- April 11, 2025
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Dana Heppe of Dana Heppe bags displays her items at Le Marche Marketplace Saturday at Selby Five Points Park.
Photo by Michael HarrisKris Anderson, right, and Firoz Khan, both from Sarasota admire the works of artist Mary Lou Johnson, left.
Photo by Michael HarrisLe Marche Marketplace drew a nice crowd on a perfectly sunny Saturday morning.
Photo by Michael HarrisJudy Bryant, left, of Bradenton and Bonnie Kissan, of Sarasota, enjoy the morning at Selby Five Points Park.
Photo by Michael HarrisMary Kortus, left, of Orlando and Ashley Peter of Lexington, Ky. discuss artistic nail files before they were to attend a wedding in Sarasota on Saturday.
Photo by Michael HarrisLucy Tobias, left, of Sarasota and Brenda Spalding of Bradenton are authors of travel books and suspense thrillers, respectively.
Photo by Michael HarrisMargaret Maier Henry, Henry Horstman, center, and Matteo Adams are three of the apprentice artists of the Sarasota Opera House Winter Festival and performed from the balcony Saturday.
Photo by Michael HarrisA crowd of Le Marche Marketplace shoppers stopped what they were doing to appreciate the performances from the Sarasota Opera House balcony.
Photo by Michael HarrisAmber Kuner of Lakewood Ranch enjoys a stroll with her poodle, Mac, at the Le Marche Marketplace.
Photo by Michael HarrisMichael D. Cowgill of Miami, Mia Boyd, center, and her mom Michele Boyd of Ave Maria take in the displays at Le Marche Marketplace.
Photo by Michael HarrisArtist Mary Lou Johnson had her book, The Lure of Longboat Key, on display at Le Marche Marketplace on Saturday.
Photo by Michael HarrisWhen you're shopping at a Parisian-style outdoor market on a perfectly sunny and cool Saturday morning, the only thing that might be missing is some beautiful music to go with it.
Well, at Le Marche Marketplace in downtown Sarasota at Selby Five Points Park, those in attendance stopped their shop to enjoy an operatic performance from the balcony of the Sarasota Opera House across the street.
Five apprentice artists of the opera house's Winter Festival treated onlookers on the street to a show of powerful vocal force. No microphones and the singers still cleared the annoying rumble of a garbage truck on Pineapple Ave.
According to Marco Nistico, Artistic Administrator of the Sarasota Opera House, the impromptu performances began every Saturday morning in the fall.
"People really like it," Nistico said. "They comment all the time and I like the fact they enjoy it."
With only the accompaniment of Arthur Bosange on the piano, the artists performed with grace and elegance to the delight of about 100 on the street, who quickly pulled out their phones to record the show.
"Wasn't that the best?" said Darci Jacob, owner of Darci clothing store on Main St. and organizer of the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association event. "We're Sarasota and we are all about the arts."
Le Marche Marketplace is a twice-a-year event with the next one coming Nov. 8. According to Jacob, the market, which features various artists, jewelers and other items, is in its 16th year.
