakery.com 918-630-4522
Here’s someone who always loved to bake and, after finishing 11 years with the EDC in Bradenton, decided to take the plunge and follow her bliss and bake cookies.
These are large, sweet and flavorful cookies and if they remind you of the old-fashioned cookies of your youth, that’s because Cindy uses her grandmother’s recipes with fresh ingredients for classics like chocolate chip.
All are made by hand and on the same day as the market and with no preservatives. Cindy offers 13 flavors of big cookies at $4.00 each or 3 for $10
My eyes saw Philly cheesesteaks and I knew I had to stop. A cheesesteak isn’t rocket science per se, but you can mess it up especially if you use cheap ingredients.
The steak has to be good quality, the roll, Italian style, usually by Amoroso. Then there’s the cheese which, if you’re in parts of Philly, they’ll give you some side eye if you don’t go for the “wit wiz” stuff.
I’m in Florida, 800 miles south of Philly and I did not grow up in the city but, I don’t like processed cheese that comes out of a jar. Nuff said.
Plus she has homemade ice cream sandwiches for $5.00 and homemade toffee in three flavors for $5.00. Flavors include classic chocolate chip (top seller), but also peanut butter and sugar and jazzier varieties such as mint chocolate chip and white chocolate lemon blueberry (13 in all).
BiteMeCookies by Cindy has been baking up love since 2015. Her menu also includes the “Delicious Duo” a pairing of Lickity Splits Vanilla Ice Cream and Cindy’s chocolate chip cookie. Her cookies are available as cookie/treat platters, cookie cakes and cookie bouquets
Cindy’s love for baking, specifically cookies, began Bite Me as a passion project with just a brochure and a ton of ambition.
Cookies by Cindy’s is a cottage industry business that is based in Bradenton. “If you can see it, do it,” she says. Her home in the Village of the Arts is pink as is her spiffy van that she bring to the market.
Bite me Cookies by Cindy Unzicker Email: bitemecookiesbycindy@yahoo.com or call (941) 812-2238
Visit: www.BiteMeCookiesbyCindy.com
So it was great to meet someone who has no problem about which cheese you choose for your cheesesteak. He even suggested Cooper which was perfect. My second choice would be provolone which they also offer.
Nas was working in the restaurant business in Philadelphia for 20 years. A cancer scare prompted a move to Florida and a different lifestyle. They sold their house in Montgomery County, PA and bought a food truck.
Now in Bradenton six years, he and his wife run the food truck making Philly style cheesesteaks. This allows for him to spend more time with his family.
Nas feels we should all, “Be who you are,” and he feels that way about how you like your cheesesteak to be made.
Most cheesesteak places use rib eye for the meat portion, but he prefers sirloin from a company, you guessed it, from Philadelphia. Now
For more information and to see a full list of vendors, visit www.watersideplace.com/events/the-market/
six years into his new business (and also cancer-free) he’s learned to “keep it simple.”
“We love bringing a little taste of Philly to LWR,” says his website, and LWR loves him back. He has regulars including one person who buys a cheesesteak every Sunday.
The cheesesteak he served me was stuffed with meat and the melted Cooper sharp added creaminess and a touch of tang.
His menu includes Cheesesteaks and Chicken Cheesesteaks ($13-$15) and a variety of fries ($6-$15). You’ll love it.
Nas Philly Steaks www.facebook.com/nasphillysteakstrailer Visit www.nasphillysteaks.com
Call: 215 847 6761. You can also find them at a variety of events by visiting www.streetfoodfinder.com/nasphillysteaks
The Orioles’ 2026 Grapefruit League schedule begins Friday, February 20, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota against the New York Yankees. The club’s 2026 spring schedule features 17 home games, including nine home games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Orioles will host the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, March 22, and travel to Nationals Park on Monday, March 23, to conclude Grapefruit League play.
Pitchers and catchers participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Monday, February 9, while position players participating in the WBC will report on Thursday, February 12. The remaining pitchers and catchers will report on Wednesday, February 11, and position players on Monday, February 16.
Enhanced and expanded fan access at Ed Smith Stadium will be featured on both home and away game dates, including free admission to open practices on home dates, with entry beginning approximately four hours before the scheduled start time.
The O’s will face 12 different opponents during Grapefruit League play, with 10 of the club’s 31 games coming against American League East divisional rivals: Boston Red Sox (two games; one at home), New York Yankees (four games; two at home), Tampa Bay Rays (two games; one at home), and Toronto Blue Jays (two games; one at home).
On March 3, the Orioles will face Team Netherlands in an exhibition game at Ed Smith Stadium, with the WBC officially beginning on March 5.
The team’s 15-game road schedule features two games at the Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Yankees, and one at the Atlanta Braves, Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, Rays, Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Yankees.
Split squad dates will be Saturday, March 7 vs. Minnesota and at Atlanta, and Thursday, March 19 vs. Pittsburgh and at New York-AL. The third annual Spring Breakout game, featuring top minor league prospects from each organization, will take place in Sarasota when the O’s
Red Sox farmhands on Friday, March 20.
Over the past year, the Orioles have invested more than $23 million in team funds in a state-of-the-art player performance center at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex. The 2026 season will mark Baltimore’s 17th Spring Training season in Sarasota.
In the 16 years since the Orioles moved Major League Spring Training operations to Sarasota, more than 1.5 million fans have enjoyed Orioles baseball at Ed Smith Stadium. In addition, the Orioles host a myriad of special events throughout the year –including youth sports tournaments, arts and entertainment programs, and charitable activations – helping to generate more than $762.9 million in economic impact in the state of Florida since 2015. Beyond economic impact, the Orioles have provided more than $4.4 million to local Sarasota organizations through cash donations and in-kind contributions. Over the past 15 years, the team has made it a priority to help combat food insecurity, empower the youth of the community, provide arts and educational resources for local children, and help when the community needs them the most.
The Orioles partner with All Faiths Food Bank to host food collections throughout the year, and Ed Smith Stadium is used for their annual “ThankFULL” Turkey Distribution, providing local families in need with necessary food prior to the holidays. Last Spring Training, the Orioles continued to partner with numerous local non-profits, including All Faiths Food Bank, Mothers Helping Mothers, and SunCoast Blood Centers, encouraging fans to assist them in giving back to their Spring Training home.
For details, visit Orioles.com/ Sarasota
The Atlanta Braves spring season will mark their seventh at CoolToday Park in North Port and will feature 16 home games at the facility. Atlanta’s 31-game exhibition slate will begin Saturday, February 21, with a road game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The club will play its first spring home game the following day versus the Minnesota Twins.
Atlanta will welcome nine different major league teams to CoolToday Park, including multiple games against the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays. The club will also host an exhibition contest against Team Colombia on Wednesday, March 4, as it trains for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
On March 21, Atlanta’s top prospects will travel to play the New York Yankees’ prospects at George M. Steinbrenner Field as part of the third rendition of MLB’s Spring Breakout. Atlanta will conclude its spring slate on Tuesday, March 24, versus the Tampa Bay Rays. The club will then return to Truist Park to host the Kansas City Royals for Opening Day later that week.
Located in North Port, Florida, CoolToday Park is the Spring Training home of the Atlanta Braves, and opened in 2019, with the inaugural game being played on Sunday, March 24, 2019. The facility also hosts the Braves Florida Complex League in the summer.
In addition to baseball, the Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill and the Clubhouse Team Store are open six days a week year-round. CoolToday Park also offers Facility Tours, as well as hosting a multitude of special events throughout the year. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves are the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Since 1991, Braves teams have earned two National League wild cards, 21 division championships, six National League pennants, and two World Series titles.
For more information on CoolToday Park, visit cooltodaypark.com. Follow the Braves at braves.com
The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins return for spring training from late February to March. With baseball games happening nearly every day during spring training, you can often grab tickets when you arrive.
Since 2012, the Boston Red Sox have
called JetBlue Park their springtime home. Complete with its own Green Monster, the 11,000-seat facility gives you the best of Boston without the cold weather.
JetBlue Park at Fenway South 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers
Tickets: Toll Free 877-733-7699
For ticket and other information: www.mlb.com/redsox/spring-training
The Minnesota Twins have called Fort Myers their spring destination since 1991. Watch them play at Hammond Stadium within the larger Lee Health Sports Complex inspired by Louisville’s Churchill Downs.
The Lee Health Sports Complex has five additional playing fields as well as the new Twins Player Development Academy. It is also the home to two Twins’ minor league affiliates, housing both the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and the Florida Complex League Twins.
In addition, the complex features four state-of-the-art softball fields, which are utilized throughout the year by collegiate and community teams.
The main stadium was renamed Bill Hammond Stadium late in the 1994 spring season in honor of the Deputy County Commissioner who was instrumental in getting the complex built for the Twins. In November 2023, the entire complex was renamed the Lee Health Sports Complex as the Twins and Lee Health teamed up for a long-term partnership.
Lee Health Sports Complex 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers www.mlb.com/twins/spring-training
Erika Wise Borland, MA , Vice President
Susanne S. Wise, RN, MBA , CEO & Owner
Courtne y Wise Snyder, MSG, CMC, President
The first thing that you notice is the almost jewel-like quality to these chocolates. Some even look like fancy marbles. But they’re chocolate and you marvel that so much attention has gone into Norman Love confections.
Follow that with how they taste and you have rich flavors, alternating creamy interiors and exotic and fanciful flavors. Quite a few years back, while on a travel feature at the Naples Ritz-Carlton, I decided to add on a feature about a new gourmet chocolatier in Fort Myers named Norman Love.
The business then was a good bit smaller - just one store and the owner himself, Norman Love, was in the kitchen making his mini masterpieces.
Later in Sarasota, I started to see Norman Love chocolates more often - often at galas or special events, all shiny and bright among many items on a buffet table.
Delicious, I recall and I especially liked the fruit-flavored little gems. So I was glad to see his trek north to our area if only in a limited way. Maybe he’ll open stores here, I recall hoping.
Fast forward again and Norman Love confections now has eight locations in Florida, primarily on our west coast.
The most recent one opened among the Shoppes at UTC on Cooper Creek Blvd. To properly display the beautiful confections, the store is contemporary and sleek - like going to a boutique—which it is.
If you’re not familiar with these chocolates, the company was founded by Norman and Mary Love in Fort Myers in 2001. This was after he left a 13-year career as executive pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton.
According to their website, Love originally intending to sell wholesale to acquaintances he’d made in the restaurant industry, but
soon realized that there was great consumer demand for the ultra-premium chocolates he was producing, and opened his flagship store off of Daniels Parkway.
The chocolates have won numerous awards including more than a dozen times by a leading consumer ratings magazine, six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates in the nation.
Forbes.com included Norman Love Confections BLACK line on its list of the nation’s top 10 truffles; The Huffington Post listed it among the six best U.S. destinations in its Chocolate Lover’s Travel Guide; and USA Today named Love as one of its top 10 entrepreneurs for 2014.
They offer white, milk and dark chocolates and all items have no preservatives. Most popular are the sea salt varieties as well as Key lime, tiramisu and pistachio. In addition to chocolates in squares, rounds, fruit shapes, they offer macarons, truffles, s/mores, salt caramels, pecan turtles, malt balls and peanut butter bark to name a few.
Their Fruit Favorites box filled with five fruit flavors: Key Lime Pie, Florida Orange, Passionfruit Panna-Cotta, Strawberry, and White Chocolate Raspberry and is my personal favorite. They make those dazzling colors using organic food color (it’s a powder).
The Sarasota store also offers some food items like crepes and they sell a variety of teas.
Never put those chocolates in a hot car and never in the fridge either (changes the flavor). They change offerings frequently and Valentine’s Day is no exception.
Orange Pineapple – Orange and pineapple purée in white chocolate
Red Hot Love – Milk and white chocolate ganache with red hot cinnamon.
Sip of Champagne – Champagne-infused milk chocolate ganache with raspberry purée
Banana Desire – White chocolate banana ganache with a touch of cinnamon
PB Marshmallow – Peanut butter ganache blended with marshmallow
Chocolate Malt – Milk chocolate ganache with malted milk powder
Very Berry – White chocolate ganache with raspberry and strawberry purée
Vanilla Pecan – Vanilla ganache with cinnamon-candied pecans
Lemon Raspberry – White chocolate ganache with lemon and raspberry purée
Be Mine Mint – Dark chocolate ganache infused with mint
The Valentine’s Collection is available in a variety of sizes. Gift boxes include a five-piece gift box for $19; a 10-piece white Valentine’s box for $34; a 10-piece heart gift
box for $36; a 24-piece heart gift box for $70; a 25-piece Valentine’s white box for $68; and a 50-piece Valentine’s gift box for $120. They all come in beautiful boxes that are a work of art in themselves and they can be personalized. You can also order online at www.normanloveconfections.com
In addition, chocolates are available at independent retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information, call 239-561-7215
Fort Myers Chocolate & Dessert Salon 11380 Lindbergh Blvd., Fort Myers.
Miromar Outlets Chocolate & Dessert Salon 10801 Corkscrew Rd Suite S-516, Estero.
Whole Foods Fort Myers 6891 Daniels Pkwy Ste. 100, Fort Myers.
McGregor Chocolate & Dessert Salon 13261 McGregor Blvd. Suite 105, Fort Myers
Naples Chocolate & Dessert Salon 3747 Tamiami Trail N., Naples
Sarasota Chocolate & Dessert Salon 8109 Cooper Creek Blvd., Sarasota. (941) 777-5507
Boca Raton Chocolate & Dessert Salon 21200 St. Andrews Blvd., Suite 16, Boca Raton.
Delray Beach Chocolate & Dessert Salon 1911 S Federal Hwy #104, Delray Beach
Aging in place is a powerful choice that allows individuals to continue their lives with a sense of dignity, independence, and emotional well-being. It is about more than just staying at home; it’s a philosophy that champions a life well-lived in the comfort of a familiar, cherished environment.
The Heart of the Matter: Comfort and Connection
The profound emotional benefits of aging in place are often the most compelling reasons people choose this path. A home is a living repository of a life’s story—a place of family gatherings, shared laughter, and quiet moments. Being surrounded by familiar photographs, a favorite armchair, and a garden tended to for years provides a deep sense of security and continuity. This emotional anchor reduces stress and promotes mental clarity. The desire to remain in one’s home is a nearly universal sentiment; surveys reveal that over 90% of adults aged 50 and older would prefer to stay in their current homes for as long as possible.
This powerful connection to one’s surroundings extends beyond the front door. Remaining in a familiar neighborhood allows individuals to stay engaged with their community, whether through local clubs, friendships with neighbors, or familiar walking routes. These connections are vital for emotional health, providing a buffer against social isolation, a significant concern for the aging population. In fact, research shows that one in three adults aged 50 to 80 report feelings of loneliness, and staying connected to a community can be a vital antidote.
The Practical Choice: Independence and Support
The emotional pull of home is matched by the practical benefits of in-home care. A professional caregiver’s role is not to take over, but to partner with individuals to preserve their autonomy and freedom. This support can be customized to an individual’s specific needs, from help with daily tasks like light housekeeping and meal preparation to medication reminders and transportation. This level of personalized care ensures that people can continue to make their own choices,
from what to eat for breakfast to when to go to bed, reinforcing their sense of control and self-worth.
The importance of this support system is magnified by the changing demographics of the U.S. population. The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million to an estimated 82 million by 2050. With this growth comes a rising prevalence of chronic health conditions; a staggering 93% of adults aged 65 and older have at least one chronic condition. This highlights the need for reliable, consistent care that can be delivered in a comfortable, non-institutional setting.
The Path to Success: Proactive Planning
While the desire to age in place is strong, successful implementation requires proactive planning. A significant challenge is that over 90% of homes in the U.S. are not “aging-ready,” meaning they lack necessary modifications like grab bars or accessible entryways. This gap underscores the need for families to have open, loving discussions about future needs and to explore resources that can help bridge the divide between desire and reality.
A trusted in-home care provider is a key part of this solution. By working together, individuals and their loved ones can create a tailored care plan that not only addresses practical needs but also supports hobbies, interests, and social engagement. The right caregiver can become a cherished friend, enriching a person’s life in countless ways. The art of aging in place is about celebrating life, one day at a time, right where you belong. It’s about ensuring that the next chapter is lived with the same vibrance, purpose, and joy as all the ones that came before.
ComForCare Home Care of Sarasota is here to help as you navigate these changes in dynamics and to support your family, giving you peace of mind. Call 941-346-6087 or email: basher@ comforcare.com, to find out how ComForCare truly cares like family.
Sarasota County has a multitude of diverse parks. Some are The Bay and the Celery Fields. A popular park is one that you pass by in your car as you’re are driving on Tamiami Trail: Phillippi Estate Park. Set off from busy 41, it’s a 60-acre park along Phillippi Creek.
There’s a lot to do there if you haven’t been in awhile. Usually you see the Edson Keith House and the grounds. But head south on the property and there are additional structures: the Farmhouse, Carriage House and the historic laundry.
From the road, you’d never know there was so much to this park. The actual farmhouse was restored and opened in April after a years-long restoration. The white, two-story farmhouse is located adjacent to Phillippi Creek. It is one of the few wood-frame structures from the era still intact in Sarasota County.
The overall site goes back 4,000 to 7,000 years ago when migratory natives hunted and fished on the site, and left remnants of stone tools. The Prodie Midden is an 85-foot-by-265foot mound containing shells, pottery shards, shell tools and bones from fish, deer and turtles. The Midden is near the southwest corner of the mansion was built by the Manasota Indians who lived along the coast 2,500 to 1,200 years ago.
Fast forward to the 1840s, Cuban fisherman Filipe Bermudez operated a rancho, or fish camp, along the shore of the creek that now bears an anglicized version of his name: Phillippi Creek.
As Sarasota grew, more people came to the area like Hamilton Disston who, in 1881 purchased 4 million acres, including the Phillippi Creek site, for 25 cents an acre—a total of a million dollars that helped the state of Florida avoid bankruptcy.
In 1883 W.J. Drumright purchased 40 acres of this property for $50 in 1883 and developed the land for farming, citrus groves and beekeeping. He owned the property until 1910, then the property changed hands several times.
In 1911, Mabel Linn bought eight lots for $1 and “other valuable considerations,” and began to develop a homesite there. Edson Keith Jr. bought the 60-acre parcel in 1915 from Mabel for $7,000. Keith was one of a number of Chicago millionaires whose lavish estate homes would leave their mark on Sarasota County. He was the president of his family’s
millinery business, which manufactured hats and gloves.
Keith first built a small farmhouse on the Phillippi Estate where he stayed to oversee construction of the L-shaped Italian Renaissance mansion that was designed by Chicago architects Otis and Clark.
The mansion was completed in December of 1916. A lavish party marked the occasion. “Everybody dressed very elegantly. Many of them had Parisian gowns,” grandson Frederick Keith Jr. recalled, according to the Florida Stories history project.
Edson Keith played the piano and sang. His wife Nettie kept her pet marmosets, which are pint-sized monkeys, on a corner porch of the home. Unlike their wealthy Northern neighbors nearby, the Keiths resided on the property year round, raising fruits, vegetables and livestock.
Original buildings that remain from the estate are the home for servants, a garden shed and a garage. Other buildings that were once on the property included a water tower, home for a chauffeur and a variety of sheds for farming related activities.
Keith would die in 1939 and his wife
would sell the land to Mae Hansen Prodie, a doll clothing designer from Chicago. Prodie’s husband would operate the property as a luxury inn during the 1950s. Prodie would retire in the 1960s and reside in the home and when she died in 1986, Sarasota County would buy the land to be used as a park through a bond referendum, eventually converting it to Phillippi Estate Park.
The mansion itself hosts about 35 weddings each season, providing a grand terrace for events and bedroom suites with ample space for wedding parties to get dressed on the big day.
Phillippi Estate Park offers trails and a kayak launch on the banks of Phillippi Creek. There’s a playground for children and plenty of places to picnic. There’s also a canoe launch and places to fish (but bring your own supplies). The trails are great for photography, bird watching, walking your dog or just getting out and enjoying the peace and beauty of nature.
Then there’s the Phillippi Farmhouse Market which has grown from a modest gathering of 19 vendors to a bustling weekly event featuring
over 50 vendors. The market is on Wednesday and has free parking. The park is open seven days a week from six in the morning until midnight.
Tip: The Florida Humanities Council has created a self-guided walk of the park. Download the app “Florida Free Stories” and you’ll soon learn what the prod Midden is, when the Disston Purchase took place and what the Flake Scatter is all about.
Free docent-led tours are offered of the Edson Keith House on Saturdays. Free Farmhouse tours are offered weekly on Wednesdays at 11 a.m.
Phillippi Estate Park
5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota www.sarasotacountyparks. com/parks
Phillippi Farmhouse Market:
Fresh produce, prepared foods, artisanal products and live music hosted at Phillippi Estate Park every Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. October - April.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director
Feb 16, 2026, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, hailed as one of the great interpreters of the symphonic works of Brahms, leads the Orchestra in Brahms Symphony No. 3 and No. 4.
JOSHUA BELL & THE ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
March 15, 2026, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel
Grammy Award-winning superstar violinist Joshua Bell leads the renowned ensemble in Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, and he also performs as soloist in Saint-Saëns’ dramatic Violin Concerto No. 3.
SCAsarasota.org | 941-966-6161
Only Sarasota Concert Association sells valid tickets to our performances. Artists, programs, and ticket prices subject to change.
The WOMEN OF ROCK SHOW straight from the bright lights of Las Vegas, brings together 6 powerhouse women rockers for a great night of rock!
20th • 7pm
You will be thrilled to witness the brightest names of Women in Rock, including the fierce rockin’ JOAN JETT, the cool and charismatic CHRISSIE HYNDE of THE PRETENDERS, the mesmerizing STEVIE NICKS , the fiery and passionate PAT BENATAR , and the soul-stirring HEART.
RELIVE THE ANTHEMS THAT DEFINED A GENERATION, INCLUDING:
• “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and “Heartbreaker” by PAT BENATAR
• “Back on the Chain Gang” and “Brass in Pocket” by THE PRETENDERS
• “Stand Back” and “Edge of Seventeen” by STEVIE NICKS
• “I Love Rock and Roll” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You” by JOAN JETT “These Dreams” and “Crazy on You” by HEART!
Each of these fierce rockers takes the stage in their signature, true-to-era outfits, bringing their electrifying energy to the forefront. Joined by the Women of Rock Show Band, they’ll deliver an unforgettable, high-octane performance that will leave you screaming for more.
Don’t miss out on this epic, high-energy tribute concert!
The Women of Rock Show is coming—and it’s a night of rock ‘n’ roll you’ll never forget !
Every February for the past four decades, people have gathered in one of Florida’s last true fishing villages to celebrate the cultural history of the region and to honor the men and women who supply us with fresh local seafood.
The village of Cortez and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.) are set to welcome the public back to the shores of Sarasota Bay for the 44th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival February 14-15.
has survived the changing tides and remains a true vestige of old Florida.
its historic charm with original cottages, active fishing businesses, and a strong maritime heritage, making it a unique destination for visitors seeking a glimpse of "Old Florida.”
After almost 150 years of weathering every challenge that the tide brings, one thing is clear: Cortez continues to provide fresh quality seafood, from their boats to area markets. The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H) invites you to experience a real working waterfront community dedicated to preserving Florida’s fishing way of life.
There will be live local music and you can also browse aisles of original local artwork and nautical crafts, sip cold beverages and, of course, sample some seafood.
Get up close and personal with local marine life and feed your science side during “Dock Talks,” educational spiels put on by Angela Collins from University of Florida Fisheries Department & Florida Sea Grant.
Check out the Florida Maritime Museum and the Cortez Cultural Center, which are steeped in history of the region. Stop by the Organized Fishermen of Florida booth to visit with some of local watermen and learn more about commercial fishing. Buy a raffle ticket to be entered to win one of the refurbished custom boats restored by the F.I.S.H Boatworks.
Working waterfronts are critical to Florida’s seafood economy and convey a sense of tradition and purpose that is hard to compare. Development, population growth and shifting priorities have contributed to the decline and disappearance of many fishing villages, but Cortez
The Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival was settled in the 1800s by families lured by the bountiful marine resources in our region and Cortez is still home to many of those original families’ namesakes. Cortez is one of the last small coastal fishing villages in Florida and is located right off Anna Maria Island across the Cortez Bridge.
This small but mighty fishing village was built on mullet, and has diversified over the years to remain a top producer of Florida seafood. Grouper, snapper, stone crab, and baitfish are all landed in Cortez, in addition to the ever-present mullet.
If you are eating wild caught Florida seafood, there is a very strong chance that it crossed the docks of Cortez.
Money that the Festival earns goes back into the community and supports the restoration and conservation of the FISH Preserve, 100 acres of coastal habitat that borders the east end of Cortez Village and is the last stretch of undeveloped waterfront property left on Sarasota Bay.
The 2026 Commercial Fishing Festival theme is “Boat to Market,” which is true nowhere else like Cortez. You’ll experience the uniqueness and grit of the community as soon as you step foot into the village where commercial fishing has built the lives of many families and remains a way of life today.
Cortez Fishing Village is one of Florida's last authentic fishing communities, founded in the 1880s by settlers from North Carolina. It retains
You won’t find very many high rises here as the city officials retain that Old Florida spirit. There are just some small beach bungalows, cottages, and single family homes along the waters of Cortez.
These maritime traditions run deep through Cortez’s streets where you will find restored boats displayed. Modest bungalows from the 1920s line the streets of the village. Cortez is labeled on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cortez is known for its quiet, unlike many other areas in Florida that have become overdeveloped for the tourism industry. Regardless of its laidback lifestyle, you can still enjoy many activities such as fishing charters, kayaking and jet skiing. Affordable local providers offer daily and weekly rates for any and all water equipment you made for your stay.
You can pick up a watersport rentals before heading off Anna Maria Island. AMI Adventure Rentals has everything your family could need. Or find a few shopping spots nearby such as The Beach Stop (11904 Cortez Rd W, Cortez) offering a pleasant selection of beach wear and gear or the Cortez Surf & Paddle Shop (4110 127th St W, Cortez) offering kayak SUP and bike rentals, clothing, swimwear, souvenirs and other gear rentals.
However, when you come to Cortez, you often want a historical experience. Many visitors love to walk around and see the remaining houses that belonged to the original
founding families of this village. Most of these are still standing today. Further, the historical village atmosphere is still well intact. Local fisheries like Star Fish Company still sell fresh grouper and shrimp to local restaurants and even visitors directly. Walking through Cortez is like walking through a time machine. Cortez is the ideal fishing spot for many because the deep water surrounding the area that’s buffered by the barrier islands. There is probably no better place to learn about fishing than this charming old fishing village.
Date: February 14-15
Location: Along the Bay, 46th Ave W and 123 St W, Cortez Hours: 10am-6pm both days
The Commercial Fishing Festival will feature live music, nautical arts and crafts, environmental exhibits, children’s activities, seafood, and cold beer. Come learn about local marine life at the educational talks.Celebrate the Cortez fishing heritage with a mix of great live music, nautical arts and crafts, children's activities, environmental exhibits, delicious seafood and more.
The Boy Scouts in partnership with FISH will offer on-site parking at the Preserve which is located one block east of the village, off Cortez Road, for a $5 donation.
Available at Cortez Rd. Baptist Church (located at between 99th and 100th St. and Cortez Rd.)
— Photos: Angela Collins/Florida Sea Grant
For women especially, who so often prioritize the needs of others, selfadvocacy can feel uncomfortable or even selfish. In truth, it is an essential form of self-care.
As the last ornaments are carefully wrapped away and the glow of the holiday season begins to fade, the beginning of the year offers a quieter kind of reflection. The pace slows, routines return, and the calendar feels momentarily open. In this space—after celebration and before the year fully takes hold—we are given an opportunity to pause and consider what truly sustains us.
Beyond resolutions and fresh starts, one theme deserves thoughtful attention: advocacy.
The holidays remind us how deeply connected we are. We gather with family, check on neighbors, reach out to those who may be struggling, and extend generosity in ways that feel instinctive. Yet when the decorations come down and life resumes its usual rhythm, those needs do not disappear. In many ways, they become less visible. Advocacy is what carries that spirit of care forward long after the season ends.
At its core, advocacy is about speaking up—sometimes boldly, sometimes quietly—when it matters most. Everyone needs an advocate at different stages of life. A child navigating school challenges. A partner facing a new diagnosis. A parent aging into unfamiliar health concerns. And often, ourselves—when we are overwhelmed, uncertain, or unsure which questions to ask.
Nowhere is advocacy more essential than in healthcare. The system can be complicated and intimidating. Appointments are brief. Medical language is dense. Patients are expected to process instructions, manage medications, monitor symptoms, and make important decisions—often while stressed, unwell, or emotionally exhausted. It is no surprise that so many people feel lost or unheard along the way.
Advocacy transforms that experience. It bridges the gap between information and understanding, fear and reassurance. It reminds patients that their concerns are valid and their voices deserve space.
Being your own advocate does not require expertise or confidence; it requires permission. Permission to ask questions without apology. Permission to say, “I don’t understand,” or “This doesn’t feel right,” or “Can we talk about another option?” Self-advocacy is not about challenging providers—it is about partnering with them. For women especially, who so often prioritize the needs of others, self-advocacy can feel uncomfortable or even selfish. In truth, it is an essential form of self-care. Advocacy also means standing in the gap for those who cannot fully advocate for themselves. It may look like attending appointments with a loved one, keeping track of medications, or helping interpret complex instructions. It may be as simple as noticing subtle changes and insisting on follow-up when something seems off. These
quiet, persistent acts of advocacy often make the greatest difference, even when they go unrecognized.
As a pharmacist, I will continue to advocate for our patients, their families, and the healthcare needs of our community. Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, and that accessibility creates a unique opportunity for support, education, and trust. Without appointments or long waits, pharmacists are often the first place people turn with questions, concerns, or uncertainty.
Whether it is clarifying how to take a medication, identifying side effects, navigating insurance challenges, or simply listening when someone feels overwhelmed, advocacy begins with conversation. I encourage you to stop in, ask questions, and talk openly about your healthcare needs. These moments matter more than many realize, and they are a vital part of keeping individuals and communities healthy.
As we move into the new year, advocacy can serve as a meaningful intention—not a resolution to perfect, but a mindset to carry forward. Who might need your voice this season? Where might you need to use your own? Perhaps it begins with asking one more question or seeking a second explanation. Perhaps it starts with offering support to someone who feels unsure or alone.
The holidays remind us of generosity, compassion, and connection. Let the months that follow remind us of responsibility—to ourselves and to one another. Advocacy is not a single act; it is a practice. One rooted in patience, courage, and empathy.
As the year unfolds, may we continue the spirit of the season—not just in kindness, but in action. Because everyone deserves an advocate. And sometimes, the most powerful one is standing right in front of us—or within us.
We’re Here to Help
We invite you to experience the difference at Sarasota Compounding Pharmacy
Visit our website at www. SarasotaRx.com for more information or call us at 941-366-0880
Your health is our priority, and with Brian Ehmann on board, we’re more equipped than ever to help you thrive.
Brian Ehmann, RPh Pharmacist, LDN
Specialist
2075 Siesta Dr., Sarasota www.SarasotaRX.com
Creative Liberties has “Reflected Currents,” a collaborative residency and exhibition by artists Sandra Wix and Gary LaParl, on view through February at Creative Liberties at ARCOS, 340 Central Ave., Sarasota
The exhibition includes individual works, process studies, and newly created collaborative pieces that will be developed during the artists’ residency. An open house is on February 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Merging luminous undersea abstraction with emotive figurative narrative, “Reflected Currents” explores the profound connection between the movement of water and the movement of human emotion. Part residency and part shared exploration, the exhibition brings together two distinct visual languages that naturally converge. Wix’s work draws from the quiet architecture of the ocean floor—layered light, drifting color, and tidal motion—while
LaParl’s figurative pieces examine vulnerability, connection, and interior transformation through expressive narrative imagery. Together, their work forms a visual dialogue between stillness and momentum, reflection and change.
“At the heart of this exhibition is the idea that water and people are shaped by the same forces,” the artists note. “What happens in the sea also happens in us; we change, we drift, we break, we heal, we shine.”
“The ocean is always shifting, even in its quietest moments,” says Wix. “Painting the rhythms of reefs and tides feels like tracing the emotional tides we all experience.”
“I’m drawn to the subtle currents beneath people’s lives,” adds LaParl. “Working beside Sandra made it clear how closely emotional movement mirrors the sea—its strength, its fragility, and its power to reshape everything it touches.”
Sandra Wix is a Sarasota-based painter working in acrylic and mixed media. Her new works for this exhibition explore undersea abstraction shaped by layered color, tidal motion, and the quiet architecture of the ocean floor. Her paintings are recognized for their depth, serenity, and fluidity — capturing the shifting pulse of the sea through abstraction, texture, and light. For more information, visit www.sandrawix.co
Gary LaParl is a multidisciplinary artist working across glass, oil, collage, digital media, performance, and literature. His figurative works explore emotional interiority through expressive color and layered composition. Across mediums, his art centers on vulnerability, connection, and the unseen currents that move within human relationships. For more information, visit garylaparl.com
Gallery hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is free.
ach harvesting season, Mexico sends about 725,000 tons of Persian and key limes to the United States. We don’t think about it much because limes are always at the grocery store when we go Florida key limes are in season throughout the summer and into early fall.
But these limes are no longer grown for commercial sale. These days, Mexican and Central American key limes are the limes that you’ll see for sale. Mexican key limes are available throughout the year.
Unlike larger Persian limes, the smaller key lime has a slightly yellow coloring when it’s fully ripe. The skin should have a fine grain like leather.
Bright, tangy, and creamy, this pie is proof that some classic desserts are best enjoyed in your own kitchen.
The filling strikes a perfect balance of tart and sweet, with a silky texture and a sunny yellow hue — thanks to rich egg yolks and golden Key lime juice.
The custard is baked in a simple graham cracker crust, which provides a slight crunch and mellow sweetness as a counterpoint to the smooth, zesty filling. Classic Key Lime Pie is a dessert that feels special without being fussy. And if you’re in the mood for a twist, replace the graham crackers with pretzels for a salty-sweet edge.
INGREDIENTS :
Crust:
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, from about 9-10 whole graham crackers
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/8 teaspoon table salt
6 tablespoons butter, melted
*While it isn’t traditional, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup (1-1/4 to 1-7/8 ounces) toasted coconut to the crushed cracker crumbs, if desired.
INSTRUCTIONS :
YIELD: one 9" pie
Key lime pie filling: zest of 2 limes
3 large egg yolks
1-1/4 cups sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup Key lime juice or lime juice, freshly squeezed 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon lime oil, optional
Select a pie pan whose inside top dimension is at least 9", and whose height is at least 1-1/4". Preheat the oven to 325°F.
To make the crust: In a large bowl, stir together all of the crust ingredients, mixing until thoroughly combined. Press the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan. Bake the pie crust for 15 minutes; it’ll start to darken in color a bit. Remove it from the oven, and place it on a rack to cool while you make the filling.
To make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or working in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, whisk the lime zest and egg yolks at high speed for about 4 minutes. The mixture will lighten in color and thicken somewhat, looking kind of like Hollandaise sauce.
Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, mixing till smooth. Beat at high speed for 3 minutes; the filling will become slightly thicker, and gain a bit of volume.
Add the lime juice, stirring just to combine. The mixture will thicken. Add lime oil to taste.
To bake the Key lime pie: Pour the mixture into the crust and return the pie to the oven. Bake for about 25 minutes, until it appears set around the edges, though still a bit wobbly in the center. The center should read about 145°F when tested with a digital thermometer.
Remove the pie from the oven, and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Slice and serve each piece with a lightly sweetened dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
Store any leftover Key lime pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Tips: To make Key lime pie with a pretzel crust: Place 4.25 ounces of pretzels in the work bowl of a food processor and grind until fine crumbs form. (By volume, this will be about 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons once finely ground into crumbs.) Add the 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 7 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, and 1/4 teaspoon table salt and pulse until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the pretzel crust at 350°F for 8-10 minutes; the crust won’t change color much but will firm up. Remove from oven and make the filling.
Look for a good balance between the green and yellow. Avoid limes that are all green and rock hard; these aren’t ripe or juicy. You should also avoid limes that have hard and shriveled skin. These are limes that are too old.
If you don’t have your own tree, you can find key limes in most grocery stores. They don’t stay fresh long, so you’ll need to buy and use them when you see them. When picking key limes, look for ones that are already ripe. This fruit will not continue to ripen after its picked.
Another option is to look for key lime juice. Typically, bottled juice is more costeffective, and you can find it sold in more places like PUBLIX.
When your ordinary-but-still-delicious Key lime pie looks a little mundane, it's time to rethink the presentation. Slipping it into a tart pan gives it a bit of elegance, while a blueberry topping adds a splash of color and the texture of fresh blueberries.
INGREDIENTS :
Crust:
1-1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs, from about 8-9 whole graham crackers *
3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/8 teaspoon table salt
5 tablespoons butter, melted *Substitute 1-1/2 cups gluten-free graham cracker crumbs, if desired.
Filling:
3 large egg yolks 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
INSTRUCTIONS :
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
one 9" tart
1/3 cup Key lime juice
2 teaspoons lime zest
Topping:
2-1/2 to 3 cups blueberries, fresh preferred, divided
1/2 cup water or blueberry juice, or other fruit juice
pinch of table salt
1 teaspoon Key lime juice
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
To make the crust: Mix the ingredients and press them into a 9" removable bottom tart pan or 9" pie plate.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Place on a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven heat to 325°F.
To make the filling: Whisk together the egg yolks, condensed milk, and lime juice and zest until thoroughly combined.
Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 18-20 minutes, until just set.
Remove the tart from the oven, and place it on a rack to cool at room temperature for 1-2 hours before topping.
To make the topping: Rinse the berries, and set aside all but 3/4 cup to dry.
Stir together the water or fruit juice, salt, lime juice, sugar, and cornstarch in a mediumsized saucepan set over medium heat, cooking until the sugar has dissolved.
Add the 3/4 cup berries, and bring to a boil.
Remove the topping from the heat, pour it over the reserved berries, and set aside to cool for 5 minutes. Pour the topping onto the tart, letting it spread to the edges. Chill the tart for several hours before serving. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.
Storage information: Store tart, well wrapped in the fridge for several days.
