Congratulations to our buddy Brian Hersh on his new WSRQ Sarasota Talk Radio show, The Mezz, devoted to covering the diverse and prolific arts scene in Sarasota/Manatee. His first show aired last Saturday at 1pm. The show will broadcast live every Saturday from the Blackbird Home Gallery on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. Hersh is currently the Education & Outreach Director for Asolo Repertory Theatre where he carries out his mantra: breaking down barriers and building bridges – making the arts accessible for all. Sarasota Talk Radio can be heard on 106.9FM or 1220AM.

Through Jan 28
[ remembering leslie lerner ]

These are the last few days to see "Places, People, Recollections," at the Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art Gallery. It’s an exhibition featuring paintings, prints, and drawings by Leslie Lerner reflecting a lifetime of creation. Lerner was a painting instructor at Ringling College of Art and Design for 15 years and twice a recipient of a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Achievement Award. His work is in numerous museum collections, including the Corcoran Museum of Art, Arkansas Arts Center, Oakland Museum, the Progressive Corporation and the Norton Museum of Art.

Jan 20
[ watercolors at towles court ]

This Friday’s Towles Court Art Walk will be filled with plenty of happenings. One of them is a show of Phyllis Nathan’s impressive watercolors at her studio/gallery. Every store, studio and restaurant will be open from 6 – 10 pm.

Jan 20
[ downbeat rising star aaron weinstein ]

Named a "rising star violinist" by "Downbeat" magazine, Aaron Weinstein is quickly earning a reputation as one of the finest jazz violinists of his generation. This 7:30 pm concert at Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, presented by the Jazz Club of Sarasota, features Weinstein with pianist Tedd Firth, and bassist Don Mopsick, performing selections from the American Songbook. $25 for Jazz Club members; $30 non-members. 941-366-1552

Jan 21
[ count me in! I’m a history geek! ]

Saturday will be like Disney World in Sarasota for history geeks. Do I go to the Haunted House or Space Mountain? Two choices, same day, same time. Sat, 10am – 12 noon. The Historical Society of Sarasota County has Trolley Tour scheduled departing from Pioneer Park. Next, the Genealogical Society of Sarasota has a program at the downtown Selby Library. Follow the links to their websites for more!

Jan 21
[ guitarsarasota ]

The Kithara Duo, Olga Amelkina-Vera & Fernand Vera, are performing at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Bahia Vista Street, 7:30 pm in a program presented by GuitarSarasota. Individual tickets are $25 for non-members, and $20 for GuitarSarasota members.

Jan 21
[ new music diva, too? ]

Yes, it’s high season in Sarasota when there are 10 gazillion things to see in one day and you are good friends with all of them, but Saturday seems to be the Day for Divas. New Music New College brings back Pianist Kathleen Supové, "Digital Diva” for an 8 pm performance at the Sainer Pavilion on the Bayside Campus of New College. Tickets $15; reservations call 941-487-4888

Jan 22 - 23
[ the diamonds ]

Venice Theatre MainStage Concert presents The Diamonds! Best known for their hit “Little Darlin” the Diamonds offer tight harmonies, humor, lively choreography and fantastic instrumentals. Don’t miss this blast-from-the-past celebration featuring ‘60s hits like “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” “the Stroll” and “Silhouettes.” Classic Rock and Roll at its finest! January 22 (8pm) & 23, 2012 (3pm & 8pm) tickets here or call: 941-488-1115.

Jan 22 - Feb19
[ jewels on the bay designer showhouse ]

We love our Sarasota architecture, homes and interior design. The 17th annual Jewels on the Bay Designer Showhouse benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee and Sarasota Counties features bungalow and ranch-style homes west of the Trail in Sarasota. Thirty top Sarasota area designers will transform two homes in historic Bay Point Park for the 2012 Jewels on the Bay Show house, to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Showhouse dates are Jan. 22 through Feb. 19, 2012. Tours will begin at 1524 Bay Point Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236. Showhouse tickets are $20 per person. Call Carol Field at (941)780-1790 or visit their site.

Jan 26
[ forever footprints book signing ]

Venice Art Center presents a book signing for Kathleen F. Cellura’s inspiring new book, Forever Footprints. The signing and reception take place from 5-7 on January 26th. All novel proceeds go directly to the Kathleen F. Cellura Foundation at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Grants will be awarded only to South Sarasota County non-profit organizations.

Jan 27
[ sarasota orchestra in bradenton ]

One of the best kept secrets is that Neel Performing Arts Center on the campus of SCF in Bradenton is a delightfully comfortable place to enjoy the Sarasota Orchestra. Tickets are a little less pricey, Check out this Friday night concert, 8 pm, featuring Mahler’s First Symphony and violinist Chloë Hanslip in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Tickets here.

Jan 27 - 29
[ big time ballet – nearly sold out ]

If you’ve been thinking you should test the waters and see the ballet company everyone has been talking about, this is a great weekend to do it. But then, everyone else has the same idea. Tickets are scarce for Made in America, but still exist for the some shows. You’ll see George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations, Salute by Johan Kobborg, and Will Tuckett’s Spielende Kinder at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts – if you are lucky! I suggest you call 941.359.0099 ext 101 and tell ‘em AnythingArts.com sent you!

Jan 27 - Feb 19
[ raisin in the sun ]

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's production of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Show opens January 25 through February 19th. Tues-Sat 8p and Sunday 2p matinee. Tickets are $28.  Hope, racism, feminism and pride are some of the themes in this play about a poor black family's struggle to gain middle-class acceptance in 1950s Chicago. Named the best play of 1959 by the NY Drama Critics’ Circle, and nominated for four Tony Awards, the effects of dreams deferred remain relevant today. For tickets click here.

Jan 28
[ for the broadway babies – jerry herman! ]

Michael Lasser & Friends are known for their blending of music and snappy smart commentary and they are back in town to celebrate Jerry Herman. If you have ever hummed a tune from Hello Dolly! Mame or La Cage aux Folles, then you know and love the work of the American composer and lyricist, Jerry Herman. The show is at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center and tickets are available here.

Jan 29
[ floridiana festival & highwaymen artist show ]

Go ahead. Go native and bask in the Florida memorabilia, tropical touches & highwaymen artists at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg next Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Many of the U.S.’s premier collectors of Floridiana will be exhibiting and you’ll find everything for sale from fun Florida travel ephemera and tacky tourist treasures like alligator handbags and flamingo figurines, to sought-after collectibles such as hand-painted jewelry with miniature Florida scenes, vintage Florida photographic art, and citrus and cigar box labels. Discover small furnishings and lighting made of Cypress knee woods, vintage wall mirrors with flamingo images, ceramic statues of tropical birds, and old Florida art. Decorators will especially enjoy the tropical backcloths and other vintage fabrics. (map to theater)

Jan 30
[ song of america ]

Star baritone on the Met and a favorite of Leonard Bernstein, Thomas Hampson will be will perform selections from his 'Song of America' project, which includes songs by Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Charles Ives, and other prominent American composers." The 8 pm performance is presented by the Sarasots Concert Association at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Tickets and information are available by calling 941-955-0040 or visiting their site.

Call for Entries
EXTENDED to Jan 31

TV ME! Pitch/Concept Contest for New Television Content

Feb 2
[ women’s celebration of color ]

Eight Sarasota artists known as AWE, Artistic Women's Expressions, serves up a Celebration of Color in a collection of original art at the Women's Resource Center in Sarasota from Feb 2 through March 29. Join them at the Opening Reception on Feb 2 from 5p.m. to 7p.m.

Feb 3-10
[ the case of the purple porpoise ]

Set in Englewood of 1947 and New Jersey of 1957, the great Englewood detective (a fisherman) must deal with Red Tide, murder, snowstorms, and live television production. With interludes of original music by Linda Lou Lewis, Cheryl Baker, and Gaile Harpan as well as songs from the ‘90s era – the 1890s, that is. It’s an original play being presented by the Lemon Bay Fest at the Historic Green Church in Englewood. For tickets call 941-474-3764. Shows at 7 pm each night through Feb 10.

Feb 9
[ zanland, for only the lucky ]

Heads up! We like to call her our own, by the now rising star of the comedy circuit, Zan, will be bringing her one-woman show to Sarasota on Feb 9. The show will take place at Home Resource, and seating is limited to 50 people. Tickets to Zanland are $10 online (there is $1.50 fee) and $15 at the door.