wcw12/23

•Season Preview• Preview 

DECEMBER 2023 

Stefania 

Fochi 

Owner and Top Chef at 

EMPANADA GIRL 

Also in this issue: 

■ Salute to the Arts, Part 2 

■ Arts: Perlman Suncoast 

■ Arts: Sarasota Art Museum 

■ Arts: Soundbox Ventures 

■ Arts: Chamber Orchestra

Join us for Listening to Women 

January 18-February 22 

Thursdays, 1-2:30 pm 

TRY A THERAPY 

THAT WORKS! 

“Listening to Women” is a six-session 

series which recognizes women 

whose brilliance and fortitude 

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hear the inspiring personal stories of 

women who, driven by vision, passion, 

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Mobility and Energy Issues for Seniors 

T. Grywinski specializes in difficult issues with great success 

How Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

“Doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists and chiros 

gave me little relief. Terry relieved my pain, after all these years! 

He has also helped four of my other friends. The man is an angel, 

with a gift from God....thank you Terry!!” 

For information or to register, call 941-309-5111 or visit 

www.OLLIAtRinglingCollege.org 

Listening to Women six-session series fees: 

Gold Member: $81; Silver Member and General Admission: $90 

“After 3 sessions, I had more range of motion and mobility in my 

neck, shoulders and hips. I was getting to the point where walking 

and moving was difficult. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my 

shoulders, my voice is stronger and my energy is greatly increased. 

I feel much calmer and more grounded!!” 

“I no longer feel physically sick each morning. No gastroenterologist 

or physician has ever properly diagnosed my mucus build up until 

now. As well as bringing about healing in my gut, he released an 

incredible amount of tension in my upper body.” 

Registration now open! 

Jan 18: “Keeping Hope Alive” 

with Charlayne Hunter-Gault 

and Liz Walker 

Jan 25: “Why Are We Exploring 

and Exploiting Space? Who is 

‘We’? And What’s the Point?” 

with Dr. Linda Billings 

Feb 1: “Curating Life 

from Seoul to Sarasota” 

with Dr. Rangsook Yoon 

and Stephenie Frasher 

Feb 8: “Women With Purpose— 

Ensuring Our Childrens’ Future” 

with Lisa Bechtold, Suriya Khong, 

Dr. Rachel Shelley, and 

Melanie Custer 

Feb 15: “Freedom is an Inside Job” 

with Dr. Brook Parker-Bello 

and Dawn Sakes 

Feb 22: “Beyond White 

Sharks and White Men” 

with Jasmin Graham, Raven 

Harrison, Magrieli Rodriguez Ruiz, 

and Carlee Jackson Bohannon 

“The question is where has he been all my life? Terry is a true healer 

and if you are serious about being well, you are in luck. 

He is effective and lovely.” 

advanced craniosacral therapy 

Listening to Women is made possible, in part, with support from 

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B.A., B.Ed., LMT MA6049 

25 Years of Experience 

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OLLI is located at Sarasota Art Museum 

on the Ringling College Museum Campus 

1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

941-309-5111 

OLLIatRinglingCollege.org 

See full page explanation of Craniosacral Therapy and 

how it can help you in another section of this issue 

Downtown Sarasota • 941-321-8757 

Google “Advanced Craniosacral Therapy Sarasota” for more info 

2 WEST COAST WOMAN DECEMBER 2023

DECEMBER 2023 

contents 

Editor and Publisher 

Louise M. Bruderle 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

EARS 

Contributing Writer 

Carol Darling 

Contributing Photographer 

Evelyn England 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Kimberly Carmell 

Assistant to the Publisher 

Mimi Gato 

West Coast Woman is published 

monthly (12 times annually) by 

LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, 

President. All contents of this 

publication are copyrighted and 

may not be reproduced. No part 

may be reproduced without the 

written permission of the publisher. 

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 

and artwork are welcome, but return 

cannot be guaranteed. 

HOW TO REACH US: 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Here are our columns: 

n Out & About: includes 

fundraisers, concerts, art exhibits, 

lectures, dance, poetry, shows 

& performances, theatre, film, 

seasonal events and more. 

n You’re News: job announcements, 

appointments and promotions, 

board news, business news and 

real estate news. 

FOLLOW US AT: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 

WCWmedia 

WCW 

35 

YEARS 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 

west coast 

WOMAN 

The Perlman Music Program 

Suncoast’s 2023-2024 Season 

Celebrating 20 Years of the PMP Winter Residency 

p20 

Sarasota Art Museum’s 

2023/2024 Season 

It’s a blend of artists presenting their first solo 

exhibitions along with artists renowned worldwide 

p27 

Season Preview, Part 2 

Not deja vu - there really is more Season Preview in this 

issue including Sarasota Art Museum, Perlman Music, 

ArtCenter Sarasota, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

(and more) and a look at arts events coming up. 

p18 

The Chamber 

Orchestra of Sarasota 

They’ll perform a 3-concert orchestra series at First 

Presbyterian Church, plus present a recital series at 

St. Boniface Episcopal Church 

p22 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

7 Out & About: listings for things to do 

12 get to know: 

Bay Street Village Towncenter 

14 health: The Renewal Point 

15 health: all about Craniosacral Therapy 

16 west coast woman: 

Stefania Fochi aka Empanada Girl 

18 Season Preview II: Highlights & more 

20 Season Preview: Perlman Suncoast 

22 Season Preview: 

Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota 

23 Season Preview: 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

24 Season Preview: Art Center Sarasota 

25 Season Preview: Soundbox Ventures 

27 Season Preview: 

Sarasota Art Museum 

29 Coming Up: Sunshine from Darkness 

31 dining in: Guests for the Holidays? 

Coffeecake to the rescue 

32 you’re news 

34 good news 

■ on the cover: Stefania Fochi, Empanada Girl at the Philllippi Mansion Farmer’s Market. 

■ Image: Evelyn England 

DECEMBER 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

West Coast Woman 

Stefania Fochi 

This month’s profile of Stefania Fochi is a great 

story about entrepreneurism, but with a local angle. 

Trained as a chef, Stef as she’s called, quit her day job 

and began selling as the Empanada Girl at the Downtown 

Sarasota Farmer’s Market in 2010 with one table, 

a toaster oven and only seven types of empanadas for 

sale which she made by hand. 

From that modest start, her business has grown to 

include a retail store and booths at three farmer’s markets, 

a brand new food truck, catering and delivery. It’s 

Stefania Fochi quite a successful trajectory. 

Photo: Evelyn England 

Some 40% of US businesses are women-owned, and 

women started 1,821 new businesses every day last year (2022). According 

to NerdWallet, “Women in business are a driving force in the nation’s 

economy. The US economy is increasingly reliant on the work of female 

entrepreneurs. Women are starting and running businesses at a stunning 

rate—and they’re doing so with demonstrable skill and expertise.” 

In this month’s profile, you’ll also read about her family and their own 

food business and the influence it had on Stef. Visit her store at 4141 

S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, or go to The Sarasota Downtown Farmer’s 

Market, The Phillippi Farmhouse Market or The Lakewood Ranch 

Farmer’s Market. I’ve enjoyed her empanadas for years at the Sarasota 

Farmer’s Market. 

Promise me, if there’s one thing you must take away from this profile 

besides the fact that Stef is a great chef and businesswoman (as well as a 

super nice woman), is that you will never microwave the empanadas you 

purchase from her company, Empanada Girl (FYI she doesn’t even own a 

microwave). Do you promise? 

Here’s her company’s website: www.empanadagirl.com. Enjoy! 

In This Issue 

As we move into milder weather, we can all finally get out and enjoy what 

brought us to this sunny peninsula - blue skies, white sandy beaches and 

no cold weather. 

I’ve noticed that when you ask people when or why they moved to 

Florida they say something like, “The blizzard of…” and mention the 

precise year that a midwestern storm or a nor’easter dumped tons of 

snow where they were then living. 

It’s a vivid memory, almost like a 

trauma, but then their faces light 

up and they add how many years 

they’ve been here. 

It’s also the time of the year 

when our community kicks into 

high gear. My eyeballs have just 

about recovered from editing all 

the art schedules, events, highlights 

and features for the upcoming 

season in this issue. I’ve 

observed that there’s even more 

diversity in the offerings - which is great news. 

I can’t emphasize enough how healing, relaxing and refreshing the 

arts can be - and we all could use a lot of that these days. Pause the 

streaming and head to a gallery (there are lots opening up these days) or 

walk the grounds of The Ringling, or head to the Sarasota Art Museum or 

head up to the MFA or the Dali in St. Pete and surround yourself with art. 

I know that works for me. 

Happy Anniversary 

Congratulations to Tammy Hauser 

whose Discover Sarasota Tours marked 

five years in business last month. She 

adds, “It’s an important milestone only 

three per cent of all businesses ever 

reach…As you know, it’s been a hard 

climb over the past few years, and we 

have much to be grateful for.” 

Discover Sarasota Tours offers enjoyable tours around Sarasota as 

well as themed tours with actors providing some theatrics along the 

way. Check them out at www.discoversarasotatours.com. 

Welcome Aboard! 

Nelle S. Miller has been named President & Chief Executive 

Officer of All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB). She will 

succeed longtime CEO Sandra Frank, who will retire in 

March 2024. 

As President & CEO, Miller will have the opportunity to 

actualize a comprehensive vision – set forth by Frank – for 

the central role AFFB plays in providing solutions to end 

hunger in its service area, across Florida and within the 

Feeding America network. 

Miller returns to All Faiths Food Bank after having 

served on the AFFB Board from 2016-2021, including 

service as Chair of the Board from 2018-2020, during which time she 

assisted in the development of a succession plan for the organization. 

“For the past 12 years, it has been my great honor and privilege to lead 

this incredible organization and I will cherish my final months at the 

helm,” said Frank. 

For over 20 years, Miller has served the as the Board Chair of many 

leading philanthropic organizations and human services agencies. Miller 

is currently serving as the Interim CEO of Unidos Now. 

Last year, she acted as Interim President and CEO of JFCS of the 

Suncoast. She is currently Board Chair of the Education Foundation of 

Sarasota County and is an Advisory Board member for the Boxser Diversity 

Initiative. Additionally, she has been Board Chair of the Community 

Foundation of Sarasota County, Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services 

Center, and the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, among others. 

Miller will assume her responsibilities as President & CEO of All Faiths 

Food Bank on January 3, 2024. 

For more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

Nelle S. Miller 

Save Sarasota’s History 

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) has launched the 

Sarasota Preservation Program to save and protect historic buildings 

through a suite of tools that have never been deployed in the region. 

These include historic preservation easements; low-cost financing 

for maintenance and restoration of historic buildings; and technical 

assistance for repairs 

and upkeep. The 

goal is to combat the 

Sarasota region’s 

rapid loss of historic 

buildings through 

tangible help to 

homeowners – 

including low-cost 

loans and help for 

those who own even 

modest-scale older 

dwellings. 

Some of the first 

Example of historic home in Sarasota’s Central Cocoanut District. 

beneficiaries will 

be historic homeowners in Sarasota’s Central Cocoanut and Newtown 

neighborhoods. The SAHP board of directors has kicked off a matching 

gift challenge to double every dollar raised for the program up to 

$30,000. Donate here SAHP. 

For more information on their invaluable work, visit preservesrq.org 

Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue. 

You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com. 


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out &about 

Special Events 

The EcoSummit, on October 

22. taking place Dec. 5-6 at the Van 

Wezel, offers lectures, panel discussions, 

storytelling, and music. Dozens 

of national, regional, and local experts 

will share fascinating insights and 

innovations for recharging our environment 

and reducing our impacts. 

Author Carl Hiaasen will lead a 

special evening of Florida environmental 

stories with local storytellers 

and music. Australian environmental 

thought leader and filmmaker Damon 

Gameau will kick off the EcoSummit 

with a keynote that re-envisions mankind’s 

relationship with Earth and how 

we find a new balance with nature. 

The Green Living Expo, which 

takes place Dec. 2-3 at the Sarasota 

Municipal Auditorium, is a trade 

show featuring sustainable products, 

services, and opportunities to 

get involved in local environmental 

issues. Meanwhile, outside at The 

Bay, Sarasota’s newest signature park 

along Sarasota’s bayfront, families 

can enjoy hands-on environmental 

activities and eco-tours from SEC’s 

partners. All activities are free and 

open to the public. To learn more, 

visit eco-summit.org. 

▼ 

PINC Experience returns to the 

Sarasota Opera House on December 

7, 8 am - 8 pm at the Sarasota Opera 

house. An initiative of DreamLarge 

and presented by All Star Children’s 

Foundation and Ringling College of 

Art & Design, PINC promises a day 

of intellectual indulgence, featuring 

12 thought-provoking speakers from 

every discipline imaginable who will 

immerse you in innovation, and creativity, 

and leave you with renewed 

sense of community. 

PINC brings together thought leaders, 

innovators, creative thinkers, 

entrepreneurs, specialists, designers, 

artists, scientists, and anyone 

looking to stimulate their minds, 

hearts, and brains. 

Learn more at www.PINCexperience.com. 

▼ 

The 34th Annual Hob Nob BBQ 

Event is on December 6 put on by 

the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. 

This event has been the premier 

networking event in the region for 

decades, which brings together the 

business community from the Sarasota, 

Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch 

Region to enjoy an evening of food, 

drinks and fun. The event will be held 

at the Premiere Sports Campus from 

5:30pm to 8:30pm. For more information, 

visit members.lwrba.org. 

▼ 

Selby Gardens has its Lights in 

Bloom, December 8-January 3, 

2024. Featuring more than two million 

lights illuminating the gardens 

and walkways of our Downtown 

Sarasota campus. Tickets: selby.org. 

▼ 

Venice Symphony 

▼ 

Venice Symphony presents A 

Holiday Spectacular on Dec. 15-16. 

This season’s Holiday Spectacular 

includes yuletide favorites “God Rest 

Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Carol of the 

Bells, ” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed 

Reindeer” and “Sleigh Ride,”music 

from Home Alone and A Christmas 

Carol and contemporary holiday 

favorites. 

Next up is Tall Tales and Treasure 

on Jan. 12-13, 2024. This concert features 

swashbuckling 

music 

from Captain 

Blood and 

Pirates of the 

Caribbean, 

Mulan and How 

to Train Your 

Dragon. Guest 

Vocalist Lauren 

Jelencovich, 

who 

has toured 

with Yanni as 

his featured 

vocalist, performing 

to 

sold-out venues 

all over 

the world, 

will wow you 

with songs 

from The Lord 

of the Rings: 

The Fellowship of the Ring and songs 

from Aladdin and The Little Mermaid 

in a concert that will be treasured 

by music lovers of all ages. 

Tickets: www.thevenicesymphony.org 

The Circus Arts 

Conservatory 

Sailor Circus 

▼ 

The Circus Arts Conservatory 

Sailor Circus presents Candyland 

running December 26-31 at Sailor 

Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., 

Sarasota. 

This annual holiday spectacle 

features students, ages 8-18, who 

will dazzle audiences with acts that 

include acrobatics, aerial feats, juggling, 

contortion and soaring on the 

flying trapeze. The fun-filled show 

offers families the perfect opportunity 

to get into the holiday spirit. 

Hometown hero and international 

superstar Nik Wallenda is collaborating 

with the Circus Arts Conservatory 

to bring a holiday spectacle, 

“A Brave New Wonderland,” to the 

CAC’s Holiday-Themed Big Top in the 

East District at UTC. 

The show, with performances 

through December 31, promises a 

blend of thrilling circus acts, aerial 

performances, and holiday storytelling, 

curated and produced under 

the creative eye of the “King of the 

High Wire” Wallenda himself, along 

with his world record-holding wife, 

Erendira Wallenda. 

To purchase tickets, visit circus 

arts.org. 

Artist Series 

Concerts 

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota 

has The Queen’s Six direct from 

Windsor Castle where they work 

and live. This extraordinary vocal 

sextet, drawn from the lay clerks of 

St. George’s Chapel, was recently 

featured on “CBS Sunday Morning.” 

In addition to their royal duties, they 

present concerts that include austere 

early chant, bawdy madrigals, 

haunting folk songs, and upbeat jazz 

and pop arrangements. They perform 

on December 17. 

Jonathan Mamora has taken the 

piano world by storm after winning 

first prize in the Olga Kern International 

Piano Competition, AntwerPiano 

International Competition, Dallas 

International Piano Competition, 

American Virtuoso International 

Music Competition, and “Sviatoslav 

▼ 

Richter” International Piano Competition. 

He takes to the Historic 

Asolo Theater stage on January 9 for 

a program that includes Schubert’s 

iconic “Trout” Quintet. In 2019, Lin 

Ye wowed Sarasota audiences in two 

sold out programs. 

For information, visit ArtistSeries 

Concerts.org or call (941) 306-1202. 

Soundbox Ventures 

Soundbox Ventures announces 

its 2023-2024 season of the “Listen 

Hear” salon concert series in partnership 

with St. Boniface Episcopal 

Church. Curated by Max Tan, each 

salon-style event includes a classical 

music program, insights from 

the artists, and conversations with 

the audience. The three-event series 

begins with “Preludes with Marisa,” 

a world premiere of “12 Preludes for 

Solo Piano” by Catalonian composer 

Marc Migó, on December 16. 

Each program is free and registration 

is required. Register at www. 

soundboxventures.org/events. St. 

Boniface Episcopal Church is located at 

5615 Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key. 

▼ 

The Ringling’s 

Art of Performance 

Season 

The Ringling’s Art of Performance 

season in the Historic Asolo Theater 

continues. On December 12 there’s 

a sunset celebration of Our Lady of 

Guadalupe Feast Day with an evening 

of music and song with La Santa 

Cecilia straight from Los Angeles. 

La Santa Cecilia exemplifies the 

modern-day creative hybrid of Latin 

culture, rock and world music. The 

group draws inspiration from all over 

the world, utilizing Pan-American 

rhythms including cumbia, bossa-nova, 

rumba, bolero, tango, jazz and 

klezmer music. Named after the patron 

saint of music, La Santa Cecilia is composed 

of accordionist and requinto 

player Jose ‘Pepe’ Carlos, bassist Alex 

Bendaña, percussionist Miguel ‘Oso’ 

Ramirez, and vocalist ‘La Marisoul.’ 

Held bayfront at The Ringling’s Ca’ 

d’Zan Campiello, the evening will celebrate 

Virgen de Guadalupe’s Feast Day. 

Tickets: www.ringling.org. 

▼ 

The Glen-ridge 

Performing 

Arts Center 

The Glenridge Performing Arts 

Center’s 2023-2024 season runs 

▼ 

through April 

3. On December 

8 Nate 

Najar’s “Jazz 

Holiday” will 

perform. 

This annual 

tradition 

showcases 

Najar’s band, 

made up of 

local and New 

York based 

talent. Najar 

puts together 

a swinging 

group every 

year—a welloiled 

jazz 

machine that 

never fails to 

delight. 

Maria Wirries 

performs 

on January 6, 7:30 p.m. Wirries started 

giving concerts at GPAC when she 

was just 13 years old. Her voice teacher 

was Glenridge musical director 

Alan Corey. Since then, she graduated 

with honors with a degree in musical 

theater from Penn State. 

Wirries was most recently seen in 

the Off-Broadway revival of “Kinky 

Boots” and the Broadway and touring 

productions of “Dear Evan Hansen.” 

She was recently accepted into 

the prestigious Lehman Engel Musical 

Theatre Workshop. 

The Glenridge Performing Arts 

Center, 7333 Scotland Way, Sarasota. 

For tickets, call (941) 552-5325 or visit 

GPACtix.com. 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents the high-spirited musical revue, “Joyful! 

Joyful!” through December 30. Tickets: westcoastblacktheatre.org. 

Choral Artists 

Choral Artists presents its Christmas 

Celebration concert. Celebrate 

the spirit of Christmas through the 

power of song. Featuring an evening 

of holiday harmonies and festive 

favorites, including African-American 

spirituals on December 10, 7 

p.m., at Church of the Redeemer, 222 

S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota. 

Choral Cinemagic: Featuring 

popular movie music, including 

from the James Bond films, “Momma 

Mia!,” “Sister Act,” and a medley of 

all-time favorites. Sunday, February 

4, 7 p.m., at First Presbyterian 

Church, 2050 Oak Street, Sarasota. 

Tickets: choralartistssarasota.org/ 

▼ 

Sarasota 

Contemporary 

Dance 

Sarasota Contemporary Dance 

has Evolving/Revolving: Alyson 

Dolan & Drew Silverman on 

January 18-21 in the Jane B. Cook 

Theatre at the FSU Center for the 

Performing Arts. 

2024 launches with artists who 

have influenced the company in a 

collaboration that will expand the 

breadth of SCD’s repertory. SCD 

invites back choreographer/dancer 

Alyson Dolan (2006-2010) and composer/musician 

Drew Silverman 

(2009-2010) to co-create with Artistic 

Director, Leymis Bolanos Wilmott. 

Evolving/Revolving: Alyson 

Dolan & Drew Silverman, is a captivating 

new, multi-disciplinary 

work with projection design by New 

College of Florida student Lindsey 

Jennings. www.sarasotacontemporarydance.org 

▼ 

Musica Sacra 

of Sarasota 

On December 8, Musica Sacra of 

Sarasota has A Celtic Christmas, celebrating 

the season with the magic of 

pipes, fiddles, enchanting songs and 

dance. Presented in partnership with 

First Presbyterian Church Choir & 

The Lubben Brothers Band. Tickets: 

www.musicasacrasarasota.org or 

call 941-374-0940. 

▼ 

Sarasota Concert 

Association 

Sarasota Concert Association 

announces its 2024 Music Matinees 

concert series. These free afternoon 

concerts showcase regional musicians 

performing a variety of musical 

styles. From classical to marimba, 

this concert series includes something 

for everyone. 

Coming up is Corda Voce on 

Wednesday, January 10, at 2 p.m. 

Jenny Kim-Godfrey and Dr. Jonathan 

Godfrey form the soprano and classical 

guitar duo known as Corda Voce 

(Cor-da VO-chay - Italian for “string 

voice”). Since 2015 they have intertwined 

the influences of cabaret, classical, 

jazz, and popular music. 

The concerts are free but pre-registration 

is required and available 30 

days before each concert at SCAsarasota.org, 

or through our box office 

at (941) 966-6161. Attendees can 

reserve up to two tickets per matinee 

performance. 

Note their new time and location: 

First Presbyterian Church, 2050 

Oak Street, downtown Sarasota, at 2 

p.m. For more information about SCA, 

visit www.scasarasota.org or call the 

box office at 941-966-6161. 

Sarasota Concert Association has 

Canadian Brass Holiday Concert on 

December 4 at the Sarasota Opera 

House. Celebrating 50 years of making 

spirits bright, the world’s most famous 

brass quintet performs festive holiday 

favorites, from Carol of the Bells, to A 

Charlie Brown Christmas, swinging 

Glenn Miller tunes and more. 

Their Great Performer series kicks 

off with Sofia Philharmonic on January 

15, 2024 at the Van Wezel with 

Nayden Todorov, conductor and Liya 

Petrova, violin. 

Praised as “Bulgaria’s most illustrious 

musical institution” by Gramophone 

Magazine, the acclaimed Sofia 

Philharmonic makes its Sarasota 

debut to open the Sarasota Concert 

Association’s Great Performers Series. 

General director Nayden Todorov 

leads the orchestra in Beethoven’s 

beloved Symphony No. 7 and Brahms’ 

romantic Violin Concerto featuring 

violinist Liya Petrova. 

Tickets: www.SCAsarasota.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota Ballet 

Next up is Program 3 on December 

15-16 at the Sarasota Opera 

House. Program includes Theme 

and Variations with choreography 

by George Balanchine and music by 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. 

Divertissements include: Les 

Lutins with choreography by Johan 

Kobborg and music by Henryk Wieniawski 

and Antonio Bazzini 

In the Upper Room with choreography 

by Twyla Tharp and music by 

Philip Glass 

Tickets: www.sarasotaballet.org. 

▼ 

continued on page 8 


out and about continued 

At the Van Wezel 

▼ 

Coming up (partial list): 

• Sweet Caroline Tour: A Neil Diamond 

Christmas - December 4 

• Allman Betts family - December 12 

• Marie Osmond - December 13 

• Daniel O’Donnell - December 15 

• Celtic Angels Christmas - 

December 21 

• The Illusionists: Magic of the 

Holidays - December 16 

• Wheel of Fortune LIVE!” - 

December 17 

• Cirque Musica Holiday 

Wonderland - December 23 

Pre-show dining for both shows is 

available through Mattison’s at the 

Van Wezel which is located inside the 

theatre. Reservations can be made 

on VanWezel.org or through the box 

office. Tickets: www.VanWezel.org 

Bishop Museum 

of Science and 

Nature 

The Bishop has SHE ENGINEERS 

through December 31, 2023. SHE 

ENGINEERS is a bilingual (English 

and Spanish) poster exhibition 

highlighting eight women in various 

engineering fields. In their own 

words, the women share their passion 

and what inspired them to become 

engineers. 

The Bishop Museum of Science and 

Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Information: 

bishopscience.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota 

Art Museum 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling 

College has: 

• Contemporary/Traditional: Selections 

from the Basch Glass Collection 

through Feb. 11, 2024. Drawn 

from the Richard and Barbara Basch 

Collection, Contemporary/Traditional 

gives a glimpse into the dynamic 

world of international contemporary 

glass art of the late 20th and 21st centuries. 

This exhibition showcases a 

range of glasswork styles, from delicate 

figural sculptures to powerful 

abstract shapes. 

• Juana Valdés: Embodied Memories, 

Ancestral Histories through 

Feb. 11, 2024. This is Valdés’ first solo 

exhibition at a museum. It will showcase 

a range of works drawn from her 

three-decade-long career. Valdés’ 

work, anchored in history and narratives 

related to her Afro-Cuban heritage, 

addresses colonization’s history 

and migration’s impact, as well as the 

issues of gender, race, and the representation 

of the female body. 

• Judy Pfaff: Picking up the Pieces 

runs November 19-March 24, 2024. 

Pfaff, widely regarded as a pioneer of 

installation art, has created work that 

spans disciplines from painting to 

printmaking and sculpture to installation, 

eschewing definition. Pfaff 

ingeniously transmutes and transforms 

materials, including natural 

objects from her garden, hand-painted 

and digitally manipulated images, 

welded steel, aluminum, wood, 

expanded foam, melted plastic, blown 

glass, neon, and LED lights. 

Visit sarasotaartmuseum.org to 

learn more. Sarasota Art Museum 

is located at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, 

Sarasota. 

▼ 

The Hermitage 

The Hermitage 

Cross Arts 

Collaborative on 

December 14 features 

Hermitage 

Fellow Cleyvis 

Natera who will 

read from and 

offer insights into 

her debut novel, 

Neruda on the 

Park. She’ll also 

share a glimpse 

into her writing 

process at the 

Johann Fust Community 

Library in 

Boca Grande. 

The book is 

based in a Dominican 

community in 

New York City on 

the brink of the seemingly inevitable 

gentrification process, Natera’s novel 

charts the varied reactions to this new 

reality: some are willing to accept it, 

some may even benefit, but others are 

planning to risk everything to fight 

to keep their home. Offering no easy 

answers, the story ultimately asks: 

who are the people and where are the 

places that make us who we are? Hear 

the author read and discuss her work 

and gain insight into what’s up next for 

this much-praised writer. 

Registration is required at: HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

▼ 

At The Ringling 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art has Mountains of the 

Mind: Scholars’ Rocks from China 

and Beyond which runs through June 

23, 2024 in The Ringling’s Ting Tsung 

and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian 

Art. The exhibit features a selection of 

scholars’ rocks and related paintings 

and prints, including rocks recently 

donated from the extensive collection 

of Nancy and Stan Kaplan, a new 

acquisition funded by Lucia and Steve 

Almquist and paintings on loan from 

the Dongguan Lou Collection. 

Scholars’ rocks are collected from 

remote geographic locations, where 

they have been formed by natural 

elements over millions of years. The 

stones may then be carved, polished 

and inscribed before being displayed 

in a custom-made stand to enhance 

their visual appeal. Scholars’ rocks are 

both natural objects and products of 

human creativity. 

Mountains of the Mind will feature 

a wide array of scholars’ rocks in 

various shapes, textures and geological 

properties. The rocks are further 

contextualized by paintings, prints 

and texts that illuminate their cultural 

importance for scholars across 

the centuries. The stones have been 

appreciated and admired in China 

for more than a thousand years; 

historically, connoisseurs displayed 

their stones in their studios alongside 

paintings and other treasures, where 

they served as a focus for meditation 

or creative contemplation. 

On view through March 3 is Working 

Conditions. Explore labor through 

The Ringling’s Photography Collection. 

The Industrial Revolution of the 

eighteenth and nineteenth centuries 

radically changed the nature of human 

labor. Photography was itself introduced 

to the public in 1839. 

The subsequent development of 

photographic media has thus been 

intertwined with the culture of labor 

▼ 

ever since. In addition to the camera’s 

technical use as an instrument to record, 

photographers have also created 

images over the decades that have 

helped shape how we think about 

work and the politics of labor. This 

exhibition explores the myriad ways 

in which photographs have communicated 

ideas about labor since the 

nineteenth century through examples 

from The Ringling’s photography permanent 

collection. 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 

Sarasota. Info: www.ringling.org. 

Theatre 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

presents its Christmas card to the 

community with the high-spirited 

musical revue, “Joyful! Joyful!” A 

blend of new takes on traditional 

holiday tunes, gospel-infused classics 

and pop songs, the show will 

include a twist on the carol “Joy to 

the World,” a version of “Carol of 

the Bells” that is an homage to the 

O’Jays, and a lively gospel rendition 

of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” to 

name a few. 

Some favorite WBTT performers, 

talented Stage of Discovery students, 

and some fresh new faces will 

put audiences in a festive holiday 

spirit. Jacobs will direct. Show runs 

through December 30. 

Location: WBTT’s Donelly Theatre, 

1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. Tickets: 

westcoastblacktheatre.org 

▼ 

The Players Sarasota has A Tuna 

Christmas running December 2-17. 

In this sequel to Greater Tuna, it’s 

Christmas in the third-smallest town 

in Texas. Radio station news personalities 

Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie 

report on various Yuletide activities, 

including the hot competition in 

the annual lawn-display contest. In 

other news, voracious Joe Bob Lipsey’s 

production of A Christmas Carol is 

jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. 

Moses and Kitch stand around on 

the corner – passing the time and hoping 

that maybe today will be different. 

As they dream of their promised land, 

a stranger wanders into their space 

with his own agenda and derails their 

plans. Emotional and lyrical, Pass 

Over crafts everyday profanities into 

poetic and humorous riffs, exposing 

the unquestionable human spirit of 

young men stuck in a cycle just looking 

for a way out. 

Held at The Players Studio Black Box, 

1400 Blvd. of the Arts, Suite 200, 

Sarasota. Tickets: theplayers.org 

▼ 

Manatee Performing 

Arts 

Center has these 

shows: 

• She Loves Me 

— In this case of 

mistaken identity 

and letter writing, 

two feuding 

perfume clerks 

have no idea that 

they are in love. 

Runs through 

December 10. 

• Disney’s The 

Aristocats Kids 

Show — Based 

on the Disney 

animated film, 

and featuring 

a jazzy, upbeat 

score, Disney’s 

▼ 

The Aristocats KIDS is a thrill ride of 

feline fun. December 9. 

• Tis the Season Concert— Recording 

artist and singer-songwriter, Joe 

Gattuso, has brought together musicians 

to create a show that will flood 

you with Christmas memories. Nyke 

van Wyk, a violinist will dazzle you 

with his modern take on Christmas 

classics. Melinda Drake, international 

singing competition winner of 2023 

will captivate your imagination as she 

sings both original and classic Christmas 

melodies. Runs December 21-22. 

• The Nutcracker — Under the artistic 

direction of Darya Fedotova and 

Sergiy Mykhaylov, The International 

Ballet of Florida will present “The Nutcracker” 

Ballet a Christmas tradition 

for the entire family. The original choreography 

is by Vadim Fedotov and is 

set to the music of Pyotor Tchaikovsky. 

International Ballet of Florida will 

join dancers from the National Ballet 

of Ukraine, Lithuanian National 

Baller, Orlando National Ballet, and 

more. December 23. 

• You’re Some Kind of Wonderful 

— US soul legend John Ellison was 

the lead singer and songwriter of the 

Legendary Atlantic Recording Group 

known as the Soul Brothers Six who 

first recorded the classic song, “She’s 

Some Kind of Wonderful”. To date 

“Some Kind of Wonderful” has been 

covered by more than 70 artists. This 

great classic song has received millions 

of airplays, and in 1994 it was the 

third most played song in the world. 

Now it’s time that the world be introduced 

to the person who wrote this 

iconic and classic song with John Ellison 

delivering his ultimate version of 

that instant classic. December 30. 

Box Office: 941-748-5878. Manatee 

Performing Arts Center, 502 Third 

Avenue W, Bradenton. 

Venice Theatre ’s Raymond Center 

(Venice Theatre’s 130-seat temporary 

stage in the Raymond Center directly 

behind the main building) will be A 

Christmas Carol running Dec. 1-20. 

Based on the story by Charles Dickens, 

Venice Theatre’s musical version 

of A Christmas Carol returns with the 

joyous spirit of the year-end holidays. 

Intergenerational veterans from past 

productions (including Brad Wages as 

Scrooge) join with new cast members 

to tell Charle Dickens’ story of redemption 

and rebirth. 

Info: venicetheatre.org/ 

▼ 

▼ 

At the Van 

Wezel the 

Allman Betts 

family on 

December 12. 

Tickets: www. 

VanWezel.org 

Asolo Rep has Crazy For you 

through January 4, 2024. Put on 

your dancing shoes as you are transported 

back to the Roaring Twenties 

by this Tony Award-winning, romantic 

musical comedy. Featuring iconic 

Gershwin songs such as “Someone 

to Watch Over Me,” “I Got Rhythm,” 

and “Embraceable You,” Crazy For 

You delivers comic high jinks, spectacular 

dance numbers, and fun for 

the entire family. 

Visit asolorep.org to learn more info. 

FSU/Asolo Conservatory for 

Actor Training has Miss Julie running 

February 15 -March 10. By 

August Strindberg. Witness a clandestine 

encounter of desire, lust and forbidden 

love. On a Midsummer Night, 

the count’s daughter, Julie, enters 

the kitchen, sparking a dangerous 

connection with the servant, Jean. As 

their illicit affair unfolds, Christine, 

another servant and Jean’s fiancé, 

quietly observes, leading to a shocking 

climax. Experience a naturalistic 

tragedy where class, sex and fate 

intertwine, as Julie and Jean spiral 

into a mesmerizing “dance of death”. 

For information, visit asolorep.org/ 

conservatory 

▼ 

Florida Studio Theatre has the 

latest iteration of Deck the Halls. This 

interactive family-friendly, musicfilled 

show celebrates everything 

that makes the holidays in Sarasota 

special. Since Deck the Halls was 

first produced in 2016, the show has 

become a holiday tradition for many 

families on the Suncoast. 

This year, the festivities return 

with all-new sketches, all-new songs, 

and all-new memories ready for 

the making. Created by Caroline 

Saldivar and Sarah Durham with 

additional material by Dellan 

Short and Jeremy Weinstein, Deck the 

Halls plays select Saturdays and Sundays 

in FST’s Keating Theatre. 

Inspired by happenings in the 

community and trends in popular 

culture, this year’s edition of Deck the 

Halls will lovingly spoof everything 

from over-the-top commercials and 

Taylor Swift-mania to snowbirds and 

the rise of TikTok—all shared through 

a family-friendly lens. Audiences 

can also expect entertaining parodies 

of classic holiday songs—such as 

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” 

and “Jingle Bells”—as well as original 

comedy sketches featuring five of Santa’s 

favorite elves and Mrs. Claus herself. 

Runs to December 24. 

Florida Studio Theatre’s has It’s A 

Blunderful Life, an improvised holiday 

musical playing one-night only: 

December 23. With no scripts, no 

musical score, and absolutely no idea 

what will happen next, FST’s ensemble 

of improvisers will deliver fullblown 

musical numbers, drama, and 

spontaneous choreography in this 

musical improv show. 

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org or 

call 941-366-9000. 

▼ 

Sarasota Jewish Theatre has 

three plays from January through 

May: “Fully Committed” by Becky 

Mode, “Better Late” by Larry Gelbart, 

and “The Immigrant” by Mark 

Harelik. The plays are presented at 

The Players Centre Studio 1130 at the 

Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. 

Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

To purchase tickets and subscriptions, 

visit ThePlayers.org or call 941-365- 

2494. For information, visit Sarasota- 

JewishTheatre.org. 

▼ 

continued on page 10 


Engaging Adult Day program 

for your Loved One 

& Caregiver respite time 

for You 

Take a few hours for self-care 

or to run errands weekly without 

concern for your loved one home alone. 

1820 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota 

Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 3:30pm 

2350 Scenic Drive, Venice 

Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm 

Call for a tour! (941) 556-3268 

See our website for details and virtual tour 

www.friendshipcenters.org 


out and about continued 

Soundbox Ventures 

Their “Listen Hear” Salon Concerts 

are on December 16, March 8 

and March 20 at St. Boniface Episcopal 

Church. This interactive “exhibition 

for music” series examines a 

specific way we hear expression and 

meaning. Curated by Max Tan, each 

salon-style event includes a classical 

music program, insights from the 

artists, and conversations with the 

audience. 

The three-event series begins with 

“Preludes with Marisa,” a world premiere 

of “12 Preludes for Solo Piano” 

by the Catalonian composer Marc 

Migó, on December 16. American pianist 

Marisa Gupta will present the 

world premiere of “12 Preludes for Solo 

Piano” by the Catalonian composer 

Marc Migó. Max Tan will host a conversation 

with Migó and Gupta about 

the process of composing new works 

and the relationships between composers 

and performers. This program 

is sponsored, in part, by the Iberian 

Foundation of the City University of 

New York Graduate Center for Music. 



soundboxventures.org/events. St. 

Boniface Episcopal Church is located 

at 5615 Midnight Pass Road on 

Siesta Key. 

▼ 

At The Galleries 

Island Gallery and Studios presents 

“Enchanted Florida Holidays.” 

The Art Walk reception is on December 

9, from 5-8:30 pm. Mingle with 

artists while taking in the artworks 

and enjoying holiday refreshments. 

Holiday creations by member 

artists will showcase throughout 

the gallery in December. You’ll find 

hand-crafted ornaments, cards and 

prints, and a variety of original artworks 

that make great gifts. 

Downtown Bradenton’s Winter 

Wonderland on Old Main Street includes 

live music and dancing, vendors, 

food and activities for the kids. 

Added this year - a hayride. 

Island Gallery and Studios is 

located at 456 Old Main Street in 

downtown Bradenton. Visit www. 

islandgalleryandstudios.org or call 

941-778-6648. 

▼ 

Art CenterManatee has Joyful 

Expressions and the annual Holiday 

Extravaganza in their galleries 

through December 29. 

January 30 -March 8 brings the 

156th International American 

Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit 

and Florida Suncoast Watercolor 

Society Annual Aqueous Exhibit. 

AWS features master watercolor 

artists from around the world and 

the ArtCenter will be one of only 

three venues in the United States to 

host the traveling exhibit. The opening 

reception for these two don’t miss 

shows will be February 1, 5-7pm. 

They’re at 209 9th St W, Bradenton. 

Info: ArtCenterManatee.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota Orchestra’s Harmony 

Gallery features local artists showcasing 

their work in solo exhibitions 

throughout the Orchestra’s season. 

These juried exhibitions feature 

artists with mediums ranging from 

painting to pastels to mixed media. 

Twenty-five percent of all proceeds 

from the sale of the artwork benefit 

Sarasota Orchestra. 

▼ 

JoAnn Golenia Exhibition 

Titled: Take a 

Hike! runs through 

December 11. Golenia is 

a painter and has exhibited 

in international 

venues including the 

International Festival in 

Houston, Texas, the Carnegie 

Center for Art and 

History in New Albany, 

Indiana, and the Schweinfurth 

Memorial Art 

Center in Auburn, New 

York. Locally, she has 

exhibited at Art Center 

Sarasota, Lighthouse 

Center for the Arts, 

Tequesta, FL, and the 

Venice Art Center. 

Next up is Booker 

High School VPA Student 

Exhibition. VPA 

visual art students will 

present a collection 

of two-dimensional 

artwork from various 

genres. Exhibit 

Dates: December 

14-January 25. Reception: 

January 24, 5 - 6:30 

pm. 

Information: www. 

Sarasota Orchestra.org. 

Art Center Sarasota 

Cycle 2: Runs through January 13, 

2024. Opening Reception: December 

7, 6-8 p.m. 

• Aimee Jones: Aimee Jones’ 

paintings use Florida’s landscape of 

desire and lust to portray the body, 

interwoven with the American idea 

of paradise. She plays with the dichotomy 

of the female form as a political 

landscape and the power of a woman’s 

bodily agency. 

• Ethan Fielder: Ethan Fielder will 

exhibit a body of sculptural ceramics, 

which examines personal and collective 

growth inspired by formative 

moments of transformation that he 

experienced through his turbulent 

countrywide travels in 2020. 

• Tom Casmer: In his upcoming 

exhibition, “ges•talt,” Tom Casmer 

brings to life the infrastructure that 

lies beneath the skin, the fabric of the 

world around him. Drawing inspiration 

from the organic and inorganic alike, 

Casmer’s sources include the human 

figure, nature, and machine-made elements. 

His work recognizes the mechanism 

of organic and addresses the connection 

between the mechanical form 

and the human system. 

• Juried Show: “Still Life.” Artists 

are invited to present their formal 

and conceptual notions of modern 

day still life. Still life work often holds 

suggestive and symbolic imagery that 

informs the viewer on the artist’s message, 

biography, or cultural climate. 

The juror for this exhibition is Mara 

Torres, owner and curator of MARA 

Art Studio + Gallery in Sarasota. 

Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. Info: www. 

artsarasota.org. 

▼ 

SPAACES presents EXIT MUSIC: 

Continuum, featuring the work of 

St. Petersburg-based artist Nathan 

Beard through December 16. Lecture 

by Nathan Beard is on December 

16, 10-11 a.m. 

As patrons leave a movie or theatrical 

performance, Exit Music helps 

usher our senses from the imaginary 

world back to the mundane. Beard 

▼ 

The 

Glenridge 

Performing 

Arts Center 

has Maria 

Wirries on 

January 6, 

7:30 p.m. 

For tickets, 

call (941) 

552-5325 

or visit 

GPACtix.com. 

employs Exit Music as a metaphor 

for transition through liminal space. 

Meditating upon the connective patterns 

underlying events, Beard seeks a 

deeper understanding of the intricate 

relationships between matter, space, 

energy and time. Beard’s richly-layered 

Exit Music paintings combine 

playful Abstract Expressionism with 

fields of color that transition slowly 

through color and temperature. He 

slices blue painter’s tape, strip-bystrip, 

and methodically applies it to 

create cyclic patterns that enhance 

the dimension and movement of 

roughly-hewn serpentine forms floating 

in an expressionistic soup. 

For tickets and reservation 

(required) www.spaaces.art. SPAAC- 

ES is at 2051 Princeton St., Sarasota. 

Selby Gardens has Clyde Butcher: 

Nature Through the Lens at the 

Historic Spanish Point campus on 

view to August 31, 2024. Featuring 

extraordinary, large-format wildlife 

prints by this well-known landscape 

photographer and conservationist, 

Clyde Butcher: Nature Through 

the Lens gives viewers the chance to 

engage with Clyde Butcher’s artwork 

against the backdrop of our Historic 

Spanish Point campus. selby.org. 

Sarasota 

▼ 

Orchestra 

▼ 

Masterworks performances take 

place at Van Wezel and Neel Performing 

Arts Center. 

• The Scottish – December 2, 3 with 

Johannes Debus, conductor; Randall 

Goosby, violin performing John Corigliano 

– Stomp; Mozart – Violin Concerto 

No. 3 and Mendelssohn – Symphony 

No. 3 (Scottish) 

• Friends & Inspirations – January 5, 

6, 7 with Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor 

and Sir Stephen Hough, piano, 

performing Clarice Assad – Bonecos 

De Olinda; Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody 

on a Theme of Paganini; Elgar –Enigma 

Variations 

The Discoveries series features bitesized 

programs delighting 

both devotees and 

newcomers to great 

chamber orchestra repertoire. 

Discoveries performances 

take place 

at the Sarasota Opera 

House. 

• Next up is Cheers to 

the Music of Dance on 

December 20 with Yue 

Bao, conductor, performing 

J. Strauss, Jr. 

–Voices of Spring; Gluck 

– Dance of the Blessed 

Spirits; J. Strauss, 

Jr. – Emperor Waltzes; 

Brahms – Hungarian 

Dance No. 5 and Poulenc 

– Sinfonietta 

The Great 

Escapes series offers a 

mix of popular tunes, 

light classics and conductor 

commentary. 

Great Escapes performances 

take place at 

Holley Hall. 

• Next top is Holiday 

Party on December 

6-10 with Kelly Corcoran, 

conductor 

The Chamber 

Soirées series offers the 

opportunity to get up close and personal 

with Sarasota Orchestra musicians 

as they perform magnificent, 

small ensemble works. This season 

includes six programs featuring string 

and piano quartets, classics for wind 

and brass instruments, rare gems and 

more. Chamber Soirées performances 

take place at Holley Hall. 

• Next up is Beethoven and Berio on 

December 21 with Gabrieli – Four 

Canzoni (Arr. For Brass Quintet); 

Berio –Opus Number Zoo and Beethoven 

– String Quartet No. 2 

For further information, visit www. 

SarasotaOrchestra.org. 

Art Around 

the State 

The legacy of writer and painter 

Leonora Carrington on view at The 

Dalí Museum. During her lifetime, 

Leonora Carrington produced more 

than 2,000 paintings and authored 

several notable written works, earning 

the Women’s Caucus for Art Lifetime 

Achievement award in 1986. The Dalí 

Museum will present “Leonora Carrington: 

Writer, Painter, Visionary,” 

to Jan. 7, 2024 in The Museum’s Raymond 

James Community Room. The 

exhibition will highlight Carrington’s 

personal life, her written work and her 

visionary images. 

Carrington’s remarkable life was 

filled with adversity and profoundly 

shaped her artistic endeavors. Born 

into a wealthy conservative English 

family, she rebelled early on, finding 

solace in her partnership with Ernst. 

WWII ruptured their bond when 

Ernst was arrested by the French 

police and German Gestapo. These 

separations initiated Carrington’s 

collapse, propelling her to leave 

France. In Madrid, another mental 

breakdown led her to be institutionalized 

in a Spanish asylum against 

her will. She orchestrated an escape 

by a marriage of convenience with 

Mexican Ambassador Renato Leduc, 

which facilitated her flight to New 

York. She eventually settled in Mexico, 

where she thrived creatively, 

▼ 

forming connections with expatriate 

artists and marrying photographer 

Emerico “Chiki” Weisz. The majority 

of her most notable work was created 

in Mexico, her primary residence 

until her death in 2011 at the age of 94. 

Visit TheDali.org. 

Explore the Vaults: Water + Color. 

This exhibition explores paintings and 

drawings from the MFA’s permanent 

collection made using water-based 

media, including ink, gouache, and of 

course watercolor. The works in this 

gallery, both on the walls and in the 

cabinet drawers, show the wide array 

of visual effects—from crisp lines to 

delicately hued washes to intensely 

saturated passages—created through 

water’s interaction with pigments 

upon various surface. Among the 

most ancient of all artistic techniques 

is painting or drawing with pigments 

suspended in water. 

Because they can be created from 

simple substances—such as naturally 

occurring minerals, soot, 

plant materials, and water—these 

paints and inks are found in cultures 

around the globe. This exhibition 

explores paintings and drawings 

from the MFA’s permanent collection 

made using water-based media, 

including ink, gouache, and of 

course watercolor. In contrast to 

more complicated media, like egg 

tempera or oil paint, water-based 

paints and inks are easier to work 

with, dry more quickly, and can be 

used successfully without specialized 

training. Over the last two hundred 

years, commercially produced 

pigments and new media like acrylic 

paint have expanded the range of 

colors and finishes for water-based 

techniques. The works in this gallery, 

both on the walls and in the cabinet 

drawers, show the wide array of visual 

effects—from crisp lines to delicately 

hued washes to intensely saturated 

passages—created through 

water’s interaction with pigments 

upon various surfaces. Runs through 

January 7. Info: mfastpete.org. 

▼ 

Meetings 

On December 15, The Palm-Aire 

Women’s Club has Broadway musical 

actress Ann Morrison who will 

perform for their holiday luncheon. 

Morrison is best known as Mary Flynn 

in the Stephen Sondheim/George 

Furth musical Merrily We Roll 

Along. She won the Theatre World 

Award for her performance. She has 

performed on television, stage and 

in cabaret. 

Contact Ann King at Pawc2023@ 

gmail.com to be included on the 

email list. Visit the PAWC website: 

www.palm-airewomensclub.org. 

▼ 

The Manatee Genealogical Society 

will have its 2024 Annual Seminar 

on Saturday, January 27, 2024. 

The theme of the seminar is “Finding 

Your Elusive Ancestors” and as 

in the past, with nationally known 

speakers. For more information, visit 

https://mgsfl.org/. 

▼ 

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get to know 

Meet the Women 

Behind Osprey’s Most Exciting Destination: 


Diamonds, jewels, 

flowers, art, 

music, textiles, 

and photography 

from distant 

shores along 

with wonderful dining options 

are waiting to be discovered 

on Destination Drive, at 

the shops of Bay Street Village 

Towncenter, Osprey, FL. 

from distant shores along 

with wonderful dining options 

are waiting to be discovered 

on Destination Drive, at 

the shops of Bay Street Village 

Towncenter, Osprey, FL. 

All thanks to the talented 

women entrepreneurs who 

have created this special 

place that is nestled in a 

beautifully designed Mediterranean-style 

town center, 

near the intersection of Bay 

Street and South Tamiami. 

Diamond Bay Jewelers’ owner 

Monica Galfre is one the 

women business entrepreneurs 

behind these unique 

and successful business. 

After she and her Swisstrained 

watchmaker husband 

Jorge Rysko opened Diamond 

Bay Jewelers in January 2023, 

Monica began to meet her 

business neighbors. She 

saw opportunity. “Working 

together, I thought that we 

could create a wonderful 

shopping and dining destination. 

All our stores and 

businesses complement each 

other, and we’re all only steps 

away.” Her fellow women 

business owners agreed. They 

began coordinating their 

efforts and cross promoting 

each other’s services and 

talents. Today, the Bay Street 

Village Towncenter is one 

of the region’s most exciting 

destinations. 

Monica is also the woman 

behind the highly successful 

18-year-old Silver City Jewelry, 

a Siesta Key landmark. “When 

my husband and I decided to 

open Diamond Bay Jewelers 

in Osprey, in January, 2023, 

we returned to our roots in 

the fine jewelry world.” Silver 

City carries the area’s finest 

silver jewelry, custom designs, 

L to R - Dr. Karolina Baker, MD, Aven Clinic; Monica Galfre, Diamond Bay Jewelers; Abbey Box, Sutra Fine Art & 

Textiles from India Photo Gallery; Dr. Doaa Talees, DPT, Physical Therapy Doctors; Midge Johnson, Midge Johnson’s 

Fine Art Studio; Susan Pohlmann, By-the-Bay Bistro; Gemma Lewis, Flowers on Bay Street and Dr. Delia Cotera, DDS. 

and trademarked Watercolor 

Gemstone and Tide Away jewelry 

line. Trip Advisor named 

Silver City Sarasota’s #1 destination. 

The store has over 350 

reviews and more than 5,000 

likes on Facebook. 

Diamond Bay Jewelers is 

where Monica’s customers 

find exquisite gems, fine 

watches and jewelry for 

women and men in gold, 

platinum and silver. “We 

specialize in fine watches and 

watchmaking and we are one 

of a select number of jewelers 

nationwide to carry the elegant 

Gabriel & Co. line of fine 

jewelry as well as the beautiful 

Imperial Pearl line.” 

Flowers on Bay Street, Diamond 

Bay Jewelers’ neighboring 

business, showcases 

the talented New York City 

floral designer Gemma Lewis. 

The shop is filled with silk 

and natural flowers arrangements. 

Gemma also visits 

client’s homes and offices 

to decorate with her floral 

designs and for the holidays, 

she is decorating Christmas 

trees in her client’s homes. 

Her monthly classes in flower 

design are also popular. Next 

door, Midge Johnson’s Fine 

Art studio is where the artist 

creates and sells her original 

abstract paintings. Midge and 

her classically trained pianist 

husband, Alan Wasserman, 

who has performed at New 

York City’s Carnegie Hall, also 

offer performance sessions 

where he plays a classical 

piece of music and discusses 

the work, as she paints. 

When photographer Abbey 

Box opened her Sutra Fine 

Art & Textiles from India Photo 

Gallery in early November, 

next door to Midge Johnson, 

customers discovered Box’s 

rare collection of exquisite 

silk and embroidered 

cashmere stoles from India, 

textiles, paintings and more. 

“Abbey,” Monica noted, “is a 

wonderful photographer. Her 

images in black and white, 

and color, from India and the 

United States, would grace 

any home’s walls. We’re so 

happy that she joined us.” 

Three talented culinary 

artists also have their restaurants 

at the Bay Street Village 

Towncenter. The charming 

By-the-Bay-Bistro is open or 

breakfast and lunch where 

chef and owner Susan Pohlmann 

makes every item to 

order. “Her delicious baked 

goods are imported from 

Europe,” Monica advises. At 

the front of the Towncenter, 

the lively Tacos & Tequila 

Mexican restaurant opens for 

lunch and dinner. On the second 

floor, for dinner, a taste 

of Italy awaits at Bella Vino 

& Cucina Italian restaurant. 

Dana Lopez and her husband 

Isell own and managed both. 

Representing the medical 

community at her Aven 

Clinic are Dr. Karolina Baker, 

MD, a board-certified family 

medicine and functional 

medicine provider, Dr. Gabby 

Doaa Talees, PTDPT, PCS ,of 

Physical Therapy Doctors, 

and Dr. Delia Cotera, DDS. 

“I know that I speak for all of 

my fellow business entrepreneurs 

in saying thank you,” 

said Monica. “We at Diamond 

Bay Jewelers look forward to 

being your home town jeweler 

and welcoming everyone 

to the women-owned businesses 

on Destination Drive, 

at the Bay Street Town Center 

in Osprey! ” 

Coming up at 


♦ Friday, December 22, Diamond Bay Jewelers’ Men’s 

Christmas Shopping Event 

♦ On Friday, December 22, from 3 pm–7 pm, Diamond 

Bay Jewelers will host a special men’s shopping event. Visit 

diamondbayjewelers.com. 

♦ Saturday, January 27, Diamond Bay Jewelers One Year 

Anniversary Celebration 

In-store celebration. Wine and cheese. Visit diamondbayjewelers.com 

♦ Saturday, February 3, 15th Anniversary Celebration – Bay 

Street Village Town Center, Osprey 

Enjoy shopping, food trucks and music and explore the 

beautiful Bay Street Village Towncenter shops. 

♦ Monday–Wednesday, February 6-8, 10 am–5 pm, Three- 

Day Estate Buying Event at Diamond Bay Jewelers, Osprey 

Turn your old treasures into cash. Diamond Bay Jewelers 

is hosting a special three-day estate buying event with National 

Rarities, a trusted, professional estate buying service. 

Fine jewelry, coins and currency, scrap gold and silver, platinum, 

fine art and luxury goods, sterling silver, watches, 

rarities, toys and advertising and diamonds are all wanted. 

Visit nationalrarities.com and diamondbayjewelers.com. 

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healthier you 

Rodney D. Gerling, Esq. 

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Get West Coast Woman delivered FREE! 

Subscribe 

to our monthly 

e-magazine 

Read, click, 

turn pages 

— all at the 

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Send your email addy to: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

♫Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 

Fa la la la la– la la la la!♫ 

That’s right, ‘Tis the season 

to be jolly.’ Soon we’ll be 

donning our gay apparel 

and heading to Grandma’s 

house (or other relative 

or friend) for holiday 

fun, songs, and gifts. And 

let us not forget Grandma’s table 

filled to the brim with a bountiful 

feast: pecan pie, honey-baked ham, 

sweet potato casserole with marshmallow 

topping and candy cane 

truffles – Yum-yum! It causes me to 

pause and think of all the fun, family, 

and friends of holidays past. 

Sweet treats and rich meals can 

be tempting, yet no one wants to 

feel deprived during the holidays. 

I confess, even as an expert in 

nutrition and metabolic medicine, 

I have a long history of letting the 

holidays get the better of me too. 

Fear not – Read on. I promise, 

you’ll not be asked to lock yourself 

in a closet for the month or be 

made to eat a dinner of iceberg lettuce. 

There are more sensible and 

fun ways to navigate this territory 

and come out January 2nd even 

healthier. 

1 

Nix the guilt. – Feeling guilty 

after eating foods you don’t 

usually allow yourself to eat 

can breed more unhealthy behaviors. 

So, abandon those negative 

voices in your head, give yourself 

permission to enjoy the indulgence, 

guilt-free, and then remember 

to get back on track with your 

normal eating routine the very 

next day. 

2 

Three 

bites and good 

night. – Stick to the threebite 

rule for desserts: The first 

bite is the best, the last the grand 

finale, and every bite in between 

is the same. In three bites, you get 

the full dessert experience, so really 

focus on savoring those three and 

you’re less likely to overindulge. 

3 

Alternate 

your drink with 

sparkling water. – On average, 

most adults consume 

almost 100 calories a day from 

alcohol. Alternating between an 

alcoholic beverage and a zero-calorie 

sparkler can help you avoid 

pouring on the pounds. Plus, sparkling 

water keeps things festive 

and, bonus, you’ll avoid entering 

the hangover zone, a not-so-happy 

holiday tradition side-effect. 

4 

Stay 

physically active. – If 

you are not a gym or sports 

buff, make a holiday tradition 

of walks or bike rides around 

the neighborhood or park with 

friends and family (or your dog). 

5 

Get 

enough rest. – Between 

holiday traveling, 

work schedules, and all that 

shopping, it can be easy to skimp 

on sleep in order to get your to-dolist 

done, but getting a consistent 

seven to nine hours of sleep every 

night helps regulate hormones, 

promotes recovery from workouts, 

and prevents daily fatigue. Plus, 

it keeps you from face-planting 

directly into your mom’s apple 

pie. There’s really no such thing as 

“catching up” on sleep, so the key 

is consistency. 

To Your Good Health, 

Dr. Dan Watts 

————————————————— 

Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM and Deb 

Spinner, ARNP, MSN, are experts in 

Integrative Medicine. 

With over 25 

years experience in 

Hormone Balancing, 

a Post-doctoral Certification 

in Metabolic 

Endocrinology, 

and a Fellowship in 

Anti-Aging, Regenerative, 

and Functional 

Medicine, Dr. Watts 

has put together 

programs that have 

helped thousands of 

patients renew their 

love and vigor for life. 

Dr. Dan Watts 

MD, ND, MSMN 

The Renewal Point 

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota 

Phone: 941-926-4905 

www.TheRenewalPoint.com 



your healthier health you 

Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

CST treats the whole body physically, physiologically, mentally, emotionally and energetically 

Clients come to me because they are in physical 

pain such as neck, back, pain and TMJ as well as 

for chronic headaches and migraines. 

Pain and stress caused by 

shortened Fascia 

Fascia (strong connective tissue) encases all 

our muscles, organs, brain and spinal cord. 

Whenever fascia shortens any place in the 

body, the entire network of fascia creates an 

increased tension affecting the functioning 

of our physical body as well as our organs, 

our brain and spinal cord. 

Our body is the history of every major 

trauma we have experienced physically and 

emotionally beginning with birth issues, falls, 

head trauma, car accidents, childhood abuse 

issues, death, divorce and other emotional 

issues. Our body tries to minimize each trauma 

by shortening fascia to isolate the energy 

coming into the body from that trauma. 

Shortened fascia results in pain, loss of mobility 

and range of motion, organs becoming 

less efficient and with parts of the brain and 

spinal cord becoming stressed. 

To keep the brain functioning, the body 

transfers some of your functional work play 

energy (7:00 AM-10:00 PM) to the brain resulting 

in less energy to make it through each 

day. As we age, the accumulation of all the 

tightened fascia, from every major trauma 

in life, begins to restrict every aspect of our 

body’s functions resulting in pain, loss of mobility, 

mis-functioning organs, loss of energy, 

as well as our brain losing some its sharpness. 

How Craniosacral 

Therapy Works 

The Craniosacral Therapist creates a safe 

place, with gentle holding techniques, that 

engages your body’s ability to self correct, 

reorganize and heal itself with the release 

of some of that tightened fascia during 

each session. As the Craniosacral Therapist 

engages your body, you will feel fascia releasing. 

As the fascia releases, pain begins to 

decrease, range of motion and mobility improve, 

organs begin functioning better and 

with less stress on the brain feels, it returns 

the energy it borrowed at the time of each 

trauma resulting in an immediate increase in 

your energy levels. Rarely does anyone leave 

from my first session not feeling better. 

Short Leg Syndrome 

Eighty-five percent of my clients have one 

of their legs pulled up 1/2 to 1 by shortened 

fascia. The tension from short leg syndrome 

on the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae at bottom 

of the spine) is transferred up the dural tube 

that encases the spinal cord into the lower 

and upper back, the neck, the cranium and 

The physical stress in bodies caused by shortened 

fascia (connective tissue) shuts down 

energy flows to certain organs. Short leg syndrome 

by ½ to 1 in (where one leg is pulled up 

by shortened fascia) shuts down energy flow to 

the spleen (an important part of your immune 

system) and the small and large intestine. With 

the release of that shortened fascia, energy returns 

to these organs. 

the brain. Headaches, migraines, TMJ and 

neck problems can originate from the fascial 

stress in the sacrum. 

Releasing this sacral stress increases energy 

in the bladder, sex organs, kidneys and 

the chakras as well as releasing major stress 

in the upper part of the body. 

Cause of Shallow Breathing 

A great majority of the clients who come to 

me for various problems are also shallow 

breathers. Fascial stress in the diaphragm 

restricts the depth of breathing by restricting 

energy flow to the lungs, the pericardium 

and the heart. With the release of fascial diaphragm 

restriction, the client immediately 

starts breathing deeply and energy is restored 

to the pericardium and the heart. 

Shoulder blades that are cemented to the 

body also restricts how much the rib cage can 

open and thereby also restricting depth of 

breath. Without proper breathing, your cells 

do not get enough oxygen. Everyone, especially 

people suffering from bronchitis, asthma 

and COPD as well as shallow breathing can 

benefit when the fascial stress is released. 

Specialized Training 

to work with Brain 

Dysfunctions 

Just as the body physically gets stressed from 

physical and emotional trauma, the functioning 

of the brain is also affected by fascial stress. For 

our brains to remain healthy, we need dynamic 

production of craniosacral fluid which performs 

the important function of bringing nourishment 

to all the cells in the brain and spinal 

cord as well as cleansing all the metabolic 

wastes given off by those same cells. 

Once the craniosacral fluid cleanses these 

metabolic wastes, efficient drainage of these 

metabolic wastes into the lymph system is 

absolutely necessary. Research has shown, 

that at night, craniosacral fluid cleanses amyloid 

plaques from the brain. If the drainage 

is inefficient, then the brain is being bathed 

in a toxic slurry. How does 15 or 20 years of 

your brain being bathed in a toxic slurry 

affect you: senile dementia, Parkinson’s, 

Alzheimer’s and other brain dysfunctions? 

A Craniosacral Therapist, who has received 

training in working with the brain, can reverse 

that stress on the brain that eventually can 

result in those brain dysfunctions. As we all 

know, the proper functioning of the body is 

dependent on a healthy functioning brain. 

Babies and Children can benefit 

■ Our little boy Leo, four years of age, had a 

difficult birth and at 7 months was put on antibiotics 

for an ear infection and as a result developed 

c-diff. His development came to a stop. 

At 3 years, with the help of an OT, he started 

to walk and talk. In spite of the improvements, 

he was unable to answer questions and his 

communication skills were very poor. Leo 

had very poor muscle tone, a lot of stress in 

his body and physical activities such walking, 

jumping and climbing were difficult for him. 

Beginning with the first session with Terry, 

he began showing improvement and with each 

following session. Everyone from his teachers 

to his grandparents noticed an increase in his 

■ “I was in awful pain and the 

MRI showed 2 pinched nerves 

and stenosis. I scheduled surgery. 

My daughter suggested Craniosacral therapy. 

After only 2 visits the pain was reduced to 

advanced craniosacral about 80% and therapy I canceled the surgery. I went 

for a 3rd visit and I am about 90% better.” 

■ “Simply Amazing! One visit was all it took for 

Terry to relieve 85% of my year long, nagging 

(sometimes severe) neck/shoulder tightness/ 

pain!! My breathing improved tremendously.” 

physical strength, as well as improvements in 

comprehension, speech and communication 

skills. For the first time, he started participating 

in class lessons and interacting with his 

classmates. Terry has made a huge impact on 

getting Leo to a place a little boy should be at 

age four. We cannot thank Terry enough. 

■ Terry’s treatment helped our 6 week old 

baby boy from recent hospitalization into 

the first series of healthy bowel movements 

when seemingly nothing could help. Our son 

was able to latch onto the breast and for the 

first time completed his feeding. He was much 

calmer after working with Terry. 

■ “He was able to relieve tension that I have 

been carrying around for 15 years or more. 

I left his office table with more energy than I 

have had in years.” 

■ “I began working with him because I was 

dealing with anxieties, depression and lots of 

emotional pain inside and out. You don’t realized 

how much stress can cause damage to 

your body, mind and soul. I can say Terry was 

a big help.” 

Terrence Grywinski 

of Advanced 

Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049 

Testimonials from Clients 

SOURCE: 

■ Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049. Terry has specialized in Craniosacral 

Therapy since 1994 when he began his training at the Upledger 

Institute. Described by his teachers, clients and colleagues 

as a “gifted healer”, Terry’s intuitive sense and healing energy 

provides immediate and lasting relief from injury, pain, mobility 

issues as well as dysfunctions of the body and the brain. Part 

of Terry’s ongoing education, he has completed 4 craniosacral 

brain and peripheral nervous system classes which enables him 

to work at a cellular 

level and with brain 

dysfunctions. 

Call 941-321-8757 

for more information, 

Google Advanced 

Craniosacral 

Therapy. 

■ “On a recent vacation to Siesta Key, I re-injured 

my back. I found Terry online. I can say 

with complete joy that was the best decision 

I made in the history of my back pain. I have 

sought many modalities and visit a CST regularly 

and never have I had such a healing in 

my entire body. 

After 3 sessions, I made a 16-hour drive 

home with no pain or discomfort in my entire 

body. Unbelievable. My body has a sense of 

moving freely and that is completely new. I’m 

advanced craniosacral therapy 

so grateful to Terry for his knowledge, for his 

sensitivity to my needs and his kind generosity 

in healing my body. I will see him when I return 

next year.” 

■ “I am a snowbird who spends 7 months 

in Sarasota. I have had back problems for 25 

years. Terry’s techniques have led to a great 

deal of release and relief in areas that have 

been problematic. I have been seeing him over 

the years when my body says ”it’s time”. Usually 

after a few sessions, I can tell a huge difference.” 



Stefania 

Fochi 

Owner and Top Chef at 

EMPANADA GIRL 

With Stef is her grandmother Paula Piccaluga 

She’s the owner of The Empanada Girl in Sarasota. 

Trained as a chef, she quit her day job and began selling 

at the Downtown Sarasota Farmer’s Market in 2010. 

Now she’s at three farmer’s markets, has a retail store with 

her family, has a new food truck and offers takeout and delivery. 


They fit in your hand so nicely 

and make for a savory or sweet 

on-the-go light meal or snack. 

We’re talking empanadas. 

They’re not calzones, tacos or 

wraps. Nope to pierogies, ravioli 

or egg rolls. Closest would 

be the English pasty, but the empanada is 

creatively diverse especially in the hands of 

Stefania Fochi, the owner and chef behind 

The Empanada Girl in Sarasota. 

So how is your empanada IQ? From The 

Empanada Girl website, “They [empanadas] 

are much like a turnover or pastry; 

they’re essentially a filling folded inside 

of a dough, which is then served either 

baked or fried. Empanadas are a staple Latin-American 

hand-held food-pocket, originating 

in Spain that has since made its way 

to all of South and Central America. Each 

culture has adapted them into their own 

unique version.” They left out one thing: 

they’re delicious. 

Rather than just meat-flavored, Stefania 

has diversified her offerings: Curried Veggie 

Chickpea, Margherita, Meatballs and 

Cheese, Spinach - to name a few. There are 

30 flavors in total and they offer gluten-free 

and vegan options. 

The Empanada Girl is a classic entrepreneur 

story—the one where someone makes 

a small batch of something, works from 

home, then starts selling small locally. Fast 

forward, their food is “discovered” and it 

takes off. In Stef’s case, she began selling at 

the Downtown Sarasota Farmer’s Market in 

2010 with just a small table table, one toaster 

oven, and seven empanada flavors. 

She used to seal every single empanada 

by hand. Tendonitis in her hands and 

arms meant importing a semi-automatic 

empanada sealing machine. Out went the 

physical hand-sealed shape, but in came 

consistent production. Their dough is made 

weekly, from scratch, with Italian 00 wheat 

flour. All of their empanadas are baked, not 

fried. Her flavors are “customer-driven” she 

explains, which is why there’s scrambled 

eggs in one of her empanadas. She admits 

resisting at first, but turns out it’s one of her 

best sellers. 

Years of experience have fine-tuned her 

business. She uses only whole foods and 

nothing is “precut”, meaning everything is 

made from scratch. “We have a cycle. Monday 

is prep day; Tuesday is dough [making] 

day and Wednesday and Thursday are machine 

days.” Describing herself as a “master 

delegator” she has moved away from doing 

it all - something most startups find hard to 

do. “I did everything myself - purchasing, 

cooking, marketing, rinse and repeat.” 

Another reason for delegating is that she 

is mom to twin, toddler boys which means 

she can’t be in the kitchen or at the markets 

all the time. The new food truck has also 

simplified things greatly. There’s no setup 

for one (that typically requires five people 

at the Sarasota Downtown Market, for 

example). Their food truck at the Phillippi 

Farmhouse Market is self-contained, requires 

no setup and the menu is on the side 

of the truck. 

Before The Empanada Girl, Stef earned 

a culinary degree locally, graduated, then 

started working for a high-end retirement 

community. It wasn’t for her, but there’s 

no acrimony, just the feeling that “there 

was no love” in the food being created and 

served. Food is love, she believes. 

Starting her own business was “a leap of 

faith” that now includes a retail store at 4141 

S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota and booths at The 

Sarasota Downtown Farmer’s Market, The 

Phillippi Farmhouse Market and The Lakewood 

Ranch Farmer’s Market. She also purchased 

a food truck that you can’t miss due 

to its bright pink color. Takeout, catering 

and wholesale round out her business. 

Cooking runs in the family from her 

mother to her grandmother. The three 

generations operate out of the S. Trail store 

called Peperonata Pasta and The Empanada 

Girl. Enter and you’ll find all kinds of 

fresh-made pastries, pastas and entrees to 

go. From their website, “We are a family of 

Italian immigrants from Argentina. We’ve 

been making pasta and empanadas all our 

lives and professionally in the US since 

2002.” Stef’s grandmother runs the store 

and bakes all the fabulous cookies on display. 

“She’s the best cook I ever met,” says 

Stef. Her mother makes all the pasta and 

does the baking. “Everything is made from 

scratch,” Stef says. 

It was her mother who came up with the 

idea of Stef selling empanadas and “I ran 

with it,” she explains. From her website, 

“Cooking is in my blood. Growing up, my 

mom cooked meals from scratch every single 

night. Very early on, I would hop on to 

assist doing whatever I could do: peel potatoes, 

bread milanesas, washing dishes.” 

Nothing prepared her for COVID, however, 

and like so many other businesses, she 

had to radically adjust. Her business closed 

for six months and reopened offering delivery 

- which she did herself - driving to and 

from Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, Bradenton 

and Punta Gorda. This also meant being 

online “all the time” doing marketing. And, 

she adds with pride, her staff never missed 

a paycheck. 

But there’s more to Stef’s great products 

and great family narrative. It’s how she 

feels about food and its preparation. From 

her website, “Everything began with the 

core values of respecting the food, using 

exclusively whole foods as ingredients, 

and cooking with love. It was a venture 

that really made my soul happy as I shared 

love and joy through my food. Through 

the years, I slowly expanded on flavors in 

response to the demand, as well as evolved 

the existing recipes. I spent years on every 

single recipe, slowly playing with proportions 

and seasonings until they reach perfection. 

It took me three years to evolve the 

proportions in my traditional beef recipe to 

the point to where it currently is today.” 

She goes on to say, “We cook with the 

intention that everyone that eats our empanadas 

feels the joy that we create them 

with, that everyone nutritionally receives 

exactly what they need from our food, and 

that everyone feels the satisfaction of eating 

food that is respected.” 

To learn more about The Empanada Girl, 

visit empanadagirl.com. 

STORY: Evelyn England 

IMAGES: Evelyn England 

Editor’s note: for me, I like contrasting 

sweet and savory flavors so I order spinach 

and butternut squash empanadas along 

with the guava and cheese empanada. 

Photo: peopleImages 

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Season Highlights: 

events we think you’ll find interesting or unique 

Direct from 

Windsor Castle 

The Queen’s Six comes direct from 

Windsor Castle where they work and 

live. This vocal sextet, drawn from 

the lay clerks of St. George’s Chapel, 

was recently featured on “CBS Sunday 

Morning.” In addition to their royal duties, 

they present concerts that include 

austere early chant, bawdy madrigals, 

haunting folk songs, and upbeat jazz 

and pop arrangements this time with 

The Queen’s Six CREDIT Gill Heppell 

Artist Series Concerts. They perform on 

December 17. 

For information, visit ArtistSeries 

Concerts.org or call (941) 306-1202. 

Do You Believe 

the Cher Show is at 

the Van Wezel? 

The Cher Show (January 10-12), also 

a Sarasota Premiere, is 35 smash hits, 

six decades of stardom, two rock-star 

husbands, a Grammy ®, an Oscar ® , an 

Emmy ® , and enough Tony Award-winning 

Bob Mackie gowns to cause a 

sequin shortage in New York City, all in 

one unabashedly fabulous new musical 

that will have audiences dancing in the 

aisles! www.vanwezel.org. 

Key Chorale has a 

US Premiere in 2024 

“The Legend of Bijan and Manijeh” 

will have its US Premiere in February 

2024 with Key Chorale and Orchestra, 

Joseph Caulkins conducting. 

“The Legend of Bijan and Manijeh” 

by Iranian composer Farhad Poupel for 

piano, choir, and orchestra with pianist 

Jeffrey Biegel, is an evocative work is 

based on an ancient Persian love story 

taken from the Shahnameh (The Book 

of Kings), an epic poem 

by Persian poet Ferdowsi 

written between 977 and 

1010 CE. 

The friendship between 

artistic director Joseph 

Caulkins and pianist Jeffrey 

Biegel led to this opportunity 

for Key Chorale. 

They have done numerous 

projects together, including 

one memorable performance 

of Beethoven’s 

“The Legend of Bijan and 

Manijeh” by Iranian composer 

Farhad Poupel 

“Choral Fantasy” in 2018 

with the Chorale. 

“I am deeply honored 

that this new piece of 

mine will be presented 

for the first time in the 

US by the distinguished 

forces of Jeffrey Biegel, 

Joseph Caulkins and Key 

Chorale,” says composer 

Farhad Poupel. 

“Key Chorale is thrilled to present the 

US premiere of this evocative and magisterial 

setting of this ancient Persian love 

story,” says Maestro Caulkins. “Poupel’s 

music is full of deep, rich orchestral 

colors with an incredible sensitivity to 

how the voices and piano interact with 

the orchestra. 

For more information visit 

keychorale.org. 

Sarasota Concert 

Association Chopin 

International Piano 

Competition Concert 

Sarasota Concert Association 

has pianist Bruce Liu on March 29 at 

Riverview Performing Arts Center. 

First Prize winner in the 2021 Chopin 

International Piano Competition, 

and the pianist who brought down 

the house two years ago in Sarasota 

with his incredible virtuosity, Bruce Liu 

pianist Bruce Liu 

will perform a recital including 

works by Rameau, Ravel, Chopin 

and Liszt. Tickets: SCAsarasota. 

org or call the box office at 941- 

966-6161. 

Selby Gardens: Yayoi 

Kusama: A Letter to 

Georgia O’Keeffe 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

will present Yayoi Kusama: A 

Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe as the 

eighth iteration of its annual Jean 

& Alfred Goldstein Exhibition, which 

examines the work of major artists 

through the lens of their connection to 

nature. 

The exhibition, which will be on view 

from February 11 through June 30, 2024, 

at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota 

campus, will explore the unexpected 

yet profoundly impactful mentoring 

relationship that developed between 

iconic artists Yayoi Kusama and Georgia 

O’Keeffe. 

Yayoi Kusama has become one of the 

world’s most influential contemporary artists. 

“The exhibition will emphasize the 

meaningful connection between Kusama 

and fellow artist Georgia O’Keeffe, based 

on their personal correspondence at a 

critical point in Kusama’s artistic development. 

This show also will explore the 

ways in which the work of both artists 

is rooted in nature, befitting an art and 

horticultural experience set in a botanical 

garden.” At Downtown Sarasota campus, 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. 

In the mid-1950s, Yayoi Kusama was 

a young artist living in Japan, where 

her future was very uncertain. Seeking 

advice from a more established female 

artist, Kusama wrote to Georgia O’Keeffe, 

whose work she greatly admired but 

whom she had never met. To Kusama’s 

surprise, O’Keeffe responded, thus 

establishing a correspondence that gave 

the young Japanese artist the courage to 

move to America and pursue her career 

in New York City, which was then the 

center of the art world. 

More information at selby.org/ 

Clyde Butcher 

at Selby Gardens’ 

Historic Spanish Point 

Clyde Butcher: Nature Through the 

Lens is on view through August 31, 2024. 

Clyde Butcher 

continued >> 


season highlights continued 

Featuring extraordinary, largeformat 

wildlife prints by this wellknown 

landscape photographer and 

conservationist, Clyde Butcher: 

Nature Through the Lens gives 

viewers the chance to engage with 

Clyde Butcher’s artwork against the 

backdrop of the Historic Spanish 

Point campus. selby.org/ 

Not to be Missed 

at ArtCenter Manatee 

January 30 -March 8 brings the 156th 

International American Watercolor 

Society Traveling Exhibit and Florida 

Suncoast Watercolor Society Annual 

Aqueous Exhibit. AWS features 

master watercolor artists from around 

the world and the ArtCenter will be one 

of only three venues in the United States 

to host the traveling exhibit. The opening 

reception for these two don’t miss 

shows will be Thursday, February 1, 

5:00-7:00pm. 209 9th St W, Bradenton, FL 

34205 A complete schedule is available 

at the ArtCenter or online at ArtCenterManatee.org. 

Twelve Angry Men: 

The New Musical 

The spring brings the Theater Latté Da 

world premiere production of Twelve 

Angry Men: A New Musical (May 

8 – June 9). Propelled by a jazz-infused 

score, one of America’s greatest dramas 

reaches new heights in this searing 

story of a lone juror who demands that 

our legal system lives up to our ideals. 

This groundbreaking new musical is 

directed by Asolo Rep’s new Producing 

Artistic Director Peter Rothstein, who 

has played an integral role in bringing 

this new work to the stage. Tickets 

at asolorep.org. 

Wasting Away Again… 

At Venice Theatre in their Raymond 

Center and running January 19 - February 

18, 2024 is Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to 

Margaritaville. Music and Lyrics 

by Jimmy Buffett; Book by 

Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley 

It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, 

so escape to Jimmy 

Buffett’s Margaritaville! The 

popular musical with a buffet 

of Buffett hits promises 

to change your attitude and 

latitude. Paradise is found in 

Jimmy’s jukebox jam, Jimmy 

Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville. 

venicetheatre.org/. 

Did Shakespeare 

have a Sister? 

Urbanite theatre presents: JUDITH 

running January 5 - February 18, 2024. 

The world premiere of JUDITH poses 

a question: What if Shakespeare had a 

sister? Playwright Katie Bender offers 

an answer in this one-woman show, 

which follows Judith’s transformative 

journey to save her brother’s 

reputation. Gallivanting in 

and out of character, she 

discovers the pleasures 

and pitfalls of passing as 

the bard himself. www. 

urbanitetheatre.com. 

Ruby is back at WBTT 

After two painful postponements due to 

COVID, WBTT is thrilled to finally bring 

the world-premiere musical “Ruby” 

to the stage. (Book by Nate Jacobs 

and Michael Jacobs, lyrics by Michael 

Jacobs, music by Nate Jacobs, Nehemiah 

Luckett, Brennan Stylez and Antonio 

Wimberly.) 

On August 3, 1952, the unthinkable 

happened: A Black woman murdered 

a white doctor in Live Oak, Fla., guaranteeing 

a conviction for the woman 

bold enough to commit such a shocking 

crime and bringing celebrated writer 

Zora Neale 

Hurston to 

town to cover 

the story for 

a northern 

newspaper. 

This powerful 

and haunting 

musical 

explores the 

secrets just 

beneath the 

Nate Jacobs 

surface of the 

idyllic, genteel exterior of a quaint Florida 

town. Jacobs will direct. Show runs 

February 28-April 7, 2024. 

Tucci at Town Hall 

Stanley Tucci will take the stage February 

26. Tucci is an Academy Award 

nominated actor known for his versatility 

as an actor, writer, director, and producer. 

He has appeared in over 

90 films, countless television 

shows, and more than a dozen 

plays, on and off Broadway. Tucci 

reached his widest audience 

yet in the role of Caesar Flickerman 

in The Hunger Games 

franchise. Big Night, Stanley 

Tucci’s first pursuit as co-director, 

co-screenwriter, and 

actor on the same 

film, earned him 

numerous honors. 

Stanley Tucci: 

Searching for Italy 

is Tucci’s latest 

endeavor, which 

was greeted with 

excitement and 

success from 

both its fans and 

Stanley Tucci critics. 

Visit www.rclassociation.org. 

New in 2024 

Sarasota Rising is an interdisciplinary 

arts festival scheduled to launch in 2024. 

The festival will emphasize performing 

arts while offering visual arts exhibitions, 

family-friendly events, live music 

and more. 

Living Arts Festival will be a weeklong 

celebration emphasizing performing 

arts, with visual and other ancillary arts 

programming scheduled throughout. 

Established organizations will offer special 

accessibility to new visitors, while 

others will produce works specifically 

for the festival. 

Expect kick-off events, world premieres 

of performing arts productions, 

art exhibitions, youth and family 

programming, celebrations of diversity, 

block parties, inspired food and beverage 

showcases, educational outreach 

and philanthropic activation. Info: www. 

sarasotarising.org 

Anniversaries: 

Venice Symphony will mark its 50th anniversary 

in 2024. The Venice Symphony 

was incorporated in November 1974 

when 56 area volunteer musicians joined 

together under the leadership of Hartley 

Haines, the director of music in the 

public schools. Originally, the orchestra 

played three concerts in the Venice High 

School auditorium with banks and subscribers 

covering the costs. 

They’ve come a long way since then 

with a new conductor/artistic director 

Troy Quinn, new offices, a new performance 

place, 

expanded 

programming 

and more. 

Celebrate 

with the Venice 

Symphony 

on their 50th 

at their Venetian 

Nights, 

January 5, 

2024 at the 

Conductor/Artistic Director 

Troy Quinn 

Venice Community 

Center. 

www.thevenicesymphony.org/ 

————————————————— 

In 2024 Sarasota Orchestra is celebrating 

75 years of live music. Since 1949, 

Sarasota Orchestra has entertained music-lovers 

across the region and visitors 

from around the world. 

As the oldest continuing orchestra 

in the state of Florida, each year the 

76-member Orchestra performs more 

than 100 classical, pops, chamber music, 

and community outreach concerts. 

They’ll celebrate with a concert and 

gala on February 15. Peter Oundjian, 

conductor with Garrick Ohlsson on piano 

will perform Copland – Fanfare for the 

Common Man; Tower – Fanfare No. 6 for 

the Uncommon Woman; Rachmaninoff – 

Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 

and Gershwin – An American in Paris. 

For tickets, visit sarasotaorchestra.org 


The Perlman Music Program Suncoast’s 

2023-2024 Season 

Celebrating 20 Years of the PMP Winter Residency 

This year marks a milestone for 

The Perlman Music Program 

Suncoast (Perlman Suncoast). 

It’s the 20th anniversary of one of 

its largest events: The Perlman 

Music Program (PMP) Winter Residency. 

Led by acclaimed violinist and conductor 

Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby Perlman, 

this two-week event energizes local audiences 

while providing unparalleled musical 

training for gifted students ages 12-20+ from 

all over the world, who play the violin, viola, 

cello and bass. 

Led by acclaimed violinist and conductor 

Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby Perlman, 

The Perlman Music Program Winter Residency 

providing musical training for gifted students 

from all over the world. 

Lisa Berger, executive director of Perlman 

Suncoast says that they are “honored 

to support the PMP Winter Residency for 

the past two decades. Last year, after a 

two-year hiatus, audiences were thrilled to 

watch the transformative interplay once 

again between young, gifted musicians and 

world-renowned faculty, including Itzhak 

Perlman.” 

Berger explains that, in addition to the 

PMP Winter Residency, Perlman Suncoast 

also presents PMP alumni concerts and recitals 

throughout the year—and this year 

is no exception. “Some of the outstanding 

events we’ve planned include a concert celebrating 

the legacy of Juilliard Quartet violist, 

Roger Tapping; the Carr-Petrova duo’s 

“HERS” celebration of women composers 

throughout history; and the return of the beloved 

Ariel Quartet.” 

As PMP participants complete their graduate 

studies and become professional musicians, 

Perlman Suncoast supports their 

future endeavors by inviting them back for 

concerts and recitals, as well as school and 

community outreach programs. “With this 

opportunity, they gain performance experience 

and delight new audiences as their 

careers advance,” says Berger. She adds 

that PMP alumni are “trained in community 

outreach, providing educational information 

and insights into classical string music. 

In addition, Q&A sessions at each performance 

allow audiences to ask questions 

of the musicians, broadening their engagement 

and enjoyment.” 

PMP Winter Residency 

Each December, musically gifted students 

from the Perlman Music Program (PMP) 

Summer Music School, Israel Residency and 

Chamber Music Workshop reunite on the 

USF Sarasota-Manatee campus for lessons, 

studio classes, works-in-progress (WIP) recitals, 

chorus and orchestra rehearsals. Participants 

come from all over the world and 

include 28 gifted students, ages 12 to 20+, 

alumni fellows who mentor the students, 

and an exceptional faculty led by acclaimed 

violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman. 

Starting on December 29, the public can 

attend free master classes and works-inprogress 

(WIP) recitals. Special evenings are 

scheduled for guests to watch PMP orchestra 

rehearsals under the baton of Itzhak Perlman. 

Audiences will also be able to watch 

Patrick Romano, choirmaster, rehearse with 

the PMP choir. This season’s Winter Residency 

runs December 29-January 5 in a heated 

tent on the campus of USF Sarasota-Manatee. 

On January 6, PMP Winter Residency 

students and faculty present the “Celebration 

Concert,” featuring the PMP String Orchestra 

under the baton of Itzhak Perlman, 

and the PMP Chorus, led by Patrick Romano, 

at the Sarasota Opera House. The “20th 

Anniversary Celebration Gala” follows the 

concert at Michael’s on East. 

PMP Alumni Concerts 

Perlman Suncoast’s season includes special 

performances and recitals by PMP alumni 

including the Punchline Quartet on February 

12. Berger says she is especially honored to 

present “Remembering Roger: Celebrating 

the Legacy of Roger Tapping,” on January 20. 

A beloved member of the Juilliard quartet and 

faculty member of The Perlman Music Program 

for many years, Tapping inspired generations 

of musicians for his wit and charm, 

biting humor, and consummate artistry. 

Violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova 

will present “HERS” on March 3. As the 

Carr-Petrova Duo, they will perform pieces 

from their new album, which celebrates 

female composers from the 1100’s to the 

present day. “HERS vibrantly celebrates the 

vision, strength, resilience, and incredible 

accomplishments of eight fearless women – 

from the 12th-century’s Hildegard Von Bingen 

to today’s Beyoncé,” says Berger. 

The Ariel Quartet returns to Sarasota on 

April 4 in partnership with The Jewish Federation 

of Sarasota-Manatee. This exhilarating 

quartet has garnered critical praise worldwide 

for more than 20 years—and is a favorite 

among regional audiences. The concert will 

be at the Ora on the Federation’s new campus. 

2023-2024 Season at a Glance 

g 20th Annual PMP Winter Residency - 

December 29-January 8 

PMP Suncoast hosts the PMP Winter Residency 

for young musical prodigies ages 

12-20+ who play the violin, viola, cello and 

bass. The program provides valuable mentoring 

and performance opportunities for 

young, promising musicians from all over 

the world. This is a life-changing experience 

that shapes the lives of these young musicians. 

PMP’s world-class faculty, led by acclaimed 

violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, 

oversee a curriculum of solo, chamber 

music, and orchestral repertoire at the 

highest level. Events include orchestra and 

chorus rehearsals, works-in-progress (WIP) 

recitals, and master classes. 

g Tent Rehearsals, Master Classes 

and Recitals: December 29-January 5 on 

the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Non-reserved 

seats are free to the public for master 

classes and WIPs. Reserved seats for all 

tent events are free to supporters. The Winter 

Residency’s daily schedule is available at 

www.PMPSuncoast.org. 

g Celebration Concert: January 6, 5 

p.m., at the Sarasota Opera House. Get tickets 

by calling Sarasota Opera House’s box 

office at 941-328-1300 or at www.sarasotaopera.org. 

g 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner: 

January 6, following the Celebration 

Concert at Michael’s on East, 1212 S East 

Ave., Sarasota. The evening includes dinner 

and entertainment with PMP students, faculty 

and the Perlmans. 

g NEW! PMP Student Chamber Quartet 

Recitals: January 8, 5 p.m., at First 

Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, 2050 Oak 

St, Sarasota. The PMP students, under the 

direction of violist Caitlin Lynch, are paired 

together in quartets that blend their individual 

styles. Seven quartets that were formed 

during the residencies will perform at this 

event, showcasing the students’ talents. 

PMP Alumni Recital 

g Punchline Quartet on February 12, 7 p.m. 

Sarasota Art Museum, Thomas McGuire 

Hall, Sarasota. 

Combining musical mastery with a touch of 

wit, the Punchline Quartet delivers engaging 

performances that crescendo to a captivating 

musical punchline. 

Formed in 2022 by violinists Kate Arndt, 

Ria Honda, violist Sarah Sung, and cellist 

Elena Ariza, the quartet members have individually 

been a part of the PMP community 

as far back as 2010 and have found their way 

together in the fall of 2022 with the shared 

passion for chamber music and community 

engagement. Comprising four women, they 

felt it most suitable to champion Caroline 

Shaw’s music, alongside the classic Beethoven 

and Dvorak. 

PMP Alumni 

Special Performances 

g Remembering Roger: Celebrating the 

Legacy of Roger Tapping is on January 20 

Pre-performance salon talk at 6 p.m., with 

concert to follow. 

Unitarian Universalist Church, Sarasota. 

Roger Tapping, former violist of the Juilliard 

Quartet, passed away in January 2022. 

This concert was conceived by Michelle 

Ross and Max Tan 

as an opportunity 

for PMP alumni 

from different 

generations to pay 

tribute to a mentor 

whose legacy lives 

Remembering Roger: 

Celebrating the Legacy 

of Roger Tapping is on 

January 20 

through them. A beloved 

faculty member 

of The Perlman 

Music Program for 

many years, Tapping 

inspired generations of musicians for 

his wit and charm, biting humor, and consummate 

artistry. 

Michelle Ross’ String Quartet, titled “For 

Roger,” will receive its Sarasota premiere at 

this concert. Her work is built on themes of 

a Haydn string quartet, a favorite of Roger’s 

and incidentally, the last quartet that Michelle 

played with him. With David Kaplan, piano; 

Michelle Ross, violin; Max Tan, violin; William 

Frampton, viola; and Lev Mamuya, cello. 

g “HERS” 

The Carr-Petrova Duo: Molly Carr, viola; 

Anna Petrova, piano on March 3 

Artist talk at 6 p.m.; followed by a concert 

at 7:15 p.m. 

The Harvest, 3650 17th Street, Sarasota. 

Carr Petrova Duo: 



will present a concert performing pieces 

from their album that celebrates female 

composers from the 1100’s to the present 

day. In a pre-performance talk, they will 

speak about the composers and their importance 

in music history. “HERS” celebrates 

the vision, strength, resilience, and incredible 

accomplishments of eight fearless women 

– from the 12th-century’s Hildegard Von 

Bingen to today’s Beyoncé. 

g The Ariel Quartet 

In partnership with The Jewish Federation of 

Sarasota-Manatee on April 4, 7 p.m. concert 

The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota 

The Ariel Quartet 

This quartet has garnered critical praise 

worldwide for more than 20 years. They 

formed when they were just teenagers 

studying at the Jerusalem Academy Middle 

School of Music and Dance in Israel. Celebrating 

their 25th anniversary in 2023, the 

quartet serves as the Faculty Quartet-in-Residence 

at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory 

of Music (CCM), where 

they direct the chamber music program 

and present a concert series in addition to 

touring in the United States and abroad. 

With Gershon Gerchikov, violin; Alexandra 

(Sasha) Kazovsky, violin; Jan Grüning, viola; 

Amit Even–Tov, cello. 

For tickets, visit www.PMPSuncoast.org. 

For more information, 

visit PerlmanSuncoast.org. 


EMBRACE 

THE NATURAL 

YOU 

(with a little help.) 

Implant Removal — Breast Lift — Fat Grafting 

Breast Augmentation 

Tummy Tucks — Liposuction — Body Sculpting 

Arm & Thigh Lifts — Breast Reduction 

Sovereign Plastic Surgery 

Alissa M. Shulman, M.D., F.A.C.S. 

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 

1950 Arlington Street • Suite 112 • Sarasota 

941- 366-LIPO (5476) 

www.sovereignps.com 

1 • 12 • 2024 

6:30-10:30 P.M. • RITZ-CARLTON, SARASOTA 

COCKTAIL ATTIRE | BLACK TIE OPTIONAL 

CELEBRITY SPEAKER 

Tom Arnold 

LEGACY AWARD WINNER 

Bunny Skirboll, 

Founder of Compeer, Inc. 

FEATURING THE FACES 

BEHIND THE STORIES 

Roger Capote 

Kelvin Foster 

Sydney Koffman 

Linda Larsen 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Quintessence and special guest artists 

Chris Eisenberg and Raleigh Mosely II 

PRESENTED BY LEE & BOB PETERSON FOUNDATION 

MEDIA SPONSOR 

Tickets and Information: SunshineFromDarkness.org 


SAVE $3 W/CODE WCW 

DAILY TROLLEY TOURS 

ENTERTAINING • INFORMATIVE 

Christmas Carol Trolley: 

Letters To Santa 

 

HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY 

SHOW- WE LOVED THE 

CAROLING AND LIGHTS! -JILL 

The Chamber Orchestra 

of Sarasota 

They’ll perform a 3-concert orchestra series 

at First Presbyterian Church, plus present a 

recital series at St. Boniface Episcopal Church 

A Holiday Music & Light Show! 

NIGHTLY DECEMBER 5-29 • 5:30 & 7:30PM 

Includes FREE Soft Drinks/Beer/Wine Before Boarding 

Sip & Shop 

ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE! 

Monday, December 4, 2023 • 4PM-7PM 

FREE • RSVP REQUIRED! 

ALL ITEMS 20% OFF 

Christmas Saver Card 

BUY A $200 GIFT CARD AND SAVE $50! 

USE THE GIFT CARD TO BUY 4 TICKETS FOR PRICE OF 3 

USE CODE CHRISTMASSAVER 

GIFT CARD CAN BE USED 

ON ANY OF OUR 16 TOURS 

• ART CRAW L TROLLEY 

• AMISH EXPERIENCE 

• ARCHITECTURE TOUR 

• CIRCUS SECRETS 

• HAUNTED SARASOTA 

• LEADING LADIES TOUR 

• PUBLIC ART 

• MURDER MYSTERY TROLLEY: 

Who Killed The Circus Queen? 

• SUNSET CABARET 

Music & Craft Beer 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO PURCHASE! 

DiscoverSarasotaTours.com 

941-260-9818 

The Trolley Cottage Gift Shop | 1826 4th Street | FREE Parking! 

Laurie Vodnoy-Wright, an experienced violinist, 

founded the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota 

seven years ago along wither her brother, 

Robert Vodnoy. 

The COS opens its season with “Holiday Gems” 

on Dec. 5 featuring Giuseppina Ciarla, the 

principal harpist with the Sarasota Opera and 

the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota. 

Let’s start a chamber orchestra!” 

is what Laurie Vodnoy-Wright said 

to her brother, conductor Robert 

Vodnoy, when he and his wife Kayla 

came to visit her in Sarasota in 2016. 

“Sounds great, but do you know how 

much work that will be?” was his reply, but 

her infectious optimism and vision won the 

day. “Oh, I know everyone, and Sarasota 

doesn’t have a chamber orchestra,” was 

her confident reply. Seven years later, her 

vision is proving to be correct. 

Laurie is a violinist who has lived and 

worked in Florida since 1981 when she 

joined The Florida Orchestra under Irwin 

Hoffman. Her master’s degree from the Chicago 

Music College of Roosevelt University 

and her subsequent study with Victor Aitay, 

concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony, 

well prepared her for a lifelong career as 

a violinist. In addition, Laurie and Bob attended 

the Monteux School for Conductors 

and Orchestral Training in Hancock, Maine 

for many years. 

Laurie moved to Sarasota in 2003, and 

has played with the Venice Symphony, 

Sarasota Opera, and many other orchestras 

in SW Florida along with her busy career as 

a wedding violinist and teacher. 

In addition to playing in orchestras and for 

weddings, Laurie enjoys playing music for 

people as music therapy. “One of my biggest 

joys has been performing at Parkinson Place, 

Kobernick Aviva, and Tidewell Hospice. Violin 

music comforts our loved ones. When 

I perform songs at the tempo of the heart it 

is so wonderful for calm and hope.” She also 

regularly plays at the Don CeSar, the Vinoy, 

the Ritz Carlton, and many other venues. 

She is a new grandmother, too. Her youngest 

daughter, artist Abby Wright Day, recently 

gave birth to a daughter Clementine. Laurie’s 

other daughter, Sarah Wright Altman, is a 

fashion designer who lives in New York City. 

Laurie and Bob are from a musical family. 

Their mother Elsye was a piano teacher 

who studied with Louise Robyn at the 

American Conservatory in Chicago. “I 

credit my parents love and support for this 

multi-generational devotion to the Arts,” 

Laurie says. “Our mother was a talented 

water-colorist in addition to being a pianist 

and our father was an internationally renowned 

optometrist.” 

“The Chamber Orchestra is a labor of 

love for Bob and me,” Laurie says, “and it’s 

doubly rewarding that it is a brother-sister 

project. This season we will perform our 

3-concert orchestra series at First Presbyterian 

Church, plus present a recital series 

at St. Boniface Episcopal Church and an 

education/outreach concert with the Venice 

High School Orchestra at the VPAC. We 

have wonderful musicians to work with, 

great soloists to present, and the best audiences 

in the world to play for.” 

Audiences can experience the joys of the 

chamber orchestra repertoire on December 

5 at 7:30pm at First Presbyterian Church, 

when the COS opens its season with “Holiday 

Gems.” The program will feature 

Giuseppina Ciarla, the principal harpist 

with the Sarasota Opera and the Chamber 

Orchestra of Sarasota. In addition to her 

regular performances as a guest principal 

harpist with the Sarasota Orchestra, she 

freelances with major orchestras in southwest 

Florida and pursues her cross-over 

project for harp and voice which draws on 

classical and jazz genres. 

Giuseppina says: “I am thrilled about my 

upcoming concert with Chamber Orchestra! 

Under the direction of Maestro Robert 

Vodnoy, the program features two exceptional 

pieces from the harp repertoire. One 

of the highlights is Debussy’s “Danse sacrée 

et profane” for harp and string orchestra. 

This exquisite masterpiece showcases the 

harp in all its vibrant colors and emotions.” 

“The other piece I will be performing 

with the COS is the renowned Adagietto 

from Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. This piece 

rightfully belongs on the Mount Olympus of 

classical music. The Adagietto is a deeply 

moving and poetic composition, touching 

the hearts of listeners like no other piece of 

music ever composed.” 

Other pieces on the concert include Vivaldi’s 

Concerto in A Minor for mandolin 

and orchestra with Rafael Ramirez, soloist, 

Hanukah Festival Overture by Calvin 

Custer, and Christmas Overture by Samuel 

Coleridge Taylor. 

Learn more at 

www.ChamberOrchestraSarasota.org 

or call 219-928-8665. 


WBTT presents this 

season’s holiday show, 

‘Joyful! Joyful!’ 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s 

‘Christmas card to the community’ 

features traditional holiday tunes, gospelinfused 

classics and pop songs 

GLOBAL CUISINE 

SUSTAINABLY SOURCED 

CHEF OWNED 

Artists featured in 

‘Joyful! Joyful!’ 

include (clockwise 

from left) Ariel Blue, 

Nate Summers, 

Michael Mendez, 

Raleigh Mosely II, 

Amber Myers and 

Stephanie Zandra. 

Photo by Sorcha Augustine 

Mattison's Forty-One 

South Sarasota 

Live 

Music 

Schedule 

Mattison's City Grille 

Downtown Sarasota 

Mattisons.com 

Mattison's Riverwalk Grille 

Downtown Bradenton 

Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe is gearing 

up for the holidays, 

ready to celebrate the 

season with its holiday 

production and Christmas card to the 

community, “Joyful! Joyful!” Theater 

fans of all ages and religious backgrounds 

are invited to celebrate the season with 

high-spirited, uplifting songs as only 

WBTT’s singers, dancers and musicians 

can perform them. The show runs from 

November 29-December 30, 2023. 

The original musical revue – created, 

adapted and directed by WBTT Founder/ 

Artistic Director Nate Jacobs and performed 

for the first time in 2021 – features 

a blend of new takes on traditional holiday 

tunes, gospel-infused classics and pop 

songs. The show will include “Joy to the 

World,” an O’Jays-inspired take on “Carol 

of the Bells,” a gospel-infused rendition 

of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” “African 

Drummer Boy” and many more. 

Performing in “Joyful! Joyful!” are a number 

of WBTT regulars, including Ariel Blue, 

Michael Mendez, Delores McKenzie, Nate 

Summers, Raleigh Mosely II, Jazzmin Carson, 

Stephanie Zandra, Maicy Powell and 

Samuel “Sammy” Waite as well as artists 

new to WBTT’s stage. Students from the 

Stage of Discovery summer musical theatre 

intensive program will also be featured. 

“As the holidays approach, there is so 

much for our organization to be thankful 

for, and we’re honored to share our joy 

with families and the wider community,” 

said WBTT Founder and Artistic Director 

Nate Jacobs. “We’ve made some changes 

in the show since its premiere in 2021 and 

welcome previous and new patrons to join 

us for this year’s production. In fact, we 

invite everyone to attend and help us unwrap 

the present of joyful, seasonal music 

with WBTT!” 

Choreographer is Donald Frison. Music 

director is Matthew McKinnon, who also 

plays main keys. The rest of the band is 

Charlotte Corporan, auxiliary keys; Marvin 

Hendon, bass; Brad Foutch, guitar; and 

Caleb Miller, drums. 

Kevin White is production manager, 

Jennifer Woodford is stage manager, Ka- 

Cie Ley is assistant stage manager, Patrick 

Russini is sound designer, Michael Pasquini 

is lighting designer, Austin Jacobs is projection 

designer, Darci Collins is costume 

designer, Donna and Mark Buckalter are 

scenic designers, and Annette Breazeale is 

properties designer. 

Tickets are $50/adults, $20/students and 

active military (prices include all applicable 

ticket fees). Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. 

Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on 

Saturdays and Sundays; there will be no 

performances on December 24, 26 or 27. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, 

visit westcoastblacktheatre.org or call 

the Box Office at 941-366-1505. 

ABOUT Westcoast Black 

Theatre Troupe 

The mission of Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe (WBTT) is to produce professional 

theatre that promotes and celebrates 

African American history and experience, 

engages a broad base of patrons and audiences, 

supports the development of a dynamic 

group of aspiring artists, and builds 

self-esteem in youth of color. 

Visit westcoastblacktheatre.org 

for more information. 

THE VENICE SYMPHONY 50TH ANNIVERSARY 

NOVEMBER 2023 - APRIL 2024 

AT THE VENICE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 

BUY TICKETS NOW 

A HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR 

Dec. 15 • 7:30 pm 

Dec. 16 • 3:30 and 7:30 pm 

TALL TALES AND TREASURE 

Jan. 12 • 7:30 pm 

Jan. 13 • 3:30 and 7:30 pm 

DISNEY’S MAESTRO: A 

TRIBUTE TO ALAN MENKEN 

Feb. 23 • 7:30 pm 

Feb. 24 • 3:30 and 7:30 pm 

MUSIC DIRECTOR 

TROY QUINN 

ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Mar. 15 • 7:30 pm 

Mar. 16 • 3:30 and 7:30 pm 

THE CROWN JEWEL FINALE 

Apr. 26 • 7:30 pm 

Apr. 27 • 3:30 and 7:30 pm 

SPECIAL 

EVENT 

February 9-10 

Hooray for Hollywood 

with 

Michael Feinstein 

SAVE 

THE DATE 

Venetian Nights 

For more information, visit 

thevenicesymphony.org or call 941-207-8822 

January 5, 2024 

Venice Community 

Center 

DECEMBER 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 23

Art Center Sarasota’s 

2023-2024 Exhibition Season 

Diverse offerings include both solo exhibits and group shows 

Art Center Sarasota’s 

2023-2024 exhibition 

season is underway and 

features an array of “captivating 

solo artists and 

thought-provoking juried shows that shed 

light on our unique cultural climate,” says 

Christina Baril, ACS’s exhibition director. 

“At the heart of this season is a celebration 

of diversity, not only in the personal histories 

of our artists, but also in their materials, 

techniques, and concepts.” 

According to Baril, the season explores a 

spectrum of artistic prowess by solo artists 

whose distinct voices capture an array of 

visual expressions. “Inspired by topics from 

Brutalism to feminism, these solo artists are 

sure to inspire creativity and lively debate.” 

She adds that, in addition, to the solo 

shows, the unique open call shows, juried 

by professionals in the arts community, “are 

carefully curated to spark intrigue and contemplation. 

We invite artists from all walks 

of life to submit their artwork, resulting in 

an eclectic fusion of styles, concepts, and 

cultures.” Art Center Sarasota will also offer 

Artist Talks, lectures, and special events. 

“The opening of a new season is a highlight 

for our artistic community as well as the 

many visitors who travel to Sarasota to enjoy 

and engage with the multitude of arts and cultural 

programs offered,” says Kinsey Robb, 

ACS’s executive director. “We live in a world 

where we see, read, and hear about events 

that impact us all the time—these are things 

that cannot be captured by words alone.” 

Art Center Sarasota’s 2023-2024 

Season at a Glance 

Cycle 2: through January 13, 2024 

Opening Reception: Thursday, 

December 7, 6-8 p.m. 

• Aimee Jones: Aimee Jones’ paintings use 

Florida’s landscape of desire and lust to portray 

the body, interwoven with the American 

idea of paradise. She 

plays with the dichotomy 

of the female form as a 

political landscape and 

the power of a woman’s 

bodily agency. 

Aimee Jones, Situationship 

• Ethan Fielder: Ethan 

Fielder will exhibit a body 

of sculptural ceramics, 

which examines personal 

and collective 

Ethan Fielder, In Bloom 

growth inspired by formative moments of 

transformation that he experienced through 

his turbulent countrywide travels in 2020. 

• Tom Casmer: In his 

upcoming exhibition, 

“ges•talt,” Tom Casmer 

brings to life the 

infrastructure that lies 

Tom Casmer, Solstice 

beneath the skin, the fabric of the world 

around him. Drawing inspiration from the 

organic and inorganic alike, Casmer’s sources 

include the human figure, nature, and machine-made 

elements. His work recognizes 

the mechanism of organic and addresses the 

connection between the mechanical form 

and the human system. 

• Juried Show: “Still Life.” Artists are invited 

to present their formal and conceptual 

notions of modern day still life. Still life work 

often holds suggestive and symbolic imagery 

that informs the viewer on the artist’s 

message, biography, or cultural climate. The 

juror is Mara Torres, owner and curator of 

MARA Art Studio + Gallery in Sarasota. 

Cycle 3: January 25 - March 2, 2024 


January 25, 6-8 p.m. 

• Brian V. Jones: Brian Jones’ upcoming 

exhibition is a visual conversation with light 

and color, traditions and growth, fear and 

joy, technology, and romance. An ongoing 

project of over three years, these photographs 

serve as a visual narrative representing 

the artist’s relationship with the complexities 

of the city of Sarasota. 

• Carole Lyles Shaw: Carole Lyles Shaw 

exhibits a series of textile collages, or art 

quilts, that represent the essence of an individual 

and their personal and historical 

context. These “Spirit Portraits” celebrate 

Black women musicians who played significant 

roles in the history of music, from 

opera to country to rock and roll. 

• Christopher Skura: Emphasizing improvisation 

and freehand drawing for phenomenological 

effect, Christopher Skura captures 

the speed of living in Lower Manhattan. 

His new body of work took root during 

the 2020 pandemic. 

• Juried Show: “Annual Members Juried 

Show.” Juror: Paul Toliver is a passionate 

advocate in promoting all forms of 

art and is particularly motivated to uplift 

artists of the African Diaspora. 

Cycle 4: March 14 - April 20, 2024 


March 14, 6-8 p.m. 

• Natasha Dikareva: Natasha Dikareva reflects 

on the current state of her homeland, 

Ukraine in her upcoming exhibition featuring 

a variety of narrative, figurative ceramic 

sculptures. 

• Angela Pilgrim: Drawing on a skillful 

fusion of printmaking, painting, and mixed 

media, Angela Pilgrim imbues each work 

with a sense of depth and dimensionality, 

presenting each subject as an essential living, 

breathing entity. Her upcoming exhibition 

celebrates the complex inner worlds 

of Black women and invites viewers to contemplate 

the spiritual dimensions of our existence, 

exploring themes of identity, faith, 

and resilience. 

• Michael Kinsey: Michael Kinsey’s exhibition, 

“Listening to Black Voices,” showcases 

stunning black and white portraits, highlighting 

the richness and diversity of Sarasota’s 

Black community. 

• Juried Show: “Great Artists Steal.” 

“Great Artists Steal” encourages artists to 

create works inspired by their favorite artists 

and artworks from contemporary art 

and art history. This inspiration may come 

from the technique, content, or style of the 

artist(s) or artwork(s) in reference, and 

uniquely recontextualizing these elements. 

Juror is Alecia Harper, professor, State 

College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Cycle 5: April 30 - May 11, 2024 

• North County Sarasota Public 

Schools, Spring Art Show: Organized by 

school coordinators Angela Hartvigsen and 

Debra Markley, the Spring Art Show is one 

of the art center’s most cherished exhibition 

traditions. The North County Sarasota 

Schools Spring Art Show highlights over 

1500 pieces of artwork from the county’s 

youngest artists in grades K-12, representing 

the best of their creations from the past 

school year. 

Cycle 6: May 23 - July 27, 2024 

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 27, 

6-8 p.m. 

• Annual Juried Regional Show: “Beyond 

Comfort.” The Annual Juried Regional 

Show is Art Center Sarasota’s largest 

juried show of the year and encompasses 

all four gallery spaces. The show is open 

to all artists in the southeast region of the 

United States. The juror for this season’s 

show is Virginia Shearer, executive director, 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of 

Art and Design. This year’s show, “Beyond 

Comfort,” invites artists to express their 

perception of beauty and/or the grotesque 

in contemporary art and society. This show 

allows artists to define and explore aesthetics 

while joining the long debated concept 

of beauty and its function in art. 

Cycle 7: August 15 - September 28, 2024 

Opening Reception: Thursday, September 

28, 6-8 p.m. 

• Precious Darling will present an exhibition 

that explores the complexity of femininities 

and its relation to objectification 

through photography and sculpture. 

• Boys & Girls Club: Art Center Sarasota 

and Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County 

(BGCMC) have teamed up to present a special 

exhibition of artwork created by BGC- 

MC members. ACS youth instructors will 

guide these young artists in the creation 

of works inspired by the Annual Juried Regional 

Show on view during the summer of 

2024. Showcasing a variety of styles, media, 

and expression, these unique pieces will 

reflect the artistic voices of our youngest 

generation. 

• Tanner Simon will present an installation 

of his large-scale paintings that explore the 

intersection of humor, seriousness, and the 

absurd. This installation invites viewers to 

engage with the dynamic relationships and 

visual conversations that emerge between 

imagery and paintings in space. 

• Juried Show: “Flora & Fauna” invites 

artists to celebrate characters of the natural 

world, real and imagined, living and 

extinct, peaceful and poisonous. The juror 

is David Berry, vice president for visitor 

engagement and chief museum curator at 

Selby Gardens. 

Art Center Sarasota, 

707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

Visit www.artsarasota.org. 


Intimate musical experiences. 

ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 

941-306-1202 

Season 28|Stars Ascending 

Direct from Windsor Castle! 

The Queen’s Six 

December 17 • 2 pm • First Presbyterian Church 

Soundbox Ventures Announces 

“Listen Hear” Salon Concerts 

“Exhibition for music” series examines 

a specific way we hear expression and meaning 

Sound Ventures’ 2023- 

2024 season of the “Listen 

Hear” salon concert series 

in partnership with St. Boniface 

Episcopal Church begins 

this month. Curated by Max Tan, each salon-style 

event includes a classical music 

program, insights from the artists, and conversations 

with the audience. 

The three-event series begins with “Preludes 

with Marisa,” a world premiere of “12 

Preludes for Solo Piano” by the Catalonian 

composer Marc Migó, on December 16. 

Founded in November 2022 by violinist 

Max Tan, Soundbox Ventures is a project-based 

performing arts management 

organization headquartered in Sarasota. 

invitation to contemplate profound beauty 

in community.” 

The 2023-2024 “Listen Hear” 

Salon Concert Series At a Glance 

December 16, 7 p.m.: 

“Preludes with Marisa” 

American pianist Marisa Gupta will present 

the world premiere of “12 Preludes for 

Solo Piano” by the Catalonian composer 

Marc Migó. Max Tan will host a conversation 

with Migó and Gupta about the process 

of composing new works and the relationships 

between composers and performers. 

~ Featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” 

~ Sang at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 

A program of austere early chant, florid Renaissance 

polyphony, bawdy madrigals, haunting folk songs, 

upbeat jazz and pop arrangements, and seasonal favorites 

in the incomparable British tradition. 

This project is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida (Section 286.25 Florida Statutes); 

The Exchange; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. 

Max Tan, founder Soundbox Ventures 

Tan explains that the mission is to “build 

meaningful connections between musicians 

and audiences by organizing artist 

residencies and concerts that focus on 

making the artist process accessible.” Tan 

adds that the group’s pilot “Listen Hear” 

series was incubated at the Sarasota Art 

Museum last season. 

The “Listen Hear” series is “an interactive 

exhibition for music,” says Tan. “Each 

program examines a specific way we hear 

expression and meaning. Imagine walking 

into a musician’s living room and witnessing 

music being written, or artists gathering 

to explore chamber music…all with food 

and drink!” He adds that the series was inspired 

by Alex Ross’ book “Listen to This.” 

“One of the joys of being an artist is to 

connect with a local community of friends 

and to produce art that is homegrown,” 

says Tan. “Think of Soundbox as the musician’s 

sandbox; it provides the resources to 

enable them to develop a project and then 

share it with the local community. I am extremely 

excited for this series and other 

projects ahead – stay tuned.” 

Mia Laity, the executive director of 

Soundbox Ventures, says that the Soundbox 

team “believes in facilitating as many 

opportunities as we can for every individual 

to engage with music in a way that 

nourishes their inner artist. I’m especially 

excited to watch the ‘Listen Hear’ series 

further spread its wings in the grand space 

of St Boniface’s sanctuary. The space is ideal 

for gathering; the room is an acoustical 

instrument in itself; and the context of the 

sacred space is in perfect harmony with the 

American pianist Marisa Gupta 

March 8, 7 p.m. “Ned Rorem’s 

Centenary: Celebrating His Life 

in Music and Words.” 

Curated by pianist Marisa Gupta and baritone 

Tom Meglioranza, this program honoring 

the centenary of the late American 

composer Ned Rorem centers on his 

masterpiece “Aftermath,” written in the 

wake of 9/11. Through 10 heart-wrenching 

songs for baritone and piano trio, Rorem’s 

“Aftermath” focuses on the universal experience 

of grief and loss and invites us to 

contemplate what it means to be human 

and at peace. 

The March 8 program will honor the late 

American composer Ned Rorem 

March 20, 7 p.m.: Max Tan and Marisa 

Gupta: Carnegie Hall Recital Debut 

Preview 

Max Tan presents a concert previewing 

his Carnegie Hall recital debut on 

April 3, 2024. The program features Clara 

Schumann’s “Three Romances,” Thomas 

Ades’ “Märchentänze,” Igor Stravinsky’s 

“Divertimento,” Eugène Ysaÿe’s “Ballad” 

Sonata No. 3 for solo violin, and Richard 

Strauss’s Violin Sonata. 

TICKETS: 



soundboxventures.org/events. St. Boniface 

Episcopal Church is located at 5615 

Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key. For more 

information, visit SoundBoxVentures.org. 

JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation 

Helping Children 

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Seizures impact both the individual and 

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to school, work or medical appointments; the uncertainty of when the next seizure 

might occur; and the fear of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) are 

the frightening realities for many families in our community. JoshProvides pulls 

back the curtain on epilepsy, the fourth most common neurological disorder, 

through community awareness, education, offering a local monthly Epilepsy 

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assistance and assistance with medical services to children, families and 

individuals. Our families are NOT defined by their disorder…they are warriors 

who will overcome these obstacles thanks to your support! 

Mission: To improve the quality of life for those living with epilepsy 

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(800) 706-2740 

JoshProvides.org 


Program 3 | Sarasota Opera House 

MOMENTS 

of 

MEANING 

Accompanied by the Sarasota Orchestra 

George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations 

Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room 

Program Media Sponsor 

DEC 15 

7:30 PM 

DEC 16 

2:00 PM | 7:30 PM 

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org 

Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room | Photography by Matthew Holler 

START A NEW FAMILY TRADITION! 

CREATED, ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY NATE JACOBS | CHOREOGRAPHED BY DONALD FRISON 

NOV 29–DEC 30, 2023 

westcoastblacktheatre.org 

941-366-1505 

1012 N ORANGE AVE SARASOTA 

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of 

Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. 


Sarasota Art Museum’s 2023/2024 Season 

It’s a blend of artists presenting their first solo exhibitions 

along with artists renowned worldwide 

The Museum’s season features a 

blend of artists presenting their first 

solo exhibitions along with artists 

renowned worldwide for their work. 

This includes several exclusive exhibitions 

created and installed at the Museum 

from the ground up by world-class artists. 

• Judy Pfaff: Picking up the Pieces, on 

view through March 24, 2024, explores the 

devastating impact of Hurricane Ian that battered 

southern Florida as a Category 4 storm 

in September 2022. In her largest solo show 

since 2017, Pfaff will present paintings and 

sculptures that celebrate Florida’s beauty and 

acknowledge its vulnerability to environmental 

threats. 

News coverage of Hurricane Ian’s extensive 

damage sparked the idea for the installation. 

Pfaff often keeps the televisions 

in her studio tuned 

to the news and was struck 

as she watched the storm 

ravage the homes and vegetation 

in its path. A January 

2023 visit to Florida’s Fort 

Myers Beach and Sanibel 

Island gave the artist a firsthand 

look at the destruction 

left by the storm that killed 

more than 150 people. For 

Pfaff, exploring the area was 

reminiscent of her childhood 

in post-World War II London 

and her experiences living in 

New York during 9/11 when 

white dust blanketed the 

area following the collapse 

of the World Trade Center. 

“Seeing with my own eyes 

the major impact Ian had on 

the land and homes completely 

shook me. In Picking 

up the Pieces, I use ordinary 

materials and natural 

detritus to distill what I saw 

during my visit to Florida,” 

said Pfaff. “Since moving to the Hudson Valley 

10 years ago, I have become more aware of the 

wind, rain, and sun in the extreme. Winter can 

be extremely fierce and harsh, and because of 

that, I repair and repurpose a lot of elements 

around me to put new life into them.” 

Pfaff routinely uses elements from her garden, 

hand-painted and digitally manipulated images, 

welded steel, aluminum, Plexiglas, wood, 

photographs, expanded foam, melted plastic, 

blown glass, neon, and LED lights to build 

captivating, large-scale installations that invite 

viewers on a fantastic and unexpected journey. 

Welded metal trees, photographic flower wallpaper, 

and painted metal flowers often anchor 

her work. As a carpenter, welder, printer, painter, 

designer, and glassblower, Pfaff partners 

with several studio assistants to bring her hypnotic 

installations to fruition. 

Pfaff created a plethora of new objects 

for Picking up the Pieces, including several 

translucent fiberglass boats made from a mold 

at her studio and numerous glass pieces made 

at Pilchuck Glass School this summer. She is 

also fashioning her two- and three-dimensional 

works in response to the unique architecture of 

Sarasota Art Museum, which is housed in the 

building that was once the historic Sarasota 

High School. 

Learn more about Picking up the Pieces 

at sarasotaartmuseum.org/judy-pfaff. 

Public Programs: 

• Director’s Tour: Judy Pfaff: Picking up 

the Pieces 

December 18, 1-2 

pm in the Wendy 

G. Surkis & Peppi 

Elona Lobby. Free 

for members. 

Sarasota Art Museum’s 

executive 

director, Virginia 

Judy Pfaff. 

Installation view 

of ar.chae.ol.o.gy at 

the Pamela 

Salisbury Gallery, 

Hudson, New York, 

2021. Mixed media. 

Courtesy of the artist. 

Judy Pfaff. Installation view 

of Tivoli → Tisbury (A Romance), 

at Messums Wiltshire, Tisbury, 

England, 2017. Wooden 

beams, fluorescent light bulbs, 

expandable paper, painted 

steel, expanded foam, chalk, 

glass drops, steel weights, steel 

column, and wooden cutouts, 

tree roots, stones, steel staircase, 

and glass panes. 

Shearer, 

will lead 

a walkthrough 

of 

the exhibition, 

offering 

insights 

into the 

artist’s methods and practice. 

Judy Pfaff. Installation view of 

Notes on Light and Color, at Jaffe-Friede and 

Strauss Galleries, Dartmouth College, Hanover, 

New Hampshire, 2000. Plaster, dyes, UV 

fluorescent and incandescent lights, contact 

paper, pencil, and glass. 

• Art at Noon with Joe Fig 

December 19, 12-1 pm in the Wendy G. Surkis 

& Peppi Elona Lobby. Free for members. 

Enjoy discussions with specialists and artists 

covering various topics related to Sarasota Art 

Museum’s exhibitions, architecture, and areas 

of interest with Joe Fig, Ringling College of 

Art and Design Fine Arts department head and 

practicing artist. 

• Curator Tour: 

Judy Pfaff: Picking up the Pieces 

January 29, 2024 from 1-2 pm in the Wendy G. 

Surkis & Peppi Elona Lobby. Free for members. 

Join Rangsook Yoon, Ph.D., Sarasota Art Museum’s 

senior curator, for a tour of Judy 

Pfaff: Picking up the Pieces. She will share 

in-depth curatorial insights about the artist’s 

pioneering career and her site-specific installation 

on view. 

• Contemporary/Traditional: Selections 

from the Basch Glass Collection 

Continues through Feb. 11, 2024 

• Juana Valdés: Embodied 

Memories, Ancestral 

Histories 

Continues through Feb. 

11, 2024 

Embodied Memories, Ancestral 

Histories, Valdés’ first 

solo exhibition at a museum, 

will showcase a range of 

works drawn from her threedecade-long 

career. Valdés’ 

work, anchored in history 

and narratives related to 

Laura de Santillana. Uran, 2014. Blown and slumped glass. her Afro-Cuban heritage, addresses 

colonization’s history 

and migration’s impact, as well as the 

issues of gender, race, and the representation 

of the female body. 

Working in a range of both traditional 

and non-traditional media—from 

ceramics, with all its associations of 

feminine and manual work, to new-media—Valdés 

communicates ideas of the 

personal and subjective while at the 

same time challenging the canon of art. 

Philip Baldwin and Monica 

Guggisberg. Nero (from Species Novae series), 

2018. Blown and carved glass. 

Drawn from the Richard and Barbara 

Basch Collection, Contemporary/ 

Traditional gives a glimpse into the 

world of international contemporary 

glass art of the late 20th and 21st 

centuries. This exhibition showcases 

a range of glasswork styles, from 

delicate figural sculptures to abstract 

shapes. 

Artists featured in this exhibition include 

artist-duo Philip Baldwin and 

Monica Guggisberg, Lucio Bubacco, 

Dale Chihuly, Václav Cigler, Jun 

Kaneko, Carmen Lozar, married duo Stanislav 

Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová, Dante Marioni, 

Debora Moore, Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, 

Laura de Santillana, Livio Seguso, Preston 

Singletary, and Lino Tagliapietra. 

Contemporary/Traditional reveals how 

today’s glass artists are pushing traditional 

boundaries, innovating, and asserting their own 

vision in their works. The artists featured in the 

exhibition have mastered classical approaches 

and chosen to bend or abandon the rules, expand 

ideas, and develop new techniques, giving 

a contemporary interpretation of the medium 

and revolutionizing glass art. 

Visitors will have a chance to discover more 

than 40 works by some of the world’s leading 

glass artists, including artist-duo Philip Baldwin 

and Monica Guggisberg, Lucio Bubacco, 

Dale Chihuly, Václav Cigler, Jun Kaneko, Carmen 

Lozar, married duo Stanislav Libenský and 

Jaroslava Brychtová, Dante Marioni, Debora 

Moore, Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, Laura 

de Santillana, Livio Seguso, Preston Singletary, 

and Lino Tagliapietra. 

• Molly Hatch Commission 

TBD Spring 2024 

Ceramic artist Molly Hatch will create 

a brand-new commissioned site-responsive 

installation inspired by 

Sarasota’s cultural landscape. Hatch’s 

signature plate paintings—large-scale 

installations of hand-glazed ceramic 

plates—reimagine historical decorative 

arts through a contemporary lens, 

while bridging the gap between decorative 

and fine art. 

• Impact! Contemporary Artists at 

the Hermitage Artist Retreat 

March 10-July 7, 2024 

Impact! presents recent works by 10 

contemporary U.S.-based artists, all alumni of 

the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Sarasota: Diana 

Al-Hadid, Sanford Biggers, Chitra Ganesh, 

Todd Gray, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Michelle 

Lopez, Ted Riederer, John Sims, Kukuli Velarde, 

and William Villalongo. 

Dan Cameron, the exhibition’s guest curator, 

is a former Hermitage Curatorial Council member. 

The exhibition will feature works across a 

range of media, including sculpture, painting, 

installation, video, photography, printmaking, 

ceramics, and performance. 

• The Truth of the Night Sky: Anne Patterson 

and Patrick Harlin 

April 21-Sept. 29, 2024 

Hermitage Artist Retreat Fellows Anne Patterson 

and Patrick Harlin will collaborate to create 

a multimedia site-specific installation. Composer 

Harlin’s original orchestral work, Earthrise, will 

serve as an integral part of the immersive installation 

work by multidisciplinary artist Patterson. 

Patterson’s large-scale installations combine 

sculpture, architecture, lighting, video, music, 

and scent. As a synesthete (when she hears 

sound, she sees color and shape), Patterson 

seeks to transport audiences to a multi-sensory 

realm. This immersive installation will engage 

the senses: visitors will plunge into color-filled 

light or enveloping darkness, and move in 

rhythm with exalting music or in ambient sound. 

Just the Facts: 

Sarasota Art Museum is located at 1001 

South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Visit Sarasota- 

ArtMuseum.org for more information. General 

Admission $15; Museum Members Free. 

Open 7 days a week - Monday-Saturday: 10 am 

to 5 pm; Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm 


Forty-One City Grille Riverwalk Grille 

mattisons.com 


coming up 

20 TH 

ANNIVERSARY SEASON 

Celebrating the Future of Classical Music 

Sunshine From Darkness 

announces Inspiring Hope 

Dinner program 

Dinner benefiting youth emotional literacy and 

youth mental health research to feature keynote by 

Tom Arnold, personal stories from local notables 

Sunshine From Darkness, a 

nonprofit organization dedicated 

to the funding of local 

mental health services 

and programs and mental 

health research, has announced its 2024 

Inspiring Hope Dinner. The organization’s 

annual fundraising event will take place 

on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. 

at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (1111 Ritz 

Carlton Drive). 

This year’s keynote speaker will be 

American comedian, actor, producer and 

writer Tom Arnold, who will speak about 

his journey with 

anxiety and longtime 

battles with 

addiction. Arnold 

has been sober 

for over five years 

but he’s faced addiction, 

sobriety, 

and relapse at 

different points 

in his Hollywood 

Tom Arnold will be 

career as well 

the keynote speaker 

as significant for the 2024 Inspiring 

health challenges. 

Today, he is presented by Sunshine 

Hope Dinner, which is 

in recovery and 

From Darkness 

sharing his journey publicly in order to give 

hope to others who face the same demons. 

The evening will feature “Faces Behind 

the Stories,” shining a spotlight on the 

personal, sometimes difficult journeys of 

four members of our community: Roger 

Capote, senior vice president, marketing & 

community relations and CCO, CAN Community 

Health; Kelvin Foster, chaplain, 

North River Fire District and American Red 

Cross Disaster spiritual care regional advisor 

for Central and SW Florida; Sydney 

Koffman, chemical engineer; and Linda 

Larsen, motivational speaker. 

The event will also feature the bestowing 

of the 2024 Lee and Bob Peterson Legacy 

Award to Bunny Skirboll, founder of 

Compeer, Inc., a lively paddle raise, live 

music with Quintessence – featuring some 

very special guest vocalists, including 

Chris Eisenberg – who will perform selections 

from his Frank Sinatra tribute show, 

“Frank & Me,” Raleigh Mosely II and Ariel 

Blue – and dancing. 

Co-chairs are Amie Austin, Ph.D., Sarah 

Karp Renkliyuz and Taylor Karp Teymuri. 

More than 380 were in attendance for the 

Inspiring Hope Dinner in January of 2023; 

the event grossed more than $200,000, with 

Co-chairs for the 2024 Inspiring Hope Dinner are 

Sarah Karp Renkliyuz, Amie Austin, Ph.D. and 

Taylor Karp Teymuri Photo by Cliff Roles 

proceeds allocated toward the mission of 

Sunshine From Darkness, the local mental 

health services of Harvest House and 

Teen Court of Sarasota, and cutting-edge 

research funded by the Brain & Behavior 

Research Foundation. 

Founded as a subsidiary of the Lee and 

Bob Peterson Foundation, Sunshine From 

Darkness hosts events throughout the year 

that bring mental health and addiction 

awareness and education to the forefront of 

the community, providing professionals and 

philanthropists with the opportunity to engage 

with the broader mental health community. 

Its mission is to enhance and promote 

mental health wellness in our community. 

Tickets are $350; proceeds will benefit 

Sunshine From Darkness’s “blue door services,” 

which will focus on emotional literacy 

for youth, and youth mental health 

research. For more about Sunshine From 

Darkness or to purchase tickets to the Inspiring 

Hope Dinner, visit sunshinefromdarkness.org. 

ABOUT 

Sunshine From Darkness 

Sunshine From Darkness is a nonprofit 

organization dedicated to raising funds 

for local charities that provide health and 

addiction disorder services in the Sarasota 

community and funding cutting-edge mental 

health research. Founded as a subsidiary 

of the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation, 

Sunshine From Darkness hosts events 

throughout the year that bring mental 

health and addiction awareness and education 

to the forefront of the community, 

providing professionals and philanthropists 

with the opportunity to engage with 

the broader mental health community. Its 

mission is to enhance and promote mental 

health wellness in our community. Visit 

sunshinefromdarkness.org. 

Visit our website for tickets and more 

information: PERLMANSUNCOAST.ORG 

Sponsored in part by: 

The Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable Trust Richard Orenstein, Trustee 

In partnership with 

WINTER RESIDENCY 

FREE! TENT PERFORMANCES 

December 29, 2023 – January 5, 2024 

USF Sarasota-Manatee 

CELEBRATION CONCERT 

January 6, 2024 | Sarasota Opera House 

Tickets: SOH Box Office 941-328-1300 

or sarasotaopera.org 

CELEBRATION DINNER 

January 6, 2024 | Michael’s on East 

NEW! PMP CHAMBER 

QUARTET RECITALS 

January 8, 2024 | First Presbyterian Church 

SAVE THE DATE: 

REMEMBERING ROGER 

January 20, 2024 | Unitarian Universalist Church 


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dining in 

Guests for the Holidays? 

Coffeecake to the rescue 

F Cinnamon-Crisp Coffee Cake 

Cinnamon-Crisp Coffee Cake T 

F Glazed Espresso Coffee Cake 

Glazed Espresso Coffee Cake T 

Crowned 

with cinnamonscented 

crumbs 

and hiding 

a layer 

of sweet, 

fudgy 

filling, this 

coffee cake 

is an updated 

classic. 

Makes 9” 

round 

coffee cake 

FILLING: 

1/3 cup granulated sugar 

2 teaspoons Vietnamese cinnamon* 

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, 

Dutch-process or natural 

Crumbs 

1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All- 

Purpose Flour 

6 tablespoons granulated sugar 

2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, 

sifted if lumpy 

CAKE: 

2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All- 

Purpose Flour 

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

3/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

2 teaspoons Vietnamese cinnamon* 


6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 

cut into 1/2” cubes; at room 

temperature 

1 teaspoon Vanilla 

*If using a different kind of cinnamon, 

increase to 1 tablespoon 



temperature 

2 teaspoons Vanilla 

2 large eggs 

1 cup buttermilk or plain Greek yogurt* 

*Whole milk or full-fat yogurt (about 5% 

fat) is preferred for the most tender cake. 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9” cake pan with a round piece of parchment or round 

reusable liner and lightly grease the sides. 

To make the filling: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa. Set aside. 

To make the crumbs: Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, 

then sweeping off any excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, 

cinnamon, and salt. Add the butter and vanilla; toss to combine. Using a bowl scraper, 

fork, or your fingers, work in the butter until crumbs form and no dry spots remain. The 

crumbs should be irregular, ranging in size from a pea to walnut. Set aside. 

To make the cake: In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, 

baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add the butter and mix at low speed using an 

electric hand mixer or the flat beater attachment of a stand mixer until the mixture 

looks sandy, about 1-2 minutes. 

Beat in the vanilla and eggs, then mix until no dry spots of flour remain. Stop the mixer 

and scrape the bowl and beater attachment as needed; the mixture will be thick. 

If using buttermilk, slowly pour it into the mixture while the mixer is running on low 

speed. If using Greek yogurt, add the yogurt all at once before starting to mix. Continue 

to stir until the batter is smooth. Stop to scrape the bowl and then mix again at low 

speed for 1 minute; this final mix is key to ensuring the best texture so don’t skip it. 

To assemble and bake the coffee cake: Transfer half the batter (about 1 1/2 cups) into 

the prepared pan, spreading it all the way to the edges. Sprinkle the filling evenly across 

the batter. 

Transfer the remaining batter atop the filling and gently spread to the edges. (The batter 

will be pourable if you’ve used buttermilk; otherwise, transfer the thick batter by dolloping 

portions over the filling then use a spatula to smooth it out into an even layer.) 

Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the batter and gently press to adhere. 

Bake the cake for about 45-50 minutes, until it’s set in the middle and light brown. 

When it’s done, a toothpick or paring knife inserted into the center should come out 

with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to 

cool in the pan for 20 minutes. 

Featuring 

dazzling zebra 

stripes of 

chocolate and 

vanilla cake 

batter along 

with a bold 

coffee glaze, 

this espresso coffee 

cake brings 

extra caffeine to 

the table. 

Makes one 

9” round 

coffee cake 

CRUMBS: 

1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All- 

Purpose Flour 

6 tablespoons granulated sugar 

2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, 

sifted if lumpy 

1 teaspoon Vietnamese cinnamon* 


CAKE: 

2 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached 

All-Purpose Flour 

1 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon baking powder 


1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 

1/2” cubes; at room temperature 

2 teaspoons Vanilla 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

2 teaspoons espresso powder 



temperature 

1 teaspoon Vanilla 

*If using something other than 

Vietnamese, increase to 2 teaspoons. 

2 large eggs 

1/2 cup buttermilk 

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold brew 

concentrate or brewed coffee, 

strong; divided 

3 tablespoons espresso powder 

2 teaspoons black cocoa* 

*For the most contrast, use black cocoa. 

Substituting another cocoa will create a 

lighter chocolate batter. 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9” cake pan with a round piece of parchment or round 

reusable liner and lightly grease the sides. 

To make the crumbs: Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, 

then sweeping off any excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, cinnamon, 

salt, and espresso powder. Add the butter and vanilla; toss to combine. Using 

a bowl scraper, fork, or your fingers, work in the butter until crumbs form and no dry spots 

remain. The crumbs should be irregular, ranging in size from a pea to walnut. Set aside. 

To make the cake: In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, 

baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add the butter and mix at low speed using an 

electric hand mixer or the flat beater attachment of a stand mixer until the mixture 

looks sandy, about 1 to 2 minutes. (This mixing method is called reverse creaming and 

is also known as the paste method.) 

Beat in the vanilla and eggs, then mix until no dry spots of flour remain. Stop the mixer 

and scrape the bowl and beater attachment as needed; the mixture will be thick. 

Combine the buttermilk and 1/2 cup of the coffee or cold brew concentrate. Keep the 

mixer running and slowly add the wet mixture to the bowl. Mix until smooth, then stop 

the mixer to scrape the bowl and mix again at medium-low speed for 1 minute; this 

final mix is key to ensuring the best texture so don’t skip it. 

To assemble and bake the coffee cake: In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the 

espresso powder, black cocoa, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of coffee or cold brew 

concentrate. Stir to combine. Heat briefly in the microwave if the mixture remains lumpy. 

Transfer slightly less than half, about 1 1/2 cups, of batter to the medium bowl with 

the espresso/cocoa mixture. Stir until the batter is uniform in color with no dark streaks 

remaining; this will be the espresso batter. (The remaining batter is the vanilla batter.) 

Portion roughly 1/2 cup of the vanilla batter into the prepared pan (a scone or muffin 

scoop works well here; use 2 scoops for 1/2 cup). Next, use the same scoop to portion 

about 1/4 cup of the espresso batter into the center of the vanilla batter and gently spread 

it in a small circle using the back of the scoop. (This will cause the vanilla batter to spread.) 

Continue to scoop the batters, alternating between espresso and vanilla, in 1/4 cup 

increments (like you’re creating a bull’s eye pattern) until all the batter is used. You 

will now have thin rings of each batter towards the edges of the pan and thicker rings 

towards the center. 

SOURCE: King Arthur www.kingarthurbaking.com 


you’re news 

Accolades 

■ The Circus Arts Conservatory 

recently hosted its 6th annual 

Legacy Society Appreciation 

Luncheon. Longtime supporters, 

volunteers and founding Society 

Members Shirley and Jack 

Brown were recognized as the 2023 

Legacy Society Honorees. 

From left to right: Pedro Reis, 

Dolly Jacobs, Shirley & Jack Brown, 

Jennifer Mitchell 

For more than 13 years, Jack has 

served The CAC as board member, 

treasurer, board chair and fundraising 

chair. Throughout, Shirley 

has championed The CAC as 

School Board of Sarasota County 

Member and as a Florida State 

House Representative. 

The Legacy Society Luncheon 

celebrates and thanks those select 

individuals who have included The 

CAC in their charitable estate giving. 

Appointments 

■ Nelle S. Miller has been named 

President & Chief Executive Officer 

of All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB). 

She will 

succeed 

CEO Sandra 

Frank, who 

announced 

her intention 

to retire back 

in March 

2023. 

Miller 

Nelle S. Miller 

returns to 

All Faiths 

Food Bank after having served on 

the AFFB Board from 2016-2021, 

including service as Chair of the 

Board from 2018-2020, during 

which time she assisted in the development 

of a succession plan for 

the organization. 

Miller has a background in the 

nonprofit world of Sarasota and 

Desoto counties and the issues of 

hunger, health and nutrition, and 

access to healthy food have been at 

the heart of the philanthropic work. 

Miller is currently serving as the 

Interim CEO of Unidos Now. Last 

year, she acted as Interim President 

and CEO of JFCS of the Suncoast. She 

is currently Board Chair of the Education 

Foundation of Sarasota County 

and is an Advisory Board member for 

the Boxser Diversity Initiative. 

Additionally, she has been Board 

Chair of the Community Foundation 

of Sarasota County, Glasser 

Schoenbaum Human Services 

Center, and the Jewish Federation of 

Sarasota-Manatee. 

Miller will assume her responsibilities 

as President & CEO of 

All Faiths Food Bank on January 

3, 2024. For more information, 

visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

■ The Ringling has announced the 

promotion of Sarah Cartwright to 

Chief Curator, 

making her the 

first person in 

more than a 

decade to hold 

this title at the 

museum. As 

Chief Curator, 

Dr. Cartwright 

will have 

Sarah Cartwright 

oversight of 

the curatorial 

department and will help shape the 

museum’s long-term exhibitions 

and collections strategies in pursuit 

of institutional strategic goals. 

She will continue as the Ulla R. 

Searing Curator of Collections, a role 

she has held since 2017, maintaining 

responsibility for the museum’s collections 

of European and American 

paintings, sculpture, and works on 

paper from Antiquity to 1900 CE. 

Her current projects include the 

international loan exhibition Guercino’s 

Friar with a Gold Earring: Fra 

Bonaventura Bisi, Painter and Art 

Dealer, open through Jan. 7, 2024, 

which she co-curated with David M. 

Stone, Professor Emeritus, University 

of Delaware. The exhibition is 

accompanied by a book of the same 

title, co-authored by Stone and Cartwright 

(Scala Arts Publishers). In 

December, Cartwright will open Shinique 

Smith: Parade, an exhibition 

curated in collaboration with 

Smith, which marks the first time 

the artist’s work will be displayed in 

museum galleries of European art. 

■ All Faiths Food Bank has created 

a new, senior-level communications 

position. In early October, 

new hire Nina Harrelson began 

her work as All Faiths Food Bank’s 

Director of 

Strategic Communications. 

Harrelson’s 

responsibilities 

will include 

strategic 

marketing 

planning and 

execution, 

Nina Harrelson 

development 

and implementation 

of the organization’s 

overall communications strategy, 

brand management, oversight of 

public and media relations, crisis 

plan management, and more. 

Harrelson comes to AFFB from 

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin 

Hospital/HCA Florida Twin Cities 

Hospital, where she served as the 

Director of Communications & 

Community Engagement.Prior to 

that, she served as the Public Relations 

Specialist for The Salvation 

Army of Memphis & the Mid-South. 

■ The Manatee County Board of 

County Commissioners has appointed 

Nicole Knapp as Director 

of Development Services. She started 

her Manatee County career eight 

years ago, bringing with her nearly 

20 years of 

land development 

experience 

spanning 

several areas. 

In the early 

part of her 

career, Knapp 

worked for 

the Village of 

Bolingbrook, 

Nicole Knapp 

IL, where she 

played an integral role in managing 

Bolingbrook’s rapid growth in housing, 

commercial development and 

infrastructure improvements, which 

led to Bolingbrook being recognized 

as one of the top 50-best places to 

live in the United States. 

At Manatee County, she has 

served as the Public Hearing 

Section Manager, Planning Section 

Manager for Emergency Management 

in Public Safety, Comprehensive 

Planning Division Manager, 

and the Impact Fee Administrator. 

For the past four months, Nicole has 

been serving as the Interim Director 

of Development Services. Knapp 

was born and raised in Stoney 

Creek, Ontario Canada, where she 

earned a degree in Municipal Planning 

and Development. 

Board News 

■ Embracing Our Differences 

(EOD), announced recently that the 

organization has appointed Chloe 

Niebuhr as a STAR student board 

member. 

Niebuhr, a 

12th-grade 

student at Pine 

View School, 

is a member 

of The Boys 

& Girls Club’s 

STAR (Students 

Take 

Chloe Niebuhr 

Active Roles) 

Leadership 

Training program. After completion 

of the program, students are 

eligible to give back to a cause they 

care about by serving as a voting 

board member for one of STAR’s 90 

partner agencies. 

Niebuhr, 17, was chosen to be 

a Pine View Unity Day leader for 

EOD’s Unity Day in 2022. She says 

this offered her “first opportunity 

to gain a deep understanding of the 

organization’s goals and its impact 

on my community.” 

In addition to her work with EOD, 

Niebuhr pursued independent 

study in art and attended Ringling’s 

Precollege Program and Sotheby’s 

Summer Institute of Art. With this 

experience, she was chosen as the 

STAR Student Representative on 

Sarasota’s Public Art Committee. 

“Art is something I’ve been passionate 

about my entire life. In addition 

to being an artist, I love how art 

connects people, how it influences 

thought processes, and how it can 

change people’s opinions and beliefs 

for the better,” she says. 

Community service has been vital 

to Niebuhr since she was little. She 

has served as a teacher’s assistant 

at Visible Men Academy, helping 

direct math and science projects. 

She also served as a unit leader for 

Growing Strong Stem (GSS), an 

organization dedicated to helping 

middle and elementary school students 

at Laurel Civic Association. 

“My students at VMA and GSS 

come from different backgrounds 

and cultures than my own,” she 

says. “My experience with them 

has taught me how important 

initiatives such as Embracing Our 

Differences are for bringing us all 

together and teaching respect, 

inclusivity and kindness.” 

At Pine View, Niebuhr was 

responsible for its largest fundraiser, 

with the proceeds funding the 

Speech and Debate team. Other 

accolades include being nominated 

for the Education Foundation 

STRIVE Award, receiving the 2023 

Biology Honors Award, and being 

named AP Scholar with Honors. 

Embracing Our Differences’ 

board of directors includes Judge 

Charles E. Williams, Chair; Linda 

Poteat-Brown, Vice-Chair; Kaitlin 

Yelle, Treasurer; Richard Bergman, 

Secretary; and Christina 

de Guia, M.D., John Weber, and 

Sarah Wertheimer. 

For more information, visit www. 

embracingourdifferences.org. 

■ Four new board members have 

joined JFCS of the Suncoast. They 

include Adam Gersh, SPHR, GPHR, 

Talent Acquisition Leader with 

Arcadis North America. Joining 

him are Ellen Goldner, a former 

Director of Admissions for Alexander 

Muss High School in Israel, and 

Director of Development for the Y 

Camps in New Jersey; Dan Dannheisser, 

P.A., founding partner 

at Dannheisser Injury Law and 

member of the Bar Associations for 

Florida, District of Columbia, Colorado, 

the American Bar and Florida 

Justice Academy has also served on 

the Sarasota Rotary, Sarasota African 

American Cultural Coalition, 

Safe Children Coalition and Temple 

Sinai; Sasha Rosin, currently a 

realtor with Horizon Realty and a 

background in volunteer work, has 

also joined the board. 

■ Visit Sarasota County (VSC) 

has welcomed Susie Bowie, 

President and CEO of The William 

G. and Marie Selby Foundation, to 

its Board of Directors. 

After seven years as the Executive 

Director of Manatee Community 

Foundation, Bowie became the 

President and CEO of the William 

G. and Marie Selby Foundation in 

March of 2023. She is a graduate of 

Leadership Florida and Vice President 

of the Charitable Gift Planners 

of Southwest Florida. 

The other members of the Visit 

Sarasota County 2024 Board of Directors 

are: Lorrie Liang, President 

of Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s 

Sarasota Campus; Nick Mavrikas, 

Owner of Magna Hospitality; Richard 

Russell, General Director of 

the Sarasota Opera; John LaCivita, 

President of Willis Smith Construction; 

Hon. Ron Cutsinger of the 

Sarasota County Commission; Ann 

Frescura, Executive Director of the 

Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce; 

Mark Gordon, Managing Editor 

of the Business Observer; Rick 

Konsavage, Managing Director of 

The Resort at Longboat Key Club; 

Kara Morgan, CEO of Venice Main 

Street; Mike Quillen, President of 

Gecko’s Hospitality Group; Wes 

Santos, General Manager of the 

Hyatt Regency Sarasota and Tim 

Self, Financial Advisor at Gulfside 

Investment Services. 

■ The Child Protection Center, 

Inc. (CPC) have announced the 

appointment of Nikki Williams 

and Christie Mucha to its Board 

Nikki Williams and Christie Mucha 

of Directors. Williams has been 

serving the Child Protection Center 

for over a decade as a volunteer, 

donor, and event attendee. She 

has served as a Co-Chair of the 

Blue Ties and Butterflies signature 

fundraiser for the organization 

among other event support. 

Nikki was the 2023 Volunteer of 

the Year for the Child Protection 

Center. Mucha joins their Board of 

Directors as a volunteer, advocate 

and donor for the prevention, 

intervention, and treatment of 

child abuse. Christie has a Masters 

in Education and has worked in 

early childhood and elementary 

education. She has served on the 

Blue Ties and Butterflies committee 

for the past two years. 

Other CPC board members include 

Tina Granthon, Board Chair, Jennifer 

Steube, Board Vice Chair, Alina 

Cemitier, Charlie Brooks, Tony 

Dempsey, Jennifer Douglas, Jennifer 

Fox, Edward Griese, Tammy 

Karp, Donna Koffman, Graci Mc- 

Gillicuddy, Tom McLaughlin, Freya 

Robbins, and Dan Starostecki. 

For information on CPC, visit 

www.cpcsarasota.org. 

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westcoastwoman@comcast.net. 

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You’re News on our Facebook 

page West Coast Woman. 

We also publish this page on our 

website (westcoastwoman.com) 

and in our monthly e-blast. 

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE 

TO OUR E-BLAST? 

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Open again in 

DOWNTOWN 

SARASOTA! 

Nancy’s remains downtown Sarasota’s ONLY and ORIGINAL BBQ joint, and stands alone in our tradition of slow smoking ALL our pork and beef brisket overnight, 

EVERY night and serving it strictly FRESH FROM THE SMOKER. 

Join us to enjoy our original menu -- and some new items -- in our spacious dining room or in our inviting full bar with HAPPY HOUR every day 11AM-7PM 

(where we live stream every Sunday NFL game on 15 big screens). We offer a private dining room you may reserve for lunchtime or dinner gatherings. 

And of course we continue as the area’s leading local BBQ caterer for events small or large; for catering call Nancy direct 941-955-3400. 

We look forward to welcoming you ... and welcoming you back! 

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good news department 

IMPACT100 SRQ 

Announces Ten Grant Finalists for 2023 

Members of Impact100 SRQ celebrated 

their 5th Giving Year on Wednesday, November 

8, at their Annual Celebration & 

Award Ceremony. They heard presentations 

from the 10 nonprofit grant finalists 

who were selected by volunteer members 

from this year’s applicants, each 

with the opportunity to receive funding. 

The 763 members in 2023 funded 7 grants 

of $109,000 each in keeping with the organization’s 

giving model: At least 100 

women annually donate $1,000 each to 

fund grants of at least $100,000 to local 

nonprofits. 

The 2023 Impact100 SRQ grant recipients are: 

■ Arts, Culture & History Focus Area: 

Art Center Sarasota 

The proposed Youth Digital Art Lab & 

Classroom Upgrade: Building a Digital Arts 

Program + Expanding Classroom Capabilities 

initiative will create opportunities 

for students to explore digital art such 

as photography, animation, graphics, and 

visual effects by expanding the youth program 

to include digital technology, and 

will upgrade classroom space to allow for 

increased enrollment. 

■ Education Focus Area: 

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. 

The proposed Girl Scouts Amphitheater 

on the River initiative will provide a gathering 

space for educational, recreational, 

environmental, and social activities at 

Camp Honi Hanta with the construction of 

a new outdoor amphitheater. 

■ Environment & Recreation Focus Area: 

The Paul A. and Veronica H. Gross 

Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida 

The proposed Help Florida’s Raptors Soar 

– Construction of a 100 ft. Flyway for Raptor 

Rehabilitation initiative will strengthen 

the healthy raptor population and 

therefore the local ecosystem with the 

construction of a critical rehabilitation 

flyway for birds of prey. 

■ Family Focus Area: 

Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. 

The proposed Legal Lifeline For Youth initiative 

will increase their ability to assist 

children in foster care at every stage of 

their proceedings by expanding the Lifeline 

Project with the funding of a second 

children’s attorney. 

Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. 

The proposed Empowering Families 

through a Second Chance initiative will 

provide more support for first-time misdemeanor 

youth offenders and their families 

by funding an additional client coordinator 

and support staff. 

■ Health & Wellness Focus Area: 

Easterseals Southwest Florida 

The proposed Bringing the Magic of Gardening 

to Children, Teens, and Adults with 

Disabilities initiative will construct a new, 

wheelchair accessible Grow and Learn 

Garden, where clients will have experiences 

in nature that will enhance learning, 

support motor skill development, decrease 

anxiety, and improve self-esteem 

from learning new skills. 

Jewish Family and Children’s Services 

of the Suncoast 

The proposed School and Family Wellness 

Support Services initiative will improve 

the emotional, social, and physical 

well-being of more youth/teen clients 

and their families by funding a mental 

health professional with a focus on family 

and a part-time case manager to coordinate 

wrap-around services. 

At the event, the 10 nonprofit grant 

applicant finalists each gave short presentations 

to explain their initiatives and 

the sustainable impact each project 

would have on the community. Following 

all the presentations, Impact100 SRQ 

members were able to cast their votes 

for which initiatives they wanted to fund. 

Upon tabulation of the votes, the 7 recipients 

were announced. 

The more women who join the organization, 

the more grants can be funded. 

The membership drive for 2024 is 

now open until March 26, 2024. To learn 

more about Impact100 SRQ and how to 

become a member, visit the website at 

www.Impact100SRQ.org. 

Forty Carrots 

Expansion Reaches Milestone for Campus 

Forty Carrots Family Center’s Generations 

of Change Expansion Campaign reaches 

another milestone as its new building for 

expanded Mental Health and Parenting 

Education services takes shape as the roof 

goes on. Architects 

the Schimberg 

Group and 

builder Tandem 

Construction 

are ahead of 

schedule with 

plumbing and 

electricity completed 

and windows 

installed. 

The campaign has reached $8.75 million 

of the $10 million dollar goal for the building 

and program expansion. Since 2020, 

Forty Carrots has increased child and family 

mental health services by over 70%, and the 

expansion will allow for a 100% increase in 

Mental Health and 30% in Parenting Education 

services over the next several years. 

The Generations of Change expansion 

Wilson-Wood Foundation 

funds early education for area families 

The Wilson-Wood Foundation recently 

awarded a grant of $15,000 to Safe Children 

Coalition (SCC), for its HIPPY (Home 

Instruction for Parents of Preschool 

Youngsters) program. The grant will help 

area families with young children to prepare 

their children for success in school 

and beyond. 

This is the fifth year that the Wilson-Wood 

Foundation has provided support – totaling 

$55,000 – for the HIPPY program. 

The HIPPY program helps parents to 

provide educational enrichment for preschool-age 

children and is designed to 

remove barriers to participation in education. 

The program is offered to all participants 

free of charge so that disadvantaged 

children can enjoy future success; 

the goals of HIPPY are consistent with the 

mission of the Wilson-Wood Foundation, 

which aims to do good deeds in health, 

education and human services. 

In fiscal year 2023, HIPPY served 125 parents 

and children with economic, social 

and educational challenges in Sarasota 

includes a new 6900 sq ft building on 

1.72 acres at 1350 Cattlemen Rd. It offers 

a Child and Family Therapy Center with 6 

therapy rooms, intake office, waiting area 

and Parenting Education Center equipped 

Aerial view of Forty Carrots Family Center new building on Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. 

with flexible capacity with moveable wall 

and observation capabilities, virtual program 

rooms, administrative offices, and 

program staff workspaces. 

The addition of the Cattlemen property 

allows the existing buildings on S. Tuttle 

Avenue to expand early education and 

house administrative offices. 

To learn more, visit www.fortycarrots.org. 

A recent grant from the Wilson-Wood Foundation will support Safe Children Coalition’s HIPPY program. 

County. Every HIPPY family is TANF (Temporary 

Assistance for Needy Families) eligible 

and faces overwhelming poverty. 

In the most recent monitoring of the 

program, 100% of HIPPY children, ages 

3-5, improved their School Readiness Curriculum-Based 

Scores, 100% of children 

transitioning to kindergarten passed the 

school readiness assessment, and 100% 

of parents surveyed indicated that the 

program helped their child(ren) to learn 

skills to succeed in school. Additionally, 

100% of the parents served increased 

their engagement in parent activities. 

“Since 1992, HIPPY has encouraged 

participation from local parents who 

might otherwise not feel empowered or 

equipped to get involved in a meaningful 

way with their children’s education,” 

said SCC president and CEO Brena Slater. 

“We are grateful to the Wilson-Wood 

Foundation for its continued support of 

our HIPPY program to help the children of 

low-income families to succeed in school 

and break the cycle of poverty.” 


S R SOT CONCERT 

SSOCI TION 

CANADIAN BRASS HOLIDAY CONCERT 

Monday, Dec 4, 2023, 7:30 pm | Sarasota Opera House 

Performing fun and festive holiday favorites. 

SOFIA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 

with PIANIST SIMEON GOSHEV 

Nayden Todorov, conductor 

Monday, Jan 15, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel 

An All-Beethoven program! 

HARLEM QUARTET 

Wednesday, Jan 24, 7:30 pm 

Riverview Performing Arts Center 

Mendelssohn, Britten, and jazz standards 

DETROIT SYMPHONY 

with CELLIST ALISA WEILERSTEIN 

Jader Bignamini, conductor 

Monday, Feb 19, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel 

Elgar Cello Concerto and Scheherazade 

ROTTERDAM PHILHARMONIC 

with PIANIST DANIIL TRIFONOV 

Lahav Shani, conductor 

Sunday, March 3, 7:30 pm | Van Wezel 

Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 and 

Romeo and Juliet 

PIANIST BRUCE LIU 

Friday, March 29, 7:30 pm 

Riverview Performing Arts Center 

Performing Ravel, Chopin and Liszt 

2023-24 Season single tickets on sale now! 

SCAsarasota.org | 941-966-6161 


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wcw12/23

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