Community Calendar

Cherry Docs by David Gow
Presented by Sarasota Jewish Theatre at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239
Preview: April 8, 7:30 p.m.
Performances: April 10, 12, 15, 17, 19 at 1:30 p.m.; April 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets ($34-46): ThePlayers.org or 941-365-2494
“Cherry Docs” by David Gow
Directed by Diane Cepeda
When Mike Downey (Jim Floyd), a small-time white supremacist, is charged with the brutal murder of an immigrant, the case appears open-and-shut. The crime is savage, the motive hateful, and public outrage immediate. Assigned to defend him is Danny Dunkelman (Michael Raver), a young Jewish lawyer and the son of a Holocaust survivor. For Danny, the appointment is more than professionally challenging. It is morally explosive. How does a man whose family history is scarred by genocide stand beside someone who glorifies it? Single tickets are $34-$46. For more information about Sarasota Jewish Theatre, visit SarasotaJewishTheatre.org.

Go nose to nose with Big John, the World’s Largest Triceratops, in an immersive and playful dinosaur exhibit at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Downtown Tampa. Whether you have a child at home or not, all are welcome to visit this colossal exhibit, 66 million years in the making.

Award-winning and internationally recognized artist Janet Echelman (American) is renowned for her soaring installations that merge ancient craft with cutting-edge technology. Using centuries-old fishing net knotting techniques, Echelman transforms humble materials into ethereal sculptures that visualize natural phenomena and the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment.
Radical Softness offers a rare, intimate look at Echelman’s artistic evolution, tracing her journey from early explorations in drawing, painting, and textiles to the monumental, netted sculptures that have redefined public spaces around the world. This exhibition contextualizes the artist’s practice, revealing the narratives, influences, and processes that drive her work. At its core, the exhibition highlights Echelman’s use of softness as a powerful tool—not only in material but as a philosophy. Showcasing a selection of works from across all four decades of the artist’s path-breaking career, along with a series of never-before-seen cyanotypes, Radical Softness reveals how an artist’s work can bring people together and carve out space for reflection in an ever-changing world.
Founded in New York City and based in Boston, Studio Echelman’s impact is global. A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, Harvard Loeb Fellowship, Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award, Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellowship, and Fulbright Lectureship, her monumental sculptures span five continents. Recent commissions include Remembering the Future at the MIT Museum (2025), Butterfly Rest Stop in Frisco, Texas (2024), Current in Columbus, Ohio (2023), Bending Arc at the St. Pete Pier in Florida (2020), Earthtime Korea (2020), Impatient Optimist at The Gates Foundation in Seattle (2015), and 1.8 Renwick at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (2015), among others.
Janet Echelman: Radical Softness is organized by Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design and curated by Lacie Barbour, associate curator of exhibitions at Sarasota Art Museum.

Image: Janet Echelman (American). Study (Butterfly Rest Stop 1/9 scale), Rome, Italy, 2022. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Giovanni DeAngelis.

Imagine Museum proudly participates in Museums for All — simply present your SNAP Benefit card and photo ID to one of our associates upon arrival and enjoy $3.00 admission to the museum. Children ages 6 and under are free.

MAACM Cicada in Flight Glass Class
Friday, April 10 and 17, 2026; 10am to 1pm
Try your hand at leaded glass with this new and beautiful level 1 project depicting the cicada in flight. Registration for this class includes two 3-hr glass sessions. Closed-toed shoes are required to participate in class. Class fee: Non-members: $125, Members $110.

Join us for an artistic journey geared toward young artventurers every Saturday! Led by our friendly associates, children ages 4-11 will be guided through our world-class glass art galleries. They will then have the opportunity to unleash their imagination and express themselves with a fun and engaging craft activity.

We are thrilled to invite you to the 3rd annual "Vision in Bloom," the delightful tea party fundraiser hosted by Lions World Vision Institute and Working Women of Tampa Bay, taking place on Friday, April 10, 2026.

Set amidst the historic cigar factory in Ybor City, the LWVI headquarters will come alive with charm, camaraderie, and a shared purpose. Together, we'll celebrate sight and community in an elegant and inspiring setting.

Lions World Vision Institute, dedicated to vision as a basic human right, is honored to collaborate with the entrepreneurial women of Working Women of Tampa Bay. Our combined efforts aim to inspire, educate, and motivate all attendees.

Join us for tea, scrumptious treats, and meaningful conversations as we work together to cultivate a brighter tomorrow, where unity and compassion blossom into tangible change. It will be a fun and memorable afternoon, so bring your girlfriends and dress in your best tea attire as we come together for a great cause!

The 2026 Gasparilla Music Festival, presented by Water Street Tampa, returns April 10–12 at its new downtown home, Meridian Fields. Headliners Mt. Joy (Friday), Two Friends (Saturday), and Gov’t Mule (Sunday) lead a stacked lineup of 30+ artists, including Shakey Graves, Jai Wolf, Drive-By Truckers, Bryce Vine, and GZA.

Kick off your weekend under the stars at the Friday Night Moonlight Market at The Hub at Bexley! Enjoy live music, explore unique finds from local vendors, and discover special Friday night deals from nearby restaurants, including adult beverages to sip while you shop. Bring the whole family – including your furry friends – to this fun, family- and pet-friendly event! Join us for an evening filled with local charm, music, and Friday night vibes in Land O Lakes!

Join the Child Protection Center for the 13th Annual Blue Ties and Butterflies, a magical night of bringing transformational healing to survivors of child abuse right here in our own community.

The evening will begin with a beautiful cocktail reception followed by a delicious dinner, splendid live and silent auctions, and an empowering mission moment with former elite gymnast Emily Meinke, who highlights the momentous power we each have in prevention and will share her journey from victim to survivor after testifying against U.S. Olympic doctor Larry Nassar. The night will conclude in a joyous celebration of hope, music, and dancing as we commemorate all that our community makes possible in protecting vulnerable children.

The Child Protection Center responds to more than 3,200 reports of abuse and neglect annually in Sarasota and Desoto Counties. The problem is glaring, and the work we do is critical to the health, safety, and well-being of our community. Investing in children is the greatest way for our future to be bright. Your support brings hope to trauma victims, healing to survivors, and longevity to support our mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. Together we can change lives, forever.

Guests are encouraged to dress in Cocktail or Formal attire.