THE ARTFUL LOBSTER

It's that time of year again, the time when the Lobsters begin their long trek from the cold waters of Maine, to the warm waters and gentle breezes of the Gulf of Mexico - no easy trip for a creature with eight legs and two claws. But the Artful Lobster is no average crustacean and we appear right on schedule for our November 19th date.

For those of your new to this fun event, the Artful Lobster is the only annual fundraiser held on the Hermitage campus, and the only time when you can be guaranteed that all buildings will be open and that a full compliment of artists will be there for you to meet and speak with.

The Menu
The Artful Lobster runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features a New England feast prepared by Phil Mancini and his staff from Michael's On East. Just think about this food. You can look forward to 1 ½ pound Maine lobsters with drawn butter, mesquite grilled chicken, St. Louis barbecue ribs, New England clam chowder, corn on the cob, red skin potatoes, corn bread, and an incredible salad station.

New This Year
We have a very special treat this year. Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick was among the first artists to work at the Hermitage. While here, Michael compiled his CD, Enter The Dream Time. Michael is an internationally renowned musician who performs around the world. Most recently, Michael performed for the Dali Lama during his "Talk For World Peace" in Washington, D.C. and as a featured soloist at the Spoleto Festival in Milan, Italy. For this year's "Artful Lobster," we have invited Michael to return to the Hermitage and to perform a special concert for you. To learn more about this extraordinary musician and artist, go to his website at http://web.mac.com/tuningtheplanet/Michael_Fitzpatrick/HOME.html

2011 Artful Lobster Live Auction
(A sampling of items as of October 1)

1. Week at Antibes Maisonette donated by Nancy Mina
Spend a week overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in a charming two bedroom (sleeps 2-4) maisonette in Antibes, France, located near Monte Carlo, Cannes and Nice. Enjoy morning coffee and croissant fetched from the open market 100 feet from your gated courtyard. People watch and explore the famed Pablo Picasso Museum just steps from your charming French perch. VIEW PHOTO

2. Artist Studio Dinner for eight with Artist Andrea Dasha Reich
Become submerged in the creative world of internationally collected artist Andrea Dasha Reich. Ms. Reich will share her creative inspiration and evolution during this rare opportunity.

This experience is produced by Sarasota Concierge, with art-inspired Mediterranean cuisine catered by Gene Mara, the former owner/executive chef of Palmetto Grill, and wine pairings by Sarasota Fine Wines. In the mean time you can go to www.andreadashareich.com to get a look and feel for how interesting and unique this experience will be. VIEW PHOTO

3. Be A VIP in D.C.
Be as busy as you want to be. This exciting trip gives you experiences in our nation’s capital you couldn’t possibly have on your own. Here is the menu of possibilities available for two for a most special three days and two nights in Washington D.C. Availability of some of the activities depends on when in the year the visit is scheduled. The earlier, the better.

1. Two nights at the exclusive and private Cosmos Club. Not open to the public, the Cosmos Club is home to scientists, artists, and intellectuals in its incomparable mansion just 1.5 blocks from DuPont Circle. Includes full breakfast. For more information (including a video) about the club, go to www.cosmosclub.org.
2. Lunch with U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan in the private congressional dining room (schedule permitting).
3. Congressman Buchanan’s Congressional Challenge Coin
4. VIP Tour of the White House (pending White House approval)
5. VIP Tour of the Capitol
6. Special House of Representatives and Senate gallery passes
7. VIP Tour of the Supreme Court
8. VIP Tour of the Smithsonian Museum
9. VIP Tour of the Library of Congress
10. A visit with Dick Lobo, head of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Federal agency that oversees Voice of America and all US news and information services abroad. Dinner with Dick and his wife Caren at a great restaurant in the nation’s capital.
11. Other special studio, gallery and museum VIP access is possible depending on the date.

This is a priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “Do D.C.” in style – with access and accommodations unavailable to everyone – custom designed for our Hermitage supporters.

This item is the generous gift of Ellen Berman, Representative Vern Buchanan, and Dick and Caren Lobo.

4. Santa Fe Condo, 319 Magdalena
Located two blocks from the historic Plaza in the center of Santa Fe, this residence has off-street parking, a private gated courtyard with patio and fireplace. Entering through double doors, guests are greeted with a two-story living room/dining room with fireplace, vigas, and a latilla ceiling. Authentic adobe brick construction is throughout the home. A large master bedroom has bath with shower and jacuzzi, a fireplace, ample closet space, and saltillo tile floors. The “guest” bedroom has access to a small outdoor patio, twin beds, a private bath, and a fireplace. The kitchen is fully equipped with range, oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, disposal. In addition glasses, dishes, and silverware and cookware are furnished. This residence is one of three which comprise a small, private condominium association. Each residence has private entry.

From the condo, it is two blocks to shopping and galleries, 15 minutes to the famous Santa Fe Opera, a ten minute walk to Canyon road, with shops and galleries, and a ten-minute drive to museums. Exceptional dining is available within yards of the condo: SantaCafe is renowned for its contemporary Southwest cuisine. Overall, Santa Fe probably has more exceptional restaurants per capita than any US city.

A “Personal Guide” to Santa Fe and its many attractions and activities will be made available to the auction.

Santa Fe ski area is a 20 minute drive; Taos is 2 hours.

5. Weekend at the Hermitage Artist Retreat (September 2012)
Live like an artist, or just enjoy the pleasures of the beach, beautiful sunsets, and inspiring setting, when you spend a weekend you will never forget at one of America’s premier artist retreats. This is a rare opportunity to live for a weekend in the 2 bedroom Whitney House (sleeps 2-4) and enjoy all the Hermitage facilities including a gas or charcoal barbecue grill, bicycles, and kayaks. VIEW PHOTO

6. Lunch with a Legend – The Godfather of the Historical Novel, author John Jakes
John Jakes is the acknowledged contemporary master of the family saga. He is the creator of the legendary eight-volume Kent Family Chronicles, the Main and Hazard families of The North and South Trilogy, and the Crowns of Chicago, German-Americans whose stories interweave the history of the twentieth century in Homeland and its sequel, American Dreams. You and a guest will enjoy a leisurely lunch with John and his lovely wife Rachel, at Michael’s On East and receive the added gift of an autographed copy of The North and South Trilogy. VIEW PHOTO

7. Elegant Beach Dinner for 12
Impress and entertain your guests at an elegant dinner for 12 on the Hermitage beach under a magical moon-lit sky, prepared by renowned chef, Jeremy Hammond Chambers of Innovative Dining. As an appetizer, your guests may visit the Hermitage studios and grounds on a special VIP tour. VIEW PHOTO

8. Paddle Raise (well, actually, just raise your hand)
Champion the Hermitage and its programs with an enthusiastic and generous raising of hands in support of donations large and small.

2011 Artful Lobster Silent Auction

We have two extraordinary opportunities for aspiring Creatives that you will find only at the Artful Lobster. They are:

Aspiring Novelist Private Workshop
Has that Great American novel been languishing on your laptop? Could you use advice to take your creativity from sputtering to spectacular? We will pair you with a successful, published novelist from the many affiliated with the Hermitage, then followed by an up-to- 2-hour consultation with NYC literary agent, Karen Solem for advice and the inside scoop on getting your novel published.

Aspiring Playwright Private Workshop
Do you or a loved one have a play in progress or an idea that you want to explore to become America’s next Tony-winning playwright? Award-winning playwright and Hermitage Executive Director, Bruce Rodgers, whose plays have been produced in numerous theaters around the country and in Europe, will mentor you in three 2-hour workshops, followed by an up-to-1-hour conference call session with Michael Bigelow Dixon on dramaturgical strategies for getting your play to the next level. Mr. Dixon is the former literary manager of Actors Theater of Louisville and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. He is the "Godfather of the 10-minute Play," the inventor of the Great American 10-minute Play Contest at Actor's Theater and editor of 30 volumes of plays and criticism.

A sampling of some of the fabulous baskets we will be presenting with values of $500 - $1600 :

1. Southside Village Basket

2. Venice Main Street Basket

3. Englewood/Dearborn Street Basket

4. Elizabeth Van Riper Studio Basket

5. Flavors & More Basket from Judi Gallagher and Marsha Fottler

6. Burns Court Basket

7. Head to Toe Rejuvenation Basket

8. Coffee Connoisseurs’ Delight Basket

9. Home Décor Refresher Basket

10. Photo Session with Rachel Harvey

11. Gift Certificate for Chinese Medicine Doctor Martha Huie

12. Ringing Museum of Art Basket

Support
Patron Tickets: People supporting the Hermitage by purchasing the higher-priced patron ticket will be listed in our program.

Table sponsors will have your name listed in our program and you will have reserved seating with signage on your table.

Please know that when you purchase a general admission ticket, or especially Patron Tickets and Table Sponsorships, you are contributing to artistic and community programs that benefit the community from Tampa to Boca Grande. Some of these programs send master artists into our schools. Others such as our popular "Beach Readings" and "Open Studios" give the public free access to both our campus and to our literary and visual artists. Still others in collaboration with cultural organizations such as the Ringling Museum, Ringling College, New College and others, give free or low-cost access to our world-class creators. Its your support of events such as The Artful Lobster that assures our ability to continue our work.

Artful Lobster 2011 Sponsors
Current Table Sponsors Caroline and Dyckman Andrus Rita Adler M. Beverly Bartner & Robert G.   Bartner Bookstore1 Sarasota Rebecca Donelson and   Robert Blattberg Gulf Coast Community   Foundation Chari Isaacs Alexandra Jupin and John   Bean Beverly Koski Karen Solem and Charles   Forman Carol White and Larry Bold Media Sponsor Scene Magazine General Sponsor Linda and Keith Monda	Corporate Sponsor Florida Shores Bank Sponsors Sherry and Tom Koski Linda and Keith Monda Patrons Debbi Benedict Ellen Berman Craig Bryars Kitty and John Cranor, III Julia and Dick Hyman Flora Major Carolyn Michel and Howard Millman George and Sarah Pappas Margaret Pennington In-kind Donors Thoroughbred Golf Carts Jett Thompson Antiques

We send a huge, Lobster "Thank You" to these wonderful people for their support.

Artful Lobster Chair Debbi Benedict

Artful Lobster Committee

Caroline Andrus Carol White Bold Craig Bryars Ilene Denton Joan Englebach Mary Beth Goddard Sandra Hahn Alexandra Jupin Sharyn Lonsdale Julie Milton Margaret Pennington Bruce Rodgers Elizabeth Rose Lisa Rubinstein Marianne Schafer Suzie Sewall Jett Thompson Nelda Thompson Elizabeth Van Riper Lynn Wallace