During the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Agave Bandido in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch's Jake Romine wore a shirt that said "I hate margaritas" in all capital letters.
In slightly smaller letters, it read "just kidding can you imagine?"
"Sarcasm levels everyone out in this world," Romine said. "There's nothing better than a margarita on a Monday."Â
On May 5, Agave Bandido hosted an all-day celebration.Â
Fire performers and stilt walkers from Prism Artistry came to entertain.
Miami resident and Prism Artistry performer Gaby Rosa's passion for playing with fire began at a college party at Florida State University and stuck with her. She said it was the best thing she learned in college.
Alannis Peterson of Tampa grew up as a dancer and said she met some "weird friends" who introduced her to fire. She decided to combine those two factors to be a fire performer and is passionate about it. She said she appreciates that fire is the most raw and intense element she can create art with.
"I feel powerful," Peterson said. "All the stresses of life melt away and i’m connected with my true self."
Heather Todd of Myakka City said she came to the Cinco de Mayo party to have the best margaritas in a beautiful atmosphere with beautiful people. She said she wasn't disappointed.
Cinco de Mayo wasn't the only celebration of the day as it was also Brittney Coleman's birthday and Ben and Karen Strouse's 40th anniversary, who are all Lakewood Ranch residents.
"Thank you for coming to my birthday party," Coleman said with a laugh.
Tampa resident and stilt walker Natasha Eriksen performs on Cinco de Mayo at Agave Bandido.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Tampa resident Alannis Peterson of Prism Artistry eats fire at Agave Bandido in Lakewood Ranch during the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch resident Brenda Ianiro joins Zavio Javier of Dance Fever Sarasota to dance during the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Barley, a 3-year-old pug of Lakewood Ranch partakes in the festivities with her owner Ashley Ferry.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Stilt walker Natasha Eriksen gets down on Lakewood Ranch resident Michele Schweidel's level to share a laugh.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Prism Artistry's Nicole Grannie said the world told her to put stilts on and dance and she showed that passion at Agave Bandido.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch resident Jake Romine enjoys a margarita despite the impression his shirt may give off at first glance.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Zhanna Canner has worked as a waitress at Agave Bandido for almost a year and gets into the holiday spirit with face paint.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Fire performer Gaby Rosa of Prism Artistry puts some spark into the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Donna Parks of Lakewood Ranch and Theresa Bing of Sarasota stumbled upon the Cinco de Mayo event after they walked four miles around the lake during a workout.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Brittney and John Coleman celebrate Cinco de Mayo with their two sons 5-year-old Cole and 1-year-old Carter. Cinco de Mayo also happens to be Brittney's birthday.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch resident Mark Sulca poses with his mother Divina Brian of Sarasota in between his bartending duties during the Cinco de Mayo party at Agave Bandido.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Nicole Grannie of Prism Artistry has been stilt walking for 10 years.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Tara Warmuth of Lakewood Ranch dances to the music during the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Nicolette Fornasari and Zavio Javier, both of Dance Fever Sarasota, show off their dance moves including salsa, bachata and the Argentine tango.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota 4-year-old Amelia Barfield dances the night away.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota residents Grace Watson and Ryleigh Nader strike poses for the 360 Reese Photobooth. Nader says it was exhilarating, making her feel like she's on a red carpet.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota natives Kara and Tim Kiszak, daughter and father, pose with stilt walker Nicole Grannie.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Fire performer Gaby Rosa, who performs at the Agave Bandido Cinco de Mayo celebration, says she started playing with fire in college.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Myakka City resident Heather Todd and Sarasota resident Lance Mountain came to the Cinco de Mayo Celebration for the best margaritas and the beautiful atmosphere.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Natasha Eriksen became a stilt walker in 2022 and was trained by Nicole Grannie, the other stilt walker at the Cinco de Mayo event at Agave Bandido.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Nicolette Fornasari of Dance Fever Sarasota dances with Olivia Barfield, a 7-year-old who dances at Stage Door Studios in Sarasota during the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Tampa resident Alannis Peterson of Prism Artistry grew up as a professional dancer and when she was introduced to fire she mixed the two.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Karen Strouse of Lakewood Ranch dances all the time. She is celebrating her 40th anniversary with her husband Ben Strouse.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
