Weekend Adventures in Bradenton: November 4-6, 2011

BRADENTON – This weekend, Taste of Manatee returns for its 25th year, Village of the Arts hosts its 6th Annual Parade of Skeletons and the Palmetto Art Center opens a poultry-themed exhibit by a renowned local artist. We're all out of ordinary, so it's time for a very different Weekend Adventure in Bradenton.

One of the longest running and tastiest events around returns to Bradenton in November for its silver anniversary. The 25th Annual Rotary Taste of Manatee is scheduled for 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, on scenic Barcarrota Boulevard between Old Main Street and 15th Street West. (Old Main Street will remain open to traffic.)

Around 30 vendors offering various culinary delights from local restaurants and beyond will line both sides of the waterfront boulevard, including a stage with live music, a tiki bar and a children’s performance area. There is no charge to attend the event.

The Taste of Manatee is one of the downtown Bradenton’s largest public events, attracting 10,000-15,000 annually. It’s sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Bradenton and is a fund-raiser for the club and other community organizations.

Taste of Manatee
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
Barcarrota Boulevard between Old Main Street and 15th Street West
Bradenton


Celebrate Festival of the Skeletons Nov. 4-5 in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts. The 6th Annual Dia de los Muertos ”Festival of the Skeletons“ is next weekend in the Bradenton Village of the Arts. The celebration takes place during the Village’s monthly ArtWalk, which is 6-9:30 p.m. Friday and again 11-4 p.m. Saturday, on the first full weekend of every month.

The ArtWalks are a two-day ”open house“ for the galleries, studios and small businesses that make up the village. Both days draw nice crowds, but the charm of the ”Festival of the Skeletons“ is most evident Friday night as the sun sets and flickering luminaries and decorated shrines light up the neighborhood’s streets.

If you can’t get to Mexico for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead in English), the birthplace of the annual celebration, the Village is the next best thing, said event Chairwoman Zoe Von Averkamp, who’s also an artist and owner of the gallery Divine Excess, 1125 12th St. W.

Preparation of the shrine and altar displays begins Friday morning. The somewhat late start is traditional, Von Averkamp said, because shrines typically include fresh flowers, real Mexican food and platters of fruit and chili peppers. Several artists plan to create shrines in their own galleries or on the lawns, but the main attraction is the community shrine at the corner of 12th Street and 11th avenue west. This year the shrine is a dedication to the ”King“ himself, Elvis Presley.

Dia de los Muertos is an occasion to remember and pay homage to the deceased. The flowers, food, candles and incense that decorate the shrines and altars are ”offerings“ to loved ones; photos of them are included in the shrines as well. But is Elvis really deceased? He’s rumored to be making an appearance Friday night (thanks to the Manatee Players, which donated his costume).

Also appearing Friday night will be Madame Skeleton herself, La Catrina, along with her skeletonized escort. La Catrina, popularized by Mexican artist JosŽ Guadalupe Posada a century ago, has become the most famous symbol of Day of the Dead. Live Mexican music and Mexican food will fill out the night.

Another new addition to this year’s event is the Artist Skeleton Walk. Comprised of 15 ”Funky Men“ – life-sized humanoid cutouts from a past Village event rescued and repainted as skeletons -  the figures portray deceased artists; Michelangelo, Andy Warhol and Leonardo da Vinci, to name a few. There will even be a few ”Funky Pets“ depicting famous departed dogs and cats.

There is no charge to attend the Festival of the Skeletons or to visit any of the local galleries, studios or other small businesses. The public is also invited to bring photos of departed loved ones to attach to the memorial fence near the community shrine.

6th Annual Dia de los Muertos ”Festival of the Skeletons“
6-9:30 p.m. Friday, 11-4 p.m. Saturday
Bradenton Village of the Arts
Bradenton
www.villageofthearts.com


On Friday evening, November 4th, from 5 - 9PM, PAC invites the public to come see Chicken Scratch – paintings which are based on Sarasota artist Tim Jeager's personal history as well as his desire to contribute something to the history of art.
 
Tim Jaeger is at the forefront of Sarasota's visual arts community. A graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, his work is featured across the country. But he's more than an artist. Though poised with paintbrush in hand, his creative mind expands into the business and politics of our city's visual arts. As co-founder of arts group sARTq, Jaeger works toward engaging the community and fostering new artistic partnerships.
 
Tim Jaeger's solo shows Opening Reception coincides with Historic Downtown Palmetto's family friendly and increasingly popular "First Friday." Slick's Car Garage will also be open with classic cars, bikes and rockin' tunes.

PAC Chicken Scratch  Exhibition
Friday
5 – 9 p.m.
Palmetto Art Center
907 5th Street West
Palmetto
PalmettoArtCenter.com
(941) 518 - 2109 

The SBEP Bay Guardian volunteers will be helping to remove exotic plants at FISH Preserve on Saturday, November 5. New adult and youth volunteers are welcome and can register online through the SBEP website at sarasotabay.org.

FISH Preserve is a 95-acre parcel adjacent to Sarasota Bay within the Village of Cortez in Manatee County. FISH, which stands for Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, is a non-profit organization that purchased the property in 1999 to help restore, conserve and protect the upland and wetland habitats and adjacent waters.