Fiona Farrell gave This Week In Sarasota the gulp on her gig as Gecko’s Beverage Director and Bar Manager of the Hillview location. A native of Dublin, her passion for family, great food and high spirits are the perfect combination of talents for this weekend’s celebrations.

What does it take to run a successful local business in Sarasota during a global economic recession?  It’s a difficult question and there are a lot of different answers that will always depend on who’s being asked. There’s one sentiment, though, that every answer will likely have in common: It’s not easy. That’s why this reporter, who has lived in Sarasota for almost six years and has seen a lot of businesses come and go, is embarking on a mission to gather as many of these answers as possible.  This [...]

For the Sarasota ladies looking for something a little different from the traditional ladies’ night, Darwin’s on 4th has the perfect event on Thursdays. It begins with the unconventional and fun: a dance class. Focusing on a different style each week and lasting a full hour, everyone is welcome to learn some new steps. The evening continues with music from DJ Imminent, our local guarantee for a fun and danceable night. The traditional ladies’ night treat of free drinks happens from 9:30 until 10:30 p.m., and everyone can enjoy half-price wine [...]

I’m keeping it short and sweet this week … you’re going to stay so busy with all the Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix kickoff parties, you won’t want to waste a second in front of your computer screens. – Something catch your fancy? Here are links to Kirsten’s mentionables: – Mr. Beery’s Crazy (Magic) Hat Partyfacebook.com/events/417843361582282/mrbeeryssrq.com/ – Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prixsuncoastoffshore.org

When it comes to Belgian food, most people think of chocolate and beer. While it is true that both are integral parts of Belgian cuisine, there is a great deal more out there to experience. Truly at the crossroads of Europe, Belgian cuisine has evolved by incorporating various European influences into its own style of preparation and presentation. It has been said that Belgian cuisine incorporates the quality of French preparation with the heartiness of German quantity — in other words, large portions of great food! With a commitment to [...]

- 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!