SRQ DAILY May 28, 2026
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"Everybody knows about alligators, but Florida is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist."
For many, the image of an American crocodile is not one readily associated with romance. The apex predator’s appearance, with a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth packing a bite force of over 900 pounds, and a body armored in thick scales, dates back millions of years. Crocodiles—as are the rest of crocodilians—typically evoke fear and awe upon those who look at them.
At Sarasota Jungle Gardens, however, that narrative is beginning to shift. Two of the organization's American crocodiles, Dominic and Kananga, have started to mate. American crocodiles breed annually in the spring—after the creation of a nest, the female will lay eggs that could produce hatchlings after a roughly 90-day incubation period. While Domonic, a 47-year-old male crocodile, and Kananga, a 45-year-old female, have yet to create a nest, their mutual attraction has already cleared the first hurdle to reproduction. Although one might assume that mating between two crocodiles would come instinctively, the process requires a finer touch. “They have more human characteristics than we would think,” says Alan Gillespie, head of entertainment at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. “Because they’ve been around since dinosaurs, people would assume that it’s more instinctual, but it’s the same courtship that humans have.”
The introduction of Domonic and Kananga was a carefully managed, months-long process that took years of planning. Initially, there were three sections, with a pool in the front enclosure that housed Dominic and a pool in the back enclosure that Kanaga was moved to around a year and a half ago. “We put Kananga in the back enclosure so that she and Dominic could hear and smell each other, as if they were on a date. Then, we took down the shade cloth in the middle, so that they could see each other,” says Gillespie. “Last December, we took down the fence and around January, Kananga came over and was interested in Dominic.”
With both crocodiles sharing one large enclosure, Gillespie uses the opportunity to educate guests on how special these two animals are. “Everybody knows about alligators, but Florida is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist,” says Gillespie.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens, 3701 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 
Provided photo.
Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce the following leadership changes within the school district: Mr. Ryan Chase – the current Principal of Sarasota High School – has been selected to serve in a district-level leadership role. Mr. Sean Donovan – the current Principal of Oak Park School – has been selected to serve as the new Principal of Sarasota High School. Mr. Dustin Coleman – currently an Assistant Principal at Oak Park School – has been selected to serve as the new Principal of Oak Park School. Learn more at www.SarasotaCountySchools.net
The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club invites the public to attend its June meetings featuring Sarasota County school board candidates. The June 4 meeting features District 1 candidates, and the June 18 meeting features District 4 and District 5 candidates. Check in begins at 11:30 a.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Avenue South in Sarasota. For more information, and to register for these events, visit SarasotaTigerBay.com or call 941-228-9144.
As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, students around the region are making plans for the next steps in their educational journey, and more than 500 of those students are doing so with financial assistance from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The foundation recently awarded more than $2.1 million in scholarships to 566 students, helping everyone from recent high school graduates heading off to college for the first time to students returning to school in search of a degree or certification that will enhance their careers. This wide-ranging mix of opportunities reflects the foundation’s goal of supporting students at all levels, regardless of where they are on their educational path. Overall, 636 scholarships were awarded this spring, with some students receiving multiple forms of support.
Creating welcoming school cultures takes more than policy; it requires educators who are equipped to lead with empathy, kindness and respect. Thanks to a $350,000, three-year grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Embracing Our Differences will continue expanding its Education Ambassador Program across Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas counties. The year-long, district-supported leadership program equips teachers, administrators and school-based professionals to become champions for inclusion within their schools and communities. Participants engage in professional development, collaborative learning and project-based leadership experiences designed to inspire meaningful cultural change within schools.
“Unflappable.” “Indispensable.” “Catalyst.” “Transformative.” Those were among the words used by principals to describe the six Sarasota County Schools educators recently selected for Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s 2026 Ripple Effect Teacher Award. Each of the teachers was recognized by the Foundation and school district leaders during a series of surprise award ceremonies in early May. Barancik Foundation’s Ripple Effect Teacher Award honors outstanding teachers whose influence extends beyond the classroom and leaves a lasting mark on students’ lives. Each winner receives a $5,000 award from the Foundation. The Spring 2026 Ripple Effect Teacher Award recipients are: Hal Anderson, Law Academy Coordinator/Instructor, Booker High School, Megan Ehlers, Marine Science Teacher, Sarasota High School, Ken Hall, ACCESS Teacher (Middle School), Oak Park School, tacy Lenz, Math Teacher (Grades 2–3), Gulf Gate Elementary School, Tonya Quinn, Literacy Coach/Interventionist, Phillippi Shores Elementary School and Erin Tuttle, ESE Resource Teacher (Grades 4–5), Brentwood Elementary School.
UnidosNow is proud to announce a multi-year commitment of $600,000 from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in support of the UnidosNow Future Leaders Academy. This four-year commitment will support the program through 2029. Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, a long-term champion of UnidosNow, is generously matching the funds for the first year of the grant, which is dedicated exclusively to the organization’s Future Leaders Academy and the College Completion Program. To learn more about UnidosNow, please visit www.unidosnow.org
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) delivers an affordable, high-quality education that helps students build skills, launch careers and continue their education with confidence. Whether pursuing an Associate in Arts (AA) degree for university transfer or an Associate in Science (AS) degree for direct workforce entry, students gain practical experience that prepares them for real-world success. Many programs also offer workforce certificates that can be earned alongside a degree. SCF offers career-focused programs in health care, business, technology, graphic design, criminal justice technology, STEM fields and more, along with transfer pathways in areas such as performing arts, social work, law, psychology, computer science, biomedical sciences and other industries. Students learn, practice and develop confidence inside classrooms and in the field. With affordable tuition, financial aid opportunities and guiding support from faculty and staff, SCF’s students can achieve academic success, launch their careers and further their education in less time.
Wellen Park, one of the nation’s best-selling communities, celebrates the completion of three new nature trails in honor of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6. The grand opening event will feature guided native flora and fauna walks and a bike ride along the new Oakheart Trail and a raffle to win a beach cruiser bicycle. For more information about Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to www.wellenpark.com, or visit the Welcome Center, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Sarasota County, Florida) announced today that the annual Hermitage Artful Lobster benefit will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 11:30am to 2pm on Manasota Key. Now in its eighteenth year, this signature outdoor event raises valuable funds for the Hermitage’s renowned artist residency program. The Artful Lobster is the only Hermitage benefit hosted on the grounds of the historic Gulf-front campus – outdoors beneath a large tent – located at 6660 Manasota Key Road in Englewood. Michael’s On East offers a lobster feast, with performances from award-winning Hermitage Fellows. Past artists who have shared their talents at this popular event include Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Betsy Wolfe, internationally renowned flutist Claire Chase, Tony Award nominee Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, acclaimed string quartet ETHEL, celebrated musical theater composer Adam Gwon, Grammy Award-nominated music director and composer Rona Siddiqui, virtuoso violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain, and more. For more information about the Hermitage and upcoming programs, visit: HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
Fresh Fridays season 5 finale is happening on Friday, June 5th, with Dance Dance Sarasota, located on N. Palm Ave from 7-10 PM. Expect to see giant outdoor games, live dance instruction, local vendors, and live music by DJD2. The theme of this event is dancing your way to summer, surrounded by the local downtown community. Show off your new moves with the addition of live dance instruction, exploring various dance styles, and coordinated music by DJD2. Stop by for the final event of Fresh Fridays season 5.
At a time when many patients feel rushed through appointments and disconnected from their healthcare providers, a new Sarasota medical practice is hoping to offer something increasingly rare: time, attention and a sense of genuine human connection. Opening June 1 near Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Dante Family Medicine was founded by Dr. Sarah Dante and her husband, Mike Dante, with a vision of creating a physician-led practice centered on relationships, accessibility and the belief that medicine should still feel personal. The practice will provide comprehensive primary care, urgent care and wellness services in a welcoming environment designed to put patients at ease. Dante Family Medicine is located at 2901 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-364-4379 or visit DanteFamilyMedicine.com.
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
Discover the stories of 10 women who made major contributions to science, business, and the arts, and who were later denied credit for their accomplishments, including Rosalind Franklin, whose work was critical to the understanding of DNA, and Hedy Lamarr, the actress who was also an unheralded inventor.
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
This course looks at the history of jazz music, its evolution, who practiced the art, and the audience that appreciated it from its inception to the present day. Students will listen to the music and artists who led to its mainstream adoption.
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
The NoName Repertory presents Another One By Tenn: ‟The Lady of Larkspur Lotion." This one-act dark comedy by Tennessee Williams offers a veritable New Orleans feast for the eyes and ears. Special musical guest St. David Fowler, a New Orleans native son, will cook up a live set of spicy Big Easy Blues.
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
The sharp-witted, glamorous, incomparable Eartha Kitt commands the spotlight. But backstage in her dressing room, in the quiet between songs, she peels back the glitz to reveal Eartha Mae: a girl from the South Carolina cotton fields, orphaned by her mother until an audience adopted her. Told through both story and song, Urbanite Theatre’s first-ever musical production unearths the complex truth behind the icon.
Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Doors open at 5 pm for drinks & mingling, artist talk starts at 5:30 pm
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Over the past decade, talking politics has become increasingly difficult. Woodson will share why dialogue has become a personal passion for him, and what he has learned, both from some spectacular successes as well as from equally noteworthy failures when attempting to have a conversation when strong differences of opinion are involved.
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. 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
Geckos Grill and Pub is excited to announce our much-anticipated Annual Iron Chef Competition, a thrilling event that brings together culinary creativity and team spirit! This years competition will run for a total of seven weeks, beginning on May 11th and culminating in a championship finale from June 22 to June 28. This competition offers our teams a unique opportunity to work together in the kitchen, fostering collaboration and camaraderie as they prepare dishes daily. Each participant must assist one another, transforming the kitchen into a hub of creativity and teamwork. We approach this promotion with an Everybody Wins. mentality. Each location will celebrate innovation and teamwork throughout the competition. Participants are encouraged to unleash their culinary imagination! Competitors must create a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 dishes, featuring items from all cooking stations: fry, grill, saute,and pantry. Exciting Prizes Await! Our top three finalists at each location will earn fantastic cash awards. During finals week, the ultimate victors will each receive a cash bonus, an embroidered chef coat commemorating their Iron Chef winning year, and the honor of displaying the Iron Chef trophy at their location for an entire year. Join us for a flavorful time of competition, creativity, and camaraderie at Geckos Grill and Pub. We can’t wait to see the incredible dishes our teams will create. Let the culinary battle begin! Geckos Grill and Pub – Where Good Food Meets Great Friends.
Gecko's Grill and Pub
A huge influence of Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a legend in her time, adding fierce guitar and swing to traditional gospel music, becoming the Mother of Rock n Roll. Marie and Rosetta chronicles her first rehearsal with a young protégée, Marie Knight, as they prepare to embark on a tour that would establish them as one of the great duos in music history.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Maria A. Guzmán Capron explores the complexities of identity through vibrant figurative textiles. Drawing inspiration from her own multicultural heritage, the artist creates layered portraits of exuberant, multi-faceted characters.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Featuring works by such acclaimed modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
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
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
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
Think while you drink! 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.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits delicious Sunday Brunch is from 11am-3pm. Guests are invited to indulge in a delightful brunch experience on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room with nautical touches. The brunch menu features a variety of mouth-watering dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent Crème Brûlée French Toast, savory Steak & Eggs, succulent Lobster Benedict, the flavorful Tripletail Brunch Burger and Crab & Shrimp Omelet. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa with the purchase of any entrée. Prices range from $13 to $26. Reservations can be made through Open Table or by calling 941-529-0555.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, 4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Thursdays and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Step right up to solve the murder of Dahlia the Queen of the High Wire on this interactive murder mystery who-dunnit.
Sundays, 1pm. Join psychic and tarot reader, Deni Dreazen on a metaphysical exploration trolley tour of Sarasota. Visit Pixie Dust gift shop, experience a sound bath at the Crocker Memorial Church with sound healer, Kaylene McCaw, and then walk the labyrinth.
Wednesdays, 10:30am. Explore Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern (the Sarasota School of Architecture) and Mediterranean Revival Architecture buildings, homes and structures of Sarasota on this 90-minute mainland tour.
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