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SRQ DAILY Mar 5, 2024

Tuesday Dining and Food Edition

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Tuesday Dining and Food Edition

"Selby Gardens will be the first net-positive botanical complex in the world, meaning that we will generate more energy than we consume, which is groundbreaking. Because of that, The Green Orchid will be the first net-positive restaurant in the world."

- Nancy Seijas-Kipnis, Vice President for Strategic Communications at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
 

[The Dish]  The Green Orchid Sprouts up at Selby Gardens
Laura Paquette, laura.paquette@srqme.com

The Green Orchid has just sprouted up at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Campus as part of its first phase of expansion. “Selby Gardens will be the world’s first net-positive botanical complex, meaning that we will generate more energy than we consume, which is groundbreaking,” says Nancy Seijas-Kipnis, Selby’s vice president for strategic communications. “Because of that, The Green Orchid will be the first net-positive restaurant in the world.” Local institution Michael’s On East is in charge of the project, which is currently only open to garden visitors.

One unique feature of The Green Orchid is the Drs. Andrew and Judith Economos Rooftop Edible Garden, which is adjacent to the restaurant. Operation EcoVets, an organization of military veterans, manages this jungle-like wonderland, from which the restaurant sources produce like celery, fennel and tomatoes, as well as edible flowers which add a pop of color and whimsy to the dishes. The menu, set to change on a seasonal basis, celebrates the flavors of fresh produce with a fun flair. Standout options include the crispy yucca fries, which give traditional french fries a run for their money and are served with a delightful chipotle aioli. The eponymous green orchid salad, chock full of romaine hearts, avocado, English cucumber, sugar snap peas, edamame, toasted pistachios, mint and housemade goddess dressing is another delicious choice. Add the crispy fried goat cheese for extra crunch and texture. Seafood lovers shouldn’t skip the Spanish Point shrimp toast, with piquillo red peppers, avocado, celery, capers, shaved radish, coriander and lemon mayo. This sharable dish packs bold flavors and a lovely presentation with an edible flower. For dessert, the lavender-fused creme brulee with light floral and vanilla notes is the way to go.

As part of the Morganoroth Family Living Energy Access Facility which has a 50,000-square-foot array of solar panels, The Green Orchid is leading the way in not only providing delicious food for garden visitors but also providing a model of sustainability for the restaurant industry. Eating your veggies never felt, or tasted, so good.

The Green Orchid, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota, 941-265-8194, bestfood.com/restaurant/the-green-orchid. 

Pictured: The Spanish Point shrimp toast at The Green Orchid. Photo by Laura Paquette.

The Green Orchid

[Croquet]  Sarasota County Croquet Club to Host USCA Association Laws National Championship, March 18-24

 The Sarasota County Croquet Club will once again act as host to the Association Laws National Championship, organized by the prestigious US Croquet Association (USCA). The tournament will take place from March 18th to March 24th at the Sarasota County Croquet Club's home field at Wellfield Park. The tournament will commence with a practice session on Monday, March 18th, followed by an official opening ceremony. The highly anticipated event, sponsored by the US Croquet Association, will feature 28 of the top selected players from across the United States, showcasing their skills over seven intense days of competition. The "AC Nationals" is the USCA national championship conducted under the rules of Association Croquet, the original and widely played form of the sport worldwide. This invitation-only event is a gathering of the nation's best players, many of whom have already secured victories in regional and other prominent tournaments. Among the distinguished athletes participating in the championship are Matthew Essick, Zack T Watson, and Thomas C Balding, all renowned names in the world of croquet. These players represent the pinnacle of talent in the sport and will vie for the coveted title of the Association Laws National Champion. The Sarasota County Croquet Club possesses one of the few venues in the country meeting the rigorous requirements of the USCA to host such a championship event. Having previously hosted the event in 2021, the club stands as a testament to the exceptional standards required for national tournaments. Croquet is a sport that combines physical and intellectual skills, fostering social connections among its players. While most club members engage in the social aspect of croquet, this championship provides an opportunity for the Sarasota community to witness elite athletes competing at the highest level. The Sarasota County Croquet Club invites the local community to join in the festivities, encouraging everyone to witness the clash of titans as some of the world's best players compete for the honor of being crowned the national champion. For more information on the event, please visit https://www.croquetamerica.com/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=962311&item_id=2132961. Looking ahead at 2025, the Sarasota County Croquet Club is excited to announce that next spring, it will host the World's Championship in Golf Croquet for players under 21. Details for this prestigious event will be revealed in the coming months. 

[Shopping]  Luxury Redefined: Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up Tour Arrives in Sarasota, Florida

Bal Harbour Shops, the epitome of luxury retail destinations in the United States, is proud to announce the launch of its exclusive Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up Tour, bringing the iconic allure of Bal Harbour to Sarasota, Florida. Featuring a premiere retail experience unlike any other, the Access Pop-up Tour showcases open-air shopping, designer boutiques, and the inaugural Bal Harbour Shops branded restaurant, The Whitman. Esteemed brands including Tiffany & Co., Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, Golden Goose, Etro, Gianvito Rossi, Addict, Santa Maria Novella, Assouline, Orlebar Brown, Christofle, and many more participate in this extraordinary limited-edition event. Kicking off just outside University Town Center Mall on March 2nd, this stop marks the second destination on a highly anticipated multi-city tour, following a wildly successful pop-up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up brings the signature experience of Bal Harbour to a larger audience, allowing discerning shoppers to indulge in a unique blend of luxury, fashion, and dining. For the first time in its nearly six-decade history, Bal Harbour Shops extends its coveted luxury experience beyond Miami, offering patrons in Sarasota and beyond the opportunity to immerse themselves in the essence of Bal Harbour. With future stops planned in upscale cities across the Southeast, including Walton County, Florida and Greenville, South Carolina, the Access Pop-up Tour is poised to redefine luxury retail. Matthew Whitman Lazenby, President and CEO of Whitman Family Development, expresses excitement about this groundbreaking venture, stating, "We're thrilled to bring the tropical luxury shopping and dining experience of Bal Harbour to Sarasota for the first time in our history. With this roving Pop-up, we introduce a new and innovative solution at the crossroads of high-touch personal service and high-tech logistics, delivering on our mission to impress our guests with our distinctive level of excellence." Crafted by LOT-EK, the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up spans 17,000 sq. feet and features a curated collection of elegant shops and luxury boutiques. Built from thirty custom-built shipping containers, the branded pop-up includes covered walkways with fans, a retractable canopy, and The Whitman, a fine dining restaurant seating 150 guests. The restaurant and bar menus for The Whitman will be custom for this experience and only available at the Sarasota Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up. Experience the pinnacle of luxury at the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up Tour, where every detail is meticulously crafted to evoke the grandeur and beauty of Bal Harbour. 

Pictured: Guests can experience fine dining at the Bal Harbour Shops Pop-up Tour..

[Recognition]  Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place Wins Gold

The National Association of Home Builders awarded Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch a gold “Best of American Living Award (BALA)” for the mixed-use community category. Now in its 38th year, the BALA Awards is the building industry’s premier residential design awards program. According to the judges, Waterside Place is “a great Main Street-type setting that emulates a beach/condo style development. The architecture is great, and the city center is clearly successful.” The BALA Awards spotlight building industry professionals who have redefined design excellence for homes and communities across North America. Winning projects showcase what building industry professionals need to know to set their product apart. The 36-acre Waterside Place – a retail, services, dining, and entertainment destination for the region – is walkable to a wide variety of rental and for-sale neighborhoods designed for every life stage and price point.  The town center is home to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, Ranch Nite Wednesdays, live music on the plaza Friday and Saturday nights, monthly Movies in the Park, and is home to the “Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place” music and arts series. For more information about Waterside Place, visit WatersidePlace.com. For more information on Lakewood Ranch, please contact Lisa Barnott at 941-757-1542. 

[New Homes]  Christopher Alan Homes Ranks 59th in Top 100 Private Homebuilders by Closings

 Christopher Alan Homes has been named the 59th ranked homebuilder by Home Builder Executive in its “Top 100 Private Home Builders” based on 2023 closings. The largest privately held homebuilder in Southwest Florida closed 569 homes in 2023, a 26% increase year-over-year and contributing to a cumulative total of more than 2,300 homes closed since 2017. Home Builder Executive, a leading news network for industry leaders, compiles the Top 100 Builders list by evaluating companies based on their annual closing performance, reflecting their ability to meet market demands effectively while maintaining exceptional standards of quality and service. In 2023, Christopher Alan Homes commemorated several milestones that helped contribute to its increase in home closings, including opening a new Palm Bay division on Florida’s East Central Space Coast and launching sales in Creekside Run at Babcock Ranch, where 27 homes sold during the first four months. Christopher Alan Homes also introduced the second phase of The Hammocks at West Port in Charlotte County. It recorded over $200 million in 2023 gross revenue, a 45% year-over-year increase despite ongoing industry-wide challenges, including labor shortages, lingering supply chain interruptions and rising interest rates. Headquartered in Southwest Florida, Christopher Alan Homes is a preferred single-family builder in Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town; West Port; Burnt Store Village and Deep Creek. The builder-owned company also builds on individual homesites in Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Palm Bay on Florida’s East Central Space Coast. For more information about Christopher Alan Homes visit christopheralanhomes.com or call 855-44-MYCAH. 

[Recognition]  Bev Murray Awarded Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Chairman's Circle Platinum Award

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty announced that Bev Murray has been named a  prestigious Chairman’s Circle Platinum Award winner by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. The Chairman’s Circle Platinum recognition is awarded to the top 1% of the global network of over 50,000 real estate professionals. Bev Murray has worked as a highly successful real estate professional in the Sarasota area since moving from the UK in 1999. Alongside her sister company Murray Homes, she is responsible for over $400 million of real estate bought, sold, and built in the area. Specializing in residential and vacant land purchasing and development sales, she is ranked in the top 1 percent of over 50,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices agents nationwide. Fluent in French and Spanish, Bev is a certified real estate negotiation expert (RENE), Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist®, and a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Global Business Council. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty serves 22 counties throughout Florida with 30 locations and approximately 1,600 sales professionals. The full-service brokerage company is part of HomeServices of America, one of the nation’s premier providers of homeownership services. The company is a franchise member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network and is the only global real estate brokerage franchise that is boldly focused on building a personally connected future through relationship-driven business, with best-in-class leadership, mentorships, business tools, and a worldwide network that is committed to making a lasting impact through lifelong relationships. Our network brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability, and longevity as we are among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name. The company is the overall No. 1 fundraiser for the Sunshine Kids in Florida, which is dedicated to helping children with cancer. 

For more information click here

[Leadership]  New College Announces Hiring of Dr. Bruce Gilley for 2024-2025

New College of Florida has hired Bruce Gilley, Ph.D as a Presidential Scholar in Residence for the 2024-2025 academic year. Gilley is a distinguished professor of political science who will be on sabbatical from Portland State University in Oregon. He is one of the foremost scholars of democracy, political legitimacy, public policy, and global politics. An author of four university-press books and dozens of scholarly articles, Gilley is perhaps best known for writing ‘The case for colonialism” in 2017. Originally published in Third World Quarterly, the publication later withdrew the article after hostile feedback that included threats of violence against the publication’s editor. It was republished the Spring 2018 issue of the National Association of Scholars’ journal Academic Questions. Gilley was a Commonwealth Scholar at Oxford while earning his master’s degree and a Woodrow Wilson Scholar while completing his doctorate at Princeton. New College is rapidly expanding its faculty hiring ahead of the 2024-2025 academic year to meet the demand of growing student enrollment. This new contingent of faculty will join what is already an excellent assembly of top-flight professors in implementing the Logos | Techne curriculum and carrying on the tradition of exceptionally individualized education offered at New College. Initiatives that began this year, like the first-year course in Homer’s Odyssey and the distance-learning great-books program will grow and flourish as well. 



[SRQIST]  Drive and Dine
Laura Paquette, laura.paquette@srqme.com

DRIVE AND DINE | Sarasota Ford unveils Le Mans Kitchen, a fine-dining restaurant inside the dealership, March 2024. 

Read Here!

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Theresa Caputo Live, The Experience , April 11, 7:30pm

For more than a decade, Theresa Caputo, known worldwide as the Long Island Medium, and star of the new Lifetime Series Raising Spirits, has touched the lives of millions of fans, comforting supporters when they need it most. Now Sarasota fans will get their chance at healing when the acclaimed medium and beloved personality appears live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30pm. Known for her unique ability to communicate with those who have passed on, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience brings Theresa face-to-face with her fans as Spirit guides her through the audience. A full-stage video display ensures that everyone in the theater has an up-close experience regardless of seat location. Through personal life stories, candid humor, and intimate details about her gift to communicate with those who have passed, the beloved television personality and best-selling author delivers healing messages to her audience, reassuring them with the revelation that their deceased loved ones are still with them, just in a different way. Recognized as one of the most renowned mediums for over 20 years, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience is an awe-inspiring event you will not want to miss. Learn more about Theresa at www.theresacaputo.com. Tickets start at $64.23 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office. 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.

[SOON]  SCIENCE AND NATURE: Wild About Nature Festival , April 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join us for a day of fun and outdoor adventure at the Wild About Nature Festival on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Reconnect with the great outdoors and help foster a love of nature in the next generation as you spend a day in the sun on the beautiful shores of Little Sarasota Bay at Bay Preserve. Families of all ages are encouraged to take part in this fun-filled day of nature-based education and exploration. The wide variety of activities includes dip-netting, face painting, hula-hoop lessons, crafts, games, and more. There will be live music and food trucks making this a guaranteed good time. This is a FREE family festival open to all. Registration is not required. The event will take place at our Bay Preserve headquarters located at 400 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey. For more information, visit conservationfoundation.com.
[SOON]  GALA: Third Annual Polo for Parkinsons , March 24, 11am
The third annual Polo for Parkinsons fundraiser will be held at the Sarasota Polo grounds on Sunday, March 24, 2024. This annual fundraising event presented by Parkinson Place raises awareness for Parkinson Place Center, where community members with Parkinsons disease and other movement disorders, as well as their caregivers, can come together for support and participate in over 85 classes and activities. Companies, organizations and individuals have the opportunity to participate in this Luau-themed event. Sponsorships range from $10,000 to $1,000 with individual tickets priced at $100 per person. Parkinson Place Center will welcome you to the Polo Pavilion on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 11am. Lunch will be catered at Noon with the Polo match starting at 1pm. For more information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities please call Suzanne Hudson-Smith, CFRE at 941-210-6275 or shudsonsmith@parkinsonplace.org.
[SOON]  SCIENCE AND NATURE: Family Saturdays , March 23 – May 25, 10am-12pm
Kids and kids at heart can enjoy fun art and nature activities on Saturday mornings, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on March 23, April 27, and May 25. Activities will run from 10 a.m. to noon each day, and participation is included in admission to the Gardens, which is always free for Selby Gardens members. These Family Saturdays celebrate the current exhibition on view, Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia OKeeffe. Several activity stations with different art-focused projects will be set up in the Ann Goldstein Childrens Rainforest Garden during each monthly event. The goal is to invite kids of all ages to explore the artwork of Yayoi Kusama and Georgia OKeeffe through activities that also connect them to the natural environment. Admission to Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus is $26 for adults, $11 for ages 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and under. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at selby.org. Selby Gardens members always receive complimentary admission as well as discounts for guests. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit selby.org.
[SOON]  GALA: 2024 Transformation Gala , March 22, 5-10pm
The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation proudly announces the return of the 2024 Transformation Gala on Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Featuring Kristin Chenoweth, New York Times best-selling author and Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer, the 2024 Transformation Gala promises an incredible evening dedicated to experiencing the transformative power of the arts. Set along the beautiful waterfront of Sarasota Bay, the 22nd annual event supports the PAFs vision for a new Performing Arts Center and its transformative arts education work that touches the lives of more than 33,000 educators, military families, and students. The night begins with a bayside cocktail celebration and exceptional dining catered by Michael’s on East, followed by a thrilling concert featuring Tony Award-winning artist Kristin Chenoweth in the Van Wezel Hall. The celebration concludes with a rocking private afterparty in the grand foyer. Proceeds from the gala help to fund PAF educational programs, support our partnered educational programs at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, contribute to the planning of the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, and solidify the future of the arts in Sarasota. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit sarasotaperformingartsfoundation.org.
[SOON]  SCIENCE AND NATURE: Lunch and Learn , March 13, 11:30am-1pm
Join Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast for an in-depth look at the role we play in protecting the places that make a difference in our community, giving us clean water to drink, protected habitat for plants and animals, beautiful natural places to enjoy, great spots to hike and fish, and a world-class shoreline. During this one-hour presentation, we will discuss the history of our organization, programs, past and present initiatives, and ways for you to become a part of our conservation community. As a special bonus, after lunch, we will take you on a guided tour of Bay Preserve. Registration for this free event is required and space is limited. To learn more and register, visit conservationfoundation.com.
[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Palmetto Heritage Day , March 9, 10am-3pm

On Saturday, March 9th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, local history will be celebrated during the Palmetto Heritage Festival at Palmetto Historical Park and Manatee County Agricultural Museum, 515 10th Ave. West, Palmetto. This free event will have a park open house and activities for the whole family. The 1880 Heritage Station Post Office will be operational with a one-day-only cancellation designed by Kaylee Schauer, a local middle school student, so bring your stamped mail. Word of Mouth BBQ and Frosted Pink Artisan Cookies will be on site with delicious food available for purchase. A special feature of the Heritage Festival this year is The Original Florida Highwaymen Art Show and Sale. The Florida Highwaymen are a small group of African American landscape artists who began painting in the late 1950s. The paintings were then sold out of the trunk of their cars, as the artists went from door to door at homes and business offices or set up shop on a busy corner at the side of the road. Their bright and sultry images of the tropical beauty of Florida were sold for as little as twenty or thirty dollars. Today, their paintings are widely sought-after collectibles. For more information visit manateecountyagmuseum.com.

[SOON]  FESTIVAL: 2024 Lakewood Ranch Irish Celtic Festival , March 9, 11:30am-4pm
Get your Irish on at our epic Irish Celtic Festival and Lucky Dog Parade. It is the perfect St. Patricks Day celebration. Enjoy Celtic food, craft beers, and sensational entertainment. Kids will have a blast too, with face painting and park fun. Do not miss the Lucky Dog Parade and the 21 and up Relay Race. To learn more, visit LWRIrishCelticFestival.org.
[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Tropical Muse Makers Mart , March 9, 3-5pm
The team at Pansy Bayou is thrilled to invite you to a very special pop-up event we are hosting Saturday, March 9th from 3-5pm. For our first-ever Tropical Muse Makers Mart, we have teamed up with the innovative womens surf gear maker Vital Surf Gear to host a sip and shop party. Five percent of the profits from this special event will go to the Suncoast Water Keeper to support their essential mission to protect swimmable, drinkable and fishable water for the Suncoast. In addition to the Vital Surf Gear offerings like wetsuit bottoms, beachy haircare products and more, we will have some special new vendors for this shopping event as well as fresh takes on some beloved favorites. From our new range of gorgeous quick-drying Turkish towels from Fouta Harissa and throws to vibrant new patterns of our popular Wolfum games and trays, roll up to Pansy Bayou in historic Burns Court, say hello to the makers and team at Pansy Bayou while enjoying light refreshments and fabulous shopping. Learn more at pansybayou.com.
[SOON]  GALA: Garden to Plate Wine Dinner , March 8, 6-9pm
Join us on the Great Lawn of Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus for a casually elegant outdoor Garden to Plate dining experience. Enjoy fine wines selected by Michael Klauber that complement a multi-course dinner personally designed by Phil Mancini. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit selby.org.
[SOON]  FOOD: Siesta Key Rum Distillery Tours , September 2 – September 30, Various times

Siesta Key Rum runs free year-round tours for guests to learn the story of the craft distillery, the awards they have won and the secret to how they make their rums taste so good. During our 30-45 minute tour we will discuss the following topics: history of Siesta Key Rum, an overview of the awards our small company has won, what makes our rums taste so good, the rum-making process from mashing and fermentation to distillation, barrel aging and bottling of our rums. After the tour, we welcome you to sample a freshly made Siesta Key Rum cocktail, stock up on your favorite rums and browse our gift shop. 2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota.

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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