Tag Archives: Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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Sarasota Film Festival Coverage for the Herald-Tribune

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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.

 

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A year of change at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

Jack Dusty Anniversary Party

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

It has been a good year for Jack Dusty, the nautical-themed restaurant that has helped transform the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

The upscale resort property has made significant moves recently to redefine luxury in Southwest Florida.

The Ritz has been the standard of high-end resort and condominium living and dining in Sarasota, but in the last year the has property shifted away from the idea that a grander lifestyle must be exclusive and pretentious.

The hotel has instead taken on a more modern, hip and casual approach.

Read more here.

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Christmas shopping in Sarasota: Holiday retail coverage

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Leland, 15, and her mother Beth McCullagh are Black Friday shopping enthusiasts and are excited to get out to the stores Thursday evening into Friday morning. (November 26, 2013) (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Rachel S. O’Hara)

Editor’s Note: Herald-Tribune reporter Justine Griffin shopped with two Sarasota families this holiday season. She went shopping in Sarasota with Melissa Tomasso, who waited until after Thanksgiving and in Brandon with Beth McCullagh, who hunted for Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving night.

Below are stories I wrote during the holiday season:

Lists handy, shoppers gird for holiday hunt By Justine Griffin. Published: Nov. 26, 2013

Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and three weeks of shopping from now to Christmas, shoppers have more options than ever to get all the gifts on their holiday lists.

Southwest Florida moms Melissa Tomasso and Beth McCullagh are two of the 140 million people who are expected to shop during the Thanksgiving weekend — the biggest for shopping of the year. That turnout is down about 5 percent from last year, according to data collected by the National Retail Federation.

With doorbuster deals beginning earlier than ever — in some chain stores as early as 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day — consumers are poised to see some of the best Black Friday discounts in years, experts say.

The Herald-Tribune will follow Tomasso and McCullagh as they hunt down deals, navigate shopping crowds and stores, and ultimately check off items on their holiday gift lists this holiday season.

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Consumes have plans. Merchants have hopes. By Justine Griffin. Published: Nov, 30, 2013

Beth McCullagh and her daughter ran to the entrance of Macy’s — not to be the first in line for doorbuster deals, but to get out of the 50-degree weather.

McCullagh and her daughter are career Black Friday shoppers. Together, they’ve managed the lines, the crowds and the long early-morning hours spent in malls and other shopping plazas. But they have always come home victorious, bearing bags and boxes full of gifts acquired at prices that make friends and family envious.

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After Black Friday, shopping deals still abound By Justine Griffin. Published: Dec. 9, 2013

The tree’s up in the living room and the colorful lights dangle from the roof of the Tomasso family home.

It is early December and Melissa Tomasso, a wife, sister-in-law, daughter, mother of two and a substitute teacher in Sarasota, is eager to wrap up her holiday shopping for friends and family. She is one of the 46.2 percent of Americans who waited to shop until after Thanksgiving, according to data from the National Retail Federation.

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Retailer’s season hasn’t been merry By Justine Griffin. Published: Dec. 23, 2013

While retail stores were busy with the many bargain hunters looking for a last minute deal before the holiday this past weekend, Sarasota shoppers Beth McCullagh and Melissa Tomasso were relaxing at home, their shopping already done for the season.

McCullagh, a dedicated Black Friday shopper who lives with her family in Lakewood Ranch, spent a few days in stores after Black Friday, but wrapped up most of her shopping online. Tomasso, who waited until December to begin shopping for her family who live in Sarasota, shopped online and in stores, but grabbed everything on her list before jetting to New York for a short getaway before Wednesday.

As of Dec. 9, the average American holiday shopper had completed only half of their gift shopping for friends and family, which is slightly less than how much shoppers had completed by that time last year, according to the National Retail Federation. That fact boded well for store chains as they geared up for Super Saturday and the last weekend before Christmas, where retailers offer a final round of marked-down prices in a last-minute effort to purge inventories before the end of the holiday season.

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Shoppers spent less than expected in 2013 By Justine Griffin. Published: Jan. 14, 2014

Melissa Tomasso checked off every item on her children’s holiday wish lists this year, but kept well within her strict budget.

Her daughter Malia, 11, got a Kindle e-reader and MacBook Pro, expensive electronics but tools she uses for school, too. Her son, Jared, 14, also got a Kindle and some new fishing gear.

Every year when the holidays roll around, Melissa and her husband, Chris, who live in Sarasota, come up with a limited spending plan.

“My kids may have gotten all the gifts they wanted this year, but we always stick to our budget,” Tomasso said. “We splurged a little on the kids for electronics, but we were prepared for that.”

That seemed to match a broader sentiment among shoppers clearly evident in spending patterns during the recent holiday season. More consumers spent less than they expected, but only 14 percent said they spent more than expected, reported Bankrate.com, a Palm Beach-based consumer financial firm. Being on a budget was fairly universal: no age group spent more than expected, Bankrate.com data showed.