Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium

12/31/2025 – 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, (941) 388-4441,

mote.org

Another fun day with our Son & Daughter in Law.

Q-tips say: Yes, go and enjoy. It is awesome. They advance marine science and education leading to new discoveries, revitalization, sustainability and greater public understanding of our oceans.

After our visit to the Mote Marine, we stopped by the Peridia Golf & CC for a drink and then Son, Sean & Daughter in Law, Danielle, made a delicious dinner – Black eyed Pea Bruschetta & Jambalaya.

Enjoyed the Shark, Sea Turtle, Manatee, Coral Reef, otter, Stingray, and Touch Tank Experiences awesome Exhibits.

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Circus

2075 Bahia Vista St Sarasota, FL. (941) 355-9335 – circusarts.org

12/30/2025 –

Daughter in Law & Son , along with the Q-tips enjoyed the Circus in Sarasota. After the Circus, off to Pier 22.

Mrs. Q says: What a great circus! It is intimate and small. The performers were excellent. After the show there was an opportunity to meet the performers – speak with them and get photos with them. I highly recommend this circus!

Many Various and wonderful acts –

“Seventh generation Wallendas on the high wire.”

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Home Alone

When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O’Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.

Q-tips say: Yes, watch it. Saw it before but stilled enjoyed it again.

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National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.

Q-tips say: YES, watch it. You will Crack up- even if you have seen it before.

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Meet me at the Christmas Train Parade

When Charlotte’s son Benny learns about an old tradition, he persuades her to try and reignite the Christmas magic that brought neighboring communities together. Netflix – Prime.

Q-tips say: YES, We enjoyed this movie. A great movie for the family to enjoy.

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Santa Boot Camp

Hired by shopping mall magnate Ed Mancini to host a Christmas gala for his biggest investors, Emily heads to Santa Bootcamp – to find the perfect Santa and the inspiration she’ll need to make the evening a success.

anta Bootcamp (the Lifetime movie) is about a stressed-out event planner, Emily, who’s hired to organize a huge Christmas gala but can’t find a decent Santa, so she goes to Santa Bootcamp herself to find inspiration and ends up rediscovering Christmas spirit, romance, and her own purpose with help from a drill sergeant (played by Rita Moreno). Essentially, it’s a festive romantic comedy where a holiday skeptic learns the true meaning of Christmas while attending a quirky Santa training camp.  Netflix

It’s a classic holiday movie formula with a fun, silly premise, directed by Melissa Joan Hart, that focuses on finding the magic within during the holiday season.  

Q-tips say: YES, Watch it! We enjoyed & had a few laughs.

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PIEROGI INN – Sarasota, FL 12/10/25

Photo of Pierogi Inn - Sarasota, FL, United States

PIEROGI INN – 6611 Superior Ave, Sarasota, FL 34231, (941) 929-0101

Q-Tips say: THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO for DELICIOUS Polish and Ukrainian foods in the Sarasota FL area. All kinds of Pierogis, Kolaczki, Beet/Beef Barley Soup mixes and ready made. Wonderful sausages w/tasty garlic (Kielbasa). Head Cheese, marinated herring fillets (Sledziowe marynowane), and much more. Pleasant servers and they do take charge cards. Also carry Polish holiday cards and Christmas ornaments. Go and enjoy, we did.

Pierogi Inn features a fine selection of Polish foods including homemade, fresh and smoked polish sausage and other best quality gourmet meat products.
And also offer a huge selection of all kinds of goods like pickles, sauerkraut, jams, juices, syrups, pastas, candies, cookies, chocolates, and much more.

Photo of Pierogi Inn - Sarasota, FL, United States
Photo of Pierogi Inn - Sarasota, FL, United States
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The Motown Christmas Special

The special will showcase iconic Motown legends performing holiday favorites and Hitsville U.S.A. classics alongside today’s biggest stars performing exclusive solos, unexpected duets and exciting group medleys in a riveting night of music. The special will include performances featuring more than 25 Motown hits, performed by Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations. In addition, today’s contemporary stars will pay tribute to iconic Motown hits, with artists such as Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Halle Bailey, Jamie Foxx, JoJo, Jordin Sparks, mgk, October London, and Pentatonix and, plus a world exclusive performance from the Broadway company “MJ the Musical.” From chart-topping hits such as “ABC,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to “Dancing in the Streets” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, “My Girl”, “Reach Out (I’ll be There)” and “Tears of a Clown”, plus “Stop (In the Name of Love),” “Superstition” and many more, “A Motown Christmas” will be an iconic celebration of timeless classics. Peacock. approx. 1 1/2 hours.

Q-tips say: YES, we did enjoy this show.

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SCANDINAVIAN GIFTS and MARKET – Sarasota, FL 2025

SCANDINAVIAN GIFTS and MARKET – 2166 Gulf Gate Dr., Sarasota, FL 34231, (941) 923-4313
scandinavian-south.com

12/10/25 –

Q-Tips say: KRINGLES, yummmm! Scandinavian Gifts has Linens, Glassware, cookbooks, jewelry, candles, collectibles and the best of all they have “Danish Kringles.” Kringles come frozen and can be refrozen, so you can have half at a time. Kringles are a family size dessert made in Racine, Wisconsin. Kringles come in many flavors: Nut, Cherry, Apricot, Cheese & Cherry.,etc. They have the closed they St. Armand’s Circle Store at 7 S. Blvd of the Presidents, Sarasota. GREAT PLACE- Scandinavian food items like crisp bread, candies, canned fish, and spreads. Cookbooks, glassware, china, and refrigerated Scandinavian food like a tube of smoked roe, pickled herring, 14 flavors of Kringle, and Swedish meatballs. Tons of shirts and hats. Glassware items, candles, and Scandinavian Christmas decorations. They have lots of viking stuff, including many sizes of viking figurines, goblets, and bowls. We like Kringles and bought Cherry and Apricot. YUM!

Mrs. Q says: Why go all the way to Wisc., or order over the internet, when you can get your KRINGLE FIX right here in Sarasota FL. Enjoy those Kringles, we do.

Kringle
Gifts
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Phillippi Creek Oyster Rest.

Photo of Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar - Sarasota, FL, United States

5353 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL, (941) 925-4444 – www.creekseafood.com

Q’s Began our dinner by sharing: Steamed Clams – 1 dozen steamed clams.- everything was just average. Service/food, etc. has gone down a few notches.

Had our usual libations- Old Fashion & Perfect Manhattan.

We shared: The Soft Schell Crabs – was to be sauteed but they were Fried. Sides: Cole Slaw/parsley potatoes/ hush puppies.

Photo of Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar - Sarasota, FL, United States
Outside dining
Photo of Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar - Sarasota, FL, United States
Inside dining
Photo of Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar - Sarasota, FL, United States. Dozen steamed oysters!
A dozen steamed clams
Photo of Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar - Sarasota, FL, United States. Raw Oyster On the Half Shell
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