Friday february 12TH

THURSDAY FEBRUARY

Art Center Sarasota 707 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236

Where do you get your inspiration from? In this class, students will learn how to tap into endless resources so they never have to fear that blank canvas again! They will explore a myriad of ways to combine acrylics, watercolors, collage materials, colored pencils, inks, gesso, crayons, graphite, chalk powders and/or pastels, mediums & gels to create exciting abstracts.

Discover how these materials and more interact and lead to unique ways to express your visions.

The LIGHT CHASERS PLEIN AIR PAINTERS of the SUN COAST & PHILLIPPI ESTATE PARK present ART in the

PARK! The Light Chasers: Plein Air Painters of the Sun Coast will be making an artful splash in February 2016 at Phillippi Estate Park with several events to be held in the historic Edson Keith Mansion and in the surrounding 60-acre park. Artists who once lived in the Keith Farmhouse held art shows and picnics here on Sunday afternoons. History continues at Phillippi

with the arrival of the Light Chasers. The Light Chasers Paint Sarasota! Paint Out kicks off the celebration with a week-long Plein Air Paint Out from Feb. 18 - 24, 2016. Plein Air is the French term for: painting outside. The Light Chasers Paint

Sarasota! Paint Out is the largest in Florida, drawing nearly 100 artists from around the country. The Light Chasers Quick

Draw Painting Contest will be held at the Phillippi Estate Park from 10:00 a.m. to noon, on Wed. Feb. 17, coinciding with the weekly Farmhouse Farmers Market. Prizes will be awarded at Noon, to the top painters by Master Artist, Bill Farnsworth.

The public is invited to come, paint, watch and buy off the easel right at the Farmers Market. www.farmhousemarket.org The following weekend begins with a Friday night Gala from 5:00 8:00 pm on Feb. 26, 2016, in the historic Edson Keith

Mansion, with the extraordinary showing of the Sun Coast Master Artists and the Light Chasers 5th Annual Show. Master artists are nationally known artists. Come mingle and buy from these artists, all weekend! Refreshments will be served. On Saturday, Feb. 27th, the Paint Sarasota! Paint Out artworks will be added to the other shows with the Gala beginning at 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm. Sunday, Feb. 28th, the show continues from noon to 5:00 p.m. Although all events are Free and Open to the

Public, donations will be gratefully accepted at the door. A portion of painting sales all week goes toward the restoration of the Keith Farmhouse, in time for its 100th Anniversary in November 2016. For more information visit the Light Chasers

website at: www.lightchasersinc.com

First Church 104 S Pineapple Ave Sarasota, Fl 34236

Dr. Sean McFate will discuss the topic 'Modern Mercenaries: How For-Profit Warriors are Changing Global Affairs'.

Black Angus Burger Day - 11:00 am | Free

Hillview Grill 1920 Hillview St Sarasota. , FL 34239

Celebrate every Thursday at Hillview Grill!! It's your choice of any Burger and Beer for just 10$!! Served all day from 11 am to 10 pm. Come in and see us for Burger Thursday, your friends are waiting for you

Kayak Trip -- Paddling the Waterways of Nokomis - 11:00 am | $25

Nokomis Beach 901 Casey Key Road Nokomis, FL 34274

John Sarkozy will lead this kayak trip, exploring the bays and canals around Nokomis. Check out the small islands , the birds, and the marine life in this area. All kayak equipment will be provided to you and it is included in the cost of the trip, which is $25.00 per person. Call John at (941) 966-7308 for exact launch location and required reservations.

Romance Is In The Aire - 11:00 am | Free

Venice Presbyterian Church 825 The Rialto Venice, FL 34289 Musical selections with theme of love and romance.

Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art 1288 N. Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236

Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art gallery presents Ah, Wilderness!, an exhibition celebrating nature with works by landscape painter Susan Klein, painter, printmaker, photographer and naturalist Jean Blackburn and sculptor Joe Segal, February 5March 1. The gallery is at 1288 N. Palm Ave., in Sarasota. Gallery hours are Mon. Sat., 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Call for Monday hours. For more information about this exhibit, call 941-366-2454 or visit www.allyngallup.com.

Singing to a Musical: Oklahoma - 11:30 am | $15

Adult & Community Enrichment @ STC 4748 Beneva Rd. Sarasota, FL 34233

11:30 am to 2 pm. Join in with songstress Jeanette LaVoy as she leads you through the favorite tunes of the musical,

Oklahoma. You'll feel joy in your heart as you sing 'Oh What a Beautiful Morning'! You may register anytime online at www.ace-sarasota.com. Or you may stop in the ACE office or call (941-361-6590) to register during office hours! Office Hours: M thru Thurs: 8am-5:30pm F: 8am-3pm

Phillippi Estate Park 5500 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231

Free concerts every Thursday in February and March, at noon, at the park Gazebo. Please bring lunch and lawn chair. For more information call 941-316-1309 Kitt Moran with Mike Moranss Jazz Trio

Living on Love - 1:30 pm | $20-$80. See website for actual pricing details

Asolo Repertory Theatre 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243

Theres only one person with a worse temperament, bigger ego and more flamboyant sense of self-importance than opera diva

Raquel and that’s her husband, the Italian maestro Vito De Angelis. When Raquel discovers that Vito has become enamored with a young lady hired to ghostwrite his largely fictional autobiography, she retaliates by hiring her own handsome young scribe to chronicle her life as an opera star. Sparks fly, silverware is thrown and romance blossoms in the most unexpected ways in this glamorous romp through the world of music, marriage and celebrity. With a highly anticipated Broadway run

starting this April starring Renee Fleming, Asolo Rep is thrilled to receive the rights to present the regional premiere of this sparkling new comedy.

Taste Magazine's Walking Food & History Tour - 1:30 pm | $55

South Florida Museum 201 10th St. W. Bradenton, FL 34205

Join Taste Dining & Travel for a 3-hour walking tour of historic downtown Bradenton neighborhoods, combined with visits to restaurants that are some of Bradenton’s most unique and popular. Tour #1 on TUESDAY: Explore the Village of the Arts, a charming mix of art galleries and shops in houses built from 1920 to 1930 that are now brimming with creativity. At 'meet

& greets' you'll enjoy cuisine samplings at Arts & Eats Restaurant, Ortygia, and Sugar Cubed. Meet at Motorworks Brewing under the oak tree in the beer garden (includes brewery tour here and a beer). Cost is $45. Tour #2 on THURSDAY: Discover Old Main Street in a rivertown with a dynamic history, a 1926 shopping arcade, Carnegie Library and classic buildings that endured over a century of growth. Sample the chef's specialties at SOMA Creekside and Izakaya Nazuka. Meet at the South Florida Museum for a tour ($19 value) and finish here with desserts served by Sugar Cubed artisan bakery. Cost is $55.

Guests will receive food from each restaurant, and price includes all food and non-alcoholic beverage (except at Motorworks where a beer is provided). Menu items vary, so come hungry! We apologize, but we cannot accommodate vegan or gluten

free dietary restrictions at this time. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing and dress for rain or shine! This is a 1.5 mile max. historical walking tour. Tours start promptly with Tour #1 (2:00pm) meeting at Motorworks Brewing at 1014 9th Street

West, Bradenton, FL 34205 and Tour #2 (1:30pm) at the South Florida Museum at 201 10th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Reservations are a must and are paid prior by calling Taste Dining & Travel at 941-366-7950. Visit www.tasteweb.net. for more details. Price: $45

Nureyev: Personal Memories of a Genius - 3:30 pm | $50-$75

University of South Florida - -Selby Auditorium

8350 Tamiami Trail, D 105 Sarasota, FL 34243

Lifelong Learning Academy (LLA) and the Sarasota International Dance Festival (SIDF) conclude their workshop series

Nureyev: Personal Memories of a Genius, February 18, at the Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida, Sarasota-

Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. At this final session, dancer, director and choreographer Robert de Warren relays the memories that he and his wife Jacqueline shared with Rudolf Nureyev over the course of their 25-year friendship with a

focus on the choreography of Nureyev. De Warren, who is also the former artistic director of the Sarasota Ballet, will be also presented with an award from the commissioners of the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County for his outstanding and vital

contributions to the local and international arts communities. The workshop and award ceremony runs 3:30-5 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception, 5-7 p.m., catered by Michaels on East. Tickets are $75 for the final workshop, awards ceremony and reception; $50 for the reception only. Proceeds from the series will benefit Lifelong Learning Academy and Sarasota International Dance Festival. To register and for more information, visit www.LLA-SM.org or call 941-359-4296.

The Ringling 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243

'Slow your pace and explore the art in the Museum of Art and Circus Museum or catch a romantic sunset on Sarasota Bay by Ca dZan. Art After 5 special events include music and insights into the collection through gallery discussions. For more information call 941.359.5700 or visit www.ringling.org'

Thursday Nights with John Rinell - 6:30 pm | Free

Amore By Andrea Restaurant 555 Bay Isles Parkway, Longboat Key, FL 34228

'The voice of solid gold' A frequent comment of enthused audiences was his remarkable ability to sing like their favorite singers most notably Frank Sinatra... Call for reservations: (941) 383-1111

Mattison's & Sweetgrass Farm to Fork Dinner Benefiting Girls Inc. - 6:30 pm | $115 Sweetgrass Farms 8350 Carolina Street Sarasota, FL 34243

Sweetgrass Farm-to-Fork Wine Dinner Hosted by Marmalade Salon and Boutique - Benefitting Girls Inc Sarasota

Marmalade Salon and Boutique announces a locally collaborated farm-to-fork wine dinner at Sweetgrass Farms in Sarasota,

Florida. The four course Farm to Fork dinner will pair locally sourced products with farm fresh produce, creating a menu guests will absolutely love! Each course will be paired with delicious wines hand selected by Chef Paul. Guests will be

greeted with an Orange Marmalade Mint Martini and will have the opportunity to tour this incredible hydroponic farm that

opened in early 2015. Guests will enjoy pot roast stuffed baby redskin potatoes and goat cheese bruschetta as they stroll

through the lush rows of strawberries and pristine produce. By investing in their programs you are giving the girls of

Sarasota County the chance for a sustainable future. For more information on their mission and programs, visit www.girlsincsrq.org. Our community has really come together to support local producers throughout the year and for special

events like this. When approached Marmalade to partner for the dinner, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to not only share this beautiful farm with the public, but really highlight our commitment to producing unique and sustainable events,

adds Nikki Logan Curran. 'We are excited to share our commitment to our community and our dedication to empower young girls. Sponsor for the event include Mattisons Catering, Hitched and Honey LLC, Marmalade Salon and Boutique,

Sweetgrass Farms, Republic National and more. For sponsor information and media inquiries contact Nikki Logan Curran at hitchedandhoney@gmail.com or call 941-780-0907.

Circus Sarasota Winter Performance - 7:00 pm | $15-$55. Seating is in the round: VIP Seating= $55, Premium= $42-47, Select= $20-37, Value= $15.

Big Top Tent

140 University Center Drive, SE of UTC Mall Sarasota, FL 34243

Under the Big Top for over 18 seasons we have presented an international, all-star lineup of circus artists with an unparalleled array of thrilling acts. The Circus Sarasota Winter Production will once again amaze audiences celebrating the unique circus heritage of our community for only two weeks! Last year’s shows all sold out, so get your tickets early! For more information, call 941-355-9805.

Elysian Fields 1273 Tamiami Trail South Sarasota, FL 34239

Interiorology: Mind, Body & Spirit of Home Series class with Laurel James. Awaken the possibilities, positive aspects, and expressions of your True Self within your home.

Acoustic Bluesman Doug MacLeod - 7:00 pm | $12-$15. $12 adv/ $15 door

Fogartyville Media and Arts Center 525 Kumquat Court Sarasota, FL 34240

Doug MacLeod, winner of the 2014 Blues Music Awards for Acoustic Artist Of The Year and Acoustic Album Of The Year

(There's A Time), the 2013 Blues Blast Music Award for Male Artist Of The Year, and perennial Blues Music Award nominee, is a prolific singer, songwriter, engaging storyteller, and masterful guitarist born in the blues and rooted in the American tradition.

Manatee Performing Arts Center 502 3rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34282

This complex rock opera tells the story of a conflicting love triangle between an American Grandmaster, a Russian

Champion, and a Hungarian-American female chess second. Engage in this captivating story while the music leads you through each players struggle to get the upper hand.

Florida Studio Theatre 1241 North Palm Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236

By Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins, and Jim Prosser. In the mid-1960s, groups such as The Beatles, The Who, and The

Rolling Stones were topping the charts. While trying to replicate the rebellious tone of American Rock N Roll, a new sound emerged. By 1964 The Beatles alone had 31 hits on the Top 100. Journey back to a time of peace, love, and everything in between with songs such as Let It Be, Satisfaction, and I’m Into Something Good. Yesterday will play in the Goldstein Cabaret from January 6 through May 1.

Asolo Repertory Theatre 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243

By Eugene O Neill Directed by Greg Leaming 'A breath of fresh air... a miracle of sense and sensibility... vividly alive.' The

New York Post A comedy...by Eugene O'Neill? Yes! One of the pillars of 20th-century drama who created some of the most tragic stories for the stage, O'Neill also penned the wonderfully romantic and sweetly funny, Ah Wilderness! Set in New

England in the days of America’s innocence, the play looks back to an idyllic age when goodness and honesty were the norm and family life was picnics and Sunday drives in the family Buick. On July 4, 1906, while the Miller family is planning their traditional holiday festivities, dreamy-eyed middle child Richard is spurned by his first love and sets out on a rebellious

adventure into the adult world. Family life and all its foibles were never so beautifully portrayed as in O Neall’s coming-ofage love letter to a simpler time in America.

The Players Theatre FL 838 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236

For 10 hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they’ll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand new truck in order to win it. Inspired by true events, and infused with a fresh roots-rock vibe, this is the hilarious hard-fought contest where only one winner can drive away with The American Dream. 10 contestants. 4 days. 1 truck.

Michael Feinstein and His 17-Piece Band - 8:00 pm | $35-$75. Pricing:

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall 777 N Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236

Welcome back Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer! His 200-plus shows a year have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, the White House and Buckingham Palace and, of course, here at the Van Wezel! Enjoy romantic classics by Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Johnny Mercer and friends, all in swing tempo, including Night And Day, I Wanna Be Around, The Song Is You and many others.

Butler - 8:00 pm | $20-$50. See site for pricing details

Florida Studio Theatre 1241 North Palm Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236

By Richard Strand. The Civil War, 1861. An escaped slave seeks sanctuary, but the laws of the land are unrelenting. With sharp wit and tongue-in- cheek humor, Butler takes us on a journey through legal loopholes to find the true meaning of

freedom. REGIONAL PREMIERE! Butler by Richard Strand plays from December 9 through February 20 in the Keating Theatre.

Florida Studio Theatre 1241 North Palm Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236

From the author of Doubt and Moonstruck comes a delightful gritty comedy set in rural Ireland. Between fading families, a bitter land feud, and familial rivalries, two misfit neighbors will have to overcome their own fears to find happiness. Full of surprising humor and poetic prose, this tender-hearted portrait reminds us that what we’re looking for is sometimes right in front of us. REGIONAL PREMIERE!

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - 8:00 pm | $22-$36. Adult: $36.00 | Student/Active Military*: $22.00 *with valid ID

Westcoast Black Theatre 1646 10th Way Sarasota, FL 34236

Its 1927 in Chicago, and the fiery Blues legend Gertrude Ma Rainey is ready to record her signature songs. Inside the cramped studio, she squares off against a battling quartet of musicians and a tight-fisted, white producer. This gripping play with music highlights a time in American history when even the most renowned black singer of her day had to fight against

racism for the respect she deserved. In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the Jazz Age is in full swing and it’s a moment as full of possibility as it is risk for those striving to achieve the American side of being African American.

Venice Theatre 140 W Tampa Ave Venice, FL 34285

Set in the Scott Joplin era, this soaring musical is our biggest hit from 2010 and a winner of multiple Tony Awards.

Intertwining the lives of three extraordinary families from different walks of life, this epic tale celebrates the great tapestry of American life and the sometimes cruel quilt that we weave.

The Five O'clock Club 1930 Hillview St. Sarasota, FL 34239

Democracy has been in the area for over twenty years performing a blend of Caribbean & American styles, from Reggae, Soca, Calypso to Top 40 & beyond! One of the finest Caribbean-American crossover bands on the circuit! www.facebook.com/DemocracyReggaeBand

Samurai: The Way of the Warrior - All Day | $0-$25. Free with admission. Pricing: http://www.ringling.org/hoursadmissions

The Ringling 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243

Drawing from the rich and varied Japanese collection of the Stibbert Museum in Florence Italy, this evocative exhibition features some 70 exquisite objects related to the legendary Samurai warriors - full suits of armor, helmets, swords, sword-

hilts, and saddles, as well as exquisite objects intended for more personal use such as lacquered writing boxes, incense trays

and foldable chairs that all characterize the period in which Japan was ruled by the Samurai military class. This Exhibition is organized by Contemporanea Progetti, Florence, Italy in collaboration with the Museo Stibbert.