Somewhere Glassworks Summer Line Available

The popular Gainesville art glass studio Somewhere Glassworks is proud to launch their summer 2009 line of fine art glass pendants, available for wholesale purchase by select galleries and boutiques.

These one-of-a-kind pendants are made with borosilicate glass, the strongest kind of glass commercially available. It is also called Pyrex, popularly known for its use in test tubes and cookware. This strength makes borosilicate glass a perfect choice for jewelry. It is scratch resistant and highly durable.

The pendants are created through Somewhere Glassworks' unique 'inside-out' technique. Colored glass is applied to the back of a clear lens and manipulated while molten behind an oxygen propane torch during the lampworking process. Techniques are borrowed those used to create paperweights. The result is a pendant with incredible color and depth. The clear glass face, when properly shaped, forms a magnifying lens for the color inside.

A wholesale order includes a wide assortment of pendant styles, with no two the same. Pendants are sold on a gift card with an 18" ribbon- a perfect gift for many occasions. All pendant loops are made large enough to fit through gold and silver chains as well.

Please contact Kangaroo Promotions to inquire about wholesale orders. Affordable, unique, sustainable, local, and handmade jewelry is sure to be a hot seller this holiday season.
About Somewhere Glassworks: Somewhere Glassworks is a full service glass art studio and artist retreat in Gainesville, Florida. Available classes include Glass Beadmaking, Advanced Glass Sculpture, Glass Fusing, and Furnace Blown Glass. Co-founders Sarah Hinds and Sky Campbell are professional artists with a focus on hand blown glass, architectural installations, mixed media projects, and community involvement.

Sarasota Magazine Features Native Angler

Congratulations to Sarasota's Native Angler, the best tarpon fishing charter on the Gulf Coast. In the just-issued July 2009 Sarasota Magazine, Captain Joe and his team are listed first in a feature on the top ten aquatic adventures in our community. Thanks to Su Byron for writing the piece, and cheers, Captain Joe!
"We live right in some of the best tarpon-fishing waters in the world, and landing one of these magnificent creatures is the thrill of a lifetime. Capt. Joseph Peters of Native Angler Charters is a fourth-generation native Floridian who has been fishing these waters for 30 years. His eight-hour fishing trip, 20 miles offshore, is geared for four people. Although the tarpon are released, Peters promises that each guest will return with a great fish story. $550 for four people. (941) 232-2140."

(from 'Just Add Water: The Ten Most Amazing Aquatic Adventures Around,' Sarasota Magazine, July 2009)

Ashley's Delivers Most Pizza Choices in Town

When you think ‘pizza delivery’, think Ashley’s Food Delivery. The area’s premiere multi-restaurant delivery service, Ashley’s offers pizza from gourmet & specialty pies to classic pizza favorites, delivered from a variety of Sarasota’s best restaurants.

“There’s nothing like a fresh, hot pizza delivered right to your door,” says co-owner Jeff Sniegocki. “Because we deliver from multiple restaurants, we have a great selection of pizza to choose from.”

Ashley’s delivers pizza from:

Crusty's: specialty pies like BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Spinach Special (fresh spinach, garlic, walnuts and gorgonzola), as well as Chicago-style deep dish and stuffed pizzas

Demetrio's: family-friendly, classic pizza favorites with a variety of toppings on a hand-tossed crust

Il Panificio: New York-style 20” pizza pies with any variety of toppings, including a traditional White Pizza

Cafe Italia Grill: all your classic favorites, plus specialty pies like Seafood Pizza, Prosciutto & Chicken Pizza and a Quatro Formaggi (four cheese) Pizza

Lonjevity: a healthy choice - pizzas are loaded with protein, fiber, antioxidants and omega-3 oils; created on fresh pizza dough made daily from a blend of ground whole grains with added flax and garbanzo flour

Patricks: gourmet 12” thin-crust pizzas, including the Soho Pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni) and the Caliente Pizza (sausage, mozzarella and roasted red peppers)

View full pizza delivery menus for these restaurants at www.AshleysFood.com or call 953-FOOD (3663) to request a menu guide. Orders may be placed online or by phone.

10th Anniversary Prize Giveaway

As part of the Ashley’s Food Delivery 10th Anniversary Celebration, you can win a free large pizza and a six-pack of soda, delivered! One winner will be selected on July 10th from the Ashley’s email mailing list. Join the email mailing list at www.AshleysFood.com to receive the company’s latest news and hottest specials, and for your chance to win this and other monthly prize giveaways, held on the 10th of each month throughout the year. More details are available online.

About Ashley’s Food Delivery: The area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service, Ashley’s Food Delivery partners with over 35 restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to deliver everything from home-cooked, comfort food to elegant, gourmet dining. Ashley’s Food offers residential & corporate meal delivery, drop-off catering services and gift basket delivery. The service is open for lunch delivery Monday through Friday (Sarasota only) and dinner delivery every day. For more information, call 953-FOOD or visit www.AshleysFood.com.

Team Tony's Walk of Life Comes Home to Sarasota

When Tony McEachern walked into downtown Sarasota's Five Points Park Saturday afternoon, he was greeted with hundreds of cheering supporters, welcoming him home to complete the last leg of his Walk of Life. Tony began the walk on April 25th at Duke University's Angels Among Us 5k Fundraiser, and in 43 days he walked 803 miles to raise money for Brain Cancer research at Duke's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. With the help of a very generous anonymous donor who is matching every dollar raised, Tony McEachern generated over $36,000 in six weeks.

At Five Points Park, Tony and dozens of walkers stopped briefly to hug many family members and friends, meet new supporters, and address the crowd. Tony introduced his sister, Nicole, who has been with Tony every step of the way, as well as his friend and walk co-organizer Dale O'Hara.

Two policemen on horseback then escorted Tony, Nicole, and the crowd of hundreds along the last two-plus miles of the Walk of Life, through downtown Sarasota, then south on Osprey Avenue. Among walkers present were Sarasotans of all ages, McEachern's family and friends, brain cancer patients and survivors, and prominent community figures such as Cliff Roles, and City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell.

"What a powerful display of collective commitment to such an important cause," said Atwell, pictured with a Sarasota Brain Cancer patient, who receives treatment from Gainesville's Shands Hospital. "Tony's courage, fortitude, and persistence were a joy to watch and follow. As a new City Commissioner, I am proud to represent a community that can rally around such a brave citizen of Sarasota that is Tony McEachern."

The walk concluded at Village Bikes, which Tony has frequented as both a world-class cyclist and athlete, and as an employee. There to greet him were many more supporters, including City Commissioner Terry Turner, catering from Chutney's Etc. and Gecko's Grill and Pub, and several local business members. The Sarasota YMCA presented Tony with a year's free membership, and Gateway Bank gave him a check for over $3,000. McEachern also thanked Sunset Chevrolet for their generosity in donating support vehicles, and the Sarasota New Balance team for supplying him with five pairs of walking shoes.

In his celebration speech, McEachern said he will not stop fighting for the cause. "A disease is not a curse, it's a cause," says McEachern. "I will never stop fighting for brain cancer research." McEachern's goal is to rasie $100,000 for Duke's Brain Tumor Center, to whose research he credits his life. Because of the support of his family, friends, and community, as well as Duke's anonymous donor, Tony's goal is well within reach.

Welcome home, Tony!

Michael A. Gilkey Featured in UF Perspective

Local landscape architect Michael A. Gilkey, Jr. was recognized in the May 2009 issue of Perspective, the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning magazine. Gilkey was honored in March as the 2008-2009 Distinguished Alumnus from the College's Department of Landscape Architecture. Gilkey joins past recipients, such as Raymond Jungles, and is constantly striving to further his profession through service, innovation, and education.

Walk of Life to End in Sarasota After 800 Miles

Brain Cancer Survivor Walks from Duke University to Sarasota to Raise Money and Awareness

Tony McEachern has walked through the front door of Sarasota’s Village Bikes many times, as both an employee and an avid world-class athlete. This Saturday, Tony will walk through the bike shop’s front doors again—this time, with a team of dedicated supporters, and approximately 800 miles behind him.

In 2002, after finishing the grueling 10 day Vietnam adventure bicycle race Raid Gauloises, Tony McEachern was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. A mysterious seizure led to the discovery of a large tumor on the right side of his brain, called an anaplastic astrocytoma. McEachern has undergone over 300 MRI’s and scans, 20 seizures, 9 surgeries, over 1100 days of chemotherapy, and more than 42 trips to the Duke University Brain Tumor Clinic. Now years beyond the expectations and predictions of many doctors, McEachern has organized a support team of family, friends, and doctors, which he calls ‘Team Tony.’

On April 25th, more than six years after his diagnosis, Team Tony began their Walk of Life with two goals. “First, I plan to raise much needed funds for The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke to whom I’m indebted to for my life, in the hope that it will enable them to do for others what they have done for me,” says McEachern. “My second goal is to meet more people, to share my adventure, and to learn about theirs.”

Since then, Tony McEachern has walked 800 miles through three states. Through the support of his family and friends, funds have been raised to fuel support vehicles, provide food and lodging, and other supplies. “I've been given 5 star-rooms, cab rides, meals, crumpled dollar bills, bottled water, companionship, scratch off tickets, allowances, club dues, $500.00 checks to $1.35 in cash donations, and countless have donated their time,” says McEachern. “Each of these acts were as valuable as the next, they all came from the heart.”

On the 28th day of the Walk of Life, McEachern met a taxi driver whose mother had passed away from a brain tumor. “He thanked me for what I was doing and asked that I never stop walking this Walk. I will not stop walking this Walk or fighting the fight for brain cancer cure and care.”

McEachern is well on his way to meeting his financial goal of $100,000, through the generosity of an anonymous donor at Duke University who has agreed to match every single dollar raised. Donations may still be made via Pay Pal at www.teamtony.org.

This Saturday, June 6th, Tony McEachern and his Walk of Life will come home to Sarasota. Supporters, friends, family, the community, and the media are invited and encouraged to accompany Team Tony on the last leg of this incredible journey. The Team will meet at 5 Points in Downtown Sarasota at approximately 3:15 pm Saturday. The route will take them east on Ringling and south along US 301 / US 41, then west down Bay Road and right into Village Bikes, where a celebration is planned.

ABOUT TONY McEACHERN: After having lost 95% of his left peripheral vision, Tony McEachern lost the ability to comfortably ride a bike, but was still a competitive athlete. Not content to let his spirit fade away, he chose to celebrate his life and reinforce to others that they could too, no matter what particular challenges they faced in their lives. Tony ventured out on a ‘Walk of Life,’ a coast-to-coast 170 mile trek across the state of Florida. “I began to see the walk as a way to touch people from many backgrounds and to ‘pay it forward’ and help others in the way that so many had helped me in dealing with my challenges,” says McEachern. “ My first walk became an entity on its own, lasting 8 days and 7 hours. That walk was just the beginning.”

Artist Marcy Chapman Launches Etsy Store

Renowned local watermedia artist Marcy Chapman is proud to announce the launch of her Etsy store. The site will feature collections of Chapman's smaller pieces, with a focus on seasonal series. Larger works are available in Chapman's studio. Commissions are welcome.

Although most of Chapman's subjects are traditional, she presents them in a contemporary manner. Using her own technique, she archivally bonds her paintings onto canvas, permanently protecting them and eliminating the need for glass. Chapman frequently works in series, using watercolor, acrylic, inks, and other media.

"My paintings enable me to share the joy I find in nature and everyday living," says Chapman. "Painting in watermedia offers a delightfully interesting life in the world of art."

The first collection available in Chapman's Etsy store is a series of fern and moss paintings, celebrating the new growth and promise of spring. Pieces in this collection feature unique approaches such as wrapping imprinted vintage script around canvas, mounting paintings on handmade rice paper, and using vintage woodcuts, texturizing media and chalk to achieve desired effects.

About Marcy Chapman: Marcy started painting almost thirty years ago as a result of a "happy accident." At that time, she put down her pen (a degree in English) and picked up a paint brush, with great intensity. Her work has been internationally published and sold in venues as varied as street fairs, Bed Bath and Beyond, and the art auctions held on the QEII luxury liner. Marcy enjoys teaching, both locally as well as at the John C. Campbell Folk Art School in Brasstown, N.C.

Summer Special: Dinner for Two Delivered, $39.95

May 15, 2009 (Sarasota, FL) -- Ashley’s Food Delivery, the area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service, and Café Italia Grill are offering a Dinner for Two Delivery Special, available throughout the summer. The special includes a bottle of select imported Merlot or Pinot Grigio, two House or Caesar Salads and choice of two authentic Italian Pasta Dinners, delivered to your home for $39.95 (plus service fee, tax and gratuity).

Dinner choices include: Spaghetti with Meatballs; Ravioli Marinara; Gnocchi Marinara; Fettuccine Diavolo; Linguine Pesto; Angelo’s Rigatoni Meat Sauce; Fettuccine Alfredo; Rigatoni Vodka; Pietro’s Tuscan Pasta with Chicken; Ravioli Anna Maria with Shrimp; Six-Cheese Lasagna; Eggplant Parmiggiana; and Butternut Squash Ravioli.

To place your order, or to view the full Café Italia Grill delivery menu, visit www.AshleysFood.com, or call 953-3663.
About Ashley’s Food Delivery: The area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service, Ashley’s Food Delivery partners with over 35 restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to deliver everything from home-cooked, comfort food to elegant, gourmet dining. Ashley’s Food offers residential & corporate meal delivery, drop-off catering services and gift basket delivery. The service is open for lunch delivery Monday through Friday (Sarasota only) and dinner delivery every day. For more information, call 953-FOOD or visit www.AshleysFood.com.

About Café Italia Grill: Located at 5406 Fruitville Rd., Café Italia Grill offers a wide selection of authentic Italian and original pasta dishes, specialties from the grill, gourmet pizzas and more; a full catering menu is also available. Lunch and dinner delivery is offered through Ashley’s Food Delivery. Café Italia is open Monday-Friday, 11am to 9pm; Saturday, 5-9pm. For more information, call 343-9979 or visit www.CafeItaliaGrill.com.

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. Receives ASLA Award

May 4, 2009 (Sarasota, FL) -- The Sarasota landscape architecture studio Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. will receive an Award of Honor from the Florida chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects at their upcoming annual conference and expo in July. The project being recognized is the Cherokee Park West residence, a design collaboration with Jonathan Parks Architect.

The Cherokee Park West residence integrated landscape architecture, architecture, interior design and client involvement, to successfully create an extension of the interior spaces through the gardens of this Moroccan-inspired home.

Project Synopsis:
The design concept for this Sarasota residential landscape was to extend the architecture by creating a series of intimate spaces within a unified exterior composition. Each space is artfully defined using architectural and landscape elements, while integrating the composition through form, repetition, views, and materials. Just as the courtyard architecture brings the outdoors in, the landscape extends the interior and mimics the architecture in both style and function.

Great care and ecological sensitivity were displayed by selecting a Florida Friendly plant palette, consisting of drought tolerant plants and limited turf. Waterwise irrigation practices were implemented, matching precipitation rates of a low volume system, ensuring maximum efficiency. Native aggregate and groundcover were used throughout the property, as was responsible grading and drainage with on site water storage.

The intent of the design for the Cherokee Park West project was to optimize the use of every square foot of exterior space. Spaces were provided for the needs of a young family, for an intimate conversation, for entertaining and outdoor dining, for relaxing, for swimming, for viewing. True outdoor rooms were created, extending the interior space into the landscape. Tree canopies create ceilings, hedges create walls, shrubs accent the ‘rooms,’ hardscape elements form floors, and paving pattern breaks act as thresholds. The result is a cohesive outdoor composition that balances simple, usable spaces within an overall unity, creating an atmosphere of calm, organic beauty.

Project Credits:
Landscape Architect: Michael A. Gilkey, Jr. / Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.
Architect: Jonathan Parks / Jonathan Parks Architect
Interior Designer: Suzanne Sultana / Suzanne Sultana & Associates
Builder: Jeff Birnbach / Collingwood Construction Group, LLC
Landscape Contractor: Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.
Photographer: Gana Gilkey / Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.

About Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.: Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a landscape architecture studio in Sarasota, Florida, established in 1981. Through a passion for pure design and personal relationships with architects, contractors and homeowners, Gilkey creates expressions of outdoor space that are direct translations of their clients’ visions. For more information, please visit www.magilkey.com.

Ashley's Delivers Gift Baskets for Mother's Day

May 1, 2009 (Sarasota, FL) -- Ashley’s Food Delivery, the area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service, is now delivering gift baskets, ideal for Mother’s Day or any special occasion. A variety of gift baskets are available for delivery, full of edible delights from partners Peterbrooke Chocolatier and Troyer’s Dutch Heritage.

“Imagine Mom’s delight when a basket full of locally-made, high-quality chocolate or fresh, homemade bakery goods, arrives at her door,” says Liz Sniegocki, co-owner of Ashley’s Food Delivery. “Our gift basket delivery service is designed to make gift giving easy – you choose the basket from a variety of options, we deliver it. It’s both convenient and unique.”

Featured baskets for Mother’s Day delivery include “The Chocolate Lovers” Gift Basket from Peterbrooke Chocolatier. This bountiful basket is piled high with Peterbrooke’s signature milk-chocolate covered popcorn, chocolate covered pretzel twists, a handmade assortment box, hand-dipped chocolate smothered treats and a generous “Happy Mother’s Day” engraved chocolate bar.

Also featured is “The Bakery Breakfast” Gift Basket from Troyer’s Dutch Heritage. This basket is filled with an assortment of homestyle delights to start Mom’s day including a loaf of homemade white or wheat bread, bakery-fresh assorted muffins, buttermilk or blueberry pancake mix, country biscuit or cheddar garlic biscuit mix, fresh apple butter, homemade peanut butter spread, a box of breakfast tea and a Troyer's Heritage Mug.

Both featured Mother’s Day Gift Baskets are priced at $55, including delivery. Delivery is available every day; 48 hour notice is required for delivery on Mother’s Day. The full Ashley’s Food Gift Basket delivery menu, including seasonal and year-round gift options, is available online at www.AshleysFood.com. Orders may be placed online or by calling 953-FOOD (3663).

About Ashley’s Food Delivery: The area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service, Ashley’s Food Delivery partners with over 35 restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to deliver everything from home-cooked, comfort food to elegant, gourmet dining. Ashley’s Food offers residential & corporate meal delivery, drop-off catering services and gift basket delivery. The service is open for lunch delivery Monday through Friday (Sarasota only) and dinner delivery every day. For more information, call 953-FOOD or visit www.AshleysFood.com.