February 2023

Bringing a global perspective to local properties.

Siesta Key | A4539090 | $7,250,000 Maurice Menager & Lin Dunn | 941-238-8119

Manasota Key | D6128301 | $5,950,000 Carol Stewart & Maryann Casey | 941-276-1162

Venice | N6124418 | $4,000,000 Audrey Peabody & Robert Goldman | 941-780-6695

Sarasota | A4552951 | $3,800,000 Beth Afflebach & Joan Dickinson | 941-914-0496

Sarasota | A4552969 | $2,650,000 Beth Afflebach & Joan Dickinson | 941-914-0496

| 888.552.5228

Model: Emily Johnson-Weintraub

THE KING OF QUEENS HARBOUR

3527 FAIR OAKS LANE | QUEENS HARBOUR, LBK $3,149,000 | MLS# A4554063

THE KING OF QUEENS HARBOUR

3527 FAIR OAKS LANE | QUEENS HARBOUR, LBK $3,149,000 | MLS# A4554063

REMODELED BAYFRONT WONDER 7110 LONGBOAT DRIVE EAST | LONGBEACH VILLAGE, LBK $2,750,000 | MLS# A4550284

REMODELED BAYFRONT WONDER 7110 LONGBOAT DRIVE EAST | LONGBEACH VILLAGE, LBK $2,750,000 | MLS# A4550284

MLS# A4550284

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED

549 YAWL LANE | COUNTRY CLUB SHORES, LBK $2,450,000 | MLS# A4550618

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED

549 YAWL LANE | COUNTRY CLUB SHORES, LBK $2,450,000 | MLS# A4550618

549 YAWL LANE | COUNTRY CLUB SHORES, LBK | MLS# $2,295,000 A4550618

the realtors who deliver

the realtors who deliver

the realtors who deliver

GROUP

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KATHY CALLAHAN | 941.900.8088 | LBKathy.com

TODD CALLAHAN | 941.224.0624 | LBKathy.com

KATHY CALLAHAN | 941.900.8088 | LBKathy.com

TODD CALLAHAN | 941.224.0624 | LBKathy.com

ReenVIsIonInG tHe VAn WeZeL

The imporTance of supporTing sarasoTa’s new performing arTs hall

By Simone Knego

tHe BeAtInG HeARt oF DAnIsH BALLet

The sarasoTa BalleT welcomes Johan

KoBBorg’s la sylphide, The gloBal nomad

By Sylvia Whitman

On the COver

LoVe. tRAGeDy. HonoR. BetRAyAL.

IT’s all happening in sarasoTa opera’s new season!

By Christy Pessemier

city scenes

scenes of our ciTy Through The lens of phoTographer nancy guTh

Macarena Gimenez (The Sylph) and Luke Schaufuss (James) in The Sarasota Ballet’s production of Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide. Photo by Nancy Guth. Photo Assist: Jordan Kelly-Laviolette.

from the • pu BL is H e R

or the past several years, Sarasota Scene ’s February issue has been its City Life issue. As I look back over the last four publisher’s letters I have written for this issue, what stood out to me were the challenges our community was facing and how things changed. Yet we stood tall, got through it, and celebrated our cherished life on the Gulf Coast knowing we have it better than most. A lot better!

In February 2020 when I wrote my publisher’s letter a month before everything halted from the pandemic, I certainly had no crystal ball to foretell what was about to happen. When I look back, I scratch my head. My letter was full of fluff. I talked about the many wonderful events I attended and what we had to look forward to in the coming months. Then poof—it was all gone.

One year later, in February 2021, my City Life letter painted a much different picture.

In that letter I wrote about the importance of family, embracing precious moments, and appreciating the extraordinary efforts made by our neighbors. Many of us questioned not when we would get back to normal, but what normal would look like when it happened, and would it ever be like it once was. We doubted it.

At Sarasota Scene, we also had to make changes. We were no longer covering galas, performing arts, or cultural happenings, and the Scene team was not working in the same office. For me, it was a lonely existence. Of course, I, just like many of you, participated in some virtual events in support of community organizations, and Zoomed a lot with colleagues and clients. It most definitely was not what a community is about.

For my City Life letter last February, there was hope. I talked about outdoor activities and fundraisers (no indoor!), and virtual events mixed with half attended in-person events. Signs of life! We debated health protocols and if a scheduled event couldn’t happen, it was rescheduled rather than canceled or digitized—a definite improvement. We were taking back our community. By the end of 2022, we were feeling better and trying to leave the darkness behind.

Four years ago, Sarasota Scene had 34 partnerships with foundations and nonprofits in support of their missions. As I write this, I am proud to say that we are supporting in one way or another 106 organizations. While our focus remains on our community’s core arts and cultural organizations and the larger nonprofits; we have expanded our coverage to give voice to many mid-sized and smaller charitable organizations.

I am delighted to report that our subscriber base has significantly grown as well—both in print and digital. While our advertising base weakened during the pandemic years (as did most media advertising), we were able to get through it because our stalworth supporters increased their advertising spend. We are forever grateful to these incredible supporters.

H JOHN KNOWLES, PUBLISHER john@scenesarasota.com

Made by Hansgrohe. Loved by dogs.

Beautifully

Yes, these past few years were indeed challenging and I am extremely glad and grateful to have them behind me.

So here we are! It is our 2023 City Life issue and optimism abounds!

In this issue, we feature several articles that tell interesting stories about city happenings. On March 24 and 25, The Sarasota Ballet presents Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide , for which original orchestrations were recently found. For the first time since 1862, these orchestrations will be part of the performance. A must see for sure!

There’s been talk by some in the community as to whether we need a new performing arts hall to replace the Van Wezel. Please read our article on the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Hall. After doing so, you will hopefully get on board and be a part of making this important project that connects community and culture come to fruition.

As we do every year in our City Life issue, photographer Nancy Guth takes her lens around town to capture some of the coolest city scenes. We love doing this and our readers always tell us so!

We also have an update on Selby Garden’s master plan, which is game-changing for our town; there’s a peak at Sarasota Opera’s incredible winter season which kicks off with fan favorite Madama Butterfly ; and an eye-opening look at Mote Marine’s programs for children teaching them about the magic of the underwater world.

I love living here. There is nowhere else I would rather be at this point in my life. City life in Sarasota is good—arts and culture, the weather, outdoor activities, the people, the events, and more.

The challenges of these past few years have made Sarasota Scene better and stronger. The emotional bond I have with so many charitable organizations is quite strong, I have creatively partnered with many arts organizations, found new common ground with local businesses, and continue to support as many local organizations as I can.

Life is incredibly good again!

University Park Country Club

Our exclusive location is minutes from downtown, world-class accomodations, shoppping and dining. Once on the grounds, you’ll feel as though you have been transported to a private enclave. A championship 27 hole golf course is surrounded by breathtaking native Florida landscape, impeccably groomed and designed for exhilarating play whatever your skill level. Enjoy contemporary cuisine in a coastal modern venue with expansive lake views at The Park Grille & Café.

Member perks for non-residents are available now with Annual, Trial and Summer Memberships. Experience the University Park Country Club lifestyle and live. dine. play!

Publisher/Executive Editor

H John Knowles

Strategic Partnerships

Julie A. Milton

Executive Creative Director

Darcy Kelly–Laviolette

Digital Media & Editorial Content Coordinator

Gina Liga

Distribution

Mike Straffin

Accounting

Sally A. Bailey

Advertising Enquiries

Paul McNamara

Call/Text 917.751.6506 | paul@scenesarasota.com

Sharon Castellano

Call/Text 203.984.7577 | sharon@scenesarasota.com

Contributing Writers

Ryan G. Van Cleave

Sylvia Whitman

Christy Pessemier

Simone Knego

Gus Mollasis

Nathan March

Contributing & Social Photographer

Nancy Guth

Contributing Photographers

Matt Roback

Cliff Roles

At Sarasota Memorial, you’ll find the award-winning comprehensive cardiovascular care that you need to stay active and living the life you want to live. Whether it’s a sudden heart attack or a chronic condition, our expert team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiovascular surgeons stand ready, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver both rapid diagnosis and equally swift intervention. And a multidisciplinary approach to collaborative care ensures every patient receives the personalized treatment they need to get them back on their feet and back with the people they love.

Because home , not the hospital , is where the heart should be .

the L ist

3

SERMON ON THE MOUNT WITH DR. LEW STERRETT

FEB 2023

EVENTS CALENDAR

Discover lessons for life and leadership with the Horse Whisperer. Need an excuse to wear that flannel shirt? Ranch wear is encouraged! Complimentary hot dogs and refreshments

Jay Holmes Performance Horses | facebook.com/ events/517875036820298

3 STEAK & BURGER

YOUTH OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION

Join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Manatee Counties as six club members compete for the Youth of the Year title. Per tradition, adult guests will be served burgers while club members in attendance will eat steak. Guests are encouraged to dress in casual Western attire.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota/Manatee | bgcsdc.org/events/2023-steak-burger-youth-of-theyear-celebration

4

YMCA VENICE BLACK TIE GALA

The Venice YMCA will be hosting their 35th Annual Black Tie gala, dinner and auction. Funds raised at this event are dedicated to providing scholarship assistance for children, families and seniors, and expanding YMCA programming and services.

YMCA Venice | ymcaswfl.org

4

AN AFTERNOON WITH ALEX & MAIRA KALMAN

Join internationally acclaimed artists and authors Maira and Alex Kalman for an afternoon of artful conversation and an insider look at their exhibition and visual memoir, Sara Berman’s Closet.

Sarasota Art Museum | sarasotaartmuseum.org

6

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE’S ANNUAL SHINDIG

The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception, performances by FST’s resident improv troupe, live performances by FST’s most beloved artists and a fabulous seated dinner by Michael’s On East. The winner of the Spelman Award will be announced as well during this event.

FST Hegner Theatre Wing| Email: khartnett@floridastudiotheatre.org for more info

6

ALLEGRINI WINE DINNER

Just one of the many Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club member events held throughout the year at Michael’s Wine Cellar. This exceptional four-course dinner features some of Allegrini’s finest wines. Hosted by the wine maker, Marilisa Allegrini. Michael’s Wine Cellar | eventbrite. com/e/allegrini-wine-dinnertickets-505117809967

10

THUNDER BY THE BAY “ROCK THE RUNWAY” FASHION SHOW

The first in the lineup of Suncoast Charities’ annual Thunder by the Bay events. Guests will enjoy a full open bar, food displays and women and men’s fashion modeled by Adrenaline Harley Davidson and Darci boutique in downtown Sarasota. The Grove, Lakewood Ranch | thunderbythebay.org

11 ORCHID BALL

This elegant evening will celebrate the 2023 Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature throughout the grounds of Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. Champagne reception, dinner and dancing in a beautiful setting. Selby Gardens, Downtown Sarasota | selby.org

4 CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

PALM BALL

The Call of the Wild marks the 15th anniversary of the Palm Ball and invites you and your guests to experience the untamed beauty and natural splendor of our region. Support the mission to protect land and water for the benefit of people and nature.

Bay Preserve at Osprey | conservationfoundation.com

4 CATHOLIC CHARITIES BALL

This annual black-tie event helps provide a safe place to support the less fortunate and guide them to self sufficiency. Benefits programs like St. Monica Residence, St. Dominic Manor, Veteran House, Casa San Jose, Bethesda House and more.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota | catholiccharitiesdov.org

Connect with Tidewell to build a brighter community by helping those who need it most. Volunteer at Tidewell Hospice. Share a connection with a patient during their most difficult moments. Provide respite to a busy caregiver. Be a source of strength for a grieving child. Donate to ensure all who need the services of Tidewell Hospice receive it. Get involved, and let your light shine through.

Let’s brighten lives together. TidewellFoundation.org

Tidewell Foundation is grateful to our sustaining annual corporate partners for their ongoing sponsorship of the Foundation’s mission.

Partners in Excellence:

Partners in Compassion:

TIDEWELL FOUNDATION empath

12

SUNDAY POLO

Join thousands of fans each week for exciting polo action, opening parade, live national anthem, theme weeks, half time show, food, drinks and traditional divot stomping. Sarasota Polo Club | sarasotapolo.com

12

MOTE MARINE FARM TO FILET DINNER

A special evening filled with fine culinary offerings and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the largest aquaculture research and development facility in the United States.

Mote Aquaculture Research Park | mote.org

15

DANCE AT THE BAY: BOLLYWOOD DANCE

Enjoy a high-energy class for all levels and ages. BollyX is a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness program that combines dynamic choreography with eclectic music from around the world. Try it out for free!

The Bay Sarasota | thebaysarasota.org

Victoria knew she had a complicated pregnancy but didn’t expect to be rushed to the ER at seven months. That night, baby Luke was born and placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Victoria underwent emergency surgery to save her life.

It’s unusual to experience the ER, Trauma Center, NICU and ICU all at once, but this story’s happy ending is testament to the skill and dedication of the critical care teams at SMH.

Victoria says the nurses were her angels and her doctors were amazing. The message from her husband and children: “Thank you for saving our family.”

The Healthcare Foundation provides grants for critical needs such as OR technology, high-tech bassinettes and life-saving medical team training.

Every gift will make a difference to someone, including you.

Together we strengthen healthcare.

you’re wondering what a gift to the Healthcare Foundation can do, Ask a critical care patient.

VAN WEZEL FOUNDATION’S

MARCH 10, 2023 WITH KENNY LOGGINS

An intimate evening with music and exceptional dining celebrating the 35-year partnership of the Van Wezel Foundation and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Proceeds from the evening will support the mission of the Van Wezel Foundation: to create and sustain a vibrant performing arts center, advance education, and enrich communities by inspiring minds through the power of the arts.

Gala Co-Chairs: Kathy Martella & Susan Travers

For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Julie Schwartz at 941-271-4180 or jschwartz@vwfoundation.org

MEDIA SPONSOR LEAD SPONSORS

Paul Seed, Startech.com

Jim and Susan Travers

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Amicus Foundation

Julie A. Harris

HOST COMMITTEE

Gerald and Sondra Biller

Jenne Britell

The W. Dale Brougher Foundation

Jaclyn Brunckhorst

Michele Hooper and Lemuel Seabrook

Donna and David Koffman

Joan K. Lieberman

Michael and Kathy Martella

John and Eilene Maupin

William and Elaine McClure

Karl and Ricky Newkirk

Walt and Donna Pearson

Drayton and Kara Saunders

*As of 1/19/23

17

THUNDER BY THE BAY “BORN TO BE WILD” KICKOFF PARTY

The traditional kickoff party will be held outside under the VIP tent and will feature a full open bar, great food, silent auction and 50/50 raffle.

Sarasota Fairgrounds | thunderbythebay.org

17-19

THUNDER BY THE BAY MUSIC & MOTORCYCLE FESTIVAL

This iconic three-day festival features continuous live music. Headline acts include 38 Special and Colt Ford. Also included is over 100 vendors, a 17 class bike show, freestyle shows, a charity ride, great food, on-sight camping and so much more for the entire family to enjoy. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Suncoast Charities for Children.

Sarasota Fairgrounds | thunderbythebay.org

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM Closed Monday

papillonstudiosarasota.com

(917) 951-9895

1288 N. Palm Avenue, Sarasota

“Wounded Amazon” Oil on Canvas, by Georgy Kurasov

15 SARASOTA ART MUSEUM: UNCONVENTIONAL EVENING

An immersive and fluid event featuring cocktails, dinner, artists and performers flowing throughout each of the museum’s spaceswhere you can interact, activate and “be the art.”

Sarasota Art Museum | sarasotaartmuseum.org

18

FISH FRY WITH WALT’S SEAFOOD & FISH MARKET

Enjoy traditional fish fry fare like flounder, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, fries and more provided by the locally famous Walt’s Seafood & Fish Market. Ken Thompson Park | facebook. com/events/1354654998598359

18

VENICE SYMPHONY BALL: IMAGINE

Step out for an unforgettable evening of fine dining, elegant decor, live auction and music by the Venice Symphony Jazz Orchestra. Don’t want the night to end? Stay for the after party which starts at 10:00 PM by the pool with light bites and a DJ. Plantation Golf & Country Club | thevenicesymphony.org

22

REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY EXPO: LOVE WHAT YOU DO

This is a great chance to meet and connect with industry partners who can help you get to the next level in your real estate career. Vendors include home inspectors, marketing specialists, title companies and more. Also enjoy food trucks, live music, a dunk tank, bar truck and fabulous giveaways.

Nathan Benderson Park Tower | nathanbendersonpark.org

23 COOKING FOR WISHES

INTERACTIVE DINNER & AUCTION

Have fun for a cause! Guests at each table will prepare their own four-course meal led by Executive Chef Jamil Pineda and Phil Mancini of Michael’s On East. Wash everything down with a specially selected collection of wines curated by Michael Klauber.

Circus Arts Conservatory | cookingforwishes.com

23

SARASOTA MANATEE WINTER

SENIOR WELLNESS EXPO

Feeling nostalgic? Enjoy a fun 1950’s theme while you browse dozens of health and wellness vendors with a focus on seniors. Live entertainment, free lunch for seniors and door prizes.

Senior Life Publications | eventbrite.com

18

SCF FOUNDATION AVENUES TO THE FUTURE

Specialty cocktails, fine dining, open bar, a live jazz ensemble and more. Help support the education of our future.

SCF Bradenton Campus | scffoundation.org

27

ASOLO REP STARRY NIGHT DINNER: SILENT SKY

The second in a series of three special events, this Starry Night dinner is themed to the production of Silent Sky. Enjoy exquisite dining, fine wines and entertainment by Asolo Rep artists.

Bishop Museum | asolorep.org

25

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR MARKET

Meet twenty of the area’s youngest and coolest entrepreneurs! All participants are aged seventeen and younger. Shop their creations and support their budding businesses.

The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime | facebook.com/ events/482525506543546/

25

PARTY UNDER THE STARS Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation’s signature event is a festive evening “under the stars” and features entertainment, dancing, and silent and live auctions with fabulous items. All proceeds provide non-medical financial assistance to cancer patients.

Hyatt Regency Sarasota | fcsf.org

26

1980’S JAZZERCISE CLASS

Dig up your leg warmers and leotards and head down to Waterside Park for a fun dancecardio jazzercise class. It’s going to be rad!

Waterside Place Park at Lakewood Ranch| watersideplace.com

28

THE GLASSER/SCHOENBAUM COLLABORATION CELEBRATION

This annual celebration brings together nonprofits, businesses and donors to celebrate the important work of collaboration on the Campus of Caring and beyond.

Michael’s On East | gs-humanservices.org

VISIT SCENESARASOTA.COM

To submit your event for consideration, please send information to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com

2

EASTERSEALS ABILITIES SHINING LUNCHEON

The traditional annual luncheon remains a critical part in the agency’s 75-year-old success.

Michael’s On East | easterseals-swfl.org

4

ASOLO REP GALA

Asolo Rep’s biggest fundraiser of the season honoring Producing Artistic Director, Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director, Linda DiGabriele. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota | asolorep.org

10

VAN WEZEL FOUNDATION’S INSPIRATION GALA

An intimate experience featuring exceptional dining and internationallyrenowned, Grammy-winning musician Kenny Loggins.

Van Wezel | vanwezel.org

pAR ty pics AVIVA PRESENTS eight over

SELBY GARDENS NEW YEARS EVE GALA

Selby Gardens hosted its annual bayfront celebration at its Downtown Sarasota campus to ring in the new year. Guest enjoyed private access to Lights in Bloom®, a four-course dinner by Michael’s on East, entertainment by The Sarasota Ballet, and a perfect view of the fireworks show over Sarasota Bay.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2023

David Chaifetz

Rifka Glatz

Dr. Larry Haspel

Carole Kleinberg

Fran Lambert

Bernice & Ellis Lasberg

Bunny Skirboll

Anne Virag avivaseniorlife.org

Jeff & Nikki Sedacca

John & Teresa Phillips, Lynn Marconi, & Michael Bellissimo

Jennifer & Rob Rominiecki with Elizabeth Moore

SMHF HOSPITAL GALA

The Hospital Gala was held at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota on Jan. 7. Seven hundred donors and supporters attended the event, which supports the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System’s various programs and services throughout the year. This year’s gala benefited the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Oncology Tower, which opened a little over a year ago. The event raised more than $1.5 million for the cancer institute.

Friday, March 24, 2023

10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Michael’s On East

An interactive panel discussion with female behavioral health professionals.

Proceeds will benefit patient care services at the Cornell Family Behavioral Health Pavilion at SMH.

For more information visit smhf.org/events or call 941.374.9700

David Verinder Roxie Jerde & ME Guyton Katherine Harris with Tom & Sherry Koski

Kameron & Bart Hodgens

Sally Schule

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 SPONSORS

PREMIER SPONSOR

Jonathan and Michelle Mitchell

Joel and Gail Morganroth

HELICOPTER SPONSORS

AMBULANCE SPONSORS

Maria Bradley and Martin Pfister

In honor of Helene Kosloski and Kosloski Family Foundations

Ariane Dart

Barbara and Gary Rodkin

smhf.org/events

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA DINNER SERIES

Guests previewed classical French music and the influencers who inspired the repertoire of the Orchestra concert from later in the week. High demand for seats moved the occasion from the wine cellar into the grand ballroom at Michael’s On East, where attendees savored a gourmet dinner and lively conversation with guest conductor Sarah Ioannides, Sarasota Orchestra’s own Léna Cambis (violin), and Betsy Hudson Traba (Principal Flute). Margot Zarzycka Whitelaw and her violin added ambience to a romantic, French-inspired evening.

Conductor Sarah Ioannides with Anita Holec

John & Leslie Higgins with Laurel & Bob Dove

Kat Gallison, Sandy Cowing, & Margot Zarzyacka, Violinist

Kim Wheeler, Lois Stuhlberg, & Tim Ryan

Jeff Sebeika, Betsy Hudson Traba, & Audrey Robbins

ASOLO REP STARRY NIGHT DINNER

Asolo Rep launched its Starry Night series on December 12 at Cap Joie, hosted by the Honorable Katherine Harris. The Three Musketeers evening proved to be a swashbuckling good time with remarks from Director Peter Amster, a sword fight from cast members, themed food and drink, and a beautiful French-styled home beautifully decorated for the holidays. The second Starry Night will take place February 27 at 6 pm at the Bishop Museum, celebrating the play Silent Sky. Tickets ($300) may be purchased at special_events@asolo.org.

Wendy & Jerry Feinstein

Dr. Kameron Hodgens, Charlene Altenhain & Nikki Taylor

Les Stumpft, Sandy Moon, Rich & Doreen Depastino, Lisa & Todd Williams, Rita Greenbaum & Geir Fjugstad

Heather Chase with Kristin & Kris Hamwi

By Gina Liga

1. INTIMATE VALENTINE PICNIC

Surprise your sweetie with a romantic picnic on the beach! Each picnic package includes a table, cushions, glassware/ flatware, table decor, candles, music, silk florals and everything you need to create a picnic to remember.

Posh Picnic Co. |

Starting at $250 | poshpicniks.com

2. BULL WINE DECANTER

This hand-blown glass wine decanter from Massimo Lunardon is a statement piece for any table. This makes a fabulous gift for the wine enthusiast in your life or for a loved one whose astrological sign in Taurus.

Malbi Italian Artisan Decor $395 | malbidecor.com

3. PAMPER PACK GIFT SET

Give her the gift of pampering! This set includes a Turkish cotton bathrobe, a hand-held hot stone, body/massage oil, and a mitt or loofah packaged in a lovely gift box. urthy scents, Lakewood Ranch $143 | urthyscents.com

4. BUILD-YOUR-OWN GIFT BOX

Give your Valentine something truly unique this year - a gift curated by YOU! Pick your box, select your price point, choose your products and let Happy & Humble do the rest. Each box comes beautifully wrapped with a personalized card.

Happy & Humble

$80-$150 | shophappyandhumble.com

5. HEART SHAPED ROSE PILLOWS

Snuggle up with your Valentine with one of these adorable heart shaped pillows! Or use them as a fun seasonal accessory for the sofa - either way, you can’t go wrong. Available in red and white. Each pillow measures 13”. By Design Inspiration. Shelly’s Gift and Christmas Boutique $81 | shellysgiftandchristmasboutique.com

Making a Difference

By Ryan G. Van Cleave • Photo by Matt Roback

If you know anything about the Venice Theatre (formerly Venice Little Theatre), you’ve likely heard of Yvonne Pinkerton, a.k.a. “Pinky.” Over more than four decades, she helped transform it and created programs that made it among the finest in theater education. Add in her 50+ year membership and activity with Emmanuel Lutheran Church, and it’s no surprise that Pinky’s youngest son, Scott, also shows the same community-focused spirit. “It was in our house all the time, and not just because my mom worked for a nonprofit. It’s just part of our DNA.”

While Scott’s a Floridian through and through, he briefly left the Sunshine State to attend college in Ohio, where he met his future wife, Julie. Since 1985, they’ve both been living in Florida and making a difference in the community in a variety of ways. Today, Scott is a successful financial planner and managing partner at FourThought Private Wealth, which means he spends a lot of time working with people to help them find ways to support the causes and organizations they cherish.

As a Certified Private Wealth Advisor, Scott explains that his role is critical since his high-net-worth clients can often enjoy tax advantages to their giving of which they are often unaware. When Scott clarifies that a client’s mandatory distribution from their IRA can be given directly to charity without being taxed, as many as 80% of them are motivated to pursue that opportunity to help themselves and others.

Scott doesn’t just work with individuals, though. He also provides financial advice and guidance for family foundations, businesses, and nonprofits. Thanks to those relationships, Scott has been partnering with Gulf Coast Community Foundation even before Gulf Coast existed.

“I was on the board of the Venice Hospital Foundation,” he says. “They played a big role in forming the Venice Foundation which has now become Gulf Coast Community

Foundation.” Through those efforts, Scott got to work together with Mark Pritchett, the CEO and President of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “He’s a dear friend of ours,” Scott says about that long-term relationship, “and the love of his life, Gina, is one of our oldest and best friends.” Leave it to Pinky’s son to be drawn to fellow philanthropists!

Julie, too, has been deeply involved with the community. Beyond having served as a college advisor for 15 years at the Rotary Futures College Resource Center at Venice High School, she served on the founding board of Family Promise of South Sarasota County, an organization that helps children and their families in temporary need of housing. Of course, Gulf Coast was involved in the early discussions of that nonprofit’s formation. “The partnership and support from Gulf Coast to launch that nonprofit—now eight years strong—was invaluable. They have programs where they send out consultants to nonprofits to help them get through the mud,” Julie explains.

In 2004, the Pinkertons gathered their three teenage daughters and discussed the idea of giving in general and the creation of a Gulf Coast-managed donor-advised fund in specific. “Once you put yourself in the shoes of another person, you have empathy,” Scott says. “And that leads to all sorts of positive results. That was our motivation.”

He adds that it can be challenging to make decisions as a group, but whether it’s handled formally or informally, having regular discussions about what matters helps a family grow closer, share values, and go out in the world in “a real upward spiral of positivity.” Through Scott’s work as a financial planner and in his own life—where he has military members and people with a range of political beliefs—he’s seen how people can come together around giving.

• Scott and Julie Pinkerton and Gulf Coast Community Foundation •

ART TO WALK ON

16 S Palm Ave • 941.951.5454

arttowalkon.com

BENJAMIN F. EDWARDS

77 S Palm Ave • 941.954.8651

benjaminfedwards.com

Robert

Kahne

Financial Advisor

CREATURO GALLERY

1270 N Palm Ave • 941.953.6163

creaturogallery.com

DABBERT GALLERY

46 S Palm Ave • 941.955.1315

dabbertgallery.com

PAPILLON STUDIO

1288 N Palm Ave • 917.951.9895

papillonstudiosarasota.com

SALON FORTY-ONE

41 S Palm Ave • 941.906.9468

salonfortyone.com

Something Scott encourages families to do is think about heuristics (a practical approach to problem solving or self-discovery). In his own family, they’ve got a deck of value cards that each contain words such as stewardship, adaptability, duty, etc. They go through and ask, “Which is more important?” By the end, as a family, they have maybe five or six core values. Creating that kind of clarity helps immensely in terms of focusing time, energy, and money at the things that matter most. Reviewing those values with regularity is important, too, since things change.

“I also talk about the 10-year rule,” he adds. “When making a decision, ask yourself, ‘What’s going to be important 10 years from now?’” Keeping that kind of perspective in mind helps guide decisions. It’s that same type of long-term, proactive thinking that he uses with great success at FourThought Private Wealth for retirement planning and comprehensive wealth management.

As a result of their family’s shared values, the Pinkertons have supported nonprofit counseling services “for many, many years,” Julie notes. “We’re also deeply interested in preschool education. A lot of our giving centers around education and poverty—the human side of things.”

Like his beloved mom, Scott’s been an active, long-time member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. “We sponsor a lot of things through our church. Our faith is a big part of who we are. We do a lot with Lutheran World Relief—we know how well that organization works. We also support several other organizations that address global poverty.”

Julie adds that “when we’re deciding where to donate each year, I always want to know who Gulf Coast Community Foundation is supporting because they know the urgent needs in our community. Mark Pritchett and the others at Gulf Coast are great people and it’s a great organization. They make a real difference for all of us. We want to be a part of that.”

Pinky wouldn’t have it any other way.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Gulf Coast Community Foundation, please visit www.gulfcoastcf.org or call 941.486.4600.

“Once you put yourself in the shoes of another person, you have empathy. And that leads to all sorts of positive results. That was our motivation.”

cordially invites you to visit . . .

The Sarastoa Ballet Presents Dance Theatre of Harlem

February 24 - 27

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

Keeping Your Business and Personal Goals Aligned

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Preparing for the unexpected

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That preparation also includes managing uncertainty, which plays a key role in running a successful business, yet isn’t always easy to do. Unexpected conflicts can arise at any time—that’s why we work together with you and your advisors to help you better navigate what may unfold. By being proactive and preparing for life’s uncertainties, you can remain confident that your goals and your business continue moving in the direction you want them to.

Some areas of focus:

• Investments and retirement planning

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• Estate and wealth transfer planning*

• Business continuity/succession planning

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It all begins with a conversation

Our team will guide you through a tailored planning process and introduce additional resources as needed to fit your unique goals and circumstances before determining a course of action.

Fifth Third Private Bank is here to help.

Craig Watson Senior Vice President Managing Director, Fifth Third Private Bank Wealth & Asset Management craig.watson@53.com

HEALTHCARE HEROES

By Nathan March

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) has offered a nursing degree since its founding in 1957. It was one of the first 30 community colleges nationwide to provide nursing and the first in Florida to receive national accreditation. As the community’s state college, SCF is dedicated to meeting the region’s workforce needs, where the demand for nurses continues to grow. For the last six years, the sense of urgency to ensure enough nursing graduates has increased profoundly as local hospitals also expand to meet local needs.

Growing SCF’s nursing programs has been a priority for SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld, who is committed to doubling the number of nurses they can graduate each

Community partners boldly lead to delivering more health care workers

year. This requires additional capacity and investment: faculty, staffing, facilities, and equipment. Nursing is one of SCF’s most expensive workforce programs. It requires a lower-than-usual faculty-to-student ratio, modern and costly simulators, doctoral faculty, and a flexible but wellstructured Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree programs.

Recognizing this challenge - local and state legislators, community foundations, and health care organizations have provided the beginning of what SCF hopes to become recurring funding of more than $2.5 million. Through generous foundation grants, and the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through

Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) program and Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) funding, SCF can double its annual nursing graduates and accept every qualified student who applies to the nursing program. While SCF has previously only been able to admit 220 new nursing students each fall, the program will accept 350 through the Fall of 2024.

The amount of matched and received LINE funding SCF received is among the top 10 in the state, a testament to the benefits the college has received from local partners and collaborators, such as:

• Cooper Family Medical

• Empath Health

• HCA West Florida

• Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

• Manatee Memorial Hospital

• Sarasota Memorial Hospital

• Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

• Bishop Parker Foundation

• Florida Blue Foundation

• Ralph S. French Charitable Foundation

• Gulf Coast Community Foundation

SCF’s Medical Technology & Simulation Center (MTSC) provides top-of-the-line facilities for nursing students. Modeled after the floorplan of a real working hospital, students train with simulator patients that present everything from routine illnesses to extreme pressure scenarios like cardiac arrest and even childbirth. Each of these simulators costs tens of thousands of dollars to purchase and maintain, with a functional life approaching 10 years for each unit.

SCF prides itself on offering ASN instruction on all three of its campuses. Training nurses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice makes SCF accessible to prospective and current nursing students across the entire region.

The quality of SCF’s nursing programs is why local hospitals and health care providers seek out these students. In addition, ASN graduates from SCF pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt at a higher rate than other institutions, frequently approaching or achieving a 100% success rate. The track record of successful preparation is also why students choose SCF over public and private institutions.

Additionally, SCF’s tuition is among the lowest in Florida, students and alums revere its faculty, and the college offers maximum flexibility with night and weekend classes available.

SCF’s ASN program was recently recognized as the number four program in all of Florida by RegisteredNursing.org. In one of the most detail-oriented and thorough ranking assessments conducted each year, the scoring places SCF firmly in the top five against all other nursing programs in Florida, including both public and private colleges and universities. The BSN degree has also been ranked number one by RegisteredNursing.org on the website’s list of “Best Online R.N. to BSN Programs in Florida.”

The alums who achieved their nursing credentials at SCF extol the virtues of the college as well:

Chris Langnes ‘14 decided to pursue nursing in his 50s. As a U.S. Army veteran and former business owner in the construction industry, he worried about job security and the potential of a late-career construction injury. He decided to make a shift to the health care field. Langnes was inspired by the faculty at SCF, who helped him apply his skills gained earlier in life to his newly chosen profession.

“In my experience running a business, it was always about adapting to the situation,” Langnes said. “It’s the same thing with nursing. What I learned in nursing school was basic knowledge, but my professors always

emphasized critical thinking, which is what I apply to my job now – understanding a situation and acting on it.”

Nathan Hansen ’15 was surprised to learn that, just three years after graduating as a registered nurse (RN), he had been selected as Nurse of the Year at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. He followed that up with a “Hero of Health Care” award from the Manatee Chamber of Commerce the following summer. Hansen had completed a bachelor’s degree in another field, but after discovering his passion for nursing, SCF proved to be the right fit to prepare him for the rigors of working in a busy hospital.

“The people there (SCF) are awesome; they encouraged me to come back to school, and they offered me advice,” Hansen said of his SCF experience.

Ashley Eickelmann ’15, ’18 initially faced financial struggles as an obstacle to her goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. She waited to attend college after high school, and when she decided to continue her education, she found, like many students, she made too much money for some forms of financial aid while not earning enough to pay her tuition. However, through determination and perseverance, she earned a scholarship through the SCF Foundation, maintained a 4.0 GPA, worked multiple jobs, and eventually earned an Associate in Arts and her ASN.

Jody Rain ’01, ’14 holds an ASN and BSN degree from SCF. Her career in health care has spanned more than two decades, during which she has never stopped

learning. She has an MBA in Health Care Administration and is working on a second master’s degree, this one in Nursing Science – Informatics. Rain returned to SCF recently to speak at a nurse pinning ceremony and share her insights on nursing with dozens of new ASN graduates, encouraging them to “never stop learning.”

Rain has also been recognized as a leader in the nursing industry at the state level - recently reappointed to a second term on the Florida Board of Nursing.

Retired Lt. Col. Tessa Supplee ’82 turned her nursing degree at SCF into a barriershattering career as a combat nurse. She earned her nursing degree over four years, working weekends and raising children as a single mother. She started at SCF at age 28. She retired from the military at 68 with missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Haiti. Among her commendations are the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Association of Florida College’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Of her time at SCF, Suplee said: “I gained the self-confidence and discipline I needed and learned I could set myself up to do anything I wanted.”

SCF has bestowed more than 3,200 nursing degrees since 2010, but the need for nurses remains greater than ever. SCF will continue to lead the way in exploring new avenues to increase the number of highly trained nursing graduates joining the local workforce with the support of our legislature and local partners.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

about the SCF Nursing Program, visit SCF.edu/Nursing or contact Cassandra Holmes, executive director of the SCF Foundation at 941-752-5654 or HolmesC@SCF.edu.

ReENVISIONING the VAN WEZEL

Sarasotans have a once-ina-generation opportunity to support turning the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall into Sarasota Performing Arts

Hall—a vital gateway to connect community and culture.

By Simone Knego

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been an icon of the Sarasota skyline for over 55 years. Built in 1969, it was renovated in 2000 to meet the growing needs of the vibrant Sarasota arts and cultural community. With more than 40 arts and cultural organizations, the arts have been an integral part of Sarasota and the Van Wezel has played a starring role.

Like other aging structures, the Van Wezel has weathered its share of issues, including water intrusion, lack of insulation, and outdated HVAC infrastructure. According to the city’s climate adaptation plan, the Van Wezel is among the city’s most vulnerable structures, sitting in a high-risk flood zone with parts of the building below the floodplain. There have been suggestions that the current structural issues could combat rising sea levels, by raising the structure and creating a ten-foot concrete wall around the building. However, this would not guarantee against further water damage and doesn’t even begin to address interior problems.

Beyond the structural issues, according to Mary Bensel, the Executive Director of the Van Wezel, the current seating capacity is a barrier to bringing most major traveling shows to Sarasota. Our current facility has 1700 seats, and some agents won’t even consider a venue if it has less than 2000 seats,” says Bensel.

The Lion King is a recent example of the Van Wezel’s limitations. It took 15 years to get the show to Sarasota, and once the troupe arrived, the hall’s challenges became apparent. According to the show’s head carpenter, “We have had to deal with every one of the problems that you have in this venue…but we have never had to deal with all of these issues in one building, all at the same time.”

Bensel states, “I have many amazing memories here at the Van Wezel, but this facility no longer fits current touring protocols. Let’s cherish the Van Wezel and look forward to an exciting new future for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center (the proposed new theater name). The theater

is never about being divisive; it is designed to bring people together.”

Jim Travers, newly appointed Interim CEO and Board Chair of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, formerly known as the Van Wezel Foundation, has lived in Sarasota since 2012. He brought his family to Sarasota not only the warm climate and the white-sand beaches, but its rich art scene. “Sarasota is incredibly unique given the impact of the collective art scene here, including the Van Wezel, and what it has meant for the community,” he said. “The current hall has provided 55 plus years of great accessibility for the community to the arts. What we are going to do, in partnership with the city, is build something to provide that next level of arts that this community needs, not just for the now, but for where this community is going.”

The city will create a blue-ribbon panel to determine the future use of the Van Wezel, which will be financially and operationally sustainable for the city. A similar panel determined the future of the Sarasota High School building which, ultimately, Ringling College repurposed to create the Sarasota Art Museum.

According to Travers, “The hall is city property and It’s the city’s decision as to what happens to the current structure. The Foundation has never advocated destroying the Van Wezel, and we hope it can be repurposed.”

In 2018, the City of Sarasota approved a master plan for the Bay Conservancy with the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center as its heart. Travers states, “Our vision is to work closely with the Bay Conservancy to activate the entire 53 acres. This will allow the community accessibility to not only the new performing arts center but also to Bay Park and all it has to offer. Our plan is for this to become a destination, a place where families can go to see a show, eat dinner, and visit Bay Park.”

The proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center will have a 2,200-seat main stage, flexible 300-seat performance space, integrated educational programming, and multiple outdoor public performance spaces, including a Wallcast, to broadcast performances inside to the public outside, at no cost. The contemporary venue, planned for the Northeast corner of Bay Park at the 10 th Street Circle, will be environmentally sustainable, resilient, designed to meet future sea rise, and accessible to all. Enhanced backstage and patron amenities will complete the center.

For 35 years, the Foundation has worked with the Van Wezel Hall to bring meaningful arts experiences each year to more than 50,000 teachers, students, and their

“Our vision is to work closely with the Bay Conservancy to activate the entire 53 acres. This will allow the community accessibility to not only the new performing arts center but also to Bay Park and all it has to offer. Our plan is for this to become a destination, a place where families can go to see a show, eat dinner, and visit Bay Park.”

—Jim Travers

families. More than one million tickets have been donated to veterans, seniors and low-income populations, and this outreach has expanded to victims of trauma, abuse, and those suffering from mental health issues for whom art is expression and relief.

A small but vocal group against the current plan says a new center means higher ticket prices; actually, the reverse will be true. According to Bensel, “The difference is that when I buy a show to bring to Sarasota, we pay the same cost as a theater with 3000 seats. With more seats, we can divide that cost by more tickets, making the individual ticket cost less expensive.”

The funding for the new center is a 50/50 public and private partnership. Half of the money will come from private philanthropy—fundraising managed through the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation. The other half will come from government sources. Over 80% of that money will come from the TIF, which is tax incremental funding. The TIF sets aside new taxes from both new and current businesses and residents in a TIF district.

In this case, the TIF district is the area adjacent to and surrounding the new park and performing arts center

whose residents would benefit most from the park and the performing arts center. The TIF will not increase anyone’s taxes in the TIF district, the city, or Sarasota County. The TIF only collects the normal annual appreciation, if any, in commercial and residential real estate taxes in the district. A governing board consisting of city and county representatives will determine the best allocation and use of available funds as they are collected annually. The city has publicly stated that it will not raise taxes or issue bonds to pay for the new performing arts center.

According to Mark Cole, Chief Advancement and Marketing Officer of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, “Right now, the new performing arts center is budgeted to cost $275 million. Although the half we need to fundraise is around $138 million, we are looking to raise $200 million through philanthropic giving because, in addition to that $138 million, we want to raise money for an endowment and for programming. “

On January 21, Paul Seed, Founder and CEO of StarTech. com, announced a $10 million contribution from the Paul Seed Fund at KBF Canada to the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation. The gift will support the architect and design team. “The arts inspire the human spirit in ways that are hard to articulate,” said Paul Seed. “This project will be transformational for our community and live past this contribution. I’m honored to have the opportunity

to make this early leadership investment to catapult the project forward. I encourage everyone to get involved.”

Recently, more than 47 world-class architects ranging from Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid to Renzo Piano and Jeanne Gang/Studio Gang responded to the city’s RFQ (Request for Quote), an extraordinary response to design an artistic icon not located in a major city like New York or Los Angeles. The Foundation’s Architect Selection Task Force has already narrowed the field to the top 18 applicants, with three to four finalists to be selected by Spring.

“As a once-in-a-generation project, these applicants represent the best of the best firms from around the world, having designed some of the most world-renowned institutions across the globe,’’ said City of Sarasota Manager Marlon Brown. “This remarkable response shows how highly regarded the world views Sarasota’s arts and culture as we look to continue to build upon our future as a cherished destination.”

Foundation officer Mark Cole stated, “Ultimately, here at the Foundation, we want everyone in the community to rally with us to build this space. We call it a place for ideas, a place for arts, and a place for you.”

To learn more or to donate, please visit vwfoundation.org.

Jim Travers and Paul Seed

Beating the

Macarena Gimenez (The Sylph) and Luke Schaufuss (James)

Photo by Nancy Guth.

Photo Assist: Jordan Kelly-Laviolette

Heart of Danish Ballet

The Sarasota Ballet Welcomes Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide, the Global Nomad

By Sylvia Whitman

The raves for Johan Kobborg’s productions of La Sylphide, making its company premiere with The Sarasota Ballet in March, span the globe. “A handful of superlatives,” wrote a reviewer in London’s Financial Times . From Atlanta to Zurich, arts writers have marveled at Kobborg’s creating something new of something old—in this case the 1836 ballet by August Bournonville that at the time rejuvenated the Royal Danish Ballet and helped turn pointe shoes into an emblem of Romantic dance.

Ballet embodied globalization long before the buzzword came to describe the flow of trade and ideas across borders. Start with Milan-born dancer-choreographer Filippo Taglioni, who created for the Paris Opera Ballet (and his ballerina daughter) a story of witches and a young sylph whose charms derail the wedding of a farmer in the Scottish Highlands. Add Copenhagen-born Bournonville, who reimagined La Sylphide, and through that and scores of other ballets established an exuberant Danish style with powerful roles for male dancers.

La Sylphide fell out and then back into fashion. Now bring in Odense-born Kobborg. After training at the Royal Danish Ballet school, he joined the company. In 1994, he danced the part of bewitched farmer James in La Sylphide with such verve that—in a first for the Royal Danish Ballet—he was promoted right on the stage from soloist to principal. Acclaim, prizes, and performances across continents accrued for Kobborg, followed by new

credits as a choreographer, director, and producer. Along the way, he partnered with Bucharest-born ballerina Alina Cojocaru in dance and life. Which is how he ended up on a Zoom call from home in London, where he was temporarily solo-parenting their children, two and five, while Cojocaru was off performing.

You’ve described La Sylphide as the “beating heart” of Danish ballet and a milestone in pointe shoe work in classical ballet. To what else do you attribute its appeal?

It has survived more or less intact—more or less, I say— because the essence of the story is timeless. It’s not a flash in the pan. One of the reasons it’s survived is because you can view the performance with different glasses. Regardless of age, you will find something in the story that works for you. You can see it as a witch and a beautiful woman with wings and a man torn between two women, a fairy tale. But you can also see it as something a little bit more profound, as the essence of life, the choices we make on a daily basis in the search for happiness.

I cannot generalize, but at least in my case, I can relate to these characters, to their actions, even if I don’t agree with them. As artists, as people, we constantly question ourselves. Is this right for me? Should I do this or do that? Should I stay in Denmark and be happy and dance there? Go to the unknown in the UK? We are in constant search in life. This ballet is about that search, which can

lead to many different outcomes. The outcomes are unknown. We cannot always play it safe.

There are so many possibilities for artists to put their own individual ideas of these characters into the ballet. As somebody who’s producing the story on stage, it’s also interesting sometimes to put more weight on certain elements of the story. I always try my best to stay true to the Bournonville style, a very specific way of interpreting the choreography. But with the lighting, you can put more focus on certain elements on the stage that might change the feel of a scene. Or with characters—like Madge, the witch—you can make her very fairy taleesque, or perhaps more like a broken woman.

For me, it works either way. Even after nine productions, it’s still exciting for me. As a stager, as a producer, as a choreographer, my approach depends a bit on what company and what audience I’m working for.

What’s the spin for Sarasota?

What I find amazing and interesting is that The Sarasota Ballet now has the sets and costumes, the first ever original designs, complete designs, for La Sylphide by Søren Frandsen and Henrik Bloch. Prior to that, it was bits from an opera, a tree from one thing, a chair from La Bohème , a window from Swan Lake . The designs were all commissioned by the famous Danish dancer and director, Flemming Flindt, who passed away in Sarasota. So, it’s like this set has come full circle, come home. I think Flemming Flindt would be very happy that Sarasota and Iain [Iain Webb, director of The Sarasota Ballet] got this set.

That makes me want to go more to the core of the traditional ballet. When he was alive, Bournonville made a lot of changes over the years to La Sylphide , and then it’s just been passed down from dancer to dancer. For this production, I’ve brought back some of the scenes that have been cut over the years.

The Royal Ballet in Johan Kobborg’s production of La Sylphide , Bill Cooper

Johan Kobborg by Morgan Norman

As a choreographer, I have to interpret what steps would have been to the music for the cut scenes because in Denmark there is no book of steps written down and existing; it’s taught mouth to ear. But I’ve done so using all my experience and training, trying to imagine what Bournonville envisioned and taking the elements of the different works he’s done. I know when he stopped performing, he minimized the role of James for the next cast because he didn’t feel they had his level of quality. There have been constant changes.

And then—quite incredibly—the person who’s in charge of collecting the scores suddenly found the original orchestration of some of these [reinstated] scenes. So, for the first time since 1862, I think, we’ll hear this in performance.

When you show up in the studio at the end of February, how will you coach The Sarasota Ballet without a step-by-step script?

Obviously, nowadays we have video, but a video can teach you only so much. It loses a lot of meaning. I’ve done this ballet so many times I don’t have to look at anything I’ve written down because it’s all in my body. Even if I haven’t

done a production for a couple of years, I can get up in the middle of the night, and I can teach you every step from all the characters if you play me the music.

What happened with some of these new scenes and pieces of music that I have put back in the ballet, we have a few handwritten notes from Bournonville, where he says things like James runs to the window, James asks his friend ….No steps were written down, but there were a lot of clues in the score to the action.

My job as producer and choreographer is to communicate and to obviously teach the steps to ensure the style is correct. As an artist, I don’t think I’ve ever been able to hide that I was Danish trained; it’s such a unique, naturalistic style. These roles are incredibly difficult but fulfilling as an artist because Bournonville himself was a very good dancer. He didn’t want to stand behind the ballerina, playing second fiddle, so he put himself in line with the women.

So, it’s very much about communicating. If I dance the lead, I might have a pre-imagined version of how I want to do James, but I’ve had to change my idea so many

The Royal Ballet in Johan Kobborg’s production of La Sylphide , Bill Cooper

times, depending on who my partner is. Where in other ballets you’re acting and then you’re dancing, here it’s conversations on the stage. You can see this ballet many times because if there’s just one different dancer, the energy—the whole production—might be different.

The Sarasota Ballet might write down what I teach them. I know this may sound weird, but I don’t feel it’s my job to tell them exactly what to do. I would rather teach them how they should think, so that their thoughts are completely in line with the style of Bournonville. In order to keep things alive, the dancers have to bring their own personalities into it. It’s more about finding ways that they can function the way they are as artists, as people, as humans—how they can organically live within a style that is new to them. It may sound like nonsense, but the times that I as a dancer have enjoyed the most have not been when I was told this is how you have to do this but when I was taught how to understand what would be the right thing to do.

If you were sitting alongside the audience, what would you tell them to pay attention to?

If we take the fairy-tale approach, La Sylphide is about good and evil, about doing the right thing versus the wrong thing. It’s about the idea that once you reach a dream, it can no longer exist as a dream. It’s a beautiful, beautiful ballet.

But I quite often have tried to work against this idea in the industry that you have to think this or you have to look there. I can try to direct where the audience is focusing, but it’s not like a camera telling you this is the only thing you can look at. What’s wonderful about live theater is that you can look wherever you want to look. That freedom is good.

The Sarasota Ballet’s La Sylphide runs March 24-25, 2023 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. More information at www.sarasotaballet.org/events/program-6-la-sylphide

Where in other ballets you’re acting and then you’re dancing, here it’s conversations on the stage. You can see this ballet many times because if there’s just one different dancer, the energy—the whole production—might be different.

Macarena Gimenez and Luke Schaufuss in Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide

Photo by Frank Atura

Love.Tragedy. Honor. Betrayal.

It’s All Happening in Sarasota Opera’s New Season!

By Christy Pessemier

Sarasota Opera never fails to wow its many fans and its 2023 winter season promises to deliver yet another impressive season of operas. With an exciting mix of popular operas, new works, and operas we haven’t seen in a while, there’s a lot to look forward to.

“We want to get back to where we were in the past,” Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell said. “Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi is our brand, and since we finished our Verdi cycle in 2016, our focus is to bring back some of the works we did some time ago.”

Launching Sarasota Opera’s winter season is Giacomo Puccini’s thrilling classic Madama Butterfly . According to Russell, it is one of the most anticipated and popular operas in their repertoire. Sarasota Opera features Madama Butterfly every six or seven years, with its last production in 2017.

“People love Madama Butterfly,” Russell said. “It’s a great story with beautiful and familiar music that people have heard. It’s one of those stories that’s incredibly passionate and moving. And for people who haven’t experienced opera, it works well as their first exposure to it.”

Another well-known and beloved opera in Sarasota Opera’s winter season is Don Giovanni , a libretto by the gifted Lorenzo Da Ponte with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—his most famous opera.

“From where opera was at the time, Mozart really moved opera forward just by his brilliance,” Russell said. “He was an incredible composer, and very forward thinking. It’s tragic that he died in his thirties because he could have accomplished so much more if he had lived longer.”

Both Richard Russell and Sarasota Opera Artistic Director, Maestro Victor DeRenzi, believe Don Giovanni’s music, with its beautiful arias and ensembles, as well as its storyline are very compelling. Sometimes billed as the greatest opera ever composed, it’s both a comedy and tragedy featuring the legendary and notorious character Don Juan. Set in 17th century Spain, audiences will be entertained with a thrilling plot that includes crime, betrayal, and justice.

The third opera in the winter season lineup is Giuseppe Verdi’s Ernani last performed at Sarasota Opera in 1997. Russell is very excited about its return and believes audiences will love it.

“ Ernani is one of Verdi’s early pieces, and when it came out, it was a great success,” he said. “While it is not often done, it features great arias and chorus music.” According to Russell, the strength of Sarasota Opera’s chorus adds to the appeal of each opera and makes the performances even more compelling.

The fourth opera of the season, Thérèse, by Jules Massenet, is a shorter work never performed at Sarasota Opera. The

(2012) Sarasota Opera Presents Puccini’s Madama Butterfly .

Photo by Rod Millington.

last time it was performed professionally in the United States was in 1989 in Boston.

Thérèse premiered in Monte Carlo in 1907 and was very successful in performances around Europe. Soon after, music pieces from the performance were adapted for fans of the opera to play at home on the piano, a telltale sign of its success and popularity. Yet somehow, it fizzled and was forgotten—until now.

Russell is proud that the Sarasota Opera is the second professional company in the United States to perform it. “It’s always been part of our yearly mission to try and do a piece that you can’t see anywhere else,” he said. “We’ve had great success resurrecting operas that were really popular at one time.”

Thérèse is a love story that takes place during the French Revolution, and it is only an hour and a half with intermission. “No one has ever heard of it,” said Russell, “but it’s perfect for adventurous people who like to discover new things, expand their horizons, and learn about new operas.”

Russell says rediscovering a great and unique work like Thérèse is exciting, and he’s looking forward to seeing it performed. He anticipates that audiences will feel the same way.

“When you see a new opera, sometimes you forget about an old one,” he said. “I think rediscovering these kinds of pieces is fascinating for people. Thérèse is an example of that, and it’s going to be an interesting journey for a lot of people who like experiencing different operas.”

As smooth and composed as the opera performances are, many are unaware of the intense work that goes into planning each season at Sarasota Opera. It’s an arduous task that begins with considering every opera that’s ever been written and whittling the list down to four or five selections. “It’s quite challenging and similar to putting a puzzle together,” said Russell.

The process begins with Russell and Maestro DeRenzi joining forces to come up with the framework for the season. They then consult with their leadership team including Artistic Administrator Marco Nisticò, Director

Sarasota Opera Presents Don Giovanni .

Photo by Rod Millington.

of Production Scott Keclik, as well as Director of Marketing Stephen Baker, and Costume Designer Howard Tsvi Kaplan. The youth opera is also usually a part of planning each season, although this winter season the children’s chorus isn’t a part of any of the selected operas.

“All of us are meeting together multiple times,” Russell said. “There’s a lot of discussion, crunching of numbers, and considering various scenarios. It rarely ends up being the season that we start out with.”

Planning the winter season begins in April of each year, and at this time the 2023-2024 season is being finalized. Sarasota Opera still faces challenges with its planning due to changes it faced when it reopened after the Covid pandemic. “Some of our audience got used to not going out as much during Covid,” he said. “We are still trying to figure out how to get them all to come back.”

The good news is with new people moving here all the time, Sarasota Opera is gaining new patrons every season.

Sarasota Opera also faces challenges with procuring sets for some of the rarer performances. Because its stage is an

Sarasota Opera Presents Don Giovanni .

Photo by Rod Millington.

Rafael Davila and Asako Tamura in the 2012 Production of Madama Butterfly . Rod Millington.

unusual size and is very shallow, using sets from other opera companies isn’t an option. To cut costs, they commissioned award-winning set designer Steven Kemp to design sets for similar time periods. Madama Butterfly and Don Giovanni can use previously constructed sets because they take place during similar time periods in history, but Thérèse and Ernani require unique sets. So, they hired Kemp again to design sets for Ernani , which will be used in future productions as well.

Costume designer Howard Tsvi Kaplan is also an integral part of the season’s planning and has a team that works with him to design, adapt, and resize costumes for the performers. At times, to show age, he paints the costumes, while making sure everything looks authentic to the time period of the piece.

“It’s part of our aesthetic to stay authentic to the time period of each opera,” Russell said. “That’s what we’re known for. We don’t reimagine works. We keep things more traditional, and people appreciate that.”

That authenticity, along with the massive amount of talent and hard work that goes into each season, is what draws passionate and sometimes fanatical fans both locally and from all over the world to experience performances at Sarasota Opera.

“Twenty-five percent of our audience is coming from outside Florida. We have people attending representing 47 to 48 of the 50 states, Europe, and the world,” Russell said. “That’s why we want a program you can’t see anywhere else. We have a reputation for high-quality work.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 941-328-1300 or visit sarasotaopera.org.

GIACOMO PUCCINI

February 18 – March 24

Don Giovanni

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

February 25 – March 25

Ernani

GIUSEPPE VERDI

March 11 – March 26

Thérèse

JULES MASSENET

March 17 – March 25

Madama Butterfly

City

Scenes of our city through the lens of photographer Nancy Guth

scenes

its all

the details

growth

over the bridge ...

... and through the storms

a unique home

to many

easy breezy in Sarasota

mas T erful grow T h

There’s an exciting buzz going on around Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. If you’ve driven past recently, or visited the gardens, you’ve probably noticed things are changing in a big way. These changes are not only having ripple effects throughout the community, but also throughout the country— and the world.

When the Selby Gardens Master Plan is complete, it will make its mark internationally as a leader and true model in sustainability. Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus will house the world’s first certified net positive energy botanical garden complex, net positive energy living community, and net positive energy restaurant. This has never been done before.

“When we set out planning this project, I gave the team the direction to do everything as green as we can,” President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki said. “One day, I got a phone call from the team, telling me that they only needed to add a few more solar panels to put us in a realm all by ourselves. They asked me if I would like to proceed with that goal. I said, ‘Yes. Let’s do it!’”

Announced publicly in the fall of 2017, the Master Plan had been an idea in the works for a while. When

Rominiecki was interviewed in 2015 for her current role, she and the Board of Trustees discussed the need for a master plan. She knew when she relocated to Sarasota to take on the role of CEO that this was going to be a significant endeavor. She says it makes it that much more gratifying now to see it happening.

“I think the community is so excited to see this come to fruition, and it will be a game-changer for our city—and, really, for our region, and our state, and our country— because it’s a landmark project,” Rominiecki said. “It’s extremely innovative and very transformational.”

Phase One, representing more than half of the overall three-phase project, is scheduled to be complete by October of this year, with grand-opening festivities slated to take place in early November. This will unveil a new Welcome Center; a state-of-the-art Plant Research Center that includes a new herbarium, plant laboratory, and library; as well as many garden advancements and features, plus much more open space.

Additionally, construction is well underway on the Living Energy Access Facility (LEAF). This multi-use structure will include parking, a garden-to-plate restaurant, a new plant and gift shop, and close to 50,000 square

The game-changing T ransforma T ion of m arie s el B y Bo T anical g ardens

B y chris T y pessemier

feet of solar panels on the roof. Additionally, Phase One includes a cutting-edge stormwater management system that will gather water and filter it as it’s channeled into Sarasota Bay.

When designing improvements for the gardens, the landscape and building architecture teams that Selby Gardens assembled wanted to make the layout practical, while also freeing up space. Some ideas included moving the reception area to a more central location, updating old buildings, and opening space on the property to bring in critical new buildings. By moving parking to the corner of the property and using the former surfaceparking area for Master Plan improvements, for example, the construction of the LEAF effectively doubles the size of the gardens, as well as the amount of open space.

Another improvement is the new Multiuse Recreational Trail (MURT) along the perimeter of the Gardens, which provides a welcome outlet for walking, biking, and in-line skating. It gives pedestrian and cyclists access to the gardens, as well as to the bayfront and downtown while enjoying the beauty of nature. This paved trail—12 feet at its widest—offers more space than the previous sidewalk that ran along campus on Mound Street and Orange Avenue. As the first piece of Phase One to open to the

“I T hin K T he communi T y is so exci T ed T o see T his come T o frui T ion, and i T

will B e a game-changer for our ci T y—and, really, for our region, and our s T a T e, and our coun T ry— B ecause i T ’s a landmar K pro J ec T ,”

—Jennifer r ominiec K i

public, the MURT is already being utilized by visitors and residents. But Rominiecki notes that beautiful landscape plantings and a section of brick pavers have yet to be installed once construction is farther along. “It’s really a gift to the community,” she says.

Selby Gardens’ ability to make this transformational investment in its campus and downtown Sarasota wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of many philanthropists.

One such donor, Evelyn Mink, volunteered at the Gardens for 25 years, contributing almost 5,000 hours of service, before she passed away in 2021 at age 101. Mink left a major gift to Selby Gardens in her will that has supported Master Plan construction. It will name the Evelyn S. Mink Volunteer Suite in the new Plant Research Center for her.

Another donor who Selby Gardens has recognized recently for his impressive vision and generosity is Richard Matson. A longtime Selby Gardens supporter along with his wife, trustee Cornelia Matson, he recently made an additional gift of $1 million through a bequest pledge in his estate plan. “The Master Plan just floored me,” Matson says. “It was perfect.”

Nearly $56 million has been raised for Phase One so far, with almost all donations coming from private philanthropy. Rominiecki says they only have about $1 million left to hit their goal for this phase of construction.

Though still in the planning stages, Phase Two will focus on hurricane-resilient glass houses for the living plant collections, and an indoor/outdoor learning pavilion for education programs, including classroom space for both children and adults. Phase Three will include restoration of the Payne Mansion, a Sarasota landmark that houses the Museum of Botany & the Arts, as well as building up the seawalls surrounding the property and completing and unifying all the gardens’ walking paths.

Aside from adding new buildings, garden features, and the history-making advancements of the net positive spaces, research will be made more central. When all three phases of the Master Plan are complete, Selby Gardens’ scientists and their work will no longer be a hidden aspect of the gardens but will be brought front and center. This will help bring awareness to the necessity of their important work.

With 230,000 visitors every year, Selby Gardens is known internationally for having the world’s best scientifically

documented collections of orchids and bromeliads. It is also the only botanical garden in the world that focuses on the study and display of epiphytes, or air plants. Though it’s already a popular attraction for residents and tourists, the draw is expected to increase even more in the coming years.

The “living buildings” that Selby Gardens is creating through its Master Plan will be part of that attraction. By pursuing the Living Building Challenge, Selby Gardens will ensure that its new buildings surpass LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a framework for efficient and economical green buildings. “To build buildings that don’t harm the environment, that actually help the environment—we had no idea that we would be in such a category,” Rominiecki said. “Now it’s really happening.”

Nine months from now, the community will enjoy a completely new look and feel at Selby Gardens, while the institution’s historical and botanical legacies are secured and preserved. Rominiecki can’t wait for Phase One’s completion this coming fall.

“Everything has come together so beautifully, and now we’re in the final stretch,” she says. “It’s really exciting.”

For more information about Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, visit selby.org.

e D uc Ation matters

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY | TEACHING KIDS THE MAGIC OF THE UNDERWATER WORLD

By Simone Knego

Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the oldest marine research laboratories in Florida. The facility began in 1955 in a one-room laboratory, the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory, in Placida, Florida. Dr. Eugenie Clark—nicknamed “The Shark Lady”—was a world authority on sharks and fish. She built the Cape Haze Laboratory with the support of the Vanderbilt family as a place to study the oceans and share that information with the world.

The lab was later renamed in honor of William R. Mote, a major benefactor whose contributions helped the research lab grow in size and reputation. Today, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is located on City Island in Sarasota, with field stations in eastern Sarasota County and the Florida Keys. Their scientists conduct research on all seven continents, and their efforts have grown to include more than twenty diverse marine research programs.

Virtual learning at Mote started in 1989 with Robert Ballard, best known for discovering the shipwrecks of the Bismarck and the

Titanic. He is a retired naval officer and was one of the people on board the Alvin, a crewed deep ocean submersible exploring the wreckage of the Titanic. That deep ocean event in the 1980s inspired many teachers and students to write to Ballard, wanting to learn more, which led him to create the JASON Project in 1989.

The JASON Project was an educational program that used video and audio satellite feeds and, later, the internet to allow students to follow various expeditions. Mote would bring students to their auditorium to watch videos of the STEM-based adventures Dr. Ballard would go on in places such as Belize and the Galapagos.

In 1996, Mote began its own distance learning program, bringing high-energy, multimedia science lessons right into the classroom using interactive video technology. Their lessons featured the research of actual scientists working at the lab, with interviews showing how their interests led them to their careers.

According to Jason Robertshaw, Mote’s Virtual Learning Program Manager, “Mote is known for its international research programs, but we also

expand the boundaries of our education programs through virtual learning. Our passionate STEM experts connect with audiences of all ages around the world to share the inspiring, life-improving science happening at our lab. Our goal is to enhance understanding and appreciation of our oceans through engaging STEM programs that spark curiosity while fostering conservation connections.”

Today, Mote has courses that cater to school-age children, teachers, and lifelong learners. There is an incredible range of virtual opportunities for both students and teachers. Adult education opportunities are available on-site and virtually, where the public can participate from the comfort of their own home. Mote delivered live learning events to more than a hundred organizations in 2022, reaching over 10,000 participants.

In addition, last year, Mote Marine Laboratory reached over 200 children through Connected North, a program that connects Canadian Indigenous students in grades K-12 with live, interactive virtual learning experiences. It also provides access to educational resources for students and teachers in remote communities, supporting them where they live. This relationship will continue in 2023.

According to Robertshaw, “Our approach is to bring high production values to our live events using a combination of science game shows, animations, greenscreen effects, and live animals. While the focus is always based on the research at Mote, the programs are far more than just a talking head. Combined with our award-winning customer service, we make the magic of the underwater world come alive regardless of physical location. We love sharing our passion for the amazing creatures that live in the seas and exploring all things aquatic with our learners.”

“We make the magic of the underwater world come alive regardless of physical location.”

Current learning opportunities include:

SEA TREK

SEA Trek is a virtual STEM program with 30 to 60 minute segments for children in grades K-12 with multiple topics to choose from, including sharks, manatees, and coral reefs. The SEA Trek program is aligned with State and National Science standards and includes free supplemental media and lesson plans.

The SEA Trek program has received numerous accolades and awards over its twenty-year history. This includes numerous pinnacle awards, the highest recognition for engaging learners across the globe given by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration.

SEA ME READ

SEA Me Read is an engaging program with options for Pre-K through 4th-grade students. A Mote specialist reads a storybook aloud with students and then engages in a learning segment to “help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension.” There are six different options, including a storybook about Eugenie Clark, founder of Mote Marine Laboratory.

SEA Show

SEA show offers free virtual lessons on specialty STEM topics throughout the year. These lessons are geared toward elementary and middle school students but are suitable for all ages and a great choice for homeschool audiences. Here are the upcoming topics through April:

February—I Love Oceans—Learn all about the life cycles of the sea, from baby sharks to hatchling sea turtles and more. For Grades K - 6. Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 1:00 pm ET.

March—Does it Grow in the Ocean—Learn about seaweed, seagrass, mangroves, and more as we find out what grows in the ocean and how the science of aquaponics can help feed people too. For Grades K - 6. Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 1:00 pm ET.

April—Does it Go in the Ocean—Earth Day: From reducing microplastics to composting, learn about eco-friendly actions that span from Earth Day to World Oceans Day with Mote Aquarium. For Grades K - 6. Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 1:00 pm ET

Paula Vogel

April—Goodnight at the Aquarium—Remake Learning Days presents: Say goodnight to your favorite sea creatures as we virtually visit them after dark. Get up close and personal, and learn about their habitats, behaviors, and conservation efforts. All ages. Thursday, April 27, 2023, 5:30 pm ET.

ENDLESS OCEANS

Endless Oceans is part of the lifelong learning opportunities at Mote. This is a semester-long course for anyone 18 and older who would like to learn more about the world of marine science through an engaging series of inperson lessons and hands-on experiences hosted by Mote education professionals. Although the program began in January, sign-up is still available for individual classes. The program will be offered again in the Fall. Alternatively, the class can be taken as a self-paced course completely online (but without the field trips).

On November 13, 2020, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium broke ground for their new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park, a state-of-the-art facility that will have over 110,000 square feet of space and exhibits totaling one million gallons of water.

“At Mote Science Education Aquarium, science is the attraction, as it is the heart of our mission,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO. “This spectacular new facility and campus will embody our vision of Oceans for All, doubling the number of visitors whose lives are enriched by marine science each year and providing nocost opportunities for all schools to utilize specialized teaching labs to ensure that every child has the opportunity for hands-on marine science and technology experiences. The oceans are connected to everyone, every place in the world, and our goal is to ignite within each visitor a greater degree of curiosity to learn more about the oceans and their critical value in providing the oxygen we breathe, food, medicine, economic impact and overall quality of our lives.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Mote, contact Kevin Cooper, Vice President for Communications and Strategic Initiatives, at kcooper@mote.org.

To support Mote Marine Laboratory’s ongoing endeavors, please visit mote.org or call 941-388-4441.

My

Love Affair with the Movies

By Gus Mollasis

It’s no secret that I love movies. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love it. I especially love great scenes of celluloid magic on the big screen—the way it was intended to be seen.

But I must say in today’s streaming world, I fear that the excitement of going on a fun and romantic date to dinner and a movie is becoming passé, just like drive in theaters.

I guess I’m just a hopeless romantic—both in life and in film. While I love getting lost in a great film or losing myself in the plight

of the hero as he or she saves the day in the last scene, I am also a sucker for a great love story.

I love when Cupid’s arrow lands on an unsuspecting couple, when sparks fly and the magic happens right before us, and love triumphs.

So just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are a few of my favorite love films to watch with your love. And if you decide to stream any of these films, you can still go to dinner beforehand!

10 . Moulin Rouge

The public was recently reintroduced to the brilliance of Elvis Presley while being introduced to (in my opinion) the greatest portrayal of a famous person on film by Austin Butler as Elvis. He truly captured the King in an Oscar worthy performance in director Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling film, Elvis. But long before he made Elvis, he showed us that love is indeed a many splendid thing in the colorful and mesmerizing Moulin Rouge. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor sizzle on screen proving that all you need is love. This stunning fast-paced musical is a feast for the eyes and for the heart. It reminds us of life’s essential ingredients: freedom, beauty, truth, and above all, love.

9. Titanic

Movie fans can have all the blue creatures in Avatar—I’ll take Jack and Rose on the big ship. Titanic rises above all the clichés because of its love story as Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) from the wrong side of the tracks, mixes with high society Rose (Kate Winslet). With James Cameron’s adroit direction set against the historical context of Titanic’s tragic maiden voyage, accompanied with one of the greatest love songs of all time, “My Heart Will Go On”, it’s one of most dramatic love stories of all time.

8. The Notebook

Allie and Noah. Young love. Forbidden love. Forgotten love. Enduring love. A film that will break your heart. Directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams who play a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s and whose love story is told in present day from a notebook by Noah (James Garner) to his wife Allie (Gena Rowlands) as they face old age and seek to find their love story in their memories. Dare you not to cry.

7 . Say Anything

A teen romance with grit and an iconic romantic gesture that is as poignant as it is memorable. With John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler and Ione Skye as Diane, director Cameron Crowe handles this story of young love with the same honesty and heart that shine through in his bigger and better-known films—Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire

6. Moonstruck

Moonstruck , by legendary filmmaker Norman Jewison, is both a drama and a romantic comedy. This warm and funny story features an Italian family navigating around life, love, and the pull of the moon on their hearts. Cher has never been better. Okay, maybe in Mask. She shines as Loretta

5 . When Harry Met Sally

Director Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, and Meg Ryan—all at their best. Together they create Hollywood magic in one of the great love stories of all time. It’s the story of two unlikely people who first become friends and eventually fall in love. A sizzling Harry Connick soundtrack makes this love story sing; the vignettes of older couples falling in love will warm even the iciest hearts; and the film will have you saying, “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Castorini, a widow who falls for her fiancé’s brother, Ronny Cammareri, perfectly played by Nicolas Cage. Aided by the incomparable Olympia Dukakis as Loretta’s mother, Rose, and a cast of several other warm characters, including Sarasota’s own, the incomparable David Howard, who we just sadly lost, this film is sure to enchant.

4 . Coming Home

This Chinese historical film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Chen Daoming and Gong Li is a masterpiece adapted from the novel The Criminal Lu Yanshi written by novelist Geling Yan. Coming Home is a story about two people who will seek to find each other over time and through social political upheaval during China’s Cultural Revolution. Ultimately it is a love story about a couple who will wait for each other to come home no matter how long it takes. Depicting a love of a lifetime and a lifetime of love, this simply told tale moves you through haunting images that are suited for the walls of the finest museums. Truly an eye and heart opening cinematic experience for anyone looking to find, define and remember what true love is.

The AroundShop the Corner

Directed by famed film legend Ernst Lubitsch, this simple, beautiful story stars Margaret Sullivan, James Stewart and Frank Morgan. It’s a tale of two unlikely gift shop workers who at first don’t like each other but eventually fall in love in their own original and magical way. Regarded by many as the finest romantic comedy in American cinema, it set the standard to which all subsequent romantic comedies are judged. And while an ambitious remake made many years later in 1998, You’ve Got Mail, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, is quite good, there’s nothing like the original!

“Yo, Adrian! It’s me, Rocky!” Rocky is not only a great fight film, but it is also a great love story. You know how I know for sure? Burt Young, who played Adrian’s brother Paulie in the film, personally told me so. I interviewed him at the Sarasota Film Festival many years ago. The film is a masterpiece written by a hungry Sly Stallone, directed sublimely by John Avildsen, and starring to perfection Sylvester Stallone as Rocky and Talia Shire as Adrian. Their first date scene in an empty ice-skating rink is cinema bliss, and a glimpse into the genius that is Stallone.

I know. You thought I was going to leave Rick and Ilsa at the airport? What can you say that hasn’t already been said about this beloved classic? I’ve seen it 150 times and hope to see it another 150 more times before I catch my plane out of Casablanca. The chemistry. The story. The laughs. The tears. The music. The sacrifice. The magic. It doesn’t get any better. Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman. Rick and Ilsa. A couple and a love story that will always tug at your heart and never grow old as time goes by.

est se A ts

artist series concerts

941.306.1200/artistseriesconcerts.org

Hanzhi Wang, Accordion

Feb. 9

Maria Worries on Broadway

Feb. 23

Quartet for the End of Time

Feb. 28

asolo rep

941.351.8000/asolorep.org

Chicken + Biscuits

Feb. 15-April 13

Silent Sky

Through Mar. 5

Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers

Through Mar. 26

circus arts conservatory

941.556.5349/circusarts.org

Circus Sarasota

Feb. 10-Mar. 5

florida studio theatre

941.366.9000/ floridastudiotheatre.org

WINTER MAINSTAGE:

What the Constitution Means to Me Through Feb. 26

Network Through Mar. 19

WINTER CABARET:

The 70’s: More Than A Decade Through Feb. 12

A Place in the Sun:

A Tribute to Stevie Wonder Through Mar. 26

CHILDREN’S THEATRE:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Through Feb. 25

hermitage artist retreat hermitageartistretreat.org

Artists + Thinkers: The Art of Producing With Tony Award Winner Tom Kirdahy

Feb. 3

Mastering the Monologue

Feb. 17

Jazz + Theater: Keeping the Beat

Feb. 2

the island players

941.778.5755/theislandplayers.org

The Odd Couple (Female Version)

Jan. 12-29

key chorale

941.921.4845/keychorale.org

Cinematic Romance

Feb. 3-4

A Sea Symphony Masterwork by Vaughn Williams

Feb. 10-11

Tomorrow’s Voices Tonight: Student Scholar Soiree

Feb. 20

lemon bay playhouse

941.475.6756/lemonbayplayhouse.com

The Outsider

Through Feb. 12

John Tuff + Friends

Feb. 18

Paisley Craze

Feb. 25

manatee performing arts center

941.749.1111/ manateeperformingartscenter.com

Go Ask Alice

Feb. 1-5

Temps, Tops, Supremes + Gladys: A Motown Revue with Soul Sensation

Feb. 9-10

Peter Fogel’s Til Death Do Us Part… You First!

Feb. 14

Bradenton Rotary Club Presents: Joe DeVito Comedy Night

Feb. 17

Tony Sands Presents: Rat Pack Together Again

Feb. 18

mccurdy’s comedy theatre

941.925.3869/mccurdyscomedy.com

JB Ball

Feb. 1-5

Yakov Smirnoff

Feb. 10-11

Hard Heart Burlesque

Feb. 14

Humor Institute Class Performance

Feb. 15

Orny Adams

Feb. 17-18

Andrew Dice Clay

Feb. 21-22

Robert Kelly

Feb. 23-25

Bob Marley

Feb. 26-27

Open Bar Comedy

Feb. 28

BFEBRUARY 2023 | PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

the players center for performing arts

941.365.2494/theplayers.org

Always…Patsy Cline

Feb. 2-12

Silly Love Songs with Jimmy Mazz

Feb. 14

Mark Twain: They Told Me to Be Brief

Feb. 16-18

the sarasota ballet

941.359.0099/sarasotaballet.org

Program 5: Dance Theatre of Harlem

Feb. 24-27

sarasota concert association

941.225.6500/scasarasota.org

Pianist Awadagin Pratt

Feb. 15

Hein Jung, Soprano + Gregorios Zamparas, Piano

Feb. 17

sarasota contemporary dance sarasotacontemporarydance.org

In-Studio Series: DeAnna Wright

Feb. 3-4

In-Studio Series: Francis Schwartz

Feb. 10-11

In-Studio Series: Charlotte Johnson

Feb. 24-25

sarasota jewish theater sarasotajewishtheater.org

Hedy! The Life + Inventions of Hedy

Lamarr Hedy

Feb. 21-26

sarasota orchestra

941.953.4253/ sarasotaorchestra.org

Classical Conversations 4

Feb. 2

A Romantic Affair

Feb. 2-5

Date Night

Feb. 8-12

Thrill of a Lifetime

Feb. 18

Three Sonatas

Feb. 19

Classical Conversations 5

Feb. 23

Copeland + Stravinsky

Feb. 24-26

urbanite theatre

941.321.1397/urbanitetheatre.org

Birds of North America Through Feb. 12

van wezel performing arts center

941.953.3368/vanwezel.org

An Intimate Evening with David Foster + Katherine McPhee

Feb. 2

RCLA Presents Michael Phelps

Feb. 6

Get Happy: Michael Feinstein Celebrates the Judy Garland Centennial

Feb. 7

Masterclass Series Two: Wicked Song + Dance Workshop

Feb. 7

Momix - Alice

Feb. 8

Scotty McCreery

Feb. 10

Tootsie

Feb. 13

Masterclass Series One: Tootsie

Feb. 15

Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive

Feb. 16

The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular

Feb. 17

The Beach Boys

Feb. 21

Rita Rudner + Robert Klein

Feb. 22

Ailey II

Feb. 23

RCLA Presents Admiral James Stavridis

Feb. 27

Sarah McLachlan:

An Intimate Evening of Song + Storytelling with Vanessa Freebairn-Smith

Feb. 28

venice performing arts center

941.218.3779/ veniceperformingartscenter.com

The Venice Symphony: Cinematic Romance

Feb. 3

Beatles vs. Stones

Feb. 10

Highwaymen Show

Feb. 18

The Venice Chorale: Peace + Harmony

Feb. 19

Venice Concert Presents Step by Step

Jan. 21

The Venice Symphony:

The Movie Maestro, a Tribute to John Williams

Feb. 24

venice theatre

941.488.1115/ venicetheatre.org

Chicago Rewired

Feb. 5

The Cemetery Club

Through Feb. 12

Gypsy

Feb. 17-Mar. 19

Arabian Nights

Feb. 24-Mar. 5

An Evening with Norm Lewis

Feb. 26

westcoast black theatre troupe

941.366.1505/ westcoastblacktheatre.org

Flyin’ West

Through Feb. 12

Dreamgirls

Feb. 22-Apr. 9

VISIT SCENESARASOTA.COM

to submit your event for consideration, please send information to gina@scenesarasota.com

Portugese & Italian Cuisine

Our New Location — “A Little Gem”

“We are pleased to bring to Sarasota our expanded menu featuring Portuguese cuisine from our home country. Please come and enjoy. We still have your Italian favorites!” —Tito & Liana

Live Entertainment •Outdoor Dining • Open for Dinner Wed – Sun: 5 – 9PM

Open for lunch starting Wednesday, February 1st

Open on Valentine’s Day, Reserve Now!

art avenue

440.227.4592 / artavenueflorida.com

International Art: Dali, Picasso, Turovsky

Current

Local Artists: Vicki Chelf, Richard Moravits, Elin Li

Current

artcenter manatee

941.746.2862 / artcentermanatee.org

MetalWorx

Feb. 2-24

Member Exhibit

Feb. 2-24

art center sarasota

941.365.2032 / artsarasota.org

Luca Molnar: Same Source

Eugene Ofori Agyei: Both Ways

Marlon Tobias: To Come Together, To Get Together

Annual Juried Members Show

Through Mar. 11

Artist Talk: Marlon Tobias

February 9

Artist Talk: Luca Molnar

February 16

art uptown

941.955.5409 / artuptown.com

Elements by Cheryl Moody

Through Feb. 23

clyde butcher

venice gallery and studio

941.486.0811 / clydebutcher.com

Venice Art Walk

Feb. 2

dabbert gallery

941.955.1315 / dabbertgallery.com

Abstract, Thoughts and Questions

Through Feb. 28

embracing our differences

941.404.5710 / embracingourdifferences.org

Exhibit at Bayfront Park

Through Mar. 12

harmony gallery @ sarasota orchestra

941.487.2746 / sarasotaorchestra.org

Laurel Maul: Wondrous Things

Through Feb. 27

island gallery west

941.778.6648 / islandgallerywest.artspan.com

Karen Beach

Through Feb. 28

marie selby botanical gardens

941.366.5731 / selby.org

Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature

Feb. 12-Jun. 25

meg krakowiak studios

941.400.2478 / megkrakowiakstudios.com

Currently showing work at Art Ovation Hotel

Through Feb. 6

ringling museum

941.359.5700 / ringling.org

The Marvelous Marbling of Matsui Kōsei

Through Apr. 23

Highlights from the Stanton B. & Nancy W. Kaplan Collection of Photography

Through Feb. 12

Gods & Lovers:

Paintings & Sculptures from India

Through May 28

June Clark: Harlem Quilt

Through Mar. 26

ArtCenter Manatee

Dabbert Gallery—Gustavo Paris

SPAACES—Clifford McDonald

Island Gallery West—Karen Beach

Harmony Gallery—Laurel Maul

Art Center Sarasota

FEBRUARY 2023 | VISUAL ARTS CALENDAR

sarasota art museum sarasotaartmuseum.org

Richard Benson: The World is Smarter Than You Are

Feb. 5-May 7

Sara Berman’s Closet

Feb. 5-May 7

A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard

Feb. 25-Jun. 25

studio on 5th

941.330.8091 / susancronkart.com

Susan Cronk Original Art:

Pure, Figurative & Still Life

Current

the southern atelier

941.753.7755 / southernatelier.org

See Website for Classes & Studios

SPAACES

941.374.3492 / spaaces.art

Love Art. Love People.

Feb. 1-14

stakenborg/greenberg fine art

941.487.8001 / stakenborgfineart.com

“Go Figure” Figurative Art

Current

Newly Acquired Monotypes by Mid-Twentieth Century German Expressionist, Otto Neumann

Current

state of the arts gallery

941.955.2787 / sarasotafineart.com

THE ART OF LOVE  - the love of art

Through Feb. 28

wyland gallery

941.388.5331 / wylandgalleriesofthefloridakeys.com

Stephen Muldoon

Feb. 3-4

Steve Barton

Feb. 17-20

Walfrido Garcia

Feb. 24-26

TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT/EXHIBITION FOR CONSIDERATION , please send information to editor@scenesarasota.com

State of the Arts Gallery

Meg Krakowiak

SAM—Kirstin Massenfield

meet the artist h unter J. sm ith

“As an acrylic painter, I credit my outlook largely to the 1940 film “Fantasia,” which I first saw at the age of six.

The fantastical world on that screen impacted me. I was more interested in the settings for the characters in the film instead of the characters themselves. I wanted to live in the depths of that mysterious, magical world.

To this day, that is what I capture on canvas. The mystery and the exotic qualities of my work make it identifiable, with saturated hues. You’ll see closeup views of botanic life, but water and its refracted light seize my imagination as well. Even aquatic life, like jellyfish, lion fish and koi take center stage.

That childhood experience in the movie theatre continues to fascinate me to this day, and is one of the reasons my colors are so intense, vibrant and saturated. The enchanted landscapes of Disney are subtle in my paintings, and may not be immediately noticeable…but is where the inspiration was born.”

To view more of Hunter’s work, please visit Art Uptown gallery in downtown Sarasota.

l I terary s cene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave • THREE NEW ROMANCE NOVELS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

e X es & O’ s • by Amy Lea (Berkeley Books, January 2023)

I’m drawn to books about characters who get second chances, and that’s exactly what’s happening in Amy Lea’s Exes & O’s Tara Li Chen, a romance-novel obsessed nurse who believes in true love, is a social media influencer who’s been dumped ten times by ten men, but she’s willing to go back and see if one of those exes might actually offer her a second chance at love. She’s got a new roommate (a hot firefighter named Trevor) who’s willing to serve as a wingman for her second chance at love plan.

Tara is as familiar with romance story tropes as is the author, and the story is full of appreciation for the form. Sure, the story’s a bit fluffy, but it’s comical and enjoyable, because after all, we all know/ hope/believe love is found where you least expect it.

This slow-burn romance is the sequel to Set on You (2022), which I haven’t read, but I don’t feel as if this story was lacking. It had more than enough stand-alone appeal. Something else I noticed—it felt a bit like the grown-up version of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (see it on Netflix).

I would’ve liked to have known Trevor’s mindset a bit more along the way, but the book does a decent job of delivering The Feels. Maybe some might resist how Tara quickly gets clingy (instalove), yet ultimately, Exes and O’s is an easy, bingeable read.

RYAN’S RATING:

h I ghly susp ICIO us and unfa I rly C ute by

Talia Hibbert (Joy Revolution,

January 2023)

Talia Hibbert’s latest novel, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute , is a dual POV YA (Point of View Young Adult) story about two former buddies-now-enemies who end up together on an outdoors survival course with scholarships on the line. Can these seventeen-year-old kids work together to win despite their messy past? Bradley is a star athlete with OCD—the cute boy most would love to have notice them. Celine is obsessed with conspiracy theories and runs her own TikTok channel on that. These two have absolutely nothing in common. But still…

The banter between them crackles with goodness at times, and Hibbert delivers enough emotional moments along the way. The tenderness feels authentic. Some might consider it swoon-ish. I’ll also note that Bradley’s OCD isn’t just a throwaway—he’s learned techniques on how to manage intrusive thoughts and he uses those to good effect.

Hibbert might best be known as an adult romance writer, but clearly, she’s found a home in the YA romance arena with these interesting characters who’ll surely appeal to Gen Z readers.

RYAN’S RATING:

tO get tO the Other s I de

by Kelly Ohlert (Alcove Press, December 2022)

Kelly Ohlert’s debut book, a dual first-person POV novel titled To Get to the Other Side , really does riff on the chicken-crossing-the-road joke. Trixie has herself a rescue chicken—no joke!—that she saved when it was struggling to literally cross the road. Trixie has had too many smuggled-in-animal situations with her landlord to stay in her current living situation, so she responds to a housing ad. Only it’s not for an empty room. Unbeknownst to him, Bear’s meddlesome sisters rented out a spare room in his home to help him potentially find romance.

Bear’s a bit grumpy from the start, so this promises to be less than ideal. They agree to keep things platonic, yet proximity creates all kinds of possibility as the two parent the rescue Chick Chick, pay the sizable vet bills, and help Bear keep his flower shop afloat. Along the way, Bear’s checking out his new roomie’s rear a lot and getting blue balls. Yep. Blue balls. He’s perhaps not as likable as he might need to be for this story to work well enough.

Yet I’m somewhat drawn to the book’s absurdity. Trixie changes her entire life to accommodate Chick Chick, after all. There’s also a lot of humor and sarcasm that makes the pages move well. If you dig instalove, manic pixie girl tropes, and chickens, this is the book for you.

• Tales of amazing canines engaged in astonishing feats of heroism, come to life in vivid color and storytelling, fully illustrated and easy to read.

informative and magnificently illustrated book about the many jobs working dogs can have

Acclaimed Sarasota Author Sherry Bennett Warshauer

• Learn about working dogs, and the way they change lives for the better.

Building on the huge success of last year's Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open, the tournament  will once again be held downtown at the centrally located Payne Park Tennis Center. Thanks to the support of the City of Sarasota, Payne Park got a substantial renovation with new lights, fences and upgraded courts. This year there will be expanded shaded bleachers as well as an expanded VIP hospitality tent.

Local vendors of food and other services will be selling and showcasing their products in the Vendor Village. Boosting the local business environment is an important mission of the new owners Remington Reynolds, Steve Gareleck, Kenneth Paslaqua and Elizabeth Moore, as well as Tournament Director Casey Brown.

The ATP has approved a higher 125point level ATP tournament, the only 125 point tournament in the US which carries an increased winnings purse and allows for players ranked up to 11 world-wide. This 2023 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open will be the best yet of its 15-year history! Come one, come all and watch some exciting match play! Sarasota is rapidly becoming a mecca for high level professional and amateur tennis!

Creating FUTURES ... without a shadow of doubt.

Help Make Higher Education Possible.

To learn more, contact our Executive Director, Cassandra Holmes, at 941.752.5390 or HolmesC@SCF.edu

SCF-Foundation.org