Writes of Passage

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.