SIESTA KEY
Observer Formerly the Pelican Press
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 45, NO. 43
FREE
City halts plans for Main Street bar Concerns about crime, noise and the proliferation of bars led the Planning Board to reject plans for Paddy Wagon Irish Pub. DAVID CONWAY NEWS EDITOR
Late last year, Tom Elliott saw no resistance to his proposal for a new Main Street bar as a preliminary public workshop regarding Paddy Wagon Irish Pub went unattended by the public. Elliott saw the poor turnout as a good sign regarding the general reception to his proposal, but, as it turns out, it was just a brief
ARTS+CULTURE
A young actor gives back to the stage.
BLACK
TIE
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015
THIS
BREW’S
FOR YOU DAVID CONWAY
When the founders of Big Top Brewing Co. planned the opening of a craft brewery in Sarasota County, there were major questions about what kind of a market existed for the product in the area. As the craft beer industry boomed on a national level, the almost inescapable trend seemed to largely miss Florida. Tampa-based Cigar City Brewing, which opened in 2008, had attracted wide acclaim by 2010, but no similar business was located in
the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Based on the strength of the local response to Tampa’s craft beer culture, Big Top CEO Mike Bisaha was hopeful about the demand for a Sarasota-based brewery. As the business ramped up for an early 2014 opening, however, it was lacking one thing: a blueprint for how to proceed. “That was probably the most challenging part — really having no idea what we’re doing,” Bisaha said. Quickly, Bisaha and the Big Top team started seeing signs of sucSEE BREWERIES PAGE 3A
Jessica Salmond
SARASOTA CRAFT BREWERIES JDUB’S BREWING CO., 1215 Mango Ave. Opened: February 2014 BIG TOP BREWING CO., 6111 Porter Way Opened: November 2013 CALUSA BREWING CO., 5701 Derek Ave. Opening: Summer/fall 2015
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
GENEROUS ACT
•
With Sarasota’s first production breweries passing their one-year anniversaries — and a third preparing to open soon — the future is bright for the local craft beer scene.
NEWS EDITOR
SEE PADDY WAGON PAGE 6A
PROMAPALOOZA 17A
Q&A WITH TED SMITH 10A
Jack Curran, owner of the bayfront statue, feels city staff might be giving him the kiss-off.
PAGE 4A
DESIGNING DAUGHTERS
Guests dress in 007-inspired attire at annual Fashionable Gala.
INSIDE
The Memorial Day parade’s keynote speaker will discuss ‘Freedom Isn’t Free.’