AUGUST 31, 2019

WELCOME TO A NEW SEASON OF JIM KNOWS SARASOTA.........

As we embark on the last weekend of summer, and move towards fall, I look forward to providing you with useful information about SARASOTA, whether it be for a day or week or lifetime.

Since my sign-off  several months ago, SRQ has grown from small-market to big-time airport.  Just this week alone,  Allegiant announced 8 new nonstop flight, growing their service to 20 destinations.  True, many are only a few days a week, but the days of walking into a deserted gate area are over.

FYI, we are now served by Delta, JetBlue, American, United, Frontier, Elite, Air Canada and Sun Country Airways.  Stay tuned, as I understand more flights by the aforementioned airlines are set to be announced soon.


Before sitting down to write this week's blog, I grabbed the mail and was delighted to find next season's VAN WEZEL catalogue among the bills and fliers.  Though most of you are aware by now of what's in store for fall-winter,  I want to recommend two musicals from their Broadway Series.  Beautiful and Come From Away.  Saw both years ago, but cannot wait to go back.


VAN WEZEL kicks off their 50th Anniversary season with 8 time Tony winner, Once, Wed October 9 7:30.  No orchestra with this one, as the performers play their own instruments onstage. Tickets for all performances go on sale September 7.  For information call  941-953-3368,  or go on-line  VANWEZEL.ORG.  Keep reading here, as new shows are announced weekly, and I promise to keep you up to date.


For  years  HYDE PARK has been one of Sarasota's most consistent restaurants.  Whether it be fine dining, happy hour, hamburger or salad, HP delivers  good as it gets in Sarasota.  Their 3-course Sunday menu for under $30 is easily the best value in town and includes steak, salmon, chicken, meatloaf and more.  Served with a basket of rolls, choice of salad or soup and dessert, I guarantee you won't go home hungry.

If you've been away for the summer, I'm happy to announce street paving on

Lemon in front of HP is nearing conclusion.  Parking is always available with valet or in the State Street  garage.  I walk to HP, which is easily the best way to get there, but what ever way you go, bring an appetite.

Hyde Park Steak on Grill

 Every table is a good one, but best to sit in Wine Room which is compact and quiet.  Reservations are a must; especially as we work back into season.  941-366-7788 anytime after 4.   No lunch here, but daily 4-6:30 one of the best happy hours in town is available in the bar or on the patio.   Hungry yet?????

Tickets for the Azi Schwartz From Bimah to Broadway concert are on sale AND going fast.  The Mazur family in conjunction with Temple Beth Sholom are presenting this benefit concert at The Sarasota Opera House, Sunday January 12 7:00pm.  For as little as $25 or no more than $100 you can see and hear one of this country's great voices in his first Sarasota appearance.

Tickets are on sale now at the Opera House, 941-328-1300, or www.azischwartz.com/music.  Hope to see you there.


By the time you read this, we should know what's in store for us from DORIAN.  The forecasts change hourly, but if current  hurricane warnings are any indication, we are anticipating the worst late Sunday or early Monday and into Tuesday.  Once over, we can go back to normal...waiting for the inevitable bottled water sale...BE SAFE.....

JIM'S RANT...Traffic seems lighter than usual this month.  Most restaurants 

are available no matter what time I arrive. The Herald Tribune has an answer for this..'.Red tide hangover'? reads the headline of a Gulf Coast article.  Never occurred to me that could be reason for slower than normal summer season.  I kind of miss the madness of "season", the lack of parking spaces, the long wait at my favorite restaurant,  the unfamiliar foreign language spoken all around the city...enjoy it while you can....Thanksgiving is less than three months away.....
good to be back.  See you next week, and as always thanks for reading.....JIM

PS.....too late for this issue, but FST announced its 19-20 Winter Season late Saturday.  A big article and ad in Sunday's Herald.  I will have all the information you need next week.....