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SRQ DAILY Dec 2, 2016

Friday Weekend Edition

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Friday Weekend Edition

"Great bands that have thrived have all had great bass players."

- Kroy Presley, musician
 

[Festival]  Sarasota Artists To Join In Painterly Combat
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Since 2001, Art Battle International has assembled artists from across the country and the world in a global competition for artistic dominance. To date, more than 8,000 artists have competed. This year, Sarasota enters the fray with the first Art Battle Sarasota, taking place tonight at the Payne Park Auditorium, pitting 11 pre-selected artists and one wild card in a live painting battle before the voting audience to determine who will represent the city in the state competition.

Beginning at 7pm, the contest comprises three rounds. The first two feature six artists each, with competitors given 20 minutes to complete their painting in front of the audience. At the end of both rounds, the audience will vote by paper ballot and the top two artists from each will move on to the third and final round. In this final round, artists are given 30 minutes and a slightly larger canvas. After this half hour, the audience will vote for the sole champion of Art Battle Sarasota, who will then go on to represent the city in future Art Battle events.

Artists are given free rein to paint what and how they choose, says Art Battle International Co-Founder Simon Plashkes, but should keep in mind that it ultimately comes down to the audience. “There’s a little bit of a mind game there,” he says, “going back and forth between them and the audience.”

Eleven local artists have been preselected to compete, including Ha Pham, Luther Rosebaro and Nancy Graham, but the final slot remains open for artists late to the party. At the event, aspiring competitors may enter their name into the running and before the competition begins, the final artist will be randomly selected from the entries to compete in the second round.

In addition to the battle itself, the night features an auction of all the paintings made by the competing artists, with the artists receiving 50 percent of the proceeds. Here, each painting can be celebrated for its own merits and, sometimes, another winner of sorts emerges. “It’s a funny thing,” says Plashkes. “The will of the crowd determines the winner, but the will of just one individual will determine which painting goes for the highest price.”

This is the first Art Battle event in Sarasota, but Plashkes says it will not be the last. “Sarasota is a robust community of artists, especially of live artists, so it seemed natural,” he says. “This is the beginning of a series.”

Beginning tonight at 7pm in the Payne Park Auditorium, tickets to Art Battle Sarasota are $20. 

Pictured: Artists surrounded by onlookers at Art Battle in Toronto, Canada. Photo courtesy of Art Battle International.

[Theater]  Florida Studio Theater Puts Presley Onstage
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

On December 4, 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins came together for an impromptu jam session that would go down as one of the greatest jam sessions in history and a defining moment in rock and roll. This Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of the occasion and not only will Florida Studio Theatre be continuing its run of Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony Award-winning musical based on that night, but one of Elvis Presley’s relatives will be in attendance, not in the audience, but in the cast.

To be fair, he’s been with the cast through the entire production as bassist Jay Perkins, but he’ll be there Sunday as well. Playing bass since the age of eight, Kroy Presley has been musical just about all his life, but it wasn’t until much later, grown and already gigging around the country, that he would discover his relation to rock and roll royalty. Questions of a connection weren’t uncommon and Presley’s mother would tell stories of his father meeting a young Elvis, drafted into the military, on a train in Germany, but that was largely that. It took another relative, Bob Presley, and some help from Ancestry.com to figure out the truth. Oddly enough, more surprising than finding out he was related to Elvis, Presley discovered he was a bit more German than previously thought.

Johan Valentine Presler was born in Germany and had a son named Andrew, who immigrated to the United States. Americanizing his name to Presley, he had four children in Cecil, Maryland. One was named John Valentine Presley, and his line would eventually lead to Kroy; another was named Andrew II, and his line would lead to Elvis. “It’s very distant,” says Presley, “but it’s there.”

As bassist for the band in Million Dollar Quartet, Presley makes his own mark. Perennially undersung and not as flashy as Elvis’ sequined and swinging hips, Presley nonetheless holds the bass up as the most important instrument, not necessarily for what it can do on its own but rather what it does for the whole. “It draws what’s happening with the rhythm section in the drums together with what’s happening with the harmony and the melodies,” he says. “Great bands that have thrived have all had great bass players.”

 But as another great rock-and-roller once said, you can’t always get what you want. And though he’s “always” been a fan of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, “Out of all the guys on the stage, if there’s anybody I would really truly like to be related to,” he says, “it would be Johnny Cash.”

Currently running through January 8 on the Gompertz Stage at Florida Studio Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet plays Saturday at 3pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7pm.  

Pictured: Kroy Presley's father, John Maylon Presley, overseas where he would meet his unknown relation Elvis Presley. Photo courtesy of Kroy Presley.

[Merger]  CenterState Acquiring Gateway Bank
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A Winter Haven bank that has been rapidly acquiring other institutions in Florida plans to buy Sarasota-based Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida. The acquisition, expected to close in approximately four months, is part of a $142.5 million deal negotiated with Gateway leaders in multiple markets and publicly revealed in a transaction alert on Wednesday.

“We thought the timing was perfect,” said Shaun Merriman, president and CEO of Gateway Bank. Merriman, who founded Gateway in 2007, will remain the market CEO for the local branches for at least four years as part of the deal. 

The deal involves all of Gateway Financial Holdings, which includes the Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida (which has two Sarasota locations and one Bradenton location), as well as independent banking companies in the Daytona Beach and Ocala markets. Merriman said Gateway has long maintained a relationship with CenterState, turning to the Winter Haven institution for many services the smaller bank could not do in-house.

CenterState operates 66 full service banking centers throughout Florida. In October, the company announced plans to acquire Platinum Bank. Should mergers be approved with both Platinum and Gateway Financial Holdings, the total assets of the bank will grow from $5 billion to $6.5 billion. 

A definitive merger agreement has already been approved by the boards for CenterState and Gateway, but since CenterState is a publicly traded company, any merger must be approved by the Office of the Comptroller, and Gateway shareholders will also need to approve a deal. Closing is anticipated around April 1.

Merriman spoke with pride about Gateway’s decade in the market, noting assets were grown to more than $880 million without any acquisitions. Much of that could be attributed to timing, Merriman said, as the bank opened at a time it could operate in the aftermath of the recession rather than taking a blow from that economic downturn, and that the bank was able to grow organically in the years afterward. 

[Good Bite]  Bottoms Up
Aviel Kanter, aviel.kanter@srqme.com

Looking for that perfect bottle of red to serve at your family holiday party? Or a gift wrapped with an oenophile's eye for a wine-loving pal? Michael's Wine Cellar should be your haven, a well-chilled oasis with hundreds of nectars (both red and white) ripe for the picking. One of Michael's favorites comes in the form of Graham Beck's The Game Reserve 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa, a region noted for quality and value, and a winery that is third-generation family run. This bottle in particular is complex, with an eclectic swirl of blackberry fruitiness, dark chocolate, plums and tobacco spice on the nose. With a juicy entry supported by a dense fruit core and firm tannins, the elegant, creamy palate leads to a long and lingering finish.

  

Photo courtesy of Graham Beck Wines.

Michael's Wine Cellar, 283 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-955-CORK (2675).

[Recipe]  Pancake Roll
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Start your morning off with a little bit of pancake and little bit of rock ‘n’ roll with The Breakfast House. Here they share how they prepare their famous pancake roll. Strawberry yogurt and fresh berries are spread on a warm, buttery, fluffy pancake that gets folded and topped with more yogurt, fresh berries (or another fruit of your choice), granola and whipped cream. Nothing sounds better than dessert for breakfast.

Ingredients: 3 ½ cups buttermilk; 3 oz. melted butter; 2 eggs; 4 cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup sugar; ½ Tbsp. salt; ½ Tbsp. baking soda; 1 ½ Tbsp. baking powder; strawberry yogurt; granola; fresh berries; whipped cream.

Blend wet ingredients in a bowl and dry ingredients in separate bowl. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients bowl. Do not over mix (should be slightly lumpy). Cook an oversized pancake (9 inches round) on griddle until medium brown on both sides. Spread two tablespoons of yogurt on pancake, add fresh berries and then roll pancake. Place on dinner plate and top with more yogurt, fresh berries, granola and whipped cream.  

The Breakfast House, 1817 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 941-366-6860.

[Philanthropy ]  Moore Launches Kindness Community

Immediate past mayor of North Port, Jacqueline Moore has partnered with Goodwill Manasota to launch a community-wide campaign called Kindness Community. The effort is designed to make a positive impact by bringing the community together and encouraging acts of kindness. A social media campaign will launch the first week of December, with 100 Goodwill Ambassadors—people who have made a commitment to share the mission of Goodwill with the greater community by volunteering at events, speaking on the organization's behalf, creating new fundraisers and introducing others to Goodwill. Companies and organizations that have already signed up to keep the Kindness Community message strong are Seaside Bank, Florida Center for Early Childhood, iHeart Media, Children’s World, WWSB ABC 7, The Law Place and more.  

Goodwill Manasota

[Hires]  Sanger Joins RE/MAX Alliance Group

Realtor Mary Sanger has joined the Bradenton office of RE/MAX Alliance Group as a residential real estate agent. Sanger was previously with Key Realty in Sarasota and has lived in the area for 34 years and brings a wealth of local knowledge. Sanger comes from an entrepreneurial background as the owner of ASAP Process Services, LLC, for 10 years, where she honed her customer service, communication and negotiation skills.  

RE/MAX Alliance Group

[Philanthropy ]  Child Protection Center Receives Grant

The Child Protection Center, Inc. was recently awarded $3,540 courtesy of the Heron Creek Community Foundation. The grant will fund therapy programs for children residing in North Port who receive therapy services at the Child Protection Center's North Port office. Established in 1980, the Child Protection Center works to prevent child abuse, provide intervention and treat victims of child abuse in Sarasota and surrounding areas. 

Child Protection Center



[SOON]  BUSINESS: 2017 Home of the Year Call for Entries , December 9 – January 6, Submissions must be received digitally by SRQ Magazine by 4pm.

You are invited to participate in the 13th SRQ Annual Home of the Year competition brought to you by SRQ magazine. Our panel of expert judges will review entries based on innovation, functionalisty and overall design aesthetic toname SRQ's Home of the Year Platinum, Gold and Silver awards. Local professionals are invited to submit their best work in architecture and home design by the Call for Entries Deadlline of Friday, December 9, 2016 by 4pm.

SRQ MEDIA, 331 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236

[SOON]  THEATER: Clever Little Lies , December 14 – March 4

Clever Little Lies by Joe DiPietro is an edgy yet hilarious show that challenges our beliefs about the sanctity of marriage. Most suitable for college aged students and adults, this play will be held in the Keating Theatre. Subscriptions and single tickets are available online or by calling the FST box office. 

Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 North Palm Avenue

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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