Sarasota Magazine

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Asolo Rep's 2010-2011 Season

A Broadway-bound show opens the Asolo Rep’s 2010-2011 season.

By Kay Kipling

As we can see the end of the 2009-10 arts season approaching, theaters are, naturally, turning their eyes to next season. That includes the Asolo Repertory Theatre, which on Monday announced to the press and public most of its 2010-2011 season.

The theme for the upcoming year might seem to be “Broadway Bound,” especially in the case of the season opener, a musical production of Bonnie and Clyde written by Frank Wildhorn (whose Svengali played at the Asolo Rep a number of years ago), Don Black and Ivan Menchell that tells the story of that Depression-era criminal couple. The piece premiered in La Jolla, Calif., last year, where Asolo Rep artistic director Michael Donald Edwards saw it. It’s being reworked for the Asolo Rep staging, with at least two new songs added, and there will be a national search for the actor to play Clyde Barrow. It opens here Nov. 14, with a Broadway run set to follow in early 2011.

Bonnie and Clyde is followed by a comedy from writer David Hirson, La Bete, that follows a 17^th-century acting troupe forced to add a popular street performer to the company against the troupe leader’s will. Edwards will direct the show, which, as it happens, will receive a new production on Broadway (not the Asolo Rep production) soon also. That play opens the winter rotating rep season, Jan. 7 through Feb. 24.

Next up is the classic courtroom drama by Reginald Rose, Twelve Angry Men, running Jan.14 through March 31. A co-production with a Jupiter, Fla., theater, this Drama Desk Award-winning piece will be directed by Frank Galati, who helmed Broadway productions of The Grapes of Wrath and Ragtime.

A recent smash on both London and New York stages, the farce Boeing, Boeing will play Jan. 21 through April 23 and will be directed by FSU/Asolo Conservatory head Greg Leaming. Edwards calls this one “a laugh riot”; rights to it were confirmed just a couple of hours before the Monday announcement.

The Asolo Rep then switches gears to do a mystery-thriller (something Edwards has not yet presented here), Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, about a once celebrated playwright who enlists a younger writer to help him on his latest piece. A highly successful and popular “whodunit” when it first bowed, this show plays March 11 through May 14.

A play receiving only its second production anywhere runs March 18 through May 15; that’s Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s Las Meninas (The Waiting Women), based on a piece of history from the court of King Louis XIV. “It’s a fascinating untold story,” according to Edwards, centered on the relationship between Louis’ unhappy queen and an African pygmy. Now that sounds unusual.

The second Asolo Rep Unplugged new play festival will takes place in April, followed by the world premiere of a new play that may or may not come out of this year’s first Unplugged, to run April 15 through May 14. And last but not least, Hershey Felder presents his one-man show George Gershwin Alone May 19 through June 5, followed by a short run of his new piece Beethoven As I Knew Him, June 8-12.

The Conservatory season was also announced, and it includes Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona (Oct. 26 through Nov. 14), Neil LaBute’s Reasons to be Pretty (Jan. 4-13), Henrik Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea (Feb. 22 through March 13), and Moliere’s classic satire Tartuffe (April 12 through May 1), which may serve as sort of a companion piece to both Las Meninas and La Bete in its period and French setting.

For more news about the Asolo Rep’s 2010-2011 season, call 351-9010 or go to asolo.org.

Gauging Nonprofit Success

By Kim Cartlidge

Philanthropy meets heresy at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

What’s the most sinister question a donor can ask a nonprofit? Speaker and author Dan Pallotta addressed the query to a well-heeled, sold-out crowd at the Ritz-Carlton recently.

It’s “What percent of my donation goes to the cause vs. overhead?”

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.

Pallotta founded Pallotta TeamWorks, which created the multi-day, four-figure pledge minimum fund raisers, including the original breast cancer three-day walks and original Out of Darkness overnight event, as well as AIDSRides and AIDS Vaccine Rides. His company’s events grossed $556 million in contributions and netted $305 million for charity over nine years. He also took a healthy salary, and was criticized for it, despite the results he produced.

Now he has written Uncharitable, a deconstruction of our implied expectations about nonprofit management and fund-raising. According to Pallotta, we have two rule books—one for charities and the other for the rest of the economic world—and this creates an “economic apartheid” and sabotages the problem-solving and effectiveness of nonprofits.

Boards and donors are averse to financial risk-taking and investing in marketing, development and staff training. We all expect to see lower-end salaries, even for executives, which creates a disincentive for the most talented and visionary people to work in the nonprofit sector.

“We force nonprofits to obsess over keeping short-term overhead low. Solving the problem becomes an entirely secondary matter,” Pallotta said.

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

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice brought Pallotta to town and plans to keep the conversation going locally, according to marketing and communications director Greg Luberecki. Mark Pritchett, vice president of community investment for the foundation, will be inviting the nonprofit leaders who were in attendance to devise a new, common set of measures and indicators for local organizations. The foundation will also make Pallotta’s talk available on DVD to donors and nonprofits.

After spending less than an hour listening to Pallotta, I can say he convinced me that the overhead/cause ratio should not be the sole or the most important assessment of a charity. But right now, it’s the only uniform measure we have. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation process is on the mark and right for the times. We need a new system that makes it easy for all levels of donors to size up a charity before they give.

Circle Books on John Ringling Boulevard has ordered more copies of Uncharitable (941-388-2850), and there’s more information about Dan Pallotta at www.danpallotta.com.

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.

CCB and Little J as Jay and Silent Bob. (Little J got his gorgeous locks courtesy of a princess wig. I love costume parties.)

90s decor.

Wayne entertains.

The backyard fire pit scene.

Scully and Mulder.

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

The blaring in our ears awakened the entire family. At first I thought it was the morning clock going off; it took a few seconds to register that it really was the fire alarm. We quickly got up and looked to see what the problem was, the children running into our room frightened. It was four in the morning and very dark. Nothing in the kitchen seemed to be amiss, but there was a smell of burnt toast. Ironically, our dog, a usually exuberant toy poodle, continued to sleep soundly.

The phone rang. It was ADT on the line, asking if we were all right. When I told the lady that we hadn’t been able to find the source of the fire, she said she was notifying emergency services and that we should leave the house. Feeling like one of those people in a State Farm commercial, we bundled the girls up and got ready to leave.

All of this probably took place in less than five minutes; however, it felt like hours. On the advice of the lady on the other end of the phone, we turned off the circuit breaker and were plunged into the unseasonably cold and dark Florida night. Immediately after the ADT lady hung up, I received a call from the fire department letting us know they were on their way. I was worried about our neighbors and asked if they could come without using sirens, but they said they had protocol to follow.

Soon firefighters in huge yellow suits were walking down the driveway. Our drive is so narrow that the truck didn’t fit; however, firefighter/paramedic Deborah Schuster said that if she had seen flames, the truck would have come, probably taking some trees with it. The firefighters looked through our home, and said that they, too, smelled “burnt toast.” But even with their thermal scanner they couldn’t find a heat source. Eventually they did find burnt toast in the toaster, although the toaster was cold. They told us to make sure the alarm was reset and that we should probably throw out the toaster.

My husband, being male, wasn’t ready to throw out the toaster. The very next day someone again tried to make toast, and yes, the fire alarm went off. This time the department didn’t need to come. Right now the toaster is sitting on our lanai. Has it become an art piece to be donated to the next bayfront Season of Sculpture, or are we just too lazy to throw it out?

We are very appreciative of the Bee Ridge Fire Station. http://www.scgov.net/EmergencyServices/FireDepartment/fireoperations.asp Yes, it was their job, but they were efficient and kind. The girls were so impressed with the firefighters that they wanted to thank them. In our house, making cards isn’t enough. We need to make food, too. I’m of the belief that when kids want to do something for others, one does it as soon as possible. Therefore, we raided the pantry to find items to make cookies. Who knew we could be out of chocolate chips? Here is our recipe for chocolate cookies made with cocoa. The firefighters were pleased with their gift, and we feel very fortunate that they came to our rescue.

No Michela, its not time to lick the bowl.

Firefighter thank-you chocolate cookies

Adapted from the Droste Cocoa box

Just out of the oven.

These are fun and easy cookies to make. Even the smallest child can assist. The greatest challenge is to get them to actually make the cookies rather than just eating the yummy dough. It is important to chill the dough before shaping the cookies, as it gets too soft. We also found that the larger cookies melted together, so keep them small and far apart.

Good quality vanilla extract and cocoa powder are a must, as they improve the flavor dramatically.

Makes 4 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2/3 cup butter

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

Let eggs and butter come to room temperature. Whip brown sugar, butter, water and vanilla in an electric mixer. Beat in eggs.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in another bowl. Slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Mix until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Shape the chilled dough into 1-inch balls, roll them in confectioner’s sugar, and place on cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake 7-9 minutes.

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 could give you a little history of Owen—that is, Sarasotan Owen Burns, who loved to fish and work with money—but fellow writers will go into more detail on the cottage and Owen. I need to focus here on the food. Can I just say I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Always sure to be a good night when dining out with buddy Matt Orr (aka unofficial mayor of Sarasota). Dining, or shall I confess to “pigging out,” at Owens’s was a culinary rodeo of creative, impeccably prepared dishes, great service and an atmosphere that says “Where have you been all these years?”

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.

Paul Caragiulo is having a ball with this newest restaurant venture and it shows. Worn baseball cap attire and a whole lotta hospitality—Owen’s Fish Camp just makes you feel good, and the food—well, let’s just say my soul is full and happy.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Machinal

Enter a world of anomie with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory's Machinal.

By Kay Kipling

You don’t know what to expect before seeing a production of a 1928 play that’s seldom seen and barely even known by those outside the theater world. After all, there’s usually a reason why a piece is not often revived; buried treasures are not lying around everywhere just for the taking.

With Machinal, Sophie Treadwell’s stage work loosely based on the true-life case of 1920s murderess Ruth Snyder, I can’t say that I exulted over seeing this piece at last. But in the FSU/Asolo Conservatory’s production (now at the Cook Theatre), there were certainly some intriguing aspects.

The piece, now set in contemporary times, begins with the entire cast walking (almost sleepwalking) to chairs placed before a large screen (both video and audio design are important parts of the production). One young woman (Kim Hausler) has to leave the simulated subway; she can’t take the press of the crowd around her anymore, the noise, the rush. But she’s no better off when she arrives at her workplace, to the derision of her co-workers and the unwelcome advances of her boss (Danny Jones). He’s attracted to her because of her hands initially—ironic since she can’t stand the touch of his—and wants to marry her.

The woman, whom we soon come to know as Helen, rebels against the idea of marrying without love. But her mother (Lindsay Bytof), whom she supports financially without getting much support in return, can’t see anything wrong with that. Her bleak view of life (you get up in the morning, put your clothes on, eat, work, come home and wait to die) is only enforced by what Helen finds all around her. When she does marry and has a child, she again is assaulted by the institutions around her, which do nothing to cure her depression. She, along with others seeking some sort of pleasure in their trapped lives, ends up at a bar where she meets a man (Dane Clark) who offers her at least a glimpse of love. But will that be enough to sustain her?

The plot is probably familiar enough; it’s what Treadwell and director Dmitry Troyanovsky (who scored with a Conservatory production of The Bacchae a while back) do with it that’s more unusual. Helen’s interior monologues are projected close up on the screen (a device that can prove annoying at times); while visual stimulation is otherwise limited, we are bombarded by sound, from phones ringing to computer keyboards clicking to a mix of music from classical to rock. Characters for the most part interact with each other only from a distance; physical contact is rare and brief. And the dialogue is deliberately written and spoken to explore the playwright’s intentions, more than to sound like real-life conversation.

So, sometimes audience members may find themselves almost as frustrated as the characters in the play. That may be intentional, but it does mean that Machinal won’t be for all tastes.

It is a learning experience for the Conservatory cast, though. Jones and Hausler, in particular, succeed in making us feel for their situation, with Hausler especially compelling in her final scenes. For those who want something different in their theater going, Machinal does provide a change of pace. It continues through March 21; call 351-8000 or go to asolo.org.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Great Sarasota Home Tours

Your chance to peek into someone else’s wonderful house.

By Robert Plunket

Click here to see our Real Estate Junkie discuss these tours on ABC7.

This is the time of year when Sarasota goes all out with its various home tours. That means you – for a very nominal fee that goes to charity – can become what is known as a “lookie-loo” – snooping around somebody’s else house, or a glamorous decorator show house, just for the sheer pleasure of it, without having to pretend you’re going to buy something.

The one not to miss is the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation Home Tour, with five older homes in the Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores neighborhood open this Sunday, March 7, from 11 to 5. The cost is $20. This tour is an annual tradition among the town’s architecture and preservation crowd, and one of the things I like best is meeting them in full force.

Here’s a quick look at three of the homes on the tour.

4451 Charles Lane

This is one of the famous Sears Roebuck kit houses that were sold by the thousands during the early part of the 1900s.You sent Sears a couple of thousand dollars and you got back a house on a railroad car, which you then assembled from simplified blueprints. Over 70,000 were sold. This particular example is Dutch Colonial and is thought to date from 1909. It was built by an early winter resident from Connecticut and moved several blocks to its present location in 1995. Sears houses are an important part of Americana; don’t miss this opportunity to study a beautifully renovated one in person.

5030 Bay Shore Road

One of the grand old homes of Sarasota, this Spanish house epitomizes the town in the 1920s during the land boom and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It’s big and grand and in excellent condition. It was a runner-up in SarasotaMagazine’s 10 Prettiest Homes competition. It’s also the only home on the tour that’s currently for sale.

567 45^th St.

Imagine how rustic Sarasota must have been back in 1924, when this semi-craftsman bungalow was built on a great big lot. This one is really a trip back in time. The previous owners kept chickens in the yard, and the current owners have recreated the kitchen in a rural farmhouse style from the 1930s. Check out the three fireplaces and the 100-year-old pecan floors.

You can join the tour at any of the participating houses, and they will have a trolley to take you around. Call 941-953-8727 for more info.

And the following Sunday, March 14, from 11to 4, we jump forward several decades for the Sarasota Modern Home Tour, with houses from the modern period, starting with the Sarasota School in the 1950s up til the present day. Tickets are only $5 and benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Here’s an example of what you’re going to see: the beautiful Rupp house, from 1960. (This one, plus several others on the tour, are currently for sale.) For more information call 941-724-1118 or martie@modernsarasota.com.

Finally, don’t forget the Sarasota Orchestra Designer Showcase at Legends Bay in El Conquistador, which end this Sunday, March 7. Golf champ Paula Creamer’s big new house, decorated with inspiration provided by tropical cocktails.

And the Parade of Homes ends the same day. Thirty builders models, mostly in Lakewood Ranch. Paradeofhomesinfo.com.

And keep March 27 and 28 open for ASID’s Designer Digs – decorators’ own homes. More on this later.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Classic Sicilian at Ortygia

Bradenton's Ortygia is a welcome taste of Sicily.

By Judi Gallagher

You have to love a restaurant that has the tag line, “The flavor of Sicily—The flavor of Civilization.” It’s a statement of what coming to the table is all about—being civilized.

Ortygia offers exactly what it promises, a place at their Sicilian table, or in this case a place at unique little eating bins in almost hideaway rooms and an outdoor space that welcomes the true essence of Italy—feasting in a joyous open atmosphere, where Chianti and the stars become one. Imagine all this in a not so desirable neighborhood on the fringe of Village of the Arts in Bradenton.

The cooking is classic Monzu style Sicilian. The French-trained Sicilian chef added such wonderful ingredients as consomme and foie gras. Even today the term Monzu refers to a great chef—fitting for this charming owner.

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.

Ortygia serves both lunch and dinner, and is closed on Mondays. (941) 741-8646

Monday, March 01, 2010

This and That

Tidbits from my life of late.

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

Step back in time with the Golden Apple's Li'l Abner.

By Kay Kipling

The first question you might ask yourself before seeing the current production of Li’l Abner at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre could very well be, “Does it feel dated?” The answer: yes and no.

What does sometimes feel dated in this 1956 musical, adapted from the long-running comic strip by Al Capp set in mythical Dogpatch, U.S.A., is the cornpone humor (although admittedly it’s appropriate for the characters as conceived) and the general ignorance of the Dogpatch citizens. It’s harder and harder to find isolated yokels such as these in the age of the Internet. What doesn’t seem dated—and probably never will—are the satirical jabs at the way the government in Washington works. Some things never change.

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?

Li’l Abner tends to work best on the big country-spirited production numbers, like Jubilation T. Cornpone, the lampooning The Country’s in the Very Best of Hands, and Rag Off’n the Bush, when Dewayne Barrett’s choreography has the cast stepping lively to these Gene DePaul-Johnny Mercer tunes. But there are also good moments courtesy of the ever-spunky Pattison as bossy Mammy, Trisolini as boot-kicking Pappy, and Michael Bajjaly as the enterprising Marryin’ Sam. Heather Kopp is appealing as the buxom Daisy Mae, and Sevasty Antoniades has the right bimbo moves as General Bullmoose’s “assistant,” Appassionata Von Climax. As the title character, Scott looks the part, but he could punch up Abner’s signature traits (like his fear of commitment but overall upright nature) more than he does to maximize the comic effect.

Li’l Abner may appeal more to generations that remember Al Capp’s heyday than to younger ones that don’t. But as a seldom-presented show, it’s worth taking a peek for musical theater lovers. The production continues through April 4; for tickets call 366-5454 or go to thegoldenapple.com.

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

Plymouth Harbor still stands tall among Sarasota retirement communities.

By Robert Plunket

Plymouth Harbor may the most recognizable building in Sarasota. At 25 stories, it certainly is the tallest. But it has also earned a place in the city’s history. It’s our most prestigious retirement residence, and always has been since it was built in 1966. Legends are attached to it – the crazy billionaire conservative ensconced in the penthouse, the glamorous Broadway star making secret visits to an old lover. There are newer places and some are more lavish. But Plymouth Harbor is the one with the mystique.

It’s also the one with the location. On the eastern edge of St Armand’s Key, five minutes from downtown, it’s pretty much right in the middle of all the most desirable parts of town. Its enormous tower shocked the town so much when it was built that the zoning laws were changed. Time – and all the new high-rises – have mellowed the controversy, and today the height of the building means it has the most spectacular views in Sarasota. Period.

The Plymouth Harbor campus is built in a grandiose version of 1960s minimalism – lots of long planes and empty space. There’s a sense of endless space and endless views. It’s elegant, but a spare and simple elegant, like the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York. Top decorator Anne Folsom Smith just redecorated most of the ground floor. (Her husband Frank Folsom Smith designed the building and has won many awards for it.)

Combined with several low-rise garden buildings, Plymouth Harbor has over 200 units, ranging from 580-square-foot studios to penthouses of over 2,000 square feet. The units are a little small by today’s luxury standards, but that’s sort of the point. You want things close at hand, and cozy becomes more important than spacious. Imagine the agony of being 85 and living in a McMansion and having to spend five minutes just walking from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Plymouth Harbor is the type of retirement community where you pay a “membership fee” rather than purchase a condo. The fee starts at around $130,000 for a studio and goes to over a million for the big penthouses. This means you and/or your heirs do not get the money back. What you get instead is the security of knowing that you have a place to live and will be taken care of for the rest of your life. Exactly how and under what circumstances depends on your long term insurance, but Plymouth Harbor goes out of its way to stress the “caring community” aspects of retirement living.

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

Boys & Girls Club showhouse integrates bargains with couture.

By Carol Tisch

Sarasota’s cleverest interior designers were mixing affordable pieces with trade showroom finds long before the phrase “high-low dressing” was coined to describe Michelle Obama’s politically correct mix and matching ($540 Lanvin sneakers; $48 J. Crew top). And at the 15th Annual Jewels on the Bay Showhouse 2010, benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, designers artfully incorporated high-low dressing into their idea-packed rooms.

The show closed Sunday, Feb. 21, but many of the designers continue to offer products shown in the two participating Longboat Key homes at their studios and stores—plus several let us in on secret sources, from Lowe’s to favorite resale shops. Barbara Vanderkolk Gardner of Collins Interior Design combined high-end couture fabrics with finds from Sarasota Architectural Salvage in the master bath of the $2.5 million, 5101-square-foot home at 991 Longboat Club Road, facing the Longboat Key Golf Club.

“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.

Terrance Leaser and his bedroom.

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.”

A Voido rocker.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Shear Madness

Comedy cuts with Florida Studio Theatre's Shear Madness.

By Kay Kipling

Interactive or improvisational comedy is never as easy as it looks, and it’s also risky when a show starts weaving lots of local references and jokes into its established storyline. All in all, Florida Studio Theatre’s current production of Shear Madness (at the Gompertz Theatre) pulls it off quite well.

Of course, the inventive minds behind Shear Madness have had plenty of time to work on getting things right; this long-running whodunit first bowed more than 30 years ago (making its off-Broadway debut in 1980), and its creators (Marilyn Abrams and Bruce Jordan, who’s billed as director here) have presented it in many cities since then, adapting many of its lines as the times and the venues have changed, while sticking to the original format.

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.

Most of the local or topical references work for laughs (Bradenton, Toyota and Sarah Palin all get their jabs), with an occasional groaner (that may or may not be intentional). At intermission, audience members get a chance to vent their suspicions or questions on a note-taking Nick in the lobby before heading back in for Act II, where everyone votes on the most likely killer (thus making each evening’s conclusion a different one).

It’s great fun, and it continues at least through March 13 (there’s always the possibility of an extension). For tickets call 366-9000 or go to floridastudiotheatre.org.

A Suitable Salad

A barley and tomato salad is the perfect potluck dish.

By Lael Hazan

It is the social season in Sarasota, a time for charity dinners, visitors, and dinner parties. Potluck dinner parties are very popular. Sometimes the parties have themes, such as “bring a dish that starts with the same letter of your last name” or maybe an Asian theme. However, sometimes they are just get-togethers for fun and relaxation, and one can bring anything one wishes. When that occurs, it’s always difficult to figure out what to make.

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.

Larry and Rachel Silverman and hostess Melanie Russell.

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.

(From How to Cook Italian by Giuliano Hazan)

Barley and Tomato Salad

A simple and nutritious salad that is perfect for a picnic or a buffet.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Total time from start to finish: 50 minutes

Serves 4 people as a single course meal or 6 people as part of a multi-course meal

salt

1 cup farro or barley

1/4 sweet yellow onion (1/3 cup sliced crosswise)

1 tablespoon flat leaf Italian parsley, finely chopped

1 pound fresh tomato

8-10 basil leaves

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Put about 2 quarts water in a pot and place over high heat. When the water comes to a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt and pour in the farro or barley. Lower the heat to medium, cover the pot, and cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain it and let it cool.

While the barley is cooling, thinly slice the sweet onion crosswise and soak the slices in cold water. Chop the parsley and cut the tomato into about ¾-inch chunks.

When the barley is cool or at least lukewarm, put it in a serving bowl with the tomatoes and parsley. Drain the sliced onion and add it to the bowl. Coarsely chop the basil leaves and add them to the salad. Season to taste with salt and the olive oil. Toss well and serve.

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?

In Search of New Delights

Two new spots with great tastes.

By Judi Gallagher

In my never-ending quest to discover what’s new, what’s tasty and what is a bit on the culinary edge, I have found flavorful components at several new locations.

First up: Urban Reef (formerly Esca). Since they won the best taste award at the Sarasota Food and Wine Festival for their tuna tower appetizer, I thought it fair to give them a good look, and it was a delicious experience indeed. On the chef’s suggestion, we tried the pan seared grouper with fresh sautéed spinach and lump crab stir fry with a beautifully executed beurre blanc, clearly their best dish and worth more visits.

Braised short ribs, pan seared grouper with lump crab, and coffee-rubbed pork tenderloin.

Now, believe it or not, although the other seafood selections looked beyond tempting, we ventured over to the slow braised short ribs and coffee rubbed pork tenderloin with goombay smash yucca sweet potatoes (not sure what goombay means but it sounds islandy and cool). The pork tenderloin was moist, somewhat subtle with its coffee overtone and incredibly moist—a comfort dish extreme in this unusual El Nino winter.

The space at Urban Reef is comfortable; love the open kitchen.

I love the open kitchen and chef Ash Tucker’s clean respect for ingredients. Do not even think about the calories when you dive into the Lobster Mac— creamiest and most lobster I have experienced in this town—just dive in and beg the scale for forgiveness the next day!

The ceviche was a little weak, the wine list very minimal; but the prices more than fair. The owners are young in the restaurant biz but can succeed if they keep on track with this fresh, clean urban feel.

Whitefish salad worthy of a New York deli.

Now over in Gulf Gate, you just have to check out Veg—a welcome addition to the area, taking over the former Déjà Vu space. We wandered in just looking for a take-out menu but found ourselves nibbling on white fish salad worthy of a Zabar’s deli case. There is Danish herring—OMG—which claims to be a South African favorite, but I petition to rename a Chef Judi favorite. And locals are already raving about the matzoh ball soup that is a vegetarian version but tastes just like Nana’s. Veg is going to be on the healthy but tasty scene, so stay tuned. (They claim the latkes are just like Grandma’s; we’ll see.)

Danish herring--I am going back for more.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Curtains

Musicals are murder with the Manatee Players' Curtains.

By Kay Kipling

When you’re seeing for the first time a show bearing the credits of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret), your expectations are high—perhaps too high. The composing duo’s last collaboration before the death of lyricist Ebb, Curtains (now onstage at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre in an area premiere), may not live up to all those expectations. It is frequently entertaining, but sometimes while watching one can sense a potential of the better show it could have been.

The musical, which starred David Hyde Pierce on Broadway, bears an original book and concept by Peter Stone, with the final book and some additional lyrics provided by Rupert Holmes. It’s a tribute of sorts to those classic backstage musicals, where what is going on behind the scenes in the lives of the cast and crew is more interesting than anything taking place before the footlights.

In this case, the cast of Robbin’ Hood of the Old West has more than usual to trouble them. The songwriters (Melanie Dan and Travis Rogers) are a former husband-and-wife team who may still be carrying torches; the director (Rodd Dyer) is a flouncing Brit with a sarcastic tongue but not much in the way of creativity; and the unhappily married producers (Nancy Denton and Michael Nolan) are of separate minds as to whether to close the show in Boston before it ever makes it to Broadway. Throw in a talentless leading lady (played with flair by Trina Rizzo) who’s a natural murder victim, and you’ve got a theater full of suspects. Luckily the homicide detective (Steve Dawson) assigned to find her killer is a stagestruck musical theater fan who just might be able to fix the show at the same time he solves the crime.

It’s a good setup, but one that doesn’t provide quite as many laughs as one would hope. For one thing, Curtains is overlong for the story it tells; and the technical demands of the show sometimes slow this production down at crucial moments. As often happens with community theater, not everyone in the cast is a polished dancer (although director-choreographer Rick Kerby’s work does its best to disguise that fact). And although the lyrics for the songs are often clever, the tunes themselves (deliberately written in an older musical theater tradition, not like Kander and Ebb’s more familiar work) do not, at first hearing anyway, seem that memorable.

All that said, there is some strong work by cast members, including newcomer Nancy Denton as wise-cracking producer Carmen, Dyer as bitchy director Christopher Belling, Gabi Guinta as aspiring star Bambi, and Steve and Dianne Dawson as the detective and the apparently sweet, innocent actress he immediately falls for. And there are a couple of numbers that are fun, including The Woman’s Dead, It’s a Business and Show People, along with more standard fare for the show-within-a-show.

Curtains continues through March 7 at the Manatee Players Riverfront; for tickets call 748-5875 or visit manateeplayers.com.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

ShelterBox USA

Locally founded ShelterBox gets some national support.

By Kim Cartlidge

The forest-green, utilitarian and mostly unadorned Shelterbox is turning heads at this week’s Fashion Week in New York City. Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan are two of the international designers displaying Shelterboxes as the industry shines a spotlight on relief efforts in Haiti.

Veronica Brandon Miller, executive director of Lakewood Ranch-based ShelterBox USA, is in high demand in New York this week, where she’s juggling network interviews, meetings with corporate donors and fashion fund-raising events. Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation, for example, hosted a ShelterBox fund raiser this month, and has set a goal to raise $2 million for the international organization. Polo Ralph Lauren will display Shelterboxes in its retail stores to encourage contributions.

Here in Sarasota, this trendy group of middle schoolers has been raising money for ShelterBox for four years with both the traditional car washes and the more glamorous dress-down day, where students paid $2 to leave their uniforms in the closet and wear the colors of the Haitian flag.

St. Martha Catholic School 7^th and 8^th graders have raised $9,500 for ShelterBox this school year, and $24,000 in the past four years. Pictured: Savannah Savadel, Emily Caldwell, Meghan Grabowski, Elizabeth Reynolds, Brandon Hare.

ShelterBox was based on a simple idea of offering basic needs and human dignity to people who lose their homes to earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. The box, which costs about $1,000 for supplies, transport and volunteer assistance, can enable a family of 10 to survive for about six months as they rebuild their lives.

It’s a lean organization that relies on trained volunteer first responders and its worldwide network of Rotary International Clubs, which offer financial and administrative support as well as local expertise. The Rotary network in Haiti notified ShelterBox about the Jan. 12 earthquake before it made the news.

At the 10th anniversary celebration of ShelterBox in Sarasota last week, founder Tom Henderson spoke of the days when he was persistently knocking on doors and speaking to small groups to sell his idea. He showed this five-minute video overview. Today, ShelterBox has responded to 100 disasters in 60 countries.

ShelterBox Founder Tom Henderson spoke in Sarasota last week.

While packing a tent, blankets, cook stove, pans, utensils, water purification and tools into a box that can be carried by two people was Henderson’s original vision, mastery of the variable terrains, governments or NGOs and customs has proven the greatest challenge. An army of volunteer responders navigates transport of the box (sometimes by camel, by donkey up a mountain, or by wheelbarrow), the local relief operations hierarchy and task of determining which families have the most immediate need. (In Haiti, for example, ShelterBox delivered the first boxes to pregnant women and the ill.)

Ten years of trial-and-error experience has paid off. ShelterBox was one of the first organizations to get its supplies to the people in need in Haiti.

Time.com video on ShelterBox in Haiti

There’s a saying that it takes 10 years to become an overnight sensation, and our homegrown international relief organization, which was founded by the Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club, has captured the spotlight, to the benefit of Haitians remaining displaced. Still, Miller says she’s eager to get back to Sarasota and the organization’s core work. After all, rainy season in Haiti begins in May, and ShelterBox is racing to provide cover to families still living and sleeping outside.

For more information about ShelterBox, visit www.shelterboxusa.org.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Luxury on Sale

Check out the bargains at Riviera Dunes in Palmetto.

By Robert Plunket

Click here to see our Real Estate Junkie discuss Riviera Dunes on ABC7.

The whole town is talking about those luxury apartments at Riviera Dunes up in Palmetto that have been reduced to prices that are truly startling – they now start at $140,000 for a 2,000-square-foot unit that was originally priced at almost half a million. Are they any good? What’s the catch? And what does this mean for the future?

130-140 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto

Riviera Dunes is a very elaborate high-end development on the eastern edge of Palmetto that includes private homes, a big marina, and three large apartment complexes, the one in question being called Bel Mare. It was built at exactly the wrong time and has been purchased out of foreclosure by a company that specializes in turning these sort of situations around. Apparently they purchased 53 units for an average price of $120,000 and are now selling them at greatly deflated prices.

First of all, I love the apartments. They really are luxury construction – 10-foot ceilings, solid walls and doors, great kitchens (granite, stainless), enormous master baths, big balconies. The layouts are terrific – none of those long narrow spaces all jammed together so each unit gets a view, but rather spacious corner units full of windows.

The apartments on the east side of the building get a premium because of the marina view. The real bargains face west, looking out over 301 and the Manatee River. (They also get the sunset view.) I checked out the one $140,000 unit. It was on the second floor, and you saw a lot of traffic from the windows, and the Manatee Convention Center is right across the street. Oddly enough, this was one of my favorite units – there was a lot of activity to watch yet the soundproofing was so good that you didn’t hear a thing. I could live there quite comfortably.

There are currently eight units priced under $200,000, and if you’re willing to spend in the mid 200s you get pretty much your pick of the two-bedroom units. On the higher floors are some spectacular larger units and penthouses that contain up to four bedrooms and go up to 4,000 square feet. For $600,000 or so you can get an apartment that would cost several million in Sarasota.

What’s the drawback? I’d check carefully with a lawyer to find out the pros and cons of buying in a situation like this. The maintenance on all units is currently $733 no matter what the size of the unit. I’d want to know under what circumstances it can be raised. And can they build other, lower-priced units on the development’s vacant land? Who exactly owns the marina and could it be closed due to financial restraints? Read the condo docs carefully. One good sign – it’s being marketed by Michael Saunders, which gives it instant credibility.

And what about Palmetto? If you don’t know the area, it’s the town due north of Bradenton, on the other side of the Manatee River. It’s old (much older than Sarasota) and has the feeling of an old Southern town. I’ve lived in that neck of the woods and can report that while it lacks the glamour and sophistication of Sarasota, it’s a pleasant and interesting place to live. Some Sarasotans who crave the Old Florida lifestyle live up there and commute – it’s a half hour from downtown. It’s also very well situated for the Interstate, St Pete, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, etc.

Now what does all this mean for our real estate future? I can only imagine that this will be happening more often – high end developments being taken over by these companies and sold quickly at rock bottom prices. It means some incredible bargains coming down the pike – but I don’t like to think what it will do to existing home prices. $140,000 for a big luxury apartment? That’s what a good quality mobile home used to cost . . . .

For more information call Nell Leffel at 941-721-6055. Or try the Michael Saunders website or belmareliving.com.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Asolo Rep's 2010-2011 Season

Gauging Nonprofit Success

Monday, March 08, 2010

Catching My Breath

Firefighter Thank-you Cookies

Quite a Catch

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Machinal

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Great Sarasota Home Tours

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Classic Sicilian at Ortygia

Monday, March 01, 2010

This and That

Li'l Abner

Friday, February 26, 2010

Five Years!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Test of Time

High-Low Dressing Hits Home

Monday, February 22, 2010

Shear Madness

A Suitable Salad

Kindled

In Search of New Delights

Friday, February 19, 2010

Curtains

Thursday, February 18, 2010

ShelterBox USA

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Luxury on Sale

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