Homeless in Paradise — Kim Hackett’s continued reporting on that slender thread that separates the housed from the homeless
Sarasota Herald Tribune reporter Kim Hackett continues her reporting on the homeless living on our greater Sarasota County backlots — with her excellent second article in her series — Fire Threatens Homeless Surviving in Paradise.
Here’s a quick excerpt — but you’ve really got to read both articles (see my post from Sunday, December 19 for the first of this two-part series).
“Pirates Cove stands apart from most homeless camps in the region for its longevity and its amenities. The improvements came along with diminishing hope that the residents would be able to get out of the woods anytime soon. Discarded plywood turned into an all-day project to build an outhouse. Tents have been added and reinforced with tarps. A defunct Kenmore refrigerator, donated by a preacher, doesn’t keep boxed potatoes and rice cold, but does keep away the raccoons.”
Homeless in Paradise — Sarasota H-T Reporter Digs Deep for Story on Regular Folks Living on the Edge
If you missed Sarasota H-T Reporter Kim Hackett’s front-page story in today’s paper — Homeless in Paradise — just click on the hyperlink in the article title name and read this compelling and superbly written investigative piece on people living on the fringe of our society.
Brava, Hackett.
New Year — new yoga-inspired beginnings & benefits!
My yoga instructor Gary Halperin is offering a 4-WEEK BEGINNERS YOGA SERIES. I wrote about Gary a week or so back because I can’t believe the difference incorporating yoga into my weekly schedule is making in my overall life — so I’m on a bandstand lately about the benefits of yoga.
Anyway, the beginners classes are Mondays January 10, 17, 24, and 31 9:30 to 10:30 am at The Radiance Center, 2868 Ringling Blvd., — the corner of Ringling and Tuttle, in Gold Tree Plaza. And it’s only $40 for all those classes — you do have to register and pay in advance (see below). (more…)
Stan Zimmerman’s report: $148 million spent on economic development
If you missed Stan Zimmerman’s report in today’s Pelican Press newspaper — about the $148 million, 148 MILLION DOLLARS, FOLKS, that Sarasota County has spent in the past two years on economic development give-aways, incentives, tax breaks (I just call them BRIBES, and always have, though those are strictly my words, not Stan’s) — anyway if you haven’t read his report, I think it’s required reading.
You can find it in the current issue of the Pelican Press or read it here online: $148 million spent on economic development. (more…)
Girls gone wild — Sarasota Style
In my After Hours column in today’s TICKET section in the Sarasota Herald Tribune — I offer my opinion on what one thing you must do tonight — if you want to have fun — check out the girls (and boys) gone wild members of the Lazy Fairy Improv group —
Girls Gone Wild -- a few members of the Lazy Fairy Improv
I also dish the dirt about the mousy martinis at Hyde Park; and I take a swipe at Sarah Palin.
You can read my column on page 7E in print; or click here: MC’s Must-Scene
So, long Creative Loafing … updated
Looks like the Sarasota Herald Tribune had a hankering for Creative Loafing’s ginormous (relatively speaking) database of online users.
Sarasota Herald Tribune Licenses Creative Loafing Sarasota Brand
I just read the paper — newspaper, Sarasota H-T and it says the licensing deal is for one year, and that CL ceases publication tomorrow. — That’s sad, it’s been around a long time.
I quit writing for Creative Loafing earlier this year — in May I think it was. Just never could get the editors to work with me on frequency of appearing in the paper. They only wanted a contribution once a month, and for a columnist, it just doesn’t work well in terms of building and connecting with an audience or for having any kind of groove going.
MC Coolidge in today’s St. Pete Times opinion pages!
Yippee!
Back in ’92, I remember working briefly as an intern at the Concord Monitor newspaper in New Hampshire and hearing about the St. Pete Times and the Poynter Institute back in my home state of Florida. The St. Pete Times was talked about almost as the holy grail for newspaper hounds like myself. And, now, a gazillion years later, I’m super happy to be appearing today in that paper’s opinion pages in the Pinellas edition of the paper.
You can read my guest column online at The Pen is Mightier than the Email, Tweet, and Text or in print if you live in the Pinellas County area.
It’s a big thrill, and an honor, to appear in my home state’s largest newspaper, which also happens to be one of the most respected print publications in the country.
If you read the column and are so inspired, you can post a comment and/or write a letter to the editor at http://www.sptimes.com/letters/ letting them know that you like (or dislike — though I hope not!) seeing a local writer from Sarasota in their pages. Who knows? — maybe someday they’ll be inspired to have a regular “weigh-in” in their pages from a Sarasota writer!
This column also appeared in yesterday’s Sarasota Herald Tribune op-ed pages — I’m always grateful to appear in my hometown paper — and of course, it would be a long-held dream come true to have a weekly print opinion column in those local pages — but until that happens, I’ve got to keep trying to land work in any and all print pubs!
Oh, well, got to run — headed downtown to find the St. Pete Times! 
MC’s bar-hopping Saturday night
Yes, I’m normally curled up in my PJs, snuggled up to the remote control on Saturday nights — watching murder and mayhem on 48 Hours Mystery … but after last Saturday’s Sarasota Holiday Parade down Main Street, I ventured out for a night on the town … checking out a few bars, listening to some music, flirting my way past the bouncers … .
You can read all about it in this week’s After Hours column in yesterday’s Sarasota Herald-Tribune TICKET, page 7E, or at the newspaper’s website at Drink Dine & Dance Post-Parade.
One of the places I stopped at was Owen’s Fish Camp in Burns Court — wicked cool! 
If you haven’t been, you’ve got to go! Good food, good vibe, and for all you men out there — gorgeous, female bartenders and servers!
20% off … 100% on … Beethoven’s Birthday Bash — Reality Readers Eligible for discount w/Sarasota Orchestra
Next Thursday, December 16th, the music of Beethoven will rock the hearts and heads of a very lucky audience at Holly Hall during a Chamber Concert featuring string quartet and wind quintet, with Jonathan Spivey. The Sarasota Orchestra folks must love Ludwig as much as I do because they’re celebrating the anniversary (240th!) of his birthday precisely on the date he was born.
It promises to be a relaxed soirée — wine tasting and complimentary hors d’oeuvres start at 4:30 p.m.; the concert follows at 5:30, and includes Quartet No. 10, Op. 74, Harp; Quintet for Piano and Winds Op. 16.
In the spirit of the season, readers of this blog can get a fabulous 20% discount from the Orchestra for this concert, just by using the code “mc20” – without the quotation marks and case sensitive – so don’t use caps! That’s a pretty sweet deal — with tickets only $24 to $30 in the first place, take off the 20% and you’re looking at 20-24 bucks to get you into one of the best birthday bashes this month. Go online to purchase or call 941.953.3434.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know I’ve got a serious Jones for Beethoven. I think it’s because his music — hundreds of years old — still resonates so profoundly and so perfectly for our current times. I dare, in fact, I triple-dare anyone to listen to Beethoven and not come away feeling emboldened to LIVE not just live.
It really almost doesn’t matter which piece you’re listening to, Beethoven’s music is, yes, intellectually complex, but always emotionally visceral and very real; wringing the heart of any element of self-pity or sentimentality and leaving behind pure emotion.
Beethoven’s music courses through the body like the blood of life itself — filling body and soul with a deeply-felt awareness of the thundering possibilities of life. And whether 29, 45, or 90, we all need that kind soundtrack in our mind … inspiring us to believe, to become, to be more than we think possible.
If you can’t make this December infusion of Beethoven, mark your calendars/buy your tickets now for the March 2011 Masterworks Beethoven event — that will be a can’t miss … and believe me, I won’t!
