Longboat Key, Florida
I am here to state
Judy Garland
I’m here to relate
To explain
and make it plain:
I`m just wild about Harry…
Harry’s Continental Kitchen‘s opened on Longboat Key in 1978 and numerous customers must agree because Harry’s remains a wildly popular eatery. The restaurant corner buzzes as a beehive of activity with local residents, returning snowbirds and visitors to the Sarasota area.
Continue reading I’m Just Wild About Harry
Nearly everyone remembers something special about attending their first circus: a nervousness while watching the high-wire act, the crack of the lion-trainer’s whip, the smell of elephants and peanuts. Big Top memories are multi-generational, often rekindled by adults accompanying their children to a performance. And, if you’re lucky, relived again with a grandchild.
I recently had the opportunity to watch legendary Ringling Brothers clown, Chuck Sidlow, prepare for a Circus Sarasota performance. His transformation began at his feet and worked up to the wig on his head, with the majority of time spent on his clown face. While Chuck applied greasepaint, he explained that clowns rarely “red” their upper lip- to better show their exaggerated expressions and they generously powder their make-up to keep it in place.
Clowning has been Sidlow’s life-long profession and he takes the job seriously. He cavorts his animated body with practiced ease, knowing exactly how to maneuver it to coax a smile onto a stranger’s face. His facial expressions move like silly putty on steroids. Mr. Sidlow provides his joyful humor therapy through Laughter Unlimited, the outreach program sponsored by Circus Sarasota to enlighten memory impaired patients.
I also heard famed aerialist Dolly Jacobs speak about growing up in the circus. Dolly is a headliner, a pint-sized lady with supersized beauty inside and out. She reminisced about her famous father, Lou Jacobs– likely recognized only in his clown attire. He was renown for stuffing his body into an impossibly tiny motorized car. (Here’s a photo of the car displayed at the Ringling Museum.)
Dolly along with her husband, Pedro Reis, founded Circus Sarasota, a non-profit group contributing to the community by enriching, educating and entertaining in 1997. They remain the celebrated ringleaders.
Circus Sarasota will present a one-ring tent show from February 3-26, 2011 to raise funds for these outreach programs. Their production far exceeds typical circus acts, they exhibit performances on par with the highest levels in international competitions. Gather up the gang and head to Florida’s cultural capital, Sarasota, for a family entertainment spectacular sure to create memories for children of all ages.
For more information visit www.CircusSarasota.org.
To watch Chuck Sidlow transform from street attire into a clown, please view my YouTube presentation:
Sometimes it takes a push to get out the door in your own hometown. When you’re on the road and away from home as much as I am, who stays in a local hotel? However, the International Food, Wine and Travel Writer’s Association, of which I’m a member, was holding a two day conference in nearby Jacksonville Beach.
So, I checked in, though somewhat embarrassed to admit I’d never set foot in the Casa Marina Hotel before. The Historic Hotel of America is a grand dame dating back to 1925 and restored to reflect the timeless glamor of the era.
Seems that Jacksonville was an “in” spot during the Roaring Twenties when the hotel first opened her doors. Why the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, John D. Rockefeller and President’s Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman visited the area. Jacksonville Beach boasted a boardwalk, dance casino’s, restaurants, amusement rides and wide beaches where automobiles were allowed to drive. (You can verify this by viewing the old photos lining the hallways.)
During the war years of 1939 to 1945 the government appropriated the Casa Marina for military housing. Afterward a succession of owners and renovations took place.
Recently the Spanish Mediterranean-style hotel was recognized by The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 as one of their “Top Wedding Professionals.” Brides agree as nearly 150-175 weddings are held in house each year. And please realize, this is an intimate 27-room hotel.
The seclusion of the inner courtyard, the view from the third floor penthouse and the nearness of the ocean bring an enchanted calm to the inn. The food is outstanding and the treasured staff are most gracious and trusted by general Manager, Mark Vandeloo. He must be doing something right as turnover is rare.
Visiting a Jacksonville hotel turned out to be a real treat in my own backyard.
