EVENTS
THRIFT SHOP SALE - The Church of the Redeemer’s Episcopal Thrift House annual Bag Sale, Aug. 17-18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1503 Second St., near Whole Foods. Price: $7 per bag on clothing and books. After the first $7 bag is purchased, additional bags may be purchased for $5 each. Sale excludes "boutique" clothing. For information call 365-1519.
PROGRESSIVE GARDEN PARTY - Aug. 28, 9 a.m.–noon, Country Creek Subdivision, 4583 Baycedar Lane. Fun and prizes for best hat. Bring a garden cutting for the plant sale. Donations appreciated for Baby Basics of Sarasota County, a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization that provides diapers and kindness to the working poor. Must RSVP at 921-9597.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST - Aug. 8, 7:30-11 a.m., Vamo United Methodist Church. Pancakes, breakfast meat and beverages available. Free, but love offering appreciated. Church located at 8521 Vamo Road. Call 966-3306.
breast cancer fundraiser - The Daiquiri Deck, 5250 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, will donate a portion of all food sales on Wednesday, Aug. 12, to Denise McDonald and Erin Hall for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The women will be walking 60 miles in three days to raise money for breast cancer research. For more information, call 349-8697 or visit www.daiquirideck.com.
WINE TASTING - Sample a variety of fine wines on Aug. 13, 5-7 p.m., at South Trail Liquors, 7310 S. Tamiami Tr. Call 927-9463.
LIME MARKETPLACE - Open every Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Located two blocks east of U.S. 301 between Twelfth Street and Fruitville Rd., at 1126 North Lime Ave. Call 780-2541 www.limemarketplace.com.
FARMERS’ MARKETS - Downtown every Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., at Lemon Ave. and Main St., sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association. Call 951-2456. Siesta Key Village every Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Ocean Blvd. at Davidson’s parking lot. Visit www.siestafarmersmarket.com.
CLASSES/PROGRAMS
DESIGNING WOMEN BOUTIQUE - Piera Ricci, docent at Ringling’s Cà d’Zan and art museum, will speak on "Carnevale Venezia! History of Venetian Masks," Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m., at 1226 N. Tamiami Tr. Tickets: $14, include a light lunch and a mini style show. Ticket order forms at the boutique or at info@DesigningWomenBoutique.org.
LITTORAL SOCIETY - Kayak trip, Blackburn Point-Oscar Scherer State Park, Aug. 22, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Equipment and training provided. Cost: $20-$25. Call John Sarkozy at 966-7308.
SIERRA CLUB - Boggess Hole Kayak, Aug. 16, 9 a.m., a 9-mile scenic round-trip paddle to an inland saltwater lake near Placida. Paddle some of the mangrove tunnels of the Woolverton Trail on the way. Donation: $5. Meet at 12575 Placida Rd., Placida. Reserve space with Don Kirkley at 493-3085.
SIERRA CLUB OPEN HOUSE - Visit the new headquarters at 1365 Fruitville Rd., between Cocoanut and Central avenues, Aug. 17, 4-6 p.m.
SAVE OUR SEABIRDS - Hear about the work the SOS is doing to rehabilitate seabirds, Aug. 13, 10:30 a.m., at Selby Library. Call 861-5000.
MUSIC FILM SERIES - "Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back," with live performance by Ishmael Katz, Aug. 20, 6-10 p.m. Live music and happy hour, 6 p.m.; screening, 7 p.m. $8 general admission; $6, students/seniors. South Florida Museum, downtown Bradenton at 201 Tenth St. West. Call 746-4131 or visit www.southfloridamuseum.org.
THINK AND DRINK - "Are We Experiencing the Sixth Mass Extinction?" Join Jeff Rodgers, director of education at the South Florida Museum, for exploration of past extinctions and why some think that a sixth is under way, Aug. 19, 7-9 p.m., at 201 Tenth St. West, Bradenton. Admission: free. Drinks and snacks available for purchase. Call 746-4131 or visit www.southfloridamuseum.org.
SELBY LIBRARY - They Came Before Us: Film Documentary Series, "Italians in America: Our Contribution," Aug. 24, 2 p.m. Call 861-5000.
TROPICAL MAGIC IN WATERCOLOR - A one-day specialty class for all levels of experience, Aug. 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S. Palm Ave. Capture tropical flowers and plants in their natural setting. Instructor: Carolyn Merenda. Cost: members, $35; non-members, $45. Call 366-5731.
BEADING CLASSES - Bead store and gallery hosts a variety of beading classes at Beads, F.O.B., 2312 Gulf Gate Dr. Daily classes cover instruction for beginning, intermediate and advanced students. For more information call Karen at 921-0871 or visit www.beadsfob.com.
MEETINGS
PALMER RANCH COMMUNITIES COALITION - U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan will be the guest speaker, Aug. 19, 2:30 p.m., at the Village Walk Community Center, Honore Avenue in Palmer Ranch. All Palmer ranch residents invited to attend. Tell the guard at the main gate that you are there for the coalition meeting. Buchanan will address residents on a variety of issues and hold a Q & A session. Palmer Ranch Communities coalition is made up of 27 Palmer Ranch communities.
AAF MIXER - American Advertising Federation-Suncoast mixer, Aug. 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at New York New York, 1934 Hillview Ave. Cost: $10, members; $15, non-members.
TOASTMASTER CLUB - Meeting Aug. 19, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Sarasota Association of Realtors, 3590 S. Tuttle Ave. For information call George Browning at 366-2782
SOCRATES CAFÉ - "A fresh taste of philosophy" for people who like to discuss ideas, Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m., at Selby Library. Call 953-9539.
DUPLICATE BRIDGE - Mondays and Thursdays, 12:50-4 p.m., Caitlin Senior Friendship Center, 2350 Scenic Dr., Venice. Call Daisy at 584-0075.
YES - Young Entrepreneurs of Sarasota share success strategies every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at Clayton’s Siesta Grille, 1256 Old Stickney Pt. Rd., Siesta Key. Cost: $12 at the door, includes lunch. Visit www.yes941.com.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Siesta Key Men’s Group meets at Siesta Beach Shelter, south side of Siesta Beach, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. Open to all. Call 951-6810.
JUST FOR KIDS
SARASOTA CREW REGISTRATION - New and experienced middle school & high school rowers may sign up for Sarasota Crew’s fall season on Aug. 16 at the Historic Spanish Point school house, 337 N. Tamiami Tr., Osprey. Middle School at 3 p.m.; freshman & varsity, 5 p.m. For more information call 966-9791 or visit www.sarasotacrew.com.
CYD ACTIVITIES - Aug. 15, Community Youth Development and the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Branch of the Sarasota Family YMCA present "Teen Scene" for teens in grades 6-8, from 7-11 p.m. Teens can hang out with their friends, dance to a live DJ and play basketball, ping pong or Wally ball. Pizza and soda provided. Admission: $3. Evalyn Sadlier Jones YMCA is at 8301 Potter Park Drive. For more information call 922-9622. Must have a CYD photo ID to attend this event.
SUNCOAST BUCCANEERS - The Suncoast Buccaneers are looking for children ages 5-16 to participate in Pop Warner Youth Football and cheerleading. Visit www.suncoastbuccaneers.com or e-mail suncoastbucs@gmail.com for information. Registration is going on for the fall season.
ETC.
BLOODMOBILE SCHEDULE - Call the Suncoast Communities Blood Bank at 954-1600. Aug. 14, 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m., St. Armand’s Circle, John Ringling Blvd.; Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Winn Dixie "Summer Fun," 5400 Fruitville Rd. Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-noon, Bealls – Town N Country Plaza, 501 N. Beneva Rd.; Aug. 15, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Wal-Mart, 4381 Cattlemen Rd.; Aug. 15, 1:30-4 p.m., Lowe’s, Fruitville, 5750 Fruitville Rd. Aug. 16, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Incarnation Catholic Church, 2929 Bee Ridge Rd.; Aug. 19, 5-8 p.m., Sarasota Baptist Church, 7091 Proctor Rd.