This week's best bets: Monday, March 9

MONDAY, MARCH 9

It's spring break season, so head out to Siesta Key and live it up like you're on vacation, too.

Hosted by the Beach Club, this weekly event features live music and drink specials to help kick your week off right.

George Worthmore Birthday Blast — takes place at 7 p.m. at The Blue Rooster. $10.

New York City music-scene veteran George Worthmore celebrates his birthday at the Blue Rooster.

Worthmore has played guitar with Kinky Friedman, backup for Bo Diddley, Ben E. King, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Lou Christy and The Platters, as well as shows as a second guitarist with Hot Tuna.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

Bessie Saunders, 22, pretty and the heiress to several million dollars, has come from America to stay with her sister Pearl, a.k.a. Lady Grayston. Pearl’s friends include a cougar Duchess, a widowed princess and two fellows both besotted with Bessie.

But once Bessie witnesses the scandalous habits of this less-than-virtuous society, the emotional cost of social climbing is revealed in this sexy, stylish and wildly witty look at Europe’s posh set and the Americans who crashed the party.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

Ty Pennington will join local celebrity Les McCurdy behind the bar at Shamrock to help raise money to benefit the Sarasota Y-Achievers Program and the students of Triad Alternative School. 

The event is free, but money raised at the cash bar will help fund college scholarships for the Y-Achievers and allow Triad students to attend a lab class at Mote Marine.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13

Perhaps best known as the comedian who puts the cerebral in Cerebral Palsy, Josh Blue centers much of his self-deprecating act around his disability.

Blue has appeared as a regular guest star on Comedy Central’s "Mind of Mencia," and his story has been featured on Fox, CBS, ABC and MSNBC. He was the first comedian to perform stand up on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," was named Best Winning Reality Show Guest for his appearance on "Live with Regis and Kelly" and made a standout guest appearance on "Comics Unleashed."

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

The Sarasota Fire Fighters Benevolent Fund presents the 12th annual Rib Cook-Off, a family friendly event with local fire fighters competing for the coveted title of "Best-Tasting Ribs."

Live entertainment by The Daisy Dukes. Tasting tickets are $14 for adults (8 tastings) and $7 for children (4 tastings). All proceeds to benefit the Sarasota Fire Fighter's Benevolent Fund.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

This annual half marathon courses runners throughout downtown Sarasota and culminates in a post-party and award ceremony at the Van Wezel.