Writes of Passage

481 N Orange Ave,
Sarasota, FL 34236

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp; add it to TA

Will return.

Dark wood and granite (?) decor on a lovely street. It has indoor and outdoor sections. A big fireplace outside.

Love their thin stems and water tumblers. … but then the server gave us different glasses the second run: dull and thick. If I knew I would not have ordered another drink.
Ok, I went to the bar and asked for a thin stem.

Like their spicy olive oil a lot.

Are they New York Italian? No sure: is it Little Italy Italian or Arthur Avenue in Bronx Italian? In any case, their food is delicious.

We’ve
– arugula salad w/ Shiitake mushrooms
– eggplant rollatini
– clams in white
– mussels in red with raw garlic and pungent wine sauce… and I took the sauce home – can’t take me anywhere.

Thanks for deciding the salad. When they brought the hot food, they warned us that the plates are hot … in fact, non of the three are hot, not even warm.

I thought the eggplant rollatini would be thin and small that I can finish it all as an appetizer. Wrong: three large and fat piece: a little too ‘meaty’. After one I felt I’m full.

We’re too full to try their dessert.
Next time.

The busy girl (?) is pleasant, warm and cute.

Rushing home to watch the rest of Super Bowl!

Holley Hall
709 N Tamiami Trl
Sarasota, FL 34236

… more

This 400 seat hall is one of Sarasota Orchestra performing venues.

William Yang is performing his first concert after his win in Miami last month. He’s good but his appearance could use some update: nerdy, greasy and woody. Un-enthusiasm might be his style. I closed my eyes and thinking of Lang Lang  郎朗 (1982-), Khatia Buniatishvili (1987-) and Wang Yuja 王羽佳 (1987-): lively, infectious and the tremoring hair.

• The program
• Sarasota Orchestra
• Van Wezel
• Pazzo on Orange

Yang took $100k prize in Miami as well the guaranteed entry to Warsaw in October. Good luck kiddo.

His performance is presented by the Polish-American Association of Sarasota, a town with 57k residents. I’m impressed. English isn’t the predominating language; we’re the only Asians in the audience.

After every piece, Yang bows 90 degrees followed by a little nod while left hand on the piano. He speaks briefly after the Polonaise Fantasy in Ab Major Op. 61 which was his winning piece last month. My impression of him seems to improved a little.

During the intermission, five or six Europeans (likely Polish) smoke by the entrance, which is very inconvenient to us when we want to go out for a moment.

Yang seems loosening up a little when he attacks Quatre Mazurkas Op 33, D major (Vivace)

The two co-chair women thankfully talked about their association’s relationship with Chopin Miami, which enable them to put out this performance, every five years. They couldn’t scan the digital tickets, and their event isn’t on their calendar, shows, perhaps, this isn’t Sarasota Orchestra sanctioned.

After the show, an elderly woman climbed up to the stage to take a selfie with him and asked his to sign her program. This uncouth conduct is shocking.

Then more laugh followed, when the two co-chair presented him a bouquet of flowers, then took out a limp red bag (for what??), and fish out a white t shirt from it … It’s pretty embarrassing for all.

William Yang (2001-)

23岁的娃 上个月赢了迈亚密的肖邦赛. 10月会去华沙比赛 的祝福 (希望他能够改善一下外表 别像个中年油腻大叔[闭嘴])

这是他赢后第一场演奏. 主办方是一不到六万人 小城的波兰美国协会.
完后 一大妈爬上台… 200观众看的目瞪口呆
二个主持人送完花. 还加送一红袋子和白T恤. … 哄堂大笑

1200 1st Ave W,
Bradenton, FL 34205

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA & OpenTable.

Will return.

On the Manatee River, west of Green Bridge. Huge. Indoor and out sections. Busy. Fish tanks. Red sauce. Warm bread – 70 degree is cool by the water. Good service and very good food.

We’ve

1. Escargo
2. Calamari w/ white sauce
3. Grouper cake w/ white sauce
4. Chowder
5. Mushroom Arancini w/ red sauce

All are delicious, except the two white sauces – just too sweet. I asked for their red instead, which is so much better. I also don’t care for their butter which is house made with butter, cream cheese, Boursin – tastes good but I prefer the simple butter.

The chowder is good but Smith & Wollensky’s having had it just couple of weeks ago, is better, not as thick.

If I’ve to pick one in this area, I prefer this one over Oak n Stone.

Parking is relatively easy on this Monday night.

A very good stop before the ballet.

FSU Center for the performing Arts
5555 N Tamiami Trl,
Sarasota, FL 34243

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Will return.

A town with 54,842 residents, their ballet company is quite exceptional. Although they perform at various sites, including the Opera House, this venue, next to Ringling Museum, is their main home, with 661 seats. Many patrons do dress up for the occasion.

1. Mertz Theatre: 535 seats
2. Opera House: 1,119 seats
3. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall: 1,741 seats

This ballet company was founded in 1987 by dancer Jean Weidner-Goldstein (Your observer; Tribune). The current director Iain Webb (1959-) was once a dancer, started out with Royal Ballet (1931-) of UK.

Tonight’s performance P4 Quintessential has three individual segments:

1. Rococo Variations | Choreography by Renato Paroni | Music by Tchaikovsky
2. Brandenburgs | Choreography by Paul Taylor | Music by Bach
3. World Premiere | Choreography by Gemma Bond | Music by Rachmaninov

Modern ballet with classical music – a good combo. The Tchaikovsky piece is in light blue tutu; the second and the third are modern costume, skimpy skintight.

I enjoyed the first two, especially the second one by Rachmaninov. Reportedly many come to see the third. Oh well, I’m not a Bach fan -:)

Rachmaninov’s music sounds tumultuous, struggles, pathos but this ballet interpretation is beautiful and well done. I also like their costume the best, simple clean line is aesthetically pleasing. All dancers are more or less of the same physique, with good skill.

I don’t really follow ballet but saw Misty Copeland once. No one in this ballet company is of Misty Copeland’s fame but the dancers are very enjoyable to watch.

Out of curiosity, I googled the following annual budget:

1. $102m The New York City Ballet’s (NYCB) 2024
2. $45m The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) where Copeland dances
3. $9m Sarasota … oh well – someone is doing well with less

We’ve dinner at Pier 22 in Bradenton.