Tag Archives: Justine Griffin

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Young Professional Start Up

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Photo by Rachel O’Hara, Herald-Tribune staff

I am leading a new project at the Herald-Tribune Media Group that is geared toward attracting more young professionals to our publications. I am currently a part of a team that is designing a new publication – which is neither print or solely online – that milllennials find hopefully engaging and interesting.

We’re still in the research and development stage, but so far the project has been a lot of fun. I’ve lead small brainstorming discussions in art galleries with young people in our community and with other reporters in our newsroom. This week I’m leading a young professional panel discussion at a jobs conference in Sarasota.

Stay tuned for more to come.

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Saks Fifth Avenue will have its own upscale place to dine

Photo courtesy of Fifth Dining LLC

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune.

When the new Saks Fifth Avenue department store opens at the Mall at University Town Center, shoppers can expect more than just expanded departments and two floors of merchandise. The 80,000-square-foot Saks space — one of the key anchors for the $315 million mall in Sarasota County — also will boast its own restaurant, and be one of the first in the chain to do so.

 

When Saks opens, so will “Sophie’s,” a new restaurant concept by Fifth Dining LLC, a new restaurant effort within the Saks brand. The elegant, gourmet restaurant will complement the department store’s look and feel but will offer a completely separate lunch and dinner dining experience for Saks shoppers.

…Saks Fifth Avenue is the latest upscale retailer to venture into the dining sector in recent years.

Nordstrom’s department stores, including the one in Tampa’s International Plaza, have their own line of in-store cafes, which serve lighter fare, coffee and cocktails.

The concept has helped make Nordstrom more of a destination for shoppers, said Darren Tristano, executive vice president with Chicago-based Technomic, a food consulting firm.

Read more here.

 

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Sarasota Film Festival Coverage for the Herald-Tribune

sundance

In January, I stood in line outside the famous Mary G. Steiner Egyptian Theater, shivering in the snow as I waited to watch “To Kill A Man,” a feature film, and the first film of my Sundance Film Festival experience.

As a self-proclaimed movie buff I was ecstatic to check off my bucket list attending one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.

Before attending Sundance, I’d only experienced film festivals in Florida cities — Orlando, St. Augustine, Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota. While the crowds, the parties, and the number of celebrities elevate the Park City festival to a different status, the spirit of the festival is very much the same in Sarasota. People who love movies gather in theater settings to watch the final polished product and listen intently as filmmakers, actors and crew members explain the passion and work that went into creating what we see on the big screen.

Read more here.

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Additional coverage for the Herald-Tribune:

15 years of celebrating women film making, March 28, 2014

The Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival will celebrate its 15th year of promoting international women filmmakers in Sarasota this year.

A film festival plan of attack, April 4, 2014

Are you planning on seeing multiple movies at the film fest this year? Here are a few things to consider before you go. Take it from me, a seasoned volunteer with experience at film festivals across the state.

Doctor who lost daughters in Israeli tank strike will sign books at film festival, April 8, 2014

Forgiveness doesn’t always come easily.

But after losing his three daughters and a niece when an Israeli tank mistakenly fired into their home in 2009, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish found it in him to forgive the tragic acts that violently ended the lives of those he loved. His emotional trek that led him to forgiveness is detailed in Abuelaish’s book, “I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey.”

 

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Sarasota airport eyes international market

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

Renovations to expand the U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport are set to begin next month in what officials hope will be the next step of several to attract international air carriers to Southwest Florida.

As sports venues like Nathan Benderson Park and the IMG Academy in Bradenton continue to attract more international sporting events to the region, airport officials are attempting to keep up with the expected influx of visitors from overseas by updating airport facilities to accommodate international planes and passengers.

“We want to be in sync with venues like Benderson Park and IMG as they grow over the years,” said Fredrick “Rick” Piccolo, Sarasota-Bradenton’s chief executive. “There’s no guarantee that if we make these improvements that an international carrier will come, but if we don’t do it, they definitely will not come.”

In 2001, the airport spent roughly $15 million, much of it federal money, to extend the airport’s main runway to accommodate larger, internationally based aircraft. Expanding the customs operation is the next step in solidifying preparations for international traffic.

Read more here.

Related:  SRQ hopes to add direct flight from  Baltimore

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport officials are hoping they can provide enough incentives to persuade air carriers to offer flight service to and from the Baltimore area for the spring training season next year.

 

They spoke about incentive packages, which could include up to $500,000 for advertising new flight routes and waiving landing fees for a carrier, at a Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority meeting on Monday.

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Column: What Sweetbay shoppers need to know

My What’s In Store column from March 4. Published in the Herald-Tribune.

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In less than a month, Southwest Florida residents will see a surge of Winn-Dixie grocery store openings.

 

Sweetbay Supermarket will follow the same path into extinction as its predecessor, Kash N’ Karry.

At the same time, the rechristened Winn-Dixie stores will seek to increase their footprint and compete with dominant grocer giants Publix and Walmart in Florida — and specifically in the Sarasota-Bradenton market.

Last year, Tampa-based Sweetbay was bought by Winn-Dixie’s parent, Bi-Lo Holdings. The $265 million deal included 72 Sweetbay stores in the Sunshine State and the leases for 10 that were closed before the sale.

Sweetbay had closed 33 stores just before the sale, or 30 percent of its operations in Florida, including four stores in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Those stores will stay closed.

But the remaining open stores — 10 in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties — will temporarily close March 22 and reopen March 28 as Winn-Dixies.

So Sweetbay shoppers, here’s what you need to know if you plan on switching over to the Winn-Dixie brand:

Read more here.