The best compliment I’ve ever received was being mistaken as a ballet dancer.  The thing is, they are beautiful creatures. Every muscle is constantly being worked, there is not an inch of their bodies that is not beautifully sculptured – you know, this little Mary may not touch, but loves to look!   Last Friday night I arrived at the Sarasota Opera House dressed in black tuxedo pants, white shirt with Diamante cuff links and my favorite ultra fitted white jacket… Be aware I went tie-less for a little rebellious edge – [...]

Roundabouts complete by June 15 → Construction crews have completed 95% of the concrete work involved with shaping the Ringling Avenue roundabouts. Downtown motorists and pedestrians clamoring for the re-opening of Ringling Boulevard from Orange Avenue to the bayfront can circle June 15 on their calendars. Ringling roundabouts project manager Neil Gaines said the road and the roundabouts being constructed on Ringling Boulevard at Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue will be open no later than June 15. With any luck, Gaines said the roundabouts and the road could open sooner. [...]

All screenings before 5:00 PM are only eight bucks! Let’s talk AMERICAN MAN. If you follow NFL football, you must see this incredible film screening today at the Sarasota Opera House. It is a Big Deal for sports fans. The film is directed by Jon Frankel from HBO Real Sports who will be here for the premiere. NY Giants Hall Of Fame legend Harry Carson will attend the screening. Kevin Turner, former NFL superstar (The Philadelphia Eages and the New England Patriots) and subject of the film, will also be on hand. There [...]

So I’m sitting here at the Filmmaker’s Lounge feeling a bit like, how should I say, a fish out of water? I attended the Red Carpet, opening night film, and opening night party. This is my first Sarasota Film Festival and my first, shall we say, “brush with fame.” It wasn’t at all like I expected. First of all, there was no Jon Hamm. Nowhere to be found. Naturally, I began the evening in a state of devastation and did my best to hold back tears. I was expecting to [...]

Everyone has probably heard by now that the controversial MTO ‘Fast Life’ mural was painted over on April 7. Perhaps it’s just me, but the circus surrounding the mural was actually more interesting than the work of art itself. In summary, French street artist, MTO, installed the mural on the Tube Dude building in November as part of the Going Vertical initiative during the 2011 Sarasota Chalk Festival. The artist chose to depict an image of two downturned hands, fingers crossed, with a message tattooed across them reading “Fast Life.” [...]

Town hires new PZ&B director → Robin D. Meyer, who has worked for St. Lucie County for the last four-and-a-half years, will begin his new role May 14. St. Lucie County Assistant Director of Growth Management/Building and Code Regulation Manager Robin D. Meyer has accepted the position of Longboat Key Planning, Zoning & Building director. Meyer, 61, will assume the role May 14. “I always try to grow my career, and this was a very unique opportunity,” he said. “It’s a beautiful community. There appeared to be a lot of [...]