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SRQ DAILY Sep 16, 2015

Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

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Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning

"I'd say the luxury market is doing really well,"

- Stephanie Church, Michael Saunders and Company
 

[Film]  Writer/Director Angelo Pizzo Visits Ringling College
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Continuing the tradition of bringing top-notch talent and guests to its students, Ringling College of Art and Design welcomed Hollywood screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, who penned such seminal sports films as Rudy and Hoosiers, to campus this week to teach a masterclass with producer Paul Schiff and talk and screen their latest film, My All American. Based on the inspiring true story of 1960s University of Texas football player Freddie Steinmark, who rose from gridiron underdog to school icon, and starring Finn Wittrock as Steinmark and Aaron Eckhart as the coach who gave him a chance, the film marks Pizzo’s first as director and the starting point for two Ringling alums, Harrison Stagner and Nick Lennon, who served as interns on the film.

“It’s not the sport itself that you’re watching – it’s the canvas,” said Pizzo, asked about his apparent affinity for the sports film genre. “It’s about the characters, their struggles, their journeys and their success or failure.” Sports provide the backdrop, with definite winners and losers and set rules. “That’s not always true in life,” Pizzo continued. “It provides you a great canvas to use sports as metaphor.” In addition, there’s a special place that sports holds in American society, said Pizzo, that allows these stories to resonate. “There’s a familiarity and a connection with sport and American culture,” he said. Everyone has a connection to some sport, whether it be real or imagined, that transcends the scoreboard. “It’s a form of community and how people come together,” Pizzo said. “And all of us have a need for community.”

Though many have tried, Pizzo was the first to get permission from the Steinmark family to tell Steinmark’s story on film, a responsibility he took seriously. “You’re lucky to get 50 percent,” he said of the amount of truth typically found in a Hollywood ‘true’ story, admitting that his own Rudy probably clocked in around 70 percent, having excised the title character’s brief stint in the Navy and created the groundskeeper character as a composite. “With this film, I’d say 90 percent is true,” Pizzo said. “All the important aspects are true.”

As for Ringling’s Stagner and Lennon, producer Schiff had only glowing reviews, though he admits there was initial reticence from the department heads who would be taking on the unproven young creatives in a high-pressure environment. “A couple weeks into the show, both department heads came to me individually and said, ‘Thank you so much for these guys. They’re fantastic,’ ” said Schiff, who described a mature approach from the pair, willing to demonstrate the knowledge they gained at Ringling while knowing when to step back and learn from others. “They struck that balance beautifully.” 

Pictured (Left to Right): Tony Stopperan, Angelo Pizzo, Paul Schiff, Nick Lennon, Harrison Stagner. Photo by: Rich Schineller

An expanded version of this article available on SRQ Backlot.

[Real Estate]  Million-Dollar Deals Aplenty
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

It’s been a pretty good week for Stephanie Church, and it’s only Wednesday morning. The Realtor, who works in the St. Armands office of Michael Saunders and Company, on Tuesday sold a home in the Sanderling Club for $6.25 million. On Monday, she also had a buyer close on a $4-million condominium at The Beach Residences on Lido Key. “I’d say the luxury market is doing really well,” Church told SRQ Daily

Coldwell Residential Real Estate’s Linda Weber, who represented the buyer on the Sanderling Club home, noted that single sale was the third largest sale in Sarasota this year. “Selling a home of this magnitude reinforces the strength of the luxury market and demand for spectacular estates, like this one,” said Weber. This particular home was a 5,000-square-foot estate on two acres located right between the Gulf of Mexico and Heron Lagoon. 

The sale was the biggest in Church’s career, but in the current market, it may not stay that way for long. The market continues to move, and Church expects another closing in a couple weeks on a Bird Key property listed at $.3.8 million. And she also has under contract a Siesta Key property listed at $6.25 million, a number to rival the Sanderling Club.

Interest continues, and the obstacles to sales are being changed as well. With the unit at The Beach Residences, Church notes she walked the buyer through the unit on Facetime so they wouldn’t miss out on a chance to buy the property. “I do that with a lot of my sales,” she said. So the world is more accessible than ever, and buyers around the globe, it seems, are interested in the luxury market on the Gulf Coast. 

Photo from Michael Saunders and Company: Sanderling Road property

[Good Bite]  SKOB Raises the Bar
Kaye Warr

Siesta Key Oyster Bar has been a successful fixture on Siesta Key’s main drag for long enough to rest on their laurels but they’re pushing the envelope and shaking things up thanks to a new general manager and a new executive chef. General Manager Stephanie Brown grew up in Sarasota and has over a decade of experience in the restaurant business and Chef Aaron Chavarria is a respected member of the Sarasota food community who specializes in “resort style, sustainable, farm-to-table dishes.” The new menu items at SKOB are sure to excite locals and visitors alike. Standouts include the Daily Chef’s Oyster Special, which features rotating oyster varieties with fresh shaved horseradish and a house made Bloody Mary Granita, and appetizers like the Ceviche Duo with Florida Whitefish and fresh shrimp. The Chili Crusted Tuna offers a zing of background heat a drizzle of local Orange Blossom Honey and ginger. For the entrée course, I recommend the Carribean Mariscada, which is full of sautéed seafood, crispy yucca, and plantains. The broth for the Mariscada is flavored with Siesta Key Rum and I ate every bit of mine after calling for a spoon. The daily dessert special featured a pineapple brioche with cinnamon ice cream, coconut and a homemade rich and tasty caramel sauce.  There’s live music, a convivial atmosphere and plenty of Lavender Mojitos and other crafty cocktails to enjoy – have you been to SKOB lately? 

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, 5238 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota, 941-346-5443

[Branding]  Allegiant Arises as Independent Firm

The Sarasota-based firm of Kerkering Barberio Financial Services announced its new name, Allegiant Private Advisors. The customized wealth management firm specializes in helping high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations and foundations pursue their long-term financial goals. The firm has flourished under the umbrella of the area’s leading accounting firm, Kerkering, Barberio and Company since 1997. The rebranded Allegiant Private Advisors will continue a close association with Kerkering Barberio but project a distinct identity and pursue an independent client base. 

Allegiant Private Advisors

[Opening]  Roots Chiropractic Hosting Grand Opening

The Roots Chiropractic of Lakewood Ranch announced a two-event ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will be held for the new business at 11:30am and 4:30pm on Oct. 15.  The Roots Chiropractic is located on Natures Way. Tours of the brand new state-of-the-art chiropractic health care facility will be held, where attendees will joined by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. 

The Roots Chiropractic of Lakewood Ranch

[Exec Moves]  CFEF Names Glass To At-Large Post

The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations named Mary Glass, executive director of the Manatee Education Foundation, as a member-at-large.  Glass is one of five statewide education foundation leaders who, along with four officers, govern the CFEF.The CFEF is the membership organization for Florida’s school district-wide local education foundations. 

Consortium of Florida Education Foundations

[Recognition]  DOE Awards Grant to Women's Resource Center

The Women's Resource Center of Sarasota County  a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering women in Sarasota County and enriching their lives, was awarded the Displaced Homemakers Grant, a five-year contract of $85,000 per year, totaling over $411,000, by Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity to assist women over the age of 35 with acquiring the employability skills and training needed to obtain successful job placements. The Center of Sarasota County was one of only four grant recipients. 

The Women's Resource Center of Sarasota County



[Bal Masque 2015]  Come to Bal Masque and Give Back

While there’s many reasons that we love hosting Bal Masqué each year (the food, music, performances, stunning masks and seeing so many friendly faces), there’s one major reason why we host this annual gala. Ticket proceeds directly benefit area non-profit organizations. This year, we are proud to promote SRQ Story Project partners and their worthy causes through this event.

When purchasing your ticket to Bal Masqué, held on October 3rd, you’ll select a beneficiary that will receive a portion of proceeds for the evening. Regardless if your passion is children’s services or marine science or health care initiatives, you can select an organization that is close to your heart to support for the evening. As you have a great time at the party, give yourself a pat on the back for sending support to local mission that does a lot of good.

Meet the 2015 Bal Masqué Beneficiaries

Forty Carrots Family Center
The Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center
Goodwill Manasota
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Mote Marine Laboratory
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation
Sarasota Music Half Marathon
Sarasota YMCA
Selah Freedom

To purchase your tickets and donate a portion of the cost back to one of these worth organizations, visit SRQBALMASQUE.COM 

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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