Though libraries stand as one of the great bastions of learning in civilization, their primary mode of dispersing that learning revolves around words, pictures, words and pictures, or moving pictures. But last Friday, Gulf Gate Library in South Sarasota added food to its pedagogical quiver. Called “Taste of Africa,” the seminar and food demonstration workshop used food to introduce and educate participants in Ethiopia’s vegan staples.

The seminar was led by Ethiopian-born Alex Jordan, whose sister used to own and operate an Ethiopian restaurant in town called Fly. At the time, Jordan was a college student in Colorado and not particularly involved with her sister’s venture. “But I found myself really missing that food,” says Jordan, “but with no nearby Ethiopian restaurants, I had to learn to make it myself when I wanted it.” When she came back to Sarasota, she found a receptive audience for the cuisine in her circle of friends.

“They all wanted to know how I made it and I started inviting them over to show them,” says Jordan, “so, this whole idea of teaching people about the cuisine grew very organically from there.”

And that’s part of the joy of the cuisine for Jordan as well as why it’s such a fitting seminar for a library—Ethiopian dining is very much a communal experience predicated on sharing stories. Guests all sit at the table together and pick from the same shared plates, traditionally with a fluffy, fermented injera flatbread that’s similar to a crepe but made with teff flour. “It’s a very hospitable culture."

The response to her classes has been overwhelmingly positive. “We had over 40 people on Friday,” says Jordan, “and though I make the injera beforehand, I want to eventually teach how to make that too.” As an added bonus, Jordan also gets to focus her courses on the plant-based foods that her native country consumes during their two-month fast from meat and meat-derived products. “It’s great to show people that plant-based diets can still have tons of flavor while still being very nutrient-rich,” says Jordan.

For those who missed Jordan’s February 11th class, she will be hosting another in May (date TBA) at Selby Library in which she will explore the cuisines of other African nations. The class is part of Sarasota County Library’s “One Book one Community” program. 

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This summer, Sarasota’s two- and four-legged residents no longer need to decide between date night and dog night as Boo’s Ice House and Dog Bar introduces the region’s first ever dog-centric social club with an attached bar and restaurant. Opening in the historic Ice House building on 10th Street on the edge of the blossoming Rosemary District, Boo’s will offer both indoor and outdoor gated puppy play areas for dogs and dog owners, as well as a drinking and dining portion that will offer beer, wine, spirits, and comfort food separate from but with visibility of the dog areas. The concept is the brainchild of co-founder Mindy Kauffman, along with her husband, Bobby Boivin, who saw a need in the Sarasota area for a place designed specifically for dogs and people to have a great time at the same time.

With over 3500 square feet of interior dog space to go along with about 2500 square feet of exterior dog space, the park bodes well for the warmer months when dogs are happier and safer in the shade. But the “puppy chow” menu of scratch-made dog meals will include dog-safe ice creams to help cool them off in the summer. To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for dogs and dog owners, the concept also includes a screening process as part of its membership application. But even for non-members just looking for a day or night out, Boo’s promises to offer delicious drinks and bites for those who just want to hang out in the company of man’s best friend. “We encourage everyone to come even if you don’t have a dog,” says Kauffman, “you can pet other people’s dogs, make new friends, and just feed off the joyful energy that dogs bless us with.” 

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The Van Wezel welcomes back Itzhak Perlman for a Sarasota performance on Tuesday, March 8 at 8 p.m. He will be joined in recital with pianist Rohan De Silva. Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded to a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity, as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world who are thrilled by his remarkable artistry and irrepressible joy for making music. Itzhak Perlman has performed with every major orchestra and at concert halls around the globe. He has been honored with 16 Grammy® Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Genesis Prize. Itzhak Perlman has received multiple distinctions from U.S. Presidents over the years: A Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Obama in 2015, a Kennedy Center Honor in 2003, a National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in 2000, and a Medal of Liberty by President Reagan in 1986. Tickets are $92-$127 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Asolo Repertory Theatre’s new work development program, Ground Floor, will present a staged reading of Ty Greenwood’s play The Paradox of Education on Monday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m., in the Cook Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. A donation of $5 is suggested, and proceeds will assist the Ground Floor program in supporting new and local artists. The Paradox of Education centers on six Black college students who have been lured into a predominantly white institution (PWI) through a Black Excellence scholarship that promises they will be well taken care of across their tenure on campus. They immediately find out they have been sold a falsity and come to realize that “skin folk ain’t always kin folk,” as the students confront the differences between them. Greenwood’s reading is the first event in Ground Floor’s new Muriel O’Neil American Heritage Commission Series, which is set to commission three plays by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) playwrights and directors over the next three years, made possible by a generous $75,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

“Artists who have been historically underrepresented in the American theatre need to have the space and resources to explore in a way they may not otherwise be able to,” said Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director and Ground Floor Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal, who is curating the series. “This wonderful grant allows artists to do exactly that, and we couldn’t be more delighted to be working with Ty as the commission’s first recipient.” 

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First Tee - Sarasota/Manatee (FTSM) -- an organization founded in 2000 with the primary goal of impacting the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf – announces it will team with the LECOM Suncoast Classic, a Korn Ferry Tour/PGA TOUR event, February 19, to produce a FREE youth golf clinic. The golf clinic is set for Saturday, February 19, at Lakewood National Golf Club, the host Club for the Korn Ferry Tour event. The clinic begins at 3:00 PM with instruction from a Korn Ferry Tour Professional(s), IMG Academy instructors, and First Tee - Sarasota/Manatee coaches. All children are welcome to attend; no clubs are needed. Kona Ice will provide shaved ice to junior clinic participants. Parents with children participating in the clinic will get into the tournament at no charge.

The youth clinic is being sponsored by PGA TOUR Superstore, SOUTHTECH, and Star2Star Communication. Each company promotes positive change in peoples lives and strives to build and enhance the communities in which they live. The LECOM Suncoast Classic is a great way to see tomorrow’s PGA TOUR stars today. For more information and ticket purchases, visit www.lecomsuncoastclassic.com. First Tee - Sarasota/Manatee currently serves area youth at its golf course locations and other program sites, LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Sarasota/Manatee, Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association, and PGA Jr. League. FTSM is supported by generous donations from corporate partners, foundation grants, and individual donors. 

mctlaw announces the addition of two attorneys to our expanding litigation, trial, and appellate law practices. Tamara J. Williams and Benjamin Christian join the Firm’s Sarasota, FL office.

Tamara J. Williams, joins mctlaw as an experienced litigator and trial attorney. Ms. Williams has served as lead counsel in over 50 county and circuit court cases as a former public defender in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Ms. Williams has also spent much of her career focusing on personal injury, worker's compensation, real estate, and family law. She joins mctlaw’s product liability team, representing clients who have been injured by multi-national corporations. Ms. Williams sits on the Sarasota County Bar Association (SCBA) Board of Directors and is heavily involved with the SCBA’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion.

Benjamin Christian comes to mctlaw after serving as a Captain in the Army JAG Corps. He served 4 years of active-duty service with deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. Mr. Christian was Chief of the Federal Litigation Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He worked as a trial attorney in the federal courts and advised on federal employment regulations and land use agreements. He created legal processes to reintroduce armed civilian contractors in Iraq and helped more than 600 soldiers with estate planning before deployment. Mr. Christian practices in the Firm’s Appellate and Business Law groups. 

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If you're ever looking for a delicious and unique dessert AND a trip down memory lane, pay Eric Koenreich a visit at Kookies and Kream. Meet Eric and learn more about this krazy kookie shop in our newest video! 

Click here to watch!