JANURARY 10, 2016

ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY...

What better way to celebrate his legacy than to join us SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, as the Brotherhood, Sisterhood and Social Action Committee of Temple Emanu-El pay tribute to one of this country's true hero's. Emanu-EL will host a program featuring music from The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, and  founder Nate Jacobs, along with  Rev. Charles McKenzie who will be reciting actual orations of Dr. King. 

A $15 dollar contribution will benefit ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK. Tickets can be purchased in  advance at Temple Emanu-EL, 151 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232 by January 12. You can also purchase tickets at door on the January 17 for $18.  Doors open at 1:30, Program begins at 2:00 and there will be socializing with light refreshments immediately following in the Benderson Family Hall.  This is a truly exceptional event.  For questions call Don Malawsky at 941-359-2890.
  
Appropriately, Westcoast's newest sensation opens this Wednesday, January 13,  with  MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM. The show is based on the book by August Wilson and won the 1984-85 New York Drama Critics Award for best show.  A play with music, it  begins in the late 1920''s in Chicago, with the fiery blues legend Gertrude "Ma" Rainey about to record her music when tension between Rainey, the musicians and a white producer boil over.

This show highlights a time in American History when even the most renowned black singer of her day had to fight against racism for the respect she deserved.  Running through February 20, as with most shows at Westcoast, tickets will hard to come by. For performance schedule and to purchase tickets please click here.


FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE subscribers are getting first crack at tickets for their limited engagement run of My Name is Asher Lev, playing March 9-27 in the Keating Theatre.  Based on the best-selling novel, The Chosen, this new American play tells the story of a boy prodigy who beats the odds to become a painter at the total disdain of family and friends.  This is a wonderful addition to their season.  Subscribers have until Friday to purchase tickets.  I presume general public tickets go on sale the following day.

Two movies I have seen recently are up for a slew of awards at this year's GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS.  The Big Short, with an all-star cast including producer Brad Pitt, and nominee Steve Carell, recounts  the housing and credit collapse in 2008 and Creed, Sylvester Stallone's follow up to his very successful Rocky movies of the 70's and 80's.  Hard to believe that after all these years, the follow-up is as good as original.  Easily the best boxing movie in years. Starring Michael B. Jordan in a career making role with Stallone in an award winning support performance. 

TONIGHT (SUNDAY) 8PM/NBC 

These are only two of the several movies and television programs nominated for GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS for 2015 performances and programs.  This awards show is strictly that, with the entertainment provided by Ricky Gervais, an unpredictable host who says outlandish things. Some get aired while others are bleeped during the 7 second delay. 

Presenters are most of the nominees including Stallone, Lawrence, Mirren, DeNiro, and Hanks.  If you love movies and television then you will surely be watching Sunday night.  For those of you who  read JimKnowsSarasota during the week and miss the program, ON-DEMAND will have all week, including commercials for those of us who tape rather than catch later.

The 4th Annual SARASOTA Winter Fine Arts Festival is this coming weekend, January 16 &17 10:AM-5PM Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue.   As with all downtown Festival events, admission is free.  This is a smaller show than normal, but high quality crafts, art and jewelery.

STATE ST. PARKING GARAGE

If you  travel to Main St. and beyond  downtown SARASOTA, and park in either the Palm Avenue or State Street parking garages, your time is now being limited.  It was announced last week that beginning immediately you will be allowed 2 hours on the bottom floors and 4 hours on the top floors. It is my understanding these rules are enforced daily and NOT on weekends.  I have seen signs at State St. garage making no exceptions for weekends.  Violators risk a $25 fine.  How long this lasts is any one's guess, but mine is it will be longer than the ill-advised parking meters of a few years ago.

I recently had the opportunity to dine at restaurants reviewed a few years ago.  Happily, I can report all are doing well, have maintained their high quality standard, and are always crowded.  A good sign even on off-nights. One this week, more next.

A restaurant that easily stood out is PHO CALI , SARASOTA'S most consistent if not best Vietnamese restaurant open again and doing big business.  After all the construction, it is hard to tell the new place from the old, but one thing that hasn't changed is the menu, quality of product and reasonable prices.  So what if you have to wait a few minutes?  It is well worth it, and I am hard-pressed to come up with a better value on Main St.......well maybe SOL MEYERS......just kidding!!!! Open for lunch and dinner click here for menu. I've never carried out, but I assume they are equally efficient in that department.

JIM'S RANT....A recent letter to the editor in our Herald bemoaned the traffic being created by improvements to University Blvd. and exit and entrance to I75.  The writer further criticized the many shopping venues in that area along with the "necessity" of the Nathan Benderson Rowing Facility.  It is unfortunate that many more share his feelings.  Traffic is a problem in most cities, but we have grown so fast here it seems worse than back home.  And commerce is a way of life, while attractions such as the rowing center go a long way creating jobs and revenue.....


Welcome back Tracy from your all too brief holiday vacation.  Looking forward to the future, and with that in mind, please  read the information for PEDAL FOR PUPS 3/6/16.  Enrolling for the event is happening now!!!  Hope you can make it....JIM

YOU CAN REGISTER ON LINE NOW!!!!!!!!!!