About us
Hello fellow wine lovers!
We have been managing the group for over five years now and what fun it has been!
We are a group looking for members that truly want to become part of the family and share what life has to offer!
We do all sorts of different events so please do read the details on each event thoroughly.
Most of our events will either require a pre-payment as we will be purchasing tickets or paying venues directly.
Our casual small dinner reservation events will also require a pre-payment to hold your spot which will be refunded to attending members. This is an attempt to eliminate no-shows and have full capacity at our events. Some higher end venues will charge $50 to hold spots so I will increase the amount in those instances.
NOTE: In order to attend events held in private homes (cheese, chef du jour and the like) members must have attended three previous public venue events.
There is an annual fee of $15 to cover the $400 annual fees we incur from Meetup. After covering the Meetup Fees I promise I will spend every dime on items to raffle at events!
Upcoming events
30
Mazzaro's Gourmet Italian Market: International Day in St Pete - Part 1
Mazzaro's Italian Market, 2909 22nd Avenue North, Saint Petersburg, FL, USJoin Us for International Day in St. Pete 🌟starting our day in The Gourmet Italian Market!
🛍️ First Stop: Mazzaro’s Italian Market
Start the day with a foodie adventure!
RSVP to this separately so we know who to look out for!
🕚 Planning to arrive at: 11:30 AM at Mazzaro's Italian Market:
Address: 2909 22nd Avenue N, St Petersburg, FL 33713
👉 Bring a cooler and stock up on 🍝 homemade pastas, 🥖 baked goods, 🥩 meats, wines, and more. Grab a bite before the show!🛍️ This is just a general RSVP for anyone interested in an optional Pre-Shen Yun Stop at Mazzaro’s Italian Market to kick off our Day in St Pete!
Let's grab lunch and stock up on goodies to bring back home.
Dr Phil tip: bring a cooler!🕚 Time: 11:30 AM
📍 Location: Mazzaro's Italian Market:
Virtual Tour: https://mazzarosmarket.com/tour-mazzaros/
Sandwich Menu: https://mazzarosmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Mazzaros-Lunch-Menu.pdf
Website: https://mazzarosmarket.com/
Address: 2909 22nd Avenue N, St Petersburg, FL 33713🎭 From here it's only an 8-minute drive to our next stop, the Main Event: Shen Yun!
🚨 RSVP Etiquette Alert!
Since there’s no deposit to hold your spot, please be respectful of your fellow attendees:
✅ If your plans change, update your RSVP so we are not waiting looking for you.
🚫 Barring emergencies, failure to update your RSVP may result in removal from the group. 👉 Don’t make us be the bad guys — we love having you around!👉 Bring a cooler and stock up on 🍝 homemade pastas, 🥖 baked goods, 🥩 meats, 🍷 wines, and more. Grab a bite before the show!
7 attendees- $142.00
Shen Yun: China Before Communism - International Day in St Pete - Part 2
Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st Street SE, St. Petersburg, fl, USJoin Us for an afternoon in St. Pete! 🌟We are calling this International Day with Italian, Chinese and Turkish/Greek if you want to partake of all stops, or you can pick and choose. This RSVP is for the main event: Shen Yun!
🛍️ First Stop: Mazzaro’s Italian Market - Start the day with a foodie adventure! Please RSVP separately here: https://www.meetup.com/sarasotawinelovers/events/312631269/?eventOrigin=group_events_list
🎭 Next, an 8-minute drive to the Main Event: Shen Yun!
Experience a breathtaking, all-new production featuring 500 world-class artists. Shen Yun hasn’t been back to Sarasota since 2014—this is worth the drive!Why see Shen Yun?
Shen Yun is a visually stunning display of traditional Chinese culture, featuring classical dance, elaborate costumes, live orchestra, and animated backdrops, bringing ancient legends and stories to life, but it's also known as a vehicle for Falun Gong spiritual teachings and a critique of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), blending artistic revival with a clear spiritual and political message.📅 Date: Saturday, February 7
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM (Arrive by 1:15ish PM)
📍 Location: Mahaffey Theater
⏰ Duration: 2 hours (includes 15-minute intermission)
🎥 Watch the Preview: https://youtu.be/MkeR8FXFqxY
🌐 Shen Yun Official Site: https://www.shenyun.org/
🚗 Parking: Mahaffey Theater Lot: 💵 $10 cash
Nearby garages and street parking:- Southcore Garage: weekend rates and accepts credit cards
- Baywalk/Sundial Garage: Hourly rates with a weekend max
- Street Parking: Metered spots via ParkMobile app (check event restrictions)
💸 Group Ticket Info -
- Orchestra seating -> $142/ticket ( normally $176, since we are going all the way out there, let's splurge on great seats!)
- Orchestra 2, CENTER, Row 18, Seats 4-14
- (But if you prefer, we can still get the group discount for those who prefer to sit in Loge: 10 people → $114.45/ticket, Loge seating area - normally $124.75)
We need to confirm by January 6th to secure the group rates. We can have a mix of Loge and Orchestra seating. Just need our group of 10! Let's do this!
💳 🚨 Payment Alert → Annie
Payment covers ticket to the show only.
Zelle: sarasotawinefun@gmail.com (Last name: Malka)
Venmo: @Annie-Malka (Last 4 digits: 0345)📝 Include event name & date in payment note.
Pay for each event separately for easier tracking.
🔁 Refund Policy
❌ No-shows or late cancellations that cannot be filled from the waitlist are non-refundable.
If plans change, update your RSVP and leave a comment so we can help fill your spot.✨ About Shen Yun
Every year, Shen Yun unveils an entirely new lineup of dances, musical scores, and songs, making each season a completely fresh experience. Expect 💃 classical Chinese dance and captivating story-based performances, 🌏 ethnic and folk traditions from across China, and 🎨 dynamic animated backdrops that transport you to celestial realms and ancient landscapes. The 🎻 Shen Yun Orchestra masterfully blends Eastern melodies with Western symphonic richness, while 👗 exquisite handcrafted costumes bring history and legend to life. You’ll also enjoy 🎤 bel canto vocalists and stirring solos on the erhu, an instrument whose haunting tones echo the human voice. This is more than a show—it’s a journey through China’s ancient, divinely inspired culture, offering a glimpse of beauty and grace that feels almost heavenly.🍽️ Dining Options
Let's dine in St. Pete after the show — RSVP for that separately to close out our International Day in St. Pete with Mediterranean cuisine at a top-rated yet affordable restaurant: https://www.meetup.com/sarasotawinelovers/events/312668889/?eventOrigin=group_events_list🌸🏮Let’s be inspired by the splendor of China pre-communism, plus try a new delicious restaurant, stock up on goodies for home from the gourmet Italian Market, and wonderful company. Join us for this little field trip outside of Sarasota.🐉
10 attendees 
Movie Time: Solo Mio - Lakewood Ranch Cinemas
Lakewood Ranch Cinema, 10715 Rodeo Dr #8, Lakewood Ranch, FL, USJoin us for a leisurely Sunday afternoon with a movie at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas.
About the movie: Solo Mio (2026) is a romantic comedy starring and co-written by Kevin James as Matt, an American man left at the altar who decides to take his honeymoon to Rome alone. Stranded and heartbroken, he finds unexpected adventure, romance with a local, and healing through new connections.
🎬 Movie Meetup Details
🕒 Showtime: 3:10 PM
🎥 Trailer: https://youtu.be/HbIEbJbEpF4
🍅 Rotten Tomatoes: 79% on the Tomatometer
🏆 Awards: Critics praise its authentic, transportive feel and joyful, ensemble-driven performances. No awards. Just fun.
📍 Location: Lakewood Ranch Cinema
🎟️ Tickets:- $6 for members of the Sarasota Film Society
- $12 for non-members
- 🎫 Buy day-of at the theater or online: https://filmsociety.org/movies/upcoming/movie.cfm?filID=3266
🍽️ Optional Bite After the Movie
We are going to grab dinner after the movie. RSVP separately under that event. You're welcome to attend just the movie or just the meal.💳 Reservation Deposit:
Waived - no deposit is required to hold your spot.
🚨 RSVP Etiquette Alert!
Since there’s no deposit, please be respectful of your fellow attendees:
✅ If your plans change, update your RSVP
🚫 Barring emergencies, failure to update your RSVP may result in removal from the group. 👉 Don’t make us do that — we love having you as movie buddies!
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🎥 See you at the movies!5 attendees
Past events
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