SRQ DAILY Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"Our goal is to encourage our citizens to adopt instead of shop."
With the kids heading back to school and the temperatures starting to dip, there's no better time to welcome a new furry family member into your home.
Right now, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Animal Shelter is at full capacity with 22 adoptable dogs and nearing capacity with 40 cats and kittens looking for loving homes.
“Our goal is to encourage our citizens to adopt instead of shop,” said Dana Judge, Media Relations Specialist for the Sheriff’s Office. “We want to see these beautiful animals adopted into forever homes, where they and their families will be better together.”
Among the many pets waiting for a second chance: Mayo is a yellow and white male Labrador Retriever, just over two years old, who’s been at the shelter since August 22. Hippie, a sweet and mature Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, is about eight years old and has been waiting since spring for her forever family.
If you're more of a cat person, there are plenty of adorable options: Robin is a playful 10-week-old female brown tiger Domestic Shorthair kitten. Catrick Swayze, a neutered male Domestic Shorthair, about 6 months old, has been at the shelter since July 22.
To see the full list of adoptable animals, visit: 24petconnect.com/SarasotaCountyAdoptablePets?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Sarasota County Animal Services is located atc8451 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. 
Pictured: Brisket is one of the adorable pets available for adoption at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Animal Shelter. Provided photo.
On October 18 from 5–8 PM, Harry’s Continental Kitchens will host The Saltwater Social: A Benefit for Oyster Boys Conservation. Guests will enjoy an evening of coastal flavors, creativity and community — all in support of vital local conservation efforts.
The Saltwater Social showcases the best of Harry’s: chef-driven bites inspired by the waters that surround us, curated wine and craft beer tastings and inventive handcrafted cocktails. The evening will also feature live music and a one-of-a-kind experience from Headliner Hat Co., where guests can design custom cowboy hats on-site.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit Oyster Boys Conservation, a local nonprofit founded by Suncoast natives Dom and Vince Marino. The organization is dedicated to cleaning local waterways — with a little help from oysters. Their mission is to restore oyster populations in Florida’s waterways. The more oysters in the water, the cleaner and healthier our marine environments become. They achieve this through awareness, education, and volunteer engagement.
“Good food starts with clean water. It’s that simple. Partnering with Oyster Boys Conservation lets us give back to the waters that feed us, and that means a lot to us here at Harry’s,” says Hal Christensen, general manager of Harry’s Continental Kitchens. “The Saltwater Social is our way of bringing people together to eat, drink, and have a great time — all while making a real difference for our coast.”
“Oysters are nature’s water filters — each one can clean up to 50 gallons of water a day. By restoring oyster populations, we improve water quality, strengthen habitats, and ensure healthier coastlines for generations to come. We’re grateful to Harry’s Continental Kitchens and the community for rallying behind this mission at The Saltwater Social. Together, we can turn celebration into conservation,” says Dom Marino, President & CEO, Oyster Boys Conservation. The Oyster Boys encourage everyone to visit their website to learn more and sign up for their newsletter: https://oysterboys.org/.
Tickets are $125 + tax and are available now at harryskitchen.com/event/the-saltwater-social/.
Pictured: Dom and Vince Marino of Oyster Boys Conservation. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation is committing nearly $1 million this year to deliver impactful arts and wellness, community engagement, and educational programming for tens of thousands of residents in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. These initiatives ensure the community can experience the transformative power of world-class performances and teachers have the resources to integrate the arts into their classrooms. At its annual meeting, the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $367,000 in support for the Foundation’s Mission & Impact programming. These programs, offered free to the public, utilize arts engagement to create a lasting impact for people of all ages and abilities.
Melissa Ferlazzo, Philanthropy Officer at Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC), has been awarded the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation by CFRE International, the only internationally recognized, accredited certification for fundraising professionals. The CFRE credential is a mark of distinction in the fundraising profession. With just over 8,000 certified professionals worldwide, the CFRE is awarded to those who meet arduous standards in education, professional practice, and performance. They are also required to pass a rigorous examination, testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.
Harvest Sarasota, a progressive church in Sarasota, is mobilizing in the face of statewide orders to remove crosswalk and sidewalk art – including the recent erasure of the Pulse Memorial in Orlando in the dead of night last month and the painting over of the downtown Sarasota Pride Crosswalk and sidewalk art in late August. The church invites all friends of diversity to join them to bring back Pride crosswalks to the Gulf Coast, including one that will be painted on its own campus (3650 17th St., Sarasota) during an event on Sunday, September 14 at noon. Attendees will participate in painting an Inclusive Pride Progress crosswalk between the Life Enrichment Campus and Learning Center on the Harvest Sarasota/Harvest House campus. All are welcome at the event on September 14; no RSVP is needed. Visit harvestsarasota.com or call 941-953-3559 for more information.
Pictured: Dan Minor and Robyn Minor of The Harvest Sarasota invite the community to help paint a Pride crosswalk on The Harvest campus on Sunday, September 14 Provided photo/Harvest House.
The Ringling Museum of Art hosts a significant collection of Creative Prints produced by Japanese artists who believed in the practice of self-designing, self-carving, and self-printing their own work. The Creative Print movement was inspired by early 20th-century European prints that called attention to self-expression and artistic exploration through the medium of woodblock prints.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
This long-term installation in Gallery 10 of the Museum of Art showcases five outstanding examples of 17th-century Dutch painting on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Featuring a dramatic seascape, an expansive landscape, and captivating portraits set in detailed interiors, this exhibition offers a window into the vibrant artistic production of the Netherlands as the small nation rose to global prominence in the 17th century. The five exceptional paintings from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, complement The Ringling's holdings of Dutch art and provide additional perspective on the artistry, historical significance, and continuing appeal of Dutch painting from this period.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
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
Art brings people together—and at Family Art Day, Creative Liberties’ free program every fourth Saturday, it brings families together to make art side by side. The event features a local teaching artist leading projects designed for all ages and skill levels, with supplies provided. The September event is led by CeeCee Robinson.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N. Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
Every Sunday at 11 a.m., enjoy tranquil views of the manatees being cared for in the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat while engaging in yoga poses focused on balance, flexibility, and strength. Guests will need to bring their own yoga mats. Proceeds support the rehabilitation and return of manatees to the wild. Group size is limited to 15 participants, and advance registration is required. Ages 7 and up welcome!
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton
Opening the season is the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning show, "Purlie." In this fun-loving musical, a dynamic traveling preacher, Purlie Victorious Judson, returns to his small Georgia town, still enmeshed in Jim Crow times, to shake things up and change lives. The self-taught preacher plans to open an abandoned church and ring the bell of freedom. However, he has a problem: Ol' Cap'n is holding Purlie's inheritance due to the discovery of a long-lost cousin. With the help of Ol' Cap'n's son, Charlie, Purlie manages to outsmart the white-haired old-timer to win a victory for freedom. Directed by Nate Jacobs.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota
Hosted in our SFC Sarasota Activity Center, Derrick DeSilva, Jr., MD, (Integrative Medicine) will share the best of eastern meets western medicine as we navigate our personal wellness and how to take healthcare into your own hands. This series is specifically for those age 50 and better who want their lifespan to equal their healthspan. This presentation places a friendly spotlight on proactive lifestyle choices, from simple start-today recommendations to cutting edge modalities. This series is also for Senior Service professionals who wish to expand aging-with-intention wellness for themselves, and their clients.
SFC Sarasota Activity Center, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Experience some of the best food and flavors of the region with more than 100, and still growing, curated vendors. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has fast become a favorite weekly tradition for people from all over the region seeking farm-fresh produce, delicious prepared foods, and specialty items and gifts. Aside from all the goodies you can shop at the Farmers Market, find your flow in a free yoga class or have the kiddos get creative during weekly-hosted workshops.
The Sarasota Farmers Market Vendors Incorporated (“SFMV”) has been established as a not for-profit organization under laws of the State of Florida, continuing the 40+ year tradition of enhancing and improving the quality of life in Sarasota. Our charitable mission is to create a social opportunity for residents and visitors to gather and interact, to bring foot traffic to downtown Sarasota sustaining the economic viability of the entire downtown area, and to provide a venue for other not-for-profit organizations benefiting Sarasota.
Sarasota Farmer's Market, N Lemon Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Toss some fun into your Thursday! Join us at Waterside Place for a fun morning of Casual Cornhole! Whether you’re a cornhole pro or a newbie, don’t miss this chance to show off your tossing skills and have a blast with friends! Grab a partner or go solo, we’ve got enough beanbags and boards to keep everyone entertained!
Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch, 7500 Island Cove Terrace Lakewood Ranch , FL 34240
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
Think while you drinks! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes and specials each night. Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm. Gecko’s on Clark – Monday ; Gecko’s on SR64 & Stickney Point – Tuesday ; Gecko’s on Hillview – Wednesday.
Gecko's Grill & Pub, 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
Join us every Sunday morning at 9am for a walk to the Bayfront and back on a route that is just under 2 miles. Meet at 99 Bottles Downtown Sarasota and end at the same location in approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on pace. This weekly walking social club is an opportunity to connect with other locals.
99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St Sarasota, FL 34236
Every Wednesdat at 6 pm a 5k Fun Run starts and ends at 99 Bottles. Course runs through Downtown Sarasota and along the Bayfront, all skill levels, all fun. Each time you finish a run, you must get yout card punched to get an attendance credit and receive 99 bottles prizes. All runners are expected to obey all traffic laws, be courteous to other runners, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, etc.on the route and to know your limits - running and/or drinking!
99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St Sarasota, FL 34236
A bi-monthly open jam session for professional and non-professional musicians in the Geldbart Auditorium at the downtown Selby Library. The jam begins at 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm. Event is free and open to all. A viewing audience is welcome and encouraged. Piano, bass and drum are on site. A fun, social and entertaining event. Come, sign up to play or sing, or just come out to watch and enjoy.
Selby Library, 1331 1st St, Sarasota
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
Cask & Ale on Main Street lifts a toast & taps a toe to our fabulous Brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 - 3:00 with live Jazz during Sunday Brunch from Noon - 4:00. We offer a diverse chef-prepared menu with a full spread of Brunch delectables + our rotating Chef's Special menu, bottomless Mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. Cask & Ale Liquor Locker owners enjoy the benefit of reservations for tables, holidays or special occasions! Continue the good vibes to make the most of your weekend. Voted Best Cocktails by SRQ Magazine!
Cask & Ale, 1548 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
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