Great news from a local band that has been lovingly featured on TWIS in the past: (the) Umbrella Cult is about to release their debut record! The Cock & Bull Pub will host this momentous occasion within Sarasota’s music scene on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

December is almost here, so now I can start planning gifts for family and friends. This month I’ll be sharing my “buy local” gift ideas with you. The weekends are full of local places having sales and parties. Why not shop and be happy with friends, while a DJ spins and the drinks are flowing?

Zoe and I were all about the music last weekend. Check out these shots from Friday night at The Venue 1927 — where Physical Plant, (the) Umbrella Cult and Villanova Junction rocked out until closing time — and from the Shindig II, not in Burns Square but visiting a new spot at Word of Mouth Café.  Check in with me after work on Thursday for This Weekend in Sarasota with yours truly, and get ready for another awesome weekend! – Photography by Zoe Rayor.

I would drink (the) Umbrella Cult’s kool-aid — by the gallon. This genre-defying outfit became a steadfast darling of the music scene seemingly overnight (which, in music scene years, equals about four months). Their secret? My best guess is: Make a band, lock yourself in a house, drink firewater, write songs and don’t come out until you’re damn well good and ready. I’ve had the stompin’ opening hook to their song “Blue and Green” stuck in my head all morning, but that does y’all no good if you can’t hear [...]

Last Thursday evening, gaggles of Sarasota locals braved an epic lightning storm to make their way out to Growler’s Pub and relish glasses of ‘Gansett and other fine beers while loosening up to a triple-threat lineup of area favorites: Physical Plant, The Wallies and (the) somewhat-mysterious-but-becoming-less-mysterious Umbrella Cult. Physical Plant, who described their sound in an interview with This Week in Sarasota as “psychedelic rock and folk,” strummed their first chord at around 9:30 p.m. and played an electrifying set that overflowed with melodious, four-part vocal harmonies, galvanizing guitar solos, heaving [...]

The infamous “Bathroom Girl” is back for a preview of your to-do list this weekend … but which bathroom in Sarasota is this? We’ll take your best guesses—have fun with it, and have a fabulous weekend, Sarasota. See you out there! – Something catch your fancy? Here are links to Kirsten’s mentionables: – SRQ Fashion Week Model Search https://www.facebook.com/SRQFashion – Westfield Mall www.westfield.com/sarasota – Show at the Rusty Hook: Dune Train/(the) Umbrella Cult/Bard & Moustache https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rusty-Hook-Tavern/133914480012235?ref=ts https://www.facebook.com/events/202888319811057/ – 9th Annual Downtown Sarasota Craft Fair www.artfestival.com – Kevin Nealon at McCurdy’s [...]