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SRQ DAILY Mar 29, 2022

Tuesday Dining and Food Edition

Tuesday Dining and Food Edition

"As we hopefully return closer to normal, we are thrilled to present a varied season with some of our favorite works, along with operas that we have never given before."

- Richard Russell, General Director, Sarasota Opera.
 

[The Dish]  One SWAGgy Burger at BurgerFi

Four words: candied ghost pepper bacon. Don’t read on if that terrifies you. But if your tastebuds aren’t trepidatious, and you’re also uber-hungry, pop over to BurgerFi at the new Lakewood Ranch location (opened in mid-March) and score a spicy stack with the SWAG Burger.

The acronymous dish, which stands for “Spicy Wagyu Burger,” is one of BurgerFi’s best bites—a double Wagyu-beef-and-brisket burger blend with charred jalapeños, sweet tomato relish, pepper jack cheese and hot steak sauce.

And it’s not just scrumptious; it’s sustainable. The patties are comprised of 65 percent grain-fed, traditional beef from Double R Ranch Northwest Beef; and 35 percent American Wagyu beef from Snake River Farms. The burgers even have a lean-meat-to-fat ratio of 75 to 25. The recipe was first developed by Paul Griffin, the chief culinary officer for BurgerFi International, who is a classically-trained chef from The Restaurant School in Philadelphia. Griffin’s SWAG creation, and BurgerFi’s other burger counterparts, can be paired with fresh-cut French fries or beer-battered colossal onion rings.

Indulge in one of the Concretes for dessert (like red velvet cake, Oreo or key lime pie). You’ll need the cold sweetness to balance out the spice.

BurgerFi, 257 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, 941-800-1800; and 11563 State Road 70 East, Bradenton, 941-286-3631. burgerfi.com. 

Pictured; The SWAG Burger at BurgerFi is a juicy stack of Wagyu beef, candied ghost pepper bacon, spicy steak sauce and pepper jack cheese. Photo courtesy of BurgerFi.

[New Restaurant]  New Englands LobsterCraft Restaurant Prepares to Open in Sarasota

What began as a local food truck phenomenon based out of the coastal community of Norwalk, CT, LobsterCraft has morphed into a thriving brick and mortar Restaurant Group, offering their over-the-top hot and buttery lobster rolls to hungry consumers looking for their next lobster roll fix. In 2012, Captain Mike Harden, a Coast Guard Captain and licensed Lobster fisherman, launched LobsterCraft and filled a void in the local culinary/catering landscape by offering Connecticut’s state sandwich, the lobster roll. A fleet of trucks, more Connecticut restaurants, and numerous regional and national awards and accolades later, LobsterCraft is now embarking on its next voyage – down south. A mid-April opening is planned for LobsterCraft’s newest location in Sarasota, FL at 28A South Blvd of Presidents, on St. Armands Circle. Amid the bustle of the community’s vibrant retail, dining, and tourist activity, LobsterCraft’s 1400 square foot space will offer indoor/outdoor seating for 30 people and a robust take-out, delivery, and catering business. While the LobsterCraft brand expands upon its concept, its deep roots will remain within the lobster/fishing community. Sourcing from local fishermen remains a company standard. Captain Mike and his crew will continue to make those long hauls up and down the coastline, sourcing the best, sustainable lobster possible from the Atlantic cold waters off the New England coast. 

Pictured: Captain Mike Harden.

To learn more, visit

[New Leadership]  Skydiving CMO Lands at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital

Jennifer Bocker, MD, MBA, FACS is the new Chief Medical Officer at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. Dr. Bocker is a board-certified general surgeon with specialty training in level one trauma surgery and head and neck surgical oncology. She currently holds one world record for skydiving and is training for another world record attempt. Dr. Bocker is originally from the Chicago suburbs. She received her medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, performed her general surgery residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center in New York, and her fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. In her new role at Sarasota Doctors Hospital, she will work with physicians to ensure the hospital continues to provide the highest quality care to the community.

In her spare time, Dr. Bocker is an avid skydiver. She has performed thousands of jumps and holds one world record. She is currently training to attempt the women’s head down large formation skydiving world record. The jump is part of Project 19 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. Dr. Bocker was selected as one of eight women who will be the base of the formation. When she is not skydiving and working in the hospital, she also participates and trains for Ironman triathlons. 

Pictured: Jennifer Bocker, MD trains for world record skydiving attempt Photographer: David Wybenga from D Squared.

[Annual Luncheon]  SMH Foundation Hosts Women & Medicine Luncheon

On March 25, 2022, over 350 guests attended Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s ninth annual Women & Medicine Educational Luncheon held at Michael’s on East. The program featured a panel discussion from leading oncology experts on gynecologic cancers, including genetic testing and personalized treatment. Proceeds from the luncheon will help support the expansion of the Genetics Counseling Program at Sarasota Memorial.  The program opened with a welcome from event co-chairs and Healthcare Foundation board members, Gwen MacKenzie and Sandi Stuart. Lorrie Liang, President, Sarasota Memorial Hospital–Sarasota presented an update on key initiatives at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. The educational program, moderated by Stephanie Roberts, co-host and producer of Suncoast View on ABC7, included a panel of women’s cancer experts: Elizabeth Guancial M.D., Medical Oncology/Hematology, Florida Cancer Specialists; Beverly Long, M.D., Gynecologic Oncology, First Physicians Group; and Nicole Wood, M.S., Lead Genetic Counselor, Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute. The discussion primarily focused on hereditary gynecologic cancers, genetic testing for hereditary risk factors, and how genetic testing results affect treatment options. An audience Q&A session followed. 

[New Season]  Sarasota Opera Announces 2022-2023 Season

Sarasota Opera has announced their 2022-2023 Opera Season which will include works both familiar and beloved, as well as two operas never before performed by the company. The 2022 Fall Season will feature Cimarosa’s The Secret Marriage, along with a production of the Sarasota Youth Opera, Dean Burry’s The Secret World of Og. Opening the 2023 Winter Opera Festival on February 18 will be Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, followed by Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Verdi’s Ernani, and Massenet’s Thérèse. “As we hopefully return closer to normal, we are thrilled to present a varied season with some of our favorite works, along with operas that we’ve never given before,” says General Director Richard Russell. “During our 64th season, we look forward to introducing our audience to some important, lesser-known operas, including one that has never before been seen in a U.S. opera house,” adds Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi. Casting for the season will be announced at a later date. For more information on the 2022-2023 season, visit SarasotaOpera.org, call (941) 328-1300, or visit the Box Office at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. 

Pictured: 2012 Madama Butterfly. Photo by Rod Millington.

[Art Exhibition]  Art Uptown Gallery to Exhibit "MOXIE by Rita Rust" in July 2022

In July, Art Uptown Gallery will exhibit “MOXIE by Rita Rust,” watercolors by a longtime gallery artist. In a pivot from Rita's usual subject matter, these “action portraits” serve to illuminate the capacity to find joy even in the darkest times. These paintings embody the exuberant spirit, determination and courage the girls in this series display — their “moxie.” “During the first pandemic summer,” Rita explains, "I was finally inspired to paint again after seeing photos of my niece’s children cavorting poolside. I could feel their joy and exuberance — emotions I hadn’t quite realized I’d been missing. As the images and emotions stayed with me, the ‘Moxie' series was born.”

“MOXIE by Rita Rust” opens on Saturday, June 25, and runs through Saturday, July 30. The public is also invited to a reception on First Friday, July 1, from 6-9 PM. Art Uptown Gallery welcomes you to the 1367 Main Street gallery, where the diverse art works of 28 local artists are shown. Telephone: 941-955-5409 or check the website, www.artuptown.com for hours and further information. 

Pictured: “Jump for Joy” watercolor by Rita Rust. Photo courtesy of Art Uptown.

[Fundraising Event]  Satchel’s Last Resort Animal Sanctuary and CoreSRQ host Dog Walk and Wellness Expo

Calling all animal lovers! Saturday, April 2 is a great opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for Satchel's Last Resort Animal Sanctuary and CoreSRQ by attending the 2nd Annual Get Your Mutt Movin' Dog Walk and Pet and Wellness Expo from 8am-2pm outdoors at the CoreSRQ Sarasota Branch (1075 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237). Walk your favorite four legged fur-end along a half mile trail full of fun activities; an agility challenge, games, a photo booth and other surprises! Don't miss out on this special part of our Get Your Mutt Movin' Family Festival! Come walk anytime between 10am-1:30pm and then enjoy our Vendor Market, fun family activities and delicious food vendors! The first 100 registrants receive a bandana, doggie (swag) bag, and a lucky draw ticket for a raffle prizes. Enjoy over 50 local businesses offering and including pet novelties, jewelry, gifts, art, crafts, people and pet massage, lite grooming, dog training professionals, photo booth, pet portraits, home decor, vegan treats, delicious snacks and food, including a pancake breakfast , food trucks and ice cream with choices for you and your dog! Local businesses will offer crafts and give-aways for kids and adults...and even your dog! This event will be fun whether you bring your dog or not- so come and check us out anytime between 8am-2pm and support two wonderful organizations.* Expo only fee is $5. 

Registration is available online here.



[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Van Wezel: The Price Is Right Live , March 29, 8pm

THE PRICE IS RIGHT™ is a sellout interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to "Come On Down" and play classic games made famous by the iconic network television show, The Price is Right™. Contestants can win cash, sought-after appliances, epic vacations and, of course, a brand-new car by playing favorites like Plinko™, Cliffhangers™, The Big Wheel™ and the fantastic Showcase. Showing to sold-out audiences for more than a decade and counting, The Price Is Right Live™ has given away over 12 million dollars in cash and prizes to lucky audience members all across North America. The interactive stage show will take place on Tuesday, March 29 at 8pm.

[SOON]  SEMINAR: Estate and Gift Planning Essentials for Artful Philanthropy , March 30, 10:30am

The John and Mable Ringling Museum will offer a variety of seminars, lectures and presentations on philanthropy, estate planning and making an impact on arts and culture. This months seminar investigates planning your legacy with gift giving essentials. 

Chao Lecture Hall

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Manatee Community Foundation: Spirit of Manatee , March 30, 11:30am

2022 Spirit of Manatee will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 11:30am at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Purchase a table of 8 ($1,000), table of 4 ($500) or single ticket ($125). Questions? Contact Amy Treis at ATreis@ManateeCF.org. Premier sponsor Milestone Financial Group at Morgan Stanley. 2022 Spirit of Manatee Honorees... Lifetime Spirit Award: Joe and Barbara Najmy, Nominated by Easterseals Happiness House, Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, Inc., State College of Florida Foundation. Leadership Spirit Award: Steve and Carolyn Roskamp, Nominated by School District of Manatee County & United Way Suncoast and Omar Edwards, Nominated by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Community Spirit Award Honoree: Bank of America. Young Spirit Award Honoree: Gabriella Cortes-Alban, Nominated by Healthy Teens of Manatee County. Charles Clapsaddle Community Spotlight Award Honoree: Paul Sharff.

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Mayors' Feed the Hungry: Strike out Hunger , March 30, 1:05pm

Volunteers will be accepting donations of food when the Orioles host the Rays for spring training at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05pm on March 30. Look for Mayors’ Feed the Hungry partners at each entrance and at the community booth on the concourse. The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program coordinates with churches and food pantries throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. The program also works with agencies that serve children in low-income families, survivors of domestic violence, and the elderly. Please consider bringing a donation to support our efforts. The Orioles will donate the proceeds from the speed pitch machine on the concourse to the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program, so test out your skills for a good cause! The team will also let kids run the bases, which doesn’t raise money for the hungry but is another incentive to come out and cheer on the Orioles and the Rays. Remember, you can help the hungry year-round by donating online. Visit FlanzerTrust.org and choose the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program when you make your donation to raise matching funds from the Flanzer Trust. 

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Fresh Fridays: Art on the Block , April 1, 7pm-10pm

Your first-Friday downtown block party continues with ART ON THE BLOCK. The city’s arts are the occasion to dance and celebrate creativity as we showcase performance, visual, and circus arts on Friday, April 1st on Lemon Avenue from 7-10pm. Featuring: dancing, free signature party favors, light bites, arts showcases, free polaroid portraits, beverages al fresco, and more.  

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Tidewell Foundation 13th Annual Signature Luncheon , April 1, 11:30am

Save the date for the 13th Annual Signature Luncheon hosted by the Tidewell Foundation benefiting Tidewell Hospice. In response to recent increases of COVID-19 cases in the region, the event has been rescheduled for Friday, April 1, 2022 at 11:30am at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. All proceeds from this event will help Tidewell Hospice provide care, comfort, and compassion to more than 10,000 patients and families each year. Featured Speaker is Emmy Award-Winning Actor, Author, Director & Producer Henry Winkler. During the event, a raffle for a chance to win a two night stay at the world-class Ritz-Carlton Sarasota & one round of Golf for Two at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club will also be held. There is a maximum of 500 raffle tickets available, and they are first-come, first-serve. To enter the raffle, a $100 donation payable to the Tidewell Foundation, Inc. is the suggested minimum donation. However, no purchase or contribution is necessary to participate.

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Booker High VPA: Fool*ish , April 1 – April 2, Varies.

Fool*ish will take place April 1-2, 2022 at The Courtyard at Booker VPA, 3201 N. Orange Ave. We are fools whether we dance or not, so we may as well dance. Fool-ish is a dance concert that dives into our foolish side to see what we are fooled by and how we fool others.

[SOON]  DANCE: Sarasota Contemporary Dance: In-Studio Performance featuring Monessa Salley , April 1 – April 2, 7pm

This In-Studio Performance featuring Monessa Salley will take place on Friday April 1st and Saturday April 2nd 2022 at 7pm and its Virtual Stream will take place on April 2nd at 7pm.

[WEEKEND]  MUSIC: Guitar Sarasota: International Concert Series: Laura Snowden - United Kingdom , April 2, 7:30pm

Join Laura Snowden on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Riverview Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm. British-French guitarist and composer Laura Snowden is acclaimed for her “poise and intensity” (The Guardian) and playing of “extraordinary dept” (Strings, Classical Music Magazine). The first guitarist to graduate from the Yehudi Menuhin School, made possible by the Rolling Stones, she is currently teaching there. After she was invited by guitarist Julian Bream to premiere his latest commissions at Wigmore Hall, her international appearances have since built rapidly, with festival debuts across Europe, China and the US, as well as concerto debuts with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Münchener Kammerorchester, and a recording of Lisa Streich’s guitar concerto Augenlider with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester.

[WEEKEND]  SPORTS: Mote Marine: 36th annual Run for the Turtles , April 2, 6:30am-9am

Support sea turtles by participating in Mote's 5K or 1-mile race on April 2 at Siesta Beach. If you can't join us in person, you can participate in the virtual Run now through April 2. 6:30am - Packet pick up & race day registration opens. 7am - Warm Up. 7:30am - 1 Mile Fun Run. 8am - 5K Run sanctioned by Manasota Track Club. Award ceremony to follow 5K.

[WEEKEND]  FESTIVAL: Lido Beach Spring Craft Show , April 2 – April 3, 10am-5pm

Join us for the 2nd Annual Lido Beach Spring Craft Show on April 2-3, 2022 at Lido Beach in Sarasota, FL. Produced by Paragon Festivals and graciously hosted by the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association with the Humane Society of Sarasota the event’s Special Guest. Artisans and crafters from across Florida and throughout America will create a palette of artistic creations in mediums such as sculpture, jewelry, painting, photography, glass, ceramics, mixed-media, metalwork, fiber art, woodworking and more. If you do not find exactly what you wish, consider commissioning a piece made specifically for you as the artists creating all these works will be present at the event. Hours of the Lido Beach Spring Craft Show are Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm. Admission is free. Come discover the beauty and functionality in what people create. Find that piece of art for home or office to enrich your life and inspire you each day.

[SOON]  MUSIC: Sarasota Orchestra: Masterworks: Breaking Boundaries , April 1 – April 3, 8pm and 2:30pm

Maestro Bramwell Tovey leads a program of works by composers who fearlessly charted their own paths on Friday, April 1 at 8pm, Saturday, April 2 at 8pm, and Sunday, April 3 at 2:30pm at the Van Wezel. British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Ballade for Orchestra is alternately tender and highly dramatic. Violinist Angelo Xiang Yu stars in the cinematic Concerto for Violin by Korngold, the first composer of classical music who was also renowned for his career writing Hollywood film scores. The program concludes with the glorious Symphony No. 7 by classical music's most famous "bad boy," Beethoven.

[SOON]  FESTIVAL: International Chalk Festival , April 1 – April 3, 10am-8pm

A museum in motion as professional pavement artists from around the world use chalk as their medium and the pavement as their surface with a few pushing the boundaries, including walls and other materials. You are an integral part of the creative process as the viewer laying witness to artists creative process, turning the pavement into a museum in motion while creating oversized masterpieces in chalk. Become a part of the illusion by stepping onto the 3D paintings for photo opportunities and sharing memories. Each day the interactive zone for the 'Young and Young at Heart' is so you have the opportunity to be creative with chalk. We provide colorful chalk, ground surfaces and chalk walls so everyone can create their own mini-masterpiece, or just scribbles to see how easy, or challenging it can be to create with chalk. You can chalk your name or whatever comes to mind. Each day of the festival you can sit under the big tent and listen or dance to live music featuring a diverse selection of local and national musicians and bands. The line-up of live performances will be listed one month prior to event. Each day arts and craft vendors, food vendors, and beverages and spirits of all kinds are available so you can spend a few hours or all day getting lunch, listing to music, shopping with vendors, having a drink and taking your time strolling the artwork. The Chalk festivities run 3 days starting on Friday, April 1 - 3, 2022 from 10am to 8pm at the Venice Airport, 610 Airport Avenue East, Venice.

[WEEKEND]  MUSIC: La Musica International Chamber Music Festival: Derek Han Memorial Concert , April 3, 3pm

Concert I, Derek Han Memorial Concert, will take place on April 3, 2022 at 3pm at Sarasota Opera House. Single concert tickets are $65. There will be a pre-concert talk with Robert Sherman at 2:15pm. Celebrate the legacy of La Musica’s co-founder and associate artistic director Derek Han with music he loved, featuring special guest Wu Han, Derek's colleague and dear friend. Special programming funded by The Exchange. Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 no. 2, Maurice Ravel, Sonata for Violin and Cello, and Johannes Brahms, Quartet for Piano and Strings in G Minor, Op. 25. Jennifer Frautschi, violin; Kristin Lee, violin; Daniel Avshalomov, viola; Dmitri Atapine, cello; Christine J. Lee, cello; Wu Han, piano. 

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: FST Improv: Comedy Freestyle , April 2 – May 28, 7:30pm

FST Improv Presents Comedy Freestyle Beginning on April 2 and through May 28, 2022 at 7:30pm. What happens when you take some of your favorite improv games…and remove all the rules? Anything goes at Comedy Freestyle, an off-the-wall improvisation potpourri. Featuring a mashup of both short-form and long-form styles, audiences get the best of the art form when styles and techniques collide! We’ll set our performers free from all of the traditional dos and don’ts of improv, and you get to watch them figure out what comes next, completely on the spot. Tickets are $15 per person and the performance will take place in FST's Bowne's Lab.

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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