A BBQ cook-off will be held at the Venice Airport festival grounds.

Venice, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/08/2010 -- You salivate when you see them on the Food Network. Now, a sanctioned professional barbecue competition is coming to Sarasota County for the first time, featuring up to 30 teams from around the state and nation serving up their delicious secret recipes to a panel of judges and to everyone who loves great barbecue.

The one-day-only Suncoast BBQ Bash will be held on Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Venice Airport festival grounds. In addition to a barbecue cook-off, the event will include a chili cook-off, folk dancing, cooking demonstrations, and live musical entertainment from several popular Florida-based bands.

There is no cost for admission, and parking is also free. Proceeds of the event benefit the Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children. For event details, directions and more, visit http://www.suncoastbbqbash.com, http://www.flbbq.org, or http://www.chili.org

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Presented by the Venice YMCA and Sharky’s on the Pier

Venice, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/04/2010 -- On Saturday, March 20th at 8AM, the Venice YMCA and Sharky's on the Pier will host their second St. Patty's Day 8K Race where registered runners will wear their green and compete for prizes.

A full continental breakfast, door prizes, and t-shirts will be provided to all participants as well as awards for all age groups, including overall male and female, masters, grand masters, and senior grand masters. The race begins and ends at Sharky's on the Pier and costs $20 from March 2nd-18th and $25 for the day of the race.

Interested runners can register at the Venice YMCA, located at 701 Center Rd., or online at http://www.active.com. Call 941-492-9622 if you have any further questions.

The YMCA promotes healthy lifestyles, family strength, self confidence and leadership in youth, building a better community, and fostering greater appreciation for human and cultural diversity. The Venice-area YMCA serves more than 17,000 individuals and families annually. Last year, individuals and families received more than $350,000 in financial assistance. Visit www.veniceymca.com for more information.

Sharky's on the Pier, Venice, Florida's finest beachfront restaurant, offers delicious fresh seafood dishes inspired by a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico. There's no finer place for live music, family events, and watching the water from a chair on the outdoor deck, which also features a tiki bar and dance floor. Sharky's makes dining out for a party of two or a party of 20 a special experience. There's no better place to celebrate any occasion in Southern Florida. For more information regarding Sharky's on the Pier, visit http://www.sharkysonthepier.com.

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Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/27/2010 -- The Canine Coach, Inc., a professional dog training company serving all of Southwest Florida, now offers on-site training sessions in the St. Pete area.

These classes will be held at some of St. Pete's shoreline parks, such as the North Shore, Lake Vista, and Kenwood Dog Park. With a total of six, one-acre parks equipped with all the necessities like water fountains, trash bins, fire hydrants, and plenty of shaded areas to keep cool, your canine companion won't feel like he/she is in training.

"We're look forward to offering our clients accessible on-site training in the St. Pete area. Our certified dog trainers can visit you and your dog at your home or a location of your preference," says Michael Harvey, certified professional dog trainer and owner of The Canine Coach, Inc.

The Canine Coach guarantees every dog and his or her owner will form a stronger bond with each other and will gain more confidence in training with each session. Once the owners achieve the right level of obedience, they can move into our free, unlimited group classes.

The Canine Coach Professional Dog Training reinforces a lifelong bond between the dog and the owner based on loyalty, trust and control. The programs teach the owners to be the leader and to communicate with his/her dog, resulting in a better home life and relationship.

Certified professional dog trainers coach the pet owner and dog through whatever problems he/she may have. With private and unlimited group lessons, The Canine Coach promises quick, positive results by catering to individual needs.

The Canine Coach solves the simplest problems, like jumping and walking on a leash, to the most complex problems, like aggression and separation anxiety. The company also offers a free one-hour demonstration to everyone, allowing the trainer to evaluate the dog and the owner to evaluate the programs.

The Canine Coach indoor training facility is adjacent to a well lit backyard equipped with an agility course and a swimming pool, making time and weather not an issue. The training equipment includes a catwalk, a teeter-totter, an A-frame, and jumps. Play time for your dog is also encouraged at the end of group classes. The coaching facility is located only 10 minutes away from the Sarasota/Bradenton Airport; Hagan's Pet Resort is also located next door offering veterinary services, grooming and boarding.

Visit http://www.haganspetresort.com for more information.

For news on The Canine Coach, call 1-888-K9TEAMS or visit http://www.thecaninecoach.net.

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Body Up provides clothes for the trunk show on Dec. 10th

Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/07/2009 -- Designer Fitness is holding a trunk show on Thursday, Dec. 10th at 5:30pm on 47 South Palm Ave. Body Up, a fashionable fitness clothing company created by Italian designers, will provide shoppers with a wide selection of stylish workout clothes at a great price.

"Body Up is crafted with the best functional threads available to the market. The collection is both fashion forward and high performance; dressing a devoted clientele from the gym to the playground," as stated on their website.

Designer Fitness is the perfect place to show off your new clothes from Body Up. Darla O'Brien, owner of Designer Fitness and certified professional trainer, shaped her own successful pilates exercises by providing the body with balance. She customizes workout plans to suit your individual needs and offers one-on-one and group packages.

Ms. O'Brien has over 25 years experience in motivating and guiding clients to their goals while assuring perfect form for a maximum workout. She created the DF system which incorporates "the concentration involving core muscle groups with breath and targeted movements…engaging overall strength in a more precise way."

The Designer Fitness Studio is located at 47 South Palm Avenue, #207, Sarasota. For more information about Designer Fitness, visit http://www.designer-fitness.net or contact Darla O'Brien at 941-544-5127/ darla@designer-fitness.net.

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Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/05/2009 -- Darla O'Brien, owner and principal trainer of Designer Fitness in Sarasota, Florida, has been nominated for the 2010 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Award.

"It is a great privilege to be selected as one of the nominees for this award," stated Darla. "The accomplishment of being chosen as one of so many talented worldwide trainers in the fitness industry truly makes me feel I have already won."

For over 28 years, the IDEA Health and Fitness Association has been the leading resource for fitness and wellness professionals worldwide. The awards distinguish the finest trainers with a mix of criteria that encompasses excellence in the profession as well as exceptional leadership, motivation and instruction skills, and the ability to inspire clients to greater personal growth and higher levels of fitness.

With over 22 years experience as a fitness professional that is exactly what you receive from owner and trainer Darla O'Brien whose motto at Designer Fitness is "perfect balance through exercise."

"There is nothing more satisfying than working one-on-one with a client and watching them flourish through exercise," said Darla. Her special technique and key to fitness success is a complimentary musculoskeletal assessment. This allows her to evaluate everyone individually and develop a personalized program that not only focuses on her client's needs but one that also continually adjusts and updates as results are achieved. Combined with state of the art Pilates and specialized small exercise groups, Ms. O'Brien provides the individualized attention necessary to achieve results while also having fun exercising.

This personal touch sets Ms. O'Brien apart from other trainers and makes her the perfect candidate for the 2010 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Award.

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The Sarasota Boxing Club is now located at Lime Avenue and 15th Street

Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/04/2009 -- The Sarasota Boxing Club celebrates its Grand Opening and Fighting for Funding fundraiser Saturday, December 12th from 12N-4PM on Lime Avenue and 15th Street.

A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony led by Sarasota's Mayor Richard Clapp will start the day's festivities, unveiling a mural designed by Ringling College of Design students. Plus, a variety of musical acts, skit performances, a unique fashion show from the W.R. Pettiti Modeling & Talent Agency, a raffle featuring gifts from area businesses and, enter the ring with Coach Harold and "Hit the Mitts" with The Legend.

"Our new club's home allows us the opportunity to continue our mission of helping improve the lives of inner city kids and families- we assist those seeking help in a time of need, while providing a place for peak performance training," says Coach Harold Wilen.

This Community Fundraiser is sponsored by Tommy Pettiti of The Big House Promotions, Co-Sponsored by Creative Loafing, Hooters, Title Boxing, and Tans, Etc.

The Sarasota Boxing Club was founded by Coach Harold Wilen in 1985. Our creed of love and respect will continue in our new home.

Coach Harold and The Sarasota Boxing Club would like to give a special thank you to Robert Johnson and everyone involved in helping us in our move to our new "home."

Ticket price is $10 per person or can be purchased in advance by contacting Tommy Pettiti at 812-3276.

For more information on the Grand Opening and the Sarasota Boxing Club, call 812-3276 or e-mail sarasotaboxing@hotmail.com.

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