No doubt, the main purpose of your spring excursion to Sarasota, Fla., will be to check out the Orioles' newly renovated spring training facility and newly renovated roster, but there will be some time to fill when you're done watching Nick Markakis do his wind sprints or listening in on one of Luke Scott's impromptu political discussions.
I know this from some limited personal experience, though my fawning co-workers might try to convince you that I spend every single minute of spring training working to bring you the most comprehensive news, analysis and opinion. During my seven weeks in the Sarasota area last year, I made it a point to get acquainted with the restaurants, recreation spots and entertainment venues that might add to your baseball experience.
So, let's get started on this brief tour, which will take you to places where you will likely run into me at some point this spring.
Hungry?
That's a stupid question. If you don't eat, you'll slowly waste away and miss out on the possibility of the Orioles' first winning season since the Clinton administration. That's why it's particularly important to get proper nutrition while you're on the Gulf Coast.
My favorite breakfast spot is The Broken Egg on Siesta Beach. It's the place made famous by basketball guru and Sarasota resident Dick Vitale, whose books and memorabilia are for sale at one of two other Broken Egg locations on the mainland, and it's the only place on Earth that I ever ordered crawfish bisque for breakfast.
My first dinner this week will be at Mediterraneo on Main Street, which is right across the street from the big downtown movieplex. I'm partial to Italian food, so I'll probably stop by Caragiulos on Palm Avenue at some point, too, but my affinity for those spots is influenced by their location in the main downtown restaurant and shopping area.
Of course, you probably will be thinking seafood, so I would suggest a leisurely drive along one of the many scenic keys that provide a barrier between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. I frequent a very casual spot on Siesta Key called Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar, but there are dozens of places like that to get a bucket of steamed clams along with some of the tonier beachfront establishments. I'm a stone crab guy, so I'll probably get to Moore's Stone Crab on Longboat Key at some point in the next month.
If you're up for some serious late-night gluttony — and, really, who isn't? — you might want to try Munchies 420 Cafe, which was featured last year on the Travel Channel show "Man vs. Food." Even I can't eat that much.
Upscale recommendations: Ophelia's on the Bay on Siesta Key or Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key
Casual fun: Cha Cha Coconuts on St. Armands Circle
Thirsty?
I'm not a big partier anymore, but it's still fun to get out to the beach and enjoy the balmy trade winds with an embarrassing umbrella drink. Where you end up probably will depend on where you're staying or where you're dining, but there are great places both on the mainland bay front and along the various keys.
One of the most popular nightlife areas is St. Armands Circle, which is basically the gateway to Lido and Longboat Keys. It's a great shopping and restaurant area, too, but it can get very crowded on weekends. There also are plenty of night spots along Main Street downtown.
Nobody said you have to stay in Sarasota. Tampa is a little more than an hour away, and there's some serious nightlife there, from the vibrant Cuban community of Ybor City to the huge Channelside sports and restaurant complex downtown.
Me and Roch's secret hangout: Lynches Pub & Grub just off St. Armands Circle.
Cultured pearls
Sarasota is not just a touristy beach town. It's also one of the true cultural centers of Florida, with a fine arts community that rivals many much larger urban areas around the country. The Sarasota Opera is in its 52nd season. The city boasts the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation-designed Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art features one of the largest collections of Rubens canvases in the world.
Pretty heady stuff for a city of barely 60,000 residents, but most nights you'll probably find me at the movies.
Let the games begin
When the Orioles aren't on the field, you might see me on one of the many reasonable golf courses in the area. There are some very upscale courses, too, but they generally do not allow me to play because of liability concerns.
For less than $50, you can get the signature Sarasota public golf experience at the historic Bobby Jones Golf Club, which was personally dedicated by the golf legend in 1927. The 45-hole course is quite popular and takes reservations up to five days in advance.
Pro sports recommendation: There are not a lot of professional sports options in the area, but if you're going to be in Sarasota during the first week or so of March, the Washington Capitals will be playing the Tampa Bay Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum on March 7. Don't be fooled. The Forum is sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times, but it is located in Tampa near the fun Channelside Bay Plaza.
Roadside attractions
No trip to Florida is complete without some attempt to see, touch or wrestle an alligator. OK, they're not going to let you wrestle one, but if you go to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, they'll probably let you hold one. A little one.
If you've got a whole day, you can drive down to the Everglades and visit one of the many vista points where you can view all sorts of wild life in its natural habitat, but you can get a nice taste of the ecosystem at Myakka River State Park just outside Sarasota.
This is also a big citrus area, and one of my favorite stops is the Mixon Fruit Farms in nearby Bradenton. There's a free tour of the fruit packing and juicing operation and free samples of just about everything. Mixon's also is attached to a small wildlife rescue operation which you can tour after you sip some free OJ. The snack bar even makes a mean Cuban sandwich.
Sun and sand
Just saving the best for last. The beaches in the Sarasota area feature some of the whitest sand in the world and some of the nicest gulf vistas. Though I'll be lucky to carve out one beach day during spring training, Orioles fans on holiday should make sure to carve out several if the weather cooperates.
Last year, it was pretty chilly for most of spring training, but after what we've suffered through the past couple of winters here in Maryland, the term "beach weather" is probably relative.
Siesta Beach is the best known of the many beach areas on the Sarasota keys, and Siesta Village is another fun nightlife area. The beach is wide, and parking is plentiful on weekdays, even though it was named the No. 2 beach in the country by Dr. Beach last year. If you see me there with my shirt off, you might want to postpone lunch or put a call out to Captain Ahab, but the water's just fine.
Listen to Peter Schmuck on WBAL (1090 AM) at noon Fridays and Saturdays and check out his blog, "The Schmuck Stops Here," at baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog.
If you go
Here are the addresses for Peter Schmuck's favorite spots in and around Sarasota, Fla.
Eateries
The Broken Egg: 140 Avenida Messina, Siesta Key
Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar: 1200 Old Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key
Caragiulos: 69 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota
Cha Cha Coconuts: 411 Saint Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL
Euphemia Haye Restaurant: 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key
Mediterraneo: 1970 Main St. #1, Sarasota
Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant: 800 Broadway St., Longboat Key
Munchies 420 Cafe: 6639 Superior Avenue, Sarasota
Ophelia's on the Bay: 9105 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota
For drinks
Channelside Bay Plaza: 615 Channelside Dr #117, Tampa
Lynches Pub & Grub: 19 B N. Blvd of Presidents, Sarasota
Culture
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art: 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
Sarasota Opera: 61 North Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall: 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Sports
Bobby Jones Golf Club: 1000 Circus Boulevard, Sarasota
St. Pete Times Forum: 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa
Attractions
Mixon Fruit Farms: 2525 27th St. East, Bradenton
Myakka River State Park: 13208 State Route 72 North Port
Sarasota Jungle Gardens: 3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota