EVENTS
ICONCEPT 2010 - Art Center Sarasota hosting the second annual event on March 26, 7 p.m., at 707 N. Tamiami Tr. About 25 visual artists to create pieces of wearable art. Choreographed runway production to showcase the final designs. Tickets: $20, ACS members; $3,0 non-members until March 24. Last-minute tickets an extra $10. Ticket includes light bites, entertainment and two drinks. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 365-2032 or visit www.artsarasota.org.
ORCHID BALL "BOLLYWOOD" - March 27, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 29th Annual Orchid ball fusing old-world Indian traditions with the glitz and glamour of the movies. Includes cocktail hour featuring rickshaw rides, dinner catered by Michael’s on East, a mix of traditional and Indian music provided by DJ Pram, silent and live auctions and dancing under the stars. Proceeds benefit the Gardens’ conservation, research and educational outreach programs. For tickets, sponsorship and underwriting information, call 966-5731, ext. 229, or e-mail orchidball@selby.org.
FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON - March 24, 11:30 a.m., at 6263 Midnight Pass Road, hosted by the Excelsior Condominium Association. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. Cost: $35. Call Linda, 349-2001, by March 19 to make a reservation.
SPRINGFEST 2010 - March 20, 8 a.m., for the 5K or 12K run/walk; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for the festival. Located at the corner of Sawyer Loop Rd. and Clark Rd. Free. Springfest is a family expo celebrating the community of Sarasota, promoting local services and products and raising awareness for the Child Protection Center. Festivities include live music, a children’s section with games and exhibits, plus Junior SWAT obstacle course. For more information: www.sarasotaspringfest.com.
COINTREAU CHILLOUNGE NIGHT - March 27, 6-11 p.m., on Palm Avenue. Hundreds of chic daybeds and other outdoor furnishings set up to create a cozy, comfortable setting for an evening of food, drink and entertainment. Admission: $20 at the door; allows entry to the outdoor area, complete with lights, sound system and a stage with musical entertainment, dance performances, fashion models and more. Must be 21 or older. Advance tickets: $15; available at www.chilloungenight.com. For additional information, contact Rainer Scheer at rainerscheer@yahoo.com or call 448-0995.
MAKING AN IMPACT FASHION SHOW - April 24, 6 p.m., at Michael’s on East, 1212 East Ave. An evening of fun, food and fashions planned for the 16th annual ABWA Sunrise Chapter Making An Impact scholarship fundraiser, "Going Wild for Education." Event to feature fashions by Caché, hairstyles by Cutting Loose Salon, jewelry by Park Lane and Marianna Ehmke, raffles, a silent auction, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. For reservations contact Barbara McDaniel, 360-9070 or babsmac@verizon.net. Tickets: $60 per individual; $400 for a table of 8 if reserved by March 31.
SAVE OUR SEABIRDS YARD SALE - March 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway. All proceeds go towards Save Our Seabirds. Donation drop days through March 26, noon-2 p.m. Requested items: furniture; home and personal accessories. No clothing. For more information, call 388-3010 or e-mail savourseabirds@gmail.com.
JEWELRY AUCTION - March 27, 6:30 p.m., at the Sarasota Opera House. Cocktails and gourmet hors d’oeuvres served while guests peruse gold and platinum items, pearls, diamonds and other gemstones displayed for bid. Enter the Champagne Challenge for a 1 in 50 chance of winning a 1-carat diamond: Fifty glasses of champagne available for sale at $50 per glass; only one glass will contain the diamond, while the others will each contain a cubic zirconium. All proceeds benefit the Sarasota Opera House. Ticket: $55; call 366-8450, ext. 402.
WINE TASTING - March 23, 6-8 p.m., at Crescent Beach Grocery, 1211 Old Stickney Point Road, featuring wines from around the world accompanied by hors d’oeuvres from the gourmet deli. Wine vendors to share their tasting notes and guide selections. Free. For more information, call 312-0472.
AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE SHOW - March 19-21, at the Triple J Ranch. Dozens of different classes: tie-down roping, breakaway roping, team roping-heading and team roping-heeling. For more information about Florida Quarter Horse roping, contact Tammy Miller, 772-597-2170. OPEN CAR AND TRUCK SHOW - March 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at 928 Tamiami Tr., Osprey. Grounds of Tervis Tumbler’s factory store to be covered by hundreds of antique, classic and muscle cars at the 5th Annual Tervis Tumbler Benefit Open Car & Truck Show. Family-friendly event includes door prizes, food & craft vendors, 50/50 raffles, a silent auction and Tervis Tumbler store specials with all proceeds going to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Free; $20 to display a vehicle. For details, contact Scott Spencer at mscottspencer@comcast.net or 350-0029.
SMOOCH A POOCH STROLL - March 26, 5-8 p.m., at Osprey Ave. and Hillview St. Adoptable pets available. Photos taken with pets and smooches offered at the Smooch a Pooch Booth; plus a raffle. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Sarasota County. Bring your dog. For more information call 955-4131.
NEIGHBORHOOD ARTISTS RECEPTION - March 21, 1-5 p.m., at Crocker Memorial Church, 1260 12th St. Local artists to showcase their creations. All items will be for sale and a portion of the sales will benefit the Historical Society of Sarasota County. Requested donation: $10.
RUMMAGE SALE - March 20-21, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Airport Business Center, 6935 15th Street East, Unit 109. Junior League of Sarasota hosts its Barely Blemished Rummage Sale to benefit its mission of volunteering for a better community. Free. For more information on the League, call 953-5600 or visit www.jlsarasota.org.
ARTISTS’ MARKET - Every Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Historic Burns Square, corner of Pineapple and Laurel Streets. Open through May 8. Call 927-6845; visit artistsmarket.shutterfly.com
FARMERS’ MARKETS - Downtown every Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at Lemon Ave. and Main St. Call 951-2456. Siesta Key Village Market every Sunday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., on Ocean Blvd. at Davidson’s Plaza. Visit www.siestafarmersmarket.com.
CLASSES/PROGRAMS
WRITING WORKSHOP - March 25, 1:30-2:45 p.m., at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Rd. Unique workshop, "Writing Your Life – Without Starting at the Beginning," led by professional author, writing instructor and temple member Sharlya Gold; scheduled for six consecutive Thursdays. Cost $30 for all six sessions. For more information, contact Eunice Cohen, 349-4367.
SPEAKER SERIES - March 24, 7:15 p.m., at Saint Boniface Episcopal Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key. Preschool Director Richard Aubry to inform parents of young children about assessing child care facilities: "Let’s Take a Look – Identifying a Quality Preschool." Free. For more information call 349-5616.
SAFETY AT SEA - March 27, a US Sailing-certified safety seminar for cruising and racing sailors to learn more about handling boats in offshore waters as well as boat crew and preparation, using heavy weather tactics, communications and first aid topics. At the Sarasota Yacht Club. Cost: $150, general public; $125, club members. For information, call 365-4191.
U.S. TRADE SEMINAR - March 24, noon: "The Financial Challenge of U.S. Balance of Payments Deficits," presented by Dr. Ayse Somersan, emeritus professor and dean, University of Wisconsin, at the Sarasota Democratic Party Headquarters, 7358 S. Tamiami Tr. Free, but $10 donation suggested. Register by calling 914-330-9400 or e-mailing www.sarasotadems.org.
SILL MUSIC MONDAYS - March 22, 10:30 a.m., at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Tr. "Trumping the Trumpet": Ronald Romm, founding member of Canadian Brass, to perform. For more information, visit www.sillsarasota.org.
GROWING HERBS - March 24, 10-11 a.m., at Twin Lakes Park, Extension Building conference room, 6700 Clark Rd. Program on how to incorporate aromatic and culinary plants in landscapes, in containers or in the ground. Registration required; 861-9900.
GNOSTIC ANTHROPOLOGY - Ongoing lectures on Gnostic Wisdom; classes held every Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Siesta Key Beach. Topics cover discovering the ancient wisdom of The Oracle at Delphi, Free, but donations accepted. Taught by Instructors Dan, Jean and Anna. Call 228-9208 for more information.
MEETINGS
COaSTAL CONSERVATION - March 22, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dr. Albert Joerger, founder and president of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, to speak on preserving Florida’s bays, beaches and barrier Islands at a League of Women Voters Hot Topics luncheon, at the Bay Preserve, Osprey. Open to the public. Box lunches served for $12. Seating limited; reservations required. To register, call Kim Noyes, 921-9778, or e-mail lwvsc@verizon.net.
GENEALOGY SOCIETY - March 20, 10 a.m., at Selby Public Library, 1331 1st St. Topic: "Unexpected Rewards of Genealogical Research: Meeting Distant Family and Friends in Europe," presented by Mary Jean Jecklin, former travel writer and author. For more information go to www.rootsweb.com/~flgss/.
SARASOTA REPUBLICAN CLUB - March 18, 6 p.m., at the Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd. Leading Tea Party proponent Randy McLendon to be keynote speaker. For reservations, e-mail SarasotaRepublicanClub@gmail.com or contact Bob Iezzi, 378-5619. Tickets: $25, members; $27, guests. Non-members welcome.
ALLAPATTAH CHAPTER OF DAR - March 19, 11:30 a.m., at Sahib Shrine Center, 600 N. Beneva Rd. Luncheon meeting to include poetry reading by Bunny Todd. For more information call Regent Peggy Dornsife, 966-2377.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK - March 23, 12:30 p.m., at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Restaurant, 3713 Bahia Vista St. Speaker: Jeffrey Rutherford. New members welcome. For more information, contact Jeff Deehr, 961-4265, or visit www.sarasotaprofessionalnetwork.com.
WELCOME CLUB OF SARASOTA - March 25, 11 a.m., at Laurel Oak Country Club, 2700 Gary Player Blvd. Irish step dancing performance featured. Club is a not-for-profit social and civic organization for women residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Call Mary Mullally for more information: 776-3899.
YES - Young Entrepreneurs of Sarasota share success strategies every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at Clayton’s Siesta Grille, 1256 old Stickney Pt. Rd., Siesta Key. Cost: $12 at the door, includes lunch. Visit www.yes941.com.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Siesta Key Men’s Group meets at Siesta Beach Shelter, south side of Siesta Beach, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. Open to all. Call 951-6810.
JUST FOR KIDS
ELSA’S YOUTH AND NATURE PROGRAMS - March 20 & 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey. Oscar’s Nature Detectives, 9-10:30 a.m.: Learn about native creatures and their habitats. Elsa’s Fish Painting, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Experience the Japanese Art of gyotaku. Scrubby’s Recycled Paper Making, 2-3 p.m.; Recycle and protect the Environment. Short slide show given with each program to provide information on the park. Parents welcome to participate. $2 donation requested to help cover materials. For more information, visit www.friendsofoscarscherer.com/html/just_for_kids.html.
SPRING BREAK CAMPS - March 29-31 and April 1 & 2 at G.WIZ. Program for children in K-5 grades. Kids will explore Florida’s ecosystems. Hours: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day. After-care program available 3:30-5 p.m. Rates: $49 per day, members; $59, non-members; after-care an additional $6 per day. If parents sign up for all five days, one day is free. To register, call 309-4949, ext. 116, or e-mail camps@gwiz.org.
ETC.
BLOODMOBILE SCHEDULE - March 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Waldemere Auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Tr. March 19, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Sun & Fun, 7125 Fruitville Rd. March 19, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the City Center, 1819 Main St. March 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Westfield South-gate, 3501 S. Tamiami Tr. March 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at SpringFest 2010, Clark and Sawyer. March 21, 2-5 p.m., at Sweetbay, 4230 Bee Ridge Rd. March 23, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Sarasota Health & Human Services, 2200 Ringling Blvd. For more information, contact Suncoast Communities Blood Bank, 954-1600.
THE CINDERELLA PROJECT - Help girls get what they need to go to the prom. Sarasota Brides & Formalwear (located at 4051 Clark Rd. in the Expo on Clark shopping center) is collecting donations of quality new or "gently used" formal dresses, as well as accessories. Donations can be dropped off through March 25. Donors will receive a 20-percent discount off the purchase of a new formal gown or accessory. For more information, call Judy Alexander of Every Child Inc., 376-2663.