John Ringling dreamed of this. Since Ringling’s arrival in 1909, Sarasota has become an artistic haven. The roots of the city’s cultural legacy run deep, starting with the arrival of the circus and successive opening of The Ringling Museum of Art, continuing on through the blossoming of Ringling College and the artistic community post WWII to what is known as Florida’s Cultural Coast today. Alongside that rich history, however, another artistic legacy was carved, albeit this one more structural than the others.

The Sarasota School of Architecture or Sarasota Modern, is a regional style of post-war modern architecture that permeates throughout the area. Spearheaded by architects Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph, buildings such as Riverview High School, Sarasota High School, Lido Shore’s Umbrella House and countless others are evidence of the movement. This weekend, Architecture Sarasota is celebrating Sarasota’s rich history of contemporary architecture with MOD Weekend 2025, from November 14-16.

Aptly themed Moderns That Matter, the weekend is based on Architecture Sarasota’s exhibition and accompanying publication Moderns That Matter: The Sarasota 100. The Sarasota 100, a chronological listing of 100 places and spaces that have shaped Sarasota from 1925 until present day, was created to tell the story of Sarasota—from a small circus city to a center of art, culture and design on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“1925 was the year that Ralph Twitchell came to Sarasota to oversee the construction of the Ca’ d’Zan. We use 1925 as a starting point, because Twitchell is really the individual who introduced modern design principles to Sarasota,” says Morris (Marty) Hylton, president of Architecture Sarasota. “The Sarasota 100 chronicles 100 years of our architectural heritage and is a celebration of our built environment.”

The goal of the Sarasota 100 was to identify not only what is historically significant within Sarasota’s built environment—from single-family residences to public spaces to commercial buildings and beyond—but to also create a connection point for those who call Sarasota home. Amongst MOD Weekend’s programing is a Moderns That Matter symposium on Saturday morning, followed by a self-guided or guided shuttle tour of the residential architecture featured in the Sarasota 100. The tour will show the historical span of contemporary architecture in Sarasota—from houses such as Lustron Home #1687, one of roughly 2,500 ‘kit homes’ from the Lustron Corporation to Hive Architects’ heralded Shibusa house, built in 2020 on Siesta Key.

“There are so many people here that don’t know about the Sarasota School of Architecture, that don’t understand architecture and design’s role in our community and that Sarasota is this global epicenter for design innovation,” says Hylton. 

The Hilton Leech Studio, an iconic product of the Sarasota School of Architecture. Provided photo.

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This holiday season, the iconic Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall invites you to “come home” to song and story as the inimitable Michael Feinstein takes the stage in Coming Home – The Holiday Celebration on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Feinstein’s festive program features a rich tapestry of beloved holiday songs. The setlist often includes cherished holiday standards such as “White Christmas Overture,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “The Christmas Song,” and the spirited “Hanukkah in Santa Monica” — among others. Through his masterful piano playing, warm vocals, and storytelling flair, Feinstein — hailed worldwide as the Ambassador of the Great American Songbook — brings new life to these timeless tunes, creating an unforgettable celebration that spans generations and traditions. 

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Spend an enchanted evening at Selby Gardens! Join us for Lily Pond Nights with The Green Orchid by Michael’s On East at our Downtown Sarasota campus, now open every Thursday through Saturday, and accepting reservations and walk ins from 5-8:00 p.m. Enjoy a brand-new dinner experience at The Green Orchid, wander through the illuminated Marcy and Michael Klein & Stone Foundations Lily Pond Garden, and greet our friendly koi under the stars! Selby Gardens Members and Member Guests enjoy free admission. There is a $5 per party surcharge for non-members. Includes complimentary on-site parking. 

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Don’t miss your chance to experience Shakespeare45, adapted from William Shakespeare and created by Asolo Rep’s Director of Education & Engagement, Terrance Jackson. This lively Shakespearean revue showcases a selection of scenes, sonnets, and soliloquies interwoven with insights into Shakespeare’s life, plays, and lasting legacy. This 45-minute experience includes a performance followed by a talkback. Perfect for families and ideal for students in grades 7 through 12—as well as adults—this reimagining brings classic literature to life with fun, imagination, and magic. $20/$10 Members/Members child 5-11 | $25/$15 Non-Members/Non-Members child 5-11. Doors open at 6:30pm. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are available for purchase (both card and cash accepted). Seating in the Planetarium is on a first-come, first-served basis.  

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Be transported to Clara’s enchanted dream world in The Nutcracker by the Sarasota Cuban Ballet on December 5 at 6:00 pm at the Sarasota Opera House. This holiday favorite features the beloved classic choreography and the beauty of Tchaikovsky’s score, with scenery and costumes conceived exclusively for the Sarasota Cuban Ballet by a legendary theater designer. It’s a very special evening for dance lovers of all ages! Our audiences agree: “A big part of the start of my holiday season” “Joyous” “Spellbinding” “A most magical experience” “Amazing production” “Absolutely first rate” “By far the most charming of all the Nutcrackers I’ve seen”  

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Sarasota’s forward-looking contemporary chamber ensemble, continues its 10th anniversary season with “Songbird,” an evocative program of works that explore memory, movement, and resonance. The evening features a world premiere by composer Diallo Banks, commissioned by enSRQ. Banks’ “Cantata” draws on field recordings captured at a public protest, reframing civic, resistant, and authoritative voices into a shared, resonant chorus. Juri Seo’s luminous “Songbird” lets a lush ensemble of strings bloom with lyricism and nuance across three movements—"Song,” “Flight,” and “Feather”—invoking voice, motion, and form in sound. Reiko Füting’s “procession–process:peace” traces fragments of the ancient “dona nobis pacem” chant in a meditative dialogue among strings, clarinet, and piano—an intimate unfolding of memory and transformation. Completing the program is Michael Ippolito’s String Quartet No. 3, “Songlines,” a single-movement journey inspired by Australian Aboriginal song traditions in which melody becomes a map across unfolding musical landscapes.  The concert takes place Monday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota. Single tickets are $30. For more information on ticket packages and student pricing, visit www.EnSRQ.org.  

Get a running start on the holiday season by participating in the 49th annual Sandy Claws Beach Run, starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Siesta Beach Park, 948 Beach Road, Sarasota. The 5K run and one-mile fun run have become fixtures in the Sarasota County community. Presented by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, the event draws hundreds of runners, walkers and joggers each year. Proceeds benefit the "Summer in the Parks" Adopt-A-Camper scholarship program. For more information, please email parksoline@scgov.net or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.