SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015

DID YOU REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR THIS MORNING????  IF NOT BETTER DO IT NOW!!!!

ONLY A FEW WEEKS UNTIL SPRING...AND ON WEDNESDAY, THE ORIOLE'S TOOK THE FIELD AGAINST DETROIT AS SPRING TRAINING GAMES BEGAN AT ED SMITH STADIUM...

The Oriole's first home game on Wednesday was a record setter. Before a standing room- sell-out crowd on a warm summer like day, it was a  great way to treat yourself or family to an outdoor outing.  Throughout  this month and the beginning of April teams from Boston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Minnesota, New York and Tampa will be playing the Oriole's to mostly packed houses.  Get your tickets now at the Ed Smith box office or by phone 941-893-6312.

The team claims 85% of sold tickets for the rest Spring Training.  If you don't love standing room, get yours today!!!!

As if Breakfast, Lunch and in-season dinner was not enough, TOASTED MANGO has expanded in their menu  to a FROZEN MANGO store with daily offerings 10AM-8PM daily.  Everything from smoothies to gelato to shakes to cones and more.  In addition there is outside seating for those of us who like to dine outdoors in this beautiful weather.  This has truly become the go to restaurant any day of the week or any night when you have theatre of Van Wezel tickets or just in the mood for a good meal.
Visit their new web site and explore all their different menus. 

The WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE has begun its most anticipated show of the season, Jazz Hot Mamas.  Due to ticket demand, performances have been added, but this one is sure to be a sell-out.  The show is a salute to some of the greatest singers of the 20th century, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, and the incomparable Sarah Vaughn.  I believe I've seen them all perform during my youth in Chicago.  The show continues through April 4.  Tickets are $29.50 and can be obtained by calling the box office at 365-1505 or by clicking their web site now!

In a few weeks, The Sarasota Orchestra POPS series resumes with a two night program featuring the music of Billy Joel.  His music is timeless and spans many generations.  He continues to sell-out Madison Square Garden in New York once a month in an ongoing multi-year contract.

  The vocalist who will be singing Joel's material is Michael Cavnaugh, hand picked by Joel for the lead role in recent Broadway musical Movin On.   The Broadway hit, Movin On includes Joel's hits Just the Way You Are, Uptown Girl, It's Still Rock and Roll to me and dozens more.   You won't want to miss this one. To purchase tickets for either the Thursday or Friday performance click here.

I am featuring another talented local artist this week,  Randy lasalle Fox.  She has been painting and creating ceramic pieces for several years now.  Some of her work can be seen at St. Armand's Circle restaurants as well as galleries downtown SARASOTA.  A ceramic mirror and painting of two people you may recognize are hanging in our house.  Randy is available for private or group  instruction at her home in Siesta Key.  To contact Randy call 941-586-6968 or email randylas@gmail.com

Pizza....Pizza...Pizza...who doesn't love pizza?  We have so many choices here, I am not going to recommend any, one of which is  EVIE'S. It is really a sports bar more than a pizza restaurant, Evie's does create a variety of Pizza pies to go along with wings, fries and other comfort food. For locations and menu click here. A big feature is for a small charge they will deliver the pizza hot right to your door.

Had the good fortune to see FLY, the current FST production at Gompertz Theatre.  FLY is a powerful story from WW11 involving desegregation of the military.  It follows four African-American pioneers from training to real action.  The acting, staging, lighting, EVERYTHING related to this production is outstanding.  Playing until April 4.  DO NOT MISS IT!!!


JIM'S RANT....What's with all that switching lane business on our overly crowded streets?  All you get for your efforts is a red light at the next intersection.  I'd like to blame this on tourists or snowbirds, but I see mostly Florida tags.  Traffic is bad enough without idiots trying to get one step ahead at busy intersections.  I have no way of knowing what causes all those crashes on 75, but I would bet one of them is lane switching.  Stay in your own lane and arrive at destination a few minutes late.  Better safe than sorry..

If you are reading this Sunday before noon, it is not too late to head to NATHAN BENDERSON PARK to see the conclusion of a very successful PEDAL FOR PUPS.  With the assistance from the Benderson family over $40,000 was raised today.  Thank you for contributing.

And once again, thank you Tracy for editing and correcting...see you next week..JIM....