The Scenestress’ sunny weekend on Lido
June 3rd, 2009 by The Scenestress in Food and Drink, Music, News, Sarasota-Manatee
SUNDAY, MAY 31 — SOUTH LIDO BEACH, SARASOTA
This is what you’re supposed to do in Sarasota. Sit. On a beach. And look at the water. That’s it.
You can certainly add all the accoutrements you like while sunning: boat, beer, umbrella, barbeque, sunscreen, etc. However, the general idea is a lot like those Corona ads (without the bad pun and the lime): cool peoples, cold drinks and the sound of the ocean. Sigh.
Thankfully, the off-season affords one a little more time to appreciate the reasons he or she lives in Sarasota. Today is one of those days.
First, I stopped in to new high school grad Larisa Rose’s afternoon party for a bite and a chat with parents Joe and Carol Micals (you may know Joey as the fantastic piano man at Michael’s on East). After enjoying Carol’s jambalaya and mingling with teenagers and restauranteurs at the beach-front condo, I’m hitting the sand to reminisce about the week…
THURSDAY, MAY 28 — THE BLAG FLAG ON THE MOON, MCC FINE ART GALLERY, BRADENTON
Recently at Olive Oil Co. I met Joseph Loccisano, the currator of MCC’s fine art spot. He told me about a new show he was putting together in honor of Bradenton resident Dolores Black, the woman who made the flag that the Apollo 11 team staked on the moon. Loccisano held an open call for artists and ultimately invited 20 from across the United States to interpret that historic moment for this show. The submissions included an impressive array from the very abstract to representational graphic renderings.
After perusing the gallery while enjoying a glass of Tang I had my photo taken by the Bradenton Herald (ooh la la) and got an autograph from Mrs. Black, also known as the Betsy Ross of the Moon. She looks quite fetching in pink and pretty pearls and is super kind and gracious answering questions. After chatting, it was time for me to take the next small step for womankind, and blast off.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 — THE CLUBHOUSE TAVERN/THE LIDO KEY TIKI BAR, SARASOTA
I had the pleasure of visiting the Clubhouse for the first time this week, and what I love about it is that it feels real. It’s dark, it’s smoky, it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere. It’s great! And the tavern hosts karaoke on Wednesday, which is always good for a laugh. The kid who runs the show takes me back to the mid-’90s with his giant stove-pipe baggy pants, chains and zippers, and spiky hair. But he’s got a good selection on his machine and can definitely belt one out when the queue is empty.
The karaoke is in a room on the side of the bar with a little stage for the singer. All the non-singers pretty much stay out of this room, which is kinda fun for the five of us doing karaoke. It’s like our own little club. Patrons’ tune selections ran the gamut from country to crooning, and metal to Mickey Mouse Club. (OK, OK, maybe I was the one singing Britney Spears: “I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re toxic?”)
I spent the rest of my time at the Clubhouse trying to hide from the joint’s owner, T.K., who insits on doing shots with me. Very generous, no doubt, but I was getting a little concerned about my ability to walk out of the bar, and I knew that “No thank you” would not be an option.
The evening had (like usual) started much earlier, around sunset at the Lido Key Tiki Bar. This happens to be one of the only public- access beach bars in Sarasota, and most don’t even know it exists. The tiki bar used to be a part of the Azure Tides, a spot well-known to locals as an anytime, anything-goes beach hangout. When the Azure was torn down for the new Ritz-Carlton Beach Club, developers kept the structure of the tiki bar and vowed to keep it open to the public. Thus this small hangout has become one of the better kept secrets in town.
If you go, the first thing to know: There is no public parking anywhere near your destination. Your best bet is to park on the side of Ben Franklin Drive at the intersection of Taft along the chain link fence. Not entirely sure about the legality, but it worked for me.
Barkeep Michael cheerfully helped me out, and while the bar specializes in a number of rum drinks I was still reeling from a rum-soaked night a few weeks back and decided to go with what I know — a good ol’ fashioned Patrón margarita. Heaven in a plastic cup.
The bar is casual and comforatble, a good place to catch up with a friend or wind down with a beverage overlooking a beautiful sunset. And so the week ends where it began, on the beach, looking out over the sparking gulf waters. I’m looking forward to summer, I tell ya.
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January 5th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
[...] making some new friends and crawling into the office the next day with one helluva hangover. I also hit the beaches for margaritas at the little-known Lido Key Tiki Bar and a Sunday pool party at The Colony organized by Klauber [...]