DECEMBER 2019
Undine
Shorey Multi-Talented Singer, Musician, Songwriter And, she’s released a new EP,
“Quality of Life”
Also in this Issue: ■ Art at Art Ovation ■ Syd Solomon at The Ringling Dining Out: Most Scenic ■ Restaurants in America Town Hall is Back ■ Plus: Highlights of the ■ Upcoming Arts Season
DECEMBER 2019
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.
in this issue Salute to the Arts
Part 2
Art Ovation Hotel Hosts Art Exhibitions
Four installations highlight diverse works of Florida artists as Art Ovation Hotel continues to celebrate the arts with its latest exhibitions. This is the fifth rotation of work to go on display since the hotel’s opening, and part of an ongoing series of exhibitions shown in its public spaces. And, it’s free and open to all…
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When Cartoons & Classical Music Combine
HOW TO REACH US: Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net
Bugs Bunny and Friends Join Sarasota Orchestra in January. The association of Looney Tunes with Wagner—and Rossini, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Donizetti, and a number of classical music composers—is an indelible one. And Sarasota Orchestra is taking it on in this clever concert. More details on
Here are our columns: n
Out & About: includes
fundraisers, concerts, art exhibits, lectures, dance, poetry, shows & performances, theatre, film, seasonal events and more. n
Mind/Body Calendar: health and
wellness events, support groups, health lectures, seminars and screenings. n
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Datebook: club meetings,
women’s clubs, networking and consumer-oriented lectures. n
Andrea Dasha Reich exhibition at Art Ovation.
You’re News: job announcements,
appointments and promotions, board news, business news and real estate news.
WCW
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Y EARS
WCW Mailing Address: P.O. Box 819 Sarasota, FL 34230 email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net web site: www.westcoastwoman.com
west coast
Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed Opens Dec. 15 at The Ringling This exhibit offers paintings along with objects from the Solomon Archive on view for the first time. Did you know Solomon lived here for many years? Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 with his wife Annie. His was the first work of contemporary art to be collected by The Ringling in 1962.
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Syd Solomon painting in his Sarasota studio 1965. photo by Lionel Murphy
departments 4 editor’s letter 7 out & about 9 Salute to the Arts: Art at Art Ovation Hotel 12 you’re news 14 your health: The Renewal Point 15 datebook
16 your health: Advice from Allure Medical 17 your health: news from 21st Century Oncology 18 west coast woman: Undine Shorey— musician, singer, songwriter, and writer 20 Salute to the Arts: Sarasota Orchestra 21 Salute to the Arts: Florida Studio Theatre 22 Salute to the Arts: Town Hall
24 Salute to the Arts: Syd Solomon at The Ringling 25 Salute to the Arts: Season Highlights page 1 26 Salute to the Arts: Season Highlights page 2 27 travel news 28 Salute to the Arts: Arts Advocates 30 your health: craniosacral therapy 33 dining out: Dining with a View: 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America
WOMAN on the cover: Undine Shorey—accomplished musician, singer, songwriter, and writer.
Photos by: Evelyn England
DECEMBER 2019
WEST COAST WOMAN 3
out about Upcoming at Fogartyville
Florida Studio Theatre has Tony-nominated musical, Bright Star
Edie Brickell & Steve Martin
FST’s Mainstage has the musical, Bright Star which tells a story of love and forgiveness set against the vibrant backdrop of the American South in the 1940s. With Music, Book, and Story by Steve Martin and Music, Lyrics, and Story by Edie Brickell, Bright Star will run in FST’s Gompertz Theatre to January 3. Tickets: (941) 366-9000 or floridastudiotheatre.org.
Buy Some Art for Holiday Gifting
• Amanda Platt and the Honeycutters on December 5. Lyrically driven, the songs of Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters blend the band’s old-school country roots attitude with their shared influences of rock and folk. Performing along with Platt are The Honeycutters with Matt Smith on pedal steel and guitar, Rick Cooper on bass, and Evan Martin on drums. • Phoebe Hunt and Dominick Leslie on December 8. Named one of the ‘Top 10 New Country Artists you Need to Know’ by Rolling Stone Country, Hunt is an accomplished Americana instrumentalist with foundations in jazz and swing music, skilled at taking seemingly disparate elements and pulling them together in a kaleidoscope of lush, coherent sound and rhythm patterns. She’ll be joined by Dominick Leslie on mandolin. • Grass is Dead on December 21. The Grass is Dead, a force of nature in weaving bluegrass, blues, rock, and funk into their repertoire. The band has created a sound that not only pays homage to roots music and the songs of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia, but also expertly travels through time and space to explore the psychedelic nature of music itself, pulling from influences as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd, and so many others. WSLR/Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota, Info: (941) 894-6469 www.wslr.org.
The Longboat Key Education Center The Longboat Key Education Center, a not-for-profit adult enrichment and lifelong learning center located at 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key, offers over 175 programs to stimulate the mind, exercise the body, lift spirits and provide a friendly atmosphere of camaraderie. Programs include courses on everything from yoga, qigong, and meditation to fishing and birding to philosophy and world politics. Also offered are wellness and anti-aging workshops, film festivals, individual lectures covering a broad range of subjects, live concerts, theatrical productions and more. Call 941-383-8811 for a brochure, or visit www. lbkeducationcenter.org.
Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s 49th Season ArtCenter Manatee has its holiday pottery sale on December 6 and 7 from 10 a.m.4 p.m. Find handmade pottery by ArtCenter artists. Their LiveArtfully artisan gift shop sells unique handcrafted work of local and regional artists. Shop online: LiveArtfully.org.
For more information, visit ArtCenterManatee.org, or call 941-746-2862.
Music Matinees Noontime Concerts The 2019-2020 Music Matinees noontime concert season features Francisca Mendoza, violin, and Aza Torshkoeva, piano (December 11); Russell Andrade, tenor, and Lee Dougherty Ross, piano (January 22); Harry Miedema and The Blue Heron Sextet (February 11); Sarasota Opera Studio Artists (March 18); and Angela Galestro, flute, and Jonathan Smith, guitar (April 15). All Music Matinees performances are free and at noon at the BeatriceFriedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Seating is open; no reservations accepted.
Francisca Mendoza
Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning launches its 49th season with its hard-hitting Global Issues series. Internationally acclaimed experts explore the challenges and dilemmas we face at home and around the world in this series of lectures and conversations. The new season runs January 7 to March 27 and features 72 programs in Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch. SILL also offers recordings of 12 of its Thursday series lectures every Thursday at Temple Beth Israel in Longboat Key. Speakers explore dozens of topics, including the U.S. role in the world, income inequality, climate change, migration, artificial intelligence, and topical issues in Latin America, Asia, Europe, Russia and Iran. To purchase subscriptions, or learn more, visit www. sillsarasota.org or call 941-365-6404.
The Sarasota Visual Artists Studios Open Studio Tour Series The Sarasota Visual Artists Studios (SVAS) group is a collaborative of established and prolific artists each dedicated to an individual and distinctive vision. They open their studios to the public on the first Saturday of every month during the local Sarasota season (Dec– Mar). Visitors are invited to visit the studios, meet the artists, see their newest work and learn about their work processes in their environments. The seasonal tour is free. The next Open Studio tour is on Saturday, December 7, 11 AM-4 PM. There will also be open house days on the following first Saturdays of the month: Jan. 4th, Feb. 1st, and March 7th of 2020. Come see the exciting work and working environments of these exceptional artists: Barbara Banks, Bill Buchman, Dasha Reich, Duncan Chamberlain, Larry Forgard, Grace Howl, Michael Halflants, Ned Bowman and Rowan Bowman.
• Deadline for January is December 5 • Send your events to:
westcoastwoman@comcast.net
DECEMBER 2019
WEST COAST WOMAN 7
focus on the arts
Art Ovation Hotel Hosts
ART EXHIBITIONS Four installations highlight diverse works of Florida artists
Barbara Banks Human Cartoon
Art Ovation Hotel’s first floor Lobby Gallery
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rt Ovation Hotel continues to celebrate
Painting by Bill Buchman
Florida-based artist Valentina Bilbao. Her acrylic on canvas works are influenced by her passion for music. Each piece from the collection is musically inspired by the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, or the musical composition The Four Seasons: Concerto No. 2 by Antonio Vivaldi. Last but not least, guests will find “Watercolor Spectrum” on display in the ground floor’s Crescendo Gallery, featuring works by distinguished members of the Florida Watercolor Society, the state’s oldest and most respectable arts organization. The selection of watercolor pieces created by John Bayalis, Helen Burkett, Kathy Houghton, Jenny Medved, William Perry, Diane Schmidt, Roger Parent, and Deborah Wicks, feature a variety of subject matters including portraits, stilllife, and landscapes with their own personal style incorporated into their respective paintings. “Highlighting a variety of talented artists who express creativity in such distinct ways show how multi-faceted the arts can be,” stated Francine Birbragher-Rozencwaig, Art Ovation’s Senior Art Curator responsible for bringing each exhibition to the property. “We’re proud to present these creative collaborations and celebrate the diverse range of visual works within Florida’s art community.” Visitors can explore the art installations on a regular basis throughout the property’s public spaces on a self-guided tour or a guided art and wine tour hosted daily by Art Ovation’s curatorial team. These works will be on display through April 2020. To find out more about these collections, the artists and their work, visit www.artovationhotel.com/art.
Painting by Andrea Dasha Reich
the arts with its latest exhibitions that feature four distinct installations from a diverse selection of artists. This is the fifth rotation of work to go on display since the hotel’s opening, and part of an ongoing series of exhibitions shown in its public spaces. “Art Ovation’s uniqueness is not only in its hotel offerings, but with our exclusive exhibitions we double as an art gallery, showcasing museum quality work for visitors and locals, alike. Each new installation introduces established artists from all walks of life, working in various mediums, with many from our own backyard here in Sarasota, as well as national and international artists,” said Larry Abbo, CEO of Prime Hospitality Group, a partner in the ownership of Art Ovation Hotel. The art exhibitions started with the hotel’s opening last year and changes every four to six months. On the first floor, visitors will find the exhibition “The Independent Eye,” which is a selection of artwork created by members of the Sarasota Visual Artists Studios (SVAS). The organization is made up of award-winning artists dedicated to their individual and distinctive visions, who devote themselves to creating art and educating audiences regarding their unique processes. This local collaborative installation includes photographs by Barbara Banks and Chuck Reich; photos and models of award-wining architectural works by Michael Halflants; sculptures by Duncan Chamberlain; and paintings by Bill Buchman, Larry Forgard, Grace Howl, and Andrea Dasha Reich – all which simultaneously embrace the powers of individuality and unity. Moving from the first floor up to floors three, four and five is where “Zero + One” by Naples native Jeffery Glassover will be displayed. It features a collection of digital paintings on aluminum created entirely on computer. Glassover’s work personifies a bold attempt to synthesize the contrasting worlds of human consciousness and digital technology. Found on the sixth, seventh and eighth floors of the hotel, is “Hallelujah” a series of newly created paintings by Venezuelan-born, South
Art Ovation is located between the Sarasota Opera and the Florida Studio Theatre and just steps away from Main Street at 1255 N Palm Ave, Sarasota. For more information on Art Ovation, visit www.artovationhotel.com.
DECEMBER 2019
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your health
Why do my legs hurt? There are many reasons — here are a few
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here are many reasons patients can have leg pain. The lower part of our legs often bear the burden of daily activities and become painful for myriad reasons. Here are a few: Muscle Cramps – Cramps occur during sleep or in the middle of the day and are a sudden, intense, cramping pain (Charley horse) that happens when muscles are fatigued or dehydrated. It’s a sign to drink more water. Relief with can be found with massage or gentle stretching. Shin splints – Muscles and skin along the edge of shin become inflamed which causes pain with walking, running, or jumping on the front of the leg. It’s often caused by repetitive activity on a hard surface, or by having flat feet or turned out feet while walking. Rest, ice, and ibuprofen are the most common treatments to relieve the pain of shin splints and should be followed by followed by stretching, wearing comfortable shoes, and avoiding running on hard surfaces. Tendinitis – Pain in the lower calf, which can be related to inflammation of Achilles tendon, is typically a result from overwork of the calf muscle or climbing stairs. Again, ice and anti-inflammatory medications are best, followed by appropriate stretching. Broken bones or sprains – If you twist or roll your ankle while walking on an uneven surface, you can end up with a muscle sprain. Treat it with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Severe sprains or break may require a cast or brace in addition to physical therapy. Lower-extremity peripheral artery disease – Occurs when the arteries in the legs become damaged and hardened. When arteries are calcified with plaque, they narrow or become blocked preventing the legs from receiving oxygenated blood resulting in lower leg cramping. In early disease stages, the pain can be relieved with rest. When the disease becomes severe, pain can persist even at rest. Risk factors for peripheral arterial disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, uncontrolled diabetes, morbid obesity, and tobacco abuse. Lifestyle change is the best prevention. If all else fails, you may need surgery to improve blood flow to the leg. Varieties of nerve pain – Most common are narrowing of the spinal canal and sciatica. Arthritis of the spine can cause narrowing of the spinal canal, and a herniated disc can put pressure on nerve roots, which leads to burning, cramping leg pain with standing or sitting. Additional symptoms include numbness, tingling, fatigue, and weakness. Pain begins in the back or hip and extends down the back side of the leg. Treatment requires a combination of physical therapy, stretching, anti-inflammatory medication, or surgery. Diabetic neuropathy occurs when nerves in the legs are damaged from chronically
elevated blood sugar levels causing pain in both legs with eventual numbness and loss of sensation. Vein disease – Legs can hurt from varicose veins and advance vein disease, too. Dark blue, twisted veins near the skin surface result from weak vein walls and malfunctioning valves. Some of the causes are genetics, obesity, hormones, and pregnancy. Pooling blood can compress the nerves resulting in leg fatigue, cramping, swelling, skin color changes, unexplained itching, and restless leg symptoms. Left untreated, vein disease progresses at 4% per year. If you feel your leg pain is caused by vein disease, contact Allure Medical at 941.229.6881. We offer free vein screening and same-day mappings (ultrasound of the legs). Our procedures are virtually painless, require no downtime, and are coverage by most insurance plans, including Medicare. Heal your legs, get back to living! We offer convenient locations in Lakewood Ranch, Venice, and Sarasota.
Adam Phillips, D.O.
FREE
VEIN SCREENING
Allure Medical believes in curing advanced vein disease, not just managing its symptoms. We offer FREE VEIN SCREENINGS in our Lakewood Ranch and Venice offices, and use the latest technology and minimally invasive procedures to stop vein disease in its tracks. No need for years of pain and discomfort. Call 941-214-9412 to schedule your free screening today. Same-day or early/late appointments, available. Allure is located at: 9114 Town Center Parkway, Suite 101, Lakewood Ranch. They’re also located at 1225 Jacaranda Boulevard, Venice.
9114 Town Center Parkway, Suite 101 Lakewood Ranch
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16 WEST COAST WOMAN
DECEMBER 2019
Undine
Shorey
Multi-Talented Singer, Musician, Songwriter
A performing artist since age four, Undine is an accomplished musician, singer, songwriter, and screenwriter familiar to those fortunate enough to hear her perform . In October she released her first CD titled “Quality of Life” to a packed audience at Connect Bradenton’s office. On the EP she performs four original songs as well as “Amazing Grace.”
18 WEST COAST WOMAN
DECEMBER 2019
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performing artist since she was four years old, Undine Shorey is an accomplished musician, singer, songwriter, and screenwriter who moved to Bradenton when she was one year old from London, her birth city. Performing at local cafés, restaurants, hotels, and private parties, Undine is in demand for the amazing way she connects with her audience in a performance or playing background music. In October she released her first EP titled “Quality of Life” to a packed audience at Connect Bradenton’s office on which she performs four original songs and the classic “Amazing Grace.” “At ten years old, I played violin in my middle school orchestra. I had no plans to continue violin as the guitar is my instrument of choice, but as I practiced, I realized that I was meant to play violin. I played all four years in the Manatee High School orchestra and was concert mistress in my senior year. I then played in the State College of Florida orchestra for two years before moving to the University of Tampa where I received a Bachelor of Art’s degree in writing,” Undine says. “I had the opportunity to play for a new pastor who had an electric violin that no one could play so, being intrigued by an electrifying instrument that was also cool looking, I began playing the instrument in churches. At that time I played classical, gospel, and jammed with rocka-billy bands.” At 25, someone told her that the window of opportunity is wide, but will become narrower. Undine was working a corporate job with a desire to work full-time in music so she talked to her mother about living with her for six months. She says leaving her corporate job was risky and scary as she had few music-related contacts in Bradenton and Sarasota, but she didn’t want the window to close without making an effort to realize her passion. Early on she met flamenco guitarist David Munoz on Craig’s List and they became the duo A Deeper Shade of Soul playing Latin, jazz, rumba, R&B, Bosa Nova, and flamenco. Johnette Isham, Executive Director of Realize Bradenton, says, “Undine is an impressive talent, responsive professional, and caring individual who has jumped in with both feet when it comes to contributing to her city. Realize Bradenton has hired her as a musician at our Bradenton Farmers’ Market, a guest musician at the Bradenton Blues Festival, a volunteer at events, freelance writer, and a Millennial who created an engaging playspace for people of all ages to experience the arts—particularly music. I attended her album release party for Quality of Life in October. The lobby of Connect Bradenton was full of people of all ages, races, neighborhoods, and life experiences—all connecting and cheering on this amazing accomplishment of someone we love and support. Undine lives, works and plays downtown and in Bradenton. She pours her whole self into what she does—including making Bradenton an amazing place to live and we’re fortunate to have her here.” The EP took over a year to release with the recording process beginning in early 2018 in Orlando and lasting until the mixing and mastering process in August 2019. She says the songs stretched herself as a musician and singer. The title of the EP “Quality of Life” came from the need to recognize what matters most to us. In Undine’s case, she sings of faith, quality
friendships, family, relationships, loss of friendships, and heartbreaks. As she gets older, she focuses her priorities on what she deems most important. Undine’s musical influences are Lianne La Havas, Corrine Bailey Rae, John Mayer, and Marc Broussard whose genres are similar, but also different. All are singers, songwriters, in tune with musical styles, and great musicians. Undine honed her style listening to these artists and building connections with other singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists. According to Undine, “A music career life is not easy, even stressful. It’s important to have the total package. Talent can take you so far, but the whole package means caring about people, listening to people, and performing songs that remind people of their own lives. People don’t communicate, don’t pay, cancel, and outdoor performances sometimes are challenging. People see me playing for a couple hours and think I just show up and play. What they don’t see is my preparation, packing my equipment, loading it into the car, driving sometimes 25 miles, unloading the car, and setting up the equipment, performing, tearing down the equipment, driving home, and unpacking. Communication is also so important. I follow up on phone calls in less than 12 hours because usually it is someone who had a good experience with me and wants to hire me again. We do a disservice to artists who sometimes undersell themselves. I am a unique musician and deliver what I say I will.” About her adopted home of Bradenton, Undine says it molded her into what she is today—determined, faithful, relentless, and an accomplished musician, singer, and songwriter. Defining herself as self-motivated and self-inspired, she possesses the drive and willpower to be her own visionary. Her passion is the arts—art, music, theatre, musicians, artists, muralists. Someday she sees herself in a metropolis with more choices especially in the arts and theatre. Undine works four hours a day as the brand ambassador for Connect Bradenton, a co-working facility in downtown Bradenton, and is a freelance writer for The Bradenton Times, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Realize Bradenton. Undine’s London-born mother, who works at SOLVE, is an inspiration and supporter as she raised four children as a single parent. Undine describes mother as strong, confident, a pedal-to-the-metal type of person who bought her own home as a single mother. Her father, a CNA, is from Barbados who had family working at Tropicana so the family moved to Bradenton. Her sister Samantha, and brothers Christopher and Sylvester also live in Bradenton. Her generation of cousins and her brother (into rap/beats) and an uncle in London are in music. When she has down time, Undine is a screenwriter. Her work “Citizen.” based on helping her father study for his citizenship test, placed in the top 15 of over 2,000 submissions to the AT&T Filmmaker Mentorship Program competition with Emmy ® Award Winner Lena Waithe as lead program mentor. Undine’s passion and vision for her music is summed up in her words: If you have a goal, just see it all the way through. Always finish what you begin. Do what you love and want to do. To learn more about Undine, hear her music and buy her EP, visit www.undineshoreymusic.com.
STORY: IMAGES:
Carol Darling Evelyn England
DECEMBER 2019
WEST COAST WOMAN 19
Salute to the Arts
When Cartoons & Classical Music Combine Bugs Bunny and Friends Join Sarasota Orchestra in January
style and fabric of Rossini himself, while the gigantic What’s Opera, Doc?, with full-bore Wagnerian-sized instrumentation, combined not only the major leitmotifs of all four Ring Cycle operas, but of Tannhauser, Lohengrin, The Flying Dutchman, and Rienzi as well. It’s because of all of this brilliant music that Bugs Bunny at the Symphony has toured the world non-stop for 30 years and appeals to such a wide audience. Animation fans, of course, love the cartoons and the music, and revel in memories of these brilliant jewels. But serious classical music fans won’t be disappointed, either: They will not only be treated to dazzling playing of some truly brilliant film scores based on the great classics, but they will get all of the inside jokes that the true musical experts will appreciate and love. Although Stalling and Franklyn oftentimes took cues from European composers, their mini-masterpieces were (and still are) quintessentially American: brash, fresh, exciting, fantastically bombastic, in your face. Perfect accompaniment for Bugs Bunny and his friends.
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here’s an old joke that if you stand on a street corner of any great American city and sing the first few bars of Wagner’s “Ride of The Valkyries,” 90 percent of passersby will find the mantra “kill da wabbit, kill da wabbit” uncontrollably popping into their heads. The association of Looney Tunes with Wagner—and Rossini, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Donizetti, and a number of classical music composers—is an indelible one. And it’s no accident, because hundreds of millions of people across the world first experienced classical music through Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and the rest of the Looney Tunes ensemble cavorting to the masterful, classically-infused cartoon scores of Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn. For Stalling and Franklyn, the cartoons may have been hilarious, but the creation of the music was no laughing matter. They arduously and passionately worked with the Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra to establish an unmistakably distinct “Looney Tunes sound”—and although movie fans might not have been able to define it, they instantly knew it (and loved it) when they heard it. Thus, it is no surprise to find Stalling and Franklyn’s genius returning to Sarasota Orchestra in January’s Bugs Bunny at the Symphony concert. These two composers have earned their moment in the limelight and their place upon a hallowed concert platform. The classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies projected in this concert, up on the big
screen above the live orchestra, are indeed brilliant. But more importantly, so is the music. Born in 1891 in Lexington, Missouri, Carl Stalling was a piano prodigy at age six, and he cut his musical teeth on that new invention known as “moving pictures.” By the age of 12, he was the principal theater pianist of his hometown’s little silent movie house, improvising scores day after day to the flickering black and white images on the silver screen. By his early twenties, he moved to the big city, where his improvised film scores became much more complex thanks to the grand theater organs found in Kansas City’s and St. Louis’ elaborate new movie palaces. In a twist of fate that would change the direction of the rest of his life, Stalling made friends with a young, unknown Kansas City animator—a penniless guy named Walt Disney—and discovered the world of animation. Stalling and Disney ended up in Hollywood, and after two years young Carl Stalling moved over to Warner Bros., where he would spend the rest of his career. Milt Franklyn was at first Stalling’s arranger and orchestrator at Warner Bros., but later took on
Created and conducted by George Daugherty
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more and more compositional duties. Together, the two of them composed scores that were every bit as evocative as the cartoons they accompanied. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies were always populated with hit songs of the day, but it was Stalling’s and Franklyn’s pure orchestral scores that truly dazzled. A Road Runner cartoon would almost become a ballet, full of orchestral sound and fury. The Rabbit of Seville was composed completely in the
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20 WEST COAST WOMAN
DECEMBER 2019
Concert Details
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◆ Pops: Bugs Bunny
at the Symphony ◆ January 3-4, 2020: at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center ◆ Created & Conducted by: George Daugherty ◆ Tickets: available online and through the Box Office. Call (941) 953-3434 or visit SarasotaOrchestra.org
Salute to the Arts
LOVE & LAUGHTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Florida Studio Theatre Offers up Handle With Care Opening Dec. 11
Photo by Russ Rowland (2014)
Charlotte Cohn and Jonathan Sale in Westside Theatre’s Off-Broadway production of Handle with Care.
(Left to Right): Charlotte Cohn, Sheffield Chastain, and Jonathan Sale in Westside Theatre’s Off-Broadway production of Handle with Care.
LORIDA STUDIO THEATRE’s THEATRE’s newest Mainstage production, Handle With Care, is serving up romance and comedy just in time for the holiday season. Called “hilarious and heartwarming” by The New York Times and “The perfect non-Christmas ‘Christmas show’” by The LA Daily News, Handle with Care tells the story of two lives colliding under the most tragic and absurd of circumstances. It’s Christmas Eve – the busiest time of the year for all things postal – and Ayelet has just learned that her very important package has been lost in the mail. Not a Christmas present – she’s Israeli and she’s Jewish. A parcel of a very personal nature that needs to be located ASAP. Trouble is, she only speaks Hebrew, and no matter at what volume she describes her dilemma, her words and their meaning are also lost. Terrence, the DHX delivery driver responsible for the parcel’s disappearance, has a heart of gold, but a brain of…well, bronze. Determined to help make things right, he calls up the only Jewish person he knows – his childhood friend, Josh. But when Josh arrives on the scene, it quickly becomes obvious that the extent of his Hebrew vocabulary s limited to “Shalom” and not much more. Snowed in together in a Virginia motel, Josh and Ayelet must frantically gesture and nod – not unlike a comical game of charades – to try to communicate and guess what each other is trying to say. “I was struck by the simplicity of connection between two people who spend an entire play together and orm a bond even though they do not speak the same language,” said FST’s Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins. “It is a testament to intuition and feeling as guides to the deepest of human connection.” Charlotte Cohn, wife of the playwright Jason Odell Williams and author of the
Playwright Jason Odell Williams.
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Playwright Jason Odell Williams with wife Charlotte Cohn.
Hebrew in the script grees. “I think one of the main themes in this show is that, even if you come from very different backgrounds, you can still find the path to love,” said Cohn. Cohn didn’t just co-write the play with her husband, Williams. She was also the inspiration for the play. Williams asked his wife, “If I’m going to write something for you, what would it be?” Cohn answered, “I’m really fascinated with miscommunication–not being able to be understood and not being able to speak.” Two weeks later, there was the first draft of Handle with Care. “All of these little random decisions that you make lead to this other point in time,” said Jason Odell Williams, “Is it just the human mind deciding to assign meaning to things, or is there some sort of divine intervention — is there some sort of path? To me, that is the universal question and a theme that I try [to] explore in the play.” Handle with Care by Jason Odell Williams with Hebrew written by Charlotte Cohn plays at Florida Studio Theatre beginning December 11.
Photo Courtesy of FST
“THRILLING”
-Los Angeles Daily News
By Jason Odell Williams Hebrew Written By Charlotte Cohn
“HILARIOUS AND HEARTWARMING ” -New York Times
Tickets now on sale at floridastudiotheatre.org or FST’s Box Office at 941-366-9000
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A young Israeli woman, who has little command of the English language, meets a young American man, who has little command of romance, on Christmas Eve. Is their inevitable love an accident…or is it destiny, generations in the making? DECEMBER 2019
WEST COAST WOMAN 21
focus on the arts
General John Kelly, Annie Leibovitz and Rick Steves Some of the Speakers at
RCLA TOWN HALL 2020 Lecture Series
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ormer White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, photojournalist Annie Leibovitz and travel guru Rick Steves are among the distinguished speakers who will appear at the 2020 Ringling College Library Association TOWN HALL Lecture Series. “From leadership and politics to medicine and the arts, our renowned speakers will enlighten, instruct and entertain attendees in our 40th anniversary season,” said Committee Chair, Ollie Johnson, TOWN HALL 2020 which is presented by the Ringling College Library Association (RCLA) in Sarasota. Subscription tickets for RCLA members for the 2020 series are on sale, according to Stephanie Grosskreutz, RCLA executive director. “We look forward to celebrating 40 years of bringing influencers from the world stage to our stage in Sarasota,” she said. “Next year will also mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of our Ringling College Library Association.” Since launching the annual lecture series in 1981, RCLA has made more than $11 million in gifts and commitments for student scholarships and the support of the Alfred R. Goldstein Library, which opened in 2017 at the Ringling College of Art and Design. “Our TOWN HALL Lecture Series and the continuing support of our members make it possible for talented to attend Ringling, while supporting the ongoing needs of our library,” Grosskreutz said.
“We cannot gamble with American lives. I will not gamble with American lives.” — Gen. John F. Kelly
RCLA’S 2020 TOWN HALL Lecture Series will begin on Monday, January 27, with a talk by Kelly, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general who served as Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security and White House Chief of Staff, a position he held until January 2019. In a distinguished career spanning
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nearly five decades of service to his country, Kelly served in a wide range of positions, including leading the Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, and the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Miami, a position he held until January 2016.
Affairs, Sherman recently stepped down as undersecretary of state for political affairs after four years overseeing every region of the world, dealing with every major opportunity and crisis, and leading the U.S. negotiating team to a successful conclusion of the Iran nuclear deal. In recognition of her many diplomatic accomplishments, she was awarded the National Security Medal by President Barack Obama.
injury, autism, Huntington’s disease, and ALS. Genova graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in biopsychology and holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University. She is the New York Times bestselling author of “Still Alice,” “Left Neglected,” “Love Anthony,” and several other books. Through fiction, she is dedicated to describing the journeys of those affected by neurological diseases, thereby educating, demystifying, and inspiring support for care and scientific research.
“Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking.”
— Rick Steves
On Tuesday, February 11, RCLA attendees will enjoy a tour of the travel world from Rick Steves, the host of the popular public television series Rick Steves’ Europe, and best-selling author of more than 50 European travel books. By encouraging Americans to travel as “temporary locals,” he helps them connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay. Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves, with a broader approach to travel everywhere.
“Conceiving of teams as the right pieces instead of the right process is a trap: thinking you know the type of person you are looking for prevents you from evaluating people for their skills or expertise.” — Wendy R. Sherman
Ambassador Wendy R. Sherman will be the featured speaker on Monday, February 17. Now a senior fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and Belfer Center for Science and International
DECEMBER 2019
“2008: Drug overdoses, mostly from opiates, surpass auto fatalities as leading cause of accidental death in the United States.” — Sam Quinones
On Monday, March 2, freelance journalist and author of three books, Sam Quinones will give a talk about his experience writing Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic for which he traveled across the United States. Dreamland chronicles the roots of America’s epidemic of opiate addiction, the nation’s deadliest drug scourge in its history. Quinones worked at the L.A. Times for 10 years (2004-2014) and is a veteran reporter on immigration, gangs, drug trafficking, and the border.
“Be creative, be useful, be practical, be generous and finish big.”
— Lisa Genova
On Monday, March 23, renowned neuroscientist, Lisa Genova, will focus on neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain
“Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy — your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself.” — Annie Leibovitz
Celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz will wrap up the 2020 series on Tuesday, April 7, with a talk on her long career in journalism and the arts. A former chief photographer for Rolling Stone, her pictures have appeared regularly on magazine covers since the 1970s. As an astute documentarian of the social landscape, she developed a large body of work at Vanity Fair, and later at Vogue, including portraits of actors, directors, writers, musicians, athletes, and political and business figures, as well as fashion photographs.
All lectures will be presented at Van Wezel in Sarasota. Morning lectures begin at 10:30 a.m. and evening talks begin at 7:30 p.m. Call 941-309-5100 to become an RCLA member and subscribe to the 2020 TOWN HALL Lecture Series. Learn more by going online to www.rclassociation.org.
Salute to the Arts SYD SOLOMON:
Concealed and Revealed Opens Dec. 15 Paintings along with objects from the Solomon Archive on view for the first time Syd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) described himself as an “Abstract Impressionist” alluding to the fact that his work infused impressionism into the processes, scale and concepts of Abstract Expressionism. Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 with his wife Annie. His was the first work of contemporary art to be collected by The Ringling in 1962. Institute of Chicago from 1935 to 1938. In 1940 he enlisted in the Engineer Aviation Regiment, First Camouflage Battalion of the military. During this time Solomon helped design camouflage for the California coast near the San Francisco area. Later he was assigned to the Royal Engineer Camouflage Corps in London where he designed camouflage to be used against the Germans in World War II. He even went Syd Solomon, Fifty-Fifty, 1974 on to earn the Bronze star for his contributions during oming up at The Ringling: the Battle of the Bulge. Syd Solomon: Concealed During his time in London and Revealed offers a unique he mostly performed aerial reselection of paintings by the connaissance which inspired his Syd Solomon, Windscape (Great Barrier Reef Series), 1958 artist along with numerous ideas of abstract art. After leaving objects from the Solomon Solomon family had also grown to include the military he went on to attend classes at Archive on view for the first time. a daughter Michele, and later a son Michael the French art school L’Ecole des BeauxSyd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) (also a painter). By 1959 the artist had beArts in 1945. Solomon and his wife Annie described himself as an “Abstract Impresgun regular showings in New York at the moved to Sarasota in 1946. His was the sionist” alluding to the fact that his work Saidenberg Gallery while also doing shows first work by a contemporary artist to be infused impressionism into the processes, in both the Hamptons and in Miami. displayed in The Ringling. scale and concepts of Abstract Expression In the 1960s Solomon’s reputation reached Solomon’s art was included in several ism. Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 a high point and he was being shown at many national exhibitions throughout the 1950s. with his wife Annie. His was the first work of the finest museums in the world. In 1961 In 1955 the couple first visited East Hampof contemporary art to be collected by The he received several awards and accolades ton, New York, which soon after became Ringling in 1962. including the 13th New England Annual and their second home. By 1959 the Solomons His paintings were greatly influenced the Painting of the Year from the Whitney had developed the ritual of spending winter by climatic factors and reveal a fascinaMuseum of American Art. This popularity and spring in Sarasota and then autumn in tion and concern for Florida’s aquatic made him an influential personality in both the Hamptons. environment. Solomon incorporated his his Hamptons and Sarasota communities. After the 1950s, Solomon’s style became experience as a camouflage designer during He helped bring many well-established heavily influenced by nature. His works ilWorld War II into his painting. It is not artists down to Florida after he started his lustrate his fascination with the climatic and well-known that he was also an accomInstitute of Fine Art at New College. They overall environmental conditions of land, plished graphic artist, who in his early included many well-known artists includsea, and sky. In the 1960s he started using years designed commercial signage for ing James Brooks, Larry Rivers, and Conpolymer tempera as a base and would then prominent hotels and businesses in Sarasorad Marca-Relli. In 1970 Solomon with the combine it with various colored inks and oils. ta. Like his work in camouflage, Solomon’s help of architect Gene Leedy built his award Syd was also one of the premier artists calligraphic skill was essential to the develwinning home and studio on Siesta Key in to use acrylic paint. He became a fan of a opment of his later gestural abstraction. Sarasota. In 1975 the New York Cultural specific resist technique that used a lactic Center and the Ringling Museum held retcaseing solution to mask the painting. His rospective exhibitions of the artist’s works. painting gestures usually consisted of cir Throughout his life Solomon taught Solomon spent most of his time in his homes cles, squares, and curves. Solomon was not at many different institutions including in both East Hampton, NY and Sarasota, concerned with perfection in his art strokes the Pittsburgh Art Institute, the Ringling which influenced many of his paintings. as much as rough edges that left for unMuseum of Art, the Famous Artists School, In addition to The Ringling, his works have predictability. Although he used a range of New College in Sarasota, and the Sarasota been featured at The Guggenheim, The colors in his paintings, the color black has School of Art. Whitney, Corcoran Gallery of Art, The always played a big part in his work. Around 1990, Solomon began to display Wadsworth Athenaeum and several others. Solomon continued this dual lifestyle for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. After a Solomon was born in Uniontown, Pennsylover the next 30 years. The environmental long battle with the disease Solomon died vania. There he got his start painting in high settings of his two homes worked as inspion January 24, 2004 at 86. school. Later he went on to study at the Art ration in his paintings. By this point the
C
A Syd Solomon Primer
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Syd Solomon, Silent World, 1961
Also at The Ringling… Remaking the World: Abstraction from the Permanent Collection to Aug. 1, 2021 Drawing from the Museum’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, the exhibition Remaking the World: Abstraction from the Permanent Collection assembles more than 20 paintings and sculptures by European and American artists associated with Abstract Expressionism. The exhibition features a significant bequest of paintings by Joan Mitchell (American, 1925-1992) and Robert Motherwell (American, 1915-1991), from the collection of Mandell L. Joan Mitchell, Rock Bottom, 1960-1961 and Madeleine H. Berman; the first additions to the collection by these prominent artists. It also offers the opportunity to extend on view a monumental painting by Yayoi Kusama, a promised gift from Keith D. and Linda L. Monda. This exhibition will include significant artworks by artists who made important contributions to the development of abstraction in New York in the 1940s and onwards, including artists instrumental in establishing a vital art scene in Sarasota. As early as the 1940s, artists from this critical modern art movement sought to transform New York’s art scene with revolutionary approaches to the canvas: splattering, spilling, dabbing, washing and dripping paint. These innovative techniques rooted in deliberate yet spontaneous gestures of a brush or palette knife, along with emphasis on individuality and the subconscious as subject matter, affirmed and politicized the role art played in the evolution of postwar American society. A local connection evolved as a number of artists working in abstraction traveled south to enjoy the warm climate and pursue various teaching and art residency opportunities. Sarasota and the Tampa Bay area became a second home to artists David Budd, John Chamberlain, Jimmy Ernst, Gabriel Kohn, Conrad Marca-Relli and Syd Solomon, all of whom were instrumental in establishing a vital art scene in the area while often opting to teach in the local community. The exhibition is in the Searing Wing.
Salute to the Arts
arts highlights
Season is here! Here’s a sampling of things we thought you’d like plus news items, changes, anniversaries and just plain interesting stuff… More Musical Innovation at Choral Artists of Sarasota Choral Artists of Sarasota 41st season is entitled “Encounter!” and is well underway. Highlights include celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020. The commemoration of Earth Day’s 50th anniversary includes a premiere work composed by James Grant, a parttime Sarasota resident and longtime collaborator with artistic director Joseph Holt. Listen to the Earth: This world premiere will feature James Grant’s original choral cantata, “Listen to the Earth.” Grant created texts that are inspired by the writings of astronauts and ecological writings by John Muir and Robert W. Service. The concert will feature Marcus DeLoach, baritone soloist and takes place on Sunday, April 19, 7 p.m., at Sarasota Opera House. In addition to the concert, there will be film screenings, panel discussions, and a community-wide partnership to promote regional environmental engagement. Jane Alexander, a Tony Award-winner, two-time Emmy Award winner and former director of the National Endowment for the Arts, will be the featured speaker for
designated Choral Artists’ project as an artistic component of its Earth Optimism Summit in Washington, DC, in April 2020. While Holt is proud of this national connection, he sees the local connection is especially vital. To that end, Choral Artists is inviting regional organizations to join forces in this initiative. “interested organizations should contact Susan Burke, Choral Artist’s executive director for more information at director@ChoralArtistsSarasota.org or 941-387-6046. For more information, visit www.Choral ArtistsSarasota.org or call 941-387-4900.
It Might Seem Like a Trivial Matter but… Asolo Repertory Theatre and The Sarasota Ballet have brand new seating in the Harold and Esther Mertz Theatre, the main performing space for Asolo Repertory Theatre and the home of The Sarasota Ballet.
Asolo Rep has the critically acclaimed 2018 Broadway hit The Lifespan Of A Fact
Asolo Takes on the Facts…
WBTT launches ‘Single Ticket Club’
Asolo Rep has the critically acclaimed 2018 Broadway hit THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT from January 22 to March 19. It will be directed by Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal. Demanding magazine editor-in-chief Emily Penrose hires a determined millennial fact-checker named Jim Fingal to work on
Brand new seating in the Harold and Esther Mertz Theatre Jane Alexander Choral Artists of Sarasota’s “Listen to the Earth” ecological initiative in April 2020. The program also includes a panel discussion led by Dr. Terry Root of Stanford, the noted environmentalist who shared a Nobel Prize with Albert Gore for her contributions to “An Inconvenient Truth.” Choral Artists has also planned a community-wide partnership promoting environmental engagement. Dr. Joseph Holt, Choral Artists of Sarasota’s artistic director, explains that, “Choral Artists created this initiative to build and strengthen community engagement. In the context of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, we intend to raise environmental awareness through the power of music, speech, film, and action.” The Smithsonian Conservation Commons of the Smithsonian Institution
The installation was completed in August, with the comfortable new seating ready for Asolo Rep and The Sarasota Ballet’s fall seasons. Capacity has increased from 503 to 535 seats, with most of the new seats added to the orchestra section of the theatre. Aisle lighting was also added for increased safety and visibility. The new layout also allows for an improvement in sight line clarity and an increase in ADA seating at a variety of prices. The seats, manufactured by Irwin Seating, are a replica of those in the historic New Amsterdam Theatre, the oldest operating theatre on Broadway, and reflect the style and aesthetic of the Mertz. The Mertz, which was originally an opera house built in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1903, has served as Asolo Rep’s performing space since 1990 and The Sarasota Ballet’s since 1996.
a groundbreaking essay. Like magazines everywhere, this one is reeling from poor ad sales and shrinking circulation. But with this potentially sensational essay, salvation looms. When overly eager Jim takes his fact-checking too far, the ultimate showdown between “truth” and “accuracy” is about to begin – with delicious consequences. Tickets: www.asolorep.org.
For its 20th anniversary season in 2020, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is introducing something new: the Single Ticket Club. This program offers “the hottest ticket in town” for theater lovers who don’t have anyone to attend shows with and don’t like to go alone. Single ticket buyers can join others for up to four mainstage season shows (subject to availability) and sit together in an area reserved for the club. The group will gather before each show for drinks and snacks, to meet new friends while enjoying WBTT’s first season in its renovated theater. Seats have been reserved on the following dates for the Single Ticket Club (all performances are Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.): February 11 – “Caroline, or Change”; March 31 – “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God”; May 19 – “Ruby”; and July 7 – “Flyin’ West.” “We know that being part of a live theater audience is a shared experience,” said WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach. “We get comments from people who love our productions but would prefer to enjoy them with fellow playgoers in a group, so we decided to offer this opportunity. It’s for people of any age who want to be with others and enjoy theater together.” To join the WBTT Single Ticket Club, contact Marlene Deutsch at mpddsm@ gmail.com or call 203-984-5949.
WBTT house manager Myllanna McKinnon, Single Ticket Club volunteer Marlene Deutsche, and WBTT artist/ production assistant Michael Mendez continued on next page
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Salute to the Arts highlights continued ■ Also at WBBT: their renovation, when completed, will have 205 theater seats, a dedicated Will Call office, expanded lobby and restrooms, and many more amenities. WBTT’s renovated theater reopens in January 2020 at its current location (1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota). For more information, visit the website at westcoastblacktheatre.org or call 941-366-1505.
Venice Theatre Marks its 70th anniversary When the then called “Venice Little Theatre” mounted its first production in the 1950s, it did so in a borrowed building, had no paid staff, operated entirely with volunteers, and its only revenue came from sales of $2 tickets.
Don’t miss “Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday” Cunningham on reeds, Chuck Redd on vibraphone, James Suggs on trumpet, John Lamb on bass, Jean Bolduc on drums, and Daniela Soledade on vocals, on December 13.
Venice Theatre — the largest community theatre in the United States Today, Venice Theatre is per capita, the largest community theatre in the United States with an operating budget of almost four million dollars, a professional staff and a place in the history of Venice. This month they have HOME...for the HolidaysAssisted Living the Musical running to December 22. The comedy team of Compton and Bennett are off their walkers again in this sequel to the runaway hit about the nursing home and beyond. Christmas, Hanukkah, and retirement will never be the same. Held in the Pinkerton Theatre at Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. Tickets: venicetheatre.org.
Love Jazz? The Glenridge Performing Arts Center has “Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday,” an annual tradition that showcases Adrian
On December 14 they’ve got the Pine View Jazz Band. These gifted young performers’ talent is only matched by their love of the classic, mid-20th century American style. The Glenridge Performing Arts Center (GPAC) is located on the campus of The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch. The 260-seat, state-of-the-art theater provides a wide variety of professional and community programs. Visit www.gpactix.com.
Love Tribute Bands?
If you do, you’re in luck because there are a lot of them coming to town this season such as Beatles vs The Stones: The Greatest Show That Never Was on February 1, 2020, at the Venice Performing Arts Center (1 Indian Avenue, Venice). The story of the infamous rivalry between the two greatest bands of the rock
The Glenridge Performing Arts Center has the Pine View Jazz Band
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Holiday, an all-new musical celebration of everything that makes the holidays in Sarasota special. ‘Tis the season to deck the palms and join in the fun at this interactive family show. Five elves, who normally celebrate Zepparella — Led Zeppelin tribute band the holidays at the North Pole, venture down to Sarasota to see how they are celebrated on the Gulf Coast. They learn about Floridian traditions, like swimming in the sea, making sand snowmen, Sarasota’s annual holiday parade, and more. A tradition for Sarasota families, FST’s latest Beatles vs The Stones: The Greatest Show That Never Was edition of Deck the Halls has brand new songs and sketches. and roll era comes alive on stage. The show Families join five magical elves on is comprised of six alternating mini-sets of a musical adventure as they celebrate the greatest hits on earth—the soundtrack Christmas and Hanukkah in true Floridian to the lives of millions of people around the fashion. The show runs to December 28 world. In the end, the audience will decide in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre. who wins- The Beatles or The Stones? Deck the Halls!: A Holly Jolly Holiday is For all you Zep fans, they have written by Sarah Durham and Caroline Zepparella on February 21, 2020. Kaiser. Tickets are available at floridastuSinger Anna Kristina, Guitarist Gretchen diotheatre.org or through FST’s Box Office Menn, Bassist Holly West and Drummer at 941-366-9000. Clementine make up Zepparella, the Led Zeppelin Powerhouse devoted to Love is in the Air sharing the music of one of the greatest rock band in the world. this season at Info: (941) 218-3779 or go to https:// Sarasota Opera veniceperformingartscenter.com. Love in allies complex forms is the theme of the Sarasota Opera’s upcoming Deck the Halls!: season. They have La bohème (FebruA Holly Jolly Holiday— ary 8 - March 21), Romeo and Juliet Sarasota Style (February 15 - March 20), The Elixir of Love (February 22 - March 21) and La Florida Studio Theatre (FST) Wally (March 7 -22). presents Deck the Halls!: A Holly Jolly It will be a new production of La Wally by Alfredo Catalani, a work not seen in the U.S. for more than 30 years. Italian soprano Teresa Romano will make her Sarasota Opera debut singing the title role. Sundine—who sang the role of Wally in Sarasota Opera’s 1989 production— will be the stage director, with Maestro DeRenzi conductDeck the Halls!: A Holly Jolly Holiday Stephanie Sundine ing.
travel news Airline and Airport News —
Just in time for the holidays and Planning for 2020
Ever Try PIE?
PIE aka St. Pete-Clearwater International had its biggest September in history. With 123,638 passengers, September 2019 was up 2% over 2018 and the biggest September in PIE history. Year-to-date, PIE is up 2% over 2018 with two new Allegiant destinations that began in October – State College, PA and Traverse City, MI. If you’re flying out of St. Pete or have family flying into St. Pete for the holidays, take note. PIE expects its busiest holiday season ever this year. Arrange transportation to PIE – they expect all parking lots to reach full capacity. Picking up passengers? Use the cell phone lot until your guests are ready with luggage at the curb. No curbside waiting allowed. Plan for heavy traffic in and around the airport. Due to construction, there are barri-
Spirit Airlines adds service to Newark, New York City and Indianapolis from TPA
cades in and around the airport roadways and parking lots and portions of the curbside are closed due to construction. Outbound passengers are strongly encouraged to arrange transportation to the airport as they cannot guarantee parking. Allow ample travel time to the airport. The roadways in and around the airport are under construction. Shuttles operating to and from Economy Parking Lots may experience delays due to traffic congestion or construction activity. For more information about parking, visit https://www.fly2pie. com/directions-park…/parking-information. PIE currently has 2,183 overnight parking spots in their Long-term, Economy, and Overflow lots. After the Parking & Roadway Construction Project is completed they’ll have 3,156 overnight parking spots.
Allegiant Air Adds Services to SRQ and PGD Airports Allegiant now has nonstop route to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport from Allentown, Pennsylvania, beginning Feb. 13, 2020. The new nonstop route via Lehigh Valley International Airport will operate twice weekly. Allegiant offers a unique option to Sarasota / Bradenton-bound travelers with low base airfare and savings on rental cars and hotels. Travelers can book their entire vacation with Allegiant for less. For more details, optional services and baggage fees, visit allegiant.com.
Allegiant now has service to Punta Gorda Airport from Richmond, Virginia via Richmond International Airport beginning Feb. 13, 2020. The new seasonal flights will operate twice weekly and bring an additional 15,000 travelers to Charlotte County. With the addition of this new route, Allegiant will now serve 47 cities from Punta Gorda Airport (PGD). Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found only at allegiant.com. For more details, optional services and baggage fees, please visit allegiant.com.
The new flights bring Spirit’s total number of routes out of Tampa International Airport to 24 – a 50 percent increase in service since 2017. Spirit’s growth was an important part of Tampa International Airport strong Fiscal Year 2019, which saw a recordbreaking 22.2 million passengers.
KEY FACTS: Spirit now serves 24 destinations nonstop from TPA, a 50 percent increase since 2017 Spirit added more than 437,000 passengers in FY2019 compared to FY2018 Spirit accounted for nearly 40 percent of TPA’s passenger growth in FY2019 Spirit added more than 2,500 operations in FY2019 compared to the previous year.
What You Need to Know About Cyber Safety While Traveling
Frontier Airlines Adds Nonstop to Trenton, NJ
Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines has launched nonstop service from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to Trenton-Mercer Airport. New route from SRQ began Nov. 15, 2019. The new service is seasonal and frequency and times are subject to change, so please check FlyFrontier.com for the most updated schedule. Frontier operates over 95 A320 family aircraft and has the largest A320neo fleet in the U.S., delivering the highest level of noise reduction and fuel-efficiency, compared to previous models. The use of these aircraft, Frontier’s seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline’s average of 39% fuel savings compared to
other U.S. airlines (fuel savings is based on Frontier Airlines 2018 fuel consumption per seat-mile compared to the weighted average of major U.S. airlines). One of Frontier’s most popular family offers is Kids Fly Free whereby one kid can fly free for every adult with Discount Den travel club membership on select dates and flights. Additional information about Kids Fly Free is available at https:// www.flyfrontier.com/kidsflyfree. In addition to Kids Fly Free, Frontier offers special rewards and status benefits for the whole family. Plus, every Frontier aircraft features a unique animal on its tail -- from Griz the Bear to Otto the Owl, to Flo the Flamingo -- kids will enjoy getting to know their new animal friends.
Spirit added 437,000 passengers over the previous year, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the Airport’s passenger growth for FY2019. The passenger growth comes as the airline added 2,500 total aircraft operations in FY2019.
The carrier offers customers the ability to customize travel to their needs and budget. For example, customers can purchase options a la carte or in one low-priced bundle called the WORKS. This bundle includes refundability, a carry-on bag, a checked bag, the best available seat, waived change fees, and priority boarding. The airline’s frequent flier program, FRONTIER Miles lets members enjoy many benefits as well as the ability to attain Elite status. Like the airline, FRONTIER Miles is family friendly, and the program makes it easy for families to enjoy the rewards together, including family pooling of miles. FRONTIER Miles is aptly named because you earn one mile for every mile flown – no funny formulas at Frontier. With over 150 new Airbus planes on order, Frontier will continue to grow to deliver on the mission of providing affordable travel across America. Frontier’s young fleet also ensures that the company keeps fares low and that customers will enjoy a pleasant and reliable experience flying with the airline. For more info, visit www.flyfronteir.com.
Consumer Reports Magazine says that, “A few precautions will go a long way toward protecting your digital privacy and security while you’re away from home.” In particular, they recommend travelers be aware of public WIFI. “When you’re away from your home and work networks, it can be tempting to jump on any free WiFi you can, especially if you’re traveling overseas and trying to avoid hefty roaming charges. But is that really a good idea? After all, there’s nothing stopping a hacker from jumping on the same network and intercepting the data going to and from your computer,” the magazine notes. Richard Gold, a security researcher and head engineer for the cybersecurity firm Digital Shadows, says that in most cases the warnings of security professionals about the dangers of public WiFi amount to “doom mongering” and are based on outdated information. “If you’re using the latest version of Android, iOS or MacOS, and you stick with modern applications, you should be fine,” Gold says. “These companies expect their customers to be using public WiFi, and they’re going to stop those attacks.” But that comes with some caveats. If you’re using an old computer or phone that isn’t running the latest operating system, you could be at risk. If you’re using a browser, look for the lock symbol in the URL to make sure the site is encrypted. But there’s no way to check if your favorite apps are encrypting all of your data. If you have any doubts about the security of your device, Gold says you can always use a VPN, or virtual private network. Ideally, a VPN masks your location and encrypts the data sent to and from your device.
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Salute to the Arts The FINE ARTS SOCIETY OF SARASOTA, INC. is now
ARTS ADVOCATES
A new name goes with new programs and more opportunities for arts lovers
Descending Yellows by Hilton Leech - the first painting purchased for the permanent art collection
t
he Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, Inc. Arts Advocates was founded in 1969 as The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, Inc. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the non-profit organization completed a rebranding effort which included adopting the Arts Advocates name, increasing public program offerings, and opening its monthly member meetings to non-members. Donna Maytham, president of Arts Advocates, stated, “Our vision is to be the leading arts organization in this vibrant community where art reigns. There are many non-profit groups that support a single art form such as dance, theatre, music or opera, but Arts Advocates is the only member-based group that embraces all art forms.” Arts Advocates’ mission to inspire creativity, advance education, and connect the community to the arts is realized in several ways.
Art collection on display at the Van Wezel Have you ever noticed the art on display in the Van Wezel? That is the collection of the Arts Advocates, which began acquiring works by Florida’s most renowned artists in 1970. The collection now contains over 50 pieces which represent a wide range of media and styles dating from the 1930s to the present. The two newest acquisitions are by Dean Mitchell, “a virtual modern-day Vermeer of ordinary black people” according to The New York Times. Docent-led tours, which are offered at 10:00 a.m. on the second Monday of each month through May, give insights into the art and the artists.
Monthly programs Up until October, Arts Advocates’ monthly programs were for members only. That
A Dean Mitchell painting (newest acquisition to the permanent collection)
Scholarship program Since 1969, the Arts Advocates’ scholarship program has awarded over $1,000,000 to students whose studies include visual and related arts, dance, writing, music, theater and architecture. Grant recipients have attended Berklee School of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, Flagler College, Pratt Institute, Ringling College of Art and Design, the University of Florida, and many others. Costume Arts Advocates member Judy Fiala designer and with artist Ken Knowlton, who preartist Amanda sented the October program Kai Newman, a multi-year changed as part of the organization’s reScholarship recipient scholarship rebranding, and now there are limited seats Amanda Kai Newman cipient, attended available for the public. Renowned artist Booker High School, earned her B.A. in art Ken Knowlton and Ringling College Presand theater from Cornell College in Iowa, ident Larry Thompson recently intrigued and her M.F.A. in costume design from program attendees with their presentations. the College Conservatory of Music at the The upcoming program schedule University of Cincinnati. In 2010, Newman features other engaging speakers and interned for six-time Tony Award-winning performers. costume designer William Ivey Long. Pro January 16: Street Fairs of Paris and ductions of note include a 2016 television Their Carnival Folk in Stories and series written/directed by and starring Photographic Postcards, presented by author/educator Charlotte Perret February 14: Songs of Love, performed by Sarasota Orchestra musicians Jonathon Spivey and John Miller March 19: Deep in the Art of Texas: Dominique and John de Menil, presented by art historian Kevin Costello April 16: West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, with Nate Jacobs and members of the troupe Non-member attendees, for an additional cost, can stay for lunch and continuing conversation at the Bird Key Yacht Club. The 2019 scholarship winners PAID ADVERTORIAL
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DECEMBER 2019
Woody Allen; the 2017 film “The Greatest Showman” starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum; and milliner work for Asolo Rep’s 2018 production of “The Music Man.”
Community outreach grants Over $100,000 in grants have been awarded to 30 local arts and educational organizations since 2007. Grants were recently awarded to Belle Canto, Florida Watercolor Society, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Sarasota Ballet’s Dance – The Next Generation, Sarasota Museum of Art, Sarasota Orchestra’s youth orchestra program, the School Board of Sarasota County’s Any Given Child program, and the Van Wezel. Organizations are chosen, in part, based on possible impact of their stated goals and the number of people who could be positively impacted.
Membership has its rewards
Being a member of Arts Advocates is a rewarding experience. In addition to participating in monthly programs and inspiring young artists to pursue their dreams, members have access to Arts Advocates’ workshops and lectures; gallery, museum and theatre tours; artist studio and private art collection tours; closed rehearsals; and whatever else members can dream up. Make it a New Year resolution to get involved in the arts. Explore Arts Advocates at artsadvocates.org.
dining out Dining with a View:
100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2019
Restaurants in California, Florida and New York Boast the Most Honors; Winners Span 24 States and Washington, D.C.
The Crow’s Nest - Venice, FL
The Grand Marlin of Pensacola Beach - Pensacola, FL
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill Longboat Key, FL
La Mar by Gastón Acurio - Miami, FL
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t’s the holidays and you’re tired of cooking and we’d like a break from recipes and thought we’d share…OpenTable, the online restaurant reservation provider and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) is making it easy to find the perfect restaurant view with the unveil of its annual 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2019. Featuring breathtaking scenery from coast to coast, the restaurants featured on the list offer the perfect vista for any occasion. From majestic park scenery at Tavern on the Green in New York, New York, to epic ocean views at Mama’s Fish House in Paia, Hawaii, this year’s list features winning restaurants in 24 states and Washington, D.C. - all offering picturesque sights. This year, California remains the top honoree with 24 restaurants, followed by Florida with 15 winners and New York with six. Other notable states that span this year’s list include Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin as well as Washington, D.C. OpenTable’s list of the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants for 2019 is generated solely from diner reviews collected between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. The overall score is made up of unique data points, such as overall diner rating, user clout, total number of reviews and regional overall rating. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the sum of tags for which “scenic views” was selected as a special feature. Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America according to OpenTable diners. The complete list may also be viewed at https://www.opentable.com/ lists/most-scenic-restaurants-us-2019.
Prime Catch on the Waterfront Boynton Beach, FL
100 Most Scenic RESTAURANTS in America 71Above - Los Angeles, California Altius - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro Milwaukee, Wisconsin Beach House Restaurant - Kauai Koloa, Hawaii Bertrand at Mister A’s - San Diego, California The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard Canton, Ohio Blue Ridge - Asheville, North Carolina Boat House Waterfront Dining Tiverton, Rhode Island The Boathouse - Lake Buena Vista, Florida Bon Appetit - Dunedin, Florida Bygone - Baltimore, Maryland Carrol’s Creek Cafe - Annapolis, Maryland Catch LA - West Hollywood, California Cecconi’s Dumbo - Brooklyn, New York Chart House - Multiple Locations Chicago Cut Steakhouse - Chicago, Illinois Coast Guard House - Narragansett, Rhode Island Coasterra - San Diego, California Columbia Restaurant - SandKey Clearwater, Florida The Crow’s Nest - Venice, Florida Dauphin’s - Mobile, Alabama Del Frisco’sDouble Eagle Steakhouse - Multiple Locations Departure Restaurant and Lounge Portland, Oregon
Sea Watch Restaurant Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill - Longboat Key, Florida Eiffel Tower - Las Vegas, Nevada El Five - Denver, Colorado EPIC Steak - San Francisco, California Farmers Fishers Bakers Washington D.C. Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck Dallas, Texas Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar Charleston, South Carolina Fleetwood’s On Front St. - Lahaina, Hawaii GAONNURI - New York, New York Giada - The Cromwell - Las Vegas, Nevada Gibsons Italia - Chicago, Illinois The Grand Marlin of Pensacola Beach - Pensacola, Florida Greens Restaurant - San Francisco, California Harbor House - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Hell’s Kitchen - Caesars Palace - Las Vegas, Nevada House Without a Key - Honolulu, Hawaii Il Fornaio - Coronado - Coronado, California Island Prime - San Diego, California Jake’s Del Mar - Del Mar, California JB’s On The Beach - Deerfield Beach, Florida Kimo’s Restaurant Maui - Lahaina, Hawaii Kyle G’s Prime Seafood - Jensen Beach, Florida La Mar by Gastón Acurio - Miami, Florida Latitudes on Sunset Key - Key West, Florida
Legal Harborside - Boston, Massachusetts Lobster Shop South - Tacoma, Washington Lucia’s on the Lake - Hamburg, New York Mama’s Fish House - Paia, Hawaii The Marine Room - San Diego, California Mariposa - Sedona, Arizona Mastro’s Ocean Club - Malibu, California The Mill House - Waikapu, Hawaii Mon Ami Gabi - Las Vegas, Nevada Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman Whalers Village - Lahaina, Hawaii Monterey Bay Fish Grotto Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Mooring Restaurant - Newport, Rhode Island Oyster Loft - Pismo Beach, California The Ocean House Restaurant - Cape Cod - Dennis Port, Massachusetts Pacific Coast Grill - Cardiff - CardiffBy-The-Sea, California Parc - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Perch LA - Los Angeles, California Pier W - Cleveland, Ohio The Pink Door - Seattle, Washington Portland City Grill - Portland, Oregon Primavista - Cincinnati, Ohio Prime Catch on the Waterfront Boynton Beach, Florida The Pump House - Rock Hill, South Carolina Rats Restaurant - Grounds for Sculpture - Hamilton, New Jersey Ray’s on the River - Sandy Springs, Georgia River Cafe - Brooklyn, New York Robert - New York, New York Rusty Pelican Restaurant - Newport Beach, California Salt Rock Grill - Indian Shores, Florida Salty’s - Multiple Locations Sam’s Chowder House - Half Moon Bay, California Sea Watch Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sequoia - Washington D.C. Signature Room at the 95th - Chicago, Illinois Simon Pearce Restaurant - Quechee, Vermont Slanted Door - San Francisco, California Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse Miami - Miami Beach, Florida The Strand House - Manhattan Beach, California Summit House - Fullerton - Fullerton, California Sunset Terrace - Omni Grove Park Inn - Asheville, North Carolina Sutro’s at the Cliff House - San Francisco, California Tavern on the Green - New York, New York Tom Hams Lighthouse - San Diego, California Top of the Hub - Boston, Massachusetts Top of the Market - San Diego, California Trattoria Lisina - Driftwood, Texas The Twisted Olive - Green, Ohio Ulele - Tampa, Florida Vast - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Ventana Grill - St Pismo, California Vic’s on the River - Savannah, Georgia Vivace Restaurant - Tucson, Arizona Waterbar - San Francisco, California SOURCE: OpenTable
DECEMBER 2019
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