Category Archives: Arts & Entertainment

Harvey Milk Festival wants to connect you with your ‘inner activist’

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Cooper Levey-Baker

This week’s Harvey Milk Festival might sound like any other arts and culture get-together. There will be a film screening Thursday night, an art show Friday evening and a stacked music lineup Saturday afternoon. But that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. … Continue reading →

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‘Rare Finds’ proves a delectable, rare treat

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Exquisite. Engrossing. Endearing. They’re called “artist’s books,” but that appellation cannot begin to convey their charm, their wit, their intricacies — or the level of imagination that dwells within their creators. Through Sept. 19, Selby Gallery on the campus of … Continue reading →

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No good deed goes unpunished at City Hall

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

Nothing makes people madder than being punished for doing what they know is right — and the law is on their side. When George Haborak, chairman of the city’s Public Art Committee, blew the whistle over what he perceived was … Continue reading →

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Arts Alliance contract language tweaked for FY 2013

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

County Commission seeking more documentation of outreach efforts Voicing frustration that she never had received documentation she had requested in June from the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, the chairwoman of the County Commission this week proposed changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Sarasota County | 1 Comment

Arts Briefs for Sept. 14, 2012

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Bird Street Players to close out FridayFest Originating in Tampa, the Bird Street Players will return to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Friday, Sept. 14, with a wide range of music, from reggae to funk, from rap to … Continue reading →

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Buses to bring Crystal Classic visitors through Siesta Village

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

A co-chairwoman of the 2012 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sandsculpting Competition had good news this week for Siesta Village businesses. Plans call for buses transporting people to the event to use the north bridge and travel through Siesta Village … Continue reading →

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Public Art Committee’s future in jeopardy

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

The City of Sarasota’s Public Art Committee is going under a political microscope to determine whether it lives or dies. The last item on the Sept. 4 City Commission agenda was a settlement of a lawsuit brought by the current … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts & Entertainment, City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Visual Arts | 2 Comments

Post-vacation agenda a whopper for the City Commission

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

Welcome back, city commissioners. There’s a big, meaty agenda waiting for you Monday, Aug. 20. Bring your No-Doz and your Dramamine. The meeting is set to start at 2:30 p.m. with the approval of five sets of minutes from a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Business, City of Sarasota, Political News | 1 Comment

Van Wezel ranked top North American venue for its size

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was ranked the No. 1 Performing Arts Hall in North America in the 2000-seat “top spots” category in the July issue of Venues Today, the industry bible of performance venues, the Van Wezel’s staff has announced. Executive … Continue reading →

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The Fabulous Five to take WBTT stage beginning Aug. 22

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The Fabulous Five will take the stage at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, as the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe opens its second summer show. Featuring some of the troupe’s most popular male performers, The Fabulous Five will sing hits of … Continue reading →

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The Venturas to perform during FridayFest on Aug. 10

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The Venturas will play the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s free summer festival series, FridayFest, on Friday, Aug. 10,, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The popular group will be doing some of its best jazz, Latin and blues renditions, … Continue reading →

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New group of Hermitage STARs to present free program

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The five latest winners of the Hermitage Artist Retreat’s State Teachers’ Artist Residency (STAR) will present a free public program on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Hermitage’s campus on the Gulf of Mexico on Manasota Key, 6660 Manasota Key Road … Continue reading →

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When you hate to lose, sue

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

A $55,000 public art project that caused bitter infighting among the city’s public art specialists is now in court. On July 11, George Haborak sued the City of Sarasota to halt a project he can’t stand. Haborak is chairman of … Continue reading →

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County arts grants awarded as recommended

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

County Commission chairwoman voices more frustrations Jim Shirley still didn’t have all the documentation July 11 that the Sarasota County Commission chairwoman had requested. Nonetheless, the executive director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County came away from … Continue reading →

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SKA seeking enforceable noise standards for Siesta Village

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The president and vice president of the Siesta Key Association were scheduled to meet today, July 6, with Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid to discuss strategies for better management of noise issues in Siesta Key Village. The meeting was part … Continue reading →

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Scenes from Sarasota summer fun

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival Boat Parade on the night of June 29 in downtown Sarasota kicked off an array of people-pleasing events for the 2012 July Fourth holiday.   Although thunderheads threatened during the afternoon of the … Continue reading →

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PHOTOS: Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce fireworks party

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Cooper Levey-Baker

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce threw a very VIP bash at the beach Wednesday to celebrate the Fourth of July. Hundreds of participants swilled Buds, chomped on grub provided by Mattison’s and jammed to the Ted Stevens Band, before … Continue reading →

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County arts grants put on hold until July

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

With Chairwoman Christine Robinson voicing displeasure about the paucity of recommended arts grants going to South County in fiscal year 2013, the Sarasota County commissioners voted unanimously June 26 to ask the executive director of the Sarasota County’s Arts and … Continue reading →

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Movie, movie

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Harriet Cuthbert

Remember the olden days (about 10 years ago), when a movie was still called a “movie,” and not a “film”? And, remember when summer at the movies also included choices for adults — stories about humans, not avatars; stories with … Continue reading →

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Public art big and small gets boost at City Commission meeting

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

The Sarasota City commissioners agreed to accept the donation of a gigantic piece of sculpture at their Monday evening session, June 18. “Complexus” by John Henry (a different kind of steel-drivin’ man) is on its way to becoming part of … Continue reading →

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Wallenda Walk focus of downtown street party on June 15

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Paul Mattison, executive chef and proprietor of Mattison’s, and Pedro Reis, CEO of Circus Sarasota, will host a fundraising street party Friday, June 15, with the theme, “Above the Falls & Beyond Belief … Celebrating the Wallenda Walk over Niagara … Continue reading →

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One Book One Community voting begins today

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Cooper Levey-Baker

2012 was already shaping up as an epic election year — now, thanks to the library system, you’ve got one more decision to make. Starting today, June 1, the Sarasota County Library System is asking county residents to vote for … Continue reading →

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Southside students to present ‘The Aristocats’

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

More than 100 Southside Elementary School students are set to take the stage at The Players Theatre Tuesday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 23, to perform the school musical, “The Aristocats,” the Sarasota County Public Schools District has announced. The … Continue reading →

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Magazine names Sarasota top arts destination for small cities

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

AmericanStyle Magazine has named Sarasota the top arts destination among small cities — those with populations under 100,000 — Visit Sarasota County announced May 18. The honor resulted from the magazine’s 2012 Readers’ Poll, a Visit Sarasota County news release … Continue reading →

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Bjaland named artistic adviser of Southwest Florida Symphony

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The Southwest Florida Symphony, based in Fort Myers, has announced that Leif Bjaland, who was artistic director of the Sarasota Orchestra for 15 years, has been appointed its artistic adviser for the 2012-13 season. In a news release, the symphony … Continue reading →

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Review: ‘Theatre of Dreams’ at Sarasota Ballet

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Elinor Rogosin

For a second year, Sarasota Ballet’s final performance of the season showcased the choreographic efforts of five of the company”s dancers with uneven results. I believe the dancers are lucky, as it is rare for a professional company to offer … Continue reading →

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