Sarasota Holiday Parade

December 7

Join area businesses and nonprofits at the 18th annual Sarasota Holiday Parade, 7 p.m. tomorrow on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. This year’s “Salute to Veterans” theme will be judged by representatives from the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and Goodwill’s American Veterans and their Families Initiative. Click here for more event information.

-Photo credit: Jeremy L. DeWit

 

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Bradenton Blues Festival

December 7

Join us at the second annual Bradenton Blues Festival featuring blues performances by national blues stars, tasty food and outdoor fun festivities. For information and tickets, visit bradentonbluesfestival.org.

 

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Hot Dogs and Cool Cats

December 7

Get ready to "Laugh Your Paws Off" at the annual Hot Dogs and Cool Cats event at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Join comedian Elayne Boosler and local stars Les McCurdy and Ken Sons for laughs, libations and a live auction. Proceeds benefit Humane Society of Sarasota County. For information contact Christen Cleary at (914) 955-4131, ext. 121, or visit hssc.org.

 

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Designing Women Boutique Annual Gala

December 9

Mingle with the fashionable crowd at Designing Women Boutique’s Gatsby-inspired gala at the Asolo Repertory Theatre and Treviso Restaurant of the Ringling Museum. This elegant evening includes a highly anticipated style show and auction. For more information, visit designingwomenboutique.org.

 

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2014 Unity Awards Luncheon

January 30

Purchase your ticket to attend Biz(941) and LaGuia magazine's fourth annual Unity Awards luncheon Thursday, Jan. 30 at Michael's On East. Join us as we honor people and businesses in our community who value inclusion in all its forms—racial and ethnic, sexual orientation and disability—and are making our workplaces and communities more accepting and productive. Visit the event website or call (941) 487-1140 for tickets.

 

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Introducing the Arts & Cultural Alliance “Arts Leadership” Program

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, in conjunction with Sarasota Magazine, has developed the “Arts Leadership” program to ensure that the next generation of business professionals has an appreciation and understanding of the arts and its importance in our community. Running through May 2013, several Sarasota businesses and firms have selected one of their employees to attend a series of educational programs, attend an arts performance and interact with patrons and members of the organization’s boards of directors. The 2013 participating arts organizations are: Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Ballet and the Asolo Repertory Theatre. The 2013 businesses sending “students” are: Adams & Reese, BB&T, Caldwell Trust, Canandaigua Trust, JPMorgan Chase, Gulfshore Media, Icard Merrill, Northern Trust, PNC, Purmont & Martin, US Trust.