Why the world comes to Sarasota
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Featured Artist
WHO’S PLAYING TONIGHT
An amazing Botanical artist lives in our midst. Her name is Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano and her elegant works hang in major collections and museums...
Meet Ari, part of “Nic and Ari”, who are no less than the darlings of the Sarasota music scene. They are a joy to watch perform either as a duo or with their band “Ari & the Alibis”...
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Drum Circle Magic By Diana Colson The Siesta Key Drum Circle takes place at the public beach every Sunday, rain or shine. Locals and tourists alike get swept up in pulsating rhythms. Dozens of drums and percussion instruments play, and the sound is mesmerizing. An acoustical zither is hammered into a twanging sound, contrasting sharply to the booming voice of an Aboriginal didgeridoo. The center of the circle is marked by a LED ball. If the sun hangs low on the horizon, the ball is as pale as the moon. As the evening darkens, however, the ball begins to glow with the lush colors of sunset. A rim of flowers has been placed around this ball, framed by a feathery wreath made from leaves of fern. There is no significance to this arrangement other than to mark the center of the circle, allowing dancers to orbit the light like planets around a sun.
a voluptuous belly dancer unfurls long ribbons of silk, its tentacles enveloping her in ripples of brilliant color. A magnificently pregnant lady floats past, toddler on one hip and another clutching at her skirt. As the hypnotic pounding of the drums blends with the cry of seagulls, a whitebearded man in a jester’s hat coaxes onlookers to move away from the drummers Photo by R. Frederickson so dancers can move freely about. A tiny lady glides past. She wears a green A community of people has gathered at the edges of the circle, sequined top and a gossamer skirt, people from all backgrounds and and the arc of a scimitar is balanced ages. The crystal sands of Siesta feel precariously on top of her head. silken against bare feet, and it is a It’s Dr. Marguerite Barnett, for happy place for children, who run many years a key player at the and dance and toss twirling sticks Siesta Key Drum Circle. She’s a into the air. Nearby, an accomplished Harvard trained double-board young woman wearing tall lace-up certified cosmetic and reconstructive boots controls a hula hoop with surgeon, and her passion is dance. authority and grace. Behind her Continued on page 18
Outdoor Display
Scooter cars are legal on all roads Page 5
Wording for the Zoning Code is now in the hands of Sarasota County working the language into the Ordinance. The intent is to allow retail outdoor displays only on properties zoned commercially...
Out of State Green Rush, Marijuana State lawmakers want to keep Florida pot home-grown. But the low-THC medical marijuana recently authorized by the Legislature has sparked an out-of-state “green” rush before the bill has even been signed into law. Pot-related business owners from outside the state are less interested in the low-THC strain that will soon be legal --- Gov. Rick Scott has said he will sign the bill --- than the regular old weed, if only for limited medical
use, that might be authorized by voters in November. “Florida’s a super-interesting market for us because of the potential size of it in the future. But this is a great way to get started and we certainly don’t want to miss the opportunity,” said Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech, whose subsidiaries include a medical marijuana dispensary in California and Edible Garden, a hydroponic produce company. Continued on page 12
Lido and City of Sarasota fight Dredge and Fill… a time capsule By By Catherine Luckner, Siesta Key Association, VP In old newsprint, carefully archived at the History Center, the message was clear. Not long ago, and across the Big Pass waters, south Lido Park was born. It was 1967, Arvida Corporation sought permits for development of the southern tip of Lido Key. Arvida
was most influential in community development throughout Florida beginning in 1958. Their plan was not unlike that of Bird Key, taking dredged materials to create land for development. Continued on page 3
America’s Favorite Summertime Treat
By Emy Stein
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Photo by Kacey Luensman - Mote Marine Laboratory
If you ask most Americans what their fondest summertime treat was growing up, chances are ice cream will be at the top of their list. And, most will say they preferred the ice cream parlors over the grocery store variety. Even with the endless choices available in today’s supermarkets, ice cream parlors still trump their grocery store counterparts. And, here in Sarasota, ice cream parlors are certainly not in short supply. It’s interesting to note that ice cream’s popularity has made it an American Symbol even though it predates the birth of this country. So, where exactly did it come from? Let’s take a brief look at its fascinating and somewhat disputed history. Continued on page 28
Turtle Season Page 26
Sand Sculpting Page 33
KEY SOLUTIONS REAL ESTATE
Featuring: SubZero, located in the Village Orange Octopus, located in Capt. Curt’s Village Abel’ls, located in the Southbridge Shopping Plaza McClain’s, located in the Gulf Gate shops Liano Bisceglia (2) of Denville, NJ, enjoying a few of the awesome ice cream flavors at the Orange Octopus in Capt. Curt’s Village on Siesta Key. (Photo by Trebor Britt)
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