Simple, fluffy blueberry pancakes—just on their own—are reason enough to eat breakfast any hour of the morning or evening. Add lemon curd, lavender and ricotta cheese to the mix, and it is go time!

At The Breakfast House—a Key-West-style bungalow in Sarasota's Historic Downtown Village—owner Wendy Lee Goldberg whips up her coveted Lemon-Lavender-Ricotta-Stuffed Blueberry Pancakes, and she is no stranger to making upwards of 300 on any given Saturday. What makes the flapjacks so fabulous? Goldberg, who opened The Breakfast House 13 years ago, invented them. The New York Daily News even compiled a roundup of the best pancakes in every state and, for Florida, The Breakfast House took the (pan)cake.

The pancake recipe actually originated with an extract experiment. Goldberg has regularly sourced her all-natural, organic flavorings from a secret spot in California. Once, she ordered a sample box of extracts from the company (with butter rum, coconut and vanilla) and some lavender came in the package, so she added a bit to her pancake batter. The idea of using ricotta in the mix was inspired by cannoli filling, and the lemon curd adds a little tartness. Goldberg also uses whole-fat buttermilk and clarified butter. Not that the stuffed pancakes need it, but Goldberg serves only genuine Vermont maple syrup at her locale. So drizzle it on a stack and get decadent.

The Breakfast House, 1817 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, 941-366-6860. facebook.com/Sarasota-Breakfast-House-100492363347729. 

Pictured: The signature blueberry pancakes at The Breakfast House are stuffed with lavender, lemon curd and ricotta cheese. Photo by Peter Acker.

Albritton Fruit Farms, a family owned and family operated farm located just 5 miles east of I75 in Sarasota has begun its 2022 U-pick season. Albritton's blueberry field was planted in 2015 with just shy of 60,000 plants that now includes 4 varieties of blueberries. To make the most of your visit to the farm, closed toed shoes are suggested. Florida heat can get the best of even the most seasoned Floridian, so please be sure to bring sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, water etc. Albritton provides all the necessary equipment (buckets) for picking and for getting your berries home safely (bag). Please bring your own scissors to harvest the sunflowers and zinnias. Hours of operation are Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 9 am - 2 pm. Dates are subject to change without notice. 

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Producing Artistic Director, Michael Donald Edwards, and Managing Director, Linda DiGabriele, have announced their retirement at the conclusion of their current contracts, which end in June of 2023. Both Edwards and DiGabriele were extended opportunities to renew their contracts but, together, determined it was the right time to step down to allow new leadership to take the helm.

Their joint departure was thoughtfully planned to allow a new executive team to enter together and form a fresh partnership that will continue building on the success of Asolo Rep’s 63-year history. When they leave Asolo Rep in June of 2023, Edwards will have served the organization for 18 years and DiGabriele for 50 years. Since Edwards joined DiGabriele at the helm of Asolo Rep, the duo has brought the company to the forefront of artistic excellence and national recognition. Edwards and DiGabriele will continue their unwavering leadership through the completion of the newly announced 2022-23 season. Asolo Rep’s Board of Directors is assembling a search committee and will begin a national search for both positions in the coming months, with additional details to come. 

The Sarasota City Commission today approved the execution of a partnership agreement with the Van Wezel Foundation for the planning, financing, design, and construction of the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center to be located in the heart of the Bay Park. The Foundation and the city have had a thriving cultural partnership for over three decades, providing more than a half a million dollars annually to support the Van Wezel Hall. The Foundation remains dedicated to continuing and deepening its educational mission serving more than 58,000 students, educators and families each year. The Foundation has assembled a team of global theater experts to bring the new performing arts center to life. The architectural selection process will commence, and ongoing community engagement will continue over the coming year. The Foundation will also begin transitioning its name to the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation. Additionally, as a public-private investment, the Foundation will launch a philanthropic campaign, of which the board has already committed the first $20 million. Public funding sources, including state and federal appropriations, will also be identified in collaboration with city management.

“The Foundation is committed to our partnership with the city to create a landmark for Sarasota for generations to come,” said Mendelson. “This is our legacy together—the future is now.” 

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More than 300 people participated in Wellen Park’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day 5K race. This was the first event in Wellen Park’s new race series that offers fitness enthusiasts the opportunity to walk, run and even bike in friendly competitions in and around the master-planned community. The Wellen Park Race Series was created to inspire the community to reach their physical and mental wellness goals through fitness challenges, such as running, walking, and cycling of varying distances, including 5K, 10K, 15K and half marathons. The race started and finished at the Wellen Park Marketplace shopping complex. After the race, participants gathered at the lawn area adjacent to the Wellen Park Welcome Center to enjoy post-race food and beverages. Awards for Overall Winners, Masters, Grand Masters, Senior Grand Masters and Veterans, as well as awards by age group for male and female, were also presented in a ceremony after the race. The St. Patrick’s Day 5K is part of Wellen Park’s “Countdown to Downtown,” a celebratory event series that gives both residents and visitors a taste of what’s to come in Downtown Wellen. Additional races will be announced later this year, leading up to the first phase opening of Downtown Wellen in the fourth quarter of 2022. 

Patricia Baker, team leader of Baker Global Team with RE/MAX Alliance Group, has qualified for the distinguished RE/MAX Chairman’s Club Team Award in 2021, which honors high-achieving real estate teams for their service to buyers and sellers during the past year. This is the first year Baker Global Team has received this award. Baker has been serving her community as a real estate agent with RE/MAX Alliance Group for eight years and has been licensed since 2006. She has extensive experience in luxury properties, new construction, second homes, retirement homes and waterfront properties, serving a variety of clients including first-time home buyers and veterans. Among Baker’s list of achievements, she has earned the Manatee Realtor of the Year award and RE/MAX Hall of Fame status. She actively supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and Bradenton Yacht Club, and is a member of North River Bayside Community Church. Baker is based in the University Park office at 8037 Cooper Creek, #101, University Park, Florida 34201. She can be reached at (941) 727-7345 or patsellingflorida@gmail.com. 

HBKS Wealth Advisors (HBKS) announced it is expanding its presence in Southwest Florida through a merger with Sarasota-based Elite Life Management (Elite). Elite, which recently completed its 

first year of operation, will join one of the nation’s largest and most recognized registered investment advisories. Jeremy Shelby established Elite Life Management LLC in 2020. Shelby is an ex-professional athlete, having signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2010. And while Elite serves a broad range of clients in the Sarasota area, he and his team also offer a platform designed for the “non-recessionary industry of professional sports,” he noted.

As an African American, Shelby has also designed his platform to connect with other Minorities. “We can provide services in an authentic way from a cultural perspective. We can build those relationships in an open and comfortable environment and overcome what is sometimes hard for clients dealing with unique barriers.”