Your Top 5 Things to Do: July 21-27
July 23
Snooty’s 68th Birthday Bash and Wildlife Festival
Everybody’s favorite manatee turns 68 Saturday, and his keepers at the South Florida Museum have planned a birthday bash worthy of the world’s oldest-known manatee (so says the Guinness Book of World Records). The free outdoor event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outdoors in the museum’s Spanish Plaza; reduced admission to the museum and Bishop Planetarium will be offered that day, too. southfloridamuseum.org
Image: Shutterstock
July 22-24
Sinbad at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre
One of the 100 greatest standups of all time, according to Comedy Central, actor-comedian Sinbad returns to McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre for five shows Friday-Sunday. mccurdyscomedy.com
July 23
Sarasota Contemporary Dance presents Grit
Sarasota Contemporary Dance kicks off its summer season with Grit, an abstract performance set to live music that “explores the origins of survivalism and the essence of the human experience.” 2 p.m. at the New College of Florida black box theater in Hamilton Center. sarasotacontemporarydance.org
July 23
John D. MacDonald’s 100th Birthday Celebration
The late author John D. MacDonald—his Travis McGee detective novels are hailed far and wide as literary masterworks—lived and wrote in Sarasota. Now the community gathers to celebrate his 100th birthday Saturday at Selby Library with theatrical readings from his books; a plaque dedication in Five Points Park; a free 2 p.m. screening of A Flash of Green, the acclaimed 1984 film starring Ed Harris that was based on his novel and filmed in Sarasota; and a happy hour with birthday cake and more at Libby’s Café + Bar.
July 22-23
Christmas in July
It’s Christmas in July in downtown Venice this weekend, with in-store specials at all the shops, free trolley rides, live music and raffle baskets. Lots of great restaurants to try out, too; check out our sister publication, venicemagazineonline.com, for suggestions of where to eat.
