Writes of Passage

1766 Main St
Sarasota, FL 34236

… more pix n videos on google maps, Yelp n TA

Will return.

Many black and white photos on the walls are beautiful and interesting. Girls in the bathroom walls are provocatively enchanting. 1958 was the last year that the Cubans existed as a whole on the island. Since then, one million plus hit the roads around the world for a new home. This owner came to US.

The stems look nice but are rather thick. Good service with delicious food:

1. Empanada with spinach & cheese
2. Marquitas con Guacamole
3. Croquetas de la Casa Cod
4. sandwich Guajiro – pork

All three are great, except the sandwich is tasteless.

Using cigar box for bill is cool: The Library uses books.

No hooks under the bar counter. The only handicap is the regular high ceiling.

The two men band plays before we left for our opera. Next time

Hmmmm… this one or Pazzo on Orange, Italian?

Off to The Marriage of Figaro.

… more

Sarasota Opera House

The third of 4 operas of the winter season: The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart (1856-91).

It’s a long production: 3:45 with 3 intermissions. The cast performed well. Michelle Johnson (the countess Almaviva) is wonderful, who reminds me of Denyce Graves (1964-) but perhaps a generation younger (1983?-).

Marriage of Figaro (1786) by Mozart was based on the same characters as Barber of Seville. Both are comedy.

这是第四次看莫扎特的 费加罗的婚礼. 百看不厌. 小莫的音乐优雅 愉悦 明亮 流连忘返. 好可惜英年早逝.

四次之中的一次是俺娃的中学. 每年都会上演一部完整的歌剧. 我知道但没去 以为是儿戏. 直到俺娃进升学后拉琴. 哇哇哇 迷倒 被粉了. 真牛. 据说是美国唯一一家公立学校… 正好那次是一特别有天赋的男娃 他一开口 俺以为是CD😂 声音圆润饱满洪亮. 听说他去了百老汇.

1441 E Fletcher Ave, Ste 115,
Tampa, FL 33612

… more pix on google maps, Yelp, TA, FB

Will return, especially when I want a quick meal.

A minute does make a difference.

Unaware they open at 5, when the door is locked, we decided to go to the Cantonese restaurant a few doors to the left. Unfortunately it closes on Tuesdays. So we turned around, heading to the Beijing House, which is to Red Bowl’s right. As we’re passing by RB, a couple goes in. Guess were we a few seconds early or late, would have missed their grand entrance, and our opportunity. A few seconds make a difference.

Good service and delicious food. We’ve mapo tofu and Dan Dan noodle.

One young girl is serving, who suggested to me to order mild for my noodles, even I told her that I enjoy jalapeño and wanted the medium. As it turned out, ‘mild’ degree tastes like no spicy at all; so the server brought me a little chilly powder.

The Dandan noodle, is delicious but it’s not authentic one I remembered. To be fair, theirs is like nearly all other restaurants, with soup, veggies … I thought it should be dry like Alfredo. Maybe what I remembered wasn’t the right way to do it due to lack of ingredients in Beijing at the time.

A Chinese lady (owner? Chef?) came out to social. She hugged the woman who came in first. Then came to our table, said “I heard your noodle isn’t spicy enough.” I told her that the powder works fine and thank her for taking the time to check on us. She then moves to the table behind us and chats in Mandarin with the young couple.

By the time we left, one more young Chinese couple came.

Off to the author talk – Jamie Ford @ the library

HCPLC
2902 W Bearss Ave
Tampa, FL 33618

Novalist Jamie Ford @ Jimmie B Keel Regional Library, Tampa.

Mr. Ford is here to take about his book/novel, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy (2022).

Afong Moy (1815/20-?) was from Guangzhou, the first Chinese woman to immigrate to US, in 1834. She became a prop, an curiosity,  being exhibited across the U.S., especially her bounded feet. She was ‘famous’ and was even summoned to White House to meet President Andrew Jackson (in office 1829-37). However, by 1850, news about her was all vanished. Rumor had it that she died on the street in Guangzhou (?).

This, perhaps is my first author meet. There are about 40 or so people attending, mostly women and mostly white. Three Chinese, two are, perhaps ABCs.

Ford is a very engaging presenter, precise and clear. He first talks about himself (4 daughters, etc.), his books (him in Henry… aims to entertain and educate), and this book (all about inherit traumas; Dorothy 2043 is the main character ), read a paragraph of this book (perhaps readers want to listen how the author read with own work, as concert goers would love to listen to composer plays their own work – how to interpret …), then Q&A.

• being banned: collateral damage – from 2010 to 2017 his book was banned in Arizona due to ban on ethnic study – not to incite resentment. He said “meaning make white people uncomfortable.”
• Norway 100% literacy
• Sparknote – summer reading.
• this book translated into 35 languages
• China Shanghai publisher gave him a great deal that he wondered if it’s a typo; but took 18 months to go through sensor. It’s a best seller in Taiwan and HK, in traditional characters. 中国 以繁体字出版 是台湾和香港的畅销书. 上海一出版社给了他很棒的合同, 好到他怀疑人生 – 是不是打错字; 但花了18 个月才通过了审查. 可能马上会出版 说是又在/还在 嚼文咽字ing.

Tampa, Florida

^{A handsome Great Blue Heron 大蓝鹭}

Gulfport is a popular name: there is one in Mississippi, and one in Illinois. Any more?

This Florida one is in Pinellas County, incorporated in 1910. Current population is 11,783 (2020 census), with a mayor (Samuel Henderson) and a city manager (James E. O’Reilly).

Beach Blvd South is their Art District. From the Public Library down south to the shore, the few blocks are filled shops, cafes, restaurants, Pia Trattoria, bars, and arty vendors filled either sides of the sidewalks.

Loofahs 丝瓜 are selling at $14 at one vendor on the western side of the street. I remembered using it at bath in Beijing. Out of curiosity, I googled loofah:

Is Your Loofah Full of Bacteria? by Cleveland Clinic showed on top:
“This puffy shower accessory can become lodged with skin cells (and other gross things), so make sure you dry it daily and clean it once a week”

My cousin told me that loofah 丝瓜很好种,好吃,产量高 Luffa is easy to grow, delicious, and has a high yield.

A few businesses on the Shore Blvd South are severely damaged by the storm Hurricane Helene on Sept 26, 2024. Some are recovered partially while others are still skeletons.

The casino @ 5500 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport, FL 33707 was built in 1934. But looks like been an event venue for some time and is closed current, probably due to the storm too.

It’s a little over 6 miles to Palladium Theater.

3054 Beach Blvd
Gulfport, FL 33707

… more pix n videos on google maps, Yelp n TA

Will return.

This Italian restaurant is family owned and operates, with two locations, across street from each other. The indoor one has been in biz for 20 years and the northern side of the street has mostly outdoor  – opened three years ago. They looked rambling and is sizable.

We dinned in the outdoor side because we did’t have reservation for this Friday – reservation is recommended for weekends.

Lush. Great atmosphere on a 67° day. Generous spacing between tables. Good service and food. Two men band plays jazz after 6pm.

Reportedly their bread is excellent but we didn’t order – too much to stomach. Maybe next time.

Wine glasses could use something better – but the outdoor tables are on the shaky ground. So I’m resting my case -:)

The house wine GL Italian cab is better than the Mont D’Abruzzo.

We’ve

1. calamari (not fried)
2. mussels in red wine
3. eggplant parm

They’re all yummy. Large portion. No seafood fork provided for my mussels. Mussels are clean and all opened. I would have the tiramisu but I also wanted to catch the sunset. So next time too -:)

Outside of the bathroom, there is handwriting note on the wall:

Enjoy your meal? Buy your chefs a round

$20

Gulfport is a lovely seaside town. A Little Night Music at Palladium is good too.

Palladium
St. Pete, Fl

… a few more pix & videos on Yelp.

A Little Night Music (1973) is a Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) 👍

The name is the same as Mozart’s English translation of Serenade No. 13, K. 525, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, but it has nothing to do with it. The popular song “Send In the Clowns” is beautiful. (Judy Collins)

Before the show starts, a man (forgot his name) said the theater is planing a renovation. Fundraising is underway: one can spend $1,000+ to name a seat. Hope the new theater would usher in new conduct, such as, enforce the later comers will have to stay till the intermission; no candy warpers … Gosh … sometimes it could feel like a zoo.

The production / singer / acting are all decent. On average, the actors have better figures than the opera.

音乐动听 歌喉好 制作不错 (不和百老汇比)
轻轻松松 笑声不断 嘻嘻哈哈

We’ve dinner at Pia’s in Gulfport.

A windy day 🌬️

As usual, it blows the falling petals of my beautiful bougainvilleas everywhere, and some get on the screen, like a painting.

Horticulture – joy of gardening

风情万种 [偷笑]
落地的花瓣儿 仍然美丽

1100 N Tuttle Ave #8,
Sarasota, FL 34237

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Probably will return to Mariscos Azteca Mexican Seafood Restaurant

Hearty home cooked food. Tight door. The confetti (?) from the ceiling make the room looks like a kiddie party.

The west facing front has shades, which makes the small hall dark. But it maybe necessary: we sat at the last table facing the door. Every time the door opens I need to readjust my eyes.

Heavy-duty corn chips are good. Thin stem; steaming hot food. Good service. Large portion. We’ve:

• Mariscada Azteca
• Carne a la Mexicans

Both are steaming hot and yummy, and doggie bags.

Teppanyaki (?) makes the room smoky.

I also visited The small Latin Brother’s Market next and purchased their chicken flavor bouillon … why?  Pix here.

Off to The Barber of Seville.

Sarasota Opera

The 2nd production of the winter season: The Barber of Seville is an opera buffa (comic opera) in two acts by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), premiered in Rome, 1816. Cesare Sterbini (1784-1831) wrote the Italian libretto, based on Pierre Beaumarchais (1732-99) French comedy of the same name (1775). 

Rossini named the main character – the barber – Figaro, which made me think of next opera: Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (1786), which was based Pierre Beaumarchais’ comedy of the same name, staged in 1784. But it wasn’t a tribute Rossini paid to Mozart.

Rosina, the rich ward of Mr. Bartolo is played by mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali (her site). I thought she did a marvelous job, portraying the title role, spontaneity and agile, giving the part a youthful look.  

A wacky love story. 一个古灵精怪的爱情故事.

巴托洛先生的富家女罗西娜由女中音丽莎·玛丽·罗加利 (Lisa Marie Rogali)扮演. 我认为她演得非常出色, 既自然又敏捷, 让这个角色看起来年轻富有有活力.

爱情是永恒的主题

这几天教皇病重. 教皇们和天主教神父不可以结婚. 百分比非常高的教父们副业是性骚扰. 是刚需? 那教皇有没有? 有时怎么办? 如果解禁 性骚扰幼童会不会减少?

Dinner at Mariscos was good.