|
|
|
 |
[Wednesday] 7-23-2008 |  |
|
||
[SHOP] UNIQUE GREETS: Greeting Cards to Get the Point Across
Hand-picked from 35 card companies, you’ll find distinctive cards among the traditional genres at Elysian Fields. Choose from hilarious cards, like one of a dowdy Bill and Hillary, circa 1979, reading, “You’ve improved with age too!” Pick environmentally conscious cards—using soy ink and 100 percent recycled paper—which include a “green” tip on the back of each greeting. If inspiration is the point you want to get across, go with the photo of gleeful Scottish girls on the backs of galloping, wooly sheep saying, “The pursuit of pleasure must be the goal of every rational person.”
Elysian Fields, 1273 S. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-361-3006
[EAT] LOCAL FLAVOR: Creole Cuisine at Derek’s
You only have a few weeks left to enjoy one of Derek’s Culinary Casual’s American Table dinners. Beginning this Wednesday, Chef Derek is taking diners to Delta country with a Louisiana Cajun and Creole menu. It begins, naturally, with Barbequed Shrimp, served with sweet potato griddle cakes and, if you like, a Sokol-Blosser Evolution White Blend, from the Willamette Valley. Then, for the principal course, you can enjoy a plate of Louisiana Redfish, served with crawfish gravy (pause for squeals of delight), smoked grits and fried okra. This pairs, with a $16 surcharge, with a Gainey Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay from Paso Robles. Then, for dessert, there’s a bit of the French and a bit of the old South with Derek’s Café Au Lait Ice Cream with candied pecans. After this menu runs its week-long course, the only stops left on Derek’s tour of regional American cuisine will be Alabama (beginning on July 31) and then home to Florida on August 7. Further updates will be given as appetites develop.
Derek’s Culinary Casual, 514 Central Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-6565
[NEWS] ACHIEVEMENT: Jonathan Parks Architect AIA Winner
Jonathan Parks Architect (JPA), took top honors in the residential category for their design of the Mumford Pool House, a project located in Sarasota, at the American Institute of Architects’ Tampa Bay Chapter 2008 design awards. This is the second consecutive year JPA has received an AIA Honor award. Last year, JPA received the H. Dean Rowe FAIA Award for Design Excellence as well as the Honor Award in the category for historic preservation for the firm’s restoration of the Cohen House in Sarasota, Florida.
Jurors Behzad B. Nakhjavan, Professor of Architecture and Daniel Bennett, FAIA, Dean, College of Architecture, Design and Construction at Auburn University, selected eleven out of sixty-nine total submissions to be recognized with Merit and Honor awards for excellence in architectural design. Both jurors commented about the pool house’s clarity of concept and the discipline of the architect to maintain design simplicity.
The Mumford Pool House project centered on creating an elegant backyard family area, which would complement the existing residence, a 1926 historic cottage. Both owners are design professionals and requested a pool house, pool and landscape layout that embraced a modern aesthetic and expanded their living space. The main challenge was to create a design that would not diminish the historic home, but would connect the two structures. The solution was to incorporate details from the cottage into the pool house; that was accomplished with roof pitch and the use of cypress wood ceilings that mirror the cottage roof.
[NEWS] EXEC MOVES: Abel Band Attorney Elected Vice-Chair
Jennifer B. Compton, Esq., of Sarasota, has been elected as vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross (SWCARC). In addition, Compton was elected chair of the 2009 Hurricane Bash, the largest fundraising event hosted by the SWCARC. Compton is a shareholder with Abel Band, Chartered and focuses her law practice on employment law counseling and litigation. Compton primarily represents employers and provides assistance in preventative counseling and the defense of litigation brought by current and former employees. Compton regularly practices in federal and state court as well as in arbitration. Compton also works with employers in training employees to comply with policies and procedures of the employer. She is a frequent lecturer on employment law and litigation issues for employers, including the Abel Band Employment Law Seminar Series.
[NEWS] MONEY: Community Foundation Breaks Donation Record
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s board of directors announced that for the fiscal year ended May 31, grants and scholarships reached a record high of $12,017,236. As its assets have grown to $160 million, each year since 1987, the Community Foundation has awarded grants and scholarships averaging $6 million, from a variety of charitable funds under its administration, some of which are recommended by donors and their successors. Other grants are generated from funds earmarked for specific charities. Discretionary grants are the result of a careful study process called “Grants and Program Services” or GPS, involving community partnerships, with research undertaken by focus teams of volunteers. In fiscal year 2007-2008, which ran from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2008, a total of 1,077 grants were made, ranging from less than $5,000 to more than $500,000. Many of these grants are multi-year commitments that will culminate in millions of dollars in community investment. Included in this record high amount are 530 scholarships awarded to recent high school graduates and adult learners, valued at $1,092,869.
[TALK] New Urbanism & Complete Streets
Those present at yesterday’s Downtown Partnership forum got a thorough education on new urbanism and how it can work to make Sarasota a better place for everyone. Steve Stancel, chief planner with the City of Sarasota and Jason Collins, senior manager for Trans Associates, gave separate presentations that identified what Sarasota needs to work on and the principles of new urbanism.
Here’s some New Urbanism jargon and what it means:
—Walkability: Pedestrian oriented design that makes for only a 10-minute walk to most needs.
—Connectivity: Interconnected streets grid to disperse traffic and decrease congestion.
—Mixed-Use and Diversity: Mixture of residential, retail and office within neighborhoods comprised of a mixture of single-family and multi-family dwelling units. This promotes a diversity of people, which creates safer neighborhoods.
—Mixed Housing: A range of types, sizes and prices within close proximity.
—Traditional Neighborhood Structure: A clearly defined center and edge of urban area with public space and activity located at the center of town.
—Smart and Balanced Transportation: Quality transit alternatives and promoting biking and walking as realistic daily alternatives.
—Complete Streets: Streets that meet the needs of all types of people and modes of transportation.
—Sustainability: Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations.
[TODAY] THEATER: SOUTHERN COMFORTS, 8pm
Southern Comforts tells the tale of when a bitter widower’s heart is captured by a cheerful widow. This unique love story features an older set of characters and proves that love can still exist between the least likely of people. Their charming romance experiences sweet moments along with surprising tribulations. Told with warmth and eloquence, Southern Comforts is a wonderful take on the traditional love story. Through August 10. Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-9000.
[TODAY] EXHIBITION: Unveiled: Rarely Seen Art, 10am—5pm
“Unveiled” is a remarkable exhibit for the novice art patron and connoisseurs alike. With nearly 300 works—including many pieces that have never been on view to the public—it is the largest exhibition ever assembled by the Museum of Fine Arts. The display highlights art from classical to modern: paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs and ancient ceramics. Featuring several noted artists such as Ferdinand Leger, Edouard Manet, Camille Pissarro and Ernest Fiene as well as relatively unknown artists like Joseph Bail, Alexander Loemans and W. Seaman. Through August 26. The Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-896-2667.
[TODAY] EXHIBITION: Paul Rudolph: Florida Houses and The Sarasota School of Architecture, 9am—5pm
This exhibition explores the mid—1940s work of award—winning and world—renowned architect Paul Rudolph. After attaining his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard, Rudolph formed an association with Ralph Twitchell. Their partnership inspired the creation of unique structures in Sarasota County. Known as the “Sarasota School of Architecture,” this is a distinctive regional style which blends the natural landscape with innovative construction methods and materials. The interrelationship between the production of Rudolph’s Florida houses and the surrounding landscape, as well as their links to concurrent architectural styles, are among the topics interpreted through this exhibition. Model presentations and drawings as well as period photos of finished structures by Ezra Stoller are the main focus of the exhibition. Exhibit runs through September 30. Historic Spanish Point Visitors Center Exhibit Gallery, 337 N. Tamiami Trl., Osprey, 941-966-5214.
[SOON] MUSIC: Friday Fest on the Bay—Julie Black a.k.a. the “Angel for Blues,” August 15, 5pm
Wind down with the cool jazz sounds of Julie Black a.k.a. the “Angel for Blues.” Solidly grounded with a blues foundation, Julie enriches her style by incorporating subtle notes from various other musical genres—creating a layered sound all her own. Her strong, silken voice captivates audiences and her soulful lyrics remain with listeners even after the concert ends. Witness a star in the making and remember that you got to see her first. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-953-3368.
[SOON] SEMINAR: Maximizing Fundraising with Your Website, July 24, 8:30am—12pm
Today's donor, member or event attendee may move on to another cause if you fail to offer quick, easy and secure access to online donations, membership dues, event tickets, e-store purchases and information about giving opportunities. Participants will leave this session with the know how to plan a website that maximizes fundraising opportunities. Check in and networking starts at 8:30am with the event beginning at 9. Tickets are $35. For more information, contact Susie Bowie at 941-556-7104. Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 941-955-3000.
[SOON] THEATER: Summer Rep Series: TRUMBO: RED, WHITE AND BLACKLISTED, August 13, 8pm
Through the letters of Dalton Trumbo, experience the witch hunt put on by the House of Un-American Activities Committee that began with several prominent people known as “The Hollywood Ten” and ended with over 300 actors being boycotted for alleged Communist ties. Trumbo refused to name names and was eventually imprisoned—losing some of his most productive years of writing behind bars. Discover the tribulations Trumbo went through and how the Red Scare affected his life. Venice Theatre is performing this play with limited set design and reading from the script to maintain the raw emotion that surrounded Trumbo during his days wearing the Scarlet Letter “C.” Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice, 941-488-1115
[SUBSCRIBE TO SRQ: Sarasota's Premier Magazine]
[SRQ EVENTS] [EVENT PHOTOS]
[SEND NEWS & PHOTOS TO PAGE 1]
PAGE1 is produced by the editors and writers of SRQ: Sarasota's Premier Magazine. To unsubscribe, please click here.
You can also view this issue on the web in our PAGE1 Archive.
Powered by GravityFree - Sarasota Web Design