JANUARY 29,2017

HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THE END OF WINTER IS NEAR!!!  HOPE FOR CLOUDS THURSDAY!!!

 

Tradition tells us if Puxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Thursday, winter hangs around for 6 more weeks.  BUT, if it's cloudy, SPRING is on the way.  For those of us in SARASOTA, Spring arrives with the ORIOLES in a few weeks.  

Still time to see SARASOLO today(Sunday) and next Friday, Saturday and Sunday
 

Not quite a mic drop, but the area's only Festival featuring original one-person plays and musical productions is happening now!!  In its third season, Sarasolo is presenting 20 presentations over the next two weekends.  You still have time today (Sunday 1/29) as performances  begin at 1p.m., with the last one at 9:30p.m.

Next weekend's shows start Friday and conclude Sunday with friend, Jan Wallace's one-woman show, Shirley and Me.  In the mid-nineties, Jan performed her one-woman play Shirley Valentine at the Harold Clurman Theatre on 42ndStreet/New York.  In this new production, Jan relives the experience of playing Shirley Valentine, how it affected her,  and continues to inspire her.

All performances are at the Crocker Memorial Church, Pioneer Park, 1260 12th Street, Sarasota.
 
Tickets can be purchased at the door or by clicking here. This web-site will give you additional information about Jan's performance, as well as all remaining performances.  

This year's Academy Award nominations are out.  By now, most of you are aware, my favorite, LaLa Land garnered 14;  including Best Picture.  

Along with 8 other nominated films, this is the most diverse list I can ever remember.   Even Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge received a nomination for film and director.  However, none of the 9 are of blockbuster status; though LaLa, Hidden Figures and Arrival have topped $100Million.


The annual Oscar telecast is again on ABC with late-night star, Jimmie Kimmel as host.  Mark you calendars for February 26,  7pm.  

As reported last week, California Pizza Kitchen opened its first Sarasota location on Monday.  Of course, Roberta and I along with Debbie and Mark were among the first that night.  For those of you who have never been to one of their of their  locations, you are in for a treat. 

 Much more than pizza and  flat bread;  choose from salads of several varieties, soup as good as it gets, appetizers, sandwiches, pasta and entrees including planked salmon and fire-grilled steak.

Marlene and Gary also went for dinner and write.."really nice modern decor.  Service good.  Best flat bread ever.  Ten minute wait.  They had their act together even though just opened."


Serving  lunch and dinner in their Cattleman Rd. location across UTC. 


The latest FST production,  brownsville song (b-side for tray) is a dramatization of an unfortunate  daily occurrence playing out across the country.  The ensemble cast gathered for this production are so into their roles, they will have you believing what is actually happening on stage is really happening.  

This is a tough show to recommend.  Friends saw opening night, and were disappointed.   If you have season  tickets, by all means, go!!  If not, read a synopsis and then make your own decision.; it's here through March 26. 

Who can forget this Harry/Sally scene?

Those of us who had the pleasure of seeing a real comic genius this week will be talking about BILLY CRYSTAL's two and a half hour non-stop presentation for quite awhile.  One of the better  Van Wezel presentations.  Wade Tatangelo, writing in Sarasota Herald Tribune agrees.



 JIM'S RANT....This past week, Chris Anderson also writing in the Sarasota Herald Tribune, predicted the "end of baseball"  Is he nuts???  Baseball has always been America's sport.  Sure, games take several hours from first pitch to last, but no other sport has a tenth of the managerial strategy of baseball.  Three hours is the norm, but NFL Football, with several commercial breaks now takes 4 hours to complete a game.........


Have a great week.  Until next week......JIM