Weekend Adventures: March 12-14

BRADENTON -- Here's to exploring oysters, finding ghosts and playing the casino tables on Friday night. It’s that time again for Weekend Adventures.

Friday

”Behold the Oyster“ and hang out at Emerson Point on Friday from 2 to 3 p.m., and join naturalist Jane Hamlin’s interpretive talk about the incredible-edible oyster.

Since the oyster is a highlight along Florida’s coastal community, the Natural Resources Department of Manatee County wants people to reserve their spot and bring their flashlights out to the park on Friday afternoon.

The department’s greenways and trails coordinator Suwanna Blakey said this nature tour is going to include a talk about all the plants and animals along the coast.

”But the focus of this guided tour is on oysters,“ she added.

Then if you didn’t find that pearl you hoped to discover, head on over to an evening playing the casino tables – for charity, of course.

It’s ÔCasino Royale’ hosted by the Rotary Club at the St. Bernard’s Activity Center in Holmes Beach at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $50 each for food, drink, music and professional-style gaming.
  
But the best part of this event is that money raised will support local charities and, also, packaged meals for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
 
The event will max out at 250 people, so call Tom and Rosann Creed for more information or to buy tickets at (941) 778-2636.

"The Wild Florida 101: Ghosts of Past" was cancelled due to lack of registration in advance. Please contact Melissa Nell to learn more about programs and registration at (941) 748-4501 ext.4605.

However, if spooky tales and a marshmallow roast by fire in a graveyard is more your style, then you may want to opt for the ”Wild Florida 101: Ghosts of the Past“ at Rye Preserve from 6 to 8 p.m.

This is another program by the Natural Resources Department, and if it goes bump, slither or slimes through the dark – you are going to learn about it this night.

Blakey said this tour is at night, so bring a flashlight, and be prepared to focus it on snakes, spiders and slugs.

”People will learn how Florida’s early settlers dealt with creatures of the night without a flashlight,“ she said.

But leave the kids at home for this tour; it’s suitable for adults. Maybe that’s because the hike ends at the Rye Family graveyard – yikes!

But Blakey said people will be happy to get there, since that’s where the marshmallow roast takes place. Looks like things are getting a little spooky and slimey over there at Rye Preserve.

Saturday

All you young professional rock stars, don’t miss the opportunity to meet others your age from across Manatee County in a one-day project to beautify Norma Lloyd Park for Better Manatee Day.

Manatee Young Professionals (MYP) are making time from 7:30 to 11 a.m. to donate talent, help and care for the largest one-day volunteer effort in Manatee County.

Jacki Dezelski said that an interest in community service connects all the MYP members.

”This project will allow young professionals in Manatee County to meet while doing something positive,“ she said. ”This is such a great effort with hundreds of volunteers helping out over the period of one day.“

This park is one of the largest beautification projects on Better Manatee Day, so get out there and help keep this county beautiful.

It also can’t hurt to network or make a new friend in the process.

Now, who thought about putting ponies and puppies together?

Well, none other than the area's Honor Sanctuary serving cats and dogs in need of a loving home and family.

But on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the ”Ponies for Pups“ private charity polo match to benefit the animal rescue organization, people can come out and have lunch on the field or bring a picnic.

For $25 ticket people can enjoy a catered lunch by the Polo Grill, and for a $10 ticket people can enjoy their own tailgate lunch. 

The Polo Club is in Lakewood Ranch at 8201 Polo Club Lane, and homeless pups and kittens will benefit from people coming out to the field on Saturday and enjoying all the festivities for the price of a ticket.

For more information call Kimberly Henley at (941) 545-8734.

Sunday

On Sunday, the one thing that you won’t find to be unfamiliar is the Anna Maria Island Art League’s 22nd Annual Springfest Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holmes Beach City Hall Field, over 100 artists that have been juried into the festival will showcase their work.

Director for the center Joyce Karp said there will be paintings, glass, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, photography, wood and other works of art.

”We’ve got some wonderful quality of art and some of the same artists that always exhibit,“ she said.

The show is free to attend.

”People really know what to expect from our festival and our artists,“ Karp said,

That means, people come out and enjoy the specialty local food, Cajun music and children’s art station, and will do it all over again next year.  

A ”Young at Art“ workshop helps kids to learn art and enjoy it, too, for free.

This festival is also on Saturday from 10 to 5 p.m.

Erica Newport is a daily reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers art, culture and community. If you have a story that might interest Erica, please e-mail her using erica.newport@thebradentontimes.com address.  She also takes your questions related to our weekly theme days and provides advice and opinions for our readers.

Please use this e-mail address for Ask Erica:  ask.erica@thebradentontimes.com.