SRQ DAILY Aug 13, 2025
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"This enchanting evening will provide attendees with the unique opportunity to connect with local growers, learn about our initiatives in food resilience and waste reduction and hear inspiring stories from the individuals we serve."
This year marks a significant milestone for Community Harvest SRQ--a locally rooted nonprofit that cultivates food system transformation through community-driven solutions--as they celebrate their 15th anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, they are hosting a Summer Garden Dinner Party that honors the remarkable people, partnerships and places that contribute to the vitality of their local foodshed.
The Community Harvest SRQ 15th Anniversary Celebration: A Summer Garden Dinner Party will take place Saturday, August 23, from 5-8:00pm at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota Campus.
"This enchanting evening will provide attendees with the unique opportunity to connect with local growers, learn about our initiatives in food resilience and waste reduction and hear inspiring stories from the individuals we serve," says Program Director, Andrew Hudson, M.div. "We are thrilled to feature five exceptional producers who embody the spirit of our foodshed: a dedicated farming couple, a passionate farmsteader, an inspiring farm educator, a grove owner/operator and a permaculture food forest installer."
Guests will enjoy a delightful meal infused with local flavors, expertly prepared by Michael's on East. During dinner, Community Harvest SRQ will present a captivating slideshow retrospective celebrating 15 years of impact, weaving in the histories of their featured guests. Following the meal, each producer will share their insights, culminating in a multimedia presentation by Hudson. This presentation will illuminate the organization's mission to foster relationships with these producers and encourage the public to engage with them in meaningful ways that benefit both their farms and the broader ManaSota foodshed.
To conclude the evening, Board President, Dr. Anne Miller, will extend an invitation for deeper involvement in Community Harvest SRQ's mission.
Community Harvest SRQ, 15th Anniversary Celebration: A Summer Garden Dinner Party, Saturday, August 23, 5:00 - 8:00pm, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota Campus. 
Pictured: People celebrate Eat Local Week 2018 at Ortygia restaurant in the Village of the Arts in Bradenton. Photo by Janet Lewis.
Join us for the 19th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club. Our honorees, Heather Kasten and Dr. Larry R. Thompson, exemplify leadership in action as their commitment to teen empowerment creates a brighter future in our region. Be there September 5th and honor those who empower our next generation.
19th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast, 3100 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, 7:30am - 9:00am.
Embracing Our Differences (EOD) is pleased to announce Michaela Stockhill as its new engagement director. In this role, Stockhill will oversee volunteer coordination, community engagement programs, and year-round educational outreach initiatives—creating enriching and thought-provoking experiences for students, educators, and community members across the region.
Every second counts in a cardiac emergency—and you could be the difference between life and death. Community members are invited to attend a free hands-only CPR training session on Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at Solis Hall in Downtown Wellen Park, located at 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice, FL 34293. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 844-630-5295. The deadline to RSVP is Friday, Aug. 22.
In celebration of Grandparents Day on September 7, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation is proud to announce the distribution of Virginia B. Goes to the Symphony at the Sarasota Youth Opera’s Family Day on August 23. This event is part of an ongoing initiative to inspire a new generation through storytelling, music, and moral values. Written by Kevin Pease and published by VJ Publishing House, LLC, Virginia B. Goes to the Symphony is the first in an eight-book historical fiction series introducing children ages 7–12 to the inspiring early life of Virginia B. Toulmin — an influential philanthropist, devoted arts advocate, and longtime Sarasota resident. The book highlights Virginia’s special bond with her grandmother and her imaginative journey to the symphony, capturing the power of family, tradition, and music. On behalf of the Toulmin Foundation, the book will be gifted to families attending the Sarasota Youth Opera Family Day on August 23, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House (61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236).
Many of you know Doug and his incredible work for children. Over the past 30 years, he has taken the journey from Intern to Executive Director here at the Child Protection Center, dedicating his life to our mission against child abuse. We at CPC are eternally grateful to him, his steadfast leadership, and his selfless devotion to our children. He is literally a life saver! To show our vast appreciation for his work, we are creating an immersive scrapbook with photos, notes, and tokens to gift him at the end of the month. We're asking those who would like to help celebrate his service to send a note of thanks and congratulations to be included. If you would like to join us in this celebration, you can either send an email with your message to shannonm@cpcsarasota.org or mail a letter or card to our main office: ATTN: Shannon Maloney, Child Protection Center, 720 South Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236. Please help us keep this a surprise!! We are so excited to see the joy this will bring him!
As the 2025 United Way ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report has found, 43% of local households are struggling to afford basic necessities. Working families are being forced to choose between essentials such as rent, medical care/prescriptions, utilities and food. In an effort to increase financial stability in the community, United Way Suncoast has awarded All Faiths Food Bank a three-year grant of $270,000 to support the food bank/hunger relief organization's Benefits Assistance program. These funds will help All Faiths to connect neighbors with government resources, including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, Social Security benefits, Florida KidCare, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Derrick DeSilva Jr., M.D., internationally recognized physician, scientist and educator, will speak at Senior Friendship Centers as part of its BeWell Lecture Series on September 16, from 5 to 6pm. He will speak on “Navigating Personal Wellness within the Healthcare System.” Registration is required through the Senior Friendship Centers’ Special Events Calendar at www.friendshipcenters.org. For more information call (941) 556-3216.
Flock to Selby Gardens this summer for our newest exhibition, The High Life: Contemporary Photography and the Birds, running from July 19 to September 14, 2025, at the Downtown Sarasota campus. Organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography and curated by photography experts William Ewing and Danaé Panchaud, the exhibition features some 70 works by more than 50 photographers from around the world. The works are presented in the galleries of the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts and outside throughout the gardens, where art mirrors nature in unique and unexpected ways.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Selby Gardens is excited to collaborate with Artist-in-Residence Patti Smith on this exhibition at the Historic Spanish Point campus. The exhibition features a selection of photographs taken by the famed poet and musician that offers an intimate view of her life on and off the road. The photographs are taken from Smith’s recently published, New York Times bestselling publication, A Book of Days. Inspired by the popularity of her Instagram account, where she began posting photographs back in 2018, this beautiful book offers a window into her world and illustrates her unique aesthetic.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - Historic Spanish Point, 401 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229
Treat yourself to a peaceful mind and body yoga experience at the beautiful Selby Garden Downtown Sarasota campus. This class will focus on alignment, breathing techniques, and relaxation. Open to all skill levels. Must be age 18 or older. Hosted Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Sarasota Art Museum partners with the Jazz Club of Sarasota to present live jazz on the second Thursday of every month on the Marcy and Michael Klein Plaza. Enjoy a beverage or food in the Bistro and extended hours in the galleries and shops! Concert begins 5:30 pm.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Joseph’s Coat: A Skyspace by James Turrell (2011) is a triumph of technology, engineering, and aesthetics. The Skyspace, created by internationally-renowned artist James Turrell, is a gathering place for contemplation and offers a unique experience. At sunset, a sophisticated system of LED lights is employed to change the color of the space. In doing so, the artist changes the context in which we view the sky through the 24 foot aperture in the ceiling, affecting our perception of the natural environment and the surroundings. As we gaze up at the sky we are invited to contemplate light, perception, and experience!
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Students in grades 3-12, come discover the joy of acting in this one-day workshop, which is a part of Wellen Park's Solis Hall Summer Series. This "test-drive" class is for students who are new to the world of acting.
Solis Hall, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd, Venice
Come let the musical rhythms of VT's 76th season put a smile on your face and a warmth in your heart. Michelle and Kristofer will enchant you in this Solis Hall Summer Series concert that features the songs of Venice Theatre's upcoming season.
Solis Hall, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd, Venice
There's much ado about something in this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud new romantic comedy from Lauren Gunderson. Lady Disdain is a fast-paced, razor-sharp riff on the deliciously dramatic world of Fantasy Romance novels (yes, those ones-you know them, you love them). Beatrice and Benedict, rival audiobook narrators with voices made for swooning and tempers made for sparring, are locked in a battle of wits, words, and wildly inconvenient attraction. Asolo Rep proudly presents this world premiere from one of America's most celebrated and funny playwrights.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
ArtCenter Sarasota continues its Centennial Season with Medium Mutiny, a juried exhibition selected by Ed Swan Jr. that celebrates boundary-pushing works challenging tradition through bold experimentation in form, material, and concept. Solo exhibitions include Living by the Water by Cat Tesla, whose serene, abstract paintings reflect a journey of healing and transformation inspired by Florida's landscapes. A new body of work by Anja Palombo, blending her deep love of nature and art history into expressive visual narratives. In Architect as Artist, co-curated by Morris Hylton III, Sarasota-based architects including Carl Abbott, Jerry Sparkman, and Javi Suárez present multidisciplinary works that blur the line between design and fine art. This group exhibition honors Sarasota's architectural legacy and highlights the creative synergy between structure, space, and artistic vision.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
SCFD is proud to welcome the community into the fire stations, continuing the tradition of open houses. These open houses are a wonderful opportunity for residents to engage directly with neighborhood firefighters. Visit our website to view the open house schedule.
Multiple Location, Multiple Locations
The figure is one of the oldest records of our existence as a species capable of storytelling; depictions of the human body constitute some of the oldest subjects in art. EMBODIED expands on the definition of the human figure by bringing together varied representations in painting, sculpture, fiber, video, and mixed media by some of the most exciting artists working in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
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