Port Charlotte

Your Weekly Guide to Entertainment, Travel and Arts in Southwest Florida 

‘CELEBRATING 

OUR COMMUNITY’ 

A Better Place Dance and Fitness Studio presents 

“Celebrating Our Community.” The performance 

will include numbers that have been dedicated to 

members of the community as a thank you for their 

contribution to the city of North Port. 

‘BREAK FREE’ 

Elite Fine Arts Academy presents “Break Free!” 

The show is filled with dancing, singing, circus 

arts and acting. 

JUNE 13, 2012 

Venice is crafty 

this weekend 

441887 

COUNTRY HOUND CAFE 

Breakfast, 

Lunch & 

Dinner 

RIB FEST 

Fried Green Tomatoes • Burgers • Watermelon Pie • Daily Specials 

941-474-7767 

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July 3rd 

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Buy One Entree, 

Get One 1/2 Price! 

I Not valid with other coupons , promotions or discounts. I 

Valid onl y with the purchase of two beverages. One half 

priced entree per coupon. Max 2 coupons per table. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Rlurdock Carrousel Plaza 

1900 Tamiami Trail 

Port Charlotte (next to Lowe 's) 

(9411704- 1601) 

DRINKS 

50436514 

2 FOR 1 

HAPPY HOUR 

Sunday - Thursday 5-6 

 

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North Port Sun 

Reader’s Choice 

2011 

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17945 Tamiami Tr. 

North Port 

(941)426-5866 

1740 East Venice Ave. 

Venice 

(941)488-5866 

5231 University Pkwy 

Sarasota 

(941)355-5866 

www.kumojapanesesteakhouse.com 

 

10 % OFF 

EXP 

6/30/12 

Bill over $50 

M ust present ad. 

Valid Any Day 

cannot be com bined w / other offers. 

Early Bird Special 

$2 OFF 

EXP 

6/30/12 Entree (5-6PM) 

Valid Sunday - Thursday 

cannot be com bined w / other offers.

2 Let’s Go! E/N/C/V June 13-19, 2012 

OUT & ABOUT 

•Wednesday 

 

PIANO RECITAL, 1 p.m. Andrew 

PIANO 

Galuska, Director of Music at 

VPC - “The Colorful Life and Music 

of French composer Eric Satie.” Venice 

Presbyterian Church, 111 E. Firenze Ave., 

Venice. 941-488-2258. 

FOOD BANK FUNDRAISER, 

Englewood’s on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn 

St., Englewood. 941-475-7501. 

QUIET FIRE, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Englwood 

Moose 1933, 55 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 941-473-2670. 

KITT MORAN, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. J.D’s Bistro 

Grille, 1951 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. 

941-255-0994. 

KAPO KINGS, 8 p.m.-midnight. Dean’s 

South of the Border 130 Tamiami Trail, 

Punta Gorda. 941-575-4131. 

•Thursday 

 

BISCUIT MILLER AND THE 

MIX, 7 p.m. Englewood’s on BLUES 

Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 941-475-7501. 

JIMI PAPPAS, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Nav-A-Gator, 

9700 S.W. Riverview Circle, Arcadia. 

941-627-3474. 

INGROOV BIG “9” BAND, 10 a.m.-noon 

Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., 

Port Charlotte. 

TRIVIA WITH THE TRIVIA FACTORY, 

9 p.m.-11 p.m. Portside Tavern, 3636 

Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. 941-629-3055 

or www.theportside.com. 

TOMMY C. & JUDY LOVE, 6:30 p.m. 

Lake View Restaurant, 5605 S. McCall Road, 

Port Charlotte. 941-697-9200. 

GUITAR ARMY, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays. 

Gilchrist Park, Punta Gorda. 

THE GULF COAST BANJO SOCIETY, 

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Snook Haven Restaurant, 

5000 E. Venice Ave., Venice. 941-485-7221. 

•Friday 

ZZ TOP, 3 DOORS DOWN AND 

GRETCHEN WILSON, 7 p.m. Germain 

Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 

239-948-7825 or www.germainarena.com. 

GARY & KERI, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. 

Portofino Waterfront Dining/ 

Dec k 360, 23241 Bayshore Road, 


AS IS BAND, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 

Whiskey Creek, 2746 Tamiami Trail, 


DESTINED, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Fishermens 

Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, 

Punta Gorda. www.fishville.com. 

JUDY KAFF AND FRIENDS, noon-1 p.m. 

Featuring the music of Mozart and Haydn. 

Free. Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., 

Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175 

453143 

LOCAL 

BAND 

Charlotte County Family YMCA 

Summer 

Camp 

l 

PICK & CHOOSE 

the weeks you want to attend! 

See our Website for Weekly Themes. 

Ask us about our 

$99 Summer Special! 

441892 

S T UM P 

SOUND INVESTMENT, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 

Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 Old Englewood 

Road, Englewood. www.foe3885.com. 

SONNY & SABLE, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. 

American Legion 113, 3616 Indiana Road, 

Rotonda West. 941-697-3616. 

AMERICAN MADE, 8 p.m.-midnight. 

Beihls Slip Not, 1601 Tamiami Trail, 

Punta Gorda. 941-639-2705. 

4PLAY, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Portside Tavern, 

3636 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. 

941-629-3055 or www.theportside.com. 

NORTH PORT GUITAR ARMY, 6 p.m.- 

9 p.m. George Mullen Activity Center. Room 

C/D. 1607 Kramer Way, North Port. $2 per 

person. 941-429-PARK (7275). 

KARAOKE, 8 p.m.-midnight. 

Nemos in Bowland, 3192 

KARAOKE 

Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte. 

941-625-4794. 

ADULT TRIVIA, 7:30 p.m. Q’s Sports Bar 

and Girl, 4030 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. 

Nightly prizes and teams can win up to 

$1000 quarterly through regional tournaments. 

941-764-6969. 

BINGO, 5:30 p.m. Port Charlotte VFW 

Post 5690, 23204 Freedom Ave., 


KARAOKE - hosted by Kapt. Jack, 8 p.m.- 

midnight. Mookey`s Tavern, 4821 Placida 

Road, Englewood. 941-697-0349. 

•Saturday 

 

P A SS 

Grille & Tiki Bar 

FRI 6/15 Max McCann 6:30-9:30 

SAT 6/16 Yard Dogs 5-8 

Sun. 6/17 Marty Moss 2-5 

HAPPY HOUR: Tues.-Fri. 3-6 

941-697-0859 

260 Maryland Ave., Englewood 

www.stumppassgrille.com 

FREMONT JOHN, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 

Fishermens Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, 


BANDANA, 7 p.m. Englewood’s on 

Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood. 

941-475-7501. 

JIM MORRIS, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Nav-A-Gator, 

9700 S.W. Riverview Circle, Arcadia. 

941-627-3474. 

THE GOLDTONES, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. 

Portofino Waterfront Dining/Dec k 360, 

23241 Bayshore Road, Port Charlotte. 

941-743-2800. 

DANCE AND DINNER WITH 

DANCE 

THE RAY LORAE SHOW, 5 p.m.- 

9 p.m. Country fried chicken dinner 

from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. and music until 9 p.m. 

$8.99. Amvets Post 312, 5070 Chancellor 

Blvd., North Port. 941-429-5403. 

K-8th Grade 

C, 

IT’S NOT TOO LATE! 

Registration OPEN all Summer! 

Sign up at the Edgewater CDC or 

North Port Family YMCA. 

(941) 629-2220 

www.CharlotteCountyYMCA.com/SUN 

ELSIE QUIRK LIBRARY 50TH 

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, Special 

events include a 10:45 a.m. outdoor flag 

raising ceremony followed by an 11 a.m. 

welcoming program in the upstairs meeting 

room. Guests are invited to view historical 

displays throughout the library. At 12:30 p.m. 

two programs will be featured: Nancy Wille’s 

“Growing Up in Englewood” and Cris Walton’s 

“History of Elsie Quirk Library.” Elsie Quirk Library, 

100 W. Dearborn St., Englewood. 941-861-5000 

or www.sclibs.net. 

OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET, 

8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The Punta Gorda 

Historic Train Depot Antique & 

Collectibles Mall, 1009 Taylor 

Road and Carmalita Street, Punta Gorda. 

941-639-6774. 

TEXAS HOLD’EM LUPUS CHARITY, 

11:30 a.m. Conch Cafe, 3384 North Access 

Road, Englewood. 

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER, 6 p.m.- 

10 p.m. Englwood Moose 1933, 55 W. 

Dearborn St., Englewood. 941-473-2670. 

HEART AND SOUL, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Punta 

Gorda Elks Lodge 2606, 25538 Shore Drive, 

Punta Gorda. 941-637-2606. 

ROCKADILES, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 

Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 Old Englewood 


FATHER & CHILD FISHING 

TOURNAMENT, 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Bring your 

kids and grandkids to the pier nearest the 

amphitheatre for our annual event. Entry 

fee is $5 per family. Bayshore Live Oak Park, 

23157 Bayshore Road, Port Charlotte. 941-627- 

1628 ext. 101 or www.charlottecountyfl.com. 

ROTONDA WEST NIGHT, Baseball fans 

in Rotonda West will have the opportunity 

to join their neighbors for a night out at 

Charlotte Sports Park in a block of reserved 

seats behind third base. The event is the 51st 

Florida State League All-Star game at 7 p.m. 

on June 16. Tickets are $9 for a seat, game 

program and cap. A $15 ticket also includes 

a hot dog, soda and a bag of chips. A Home 

Run Derby and post-game fireworks are 

also featured. Tickets will be on sale at the 

Rotonda West Community Center, 3754 Cape 

Haze Drive or call 941-698-9207. 

TROPICAL SUNSET MOCKTAIL PARTY, 

6 p.m.-9 p.m. Hula hoop contest and pool 

games. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased 

by June 13. Price includes food and nonalcoholic 

beverages. Port Charlotte Beach 

Pool, 4500 Harbor Boulevard, Port Charlotte. 

941-627-1628 ext 100. 

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER, 5 

p.m. Whiskey Creek, 2746 

Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. 

941-766-0045. 

KITT MORAN, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. 

J.D’s Bistro Grille, 1951 Tamiami Trail, 


STOCK CAR RACING, Gates open at 

4 p.m. Punta Gorda Speedway, 8655 Piper 

Road, Punta Gorda. 941-575-7223. 

www.puntagordaspeedway.com. 

DJ KAPT JACK, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Club 

Applebees, 17500 Tamiami Trail, 

North Port. 941-423-1504. 

KARAOKE WITH DJ “DON” QUIDO, 9 

p.m.-1 a.m. Portside Tavern, 3636 Tamiami 

Trail, Port Charlotte. 941-629-3055. 

KARAOKE, Port Charlotte VFW Post 

5690, 23204 Freedom Ave., Port Charlotte. 

941-467-4447. 

President 

David Dunn-Rankin 

Publisher 

Carol Moore 

941-206-1291 

cymoore@sun-herald.com 

Let’s Go! Editor 

Marie Merchant 

941-206-1145 

letsgo@sun-herald.com 

OUTDOOR 

MARKET 

POKER 

LET’S GO! INFO 

KARAOKE CONTEST, 8 p.m.-midnight. 

Winners advance to finals on July 28. 

Nemos in Bowland, 3192 Harbor Blvd., Port 

Charlotte. 941-625-4794. 

PUNTA GORDA FARMERS MARKET, 

8 a.m.- 1 p.m. Taylor Street and W. Olympia 

Avenue, Punta Gorda. 

VENICE FARMERS MARKET, 8 a.m.- 

noon. Centennial Park, Downtown Venice. 

Local produce, plants, flowers, 

crafts, jewelry, soaps, imported 

oils, seafoods, pastries and more. 

NORTH PORT FARMERS/ 

CRAFT MARKET, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 14942 

Tamiami Trail, North Port. 941-240-6100. 

•Sunday 

CHARLOTTE COUNTRY MUSIC 

CLUB MONTHLY JAMBOREE, 2 p.m.- 

6 p.m. Port Charlotte Eagles Club, corner 

of Harborview Road and Kings Highway, 

Charlotte Harbor. $3 door charge nonmembers. 

941-496-9412. 

JOHN FRINZI & JOHN PATTI, 2 p.m.- 

5 p.m. Nav-A-Gator, 9700 S.W. Riverview 

Circle, Arcadia. 941-627-3474. 

453359 

J.R. BRADFORD, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Englewood Elks, 401 N. Indiana Ave., 

Englewood. 941-474-1404. 

GREG & HIS CIGAR BOX GUITARS, 

2 p.m.-5 p.m. Tilly’s Tap, 3149 Duncan Road, 

Punta Gorda. 941-505-0798. 

KAPO KINGS, 8 p.m.- midnight. 

Dean’s South of the Border, 

123 E. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 

941-575-6100. 

TOMMY C. & JUDY LOVE, 5 p.m. Lake 

View Restaurant, 5605 S. McCall Road, 


PUNTA GORDA HISTORY PARK 

FARMERS MARKET, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 501 

Shreve St., Punta Gorda. 941-380-6814. 

•Monday 

LI V E 

CHARLOTTE COUNTY BIG 

BAND, The band will be “travelling” 

to New Orleans via a theater 

presentation and Mardi Gras 

parade featuring The Conquistadors, floats 

and participation by the Charlotte Players. 

The actual parade will move around the 

Cultural Center parking lot ending up at 

the front door of the theater. An authentic 

Dixieland band will perform. Cultural 

Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte. $9 

general admission. 941-625-4175 ext. 221 

•Continued on page 4 

23170 Harborview Road, 

Charlotte Harbor, 

Florida 33980 

www.sunnewspapers.net 

Let’s Go! on Facebook: 

http://tinyurl.com/facebookletsgo 

FARMERS 

MARKET 

6/14, M AX M C C ANN , 6-9 PM 

6/15, K ETTLE O F F ISH 7-11 PM 

6/16, J OY & T HE G ANG , 7-11 PM 

6/17, F ATHER ’ S D AY , S AMMY J, 3-6 PM 

6/19, K ING K ARAOKE C OMPETITION , 7-11 PM 

ROYAL PALM M ARINA 

779 W. Wentworth, Englewood • 941-475-6882 

BIG 

BAND 

Please submit information at least two weeks before the 

event. To send items for the calendar, please include the 

time, location, cost of tickets and where to get them, and a 

telephone number to call for more information.

June 13-19, 2012 E/N/C/V Let’s Go! 3 

Kim Cool 

Let’s Go! 

Features Editor 

what’s 

HOT 

Marie Merchant 

Let’s Go! 

Features Editor 

There’s an art 

to summer 

Currently featured at the John and Mable Ringling Museum 

of Art in Sarasota is the latest work of installation artist 

Sanford Biggers. According to a museum release, the artist 

uses “a complex system of imagery including star maps, dance 

notations, the Buddhist lotus composed of a slave ship diagram 

and cloud forms made out of raw cotton to explore “the Afrofuturist 

notion of ‘Harriet Tubman as astronaut’ as she led slaves to their 

freedom guided by the stars. 

Also accomplished as a musician, Biggers was the 2010 

recipient of the Greenfield Prize commission from the Hermitage 

Artist Retreat on Manasota Key and the Greenfield Foundation. 

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and 

Thursdays until 8 p.m. Call 941-358-3180 for advance tickets. This 

show is included in the regular admission which also includes 

admission to the Ca d’Zan mansion and the Museum of the Circus, 

including the Tibbals Learning Center. 

The museum is at 5401 Bay Shore Drive. Park across the street 

in the lot shared with the FSU Center for the Performing Arts — 

home to the Asolo Repertory Company. 

The Collage and Multi-media show continues through 

June 29 at Venice Art Center, 390 S. Nokomis Ave., on 

the island in Venice. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. 

Call 941-485-7136. 

If you have yet to buy your season tickets for Venice Theatre 

— now is the time and new this year is the Ultimate Rush Pass. 

For $40 per month, as long as seats are available an hour before 

showtime, you can have a seat and see your favorite shows 

multiple times. Call 941-488-1115. 

Sir Elton John first 

to perform at ‘grand 

opening’ of Sun Dome 

BY SEAN DALY AND STEVE SPEARS, 

TAMPA BAY TIMES 

As if the Tampa Bay concert landscape weren’t 

competitive enough, the newly renovated USF Sun Dome 

made a major statement, announcing Elton John as its 

“grand opening” act on Sept. 14. 

After undergoing $35.6 million in considerable 

refurbishment — nicer seats, a center-hung scoreboard, 

a Team Bulls store and first-of-its-kind student club — 

the 10,000-plus-seat indoor venue will be “a lot more” 

aggressive in its pursuit of big name entertainment acts, 

said director of marketing Sara Webster. 

The original Sun Dome cost $12 million to build and 

first opened its doors in 1980. (First concert? Alice 

Cooper!) But time had been tough on the old joint, which 

previously looked, at its very best, like a really nice high 

school gym (complete with all the odors that go with). 

But this is a brand new, and rather lovely, Sun Dome. 

The Fresh Music Festival, featuring Keith Sweat and 

Doug E. Fresh, will be the first official gig at the “new” 

place (on July 7). Other acts previously announced 

include Florence + the Machine (Sept. 25) the King’s Men 

(Oct. 2) and country star Eric Church. 

Tickets for Elton John go on sale Friday. Prices range 

$39.50-$139.50 and will be available through www.ticketmaster.com, 

at the Sun Dome’s box office or by calling 

800-745-3000. 

The Sun Dome is located at 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. 

What’s going on 

The red carpet will be rolled out at 7 p.m. Friday to celebrate 

the opening of the film “Rock of Ages” at the Regal Town 

Center Stadium 16, 1441 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. 

Charlotte Players affiliated actors Brandon Charles Blondun, 

Meghan Strope and Corinne Engstrom were extras in the film and 

will be at the event. The film begins at 7:35 p.m. An after party will 

be held at 10 p.m. at JD Bistro’s & Grille, 1951 Tamiami Trail, Port 

Charlotte. The after party is $12 per person and includes a buffet. 

For more information, call 941-815-6230. 

A father and child fishing tournament will be held from 

8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at the amphitheatre pier at Bayshore 

Live Oak Park, 23157 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor. 

The event is open to dads and grandfathers with children under 12. 

Prizes will be awarded for the first fish caught, most fish caught, 

longest fish and ugliest fish. Bring your own equipment and bait. 

Registration is $5 per family. To register, visit www.charlottecountyfl.gov 

or at the pavilion on Saturday.. For more information, 

call 941-627-1628 ext. 101. 

King Fisher Fleet is offering free cruises for dads. Take your dad 

on a sunset cruise at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, a cruise to Cabbage 

Key at 9 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, cruise to Cayo Costa at 9 a.m. 

Sunday or take an afternoon harbor cruise at 2 p.m. Sunday. King 

Fisher Fleet is located at Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda. 

Advance reservations are recommended. For more information, 

call 941-639-0969. 

The NAACP is holding a community fun day for kids from 

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at South County Regional Park, 

1607 Cooper St., Punta Gorda. There will be music, games, 

bounce houses and more. All proceeds will benefit NAACP 

education-scholarship planning for upcoming college students. 

For more information, call 941-625-4073. 

Fz- 

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20th Anniversary 

DOWNTOWN VENICE 

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Great Music 8z Food 

Too Hot? 

'Too Humid? 

Raining? 

Hungry? 

NO PROBLEM! 

All Indoors in 

Air Conditioned Comfort 

erence Center 

at 6:00 pm 

Doors open at 4:30 

Adults $45 - Students (under 18) $15 

www.charlottesymphony.com 

or call (941) 205-9743 

Tick ^t,s Acvailable at the Door 

° o G ^o D o o e o o 

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sTY- 

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104.91 M 2012 

Saturday & Sunday 

June 16th - 17th , 2012 

10am - 4pm 

r H 

FREE ADMISSION 

Scan here for more info 

tDowntownVeniceCraftFair 

Located on Miami Avenue in historic 

downtown Venice. 

Take Venice Avenue west over the bridge and turn left 

onto Highway 41. Go one block and make a right onto 

Miami Avenue. 

plot. 

Sponsored by: 

Vei lees t Gondr ier 

AMERICAN CRAFT ENDEAVORS 

For info call 941-484-6722 

or 561-746-6615 

458109


OUT & ABOUT 

Greg Hahn 

June 27 th - 30 th 

•From page 2 

•Monday 

GENERAL TRIVIA, 7 p.m. Nightly 

prizes Joe Cracker Sportsgrille & Tiki, 

1020 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte. 

941-258-3444. 

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER, Port 

Charlotte VFW Post 5690, 23204 Freedom 

Ave., Port Charlotte. 941-467-4447. 

THE NORTH PORT CHORALE rehearsals, 

6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.in the music Suite of 

the North Port High School, 6400 W. Price 

Blvd., North Port. 941-423-7335 or 

www.northportchorale.info. 

•Tuesday 

EASY STREET, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. 

Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 Old 

Englewood Road, Englewood. 

www.foe3885.com. 

THE GOLDTONES, 7:30 p.m.- 

LOCAL 

9:30 p.m. Visani, Kings Highway, 

BAND 


KARAOKE/TRIVIA, 6:30 p.m. 

Englewood’s on Dearborn, 

362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood. 

941-475-7501. 

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER, 7 p.m.- 

11 p.m. Nemos in Bowland, 3192 Harbor 

Blvd., Port Charlotte. 941-625-4794. 

454706 

JAZZ CLUB JAM, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. 

House Band includes Tommy Goodman on 

piano, Dominic Mancini on bass and Dane 

Hassan on drums. Allegro Bistro, 1740 E. 

Venice Ave., Venice. 941-484-1889. 

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER, 5 p.m. 

Whiskey Creek, 2746 Tamiami Trail, 


OPEN MIC, 6 p.m. Lake View 

Restaurant, 5605 S. McCall Road, 


KARAOKE, 7 p.m. Royal Palace 

& Yvette’s, 4411 Tamiami Trail South, 

Venice. 941-497-5515. 

DJ GEORGE, 8 p.m.-midnight. Dean’s 

South of the Border 130 Tamiami Trail, 

Punta Gorda. 941-575-4131. 

OPEN 

MIC 

KARAOKE BY ‘WAM’ ENTERTAINMENT, 

6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Englewoods 

on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 

THE MYAKKA RIVER BLUEGRASS 

BAND, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. The Waterside Grill 

at the Gasparilla Marina, 15001 Gasparilla 

Road, Placida. 941-697-2280. 

AN EVENING OF MOTOWN with Verceal 

Whitaker and Wilson Williams, Eagles, 

23111 Harborview Road, Port Charlotte. 

941- 629-1645. 

•Ongoing 

B YE -B YE B IRDIE 

P ARTY 

C ELEBRATE THE END OF 

S NOWBIRD S EASON 

LIVE J OY & T HE G ANG 

J UNE 16 AT 6:00 PM 

ROYAL PALM M ARINA 

779 W. Wentworth, Englewood • 941-475-6882 

DALE JONES, 7:30 p.m. today through 

Sunday. Visani, 2400 Kings Highway, Port 

Charlotte. 941-629-9191 or www.visani.net. 

DOWNTOWN VENICE CRAFT 

FESTIVAL, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Saturday-Sunday. Miami Avenue, 

Venice. www.artfestival.com. 

TOMMY TUNE PRESENTS: STATE 

OF THE ART SONG & DANCE, Through 

Sunday. Asolo Repertory Theatre, 

5555 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

800-361-8388 or www.asolorep.org. 

CRAFT 

FESTIVAL 

‘CINDERELLA,’ Through June 23. 

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 

Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. www. 

BroadwayPalm.com, call 239-278-4422. 

‘MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS,’ 

through July 1. Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, 

25 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 

941-366-5454 or www.thegoldenapple.com. 

•Upcoming 

 

PIANO RECITAL, 1 p.m. June 20. 

Sharon Elery Rogers and Carolyn PIANO 

Stephens, assistant pianists at 

VPC - featuring great classical 

works and inspiring works of faith. Venice 

Presbyterian Church, 111 E. Firenze Ave., 

Venice. 941-488-2258. 

ROCKADILES, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. June 20. 

Englwood Moose 1933, 55 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 941-473-2670. 

TOMMY C AND JUDY LOVE, 6:30 p.m. 

June 20. Englewood’s on Dearborn, 362 W. 


STEVE ARVEY, 7 p.m. June 21. 

Englewood’s on Dearborn, 362 W. 


SPOTLIGHT, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 

June 22. Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 

Old Englewood Road, Englewood. www. 

foe3885.com. 

THE GOLDTONES, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. 

June 21. Danny’s Downtown, Marion Ave., 

Punta Gorda. 941-639-0004. 

GARY & KERRI, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. June 22. 



941-743-2800. 

FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE, KIM 

JENKINS, THE ONE MAN BABY 

BOOMER BAND, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. 

June 22. Dance hits of the ’ 50s, ’ 

60s and ’ 70s. $7. Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron 

St., Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175. 

AMERICAN MADE, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. June 

22. Flounders, 1975 Beach Road, Englewood. 

941-460-8280. 

SOUND INVESTMENT, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 

June 22. Englewood Moose 1933, 55 W. 


RECONNECTIONS BAND, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 

June 22. Fishermens Village, 1200 W. Retta 

Esplanade, Punta Gorda. www.fishville.com. 

Joe Cracker 

Live Entertainment 

NEW QUIET FIRE, 6:30 p.m.- 

10:30 p.m. June 23. Englewood 

Eagles #3885, 250 Old Englewood 


LET’S GO FLY A KITE, 

9 a.m.-11 a.m. June 23. 

Englewood Beach, Chadwick Park, 

pavilion 2, 2100 North Beach Road, 

Englewood. Construct a kite and 

watch it soar in the sky on the beach. 

Afterwards enjoy a hot dog lunch. 

DANCE 

Wednesday Kids Night - 6 PM to 8 PM 

Fri/Sat Live Maine Lobster - 1 1/4 lb $15.95 

F riday 6/15 C OASTAL J AMZ B AND - 8 PM 

F riday 6/22 Z OMBIE U NIVERSITY - 8 PM 

1020 E L J OBEAN R D , P ORT C HARLOTTE , FL 33948 

453031 

CHECK 

IT OUT 

A participating adult must accompany each 

child. Pre-Registration is required. 

941-681-3742 or 

www.charlottecountyfl.gov. 

MITCHELL HICKEY BENEFIT. 

11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 23. Music by Gary & 

Kerri, Country Express, Peter Taylor 

and John Q. Public. Food, raffles, cake 

walk, bake sale. Hickey has been diagnosed 

with oral cancer. All proceeds 

go towards his treatment. Everyone is 

asked to wear Tennessee orange. Harbor 

Heights Park, 27420 Voyageur Blvd., 

Punta Gorda. 941-639-4141. 

TIM AND ROSEANNE, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 

June 23. Whiskey Creek, 2746 Tamiami 

Trail, Port Charlotte. 941-766-0045 

INVINCEABLES, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. June 

23. Portofino Waterfront Dining/Dec k 360, 


941-743-2800. 

4PLAY, 7 p.m. June 23. 

Englewood’s on Dearborn, 362 

W. Dearborn St., Englewood. 

941-475-7501. 

RAP-SO-DEE, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 

June 23. Englwood Moose 1933, 55 W. 


GARY & KERRI, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. June 23. 

Nav-A-Gator, 9700 S.W. Riverview Circle, 

Arcadia. 941-627-3474. 

UP THE CREEK, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. June 

23. Fishermens Village, 1200 W. Retta 

Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 

www.fishville.com. 

441616 

JOHN FRIDAY, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. June 24. Nav- 

A-Gator, 9700 S.W. Riverview Circle, Arcadia. 

941-627-3474. 

KIM AND RONNIE JENKINS, 6:30 

p.m.-9:30 p.m. June 26. Englewood 

Eagles #3885, 250 Old Englewood Road, 

Englewood. www.foe3885.com. 

CLAUDIO B., 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. June 26. 

Trattoria Limoncello, 10361 Tamiami Trail, 

Punta Gorda. 941-639-6500. 

KARAOKE/TRIVIA, 6:30 

p.m. June 26. Englewood’s on 

Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 941-475-7501. 

LOCAL 

BAND 

TRIVIA 

TOMMY C AND JUDY LOVE, 6:30 p.m. 

June 27. Englewood’s on Dearborn, 362 W. 


EZ STREET, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. June 27. 

Englwood Moose 1933, 55 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 941-473-2670. 

GREG HAUN, 7:30 p.m. June 27-30. 

Visani, 2400 Kings Highway, 

Port Charlotte. 941-629-9191 

or www.visani.net. 

PIANO RECITAL, 1 p.m. June 27. Chris 

Romig, senior pastor at VPC - an eclectic 

program of classics, jazz and hymn arrangements. 

Venice Presbyterian Church, 111 E. 

Firenze Ave., Venice. 941-488-2258. 

CARDS & GAMES, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 27. 

American Legion 113, 3616 Indiana Road, 

Rotonda West. 941-697-3616. 

453542 

H a r p o o n 

RESTAURANT & BAR 

JUN E 12 — 6:30-9 

K araoke 

JUN E 13 — 5-10 

Jack M osley Band 

(FOOD DRIVE) 

H a r r y ’ s 

Home of the Best Sunset 

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 

HOME OF 

THE BLUES 

UNDER 

THE STARS 

JUN E 14 — 7PM 

Biscu it M iller 

JUN E 15 — Live M usic 

JUN E 16 — 7PM 

Bandana 

362 W DEARBORN ST. ENGLEWOOD 941.475.7501 

F RI ., 6/15, T HE B OOGIEMEN 

S AT ., 6/16, T HE B OOGIEMEN 

N O C OVER 

S ATURDAY E NTERTAINMENT 

NO C OVER F OR F RIDAY A ND 

Located at Fishermen’s Village 

1200 W Retta Esplanade #55 Punta Gorda 

DEF LEPPARD/POISON, 7 p.m. June 28. 

Tampa Bay Times Forum, 401 Channelside 

Drive, Tampa. 800-745-3000 or 

www.ticketmaster.com. 

BRIAN LEE, 7 p.m. June 28. Englewood’s 

on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., 

Englewood. 941-475-7501. 

‘GREASE,’ June 28-Aug 18. 

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 

1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 

www.BroadwayPalm.com 

High Energy 

Comic Event! 

453478 

This Week 

DALE JONES 

June 13 th - 17 th 

Special Father’s Day Show 

$9 95 Pasta Specials 

Every Friday & Saturday 

THE GOLDTONES 

Tuesday, June 19th 

For More Info & Dinner Menu: 

(941) 629-9191 

www.Visani.net 

2400 Kings Hwy., Port Charlotte 

G c t, 

$12.99 

SUNDAY SERVED ALL DAY 

T raditional R oast P ork 

With Mashed Potatoes & Cranberry Relish 

MONDAY & TUESDAY 4PM 

F ull R ack B aby B ack R ibs 

(while supplies last) 

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 4PM 

O ur F amous P rime R ib 

includes salad, potato and chef side 

RESERVE N OW FOR FATHER’S DAY 

Sun d a y,Jun e 17th 

Servin g Fu llM en u 

Happy Hour All Day And Night At The 

Bar, Until 4pm In The Dining Room. 

We Will Be Closing From June 11th Through 

June 14th For Annual Maintenance. 

Reopening Friday, June 15th! 

2095 N. Beach Rd. • 475-3500 

Hours: Monday-Sunday 11:00 AM till Closing 

Dinner Sunday From 2:00 PM 

www.TheGulfviewGrill.com 

o v, 

ESSEN 

/ 

Wem Grab 

JAMM BAND, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. June 29. 

Portside Tavern, 3636 Tamiami Trail, 

Port Charlotte. 941-629-3055 or 

www.theportside.com. 

THE GATOR CREEK BAND, 

6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. June 29. Englewood 



DOO WOP CREW, 5 p.m.- 

9 p.m. June 29. Fishermens 



JOY AND THE GANG, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 

June 29. Whiskey Creek, 2746 Tamiami 


CLIQUE, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. June 29. 



941-743-2800. 

COUNTRY EXPRESS, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 


DOO 

WOP 


JACK MOSLEY, 7 p.m. June 30. 

Englewood’s on Dearborn, 362 W. 


COLDPLAY, 8 p.m. June 30. Tampa Bay 

Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, 

Tampa. 800-745-3000. 

AMERICAN MADE, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 

June 30. Coral Rock Tiki Bar, 4560 Tamiami 


SERENADE, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. June 

30. Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 Old 


•Continuedonpage4 

 

*Restrictions 

may apply 

441891


OUT & ABOUT 

•From page 4 

•Ongoing 

JOY AND THE GANG, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 



YARD DOGS, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 

June 30. Fishermens Village, 

1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta 

Gorda. www.fishville.com. 

LOCAL 

BAND 

JIM MORRIS, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. June 30. Nav- 

A-Gator, 9700 S.W. Riverview Circle, Arcadia. 

941-627-3474. 

JULY 4TH PARTY, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. July 4. 

New Quiet Fire. Englewood Eagles #3885, 

250 Old Englewood Road, Englewood. 


FREEDOM SWIM, 2 p.m. July 4. 

Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta 

Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 800-639-0020 or 


JIM MORRIS, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 

4. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta 



MERCY, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. July 4. Fishermen’s 


Punta Gorda. 800-639-0020 or 


FIREWORKS, 9 p.m. July 4. 

Fireworks display over Charlotte FIREWORKS 

Harbor. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 

W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 

800-639-0020 or www.fishville.com. 

4TH FEST, July 4. This year’s event 

features Water-Mania- a group of giant 

waterslides, Kid’s Fun Zone, vendors, 

displays, and unique shopping opportunities. 

Live music will fill the park all day. 

The Boogiemen will hit the stage at 6 p.m. 

and play right up to the fireworks at 9 p.m. 

Right after the fireworks Tayzer will rock 

the stage with a one hour concert featuring 

the best of the ’80s music. Gates open 

at 10 a.m. Laishley Park, Punta Gorda. 

941-637-5953 or www.puntagordafireworks.com. 

MUTTINI MINGLE, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. 

July 5. Social time for people and their 

pets, Music by Paul Cottrell. Fishermen’s 


Punta Gorda. 941-575-7599. 

MICHAEL HIRST, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. July 




‘DORA’S PIRATE ADVENTURE,’ July 

6-Aug. 2, 3, 4. Broadway Palm Children’s 

Theatre. Join Dora, her best buddy Boots 

and the rest of their friends as they 

embark on an exciting trip to Treasure 

Island. Along the way, the audience will 

use their map-reading, counting, musical 

and language skills to help Dora reach the 

treasure. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 

1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. www. 

BroadwayPalm.com, call 239-278-4422. 

SOUND INVESTMENT, 6: 30 p.m.- 

10:30 p.m. July 6. Englewood Eagles #3885, 



JIMMY JAY & THE JAYMEN, 6: 30 p.m.- 

10:30 p.m. July 7. Englewood Eagles #3885, 



COUNTRY EXPRESS, July 7. Dinner show. 

Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Show begins at 7 p.m. 

Dinner and show is $25, show only is $9. 

The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., 


ANGIE AND THE PERFECT 

GENTLEMEN, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. July 7. 

Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta 



OPEN MIC NIGHT, 6:30 p.m.- 

8:30 p.m. July 9. Presented by 

The Peace River Center for 

Writers. Fishermen’s Village, 

1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 

941-637-3514. 

OPEN 

MIC 

DOUBLE EFFECTS, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. 

July 10. Englewood Eagles #3885, 



COUNTRY EXPRESS, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 

p.m. July 13. Englewood Eagles #3885, 



ADRIAN RAY - FRIDAY FEST, 5 p.m.- 

9 p.m. July 13. The Van Wezel, 777 N. 

Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-953-3368 or 

www.vanwezel.org. 

HARD ROCK CASINO TRIP, 

July 13. Planned by the Cultural 

Guild of the Greater Cape Haze 

Peninsula. Tickets are $30 per 

person and attendees receive back $25 in 

CASINO 

TRIP 

free play and a $5 food voucher. The bus will 

leave the parking lot at the Rotonda West 

Community Center, 3754 Cape Haze Drive, 

Rotonda West, at 8 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. 

Games of chance are planned on the bus 

ride.941-697-4980 or www.culturalguild.com. 

PAUL COTTRELL, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. July 




CHRISTMAS IN JULY BAZAAR, 9 a.m.- 

4 p.m. July 13-15. Over 80 vendors, with 

an array of great handmade crafts and 

more. Free cookies and punch and photos. 

Face painting for children. Music, cupcake 

decorating and the world famous strawberry 

shortcake. Prizes and raffles, including quilts. 

Casses and fitness fun throughout the day. 


Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175 ext. 230. 

SPOTLIGHT, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 

July 14. Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 Old 



THE DOO WOP CREW, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 

July 14. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta 



CHARLOTTE COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB 

MONTHLY JAMBOREE, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. 

447679 

July 15. Port Charlotte Eagles Club, corner 

of Harborview Road and Kings Highway, 

Charlotte Harbor. $3 door charge nonmembers. 

941-496-9412. 

BARENAKED LADIES, BLUES 

TRAVELER, BIG HEAD TODD & THE 

MONSTERS, CRACKER, 7 p.m. July 17. 

1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre at the Florida 

State Fairgrounds, 4802 U.S. Highway 301 N., 

Tampa. www.livenation.com. 

ESCAPE, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. July 17. 

Englewood Eagles #3885, 250 Old 



DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, 7 p.m. 

July 18. 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre at 

the Florida State Fairgrounds, 

4802 U.S. Highway 301 N., Tampa. 

www.livenation.com. 

NEW QUIET FIRE, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 

July 20. Englewood Eagles #3885, 



453054 

k4w 

a J A Family Oriented, Community event at Laishley Park 

Punta Gorda's "Official" Independence Day Celebration 

;> 

RECONNECTIONS BAND, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 

July 20. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta 

Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 800-639-0020. 

SARASOTA IMPROV FESTIVAL, 

July 20-21. Florida Studio Theatre, 

1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota. FESTIVAL 

www.Floridastudiotheatre.org. 

THE GATOR CREEK BAND, 

6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. July 21. Englewood 



Joe Cracker 

Happy Father’s Day! 

June 17, 2012 

CHARLOTTE COUNTY BIG BAND, July 

23. Red carpet reception in the lobby including 

champagne with honored guests 

from the Punta Gorda/ Port Charlotte 

Rotary, Lions Club and the Kiwanis Clubs 

greeting the audience plus the barbershop 

quartet Old Guys Rule. The concert will 

feature the music and cultural of New York 

City. Late Night Epiphany will perform. 


Port Charlotte. $9 general admission. 

941-625-4175 ext. 221. 

Give the “Par”fect gift to your “Par”fect Dad! 

I From it©iu i Ihi The Grille 

QIrillll 

HEY DADS! 

Putt for 

a Prize!!! 

Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs 1lb. $14.99 2lb. $18.99 

12 Jumbo Grilled Shrimp $13.99 

Joe Cracker - 14oz. New York Strip Steak $18.99 

Slow Roasted BBQ Chicken Lickin $11.99 

W W W . J O E C R AC K E R . C O M • 9 4 1 - 2 5 8 - 3 4 4 4 

s- od o T S AF' 

Wherea//the Pieces of Your Business Come To9ether 

01 

Vendors - Displays - Festival Food/Drink Great Local Live Music all day 

iu 

ChaAOttc DCSoto Englewood North Port 

- W- N 

Water-Mania at Laishley Park! 12 giant inflatable waterslides in Laishley Park 

RS 

Vcnicc 

BEST Community Daily " ,-. ,- , 5., ,, 

DayStar 

Communications 

JULY 4TH, 2012 10am to 10:30pm 

www.PuntaGordaFireworks.co m 

Mosaic , ' Lr c GR ANDE AIRS Chene 

L SERVICES, Inc. Brothers 

WASTE MANAGEMEN T 

RSH E RMMEN'S VILLAGE * MARTIN SEPTIC SERVICE * PALM DODGE 

V ... ,w 

' 

LABOR BEADY 

 

L+N


ROAD TRIP 

Orlando Museum of Art features ancient American art 

BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN 

STAFF WRITER 

When we think of classical civilizations, 

the Americas rarely come to mind. 

Yet stretching from Mexico through 

Central America and into the Andes were 

exceptionally rich cultures, rivaling any from 

Europe, Asia and Africa. 

In its current exhibit, “From Aztec to Zapotec II,” 

the Orlando Museum of Art shows off some of its 

exquisite collections from the Americas, highlighting 

how advanced, resourceful and varied these 

cultures were. Spanning over 3,000 years, the more 

than 180 pieces represent the artisans’ skills in pottery, 

stone, textiles and precious metals. 

Rather than grouping pieces by date or geographical 

origin, the museum assembled displays 

based on function, design or style. This allows you to 

compare, for example, how Moche pots representing 

animals compare with Chavin, Zapotec and 

Colima ceramics with similar themes. You’ll see how 

jewelry made of gold, silver or copper differed from 

Colombia, Peru, Panama to Costa Rica. 

Comparing a Maya pot from Guatemala with 

one from faraway Teotihuacan illustrates how 

artistic styles from the large Mexican city shot 

through Mayan culture to its southernmost 

reaches. Expansive trade routes allowed precious 

materials to be marketed to distant cities, exchanging 

beliefs and customs while they traded 

jade, obsidian and pottery. 

Throughout the exhibit, tags identify the 

culture, location and approximate age of each 

item, including a helpful photo so you can be 

sure which item is referenced. Some of the tags 

explain what or how the item would have been 

used — for instance, a stone metate for grinding 

corn or a gold nosepiece worn for ceremonial or 

SUN PHOTOS BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN 

This exquisite tripod polychrome vessel was 

produced by the Chorotega people, who fled 

Mexico into Central America around 500 A.D. 

This piece, from Guanacaste, Costa Rica, depicts 

a snarling jaguar appearing to leap out of the 

pot. Slits in the legs may have been used to 

insert pebbles to turn the vessel into a rattle. 

religious purposes. Descriptions are offered on 

how certain of the items were made: some of the 

pottery, for example, was created with molds or 

stamped imprints. 

The exhibit reminds you that many of these items 

would have been used in daily life and gives you a 

glimpse of how these ancient Americans lived. One 

charming Nazca pot from Peru, dated between A.D. 

1 and 700, depicts a doctor examining or treating a 

patient with an eye problem. An incensario, or incense 

burner, from Guatemala illustrates how the Maya 

The Nazca culture from the southern coast of 

Peru is known for creating giant line images, 

or “geoglyphs,” visible from the air; but it also 

produced delicate pottery such as this ceramic 

drinking vessel in the shape of a fish. The piece 

dates from A.D. 200-500. 

This ceramic vessel, produced by the Moche 

culture, Peru, dates to 450-550 A.D. and probably 

represents a specific person, perhaps a 

high-ranking individual based on the jaguar 

headdress. 

burned substances such as resin and paper to communicate 

with the gods and ancestors. A large greenstone 

“yoke” may have been worn around the waist by players 

of the famous Mayan ballgame. Symbols carved in the 

yoke represent the cosmic struggle of mythical beings 

from the Mayan underworld, drawn from Maya legends 

that date back thousands of years. 

“From Aztec to Zapotec II” should give 

viewers a new appreciation for indigenous 

American cultures which conceived the concept 

of zero centuries before Eurasian populations, 

tracked the movement of planets and 

stars with astounding accuracy, constructed 

buildings of stone with exquisite precision and 

developed one of only five original writing systems 

created in human history. The exhibit does 

justice to these vibrant civilizations and will likely 

whet the desire to learn more of these cultures 

from our own backyard. 

“From Aztec to Zapotec II” is on display 

through June 30. Also currently on display is “Reflections: 

Paintings of Florida 1865-1965,” through 

July 15, including paintings of the so-called 

Florida School highlighting the grandeur and 

power of Florida’s landscapes. Many of the paintings 

are reminiscent of the Hudson River School, 

and no wonder, as several of the artists came 

from northern climes. “Living in Style: African Art 

of Everyday Life” is also open through June 30 

and features baskets, clothing and other beautiful 

handcrafted household objects. 

The Orlando Art Museum has several other 

permanent collections as well as changing exhibits, 

along with a gift shop. This gem gives you 

another reason to visit Orlando. 

Vacation with Harry Potter and friends at Universal Orlando 

BY KIM COOL 

FEATURES EDITOR 

Universal Orlando recently announced 

some summer vacation deals that include 

new entertainment and dining experiences 

plus early entry to some of the most popular 

attractions. 

Among the newest experiences are Universal’s 

Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie 

Memories and Universal’s Superstar Parade. 

Both opened May 8 at Universal Studios Florida. 

Characters such as Sponge Bob Square Pants 

and Dora & Diego who are featured in the parade 

also show up at Universal’s new Superstar 

Character Breakfasts. These special breakfast 

opportunities can be added to vacation packages 

for $26.99 for adults and $10.99 for youngsters. 

Spend your nights Italian-style at the super 

deluxe Portofino Bay Hotel or enjoy South Pacific 

luxury in the park’s partner hotel, Lowe’s Royale 

454359 

ASK ABOUT PRIVATE CHARTERS 

FATHER’S DAY CRUISE - Sun. June 17th - 12:30pm - 3:00pm 

Pacific. Live like a rock star at the Hard Rock 

Hotel. Package deals include lodging at any of 

these resort hotels plus early park admission to 

the theme parks and specifically, “The Wizarding 

World of Harry Potter,” one of the parks’ most 

popular attractions. Hotel guests also enjoy VIP 

viewing spots for the parade. Earlier this year, 

Universal worked with one of New Orleans’ top 

float builders to create floats for its Mardi Gras 

parade. There are all new floats for the new summertime 

parade. 

Best of all, instead of dealing with the giant 

parking garage, nice as it is, by staying at one of the 

three hotels, you can either take a boat ride to the 

parks or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the lagoon that 

borders and connects parks and hotels. 

The boardwalk of Lombard’s Seafood Grille 

is the place to be for the best view of the new 

“Cinematic Spectacular” that honors Universal’s 

100th anniversary in the film industry. 

Sailing from Downtown Fort Myers 

Adult $ 

27 50 

Daily 

Sightseeing 

Lunch & Dinner 

Cruises 

Enjoy a 2 1/2 hour cruise on the Caloosahatchee River with a Buffet Lunch, Dancing & Sightseeing on our open 3rd deck. 

SPECIAL 

20% OFF 

THIS DAY 

ONLY 

Adult $ 

26 00 

WAS $ 

32 50 

PP+TXS 

Children $ 

16 00 

PP+TXS 

Capt. JP is a 500 passenger paddlewheel with two enclosed climate controlled decks, and a third deck outside. 

We cater to small and large groups. Call for more details. JCC ruises.com 239-334-7474 

PP+TXS 

Children $ 

16 00 

PP+TXS 

PECK HARBOR LUNCHEON CRUISE - Tues. June 19th - 11:00am - 2:00pm 

5 OFF $ 

20 00 

$ 

PP+TXS WAS/ 

27 50 

SPECIAL 

25% OFF 

THIS DAY 

ONLY 

ONLY 

FRANKLIN LOCK LUNCHEON CRUISE - S at . June 30th - 1 1:00am - 3:30pm 

Enjoy a 3 Hour Cruise on the River, Dinner, Dancing, Cash Bar, 

& viewing fireworks on our Open 3 rd Deck! 

Enjoy a luncheon buffet and music for dancing. 

Open 3rd deck for sightseeing and sunbathing. 

4.5 Hours - Sailing East to the W. P. Franklin Locks observe the 

working of the locks, nature & homes along the rivers edge. 

J uly 4 TH DINNER/DANCE FIREWORKS CRUISE - 7:30pm - 10:30pm 

Adult $ 

37 00 

PP+TXS + GRAT 

The “Cinematic Dining Experience” includes 

reserved space on the boardwalk plus dinner 

for $44.99 for adults and $12.99 for children 

at Lombard’s and can be added to the special 

summer vacation packages. 

Prices begin at $899, including tax for a family 

of four, including four nights at a partner hotel, 

three-day ticket to Universal theme parks and the 

early admission to Harry Potter and one breakfast 

per person at Three Broomsticks plus, until June 

30, early admission to the Amazing Adventures 

of Spider-Man, live entertainment at CityWalk. 

Be sure to allow time for the new Blue Man 

Group show in Universal’s CityWalk. It opened 

449872 

--.Ammlmk 

HARD ROCK - $20 PER PERSON 

$25 Free Play - $5 Food Voucher 

Thursdays & Sundays in June 

6/17, 6/21, 6/24, 6/28 

IMMOKALEE - $20 PER PERSON 


M onday & Tuesdays in April & M ay 

6/18,6/19,6/25,6/26 

a little over a month ago with new music 

and more but still with those heart-pounding 

rhythms and all that paint. If you haven’t seen 

a Blue Man show, that alone may be reason 

enough to head to Universal Orlando this summer. 

If you have seen an earlier show, this one 

even has a new “environment” according to my 

Universal source. I just find all that paint mesmerizing, 

not to mention the group’s interaction with 

the audience. 

For information about Universal Orlando 

Resort’s vacation packages, new offerings such 

as the dining packages and more, visit 

www.universalorlando.com. 

All Around Tours Presents: 

• Casino Trips • Sightseeing Tours 

• Dining & Entertainment Outings 

BRIGHTON CASINO - $20 PER PERSON 


6/24 - $5 Off Bingo - $55 in Poker Chips w /$40 Buy 

DAY TRIPS 

6/28/12 - Grease @ Broadw ay P alm - $75 

7/4/12 - Fourth of July on Starlite Princess - $99 

8/16/12 Ikea $25 

BILOXI - $199 pp/ 

Double Occupancy 

JUNE 18-21 & JULY 23-26 

4 Days/3 Nights 4-Star Deluxe 

Accom m odations @ IP-Casino Resort & 

Spa Fully Escorted-Lunch & Restroom 

Stops En route - Fun & Gam es on Bus - $45 

in Free Play - 2 Breakfasts & 1 Lunch 

OVERNIGHT TRIPS 

(Call for Flyer) 

Oct 27- Nov 2 - Fall Foliage 

Nov 26-28 Key W est 

Dec 23-27- Christm as In N ew Orleans 

4th of July 

Dinner Cruise 

$99 

M ULTIPLE 

B US CASIN O 

PICK UPS IN : 

• Pt Ch arlo tte 

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Elite presents ‘Break Free!’ 

SUN PHOTOS BY BETSY WILLIAMS 

Wearing their top hats and colorful tap 

dance costumes, Manuela Rebolledo, 7, and 

Sarah Breton, 8, show off for the camera. 

Elite Fine Arts Academy presents its fourth annual 

end-of-season showcase “Break Free!” 

at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the North Port Performing 

Arts Center, 6400 Price Blvd., North Port. 

“Break Free!” is a story about a creative young 

girl who lives in an ordinary town and for many 

reasons is afraid to be herself and let her talents 

shine. The show is filled with dancing, singing, 

circus arts and acting. Two hundred of Charlotte 

and Sarasota counties best and brightest performers 

bring the story to life. Tickets are $15 for adults 

at $12 for children. Tickets will be $15 at the door. 

For tickets or information about Elite’s summer 

camp and fall registration, call 941-235-1441. 

Elite is located at 17960 Toledo Blade Blvd., 


Lexi Trapp, 10, Alexa James, 7, Mikaila Meli, 8, Camille Salomon, 10, and Aubrianna 

Norton, 7, members of the Elite cheerleadering team that will be performing. 

Hip Hop 1.5 dancers present jazz student Annabelle Wessels,12, 

just a few of the Elite dancers that will be performing on Tuesday. 

Alysa Taylor, 9, in the splits, Isabella Coogan, 11, Sabrina 

Schmitt, 7, Casie Bruno, 12 and Chantae Gillett, 11, represent 

a variety of dance groups. 

Rieley Owen, 8, 

lays across the 

laps of Gianna 

Creola, 8, Brittany 

Caffrey, 

12, Abigail 

Marie, 11, with 

Brandon Owen, 

11, hovering 

above, these 

are just a few 

of the musical 

theatre 

students 

that will be 

performing on 

Tuesday. 

Summer Circus Spectacular is back for sixth year 

BY KIM COOL 


Enjoy a circus six-pack beginning Tuesday 

in the Historic Asolo Theater at the John 

and Mable Museum of Art. 

Some of the top circus stars in the world will 

perform twice daily through July 28. 

Emmy Award-winner Steve Smith will be the 

show’s emcee, introducing such stars as aerialist 

Dolly Jacobs, contortionist Princess Elayne, The 

Poena family Risley act and Cuban juggler Rafael 

DeCarlo. 

Smith was the Dean of Clown College which 

was started in Venice back in 1968 when it 

closed in 1996, a victim of its success. When 

it began the world-famous Ringling Bros. and 

Barnum & Bailey Circus, Bailey had enough 

clowns for one of its troupes. When it closed, 

it had produced about 1,000 professional 

clown graduates of its highly successful school 

which was limited to 100 students annually, 

selected from thousands of applicants. Smith 

is a member of the Clown Hall of Fame and also 

codirected the Big Apple Circus during a career 

that so far has spanned some 40 years, much of 

in the guise of his Chaplinesque clown character 

— Renaldo. 

“I specialize in audience participation," he has 

said on many occasions. 

Jacobs, with her husband Pedro Reis, founded 

Circus Sarasota in 1997 and has performed annually 

in that show since its beginning. Known as 

the Queen of the Air, Jacobs grew up in Sarasota 

as the daughter of Master Clown Lou Jacobs. 

The tiny car that was part of her famed father’s 

act resides today at the Ringling Museum of the 

Circus which is a key component of the Ringling 

Museum campus. Dolly performed in the center 

ring of the Ringling show for many years and, like 

her famous father, is in the Circus Hall of Fame 

at the museum, the Ring of Fame at St. Armands 

Circle and has been honored at Monte Carlo and 

other places around the world. 

Every circus needs a Risley act in which someone 

juggles another with only the one person’s 

feet. For this show, the Poema Family will feature 

the family patriarch juggling the children. 

Contortionist Princess Elayne and Cuban 

juggler Rafael DeCarlo round out the cast of this 

special circus show designed for “children of all 

ages.” 

That one can see the show in air-conditioned 

comfort in the restored historic 18th century 

theater is a bonus. 

Performances are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

Tuesday through Friday and at 2 and 7 p.m. each 

Saturday. There is no performance on July 4. 

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 

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12 and under. Order online at www.ringling.org 

or call the Historic Asolo Theater box office at 

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The John and Mable Museum of Art is located 

at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRCUS SARASOTA 

World famous aerialist Dolly Jacobs will perform in the Historic Asolo Theater June 19-July 28 as 

one of the featured acts in the Summer Circus Spectacular. 

453835 

Circus Sarasota performs an show annually 

during the month of February and year-round 

operates such outreach programs as Laughter 

Unlimited, Big Top Education and the Sailor 

Circus at Sarasota High School. 

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Venice is crafty this weekend 

BY KIM COOL 


Saturday, there will be two craft shows in 

Venice — one indoors at the Venice 

Community Center and one outdoors on 

Miami Avenue. 

The indoor show at Venice Community Center 

will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, 

featuring the work of many area artists and 

writers. There will be handmade greeting cards, 

handmade jewelry, books, photos and paintings 

plus all manner of crafts from woodworking and 

pottery to handmade glass and hand-sewn or 

knitted items. 

There also will be some home-baked goods 

for sale. 

The Venice Community Center is located at 326 

S. Nokomis Ave., on Venice’s Cultural Campus, 

which also includes the library, Venice Art Center 

“Belize Breeze” by Steve Vaughn of Winterpark. 

and the triangle Inn, home of the Venice 

Archives and Area Historical Collection. 

The out-of-doors show on Miami Avenue, the 

20th annual Miami Craft fair will be open from 

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. 

The two-day event will feature still 

more handmade products by crafters from as 

many as 30 states plus a companion green 

market. 

The green market will feature rare and exotic 

plants plus handmade soaps and body products 

as well as several lines of gourmet seasonings, 

sauce mixes and more. 

It is organized by American Craft Endeavors 

and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Venice 

MainStreet. 

There is more information at www.artfestival.com. 

Both festivals are free. 

PHOTOS PROVIDED 

“Shimmering Starfish” by Linda Mayes of Venice. 

“Great White Egret Preening” by Lou DiVita of 

Sarasota. 

Take a ride at the Riding Star Ranch 

BY JON BAUMANN 

SUN CORRESPONDENT 

Riding Star Ranch, located at 7701 Cleveland 

Drive, approximately 10 minutes east 

of downtown Punta Gorda, offers trail 

riding, private lessons and various camps. 

“We’re an entry point for non-horse owners. 

We’re more of a stable that caters to non-horse 

owners rather than the equestrian world itself,” 

explained Dawn Schmertmann, executive director 

and driving force behind the ranch. 

“All of our students, that come here to learn 

to ride, they learn everything from bareback to 

English to Western. The whole goal is to get them 

in here, show them what the world of horses is, 

what different options they have.” 

The latest featured activity is summer camp 

which runs from Monday and ending with a 

sleepover on June 22, where bonfires and 

s’mores are a part of the fun. 

Riding memberships are popular for those who 

want some training and some horse time. For the 

monthly cost of $150, you receive weekly lessons 

and unlimited riding on the weekend, with youngsters 

getting first choice of the 20-plus horses 

on the premises on Saturdays while adults have 

priority on Sundays. 

“I just know that there’s no place else for 

people to come into the horse world and be able 

to experience everything,” Schmertmann said. 

“Our ranch is non-discipline specific. We have all 

different breeds of horses.” 

If you don’t want to ride a horse, you can still 

be around the horses through the many different 

volunteer opportunities on the ranch. 

“We have over 20 core volunteers but we can 

always use more,” Schmertmann explained. “I’d 

like to find somebody that can do a monthly or 

quarterly newsletter. I have so many people that 

want to be on a mailing list but I just don’t have 

the time.” 

The ranch is also beginning to build a core of 

businesses in the surrounding area through the 

use of tax deductible sponsorships, company barbecues 

and picnics. It’s a way to support the work 

Riding Star Ranch does with horses, through 

rescue efforts of those abandoned, and rehabilitation 

of the animals to useful purposes in life. 

Riding Star Ranch is a non-profit facility which 

partners with the Boys & Girls Club, the Girl 

Scouts and the YMCA, among others. 

“My passion is the horses. I know it’s a healthy 

activity for the kids,” said Schmertmann. “It gives 

them something to do.” 

For more information, visit 

www.ridingstarranch.org. 

SUN PHOTO BY JON BAUMANN 

Dawn Schmertmann poses with the first horse 

she ever owned, 33-year-old Mocha. 

Florida Studio Theatre’s summer season opens today 

BY KIM COOL 


Summer at Florida Studio Theatre will be 

more interesting than usual. 

Progress continues on the theater’s addition 

of more stages, a new restaurant, an elevator, 

more seats and, most anticipated of all — expanded 

bathrooms at the building housing the Gompertz. 

The season begins today with “Das Barbecü” 

by Jim Luigs and Scott Warrender, in the theater’s 

Keating Main Stage. With music by Warrender, 

the show is set in present-day Texas. The story 

is told in flashbacks and song by five actors 

portraying a total of 30 “outrageous characters,” 

according to the theater’s release. 

The cast includes FST regulars Stacey Harris, 

Joanna Parson and Stephen Hope, who are most 

often seen in the Goldstein Cabaret (“Laughing 

Matters 2001” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect Now 

‘Cinderella’ comes alive 

at Broadway Palm 

PROVIDED BY THE BROADWAY PALM DINNER 

THEATRE 

Wicked stepsisters, a fairy Godmother, a 

pumpkin and the perfect glass slipper 

bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 

“Cinderella” to life at The Broadway Palm 

Dinner Theatre through June 23. 

With great warmth, more than a touch of 

hilarity, magical characters, irresistible romance 

and unforgettable songs, the hearts of 

children and adults alike still soar when 

the slipper fits. 

Performances are Wednesday through Sunday 

evenings with selected matinees. 

Ticket prices range from $18 to $39 with group 

discounts available for parties of 20 or more. 

For more information, call 239-278-4422 or 

www.BroadwayPalm.com. 

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is located 

at 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 

Change”), with newcomers Billie Wildrick and 

Joshua Carter. The show is being directed by 

former figure skating champion Dennis Courtney, 

who has directed many shows at FST, as well as 

on Broadway and other stages. 

“Das Barbecü” plays through July 9. 

Following that show on the Keating stage is the 

Pulitzer Prize-winning “Talley’s Folly” by Lanford Wilson. 

The story concerns a romantic interlude involving 

Jewish accountant Matt Friedman and Sally Tally 

on the Fourth of July near the end of World War II. 

The regional premiere of the show was presented at 

FST in 1982. The work opens July 25 with previews, 

and continues through Aug. 26. 

The third and final show of the summer season 

is “Perfect Wedding,” a British comedy by Robin 

Hawdon. This show is expected to come with a 

bonus, as it is scheduled as the first production in 

the renovated Gompertz Theatre. While construction 

was slightly behind schedule as of mid-May, 

it is expected to open on schedule Aug. 8, and 

will continue through Sept. 9. The story concerns 

a bridegroom who seems to have started the 

honeymoon a day early, and with someone other 

than his intended. 

A three-show subscription begins at $29 for 

preview shows and reaches $45 for regular performances, 

with single-show tickets at $19-$38. 

Order online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org, or 

call 941-366-9000. 

Florida Studio Theatre is located at 1241 N. 

Palm Ave., Sarasota. 

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRIS BENNION, VIA 

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 

Joshua Carter and Billie Wildrick in Florida 

Studio Theatre’s “Das Barbecü.” 

Saturday, June 30th 

Hosted by Port Charlotte Golf Club 

Jl 

, " p 

3rd Annual 

y 

1 

(,Il a' S'pr,tr &n, 

$50 Per Person to Enter 

Entry fee includes breakfast at 

the course, 3 free beers, and 

dinner provided by John Hall’s 

Goal Post following the 

tournament 

The fun begins with 

breakfast at 7:30am 

followed by a shotgun 

start at 8am. 

Please contact Carrie Dillow at 

John Hall’s Goal Post for more 

information, or stop by John 

Hall’s Goal Post to register 

p ho n e:(94 1) 979-993 3 

em a il:ca rrie@ sm ug g lers.co m 

453547


SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS 

PHOTO PROVIDED 

Jason Schulz at the Charlotte BMX 

Watermelon Race. 

Feeding the birds at the pond in front of 

the North Port Library was how 4-year-old 

Trent Grundtisch and his 8-year-old sister 

Thera spent a recent Saturday morning. 


VFW Post 10178 delivered to Rotonda American Legion Post 113 the banner 

announcing the visit of The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall coming to Englewood 

Nov. 28 through Dec. 2. Pictured from the American Legion are Cheryl 

Currie, Bootie Ginther- House Manager and Dick Young. Pictured from the VFW 

are Chrissy Osburn, Gwen Runstadler, Dale McDononough, Bill Bond, 

Cher Placey and Carl Fisher. 


Valentina Vargas at the Charlotte 

BMX Watermelon Race. 


C.J. Reed, 13, and his best friend Davin 

Miller, 13, at the J.M Berlin/Rotary 

Skate Park in Englewood where they 

spend most of their free time skateboarding. 



American Legion Post #113 Commander Don Warling, far right, presents Lemon Bay 

High School senior, Nolan Remillard, the first of four $1,000 scholarship awards. 

Looking on are Nolan’s father, Martin Remillard, and Post Adjutant Royce Tyler. 

Alex Lee and Ryan Pappas play a 

game of cornhole at South County 

Regional Park. 


Jeremy Slicker helps his daughter 

Leah, 3, climb one of the poles at 

the Tringali Park in Englewood. 


Celebrating Myrlin’s birthday at the Happy Chef Restaurant at the American 

Legion Post 110 in Port Charlotte are Marianne Cramer with Myrlin and 

Barry Figel. 


Renee and Jacques Mignault play 

a game of tennis on the courts at 

Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda. 

Serving 

Lunch & Dinner 

7 Days a Week 

453544 

Happy Father’s Day! 

Join the Captain for 

Lunch or Dinner! 

(941) 637-1177 Ext. 2 

Fishermen’s Village 

1200 West Retta Esplanade, #55, 

Punta Gorda, FL 33951-1289 

www.thecaptainstable.com 

FRIDAY NIGHT 

SEAFOOD BUFFET! 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 

ITALIAN NIGHT 

2107 Tamiami Trail South 

Venice, FL 

(next to Frank 12 Theater) 

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Venice Theatre Guild kicks off 

summer concert series with 

Gotta Luv It doo-wop show 

PROVIDED BY THE VENICE THEATRE 

The Gotta Luv It Band returns to Venice 

Theatre’s MainStage at 8 p.m. Saturday. 

These five professional, “old school” 

musicians promise “good clean fun for everyone” 

with their repertoire of doo-wop harmony classics. 

The Gotta Luv It Band features Joe Sardo on 

lead vocals and guitar, Bob Stout on rhythm guitar, 

Russ Bracco on drums, Joel Shindler on bass 

and John Swaiko on saxophone. Each musician has 

decades of performance experience. They’ve been 

together in Florida as Gotta Luv It for two years. 

They love entertaining a crowd until “the whole 

place is rocking, singing, clapping and acting like 

they’re kids again.” 

The summer oldies concerts are an annual tradition 

of the Venice Theatre Guild. What started as 

one show per summer has grown to a full-fledged 

series of four shows. The concerts raise money for 

the Guild scholarship fund which provides college 

tuition assistance to students studying theatre arts. 

Tickets are $20 and are available at the 

theatre’s box office, by phone at 941-488-1115 or 

online at www.venicestage.com. 

Patrons can take advantage of the entire summer 

concert series, which includes Bandana on 

July 14, The Boomers on Aug. 18 and Yesterdayze 

on Sept.15 for $60, a $20 discount. 

Venice Theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa 

The Gotta Luv It Band returns to Venice Theatre Saturday. 

Ave., Venice. 

Summer box office hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 


Monday through Friday and one hour before all 

performances. 

Summer Sizzler series opens at The Players 

BY KIM COOL 


The four-show Summer Sizzler series opens 

tomorrow night at The Players in Sarasota 

with “The Taffetas,” a musical tribute to the 

all-girl groups of the ’50s. 

Kathy Abney, Laurie Colton, Megan Ireland 

and Nikki Maack Schuster are the Taffeta Sisters. 

Having performed at the Moose Lodge in Muncie, 

Ind., they are on their way to a national television 

appearance on the Dumont Television Network 

and then it should only be a matter of time before 

they get the nod from Ed Sullivan. 

Regulars at Venice Theatre may know Colton 

who is that theater’s marketing director but also a 

regular on its stage. She was outstanding as Marian 

Paroo in this past season’s Venice Theatre 

production of “The Music Man.” Abney was in the 

Manatee Players production of “Jerry’s Girls” last 

year. 

The songs are from the ’50s and include such 

one-time hits as “Mr. Sandman,” “Sh-Boom,” 

“Happy Wanderer,” “Allegheny Moon,” “See the 

USA in Your Chevrolet” and “How Much is That 

Doggie in the Window.” While these hits were not 

all recorded by girl groups, the song list includes 

plenty by the Chordettes, Patti Page, Brenda Lee. 

Teresa Brewer and the McGuire Sisters, among 

others. 

Summer Sizzler shows run in repertory. “The 

Taffetas” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday- 

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. July 12-14 and at 2 p.m. 

Sunday and July 15. 

“Terra Nova,” the second offering, will be at 

7:30 p.m. June 21-23, at 7:30 p.m. July 19-21 and 

at 2:30 p.m. June 24 and July 22. 

Next will be “Lettuce and Lovage” which will be 

performed at 7:30 p.m. June 26-28, at 7:30 p.m. 

July 26-28 and at 2:30 p.m. July 1 and 29. 

Considered the “bonus” show in the series is 

“Stay” which will be performed at 7:30 p.m. 

Aug. 9-11 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 12. 

Tickets for the entire series are $45 per person 

and include $30 in gift certificates to Caragiulos 

Italian Restaurant in downtown Sarasota. 

The Players is at 83 North Tamiami Trail, 

Sarasota. For tickets, visit theplayers.org or call 

941-365-2494. 

Biscuit 

Miller & 

The Mix 

in concert 

 

RODcFRS s $RNFRSiE INS 

41(kvrelk 

Rodgers and Hammerstein's timeless 

fairy tale is filled with magical 

r0 )6 characters, irresistible romance and 

unforgettable songs. Wicked 

j 

Stepsisters, a Fairy Godmother, a 

NOW- June 23 

pumpkin and 

, 

a prince bring Family-Friendly 

Free Carriage Rides 

on June 15 & 16! 

this story to life. 

UP NEXT! June 28 - Aug 18 

Grease is the word as we travel back to Rydell High 

in the 50s. The hit songs include Summer Nights, 

We Go Together, I'm Sandra Dee, Greased Lightnin, 

Born to Hand Jive and Beauty School Dropout. 

$18 - $51 Kids 18 and under just $18! 


Biscuit Miller & The Mix will be in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at Englewoods On Dearborn, 362 W. 

Dearborn St., Englewood. Doors open at 6 p.m. For reservations, call 941-475-7501. 

 

Golf Course 

& Restaurant 

Open To The Public 

Boca Royale Golf.. 

Best Kept Secret On 

The West Coast Of 

1 1 

Florida! 

Enjoy Your Lunch Or Favorite Beverage On Our Patio 

We are now serving an ala carte 

Sunday Brunch menu 10 am-3 pm 

Join us Wednesday nights for Dinner 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Dan Fuggazzato - June 13th 

LaCroix - June 20th 

Billy Fowler -June 27th 

Reservations Requested For Sunday Brunch & W ednesday evenings 

Allow Us To Take Care Of Your 

Weddings, Receptions, Banquets & Parties 

1601 Englewood Rd, Englewood • 941-475-6464 

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UP NEXT IN THE OFF BROADWAY PALM 

A hysterical sequel to last summer's hit 

comedy Run For Your Wife. Two-timing taxi 

cab driver John Smith keeps two separate 

lives, complete with two separate families. His 

teenage children, a girl from one family and a 

boy from the other, get acquainted online and 

July 12 - Aug 18 decide to meet in person. $28 - $47 

PUS 

I 

IN 

BOO 

tzff 

Broadway Palm children's 3hea3re 

Selected Matinees in July & August 

A musical version of Charles Perraut's tale of 

a sly cat who wins his master the lordship of a 

manor and the hand of a beautiful princess. 

All ages $15 for lunch and show! 

BROADWAYPALM 

Southwest Florida 's Premier Dinner Theatre 

1380 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers 

239-278-4422 www.BroadwayPa lm.com ' ' '


Dale Jones to appear at Visani for Father’s Day week 

PROVIDED BY VISANI 

Dales Jones will be performing at Visani 

Comedy Dinner Theater Wednesday 

through Sunday. 

Jones is best known for his 2008 appearances 

on “Last Comic Standing.” Prior to that Jones was 

already the most requested comedian at Visani. 

Jones is a very high-energy comedian that’s 

a cross between a young Jerry Lewis and Jim 

Carrey. 

His show is always adult clean and a bit 

peculiar. 

Many patrons leave his performances with total 

exhaustion from laughing so hard. 

Jones now sells out shows all over the country; 

he’s no longer just Port Charlotte’s best-kept 

secret. It’s only a matter of time before Jones 

becomes a big star. 

Jones will be performing shows at 8 p.m. 

Wednesday and Thursday, at 8:30 p.m. Friday, at 

6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, Jones 

will be performing a special Father’s Day show 

at 6:30 p.m. Young adults ages 13 and over can 

attend on Father’s Day. 

Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday are $8; 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets are $12. 

For reservations call 941-629-9191. 

Visani is located at 2400 Kings Highway, Port 

Charlotte. 


Dales Jones will be performing at Visani 

Wednesday through Sunday. 

A Better Place Dance Studio: ‘Celebrating Our Community’ 

PROVIDED BY A BETTER PLACE DANCE AND 

FITNESS STUDIO 

A 

Better Place Dance and Fitness Studio is 

excited to present “Celebrating Our Community” 

at 2:30 pm on Saturday at North Port 

High School, 6400 W. Price Blvd., North Port. 

The “Celebrating Our Community” performance 

will include numbers that have been dedicated 

to members of the community as a thank you for 

their contribution to the city of North Port. 

Dances will include a wide range of dance genres 

as well as ages. Dancers range in age from 2 to 17, 

and include members of the award- winning Positive 

Attitudes dance team. The Performance Team, a 

community outreach program with dancers ranging 

in age from 5-17, will also be dancing. 

Tickets are on sale at the studio for $12 and will 

be available at the door for $15. 

Summer Dance Camp and Dance Intensive are 

going on now, featuring Lauren DeBenedetta, former 

professional dancer and faculty member at Broadway 

Dance Center, one of the world’s largest professional 

dance studios in NYC, and current Sarasota 

Ballet professional dancer Abbi Henninger. 

For more information call 941-429-6700 or visit 

www.abetterplacedanceandfitness.com. 

A Better Place Dance and Fitness Studio is 

located at 2530 Bobcat Village Center Road, 

North Port. 

Members of the A Better Place Competition Team who will be 

performing such dances as a lyrical dance to the song “I Was Here.” 

SUN 

PHOTOS 

BY BETSY 

WILLIAMS 

Musical 

Theatre 

troupe 

Allison Barto, 

Monique 

Csenteri, 

Megan 

Fleming, 

Tony 

Giannotti, 

Cami 

Montalbano, 

Celina Oyola, 

Angelique 

Paradis, Allie 

Rainey, Sam 

Steine and 

Katie Tucker 

will be 

taking a trip 

to the beach 

during the 

show. 

Austin Hallows, 6, Nathan Lehn, 7, and Bailey Bartolotta, 8, 

with their break dancing instructor, Lourdes Osorio. 

Molly Forcier, 5, Emily Sawmiller, 4, Emily Rosanio, 4, and Jessie Brown, 5, 

rehearse in front of the mirror for one of their upcoming dances. 

Cameron Farnsworth, 10, Jeren Almeida, 

10, and Cole Hansen, 11, take on their 

‘tude’ needed for their break dancing they 

will be performing for this year’s show. 

453655 

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$7 99 LB. 

100% Pure Pork 

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H ot or Mild $2 99 LB. 

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GROUND CHUCK 

$2 99 10 Pounds 

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WE WHOLESALE TO RESTAURANTS call for prices 

F resh CORNED BEEF BRISKET 

Straight Cut 

$3 99 (First Cut only) 

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Cooked $7 99 LB 

Corned Beef On 

Rye Sandwich - $6 00 

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$5 99 LB. 

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BOTTOM ROUND 

ROAST 

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EYE ROUND 

ROAST 

Special Milk-Fed 

LOIN VEAL CHOPS 

$ 2 7 9 LB. 

$ 3 9 9 LB. 

$ 1 0 99 LB. 

(941) 347-7281 

16520 Burnt Store Rd • Punta Gorda 

Open Daily - 7am to 9pm 

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3 CHICKENS (Whole or Cut-Up) 

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AT 3PM FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY 

Friday Night 

ALL YOU CAN EAT 

Seafood Buffet 

5PM-9PM 

$15 95


IN THE KITCHEN 

Marker 4 Oyster Bar 

BY DEBBIE FLESSNER 


The owners of Venice’s Marker 4 Oyster Bar 

have an important message to pass along 

— they are still there. 

That’s right. In spite of the bridge renovation 

that took their restaurant off the main road, in 

spite of the zoning scuffles, in spite of a tanked 

economy the Marker 4 has survived. And with 

one of the best views in town and some menu 

changes and design plans in the works, they are 

here to stay. 

“We want people to know that there are more 

than two restaurants on the water here,” said 

Richard Mote, a spokesperson for the family who 

owns the Marker 4. “You can boat right up to this 

restaurant and dock out front.” 

The view from the deck and from inside 

the dining area is spectacular. It’s a tranquil, 

open setting, even though the bridge is close by 

— all you can see out the back is water 

and boats. 

Besides the view, the menu includes a 

varied selection of seafood, including customer 

favorites like grouper, snapper and mahi mahi. 

Their half-pound Angus burgers are very 

popular, and come with a variety of toppings, 

and there are also plenty of beers from which to 

choose. 

“They have over 50 kinds of beers — domestics, 

imports and microbrews,” Mote said. “They 

did very well at the Beer Bash last weekend.” 

There are more than 150 seats at the restaurant, 

and though it does not have a specific 

party room, there are separate areas which can 

accommodate groups for a small gathering. 

Certainly, with the breathtaking view and the 

possibility of open-air seating, you couldn’t 

ask for a better setting for a casual get-together. 

Mote said that though the menu is very reasonably 

priced, especially for waterfront dining, the 

restaurant does offer plenty of specially priced 

lunch and dinner selections. 

“They do daily lunch specials Monday through 

Friday until 2 p.m. for $6.99,” he said. “Then, from 

5 p.m. until 8 p.m. they have dinner specials for 

$10.99.” 

In addition to the restaurant, the Fisherman’s 

Wharf property also includes a dive shop, boat 

rental and parasailing charter. So a visit there 

could turn into a daylong event. 

“They’ve (the owners) expanded the restaurant, 

put in a courtyard and started including 

microbrews with the beers,” Mote said. “They’ve 

tried to provide someplace in Venice on the 

water where you can bring the family and enjoy 

yourself.” 

The Marker 4 Oyster Bar is located at Fisherman’s 

Wharf, just before the U.S. 41 Business 

bridge going onto Venice Island. 

For information or for call-ahead seating, call 

941-484-0344. 

SUN PHOTOS BY DEBBIE FLESSNER 

The Marker 4 Oyster Bar is located on the Fisherman’s Wharf property in Venice. 

-- -- --------------------------------------------------- 

River City Grill 

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In house dining only 

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Not valid with any other promotion. Expires June 23, 2012 

I 1 

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Saturday: Emmy Q 

Sings today’s favorite 

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r 

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June 16 

June 30 

July 7 

Sept 1 

5:30pm to 

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Take the water ´ taxi at Leverocks across the Intracoastal to Rum Bay Restaurant on $5. round trip. 

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Live Music on the Deck 

Closed Mondays. 

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SPOTLIGHT 

Golden Anniversary open house planned for Elsie Quirk Library 

BY CHRIS KOURAPIS 


Library lovers won’t want to miss Elsie Quirk 

Library’s 50th anniversary open house 

scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. Saturday. 

The Friends of Elsie Quirk Library will be hosting 

an all-day party and everyone is invited. The event 

will begin with a flag-raising ceremony led by Boy 

Scout Troop 26 and the older Venture Crew Scouts. 

Next, the Joe Thompson Barbershop Quartet 

will sing the “Star Spangled Banner” followed by 

Elizabeth D’Amico of Girl Scout Troop 208 singing 

“God Bless America.” After the opening ceremony 

Girl Scouts and library youth volunteers will 

escort people inside for a welcoming program 

led by Friends’ President Ron Cutsinger. Keynote 

speakers will include Sarasota Library Director, 

Sarabeth Kalajian; Sarasota Commissioner, Jon 

Thaxton; Library Manager, Jennifer Perry; Nancy 

Wille and Englewood Businessman, Tom Dignam. 

Following the welcoming program guests will 

be free to tour the library, enjoy light refreshments 

in the mezzanine area, hear barbershop singers 

and view historic displays prepared by Information 

Services Librarian Toni Hopper. Senior 

Librarian Cris Walton has prepared an ongoing 

presentation depicting the library’s five expansions 

and recent renovation. 

Elsie and Wellington donated land and $10,000 

toward building a one-room library in Englewood 

in 1961. 

At 12:30 p.m. Nancy Wille will speak about 

“Remembering Elsie and Wellington Quirk.” 

Cris Walton will follow with “Library Expansions, 

Renovations and Technological Advancements.” 

Walton began working with Elsie Quirk 

Exsultate! will present two newly commissioned 

works at its spring 2013 concert. 

The cost of creating the new works 

is being funded by grants from the Gulf Coast 

Community Foundation and the Women’s 

Exchange Foundation. Each foundation awarded 

the chamber group a $5,000 grant to fund two 

compositions commissioned specifically for the 

award-winning chamber group. 

The works are to be performed April 14 during 

the final concert of the 2012-2013 season. 

For the past two years, Exsultate! has been led 

by artistic director and conductor Stephen Johns 

who also directs the Madrigal Singers and other 

SUN PHOTO BY CHRIS KOURAPIS 

Nancy Wille (left), who knew the Quirks 

personally, will present “Remembering Elsie 

and Wellington Quirk” at the Elsie Quirk 

Library’s 50 year anniversary open house at 

12:30 p.m. Saturday. Librarian Cris Walton, 

who began working at the library in 1977, will 

follow with “Library Expansions, Renovations, 

and Technological Advancements.” 

Library’s first Head Librarian, Harriet Ives, in 

1977. Seeing a need for children’s programs, 

Walton began a weekly storytime for preschool 

children and helped plan and present summer 

reading programs. In 1986, she was assigned the 

role of Youth Services Librarian. 

The Friends’ Golden Garden anniversary 

project is well under way, according to Friends’ 

President Cutsinger and will be formally dedicated 

in the fall. 

Rose Sheedy, Lemon Bay Garden Club chairwoman 

for their Arbor Day tree-planting event, 

added soil to a newly donated Cassia Tree at a 

symbolic groundbreaking ceremony in April. 

The Golden Garden will honor EQ Library’s 

Founders and offer patrons a quiet reading area. 

Elsie Quirk Library is located at 100 W. Dearborn 

St. For more information, visit www.sclibs.net. 

Venice High School choral groups. In the latter 

capacity, Johns, a Venice native, has led the high 

school chorus on several trips to New York City to 

perform at Carnegie Hall. 

Some of those singers perform with Exsultate! 

because of its seniors-mentoring-juniors apprenticeship 

program, which began under Johns’ leadership. 

The chorus of Exsultate! features “highly 

trained professional musicians, music educators” 

and other vocalists selected during annual tryouts. 

Singers donate their time to perform the 

organization’s three annual concerts. 

“We are so grateful for the commitment to the 

arts and quality entertainment for the community 

that Gulf Coast and the Women’s Exchange have 

demonstrated with these grants,” Johns said in a 


The original Elsie Quirk Library in Englewood faced Cocoanut Ave. and was a one-room structure 

made possible by donations of land and funds from Elsie and Wellington Quirk in 1961. 

SUN PHOTO BY CHRIS KOURAPIS 

Elsie Quirk Library, today, has undergone five expansions and a recent renovation since its 

opening in 1962. It is located at 100 W. Dearborn St. in the Olde Englewood Village. 

Exsultate! receives grant for special concert 

BY KIM COOL 


recent press release. 

“Composer David Brunner is enthusiastic 

about our commission to expand his collection of 

songs that are based upon poetry of Wendell 

Berry set to music,” Johns continued. “Titled 

‘A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems, 

1979-1997,’ the collection already includes 

‘The Circles of Our Lives,’ ‘The Wheel’ and ‘We 

Clasp Hands.’ First published in 1998, it can 

be sampled at DavidBrunner.com.music-formixed-choirs. 

Our hope is to obtain funding 

from another source for a third Brunner-Berry 

song to also be composed in time for the 

spring concert. We will be pairing the full Brunner 

song cycle with a comparable one of Robert 

Frost poems that have been set to music by 

Randall Thompson, titled ‘Frostiana.’” 

Tickets are on sale now for the 2012-2013 

season which will begin with “Celebration! 

Holiday Traditions Around the World” on Dec. 2, 

The group’s winter concert. “Love! Sweethearts… 

Family…Country” will be presented on Feb. 24 

and “Poetry! Words in Search of a Song,” which 

will feature the new commissions, on April 14. All 

concerts are at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary 

of Grace United Methodist Church, 400 E. 

Field Ave., Venice. 

Discounted season tickets are $40 per 

person. Tickets to individual concerts are $17 

for adults and $5 for students. 

For more information, visit www.exsultate.org 

or call 941-484-8491. 

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TASTEBUDS 

Morgan’s Café 

BY JON BAUMANN 


Find good food made from scratch, quality 

service, friendly staff and reasonable 

prices, all located in a clean, well-lit environment 

at Morgan’s Café in Port Charlotte. 

The restaurant was purchased by Brian 

and Kim Casey in August of 2006. When the 

opportunity presented itself to own their own restaurant, 

they went for it, bringing Kim’s experience 

at other restaurants with them. 

“I just decided to go out and do it on my own.” 

Kim explained, “I just jumped right in and 

did it.” 

They renamed the restaurant after their daughter, 

Morgan, who is starting high school this fall. 

“I decided a long time ago that if I ever opened 

one, that I would name it after her,” Kim said of 

her only child. 

Serving on average, easily 100 customers 

every day, the café is open for breakfast at 

6 a.m. Monday through Saturday, offering 

omelets, pancakes, eggs and various other 

offerings costing anywhere from $2 to $9 

depending on the order. One of the most 

popular breakfast items is Kim’s homemade 

biscuits and sausage gravy, made from 

scratch. 

The lunch menu includes open-face roast beef 

with mashed potatoes and brown gravy, grilled 

cheese, quiches, wraps and sandwiches ranging 

in price from $2 to $8. 

Popular lunch items include a pork tenderloin 

sandwich, either fried or grilled and hamburgers 

freshly made, never frozen. 

It’s homestyle cooking at its finest, available 

for dining in or taking out. Take out makes up 

approximately 20 percent of the business. Many 

people call ahead for their favorites with the café’s 

hamburgers being extremely popular with the 

take-out crowd. 

Regular customers, on a first-name basis 

with staff, make up about 70 percent of the café 

business. 

What also makes Morgan’s Café extra special 

is Kim herself. “My wife’s a coconut,” Brian 

pointed out lovingly. “She is a prankster. She’s 

really got a thing going here. The regulars bring 

a new victim in so that they get in on the joke as 

well.” 

Morgan’s Café is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to noon 

Saturday. 

Morgan’s Café is located in the School House 

Square Shopping Plaza, 4300 Kings Highway, 



www.morganscafe.com. 

SUN PHOTO BY JON BAUMANN 

Brian, Morgan and Kim Casey, with staff 

members Shawn Dano, Derek Hunter and 

Devin Anderson. 

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Meet Fanny Brice 

PROVIDED BY THE ASOLO REPERTORY 

COMPANY 

Before there was a Lucy or Ethel, Gracie 

Allen or Imogene Coca, Fanny Brice was 

the female comic superstar. 

“Fanny Brice, America’s Funny Girl” opens 

today at the Mertz Theatre in Sarasota where it 

will run until Sunday as a production of the Asolo 

Repertory Theatre. 

“Fanny Brice, America’s Funny Girl” is a 

reworking of Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s 2009 hit 

production “Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl.” 

Writer and director David H. Bell modified the 

script and is bringing Asolo Rep the most inspiring 

version yet. 

Born Fania Borach on the Lower East Side of 

New York City in 1891, Brice began her career 

on stage with a burlesque troupe at the age of 

17. Two years later she was headlining for the 

Ziegfeld Follies, and by 1921 she released her 

signature song, “My Man.” Brice became one of 

the biggest comedic stars to grace the stage, yet 

her personal life wasn’t as successful, with heartache 

and betrayal following her at every step and 

her three marriages all ending in divorce. During 

her tumultuous marriage to husband Number 

Three, Billy Rose, Brice launched her own weekly 

radio show and introduced the world to her newest 

character, Baby Snooks. For almost 15 years 

Brice entertained listeners with her impersonation 

of the mischievous toddler until she passed away 

in 1951 at the age of 59. 

Recreating the spirit of ballyhoo, flim-flam 

and artistic genius of the early Broadway era, 

this new musical showcases Fanny Brice at her 

best and worst: creating laughs for her adoring 

public and singing the songs that made her an 

American icon while also working tirelessly to 

keep her personal relationships from disintegrating. 

Known for her witty banter, Brice was quoted 

once saying, “Listen, kid! I’ve done everything in 

the theater except marry a property man …” 

Playwright and director Bell said, “Fanny Brice 

is a type of American icon that fascinates me — 

A ‘super nova’ on stage — with the ability to be 

both a hysterical low-comedienne and a moving 

torch singer.” 

Marya Grandy performs as Fanny Brice with 


Marya Grandy performs as Fanny Brice. “Fanny 

Brice, America’s Funny Girl,” runs through Sunday. 

Stef Tovar as Billy Rose, Irving Berlin and others. 

Also in the cast is Lance Baker as Harold Underhill, 

Nick Arnstein and others; and Norm Boucher 

and Florenz Ziegfeld and others. 

For performance times and tickets, visit 

www.asolo.org or call 941-351-8000. 

Woman’s Exchange awards 

$330,000 in grants and scholarships 

BY KIM COOL 


For 50 years, the Woman’s Exchange in 

Sarasota has been giving away money. 

Located at 539 S. Orange Avenue in 

Sarasota, the consignment shop began as 

a fundraising organization to benefit the Florida 

West Coast Symphony. 

In the intervening years the name was shortened 

to Woman’s Exchange and its scope was 

broadened. To date it has awarded more than 

$7 million to area arts organizations and to high 

school and college scholars pursuing careers 

in the arts. 

Thursday, at its 50th anniversary grant and 

scholarship award event at its headquarters, it 

handed out another $330,000 to 26 cultural organizations, 

27 college students and 22 high school 

students. The amount is significantly higher than 

the initial award of $3,800 to the symphony back 

on April 12, 1963. 

This year’s grant recipients ranged from the 

Art Center of Manatee to the north, south to the 

Hermitage on Manasota Beach in Englewood. 

Musical groups included Exsultate! Venice’s 

chorale, Gloria Musicae, Key Chorale and 

Sarasota Opera. 

Theatrical groups ranged from the oldest 

theater in the area — The Players — to two of the 

youngest — Banyan Theater Company and West 

Coast Black Theatre Troupe. Sarasota Season of 

Sculpture, Sarasota Film Society and the Arts and 

Culture Alliance also were recipients 

The Exchange is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. On 

the first Friday of each month it remains open until 

7 p.m. It is staffed by more than 250 volunteers. 

Items are accepted as donations as well 

as on consignment. 


visist www.womansexchange.com. 

441893 

Z E S T A U R A N T 

www.leverockspalmisland.com 

There’s 

Som ethin g 

For 

Everyon e! 

SUN PHOTOS BY KIM COOL 

Jeffery Kin, artistic director of The Players 

Theatre in Sarasota, with Nate jacobs, founder 

of the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, were 

both on hand to pick up grants from the 

Woman’s Exchange. 

Exsultate! board member Jean Trammell 

attended the 50th annual award program of 

the Woman’s Exchange of Sarasota. 

Levero ck’s is n ow o fferin g a Recen tly Upd ated M en u 

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Father’s Day Specials 

Appetizers Flo rid a B lu e Crab Fritters — $9.95 

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Boaters Welcome • Located between marker 7 & 8 on the ICW 

Stephen Johns, director of Exultate!, with his wife, Karen, and Exsultate! director Ruth Packing, 

attended the 50th anniversary of the Woman’s Exchange grant program in Sarasota. 

453526 

PIRATE’S 

BALL 

Friday, July 27th, 7–11 pm 

Harpoon Harry’s 

**Pirate’s Bar-B-Que 

**Live Music 

**Costume Contest 

**Percentage of ticket sales benefit C.A.R.E. 

Purchase tickets on line at 

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Ott 

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Ben Vereen coming 

to Venice Theatre 

BY KIM COOL 


Tickets go on sale Friday for the Venice Theatre 

appearance next February of song-and-dance 

man Ben Vereen. 

The Tony Award winner (“Pippin’”) is one of the 

biggest stars to play Venice in recent years. 

His one-man show is expected to be a sell-out. 

His new show, “Steppin’ Out Live With Ben Vereen,” 

is a tribute to Broadway, stars such as Frank 

Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. and also autobiographic 

with song and dance numbers and 

plenty of humor, according to a release from the 

theater. Jan. 30 Vereen was inducted into the 

Theater Hall of Fame. 

“Pre-sales from the Presidents’ Club are higher than 

any other concert we’ve had here,” Venice Theatre’s 

executive/artistic director Murray Chase said. 

The Presidents Club is a group of people who have 

given $500 or more to the theater in a year, theater 

spokesman Laurie Colton said. 

“It is fairly exclusive. There are probably fewer than 

200 people.” 

Colton said they were offered tickets the day before 

the press release went out about the concert and by 

day’s end 55 tickets had been sold. 

“They’re buying with enthusiasm,” she said. “He’s the 

most well-known act we have ever had.” 

Vereen has appeared recently on television in “How 

I Met Your Mother” and on “Grey’s Anatomy." 

Vereen will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9 and at 

3 p.m. Feb. 9. All seats for the show will be $59 per 

person. 

Venice Theatre is on the island in downtown Venice 

at 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. 

For tickets, visit www.venicestage.com or call the 

box office at 941-488-1115. 

The box office summer hours are weekdays 

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. plus one hour before all 

performances. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF 

VENICE THEATRE 

Ben Vereen will perform his new 

one-man show at Venice Theatre 

Feb. 8 and 9. Tickets for on sale 

Friday. 

“Experience Pure Golf” 

453422 

June Golf 2012 

AM $20/18, 4PM $18/18 

AM $15/9, 4PM $12/9 

WEEKENDS 

$18/18, $12/9 

TEE TIMES 

888-663-2420 

Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port, Englewood & Venice 

453124 

• Weddings • Anniversaries • Golf Outings 

• Business Meetings • New Membership Opportunities 

To Reserve Tee Times Call CUH 91C 941-625-8898 452948M 

Membership Information 

or to Hold your Next Celebration 

Call 941-276-5349 

WWW.KINGSWAYCOUNTRYCLUB.COM 

13625 SW Kingsway Circle, Lake Suzy 

1 mile east of I-75, Exit 170 (Kings Highway), Left at Kingsway Circle 

453418 

Open to the Public 

18 Holes w/cart $ .00 (plus tax) 

17 

9 Holes w/cart $ .00 (plus tax) 

13 

Same rates since 2009 

WALKERS 

WELCOME 

ANYTIME 

New Pro 

Shop!!! 

“Driving Range / Snack Bar” Open 7-3 

For Tee Times Call 

(941) 637-6191 or Proper (800) Attire 579-6191 

Required 

29201 S. Jones Loop Rd. • Punta Gorda, FL 

/ 

4 

y 

Bill and Kathy Baker 

nffiffi Su n ny ibm b re e z e G(G®Ilff o f C®nni o u r s e c : A ffff®m¢1iibl9 f fo r d a b l e , nniftaniil9 n a t u r a l , m re ll l ai x e dld 

BOB TWAY DESIGN COURSE 

SUMMER RATES 

GOOD THRU SEPT. 30, 2012 

AM.............................$39.95 

AF 12 ........................$29.95 

AF 2...........................$23.00 

BSGC 

AM............................$27.95 

When you step out onto the Sunnybreeze Golf Course, you know you’re somewhere special, somewhere dif ferent. There are no houses backing up to the fairways, and no 

highway noise to break the spell. Instead, you’re surrounded by 200-year-old oak trees, pine trees, marshes, ponds and wildlife. 

The relaxed pace at Sunnybreeze matches its tranquil surroundings. “We’re a family friendly course, and we allow walkers at all times of the day,” said Bill Baker, who owns 

Sunnybreeze with his wife, Kathy. 

Sunnybreeze is open to the public but offers membership options too. For a one-time “partnership fe e” of $750 or $1000, plus $500 for each additional family member, golfers 

can lock in lifetime daily, monthly or annual golfing rates. So regardless how much rates may incre ase from year to year, Lifetime Members’ rates will never increase. 

Bill and Kathy Baker moved to the area from Michigan in 1974 and served as managers of the course un til they bought it in 1977. It began as a nine- hole course but had 27 holes 

by 1984. In 1991, the Bakers built a 15,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, which was a casualty of Hurricane Ch arley in 2004. 

The couple rebounded with an outdoor lunch spot -- Bistro on the Green -- outside of the pro shop, c omplete with an authentic Chickee Hut built onsite by Florida Seminole and 

Miccosukee Indians. The bistro has a large lunch menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and more, includ ing the daily special of $1 hot dog and $1 draft beer. 

Today, Sunnybreeze offers golfers a choice of a picturesque yet challenging 18-hole course or a nine -hole par three course. 

Sunnybreeze’s friendly, relaxed atmosphere is due, in part, to their longtime staff members who make sure every golfer feels welcome. Pat Rodman has been assisting in the pro 

shop since 1999. Food service manager Amy Kyre and course superintendant Rob Cooley make sure those areas run smoothly. Lessons are also available through instructor/ 

coach Dave Faulk and LPGA pro Bonnie Bryant. 

Sunnybreeze often hosts charity events and fundraisers for groups. They also welcome all kinds of b usiness and social groups that want to schedule regular golf outings. 

Sunnybreeze is located at 8135 SW Sunnybreeze Road, technically in Arcadia but near Ft. Ogden. Thei r convenient location on the Charlotte/DeSoto county line makes them a 

piece of serenity that’s accessible from all directions. 

The course is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll find directions and more informat ion on their website, www.sunnybreezegolf.com or call them 

at 863-494-2521. Bill, Kathy and the rest of the Sunnybreeze family is waiting to welcome you . 

1 

.r' 

50436829 

AF 12........................$25.95 

Now taking Sign-ups for Jr. Golf 

Program Starts June 7th 

Book Tee Times on-line at 

www.bobcattrailgc.com 

(941) 429-0500 

Located off I-75, Exit 179 

446916

Port Charlotte

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