Electric bikes arrive at Wellen Park for transportation or leisure.
TOGETHER
75 Registered dietitian nutritionist Rosanne Rust shares some insights on her philosophy.
78 Find your hidden improv talents with Venice Theatre classes. 82 Meet Wellen Park resident Jennifer Bradford who left Maine for an oasis away from the snow. 84 State College of Florida comes to Wellen Park with Sarasota Connects for business building and networking. 84 Parting Shot.
SPECIAL SECTION
56 Explore Wellen Park’s neighborhoods and the builder’s model homes.
COVER CREDITS Wellen Park Glow Bike Ride & Glow Kayak Adventure, photography by Wyatt Kostygan.
CALENDAR
Come to Downtown Wellen to enjoy a variety of local family-friendly events including the 3rd Annual Half Marathon and 5K. Turn to page 69 for upcoming events.
For advertising or distribution inquiries, contact us, WellenPark@srqme.com
EXPLORE
9 Life is more fun when you’re riding a bike around Wellen Park.18 Off the coast of Sarasota, hidden islands lie just beneath the surface.
22 At Acqua Pazza, The Banyan House and Villani & Co., there are plenty of libations to love.
26 The region’s arts scene is alive and well this spring with countless can’t-miss events. 36 Bright Ice Scoop Shop, Caribbean Pie Company and Foxtail Coffee all have something to satisfy your sweet tooth. 40 Discover Sarasota Introduces New Tours of Venice. 44 Deanna Wallin, founder of Naples Soap Company, shares insights on skincare for spring. 50 Susan Gaynor of M/I Homes sheds some light on strategic lighting solutions.
Welcome to your new friend: Wellen Park Living. You’ll find stories about the people behind fun-loving experiences in the neighborhood and beyond, sips and forkfuls of scrumptious food and crafted beverages and ways to soak in the abundant outdoor adventures just around the corner.
GLOW-UP SEASON
Giving your skin the treatment it deserves.
EXPLORE GearUp
Life is better on bike in Wellen Park.
WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WES ROBERTS | SRQ MEDIA
Gear Up for a Great Ride Around Wellen Park
THE NEW YEAR OFFERS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO START A FITNESS ROUTINE OR TAKE your current one to the next level, and biking is a fun, energizing way to do it. Offering a wide range of physical, mental and environmental benefits, cycling through the streets of Wellen Park or exploring scenic trails can improve cardiovascular health, boost your mood and promote overall fitness. It’s an eco-friendly mode of transportation that reduces your carbon footprint while allowing you to connect with nature and enjoy our beautiful outdoor surroundings.
All Trails Lead to Fun
Wellen Park’s 30 plus miles of multimodal trails have become a popular destination for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, providing a bike-friendly community for all ages and skill levels. The trails are comprised of dedicated paved bike lanes and crushed shell pathways, along with benches and shaded areas for rest. Mile markers help cyclists track their progress along the routes.
with a combination of concrete and shell pathways. An iced capuccino from Foxtail Coffee awaits you at the end of a long morning ride around Wellen Park.
Wellen Park currently offers nine interconnected trails, ranging from a 2.8 mile loop around the Grand Lake in Downtown Wellen to a 6.3 mile trail circling the West Villages District. Other paths connect key destinations, including CoolToday Park, River Road and the public lakefront Fit Trail on the State College of Florida campus. With plans to expand the trails, including paved bike lanes and two nature pathways, the community’s focus on wellness and outdoor recreation is further reflected.
Rick Severence, president of Wellen Park, emphasizes the value of trails, stating that they are the most desired amenity for homebuyers and the most used by residents. “New residents may never step foot on the tennis court, but they’ll use the trails. Investing in trail systems for future generations adds lasting value to a community,” he notes. Jamie Albano, owner of Kind Vibes Outfitters, echoes Severence’s words and praises the community’s infrastructure, mentioning the wide sidewalks, designated bike lanes and new pavement as key advantages for cyclists.
Wellen Park’s trails not only provide recreational opportunities but also foster a sense of community, as residents from different neighborhoods meet while biking. The trail system also encourages biking as an alternative form of transportation, reducing car dependency. Another key feature that benefits the environment is that many of the trails near wetlands are made from crushed shell material to preserve the natural landscape.
Cyclists can explore scenic routes like the three mile loop around Grand Lake, with a stop at The Landing Fishing Pier. The Wander at Wellen app enhances the experience, offering details on local fish species. Other features to take notice of include the newly opened Harvest Community Garden, which connects neighborhoods with a network of multimodal paths. In the future, the Oakheart Nature Trail will offer additional opportunities for outdoor exploration, winding through wetlands and preserves. This 4 mile trail will connect to Downtown Wellen and CoolToday Park along with the new K-8 and high school campuses, opening in 2026. Wellen Park’s dedication to trails as a community asset highlights the broader regional trend of expanding trail systems, such as the Legacy Trail in Sarasota County, which stretches from Sarasota to Venice and now connects to North Port via the North Port Connector.
THIS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Grand Lake Loop connects starts along the waterfront of Downtown Wellen Park and loops around the Grand Lake
Electric Bikes
Take a regular bicycle, add a motor, a battery, a controller and what do you get? An electric bike, or e-bike, which has become increasingly popular around town. E-bikes function like traditional bicycles, with the added benefit of an electric motor that helps with pedaling, especially on tough terrain like hills or against the wind. The electric assist doesn’t replace human effort—rather, it makes riding easier and more efficient, allowing you to travel farther with less fatigue.
The benefits of owning an e-bike are many, especially in warmer climates like ours, where long rides in the heat can be exhausting. E-bikes are also great for shorter commutes, making them an eco-friendly alternative to driving. This could mean fewer cars on the road, less traffic and a reduction in pollution. E-bikes are also a good option for those new to cycling, helping make the transition from sedentary to active living a little easier. E-bikes do come with a higher price tag than regular bikes, typically ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 or more. Also, because they can accelerate so quickly, they pose certain safety risks, especially for beginners. In Florida, while you don’t need a special license to ride an e-bike, the law limits them to a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour and a motor power of 750 watts. For your safety, it’s recommended to wear a helmet and reflective gear, even though the law only mandates helmets for riders aged 16 and under.
Kind Vibes Outfitters is an Aventon Premier E-Bike Dealer. “They have been in the market for over ten years and have the best product and pricing,” says Albano, who believes e-bikes are great for those who need assistance to keep themselves out on the trails and roads because they enable people to get outside and move when they would have not done so if they used a regular pedal bike. “We may not have hills in Florida but we have heat, wind and a lot of flat surfaces. Aventon has a model called the Pace 500.3 that allows riders to go up to 65 miles on a single charge but most of our customers are using them to go to their club house functions, friend’s homes and around Wellen,” he adds.
THIS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT Enjoy the shade of the West Villages Parkways Lake Loop. Outdoor enthusiast, Jamie Albano is the owner of Kind Vibes Outfitters.
Safety First
Cycling Meet-Ups in Wellen Park
Join fellow cyclists every Saturday morning for a ride through Wellen Park. Whether you’re a local or new to the area, the Wellen Park cycling group offers a welcoming environment to meet like-minded bikers. The group meets in front of Kind Vibes Outfitters at 10am sharp. No need to RSVP—just show up and enjoy the ride. Cyclists are free to come and go as they please. “This is a general ride around Wellen Park,” says Albano, ”but stay tuned for more information and updates about the group in the coming months!” For more ways to connect with local cyclists, check out the Venice Cyclists & Friends Facebook group, where cyclists in southern Sarasota County can share ride events, ask questions, post pictures and more. Another great resource is Real Bikes of Venice at 581 US Highway 41 Bypass N., which lists cycling events throughout the area on their website.
“Riding a bike is fun but can be very dangerous too,” cautions Albano. “Always wear your helmet and have reflective gear. I see so many adults who do not wear helmets and it’s astonishing to me. I hear things like ‘They don’t look good,’ and to that I say ‘well, most riders who hit their heads on a bike ride suffer long term injuries,’—it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Other essential safety tips from Albano include wearing bright clothing, using proper lighting and carrying a charged phone. Make sure to bring water, know your route and watch out for wildlife. If you’re riding on a trail, the standard passing phrase is “on your left.” Be mindful of cars, turn lanes and crosswalks, especially in busy areas. For new cyclists, Albano recommends starting with a bike that has at least a 1.75-inch wide tire, especially if you plan on riding around the lake, as some trail portions are unpaved and rough. Kind Vibes also offers hourly bike rentals for both children and adults. In addition to bikes, they rent kayaks and fishing poles, and have a hydration station with drinks, including beer and wine, along with Wellen Park merchandise. And speaking of merchandise, Wellen Park’s super cool, branded cycling shirts are now available for sale in the Welcome Center for $55.
Bike Maintenance
Just like your car, your bike needs regular maintenance. “Check tire pressure and clean your bike regularly to ensure smooth rides,” says Albano. You can purchase bike wash kits or use household cleaners for routine care. Kind Vibes also offers bike repairs, from basic tune-ups to complete rebuilds. While they specialize in Aventon e-bikes, they do service all brands. “We offer a 24-48 hour turnaround, and some repairs can be done while you enjoy the park,” adds Albano. So, whether you’re looking for a fun Saturday ride, considering an e-bike for your daily commute, or need a bike tune-up, Kind Vibes Outfitters is your go-to spot in Wellen Park.
HiddenIslands
Explore these secret sanctuaries off the coast of Sarasota. WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
IN SARASOTA’S SHIMMERING COASTAL WATERS, A WORLD OF UNSEEN TREASURES AWAITS. At certain times of day, socalled “hidden islands” emerge and then vanish again with the ebb and flow of the tides. These elusive sandbars and stretches of shoreline are slices of paradise accessible almost exclusively by boat. Unmarked on most maps and known primarily by locals, these secluded sanctuaries promise a unique journey of discovery for those willing to seek them out. Each hidden island locale scattered along Sarasota’s waterways has its own distinct identity, and which islands you visit will depend on the experience you are looking to cultivate.
Community and Camaraderie
Also known as raft-up culture, sandbar culture is a laid-back socially-driven boating lifestyle where people gather on the water to connect, relax and enjoy the outdoors. Sandbars provide natural gathering spots where people can anchor their boats and commune with fellow aficionados of aquatic life. On weekends and holidays, many of the sandbars off Sarasota become lively gathering spots where boaters converge to mix and mingle, often playing music, throwing impromptu parties and engaging in recreational activities like beach volleyball. Some of Sarasota’s hidden islands have become popular with the sandbar culture crowd.
OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE Escape the crowds and enjoy the peaceful and natural beauty of Longboat Pass and Sand Dollar Island. KAYAKING AND STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING Ride and Paddle, Vanhunks USA Kayaks Kayaking SRQ
Longboat Pass is a waterway located between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island connecting Sarasota Bay to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is the home of Jewfish Key, a small private island with private residences. On the western side of Jewfish Key, there’s a massive sandbar with shallow, crystal clear waters that is accessible to the general public. This sandbar has become a popular spot for more family-oriented boating groups thanks to its secluded location and great swimming spots.
At the other end of the spectrum, there is Sarasota Big Pass which runs between Longboat Key and Siesta Key where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. This is another popular gathering spot, but because it is so dynamic it is perhaps best left for more experienced boaters.
WAYS TO SEE THE ISLANDS
“It’s quite rewarding to get to Big Pass,” says Hunter Carpenter, the Director of Community Relations & Partnership at Visit Sarasota County. “It’s somewhat challenging to get there because you have to navigate all of the sandbars, but it has some of the best fishing and wildlife that you can experience here in Sarasota.”
In the brackish waters near Big Pass, you’ll find a bayside sandbar known as Sharker’s Island. Located just a quarter mile away from Ted Sperling Nature Park, the area was once popular with paddleboarders and beachcombers. More recently though, it has become something of a hotspot for boaters looking for more of a fun social experience. If you don’t own a boat, you can still join the party—Sharker’s Island is accessible by kayak from the South Lido park launching point.
Peaceful Paradise
For those seeking a more tranquil experience, the hidden islands also offer ample opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the quiet beauty of Sarasota’s coastal landscape. New Pass, a waterway separating Longboat Key and Lido Key is well-known for its scenic beauty and is frequently visited by kayakers looking to explore the nearby islands and waterways. There is a sandbar out past the New Pass Bridge where boaters gather to socialize, but kayakers and paddleboarders can also set off on their own adventures from the launching point at Ken Thompson Park. From there, you can visit several nearby nature preserves, explore mangrove tunnels and find other hidden treasures.
SURFit USA Happy Paddler Kayak BOATING RENTALS (great for island hopping)
Key Sailing
Sarasota Suncoast Tours
Cannons Marina
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
Kokomo Charters
thecoast
“We have several partners along Lido Key like Kayaking SRQ and SURFit USA that provide kayak and paddleboard rentals,” Carpenter says. “If you want a more active exploration of those hidden islands, they also offer guided tours through the mangrove tunnels as well as to the sandbars.”
Off the northern coast of Siesta Key, not far from Big Pass, Sand Dollar Island is another restful retreat for people who appreciate nature. This hidden island is typically only visible during low tide and is only accessible by boat, making it a quieter alternative to the more crowded public beaches. Sand Dollar Island is popular with beachcombers, as the changing tides are constantly bringing in new prizes, including sharks teeth, seashells and, of course, sand dollars.
Elegant Excursion
Now you know how to find many of Sarasota’s hidden islands, but what happens if you don’t have a boat? Well, you can always kick back and relax and let someone else do the work for you. Guided tours are a great way to visit the hidden islands, especially if you don’t feel confident in your navigational skills. “Even the guided boat tours are customizable,” Carpenter says. “For example, a luxury charter like Kokomo Charters will have champagne and charcuterie boards, and then you also have Suncoast Oasis Boat Tours that do more eco-driven tours. And then there’s LeBarge Tropical Cruises which is kind of a mix of that—you can go see dolphins but also have an evening cocktail if you so choose.” WPL
BELOW Sarasota Big Pass offers some of the most scenic views of the area.
Cocktail Connection
Raise your glass and toast to romance with craft cocktails from three local eateries. WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
IT’S FEBRUARY, AND LOVE IS IN THE AIR. While it’s convenient enough to pick up a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers around Valentine’s Day, there’s something special about taking time to connect with your partner. Even something as simple as sitting down to share a cocktail and some conversation with the special person in your life offers an opportunity for intimacy. Whether you’re navigating the exhilarating early stages of new love or toasting to years of partnership, this small act of connection can be unexpectedly profound. Local restaurants Acqua Pazza, The Banyan House and Villani & Co. are perfect places for date night year round, and they each offer romantic cocktails that will make your moments together even more memorable.
Villani Negroni
Love isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be downright complicated. It’s a little like a Negroni cocktail that way. The traditional Negroni is a spirit-forward cocktail known for its perfect balance of bitterness, sweetness and strength. Typically made with equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, this refreshing and sophisticated drink appeals to people who enjoy a cocktail with depth and a bit of an edge. That edge comes primarily from the Campari, a bitter, red Italian liqueur that is often served as an apéritif before a meal. Villani & Co. has reimagined this classic cocktail into the Villani Negroni, a more accessible take on the original. None of the complexity has been sacrificed, but the rough edges have been sanded off for an interpretation that’s a little less assertive. “Campari can be very, very forward,” explains Alexis Mattern, general manager at Villani & Co. “In addition to gin and sweet vermouth, we have integrated St-Germain elderflower liqueur into the Villani Negroni. We find that the elderflower kind of calms the Campari and adds a bit of a floral, citrus note to the drink.” The cocktail also benefits from the presence of Tinkerman’s Curiously Bright and Complex gin, a limited release with botanicals like jasmine, green tea, ginger, lemongrass, Italian juniper and coriander. It is served over a single large ice rock and garnished with a twist of lemon. The striking red color of this cocktail has major Valentine’s vibes. Villani & Co, 19790 Wellen Park Blvd. Suite 101, Venice, 941-584-4434, villaniandcowellenpark.com.
Strawberry Serenade
Falling in love can be a chemical reaction. When you’re attracted to someone, your brain releases a cocktail of chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin that create feelings of euphoria and attachment. The Strawberry Serenade is a recent addition to the cocktail menu at Acqua Pazza and it is as fun and fresh as a first crush. While spirits are the base of most cocktails, the Strawberry Serenade is a rosé-based cocktail that also includes elements like Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water, fresh strawberries and a splash of vanilla. Served in a coupe glass, the drink has a peachy-pink hue and is typically garnished with an edible flower when available; otherwise, it is garnished with a fresh strawberry. “The Strawberry Serenade is a little indescribable,” says Angela Stinett. Stinett is the general manager of Acqua Pazza and she also developed the cocktail. “It has a very creamy flavor and texture, but there’s no cream in it. The strawberry flavor comes through even without any strawberry-based liqueur or flavoring—it’s a very beautiful, natural taste. There’s a fizzy quality that adds to the aesthetic. One of the things I love about making this drink is that when you pour it, there’s almost a chemical reaction to all the things that are going on in the shaker, and it creates this beautiful layer of foam on top.” Acqua Pazza Coastal Italian Restaurant, 19750 Wellen Park Boulevard Unit D, Venice, 941-244-5147, acquapazzaitalian.com.
French Empress 75
Love is transformative: it has the power to change us in unexpected ways. The French Empress 75 cocktail at The Banyan House is the perfect visual representation of how two things can come together and become something both di erent and beautiful. The French Empress 75 is a twist on the classic cocktail the French 75 that originated in the early twentieth century and became particularly popular during the roaring twenties. The original cocktail is made from gin, champagne, lemon juice and sugar and the French Empress 75 adheres to a similar ingredient list. The defining di erence is the specific type of gin that is used. Empress 1908 is a craft gin from Victoria, British Columbia that contains eight signature botanicals including exotic butterfly tea blossoms. The butterfly tea blossoms give the gin a distinctive indigo blue hue, but when mixed with acidic ingredients like citrus or tonic that blue transforms into another color entirely, adding a magical visual element to the cocktail. “The Empress 1908 has a warm, herbal earthiness and a soft texture,” says Stacy Jones, general manager at The Banyan House. “For the French Empress 75, we add lemon juice which lightens up the deep indigo to create a lavender color. Then we top it with prosecco, so it has a nice little fizz to it.” Because the color of the drink is so captivating, the presentation has been kept simple—the French Empress 75 is served in a flute with a lemon wheel for garnish. It’s the perfect drink to toast to your own ever-evolving love story. The Banyan House Restaurant, 19725 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice, 941-584-5300, banyanhouserestaurant.com.
ArtsSpring Season
BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT
Recognized as a Generation Next circus artist honoree in 2024, Brando Anastasini carries the weight of his family’s historic footsteps with pride. Ligature XV: Misprint celebrating 15 years of Typographic Excellence from Ringling College of Art & Design
AS THE DAYS GROW BRIGHTER, the arts and culture scene of Florida’s Gulf Coast begins a rebirth of sorts from the end of the winter season. The 2025 spring season kicks off with a bang and here are just a few of the region’s many art offerings to keep your eye on. COMPILED BY
DYLAN CAMPBELL
Circus Arts Conservatory
The Circus Arts Conservatory is the nation’s only nonprofit organization that combines professional circus performances, youth circus training, education and outreach programming. Showcased in a one-ring, European-style Big Top, Circus Sarasota features circus acts–acclaimed for their incredible artistry–from around the globe. Sailor Circus Academy, the nation’s longest-running youth circus, provides rigorous athletic training as well as helps students
learn life management skills, gain self-discipline, bolster confidence and make a commitment to achievement. The CAC also runs in-school magnet programs, for which students receive academic credit, at two area schools, Booker Middle and Sarasota High. The mission of the CAC is to engage and educate students using unique and innovative learning programs, improve the quality of life for individuals in care communities and advance the extraordinary legacy and heritage of the circus. Circusarts.org
Circus Sarasota 2025 Feb 15 – Mar 9 Each year, the Circus Arts Conservatory’s professional arm, Circus Sarasota, offers a showcase of top global circus artists performing in a one-ring traditional circus setting. Featuring new and innovative acts, Circus Sarasota’s 2025 production will offer highflying action, heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic antics and acts that defy the boundaries of physical limitations
Cirque des Voix Mar 21 – 22 Once again, the Circus Arts Conservatory teams up with The
IMAGES COURTESY OF CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY; THE GALLERIES AT THE RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN.
La Musica Chamber Music Festival
La Musica Chamber Music Festival is an annual event that brings world-class musicians together to perform and celebrate chamber music. Held in Sarasota, the festival is known for its exceptional programming and intimate concert experiences. Since her appointment as Artistic Director of La Musica in 2022, renowned pianist Wu Han has expanded the festival, adding an increased number of performances over a period of several months and curating exciting, engaging and thought-provoking programs. This year’s festival consists of six separate performances taking place between January and April. The first three performances, Celebrating Mendelssohn, Spanish Journey, and Violin Virtuosity, are scheduled to take place at the Riverview Performing Arts Center, and the final three performances will be held at the Sarasota Opera House. The first one on Friday, April 11, will feature compositions from Beethoven, Martinů, and Dvořák. The second, on Monday, April 14, will showcase works from Beethoven, Dvořák and Dohnyani. The final show on Thursday, April 17 will highlight music from Barber, Bloch and Faure. “Because there are three concerts in a condensed period of time, you will have interesting pieces with a lot of connections that can expand people’s understanding of classical music,” says Wu Han. “The goal is to provoke curiosity.” —K.Wight La Musica Chamber Festival, lamusicafestival.org.
Key Chorale to present three performances of a unique show that combines live singing by the 100+ voices of Key Chorale and music by the Cirque Orchestra with the exhilarating artistry of professional circus artists and Sailor Circus Academy students.
Juke Box Hero–Sailor Circus Academy Gold Troupe Spring Show Apr 5 The youngest, brightest stars of the Sailor Circus will present its spring showcase, featuring acts ranging from acrobatics, hand balancing, trampoline, ladders and clowning to aerial acts such as single trapeze, hammock, lyra, web and silks.
South of the Border–Sailor Circus Academy Red Troupe Spring Show Apr 17 - 19 The Sailor Circus Academy’s most experienced youth performers will present their spring
show, an end-of-year spectacle that pays homage to its senior students. Featured acts will include trampoline wall, acrobatic roller skating, bicycle for five and clowning as well as aerial acts such as silks, hammock, cloudswing, duo straps, web and—the traditional closing act— the flying trapeze.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design
The Galleries program of Ringling College of Art and Design includes exhibitions and activities that celebrate the work and production of students, faculty and alumni. Our six on-campus galleries also host one person, group and thematic exhibitions that include locally, nationally and internationally known individuals. You will always find an exciting new exhibition, artist talk,
lecture, or event to attend. Discover awe-inspiring work and thoughtprovoking insights from the art world. ringling.edu/galleries
Ligature XV: Misprint Feb 14 – Mar 21 Ringling Type Club is proud to present Ligature XV: Misprintcelebrating 15 years of Typographic Excellence from Ringling College of Art & Design, in the annual studentled juried exhibition. The show will feature works from students in all majors, using type in various categories such as Drop Caps, Type in Motion, Hand Lettering, and Original Typefaces. Ligature XV: Misprint looks to embrace the humanity of type, and each designer’s approach to getting their hands dirty. Misprint is about type behaving badly, the intentional and the unintentional, and celebrating the process of creation, of bringing type out of the computer and into the real world. To celebrate this year’s theme, Type Club encouraged designers to bring their submissions to life by introducing the new category of Traditional Type to the show, allowing for a specific showcase of traditional lettering and printing methods.
Ringling Museum Art of Performance
The Art of Performance @ the HAT has become the most global, unexpected and vibrant performing arts series in Sarasota. No matter if you are a loyal fan or brave newbie to our programming, we have performance and engagement options for you! Choose from the wide range of shows activities this season with single events or packages to suit your schedule and appetite for live arts. Hang on to your HAT because this season is going to be wild and wonderous inside and out of the Historic Asolo Theater. ringling.org/explore/ art-of-performance
The Baby Laurence Legacy Project by Brinae Ali and the Baltimore Jazz Collective Mar 14 – 17 The Baby Laurence Legacy Project is an evening-length performance that investigates and celebrates the artistic genius of Donald “Baby Laurence” Jackson, a Baltimore-bred game-changer, and his impact on tap dance
BELOW: The artists featured at the 2025 La Musica Chamber Music Festival.
and jazz music. This production aims to redefine the relationship between technology, tap dancing and jazz music to build a platform for sharing Laurence’s largely forgotten story with audiences. The Baby Laurence Legacy Project will reveal to audiences how Laurence embodied the bebop aesthetic, which channeled a defiance of the white gaze and a self-referencing Black consciousness as in the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Max Roach and Charlie Parker.
Lívia Mattos Trio (Brazil) Apr 18 – 19 Bahia-based accordion player, songwriter, vocalist, filmmaker and visual artist Lívia Mattos has been developing her singular skills as a player and unconventional frontwoman since she started her artistic adventures as a circus performer. Singularly entertaining and musically rich, her concerts blend Brazilian Popular Music, burlesque jazz and circus sensibilities. She has collaborated with renowned artists like Rosa Passos, Badi Assad, and Chico César, as well as the Symphonic Orchestra of Bahia and released her debut album as a songwriter, Vinha da Ida, in 2017, receiving acclaim for its surprising arrangements, inventive lyrics, unusual fusion of Brazilian roots, jazz and global
rhythms, and its overall fresh originality. Her adventures continue with her latest album, Apneia,
Spring Extra: Losing My Religion
Apr 4 - 5 Losing My Religion is a new creation by Rennie Harris, “The most brilliant Hip-Hop choreographer in America” (The New Yorker). Harris’s theater company Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM) will perform the abstract retrospective work inspired by Harris’s life journey, the human experience, and his thoughts on the world’s collective dilemmas— from war to social, economic, and political injustices, humanity is forever caught in a perpetual loop of turmoil, grief, and despair. This work is the result of a commission by the Hermitage Artist Retreat through their prestigious Greenfield Prize and reflects an ongoing collaboration with our two institutions to support creative practice in the region.
Sarasota Ballet
The Sarasota Ballet is the Gulf Coast of Florida’s only professional ballet company. In 1987, The Sarasota Ballet was founded by Jean Weidner Goldstein as a presenting organization with the
goal of becoming a full resident ballet company, which was achieved in 1990 with the appointment of the first Artistic Director. However, it wasn’t until January 2007 that her dream was fully realized when The Sarasota Ballet announced the appointment of the new director, Iain Webb. Webb’s background, experience and close personal relationships with some of the biggest names in the dance world have taken The Sarasota Ballet to a higher level of national and international recognition. sarasotaballet.org
Mark Morris Dance Group
Feb 28 – Mar 2 Renowned for bringing guest companies to the stage for audiences to enjoy, The Sarasota Ballet presents the acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group. Founded in 1980 by trailblazing Choreographer Mark Morris, the group has performed across the globe garnering critical acclaim through Morris’s expressive choreography and distinctive musicality.
Romeo and Juliet
March 28 – 29 Featuring the long-awaited Company premiere of Sir Frederick Ashton’s full-length story ballet Romeo and Juliet, bringing the grandeur and passion of Shakespeare’s beloved tragedy to the Sarasota stage. Choreographed in 1955 to Sergei Prokofiev’s score, the ballet brought great success for the Royal Danish Ballet. Unlike many other productions, Ashton decided to truly focus on the “intimate tragedy of two young people caught in an all-consuming passion” (David Vaughan, Frederick Ashton and his Ballets, 1977). Infused with Ashton’s musicality and penchant for heartfluttering pas de deux, Romeo and Juliet clearly demonstrates Ashton’s choreographic genius and his ability to portray the nature of humanity through dance.
Movements of Genius Apr 25 – 26
Program Seven features a triple bill by some of the greatest choreographers of the 20th Century. Opening with the stunning Serenade, Balanchine’s choreography courses through four movements of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and leaves audiences mesmerized by its splendor. Robbins’ In the Night is
BELOW: Sarasota Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet, photo by Frank Atura.
The Marriage of Figaro
Civil unrest is reaching a boiling point this season at the Sarasota Opera. Well, not actually, as the organization is continuing to cement its legacy in the Sarasota area with yet another great season filled with six distinct operatic events. There are, however, a few operas featured in this year’s lineup that do delve into class strife, most notably in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, which premieres on March 8. The opera, which is a sequel to Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, which will be performed concurrently at Sarasota Opera, is considered to be one of the greatest operas ever written and a hallmark of the operatic repertoire. Where The Barber of Seville is decidedly a comedic opera, or opera buffa in Italian, The Marriage of Figaro takes a darker, more complex tone while maintaining the comedic traits of its predecessor. The story follows the lecherous Count Almaviva, who, after securing the hand of his current wife Rosina in The Barber of Seville has moved his desires to Susanna, the fiancée of Figaro, the Count’s head servant. Working together with Rosina, Figaro and Susanna must find a way to thwart the Count’s unwanted advances, exposing a class struggle in a comedic whirling of treachery and romance. “Mozart doesn’t call The Marriage of Figaro an opera buffa, which is the Italian term for a comic opera. He instead calls it a dramma giocoso which is a funny drama, because there is a darker, more dramatic side of this opera,” says Richard Russell, General Director of Sarasota Opera. “There are many more levels of emotion in The Marriage of Figaro than there are in The Barber of Seville. Not that they aren’t both great operas, but the story’s more complex, the characters are more complex and Mozart’s music is just genius. The Marriage of Figaro is one of my favorite pieces.” —D.Campbell The Sarasota Players, 3501 S Tamiami Trail Suite 1130, 941-365-2494, theplayers.org
comprised of a trio of pas de deux and contemplates romantic love in stages evidenced by three couples: one euphoric, another restrained, and a third tempestuous. Closing the program, Ashton’s A Wedding Bouquet returns after nearly a decade. Known as an avant-garde work, its fragmented narrative, originally spoken by Gertrude Stein, features a series of incidents at a provincial wedding in France where, comically, everything seems to go wrong.
Images of Dance
Apr 29 Images of Dance is a thrilling program showcasing the future of ballet, with dancers from The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and students of The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. Adding to the excitement, Images of Dance also partners with local arts organizations to provide live music from the Sarasota Music Conservatory and Sarasota Youth Opera. The 2025
repertoire will include a World Premiere by Ricardo Graziano, Sing, Wearing the Sky by Gemma Bond, and a suite from the classical ballet Le Corsaire
Sarasota
Contemporary Dance
Bringing the best in contemporary dance to the region and creating new works right here, Sarasota Contemporary Dance is recognized in the area for its collaborative performances and eclectic choreography, which fuses various dance styles—traditional, modern, Middle Eastern, aerial, Afro-modern and even technologically-infused work. In addition to a variety of community collaborations and performances at local venues, the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company has also been presented at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance, John F. Kennedy Center, Merce Cunningham Studio Theatre and the Aily Citygroup Theatre. sarasotacontemporarydance.org
DANCE MAKERS
Mar 13 – 16 A season favorite, audiences new and old are always enlightened by this contemporary dance tapestry featuring works by nationally known choreographers. This year’s line up is Kristin O’ Neal, Gregory Catellier, Bliss Kohlmyer, Rosanna Tavarez and Sarasota local Tania Vergara Perez.
VOICES – RISING CHOREOGRAPHERS
May 1 – 4 To close our 19th season this performance allows for our next generations of choreographers and SCDE (Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble), our training company, to sparkle on the main stage alongside SCD Company. These new works are hand-picked by SCD’s Artistic Director, Leymis Bolaños Wilmott from the 2024 Summer Intensives.
Venice Symphony
Following last year’s concert season, The Venice Symphony is celebrating its 51st year in the community with more performances and its biggest concert season ever. Music Director
BELOW: Courtesy of the Sarasota Opera.
Troy Quinn leads an orchestra of more than 80 musicians in a season of masterworks, music from film and Broadway and contemporary classics at the state-of-the-art Venice Performing Arts Center. thevenicesymphony.org
Hollywood in Venice
Feb 21 – 22
Relive some of the most well-known big screen musical classics of all time —from composers of the silver screen’s golden age to emerging talents. This cinematic journey includes music from A Summer Place, Ben-Hur, Mary Poppins, Thor: The Dark World, Top Gun: Maverick, Madagascar and Hooray for Hollywood.
Crazy for Gershwin
Mar 14 – 15 The Venice Symphony pays tribute to beloved American composer George Gershwin with a blend of jazz and classical music selections from audience favorites An American in Paris, Girl Crazy
and Rhapsody in Blue. Guest artist Conrad Tao will accompany the symphony on piano.
The Rat Pack is Back Mar 22 For one night only Pete Barenbregge will lead The Venice Symphony Jazz Orchestra and legendary performer Michael Andrew, famed headline singer and bandleader of New York City’s Rainbow Room, to the swinging sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and other legendary artists, for an evening you won’t forget.
Cosmic Worlds Apr 25 – 26 Get ready to travel to a galaxy far, far away with The Venice Symphony. This concert features cosmic classics from award-winning composers John Williams, Franz Waxman and Gustav Holst’s epic piece The Planets. Our guest artist is Kenneth Radnofsky, American classical saxophonist. Get ready for a truly ‘out of this world’ concert experience.
Venice Theatre
Charming, wowing and moving audiences since 1950, Venice Theatre stands as, per capita, the largest community theater in the United States. From classics and musical favorites on the main stage to the daring and raucous productions populating the theater’s Stage II, Venice Theatre pulls out all the stops for a theater-going population always looking for something new. The cabaret festival brings countless productions to the stage for weeks of musical and dramatic entertainment.
venicestage.com
The Lightning Thief
Feb 28 – Mar 23 This actionpacked pop-rock musical follows teen demi-god Percy Jackson’s quest to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war between the Greek gods.
The Silver Foxes
Mar 11–16
The “youngest” cast in town will once again regale you with song, dance and ribald humor in their new variety show. Being “mature” never looked and sounded so good.
Alice in Wonderland
Apr 4 – 27
Alice’s rabbit-hole adventures into a fantasy world of unusual creatures and riddles come to life in this Family Friendly production featuring young performers.
The Learned Ladies
Apr 11 – May 4 Moliere’s witty classical verse comedy skewers the haughty pretensions of a women’s self-educating salon amid love triangles that scandalize the household.
Pinky’s Players
May 8 – 11 Delight once again in the inspiring performances of Pinky’s Players, Venice Theatre’s Community Engagement Program that partners with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop and share their artistic talents. WPL
BELOW: Venice Symphony’s Hollywood in Venice guest artist is Andrea Zomorodian
Playful Sweets
A guide to some of Wellen Park’s most satisfying, playful sweet treats. WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
Deepest Darkest Chocolate Secret Ice Cream
Bright Ice is a local ice cream shop known for its handcrafted, small-batch ice cream. Their mission is to deliver bold and intense flavors using natural ingredients that are locally-sourced whenever possible. The key word at Bright Ice is quality. That starts with their super-premium ice cream base with 14 percent butter fat. When the rich base is churned, they keep the air content low which results in ice cream that is incredibly dense and creamy. The ingredients that flavor the ice cream are also made in-house. “Deepest Darkest Chocolate Secret is one of the first flavors we came up with when we were developing the concept of Bright Ice,” says Bright Ice co-owner Steve Garrahan. “I’m a chocoholic myself, so when I go for ice cream I always go for the richest, creamiest one.” This decadent dessert gets its intense flavor from three di erent types of chocolate: dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips and cocoa powder. “We have three full-time people in our kitchen and every week when they make this flavor they have to melt down, ‘I don’t even know how many,’ kilograms of chocolate to mix in with our ice cream base,” Garrahan says. “They also add a small amount of espresso powder which really enhances the flavor of the chocolate.” Bright Ice Wellen Park, 19790 Wellen Park Boulevard, Suite 103, Venice, 941-244-5660, brighticeisnice.com.
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The oatmeal cream pie cookie is the perfect match for a cozy, warm latte at Foxtail Co ee.
WHILE HEART-SHAPED BOXES OF CHOCOLATE MAY BE THE CLASSIC GO-TO FOR SWEET TREATS in February, why not step outside of the box and explore some new indulgences? Wellen Park is home to a wide variety of delectable desserts, from temptingly tasty baked goods to cool and creamy frozen confections. The best part is, you don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to satisfy your sweet tooth. You can get delicious delicacies from Bright Ice Scoop Shop, Caribbean Pie Company and Foxtail Co ee all year round. Here’s the inside scoop on some of the most tantalizing treats Wellen Park has to o er.
Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookie
Foxtail Co ee is a great place to go for a little pick-me-up, whether that’s in the form of a shaken iced tea or latte made with locally-roasted espresso. They also o er up some incredibly tasty baked goods, including the Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookie. This cookie is both vegan and gluten-free although you’d never know it—it’s simply too indulgent. The cookie is on the sweeter side, but it tends to be the perfect complement to essentially any co ee drink on the menu. “It’s really soft to the bite,” says Pia Kozlowski, regional operations manager at Foxtail. “ Some people like to get them cold because they hold together a little better. When they’re warmed up, they get so soft they almost fall apart which is amazing. I like them like that.” Foxtail Co ee, 19795 Wellen Park Boulevard Building 4 Suite A, Venice, 941-584-5370, foxtailco ee.com.
forkful
Key Lime Pie on a Stick
BELOW
The Key Lime pie on a Stick offers a taste of Florida--no beach required!
There is probably no dessert that is more quintessentially Floridian than the key lime pie. It is unclear exactly where this palate-pleasing pie was first invented, but it is generally accepted that it originated in Key West in the late 19th century. This bright and zesty pie is a study in contrasting tastes and textures. A smooth, custardy filling is nestled in a flaky, buttery graham cracker crust. The filling incorporates both fresh key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk creating a creamy, tangy flavor profile that is exquisitely balanced between tart and sweet. The Caribbean Pie Company in Sarasota has been producing and selling award-winning key lime pies in the Sarasota area for over 35 years, along with other confections. On Sundays, you can find them in Downtown Wellen between 9am and 1pm at the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market selling their mouthwatering Key Lime Pie on a Stick. The Key Lime Pie on a Stick is simply a whole piece of the standard Caribbean Pie Company key lime pie that has been frozen with a popsicle stick in it, crust and all. That pie piece is then dipped into decadent Belgian dark chocolate. The resulting dessert is sturdy enough that you can walk around and eat it while you explore the rest of the wares at the farmers market, but they also travel well so you can take them home as a sweet treat for your sweetheart. “Our pie is on the tart side versus the sugary side,” says Caribbean Pie Company owner Kevin Wood. “But what people like best is the texture. Our pie is extremely smooth which makes it different from everyone else.” Caribbean Pie Company, 2245 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 941-882-4589, caribbeanpieco.com.
history TourVenice
Discover Sarasota Introduces New Tours of Venice. WORDS BY BARBIE
BELOW
Explore the fascinating history of Venice by trolley with two new tours from Discover Sarasota and Venice Florida Tours.
DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS (DST), THE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED, AWARD-WINNING TOUR COMPANY FOUNDED IN 2018 BY CEO TAMMY HAUSER, has recently added two new trolley tours of Venice. The tours are offered on Tuesdays from January to April during 2025. “We have been leading annual tours of Venice as part of our History Hop Week celebrating South Sarasota County for two years but are excited to bring Dolly The Trolley to Venice to lead a Venice City Tour on Tuesday mornings and our Circus Secrets of Venice tour on Tuesday afternoons during Season,” said Hauser. The tours will depart from the Venice Chamber of Commerce Building offering free parking and a convenient location.
HEIT
THE 90-MINUTE NARRATED 10AM VENICE CITY TOUR FOCUSES, on downtown history, architecture and things to do and is led in partnership with Venice Florida Tours. “We are excited to partner with Discover Sarasota Tours to bring a consistent trolley tour option to Venice. I hope this allows for more residents and visitors to learn about the history of Venice,” said Ronnie Fernandez, Owner and Tour Guide of Venice Florida Tours. The 1pm Circus Secrets of Venice tour is led by Circus Historian and Guide, Bob Collins, and includes a stop at the Venice Train Depot and the Ringling Train Car which is led by Venice Area Historical Society docents. “We tend to forget that for more than three decades Venice took the spotlight from the city of Sarasota as the winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Join us on our tour, “Circus Secrets of Venice” and you’ll hear echoes of The Greatest Show on Earth® that still resonate throughout the community,” said Collins. WPL All daytime tours are $49.99 plus tax/handling fee and can be booked on the website: DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.
BELOW Naples Soap Company, 19790
Wellen Park Boulevard Unit 102, Venice, 941-841-2467, naplessoap.com.
As winter comes to an end, it’s time to do some spring-cleaning on your skin.
WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
GlowUpSeason
IN FLORIDA, THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING BRINGS WARMER DAYS AND HIGHER HUMIDITY—welcome changes after the cooler, drier months of winter. While winters in our tropical states may not share the frigid conditions of our northern neighbors, even subtle shifts in weather can have a big impact on your skin, including sensitivity and increased dryness. Deanna Wallin knows a thing or two about sensitive skin. A former RN, she struggled with eczema and psoriasis for most of her life and her daughter was also born with eczema. She began experimenting with natural skincare products and found them so beneficial, she wanted to share her discovery with others. She opened the first Naples Soap Company in 2009, and the business now has 13 retail locations throughout Florida including one in Downtown Wellen Park. Spring is the perfect time to reevaluate your self-care routine, and Wallin shared some insights on how to make sure you’re giving your skin the care it deserves.
beauty
HYDRATED SKIN IS HAPPY SKIN
As winter comes to an end, you may be dealing with residual dry skin. While it’s important to find the right products to address this, Wallin emphasizes that hydration is important both inside and out.
“Your skin is one of the first places to show signs of dehydration. You can actually pinch your skin and see whether you’re hydrated or dehydrated,” Wallin says. “I know I need to drink water, but I’m not a big fan of the taste, so I use a powdered electrolyte supplement in my water everyday. It gives it some flavor and helps me drink the amount of water I should be drinking.”
When it comes to skincare products, Wallin suggests utilizing products that will help create a moisture barrier which allows skin to pull moisture from the air. Look for lotions or moisturizers with hyaluronic acid to create a healthy moisture barrier.
FACTOR IN SUN PROTECTION
One of the benefits of living in Wellen Park is the abundance of outdoor activities, but too much sun exposure can be damaging for your skin. While it may be second nature to slap on some sunscreen at the beach, Floridians soak up a lot of UV rays in their day to day lives.
Wallin has taken this into account when creating products at Naples Soap Company. They offer a line of lip balms with SPF 15 to protect often-overlooked lips, and a spray-on body oil with SPF 50 that provides extra sun protection and moisturizes from head to toe.
“I put sunscreen on my hands and arms every morning, because you get a lot of sun there when you’re driving in your car and your hands are on the steering wheel. The skin is very thin there, and that’s one spot where women start to age very quickly,” Wallin says. “The same applies to a woman’s décolleté.
LEFT SPF 50 Florida Sun Defense, The sun protection body oil is a broad spectrum, non- greasy, non-pore-clogging, lightweight, fragrance free formula in an easy-touse, non-aerosol spray, $24, Naples Soap Company.
BELOW Florida Fresh Cult Classics Collection, All of the essentials in one zesty citrus-lovers set! This 9-piece collection includes our luscious Natural Soap, creamy Body Butter, exfoliating Sea Salt Scrub, and eco-friendly Shampoo and Conditioner Bars, $65, Naples Soap Company.
TAKE TRENDS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT
Thanks to social media, skincare products are trendier than ever. With so much information out there, it can be hard to know which products to try and what information to believe. As far as Wallen is concerned, it’s best to tune out the social media noise, pay attention to the ingredients and find out what works best for you.
“Jumping from product to product can actually damage your skin,” she says. “Just keeping it simple can be a lot healthier.”
DON’T WAIT TO EXFOLIATE
Florida remains moderately humid yearround but humidity levels do drop in the winter, and other factors this time of year like travel and artificial heat can all combine to dry out your skin. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin, and it’s a crucial first step to your skincare routine.
“It’s incredibly important to get the dead skin cells off so that new skin cells can surface and so that you can keep your skin looking healthy and glowy,” Wallin explains. “It doesn’t do much good to put moisturizer on top of dead skin cells.” Depending on how dry your skin is, Wallin recommends exfoliating two to three times a week with a product like a sea salt and sugar body scrub, which washes away dead skin cells and replenishes moisture at the same time.
LEFT Florida Fresh Cult Classics Bath Trio, Florida Fresh Sea Salt Scrub 9 oz, Florida Fresh Body Butter 9 oz, Florida Fresh Bath Bomb, $75; Naples Soap Company
RIGHT Classic & Clean Sea Salt Soap Stack, Tea Tree Nettles Sea Salt Soap, Fresh Coconut Sea Salt Soap, Eucalyptus Sea Salt Soap, Florida Sunrise/Sunset Sea Salt Soap $28, Naples Soap Company.
homedesign
LIVING ROOM
BELOW Palmera at Wellen Park, Jubilee model with selections coordinated by M/I Homes of Southwest Florida’s Susan Gaynor.
CASTING LIGHT ON COMFORT AND STYLE
The living room is aptly named because it’s where we do the most living. Whether you’re hosting friends, spending quality time with your family or simply unwinding after a long day, your living room should be a space for comfort, connection and relaxation. Creating an inviting atmosphere is important, and the right lighting plays a crucial role in making the living room feel warm and welcoming. The living room at Jubilee once again incorporates layered and versatile lighting to achieve this goal.
“The great thing about chandeliers is you can go as casual or as fancy as you want,” says selections coordinator for M/I Homes of Southwest Florida Susan Gaynor “In the breakfast nook off the kitchen, we wanted to give it a nice, casual, kind of coastal vibe so we went with a rattan chandelier that casts a beautiful glow. The chandelier in the living room is more on the modern side, which is a nice juxtaposition against the breakfast nook.”
That modern chandelier isn’t just decorative— it also serves as accent lighting. The striking fixture draws the eye upward, bringing attention to the wood beam detail on the ceiling that adds architectural interest to the home. Accent lighting is also visible in the foyer in the form of two wall sconces that frame a large mirror, creating visual interest through a stylish vignette. The living room at Jubilee also demonstrates that lighting doesn’t just come from light fixtures—in addition to creating a cozy vibe, the fireplace also casts off flickering ambient light.
Enlightening Design
LIGHTING IS THE UNSUNG HERO OF MODERN HOME DESIGN It’s more than just a practical necessity; the right lighting can highlight architectural features, create a sense of warmth and enhance the aesthetics of your home. To illuminate your home like a pro, it’s essential to consider four key types of lighting: ambient, task, accent and decorative lighting. Ambient lighting serves as the base layer, providing overall illumination to make a space feel comfortable and welcoming. Task lighting is more focused, designed to assist with more detail-oriented activities like reading, working or cooking. Accent lighting adds depth and flair by drawing attention to artwork, architectural details and other focal points. Finally, decorative lighting serves as a visual statement, adding personality, style and sophistication to your space.
As the selections coordinator for M/I Homes of Southwest Florida, Susan Gaynor has a wealth of knowledge on how different types of lighting can enhance a home’s functionality and atmosphere. She shared insights into the thoughtful lighting design of the Jubilee model home by M/I Homes in the Palmera neighborhood of Wellen Park, explaining how ambient, task, accent and decorative lighting were integrated in various rooms to create a cohesive and inviting space.
home design
BELOW Palmera at Wellen Park, Jubilee model with selections coordinated by M/I Homes of Southwest Florida’s Susan Gaynor. Jubilee by M/I Homes, 18465 Foxtail Loop, Venice, 239-3876065, www.mihomes.com.
KITCHEN BRIGHT IDEAS FOR THE HEART OF THE HOME
Layered lighting is an interior design technique where multiple types of lighting are strategically used within a single space to create an environment that is balanced, functional and visually appealing. Kitchens are the perfect spot to employ layered lighting—these spaces can serve multiple purposes, from preparing food to doing homework to socializing, with each function requiring different types of lighting. A well-designed layered lighting plan ensures a kitchen is both functional and inviting. The overhead LED lights in the kitchen at Jubilee are excellent for task lighting, because they provide bright, focused and energy-efficient lighting that enhances visibility in specific work areas. Meanwhile, the brushed gold pendant lights bring in that decorative lighting element. “Some individual lighting elements can transition into multiple uses,” Gaynor says. “The under-cabinet lighting here is great for cooking if you’re cutting things and you need to see better, but it doesn’t just function as task lighting—it can also function as ambient lighting. If you want a pretty ambiance at night, you can turn all of your lights off except for the under-cabinet lights and they give off a beautiful, soft glow in the evenings. It’s also great in the morning when you’re preparing your coffee and you’re not quite ready for full light.” BEDROOM
DREAMY LIGHTING FOR SWEET SLUMBER
While the bedroom is primarily a place for rest and sleep, lighting is still important. Lighting can have a profound impact on the quality of your sleep. Soft, warm lighting creates a calming ambiance that signals the body to relax and prepares the mind for sleep. Avoiding harsh, bright lights before bed can actually promote restful slumber. The overhead LED lights at Jubilee have five different settings, ranging from cool to warm, so you can pick the level that works best for you. Bringing in task lighting can also make the bedroom more functional, allowing you to read in bed. “Table lamps are super important to the layering of the home because it brings the lighting more to eye level,” Gaynor says. “They serve multiple purposes. They can provide task lighting as well as accent lighting because of the versatility of the light. They can also serve as a decor item. I love lamps in every room,” she adds. “I always have lamps in living rooms, bedrooms, everywhere in the house,”
WELLEN PARK NEIGHBORHOODS MAP
SPRING 2025 | GUIDE TO BUILDERS
ACACIA PALMERA
BISCAYNE II EVERLY
CARAVEL EVERLY
CARMEL II LAKESPUR
DESTIN GRAN PLACE
DREAM II WYSTERIA
DUNNET SOLSTICE
EGRET V PALMERA
GLADES SUNSTONE
HERITAGE II PALMERA
JUBILEE PALMERA
MARIA WELLEN PARK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
MARSALA ANTIGUA
MONTE CARLO LAKESPUR
MYSTIQUE LAKESPUR
OCEANA RENAISSANCE
RAVENNA PALMERA
RUBYTAIL EVERLY
SANDCASTLE II GRAND PALM
SAPPHIRE BRIGHTMORE
SEA SPRAY II AVELINA
TIDELAND PALMERA
TIDEWINDS II
BOCA ROYALE
WARINNA EVERLY
• Spacious open and airy layout perfect
• Expansive Great Room over looks designer kitchen and dining area
• Spacious covered lanai with 2 sliding glass doors expands living outdoors
• Resort-style community lifestyle amenities (under construction)
LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES
• Custom Luxury Single-story Home
• Spacious open design that transitions e ortlessly between indoor to outdoor living spaces.
• Elegant finishes and finely crafted details throughout
• Local Custom Home Builder with 50+ years of experience
•
• 42 home private enclave
• Customizable floor plan-includes 3 car garage
• Gourmet kitchen & spacious grand living- an entertainer’s paradise
• Exceptional outdoor living with pool and spa
• Local family owned & operatedbuilding quality & value for 55+ years
• Award-winning layout that inspires togetherness along with versatile spaces
• Thoughtfully-designed owner’s suite provides a peaceful retreat
• Expansive covered lanai extends living space outdoors
• Fun-filled clubhouse and amenity campus with abundant events
• Personalization: Spacious & open plan with flexibility at every corner. The Jubilee fits the needs of your family perfectly, o ering a flex room & optional bonus room.
• Entertainer’s Delight: Gather with family & friends in the gourmet kitchen, open great room & expansive lanai over looking the most beautiful views in Wellen Park.
• Tranquil Retreat: Rest and relaxation awaits in your private owner’s suite with spa-like owner’s bath and walk-in closet.
• Open floorplan with Inviting & well-lit kitchen
• Covered lanai that allows for enjoyable outdoor experiences.
• Secondary suite next to the versatile den that can be used o ce space or a home gym.
• The owner’s suite is at the rear of the house, ensuring privacy and tranquility.
• Spacious great room & kitchen filled with natural sunlight.
• Sliding glass doors extend living outside to the lanai
• Chef’s kitchen’s wide layout with a corner walk-in pantry & a center island/breakfast bar.
• Owner’s suite has two walk-in closets & a spa-inspired bath with luxe soaking tub.
• Two guestrooms & den are located o the foyer hallway.
• Spacious two-story home with open layout among the kitchen, breakfast nook & Great Room with access to a lanai
• Separate formal dining room & living room for versatile living
• Additional bedroom for guests Second level includes four secondary bedrooms, an owner’s suite & multipurpose bonus room
• Sliding glass doors open to the patio for the ultimate indoor/ outdoor living space.
• Owner’s suite featuring a spacious bathroom with dual walk-in closets.
• Bright and open home design that lives like a single-family
• Expansive, sunlit great room overlooks kitchen and dining area
• Versatile flex room to use as a home o ce, den or hobby room
• Resort-style amenities and activities to enjoy year-round
• Over 95% sold out
CALENDAR ofEvents
WELLEN PARK HALF MARATHON AND 5K Medals await participants at the finish line.
3rd Annual Half Marathon and 5K
March 15 Kick off your St. Patrick’s Day weekend with us in Downtown Wellen. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to the Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K, which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. The 13.1-mile course is certified by USA Track & Field. Leashed dogs and strollers are also welcome at this family-friendly event. Pre-registration required. Entry fees for children and adults range from $22.50 to $80. For more information or to register, visit wellenpark.com/events/half-marathon-5k.
Visit WellenPark.com/Events for a list of daily activites and times.
Building Community | Ongoing Event Programs
Wellen Park invites the community to celebrate the spring season with a new lineup of events. Come to Downtown Wellen to enjoy a variety of local family-friendly events. From live music to fun-filled festivals, there are plenty of ways to participate. Most activities are free and open to the public.
Music and Art
Wellen Park hosts a variety of musical genres and musicians throughout each week. Visitors are invited to bask in the captivating scenery and waterfront vibe by bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets for maximum comfort. These musical gatherings offer an open-door policy, requiring no prior RSVP for attendance. Guests can participate in Wellen Park’s Sip & Stroll program by purchasing to-go alcoholic beverages from Downtown Wellen food and beverage merchants.
Friday Concert Series
Every Friday, 6–10pm
Sunday Groove
Every Sunday, 9am-1pm
Community Connections
Dueling Pianos
Third Thursday, monthly
February 20, 2025
March 20, 2025 April 17, 2025
Farmers Market/Night Market Join us at the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market every Sunday from 9am-1pm where you can shop for fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seafood, cut flowers and more. This season, enjoy the Wellen Park Night Market, bringing together independent artists and makers specializing in home decor, fashion, art, design, food (and more!) in a fun and inspiring environment that champions community. The market takes place one night per month on the second Thursday. Dates for Night Market are February 13, March 13 and April 10.
Cars & Caffeine—First Saturday of the Month Rev up your engines! Wellen Park and cosponsors, Foxtail Coffee and Antique Automobile Club of America-Venice Region, are excited to offer car enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to come together for an informal early morning gathering to share their passion for all things automotive. Welcoming all makes and models to join monthly on the first Saturday of the month from 7:30am-10:30am. Show cars will be in the parking lot behind the two-story building downtown. A directional parking attendant will be at the parking entrance off of Sunglow Blvd. Can’t wait to see you at the next gathering and invite you to stick around afterwards for some shopping and dining in Downtown Wellen. All attendees will receive 50 percent off of drip, iced and cold brew coffee from 7am to 10am at Foxtail Coffee.
Drop-In Cornhole—Every Wednesday, 6pm-10pm Play a game or two with your fellow neighbors and enjoy the beautiful sights, sounds and tastes of Downtown Wellen Park. Cornhole tournament draw time will be precisely at 6:30pm with a $5 fee. No outside food or alcoholic beverages is permitted during this event. To-go alcoholic beverages are sold by the restaurants and food containers.
Fun Fitness
Get your fitness on with a dynamic lineup of weekly fitness activities for the community. Groups will meet in Downtown Wellen in front of Kind Vibes Outfitters. Yoga and Zumba classes meet on the Great Lawn.
Walking Group Meet-Up Saturdays, 9–10am
Cycling Group Meet-Up Saturdays, 9–10am
Yoga Class Saturdays, 9am–10am
Running Meet-Up Mondays, 9am–10am
Mind & Body Fitness Class
Tuesdays, 9am–10am
For more details on Wellen Park events, visit: wellenpark.com/events
TOGETHER ZeroWaste
Nutrition expert Rosanne Rust literally wrote the book on zero-waste cooking. WORDS BY KATE WIGHT THIS PAGE
Roseanne Rust,
THIS PAGE
Zero Waste Cooking for Dummies is a go-to guide for homemakers, home cooks or anyone wanting to save money, lower their carbon footprint and create delicious, healthy meals
WHEN EACH NEW YEAR ROLLS AROUND, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RESOLVE TO CLEAN UP THEIR EATING HABITS. But by the time February arrives, many of us will have reverted back to old habits after finding these dietary changes unsustainable with the pressures and responsibilities of day-to-day life. What if, instead of chasing an all-or-nothing approach, we focused on simple, accessible changes that benefit both our health and the planet? That’s the idea behind Rosanne Rust’s Zero Waste Cooking for Dummies, a practical guide to reducing food waste while creating flavorful, budget-friendly meals.
Rust currently lives in the Venice area, but she started her studies in Pennsylvania. A registered dietitian nutritionist, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science degree in nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh. Though her career path initially took her into healthcare, Rust found that registered dietitians are often underutilized in clinical settings. Instead she made it her mission to make information about nutrition accessible to a wider audience, whether that was by writing a weekly newspaper column, teaching virtually at Penn State or offering online nutrition coaching.
“I’ve always had a passion to call out misinformation and help people understand nutrition,” Rust says. “I see people with my own eyes and in the media feeling so confused and guilty and messed up about the simple act of eating.”
Rust has co-written a number of books on nutrition in the For Dummies series, a collection of reference guides
that are designed to make complex topics accessible and easy to understand for a broad audience. Some of the titles she collaborated on include the Hypertension Cookbook for Dummies and DASH Diet for Dummies. She is the sole author of Zero Waste Cooking for Dummies which includes the kind of practical advice she has always advocated for. Zero waste or low waste cooking as a concept focuses on minimizing food waste and maximizing the use of ingredients to reduce the environmental impact of food preparation. The sustainability aspect is important for Rust, but she also makes it clear that this kind of lifestyle has unforeseen benefits.
“Every household could be reducing food waste that’s going into their garbage can without too much effort. That makes a huge impact not only on the environment but on food budgets. Budget is a huge consideration for people right now, even in Wellen Park which is a little more affluent than some other areas,”
Rust says. “You’re also throwing away all the energy it took to make that food. You’re throwing away the nutrition.”
In the book, Rust explores ways that the average person can reduce food waste in low-impact ways. Are you still cooking for a family of four even though your kids have gone off to college? Start making smaller batches so you aren’t throwing leftovers away. Do you have some vegetables in the fridge that won’t make it another day? Roast them to extend their lifespan. Is the milk a day or two past its prime? You might not want to drink it, but you can still use it to make muffins or pancakes. There is also helpful information on utilizing your freezer, repurposing leftovers, smart shopping, flexible recipes and much more.
“I try to be approachable in the advice I give because most people are not zealots and have very busy, complicated lives,” says Rust. “I meet people where they are.” WPL Rosanne Rust, rustnutrition.com. instagram. com/chewthefacts and .tiktok.com/@chewthefacts
theater
THIS PAGE Instructor Spencer Cross believes the skills that go along with improv can be relevant to many aspects of life.
TakingImprov
Find your hidden improv talents with Venice Theatre classes. WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT
“THE IMPROVISATION CLASSES AT VENICE THEATRE ARE A LOT OF FUN,” SAYS SANDY DAVISSON, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Venice Theatre. Improvisation, often called improv, is the form of theater, usually comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers. Most simply it is acting without a script. “I find adults especially enjoy improv because it allows for a spontaneity that life does not usually afford us as one gets older,” adds Davisson.
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No script needed for performing improv. The only requirement is to have fun.
SPENCER CROSS, WHO IS THE INSTRUCTOR for both the Drop In Improv and Beginning Improv for adults classes in the upcoming spring semester, has been teaching improv at the theater for about four years. Cross grew up in the Tampa Bay Area and got his start in his freshman year of high school. Since then, he has performed in well over a hundred shows in the Tampa Bay area. He teaches both children and adults and is a member of an improv troupe based in the Tampa/Saint Petersburg area. Improv is his passion, and he strongly advocates not just how it translates on stage, but also for how it improves every other aspect of life.
“The improv classes I teach offer an opportunity for anyone of any experience level to participate, whether they are doing it for the first time or are a bit more seasoned,” Cross says. “Every 90-minute class carries with it a new theme which subsequently carries with it new lessons, warm-ups, exercises and so on. There is no prerequisite. You don’t need to take any exams. You don’t need to do 10 jumping jacks or push-ups at the door. You
can just take the class and immerse yourself in the craft regardless of how long you’ve been doing it.”
While some participants do go on to perform improv regularly, Cross believes that the experience they gain from the classes is beneficial to so many life applications. “Improv is interesting because it’s very versatile,” he explains. “Some people do use it because they have a hankering to perform, but then other people do it just because they want to alleviate anxiety, they want to think quicker on their feet or maybe they want to get better at public speaking. But oftentimes, people continue to do it just because they love it.”
The Wellen Park Improv classes take place at Solis Hall in Wellen Park although some classes are on Venice Theatre’s campus. The spring semester starts the week of January 20 and ends the week of April 20 with actual start dates of the individual classes being staggered. Online registration and more detailed information is available at venicetheatre.org/vt-education/. WPL
DROP IN IMPROV ADULTS CLASS
March 24, 2025; 6-8PM Wellen Park - Solis Hall 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd
These adult “drop-in” improv classes cater to any level with specially crafted games, warm-ups, and exercises. Try out one class or take them all! Material will be new and fresh every time. Increase confidence, decrease anxiety and find community! Must be registered by noon two days prior to class.
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The Saucier family--parents, Michael and Jennifer, kids, Gavin and Ellie--now residents of Gran Place, have discovered a sense of warmth and community since moving from Maine to Wellen Park.
OasisAway From the Snow
ON THE BEACH JUST A QUICK CAR RIDE AWAY FROM HER NEW HOME,
we’ll find Jennifer Bradford with her umbrella nestled in the sand and sunscreen on standby. Winters in Wellen Park look different than what she was used to in Maine. The frigid snow has been swapped out snowflake by snowflake for grains of soft fine sand. This is the new norm for Bradford and her family of four. As a parent to her two children, a recently retired teacher, and owner of three Kioti Tractor dealerships, Bradford’s life in Maine proved to be busy. What started as a trip to Venice to visit her father and stepmother during school breaks turned into Bradford and her family falling in love with the Gulf Coast beaches and the relaxation that came with the waves. “We loved the idea of a community within a community,” she says. “Coming from a rural, small-town lifestyle in Maine, we were excited at the prospect of having amenities at our fingertips, but on the flip side, we knew we were coming to Florida to escape a busy schedule at home.” Earlier this year Bradford and her husband embarked on a 30-hour road trip from Maine to Florida. Accompanied by their three lively Goldendoodles they arrived at Gran Place where panel by panel, tile by tile they worked closely with the builder to create their perfect space. After constructing their dream home, Bradford and her family ventured beyond their four walls to fall in love with the area. “The lifestyle in Wellen Park is unmatched. Everyone is friendly and relaxed, most are people escaping cold weather or have made a life here from other parts of the world,” says Bradford. “Wellen Park offers wonderful restaurants supporting different palates and tastes. It also has a wonderful vision for what’s to come,” says Bradford. With all the amenities that Wellen Park has to offer and the beautiful scenery all around, Bradford and her family knew they made the right choice. A beach day beats a snow day every time.
Wellen Park resident Jennifer Bradford swapped snow for sunshine. WORDS BY SOLYMAR ESTRELLA
business
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Get expert insights, explore real-world examples and uncover local resources with SCF’s workshops at Wellen Park. To learn more visit 26west.scf.edu/sarasotaconnect
BusinessCraft
SCF comes to Wellen Park with Sarasota Connects for business building and networking. WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT
STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA (SCF) PRESENTED AN EVENING WORKSHOP THIS PAST JANUARY to help build businesses and offer resources to entrepreneurs. The event, Profit Power: Mastering Pricing and Sales Strategies Workshop, was facilitated by the 26 West Entrepreneurship Center and took place at Solis Hall in Downtown Wellen. The main goals of the evening were to help Sarasota County business owners build their business and offer helpful resources to entrepreneurs. Attendees were presented with ideas on how to maximize profitability through pricing models and sales strategies and gain actionable techniques to boost sales, optimize pricing decisions and ensure that their business stays competitive and financially sustainable. Mike Morales, owner of Quality TV Smart Home & Security in North Port attended a workshop in Wellen Park recently. “I found the workshop to be very informative,” he shares. “I enjoyed the speakers and networking. I definitely made new connections and gained some knowledge.” The workshops are part of the Sarasota County Connect series. Seats are limited so early registration is encouraged. Complimentary refreshments are provided. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, gain new insights or discover new collaborations, these workshops can be the perfect way to build lasting relationships and take your business to the next level.
WELLEN PARK WINE FESTIVAL
Wellen Park’s inaugural Wine Festival celebrated distinguished vintners and the culinary talents of local restaurateurs during an unforgettable November weekend event where attendees were invited to sip and shop a variety of wines while sampling small bites from Downtown Wellen restaurant partners.
