Ringling Festival to Boast Top Talents
Mikhail Baryshnikov
By JANUARY HOLMES – jholmes@bradenton.com
SARASOTA — The second annual Ringling International Arts Festival will boast the kind of must-see, world-class fare that made it an overwhelming success last year. But this time around, the festival will serve as a centerpiece for a new fringe festival that will showcase local artists and events in both Manatee and Sarasota counties.
This is the first time the two counties have worked closely together for an event.
“I would like to think tonight that the border that exists just right outside this building is gone,” said Dwight Currie, Ringling Museum of Art’s associated director of museum programs, as he unveiled details of the festival’s 11 main stage productions Wednesday night for a crowd at the Historic Asolo Theater.
As for the international festival, set for Oct. 13-17, the event features several United States and world premieres in theater, music and dance. Opening night festivities alone include four premieres at the Florida State University and Ringling Museum campus.
That evening will feature the much anticipated “Solos with Mikhail Baryshnikov and David Neumann” with a world premiere dance choreographed by Susan Marshall and the world premiere of “Capricho” by Florida native and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. The play, co-produced with the Asolo Repertory Theatre, is about an understudy who is waiting for his time to go on.
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Hook ‘Em & Cook ‘Em Fishing Tournament Scheduled for June 4 thru 6
Fishing the Beautiful Blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico
The Cortez Yacht Club has teamed up with the Edison Academics school of NW Bradenton to Host the Inaugural “ Hook’em & Cook’em” Fishing tournament.
$6000 Dollars in Prize money will be awarded to Fisherman and Junior Fisherman. With the motto of ”Fishing for a (School) of Students” to raise money for Kids scholarships.
The tournament is slated for June 4th thru the 6th. Monetary Sponsors, Fisherman and Volunteers are encouraged to participate in this worthy cause.
The tournament is based on a Point systems for type of fish caught, so anybody can win.
Keeper fish will be “Hooked and Cooked” at the Fish Fry Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Sunday June 6th from 12-6.
Live music, games, raffles and other fun stuff will make it a truly family fun event at the BaySide Banquet Hall in Cortez, Florida.
Sponsorships start at $500 down to a small donation for raffles. Tournament Fee’s are $100 per boat… (FREE for Junior Fisherman).
Join us for this fun event to raise money for student scholarships.
Any questions… Call 941-794-6601 or E-mail CYC Commodore Joe Garbus at jgarbus@tampabay.rr.com or Edison Administrator Randy Stewart at administraion@edisonacademics.com
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Fishing (and Temperatures) Heating Up
John Touchton lands an Amberjack
By Nick Walter Islander Reporter
White bait is creeping back into the area, and it could mean the transition from cut bait to live bait for fishers.
Small pinfish already are invading bays from offshore where there are reports of clouds of pinfish. Already there are glass minnows in the bays, so it shouldn’t be long before they’re followed by shiners.
With the bait will come more Spanish and king mackerel, as well as bluefish. There are reports of kingfish being caught from both Sunshine Skyway Bridge fishing piers and some anglers are reporting they’ve been spooled by king smokers.
Calm, warm weather also was timely for grouper fishermen, who took advantage of the opening of grouper season on April 1. Quality catches of grouper can be had in 60 feet of water, and the fish tend to favor live bait. April 1 also saw the open harvest of tarpon and bonefish.
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Leprechauns Descend on Anna Maria Island
Ms. Duffy is driven in the parade by Rick Lewis in a Pedi-cab from Sarasota Pedi-cab Company
The Anna Maria Island Sun
The leprechauns were out in force last Saturday for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sponsored by Beach Bistro restaurant.
Dozens of vehicles entered the parade, which featured an elephant. Bradenton Herald columnist Vin Mannix and Lanny Frattare, voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates, followed Judy, the 39-year-old Asian elephant, with shovels, just in case she had an accident. She didn’t.
“Judy was a well-mannered lady,” Beach Bistro owner and parade organizer Sean Murphy said. “It looks like Judy will be returning for next year’s parade.”
The parade appeared to be one of the longer ones the Island has seen lately. Murphy said it appeared to take up about half the distance of the parade route, from Holmes Beach City Hall to 79th Street.
Murphy said the parade probably wouldn’t work anywhere else but Anna Maria Island.
“It was a great little parade in a great little community,” he added. “I want to thank everyone who came out and made it happen.”
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Anna Maria Island – Florida’s Beach Wedding Capital
Knot magazine has named Anna Maria Island's Sandbar and BeachHouse to its 2009 "Best of Weddings" edition. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG
By John Davis – Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Published: Monday, March 1, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 11:16 p.m.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island has carved out a niche for itself as a Florida destination for beach weddings and, in a down economy, the expense saved by getting married outside has been a draw to many couples.
“We’ve seen more people interested since the recession because a lot of the larger hotels like the Ritz and places like that, they price themselves so high that they put themselves out of the reach of many people,” said Michael Khouri of Classic Event Management in Bradenton. “But even though people have to keep it affordable, they still want something nice.”
According to Caryn Hodge, coordinator of the Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival, the island sees 1,000 to 1,500 weddings a year. Sunday marked the third wedding festival, drawing an estimated 800 people, mostly brides-to-be and their friends.
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All Aboard The Loveboat
The Floating Chapel Makes Its Way Down The Intra-coastal
By JANUARY HOLMES – jholmes@bradenton.com
Anna Maria Island — Call it the Love Boat.
Jill Chandler-Fisher and Orca Fisher’s vessel is not as big as the famous TV cruise ship, however, it’s cute, classically romantic and a little more churchy.
The Fishers are owners of the “Floating Chapel on the Bay” — a classic-looking church with stained-glass windows, cathedral ceilings, old-fashioned pews that seat up to 100 people and a steeple that’s as blue as the sea. It comes complete with a wrap-around deck, a bridal suite and twin engines to carry it through the Intracoastal waterway.
“The beauty of being able to cruise up and down the Intracoastal has literally stopped traffic,” said Jill Chandler-Fisher. “People get out of their cars. They wave, take photographs.”
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Segway Anna Maria Island
Becky Kramer and tour guide Craig Luloff
Tours of southern Anna Maria Island on a Segway i2 Personal Transporter are now under way.
Becky Kramer of Zegway by the Bay recently received seven new Segways, which are two-wheeled scooters on which riders can stand up and look around as they drive about.
The 90-minute tours cost $55 and will stop at Bradenton Beach’s Bridge Street, on Coquina Beach, at the Longboat Pass, among others places during the seven-mile tour.
“Nobody’s doing it out here,” Kramer said. “The tourism has been great here on the island and I figured this is a great addition to something that visitors can do.”
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Bradenton Scores Highest in “Emotional Attachment”
A Gallup survey ranking 26 U.S. communities found Bradenton scored highest of all in the category of “emotional attachment” as measured by social offerings, physical beauty and an open and welcoming nature.
Village of The Arts
That friendly vibe particularly permeates the Village of the Arts, an enclave where bountiful whimsy expresses itself in the district’s colorful cottages, studios, galleries, book stores and restaurants.
Bradenton is also home to the headquarters of Beall’s Department Stores, Tropicana and Champs Sports.
Just to the west, mile-wide Anna Maria Island is home to three laid-back island communities. Just to the east is Lakewood Ranch, one of Florida’s newest and hippest planned communities.
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The “Old Florida” Feel of Anna Maria Island
Beachside dining at the Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria
By Kitty Bean Yancey – USA Today
Unlike similar sunset celebrations in Florida tourist meccas such as Key West, there are no rowdy crowds, wall-to-wall bars or panhandlers. Also absent on Anna Maria are high-rise condos and chain hotels. You’ll have to drive off-island for a McDonald’s or Starbucks fix.
“We’ve been all over Florida, but we love Anna Maria Island because it’s so oldy-worldy,” says Glynis Bayles of England, who is here with her husband, Robert, a retiree. Europeans and the value-minded favor this getaway, where low-rise is the rule. (Just one condo complex stands more than three stories high, and no more tall buildings are allowed.)
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Islanders of the Year: Rhea Chiles, Ed Chiles
The Islander Newspaper named Rhea Chiles and her son, Ed, Islanders of the Year for 2009. The award recognizes individuals for their unselfish contributions and genuine concern for making Anna Maria Island an even better place to live. We congratulate Rhea and Ed for this most-deserving recognition of their unyielding support for our community.
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By Bonner Joy
The Islander – January 6, 2010
It was an idea of great joy to Rhea Chiles, and as it formed, evolved, mired and progressed, the idea became big.
Rhea Chiles
It meant something big for Anna Maria Island to be host to the first lady of Florida, to have her return here to live after a time in the governor’s mansion, after the death of Lawton Chiles very near the end of his last term.
Of course, AMI embraced Rhea.
But little did we know she had such a big idea for us, one that would bring us culture, education, arts and artists, and a sense of place in tune with nature and the beauty around us.
It came to be the Studio at Gulf and Pine, but it is a mirror of Rhea Chiles, a woman generous of her great intellectual gifts.
Ed Chiles
But take that gift and combine it with the generosity and vision of son Ed Chiles, who has developed his trio of restaurants into landmarks on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, and we have a legacy for the future.
Ed knows the value of investing in the community, of giving back to the organizations that help support youth sports, the elementary school and other worthwhile causes. Few, if any, who ask for help are turned away.
And while he may have competitors in business, none can argue with his generosity.
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