Fun in Sarasota - Days 93 to 100 - Sarasota, FL

We have now been in Sarasota 20 days, making it the city where we have spent the most time thus far and as the title suggests, where we have had the most fun.  We have really gotten to know Sarasota and in doing so realize that you could spend a year here and not fully experience all it has to offer. 

Here are the highlights of the last seven days:

Monday (1/3): We had dinner with Ron and Linda at Cafe Gabbiano, a delightful Italian restaurant on Siesta Key that has a wonderful wine selection.  What make this place unique is the setting, which had us dining in a room surrounded by wine.

Wednesday (1/5):  Diana abandoned me to visit Southeastern Guide Dogs Palmetto campus where they breed the dogs and provide advanced training that turn the dogs that have been "turned-in" by their "Puppy Raisers" into full fledged guide dogs.  The program includes 26 days of on campus training with the blind person that turns the dog and the blind person into an effective team.  In addition to learning about the program, the visitors got to hug brand new puppies.

Diana having way too much fun (with a 6 week old lab puppy)

Wednesday evening we had a doggy play date with the Singer's two labs (Molly and Jake) followed by dinner with Marjorie and Dick at the Bird Key Yacht Club.  Kodi stayed at the Singer's home with Jake and Molly.  This was the first time we left her in someone elses home.

Molly, Jake and Kodi in a three way tug of war over a soft frisbee

Bird Key Yacht Club as viewed from the Singer's back yard

Bird Key Yacht Club Lobby

We chose to eat in the yacht club's dining room where it was quiet.  The maitre d'hotel supplied us with sport jackets (which he hung on our chairs) so that we would be dressed properly. Dinner was spectacular.

We had the best table in the house with a spectacular view of Sarasota across the GIWW

Marjorie, Dick and Diana after dinner

We found everything in order upon returning to the Singer's residence.  While not a surprise, it was still nice to know that Kodi had handled herself well in our absence.  We finished the evening chatting with our friends and playing with the dogs.

Marjorie talking to Diana with Kodi looking on

Diana with Molly and Jake (and Kodi in the background)

Thursday (1/6): We returned to the Ringling museum complex to visit the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum that we had missed on our first visit. 

Front of the massive art museum

Museum's courtyard looking west toward Sarasota Bay (and a statue of The David)

The museum was well worth the return visit and we spent four hours learning about the art that John Ringling had collected.  We began with a 30 minute orientation by a docent and then went back to check out specific pieces.  The explanations next to each painting, tapestry, "room" or sculpture were both well written and engaging.  Additionally, there were plasticized cards that went into further depth on specific works.  Note: Ringling actually bought the rooms from the Astor's Manhattan home and reconstructed them in the museum.

Diana holding the card with the details on the painting

Reconstructed room from the Astor Mansion

We were especially impressed the Triumph of the Eucharist collection by Peter Paul Rubens, which consists of four massive paintings.  Two are shown below.  Note: We learned that the paintings were actually "cartoons" that were used as the basis for tapestries.

Another Celebration of the Eucharist.  Note the doors which have the same columns as in the painting

Celebration of the Eucharist tapestry

Friday (1/7): We addressed a shrunken salon floor canvas cover which I had caused to shrink on Wednesday by letting it stay too long in the dryer.  The solution to the problem was rewashing the cover with no soap and then stretching it wet back onto the hooks that hold it in place.  This was not an easy task.  I recruited assistance from Lane who works on Lyken Life, a 60 foot Sunseeker Predator tied up behind us.  We pulled and tugged and finally got it stretched onto all of the hooks (save on snap at the back of the salon).

Here too a note is required: Lyken Life is owned by Lyle (I can't remember his last name).  My friend, David Cole, and I flew down to Sarasota in August 2008 to inspects his 2007 48 Sundancer then located at Marina Jack (where we have been living for the last 20 days).  David ultimately purchased the 48 and I arranged its shipping back to Chicago.

As Lane and I were huffing and puffing to stretch the canvas, I got a call from Phil Fucco, a gentleman we had met two nights earlier while having dinner with Marjorie and Dick Singer at the Bird Key Yacht Club.  Phil wanted to chat about the Great Loop so we invited him and his wife, Carol, over to the boat to share a bottle of Cliff Leeds 2006 Cabernet Savingnon.

This turned into a lovely and very memorable evening.  After finishing our wine and crackers we adjourned to the downtown area in search of a restaurant for dinner where we discovered Sarasota's "First Friday" program.  The historic downtown and especially Palm Street was alive with people who were going from shop to shop to look at the wares while they sipped wine and ate h'ordeuvres.   It was truly magical and they do it every month on the first Friday.

We ultimately settled on a tapas restaurant on Main Street called Sangria where we had a lovely meal and talked about lots of stuff (including the Great Loop).   Diana and I gained considerable insight into several northern ports that we had planned to visit; Chesapeake, Annapolis, Washington DC and Philadelphia

Phil, a retired attorney and Carol, a retired travel agent, run a movie review website (http://www.moviereviewers.com/).  They each rate the film and then post their ratings side by side.  Short, sweet and to the point without giving the movie's plot away.

Saturday (1/8), we started the day with a visit Southeastern Guide Dogs.  Our goal was to pick up some bully sticks that Marjorie had ordered and had just arrived.  Upon arrival we serendipitously happened upon a gathering of puppy raisers and their dogs.  The reason for their get together was to expose the dogs to the farmers market that was going on just down the block.  Note: An essential part of service dog training is exposure to multiple situations, one of which is large crowds.  This assures that the dog is not frightened by the unexpected.  Diana did this with Kodi and as a result Kodi is always comfortable no matter where we go.

A room full of lab puppies and their puppy raisers

Marjorie Singer welcoming the group

Diana and Kodi at the farmer's market

The farmer's market was spectacular and well attended. 

Following our "inspection" of the farmer's market we had brunch at Mattison's, where they allow dogs.

Then we drove out to Longboat Key where we explored the Joan M. Durante Wetlands Restoration Project on special elevated walkways.

Diana and Kodi pose on the elevated walkways

Seating area overlooking Sarasota Bay

Sunday (1/9): We had brunch with Ron and Linda Markovits at the Ritz Carelton Hotel, just down the road from Marina Jack.  The food and the presentation were off the charts.

Desert table at the Ritz brunch

Ritz lobby

Following lunch we said goodbye to Ron and Linda and returned to the boat to take care of Kodi.  Then we walked to the historic downtown district for "Thunder on the Bay," an annual motorcycle event and fundraiser.  There were easily a thousand motorcycles and lots of people.  There were vendors and music in this fun and slightly noisy event.  Note: 90% of the bikes are Harley Davidson's and no two appear to be alike.

Main Street lined with motorcycles

Music

A highly customized bike

Lawyer advertising his services

Note: A Mercedes Benz SLS gullwing sports car was parked at Marina Jack.  According to Wikipedia, the SLS sells for under $200,000.  This is a spectacular automobile.  Note: we saw lots of "heavy iron" in the valet parking area.

Mercedes Benz SLS parked Marina Jack

Note the gull wing doors

As we were walking over to the library we encountered a service dog wearing a Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) jacket.  Note: Kodi was trained with the CCI manual, which we borrowed from  friend.

The interior of the Selby Library was spectacular.

Aquarium at the entrance to the children's section

Selby Library lobby

A tribute to Andy Warhol at the Selby

Our final event was the movie, The Kings Speech with Colin Firth and Jeffrey Rush, at the Sarasota Film Society's theatre.  The Kings Speech was five stars and we think both Firth and Rush will be nominated for an Oscar.  Check out Phil's and Carol's review by clicking here.  Note: We think Firth will win best actor.

Sarasota is a happening place.

Tomorrow we depart for Captiva Island.

Written by Les.