wcw FEBRUARY 2024

FEBRUARY 2024 

Martha 

Collins 

Director of Education 

& Stage Director at 

Sarasota Opera 

Also in this issue: 

■ The Sarasota Circus is back 

■ Spring Training Returns 

■ Dining In: Shrimp Recipes 

■ Travel News and Updates

Saturday, February 10, 4PM 

Church of the Palms 

Join Key Chorale for the U.S. Premiere of The Legend of Bijan 

and Manijeh by Persian composer Farhad Poupel. For piano, 

choir, and orchestra, with concert pianist Jeffrey Biegel. 

3PM PRE-CONCERT TALK 

Join Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins, Composer Farhad Poupel, 

and concert pianist Jeffrey Biegel before the concert. 

REPERTOIRE: 

The Captive Queen – Jean Sibelius 

Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 – Gustav Mahler 

Wedding Cantata – Daniel Pinkham 

Three Shakespeare Madrigals – Emma Lou Diemer 

The Water is Wide – René Clausen 

Childhood Memories (Persian Suite) – Farhad Poupel 

The Legend of Bijan and Manijeh – Farhad Poupel 

Susan Goldfarb 

PROGRAM DIRECTOR 

2023-2024 

LECTURE SERIES ✱ PAINTING 

LANGUAGES ✱ QIGONG 

YOGA ✱ MEDITATION ✱ BRIDGE 

MAH JONGG ✱ CANASTA 

SUPREME COURT ✱ THEOLOGY 

WELLNESS ✱ AMERICAN HISTORY 

LITERATURE & POETRY 

MOVIE & BOOK GROUPS 

MUSIC & DANCE APPRECIATION 

MORNING FORUMS & TED TALKS 

WORLD POLITICS & CURRENT EVENTS 

FILM FESTIVALS ✱ JAZZ NIGHTS 

WRITING WORKSHOPS 

iPHONE & iPAD ✱ NATURE WALKS 

BIRDING ✱ WOMEN’S GROUPS 

SATURDAY WORKSHOPS 

Jeffrey Biegel, Concert Pianist 

BROADWAY BIOS ✱ CONCERTS 

SPECIAL ONE-TIME EVENTS 

& MUCH MORE! 

Programs Available In Person and on Zoom 

Purchase your tickets today at: 

KeyChorale.org • 941.552.8768 

567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 

www.TBIeducationcenter.org 

email: edcenter@longboatkeytemple.org 

For a brochure call: (941) 383-8222 

2 WEST COAST WOMAN FEBRUARY 2024

FEBRUARY 2024 

contents 

Editor and Publisher 

Louise M. Bruderle 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Contributing Writer 

Carol Darling 

Contributing Photographer 

Evelyn England 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Kimberly Carmell 

Assistant to the Publisher 

Mimi Gato 

West Coast Woman is published 

monthly (12 times annually) by 

LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, 

President. All contents of this 

publication are copyrighted and 

may not be reproduced. No part 

may be reproduced without the 

written permission of the publisher. 

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 

and artwork are welcome, but return 

cannot be guaranteed. 

HOW TO REACH US: 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Here are our columns: 

n Out & About: includes 

fundraisers, concerts, art exhibits, 

lectures, dance, poetry, shows 

& performances, theatre, film, 

seasonal events and more. 

n You’re News: job announcements, 

appointments and promotions, 

board news, business news and 

real estate news. 

FOLLOW US AT: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 

WCWmedia 

happening this month - The Circus! 

Featuring new acts, Circus Sarasota’s 2024 production again has high-flying action, 

comedic antics, and acts that defy both expectations and the boundaries of physical 

limitations. Runs Feb. 16 - March 10 at Nathan Benderson Park. Preview is on 

p12 

travel 

Planning a getaway in 2024? 

You’re not alone. Learn about 

opportunities, offers and what’s hot 

p26 

EARS 

WCW 

35 

YEARS 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 

west coast 

WOMAN 

dining in 

Remember that scene in Forrest Gump 

when Bubbah recites all the ways of 

preparing shrimp, “…shrimp with grits, 

shrimp with rice…’’? Here are some 

recipes Bubbah may have overlooked. 

p30 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

7 Out & About: listings for things to do 

12 focus on the arts: Sarasota Circus 

14 good news 

15 health: all about Craniosacral Therapy 

16 west coast woman: 

Martha Collins - Sarasota Opera 

18 coming up: Through Women's Eyes 

International Film Festival 

19 focus on the arts: 

Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota 

20 focus on the arts: Women 

Contemporary Artists exhibit 

21 healthier you: The Renewal Point 

23 happening this month: Spring Training 

24 focus on the arts: Key Chorale 

26 travel news 

28 focus on the arts: 

ArtCenter Manatee 

30 dining in: shrimp, shrimp, 

and more shrimp 

■ on the cover: Martha Collins, Director of Education and Stage Director at Sarasota Opera. 

■ Image: Evelyn England 

FEBRUARY 2024 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

West Coast Woman 

Martha Collins 

One of the benefits of this job is to meet people 

who have interesting jobs. The other is getting to 

see where they work. Such is the case with Martha 

Collins, Director of Education & Stage Director at 

the Sarasota Opera. February is peak season at the 

Sarasota Opera as their Winter Festival is underway 

this month with two operas; Carmen and Lucia Di 

Lammermoor. 

Martha will be the Stage Director for Carmen, the 

popular opera by Georges Bizet. What’s a stage director? 

Well, it’s not being the conductor - that’s Maestro 

Martha Collins 

Image: Evelyn England 

Victor DeRenzi. When you’re the stage director, you 

are in charge of where people move and what they do and how they 

interact onstage. But, that’s a simplified explanation. Learn more in my 

feature about the many hats Martha wears at Sarasota Opera. 

Martha herself was a singer and performed onstage and has made a 

successful transition to handling the backstage as well. She’s also the 

Education Director - working with youth like this past November when 

they put on their performance of The Little Sweep. 

That job also involves many moving parts including auditioning and 

developing young talent for Sarasota Youth Opera. I learned that the 

Sarasota Youth Opera is the only program in the United States committed 

to both presenting an annual full-scale opera production for young 

voices, as well as accepting all who wish to participate regardless of skill 

level or ability and, it’s the 40th anniversary of the Sarasota Youth Opera. 

Postscript to January’s WCW 

Natalia Levey 

I’m glad Natalia liked her profile in our January 2024 issue. Hers was a 

very popular online posting that drew lots of likes. She was pleased, I’m 

happy to say, but wanted us to add that the watermelon gazpacho soup 

recipe mentioned in the article was created by chef Hart Lowry, their 

culinary director. 

As the article noted, she and her husband have a collaborative style 

of management and they value and recognize their team members. 

We’re at peak season, so I hope you have made advance reservations to 

dine in one of their many restaurants. 

Lots of Love for Cat Depot 

I’ll always have a place in my heart for Cat Depot. I didn’t get my kitty 

there. Instead, Mimi (my cat) was adopted from another cat rescue 

organization that Cat Depot moved in to help when the remaining cats 

at the failing organization 

were abandoned. That 

was two decades ago and 

that’s when Cat Depot 

was formed. 

So Cat Depot is having 

its 20th anniversary. 

They’re not the oldest 

animal sanctuary in 

Sarasota, but in my 

opinion, they’re one of 

the best. After saving as 

many of those poor cats 

as possible, they created a 

beautiful no-kill shelter at 2542 17th St. in Sarasota. 

“What began with 262 cats from an overcrowded shutdown shelter 

has become the Cat Depot you know today,” says their website. And 

years later, they can say they have touched the lives of nearly 20,000 

cats through adoption and through their public Cat Care Clinic, 

community programs and more. 

Their event is on Thursday, March 7 at the Sarasota Hyatt. Tickets 

and info: catdepot.org 

New Horizons; 

New Places to Explore in 2024 

The energy, excitement and renewal that a new year brings no doubt 

has many thinking of travel. I love travel - it recharges my batteries and 

I come back to work relaxed as well as focused on the future. I was able 

to make short trips to DC, Philly, New York, Cape May and Stone Harbor 

(both in New Jersey) and my big trip was to Ireland back in August 2024. 

On my bucket list for 2024 is Wimbledon (I’m hopeful, anyway). Each 

year, I like to choose a wish list experience then reach for it. Apparently 

I’m not alone. There’s still lots of pent up demand for travel and, with 

the economy doing better, the roads, rails and skyways will again be 

busy. Let’s hope the weather cooperates and allows us to achieve our 

travel dreams. 

According to Forbes magazine, people are “…going farther. They’re 

planning ahead. And they’re taking bigger risks.” They add, “And they 

are not letting geopolitical risks — or, for that matter, personal risks — 

slow them down.” 

“Demand for travel remains strong,” according to Daniel Durazo, 

a spokesman for Allianz Partners USA. Indeed, a new Harris 

Poll conducted on behalf of Intrepid Travel found most US adults (57%) 

say they plan to take the same number of trips in 2024 as they did in 

2023, and about 1 in 4 (26%) plan to travel more. 

Some 2024 travelers are already getting ahead of trend-spotters. 

At travelinsurance.com, an online broker of travel insurance policies, 

company co-founder Stan Sandberg says he’s already seeing off-thebeaten-path 

travel increasing for 2024, with bookings to 25 more 

countries than last year. Andorra, Palau, and Grenada are newly popular. 

Everett Potter — a tour guide for National Geographic Expeditions, 

travel columnist for Forbes, and publisher of Everett Potter’s Travel 

Report — sees new buzz around Norway, Slovenia, and Romania. 

Henley Vazquez — co-founder of travel agency Fora Travel — says she’s 

seeing a jump in 2024 bookings for Bhutan, the Buddhist kingdom in 

the Himalayas, as well as the Spanish island of Majorca. 

David Swanson — a veteran journalist — says Greenland is starting 

to draw more interest, especially from expedition cruisers. VBT — a 

long-tenured biking, walking, and multi-sport touring company — says 

its hottest destination for 2024 is Croatia. 

Closer to Home and Coming: 

Circus Sarasota performances return this 

month. Here’s an example of the talent 

they offer: Noemi España (an expert at 

contortion and hand balancing - imagine 

that on your resume) is an eighth-generation 

circus performer, debuted her hula 

hoop act in Spain at the age of 14, later 

performing in Circo Price in Madrid, 

Spain. 

She has since performed in Australia, 

Italy, Panama, and other locations. 

She landed a symphony theatre tour 

with Cirque Musica across the U.S. 

and Canada, including a monumental 

performance at the famous Hollywood 

Bowl. But there’s more, her unique ability 

to shoot a bow and arrow with her feet 

keeps audiences amazed and in suspense 

Sarasota Film Festival is coming up 

April 5-14. Suffice to say, there’s a lot 

coming up and I better stop before I run out of space. Enjoy! 

Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue. 

You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com. 


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latest, most effective options for the 

alleviation & treatment of 

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See our website for details and virtual tour 

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Program 5 | FSU Center 

The Sarasota Ballet presents 

MAR 8 

7:30 PM 

MAR 9 

2:00 PM | 7:30 PM 

MAR 10 

2:00 PM | 7:30 PM 

MAR 11 

7:30 PM 

Program Media Sponsor 

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Club Havana by Pedro Ruiz | Photo by Erin Baiano 


out &about 

Art Crawl 

Trolley Tour 

Discover Sarasota Tours has an 

Art Crawl Trolley Tour showcasing 

Sarasota’s galleries, studios, and public 

art. This city-wide tour explores six 

different downtown Sarasota neighborhoods 

on the 2nd Friday night 

from 5-9 p.m. through April. The tour 

is led by local guide and watercolor 

artist Jerome Chesley. 

Visitors start at the Trolley Cottage 

Gift Shop located in Gillespie Park. 

Guests can also visit the Artful Giraffe 

Gallery at this hub location. Then they 

will board the trolley or van to explore 

Historic Burns Court, Towles Court 

Art Center, Limelight District, Main 

Street, Palm Avenue and the Rosemary 

District. 

During the 30-minute rotating tour 

they will see Sarasota’s collection of 

public art. At each hub stop, guests can 

hop off to explore galleries and studios 

or hop back on to go to the next stop. 

Participating galleries include: 

Chasen Galleries at the Mark, 530 

Burns Court, Define Gallery, Palmer 

Gallery, Artful Giraffe, Creative Liberties, 

Bazaar on Apricot and Lime/ 

Hamlet’s Eatery, Helmuth Stone, Towles 

Court Art Center, Mara Studio Gallery, 

Sarasota Trading Company, Alex 

Art International, Art Ovation Hotel, 

Sarasota Fine Art, Meg Krakowiak Studio 

and NorthStar Jewelry and Gallery. 

The Art Crawl will be offered on February 

9, March 8, and April 12. The $10 

ticket includes transport to each of the 

tour’s six gallery locations, free parking 

at The Trolley Cottage Gift Shop, 

and complimentary beer, wine, or 

water before boarding. For tickets and 

information, visit at DiscoverSarasota 

Tours.com or call 941-260-9818. 

▼ 

Special Events 

Church of the Palms’ Faith & 

Society Speaker Series presents 

Kristin Du Mez. Dr. Du Mez is a professor 

of History at Calvin University. 

Her research areas focus on the intersection 

of gender, religion, and politics 

in recent American history. She is the 

author of the bestselling book Jesus 

and John Wayne. Held on February 

22, 5-8:30 p.m. Free and open to all. 

Info: www.churchofthepalms.org 

▼ 

The 26th Annual Thunder by the 

Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival 

returns to the Sarasota Fairgrounds 

on February 16-18 and for the first 

time will feature three headliners: 

Molly Hatchet (February 16 at 8 p.m.), 

Grand Funk Railroad (February 17 at 

8 p.m.), and Creed Fisher (February 

18 at 3 p.m.). 

The festival is organized by, and 

benefits, Suncoast Charities for Children. 

In addition to the headliner acts 

announced, Foreigner Experience, 

Stormbringer, One Night Rodeo, The 

Lost Boys, Nobody’s Fool, and KJB will 

be performing the best of classic rock 

and country music live on stage. 

The festival will feature over 100 vendors, 

a bike show, motocross freestyle 

demonstrations, Universal Championship 

Wrestling, activities for the 

kids, a food court, and more. Thunder 

Alley will make a return inside Robarts 

Arena, showcasing custom bikes on 

display. Sarasota’s own custom bike 

builder, Kory Souza of Kory Souza Originals, 

will be hosting a motorcycle stereo 

sound-off competition and unveiling 

a new custom-built motorcycle. 

▼ 

On February 

18, a motorcycle 

charity ride called 

“Ride So Children 

Can Thrive” will 

begin at Adrenaline 

Harley-Davidson, 

with stops at 

several non-profit 

agencies that 

receive funding 

support from 

Suncoast Charities 

for Children, 

ending at the festival. 

In 2023 the 

festival generated 

a net revenue of 

$315,000.00 for 

Suncoast Charities 

for Children. 

Five additional 

fundraisers 

scheduled to take 

place in advance 

of the three-day 

festival include 

the 10th Annual 

Sporting Clay 

Tournament, a 

Thunder By The 

Bay “Rocks The 

Runway” Fashion Show, “Born To Be 

Wild” Festival Kickoff Party, a “Whiskey 

Wind Down” tasting paired with 

food, and a “Taste of Thunder” craft 

beer tasting experience. Tickets: 

Thunderbythebay.org 

Cat Depot’s 20th Anniversary 

Celebration takes place on March 

7 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. The 

evening will include entertainment, 

hand-crafted cocktails, dinner, dancing, 

and a silent auction. 

What began with 262 cats from 

an overcrowded shutdown shelter 

has become the Cat Depot you know 

today. They have touched the lives of 

nearly 20,000 cats through adoption 

and others through our public Cat 

Care Clinic, community programs and 

more. Tickets and info: catdepot.org 

▼ 

The Ringling offers Bayfront Gardens 

Tour through April 29. This 

small group guided walking tour 

introduces you to interesting botanical 

specimens, while providing a historic 

overview of the development of the 

estate. The Ringling has over 2,350 

trees representing native, exotic, historical, 

and culturally significant trees. 

The tour is 90 minutes long and 

takes place entirely outdoors. Participants 

are encouraged to bring bottled 

water, and wear appropriate footwear, 

and sun protection. The tour is subject 

to weather conditions and ticket 

includes access to the Bayfront Gardens 

for the rest of the day. www.ringling.org/visit/tours 

▼ 

▼ 

Artist Series Concerts has 

Empire Wild, a genrebending 

crossover trio 

featuring Juilliard-trained 

classical musicians who 

fuse the sounds of pop, folk, 

Broadway and classical. 

Cellists Ken Kubota and Mitch Lyon and 

pianist Jiyong Kim perform on February 21 

at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. 

Architecture Sarasota’s speaker 

series exploring the evolution and 

future of downtown Sarasota. Presented 

at the Art Ovation Hotel, the 

series continues on February 28, will 

feature Victor Dover, Founding Principal 

of Dover, Kohl & Partners, a firm 

emphasizing New Urbanism principles 

as the foundation for sustainable 

town planning. 

Victor’s presentation will focus on 

effective master planning in Florida, 

including the special opportunities 

and constraints of planning in the 

state and how to create effective, 

meaningful master plans. 

For more information and to purchase 

tickets, visit www.architecturesarasota.org 

The Cooking for Wishes event 

will be held on February 22 at Circus 

Arts Conservatory. The event offers 

a four-course, interactive dinner 

where guests at each table prepare 

their own meal under the direction 

of Executive Chef Jamil Piñeda 

and Phil Mancini from Michael’s 

on East. The evening features wine 

selected by Michael Klauber, live and 

silent auctions, and perspective from 

a family on the life-changing nature 

of its wish experience. 

Proceeds will underwrite the cost 

to grant life-changing wishes for 

local children that have critical illnesses. 

www.cookingforwishes.com 

for tickets. 

▼ 

The 38th Annual Huge Rummage 

Sale is February 22-24 in the 

Englewood Methodist Church Fellowship 

Hall, 700 E. Dearborn Street. Just 

about everything imaginable fills the 

gymnasium-sized hall, inside and out. 

Pay a $5 “Shop Early Admission 

Fee” Thursday only at the “Early Bird” 

Pre-Sale, February 23 from 3-6 p.m. 

Admission is free Friday, February 23 

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 

February 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. 

Proceeds support local charitable programs. 

Donated goods may be placed 

in the pod on the Church parking 

lot until February 10, and again later 

when announced after the sale. 

For rummage sale information call 

Cindy, 847-636-0118. See www.englewoodmethodist.com 

for information 

about the Church. 

▼ 

Sarasota Succulent Society presents 

Weird Plants for Cool People on 

Saturday, February 17 at 10 am. The 

gardens will open from 9am to noon 

at 1310 38th Street, Sarasota (off MyrtleStreet). 

Mitch Kessler will be presenting a 

fun-filled session on how to care for 

and grow cactus and succulents in 

Florida. He will be bringing a variety 

of plants to show and sell. Tour the 

gardens. Lots of succulents, cactus, 

and air plants to see and purchase. 

▼ 

Perlman 

Music 

Program 

Suncoast 

PMP Alumni 

Recitals has 

the Punchline 

Quartet on February 

12, 7 p.m. 

at Sarasota Art 

Museum, Thomas 

McGuire Hall, 

1001 S. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. 

Combining 

musical mastery 

with a touch of 

wit, the Punchline 

Quartet 

delivers engaging 

performances 

that crescendo 

to a captivating 

musical punchline. 

Formed in 

2022 by violinists 

Kate Arndt, Ria 

Honda, violist 

Sarah Sung, and 

cellist Elena 

Ariza, the Punchline Quartet actively 

sows the seeds of creativity, passion, 

and lifelong learning amongst the 

younger generation. 

The quartet members have individually 

been a part of the PMP community 

as far back as 2010 and have found 

their way together in the fall of 2022 

with the shared passion for chamber 

music and community engagement. 

Comprising four women, they felt it 

most suitable to champion Caroline 

Shaw’s music, alongside the classic 

Beethoven and Dvorak. 

“HERS” The Carr-Petrova Duo: 

Molly Carr, viola; Anna Petrova, 

piano perform on March 3; Artist talk 

at 6 p.m.; followed by a concert at 7:15 

p.m. at The Harvest, 3650 17th Street, 

Sarasota. 

Violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna 

Petrova will present a concert performing 

pieces from their album that 

celebrates female composers from the 

1100’s to the present day. In a pre-performance 

talk, they will speak about 

the composers and their importance 

in music history. “HERS” vibrantly celebrates 

the vision, strength, resilience, 

and incredible accomplishments 

of eight fearless women – from the 

12th-century’s Hildegard Von Bingen 

to today’s Beyoncé. 

Tickets at www.PMPSuncoast.org. 

▼ 

Key Chorale 

Witness the U.S. Premiere of The 

Legend of Bijan and Manijeh by 

Iranian composer Farhad Poupel, for 

piano, choir, and orchestra, with concert 

pianist Jeffrey Biegel on February 

10. This evocative work is based on an 

ancient Persian love story taken from 

the Shahnameh (The Book of Kings), 

an epic poem by Persian poet Ferdowsi 

written between 977 and 1010 CE. 

Other love stories, mythical and historical, 

are brought to life through the 

music of the great composers. 

On February 20, celebrate the 

power of choral music through an 

inspired performance by more than 

200 singers of all ages, from high 

school students to seniors for Tomorrow’s 

Voices Today, High School Choral 

Festival. This intergenerational 

choral festival has inspired countless 

▼ 

high school students by encouraging 

music-making at the highest level. 

Hear some of the very best repertoire 

of the season from the Booker, Riverview, 

and Sarasota High School choirs 

performing separately and alongside 

Key Chorale. 

Key Chorale joins Music Director 

Troy Quinn and The Venice Symphony 

for three performances in late February 

for a concert of modern classics from 

Alan Menken, the award-winning composer 

of the music from Disney’s Aladdin, 

Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid 

and of course, Beauty and the Beast. 

Bring your family to relive these classic 

scores that have shaped generations of 

music and movie lovers alike. 

Here’s the schedule: 

• February 10 – Triumph of Love, 

U.S. Premiere of a Persian Love Story 

• February 20 – Tomorrow’s Voices 

Today, High School Choral Festival 

• February 23 and 24 – Disney’s Maestro, 

A Tribute to Alan Menken – A 

Venice Symphony collaboration 

For more information, visit www. 

keychorale.org. 

Town Hall 

Town Hall continues with Stanley 

Tucci on February 26. Tucci is an 

Academy Award nominated actor 

known for his versatility as an actor, 

writer, director, and producer. He has 

appeared in over 90 films, countless 

television shows, and more than a 

dozen plays, on and off Broadway. 

Tucci reached his widest audience 

yet in the role of Caesar Flickerman 

in The Hunger Games. Stanley Tucci: 

Searching for Italy is Tucci’s latest 

endeavor, which was greeted with 

excitement and success from both its 

fans and critics. 

Best-selling author Nir Eyal will 

share insights from the field of behavioral 

design on March 11. Eyal writes, 

consults, and teaches about the intersection 

of psychology, technology, 

and business. He co-founded and 

sold two tech companies since 2003. 

He is the author of two bestselling 

books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming 

Products and Indistractable: 

How to Control Your Attention 

and Choose Your Life. 

Ballet legend Misty Copeland closes 

out Town Hall on April 15. Copeland 

joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio 

Company in September 2000, joined 

ABT as a member of the corps de ballet 

in April 2001, and in August 2007 

became the company’s second African 

American female soloist and the first 

in two decades. In 2015, Misty was promoted 

to principal dancer, making her 

the first African American woman to 

ever be promoted to the position in the 

company’s 75-year history. 

Visit www.rclassociation.org 

▼ 


Sarasota Opera’s Winter 

Opera Festival runs from February 

17 through March 24. The festival 

will open on February 17 with Carmen 

by Georges Bizet, a company 

favorite, last seen in 2018. 

Gaetano Donizetti’s brooding 

masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor, 

last given in 2012 will return on February 

24. Giuseppe Verdi’s Luisa 

Miller, last performed nearly 25 

years ago will open on March 9. 

The festival will conclude with the 

Sarasota Opera premiere of Franz 

Joseph Haydn’s Deceit Outwitted (L’infedeltà 

delusa) a charming comedy, 

continued on page 8 

▼ 


out and about continued 

which has not had a fully-staged production 

in the U.S. by a professional 

American opera company since 1971. 

For tickets, visit SarasotaOpera.org 

or call the box office at (941) 328-1300. 

Selby Gardens 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

will present Yayoi Kusama: A Letter 

to Georgia O’Keeffe which examines 

the work of major artists through the 

lens of their connection to nature. 

The exhibition runs February 11 

through June 30, 2024, at Selby Gardens’ 

Downtown Sarasota campus. It 

will explore the impactful mentoring 

relationship that developed between 

artists Yayoi Kusama and Georgia 

O’Keeffe based on their personal correspondence 

at a critical point in Kusama’s 

artistic development. This show 

also will explore the ways in which the 

work of both artists is rooted in nature, 

befitting an art and horticultural experience 

set in a botanical garden.” 

In the mid-1950s, Yayoi Kusama was 

a young artist living in Japan, where 

her future was very uncertain. Seeking 

advice from a more established 

female artist, Kusama wrote to Georgia 

O’Keeffe, whose work she greatly 

admired but whom she had never 

met. To Kusama’s surprise, O’Keeffe 

responded, thus establishing a correspondence 

that gave the young Japanese 

artist the courage to move to 

America and pursue her career in New 

York City, which was then the center of 

the art world. Kusama’s decision, with 

O’Keeffe’s encouragement, forever 

changed the course of modern art history. 

Tickets: https://selby.org/ 

▼ 

Venice Symphony 

Venice Symphony presents Hooray 

for Hollywood with Michael 

Feinstein is on February 9 at 7:30 pm 

and February 10 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm. 

Feinstein has played at the Hollywood 

Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Buckingham 

Palace and the White House. Now you 

can see this five-time Grammy nominee 

in Venice with Troy Quinn and 

The Venice Symphony at this special 

event concert. 

Magical Maestro: A Tribute to Alan 

Menken is on February 23 at 7:30 pm 

and February 24 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm. 

Enjoy a concert of modern classics 

from Alan Menken, the award-winning 

composer of the music from 

Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid 

and of course, Beauty and the 

Beast. Bring your family to relive these 

classic scores that have shaped generations 

of music and movie lovers alike. 

Guest artist are members of Sarasota’s 

Key Chorale. 

Tickets: www.thevenicesymphony.org 

▼ 

The Circus Arts 

Conservatory 

Each year, Circus Sarasota features 

top global circus artists performing 

in a one-ring traditional 

circus setting. With chills, thrills, and 

laughs aplenty, this is a show that’s 

not to be missed and awe inspiring 

for every age. 

Runs February 16 - March 10 at Ulla 

Searing Big Top at Nathan Benderson 

Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, 

Sarasota. Visit circusarts.org or call 

the Box Office at 941-355-9805. 

▼ 

Artist Series 

Concerts 

8 WEST COAST WOMAN FEBRUARY 2024 

Artist Series 

Concerts of 

Sarasota presents 

three concerts in 

February, all featuring 

emerging 

artists. Chelsea 

Guo, piano and 

soprano, performs 

with Joseph Holt, 

piano, on February 

1 at the Sarasota 

Yacht Club. 

Genre-hopping 

trio Empire Wild 

perform on February 

21 at Marie 

Selby Botanical 

Gardens. Prizewinning 

pianist 

Lin Ye returns 

to Sarasota on 

February 24 for a 

concert at Church of the Palms. 

Chelsea Guo, piano and soprano, is 

a rare musical double feature. Winner 

of the 2022 Young Concert Artists 

Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, 

she was included in Classic FM’s 

“Rising Stars: 30 Brilliant Musicians 

We’re Celebrating in 2022.” Her 2021 

debut album, “Chelsea Guo: Chopin 

in My Voice,” reached #7 on the Billboard 

classical chart. This program, 

on February 1, 11 am at Sarasota Yacht 

Club, features both vocal and keyboard 

works.. 

Empire Wild, winner of the 2020 

Concert Artists Guild Ambassador 

Prize, a genre-bending crossover trio 

featuring Juilliard-trained classical 

musicians who fuse the sounds of 

pop, folk, Broadway and classical into 

their songwriting and composition. 

Cellists Ken Kubota and Mitch Lyon 

and pianist Jiyong Kim perform on 

February 21, 5:30 pm, at Marie Selby 

Botanical Gardens. 

Pianist Lin Ye wowed Sarasota audiences 

in two sold out all-Beethoven 

programs in 2019. Having subsequently 

performed in prestigious venues 

worldwide, the former Artist Series 

Concerts prizewinner returns with a 

program of works by Rachmaninoff 

and the chamber version of Chopin’s 

beloved Piano Concerto #1. Ye will be 

joined by principal musicians of the 

Sarasota Orchestra on February 24, 4 

pm, at Church of the Palms. 

For tickets and more information, 

visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call 

(941) 306-1202. 

▼ 

The Glenridge 

Performing Arts 

Center 

February 7: Michael Lasser presents 

the lecture, “Songs by Lieber and 

Stoller.” Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller 

were two Jewish kids who helped 

invent rock and roll with “Hound 

Dog,” “Yakety Yak,” and more. 

• February 10: Michael Lasser and 

Friends Perform Works by Cole 

Porter. Music historian Michael 

Lasser joins with vocalist Jessica 

Ann Best and singer/accompanist 

Alan Jones to bring alive the songs 

and music of Cole Porter in concert. 

• February 17: Diego Figueiredo. At 

39, this award-winning, rising star 

of the guitar world has released 26 

CDs, three DVDs, and played in 

more than 60 countries. A master 

of improvisation and harmony, his 

concerts are a fusion of jazz, bossa 

nova, and classical music. 

▼ 

Babs Reingold 

Solo Exhibition 

“Under My Skin” 

is at SPAACES 

Gallery, 2087 

Princeton St., 

Sarasota and 

runs February 

2 - March 16. 

• February 25: The Four Freshmen 

are one of America’s most enduring 

vocal groups. With a sound centered 

around a tight four-part vocal blend, 

like barbershop, but jazzier, The Four 

Freshmen deliver a fresh take on 

every tune they sing, from dreamy, 

crooner-style ballads to swingin’, 

up-tempo arrangements that make a 

quartet feel like a big band. 

The Glenridge Performing Arts Center, 

7333 Scotland Way, Sarasota. For 

tickets, call (941) 552-5325 or visit 

GPACtix.com. 

Choral Artists 

Choral Artists presents Choral 

Cinemagic! On February 4 at First 

Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St., 

Sarasota. Take a magical musical 

adventure via the award-winning 

songs of the cinema. You’ll be transported 

to a land of movie magic and 

unforgettable music. 

As the soundtrack for movies, 

music is an integral part of the experience 

and underscores the dramatic 

intent, frequently adding the element 

that defines a character or scene. 

They’ll highlight the hits from the 

movies in a creative medley featuring 

music from all genres of the movies 

plus a special look at movies that 

were inspired by music, notably Sister 

Act and Momma Mia! 

Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight 

is on March 10 at Church of the 

Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota. 

Inspired by current events of 1914, 

poet Vachel Lindsay wrote Abraham 

Lincoln Walks at Midnight – a moving 

depiction of the famous President 

troubled by the tragedies of the modern 

world. 

Florence Price, African-American 

composer of the 20th Century, set this 

dramatic poem in her lifetime but 

the score was lost for almost 50 years. 

Only recently discovered, Choral Artists 

will be presenting the Florida premiere 

of this work for soloist, chorus 

and full orchestra. 

Paired with the work will be 

the Lord Nelson Mass by Joseph 

Haydn, one of his most revered choral 

works. The original title was Mass 

in a Time of Anguish and the pairing 

of these two works is a reflection of 

our own time – a time of anguish and 

uncertainty. 

Tickets: choralartistssarasota.org/ 

▼ 

Sarasota Concert 

Association 

▼ 

The Sarasota Concert Association’s 

2024 

Music Matinees 

concert series 

showcase regional 

musicians performing 

a variety 

of musical styles 

from classical to 

marimba. 

Coming up on 

February 23, at 

2 p.m. are the 

Sarasota Opera’s 

Studio Artists, a 

select and auditioned 

group of 

emerging artists 

who perform 

in mainstage 

productions by 

understudying 

principal roles 

and performing 

supporting roles, gaining valuable 

experience in the process. With dozens 

of roles needing understudies each 

season, the Studio Artists often step in 

to substitute for an ill or injured principal, 

sometimes with little notice. 

On March 6, at 2 p.m. is Modern 

Marimba, founded by Tihda Vongkoth 

and Steph Davis, who have celebrated 

three seasons of virtual and 

in-person concert programs that celebrate 

the true diversity of music. Since 

2015 they have intertwined the influences 

of cabaret, classical, jazz, and 

popular music. 

The concerts are free but pre-registration 

is required at SCAsarasota. 

org, or through the box office at 941- 

966-6161. Note their new time and 

location: First Presbyterian Church, 

2050 Oak Street, Sarasota, at 2 p.m. 

At the Van Wezel 

Coming up (partial list): 

• Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and 

Times of The Temptations February 

21-25 

• Jagged Little Pill February 27-28 

• Little Women March 7-8 

• Rick Springfield March 13 

• Diana Krall February 18 

• Gipsy Kings February 13 

• David Foster and singer/actor 

Katharine McPhee February 14 

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 VanWezel.org or through the box 

office. Tickets: www.VanWezel.org 

▼ 

Sarasota Art 

Museum 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling 

College has: 

• Contemporary/Traditional: Selections 

from the Basch Glass Collection 

through February 11. Drawn 

from the Richard and Barbara 

Basch Collection, Contemporary/ 

Traditional gives a glimpse into 

the dynamic world of international 

contemporary glass art of the late 

20th and 21st centuries. This exhibition 

showcases a range of glasswork 

styles, from delicate figural sculptures 

to powerful abstract shapes. 

• Juana Valdés: Embodied Memories, 

Ancestral Histories through 

February 11. This is Valdés’ first 

solo exhibition at a museum. It will 

showcase a range of works drawn 

from her three-decade-long career. 

Valdés’ work, anchored in history 

and narratives related to her 

▼ 

Afro-Cuban heritage, addresses colonization’s 

history and migration’s 

impact, as well as the issues of gender, 

race, and the representation of 

the female body. 

• Judy Pfaff: Picking up the Pieces 

runs through March 24. Pfaff, widely 

regarded as a pioneer of installation 

art, has created work that 

spans disciplines from painting to 

printmaking and sculpture to installation, 

eschewing definition. Pfaff 

ingeniously transmutes and transforms 

materials, including natural 

objects from her garden, hand-painted 

and digitally manipulated images, 

welded steel, aluminum, wood, 

expanded foam, melted plastic, 

blown glass, neon, and LED lights. 

Visit sarasotaartmuseum.org. 

Sarasota Art Museum is located at 

1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

The Hermitage 

Hermitage Fellow, Pulitzer Prize 

recipient, and Tony Award winner 

Doug Wright returns to Sarasota to 

shed light on the role of a librettist and 

the collaborative process of creating 

and adapting Broadway musicals like 

his Grey Gardens, Disney’s The Little 

Mermaid, and Hands on a Hardbody. 

This Music Mondays event, “Hermitage 

Alum Doug Wright Writes Broadway,” 

will feature two opportunities to 

hear from Wright: Monday, February 

19 at 10:30am at the Church of the 

Palms in Sarasota, and again at 3pm at 

the Venice Presbyterian Church. 

Registration is required at HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

▼ 

Chamber Orchestra 

The Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota 

has these events. 

• On February 29, 7:30pm — Celebrating 

Chopin with Matthew Graybil, 

piano. The Chamber Orchestra 

commemorates the 175th anniversary 

of the death of Frédéric Chopin 

with a performance of his romantic 

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, 

arranged for piano and string 

orchestra with prize-winning pianist 

Matthew Graybil. The program 

opens with Joseph Bologne Chevalier 

Saint Georges’ Symphony Concertante 

in G Major, and includes 

American composer Samuel Adler’s 

Concertino No. 3. 

• On March 21, 7:30pm—Mozart 

+ Haydn with George Maxman, 

violin. The season concludes with 

the music of Mozart and Haydn. 

Internationally acclaimed violin 

virtuoso George Maxman performs 

Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A 

Major (Turkish). The program opens 

with the overture from Haydn’s 

comic opera “Fidelta Premiata” and 

concludes with his Symphony No. 

83 (The Hen). 

• The Recital Series at St. Boniface 

Episcopal Church on Siesta Key’s 

next offering is on February 7, 

7:30pm — Beethoven the Transcendent: 

Sonatas for Cello and 

Piano with Scott Kluksdahl, cello, 

Grigorios Zamparas, piano 

Beethoven composed five cello 

sonatas over the course of his creative 

life. This deeply rewarding 

program includes the youthful 

Sonata opus 5 no. 2, and the opus 

102 sonatas which contain many 

features typical of the master’s late 

period, exploring unconventional 

form, rich emotional expression, 

▼ 

continued on page 10

2024 WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL 

VICTOR DeRENZI, Artistic Director | RICHARD RUSSELL, General Director 

CARMEN 

LUISA MILLER 

CARMEN 

by Georges Bizet 

Feb. 17 - Mar. 22, 2024 

LUCIA 

DI LAMMERMOOR 

by Gaetano Donizetti 

Feb. 24 - Mar. 23, 2024 

LUISA MILLER 

by Giuseppe Verdi 

Mar. 9 - 24, 2024 

DECEIT 

OUTWITTED 

(L’infedeltà delusa) 

by Joseph Haydn 

Mar. 15 - 23, 2024 

All operas performed in the 

original language with translations 

above the stage. 

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR 

DECEIT OUTWITTED 

(L’infedeltà delusa) 

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 

(941) 328-1300 • SARASOTAOPERA.ORG 

Intimate musical experiences. 

Season 28 | Stars Ascending 

A diverse range of concerts featuring emerging and accomplished 

classical, chamber, jazz, and pop artists from around the globe. 

Empire Wild 

February 21 • 5:30 pm 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

Winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild 

Ambassador Prize, this genre-bending 

crossover trio features Juilliard-trained 

classical musicians who fuse the sounds 

of pop, folk, Broadway and classical into 

their songwriting and composition. 

Lin Ye, piano 

with Sarasota Orchestra musicians 

February 24 • 4:00 pm 

Church of the Palms 

Former Artist Series Concerts prizewinner 

Lin Ye returns with a program of works by 

Rachmaninoff and the chamber version of 

Chopin’s beloved Piano Concerto #1. 

Hannah Cope, harp 

Marcelina Suchocka, percussion 

March 3 • 4:00 pm 

First Presbyterian Church 

An innovative program featuring solos 

from the standard repertoire of each 

instrument and beloved classics 

reimagined for marimba and harp duet. 

ArtistSeriesConcerts.org | 941-306-1202 

This project is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida (Section 286.25 Florida Statutes); 

The Exchange; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. 



and complex exploration of fugue. 

For information, visit the orchestra’s 

website at www.chamberorchestrasarasota.org, 

or call 219-928-8665. 

Arts Advocates 

Arts Advocates has these programs 

and events. In the Arts Advocates 

Gallery, located in the Crossings 

at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami 

Trail in Sarasota, Jana Millstone’s 

show, “A Crooked Path,” will be on 

exhibit from February 3-24. 

Millstone’s dream-like imagery propels 

the viewer into worlds that are 

sometimes funny, sometimes disquieting 

or calming, but always thought 

provoking. She believes artmaking is a 

weird mix of play, alchemy, terror, and 

transcendence. Admission is free. 

The “Behind the Curtain: Exploring 

the Van Wezel from the Art to 

the Stage” tour has a docent leading 

a tour of the paintings and sculptures 

including those by Robert Chase, William 

Hartman, Eugene White, Ben 

Stahl, Thornton Utz, Frank Colson, 

Dean Mitchell, and others. Participants 

then step onto the stage where a 

Van Wezel guide offers a peek behind 

the curtain and shares stories and 

anecdotes about the colorful world of 

show business. Held on February 12, 

1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased 

at the Van Wezel box office or 

by calling (941) 263-6799. 

Arts Advocates presents monthly 

luncheon programs at the Sarasota 

Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd., 

Sarasota, featuring speakers discussing 

local arts-related topics. WEDU’s Jake 

Hartvigsen, associate director of marketing 

and community partnerships, is 

the featured speaker on February 15, 

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hartvigsen helped 

bring local arts content to the Sarasota 

area through WEDU Arts Plus. $45 

for Arts Advocates members; $50 for 

non-members. Lunch is included. 

On February 19, from 9:30-11 a.m., 

Arts Advocates is offering a tour of 

the Asolo Repertory Theatre and the 

Koski Center. Asolo Rep tours are an 

opportunity to witness professional-level 

theatrical design in the making. 

Tour participants will learn the 

history of the Mertz Theatre and get a 

special behind the scenes look at the 

Koski Center, which includes rehearsal 

space and the scene shop, where 

scenery and props are constructed for 

Asolo Rep as well as other organizations 

including the Sarasota Opera, 

Sarasota Ballet, Tampa’s Straz Center, 

Universal Studios, Broadway, television, 

and film. $20 for Arts Advocates 

members; $25 for non-members. 

Art talks, held in the intimate setting 

of the Arts Advocates Gallery, 

feature guest speakers covering a 

wide range of topics. On February 23, 

from 4-6 p.m., Arts Advocates presents 

“Don’t Breathe: Jamiel Law Finds 

His Voice.” Law, an illustrator based in 

Parrish, FL, graduated from Ringling 

College of Art and Design in 2019 with 

a B.F.A. in illustration. The title of his 

art talks comes from one of his illustrations 

about the psychological notion of 

police presence in the African American 

community in the U.S. Admission 

is free for Arts Advocates members and 

$5 for non-members. 

Artist/instructor Alexandria Lillis 

presents the workshop “Colored Pencils 

Blooming on Black Paper” on 

February 24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in the 

Arts Advocates Gallery. Participants 

will learn to combine the stark drama 

▼ 

of black paper with the 

brilliance of colored pencil 

through a detailed 

presentation of materials, 

techniques, and 

design principles, and by 

the end of the workshop 

will have completed a 

full color work of art. All 

skill levels welcome. Cost 

is $100 which includes 

black paper; participants 

are asked to bring Prismacolor 

pencils in a set 

of 12 or more and a white 

eraser. 

The Arts Advocates’ 

collection of Sarasota 

Art Colony and Highwaymen 

works is on 

permanent display in 

the Arts Advocates Gallery. 

The gallery is open 

every Saturday from 

2-4 p.m.; admission is 

free and written information 

is available for 

self-guided tours. 

To learn more or to 

register for programs 

and events, visit ArtsAdvocates.org. 

At The 

Ringling 

The John and Mable 

Ringling Museum of Art has Mountains 

of the Mind: Scholars’ Rocks 

from China and Beyond which runs 

through June 23, 2024 in The Ringling’s 

Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao 

Center for Asian Art. The exhibit features 

a selection of scholars’ rocks and 

related paintings and prints. 

Scholars’ rocks are collected from 

remote geographic locations, where 

they have been formed by natural 

elements over millions of years. The 

stones may then be carved, polished 

and inscribed before being displayed 

in a custom-made stand to enhance 

their visual appeal. Scholars’ rocks are 

both natural objects and products of 

human creativity. 

Mountains of the Mind will feature a 

wide array of scholars’ rocks in various 

shapes, textures and geological properties. 

The rocks are further contextualized 

by paintings, prints and texts that 

illuminate their cultural importance 

for scholars across the centuries. The 

stones have been appreciated and 

admired in China for more than a thousand 

years; historically, connoisseurs 

displayed their stones in their studios 

alongside paintings and other treasures, 

where they served as a focus for 

meditation or creative contemplation. 

On view through March 3 is Working 

Conditions. Explore labor through 

The Ringling’s Photography Collection. 

The Industrial Revolution of the 

eighteenth and nineteenth centuries 

radically changed the nature of 

human labor. Photography was itself 

introduced to the public in 1839. 

The subsequent development of 

photographic media has thus been 

intertwined with the culture of labor 

ever since. In addition to the camera’s 

technical use as an instrument 

to record, photographers have also 

created images over the decades that 

have helped shape how we think about 

work and the politics of labor. This 

exhibition explores the myriad ways 

in which photographs have communicated 

ideas about labor since the 

nineteenth century through examples 

▼ 

The Cooking for Wishes event 

will be held on February 22 at Circus Arts Conservatory. 

Co-chairs: Renee Phinney, Terri Klauber, Lauren McComb Dixon. 

from The Ringling’s photography permanent 

collection. 

Michele Oka Doner: The True 

Story Of Eve runs through June 2, 

2024. Explore Miami, Florida-born, 

Michele Oka Doner’s first solo exhibition 

at The Ringling titled, Michele 

Oka Doner: The True Story of Eve. 

This exhibition includes examples 

of works on paper, wood, ceramics, 

bronzes, and glass ranging from the 

1960s to the present, paying homage 

to the local environment, while poignantly 

reminding us of our increasingly 

precarious ecosystem 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 

Sarasota. Info: www.ringling.org. 

Up next at The Ringling’s 2023- 

2024 Art of Performance on February 

15 and 16 is jazz trumpet sensation 

Etienne Charles. His lush sound, 

varied compositional textures, and 

pulsating percussive grooves enable 

him to invoke trance as he soothes 

and excites listeners. Trinidad-born 

performer, composer, and storyteller 

Charles’ Sarasota premiere promises 

complexity and swing. 

Rave Lucid by Mazelfreten 

(France) is on February 22, 11 a.m. 

and February 23-24, 7:30 p.m. Rave 

Lucid combines choreographed 

movements at 120 bpm that require 

unfailing concentration. Hypnotic 

arm games celebrate “rave” as a party, 

an organic trance, and “lucid” state 

where extreme control achieves perfect 

synchronization. 

Tickets: ringling.org or call 941- 

360-7399. 

▼ 

Theatre 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

presents A Soldier’s Play through 

February 18. On a U.S. Army base 

in Louisiana in the segregation-era 

South of 1944, two shots ring out. A 

Black sergeant is murdered. A series 

of interrogations triggers a gripping 

barrage of questions about sacrifice, 

▼ 

service, and identity in America. 

One persistent investigator 

must race against his white 

leadership to unravel the crime 

before they unravel him. 

Location: WBTT’s Donelly 

Theatre, 1012 N. Orange Ave., 

Sarasota. Tickets: westcoastblacktheatre.org. 

The Players Sarasota has 

Misery running February 

22-March 3. Based on the 

novel by Stephen King, this 

thriller follows successful 

romance novelist Paul Sheldon, 

who is rescued from a car 

crash by his “number one fan,” 

Annie Wilkes, and wakes up 

captive in her secluded home. 

Paul quickly realizes Annie has 

no intention of letting him go 

anywhere as the irate Annie 

has Paul writing as if his life 

depends on it, and it does. 

Held at The Players Studio 

Black Box, 1400 Blvd. of the 

Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota. Tickets: 

theplayers.org 

▼ 

Manatee Performing Arts 

Center has a Neil Diamond 

Tribute on February 10. 

Allynn unveils the story of Diamond’s 

life through Neil’s own 

songs from the ‘60s through 

today, while weaving through 

his own comedic career change from 

an international top 10 Elvis, to Neil 

Diamond, all for the love of a woman. 

He will be singing some of Neil’s 

greatest hits including “Sweet Caroline”, 

“Song Sung Blue”, Hello Again”, 

“American and many more. 

Temps, Tops, Supremes & Gladys: A 

Motown Revue with the Soul Sensations 

is on February 15-17. 

The Motown Sound brings unforgettable 

memories for several generations 

of music lovers. The unique style of 

these groups composed of golden voices, 

extraordinary musicians and memorable 

choreography represent the 

very best of Hitsville and Detroit, MI. 

Box Office: 941-748-5878. Manatee 

Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Avenue 

W., Bradenton. 

▼ 

▼ 

At Venice Theatre through February 

18 is Jimmy Buffett’s Escape 

to Margaritaville with music and 

lyrics by Jimmy Buffett. The popular 

musical with a buffet of Buffett hits 

promises to change your attitude and 

latitude. Paradise is found in Jimmy’s 

jukebox jam, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape 

to Margaritaville 

From February 27 - March 3 they 

have the 30th Annual Silver Foxes 

show, Broadway by the Sea. The 

youngest cast in town will once again 

regale you with song, dance, and ribald 

humor in the 30th edition of The 

Silver Foxes. Being “mature” never 

looked and sounded so good. 

Info: venicetheatre.org/ 

▼ 

Asolo Rep has Inherit the Wind 

running through February 24. 

Feel the heat of the courtroom in 

this American classic, an explosive 

drama inspired by the most important 

trial of the 20th Century. As a 

media circus descends upon a small 

American town, two of the largest figures 

of their time engage in a battle of 

wits and wills to ensure that justice 

is served, in the process charting the 

course of education for generations. 

Relive a defining moment of American 

history, brought to life by Asolo 

Rep’s new Producing Artistic Director 

Peter Rothstein. 

Fresh off its critically acclaimed 

world premiere runs at the Alley Theatre 

and Guthrie Theatre, Born with 

Teeth runs February 7 – March 29. 

It will plunge audiences into palace 

intrigue, high stake spy craft and 

cutthroat betrayals. This play offers 

an inside, alternative look at the 

tumultuous relationship between 

William Shakespeare and Christopher 

Marlowe. 

The third play in the repertory season 

is from the Pulitzer Prize-winning 

playwright Lynn Nottage. Intimate 

Apparel runs February 28 – April 18 

and is the searing, sensual and powerful 

story of a Black seamstress’ forbidden 

romance in 1905 New York. 

Wrapping up the four-show repertory 

season is a classic by Frederick 

Knott that has been reimaged by one 

of today’s greatest playwrights, Jeffrey 

Hatcher. Dial ‘M’ For Murder 

runs March 20 – April 25 and will take 

audiences to the edge of their seat as 

Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director 

Céline Rosenthal directs. 

Visit asolorep.org to learn more info. 

FSU/Asolo Conservatory for 

Actor Training’s has Miss Julie running 

February 15 -March 10. Witness 

a clandestine encounter of desire, 

lust and forbidden love. On a Midsummer 

Night, the count’s daughter, Julie, 

enters the kitchen, sparking a dangerous 

connection with the servant, Jean. 

As their illicit affair unfolds, Christine, 

another servant and Jean’s fiancé, 

quietly observes, leading to a shocking 

climax. Experience a naturalistic 

tragedy where class, sex and fate intertwine, 

as Julie and Jean spiral into a 

mesmerizing “dance of death.” 

Clyde’s runs February 16 – March 

9. By Lynn Nottage, it’s a tumultuous 

tale unfolds in a dangerous kitchen. 

Meet Clyde, a seductive and resilient 

ex-convict who manages a trucker 

sandwich shop in a remote location. 

Her loyal staff, also ex-convicts, cling 

to their jobs while harboring ambitious 

dreams. United by Montrellous, 

a Zen-like coworker, they strive 

to craft “the perfect sandwich.” As 

Clyde’s relentless nature clashes with 

their aspirations, behold a transformative 

journey where dreams collide, 

and Clyde’s fate hangs in the balance. 

For information, visit asolorep.org/ 

conservatory. 

▼ 

Florida Studio Theatre has “Pictures 

from Home” by Larry Sultan” 

through February 18. A moving and 

comedic portrait of a mother, a father, 

and the son who photographed their 

lives. Drawing inspiration from Larry 

Sultan’s celebrated photo memoir, Pictures 

From Home will evoke recollections 

of childhood, parenthood, and 

the ever-changing nature of familial 

bonds. Visit FloridaStudioTheatre. 

org or call 941-366-9000. 

▼ 

At Urbanite Theatre, Judith is 

running through February 18. The 

world premiere poses a question: What 

if Shakespeare had a sister? Playwright 

Katie Bender offers an answer in this 

one-woman show, which follows 

Judith’s transformative journey to save 

her brother’s reputation. Gallivanting 

in and out of character, she discovers 

the pleasures and pitfalls of passing as 

the bard himself. www.urbanitetheatre.com 

▼ 

10 WEST COAST WOMAN FEBRUARY 2024 

continued on page 11


Musica Sacra 

To be performed on Friday, March 

8, Chant Re-Imagined spans many 

traditions, including Jewish, Hindu, 

Muslim, Christian, Native American, 

African, and Indonesian. According to 

Phillips, chant is an ancient art form 

that opens its performers and hearers 

to deep contemplative places within. 

Listeners will hear this ancient heart 

music in its original form, in addition 

to experiencing layers of sound that 

include percussion, strings, wind 

instruments, and pulsing rhythms. 

Modern Marimba, is featured in the 

event, with its mallet-wielding founders 

Tihda Vongkoth and Steph Davis. 

All concerts are held at First Presbyterian 

Church, 2050 Oak Street. Tickets: 

MusicaSacraSarasota.org. 

▼ 

Soundbox Ventures 

Their “Listen Hear” Salon Concerts 

are on March 8 and March 

20 at St. Boniface Episcopal Church. 

This interactive “exhibition for music” 

series examines a specific way we hear 

expression and meaning. Curated 

by Max Tan, each salon-style event 

includes a classical music program, 

insights from the artists, and conversations 

with the audience. 

Each program is free and registration 

is required. Register at www. 

soundboxventures.org/events. St. 

Boniface Episcopal Church is located 

at 5615 Midnight Pass Road on 

Siesta Key. 

▼ 

At The Galleries 

Island Gallery and Studios present”Nature’s 

Palette: Capturing 

Creatures in Art” — drawings by 

Janet Flickinger and running February 

1-29. 

Janet loves capturing the soul of 

animals. Looking at her work, you can 

begin to feel through your eyes different 

textures found in animals’ skin, fur, 

feathers and fins. Her works are created 

primarily with pencil — with an astonishing 

amount of detail. Janet has long 

had a desire of recording life around 

her, and this collection of “creature” 

drawings is not to be missed! 

Island West Gallery and Studios 

is located at 456 Old Main Street in 

downtown Bradenton. Visit www. 

islandgalleryandstudios.org or call 

941-778-6648. 

▼ 

a Limited Time Only, 

ft Cards are Available! 

For a Limited Time Only, 

Gift Cards are Available! 



“The Beauty of Inflections and 

Innuendoes” recent works by Ellen 

S. Goldberg, Rebecca Levine Quigley, 

and Michael R. Stevenson are on display 

through February 29 at Gaze 

Gallery at ARCOS, 340 Central Ave, 

in Sarasota. 

Trained in textile design, interior 

design, and arts education, Ellen S. 

Goldberg uses fiber to create fabric 

collages, three-dimensional forms, 

and jewelry. Goldberg employs a 

broad range of techniques, including 

machine stitching, hand embellishment, 

assemblage, collage, recycling, 

and repurposing. 

Rebecca Levine Quigley’s felt-making 

practice grew out of her training as 

a weaver. She is drawn to fiber, including 

wool, silk, bamboo, plant roots and 

leaves, textile and paper fragments. 

▼ 

Cycle 3:Cycle 3: through March 2. 

• Brian V. Jones: Brian Jones’ upcoming 

exhibition is a visual conversation 

with light and color, traditions 

and growth, fear and joy, technology, 

and romance. An ongoing project 

of over three years, these photographs 

serve as a visual narrative 

representing the artist’s relationship 

with the complexities of the 

city of Sarasota. 

• Carole Lyles Shaw: Carole Lyles 

Shaw exhibits a series of textile collages, 

or art quilts, that represent 

the essence of an individual and 

their personal and historical context. 

These “Spirit Portraits” cele- 

In her studio, nothing goes to waste. 

earn more about all of Tobacco brate Free Black women Florida’s musicians tools who 

Quigley 

Learn 

layers, 

Learn more 

stitches, 

more about 

and combines 

nd services at tobaccofreeflorida.com/quityourway. 

about all of all Tobacco played of Tobacco significant Free roles Florida’s Free in the history 

of music, from opera country 

Florida’s tools 

textures, color, mark-making and 

tools 

found and and services gifted 

services 

objects at in her at 

work. 

tobaccofreeflorida.com/quityourway. 

Although a 4th-generation quilter, 

Michael R. 

Stevenson says 

his art practice 

developed as his 

retirement from 

university life 

drew near. Stevenson 

generally 

prefers improvisational 

piecing 

and is fond of 

mixing bold patterns, 

often those 

that derive from 

world cultures 

with long textile 

traditions. 

“What’s 

Cookin’, Sarasota?” 

is the 

newest exhibit courtesy of the Sarasota 

County History Center and is 

on display at the Sarasota County 

Administration building. The exhibit 

explores how food and cooking 

shaped the community of Sarasota 

County and features cookbooks, 

recipe cards, and a variety of unique 

and historical kitchen equipment. 

“What’s Cookin’, Sarasota?” will be on 

display through March 2024 on the 

first floor of the Administration building 

at 1660 Ringling Blvd. Hungry for 

more? Visit the online exhibit here: 

https://loom.ly/fRtcQLs 

▼ 

Babs Reingold Solo Exhibition 

“Under My Skin” is at SPAACES 

Gallery, 2087 Princeton St., Sarasota 

and runs February 2 - March 16. The 

exhibition includes a series of new 

stain paintings/assemblages, sculptures 

from the “Luna Window” series, 

and a group of small drawings. 

More info at www.spaaces.art or 

call 941-374-3492. 

▼ 

Art CenterManatee has the 

American Watercolor Society 

156th International Traveling 

Exhibit running through March 8. 

The Florida Suncoast Watercolor 

Society Annual Aqueous Show also 

runs through March 8. 

AWS features master watercolor 

artists from around the world and the 

ArtCenter will be one of only three 

venues in the United States to host 

the traveling exhibit. The opening 

reception for these two shows will 

be February 1, 5-7pm. They’re at 209 

9th St W, Bradenton. Info: ArtCenter- 

Manatee.org 

▼ 

Art Center 

Sarasota 

▼ 

to rock and roll. 

• Christopher Skura: Emphasizing 

Perlman Music Suncoast presents “HERS” 

The Carr-Petrova Duo with Molly Carr, viola; Anna Petrova, piano on March 3; 

Artist talk at 6 p.m.; followed by a concert at 7:15 p.m. 

at The Harvest, 

3650 

17th Street, 

Sarasota. 

improvisation and freehand drawing 

for phenomenological effect, 

Christopher Skura captures the 

speed of living in Lower Manhattan. 

His new body of work took root 

during the 2020 pandemic. 

• Juried Show: “Annual Members 

Juried Show.” Juror: Paul Toliver is 

a passionate advocate in promoting 

all forms of art and is particularly 

motivated to uplift artists of the 

African Diaspora. 

Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. Info: www. 

artsarasota.org 

Selby Gardens has Clyde Butcher: 

Nature Through the Lens at the 

Historic Spanish Point campus on 

view to August 31, 2024. Featuring 

▼ 

extraordinary, large-format wildlife 

prints by this well-known landscape 

photographer and conservationist, 

Clyde Butcher: Nature Through 

the Lens gives viewers the chance to 

engage with Clyde Butcher’s artwork 

against the backdrop of our Historic 

Spanish Point campus. selby.org 

A capsule collection of Florida 

Highwaymen paintings is on display 

in the Cultural Heritage Exhibit in 

the City Hall atrium, 1565 First Street. 

Known as Florida’s legendary 

Black landscape artists, the Florida 

Highwaymen emerged in the 1950s 

in the agricultural communities of 

Fort Pierce and Gifford, Florida. The 

group of young painters, which grew 

to include 25 men and one woman, 

became known as The Highwaymen. 

They were prolific painters who sold 

their artwork from the trunks of their 

cars during the post-World War II 

▼ 

boom because 

they were 

unable to exhibit 

through traditional 

means 

due to racial 

barriers. While 

making ends 

meet, they also 

made a significant 

contribution 

to the genre 

of Florida landscape 

painting. 

The Cultural 

Heritage 

Exhibit is free 

and open to the 

public during 

City Hall hours, 

Monday–Friday 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lectures and tours of 

the Florida Highwaymen exhibit will 

be offered twice, February 13 at 10 

a.m. and 6 p.m. Each session will be 

approximately 60 minutes with Roger 

Lightle leading the lectures. 

Sarasota Orchestra 

• Masterworks performances take 

place at Van Wezel and Neel Performing 

Arts Center. 

Smoke and Fire is on February 8, 9, 

10, 11 with Rune Bergmann, conductor 

and Stella Chen, violin. They’ll perform 

Nielsen – Overture to Maskarade; 

Prokofiev – Violin Concerto No. 2 and 

Rachmaninoff – Symphony No. 2 

For further information, visit www. 

SarasotaOrchestra.org. 

Bookstore1 

Sarasota 

Events are in person in the loft at the 

store at Bookstore1 at The Mark, 117 

South Pineapple Ave. 

Bookstore1 PoetryMic with 

Michael Maul, Don McLagan and 

Linda Kelner Pozen: Readings of Original 

Poems by Local Poets is on February 

11, 2 – 3 p.m. Bookstore1Sarasota 

117 S. Pineapple Ave. 

The PoetryMic series introduces you 

to a varied group of talented poets who 

live in and around Sarasota. 

Poets: Michael Maul is an American 

poet whose work has appeared widely 

in literary journals in North America 

and abroad. In 2020 he also began 

investing time in an editorial board in 

the U.S. seeking to identify and publish 

promising new poets from around 

the world. Michael is a graduate of the 

Ohio University creative writing program, 

where he earned Bachelor’s and 

Master’s degrees. 

Don McLagan is an entrepreneur 

and a poet. His newest book is Chappaquiddick 

Poems – a poetry visit to 

that sometimes separate island. He 

is the author of two previous books 

of poetry, Fragments in a Glass 

Bowl and Tug at the Knot. In the tech 

world, he has been a founder and 

executive in five companies in the 

Boston Area. Don lives and writes in 

Chappaquiddick and in Sarasota. 

Liz Kelner Pozen is an artist and 

retired psychotherapist. She is the 

author of two books of poetry and 

There's 

There's 

There's never 

never 

never been 

been 

been a 

paintings, The Heart of the Family 

and Salami, and has just published 

Meetings 

a children’s book, The What Ifs: a 

better 

The 

better 

better 

Palm-Aire Women’s 

time 

Club 

time bedtime 

to 

story. 

to 

quit 

Liz lives 

quit 

in Boston and 

qui 

(PAWC) annual fashion show luncheon 

and fundraiser, “Stepping 

This is a free event, but registration 

Sarasota. 

Out,” is on February 23 at the Palm is required. 

with 

Aire Country Club 

with 

with Group 

in Sarasota. This Presidents’ 

Group 

Group Quit 

Day with Author & 

Quit 

Quit 

event is open to the community and Editor Burt Solomon In Conversation 

will feature Summer Smith, ABC News with Eileen Normile: The Murder 

Anchor as co-emcee. Proceeds benefit of Andrew Johnson: A Novel is on 

scholarships for State College of Flor- 

February 19, from 5-6 p.m. Join in 

ida, Manatee Technical College and for a talk with award-winning political 

Florida's Group journalist and Quit 

author Group of the next Qui 

Tobacco grants to local Tobacco Free qualified Florida's charities. Free 

The event will feature fashions from John Hay historical thriller, Burt 

Sessions Tobacco 

Darci 

Sessions (in-person Jacob’s boutique 

Free 

from 

(in-person 

Florida's 

Darci’s virtual) Solomon. 

Group 

or 

This now time, 

virtual) 

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he focuses offer on 

now o 

Main Street Sarasota. Tickets must one of America’s most controversial 

participants Sessions (in-person or virtual) now offer 

be purchased in 

participants $25 advance - by $125 check 

$25 in presidents: 

- gift Andrew 

$125 cards Johnson. 

in gift for This is 

cards 

or credit card. You may also contact 

Pawc2023@gmail.com to arrange Registration for all our events the purchase of tickets. 

a ticketed event. 

participants their $25 attendance.* 

- $125 in gift cards for 

their 

www.sarasotabooks.com/events, 

attendance.* 

or 

their attendance.* 

Mail check to: PAWC Lunch, P O call 941-365-7900. 

Group Quit 

Group 

offers 

Quit 

free, 

offers 

expert-led 

free, 

in-person 

expert-led 

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focus on the arts 

presents 

star-spangled lineup for 2024 show 

Circus Arts Conservatory gathers an international cast of world-class circus artists 

for 26th year of professional, one-ring circus extravaganza 

Noemi Espana’s contortion/hand 

balancing act features a special trick 

with the bow and arrow 

Each year, the Circus Arts 

Conservatory’s professional 

arm, Circus Sarasota, offers 

a showcase of top global circus 

artists performing in a one-ring 

traditional circus setting. Featuring new 

and innovative acts, Circus Sarasota’s 2024 

production will offer high-flying action, 

heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic 

antics, and acts that defy both expectations 

and the boundaries of physical 

limitations. 

“While this may be Circus Sarasota’s 26th 

year, we work very hard to make sure that 

no two productions are ever alike,” said CAC 

Founder/President & CEO Pedro Reis. “Our 

goal is to recruit the perfect balance of talent 

and variety to ensure patrons of all ages will 

be thrilled, inspired and entertained each 

and every year. We are confident this year’s 

show will take things to an entirely new level 

for our guests, whether they are a circus regular 

or brand new to the circus arts!” 

THE LINEUP FOR 

Circus Sarasota 2024 INCLUDES:

Art Art Crawl Eblast.pdf 1 1 1/17/24 10:53 AM AM 

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2ART nd Annual CRAWL HISTORY TROLLEY 

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shoulders, my voice is stronger and my energy is greatly increased. 

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good news department 

Bishop Parker Foundation Announces Awards 

With a focus on supporting services 

for residents of Manatee County, 

the Foundation has recently 

announced recipients of their fall 

grant cycle. Twenty-four charities 

received a total of $2,683,471 to 

maintain and sustain their programs. 

This is in addition to the 

$4,529,400 granted in the spring 

cycle, bringing the total granted 

for the year to $7,212,871. 

This fall a total of $1,231,000 was divided 

between five organizations providing 

nursing education and research projects 

addressing health needs. Support for 

educational scholarships, arts programming, 

and vital supplies for children was 

the next highest category funded, with 

$593,768 shared by nine agencies. 

The Foundation has long been a strong 

believer in the Season of Sharing fund. A 

total of $150,000 was earmarked to support 

this crucial community need. Another 

$100,000 was provided to the Sarasota 

Memorial Healthcare Foundation for their 

vital “First 1000 Days” connecting families 

with babies to essential services. 

The remaining $608,703 was awarded to 

five agencies for operating assistance and 

program support. Mental health services, 

literacy programs, education and support 

for families with a member experiencing 

vision loss are just some of the valuable 

services provided with this funding. 

The Edward E. and Lillian H. Bishop Foundation, 

incorporated in 1964. After the Bishop’s 

passing, Mary E. Parker carried on their 

legacy of philanthropy in addition to setting 

up and administering her own Foundation. 

It is now known as the Bishop Parker 

Foundation. To learn more, visit www. 

bishopparkerfoundation.org. 

Asolo Rep Awarded Grant 

from Community Foundation of Sarasota County 

Asolo Repertory Theatre has received 

a $77,500 Strategic Partnership Grant 

from the Community Foundation of Sarasota 

County. This grant comes from the 

Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe 

Fund, the Two-Generation Approach 

Fund, and the Zella I. and Junius F. Allen 

Fund at the Community Foundation of 

Sarasota County. 

In addition to being the Lead Sponsor 

for Asolo Rep’s Access to the Arts program, 

this funding supports the 2023-2024 

season and additional events, including 

the Director’s Take Luncheon, Annual Gala 

and special events programs. 

Asolo Rep’s Access to the Arts brings 

theatre to local schools and community 

locations, providing students with the 

opportunity to see productions at Asolo 

Rep. This donation allows many students 

to experience the power of the arts for 

the first time. 

Manatee County Helps Create Community Garden 

Helping the community grow is the goal 

of a brand-new community Garden in Elwood 

Park located at 4008 39th St. E. in 

Bradenton, which opened on January 13. 

Manatee County crews worked with a host 

of local businesses and contractors to bring 

this facility to completion. It all started with a 

conversation between John and Janyel Taylor 

from Taylor nurseries (located in Elwood Park) 

and Manatee County District 2 Commissioner 

Amanda Ballard. The unique and deep agricultural 

roots in the community first homesteaded 

in the early 1900s with the promise 

of “ready-made farms on easy payments” is 

evident to this day. 

“Elwood Park has been an established agricultural 

homesteading community for over 

100 years,” said Ms. Taylor. “We wanted to 

create a space where neighbors could gather 

and grow together,” said Commissioner 

Ballard. “As a commissioner and a gardener, 

myself, I’m passionate about local food and 

giving our citizens the tools they need to become 

as self-sufficient as possible.” 

Neighborhood meetings confirmed the 

desire for a community garden, and once a 

County-owned site was identified, the Manatee 

County Board of County Commissioners 

budgeted $150,000 to build. 

The fenced and secure community garden 

will feature 29 standard 4-foot x 8-foot onefoot-tall 

garden beds, two large two-foot high 

“L-shaped” 4-foot x 8-foot x 4-foot beds, two 

ADA-accessible two-foot-high 4-foot x 8-foot 

beds with concrete surrounding the beds for 

easier access and two 4-foot x 4-foot beds 

for kids gardening and education. An 8-foot x 

10-foot storage shed will house a variety gardening 

tools, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, 

soil and other supplies. Two large composting 

bins also have been provided, along with 

water connections for proper irrigation. 

A shade structure, park benches and 

ADA-compliant truegrid paths with pebble 

rock, connecting all the garden beds, also are 

part of the community garden, as is a small 

play structure and swings for children who 

may temporarily tire of tending the plants. 

For more information about Manatee 

County Government, visit mymanatee.org. 

Manatee Community Foundation Awards over $ 56 Million 

Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) 

has given $56 million of community impact 

since its inception in 1998. In 2023, 

MCF and its board, donor family, corporate 

ambassadors and nonprofit partners 

worked to achieve greater things, together. 

■ 152 lives changed through meaningful 

scholarships 

■ 825+ grants supporting nonprofit organizations 

in this community and beyond 

■ 500+ nonprofit partners supported 

though capacity building investments 

■ A Hurricane Idalia Response that enabled 

community resilience 

■ 25 years as the only community foundation 

in Manatee County 

Of the over $56 million in grants made 

since its founding, $25 million were directed 

Funding from Bank of America to Assist Food Bank 

Bank of America recently granted $30,000 

to All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) to help provide 

foods to individuals in need within 

the Sarasota community. This is the tenth 

year Bank of America has provided funds 

to strengthen AFFB’s hunger relief efforts, 

with all grants totaling over $250,000. 

All Faiths Food Bank is the only food 

bank and largest hunger relief organization 

in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. 

AFFB provides millions of meals each year 

through robust programs and partnerships 

with hundreds of charitable organizations 

throughout the community. 

The funding is designated for AFFB’s 

Mobile Pantry Program, which offers food 

distributions in the neighborhoods where 

to meet human services needs of the communities 

we support, followed by over $10 

million toward education, $8 million to support 

arts and culture, and $5 million to care 

for animal welfare and environmental causes. 

Funding for this important work is provided 

by gifts from Manatee Community 

Foundation donors and the management 

of its resources by its board of directors. 

These investments have supported projects, 

initiatives, and causes that contribute 

to the overall prosperity of our 

community, and this enduring legacy is a 

testament to the organization’s sustained 

impact and unwavering dedication to acting 

today, for a better tomorrow. 

For more information, visit www. 

manateecf.org. 

Now-retired All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank (center front) and director of philanthropy Rachel 

Bradley (right of Frank) with Bank of America team members (l-r) Jeff Crabtree, Ivan Richards, Kim 

Bleach, Jamie Kahns, Derek Ricker, Bank of America Sarasota/Manatee President Erik Vatter (holding 

the check), Andrew Zimmerman, Jilmmy Zevallos, Stephenie Whitfield and Rebecca Bryant 

hunger is greatest, reducing the barrier 

of transportation for individuals in need. 

Currently, AFFB operates a total of 32 Mobile 

Pantries, all located in high-need areas 

of Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Nine 

of the pantries are Mobile Farm Markets, 

which exclusively distribute fresh fruit 

and vegetables. 

AFFB is just one of 16 Sarasota/Manatee 

nonprofits the bank is supporting 

with economic mobility grants awarded 

to local nonprofits throughout the year, 

helping the bank drive meaningful and 

sustainable progress to help tackle society’s 

biggest challenges. 

For more about All Faiths Food Bank, 

visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

The Sarasota Ballet awarded Arts Appreciation Grant 

The Sarasota Ballet has been awarded a 

$65,000 Arts Appreciation Grant by Gulf 

Coast Community Foundation for the 

2023-2024 Season. 

This season, the Arts Appreciation Grant 

will provide support for many of The Sarasota 

Ballet’s productions, as well as events 

and education performances for the year. 

Funds from the Arts Appreciation 

Grant most recently supported The Sarasota 

Ballet School’s collaboration with 

the Venice Performing Arts Center for 

the production of The Nutcracker. The 

performances included over 100 dancers, 

ages 4-74, and featured orchestral 

accompaniment by the Venice Symphony. 

Later this Season, Gulf Coast Community 

Foundation’s grant will support The 

Sarasota Ballet’s Annual Gala. This year’s 

theme London Calling celebrates the 

Company’s first international tour to London 

in June 2024. Gulf Coast Community 

Foundation’s Arts Appreciation Grant will 

also support the newest patron program 

for the Company, Relevé. Through Relevé, 

The Sarasota Ballet aims to make performance 

attendance and interaction more 

accessible to younger audiences. 


your healthier health you 

Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

CST treats the whole body physically, physiologically, mentally, emotionally and energetically 

Clients come to me because they are in physical 

pain such as neck, back, pain and TMJ as well as 

for chronic headaches and migraines. 

Pain and stress caused by 

shortened Fascia 

Fascia (strong connective tissue) encases all 

our muscles, organs, brain and spinal cord. 

Whenever fascia shortens any place in the 

body, the entire network of fascia creates an 

increased tension affecting the functioning 

of our physical body as well as our organs, 

our brain and spinal cord. 

Our body is the history of every major 

trauma we have experienced physically and 

emotionally beginning with birth issues, falls, 

head trauma, car accidents, childhood abuse 

issues, death, divorce and other emotional 

issues. Our body tries to minimize each trauma 

by shortening fascia to isolate the energy 

coming into the body from that trauma. 

Shortened fascia results in pain, loss of mobility 

and range of motion, organs becoming 

less efficient and with parts of the brain and 

spinal cord becoming stressed. 

To keep the brain functioning, the body 

transfers some of your functional work play 

energy (7:00 AM-10:00 PM) to the brain resulting 

in less energy to make it through each 

day. As we age, the accumulation of all the 

tightened fascia, from every major trauma 

in life, begins to restrict every aspect of our 

body’s functions resulting in pain, loss of mobility, 

mis-functioning organs, loss of energy, 

as well as our brain losing some its sharpness. 

How Craniosacral 

Therapy Works 

The Craniosacral Therapist creates a safe 

place, with gentle holding techniques, that 

engages your body’s ability to self correct, 

reorganize and heal itself with the release 

of some of that tightened fascia during 

each session. As the Craniosacral Therapist 

engages your body, you will feel fascia releasing. 

As the fascia releases, pain begins to 

decrease, range of motion and mobility improve, 

organs begin functioning better and 

with less stress on the brain feels, it returns 

the energy it borrowed at the time of each 

trauma resulting in an immediate increase in 

your energy levels. Rarely does anyone leave 

from my first session not feeling better. 

Short Leg Syndrome 

Eighty-five percent of my clients have one 

of their legs pulled up 1/2 to 1 by shortened 

fascia. The tension from short leg syndrome 

on the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae at bottom 

of the spine) is transferred up the dural tube 

that encases the spinal cord into the lower 

and upper back, the neck, the cranium and 

The physical stress in bodies caused by shortened 

fascia (connective tissue) shuts down 

energy flows to certain organs. Short leg syndrome 

by ½ to 1 in (where one leg is pulled up 

by shortened fascia) shuts down energy flow to 

the spleen (an important part of your immune 

system) and the small and large intestine. With 

the release of that shortened fascia, energy returns 

to these organs. 

the brain. Headaches, migraines, TMJ and 

neck problems can originate from the fascial 

stress in the sacrum. 

Releasing this sacral stress increases energy 

in the bladder, sex organs, kidneys and 

the chakras as well as releasing major stress 

in the upper part of the body. 

Cause of Shallow Breathing 

A great majority of the clients who come to 

me for various problems are also shallow 

breathers. Fascial stress in the diaphragm 

restricts the depth of breathing by restricting 

energy flow to the lungs, the pericardium 

and the heart. With the release of fascial diaphragm 

restriction, the client immediately 

starts breathing deeply and energy is restored 

to the pericardium and the heart. 

Shoulder blades that are cemented to the 

body also restricts how much the rib cage can 

open and thereby also restricting depth of 

breath. Without proper breathing, your cells 

do not get enough oxygen. Everyone, especially 

people suffering from bronchitis, asthma 

and COPD as well as shallow breathing can 

benefit when the fascial stress is released. 

Specialized Training 

to work with Brain 

Dysfunctions 

Just as the body physically gets stressed from 

physical and emotional trauma, the functioning 

of the brain is also affected by fascial stress. For 

our brains to remain healthy, we need dynamic 

production of craniosacral fluid which performs 

the important function of bringing nourishment 

to all the cells in the brain and spinal 

cord as well as cleansing all the metabolic 

wastes given off by those same cells. 

Once the craniosacral fluid cleanses these 

metabolic wastes, efficient drainage of these 

metabolic wastes into the lymph system is 

absolutely necessary. Research has shown, 

that at night, craniosacral fluid cleanses amyloid 

plaques from the brain. If the drainage 

is inefficient, then the brain is being bathed 

in a toxic slurry. How does 15 or 20 years of 

your brain being bathed in a toxic slurry 

affect you: senile dementia, Parkinson’s, 

Alzheimer’s and other brain dysfunctions? 

A Craniosacral Therapist, who has received 

training in working with the brain, can reverse 

that stress on the brain that eventually can 

result in those brain dysfunctions. As we all 

know, the proper functioning of the body is 

dependent on a healthy functioning brain. 

Babies and Children can benefit 

■ Our little boy Leo, four years of age, had a 

difficult birth and at 7 months was put on antibiotics 

for an ear infection and as a result developed 

c-diff. His development came to a stop. 

At 3 years, with the help of an OT, he started 

to walk and talk. In spite of the improvements, 

he was unable to answer questions and his 

communication skills were very poor. Leo 

had very poor muscle tone, a lot of stress in 

his body and physical activities such walking, 

jumping and climbing were difficult for him. 

Beginning with the first session with Terry, 

he began showing improvement and with each 

following session. Everyone from his teachers 

to his grandparents noticed an increase in his 

■ “I was in awful pain and the 

MRI showed 2 pinched nerves 

and stenosis. I scheduled surgery. 

My daughter suggested Craniosacral therapy. 

After only 2 visits the pain was reduced to 

advanced craniosacral about 80% and therapy I canceled the surgery. I went 

for a 3rd visit and I am about 90% better.” 

■ “Simply Amazing! One visit was all it took for 

Terry to relieve 85% of my year long, nagging 

(sometimes severe) neck/shoulder tightness/ 

pain!! My breathing improved tremendously.” 

physical strength, as well as improvements in 

comprehension, speech and communication 

skills. For the first time, he started participating 

in class lessons and interacting with his 

classmates. Terry has made a huge impact on 

getting Leo to a place a little boy should be at 

age four. We cannot thank Terry enough. 

■ Terry’s treatment helped our 6 week old 

baby boy from recent hospitalization into 

the first series of healthy bowel movements 

when seemingly nothing could help. Our son 

was able to latch onto the breast and for the 

first time completed his feeding. He was much 

calmer after working with Terry. 

■ “He was able to relieve tension that I have 

been carrying around for 15 years or more. 

I left his office table with more energy than I 

have had in years.” 

■ “I began working with him because I was 

dealing with anxieties, depression and lots of 

emotional pain inside and out. You don’t realized 

how much stress can cause damage to 

your body, mind and soul. I can say Terry was 

a big help.” 

Terrence Grywinski 

of Advanced 

Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049 

Testimonials from Clients 

SOURCE: 

■ Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049. Terry has specialized in Craniosacral 

Therapy since 1994 when he began his training at the Upledger 

Institute. Described by his teachers, clients and colleagues 

as a “gifted healer”, Terry’s intuitive sense and healing energy 

provides immediate and lasting relief from injury, pain, mobility 

issues as well as dysfunctions of the body and the brain. Part 

of Terry’s ongoing education, he has completed 4 craniosacral 

brain and peripheral nervous system classes which enables him 

to work at a cellular 

level and with brain 

dysfunctions. 

Call 941-321-8757 

for more information, 

Google Advanced 

Craniosacral 

Therapy. 

■ “On a recent vacation to Siesta Key, I re-injured 

my back. I found Terry online. I can say 

with complete joy that was the best decision 

I made in the history of my back pain. I have 

sought many modalities and visit a CST regularly 

and never have I had such a healing in 

my entire body. 

After 3 sessions, I made a 16-hour drive 

home with no pain or discomfort in my entire 

body. Unbelievable. My body has a sense of 

moving freely and that is completely new. I’m 

advanced craniosacral therapy 

so grateful to Terry for his knowledge, for his 

sensitivity to my needs and his kind generosity 

in healing my body. I will see him when I return 

next year.” 

■ “I am a snowbird who spends 7 months 

in Sarasota. I have had back problems for 25 

years. Terry’s techniques have led to a great 

deal of release and relief in areas that have 

been problematic. I have been seeing him over 

the years when my body says ”it’s time”. Usually 

after a few sessions, I can tell a huge difference.” 

PAID ADVERTORIAL 


Martha 

Collins 

Director of Education 

& Stage Director at 


She’s the Director of 

Education and Stage 

Director at Sarasota 

Opera. As part of her job, 

she oversaw Sarasota 

Youth Opera’s production 

of The Little Sweep in 2023. 

This month, she’ll stage 

direct Sarasota Opera’s 

production of Carmen. 


It’s fortunate that we were able to meet 

in January since the Sarasota Opera’s 

production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen 

opens on February 17. Sets are being 

readied, artists are in rehearsals 

and soon it will all come together for 

opening night. Martha’s role in the popular 

opera, which will be conducted by the Opera’s 

Artistic Director, Victor DeRenzi, will be 

both onstage and off. 

No, she won’t be performing. Instead 

Martha has the critical role of stage director 

who will work with artists to make sure they 

are in the right place on the stage. But there’s 

more to the job. “I’m responsible for everything 

the audience sees — the lighting, sets, 

props — where they [artists] stand and move 

on the stage.” 

Martha has also directed Attila at Sarasota 

Opera, where her previous work as 

stage director included Dialogues of the 

Carmelites, Tosca, Carmen, Madama Butterfly, 

Romeo and Juliette, La Traviata, Nabucco 

and L’Elisir d’Amore. 

As part of the company’s complete Verdi 

Cycle, she directed productions of I Lombardi, 

I due Foscari, Attila, Giovanna D’Arco, I 

Masnadieri, Jerusalem, Un Giorno di Regno, 

and La Battaglia di Legnano. 

Amid the bustle of activity preparing the 

sets and working with the production crew, 

artists come in one month ahead of opening 

night, she explains. “First, we do a libretto 

read so they understand their characters. 

Maestro DeRenzi works with the singers and 

then they start staging.” In a Zen-like description, 

Martha says she “does all of where 

everyone will be.” 

Stage directing was something Martha, 

back in her days as a singer, was “curious 

about — every element from lights to sets.” 

Reflecting, she feels that her career as a 

performer “served me well” as she made the 

switch to “the other side of the stage.” Post 

Carmen, Martha will work with student and 

apprentice artists. After opera season ends, 

she’ll be heading to Opera Southwest in New 

Mexico in the summer. 

This past fall, as Director of Education, 

Martha led the production of the Youth Opera’s 

production of The Little Sweep and was 

also the Stage Director of the production, 

leading a cast of young people—some in their 

first performances onstage. Interestingly, 

their youth opera is the biggest in the country 

with 65 young people in the program designed 

for ages 8-18. 

How did it go? “Boy, did they take the 

show,” she replies enthusiastically. Beyond 

performing, young artists gain confidence 

regardless if they choose to pursue a career 

in opera. At the inevitable time when “voices 

change” as she explains it, those boys can 

come back and perform in other roles. 

Young performers are all local and Martha’s 

role is to nurture and develop “the love 

of opera,” but, they “also learn collaboration 

and confidence,” as seen in one student who 

went on to become an attorney and cited the 

skills learned had helped in their career. 

Sarasota Youth Opera is the only program 

in the U.S. that presents an annual full-scale 

opera production for young voices and also 

accepts all who want to participate, regardless 

of skill level or ability to pay. 

For Sarasota Youth Opera, Martha directed 

the world premiere of Little Nemo in 

Slumberland (2012) and Rootabaga Country 

(2017), the U.S. premieres of Burry’s The 

Hobbit (2008, 2014) and The Secret World of 

OG (2016), The Black Spider (2010), The Second 

Hurricane (2006) The Little Sweep (2005, 

2013, 2018, 2023) for which she also wrote 

the new Prologue of Let’s Put on an Opera, 

and Brundibár (2015, 2019) for which she also 

wrote an original prologue in collaboration 

with Jesse Martins (Sarasota Youth Opera 

music director). 

As Director of Education, Martha also 

works directly with the schools and oversees 

the artists and outreach schedule. “We’re 

especially excited to work with underserved 

communities and Title 1 schools that often 

do not have the resources to attend a schooltime 

performance at the Sarasota Opera 

House,” says the Sarasota Opera website. 

Martha’s “three-tiered job” as she call sit, 

also involves working with studio artists, 

apprentice arts and principals. Working with 

the Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artists Program, 

she helps trained singers in the important 

transition from student to professional 

life. “I enjoy it - sharing this artform that I 

love.” Plus there’s the added reward of “keeping 

it [opera] going for the next generation.” 

The Ottawa, Canada, native has had a creative 

career that prior to her stage and education 

work in Sarasota, included performing 

as well. As a singer, she worked extensively 

throughout her native Canada both as a 

concert and operatic performer, according 

to her bio, and has been heard on CBC’s Arts 

National Radio in numerous recitals and orchestral 

concerts. 

Her televised appearances include Micaela 

in Carmen with Vancouver Opera and the 

opening gala of the World Expo in Vancouver, 

both of which were aired internationally. At 

the Expo she sang for then Prince Charles 

and the late Princess Diana. 

She “discovered” opera at age 18. “I was 

shocked I didn’t know about something so 

wonderful,” she recalls. She knew singing 

was her passion in high school and worked 

in semi-professional theatre. Pursuing her 

career as a soprano, she was finalist in the 

Wales (UK) “Singer of the World” competition 

representing Canada. Check out the popular 

1987 movie Moonstruck and pay attention to 

the scene where Cher and Nicholas Cage are 

at the Met Opera in New York City for a performance 

of La Boheme. When they cut to the 

stage, you’ll see Martha in the onstage role of 

Mimi (Renata Tebaldi was the voice of Mimi, 

she adds), but still, what a movie to be a part 

of and “many people got into opera because 

of that movie,” Martha has found. 

Her career then took her to a small company 

in New Jersey. She “sang all the roles,” 

adding that, “I didn’t know I was preparing 

for being a director.” From there Martha 

came to Sarasota Opera in 2004. 

She’s a natural teacher with her knowledge, 

experience and her energetic style. At 

New York University, she directed The Magic 

Flute, Orpheus in the Underworld, L’Enfant 

et les Sortilèges, and productions of her new 

libretto translations of The Audition and The 

Finishing School by von Suppé. Other 

productions include Side by Side by Sondheim 

and A Talent to Amuse – an Evening 

of Noel Coward at New England Conservatory, 

Il Tabarro and Amahl and the Night 

Visitors with Opera North, Floyd’s Susannah 

and L’Elisir d’Amore for Opera Mozart 

in New Jersey, Dido and Aeneas at Brevard, 

and Lucia di Lammermoor and Tosca with 

New Jersey Verismo Opera. 

Martha has taught acting at New York University, 

Swarthmore College, Ryder University, 

Manitoba University, the Florence Voice 

Seminar in Italy, and maintains a private 

studio for vocal and dramatic coaching in 

New York City. 

As for the upcoming Carmen, Martha says, 

she loves strong female roles. “Carmen is a 

strong passionate intelligent gypsy woman. 

She makes her own choices.” 

STORY: Louise Bruderle 

IMAGES: Evelyn England 

For more info on upcoming performances, 

visit www.sarasotaopera.org/ 

Know a budding young singer for their 

Youth Opera? Visit www.sarasotaopera.org 

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International Film Festival 

produced byThrough Women’s Eyes 

Advancing Gender Equality Through Film 

Celebrating 

 

Thought-provoking films from around the world 

featuring documentaries, shorts, features, 

animated films, emerging filmmakers and more. 

Opening Night Films & Reception March 8, 2024 

Friday 5-9pm 

Ringling College of Art & Design 

Morganroth Auditorium 

Film Screenings March 9-10, 2024 

Saturday 10am-9pm 

Sunday 11am-5pm 

Sarasota Art Museum 

SHS Alumni Auditorium 

Stream Films on Demand March 7-12, 2024 

Tickets @ twe2024.eventive.org 

The 25th Anniversary of the 

Through Women’s Eyes International 

Film Festival Celebrates Gender 

Equality Through Cinema 

The 25th 

Anniversary of 

the Through 

Women’s Eyes 

Women's 

International Film 

Festival, celebrating its 

25th anniversary, is set to 

empower gender equality 

through the art of cinema. 

The festival, place from March 7-12 and 

showcases a carefully curated selection 

of 32 creative films from 17 countries, 

highlighting the diverse array of experiences 

by and about women. The event will feature 

virtual screenings as well as in-person 

events, including an awards ceremony. 

Through this platform, the festival aims to 

put female filmmakers in the spotlight and 

bring attention to topics that are frequently 

underrepresented in the film industry. 

Through Women’s Eyes (TWE) is a Sarasota-based 

nonprofit organization dedicated 

to women’s rights and gender equality. and 

we’re especially delighted that the Festival is 

celebrating its silver anniversary. In addition 

to 22 new films, we’re bringing back 10 Greatest 

Hits, some of our audience favorites, from 

past years. 

This year’s films include 10 features, 22 

shorts, 14 documentaries, 17 narratives, and 

the work of 6 Emerging Filmmakers from 

film schools around the world. Organizers 

received over 355 submissions from 42 countries 

and; final selections comprise 17 countries: 

Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Germany, 

Guinea, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Japan, 

Norway, Palestine, Sweden, Turkey, UK, and 

the US. Independent filmmakers from all over 

the world will attend the festival and meet 

with audiences to share thought-provoking 

discussions about what inspires them and 

how they created their films. 

The festival will celebrate excellence at 

a reception and award ceremony on Friday, 

March 8, 5-9 p.m. at the Ringling College of 

Art and Design Morganroth Auditorium. Films 

continue all day Saturday and Sunday, March 

9-10 at the Sarasota Art Museum, SHS Alumni 

Auditorium. Students from the New Gate 

Montessori IB High School will once again 

select and present an award to a particularly 

inspiring film from this year’s line-up. 

There is truly something for everyone at 

this year’s film festival, including: 

■ X Trillion: Go on a journey with 14 women 

as they sail to the North Pacific Ocean to one 

of the most remote places on earth, the site of 

the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” - an accumulation 

of ocean plastic. 

■ Book Club: Eight American women started 

a book club in the 1940s; little did they 

know it would bond them for the next 70. A 

look at friendships, despite all manner of differences. 

A Greatest Hit and one of our most 

popular films ever; if you’re in a book club, 

bring your group. If you’re not, bring a friend 

for an emotional and personal journey you 

won’t forget. 

■ UnDivide Us: Are Americans really as 

polarized as the media portrays? Is it true 

that we can hardly talk to one another about 

issues like guns and abortion? Researchers 

set out to answer this question - possibly 

the most important question of our time - by 

bringing together average citizens from five 

states. A must-see for all concerned citizens. 

■ The Fight for Black Lives (Panel discussion 

follows film): The health disparities 

between black and white 

women are shocking - but 

do you know what is driving 

these differences? See 

the film, then join our panel 

conversation with the filmmakers 

and local medical 

providers and patients.. 

■ See the real Afghanistan 

behind the headlines 

and newsreels. When Mom is Gone - a Greatest 

Hit - reveals the fascinating and moving 

realities of a rural Afghani family and The 

Last Hug chronicles two young women who 

left Kabul when Americans departed and 

were welcomed to the University of Arizona. 

■ Girl No 60427 and Blood Like Water, set 

in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian 

territories, display the fascinating, complicated, 

and tormented emotions of the region. 

Girl is seen through the eyes of a grandchild 

discovering the Holocaust experiences of her 

grandmother, while Blood forces a Palestinian 

family to choose between occupying forces 

and their own people. Not to be missed. 

Films are from the USA and 17 other countries. 

For a list of films, visit twe2024.eventive.org/films 

The TWE Women’s International Film 

Festival film continues because progress toward 

a gender-equal media remains painfully 

slow. For example, women get 31% of screen 

time and are four times more likely to be 

portrayed nude than their male counterparts, 

and, by contrast, men speak seven times more 

in advertising. Behind the camera, women are 

only 18% of directors,19% of writers, and 7% 

of camera operators. Media informs our career 

choices, relationships, parenting, and so 

much more, so these disparities continue to 

shape all of us in profound ways. More authentic, 

representative media yields benefits 

for everyone. 

IF YOU GO: 

■ When? March 7 - 12 

TWE Women’s International Film Festival 

opens online on March 7 and in-person Friday 

night, March 8, and offers films all day Saturday 

and Sunday, March 9 and 10. 

Awards Friday night are in seven categories: 

Best Feature Film, Best Short Documentary, 

Best Short Narrative, Best Emerging 

Film, New Gate Inspiration Award, and TWE 

Team Choice. 

■ Where: Online, on-demand March 7-12 

at twe2024.eventive.org/welcome 

In theaters Friday, March 8, 5-9 p.m., 

Ringling College of Art and Design, Larry R. 

Thompson Academic Center, Morganroth 

Auditorium 

Saturday and Sunday all day, Sarasota Art 

Museum, SHS Alumni Auditorium. Tickets: 

throughwomenseyes.org 

■ Ticket Costs: 

All-access, full festival pass, In-Theaters Only: 

$125 

All-access, full festival pass, Online Viewing 

Only: $145 

Five film pass: $50 

Single film block: $12 

Tickets: throughwomenseyes.org/ 

About Us: Through Women’s Eyes is a 

501c3 advocacy organization dedicated to 

women’s rights and gender equality. Learn 

more at throughwomenseyes.org. Net festival 

proceeds support women’s rights and 

gender equality programs. 

— SOURCE: Scott Osborne 



Meet Cindi Qi - 

Associate Concertmaster of the 

Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota 

Cindi Qi began 

playing with 

the Chamber 

Orchestra of 

Sarasota in 

2018, the orchestra’s second 

season. She is the Associate 

Concertmaster of the 

Orchestra. Cindi was born in 

Beijing, China. She received 

her Bachelor of Music from the 

Chicago College of Performing 

Arts at Roosevelt University 

Cindi Qi 

where she played with the 

Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and received 

her MM from the Cincinnati Conservatory of 

Music. She is principal second violin of the 

Punta Gorda Symphony and also performs 

regularly with the Southwest Florida Orchestra 

and Villages Philharmonic. 

This season, Cindi will be a featured soloist 

on the chamber orchestra’s “Celebrating 

Chopin” concert on February 29 at 7:30pm 

at the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota. 

This is the second time Cindi has performed 

as a soloist with the orchestra: in 2019 she 

performed Bach’s Double Concerto in C 

Minor with oboist Nicholas Arbolino. The 

interview below was done by Music Director 

Robert Vodnoy. 

Vodnoy: You’re one of the longest tenured 

members of the orchestra and your talent, 

hard work, and dedication are very much appreciated. 

When did you start playing violin? 

Qi: I was seven years old, but violin wasn’t 

my first instrument. I started on piano and 

ultimately picked violin instead. My mother 

was my first violin teacher. 

Vodnoy: That’s similar to my story, actually. 

I started on piano when I was five and my 

mother was my first teacher. In the 1950s, my 

grandmother rented out rooms in her house 

and she had a renter who played violin in the 

local symphony. Your father David is also a 

violinist. Did he teach you also and do you 

play together as a family? 

Qi: My dad helped once in a while, or when I 

was really stuck learning something specific 

on the violin. We do play together as a trio or 

quartet sometimes. My mother can play the 

viola as well so it would be my dad and me on 

violin, my mother on viola, and someone else 

on cello and we had a quartet. 

Vodnoy: Did you ever perform a double concerto 

with your mother or father, or will this 

performance of Joseph Bologne Chevalier 

de Saint-Georges’ Symphony Concertante 

be a first? 

QI: I actually have never performed in concert 

with either of them in a duet or concerto 

before. We did have fun playing Bach’s Double 

Concerto and some Vivaldi at home, or 

when friends were over, as an impromptu 

mini performance. 

Vodnoy: What are some of your 

thoughts about Saint-Georges’ Symphony 

Concertante? He was a French-Caribbean 

musician of African descent, and free man of 

color. The movie is very accurate and weaves 

a fascinating story of his life as a violinist, 

conductor, composer, and soldier. 

Qi: One thing I like is that it’s in two movements, 

and both are upbeat with an uplifting 

tempo. Usually, a work like this would have 

a slow middle movement. I’d like to think the 

fact that he was also a fine swordsman played 

a role in this. His composition style really 

showcases the wide range of techniques and 

embellishments used during that 

time period for the violin. It’s 

very light and bubbly, and fits the 

salon style of music ubiquitous 

during that period. Needless to 

say, his work is very Mozart-esque. 

It’s very refreshing to perform 

a Mozart-style composition 

not composed by Mozart. 

Vodnoy: What do you like about 

performing in the Chamber Orchestra? 

Qi: Performing in a concert 

with the Chamber Orchestra is 

artistically and musically satisfying for me. It’s 

a smaller group of players, so every musician’s 

role is critically important and plays a big part 

in the success of a performance. And because 

there is more value in each player, everyone 

puts in extra effort to make sure their part is 

perfect to add to the whole. Also, we get to play 

a particular repertoire that many musicians 

miss out on. So being able to play music by 

composers I’m not familiar with is a big treat. 

Vodnoy: This work will be the opening work 

on our “Celebrating Chopin” concert in February. 

That program includes Samuel Adler’s 

Concertino No. 3 and Frédéric Chopin’s Piano 

Concerto No. 2 in F Minor with Matthew 

Graybil. We’re going to perform Chopin’s 

concerto in an arrangement for piano and 

string orchestra, based on a version of the 

concerto which Chopin performed himself. 

There are violin and cello solos in this arrangement 

as well, which Matthew Graybil 

and I edited together. 

Qi: That’s an example of the unique repertoire 

we’re able to perform with the Chamber 

Orchestra, and I’m looking forward to it. 

Vodnoy: Joseph Bologne Chevalier de 

Saint-Georges has a connection to our March 

21 concert as well. We’re going to end the 

season on March 21 with a concert titled “Mozart 

+ Haydn.” The concert and the season 

will conclude with a performance of Haydn’s 

Symphony No. 83, which is known as “The 

Hen” because of a humorous theme in the 

first movement. 

The symphony is one of six “Paris” symphonies 

because they were commissioned 

by Count d’Ogny for the Concert Olympique. 

Saint-Georges arranged the details of these 

premieres and conducted them. Marie Antoinette 

attended the performances, so the 

orchestra dressed in court attire. The musicians 

played in embroidered suits, lace cuffs, 

swords at their sides and feathered hats on 

the benches. 

Qi: It must have been hard to play with a 

sword on your belt! Maybe we should dress in 

court attire for our concert, too. 

Vodnoy: By the way, who is the maker of 

your violin? 

Qi: I actually don’t have an answer for this 

because the label inside the violin is so corroded 

that it’s difficult to read. But it’s been 

in the family for a long time, so I kind of just 

inherited it. 

SOURCE: Robert Vodnoy 

For information or tickets, visit chamberorchestrasarasota.org/ 

4420 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

941.260.8905 

www.shellysgiftandchristmasboutique.com 

Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm 



THE PUNCHLINE 

QUARTET 

Monday, February 12, 2024 | 7:00 PM 

Sarasota Art Museum, Sarasota 

Combining musical mastery with a 

touch of wit, the Punchline Quartet 

delivers engaging performances that 

crescendo to a captivating musical 

punchline. The Punchline Quartet understands the importance 

of making music an approachable realm, and an experience that 

is reflective of today’s world and audience. Kate Arndt, violin; Ria 

Honda, violin; Sarah Sung, viola; Elena Ariza, cello. 

“HERS” 

CARR-PETROVA DUO 

Sunday, March 3, 2024 | 6:00 PM 

The Harvest, Sarasota 

Album release, artist talk, and concert 

“HERS” vibrantly celebrates the vision, 

strength, resilience, and incredible 

accomplishments of eight fearless women – from the 12th century’s 

Hildegard Von Bingen to today’s Beyoncé. In a pre-performance 

talk, they will speak about the composers and their importance in 

music history. Molly Carr, viola; Anna Petrova, piano. 

Women 

Contemporary Artists 

Annual Member Exhibition 

Celebrating 25 Years of providing visibility, 

encouragement and inspiration to women artists 

Visit our website for tickets and more 

information: PERLMANSUNCOAST.ORG 

Sponsored in part by: 

The Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable Trust Richard Orenstein, Trustee 

In partnership with 

First Place 2023: Janice Newman, Morning Mist 

kirboll 

NATEE 

CULTURAL ARTS SEASON 2023-2024 

mort skirboll 

jewish film 

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sarasota 

FOR INFO ON 

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CLOSING NIGHT FILM 

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*All films in March take place at The ORA, on the JFSM Campus 

For registration, visit 

JFEDSRQ.org/jff 

For more information, contact 

cdierksen@jfedsrq.org or at 941.263.4974 

The Women Contemporary 

Artists 2024 exhibit will 

open on February 9 at 

Art and Frame of Sarasota’s 

Gallery Hall, located at 1055 S. 

Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

The public is invited to the opening reception 

where all members, including painters, 

photographers, sculptors, ceramicists, fiber 

artists, printmakers and mixed media artists 

have work on display. This event also marks 

the 25th Year the (WCA) organization has 

been supporting creative, professional women 

actively engaged in the visual fine arts. 

This event is free and open to the public. 

The opening, awards ceremony and 25th 

anniversary celebration are on Friday, February 

9, 6-8 p.m. 

The exhibit will run to March 21. Gallery 

hours are Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, 

Second Place 2023: Judy 

Kramer, Kaleidoscope Facade 

Third Place 2023: Susan 

Turconi, The Couple 

Sunday: Closed. Free admission 

For more information, visit Women- 

ContemporaryArtist.com 

About 

Women Contemporary Artists (WCA) 

is a local organization of professional 

women actively engaged in the visual fine 

arts. WCA’s more than one hundred artists 

share the mission of providing visibility, 

encouragement and inspiration to women 

artists. They are committed to the goal of 

encouraging each other and promoting 

each other’s work. 

WCA originated in 1999 from the vision 

of 20 charter members, committed to fostering 

recognition of women’s accomplishments 

and contributions 

to the visual fine arts. 

Membership has grown to 

140+ members. 

WCA’s activities include 

a major annual juried 

exhibition. The group 

also provides lectures 

and demonstrations at 

monthly meetings, during 

the months of November 

through May. WCA holds 

an annual retreat where 

women artists can gather 

and create, discuss art and critique the 

work created by their peers. 

The group presents scholarship awards 

to outstanding women in college programs 

in the area who wish to continue their education 

in art. 

The organization seeks to educate the 

general public about the past and present 

contributions of women artists and sponsors 

programs featuring prominent people 

in the arts. Annually, WCA collects art 

materials to present to children in shelters 

and hospital programs. Each year WCA 

welcomes women artists in the community 

who wish to join the organization. More 

info at womencontemporaryartists.com. 


healthier you 

Hormones of Love… 

Keeping the Flame Alive 

Helping Children Diagnosed With Epilepsy 

Did you know that virtually 

everyone can maintain 

a healthy sex drive and 

experience enjoyment at 

any age? So for this Valentine’s season, 

let’s see how we can keep that flame going 

by restoring youthful, sexual vitality 

for life! 

Historically one of the most distressing 

side effects of aging has been a loss 

of one’s sexuality including romance, 

performance and satisfaction. 

Many men experience a decrease in 

erections while women notice a decline 

in overall sexual desire and enjoyment. 

No doubt this is an area of great frustration! 

In turn, relationships are challenged 

since healthy sexual function is 

so linked to intimacy. 

What makes sex great? 

Aside from romance and passion, a 

healthy libido requires certain hormones 

to be balanced and flowing. 

When low levels or an imbalance of 

hormones occurs, the ability to engage 

in healthy sex is challenging. Sex can be 

unsatisfying, difficult or even impossible. 

Correcting the imbalance achieves 

rejuvenation of the body, brain and 

other more “critical areas”. Simple lab 

tests can detect these imbalances and 

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symptoms, vaginal lubrication, 

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for virility in men (erection), and 

increases libido, orgasm, and brain 

function in both women and men. 

• DHEA: Enhances mood, desire, 

receptivity, performance and 

pleasure. 

• Serotonin: Increases joy and 

intimacy. (Treatment for depression 

with drugs to correct serotonin, such 

as SSRI’s, i.e., Prozac, Zoloft, actually 

decreases libido and orgasms). 

• Dopamine: Increases desire, 

interest and performance (especially 

in men). 

• Gaba: Enhances orgasm, mood 

and sexual wellness (especially 

in women). 

At The Renewal Point we run tests for 

these hormones in both women and 

men, and then correct the problem. It’s 

always rewarding to see how balancing 

someone’s hormones also has a positive 

influence on other aspects of their life, 

such as self confidence, clearer communication 

abilities, and an overall desire 

to want more out of life. For more information 

about our services or to schedule 

a consultation, please give us a call at 

941-926-4905. We are here to help! 

————————————————— 

SOURCE: Dr. Watts, 

MD, ND, MSNM and 

Deb Spinner, ARNP, 

MSN, are experts in 

Integrative Medicine. 

With over 25 years 

experience in Hormone 

Balancing, a 

Post-doctoral Certification 

in Metabolic 

Endocrinology, and a 

Fellowship in Anti- 

Aging, Regenerative, 

Dr. Dan Watts 

MD, ND, MSMN 

The Renewal Point 

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR 

and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts 

has put together programs that have 

helped thousands of patients renew 

their love and vigor for life. 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota 

Phone: 941-926-4905 

www.TheRenewalPoint.com 

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can strike 

ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. In fact, 1 in 

26 people will have a seizure during their lifetime. 

The stigma and social isolation; the uncertainty of 

when the next seizure might occur; and the fear of 

SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) are the 

frightening realities for many families in our community. 

JoshProvides pulls back the curtain on epilepsy, through 

community awareness, education, offering a monthly 

Epilepsy Support Group, and providing seizure 

detection & alert devices, transportation assistance and 

assistance with medical services. Our families are NOT 

defined by their disorder…they are warriors who will 

overcome these obstacles thanks to your support! 

Mission: To improve the quality of life for those 

living with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. 

(800) 706-2740 | JoshProvides.org 



happening this month 

First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota 

7:30pm. Tickets: $39/adult, $5/student 

Thurs, Feb 29: Celebrating Chopin 

Matthew Graybil, piano 

Thurs, March 21: Mozart + Haydn 

George Maxman, violin 

chamberorchestrasarasota.org 

219-928-8665 

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Batter up! 

Orioles Spring Training 

starts Feb. 24 

The Orioles are back 

for its Spring Training 

games at Ed Smith 

Stadium. All tickets 

must be purchased online 

at Orioles.com/SpringTickets. 

The Ed Smith Stadium Box Office 

will open for in-person sales at a 

later date to-be-announced. 

The 2024 Spring Training promotional 

schedule features giveaways 

and experiences for fans of all 

ages. Again this year, the Orioles 

invite children and seniors to run 

the bases after select home games. 

Kids Run the Bases is open to all 

fans ages four to 14, and will return 

following every Sunday home 

game, while Seniors Stroll the 

Bases will return following each 

Monday and Tuesday home game 

for fans age 60 and older. 

The promotional schedule is highlighted 

by special event days such as Heroes 

Day (February 29), presented by Cheney 

Brothers, Youth Sports Day (March 10) presented 

by First Watch, and Fireworks Night 

(March 23), as well as various giveaways, 

including a Magnet Schedule (February 

24), a Spring Training T-shirt (March 8), 

a Chick-fil-A Plush Cow (March 13), an 

Orioles Rally Towel (March 17), and an O’s 

Cap (March 22). 

During every Saturday and Sunday home 

game, the Orioles will honor members of 

the Sarasota community who volunteer 

to improve the lives of others through the 

Birdland Community Heroes program. To 

nominate a hero, visit Orioles.com/Spring. 

The CEO Seats program, created to 

give back to the community while using 

baseball to inspire the next generation of 

leaders, will return this season. Founded in 

2023, the CEO Seats program donates the 

partnership group’s seats, located near the 

Orioles dugout, to local organizations that 

are making a difference in the community. 

The seats, which will be donated by the 

Orioles during both Spring Training and 

Regular Season games, serve as “thank 

you” to those making a difference 

in the community, 

and act as a reminder to 

young people that if they set 

their goals and work hard, 

they can accomplish whatever 

they put their minds to. 

The 2024 Spring Training 

marks the club’s 15th spring 

season at Ed Smith Stadium. 

The Orioles will play 16 

home games at their home 

park, including 10 afternoon 

games, all beginning at 1:05 

p.m., and six night games, each slated to 

begin at 6:05 p.m. 

A list of current 2024 promotions and 

special events at Ed Smith Stadium can be 

found at orioles.com/Spring. 

Spring Training Schedule 

⚾ February 24 Home opener versus the 

Boston Red Sox at 1 p.m. 

⚾ February 26, 1:05 p.m. versus the 

Tampa Bay Rays. Seniors Stroll the Bases 

Heroes day 

for all fans 60 and older 

⚾ February 27, 1:05 

p.m. Detroit Tigers. 

Seniors Stroll the Bases 

for all fans 60 and older 

⚾ February 29, 1:05 

p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates. 

⚾ March 2, 1:05 p.m. New York Yankees 

⚾ March 4, 1:05 p.m. Minnesota Twins 

Seniors Stroll the Bases for all fans 60 

and older 

⚾ March 6, 6:05 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates 

⚾ March 8, 1:05 p.m. Detroit Tigers 

Spring Training Shirt Day for the first 

4,000 fans 

⚾ March 10, 1:05 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays 

105. Kids run the bases 

⚾ March 12 Tampa Bay Rays 

⚾ March 13, 6:05 p.m. Atlanta Braves 

⚾ March 16, 1:05 p.m. Boston Red Sox 

⚾ March 17, 1:05 p.m. Atlanta Braves 

⚾ March 20, 6:05 p.m. Philadelphia 

Phillies 

⚾ March 22, 6:05 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates 

⚾ March 23, 6:05 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays. 

Fireworks Night 

Tickets: https://www.mlb.com/orioles/ 

tickets/spring-training 

Upcoming Events at 

Ed Smith Stadium

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Witness the U.S. Premiere of 

The Legend of Bijan and Manijeh 

Key Chorale, Sea Symphony, 2023 

On February 10, 4 

pm, Key Chorale 

presents Triumph 

of Love featuring the 

U.S. Premiere of The 

Legend of Bijan and Manijeh by Persian 

composer Farhad Poupel, for piano, 

choir, and orchestra, with concert 

pianist Jeffrey Biegel. This evocative 

work is based on an ancient Farsi love 

story taken from the Shahnameh (The 

Book of Kings), an epic poem by Persian 

poet Ferdowsi written between 

977 and 1010 CE. Other love stories, 

mythical and historical, by composers 

Jean Sibelius, Gustav Mahler, Daniel 

Pinkham, René Clausen, and others 

will be featured. 

This will be only the second performance 

worldwide of this monumental 

work, The Legend of Bijan & Manijeh, 

which had its world premiere in 

Ontario with the Windsor Symphony 

Orchestra in November of 2022. The 

composition will showcase concert 

pianist Jeffrey Biegel who is respected 

for his incomparable performances of 

the standard works for piano and orchestra 

and has become the ‘go to’ pianist 

for new compositions and special 

recording projects. Mr. Biegel was featured 

as soloist on the 2019 Grammy 

Winning recording of music by contemporary 

composer Kenneth Fuchs 

and is currently playing a new work, 

Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue which 

will be performed in all 50 states over 

the next few seasons. 

“We almost never hear music by Persian 

composers in our Western concert 

halls,” said Maestro Joseph Caulkins. 

“Farhad has set an epic tale from 

the ancient Shahnameh (The Book of 

Kings), a poem of more than 50,000 

couplets telling the story of creation 

and chronicling the legends and kings, 

the heroes, the quests, and mythical 

creatures, at the heart of Persian mythology. 

He sent me the score and I 

was blown away! This is a work by 

an emerging composer with a unique 

voice and an opportunity to showcase 

a Persian story more than 3,000 years 

old by a Persian artist. What an incredible 

opportunity.” 

“The Legend of Bijan & Manijeh is 

an epic score that I know will resonate 

with our audience,” said Maestro 

Caulkins. “Farhad’s music takes you to 

an exotic world of long ago. With new 

composition, I encourage audiences to 

listen as if they are on a voyage. While 

you may not know exactly where the 

voyage may be heading, you know it 

will be one full of discovery. There can 

be something surprising, or emotional, 

at every turn.” 

Composer Farhad Poupel will be in 

residence with Key Chorale for the 

rehearsals and concert. Mr. Poupel is 

a UK-based Iranian composer, whose 

works are frequently performed in 

many prestigious international venues 

and festivals by today’s leading 

musicians. Poupel is inspired by stories 

from literary masterpieces from 

around the world, poetry, art, mythology, 

and cinema. In addition to this US 

premiere by Key Chorale, Mr. Poupel’s 

Romance and Quartet for the Beginning 

of Time will both be receiving 

their world premieres later this year. 

In addition to the premiere work, the 

100 voices Key Chorale will be featured 

in charming settings of Three 

Shakespeare Madrigals by Emma 

Lou Diemer, Daniel Pinkham’s Wedding 

Cantata, and a gorgeous setting 

of the Scottish tune O Waly, Waly by 

composer René Clausen. The orchestra 

will be featured in Mahler’s lush 

and zealously romantic Adagietto 

from his Symphony No. 5, written as 

a love letter to his wife Alma, and Farhad 

Poupel’s Childhood Memories, a 

3-movement Persian Suite written in 

honor of his grandmother. 

PRE-CONCERT TALK — Join Artistic 

Director Joseph Caulkins, Composer 

Farhad Poupel, and concert pianist 

Jeffrey Biegel before the concert (3 

PM) as they discuss the creativity behind 

the music. 

Concert takes place at Church of the 

Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 

February 10th, 4 PM 

Tickets $35-$45 

To purchase tickets, visit www. 

keychorale.org or call 941-552- 

8768 to reserve. 



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travel news 

New Gulf Islands Ferry Service 

Originally set to lacuna back in December, 

it appears the Gulf Islands Ferry is 

now shuttling visitors and residents to 

and from Anna Maria Island and downtown 

Bradenton. 

The water ferry, marketed by The Bradenton 

Area Convention & Visitors Bureau 

(BACVB) and operated by Gulf Coast Water 

Taxi, is a first step in providing multi-modal 

transportation throughout Manatee County. 

Two 50-foot open air catamarans, Miss Anna 

Maria and Downtown Duchess, will take riders 

from the day dock located directly off Riverwalk 

in downtown Bradenton 

to Anna Maria City Pier 

and Bridge Street Pier. 

Visitors and residents 

can catch a ride on the 

water Friday through Sunday 

from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Ride times between stops 

will range from 25 to 40 

minutes. A one-way ticket 

will cost $ 8 per person, 

providing an economical 

and easy way to hop 

between the mainland and 

island. Special pricing will 

be available for children and seniors. The two 

catamarans hold 48 passengers and will have 

two crew aboard. 

In addition to providing easy transport to 

the island, the service is an extended commitment 

in working to preserve and protect the 

natural beauty of the area for future generations. 

Powered by renewable energy sources 

and energy-efficient design elements, the 

vessels further support BACVB’s Love It Like 

a Local initiative. 

Tickets can be purchased www.gulfcoastwatertaxi.com/ 

The National Museum of 

Women in the Arts 

The National Museum of Women 

in the Arts (NMWA) — the world’s 

first major museum solely dedicated 

to championing women artists — had reopened 

after a two-year renovation. 

NMWA reimagined its historic home at 

1250 New York Avenue in Washington, 

D.C., to offer flexible exhibition spaces for 

immersive exhibitions, a versatile studio/ 

classroom area and improved accessibility 

for visitors. 

Located in the heart of Washington, 

D.C., the National Museum of Women in 

the Arts advocates for better representation of 

women artists and serves as a vital center for 

thought leadership, community engagement, 

and social change. Just 11% of all acquisitions 

at prominent American museums over the past 

decade were of work by women artists according 

to Artnet News. 

The collection features more than 5,500 

works from the 16th century to today created 

by more than 1,000 artists. Visitors experience 

art from the moment they enter the building. 

The rotunda features a dramatic six-foot-tall 

hanging sculpture by Joana Vasconcelos, as 

well as paintings by self-taught American artist 

Clementine Hunter and Indigenous Australian 

artist Audrey Morton Kngwarreye. 

On view in the Great Hall are a series of 

black-and-white prom portrait photographs by 

Mary Ellen Mark and large-scale architectural 

photographs of sumptuous spaces by Candida 

Höfer. Portraits and self-portraits of women 

from across the centuries fill the mezzanine, 

with Eva Gonzalès’s Portrait d’une jeune 

femme (Portrait of a Young Woman) (1873–74), 

Frida Kahlo’s iconic Self-Portrait Dedicated 

to Leon Trotsky (1937) and Zanele Muholi’s 

photograph Katlego Mashiloane and Nosipho 

Lavuta, Ext. 2, Lakeside, Johannesburg (2007), 

among others. 

Tickets are required and are available at 

https://nmwa.org/ They’re at 1250 New York 

Ave., NW Washington, DC. 

Can’t get enough Baseball 

Baseball fits naturally in Southwest 

Florida. Each March, the Boston Red 

Sox and Minnesota Twins return for 

spring training in Ft. Myers Young players from 

around the country attend our elite baseball 

camps each summer. And year-round, local 

leagues keep the spirit of the game in play. 

The Minnesota Twins have called our 

coast their spring training destination since 

1991. That same year, they won a record 21 

games during spring training before going 

on to win the World Series. Hammond Stadium 

welcomes them back each spring, but 

hosts minor league games there throughout 

the year. 

Red Sox fans may already know that their 

team plays more than 20 games at JetBlue 

Park – a state-of-the-art ballpark that holds 

up to 11,000 people. The success of their 

world championship season in 2018 and 

2013 was acknowledged by players to have 

begun in Fort Myers. 

Florida Spring Training will officially begin 

on Friday, February 23, as the Boston Red 

Sox meet the Northeastern Huskies at Jet 

Blue Park in Fort Myers. 

National Park Service Entrance Fee — 

Free Days for 2024 

The National Park Service again has its 

entrance fee-free dates for 2024. 

The entrance fee-free days are: 

APRIL 20 – First Day of National Park Week 

JUNE 19 – Juneteenth 

AUGUST 4 – Great American Outdoors Day 

SEPTEMBER 28 – National Public Lands Day 

NOVEMBER 11 – Veterans Day 

(For 2025, JANUARY 15 – Martin Luther 

King, Jr. Day is also entrance-free) 

More than 300 of the country’s more 

than 400 national parks are free to enter every 

day. Also, with at least one national park 

in every state and most major metropolitan 

areas, they provide close-to-home choices for 

recreation and inspiration. Detailed information 

about things to do and see in each park is 

available on NPS.gov and the NPS app. 

The cost to enter parks with entrance fees 

ranges from $10 to $35. The funds remain in 

the National Park Service and 80-100% stays 

in the park where collected. The revenue 

supports visitor services, including 

enhancing accessibility, restoring 

wildlife habitat, and providing ranger 

programs, and adding or upgrading 

restrooms, campgrounds, trails, and 

other facilities. 

The fee waiver for the fee-free days 

applies only to National Park Service 

entrance fees and does not cover 

amenity or user fees for camping, boat 

launches, transportation, special tours, 

or other activities. 

The annual $80 America the Beautiful 

National Parks and Federal Recreational 

Lands Pass covers entry at more than 2,000 

federal recreation areas, including all national 

parks. There are also free or discounted 

passes available for current members of the 

U.S. military and their dependents, military 

veterans, Gold Star Families, fourth grade 

students, individuals with permanent disabilities, 

and senior citizens. More info www. 

gulfcoastwatertaxi.com/ 

At the Women’s Travel Club 

The Women’s Travel Club offers 

unique, women-only tours. Their small 

group tours encompass everything 

from short getaways to adventure travel. It’s 

also a way to make new friends. 

Plan ahead for their Classic Vietnam trip 

in February, 2025 with pre-booking. Vietnam 

is a land of natural beauty and rich 

cultural intricacies, where you’ll encounter 

megacities alongside serene 

hill-tribe villages. 

You’ll be able to delve into 

Vietnam’s history and culture, 

embarking on a journey that 

traverses from the lush green 

peaks of the north to the sunkissed 

beaches of the south. 

Drift through the night 

aboard a traditional junk 

boat amidst the breathtaking 

beauty of Ha Long Bay, 

explore the UNESCO World 

Heritage site of Hoi An, 

gain a glimpse into rural life during a trek 

through hilltribe villages, and savor a cyclo 

ride through the bustling heart of Hanoi. As 

you journey from one end of this captivating 

corner of Indochina to the other, you’ll gain a 

profound appreciation for Vietnam’s diverse 

tapestry. 

See the Vietnam trip as well as all of their 

trip at www.womens-travel-club.com. 

JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers 


travel news continued 

New Ways to 

Experience Britain in 2024 

Considering a trip to Great Britain? 

Discover top-notch events and entertainment 

like music festivals, sporting events 

and hit musicals. Explore eco-friendly stays, 

accessible travel options, and iconic film and 

TV locations. 

Entertainment and Events: 

■ Wembley hosts European football’s 

biggest showpiece, the UEFA Champions 

League final on June 1st and the Tour of 

Britain cycling race kicks off in September, 

taking riders through eight locations in 

England and Wales. 

■ Mean Girls, the smash-hit Broadway 

musical will be coming to London’s Savoy 

Theatre in June 2024 and The Devil Wears 

Prada will take the stage at London’s Dominion 

Theatre in October 2024. 

■ Focus Wales in Wrexham is an international 

music showcase featuring 250+ emerging 

talents and arts events. TRNSMT music 

festival in Glasgow spans two weekends, 

showcasing up-and-coming names and 

hosting world-class talent. 

Eco-Conscious and Accessible Travel: 

■ More conscious travelers now are exploring 

eco-friendly places to stay. Some new 

hotels are The Treehouse hotel chain in 

Manchester, BlueStone National Park in 

Pembrokeshire, Wales and TreeDwellers in 

the Cotswolds. 

■ Britain has a great amount of new accessible 

travel activities and locations in 2024 

like exploring the Peak District with all-terrain 

mobility vehicles and scenic “Miles 

without Stiles” routes or Soar over 

London in a wheelchair-accessible cable 

car that accommodates two wheelchairs or 

scooters, slowing for easy access. 

Film and TV Activities: 

■ Bath sets the stage for a regency era 

re-imagined in the new adaptation of Wonka 

on screen in December 2023. 

■ Steven Spielberg and Tom Hank’s Masters 

of the Air will be coming to theatres in 

2024, bringing the bravery and courage of 

the US Eight Air-Force during World War 

II to life. Discover the beauty and history 

of the show’s backdrop of Oxford and 

the East of England. 

■ Take a trip to London to explore the regal 

settings of Bridgerton’s third season, 

coming to Netflix in May and June of 2024, 

including the Old Royal Naval College & 

its Chapel of St Peter and St Paul and The 

Ranger’s House. 

■ Join the Lights. Camera. Action! tour at the 

stunning Blenheim Palace, visiting the top 

filming locations in Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: 

A Bridgerton Story, along with other 

memorable features such as Harry Potter. 

Britain’s Newest Stays 

London’s Luxury Boom: 

■ In the winter of 2024, The Other House 

Covent Garden will introduce 200 Club 

flats, accompanied by a public restaurant 

and a rooftop bar offering breathtaking 

views. 

■ The Hyatt will open its new Park Hyatt 

London River Thames, walking distance 

from London’s major tourist attractions in 

late 2024. 

■ Additionally, Six Senses, renowned 

worldwide for its authentic, personal, and 

sustainable five-star hotels, is scheduled to 

unveil a new property in London in 2024. 

Six Senses, London 

■ Mandarin Oriental is set to open its 

second London property in Mayfair in the 

spring of 2024. 

■ Explore London’s newly opened Raffles at 

the OWO and The Peninsula London for 

even more high-end accommodations. 

Embark on a Gourmet Break: 

■ The Langdale Chase in Windermere, 

England opened in autumn 2023, delivers 

innovative British cuisine inspired by the 

Lake District at their 2 AA Rosettes rated 

restaurant. 

■ Aughton’s Moor Hall, just under an hour 

north of Liverpool by train, launches luxury 

lodges to provide the ultimate luxury foodie 

gateway from late 2023. 

■ Explore the Witchery, Scotland’s Restaurant 

with Rooms of 2023/24, a historic gem by 

Edinburgh Castle since 1595. Immerse in 

Scottish history, relish fine dining, award-winning 

wines, and atmospheric rooms. 

From The Points Guy 

Is there a day that’s cheaper than others to 

book a flight? There’s a common misperception 

that certain days are better for 

finding flight deals. However, research shows 

that this is a myth. 

There is no magic day to book, but there are 

some sweet booking windows when airlines 

lower prices, Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer 

travel expert at the booking app Hopper, said. 

Hopper relies on 10 years of data and 80 trillion 

flight prices to recommend the best time 

to book specific routes and dates. 

“Typically, we tell travelers for domestic 

trips to start monitoring prices three to four 

months in advance of a trip,” Schwimer 

said. “Expect to book one to two months in 

advance,” she continued. Schwimer said you 

could monitor flight prices at Hopper, which 

has a price tracking tool. 

Hopper’s lead economist, Hayley Berg, told 

TPG, “There’s a common myth that ‘booking 

on a Tuesday’ will guarantee a traveler the 

best price. The reality is prices change so often 

and depend on the route, the travel dates, 

etc., that there isn’t one day that guarantees 

you the best price.” https://www.hopper.com/ 

For international trips, the window is a bit 

larger. You should start monitoring six to seven 

months prior to the trip and look to book 

it three to five months in advance.That’s the 

recommendation from Hopper and from TPG. 

“When you’re traveling internationally, 

planning ahead is key to getting the cheapest 

airfare,” Berg said. “Travelers often book 

international flights too far in advance or too 

last minute, overpaying significantly for their 

tickets.” 

Remember that the strategy changes pretty 

dramatically if you book with points and miles. 

Airlines often open award space for coveted 

business- and first-class seats when the schedules 

open or at the last minute. 

What’s the best day to travel? Although 

airfare prices fluctuate based on when you 

book, midweek travel is generally cheaper 

than flying on weekends, though Sundays can 

also be a sweet spot. 

“Flying midweek can save you nearly $100 

off your ticket,” Schwimer said. “So when you’re 

thinking about when you want to travel, try 

shifting your dates midweek versus flying over 

the weekend. If you can be flexible and book 

either a Tuesday or Wednesday versus a Friday 

or Saturday, you’re gonna save significantly 

off your trip.” Oftentimes, you’ll find early departures 

can save you some big bucks. It’s not 

easy to set the alarm for 4 a.m., but it’s easier to 

wake up when you know you’re saving money. 

Augustine Food + Wine Festival 

May 8-12 

The fourth annual St. Augustine Food + 

Wine Festival, named “One of Florida’s 

Top 10 Food & Wine Festivals” by USA 

Today, will take place on Florida’s Historic 

Coast, May 8 - 12. The St. 

Augustine Food + 

Wine Festival will once 

again be a showcase of 

culinary, beverage and 

culture that highlights 

celebrity guest chefs, 

local chefs, celebrity 

winemakers/proprietors, 

live music, artisans, 

farmers, local craft spirits 

and beers, along with renowned 

wine, spirits and 

beer brands from around 

the globe. The festival 

offers a wide variety of 

events for all tastebuds 

and budgets, from large 

scale tasting events to intimate learning 

experiences. 

TV personality and celebrity chef Tiffany 

Derry will be participating in several festival 

events, including Smoke on the Walk, and 

hosting a cooking demonstration at the 

TV personality and celebrity chef 

Tiffany Derry 

Saturday Grand Tasting’s Publix Cooking 

Demo Stage. Derry is a longtime TV cooking 

show favorite, stepping into the spotlight 

when she appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef 

Season 7, earning the 

title of “fan favorite” and 

finishing in the top four. 

Derry’s quiet confidence, 

warm southern 

charm, and culinary 

expertise made her a 

natural selection for Top 

Chef: All-Stars, where 

she was again a finalist. 

Tiffany Derry’s 

authentic approach 

to Southern cooking 

landed her on the 2022 

James Beard Award 

finalist list in two categories—Best 

Chef: Texas 

and Best New Restaurant 

for Roots Southern Table. Outside of her 

restaurants, she is a fierce advocate for social 

justice and equity across gender, race, and 

food access. 

More info at https://staugustinefoodand 

winefestival.com/ 



156th International Traveling Exhibition of the 

American Watercolor Society 

On display through March 8 at ArtCenter Manatee 

ArtCenter Manatee will 

host the pre-eminent 

156th Traveling Exhibition 

of the American 

Watercolor Society International 

Exhibition. Chosen from 

a field of 160 water media masterpieces 

selected into the International Exhibition 

(from over 1,000 entries), the traveling 

show features the work of 40 artists. 

This year’s show is sure to inspire 

artists and art lovers. 

As one of only three venues in the country 

and the only in Florida to host this 

show, ArtCenter Manatee will display 

the diverse water media work in the Kellogg 

Gallery from January 30 through 

March 8, 2024. The exhibit will also 

feature a slide show of the entries not 

included in the traveling exhibit for a 

more immersive art experience. Admission 

is $5, which assists in bringing such 

a prestigious exhibition to the ArtCenter 

and Bradenton. The opening reception 

is on Thursday, February 1 from 5-7pm. 

While inclusion in this exhibition is itself 

an honor, participants also compete 

for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals 

of Honor as well as other awards, with 

27 artists sharing more than $40,000 in 

prize money. 

Accompanying the exhibit will be the 

annual aqueous show of the Florida 

Suncoast Watercolor Society (FSWS) in 

the Reid Hodges and Searle Galleries. 

FSWS was formed in 1983 to foster 

the advancement of and promote excellence 

in the art of watercolor painting. 

They seek to inform and educate 

through exhibitions, lectures and painting 

demonstrations as to the best work 

currently being done in watercolor. 

Join them for the opening reception 

on Thursday, February 1, 5pm to 7pm. 

Meet the artists, discover the amazing 

talent of these local as well as international 

water media artists, and enjoy the 

wonderful atmosphere in our galleries. 

Hors d’oeuvres and beverages available. 

ABOUT 

the American Watercolor 

Society 

The American Watercolor Society 

(AWS) is one of the oldest and most 

prestigious art societies in the world. 

Election to the Society as a Signature 

Member is one of the most sought-after 

honors in the painting world. AWS 

Membership comprises many of the 

greatest names in painting throughout 

the Society’s history and includes (to 

name drop a few) the American impressionist 

Childe Hassam, regionalists Edward 

Hopper and Charles Burchfield, 

plus virtually every member of the important 

“California School” of watercolorists, 

and everyone in between, up to 

and including the late Andrew Wyeth. 

(Top Left:) John Salminen, High Street Umbrellas; (Top Right:) Ken Call, Solitaire; (Bottom 

Right:) Wu Jianzhon, Blank Leaving 

ABOUT 

ArtCenter Manatee 

Located in downtown Bradenton, Art- 

Center Manatee is the premier center 

for art, art education and unique gifts 

in Manatee County. The Center features 

three galleries, five classrooms, 

an artisan gift shop and an art library 

featuring over 3,000 art volumes. 

Day, evening and weekend art classes 

for adults and children are offered 

year-round in painting, drawing, pastels, 

pottery, jewelry design, photography 

and more. 

The artisan boutique features unique, 

affordable gifts by local and national 

artists. Exhibitions in the galleries 

change monthly and showcase local, 

regional and national artists. Meet the 

exhibiting artists at the monthly evening 

opening receptions that are always 

free and open to the public. 

For more information, 

visit www.artcentermanatee.org 

or call 941-746-2862. 

They’re located at 209 9th St W, 

Bradenton. 

Hours: M/F/S 9:00-5:00, 

T/W/Th 9:00-6:00 


GLOBAL CUISINE 

SUSTAINABLY SOURCED 

CHEF OWNED 

Mattison's Forty-One 

South Sarasota 

Live 

Music 

Schedule 

Mattison's City Grille 

Downtown Sarasota 

Mattisons.com 

Mattison's Riverwalk Grille 

Downtown Bradenton 


dining in 

Remember that scene in Forrest Gump when Bubbah recites all the ways 

of preparing shrimp, “…shrimp with grits, shrimp with rice…’’? 

Around 75 percent of the shrimp harvested in the United States comes 

from the Gulf of Mexico. The most widely served seafood in the US is 

shrimp. That adds up to 1.27 billion pounds of shrimp every single year. That 

works out to about 4.1 pounds of shrimp per person. Here are some recipes Bubbah 

may have overlooked. 

Don’t be alarmed at the amount 

of garlic here; its bite is tamed by 

a soak in lime juice. These would 

traditionally be served over rice 

and they’re also delicious over 

hot crusty bread for soaking up 

all the sauce. Serves 4 

This one’s got a lot of garlic 

too, but goes in a different 

direction. Serve this over rice 

or pasta, with a side of roasted 

asparagus, broccoli, or green 

beans for a very elegant dinner. 

Serves 4 

Shrimp, shrimp, and more shrimp

Is independence in your own home your goal? 

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Celebrating 

(941) 927-2292 

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Take Care is locally nurse and familyowned 

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Susanne S. Wise, RN, MBA, CEO & Owner 

28 

Personalized care in your own home has 

never been more important. 

Our Registered Nurse New Services team 

is ready for your call. 

Courtney Wise Snyder, MSG, CMC, President 

Years of Caring 

2022 

Community Voted Best Home Health since 2012 


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living a higher quality of life, and halting or possibly reversing disease processes. 

With over 30 years of 

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Reasons to Participate in Bio-identical Hormone Balancing 

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Board Certification: 

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Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology 

Post-doctoral Master's in Nutritional and 

Metabolic Medicine 

Fellowship: American Academy of Anti-Aging 

Medicine: Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and 

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Fellowship: American College of Surgeons 

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Deb Spinner, APRN, MS, NP-C 

Board Certified Advanced 

Registered Nurse Practitioner 

Specialties Include: 

Gynecology 

Bio-identical Hormone Balancing 

Metabolic Weight Loss 

IV Therapy 

Family Medicine

wcw FEBRUARY 2024

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