The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Feb. 6-12


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  • | 10:00 a.m. February 4, 2025
Luis Bravo's "Forever Tango" comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Luis Bravo's "Forever Tango" comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Feb. 6.
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Thursday, Feb. 6

Duo Karolina & Iwo
11 a.m. at Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd.
$70
Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Artist Series Concerts presents Karolina Mikolajczyk on violin and Iwo Jedynecki on accordion, an award-winning duo with a repertoire that includes everything from Bach to Mozart. There's lunch, too!


Luis Bravo’s 'Forever Tango'
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$30-$70
Visit VanWezel.org.

With 14 world-class dancers, "Forever Tango" creator and director Luis Bravo tells the history of the tango, from its birth in the bordellos of Buenos Aires to its ascendancy as one of Argentina’s best known exports.


‘Spaceman’
7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.
$5-$44
Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Leegrid Stevens’ play follows a female astronaut (Terri Weagant) who travels to Mars after her late husband’s failed attempt to reach the Red Planet. Be prepared for a “sense-surround” experience as Summer Dawn Wallace bravely goes where no director of a black-box theater has gone before. (Apologies, “Star Trek” fans!) Runs through Feb. 16. 


‘John Proctor is the Villain’
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$40
Visit AsoloRep.org/Conservatory.

FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents newcomer Kimberly Belflower’s play about Georgia high schoolers who try to tell the difference between fact and fiction as they study Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible." Runs through March 2.


‘59th Street Bridge’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Feelin' groovy? Simon and Garfunkel fans know that expression from the hit song that gives this cabaret show its title. Florida Studio Theatre pays tribute to early folk-rock artists such as John Denver, Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Continues through March 30.


The world premiere of Ken Ludwig's "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard" runs through Feb. 8 at Asolo Repertory Theatre.


‘Ken Ludwig’s Lady Molly of Scotland Yard’
7:30 p.m. at the FSU Center for Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35-$99
Visit AsoloRep.org.

Prolific playwright Ken Ludwig Ludwig's world premiere, “Lady Molly of Scotland Yard,” transports Baroness Orczy’s female sleuth to World War II, where code-breaking, murder and espionage are the order of the day. Runs through Saturday.


Ringling Underground
8 p.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$15; students and members free
Visit Ringling.org.

Locals and visitors in the know never miss Ringling Underground, an arts jamboree in the museum courtyard that is free for students and members. The event mixes art and ambience and presents up-and-coming local and regional musicians.


Friday, Feb. 7

Jazz @ Two: Sarasota Jazz Project
2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road
$15-$20
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Sarasota Jazz Project with a program of swinging Big Band Jazz under the direction of George McLain. 


Key Chorale presents its Baroquefest from Feb. 7-8 at the Church of the Redeemer.
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Baroquefest
5:30 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave.
$15-$210
Visit KeyChorale.org.

Key Chorale’s Baroquefest kicks off with a Biergarten Experience that includes German food, beer from Calusa Brewing and Bill Milner’s Oompah Band. The festival moves inside with the “Titans of Baroque” concert showcasing the works of Vivaldi and Handel featuring Yulia Van Doren, Thea Loba, Ryne Cherry and Daniel Jordan. The festivities continue Saturday, Feb. 8, with a “Psychedelic Bach” organ recital in the morning and an evening concert of French Baroque music played on period instruments. 


Music on Main
6-9 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit MyLWR.com.

Frisson will provide the live music for the monthly concert and block party series. Enjoy food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths, music, and rides and activities for the kids. Proceeds from the event benefit the Asolo Repertory Theatre.


Saturday, Feb. 8

Taste of ODA
8 a.m. to noon at The Out-of-Door Academy, 5950 Deer Drive, Lakewood Ranch
5K $45; fun run $20
Visit ODA.edu.

Enjoy a day of competition and fun at the Taste of ODA 5K and Food Festival. A 5K race will be held along with a fun run for kids 10 and under. All proceeds benefit the Thunder Athletic Club.


Superhero Fun Run/5K
8:30 a.m at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle
5K $30; fun run $15
Visit BridgeALife.com.

Bridge a Life’s annual Superhero Fun Run and 5K supports children in the local community. The kids’ fun run begins at 8:30 a.m., and the 5K begins at 9 a.m. Registration is $30 for the 5K and $15 for the fun run. Superhero costumes are encouraged.


Second Saturday Open Studios
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Creative Liberties, 901B Apricot Ave. and other locations
Free
Visit SRQArt.com.

On the second Saturday of every month during season, the roughly 70 members of the Sarasota Studio Arts Association open their studios to the public, where they can see artists at work and purchase their creations. A good place to start exploring is the area around The Bazaar at Apricot and Lime, which sells locally sourced arts and crafts. Download a map of the open studios at SRQArt.com


SCD In-Studio Series
3 and 7 p.m. at Sarasota Contemporary Dance, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300
$20
Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.

This In-Studio performance by Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble features the work of choreographer Bliss Kohlmyer.


Abeo Quartet
7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St.
$25-$35
Visit PerlmanMusicProgramSuncoast.org.

Join the Abeo Quartet as they play works by renowned composers, including Mozart, Reena Esmail and Franz Schubert. The Perlman Music Program alums include Njioma Grevious on violin, Rebecca Benjamin on violin, James Kang on viola and Macintyre Taback on cello.


Sunday, Feb. 9

‘Over the Moon’:The Story of Johnny Mercer
3p.m. The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key
$35; members $30
Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

The Education Center at TBI hosts a performing arts program that takes you through the story of lyricist and singer Johnny Mercer. 


‘Love Is In the Air’
3 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st St.
$5
Visit SuncoastConcertBand.org.

Suncoast Concert Band, now in its 92nd season, gets ready for Valentine’s Day with a program titled “Love is in the Air.” Call 941-907-4123 to check on ticket availability and please be sure to dial the right number.


‘Thrill of a Lifetime’
4 p.m. at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way
$16
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The Sarasota Youth Orchestra will be joined by their big brothers and sisters in the Sarasota Orchestra as they play side by side in a concert billed as a “Thrill of a Lifetime.” The Sarasota Youth Orchestras are comprised of eight ensembles representing more than 50 schools with students from third grade through high school. 


Monday, Feb. 10

Take a backstage tour of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with Arts Advocates on Monday, Feb. 10.
Courtesy image


Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage
1:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$15
Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.

One of the best things about the reopening of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in January is the revival of tours by Arts Advocates. A docent leads a tour of the paintings and sculptures. Participants then step onto the stage where a Van Wezel guide shares stories and anecdotes. Proceeds from the tour benefit the education/outreach programs of Arts Advocates and the Van Wezel.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 11

‘The Chinese Lady’
7:30 p.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$40
Visit AsoloRep.org/Conservatory.

Sarasota has many wonderful stages and some of them are in unexpected places. FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents “The Chinese Lady” in the Wagon Room of The Ringling Museum of Art. Written by Lloyd Suh, whose “The Heart Sellers” is currently running at Florida Studio Theatre, “The Chinese Lady” follows Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to immigrate to America. Runs through March 2. 


Burton Cummings
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$65-$100
Visit VanWezel.org.

Canadian Burton Cummings and his bandmates in The Guess Who once warned the “American Woman” to stay away from them. Evidently, feelings have mellowed over the years. Americans gals (and guys) are invited to take a trip down Memory Lane with the singer/songwriter s as he celebrates 60 years since The Guess Who first topped the charts.


Artist Series Concerts presents Grammy Award-winning Imani Winds on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the First Congregational Church.
Courtesy image


Imani Winds
7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 1031S. Euclid Ave.
$43
Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Artist Series Concerts presents Imani Winds, winner of the 2024 Grammy Award in the classical compendium category. The ensemble features Brandon Patrick George on flute, Toyin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Mark Dover on clarinet, Kevin Newton on French horn and Monica Ellis on bassoon.


Wednesday, Feb. 12

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$45-$70
Visit VanWezel.org.

Fans of the 1960s sensation "A Taste of Honey" might want to take advantage of a rare opportunity to see Herb Alpert and a new version of Tijuana Brass in concert. Best known for his album "Whipped Cream & Other Delights," Alpert is touring for the first time in 35 years and will perform at the Van Wezel the month before his 90th birthday.

 

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