September Newsletter 2023

35th Annual Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Fest
October | Varying Dates & Times

Enjoy this family friendly event, featuring hay rides, pony rides, pumpkin painting, face painting, mini train rides, a petting zoo and more. Lots of Halloween decorations for sale, too, from scarecrows to hay bales. Admission, Parking, Petting zoo, playground, live music, and decorated photo spots are FREE! Individual rides and game activity booth, including pony rides, unicorn encounter, hug a goat and pumpkin painting, has their own set price ranging from $1 – $10. Children’s Costume Contest every Saturday at 2 p.m. in front of the animal barn and free to participate in. Torres Family Circus and Extreme Riders Free daily showtimes each weekend 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.

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St. Armands Craft Festival & Sidewalk Sale
September 30th & October 1st | 10 am - 4 pm

This popular, free, outdoor event takes place inside St. Armand’s Circle Park.  For two days, guests will enjoy works from over 175 artisans and craft persons participating in this fun event.

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Van Wezel's Friday Fest 
September 22nd | 5 pm - 9 pm

This Friday Fest will feature TEN-76, a powerhouse high energy band that covers classic and modern rock. From the Lakewood Ranch home base, TEN-76 regularly plays many of the local venues and are expanding in the Southeast Region. They have volunteered their time and entertainment for charities (ex. Breast Cancer, Fire Victims, Veterans, First Responders, and Children in need) to help raise funds and awareness. Free admission. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take in the music and the sunset, and enjoy food and beverage from local vendors.

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Sarasota Rocktoberfest
October 13th - 15th

Bring on autumn and pull out the lederhosen as Sarasota celebrates fall and all things Bavarian at Oktoberfest! Excitement includes delectable smoked sausages, roasted meats, sauerkraut, cabbage, pretzels and of course, big, big pints of beer! Men get ready to slap your feet and ladies twirl while enjoying authentic German music. There will be authentic German music and dancers and live music performances in rock, soul, big band, R&B and more!  Also enjoy a marketplace of arts, crafts and fine products. Free admission. Friday 4 p.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. JD Hamel Park at Gulfstream and Main, Sarasota, FL.

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Jaguar Festival d’Elegance
October 28th | 9 am - 3 pm

The annual Jaguar Festival d’Elegance attracts the finest Jaguar automobiles, including antiques, current classics, and modified prototypes. The Suncoast Jaguar Club and Wilde Jaguar invite you to join them for this free event in St. Armands Circle Park.

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Asolo Repertory Theatre

Three Sisters
Step into the world of Chekhov's timeless masterpiece, THREE SISTERS. Prepare to be moved by the heart-wrenching tale of the Prozorov sisters, whose dreams of returning to Moscow are shattered in a provincial Russian swamp. Discover the secrets that have made audiences weep for over a century and delve into the mystery of why Chekhov protested dramatic interpretations of THREE SISTERS. Don't miss your chance to find out in this compelling exploration of this tragic comedy that will leave you breathless.

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View 2023 - 2024 Event Calendar


The Players Centre

Ruthless!  | Varying Times & Dates
Eight-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking, and she will do anything to win the part in her school musical. “Anything” includes murdering the leading lady!

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Florida Studio Theatre

Creedence Clearwater Remixed
From the heart of NYC comes a group of four friends who embark on a musical journey through the songbook of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Featuring hit songs like “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?,” this rousing revue celebrates music’s pioneers of country rock.

Event Details & Ticket Purchase


Sarasota Opera

Classic Movies | Understanding Opera | Orchestra Discovery Series
View October's exciting offerings!

Event Details  & Ticket Purchase


Sarasota Ballet

2023 - 2024 Season
The Sarasota Ballet’s 2023 – 2024 Season will feature 7 programs showcasing the internationally recognized artistry and programming of the Company. New repertoire works for the The Sarasota Ballet include a new ballet by Jessica Lang, Edwaard Liang’s The Art of War, and a world premiere by Gemma Bond. Resident Choreographer Ricardo Graziano returns with some of his most acclaimed works and a world premiere, which will be his 11th one act ballet for the Company. Renowned as the ‘Father’ of Ballet in America, George Balanchine, is showcased through Theme and Variations, Who Cares?, and Emeralds from his masterpiece, Jewels. Mentor and a significant source of inspiration to Webb and Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri, Sir Frederick Ashton, comes to life with both humor (Varii Capricci), drama (Dante Sonata), and swiftness (Sinfonietta). And Webb continues to bring back beloved works by Johan Kobborg (Salute), Sir Kenneth MacMillan (Las Hermanas), Paul Taylor (Company B), Twyla Tharp (In the Upper Room), and Christopher Weeldon (The American).

View The Season Overview
 

Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota Downtown Farmers' Market

Bradenton Public Market
 

Journey across Mexico at Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill (SarasotaMagazine.com)

When Gino Calleja, the chef and co-owner of Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill, conjured up the concept for this new Mexican restaurant, he was aiming to bring something fresh to Sarasota’s dining scene. Calleja, best known for his other local spot Reyna’s Taqueria, partnered with his friend and fellow chef Jose Rojas to bring Kolucan to life.

“Kolucan had been in my head for many years,” says Calleja, who named the establishment after San Lucas Colucan, the Mexican city from which he and his family hail. “I always liked strong words, and I thought it would be cool to pay homage to the town and my parents,” he adds. When translating many words in Nahuatl, a language indigenous to Mexico, the letter “k” is used, so Calleja added a linguistic twist to the eatery’s name.

Calleja and Rojas bring the same level of creativity to the dishes offered, which draw inspiration from the cuisine of a variety of states across the country. “Mexico is immense, and every part of it has different flavors, like here in the states,” he says. “We want to be unique and offer things from our backgrounds and roots without leaving out the most important components and original flavors, but presenting them in a different way.” Sample the Huachinango a la Veracruz, a fried wild-caught snapper with onions, peppers, jalapenos, capers and vino blanco sauce, served with roasted garlic-epazote potatoes and cilantro chimichurri. Calleja recommends trying the Tostadas de Tinga, three crispy corn tortillas with refried beans, chicken tinga, lettuce, radishes, crema, queso fresco and avocado, a fan-favorite from Reyna’s presented in a different way. Don’t miss the vegetarian Chiles Rellenos, made up of two poblano peppers stuffed with potatoes, mushrooms, onions, confit tomatoes and roasted carrots in vegetable mole with cashew sour cream.

Aside from a delicious meal, guests can enjoy the Frida lounge, decorated with works by artist Lipstick Lex, who will paint live at Kolucan once a month. With the growing diversity of people moving to the Sarasota area, Calleja is excited to introduce them to the richness of Mexican cuisine, with lunch and brunch options soon to come. “When you have that passion and keep focused on what you want to present, then people will respond,” he says.

Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill, 6644 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, kolucan.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KOLUCAN MEXICAN BAR AND GRILL. 

From Spain with Love (SarasotaMagazine.com)

If you’re searching for a culinary escape, look no further than Taste of Spain, Gulf Gate’s newest addition, owned and run by Fatima Soriano, best known for her catering company Tapas and Fun. “I moved here with my husband and two small children 19 years ago, in 2004. Sarasota at that time was a completely different city,” she says. “Spanish food was starting to become popular in the United States, so I wanted to bring Spain to Sarasota.” With the success of Tapas and Fun, Soriano took the next step by opening Taste of Spain.

“It’s my dream come true. There’s nothing like this in the area, and you can find a little bit of Spain here,” she adds. Bright light filters through the shop’s cozy interior and spills onto the patterned tile floor, calling to mind the sunny whitewashed hilltowns of Andalucia in Southern Spain. Metal plaques and colorful posters adorn the walls with images of the country’s iconic places such as Madrid, Toledo and Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands from which Soriano hails. Taste of Spain is part gourmet market and part grab-and-go eatery which carries imported items including Spanish olive oil, sardines and serrano ham. Chips made with salt from the island of Ibiza are an ideal snack and pair well with the homemade grab-and-go paellas, desserts and tapas options, which guests can purchase and take away to enjoy, perhaps at home, the office or even the beach while pretending they’re lounging by the Mediterranean Sea.

The menu features five delicious paellas including a vegetarian variety. Don’t miss the tasty tapas, like the Almogrote, a spicy and peppery garlic and cheese spread from the Canary Islands. The Spanish meatballs, tortilla or omelet and gazpacho make a terrific meal. For dessert, sample the Tarta Santiago, an almond cake associated with the region of Galicia in the Northwestern area of the country. The gluten-free cake celebrates the rich flavor of almonds and comes dusted with powdered sugar. Delight in the chocolate mousse that Soriano makes with a family recipe that’s over 160 years old. For parties, Soriano takes custom orders, and it’s easy to assemble your own spread of options as well.

Patrons who’ve lived in or visited Spain will recognize familiar brands such as ColaCao, a chocolate drink similar to Nesquik and pico, small breadsticks served with olives before a meal. Whether you’re planning a party or popping in on your lunch break, Taste of Spain reminds patrons that a journey to Spain is just around the corner.

Taste of Spain, 2667 Mall Dr., Sarasota, 941-580-8663, tasteofspainsrq.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TASTE OF SPAIN

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