JANUARY 18, 2015

IN HONOR OF MLK JR. BIRTHDAY TOMORROW IS SET ASIDE AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY

An extraordinary leader in the movement for racial equality you can now see a rousing biopic of Dr. King's life in SELMA. It is easily the best of all the "Great Men" movies in theaters now. 

 Nominated for an Academy Award that will surely go to BOYHOOD, it covers the chapter of his legacy; the tinderbox three-month period in early 1965 when he led a campaign of civil disobedience to help speed up the passage of President Johnson's Civil Rights Act.  King's accomplishment reverberates today as we go through another period of unrest among police and people of a different color. 

The movie is slowly paced, but it is beautifully acted and takes you back to an era where Governors like George Wallace ruled the South.  His son recently defended his father as unfairly portrayed in the movie.  I remember it well, and Wallace was a bigot!!!

Enough of the serious stuff, let's get down to the business of SARASOTA, mostly good, but some not so good.

The day is beautiful and so is the Craft Show on Gulfstream downtown SARASOTA.  One of the best we've seen at this site in years.  It's worth the trip.  Only two blocks in length, nearly every booth has imaginative and creative crafts for every pocketbook.


I recently had dinner at STATE STREET, one of the trendy new restaurants to open off Main St. and at the time, one of the better.  Not so today.

 They are an over-priced, under-portion imitation of their former selves.  Success definitely got the better of them; from management to service.  The menu has been downsized, portions are small, where once they could be shared, the substitutions no longer allowed, and the service so rushed it made our party uncomfortable.  There are several better choices throughout the market.

One of the better new restaurants, is SOPHIE'S at NIGHT .  We've had dinner there twice in the last month.  The food is delicious.  The portions are large.  The menu ranges from cheeseburger to fish.  And the prices are no higher than most of the better restaurants here.  The big advantage of SOPHIE'S is their intimacy which allows you to have a table conversation without shouting.

A couple of very interesting and informative  events are scheduled over the next few weeks.  Both are presented by Jewish Organizations, but open to the community.  AJC's 2015 Winter Lunch & Learn program is Friday January 30, 11:30-1:30 at Michael's On East.  Titled, "The Changing Face of Christianity and Its Meaning for Christian-Jewish Relations, it features Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC director of inter religious and Inter group Relations and Rev. Dr. Cynthia M. Campbell, Pastor highland Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY.

For $25 you get a delicious lunch and informative program to go with it at one of Sarasota's finest restaurants.  Last summer's programs were well attended so I suggest you contact Tess at AJC tomorrow 941-365-4955 or email sarasota@ajc.org.  Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, January 28, 7pm at Riverview High School, 1 Ram Way, SARASOTA,  JEWISH FEDERATION's People of the Book 2015 speaker is recent Golden Globe winner, Jeffrey Tambor.  The event serves to recognize and thank Federation's Annual Campaign donors; those making a minimum gift of $36 individual/$72 household are invited to attend the event as guests of Federation.  Limit two tickets per household. For more information or to make a contribution contact Jeremy Dictor at 941-343-2106 or jdictor@fedsrq.org.

Tambor is best remembered for his roles in Arrested Development, and Larry Sanders,  but his new Amazon series, Transparent,  has certainly revived his career.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for next Saturday and Sunday when  the biggest craft show of the season pops up at St. Armands Circle.   Always well attended with more art, crafts, pottery, jewelry and statues than any other show this season.  Plan on arriving early as parking is a premium, and depending on weather, outside of Siesta Fiesta, this one outdraws any on Main St.  And has been doing so for 12 years!!!!

Is it my imagination, or does SARASOTA have more food-trucks than anywhere in the country?  It sure seems so, and this next discovery can be made in most neighborhood's with a large commercial office park.  One exists at 5901 Honore in the office complex across the street from the Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center.

This past Friday, we spotted a truck not only with my first name, but good food beyond their meatballs; JIMMY MEATBALLS!!!  A different truck occupies this  space every Friday, and by the line waiting to be served, it is a busy location. The food varies from burgers to hot dogs to ribs.  Fast, convenient to those who live east of 41, but if you are going to UTC and want a fast bite this is the place.

SPRING TRAINING is almost here! In fact the ORIOLES just concluded a mini camp for pitchers and rehabbing players at Ed Smith Stadium. No mention in the Herald!!  The real training begins next month with games scheduled for the month of March.  In what surely will be a sell-out season of spring training games, I suggest you get your tickets early!!  Mark your calendar for 1/24 10:am when single tickets go on sale at the stadium.

JIM'S RANT....Happy to read FDOT has awoken from Rip Van Winkle nap and decided to do something about the light problems on University Parkway.  When more cars are allowed into UPCC on a green arrow than are allowed to make left turn from University onto 41(Tamiami Trail) it doesn't take a brain surgeon to see a problem.  Nowhere in the article does it mention a time frame.  Considering the work on Old Bradenton Rd. is into its second year; it won't be soon!!!!!......

 

Kudos to Daniel Jordan for his virtuoso performance from Fiddler on the Roof at this weekend's pops concerts.  His standing ovation was well deserved.  The concert itself was mixed.  With an entertaining first half and so so second half. 

Thank you Tracy.  Until next week you have a great one....JIM