Sarasota

Florida’s largest Amish and Mennonite community is in Sarasota. Tourists come for the quilts. WGCU explores what’s changing behind the seams.

This weekend, festivalgoers can sample the art at the Sarasota Festival of the Arts, the 25th Annual Downtown Venice Art Classic, Art Walk at the Promenade at Bonita Bay and the Naples Artcrafters Fine Art & Craft Show.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe continues its “Soul of a People” theatre season with “How I Got Over: A Gospel Revue.” The show runs February 18 through March 29.

Sarasota’s effort to directly develop affordable housing downtown — an unprecedented, city-led plan championed by former City Manager Marlon Brown — faltered after the city spent more than $7 million on land without a finalized construction budget or financing strategy and as anticipated state and philanthropic funding did not come through. It has now reemerged with an unsolicited, scaled-back proposal from a local developer whose low cost estimates and lack of high-rise experience have prompted questions from housing and real estate experts about feasibility, due diligence and next steps.

Temple Sinai celebrated their 18th annual Jewish Food Festival over the weekend.

The new year is the time to have new experiences. There’s no better way to dive into something spectacular than by joining in one of the many outdoor art shows that will be returning to SWFL.

It hides in plain sight in Sarasota, but within the confines of the Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy, lies a treasure trove of unique and quirky art.

Omer Shem Tov was one of 44 people taken hostage by Hamas at the nova music festival. Omer soon found himself the sole person being held by his captors, a position he would be in for 505 days.

The Naples New Year's Art Fair and Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival take place January 3-4.

Dr. Rosenthal will be doing a presentation on fertilizer and the upcoming Artemis space mission.