Going to Sarasota

• Getting there: Sarasota is a 230-mile drive from downtown Miami, mostly along Interstate 75. You can fly into Tampa, a nonstop flight of just over an hour, and drive 55 miles to Sarasota. Flying to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport would require changing planes in Atlanta or Charlotte and more time than it would take to drive.

• Information: Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-800-3906 or 941-957-1877; www.sarasotafl.org.

WHERE TO STAY

Booking via the festival's website, www.ringlingartsfestival.org, offers some hotel discounts.

• Hyatt Place, 950 University Dr.; 941-554-5800; http://sarasotabradenton.place.hyatt.com; doubles $107-$119.

• Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort, 4711 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key; 941-383-2451; http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SRQHIHF-Hilton-Longboat-Key-Beachfront-Resort-Florida/index.do; doubles $199-$229.

• Hotel Indigo, 1223 Boulevard of the Arts; 877-270-1392; www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/in/1/en/hotel/SRQFL/welcome?start=1; doubles $134-$229.

• Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr.; 941-309-2000; www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Sarasota/Default.htm; doubles $199-$379.

WHERE TO EAT

• Treviso Restaurant, 5401 Bay Shore Rd. (at the Ringling complex); 941-360-7390; www.trevisorestaurant.com; moderate American cuisine. Entrees $18-$22.

• Tommy Bahamas Tropical Cafe, 300 John Ringling Blvd.; 941-388-2888; http://restauranteur.com/tommybahamas/sarasota.htm; upscale Caribbean fare. Entrees $19-$36.

• Euphemia Haye, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key; 941-383-3633; www.euphemiahaye.com; upscale American-global cuisine. Entress $20-$49

• Columbia Restaurant, 411 St. Armands Circle; 941-388-3987; www.columbiarestaurant.com; moderate Spanish-Cuban menu. Entrees from $17-$29

SARASOTA ARTS

• Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail; 800-361-8388; www.asolo.org.

• Sarasota Ballet of Florida, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail; 800-361-8388; www.sarasotaballet.org.

• Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.; 941-366-9000; www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

• Sarasota Opera, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.; 888-673-7212; www.sarasotaopera.org.

• Sarasota Orchestra, 709 N. Tamiami Trail; 866-508-0611 or www.sarasotaorchestra.org.

-- CHRISTINE DOLEN

Going to the Ringling International Arts Festival

Where: Mertz Theatre, Cook Theatre and Historic Asolo Theater at Ringling Museum of Art complex, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota

When: Oct. 7-11

Cost: $10-$30 for individual performances, $170 for four shows, $208 for six, $240 for eight

Info: 941-360-7399 or www.ringlingartsfestival.org

MUSIC

• Robert Spano conducts the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra in Liszt's ``Orpheus'' and ``Les Preludes,'' and Beethoven's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4, Op. 58 (the pianist is Pedja Muzijevic), at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Mertz Theatre.

• Post-modern showgirl Meow Meow performs ``Beyond Glamour: The Absinthe Tour'' at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 10:30 p.m. Oct. 9, 2 and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 10 and 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Mertz.

• Chamber musicians Anne-Marie McDermott (piano), Jennifer Frautschi (violin), Edward Arron (cello) and Eric Ruske (horn) perform two programs: Program A is Debussy's Sonata for Violin and Piano, the commissioned world premiere of Mason Bates' Horn Trio and Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D Minor, at 8 p.m. Oct. 8, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9; Program B is Bates' Horn Trio and Dvorαk's Piano Trio in F Minor, Op. 65, at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11 a.m. Oct. 11 at the Historic Asolo Theater.