Sarasota Magazine

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Liquid Art

New York City’s new waterfalls make a dazzling impression.

By Charlie Huisking

During my visit to New York last week, I did the normal tourist things: saw four Broadway shows, wandered through museums, ate at some nice restaurants, and took in the waterfalls in the East River.

Waterfalls? Yes, New York's gritty urban landscape is now tempered by four spectacular waterfalls, from 80 to 120 feet high. They cascade into the East River from towers made of silver scaffolding, just off the coasts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Governor's Island. By far the most stunning of the four stands under the Brooklyn Bridge.

These water works are a public art project, "The New York City Waterfalls," by Olafur Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist. Supported by New York's Public Art Fund and a host of private donors, the installations will be up through Oct. 13.

You can view the waterfalls by land, and I thought of taking the subway to Brooklyn and then walking back to Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge's pedestrian walkway. But then the concierge at my hotel suggested I see them from the water on a Circle Line tour.

I'd always avoided this New York institution as being too touristy, but I figured this was the time to try it. And I'm so glad I did.

The boat was jammed with visitors from all parts of the world, who jostled for position along the railings, snapping pictures of the dramatic New York skyline that gleamed on a cloudless day.

The picture-taking grew more frenzied as we made a side trip to circumnavigate the Statue of Liberty--a perfect excursion on this July 3 voyage.

The boat sailed by all four waterfalls, and not everyone on board seemed impressed. "That one looks like a sewer pipe is leaking," one man told his wife.

But the thundering falls under the Brooklyn Bridge dazzled everybody.

I'm told they look even more impressive at night, when they are bathed in shimmering white lights.

To quote the New York Times, "They are the remnants of a primordial Eden, beautiful, uncanny signs of a natural non-urban past that the city never had."

Monday, July 07, 2008

Newcomers of Note

Eco-friendly and global fashion at two new Sarasota stores.

By Carol Tisch

What fun to find two new boutiques cool enough (in concept, merchandise and temperature) to make you glad you’re in town for the dog days of summer.

Kelietza is a sliver of a store on South Pineapple opened by Kelly Augustyniak about six months ago and already a hit with fashionistas who want hip clothes with international flair.

It’s amazing how many countries are represented in this minimalist setting, where luxuriously spacious dressing rooms take up nearly a third of the floor space. Sunglasses from New Zealand; organic perfumes from Paris; clothes from Italy, Spain, South Africa and Australia: It’s an international potpourri that encompasses the classic, elegant and cutting edge. The name on the door is the nickname Kelly’s grandfather gave her as a child: Kelietza, she says, means Little Kelly in his native Slavic dialog.

Kelly says she moved to Sarasota two years ago, worked at five different jobs and decided it was time to open her own business. “It’s going well, and growing by word of mouth referrals” she says. “Clients tell their friends they don’t need to go to New York for avant-garde clothes anymore."

Equally intriguing is Juno & Jove. Though owner and founder Olivia Bono has been selling over the Internet for some time, her new brick and mortar flagship store at 100 Central Avenue opened less than a month ago. “We chose Sarasota because it is a progressive city with a strong sense of history,” says Bono.

The 2,000-square-foot store also displays a reverence for the past: The décor is inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20^th century. The environment is as chic as a luxury resort gift shop with a smattering of elegant clothes, home furnishings and gifts that are irresistible.

“We sell everything you see, including the antique furniture and fixtures,” explained Craig Grayson, director of operations, as he walked me through the micro department store. The shop specializes in eco-luxury: upscale products and brands that embody social and environmental responsibility. This merchandise proves that eco-friendly design has as much style as substance these days. They have duffle bags and watches by Morgan Gray; high-end bed linens from Maestro Raphael in Italy, stunning swimwear by Karla Colletto, and a lot more fashion for the home, for men and women—including an eco-selection from Linda Louderrmilk, whose clothes are made from sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell, soy and other exotic self-sustaining plants.

You can buy the same Forza towels made for high end luxury hotels; sheets by Christian Fischbacher and Heavenly Bamboo towels in a blend of certified organic cotton and plantation grown bamboo. Snowbirds can shop the Web site (www.junoandjove.com) until the grand opening in season; but Grayson says only a quarter of what’s available in store is sold online.

Kelietza, 602 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota (941) 312-5403 http://www.kelietza.com/

Juno and Jove, 100 Central Ave., Sarasota, (941) 953-0000

Friday, July 04, 2008

Summer Schedule

Keeping cool with indoor exercise and questionable recreational activities.

By Hannah Wallace

Damn, but it’s hot outside. Completely changes my approach to getting things done. Thanks to my downtown YMCA membership, I’ve added lunchtime treadmill sessions to my stay-cool exercise regime of air-conditioned indoor soccer and, y’know, ice hockey. The exercise is a great afternoon energy boost. And in this humidity, the midday shower helps, too. Plus, I’ve already seen one coworker and two Asolo-ites at that mecca for Sarasota gym rats. It’d be great for networking…y’know, if I weren’t all sweaty and gasping for air.

Even my mother’s looking for cooler activities. An Ohio native, she’s been thinking about ice skating since I got into hockey. But as a boomer who hasn’t skated in years, she’s afraid she’ll hurt herself. “Easy enough,” I said. “Wear hockey gear.” And to my surprise, she agreed. She’ll be suited up and on the ice with us for a Friday-night practice July 18—and you better believe there’ll be pictures. Thought you had a good excuse for not getting off the couch and onto the ice, the field or the court? Yeah, not so much.

Mom gets her athletic reflexes warmed up playing Mario Kart with Stage Manager J.

Ma gets her athletic reflexes warmed up playing Mario Kart with Stage Manager J.

‘Course, Ma’s always been wicked athletic, and I’m not above cross-checking loved ones if she schools me. Just ask CCB.

But it’s not just about exercise. Work’s affected by the summertime, too. While everyone talks about using the slow months to get ahead, I’m inundated with pleas to be included in September’s Charity Register, which, in this economy,are even more urgent than usual. Nonprofit organizations are gearing up for the coming fall. (Er, that is, autumn.)

And just this Friday, our boss, editorial director Pam Daniel, tasked us with disposing of all the press samples she’d received this past editorial season. Of course, by “press samples” I mean “bottles of wine.” And by “disposing of” I mean “guzzling.”

A serene setting for a Friday-night wine tasting.

Actually, it was a lovely wine tasting party in her bayfront back yard. Funny how having to rely on the air conditioning all day makes you even more determined to spend time outside. And what could be more Sarasota than a bunch of grammar nerds and foodies sipping Chablis and eating sliders, watching the thunderstorms roll in from the bay and naming the snook that swim around the underwater lights?

Yeah, but enough of that classy crap. I wanna talk about strippers and explosives. Again.

We celebrated the Fourth last weekend at the annual Slap Shot Party, which is famous for turning hockey players into cavalier junior pyro-technicians. However, their attempt to become junior pole dancers did not go so well. See the calamity on You Tube (search for “Danger on the pole”). Leave it to the professionals, guys; you’d never see the Cheetah Club gals work in such unsafe conditions.

(The evil cackle 10 seconds into that video is cameraman CCB, obviously on his way to becoming a professional photojournalist.)

Bad ideas abound at the Slap Shot Party.

In that cultural vein, we’ll forego the fireworks this Friday to rest up for the weekend’s other activities: Early Saturday morning I’m off for a romantic stay in Daytona with CCB…and three of his coworkers. In a Winnebago. At a Nascar race. Yeah, I don’t know why, either. (Say it with me, now: hot dogs and beer!) My Stetson soccer team ran a concession stand at the Daytona 500 a few times. I…don’t know what else to say about that. Let’s go…cars?

Still, it’ll be nice to sit outside in appreciation (or defiance?) of summer. Besides, we may have our nonprofits and wine tastings, but some summertime experiences can’t be had in Sarasota. Remember: It’s important to be well-rounded.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Body of Work

After seeing how Joan Altabe can turn even me into high art, don’t you want to head to her show next Sunday?

I realize tongues are wagging over this nude portrait of me by Joan Altabe, but I want to make one thing clear. I am not an artist’s model. Nor am I Joan’s current flame. Let’s just say . . . she did it from memory.

Anyway, it certainly is a thrill to be interpreted by one of Sarasota’s leading artists – and art critics. Yes, when it comes to tongues, Joan’s has gotten her in trouble many times over. Back when she was writing for the Herald-Tribune she was a veritable Don Imus of critical thinking – not in a racial sense, certainly, for Joan is a liberal, a feminist, and such an observant Jew that she won’t go to cocktail parties on Saturdays. But when it comes to making people’s blood boil, there’s nobody like her.

Take her new exhibit, opening July 13 at the Edfish Gallery. It’s all black and white. “I hate color,” Joan snarled during a recent interview. “It’s a distraction! It’s an annoyance!” She attributes this to her artistic beginnings and the great influence the comic strip Nancy had on her as a child. As you may recall, Nancy was a bossy, clever little girl, who had a dumb boyfriend named Sluggo. That crisp, graphic style has stayed with Joan all these years; in fact, in the current exhibit many of the works are described as “cartoons.” Joan says they’re actually about human relationships.

I’m not the only writer captured by Joan’s vivid personality. She was recently immortalized as Mary Ire, the boozy Sarasota art critic in Stephen King’s new novel Duma Key. (Although let me emphasize that the boozy part was a figment of Mr. King’s imagination and that Joan does not drink – at least not in public.) Will he show up at Joan’s opening to honor his muse? Come and find out.

Sunday, July 13^th, 1-5 pm., 3663 Webber St., Sarasota. 941-706-2659.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Design Gems

If you want something sophisticated and special, check out these two cool listings.

By Robert Plunket

Two of the most architecturally significant houses in Sarasota are currently on the market. They are completely different from each other and completely different from anything in town. Check for open houses on these two; I’d pay money to walk through them.

1400 Westbrook Drive.

First is the amazing Japanese house in Oyster Bay. It’s based on the famous Katsura Villa outside Kyoto, a royal palace from the 1600s. It’s considered the epitome of Japanese architecture, with its simple but highly sophisticated composition, its Zen-like gardens, shoji screens, and framed views of the water.

Above, the Sarasota home's tea house; below, the Katsura Villa's tea house.

The Sarasota version was built in the 1970s and is being sold by the original owners. It’s almost 5,000 square feet and sits on a prime bayfront lot. The details are correct from a design point of view, but it’s also totally up-to-date for modern living. The high point is the tea house, connected to the main house by a narrow walkway, or engawa. It would make a perfect guest house or artist studio. I guess you could even drink tea there. I tracked down a picture of the Katsura Villa’s tea house. Frankly, I like the Sarasota version better, and it has a bathroom.

It’s priced at $3.5 million. Call Jon Partridge at 724-4452.

The Roundhouse, 4433 Riverwood Ave.

Next is the famous Roundhouse on Riverwood, near Riverview High. It was built in 1960 by Hilton Leech, one of the town’s famous old Bohemian painters, for use as a studio and place to give art classes. The architect was Jack West, from the Sarasota School. Yes, it is completely round. You have to be a math major to figure out the square footage, but I’m told it’s around 2,500.

Above, the Roundhouse's original purpose: an artist studio; below, the mid-century modern-inspired living room.

It was turned into a home by some very hip guys who work for the film festival, and the style is a sort of grand 1950s retro. There are two sleeping spaces, and they also put in a new pool. It’s priced at $699,000 but that includes a buildable adjoining lot. The coolest house in town? For sure.

The listing agent is Vicky Pinney at 284–8023.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Jazz Party at the Colony Resort

Great food, setting and sunset make for a fantastic night.

By Judi Gallagher

As we head into the 4^th of July weekend, I am so thankful to live in a beach community. While I’m not a powerboat fan, (sorry, don’t like loud noisy things but appreciate their charitable side) and in fact, will avoid the beach July 3-6, we do love early evening as a time to swim in near 90-degree Gulf water and have a light picnic supper. There is something about the sand between your toes, a beautiful sunset and good food that makes the experience all the more magical.

No wonder why we give a huge endorsement to The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort’s recent jazz dinner, Sunset on the Beach. This is definitely going down as an absolute favorite and I cannot wait until they announce their October date to make our reservations well in advance.

Musicians at The Colony's Sunset on the Beach.

At about $75 per person, you come to the Colony Beach, where chairs and fire pits face the stage and wonderful jazz musicians play as you stroll to enjoy a refreshing cocktail at the many open bars, and feast, and I mean feast, on stations filled with grilled shrimp, ahi tuna, Asian duck breast, French fries and sliders. The desserts are outstanding, an incredible array of cheesecake on a stick, key lime tarts and Trish’s near infamous fruit snow cones with a good hit of flavored vodka.

Delicious food prepared expertly.

Nostalgia overcame me, though, and I opted for a collection of graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey’s chocolate, conveniently arranged for us with skewers, and went straight for the fire pit for some s’more assembly. (Thanks to the stranger that bailed me out and toasted my marshmallows when I winced too many times at the smoke in my eyes caused by the summer breeze—I’ve never been a camper.)

The key is to get there early to scope out your place with a fun group of friends that appreciate the beach, great food and good jazz with a whole lotta Colony hospitality.

Just for Kids

From infants to the exploding tween market, local retailers are dressing our youth in style.

By Carol Tisch

I’m predicting a lot more pressure on 20-and-30-somethings to produce grandchildren now that Sarasota has so many irresistible kids’ clothing stores. If you want “cute,” then head straight to the adorable Little Bo-Tique on St. Armands Circle where you’ll find everything from fluffy pink ballerina tutus to white rabbit coats and matching fur hand muffs. The little pink rhinestone-trimmed Mary Janes would make Imelda Marcos and Sara Jessica Parker swoon.

Then there’s A Bun in the Oven in San Marco Plaza on Lakewood Ranch. They scour entertainment and fashion magazines for celeb choices for baby linens, diaper bags, infants and toddlers’ clothes and apropos to their name, the hottest new maternity wear. This is heaven on earth for future grandmothers – or if you’re like me, grandma wannabes. Oh, the symbiotic shopping relationships these stores promise – the retail therapy that binds generations and ensures the survival of Species Fashionista.

The biological urge to dress a little girl, while an omnipresent tug on my heartstrings, had been under control until I decided to check out Sarasota’s newest children’s emporium -- L Kids. LeeAnne Swor, founder of the magical L-Empire on South Pineapple Avenue, has opened the shop on the heels of her smashingly successful L Boutique and L Shoes down the street. The reason: Style-savvy customers wanted equally cool clothes for their kids.

The tween department at L. Kids has chic and simple big-girl brands.

That’s just what you’ll find in this 1,800-square-foot shop: unfussy designs chic enough for mommies. It seems the rage among designers of hip fashion brands is to create line extensions with clothes for the new market segment called tweens. LeeAnne took me through racks of dresses, tops and hoodies in the same styles and colors that the big-girl store carries: names like Splendid, Ella Moss, Ed Hardy, Hard Tail, and Alice & Olivia.

“Young children are exposed to so much today in the media,” Swor explained. “They want the looks they see on TV and in the movies, but they’re not big enough to wear them. My clients would buy an outfit and tell me they wished they get the same thing for their daughters. And when little girls come in with their mothers, they do the same,” she said.

Swor says the tween market (girls who wear preteen sizes 7-14) is exploding. Sarasota tweens are already flipping over Splendid’s soft cotton dresses and tops ($70-$90) and Ella Moss cami dresses ($75). L Kids also has infants’ clothes and a section for 2T to size 8 and boys’ wear to size 10.

The shop’s selection is so well-edited you’d be able to pick up a trendy baby gift within seconds. My favorites are over-the top Swarovski crystal indulgences ($100 to $200 and up) that have catapulted a new company called Aristabrats to overnight international fame. Leeann has their rattles, pacifiers, even crystal-embellished nail clippers. I can’t vouch for the safety of this baby bling, but it is beautiful to behold – on a dresser or curio shelf perhaps. Check out Aristobrats’ website and you’ll find photos of the pacifiers soothing high profile celeb-u-tots from Tori Spelling’s Liam to J-Lo’s new twins. (https://www.aristabrat.com/shop.php).

LeeAnne Swor, owner of L. Boutique, has just opened L. Kids on Pineapple Avenue.

L.Kids, 556 Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, (941) 951.5560

Little Bo-Tique, 367A St. Armands Circle, Sarasota (941) 388-1737

A Bun in the Oven Maternity and Baby Store, Nature’s Way, San Marco Plaza, Lakewood Ranch, (941) 907-MOMS.

The Mystery of Irma Vep

Summer fun with Florida Studio Theatre’s vampy, campy The Mystery of Irma Vep.

By Kay Kipling

If the price of gas is keeping you closer to home this summer, you can always buy a ticket to Florida Studio Theatre’s The Mystery of Irma Vep—you’ll be taking a trip to England, Egypt and some undefined land of crazy, ridiculous humor that defies logic. Oh, and did I mention the men dressed in skirts?

Irma Vep, probably the best known of Ridiculous Theatre Company founder Charles Ludlam’s drag plays, is a two-actor romp that makes you feel the stage is inhabited by a much bigger cast. A campy, affectionate parody of, among other things, such old movies as Rebecca, Wuthering Heights and The Mummy’s Curse, Irma Vep is set primarily at spooky Mandacrest Manor, where Lord Edgar’s new bride, Lady Enid, is having trouble settling in due to the howling wolves, unfriendly housekeeper and the huge portrait of Lord Edgar’s first, late wife that hangs over the fireplace. Throw in some werewolves, vampires and other supernatural creatures, along with a brief side trip to an ancient Egyptian tomb, and you’ve got a mostly amusing melange of tribute and send-up.

The two actors (assisted by some offstage crew members in order to make the impossibly quick costume changes needed) successfully carry it all off with the right mix of heated overacting and the occasional symbolic wink to the audience that says we’re all in it for the fun of it. Patrick Noonan, who plays Lord Edgar and the housekeeper, is frequently hilarious, especially in the latter role; and Brad DePlanche does yeoman duty as Lady Enid (he’s sort of disturbingly fetching here, actually), the wooden-legged swineherd Nicodemus Underwood, and two Egyptians including a long-dead princess named Pev Amri (anagram fans will figure that one out, as well as the play’s title character).

Patrick Noonan and Brad DePlanche in FST’s The Mystery of Irma Vep.

It doesn’t all make sense, and it’s not supposed to. If I didn’t laugh quite as hard as I thought I remembered doing years ago when the Asolo presented this show, that may be because the action all moves so fast, it’s only when you look back on it later that you fully get some of the jokes. For the audience, it’s sometimes a matter of trying to keep up.

The Mystery of Irma Vep continues through July 18 on FST’s mainstage; call 366-9000 or go to floridastudiotheatre.org.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Attic Update

Guess what—I heard from the people whose artifacts were in our attic!

By Hannah Wallace

Wow, that happened fast. I posted my Leetzow account a week ago Friday; Monday I had a comment from Sanford attorney Michael Leetzow; and on Wednesday evening Michael’s sister jetted over from One Sarasota Tower to pick up the boxes. Alas, if only Aaron Sorkin were so responsive to my blogs…

The boxes went with just the slightest tug at my heartstrings, if just for that one evening we spent immersed in an exploration so temporally distant and yet geographically close. I consider that a pretty successful blog, too, to draw connections from my own stuffy Saturday night on the couch to so many people for so many reasons—seems like everybody knows a Leetzow…or is one—Bradentonians past and present. But as much as CCB and I found in the boxes, I smile to think of what the three Leetzow generations will uncover.

My life continues to branch out and weave back into itself in other ways, too: I just found out that the Englishman on my culturally diverse indoor soccer team is a classmate and friend of local playwright Jenny Beres, whom I interviewed not too long ago. He made the connection when he searched for her and discovered this blog. “I didn’t know at first that it was that Hannah,” he said. Sports are so great for bringing different kinds of people together; sometimes you forget how much you might have in common with your teammates.

Anyway, in the few conversations I’ve had with the both of them, they seem like plenty cool 20-somethings. There’s two more invitees for the Kegtacular list (whether they like it or not).

Heh, I just flashed on Capote’s Christmas Memory, where the cousins in remote Alabama make fruitcakes and send them to Borneo missionaries and President Roosevelt. I mean, you never know who’ll come to your party unless you ask, right? That’s it: Virginia Toulmin’s going on the Kegtacular list, too. And Ulla Searing. I’ll bet she’s killer at beer pong.

Summer Haven

A perfect stay in Saugatuck, Michigan.

By Charlie Huisking

I picked a perfect June day to explore the spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, about an hour south of Traverse City.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore.

The temperature was in the 60s, and Lake Michigan sparkled in the bright sun as I stood on an overlook atop a 200-foot-high sand dune. This was one of 10 stops on a seven-mile long driving loop in the park, which got its name because one of the giant dunes was said to look like a bear stretched out for a snooze.

Most of the dunes are off-limits to hikers for ecological and safety reasons. But you can climb one, and what an experience. From the parking lot, the climbers look like tiny black spots, surrounded by an expanse of grainy brown sand. It took me a grunting and wheezing half-hour to reach the first plateau, from which I could see the lake in the distance. Hardier hikers continued the trek, but I was eager to get to my next stop, the town of Saugatuck.

The Saugatuck Chain Ferry in Saugatuck, Mich.

A former lumber town and a summer haven for Chicago artists since the early 1900s, Saugatuck is filled with interesting galleries, shops and restaurants, many housed in Victorian-era buildings. The town is swamped with tourists on summer weekends, but during my mid-week stay, I had the place to myself. I got an outdoor chair massage to recover from my dune climb and took a 19th-century ferry across the Kalamazoo River to Oval Beach.

There is a wide choice of inns and bed and breakfasts in Saugatuck. But it's hard to beat the Beechwood Manor Inn & Cottage. Located on a quiet, leafy street away from the busy downtown, but within easy walking distance, the cozy Victorian inn is the perfect retreat. I was tempted to spend my entire stay on the broad front porch.

The Enid room at the Beechwood Manor Inn & Cottage.

Its three rooms have queen beds, private baths, quality linens and cable TVs. That last amenity is important to me, because even though I love the charm of an inn setting, I need my MSNBC to keep up with politics.

Innkeepers Gregg Smith and Sal Sapienza set the perfect tone. They're eager to provide their guests with information about area dining and attractions, and will even set up an in-room massage. But they give you your space so you don't feel as if you're staying in someone else's home.

In the hospitality room, open 24 hours, you can help yourself to coffee, tea, soft drinks, water and snacks. You fill out your breakfast order before retiring each night, and whatever you choose, it will be gourmet quality.

The three-bedroom cottage behind the inn has a full kitchen and accommodates six. More importantly, its pet-friendly. So I'm hoping to return later this summer with a beach-loving Schnauzer named Capone.

Friday, June 27, 2008

A Moon for the Misbegotten

It’s a special night for the Banyan’s A Moon for the Misbegotten.

By Kay Kipling

There’s no doubt that A Moon for the Misbegotten is one of Eugene O’Neill’s most beautifully written—and heartbreaking—plays. There’s also little doubt that it provides a formidable acting challenge for those playing in this partly autobiographical story about O’Neill’s alcoholic brother, a woman who might be able to save him, and that woman’s conniving but charming tenant farmer father.

It’s been some time since there’s been a local production of Moon, so the Banyan Theater Company’s presentation (directed by Gil Lazier in a sort of parting gesture before he moves to New Mexico) is a welcome one. Lazier has looked into the hearts and minds of these characters with his usual empathy (perhaps channeling a little of the spirit of the late, great director Jose Quintero, who helmed the landmark Broadway production of the play and spent his last years in Sarasota), and he’s aided in setting the right tone by Jeffrey W. Dean’s design of the New England farmhouse and James A. Florek’s lighting, so crucial to providing the right moonlit spirit for one special night.

Robert M. Hefley and Jessica K. Peterson in the Banyan’s A Moon for the Misbegotten.

That night belongs to Josie Hogan (Jessica K. Peterson), a seemingly boisterous, tough woman who’s grown up fighting—and loving—her hard-living father Phil (Steven Clark Pachosa) while sending her brothers off into the larger world. She also feels a love for James Tyrone Jr. (Robert M. Hefley), the Hogans’ landlord (based on O’Neill’s older brother, who basically drank himself to death). Tyrone, a failed actor given to spouting grandiloquent lines from plays and spending his night boozing with and bedding tarts, likewise feels a strong affection for Josie, but the burden of guilt and sorrow he bears makes it unlikely he can ever find true happiness with anyone.

The first act sets up the play’s plot, which revolves around whether or not landlord Jim will be selling the Hogan land out from under them in order to grab enough quick money to hightail it back to New York, or whether he’ll keep his word to sell it only to them. As the evening wears on, and as both Phil and Jim swill down a boatload of whiskey, the question also becomes: Is there any hope for Josie and Jim to share their love and their lives?

If you know O’Neill, you probably know the answer to that. But Moon offers some of the playwright’s most touching and tenderly written scenes along the way, so you take nothing for granted. Although not physically such a mannishly large being as O’Neill describes Josie, Peterson is certainly a strong presence, and she’s capable of eloquently making the transitions between her bravura moments and her most vulnerable states, as she tries to help the haunted Tyrone. As Phil, a role that nearly allows an actor to steal the two leads’ thunder, Pachosa is always entertaining and vivid, with a natural gift for delivering O’Neill’s colorful Irish dialogue.

Hefley, who did good work in an earlier Banyan production of The Unexpected Man last season, seems miscast to some extent as Tyrone—a bit too mature, perhaps, and at times too stiff or actorish in his performance. He never quite successfully plumbs the full depths of Jim’s self-loathing, and the relationship between him and Josie doesn’t feel as developed as we might like. But Moon is so well-written and directed, with such a winning performance by Peterson, that it can’t fail to reach us anyway.

A Moon for the Misbegotten continues through July 12 in the Banyan production on the Asolo’s Cook stage; for tickets call 552-1032 or visit www.banyantheatercompany.com.

Thinking Outside the Botox

What you need to know about facial fillers.

By Patty Larsen

Of course you know that there is a possibility of bad side effects associated with most cosmetic procedures. C’mon they make you sign something, don’t they? (Don’t even get me started on unregulated procedures like Botox “parties.”)

But even if you find a licensed, reputable physician to administer Botox or one of the many facial fillers, you can still suffer undesirable results. (Remember the bogus Botox sold by mail at substantial discount to unwitting physicians, some from Sarasota, back in 2005? I’m pretty sure they didn’t know the product was ersatz since two of them injected it into themselves.) The main thing is to understand enough about the products and procedures to make an informed decision.

First, if you go the route of injectibles, there is the matter of pain management. Many doctors use a topical numbing cream. But most don’t do a patch test. I spoke to one woman who had a severe allergic reaction to the numbing cream and despite multiple LED treatments to address redness, still had slight discoloration nine months later. It doesn’t happen often but to be on the safe side you probably want to do a patch test before you opt for a numbing cream. Some physicians numb the area with injections—which hurt less than the Botox or other fillers.

Second, know the difference between fillers. Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm are bovine-derived forms of hyaluronic acid that plump skin and stimulate the body’s own collagen to alleviate mild to moderate lines for three to twelve months. Radiesse and Sculptra are synthetic fillers, mineral calcium hydroxylapatite and poly-L-lactic acid respectively. Artefill is a permanent filler for moderate to severe wrinkles supplementing purified bovine collagen with synthetic microspheres that provide the architecture for the body’s own collagen to grow around and replump skin. Cosmoplast and Cosmoderm are collagen fillers derived from purified human tissue grown in the lab. And Autologous wrinkles fillers are transplantations of your own fat from one area to another.

Bascially, the natural ones generally result in fewer adverse results and cost the most. The synthetic ones are associated with more unintended reactions ( bumps under the skin, scarring, changes in pigment etc.) and last the longest. In addition, the longer a product lasts, the greater both the initial investment and the potential for problems. Some people get fabulous results, but you need to establish your individual tolerance level through controlled trials that physicians don’t typically suggest.

Third, find out which products belong where. Some fillers are great at the subdural level but don’t yield the best results for surface level changes. Try light therapies or peels for surface level changes. Many doctors regularly combine Botox and fillers to achieve a desired result, as does Harvard-trained, Dr Marguerite Barnett of the Mandala Day Spa (www.mandalamedspa.com); but she warns “Botox is not good around the mouth, it can result in very strange expressions.” In addition, Dr Barnett advocates using small amounts of Botox to slightly weaken muscles and thus retrain them because complete (albeit temporary) paralysis sometimes results in even less desirable expressions and lines. Botox can be sold by the unit or by the syringe, so if you like the idea of just a little, try buying by the unit.

Fourth, timing counts. You can’t do Restylane say, within four to six weeks of a laser treatment or chemical peel, so keep track of what you have done and check with your physician. Know that some treatments require you to avoid sun exposure for a week or more. Fish oil promotes bruising. Vitamin C helps mitigate side effects and everything should be FDA approved.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Me & Mr. Ed

I know firsthand about Ed McMahon and his house problems.

Poor Ed McMahon. I feel terribly sorry for him. But I’m not all that surprised. You see, he pulled this one before – with me.

The year was 1963, and the place was Bronxville, N.Y. We were moving to Caracas and didn’t know how long we would be gone, so we decided to rent our house. Now let me say right now that I was a rich kid, and our house had 11 bedrooms and was located directly next door to the home of the famous Dr. Hudson Campbell, Eleanor Roosevelt’s dentist. I mean, this was a classy neighborhood.

So who should turn up to rent it but a celebrity! Yes, Johnny Carson had just taken over the Jack Paar Show, and he brought with him his announcer from Philadelphia, Ed McMahon. Ed was thrust into public eye in a blaze of glory—he was an instant household name. He had a wife and an enormous number of kids – I think five – so you can imagine how exciting it was to find a house with 11 bedrooms. They snapped it up.

Ed McMahon.

I first met Mr. McMahon, as I always called him, in the driveway as our moving van got stuck next to their moving van - it was moving van gridlock. His kids were so young they couldn’t figure out who we were and were clearly terrified. Meanwhile, my father was going crazy because we had to catch a plane at Idlewild (JFK airport’s former name - God, this was a long time ago) in exactly two hours. It was then I saw the famous McMahon charm in action for the first time, as he gravely explained to his children that we were the Plunkets and we were moving to South America and, no, we did not come with the house.

We were in Caracas when we heard some surprising news. Mr. McMahon’s rent check bounced. It was only $500 (a long, long time ago) but you couldn’t help but wonder – doesn’t he know how to manage his money? My father always saw him a little differently after that incident, because my father was the kind of man for whom it was impossible to have one of his checks bounce (something I don’t share with him, I might add.)

I hope I’m not sounding like I’m kicking a man when he’s down, because Mr. McMahon turned out to be an ideal tenant and very easy to deal with, and his children hardly scratched the boiserie. Sometimes I would have to journey out to Bronxville from college in Massachusetts to attend to some house business and he always offered me a Budweiser. He was a charmer. Still is.

The McMahons stayed about three years. We were hoping they would buy the house, but even they didn’t need 11 bedrooms and they bought a smaller house about a mile away. Then they moved to California, got divorced, etc., etc. Mr. McMahon made millions and millions and became a part of American culture. The one thing he never seemed to achieve was financial probity, the very thing that my father realized was his flaw, even way back then.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Get It While You Can

Good buys are starting to move—here are two worth grabbing.

By Robert Plunket

I’ve been helping my friend Kate look for a house this past week and consequently have been going through one place after another. We narrowed it down to the two best, and then called the listing agents. And guess what? They’d just been sold! Both of them.

The lesson? The good stuff is suddenly starting to move. If it’s special and very well-priced, it is selling. So grab it.

This week’s best buys fit right into that category. Granted, the first is a little strange. It’s a remodeled 1,200-square-foot cottage in an unusual location – right behind the miniature golf course on the Trail near Myrtle. You either like the location or you don’t. I loved it. It’s convenient, has an enormous lot with wonderful trees, is tucked away at the end of a little cul de sac. It even has a fence with netting above it, I guess to prevent any stray golf balls from landing in your yard.

Exterior of Norwood home.

You’ve heard of golf course living – well, this is miniature golf course living.

Remodeled kitchen of Norwood home.

The house has been remodeled in an eccentric but hip way, with a lot of surprisingly high end touches. The kitchen is sleek and European, with a wine refrigerator and marble counter tops. The owners, it seems to me, are taking a tremendous loss – the original price was $339,000. Now it’s down to $179,000 – and it’s west of the Trail. Move! Call Chris Bradley at 374-1590.

Exterior of Bellevue home.

Next is a much more conventional house, but just as nice. It’s a 1950s cottage on Bellevue, about a mile east of the Y. The big selling point here is the charm of the remodel, complete with picket fence. It’s move-in ready and very Pottery Barn in color and feeling. The kitchen has stainless appliances and solid wood cabinets, there’s crown molding, and the roof, plumbing and electric are new.

Remodeled kitchen and living room of Bellevue home.

The only drawback is that at just over 1,000 square feet, it’s a little small. But it’s cozy rather than cramped, and it has a cute little den and a screened back porch. Best of all is the wonderful, homey feeling. It’s going to make a single person or a young (or old) couple very happy. Particularly at this price: $175,000. Call Dana Westmark at 356-5091.

(Photos of Norwood home by Chris Miller; photos of Bellevue home by Matt McCourtney.)

Up in Michigan

I take a road trip to pretty Petoskey on Little Traverse Bay.

By Charlie Huisking

For years, I've been hearing friends extol the beauty and charm of the lakeside towns in Michigan. Since I’m spending much of this summer with a friend in Indiana, I decided to take a five-hour road trip north.

My first stop was Petoskey, a lovely resort town on stunningly blue Little Traverse Bay. The first tourists started arriving here in the 1870s by steamship from Chicago. The town's historic Gaslight district is filled with restored 19th-century buildings housing shops, restaurants and hotels. I wandered through Waterfront Park and rented a bike for a ride along a 30-mile bayside path (OK, my ride didn't last 30 miles).

A view of downtown Petoskey, Mich.

In nearby Harbor Springs, I parked on Beach Drive, which is lined by nearly 100 Victorian cottages with wide porches that overlook manicured green lawns sloping down to the bay. My visit was in early June, so the summer people hadn't arrived yet, and most of the homes were boarded up.

My "summer cottage" was the Bay Harbor Inn, a grand white Victorian-style hotel that's the centerpiece of a 1,200-acre resort and residential development.

Though only 10 years old, the hotel is built to look like it's been here a century. My waterfront room on the third floor was huge, with a balcony, fireplace and a spacious marble bathroom.

I walked past the gazebo and the croquet court and sprawled in a hammock to watch the sunset. It was cool enough for a sweater, and nearby, several guests were toasting marshmallows over a fire pit on the white-sand beach.

Beachscape in Petoskey.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Breakdown

Without e-mail or Internet, I turn to—pizza.

By Judi Gallagher

My idea of technology is having a convection roast and convection bake setting on my oven. Using the meat probe was like getting a doctoral in roasting, and forget the plastic shelving for bacon and popcorn in the microwave--too much reading and positioning. Besides, I believe God created the microwave to reheat only Chinese food and mashed potatoes --I dare not get the newly created disease “popcorn lung” just to try the newest gadget in my expensive contraption. So now that you get that I don’t get technology, you will understand my meltdown this week.

First I woke up to find out my e-mail was down. To make matters worse, my Blackberry, aka crackberry, crashed and needed a password to be reset- of course only the crackberry hot line in a foreign country could help me so I sat, stressed and on hold for 20 minutes, and then they guided me through step by step. I now understand why people say my recipes sometimes might be too complicated for them--I take for granted that readers can pan sear a snapper or zest a lemon. I suppose if I asked a computer geek if he had a microplane he would give me the same look I gave into the phone several times when they asked me to click on the disk k generated in the backup log under computer analog. Yeah, while I am doing that why don’t you take a side of cattle and break down the tenderloin?

Eventually the e-mails came back and the Blackberry started firing out all the ridiculous spam it could bubble over, so I did the right thing-- I left the darn things back in the office, went out for a pizza at Cosimo’s and returned to find my wireless Internet no longer worked. Crisis intervention took over- I ordered my son to whip up a batch of Ruth’s buttery pancakes for my assistant and me (recipe in Gourmet Magazine cookbook) and we ate our luscious pancakes with Vermont maple syrup while on hold to India with Comcast.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Credit Crunch

Plummeting real estate values are drying up small businesses’ access to funding.

By Kim Cartlidge

In Sarasota, too many of our locally owned small businesses have closed doors, and even more are teetering on the edge, hoping to survive until the economy picks ups again. Vanessa Baugh, owner of Vanessa Fine Jewelry, is taking their case all the way to Washington, D.C. In late April, she testified before the House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, which includes ranking member Sarasota Rep. Vern Buchanan, about the small business credit crunch.

Rep. Vern Buchanan and Vanessa Baugh converse during a break in Washington, D.C.

In addition to managing her own store in Lakewood Ranch, Baugh is chairman of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. She’s also recently been invited to serve on the U.S. Chamber Small Business Committee in D.C.

Small business owners can’t get loans or lines or credit without collateral; and for many, the only collateral a bank will accept is real estate—the equity in their homes or office buildings. “It’s almost a subject that no one wants to talk about, but it’s the norm for small business,” says Baugh. Plunging real estate values have left entrepreneurs with little access to bank credit to survive the economic downturn or to expand and fuel vital economic growth.

At a Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance meeting last week, worried small business owners talked about tapping into their retirement funds. Some are borrowing against their 401ks, but those with older IRA accounts can’t access their retirement savings without paying stiff penalties.

“In past years, you didn’t hear people talk about that unless they were starting up a small business. Nowadays, you hear about people trying to get retirement money for cash flow,” says Baugh.

In her testimony, Baugh advocated holding the line on tax increases and enacting more incentives for business expansion and job creation. She asked for tax incentives for banks to expedite small business loans. Baugh also addressed health insurance rates, the federal procurement process and liability reform to curb unfair lawsuits.

“I was very impressed with (Subcommittee Chair) Congresswoman Melissa Bean and Congressman Buchanan. I really felt they understood what small business is going through,” says Baugh. Last week, they invited Bradenton CPA Byron Shinn of Shinn and Company, P.A. to testify about tax law changes, including IRA account access, that could help business owners survive. The hearings are posted on YouTube under “Credit Crunch and Small Business.” Baugh’s testimony is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhwrtQsQpaw&feature=related and Rep. Bean’s and Buchanan’s opening statements are at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vm5aQGfOQw.

Baugh and other members of the Chamber’s Small Business Council will meet with Buchanan again in September. She’s seeking feedback, stories and reform ideas from more local small business owners before her next trip to Washington; they can contact Baugh at vandon@aol.com. “If we can get enough people involved, maybe we can get some legislation passed and get some things changed,” she says.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Boxes in the Attic

Home improvements uncover a time capsule.

By Hannah Wallace

“Take care and tell Delsey to keep her knees together,” L. Leetzow, Aug. 4, 1970

CCB and I recently tackled some much-needed home improvements—i.e. buying a gigantic television and then installing some motion-sensor lights so people won’t steal it. Wires had to be strung through the attic (by CCB’s coworker; god knows you don’t want us doing electricity). Just inside the attic entrance above the bedroom closet, we discovered a couple small, disintegrating boxes of paperwork, which had to be removed and set out of the way on the bedroom floor.

Later that night, CCB dragged the boxes out of the bedroom and into the TV’s warm, glowing, warming glow. Exploring. Nothing remarkable at first—manila envelopes and leather-bound ledgers embossed by year: 1966, 1967, etc. The only color, an old noisemaker with a bright-green feather glued to it. A couple of silverfish.

Amazing, though, the kinds of images you can piece together from business calendars and travel receipts. Like a flip-book cartoon: The more pages we sorted through, the more the names animated.

Leonard Leetzow, and later Lorence, (a son, we think), sold “backlighting equipment” in the 1960s and ‘70s. These boxes seem to contain their entire careers. Papers upon papers of everyday occurrences—receipts and duplicates, business cards and sales diaries, “March 4: Wrote letters; March 5: sick in bed.” Less than banal. But from 40 years away, we invented significance, both personal and historical. As though, just by being in our rented attic, they connected us—and Bradenton—to something universal, a collected memory of the 20^th century.

The familiar things jump-started the connection: A receipt from sales of emergency lighting for the Asolo Theatre Building, May 14, 1970; documents from a bulb-maintenance project in Huntsville, Ala., CCB’s hometown.

Letterhead correspondences ranged in tone from professional to bawdy. “Our 6 watt unit will light the top of a 75’ palm tree from the ground,” Feb. 10, 1970. “Take care and tell Delsey to keep her knees together,” Aug. 4, 1970. A folded and faded page explained different types of people based on fart characteristics.

A sales slip for a 1968 Volvo 144S, four-door, $3,273; minus discount, including tax and financing, $2,912.80. And the Volvo Air Conditioner Owner’s Guide & Warranty. A December 1970, speeding ticket, clocked by aircraft.

Then, insurance pictures from a car accident. Palmer’s Steakhouse, Kountry Kitchen and Ta-ho Lounge in the background.

The few personal effects stood out. St. Patrick’s Day greetings, handmade by children. Three Mother’s Day cards from 1971: The first, “Best Wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day,” signed, “Love, Mom & Dad Leetzow.”

Another, the card read, “Happy Mother’s Day from your intelligent, good-looking, talented child…and that’s not conceit…it’s heredity!” Signed, “You betchya! Love, ‘Dubbie’”

The last, “To My Wife…” Signed, “Love of all my life, I hope you enjoyed your day! Love, Larry.”

A clipping from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, torn crudely above the fold,showed a photo marking the formation of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Second from the left was, according to the caption, “Leonard Leetzow, Manatee County, representative of the distributor of the backlight equipment.” The face of one of our ghosts.

It took us a few minutes to notice Leo because the picture had been printed on page 2. The opposite side of the clipping contained the front-page headline for Monday, August 3, 1964: “Torpedoes Fired at U.S. Destroyer; N. Viet Nam Blamed.”

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Puppy Love

Attention, tabloids: My dog just hooked up with the biggest canine celebrity in the world!

She’s the richest dog in the world, a tabloid celebrity, the Paris Hilton of the canine set – and Pee Wee’s dating her! Yes, tongues are wagging about the new romance between Trouble, Leona Helmsley’s Maltese, and Sarasota Magazine’s own heartthrob Pee Wee.

Trouble + PeeWee = true love.

It was love at first sniff.

They met during a walk somewhere in Sarasota, where I can’t say for security reasons. Trouble was being taken around the block by Carl Lekic, who inherited the pooch from the Queen of Mean. As I‘m sure you know by now, Trouble inherited $12 million – shockingly and unfairly reduced by some crazy judge to a mere $2 million. This “judge” thinks a dog can actually live on that. Well, Your Honor, not in Sarasota.

Aren’t they the greatest looking couple since JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette? They’re light and dark, black and white, yin and yang. Unfortunately, unlike the Kennedy males, Pee Wee had his yang removed surgically – so no little Pee Wees to perpetuate the line – but he is still one sexy beast. All the bitches are crazy about him.

Gay for pay: That tramp Violet.

Speaking of which, Ilene Denton here at the office is unhinged with jealousy. She keeps trying to wangle an introduction for her beagle Violet, whom she swears will “go gay for that kind of money.” How distasteful. Pee Wee and Trouble’s love is something pure and chaste and special. Now let’s get that judge to reverse the ruling. Daddy needs some treats.

Plunket's Law

I figured out how to tell when the market is about to turn.

By Robert Plunket

I have seen the bottom of the market! Of course, it exists only in Cape Coral and the news is not good, but it’s there. Finally. When will it get here?

I have the answer.

First, a little about Cape Coral, which you might not know much about. It is about 70 miles to the south, on the northern side of the Caloosahatchee River from Ft Myers. It is part of the Ft. Myers metropolitan area – in fact, the larger part. In terms of area it is the third-largest city in the state, and with a population of 170,000, it is the largest city population-wise, in Southwest Florida.

In reality, it is mile after mile of new and almost new tract houses, arranged on a grid. Slightly outnumbering the houses are vacant lots. It looks like this:

There are no subdivisions with cute names. Just house after house. In its favor is an extensive network of canals, some of which lead to the Gulf, some to man-made lakes and ponds. For kids it would be great, providing they know how to swim and can identify snakes.

Here is the typical Cape Coral house.

It is 1,800 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. The floor plan is excellent, and there are luxury home touches: a fancy, double-sink master bath, a separate dining room and a den. Although it seems well built, there are economy measures in the trim, such as Formica counter tops that look like granite, and vinyl flooring in the kitchen and baths. But all in all, it’s a very nice house.

This house is brand-new and being sold by the developer, Adams Homes. The price? $127,000. A month ago it was $177,000. The $50,000 drop has made all the difference. People are snapping houses like this up. When I was there Sunday, the model was packed with sales people writing contracts. And all over town, similar reductions have pushed sales up 41 percent. A little boom is happening. Multiple offers, the whole bit. It’s driven by foreclosures and short sales, of course, of which there are hundreds. (The foreclosed version of this house can be had for $90,000.)

What does all this mean? Well, I have extrapolated all the data and come up with an economic theory, which I call Plunket’s Law:

When a real estate bubble bursts, prices will decline until they reach half of what they were at the height of the bubble. At that point, things will suddenly start to sell like crazy.

The good news is that the end is in sight. The bad news is the horrible loss of equity. I think that in Sarasota we won’t fall quite as far as Cape Coral, for the simple reason that we have infinitely more amenities: golf courses, beaches, retail, culture, visual style and sophistication. We might want to think about biting the bullet and just reducing everything to half of its 2005 value. It will be awful at first, but things will sell and prices will rise. I can guarantee it – it’s Plunket’s Law.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Liquid Art

Monday, July 07, 2008

Newcomers of Note

Friday, July 04, 2008

Summer Schedule

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Body of Work

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Design Gems

Monday, June 30, 2008

Jazz Party at the Colony Resort

Just for Kids

The Mystery of Irma Vep

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Attic Update

Summer Haven

Friday, June 27, 2008

A Moon for the Misbegotten

Thinking Outside the Botox

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Me & Mr. Ed

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Get It While You Can

Up in Michigan

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Breakdown

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Credit Crunch

Friday, June 20, 2008

Boxes in the Attic

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Puppy Love

Plunket's Law

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