» SUNDAY AT THE MOVIES: When
I’m feeling bougie, it’s CinéBistro
(cinebistro.com/sarasota). But I love Burns
Court Cinema, too (filmsociety.org).
» INTIMATE LIVE PERFORMANCES:
Urbanite Theatre (urbanitetheatre.com).
You’re so close to the action you could help
the actors tie their ties. Also Westcoast Black
Theater Troupe (westcoastblacktheatre.org).
» DINNER AND A SHOW:
Cafe Barbosso (cafebarbasso.com) in
South Sarasota. Chef Joe serves amazing
Italian food, and he brings in live artists
to paint while you’re dining. So your
taste buds are happy and you get to
watch real live art while you eat.
» LIVE DANCE: Our Sarasota Ballet
(sarasotaballet.org) is getting national
attention for all their great work.
We also have some really incredible
contemporary dance companies here.
Sarasota Contemporary Dance
(sarasotacontemporarydance.org), formerly
Fuzion Dance, just got their new home in
the Rosemary District. They do great work.
» CLASSIC MUSIC: Friday Fest at the
Van Wezel (vanwezel.org), or Mattison’s
City Grille Downtown (mattisons.com).
They always have live music that’s
playing all your favorite rock hits.
» FINE ART: Of course The Ringling
has an overwhelming collection of art, but
there is also some unexpected stuff there
too. There is a section at the Ringling that
houses the James Turrell Skyspace. It’s
called “Joseph’s Coat.” When you walk in, it
looks like an empty marble room with a big
skylight. But if you go an hour before sunset
and lay on the floor with a yoga mat, there
are LED lights all around the perimeter of the
ceiling. It creates this really beautiful contrast
to the sky. You have to go experience it.
» CRAZY FUN NIGHT OUT: If you
head to Gulf Gate on the right night, you
can do your own little restaurant and bar
crawl all within blocks. Plenty of great
restaurants to choose from; fun German
food to vegetarian, pizza to seafood. Then
you can check out one of the bands at any
of the bars, and end by dancing at Oasis. If
you’re out late enough that you need to get
some “last call” food, you can hit one of
the pizza places or Munchie’s 420 Cafe.
» HANDS-ON ART CLASS:
Makers Market (makersmarketdiy.
myshopify.com) in Bradenton is a
DIY studio that lets you build things.
They guide you through with power
tools and woodworking. It’s really
cool, and so butch. Also, the Craft
Bar (thecraftbar.org) in Sarasota is
the same. It’s like the group paint and
drink wine classes, but instead you end
up making three-dimensional crafts.
» GEEKIEST PLACE: I’m not
saying books are geeky, but if you really
want to get your fix of books and authors,
Bookstore1 (sarasotabooks.com)
in Downtown Sarasota is awesome.
The people there can recommend
any title or author depending on
what you like, and they bring in
some pretty impressive and diverse
authors for talkbacks and signings.
» ANNUAL CULTURAL EVENT:
Sarasota Improv Festival in July is so high
up on my list. Selby Lights in Bloom (selby.
org/events/event/lights-in-bloom-2) is
great to take the family during the holidays.
You’re literally glowing as you’re walking
through a holiday light display. I really
love the unofficial start of the arts season
here through October and November.
There are openings of new shows every
weekend. It buzzes throughout the city.
ABOVE TOP LEFT
SARASOTA
STAPLE:
The Ringling's
story dates back
nearly a century,
with a circus
impresario and
his wife's love for
Sarasota, Italy
and art.
PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
ABOVE CENTER
MAKERS:
Makers Market
is a DIY studio in
Bradenton.
PHOTO COURTESY OF
MAKERS MARKET'S
WEBSITE
ABOVE TOP RIGHT
BALLET
NIGHT:
The Sarasota
Ballet is currently
in its 28th season.
PHOTO COURTESY OF
SARASOTA BALLET'S
WEBSITE
ABOVE BOTTOM
TREASURED
THEATRE:
The Asolo Theatre
Company was
renamed Asolo
Repertory Theatre
in 2006.
PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
1 4
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/(cafebarbasso.com
/(sarasotaballet.org
/(sarasotacontemporarydance.org
/(vanwezel.org
/(mattisons.com
/myshopify.com
/(thecraftbar.org
/(sarasotabooks.com
