Weekend Adventures in Bradenton: May 21-May 23

BRADENTON -- This weekend I’m going to send you all over Manatee County to learn, to have fun and to spend a little time soaking in all things exciting and educational. But before you click off this feature -- stop – just imagine a lecture that helps to explain how our local economy benefits from the life science industry. What about a family-friendly event demystifying bats, or a photo exhibit lead by a Florida black heritage expert and treasured author? Wrap up your weekend with tempting cuisine and wine pairings, or head East for a 12-mile drive out to the wine country. It's that time again for Weekend Adventures.

Friday

Grab your coffee to go and head on over to the Selby Auditorium at University of South Florida, located at 8350 North Tamiami Trail, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. for the Manatee Economic Development Council’s (EDC) feature panel discussion.

EDC's panel discussion will focus on the local Life Science industry and its impact on the income flow in, and around, Manatee County.

It’s fun to learn; especially about the local businesses that help to build industry and create jobs. Listening to a few professionals about their contributions to the area’s income flow might just be an inspiring way to head into the weekend.

Economic Development Council’s administrator, Debbie Scott, said the discussion’s buzz is all about the Life Science industry in Manatee County.

The featured panelists are Brad Clatt, business unit manager for Dentsply, Dr. Robert George, associate dean of academic affairs at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Brook Peterson, president of Trod Medical U.S.A.

”These three Life Science representatives for Manatee County will be talking about why they choose to have their headquarters here and what opportunities they offer for Manatee County,“ Scott said. ”They will also discuss the challenges they face in doing business here.“

If you forget that early morning coffee, never fear, breakfast will be there. A ”light“ breakfast, Scott added.

EDC investors can expect to pay $15 for the event, and all other people will pay $20 to attend the discussion.

It’s not the typical event I include in my Weekend Adventures, but it’s important to learn about local businesses and how they make our life better by being our neighbors.

”Come out and learn more about businesses doing business in Manatee County,“ she said. ”These people help our quality of life to have quality incomes and quality jobs.“

To reserve your spot, call Debbie Scott at (941) 748-4842, extension 126.

Then at night go batty at the South Florida Museum from 6 to 8 p.m.

Staffers at the museum want to know: Did you know that many fruit-bearing trees in threatened rainforests depend on bats? In order to reproduce, these trees bear fruit that need seed dispersal and are ingested, often by bats. The bats, in turn, spread waste material containing seeds that regenerates the rainforest.

Go batty at the South Florida Museum this Friday night. It's a family-friendly event, exploring and educating folks about the importance of bats.

I know that’s all a mouth-full to take in and spit back out. 

But all of this is easier to imagine with lifelike models and interactives for the opening of a new exhibit in the East Gallery, Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats.

The exhibit will close on September 12.

Public program coordinator for the museum, Amara Cocilovo, said that the exhibit explains that bats are actually gentle, beneficial animals. Not to mention, their vast ecological role in Florida and in our world.

Cocilovo said the event should last for two hours, and it is a great opportunity for families to come out to the museum for activities and educational fun.

There will be a cash bar and museum members are free, while non-members are $10 per ticket admission.   

”This event demystifies some of the negativity around bats,“ she added. ”Bats are extremely important to our ecosystem and they help pollinate our fruit plants, and they help to control our insects.“

So, forget the myths about these blood-sucking, blind-as-a-bat creatures, and call the museum to reserve your space at (941)746.4131, extension 17.

Saturday

”Black Florida: A Photographic History (1513-2000)“ is an exhibit depicting and documenting the presence and contributions of African-Americans in Florida history from colonial times through the civil rights era of the 1960’s.

”Black Florida: A Photographic History (1513-2000)“ is an exhibit depicting and documenting the presence and contributions of African-Americans in Florida history.

This photographic gem opens to pubic at the Family Heritage House Museum, at the State College of Florida, on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Museum specialist, Kathleen Marsh, said for folks to expect to view a minimum of 100 photographs and images at the opening.

”It’s our 20^th anniversary and in conjunction with that we have this traveling exhibit that’s funded by American Express,“ she said. ”Dr. Dunn (exhibit speaker) got American Express to to fund this entire show brought to us from the Broward County library.“

Dr. Marvin Dunn, a retired professor of psychology who attained a doctorate of psychology from the University of Tennessee, will lecture at the opening and lead an insightful conversation about the exhibit. Dunn has worked for positive social change and social justice most of his life, and authored, ”Black Miami in the Twentieth Century (1997).“

The exhibit’s mission is to heighten public awareness about African-American history and to visually cover many eras of change.

”(There's even one photo in the exhibit) No one seems to know who this Bradenton family is, and I think it would be great to get it out there, so maybe someone will recognize them,“ Marsh added.

Then from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday night, help the Old Goats of De Soto pick out their next ”goat“ for the upcoming year.

It’s the Old Goats of De Soto Wine Tasting inaugural event, where people can taste fine wines paired with specialty cuisines prepared by the Manatee Technical Institute's Culinary Arts program’s students.

Everyone wants to lock horns with the "goat" on Saturday. But most of all, folks can't wait to taste six pairings of food and wine, to the tune of tropical music at this inaugural event.

Event chair, Jaime Meade, said the ”goat“ has kind of evolved over the years and gaining recognition matched with the annual Hernando De Soto crowning.

He added that people should not get thrown off by the word ”old.“ The group is young and old, and they are ready for a party on Saturday night.

”People now want to be the Ôgoat’ each year,“ he said. ”With this event, we are helping to raise money to form our group and gather funds to support the community.“

Currently, Meade said that the ”goats“ from the 1960’s through the 1980’s are gathering momentum and strength, coming together once again.

Don’t miss this party hosting food, drink and dance to tropical music at Bel Mare in Riviera Dunes, in Palmetto, for a $40 donation admission ticket per person.

There will be six food and wine pairing stations, and one tasty example boasts a Maine Lobster and goat cheese matched with a Stanley Lambert Pristine Chardonnay.

A little legend about the the ”goat“ group is that they were selected men that are (or were) a part of the Hernando De Soto Historical Society’s ”Crewe of DeSoto.“ The Crewe decided to create a distinctively recognized award for that one member, called the ”goat.“

Each year, a ”screw-up“ that had done something goofy or had messed-up during the course of the previous year was elected into position. It was originally meant to be somewhat of an embarrassment to receive this now coveted award.

Meade said that this weekend the tradition continues in full force.

Sunday

Journey 12 miles East to relish in the taste of the wine country at the Rosa Fiorelli winery, located just minutes from the De Soto Super Speedway.

Oh, the local wine country, just 12 miles East of Bradenton. The Rosa Fiorelli winery is the perfect escape on a Sunday, whether you are looking for a romantic wine tasting or a day out with friends.

A drive out to the country is just what Sunday is good for, before another week at work begins. It’s also a fine day for a stroll through the muscadine grapevines, catching glimpses of wildlife and experiencing some true time out.

Enjoy a tasting of some of the area’s most treasured award-wining wines, or book an Italian lunch that can be enjoyed in the pavilion amongst the vines.

Vineyard owners, Rosa and Antonio Fiorelli, also enjoy showing guests their fermenting and bottling building – the place where grapes turn to wine.

All of this is right here in Bradenton’s backyard, located at 4250 Country Road 675. For more information, call the winery at (941) 322-0976.

But plan a few hours for this local excursion. It may look small when you first pull in, but once on the grounds, you realize there’s a reason for the large family-run operation.

Plus, you may just find that you enjoy that fruity, complex Blanc do Bois, or the semi-sweet and spiced Conquistador Blush, while learning tricks to the tasting.

Then, when it’s all said and done, pick up an affordable bottle of local wine at the vineyard to take back and impress friends and family at your upcoming dinner party.

Perhaps, Manatee Red will be what you serve next with that grilled steak dinner by the pool.