DECEMBER 29, 2019

IT'S 2020......LET'S MAKE THIS THE BEST YEAR EVER.........

The best place to be is downtown Sarasota where the festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. and last until 2 a.m. when I'll have been asleep for almost 2 hours.  This is always a well-attended event with parking at a premium.  Five Points is where you'll find amusement rides and games.  Live music will be playing at corner of Main and Lemon streets, where you can also find food and drink vendors.

If you're looking for a reservation at the  downtown restaurants, I suggest you do it now, as many are already booked for the evening.
The grand finale is Sarasota's "world-famous" Pineapple Drop which welcomes in 2020, followed by a gigantic fireworks display.  The party's over at by 2 a.m.  Everything free except food and rides.


If you don't want to fight the crowds downtown there are several events around the area including UTC's first NY Eve party at their popular Holidays on the Green.  This one is primarily for families, with face painters, balloon artists, live music, and a countdown to a 9 p.m. fireworks show. 

Also available is the illuminated winter wonderland ice skating, sledding, horse and carriage rides and a carousel.   The charge is $20 for ice skating and sledding. This one runs from 6-10, giving you ample time to attend both.

If you've never seen a Sailor Circus performance, you're missing one of Sarasota's better attractions for the whole family.  However, by the time you read this, it may be too late to purchase tickets for their last performances of 2019. 


 The show features 70 young circus performers ages 8 to 18 performing skills learned during weekday workouts after school.  The name Dolly Jacobs should be familiar to you from her many performances here.  She is committed to passing on her skills to a new generation of performers.

This six show event is taking place at the newly renovated Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista Sunday at 1 and 6pm and tomorrow at 2 and 7 p.m.  Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased at 941-355-9805;  circusarts.org; or on-site at box-office.........."Sailor Circus dazzles in latest show...." Michael Moore Jr. 12/28 Herald Tribune.....

According the the Herald Tribune, Sarasota/Manatee witnessed the arrival of 15 major restaurants in 2019.  With so many to choose from, it is easy to forget the "oldies but goodies."  An evening this week took me to one that never gets "old", and is as good as when opened in 1989.  I'm talking about Caragiulos 69 S. Palm Ave, a few steps from all those newer restaurants on Main St.

At first glance, nothing has changed in 20 years other than an increase in size.  The food is familiar, substantial, and good, with prices as reasonable as one expects from an Italian kitchen.  Add impeccable service to the mix, and you can understand why I recommend Caragiulos for eating in or taking out.  Reservations for parties of 6, but the friendly bar makes the wait for our party of 4 easy to take. 




JIM'S RANT....Hope you've all had a great year and that 2020 is the best ever!  Through laughs and tears we've made it through another one.  My biggest laugh was watching people attempting to figure out how to feed the parking meters on Main and St. Armands Circle.  Days were a lot simpler when each car had its own meter.......JIM......Thanks for reading....see you again next year.......