MAY 12, 2019

MOTHER'S OF ALL AGES.....THIS IS YOUR DAY TO BE PAMPERED...LOVED...AND...FINALLY......APPRECIATED.....ENJOY

So many restaurants to choose from for this special day.  Tough to get your favorite time to dine at this late date, but if out or at home enjoy the day.  MOTHERS, You Deserve it!!!

Not really for Mother's Day, but most any other day, made a new PIZZA discovery, and wonder why it took me so long.  ORIGIN on Hillview in the same center with Pacific Rim, is small for eat in, but large for carry-out or delivery.  This is one food item that can be found on most street corners, but somehow ORIGIN tastes better.


Among several salad choices, we had the house, which is chopped and includes all sorts of veggies.  At $9, easily shared by two.  In addition, their menu has wings, Stromboli, veggie quinoa enchilada, desserts.  There is also a wide selection of craft beer.

Open daily from 11 am at 1837 Hillside 941-316-9222.  Both Bite Squad and Uber Eats deliver.  Their menu is on-line.

FST was first out of the gate with their Summer season announcement.   Three shows on the Main stage and three in the Cabaret.  Season subscriptions are reasonable and as I've told you time and again, the best value is book either or both series.  Music is the theme for FST, as the Marvelous Wonderettes kicks off their season the end of this month.  Called a "jukebox musical" when it debuted years ago, it features classics from the 50's and 60's.

Entrance to FST

Come Together is the first Cabaret show and features music from the 60's into the 70's.  Artists still popular today provide most of the music..Cher, John Lennon and Neil Diamond among them.

You can purchase a series for as little as $49 by calling 941-366-9000; going on line at floridastudiotheatre.org or stopping by at boxoffice 1241 N. Palm Ave.

You have to feel for the owners of Westfield Siesta Key.  Since the opening of

Westfield Siesta Key

UTC along with several stores and restaurants in that area, their interior businesses have mostly fled, leaving Macy's, Cine Bistro, Bravo, Too Jay's, Connors, Lucky's Market and L.A. Fitness to fill the void. 

But help is on the way as well-known local realtor Ian Black has been anointed to re-create their interior.  With more and more shopping done on-line, it will be interesting to see what Black has up his sleeve to entice people to fill the empty store fronts.  Black sights the mall's prime location, along with the lure of current successful operations as necessary ingredients to begin the process.

Spent an afternoon 

Setimis Has Many Flavors

 shopping and dining on St. Armands Circle last week.  This area continues to attract crowds of shoppers, diners and sight-seers.  It's always fun to watch our visitors, especially those trying to figure out the new parking meters on nearly every corner. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty simple.  After lunch at Dry Dock, what better place for dessert than Setimis Gelato.   Too many flavors to mention, but before you buy, sample some and make a choice.  


This weekend's Women Rock outdoor concert along with fireworks is being followed next weekend by a totally different style of rhythm and sound.  Nate Jacobs is bringing members of his WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE to Ed Smith Stadium for a '70's SOUL PARTY. 

Lively music with a definite urban beat performed by Nate and members of his ever expanding cast.   All this and fireworks to top off the evening.  Food is also available at the ball park.

Tickets start at $15 and are available at Ed Smith Stadium, 941-893-6300 or orioles.com/WBTT. 

Taking our first trip on ALLEGIANT this weekend.  Unfortunately not out of SRQ, but St. Petersburg Airport. The fares are low, but the add-ons! ridiculous.   However, if you don't want to be bothered at check-in, and want to save a few bucks, those extras are best purchased on line.   Much more next week.

JIM'S RANT.....After opening Wednesday's Sarasota Herald Tribune, I felt something was missing.  Missing was not only content, but the many circulars distributed on a daily basis.  
With season officially over, advertising inserts which make up the bulk of the paper have been cut drastically.  I don't know if that's good or bad, I do know if you want to catch up on local news, ABC7, SNN, or any Observer paper has more than the Herald........JIM....See you next week......