THIS WEEK

THURSDAY STUDIO GRAND OPENING

4-8 p.m. at Creative Liberties, 927 Lime Ave. Free Visit CreativeLiberties.net.

Come celebrate Creative Liberties’ studio grand opening at 927 Lime Ave. It’s the second location for Creative Liberties’ artists studios, gallery and creative academy. DJ Ealain will be playing live music, and Hamlet’s Eatery will be serving up tasty food.

MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT:

‘BEING ALIVE’

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail

$37-$82

Visit VanWezel.org.

In this evening of song, Mandy Patinkin will sing his favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, from Sondheim to Cole Porter. He’ll remind you that before he was an Emmy-winning TV actor, he was a Tony-award winning Broadway star.

‘MARK TWAIN: THEY TOLD ME TO BE BRIEF’

7:30 p.m. at The Players Centre for Performing Arts, Studio 1130, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail

$28

Visit ThePlayers.org.

In 1979, Alan Kitty began performing as Mark Twain. Thirty years later, he launched an off-Broadway showcase, followed by a national tour of Mark Twain’s Last Stand. For three nights, this show based on the best of the iconic American author will grace The Players’ stage. Runs through Saturday, Feb. 18.

FRIDAY

JAZZ AT TWO — DANNY SINOFF

TRIO

2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road

$15-$20

Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

For this installment of the Jazz Club of Sarasota’s weekly Friday performance, the Danny Sinoff Trio, featuring Scott Smith and Bill E. Peterson, will perform.

ORNY ADAMS

6:30 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

$31

Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

In addition to his gig as Coach from the “Teen Wolf” TV show, Orny Adams has had one-hour standup specials on Netflix, Comedy Central and Showtime. Come enjoy some laughs with him through Saturday, Feb. 18.

THE PINK FLOYD LASER SPECTACULAR

8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail

$18-$58

Visit VanWezel.org.

Love Pink Floyd? Prepare to have your mind blown. Surrounded by concert-quality sound, Laser Spectacular will pair your favorite Floyd tunes with cutting-edge visual effects, including highpowered lasers, large-screen video production and special lighting effects.

SATURDAY

TONY SANDS PRESENTS

‘RAT PACK TOGETHER AGAIN’

2 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W.

$31.50

Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

Take in a musical journey featuring the best of the Rat Pack and the greatest hits from the best threesome of crooners to ever grace the stage: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.

THE HIGHWAYMEN SHOW

7 p.m. at Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave.

$35-$60

Visit VenicePerformingArtsCenter. com.

Featuring Gray Sartin as Johnny Cash, Greg Bauman as Kris Kristofferson, Tyson Halford as Willie Nelson and Stefan Superti as Waylon Jennings, this show will cover all their greatest hits in this tribute performance.

‘MADAMA BUTTERFLY’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Tickets start at $23 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

One of Puccini’s most-beloved and most-performed works, “Madama Butterfly” tells the story of a young geisha swept off her feet by an American Naval officer. But, as is the case in tragedies, her heart ends up broken by his broken promise. Runs through March 24.

SUNDAY ‘I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU’

3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2200 26th St. W. Free Visit RingSarasota.org.

Ring Sarasota will show off the versatility of handbells in this concert. Spanning everything from popular tunes to big band to Latin music, audiences are sure to leave this concert with a new appreciation for the small but mighty handbell.

CHAMBER SOIRÉES:

THREE SONATAS

4 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $40-$50 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Music Director of the Sarasota Music Festival and pianist Jeffrey Kahane joins Sarasota Orchestra principal musicians for an exploration of — you guessed it — a program featuring three sonatas. Beethoven’s “Third Cello Sonata,” Brahms’ “First Clarinet Sonata” and Stravinsky’s “Suite Italienne” are sure to delight.

MONDAY

TOMORROW’S VOICES TONIGHT

5:30 p.m. at WBTT Education Center, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $25 Visit KeyChorale.org.

Come support and cheer the musicians of tomorrow with this performance showcasing Key Chorale’s student scholars in recital. The students will sing classical and musical theater selections during this soiree.

VAN CLIBURN MEDALISTS WITH WU HAN IN CONCERT

7:30 p.m. at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way $60 LaMusicaFestival.org.

Thunder By the Bay kicks off its weekend of festivities Friday, Feb. 17.

OUR PICK

BORN TO BE WILD KICKOFF PARTY

Thunder by the Bay, Sarasota’s annual music and motorcycle festival, kicks off with its Born to be Wild kickoff party featuring rock band Twinkle followed up with Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band “Nuthin’ Fancy” — and, of course, an open bar. Can’t make the party? The festival runs through Sunday.

IF YOU GO

When: 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17

Where: Sarasota Fairgrounds, 300 Ringling Blvd.

Tickets: $100

Info: Call 487-7904 or visit ThunderByTheBay. org.

DON’T MISS

‘DREAMGIRLS’

Through all the sounds of R&B, pop, disco, gospel and more, “Dreamgirls” tells the story of one fictional Motown group’s rise from nobodies to superstars — and, of course, what it really takes to make that voyage in the music industry. Runs through April 9.

La Musica celebrates Rachmaninov this season, for it’s the 150th anniversary of his birth and 80th anniversary of his death. The 2022 Van Cliburn Competition medalists Dmytro Choni and Anna Geniushene will honor his legacy in this program alongside Cliburn juror and La Musica Artistic Director Wu Han.

TUESDAY

‘AN INSPECTOR CALLS’

8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $35 Visit AsoloRep.org.

Set on the brink of WWII, this suspenseful mystery drama performed by the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training will keep you on the edge of your seat. When a family celebration is cut short by the arrival of a mysterious inspector, the family struggles to recover from his scorching investigation. Runs through March 12.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22

Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.

Tickets: $50

Info: Visit WestCoastBlackTheatre.org

Wednesday

RITA RUDNER AND ROBERT KLEIN

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $27-$67 Visit VanWezel.org.

Rita Rudner is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the country’s top comedians, in addition to being a TV personality, screenwriter, playwright and actress. Robert Klein has entertained audiences on Broadway, TV and the big screen for more than 40 years. Now they’ve teamed up to deliver this tour de force of comedy we dare you not to enjoy.

Model Railroad Expo

Ever Onward Season 27

“Quartet for the End of Time”

featuring the Lincoln Trio with Bharat Chandra, clarinet

February 28, 7:30 pm • Historic Asolo Theater

French composer Olivier Messiaen wrote “Quartet for the End of Time” while being held in Stalag VIII-A, a WWII German prisoner-of-war camp. A few of his fellow prisoners were professional musicians, and he wrote this deeply moving and unforgettable masterpiece for them to perform.

MICHELLE CANN, piano

March 7, 7:30 pm • Historic Asolo Theater

Winner of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence and recipient of the 2022 Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award, Michelle Cann’s program includes repertoire by Florence Price, whose music she has championed. Michelle Cann appears by arrangement with the Curtis Institute of Music.

LET’S CELEBRATE!

Emma and her sister, Maddie, have been going to Tommy Bahama’s since before they could even order a specialty cocktail.

Maddie orders the Grapefruit Basil Martini, $15.50, while Emma typically orders the Blood Orange Margarita, $13.50

Take a shot with these tequilas on National Margarita Day

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE: TOMMY BAHAMA RESTAURANT 300 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, 941-388-2888, TommyBahama.com

Why It’s Worth a Shot: You’ve heard the saying we live where people vacation, and that is always true at the Tommy Bahama’s restaurant and bar on St. Armands Circle.

Tequila might not always be the answer, but it’s worth a shot — especially on National Margarita Day, which Google tells me is Feb. 22. Nowadays, you see alcohol aficionados ordering espresso martinis with tequila instead of vodka — or is that just me?

The high visibility of celebritycreated tequilas is impossible to miss, (Try Kendall Jenner’s 818 Añejo.), and restaurant cocktail menus that were once drowning in generic gin offerings have remolded themselves to pour agave-based cocktails for your liking.

Good tequila is tasty alone, but when morphing itself into a margarita, it becomes an exciting experience for all drinkers involved — or at least the ones who know their lime-infused-liquid limit.

Here are my tasty three tequila spots that you need to try on National Margarita Day.

As you wait for your reservation, locals are sure to immediately spot the nonresidents eating the worthevery-bite coconut shrimp ($13+). But when you are greeted by the staff decked out in trademarked floral shirts, and you waltz to the bar area with music loud enough for the entire Circle to hear and eventually sip on your own Instagram-worthy cocktail of choice, you too can pretend you’re on holiday, even if it is a Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

No Pour Decision: From the Blood Orange Margarita ($14), made with Sauza, Solerno blood orange liqueur, blood orange and scratch sour, to the Baja Margarita ($13.5) made with Sauza Conmemorativo Añejo, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, scratch sour and lime, to the Raspberry Jalapeno Paloma ($13.50) made with Milagro Silver, raspberry, lime and cane syrup — Tommy has tequila taken care of.

The Perfect Pair: Tequila plays best with others. Snack on shareables like the Coconut-Crusted Crab Cakes ($23) with a chipotle remoulade and island slaw or order the warm goat cheese dip ($14) with a mango salsa to soak up those limeinfused cocktails. Staying for dinner? Go ahead and order my mother’s favorite meal of all time, the Macadamia-nut crusted snapper with almond rice and grilled asparagus ($35).

SARASOTA: CIRCO A TACO & BOURBON JOINT’S MARGARITA

1435 Second St., Sarasota, 941-2530978, CircoSRQ.com

Why It’s Worth a Shot: With the Make Your Own Margarita opportunity, it’s surely a tipsy time at Circo. First, drinkers pick one of the 12 standard tequilas including Casamigos, Don Julio, Patron and more — or you can choose your fate with another brand from their bar.

Second, sign up for a signature flavor from fresh hand-muddled jalapeno or desert pear to classics like strawberry or mango and more. Next, your glass can be rimmed with sugar or pink Himalayan, chili lime, smoked or siracha salt. Lastly, if you’re feeling frisky ask about their floaters. Order your margaritas by the glass OR by the jug! No Pour Decision: And for those who are absolutely refusing tequila, Circo offers bourbon-based margaritas too.

Fun Fact: Circo will also be offering $5 margs ALL DAY on Feb. 22. All I ask is that you don’t drive yourself, and make sure you delete your ex’s phone number to ensure tequila enjoyment for the entirety of this holiday.

The Perfect Pair: Chip, chip hooray! Order the elote corn salsa ($9), goat cheese guacamole ($12) or the queso fun-dido ($10). Let’s taco-bout your main meal if you’re slurping down margaritas all day. My personal favorites, since you asked, are the Edamame Falafel ($5.50) with tzatziki, arugula, (no) tomato, pickled veggies and avocado or the Korean TT ($6) with pork, angry crema, kimchee slaw and pickled peppers. But whatever you do, don’t leave without churros ($7+).

LAKEWOOD RANCH:

TAKOS CANTINA

5770 Ranch Lake Blvd., Bradenton, 941-201-6594, TakosCantina.com

Why It’s Worth a Shot: Marg my words readers, these dangerously delicious drinks are not only some of the tastiest in town, but the price can’t be beat. For $12-$13, you can make mezcal or tequila drinks that pair perfectly with the chips and salsa that keep magically refilling at your table. Plus, this family-owned business serves up some of the best Mexican food I’ve tasted in Florida.

No Pour Decision: Ask for the Tres Marias ($21) and you will be tres happy. This trifecta flight is full-size, full-pour and full-y affordable. Sip on the Blue Berry ($12) made with tequila blanco, agave nectar, blueberries and fresh lime juice, wash down chips with the Watermelon (not featured on their drink menu) and enjoy the Jalapeno Pepino ($12) made with Espolon tequila, jalapeno cucumber liquor, agave and fresh squeeze lime. But if the big three makes you a tad nervous, go with the Smoky Rita ($120) with mezcal, lime, orange crema, agave and charred pineapple.

The Perfect Pair: While the appetizers like the esquite guacamole ($11) made me giddy, save room for an epic entrée because the portions are plentiful. My pick are the enchiladas suizas ($14). These little tortilla bundles come with your choice of ground beef, shredded beef or chicken and are topped with green sauce and Jack cheese. Next time I’m ordering the birria tacos ($14), since the patron behind me continued to mention how delicious they were in between every single bite.