Featured Events in Sarasota in April, 2025 (May Updated)

Come celebrate the launch of Liz Walker's book NO ONE LEFT ALONE: A STORY OF HOW COMMUNITY HELPS US HEAL. She will be in conversation with fellow author and Emmy-winning journalist, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, followed by a Q&A and book signing.About the book: As the first Black woman to anchor the Boston-area evening news, Liz Walker found herself in an industry that defined the neighborhood of Roxbury largely by violence. But when she became a pastor there, Walker grew close to households marked not only by trauma but by courage - including the family of Cory Johnson, a young father who was murdered. In the wake of their worst nightmare, the family reached out for help. As Walker's congregation invited neighbors to gather, they created soft spaces for others' grief to land. There, in the stories told, the meals shared, the tears shed, and the silences kept, people found a space to receive their sorrow. Out of this ministry grew a grassroots trauma-healing program, one now being replicated across the country. Through this groundbreaking book, begin to imagine what story-sharing groups might look like in your context. Face the disparity of grief that comes from racism and systemic inequality and learn to confront legacies of harm. Discover the healing power of listening, as well as the art and skills of accompanying someone in pain. Further, grasp how caregivers, pastors, counselors, and other healers - many with their own wounds - can benefit from soft spaces too. Marked by history and surrounded by violence and loneliness, we all long for healing. In the tradition of esteemed writers like Bryan Stevenson and Cole Arthur Riley, Walker writes about how community helps us transfigure trauma. There is nothing dramatic about listening to someone's story or sharing our own. But there is mystery here, and sacredness. No one has to be left alone. About the Author: Liz Walker is a minister, journalist, activist, and sought-after speaker. She leads the Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing. As Boston's first Black evening television news anchor, Walker received two Emmys and an Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in her field. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Walker served as pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church. She helped found the Jane Doe Safety Fund, has done humanitarian work in South Sudan, and has served on the board of Boston Medical Center and Andover Newton Theological Seminary. The mother of three and grandmother of two, Walker now lives in Sarasota, Florida. About the Moderator: Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an Emmy-winning journalist. She began her career at the New Yorker, becoming the first Black reporter for the Talk of the Town section, then joined the New York Times, where she established the Harlem Bureau, the first of its kind. She eventually joined PBS NewsHour as its first substitute anchor and national correspondent. The author of five books, Hunter-Gault lives in Florida and on Martha's Vineyard. ......................................................... Registration will end 1 hour before the event's scheduled time.Tickets may be purchased that include a copy of NO ONE LEFT ALONE,or you may register to attend free of charge.All signed up and unable to go? Please let us know! Seating is limited and there may be people on our waitlist who would like to to take your place. Please send an email to bryn@sarasotabooks.com ASAP and hopefully we'll see you next time.Clickhereto go to the Bookstore1Sarasota website:https://www.sarasotabooks.com/.Liz Walker Charlayne Hunter-Gault Information Source: Georgia Court | eventbrite

About the Author: Pat Williams Owen is the author of four poetry books, including The Crossroad (Shadelandhouse Modern Press, 2025), Bardo of Becoming (Accents Publishing, 2022), Orion’s Belt at the End of the Drive (Accents Publishing, 2019), and Crossing the Sky Bridge (Larkspur Press, 2016). Her work has appeared in Gulf Stream Magazine, Highland Park Poetry, The Hong Kong Review, The Louisville Review, Raven’s Perch, other print and online literary journals, and several anthologies. She was a finalist in the Atlanta Review International Poetry Competition and an award winner in the Chautauqua Writers’ Center 2020 Literary Arts Contest. About the Cover: Cover Art: Speak to me from everywhere (oil and wax on wood, 11 x 11 ) by Laurie Doctor (lauriedoctor.com) About the Moderator: Lennie Hay is the author of Lost in America (Broadstone Books, 2024), her first poetry collection. She grew up in the Midwest, living between two cultures—Chinese immigrants and Ukrainian German farmers. She now lives half of the year on the banks of the Ohio River in Southern Indiana and half of the year in Indian Shores, Florida. She earned her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Minnesota, her master’s and doctorate in education from the University of Louisville, and an MFA in poetry from Spalding University. For over 40 years, Lennie worked as a teacher, principal, district leader, and educational consultant. She grew up studying piano and pipe organ and indulges her love of jazz and classical music whenever possible. Lennie’s work has been published in various regional, national, and international print and online journals such as The Louisville Review, Accents, Shanghai Literary Review, The Heartland Review, and City Lights e-Magazine. Additionally, her work was included in the 2019 literary anthology Boom and in the 2024 Florida Bards Poetry Anthology. Information Source: Bookstore1Sarasota | eventbrite

Look closely and learn more about this season's exhibitions with Sarasota Art Museum’s Senior Curator Rangsook Yoon. Our tour will feature a walkthrough of our current exhibitions. As this talk will be exploring works in the galleries, there will be standing room only. Information Source: Sarasota Art Museum | eventbrite

LOCAL AUTHOR HIGHLIGHTS LITTLE-KNOWN CORNER OF WOMEN’S HISTORY Join us for Happy Hour at 6:00 pm on April 15 to celebrate the launch of Lucy Hedrick’s debut novel, Six Weeks in Reno. These days it’s relatively easy to get a divorce. Every state has some kind of “no fault.” The lawyers work out the details, and the divorcing parties seldom have to appear in court. Not so in the past. Six Weeks in Reno tells the story of the little-known 'Divorce Colony' in Reno, NV, during the Great Depression. In most major cities, there were bread lines serving the unemployed, but Reno was booming, thanks to the “six weekers.” In celebration of Women’s History month, come for a cocktail, complimentary hors-d’oeuvres and receive a free copy of Lucy’s book. You must register here first. Questions? Call 941-316-0808 x 108 Information Source: Art Ovation Hotel | eventbrite

Ecstatic Dance Sarasota and Global mid week jam Come join us at Soul Studios for a mid-week dance party like no other! Let loose, move your body, and connect with others through the power of music and movement. This event is all about free expression and positive vibes. No judgment, just pure ecstasy on the dance floor. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just looking to try something new, this is the place to be. See you there! Location: Soul Studios, 2924 Hyde Park Street, Sarasota, FL, USA Information Source: Ecstatic Dance Sarasota with dj kat | eventbrite

A much-loved Florida writer chronicles the quirky, touching, and thought-provoking stories of the Sunshine State today. “A sharp snapshot of the current state of the state as well as a deep dive into some of the darker corners of its past. . . . Whether you’re a native Floridian or you just landed in the state, you’ll learn a lot you didn’t know from Welcome to Florida from a writer whose frequent, funny exasperation with the place comes from his deep love for it.”—Bay Magazine “Showcases the many varieties of flora, fauna, and interesting characters that inhabit our state.”—Miami New Times “Craig Pittman is not just a gifted writer; he is a superb historian with a quirky, insightful sense of humor that at times rivals Mark Twain. Welcome to Florida is destined to become a classic; a Blue Highways guide to the backcountry places and characters that reflect the complexities of this unusual state.”—Randy Wayne White, New York Times bestselling author of the Doc Ford series “A wonderfully entertaining and informative book by a deft and deeply knowledgeable writer. Florida abounds with fascinating stories, and nobody tells them better than Craig Pittman.”—Dave Barry, New York Times bestselling author of Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland “Craig Pittman is a Florida treasure, a truly gifted author and journalist with an eye for the absurd. Whether you love or hate the Sunshine State, you’re gonna dig this book!”—Jason Vuic, author of The Swamp Peddlers: How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream “This Florida tell-all covers all the bases—the good, the bad, and the outrageous. It should be passed out, along with the free orange juice, at the state’s welcome centers and assigned to anyone making decisions about Florida’s future.”—Janine Farver, former executive director of Florida Humanities “Demonstrates what many of us have known for years: Craig Pittman is Florida’s best environmental journalist.”—Art Levy, author of Made in Florida: Artists, Celebrities, Activists, Educators, and Other Icons in the Sunshine State ABOUT THE BOOK: In WELCOME TO FLORIDA, award-winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman introduces readers to the people, creatures, places, and issues that make up the Florida of today. Through lively stories told with cutting insight and always with a joke at the ready, Pittman captures the heart of what he calls “The Most Interesting State.” From threats to Florida’s environment to a hippo that became an official state citizen, these tales range from the moving to the bizarre. Pittman follows the escapades of crime writers, hungry predators, politicians, and developers across the state. At the core of this collection is a deep sense of admiration for the resilience of those who live here. Again and again, this book showcases the power of “ordinary Floridians fighting to save some part of the state that they hold dear.” Often, that means folks rallying to protect the state’s unique natural landscape; sometimes it means former CIA agents incorporating their own island community. WELCOME TO FLORIDA is both a love letter to and hilarious deep dive into the nation’s fastest-growing state. Imbued with Pittman’s characteristic humor and undeniable fondness for both the weird and wonderful parts of his home, this book shows why, despite some of its reputations, Florida continues to prove irresistible. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CRAIG PITTMAN is a native Floridian and an award-winning journalist. He wrote for the Tampa Bay Times for 30 years and now writes for the Florida Phoenix. He is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller OH, FLORIDA! HOW AMERICA'S WEIRDEST STATE INFLUENCES THE REST OF THE COUNTRY; THE STATE YOU'RE IN: FLORIDA MEN, FLORIDA WOMEN, AND OTHER WILDLIFE; and THE SCENT OF SCANDAL: GREED, BETRAYAL, AND THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ORCHID. He is cohost of the Welcome to Florida podcast. Pittman was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Book Festival in 2020. Information Source: Bookstore1Sarasota | eventbrite

Look closely and learn more about this season's exhibitions with Sarasota Art Museum’s Executive Director, Virginia Shearer. Our tour will feature a walkthrough of our current exhibitions. As this talk will be exploring works in the galleries, there will be standing room only. Information Source: Sarasota Art Museum | eventbrite