For an authentic Florida meal, head to Linger Lodge Restaurant. On the banks of the Braden River, Linger Lodge dates back to 1945, when the property served as a fish camp. Veterinarian and amateur taxidermist Frank Gamksy bought the camp in 1968, building the restaurant and decking it out with taxidermy pieces donated by diners. Preserved snakes, deer heads, foxes and a menagerie of other creatures give the space an eclectic charm. “It’s family-oriented with a friendly staff,” says current owner Rita Lewis. “People still bring us donations, and you can feel how they left a piece of themselves here.” Entire walls celebrate local military members, police officers and firefighters who donate their patches to be displayed.

Besides the decor, Linger Lodge honors the community through its menu offerings. Fan favorites include frog legs, Florida alligator, which comes as ribs, bites or burgers, hushpuppies, fried green tomatoes and Louisiana catfish. Lewis recommends sampling a bit of everything with the Braden River Platter, featuring catfish, frog legs and alligator, all of which can be fried, blackened or grilled. The alligator chowder, made with cream, shallots, celery, alligator and 15 various spices also holds an esteemed place on the menu. “We soak our gator in buttermilk, so it’s tender and falls apart in your mouth.” Don’t miss the indulgent River Bottom Pie with Oreo crumbles, coffee ice cream, chocolate fudge and more. Linger Lodge-themed cocktails further enhance the experience. Try the Linger Lizard, made with Malibu Rum, peach schnapps, melon liqueur as well as pineapple and orange juices. Almost every menu item aside from fried foods can be made gluten-free, ensuring that all patrons can enjoy a taste of old Florida.

Linger Lodge boasts indoor and outdoor dining on screened-in patios or in a peaceful beer garden. To keep the good times going, they host events like Friday night karaoke and live entertainment on Sunday. For Lewis, the restaurant is more than just a business. She and her late husband, Jeff Jewis, had planned to take ownership of the establishment, but he passed away before she took over it in March of 2022. Fresh off of renovations, Linger Lodge reopened after the pandemic last August. On the restaurant grounds, diners can see a wood carving of an alligator and turtles crafted from the live oak tree that once stood on the property. After the tree fell during Hurricane Ian, Lewis commissioned the piece as a tribute to her husband and the restaurant itself. “It’s my dream come true to own this place,” says Lewis, “and there’s no other Linger Lodge out there.”

Linger Lodge Restaurant, 7205 85th St. Ct. E., Bradenton, lingerlodge.com. 

Pictured: A cup of alligator chowder at Linger Lodge. Photo Courtesy of Linger Lodge Restaurant.

Daiquiri Deck, an iconic bar and casual restaurant that delivers a quality experience, great times, good vibes and the best frozen daiquiris around, recently welcomed seasoned chef Jeremy Thayer to its culinary team. An accomplished culinary artist with over 25 years of experience, Thayer discovered his love for cooking at a young age when he took over responsibility for his family’s evening meals while his mother worked overnight as a nurse. After deciding to pursue a culinary degree, Thayer attended the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in New York. Upon graduation, his robust background included working as senior sous chef for Wegmans Market Café and as an assistant for its guest chef series, working alongside world renowned chefs, including Lydia Bastianich and Mario Batalli. He also served as chef instructor and chef de cuisine at the Statler Hotel with Cornell University and assisted guest chefs, including iron chef Masaharu Morimoto, Floyd Cardoz and Fritz Sonnenschmidt. Post 9/11, Thayer worked ground zero to aid in relief efforts with chef David Bouley, serving over 2,500 people a day. Thayer moved to Florida in the early 2000s to continue his culinary career. Most recently, he was executive sous chef for the Sarasota Art Museum. During his time there, he worked closely with all corporate chefs, contributed to the 2020 Super Bowl Miami event that fed 10,000 people and executed the full build of the new restaurant inside the Sarasota Art Museum. Prior to that, Thayer was the executive chef at GROVE. While there, he executed a full remodel of the kitchen, created and implemented over 100 menu items and fulfilled hiring commitments. His Sarasota restaurant experience also includes executive chef at IMG Academy, and catering chef and executive chef at Mattison's Restaurants. In his new role as culinary director and corporate chef at Daiquiri Deck, Thayer is revitalizing the menu, giving it a fresh look with over 20 new items, and crafting a highly anticipated brunch menu that will launch later this year. On Sunday, May 21 from 1 to 4 p.m., Thayer will be present at a meet and greet event at the St Armands location. During the event, he will sign copies of Cooking with Friends: An EHS Culinary Adventure, a book he contributed to with several other chefs. Proceeds will benefit the EHS Relief Fund. 

Pictured: Chef Jeremy Thayer. Photo courtesy of Daiquiri Deck.

As the field of construction law continues to grow and change, Shumaker Partner Brett M. Henson will help guide the process of becoming certified in construction law in the State of Florida. Florida Bar President-Elect Scott Westheimer has appointed Brett to serve on the Construction Law Certification Standing Committee. Florida is one of only 14 states in the U.S. that certify lawyers in specialty practice areas, such as construction law. In recent years, Florida has seen an increased demand for board certified construction lawyers to support its booming real estate and development sectors. Of the over 100,000 lawyers in Florida, only about four percent are board certified in construction law, and of those, only nine are chosen by the Florida Bar President to administer the construction law certification process. This process includes reviewing applications and peer reviews of prospective lawyers seeking certification, along with drafting and grading the construction law board certification examination. Brett’s legal practice focuses in the areas of commercial and construction litigation. He devotes a substantial portion of his practice to handling all types of construction disputes. Brett counsels and assists residential and commercial property owners, developers, and construction industry professionals in all facets of a construction project, including contract preparation, review, negotiation, and dispute avoidance. Brett also uses his experience and knowledge in resolving claims involving insurance proceeds and insurance coverage. 

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Bored Teachers: We Can’t Make This Stuff Up! Comedy Tour to Sarasota on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 7 p.m. Tickets on sale Friday. The biggest entertainment platform for teachers in the world, Bored Teachers, presents the funniest teacher-comedians in the world all on one stage. Their hilarious skits have amassed hundreds of millions of views on the internet, and they're all joining comic forces for a night of laughter you do not want to miss. With more than five million followers across social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube) and+20 million views every month on their viral comedy videos. The tour includes the most hilarious and well-known teacher comedians in the business with millions of combined followers as well. This comedy powerhouse is making its way around the country with +120 shows booked so far this year! Teachers everywhere need the night of laughter, and the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour is the perfect fix. For a complete listing of all tour stops visit the Comedy Tour page. Tickets are $35-$65 and can be purchased at 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 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office. 

The University of South Florida today celebrates a significant milestone in the university’s history with a special grand opening ceremony to showcase the new, state-of-the-art home of the Judy Genshaft Honors College. The five-story, 85,000-square-foot facility will serve USF’s most accomplished and talented students from every undergraduate college and strengthen the university’s position to attract the top talent within the state of Florida and beyond. The new facility, located across from the Yuengling Center along USF Genshaft Drive on the Tampa campus, provides a dedicated home for the unique classes and programs for honors students. It features a variety of spaces for intellectual development and creative exchange, including open-design classrooms, 39 signature learning lofts and dedicated studio spaces for art, food and culture, along with music and technology. A total of 50 spaces in the building are named through generous gifts. The project is primarily funded through philanthropic support, including a historic lead gift of $20 million from USF President Emerita and Professor Judy Genshaft and her husband Steven Greenbaum. When the gift was announced in 2019, it represented one of the largest gifts of its kind ever made by a sitting university president to their institution. The Judy Genshaft Honors College consists of more than 2,500 high-achieving, cross-disciplinary scholars who are part of a close community that provides specialized experiences and advanced educational opportunities. More than one third of Honors College students at USF are the first in their families to go to college. Following the announcement of the new building in spring 2019, the profile and success of Honors College students have continued to increase. Total enrollment has grown 13 percent, the number of students with a 4.0 GPA has risen from 463 to 556 and the four-year graduation rate continues to steadily increase. Positive trends are expected to continue as the new building will offer more opportunities for student engagement, which research has shown links directly to stronger academic outcomes. The building will welcome its first class of students this summer. 

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