The Sarasota area has plenty to do this weekend, from three-course restaurant deals and a free art festival to live comedy and tropical festivities.
University Town Center, a frequent source for us on stories
of restaurant comings and goings, will showcase some of those establishments with the currently ongoing Taste of UTC, offering three-course lunches or dinners.
In Punta Gorda on Saturday, Irish pub Celtic Ray Public House will hold a Halfway to St. Patrick's Day celebration featuring a full day of music, while waterfront destination Fishermen's Village will host a Key lime and tropical fest.
Rounding out this weekend's lineup will be a free art festival at another one of Sarasota's busiest dining and shopping districts, St. Armands Circle, and a stand-up comedian who's appeared on TV and in film performing at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
1. Taste of UTC at University Town Center
There have been many changes to University Town Center's restaurant scene in recent months, and the dining and shopping district's annual Taste of UTC offers a chance to sample those establishments.Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Apollonia Grill, Blu Kouzina, Brio Italian Grille, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Mademoiselle Paris, Post Kitchen & Bar, Selva Grill and Zōtō will offer three-course lunches from $18 to $24. The same restaurants, along with Florence and the Spice Boys, Seasons 52 and The Capital Grille, will offer three-course dinners from $34 to $59. Sweets purveyors Norman Love Confections and Rita's Italian Ice will take part in the event too.
Through Sept. 30; University Town Center, 210 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $18-$24 three-course lunch, $34-$59 three-course dinner; utcsarasota.com
2. Halfway to St. Patrick's Day at Celtic Ray
Punta Gorda Irish pub Celtic Ray Public House will celebrate the halfway mark to the next St. Patrick's Day with a full day of music.
Paul Duffy, a former member of the touring band version of The Commitments formed after the 1991 Irish film of the same name and owner of Sarasota's since-closed Irish Rover, will kick things off from noon to 3 p.m. Fresh Air will follow from 4 to 7 p.m., and Sarasota rock band Kettle of Fish closes it out starting at 8 p.m.
Noon-11 p.m. Saturday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
3. Key Lime and Tropical Fest at Fishermen’s Village
Also taking place in Punta Gorda on Saturday, waterfront destination Fishermen's Village will host this annual event celebrating the Key lime and tropical culture.
There will be live music by The Kollections, Pirates of the Floridian, Chillakaya, Dave Lapio and Reggie Starrett, restaurants and merchants featuring tropical food and drink, and vendors showcasing their creations.
Noon-9 p.m. Saturday; Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda; free admission/parking; 941-639-8721; fishermensvillage.com
4. St. Armands Circle Art Festival with Craft Marketplace
The fourth annual free outdoor event will take place inside St. Armands Circle Park over two days, featuring work from more than 175 artisans and crafters participating.
Also on St. Armands Circle, there are several restaurants, stores, and ice cream and gelato shops to visit, as well as Arcade Monsters, one of our recent picks for top spots for indoor fun in Sarasota.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota; free admission; 561-746-6615; artfestival.com and starmandscircleassoc.com
5. Kevin Nealon at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre
McCurdy's Comedy Theatre in downtown Sarasota, which often hosts nationally touring stand-up comedians along with local and regional acts, will welcome one of the former when Kevin Nealon performs there this weekend.
A former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, earning an Emmy nomination during his time on the show, Nealon has since appeared in several films by his former "SNL" co-star Adam Sandler (including last year's "Happy Gilmore 2") and other shows including "Weeds."
7 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 and 8:50 p.m. Friday and Saturday; McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; $47; 941-925-3869; mccurdyscomedy.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top Sarasota weekend events include dining deals and free festivals
