VIVE LA FRANCE!!

Happy Quatorze Juillet Everyone!!



Today is the Fête Nationale in France, and since France is the birthplace of Ballet, I have a big celebration every year!!

Happy Bastille Day!!

Even Glamorous Ballerinas Need to Find Ways to Relax

One of the activities that helps me quiet my mind and stay focused when I'm not actually dancing is KNITTING!!

I've been working on this throw for a while now, but I've finally finished, and thought you would all like to see:




My driver said it looked more like a scarf to him, but I'm not sure. What do you think??




Do you have any knitting ideas for me to try now that this project is done? See you later!!

Brewery Ommegang

While on the road, my entourage and I passed by the Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY, and we decided to stop in for a tour and tasting!! http://www.ommegang.com

Welcome!!




The Brewery is situated in a really beautiful spot, on what used to be a hops farm, and on this day, the weather was just perfect to relax and try some delicious libations.






On the tour, you learn all kinds of interesting things about the brewing process - here is the main area where the fermentation happens




We also got to see the bottling room, where the large bottles imported from France are cleaned, filled, sealed, and labeled. I even got to help out!!




After the tour, we made our way over to the tasting room



All the beers at Brewery Ommegang are brewed with herbs and spices - orange peel, coriander, star anise, and others, and boy are they delicious!!



The best part of visiting Brewery Ommegang? Bringing home goodies!! The next time you're in Cooperstown, you should be sure to stop by Brewery Ommegang!!

Heading North for the Summer

Well, it's that time of year again!! It gets so hot in Florida that I feel like I could MELT!! So, this year, I'm heading up to Maine for the summer.

Getting all my fabulous stuff packed into my Honda Fit http://automobiles.honda.com/fit was hard work, but I managed somehow, with enough room left to stretch and stay flexible on the long ride north!!




One of the perks of my fabulous lifestyle is having a personal driver. He's got a great sense of style.




It's great to be able to help out by being the navigator.




It feels great to be on the road again!! AWAY WE GO!!

The Circus Museum

So today, I went to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art to see the circus museum!!
http://www.ringling.org/CircusMuseums.aspx

They have the largest miniature circus in the world, and it was built by ONE MAN, Howard Tibbals.

Welcome to the Smallest Greatest Show On Earth!!


Mr. Tibbals worked really hard to make this a very realistic representation of the great American circus, and worked from over A MILLION photos from the 1920's, 30's and 40's.


I've always had a thing for musicians..


Wow, look!! The Sideshow!!


I wonder if I could be in the Circus...

See!! Even Tom Thumb's got nothin' on me!!


I was so inspired by my visit to the circus museum, that I'm going to get practicing right away!!


The next time you're in Sarasota, don't miss the circus museum at the Ringling Museum of Art - you have to see it to believe it!!

Acupuncture

The morning after my, um, rambunctious evening at The Cock & Bull, I was feeling like I needed a little pick-me-up, so I headed on over to Contemporary Alternative Care, where the great people there work hard to keep me in dancing shape!!
http://www.yourcac.com/

(I wonder if this man knew he would be naked when he posed for this picture)


I always feel SO MUCH BETTER after acupuncture!! Head on over to C.A.C - they'll help you out!!

At The Cock and Bull

One of my FAVORITE places to unwind in Sarasota is The Cock & Bull.
http://www.the-cock-n-bull.com

They have literally hundreds of different kinds of beer, a super friendly and knowledgeable staff, and lots of stuff on tap.


There is a great outdoor area where I can really let go - fire, live music - it brings out my inner primal urges.


Indoors, there is a darts room.


There's also a pool table and lots of other games, like JENGA!! I'm a GREAT Jenga player.


Jenga, like Ballet, takes excellent balance, but...

Balancing is hard after a night at The Cock & Bull!!


See you sometime soon at The Cock & Bull!!

Siesta Key

So, the other day, it was SO HOT here in Sarasota that I thought I was going to melt, so I decided to head over to beautiful Siesta Key for a sunset swim. http://www.siestakeychamber.com/beaches.php?id_cat=24

Siesta key is one of only two quartz sand beaches in the world - the other is in Australia. I think the color of the white sand really sets off my tutu...

I couldn't help but dance my way to shore.


I also met some friends who I had fun digging in the sand with - I'm really fun to be around, and they were having so much fun, that they just couldn't stop laughing!!


What a nice end to the day!!

My Day at the Botanical Garden

Today, I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and go to the Marie Selby Botanical Garden http://www.selby.org/



Things are really starting to get in bloom here in Sarasota - see how beautiful it is?


I like to sit under the Bonsai trees. Everyone always talks about how small they are, but I don't really get it...


Maybe I'll ask The Thoughtful Old Man - I love talking to him - he's such a good listener.


Anyway...

I love to climb the Banyan Trees...


...the views of the Harbor make me feel like dancing...


... And even the Butterflies are friendly!!


Wait...



WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!??!?!?!?




OHMYGOD!!!! IT'S A JURASSIC PARK REFUGEE!!!!!



ARGH!!




AAARRRGGGGHH!!!!!!



After that scare, I took a moment to calm myself by meditating with the Buddha.


I had a great day at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden!!

My Fabulous Job

I am a fabulous ballerina.
After I finish performances, I usually get many beautiful bouquets of flowers. I often pose with them for fans, like this:



But just for you, my closest friends, I can show you, through the wonders of modern technology, what I'm actually thinking about:

Sarasota Barbie

Welcome to my Blog!!




I am Sarasota Barbie.

I am a ballerina.

I travel the world.

I have SOOOOOOOOoooo many friends, who are all interested in my exciting life, so I've started a blog, so they can live vicariously through me, and share my adventures.

I am in Sarasota, where my adventures begin, so I thought I would give you a tour of my place!

Here is the front of the house, with Palm Trees!!


I am glad we have a pool, but despite my fabulous ballerina lifestyle, I am a nature girl at heart, so I like to daydream under the palm trees.


My favorite place to get a little sun is in front of the pond fountain.



So thanks for stopping by - stay tuned!! I only have a few weeks left in Sarasota, and then I head north, for more of my fabulous lifestyle and wonderful adventures!!