On May 4th, Discover Sarasota Tours will kick off its new Sunset Cabaret Trolley Tour. This is the sixteenth tour that the company will run alongside its other popular experiences. The Sunset Cabaret, like many of the other tours, works as a collaboration between Discover Sarasota Tours and local businesses. Tammy Hauser, the founder and CEO of the company, says that the cabaret came about as a response to Sun King Brewery’s interest in her popular dine-along tour.

Sun King, based out of Indiana, opened its Sarasota branch last year, featuring a distillery and tasting room for its craft beers. “We had been wanting to do something with the craft brewing industry, but not a traditional bar crawl,” says Hauser. “That’s not what we do. All of our tours involve history or the natural landscape and usually one trolley stop, which is a different model from a drinking tour.”  Together with Steve McAllister, a tour guide and native Sarasota who’s been leading tours for Hauser for the past four years, she created a tour that blended the educational elements for which her brand is known with the vibe of a classic beer crawl.

The pair partnered with Sun King Brewery, located in the Limelight District, one of two stops on the tour. “We wanted to give a shoutout to this area that is an interesting pocket of Sarasota history,” she adds. During the trolley ride, McAllister delights guests with songs, jokes and local trivia that helps connect them to the city. When visitors arrive at Sun King, they’ll have the opportunity to sample a variety of different beers and go on a mini distillery tour. The trolley will also stop at Lido Beach, giving guests a chance to marvel at Sarasota’s stunning sunsets. “Visitors will get to see a beautiful view and enjoy a romantic moment,” says Hauser, confident that the cabaret is a great tour option for couples.

“We’re constantly creating new tours, and whenever we can tie in a local business as a partner that's a win for us,” she adds, “because giving people a truly local experience is what we’re about.”

The Sunset Cabaret Tour begins May 4 and runs throughout the year every other Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $52.99 and include pre-tour wine/beer and free parking. Discover Sarasota Tours, 826 4th St., Sarasota, discoversarasotatours.com. 

Pictured: Tour guide Steve McAllister entertains guests on the Sunset Cabaret Tour. Photo Courtesy of Discover Sarasota Tours

The 25th Anniversary edition of the Sarasota Film Festival celebrated its Closing Day of screenings and festivities on Sunday, April 2, after an exciting festival featuring diverse and unique films, inspiring panels, educational outreach, and more.The 2023 festival concluded with a screening of Prime Video’s ON A WING AND A PRAYER, directed by Sean McNamara at the Sarasota Opera House. At the Closing Day celebrations, Emmy-nominated actress-producer Roma Downey was honored with the Sarasota Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Downey also produced ON A WING AND A PRAYER. Downey and McNamara were joined on stage by real-life subject Kari Sorenson for a post-screening conversation moderated by Variety’s Addie Morfoot. During the festival, SFF also honored Emmy Award-winning comedian and television host Jay Leno with the festival’s Career Achievement Award; and Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Grammy Award-winning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls with the Sarasota Maestro Award. During the Closing Day ceremony, the festival announced this year’s Jury and Audience Award winners.

“I am honored to close the milestone 25th anniversary edition of the Sarasota Film Festival by recognizing the incredible, dynamic films we screened at this year’s event. We wish the warmest of congratulations to our award winners, and the brilliantly talented filmmakers behind these projects. Thank you to this year’s Jury members for taking the time to highlight these films,” said Mark Famiglio, President and Chairman of the Board of the Sarasota Film Festival. “It is valuable to pause and reflect on why we do this festival on the 25th anniversary. We do it for the community — for the right of individuals, across all backgrounds, to express themselves cinematically, to educate others to their points of view, political leanings, thoughts, analytical arguments; the beautiful expression that only film can provide. Thank you to all our supporters and everyone who continues to make this event possible each year.” Congratulations to the 2023 winners of The Sarasota Film Festival Awards. 

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Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will conclude its 2022-2023 “American Dreams” theatre season with the world-premiere musical revue, “Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue.” The show runs from April 19 through May 28, 2023. Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller was an American jazz pianist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer. He began playing piano when he was 6 and realized his dream of becoming a professional musician at 15, earning $32 a week at the Lincoln Theater in Harlem. The stride style he developed influenced the sound of modern jazz piano. WBTT staged the show in its 2010-2011 season – the first season at the troupe’s current location on Orange Avenue. Audiences loved it, and Founder/Artistic Director Nate Jacobs has long wanted to further explore Waller’s story and music. Jacobs has featured songs from the show in two productions of “Broadway in Black,” in 2017 and 2021, and even in “Broadway in Black Jr.,” starring Stage of Discovery students, in the summer of 2018. Presenting sponsors are Dona and Sam Scott. The Exchange and numerous individuals are supporting the production through leading sponsorships. Performances take place in WBTT's Donelly Theatre (1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota) from April 19-May 28; showtimes are Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday at 2 p.m. (A “Talkback” with cast and crew is scheduled for Sunday, April 30 after the matinee.) Tickets are $50/adults, $20/students and active military (cost includes all ticket fees). Call the Box Office at 941-366-1505 or visit westcoastblacktheatre.org. 

Pictured: Ariel Blue and Leon S. Pitts II star in WBTT's production of Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

The Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL) is a FREE service brought to residents by the Manatee County Utilities Department and the UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County Service. Did you know that irrigation systems account for approximately 50% of a household’s water usage? In an effort to conserve drinking water supplies, the MIL evaluates resident’s irrigation systems and landscapes to identify opportunities to save water and enhance the landscape’s function. The MIL provides participants with a full report with site-specific recommendations for irrigation run times, watering days, maximizing coverage, improving plant health and more. Help the Mobile Irrigation Lab celebrate their 20th anniversary of saving Manatee County residents’ money and water by booking an appointment for a free evaluation. To qualify for a visit from the MIL, you must reside in Manatee County and have a functioning irrigation system. Contact the UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County Service at 941-722-4524 or manatee@ifas.ufl.edu to book a free appointment. 

The Pickleball Club, a brand-new, healthy living, private pickleball complex featuring 12 indoor pickleball courts and numerous exclusive amenities coming soon to Lakewood Ranch, recently welcomed Noel Quevreaux as its new general manager for the Lakewood Ranch location. Quevreaux brings over 45 years of experience in racket sports to the organization. Most recently, she served as the general manager of the Missouri Pickleball club. Prior to that, she was the owner and manager of Sunset Tennis Center. During her time there, she constructed the first dedicated indoor pickleball courts in St. Louis. In her new role as general manager for The Pickleball Club in Lakewood Ranch, Quevreaux will be responsible for providing the club’s members with an exceptional experience, directing an enthusiastic team, managing memberships, event planning, instructional programing, retail operations, accounting and control, and managing facilities and IT. An avid athlete, Quevreaux has a number of athletic accomplishments, including being named a top ranked national junior tennis player, a 5.0 USTA national league champion, an alternate for the World Team Tennis St. Louis Aces and a USPTA certified coach. She also played D1 collegiate tennis at Texas State University. Quevreaux received her bachelor’s degree from Texas State University. She has served on a number of boards and committees at the local and sectional level, and most recently, she received the St. Louis District Tennis Association President’s Award for 2022. 

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A New Culinary Current | At Beach House Waterfront Restaurant, Executive Chef Thomas Villetto combines sustainability and simplicity to elevate the new menu, April 2023. 

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