Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ringling Festival News
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Artful Living on Siesta Key
Today’s homes show us why Siesta Key has appealed so strongly to artists over the years. One is artistic in spirit; the other speaks directly to the key’s heritage as an artist’s colony and nest of creativity.

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The living room.
It’s a big house—over 2,500 square feet, with five bedrooms and three baths. High ceilings and clerestory windows are in all the rooms, and I particularly like the horizontally paneled glass doors and windows. The pool area—yes, it’s heated—is exactly what you want in a Siesta Key house but so often don’t find: perfectly accessible from the living areas and surround by tropical palms and rare bamboo.
It’s priced at $725,000, a substantial reduction and a good example of the bargains to be found these days on the key. Call Felix Power at (941) 349-4411.

8338 Midnight Pass Road
Our second house is several miles south, on Heron Lagoon. It belongs to a prominent local family who have owned it for generations, and back in the ’50s and ’60s it was a regular stop on the partygoing circuit of such Sarasota icons as painter Syd Solomon and writer John D. MacDonald.

The bedroom.
It was built in 1957 as a three-bedroom but now it has but one, as it is a mere 780 square feet. It has dramatic skylights and an Asian look, with a green ceramic tile roof. It’s known as the Moonhouse; the shell landscaping and the white marble floors cause the property to glow in the moonlight. And if you’re wondering about the numerous pine trees on the property, they are leftover Christmas trees. The family would plant them each January rather than toss them out. And here they are, decades later, still going strong.
Old Christmas trees.
There’s a melancholy note to this sale. The house is set on a wonderful piece of land; it fronts the lagoon and is nearly two-thirds of an acre. Whoever buys it will probably tear it down and build two new houses, as allowed by zoning. I hope not, but what can you do? In the meantime let’s run extra pictures of this piece of Siesta Key history. For more information call Tak Konstantinou at (941) 374-1606.


Underwear, Actors and Auctions
With an underwear fashion show, gala dinners and a book signing, it's a typical week in Sarasota.
If there was ever a social event that needed pictures rather than words, it was the underwear fashion show put on by Sea Cup and Up and Coffrin Jewelers to benefit the Women’s Resource Center. There were eight models who donated their “time and bodies” to prove that “a good-fitting bra does wonders for a woman’s self-esteem.” Not to mention a good-fitting thong.
Let’s cut right to the chase. Here’s Suzette Jones and Anne Chauvet in a sample of Sea Cup’s wares.
The producers of the event were wise to include Kenny Middleton, who looks just as good in underwear as the girls. To paraphrase a line from All About Eve, Kenny is a graduate of the Chippendales’ School of Dramatic Art. When he bent over to pick up an artfully dropped beach ball, well, it was a master class in bending over. Congratulations to all involved. I’m hoping it becomes an annual event. Or maybe even a bi-annual event. Or maybe even a bi-weekly event . . .
His name is Granville Van Dusen, and his face is instantly recognizable even if his name isn’t. He’s one of those classic character actors who have been in everything. In his case, over 300 TV shows, things like The West Wing. He usually plays a slick villain, and like so many film villains turns out to be the most charming guy in the world. I had dinner with him the other night at David Hagelstein’s house, part of the Asolo Rep’s Starry Nights dinner series.

Actor Sonny Van Dusen, me and director Mark Rucker. Photo by Gary Sweetman
What a career. Making movies all over the world. Italy. Mexico. Listening to him was a peek into that rarified world of successful actors and their bonds and friendships. (I wish I could say feuds too, but Granville—or Sonny, as his friends call him—was actually rather discreet, no matter how much I prodded him. Oh, well, maybe next time.)
Renee Hamad had a book signing party for Leslie on Sunday. Renee has a gorgeous house down near Coral Cove, and with the French doors open to the water and the warm (finally!) sun streaming in, it was a perfect afternoon. Lots of champagne and tiny quiches and crab cakes, and some fudge Leslie made herself. Her secret? Add some pitted cherries.
Author Leslie Glass signing away.
Leslie is a Sarah Lawrence girl who straddles both the social and intellectual sides of Sarasota. She writes frequently for Sarasota Magazine, and her piece on the Art Nadel scandal was our biggest “read” of anything we printed last year. Leslie also has a new Web site for those dealing with addiction issues. It’s called Ilovequitters.com. Check it out—you’ll also find info on how to order some of Leslie’s many books.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Asolo Rep's 2010-2011 Season
Gauging Nonprofit Success
As he laid out his compelling arguments about how and why that question undermines both nonprofits and donors, I witnessed a number of heads nodding in recognition.

Dan Pallotta, author of Uncharitable, says we need a better system for evaluating charities.
In Uncharitable, Pallotta has proposed a new list of questions to ask to measure how effectively a nonprofit is being managed and how much good is being accomplished with donors’ dollars. Despite his heresy, Pallotta was persuasive, and Circle Books sold out its 100 copies of his book that day.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice CEO Teri Hansen with Pallott.a Photos by Barbara Banks Photography
Monday, March 08, 2010
Catching My Breath
I enjoy occasional downtime amid mad parties.
By Hannah Wallace
In slower times, I’m a little more unsure about what to do with my free time. I don’t know how to gauge if I need relaxation or excitement, nostalgia or adventure. So now that my social life has gone from seated and semi-reclined to full-on, quad-burning sprint, well, at least I know to use those free moments to catch my breath.
One of these days I’m going to learn to use a pocket calendar of some sort, too, I swear to god. Trying to remember my plans (if I have any) for any given evening is like trying to tap into some nascent psychic ability. “I’m seeing…blue…and the letter ‘M’…and new beginnings.” I spent three days last week insisting to CCB that we already had plans for March 27, though I had no idea what those plans were—or if they involved a fancy dinner party or camping trip or sporting event or what. (Psst, it’s Chillounge.)
If I had a calendar, the next few weeks would be scribbled appointments every which way—especially with the beginning of a new kickball season and the advent of a Wednesday-night women’s hockey clinic. Then you add in, well, things like Chillounge, our March issue “Bachelor” party on Wednesday, CCB’s parents coming down for a visit, a weekend hockey tournament in Brandon and a gazillion other things I can’t think of right now. I’m seeing…March 26, too…and something next weekend…I have no idea.
Anyway, I’m thinking about all of this because, thanks to our crazy Saturday night this past weekend, I had no qualms about a chilling out for the rest of the weekend, including Friday night dinner (at Winghouse) and a movie (at home), as well as a mid-Sunday movie and a nap. Because Saturday night we actually had to pack for our evening out. Our Saturday night required luggage. First was Club Forty—though noticeably scaled back from last year, still a good time. (And can I just say, something about leaving a hangar and walking to the restroom trailer on the tarmac is pretty freaking cool. Like, top five places to pee in Sarasota, seriously.) Also: cornhole tournament! Creative, active and “cornhole” is fun to say. Cornhole cornhole cornhole.
We only planned to spend an hour or so there, though, just because we had other places to be. But on our way out, CCB decided to drop $50 at the blackjack table, and I found myself trying to look like I knew what I’m doing (hint: I didn’t)—especially hard when you’re struggling to do math in your head. But in the race to be our vacation destination, Las Vegas has started a late charge from the back.
From there we went to Little J’s house in Sarasota to change: Rock Stars Kim and Kreg have been planning their 90s party since 2002, so this was not one to be missed. And I like the way they throw parties: Whereas CCB and I just hope a bunch of people show up and mingle and maybe create some random craziness, Rock Star Kim’s parties build a whole theme around costumes, refreshments, décor and activities. And the 90s party was no disappointment: An incredible turnout, with costumes ranging from approximations of 90s style to awesome recreations of pop culture characters and headline-makers. Kreg had collected six hours' worth of 90s hits that were pumped through a house-wide sound system (and outdoors, too). The activities? Open mic (a la Central Perk) and a Real World-style video “confessional” (can’t wait to see how that footage turns out). Check out the pics; I’d call that a success.
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CCB and Little J as Jay and Silent Bob. (Little J got his gorgeous locks courtesy of a princess wig. I love costume parties.)
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90s decor.
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Wayne entertains.
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The backyard fire pit scene.
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Scully and Mulder.
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Included in this shot: Monica Lewinsky, the Soup Nazi, Marsha Clark and
Judge Lance Ito, Garth and the bad guy from Scream.
Firefighter Thank-you Cookies
A happy ending for burnt toast, with a yummy recipe for chocolate cookies.
By Lael Hazan

No Michela, its not time to lick the bowl

Just out of the oven


Firefighter Allen Simonovic and the girls at Bee Ridge firehouse.
Quite a Catch
Happy days are here again at Owen's Fish Camp.
By Judi Gallagher
I travel up to Star fisheries in Cortez when I need a hit of laid-back, fishing village, hot-off-the-boat grouper sandwiches. For years I have seen other local chefs and restaurant owners wait at Star for an hour in line for a great piece of simple fish kinda place. Owen’s is that and so much more.
Belly up to the bar at Owen's for some socializing and a cold beer.
Now that's what I call good dinner company: Paul Caragiulo and Matt Orr.
Now Matt, ever so predictable by ordering the same thing—if it ain’t broke don’t fix it theory—shared (well, let’s just say I assumed he would share so dug my fork right into) his fried catfish with spicy collard greens, the best I have ever tasted in these here parts. In return, I shared, somewhat reluctantly, my fried soft shell crab BLT sandwich with basil mayo. I could not get enough of this succulent, sweet fried crab, very so slightly dripping down my arm as I jumped in with a huge bite, and I felt the need to cry out to all those within earshot “Get the soft shell crab, even if you already ate.” And believe me, folks like Michael and Terri Klauber did just that and couldn’t agree more.
Fish tacos are good, but it's the side of red potato salad that seals the deal.
Desserts are fun, but I wish they would call the apple pie an apple tart—keeping more to its style. The root beer floats are going to save us all in the heat of the coming summer.
"Catfish dancing on the end of this line," as the Springsteen song goes--with grits and unbelievable collard greens.
Next visit I am planning the oyster po’ boy, and on our wonderful server’s suggestion, soft shell crab sautéed instead of fried…but trust me, that sandwich is going to be hard to beat.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Machinal
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Great Sarasota Home Tours

4451 Charles Lane


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Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Classic Sicilian at Ortygia
By Judi Gallagher
Fennel roasted in a chardonnay cream graced with black olives and pancetta transcends Italian island cooking. Fresh fennel, when cooked properly, is an incomparable flavor. No one does fennel better than the Italians and the French. Perhaps that is why most American chefs choose to use fennel uncooked in salads, in salads with oranges and goat cheese—a smart move.
The rustic savory tart os to die for, and the stuffed tomato with currants and pine nuts is a flavorful appetizer.
Ortygia is a destination for authentic savory tortes. Torto di Carciofi, another rustic classic from its homeland, is artisan crafted with a freshly made tart filled with artichoke and caramelized onions baked in a hand-rolled crust with a slight sweetness. Pre-order a full torte to bring home; you will need something to hold on to after experiencing something so exquisite in its comfort.
The rustic chicken breast is a classic Sicilian dish.
The entrée sides offer several comfort chicken dishes, but the nightly special of fresh tilapia, capers, olives, extra virgin olive oil and a reduced fresh tomato sauté was nearly sinful. Farsumagru—a freshly ground sirloin steak stuffed with provolone, prosciutto, sweet Italian sausage, hard-cooked eggs, asparagus and pancetta that is slowly braised in red wine and tomato reduction—is not your mama’s meatloaf. It’s large enough to share if you have overindulged in torte.
Dear friend Bob Siccone fits right in with the Ortygia family.
Sure, these food descriptions might send a message of delicisio! It is the feeling of family, from the greeting at the kitchen door to the offering of several different samples of wine to the icing on the cake—a table visit from Dorothy, proud mother of chef/owner Gaetano Cannata. As we lingered over espresso and limoncello, we tried to convince Dorothy, a native of New Jersey, to stay another month. Her sweetness and stories made an already wonderful meal a meaningful gathering of newly found friends.
Monday, March 01, 2010
This and That
By Hannah Wallace
--Well, that happened.
--Our Ms Conduct travel season ended on a high note last weekend with a second-place finish in the state tournament. Given our history, you might liken that to the Bucs winning the conference championship. Or, perhaps, to the upstart American men’s hockey team winning silver.
--But we keep skating along: In an attempt to take advantage of all the Olympic hullabaloo—in which Ellenton itself played a supporting role—we’ve partnered with the rink to offer women’s ice hockey clinics Wednesday nights, 8 to 9:30 p.m. No experience necessary. C’mon, $20 gets you the Winter Olympics silver medal experience!
--Even as the travel season ends, CCB and I find ourselves all sported out for the weeks ahead: Sunday hockey, Monday boxing, Tuesday roller hockey at Bradenton’s Police Athletic League, Wednesday women’s ice clinic, Thursday or Friday kickball. I wonder if there’s a Saturday steer-wrestling or something I could get involved in…
--Perhaps we can find a new activity through the silent auction at this Saturday's Club Forty night-club-in-an-airplane-hangar party. Last year’s Club Forty silent auction introduced us to Uppercut Boxing. What new and interesting activities might we embark upon this year?
--Party-going jet-setters that we are, we won’t be able to linger at Club Forty: Rock Star Kim is hosting a 90s party Saturday night, too, and Rock Star Kim’s once-a-decade parties are not to be missed. I’ve been frequenting Goodwill to assemble a My So-Called Life-inspired outfit, but I’m really really tempted to just snag a Scream stalker mask and take the easy-but-iconic route. CCB’s hoping to pair up with Little J to be Jay and Silent Bob, which: brilliant.
--Perhaps because of this busy springtime party schedule, CCB and I don’t have any regularly scheduled annual bashes to worry about hosting this time of year. Still, a Canadian snowbird teammate has requested that we host something in the springtime so she can attend, and we’ve found our muse: Due to an unfortunate and rage-inspiring set of circumstances affecting another Canadian teammate, Lefty, we’re now in the planning stages of the first-annual “Eff That Guy” party. Because “anger” was a theme missing from our party repertoire. And, y’know, great excuse to go nutso on a piñata. We’ve never been host to any serious injuries, so, well, fingers crossed.
--And in the midst of all this madness, we’ve got to find time to see all the Asolo Rep shows—especially the ones staged managed by my mother. Ma’s retiring at the end of this season—did you know that? Forty-one years as Asolo production stage manager. Dad’s already settled into his retirement, so this is pretty heartbreaking for a stage brat hanger-on like myself. But in anticipation of freedom, Ma’s been counting her frequent-flyer miles with a wicked grin on her face, so it’s hard to get too down about it.
Li'l Abner
Of course since Li’l Abner is derived from a comic strip, it’s only fitting that the costumes (by Dee Richards), the set (by Michael Newton-Brown) and the performances (by a larger than usual Golden Apple cast) feel cartoonish in coloring and tone. From the minute Abner (Matthew C. Scott), Daisy Mae (Heather Kopp) and Mammy and Pappy Yokum (Ellie Pattison and Bob Trisolini) step onstage, they immediately bring to mind the characters as drawn by Capp (at least for audience members of a certain age, since the strip ended in 1977).

Michael Bajjaly and cast of the Golden Apple's Li'l Abner.
The plot here involves Daisy Mae’s eternal attempts to land Abner as a husband in the traditional yearly Sadie Hawkins Day race. Complicating matters this year, however, is a government plan to move all the Dogpatch citizens away from their benighted hometown in order to test a bomb on the site. Seems there is nothing “necessary” enough in Dogpatch to preserve. Before long we’re meeting scientists and politicians (including Robert Turoff as the avaricious General Bullmoose) who may change forever the way Dogpatch sees itself. Will the town survive? And will Abner and Daisy Mae finally get hitched?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Five Years!
Happy anniversary to me.
By Hannah Wallace
Just a quick note to point out that today is my five-year anniversary with the mag. Who would’ve thunk it? I’ve been here longer than I was in college—or any other school for that matter. And I can certainly say that this has been very educational.
I just updated my Facebook status: “Hannah Wallace celebrates five years with the mag today. How should I mark the occasion?” First three responses, received within five minutes of posting, were:
“Beer, of course!”
“Blog it.”
And “Celebrate like the Canadian women. :)” –yeah, thanks for that last idea, Lefty. (In case you hadn’t heard, after winning the gold medal in women’s hockey, the Canadian team came back on the ice to celebrate with stogies and champagne.)
So I figured, what the heck, I’ll do all three. Although I’ve got my usual post-hockey-tournament cold, so the cigars are probably out. But anniversary or no, CCB and I had already planned a dream evening at home tonight, starting off with the donning of pajamas the second I walk through the door.
I’m curious, though: How long do people stay at their jobs these days? I overheard someone the other day mention that, a generation ago, people worked one job nearly their entire lives. But now? I’m ecstatic for the stability, so I guess I’ve forgotten that some people, for all manner of reasons, change jobs more frequently. Heck, in some cases it’s almost a requisite of a career to have experienced at least several different companies. Does that mean they actively look to change, or do these things just happen?
Anyway, five years feels like a heck of an accomplishment for fickle ol’ me—plus it ignites that competitive spark, all, “Let’s see how long we can keep this going!”
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Test of Time



A monthly fee is also charged, ranging from around $1,500 up to over $5,000. Just about everything is included: utilities, activities, weekly housekeeping, local phone, transportation, and 15 dinners per month.
I know many people who live in Plymouth Harbor and they all love it. I like the feeling of camaraderie when I vist--everyone is super-friendly and they're pursuing their hobbies and activities like mad. This week they're performing an original play they wrote themselves about a dog who may or may not be living on the 17th floor. Yes, they sadly do not allow pets. This is the one drawback. Change that rule, and Plymouth Harbor will move from an A rating to an A-plus.
For more information call Gordon Okawa, (941) 361-7514 or go to plymouthharbor.org.
High-Low Dressing Hits Home
“The bathroom was dark and dreary, very brown—so we used reflective surfaces to brighten it up,” said Gardner, pointing to a pair of floor candlesticks and an old metal luggage rack discovered at Sarasota Architectural Salvage. The vintage budget pieces were silver-leafed to complement faux finishing on the walls, and hold their own against Barbara Barry’s new crystal decanter and wine glass and couture fabrics (including new linen by Barclay Butera for Kravet, and silk from Lee Jofa). A showhouse visitor scooped up a pair of antique chandeliers Gardner found at Treasures on Fruitville, and the silver tray (sans luggage rack).

Barbara Vanderkolk Gardner and associate Gail Forest of Collins Interiors.
Terrance Leaser of Terrance Leaser Décor did a small but luxurious bedroom in black and neutral tones, the dark wenge bed from Copenhagen Imports, a surprise source to me because I thought of them as Scandinavian leather chairs. “We sold almost everything in the room,” Leaser said, “the bed, the armoire, Mongolian lamb pillows, even the wool pillows on the bed.” A great-looking C-shaped lamp (he said most designers wouldn’t admit it had come from an inexpensive source, American Signature on University Parkway) was stunning against high-end sheer curtains with burn-out black velvet leaves and the exquisite faux finishing by artist Laura Lazenby.

William Tidmore and Robert Henry of Tidmore-Henry & Associates are members of the board of directors of the Miromar Design Center in Estero (which loaned furniture and accessories from several of its 45 showrooms to designers for this year's project). Naturally, the designers took advantage of Miromar tenant Roche-Bobois’s offer, borrowing dramatic contemporary sofas (upwards of $11,000), funky wood side chairs and silk Italian floor lamps for their room. They contrast the couture with a hand-tufted Thai rug from a line Tidmore-Henry inventories (especially gorgeous at $590), and floating black shelves from Lowe’s (around $400).

Bob Henry of Tidmore-Henry.
Bob Henry’s signature at every showhouse —drop-dead draperies—did not disappoint, the green and white panels seamed together with a distinctive French hem overlap. But one signature I didn’t recognize was “Capps,” which happens to be Tidmore’s middle name (also his mom’s maiden name). It seems Capps has hidden talents: He did the two acrylic paintings on fabric over the demilune tables, and created with Henry and the Tidmore-Henry team the striking mobile ($650) that grabs your attention as soon as you walk in the room.

The Tidmore-Henry living room.
Designer Cheri Pachter-Neary, the showhouse captain for the Longboat Club Road house, also mixed high-end furniture from Roche-Bobois and Baker in the Estero design center with products available at retail. Her floating shelves were from Pottery Barn, the plants and trees from Lux Art Silks and TV from Advanced Audio—all local stores.

Cheri Pachter-Neary and her handiwork.
Also available locally are the Vanguard upholstered headboard and affordable Robb & Stucky brand furnishings in the master bedroom created by Joyce Miller Hart, one of the store’s top designers. Everything adorning designer Sally Trout’s cream and white library is available at Current, the store adjacent to her studio just brimming with treasures.

Robb & Stucky master bedroom.

Sally Trout's cream and white library.
But perhaps the most memorable piece of furniture on display was at the second showcase home (which was designed by architect Tim Seibert in 1960). It was Rod Arad’s Voido indoor-outdoor rocker ($1,250). As designer Alison Bishop of Living Walls says, “It’s a perfect complement to the home’s mid-century Sarasota school of architecture style.”

Monday, February 22, 2010
Shear Madness
Comedy cuts with Florida Studio Theatre's Shear Madness.
By Kay Kipling
That format is simple but allows for lots of variation. The show is set in a hair salon (hence the name), where several richly comic stereotypes are gathered: the light-in-his- loafers hairdresser, Tony (Michael Kevin Baldwin); the gum-chewing manicurist in leopard-skin pants (Juliana Black); the middle-aged matron customer (Barbara Bradshaw); and an on-the-make “used antiques” dealer (Joseph Ditmyer). They’re the perfect bunch of suspects when the salon’s upstairs landlady is murdered, and the two cops on the case (the not-so-bright Mikey (Nick Caruso) and the take-charge Nick (Timothy Goodwin) have to solve the mystery—with the help of audience members, who must pay close attention so they don’t miss the clues.

Juliana Black and Barbara Bradshaw in Shear Madness (reading Sarasota Magazine, of course).
I don’t want to give any more away about the show’s plot twists. But the production moves along swiftly and surely (a comic pantomime prologue, set to carefully chosen rock music, engages us even before the official show starts, with pseudo customer Mikey getting a shampoo that almost kills him from a scatterbrained Tony). Each of the cast members is well suited to his or her role, although it’s hard not to single out Baldwin, a bundle of naughty-innocent energy clad in pink who occasionally manages to make his fellow cast members lose their composure.
A Suitable Salad
Ideally it should be something easy to make, easy to transport, and something that holds up well sitting on a counter. We were recently invited to Melanie and Stephen Russell’s beautiful home on Longboat Key and were asked to bring a side dish. Giuliano and I decided to make a barley and tomato salad. It’s easy to make and great at room temperature.
The ingredients for the barley and tomato salad are few, but the key is to get the freshest and tastiest tomatoes possible. We like to use Florida “ugly ripe” tomatoes. Although they live up to their name in appearance, they tend to have the most flavor of any tomato in the market. Cooking barley is just like rice, yet the grain has a nutty flavor that gives depth to the dish. Add the tomato, parsley and onion to the dish and you are set with an easily transportable dish that all will enjoy. Our host for the evening, Melanie, enjoyed the dish so much she saved some to have the next day for her lunch!

Cooking barley is just like cooking rice.

Chop, chop chop.

Mixing the salad.
Kindled
Read any good books lately?
By Hannah Wallace
I’m woefully under-read for an English major. And because I’m insecure about that, it’s nice that recently I’ve found the time (and the patience, and the attention span) to settle into some books and get through them in less than six months. And actually, y’know, enjoy the experience.
On top of that, CCB got me a Kindle for Christmas—very awesome. It takes a little getting used to, and there’s something to be said for the old-fashioned, tangible experience of flipping pages (please god, for my career industry, tell me there’s something to be said for that). But wow, I never predicted how convenient it would be to have your reading material stay flat and open on the table while you dig into your gyro with two hands. (And then you can flip the page with one tzatziki-soaked finger, too.) Plus, how great to have fluffy gym reading and sappy lunchtime reading and hardcore weekend reading all together wherever I go?

The problem? Finding all that material.
CCB done good for the prep work. He checked with the fam for some recommendations and pre-loaded the Kindle with some favorites—The Shipping News and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, etc. Plus, I’d been mid-Duma Key when I got it, so I had that to occupy my initial Kindle time.

Not to get too far off topic, but what did you all think of Duma Key? I spent the first hundred pages or so engrossed in the Sarasota setting, so the first freaky-ass Stephen King scenes got me but good. And I enjoyed it, too. But…did anyone else find it a little reminiscent of trying to keep up with Lost? Like, I had been trying to piece together each little creepy occurrence in the beginning, but it turned out it was all just a gobbeldygook of random supernatural…stuff? So I’m trying to figure out what the missing arm and the scary paintings and the old lady and
RED
have to do with each other, then the characters are all of a sudden like, “Well of course it’s a thousand-year-old monsterlady on a boat in a China doll with the candlestick in the study.” Could be par for the course with King (haven’t read much of his stuff), but yeah: freaky as hell, fun Sarasota references throughout, but points off for plot assemblage.
So anyway, I’m done with that now, and as usual, I can’t remember any of the 30-odd books I had on my “read this next” list. And until I pick something else out, I default to reading The Shipping News for the 10th time—not exactly a bad thing, but rereading the same books doesn’t make me feel any more well read.
Suggestions? Books to avoid? I’m open to nonfiction, too, or whatever. Today feels like an incredible spring day, and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy reading my Rolling Stone over lunch at Citrus Café, but what’ll I read tomorrow?

















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