SRQ DAILY Aug 18, 2026
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"Fresh proteins and vegetables drive the menus."
A meatball parm hero emerges on a crackled sub roll wedged open with four fat meatballs nestled shoulder to shoulder, oozing mozzarella and marinara, ketchup and fries on the side.
VCo Pizzeria opened in Fruitville Commons in July, replacing the plaza’s Irma’s Tacos in a neighborhood starving for independents. It’s the latest venture from Tommy Villani’s OTW Restaurant Group, which also runs Villani & Co. steakhouse and the original Irma’s in Wellen Park. Inside, exposed brick, blue tin chairs and ruby-red plastic tumblers welcome friendly neighborhood drop-ins. Direct delivery reaches a zone where pizza usually comes by app.
Executive Chef Mike Leopold, who oversees all of Villani’s concepts, roots the kitchen in a scratch-pantry rigor that needs little freezer space. “Fresh proteins and vegetables drive the menus,” he says. While most pizzerias order ready-to-go toppings, the kitchen cooks fresh Italian sausage batch by batch, then crumbles it over the pies in-house. Every topping follows suit. “It takes just as much time and energy to do something the wrong way by trying to figure out a shortcut, so do it the right way,” Leopold says.
That hands-on approach shows up in every bite. Start with garlic knots: shiny, buttered, warm. Add an antipasto salad that would never skimp on peperoncini.
The carnivore pizza earns its heft: pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham and meatball crowding a blistered, golden crust. On the deluxe, saucers of pepperoni catch oil alongside green peppers and onions, briny black olives and pools of mozzarella. A calzone opens golden and doughy, spilling seasoned ricotta with earthy mushrooms and fennel-flecked sausage. The wings have a proper kick.
Grab a draft beer and a stack of napkins. This is unapologetic comfort food worthy of a true New York fold.
VCo Pizzeria, Mon-Sun, 11 am-10 pm, 3080 Fruitville Commons Blvd #100, Sarasota, 941-217-6594, vcopizza.com 
Pictured: VCo's New York-style deluxe pizza and calzones. Photo by Alex Alfaro.
Café on St. Armands has refreshed its breakfast and all day menu with a selection of new Mediterranean inspired dishes, handcrafted beverages, and seasonal favorites. Guests can look forward to fresh additions like The Hestia, Salmon Avocado Toast, Ahi Tuna Crudo, Crispy Cauliflower, Octopus Confit, Roasted Beet Hummus, Medina Chicken + Grain Bowl, Fisherman's Pasta, and Pistachio + Rosemary Crusted Rack of Lamb.
The menu refresh builds on guest favorites while introducing new flavors that reflect Café's modern Mediterranean vision.
Cafe on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota.
Balos Restaurant, the elevated Washington, D.C., dining destination known for its contemporary approach to Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality, will open its first Florida location at The Edge Sarasota, the luxury condominium development at 290 Cocoanut Ave. in downtown Sarasota. The Sarasota location marks an important expansion for the restaurant group and its first entry into the Florida market. The approximately 7,200-square-foot restaurant will be open to the public, bringing a new dining destination to The Edge and further expanding the mix of sophisticated culinary, cultural and residential experiences in the heart of downtown.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Kolter Urban and Smith & Associates Real Estate as the Presenting Sponsorsof the 2026 Taste of the Beaches, taking place October 3 through October 11, with the Kickoff Party on October 2 at Horan Park St Pete Beach. For event information, participating restaurants, tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and updates, visitwww.TampaBayBeaches.com/Taste.
Miromar Development is excited to share a new entertainment destination opening at University Village Shops in Fort Myers. Tap & Tees Golf Lounge, a high-tech indoor golf and social lounge, will host its soft opening this Saturday, August 15. The new venue features Foresight golf simulators, a social lounge, billiards, TVs, and more, with hourly play, memberships and discounted punch cards available.
Ready to see what all the pickleball excitement is about? Join The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime on Saturday, August 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day of fun, laughter, and maybe even your new favorite hobby! Our neighbors from The Pickleball Shack SRQ will be setting up a court at The Bazaar with live demonstrations, beginner lessons, and tips throughout the day. Whether you've never picked up a paddle or you're looking to sharpen your game, this is the perfect chance to jump in and give it a try. While you're here, browse our guest vendors, enjoy live music with Bill Vinhage, shop more than 40 local businesses, and grab a delicious lunch or refreshing drink from Hamlet's Eatery. It's everything you love about The Bazaar with a little extra bounce!
821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota, BazaaronApricotandlime.com
The Sarasota Players is proud to announce that Drawn In by Glenn Schudel has been selected as the winner of the 2026 Players New Play Festival. The winning play was selected following a week of readings featuring five original works by local playwrights. Each reading was followed by an audience talkback, giving the playwrights an opportunity to hear reactions, questions, and feedback directly from the community.
The Sarasota Players , 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota, 941-365-2494, theplayers.org.
Provided photo.
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is pleased to announce the lineup for its four-show 2026-2027 Children's Theatre Series, offering families unforgettable theatre experiences all season long. From beloved storybook adventures to award-winning plays written by young authors from around the world, this year's series celebrates the power of imagination and storytelling. Learn more at FloridaStudioTheatre.org
The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Aspen Music Festival and School (Aspen, Colorado) are pleased to announce Jaylin Vinson, a composition student at AMFS, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Hermitage Prize in Composition. Vinson is the thirteenth recipient of this annual award, which includes a residency at the Hermitage. This year, the Hermitage is pleased to announce a new $10,000 valuation for the prize, which includes a $5,000 commission paid directly to the winner, in addition to supporting expenses related to the winner’s Fellowship and public program at the Hermitage. With this commission, Vinson will create an original composition that will be developed at the Hermitage prior to having its full premiere in Aspen in 2027 with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (ACE). This commission is made possible with generous support from Marsha & David Dowler, Rebecca Donelson & Robert Blattberg, and Friends of the Hermitage in Aspen.
Pictured: l-r: Andy Sandberg and Jaylin Vinson. Provided photo.
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.
Delightfully Funky Since 1997, Blase Martini Bar in Siesta Key Village has been Sarasota’s cozy, funky go-to for inventive food, handcrafted martinis, and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. It’s perfect for date nights or casual hangouts—offering bold flavors, expertly mixed drinks, and a setting that feels both relaxed and refreshingly unique. Join us for the launch of our Summer Pizza & Martini Menu, featuring hand-tossed specialty Pizzas, Pineapple Upside Down Vodka Martini for June, Siesta Suns Orange Vodka in July & Just Peachy Vodka Martini in August.
Blase Martini Bar in Siesta Key Village, 5263 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key
Win prizes while you think, drink and enjoy food at Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar at trivia nights every Tuesday. Trivia Nation hosts a Game Show Loco Trivia experience inspired by classic game shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Test your knowledge across a variety of categories, make strategic choices and try your luck with games of chance. Bring your friends, family and coworkers, or jump in and join a team when you arrive.
Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar, 428 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota
Every Saturday and Sunday, Cask and Ale on Main Street lifts a toast and taps a toe to a delicious brunch with a diverse chef-prepared menu. Try the rotating chef's special menu, bottomless mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. On Sundays, hear live jazz music from 12pm-4pm.
Cask and Ale, 1548 Main St., Sarasota
Learn what fertilizers are, how nutrients work and how to choose the right products for your garden at this Plant Food 101 workshop. Instructor Mack Lessig will help you gain the practical knowledge to choose the right products and feed your garden for peak seasonal performance. Also, you'll decode the essential elements of what fertilizers contain and how plants utilize these nutrients at a cellular level.
UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension Office, 1303 17th St. W, Palmetto
Big Waters Land Trust brings back its annual summer trivia with a twist: a one-night-only, winner-takes-all event! Trivia begins at 6pm with a wide range of questions about movies, music, fashion and more, with a conservation theme woven throughout. Teams may include up to eight people. The top team will take home a prize package including their choice of a private guided hike or a kayak outing for up to ten people. A Hawaiian-inspired food truck, Killiks Kitchen, will be on site with food available for purchase.
Bay Preserve at Osprey, 400 Palmetto Ave., Osprey
To commemorate the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment that granted many women in the United States the right to vote, a luncheon at the Grove will showcase women-owned businesses and celebrate Women's Equality Day. A guest panel will be moderated by Mercedes Solar, co-owner and president of Solmart Media. Attendees can learn about local women-owned businesses, participate in networking and hear from a multi-generational panel about the strides women have made and can continue to build.
The Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch
Put on your favorite disco attire, gather your friends and enjoy an evening of classic hits, dancing and great company at Disco Dance Night in Solis Hall. Dress in your best disco-inspired costume for a chance to win the costume contest. Your ticket includes one complimentary wine or beer, light bites and access to the 360 photo booth.
Solis Hall, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd, Venice
Bringing laughter to the community since 2019, the Teenyboppers entertain audiences with fun, fast-paced, hilarious shows that tell a story without the safety net of a script. Troupe members explore and develop their improv, storytelling, acting and teamwork skills in a safe, supportive environment, working on acting exercises, short-form improv games and long-form improv activities. At the end of each semester, they entertain audiences with their mad skills in a performance directed by Daniel Dagesse.
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W, Venice
Celebrate two decades of community leadership and the lasting impact of investing in young people at the 20th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast. This event will honor the legacy of those who have helped shape great futures while looking ahead to the next generation of leaders who will continue to strengthen Sarasota and DeSoto Counties for years to come.
Lee Wetherington Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota, 3100 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota
Celebrating its 17th year, the Venice Craft Festival showcases vendors throughout Downtown Venice on Labor Day Weekend. Visitors can explore a wide array of handmade items from jewelry and ceramics to coastal decor and candles. You can also bring your pets to this family-friendly event.
Downtown Venice, 200 Miami Ave. W, Venice
In its third year, this Wellen Park festival invites family and friends into a traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere with German dancers, a live polka band, a stein-hoisting competition and plenty of beer and brats. Experience the inaugural keg tapping and hear the DeLeon Family Oktoberfest Band with three generations of accordion players. Food and drink options include Banyan House, La Maison, Pop Dawgs and more. Parking lots and street parking are available along Sunglow Boulevard and Springtide Way.
Downtown Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd, Venice
Enjoy fresh produce, local art, music and free family activities on Bradenton's Old Main Street every Saturday from October through May. Local farmers, artisans and chefs share their talents, and you'll always be greeted with a smile from the market vendors.
Old Main Street, 400 12th St. W, Bradenton
The seventh year of the popular Hermitage Sunsets at Selby Gardens will feature six programs between the Selby Gardens Downtown and Historic Spanish Point campuses. See performances and explorations of works-in-progress by Hermitage artists-in-residence and alumni. Dates include October 16, November 20, February 11, Feburary 25, March 18 and May 6. The first event, New Music Under the Old Oak, is at the Downtown Sarasota Campus at 5:30pm.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota campus and Historic Spanish Point campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota
Get ready for a fang-tastic afternoon of fun at Wellen Park's Spooktacular Halloween! Bring family and friends for trick-or-treating, music, costumes and spooky good vibes.
Downtown Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd, Venice
The exhibition at Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus celebrates childhood and the imagination of youth through the words and images of A Child’s Garden of Verses, the beloved book of poetry for children by the celebrated Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. The exhibition features photographs of pages from a vintage edition of the book, combining Stevenson’s poetry with illustrations by the notable American artist, Alexander Dobkin. Accompanying the photographs are simple interactives that draw their inspiration from Stevenson’s poems and enhance the visitor experience. Audio recordings enable visitors to hear the poems read by Selby Gardens’ Artist-in-Residence, Patti Smith. Visit selby.org for tickets.
Downtown Sarasota Campus, 401 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey
Maria A. Guzman 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
Art immersion class for children ages 6-18. Small classes with fine arts materials. Visit linarinconart.com for more information and to register.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
The summer 2026 exhibition at Selby Gardens will celebrate the creative collaboration between two legendary figures and longtime friends, photographer Lynn Goldsmith and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who is Selby Gardens’ artist in residence. The exhibition will feature Goldsmith’s photographs of Smith, past and present, in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. The images will offer an intimate portrait of an iconic artist over the course of her remarkable career.
Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
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