Wow! What A Weekend!

We had tons of fun in the sun this weekend.  Here’s how the fun unfolded:

On Wednesday, we received a late breaking invitation to a birthday dinner for our 16-going-on-17 niece, Samantha.

Driving across state to join the revelry and merriment at Seasons 52 in Orlando, we heard Stevie sing “On The Edge of Seventeen.”

Perfect timing!

And then “a little ditty about Jack and Diane” which reminded us to “hang on to 16 as long as you can.”

Oops . . . too late!

We arrived early and surprised Sam by jumping out of the bushes in front of the restaurant, swords drawn.  Like pirates!

We didn’t fool her.  She knew it was us.

Dinner included Flatbread Pizza, Greek Salad, a Dynamic Duo of Hummus, and Sweet Indulgences for Dessert.

Our waiter snapped this photo as we struggled to maintain composure (while fighting a losing battle with a sugar high).

Tigger managed in our absence, greeting us with a HUNGRY yowl and a hairball.  On the carpet.

On Thursday, after a grueling day of doing “nothing much” (bike ride, water aerobics, grocery shopping), we attended an Open House at the South Florida Museum to launch the new equipment in its Planetarium . . . stellar!

The capabilities are absolutely amazing!  We zoomed in to Earth and flew over Anna Maria Island and our neighborhood. We rode through the canyons on Mars. We went out past the edge of the solar system, the Milky Way, to the edge of the known Universe.  

To date, only 25 planetariums in the world have these capabilities ~ much like the Universe, that number is ever expanding.

Tigger greeted us with a contented purr and a wee accident.  On the tile.

On Friday, at the annual Arts Hop, we wandered through five of the island’s fourteen galleries listening to local musicians, sipping wine, admiring the art, and nibbling on  . . . nope, not spongecake.

We noshed on imported cheese and crackers and sampled coconut shrimp with mango salsa at Sidebar, the newest gallery.

We filled cocktail plates with bruschetta, pizza, and fresh pineapple at The Studio at Gulf and Pine.

We tried Japanese Ice Cream “Bubbles” at the Shiny Fish Emporium ~ a first for us.  Mochi ice cream is a small dessert ball with rice cake (mochi) on the outside and an ice cream filling on the inside.  We tried the White Chocolate Raspberry first.  Followed in quick succession with a Chocolate chaser.

We ended our strolling repast with mini pumpkin spice cupcakes and cookies at ArtSpace.

Fun night.  And filling.  Filling and fun.

We went home and collapsed on the sofa to watch The Bourne Legacy and rest up for the rest of the weekend’s scheduled events.  Tigger joined us.

On Saturday, we stopped by the AMI Butterfly Garden Arts & Crafts Show on the island to hang out with Patchouli.  Just the right mix of sun and clouds to keep the temperatures temperate.

Did you catch the chorus?  “I don’t know how to stay, but I don’t know where we’re going.  Hold on ’cause anything is possible.”

Ring any bells?

After getting our fill of Julie and Bruce’s melodies, we swung by The Fresh Market for Taste of the Holidays, with samples of whipped potatoes, sweet potato souffle, corn souffle, stuffing, cranberry orange relish, green beans, cheese straws, pecan pie, and coffee a l’orange.

Also offered but not sampled by us ~ oven roasted turkey, spiral baked ham, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, red velvet cake.

After grabbing a few bakery items (Toscano Pano and Cheddar Rolls), we popped down to Coquina Beach for the tail end of Symphony on the Sand, arriving in time to hear the 1812 Overture.  While there, we burned off a few calories with a moonlit stroll along the Gulf, accompanied by night breezes.

After a light dinner at home, we headed inland to hear Sophie B. Hawkins  perform at the Tarpon Pointe Grill and Tiki Bar.

Sophie B. headlined the Pussycat Festival, to raise $’s for the Gulf Shore Animal League, singing songs from Tongues & Tails and Whaler . . . plus a few songs by her alter ego, Janis Joplin.

After enjoying her music for 20 years, it was great to kick back and watch Sophie perform live . . . from the comfort of our car.  We arrived late to the festival, expecting to park blocks away from the venue.  Instead, we pulled into a parking spot a stone’s throw from the stage with an unobstructed view.

What a treat!

On Sunday, we attended a matinee of the Island Players ~ Guilty Conscience, a crafty thriller by the creators of “Columbo” and “Murder She Wrote.”  At intermission, we enjoyed a few “Guilty Pleasures” ~ tea cakes and cookies.

On Monday, fun still not done, Mary Lou and Larry took us to lunch at The Waterfront ~ a delicious “thank you” for helping clean out Betty’s villa.

Today we plan to rest up for next weekend.  Which starts . . . tomorrow!

What’s that?  Weekends don’t begin on Wednesday and end on Monday?  Of course they do.  They must.  How else would we pack in all this fun?

Aah . . . that’s better!

How did you “spend” the weekend?  Are you “paying for it” this week?