“I just couldn’t retire,” Huff said. “And then one morning, I woke up at 3 a.m. with this idea: to combine my love of animals and my love of being an entrepreneur into a state-of-th- art, luxury pet resort and spa that is like nothing else in the region.”

That idea became a reality with the purchase of the former Rip Van Winkle bowling alley building. A complete renovation kept only the previous four outer walls, and Huff accomplished a rezoning with help from the Manatee County Commissioners and planning staff. Huff credits the Manatee County Commission for helping get through the process quickly and seamlessly and supporting the business every step of the way.

“Pet owners are always very anxious when leaving their beloved animal,” Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said. “This facility will provide state-of-the-art technology to monitor our pets. The animal community wishes [Huff] well!”

Robert Huff, owner of the Bayside Pet Resort.

Huff has over 30 years of progressive business experience in owning, developing and managing various health care organizations and general businesses. Before starting the Bayside Pet Resort and Spa, Huff performed extensive research into pet lodging and boarding facilities both locally and nationwide, and hired a top management team with more than 50 years of combined pet care and handling experience. He said pets have played a vital role in his life from an early age.

“When I was 11 years old my mother became a single parent, and we were forced to move many times as a result of economic necessity. We had a cocker spaniel named Bucky who helped me through and was my best friend,” Huff said.

“After we moved unexpectedly one weekend, Bucky got lost. Our new home was across town and I had lost all hope of finding him. Then about one year after moving I was walking home from school, and across the street I saw this dog that looked just like Bucky. I had no idea that this dog, who was pretty worn out and ragged-looking, would be who I thought he was. I called his name and Bucky came running. I kept Bucky until I was drafted into the service and gave him to my stepbrother. I never forgot that event in my life and have had several pets since that time. Bucky helped to teach me perseverance and dedication which I have carried throughout my life. This new venture is dedicated to what pet family members can do to influence your life.”

With a grand opening scheduled for June 2012, the Bayside Pet Resort and Spa will be a luxury pet resort offering affordable five-star amenities to canine and feline guests with top-notch accommodations, supervised doggie daycare and a wide array of grooming services. The staff will provide opportunities for recreation and socialization, and pets will be pampered in beautiful one and two-bedroom suites, some with plasma TV screens and web cams for owners to keep an eye on their pets from a distance via their computer or smartphone.

The resort will host a variety of events leading up to the grand opening in June, and Huff plans to hire between 20 and 25 part and full-time employees over the next month.

- The Bayside Pet Resort and Spa is located at 8154 N. Tamiami Trail, and will offer state of the art and luxurious lodging and amenities for canine and feline clients, as well as doggie daycare facilities. For more information please go to www.baysidepetresort.com.

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On June 7, at 6:00 pm, the national bestselling author of fourteen mysterious, genre-bending supernatural thrillers and avid magician, James Swain will be in town reading minds, doing magic and signing his newest novel, Dark Magic. His novels have been translated into six different languages and include the Tony Valentine Series and Jack Carpenter Series. Swain has received three Barry Award nominations, a Florida Book Award for Fiction, the prestigious Prix Calibre .38 for Best American Crime Writing, and has been chosen as a mystery writer of the year by Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.

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Colony, Club Holdings end agreement

Colony Association, Club Holdings end agreement

→ Colony Beach and Tennis Resort Association Board members voted to sever the relationship after Club Holdings officials expressed concerns about issues surrounding the property.

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association board voted unanimously Monday, May 14 to end its development agreement with Club Holdings Ventures LLC.

The board’s president, Jay Yablon, wrote last week in an email to unit owners that the Broomfield, Colo.-based company had expressed an interest in terminating the agreement … [click here to read on!]

Rescued dogs find shelter out east

Photo by Cheryl Eason.

→ Honor Animal Rescue took in 46 of the 263 dogs seized earlier this month in Venice.

LAKEWOOD RANCH— Jolie’s nose twitched vigorously as she pranced over her new surroundings, sniffing everything in sight and pushing her way through 2-foot-tall weeds.

Jolie, who was taken in by Honor Animal Rescue after the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office confiscated 263 dogs from a home in Venice earlier this month, perhaps felt grass on her feet for the first time in months … [click here to read on!]

Neal breaks ground on Fairfield

→ Two model homes already are under construction in Neal Community’s newest development, Fairfield, in the East County.

Fairfield community is set to open Oct. 1

EAST COUNTY — Right now, it’s just a dusty, bare patch of land along State Road 70, between the Harborage and Westwinds communities and Lockwood Ridge Road farther west.

But as construction crews continue working over the next few months, the 27-acre site will be transformed into a community of 140 paired villas … [click here to read on!]

Admission $7, cash, name tags provided.  Cash bar, complimentary appetizers, over 100 in attendance at our prior event.

To receive invitations, send full name and phone to SRQSingles@gmail.com  FREE Membership

“I find that people don’t want to buy something and set it up in their home, and then go visit their neighbor and see the exact same set,” he says. “Our philosophy is simple: Surround yourself with pieces that you love, and mixing styles is okay.”

BBHG styles range from classy ... to edgy.

The Black Bird Home Gallery has been on Main Street for a little over two years and is Rollins’ first venture into retail. Wayne and his wife Mindy moved to Florida from Los Angeles, Ca., and much of his style, he says, comes from trends he watched emerge on the West Coast. The Rollins’ were drawn to Sarasota for its cultural environment and wanted to raise a family while doing what they love: inspiring others to set their own design trends.

“Many people who move to Florida want to get rid of their old heavy furniture and move into a lighter, more Tommy Bahama-type scene,” Rollins says, “but they then end up missing some of their antiques. What we try and promote is that you can have both. Surround yourself with things that you find beautiful. The furniture shouldn’t demand your attention or darken the room, but you can fit pieces in here and there that you love.”

An upstairs view of Black Bird.

Walking into the gallery gives customers a good idea of exactly what he’s talking about. Beautiful and unique pieces in all different styles fill up the space, creating a very warm and cozy feel. Yet nothing is a set. The beauty of the natural landscape inspires the furniture lines with organic and textural, yet sophisticated pieces. The result is comfort with fashion.

You’ll find tables with petrified wood bases, a room divider with gold-laced pearl tiles, ceramic animal sconces and pieces that incorporate all of the elements at Blackbird. “Not all sofas need to be TV sofas,” Rollins says while pointing out a unique and funky piece that can be a centerpiece for a room.

He says he very rarely buys anything twice and sometimes gets a bit weary when his favorites go out the door. “I don’t buy anything that I feel lukewarm about, and that is a concept that everyone should weave into their home design,” he says. You’re bound to find plenty to love at this trend-setting and understated design mecca, the Black Bird Home Gallery.

- Black Bird Home Gallery is the creation of Mindy and Wayne Rollins. Originally from Atlanta, they lived in Los Angeles for years pursuing careers and interests in art, film and interior design. Finally ready to find their forever home and realize their creative dreams, Mindy and Wayne moved to Sarasota in 2008 and opened Black Bird Home Gallery in November 2009. They live with their son on Longboat Key. For more information go to www.blackbirdhomegallery.com

This is our 6th Plugged-in Lunch Networking Workshop at the Half Shell Oyster House. Every 2 weeks we feature a new Business Development topic while you enjoy a phenomenal lunch in the Half Shell Oyster House private meeting room. This is also a great NETWORKING opportunity.

PRICE $ 17 Includes Workshop, Lunch, Beverage and Gratuity.

Seating is limited so please reserve your spot in advance. 

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO BUY YOUR TICKET
http://www.destinyg.com/plus/plugged-in-lunch

MENU: 
Choose one item from 1, 2 & 3.
# 1:
Half Shrimp Po-Boy
Half Voodoo Shrimp Po-Boy
Half Uptowner (ribeye, mushroom/onion, provolone on Gambino bread)
Half Chicken Club
Half Reuben
#2
Cup of Gumbo
Garden Salad
#3
soft drink, ice tea,or water.

Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle.

Police Chief Al Hogle dies in motorcycle crash

→ Longboat Key’s police chief died this afternoon of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina.

Longboat Key Police Chief Albert “Al” Hogle died this afternoon of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina. He was 63 … [click
here to read on!]

SRQ adds non-stop service to New York LaGuardia

→ Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is adding daily non-stop service to New York LaGuardia International Airport.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport announced Monday that Delta Airlines will begin offering non-stop daily service from the airport to New York LaGuardia International Airport beginning Dec. 15. … [click
here to read on!]

Sheriff’s Office to hold Law Enforcement Memorial Service

→ The 27th annual event will recognize the men and women who serve and protect the community and those who have been killed in the line of duty.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office will host the 27th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at Faith Lutheran Church, 7750 Beneva Rd. … [click
here to read on!]

Can we get a "woo-hoo!" for last weekend?

- Photography by James Bixby.

James and I made the rounds this weekend and caught some great snapshots from Friday’s Pitbull Toddler show (and bikini contest), plus plenty of smiling faces at the Harvey Milk Festival. Spot anyone you know?

Thanks for having a blast with me, Sarasota. Look for my weekend preview late this week to find out where I’ll be headed next!

Diversity: the Voices of Sarasota.

Diversity: the Voices of Sarasota will celebrate its 15^th anniversary as a revered gay-friendly Southwest Florida chorus by presenting “From Gershwin to GALA” at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center at Holley Hall. The concert will be a preview of Diversity’s performance at the GALA Choruses’ Festival 2012 held in Denver, Co. GALA Choruses, an international association of GLBT choir groups, holds such a festival every four years, attracting 180 singing groups and 5,000 singers from around the world. In the past, Diversity has participated in GALA festivals in Montreal and in New York City at Carnegie Hall.

Artistic Director Derek Edward Weston plans to commemorate Diversity’s role in GALA by selecting pieces for the Holley Hall performance that illustrate how the chorus has evolved over the last 15 years. “Through this journey, the music has changed from the songs of the civil rights movement to some of the inspirational projects that are commissioned by GALA Choruses today,” Weston states.

Diversity is comprised of more than 50 male and female singers, gay and straight alike. Executive Director David Phillips said he feels the combination of fellowship and talent from every walk of life is what gives the choral group its edge.

Phillips took a few moments to speak with TWIS about Diversity and what to expect at the Holley Hall concert.

TWIS: Tell us what initially compelled you to participate in Diversity.

David Phillips: I was attracted to the chorus because I studied music all my life. After I retired, I moved to Florida and auditioned. I’m one of the charter members, joining when the chorus began in 1997. Back then it was called The Gulf Coast Men’s Chorus. We combined with Harmony: The Women’s Voices of Sarasota in 2008, becoming Diversity. We hold auditions throughout the year, and people can become involved by visiting the website.

TWIS: What is the Diversity rehearsal process like?

Phillips: We have rehearsals every Tuesday night. The Artistic Director preselects the material and hands out the sheet music. We rehearse at St. Andrews Church and each rehearsal lasts about two hours.

TWIS: What kind of highlights can we expect at the Holley Hall performance?

Phillips: We have everything from George Gershwin to Cole Porter numbers. We’ll also be singing “What a Wonderful World” by Nat King Cole. Then we have songs such as “Singing For Our Lives” and “The Great Peace March” by Holly Near. Plus we have excerpts from West Side Story. The selections are comprised of tearjerkers and some songs for laughs. The Diverse Experience, a core group of 10 people within the chorus, will have some special selections as well.

TWIS: In the past, what has participating in the GALA Choruses Festival been like?

Phillips: There are thousands of singers there, and each chorus gets a half-hour to perform. It’s a great big event held in huge concert halls. There’s a tremendous amount of camaraderie when the chorus performs. It’s an amazing experience, and I feel honored to be a part of it.

Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota – “From Gershwin to GALA”
Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, Holley Hall
709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, 34236
May 19, 2012 – 8 p.m.

Tickets are $22 in advance at diversitysarasota.org or by calling (888) 550-6279. $25 at the door.

 - Anthony Paull is a syndicated columnist, author and filmmaker. His debut novel Outtakes of a Walking Mistake is available now.

My favorite Publix at 10th and Cocoanut.

I got to the counter, still on the phone. But I always feel kinda skeezy for being on the phone and ignoring the checkout person, so I said to the friendly-looking young man,”I’m sorry for being on the phone right now.”

He said, “It’s okay; at least you are apologizing … at least you’re acknowledging me.” He did not say this in a snarky way—just delightfully honest and honestly grateful.

Liking this, I took it a step further. “I’m on the phone with my mom, actually.”

“Ah—well tell your mom I said hi.”

“Okay! Mom,” I spoke into the phone while scanning his nametage, “Thomas says ‘hi.’”

Mom said, “Oh, that’s nice. Who’s Thomas?”

“The young fellow at Publix who’s checking me out—err, who’s doing the checkout for my groceries,” I said, blushing and performing a little embarrassed monkey dance.

“Well, you tell Thomas I hope he has a wonderful night,” she said, with great emphasis on the word “wonderful.”

This experience made me incredibly happy. What a nice little crossing-over of interactions, coming out feeling the opposite of skeezy! And beyond not feeling sneezy, it made me happy for other reasons that go deep into my feelings on modern technology and social media. They also make me more aware of a waning appreciation for interactions with people in the world around us that are not planned or pre-sorted.

Thomas’ remark about me “at least acknowledging him” made me think of how many times that must have happened without the intentional nod or word from a customer, and what effect it had on him. How those little marks of noticing and acknowledging color others’ experiences of and with us, whether we are paying attention to it or not (often, I think, not).

It makes me think of how much the increase in “social” technology seems to distract us these days from the social world of our face-to-face daily interactions. And thinking of that always makes me pine for romantic images of folks hanging out on street blocks, park benches, in barber shops, enjoying each other’s company with all of the sights and sounds, smells and unplanned interactions that happen in those sorts of places. Or, at the grocery store check-out line … so many of us in industrialized countries are super comfortable navigating the social spaces set up on social media sites or through or cell phones, but seem to be increasingly uncomfortable with or simply less-inclined to interactions outside of those spaces?

So what’s my reaction?  Anger? Dismay? Protest?

“

source: http://scotthadfield.ca

Tonight’s little check-out-line conversation between Thomas, my mom and me reminded me how much I have the power throughout my day to reverse the current trend I see around me, and how fun it can be. I believe that spontaneous interactions and the enjoyment of face-to-face exchanges with other people is a great ingredient to life, and it’s something I want us humans to hold onto as a species.

Some of my best friends and heroes are those I have met because I was open to talking to them as we shared a public space as strangers. For instance, I met my friend Marcos because I lost my wallet once in Chicago in the cafe where he worked. Because I lingered a moment longer after he handed me my wallet and had a friendly conversation, I ended up at an underground artist collective that night, where I witnessed things and made friendships that inspired an entire era of my life.

Those people and I weren’t “friend-suggested” by Facebook’s social mega-mind, and we didn’t find each other because we listed the same interests on twitter. Something bigger was at work—call it chance, karma or the ludicrous beauty of life and us being open to it.

So am I saying that cell phones or facebook are evil, or that we should talk to every check-out person we encounter?  Not exactly.

Overall, the Thomas-mom interaction makes me think of how, rather than seeing the trend away from openness to who or what’s before us as a downward spiral of doom [as some I know are wont to do, including me at times], moments like that can be opportunities to revive our latent inner urges toward public humanity. We can allow that urge to jump in and creatively reconstruct connections in surprising and fun ways that leave us all strangely satisfied and amused. And I’m thinking that these exchanges have the potential to feel that much more warm and human because we had to make an effort to re-humanize them.

Lower East Side, Brooklyn. Photo: Arthur Fellig

In other words, perhaps those of us who lament the decline of spontaneous or otherwise face-to-face exchanges due to technology could approach this trend with enthusiasm, as an exciting new hurdle in the obstacle course of creating good communities around us, whose presence will make headway that much more satisfying.  It can be an opportunity to make this a society that values face-to-face human exchange that much more, because its people have innovated beyond the pressure to pull away.

Me at 16 with my Mom, aka Kathy Doner. photo by our neighbor Gordon

As I bring this train of thoughts to a halt, it strikes me now as poetic that my mother was the one who trained me early on to savor spontaneous exchanges, especially at … the supermarket! Yes, she’s the type that will know the check-out person’s life story and deepest personal struggle (or dream) by the time they hand her the receipt. So appropriate that she should have been there with me and Thomas tonight, a warm voice through my cell phone wishing him a wonderful night. How lucky I am to have such a mother.

What do you think? How do you see technology affecting our ability to connect out in the community, in good or bad ways?

→ The superintendent, board and staff will be updated on implementation of an advertising policy and the other counties doing the same.

The Sarasota County School Board meets 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at the Landings Administration Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd. for a workshop. County staff will be updated on implementation of an advertising policy. Six other counties are doing the same; however, none of the six are considering an advertisement policy with a business partner have yet signed contracts.

Also at the workshop, board members will: … [click here to read on!]

Sarasota Herald-Trubune publisher seeks college dean position

→ The publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune confirmed for employees last week she’s in the running for a dean position at the University of Florida.

 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Publisher Diane McFarlin confirmed in an email to newspaper staff members last week she is one of five finalists for the University of Florida’s College of Journalism & Communications dean position.McFarlin, an alumna of the University of Florida, wrote in a May 7 e-mail to H-T staff members that the “opportunity tugs at my heart in much the same way as the Herald-Tribune always has.”

“So, after a great deal of soul searching, I agreed to be considered and am now one of five finalists,” McFarlin wrote.

The dean selection process is being conducted as part of … [click here to read on!]

County library offers week of fine forgiveness

→ The Manatee County Library System this week will take overdue books without penalty to patrons.

The Manatee County Library System this week is offering to “wipe the slate clean” for anyone who owes late fees on library materials.

Fine Forgiveness Week, a one-time promotion that allows anyone who has an outstanding debt with the library system to return late materials without penalty, runs through May 19. Books must be returned to a staff member, so the patron’s account can be cleared. Individuals wishing to participate should … [click here to read on!

Colony unit owners to discuss Club Holdings tonight

→ The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association will discuss options for moving forward with redevelopment.

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association will discuss its relationship with its development partner, Club Holdings Ventures LLC, during a board meeting tonight.

The meeting will begin at 8 p.m. and will take place via teleconference.

According to an email sent last week to unit owners by Association Board President Jay Yablon, Club Holdings has expressed a desire to terminate the current development agreement.

The agreement reached between Club Holdings and the Association at the annual unit owners’ meeting April 2 and April 3 gave both parties the option of ... [click here to read on!]

PRICE $ 17 Includes Workshop, Lunch, Beverage and Gratuity.
Seating is limited so please reserve your spot in advance.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO BUY YOUR TICKET
http://www.destinyg.com/plus/plugged-in-lunch

Our 5th Plugged-in Lunch Networking Workshop at the Half Shell Oyster House will be Wednesday May 23rd at 12pm. Every 2 weeks we feature a new Business Development topic while you enjoy a phenomenal lunch in the Half Shell Oyster House private meeting room. This is also a great NETWORKING opportunity.

Topics will range from the use of Social and Internet Marketing to Online Solutions & Business Coaching.

MENU: Choose an item from each column

https://www.facebook.com/events/399322150112043/

June 16th

Early Summer Dishes

Panzanella Salad

Fresh Cut Garlic Parmesan Bread tossed with Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Shaved Parmesan, Basil,

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Finished w/ Balsamic Reduction

Oven Roasted Stuffed Zucchini

w/ Goat Cheese, Crispy Prosciutto, and Fried Sage

Assorted Biscotti

Staff w/ www.dateinreallife.com will be in attendance.

Member of staff @ www.dateinreallife.com in attendance!

www.suncoastgolfcenter.com

A portion of all sales plus 100% profits from the sale of jars of “Slawsa” will be raised.  FREE samples of Slawsa for all attendees.  Don’t go another Memorial Day without this awesome, new condiment that Publix won’t have on shelves until late June.  

“What’s that? Kaye Warr is writing a Mother’s Day piece about what moms like to cook for their kids? That’s such a great idea! Those of us with some free time should pitch in and write a piece on our childhood memories of cooking with our own moms and eating all the delicious meals they whipped up from the heart!”

Even as the words spilled from my mouth, I realized what a grievous error I was making, but it was too late to turn back. Everyone loved the idea, and I knew had to step up to the plate.

(I’m sorry, Mom. Remember how I told you not to worry about my choices to major in art history and embark on a perhaps less-than-lucrative career path as freelance writer because I had a “back-up plan”?

“Don’t worry, Ma. If all else fails, I’ll just pursue a career in standup comedy. There’s money in that, right?”

I’m not sure if you remember the horrified look that crossed your face when I said that to you, but I do, vividly, and I imagine you’re reading this with that same look on your face. Just remember how much you love me.)

My mother is not bad at cooking (usually, except in the case of ducks, eggs and cupcakes, which we will visit momentarily)—she just really hates to do it and avoids it at all costs.

Mom has consistently provided me with sustenance from the day she placed the first bottle of milk to my lips straight up through the present, nearly 25 years later, as she pretends not to notice how much food I sneak out of her pantry every time I visit my parents when I’m too broke to go grocery shopping.

Dinnertime, circa 1987.

She has (somewhat grudgingly, at times) treated me to countless homemade meals that I do, in fact, enjoy. Nine times out of ten when she agrees to cook, she cooks well. My mom makes killer homemade stuffing, for instance. I love it so much that the one year she decided not to make it, I threw a tantrum that nearly ruined Thanksgiving. I was 22 years old.

To this day, when I’m sick she offers to make soup and drive across town to bring it to my house. If I’m having a rough day, she insists on having me over for dinner and she fixes up my favorite comfort food, beef stroganoff, or a batch of chicken piccata. She even lets me be the one to pound the chicken cutlets into thin slices—fantastic stress relief. During my “meat is murder” phase in high school, in which I abruptly announced my vegetarianism (which I have obviously since renounced—blame the beef stroganoff and the chicken piccata cravings), Mom went through the trouble of cooking separate meat-free meals for me without a word of protest.

So, yes, I absolutely could make a post about my favorite things she cooks. However, what I value more than anything is the complete lack of orthodoxy in my mother’s cooking methods, and the life lessons I’ve learned while spending time with Mom in the kitchen, watching her weather the occasional less-than-successful culinary venture with grace and dignity.

Without further adieu, allow me to impart a list of life lessons gleaned from the culinary wisdom and foibles of Mama Smith.

Never let another person pass judgment on your (cheese) choices.

In the Smith family household, we don’t even look at a plate of spaghetti Bolognese if there isn’t a pile of sharp cheddar cheese (hand-grated, none of that pre-shredded nonsense—we have class, thank you) sprinkled on top and melting into the sauce.

I had an Italian roommate in college, and it wasn’t until I glanced up to see a mortified look on his face as I doused my spaghetti with sharp cheddar that I realized there was anything unusual about my choice in cheese. I called my mom and she gently broke the news to me that some people—we’ll call them ‘elitist snobs,’ my words, not hers—have specific ideas about what kind of cheese goes on what kind of pasta.

My mama taught me that it is perfectly okay to march to the beat of a different drummer if that’s what makes me happy. Judge away, dinner guests, but cheddar cheese on my spaghetti makes me happy, and I’m going to put it on yours, too, when I invite you over for dinner … And you will eat it, and you will like it. (My mom taught me that mentality, too.)

A watched pot never boils, but abandoning a pot of boiling eggs is a really bad idea.

My mother is notorious for over-boiling her hardboiled eggs. And by over-boiling, I mean that until my parents’ recent kitchen remodel, there was shattered eggshell cemented to the ceiling above the stove from an unfortunate explosion that occurred approximately 20 years ago. My father spent years trying to scrape those eggs from the ceiling, but in some ways I think my mom liked having them there. They served as her culinary battle scars and her justification to put someone else in charge of cooking: “Or else, look what will happen … ”

Well played, Mom. Well played.

Yes, it is safe to bake paper cupcake wrappers in the oven.

Mom does not bake. I repeat: Mom does not bake. However, in what I assume was a valiant attempt to provide a valuable mother-daughter bonding experience, Mom and I embarked on a single baking adventure when I was a child: Cupcakes.

To be honest, I don’t really know why this happened. Looking back on my childhood, I am 90 percent positive that all I actually wanted to do was dig up rocks in the backyard and study them obsessively for hours, and I’m pretty sure that given the option to bake confectionaries or watch her weird kid dig up and stare at rocks for hours, my mother would have preferred to choose the latter. But bless her—she tried.

Mom gamely joined many a rock-hunting expedition.

This was prior to the days of the ubiquitous Internet where you could simply Google any question you have, such as, “Is it safe to put paper cupcake cups in the oven?” and receive an instantaneous answer. My mom had to wing it, and I will never forget her calling my dad at work to confirm that she wasn’t about to burn the house down.

“Yes, this is a serious question, Oscar. Putting paper in the oven is counter-intuitive. Do you really think it’s okay to teach our daughter that putting possibly flammable objects in the oven is a good idea? Do you, Oscar?”

As it turns out, apparently cupcake cups are the safe kind of paper to put in a 350 degree oven. Go figure.

Thank you, Mom. If I ever found myself overcome with the urge to whip up a batch of cupcakes, I would waste valuable seconds Googling that question if you hadn’t blazed the path with your own research.

Know when to admit defeat and move on, so as not to kill your loved ones.

Both of my parents always encouraged me to try new things and luckily, I have never been a picky eater. In fact, just last week when I was at their house for dinner, I asked my mom if there was any specific meal I actually requested as a kid. (Confession: I was trying to figure out what the hell I was going to write for this piece.) My mom’s response was (and I quote):

“Hmm. No, not really. You basically just ate whatever I put in front of you. And I mean literally anything.”

She said this to me, by the way, over a steaming plate of what she described as “some kind of shepherd’s pie thing” which was garnished, oddly enough, with beer-battered onion rings, and I’m not going to lie: It tasted awesome. Munchies 420 Cafe, look out.

Some things my mom has cooked in the past, however, are not so awesome. The Great Duck Experiment of 1993 is the best example.

In attempt to diversify our meat options, my mom tried to cook duck once, and only once. I won’t go into the gory details, but the greasy mess that resulted from this endeavor haunts my dreams to this day. I was so traumatized that I refused to try duck again until I was 23 years old.

Despite the grotesque nature of the failed meal before me, my six year-old self was conscious of the value of manners, so I quietly attempted to choke down my meal. A tense and heavy silence fell over the dinner table for what seemed like eternity (but was probably only approximately three minutes) before my mother dropped her fork and said to my father and me:

“What is wrong with you two? This is beyond inedible. Jessica, honey, no. I can’t watch you keep eating this. I’m going to go whip up a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese, okay?”

That’s my mom. She never lets her pride get in the way of her sense of humanitarian benevolence, and to this day I believe that I am a better person because she let me eat macaroni and cheese rather than forcing me to eat that duck that night. Thank you, Mama.

And happy Mother’s Day. I love you, Mom, and I think that perhaps I should cook dinner for you tonight.

From renowned food critics to celebrity chefs to restaurant patrons, there is a unifying consensus regarding the source of the world’s best food: Mom. When asked about their choice for a death row meal, most people will name a dish that only their mom truly makes perfectly. My mom’s meatloaf may taste under-seasoned to you, but that’s because your mom makes hers entirely differently—and somehow those first meals are the ones that stick with and comfort us in the long run. It’s difficult to duplicate the taste of home because home tastes different for everyone. In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve asked three local moms to share their favorite kid-tested recipes. Maybe you’ll be inspired to make some of your own food memories.

Megan and her sons, by Mazzalou Photography.

Megan, Brendan and Carter  

Megan and her boys love to spend time with each other in and out of the kitchen. I asked them what they like about cooking Fried Spaghetti, their favorite dish, together.

Megan: “I love that my boys like to cook; sometimes they don’t even need my help. They like to make breakfast and dinners. I am a lucky mom.”

Brendan: “I like to cook this with my mom. She lets me make most of the dinner by myself. I get to cut up all the vegetables with my knives I got for Christmas. Then I fry everything up and mix it together.”

Carter: “I don’t mind helping my mom cook, but I’d rather just eat what Brendan and Mom make for dinner.”

Megan: “This is one of our favorite recipes. We just took a little bit of everything we had in the fridge and threw it together, and it turned out to be one of our favorite dinners. Sometime we will even add a little bit of heavy cream and make a white sauce.”

 Fried Spaghetti

Ingredients:

Angel hair pasta
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Zucchini
Squash
Garlic
Bacon
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese

Method:

Boil pasta till cooked, then chop up all the veggies and bacon. In a medium frying pan, start to cook the chopped-up bacon. Once the bacon is almost cooked add the veggies, except for the tomatoes.

While the veggies are cooking, drain the pasta. In a large frying pan heat up some olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the pasta. Fry the pasta for a few minutes, then add the cooked veggies, bacon and tomatoes. Once everything is mixed up, sprinkle the cheese on top and toss until the cheese melts in the pasta. Divide into bowls and serve.

Jenny and Grace. Photo by Alaina Farmer.

Jenny and Grace

Due to a genetic predisposition, Jennifer DeFranco makes sure to keep Grace on a low-gluten diet. Their Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese is a tasty and healthy crowd-pleaser.

Grace: “I love to cook with Mommy because it always smells so good in our kitchen and she has the best recipes.”

Jenny: “ I love to cook with Grace. She is so much fun to be around, my best critic and my inspiration. I created this recipe a few years ago when I turned to a gluten-free diet. I have yet to find a kid or even the pickiest of eaters that will not devour this dish! It’s an easy mac ‘n’ cheese recipe that can be made any night of the week, can be spruced up with a variety of cheeses and/or also be baked with a Parmesan gluten-free breadcrumb crust to give it that old-fashioned flair—and kids enjoy grating cheese! If you’re unsure which brand to buy, I have tested many varieties of gluten-free pastas over the past few years, and the best in my opinion is Quinoa’s Ancient Harvest. It cooks easily, keeps its structure and generally is hard to tell from semolina or durum pastas once doctored up.”

Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

1 box of gluten-free wlbow pasta cooked al dente—about seven minutes.
2 tsp. Coleman’s dry mustard
2 T Cabot salted butter
1 1/2 T cornstarch
2/3 C organic 2% milk
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl or a large measuring cup, mix the cornstarch and milk well, then put aside. In the same pot you made the cooked pasta (preferably a four-quart pot) over medium-low heat, add the butter and dry mustard, whisking together as if to make a roux (butter/flour mixture) for approximately one minute. When completely incorporated and the butter starts to bubble, give milk mixture a quick stir to pull cornstarch from the bottom, and whisk into pot. Add bay leaves, a pinch of pepper and grated cheese, whisking together to make the cheese sauce. Turn off heat, add cooked gluten-free pasta and stir until noodles are coated with cheese sauce. Voilá! Homemade mac ‘n’ cheese.

Ila and Madison going fishing.

Ila and Madison

Ila and her daughter Madison look alike and act alike, and they both love food, fishing and dressing up.

Madison: “I love to cook with my mom because it’s fun and my mom is cool. We laugh with each other. I like how she teaches me how to cook new things. We both like country cooking like pork chops. She makes me laugh and I love her so much!”

Ila: “Spending time with Madison is always the most fun part of my day, but when we cook together that’s the best quality time.”

Crab Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

Imitation crab
Celery
Hellman’s mayonnaise
Hidden Valley ranch dressing
Elbow macaroni
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Cook the pasta (not al dente and not over-cooked—-it just has to be perfect). Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. The add the crab, mayo, ranch dressing, salt, pepper and celery. It has to Hellman’s mayo and it has to Hidden Valley ranch. Put it in the fridge for two hours and then add more mayo and more ranch. Put it in the fridge for two more hours and then serve.

Set in the threadbare home of an Afrikaner and his wife in Port Elizabeth, South Africa just after the failed Apartheid uprising, the couple has a devoted loyalty to the cause but feel a profound sense of failure which has caused them to become dissolute and withdrawn – he to the cultivation of aloes, an ugly thorny shrub, and she to her poetry. They are awaiting the arrival of their former compatriots, a black couple, so affected by the political turmoil that they are about to leave the country. The husband arrives alone and the two men have a deeply emotional exploration of the relationship and what has come to divide them. Fugard, with his proven ability to transcend tragedy and even find wit in his dialogue, transports the audience to an unforgettable climax which “floods the theater with light.” Winner of the 1981 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play.

“Immensely moving.” —New York Post  

8PM June 28, 29, 30 • July 5*, 6, 7, 11, 12*, 13, 14
2PM June 30 • July 1*, 4, 7, 8*, 14, 15

*Join us for Play Talks, free informal discussions with the cast, following these performances.

Might not look appetizing, but trust me. You want one.

Ponce de Leon came to Florida to find the Fountain of Youth. He failed. Whether it was because he was a boy (and girls rule and boys drool) or because he was mean to the natives, I’m not sure.

Luckily, his shortcomings leave room for my success. And so I introduce you to the elixir he was looking for: green smoothies.

A mix of greens, a base fruit and a sweet fruit, green smoothies are a nutritional catch-all. They have given me a choice when it comes to food, taking away the power that an innocent-enough-looking Hershey’s bar holds over me. And this has not always been the case. You’ve heard the story: I spent my early teenage years refusing to eat and my later ones fond of sticking my fingers down my throat. And then I gave up, assuming I was doomed to a life of self-loathing and body dysmorphia. To say that something has given me relief from my struggles with food is nothing short of a miracle.

And green smoothies are a miracle. I’m convinced, and anyone that I’ve gotten to jump on board is convinced. Even my mom—and she’s the one who had to clean up the wreckage of my past crash diets and lie awake pondering if I threw out all the food in the house, as was sometimes my M.O., or just managed to stuff it all in my abused body. If Momma approves, it must be A-okay.

So, how do green smoothies work? Excellent question. The theory with which I agree the most claims that the body craves junk food and overeats in response to nutritional deficiencies. Eliminate the deficiencies, and you eliminate the cravings and urge to overindulge. Say you have a hankerin’ for some chocolate. Could be because you’re low on magnesium. A few rounds of green goo can fix this deficiency right up. Once you have a sufficient magnesium level, your body stops craving the quick fix. So long insatiable need for chocolate; hello occasional treat. (How did I make the connection between magnesium and chocolate? I saw it on this website. When it comes to nutrition, I tend to look for arguments that support my case and exert no effort in looking for opposing viewpoints. So, the site may have some flaws. But, obviously no one expects me to check my facts. I’m just trying to become a writer and trusted font of information … )

There are even entire books out there devoted to variations of green smoothie-making. The big name in the movement is Victoria Boutenko. For years, she’s converted families and communities to the cause. And she did it the best possible way: by using her own family as guinea pigs. One story even has her husband taste-testing wild plants to see if they’re poisonous before the rest of the family digs in. If nothing else, this makes her my kind of woman. Her two most popular books, Green for Life and Green Revolution, walk beginners through the transitions and benefits of going green while providing recipe options. She even offers a smart phone app.

Mm, mm, mm.

Without dedicating too much time to research, anyone can do a quick google to find a green smoothie recipe that will work. I’m a big advocate of a spinach, banana and berry mix to start. Throw two to three handfuls of spinach in a blender, cover it halfway with water and blend. Next throw in a banana or two and some berries, adding berries to taste. Consistency is key: You want a smooth smoothie, homogeneous throughout. Adding ice can help with this.

Spinach is the recommended beginner green because fruit easily masks its taste. If you’re like me, you’ll start out intense, adding so many greens that no amount of fruit could make palatable. Living and learning has taught me that the opposite approach is ideal: Slowly introduce more greens, making sure you enjoy the taste the whole time. As your body adjusts, it will naturally start to call for more greens, changing your taste preferences and green-to-fruit ratio. When you’re comfortable with spinach, start switching to other nutritional powerhouses such as kale and collard greens. It’s recommend to rotate your greens on a regular basis to maximize nutrient absorption.

All of this is fine and dandy, but how do we make this Sarasota-specific? Again, excellent question. Luckily, our little haven on the sea provides options. Should you choose to let a professional start you on your path, I wholeheartedly recommend Whole Foods. They make a tart 20-ounce treat of kale, spinach, apple, banana and lemon called “Kalicious.” At $5.95, I wouldn’t call it a steal, but it’s worth it if you’re not ready to invest in a high-powered blender and abundance of produce quite yet. As you may suspect based on my previous confessions, I’m a tad bit of a control freak when it comes to food, so I prefer to make my own. The most important insider’s tip that I can offer is to get the greens at the Farmer’s Market. I beeline for the Worden’s Farms stand first thing every Saturday morning, sometimes pushing innocent bystanders out of my way. They offer obscenely large bunches of organic greens for scandalously low prices. I can pick up a week’s worth for around $10 and struggle to fit the bounty in two bags.

My brother also enjoys grass. And he thinks he's a dog.

For those who are truly adventurous, I recommend walking towards the State Street end of the market and hitting up the wheatgrass lady. Though not technically a component of a green smoothie, it deserves a mention. These days I order up a wheatgrass shot for an extra boost of energy, but back in my college heyday the Pittsburgh wheatgrass vendor would tell me to take a shot of wheatgrass with a caffeine source before heading out to be able to last through the wee hours of the night with no fatigue or next-day regret. The taste can be a bit surprising. I’ve heard hardcore raw foodists describe it as “funkified.” I personally think it’s sugary sweet and like it. However, my Mom grew up with neighbors that force-fed her grass, so I may have developed an affinity for the stuff in the womb.

If that’s the case and my passion for green smoothies is due to neighbors stuffing grass down my Mom’s throat, I’m ok with it. Thanks, Mom, for the help. Consider this an early Mother’s Day gift … I’m admitting that I appreciate something you’ve done. Don’t get all crazy and pass this along to your friends.

Or pass it along if you have to. These days, I’m a big believer in spreading positive news. I’m of the mindset that when you find a solution, it’s appropriate to share the knowledge with as many people as you can. Maybe someone else needs some relief from food insanity, or perhaps someone just wants the boost that green smoothies provide. Back in the day, no way would I let just anybody in on this miracle. Then other girls could read it and get skinnier and prettier and fill-in-the-blank-er than me. Now I know it’s not a zero-sum competition; we can all win. Hopefully, that’s a sign of maturity and growing into self-acceptance.

… Or maybe it’s just a trick to sound like a good person while thinking up more diabolical manipulations. (Sorry, Mom; now that we’ve got the food thing under control, I had to give you something else to toss and turn about.) Guess it’s something we can all ponder while sipping away pounds of greens.

For more detials visit www.venicebrewbash.com or www.facebook.com/venicebrewbash

A glimpse into the arena of a clothing swap.

- by Guest Contributor Jerah Coviello.

Could it really be true that an entire new wardrobe awaits you for free? The answer is yes. Millenials—18-34 year olds like myself, so attuned to connecting at social events for networking ops, dating or meeting new people—are leading a nationwide movement to look fashion fresh while not breaking the bank by hosting well-organized, hot-list clothing swaps. They’ve appeared from the ports of San Francisco to New York City, taking the age-old concept of bartering to a whole new level: organized, devised, stylized and digitized. The so-called “Swapping Movement” takes a yard sale and turbo-boosts it into an entire scene, backed and packed with purpose. Swaps guarantee a good time with friends and the potential for new acquaintances or networking, while surprising and delighting attendees with takeaways for their small but very stylish apartment or room back at home. (watch the video)

Attention. It’s something big retail clothing brands have been losing, especially from the 25 to 30-year-old age group armed with a laptops and a world connection, who want something more than a walk through the mall. Seeking style influencers, peer reviews or to be a voice of influence themselves, Millenials are initiating and discovering clothing swaps as a way to leverage their wardrobe as currency. Not just limited to clothing, swaps are taking off worldwide in categories such as food, hobbies and luxury home or vacation swaps. And, unlike our moms and pops, the concept has jettisoned from the neighborhood into the digital world where our youthful training on eBay and Craigslist has paved the way for more niched-in websites such as Swap.com and Swapstyle.com, frequented from the luxury of our own laptops and a coffee shop.

SwapStyle.com, an internet hub for swappers.

What makes clothing swaps appealing is the current state of the economy. According to a WSL Strategic Retail survey, 80 percent of respondents aged 18 to 34 said it was key to get the lowest price on most things they buy, up from 69 percent two years earlier.

With the confluence of three factors—the recession, environmental awareness and a need for sense of community—women are hosting intimate, informal clothing swaps with their besties and larger, well-organized themed swaps to bring together community closets.

A fourth factor that makes clothes swaps appealing is a personable low-key shopping experience. For most of my girlfriends, clothes shopping is a high-pressure experience. It takes time, something that few of us claim to have. It takes confidence to walk smack into all of those oversexed, gorgeous female stereotype reminders of who we are not. It takes self-control to walk away from what we can’t have, and it takes knowing your style to purchase the right pieces to add to your closet. This is why women sit on over 60 percent of their closets. Millenials, many of whom are college-educated women with a big bill of student loans, have gained an even larger payoff of awareness and wisdom that has catapulted them towards building a must-have connection of mind, body and spirit in their work and play lifestyles.

How this plays into fashion is a big issue. Fashion is the second-largest wasteful industry (next to agriculture), and it’s worth a billion dollars. Women are seeking socially responsible brands more than ever, asking for fashion with purpose, fashion made of eco-friendly materials and fashion that gives back. Women are online shopping and swapping, giving online peer reviews through social media, voting on each other’s style sense online and even YouTubing their newest finds. The female consumer’s fashion voice is getting louder, while fashion is actually gaining momentum. Big retailers are speeding up their design houses to produce small monthly or seasonal collections, while the Internet allows for smaller independent designers to enter the market through websites such as Etsy.com or chictopia.com. Overall, there have never been so many fashion options out there for women to go mainstream or independent.

Ladies, are you ready to join your local clothing swap?  I’m ready for you. Attend the 50Tuesday Clothing Swap & Trunk Show hosted my mom’s and my very own eco-fashion line, ecovogue365, this Tuesday, May 15, from 6 – 8 p.m. Limited to 50 women, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at door. Bring 5-10 bright, bold, spring or summer pieces (clothing or shoes) that are in good condition and on trend to swap, and walk away with one large BAGGU bag you can fill to the brim with your new swap finds. We will have local styling on the spot by Urban Eco Beauty, delicious local chocolates provided by local chocolatier Porcelana and bubbly from PRP Wine International. Plus we’ll have a fun Photobooth by local fashion photographer Unusual Exposures and live video by our local videographer Stephen McFadden of McFadden Creative. Come out and be a part of a movement!

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.

Book and Lyrics by Jim Luigs, Music by Scott Warrender
June 13 thru July 15
In the Keating Theatre

Overview
Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle set in modern day Texas with some country western twang! Through flashbacks and songs, the entire cycle is told at breakneck speed by five actors playing 30 outrageous characters (transformed from gods and monsters to billionaires and road-side show men). Full of heart, this witty fable of love conquering greed is the ulti¬mate musical joyride.