wcw SEPT 2023

out &about
Someone say Fall?
The 12th Annual Tour de North
Port “It’s the Green Pumpkin!” is on
October 22. Registration is open for
this organized on-road scenic bicycle
ride that offers routes of 15, 35, or 65
miles through some of North Port’s
most beautiful, natural settings featuring
the Florida pine flatwoods and
the parks that border the Myakkahatchee
Creek.The Tour de North Port
is not a race. Breakfast, catered lunch,
homemade desserts, fully-stocked rest
stops, mobile SAG. More information
and $50 pre-registration available
at www.peoplefortrees.com. Doors
open at 7 a.m. for breakfast and checkin.
Group starts begin at 8 a.m. from
Imagine School, 2757 Sycamore St. in
North Port. Contact: Alice White, 941-
468-2486.
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Artist Series
Concerts
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota
will present 26 concerts during
its 28th season, Stars Ascending.
The season – runs from October 1
through May 14, 2024 and offers
a diverse range of intimate musical
experiences featuring emerging
and established classical, jazz,
pops, and chamber artists presented
at eight venues throughout Sarasota
and Manatee counties.
The season opens October 1 with
a concert in the new Sunday Best
Series presented at First Presbyterian
Church in Sarasota. Chicago-based
collective Nexus Chamber
Music creates unique and engaging
classical music experiences; this
program features piano trios by
Haydn, Brahms, and Ravel.
For more information, visit Artist
SeriesConcerts.org or call (941)
306-1202.
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Key Chorale
The season kicks off on September
23 with “Tango.” Billboard Top
10 Duo Ben & Winnie join Key Chorale
to celebrate the passion and
sizzle of the Argentine Tango. Bandoneonist
Ben Bogart, pianist Winnie
Cheung, and 4 traditional tango
dancers take you to the streets of
Buenos Aires.
On October 13-15, Key Chorale
Chamber Singers and Church of the
Redeemer presents its unique take
on Oktoberfest, with a 3-day festival
celebrating the music and genius of
Johann Sebastian Bach. Enjoy four
amazing concerts featuring the stunning
virtuosity of soprano Mary Wilson,
trumpeter Aaron Romm, vocalists,
and chamber orchestra. Concluding
with a Biergarten Experience
of German food, beers from Calusa
Brewing, and music from Bill Milner’s
Oompah Band. For more information,
visit www.keychorale.org.
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Special Events
“Step Into the Light: A Mental
Health Summit” is a free event presented
by Sunshine from Darkness
that will empower attendees to learn
new coping skills, promote mental
health wellness, and reduce the stigma
of mental illness.
The event is on October 28, 9 a.m.-
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2:30 p.m. at Robarts Arena (3000
Ringling Blvd., Sarasota). The goal of
Step Into the Light is to create a safe
and welcoming environment where
attendees can connect with others
and access valuable community
resources. Keynote speaker Linda
Larsen will speak on “Breaking the
Silence: One Woman’s Ongoing Journey
to Mental Well-being.”
Other speakers will delve into
a wide range of mental health
approaches and topics such as anxiety,
depression, children’s mental
health and generational trauma;
guests also can take part in a wide
range of interactive experiences,
including yoga, art and music therapy,
virtual reality and more.
Whether you’re a client, clinician,
parent, or advocate, you won’t want
to miss this opportunity to learn from
experts, connect with others, and
access valuable community resources.
The Summit is a prelude to the
Sunshine from Darkness 2024 Inspiring
Hope Dinner, which will be held
on January 12, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton,
Sarasota. For more information,
visit stepintothelight.sunshinefromdarkness.org.
The Roots of Black Music in
America is on September 30 at
Selby Library at 2 p.m. in the Jack
J. Geldbart Auditorium. Producer,
songwriter, teacher, and troubadour,
Karlus Trapp presents his delightful,
educational and entertaining presentation
“The Roots of Black Music
in America.”
It is a 100 year journey back
through time, and offers a fresh perspective
through song, story, and history
to learn about the music of America’s
black musical giants. Hear Scott
Joplin during the birth of Ragtime.
Dance to the Charleston in the 1920’s.
Play air guitar with Chuck Berry or
sing along with the Supremes in the
60’s in the motor city. From public
libraries and arts centers, to school
groups, to senior centers, Karlus has
presented this show solo or with
ensemble to thousands of people
since its inception.
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“Sights and Sounds at Waterside
Place” is at Lakewood Ranch. It’s a
new performing and fine arts series.
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The Van Wezel’s final Friday Fest concert is on September 22 and features Jah Movement. Bring blankets or lawn
chairs, take in the music and the sunset by the bay, and enjoy food and beverages from local vendors.
Upcoming performances include
West Coast Black Theatre Troupe in
September; the Sarasota Ballet Studio
Company. In October: Asolo Repertory
Theatre, in November; Outof-Door
Academy’s group concert
featuring sounds of the season from
chorus, band and orchestra students.
Coming up:
• The Westcoast Black Theatre
Troupe performs on September 15,
6:30 p.m.
• The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company
performs on October 13, 6 p.m.
The events are free and open to the
public; there is limited seating at the
Plaza, but attendees are welcome to
bring their own seats. Food and beverages
available from Waterside Place
merchants.
For more information on shows,
dates, and times, visit lakewoodranch.
com/sights-sounds.
Fun Raisers
Girls Inc of Sarasota County has
its 6th Annual Totally Tailgate on
Saturday, September 9, 6:30 p.m.
at Michael’s on East. Enjoy tailgate
food, competitive corn hole, beer garden,
multiple screens to watch your
favorite sports teams and live music.
girlsincsrq.org/totally-tailgate.
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ALSO Youth “Expressions Exhibition”
is an art showcase featuring the
works of youth artists in Sarasota and
Manatee Counties. “Expressions Exhibition”
is on September 7, 5-7 p.m. at
the Sarasota Opera House.
The Expressions Exhibition will
include a silent auction of local artists’
works, live music, free lite bites, and a
cash bar. Artwork in various mediums
submitted by youth from Sarasota and
Manatee County will also be showcased
in celebration of their creative
expressions. Info: givebutter.com/
expressionsexhibit.
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At The Bay
Ride and Paddle at The Bay.
Experience the flora and fauna at The
Bay through a guided kayak nature
tour. Offered every Saturday at 8:30,
a.m. join in for a free, 2-hour, intermediate-level
tour through The Bay’s
restored mangroves and to the north
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and south of the park, allowing paddlers
to explore Sarasota Bay and
learn more about The Bay Park from
Ride & Paddle’s experienced guides.
Next dates: September 9, 16, 23
and 30. Location: The Bay Park- Kayak
Launch, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts,
Sarasota. Reservations: www.thebaysarasota.org/.
Get to Know
Southface Sarasota
Southface has a Green Drinks
Meetup on September 21, 5-7
p.m. Join them at Sun King Brewery.
It’s a sustainably good time every
third Thursday of the month. Join
Southface Sarasota members and
local experts to talk sustainability and
network over drinks at the Sun King
Brewery. No registration required.
The event is offered in partnership
with Green Drinks Sarasota and the
USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council).
Held at Sun King Brewing, 1215
Mango Ave., Sarasota. Information:
www.southface.org/sarasota/
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Van Wezel Updates
and Friday Fest
The Van Wezel has its free, outdoor
summertime concert series, Friday
Fest. The final concert is on September
22 and features Jah Movement.
Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take
in the music and the sunset by the bay,
and enjoy food and beverages from
local vendors.
The Van Wezel has The Rocky Horror
Picture Show, the longest-running
theatrical release in film history,
on September 30 at 8pm. Fans will be
able to meet and talk with Barry Bostwick,
star of this original cult classic in
person. His iconic portrayal of “Brad
Majors” has thrilled generations of
fans for nearly 50 years.
The show will also feature a costume
contest, a performance by the
local Shadow Cast and a memorabilia
display with artifacts and costumes
from the movie. The Shadow Cast
acts out the movie on stage while the
movie plays on screen. VIP tickets are
available and include a meet and greet
with Barry Bostwick.
Bored Teachers: We Can’t Make
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This Stuff Up! Comedy Tour is on
October 13 at 7 p.m. Bored Teachers,
presents the funniest teacher-comedians
in the world all on one stage. The
tour includes the most hilarious and
well-known teacher comedians in the
business with millions of combined
followers as well.
Fresh off the success of another
Backstreet Boys world tour, pop icon
Nick Carter has announced his “Who
I Am” U.S. tour. The tour will mark
Carter’s return to the stage as a solo
artist after seven years, with the singer-songwriter
set to perform tracks
from his solo catalog–along with select
Backstreet Boys favorites and new solo
music–for audiences across the United
States. The “Who I Am” Tour at the VW
is on October 20.
Pre-show dining for both shows is
available through Mattison’s at the Van
Wezel which is located inside the theatre.
Reservations can be made on Van-
Wezel.org or through the box office.
Tickets: www.VanWezel.org
Family Eco Walk
UF/IFAS Extension has Take
a Child Outside Week – Incredible
Insects EcoWalk. Join UF/IFAS
Extension Sarasota County to look for
and learn about insects on September
26, 9-10:30am. Held at Sleeping
Turtles Preserve, North 3462 Border
Rd., Venice. Minors must be accompanied
by an adult guardian.
Join a UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota
County educator on a tour through the
Preserve while we look for and learn
interesting facts about insects, as well
as how to collect, identify, and appreciate
all the six-legged crawlers among us.
Learning more about insects is vital,
as they are essential for the proper
function of all ecosystems, serving as
food for other creatures, pollinators,
nutrient recyclers, and more.
Register only at ufsarasotaext.
eventbrite.com. For questions or further
information, call 941-861-5000 or
email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu.
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Farmer’s Markets
Fresh Harvest Farmers Market
at Wellen Park runs to December 29
and is open 9 am to 1 pm. They’re the
newly launched weekly farmers market
in Downtown Wellen. Fresh Harvest
offers a selection of local goods
from nearly 40 local vendors.
Vendors offer a wide variety of locally
grown and produced food, including
herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned
and preserved fruits and vegetables,
syrups, baked goods, pickled foods,
fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs,
milk and prepared food and beverages.
A limited selection of craft vendors
also participate in the farmers market.
For a listing of participating vendors
and more information on Fresh Harvest
Farmers Market, visit wellenpark.
com. Downtown Wellen is at 19745
Wellen Park Blvd., Venice.
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Bishop Museum
of Science and
Nature
The Bishop has SHE ENGINEERS
through December 31, 2023. SHE
ENGINEERS is a bilingual (English
and Spanish) poster exhibition
highlighting eight women in
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SEPTEMBER 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 7