Pop Quiz: What is the cultural capital of Florida?
Would you guess Miami, the gateway to the Caribbean within the continental United States and a city with an airport offering direct flights to destinations as diverse as Oslo, Norway and Santa Cruz, Bolivia? Miami would be a good guess, but that's not the answer. How about Orlando, home to the world's most visited theme park that welcomes more than 60 million tourists each year? Or perhaps you guessed Jacksonville in the northeastern corner of Florida, a city so close to Georgia you could almost reach across the border and give someone in the Peach State a high five? Good guesses but all wrong. The correct answer is: Sarasota is the cultural capital of Florida and here's why...
A Tiny Gem on the Sun Coast
Sarasota is a small city on the Gulf of Mexico with a population of less than 60,000. Much of that population is comprised of snowbirds who hightail it north during our blistering summers, so you could cut that number in half come April. Yet, despite its diminutive size, Sarasota offers a stunning array of cultural opportunities, from jazz and opera to circus history and art galleries.
Art Galleries
Elegant galleries line the palm tree-studded avenues of downtown Sarasota. Here are Suncoast Girl's top picks for art lovers:
Wyland Galleries: An entire gallery is dedicated to showcasing the nautical paintings of internationally recognized artist Wyland. If you want to decorate your home with pictures of dolphins at sunset and majestic underwater scenes, this is the place to go. Located in the swanky St. Armand's Circle shopping district, you'll want to stop for a bite to eat at one of the many fresh seafood restaurants just steps from the gallery.
Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy: The candy pink building is as inviting as the colorful flamingos and ballerinas that adorn the outdoor sculpture garden. A trip to this museum will surely take away your blues, even if it's a rainy day on the Sun Coast. The gallery's motto, after all, is "tickled pink" and you will be.
Music
In addition to the art galleries of Sarasota, the city also has its own symphony and an opera house that puts on a full calendar of musical events throughout the year, plus classic film screenings in the spacious and comfortable auditorium. Recent operas have ranged from Rossini's rarely produced The Italian Girl in Algiers to Bizet's worldwide sensation Carmen.
If you'd rather listen to a smoky-voiced jazz singer than a soaring soprano, the Jazz Club of Sarasota puts on a rhythmic roster of shows during peak season, including several free concerts in various parks.
The Circus
And let's not forget that Sarasota is the birthplace of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Due to passionate pleas from animal activists, the circus industry is rapidly changing. But that's not to say you can't enjoy a team of graceful acrobats on stage.
Beyond Sarasota: The Cultural Coast of Florida
We have just scratched the shiny surface of why Sarasota is the cultural capital of Florida. In case you're still skeptical, Florida Homes Magazine has dubbed the whole region surrounding Sarasota as the "Cultural Coast of Florida" stretching north to Bradenton and south to Venice. Bradenton nurtures its cultural side with an enclave of galleries known as the Village of the Arts while Venice sports a theatre that hosts fan favorites like The Rocky Horror Show and A Christmas Carol.
Sarasota and its environs present big city amenities at small city prices and convenience. You won't have to pay $18 an hour to store your wheels in a parking garage while you're seeing a show. You can park for free on the street and save the extra money for dinner at a charming waterfront restaurant. You also won't be sitting in traffic after a night out or bumping into strange humanity while you try to navigate as a timid pedestrian. Do bring a sweater, though, but not because Sun Coast evenings are ever cold. No, you'll need it for those frosty air conditioned buildings that will make you feel like you landed in Fargo. But then you'll run into this guy on the way out, and you'll remember you're thankfully still in Tropical America...
The Arts & Entertainment Season on the Sun Coast officially kicks off every October and runs through April when those weather wimps head back to their hurricane-less states. Cheers!
