Writes of Passage

3054 Beach Blvd
Gulfport, FL 33707

… more pix n videos on google maps, Yelp n TA

Will return.

This Italian restaurant is family owned and operates, with two locations, across street from each other. The indoor one has been in biz for 20 years and the northern side of the street has mostly outdoor  – opened three years ago. They looked rambling and is sizable.

We dinned in the outdoor side because we did’t have reservation for this Friday – reservation is recommended for weekends.

Lush. Great atmosphere on a 67° day. Generous spacing between tables. Good service and food. Two men band plays jazz after 6pm.

Reportedly their bread is excellent but we didn’t order – too much to stomach. Maybe next time.

Wine glasses could use something better – but the outdoor tables are on the shaky ground. So I’m resting my case -:)

The house wine GL Italian cab is better than the Mont D’Abruzzo.

We’ve

1. calamari (not fried)
2. mussels in red wine
3. eggplant parm

They’re all yummy. Large portion. No seafood fork provided for my mussels. Mussels are clean and all opened. I would have the tiramisu but I also wanted to catch the sunset. So next time too -:)

Outside of the bathroom, there is handwriting note on the wall:

Enjoy your meal? Buy your chefs a round

$20

Gulfport is a lovely seaside town. A Little Night Music at Palladium is good too.

Palladium
St. Pete, Fl

… a few more pix & videos on Yelp.

A Little Night Music (1973) is a Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)

The name is the same as Mozart’s English translation of Serenade No. 13, K. 525, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, but it has nothing to do with it. The popular song “Send In the Clowns” is beautiful. (Judy Collins)

Before the show starts, a man (forgot his name) said the theater is planing a renovation. Fundraising is underway: one can spend $1,000+ to name a seat. Hope the new theater would usher in new conduct, such as, enforce the later comers will have to stay till the intermission; no candy warpers … Gosh … sometimes it could feel like a zoo.

The production / singer / acting are all decent. On average, the actors have better figures than the opera.

音乐动听 歌喉好 制作不错 (不和百老汇比)
轻轻松松 笑声不断 嘻嘻哈哈

We’ve dinner at Pia’s in Gulfport.

A windy day

As usual, it blows the falling petals of my beautiful bougainvilleas everywhere, and some get on the screen, like a painting.

Horticulture – joy of gardening

风情万种 [偷笑]
落地的花瓣儿 仍然美丽

1100 N Tuttle Ave #8,
Sarasota, FL 34237

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Probably will return to Mariscos Azteca Mexican Seafood Restaurant

Hearty home cooked food. Tight door. The confetti (?) from the ceiling make the room looks like a kiddie party.

The west facing front has shades, which makes the small hall dark. But it maybe necessary: we sat at the last table facing the door. Every time the door opens I need to readjust my eyes.

Heavy-duty corn chips are good. Thin stem; steaming hot food. Good service. Large portion. We’ve:

• Mariscada Azteca
• Carne a la Mexicans

Both are steaming hot and yummy, and doggie bags.

Teppanyaki (?) makes the room smoky.

I also visited The small Latin Brother’s Market next and purchased their chicken flavor bouillon … why?  Pix here.

Off to The Barber of Seville.

Sarasota Opera

The 2nd production of the winter season: The Barber of Seville is an opera buffa (comic opera) in two acts by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), premiered in Rome, 1816. Cesare Sterbini (1784-1831) wrote the Italian libretto, based on Pierre Beaumarchais (1732-99) French comedy of the same name (1775). 

Rossini named the main character – the barber – Figaro, which made me think of next opera: Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (1786), which was based Pierre Beaumarchais’ comedy of the same name, staged in 1784. But it wasn’t a tribute Rossini paid to Mozart.

Rosina, the rich ward of Mr. Bartolo is played by mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali (her site). I thought she did a marvelous job, portraying the title role, spontaneity and agile, giving the part a youthful look.  

A wacky love story. 一个古灵精怪的爱情故事.

巴托洛先生的富家女罗西娜由女中音丽莎·玛丽·罗加利 (Lisa Marie Rogali)扮演. 我认为她演得非常出色, 既自然又敏捷, 让这个角色看起来年轻富有有活力.

爱情是永恒的主题

这几天教皇病重. 教皇们和天主教神父不可以结婚. 百分比非常高的教父们副业是性骚扰. 是刚需? 那教皇有没有? 有时怎么办? 如果解禁 性骚扰幼童会不会减少?

Dinner at Mariscos was good.

Sarasota opera House 

It’s the first opera of the 2025 winter season.

They’re offering two operas this autumn. The staff is asking if we’ve gotten the insert (of the fall season) at exit. 

The two Italian operas are pretty Shakespearean: both are about love, jealousy, and betrayal, ending in death, the kind of death that doesn’t drag on:

1. Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni (1890)
2. Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo (1892)

Both are enjoyable: Cavalleria Rusticana is a well known one act opera, Pagliacci has some familiar tones. 

Dinner at Sushi Ramen is ok.

希腊悲剧

两部意大利歌剧, 讲述爱情,嫉妒和背叛, 都以死亡告终 不拖泥带水的那种

– 皮埃特罗·马斯卡尼的《乡村骑士》（1890 年）
– 鲁杰罗·莱翁卡瓦洛的《丑角》（1892 年）

…非常莎士比亚风格

935 N Beneva Rd Suite 401
Sarasota, FL 34232

… more pix on Google Maps, TA

May return.

L shaped space in a strip mall. Good and light hearted service. Good food. Many regulars: mothers with kids. Couples. Girls / boys night out.

Black and white kid comedy show Monsters is on.

The sake is so hot, I can’t hold the cup for a while.

We’ve Seaweed salad Takoyaki – squid Spicy edamame 4 rolls Seaweed is nice, not sweet. Squid balls are good, different. The edamame is not spicy. I was hoping for some marinated but it isn’t. The sushi rolls are good.

I think the staff is SE Asian, fun and goofy.

Off to the opera.

6226 Ohio Ave,
Gibsonton, FL 33534

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

Probably will return.

The River’s Edge Bar & Grill is average. Casual. Relaxing. Pool tables. Bikers. I don’t think they’ve deck guys to help boaters, on the Alafia River.

We’ve BLT and stuffed crab: all good. P.S.: they’ll take $1 off if you don’t want coleslaw & fries.

Bikers vests are beautiful.

Live music is about to start as we’re leaving at 1:30.

Their bathrooms are between permanent and port-a-potty: they’re outside but they have regular toilets and sinks. Not sure they’ve a/c too, during the hot days.

1633 W Snow Ave,
Tampa/Hyde Park, FL 33606

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp, YT, OpenTable, TA

Definitely will return.

We pass by this restaurant all the time. So decided to come here for my celebratory dinner: the frivolous lawsuit filed by Hales Blackbrick of Tampa against me over my review in December 2023 has just been dismissed without prejudice this morning. They sure will come back and try again, but that won’t deter me from celebrating my first milestone: defending my right to speak truth.

Forbici has high ceiling, industrial decor, with great service and delicious foods. It has mixed clientele: dressed up women, and family/mothers with kids.

I particularly like

– deliciously red sauce
– good stems
– hot and frothy milk with hot coffee
– tiramisu – the best in Florida so far

The hot coffee claim: this may sound petty and bewildering but it’s NOT: the coffee at Hales Blackbrick was lukewarm – enough, resting my case here.

The hot milk – it’s the best because I love my milk hot and NO One that I’ve been to does this – this alone worth returning.

The wines – the super Tuscan is just super.

The staff is helpful and genuine – thank you.

We’ve
– Suppli: tasty and soft, filling.
– Meatball: yummy but not fluffy
– lasagne: yummy
– mussels: chubby and clean
– coffee: hot
– tiramisu: the best in Florida – both texture and taste

The meatball is rather dead – this is in light of me comparing it to Chinese lionhead which are large and soft. Silly me.

Hope they won’t forget the container for the mussel shells next time. The young kid did say that he’ll bring one but I’d rather use their bread plate – pretty.

The bathroom – neat and handsome. But the first two stalls are messy – one has toilet tissue on the floor and the second one has a plastic cup in the toilet bowl – hey patrons, pls pick up after your self, your cleaner isn’t there to do it for you.

Being at one end of the chichi street, it makes parking easier.

Holley Hall
709 N Tamiami Trl
Sarasota, FL 34236

… more pix & videos on Google Maps,

This 400 seat hall is one of Sarasota Orchestra‘s performing venue.

The hall is decent, one level, a parking lot away from Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

• William Yang

The touchiness faucet in the bathroom dispenses burning hot water. Good heaven, in Florida, why do they need hot water.

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