MAY 10, 2015

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!  A SPECIAL WISH TO THE WONDERFUL WOMEN IN MY LIFE, ROBERTA, CATHI AND TRACY! ....GO OUT AND HAVE A GREAT DAY...ENJOY BEING SPOILED AND PAMPERED.

Those of you who  live in UPCC should have received your May issue of LIFE IN THE PARK.  Dedicated to University Park residents it features articles about Park activities, Women's Club, Golf and Tennis results, dining information and much more.  Under a different name, the company publishing LIFE also provides a similar magazine for Laural Oaks, River Club, Southside Village, Twin Lakes, City Islands, LWRCC, Riverwood and soon Waterleaf & Venice Golf &CC.

I urge you to support the advertisers in these publications.  You will recognize  many and will discover some new offerings  as well.  In addition there are several Park dinner's planned for the summer.  I will give you a list next week.

If you subscribed to FLORIDA STUDIO Theatre's summer season you should have your tickets by now.  Those who didn't, there is still time to subscribe.  The season is dedicated to laughter, mostly the slapstick kind and kicks off June 3rd at the Gompertz with Inspired Lunacy.  Filled with an  irreverent collection of witty, wacky and whimsical novelty songs from composer Allen Sherman to Kander and Ebb.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is up next, plaing at The Keating.  It starts July 1st and is followed in August at the Gompertz by Over The River and Through The Woods, this laugh filled play was written by Joe DiPietro author of Tony winning Memphis.

CABARET'S  season is SOLD OUT!!!  Yes, I was surprised to learn on Tuesday that all three shows were off the board.  I assume you can still go stand-by or put your name on a waiting list.  For more information call the box office 941-366-9000.  You would be wasting your time going to their web site.

If Cabaret style entertainment is your thing, then do not fret.  WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE is offering its own; THE COTTON CLUB CABARET.  Created and directed by Nate Jacobs, this show originally debuted in 2000, but is being brought back as part of the 15th anniversary season. Opening July 8th and running until August 9th,  this high-spirited-high-stepping musical revue features favorite songs from the greatest entertainers of by-gone era's Fats Waller, Etta James, Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, and Lena Horne.  

I'm very confident the 2015-2016 VAN WEZEL Broadway series is NOT sold out at this point.  Their schedule reflects the growing importance of the venue in attracting recent Broadway productions.  Following this season's sold out performances of Jersey Boys, comes the recent Tony winner, THE BOOK OF MORMON, for an extended run February 9-14.  In order to purchase tickets now you will need to become a subscriber.  Click here for new season of Broadway.

Single tickets will not be available until later this year.  In addition to Mormon scheduled performances include The Producers, Bullets over Broadway, and Million Dollar Quartet among others.  Discounts are available now for multi-show performances.

According to a Herald Tribune poll, this was the most visited tourist venue this season!!

Looking for a page turner summer read?  This new book by Richard Montanari, The Doll Maker, starts like a bullet train until ending in a breathless conclusion.  Author of seven detective investigative thrillers, this could be his best yet.  A must list read from Entertainment Weekly; it has become a best-seller on Kindle. 

Finally open at UTC, YO SUSHI, is creating quite a buzz with its distinct style of sushi service.  Sit at their expansive counter or one of the tables and get your sushi delivered via conveyor belt.

  You will have to spend several minutes with their large menu since sushi comes in seven color bowls all with different prices.  There are also reasonably priced soup and entrees on the menu all reasonably priced.  Specials are added daily and can actually be ordered from a server.  With no outside seating available their operating hours are limited; especially on Sunday when they close at 6.

This past Friday evening the place was jumping with a wait for seats  at counter or table.  I witnessed several eating carry-out  in Center Court of Mall.  Looks like YO SUSHI is a HIT!!!

JIM'S RANT......Just when you thought it safe to drive the streets of  SARASOTA now that spring breakers have left along with the snowbirds....guess again....those nasty, dirty, swarming, black creatures are baack.....it's love bug season and all the mess it brings with it.  Spray Pam on the front grill of your car to keep them from sticking....no suggestions for your front window...just patience along with soap and water and stay away from I75 where the bugs are most prevalent.
As always, Tracy has provided her editing skills to this edition.  Only one more before our summer break  More next week.......JIM

Season finale is tonight 9 pm CBS