The Wienermobile, photo by James De Mass

Well, the Ketel was certainly flowing on Saturday, but on Sunday morning the sunshine was prying apart my curtains and telling me to get up, go out and do something on this beautiful day. Who am I to ignore that call, especially after weeks of chilly days and downright cold temps at night? I got a friend, a blanket, and some snacks at Publix and hit the bay-front park off 14th St. to bask in the sunshine for the few hours it lasted.

I wasn’t the only one enjoying the brief change in weather as evidenced via my Facebook feed: People were thrilled to get outside for the Downtown art fair both Saturday and Sunday — even the Oscar-Mayer Wienermobile was out around town; I kept seeing it pop up in photos too. We’ll see if the weather lasts but it seems as if spring is sproinging in Sarasota, and season is finally actually starting. Certainly the success of the first-of-its-kind Noise Ordinanace CD Release Party is a sign of more good things to come.

Photo of the Cock & Bull at night by Peter Acker

I sadly missed the event, where 35 local bands played all day at Cock & Bull Pub. Instead I spent the evening with family in Tampa, celebrating my lil’ bro’s 21st b-day (shout-out!). We started with dinner at the dimly-lit Malio’s Prime Steakhouse, where a number of our fellow dinners were attired in tuxes or satin and glittering jewels, claiming they were off to the Gasparilla Debutante Ball (though no record of it exists on the web — surely it can’t be real if it’s not online).

After dinner, it was time to drink — we were celebrating a 21st after all — and lil’ bro chose Peabody’s to do so, a sports-bar around the corner from USF’s campus. As the frat boys piled in I found a spot in the corner to sit back and take it all in: young men in polo shirts talking up Mom, young ladies with Coach bags talking up Dad, and everyone trying to pour as many shots as possible into lil’ bro. Good times. Dad stayed sober enough to get us back safe to SRQ, but an hour car-ride with family after a few drinks can be akin to the ninth circle of hell. Family-drinky time should carry the same rules as polite bar conversation: avoid religion, politics, and discussion of non-present significant others. Love my peoples but I was all too happy to get out of that car and back to homebase.

I didn’t get back in time to go see DJ Supreme1 at Ivory, which was probably a good thing because I hear the after hours was a late one. And, on this particular Sunday, I would rather be in the park enjoying a beautiful day than up drinking…well I’m pretty sure about that anyway.

It was one of those days that makes you remember why you love this town: Near perfect weather, beautiful sea and sky and happy people taking the dog for a walk or filling up the boat for a day on the water. Enthusiasm is returning after so much time being cold and hiding indoors, and I detect a new spirit of collaboration in the air. All week I’ve heard whisperings of a new and improved Fringe Film Fest this April as well as the first news about local art collaborative S/ART/Q’s new show in March. The organizers of the Vinyl Fest are scouting locations and talent for this year’s summer music festival and are also promising bigger and better. Do it, people. If Noise Ordinance got 35 bands — and that means god-knows how many narcissistic musicians — together for one kick-ass show just think about what else we can accomplish for Sarasota. Keep up the good work people!

It’s much more fun on facebook: Become a fan of The Scenestress or follow on Twitter and be all Web 2.0-like.

Regular faves like Horsefeathers’ biweekly Drag Queen Bingo never failed to entertain, with a barrage of inappropriate language alongside a healthy dose of gambling, and the other corners of Sarasota’s own little Bermuda triangle also kept me busy (including one memorable ladies’ night at the now-defunct Esca). In May I familiarized myself with all Southside Village has to offer, making some new friends and crawling into the office the next day with one helluva hangover. I also hit the beaches for margaritas at the little-known Lido Key Tiki Bar and a Sunday pool party at The Colony organized by Klauber dynasty offspring.

We were lucky to have some fabulous special events in town too, starting as always with the Sarasota Film Fest, a week of crowded rooms, Szambelan and B-list celebs. The first outing of the funkdified Vinyl Music Fest was a smash success — with packed clubs all over the city and chance encounters with superstar DJs the norm. My own star-turn came when I happened upon blond bombshell DJ Diamond in the ladies’ room and she invited me to spend the rest of the evening chillin’ with her up in VIP. Another great addition to the scene was the Ringling International Arts Festival, where I caught Mikhail Baryshnikov checking out my rack before we all filed into the theater to enjoy the offbeat cabaret performance of musical maven Meow Meow.

One thing the RIAF may have lacked was visual art, and this year I searched statewide for interesting artists. Here at home, the first ever Arts United paired live artists and live musicians downstairs at Esca, making for a thoroughly stimulating evening. I also journeyed to St. Pete more than once for the swinging shindigs at ArtPool, a gallery/boutique where owner Marina Williams incorporates fashion shows, live music and ever-rotating artworks into a party as vivid as one of Williams’ own wacky ensembles. But the mack-daddy of art events this year had to be Art Basel Miami Beach, the largest art fair in the United States, and my weekend in Miami left me wide-eyed and exhausted, certainly the marks of time well spent.

The only celebrity I spotted at Basel was my favorite Batman (Val Kilmer — try not to laugh), but Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa brought me up close and personal with Lindsay Lohan, Evander Holyfield and John Legend, among others. My top celebrity meeting of ‘09 was when the Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu played Jannus Landing in June. Matis invited me via Twitter to a sit in on a short live set at WMNF Tampa, and I was really impressed with how talented and genuine the singer was in person, taking the time to stop and chat, pose for a picture, and sign a copy of his new single for me.

I did not get to meet Britney Spears, tragically, but the pop starlet’s show in March at the St. Pete Times Forum was actually my favorite review to write, exploring the dichotomy between a real girl on stage singing and dancing, and the mythic character “Britney Spears” has morphed into. We all have our masks, though, don’t we? And speaking of masks, let’s talk about mine. In last week’s issue, I made CL contributor MC Coolidge’s “Naughty & Nice” list, earning a gold star for dishing marginally useful/entertaining information, but also a demerit for not being quite cruel enough to warrant my anonymity.

Point taken, Ms. Coolidge, and thus I offer you now, Sarasota, The Scenestress’ New Year’s resolution for 2010: to be consistently more ruthless. Over the past year I’ve learned a lot about this new job of mine, and about Sarasota as a whole. In my work I’ve always attempted to stay positive and focus on the good in this city, instead of offering the serial disparagement many critics seem to rely upon. But let’s be honest: Everybody likes a hint of snark now and then. And so while 2009 has been a lot of fun, in 2010 I promise to always bring you the story behind the story, whether it’s pretty or not. And surely, Sarasota, you won’t let me disappoint.

I thank you, dear readers, for a wonderful year, and for your continued support and devotion. I owe you the same. Cheers and Happy New Year!

As always, find The Scenestress on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates on hot Suncoast happs.