Cornell Club of Sarasota-Manatee upcoming events

Young Adult Hackathon @Ringling College (September 04, 2026)

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Ivy+ alumni and their children are invited to participate in a unique educational event. In collaboration with Ringling College and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Shipyard is hosting a hackathon over Labor Day Weekend (Friday, Sept 4th - Sunday, Sept 6th). The event is free and will be held at Ringling College.

Hackathon participants can be high school students and young adults, ages 16 - 25. Participants will meet on Friday evening and form teams. Hackathon projects will be seeded with ideas from local non-profits. The teams will then work on their projects Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, the teams will present their work to a live audience and a panel of judges.

Alumni can serve as team mentors, where they help a team structure their project and guide their progress. Or, they can attend the final team presentations on Sunday afternoon. The event organizers expect a strong community turn-out for the final presentations, and you can help support our young people.

Benefits to hackathon participants are skills development, collaboration and exposure to the broader Sarasota community, potentially as a new hire. The teams' output will be software, so a basic understanding of development tools would be useful (whether hand coding or using AI tools).

More information is available on the event's website. There are sign-up forms for hackathon participants, mentors and a basic RSVP to view the final presentations. All activities will be at Ringling College. Food and drinks will be provided through the weekend.

All interested in participating, register here

Drop-In Luncheon at Der Dutchman Restaurant (September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

We look forward to seeing you at our September CCSM Drop-In Luncheon!

Noon inside in the air conditioning at Der Dutchman Restaurant in Sarasota.

We prefer if you register, it will help us get a headcount, and we'll save your space. Or you can show up last minute and drop-in.

Everyone pays individually for what they order. We will all be doing the buffet.

Ivy+ Professionals @ Deep Lagoon (September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Join fellow Ivy League alumni for an evening of connection and conversation back at Deep Lagoon Waterside.

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. Drinks and food will be available for purchase.

Their Happy Hour is from 3-6pm and they have kindly extended cocktails specials (not food) until 7pm. Check out their new happy hour menu!

These venues are hosting us for free so please make sure to support the restaurant and take care of the waitstaff.

Owned by a fellow Cornelian (Grant Phelan, Hotelie '99), our venue will be the beautiful Deep Lagoon in Waterside. We will have a dedicated indoor space past the bar. Article about the Phelan Family Brands, based in Bonita Springs, here.

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.

Spirit of Zinck & Welcome to CCSM (October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT

International Zinck's Night & Welcome to CCSM

“We’ll all have drinks at Theodore Zinck’s, when I get back next fall!”

We welcome current, new and prospective members to the Cornell Club of Sarasota-Manatee (CCSM)!

The International Spirit of Zinck’s Night is when Cornellians around the world celebrate, taking place every year on the third Thursday in October. It's also our club's kick-off for the upcoming season!

Sign up and pay just $20.00 for an evening of fun, food and drink. That's a bargain even in Theordore Zinck's time. Open to all fans of Cornell, not just CCSM members. This event is at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing which has ample easy free parking and is a really cool venue.

Play Cornell bingo with Touchdown the Bear to raise money for our scholarship fund. Purchase a bingo card when you register online or with cash at the door.

We really appreciate if you register so we can plan accordingly for food. However, if your plans change, you can pay $20.00 (cash only) at the door.

Questions or reservations to Joanne T. '81 at ccsm.luncheon@gmail.com. You may also leave a voicemail 24-7 at 941-500-3032.

Learn about the history of Zinck's Night here.

Madoff Ponzi Scheme: What Really Happened and How to Avoid Being a Ponzi Victim (October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The Notre Dame Club of Sarasota invites CCSM Members and their Guests to this free Educational Lecture!

How did Bernie Madoffpull off the largest Ponzi scheme in history? Tom Long, Notre Dame alumnus and recently retired complex litigator, provides insights on how the scheme operated and how the victims are being compensated. Tom was a leading member of the Madoff Trustee's counsel team for more than a decade, and his team recovered more than a billion dollars for the victims.

Hear about the internal players at the Madoff organization and others who allowed the scheme to continue for decades, and learn how to avoid becoming a victim of financial frauds like this Ponzi scheme.

This event is free to CCSM members and guests. But please register if you plan to attend so the Notre Dame Club of Greater Sarasota can have an accurate head-count when planning refreshments.

Feld Entertainment Behind the Scenes Tour (October 28, 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

See how Feld Entertainment Works its Live-event Magic!

Experience how Feld Entertainment develops and rehearses its entertainment concepts at its Palmetto FL complex prior to launching their Disney on Ice, Greatest Show on Earth (Ringling Bros + Barnum & Bailey Circus), Monster Jam (monster trucks) and Super Motocross and Supercross (off road motorcycle) tours.

In addition to viewing Feld's scenic design & manufacturing, lighting design and costume design & production areas, we will hopefully view a show in live rehearsal.

Maximum of 12 registrants for each of 2 tour times on Wednesday, October 28th.

9:30 to 10:30 am
2:30 to 3:30 pm

Arrive 20 minutes before tour start time.

CCSM members only due to the limited number of slots available.

Feld Entertainment Behind the Scenes Tour (October 28, 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:30:00 GMT

See how Feld Entertainment Works its Live-event Magic!

In addition to viewing Feld's scenic design & manufacturing, lighting design and costume design & production areas, we will hopefully view a show in live rehearsal.

Maximum of 12 registrants for each of 2 tour times on Wednesday, October 28th.

9:30 to 10:30 am
2:30 to 3:30 pm

Arrive 20 minutes before tour start time.

CCSM members only due to the limited number of slots available.

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

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 and Sarasota.

The Ivy Club will handle registrations and payments with its own website. Details and a link to the registration site will added soon.

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 Luncheon (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