Cornell Club of Sarasota-Manatee upcoming events

Welcome Dr. Schneiderman Luncheon (November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Dr. Davis Schneiderman, President of Ringling College of Art & Design

Let's give a warm Ivy welcome to Dr. Schneiderman as he begins his tenure as President of Ringling College of Art & Design. Ringling's reach into the wider Sarasota community includes Sarasota Art Museum, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, TOWN HALL Speaker Series, and Galleries on Campus. Join us to celebrate a new chapter for one of Sarasota's treasures.

Member price $44, Non-Members $49

Your luncheon includes gratuities, a choice of hot, salad/cold or vegan entree, coffee and dessert.

Menu Choices:

Hot: Brie Chicken: Boneless Breast of Chicken topped with a Fan of Sliced Apple & Melted Brie Covered with a Pink Peppercorn Sauce, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Roasted Haricot Verts.

Cold/Salad: The "Chef's Salad": Romaine, Iceberg & Spring Mix with Julienned Smoked Ham, Turkey, Bacon, Cheddar & Swiss, Hard Cooked Egg, Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Black Olives topped with Crispy Croutons served with Honey-Mustard Dressing on the side.

Vegan: Eggplant Puttanesca over Spaghetti Squash

Dessert: Carrot Cake OR Fruit Plate (selected at meal) with Coffee or Selection of Teas

Click here for help with registration

Registration opens on October 16, 2026

Registrations close and are non-refundable after November 8, 2026

Ivy+ Professionals @ Arts+Central (December 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Join fellow Ivy League alumni for an evening of connection and conversation at Arts & Central.

We're gathering working professionals who attended an Ivy or MIT, and their guests, for a relaxed and welcoming networking experience.

The event is free to attend. Everyone pays individually for what they order. Food and drink will be available for purchase. These venues are hosting us for free so please make sure to support the restaurant and take care of the waitstaff.

Drop in when convenient and look for our group. There is an Evite, however we request you RSVP with us here at CCSM so we can report to Cornell. Either skip the All-Ivy Evite, and we will RSVP for you/keep you posted here, or feel free to RSVP to both.

For questions or registration help, please contact Shalaine M. '95 ccsm.ya@gmail.com.

Festive Luncheon with The Pops Brass Quintet (December 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Dec 2026 16:45:00 GMT

The Pops Brass Quintet and Robyn L. Bell

We will be joining the Ivy Club at Marina Jack to ring in the season with Robyn L. Bell, Managing and Artistic Director of The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton/Sarasota and the Pops Orchestra's Quintet, for a festive musical program. Dr, Bell's enlightening talk topic: Conducting 101 will demonstrate: the "ins and outs" of the crazy art of conducting. You will never watch a conductor the same way again! The Brass Quintet will lead a fun holiday sing-along to close the festive program.

The Ivy Club will handle registrations and payments with its own website. Cornell Club Members and their guests will pay the member price. Last day to purchase tickets is December 13th at 5pm.

The registration link: holidayluncheondec152026

Brandenburg Concert w/Champagne Reception at the Opera House (December 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Dec 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Join us in Celebrating the Holidays with a Concert & Champagne Reception at the Opera House

Straight from New York, La Musica presents 20 phenomenal musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performing their annual holiday concert, J.S. Bach's complete Brandenburg Concertos, in a one-night only event at the Sarasota Opera House on Wednesday, December 16th.

Your $70 per person ticket includes orchestra-level seating for the 7:30 pm concert AND a private reception at 6:30 pm in the Opera House's second-floor Selby Lounge. The reception is hosted by Wu Han, La Musica's Artistic Director and also Co-Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

CCSM club members and guests welcome.

Ticket purchase and refund deadline is Tuesday, November 24, 2026. No refunds after this date.

Celebrate our Students+Parents with Cornell Speaker (January 06, 2027)

Wed, 06 Jan 2027 16:30:00 GMT

Student Luncheon with Todd Kennett, Cornell's Head Coach of Heavyweight Rowing

Member price $44, Non-Members $49 

*January Luncheon is free for current students and their parents. *It will end at 2PM instead of 1:30PM.

Luncheon includes gratuities, a choice of hot, cold or vegan entree, coffee and dessert or fruit plate.

Menu Choices:

Hot: Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast with Pancetta, Sage & White Wine served with Whole Roasted Golden Creamer Potatoes & Fresh Herbs, Roasted Baby Carrots & Fresh Peas

Cold/Salad: The Green Orchid Salad - Hearts of Romaine, Avocado, English Cucumber, Snow Peas, Edamame, Toasted Pistachios & Housemade Green Goddess Dressing topped with Grilled Salmon

Vegan: Spanish Vegan Paella (GF)

Dessert: Flourless Chocolate Cake: The Incredibly Dense, Rich & Decadent Chocolate Cake or Fresh Fruit

Click here for help with registration

CCSM Members will get an email invite when registrations open on 12/07/26

Registrations close and are nonrefundable after January 2, 2027

CORNELL CARES Event with the Sarasota Audubon Society (January 16, 2027)

Sat, 16 Jan 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Help keep the Southeast "Quad Parcel" at Celery Fields re-wilded!

The Sarasota Audubon Society, in partnership with the Big Waters Land Trust, is transforming 28 formerly barren acres adjacent to the Celery Fields - a nationally and internationally recognized birding hotspot - into habitat for birds and other wildlife. The 11-acre SE Quad is the first of three to be completed and opens to the public on October 24, 2026. Thousands of plants and trees have been installed, walking paths completed, and a gazebo built at the edge of a newly constructed pond.

Our Cornell Cares work may involve planting, weeding, and other maintenance to advance the re-wilding effort.

Bring a hat, water bottle, sturdy shoes, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray and other personal items you need for outdoor work.

Sarasota Audubon will provide necessary tools.

Meet at the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center at 9 am on January 16 for an introductory talk and a short ride to the Quad Parcel.

CCSM club members and guests are welcome. The activity is scheduled for 9 am to noon, but you can peel off before noon if necessary.

Cornell Nocturne Dinner (February 18, 2027)

Thu, 18 Feb 2027 23:00:00 GMT

A Sophisticated Evening of Music & Fine Dining in an Intimate Setting.

Please join us for a special evening at Michael's Wine Cellar featuring classical violinist, Margot Zarzycka. Margot is a member of the Sarasota Orchestra and an award winning international soloist and chamber musician. We are delighted that she and another member musician have agreed to play for us as we gather to enjoy libations as well as a superb dinner in this unique setting. Relax with fellow Cornellians and their guests in what will undoubtedly be one of the highlight events or the Season.

Cocktails 6pm, with live music, ordered from a dedicated bartender with payment by cash or credit/debit card

Seated musical performance at 6:45pm with dinner to follow

Your meal includes gratuities, a choice of Beef, Chicken, Fish, or Vegan entree, coffee and dessert.

Menu Choices:

~ 8 oz. Filet Mignon with Roasted Shallot Butter served with Chive Potato Tartlet, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Baby Red Peppers & Roasted Patty Pan Squash

~ Classic Chicken Piccata with Lemon, White Wine, Parsley, Caper & EVOO served with Chive Potato Tartlet, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Baby Red Peppers & Roasted Patty Pan Squash

~ Grilled Florida Grouper with Artichokes, Capers, Chopped Tomatoes, Kalamata Olive & EVOO served with Chive Potato Tartlet, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Baby Red Peppers & Roasted Patty Pan Squash

~ Quinoa & Vegetable Stuffed Roasted Peppers (GF)

Dessert

Chocolate Ganache Torte: Classic Layers of Chocolate Cake & Mousse Enrobed in Ganache

Member $100, Non-member $110

Click here for help with registration

CCSM Members will get an email invite when registrations open on January 7, 2027.

Registrations close and are non-refundable after February 13, 2027.

Audubon Boat Tour of Roberts Bay Bird Rookery (March 01, 2027)

Mon, 01 Mar 2027 16:15:00 GMT

Back by popular demand. Observe and Learn about our Nesting Birds!

Our 2026 Audubon boat tour was sold out and we had enough on the wait list to fill another boat, so we're offering the tour again in 2027.

March is an excellent month to See Florida's baby birds being cared for in their natural habitat. Our Audubon guide will help us identify birds and explain the nesting process.

We will travel by boat from the Bayfront Park docks just south of Marina Jack's, onto Sarasota Bay, and then Roberts Bay. During nesting season (December-May) the Rookery Islands are a haven for numerous wading birds and waterfowl, including herons, egrets, ibis, ducks and pelicans. This event is fair-weather dependent, so there is a chance of needing to reschedule. Please dress comfortably and bring binoculars, a hat and sunscreen.

$45 per person fee for the tour.

If you were on this tour in 2026 we respectfully ask that you not sign up again this year, so others can have their rookery experience.

NO REFUNDS ON CANCELLATIONS AFTER FEBRUARY 14, 2027.

An optional self-funded lunch will follow at O'Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill at Bayfront Park at 1:30 pm. Indicate when you sign up if you plan to attent this lunch.

Notes:

Park at the Bayfront Park parking area - use the Ringling Blvd entrance off of Bayfront Drive.

Sarasota Polo Club Tailgate Event (April 04, 2027)

Sun, 04 Apr 2027 15:00:00 GMT

Enjoy one of the oldest team sports in the world ... and learn about 'chukkers' and 'divot stomping'

Gates open at 10 am, plan on arriving around 11 am, with the match starting at 1 pm and ending by 4 pm. Our club has four (4) Midfield Reserved Tailgate spaces located fieldside - with two 10'x10' tents. We'll be on the North side of the field, so enter off of Lorraine Rd. at the North Polo Club entrance.

$38.50 per person

Food and Beverage Instructions: bring your own beverages, but bring food for sharing. We'll communicate more on the food closer to the event to insure we get a good mix of items. Bringing your own alcohol is prohibited, however alcohol is for sale in the Pavilion. CCSM will supply 2 tables for the shared food, along with disposable plates, utensils, napkins, tableclothes, trash bags.

Bring your own folding chairs.

Dress comfortably, bring a hat and sunscreen, and wear shoes that allow you to participate in the divot stomping at halftime.

Important Parking Information: We have free parking passes included in our package (total of 18 passes), which we'll email to folks prior to the event date. With a capacity for 30 registrants in our Tailgate area, and most of our folks arriving in carloads with 2 or more, this should sufficient. Enter off Lorraine Rd via the North Polo Club entrance.

NO REFUNDS IF EVENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER - PER POLO CLUB POLICY. SPC WILL ATTEMPT TO RESCHEDULE EVENT.

No CCSM refunds on registration cancelations after Sunday March 21, 2027.