SRQ DAILY Mar 12, 2026
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"When we were killing time waiting for the lightning to pass, I would step outside and see people lining up to get through the gates."
On a stormy Saturday night, Sarasota Paradise officially kicked off its first professional season in USL League One. Under a sky that started off gray, with flecks of lightning and sheets of rain, before turning pitch black, a line of Sarasota fans wrapped around the grounds of Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. It was, for Paradise, a historic night—despite the start of the match against AC Boise being delayed by nearly two hours, the team welcomed a crowd of 2,791, the largest in club history.
“I have said before that we are all about the community and that it’s a win for us if we actually integrate ourselves into the community,” says Head Coach and Mika Elovaara. “When we were killing time waiting for the lightning to pass, I would step outside and see people lining up to get through the gates. That doesn’t happen everywhere.”
Although Paradise lost the match to AC Boise 1-0, a fellow first-year expansion team in USL League One, the team displayed a strong amount of technical skill, speed and heart in its first contest of the regular season. Largely a defensive stalemate, Paradise nearly jumped to a lead in the 31st minute when forward Garret McLaughlin headed in a corner kick from Ethan Bryant. The goal, however, was ruled offside by the official. “I thought that the first half was very evenly matched. In the second half we were more in control—we created more scoring chances than Boise and didn’t allow many opportunities for them, outside of that one goal,” says Elovaara. “Obviously, it’s a scoring game, we gave up one goal and they didn’t give up any, but in my perspective we displayed togetherness as a team throughout the match.”
After the first half ended in a 0-0 draw, Boise’s Denys Kostyshyn scored in the 73rd minute, proving the difference in the match. Despite the loss, however, it was an encouraging night for Sarasota’s very own professional soccer team. “Not only is it great to have the fans here, but we’re playing for them, to represent the community and Sarasota,” says midfielder Jonathan Bolanos.
Sarasota Paradise vs Fort Wayne FC, March 14, 7:30pm, Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, 5895 Post Blvd, Lakewood Ranch. 
Paradise midfielder Jonathan Bolanos makes a run with the ball during the team's match against AC Boise. Provided photo.
Suncoast Technical College (STC) will soon welcome prospective students, families, and community members to its Sarasota campus for an Open House event. Attendees are invited to explore STC’s state-of-the-art facilities, meet instructors, and learn how the college prepares students to become part of the region’s skilled workforce. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour classrooms and labs, discover STC’s wide range of career and technical education programs, and speak directly with instructors and staff about training pathways in high-demand fields. Financial aid specialists will be available to answer questions and provide guidance on funding options. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy local food trucks on-site, as well as a chance to win one of three $1,000 scholarships.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 5-7pm, STC’s Sarasota Campus, 4748 Beneva Road, Sarasota.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) proudly announced Devdaan L. as the organization’s 2026 Youth of the Year during the annual Youth of the Year Celebration held on March 6 at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club. BGCSDC continues to provide a safe and supportive environment where young people can build confidence, develop leadership skills, and prepare for great futures. To learn more about BGCSDC, please visit bgcsdc.org
The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Music Program will hold music scholarship auditions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at SCF Bradenton, 5840 26th St. W., in the Studio for the Performing Arts, Building 11A. Appointments are required. To schedule an audition appointment, call the SCF Performing Arts Department at 941-752-5351 or email Pete Carney, D.M.A., chair, performing arts, at CarneyP@SCF.edu.
Six State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) faculty and staff members have been named National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) 2026 Excellence Award winners. SCF colleagues nominated the winners based on their outstanding commitment, talent, teaching and service.
Sarasota Opera will gather for its annual Salute to the Stars Awards Luncheonon Tuesday, March 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club to celebrate and honor this season’s outstanding Sarasota Opera Apprentice and Studio artists. Guests will enjoy a gourmet lunch and performances by the awardees, recognizing those whose artistry and dedication have made a significant impact during the 2026 Winter Opera Festival. For reservations or additional information about Salute to the Stars, please visit SarasotaOpera.org or call the Box Office at 941.328.1300. Seating is limited.
Rising above The Quay and now the tallest building in Downtown Sarasota, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay has officially topped out—an unmistakable addition to the city’s evolving waterfront skyline. With more than 60% of its 78 grand residences already under contract and delivery on schedule for Q4 2026, the milestone reflects both steady momentum and enduring confidence in Sarasota’s luxury market. The demand is driven in part by the enduring strength of The Ritz-Carlton brand and its culture of anticipatory service—an approach that has shaped expectations for luxury living worldwide. Situated within one of the highest concentrations of Ritz-Carlton–branded properties in the world, the residences offer a rare alignment of location, legacy and lifestyle. As Downtown Sarasota continues to evolve, this landmark address stands as a defining expression of waterfront living—elevated, assured and distinctly Ritz-Carlton.
Headquartered in Venice and continuing its expansion into Florida’s East Coast markets, Caldwell Trust Company has been recognized with five ADDY® Awards by the American Advertising Federation. Four awards honored the firm’s disciplined market entry into Vero Beach, while a fifth recognized its original publication, The Way It’s Meant to Be, which chronicles the company’s founding, board, governance, and enduring fiduciary philosophy. To learn more about Caldwell Trust Company, visit www.ctrust.com or email info@ctrust.com.
Pickleball enthusiasts and homebuyers are invited to Pulte Homes’ amenity and model home open house on Saturday, March 14, at Arbor Oaks, a resort-style new-home community in The Woodlands area of North Port. The free event, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes pickleball sessions, shaved ice treats and tours of Pulte’s four beautifully decorated model homes. For more information about new homes in Arbor Oaks, visit www.ArborOaksFL.com or call 941-541-2966.
On Saturday, May 2, mental health organization Sunshine From Darkness will present the annual Step Into the Light Mental Health Summit at Mote SEA. The event will feature speaker sessions on mindfulness, coping skills, interactive experiences, and the healing power of music therapy, creating a safe, inclusive space for individuals and families to learn, connect, and strengthen their resilience. Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with community resources, hear from experts and peers in the mental health field, and connect with others who care about mental wellness. Keynote speakers are Jerod Ward, former professional basketball player, TEDx and motivational speaker, and major network college basketball analyst, and Johnny Crowder, a suicide and abuse survivor, touring musician, certified Peer Recovery Specialist and public advocate for mental health awareness. Tickets for the event are now on sale.
Who’s your Paddy? The Watershed Hospitality Concepts family of restaurants has you covered from the Rosemary District to Siesta Key Village for St. Paddy's Day. Cask & Ale will serve a St. Patrick's day Irish Platter and Shepherds Pie, prepared with traditional corned beef & cabbage. Cask will be open all day and serve specialty cocktails during the block party on the weekend before and the 17th. Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar will be serving Irish Point Oysters flown in fresh from the cold, nutrient-rich, tidal waters of Rustico, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Pie On Main and Blase Martini Bar in Siesta Key Village offers their Shamrock Expresso Martini for those who want to enjoy the luck o' the Irish.
An uproarious, intelligently funny and satirically relevant comedy which ran for 777 performances on Broadway. When Marcia Taub, a middle-aged Upper West Side doctor’s wife who is devoted to mornings at the Whitney, afternoons at MOMA, and evenings at BAM, plunges into a mid-life crisis, the only thing that shakes her out of her lethargy is the reappearance of a fabulous, fascinating and somewhat mysterious childhood friend.
The Sarasota Players, 3501 S Tamiami Trl Suite 1130, Sarasota, FL 34239
Winner of seven Tony Awards, Annie follows a spirited orphan’s journey to find her family. With heart, humor and hope, she outwits Miss Hannigan and finds happiness with billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285
Money, mischief and matchmaking in 1905 Parisian aristocracy. Wealthy widow Hanna Glawari is descended upon by an array of willing suitors from Parisian society. But plans go awry when Hanna’s past paramour enters the ballroom. The Merry Widow is the perfect blend of comedy, dance and unforgettable music.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Performed at WBTT in 2016 and then featured at the National (now International) Black Theater Festival in 2017, this high-spirited show raises the rafters and celebrates the music of renowned singers like Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Staple Singers, James Cleveland, and other gospel greats. It features traditional songs like “Travelin’ Shoes,” “Amazing Grace” and “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” combined with more upbeat, popular tunes such as “Elijah Rock,” “Oh Happy Day,” and “When The Saints Go Marching In.”
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
From the writer of television's Dr. Who, Sherlock, and Dracula comes a hilarious new play about an unwanted house guest. After twenty years of marriage, Peter and Debbie are enjoying a cruise and a break from their annoying teenagers, when they meet an eagerly friendly, but perhaps dangerous, fellow passenger named Elsa. Before you know it, she's taken up residence in their suburban home. Asolo Rep stages the US premiere of this hugely entertaining and satirical look at the terrifying lengths we go just to be nice.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Café on St. Armands is introducing Prime Rib Sundays, a new weekly dining feature available every Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Guests are invited to enjoy a classic prime rib dinner, thoughtfully prepared and served as part of Café’s elevated all-day dining experience. The featured Prime Rib entrée includes chianti herb and Dijon-crusted prime rib, garlic confit mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, rich au jus, and creamy horseradish. The dish is available for $46.
Cafe on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL
Poetry, poverty, and passion in 1830s Bohemian Paris. Puccini’s most beloved opera and one of the most performed in the repertoire, La Bohème takes us through the streets of the Latin Quarter in 19th century Paris when the poor embroideress Mimì has a fateful chance encounter with the poet Rodolfo. Laugh and cry as a group of friends struggle and celebrate through the Bohemian lifestyle and experience the heartbreak of a lover’s impending demise.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
SPAACES is pleased to present Subterranean Voices, a five-week artist residency and exhibition by Sabrina Small that transforms the gallery into an immersive, hybrid space—part living studio, part evolving installation. Visitors are invited to engage with Small’s completed works and her active creative process, encountering an environment rich with personal objects, vinyl records, and works-in-progress. Subterranean Voices explores the tension between outward persona and inner consciousness through hand-stitched and drawn works that celebrate slowness, tactility, and imperfection.
SPAACES, 2051 Princeton St, Sarasota, FL 34237
Our Tapas Cooking Classes are designed as a cultural and gastronomic experience, not just a cooking class. Guests will learn how tapas are enjoyed in Spain, the history and traditions behind them, and take part in a hands-on cooking experience preparing several classic Spanish tapas. The evening also includes tasting, wine, and written recipes to take home.
Taste of Spain, 2767 Mall Dr, Sarasota, FL 34231
Step into the spotlight with One Hit Wonders, a toe-tapping celebration of those unforgettable songs that lit up the charts and became part of our lives. From the epic storytelling of “American Pie” to the carefree whistle of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” this show celebrates the artists who gave us a single great hit.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Crabapalooza is back at Anna Maria Oyster Bar, arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day and bringing a seasonal celebration of crab to the table. While oysters may be for lovers, crab is for romantics, and this limited-time menu is designed for sharing, cracking, and savoring together. The Crabapalooza lineup features three signature highlights, including a show-stopping Seafood Tower, a drool-worthy Seafood Boil, and a Maryland-style Crabcake Salad. Each dish is crafted to spotlight premium ingredients, generous portions, and the kind of hands-on dining that turns a meal into a memorable night out. To round out the experience, Crabapalooza also introduces a curated lineup of featured drinks, including the Mai Oh Mai Tai, Paloma, and Passionfruit Aperol Spritz, along with a featured wine, Maddalena Chardonnay, selected to pair beautifully with the bold, coastal flavors of the menu.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar
Calder’s work is a great source of interest to the team at Selby Gardens. His fascination with energy and motion, coupled with his exploration of suspension and equilibrium, provides creative inspiration for the dynamic display of epiphytes, or air plants. Selby Gardens is a leading center for the study of air plants and is home to the best scientifically documented collections of living epiphytic orchids and bromeliads in the world. The Calder exhibition at Selby Gardens will highlight the artist’s use of abstract forms rooted in nature and emphasize his interest in science and engineering. The exhibition will also explore Calder’s enchantment with the circus, stemming from his studies of performers and animals at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1925.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
When President Kennedy vowed to put a man on the moon, the task landed in the hands of a band of maverick engineers – once the misfits of American science. With no rulebook, they embraced “blue-skying,” drawing inspiration from Buck Rogers, Greek myths, Louis Leakey, and even Snoopy and the Red Baron.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
An exhibition showcasing the recent work of Sarasota-based artist and Ringling College alumnus Tom Stephens (Class of 1996). Known for his expressive use of color, gestural brushwork, and emotionally charged compositions, Stephens’ paintings explore the tension between abstraction and representation. His dynamic surfaces reveal a deep engagement with process and intuition, resulting in works that resonate with both personal introspection and universal human experience.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
Celebrate the legendary artistry of Lino Tagliapietra—widely regarded as the world’s foremost living glass artist. With a career spanning over seven decades, Tagliapietra has transformed the centuries-old traditions of Venetian glassblowing into a dynamic and expressive contemporary art form. Renowned for his unparalleled technique, vibrant color palettes, and sculptural finesse, Tagliapietra’s work bridges history and innovation. This landmark exhibition features over 40 exquisite works by Tagliapietra, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full breadth of his mastery.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
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