SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY
Observer
Off and running
PAGE 3A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024
VOLUME 20, NO. 18
YOUR TOWN
Full menu of classes on offer
A new charter school with a sushi-based curriculum will soon be enrolling students in Sarasota. SEE PAGE 2A
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Sounds like Zen
Sometimes, the sound of a blaring car horn is a sign that one’s mind may not be in the moment, a prompt to snap out of a trance and perform a lifesaving maneuver. In other cases ignoring it may be the best option as Sarasota has added roundabout yoga to its diverse lineup of yoga practices. The new classes, held each Friday in the center of the Gulfstream Avenue roundabout, involve a slow physical workout and listening in a nonjudgmental fashion to ambient noises of traffic and construction. Instructor Ana Ahuja said it’s a misconception that yoga demands a tranquil setting. “Whether it be the screeching of tires, the thudding of compression release braking, the rattle of a jackhammer, or a person in a zebra costume holding ‘Slow Down’ signs at the intersection, all the distractions of the world have a place amid the passive acceptance of a Zen state of mind,” she said.
BON APPÉTIT New seafood restaurant proposed for former Mote Marine Aquarium will allow guests to catch their own meals. PAGE 3A
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The shark tank at the former Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has been converted into a massive lobster tank for the new seafood concept, Fresh Catch.
Hamish the poodle got a new look at Paint Your Pup.
Pretty in pink fur
When Myra Simmons, 5, attended the “Paint Your Pup” class at Beyond the Canvas Academy on March 26, accompanied by her family dog Hamish, her mother didn’t realize the class name was literal. As Myra returned from class, her mother expected her to have a painting in hand. But Susie Simmons was shocked to instead find Hamish boasting a kaleidoscope of colors on his white fur. “This was the best class ever, and Hammy is the best dog ever because he lets me paint whatever I want on him,” Myra said. To create Hamish’s new look, the school used Puppy Pastels, an all-natural art and skin conditioning product that soothes dogs’ skin and prevents ticks with color. But the class came with a disclaimer: “Never paint your pet with any product not certified for use on your pet’s fur — except for when painting them on canvas.”
A+E Selfplaying guitar INSIDE
Port of call Courtesy image
Commodore Cruise Lines will soon be adding a Siesta Key stop to its route map.
The best beach in the U.S. will now receive visitors via cruise ship. SEE PAGE 4A