SRQ DAILY Apr 21, 2025
Monday Business Edition
"We're not just handing them an itinerary; we'rre sharing experiences we've personally vetted and refined to help create lasting memories."
Heal-Thy Self Yoga is rooted in the belief that healing and health aren’t destinations, but ongoing processes—nurtured through presence, practice and participation in our own well-being. The seasonal retreats offered are immersive experiences where women engage in a wide spectrum of self-care modalities: yoga, medical qi-gong, breathwork, acupressure, self-healing massage, sound healing, guided meditation, visualization and reflection. Each element is thoughtfully designed to restore balance, uplift energy and deepen the connection to self.
Brandy Gray founded Heal-Thy Self in 2017 while teaching yoga to seniors, drawn to the deep healing and connection the practice inspired. Noticing her students’ desire for something beyond a one-hour class, she pursued advanced training focused on women’s health. Her discovery of qi-gong—a therapeutic, mindful movement practice—was transformative, and so she began sharing this gift, creating a practice that nurtures both her community and herself.
Over time, she expanded the offering into a six-hour day retreat. With The Blissful Path, her retreats evolved into multidimensional experiences grounded in sustainability—centered on practices that integrate into daily life long after the retreat ends. A seasonal picnic brunch, provided by local partners, adds another layer of nourishment and connection, shared in community among women in a beautiful luxury picnic setting.
“Each retreat honors the current season with workshops and ceremonies that incorporate curated herbs, flowers, oils, treats and thematic inspiration,” Gray explains. “But the true heartbeat of the experience is the empowered well-being it cultivates. This is wellness that feels like coming home—a return to rhythm, harmony and balance. It offers deep nourishment for the season of life you’re in and the season of the world around you, grounding you in both.”
Gray believes that women are the caretakers of the world—and that they must also care for themselves. “The Blissful Path is a soulful journey of wellness and wonder,” she says, “a space for women to leave renewed—returning home with radiant hearts, steady presence and a lasting sense of inner harmony. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.” 
Pictured: At Heal-Thy Self Yoga & Wellness specializes in creating bespoke retreat experiences that cater to wellness goals and support participants wherever they are on their self-care journey. Provided photo.
In Plant Struck: Harnessing Nature’s Healing Power for a Healthier You, Sarasota resident Debra Kimless, MD—a board-certified expert in plant medicine—delivers a comprehensive and accessible guide to the transformative potential of plant-based healing. Drawing on cutting-edge science and personal experience, Dr. Kimless empowers readers to unlock the healing power of plants, from everyday foods to medicinal herbs, to restore balance, boost vitality and achieve lasting wellness.
Through 16 thoughtfully crafted chapters, Dr. Kimless leads readers on an eye-opening journey into the foundations of health. She begins with the essentials—nutrition, pH balance, and the microbiome—laying the groundwork for understanding how what we eat shapes our overall well-being. She then explores the science of the endocannabinoid system, the healing potential of medicinal herbs and mushrooms, and the real-world impact of plant-based therapies in clinical settings.
Motivated by her own diagnosis of breast cancer, Dr. Kimless became a passionate advocate for natural medicine. Her unique perspective as a board-certified physician in both pain and lifestyle medicine gives her a rare insight into how plants can play a central role in disease prevention and healing. Plant Struck is filled with practical advice, evidence-based strategies and easy-to-follow guidance for anyone ready to embrace a whole-food, plant-only lifestyle and reclaim their health—naturally.
"I want readers to feel empowered by the healing potential of plants and be inspired to take charge of their own wellness, one intentional choice at a time," says Dr. Kimless.
Visit plantstruck.com for a direct link to purchase the book, additional information, plant-based products, and discount codes.
What started as a way to help a loyal customer plan a dream Italian vacation soon evolved into Da Mimmo Tours—a boutique travel company now celebrating 15 years of service, offering immersive adventures through Italy for Sarasota community members and beyond. Founded by Mary Ann Cricchio and her son, Mimmo Cricchio, Da Mimmo Tours guides groups through cities across Italy, providing a personable experience for 20 to 25 guests. Each trip reflects the same spirit of hospitality that defined Mary Ann and her late husband, Chef Mimmo, for 36 years at their Mimmo's Baltimore restaurant, Da Mimmo Finest Italian Cuisine.
“My whole life has been making people happy—whether it's in the restaurant, on tour or here in Sarasota.” Mary Ann said. The original concept for Da Mimmo Tours began when restaurant regulars, who knew the family had a home on the Amalfi Coast, regularly turned to Mary Ann for travel advice. After independently using Mary Ann's recommendations abroad, one loyal customer said, “We love your itinerary, but we want to go back when you're there.” This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter for the family.
After committing to a travel company, Mary Ann decided to leave Baltimore and put down roots in Sarasota. Mary Ann explained that Sarasota was ideal for the tour company because many retired people were looking for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Da Mimmo Tours launched in 2010 with an exclusive Amalfi Coast experience. As they grew in popularity, the Cricchios expanded to include trips to Tuscany, Venice and Sicily. “People in Sarasota appreciate our format because through our trips you truly experience the lifestyle, the cuisine and the people of that region,” Mary Ann said. Thanks to the family's connections abroad, they offer perks that go beyond the standard group trip. They have skip-the-line tickets to popular attractions and access to exclusive events like the Venetian Masquerade Ball.
“We're not just handing them an itinerary; we're sharing experiences we've personally vetted and refined to help create lasting memories,” Mary Ann said.
The close-knit nature of the trips fosters an environment where guests become friends. The Cricchios host monthly reunions for Sarasota locals where former travelers catch up, reminisce and even dream about their next adventure together. “It's the personal touch that sets us apart and contributes to our success–we don't want to change that,” Mary Ann said.
Pictured: Mary Ann Cricchio and her son, Mimmo Cricchio of Da Mimmo Tours. Provided photo.
In the heart of Waterside Place, a sanctuary of calm, beauty, and intention has quietly flourished. La Chíc Bohème, Sarasota’s premier luxury med spa and style house, is proud to celebrate its one-year anniversary on Thursday, April 24, from 5–8 PM with a heartfelt gathering for the community that has supported them through every twist and turn. La Chíc Bohème opened its doors in spring 2023 with a vision to redefine self-care—blending luxury wellness treatments, modern-bohemian style, and a deeper sense of soul. In a year that brought more than its share of challenges, from navigating seasonal storms to growing a small business in a shifting economy, La Chíc Bohème has remained steadfast in its mission: to create a space where rest, renewal, and authenticity are honored. Just like so many small businesses in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, they've weathered the storms—literally and figuratively—and emerged more connected, grounded, and grateful.
Thursday, April 24, 5-8pm, La Chíc Bohème, Waterside Place, 1551 Lakefront Dr., Suite 101, Sarasota.
The Michael Saunders & Company is thrilled to announce that its own real estate agent Tiffany “Amber” Watson was named to the prestigious National Association of REALTORS (NAR) REALTOR Magazine “30 Under 30” list for 2025, ranking her among the country's top 30 leaders in the real estate industry under the age of 30. For more information about Michael Saunders & Company, please call 1-888-552-5228 or visit www.michaelsaunders.com.
As a PreCollege student, you'll learn from award-winning faculty while immersed in a vibrant creative community. This four-week program introduces you to the fundamentals of art and design, providing a taste of college-level learning through self-selected immersions based on Ringling’s majors. It’s an opportunity for high school students to experience college life firsthand in a dynamic residential setting. You’ll earn college credit, meet like-minded artists from all over the world, and have the time of your life.
"After four weeks here, you’ll be a better artist, but more importantly, PreCollege will help you figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life."
— Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art and Design
For the month of March 597,796 passengers traveled through Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, compared to 553,521 passengers in March 2024. This is an 8% increase and the highest number of passengers per month in the entire history of SRQ. During the initial three months of the 2025 calendar year, SRQ experienced a 1.1% growth in passenger traffic when compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce that three members graduated April 9 from the 32nd cohort of St. Leo University’s Command Officer Management Program: Executive Leadership Institute. The ceremony was hosted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell. Lieutenant Christopher Schale, Emergency Operations Supervisor Kristen Williams, and Corrections Lieutenant Stephanie Knapek learned about critical topics such as administrative leadership, criminal justice ethics, human resources, and critical incident management. The program is an 18-hour certificate program consisting of six courses over a six-month period.
Alan Dershowitz and Steven Donziger have spent their legal careers standing up for the unfairly targeted. Both have seen the government and private industries manipulate the legal system as a way to punish their adversaries. Donziger himself was disbarred and incarcerated after his international legal victories over Chevron, and his conviction has drawn calls for a pardon from leaders across the political spectrum. Two grizzled courtroom veterans relive their toughest fights, both in triumph and defeat, while conveying just how easy it can be to find the target landing on your own back.
Mildred Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
The Manatee Chamber’s Headliners luncheons are designed to equip business leaders with key insights into critical community issues. They are also a great opportunity to make new connections while discussing important business and community topics. These events are informative and offer valuable networking. Whether you choose individual open seating or prefer the reserved, guaranteed group seating of full and half tables, you will be part of a dynamic and engaging experience.
Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, 7650 Legacy Boulevard, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
Enjoy Mother’s Day Brunch at Selby Gardens! Ticket price includes a hot and cold brunch buffet catered by Michael’s on East featuring an omelet and pancake station, carvings station, dessert bar, plus coffee, tea, and water. All other beverages will be available for purchase. Your brunch ticket also grants you full access to our Downtown Sarasota Campus to view the gardens and Spring Exhibition, George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life, before or after your seating time.
Downtown Sarasota Campus, 1534 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
VOICES is a creative project that, through the narratives of multiple voices, seeks to foster an open conversation about issues relevant to the community and realities we want to make visible through oral testimonies. It is based on conversations with members of the Hispanic community in Manatee and Sarasota County, whose stories are interwoven to create a narrative that will be performed in Spanish (with English subtitles) by actors and actresses on stage. The performance will conclude with a bilingual discussion between the audience, directors, testimonial participants, and actors.
CreArte Latino, 1913 Northgate Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234
This year, we’re turning up the fun with Bourbons & Barks - Raising Spirits for Rescues! Join us on May 8th for a fantastic evening dedicated to supporting our furry friends in need. The event will include spirit tastings and raffles on the patio and a VIP dinner in the M&M lounge (limited availability). Join us for a night of tastings and cuddling with rescue pups, all for a good cause!
Gecko's Grill & Pub, 351 North Cattlemen Road Sarasota, FL 34232
Join us for a Bistro Pop-Up Night! Enjoy an after-hours gallery tour and a 4-course dinner curated by Executive Chef Peyton Leffingwell. The Bistro fare is inspired by Florida’s regional fruit stands and farmer’s markets, and emphasizes local produce, healthy proteins and artisanal specialty items.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236
The grand finale of the ‘Opera on the Bay’ series —Gioachino Rossini’s comic masterpiece, The Barber of Seville — will be screened from 7-9:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17. Determined to win the heart of the beautiful Rosina, Count Almaviva enlists the help of Figaro, the barber of Seville, to steal her away from her guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Hilarious complications ensue to some of opera's most delightful music, performed by an all-star cast that includes baritone Filippo Fontana, mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali, bass-baritone Andrew Gilstrap, and bass Young Bok Kim, with the Sarasota Opera orchestra conducted by Marcello Cormio.
The Bay, 1055 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL
America’s media is rapidly being transformed, and that transformation is accelerating. Over 20 years, traditional news organizations lost more than half of their daily newspaper circulation. Beyond technology, the shift to social media was driven by a plummeting of trust in national news outlets, whose reporting was often overtly biased and false. Ironically, after social media platforms emerged as the new town square, they rapidly became tools for censorship, at times in collusion with government, most vividly on display during COVID.
Mildred Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Experience Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, an iconic Italian opera featuring one of the most famous arias in the repertoire, the clown Canio tries to go on with the show after learning of his wife’s infidelity, but his real-life humiliation and despair lead to a grim climax. The opera features soprano Ashley Milanese, baritone Jean-Carlos Rodríguez and tenor Rafael Dávila, with Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi conducting the Sarasota Opera orchestra. A live performance by Sarasota Youth Opera, who performed in the opera on the mainstage during the 2025 season, will open the film screening.
The Bay, 1055 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL
Join Cask & Ale for a Party celebrating the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 3! The traditions continue with honors paid to the best Bourbon, the rituals of Spring and the greatest two minutes in sports! We'll have our Derby Hat + Bowtie contests, prizes, specialty cocktails and of course, Mint Juleps with our housemade simple syrup. Bring your friends and lift a toast to fast horses, bourbon & the Run for the Roses, Cask & Ale-style. Proceeds to benefit Men Wear Pink.
Cask & Ale, 1548 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Taste & Toast Gulf Coast will feature top chefs, mixologists, and beverage artisans from across the Gulf Coast region. Guests will enjoy an interactive experience filled with live culinary and mixology competitions, tastings from 20+ wineries, breweries, and distillers, craft cocktails, mocktails, and exciting live entertainment.
The Yard at South Bay Center, 600 US 41 N Palmetto, FL 34221
In May - which is Mental Health Awareness Month - Sunshine From Darkness will present the Step Into the Light Mental Health Summit. The event, which is free and open to the community, is designed to raise awareness, provide valuable resources, and foster meaningful conversations about mental health. There will be expert speakers as well as tabling by various mental health- and wellness-related organizations.
The Venue @ LEC, 3650 17th St, Sarasota, FL 34235
The 20th Annual Dick Vitale Gala will lead the charge to eclipse $100 million in amount raised toward pediatric cancer research and the V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. The 19th Gala capped a record-breaking year of fundraising. At the event, it was announced that $24.8 million was raised, bringing the overall funds raised since the inception of the Gala to nearly $93 million.
The Ritz-CarltonThe Ritz-Carlton,The Ritz-CarltoThe Ritz-Carlton,the ritThe Ritz-Carlton,, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
Spring EXPO is all about connecting, shopping, and growing our local community by showcasing fantastic businesses and organizations here in Manatee County. This event draws hundreds of attendees and features 80+ Chamber member booths promoting local products and services.
Bradenton Area Convention Center, One Haben Blvd. Palmetto, FL 34221
Indulge in a magical experience at our inaugural luncheon where you can step into your own wonderland and immerse yourself in the festive spirit of Holiday House SRQ. Proceeds from the lunch will directly fund the 2025 Holiday House Season.
Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
Images of Dance is a thrilling program showcasing the future of ballet, with dancers from The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and students of The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. Adding to the excitement, Images of Dance also partners with local arts organizations to provide live music from the Sarasota Music Conservatory and Sarasota Youth Opera. The 2025 repertoire will include a World Premiere by Ricardo Graziano, and Sing, Wearing the Sky by Gemma Bond.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Opening with the stunning Serenade, Balanchine’s choreography courses through four movements of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and leaves audiences mesmerized by its splendor. Robbins’ In the Night is comprised of a trio of pas de deux and contemplates romantic love in stages evidenced by three couples: one euphoric, another restrained, and a third tempestuous. Closing the program, Ashton’s A Wedding Bouquet returns after nearly a decade. Known as an avant-garde work, its fragmented narrative, originally spoken by Gertrude Stein, features a series of incidents at a provincial wedding in France around the turn of the century where, comically, everything seems to go wrong.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join the CKSRQ team in kicking off their inaugural Youth Art Festival 2025: "Growing Up SunCoast". Consider this the "Grown Up Suncoast" and join us for a night of celebration; featuring upscale hors d'oeuvres, craft cocktails, interactive immersive installation, and locally made art for auction.
Art Ovation, 1255 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Wellen Park Night Market returns the second Thursday of each month from 6-9pm offering an evening of shopping, live music and dining under the twinkling lights of Downtown Wellen. The Night Market features independent artists and makers specializing in art, jewelry, boutique fashion, home decor, bottle art, wood designs and specialty food items set up along Wellen Park Boulevard with 50 rotating vendors. Food items included rum cakes, desserts, lemonade, barbecue and vegan fare.
Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd
Join us on the Bolger Campiello for live music and dancing. Food and beverage will be available for purchase on the bayfront. One chair per person will be available. No outside food, drink, coolers, chairs or pets are permitted. Members please note: $20 tickets are limited to one for Individual Memberships and two for all other Membership levels.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
SRQ DAILY is a daily e-newsletter produced by SRQ MEDIA. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. 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. SRQ DAILY includes content excerpted from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Robinson Valverde at 941-365-7702 x703 or via email |
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